Crimson Mask: Chapter 6: Trusting Lion
By
Squall Morpheus Leonhart


They arrived the day before in the Ragnarok. It was Squall's private Cabin in the continent of Trabia in a clearing surrounded by forest and Hot Springs. The cold winter breezed didn't reach the springs. Squall had projected a heat shield around the clearing to stop the chill but not the view of snowflakes falling. When the snow touched the shield, it would melt. Like the Ice Goddess, the clearing was a beautiful among the harsh weather.

Squall didn't like being in the company of anyone during his stay in the Cabin so he quickly left the Cabin at all times, residing in nearby cave to be alone and think over his life and how Ares came to be. Of course during the first day Seifer and Irvine had been worried but after some heated arguments with Squall they learned to lay off and yet they still worried. Unbeknownst to Squall, they followed him everywhere, just to watch him like old times when Squall would withdraw.

"Squall, why don't you just tell us what is in your head," whispered Irvine, watching Squall parry an invisible opponent in the clearing, "Can't read your mind forever…"

Seifer embraced the playboy; "He's scared that if we or anyone knows they will be taken away from him. He doesn't want to be alone yet he does."

"When did you become an expert on him?"

"Since our rivalry began and when did you want to question him," replied Seifer.

"When I fell in love with him," smiling Irvine pulled the blonde to him and kissed his lips.

"Well I have to defend my pride and take that love back from him," said Seifer kissing his koi's neck before grabbing Hyperion and heading outside.

Once outside, Seifer swung the mighty gunblade to get Squall's attention, "Yo, Leonhart, I challenge you to a duel!"

"You already know that I am better than you so why even try," taunted Squall, thrusting out Lionheart in emphasis.

"We'll see about that," with that he pounced on Squall.

"WAIT," yelled Irvine stopping the blonde in mid-pounce, "I'm refereeing, that way none of you are scarred again; Quisty will never forgive me if I do."

Nodding the two gunbladers saluted each other and began. From the sidelines, Irvine watched in awe as men fought with an intensity that could never be shown anywhere else. 'Except maybe when Squall is fighting Ares,' thought Irvine with a smile, 'whatever it did to hurt you Squall, we will help you get revenge. That's right; Seifer and I could always read you like an open book, all right, sometimes like an open book. You're hurt, you're hiding, you need us and we need you, we always will. We love you. Let me just hope that you feel the same for us too.' He looked back at the two duelists.

Squall ducked at the up thrust as he prepared to jab Seifer in the knees, only to have his opponent parry it and strike his shoulder. Irvine moved to go in and stop but soon relented as Squall retaliated with a swing at Seifer's sword arm, taking blood. It was futile to stop what has been started. Squall parried another swing at his knees as he tried to cut Seifer's torso, which was blocked in a deadly sword-lock. The swords crossed and Squall for the first time look into Seifer's eyes.

Taking a step back, he broke the interlock and started anew but his heart was no longer on the battle. He faltered; he was clumsy because in those eyes were desire he had seen in only one other and that was turned into a desire to destroy him. It was in the eyes of Ares when the two first encountered. Squall tried to block a strike at his shoulder but failed as Hyperion grazed his shoulder drawing blood. Squall tried to strike Seifer's left arm but Lionheart dropped from his hands and he fell to the ground and on to his knees.

Seifer dropped Hyperion and ran to his fallen rival as Irvine did the same. They embraced Squall and Squall cried, his icy mask falling to the ground, pleading for them to let him go. They pulled back in shock, Squall never begged for anything and he never cried at least not when they were around him. Seifer forced Squall to look at him and kissed him on the lips, forcing his hibernating love to flow through his rival. Irvine hugged Squall tight, showing him his love.

"Why," whispered Squall in shock as Seifer pulled away and caressed his neck.

"Because we love you, we always have Squall and we want to help you. Let us in, please Squall let us love you, let us into your heart," whispered Seifer.

"Let us in, let us help you. No one else may know it but we both know you're hurting, let us help you," pleaded Irvine, forcing Squall to look at him before kissing him with the same intensity as Seifer.

"No, he will kill you, if I do. I don't want you to get hurt," whispered Squall as he broke the kiss, "He hurt Michel and mother because I loved them, I don't want him to hurt you too. He is my mirror, he sees my thoughts if I let him, but he knows my feelings bright as day. I can't love you but I…" He looked away.

"You love us," said Seifer, as the truth dawned on him, "that's why you left to protect us and Garden but mainly to stop loving us but you still do."

"We'll help you fight; you don't have to protect us. We don't need protection, we need you," replied Irvine.

"But…"

"No buts, Squall, for this one time let us in. Every Ancient needs a knight let us be yours," said Irvine.

"How do you know," asked Squall in shock.

"Matron told us when Selphie volunteered to be Rinoa's knight, we knew the procedure. Ultimecia never did the procedure with me that was why never control me fully," replied Seifer, "Besides I finally get to live out my romantic dream."

Squall laughed but it was hollow and empty before his face turned stern. "No, not now, it will put you in to much danger and I can't afford it. It's bad enough; you know I love you but to be my knight is too much for me and you. He will use it against us and everyone. The Ragnarok will come surely from that bond," said Squall defensively.

"Does that mean you reject us," said Irvine.

"If you can protect yourselves from Ares then I am willing to anything with you. Not just because you love me but because I love you, both of you," then he mumbled to himself, "I hope I'm doing the right thing here…"

"You are not making the wrong choice, Squall. We both love you and we will do anything and everything to prove that to you," whispered Seifer.

He was going to kiss Squall when an alarm blazed from inside the cabin. Squall went inside to answer it but after hearing the message he collapsed and Seifer and Irvine went to comfort him and Squall began to tell them what was said.

AN: This took sooo long, I hate it but the coupling or threesome is revealed and this does play in the plot so I hope you like it. About one third of the story is done and more is to come. Happy New Year!!!

Special Thanks to:
Redrum (Thanks for understanding on the threesome)
GG (The answer to your question is in the next chapter)

Here's your quote:
Light my way, lead me out of darkness and into your arms
Squall Morpheus Leonhart