Disclaimer They don't belong to me ha ha they don't belong to me.
A/N I hate this chapter. I just can't get it right so I'm posting now anyways.
For What It's Worth.
Still dedicated to Astraea Trepe, with thanks to Race Ulfson, KNW and Demon Ryu.
Chapter three.
Irvine knelt beside Squall and shook him gingerly. "Hey darlin', wake up. Don't you fade out on me here!"
The silver-grey eyes opened slowly to glare at Irvine. "Leave me alone."
The Galbadian checked over the commander gingerly, examining his head. "Can't do that darlin'." Irvine scooped Squall up and unceremoniously but gently dropped him on the bed before he even had the opportunity to struggle. "Concussion, I think. Looks like I'm gonna be keepin' ya awake for a while."
Squall glared at Irvine silently for daring to pick him up then turned his attention to the wall opposite.
"What's wrong?" Irvine enquired softly as he sat beside the brunette.
"Nothing." Squall glared at the wall harder, determined to stay awake and alert.
"Keep starin' at the wall like that and it'll melt darlin'." Irvine smiled teasingly, although Squall did not turn his head to see it.
"Whatever." His gaze was softening as the sluggishness threatened to overcome him.
Irvine chuckled softly and watched as Squall's eyelids slowly drooped, his shoulders slumping and his breathing deepened. "Hey, c'mon darlin' wake up."
"I'm tired." He murmured, leaning a little heavier against Irvine.
"I know darlin', just hold on a little longer. Talk to me, keep your eyes open." He shook Squall gently. "You had a nasty knock ta the head, "
"Who. The guard? Had worse." There was a slight slur to his voice, having to think carefully before speaking. "I'll be okay, I'm just tired."
"You're unjunctioned remember? You ain't invincible Squall, just feels like it." He watched as his commander's eyelids drooped further before closing completely. He shook the brunette a little harder than he meant to, watching in horror as he lolled in his arms like a limp rag doll before suddenly snatching himself out of Irvine's grip.
"Don't.."
"Talk to me and I won't have ta touch you Squall."
"I don't talk. I'm the iceberg remember?"
"I won't tell no one." He offered an arm, and Squall leant against him hesitantly., then a little more heavily as he relaxed. "C'mon Squall."
"What should I talk about?" He murmured, his head resting against Irvine's shoulder. Irvine could have sworn that the brunette nuzzled against him for a moment.
"Anything, um. how 'bout why you chose the gunblade?"
A brief pause before his voice broke the air again. "To prove myself. Everyone else was more interested in something lighter and faster to learn, no one wanted to use something that difficult. I thought if I could learn it, it'd prove I was good enough to be in Garden."
"You've certainly done that. How come you felt like you had to prove yourself?"
He shrugged. "People teasing me, Seifer."
Irvine blinked. "People teased you?"
A curt nod and just a very gentle nuzzle of his cheek against Irvine's shoulder. "I was the shortest guy in class until Zell came to garden. I didn't pay attention to them I just."
"Wanted to show them you were capable, right?"
"Right."
"Well you certainly did that." He leant back to look at the commander. "Ya know I never thought on how much smaller than me you were."
Squall groaned softly and glared at him half-heartedly and he looked away again. "Don't you start too."
"It's true. I don't think of you as being a little guy. Your attitude makes up for it." A murmur of agreement as he closed his eyes again. "Squall? Squall!" He shook the dark haired man again gently, this time gaining no response. "Hyne, Squall, don't you scare me like this. Dammit, you better not punch me for this."
He cupped the back of Squall's head and kissed him, teasing his tongue between Squall's lips and forcing him to respond. Which he did, almost eagerly, a hand reaching up to grasp Irvine's shoulder. A half-strangled cry of surprise escaped him as he realised what was happening and pushed Irvine away, his eyes wide with amazement at the audacity. At the talent. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I guess this makes you sleeping beauty. I woke you up with a kiss." He grinned that easy, lazy, seductive grin.
".Whatever."
Irvine chuckled. "Sorry darlin', I couldn't resist."
"I thought you were straight."
"Funny, I thought you were too." The blush that rose on Squall's cheeks was nothing short of adorable. "Is anyone in that garden straight or do they put somethin' in the water?" Squall smiled faintly. "You've got a concussion Squall, I gotta keep you awake for a few hours. Now you can either talk to me, or spend the next hyne knows how many hours kissin' me and quite frankly I don't care either way."
"." Squall narrowed his eyes on Irvine.
"I take it that means it's the talk to me option? If you don't answer I'll kiss ya again."
"Fine."
"That doesn't count as an answer." Irvine teased, leaning closer.
"What should I talk about this time?" Squall asked softly, giving up.
"Whatever you want darlin'. How's your head?"
Squall lifted a hand to where his head had struck the wall. "Sore, what do you think?"
Irvine leant back against the wall behind the low cot. "Was kinda asking about the junctions."
"Oh." Squall puzzled for a second and looked at him. "Quiet."
"Quiet?"
"I can't hear Shiva like I usually can." Squall frowned faintly, his brow furrowing. "It's .quiet."
"You hear her?"
Squall smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth pulling up just a little. "Yeah. Sometimes. Bahmut, doomtrain, they're different. I can only feel them, just hear little things every now and then, but Shiva talks to me."
"Maybe you hit your head harder than I thought."
Squall sighed and leant back against the wall beside him, pulling his knees up and hugging them absently. His posture was defensive and tired, tucking his head down. "I've been junctioned to her for so long, she talks to me. Not much, and not often just. sometimes. Bahmut and Doomtrain, let me feel what they are but I haven't had them nearly as long. .Six months at most. Shiva's been in my head for nine years. Even when she doesn't speak I can hear her thoughts from time to time."
"Hyne, Squall, you told anyone about this?"
"Zell knows." He looked up at Irvine sadly. "Quez does the same with him. I think the GF has to want to be junctioned to you to do it."
"You miss her don't you?" Irvine reached out gently to touch Squall's cheek, watching him flinch.
"Of course I do." Squall lowered his head. "She's the most constant influence I've had."
Irvine found it heartbreaking that the only person that had stayed around long enough for Squall to feel absolutely safe with them was the Guardian force goddess of ice. "Squall."
"What? You wanted me to talk."
"Not critisizing that darlin'. Just sayin' I feel sorry for ya."
"I don't want your pity."
"Fine, whatever, forget it!" Irvine grumbled, folding his arms over his chest and watching Squall worriedly. "Do me a favour Squall? Don't come back here. Both times you got hurt."
Squall glanced at the wall opposite. "Maybe it'll be third time lucky and they'll kill me." He replied dryly.
"Don't talk like that!" Irvine was aghast at the statement. "You really mean that?"
"Sometimes." Squall murmured softly and closed his eyes with a sigh. Irvine frowned. All he wanted was to pull Squall into his arms and comfort him. He lowered his arms softly and offered one to Squall.
"Hey, come lay against me." Irvine offered softly. "I'm not gonna do anythin', but if ya do go to sleep, I can wake you up a little more gently." He smiled as endearingly as he could. "Please Squall, you're scarin' me."
Squall regarded him thoughtfully. "I don't need." Irvine looked almost disheartened. "Fine. just for tonight though."
"Good enough for me. Just til you're healed up." Slowly, Squall moved closer to Irvine, resting his head on the Galbadian's shoulder and curling against his side. He nuzzled against the soft suede of Irvine's jacket gently, closing his eyes and relaxing. "Didn't say you could stop talking to me darlin'."
They continued to talk, until finally, Irvine allowed Squall to rest, on the condition he stayed right there in his arms. As the brunette slept, he slid an arm around Irvine's waist, cuddling closer unintentionally. Irvine squeezed him, murmuring "You know darlin', I could get used to this."
He nuzzled against Squall's silk soft hair, and smiled as he gently drifted off to sleep.
END CHAPTER
Renegade Seraph: Thankyou. Squall in a hat does that to me too. ^_^ Guesto-chan: I'm keeping them coming. *eyes later chapters* sometimes literally. "." I hurt him! He's my favourite muse and I beat on him regularly. Race: Don't we all sweet heart? Ilana Sara and Tenken: I would, but you'd have to wait months to see the next chapters.
A/N I hate this chapter. I just can't get it right so I'm posting now anyways.
For What It's Worth.
Still dedicated to Astraea Trepe, with thanks to Race Ulfson, KNW and Demon Ryu.
Chapter three.
Irvine knelt beside Squall and shook him gingerly. "Hey darlin', wake up. Don't you fade out on me here!"
The silver-grey eyes opened slowly to glare at Irvine. "Leave me alone."
The Galbadian checked over the commander gingerly, examining his head. "Can't do that darlin'." Irvine scooped Squall up and unceremoniously but gently dropped him on the bed before he even had the opportunity to struggle. "Concussion, I think. Looks like I'm gonna be keepin' ya awake for a while."
Squall glared at Irvine silently for daring to pick him up then turned his attention to the wall opposite.
"What's wrong?" Irvine enquired softly as he sat beside the brunette.
"Nothing." Squall glared at the wall harder, determined to stay awake and alert.
"Keep starin' at the wall like that and it'll melt darlin'." Irvine smiled teasingly, although Squall did not turn his head to see it.
"Whatever." His gaze was softening as the sluggishness threatened to overcome him.
Irvine chuckled softly and watched as Squall's eyelids slowly drooped, his shoulders slumping and his breathing deepened. "Hey, c'mon darlin' wake up."
"I'm tired." He murmured, leaning a little heavier against Irvine.
"I know darlin', just hold on a little longer. Talk to me, keep your eyes open." He shook Squall gently. "You had a nasty knock ta the head, "
"Who. The guard? Had worse." There was a slight slur to his voice, having to think carefully before speaking. "I'll be okay, I'm just tired."
"You're unjunctioned remember? You ain't invincible Squall, just feels like it." He watched as his commander's eyelids drooped further before closing completely. He shook the brunette a little harder than he meant to, watching in horror as he lolled in his arms like a limp rag doll before suddenly snatching himself out of Irvine's grip.
"Don't.."
"Talk to me and I won't have ta touch you Squall."
"I don't talk. I'm the iceberg remember?"
"I won't tell no one." He offered an arm, and Squall leant against him hesitantly., then a little more heavily as he relaxed. "C'mon Squall."
"What should I talk about?" He murmured, his head resting against Irvine's shoulder. Irvine could have sworn that the brunette nuzzled against him for a moment.
"Anything, um. how 'bout why you chose the gunblade?"
A brief pause before his voice broke the air again. "To prove myself. Everyone else was more interested in something lighter and faster to learn, no one wanted to use something that difficult. I thought if I could learn it, it'd prove I was good enough to be in Garden."
"You've certainly done that. How come you felt like you had to prove yourself?"
He shrugged. "People teasing me, Seifer."
Irvine blinked. "People teased you?"
A curt nod and just a very gentle nuzzle of his cheek against Irvine's shoulder. "I was the shortest guy in class until Zell came to garden. I didn't pay attention to them I just."
"Wanted to show them you were capable, right?"
"Right."
"Well you certainly did that." He leant back to look at the commander. "Ya know I never thought on how much smaller than me you were."
Squall groaned softly and glared at him half-heartedly and he looked away again. "Don't you start too."
"It's true. I don't think of you as being a little guy. Your attitude makes up for it." A murmur of agreement as he closed his eyes again. "Squall? Squall!" He shook the dark haired man again gently, this time gaining no response. "Hyne, Squall, don't you scare me like this. Dammit, you better not punch me for this."
He cupped the back of Squall's head and kissed him, teasing his tongue between Squall's lips and forcing him to respond. Which he did, almost eagerly, a hand reaching up to grasp Irvine's shoulder. A half-strangled cry of surprise escaped him as he realised what was happening and pushed Irvine away, his eyes wide with amazement at the audacity. At the talent. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I guess this makes you sleeping beauty. I woke you up with a kiss." He grinned that easy, lazy, seductive grin.
".Whatever."
Irvine chuckled. "Sorry darlin', I couldn't resist."
"I thought you were straight."
"Funny, I thought you were too." The blush that rose on Squall's cheeks was nothing short of adorable. "Is anyone in that garden straight or do they put somethin' in the water?" Squall smiled faintly. "You've got a concussion Squall, I gotta keep you awake for a few hours. Now you can either talk to me, or spend the next hyne knows how many hours kissin' me and quite frankly I don't care either way."
"." Squall narrowed his eyes on Irvine.
"I take it that means it's the talk to me option? If you don't answer I'll kiss ya again."
"Fine."
"That doesn't count as an answer." Irvine teased, leaning closer.
"What should I talk about this time?" Squall asked softly, giving up.
"Whatever you want darlin'. How's your head?"
Squall lifted a hand to where his head had struck the wall. "Sore, what do you think?"
Irvine leant back against the wall behind the low cot. "Was kinda asking about the junctions."
"Oh." Squall puzzled for a second and looked at him. "Quiet."
"Quiet?"
"I can't hear Shiva like I usually can." Squall frowned faintly, his brow furrowing. "It's .quiet."
"You hear her?"
Squall smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth pulling up just a little. "Yeah. Sometimes. Bahmut, doomtrain, they're different. I can only feel them, just hear little things every now and then, but Shiva talks to me."
"Maybe you hit your head harder than I thought."
Squall sighed and leant back against the wall beside him, pulling his knees up and hugging them absently. His posture was defensive and tired, tucking his head down. "I've been junctioned to her for so long, she talks to me. Not much, and not often just. sometimes. Bahmut and Doomtrain, let me feel what they are but I haven't had them nearly as long. .Six months at most. Shiva's been in my head for nine years. Even when she doesn't speak I can hear her thoughts from time to time."
"Hyne, Squall, you told anyone about this?"
"Zell knows." He looked up at Irvine sadly. "Quez does the same with him. I think the GF has to want to be junctioned to you to do it."
"You miss her don't you?" Irvine reached out gently to touch Squall's cheek, watching him flinch.
"Of course I do." Squall lowered his head. "She's the most constant influence I've had."
Irvine found it heartbreaking that the only person that had stayed around long enough for Squall to feel absolutely safe with them was the Guardian force goddess of ice. "Squall."
"What? You wanted me to talk."
"Not critisizing that darlin'. Just sayin' I feel sorry for ya."
"I don't want your pity."
"Fine, whatever, forget it!" Irvine grumbled, folding his arms over his chest and watching Squall worriedly. "Do me a favour Squall? Don't come back here. Both times you got hurt."
Squall glanced at the wall opposite. "Maybe it'll be third time lucky and they'll kill me." He replied dryly.
"Don't talk like that!" Irvine was aghast at the statement. "You really mean that?"
"Sometimes." Squall murmured softly and closed his eyes with a sigh. Irvine frowned. All he wanted was to pull Squall into his arms and comfort him. He lowered his arms softly and offered one to Squall.
"Hey, come lay against me." Irvine offered softly. "I'm not gonna do anythin', but if ya do go to sleep, I can wake you up a little more gently." He smiled as endearingly as he could. "Please Squall, you're scarin' me."
Squall regarded him thoughtfully. "I don't need." Irvine looked almost disheartened. "Fine. just for tonight though."
"Good enough for me. Just til you're healed up." Slowly, Squall moved closer to Irvine, resting his head on the Galbadian's shoulder and curling against his side. He nuzzled against the soft suede of Irvine's jacket gently, closing his eyes and relaxing. "Didn't say you could stop talking to me darlin'."
They continued to talk, until finally, Irvine allowed Squall to rest, on the condition he stayed right there in his arms. As the brunette slept, he slid an arm around Irvine's waist, cuddling closer unintentionally. Irvine squeezed him, murmuring "You know darlin', I could get used to this."
He nuzzled against Squall's silk soft hair, and smiled as he gently drifted off to sleep.
END CHAPTER
Renegade Seraph: Thankyou. Squall in a hat does that to me too. ^_^ Guesto-chan: I'm keeping them coming. *eyes later chapters* sometimes literally. "." I hurt him! He's my favourite muse and I beat on him regularly. Race: Don't we all sweet heart? Ilana Sara and Tenken: I would, but you'd have to wait months to see the next chapters.
