The characters and places contained within this work of fiction do not belong to me, and I make no claim or profit from this.

Still dedicated to Astraea Trepe, with many, many thanks to Race Ulfson, KNW and Demonryu.

For What It's Worth.

Chapter Four

The guards had burst into their cell early; it seemed the one who Squall had counter attacked so swiftly the previous day had returned for revenge. He'd dragged Squall to his feet and proceeded to beat on the groggy SeeD until Squall had started hitting back, then he'd pulled a club out and hit Squall with such force it had driven him against the wall.

The sickly crack that accompanied the sound of Squall's head striking that wall made Irvine balk. He struggled violently to get away from the guards holding him, trying desperately to reach Squall to help him but the guards held him fast. "Leave him alone!"

A sneer, a harsh laugh and a decent right hook were all he received for his troubles.

Squall lifted his head to glare at Irvine. "Shut up." Was all he said before turning his attention back to the guard. Oh hyne don't be a hero Leonhart if they knock you down, stay down, I don't want to see you die. I don't want to see you get hurt again.

Again he was struck, forced back against the wall by the force of the blow, staggered for a moment. The club rose and came down with a stomach-churning wet crunch sound, bone jarring against bone, blood rising in a fine spray.

He sagged instantly, like a puppet whose strings had been cut. For a horribly long and lucid moment, Irvine believed him dead. Finally he took a trembling breath.

The guards laughed, releasing him only for him to drop to his knees at Squall's side, pulling the limp brunette into his lap and lifting him up carefully to examine the wound in the light that pooled through the window of the cell door.

The guards left, and Squall stirred, opening his eyes. "Irvine..?" He lifted a hand to his temple and hissed in pain.

"I think they got a thing about whacking ya on the head darlin'." He brushed Squall's hair back from the crimson liquid that was now oozing down the side of his face. "We gotta find him and get outta here. Soon."

Squall nodded and winced.

"You gonna fall asleep on me this time too?"

"That depends." A small smile.

"On?"

"Whether you're going to kiss me again."

"Why commander, if I didn't know better I'd say you were flirting with me." Irvine grinned. This was the first time Squall had even responded to him with anything more than an eye roll or a whatever.

"How do you know it's not a threat?"

"One way to find out." Irvine bent his head and brushed his lips against Squall's briefly; adoring the sweet, tender response he gained. He slid his fingers over Squall's cheek, tasting the brunette, savouring the sensation. Leaning back after what seemed like hours, he murmured. "I guess it isn't a threat."

Squall remained silent, simply watching him.

"Hold onto me tight darlin'." Irvine requested as he carefully and gently pulled Squall into his arms, lifting him slowly. Squall struggled and clutched his head, murmuring softly in pain. "I'm just going to put you on the bunk Squall. Try not to move around so much, I'll drop ya and make ya worse."

Tightening his slender fingers in the rough material of Irvine's shirt, Squall clung to him, closing his eyes tight. The sticky wet heat of blood began to trickle down his forehead and cheek as Irvine lay him on the bunk, and cursed softly.

"Someone really oughta shut this place down." Irvine muttered, ripping a strip from the hem of his shirt and pulling one of the bottles of water over, dampened the cloth. "Just lay still Squall, I'm gonna try and clean you up a little."

"I'm not an invalid Irvine."

"Nah, but I bet you're seein' three of me right now ain'tcha?" He gingerly wiped away the blood from where it threatened to encroach on Squall's eye. "And that's just from the kiss."

"Five actually." Squall murmured, his voice still faintly slurred, his eyes closing and his fingers tangling in the loose, rough blankets of the bunk.

"Hey, I'm even better than I thought I was." Irvine grinned, amusement in his eyes. "First thing I'm doin' when we get outta here is getting you somewhere I can clean you up properly."

"You just want to wash my hair." Squall murmured as Irvine fussed over him like a mother hen. The galbadian was proud of his hair. Selphie had found out that brushing it relaxed him like it would stroking a cat and he simply enjoyed playing with his lover's hair. It would have been so easy to tease him over it had he not been proud of the fact.

"Yep."

"Kink." His voice was so faint and low.

"Right again."

Squall watched Irvine in the dull light, sleepily. "I don't understand you."

"Not sure I understand you either darlin'." Irvine set the rag down and gently moved Squall to a position he'd find more comfortable before stretching out at his side. "Seems like you're all cold one minute and then you go and do somethin' crazy like smile at me and it damn well takes my breath away. Wanna know more about you but you won't let me in long enough to find out."

Squall clutched Irvine's shirt as he moved a little further away, fingers so tight in the material, just watching the Galbadian.

"Where you going darlin'? What's wrong?"

"I. don't know."

"Come on Squall." He coaxed gently. "Lie still and talk to me. You know the more you move more your head's gonna hurt."

"I don't know what to talk about." Squall murmured softly.

"How about why you're so scared of me curlin' up to ya like this?"

"I'm not."

"Lying ta me again?"

Squall closed his eyes with a sigh. "I just. don't feel comfortable."

Slowly, Irvine moved closer, until he was pressed against Squall's side. "How come Squall?" He coaxed gently, just lightly stroking a hand on Squall's stomach. "You know I won't hurt you. I just want to make sure you're well enough to walk outta here when the time comes."

Those grey eyes glittered like silver in the half-light, studying Irvine curiously. "Why are you so curious?"

"I don't know." Irvine smiled. "Does it matter?"

"Sometimes." Squall reached up to cup Irvine's cheek, tracing a thumb over the line of his cheek bone. Irvine nuzzled into the touch gently, his eyes closing and a faint smile curving his lips, just enjoying the sensation of Squall's touch.

"Only sometimes darlin'?" Irvine peeked at Squall thoughtfully, giving him a half smile gently.

"Yeah." Squall trailed his fingertips down along the line of Irvine's jaw slowly.

"You know Squall, I ain't gonna hurt ya." Irvine gently wiped away a trickle of blood that had escaped him and checked gently to see if the bleeding had stopped. "Keep talking to me darlin', 'fore I give that pretty mouth of yours somethin' else to do."

The pale, slender fingers tangled in Irvine's hair. "I just don't like being so close, it makes me feel trapped. No where to escape to." Squall's voice was growing drowsy. "It's easier with you though."

"Than who darlin'?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Rinoa?" Squall brushed his lips over Irvine's gently, avoiding the question completely. "Squall I think that head wound's serious, you just kissed me."

Squall murmured "is that a bad thing?"

"As long as you don't kill me in the mornin', nope." Irvine kissed Squall tenderly and slowly, sublimely sensuous, taking delight in the sound of Squall's soft little moan into his mouth. He didn't push. He didn't take anymore than was offered. Kisses interrupted by questions and curious little touches. He relished the sensation of Squall relaxing against him, trusting him and just., needing him for a little while.

"Irvine. why are you.?" The brunette looked faintly confused and a little worried.

"Why am I what Squall?" He asked softly.

"Why are you doing this?"

"What, holding you?" Irvine squeezed the brunette gently. "Kissing you?"

"Yeah." Squall's voice was quiet, almost like he didn't really want to know but couldn't resist asking.

"One, because I have to keep you awake and it's a hell of a lot more fun than just talking all night like we did last time, not that I didn't enjoy that of course." He brushed a strand of Squall's hair back behind his ear. "And two because I think you're probably the prettiest thing I ever laid eyes on." Squall blushed furiously. "That just makes you cuter."

Squall glared at him.

"Oh, you like pretty but you don't like cute?" Irvine teased gently, trailing his fingers gently back and forth along Squall's shoulder.

"Whatever." Squall muttered.

Irvine laughed. "I thought so." He smiled, a small smile, which became all the brighter when Squall returned it. "It's true. Especially when you do that."

"I'll try to do it more for you then."

"Ya know, if you do, you're gonna be givin' me the idea that you actually like me."

"I do."

"Not like that. I mean like me like me, you know?"

Squall blinked up at Irvine for a moment, then curled closer to him. "You sound like a teenager."

"May have escaped your attention but I am. So're you." He rubbed Squall's back slowly, enjoying the pressure of their bodies together.

"Mmm" Squall murmured softly and sleepily. "And what if I d."

"Hm? What was that darlin'?"

"What if I did?"

"Then I'd consider myself damn lucky." He watched Squall yawn and fight the urge to sleep. "I think I've kept you up long enough darlin'. You get your head down and get some rest."

Squall rubbed his eyes. "Okay." He slid his arms around the Galbadian and nuzzled against Irvine's throat, closing his eyes. "Stay there."

"I'm not going anywhere. Just gonna watch you for a bit then catch up on my rest." Irvine was surprised at the change in Squall he'd witnessed in only a few hours and hoped to Hyne that it wouldn't change back in the morning. Squall seemed so strong and yet so intimately fragile. Someone to need him as much as he needed them. Every touch of their lips had reaffirmed that view, only made his desire for Squall Leonhart stronger.

He would get into Squall's head. He wanted to see what was hiding under those leather clothes so badly, see what colour silver those eyes would become when he came. To hear Squall moan with pleasure and feel that hard body squirm beneath him.

Irvine was so lost in his thoughts of Squall he didn't hear the soft murmur of "I do like you."

End of chapter

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