Warnings: unwanted scenarios, male/male, character death, bad writing (on my part :P)

This is an AU fic where the guys are in prison, and prison life is described in detail. For those of you who are wondering, most of the male prison clichés are in here. You are warned.

Disclaimer: After several heated court battles and long, drawn out, very…wordy, shall we say…arguments, I've grudgingly come to realize that the characters of ff8 are not mine. I'm considering an appeal, and a new judge. As it were, everything currently belongs to Squaresoft.

`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`

[Zell]

Prison food isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Granted, I've never seen potatoes in that particular shade of green, but I figure if Squall is still alive they can't be so bad. The stoic brunette is steadily eating his way through a hamburger at my side. I take a look around the cafeteria while idly poking my quivering jello type mass of goo. It's painted rather brightly and sunlight streams down through the skylights high above us. All in all I'm reminded of my High School cafeteria. With a small smile I think the only difference is instead of the captain of the football team you have your Bubba. Heh, guess some prison stereotypes are true.

Lost in studying someone's rather interesting tattoo I almost don't notice when three men take a seat with us. Squall looks up at them, nods, and returns to the half eaten burger. The shorter man to my left with the long brown hair rolls his eyes. "I suppose we'll be introducing ourselves then, oh fearless commander?" Squall shrugs and the man smiles at me broadly. Pointing at his chest he says, "Hey! I'm Laguna Loire, ruler of all that is mine!"

I blink. The tall black man interrupts. "Also known as moron." He chuckles at the playful slap Laguna gives him. "I'm Kiros Seagill." He inclines his head towards the man next to him, who seems to be writing several letters at once. "This is Irvine Kinneas, Casanova of Balamb Prison."

Irvine pokes his tongue at Kiros. "Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful love." With a wink to me he adds, "Hate me because Laguna thinks so." Laguna blushes as Kiros smacks Irvine on the back of the head. The cowboy raises his hands defensively. "Hey! Watch the goods mate!" Once he's sure his long ponytail is in perfect position he turns back to me. "So, what you in for? Embezzlement? Terrorism? Failing your exit exam?" I feel suddenly sick as the night of the accident comes back to me. Selphie screaming, metal grinding, everything blurring together…I push my food aside. I don't feel hungry anymore. "Hey, you alright man?" I look up and meet Irvine's worried eyes.

"Yeah, s'okay. I got eight years for vehicular manslaughter.

Laguna sits up. "Was it that old lady down on fifth street? The one with the hair?" he looks almost hopeful.

I shake my head and look down at the table. Funny how the plastic seems to be very interesting as my vision swims. I sigh before embellishing. "I was drunk, and my girlfriend was in the car. She was only sixteen years old." I can't stop the tear from falling, but I make no move to wipe it away. Unexpectedly I'm pulled into a hug. I look up into Squalls face, and he just stares back impassively. I wonder how he can even look at me after knowing what I did. After taking a moment to regain my composure I look at the other three, but still Squall holds me. The mood is broken when Laguna claps his hands together and smiles brightly at nothing in particular. "Well," he says cheerfully, "tit for tat! Guess now you get to hear our stories!"

Kiros looks at the ceiling as if asking for patience then turns back to his friend. "Well Hyne Laguna, don't sound so happy about it."

The shorter man shrugs guiltily. "Sorry, but still. So, uh…hey! What was you name?

" Zell Dincht, Mr. Loire sir."

The effeminate man frowns petulantly. "It's Laguna Zell, Hyne, I'm not that old. Anyhoo, I'll start with my self and my esteemed colleague, Kiros. Well, back in the day we were unofficial mercenaries for the Galbadian government."

I raise my eyebrows. "Wow, you sure don't seem like the killing type. And you guys knew each other before prison?"

Laguna waves a hand at me and then nudges Kiros. " See! I told you I looked good for my age! Eh, they like to hire people like me. With my disarming looks it's easier to get close to the target, see? And Kiros and I have known each other.. Intimately… for years before prison. Well we were given false orders by a treacherous Vice President to assassinate the head honcho. We mercenaries follow orders with out question, so we offed the guy BAMN! Just like that! But when we went to get our payment," his face goes remorseful, "we were nabbed! Arrested! Double-crossed! Bamboozled by the very government that hired us!" He becomes overcome by emotion and stands there, shaking his fist at the table. Kiros takes him by the waste and sits him down gently. Hugging his smaller lover he finishes. "Long story short, we got off with twenty years apiece."

"Ah huh…" oh, very intelligent Dincht. Sadly that's all I can think to say. I shake my head slightly and turn to Irvine, who is busy addressing an envelope. "So, how bout you?"

The tall man melodramatically tosses the letter on the table and turns his mournful gaze on me. "Those bastards gave me seven years for something as atrocious as petty theft." He throws his hand over his forehead in a grief-stricken manner.

Laguna collapses into hearty guffaws, and Squall snorts from somewhere above me. "Since when is seven million dollars petty theft?"

Irvine mutters something that sounds suspiciously like 'oh shuddup at least I didn't kill anyone' then coughs. "Ever heard of the Casanova Lifter?"

I shrug. "Yeah, but I thought it was just some kind of workout machine."

Irvine reels back as if in shock. "Oh! 'Tis a sad day indeed when one such as your fine self hasn't heard of the Casanova Lifter, notorious bank robber, friendly with the ladies, lover of guns, and yours truly!" "He strikes a noble pose, then scowls at my lack of worship. "Fine then, in plain English. I'm a bank robber see? Most of the robberies you've heard about lately are the works of moi, but I don't imagine that impresses you. Well, as it were, the ladies loved me. Out there I was able to love them all night long. Now I'm forced by law to be more…discreet." He nudges the letters disgustedly, then slips in to a dreamy eyed look. "Ah Quistis, how radiant your beauty. And Xu, how I love your…assets."

Kiros pokes him sharply in the side, causing him to jump a little. "hey, what was that for? Ohh," he seems to remember I'm a minor.

I slip put of Squalls embrace and look back up into his face. "How bout you?"

I realize immediately I've said the wrong thing. Everyone goes silent. Laguna stares at a circling fly, Irvine returns to his letters, and Squall stares straight ahead as if having an internal conversation with himself. Kiros looks at me apologetically. "Sorry Zell, but.."

[Squall]

I sigh. It's alright Kiros, he has to find out sooner or later." I close my eyes and rub my temples briefly trying to figure out how best to explain this. With an inner shrug I decide I should just give it to him plain and simple. I open my eyes ad turn to his slightly confused face. "I was framed for murder."

He gapes slightly. "What?"

I sit back. "In my terms. It's a long story." He shrugs, and I take that as a go ahead.

+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+Flashback+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+

The house is dark and empty as I walk in, just like it is every night. I know the small place by heart, and walk through the darkness into the kitchen for a cold soda. The can opens with a refreshing pop. I play the answering machine and settle back into a chair. There's a call from my friend Nida telling me to get a life, some charity wanting a nice donation, and my matron calling to see if I'm still going to visit. I'm about to go to bed when Rinoa's voice comes on.

"Hey baby, I was feeling lonely. Do you wanna come over and play tonight? Call me when you get home, no matter how late. Love ya Squally, buh bye." The machine clicks off.

With a shrug I pick up the phone and dial Rinoa's number. I never will understand why she's going with me. Her father is one of the most important men in the world, and she's loaded. She could get any pretty boy she wants, but she chased after me for months before I agreed to go out with her. I'm still kicking my own ass for that one. She answers on the third ring. "Oh Squally, I was hoping you would call, why don't you come over baby?"

I hold back a wince and tell her I'll be over in a half hour. She let's out a squeal, and I hang up before she decides to do something more detestable like starting with the snuggly love button talk. I wait around the house long enough to change clothes and run a comb through my hair.

The drive is short and silent. I never really cared much for the radio, preferring to listen to my own thoughts. Too soon I'm pulling in front of Rinoa's mansion. The grass is perfectly manicured, the house looking like a giant gingerbread castle. Perfect for the spoiled princess. I shut off the car and steel myself before walking to the door and knocking. Tonight I'm going to break it off with Rinoa. I have to do it for my own emotional well being. I can't be her fairy tale boyfriend anymore. When she doesn't answer I let myself in, the door being miraculously unlocked. Nobody answers.

I start to get a feeling of horrible wrongness. I run through all the rooms, calling for Rinoa. Finally I'm at her fathers room. I rush in, and have to turn my head to the side and puke after what I see there. Her father, General Caraway, is lying dead on the bed. His neck has a large gash across it, and there is so much blood everywhere. I stand in shock until something inside me screams at me to move. I whirl around In time to dodge a blood covered knife. Rinoa twists in mid air and jumps for me again. I trip on the rug and fall onto the bed, nearly missing the generals body. Rinoa leaps on me and I grab for her hand. The knife is inches from my chest, and Rinoa is a mad woman. She uses her free hand to gouge at my face, catching my eyes. With a cry she lifts the knife and brings it down over my head, leaving a long slice between my eyes and across my nose. The move leaves her open, and I flip on top of her and manage to get the knife away.

At that moment the doors explodes inward and several secret service agents run in, guns drawn. Immediately Rinoa breaks into hysterics and runs to the chief, screaming about I killed her father and tried to kill her.

I stand dazed, blood drilling down my face, knife hanging loosely in my hand. As the agent moves foreword and reads me my rights I realize why Rinoa chose me. I was her scapegoat. Rinoa waves at me over the chiefs shoulder as I'm led out to the police car. And then I pass out.

+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+

[Zell]

I sit wide-eyed. I can't imagine how someone could be like her, so cruel. I remember reading about this somewhere in the paper, and my ma discussing it with my aunt. I remember thinking that it had to have been made up, the whole thing, who would seriously kill a general? Finally I have to ask. "What was your sentence?"

He looks away. "I'll be free in one month."

"Oh," I say, very relieved. He has a funny look in his eyes. I frown. "Isn't that good?
He opens his mouth, then decides against it. He stands up and strides quickly from the room. Kiros shakes his head at me, then runs after Squall. I watch him leave, then turn to Irvine. "Did I say something wrong?"

Irvine bites his bottom lip. Laguna stands and comes to sit by me. Grabbing me by the shoulders, he makes me look him in the eye. I start to feel scared, as the thus far fun loving cheerful man looks me over seriously. He stares at the floor, then back at me. "Zell, when Squall said he would be free in one month, he didn't mean he was going to walk out those doors."

"What do you mean?" No, suddenly I know the answer, and I don't want him to say it.

Laguna holds me tightly. "Zell, Squall received the death sentence. In one month he's going to be killed for the murder of General Caraway."

Authors Griping: Okay, a couple of notes. First of all, yes, I know the ending to this chap really bit, but I'm bad at ending and I tend to ramble. And another thing, I don't hate Rinoa; in fact I never really gave her a thought besides what the game told us of her. I only used her because it was either she or Selphie, and Selphie is dead (and to Marty787, I know it was a Zell/Selphie for a while there, but I couldn't think of what else to do, sorry). So yeah just let it be known I don't have anything against Rinoa. That was bugging me, thanks for letting me whine…as if you had a choice… :P