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. Oh, and there is excessive language in this chap… so now you can consider ourselves warned :P

Disclaimer: Nope, nothing here is mine; except for maybe the prison…how much d'you think I could get for it?  Well truthfully everyone here belongs to Squaresoft, but they should give it to Sukunami.  Then we would have a totally awesome game! Heh heh heh. Oh…and solitaire belongs to somebody, but I have no idea who.  If I did, they would be in trouble. I hate this game.

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[Squall]

            Usually there's nothing like a game of Solitaire to get your mind off things.  But as I sit and stare at the seven rows of cards in front of me my mind keeps returning to Zell.  Maybe I should've told him myself.  I was going to, but it proved to be too much for me.  I've spent the last few months here trying to forget my preplanned execution, and the scared look in the tattooed blondes face mirrored my own inward feelings.  I scowl at the defenseless cards and move a column to the left. My mind performs a huge temper tantrum as I flip over the freed card and realize I'm stuck.

            With an outward neutral expression I gather all the cards together.  Lost in my thoughts I jump slightly as a large hand falls on my shoulder, but relax once Kiros comes in view and slides gracefully into the seat next to me.  I begin to shuffle the deck, counting on him to break the silence.  He doesn't disappoint me.

            "Are you sure you did the right thing?"  The tall black man rests his head on his hands and looks me over.

            I shuffle once more, then tap the deck on the on the table.  Bastard always did have a knack for knowing what I was thinking.  "Like I said, he was going to find out sooner or later."  I lean back in my seat.  A dozen questions run through my mind, but I stick with the most bittersweet.  "How's he doing?"

            Kiros lifts one shoulder then drops it roughly.  "Laguna took him back to his cell.  Zell's just a kid, this has got to be hard for him."  He notices my blank stare. "Sorry."

            I frown slightly, and then realize he thinks I'm thinking about myself.  "No, it's not that.  I'm just a little worried about him too.  He's way too young to here. I wish I didn't have to tell him about my sentence."

            Kiros smiles gently.  "It was nice of you to comfort him earlier.  I think right now both of you need a friend.  Heh, you're perfect for each other."  He smiles, then tips his chair back on both legs and looks at the ceiling.  "He's so depressed now.  I wonder what he was like before?"

I don't answer and I don't want to know.  Prison does funny things to people, and for someone as young as Zell, I rub my forehead in thought.

            Kiros toes my foot and points to my left.  I glance over and wave at the slowly approaching Laguna.  With an exaggerated grown he falls tiredly into a chair and promptly turns to glare at me.  "Did you have to get up and leave?  I think Zell would've preferred to hear that from you."

            " I know Laguna, I just couldn't do it."  Laguna hmph's, and I wince.  Laguna mad at me is not good.  "So," I say as a diversion to get him away from me, "how did he take it?"

            "Oh, aside from crying because one of his only friends here is gonna die, and said 'friend' couldn't even tell him, and the most probable feelings of betrayal and fear, the kid is excellent. Peachy.  Just fucking fine!  Right now he's sleeping in your cell with Raijin like a goddamned puppy who wants to take in as much of his master as he can before he leaves for school!"

            I jump up and pound my fist on the table.  "Well how the hell do you think I feel?  In case you hadn't heard, I'm the one on death row!  I'm so sorry if telling the kid I'm dying in thirty-one days was difficult for me, when it makes me remember how little time I have left!  Not to mention the fact that I know I didn't comet the damned crime in the first place!"

            Laguna steps forward and matches my glare. "Stop you damned cussing!"

            "Why!? Because my mother is going to wash my mouth out with soap?"

            He stands to his full height.  "This isn't about some goddamned fat woman named Betty sitting in her ass while we're in here!  This is about Zell and you!"

            Suddenly I want to kill him more than I've ever wanted anything in my life.  Lunging foreword I grab him by the neck and bring him close to my face.  "Her name was Raine and she's dead! I know this is about Zell you sonofabitch!  Don't think you're the only one that cares about him?"

            I wait for him to yell at me, to punch me, to do anything.  Instead he stands there and just stares at me.  Almost at the same time I'm actually killing him a large unseen force jerks me off him.  I find myself gazing into the blue eyes of a smirking blond.  He chuckles.  "What seems to be the problem gentleman?"

[Seifer]

            I love watching the stoic brunette lose his temper.  Since he's been here I've only witnessed the spectacle twice, and each time I've had to intervene to save the other man fro, certain death.  With a small sigh of regret I stride over to where Kiros is trying to pull Squall off Laguna and lift the smaller man by the back of his shirt.  I smirk openly at his venomous glare that would have a lesser man running far far away.  "What seems to be the problem gentlemen?"

            Squall crosses his arms and glares in the direction of my ear.  Obviously not going to get an answer from him while the object of his pissiness was around I turn to Laguna, who is leaning against Kiros and massaging his neck.  After a moment he notices my questioning gaze.  I think he tried to say something, but it came out as a hoarse croak. Oh, wonderful.  I can tell this little stunt is going to have me working overtime.  "Kiros, take Laguna to see Kadowaki.  I want to have a nice talk with Squally boy."

            Kiros nods and hurries off with a slightly blue Laguna.  Without bothering to watch them exit I turn to the scowling brunette and flash my cockiest smirk.  "So, Puberty Boy, are you gonna tell me what happened here, or do I need to refer you to counselor Zabac?"

            Oh how I love that glare.  I pull the chair out for Squall and bow to him with the clear meaning 'sit your ass down'.  He complies with a neutral expression, but I can tell that somewhere deep down he wants to tear the smirk off my face.  Sorry Squally, been there, done that.  I pull out the seat next to him and flip it around so my chest is resting on its back.

            "Honestly Squall, what's bothering you?  Aside from the obvious I mean."

            He sits for another moment then sighs.  His whole body slumps and he rests his head in his hands.  I sit patiently and wait for him to finish his famous internal discussions.  I chuckle softly as he mutters a yes and a no every so often.  Finally he seems to come to some conclusion and sits straight.  Looking me in the eye he says seriously, "How long have we known each other?"

            Well damn, didn't see that coming.  "Ever since the orphanage days.  About eighteen years, I'd say."

            He nods. "And have I ever lied to you?"

            Ok, Squally boy, where is this one going?  "Leonhart, I'm convinced you don't know how to lie.  If you did we never would have got caught for stealing that chocolate from matron."

            "Do you think I'm guilty?"

            I pause at the question.  Squall and I had met in the orphanage when we were very young, and had formed an odd relationship of sorts in the years we spent together in school and beyond. I never thought I would see him here in prison.  He was always the smart one, the orphan that was supposed to go on and be world famous.  I want to answer with some sarcastic response, but there's something in his face that says this means a lot to him.  I stare him straight in the eye.  "Squall, do you remember when you were ten years old on your first day of fifth grade?  You and I had been hanging together during lunch recess.  I remember seeing a group of boys in the soccer field and curious, I dragged you over to see what was up.  They were all beating this mangy three-legged mutt.  I tried to pull you away, but you wouldn't have it.  You walked right up to the biggest bully and broke his nose, just to save some poor half dead dog."

            Squall frowns. "What does that have to do with anything?"

            Hyne, try to give a man an analogy…I sigh.  "It has to do with everything.  Squall, you've always been the savior.  When matron was going to kill a spider that had managed to get in the house you scooped it up and set it free.  It didn't bug you that your hand swelled twice its size because the spider bit you, you were just happy it was alive.  My point being, you don't have it in you to kill anything.  Although I have to admit this is a new low for Rinoa."

            Squalls head snaps up.  Wha, how..?

            I smirk at him.  "There's something to be said for reading between the lines Squally Boy.  Her father was a war-loving general, and she's a pacifist hippie.  It wasn't that hard to figure.  'Sides, I used to date her so I know very well what she's capable of behind that cutsie-cutsie act."

            Tension I never noticed seemed to drop from his shoulders.  It's a good thing I got so good at reading him between fistfights, or I may have missed the relieved look in his eyes.  "But Squall, right now the only people on your side are a couple of inmates and me.  I don't think that's going to change the courts mind."

            "I don't care what the courts think, I just want to know that my friends believe me."

And I'll be damned if he doesn't believe it too.  But what the hell?  "Since when are we friends?"

            Squall shrugs.  Eh well, guess he's done talking for the month.  I stand up and replace the chair.  Theres paperwork to be done…ah crap.  I'm halfway out the door when I realize I didn't get a statement.

            Doing an about turn I walk back to Squall and sit down, the damned brunette smirking at me the whole time.  "Oh shut up and give me what I need to know."  He shakes his head at me with a vague smile.  Huh, wonder if I'll ever live this one down.

Authors Griping: Well, another chapter done, and I apologize in advance for the suckiness (yes, that is a word).  I just wanted to mention that I realize there is a lot of OOC in this story, but come on, they're in prison. Prison does funny thing to people, even if they are incredibly hot video game characters.  Please take the thirty seconds to review. Please? I will love you forever, and don't forget the 'constructive criticism' as well.  Thanks much y'all.