Misdirection

by scribblemoose

Squall held himself still, fists clenched only loosely, his eyes fixed on Irvine as he walked into the training centre.

"You're late, Kinneas."

"Am I?" Irvine returned his gaze for an instant before his eyes darted guiltily away. "Sorry, man."

"Where were you?"

Irvine gave him an irritatingly cocky grin. "Selphie's, of course. You know me. Can't say no when the mood strikes."

Squall said nothing, just looked at him for a cold moment before he wrenched his eyes away in disgust. He called Shiva to junction, let her ice sharpen and focus his mind.

"Sorry," Irvine repeated.

"Back me up. Same routine we practised last time. I'll draw it around so you get a side shot. Think you can do that?"

"Sure. Whatever you say," said Irvine carefully. Stepping around him, like people did when he was mad. Trying not to wind him up.

They stalked through the training area, despatching a few grats with careless ease, until the first T-Rex turned up. Grateful for an outlet for his growing anger, Squall charged at it, skillfully using his blade to turn the creature. He heard Irvine's single shot, and the monster keeled over to fall dead at Squall's feet. The bullet embedded in that one, two-centimetre-square point in its brain which controlled its nervous system. You could hit a T-Rex almost anywhere in the head and it would keep fighting, but Irvine had found it's weakspot by accident one day. They'd spent the last month perfecting the technique, getting the beast to present it's weakness long enough for the sniper to get the perfect shot.

Irvine made no celebration. He didn't even look particularly pleased. Just calmly reloaded his rifle, hitched it over his shoulder and tipped his hat.

"I'd say that's that," Irvine said. "We've got it down. You want to try something new? Only I've got a date later and-"

"Stop it," said Squall, staring grimly at the ground where the T-Rex had been.

"What?"

"Why were you late? Really?"

"I told you, me and Sef-"

"Selphie's gone to Deling. I sent her there myself, with Quistis, last night."

"Oh."

"So where were you?"

"Oh, you know. On the prowl. So many women, so little-"

"Don't. Fuck. With. Me." Squall spun around, eyes glittering, and slipped Shiva from juction. He knew he was angry, he didn't want to make this any worse.

"Squall?"

It took three strides to reach Irvine, another to push him back against the wall of the training centre. Squall pinned him there with tense fists on his shoulders.

Irvine swallowed hard, and blinked at him. More panicked than he should have been. Certainty settled in Squall's mind, and he pressed his mouth savagely against Irvine's, one thigh settling against Irvine's groin, pinning him to the wall.

He pulled back, panting, fingers closing around a handful of Irvine's hair.

"Don't give me your bullshit, Kinneas. There are no women. There were never any women. Not Selphie, not anyone. You're avoiding me."

Irvine squirmed, as if trying to get away, but Squall wouldn't let him. He held him still and kissed his unresponsive mouth again.

"Look me in the eye and tell me you didn't want that."

"Fuck, Leonhart, I-"

A beat. A blink. A thought.

His eyes flickered closed as Irvine's mouth brushed his.

The truth.