Legacy

Second story in the Sands of Time series.
by scribblemoose

Chapter 9

"Hey, guys, breakfast!"

Irvine's head popped out from under the jumbled mess of quilt and blankets to see Zephyr approaching with armfuls of coffee and doughnuts.

"Mmm, breakfast," murmured Duck, also emerging from under the bedding, wiping her mouth with the back of one hand and reaching for coffee with the other.

"Thought you'd just had yours," said Irvine, with a grin.

"Woman cannot live by protein alone." Zephyr gave Duck her coffee and put the rest of the stuff down on the bedside table. He sat on the bed, leaning in to rest his forehead on Irvine's. "I hope you saved some for me."

"I have an endless supply," said Irvine with unerring confidence. He pressed his mouth to Zephyr's, arching up to wrap his arms around his neck.

"Mmm," Zephyr purred. "You want to give it up now, or do you need a doughnut first?"

"I need a doughnut," said Duck. "If you two can keep out of each others' arses long enough to pass me one."

"Hey, you just had your turn," protested Zephyr. "It's mine now."

"You had him this morning. Before it got light. It woke me up." Duck pouted, clearly more offended by being disturbed than anything else.

"I'm sorry, Duckling," said Irvine. "Next time we'll take it somewhere else."

"I don't know about that, man." Zephyr's hand slipped under the sheets and Irvine's head dropped back, his eyes sliding shut, throat working on a swallow. "The bed was all warm. And so were you."

"Ungh," said Irvine.

Duck crawled across the bed and reached for a doughnut, digging Zephyr in the ribs along the way - not that he seemed to notice. He was too busy making Irvine writhe.

At least until his phone rang.

Duck picked it up and threw it to the bottom of the bed.

"Guh?" said Irvine, one hand flailing vaguely in the direction of the ringing noise.

"If you want to answer it, you gotta find it," said Duck, licking sugar off her fingers.

Irvine grunted and half-heartedly pushed at Zephyr's shoulder. But Zephyr didn't move, so Irvine struggled up to sitting with Zephyr's hand firmly clamped around his cock, and Zephyr's mouth firmly clamped onto his neck. Somehow he managed to wriggle onto his hands and knees and grope down the bed to reach his phone.

"Hello?"

Zephyr settled on his knees behind Irvine, still stroking his cock, and started a trail of kisses up his thigh towards his buttocks.

Duck painted a little trail for him to follow with the froth from her coffee, then sat back to watch as she tucked into her doughnut.

"Hi Elf. Yeah, I just woke up. I'll be back in an.. urgh!"

Zephyr chuckled and stopped nuzzling Irvine's balls just for long enough to take one between his lips and start humming.

"No, I'm fine. I'll, um, yeah. Hang on."

Irvine made frantic shoo-ing noises at Zephyr, who retreated with a face like a kicked puppy dog. Duck stuck a doughnut in his hand and kissed his cheek.

Irvine flopped on his back and gave Selphie his undivided attention.

"Sorry about that. Hey. How are you this morning?"

"Pretty good. I'm meeting Rinoa for lunch, so I won't be able to come training with you."

"Rinoa? What's Rinoa doing here?"

"I don't know, really. She rang last night, just said she was staying in Deling for a few days, and she'd be passing by Garden this morning."

"That's all she said?"

"Yep. I guess I'll get the full story later." Selphie sounded remarkably unbothered by this, but then she was unbothered about pretty much everything except sleeping and, most recently, killing things. Irvine had chosen to take the interest in the latter as a move in the right direction.

"She didn't call me," Irvine said.

"Did you tell her you were leaving Balamb?"

"Um, not directly, no. You know how it was, it was a bit rushed and..."

"Called her since to explain?"

"Not exactly. It's kinda hard to know what to say, the time's flown by and anyway, what difference would it make to her? I'm still her friend."

Selphie gave a long sigh at the other end of the phone. "Oh, Irvy. You never learn, do you?"

"What?"

"Never mind."

"Can't I come for lunch too?" Irvine was aware he was whining.

"No. Girls only, she said. Look, seeing as it's you and for some reason I find it really hard to let you suffer, I'll tell her you're sorry for not letting her know you were leaving. Okay?"

"Well... okay. Thanks. "

"No problem."

"And send her my love?"

"'Course."

"And find out what she's doing here?"

"I promise. You coming home tonight?"

Irvine surveyed the mess around him: empty pizza boxes from the night before, sugar all over the sheets, beer bottles, a full ashtray and a mostly-empty bottle of lube. Zephyr was feeding Duck bits of doughnut, deliberately smearing jam on her nose. Ether dozed in the back of Irvine's mind, positively gorged on lust.

"Yeah. I'll take you to dinner."

"Mmm... okay. Training Centre first? Build up an appetite?"

"Sure. I'll meet you at seven in the main concourse, okay?"

"See you then. Bye Irvy."

"Bye."

He snapped his phone shut with a sigh. He didn't feel much like training, and he'd feel even less so after a full day of missions.

But it was better than letting Selphie train alone.

*******

Rinoa ran her fingers over the endless rail of dresses in Ness' closet, as if in a trance. She could go and buy something, but she'd already blown most of this month's pay on shoes, and it wouldn't be right to touch Squall's credit card. She had brought a dress with her, but when Ness had said she could take her pick...

They were beautiful. Ness was a similar size, maybe a little skinnier and without the lean muscle Rinoa had developed over the years of fighting, but close enough. Her colouring was similar, too, at least her hair and skintone, although Ness's hair was dyed that way from mouse-brown, or so she said. Someone had mistaken them for sisters the day before.

Her finger stopped on a single spaghetti-strap. Lilac silk ribbon. She pulled the hanger from the rail and the dress whispered against her bare arm. There was embroidery and tiny beads. A simple cut that she knew would hang just right.

She held it up in front of herself and glanced at herself in the mirror.

Perfect. Just perfect.

She felt a flutter of girlish pleasure in her belly at the thought of wearing it. At the thought of putting on make up and having her hair done. At going out with people she didn't know, who maybe even didn't know her. It would be better if she was going with Squall. Except he would hate it. He would do his best, but that would mean sitting in the corner looking more and more tense and uncomfortable until she took pity on him and took him home.

So perhaps it was for the best that Squall wasn't here this time. She could go and have a good time guilt-free.

Rinoa twirled in front of the mirror, giggling with pleasure at the way the fabric swirled, light glancing off the tiny glass beads.

Perfect.

*******

Irvine emerged from the shower to find Zephyr still lying naked on the bed among the wreckage. There was no sign of Duck.

"I saved some hot water," Irvine told him. "Can't believe they still ration it, man."

"We are in the desert," said Zephyr reproachfully.

"Oh, yeah. I keep forgetting. Do you have plans for today?"

Zephyr gave his lean body a luxurious stretch. "I'm fucked," he announced contentedly. "And on a rest day. Duck made me promise to clear up, though. You want to help?"

"Not particulary. But she has a point; the place is a tip."

"Yeah. I dunno how it gets this way. I only cleaned it up yesterday."

Irvine crossed to the bed and leaned in close, his hair dripping onto Zephyr's chest. "Because," he said, his lips just brushing Zephyr's, "we've spent the last twenty four hours getting wrecked."

"Oh, I don't know." Zephyr's tongue darted out to tease Irvine's lips. "We must have slept some."

"I guess." Irvine closed the gap and kissed him, tongue sliding easily into his mouth. Slow and steady, creating a low burn in his belly.

"You'll cripple me," Zephyr whispered against his mouth.

"Eventually." Irvine ran his hand down Zephyr's side to rest on his hip.

Zephyr groaned.

Irvine had one knee back on the bed, a hand planted by Zephyr's head, supporting his weight; his dick was hard and Zephyr's mouth was soft and yeilding. He was ready to let things slip away, to go back to the haze of pleasure he'd gorged himself on these last few days, when Zephyr pushed at his chest.

"What's up?" Irvine drawled, trailing his lower lip along Zephyr's jaw. "Had enough? Did I wear you out?"

"I hate to say this." Zephyr shuddered as if to emphasise the point, just snatching Irvine's wrist in time before he reached his cock. "But you should go report for work. This isn't Balamb, man. Squall isn't here to do you favours if you call in once too often. And you're all out of relocation time."

Irvine knelt back on his heels with a sigh. "Shit."

"I know." Zephyr stroked his thigh, kissed his knee, looked up at him with piercing blue eyes that meant business. "But it's what you came here for, remember?"

"Squall didn't exactly do me favours," Irvine mumbled, picking bits off the counterpane.

"How's Selphie?" said Zephyr gently.

"She's okay. She's going out for lunch today, that's good, right?"

"You mean she might eat something?"

"To be honest, leaving the room for anything other than training is good"

Zephyr watched him, idly stroking a pattern on his knee.

"I'm out of my depth, a bit," Irvine admitted, eventually. "She's not exactly co-operating, kinda... I think she's better here than she was at Balamb, I mean, at least she has started training, but I'm no closer to finding out what's wrong with her."

"Maybe you should spend more time with her, man."

"You trying to get rid of me?" Irvine gave Zephyr a weak grin. "First it's work, now Selphie..."

"You know I'm not. The past few days have been wild."

"But...? There is a but, right?"

"You came here for a reason."

"This was part of the reason."

"Only part. You could've had this and still worked at Balamb. You can't hide forever, man."

Irvine sighed. "You're right. Shit, yeah. You're right."

Zephyr gave him a hug, fist thumping into Irvine's back, a kiss landing on his neck. "You'll figure it out. But I think maybe you need to get out of bed to do that."

"Yeah, yeah. You're right."

Zephyr stroked his index finger down Irvine's arm, lingering at the ticklish spot on the inside of his elbow. "We're always pleased to see you, you know that."

"Oh yeah. I know. After all, it's not like you exactly kick me out of bed."

"Never!" Zephyr exclaimed, as if such a thought was heresy.

"Oh, Zef," said Irvine, softly. "I wish I knew what the fuck I was doing."

"You'll figure it out. And if I was you, I'd start with work."

"Okay. Well, that sounds manageable."

Irvine gave Zephyr a quick kiss on the lips, then retreated from the bed and started to find clothes to put on. They were pretty much clean: he tended not to wear much around Duck and Zephyr.

"You probably don't want to hear this," Zephyr said, tugging a mostly-dry towel from the radiator. "But be careful with Selphie, okay?"

"Yeah, I know. I could do more harm than good-"

"I was thinking more that you could get yourself hurt."

Irvine looked up from putting his socks on, surprised. "I don't expect anything. It's not like that."

Zephyr shot him a smile. "Ah, that's okay, then."

But he didn't sound convinced.

*******

Rinoa waited for Selphie in the huge entrance hall just inside Galbadia garden. She strolled around, watching cadets and SeeDs come and go, trying to block out the idiotic muzak that tinkled through the speakers. It felt very different to Balamb, much more relaxed and casual, for all that things weren't so comfortable. The place was stark and functional, more military than Balamb with its almost academic atmosphere. But there wasn't the same tension in the air.

Or maybe the piped music was doing something weird to her brain and making her think it was that way. It was still a Garden, after all. Things couldn't be all that different.

She spotted Selphie at last, waving at her across the hall. She was carrying a picnic basket almost as big as she was. Rinoa waved back, and ran across the space between them to take her friend in a huge hug. Selphie dropped the basket, her little arms tight around Rinoa's body. Rinoa drank in the scent of Selphie's hair, suddenly aware of just how much she'd missed her. And for more then just the week or so she'd been in Galbadia.

"Wish you'd told me you were going away," she murmured.

"It was a bit sudden," said Selphie. "Come on, let's get out of here. There's a spot outside where we can sit and talk."

Rinoa followed Selphie out of the main doors and down the entrance path, across the parched lawn to a little archway. Beyond was a garden of gravel and stone, with a tiny pebble fountain. It was an odd, detatched sort of place, fenced in wood the colour of the Galbadian desert. Selphie led her to a semicircle of benches at one end, and settled the picnic basket between them.

"This is lovely," Rinoa said. "So peaceful."

Selphie nodded. "I've been coming here a lot. It's usually quiet during the day, the SeeDs are all busy and it's out of bounds to cadets."

"I should think Irvine loves it."

"Yeah, you'd think, wouldn't you?" Selphie looked sincerely puzzled for a moment, then dismissed the thought with a shrug of her shoulders. She took the lid off the basket and took a bottle of water out of the chill compartment. "So, what in Hyne's name are you doing in Deling, then?"

"Just taking a break. What are you doing in Galbadia?"

"Same, I guess. To be honest, I don't know, I just needed to get out of Balamb."

"I heard about Xu. I'm so sorry." Rinoa gave Selphie's hand a little squeeze.

"It's okay." Selphie rummaged around in the basket. "I brought strawberries. You still like strawberries?"

"Of course."

"Is she okay?" Selphie's voice so quiet Rinoa hardly heard it.

"I haven't seen her. Quisty said she's working crazy hours. She must miss you like mad."

"Ah well. It can't be helped. Oh, and there's those little bread rolls you like so much, the ones with cinnamon and chocolate. You want one?"

"Thanks." Rinoa took the offered bun and took a bite. It was delicious; suddenly she realised how hungry she was. She was pleased to see Selphie take one too, even if she did nibble on it like a mouse. "I'm sorry I wasn't around more, these past few months. I had no idea things were that bad for you."

"It's okay. So, why are you really here? Did something happen with your father?"

"No, not him, it's more... it's Squall."

Selphie raised an eyebrow.

"We had a row."

"What about?"

"Well, it was sort of... mostly it was because he didn't tell me Irvine had left."

"Ah. And Irvine didn't tell you either."

"No. I mean, for fuck's sake. Men!"

Selphie laughed. It made Rinoa feel warm inside; it had been so long since she'd heard Selphie laugh.

"You're not wrong," Selphie said. "Irvy's sorry, you know. I know it was sort of sudden, but he had his reasons, I guess."

"Sure, but why just go off without even saying goodbye? Not even a phone call!"

"I didn't say goodbye either," Selphie pointed out.

"That's different. You were upset. Besides, it's not like you're gone forever. You know he's transferred permanently?"

"Yeah. But, you know, Rin.... don't hate me for saying this, but maybe this is what he needs. He hasn't really felt at home at Balamb for a while now. You must have noticed he was coming back less and less."

"Yes, of course, but why? What's wrong with Balamb?"

Selphie fiddled with a strawberry, pulling the tiny leaves off the stalk one by one as she considered her answer. She tried to start a couple of times before she finally said, "I think maybe he needs things Balamb can't give him."

"Like what?"

"Sex," said Selphie, and popped the strawberry in her mouth.

Rinoa stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing.

Selphie shrugged and grinned.

"They have women at Balamb too," said Rinoa. "What's so special about..." Her eyes went wide. "Oh! Do you mean you and he-"

"No, no, we're strictly friends. You must have heard about Duck and Zephyr?"

"His friends from way back? Yeah, of course."

Selphie shrugged.

"You mean...?"

"Yup. They keep our Irvy very happy. And his stupid Guardian."

"Ether? But... oh."

Rinoa let that thought settle in her head for a moment, not quite sure how she felt about it.

"There's probably more to it," Selphie was saying. "He hasn't said, but I don't think things have been right for him for a while. Not since... well, not for a long time. Here, have another bun."

Rinoa found herself staring at the cinammon bun in her hand, her head whirling as things slotted into place. "I never really thought about it like that."

"Irvy was never the type to settle down, was he? I can't imagine him sitting through endless meetings like Squall, or always eyeing the next rung up the ladder like your average career SeeD. He's not into teaching like Quisty or Zell. So what's the point? He's just a good-time boy at heart. And Zephyr and Duck are all about the good times."

"But... It's not as if Squall likes meetings. He puts up with them because it's his duty."

"That's the difference, see. Squall has a real strong sense of duty. Irvy doesn't."

"But Ultimecia..."

"That wasn't duty. That was Squall. He did it for Squall. We all did."

Rinoa chewed on her bun, hardly tasting it. "So," she said eventually. "He isn't likely to come back, then?"

"Hard to say. Right now he seems happy enough."

"With this Duck woman."

"And Zephyr, yes. He's known them a long time."

Rinoa was aware of Selphie watching her, appraising her reaction. "I'm not jealous," she said, quickly. "It's up to him what he does. I'm just annoyed he didn't tell me, is all. And even more annoyed with Squall."

Squall felt suddenly like a much safer area for discussion. She wrenched the cap off the bottle of water Selphie passed her, and took a gulp.

"Because he didn't tell you about Irvy?" said Selphie.

"Yeah. Mostly."

"... And?"

"Well...." Rinoa considered for a moment, tracing the outline of the label on her water bottle. "It's nothing, really."

"What is?"

"Just... it's typical, this whole Irvine thing. He never tells me anything. He never thinks I might have an opinion, or be able to help. He tries to deal with everything on his own, shuts everyone else out."

"That's our Squall."

"I suppose. It's just..."

"You thought he might have changed by now?"

"I thought he might have changed with me, yes. We've been together for years. I'm a SeeD myself. Why can't he trust me?"

"I don't think he trusts anyone, sweetie. It's not just you. And maybe, in that warped kind of Squall-logic way, he's trying to protect you."

"I don't need protecting."

"Ah, but Squall won't see that. He sees himself as the protector of the whole world, after all."

"I know he has a lot of responsibilities. But that's... I mean, so did Xu. But she always seems to find time for you."

Selphie looked at her feet. "That's true, I guess."

"Oh, Selphie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean, I forgot for a minute, I-"

"It's okay. You know... actually, she seemed to have too much time for me, you know? She was always keeping an eye on me." Selphie let out a long sigh. "Always telling me what to do, what not to do, watching over me... it got a bit stifling."

"Is that why you came here?" said Rinoa gently.

Selphie shrugged, her gaze still fixed firmly on her shoes. "Kinda. That was part of it, anyhow."

"What a pair we are. I'm complaining my boyfriend doesn't take enough notice of me, and you think your girlfriend pays too much."

"Ah, well there's a difference." Selphie gave a sad little smile. "You're still with Squall. Me and Xu are over."

She looked unhappy, but in a distant, quiet sort of way, nowhere near as upset as Rinoa would imagine so soon after a break up. It was as if it had happened a long time ago.

"Isn't there any hope you could patch things up? You were so good together." But Rinoa already knew Selphie's answer. It was written all over her face, in that resigned melancholy.

"Nah. But you and Squall will. Just go back and talk to him. He's stubborn and a bit stupid when it comes to relationships, but anyone can see he loves you. You'll work it out."

Rinoa smiled; it was reassuring, and it felt true. But underneath her own comfort was a darker worry. She wanted to persuade Selphie that the same was true for her. That she was wrong about Xu, and that surely nothing had happened between them that they couldn't fix. But she knew Selphie didn't want to hear it. There was something dark and unreachable about Selphie's misery, and Rinoa didn't like the look of it at all. She was struggling to find the words to dig a little deeper when her phone rang.

It was Ness.

*******

Irvine sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, Exeter laid out carefully before him. He chose a soft cloth, lightly skimmed oil over its surface and started one of his favourite rituals. One piece at a time he lovingly stroked the dirt and grease away from each component. Then he'd oil the moving parts, spray-clean the electronics and carefully check for damage, for the next tiny improvement he could make. And while he cleaned his rifle, Irvine released Ether from junction and had a few thoughts to himself.

Selphie had been a demon in the training centre today.

Selphie in battle mode had always had a sense of ruthless glee about her. She attacked with intense bursts of energy, putting her best into every nunchaka swing, her magic a sparkling explosion. But she'd lost her spark over the past two years. Her energy had dwindled, so slowly that only those nearest to her had really noticed it. Even Irvine, who loved Selphie with his heart and soul, didn't want to mention it. It felt disloyal to do so. Besides, she still did the job. She killed to order, she played her part in her mission teams and it seemed petty to complain that she didn't seem to enjoy it any more.

Today, though... Selphie had enjoyed it, of that Irvine was certain. Absolutely certain. But it was nothing like the old times. Nothing at all.

There was no magic.

Not just because she wasn't junctioned - Selphie hadn't brought a Guardian with her and Irvine preferred not to junction Ether for fighting except in an emergency, and especially not around Selphie - it wasn't just the absence of power that marked a difference in Selphie's style. Everything about the way she fought had changed. She had a grit and determination she'd never shown before. It was savage, physical, barrage after barrage of nunchaka blows and even some hand-to-hand moves.

Irvine realised, as he watched her strangle a grat to death with her tiny bare hands, why Selphie was putting so much into training. She was practising new skills. She was changing everything about her fighting style. Everything.

Everything, that is, except for the bounce and smile she finished every battle with, turning to Irvine with a wink, looking for approval like a child. It had been endearing once, like the sparkle of her magic. Now, covered in grat innards, sickly green fluid dripping from her hands, it was anything but.

Irvine squinted down Exeter's barrel to check the sights. Perfect as always.

His gun clean, Irvine stopped and stretched for a minute. He rolled his shoulders gingerly: it had been a harder workout than he was used to. Much tougher without magic or Guardian power. He wasn't tempted by an elicit cure or a swig of elixir, though. It was an honest, meaningful sort of ache.

Besides, there were much better uses for the finest Galbadian elixir than curing wounds.

Irvine smiled to himself and set about reassembling his rifle. He'd just put the new trigger mechanism back together when there was a buzz on the door. It wasn't locked, and slid open straight away.

Duck leaned on one side of the door frame, slinky in brown leather skirt and vest, dark hair falling in a sleek ponytail over one shoulder.

"Hello," said Irvine, with a grin. He carried on with his work, despite the instant heat that pooled in his belly.

"Now that's what I like to see," Duck purred. "A man who knows how to look after his weapon."

"Better believe it, baby. You gonna come in, or just stand there looking like a cadet's wet dream?"

"Not stopping long." She stepped over the threshold and worked her way carefully around the various pieces of rifle to squat down behind Irvine. She began to massage his shoulders, fingers digging hard into muscles that could do nothing but quiver into relaxation under the onslaught.

Irvine rolled his head back and closed his eyes.

"I see you signed up for work," Duck said. "Good timing, looks like we've got ourselves a mission as a threesome tomorrow."

"My favourite kind." Irvine grinned.

"Naughty shotgun. Not that kind. The fighting kind. You, me and Zef, on the battlefield." Her lips brushed his ear. "Killing things."

Her breath was warm and Irvine let lust spread through him. A tiny whisper of what he felt when he was junctioned to Ether, but delicious just the same. "Sounds good. Where?"

"Just south of Deling. Guardian capture, for dearest Balamb. That's why they're sending you with us, my dearest Shotgun, you are our GF expert. Such a juicy mission." She traced his spine with one finger, the other hand still kneading the muscles at his neck. "We get a train ride, too, and a hotel to stay in overnight. And as if that wasn't enough," she licked his ear, pausing to suck briefly on it, "I happen to know a party we can crash tomorrow night. See, isn't that just perfect?"

"All that and a party too?" Irvine twisted around to kiss her mouth, nibbling on her lower lip. "You sure do things right in Galbadia."

"Better believe it, Sniper." Duck slithered around him, settling in his lap, facing him with her legs crossed neatly around his back. "You smell good. Gun oil and plasma shot."

Irvine buried his face in her hair and breathed deep. "Shampoo and rampant woman. You really not stopping long?"

"Depends. You gonna make it worth my while to stay?"

Irvine kissed her again, pulling her in close, enjoying the soft press of her breasts against his chest.

"Mmmm. You know, you can be very, very distracting, Shotgun."

"Pride myself on it."

She writhed in his lap, hips circling, thighs gripping.

"You're all hard," she whispered approvingly.

"Always." He ran one hand up her thigh, around her butt, dipped between her legs. "And you're all wet."

"Always."

"And you're not wearing knickers. I'm sure that's not proper uniform. You could get in trouble."

She grinned at him. "I hope so. Wanna show me the error of my ways, Captain? Show me what a naughty girl I am?"

"I should put you across my knee." Irvine sat up a little straighter, rubbing Duck's bottom with one cupped hand. He gave it an experimental smack. She squealed in delight and clenched her fingers on his shoulder. "Is that what you need? A bit of good old fashioned Balamb discipline?"

He smacked her again and she moaned, arching up against him. "Oh yes," she purred. "I'm such a naughty SeeD. I deserve what's coming to me. Give me what I need, Captain Kinneas. Right now."

Trying not to laugh, Irvine struggled to his feet and, grabbing Duck by the hand, staggered back to sit on the bed. He tossed her face down across his lap and lifted her skirt, smoothing his hand over her perfectly round, lush buttocks before giving each in turn a resounding slap. Then he slid his fingers along her slit, all slick and wet, almost but not quite slipping inside her, teasing.

She was giggling, and he'd just raised his hand to smack her again when the door slid open.

Irvine froze, Duck squriming on his lap, and Selphie just stared at him.

"Don't tease, Shotgun," Duck complained, wriggling around to look up at him. "I've been very.... oh."

"Sorry," said Selphie. "Am I interrupting something?"

"What does it look like?" Duck hauled herself off Irvine's lap, half-heartedly tugging down her skirt.

"I need to speak with Irvine," Selphie said, almost but not quite tripping over Irvine's rifle as she stepped into the room. "You can have him later."

"Hey," said Irvine mildly. "I'm not just a-"

"Keep him if you want," Duck said. "I've got a spare. Just make sure he gets to the station first thing in the morning, okay sweetie?" She gave Selphie a sickly-sweet smile on her way out.

Selphie snorted, watching the doors slide shut as Irvine adjusted his jeans and tried to get his head straight.

"You're not junctioned, are you?" she said.

"No, Ether doesn't like it, too close to real violence for..." He tailed off when he caught sight of her face. Too much information, obviously. She grimaced, and picked her way through the mess of gun oil and cleaning equipment to sit beside him on the bed.

"You okay?" Irvine asked.

Selphie gave a little shrug. "I guess."

"How's Rinoa?"

"Sulking. She had a row with Squall."

"What's he done now?"

"Ah, the usual. Just Squall being Squall. They'll be okay. She's in Deling with Zell and Ness. I think she's mostly forgiven you. You should call her."

"Yeah, well..." Irvine picked up Exeter's trigger assembly from the floor and fiddled with the mounting pins. "I dunno. It's not like she needs me, she can deal with Squall..."

Selphie smacked his hand, hard enough to leave a mark, not realising her own strength. Probably. "You know, you can be really thick sometimes. Not to mention a total drama queen. Get over yourself, Kinneas, and pick up the phone!"

But it wasn't that easy. Frustration and misery twisted in Irvine and he spoke without thinking. "Have you called Xu?"

There was a silence. Selphie's eyes flashed with pain that cut deep and flooded Irvine with regret. "No," she said. "It's over."

"Shit, Elf, I'm sorry. Hyne, how could I-"

She took a deep, shuddering breath and continued in a voice that was like a thin, fragile version of her usual self, "you'd better go feed your Guardian, right? Get him all fired up for tomorrow."

"Ether doesn't fight, and anyway he's pretty charged up. I was thinking maybe we could spend a bit of time together, maybe go hang out in the games room, have a few beers?"

"It's okay. Don't let me cramp your style, Cowboy."

"You're not."

"Well, okay then. I'll just go freshen up."

Irvine smiled at her as she bounced through to the tiny bathroom. So very much like the old Sephie. And yet so very, very different.

Irvine flopped back on the bed, and sighed.

*******

Rinoa arrived at Ness's apartment in Deling just as it was getting dark. Zell answered the door, looking pale and tired.

"Thanks for coming back early, Rin," he said. "Did you have a good time with Selphie?"

"Yes, thanks. It's no problem. Ness sounded so upset on the phone!" Rinoa followed Zell into the hallway, shrugging her coat off on the way. "Is she okay?"

"She's been pretty upset," Zell said. "She's in the bedroom, why don't you go on in and I'll get some tea or something."

He looked very lost and small, and for the first time since Ness's cryptic phone call Rinoa felt a flicker of panic. "What happened? Is anyone hurt?"

"No, no nothing like that," said Zell, and muttered something Rinoa couldn't quite catch as he turned towards the kitchen. Rinoa was about to run after him when she heard a sob from the direction of the bedroom.

The door was ajar; she stuck her head around. "Ness? What's the matter?"

Ness was lying face down on the bed, her face buried in pillows. She raised her head to see Rinoa. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

"Oh, you came back! Thank you Rin, you're a good friend, you're so…" She disolved into a fresh round of sobbing.

Rinoa sat on the bed and put an arm around Ness's shoulders, encouraging her to sit up. "Sweetheart, what is it?"

"It's my stupid father!" Ness gasped for breath between sobs.

"What's he done? Take a deep breath, it'll be okay."

"No it won't! Nothing will be okay ever again!"

"Hey, shhh. Perhaps we'd better start at the beginning, sweetie."

Ness sniffed loudly, prompting Rinoa to search for a handkerchief to hand her. "He said no," Ness said.

"To what?"

"To Zell! This morning! He said I couldn't marry Zell! Can you believe it?!"

Rinoa had to admit she was surprised. Ness seemed so confident, so assured it would all go just as she'd planned, that Rinoa hadn't even considered that there might be a problem.

" I'm so sorry," she said, putting an arm around Ness's shoulders.

"I mean," Ness continued, "I knew he might not be a hundred per cent happy, I know he wanted me to marry into the diplomatic service, or the army, but he always said..." There was a pause as Ness blew her nose noisily into Rinoa's handkerchief. "... always said so long as I was happy that's all that mattered, and Zell's a SeeD, it's not like he's just a nobody..."

"Perhaps he just needs some time," Rinoa soothed. "Let him get used to the idea."

There was another pause, another sniff, softer this time. "Perhaps..."

"Perhaps what, babe?"

"Oh, no, I couldn't ask. Forget I said anything." Ness managed a weak sort of smile.

"No, tell me. Can I help? Is there something I can do?"

"Well, it's just... do you think Squall could do something? I mean, Squall's an hero. Daddy doesn't mind SeeD or anything, it's just Zell's rank and the fact that he's an outsider... I'm sure Daddy might listen to Squall. If, maybe, Squall could explain about Zell's rank, how it's only because he's an instructor he's not advanced as fast as he could..." there was a new tremble to Ness' voice, and Rinoa's heart ached for her. It brought back all the fights she'd had with her own father, first of all over Seifer, then the Forest Owls, then Squall...

"I'm not sure," she confessed. "I'd love to help, but Squall..."

"Oh, I understand, no, no, that's fine," Ness sniffled. "I know Squall's difficult. I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry, Rin, I shouldn't-"

"It's not that," Rinoa said. "I-"

"No, it was a selfish thing to ask. I know you and Squall aren't on very good terms right now, and I don't want to make him angry with you..."

It wasn't that. It wasn't that at all: of all things Rinoa was absolutely not scared of Squall. She was more worried that he wasn't terribly good at social things and really didn't understand the niceties of Deling society. "I'm just afraid he might make things worse," she said with a little smile, stroking Ness's arm.

Ness sat a little straigher and wiped her eyes. "That's quite alright. I do understand. I wouldn't want to get between the two of you, and anyway, why would Squall care about me and Zell when he has the whole world to think about? I'm sorry I asked, Rin, please forgive me. Zell's leaving for Balamb straight after the party tomorrow night, so I suppose you'll have to go with him? Oh, dear, I don't know what I shall do without you! Daddy is such a bastard to do this to me..." Her voice trailed off into a hoarse whine.

"Oh, Ness, I'm so sorry... look, don't give up, okay?" Rinoa took a deep breath. "I'll ask Squall to help. I'll tell him exactly what to say to your father, and how to say it, and meanwhile I'll think as hard as I can to find another way if Squall fu-, um, in case it doesn't work. Okay?"

Ness's eyes went big and round. "Really?"

"Yes, really. I promise. Now, dry your eyes. I think Zell was making a drink or something. Why don't you take a nice warm bath with some of those oils we bought yesterday. We'll go to the party tomorrow and forget all this and have the great time, then I'll go back to Balamb with Zell and… well, one way or another we'll sort everything out. I promise."

Ness was smiling now, huge and grateful, her eyes swimming with fresh tears. "Oh Rin, thank you so much. You know, you're the best friend ever, what would I do without you?"

Rinoa was very firmly hugged, and if she was less than certain deep down inside that she could really get Squall to fix things, one look at Zell's relieved face in the doorway made her absolutely determined to try.

*******

"You remember that Imp by Lunatic Pandora? When Zell had been begging Squall all day to take one single handed, just to prove he could-" Selphie hiccuped, "'scuse me, and Squall finally gave in and in about thirty seconds Zell was all 'a little help guys?' and Squall wouldn't let us?"

Irvine laughed. "Just kept healing him until he finally killed the bastard. I don't think Zell ever forgave Squall for that."

"He didn't gloat, though. Which was good of him really, Zell had been such a pain."

"I don't think Squall knows how to gloat."

"Nah. He gloats plenty. He just does it on the inside."

Irvine took a minute to try and figure out how gloating on the inside might work. Selphie hiccupped again.

"Need more beer," she announced. "Back in a tick."

He watched her bounce off to the bar, a little unsteadily, weaving through the gaggle of SeeDs. Irvine leaned back in his seat and wondered if he could get away with rolling a joint. This was the senior games room, SeeDs only, and there was an unspoken rule that this was an area free of authority, so long as people more or less behaved themselves. He doubted that anyone would challenge him. But he was also pretty sure that Selphie would kick his ass if she saw him skinning up, so his little bag of grass stayed where it was in his coat pocket, and he sucked on his beer bottle instead.

Selphie wound her way back through the crowd and clattered four bottles on the table. She plonked herself down next to him and hiccupped again.

"This was a good idea," she said.

"Coming to the games room, you mean?"

"Yeah. Games room, Galbadia, all of it."

"I'm glad."

"We don't need stupid old Balamb."

"Not at all."

"They're all way too serious."

"Much."

"Save the world this, kill that, I mean ser'sly. What's the point?"

"No idea."

"Ha! I'll drink to that!" Selphie clinked her bottle against Irvine's and downed about half of it in one go.

It seemed to cure her hiccups.

"I do miss some things," said Irvine.

"What? I mean, what does Balamb have that isn't right here?" She waved one arm expansively to indicate their new home. "What?"

"The training centre's not as good."

"'s true! But wait! It's gonna be all spruced up, right?"

"You're right."

"See? Prob'ly be better than Balamb's then. Ha!"

Irvine smiled. "Then there's people."

"But Irvy, you got me! And your sex-friends."

"Selphie!"

"I'm not stupid. I know what you get up to, feeding that stupid Guardian."

Irvine made a strangled sort of noise.

"I don't miss anyone," said Selphie.

"You said how good it was to see Rinoa today."

"Oh. Yeah, well, Rin, of course, but she's not in Balamb right now so, see! Doesn't count." Selphie shook her head and waved her bottle. Beer foamed out of the top; she noticed just in time and licked it up with her little pink tongue.

"What about Xu?" said Irvine.

"It's over. What's to miss?"

"Is it really? Completely over?"

Selphie's face stilled, and adopted that cold, neutral expression that sent chills down Irvine's spine. Denial washing her soul away, sealing the bad feelings in tight, where they couldn't hurt her. But the alcohol made it harder for her to sustain. Her eyes suddenly filled with tears.

"It's okay," Irvine said softly, reached out and took her hand. She didn't brush him off for once; she curled her fingers around his and clung on as if her life depended on it. "It's okay that it hurts. We can fix it."

"There's nothing to fix. It's over," said Selphie, the tears spilling down her cheeks. "I can't lie to her any more."

"Lie? What about?"

"I... I changed."

"People change all the time, babe. It's not a crime."

"No, it's different. I mean... it was, I... shit, I can't think straight. How much have I drunked?"

Irvine supressed a smile. It was a long time since he'd seen a drunk Selphie and she was undeniably cute, even when she was so very sad.

"Doesn't matter. You okay?"

"Kinda. Yeah. I just...." she let out a long sigh. "I thought I'd forget, but I never do."

"Forget what, sweetheart?"

"What happened. You know. In that cave."

Irvine squeezed her hand. "I know. I can't forget it either."

"It's not like I'm possessed or anything, but sometimes when I wake up in the night it's like I can hear him, it, him, and I... it's that I couldn't stop it, Irvy. I couldn't stop it."

He brushed tears from her cheeks and slipped an arm around her shoulders, tugging her in close. "It's okay, Seffie. It can't reach you now."

"But.... they don't know. No-one knows what it's like in here." She tapped her forehead. "No-one knows. Xu, you, Squall... no-one."

Irvine did know, at least a little. He remembered all too vividly going into Selphie's mind at Squall's command; still remembered the black, writhing terror he'd found there. He remembered Selphie on her knees, begging him to take her life before Bane possessed her completely.

"Anyway, she couldn't deal with it."

"Did you ever talk it through?" Irvine's heart was pounding; it was a fight to keep his voice steady.

"We tried, at the start. It hurt her a lot, she's such a big silly about it, still thinks it's all her fault. Hard to get past that."

But she loves you. You should try. "I suppose it's a lot for her to deal with."

"Hm. This feels nice," Selphie murmured, nestling into Irvine's shoulder.

"Yeah," said Irvine. He stroked her hair, tentatively, not sure she would allow it. But she did, and she looked up at him, her eyes huge and innocent and full of tears, and before he knew it he was kissing her.

And more amazing still, she kissed him back, her lips slightly parted, breath coming in short puffs against his cheek. He threaded his fingers through her hair, soft as silk, just how he remembered. It was like a dream; his heart ached and he didn't dare to believe... shouldn't believe...

"Let's go back," she whispered.

"To Balamb?" He blinked in confusion.

"To your room, silly," she said, and then with a little smile, "our room."

All sorts of objections quarrelled in his head, all sorts of complications, but all Irvine could really feel was exhileration and an aching, desperate sort of hope. "If that's what you really want," he said.

"You're such a gentleman, Irvy." She giggled, and playfully smacked his leg.

Irvine opened his mouth, a hundred well-used and finely honed chat-up lines ready to be spoken. But he couldn't say anything. His throat was suddenly dry, his mind blank, panic and need fighting in his belly.

"Come on, Cowboy," said Selphie, her hand settling on his knee and moving in little circles.

It was all wrong. She'd been in tears a minute ago, and now she was - coming on to him? Was she, really? - and it didn't feel right. Only…

He could (would) think of a thousand excuses later on. But at that moment, Irvine wasn't thinking at all.

Selphie got up, giggling and dragging him to his feet, her tiny hands gripping his wrists with impossible strength, and all he could do was let her.

*******

Rinoa put down her book, turned out the light, and drifted into sleep.

There was a castle, with impossibly high sandstone walls and a maze of staircases leading nowhere. In the inner courtyard was a fountain, and a well, and a pool of water full of crystals, and for some reason Rinoa had to choose.

"Be quick," the old man told her. "Or the thread will break."

Rinoa filled with panic, and thought of Squall. She felt ashamed. Squall would not hesitate. Squall would know.

"Too slow," said the old man; the ground gave way underneath her and she fell.

The dungeon was familiar; walls of brushed steel, a smell of antiseptic and manacles on the walls. D-Prison at Galbadia, where Seifer had tortured Squall and Zell.

"Seifer?" She span around, searching, and had almost convinced herself she was alone when she saw a shadowy figure approaching her from the corner.

"Princess," Seifer said. "You made the wrong choice."

"You can do what you like, I'm not scared. I'm a sorceress, remember? A prison can't hold me for long."

"Oh, you're not a prisoner." And he was up close now, thumb brushing her cheek, hand cupping her jaw, cold blue eyes regarding her with a sneer. "This place is your domain. You're the jailer. The executioner. The Queen."

He backed off with a deep bow and a flourish, power crackling from his fingertips.

"Rubbish," said Rinoa.

"You made your choice," said Seifer.

"I didn't! There wasn't time, it happened too fast, and then-"

"You're here, aren't you?"

Rinoa looked up at the ceiling, expecting to see the trap door through which she must have fallen. But there was nothing there, just a cold sheet of steel. There were no doors in the walls, either, no windows.

She was trapped in a cold metal box.

"The first prisoner, my Queen," said Seifer. "Now, let's make him scream."

There were tools in her hands: a tazer and a wand that crackled with her own power. She turned slowly to see their victim chained to the once-empty wall.

"It's you," she said. "I didn't expect you."

His mouth twisted into a grin more evil than she had ever imagined him capable of.

"I know," he snarled. "I didn't think you'd get here, either. Too bad you won't be staying."

Rinoa awoke with a start, breathing hard, forcing herself to focus on her surroundings, bring herself back to the real world, to this place, this time, away from-

And just like that, the dream was gone.

*******

They mostly fell through the door of Irvine's room and collapsed on the bed in a fit of giggles. He couldn't remember why they were laughing, and it didn't seem to matter. As soon as they hit the bed she started stripping off his clothes, kissing his face and neck in a frenzy. It was all going far too fast, but he couldn't seem to stop her. Didn't dare. Hardly dared breathe, in case this was all a dream. Or in case she changed her mind. Came to her senses.

"Do you ever think," she said in quick, panting breaths as she fumbled with his shirt buttons. "Do you ever think this was how it was supposed to be? That things are going full circle because you can't really change time, and destiny?"

"You mean from the time Xu..."

"Ether," she said, the venom in her voice dark enough that Irvine could feel Ether's defensive reaction even without a junction. "That's when it went wrong. It wasn't B-Bane, it was the day you drew Ether, and after, that's when it all got screwed up."

Irvine frowned, vainly grasping for reason through a haze of lust and alcohol and other, complicated feelings he didn't even want to glance at. "Can't turn the clock back, Sugar," he said eventually.

"Guess it doesn't matter now anyhow," said Selphie, and tugged at a button so hard it pinged off and ricocheted off the opposite wall.

They collapsed in a fresh fit of giggles. She tickled his bare ribs, straddled him and pinned him down with feeble, laughter-weakened arms. It was easy to roll her over, except that he forgot it was a standard issue single bed, not the big one he'd had at Balamb, so they both ended up on the floor, Irvine on top.

"Shit!" He took his weight off her, propping himself up on his hands and knees. "You okay?"

She nodded, still breathless from laughing. Her cheeks were pink and her lips were wet, and Irivne didn't care any more whether this was real or not. He just wanted her.

She twined her fingers around a few strands of hair that had escaped from his ponytail, and brushed her face with the ends. Irvine's laughter subsided and he dipped his forehead to touch hers.

"Irvy," she whispered, "I..."

He kissed her. Long and slow, his heart pounding when she kissed him back.

Things moved fast after that. They struggled out of their clothes, or enough of them, at any rate, and he knelt between her thighs, her legs wrapping tight around him. He buried his face in her neck to hide his tears and slid inside her, softly stroking one small, perfect breast. She arched under him, she made little sounds, just like he remembered; and when she came she bit her lip so hard it left a mark for the longest time.

When he came, he thought he'd break.

Afterwards they lay there on the floor, Irvine on his back with Selphie scooped into his arms, and he stroked her hair. He wanted it forever, for always, and all the while neither of them spoke, it would be.

But at the same time, if he never spoke, he would never know.

"Seffie," he said, his voice choked. "What-"

"Shhhh." She put a finger to his lips. "Not now, Cowboy. Not now."

"Okay." He kissed the finger that lingered near his mouth, nuzzled her hand. "But tomorrow...."

"Sleep first," she said.

"The bed," he croaked. "Should get into bed."

She looked around, as if realising for the first time that they were lying on the floor. "Okay."

He stood on jelly-legs and turned down the sheets; then he picked Selphie up and tossed her down on the mattress amid fresh squeals of laughter.

For ever, for always. For Irvine, just for now, it could be.

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