Warning: Indeed, sexual content because I couldn't resist in this last chapter.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Fornication Grounds

Seifer was both annoyed by and grateful for the waking morning light that seemed to demand he not go back to sleep. Blinking, his eyes felt tired. Another hour in bed was exactly what he needed, just to rest his eyes and watch over the remainder of Squall's sleep.

Shifting carefully, his lips ghosted over the Squall's forehead. Now a steadily growing habit, he woke earlier than usual just to lay with the young man's warm body held close. Similarly, if he weren't too tired at night, he'd wait until the brunet was asleep before nodding off. Sometimes it was easier to whisper sweet nothings while his unromantic kitten couldn't make faces of disapproval. There was also the added benefit of occasionally repeating himself while Squall was awake and watching stormy blue eyes gaze at him thoughtfully, wondering if his words had been spoken before.

Suddenly reminded of the power the subconscious could have, he grinned. Leaning close, the ex-knight quietly murmured, "Marry me." Fingering a length strand of silky brown hair, he continued, "We're in love, we should be married."

"Nnh," came the sleepy reply. Furling closer, Squall buried his face against the crook of Seifer's neck, a quiet inhale of satisfaction threatening to give the blond a morning hard on.

Swallowing thickly, Seifer willed his twitching member to settle down. He doubted he'd ever become accustomed to Squall's oblivious acceptance of his touches. Once continually struggling out of his hold even in sleep, the brunet now kept as close as possible as if there was no warmth from the blanket.

It was a difficult task not to take advantage of the situation when a lean thigh was pressed right against his manhood. Swaying on the verge of giving in to his desires, so easily done when one of his legs was possessively thrown over both of Squall's, he conversed with his inner angel and demon on proper conduct in such a situation. At length, his body spoke up, grinding against the firm body in his hold, defending the sanctity of a young man's libido.

"Use the bathroom," came the sleepy reprimand. It couldn't be determined whether or not Squall was actually awake, quite possibly capable of fending off advances even in sleep after dealing with the spoiled blond on a daily basis.

"But you feel so much nicer," Seifer returned, his voice placating. It would be a shame to jerk off in the bathroom and waste an orgasm like that.

"I'm sore," Squall stated. Without even moving from his place he knew his body was sore. While he was in good shape, he was not a marathon runner and certain muscles just weren't used to traveling great distances by foot. Aside from that, Seifer had been completely horny even after their shower last night and while it had been easier after being stretched by their first rut in the bathroom, it was no soothing experience the morning after.

"We have potions," the blond returned, grinding against the lithe figure once more.

"Hyne Seifer, can I at least wake up first?" Squall bit out in the best angry voice he could muster when his annoyance was actually minimal.

"Of course," Seifer assured. "Do you want breakfast first?" He wasn't wholly without consideration for his kitten.

"Not hungry," Squall murmured, pulling away to lie on his back. With a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes once more.

"You feeling alright?" Seifer questioned with a hint of serious concern that he couldn't quite mask.

Startled by the question and the tentative hand that brushed along to rest on his forehead, grey-blue eyes stared for a long moment. "I'm fine," he assured, wondering what he'd done to indicate otherwise.

Shaking his head, Seifer felt like groaning at his unnecessary concern. Turning away from piercing eyes, he noticed his forgotten bag of fruit on the floor. Casting the blanket aside, cursing at the uncomfortable chill, he stood up. A little more quickly than his ego would have liked, he rushed back to the bed with his parcel of food.

When the brunet chuckled softly, he glared at the amused creature. Selecting a Meridian at random, he bit into it before trapping his unsuspecting quarry. It only took a bit of coaxing before plush lips parted for him. With a slip of his tongue he shared his bite, pulling back to lap escaped juices from Squall's chin.

"That was uncalled for," Squall muttered after safely swallowing. He frowned as Seifer stored the partly eaten fruit back in the bag as if it wouldn't spoil within the hour.

"And yet entirely necessary," Seifer hummed, once more kissing soft lips. While he doubted Squall noticed, their good mornings kisses were almost ritualistic and often quite unique.

Not wholly unaffected by the sweet flavor, Squall ran his tongue along Seifer's. His body reacted without even consulting his brain, accepting every advance that managed to breach his defenses. His hands crept along the firmly muscled back of the ex-knight, nails digging into warm skin when the man atop him ground down.

Setting a steady pace of undulating motions, Seifer gave them both a pleasurable friction as their hardening lengths rubbed together. He groaned when lean legs quickly spread, beckoning him closer. Leaving rouged lips behind, he nipped at the bottom lip in farewell before trailing lower. Responding to his direction, Squall's head leaned back, exposing that pale neck like an awaiting pallet for dark marks of claim. His sultry minx had mastered the art of seduction without even knowing it, and it made his blood heat.

"Seifer," Squall called out, eyes closing as he arched back. One of his hands shifted, his fingers seeking out soft blond strands. As Seifer sucked hard on his pulse, he gasped at the coursing shivers that ran through him.

Grazing his teeth along bruised skin, Seifer pulled back a bare inch and spoke huskily, "Tell me what you want." Stilling his movements, he waited for a reply, insisting that he receive one.

"I want you to finish what you started, bastard," Squall hissed, sorely missing the rough friction against his erection.

"That is terribly unromantic, kitten. You could at least say it with a desperate moan, maybe beg for me to fill you," Seifer returned with light scrutiny.

"Hyne, if you keep spouting nonsense I'll be the one in the bathroom," the brunet hissed out.

Quirking a brow, Seifer reached between them and grasped Squall's length, suddenly understanding the impatient nature of the boy. Taking pity and responsibility, he returned his focus to marking his territory along hollow of the brunet's throat and along the collar. Reluctant to forgo proper lubrication, he couldn't deny that the most beautiful screams came when it was a rough entry.

Seifer groaned when the fingers he pressed against pout lips were immediately drawn in and gently sucked on. Progressing lower along Squall's chest, he laved his tongue about a pert nipple. Abusing the hardened nub until he wrought a small whimper from the brunet, he simply redirected his focus to the other one. As his fingers were drawn further into the boy's mouth, he pulled them out a bit before pushing them back in, mimicking the action he'd soon be doing to the brunet's tighter entrance.

Eventually drawing his fingers from Squall's mouth, Seifer watched in fascination as slick lips remained parted as if missing the presence of something to suck on. Shaking his head, the ex-knight kept his thoughts from becoming too lewd, lest he meet an embarrassingly early end.

"Seifer," Squall called out, his tone encouraging haste.

"I know," the blond assured as he pressed the first finger against the young man's puckered entrance.

All too soon Squall was writhing with unspoken need. Confident in knowing what Squall could take, Seifer settled in place and slowly nudged inside the panting beauty just enough to stay on course. Taking a brief moment, he put a little more force behind his next nudge inward.

At the sharp entry, Squall gave a stifled cry of pain. At the point of needing a moment to stretch, he arched as his body seemed to not care about the pain but his mind made certain he didn't react too hastily. His attention was focused solely on the searing heat splitting him in painful ecstasy.

Seifer grasped the back of bent knees and spread Squall's legs wider, pushing in further as he leaned close. Feeling as though he would lose his mind if he didn't begin moving, he distracted himself with the younger man's inviting mouth.

Receptive to the kiss for as long as he could stand to have Seifer inside him without moving, Squall turned his head away when he couldn't take it any longer. "Move," he urged in a pant.

"Patience princess," Seifer quieted with a kiss against the soft lid of the panting brunet's eye. Nuzzling soft hair, he tightened his grip on the underside of Squall's knees in warning. Drawing out a bit, he pushed back in as far as tight heat would let him without excessive force. It was less lubricated than normal, even less so than when they had water pouring over them.

"Nngh," came the stifled sound of pain with a wincing expression. Before the blond could fret over his condition, Squall bit out, "Stop with those damn names."

"They're pet names, kitten. We've been over this." Seifer admonished, cutting short any reply with a well aimed thrust. It was easy to set a pace when he had his kitten's claws digging into his back to inform him what felt best. The only down side was that the better he made Squall feel, the harder those fingers raked over his back.

Rocking in and out, Seifer eventually loosed his grip on lean legs. Shifting, he managed to take hold of Squall's arms and pull them away. He twined their fingers, propping himself up on his arms for better leverage while still giving the younger man something to squeeze until the pain receded enough. Squall seemed to understand even if nothing but pants and moans came from parted lips. Spread legs raised for him, but before they would wrap around his waist, he fell into the sweet surrender of fucking the brunet raw.

Almost certain that the rest of the inn must have been shaking along with the unstable bed, Seifer was content enough when no one came barging in to make sure they were both alive. He couldn't imagine the bed lasting past another couple rounds of sex, but there were countless surfaces upon which he longed to screw Squall, so it would merely open other doorways.

Perhaps becoming entirely sensitive to his touch, the would-be ice prince desperately writhed beneath him with heightened need. With reminding thoughts that only he could elicit such strong reactions from Squall, that only his touch sent shivers through that lithe body, he came shortly after hearing the arching kitten's cry of ecstasy.

Still sore and stiff, the two panting bodies sunk into the mattress, one squished beneath the other.

Arms spread wide, still holding Seifer's hands, Squall relaxed under the familiar weight. While it was rather cold in the room, the blond knight was draped over him in place of a blanket. "Don't get used to it, I won't always indulge you," he stated defiantly.

"I wasn't the only one being indulged," Seifer whispered with an arrogant smirk against soft chocolate hair.

"…" While an array of cold retorts came to mind, Squall conceded that anything he said would easily be turned against him when the ex-knight's softened penis was still inside of him.

"It's cold," Seifer complained, blindly reaching about for the forgotten blanket. Managing to draw it up, but only after removing himself from atop and within Squall, he flopped back down and made to draw the brunet close.

As strong arms encircled his waist, Squall pulled away.

"Come on, just a quick nap. An hour, tops," Seifer pleaded, reaching to grab the escaping man at the last moment and yanking him back to bed.

"We have to get started, go into town, investigate the incidents," Squall stated evenly, eyeing his stomach with annoyance. Now needing another shower, he was reluctant to just lie in bed.

Rolling his eyes, Seifer took the corner of the blanket and swiped the mess of splattered release from Squall's stomach, not really caring about the bit that was on his own. With brash confidence that he'd be getting his way, he drew the resistant man close and settled in behind the naked body, pressed flush against it. "Don't complain about the other mess, 'cause I know you love the way it feels, sticky and warm inside you," the blond breathed seductively into the scowling boy's ear.

Stilling his struggles, not quite at the point where he felt it necessary to put effort into trying to break free, Squall said, "I'm not tired."

"Sex makes everyone tired, even stubborn Commanders who won't admit to loving it just as much as their godly partner."

"We came here for a reason, and it wasn't to stay in bed all day," Squall said firmly.

"This is our first day alone, and you want to put work as a top priority?" Seifer questioned in disbelief, still not relenting his hold.

With a scoff, Squall pointed out, "You put sex at the top of your list." His implication obviously being that Seifer had already gotten to put a checkmark next to the number one, and it was now his turn.

"Tit for tat, I see," Seifer said in understanding. "However," he continued, once more throwing the blanket over their exposed forms and trapping pale legs with one of his own, "Sex has never been my top priority. You are at the top of my list with no threat to that placing."

In silence, Squall took an embarrassed moment where his cheeks heated and his eyes closed in hope that Seifer didn't see the look on his face. "Idiot," he returned, unable to criticize the knight's constant use of overly sweet sentiments when they made his heart beat faster.

------

Giggling laughter filtered out from the closed bathroom door off of Irvine's sparsely furnished bedroom. Casually sprawled out on his single bed, the gunman ran a hand through loose auburn hair and smirked. His little lady was up to something good this time. He'd been waiting about ten minutes for her to finish up in the bathroom, her amused laughter sounding so often that he could hardly contain the urge to barge in there.

"Darlin', either you come out or I come in," he drawled lazily, his smirk only widening when Selphie began to laugh uncontrollably.

"Do you have a camera?" she called out, excitement evident in her voice.

Swallowing thickly, Irvine glanced around frantically. "Not in the immediate vicinity. Is this something I'll wanna remember?"

"Oh yeah," Selphie chimed merrily. "I ordered a special something from one of your magazines. It's smaller than I imagined, but I think I look pretty hot!"

Eyes widening at the sudden realization of what had been in the shopping bag Selphie had brought with her, Irvine shot up from his reclining position. "Give me two minutes!" he announced, rushing from the room to find the nearest camera. He couldn't fathom why his little lady hadn't brought one.

The neatly stacked boxes of belongings were quickly tossed about as violet eyes raked over the messily scrawled writing of each box's contents. He'd find a camera if he had to run to the cadet's dormitory and steal one.

------

Standing side-by-side, Seifer and Squall stared at the rocky surface of a dead end. Inside the supposedly haunted cave at the base of Mt. Yeril, they'd navigated various paths, marking on their progress down on paper. Armed with nothing but their respective gunblades and flashlights, there was a confidence that as two of the greatest fighters in existence, they didn't need anything more.

"Is this a joke?" Seifer questioned, approaching the rock wall with a flashlight, searching around for some sign that indicated their time hadn't just been wasted.

"Careful where you step," Squall chastised, his flashlight focused on the ground. When his eyes fell across the unmistakable track marks of an adult Chocobo, he groaned in annoyance. "Dammit," he cursed.

"Do you think they'll try and charge us just as soon as we exit?" Seifer muttered with equaled annoyance.

It was dark in the cave, pitch black for the last few twists and turns they'd taken. The occasional echo of pattering feet in the distance had been their target. Assuming they were closing in on the source, they'd stumbled across a dead end. It was now apparent that the cave was some maze and the pattering was the sound of a loose Chocobo.

"I'm beginning to understand why you don't like those birds," Seifer murmured, backing away from the wall in defeat. "There aren't even any monsters in here." He rubbed his sheathed blade with longing.

"It's a maze," Squall reminded.

"Yeah, but still- oh, I see. Never mind." Not just any old maze, but a manmade attraction that was kept free of dangerous monsters so that the locals and rare visitors could have a jolly old time running around and getting scared by the sound of a giant yellow bird running into walls in the distance. "That's fucked up. Is this some sort of town joke? Send the newbies into the cave and see if they shit themselves?"

"…" Not bothering with a reply, Squall wondered if it was overreacting to light a few sticks of dynamite and see if the cave held up. "Let's go," he mumbled.

"Does that mean there are no Guardian Forces here?" Though the answer was obvious, Seifer felt the need to say it with a tone of complaint.

"Unless it's the king of the Chocobos, I doubt it," Squall replied evenly.

"So that's it? We came all this way for a crap maze and birds that can't even fly?" Seifer questioned incredulously. "I spent all those nights sweet talking you into bed, prying you away from that damn computer and this is where all that research got us?"

Frowning at the exaggeration of the amount of time he'd spent searching for a likely location, Squall defended, "It was a guess. I never said anything was for certain. We might spend the next twenty years going all over the place and never find anything."

"I'm choosing the next location," Seifer stated, sidling up close and draping his arm around the brunet's back while they slowly backtracked.

Lips pressed tightly together, Squall glared at the partially completed map in hand.

"What, you don't think I could do better?" Seifer queried, not even needing to see the expression on the younger man's face to know what it was.

"It's fine," Squall conceded. "Just don't go by the number of sex shops."

"Cute kitten, real cute," Seifer muttered, hand snaking down to grope the brunet's ass.

"Dollet's clock tower is rumored to be haunted, it was another likely lead," Squall spoke in suggestion.

"Dollet, huh?" the blond said in thought. "We might be able to have free meals from Mike and I happen to know for a fact there's a sex shop there with a customized line of toys you'd love."

"Seifer," Squall hissed in disapproval.

"I'm not saying I was in the market for anything, but I saw something things in their window display that I know you'd enjoy."

"If you buy it, you can use it on yourself," Squall informed flatly.

Silent for some time after, Seifer eventually admitted, "I'm just joking. The sex shop thing really isn't my style." When the brunet's pace hitched in response, and he could feel stormy blue eyes looking at him, he stopped. Clicking the flashlight off, he pulled Squall closer and kissed soft lips gently. "There's nothing I'll ever push you too far on," he whispered.

Hesitating for a moment, Squall eventually replied, "I know." Swept away by the warm embrace and gently coaxing kiss, he didn't even register the uneven surface of the cave's wall as he was pressed up against it.

------

"Ah, Greta, he's on the counter again," a young blond cadet called out.

Quietly humming to herself with a permanent smile on her face, the high-spirited chef turned to wave a finger at the nearby cat. "Gabriel," Greta chastised, "Get down."

Rushing in from the cafeteria's entrance, Rui scoured the premise. "Sorry," he apologized, closing in on the wandering feline. "Come here," he said before picking the lazing cat up.

"It's okay," the head chef assured. "Tracy, would you wipe the counter down?" she requested, her dough-covered hands keeping her from doing it herself.

"Sure thing," Tracy declared, moving towards the back for cleaning supplies.

"Hot dogs!" Zell cried as he bound into the kitchen, making beeline for his wife.

Smiling as she continued kneading the sticky dough in front of her, Greta waited for Zell to reach her. She knew it was almost time to start serving breakfast when Zell arrived.

Taking a moment to relish the view of his wife, Zell approached the red haired woman and hugged her. "Morning baby," he greeted. "So, hot dogs for lunch today."

Worrying her lip in an attempt to stop smiling too much, she nodded that they were indeed having hot dogs for lunch.

"Are we still up for seeing Ma this weekend?" the spiky haired fighter questioned.

"Yes," she replied, a laugh escaping her as she did so.

Smiling at his wife's odd behavior, Zell inquired, "You seem particularly happy this morning. What's up baby?"

Shrugging at the ticklish feel of Zell's nuzzling face, Greta laughed louder.

"This must be good. Come on, tell me. No, wait, let me guess."

"Okay, guess," she urged. Reaching a hand up she threatened to pat his head and laughed when he jumped back.

Hopping from foot to foot, Zell thought about it. Opening his mouth several times to answer, he repeatedly stopped himself short and shook his head. At length, he ceased his movements and slouched over with slumped shoulders. Defeated, he spoke, "I don't know baby, I'm terrible at these games."

Tempted for a moment to inform her energetic hubby that he hadn't even tried, Greta let her own excitement win instead. "I might be pregnant,"

Following a long and silent moment of shock, the unsuspecting chef was spun about so quickly that she couldn't determine up from down. The loud cries of 'yeah baby!' brought a concerned crowd into the kitchen, and a giggling blond cadet who had been wondering why Greta couldn't stop smiling all morning.

------

Eyes closed and head slumped back to rest on Seifer's shoulder, Squall took a moment to catch his breath. Seated in the ex-knight's lap, he resisted the urge to shift into a more comfortable position. As it was, he was relishing the feeling of having Seifer inside of him. It was something he quite enjoyed, even if he'd never admit to it outright.

"Here," Seifer whispered, bringing his hand up to Squall's mouth. With no light, he better enjoyed the feel of his kitten's tongue lapping away the spent seed from his fingers, determined to leave no mess behind.

Wincing slightly as the blond slid out of him, Squall felt around for his discarded pants, knowing he'd lost his pants in the same vicinity as his flashlight. Seifer turned a light on before he managed to find what he was looking for. He glared when the blond shined the light directly on him in a way that hindered more than helped.

Seifer grinned as he watched the half naked brunet brusquely dress once more. "Don't you look violated," he commented with mirth.

"Hnn," Squall intoned, hardly amused. Though the comment did serve to remind him that he was in a rather disheveled state even with his pants back on. Running fingers through mussed hair, he attempted to settle the strands at least a little. If his white t-shirt was wrinkled or smeared with dirt, he was of little concern when there really wasn't any public appearance to maintain.

"I think we scared the bird off," Seifer said with a laugh. "I hope no one heard or I might go down for attempted murder with the way you were screaming." Dodging just in time, Seifer avoided a fast flying boot. "Joking, joking," he placated. Holding the light between his teeth for a moment, he zipped his jeans up before turning around to retrieve his kitten's foot apparel.

Briefly wondering how Seifer managed to woo him into a quickie in the midst of a lightless cavern maze, Squall eventually concluded that it was pointless to complain after the fact and when he'd been as much a participant as the pushy blond.

------

"Ah, Rui," Quistis called as the boy walked nearby. "Would you mind going over a few things with me?"

Tray in hand, Rui glanced behind at the table he'd been headed towards. A shooing gesture from his girlfriend was enough to confirm that it was fine. Joining the Head Instructor and Commander Yashime at the lunch table, he saluted before being directed to sit. It was weird without Commander Leonhart around, but to everyone's surprise Garden life carried on without mass hysteria.

"I know we've been over the lesson plan a dozen times already, but it never hurts to be prepared," the blond instructor said, shuffling through a pile of papers in front of her.

"Quisty, is this your idea of lunch?" Xu complained.

"Yes, actually," Quistis returned, adjusting her glasses. "The new term starts in three days."

"Four if you count today," Rui commented. Like most cadets, he preferred to think there was more time left before the break ended. Having been given the crash course in many subjects, his mind had been ready to explode by the time winter break came around. Even with classes not in session, he'd continued to meet with instructor Tilmitt to teach her how to pick locks and to polish his skills in what he'd learned so far.

"We could discuss something that's not work related," Xu suggested. "It's not healthy to never thing of anything but work."

"Thank you doctor, but I happen to enjoy what I do."

With a shrug, Xu tucked a few curling strands of her bobbed black hair behind her ear. "I hear Greta's having a baby," she said.

Nodding, Quistis commented, "Zell just found out this morning. As of yet, I'm not sure if we'll need to fill his place. I hope not, we've already lost so many."

"If we're not reviewing the lesson plan, then may I excuse myself?" Rui requested as politely as he could.

"Certainly," Xu said with a smile.

"Then, we'll go over it another time," Quistis said with disappointment, losing the opportunity to once again make sure everything was in perfect order.

------

"It won't be the same without him, ya know?" Raijin said with a glossy eyed look to the woman seated across from him.

"AFFIRMATIVE," Fujin replied tersely, though her sincerity was questionable when she quickly became more concerned with the sandwich on her plate.

"Should we have gone with him, to keep the posse together, ya know?"

Frowning, the silver haired woman shook her head. "NEGATIVE."

"But, we've always been a posse. It just wasn't right after the war, ya know?"

Growling her displeasure at having to explain it, Fujin finished chewing and cleared her throat. Leveling the burly man with her piercing red eye, she bit out, "Seifer is obsessed with Leonhart. Remember the locker room?"

Blinking for a moment, brown eyes stared without comprehension.

"Seifer, oh baby, harder. Squall my love, I love your tight ass," Fujin spoke in monotone, uninterested in giving further impressions of the two lovebirds.

Shuddering in remembrance, Raijin held a hand up. "Thanks a lot. You could've just said they'd be getting busy a lot, ya know?"

Smiling, Fujin explained, "That way was better."

"I miss him."

With a swift kick under the table, Fujin was happy to relieve Raijin from his loneliness and remind him what she was for.

------

Having spent a fair part of the day scouring the entire cave just in case there was actually something there, Squall had also spent much of that time rejecting each of the insatiable knight's attempts to frisk him. Not that he didn't enjoy Seifer's touch, but there was time and place to consider. The time was just after they'd already had sex and the place was in a cave.

"There is something wrong with your sex drive," Squall said as he evaded the knight's wandering hand.

"How often do we get to do it in a place like this?" Seifer protested.

"We're not doing it again," Squall stated firmly, turning his flashlight off and clasping it to his belt as the dim light from the entrance became enough to see properly.

"If you made an honest man out of me by becoming my wife, I'm almost certain my sex drive would settle down."

Frowning as he tried to digest the blond's logic, Squall simply scoffed. "You'd find some way to use marriage as an excuse for more."

"It's not my fault I'm a healthy twenty year old male."

"You're too horny," Squall returned evenly.

"You make me horny," Seifer defended, an arm persistently sneaking around the brunet's slim waist, his hand suggestively ghosting beneath the rim of denim pants.

Deciding the save the ex-knight the trouble of carrying on with the hopeless mission, Squall said flatly, "No."

Gently rubbing his thumb across a jutting hipbone, hoping to receive some positive response he sighed and settled for a loss. "Well, the trip wasn't entirely wasted," Seifer conceded in defeat, leaning down to kiss the top of the sulking man's head. "I still got you all to myself."

"…"

"Tell me how much you love me," Seifer urged with an impish grin. He slowed down as they came out into the open, eyes narrowing at the amount of light. It was a relatively warm day compared to the day before, but it was also a lot sunnier.

"Whatever," Squall mumbled in response.

"Oh, now you've done it," Seifer said before swiftly pinning the younger man against himself in a tight embrace. He loved to tease Squall ceaselessly, pressing for sex at the most inopportune moments and then pressing for even more. However, it was fair game when that single word was spoken, the word he'd declared forbidden time and again.

"Seifer, wait," Squall attempted in protested, but was cut off from speaking further when lips were crushed to his.

Demanding and forceful, it was all the more sweet when the stiff body in Seifer's arms relaxed and succumbed to his desires. The incorrigible man delved into Squall's mouth, coaxing the brunet into the act until the only thing that kept the former Commander standing was his firm hold.

Pulling back abruptly, Seifer watched as heavy lidded eyes grasped for comprehension beyond the sudden want he'd elicited. "Now tell me how much you love me."

Though considering responding in the same manner as before, Squall found it was easier to just be honest. Arms wrapped around Seifer's neck, he pulled the man down to him and initiated another kiss.

At length, the need for air overcame the need to search each other's mouths. Panting, Squall admitted, "I love you enough to put up with you."

Chuckling lightly as he gave fleeting pecks near Squall's temple, Seifer commented, "Good answer." There was a warm feeling at the subtle hint of Squall's love being indefinite, being able to grow as he grew more annoying and last for as long as he could antagonize the younger man. "Do you love me enough to let me play good cop, bad cop with you as the naughty delinquent."

Grumbling incoherently as his face pressed against the ex-knight's chest, Squall muttered, "I love you enough not to kill you for the suggestion."

"I could take the fur off the handcuffs," the blond proposed.

"What?" Squall questioned, pulling away and staring up incredulously.

Laughing, Seifer bent down to kiss pliant lips, which were already thoroughly rouged. "You're adorable when you're angry."

"Bastard," Squall hissed, ducking out of the blond's hold and stalking off.

Green eyes followed the subtle sway of slender hips, shamelessly ogling the brunet's ass. Jogging to catch up, he questioned, "If 'bastard' is the best pet name you can come up with, I have a suggestion."

"Idiot?" Squall questioned, his anger obviously fleeting. He couldn't care for Seifer as much as he did and not be able to take the constant teasing in stride.

"While that has a nice ring to it, I was thinking more along the lines of 'Master'."

"…" Squall didn't even have to speak for either of them to know that was never going to happen.

With an annoyed growl, Seifer once more snuck his arm around Squall's waist and pulled the man close. "Would you walk closer?"

"It's harder to walk like this," Squall commented, though he did fall into step and lean against the blond.

"There's no rush," Seifer pointed out, slowing their walk to a stroll as they followed the winding path back into town. It was a well-worn road that they could take their time on and not worry about stumbling. Furthermore, he greatly appreciated the simple gesture when he previously couldn't even get the younger man to hold his hand in public.

Shifting to become more comfortable, Squall eventually settled on reaching his arm back and holding onto the back of Seifer's forest green t-shirt. Grey-blue eyes cast a furtive glance down to his side where the older boy's hand resting conveniently on Lionheart's hilt. As unbecoming as such thoughts were, he couldn't help but think that Seifer's odd holstering habit seemed to have been meant to accommodate his placement at the man's other side. It was ridiculous considering Seifer had been wearing Hyperion on the wrong side for years, but it was worth noting all the same.

THE END

A/N: Abrupt, maybe just a little, but I wasn't going to write what happened when they made it back to their room… give 'em some privacy. I'm sorry if anyone was expecting something super special for an end, but I can only deal with so much gushy declarations of love before I cringe and hold the backspace button down 'til the screen is blank. There really wasn't much left to tell, no big adventure I had stored up my sleeve. And, to basically quote Squall (or myself, I guess) there is no happily ever after since labels can't be put on the future, so screw closure.

Well, it's been fun writing both Protecting the Lion and Strings Attached. While this particularly storyline is done for me, I am nowhere near finished writing FFVIII fanfiction, specifically involving Seifer/Squall pairings.

To everyone who has reviewed and stuck with me this far-- Thank You So Much.

Seriously, you have no idea how much it's meant to me. /sobs in corner/

Next in store is to finish up Living with Heart and fine tune the new story I've started.