From Now On

Pairings: IrvinexSquall, LagunaxSquall, SeiferxZell

Warnings:Yaoi, Incest. AU. Lemon.

A/N: I still don’t have a beta...

Summary: The orphanage gang go to a trip to celebrate Squall's birthday. Little did he know that it would lead to a change in his relationship with a recently discovered father and his childhood friend.

From Now On

Chapter 1

Earphones filled Zell's ears with loud music as he walked through the streets. It was incredible how he managed not to bump into anything with his eyes glued to the screen of his portable video game console.

"Hey... Are you... ah..."

The blond boy kept walking, not noticing that someone was following right behind him.

"Hum... Can you hear me?"

"YES, I did it!" Zell screamed enthusiastically after finishing with the last boss. He stopped right in the middle of the street and unexpectedly felt something bump onto him. The boy stood still, for a moment thinking he had been hit by a car. He held his breath until he realized that nothing that tragic had happened, so he took off his earphones, it seemed like someone was trying to talk to him.

"I'm sorry, man! I didn't mean to... Are you okay?" The black-haired teen asked, concerned by the expression on Zell's face.

"Oh, it's nothing! Don't worry!" Regaining his calmness, the boy continued on his way.

"Wait!"

"It's okay! Nothing's happened! No one's hurt!"

"Aren't you Irvine's friend?"

Zell turned back to look again at the other boy. "No."

"I'm sorry, I thought he was one of your friends, I saw you two talking the other day in class..."

"Oh... yes! I mean, no! No, I mean, yes! Well, we're not friends, but I do know him. He's my brother... kinda. It's complicated."

"Oh..." said the confused boy.

"Are you his friend?"

"No. I mean, I don't know. He talks to me sometimes. He asked me to join in his group for a schoolwork, so I'm going to his house now."

"So we can go together! I'm going there too!"

"Okay!" The shy boy smiled. "I'm Nida."

"Oh, yes! Nida, now I remember your name!"

"I know that most people don't realize I exist..."

"Don't say that! You've been in our class for only one week, soon you'll have lots of friends!"

"But it's been two months..." the boy whispered.

"What do you think of our school? Do you like it?" The two of them resumed their walking.

"It's better than my previous one in Timber."

"Oh, so you're from Timber! We have a girl from there in our class."

"I know... Heartilly..."

"She's in our group too."

Nida's heart started beating faster.

"Did I hear my name?" Some steps got closer to the two boys.

"Hi, Rinoa, we were talking about you because you're from Timber, and Nida is from there too. Do you know him?"

The girl giggled. "Yes, he's from our class. The shy guy."

Nida blushed.

"He's going to be in our group."

"Really? That's good, he must know a lot of geography. He seems to be intelligent."

"Well..."

"How's Timber?"

"Problems with Deling."

"Like always. Ever since I moved there, I remember it being like this."

"I thought you were born in Timber," Zell said.

"I was born in Deling City... But I hate that place."

"Why?"

"Because my father lives there..." Rinoa started to walk faster. "We're gonna be late, we better hurry."

xxx

"More books?"

"Don't look at me like this, Squall, you know we'll need them." The girl went down the stairs carrying several books. "Don't be lazy and get those ones here."

"Whatever..." The boy carried the books to the study room and dropped them on the table.

After doing the same as Squall, Quistis sat at the table and started to organize the books. "Do you have any suggestion about the area we'll choose?"

"Does it matter? You're gonna choose it anyway."

"I'm not that bossy, you know that."

"No, it's even worse, you're like a teacher."

The girl laughed. "And if I were, you would be my best student."

"It means I would suffer more."

"I think that the Fire Cavern is a good choice."

"Whatever."

"It has great rock formations. The problem is that the place doesn't have much variation in life forms, mostly bats and bombs. But in the other hand, it's near here and we could visit the place."

"Are you sure it's a good idea to go to a place with running lava everywhere?"

"If we go without Selphie, Irvine, Zell, Seifer and Rinoa, yes."

"Than it's only the two of us."

"And does anybody else do the school-works?"

"..."

xxx

"Has it started yet?" Selphie asked excitedly, throwing herself at Irvine's side at the couch.

"Not yet, baby! But it's about time!" The boy was looking expectantly at the television, waiting for the anime to start. When the opening appeared on the screen, Selphie started to sing along the music theme. For half an hour they entertained themselves with the story of a group of girls in tiny skirts fighting monsters and pervert villains.

"Ohhh... I want to see how Sakura will escape the monster's tentacles, I can't wait 'till tomorrow to see it!" Selphie exclaimed.

"I bet the other girls will save her."

"Do you think they'll arrive on time?"

"Of course, baby, don't worry." Irvine smiled and put and arm around Selphie's shoulder... only to see her jumping out of his reach as an annoying happy song filled the air. The girl answered her cellphone excitedly.

"REALLY? IT'S GREAT! Yes! Come here, he will be all day here doing a homework! Pleeeeaaase, hurry!" Giggles. "See you!"

"...Who was that?"

Selphie smiled broadly. "No one."

"...Is it a guy?"

"Well... yesss."

"...I don't like him. You should stop giving your number to those perverts. You know that all they want is to take advantage of pretty girls."

"I don't give my number to perverts!"

"And then, what is it?"

"It's part of a plan."

"Which plan...?"

"It's a secret..."

"Ooooh, Selphie, tell me! Don't be cruel to me..."

"You'll know... sooner than you think."

xxx

"Have you finished yet?" The door was slammed open when Seifer entered the study room.

"We still haven't decided the place we're gonna study," Irvine answered with a bored expression.

"Fire Cavern is boring, Shumi Village is much more fun."

"Selphie, I told you already that we have to study a natural environment, not a village," Quistis tried to be patient.

"But the Shumi live surrounded by nature, near the snowy mountais. And the moombas are so cute!"

"There are great forests near Timber," Rinoa said.

"I agree with you," Nida said.

"Don't you agree, Squall?" The girl asked.

"Yeah, whatever."

"Squall! You said you agreed on the Fire Cavern!" Quistis said.

"But forests are much better to study. The Fire Cavern doesn't have much diversity," Rinoa retorted. "Squall, what do you think?"

"Yes, forests have more diversity."

"I can't believe it. Some minutes ago you agreed on going with me to the Fire Cavern and now..."

"I'm tired of it already!" Squall stood up. "I'm getting out of here. You two make an agreement or go talking to a wall, whatever, but stop asking me stupid questions."

I don't want to decide anything... Why do you all give me the responsibility of choosing for everyone... I've never asked for it.

The boy turned to live the room, but suddenly stopped. His eyes lingered on the image before him for almost an eternity.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"What are you doing here?" Squall asked to the man who appeared in his house.

"I... Ouch!" The man's leg cramped.

Squall turned his back to the man only to find several eyes staring at him.

“...”

"Laguna!" Selphie jumped out of her seat and hugged the man. "So good to see you! I was waiting for you!"

"Did you invite him?" Squall glared accusingly at the girl.

"It's part of a surprise."

"That he discovered that we are not related at all, that would be a very good surprise."

"Squall... I'm just... I think it wasn't a good idea to come here..."

Why does he always come here? Since that day months ago... Why does he insist?

"What do you want?"

"Your birthday party!" Selphie answered. "We have been planning this for quite some time! You're so gonna like it."

Headache starting.

"You know I don't like parties."

"Oh, but this will be a great party! We're gonna travel in this holiday!"

"I like this idea!" Irvine shouted suddenly. "Where are we going?"

"I don't know... There are several places we can go," Laguna gathered the courage to speak. "I can take the Ragnarok and we could go almost everywhere, of course, I'll take all of you. There wouldn't be a birthday party for Squall if his friends weren't there.

"I wanna go to the big house you said you have. The one in the south of the Galbadian continent."

"Yes, I like that place! It's been a while since I've been there. It would be great, you guys will love it. It's surrounded by forests, near lakes and rivers, and there are several caves nearby."

By this moment all the teenagers were talking excitedly about the trip, asking Laguna thousands of questions... With the exception of someone...

Squall walked silently out of the study room. No one noticed it, or so the boy thought.

"I think it's a good idea..."

"You can all go with him, I stay here."

"Give him a chance. He did something wrong before, but he's trying to make up for it."

"Yeah... he only abandoned me." Squall sat at the floor, near a corner.

"He didn't know he had a son for a long time."

"But why didn't he come looking for me before. Why it took him so many years 'till..."

"Why don't you ask him? Why don't you talk to him? Let him explain himself. You have this chance, other's don't."

"Do you wanna switch places with me?" Squall looked up at the violet eyes staring at him.

"I wanna travel to Galbadia and party."

"Of course you do."

"Are you coming with me?" Irvine extended a hand at Squall.

x

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x

x

Squall didn't know why he was aboard the Ragnarok, flying towards Laguna's country house, but the fact was that he had already packed and was too far away from Balamb and also... Irvine was smiling happily at his side. Sometimes the long-haired boy's arms brushed his accidentally when he turned to talk to Nida, that was sitting behind them. Unfortunately, the boy thought, Rinoa was at his other side, pointing out things she saw through the windows or asking him questions about something unimportant. Why him of all people? Couldn't she talk to Selphie, or... that man...

He sure can't shut up sometimes... Especially when he gets... fatherly.

Laguna had cheerfully agreed on taking all Squall's 'friends' with him to the small vacation. The boy didn't even know much about Nida, except for the fact that he studied in his school and that Irvine talked to him sometimes. And about Rinoa...

She is not my friend. Wasn't she Seifer's friend in the first place?

"It seems like you're not in the mood to talk today," the girl smiled. "See you later then."

Rinoa stood up and walked to Seifer's direction.

Squall almost smiled, so releaved he was, but then he felt someone sitting at his side.

"Isn't she a pretty girl? You choose well..."

Why do people talk to me? It's not like I answer them! Maybe if I pretend I'm not listening...

"I'm happy for you... I..." The man gave out a sad smile... "Are you listening to me?"

Squall closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat.

I'm sleeping. I'm sleeping.

"Are you tired? It won't take long 'till we get there! You're gonna love the place! There are trees and lakes and caves and flowers and birds! Really nice place! You have to see the sunrise and the sunset over the moutains. I've been talking to Selphie and she said it would be the perfect place for your birthday party."

"Squirrels! You said there's lots of squirrel families and giant caterpillars too." Jumped Selphie into the conversation/monologue.

"That too! They are big and slimy and colorful!"

"It's so cool! I wish I could bring them home."

"Oh dear, they are 20 times bigger than you." Laguna tried to explain.

"I can put them in the yard."

"I think we can't transport it..."

"Ragnarok can't?"

Can I sleep? Do they really need to talk around me?

"I don't want to have an oversized caterpillar in front of my window, darling."

"But Irvine, it's been a long time since we had a pet."

"Something's wrong with cats or dogs?" Irvine asked.

"Dogs stink."

"They don't!" Rinoa slapped Seifer's arm. "Angelo is very clean."

"But it stinks... all dogs do..." The blond boy muttered under his breath.

"I wonder why she didn't want to go on the trip. She was so excited about it before..."

"I saw Seifer giving Selphie's cookies to the dog, they're pure poison."

"We're talking about dogs, Chickens are not allowed into the conversation."

"What did you say?" Zell got up from his seat and glared at Seifer.

"...Did you do this?" Rinoa asked.

"Lies."

"I saw it!"

"I'm very disappointed at you..." Rinoa stood up and took a seat at Nida's side, the boy blushing instantaneously.

"Happy now, chicken-wuss?"

"I don't know why you blame me for something you did."

"Do you want a dog jumping at you, licking you and sniffing your crotch all the time?

"No... But... But I like to pat their heads. I like Angelo. I don't know why you hate them so much, wasn't you who played with the neighbour's dog when we were kids?"

"That stupid thing."

"Zack loved you. He followed you around all the time. Poor dog... I heard he was hit buy a car."

"A fucking truck. It smashed his body. There was a red tire mark through all the street."

"Ah! Now I remember. You were the one who found his body."

"I was there when it happened! I yelled at that stupid animal not to follow me, but he crossed the street anyway..."

"It must have been really shocking for a kid to see that..."

"..."

"At least he died quickly... I guess..."

"Yeah... good thing, hum... died quickly and went to animal's heaven. How great... Do you have any idea what it would be like to be reduced into a pulp by something a hundred times heavier than you? Oh, you don't think about it, you want always to look at the bright side."

"Okay! Okay! I get it. I won't talk about it anymore!" Zell sat again in the seat in front of Seifer. "Then... you really liked that dog."

"No."

"Zell, did you finish that game you were playing?" Quistis stopped her reading to ask.

"Crisis Core?"

"Yeah, I guess, I don't know, the one you were playing."

"Not yet, I'm doing some extra missions. Why? You were never interested in these things before."

"Just curious."

"Oh... the main character's name is Zack too, like the dog."

"..." Seifer had the sudden urge to open the airship's door and jump. He would die and there would be no heaven, but there would be a blessed silence.

"Oh, nice, Zell, now, talk about the other games." Quistis said.

"But I'm only playing this one."

"Well then... let's talk about something not related to dogs..."

x

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It was a beautiful place surrounded by tall trees. There were forests in the Balambian continent, but they lacked the lushness of the Galbadian ones. Because of the terrain, Ragnarok couldn't go any far, so it landed on a clearing near a road. From then on, the group would have to walk into the forest until they reached their destination. They were surrounded by nature in a sunny morning, all walking with their backpacks, Selphie with an absurdly large one, too big for her, and even so she didn't seem tired at all. Squall had a sour expression on his face, carrying his and Rinoa's backpacks.

As the group made their way to Laguna's house, they could smell the fresh air and the umid indication of a river nearby.

"Is this your house, Mr. Loire? It's huge!" Selphie exclaimed excitedly at the sight of the imponent house made of stone and dark wood.

"Well... yeah."

"It must have been a fortune!"

"Well, not really. The woman was desperate to sell it. She told me the house had a curse or something... long story..." Laguna smiled cheerfully. "Don't be scared, they were just tales created by the mind of a lonely old lady. Nothing serious."

"Have you ever saw a ghost in this house? I wanted so much to see one someday!"

"I've never heard of someone so eager to see a ghost..." Quistis said.

"Dont't be afraid! I can protect you Quisty!"

"Won't you protect me too?" Irvine embraced the petite girl from behind.

Selphie struggled to scape the hug. "Only if I can move to do something!"

Won't they ever stop the talking and enter the damn house already?

Squall started to walk ahead and climbed the stone steps that led to the house on the hill. He looked upwards and couldn't deny the fact that the place was indeed beautiful, surrounded by trees below a mountain side. It seemed like those places he only saw in movies.

"I knew you would like this place."

How do you know... Well...

"Whatever."

"I can show you around later... Or now!"

"It can be later."

I don't believe I actually said that...

"Great!" Laguna put an arm around the boy's shoulder. Squall stopped his walking in that instant and moved away.

Don't touch me!

Laguna tried not to show the disappointment in his face and tried to force a small smile. "I'm sorry..."

I...

Squall looked at the man at his side. He always thought that Laguna looked younger in his choice of clothes. He was wearing a blue jacket over a white shirt, dark pants and combat boots. His hair was untied and created a black curtain over his shoulder.

Laguna saw the boy staring and it seemed like he wasn't angry. It relieved his heart immensely. "I'm really happy you agreed on coming with me in this trip. After that day... sometimes... I almost believed that we could never be this close again. Thank you for giving me this chance."

"Laguna... you have no idea..."

"I'll be there first!"

"No way!"

"Watch out!" Laguna grabbed Squall, who almost fell to the ground, knocked by teenagers running like wild animals. "Are you okay?"

Squall blushed furiously, but didn't tried to avoid the arms around him, until he felt somebody gazing at him.

Seifer arched an eyebrow in disbelief. "What did Selphie put in my drink? Are you really hugging your dad?"

"No."

"But it seems..."

"..."

God... Save me...

"Oh this is so beautiful..." Quistis stared.

Squall moved away again and started to walk angrily. In the front of the house, he met an Irvine trying to regain his breath and Selphie jumping up and down because of her victory.

"Squall! I saw that! I knew it would be a great ideia for us all to be here together. You're really getting close!"

I'm sure it can’t be any worse...

When the group entered through the large carved doors, they were amazed to look at the spacious living room with a fireplace, big leather couches placed all around the center. At one side, there was a large dinner table with it's heavy wooden surface. The hall was impressive and they couldn't wait to see the rest of the house. All the furniture and decoration made it appear a little dark, but it felt cozy at the same time. Aside from the entrance door, there were three more doors connected with the living room, one leading to a bathroom, another leading to a game room and the last one to the kitchen, that was the only place decorated with bright colors.

Soon they found out that there were five rooms on the first floor: one master bedroom and four smaller ones, where two occupants could fit in nicely.

"It's a nice room." Rinoa said after looking around. "But... do you think there is a problem in... you know... sharing? The two of us?"

Squall walked out of the room and found a tiny happy girl in the corridor. "Who had this great idea?"

"You can thank me later when you have your time together with your sweet girlfriend."

"Why do you all think she's my girlfriend?"

"Because you're always together... Where are you going, Squall?"

"There must be another room."

"I guess not..." Selphie giggled.

"I want another room!" A blond boy came running in the corridors.

Squall never thought he would be so happy in seeing Zell. "I'll take yours."

The boy hugged the other tightly. "Thankz, man! You've saved me!"

"Oh... wait a minute... Who's..."

"Why you're running away from me, Chicken-wuss?"

"Nevermind, I'll share a room with Rinoa." Squall started to go back the way he came.

"Wait! You promised, man!" Zell started to shout in the corridor.

"Who's making this noise! I'm trying to sleep here!"

Squall stopped in his tracks and saw Irvine walking out of a room. "Is there a place for me?"

"Oh... sorry, man, Nida's with me."

"Who?"

"You know, the guy who came with us..."

"Ah...But... Why are you two..."

"He's my friend."

"...Well... Whatever..."

Squall was starting to feel a headache coming. He had agreed on going on this trip only because...

"Hey, what's all this noise? You kids have so much energy, I envy you."

"Laguna, is there another room available in here? It must be."

"Well, you can sleep in my room, there's plenty of space there for us."

"..." Squall got back to the room Rinoa was in and closed the door behind him.

"Did you find another place?"

"No..."

"Well... I don't think it would be so bad if we stayed together... You know... I think I kinda like the idea..." Rinoa giggled.

Yeah... Great...

xxx

"Why the fuck do we have to share a room?" Zell still didn't believe it.

"Oohh I thought you missed our sweet childhood times when we used to share one. You always came to my bed crying, afraid that some monster were gonna eat you."

"Did not!"

"Oh, yes, you did."

"Well, I guess there's no use arguing with you." The boy tried to resign to his fate and started to unpack. Maybe some things that the mean teenager said weren't entirely untrue... That was a long time ago, when he used to live in a house full of kids and he had to share everything. Hard times when he was mocked and challenged and beaten up in cruel games involving sand and bad bugs. Then everything changed. He had a room of his own, every toy he wished and a lot of attention for himself. It was better. And lonelier.

"Hey, Chicken! Don't go putting your things all over the place as if it was all yours!"

"What? I need some space here for what I brought!"

Seifer looked at all the things displayed around the room. Clothes, magazines of all sorts and lots of electronics equipments."

"You want to spend all our free days playing video games inside the room?"

"No! I've brought my portable ones! So I can go outside and continue my projects!"

"It has something to do with farms, cities or world domination?"

"No... Well, sort of..."

"Oh, grow up, Chicken. You think you're gonna spend your whole life playing these goddamn things?"

"Of course... I don't see why should I stop."

"Don't you think about your future?"

"Do you?"

"Why the surprise? Of course I do think about my future. I have it all planned."

"Well, I think about it too... Sometimes. I wanted to study something like physics or maybe physical education, I think it's cool too, but I guess I'll end up being an engineer, at least it's what mom and grandpa want me to be."

Then Seifer went silent. He sat on his bed and looked through the open window. Such a beautiful place. Such a cool house in the middle of an amazing landscape. For him there wouldn't be parents all for himself, coming to pick him up. Almost eighteen and there wouldn't be a father knocking on his door, offering the world to him. He had to face it all on his own.

That bastard doesn't even realize how lucky he is.

Zell stared at the suddenly silent blond. He studied the features of the handsome face deeply in thought. Something in him seemed to have changed. For a moment he seemed different from the boy he grew up with on his childhood and the bully that tormented him in school periods. Up that close, just the two of them in the room. It was different. Not bad, somewhat comforting when the tall blond wasn't showing his trademark smirk or saying some sarcastic comment.

This is weird... What am I thinking?

xxx

"You are so cruel."

"Me? Why, Quisty?"

"You know why. Poor Squall, having to spend the night with Rinoa, it must be hell."

"Hey! Don't say this about my brilliant idea! You know they are the perfect couple destined to be together, like in the romance novels, the soap operas and the video games."

"I don't know which of them is worse."

"They are very cute together."

"Did you mean disastrous?"

Selphie smiled. "Oh, Quistis, you always say this funny things."

"I'm serious, you know. This is real life, not some fiction you find in the Internet."

"Of course not! If it was, Squall would end up with Zell... or Seifer! It would be so funny!"

"I don't know why you like so much these things."

"Why not? The plots are bad and the guys have sex in impossible places, like training centers surrounded by monsters. And besides... you read it too."

"I only read the good ones... for literary purposes. Some of the authors have talent, though I don't know why they waste it writing fan fiction."

"Guess we'll never know why people do weird things."

xxx

"Do you always sleep with your hat on?" The boy decided to ask after a long time staring at his roommate.

"It's to protect my eyes from the light. And to match my outfit. Girls think it's cool. And cute. And I'm not sleeping... I'm just taking a long nap. All that walking through hills and forests almost killed me."

"How you're gonna be a sniper if you get tired that easily?"

"I dunno, guess I'll be a singer, or a model, or I'll get to the rodeos."

"Have you ever rode a horse?"

"What?"

"Never mind."

xxx

After unpacking and having some rest, they all gathered at the main floor to eat lunch before exploring the area. Squall noticed that the place seemed to be prepared for their arrival, all clean and with a good stock of food and supplies. Selphie and Laguna must have planned this for a while.

When their stomachs were fulfilled, the group made their way outside. Laguna guided then through the forest, stopping every time to tell a story with the same credibility of Selphie's added information on the subject.

Following the easy trail in the forest, a calm river appeared. There was a small dock at the riverbank and a place where a small boat was kept. The sight of the gentle afternoon sun rays bathing the blue water's surface was magnificent. At that place, they could view the large extension of the river, the other extremity of the riverside laid far away at a mountainous formation.

After some time to enjoy the view and take pictures, they went back to the trail, that followed the riverside for a good length. Then they were led back into the forest for sometime, until they reached a clearing. The girls liked the place, that was surrounded by flowers, small bushes, little fruits and fluffy scared animals.

When Selphie finished gathering flowers, fruits and chasing trembling creatures - running for their lives - the group could finally walk further into the trail. They found big rock formations along the way and after more walking, the entrance of a cave. They were excited to explore the place, but Laguna said it was better to return another time, with flashlights and properly equipped, and then visiting the nocturnal life of the galleries. So they continued their way to a more open area, with less trees along the foot of a mountainous formation.

At some point, Rinoa started to walk behind the rest of the group. It was clear that she was too tired to go on and they all agreed on going back. Time passed without them realizing it. Soon it was almost sunset and the once clear sky was covered by clouds ready to rain over their unprepared heads. They ran through the trails and when they were almost reaching the house, the rain succeeded on catching them.

Cursing and laughing the teens fought their way through the entrance. Squall waited until his friends entered. He prefered to stand soaking in the rain then being crushed by happy wet bodies... unless it was a special wet body... The silent boy had mixed feelings about the rain. It awakened in him memories long forgotten and made his chest clench in sadness, but even so, he felt strangely at easy when the clouds cried over him. It was as if the skies sorrow comforted his own. Or...

I don't know what I’m thinking...

It took a while for Squall to realize that he wasn't alone, as he thought. He saw Laguna watching him intently and he remembered one day some time ago, one day he would never forget.

x

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To be continued...

A/N: I know this chapter lacks boy on boy action, but I promise the smut will come. I just can’t live without it for long. But I’m also a slave to plot... So, please, be patient.