Let Us Love You

Chapter 3:


Irvine grabbed the man and lowered him to his coat, gently slapping his cheek. "Squall? Squall, come on! Wake up!" He called urgently but got no response.

He placed his hand over Squall's heart and felt the slow even beat and the shallow rise and fall of his chest. He stood and lifted the unconscious man, wrapping him securely in his coat before rushing back into the cabin. He rushed into the closest bedroom, which happened to be empty and placed the man on the bed.

For more than twenty minutes he tried to rouse the unconscious man but got no response. He pulled out his phone and began to dial the garden for help.

Dark blue-gray eyes slowly opened, a low groan erupting from his lips as the commander woke from his unconsciousness. A hand moved up and grabbed onto Irvine's arm causing the man to immediately look over at him, worry clear in his eyes. "Irvine..." he murmured out faintly, slightly confused when he felt the taller man hug him tightly.

"What...?" he stopped his sentence, remembering the painful headache that had suddenly formed in his head before complete darkness overcame him. One arm wrapped itself around the other man while his other hand touched at his temple, the dull pain returning though it not piercing as it was before. 'Not again...' he thought to himself, remembering the constant headaches he use to get when he was younger.

Irvine held him tightly. "Oh Hyne, Squall…" He whispered and saw the gunblade master bring his hand to his forehead, seeing the pain in the blue eyed man's handsome face. 'Lady Siren…please help me take his pain away…' He asked the Guardian Force that was dwelling within his mind.

A surge of power flowed through his body as he removed his glove. He placed his hand on Squall's temple, pushing the silky russet strands away. "Treatment…" He said quietly and watched as the glowing energy began to seep into Squall's head. He sent a wave of the healing energy of curaga into his body to help ease the pain that the man he loved was suffering.

He placed his forehead on the man’s shoulder, relieved that he had regained consciousness. "I didn't know what happened to you…are you okay?"

"Yeah..." was his curt answer. Headache was gone though there was still the faint thud letting him know that it had happened. Dark gray-blue eyes looked down at the cowboy noting how tight Irvine was holding him and the head that was placed against his shoulder. Slowly he brought his hand up to touch at Irvine's back, brushing across the silken locks.

"Irvine... I am fine," he whispered out softly.

"Thank Hyne..." He murmured once more and closed his violet eyes.

"Squall...has this ever happened before? Have you ever had headaches this bad before?" He asked quietly, his hand rubbing gently at his lower back.

Squall nodded solemnly, head turning to the side to look out the window. "When I was younger I had them. For a month it was nonstop and then finally I passed out one day just like I did. Dr. Kadowaki forced me from training and I was put on strong medicine for about a month. After that I was fine," he replied.

"I still get them from time to time when I stress myself too much but this is the first time I passed out since the last time." Dark gray-blue eyes closed and he slumped in the bed. Maybe he was working to hard...

Irvine's hand moved up and brushed the soft strands of silk away from Squall's eyes before feeling his forehead for fever. A sigh of relief escaped his lips when he found none. Deep violet eyes softened as he looked to the gunblade master.

"Man, you are way too young to have the health problems that you do. I do know one thing, you're not going to have these stress related headaches anymore...even if we have to steal you away from garden." He said sternly, though a smile graced his lips.

The gunman leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on Squall's lips before pulling back. "Do you need anything?" He said quietly, reaching out to grasp his hand softly.

Squall grasped Irvine's hand softly, arm tightening around the taller man's waist as he tucked his head into the crook of the cowboy's neck. The scent of gun oil, leather and something purely Irvine filled his nose, which caused him to let out a faint sigh. This was something he could truly get use to.

"A beer would be nice," he mumbled out against Irvine's neck. "I know Selphie packed them." he chuckled out at feeling the taller man stiffen slightly, "I'm the commander of a garden Irvine, I know a lot of things that most people do not think I know." The commander nuzzled into the warm neck, eyes closing partially waiting for the cowboy to move.

A shiver traveled down his spine at feeling Squall nuzzling his neck. He wanted nothing more but to stay just like this, but he knew that he had to move.

Irvine pulled back and looked into the blue pools of Squalls eyes with a smile. "I know that Dr. K would probably castrate me if she knew, but I'll getcha a beer. After that, you need to rest Squall." He said before standing and retreating to the kitchen.

He grabbed two beers out of the fridge and moved to the front door and pulled off his shoes. He then went to the bedroom where Squall’s things had been and placed the beers on the nightstand and pulled the blankets back.

The sniper went back into the empty bedroom where he had left Squall and sat near his feet. Black boots were pulled from the prone man's feet before he stood near the head of the bed. "Lets get you back to your room." He said and pulled squall to his feet. "You can change into something more comfortable if ya want..."

Giving a curt nod, Squall grabbed onto Irvine's hand and led him out of the empty room and back into his bedroom. A look was passed to the cowboy before he let go of Irvine's hand moving to his bags. Nimble fingers quickly opened one of his bags and pulled out a pair of black pajama pants that looked quite comfortable. The commander also grabbed a white button up shirt to go with the pants.

Not bothering to look back, Squall disappeared into the bathroom and kicked the door with his foot. Clothes were placed on the toilet seat and he quickly shed himself of the leather, belts and white shirt. Pants were slipped onto his narrow hips and the shirt was partially buttoned when it came over his shoulders. A hand ran through his russet locks and he brushed his griever necklace for a moment, glancing in the mirror at himself. What the gunblade master did not realize that the door had been partially open when he had changed into his more comfortable clothes.

Irvine was about to turn to retreat to his own room to change when he noticed that he hadn't heard the door closed. "He-" His words froze as he watched the shirt come over the mop of russet hair.

He knew he shouldn't be watching, but he couldn't pull himself away from the beautiful man as he changed. 'Squall, I wonder if you truly know how perfect you are...' He though and watched as Squall gazed at himself in the mirror.

Finally able to tear his gaze away, Irvine returned to the room where is bag was with a slight limp. "You don't know what you do to me..." He said and removed a pair of old sweats and a plain white sleeveless undershirt that clung to his muscular abdomen.

He pulled his jeans off and tossed them onto a chair before quickly pulling his sweats over his slowly waning erection and the shirt was pulled over his head. Long, lean fingers were run through his loose hair before he padded down the hallway and to the bathroom.

"Squall, you okay?" He asked as he knocked lightly on the door, meeting blue eyes in the mirror.


Squall nodded and turned from the mirror, opening the door for the cowboy. "Yeah, I'm fine," he murmured out just faintly, lips twitching just slightly. The stood staring at each other for a moment before the gunblade master moved. He brushed past Irvine and made his way towards the bed. Plopping down on the large bed, he let his back rest against the headboard and grabbed up the beer.

The top was popped off and he took a large gulp of the alcohol. It was nice to feel the carbonated liquid slip down his throat once more. His head tilted back against the board, eyes closing, one knee being brought up with his arm being draped over it. Beer was held idly in his hand as he sat there.

Irvine followed the russet haired man into the room and watched as he sat on the bed. He moved to the recliner that was near the bed before reaching out and turning on the TV. Luckily, there was a decent movie on and not another documentary about the first or second sorceress wars...Squall didn't need that right now.

Adjusting his leg beneath him, Irvine cracked his beer open. While watching the TV, he covertly watched his commander as well. He didn't want to push anything, which is why he chose the recliner.

He really wanted nothing more than to join the beautiful man on the bed and hold him in his arm. He just didn't want to make the man he loved uncomfortable since he wasn't well.


Dark blue gray eyes cracked open at hearing the TV click on, thankful it was a movie and not a documentary or one of the Soap Operas that Rinoa was so fond of. He shifted slightly so his head was propped against the headboard, his back though, was now cushioned by a pillow. The beer was brought to his lips once more and another deep gulp was taken. Again he enjoyed the slightly bitter liquid that slid down his throat.

Halfway through the movie, he could feel himself beginning to fall asleep. It was unusual for him to fall asleep so early in the night but the days events and the hanging exhaustion were something that couldn't be pushed aside. Squall slid further down against the headboard so his shoulders were now cradled upon the pillow. Beer was set on the nightstand so as not to spill it, arm returning to his hanging spot however. A few minutes later the commander was passed out on the bed, deep breathes leaving his lips.

Irvine heard the even breaths coming from his lips and looked over to Squall. A smile graced his lips at seeing how at peace he looked when he slept. 'He really needs the rest...' He thought.

He saw the smaller man shiver and stood from his seat. The empty beer can was sat on the nightstand and he moved to the side of the bed. The blankets were pulled from beneath Squall's hips and draped them over him. The TV was turned off and he sat, admiring Squall's thick eyelashes and full lips.

The calloused hand of the sleeping man was pulled into his own and rubbed gently. A gentle smile traced his lips as he moved in and placed a soft kiss on Squall's lips.

"Sleep well..." He said quietly and went to leave, but found the hand he had been holding, gripping his and sleepy blue eyes opened slightly.

"Do you want me to stay with you?"

"...Would you...?" he asked in a soft, tired voice. Eyes were barely lidded and the exhaustion was weighting heavily upon him. At seeing the nod he let his eyes close once more, fingers letting go of Irvine's. For a few seconds there was no movement on the bed but then he felt the cowboy slip onto it, covers pulled back for a moment before being brought back. An arm was snaked around his waist and he instinctively curled against the body taking in the warmth that he was provided with.

There were a few words he wanted to say to the cowboy but he only managed a " thanks Irv…" before passing out.

"You're welcome..." He whispered to Squall's unconscious form. The beer coupled with his exhaustion and malnutrition apparently was too much for him. A kiss was placed on his shoulder before Irvine closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.


*Edited 12-7-08*