Squall was silent as he listened to Zell speak. Sometimes he had second doubts if any of that was true. He liked to command these days and he did care but that was only after he was pressured to do it all and was now accustomed to it. He protected his friends and cared about them, but only because they had tolerated him long enough to become closer to him. It seemed like everything in his life was only because people seemed to gravitate towards him and expected those things from him. And stuck around long enough to allow Squall to adjust.

To just be handed this companionship with Zell. It just...

Instead of replying he just kissed Zell again, rougher this time, clutching him close. Almost desperately.

When it broke he looked down. "I'll try to believe that."