Of course they aren't with him. Their lives would be at serious levels of risk. They had plenty of things they wanted to have with their futures. Before he'd left them he'd heard that Raijin had gotten into a cooking school in Dollet, where he was setting up with Fujin. So he did the right thing.

He left for their safety. And asked them not to follow this time.

"I'm not asking you if you're sure. I'm wondering if you're fucking sane," Seifer grumbles, but he doesn't protest hands helping with the coffee.

It's a lot better than trying to answer what Squall's asking. It's just... Hyne, he doesn't get it, does he? Or maybe neither of them do.

"Give me a good reason to accept this deal of yours."