Disclaimers: I own nothing of Final Fantasy 8, it all belongs to the demigods of Square Enix.
Something sappyfor my chère. 3
Welcome home
Today's the day.
He's been here plenty of times before on SeeD business: negotiating contracts, taking care of a mission or even checking out the area outside the city for monsters carrying useful items. He's never been here for any other reason, though, today is a first. Today, he's here for me.
I asked him to come, of course, but it didn't take much to convince him, just the promise of no talking business, something I can easily do, and swearing that I wouldn't publicly humiliate him. Not that I would do such a thing, on purpose anyway, but I guess it's a part of being eighteen or something, not wanting your old man to hug you when other people are around.
His old man…I don't really feel old, but then Squall doesn't really act all that young either. More's the pity though, I've seen him laugh a few times and he just looks so much younger when he does that. Oh well, more reason for me to make sure he enjoys his time here.
I go to the air station, newly renovated in a celebration of Esthar's rejoining the rest of the world, to wait for him to arrive, smiling, nodding and shaking hands with people who recognise me on my way there. I'm sure that, by now, I'm smiling like some goof, but I can't help myself, it just comes naturally. Most people are used to it by now anyway, that the man in charge of their country isn't all that uptight or stiff.
So when he walks out of the Ragnarok, looking for all as if he wasn't the saviour of the world, but just another kid, there's nothing I can do but to let go of my train of thought and hug him tightly, crushing him against my chest as if I haven't seen him in years rather than the two weeks it's been. And despite the fact that I know he hates it, I hold on, still smiling, for another moment, speaking quietly to myself.
"Welcome back, son."