Careworn Lives
Summary: It's been two years since defeating Ultimecia and Laguna still has yet to reveal to Squall who he is to him. However, while trying to reach that point Laguna is met with challenges that may speed up or hinder that process. A new threat is brewing somewhere to the north and not just Laguna needs to watch out for it.
A/N: Hi there. This is going to be a very emo and angsty story. I will try to keep some humor around seeing as our favorite president is quite the happy sort of guy, even with all the problems I'll be throwing at him. This story will be focusing mostly on Laguna and Squall's relationship as father and son. All of our favorite characters will make appearances. As far as pairings go, Squinoa, will be the main highlight.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters that were not made by me. No canon was harmed by any of the OCs within this text. (In other words, the few OCs that are in this aka. The bad guys will not have any love interests, or be super omega powerful. I strictly hate any and all mary-sues and gary-sues. You will not find any of them in this story.)
While Reading: Please note that all speech will be surrounded by quotes ("") but all thought speech will be surrounded by apostrophes (''). Some people do it, some don't… I just like doing it this way.
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"I think I can see my desk." An eyebrow raised as the man watched the President place his hand to his forehead in shock. "I never thought it could be possible!" His hand went shakily to the last piece of paper in the inbox and picked it up, revealing- "Bliss, absolute bliss." Laguna sunk back in the large winged arm chair admiring the lack of papers.
Laguna's companion sighed and folded the newspaper down in front of him. "You do realize that if you didn't leave it all to the last minute, it wouldn't stack up like that."
Laguna winced at his friend's words, "Kiros, you know I have more important things to do than to-" his eyes went to the paper he was holding, "answer requests for- help with cleaning up Timber after Galbadian forces have left." He paused as these words sunk into him. "So this is why I had received all of that hate mail over the past two months from Timber."
Kiros shook his head as Laguna quickly scrawled his signature at the bottom and placed it at the top of the outbox pile, noting it to be of immediate importance.
"With all the advanced technology this place is running, you'd think I'd have a more efficient way of replying to these." The president of Esthar sighed as he leaned on his desk and messaged his temples.
"Well we did offer it to you a while ago but-" Kiros was stopped in mid sentence when Laguna suddenly turned to his side and began to cough violently. Another sigh escaped him as he shook his head. "And when were you planning on having that looked at?" Kiros badgered once Laguna had recovered.
"You know- you really are more like a mother." Laguna coughed as he sat back up in his chair. Kiros stood and walked up along-side the large mahogany desk and dropped a letter in the once empty inbox. "Oh, come on! I just cleared this spot." Laguna whined as he spun in his seat to the retreating Kiros.
"Then answer it now, because it's a doctor's notice for you to go get checked out." Kiros said as he left the presidential suite.
The door closed with a resounding thud, leaving Laguna to his thoughts.
'Kiros, you're always looking out for me.' He slowly opened his clasped hand to see the now drying blood that stained it. 'But perhaps it is about time.' Taking the envelope, the man followed his friend out the door while the constant reminder lingered in the back of his mind that none of them were as young as they once were.
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"Are you serious!?" The brunette cried and jumped around excitedly in front of the raven haired girl.
"You mean the engagement ring isn't enough proof?" Rinoa laughed as Selphie grabbed her hands and continued to bounce.
"I know! But I never thought he actually would! Honestly I thought we were going to have to go out, buy you the ring, put it in his hand, and then hold him at gun point to get him to finally do it." Selphie laughed.
"He had been talking about it for a while. I'm actually glad he finally did it of his own free will. Otherwise, I don't think he would have appreciated what Zell and I had planned." Irvine smiled from behind the bouncing Selphie.
"Well, so long as he doesn't suffer under cardiac arrest at the altar I think he'll be fine." Rinoa smiled as she admired the diamond engagement ring.
Truth was they were both still very young. Odds were that the engagement would be a long one.
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"So, you actually went to see the doctor." Kiros admired as he reigned in his yellow chocobo closer to Laguna who rode his own white bird.
"Well, I figured it couldn't hurt. Plus perhaps I could finally get your nagging to stop." Laguna smirked as he waved to a pedestrian as they moved their way down the streets of Esthar.
The day was crisp and cool. Puffy clouds floating above the city brought with them no threats of rain. A large domed enclosure soon came into view as the two rounded a corner.
"Speaking of nagging, the doctor contacted me earlier saying you had to go and see him as soon as possible for your results-"
"I'll race you to the park!" Laguna quickly stepped in as he threw his mount into full stride, almost colliding with a passing street vendor.
Kiros watched as the bird blurred out of sight and into the dome. He would have to admit that he was grateful Laguna retained his childlike qualities even under the stress of running a country. In a way, it felt like Laguna's optimism and strength was the only thing keeping them all going.
Laguna laughed as he veered around inside the large enclosure, the fresh fragrances from the grass and trees enhancing his spirits further.
"Kiros! When are you ever going to train that bird! You'll never win the next tournament!" Laguna cried as he watched the yellow chocobo with his friend slowly approaching the park. Still laughing he turned only to have his snowy mount halt in its tracts.
"Oh, hey, Ward. Finished training the new recruits for the day?" Laguna smiled down to the wall that stood in front of him.
"…"
"This is about the doctor thing, isn't it?" Ward remained silent as always as Kiros finally approached the two of them. Laguna looked back to his other friend who simply nodded. A limousine then pulled up outside the entrance to the park as Ward reached up and grabbed hold of Laguna's chocobo.
"Okay, you're both right. I'll go see the doctor." Laguna hopped down and started to head to his waiting ride, head hung slightly, shoulders drooped. Kiros and Ward watched as their comrade walked off as if going to his death.
"Whatever it is that's ailing him. I pray to Hyne they can help him."
"…"
"You're right. Such prayers may be too late." Kiros frowned as the limo pulled away and the two headed for the stables.
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"So, Doc, what's the diagnosis? That gum I swallowed when I was 10 finally eating a hole in my stomach lining to be causing me to cough up blood?" Laguna joked as he sat on the examining table. The doctor had his back facing Laguna as he studied his chart. He was silent for a few minutes before he finally closed the documents. He turned around solemnly to face his patient. Laguna's face had not changed from the joking look he held when he first came in. Time would only tell if Laguna could hold that same outlook after what he had to say.
"Mr. President-"
"Doc, Laguna, is fine. Even the people of Esthar have grown comfortable by calling me by my name."
The doctor paused and nodded, "Laguna- I'm afraid your situation is far worse than swallowed gum."
"Oh really, did I not get rid of all the shrapnel in my chest from when I was in the army?"
"Sir, you have a serious disease known as pneumoresin."
Laguna paused before continuing with his usual attitude, "Pneumo-whatsit? Sounds more like a drink I may have had last night."
"Sir, this is no laughing matter. Pneumoresin is a very rare and serious disease. We haven't come across a case in many years. I would have to place the blame on your parents but because we have no medical records-"
"Wait." Laguna stopped the doctor in mid stride at his last statement. A serious look had crossed the president's usual happy visage. "Why would my parents be the ones to blame?"
"Well, pneumoresin is hereditary. In every family we've diagnosed, every male in each family has had it." The doctor continued.
"And you've been able to treat it." Laguna urged on.
"We have, but-" The doctor paused and finally looked to Laguna. "This disease needs to be combated while the patient is still young. A patient will never know they have the disease until symptoms occur. In your case, the coughing up blood is a sign that the cells have migrated to your lungs. I'm afraid by this point there is nothing we can do." He said at last with a very solemn look upon his face.
Laguna could see how much this news was paining the doctor. For the past 20 years, Esthar had seen a very prosperous time under Laguna's leadership. And now, he basically just carried out the president's death sentence.
"Even though this isn't a good time, in a way, it's a good thing you never had children." The doctor started again.
"What was that?" Laguna queried now far more interested than before. He could care less if he was going to die tomorrow. But if something were to happen to Squall because he never let him know about this, he couldn't die happy.
"Well, since it's hereditary, if you had a son, your son would have the same disease as you do. However, since we already know this now, we could have already treated your son without future worries." Laguna jumped from the table and grabbed the doctor's shoulders.
"ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT MY-" Laguna was in the middle of shaking the doctor senseless until he found his composure.
'If this is all true, I can get to Squall before anything can happen and get him under medication so he doesn't suffer the same fate.' He thought as he released his hold on the physician.
"Sorry, Dr. Farrin," Laguna settled back to leaning against the table. "How old does the patient have to be before he can no longer receive treatment?"
"Ahh, well…" Dr. Farrin readjusted his glasses as he tried to regain his own composure from being knocked around. "The age varies from very young to around 25 years. You were lucky to have seen your late 40s before these symptoms began to show." Laguna wasn't listening to the rest the doctor had said. He didn't care about what was in store for himself. The only thing crossing his mind was making sure Squall would be alright. "Why are you showing so much concern? I would think you'd be more interested in seeing to yourself. As our records show, there are no other Loire's."
'No, but there is a Leonhart-Loire,' Laguna worried to himself. "Well, what kind of treatment are we talking about?"
"Well, first the person needs to be brought here to our labs so we can run a diagnostic on them. Then they have to undergo monthly blood transfusions as well as taking daily medications. These procedures have been working over the years, but as far as our research has held there have been no signs of completely getting rid of the disease."
"But as long as they continue to go through the treatments, they can live a long and healthy life?" Laguna said getting into the Doctor's face again.
"Well, as healthy as can be expected."
"Can be expected doesn't fly! He will have a healthy life if I have anything to do with it!" Laguna fumed as he stormed through the door leaving behind a very confused and unsettled Dr. Farrin.
'This can't be happening. What more can I do to him that he doesn't even know about.' Laguna mentally barraged himself as he headed straight for the suite. 'I need to get to him soon. Maybe I should invite him out here. No, I should go see him in Balamb.' Laguna had found himself pacing in the suite as soon as he had entered it. The two stoic figures standing by the opposite wall were completely ignored.
"Laguna-"
'He needs to get out here real soon. I'll take the Ragnarok and pick him up tonight.'
"Laguna-"
'Or maybe it'd be better if I bring the doc out there to see him."
"LAGUNA-!" Kiros finally snapped the raven haired president out of his musings, as well as making him crash over one of the legs of a chair.
"Kiros! Ward! Guys, we have a problem. We need to get Squall over here to see the doc. His life is in serious jeopardy! Come on, let's go get the Ragnarok started up and head for Balamb." Laguna was already marching half way through the door as Ward reached over and grabbed the raving president by the collar.
"Hold up, Mr. President. You need to sit down and think this over rationally before you start gallivanting off across the world." Kiros stated from his solemn stance near the door, not looking to his friend.
"But this is a life and death situation, I need to see Squall." Laguna protested but Ward held firm.
"Why do you need to see Squall so badly? We had you see the doctor concerning your health, not Squall's." Kiros interjected trying to make sense of his friend's upheaval. Laguna finally stopped fighting Ward and slowly moved back into the room.
Laguna watched as both Kiros and Ward held their ground. Each one had a strong yet concerned look to them. Actually, this felt like perhaps the first time either one of them had shown this much worry in his ramblings.
Sighing in defeat, Laguna decided to explain the situation. "It seems that these coughing fits are symptoms of this serious disease that I have in my lungs." Kiros' eyes grew wide at this making Laguna look away quickly as he continued, "But I'm fine." He turned back and added, "See this disease is hereditary and if found in the family's genes, then every male will be susceptible to it. However, there are two different strands to it, so the fatal strand skips a generation. I have the negative strand which means I will have the symptoms of the disease, but it won't kill me."
"And with Squall being your son, he has the positive strand." Kiros put together.
Laguna's head hung as he sighed with a quiet, "yes."
Kiros looked over to Ward who simply closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. They both looked to their friend who was now slumped in a chair, his head held in his hands. Laguna looked like he had aged 20 years.
"So we just need to get Squall treated for the disease and he'll be fine." Kiros planned as Laguna looked up to him, a smile creasing his grim appearance.
"Yes, and we need to get to him as soon as possible." Laguna said with determination. Now standing and looking his friends directly in the eye.
"But how will you explain this to him? If it's hereditary, then he will know you're his father. How do you think he's going to take this? Telling him he has a deadly disease that needs to be treated now will only make him ask how you know, and you'll have to tell him that it runs in the family. That's a lot to take in at once." Kiros questioned.
This put a lot in perspective for Laguna. It hadn't even struck him yet that Squall still didn't know he was his father. "I'll talk to Rinoa first. I'll explain everything to her. If anyone can help me get through to Squall, it'd be her." Laguna decided as he moved closer to the two stationary sentinels.
"You're sure about all of this?" Kiros asked, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Yes. I've done enough to hurt Squall already by being MIA his entire life. I will not allow his future to be ruined by me as well." Kiros and Ward both nodded at this. "Ward, I'm putting you in charge while we're gone. We should be back soon." Laguna than ran from the room, wishing he was already in the Ragnarok on his way to Balamb.
Silence remained in the room as Kiros looked to Ward with worry in his eyes. They each could read each other's thoughts without even having to vocalize them. Some stories would be ending sooner than was designed.
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Laguna stationed himself in the pilot's seat as he waited for Kiros to board. His leg had begun to cramp up while he had been talking to his friends. It was still cramped even now, and he began to wonder if it would ever go away, knowing he had lied to the only people who had stuck by him through everything life had thrown at him. By doing so, had he written his own death sentence, and shunned himself before Hyne… and Raine.
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Dr. Farrin came running into the presidential suite after hearing the news that the President would be gone for a short period. Only finding Ward, the doctor looked worried.
"Master Ward, when the President returns, please make sure he doesn't over exert himself anymore. It's not good for his health." The doctor explained to the ever stoic Ward. He nodded in reply giving the doctor his leave. Slightly out of breath, the doctor left and made his way back to his office.
'If he doesn't settle down, it's only going to speed up the disease's course, and he already has such a short time.'
A/N: So that's it for chapter 1. Rather dismal and sad. It's not looking good for the Leonhart-Loire family, let alone all the people who it will also affect. And the disease is only one thing Laguna has to worry about. What he doesn't know, is that a surprising enemy is at his heels ready for when Laguna has his back turned.
Please R&R on your way out! Next chapter coming real soon! :D