Into The Fire
Chapter II
The sound of the champagne flute shattering on the hardwood floor was quickly followed by a wave of nausea and a blinding headache for Leon. It was almost enough to bring him to his knees behind the podium. He used both hands to grip the podium with his knuckles were white. He clenched his jaw to keep the vomit from coming up.
Just give in. She wouldn't say no.
He prayed the lights were dim enough to cover the fact that his face was completely drained of all colour. He couldn't believe it was happening now. Though the room was silent he could hear the cacophony of white noise in the background and it caused his temples to pound in time with his headache. He closed his eyes, wishing the brilliant colours would at least fade from behind his eyes.
No, he hissed vehemently. We're not going through this again.
The commotion was starting to pick up again, and every eye began to turn on him again, but he couldn't move. He couldn't concentrate on anything but the din of the room and the conversation in his head.
She's here, and she's willing.
Shut up! He told himself.
"Are you alright?"
A warm hand rested on his shoulder, and suddenly the pressure was relieved from his head. He turned to see Kiros standing next to him, concern marring his otherwise youthful face.
Leon took a deep breath, trying to fill his lungs with air. Once he felt his breathing levelled, he shrugged the man's arm off and stood up straight behind the podium, though he didn't relieve his death-grip on the sides.
"I'll be fine," he managed to growl out, noting even Laguna was staring at him, concern apparent on his face. They'd both heard of his so called attacks, but neither had ever seen one up close. It was likely both more disturbing and less overwhelming than was expected, but he doubted either fully understood what was happening.
Hyne, he hardly understood what was happening to him. If he had, he would have put more effort into figuring out how to stop it, rather than trying to ignore it while he ran another Garden. As it was, the attacks were rather infrequent, and never quite so bad. This most recent episode just confirmed it.
Rinoa was connected to whatever it was that was happening to it, and she had the ability to trigger it.
He looked to where she had been standing, but she'd fled the room after dropping her glass. Other guests had filled her space in the back of the room, their eyes fixed on him, expectant. Finally releasing his death grip on the podium, he struggled to remember why he was standing there, and why the guests were waiting with bated breath.
Right. The speech.
Straightening his spine, he forced himself to disconnect, slipping into his dignitary facade. He had to "I am Leon Loire, son of President Loire, but do not think this will mean the Garden will be under Estharian control.
"I grew up with the Gardens, and I am a member of SeeD. While the Garden is a mercenary organization, the first goal has always been to train SeeD to defeat rogue Sorceresses. As such, we are committed to avoiding any conflicts between governments. We would like to encourage all Gardens to do the same.
"For the time being, we will be dedicated to training our students. We would also like to invite representatives from other Gardens to come to Esthar Garden to view our training, aid in teaching, and take courses in Estharian technology.
"All Gardens share a common goal and unity is essential to achieving these ends. Cooperation between the Gardens halted during the Second Sorceress War. I hope that Esthar Garden can be the institution that bridges this gap."
Not waiting for questions, knowing they would all pertain to his life as Squall Leonhart, Leon descended from the stage and left through the back door. He rounded a few corners, and once safely away from public domain, he bent over the first available potted plant and vomited. He stayed doubled over until it he was only dry heaving, and tried to catch his breath.
Standing up, he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and looked around to see if anyone had been watching. Hallways seemingly empty, he turned to head towards his rooms in the presidential wing, only to find himself looking up at a distinctly familiar face.
"Hyne, I didn't think she could actually be serious, but you really have moved up in the world, eh Squall?"
***
Seifer was used to moving around; used to changing his name as often as he changed his job. It was an expected consequence of acting as the Knight to a Sorceress whose mental faculties were more than a little questionable. While things had quieted down after both Balamb and Galbadia Gardens had issued him a pardon for his actions in the war, people were still reluctant to be associated with the name Seifer Almassy.
He'd been reasonably surprised when he'd been pardoned for his crimes during the war. The reason cited was that he'd not been under Sorceress Ultemicia's control at the time. Complete fiction, of course, and he was certain Squall had known it when he'd issued the pardon, but he wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. It went a little ways in allowing people to forget his face, but not the name.
Deciding to take advantage of the anonymity, Seifer decided to try his hand at fishing under an alias in the peaceful city of Fisherman's horizon. It was a very brief stint, in which he went stir-crazy and chased off his two companions. Despite the negatives, there had been some… positive encounters. Encounters that had helped him clear his head a little.
Shortly there after he picked another alias and enlisted as a grunt with the Galbadia military. Going by the name of Ai, he'd worked his way up the ranks, and wound up in the detail that was ever present with the President, the former General Caraway.
Seifer wasn't sure if the man recognized him from when he'd dated Rinoa, or if the man had even been close enough to pay him any notice. Rinoa certainly hadn't, and that was for the best. He'd been content at his lot in life.
He'd had the sneaking suspicion it would all change when Rinoa came running into the soldiers' mess when she should have been at the reception, screaming like a banshee that Squall had been here all along.
Upon hearing her claims, Seifer stood up so abruptly his chair was knocked over. Jaien shot him a glance over the table, concern and confusion written on her face, but she remained silent. He was fairly certain he managed to mumble something about feeling sick, corroborated by the bucket by his bunk, before he stumbled out into the hallway.
The hallways all looked the same; plush carpets on the floor, hideously expensive and just plain hideous paintings on the walls. He found his way towards the reception by following the flocks of servants all heading in one direction. He barely noticed the stares he was receiving from the serving staff. He didn't care that they found it odd for a Galbadian soldier to be storming down their hallways, paying no heed to the general flow of traffic.
When he reached the reception hall he stepped just inside the doorway and found a place off to the side against the wall. With the entire room for within his field of view, he scanned the crowd for any sign that Squall was around. He didn't see any; even with the physical changes that came with age and maturity, Seifer was certain he would be able to tell his former rival apart in a crowd. Satisfied that Squall wasn't in the room, Seifer slipped back out, intent on going down the next set of corridors in search of the man.
"Ai!"
Seifer turned at the sound of his "name" and found Jaien jogging towards him. He gave her a slight nod of acknowledgement, but was too focused on the task at hand to pay her much mind.
He had to find Squall.
"Ai!" Jaien shouted again, grabbing his attention. "What the hell do you think you're doing? We're not supposed to be out here skulking around. Makes it look as though Galbadia is trying to steal Esthar secrets."
"Just going to see what has Daddy's princess so spooked," he replied sardonically.
"So you're looking for this Squall?" She quirked her eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with his reasoning. He nodded. "The same Squall that she mumbles about in her sleep?" He nodded again, not liking the direction their conversation was heading. "Squall; former Lion of Balamb Squall?"
"Yes."
Finally, she smirked. "Anything to do with the pendant you wear?"
His eyebrows knitted into a frown. "What? No! Like I said, someone had look into this for the princess."
The fact that his hand went to grasp the silver pendent he work beneath his uniform betrayed him.
Folding her arms across her ample chest, Jaien smirked. "Sure. In any case, you're going to want to sneak into the presidential wing if you're going to find him."
"The presidential wing? Why?"
The smirk on her face got wider. "Because from what Rinoa was saying, it sounds like Squall is actually the son of President Loire."
"Sweet Hyne," Seifer muttered under his breath before adding, louder, "You're either the worst gossip I know, or on your way to becoming an intelligence offer."
Jaien was already turning to walk away, but she stopped to reply. "It's a little of both."
It took Seifer aback. "What?"
"I'm the only gossip you know."
"Fair enough," he conceded a small chuckle escaping. "Thanks for the help. I'll see you back at the mess."
"Sure thing. But Ai, if you screw this up for Caraway I'm going to be first in line to help with his retribution."
"I'll keep that in mind."
With new direction, Seifer headed towards the presidential wing. He found it strange that there were no guards to stop him but he figured, if Squall was actually living there, they probably didn't need any. The kid definitely knew how to take care of those around him.
He rounded a corner, and at first the clothes throw him off. The fitted, floor-length jacket were clearly of Estharian origin, and it made it hard to register that the man in front of him bent over the potted plant, voiding the entire contents of his stomach, was actually the skinny kid who used to go around sporting leather and a fur-trimmed coat.
The chuckle erupted from his chest before he could stop himself. "Hyne, I didn't think she could actually be serious, but you really have moved up in the world, eh Squall?"
Squall looked up. Seifer was ready to meet his eyes, but couldn't.
The kid was wearing a fucking blindfold.
***
Not even all of the champagne and appetizers being touted around by congenial serving staff was going to quiet the commotion brought about by his son's sudden departure. If Laguna had known something this drastic was going to happen he probably would have called the whole thing off, the damage had been done, and now he was going to have to do damage control.
He could already feel the leg cramp coming on.
With great reluctance he took to the stage his son had so recently vacated, and started trying to placate all of the officials and dignitaries in attendance. He found himself speaking, but couldn't really put his mind to what it was he was saying. The only thing he could focus on was the fact that Rinoa was in Esthar.
Standing in the back of the room as she had been when the gathering had started, he probably wouldn't have noticed her there. And he was quite certain that she had been meant to go unnoticed. That General Caraway had the gall to bring a sorceress into the walls of Esthar proper was astounding. At any other time, Laguna would have taken it as an act of aggression, but for the time being he was going to ignore it and see what came from it.
After all, she was the daughter of Julia, the one who'd gotten away. Laguna would have given anything for one last chance to talk to Julia, and he hoped his son might be willing to rekindle the romance he'd once had with the girl.
Even if she was a sorceress.
He slowly came back out of his own mind, and found the entire room staring at him with confusion. Ducking his head sheepishly, he realized he'd trailed off in the middle of talking. Scratching the back of his neck, he tried to remember where he'd been in the speech.
Thank Hyne, Kiros noticed his distress. He dark skinned man stepped up to the podium, all grace and fluidity, and took over.
"I believe, what President Loire would like to say, is that while he is sad to be losing the commander of Esthar's military forces, Leon Loire," he stressed the name "is both competent and just, and he will make an excellent commander.
"I would now like to invite you to take a tour of the palace grounds while we regroup for the banquet later this evening. I'm certain both President Loire and his son will be happy to field any questions you might have then."
There was a smattering of half-hearted applaud through the crowd, but they didn't argue. There was something about Kiros' demeaner, a sort of confident yet deadly calm the man carried about him, that staved off any dissent. Laguna often wondered how he had ended up as president instead of his second in command. The man was so much better suited to the task.
"Laguna," Kiros whispered, startling him. "Go check on your son. I think this attack was particularly bad."
He nodded, and bowed to the gathered dignitaries and representatives before turning and walking out the back door with as much dignity as he could muster. It wasn't much, given his blunder on stage.
***
Selphie found herself twiddling her thumbs uncomfortably as the president descended from the stage. Cal was standing next to her, oblivious to everything but the obvious tension in the room. She saw Xu quickly exiting the room from where she had been standing next to Irvine. She tried to avoid looking at him, but her gaze kept being drawn back to him, like a magnet, and every time she saw him her breath caught in her chest.
She felt like she was being torn apart into two when she accidentally met his eyes. She wanted to flee.
"Why is everyone so convinced that was Squall Leonhart?" Cal asked stupidly, preventing her escape. "I mean, the guy didn't even look like the pictures of Leonhart. Besides, he ran away from being commander of one garden, why would he come to lead another?"
Selphie wanted to cry out in frustration at her stupid partner. She wanted nothing more than to get out of the room.
Irvine was walking towards her.
"Because it was his ex-girlfriend who spotted him," she hissed, plotting her escape.
"Maybe she's dillusional, or has a thing for commanders?"
She was going to spontaneously combust, or disappear into the ground if she didn't get out of the room. She had a couple Quakes and some Firaga on her to make sure. "Because Rinoa is a sorceress, and Squall was her knight, that's why. Now lets get out of here."
Cal went along with it, snagging a few more hors d'oeuvres before following her.
She'd barely made her exit when her plans were foiled.
"Selphie, wait!" the stupid womanizer called to her.
She tried to keep walking, but Cal grabbed her arm to stop her. "Where are you going? Don't you want to say hi to your old friend?"
Tears were starting to well up in her eyes, and she had to hold her arms tightly at her sides, lest she strike out at someone. Her jaw was clenched tight, and she was certain her knuckles were white in the first she'd made.
"Selphie, I need to talk to you." Irvine looked haggard, his voice full of anguish.
Drawing a deep calming breath, she released the tension in her arms and jaw. "Irvine. Nice to see you again. I'd love to chat, but if you don't mind, we need to be preparing for the banquet. See you around."
Without another word, she calmly turned around and walked from the reception hall. Cal followed on her heels like a dog, and she could feel his glare between her shoulder blades.
"Hyne, Selphie," he let out with a gust of breath. "That was cold. No wonder your boy toys never last long."
This time she let herself go and struck him, palm open, on his face. She looked up to see a large red hand print form immediately on his face.
Sadly, it was entirely unsatisfying. She stormed off down the hall, and Cal watched her, dumbfounded, as she went.
***
Barely out the door of the meeting room, Laguna head heavy footsteps following behind him. The steps were much too heavy to belong to Kiros, yet too light for it to be Ward. There were standing orders for the guards not to follow into the presidential wing, given an unfortunate incident with Leon early on, so it wouldn't be one of them. Immediately put on edge, he turned around on one heel and faced the intruder.
It was Fury Caraway.
He'd never had the displeasure of meeting the man in person, but it was General Caraway who'd given the orders for him to investigate the Lunatic Pandora excavation, and it was Caraway who'd stepped into Julia's life after the "unfortunate accident" that had led to his disappearance.
"These areas are restricted to palace staff. Why are you back here?" he asked, keeping his voice pleasant, but his tone bored.
"I'd always wondered what happened to that lieutenant I'd sent away from Galbadia," the man replied. He had a drawl in his voice that only came from a man used to having his orders followed. "I never would have expected you to end up president of Esthar. They must have been desperate, given what I saw today."
Laguna let the petty jab wash over him, and actually smiled. "I've often wondered that myself, but my advisors assure me it has nothing to do with the fact that I've had a hand in disposing of two sorceresses. How's your daughter, by the way? Saw her in there, but she sure left in a hurry."
The blood drained from the Galbadian president's face, leaving Laguna feeling extremely satisfied.
"If you ever threaten my daughter again…" the man began, but Laguna cut him off.
"Who said anything about threatening? I've worked with Rinoa before. I have nothing but the respect for her. I even hold a small bit of affection for her, what with her dating my son in the past. Too bad about him leaving her. I hear she's following in your footsteps actually."
Caraway's brows narrowed. "Leaving her indeed. There was a country wide search for that boy. Suspicion of espionage and murder, and you said nothing to Galbadian officials of his presence within your borders."
"I said nothing because Squall Leonhart wasn't within my borders. Just Leon Loire. That and you had no proof he was involved; just your daughter's childish behaviour to hold onto what wasn't hers. Seems like she's following in your foot steps that way."
The blood returned to Caraway's face with vengeance, to the point that Laguna was worried the older man might suffer a coronary in the hallway right in front of him. His face was nearly purple, and his breathing sounded laboured.
"Calm down," Laguna instructed, patronizing. "Why don't you go on one of the palace tours? Our gardens are quite beautiful and peaceful this time of year."
Caraway looked ready to object, but was cut off by a commotion coming from down the hall.
"Keep your fucking hands off me!" It was Leon's voice, but the fact that he was issuing the order, instead of forcing the issue provided something of an interesting conundrum. Laguna heard a deeper voice rumble something in return. He took off down the hallway to see what was going on, Fury Caraway hot on his heels.
He darted down the hallway in a manner that was far from befitting for a man of his age and station and rounded the corner, startling a couple members of the cleaning staff in the process. He certainly didn't expect to see Leon standing face to face with another man, his blindfold loosely held in the other man's hand.
Hearing Laguna's approach, Leon's gaze flicked to his father's. Laguna had never seen anything like it. The man's eyes were covered in a milky-white film.
He's blind? was all Laguna could think.
***
AN: Another chapter done. I'm going to aim for chapters around this length once a week, probably Thursday's or Fridays.
New question this time: Are you alright with the constantly changing perspectives? I find it more interesting to leave scenes unfinished for a bit of suspense, but if you let me know if you'd like me to try sticking with one scene throughout a chapter.
