Like Father, Like Son
by Rikku Chic9
***
(Author's notes: Yeah, it's been a long time since I've written anything new for this. Anyway, I'm REALLY sorry for the delay, but I've been mucho busy. I've also been trying to inspire myself to finish Das Gewahlte (both my Weiss Kreuz fic AND my original manga that has nothing to do with Weiss Kreuz). I've been posting art at two message boards and begun maintaining a website, so that's only partly taking up my time. Well, everything is still the same, content-wise, and... enjoy.)
***
"The sky's so beautiful... don't you think?"
Steel blue eyes opened slowly adjusting to a warm light. Dark chocolate hair fell loosely into his sight. Finally he lifted his ivory face for a better view of what was next to him.
A woman with similar chocolate locks shined elegantly in the sunlight. She turned her head and her hair flew brilliantly in the gentle breeze. He met with blue eyes very similar to his own, yet... more innocent and full of life. She smiled warmly at him with her eyes glistening with a maternal love.
"Don't you find it lovely..."
His eyes widened.
"... my precious son?"
Her smile beamed and a white flower suddenly flew in front of her.
He finally realized what was happening as he gripped the fresh green grass beneath him... and a tear rolled down... his lonely cheek.
"... Mother."
***
Squall's eyes flew open abruptly. The room was dim, but light seeped in from the blinds. He rose slightly noticing he was in the infirmirary at the Garden. His head shot from side to side in wonder when his eyes meet with Quistis. She was obviously still asleep from the way she was sitting on the chair next to the bed.
Squall's eyes wondered to the front of the room where a blank wall was present. He heard rustling and a yawn to his side and looked to see that Quistis was waking up.
"... Is he still asleep?"
She turned to Squall and a great look of relief spread across her face seeing him awake.
"Squall!" She quieted, "Thank god that you're awake."
"... Why?" Squall still felt a little unsure about what was exactly going on.
"Oh... well." Squall grew anxious thinking why Quistis was hesitating to say.
"... You don't remember do you?"
Squall blinked slightly annoyed.
'What does she mean?'
"Do you remember our fight with Rufus?"
A vivid image of that amethyst-eyed demon flew in Squall's mind. He lowered his head.
"... How could I forget?"
"Do you recall anything after... the gunshot?"
He looked confused at first, but he was immediately reminded as the entire memory replayed in his head. His eyes turned to panic as he rose a bit more from his sheets.
"What happened to Irvine?!"
Quistis' eyes looked downward a bit mournfully. She wasn't sure how to express the result. She gasped in shock when he grabbed her shoulders.
"Quistis, tell me!" Squall had genuine fear in his eyes.
"I-He-He's-"
"Alive."
Squall and a lip trembling Quistis turned towards the entrance. Laguna stood in the doorway appearing more firmly than natural. His watery aquamarine eyes either deceived or portrayed the rest of his body. Squall's eyes lit up with a small hope.
"So he's alright? He's ali-"
"Well, alive as he'll ever be..." Laguna showed the same hesitation in what feeling to show.
"..."
***
"How long was I sleeping?" Squall covered his forehead in frustration.
"Two days. You required more time to recover with the injuries you sustained."
"... Who did I have to hurt?" Squall didn't move as he asked his father.
"They both did it because they wanted to help you, kid."
"There was more than one?"
"Quistis and that dude with the tatoo, uh, Zell?"
"Yeah. That's his name."
Laguna was a little surprised by the hostility.
"They're fin-"
"I DON'T CARE."
Laguna wasn't as much threatened by his son's retort than the nurse or his friends coming back into the room getting worried over the shout.
"Your friend, Irvine, is fine."
Squall shifted his head in his hands.
"I gave him a little of my blood, so he should be alright."
"Why did you go and make it worse?"
Laguna took a small offense to Squall's comment.
"Don't say that. Raine took my blood into her to give her the strength to bring you into the world..." Squall's head lifted completely hearing this.
"I think you can figure out for yourself what she truly thought about it."
Squall felt a huge weight of guilt.
"She wanted me to believe it... I know... she'd want you to sincerely believe, too." Laguna smiled again... which wasn't odd at all.
***
Irvine twiddled away with his hand. Waving it back and forth slowly then jerking it a bit more swiftly at random blinking his eyes in disbelief. An innocent smile welled up.
"You missed it, again."
Selphie didn't respond. She had volunteered to stay with him in his dormitory since their encounter with Rufus. She didn't like to tell him, but she felt afraid to be in the same room with him now. His once deep navy blue eyes had faded to an unnaturally pale ocean color. His handsome outdoor tan was wiped out by a pale cream shade. Besides those, he still, externally, looked the same as always... But she knew. The feeling around him... was altered in some way now... she knew.
"Selph?"
She snapped out of her train of thought gazing cheerfully like she usually did with her lively emerald eyes at the man she loved.
"I'm sorry." She couldn't help, but cry again.
Irvine tried to touch her face, but she held his hand back.
'Cold... you're so cold.'
Irvine's eyes glossed over with a faint sadness.
"Sorry... I'm sorry I can't change that now, Selph."
Her eyes widened with a great shame wishing she had realized...
***
"Irvine's transformation isn't exactly complete yet, actually."
Squall threw on his feathered jacket.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You aren't a vampire 'til you take blood. Well, for the changies anyway." Laguna flipped back his hair gently.
"Why?"
"'Cause if you're born from a vampire parent, it's different!" Laguna waved in a kind of restless fury.
"The ones who get changed have to drink blood from someone other than another vampire to 'officially' become one. Giving him my blood didn't make him full-fledged, yet. He's a bit weaker at the moment than a complete vamp, but... sadly, knowing the hunger, it won't be that way for long." Laguna gave a nervous smile.
"What should we do then?" Squall raised an eyebrow.
"The safest thing is to give him pre-prepared blood, uh, but..."
"But, what?" Squall sighed in annoyance.
"Y-I didn't exactly bring any with me... 'cause I don't really need blood anymore and-"
"What the hell is wrong with your head?" Squall pressed his fingers against his forehead.
***
Zell turned over in his bed trying to sleep a bit longer before someone came banging on his door. He was still a little banged up in places from fighting with Rufus... and getting beaten the crap out of. He cringed at the thought more than the whipping itself.
He gave up and sat up revealing that he'd went and slept in his clothes anyway. The spiked blonde couldn't stand still having a huge bandage over his left eye and surrounded most of his cheek, too. It covered his tatoo which he cherished immensely. He'd gotten it just before enrolling at Garden and his friends back home had dared him to get one. Zell thought it made him more intimidating and hey, chicks dig guys with body art.
The blonde grinned remembering the thought which lifted his spirits a bit. He heard someone shove open his door and looked up to see his favorite former instructor.
"Were you sleeping in again?" Quistis shook her head which she seemed to be getting used to.
"Well hello to you, too." Zell was cut off by a thrown pillow.
"Squall's finally up. Just thought you'd like to know."
"Boss man's up and about?" Zell spoke up seeing Quistis turning to leave.
"Oh hey! What's the daily report on Irvine?"
"He's still... just sitting around in his dorm with Selphie."
Zell tried to sit up, but Quistis got in his way.
"You recall... what happened when he first woke?" Zell studied Quistis' sad expression after her question.
"... He can't help it Quisty. Ya gotta try to understand what it must be like."
"Teh. That's the most thoughtful piece of advice you've said in a long while..." Quistis sat next to Zell, her head lowered, but smiling faintly.
"So Squall's doin' okay now, right? His dad seemed up and about after dukin' it out with that Keir dude."
"... They both ran after the point was across. They'll be expecting Irvine dead the next time they come around. You're right though... Laguna seemed fine after we got back here."
"I'm glad everyone else's recovered. My damn eye's screwed up and Kadowaki said it'll likely take a few more days... shit." Zell's head fell forward in exasperation.
"..."
"What?"
"Rinoa comes back today."
"Woah... uh, yeah... There's a little challenge for the boss man..."
Quistis suddenly spoke after a small silence.
"... Not as much of a challenge as you'll have."
"Huh-"
Before he could finish, Zell was abruptly cut off by the press of Quistis' painted lips upon his.
***
"Irvine."
The gunman responded to his lover's voice.
"Uh huh?"
"What are we gonna do?"
There was silence from both of them for a few moments.
Irvine blinked in surprise when Selphie giggled softly.
"I mean, heh, none of us could stand a chance against those guys at Balamb," Selphie trembled unknowingly, " we... well, I, couldn't do anything. How worthless..."
Irvine stared sorrowed by the usually optimistic girl's attitude turning paranoid and helpless.
"Selph-"
"Will I have to become a vampire, too?! I don't want to, but... but I'm so pathetic. I can't help. I want to, but I don't want to stop being what I am! I wanna stay..." Selphie gazed downward longingly.
"... normal?"
Selphie turned around and buried her face in the bed's pillow.
How... How can I keep being so stupid? ... Why? Stop crying!
Selphie looked up when Irvine laid a hand upon her back. She forced a smile, though not honestly, despite the tear stains. Irvine saw that she was attempting to remain in her usual state of mind and decided to speak.
"You're not stupid."
Selphie slowly embraced Irvine still forcing that smile.
Irvine wrapped his bare arms gently around her and made a soft laugh.
"You can cry if you want, kid."
Selphie decided otherwise apparantly not wanting to be weak... anymore.
Irvine noticed Selphie's throat... that silently pulsing vein...
The chestnut-haired gunman cautiously broke their embrace. Of course, this did not seem to pass under his lover's nose.
"... If you need it, then go ahead."
Irvine was quietly alarmed by her offer and quickly changed his expression.
"I should find Mr. Loire." Irvine walked out of the room as if nothing were wrong.
Selphie, still kneeling on Irvine's bed, gave a meloncholy glance towards the window with its setting sun. She had an indifferent smile.
***
"I'm going to be going back to my room then, Squall."
"Alright. Is the moron bording with you, too?"
Ellone confirmed her brother's question despite his less-than-friendly nick-name for Laguna.
"Good."
Her see-through shall waved gently behind her as she ran off through the sparse evening crowd in the Garden's central area toward the dorms.
"Haven't talked to you in a while, Leonhart."
Squall shifted to meet up with a former eyesore.
"You haven't been around in a while, Seifer Almasy."
The blond planted himself in some sense of pride.
"Just making sure I pass the next SeeD exam."
"Is that all?"
Seifer dusted imaginary dust off his shoulder.
"Got nothing better to do. Hey, I was hearing this passing the dorms-"
"Do you see me caring too greatly?" Squall looked emotionless and not-interested while putting his hand in his hair.
"Heartilly's apparantly coming back this evening."
Squall almost pulled the right section of his hair completely out of his scalp.
"What?"
"Uh... didn't Trepe tell you this? Damn... you people."
Squall seemed a bit disgruntled by this piece of news, but as soon as he was trying to fully process anything, the one person he did NOT need right now... was standing only feet away from the two.
The dark brown-haired SeeD member was doing a wonderful impersonation of a deer caught in headlights when he saw her.
Seifer looked from Squall to the familiar face confused why Squall seemed so, almost, frightened by her.
Squall only whispered in a slightly embarassed and surprised tone.
"Rinoa?"
***
(Author's Notes: Yeah, this chapter was a bit cornball and cheesy... and SHORT _ Anyway, Rinoa will FINALLY join in the plot in the next chapter (I know she was in this one, but I mean she'll be doing something), so anyway, SquallxRinoa fans will definately be pleased with some of the happenings next chapter and the actual plot (yes, there is one -_-) will be more concrete from now on. Oh, and too, Seifer has a small role in this, too, but not very big or significant. Sorry Seifer fans. Okay. I'm done.)
***
by Rikku Chic9
***
(Author's notes: Yeah, it's been a long time since I've written anything new for this. Anyway, I'm REALLY sorry for the delay, but I've been mucho busy. I've also been trying to inspire myself to finish Das Gewahlte (both my Weiss Kreuz fic AND my original manga that has nothing to do with Weiss Kreuz). I've been posting art at two message boards and begun maintaining a website, so that's only partly taking up my time. Well, everything is still the same, content-wise, and... enjoy.)
***
"The sky's so beautiful... don't you think?"
Steel blue eyes opened slowly adjusting to a warm light. Dark chocolate hair fell loosely into his sight. Finally he lifted his ivory face for a better view of what was next to him.
A woman with similar chocolate locks shined elegantly in the sunlight. She turned her head and her hair flew brilliantly in the gentle breeze. He met with blue eyes very similar to his own, yet... more innocent and full of life. She smiled warmly at him with her eyes glistening with a maternal love.
"Don't you find it lovely..."
His eyes widened.
"... my precious son?"
Her smile beamed and a white flower suddenly flew in front of her.
He finally realized what was happening as he gripped the fresh green grass beneath him... and a tear rolled down... his lonely cheek.
"... Mother."
***
Squall's eyes flew open abruptly. The room was dim, but light seeped in from the blinds. He rose slightly noticing he was in the infirmirary at the Garden. His head shot from side to side in wonder when his eyes meet with Quistis. She was obviously still asleep from the way she was sitting on the chair next to the bed.
Squall's eyes wondered to the front of the room where a blank wall was present. He heard rustling and a yawn to his side and looked to see that Quistis was waking up.
"... Is he still asleep?"
She turned to Squall and a great look of relief spread across her face seeing him awake.
"Squall!" She quieted, "Thank god that you're awake."
"... Why?" Squall still felt a little unsure about what was exactly going on.
"Oh... well." Squall grew anxious thinking why Quistis was hesitating to say.
"... You don't remember do you?"
Squall blinked slightly annoyed.
'What does she mean?'
"Do you remember our fight with Rufus?"
A vivid image of that amethyst-eyed demon flew in Squall's mind. He lowered his head.
"... How could I forget?"
"Do you recall anything after... the gunshot?"
He looked confused at first, but he was immediately reminded as the entire memory replayed in his head. His eyes turned to panic as he rose a bit more from his sheets.
"What happened to Irvine?!"
Quistis' eyes looked downward a bit mournfully. She wasn't sure how to express the result. She gasped in shock when he grabbed her shoulders.
"Quistis, tell me!" Squall had genuine fear in his eyes.
"I-He-He's-"
"Alive."
Squall and a lip trembling Quistis turned towards the entrance. Laguna stood in the doorway appearing more firmly than natural. His watery aquamarine eyes either deceived or portrayed the rest of his body. Squall's eyes lit up with a small hope.
"So he's alright? He's ali-"
"Well, alive as he'll ever be..." Laguna showed the same hesitation in what feeling to show.
"..."
***
"How long was I sleeping?" Squall covered his forehead in frustration.
"Two days. You required more time to recover with the injuries you sustained."
"... Who did I have to hurt?" Squall didn't move as he asked his father.
"They both did it because they wanted to help you, kid."
"There was more than one?"
"Quistis and that dude with the tatoo, uh, Zell?"
"Yeah. That's his name."
Laguna was a little surprised by the hostility.
"They're fin-"
"I DON'T CARE."
Laguna wasn't as much threatened by his son's retort than the nurse or his friends coming back into the room getting worried over the shout.
"Your friend, Irvine, is fine."
Squall shifted his head in his hands.
"I gave him a little of my blood, so he should be alright."
"Why did you go and make it worse?"
Laguna took a small offense to Squall's comment.
"Don't say that. Raine took my blood into her to give her the strength to bring you into the world..." Squall's head lifted completely hearing this.
"I think you can figure out for yourself what she truly thought about it."
Squall felt a huge weight of guilt.
"She wanted me to believe it... I know... she'd want you to sincerely believe, too." Laguna smiled again... which wasn't odd at all.
***
Irvine twiddled away with his hand. Waving it back and forth slowly then jerking it a bit more swiftly at random blinking his eyes in disbelief. An innocent smile welled up.
"You missed it, again."
Selphie didn't respond. She had volunteered to stay with him in his dormitory since their encounter with Rufus. She didn't like to tell him, but she felt afraid to be in the same room with him now. His once deep navy blue eyes had faded to an unnaturally pale ocean color. His handsome outdoor tan was wiped out by a pale cream shade. Besides those, he still, externally, looked the same as always... But she knew. The feeling around him... was altered in some way now... she knew.
"Selph?"
She snapped out of her train of thought gazing cheerfully like she usually did with her lively emerald eyes at the man she loved.
"I'm sorry." She couldn't help, but cry again.
Irvine tried to touch her face, but she held his hand back.
'Cold... you're so cold.'
Irvine's eyes glossed over with a faint sadness.
"Sorry... I'm sorry I can't change that now, Selph."
Her eyes widened with a great shame wishing she had realized...
***
"Irvine's transformation isn't exactly complete yet, actually."
Squall threw on his feathered jacket.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You aren't a vampire 'til you take blood. Well, for the changies anyway." Laguna flipped back his hair gently.
"Why?"
"'Cause if you're born from a vampire parent, it's different!" Laguna waved in a kind of restless fury.
"The ones who get changed have to drink blood from someone other than another vampire to 'officially' become one. Giving him my blood didn't make him full-fledged, yet. He's a bit weaker at the moment than a complete vamp, but... sadly, knowing the hunger, it won't be that way for long." Laguna gave a nervous smile.
"What should we do then?" Squall raised an eyebrow.
"The safest thing is to give him pre-prepared blood, uh, but..."
"But, what?" Squall sighed in annoyance.
"Y-I didn't exactly bring any with me... 'cause I don't really need blood anymore and-"
"What the hell is wrong with your head?" Squall pressed his fingers against his forehead.
***
Zell turned over in his bed trying to sleep a bit longer before someone came banging on his door. He was still a little banged up in places from fighting with Rufus... and getting beaten the crap out of. He cringed at the thought more than the whipping itself.
He gave up and sat up revealing that he'd went and slept in his clothes anyway. The spiked blonde couldn't stand still having a huge bandage over his left eye and surrounded most of his cheek, too. It covered his tatoo which he cherished immensely. He'd gotten it just before enrolling at Garden and his friends back home had dared him to get one. Zell thought it made him more intimidating and hey, chicks dig guys with body art.
The blonde grinned remembering the thought which lifted his spirits a bit. He heard someone shove open his door and looked up to see his favorite former instructor.
"Were you sleeping in again?" Quistis shook her head which she seemed to be getting used to.
"Well hello to you, too." Zell was cut off by a thrown pillow.
"Squall's finally up. Just thought you'd like to know."
"Boss man's up and about?" Zell spoke up seeing Quistis turning to leave.
"Oh hey! What's the daily report on Irvine?"
"He's still... just sitting around in his dorm with Selphie."
Zell tried to sit up, but Quistis got in his way.
"You recall... what happened when he first woke?" Zell studied Quistis' sad expression after her question.
"... He can't help it Quisty. Ya gotta try to understand what it must be like."
"Teh. That's the most thoughtful piece of advice you've said in a long while..." Quistis sat next to Zell, her head lowered, but smiling faintly.
"So Squall's doin' okay now, right? His dad seemed up and about after dukin' it out with that Keir dude."
"... They both ran after the point was across. They'll be expecting Irvine dead the next time they come around. You're right though... Laguna seemed fine after we got back here."
"I'm glad everyone else's recovered. My damn eye's screwed up and Kadowaki said it'll likely take a few more days... shit." Zell's head fell forward in exasperation.
"..."
"What?"
"Rinoa comes back today."
"Woah... uh, yeah... There's a little challenge for the boss man..."
Quistis suddenly spoke after a small silence.
"... Not as much of a challenge as you'll have."
"Huh-"
Before he could finish, Zell was abruptly cut off by the press of Quistis' painted lips upon his.
***
"Irvine."
The gunman responded to his lover's voice.
"Uh huh?"
"What are we gonna do?"
There was silence from both of them for a few moments.
Irvine blinked in surprise when Selphie giggled softly.
"I mean, heh, none of us could stand a chance against those guys at Balamb," Selphie trembled unknowingly, " we... well, I, couldn't do anything. How worthless..."
Irvine stared sorrowed by the usually optimistic girl's attitude turning paranoid and helpless.
"Selph-"
"Will I have to become a vampire, too?! I don't want to, but... but I'm so pathetic. I can't help. I want to, but I don't want to stop being what I am! I wanna stay..." Selphie gazed downward longingly.
"... normal?"
Selphie turned around and buried her face in the bed's pillow.
How... How can I keep being so stupid? ... Why? Stop crying!
Selphie looked up when Irvine laid a hand upon her back. She forced a smile, though not honestly, despite the tear stains. Irvine saw that she was attempting to remain in her usual state of mind and decided to speak.
"You're not stupid."
Selphie slowly embraced Irvine still forcing that smile.
Irvine wrapped his bare arms gently around her and made a soft laugh.
"You can cry if you want, kid."
Selphie decided otherwise apparantly not wanting to be weak... anymore.
Irvine noticed Selphie's throat... that silently pulsing vein...
The chestnut-haired gunman cautiously broke their embrace. Of course, this did not seem to pass under his lover's nose.
"... If you need it, then go ahead."
Irvine was quietly alarmed by her offer and quickly changed his expression.
"I should find Mr. Loire." Irvine walked out of the room as if nothing were wrong.
Selphie, still kneeling on Irvine's bed, gave a meloncholy glance towards the window with its setting sun. She had an indifferent smile.
***
"I'm going to be going back to my room then, Squall."
"Alright. Is the moron bording with you, too?"
Ellone confirmed her brother's question despite his less-than-friendly nick-name for Laguna.
"Good."
Her see-through shall waved gently behind her as she ran off through the sparse evening crowd in the Garden's central area toward the dorms.
"Haven't talked to you in a while, Leonhart."
Squall shifted to meet up with a former eyesore.
"You haven't been around in a while, Seifer Almasy."
The blond planted himself in some sense of pride.
"Just making sure I pass the next SeeD exam."
"Is that all?"
Seifer dusted imaginary dust off his shoulder.
"Got nothing better to do. Hey, I was hearing this passing the dorms-"
"Do you see me caring too greatly?" Squall looked emotionless and not-interested while putting his hand in his hair.
"Heartilly's apparantly coming back this evening."
Squall almost pulled the right section of his hair completely out of his scalp.
"What?"
"Uh... didn't Trepe tell you this? Damn... you people."
Squall seemed a bit disgruntled by this piece of news, but as soon as he was trying to fully process anything, the one person he did NOT need right now... was standing only feet away from the two.
The dark brown-haired SeeD member was doing a wonderful impersonation of a deer caught in headlights when he saw her.
Seifer looked from Squall to the familiar face confused why Squall seemed so, almost, frightened by her.
Squall only whispered in a slightly embarassed and surprised tone.
"Rinoa?"
***
(Author's Notes: Yeah, this chapter was a bit cornball and cheesy... and SHORT _ Anyway, Rinoa will FINALLY join in the plot in the next chapter (I know she was in this one, but I mean she'll be doing something), so anyway, SquallxRinoa fans will definately be pleased with some of the happenings next chapter and the actual plot (yes, there is one -_-) will be more concrete from now on. Oh, and too, Seifer has a small role in this, too, but not very big or significant. Sorry Seifer fans. Okay. I'm done.)
***