Fathers And Sons
by NightsDawne

[Argh. Sorry I've been so slow lately. I've got the flu. If anything I write during this time makes no sense whatsoever, I'll try to revise it to make sense when I'm feeling better.]


Chapter 6: Rinoa on the Rampage

Ellone slid her tray down the tracks of the hospital cafeteria's salad bar. She picked up the spoon for the jello salad, then set it down again, then sighed and picked it up again, getting a half a scoop to drop on her plate.

"Always room for jello, huh?"

Ellone looked up to see a tall young man in a black seed uniform next to her. He was taller than Seifer, even, at least six foot three, although with a slender build more like Irvine's. Short black hair was parted neatly to the side in a typical military cut. He had a kind, thoughtful face, not one that would stand out in crowd, attractive, but in a very average sort of way, not striking like Seifer, or cute like Zell, or even pretty like Squall and Irvine. His dark, almond shaped eyes held a touch of shy humor to them. Ellone returned his slight smile. "Excuse me?"

"Um, always room for jello. I know, pretty lame."

Ellone looked down at her plate and back up, her smile widening. "Actually, I can never make up my mind if it qualifies as salad or not. I always think I should save it for dessert. You're from Balamb Garden?"

The man nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Here to see Commander Leonhart. Well, when I get the chance."

"I thought I knew all of his friends. Nice to see he's got more than I thought."

The man shrugged a little self-consciously. "I don't know if we're friends, really. I just work on the command deck, too. I'm not really part of the elite team."

Ellone's face lit up with sudden recognition. "You're the pilot!"

The man nodded again, his smile deepening. "Yes, ma'am. Chief Navigation Officer Nida Takashi." He held his hand out.

Ellone took it, giving it a shake. "Ellone Loire. I'm Squall's sister."

"I know. Well, I mean that you're Ellone Loire, ma'am. I didn't know Commander Leonhart had a sister. Oh, wait. The orphanage gang." Nida helped himself to some chinese chicken salad.

"Do you call everyone ma'am?"

"No, ma'am. Would probably get the men a little torqued."

Ellone laughed. "I meant women, of course. You call me ma'am and I start feeling like I should call you officer or sir."

Nida chuckled a bit. "Nida is fine."

"Then call me Ellone." Ellone got some fruit salad and looked over to Nida. "Where are you sitting?"

"At the moment, I'm standing. I hadn't actually gotten as far as claiming territory." Nida looked around the cafeteria as he picked up his tray. "There's about twenty empty tables, so I shouldn't have to fight for a place."

Ellone picked her tray up. "Why don't you come sit with me and my father? I think Rinoa's there, too."

"Lunch with the President of Esthar?" Nida grinned. "Thought you had to do something like save the planet to get that."

Ellone pursed her lips reproachfully. "If I recall my facts correctly, a certain pilot was responsible for saving Balamb Garden from total defeat at the hands of Galbadia Garden. And if Galbadia Garden had won that battle, there wouldn't have been an elite team to save the planet."

Nida's cheeks picked up a faint pink color. "I don't know if I'd go that far. All I did was smash our Garden into theirs."

"Well, I'd go that far." Ellone smiled at him as she headed for the table where Laguna and Rinoa were picking over their lunches. "Come on. He doesn't bite, you know."

"Oh, too bad." Nida trailed after her. "Would be quite a trophy scar. 'What happened to you?' 'I was bitten by a president.'"

Ellone laughed, shaking her head as she sat down at the table, motioning to the other seat. "Hi, Dad. Hello, Rinoa. We've got another guest. One with a sense of humor."

Nida took his seat. "Although not necessarily a good one."

Rinoa smiled a bit. "Oh, hi, Nida. I didn't know you'd come over."

"My day off. Figured I should stop by and say hello to the commander."

Laguna leaned across the table, offering his hand. "Nida, is it? I'm Laguna."

Nida shook the hand. "Yes, sir. I got out from under my rock a while back and noticed that Esthar had a president. It's a true honor, sir."

"Aren't you going to salute him, too, Nida?" teased Ellone, then laughed as Nida jumped up to snap one off. "I was just kidding."

"Oh, good. Thought I'd violated protocol." Nida sat down sheepishly amid chuckles.

"The very idea that you would forget anything about protocol, Nida." Rinoa grinned. "I think he's got the protocol manuals for every government memorized."

"It may not be much of a hobby, but it's a hobby." Nida put his paper napkin over his lap. "I always thought, well, what will happen if someday you find yourself in a tough situation, like lunch with a president? And look, I'm ready."

Laguna waved his hand, shaking his head. "Really, I'm not into formality. It's not a state dinner or anything. Just call me Laguna."

Nida squinted a bit in thought. "Okay, I guess I wasn't ready. I don't recall that in any of the manuals."

"Nida is Balamb Garden's pilot, Dad." Ellone started in on her jello.

"Oh, so you work with Squall." Laguna grinned. "Wish I'd been there to see it when you rammed Galbadia Garden. Two Gardens locking rings and the bigger one going down. Must have been quite a sight."

"I had a pretty big target, sir.. Laguna." Nida rubbed his temple. "I can't believe I just sounded like Selphie Tilmett."

"Hmm?" Laguna looked a bit confused.

"Oh, her website." Rinoa laughed. "She has this whole site on you. The Sir Laguna Shrine. You've got to see it sometime, really. All of your articles, clips and stills from your movies, even has transcripts of every speech you've made."

"Um, Rinoa, I don't know if he really wants to see it." Nida bit his lip.

"Why not? Oh, that's right, the chat rooms."

"What's wrong with a chatroom?" Laguna looked between the two.

"Well..." Nida sighed. "Not that I've ever been in one, but room names like Dreamy Political Encounters, Laguna Lovers, and Fangirl Fantasies would make me feel a bit wierd if it were a site about me. Not that there would be a site about me."

Laguna raised a brow. "Oh.. well.. at least she's showing an interest in politics."

Rinoa giggled. "Like her weekly polls? Vote for your favorite Sir Laguna body part, or what would Sir Laguna look best in? Tuxedo, ripped blue jeans, loincloth, or bathtowel?"

"And the fanfiction, don't forget about that." Nida grinned. "Just the titles scare me."

Ellone shook her head, covering her eyes. "I think we get the idea."

Laguna scratched his hair. "Maybe I should avoid her boyfriend for a while."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about Seifer, Laguna." Rinoa pushed her tray away. "He's come to accept her issues. I don't think he had a choice in the matter, really."

"Oh, okay then." Laguna leaned back in his chair. "So have either of you seen Squall yet today?"

"I saw him this morning." Ellone sighed. "He's still in denial."

Laguna looked down with a sigh. "Well, it's his choice. It's his life."

Ellone narrowed her eyes. "It's your life, too, Dad. He's just stubborn and acting like a childish idiot at the moment."

"He has the right to feel whatever way he wants to feel about it, Ellone." Laguna pushed a bite of meatloaf around his plate.

"Including the right to treat his own father like he doesn't exist?" Ellone frowned, then looked over to Nida as his fork clattered on his plate.

"Um, sorry." Nida blushed and picked the fork up, blinking down at his lunch, still looking shocked.

Rinoa cleared her throat. "Ellone? What father? What are you talking about?"

Laguna rubbed his temple. "I hadn't exactly told anyone yet, Ellone. I was leaving it up to him."

Rinoa stared at Laguna. "You're... Squall's father?!"

Laguna bit his lip. "I never even knew Raine had been pregnant until a few days ago, Rinoa."

Rinoa swallowed. "That's why you're here. Not because he's a hero, but because he's your son." Laguna nodded. Rinoa frowned. "So why did he tell you to go away? Does he know it wasn't your fault?"

"I tried to tell him. Well, I sent a letter." Laguna propped his chin on his hand with a deep sigh. "I thought it would be easier for him that way. I don't know."

Rinoa pursed her lips, eyebrows knitting. "I can't believe him! You come all the way from Esthar to see your son and he acts like a jerk to you!" She pushed away from the table and got to her feet. "He's so mean sometimes!"

Laguna looked up at her. "He just wants to be left alone, Rinoa. I have to respect his feelings."

Rinoa narrowed her eyes. "It's about time he respected someone's feelings besides his own!" She spun on her heel, storming out of the cafeteria.

Laguna started to stand, but Ellone grabbed his hand. "Let her go, Dad. She's right." Laguna sank back down into his seat, dropping his forehead in his hand.

Rinoa clenched her hands into small fists as she marched through the hospital, fire in her eyes clearing everyone out of her path more quickly than if she used her sorceress powers. She loved Squall dearly, but the way he pushed everyone away from him and always retreated into silence could drive her to the brink at times. It was bad enough that he treated Zell like a rash he was trying to get rid of when all the short blond wanted to do was be his friend, bad enough that he ignored Quistis unless there was an official need to speak to her, but to treat Laguna like this. He was going to get a piece of her mind.

She pushed open his door so hard it slammed back at her as she walked in, forcing her to open it again, but she didn't let that stop her. Nor did she hesitate at the presence of the chief of neurology leaning over the bed, checking Squall's vision. Both Squall and Dr. Narachi looked up in surprise. Rinoa glared. "Meanie!"

Dr. Narachi cleared his throat. "I'll be done in just a moment, Miss Heartilly. If you could wait outside.."

"I will not wait outside!" Rinoa stomped her foot. "You can just wait until I'm through with him!" She turned a furious gaze on Squall, who furrowed his brow, sitting up. "How could you?!"

"How could I what?" Squall frowned.

"He's your father! How could you break his heart like that?!"

"Did he send you in here?" Squall clenched his jaw.

Dr. Narachi raised a brow. "Miss Heartilly, I really have to insist that you not upset my patient."

"Shut up!" Rinoa planted a fist on her hip. "No, he didn't send me in here, you big jerk! He's sitting down in the cafeteria suffering while you sit on your butt and order him out of your life! You should be ashamed of yourself! Ashamed!" Rinoa punctuated her point with another foot stomp.

Squall crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not his son!"

Rinoa spun on Dr. Narachi. "Do you see what kind of a jerk he can be?! He's got a caring, warm, wonderful father and he's just throwing it away!"

Dr. Narachi took a deep breath. "Perhaps you could discuss this after I've finished my examination and you've calmed down, Miss Heartilly."

"I'm calm!" yelled Rinoa.

"He's not wonderful. He's an idiot!" yelled Squall.

"Like father like son then!" Rinoa scowled at Squall.

Dr. Narachi pinched the bridge of his nose. "I really don't want to have to call security."

"Stay out of it!" Squall and Rinoa both glared at Dr. Narachi. The neurologist studied the ceiling, shaking his head.

"I come at a bad time?" Irvine swung his way in, still a bit clumsy on his crutches. "Heya Rinny."

Rinoa turned to Irvine in fury. "Talk some sense into him!"

Squall threw himself back on his pillow. "Forget this."

Irvine looked between them, sighing. "Swear ta Shiva, I keep thinkin' you two are doin' just fine, but that'd be too much to expect for like a whole week at a time. What's wrong now?"

"Could I just have five minutes to finish my examination?" asked Dr. Narachi patiently.

"How about we let the doc do his thing, Rinny?" Irvine smiled placatingly. "Promise I'll talk ta Squall all ya want right after, okay? You can just fill me in out in the hall."

Rinoa snorted, spinning on her heel and marching out. Irvine gave Dr. Narachi an apologetic smile and navigated his way around to face the door. "See ya in a bit, Squall."

"Whatever."

Irvine made his way out, hoping his injury would keep Rinoa from taking out her anger on him. The door was closed behind him and he looked over to the pretty brunette. "Okay, wanna tell me what's goin' on?"

Rinoa crossed her arms. "His father's Laguna."

Irvine nodded. "Yeah, I know. He told me."

Rinoa gave Irvine a scathing look. "He told you?! He told you and didn't tell me?!"

Irvine swallowed. "I'm sure he woulda, Rinny. Just didn't get a chance, y'know? We got in a car accident."

"He told you, then went out and got drunk, and didn't tell me?!"

Irvine chewed his lip. "I think he was gettin' 'round to it."

Rinoa's demeanor became instantly cool instead of red hot. "When were you going to tell me?"

Irvine sagged against his crutches. "He swore me ta secrecy, Rinny. Look, he just needs some time ta deal with it. Right now he don't even accept it."

"Do you realize that Laguna dropped everything and rushed out here to see him?! And what did Squall do? He told him to leave!"

Irvine blinked. "Laguna's here? Still?"

"Of course he is! His son is in the hospital, even if what he really needs is a mental hospital!"

"Whoa, calm down, Rinny." Irvine took a deep breath. "Well, guess there's one way to make Squall face it at least."

"What's that?" Rinoa tilted her head.

"Blood test." Irvine shifted his weight so he could adjust his hat. "I don't know that it'll change the way he feels, but it'll prove the relationship at least."

Rinoa's eyes lit up. "Perfect! I'll go tell Laguna and you can talk to Squall and get him to stop being a jerk."

Irvine sighed. "Rinny, I ain't sure I'm the one ta handle this one."

"Why not?" Rinoa stepped over to put her hand on Irvine's. "You can always talk him into things, Irvy."

Irvine looked down. "Well, I'm kinda on his side of things."

Rinoa stepped back, eyes flashing. "Meanie! Laguna is wonderful!"

Irvine blinked. "No, not about Laguna. I think he's a great guy. I meant, I'm havin' father issues, too. With Cid."

Rinoa frowned. "Cid's your father?" She smiled, throwing her arms around Irvine, nearly knocking him over. "How wonderful! You both have wonderful fathers!"

Irvine fought for balance. "Yeah, something like that. It ain't so easy as it sounds, though."

"Don't tell me you're being a jerk to Cid!" Rinoa stepped back again, anger flaring, making Irvine wonder for a moment how she could manage to switch gears so many times in only a few minutes. "Irvine Kinneas, how dare you?!"

"It's complicated, Rinny. I'm.. kinda workin' on it, okay?" Irvine sighed, looking to Squall's door. "I'll talk ta him. You go see if Laguna'll take that test."

Rinoa tilted her chin up, turning to walk back to the cafeteria. "I think you're both mean. After all, you're lucky. You could have my father!"

Irvine opened his mouth, then closed it again. He had to admit, she had a point.