Fathers And Sons
by NightsDawne


Chapter 8: Press Hounds

Seifer pulled the car up to where Irvine stood waiting on the curb, Quistis, Selphie, and Cid at his side. Selphie climbed into the passenger side and threw her arms around Seifer's neck as if she hadn't seen him for a much longer period than the five minutes it took for him to retrieve the car. Quistis straightened Irvine's hat for him. "Let's get in before the press people get here."

"Don't see why we gotta sneak out." Irvine swung himself over to the car door that Cid held open for him. "I photograph well."

"It's more or less the colorful interviews we wish to avoid." Cid took Irvine's crutches while his son fell into the seat and pulled himself over, then handed them in after Quistis had gotten herself seated next to him.

"Hey, I was the life of the news conference after the sorceress war." Irvine grinned.

"Yeah, the Cowboy Boogie made every news broadcast." Selphie leaned over the back of the seat to steal Irvine's hat.

Quistis rolled her eyes as she got the crutches positioned so they wouldn't injure any of the passengers. "It was more like the Irvine Kinneas Show than a news conference. You had to answer every question."

"Can I help it if ya'll were hemmin' and hawin' and not comin' up with anything newsworthy?"

"You're just a camera hog, Irvy." Selphie plopped back down and cuddled up against Seifer's arm.

Cid closed the door. "Okay, better get moving. I'll go around front and handle the press release. Be careful."

Seifer glanced over at the headmaster. "No problem. I'm not drunk." He hit the gas and peeled out of the employee parking lot, expertly swerving around two pedestrians in the crossing. Quitis looked back to see Cid with one hand to his chest, the other reaching for his pill case.

Nida peeked into Squall's room. "Commander?"

Squall looked over and nodded. "It's Squall, okay, Nida? We've only worked together for two months now."

Nida chuckled as he walked in, setting a box on the table. "Well, you are the commander. I brought your important things from the office in case you wanted to keep yourself from going crazy in here until they let you out."

Squall sat up, grabbing for the box. "No kidding. I can't handle any more tv watching." He looked inside and pulled out his Pocket Station. "Important things?"

"If I brought you work your girlfriend would put me in a hospital bed." Nida took a seat. "I guess I should have brought flowers."

"Not really." Squall snapped a game in and started playing. "This is good. Is everything going alright at the Garden?"

"In a loose definition of the term, sir. Captain Dincht is filling in for you, but fortunately we haven't had any major calls come in."

"Zell?" Squall frowned at his game. "I don't want him in my office."

"You haven't named a second-in-command, so it fell to him by default." Nida chewed his lip as Squall frowned at his game in silence for several minutes. Nida drummed his fingers on the chair quietly, recognizing one of the commander's periods of strategic quiet and knowing better than to interrupt him.

"Almasy."

Nida blinked and looked up. "Excuse me, sir?"

Squall punched buttons determinedly. "Seifer Almasy. I'm naming him my second."

"Lieutenant Seifer Almasy, the recent graduate and former captain of the Disciplinary Committee?"

"Problem with it?" Squall tossed his hair out of his eyes and wiped out another pixelated opponent.

"Well, no, sir. It's just that I thought you didn't get along with him."

"He can get the job done. Report it back to him when you go back to the Garden. I'll get him promoted to captain when I'm back in my office. Tell Zell to get back to teaching hand-to-hand combat."

Nida took a deep breath and let it out, not eager about being the one to break the news to either Seifer or Zell. "Yes, sir." He straightened out one of the vases on the windowsill. It wasn't really clear if he was dismissed or not, but then again it never really was clear with Squall. The commander just continued to play his game in silence.

"... So what else is going on?" Squall's question came as a bit of a surprise to the pilot.

"Um, not much, really. Not that anyone wants you injured, but at least things are fairly slow at the moment so it's good timing. The only crisis besides the news of you getting hurt was the cancellation of the band that was going to do the fall festival."

Squall half-smiled. "Poor Selphie. Oh, well."

Nida dropped his chin in his hand. "I think breaking President Loire's face made up for any disappointment she may be suffering."

Squall lowered his game. "What?"

"Oh, it was an accident. She hit him in the nose with a cafeteria door. Your sister said he was just fine after they set it and gave him a potion. Won't even leave a bump."

Squall sighed. "She's not my sister. I thought Irvine was going to keep his mouth shut."

Nida shifted uncomfortably. "Dr. Loire, then, sorry. She's really.. nice, though."

"I guess." Squall went back to his game.

Nida stood up with a sigh. "Well, I hope you feel up to yourself soon, sir. Do you have anyone to drive you back to the Garden tomorrow?"

Squall shrugged. "Not really. How about you?"

Nida smiled. "Sure, Commander.. uh.. Squall. I'll be here at oh nine hundred." He was pretty sure it wasn't out of friendship that Squall asked. Obviously he wanted someone who would leave him alone with his thoughts on the drive back. Squall nodded silently at the small screen in front of him, giving more clear indication of dismissal. "See you tomorrow, then." Nida slipped out, leaving Squall to his private world.

"Headmaster Kramer!" The reporter leaned forward amid the flashing cameras. "Is it true both Squall Leonhart and Irvine Kinneas were drunk when they had their accident?"

Cid smiled, adjusting his glasses. "I'm not really the one to answer that. The medical nuances of alcohol intoxication are not in my field of expertise. Doctor?"

Dr. Galoway leaned forward to her mic. "Their blood alcohol levels were both above the legal driving limit. I would say that they both were impaired in judgement and physical response."

"Exact levels, please?" The reporter seemed overly eager. Cid wondered if she was with a tabloid.

Dr. Galoway smiled. "I'm afraid specific details like that are confidential. They were impaired."

"Will they be facing any legal charges or discipline with the SeeD organization?" Another reporter butted in.

Cid tapped his fingers on the table. "Considering that the only property damage was to the SeeD vehicle and the only injuries were to SeeD officers the local authorities have left it to Balamb Garden. We don't discuss our disciplinary measures outside of the organization."

"Is SeeD prepared to punish their own commander?"

Cid took off his glasses, feeling the need to clean them for the fifth time during this press conference. "Commander Leonhart is subject to the same regulations as any other SeeD officer. All infractions will be dealt with internally."

"Who will be in charge of the discipline if the commander is the one in charge of all SeeDs?"

Cid cleared his throat as he put his glasses back on. "Uh, that has yet to be decided. As you know, I was formerly in command of both cadets and SeeDs, however, I have curtailed my responsibilities to just the cadets. It will be dealt with, however."

An Estharian correspondant called out a question to silence the clamor of the rest of the reporters. "What is President Loire's interest in being here? Was it personal or business?"

"President Loire has a close relationship with Balamb Garden as one of our more generous contributors. That's all public record." Cid pointed quickly to the next questioner. "Yes?"

"Is it true that Seifer Almasy was involved in an altercation with President Loire that resulted in the president being injured?"

Cid groaned inwardly. He had known that one would come up considering Seifer's reputation. "Lieutenant Almasy was merely a bystander to an unfortunate accident and assisted President Loire to the emergency room. The injury was minor."

"The president is perfectly fine," added Dr. Galoway quickly. "He was treated and released and no complications are expected."

"Is it true that President Loire has ordered a paternity test? Who is the alleged child?" The tabloid woman was back, a predatory look in her eyes.

Cid pushed away from the table, starting to stand. "I can't possibly have a comment on what President Loire may or may not have done. Thank you, no more questions." He walked out of the room, waving off further inquiries, Dr. Galoway on his heels.