(Disclaimer : I make no claim on the characters - storyline is original, to my knowledge)
(Note : I do assume that Laguna is more mature, being older. Any mischaracterization is necessary for the story and my own personal impression of the character in this story. Note, that though this is in the "FFVIII universe" it is my interpretation of events after the war. And no, I have not finished the game yet. Whatever.)
Siva
Chapter No. 1 (Entitled "No More Than A Promise, Nonetheless A Beginning")
_______________________
Squall Leonhart
LionHeart12
Password ******
Entry No. 2
February 13
It had been seven years since the end of the war, five years since I had become Headmaster, and two years since Rinoa had left us. I was twenty-five years old.
It all began with the return of an old . . . friend.
"Cara?" Selphie's bewildered voice rang out through the boardroom. It was during a Council meeting, in which we were discussing the propriety of a holiday marking the official end of the first Sorceress War, that Carishta Alistair arrived in Balamb GARDEN, bringing with her news of Esthar.
Carishta nodded, acknowledging Selphie. They'd been friends in Trabia, but after the missile attack on their GARDEN, Cara had gone to Esthar to work as President Liore's personal secretary.
"Headmaster Leonhart, there is a situation in Esthar. We would like to officially request your assistance." She spoke formally, as she always did in the prescence of others, but we had known one another long enough to dispense of titles while in privact. She came whenever President Liore was in dire trouble and needed our help. It was indeed often that we were graced by her presence. Still, a formally written request should have arrived before she came into personal contact with us.
"Quistis. Please arrange a dispach of five SeeDs to Esthar by tomorrow. They will accompany Ms. Alistair."
There was a strict no-questions policy when it came to Carishta's visits. She represented the President himself, and though I did not know him personally, it was good politics to keep the president of the most powerful nation on Hyne's planet content. Doubtless, I assumed, he would cause havoc if forced to come to Balamb himself. I'd heard that Laguna Liore was a nice guy, but bloody crazy if nothing more.
The heavily robed woman cleared her throat and spoke before I could dismiss her.
"With all due respect, Sir Leonhart, the President has requested that you come. Personally. And he has also mentioned that you should bring an escort befitting your station, but not in excess. The situation does not involve combat situations of any kind." She bowed slightly, backing out of the room.
Two days later I was on a train headed for Esthar with Irvine and Cara. We spent the ride talking about things of little consequence, and Cara was slightly colder towards me than she usually was. I could tell that she was hiding something from me; I just could not define what it was.
I met the President Liore that evening. We had dinner together; salmon with capers, roasted potatos, and spinach salad, heavy on the vinegar. I picked at my food that night. Tension was permeating the air.
"Squall," The President began, "If I may call you that." He looked uncomfortable.
I gave him an almost imperceptible nod.
"I have some documents that you may find. . . enlightening."
I took the sheaf of papers from President Liore, scanning them briefly. In short, they said that they had found conclusive genetic evidence of my . . . father.
"You've found my father? Why?"
"I'm surprised. You do not ask if your father is here, or even who he is. You ask me why I found him." The President chuckled slightly. "Well, I suppose that's to be expected. Let's say that I had a personal interest in your parents. Please, read on."
I continued, finding the page detailing the key links in the genetic composition of myself and . . . Laguna Liore.
"You. . . You're my father?" I wasn't happy. Nor was I sad. I was feeling cold. Angry. Disappointed, even. "Why. . . why did you wait so long to tell me?"
Understand, though, that I was by this point, incensed. I was twenty-five years old, and I'd long accepted the fact that my parents weren't coming back for me. I did not remember them, nor did I care to. I had been abandoned when I was too young to know who they were. And truthfully, I didn't care.
"I'm sorry, Squall. It's," he paused, grimacing, "a rather long story. Perhaps we should move into the sitting room?"
We did just that, and he began his story.
"I was young. I fell in love with your mother, Raine, and we. . . Well, I had to leave. I went off with Kiros and Ward for nearly a year. When I came back. . . She . . . She was not with us. . . any longer." His glanced toward the fire, but I caught a glimpse of liquid sliding down his cheek. After a few moments, he cleared his throat and resumed. "I'm sorry. I've never . . . talked about it. But. . . I couldn't handle having such a prominent reminder of her. She. . . she named you, Squall. You have her last name, as well. I gave you to Edea when you were still very small. Then. . . I came here. Not one day went by that I didn't think about you, Squall. I wondered where you were, how you were, what you were doing. I came back for you, you know. But you were gone. The entire orphanage was deserted. I. . . I cried for you. I thought that maybe. . . you'de left us, too." His eyes were still misty.
I could hardly believe what he was telling me. It was slightly disturbing, to find a father this late in life. Especially one who seemed to care so much.
"President - "
"Laguna. Call me Laguna. I'd rather you called me dad, but I can't expect that. I understand that you hardly know me."
I nodded slightly. "Laguna, then. Have you told anyone about this?" I waved the papers, and he shook his head slowly. He'd actually told Kiros and Ward, but they were his personal bodyguards, and he had nothing to fear from them. "I'd be more comfortable if you would keep our relationship private. Both you and I are political targets, and we both have enemies. If they knew that you were my father, they might seek to gain from it in one of many unpleasant ways."
Laguna frowned slightly, then nodded. "I guess we should get to bed, then. When will you be leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning, after breakfast. There was a field exam today, and I need to present the new SeeDs tomorrow afternoon." Laguna's frown deepened, and I knew that he had hoped for more time with me.
I stood to leave, and he rose with me.
"Squall. You look. . . so much like your mother." He pulled me into a rib-crushing hug. "I'll never leave you without family again, Squall. I promise. Tomorrow we'll have breakfast with Elle."
He released me, and I blinked slowly up at him. "Elle. . . Ellone is here?"
He grinned, nodding, then ushered me out to my room.
The next morning, I ate with Laguna and Ellone. Kiros and Ward were there, too, but they didn't say much. I found out how Elle and Laguna had been close when she was little, and how her being my "big sis" in the orphanage was closer to the truth than anyone had ever known.
I didn't know Laguna well at all, but with him, I had the beginnings of a family. For the first time in quite a while, at that table with Ellone and Laguna, I felt some small spark of happiness.
End
Logout LionHeart12
(Note : I do assume that Laguna is more mature, being older. Any mischaracterization is necessary for the story and my own personal impression of the character in this story. Note, that though this is in the "FFVIII universe" it is my interpretation of events after the war. And no, I have not finished the game yet. Whatever.)
Siva
Chapter No. 1 (Entitled "No More Than A Promise, Nonetheless A Beginning")
_______________________
Squall Leonhart
LionHeart12
Password ******
Entry No. 2
February 13
It had been seven years since the end of the war, five years since I had become Headmaster, and two years since Rinoa had left us. I was twenty-five years old.
It all began with the return of an old . . . friend.
"Cara?" Selphie's bewildered voice rang out through the boardroom. It was during a Council meeting, in which we were discussing the propriety of a holiday marking the official end of the first Sorceress War, that Carishta Alistair arrived in Balamb GARDEN, bringing with her news of Esthar.
Carishta nodded, acknowledging Selphie. They'd been friends in Trabia, but after the missile attack on their GARDEN, Cara had gone to Esthar to work as President Liore's personal secretary.
"Headmaster Leonhart, there is a situation in Esthar. We would like to officially request your assistance." She spoke formally, as she always did in the prescence of others, but we had known one another long enough to dispense of titles while in privact. She came whenever President Liore was in dire trouble and needed our help. It was indeed often that we were graced by her presence. Still, a formally written request should have arrived before she came into personal contact with us.
"Quistis. Please arrange a dispach of five SeeDs to Esthar by tomorrow. They will accompany Ms. Alistair."
There was a strict no-questions policy when it came to Carishta's visits. She represented the President himself, and though I did not know him personally, it was good politics to keep the president of the most powerful nation on Hyne's planet content. Doubtless, I assumed, he would cause havoc if forced to come to Balamb himself. I'd heard that Laguna Liore was a nice guy, but bloody crazy if nothing more.
The heavily robed woman cleared her throat and spoke before I could dismiss her.
"With all due respect, Sir Leonhart, the President has requested that you come. Personally. And he has also mentioned that you should bring an escort befitting your station, but not in excess. The situation does not involve combat situations of any kind." She bowed slightly, backing out of the room.
Two days later I was on a train headed for Esthar with Irvine and Cara. We spent the ride talking about things of little consequence, and Cara was slightly colder towards me than she usually was. I could tell that she was hiding something from me; I just could not define what it was.
I met the President Liore that evening. We had dinner together; salmon with capers, roasted potatos, and spinach salad, heavy on the vinegar. I picked at my food that night. Tension was permeating the air.
"Squall," The President began, "If I may call you that." He looked uncomfortable.
I gave him an almost imperceptible nod.
"I have some documents that you may find. . . enlightening."
I took the sheaf of papers from President Liore, scanning them briefly. In short, they said that they had found conclusive genetic evidence of my . . . father.
"You've found my father? Why?"
"I'm surprised. You do not ask if your father is here, or even who he is. You ask me why I found him." The President chuckled slightly. "Well, I suppose that's to be expected. Let's say that I had a personal interest in your parents. Please, read on."
I continued, finding the page detailing the key links in the genetic composition of myself and . . . Laguna Liore.
"You. . . You're my father?" I wasn't happy. Nor was I sad. I was feeling cold. Angry. Disappointed, even. "Why. . . why did you wait so long to tell me?"
Understand, though, that I was by this point, incensed. I was twenty-five years old, and I'd long accepted the fact that my parents weren't coming back for me. I did not remember them, nor did I care to. I had been abandoned when I was too young to know who they were. And truthfully, I didn't care.
"I'm sorry, Squall. It's," he paused, grimacing, "a rather long story. Perhaps we should move into the sitting room?"
We did just that, and he began his story.
"I was young. I fell in love with your mother, Raine, and we. . . Well, I had to leave. I went off with Kiros and Ward for nearly a year. When I came back. . . She . . . She was not with us. . . any longer." His glanced toward the fire, but I caught a glimpse of liquid sliding down his cheek. After a few moments, he cleared his throat and resumed. "I'm sorry. I've never . . . talked about it. But. . . I couldn't handle having such a prominent reminder of her. She. . . she named you, Squall. You have her last name, as well. I gave you to Edea when you were still very small. Then. . . I came here. Not one day went by that I didn't think about you, Squall. I wondered where you were, how you were, what you were doing. I came back for you, you know. But you were gone. The entire orphanage was deserted. I. . . I cried for you. I thought that maybe. . . you'de left us, too." His eyes were still misty.
I could hardly believe what he was telling me. It was slightly disturbing, to find a father this late in life. Especially one who seemed to care so much.
"President - "
"Laguna. Call me Laguna. I'd rather you called me dad, but I can't expect that. I understand that you hardly know me."
I nodded slightly. "Laguna, then. Have you told anyone about this?" I waved the papers, and he shook his head slowly. He'd actually told Kiros and Ward, but they were his personal bodyguards, and he had nothing to fear from them. "I'd be more comfortable if you would keep our relationship private. Both you and I are political targets, and we both have enemies. If they knew that you were my father, they might seek to gain from it in one of many unpleasant ways."
Laguna frowned slightly, then nodded. "I guess we should get to bed, then. When will you be leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning, after breakfast. There was a field exam today, and I need to present the new SeeDs tomorrow afternoon." Laguna's frown deepened, and I knew that he had hoped for more time with me.
I stood to leave, and he rose with me.
"Squall. You look. . . so much like your mother." He pulled me into a rib-crushing hug. "I'll never leave you without family again, Squall. I promise. Tomorrow we'll have breakfast with Elle."
He released me, and I blinked slowly up at him. "Elle. . . Ellone is here?"
He grinned, nodding, then ushered me out to my room.
The next morning, I ate with Laguna and Ellone. Kiros and Ward were there, too, but they didn't say much. I found out how Elle and Laguna had been close when she was little, and how her being my "big sis" in the orphanage was closer to the truth than anyone had ever known.
I didn't know Laguna well at all, but with him, I had the beginnings of a family. For the first time in quite a while, at that table with Ellone and Laguna, I felt some small spark of happiness.
End
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