Disclaimer: I do not own FFVIII or any of its characters. They belong to
Squaresoft.
A/N: for a six (nearly seven) year old kid, Storm is incredibly smart. // // is thoughts. This is a YAOI fic don't like leave.
Enter Jamie
Squall opened his eyes, comforted by the warm arm wrapped around his waist. A familiar pair of chocolate-brown eyes stared at him.
//Rinoa! But, if she's there, whose arm is this? //
Suddenly Squall remembered the events of the previous day. He relaxed, but then he tensed up again. He had no idea what to talk to children about, and even less about what to say to his own daughter.
"Um. . . Did you . . sleep well?" He mentally grimaced. //Well done, Leonhart. That was smooth. //
Storm's face set. "..Whatever." She rolled onto her back.
Laughter filled the room. Squall turned his head to see Seifer, propped up on one arm, above him and laughing quietly. Seifer looked down at Squall.
"She sounded just like you. Definitely her father's daughter."
Squall smiled. The 'Whatever' had been reminiscent of him in the days before Seifer. Correction. Reminiscent of him, in the days before Seifer and he had stopped being rivals and became lovers instead.
Seifer levered himself upright and pulled on his boots. "We'll be walking back. We never did get around to replacing the garden car Raijin totalled and now we have no room for it any way. I have to shop. Dr Kadowaki asked me to pick up some Phoenix Downs while I was here. They ran out while they were making up first aid kits for the exams."
Squall nodded as Seifer donned his trademark coat and sheathed Hyperion. He sat up as Seifer approached him, and laid his hand against Seifer's cheek as the blond man kissed him thoroughly.
"I missed you, Squally boy. I'll be back soon. Meet me in the breakfast room downstairs." Seifer glanced at Storm, who was glaring at the ceiling. "If the wind changes your face'll stay that way. See ya later, kid." Seifer strode out of the room, his familiar smirk firmly in place.
Storm's POV //What did that guy mean, I sound like my dad? //
Mom's description of Dad hadn't been very accurate. //She made him sound taciturn, a real ice prince. That wasn't the man I met. The man on the train had been a little nervous, but he hadn't had that 'Keep-the-hell-away- from-me' air she had always described. It was more an 'I-have-no-idea-what- to-talk-about,-and-don't-rally-want-to-talk-anyway' kind of thing. //
I knew that the man who had just left had been Seifer Almasy, the Sorceress's Knight. A man who had tried to kill both my parents on several occasions, although he had been brainwashed at the time. He was also my dad's biggest rival. Mom's description of him had been spot on except for one thing. Mom had never said he was gay.
Ok, so maybe she thought I was too young. I mean, for an average seven-year- old, sex is whether you're a boy or a girl, and what you do with other boys and girls doesn't really come into it. I had thought Mom knew me better than that though. I was one of those kids who could tell you the courting and mating habits of four species, including Homo sapiens, at the age of three. That meant she hadn't known.
It certainly explained a few things. Despite what mom had told me I didn't know much about the war eight years ago. I mean she told me she was involved and that Seifer hadn't been responsible for his actions, but not much more. //Maybe now I can find out. //
I glanced at the man lying in the next bed. He was staring at the ceiling, the way I had only moments before. It was weird. //I guess, Seifer was right. Even though we only met yesterday, we are an awful lot alike. //
Squall's POV I lay there for a few moments. I was a top rank SeeD, a combat specialist. I had faced hundreds of opponents: man, monster and machine. Yet the mere thought of a conversation with this small child terrified me.
"Go and wash, there's a sink in that room there. You can shower when we get back to Garden, when you have a change of clothes."
Storm nodded and sat up. She stretched out her arms and gave this cute little yawn. When she notice me watching, however, she did a creditable impression of my patented Leonhart glare, and stalked into the bathroom.
I sighed as I searched for my boots, which had somehow vanished during the night. It didn't look as though getting to know my daughter would be an easy task. Right then, I think I would have preferred fighting Ultimecia all over again than try to get inside the mind of a female six-year-old version of me.
Seifer's POV
I was strolling away from the gift shop by the station, box of Phoenix Downs tucked under my arm, when a familiar voice called my name.
"Hey, Seifer! Over here, ya know!"
I turned, my gaze scanning the crowd, when I saw Raijin on the bench by the junk shop.
"I've been looking for you, ya know. Trepe said you were here."
"Really? Why?"
Raijin looked around at the crowd of tourists here on vacation. "Not here. Come on." He grabbed my arm and dragged me down to the harbour. I waited patiently for an explanation. This being Raijin, I didn't have to wait long.
"Um...thing is... After all that business with Ellone on the Lunatic thing, ya know, you got a bit pissed and, well, you know, um.slept with Fuujin, ya know. Well, thing is, you got a daughter, ya know, and she's coming ta Garden. Me and Fuu been bringing her up, ya know, got hitched a while back. I came to tell ya they'd be arriving on the train today, so she can study at Garden. What's so funny? It ain't a joke, ya know."
"Don't worry Rai, I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing at Fate."
"Fate?"
"Yeah, yesterday, Squall found out Rinoa was dead and he has a six-year-old daughter. They're at the hotel at the moment."
"Really? That is like, so weird, ya know! How do you know Squall's private life anyways?"
I blinked. //We really have lost touch if I forgot to tell them. // "You don't know? Squall and I have been an item for the past three and a half years. Congratulations on your marriage, by the way."
Raijin's jaw dropped. // I suppose it was a bit of a bombshell. He came to tell me that I have a daughter, and I tell him I'm gay. Big secrets between old friends.//
"You....and Squall?!............ You're gay?! ...Ya coulda told us ya know. Never woulda guessed, ya know."
I smiled. Maybe I had been worried about their reactions. Rai's easy acceptance certainly relieved me of tension I had been aware of.
"I ought to go tell Squall about this and arrange for a bed for her. What's her name?"
"Jamie. Jamie Almasy. You're on the birth certificate. Me and Fuu are happy, ya know. She's a sweet kid. Treats Barret real nice."
"Who's Barret?"
"Our son. He'll be five soon. A real handful, ya know. Worse than anything from our DC days. I'll bring Jamie to the hotel when she arrives and have her stuff sent on to Garden."
"That'll be fine. See you another time, Rai."
// Oh, boy. First Squall and now me. How many more kids will pop up out of the woodwork? Mind you, the only one left not here in Balamb was Selphie. // She'd taken a shine to Squall's father, the President of Esthar. Now Esthar was officially (and I mean officially) Party Central. They had Festivals right, left, and centre, and both halves of the couple acted as though they were permanently high. Squall and I had visited them for the Winter break. We spent most of it plotting with Kiros and Ward how to make sure it never happened again. If they had a kid it would be Squall's half- brother or sister, and with them as parents, the kid would either be insane by the time he was two, or run away to Garden as soon as possible. The likelihood of another child showing up had been quite dramatically reduced. Although, to listen to Kinneas talk, a dozen kids could turn up with his surname, all with different mothers.
I walked into the hotel's morning room and looked around. It was quite empty, so it was easy to spot Squall and Strom sitting together on a table for four by the window. As I approached the table, Storm stood up, said something to Squall and left. She caught my gaze and winked as she left.
"Where's she going?"
"Bathroom." Somehow the kid had realised I wanted to talk to Squall alone and she had removed herself from the picture. This kid was strange. Squall's gaze followed her to the door, then he turned to me.
"So quiet, dear heart? What's wrong? Don't tell me the shop ran out of Phoenix Downs?" He raised an eyebrow enquiringly, inviting me to talk.
"I bumped into Raijin. According to him, while you guys where in Time Compression, I was pissed as a fart and knocking up Fuujin." // I could have worded that a bit better. His face is a picture.//
"I also have a daughter and she arrives in Balamb in about half-hour's time. Raijin said he'd be bringing her to the hotel. He and Fuu got married; they got a five-year-old boy. Jamie wants to study at Garden."
Squall started chuckling. "Jamie? Is that her name? Is there any way we can move her in with us?"
"I don't know. We'll have to ask Quistis, she's seen the apartment. She'll know if we can add an extra bed."
"Apartment?"
"Apparently, Cid had an apartment built down on the old Master's level in the basement at the same time as those offices in the old parking lot. One of the rooms was designed as a private library/study. Hyne knows why, neither of us reads books much, and trying to get you away from your office is hard enough without building you a room so you can bring your work home with you. Therefore, that was being converted for Storm. Quisty may be able to fit Jamie in as well."
"I'll go ring her now. You tell Storm the good news." He rushed of in the direction of the hotel lobby and a telephone. I realised with a grin that he was scared shitless of his own daughter. // I might be like that in an hours time. // It was a sobering thought.
Storm returned to the table. "Where'd Dad go?" //She felt comfortable calling him Dad? She only met him yesterday. Maybe she's not as angry as she pretends to be. //
"Storm?"
"Yes."
"I ...ah...find myself in the same ....predicament as your father."
"You've just found out you've got a kid too? The universe has a sense of Humour." // This kid wasn't just strange she was spooky.// Then I remembered she was a sorceress and figured she had an excuse. Moreover, she probably had her father's brains.
"Her name's Jamie. She'll be arriving soon."
"Okay." Storm dropped her scowl and gave me the sweetest smile I've ever seen. "Now I have someone I can complain about you two to, and fight with." This kid really puzzled me, and I'd only known her a few hours.
Squall's POV
"Hi Quisty." I was glad Irvine hadn't answered. //If he knows why Seifer phoned yesterday, I'll never hear the end of it, and if he doesn't then he'll bug me until I tell him. //
"Greetings, Commander. What can I do for you? Your apartment is nearly ready and your daughter's registration has all been taken care of."
"Don't call me that, Quisty. Is there room for another bed in Storm's room?"
"Yes, why?"
"Life's little joke. Another student will be joining us. Jamie Almasy. She's seven, and I'll need you to register her. Her other parent is Fuujin." Quisty's eyes almost popped out of her head and her mouth opened and closed like a goldfish's.
"Um...Quisty?.........Are you still in there?
Quistis visibly shook herself. // She looks like a Torama that took an unexpected bath.// I almost laughed, but managed to control it.
"I'll get right on it. Squall, I know this must be an immense shock to all of you but I'm sure you'll be happy." I tried to ignore the fact that I had heard her murmured "Eventually," as I lowered the receiver.
"THERE."
"O'What! Squall, wait up!" I looked round to see Raijin and Fuujin heading towards me with children in tow.
"This is Jamie, ya know. Good ta see ya, ya know?"
I looked at Jamie. She had her mother's build and facial features, but the high brow was Seifer's, as were the emerald eyes. Her hair was the same colour as Seif's and she wore it loose, cut about an inch above her shoulders, with a strange fringe that swept to one side instead of hanging straight. You could hardly see any of Rinoa in Storm, but although you could tell Jamie was Seifer's daughter, it was easy to see she took after her mother in all but colouring.
The other child in tow was small, chubby and dark-skinned. He was tugging the leg of his mother's trousers, and he spoke in a piping voice. "STAY.SEED.PLEASE?" The last was said rather wistfully, despite the volume at which it was delivered. Fuujin picked him up and settled him on her hip.
"BARRET. YOUNG. WAIT."
"We have ta get goin', ya know? See ya soon, baby. Later, Squall, ya know?" " SQUALL. SEIFER. APOLOGIES. FAREWELLS." I interpreted that as 'tell Seifer we're sorry and we'll see him another time.' as Raijin, Fuujin and little Barret left the hotel I stared after them, bewildered.
"So you're Squall Leonhart, huh? I thought you and my dad were enemies. Where is he, anyways?"
"Rivals," I corrected absentmindedly, "We used to be rivals. Now, we're ...partners."
Floating Camera POV
Squall suddenly realised he'd been standing there, staring at the empty doorway of the Balamb Hotel for about a minute.
"We haven't eaten yet. Your father's in the breakfast room with Storm." As he said this he guided Jamie through the door and entered. As they headed for the table, Jamie suddenly stopped.
"What is it Jamie?"
"I have three questions. 1. What am I supposed to call you? 2. Who is Storm? And three. Why is she sitting next to my dad?"
Jamie's POV
I'm not stupid. I knew what that 'partners' remark was about. Rai had told Mom Dad and Squall were lovers. What I didn't was whether to call him by his first name like I do Rai or whether he'd think it was rude. I looked at the other girl sitting at the table. She shook her head and hair flew over her shoulder. It was the same colour as his! Something clicked. I had never heard about this girl but that didn't mean she didn't exist. She was obviously Squall Leonhart's daughter, and in the same boat as me. This explains why we came to the hotel instead of Garden. I rather feel sorry for Dad and Squall. Two kids dumped on them at the same time.
I gave my dad an assessing look. He had the same green eyes as me, and his hair was the same colour but he wore it gelled back so it moulded the contours of his skull. The silver trench coat wasn't bad, in fact it was quite cool. But the blue and white vest top and black trousers.... Those I would have to do something about.
Squall wore this tatty leather jacket with a fur collar, a white t-shirt, a rather cool looking pendant, tatty black trousers similar to my Dad's and some cool belts. Another project waiting to be started.
The Leonhart kid, Storm, didn't dress too badly, which was a surprise when you look at Squall and consider the fact that she had one of those walking fashion disasters known as Sorceresses for a mother. I don't have anything against sorceresses, but half of them don't look human, and none of them have any dress sense. Take her mom for example. Who in their right mind wears a nightdress to a party, or spoils a good outfit by deciding it needs a long flowy piece of material down to your ankles, when the rest of it barely reaches your knees. Despite the bad influence she seemed to have done all right.
I'm not one of those freaks who buys something just because it's fashionable, without regard for comfort. But neither am I one of those slobs who buys tat because it's comfortable. It seemed like Dad and Squall fit into that last category. But maybe with Storm's help, I can make it so I'm less embarrassed to be seen with them.
A/N. Jamie seems a little obsessed with clothes, which is weird, but it gave me the basis for a plot element, so I don't really mind. Storm does seem like the replica of her father but is she really? You'll have to wait and see. Please review.
A/N: for a six (nearly seven) year old kid, Storm is incredibly smart. // // is thoughts. This is a YAOI fic don't like leave.
Enter Jamie
Squall opened his eyes, comforted by the warm arm wrapped around his waist. A familiar pair of chocolate-brown eyes stared at him.
//Rinoa! But, if she's there, whose arm is this? //
Suddenly Squall remembered the events of the previous day. He relaxed, but then he tensed up again. He had no idea what to talk to children about, and even less about what to say to his own daughter.
"Um. . . Did you . . sleep well?" He mentally grimaced. //Well done, Leonhart. That was smooth. //
Storm's face set. "..Whatever." She rolled onto her back.
Laughter filled the room. Squall turned his head to see Seifer, propped up on one arm, above him and laughing quietly. Seifer looked down at Squall.
"She sounded just like you. Definitely her father's daughter."
Squall smiled. The 'Whatever' had been reminiscent of him in the days before Seifer. Correction. Reminiscent of him, in the days before Seifer and he had stopped being rivals and became lovers instead.
Seifer levered himself upright and pulled on his boots. "We'll be walking back. We never did get around to replacing the garden car Raijin totalled and now we have no room for it any way. I have to shop. Dr Kadowaki asked me to pick up some Phoenix Downs while I was here. They ran out while they were making up first aid kits for the exams."
Squall nodded as Seifer donned his trademark coat and sheathed Hyperion. He sat up as Seifer approached him, and laid his hand against Seifer's cheek as the blond man kissed him thoroughly.
"I missed you, Squally boy. I'll be back soon. Meet me in the breakfast room downstairs." Seifer glanced at Storm, who was glaring at the ceiling. "If the wind changes your face'll stay that way. See ya later, kid." Seifer strode out of the room, his familiar smirk firmly in place.
Storm's POV //What did that guy mean, I sound like my dad? //
Mom's description of Dad hadn't been very accurate. //She made him sound taciturn, a real ice prince. That wasn't the man I met. The man on the train had been a little nervous, but he hadn't had that 'Keep-the-hell-away- from-me' air she had always described. It was more an 'I-have-no-idea-what- to-talk-about,-and-don't-rally-want-to-talk-anyway' kind of thing. //
I knew that the man who had just left had been Seifer Almasy, the Sorceress's Knight. A man who had tried to kill both my parents on several occasions, although he had been brainwashed at the time. He was also my dad's biggest rival. Mom's description of him had been spot on except for one thing. Mom had never said he was gay.
Ok, so maybe she thought I was too young. I mean, for an average seven-year- old, sex is whether you're a boy or a girl, and what you do with other boys and girls doesn't really come into it. I had thought Mom knew me better than that though. I was one of those kids who could tell you the courting and mating habits of four species, including Homo sapiens, at the age of three. That meant she hadn't known.
It certainly explained a few things. Despite what mom had told me I didn't know much about the war eight years ago. I mean she told me she was involved and that Seifer hadn't been responsible for his actions, but not much more. //Maybe now I can find out. //
I glanced at the man lying in the next bed. He was staring at the ceiling, the way I had only moments before. It was weird. //I guess, Seifer was right. Even though we only met yesterday, we are an awful lot alike. //
Squall's POV I lay there for a few moments. I was a top rank SeeD, a combat specialist. I had faced hundreds of opponents: man, monster and machine. Yet the mere thought of a conversation with this small child terrified me.
"Go and wash, there's a sink in that room there. You can shower when we get back to Garden, when you have a change of clothes."
Storm nodded and sat up. She stretched out her arms and gave this cute little yawn. When she notice me watching, however, she did a creditable impression of my patented Leonhart glare, and stalked into the bathroom.
I sighed as I searched for my boots, which had somehow vanished during the night. It didn't look as though getting to know my daughter would be an easy task. Right then, I think I would have preferred fighting Ultimecia all over again than try to get inside the mind of a female six-year-old version of me.
Seifer's POV
I was strolling away from the gift shop by the station, box of Phoenix Downs tucked under my arm, when a familiar voice called my name.
"Hey, Seifer! Over here, ya know!"
I turned, my gaze scanning the crowd, when I saw Raijin on the bench by the junk shop.
"I've been looking for you, ya know. Trepe said you were here."
"Really? Why?"
Raijin looked around at the crowd of tourists here on vacation. "Not here. Come on." He grabbed my arm and dragged me down to the harbour. I waited patiently for an explanation. This being Raijin, I didn't have to wait long.
"Um...thing is... After all that business with Ellone on the Lunatic thing, ya know, you got a bit pissed and, well, you know, um.slept with Fuujin, ya know. Well, thing is, you got a daughter, ya know, and she's coming ta Garden. Me and Fuu been bringing her up, ya know, got hitched a while back. I came to tell ya they'd be arriving on the train today, so she can study at Garden. What's so funny? It ain't a joke, ya know."
"Don't worry Rai, I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing at Fate."
"Fate?"
"Yeah, yesterday, Squall found out Rinoa was dead and he has a six-year-old daughter. They're at the hotel at the moment."
"Really? That is like, so weird, ya know! How do you know Squall's private life anyways?"
I blinked. //We really have lost touch if I forgot to tell them. // "You don't know? Squall and I have been an item for the past three and a half years. Congratulations on your marriage, by the way."
Raijin's jaw dropped. // I suppose it was a bit of a bombshell. He came to tell me that I have a daughter, and I tell him I'm gay. Big secrets between old friends.//
"You....and Squall?!............ You're gay?! ...Ya coulda told us ya know. Never woulda guessed, ya know."
I smiled. Maybe I had been worried about their reactions. Rai's easy acceptance certainly relieved me of tension I had been aware of.
"I ought to go tell Squall about this and arrange for a bed for her. What's her name?"
"Jamie. Jamie Almasy. You're on the birth certificate. Me and Fuu are happy, ya know. She's a sweet kid. Treats Barret real nice."
"Who's Barret?"
"Our son. He'll be five soon. A real handful, ya know. Worse than anything from our DC days. I'll bring Jamie to the hotel when she arrives and have her stuff sent on to Garden."
"That'll be fine. See you another time, Rai."
// Oh, boy. First Squall and now me. How many more kids will pop up out of the woodwork? Mind you, the only one left not here in Balamb was Selphie. // She'd taken a shine to Squall's father, the President of Esthar. Now Esthar was officially (and I mean officially) Party Central. They had Festivals right, left, and centre, and both halves of the couple acted as though they were permanently high. Squall and I had visited them for the Winter break. We spent most of it plotting with Kiros and Ward how to make sure it never happened again. If they had a kid it would be Squall's half- brother or sister, and with them as parents, the kid would either be insane by the time he was two, or run away to Garden as soon as possible. The likelihood of another child showing up had been quite dramatically reduced. Although, to listen to Kinneas talk, a dozen kids could turn up with his surname, all with different mothers.
I walked into the hotel's morning room and looked around. It was quite empty, so it was easy to spot Squall and Strom sitting together on a table for four by the window. As I approached the table, Storm stood up, said something to Squall and left. She caught my gaze and winked as she left.
"Where's she going?"
"Bathroom." Somehow the kid had realised I wanted to talk to Squall alone and she had removed herself from the picture. This kid was strange. Squall's gaze followed her to the door, then he turned to me.
"So quiet, dear heart? What's wrong? Don't tell me the shop ran out of Phoenix Downs?" He raised an eyebrow enquiringly, inviting me to talk.
"I bumped into Raijin. According to him, while you guys where in Time Compression, I was pissed as a fart and knocking up Fuujin." // I could have worded that a bit better. His face is a picture.//
"I also have a daughter and she arrives in Balamb in about half-hour's time. Raijin said he'd be bringing her to the hotel. He and Fuu got married; they got a five-year-old boy. Jamie wants to study at Garden."
Squall started chuckling. "Jamie? Is that her name? Is there any way we can move her in with us?"
"I don't know. We'll have to ask Quistis, she's seen the apartment. She'll know if we can add an extra bed."
"Apartment?"
"Apparently, Cid had an apartment built down on the old Master's level in the basement at the same time as those offices in the old parking lot. One of the rooms was designed as a private library/study. Hyne knows why, neither of us reads books much, and trying to get you away from your office is hard enough without building you a room so you can bring your work home with you. Therefore, that was being converted for Storm. Quisty may be able to fit Jamie in as well."
"I'll go ring her now. You tell Storm the good news." He rushed of in the direction of the hotel lobby and a telephone. I realised with a grin that he was scared shitless of his own daughter. // I might be like that in an hours time. // It was a sobering thought.
Storm returned to the table. "Where'd Dad go?" //She felt comfortable calling him Dad? She only met him yesterday. Maybe she's not as angry as she pretends to be. //
"Storm?"
"Yes."
"I ...ah...find myself in the same ....predicament as your father."
"You've just found out you've got a kid too? The universe has a sense of Humour." // This kid wasn't just strange she was spooky.// Then I remembered she was a sorceress and figured she had an excuse. Moreover, she probably had her father's brains.
"Her name's Jamie. She'll be arriving soon."
"Okay." Storm dropped her scowl and gave me the sweetest smile I've ever seen. "Now I have someone I can complain about you two to, and fight with." This kid really puzzled me, and I'd only known her a few hours.
Squall's POV
"Hi Quisty." I was glad Irvine hadn't answered. //If he knows why Seifer phoned yesterday, I'll never hear the end of it, and if he doesn't then he'll bug me until I tell him. //
"Greetings, Commander. What can I do for you? Your apartment is nearly ready and your daughter's registration has all been taken care of."
"Don't call me that, Quisty. Is there room for another bed in Storm's room?"
"Yes, why?"
"Life's little joke. Another student will be joining us. Jamie Almasy. She's seven, and I'll need you to register her. Her other parent is Fuujin." Quisty's eyes almost popped out of her head and her mouth opened and closed like a goldfish's.
"Um...Quisty?.........Are you still in there?
Quistis visibly shook herself. // She looks like a Torama that took an unexpected bath.// I almost laughed, but managed to control it.
"I'll get right on it. Squall, I know this must be an immense shock to all of you but I'm sure you'll be happy." I tried to ignore the fact that I had heard her murmured "Eventually," as I lowered the receiver.
"THERE."
"O'What! Squall, wait up!" I looked round to see Raijin and Fuujin heading towards me with children in tow.
"This is Jamie, ya know. Good ta see ya, ya know?"
I looked at Jamie. She had her mother's build and facial features, but the high brow was Seifer's, as were the emerald eyes. Her hair was the same colour as Seif's and she wore it loose, cut about an inch above her shoulders, with a strange fringe that swept to one side instead of hanging straight. You could hardly see any of Rinoa in Storm, but although you could tell Jamie was Seifer's daughter, it was easy to see she took after her mother in all but colouring.
The other child in tow was small, chubby and dark-skinned. He was tugging the leg of his mother's trousers, and he spoke in a piping voice. "STAY.SEED.PLEASE?" The last was said rather wistfully, despite the volume at which it was delivered. Fuujin picked him up and settled him on her hip.
"BARRET. YOUNG. WAIT."
"We have ta get goin', ya know? See ya soon, baby. Later, Squall, ya know?" " SQUALL. SEIFER. APOLOGIES. FAREWELLS." I interpreted that as 'tell Seifer we're sorry and we'll see him another time.' as Raijin, Fuujin and little Barret left the hotel I stared after them, bewildered.
"So you're Squall Leonhart, huh? I thought you and my dad were enemies. Where is he, anyways?"
"Rivals," I corrected absentmindedly, "We used to be rivals. Now, we're ...partners."
Floating Camera POV
Squall suddenly realised he'd been standing there, staring at the empty doorway of the Balamb Hotel for about a minute.
"We haven't eaten yet. Your father's in the breakfast room with Storm." As he said this he guided Jamie through the door and entered. As they headed for the table, Jamie suddenly stopped.
"What is it Jamie?"
"I have three questions. 1. What am I supposed to call you? 2. Who is Storm? And three. Why is she sitting next to my dad?"
Jamie's POV
I'm not stupid. I knew what that 'partners' remark was about. Rai had told Mom Dad and Squall were lovers. What I didn't was whether to call him by his first name like I do Rai or whether he'd think it was rude. I looked at the other girl sitting at the table. She shook her head and hair flew over her shoulder. It was the same colour as his! Something clicked. I had never heard about this girl but that didn't mean she didn't exist. She was obviously Squall Leonhart's daughter, and in the same boat as me. This explains why we came to the hotel instead of Garden. I rather feel sorry for Dad and Squall. Two kids dumped on them at the same time.
I gave my dad an assessing look. He had the same green eyes as me, and his hair was the same colour but he wore it gelled back so it moulded the contours of his skull. The silver trench coat wasn't bad, in fact it was quite cool. But the blue and white vest top and black trousers.... Those I would have to do something about.
Squall wore this tatty leather jacket with a fur collar, a white t-shirt, a rather cool looking pendant, tatty black trousers similar to my Dad's and some cool belts. Another project waiting to be started.
The Leonhart kid, Storm, didn't dress too badly, which was a surprise when you look at Squall and consider the fact that she had one of those walking fashion disasters known as Sorceresses for a mother. I don't have anything against sorceresses, but half of them don't look human, and none of them have any dress sense. Take her mom for example. Who in their right mind wears a nightdress to a party, or spoils a good outfit by deciding it needs a long flowy piece of material down to your ankles, when the rest of it barely reaches your knees. Despite the bad influence she seemed to have done all right.
I'm not one of those freaks who buys something just because it's fashionable, without regard for comfort. But neither am I one of those slobs who buys tat because it's comfortable. It seemed like Dad and Squall fit into that last category. But maybe with Storm's help, I can make it so I'm less embarrassed to be seen with them.
A/N. Jamie seems a little obsessed with clothes, which is weird, but it gave me the basis for a plot element, so I don't really mind. Storm does seem like the replica of her father but is she really? You'll have to wait and see. Please review.