Authors note: just for the interested I thought I might mention the occupations of the heroes and Seifer. Quistis – intelligence, Selphie – organising functions, advertising, Irvine – diplomat, Zell – Security, Seifer – head of teaching and of course Squall – Commander/Headmaster of the Balamb Garden.
SQUALL'S POV
"A new sorceress?" I mumble fingering the scar between my brows.
"Leonhart snap out of it." Seifer clicks his fingers in my face.
"You can't know that for sure." Seifer's right. Seeker pads back in rubbing and purring against my leg.
"I should contact Matron. See if she knows anything and alert her." I reach for my phone, calling Matron. I need more concrete information than a cat and a strange niggling feeling in the pit of my gut.
"Hello" asks the motherly voice at the other end of the line.
"Good-morning Matron. It's Squall." using a slightly formal greeting, so I can get the business done first before she starts in with question about my life.
"Business as usual isn't it? Well let's get the small talk out of the way." She smiles at what she considers a quirk of one of her beloved children.
"Have you noticed any sorceress actions lately particularly this morning?"
"I'm sorry Squall but I'd have to be near the magic tell if it was a sorceress or not. Why this morning? what happened? And what make you think it was a Sorceress?" concern entering her voice.
"I felt like I was being watched but no one was there. Also when I put Seeker to the task he found something but it was broken before he could follow it. You see I'd like more reliable information before." I let the sentence hang she know what would happen.
"I'm sorry Squall but I'll alert you if something happens. You know it could be Rinoa." I grunt and shake my head.
"If Rinoa had that ability she would have used it ages ago." Before Rinoa broke up with me she was convinced that I was cheating on her, I don't know when she thought I had the time.
"I suppose so. So, Dear I heard you and Jason are no longer an item. Are you okay?"
"Selphie." I growl where does she get the time to tell everyone? I hear Seifer chuckle.
"Is Seifer there?" She asks sounding confused.
"Yes. I looked after Adrian for him last night."
"Oh, it's nice to know that you two are finally getting along. So how did this come about?"
"I found his son for him." I state hoping to leave it at that but Seifer, seeing a chance to tell his favourite embarrassing story snatches the phone off me.
"Hi ya." He smiles when hearing Matron's voice. His facial expression changes and he smirks leaning into the couch in classic Seifer style.
"Well, it's an interesting story. You see, Dri had run away from his babysitter. He was lost and standing in the middle of no where when Leonhart came upon him and Dri took an immediate attachment to him, well his leg." He stops and starts laughing and I suspect that Matron is laughing as well. "He had to step-drag his way to my office with Dri on his leg." Now in tears from laughing it's all I hear for a while.
"Yeah, and I have photos of them at the finishing line." He's still laughing wiping tears from his eyes. "Yes, of course I can give you a copy."
I seriously want to hurt him right now. He had been watching me through his brief retelling and he chuckled at my glare and reaches out a hand to ruffle my hair.
"Don't worry Leonhart, it doesn't ruin you pretty boy rep only solidifies the rumour you have a stick up your…" He winks and starts laughing again.
"No, he's glaring." I try to zone him out and concentrate on the sorceress problem. How do I increase security of the garden without to many of the wrong questions being asked?
I come out of my unproductive thinking to find Adrian on the phone.
"Yep an angel and he played the piano until I fell asleep. He plays pretty music not like the radio." Seifer's looking at me curiously; I ignore him trying in vain to think of a solution to my problem again.
"Seeker is real pretty and he looked after me all night." Adrian jumps up and down excited then crawls in my lap and hands me the phone.
"Matron?" I ask.
"Squall, thanks for calling to warning me. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful. Do you know what you're going to do yet?"
"No" I pause as Adrian starts wiggling on my lap, "Maybe." I smile down at Adrian and look over at Seifer.
"I'm going to open a Childcare Centre." I state. "It should work I'll step up the security while construction is on and then if I still think there is need I just keep it the same. I'll need a fighter to..." I stop realising that I'm mumbling through the details out loud.
"This could work; I'll have to figure out the details but this ... I'll talk to you later."
SEIFER'S POV
Leonhart zoned out again after he hanged up the phone. Probably going through the details and the information he was going to need.
"Would you like to call the other heroes so you can get this sorted?" I ask, though I can't be certain I think that Leonhart is getting excited about this.
"Um, I guess I should." He pauses and his voice drops. "Seifer, you do you think she was after?"
I'd been thinking about this too, and truth be told it scares me. Saying I absolutely do not want to go through that again would be a vast understatement.
"I'm touched Leonhart, you're worried for me." He rolls his eyes setting Dri aside and starts pacing with the phone to his ear.
"Hey Selphie, could you call Quistis and Zell and come over? I have a matter I need to discuss with you all." He pauses and bites his bottom lip, which I'm not entirely sure he knows he's doing.
"I'll tell you at lunch. It'll be easier to tell you all then." He sits down on the couch again but then gets up. He must be of those people who can't stay still on the phone.
"No, you don't have to call Seifer he's here." He pulls the phone away from his ear.
"No that's not what I want to tell you." The smouldering glare as he pushes the 'end call' button suggesting that Selphie's gone in to the babbling dream world and he just cut her off. Throwing the phone absently letting it bounce on the other seat and huffs at a piece of hair in front of his eyes.
"Get a haircut." Redirecting his glare at me he slumps down into the couch again absently holding a hand out to the cat which promptly bunts his head against the offered hand purring loudly at the mechanical scratching it receives behind the ear.
SQUALL'S POV
"So, am I gonna hear ya play the piano?"
"It's for decoration." I answer without thinking.
"I bet you say that to all the lads when you're not in the mood." He smirks. "Dri would like to hear some more and I'd like to know what kind of pianist you are." Intentionally using the word pianist
"I haven't heard please yet." I smile, if Seifer actually says please, well that will never happen. Seifer nods to Adrian.
"Please." Adrian prays. I sigh and look at Seifer who is still casually slouching opposite me on the large couch, he has that boy entirely too well trained.
"I knew you wouldn't" I mumble.
"On one condition." I pause making sure I have Seifer's attention. "Do not tell anybody."
"Anybody?" He raises a blonde eyebrow. I huff out a breath.
"They don't know. To them it's a big adornment." I answer his question, to Selphie it's there for the occasion that I'll dress myself in red and drape myself over it while singing seductively 'happy birthday' to my friend and lover or so her fantasy goes.
"So why are you willing to perform for me and not them?"
"You're possessive but they like to share they would want to shout this with the world and they're conniving enough to make me. But you, it's not like you to share." He chuckles, eyes twinkling; he's not offended but proud of it.
"Well, on with the show."
I'm suddenly nervous not having done this before an adult before, especially someone whom would give his opinion whether I wanted it or not. My finger lay on the keys and my mind's gone blank. I can't think of anything to play. I look over to the duo that is waiting expectantly. The larger of the two smirks turning to the smaller one.
"Any requests Dri?" Adrian who starts to bounce on his lap trying to remember the song he liked.
"Um, the fast one that went ta de la de de." He stops unsure what comes next; I nod my head understanding which song he is trying to describe. He seats himself down and cuddles into the warmth of his father. My fingers know the song by heart the sheet of music is unneeded this is one of my favourites as well.
When I come out of the calm I always find when play I find Adrian playing with Seeker on the floor and Seifer fast asleep.
'He must have had a good night" The thought doesn't lay well with me. It's amazing the innocent figure he makes while he is asleep and I can see drool at the side of his mouth. His hair is slicked back like usual but not as much, which makes his blonde hair look softer, it suits him better. I'm distracted from my study of the sleeping man by Seeker coming to alert before the door growling softly.
I punch the pad the door slides open before they even have the chance to knock. Zell stumbles forward, intending on knock extremely hard. He gives me a grumpy pout before noticing Seifer lying peacefully on the couch and grins widely. Creeping in an exaggerated tiptoe to Seifer's side I make no move to stop him and neither does Quistis who I'm sure knows what is bound to happen next.
"WAKE UP!" He screams directly into the slumbering mans ear. The fist shots out connecting with tattooed idiot's jaw.
"Shit, Seifer that hurt." Adrian's giggles tumbling to the floor with Seeker and I'm sure I hear a muffle laugh covered by a cough from Quistis.
"It was supposed to Chickenwuss." Seifer growls twisting his finger inside his ear.
"Why do I get the feeling that we missed something, Selphie?" Irvine announces himself and Selphie.
"Silly tattoo man woke up Daddy." Adrian sums up the situation and erupts in a fit of giggles again.
"Seifer, you have a little drool." Selphie giggles and hides behind the grinning Irvine. Zell who has recovered from the hit starts to laugh but covers it in much the same manner as Quistis when Seifer turns his attention toward him.
SEIFER'S POV
After Leonhart's briefing of the situation I don't think I was the only one that felt that I should be saluting. Leonhart had sent Dri to the spare room earlier with the cat; it would have been good to know there was another room sooner than I wouldn't have slept in his bed, so it's just the adults. They were each looking like lost children. A new sorceress that they didn't know what she wanted. It is fuckin' frightening more frightening now that I have Dri and free will.
"What do you need us to do?" Quistis is the first to recover and the others quickly follow suit, I'm sure that I see a flicker of disbelief cross Leonhart's face over the fact that his word alone would be enough for them.
"Selphie, I want you to organise a dinner or something, maybe a fundraiser, I don't particularly care as long the childcare centre is noticed and talked about. Irvine, I'd like you to make announcements saying something like the garden is growing and getting more mature people with families and we'd like to be able to provide for them as well." Pauses and looks to Quistis.
"I need you to look for someone to for someone to manage to childcare centre. It needs to be someone who can fight if the need arises, trustworthy and of-course can take care of the children. Search ex-seeds maybe you'll find something there. Also get hold of your most trusted intelligence person on finding out if there's been anything that could be sorceress action. We need to find this bitch." He gives her look conveying how hard he thinks both searches will be.
"Zell try to figure out how to get as much security around the garden without to many questions being asked. Seifer I'd like you to help him with that as well as find helpers among the students to help with the centre and if trouble arises to take the children to a safe place. Want lunch?" The change from Commander to friend may not be seen by an outsider but it makes the people that know him relax considerably, surprising myself to realize I'm among them.
SQUALL'S POV
Today would have to be one of the most boring days, I huff a piece of hair out of my face and slouch heavily in my chair. I briefly look at the pile of work. Knowing it can wait pushing the chair back I make my way quietly to the door. Opening the door a smidgen, feeling like my father when he tries to escape Kiros and Ward so basically I feel like a moron. I take a peak making sure none of my loyal followers are around namely Quistis. I rush across the entrance to my office shutting the door behind me I try to walk casually away. Turning around the corner and out of site I ignore the urge to exclaim loudly that I'm free, I'm not a complete idiot like Laguna but beginning to wonder how many of his genes I've inherited.
Wandering around the garden trying to figure out what to do. I can't go to the training centre because I left Lionheart at the office. I would visit Seifer but he's teaching the younger generation professional 'protectors', as Selphie would like them to be called.
"Squall!" an unwanted smile come to my lips upon hearing the loud squeal despite the fact that it means that I'm likely to get caught. He reaches his arms upwards and jumps up and down slightly demanding to be picked up. I raise an eyebrow isn't he a little old for this.
"Nope." He answers my silent question, a preceptive child. "Daddy say that I aint to old until I'm too heavy and I don't weigh much. Less than an elephant."
"Less than an elephant, I think I can handle that." I lifted him into my arms and started towards Seifer's office, thinking it best to leave a note informing him that I have his demon before he bites the head off another babysitter.
Reaching Seifer's door I knock before entering having learned from my friends that it is clever thing to do to avoid unwanted situations. Upon hearing nothing I open the door with my free hand and let us in. I place Adrian in large chair and search for a piece of paper and pen to write with.
"What would you like for lunch?" I ask the little demon.
"Nuggets and chips and pies and pasta and." I hold up a hand stoping him. I pick up from the chair and pin the note to the chair before leaving.
SEIFER'S POV
I return to my office for the lunch period. I stop noticing the page pinned to my chair.
Mr Almasy,
I have your son and if you want to see him again please bring the ransom of Chicken salad roll, nuggets, chips, pie and pasta to the second tree on your right outside of the garden.
Squall (Leonhart)
"Cute Leonhart, real cute." I mumble before stomping off to get his damn lunch order.
SQUALL'S POV
"Squall," I cringe. "So this is where you ran off to?" I turn slowly careful not to make any sudden movements and see a pissed Quistis with her hands at her side clutched tightly, eyes blazing and Laguna standing behind her with a look of understanding. Fortunately I still had Adrian balanced on my hip which is enough to stop any violent urges she might be having and Laguna's over enthusiastic hugs.
"So what are you up to?" asks Laguna and Quistis's eye twitches.
"Picnic." I place Adrian on the ground and settle beside him.
"Didn't you forget something?" Laguna asks while sitting down before us. Quistis just glares and grumbles "like father like son."
"No." I answer Laguna's question while glaring at Quistis. Adrian deciding he doesn't like his place on the ground crawls into my lap. Laguna raises an eyebrow but lets it go holding his hand out to the little demon.
"Careful, he bites." The familiar deep voice says coming towards us with a large bag in each hand. Seifer sets down the bags and delves in one and takes out a large chequered blanket.
"Move you gits or you know Quistis would never sit on the filthy ground." We all move so Seifer can spread the blanket. We sit down again. Quistis glares at Seifer while she too sits down and Laguna holds his hand out to Seifer.
"He bites too." I mutter.
SEIFER'S POV
"You know Leonhart you could have just asked if you wanted to meet me for lunch, so badly. No need to steal my son." Grinning while spreading out the rest of the food before handing Leonhart his chicken roll.
"You stole his son?" The man raises an eyebrow grinning widely. Leonhart scowls deeply but says nothing.
"Squall didn't steal me." Dri gets up from his place on the blanket with a hand full of chips and hugs Leonhart tightly. Leonhart give a small smile at Dri's defence of him and turns Dri around so he can still reach his food.
I look at the hand offered to be then at the man who is grinning at me goofily. Usually men of his nature do not last long around our fair lion.
"Laguna Loire pleased to meet you." The man says cheerfully. The president of Esthar, well that explains why Leonhart hasn't scared him away and why I thought he looks familiar.
"Seifer." I reply and take the offered hand. The man then turns and offers Dri his hand that he takes and shakes it vigorously with both of his small hands.
"Adrian Almasy pleased ta meets yoo." Dri echoes his earlier greeting and Laguna smiles widely.
"But you're not an angel like Squall." Dri announces looking between Laguna and Squall deeply confused. The president's eyes brighten and he smiles widely.
"Nope, he must have got it from his mother." Dri considers this then nods deciding it must be true. Leonhart looks just as confused as I do.
"How did you know that he's my father?" I almost spit out chips in my mouth but manage to sallow before speaking.
"The president of Esthar is your Old man?" Both Leonhart and the president frown but I'm sure there for different reasons. This most definitely isn't what I expected but looking at the simular expressions, I sure can see it now.
"Yes." Is Leonhart's long and short on the matter while Leonhart's old man positively lights up at the admission. He looks at Dri for a second before returning his attention to Laguna.
"So where are Kiros and Ward?" Leonhart asks the Laguna who looks decidedly sheepish.
"Umm, I guess they're on some sort of aircraft but I had to see you Squall my boy; you just broke up with your boyfriend. I thought maybe you'd need someone to talk to." He finishes lamely.
"It was over a week ago." Leonhart waves his hand to dismiss the subject but Laguna doesn't look convince that his over it. "You shouldn't be sneaking off like this."
"And who sneaked out of their office today?" Quistis butts in scolding Leonhart like a Matron would.
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Leonhart growls to Quistis.
"Oh yes you're right." She pauses with a mischievous smile. "I have to go tell Selphie you're a real angel." She leaves with a happy swagger to her walk.
"You're not going to have any friends left if you make them leave every time you get antsy." I wag my finger at Leonhart. The lion storm eyes glare icicles focusing on the sway of my finger.
"Hey, no biting." I successfully interpret Leonhart's glare "Leonhart there are children present." Drawing the wagging hand to my chest with fake modesty and wink.
LAGUNA'S POV
It's quite amazing the relationship that is going on between the two warriors. The banter going back and forward even if Squall says nothing but Seifer is able to interpret the fiery and faint expressions that pass Squall's face.
"We should have a spar sometime." Squall suggests.
"Are you sure you're up to it Leonhart? Wouldn't want the commander to break something." The egoistical smirk only bringing out more determination in Squall.
"You don't know what you're getting yourself into, Almasy." Cold retort but his gaze wanders catching sight of something.
"They look pissed." Announce Seifer after following Squall's line of sight. It most certainly is not going to a pleasant ride home. Kiros walking with single-minded strides while Ward not quite as angry following at a steady pace.
"Ah hi guys. Pleasant trip?" right arm scratching behind my head as I laugh nervously. Kiros is about three steps from strangling me when I feel Adrian crawl in my lap. I look down and smile at him and see Squall with a small smile.
"Protection." He says as Kiros come to an erupt stop, standing fist clutched tightly stopped by the incredible force field that is Adrian. I see the murder in his eyes and I pull my barrier closer. Yep I'm in lots of trouble.
"Do you realise that you missed no less than 5 appointments. People don't miss that. I won't be surprised if the media's got hold of this. Than it's either the son that doesn't exists or the rumour that you're having an affair with him, again." He waves his hand in Squall's direction. Squall not wanting the public to know that he is my son has been a great source of difficultly for Kiros. Kiros takes a deep breath and exhales slowly relaxing when the breath leaves him.
"Time to make our escape?" Seifer raises an eyebrow at Squall. Squall looks briefly to Kiros before nodding. The large blonde heaves himself up and holds his hand out to my son.
"Umm, meet me later at my place, there's some things I need to discuss. Kiros, Ward you're welcome too of course." I nod and watch as they leave with the child walking happily between them holding one of each of their hands singing a lullaby happily. They do make a happy family.
"You can't do this Guna, especially with Squall's vague danger around." His quiet plea doing far more than his angry rant.
"I brought along Squall's Seed. I wasn't totally unprotected." Kiros' smiles and shakes his head.
"You only did that because you need someone to fly the air-craft." With that remark I know I'm forgiven but it isn't always so easy.
SEIFER'S POV
With Dri sings and swings between us we walk to the garden entrance.
"So, you have a Dad how's that been for you?" I ask him trying to keep the curiosity out of my voice without much luck.
"He's a clumsy moron which worries about me too much like I didn't live 17 years without him." I look into the eyes that are unable to hide the fact that he cares about said moron.
"That good huh?" I ask seriously and perhaps a little jealous.
"..." Obviously not liking admitting that he likes having a father in his life. I look at my watch knowing I have another class in about ten minutes.
"I'll look after him. I only have to talk to Laguna about the sorceress my afternoon's free." I raise an eyebrow it sounds like he really wants to look after him.
"Yeah that'd be great. I'll pick up here after work."
"Yippee!" Dri squeals and jumps towards Leonhart before throwing himself at the bewildered brunette.
"Okay see yoo later, Daddy." Dri waves.
SQUALL'S POV
Laguna knocked on the door in what he probably thought was a funny melody but it was just irritating. I hit the pad with more force than needed and the door slides open and Laguna stepped through happily ignoring the angry scowl.
"Oh you still have the mini one." Ruffling Adrian's hair. "Adrian the grumpy here is Kiros and the huge fellow is Ward but he's the silent type don't say much." Kiros just waves pouting when Laguna mention he was grumpy. Ward bends down on level with Adrian and cups Adrian's tiny hand in his. Adrian smiles largely and looks Ward up and down unafraid of the giant.
"Wanna watch a cartoon." Ward nods and the twosome sit on the couch watching the show very intently. Kiros leads the way to the kitchen table with Laguna sitting next to him and me opposite.
"What did you want to talk to us about?" I tell Laguna everything about the sorceress being only to date been able to give him a vague warning of danger. Wanting to get the details straight and really have more believable evidence saying there is unknown sorceress willing to cause some havoc.
"So you're saying that this child-care project is a cover?" I nod an affirmative.
"Well it is an excellent cover; I certainly believed all the crap Irvine sprouted about accommodating the needs of the growing garden." But I have a feeling this isn't what bothering my father and it is a fatherly matter.
"You believe she was watching you?" I look in his dark green eyes and nod sadly.
"Or Seifer." Not having been able to rule out the possibility. He gains a mischievous smile.
"Seifer, you seem awfully worried about him?"
"So are you coming to the child-care party?" I cringe at the obvious change of subject but Laguna nods eagerly.
"I have our costumes all picked out should be a ball. You should see what I'm gonna make Kiros wear." Kiros turns his dark eyes to Laguna glaring.
"There's no way in hell I'm ever going to wear that."
Author's note: I thought I had this one in the bag but the thing I was going to write just didn't turn out right and I lost motivation. But this chapter is mainly showing that Laguna is an important part of Squall's life because it's need for a part later in the story. Well I'm not going to promise the next chapter to be soon because it never turns out that way but I will say there will be cross-dressing in the chapter. Who will it be?
Revised 30th August 2005