Waking the Dead
By ShadeA/N: Thank you for all your reviews…but I don't understand why everyone is so angry with Laguna…This chapter is primarily about him though so…learn to love him…There's a little something in this chapter I think might help.
This chapter took a little while to get out because I finally gave in and ordered Return of the Living Dead III. It took it a week or so to get here. I'm doing my own twist on the plot but I don't want to diverge from the original story entirely so I opted to wait until it got here, watch the movie again (which I did at 2 am . ;;), then write this chapter.
Squall wasn't home yet. Laguna dropped the blinds back into place and stepped back from the window. You can't worry like this. He told himself, going back to the sofa and taking a seat. This has happened before. He'll be home. Laguna eyed the clock again and considered going to bed. That sounded like the best idea so far. He had stood and taken no more than two steps towards his bedroom when there was a knock on the door. His hopes were already much too high as he went to answer it.
"Oh," Laguna felt his heart drop as he realized it wasn't his son standing on his doorstep "Col. Seagul." Laguna nodded and stepped back so that the dark skinned man before him could enter "I thought you were still posted in Washington."
"Thought or hoped?" Kiros smiled and took a step inside "You don't look thrilled to see me."
"No!" Laguna floundered for a moment, realizing he wasn't particularly good at expressing himself "I mean-I'm glad you're here I'm- I'm…just not having a great night…"
Kiros nodded and took a step inside, having a look around as Laguna closed the door behind him. "Squall again, right?" He didn't need an answer and merely continued "I just got transferred to this base. They sent me just after Lt. Col. Trepes so that I got stuck with all the paper work."
"It's no good. I'm transferring in two weeks. We both know why you're here and you're too late."
Being a guest had certainly lost its novelty. Kiros watched Laguna take a seat on the sofa without so much as a kind word to him. Things really had changed, hadn't they? "I feel like I've missed something. You were never this rude before."
Laguna looked up with a slight start "Ah…I'm sorry…" He looked down again, fixing his gaze upon the floor "Like I said I've just been a little stressed out lately. Ah, what were you saying about Lt. Col. Trepes?"
"I wasn't," Kiros smiled and shook his head, going to claim a seat beside the other "I said I was transferred here with her." He leaned back "She's…well she's…I can think of several choice words right now, none of which would be appropriate." He was pleased to see the corner of Laguna's mouth twitch upwards slightly "I would be careful around her."
"I told you, I won't be here much longer," Laguna leaned back on the cushions, throwing back his head "I don't have to worry about that."
"Two weeks is plenty of time for her to tear apart your research, especially if she's taking your place on this assignment," Kiros leaned a bit closer to Laguna "She's the one who proposed the exoskeleton idea. Our superiors were considering it until your team developed the tranquilizer. Storage is easier that way. You can pack up the bodies and bring them back around as soon as they're at their destination. The mechanical exoskeletons were efficient but much too expensive."
"And inhumane?" Laguna ventured. Kiros had been speaking on this matter so offhandedly it hardly seemed as if he cared one way or another. He had always been a bit too calm about things but he wasn't this uncaring, was he?
To Laguna's relief Kiros nodded "But it's marginally better than sending a living person into battle…If the bodies were donated to science…"
Laguna winced and looked away. Was he really the only person who saw something wrong about this? Hadn't history warned them against playing the role of a Creator?
Kiros seemed to sense his friend's discomfort and addressed, what appeared to be, more, important matters "How long has Squall been gone this time?"
That hadn't exactly been the shift in conversation Laguna had been hoping for. He answered the question just the same though "Several hours ago. I told him we were moving…He was mad and left with that…horny bastard he calls his boyfriend," Laguna groaned and covered his face with his hands as Kiros only smiled.
"My, I've never heard you use language like that before. You told me about him before. Seifer is it? Don't be too rough on him. If they've been together for this long he isn't only after the obvious," Kiros realized this probably hadn't offered much comfort "But you do need to do…something…You've been too distant from Squall."
"I can't help that," Laguna said defensively, watching Kiros now "I have a demanding job. You know that from first hand experience.
Kiros conceded the point "That's very true, but I never had a son either. That's a completely different job and if you want to keep it you'll have to make a decision."
This was all a bit threatening. Laguna wasn't sure that he wanted his parenting skills challenged by someone who had never even had children. "I can't quit my work with the military."
"Well then, you have nothing to complain about when Squall doesn't come back tonight."
That seemed to strike a nerve. Laguna looked as if he was seriously considering hitting Kiros now, an old friend or not. Suddenly he lost his will to argue the point and merely dropped his head back into his hands "You're right."
"…Laguna…" Kiros put a hand to the back of his shoulder "You're a good father. You just don't know what to do at this point. A good start would be not to move."
The dark haired man beside him didn't stir, merely speaking into his hands at this point "I'd be fired."
"Not quite," Kiros moved his free arm around to Laguna's front, gripping his other shoulder "They might knock you down a rank or be mad as hell but you know so much about this project…They certainly wouldn't fire you…"
A silence stretched on between them "I don't want him with Seifer," He managed at last.
Kiros smiled "Give them both time to grow up. I don't know about Seifer, but Squall is a smart kid. They'll mature and when they do they'll break up…or the relationship will strengthen…I don't think Squall would have been with him this long without an excellent reason." Kiros smiled knowingly "Your parents hated me."
There was another unsure paused on Laguna's part "I was an idiot when I was younger and so were you. It was before I met Raine."
"I see," Kiros removed his hands from the other's shoulders "And so everything before that point was meaningless."
Laguna seemed uneasy now "I loved Raine."
"And I never questioned that," Kiros was still smiling mirthlessly "But you married her because your parents liked her. You moved away and they set you up with an honor roll student with a bright future. Of course, what do I know? I only heard the gist of what happened. Your parents didn't let you call me and you stopped writing shortly after that. I didn't even know you were married until I dropped by for a visit."
"What are you doing here this time?" Laguna's voice had become cold but not bereft of guilt.
Kiros smiled again, this time genuinely. He wrapped one arm back over Laguna's shoulders, bringing the other around to embrace him "Another visit…I thought you said you knew why I was here…Do you have any idea how long it took me to get this transfer?"
"And I told you, I'm transferring, I-" But as he lifted his head Kiros' mouth pressed to his. Laguna found himself trapped in a very deep kiss. What was even more unnerving was the fact that he had wrapped his arms around Kiros in return, pulling their bodies closer together by pressing his hands to the small of the other's back. He shivered as Kiros ran his fingers through his hair, lowering him down onto the sofa. The same hands moved downwards now. Kiros kept one arm around Laguna as the other trailed downwards, over his chest and waist. His kisses had moved downwards as well, lips gingerly grazing the arch of his neck. Laguna shuddered again as he felt agile fingers graze his bare skin "Stop." He managed, gasping the word slightly.
The shoulders beneath Laguna's hands tensed though Kiros pulled back reluctantly. Clearly he hadn't expected this to go very far. Perhaps, at one point, he had held onto that delusion but this was Laguna. Even if Raine was dead, even if he had never cared for her physically he would feel obligated to stay faithful.
It was due to this and a plethora of other reasons that Kiros was surprised by the next few words spoken "Kiros we can't-" Laguna hadn't released the taller man above him but he was beginning to sit up "…Not in here…What if Squall comes home?"
Kiros wasn't sure what to say and instead settled upon looking about the room desperately "The bedroom then?"
Laguna nodded, his breathing still rasped and his mannerisms impatient. "Just leave the door open so I can hear."
There was no need for further instruction. Kiros maneuvered Laguna into his arms and carried him to the bedroom. The room was well furnished, not too ornate, yet cozy. The bed was pushed into the corner and was not much larger than twin sized though it would work nicely for what both of them had in mind. "It's relieving to see you're not a complete prude yet." There was a familiar smile on Laguna's face as Kiros laid him onto the mattress before getting up himself
The mood was a bit too frenzied for further small talk. Laguna pulled off Kiros' uniform jacket, snatching his shirt over his head in the same rushed manner. Kiros shook his head to free his braided hair from the fabric, braids he generally kept tucked beneath his collar. Laguna's clothing was removed in the same fashion. Kiros slid Laguna's shirt over his head, flinging it to the ground as he fumbled with the fastening to his pants. Laguna arched his back to help, pulling his legs out hastily then sliding down his boxers. He couldn't help but note the nostalgic sort of ambiance this had taken on. For all he knew they could still be in the basement room of a respectable two-story house. Laguna had left the sliding garage door cracked open a foot or so every night. Now could be any other night when Kiros had found his way from the garage to Laguna's bed by memory alone.
Kiros ran one hand down Laguna's leg, to the side of his thigh. He pulled Laguna's knees up and over his shoulders as the other arched back again, keeping his hands on the mattress to support himself. Yes, tonight was just like all those nights from the past. There was nothing to worry about save for what his parents might say if they came in right now, that math class he was failing. Laguna took in a sharp breath as he felt Kiros enter him. He pushed himself up further, allowing the other to move deeper. Their first time together had been a lot like this. Laguna had been seventeen and naïve. He and Kiros had been friends and though the latter had been an underclassman at the time he had been infinitely more mature than Laguna's other friends.
Laguna had found himself spending more and more time in Kiros' company. It was alone, in the front seat of a used Pontiac when the younger boy had kissed him. The gesture had come without warning. Laguna's eyes had been on the drive in movie screen, transfixed by a particularly gruesome horror scene. He had immediately frozen at the touch of the lips on his mouth and the hand cupping his cheek. After the first few moments of stunned silence he received an apology and after another particularly confusing instant was leaning across the seat to kiss Kiros back.
The issue of sex cropped up a number of times after this. Kiros would make a move, Laguna would shy away nervously, and, respectively, Kiros would back away no matter how many times Laguna would insist he begin again. When at last they did manage to take their relationship further it had been rushed, like tonight. This was before Kiros had realized that Laguna only insisted they rush things when he had second thoughts.
There had been no discussion on "roles". Kiros, though younger, was undoubtedly the more experienced of the two even if he had never mentioned previous partners. It had been rushed and clumsy on Laguna's part. By the time they were finished Laguna was sore, upset, and reasonably embarrassed. Of all the nights he had spent fantasizing of his "first time" it had been nothing like this. He had curled up on his side, facing the wall. Perhaps, in the long run, it was best that the sex had been lousy. He knew that Kiros didn't pull him into his arms, didn't try to comfort him with innocent kisses because he wanted "another go."
Laguna gasped, close to climaxing now as Kiro's thrusts became both faster and deeper. "Kiros!" He pushed himself up further, breathing both heavily and quickly. He was dizzy and oblivious to the world outside of this bedroom. It was all so perfect. Laguna cried out one last time before he crumpled back to the bed. Kiros reflexively caught his legs, continuing until he finished shortly after.
With a satisfied smile he dropped Laguna back onto the bed and allowed his body to fall into place at his side. The sex, of course, had become better but their relationship had become strained. Every relationship in Laguna's life had become strained. What would Raine say to that? What would Raine say to the way he was raising Squall? His wife was gone, his son hated him, he was dealing out immorality for a living, he had only ever had one friend over the years and he hadn't seen him in a long while…not until now…It was all so selfish. This was the very last thing he needed to mend.
Kiros watched Laguna as he turned onto his side, facing away from him now. He wasn't surprised, just saddened by the knowledge that he had been this late "…I should have come years ago Laguna…I'm sorry."
"Stop it."
Again, he wasn't surprised. Apologies were likely the last thing Laguna wanted right now. Reluctantly he began to realize that Laguna was completely miserable and had been for years. Once Laguna had been sweet and kind, quick to joke or laugh. Now it seemed like he was merely trying to make it through one day at a time. With a sigh he wrapped one arm around Laguna, moving up close behind him. He was relieved to find that Laguna didn't object..
"Kiros…" Laguna managed at last "I…don't think I'll let them transfer me."
Kiros smiled, kissing Laguna's cheek "Squall will like that…You're a good man Laguna…you know that. You're a good father too…just overwhelmed…I'll-" He hesitated, pulling away from Laguna and sitting up slightly "…I'll help you with that if you'll let me…"
Laguna propped himself up, looking back to the other now "You'll…" Laguna smiled genuinely once more "You're asking if you can move in aren't you…?"
"Well," The man beside him looked away almost nervously, one hand moving to toy with one of his braids.
"I thought it was the person actually living in the house that needed to offer that…," His smile broadened as he watched Kiros mentally struggle with whether to apologize or ask again, "I think our superiors would frown upon that…but there is a subdivision of duplexes being built…They're still on the military grounds and the ones they have finished building are nice, better looking than this house anyway. Would that be all right?"
Kiros wrapped his arms back around Laguna, pinning him back on the bed and kissing him "Of course."
"Only if it's all right with Squall, you know," Laguna added hastily "And nothing…like this…"
"You don't think Raine would want you to be happy?" Kiros knew he shouldn't push his luck, not after all of this "You loved her but not like this. She knew that. After all those years she had to. She knew how I felt about you and I wanted to hate her for that but I couldn't."
Laguna didn't argue the other's point but he tried not to acknowledge it either "…When things with Squall are a bit more steady then…"
"Fair enough," Kiros kissed Laguna once more, hoping that he could at least have tonight. He was pleased when Laguna kissed him back and moved to lie against him affectionately "Everything will work out Laguna," He assured quietly "Nothing has happened that can't be repaired."
The tired colonel only nodded. He was finally feeling marginally more relaxed than he had in years. It wasn't by much that the stress had left it but it was suddenly much easier to breath. He was very close to falling asleep in Kiros' arms when the phone rang.
Kiros pulled back, untangling himself from the other "I'll get it," He offered, stifling a yawn. He was too late however, Laguna had already snatched his pants up off the floor and was sliding them on as he hurried into the hallway to answer the phone. Kiros supposed he must have been hoping to hear from Squall.
Laguna had picked up the receiver after managing to fasten his pants "Hello?" Noting the desperate quality to his own voice he too knew that he was praying it would be Squall's voice on the other end. The likelihood of this certainly wasn't good and he knew it. "This is Col. Leonhart."
"Sir, we think you should get down to the labs immediately."
The voice sounded urgent. It was likely important and Laguna knew he should probably go himself "Is it really necessary that I come down myself?" He would much sooner wait here for Squall or get a few hours well deserved rest with Kiros. He had just managed to relax for the first time in years. Added stress wasn't what he wanted right now.
There was a pause on the other end of the line "It's the 2-4-5 Troxin sir. There has been a leak."
"A leak?" Laguna leaned towards the coat rack, snatching up his uniform jacket. As he saw Kiros emerge from the bedroom he motioned for the other to bring his shirt. The mention of a 'leak' was proof enough that he wasn't going to get out of this.
"Yes sir…In more ways than one…"
Laguna cursed under his breath, taking his shirt from Kiros now "And who, may I ask, is responsible for this?"
"Well…" Another hesitation from the man who had called him "With all due respect sir…The surveillance tapes say it's your son."
A/N: I hope this was decent. My beta reader's computer is sick :sob:. If anyone would mind doing some betaing for me in her absence it would be much appreciated.
I'm thinking about adding Kiros to Salvaging an Angel as well. I hadn't even originally planned to include him in this story but…I need him for a plot twist…dun dun dunnnn. There's some foreshadowing regarding said plot twist in this chapter so if you caught it congrats -.
On an unrelated, spammy note I have a new fic out called Calignosity. It's my obligatory blind fic but Harry Potter related with a Harry/Draco pairing and a post HBP setting. Check it out if you feel the urge -.