Chapter 2 – Unlikely Partners

"Hit me."

"You sure?"

"Absolutely. Hit me."

Squall, Zell, and Irvine all sat around a small table after hours in the cafeteria. Each of them had a beer in front of them, and a handful of cards. Over the past two years, they had made poker night a weekly ritual when they all happened to be at Garden, and not away on a mission.

A green visor on his head, Zell traditionally held the position of dealer. He also traditionally lost at least half of his salary to either Irvine or Squall during the course of the game.

Irvine puffed thoughtfully on a cigar as he considered his hand. Not too bad…not too good, either.

"Kinneas, why do you insist on smoking those things?" Zell asked, waving the air around him with his cards.

"They add to the atmosphere," Irvine responded mildly, not looking up from his cards. "Just don't tell Selphie."

"They may add to our chances of lung cancer, but that's about it," Zell grumbled in retort.

"Don't start on my stogies," Irvine responded. "Why do you insist on wearing those stupid visors?"

"Dealers are supposed to wear 'em. Besides, they go well with my tattoo."

"Whatever," Squall finally interjected, annoyed with the entire exchange.

Zell shot him a murderous look, and then turned his attention back to his hand. He then gave Squall a considering look. "Darn it, Squall, I hate playing with you. I never can tell what kind of hand you have."

"Which is why he usually ends up spending most of your paycheck," Irvine added, smirking. "He is the bluff master."

Squall rolled his eyes, then looked at Zell. "If you can't take the pressure, don't play."

Zell resembled a pressure cooker about to explode as he glared at his friends. "I'll bet five."

Irvine shot Squall a curious look. "What has you in a worse than usual mood tonight? I'll see that five and raise you five."

"Nothing. I'll raise that by ten."

Zell tossed in another chip, raising the bet by five more. "I heard you had a pretty nasty run-in with Kylah."

"I fold," Irvine plopped his cards down on the table, not sure if Squall was bluffing or not. He had a lousy hand, and wasn't taking any chances. "Seems like I heard the same thing from Selphie."

Squall scowled as the tossed more chips into the pile. "Where did she come from anyway?"

Another smirk crossed Irvine's face. "Well, about 23 years ago this man and this woman, who both really loved each other-"

"You know what I mean," Squall interrupted his explanation and shot him a dirty look.

Zell chuckled. "She grew up in Gabaldia Garden with Irvine."

"Yep," Irvine added, watching as his two friends steadily raised the stakes on each other. "We hung out a lot as teenagers. Lost track of her when I moved here. Met up again about a year ago, and started hanging out again. Selphie was fit to be tied when she first came onto the scene, 'cause she thought that Kylah was trying to put the moves on me. Once she realized that Kylah has absolutely no interest in me, in fact looks at me like a big brother, she cooled down and the two of them are the best of friends now."

Squall grunted. "She's kinda annoying."

"Kylah?" Zell broke in, considering his next move. The stakes were getting very high, and he wasn't sure if his hand could beat Squall's or not. The man had an incredible poker face. "Nah, she's pretty cool. She's the kinda girl that will help Quistis teach in the morning, go shopping with Selphie in the afternoon, and have a beer with Irvine and me that night."

"Yeah," Irvine added. "She's gotten to be friends with all of us. She's pretty cool to have around."

"I fold," Zell finally announced, defeated.

A very slight smirk touched Squall's lips as he carefully, one-by-one laid his cards out for Zell to see.

"A PAIR OF TWOS?" Zell yelped. "YOU BEAT ME WITH A PAIR OF TWOS!"

"I guess your game is almost as bad as your fighting style," Squall quipped.

Irvine fell out of his chair and sat hard on the floor, laughing hysterically as he watched Zell run after Squall, threatening Leonhart's very existence with every step.

"So, you don't think she's too young to start?"

Quistis and Kylah stood side-by-side in the main quad of Balamb Garden, deep in discussion about one of Quistis' young students. The girl was interested in taking up the double-ended sword that Kylah was so proficient with, but her instructor had concerns.

Kylah shook her head. "She's not too young to start, however, she's probably too small to try the full sword. Given her age and size, I would start her out on a couple of short swallows so that she could get the feel of using two blades at once. Something like this," she pointed to a picture of two small blades in the latest issue of Weapons Monthly.

Quistis looked over the magazine picture. "I'm really not that proficient with bladed weapons, though. I don't suppose I could coerce you into tutoring her a little?"

Before Kylah had a chance to respond, a cheerful chime and a voice came from overhead.

"Commander Leonhart and Kylah Deraldi, please report to the headmaster's office. Repeat, Squall Leonhart and Kylah Deraldi please report to the headmaster's office at once."

Kylah quirked an eyebrow at Quistis, "This doesn't sound promising."

Quistis grinned. "How long has it been since you were called to the headmaster's office?"

"Not long enough. I spent more than my fair share of time in there as a teenager." She sighed resignedly. "Well, I might as well get this over with. We'll talk more about your student later." With a wave to Quistis, Kylah turned and strode toward the elevator that would deliver her into Cid's office.

She arrived a few minutes later, and found that Squall had beaten her there. He shot her an icy look as she strolled casually into the room. Not willing to let him have the upper hand, she returned the look with as bright a smile as she could muster. Her reward was a deep scowl.

"Ah, Kylah," Cid greeted her warmly. "Thank you for coming so quickly." He regarded the both of them for a long moment. "A mission request came through just a little while ago that is going to require the both of you."

They both looked floored. "Excuse me, what?" Kylah stuttered.

"The governing bodies of Esthar and Galbadia have both agreed to sign a treaty that would end the decades of battle between the two nations. However, representatives from Esthar are a little leery of the intentions of the other party involved. Therefore, President Loire of Esthar has requested that we send two SeeD members to the summit and treaty signing to help 'keep the peace.'" He paused to shuffle through his mission notes. "I immediately suggested Kylah because of her extensive experience in peace negotiations."

The redhead smiled at the compliment.

"The president agreed to this, but specifically requested that you, Squall, be sent as well."

"Why me?" Squall protested. "Aren't I supposed to be on vacation or something?"

Cid shrugged. "And weren't you asking just three days ago if there wasn't another mission that I could send you on? I'm not entirely sure why President Loire wants you in particular at the summit. I would imagine it is because he is familiar with you after the whole Ultimecia incident. If you want more information, I suggest you ask him yourself when you arrive in Esthar. Here are two train tickets, compliments of the Estharian government." He handed them their tickets, along with their mission briefings. "You leave first thing in the morning. The summit begins in one week."

Kylah and Squall both stared dumfounded at the tickets in each of their hands, then looked up at each other. Like it or not, it appeared as if they would be spending a lot of time together over the next couple of weeks.

"Why couldn't it be someone else," Kylah fumed as she shoved clothing haphazardly into her duffel bag. "Anyone else? Zell, or Irvine… I don't care who!"

"Calm down," Quistis soothed, as she pulled Kylah's clothing back out of the bag to refold it. "Look, if President Loire requested Squall, I'm sure he had a good reason for it."

"Yeah," Selphie chimed in, "Sir Laguna is a smart leader, in addition to being exceptionally handsome! He wouldn't do it for absolutely no reason!"

Kylah eyed Selphie inquisitively. "I take it you've met the president?" Both of her friends nodded. "What's he like?" she asked, hoping to get a feel for the mission ahead of time.

Quistis and Selphie looked at each other, then burst out laughing.

"He's definitely not what you would picture the president of such a powerful nation to be," Quistis began once she calmed down.

"He's a little off-the-wall," Selphie continued.

"And… a little goofy."

"Flamboyant."

"Excitable, charismatic, charming…"

"And did I mention devastatingly handsome?" Selphie finished up.

Kylah looked back and forth between the two. "This definitely sounds to be an…interesting mission."

"Daddy, do you hafta go?" Cassidy whined as she sat on Squalls bed clutching a stuffed bunny and watched him pack.

"'Fraid so, kid," he replied, stuffing some t-shirts into his duffel. "It shouldn't take long, though. I'll be back in a couple weeks."

"A couple weeks!" she wailed. "It's not fair. You just got home!"

Squall sighed and closed his eyes tiredly. "Cassidy, you know I have to do my job."

She pouted, her small mouth turning down into a frown. "You said you were gonna have some time off. That we could spend some time together," she said, accusingly.

"Things change. Look, kiddo, I have to do my job. I promise, when I get back we'll spend some time together."

"Whatever," she replied, picking at her rabbit's ears.

"Cassidy Julia Leonhart, where did you learn to talk like that?"

She looked up at him with an exasperated look. "From you, Daddy. Duh!"

Groaning, Squall sank down on the edge of the bed next to her and pulled her into his lap. Despite herself, Cass abandoned the rabbit and wrapped her tiny arms around her father's neck, clinging for dear life.

Squall hugged her tight and kissed her chubby little cheek. "I promise, I'll be home soon," he said softly.

Thousands of miles away, Laguna Loire looked out the window of the presidential office over the city of Esthar. He had ruled as president of the country for nearly twenty-five years, and the citizens had always lived worrying about another Gabaldian attack. Now, it appeared that it was all about to end.

Stepping away from the window, he sunk down into the chair at his desk and picked up a photo that he kept sitting there. Raine. Oh, I wish you were here right now, he thought wistfully as he fingered the frame.

"Am I interrupting?" a soft voice came from the doorway.

Laguna looked up and broke into a smile when he caught sight of his niece, Ellone, standing in the doorway. "Nah," he replied, returning the photo to his desktop. "I'm just working hard at avoiding the mountain of paperwork that Kiros insists on piling on my desk every morning."

"You'd better pay attention to that paperwork," she chided, gently. "You have a peace treaty to negotiate in a few days."

He waved dismissively. "That's why I'm paying SeeD to come. To help negotiate."

She studied him carefully. "SeeD, eh? So, Cid agreed to send someone?"

He turned and faced the window again. "I requested someone, actually."

"Uncle Laguna…" Ellone began, knowing exactly whom her uncle was speaking of.

"Elle, I think he deserves to know the truth. I'm going to tell him this time."

She lowered herself to sit on the edge of his desk. "He might not take it so well."

Laguna shifted his gaze to the picture of Raine once again. I wish so much that you could be here…"What's the worst he could do? Have Quezacotl attack me?"

Much more than that, I'm afraid…Ellone thought, fearing that Squall could do more damage than Laguna realized.

Kylah gazed out of the train window, watching the scenery pass by. Periodically, she would shoot a glance over at Squall, who was lounging on one of the two beds in the SeeD compartment. He had one arm slung over his eyes, trying to take a nap.

Judging from his restless tossing and turning, Kylah didn't think he was having much success.

Finally unable to stand Kylah's staring any longer, Squall shot up, looked at her and said "WHAT!"

"Nothing, it's nothing," she replied, quickly turning back to the window.

He gave her a skeptical look.

"Okay, okay," she relented. "Look, we're going to be spending the next two weeks together, working in close quarters. I think that, for the sake of the mission, we should call a truce. Whatever ill feelings we have toward each other, we need to put aside for the duration of the mission so that President Loire doesn't feel like he's wasted his money on two squabbling children."

Though he hated to admit it, she had a point. "Okay, truce," he said.

Nodding with satisfaction, Kylah turned back to the window, leaving Squall to return to his nap.

"Why do you suppose the president requested that you go?" she finally spoke up, unable to bear the silence any longer.

Squall sighed heavily, giving up on the possibility of a nap. He pulled himself up off of the berth and took a seat on the other end of the bench from Kylah. "I dunno," he replied. "I suppose it's because I've worked with him before, during the Ultimecia stuff."

Kylah looked thoughtful. "I remember that time. I was a bit younger than you, still a student, but I remember it all happening." She turned to Squall. "Is the president easy to work with?"

He shrugged non-committally. "He's not difficult to work with. He's….different."

"So I've heard," she replied with a chuckle.

He raised an eyebrow wryly. "Don't believe everything Selphie says. Much to Irvine's chagrin, she has a bit of a crush on President Loire."

"Again, so I've heard."

They were both quiet for a few minutes, enjoying the scenery as they passed through Fisherman's Horizon. Squall remembered passing through there years before, that time on a different mission. Rinoa…

"What made you become a SeeD?"

Kylah's abrupt question pulled him out of his memories. "What? Why?" He shook his head to clear it. "I've never really thought about it."

"Surely you had a reason."

He shook his head. "Not really. I went from the orphanage to Garden. It was something that was always assumed. There's not a reason for everything."

"Sure there is!" she insisted.

"Okay, then, why did YOU become a SeeD?"

"Rebellion. Pure and simple."

"Rebellion?" Squall looked confused.

She nodded. "My parents were 'high society' in Galbadia. My father was an ambassador, my mother…well…. a socialite I guess you would call it. I was expected to go on to college, meet a suitable man, marry well, and follow in my mother's footsteps. I decided that wasn't for me. So, I ran away, fled to Garden, and pleaded my case to Martine. I wanted to do something different. Garden took me in. I trained, and became a SeeD. Because I wanted to."

"Let me get this straight. You ran away from a perfectly nice home with your parents to train to become a mercenary because you wanted to? Not because you had to, but because you wanted to?"

She nodded.

"And your parents? What did they have to say about this?"

"My father didn't like it. Disowned me, as a matter of fact. He said that no child of his would be out making money off of other people's problems."

"You gave up your family to become a SeeD?"

"No," she replied. "My friends at Garden became more of a family to me than my parents ever were."

"Still, it's not like a real family."

She eyed him curiously. "You have a real family, though. You have Cass."

"That's not a family. That's two people."

A smile touched her face as a pang touched her heart. "It only takes two people to have a family," she replied, softly.