The smell alone should have had the boy running but, oddly enough, Irvine found himself in the 8 year olds bedroom. He isn't surprised to see Kait sitting on the floor facing the wall at the corner; blanket around his shoulders, knees up at his chest. He and Squall knew this to be the boys, rarely seen, but heavy when in use 'shell'. Kait did it once, to Irvine's knowledge, when he was 4 and realized that Imari was not going to come back. Period. It broke Irvine's heart to believe that he was unwanted by the child he cared so deeply for so quickly as a baby, but eventually Kait warmed up to him, and beamed with delight of having his storytime idol in the flesh- and as a father too! It made sense even more to him when he realized that other kids thought that their father's were super heros as well.
Sidling up to the child, Irvine lowered his 6'1" frame to the floor. He doesn't say anything, at first, but when he did he chose to get right to the point. "Kait ...Are you too upset to eat?"
Without looking at his father he replied. "How can I not be? You guys kept asking me questions like I knew anything, when I don't." He felt tears prickle his eyes again. The gnawing in his stomach swept through for the sixth time that day.
"Oh that," His voice came out kind and kidding. "Can I tell you, with adults, panic makes us yell or talk a little- maybe even a lot- harder and it seems like we're mad at the person we're talking to."
"That's what it was like..."
"This whole Mara-thing just has us worked up. But we're not mad at you, not even a little bit."
"Are you sure?" This time he does look at Irvine, his big blue eyes blink curiously at his father.
"Sure, I'm sure!" He gives the boy a clap on the shoulder. "Why would I lie to you?"
"To keep me from knowing what's going on," He says this with a gauging look as if to say: so how about that?
Blinking in thought; Irvine was silent a moment. Shock hidden well in his nodding gesture. "Do you really believe that?"
Kait looked as though he'd wanted to nod, but instead he shrugged.
"You know Squall and I don't treat you like you're a child- not with certain things."
"But you don't tell me things some times."
"True. But, that being said we don't withhold things that are important."
"I guess..." Squall's stubborn streaked shined clear as day in the boy as he wrapped himself tighter and returned his gaze to the floor. His body, which turned sideways to speak to Irvine, straightened back to face the wall. But as if Kait realized that he wouldn't get a man's answer by hiding away in his shell, he lowered his blanket then looked his father square in the eyes and asks. "What's gonna happen with her and all this?"
"Honestly? We haven't thought it through yet. There's a good chance that this is gonna get nasty real quick." His hand rose to the back of his head giving his hairband an un-needed readjustment. Lowering that hand to the floor, he tapped his finger thoughtfully. "I think that the best thing to do is talk to her, let her know you're happy, healthy, and have a good life here with Squall and me."
"What if she doesn't care?" He shakes his head. "And how do we even know if she's, you know ...Her?"
Irvine smiled faintly at how Kait said 'Her' like it were Hyne himself come down from the Heavens with a word that is law. "We'll of course get a DNA test done, but if she doesn't care about your happiness well-..."
Irvine and Kait turn their attention to the bedroom door when Squall's voice, authorative and strong, cuts through the silence. "Then we go to the courthouse." He steps into the bedroom stopping when the boy's bed met his knees. "Kait, that woman has no right to you as a parent in any way. Its been eight years and nothing short of a coma can win the arguement on her behalf."
"And court can make sure that she doesn't take me? How?" He nibbles his thumbnail thoughtfully. "Is it like that show Judge Tanaki, are we gonna sue her?"
"No. This type of court is different," Squall smiled to himself, having a seat on the bed he replied. "We go into a court house and state our case to a group of people who decide whether Irvine and I, or Mara get rights to you."
"What's it to them?" Asked Kait in defiance. He hardly thought that trusting strangers was the best idea.
"We have laws in life and we live by them. You'll learn about it in another grade level, but when something is law its to be followed or the person breaking it spends time in jail."
"That's good." He nods.
"She's not getting her hands on you, Kait. You can count on that."
Squall's tone was so serious the boy couldn't believe otherwise. And he nodded with assurance. He could feel his body warming up already. The picture in his mind of his family; once smooth and whole became broken into a million pieces jagged crooked pieces like a jigsaw puzzle and with Mara in the picture some of the pieces refused to be picked up and put back into place. But... His Mother. He's never thought of the concept of having a true honest-to-Hyne woman in his life. He's got his aunts, Ellone and self appointed Selphie, he's got older female friends in Rinoa and Quistis, that lady Xu is even nice to him when she's not in a hurry or very busy. But a mother... The thought of Her getting him up for school, the thought of Her making him his favorite breakfast. Her singing with him his goodnight song- not that he needs it- he's eight years old, for crying out loud! A man. But its just something that makes him feel a blanket of love that all the hugs, kisses, and say-sos can't cover. His father's know that. But would She? She would baby him. She would hover. She would never let him explore and feel security in his parents' trust that he will be OK on his own. She would hurt him, and he would remain hurt. Why? Kait doesn't know. He's been around his friend's mothers and they are always real good to him. They fuss, and bring snacks, they call him cute, especially when he was younger. They would pinch his cheeks and say he was darling. It was weird, at first, but then he later learned that that's what women do. But not Her. Somehow She would be different, and she would be wrong.
This thinking is what leads Kait to ask. "And things'll really be ok?"
"I promise." Squall replied easily.
Irvine chimed in with, "Same here."
Letting out a breath, he hadn't known he'd been holding, Kait smiled then. "Thanks." He stands up walking over to his bed.
"Hey, hey," Irvine pushes himself up from the floor to stand. "You don't thank love," Placing his arm around the boy's shoulders he gives Kait a friendly shaking. "it knows when its received." Realizing, then, that dinner has been sitting untouched for a half hour he released the boy from his hold and heads toward the door. "Come on, let's get something in our stomachs. I need some thinking food."
Watching Squall walk off after he'd given him a quick hug, Kait swayed to move but remained beside the bed. "Is it alright if I don't eat?" Turning around, he grabs his blanket from the floor and wraps it around his shoulders, but rather than take his seat back on the floor he climbed into bed. "I feel fine, but my stomach still kinda hurts."
Nodding, Squall asked. "Want the tv in here?"
"Can I really?" That seemed to put a spark in the boys pouted face.
"Sure."
He could hear Irvine laughing in the hall before he says to Squall: "Lap of luxury that kid."
The smile on Kait's face waned a bit as he grabs up Samba from under his pillow. "Everything will be alright, Samba. My dads are rarely wrong. Nothing will change from the way it is right now. Okay?" Silence greeted his assurance but Kait heard otherwise, and smiled his approval of the toys reaction. "Okay." Stuffing the moomba beneath his shirt, he tugs it by the top of its head until its peeking out from beneath his under shirt.
Like some kids have blankies, Kait has Jojo the clown and Samba the moomba. He just feels better having him close by. Along with the sound of the microwave, he can hear the wheels of the television stand rolling along the hall floor toward his bedroom. Its set in front of the closet and behind Squall is Irvine bringing the remote control, which kept falling on the floor during the televisions commute. After the cable was hooked in, Squall nodded his goodbye then joined Irvine in the kitchen to have dinner.
The meal wasn't exactly pleasent or relaxing by any means. Both men were silent and thoughtful until Irvine cleared his throat to speak.
"So like, what are we gonna do when that woman comes callin'- and you know that she will- do we really have a better chance at keeping Kait than she does at taking him?"
"I'm positive." Squall answered quickly. "But I'm not in the mood for talking right now."
Irvine rolled his eyes. "That's fine, but I'll tell you this," He says in a serious tone because, once again, Squall is trying to take on the world alone, as if he's the only one who can. Sure, he can be a coward sometimes, but not when it comes to matters like this. With the business in Deling at the clock tower, it was personal. He knew things that the others didn't, and frankly, he liked to think that he'd made the right choice in his hesitation. It pained him greatly that Squall got hurt during that battle against Matron, but everything worked out alright in the end. "Darlin' before you get too far in the red zone, know this... I'm Kait's father too. And every one of us loves him and intend to keep him safe. You can't take this fight on alone, its not some damned monster that needs slaying, or a major bodyguard job... its our job. Parent mode. We're in this together."
Squall blinked in thought of what he'd just heard. Does he really come off that way to have a stern talk-down? Irvine is right, though. But dammit, if this doesn't turn out right... He can't manage to allow negative thoughts to cloud his mind that it will turn out ok.
"Squall?"
Light colored dual eyes focus on his boyfriend. "I know."
"Good. Make sure that you continue knowing." He offered the brooding male a small smile to assure him that, regardless of his tone, he isn't mad at him. Standing, he takes the plates from the table bringing them over to the sink for washing. Squall got up from the table grabbing some tupperware from the upper cabinet to put the food away.. The newly aquired silence in the home came back into play to such an extreme it was a wonder it didn't blanket out the noises of running water and clanking pots, pans, and plates. When the dishes were put away the couple went their seperate ways; Irvine out for a walk with the Esper bird- who ruined their lives for too long a period- and Squall went into Kait's bedroom with a bowl of Cocoa Puffs.
"What are we watching?" He asked, handing off the bowl before climbing into the bed with his son.
"Flapjack." As the name has been shortened to from The Misadventures of Flapjack. 'Him and K'nuckles have stolen the mermaid's heart and are making wishes with the candy inside of it."
Cocking a brow, Squall doesn't have to ask if the boy is kidding or not. He's been on the viewing side of this show numerous times and it gets more bizarre by the episode. Cartoons are completely ridiculous. He'd came in to discuss the matter of Mara a bit more but decided it was enough for one night. Besides, there isn't too much else to talk about. Kait knows he's loved, knows that he and Irvine will do anything for him; its not even an issue really. It'll go as expected. Nerves calmed, Squall found himself laughing at the antics of the two main characters and their idiotic wishes and, despite himself, he's enjoying the show. He and Kait doubled over with laughter at this fat blue man wishing to breathe maple syrup after wishing for his mouth to overflow with it. After his cereal was finished and the bowl is placed on top of the dresser, they watch two more cartoons that came on after 'Flapjack' before Kait passed out cold asleep beside him.
"Goodnight, Kait." Brushing the boys hair from over his ear, he tucked the rumpled blanket about the boy after getting out of bed.
As an after thought he removed Samba from his son's shirt placing it under one of his skinny little arms. Removing the bowl from the dresser he walked over to the television turning off the power then leaves the bedroom closing the door after him.
88888
"It was Mara, wasn't it?" Irvine asked the second he the door to Seifer's apartment is opened.
"What was?" Seifer's tone screamed of an on-coming eye roll.
"The thing that Kait wanted to talk to you about, that night I asked Laguna to come with me to get" He makes air-qoutes just now. "ice cream, that's what." Hands on hips, and tone serious, Irvine asks. "How fuckin' long have you known that that woman was in town?"
Though his gaze is hard, Seifer had no snide remark or crack in his tone when he answered. He actually seemed regretful of what he'd done. Almost. "I've known since we'd gotten back from our missions."
Thinking that reply over, Irvine gaped in disgust. "That was even before we'd gone to Centra. Seifer what the hell?"
Feeling the sting of upsetting the one person who he doesn't feel the need to treat like shit, Seifer says honestly. "Look, I'm sorry, really." He shrugged a hand then as if to say that's as much as you'll get from him. Take it or leave it. "I thought it'd be funny," He explained. "but later realized that she was serious and the squirt might really be her kid."
Fist balled in anger, Irvine, rather than striking Seifer with it, stamped his foot instead. "Fuck!" He shouted to the ceiling. "Seifer if you'd of said something period, then we wouldn't have stopped this sooner. Mara wouldn't have gotten this damned close."
Tired of being yelled at, Seifer groaned. "I've already come to that conclusion earlier. But listen," Walking over to Irvine, he gripped the ticked off cowboy by the shoulders. "I told her that she doesn't have a prayer, and that giving up on Kait would be the best bet because he doesn't know her. And no matter what she says or does, he isn't gonna choose her over you and Leonhart."
That struck Irvine by surprise. Seifer rarely does anything nice for anyone, especially when Squall's involved. "Well, thank you partner," He returned to his polite mannerisms. "but she's come all this way, so I doubt simple reasoning is gonna back her off."
Smirking, Seifer says half-kidding. "Hn. We could always get rid of her; Selphie's been pretty fired up since she's heard about it."
Smiling, Irvine shakes his head. "No, we can't get rid of her." Snickering he adds. "As affective as that might be... No. We've gotta think of something that will stop her- not just back her off."
"I'd revisit the beat down." Seifer commented sincerly while he walked through the kitchen to the front door; having heard the bell ring, during their conversation, before someone had the nerve to kick it, he pulled the door open.
"Its about damned time. I've been kicking the door for minutes," Zell griped. "What're you doing in here when I'm gone?" He spots Irvine standing in the living room, confusion brushed his features. "Hey Irvine, what's up?" He readjusts his travel bag.
"You caught me." Seifer teases walking into the living, he drapes an arm around Irvine's shoulders. "We've been fucking behind your back."
Face scrunched in distaste, Irvine removed the male's arm walking toward the kitchen. "Iron-giant sized trouble, is what's up." Patting Zell on the shoulder he says before walking out. "I'll let your boyfriend fill you in. See ya later."
"Bye." Still confused, Zell looks at Seifer once the front door is closed. "Seriously?" He asked.
"No. Don't be stupid, dinky."
"So, what is it then?" He walks his bag over to the couch dropping it down. Before plopping down next to it to give his lover full attention.
Running his hand through his loosened blond spikes, Seifer expelled a hard breath before saying calmly. "Kait's mother has showed up, and she wants him back."
...
"That's terrible!" Quistis replied when hearing the current events from Selphie.
The younger girl had called her 10 minutes ago and had nothing good to say beyond the "hello".
"What are Squall and Irvine doing now? Do they know?"
"I think so, although, no one's jumped out and yelled 'boo' yet, so who really knows." Selphie grew quiet for a minute, and when she finally spoke her voice was very serious. So much older, almost like she were suddenly a different person over the phone. "Quistis... you're good with things like this; is there any way that Kait can stay with us?"
"I wish that I could say, yes, but honestly... I don't know." Her heart sank from Selphie's sad exhale. "If a DNA test shows that this woman is Kait's biological mother, no court will deny her the parental rights, especially if the situation shows that giving up the child wasn't in her knowledge."
"What 'given up'? Kait was found in a tree, for Hyne's sake. ...That's weird as it is."
"Exactly. He could have been stolen from her, hidden away and while she's been looking for him Irvine and Squall had found him first."
Quiet, Selphie sighed. "I never thought about that. People kidnap people all the time. But still..." The two let a silence settle between them. But Selphie soon asked. "What I can't seem to figure out is where she's been for eight years."
88888
The Redfields packed up their camping equipment and got a few last minute items from the vending machine in the apartment lobby: A pack of peanuts, and some bottles of water, a candy bar made of oats and honey. Then they were on their way into Timber forest. It was a gorgeous day. The sun in the sky shone brightly and there was not a cloud in sight; July, truthfully, is Mara's favorite month. But there's something magical about a warm January day, that just makes you want to tilt your head back and shout to the world: I'm here! And I love you!
It was at that time her husband Martin chose to say. "I'm dying for an apple," He's putting up the tent when declaring this. "Did you pack any in the lunch boxes?"
"I did. They're chopped so they would be easier to tote."
Walking across the still crumpled tent, he digs through the duffle bag. The things are so cute, they're shaped like mail bags the kind the trains use. Miles sneezed hard enough to make his whole body shake, and as if it were some other wordly signal of his, he began to cry. Martin ate a few chunks of apple, a weary look on his face as he looked from the baby to his wife who is sitting on a log staring up at the sunny sky as if she were the only person in the world. He tried clearing his throat to get her attention, but that only caused her to nibble on her thumb nail.
Sighing, Martin rolled his eyes. "Will you please pick up our son and calm him down?" He finally snapped at her.
Mara was frozen, as if the sound of crying combined with the statement were of subzero temperature. Then she blinked and stared over to where Miles lay bundled in the second duffle, her face read pure offense of the child as if he were an odd awkward monster trying to call her 'mom'. Now nibbling on her bottom lip, she wondered just how long the child would keep that up before he realized that he was going to get nothing out of it. Not from her. But ugh! It had drilled at her nerves, and into her brain long after the baby had stopped crying, due to her husband stopping him. If Miles would stop crying out; FAILURE! FAILURE! like that, maybe the end result would be different.
"Tah," Scoffed her husband who had abandoned the bag of apples for the infant. "really Mara. I'm tired of feeling like I'm a single parent here. Eventually, you're gonna have to take responsibilty. Mariska can only do so much as a babysitter- what if I'm at work some day and the baby needs to go to the hospital? They'll need important information that Mariska just will not have. Now, please, for me ...Snap out of it."
Glaring, the woman grabbed the bag of apples from the ground before the ants decided it was up for grabs. "She's a nanny, not a sitter. Sitters go home after a time."
"As if that's the point of the conversation that matters." He rolled his eyes. "And do you think Mariska doesn't miss her family?" Martin smiles at the boy who began to laugh at something he's looking at. Keeping his voice light, he continued chewing out his wife. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this. The sun may be out but its freezing. Miles is too young to be out here just yet."
"He's fine." She chided. "And its pretty warm to me."
"That's because you're having a hot flash." Commented the man losing his patients with his wife.
"He'll be fine. Maybe he likes the outdoors." Mara throws out there to try to win at least one arguement. "For Hyne's sake, Martin, Miles is obsessed with the sky. ...maybe he wants the freedom as well."
Frowning, Martin places the wiggling child into the duffle, grabbing a few extra blankets to bundle around him so that he resembles a little meatloaf. "Mara, you're getting that look again, you need to calm down. You really need to." Forcing a smile, he walked over to her spreading his arms wrapping her up into a hold. "Mmm, relax.. okay? Relax." Kissing her warmly on the cheek, he rubs her shoulders as he speaks. "We're on holiday, we're having a good time. ...Maybe we can even play some music and dance under the stars- like when we were teenagers."
Smiling, she kissed him on the lips then nodded. "You always know how to make me feel better."
Mara felt her breath come in as a sharp gasp before she'd even realized that she woke up. Her pulse is racing and she can feel an intense real fear gripping her nervous system. She's scared, almost like her dream is a living breathing thing that's watching her- judging her- but why? So she had a sour mood that day. Is that so bad? And this wasn't the first time she's dreamt of that Hyne foresaken camping trip. It was the reason she's lost her way for so long, that day when she'd lost them both. But everytime she'd have the dream the dialog would change, or an action. But 2 things always remained the same and its that 1. She never touches her son, and 2. She always wakes up at the same place of the dream. Its dark out and she's chopping vegetables for dinner. What happened after she stood up and heard a branch snap? What caught her attention about it? You're in the woods, branches are bound to snap underfoot of some animal or creature out there- she'd been hearing it all night. So why had that one caught her attention? The news always speaks of monster attacks out in the woods, the creature would lose control and rampage.. kill. but she got away and most importantly, so had Miles.
'Those bastards,' She feels her anger bubbling. 'They'll pay for keeping a mother from her child.'
But after the self heard declaration she shiveled. At least she's tough in her mind, right? But honestly she doesn't know what to do. That annoying man-child, at least in her eyes he is! Seifer Almasy said some pretty hurtful things; Miles wasn't any kinder with his crass words either. But he's confused, and the reason for that is exactly as they'd said: he doesn't know her. But he can get to know her. She only needs to lay low for a while, find a better method to come at him. They'll talk and he'll bid those men goodbye, and go to Rhodenite with her.
Poping her fist into her palm, fire in her eyes, she leapt out of bed to get dressed, hoping that somewhere a store is open.
Morning showed itself, as it always gaurantees, and the Leonhart-Kinneas home was working on silent auto-pilot. No one knew what to say. Squall had slept in Kait's room with him last night, and Irvine couldn't sleep at all. The couple eventually wound up in their own bedroom when Kait got up to use the bathroom, rousing his father who told him he'd go. Thankfully, moving into their bedroom hadn't kept them awake and they collapsed onto the bed in a heap of worn limbs and frame, blanketed by worried weight rather than rest.
"How 'bout we go to the mall today? We can take a trip into Deling," Looking at the child seated next to him, Irvine gave him a nudge with his elbow. "We can get your ears pierced like you'd wanted."
"Can we really?" The question went to Squall since his papa had basically made up his mind that it was an idea.
The question had so much enthusiasm behind it, Squall couldn't dare to say no- not that he would have. "Sure."
"Oh boy!" Breakfast now ignored, Kait got up from the table and grabbed his phone. "Wait til I tell the guys- no wait- I should show them instead, really shock 'em. Yeah, that'd be the best way to go."
Glad that children bounce back quickly from devistation; Squall gets up from the table as well to answer the door that opened before he could even reach the knob. Zell stepped into the home as he had many years ago when the couple had the little infant and were living in the barracks with him. Freshly baked muffins in a basket in hand, and a 'cheer up' smile on his face. But Zell was in for a surprise; he'd been expecting a grim scene, filled with verbal silence, and slamming things. Not the couple snickering while Kait bounced over to him, cheering about something that sounded like Deling and mall. But that couldn't be right.
Looking out over the room at the two, Zell greeted them with a mood just as cheerful as he's been given. "Hey you guys! what's going on?" He looked down when Kait grabbed his hand as if to ask specifically for his attention. But he instead handed the basket over to Squall, who'd reached for it- he can never pass up a good muffin- then asked Kait. "What are you so excited about?"
Seifer told him about what's been going on around them and frankly, the families behavior right now is bizarre. Maybe they're in hysterics. That happens sometimes, and is exampled in many ways. When his Pa went out to sea and it was reported that a boat capsized... he'd jogged up and down the stairs of his home claiming that he'd been overdue for the work out. It was a different ship, though, and his father called saying that all was well. Phew.
"I" Kait beamed as he boasted. "get to get my ears pierced today, in Deling City." He all but proclaimed the place as the end-all, be-all of cities.
"Earrings? Alright!" He returned the boy's hype. "That's very cool."
"Isn't it!" He sped off to his bedroom to get dressed.
Smiling at the exiting child, Zell then turned his attention to the couple. Walking over, his smile fades to a serious expression. "Hey," He even lowered his voice. "I thought you guys would be on the brink of miserable. What happened? Did that woman call it quits?"
"Hn." Scoffed the cowboy. "No such luck."
"We're doing like my dad always told us," Squall chimed in. "thinking positively."
"Oh," He lets out his worried breath. "That's good." A grin spread across the blond's face.
The couple cocked a brow at the expression; wondering, probably, if maybe the blond might have a few screws loose.
"He said positively, not maniacally." Irvine commented over a bite of pre-buttered muffin.
With a shrug, Zell ran a hand through the hair along the side of his spiked poof on top. "This is some really messed up stuff, though." He sighed heavily. "Where the hell has this woman been for eight years that she's suddenly decided to pop up and take claim to her son?"
"We don't know," Replied Squall. "It would be nice to get a DNA test done."
"But what if it proves that she telling the truth?" Zell asked, but quickly clammed up when hearing the padding of foot steps behind him come to an abrupt stop.
"It still won't make a difference, if her reason for being absent of eight years" Squall furrows his brows at Zell's wild gesturing, but continued speaking. "nothing short of amnesia or maybe a coma will be credible."
Kait looked at Squall, then at Irvine. If what Squall said is true, judging by the once in a while, but constant questioning he overhears at night sometimes, Mara's amnesia plea wn't hold up worth shit in his Dad's eyes. But Irvine, having been there, might be more sympathetic. He'll prevent those feelings from coming out- if they do. Kait doesn't want to risk any situation getting out of hand to lean it to Mara's favor in taking him away.
"Hopefully her story isn't anything like that and she won't, last minute, think to use it." Squall ended.
Deciding that now was the best time to change subjects, Kait walked over to Irvine slinging an arm around him since his papa is still seated and he's a good enough height with him now. "I'm dressed. Can we go now?" Noticing Zell now, he cocks his head at the unusual way the male is trying to act casual for some reason. "Are you coming with us? You can get pierced too."
A nervous laugh shot out of the male and he scratched the back of his head, he can still feel the knots in his stomach over nearly getting caught talking about adult things in front of the boy. But if Kait is going to ignore it, than so can he. "I'd love to go, but earrings- on me? Not a chance. Besides, they're not really my thing. And Ma had a fit when I'd sprung my tattoo on her, imagine showing up with inappropriate holes in my head."
Walking up and looking at the left side of Zell's face, Kait nodded. "Yeah, it must have been hard to hide that." He popped the blond on the bicep with his fist.
"We'll go when Irvine and I shower and dress." Squall mentioned.
"Well hurry up!" Insisted the child. "Shower together to save time." Flopping down on the couch he taps his finger to his wrist to tell them that time was wasting. The glance his parents exchanged doesn't go missed, and when the two hurry into the hall he calls after them. "I said save time, not waste it."
"Yes, Dad." Replied Irvine.
Smiling at the thought of being older and responsible, Kait watched Zell take a seat beside him on the couch. "Zell?"
"Yeah."
"You don't have to tip-toe around me. My dads said that they weren't gonna leave me out of the loop. Okay?"
"Oh. Aha ha, that's very mature of you." He nodded his approval.
Its silent a moment. Kait soon begins to figit in his place, before finally saying what's on his mind. "Zell, you have a mom... what's she like?"
"You know my mom." The blond replied hastly.
"Yeah, but ...how is she with you- as her son?"
"Hmmm. ...She loves me very much, although, she does tend to tug my ear when I do something foolish."
"And she doesn't follow you around? Or, over worry?"
"Of course she worries! That's what mother's do best." Zell snickers. "But she doesn't smother me- as much as she'd like to."
As if cutting clippings from a paper, his words being the scissors, he says. "Not all mothers are alike."
Slowly, he realized what it was that the boy had really been getting at and his cheerful expression faded to somber. "No, I suppose not."
Silence fell between them until, again, Kait breaks it. "Does a DNA test hurt?"
"Not at all." He leans forward resting his elbows to his knees and his hands overlap to hold up his chin. "You can offer a strand of hair from your hairbrush, or get a cotton swab of your spit taken from your cheek. Its simple. Then they see if it matches the other persons by using computers."
"That's good."
The bathroom door opens and the two inhabitants walk out and through the hall to their bedroom. Kait and Zell glance at the clock noting that only ten minutes have passed.
"What made you want earrings?" Zell wondered out loud.
"I saw Irvine's and they looked cool dangling there. I don't know if I can wear a dangle though. What kinds do they have?"
"Lots, I guess, I don't know." He shrugged. "You know that Selphie and Rinoa are getting an apartment to share in Timber?"
"No. When are leaving?"
"I'm not sure when they'll move in, but Quistis has a place in Dollet. She's there now."
"Her too? Geez... what's wrong with Balamb?"
Zell shakes his head. "Women."
"Yeah."
After a minute the check the clock again.
"Boy, you tell me to get dressed and I'm back in 4 minutes. What are they doing in there?"
"Uuum," Zell suddenly laughed.
"You'll tell me," Kait said with a lot of assured in his voice.
"Uuh, what now?"
"What's..." Looking toward the halls entrance he then cupped his mouth, leaning up towards Zell's ear he asked very quietly. "What's sex?"
"Seee-.." He stretched the 'e' to stall answering. Was Kait serious, and how did he know about sex enough to wanna ask for exacts, anyway? He'll have to have a chat with the couple about discretion. "Its um... something that goes on between adults- never kids- just adults!" He made sure to stress that particular part. He then waved his hands at the boy as if to fan away the evil conversation from going any further than that.
Kait just blinked at the display, then said quietly. "I'm not asking because I wanna do anything like that. I just wanna make sure that," He scratched his cheek wondering just how to phrase this. "its not something important that separates us as a family."
Zell was beyond relieved as those words sank in. "Ohhh, Hyne no. No, its not something that separates you guys as a family. Its just a way that adults express over flowing love to each other. But with others its hugs, and kindness, and for family kisses on the cheek or forehead and- I hope you get it now because I'm spent." The red left his face when the boy nodded. "Good." He stood up suddenly and began shadow boxing the air.
Unsure of why that topic always promotes such discomfort in people other than kids when its spoken about. Kait stands up to mimic the older males movements. 10 minutes later the 2 stragglers emerged from the bedroom. They didn't wanna know what reason caused the other 2 to work out a tick, but they'd stopped it by appearing at the entry way.
"Let's get going." Squall removes the house keys from the hook by the door. "We've wasted enough time." This made him shoot a look at Irvine.
Grinning sheepishly, Irvine brushed it off. "It ain't my fault; washing and drying long hair takes a while."
"That's why mine is short." Kait says casually, following them out. Secretly though, he had planned on growing his hair out, but maybe when he'd older and has a choice of getting a trim or not.
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Deling city, even in daylight, is the most sparkling attraction of a place one could ever visit. People, fowl mouthed and shoving, buzzed about every in of the sidewalk and even the street. Car horns honk, curses rise, somebody somewhere is doing some thing wrong; yet, they can be friendly wonderful people. Every one of them. They won't be staying the night since tomorrow is monday, but thanks to Rinoa if they didn't have enough for a hotel they get the luxury of staying in one of the spare rooms of the general's mansion.
Kait could have lived on the escalator at the train station. He played on them going up and down with a few other kids, but he was at the sides of the older males when spotting them heading down the street after he'd had a few trips up and down. The tram came by but they waited for the second one which would take them down the street where the mall is located. The four couldn't sit together since the tram is somewhat full and certrain people seemed keen on not moving to sit with anyone else unless it was forced. Kait swapped his seat beside an elderly man when the business woman beside Squall got off at the next stop. The boy pointed out this and that, asking if they could take a tour of the place where 'Cowboy Irvine' fought the evil sorceress.
"You fought?" Zell chided through Kait's ongoing questions.
"Hey, I was there. And so was Rinoa, and we sure as hell fought just as hard along side Squall."
"Uh-huh."
"Yeah. And get off the tram before I throw you off." He stood up when the vehical stopped moving.
Zell ducked at the swat to the head, sending one back at his attacker. "I've got martial arts skills, you could get hurt cowboy."
"And you could get trampled by a chocobo, partner."
Squall and Kait shake their heads in dismay. The 2 can be so embarrassing to know sometimes, and they were sure to walk just a bit faster when the conversation they were having got into who made the better steak sandwich, Deling or Aroncar; a city in the southern region. Though teasing, they tend to get crazy in their name calling, but it isn't serious.
"Deling, you creep." Snarled Zell.
Scoffing, Irvine retorted. "Aroncar, you dumb twip."
"Deling, ass hole."
"Aroncar! You stupid-..."
"Have you ever seen so many cars in your life?" Kait interrupted the two, and thankfully so in Squall's opinion.
The parking lot was full to bursting with this style of car and that. Kait was chatting joyful the entire walk past them as he suffers from Selphie-syndrome which means joy makes you incoherantly verbal. The cool air in the building smacked them so hard they got goosebumps up their arms- which was fine since the lot was frying with heat, and the engines of the cars that were running to either come in or leave weren't helping the temperature.
"Its gotta be the biggest store in the world!" Kait declared in awe. Noticing the large board a few feet ahead of them, he dashes over recognizing it instantly as a place finder, just like the one in Balamb Garden. Dashing over, he lifts a finger to locate the piercing booth. "Third floor, center."
The 3 men follow the child to the escalator climbing on for the ride up. Needless to say they'd bought large, soft fried pretzels the moment they located the source of the smell wafting through the air. Brown mustard for Squall's and Irvine's, Zell got nacho cheese injected into his, and Kait had to have cinnamon and sugar covering his. They walk the second level just for something to do to kill time. Window shopping was the option at first, but Irvine stopped into a store for cologne. Kait got a watch. In the clothing store the boy saw 3 Beyblade shirts that he absolutely needed. Zell broke away to admire the new athletic sneakers, and Irvine split to look at the archery equipment. His fascination captivated by the automatic crossbow. He'd been meaning to buy one but hasn't yet found a place that sold some really good ones for battling rather than just shooting at targets. Maybe he could make his own, or have one made with his design. That's always an idea. Appeased the 2 strays returned to the bench where they'd left father and son sitting with their earlier purchases. Then finally the 4 found the piercing kiosk.
4 other people are waiting in line for a heavily tattooed male to finish up with his piercings. He's getting 3 of them. Kait blushed seeing that two of them were for his nipples. He hoped that his parents don't have piercings like that. But with an after that, he recalled the many times they've been to the beach and he's seen nothing but bare chest. So he's in the clear.
"Hey," He says to the man waiting in the front. "Do those hurt?" He pointed a finger to the stubs on the male's eyebrow.
"Hn. Not at all little man. I'm here for my tongue now." He stuck the muscle out as if it needed a physical example because he'd mistaken the child for younger than eight.
"Cool." Looking at the black haired male, Kait touched his hair as if he'd feel the man's hard spiked mohawk from touching his own.
"Is this your first?" The mohawked male asked.
"Yup. My ear."
"Niiice," He pats Kait on the shoulder. "You'll be back when you're older for other ones, trust me."
"Who's next?" Asks the woman who's doing the job.
Mohawk looked down at the child, gesturing over to the chair with his thumb. "You're new, so you can cut."
"Thanks." Walking into the booth, he climbs into the large black leather covered chair.
Considering the customers coming in, the woman is giving the piercings looks like she'd be Quistis or Rinoa's best friend, studious and outgoing, not the sort to pierce these tattooed wild ones. But this is clearly just today's crowd, proof of that when a mother and her daughter walk into the line-up.
"Aren't you cute!" Declared the worker. Her orange curly ponytail swung into view when she leaned her upper half over to look the boy in the face. "Do your parents know that your brother brought you here?"
Beaming with pride, Kait said very informatively. "They are not my brothers. The brunet's are my parents, and the blond one is my friend... but I guess he is like an older brother to me."
That made the girl blush a darker shade of red. And she decided that officiancy was the way to go. "So, where are we getting this?"
"Ear."
"And which pair of your purchasing?" She swept her hand over the display case.
Looking them over with careful eyes, gold, silver, blue gold, red gold, and white shined like a christmas tree. His large blue eyes look on in awe of the shapes and diamonds offered. Wetting his mouth with a quick lick he says, with his tongue stapled to the side of his mouth. "Theee... moon- no, the sun." Scratching his cheek, he looked to his parents and Zell. "Ahehe, what do you guys think I should get?"
Thinking it over, Irvine shrugged. "Get both. I've got two in one ear." He shows his son the unused hole.
Kait wondered how he'd missed that all these years. Looking to Squall, who offered nothing but a shrug, he knew that it would be fine and says to the worker. "Both, please. Same ear."
Laughing, the red haired worker said. "You're a lucky little guy, aren't you?" She felt the boy tense beneath her grip on his shoulder. "Don't worry sweetie, it'll pinch for like a second. You'll barely feel it."
A bit nervous, Kait nods. He would have liked a hand to hold, but he couldn't ask for that with these guys around. So brave and so cool. He'd be so embarrassed. Tensing further when the woman told him to keep his head as still as possible, he closes his eyes tightly. He hadn't seen Irvine move forward, just felt his hand on his shoulder before hearing his voice.
"Saay, they've got a chocobo." He winked at Squall when after the gun went off. "Look."
Taking Irvine's place when the cowboy moved, Squall places his hand on the boy's shoulder then, giving it a squeeze when the gun went off again. "Too bad they don't have gunblades." Removing his hand, he asks the worker. "How much for them?"
"Twelve gil together." The woman was smiling at how sweet the two were.
Kait, who had opened his eyes after Squall removed his hand to get the card from his pocket, asked. "Did you do it?"
Grinning the worker shows him a mirror. "See for yourself."
Looking at his reflection Kait gasped. "Oh cool! And look," He points at himself while looking at the 3. "They're in the same ear! That's so cool!" Kait seemed at a loss for other words as he just kept muttering the word 'cool' over and over as he touched his earlobe and then the top where the sun ring is punctured. Climbing from the chair, he exits the booth.
"Dude, knuckles." Zell offered a fist, popping it to the boy's.
"Just wait til my friends see this, they're gonna freak out."
"Yeah they will- Seifer too."
"Seifer will be surprised, and the girls," Extra excited when he remembers. "And grampa!"
Steering the child towards the elevator, as he'd just started walking to who knew where, they ride it down to the second level and head for the food court. The day had passed faster than expected, and they grabbed a sausage pizza to share at a small table before heading home to their apartment. They didn't get so much as the knob in a hand before Palidor was in their faces, landing on Irvine's extended arm.
"Irvine, there's another Esper presence coming from the forest of Timber." Came the bird's telepathic message.
"We gotta go to Timber forest. There's an Esper." Irvine reported.
"Can I go?" Kait asked.
"No." Squall mentioned reaching for the knob. "And I'll be staying here with you. Okay?"
"Okay."
"I'll get Seifer and Rinoa." Zell says before dashing off for his own apartment.
"Pal' you stay here too." Irvine says.
The bird chirped before flying into the house. Irvine went down to the street after kissing his son and boyfriend goodbye. He called to Zell that he would get Rinoa from the hotel and the 4 met up at the train station and took the next one out of town. Squall and Kait spent the rest of the day going over how to clean his ears, and playing video games before watching the cooking channel and deciding to make the meal offered by a pairing of cooks who liked to barbecue, then they went to bed after showers.
The next day. Squall walked Kait to school; with Mara in the picture, one could never be too careful. Mothers are the toughest form of woman in the world. Nothing will stop them when it comes to their children. Not hell fire, or frozen diamond dust. They'll take the pain of an entire house caving in on them just to cover their children from harm, and Squall knows this because its exactly how he feels. And frankly if this woman wants a fight, she'd best be ready for all of the above and then some to befall her. Squall is not one to mess with when it comes to protecting- especially when the thing he's protecting is someone he loves or cares for.
A large shadow shot just overhead, heading towards the school. Palidor lands on the roof of the building. Squall glared at the pest, but quickly let it go. Its a bird, nothing more.
Rushing on ahead, Kait says. "See you after school!"
Hesitating a moment, he waved his goodbye then turned and left. During the walk back home, Squall wondered why the others weren't back yet. Normally the recovery of Espers was cut and dry. This one must have been a real problem. But that was unlikely. So then what happened? Just when he reaches for his phone to call Irvine does it buzz in his hand as he's receiving a call.
Flipping it open he greets. "Irvine?"
"Hey,"
"Where are you?"
"Still in Timber. Seifer's kinda banged up... he broke his leg." Squall instant laughter cut him off a moment, then he went on. "We had to get him to the hospital, I'll explain what happened when we get back. We did catch the Esper, though."
"Okay. See you then."
"Yeah, and I'll tell Seif' that you're laughing hystercally at him."
Smiling, he said a quick 'thank you' before hanging up. It served Seifer right. He should stop going all out during battle. It really was a wonder that he's never broken anything until now. He couldn't wait to hear the details.
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Mara had waited outside the school for a long while before the bell for recess finally rang. The 4th grade class filled the field, and red rubber balls tumbled over the grass tossed by the monitor who had yet to exit the building to do said job. Normally that sort of thing would bother Mara immensely, but not today. Today it was perfect. Clutching her purse, she looks around the field pulling the zipper of her purse over when spotting Kait and his friends. The boy has a stick in his hand and he seems to be attacking the equipment that houses the slide, and a bridge, and a place to climb up with a rope.
"Help me slay this monster, guys!" He called out to his friends.
"I'm gonna use a boomerang as my weapon." Antione joined his best friend.
"I'm using a spear." Raul came over as well, once locating a stick.
"Hand bombs!" Kait confirmed the red rubber balls to be, before lobbing them at the playground equipment.
'Tch. Look at them,' She turned her nose up in full judgement of the couple. 'Look at how violent he's become because of them... Do they care about properly raising a child at all?'
She watched and listened becomming more and more sickened by the words that are coming out of his and his friend's mouths. It assured her all the more that she's doing the right thing. After 10 minutes of play, a whistle blew from somewhere near the building; Mara still could not see anyone, but none of the kids scrambled to enter the building. So it must have been some sort of pre-whistle whistle. And sure enough after 5 minutes more the whistle's blown again and the kids move towards the building. Kait and his friends were gathering the balls that had scattered all over the place. Raul went after two, and Antione 3, Kait moved to get the ones farther away since he had been the one to toss them. When the boy got close to the sidewalk, Mara moved from her place behind the tree where she'd been hiding.
"Kait?"
Freezing when hearing his name, the child looks around. Spotting the woman, he frowns instantly. "I'm not speaking to you anymore."
"I understand that but, I have something to tell you. Please, will you listen? I'll be quick." She promised through her eyes.
Kait looked over his shoulder; all the other kids were inside the lined up now and the double door were closing. "Make it quick, I have to go back inside." He knew that that would keep her from talking long. Adults adored education. He moves closer to the sidewalk.
She moved in as well, speaking softly while reaching into her purse. "I wanted to apologize for scaring you. I shouldn't have done it the way I did." She sounded very sincere. "I must have frightened you."
"You did. But, thanks for the apology."
"You're welcome." Her gaze shifts to the building.
The large double doors have closed.
Excellent. "I've brought something for you... a peace offering." She approached him very quickly bringing her hand out of her purse.
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Turning off the vaccuum cleaner, Squall digs into his pocket for his phone. Flipping it open, he says into it. "Don't tell me you're still in Timber?"
"Mr. Leonhart, this is principal Lansing at the elementary school."
This was new. "Did Kait do something?" He checks the clock, Squall isn't out for another 10 minutes. What could he possibly have done?
"Depends on how you classify skipping class."
"Excuse me?"
"Kait Leonhart did not return to classes after recess. Is he at home with you? You really should check with the office before taking children away from the building."
"No he isn't 'home with me'." He's already getting into his boots. "Dammit, Mrs. Lansing, search the premisses for him. Maybe he's hiding somewhere for some reason."
"Just look here, children leave classes all the time- we're not fenced in you know." Her voice is very condecending. "When adolescents forget to do homework or they have tiffs with teachers or other students-..."
"Just shut up and look! You're wasting time!" He hollered through the phone before hanging up. He wanted to hear no more from here. Why hadn't he warned the school. Why had it not crossed his mind? Mara wouldn't have? She couldn't have!
Squall tore down the streets of Balamb town like a lionness going after prey, and considering the situation that's exactly what's happening. But she wouldn't take him. She can't be that desperate. Squall came to a complete stand still. The evidence of what happened was plain to see as his hand in front of his face. Palidor is beaten and bloody laying on the ground by the playground of the school. A sullied rock beside him telling the tale of how it had happened. Mara did it. She took him. Kait, is gone.