(no subject)

[leatheredlion.livejournal.com]

Who: Squall, Laguna
When: Early morning
Where: On the Phone
What: Talking
Rating: PG-13



Squall lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He was so bored, yet he didn't want to disturb Balthier and Fran. He missed Loire. He missed Seifer. Hell, he even missed Laguna. Laguna... crap... had anyone even told the goofball about the accident? He frowned and reached for his cell phone, dialing Laguna's number.

Laguna was sound asleep, and in his dream he was reliving the day he had given his ring to Raine. It had been so wondrous to hear her voice again when she had said yes. But suddenly, in his dream, Raine's voice distinctly sounded like.... his cell phone.

He blinked, and after a few seconds he woke, realising it was indeed his cell phone. The graying man reached out, pulling it close and answering without seeing who it was. "Laguna..." he spoke in a half asleep voice.

"Hey Dad..." Squall murmured, holding the phone against his ear. He sounded so tired, which he was. He was mentally and physically drained.

"Kiddo!" Even tired, Laguna lit up by the voice of his son. Then he realised the time. "Squall? Is everything alright?" He was daft, but he too noticed the tone of Squall's voice.

"I... I'm fine... I just..." He sighed. "Has anyone phoned you lately about me? About a mission?" Squall asked, shifting a little.

"I haven’t heard from you guys since I left there." He yawned. "I tried phoning a few times, but you were out or in meetings the times I tried."

"Well um... don't panic, okay... but I was involved in a little bit of an accident." Of course, by 'little accident', he meant 'impaled on an eight foot pole'. "But don't worry."

The whole 'don’t panic' speech of course got the opposite reaction. The older man sat up abruptly, knocking his head into a lamp that set of a stream of curses as he dropped the phone. Picking it back un again, his voice came back, sounding worried. "What happened? Of course I worry. I’m not stupid. If it had indeed been a small accident, you would not have called."

"I um... well... I fell from the top of the Centra Ruins and um... I... landed on a pole." He scrunched up his nose a little. "Now... I'm in a wheelchair, homeless and unemployed..."

There was a long death silence, before there was a sound of Laguna swallowing. "I’m so sorry kiddo. If you need a home.. or.. or anything, I’m here. I can.. I can get you anything you want, anything you need.."

"I'm staying on the Strahl for awhile... I'm okay. I'll figure something out. Thanks though." The teen murmured.

"Can I do anything? Can.. Is it okay if I come visit you?"

"Well... I never know where the Stahl will be docking... But I can get Balthier to fly to a certain point, if you wish."

"You know you and your friends are always welcome here"

"I know. Thanks Dad." He forced a soft laugh. "So, how are you? Enough about me!!"

"I’m fine Squall. I.." he brushed his hands over his face. "What did your doctors say?"

"The Doc said the chance of me ever walking again is small. But Bal and Fran are supportive. I'm sure in time I'll recover."

"You will walk again. " Laguna sounded sure. "If anyone can, you can. You are the strongest person I know of."

"Yeah... Maybe. I'm certainly trying... Still got a war to win, even if I'm not Commander anymore."

"Why did they sack you? Because of.. your accident?"

"I wasn't sacked. I quit." Squall stated simply

"You quit?" Laguna blinked. "But.. but Balamb was your home.. you grew up there."

"I know. They were going to suspend me for the accident. For endangering myself and the Keybladers, and I flipped and quit."

He nodded, before he realised Squall could not see it. "Both you and Sora are excellent fighters. I believe your judgment would not have put them in more danger then you believed they could handle."

"Sora was... injured. He became a Heartless of sorts... Though his heart was still intact..."

He gasped. "I’m sorry Squall. Will he be okay?"

"He's recovered now. Thanks to Riku's love for him." Squall murmured, runnign a hand through his hair.

Laguna smiled to himself. "Love is important. How are you and Rinoa, How is Loire?"

"Rinoa and I... um... we've... we've kinda split up..." Squall muttered, scrunching up his nose.

"You.. huh? Why? What happened? Did she leave you because of the accident?" Laguna's voice grew a bit angry.

"No... Before it. I um... I kinda cheated on her and she left..."

"Squall..." His voice was soft, but sad. "Why did you do that..."

Squall sighed. "I wish I had the answer to that, Dad. Because I'm an idiot? Because I'm a whore? I don't know..."

"Everybody make mistakes Squall. Don’t redo mine. Have you talked to her?"

"Yeah. But it's too late. I've hurt her too many times. Even if I promise to stay faithful... I can't guarantee I'll keep it."

"Then you need to pull yourself together and stop being a child Squall. I know this is very hard, especially with your accidents, but one cannot share people. "

Squall huffed a little. "You don't think I know that? I don't want to sleep around! But I can't help it!!"

"Yes you can. it is your choice, and your choice alone. Saying you 'cant help it' is a childish excuse, kiddo, and deep down inside you know it."

Squall flopped onto his back. "It's not that easy. It's not just sex. I am in love with more than one person. Deeply and truly in love."

"Sooner or later it will all crash together. Was it really worth loosing your son over?"

"I haven't lost him! I can see him whenever I want. Rinoa and I... we still talk. We're just... not together..."

"It’s your choices Squall. But being alone is not a fun thing when you realise you have made the wrong choices. " He was talking very much from experience.

"Who says I'm going to be alone? Why does everyone think Rinoa and I are some perfect, golden couple?! We're not! We never were! I love her, yes. But that doesn't mean we're made for each other!"

"Then why would you bring a child into the world with her, Squall? No one will forgive you forever for cheating, either it is her, Balthier, or any other lovers.

"Loire wasn't planned!!" Squall growled. "The condom broke... Yet that doesn't mean I love him any less..."

Laguna silenced a while, rubbing his forehead. So this is how it was to have a teenage son. "I know you love him, but you will have to tstart planning, start taking responsibilities for the things in your life. And I am not talking about saving the world and The Darden. Im talking about the feelings of others and for your own."

Squall sighed, flopping an arm across his eyes. "I know. I know all this. I'm not an idiot..."

"Then why do you still continue doing it?" he did not sound blaming more.. sad and without answers.

"I... don't know..." Squall murmured.

"Things happen Squall. People come, people go. Remember to do your choices wisely before its to late. You never know when the person you want to spend your life with is.. suddenly gone. " Like Raine.

"Yeah. I know... When I figure out just who that person is, I'll hold onto them..."

"Just try to do it before it’s too late"

"Yeah... I'll try..." Squall sighed.

"Thank you kiddo:"

Squall gave a yawn. "Anyway... I just wanted to let you know about the accident..."

"Thanks for the update kiddo. Take care. And let me help you sometimes, hm? Where did you even park the Ragnarok?"

"It's safe. It is near Balamb." Squall murmured, closing his eyes.

"Alright. Just take care of her. "He murmured as well, eyes half closed. "But really... I am your dad. I do like to help."

"Yeah... I know... I love you, Dad." Squall murmured, muttering the three words he rarely said to Laguna, before swiftly hanging up.

Laguna smiled hearing it, about to reply as Squall hung up. he sighed. "Love you too kiddo."