QuickNavigation - FF Odyssey Fan Fiction  Final Fantasy VIII: Final Call _
 		 (Chapter) 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13
Epilogue
 
Chapter Eight: Mr. President

Miles awoke in his hotel room, half-wishing he could have stayed in that dream. However, there was business to attend to. He sauntered over to his bag, and pulled out a few clothes, considering he would be meeting officials in Esthar today, he would have to look official, or at least presentable.
After a few minutes, he decided on his SeeD uniform, slightly wrinkled, but not noticeable. He stepped outside and walked down to the lobby, where Squall, Seifer, Lee and Rinoa were assembled and waiting, all dressed semi-formally, except for Squall, who donned his traditional clothing.
Squall didn’t look happy, he motioned everyone to go, and the next thing Miles knew, he was on a train to Esthar.

***

Lee collapsed in the chair next to Miles, they were in one of the two first-class cabins together, and the others were grouped in the second cabin. Miles picked up a magazine and flipped through the pages idly, while Lee, ever restless, got up and grabbed the Dual Hyperion, resting on the table. He quickly began swinging the weapon back and forth, toying with it and imagining a combat scenario.
Miles shook his head, “Stop that, you’re gonna hurt yourself.”
Lee sighed and placed the weapon down, “Just wanted to check it out.”
“I’ll teach you later, when we have some time.”
Lee grinned, “We’ve got time.”
Miles glared at him, “And space.”
Lee shrugged as Rinoa stepped into the room, “Hi guys, just checking on you.”
She plopped down into one of the chairs, “I got tired of the stale air in the other room.”
Miles looked up at her, “What’s with Squall anyway?”
Rinoa sighed and got a distant look, “He’s not really looking forward to seeing President Loire.”
“I thought you’ve worked with him before. Weren’t relations friendly?”
Rinoa gave out a small laugh, “Well… he did send a friend of his to get me out of a sticky spot, and he lent us the Ragnorak, as well as offering support from Esthar, but… him and Squall began a long, upsetting history after that.”
“What exactly happened?”
Rinoa shook her head, “I can’t really say, but… Squall would rather forget his past, while Laguna is all too eager to recall it.” She wiped away an imaginary tear, “I’d better head back.”
With that, she got up and left.
Miles looked over at Lee, “What was that about?”

***

Miles had only seen pictures of Esthar, but they paled in comparison to the real thing. His first step into the city was followed by a complete halt, and total awe. Spires reached into infinity, and the entire city was in a variety of bright colors that could blind a man if they were a shade lighter.
The city’s transportation system was amazing, and zipped the entire group with no trouble to the Presidential Palace, where they were given rooms, and ushered into a waiting room. Seifer remained in his room at the suggestion of Squall.
Squall paced around a bit during the wait, then finally gave a sigh of frustration and told them he was going to his room, that Rinoa could talk to Laguna if need be. Miles simply gazed in awe at the scenery. The waiting room presented a spectacular skyline view of Esthar, and it was every bit as beautiful as he had heard.
Finally, a guard came in, and told them that President Loire would see them now. Miles and Lee didn’t move, but Rinoa insisted that they accompany her to see the President.

***

The office was pretty grand too, but not as showy, and as Miles saw the man standing by the desk, he could see why.
Laguna Loire wasn’t a showy man. He was dressed informally in a button-down t-shirt, and khakis, his hair in a neat style, not unlike Squall’s. As they walked in, he turned around and grinned.
“Rinoa! It’s been how long now?”
She grinned and embraced him, “Two years.”
“That’s two years too many, how have you been?”
“Alright, how about you?”
“Tired. I’m growing old, y’know.”
“Oh Laguna, you’re still young.”
He grinned, “Thanks, that helps.” He looked around, “Where’s Squall?”
Rinoa shook his head, and Laguna sighed disappointedly, “I just want to talk to him.”
Rinoa shrugged, “You’ll have to find him, I think.”
Laguna nodded, then saw the Miles and Lee, “Jeez, where are my manners? Rinoa, who are these people?”
Rinoa guestured to them, “This is Miles Animus, and Lee Reist, two of our newest SeeD members.
Laguna gave a smile and shook their hands, “Hi, I’m President Laguna Loire, but call me Laguna, please.”
Miles raised an eyebrow in confusion, to which Laguna laughed, “I’m not a stickler for formalities, I shouldn’t even be in this office, it was more of an accident. That’s a long story though. What brings you all here?”
Rinoa bit her lip, “We need a favor.”
“Name it.”
“We need to borrow the Ragnorak.”
“The Ragnorak! May I ask why?”
“Well… Garden broke down, it’s outside Fisherman’s Horizon right now, being repaired, but we need to get someone to Centra, soon.”
Laguna shrugged, “Alright, it’ll take today for the techs to get it fixed though, it should be ready by tomorrow.”
She nodded, “That’ll be fine.”
“Until then, I’ll arrange for some rooms for you all, how many?”
“We’ve already got rooms, actually.”
Laguna grinned, “Oh, well that settles that then, huh? Anything else?”
“Yes, one other thing.” Rinoa looked at Miles and Lee, “Guys, if you wouldn’t mind?”
Miles and Lee nodded and headed out of the room. Rinoa sat down, and Laguna did the same. With a sigh, she began to speak, “Dad, you have to do something.”
“Rinoa, what should I do? Squall refuses to even talk to me. He didn’t invite me to your wedding, if you hadn’t gotten a message to me, I would’ve missed my son’s wedding! He doesn’t want to admit that I’m his father, and part of me can’t blame him.”
She reached forward and grabbed his hand, “It wasn’t your fault, he knows it, you know it. You just need to make him realize that he knows it.”
“I’ll try…”
She slipped him the key to the room she shared with Squall, “You won’t try, you’ll do.”
He grinned, “I always liked your attitude.”
She nodded, gave a quick bow, and left the room.

***

Squall laid flat on the bed, unwilling to think about where he was, and who else was here. His shoes were kicked off and by the foot of the bed, and he felt very relaxed. The door opened, and he silently mumbled, “Rinoa.”
The person in the door didn’t answer, and Squall sat up and looked directly at…
Laguna Loire.
Squall grimaced, “What are YOU doing here?”
Laguna leaned against the doorframe, “I just wanted to talk, it’s my country, I think I’m allowed to.”
“Yeah, you’ll hide behind this country as long as you can.”
“Squall…”
“No, screw you! Hell, I was rotting away in an orphanage, while you were gallivanting around Esthar, becoming President. You couldn’t come and get me? Your own son?”
Laguna shook his head, “I told you nine years ago; I didn’t know where you were!”
“Bullshit. You were THERE. Ellone took me back to that time, I saw you at the orphanage, talking with Edea. You were THERE!”
“I still didn’t know…”
“But you couldn’t even ask, could you? Wouldn’t have taken much, just a simple ‘hey, did you get an orphan a bit ago from Winhill, under the name of Loire, or maybe Leonheart?’ That’s all! No, you dropped Ellone there to rot, then you left for Esthar.”
“You know that’s not what…”
“I know enough. My father left my mother to die alone. He went off on a noble quest to find Ellone, then, once he did, he dropped her in an orphanage, and returned to Esthar to rule, leaving behind two children, and a wife. No. I have no father.”
Laguna slid down the frame, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry isn’t good enough.”
Laguna regained himself, “Then what IS?” Squall looked shocked at the outburst, as Laguna stood straight up, “What IS good enough for you Squall? I did what I had to do. Damn it, yeah, if I could, I would change things, but I can’t, that’s all there is to it. I can’t give you a happy childhood, the best thing I can do is hope to reconcile with you during your adulthood! Damn it Squall, everything worked out you know! If you hadn’t been there, you wouldn’t have become a SeeD, and then what? Hm? We all wouldn’t exist. It was a mistake at the time, but you know, it turned out all right. We’re alive now! I’m here for you now! I couldn’t comfort you when you were a kid, but I can now.” Laguna’s tone softened a bit, “I’m still here for you, you just need to make that leap. In the end, it really is up to you. I have to live with what I did you, that’ll bug me until I die, which, as it happens to be, isn’t too far off, but… it’s worse when I think that my son can’t even forgive me.” Laguna collapsed to his knees, “I just want to be at peace.”
Squall was visibly shaken by the speech. Had he been wrong all this time?
No… I can’t be wrong, the jerk left you; he abandoned you and refused to return. But… he feels so bad about it, I can tell. Maybe he really was that clueless about it, maybe he really didn’t know where I was. Maybe when he…
Squall suddenly felt a surge of emotion run through him, and he broke down into tears.