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One (Last) Chance	By : RotSeele Category: Final Fantasy VIII > Yaoi - Male/Male > Seifer/Squall Views: 3719 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 8. I do not make any money from this story.

Chapter List
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Thirty-Three - Squall POV

I was alone for the first time with my father. And, ironically, I was terrified. Before, I hadn’t known this man I was standing before was my father. I hadn’t known anything about my family, or that I’d had any to begin with, other than Ellone. But then, she wasn’t actually my biological sister, just my adopted one. My mother cared for her after her own parents had been killed. She had been there when I had been born. But this man made me. Seifer’s words echoed in my head as I stared at Laguna, and my resentment and anger toward him abated somewhat. So I studied him as he studied me, and I realized that Laguna was just as unsure about me as I was about him, though for a different reason entirely. He was unsure about my intent in staying behind when everyone left. I didn’t doubt for a minute that he’d seen the way Seifer and I had silently communicated, and he knew that I was the one who held Seifer’s leash. Of course, he could still just be nervous from the display I’d given in the Presidential Palace. I should’ve controlled myself better, but I hated Odine more than I’d hated anything else in my life. Sure, Adel was to blame for abducting Sis in the first place, but it was Odine who forced my father to stay behind in Esthar after sending Ellone back to Raine to protect her. Odine, and his stupid research.
“Is there something you want to ask me?” Laguna said, his voice deceptively quiet.
I flicked my gaze up to his face. The fear was gone, the nervousness was gone, and there was that cool warrior’s gaze that he’d had when in battle. He was assessing me. He already knew he wouldn’t survive if he chose to attack me, but he didn’t know what my trigger would be.
My lips twitched into a bitter smile. As much as I resented him, I still loved him. “Did Sis give you my message?”
For a moment, Laguna’s brow knitted together in confusion. Then his eyes went wide. “Squall, I-“
I waved my hand to cut him off. “I know. I know you would’ve been there if you could.”
“How did you find out?”
Oh, I’ve just done this all before, and I know everything that’s going to happen, except for what happens after we kill Ultimecia. I couldn’t very well come out and say that. So I opted for the next best thing. It wasn’t exactly a lie. “I was in your head, thanks to Sis. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together.”
Laguna’s lips thinned. I don’t know if he realized I was bending the truth a bit. He stepped closer to me, an arm’s length away. He reached out, and I noticed that his hand was shaking slightly. It stopped shaking when it touched my cheek, and my father’s eyes began to water. “You look exactly like Raine. Exactly like your mother. When I saw you... damn it, I’m sorry.”
He pulled me tight against him, hugging me tight. I stood stiffly for a minute before I awkwardly returned the hug. He held tight to me for I don’t know how long, but I could feel him shaking. My own chest felt tight; I told myself I wasn’t going to cry.
“Elle told me.” Laguna said, his words murmured into my hair. “She told me that she’d found you, that you saved her from a monster, and you told her to tell me...” His voice faltered. “I couldn’t believe it. You were just a baby when your mother died. Then you were sent to the orphanage... and I...”
“It’s fine.” I said, not trusting myself to speak louder than a whisper. “You said it yourself. You would’ve come back if you could.”
“I would have. In a heartbeat, I would have. I would’ve given up all of this to be with you and your mother and Ellone. The four of us, a family. As it was, I lost all of you. I lost you, and you grew up without knowing me, without knowing how much I loved you and your mother. And to meet like this...” He drew back and let me go. “I have to let you go again. I have to watch you go off to war, finish what I practically started, and know you might not come back.”
I shrugged. “It has to be done.”
“You shouldn’t be the one to do it.”
I just looked at him. He tensed. “We’re the only ones with the strength to do it. If I backed out now, because you didn’t want to lose me, then I’d be letting them down. My friends need me, too, just as much as you do.” I said quietly. “Maybe more so.”
“Squall-”
“I scared you, didn’t I? When I protected Rinoa, and then with Odine.” Laguna’s face darkened. He didn’t have to admit it aloud; I could see it in his expression. I held out my hand, palm up. “This is what I am, you know. A SeeD. A killer. A soldier. I don’t know how to be a son, or much of anything else.”
Laguna laughed with a relieved note to it. “I barely know how to be a father. I wasn’t a very good one to Ellone, and I never was one to you. Sometimes I wonder if I’m even a good leader.”
“If you weren’t, things would’ve gone to hell long before now.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
We lapsed into silence for a time, just staring at each other. I couldn’t figure out anything else to say. At least, I couldn’t figure out anything to say that wouldn’t take more time than I actually had right now to talk about. And Laguna was still torn up about my mother, if the tears he was fighting back were any indication of how much he was feeling right now. It probably wouldn’t be good for either of us to bring up memories of her and then let him watch me walk out of his life, perhaps permanently. But I was out of time, anyway. I needed to go kill a sorceress.
“When I get back,” I started. Faltered. Swallowed. Tried again. “When I get back, I want to spend more time with you. To get to know you. And Mom.”
“Sure. Anything you want.”
I knew he was going to start crying the minute I turned my back and walked out of the room, but I did it anyway. I paused at the threshold to the door, my hand hovering over the panel that would open it and let me out into the hallway. If he called my name, if he called me back, I probably would lose all the resolve I’d had since the beginning of all this. He didn’t. I set my hand against the panel and the door slid open.
“Squall,” Laguna called, “I’d like it if you’d explain to me how you knew before Elle started sending you back into my past.”
I glanced at him, my face blank. I didn’t give him an answer; I simply stepped out into the hallway and let the door shut behind me. I wasn’t surprised to find Seifer waiting for me in the hall. He glanced at my face, then canted his head to the side. I waved my hand in dismissal.
“I guess as reunions go, that one was tame.” Seifer said after a minute. “I was expecting yelling.”
I shrugged.
“You saying there just might be yelling?”
I shrugged again.
“Fuck, I’d pay to see that. Father and son, duking it out. Of course, I’d bet on you. It’s only proper, considering I am your boyfriend.”
My lips twitched into a smile, which I figured was his intent. I started walking down the hallway, and he fell into step beside me. Just before we reached the bridge, Seifer caught my shoulder and turned me just enough so I could see his face. He leaned down and kissed me. I kissed him back, almost desperately. Being so close to breaking down in front of my father, of losing everything, and then hearing the last thing he said to me, knowing that I’d screwed up... Laguna wasn’t pressing the issue because there were more important things right now. I was glad of that.
Mostly because I wasn’t sure if I was going to survive this time around.
Seifer pulled back, his expression revealing that he’d sensed my shift in mood. His shifted to match mine, and there was no more time for simple romance - or lack there of - between us. He sighed.
“All right.” he said. “Let’s go kill us a sorceress.”
We entered the cockpit together. Everyone was there, watching Lunatic Pandora grow larger and larger. I stared at the structure, remembering the last time I saw it. There was the flicker of shields. Just like Before, Selphie took too much glee in firing the machine guns and the main cannon, busting a big hole through the shields. The nose of the ship shoved through the hole just before it could close, giving us our way in. I gave control of the ship over to my father, Kiros, and Ward, and followed my friends out onto Lunatic Pandora.
Seifer whistled and looked at me. “I really was in control of this thing?”
I nodded, then shrugged.
“More or less, huh?”
“It’ll probably go easier, this time around.” I replied.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. We don’t have to fight Raijin and Fujin, or you.”
“Did they kick your ass?”
I just looked at him.
He sighed. “A man can dream, can’t he?”
I smiled and shrugged. Seifer sighed and leaned his head back, studying the outside facade of Lunatic Pandora. I could see his mind working, but I didn’t ask him what he was thinking about. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to know what he was thinking right now anyway. So I turned my attention to the others.
“We’re in.” I said, when they all looked at me. “This is where it gets rough. We can’t let our guard down. This place belongs to the enemy. We’ll probably get into a fight before we even reach Adel. Our top priority is rescuing Ellone.”
“And then kicking some sorceress ass!” Zell shouted, punching the air. Then he looked at Rinoa, startled. “Sorry. I didn’t... well, uh...”
Rinoa smiled. “It’s fine. I’m the good sorceress, you know? But if you ever piss me off, I reserve the right to sic my knights on you.”
“Y-your knights?”
Rinoa casually pointed to Seifer and myself. Zell went about three shades too pale. I gripped Lion Heart’s hilt and drew the blade, keeping it down against my thigh. “Let’s go. The longer we stand around talking, the more likely it is that Adel wakes up. Then we’re all screwed.”
I took the lead. The others fell in behind me, all holding tight to their own weapons. Seifer walked close to Rinoa, a solid shield when I had to be the sword. Rinoa walked with confidence, but I could tell by her footfalls she was terrified. She wanted to do nothing more than run away, but it was her loyalty and determination that was keeping her moving forward. I led my pride into the enemy’s den, carefully listening to the sounds echoing through the halls of Lunatic Pandora.
They were exactly as I remembered them from Before. Without Fujin and Raijin to slow us down, we eased right into the main hall and started heading toward the heart of Lunatic Pandora. There were the expected skirmishes, as Galbadian soldiers crawled all over the place, but the true challenge came when the Mobile Type Eight pounced on us out of nowhere. If I hadn’t been expecting such a surprise, I probably wouldn’t have been able to react in time. The machine didn’t take long to go down, and we took a few minutes to make sure we were all whole and relatively unwounded. Then I led us into the next room, unsure of what I would find.
There was that kid again, Seifer’s replacement. He was holding tight to Sis’ arm, preventing her from running anywhere. She looked terrified, more scared than she’d been Before. When she saw us, hope sprang into her eyes, but Ultimecia’s replacement knight yanked her behind him, half shielding her, and half daring us to go through him to get to her. Little did he know I was prepared to do just that.
“Just sit tight, Sis.” Seifer called out. “We’ll be over in a second.”
Ellone smiled, then whimpered as the replacement knight shoved her to the ground. He kept a tight hold on her arm, which meant she had to lift it into an awkward position to keep it from being twisted uncomfortably. This situation was different than Before, because it had been Fujin and Raijin holding Ellone, rather than Seifer. He had been above us, like a lord, staring down his nose at us. His friends had abandoned him when they saw the truth of what he’d become. Oh, they still loved him, and they would continue to follow him in a heartbeat if, and only if, he stopped following Ultimecia’s orders. But he had been so far gone under her spell that there was no redeeming him then. Now, though, Seifer was on my side. Now, though, we didn’t have Fujin and Raijin to err on the side of conscience and let Ellone go. This time, we would have to rescue her.
So I said the same thing I’d said to Seifer Before. “Are you gonna continue with this knight thing?”
The replacement laughed. “The knight has retired. Call me a young revolutionary?”
“What do you think you’re doing, exactly?” I asked. I gestured to Ellone. “Do you think if you give her over to Ultimecia, she’ll actually reward you for it?”
“She’s been playing you from the beginning, kid.” Seifer called. He stepped up to my side with Rinoa between us. We were flanking her, one on each side, true knights to a true sorceress. “She’s only out for herself. You’re expendable, especially once you’ve lost your usefulness.”
“You’re lying! Lady Ultimecia promised me power! Strength! She’s given me the courage to take what I want! I don’t wanna stop. I’m gonna keep running! I’ve come this far... I’m gonna make it to the end, to the goal! There’s no way I’m sharing it with you!”
He released Ellone for the barest of seconds. I saw it and moved forward, Lion Heart drawing back for a hard swing that would take the kid’s head if he didn’t dodge. The problem was, if he did retreat and escape my attack, he’d leave Ellone in my hands. If he stayed, he died. I wasn’t taking any chances this time. I was going all out. Ellone saw me coming and screamed, raising her hands to cover her face. Her reaction startled the replacement knight the most, rather than me and the iridescent blue gunblade coming straight for his face. In the split second that it took for me to continue the follow-through of my swing, the replacement knight made his decision, and flung himself away from Ellone and me.
He counterattacked with a fireball bigger than both of us, apparently convinced that it would be better if Ellone was dead, and if I was dead with her.
Ifrit landed in front of us, bellowing as the fireball struck him square in his chest. His arms wrapped around it, hugging it tight as if the fire was his beloved child. Ellone screamed as I grabbed her, turning my back to Ifrit and the fire, shielding Sis with my own body. I could feel the searing heat against my back, and grit my teeth from the intense pain. Even though I wasn’t being burned, it still hurt like hell. Hurt worse than the fireballs Seifer had launched at me. Hurt worse than when I first received the scar between my eyes. Then Ifrit knelt, and his bulk cut off the fire, giving me precious relief.
Get back, Squall. Ifrit snarled. Get out of the way. I can’t hold this back forever.
I grit my teeth as I got to my feet, hauling Ellone with me. I pulled her away from Ifrit, toward Rinoa and Seifer and the others. Seifer was standing at the forefront of the group, his hand up and in a fist, his emerald eyes burning. Rinoa left his shadow to grab me and Ellone, pulling us back into the safety of the group. Cool, soothing healing magic flowed through me, Rinoa’s hands gentle upon my back. I heard Ifrit let out a roar before he vanished from our plane. Seifer sucked in a breath as Ifrit returned to his mind and cursed.
“Squall,” Ellone started, her voice shaking, “are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I nodded at Rinoa. She nodded back and withdrew her hands. “Sis, go wait outside. Laguna should be here soon.”
Ellone gripped my arms, her eyes searching my face. I nodded and gave her a light shove. She was reluctant to leave me, especially because I was still wincing like I was hurt, but she also knew she would just get in the way. I’d told her on the Moon Base that if I told her to go, she was to go. She’d agreed. But she hesitated, then pressed her lips to my forehead.
“Come back to us, Squall.” she whispered. Then Sis ran out of the room, right into my father’s waiting arms, or so I hoped.
I didn’t bother responding, first because she was out of earshot, and second because I didn’t want to let anyone else hear that I wasn’t confident that I would make it out alive. Now it was just us facing the replacement knight, and Rinoa went back to healing me. I looked at Seifer and canted my head to the side slightly.
Hyperion swung free of its sheath, bright and deadly. “You got it, Commander. One bastard knight, going down.” Seifer said, growling out his words. “Let’s go, Zell.”
“Uh, right.”
If I hadn’t been there watching it, then I wouldn’t have believed the two could actually work together so well. Seifer had the longer reach with Hyperion, but Zell could move faster, throwing punches lightning quick. He positioned the replacement knight for Seifer’s attacks to connect, Hyperion’s blade slicing flesh or striking against metal if the other knight was able to block the attack. With Selphie acting as their healer, the two could go as all out as they wanted to. Irvine and Quistis hung back to protect Rinoa and myself, though they looked as though they wanted to join in the fight taking place before them. I reached up to grip Rinoa’s wrist, causing her to look at me, startled.
“You have to let him take you,” I whispered to her.
“What?” Her eyes were wide, confused and shocked at the same time. “What are you talking about Squall?”
I looked toward the replacement knight, who was now on his knees, barely able to stay upright. Zell and Seifer stood over him, panting themselves. They hadn’t killed him, which was good. I suppose it had been Seifer’s call, because Hyperion’s blade rested against the back of the replacement knight’s neck. One move, and the kid would lose his head.
Rinoa’s eyes went wider. “You... You want him to kidnap me?”
I looked back at her. “It’s the only way we’ll reach Adel. Don’t be scared. Seifer and I, we’ll be right there to get you back and safe.”
Her tongue darted out to lick her lips. Then her eyes narrowed and her fists clenched. “I’m scared, but... I’ll do it. I’m a sorceress now, and I’m going to prove I can be a good one. Which means defeating the bad one.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Besides, I promised Laguna.”
I smiled but it didn’t quite have enough feeling to it. “You can do this, Rinoa. I believe in you.”
She grinned at me, then stepped away from me. Her movement caught the replacement knight’s eyes, as it did Seifer’s. Hyperion lifted for the barest of moments. The kid dipped a hand into his coat and pulled out something I couldn’t make out. It was only after he tossed it to the ground that I realized it was a flash bomb.
The bright light blinded all of us, and I was suddenly shoved to the side as someone shouldered past me. Rinoa let out a breathless shriek, and I felt her presence torn from my side as acutely as if she had been holding on to me. When the light cleared, and my eyes healed from the abuse they had taken, I found that Rinoa was indeed gone, as was the replacement knight.
Zell rushed back into the room a second later. “Squall! That bastard’s got Rinoa!”
I surged to my feet and felt Seifer steady me as I stumbled. Even Zell looked at me concerned. I tried to ignore the look. Rinoa had healed my burns from the fire until the heat was just a memory, but it was that memory that was incapacitating me even this slightly. I forced myself to still, to turn off the part of my mind that was still reeling in pain. I didn’t have time for this.
I shook Seifer off. “Let’s just go after him.”
Zell didn’t hesitate; he and the others took off out of the room, racing up the stairs after Rinoa. Seifer looked at me with a dark scowl. I gave him a mild look in return.
“I’m fine.” I said softly.
“You’re not fine.”
“Thanks to you, I’m fine.”
He cursed under his breath. “You know, that demon came out on his own. I didn’t have to even ask him to do it.”
“Jealous?”
“Fuck, no. He’s fucking fire-proof. I’m not.”
I laughed, which made Seifer smile. I sighed and started toward the room’s exit. Seifer was right behind me, Hyperion flashing with each swing of his arm. Together, we brandished our gunblades and started up the stairs to join the others, and get our sorceress back.
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One (Last) Chance