Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Living with Heart ❯ Living with Heart ( Chapter 11 )

Living with Heart

Act X

“Is the President in there?” Kiros asked, standing outside of unfamiliar quarters. He'd been directed to the two most likely places he'd find Laguna, the first being the President's rooms and the second being Squall's rooms. Since there were no guards outside the former, he tried the second one in hopes of not spending the entire day tracking his occasionally flighty friend down.

“Yes sir, he is,” Thomas answered, knowing that the President's advisor was allowed to see President Loire at all times.

“Sir,” James spoke up, having his own suspicions about why the father and son spent so much time together. He'd actually begun to think that their being related was some big cover up so that the President could have the Balamb Lion as a secret lover.

Kiros stopped, retracting his hand from the door's handle upon hearing the tone of voice the second guardsman spoke in.

James knew there was no logical reason he could come with to keep the dark skinned advisor from entering, but he could warn the man. “President Loire is likely sleeping, it's been a rough day. Just a word of caution is all, sir.”

Giving a curt nod of understanding, Kiros proceeded. His clearance level was second only to the President's, his prints giving him access.

Given what he'd recently learned about Seifer Almasy becoming Rinoa Heartilly's knight, he could imagine that Laguna was with his son during the rough time. Though, he was quite upset with his friend for never mentioning what was going on. This was the sort of thing that needed widespread approval before happening.

The main area of the quarters was a large living room. Unlike the larger private quarters in the palace, it had three rooms only. There was the main room, furnished with a plush midnight blue suede couch and viewing screen for the occupant's pleasure. Then there was the bedroom, and off the bedroom was a bathroom. Additional luxuries were easily supplied upon request, such as direct access to food or room service. Although, there really weren't many servants on hand, the estate rarely being used.

Kiros walked in further, his feet silent and robes barely dangling a millimeter above the whit-grey rug. The couch was vacant, which surprised him. He honestly didn't think Laguna would be in Squall's bedroom, especially since the boy was cold hearted and not likely to welcome his kindhearted friend.

After much research, Kiros felt he'd uncovered enough on Squall's past to last a lifetime. He hadn't come all the way out to the estate to tell Laguna about it. He was still debating whether or not he should, not sure he'd even absorbed the truth of it yet. He'd only come to speak with the President about the recent situation with the knight Almasy and sorceress Rinoa.

Thinking that the boy had broken down and Laguna had been there, knowing the longhaired man to be particularly sensitive to other people's pain, he thought it might be reasonable to find that Laguna had fallen asleep.

As Kiros opened the door, he stared for several minutes, not certain his eyes were working properly. His imagination could stretch several scenarios, involving Laguna falling asleep in a chair drawn nearby or maybe even on the bed with Squall. Even someone like Squall wouldn't turn company away at such a vulnerable time.

However, nothing in the advisor's mind could contrive how his soldier buddy wound up sleeping naked beneath the bedcovers with an equally naked brunet held closely. There were very few things that would warrant the lack of clothing.

Suddenly, Kiros recalled all the files he'd managed to retrieve on the boy. The little fucker had actually come to Esthar to prostitute to his own father. Any respect for the boy's wartime efforts was thrown out the window and sympathy for the stories he'd heard squashed.

Striding forward, he felt his anger building. Laguna would never get over any of this, the kindhearted man would be scarred for life. He couldn't imagine how the little slut had convinced his friend that it was okay. Perhaps blackmailing the former Galbadian somehow.

Roughly grabbing the brunet's arm, gripping it with bruising force, he yanked the boy away. It was too bad for the SeeD that he was not rusty with his reflexes and easily blocked the swift punch that came right before he managed to pull Squall over the edge of the bed. With a crumpling thud, the boy went down.

A low growl sounded as the ambushed brunet sought to find his balance before striking back. Kiros was quick however, and hadn't just woken up. Taking a fist full of Squall's thick chestnut hair, he jerked the lean body like a rag doll, finding that the lithe form was hardly a challenge once captured.

Waking abruptly, hazel green eyes saw before comprehension set in. In shock, Laguna scrambled to stop Kiros. “Kiros, what the hell are you doing?” he questioned sternly, quickly following as Squall was dragged out of the room. He was mildly surprised to lose sight and then to find that Squall was vying for control, sitting atop a fallen Kiros.

“You're twenty years too late to take me Seagill,” Squall hissed vehemently, holding a single stolen Katal to the man's throat. However, Squall was far from having any issues with Kiros aside from the obvious spat that had just occurred. Knowing the man was important to Laguna, he eased the sharp blade away and flipped it over, grasping the tip carefully and offering it up.

As Kiros reached up to take his weapon, his ego sorely beaten, the boy climbed off of him. He was somewhat relieved to note the presence of baggy pants, flannel bottoms that suggested the two had simply been sleeping. Though, the lack of shirts seemed to refute this and call him an idiot for striving for a rational explanation.

Angry, Laguna stormed closer. His pride swelled for his son, taken by surprise but never truly taken at all. “What in Hyne's name was that?” the President raged, chest puffed out and back straightened so that he wouldn't be any shorter than his tall friend.

Squall suddenly felt terribly apprehensive. The last time he'd spoken with Kiros, the keen advisor had promised to find out the entire truth of his past. He didn't doubt that it was possible, but he hadn't really thought the older man would think it worth the time.

As dark brown eyes leveled him with a hateful gaze, Squall felt his stomach drop. Kiros knew and had come here to tell Laguna. There was only one person who knew about all that he'd done and didn't hold it against him, and he wasn't hopeful that Laguna would react the same way Seifer had.

“We need to talk,” Kiros said to Laguna, “And your son needs to go back to Balamb.”

Though Squall blanched at these words, his face remained impassive. How fitting it would be to be sent back after finally taking a leap of faith and choosing to stay. He had a feeling that he'd done something in another lifetime that had pissed off the fates. Or maybe this was his punishment for once again reaching out. He'd be turned away until he finally learned the damn lesson, until he learned to prevent such situations.

“Why, what's happened?” Laguna questioned with worry, glancing from Squall to Kiros. He wondered if something had happened to any of Squall's friends.

Kiros clenched his narrow jaw, wryly casting a gaze at Squall as if to ask whether the pale boy were proud of taking advantage of such a caring man. Apparently Laguna didn't understand the meaning of his tone. “We really need to speak alone.”

Thinking twice about what just happened, Laguna glared at his friend. “What's going on? Why exactly did you drag Squall out of bed?”

At the mentioning of Squall being in bed, Laguna seemed to realize the circumstances Kiros had found him in. He paled before blushing deeply. Nervously shifting from foot to foot, the longhaired President couldn't really think of an excuse. He'd never lied to Kiros before. He'd also never planned ahead for the very likely situation of someone discovering what had been going on.

Everything just seemed to happen so fast. The past two weeks had turned Laguna's head right around. He should have stopped and given it more consideration after the blonde knight revealed knowledge on the matter, but then Squall had fallen apart and his time was consumed with worry for the boy.

“I can explain,” Laguna fumbled, starting with the assurance that there was an explanation in the hopes that one would then be automatically provided for him.

“Whatever happened,” Kiros said, obviously hinting at something seedy, “I don't hold it against you.” In all honesty, he wasn't sure his brain could grasp the gravity of what Laguna might have done. “There are things you don't know about him. It could have happened to anyone.” He'd run the DNA tests himself, he knew without a doubt of the shared blood. He wasn't sure how Squall could have managed to coerce the President into it.

“There are things you don't understand,” Squall said quietly, his tone carrying a biting edge.

“What things?” Laguna asked the both of them in confusion, wondering just how much was going on other than the fact that he was sleeping with his own son.

“Things such as why this isn't your fault. Whatever he's doing, we can fix this.”

Brows drawn as his confusion only increased, Laguna stared at his lanky friend. “I'm lost,” he stated with a heavy sigh. Shrugging indifferently, he gave up trying to figure anything out on his own. “Let's go to my office,” he suggested taking an initial step to the door, but then stopping. “I'll go get dressed,” he announced. “And then ask Mr. Portier where my office in this place actually is.”

Swallowing nervously, Squall felt his heart drop when Laguna made no mention about whether he was to stay or not. Forcing himself to remain impassive, he stood still and waited. It wasn't exactly the sort of situation that he could take charge of.

“I love you Kiros,” Laguna's voice assured from within the bedroom. “But if you lay a hand on Squall again, make no mistake that I won't let it slide.”

Kiros didn't respond, he only glared at the former Commander he'd held in high esteem only minutes before.

Silently, Squall moved to the couch, not knowing what else he was supposed to say or do. In Esthar, he had no standing or power. It actually wasn't much unlike in Balamb, but at the moment he felt particularly useless, like he couldn't even speak up. What exactly could he say to placate the dark skinned advisor? Any information gathered from sources other than Laguna or himself would support the idea that he had come here to seduce and extort the President. And worse yet, if asked personally, he couldn't exactly say that it hadn't started out that way.

As Laguna left with Kiros, leaving without any signs of affection towards Squall for obvious reasons, he was puzzled by the boy's dejected state. Solemnly sitting huddled on the couch, as if trying to disappear into the fabric. His eyes watched the back of chestnut hair until the door closed.

Squall winced at the sound of the door clicking shut. Things had become such a mess, and it was only the tip of the iceberg.

Walking in fast strides, a grim expression darkening his face, Laguna rolled the sleeves of his wrinkled dress shirt up. He'd had no extra clothes stored in Squall's room, and he didn't want to think how long it would have taken him to fit into the younger boy's clothes.

“How long have you been sleeping with him?” Kiros questioned bluntly, his voice lowered as a single guard followed close behind.

Hazel green eyes widened and a deep blush flushed the longhaired man's cheeks. “Kiros, I don't know what you must think of me. Please try and understand that it's complicated. I love him.”

“I'm sure you do,” Kiros said calmly. “You and dozens of other men out there are certainly enamored with him.”

“Why do I get the feeling none of this surprises you?”

“Laguna, I was quite shocked, but it makes sense to me. We need to discuss this in private, wait until we reach the office.”

“Do you know where it is?” Laguna questioned.

“Yes,” Kiros said with a small smile. “I swear, you couldn't navigate your way out of a paper bag.”

Tensely returning the smile, Laguna nodded in agreement. “It might depend on how big a bag we're talking.”

For the President, the walk was over quickly, the inevitable discussion of his activities speeding close.

With a heavy heart, Laguna cast a glance around the office, a room he'd never been in. Any work he'd managed to do between his times with Squall had been done right from his private rooms.

Light grey carpeting that looked as though it had never been walked on covered the floor. A large mahogany desk, void of all items except a small videophone and laptop, sat at the far end of the room. The walls held various pictures, scenic images of Esthar both inside and outside the heart of the city. There were three chairs, one behind the desk and two before it.

The long room lacked any personal touches, reminding the President that this was not the palace he was used to. Before he could think to remember that everything might fall apart, he made a mental note to spruce the place up since he'd probably do more work from the estate now that Squall was with him.

Dragging the large armchair a bit, Laguna set it to face the identical one beside it. Sitting on the soft piece of furniture, he waited for Kiros to do the same.

Once they faced each other, Kiros started to speak.

“I was suspicious about Squall after that celebration party, so I did some research on him.”

“Suspicious?” Laguna questioned, hazel green eyes staring into dark brown ones. Only Kiros and Ward could possibly talk to him now without any trace of disgust at what he'd done.

“The way General Caraway and Governor Zimmer talked about him. And I spoke with him just before he went back to his room. His records have been tampered with.” Kiros thought about his words before correcting, “No, they weren't tampered with. Cid Kramer made certain the information put in was screened and changed before it was documented.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, he hasn't been doing what normal SeeD do.” Kiros was still on the fence about how much he should tell Laguna. If he mentioned the boy's childhood, then the President would immediately think to take the blame for it. “He's been trained to seduce people. By principle, mercenaries don't really have high morals or strict codes of conduct.”

“Are you saying that SeeD are like prostitutes?” Laguna's brows drew together as he tried to alter his perspective, knowing Kiros would never lie to him but not seeing how something like this could escape his attention.

“No, just Squall,” the Presidential Advisor answered. “I know he's your son, and you think you're in love… but it's like a game to him. Either for money or blackmail or to create alliances, Cid and Squall have acquired a list of dozens of politicians and officers.”

“That can't be,” Laguna muttered, falling back into his seat. He recalled Squall's confession before summoning Shiva. Squall admitted to seducing him, despite his knowledge that the brunet had done nothing of the sort.

“Those men at the party, they've all paid to have sex with Squall at one time or another. I wouldn't tell you this if I weren't absolutely positive.”

“He's never asked me for anything Kiros. He's been distant at times, like it was only physical, but not anymore. I know he cares about me.”

“He hasn't asked for anything at all? He's never mentioned Esthar's trade agreement with Timber? Has he ever talked about telling others about your relationship or threatened to say something?”

“No!” Laguna shouted. “He's just given up his knighthood to be with me!” Standing abruptly, Laguna paced around the back of the chair. “What the fuck are you telling me?”

“Laguna, I'm saying that he planned all of this. I'm sure that if he hasn't hinted at what he wants, he would have soon enough. Giving up his position as a knight was just a gesture to make it seem like what you had was real.”

“No!” Laguna refuted, his heart beating faster with dread. “It's not like that.”

“Laguna,” Kiros placated.

“No!” Still pacing, he shook his head, raven strands tossing about. “You don't know him like I do.”

“You don't know him,” Kiros returned with a voice of reason. “He's almost eighteen and you met him five months ago. By that time, he'd been taught how to lie and use people. You're his dad. If you weren't also the President of Esthar, what do you think he'd be doing? I can guarantee you, he wouldn't be sleeping with you.”

“I made the first move, Kiros. I'm the one who started it. It might make a sick man, but you have no idea how I feel about him.”

“He'd like you to think that you initiated it. Think of what that would mean? If he claims he came here under the pretense of getting to know his dad, and then says that you molested him or raped him. Do you know what that would do to your presidency? He'd be able to ask for anything from us.”

Laguna kept pacing, but he didn't reply. He tried to push Kiros' words away, but they sank into his brain and settled. He recalled the way Squall had been so accepting of it all, as if their shared blood meant nothing. Was it because Squall never saw him as a father, but always as the President? The young man had said as much, that it had always been about him being the President.

Another part of the confused man reminded him of what had just happened only hours ago outside in the rain. “It might have started out that way, but it's different now.”

“Don't just see what you want to see,” Kiros ordered, impressing a sense of disillusion into his friend.

“I'm not,” Laguna said solemnly. Coming around, he settled back into the chair. “He said he seduced me, that it was about me being the President. He said he was sorry for what he'd done, and that he was going to leave. He tried to junction a GF to forget everything that happened.”

“To forget?” Kiros remarked with disbelief. Forgetting would mean not being able to use any of what happened.

“It was while he needed Rinoa. I told him I loved him and he ran away. I mean, he literally jumped out of bed and bolted. He said he wasn't supposed to turn out this way, that he wasn't supposed fall in love with me.” Laguna looked his friend in the eyes. “Kiros, he was in no state to be playing games or putting up fronts. I know him better than you think.”

“Even if what you say is true, he's still dangerous. This ends now. It's not too late to make sure none of it gets out.”

“He's not going back to Balamb,” Laguna stated firmly.

“He has too. If he hasn't already reported back to Balamb, then it will be suspicious. Laguna, can you vouch for him? As President of Esthar, are you willing to put your entire presidency on the line for the belief that this boy's intentions are pure?”

“I am,” Laguna responded immediately.

Sighing heavily, Kiros rubbed his forehead. He couldn't tell if Laguna had clouded judgment or not. “Do you understand what I mean when I say that if Squall wanted to make you believe something, he could do it? This is what he's been raised to do Laguna, are you so certain you can the truth from lies?”

Slightly hesitant this time, Laguna stared at his friend for a long moment. “I didn't know for certain, but from our first night together…” he trailed off as he blushed, realizing once more exactly what he was referring to.

Coughing uncomfortably, Kiros supplied, “The first time you had sexual relations with the boy.”

Blushing more deeply, Laguna nodded. “I could tell something was off. It was like Squall was ready to give me anything, but never everything. Do you know what I mean?”

Kiros considered what Laguna meant. Given the boy's history, there was no telling how the former Commander was wired. His initial impressions of the young SeeD had been that Squall was withdrawn and detached, only seeing the facts and forming strategies with a level of coldhearted genius that only came with being the top mercenary in existence. Now, he knew the boy was so much more. Beneath that icy exterior was the same calculating creature, but with unpredictable behavior. Squall Leonhart was perhaps the most dangerous man alive, with personal leverage of so many leaders and influential people. There also the small factor that the boy was perhaps the strongest fighter out there.

“I'm not sure you'd even want everything he has to offer,” Kiros mumbled absently, thinking of the baggage someone like this boy must carry.

Studying Kiros' solemn and thoughtful face, Laguna asked, “What exactly does that mean? What aren't you saying?”

Blinking, Kiros waved a hand in dismissal. “If he stays here, questions will fly and I guarantee Cid, or someone else involved will leak something and start rumors.”

“Kiros, I've been upfront about what's between myself and Squall, something I promise you I'm hardly proud of. I expect you to be the same. If I have to, I'll find out for myself.”

“You don't want to know,” the taller man assured, “There are some things best left alone.”

“Does it have to do with Squall?”

“Yes.”

Expectantly, Laguna shifted in his chair, settling in as if for hearing a long story. “Then tell me.”

Shaking his head, Kiros came to the decision that the specifics of Squall's past were best left unsaid. Laguna didn't need to know, and was better off not knowing.

“I will find out,” Laguna said with conviction.

Kiros was reminded of his brief talk with the former Commander during the celebration party. He'd made good on his promise to find out and he didn't doubt that Laguna would do the same. “You're putting me in a bad place Laguna. As your friend, I'm telling you there are things about Squall you just shouldn't know.”

“He's my son,” Laguna hissed.

“He's your lover, he can't be both.”

Hazel eyes blinked as Kiros' words set in. “I thought you would have hated me for what I've done,” he admitted.

Chuckling, Kiros assured, “I don't think I could ever hate you. I know you too well to let anything ruin my opinion of you. While I'm not particularly fond of the boy, I do see how he manages to draw people in so easily. I can't blame you for being human Laguna, but aside from myself and Ward, I doubt anyone would see it that way.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

With a small smile, Kiros replied, “That's what I'm here for.”

“So, tell me what it is I don't want to know,” Laguna said, returning again to the subject Kiros was stubbornly trying to avoid.

Holding his breath for a struggling moment of inner debate, Kiros let it out in a heavy sigh. Folding his hands and resting his elbows on his knees, he leaned forward. “I found out most of what I needed to know, and many things I wish I didn't know, from Milla Kadowaki. She's the resident doctor at Balamb Garden and has worked there for twenty years.”

“So, she was there when Squall arrived,” Laguna interjected to show he was following along.

“Yes,” Kiros agreed with a small nod. “She cares about Squall a great deal, or so I gather from our conversations about him. And, she quite despises the Headmaster.”

Eyes widening momentarily, Laguna reminded himself that Cid Kramer was involved in this apparent scheme that Squall participated in.

Most of what Kiros knew, and grudgingly relayed to Laguna, were of medical injuries that Dr. Kadowaki had treated. The older woman had seen general bruising that she wasn't able to attribute to anything but roughhousing until years later. The usual scrapes and bumps that adventurous young boys obtained. Though she was always surprised, knowing Squall was a rather tame child, never really seeming to be the sort that went around playing, especially when Squall was the youngest person in Garden.

The turning point for her had been when Squall was sent to her in a small huddled heap of bruised flesh with severe anal tearing. It was then she questioned what had happened to Squall. The fourteen-year-old boy was obviously traumatized and had obviously been raped. The viscous fluids intermingled with blood, which she had secretly tested, told her a Shumi had been involved in the act.

The only answers she received from Cid had been that Squall was like a son, hence his presence at Garden, and that the boy had a fascination with mercenary life. The Headmaster hadn't even tried to give her a better explanation for what had happened to Squall's body, just that he'd fallen after climbing around the rocky areas of Balamb's mountain base.

She'd seen Squall riding down to the basement all the time, narrow shoulders seeming to slouch under some weight. Her power was insufficient and Squall wouldn't talk to her.

She had tried to bring in a therapist, a doctor friend of hers, but the opportunity to see Squall was usually based on if he needed treatment for an injury. And following the event that she felt certain involved Garden's sponsor raping the boy, Squall wasn't often in need of her help.

She tried to keep a close eye on him, frequently seeking him out to casually pass in the hall and offer a warm greeting. Even if it was only a simple hello, she'd hoped to become closer and gain his confidence. Squall was the reason she remained at Balamb, and she had a feeling he knew what she'd been up to.

The older woman found it more distressing that the former Commander began to require unlimited stores of remedies and potions. It was around the same time that the young man began to take trips, often gone for weeks at a time as if he'd just up and left. She couldn't imagine why, at least not until he'd required assistance after one particular absence.

There were pictures, which had been taken as evidence, despite being told to patch Squall up and keep it off the record. When Kiros had hinted that he might be capable of influencing what happened to Squall in the near future, she'd pleaded the case openly.

The Presidential Advisor had seen the pictures, something he wasn't in debate about telling or showing Laguna. Kiros remained vague about his accounting. However, in his head he could recall the images.

A three-month visit to the former governor of Dollet had found Squall subjected to the old man's sadistic fetishes.

Kadowaki had been informed in greater depth about the situation by Seifer Almasy. The resident Balamb Garden bully had brought Squall to her, initially declaring that he had nothing to do with it and that she needed to keep it a secret. She hadn't seen Squall in months and wasn't sure what to think when the boy's rival came in for her help.

A call had been placed. Squall had called Seifer for help, asking for the blonde to come to Dollet for him. Kadowaki still expressed confusion over the matter, not understanding why Squall would have called Seifer or why Seifer had risked expulsion to sneak off to Dollet and retrieve the boy. She also didn't understand what had transpired that lead Seifer to wait so long to seek out medical treatment, waiting until they were back at Garden.

The wounds were easy enough to heal, the trouble being malnourishment and the fact that some of the deeper cuts had been left untreated for so long. Squall's wrists and ankles had been worn raw. The boy's usually pale back showed a series of welts that implied whipping with some sort of paddle, something that didn't quite break the skin but must have stung just the same as if it did.

Considering her report on the incident had been taken and destroyed, she made certain to keep the digital copy of everything hidden away. She never understood any of it, only did what she could as a doctor.

After summarizing his findings to Laguna, Kiros almost felt guilty about his anger towards the former Commander. But, he reminded himself that Squall had become a strong mercenary, perfectly capable of simply walking away from it all.

For several long minutes, Laguna remained still and silent in his seat. Unmoving, the longhaired President stared at the floor between his feet.

Eyes unfocused, not really able to see the light colored rug, Laguna just stared. His lips formed words that his brain hadn't approved of yet. “He didn't grow up at the orphanage with other children. He was at Garden being violated by sick men… my son… all those people and no one thought it was wrong.”

Tentatively, Kiros clasped a hand to the man's shoulder. “Laguna, none of this is your fault.”

“Not my fault?” Laguna began to laugh. “For fuck's sake Kiros, I'm the one who left him behind. I can't believe this. For something like that to happen… how can you be certain? Squall seems okay.”

“I'm certain Laguna,” Kiros said firmly.

“But how do you really know? What if that doctor was lying? Squall never said anything about it, and he doesn't seem hurt. He's not hurt, he's fine.”

“Laguna,” Kiros said calmly, “There were pictures, and it explains the holes in the boy's record.”

“He's not just some boy, stop calling him a boy. He's Squall, my son. Stop talking about him like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like…” Laguna stood up abruptly, tossing his hands in the air. “I don't know, just stop talking about him like he's some criminal. He's the victim here.”

Pacing once more, Laguna strode frantically, practically in circles as he roughly massaged his temple. “Fuck!” he shouted. “There were pictures,” he gestured as if telling Kiros so hurry up and say something. “What pictures?”

“Just pictures of some of the injuries,” the advisor said nondescriptly.

“But, he's normal!” Laguna affirmed. “Something like that should have put him in a psyche ward. He wouldn't be carrying on as if it never happened.”

“He seems to have been compliant with it all. As bad as it seems, he never asked for help or complained.”

“Are you saying he wanted it?” Laguna shot incredulously, a fury in his tone that warned Kiros not to answer yes.

“No, just that you can't let your feelings get in the way here. Consider that he never tried to get away.”

“He was nine years old, where exactly would he run? The only people he knew were the ones who were doing everything to him.”

“He's not a nine year old boy now, he's almost eighteen and a trained fighter. He's been in training for the past four years. Somewhere along the line, he was capable of escaping.”

“I'm not debating this with you Kiros, I'm going back. I need to see him, I need to talk to him.” Suddenly realizing that the first thing he should have done was to rush to Squall's side, Laguna stalked towards the door.

Standing to follow, Kiros called after his friend, “Are you sure he should know that you've learned everything about him?”

“I need to be with him right now Kiros. I'm not sending him back there.”

“Why didn't he tell you himself? He doesn't want you to know.”

“Well it's too late now, isn't it?” Laguna said as he wrenched the door open and stalked away.

TBC…