Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Snow Drift ❯ peek-a-boo ( Chapter 16 )

In all of Squall's lifetime he never would have thought that at some point he would end up knowing all of the new things that he's come to know about children, for instance; he did not know that in some aspects in a childs life, said child, cannot be rushed in growth. So when he decided that Kait was old enough to get potty trained he found out that 1 year and a months is too soon when he wound up moping the floor of the tiny apartment twenty times in a week and washing, Mickey Mouse printed, underwear 4 times due to a deposite being made in them.

Oh sure, Squall has done as the book had suggested about moving the potty to which ever room the child intended to occupy the longest but had nothing in it about how active and quick children can be.

Which brings him to item of knowledge number two; Squall, with all his military training, has been run ragged everyday at burst at a time following after the newly walking child, who once had the trek of a heavily rigor mortised body to a near speed demon as running seemed to be Kait's favorite pace for getting around the apartment. Squall was very glad that they don't have stairs. The cadets training at the barracks could use child chasing to train with if they plan on being field scouters.

Unknown fact number 3; children secretly hate eating. The book had this method and that for getting food down a childs throat and none of it worked, not all the time anyway. Proof of this is that Squall's love for white has become non-existant now that he's a guardian, the stoic male has been reduced to wearing colored shirts and black or dark blue jeans, anything that's easy to get stains out of so that they're not easily seen should one of the childs messy meal times become a bit more perminant. He's had everything from cereal to oatmeal flung at him and of the jarred foods the child liked to slap it to the point where he was hit with food like it were bullets from a gatling gun anywhere unhidden by table or high chair; the kid even sneezed food at him once or twice.

Then there's living hazards, switching Kait from sink to tub during baths, watching corners with sharp edges, removing the child's socks if he insists on running so that he does not slip on the slippery floor- he's really gotta get a carpet. Kids are also screamers, slappers, criers, and laughers of things that bang and boom particularly if someone is hurt during one of the bangs or booms. But its not all bad; kids have really good things about them too, like, Squall used to really hate something about himself and that was how badly he always wanted someone to be there, to love, to love him and to just be there and Kait filled that void because the child wasn't going anywhere. Where could he go?! He needs him and in some ways Squall needs Kait as well.

Kait also has an adorable laugh, he laughed with his whole self, holding nothing back, which adds to the boy's adorable voice- his first word was "spaghetti" which Kait pronounced as "Nasketti" but it was so cute Squall just melted. Kids also can bring a calm simplicity over you that you didn't even know you could posses which ties in with the needing each other as well. Kids are also fun to talk to with their few words and broken sentences; they're sponges for knowledge if anyone would bother to slow down and take the time to teach them, which Squall has tried his best to do.

Right now they're watching Kait's favorite television show on the couch in the living room. A colorful clown starts to sing a song catching the boys full attention as he watches and listens to the clowns words. She or He, Squall could never figure it out in all the time they've been watching the program, is singing about a silly way to play golf.

This show is so completely ridiculous but if the boy gets a kick out of it, than who is he to stop him. He even bought said clown for the child a birthday back and Kait carries it nearly everywhere with him.

When the song ended the child tilts his head back to look at his caretaker and pointedly he asks. "Hut's yoo name noggin?"

Seeing that his son switched from normal english to pretending he's an alien again, he knows that "Hut's" is for "what's" and "noggin" is "again". Answering he says. "Its Squall."

"Squall? I'm Kait."

Smiling, Squall says. "I know."

"I know." Repeats the boy adding a new phrase to his slew of the english language.

Snickering, Squall smoothes back the boys little comb-over of bangs placing a kiss to his exposed forehead. "Do you have to go to the bathroom?"

"No."

"You sure?"

"Yup."

"All right, but you let me know when you do."

"Ok, daddy."

The word rings in Squall's ear everytime he hears it. At first he told the male that he was not his father, but Kait didn't seem to care. Sometimes he calls him Squall, when he remembers, but for the most part its been daddy. He's just about get up to fix lunch when he hears the door bell. Lifting the 28 pound child from his lap he sets him down on the couch. "Its open!" He calls to the person on the otherside of the door. The door opened revealing the ex-knight looking as though he were ready to go jogging and knowing Zell, Seifer probably was.

Gasping, the boy happily calls out. "Seifer!" Leaping from the couch the four year old circles the tall guest making punches at the long legs standing before him; little sound effects coming from him.

"Hey brat," Says Seifer adding with a smile. "and Kait." Pointing down at the child he asks. "What the hell is he doing?"

Squall only shrugged before proceeding to the kitchen.

"I'm cowboy Irvine, and I'm slaying you monster!" He says before a squeal comes from him as the blond scoops the boy from the floor. Continuing his battle; Seifer only cocked a brow and escorted the boy into the kitchen to hand him over to his guardian.

"Tilmitt says that if you bring Kait with you, she'd gladly go to lunch with you." Seifer says afer the giggling child is transferred safely.

Selphie has a real flare for making things sound like other peoples ideas as Squall had not asked her to lunch with him. He'd actually planned on staying at home to eat. But whatever will be. "Tell her fine, I just have to get a few things together." He opens the fridge to grab a small yellow box filled with yogurt bites and healthy ravioli with vegatables inside rather than meat. Opening the package he dumps the yogurt into a sandwich bag then pops the rest of the meal into the microwave. "Since when do you make calls for "Tilmitt"?" Squall questions turning his attention back to the knight, who is wandering his kitchen in search of something.

"Since Kinneas' death she's treating me like her fucking Dr. Phil whenever she needs a pick me up." Locating a pudding, he tears off the seal. "Speaking of Kinneas, wanna lay of the tall tales of how great your boy-toy was. Don't wanna warp the munchkin's mind with lies."

"I'm not warping his mind with anything, everything I say about Irvine is the truth. I want Kait to know him."

"As you see him?"

"Yes, as I see him. Nothing wrong with that."

"Mhm. But don't forget to include that he was a crybaby, and somewhat of a coward."

"No he wasn't!" Shouted Kait.

Moving closer, Squall allowed the boy to sock Seifer on the nose but the knight only grabbed the boy by the hand pretending to bite it off.

Kait shrieked withdrawing his hand. Sticking out his tongue he rests his head on Squall's shoulder, vision away from the man. He loved Seifer, honestly, but he knew that out of all the big people he knows, Seifer is the mean one- sometimes.

"Well, he takes after him that's for sure." Comments said male giving the kid a no-hard-feelings rub on the back.

"Zip it, ass."

Hearing the new word the boy asks. "What's an ats?"

"Its what you call someone who's bothering you."

"Oh. Ats." Says the boy.

"Its ASS, with two 'SS'. If you're gonna insult me, pronounce it correctly."

"Nevermind that Kait, those are grown-up words so don't use them."

"I won't."

"Good." Turning when the microwave beeped, he removed the lunch from within it.

Snickering, Seifer grabbed his rival by the hair. "When are you gonna get this cut? Trying to look like your old flame or something?"

"I've been meaning to, but I'm kind of busy with Kait."

Seifer shrugged. "Ever hear of a babysitter?"

Squall shrugged. Honestly in all the four years he's had the boy he's been at the bottom of the priority list so because of that his personal maintenance and grooming have been put aside to the point of his growing out a ponytails worth of hair. But he will get it cut- eventually.

"I can always cut it for you?"

"I'm not letting you near me with a pair of scissors." He swats away the intruding hand. "Where does Selphie want to meet?"

"Uhhh... shit..." He thinks a second more than says. "Briors, now should be good for her."

"Alright. If you're staying, don't steal anything." He sets Kait down so that he can pack the meal away in a heat-sealing lunch bag.

"No promises." Seifer leans against the counter.

"I have to pack some stuff, watch Kait for me."

"You got it, mother." Watching Squall's departure Seifer then looks down at the child who's trying tp peek inside of the lunch box; his little heel off the floor twisting back and forth.

Kait looks back at the male with curiosity then smiles before returning to what he's doing. "I can say the alphabet all the way up to G, wanna hear it?"

"Be my guest."

"A. B. She. D. E. F. G."

"Its C, like SEE." He points to his eye. "Not SHE, like a girl."

"Okay. Wanna hear it again?"

Rolling his eyes he waves a hand for the kid to get on with it. He was mildly pleased when the boy didn't mess up again.

Squall returns a moment later with a small bag filled with things that were no doubt for the kid. He slid his feet into his boots which were under the side table drawer. "Kait, get your sneakers on."

"Where are we going?" He bounces into the living room.

"To have lunch with Selphie."

"Oh boy!" Sliding his little sneakers from beneath the same place that his father keeps his, the boy tucks his foot into the first one only to have to remove it.

"Wrong foot." He mentions to the child.

"Okay." Switching the sneaker he then slides on the other.

"Seifer is it cold out?"

"How the hell would I know your idea of cold? Its fine to me."

Squall muttered something under his breath then gets up to grab the boy's jacket and his own.

Its March 2014 and the weather has been up and down lately with temperatures so Squall has to be extra careful with Kait's health. Dr. Kadawoki has been doing a great job when it comes to the four year olds check ups and what not but he doesn't want another episode from when Kait was three and completely stuffed up. He was so sure the boy wouldn't make it through any nights with the heavy breathing from all the snot that kept returning to his nose. But he pulled through like a soldier and has been healthy enough since.

Seifer watched the family of two and frowned. Squall told him that he would around to train with him whenever he wanted to, but that's been a crock. The only time he saw the pouting brunet was when he sat in during the test of eager little SeeDlings. He being SeeD now, he can poke fun at these kids and takes pride in going out on really big missions knowing he'll actually get recognition this time, he can tell that Rinoa feels the same way. The others took an interesting path in life as instructors for certain classes- Selphie even has follows, they call themselves 'Mittens' after the girls lastname and she's just wild about the idea. Zell has followers but they just sort of worship the ground he walks on, no nicknames about it.

"Are you coming to lunch with us?" Squall asked when he'd noticed Seifer watching him.

"No. I'm disgusting. Can I shower here?"

"I don't care." Taking Kait's hand he grabs his keys then says. "Lock up if you leave."

"Will do Ms. Leonhart." He grins handsomely when his rival flips him off before closing the front door.

Kait was hoisted into the air by his waist to be carried down the seven stairs that lead up to their apartment then set down when they hit the street. Returning their hands together the two walk along the streets of Balamb being waved to or greeted by this person and that who have become accustomed to the family of two after four years of living there. They had thought it was very weird at first, they didn't even know that Squall was seeing anyone, and yet, there was this child. So the town's people helped him any way that they could whenever the male needed it. Rumors stopped all at once when Zell's Ma explained what was going on whenever anyone in the diner started whispering about her son's friend. Squall was then seen as a savior. Kait's missing mother was never found and no other family members emerged from the woodworks so Squall got the child legally adopted into his family. The boy hummed the theme to his favorite show, his Jojo doll swinging wildly in his grip as he skips along beside his father.

"How far is it?"

"Not too far; but we get to ride on the train and hang out at Fisherman's Horizon."

The boy gasped. "Cowboy Irvine liked Fisherman's and fishing."

"Yes, he did."

"Can you tell me a story about it?"

"Maybe before bed." He answers not sure if he could come up with one now.

"Hear that Jojo, we get to hear a story tonight."

The two arrive at the train station. Selphie was easy to spot as she always had a bright- well, loud color somewhere on her body and today it was a lime green windbreaker. The girl waved to the two, before kneeling and holding her arms open shouting as though she were singing a long note in a song.

"Kaaaaaiit!"

"Selphie!" He dashed away from his father to leap into the girls waiting arms.

The two wriggling their fingers at each others faces going. "cheep, cheep, cheep" for bird sounds as Kait's nickname has somehow become 'little bird' after the chocobo that Irvine was so fond of.

"I got the tickets." Says Selphie while giving the child an eskimo kiss. "Let's hit it."

"Why are we going all the way to F.H. just to have lunch?"

"To escape my entourage," She giggles. "I'm kidding, I hear they got fried lobster bites and I just have to try some."

"The diner makes them too."

"Yeah but not until the summer and these ones are from a place that specializes in fishing- no offense, of course." Walking onto the train she chooses a window seat sitting the boy on her lap. "We're gonna have such a nice lunch, and maybe we can even see the guys bringing in their haul."

"What's a haul?"

"Its a big old pile of stuff!" She throws her hands into the air as if to show how big.

Taking a seat beside her, Squall chooses to read a magazine to keep himself busy during the short ride.

...

A burly man waves the four men over to him. "Put the statue here!" He calls to them.

A large crane swings a heavy statue through the air towards a base set up where it needs to be placed.

Kait watches the men in the distance while Selphie and his father are talking to one another at the table of a small restaurant. He'd eaten his ravioli and had some bits of fish from Squall's plate but now his interest is else where. "Daddy can I watch the mans move the statue?"

"You say men when there is more than one man."

Kait seemed to be processing that, but figured Squall didn't understand his question so again he asks. "Can I watch the men move the statue?"

"No. I don't want you over there where its dangerous, you can see them from here."

"But I wanna see the funny looking men up close." He looks back at the scene.

The group of men have the statue in place and are now screwing it down onto the base.

"Its not dangerous anymore, can I look now?"

Looking out towards the area Squall thinks it over. The worst seems to be over, that was for sure. "All right, but remember the rules."

"Make sure I can see you and... and..."

"Blow your whistle if you can't."

"Right." Reaching into his shirt he pulls out a silver whistle. "Jojo's coming with me."

"Okay." He helps the boy down from his seat. "But stand in the back and don't get in the movers way."

"I won't!" The boy was making his way down towards the center of the village and when he stopped and looked back he could still see Squall and Selphie at the table, taking a few more steps he could only see the tops of their heads so he came back a few steps. Watching intently, he smiles at the men. Heavy machines were so cool! He's seen people moving things only once before but never this close. He can almost see the men's faces. He wondered sometimes how come some of the men wore hats and long robes. Were they cold?

"You like this sort of stuff, huh, kid?" Asks someone beside him.

Startled he'd nearly run for his life but looking up he instead froze in a mix of fear and awe. "You look like..."

The man smiled down at him, face somewhat shaded by a wide hat. "Who do I look like?"

"You look like cowboy Irvine."

"Really? Who's that?"

"My daddy tells me stories, and he showed me a picture and the man in the picture looks just like you."

"He does!" Taking a seat beside the boy's tiny stand. He holds out a hand. "Your cowboy sounds like a handsome man. My name's Imari Karver nice to meet you."

"K- Kait Leonhart." He's hesitant to take the man's hand because he's just too much like Irvine. Its like if he saw Jojo walking around. He wouldn't know what to do. He'd probably cry. Infact, he might cry now. Before he could stop them he felt tears falling down his cheeks. "Daddy!" He cried out dashing away.

Imari laughed thinking out loud. "What a weird kid."

Squall was to the child almost instantly, kneeling down to take him into his embrace. "What? Did you get hurt?" He checks the boy over. "Did something fall on you?"

The boy sniffled feeling foolish now for crying and running. Embarrassed he said. "I saw a man. Can we go home now?"

"Of course." Picking the child up, he looks out over the area for this man. Spotting a man sitting on the ground it all makes sense to him by the way he's dressed. The long robe and hat. Kait's never seen a Shumi before, so seeing a yellow, frog-like, creature can be startling. Although, he had to admit, he's never seen a shumi that tall before- well, except for Norg, that thing was HUGE. Hushing the child, he plants a kiss on his cheek. "Its alright. That man is from Shumi." He says to the boy intent on explaining a bit of life to the child.

Selphie stood by with sorrow on her face having never seen the boy distressed even once in her presence- babies don't count, they're always crying for something they need. "Aaaw, little bird, don't be scared. Here, want a lollipop?"

"Thank you." He says smiling.

"Oh Kait Leonhart, you are so phony!" Selphie snickers.

In the distance Imari watched the three depart. Something about them seemed so familiar. That girl's pretty cute, though. He wondered if she lived in the area. Nevermind that, the kid said he looked like someone in a picture. 'Tch. Its crazy, a lot of people in the world have twins- take the Shumi's, they're a prime example of looking alike.' He laughed.

"Karver?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for coming out this way with us," Says Sculptor. "Here is your pay."

"Thank you."

"Will you be reutrning home?"

"Yeah, I may as well- unless you wanna stick around here with me?"

"Sculptor is afraid that that would be impossible as Sculptor is needed back at the tribe."

"I understand. See you around then. Send a letter in advance if you need my help again."

"It is certain."

Imari looked off after the couple that was once here. Turning on his heels he starts away for the train that would take him back to his home in Winhill.

"And cowboy Irvine leaped onto the train and with a loud yeehaw! He waved his hat through the air and bid the people of the town good bye." Says Squall while tucking the boy into his bed. "The end."

"That was my favorite story." Kait declared.

The boy had forgotten all about his ordeal in F.H. calming down and playing with his Candyland game with Zell until it was time for dinner. Zell told him about what a day he had with Rinoa and Seifer- jogging with his lover and yoga with her. He's pumped for a healthy dinner, he said. But when seeing that Squall was making chicken nuggets, stringed beans, and mashed potato's he passed on the dinner invite. And so telling Kait another story with his favorite hero he sets him down to bed.

"Daddy, I can't sleep without my song."

"Really? You took a nap without my singing to you."

"Naps don't count because they're short. Jojo wants to hear it too."

"Okay." Clearing his voice he sings softly but with tempo in his words. "Good night birdie, good night birdie, good night birdie- milk is on its way. Good night birdie, good night birdie, good night birdie- sleep the night away."

Kait laughed closing his eyes. Squall was a terrible singer, but he liked how much umph his dad put into the good night songs. "Now slow it down."

"Go to sleep, little birdie, go to sleep. Close your eyes, close your eyes- don't fight. Go to sleep, little birdie, go to sleep. Close your eyes, close your eyes, good night." Leaning over he kisses the boy on the forehead. "Good night, Kait."

"Good night." He yawns before snuggling the clown into his arms.

Looking at the boy a moment, Squall then gets up from the bed and walks into his room. Another sleepless night, no doubt. Taking a seat on the bed, he isn't surprised to feel a pair of arms wrap around his chest, he lays his head against his lovers cheek. Cowboy Irvine. What a fine fairy tale, but in reality he was losing him. He could no longer see those beautiful dark voilet blue eyes, he can't hear the male's voice, only a form.

The form that holds him now and every night. Whispering who knows what into his ear since the love of his life has been put on mute because time is stealing him away from Squall's memory. But it took years, years to lose the exact color of Irvine's eyes, years to lose the right pitch of his lovers voice, and no doubt in another few years he will lose his physical self as well. Its a scary thought, but he's trying to hold onto him dammit. He's trying with everything that he has.

Selphie gave him video after video of their recorded times together, but what difference did it make if it wasn't his Irvine. The Irvine he holds in their private times. He can remember palsy Irvine easily but where's the intimacy and the love? Where's his hero?