Corpse in the Cupboard

***** CHAPTER 17 *****


It had been three days since the President’s hospitalization and there had been no change in his condition. Vincent had disappeared after the confrontation with Squall and had not resurfaced until the next night, walking in to the hospital silently, to take Kiros’ place beside Laguna. The gunman had become even more withdrawn and Kiros had barely seen him between running the city and visiting Laguna. Squall completely ignored the gunman and disappeared into his room when he wasn’t at the hospital. Kiros was getting sick and tired of being the only one acting like an adult and decided to use the upcoming weekend to try and sort both men out. He’d organized to talk to Squall first and the Commander had agreed to see him on Saturday after breakfast.

*****

Squall was on the balcony of the guest room in the Presidential Palace, staring out over the city. Kiros walked over and sat down beside him, glancing at the young man.

“It’s time we sorted this out, Squall,” he said softly. The commander didn’t respond at first and made no indication that he had even heard Kiros’ words. A few minutes passed in silence and then Squall turned to look at him.

“You want to know what my reasons and intentions were,” Squall stated, rather than asked.

“Yes. I think it would be helpful to Laguna’s recovery if we could sort most of this out before he wakes up,” Kiros responded, returning Squall’s gaze with a smile. The Commander leant back in his chair, closing his eyes and for a moment Kiros thought he wasn’t going to reply.

“My intention was to protect my father,” he whispered. Kiros saw his forehead crinkle into a frown as he continued. “My reasons….well, you were leaving him alone and unprotected because you couldn’t stand to see the two of them together. As for Laguna, he was too obsessed with his new lover to see the danger he was in. So obsessed, that he forgot I even existed. I felt that I had to do something drastic to break the spell that Vincent had over him,” Squall finished and opened his eyes, returning his gaze to the city below.

Kiros slowly digested the young man’s words as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. All of this had started because Laguna hadn’t told Squall about his new relationship. The President’s inability to lie to his son had resulted in Laguna avoiding him. Squall, having no experience with being part of a family, knew only one way to deal with the rejection. The mercenary way. He’d spied on his father, found out about Vincent and somehow decided that the gunman was a threat. Kiros’ retirement had convinced Squall that he needed to step in, break up Vincent and Laguna, thus protecting his father. The video had simply been a means to an end.

“Squall, do you realize now that Vincent is not a danger to Laguna? I don’t understand what lead you to believe that he was in the first place. It is unusual for you to over react to a situation in such a way.”

“What do you mean he’s not a danger? Vincent does have demons in his head, doesn’t he? Please, correct me if I’m wrong,” Squall responded, turning to glare at Kiros.

“Yes, he has demons in his head but I can promise you, he has them under control. If he didn’t, he would have killed me when he found out about…..,” Kiros trailed off, not knowing how to admit what had happened to Laguna’s son.

“About you and dad in the conference room,” Squall finished the sentence for him. Kiros stared at him and felt his face blush deeply. Squall knew about that?

“Hang on. How do you know about Vincent’s demons and about me and you father?” he muttered nervously.

“I told you, I spied on dad. Where do you think the video idea came from?” Squall replied. Kiros flinched. Oh Gods…..Squall had seen a video of him and Laguna fucking? He was seriously considering outlawing video cameras for the safety of the community.

“Squall I’m…..I’m so sorry you had to see that,” he sputtered out.

“Not as sorry as I was,” Squall responded, a genuine smile crossing his face. “Look, in retrospect, maybe I did over react.” The Commander sighed, staring down at his hands despondently. “Seeing you and dad like that….well, it threw me. I didn’t consider the fact that if Vincent had no control, he would have killed you immediately. I was sitting in the bar, watching the video and having a few drinks. I was expecting to listen in to your conversation and find out what was going on. Suddenly you’re yelling at each other and then you throw him up against the wall and start screwing his brains out. Next thing I know, I’ve drunk half a bottle of bourbon and Vincent is down the other end of the bar. The rest…..kind of just happened. What can I say? It seemed like a good idea at the time?” Squall finished lamely. Kiros couldn’t hold back the grin that spread across his face. He’d never thought that Squall could string so many words together, let alone admit that he was wrong. The Commander was human after all.

“Thank you for your honesty, Squall.”

“Whatever,” Squall mumbled. “Seeing Laguna like that, knowing I was responsible for it, made me rethink a lot of things.” The Commander ran his hand through his hair and Kiros thought the action make him look like his father, so many years ago when Kiros had first met him. “Honestly Kiros, I have no idea how to be a son.”

“All you have to do is communicate. The next time you’re worried about Laguna, I suggest you call him up and ask what is wrong.”

“Wow, Kiros. Full of good advice and a sex god. Who would have guessed,” Squall teased with a little chuckle. Kiros grinned back. Squall Lionheart was joking and laughing with him. He felt like he’d entered the twilight zone.

*****

Squall sat down and grasped his father’s hand in his. He had never been as ashamed as he felt right now. Laguna had finally, after twenty years alone, found someone that he loved and Squall had barged in and tried to ruin it. The fact that his intentions were honourable meant nothing.

Vincent’s face appeared in his memory and he flinched as feelings of guilt and desire swirled and mixed in his head. How had Laguna managed to attract such a young, beautiful guy? Kindness, compassion and honesty might have something to do with it, he mused sarcastically to himself. His actions certainly proved he had inherited none of those qualities from his father. It certainly explained why he was alone and his father had two men in love with him.

Squall had to admit that Vincent loved Laguna. Even when the gunman had been too drunk to stand and drugged to near unconsciousness, he had only had sex with Squall because he had mistaken him for his father. Vincent had called him Laguna several times and had looked at him as if he was the most important person in the entire world. Squall had never experienced anything like it. Sure, he’d had sex before but no one had ever made love to him and the difference between the two was startling.

His inability to understand their relationship and his selfish need for Laguna’s attention had led to the near loss of the father he had longed for his whole life. He was so clueless that even when he awoke sober the next day, he hadn’t realized what a huge mistake he’d made. Instead, he had baited and insulted Vincent until the gunman had nearly blown his head off. Kiros had been the one to sit him down and try and make him realize the stupidity of his actions. The man had been by his father’s side for twenty years and loved him unconditionally, staying to help fix everything, even though Laguna’s love for Vincent was tearing him apart inside. He would always hold the greatest respect for his father’s best friend. Kiros showed the kind of inner strength that Squall had always wished for. Instead, all he had were emotional walls that had blinded him instead of protecting him.

“I’m so sorry dad,” Squall muttered, as he closed his eyes and lowered his head onto his father’s chest. The hand he was holding gently squeezed his and Squall’s eyes shot open to see Laguna, awake and smiling at him.

“You finally called me dad,” Laguna whispered weakly.