Sweet Bliss

Chp 2 I have no claim to the ff8 characrers. I just used them in silly or screwed up fanfics. " Sweet Bliss " By Poison and Tina Chaper 2 Eventualy Laguna does get to spend some time with his son though it is very short. Whatever that did gone on in the office was private. Only thing know was laguna felt the office with a rare frown. Aftr getting some tickter, he takes his new body guard homeward bound. As now they are in train to Eshtar* Seifer sits down upon one of the couch things and looks out of the window. "You were frowning. Are you okay?" he inquires bluntly. As Laguna's new bodyguard, he feels alot of duty and is determined to take care of Laguna to the fullest extent, even checking up on his son. Laguna looks a bit suprised he thought he kept himself in check, "Umm.. yeah.. Just a small argument with my son. " Shrugs it off as he sits down and brielfy looks at a magazine.. something to do with fighting moves. he quickly tosses it. "We don't see eye to eye on great deal of things. " Seifer, "Ah," does not pry further, as he does not want to seem nosey. "Ah, you don't seem okay to me," he finally blurts out. "Wanna talk about it any?" Laguna looks out a window, "I think deep down he feels I abanded him though.. he won't admit it to anyone. I am clueless on how to handle a teenage son I never knew existed until recently." Seifer, "Squall's not your average teenage kid either. He's got the brain and cynicism of a 40 year old, I swear. I can understand how you feel though, and I'm guessing he doesn't know how to deal with suddenly having a father either, but I think you'll work it out," he pauses for a moment, feeling philosophical all of a sudden he turns to face Laguna properly. "That was kind of cliche wasn't it? But it sounded good in my head." Laguna smiles solfty, "I appreciate what you said. Yeah, I'll keep that is mind and hell good advice is always good to hear even if been said many times before... " He pust his feet up, 'This is a great room or what?" Seifer, "Definitely, I dig it," he replies, taking of his trench coat and putting it to one side. "I was getting fed up of the smell," he remarks with a smirk, referring to his ratty coat. "I'va had that thing for too long..." he adds a little softer. Laguna chcukles, "The style suited you alot though. Now I had a beat up coat.. well I am wearing it now! Hehehehe... I got it out of storege to travel to balamb. I have nice stuff but not as comfortable." He takes his coat off. He cocks his head as something comes to mind. "Sometimes we do hold onto things of the past. Hard to know what to let go of so we can move on in life and what to keep to remind us of precoius things behind us. I guess we are not to dwell in the past nor forget it. Use it to help us in the future." Pulls out a ring ahdn hands it to Seifer, "This used to mean something to me. I want you to have it. A symbol of new life." Seifer stares for a moment, his eyes wide in surprise. "I...Thankyou," he replies finally, taking it from him gently and slipping it on his finger. "A little small, but it's great, thankyou alot, I wish I had something worthy of giving in return," he adds rather sorrowfully. Laguna, "You gave me words that mean alot to me. Besides... Soon we shall be in Eshtar and I will need you more then I can imagine at this moment. But if you really want to givve me a gift? Pleasew tell me about the ophanage. I want to know what is was like there. What the kids were like." Seifer, "Okay then. The orphanage has to beloselose second best to growing up with real parents, Matron was kind and wonderful, and all the kids were great," he smirks a little, and then adds "bar me, of course," he continues. "Squall cut people out alot when he was there... He was friends with everyone, but he had a distance from us that cut him apart. All he cared about was Ellone. Quistis was a bossy tattle tale," he remarks drily in rememberance. "Zell just um... Cried alot... God knows why. Selphie and Irvine just kinda went of on their own... A little like they have now," he adds with another smirk. "I haven't seen them all properly for so long, but I bet they're all the same as before, right?" Laguna thinks a moment, "Rinoa... is with Squall. Quistis is teaching again. Umm.. Zell was on a mission. I think I saw Irvine trying to flirt with Selphie." Seifer laughs a little. "Rinoa and Squall? What a surprise. I had a feeling she'd gravitate towards him some how, and I wouldn't expect anything less of Chickenwuss than to be working his balls off, if you'll pardon my french." Seifer frowns a little more. "Rinoa...She said she loved me you know? I never believed her, she was too young in the head to know what real love is," Laguna, "I have a love before Raine. I was in love with Julia who ended up marring a general and giveing birth to Rinoa. It seems the women of that family like to break hearts I guess. Of course Julia thought I was dead at the time so I am not suprised she married someone else. It did hurt alot to hear from kiros." Seifer, "I bet, I'm not really hurting though, I predetermined it when I listened to her wail for him constantly every time she was in trouble. Like when she started shrieking for me to open jars and fix shelves after I saved her from that damn monster. Ah, whatever, she isn't worth the bother." Seifer glares at the ground for a moment, looking a little bitter as he gnaws on his bottom lip in thought. Laguna, "Hey, I have a question. I know you mastered a gunblade but why did you choose that style? I never could get it to master level but I can use one without blowing a boot off." Yes he was tactfuly changing the subject. Seifer laughs slightly and shrugs a little. "Typical knight's weapon for a typical knight wanna be. That's why I leapt at the chance of Rinoa, damsel in distress, ya know?" Laguna, "if I wear a dress, I can be your damsel in distress. Wait I look fat in dresses... nevermind." he laughs a bit, sometimes joked himself. Seifer laughs slightly and smirks a little "I think blue would really bring out the shade of your eyes, and you have the perfect figure," he remarks drily. Laguna, "I do? " rsands and looks at himself in mirror with a biug smile, "I might have a better figure then selphie? " Seifer laughs louder this time and nods "Definitely. That little speed demon don't have nothing on you," he remarks and stands up himself. "How about me in a dress? What dya reckon, you fasion meister you?" Train pulls up to the eshtar station. People come off and there is a group waiting at the station itself. Black man with a mustache named Kiros and a taller man with a blond beard named Ward. Seifer stepped of the train, his trench coat slung over one arm as his eyes scanned the platform carefully. The small group locked eyes with him for a moment, and he began to feel suspicious, they did look rather dodgy after all. Laguna comes out and waves at his friends. Obvoiusly they look suprised to see laguna with .. Seifer? Yeah with seifer. "There they are! Hey ward, did you two make out on my desk again?! " Kiros looks ass embrassed as hell as the two apporach laguna and seifer. Seifer stares for a moment, his eyes widening a little, he never guessed those two would be with eachother, he noticed the black guy looked a little feminine but the other dude looked real....Mannish. "You know em?" he inquires finally, his voice a little wobbly. Laguna, "They are my best friends! Ward, Kiros.. this is my new bodyguard, Seifer." Kiros shakes his head as he looks at laguna with questiong face. Ward eyes seifer a bit but sighs and claps his fiend on the shoulder hard. Kiros, "Are you sure... " Laguna interrupts, "Yes, he is great at what he does and ... I know the call you made to my son. So I think I know what I want and he knows I am cared for. Got it." Stobborn expression of his. Kiros chuckles, "Fine.. Welcome to Eshatr, Seifer. I will have a room set up for you at the palacuot;uot; Seifer nods a little, slightly put out by Kiros' seeming lack of trust of him, but he decides to treat him with fair respect. "Thank you, Kiros, and if it's not too much to ask, could I have a room near Laguna's? I am his body guard after all, I need to be near by in case of an attack by night," Seifer dead panned, looking extremely serious. Kiros, pauses and smiles, "I planned on that but glad to hear it requested. I will go on ahead to make arrangements. You need anyuthing, Seifer?" Seifer, "Not at all, thank you for asking," he replies, smiling a little in reply, feeling more encouraged by Kiros' seeming freindliness. He glances across at Laguna for a moment. "Anywhere you wanna go?" Laguna, "I want to stop by and get a icecream... Hey!" As kiros leaves, Ward grabs Laguna up just using one arm and easly lofts the man off the ground in a almost crushing hug, "Ward.. you are gonna break my ribs!" ward puts him down quickly. Seifer laughs a little and shakes his head. "Ice cream it is, as soon as your friend there is finished cutting off your breathing," he remarks jokingly Laguna, "I'll meet you later Ward! " He laughs as he breaks away and lets ward take his luggage back to the palace. "They are over protective of me at times... We go this way." leads him to thew icecream shop. Seifer nods a little. "I can see why, you are a very important man after all, and a man who isn't loyal to his friends isn't a man at all, right?" He follows him, suddenly self concious of himself for some reason he messes with his hair as he walks past a window, brushing it back a little, but it does almost no difference. Laguna hardly looks in the window... he doesn't like to for some reason, "Yeah... if your curoius about them? They have been a couple for many years. I was surprised myself. Found them kissing ontop my desk you see so I poke a little fun now and then by reminding them." Seifer nods a little, but he's still slightly in shock. "When I saw them,houghought they where terrorists or something," he dead pans honestly. "Do you have anyone currently?" he inquires, realising he hasn't even asked. Laguna looks suprised he was asked, "I tried to date once but.. Naw. I'm single unless Kiros went and married me off behind my back." The shop isn't big but one can see people walk away with delights. Seifer smiles a little. "I'm suprised, a good looking guy like you single, that's very odd," he adds more thoughtfully "Why didn't dating work out?" Laguna, "Girls were so 'president Laguna!' and not even really seeing.. me. Plus, none of them were my type." He orders a dipped cone. Seifer deadpanned calmly, "I don't eat sweets," though really he liked ice c alo alot. He has a sudden and rather frightening urge to run poison tests on Laguna's cone but decides against it, shaking his head to himself. Laguna, "Awww but I don't like to eat alone. Hey Bill, see business is still good. " Insists he pays the man though it seems they are on good terms and he didn't want the money. Seifer notes this as good and decides he can edge over to the door without putting Laguna in too much danger. He wishes to monitor the people entering and plus he hates places with people. Laguna, "I usualy eat at the park but... that might be too open for your tastes" Said between bites.. "Want a try?" Offering a taste of his dipped cone, shell is choiclate flavor." Seifer stares for a moment. "You don't mind sharing?" he inquires dryly, raising one eyebrow. Laguna, "Nope... " With that smile of his.. "I told you I don't like to be the only one eatting." Cone still offered. Seifer, "Ahh...Okay then, in that case.." He takes a small bite but not much, as he really is not a big sweet eater, just has a special fondness for strawberry ice cream. He smiles slightly, "Thanks, tastes good" Laguna nods and takes a bigger bite, "Yeah, this place has always been a favorite of mine.. si.. W.. Well, not long after I became president and I was still recovering from grief. I needed to get out of the office, so I just walked out and kept walking till I saw thw shop. I thought to myself. "why not?" and came in to order the cone. Whenever I need a break I come here." Seifer, "Ahh. Whenever I needed a break the docks was my haunt. But now, that's all behind me, I've decided to let it go. I mean, I can't be a recluse forever. I'm going to have to do something to get over this apprehension of the public, I will have to deal with them sooner or later." Laguna chcukles, "Good because I do go to press confrences and meetings. I would need you there by my side. " He offers Seifer another lick oon his cone. "I guess we should head back before the wonder if I got lost again." Seifer inquires dryly, "Again?" Then leans over and takes another lick. "I'm not afraid of press confrences, reporters are no big deal to me, this will be very controversial though you know," he adds thoughtfully. Laguna, "This city is so big big... I got lost a few times. " Resfses to admit the few times is now and then thouh he smiles, "Ah, give the people something new to talk about then." Stands up stretching his back, "People don't feel really happy unless they have something to talk about anyway." Seifer replies, "Too true," remembering Balamb Garden's love of gossip. "I reckon I'll know my way around this city by next week," Seifer suddenly announces, rather confidently. "Don't worry, you won't get lost again, I'll know this place like the back of my hand soon." Laguna blushes a bit, "Good... Umm lets get going." Leadng the way of cousre didn't admit he was using the signs now and tho geo get back. This city is a huge place, possible one of the largest. So, not too hard to see how a man can get a little turned around. Seifer, "So, you like this place?" Seifer inquires as he looks around himself, already taking in his wearabouts, since his over confident announcement he's decided he's going to make good of it, since he has quite a good sense of direction anyway. Laguna, "Yeah.... most the people are not fighters. Many of them are nice people who seem to like my as president. The city uses clean energy and we keep to ourselves. The presinetal palace is the largest structure in the city not conting the landing pad. The city uses a clever camalfouge system. Laguna nods to the guards as he sits down on the special seat that will take them inside. Seifer remarks, "This is all very um...High tech,' a little enamoured by all the newness seeming to surround him. "People here don't seem to recognise my face," he remarks, noting he was allowed to sit down with no fuss. "Have they never seen me or something?" he inquires, still looking around. Laguna, "I told you, they are a laid back people. Which made it hard when the monsters attacked... Alot of people couldn't protect themselves. Plus during that time, we weren't getting alot of news from the outside world. They may have heard your name but not alot would know what you look like. " The lift takes them inside. Seifer nods in reply. "Yeah, but Balamb was full of laid back people once," he replies sadly, staring at the ground for a moment. "I ruined alot of people's lives," he adds more quietly. "I don't know how you can even stand to be near me." Laguna pust a hand on his shoulder, "Listen, you were being used by a sorceress who ruined lives of many.. including your own. She has been meddling with people before you were even born! Controlled the other sorcereses to make a world where only she can exist. Someday you will need to forgive yourself. " Kiros comes towards them now. Seifer replies dully, "Easier said than done, my friend," looking to Kiros as he walks towards them. "I should have done something...Anything, I don't know, there is no excuse," he sighs. Laguna, "I blamed myself for her death for years... Oh, Kiros. You ghe rhe room ready?" Kiros nods, "Plus, I forgot to mention you have a meeting to attend to tomorrow." Laguna, "A meeting? Oh damn I was hoping.." Kiros, "If I resheducaled then they would get supsicoius." Laguna thinks, "True,... Well, is it the one with space people?" gets a nod, "Oh.. I can do that I guess." Seifer, "Will you want me to attend this meeting?" Seifer inquires calmly, standing up abruptly and putting on a blank face. What he really wanted to ask was 'who' and 'why' but he felt he should leave it a while. Laguna, "Hmmm.. yeah. I have to go to a building outside the city you see. " Gives the coordernates of the building, "I made many trips up to space, belive me. They want to rebuild the space station that got wiped out I think. Maybe another peice of business... Anyhow, I want you to settle into your room and relax. The palace is a safe place anyway." Seifer inquires, "You sure?" though the idea of chilling out for a while sounds good, as so much has happened, he feels alot of responsibility for Laguna. "I don't mind hanging around by the doors for a while or something..." he motions aimlesslyt ret really knowing how to voice his concerns Laguna, "Please, go rest up. I plan to chill myself inroomroom, unpack, and even clean up. if I need something, you will be the first I ask. Kiros, why don't you show him the room?" Laguna walks off without a chance for rebuttal to his room. Kiros raises an eyebrow at that. Seifer laughs slightly and shakes his head. "He seems quit unassuming at first glance but he's damn good at giving you no choices," he remarks dryly, yawning a little. Kiros, "He is very stubborn and when he sets his mind on something.. that iat. at. " he laughs, "But you have to love him. Actualy he has matured some since his time in the miliatary.. " Leads him to the room next to Laguna's. It is a large suite with a large bed. The bathroom has a shower and a bathtub that two can fit into. Tv set plus a small kitchen.. Seifer remarks, "Oh, this is nice," he remarks, slightly in awe, his eyes locked on the TV. "TV...I haven't watched TV...For...Forever..." he mumbles, then his eyes roam to the shower. "Ah! That's what I really need, I bet I smell very manly don't I?" he remarks dryly, wrinkling up his nose. "I'm going to get clean okay? Tell Laguna I'll be showering or whatever, please," he remarks, flinging his tatty trench coat onto the bed and adavncing towards the bathroom.