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Relocating to Balamb was the pits, Tidus had determined. If he were in a more lenient mood he supposed it wasn't the worst place to move. The city wasn't overly small. It had several schools, a diverse population, and common amenities like movie theaters, a mall, that kind of stuff.
But it wasn't his Zanarkand.
Everyone Tidus knew was there – his old friends, the neighbors he'd grown up with, even his favorite athletes. The familiar cafes and clubs and big, city lights made Balamb seem like the Podunk capital of the world in comparison. He'd been gone for only five weeks, but he still missed the sprawling streets and activity.
That was, until he saw him.
Tidus had been in the middle of warm ups, one leg stretched out in front of him, when the side doors burst open. He was startled enough by the commotion that he raised his forehead from his knee, but he didn't release his toes. Someone was power walking to the other side of the room. He was tall and wore their school uniform. Tidus would bet the black boots and shoulder length hair weren't to regulation, though.
Not that he minded. With the speed he was walking, the dark strands billowed behind him in such a way that the light seemed to play off it. Time felt like it slowed down as Tidus straightened from his bent position to admire him as he crossed to the other side of the natatorium. Tidus didn't come back to himself until after the opposite doors slammed shut, blocking the other boy from view.
Who was that? he thought. His heart hammered in his chest, beating a tempo that said 'go find out.’
And he knew just who to ask.
After his old man (he refused to call him dad, even in his head) forced him to leave and settle down somewhere less reminisce of his mother's passing, aka Jecht wanting to run away again and dragging Tidus with him, he was determined not to let it get him down. The first thing Tidus did was join the soccer team. And then the swimming league once those trials came up. In doing so he met Wakka; Tidus liked to think they'd gotten pretty close.
It was Wakka's younger brother's girlfriend that was really the source of all the information Tidus could want to know. She was older than all of them and a senior, which, hot, but also really convenient. Her name was Lulu and she knew everything about everyone since she'd lived here all her life and attended the school long enough. Not to mention she was patient with him, a rarity amongst the other students attending Balamb. For being an acclaimed 'open-arms' community, the people here could be rather snooty.
After the Incident, Tidus had changed out of his swim gear and went straight to the old oak tree located on the far side of school. He hadn't even bothered to practice his water techniques. Tidus knew he'd find Lulu sitting under the ancient tree if he hurried. Today she appeared to be cross-stitching in the shade, probably for her family and consumer sciences class.
"Hey," he greeted, a little breathless from running all the way there. Tidus dropped his bag and then joined his stuff on the ground, crossing his legs.
"Hello," she said in kind. Her eyes were trained on the task at hand. From his angle, Tidus wasn't sure what Lulu was making exactly. It might be a yellow bird or some kind of green plant. Not wasting any more time, she asked, "What is it you want to know?"
"I saw this guy today," Tidus announced.
"Yes?"
"And I wanna know who he is!" Without further prompting, he delved into the details. "I only caught a glimpse of him, but he was wearing dark boots, I think? Then there was his hair – it was long, and kind of reminded me of chocolate."
Lulu's fingers went still, the needle partway through the fabric. She raised a finely chiseled eyebrow at him. Worried it wasn't enough to go on, Tidus shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. He was just really pretty? There can't be too many guys here that good looking. Myself excluded, of course!"
"Hm." Lulu slid the needle through a couple times to keep from losing it when she set the project down in her lap. "I may know of him, but why do you care? He is a solitary boy that desires his privacy. If it's your intent to bother him, then you shouldn't."
"I'm not gonna stalk him or anything! I just…want to make his acquaintance, is all."
"I wasn't presuming as much," she said, more thoughtfully this time. Lulu tilted her head, the many braids lilting off her shoulder at the motion. "But very well. He goes by Squall Leonhart. He's in the advanced unit."
"Squall, huh?" Tidus tested the name, and decided he liked the sound of it.
Balamb High School's natatorium was empty of all spectators, students and staff, save two. The first being Squall, who sat in the bleachers and stoically observed Tidus, the other individual there, as he practiced his butterfly stroke in the water. Squall's presence hadn't been noticed yet. He was preoccupied with working on his form, but when he reached the finishing point and hauled himself out, Tidus brightened upon spotting him.
"Hey! Done with fencing practice?" he asked.
"Ended early, fifteen minutes ago." The matter of Squall coming to see him right after his extracurricular activities made Tidus' smile widen. He snatched his towel out of the air as Squall reached inside the gym bag at his boots and tossed it to him. Tidus hastily ran the material over his arms before roping it around his shoulders. Unaffected by the cold floor, he padded over to him on bare feet.
"Did you catch my time?"
"Broke your old record. And of the school's record, for that matter," Squall informed him. The declaration earned him a whoop as Tidus flopped down beside him.
"You know something else? Our six month anniversary is coming up soon," Tidus said, curling an arm around Squall's waist.
This closeness had been an adjustment. He'd seen Tidus with his teammates and friends, offering fist-bumps and pats on the back, but until they'd started seeing one another Squall hadn't realized just how tactile he was. Now, it was hard to imagine things without his little gestures.
Tidus smelled of chlorine. Errant droplets from his skin bled into Squall's clothes, the intimacy unspoken but tangible. Squall remained motionless, his silence prompting Tidus on. He hedged, "We should totally do something special, like…go on a date?"
Squall stiffened, and Tidus hurried his explanation. "Nothing fancy or, or big. It can be something simple like a dinner date, kind of like us eating lunch together, only not in the cafeteria!"
Stubbornly, he stayed impassive. Tidus ducked his head, pressing into Squall's neck, almost imploring, "It's just, we've reached one of those milestone things and I think it'd be cool to hang out with you more. I miss not seeing you after school." His lips brushed under Squall's right ear, in that spot—
"I'll think about it," he said in a hoarse voice. With how near Tidus stayed, there was no missing it – Squall felt the grin against his throat. He was nothing if not respectful, though. Tidus extracted himself and changed the subject.
"Walk me to the locker room? I wanna hear more about what's-his-face, Almay? Have you kicked his ass with a sword yet?" Tidus asked. He gathered his things, giving Squall an ample view of the bared muscles in his back, and nodded in the direction of the exit.
"Seifer Almasy," he corrected, the reaction automatic. And Squall was all too willing to detail about his earlier victory against the older student.
The on-site library was busy during study period, but had many secluded areas for both Squall and Tidus to immerse themselves in each other. Their junior year left them few chances to share classes, so doing their homework between periods presented the chance to improve while under the guise of spending quality time together. Tidus would meet Squall to be tutored, who was in a league of his own when it came to academics, and catch up.
Not that Tidus needed much help; he wasn't ignorant when it came to his schooling. But if his marks fell, then he couldn't participate in athletic programs, same as Squall. So they studied when Tidus wasn't in class or in the water, sometimes interchanging that with time spent on the soccer field when the seasons were off, to make sure he stayed sharp.
Squall was reviewing Tidus' literary assignment for next period. Beside him, Tidus had tipped his chair back and precariously balanced a stylus across the arch of his nose while he waited for the outcome of his assessment.
"Sooo…have you thought about it?" Tidus asked. His voice was pitched low, despite there being almost no one else in that section of the library. Squall wasn't surprised at the non sequitur, accustomed to the other boy's whims when bored, but the topic made him cringe. His shoulders bunched up to his ears and his face pressed closer to the tablet.
"Thought about what?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"Us going on a date! This Friday marks a full twenty-six weeks of you tolerating my antics. Not that I’ve been counting, or anything." The feet of Tidus' chair clacked to the ground and he slid nearer to Squall. He planted a hand on the back of his chair and leaned in. His excitement was palpable through their uniform jackets.
Squall shook his head and corrected one of the lesson questions Tidus had answered wrong. Without looking away from his work he said, "Aren't we dating right here, right now?"
"Technically," Tidus said, drawing out the 'e' and tapering off at the end. Squall wasn't fooled by the dejection lacing his tone in the slightest. Tidus hadn't gotten this far with him by giving up easy. "I wanna go on a date- date with you. I'll let you pick where and I'll even pay. Come on, it'll be fun!"
He snorted, unconvinced.
As he predicted, Tidus forged on. He hummed and rested his chin on Squall's shoulder as he mused aloud. "How about the space center? You dig stars, right?"
"You just want to make out in the observatory," he accused him.
Tidus didn't deny it. He laughed and took one of Squall's earrings between thumb and pointer finger, giving it an affectionate tug. "Yeah, okay. I take it the movies are definitely out, too?"
"…Whatever."
"Figures." Tidus' face scrunched up, forgetting all about his assignment as he put his full attention on picking a destination for their outing. "What about the park? Wait, no, public spaces that open make you uncomfortable. Okay, maybe we can visit your place?"
"Absolutely not," Squall said, unwavering. "Out of the question."
"I'm running out of ideas here! Give me a break."
Squall saved the changes he'd made and shoved the device towards him. Catching the tablet against his chest, Tidus watched him expectantly and waited. His patience was rewarded when Squall sighed and resumed his footing. He leaned forward, their noses almost touching, and informed Tidus that they would meet two days from now, at eighteen-hundred hours, and visit the museum that'd opened up in downtown.
He got as far as the exit doors when he heard a loud cheer, shocking librarians and students alike in its sudden boisterousness. Squall pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation, refusing to turn around, but internally…he might have been enthusiastic, too.
"You're late," Squall told Tidus. He'd been leaning against the front of the building he had designated for their meeting place. Upon the other boy's arrival off the bus he'd straightened up and glowered at him during his approach.
"Yeah, by two whole minutes. Sheesh," he said. Tidus didn't sound put-off, however, only amused. His jogging slowed once he was able to stand next to him.
He'd forgone his school uniform for overalls cutoff at the knee and a t-shirt, with a varsity jacket covering that. His team's insignia – the Balamb Barracudas – adorned the back in shades of black, white, and blue. It made him stand out in this district of the city, surrounded as it was by opera houses and high-end restaurants. Tidus didn't seem to care, only having eyes for Squall.
"Besides, I already bought our passes!" Tidus pulled the aforementioned tickets out of an inside coat pocket and waved them accordingly. "Just lead the way."
Tidus possessing some foresight did appease Squall's irritation a tiny bit. He turned on his heel and started toward the entrance. Because it was opening week and the exhibit was a popular one at that, there was a line to get in. As he'd waited for Tidus' arrival the sun had started to set and now the weather outside was cooling.
Squall regretted not bringing his own jacket. He'd changed into some black slacks and his favorite gray shirt, the one with a plunging neckline, but in the frazzled hours it'd taken him to get ready he'd forgotten his coat. The dark, protective leather was sorely missed. He crossed his arms as he tried not to show his embarrassment at the oversight.
Then Tidus was draping his sports jacket across his shoulders and Squall wasn't sure if he should feel like a bigger fool or not.
"Now you're going to get cold," Squall noted, not moving to clutch the coat tighter.
"I'll be fine. I'm made of tougher stuff!" he said. If he weren't obviously joking, Squall would have balled up the clothing and shoved it into his gut. This was proven further as Tidus slumped forward, rubbing the side of his head. "Uh, the line is moving, anyway. Shouldn't be long until we're inside, right?"
Goosebumps had broken out across Tidus' arms, his attire doing nothing to protect him from the elements, either. Ignoring his protests, Squall tugged one side of the coat around to Tidus' other side so they could share. He was tense for all of a second, maybe in disbelief or waiting to see how Squall would get settled, before the whole of Tidus' body seemed to melt into him.
"See? This isn't so bad," Tidus murmured. He gently knocked their heads together.
Squall was going to say something in response, apart from another couple passing them along the sidewalk. He wouldn't have paid them much mind, but he recognized one of them and was caught off guard. Tidus hitched on his next breath and shot his head up, giving Squall the impression he'd identified them as well. In unison they turned to stare at the two men that had strolled by, who they saw do the same.
"What the hell, old man?" Tidus shouted, accusatory.
At the same time, Squall’s adoptive father said, "Son? Is that you?"
An awkward silence ensued as everyone sized each other up. A woman in a fur stole huffed and walked around them when they didn't move with the rest of the queue. Her actions spurred the group of them to start talking at once.
"Wait, did that guy call you his son?" Tidus managed to ask above the rest. He was ignored.
"Kid, what are you doing out so late?" The man who spoke had wild black hair and scars all across him. Squall recognized him only from a distance. His name was Jecht, an alumnus from their high school. His pictures and awards were in all the school's trophy cases that lined the way to the pool area he'd passed every time he went to find Tidus. He'd gone on to join different professional swim leagues, one in particular the Zanarkand Abes, before he retired. He wasn't heard from much after that.
This Jecht put Squall on edge. There was an aura about him that he'd sensed in others at Balamb High – namely bullies aiming for a confrontation. His body wasn't in the right stance for an assault, even appearing laid back, but regardless Squall purposefully stationed himself in front of Tidus.
"You shut up, I'm not— What are you doing here?" Tidus demanded over Squall's shoulder, his temper flaring.
"You know him?" Squall asked. His stare didn't waver from Jecht's, which seemed to amuse the older man for some reason.
Jecht guffawed and answered in Tidus' stead. "Sure he does! Didn't you hear? I'm his dad."
That announcement put a new spin on the situation, enough that Squall had to reanalyze the situation. Never had he met Tidus' father. He'd only heard of him in passing, and none of it had been kind. The same anger that entered Tidus' voice when he spoke about him was directed at Jecht now. The other boy's hands fisted at his sides, his glower focused and profound.
"Oh! So this is your boy? He's as spirited as you claimed!"
"And who's this you're with, huh?" Tidus asked, rounding on the other man. He raised his hands in exasperation at continuingly being denied answers.
"Ah, how rude of me. I'm Laguna Loire." Squall went rigid, willing him with his mind not to do anything moronic, to not say anything else. It was in vain. "I'm, well, Squall's father."
He wanted to curl up and die, while Tidus choked on air. "Loire? As in, the mayor?"
"Mm-hm! I'm shocked that Squall hasn't told you about me. You're his friend, I presume? It makes me happy to see him hanging out with other kids his age. He doesn't get out much."
Squall hadn't returned Tidus' distinct letterman jacket during this time. He clung to it while Laguna was talking. His father's obliviousness wore on his thinning patience, not to mention their antics were drawing unwanted attention. Squall felt the weight of curious stares and heard whispers around him until he couldn't handle it anymore.
Wordlessly, he stormed off. His gait was precise, clipped – pissed. Squall was at his wit's end and beyond regretting his agreement to this evening.
"Now look what you've done," he heard Tidus accuse them.
"Huh? Was it something I said?" Laguna asked, clueless, in the same instance Jecht told Tidus to lay off it.
A tentative knock came on Squall's bedroom door the following day. His father announced himself and ducked in a moment later, not anticipating permission to go in so entering anyway. And he would have been correct. Squall had hid away in the confines of his room, avoiding the frantic stream of text messages from Tidus or inquiring questions up the stairs. Since that unfortunate run in near the museum he'd wanted to be alone to recover from the indignity of it all.
"Are you busy?" Laguna asked when he wasn't immediately banished from the room.
Squall, situated in a semi-circle of textbooks and computer equipment, raised an eyebrow at him. He thought, very strongly, that yes, he was busy. He refrained from saying as much, already understanding that he couldn't dissuade his father. Instead, he asked brusquely, "What is it?"
His acknowledgement, however miniscule, was snatched upon because his father stopped hovering by the door and took a seat at the foot of his bed. He gingerly moved aside some of his effects to keep from sitting down on anything.
"I think we need to talk." Laguna added, as if Squall needed clarification, "About yesterday night. You seemed pretty upset and it's only fair that we simplify some things."
Squall drew up his knees and lifted his textbook higher, obstructing the view of his face. It was never a good sign when his dad wanted to have a heart-to-heart, especially concerning delicate matters. He just wanted to forget the whole fiasco ever happened, and deny that his father was seeing someone or that he'd been a witness into Squall's own personal life.
As if he'd ever be so lucky.
Resigned, he said, "If we have to."
Laguna reached forward and lowered his book. Looking him in the eyes he said, "Thank you. I know that from the day you were adopted you've acted mature for your age. Sometimes it's difficult for me to remember that you're not yet an adult in these kinds of situations."
Flashing a scowl, Squall tried to wrench his textbook away. His father held firm. Likewise, Squall sometimes forgot how strong he was. Being ex-military, his years of carrying guns were apparent in the way Laguna was capable of exerting his strength when needed.
"Er, that came out wrong. What I meant was, we're family and you have the right to tell me how you feel. You know that, right? I understand how much you dislike change, but…I need to move on. So should you, when you think you're ready."
"Fine," Squall consented, agreeing so that his father would stop rambling. Being reminded of their losses was too much. Laguna didn't request that Squall accompany him to White Blossom Cemetery once a month or recount his time in the war, so Squall didn't inquire, same as his father didn't question Squall's choice to be referred to by his original full-name. They both mourned in their own particular ways.
Laguna faltered here, but said no less earnestly, "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner about my dating someone, but I'm being honest with you now. I wanted to make sure Jecht was worth bringing home before you or your sister could get attached, and I still think he is. Can we give this whole situation a chance, at least? I'll respect your decision if you think I should end it with Jecht—"
"Fine," he reiterated. The honesty in Laguna's words were overwhelming him; Squall could tell how heartbroken his father would be if he made such a request. He'd known (although he'd never admit) from the seconds before Laguna had realized Squall was on the sidewalk that his father had looked happier with Jecht than he'd acted in a long time.
No matter how much he preferred the solitude they'd settled into, Squall could never demand his father's loneliness.
"It's…whatever," Squall said, much gentler this time. "If he means a lot to you, I'll deal, I guess."
He was finally able to retrieve his book, a ploy that allowed Laguna the opportunity to hug him. The hardcover edges dug in, a sharp corner jabbing into Squall's collarbone. What is with everyone being so touchy-feely lately? he wondered as he let his head fall onto his father's chest.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I guarantee you won't be sorry. Jecht is such a gentle soul; I promise you'll adore him as much as I do."
He doubted that, but kept silent.
"And your precious beau will be relieved, too. He's called the house three times. I felt so bad for him—"
No, Squall thought, his eyes opening wide in a panic.
"—and that's why I—"
He bolted away, staring at Laguna in horror. There was no way his father was that obtuse.
"—invited them both over for dinner tonight! To clear up the air," Laguna informed him with a satisfied smile.
Except, maybe he was.
The doorbell rang. Squall went to find Tidus and Jecht, standing feet apart and doing their level best to ignore each other's presence on the front porch. It was easy to surmise how their father-son talk went, if it happened at all. He led them to the smaller of their two dining rooms. It'd just be the pair of them tonight, the meal intended to be a light affair, and Laguna was dead set on conducting business at the cozier of two tables in the house.
There were four chairs and matching place settings at each corner of the table. Tidus forewent his intended seat next to his father by pointedly dragging a wooden chair to one side. He flopped into it with his arms tightly wound around his front. Nobody remarked on it, but Jecht did sneer and roll his eyes at his son's antics.
During the meal conversation was stunted. Tidus resorted to single-word replies and glaring across the table, with Squall not contributing in the least. He picked at his food, his appetite absent, but mostly worrying about the present development in such tight quarters. Squall wasn't sure if he'd need to be ready to step in at a moment's notice. Laguna contented himself with doing all the talking, since Jecht was busy stuffing his face.
"Ellone, Squall's sister, is doing well! She's almost completed her degree in somnology. I can hardly believe that much time has gone by already."
"Well ain't that something," Jecht said between bites, or that was the idea. He wasn't quite finished chewing his food when he spoke. "My boy already has some college offers. Zanarkand University, my ol' alma mater, is asking for him. A full-ride, if he'll just get his ass in gear and say yes."
"I'm still thinking about it," Tidus ground out, the most he'd said at once that evening. Discreetly, Squall sent him a weary glance.
"Please, who are you trying to fool? We both know you'll attend. You'd have to be stupid to turn down the highest rated swimming team in the league!"
Sensing the impending confrontation, Squall tried to grab his hand under the table, but Tidus was too fast. He leapt up from his chair and slammed both palms down on the dining surface as he shouted, "Maybe I don't want to go to your crappy school, old man! That ever cross your mind? The Duggles are asking for me, too."
Jecht slapped his knee, his laughter irritating Tidus further. His face started to turn a concerning shade of red. "The Duggles, seriously? You've got to be putting me on! Why would you want to join those second-rate hacks?"
Their argument spiraled into player statistics and opposing team records and Squall lost any semblance of the debate. He barely followed his own interests outside his immediate involvement, so there was no hope of him understanding what was being listed. Laguna's head whipped back-and-forth between the two as they kept sniping at one another.
The longer it went on the more the situation deteriorated. Jecht and Tidus abandoned the original subject of opposing schools and moved onto other grievances. Squall wondered if there was an end to what they could knick-pick about each other.
"Ah, gentlemen… Perhaps we should…" Laguna eventually tried to intervene, to which Squall shook his head in exasperation.
"Leave them. They obviously have bigger matters to work out," he said. By this point he was drowned out by the escalating dispute. In the end, nothing was resolved. Tidus slammed the door on his way out and their dinner went cold.
This time, Squall remembered to grab his jacket on the way out of the house. He assumed he'd be on the prowl for several hours, but he didn't have to go further than the back door to find Tidus. He was hunched over the bottom step with his chin nestled on the heel of his hand. Switching on the exterior light, Squall closed the door behind him.
When the moonlight was replaced with the artificial variety, Tidus whirled around. He looked geared to fight, but at seeing Squall there he exhaled. The pent-up energy left him.
"May I?" Squall asked, waiting for permission to join him.
He shrugged. "Sure. It's your house."
Sitting down, their combined mass made it a tight fit. Their legs and shoulders jostled in their attempts to find a suitable arrangement. They ended up crossing elbows and pressing close at the hip. Squall said nothing else, biding his time because he knew Tidus would cave on his own terms. It'd go faster if he didn't pressure him.
"He makes me so angry," Tidus opened with. Squall barely resisted a sarcastic 'no, really?' in reply. The thickness in Tidus' voice, coupled with the pink tinge around his eyes, signaled that now was not the right time. "He makes me so mad I can't think straight. It's like he constantly wants me to lose my cool and it's working!"
Not wanting to risk worsening his mood, Squall refrained from commenting how alike the two had behaved. During dinner, throwing barbs and nasty phrases between them, they'd acted equally bullheaded. It was obvious to anyone who looked that Jecht and Tidus were related. Alternately, he said, "Then stop being bated. You're letting him win by reacting to what he says."
"I can't help it! We've fought since I can remember. My old man and I… Well, you've heard me talk about him. I hate his guts, and he hates mine. He's always telling me how much better than me he is or how I should live my life and— He's a jerk! A big, mean-spirited cuss and when he…"
Tidus visibly deflated, settling on, "It's complicated. Been that way since ten years ago, when he left my mom and me. He hurt himself real bad and had to quit the team. 'Retirement' my ass! He was so ashamed he went away one day to somewhere he won't say. He never called or wrote or anything. Mom fell apart because, just like he always claims, I wasn't good enough."
He'd riled himself back up, it simmering much subtler but hotter. His body shook, and not because of the cool weather. Tidus couldn't seem to contain his emotions; he jumped to his feet and started pacing.
"The doctors told me she had a weak heart and it'd simply given out, but I know the truth. He broke her heart and…and when she died…he came back and had the nerve to act surprised! Can you believe that? Now he's uplifted my life here and started dating someone else, replacing Mom! It's not—"
"Fair?" Squall asked. He'd been willing to let Tidus vent and listen to him until this point. His tone must have betrayed him since Tidus stopped mid-step to stare at him. He let his arms fall to dangle at his sides.
"I don't know your dad. I'm sure he's – nice, and all, but he's not… I mean—" Tidus floundered.
"What do you mean?" he demanded.
Squall was unsure why he was defensive. Maybe the stress of the past couple hours had gotten to him or he was upset at the implications that his father was somehow unworthy. He would be the first to admit that Laguna wasn't always the fastest on the uptake, but he was a good man who worked hard at running the city, and that deserved some sort of respect.
Or maybe Squall wasn't as willing to deal as he'd admitted and Tidus' whining exasperated matters.
"Nothing about this is fair," Squall said. His voice was controlled, when within he was anything but. There was a torrent raging inside him. "I'm not thrilled about this any more than you are, but the difference is I'm willing to accept that my father deserves to be happy. So far, you're the only one that's made no attempt to be civil."
"Hey, what—" Tidus started to protest and stepped closer as Squall stood. "No, I get it! Your dad totally deserves to be happy, but he doesn't have to be happy with mine, does he?"
Squall didn't offer a solution. Instead, he slammed the door in Tidus' face, bolting the lock home. Before stomping upstairs he made sure to switch the outside light off.
Tidus walked home, alone, to cool his head. But when he arrived at the boathouse he and Jecht shared he was no closer to achieving tranquility. He went to bed starving, confused, and hurt.
Two hours later the knocks that came on his bedroom door were ignored. He pretended to be asleep, his old man pretended that he fell for it, and for once they didn't have a dispute that woke the neighbors. The outcome might have been a big deal if they both didn't feel as if they'd come to blows regardless.
He rose early, or more accurately he never fell asleep. Tidus buzzed with something. Not wanting to resume the confrontation with Jecht, he changed quietly and left to go for a morning jog. He stretched on the sidewalk – just some lunges and toe-touches since he was anxious to begin.
Tidus followed his usual routes along the docks and then the roads connecting the inlet towards Balamb. The familiarity of the practice allowed his mind to go blank for the first time in what felt like forever. His body went through the motions without Tidus' conscious direction, allowing him to forget how lonely he felt or how painful Squall's rejection? Dismissal? His whatever had been.
(Even the mention of 'whatever' reminded him of Squall.)
They'd never fought before – not seriously. Even when Squall was quiet or distant, Tidus hadn't taken it personally. This was different. Worse. Tidus hated it.
His next step faltered and it was with a start Tidus realized he was sweating profusely and breathing too deep. He stuttered to a stop, tearing off his windbreaker to relieve the constriction on his chest. Tidus clutched the jacket in one hand as he bent at the waist, panting.
For a moment he was confused, having assumed he wasn't pushing himself so hard. But when he straightened up, hands planted on his hips, Tidus realized he'd somehow run as far as Squall's neighborhood. In fact, he stood in front of the Loire household.
So much for not thinking about him.
Shaking his head, Tidus tied the windbreaker around his midsection and cinched it tight. He had a long way to go to get back home. Not that he was looking forward to being cooped up with his old man. Tidus was contemplating whether or not to call a friend to hang out with or a gym he could hide in for the day when—
"Tidus? Is that you?" Laguna called out. He'd been kneeling low on the ground and obstructed by the picket fence, so Tidus hadn't noticed the man. Although, he wore a giant sun hat, so it was a wonder he hadn't spotted Squall's father.
"Mr. Leon—" Tidus almost blurted, before remembering himself. "Mr. Lore—" That didn't sound right, either, or was it? He was horrible with names. Embarrassed, Tidus meekly settled on, "Yeah, Mister Laguna. It's, uh, me."
Laguna laughed, the sound thankfully borne of sincerity rather than jeering. The gesture was charming, maybe? Or more like novel. Tidus had only heard Squall make little grunts in his amusement, never anything this open. He blushed at Laguna's expression, and feeling the flush travel down his neck to his bared chest made Tidus self-conscious and blush harder.
"Laguna will suffice, or whatever you're comfortable with," he said, while adjusting the basket in his arms. Tidus noticed the container, it filled with grass clippings and weeds. "You're up awfully early for a Sunday. Squall won't be moving around for at least another three hours, I'm afraid."
"No, that's okay!" Tidus hurried to say, both hands coming up as if to halt Laguna from disturbing his son on Tidus' behalf. "He, uh, studies hard and needs his rest. I'm just passing through, anyway."
"You mean to say you ran here?" Laguna asked. He stared up the road, as if he could follow Tidus' path here with his eyesight.
He cleared his throat. "A really long run. Gotta make sure to get the blood bumping, am I right?"
"I suppose," he said. His dubious nature melted away as an idea seemed to come to him. "Well, since you're here, do come in and have something to eat or drink."
Tidus anxiously looked toward the house. He couldn't be sure which room was Squall's, but he stared with a little hope and too much apprehension. He would have liked to go in, on the off chance he'd meet Squall, but…better not.
"No thanks. I should probably get going—"
"Nonsense! No family of Jecht's will be turned out on my watch," Laguna insisted.
A twinge inside Tidus' chest caused him to harden his demeanor. "Really, it's okay."
"We've got homemade muffins. You're a growing boy, surely you can't refuse free food." While Tidus contemplated how best to do just that, Laguna was already moving toward the backyard, rather than through the front door. Shifting from foot-to-foot, Tidus made the split decision to trail him.
He went past the fence and around the side of the house, and was met with a garden the likes of which Tidus had never seen. White flowers similar to the ones out front lined the entire perimeter of the yard and grew outward, infringing on the grass and stone walking paths. A gazebo centered in the mass of flowers contained an outdoor table and chairs.
Laguna set down his basket and hat, wiping his forehead with the back of a hand. He'd pulled his long hair back in a ponytail, but some wisps of it had escaped. He instructed, "Make yourself at home. I'll just be a moment. Do you prefer coffee? Tea?"
"Water's fine," Tidus said.
Tidus waited for him to head inside before approaching the table. It was made of wrought iron and decorated in more flowers, although these motifs were yellow and red with green tiles mixed in. It seemed out of place, neither really suiting the mental image he had of Squall, or his dad for that matter. It kind of hit home how out of place Tidus felt being there.
His head swiveled around, as if waiting to be jumped. He felt the beads of sweat dripping down his back and knew he must smell like a locker room, besides. Tidus sat on the edge of his seat, nervously rubbing his knees, and prepared to bolt at a moment's notice while not dirtying the furniture.
By the time Laguna returned with refreshments, Tidus was a nervous wreck. It took him two tries to thank him for the drink. He accepted a muffin to be polite, although after one nibble he reached for more before he'd finished scarfing down the first one. They tasted amazing, but mostly he hadn't realized how ravenous he'd become.
He was grabbing his third helping when Laguna asked, "My, you do know how to eat! I thought only Jecht liked my cooking this much."
Tidus stopped with his teeth inches from sinking into the muffin top. He tried not to scowl at the mention of his old man, unsure if he succeeded. "Yeah… They're really tasty. You also got a nice place. Do you garden a lot or something?"
Laguna leaned back in his chair, cradling his cup of tea in one hand. "I dabble, somewhat. The flowers were Raine's, once upon a time. I'm just the upkeep."
"That's. Um." He didn't know what to say, mainly because he wasn't sure who Raine was. Squall's sibling? No, Tidus recalled Laguna mentioning an El-something.
Misperceiving his stress, Laguna said, "Don't worry! I don't mind talking about her. My wife's death was peaceful, and some time ago."
"You're a widow?" Tidus blurted, cutting the man off. Laguna blinked at him in surprise at the outburst.
"No one told you?" he asked. His eyebrows cinched tight, but he didn't look angry or disappointed, just surprised. "Well, I suppose Squall wouldn't have. He really needs to open up more, but he was young when we took him in. I don't suppose he'd remember Raine very well. But Jecht hadn't told you yet?"
This time, Tidus really did scowl. He wanted to say that whatever his old man did was malicious and absent and wrong. Anything Jecht had to say didn't matter to him, even if he bothered to listen. What he admitted was, "We're not the sharing type."
"Hm." Tidus wasn't sure what he expected, but when he glanced up from his cup of water, Laguna was giving him a peculiar little smile. "I think I understand. My son and I are sort of like that, too. I'm a man of action. When Raine passed away, I busied myself with this garden." He motioned to the backyard, where sunlight had started to dissipate the morning dew. "At first it was a distraction. I was just an aspiring writer back then, so it kept my hands busy when the kids were at school."
It made sense, even if it hurt for Tidus to think about. When his mom died and Jecht came waltzing back into his life like a wrecking ball, Tidus had done everything he could to avoid him. He'd dedicated his life to sports. If he'd stopped, even for a moment, he might start crying and never stop.
"Is that why you're seeing my old man?" he blurted. It came across more accusatory than he'd prefer, even if the sentiment was there. Should Laguna want another 'distraction' then it wasn't any of his business. Tidus could relate in some respects, but it was still a difficult concept to swallow.
Laguna didn't look offended at the blunt question; in fact, he hadn't lost his previous expression as he said, "You know, it was easier to take care of the flowers than myself. Sometimes I think Squall and Ellone are stronger than I am. But I've been tending these flowers for…oh, ten years? Twelve? At some point I stopped counting the days.
"To answer your question, no, I'm not seeing Jecht because he reminds me of my past. Quite the opposite, in fact. There's a whole future ahead of us, and we both agreed that we'd like to share it together, make new memories. Wouldn't you?"
Tidus could feel his expression crumbling along the edges. He would like that, but the way things were going, there was no telling if Squall had any intention of making this work. Theirs might be a fling, for all he knew. Tidus had to resist looking up at the house again and seeking answers that wouldn't come as he said, "Maybe, yeah."
They didn't speak for three weeks.
Squall avoided the wing containing Balamb's pool, although it was a near thing. He'd catch himself in the process of heading in that direction during certain parts of his day. Sometimes Squall would get as far as the bleacher doors before skirting down a nearby hallway.
He still possessed Tidus' varsity jacket from their failed date, too. Squall hadn't the chance to return it during the subsequent failed dinner, and he wasn't about to be caught sneaking around to return it. So it haunted his bedroom, still smelling of chlorine and Tidus' body spray. In a fit of pique he'd shoved it under his bed.
It seemed wherever he looked or whatever he did reminded him of the other boy. Until Squall forced himself to make the effort he hadn't realized how…not dependent, but rather accustomed to spending his free moments with Tidus he'd become. This was never so apparent until Squall took his lunch that first instance without him. Tidus had approached the table they used to share, but when he spotted Squall across the room with his own group of classmates, his face had become crestfallen and he'd taken his tray to go eat with his teammates
Rumors of their separation quickly spread after that.
Selphie – who for reasons Squall couldn't explain had made it her life mission to pester him since they were children – pried, needled, and hounded him at every opportunity about his relationship status. She'd mention school functions like the upcoming dance and whether or not Squall was available, her head bobbing meaningful at Tidus whenever he was near. For every instance, Squall found somewhere else to be.
His reactions, or lack thereof, fueled the teenage gossip circles. It couldn't be helped, though. The fact of the matter was Squall didn't have any answers to give. Although if he had known whether or not he and Tidus had broken up, he did not intend to tell anyone.
During the fourth week things changed, and he got his answer.
At the infirmary, Squall frowned cross-eyed at the nurse on duty as she treated the diagonal cut across the bridge of his nose. Whatever she was doing stung, but he only grunted at the occasional sharp jab of pain. She'd put the finishing touches on the laceration and left to fill out paperwork and contact his father when Tidus burst into the room.
He was soaking wet and dripping all over the floor. His uniform was haphazardly thrown on; what buttons he'd attempted to do were set in the wrong order and his jammers were visible above the hem of his undone pants. Tidus panted as he stood in the doorway, hands braced against the frame, and stared at him in dawning apprehension. He was on Squall before he could sit upright on the examination table, stumbling into the chair the nurse had occupied the previous minute. Tidus clutched his wrist with both hands.
Affronted, Squall asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious? I heard from Wakka that his brother's girlfriend, Lulu, was talking to Rikku when Zell told her that the entire wrestling team saw you and Seifer fight to the death! I ran over here as soon as I heard the news," he said rapidly.
Squall let his eyes fall closed and tried to pull his hand free, but Tidus would have none of it. He clung harder, and Squall snapped his eyes back open to glare at him. "You didn't have to come."
"I heard the nurses talking in the hallway. They said you lost a lot of blood and that it's going to scar!"
"I don't care. Let go," he ordered, sitting up straighter to gain some leverage. Squall was lightheaded, and a tug from Tidus was all that was required to pull him into a hug. He grunted as his cut, covered in thick bandages, knocked into the junction between Tidus' shoulder and neck, jarring him. His damp clothes were cool against Squall's fevered skin, which smelled like that damn chlorine that clung to him and his clothes and—
"I was scared," Tidus admitted, delicately enough that Squall had to strain to hear him. "I was really, really scared. When Wakka told me about it, I'd thought you were stabbed or lost an arm."
Sighing, Squall let slip his eyes a second time. He lolled his head to the side and alleviated the pressure on his forehead, but continued resting against Tidus' body. Wetness that may have been water or something else dropped into his hair. Squall assured him, "It wasn't as melodramatic as all that."
"I'm sorry," Tidus blurted, and like a flood the apologies came. He wanted to atone for 'forcing' him on that ill-fated date, for how he'd behaved over dinner, for all the times he ignored him (which he digressed a short while about how he wasn't really, since he thought about Squall constantly and the swim team was sick of his endless pining), and everything else under the sun.
Squall had to interject around the ridiculous parts where Tidus was sorry about not appreciating him properly and showering him in gifts. He shushed him, firmly but not unkindly, and pushed himself away as far as his arms would allow. Squall asked, "Do you remember when we first met?"
Tidus laughed, the sound warbling around the edges, but it wasn't sad. "Yeah. You used the pool as a shortcut to the gym. It took me four days to get up the nerve to talk to you…"
Squall is in a rush. Irvine had detained him for too long, talking nonsense about the new first-person shooter video game he'd bought. He bursts through the double doors and practically jogs past the pool on his left. His boots clack on the hard floor when someone calls out to him. This is the last thing he needs. Squall disregards whoever it is, but they are persistent.
"Yo! I know you can hear me." Squall whips around, intending to snap at the person to leave him alone, but no one is in his immediate line of sight. "Down here!"
He looks into the water and sees another boy there. They're crossing both arms over the edge and the rest of him is floating in the pool. It's difficult to make out, but past the surface he notes the school colors adorning their swimwear. He must be another student, although he doesn't recognize him. Perhaps a recent transfer? Not that it matters much.
"What do you want?" he asks.
The boy ignores the bluntness of Squall's question and grins, asking in return, "I've seen you come by here a couple times. Where are you always going in such a hurry?"
"Fencing practice, and I'm missing it," he says, intent on resuming his trek.
He trails him, following Squall's path in the pool. "Oh, that's neat. When I was a little kid I had a wooden sword I'd play-fight with my friends. We'd hang out on this island outside the city limits every day doing that."
Squall stares ahead. His pace is quick and he almost reaches the exit.
"Whoa, watch it!" the boy warns him.
Squall yelps in tandem as he loses traction and slips into the pool. He tumbles on top of the stranger, whose catch is true, but awkward, as limbs mesh and bones collide. Their combined weight and his momentum send them crashing to the bottom. Squall recovers, concentrating on opening his eyes and not inhaling the water; a few bubbles escape in spite of his efforts.
The swimmer is above him, hair fanning out around his face and already tan skin a shade darker as lights from the rafters shine from behind him in a blurry array. His eyes match the water almost perfectly, so close to blending in, but bluer. Then the boy is tugging Squall to the surface and they both gasp for air. Squall coughs, supported by the other student as he recovers from the fall.
"Don't worry, I got you," he soothes. He lightly pats Squall on the back. Eventually, he swims them over to the perimeter, where Squall shoves him away and grabs hold of the grating. His eyes sting from the chemicals and his nerves are shaken. "Are you hurt? Do you need me to get a nurse?"
"No," Squall declines. His breathing gradually returns to normal, though his pride had drowned without him. He is mortified at the misstep and that this stranger was witness to it.
"If you're sure," he says, surprising Squall for not pushing the issue. "I'm Tidus, by the way. You're Squall, right?"
But evidently the boy knows his name, and can tell everyone about the accident. Humiliated, he hauls himself out of the pool without comment. His uniform is saturated and heavy, dragging him back into the water. He angrily brushes his bangs out of his face and claws his way onto the concrete.
"Wait!" Tidus grabs him by the pant leg to halt his leaving. It's hard not to shake him off or kick. "I have spare clothes you can borrow. You'll chafe walking around in these."
Squall has a change of attire already stashed in his locker; his warm up suit and protective gear are shoved inside with his fie mask and shoes. Squall hesitates in pointing this out, although he can't say why. He frowns at the hand still grasping the dripping hem of his pants and then refocuses on Tidus' face.
"Why do you care? Why are you helping me?" Squall finally asks.
A smile, so genuine it hurts to look at, is directed at him. It is the first of many that are meant solely for Squall.
"You were cute, like a kitten at bath time," Tidus recounted. At the description, Squall scoffed and slumped back onto the examination table. Tidus allowed him to rest, but didn't release him altogether. He still kept a firm hold on his hand, his thumb circling the back of it in soothing motions.
"Be honest – does it hurt?" he asked, inclining his chin toward Squall's head wound.
A curtain separating them from the cot over burst aside to reveal Seifer. His face had a bloody patch across his face, mirroring Squall's. "Yeah, your blubbering and his pubescent romance is killing me."
"You!" Tidus shouted and shot out of his chair. He pointed an accusing finger at Seifer. "What the hell were you thinking, pulling a stupid stunt like this?"
"Aw, is Squallie's girlfriend feeling upset? What'cha gonna do about it?"
"Oh. Oh, that is so it," Tidus growled. He tore his shirt over his head and took a confrontational step toward Seifer, despite Squall's hails that he wasn't worth it.
"Bring it on, shark bait!" Seifer taunted.
By the time Laguna had arrived the principal, Squall, and two nurses were trying to quell the situation. Jecht had to be contacted, too, and was the only person capable of restraining Tidus.
"I'm grounded, thanks to that week's suspension," Tidus later lamented over the phone to Squall. "Only reason I wasn't kicked off the team for fighting was because the season's over. I'm out two competitions when it starts back up, though."
"That sucks," Squall said as he pressed the phone against his ear, reclining on his bed. He was near enough to the edge that he noticed a sleeve peeking out from under the frame. Curious if he'd dropped something, he reached down to retrieve whatever it was.
"Nah, it was worth it," Tidus said with conviction.
They lapsed into a comfortable silence, filled only with the sounds of their breathing into the mouthpiece. Squall was also distracted by the sports jacket he'd found underneath the bed. He hadn't forgotten about it, precisely, but touching it again struck him with some kind of force.
Tidus nervously asked, "So hey… We're, ya know, okay. Right?"
He reclined on his mattress, one hand keeping the phone in place and the other clasping the jacket to his chest. The collar bunched up around his nose. Its fabric had lost the majority of its original scent, but having it close comforted him. In the privacy of his room, Squall buried his cheek into the coat.
"…Yeah, I think we're getting there."
A chime signaled that their guests had arrived. Squall met Tidus and Jecht at the front entrance. He swung the door wide open and barred their path, giving each of them a critical appraisal.
They still stood far apart, as far as the top stoop would allow, but there was no killing intent washing off them. Father and son sported two dissimilar, nonchalant stances that managed to exude the same vibe despite the act.
In particular, Squall studied Tidus' expression to gauge his mood and noted the taut quality of his features. Under his scrutiny, Tidus shrugged and offered a bashful grin, as if unsure of his welcome, but willing to try. When their eyes met, Tidus went from exalting bitterness and spite to something gentler. Coming to a decision, Squall nodded and permitted them entrance.
Tidus flashed him a grateful smile – albeit lined with a lingering tightness – and went to step inside. So did Jecht. They wedged themselves in the wooden frame as both tried to pass through and immediately broke out in accusations of who should have gone first. Squall left them to settle the dispute. By the time he reached the dining room table and sat down, Tidus and Jecht had broken free – using loud voices and quite a few elbow jabs to accomplish this, if Tidus massaging his side was any indication.
"Guys, is that you?" Laguna called and peeked his head out of the kitchen. "How wonderful! You're both here. I was worried that…" Squall, positioned behind Tidus and Jecht, adamantly shook his head and glared for all he was worth. Laguna trailed off while his son's message registered, then changed topics. "Jecht, could you help me with fetching the food? I'm afraid I made too much and can't carry it all."
"No problem! At your service," the man agreed, eager to please (or to escape).
As soon as their fathers disappeared into the kitchen, Tidus visibly relaxed and went to join him. Once again he relocated a chair next to Squall's, turning it around to rest his arms on the back of the seat while facing the table. Small steps, Squall reasoned.
At last, he gave him a proper greeting. "I'm glad you could make it."
"Mm, I almost didn't," Tidus confessed, backpedaling right after. "Uh, my old man and I, we…kind of, somewhat, sort of agreed not to talk about this right now."
At Squall's frown, he tried a third attempt at getting his point across. He hung his head as he said, "We're never going to see eye-to-eye, and no amount of talking will change our minds. But I care about you more than I hate him, see? I'll find a way to make this work, for you. Just don't be surprised if there are mistakes along the way."
Touched in a way that Squall hadn't felt in a long while, he didn't hide the appreciation from his words as he said, "Thanks."
Jecht and Laguna returned with dishes piled high with food and set them on the table. Everyone went about retrieving portions of dinner and getting comfortable – or as comfortable as Tidus and Squall could get, given their circumstances. There was a momentary scuffle when Tidus and Jecht reached for the same ladle, but it didn't go beyond minor competitive spirit.
"So, Tidus," Laguna ventured, taking up the role of self-appointed dignitary once more, "your father informed me you're still receiving offers from universities. Are you excited about any of your prospects?"
Squall had to exert a strong measure of control not to gag on his food as his father bypassed idle chit chat and blindly went for the same issue that had induced headaches for all of them previously. He may have scraped his plate a tad harsher than necessary as he gripped his eating utensil while stabbing his vegetables. Not for the first time Squall wished Laguna possessed common sense. There was a lull as Tidus paused in his chewing, only swallowing the food after he came to some decision.
"Yeah, Mr. L. The University of Luca and Dollet Institute of Technology have contacted me recently—" At the mention of the former, Jecht made a particularly derisive snort to convey his opinion, and Tidus' tone was terser as he continued, "—but it's too soon for me to get my hopes up yet. I don't want to make the wrong decision."
Laguna nodded in understanding and replied, "That's wise. Squall has sent in an application here or there. That's my boy – always thinking ahead! I saw him send out one for that…oh, what was it? Zanarkand University? I think that's the one Jecht mentioned last time, correct?"
Panicked, Squall forewent eating altogether. He found the action too risky an endeavor to continue. He'd almost choked again due to Laguna mercilessly outing him. Two sets of eyes trained on him in surprise, Jecht's fork hanging in midair and Tidus focused one-hundred percent on him.
Squall averted his gaze, but Tidus wasn't deterred. He hunched over and ducked his head to catch Squall's attention as he asked softly, "Wait, you want to attend there? Since when? What's so great about a stuffy school like that?"
The unspoken “why hadn't you told me?” was clear.
"They host some of the most advanced classrooms in the world," Squall intoned, refusing to hold Tidus' stare. "And their law enforcement program is topnotch, with a strong military background."
Tidus licked his lips. "That's cool. Maybe…we could go there together, if you want? I've still got my acceptance letter and you're the smartest person I know, so you'll be a shoo-in."
Squall's head shot up to take in Tidus' shy, albeit sincere posture. He refused to hope because, no matter his reservations or reasoning, the concept of them moving on together was too novel to be real. What Tidus offered was a dreamer's folly and Squall was no teenage romantic.
Although, perhaps he'd been convinced he could be, without his awareness. How else could Squall be compelled to request a form to a college far from the comforts of home? To complete and send in the paperwork, at the off-chance of spending a bit more of his life with someone who might abandon him, like other people had disappointed him in the past? Squall felt immeasurably humbled by Tidus' offer and relieved he'd put forth the effort to apply at Zanarkand University. This moment was so revealing, so precious, he wouldn't have given it up for the world.
Said moment was shattered as Jecht burst into laughter, his deep chuckles reverberating throughout the small space. The man's palm smacked the table, shaking plates and utensils at the force of his pounding. "I knew it! Didn't I tell you? I knew all along you'd follow in my footsteps and attend Z.U. I should have bet money, I'd be rich!"
"Shut your face," Tidus snapped, his retort lost in his father's jollity.
The stands were packed full of people, with each team demonstrating a good number in supporter attendance. Squall managed to claim his usual spot in the stands. The home team was situated in that area, for starters. Even if someone hadn't been aware that it was Squall's unspoken, designated seat, a glare from him would have sent them running.
Their fathers were there, too. A small crowd surrounded Jecht, new and old fans alike requesting his autograph or a selfie. Squall paid no attention to their gushing and altogether nauseating display to concentrate on the swimmers trickling out to the pool to practice.
"Isn't this exciting?" Laguna asked. He needed to shout – in his son's ear, no less – to be heard. Squall winced, but he nodded. He'd never actually attended any of Tidus' relays, and aside from supporting Squall's sports activities his father hadn't experienced anything this active, either. Neither of them were accustomed to such a rambunctious gathering. Fencing did not receive nearly this level of excitement.
"I'm going to get us some snacks. Hold down the fort, all right?" Laguna asked, and rose to leave. Squall waited expectantly for when his father ran back. "And if I haven't returned before Tidus' turn comes up, root twice as hard for me, okay?"
"Got it," he promised.
His father was gone for real this time. The whole bench jostled as Jecht took the empty seat that Laguna vacated. He must have escaped his throng of admirers. "Hey kiddo, you enjoying the meet so far?"
"Yes, Mister—"
"Tch, none of that crap," Jecht scoffed, and idly waved a hand. "Calling me that makes me feel ancient. You're Laguna's boy! You're welcome to call me by my first name. All my friends do."
"Yes, sir," he said instead, earning him a sidelong glance that he paid little mind. Tidus wasn't due for a couple rounds, but he concentrated on the different goings-on, regardless.
"So what're your thoughts on the opposition?"
Squall didn't even have to think about it. "Tidus alone could beat the Tribia Tonberries, but as a team our school is unbeatable."
"Yeah," Jecht agreed, sounding a bit taken aback by his seriousness, but he grinned at the mention of his child. "Yeah! Like father, like son. He'll blow them out of the water come the diving event.
"Watch it, I bet he'll perform the Sublimely Magnificent Jecht Dive Mark III. It was my special back in the day, but no one else save me has managed to master it after I invented the technique. I've seen him practicing it outside the houseboat the past couple weeks, so if anyone's capable of it, it's him. He's, ya know, skilled like that."
The pride in his statement piqued Squall's curiosity because, if he didn't know better, he'd claim that Jecht's features had softened. The possibility of the two of them resolving their differences in the future (a very distant future) might not be as farfetched as he'd assumed. If his change in demeanor were true, then the moment didn't last as Jecht looped a toned and muscled arm around Squall's shoulders. "So hey, know what else he took after me?"
Thankfully, the statement was never completed as Laguna chose that moment to make his reappearance. He carried a cardboard container with drinks and a bag of popcorn. Given that his spot was now occupied by Jecht, he opted to sit in the other man's lap. On the positive side of things, Jecht released Squall's shoulders, but on the negative side, the picture of his father cuddling Tidus' father was so weird within itself that Squall was too mortified to acknowledge them for the rest of the night.
The locker room was empty, the quiet helping to sooth Tidus into 'his zone.’ He sat perfectly still, both hands on his knees and eyes clamped shut. Squall had taught him the technique, to help him curb his frustrated and nervous energy into something productive. He remembered long fingers trailing along his nose, his forehead, his temples – easing away the tension – and a steady voice giving him guidance.
When he was as prepared as he was going to get, his name happened to be called over the PA system, and he walked out to the dive area to see ecstatic faces. He smiled, waving to his team and the crowd, and then scaled the diving ladder. By the time he reached the top there was absolute silence. Tidus got into position and ignored the world. If he lost his focus, then he'd be done for.
Tidus jumped.
He twisted through the air, tacking on an additional rotation than even the renowned 'Jecht Dive' was anticipated to have, and barely made a splash. He allowed his body to sink, cocooned in the temperate waters, before he swam to the surface. His surroundings had exploded in his absence, relative score high enough for Balamb High School to win and go on to the finals. Everyone present was on their feet and clapping.
Tidus cheered, searching for a specific seat in a certain row. Squall had stood up, also, and was giving him a round of applause. Their parents were the loudest people there. Tidus had to blink his eyes, the air too dry or something else agitating them.
As soon as he tried to exit the pool he was assaulted by his teammates. Before his head was playfully dunked under the water, Tidus knew what he saw. He'd needed to squint to make out the finer details, but he wasn't hallucinating: Squall was wearing his letterman jacket. He had wondered where that had gone off to.
Tidus couldn't say as he minded.