FFVIII: Upbringing
Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII
Pairing: None
Warnings: None
Rating: G
Summary: Squall decides to leave. For fic_on_demand.
"I'm sorry, I thought you said -- "
Squall tilted his head up a little, shifting a little, his stance suddenly just a little more agressive, a little less subservient, but still respectful -- still appropriate for the Commander of Garden speaking to the person who appointed him. "I did, sir. I said that I wish to leave Garden."
Cid frowned a little, taking his glasses off and polishing them, focusing on that for a minute. "Is there some kind of problem, Squall? You know I'll do all I can to make sure you're comfortable in your duties here. Do you, maybe, just need a holiday? I'm sure that could be arranged..."
"There's no problem with my duties. I just don't want to remain a SeeD. Sir."
"Is that an honest answer? Are you sure there's nothing here bothering you?"
Squall's eyes barely even flickered, his tone level and unemotional. "I'm tired to sending people to certain injury and possible death. I'm tired of having to discharge SeeDs no longer fit for service with nowhere else to go. I'm sick of seeing parents bringing their children here and pretending it's just learning self defence. I'm sick of y -- of everything."
Cid looked at him for a long moment, measuring years and emotions and times he'd had people standing in his office, sick and tired of the life of mercenaries. He wonders if he should have been able to predict this. He wonders if, as ever, the others will follow Squall again.
"I see. If you file the correct paperwork..."
Squall didn't smile. But the tension eased out of his shoulders as he nodded. "Thank you, sir. Can I go back to my duties for now?"
"Of course, of course."
Cid didn't smile, either. But he almost wanted to. Edea'd made a good young man out of the sullen boy, somehow and some way, no matter what'd happened and how long he'd spent learning to kill.
Pairing: None
Warnings: None
Rating: G
Summary: Squall decides to leave. For fic_on_demand.
"I'm sorry, I thought you said -- "
Squall tilted his head up a little, shifting a little, his stance suddenly just a little more agressive, a little less subservient, but still respectful -- still appropriate for the Commander of Garden speaking to the person who appointed him. "I did, sir. I said that I wish to leave Garden."
Cid frowned a little, taking his glasses off and polishing them, focusing on that for a minute. "Is there some kind of problem, Squall? You know I'll do all I can to make sure you're comfortable in your duties here. Do you, maybe, just need a holiday? I'm sure that could be arranged..."
"There's no problem with my duties. I just don't want to remain a SeeD. Sir."
"Is that an honest answer? Are you sure there's nothing here bothering you?"
Squall's eyes barely even flickered, his tone level and unemotional. "I'm tired to sending people to certain injury and possible death. I'm tired of having to discharge SeeDs no longer fit for service with nowhere else to go. I'm sick of seeing parents bringing their children here and pretending it's just learning self defence. I'm sick of y -- of everything."
Cid looked at him for a long moment, measuring years and emotions and times he'd had people standing in his office, sick and tired of the life of mercenaries. He wonders if he should have been able to predict this. He wonders if, as ever, the others will follow Squall again.
"I see. If you file the correct paperwork..."
Squall didn't smile. But the tension eased out of his shoulders as he nodded. "Thank you, sir. Can I go back to my duties for now?"
"Of course, of course."
Cid didn't smile, either. But he almost wanted to. Edea'd made a good young man out of the sullen boy, somehow and some way, no matter what'd happened and how long he'd spent learning to kill.