Prologue
If I owned Kingdom Hearts, this wouldn't be on a fanfiction website, and Kingdom Hearts III would've come out A LOT SOONER and we wouldn't have had to wait a decade for crying out loud. That's on Square Enix, not me. Also, Dream Drop Distance wouldn't have happened in the first place.
Also, heads up: this fic's pretty dark. Just saying. Don't like, don't read. I'm talking assassins and big kid language and gore and adult scenarios. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Enjoy!
Rain poured buckets down from hazy gray skies. Lightning rolled lazily from the cloak of dark clouds, and thunder rumbled in lazy succession. The streets were empty aside from the occasional passerby, scurrying home from under their umbrellas and whatever else they could hold over their heads, keeping under cover as much as was possible. It wasn't the worst storm they'd had at Radiant Garden, but it was a dark one, the type that kept even the bubbliest of folks in a solemn mood.
Despite all this, most of the Hallow Bastion Restoration Committee members were out and about. Yuffie was on patrol, but her shift would soon be over, so Leon was spending the time amid the peace and quiet while he still could, conducting research using Cid's computer. There were no lights left on in the room, just the eerie pale glow that illuminated his face as he concentrated on what the display was showing him. There was no sound either, just the clacking of keys as he typed, with the rain drizzling outside the window, accented by the soft echo of thunder in the distance every once in a while. A small pail had been placed in the corner to catch a leak, and occasionally there would be a small plip as a drop joined the others combined to make a small puddle at the bottom.
He almost didn't notice her. Honestly, it was impressive that he did notice her at all, but perhaps that was only because she wanted him to. He whirled suddenly in the chair, his gunblade held before him as he prepared himself for a fight. "What are you doing here?"
She stepped gracefully into the light emitted from the screen, her usual catlike smile looking especially sinister bathed in the pale glow. "It's wonderful to see you too, Leon. How have you been?" her voice was silky and smooth, almost a purr, a voice that fit well with her striking figure. She wore an all-black leather skinsuit, designed to show off her impressive curves, with a plunging neckline and high black stiletto boots. She cocked her hip to the left with a practiced grace and tilted her head slightly, her tall black ponytail sliding flawlessly over her shoulder. Despite its height, Leon could see that it ended well past her thighs.
"What do you want, Charlie?" he growled.
Full ruby lips parted to emit a peal of laughter/ as clear as a bell's. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not here to kill anyone right now. You're my friend, Leon."
"Past experience working with you suggests otherwise."
"Maybe for most people. But in this line of work? I'd say we're real close," she purred. She stepped forward in her smooth manner, but he lifted his gunblade to her eyelevel and she paused. She lifted her hands in front of her, and he could see her blood red immaculate nails filed to a tall rounded point peeking over each finger, like claws on a cat. Or perhaps a panther. "What, don't trust me? I'm hurt, Leon."
"I know better than to let you anywhere within five feet from me. Stay where you are."
Charlie shrugged. "Fair enough." She pulled up a chair from the table and sat down facing him, her legs crossed in a dignified manner. "Don't worry, I'm not here for a client. Think of this like a social visit."
"…A social visit," he echoed skeptically.
"Yes, of course! I mean, it's been, what, twenty years since we last spoke to each other?" She batted her long black lashes at him while flashing him another perfect smile.
His eyes narrowed. "You want something."
Her cherry lips parted, her perfect white teeth flashing in a full beam. "That's what I like about you, Leon. Never one for games. Straight to the point. It's why you're so reliable."
"I'm not patient either. Get to the point."
She sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright, I suppose I will then. Pity. I do love to reminisce with old friends." She leaned forward, fully aware that any normal man would be having a near impossible time struggling to keep their eyes on her face at this point. Leon, of course, had no problem keeping his gaze at eyelevel. "To be honest, I'm looking for someone. My sources say you know him well."
"And who exactly do your sources say that I know?"
She examined her nails in front of her, her lips curved back into her trademark catlike smile. "They say you know the boy with the key," she said softly. Dangerously.
Leon's expression darkened further.
She stood slowly, still inspecting her nails. "You could attempt to lie to me, but I think you and I both know why that won't work. Not with me." Her long lashes blinked and her colorless eyes flickered up to meet his gaze. "You know what I am, after all."
"Do I look intimidated?" he growled.
She chuckled. "Oh, Leon, baby, don't try deluding yourself. Even you know that'll never work. You know what I am. I am Charlie." And suddenly she was inches from his face, his blade ripped from his grasp and clanging to the floor across the room, her clawed hand clasped tight in a vicelike grip around his throat. Thunder rumbled ominously from the distance. She pulled his body closer to hers and grinned seductively, leaning forward. "I was made to be better, even against the likes of you."
The door burst open and Yuffie was there, soaking wet with a hardened gleam in her eye, shuriken at the ready. "Squall!"
Charlie's eyes flashed as she saw the postcard of three triumphant faces at the Olympic Coliseum laying against the dashboard of Cid's computer. She snatched it her other hand and inspected it further with a dark chuckle. "It's all right, Leon, I have what I came here for. Thanks for reminiscing!" her laughter rang high and clear, and with a metallic hum and an electrical spark, her body vanished, leaving nothing but a turquoise smirking afterimage fading into mist.
Leon crashed to his knees, coughing and wheezing, and Yuffie rushed to help him. When he caught his breath, she asked, "Who was that?"
Leon winced slightly, rubbing at his sensitive neck. "No one good," he rasped out.
She pulled him up onto the computer chair, examining his pallid face worriedly. "She was strong. Scary strong. Why was she here? Why'd she attack you?"
"She's looking for Sora." He stared off at the pouring rain outside the window, his teeth set in a scowl. "Let's just hope we find him before she does."