Standard disclaimers apply.
Author's Notes:
Semi AU. I haven't played Chain of Memories, and may get some characterisations wrong. If you notice anything drastic, do let me know. Moreover, this is my first Kingdom Hearts fic. It probably won't be very good. Also, seeing that this is a multi-chaptered fic, I cannot guarantee that I will update very often. I'm just hopeless that way. However, your support and criticisms will be much appreciated.
This story runs parallel with 'Running with Scissors' and 'Running out of Thread' (not posted yet). Reading all three at the same time will probably bore you, so I'd advise you to just pick a character you like best, and read one first. Just a thought, the decision's up to you.
Going Through a Haystack: Chapter 01
by: Ran Shizuka
Why do I let him talk me into these things? Demyx is a bundle of nerves. The smallest sounds makes him jump. Nothing good has ever come out of going along with Axel's plans. He has learned the lesson several times over in the past, so why is he here, with his roommate, in Master Vexen's private laboratory, in the middle of the night?
"I don't think this is such a good idea."
Axel is too busy concentrating on the liquid he was measuring to pay his insecurities much attention. Instead, he waves a free hand to shoo him away without taking his eyes off of the measuring cylinder.
"Sush! I've almost got it. Make yourself useful will ya and stand watch or something."
Demyx shuffles over to the front door and leans his back against the wall so that he can peer through the crack of the door. The light that filters through from the corridor paints a vertical line across his right cheek. A part of him has already resigned to the fact that his life is probably going to end tonight.
His friend must have heard his thoughts.
"C'mon, don't give me that face."
Demyx doesn't move from his position, content in making his unhappiness known. "I'm not even looking at you." He can't hold back the pout.
The redhead lets out an exasperated sigh. "Look, I'm telling ya, it's all gonna be worth it. This thing is gonna change your life man. Seriously!"
"If I survive tonight. We're so gonna get caught." He presses the palm of his hands to his face, trying to hold back the panic attack that is building up again.
'Breathe Demyx,' he tells himself. 'Breathe. In, out, in, out. That's it.' The exercise goes well until he hears firm footsteps from the outside.
He takes a hurried peep through the crack, his worst fears confirmed. Vexen himself is walking towards the laboratory.
"Axel." He can barely keep his voice down. "Axel!" What to do? What to do? Where to run?
"What is it? I'm almost done. Keep your pants on."
Why does he choose now to be dense? His legs are shaking so badly he feels like they will give way any moment now. Demyx runs towards his friend and tugs on a shirtsleeve. "Master Vexen's coming!" Tug, tug. "He's coming!"
Finally, jade eyes widen in understanding. "Okay, okay. Gimme a minute."
What?! "Never mind that thing. Axel! He's going to kill us! Come on!" They are too high up to escape through the window. The back door. Yes, the back door.
The blonde runs to the back door and jiggles the doorknob.
It doesn't budge.
Of course it's locked. Why wouldn't it be locked? When has luck ever been on his side?
He feels Axel pull on his arm, and is practically flung behind the cabinet near the front door. There, the two botched culprits crouch in hiding. Demyx may not have a heart to thunder in his chest, but something is certainly making a lot of noise inside him.
"Hey man, we really gotta work on your courage issue," comes a bemused whisper from his left.
'What courage issue? I haven't got any courage to have issues with in the first place.'
The door opens further and the lean figure of Master Vexen steps in. His shadow falls just next to Demyx's shaking feet.
'This is it. This is the end. I want Neoxyvn to have my drum set, and Axydian to have my Discman and music CD collection. Axel gets nothing. Axel is the reason my life is going to end tonight. Granted, we'll probably die together. Death a second time is probably a good form of punishment.'
There is a hand on his back, and Demyx feels himself be shoved, hard, out the door. This is Axel's escape plan?
Well, a stupid plan is better than no plan. Axel is two steps in front of him. He carries a plastic bottle under his arm, filled with whatever he had been making earlier. Demyx follows suit, mildly impressed that the jellies he calls legs could still run.
He doesn't dare look back. He knows Vexen is at his heels. He doesn't need the ice crystals materializing around him to remind him of his pursuer. Axel jumps over the railings in the stairwell to buy time. Demyx runs down the steps three at a time, colliding into the wall at every turn.
Freedom is just around the corner. This is how they snuck inside earlier that night. An open window beckons from the end of the hallway.
Axel makes an impressive jump, clean through the opening. Demyx struggles to scramble through the window after him, but a firm hand catches him by the collar and pulls him back in.
He falls into an unceremonious heap on the floor at the older man's feet.
"What do we have here?" The words are spoken in a cold, quiet voice. Those five words sound like a death sentence to his ears.