"Anomalies Of Life"
By MsViral
Rating: M (for violence & future sexual situations)
Main Pairings: Zemyx, hints of AruRoku
Authors Notes: Yay! My first Kingdom Hearts fan fiction! This idea just popped into my head one random day when I was drawing Demyx and Zexion... and really, it's best I get these ideas written out ASAP or risk loosing them!
The writing style may seem odd, but please bear with me, as I'm trying out some new ways of writing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the characters. I do, however, own KHII game, KH: Chain Of Memories manga, and KHII manga.
Prologue
Face down in a pool of red… slowly spreading, turning the carpet ever blacker, seeping into the floor boards, forever leaving a stain… a reminder…
Men – blurs of black and blue, silver glinting in their grasps, inaudible voices speaking in hushed static, flashing lights of red and blue across the white, white ceiling… flashing across the stains on the floor, the smear on the walls, the awful, terrible scent of copper and meat stinging and assaulting the nose…
Crying… so soft, barely there – a woman, sobbing in the dark corner… a mess of brown, streaked black, falling over pale, oh so pale shoulders… bare, pale skin, smeared in that horrible red – everywhere, smeared on white silk, clotted on bruised flesh, purple and yellowed skin puckered, dried with blackened scabs…
A child… standing among the red, so untouched, so clean… pale, oh so pale skin, flawless and innocent. Dark hair, midnight shimmer, falling over dark brows, forehead lightly creased with concentration. Dark eyes, dark and cold… cobalt blue, emotionless, shifting, inconsistent, but so lifeless, so uncaring…
Hushed static – hisss-click-hissss-click – white noise, comforting in this uncomfortable, noisy world of flashing lights and men with silver grasped in shaking hands. Eyes moving to the woman, then to the child – the woman shivering, grasping something dark, smeared, unclean… pale fingers entangled in black, stained…
And then everything was white – washed, bathed in it, and the noise seemed to fade, vanish… dark gaze becomes unfocused as thoughts strain-
'…mommy?'
Cold hands – shocking, deathlike grip, the child screams, lashes out – nothing there, the grip tightens, and the child realizes it's his head that hurts, it's his mind that has been attacked – this grip, tightening slowly, agonizingly slow, pulling and squeezing, ripping screams-
'AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-'
Blackness, darkness, endlessly… floating… oblivion… voices fading in and out, soft hissing static, white noise, shaking him, pulling him, asking, pleading; 'why, why, w-'
xXxXxXx
"WAKE UP!" Gasping, I bolted up, my body broken in a cold sweat, shuddering, shaking, not quite aware, but at the same time, all too aware- the dreams again, always, forever there, haunting…
"HEY! Are you UP yet?" A voice, gruff and slightly irritated.
Shivering despite the heat that flowed in through the open bedroom window, I gaze over to my door where the voice spoke from. My land lord – my tormentor when it comes to that time of the month… is it the 15th already? Glancing at my calendar, I bite my lip and realize that; yes… my rent is due. Giving a shaking sigh, a brush of slim fingers through bluish-silver hair, I push away the comforter and place my bare feet on cold, hard floors and stand.
"Are you hearing me? Zexion! You're NOT getting out of it this month, you ARE paying me TO-" My door opens, my fingers still lingering around the silver handle as I gaze quite impassively at the man outside my room, who has momentarily stopped his shouting, jumping back slightly at my sudden appearance before him. His grey eyes dart all over me- my slack, limp hair, falling over half my visage and giving him one lone, dark eye to stare blankly back at him; my shirtless chest, still shiny with cold sweat, so pale and flawless, so skinny and almost unhealthy; my black lounge pants, drawstring tied loosely and riding low, so dangerously low on narrow hips; and the frown marring thin lips, my mouth is drawn in a displeased manner.
"Mister Orion, as I've told you several times before… I do not take kindly to being so rudely awoken." Cold, impersonal, indifferent. He listens- yes, he's always so polite once I've started talking- he's afraid, so afraid, I can smell it on him, he reeks of it, flowing from him like filth, black and hateful. Eyes dart to my face, his posture straightens a bit- trying to intimidate me with his height, I truly pity him.
"Yes, well… I do no take kindly to your tardiness with rent. And I've put up with your cool indifference and superiority complex long enough… pay up, now- or do I need to get the local enforcement involved?" Palm face up, held out towards me, his skin cracked and dry, so hideously burned and darkened from so much sunlight. My visible eye, cool and calm, gazing so impassively at this outstretched appendage. His gaze has hardened, his resolve fixed, a warning look cut my way should I cause trouble.
"…one moment, then…" Barely concealed hate, I turn from him and walk to my bureau, stained dark mahogany wood smooth under my touch as I pull open the top drawer. Laying within; paperwork, so much of it, spidery handwriting, elegant and curling, signatures and stamps; an envelope among the papers, puckered and bloated, overstuffed with the flimsy green currency this intolerable man demands of me. I slide the munny out, slowly sifting through the smaller bills to the larger bills, all the while my mind elsewhere, the dreams always lurking so close to the surface. I turn back, legs carrying me back to the door as I slide the correct amount away from the rest and hold it out to him; once again I catch his gaze wandering over me. How disgusting…
"'bout damn time…" Mumbled, but still heard, his calloused hand brushing mine, and I repress the urge to shudder from the feeling of his coarse skin against my fingertips.
"I apologize for the lateness, but it's all there… count it yourself if you don't trust my word." Without a second thought or word, I close the door on his slightly narrowed look, his ungroomed brow furrowed and eyes glaring. A man I truly loathe, and whose thoughts I don't dare to venture into… and for once, I'm glad that so many of mankind is simple and easy to read, that I don't even need to bother delving into their minds to find the hidden intent- it's so often found right there on the surface.
Late August in Hollow Bastian was insufferable, as the humid air wafted into my room, the air so stiff and warm that it almost hurt to breathe it in, to make one almost hold their breath to stave off the uncomfortable, unsavory air from entering their body, only to realize that, sadly… you need to take that next breath, that next inhale, to continue living. Moments of quiet reflection come to me rarely that I've learned to cherish them, even if they are brief and pointless. Sighing, I rake a hand through my hair and walked back to the bureau to put away the rest of my munny, doing my best not to let my thoughts linger back to the dreams…
xXxXxXx
From the time I was old enough to walk on my own, I found myself to be extremely… restless.
The only problem with being restless… the city streets were always crowded, packed with humans, their endless talking, shouting, constantly moving, going, breathing, thinking… and in my restless times, I had no relief from it. Whether I liked it or not, to stop this itch, this irritating urge to walk, I had to endure the constant presence of others crowded around me.
Hollow Bastion was once a beautiful city, or at least it's what I've been told. The buildings on the east side of town are nothing more than crumbling structures, rotting planks and chunks of concrete not suitable for most to live in except for those who had no other choice. My own place… the small loft above the book store, it was at least livable, though it was a bit small.
The town was divided a few years back, for whatever reason, into thirteen sectors, ranging from the high society, to the middle class, to the slums. Each sector had its own task force, a local law enforcement, and none of them were particularly… pleasant. I had my share of run-in's with them to know it's better to skim under their radar then get in their way.
I lived in Sector VI, considered the 'Upper Middle Class', which means I'm well off, but not by much. I suppose I should consider myself lucky that I'm where I'm at, with the sort of situation my life is in.
"Watch it!" Grunting, a local pedestrian shoves past me, startling my thoughts. I hate these people… I cast a look back to see the mans back moving away, shoulders hunched over and legs taking long strides as he moves through the crowd. The idea flows through my head to give the man a rather nasty nightmare and leave him sobbing on the ground, but I'm exhausted already from the heat, and honestly… he wasn't worth it.
Fixing the strap of my bag across my chest, I continue walking, no particular destination in mind, and with nowhere I was needed. Now, where was I? Oh yes…
What made my own situation so peculiar, so different from those around me, was my inability to travel outside the sector. The ruling government had decided it was too risky to leave me to run free… and with a hot iron, branded me with their number and, with all intent and purpose, have imprisoned me within this city for life. The thought of the burn mark upon my flesh sends shivers of pain down my spine- my fingers twitch just the slightest, the urge to reach for that abused piece of skin and soothe it tempting… but in all likihood, would draw unwanted attention towards myself, and the urge passes as quickly as it came.
Another bump, this time a young woman, and poor thing- she looks so embarrassed as she bows and spouts dozens of apologies to me, her cheeks such a soft rosy pink and eyes like sapphires- hair bleached blonde to almost white, skin so pale it rivals my own fairness, powdered dress reflecting light and the thought that this girl must be an angel sends my heart racing as her eyes briefly connect to mine.
"I…" I'm not sure what I was going to say, or why I spoke. She smiles- so soft, so sweet, so innocent- then in a flash, she's turned and continued walking, gone, vanished into the crowds as I'm left to stand there, watching, wondering why the sight of her confuses me, sends my heart racing, inspires… fear?
Running a shaking hand through my hair, I turn back and once more continue walking, switching my hand from my hair to my neck, rubbing absently at the back to work out a kink. My shirt- black, always black- sticks to my back in an uncomfortable manner, sweat leaving my skin feeling unclean and filthy, so filthy… jeans worn low on my hips, a belt worn looped loosely, hanging, lope-sided, so useless, merely there to be décor- sneakers, faded and scuffed and worn, an old Converse circle barely there. Outwardly, I'm like anyone else, so normal looking- if only…
'-ost, how did I get here, I swe-' Thoughts of someone else, I must have let my control slip, I've become careless. Distracted by my own thinking, I've unintentionally allowed another's inner talking to slip into mine. Closing my eyes, I let out a slow breath and begin the proper meditation to block out this intruder, already frustrated at myself for letting them get through…
'-an't get back, shit… I'll be taken in again for this, what Sector is this anyway? Wonder if this Sector's Subject is interesting…' Eyes snap open- what did they just think? Subject? As in… one of the Thirteen Subjects? As in…
Looking around, before I know what to expect, I've found them- standing only a few feet away from me, and looking completely lost- I can't catch my breath…
Tall, body long all over, limbs lanky but strong, deceivingly weak in appearance- skin, sun kissed, such a light dusting of sun to his skin- dirty blonde, straw blonde hair, gelled and spiked and wild, untamable, fitting… eyes, wide and searching, the color… reminding me of the ocean, not quite blue… hints of green- what was that color? This color that has slowly turned my way- he's looking my way, and I still can't breathe, I'm drowning in the sea that is his eyes, and he's walking- oh God, he's walking towards me, and my mind, for once, has gone blank, how has this one man rendered me so powerless, feeling weak, I ca-
"Hey, could you help me out? I seem to have… well, I think I took a wrong turn somewhere, and I dunno HOW I got so lost, I must be like… three or four Sectors away from my own Sector, and- hey, are you okay? You don't look so good…" His voice was… lyrical, musical, almost beautiful. I'm still trying to catch up, but as soon as he's stopped speaking, his question registers- I take a shaky breath, compose myself, I'm in control again… I fix him with a cool look- indifferent, uninterested, myself again.
"I'm fine." My reply- clipped, short. He looks taken aback, but only momentarily, his eyes gaining a sharp, intelligent look I was not expecting.
"Well… good to hear! So… can you help me out? What Sector is this?" His lips are pink- pale and soft, teeth are white, so very white- I glance down- he's wearing a torn, faded, abused looking tank top- it's blue, not the same as his eyes, more sky blue- he's wearing faded denim jeans, the knees are torn out- maybe on purpose. A tangle of thin rubber bracelets, criss-crossing, colors varying from red, to blue, to green, yellow- up to his elbows, so many of them… I notice, with a slight curiosity and smirk he has a burn mark on his left bicep…
"You're… quite far from Sector IX." His eyes, they glance back up to my face- had he been examining me?- and widen with- shock?
"I… how..?" He then looks down- he see's what I've discovered- the number burned into his skin, it makes my own mark burn- again, I resist the urge to touch it, to draw attention. His hand is quick to cover it- a useless effort to hide something already seen. Its then his face registers something akin to enlightenment- or maybe just realization- as he fixes me with curious intent. "You… you're…"
"I'm nothing." I reply quickly, stopping his outward thought process before he can say any more. "You're in Sector VI, and I highly suggest you find your way back to Sector IX before the local task force finds you…" I turn away and begin walking, intent on getting off the streets now, which have become too hot, too crowded, too noisy…
"Wait!" His cries, I ignore. I turn quickly and duck into an alley, my shoes splashing in murky, filthy water- well, there goes a good pair of shoes, I should make a note to burn these when I get home… suddenly, a warm hand, fingers strong, long… wrapped around my arm, pulling, holding me back, keeping me there. Heat rushes through my face- he's following me! The nerve of him! I spin on my heel to face him, eyes blazing- irritation, anger, so much turmoil in my head because of this one insufferable man who will NOT leave me alone! His mouth opens to speak, brow furrowed slightly, forehead creased, something in his gaze- recognition, familiarity-
"Release ME!" Words hissed from my lips- they drip with venom as my mind spins and whirls, the thoughts coming forth without a seconds hesitation, and his grip is gone- he's thrust back, mouth open now to let out a startled yelp of surprise as his body is tossed like a rag doll- his back collides with the wall, and he hits the ground with a dull thud, gasping. Eyes- they're aqua, like water, like the open ocean, like the sea at mid-day- stare up at me, dazed, but knowing, so smart, far more intelligent then I had given him credit for, and I watch, amazed, confused, as he reaches- not for me, no- reaches for something I cannot see, my gaze narrows as I prepare to delve into his mind-
I'm struck, the full force hitting me square in the chest- I'm flung back, my body connects sharply with the brick of a building, and I'm left gasping as torrents of water drench me, and it feels like I'm drowning-
My body slumps down and my head lulls to the side, too dazed to do more then try to catch my breath, chest heaving with the effort. What was that?? What just happened? Did he just…?
"Shit!" Warm hands, again, accompanied by his hurried words- he recovers fast, or maybe time is speeding up. "God, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that, shit! You scared me, dude- I was NOT expecting that, and not that you didn't completely deserve that after what you just pulled.." Fingers curl under my chin, tilt my head up as his eyes search my face worriedly, guilt written in his features as his other hand comes up, is brushing hair from my face-
"Don't." His hand is frozen in the act, mere inches from pushing the wet strands from my face, and he looks surprised- finding yourself unable to move a limb of your own free will can be rather.. startling. My breath is evening out, and I reach up and shove him back, my hands tingling from the brief contact- I'm on my feet as soon as he's backed a few paces, and he's looking at me with a small amount of suspicion- but after a careful study of his face, reading his foremost thoughts… he's ruled over by… curiosity.
"You're one of them… like me…" He whispers- faint, so soft, barely there, but I hear it none-the-less, and my instincts tell me to dispose of him quickly, or else risk him exposing me AND the others.
"I'm not like you." My words are harsh, biting, and he flinches at my tone, but he takes a hesitant step forward anyway. By now, my anger at the situation is slowly ebbing as I find myself a little curious about this blonde-haired stranger…
"FREEZE!" I whip around, only to then collapse, falling to my knees and gripping my head between my hands as agonizing torrents of searing heat and pain rip through my mind. My eyes clench shut as I hear the other scream, but I can barely hear anything past my own screams. It's just like before- I can't find the source of it, I don't know who's doing it, all I know is my vision is going white, my screams are growing raspy, and there's that voice again, constantly asking me; 'why, why, wh-'
xXxXxXx
Muhahha! How evil am I to leave you hanging like this? Well, that's it for the prologue, Chapter I to come soon! I'd love some Reviews...