A/N: A first attempt at a Kingdom Hearts fic out of pure curiosity. I have been drawn in by the diversity of the fics that I've come across for this fandom and have found myself extremely enthralled (and distracted from my current projects xD), which has led to this sudden need to try and contribute something of my own. Things may be a little vague until I manage to feel completely comfortable dealing with characters that I haven't yet written, so please bear with me and feel free to criticize.
Summary: The ability to see is a given. Taken for granted by most and relished by some. But once lost ... even the strongest of people can crumble. CloudxLeon
Warnings: Shonen-ai, angst.
Disclaimer: I. Do. Not. Own. Thought it would be somewhat obvious, what with this being fanfiction.
Prologue
Stars were always a beautiful sight to behold. Their gently pulsating light shimmering in the darkness of the sky that reigned eternal during the night; each glint, each glimmer breaking through that impenetrable black curtain. These sparks of light had always alluded to peace, to a calmness that instilled itself upon those who basked in their magnificence when sleep became elusive, when nightmares roamed the subconscious, when the loneliness of life and the torment of emotions became too much to bear.
But when dark clouds ruled the darkened sky, all hope was lost – those lights, those magnificent lights, lost to those below. Eyes would dim and hearts would plummet as the darkness would encase them, cover them and wrap them up tightly, adding to their wallowing despair at the loss of light, their loneliness. Yet they would wait eagerly, desperate to lay eyes on their nocturnal companions, the realisation that they were mere specks in this world proving insignificant in their need to find it, relish in it once again.
It was on one of these foreboding nights, where dark clouds reigned supreme and the glacial chill of the wind whispered across the land, that a lone boy sat waiting, stormy blue-grey eyes gazing helplessly up at a sky of desolation. The faintest tinge of hope rose naively within the boy as the clouds parted slightly, revealing but a small expanse of clear night sky. It was firmly dragged down, extinguished, when the night remained as dark and ominous as ever, not a glint of cherished light in sight.
His slight, slim frame shivered violently in the onslaught of the elements and a whimper escaped dry, cracked lips, only to be whisked away before it could even be heard by the merciless cold that refused to relinquish its hold on him. Wind's chilling hands swiped at him, tossing about silken strands of short chestnut hair and whipping it about a heart shaped and effeminate young face. It clawed at his cheeks and his lightly dressed frame, tugging at the thin blue shirt and baggy jeans, coaxing the heat away from his body, weakening him bit by bit.
Yet he seemed to remain unattached from his tremulous body, stormy eyes still diligently watching the sky, fear creeping in and clutching hold of his young heart the longer he watched the sky.
It was not the first time the boy sat here, open to the elements on a high hill. Far from the silent city below him and the majestic castle that captivated thousands by day, which remained nothing but a tall imposing structure in this blackness, he was completely alone: isolated. Nothing but the bleakness of his surroundings offering him a hold on reality.
Something had gone horribly wrong within the huge castle a few days ago, and dark shadows seemed to linger just out of reach, always shifting, always roaming. He was the only one that seemed to notice it though and it frightened him terribly. Something dangerous was destined to happen, he could feel it pulsing in his heart, only seeming to gain strength the longer he looked up at the sky, searching for a sign … something.
Stormy eyes widened imperceptibly at a sudden glint of something in the sky. The boy stood up swiftly, fists clenched by his sides as the object came closer. With a startled gasp, he realised, belatedly, that it was just one of many freefalling through the sky, brightening with glaring intensity the closer they came. Heart pounding in his chest, anguish contorted with fear and anxiety claiming him, he stumbled and ran – sprinting down the hill towards the quaint little town, path illuminated by the objects falling ever closer.
The first crack startled him as something hot and heavy spiralled past him to land bare meters from his body, debris scattering and showering him, piercing flesh shallowly. More lights appeared immediately, this time from homes as frightful people awoke to chaos. The second crack was swiftly followed by dozens more and the boy crashed into the side of a wall, screams stabbing through the suddenly chaotic night.
A small hand suddenly reached out from his side and a slight body threw itself into his arms, shuddering and sobbing. "… Squall? What's happening?"
The boy, Squall, shivered, glancing up at the torn sky and feeling his heart clench painfully in his chest. "… the stars are falling …"
And with heart-breaking clarity, the boy realised that his world was collapsing around him, around them, around the girl in his arms … and he had to do something about it.
Gently pulling the girl away from him, Squall's eyes shone with a deadly intensity, defiance shrouding his being. "Aerith … I need you to gather everyone and get them to a safe place."
The girl gasped and shook her head, locks of beautiful brown whipping about her terrified face as she noted the gleam in her friend's stormy eyes which had darkened to an almost haunting black, tinged by the faintest flecks of silver-blue.
"Go!" with a heated gaze, Squall turned tail and ran from the girl, knowing that she would follow his order regardless. His feet pounded down the street, a strong, and determined resolved rising up within him. He had to protect his family, his friends, the people of Radiant Garden. He had known that something was going to happen, and he'd be damned if everything came to an end because of his negligence.
A shadow flickered into view in front of him, but the boy shrugged it off as a mere flicker from the flames that were already engulfing his treasured town. Only when the shadow seemed to leap up from the ground did he realised his mistake.
Sharp, black claws descended upon him from the form of a hideous mass of darkness and he quickly raised his arms to cover his face … but he wasn't quick enough. A sharp, shooting pain laced across his face and he tripped, falling to the debris strewn ground, panting harshly.
Flames. Lights. Screams. They all assaulted him until darkness finally took over and he fell unconscious.
x.x.x.x.x
Leon jolted up, awake, sweat beading on his forehead as a hand strayed up to absently rub at the scar slanting across his slightly effeminate features. The nightmares, the flashbacks, weren't frequent, but when they came, they were vivid and utterly draining, worsened by the fact that Leon could never find sleep again after they visited him.
Sighing, he pulled his twisted blanket away and swung his legs over the side of the bed silently and then stood, stretching slightly. He rubbed tiredly at his eyes as they glanced over at the other occupant of the room, who remained asleep.
Cloud Strife. The man had returned to Hollow Bastion, now dutifully renamed Radiant Garden, a couple of months ago, moody, brooding and far more stoic than he had been over a year ago. The blonde was driven by his need, his obsession, to find and defeat his darkness that had manifested itself into the form of Sephiroth ever since he had arrived.
But over those months, both himself and Leon had formed a tentative relationship, a slightly unstable, though genuine, friendship that they had grown fond of. They both relished the quiet times they spent together, away from the ever-hyper Yuffie, the slightly intimidating Tifa, the overt and overwhelming concern of Aerith, the crudeness of Cid and the clumsy, magic-wielding Merlin. They were content in the others company.
Pulling his gaze away from the still form, Leon raked a hand through his hair and proceeded to quietly leave the room. Allowing the door to shut soundlessly behind him, the stormy-eyed man paused for a second before heading towards the window at the end of the hallway. Pushing it open, he leant his upper body out and twisted, reaching up and grabbing a hold of the roof. Feet rising off the ground and finding stable purchase on the window ledge, he heaved himself up and settled himself on the roof.
Laying back with his arms crossed behind his head, he gazed up at the clear night sky, eyes hungrily drinking in the sight of the twinkling stars that had captivated and comforted him from when he was a small child, even through the trauma that their disappearance had once caused him.
… Little did he know, this would be his last night laying eyes on their sparkling beauty.
And thus ends the prologue.
A/N: I would sincerely like to know whether or not this is interesting enough to be continued, and also, if there's anything you believe I should change, feel free to let me know.
Review?
