Author's Note:
So if any of my other readers are reading this, I want to apologize for not updating my other stories in a long time since I've been extremely busy and tied up with school. This story however was written a while back and I figured I should put it on here. I want to say that this will not be updated in a long time and although I really like the prospect of it, I am not entirely sure if I am going to continue it. But please enjoy this so far! Thanks :)
Roxas sat by the window of his apartment watching the rain trickle down the pane. He rested his cheek on his fist as he leaned into the inlet. He listened to the monotonous ticking of the clock on the wall across the room. The only light in the room came from a simple lamp that cast cold shadows over the walls. The blonde did not seem to mind the cool temperature of the room. He wore a high collared black over-shirt that reached nearly to his pointed chin. White underarmor was displayed beneath the shirt as was a yin and yang symbol hanging from a chain around his neck.
Sirens echoed among the tall buildings bordering the city block beneath him. It was a typical noise of the city and Roxas was well used to it. As soon as they began wailing outside, Roxas's eyes focused down to the city stretch far below searchingly. His ears caught the subtle sound of footsteps coming from the stairwell outside. A moment later, the apartment door swung open. In strode a tall figure covered in a hooded black leather trench coat.
"It's done, then?" Roxas asked, not looking up.
The hooded figure nodded, a chuckle emanating from him. "Did you expect anything less?" He asked in a deep voice.
Roxas scoffed. "No." He turned back to the window as the figure removed the hood from his head, revealing spiky raven hair and menacing amber eyes. An arrogant smirk played on his lips. He easily swept off the trench coat. Underneath he wore black pants and black underarmor. He peeled off the sleek leather gloves from his hands. Roxas raised an eyebrow at the raven-haired man as he removed his shirt.
"What? You don't like what you see?" He teased.
Roxas rolled his eyes. "You disgust me." Vanitas shrugged, smirking once more before sauntering of to the bathroom to shower. Roxas rose from his seat by the window as his phone buzzed on the table. He slowly reached for it before pressing the screen.
A text message was displayed on the screen. His dark cobalt eyes scanned the words, his fist clenching in response. After fully reading the message, the blonde strode to the closet, pulling out a black leather jacket. He shut the door louder than he intended to before he went into his room. As he was rummaging through his desk for his gloves, Vanitas peered through the doorway wearing only a towel around his waist.
"You going somewhere?" He questioned.
Roxas gave him a sidelong glance as he retrieved his fingerless gloves, pulling them on. "Meeting," he said, not revealing anymore.
Vanitas leaned further against the doorway, crossing his arms. "Any details?"
Roxas ignored him, as he swept past. Vanitas frowned as he watched his blonde roommate go to the door. "Fine, fine. Don't tell me. I'll find out soon enough." He grinned deviously. Roxas turned back and glared at him before he closed the door, leaving the apartment.
Roxas tersely ran a hand through his tousled blonde hair before pulling up the hood as he quickly descended the steps of the stairwell. He didn't mind the exercise; it helped him keep his mind sharp and allowed him some time to think without being surrounded by other people. The night was chilly as it caressed his exposed face when Roxas stepped out onto the sidewalk. He immediately turned left, shoving his hands into his pockets. He kept his head low, ducking it into the collar of his over-shirt.
As he walked, a couple of scandalously dressed girls glanced at him, winking and gesturing at him, but the blonde pair them no attention. Roxas kept his shoulders tense and hunched, his strides smooth and even. He turned into a bar that was covered with neon signs on the front. It was not extremely busy, but five men were scattered along the bar and several tables were filled. The bar was a long and narrow one. The lighting was dim and shadows constantly lurked along the walls. Roxas walked through the bar towards the back where more secluded booths lined the wall. Only one booth there was occupied. In it sat a man cloaked in the shadows. Brown eyes lit with a fiery intensity glinted from within his obscured face. His hands were folded neatly in front of him, where his wrists were covered with the dark sleeves of a blazer.
"Number Thirteen," The man's suave voice greeted the blonde coldly.
Roxas slid into the booth stiffly, adopting the man's folded hand position. "You must have drawn me here for a reason."
The man chuckled lowly. "What I have you were merely directions. You were drawn here for pay." Roxas felt the fire within flare at the man's arrogant response. The man continued.
"You have an excellent reputation and an even better record," he began. "And I hear you are even more capable with your partner."
"What do you want?" growled Roxas.
The man leaned forward, revealing a strong chin and prominent nose. "I want you to do a job for me," Roxas's eyes met his, unwavering. "Solo." The man leaned back while Roxas thought for a moment.
"What kind of job do you want me to do?"
The man flashed his teeth, smirking. "It's a corporate job. The company I work for is trying to merge with another. Perhaps you've heard of it. Hikari Incorporated," The man held a deceitful grin while Roxas's eyes flashed with familiarity. "The preside of the company is an old man. We need his son to take over the company so we can bend his will in order to agree with our plans," The man's expression melted away, instead being replaced with a deep scowl of seriousness. "The old man needs to go."
Roxas's nodded throughout the man's background review. He looked down at the table as the man slid a manila folder across the tabletop.
"Here are the files on the president and the corporation. They are extremely confidential." Roxas nodded gravely. His eyebrows lowered at the man's reminding him one of the greatest things that pissed him off. He did not like being treated like a rookie. He was far from it.
"Is there a preference as to how you want this done?" Roxas asked, managing to suppress his surfacing irritation.
The man tossed a hand into the air carelessly. "You're the one I'm hiring to carry this out. I trust you will find a discrete way to tackling this job."
Roxas twitched an eye. He had already analyzed the man before him just from the few details he had been shown. He was young, maybe in his early thirties, based on his voice and exposed features. Roxas knew exactly the kind of guy he was: young and hungry, enough to do everything in his power to improve his status but not wanting to get his hands dirty. Arrogant bastard.
Roxas stood, slipping the folder into his jacket. He shook the man's hand tightly, reminding him he was not a rookie to underestimate, despite his looks.
"I will make sure that your will is carried out smoothly." He said.
The man smirked. "Good. And make sure that it does. Your pay will come once the task is complete."
Roxas nodded once more before he turned and left the bar. The night was tense as he walked back to his apartment. Roxas weighed out all that the man had said carefully, analyzing every word and implication. Corporate jobs were always fun in his opinion. He got to screw with sticklers and he loved the risky thrill of messing with rich bastards. The only bad thing that came with was the requirement to wear a suit, but that was minor. They were relatively simple and always straightforward, as well as less complicated than ones with the mob. But then again, the Organization was a mob itself.
The blonde's mind began whirring as his instincts began to kick in. Poison was always an option but impossible to cover up in an autopsy. Accidents however could always be arranged, and as much as he liked risks, he hated messing with poison. Also, external resources sometimes had to be used, which could be inconvenient. Direct execution was easiest and most entertaining, but had to be carefully covered and planned. While he had an urge to go ahead with poison since the target was older, Roxas decided that a clean execution would be more preferable. It was always a win since it was the most reliable method.
By the time he reached his apartment, Roxas had already formulated nearly his entire plan of action. When he entered the apartment, Vanitas was stretched across the black couch, his head propped against his arms, watching TV.
"So what was your meeting about?" The raven-haired boy immediately sprung upon his partner as he lazily watched the blonde stride to his room.
Roxas shrugged nonchalantly. "Solo job. Corporate."
Vanitas rolled his eyes. "Corporate. Fun."
Roxas scoffed. "You're just jealous that I look better in a suit than you," he called as he stuck his head out of his doorway.
Vanitas abruptly sat up, a dark grin spreading on his lips. He propped his arms behind his head as he said, "And that is why, my friend you get to dress up and I do all the dirty work."
Roxas smirked. "What do you mean, 'dirty work'? I think we're equal on that." He threw the manila folder onto his desk and picked up his tablet. Roxas sat down at his desk after closing his room's door to escape the TV's noise. He opened the manila folder and took out the enclosed pictures, examining each closely. The president was not as old as Roxas had expected, but was listed as in his sixties. He fit his company's profile, which was known for its great developments in science and technology. His blonde hair was streaked with signs of gray and a trim beard covered his lower facial features. His son was definitely young, about his own age. His unruly brown hair was stuck up with use of excessive hair gel while his deep blue eyes were soft and not nearly as intense as his father's. In the picture Roxas held in his hand, the young man held a carefree grin on his face. He certainly matched the report, describing his relaxed attitude and activities.
Roxas researched the given file to even the utmost obscure details late into the night. He was satisfied when he discovered that the company would be holding an outdoor press conference for their newest building a week ahead. And to add to his meticulously calculated plans, the president would be making a speech. It was perfect. Roxas printed off maps of the area as well as the architectural diagrams to the surrounding buildings. He went to sleep very satisfied.
Roxas was struck out of his zone when Vanitas walked into his room.
"I'm going to Traverse Town next Tuesday."
Roxas nodded automatically. "That's fine. My job's on Saturday anyways." Vanitas nodded without saying anything before returning to his own room. Roxas sighed as he leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms. Then he stood and crawled into bed. He shut his eyes, ready for sleep, but his mind kept spinning, thinking, calculating. He was an assassin. It was part of the job.
"That Shadow Strikes Again – Gah!" A young silver-aired man slapped the newspaper down on his desk, pinning it with his fist. "Why can't we ever get a lead on this guy?"
"He's just that damn good," muttered a cocky haired blonde with warm brown eyes that were faded with frustration.
"Then we have to be better!" growled the lieutenant with a snarl.
Hayner raised his hands in reaction to the man's response. "Hey, I'm just sayin' this dude is really good at covering his tracks. He's certainly a professional, so we just have to look for his minor mistakes, right? Then we can put them together to find out more about him."
Riku lowered his head while his arms shook in frustration. "This guy doesn't make mistakes. He's been around for four years and he has the most minimal profile we have!"
"Where did this guy even come from?" asked an intern.
Hayner shrugged while Riku answered tersely, "Who the hell knows. He popped up four years ago and since then he's been wrecking havoc all over."
"Where's he hit?" the intern asked curiously.
A passing cop raised an eyebrow while Hayner hissed into his ear, "He's from out of town," When the kid kept his stare on him, Hayner sighed, pulling out a map of Radiant Garden and the surrounding cities. "Here, Traverse, Twilight, Hollow Bastien, basically everywhere. And he's damn quick, too. He'll do a job in one city and then another in a different city a day or two later." The intern whistled lowly, his eyes wide.
Riku snorted. "And then he'll go and crawl under a rock for a few weeks and disappear off the face of the earth. Then a month later something will go missing or someone will be struck dead in a too-clean fashion to be just an ordinary murder."
The intern rubbed his chin in thought. "What does he look like?"
Hayner released a long sigh, making Riku glare at him. "That's the most stupidest thing of all," he said. He slid a couple pictures from a file over the desk for the intern to look at. "He wears a long black trench coat with a hood. Always wears black and gloves to cover up his dirty work."
The intern looked at the pictures, all remaining hope disappearing in an instant. They were all security pictures and none of his features could be made out except for the lower face. No eyes or hands or anything.
"How does this guy get away then? I mean, he'd be spotted easily if he wears a coat like that, right?"
Riku ran a hand over his face in exasperation as he sighed. "That's the problem. He's very neat and knows exactly what he's doing. As soon as he's done, it's like he disappears into thin air." Hayner groaned while the intern furrowed his brow.
"And there's no way to figure out what he'll do next?"
The cops shook their heads. "It's as if he'll do anything he can get, and I'm sure that's the case since all the jobs he's done would have paid out a considerable amount of money. Trust me, the Shadow's done everything you can imagine."
The intern didn't say anything for a while, contemplating on the given information. "But what about his supplier? Wouldn't a record be somewhere of where he gets his guns and stuff?"
Hayner looked up hopefully at the situation, but Riku shook his head. "We tried that, but nothing came up. We figure that he's linked to the mob."
"But then go in and confront them about it!" He exclaimed.
Riku shook his head again. "The Organization…even we can't mess with them. Sure, we've had them all locked up here multiple times, but nothing major. Plus, they won't leak us any information. I'm sure they have recordable names, but we'll never be able to get them. There's no proof."
"Just a hunch," muttered Hayner under his breath.
The intern sunk into his chair, his gaze lowered. "Well…that's…we're fucked."
Riku scoffed. "Boy, we've been thinking that since that devil showed up."
"What are you thinking about?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing?"
The auburn-haired young woman put her hands on her hips. "Sora, I know you're thinking of something. What's on your mind? You've been frowning all evening. What happened to smiley Sora?" Kairi asked gently.
Sora chuckled, leaning away from the railing he leant upon. "He's still here. I was just thinking about the press conference on Saturday. Father's been put under a lot of pressure by his rival companies recently. He hopes that by opening the new building they'll back off of him. He's still capable of running the company himself, and that's what he's trying to prove to them."
Kairi patted him on the shoulder. "You shouldn't worry so much about your father. He's fine and able."
Sora scratched his head. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Anyways, I've got a beautiful girlfriend to focus on!" Kairi giggled as she twirled around, showing off the long crimson dress she was wearing. She smiled brightly as Sora's eyes lit up, his trademark grin returning to his face.
"Tonight's our night out, so we should best enjoy it." Sora offered Kairi his arm, which she gladly accepted. As the young couple moved back into the ballroom, a certain blonde caught Sora's eye.
"Ven! I thought you said you couldn't make it." Sora exclaimed when he saw his friend's figure a short distance away from them.
The figure turned around, revealing his dark cobalt eyes and his trademark swoop of golden hair over his forehead. He was dressed sharply in a black Armani suit and his hands were casually shoved into his pockets. The blonde man held a calm yet brooding look upon his face that turned into a small smile that almost seemed a smirk as he turned to face the brunette.
"Ah, Sora! Well, my schedule unexpectedly cleared up, so I decided to come tonight," His smile/smirk grew as Sora's smile widened. Just as a passing waiter slid by, Ven grabbed a thin glass of champagne. He raised it so its contents caught a warm golden glow in the party's lights.
"My lady," Ven graciously handed the glass to Kairi, who smiled.
"Oh Ven, always so chivalrous!"
Ven narrowed his eyes, smirking. "A gesture of kindness can go a long way," he said, winking.
Sora glanced around the room. "No date tonight? That's unusual for you, Ven." Sora said, raising an eyebrow playfully.
Ven rolled his eyes. "Eh, last minute, you know."
Kairi giggled as the trio began moving more central in the room. "Then we'll have to find you a lovely young lady for you to dance with! We don't want you hanging around here all alone!" Kairi took a glance around before she spotted a familiar face. She then unexpectedly grabbed Ven's arm and dragged him over to where a friend stood, making him frown slightly.
Kairi noticed the firm muscles underneath his sleeve. "Have you been working out, Ven?"
Ven stiffened slightly, but said, "Yeah, when I get the time."
Kairi winked at him. "Well, it will surely give you a boost with the ladies."
Ven blinked at her before he chuckled. "I'll take your word for it." Kairi laughed as they came upon her friend. She had long platinum blonde hair and sparkling azure eyes. A shy smile played on her lips as she looked up to the blonde stranger.
"Ven, this is my friend, Namine. She works for the Times," Kairi grinned at the two of them. "Well, dance! Get to know each other! Have fun!" she said gleefully before retreating back to Sora.
Namine looked down at her hands nervously. Ven's gaze scanned over the girl skeptically. She wore a slimming black pencil skirt and a white blouse covered by a black vest. The skirt showed off her slender pale legs and ended that ended with her feet in a pair of delicate black heels. Her hair was pinned up in a sophisticated bun behind her head, but a couple strands were beginning to break from the bobby pins that held them back.
"You're a journalist then?" Ven asked curiously. A strange glint shone in his eyes.
Namine bashfully met his gaze. "Yes," Ven's eyes softened at the girl's timid nature.
"Black doesn't suit you," he said bluntly, gaining the girl's immediately attention. "And I think your hair would look much nicer down."
Namine blushed, a fast rush of red flooding to her cheeks. "Y-you flatter me. But I try to maintain a professional look at the office. Just as I imagine you maintain wearing suits everyday at the company?" Ven smirked. Then something dawned on him.
"You're covering the grand opening, aren't you?"
Namine nodded. "Yes, that's my job this week."
Ven thought for a moment when he suddenly held out his hand to her. "Would you like to dance?"
Namine blushed again. "Oh, I'm not dressed-" Ven was already pulling her towards the dance floor when he gave her an encouraging smile.
"Nonsense," he smirked. "Plus if we don't soon, I have a feeling Kairi will march over here and intervene." Namine held up a hand as she giggled when Ven snatched it, placing one in his hand and the other on his shoulder. Namine felt her cheeks head up when she felt his hand on her small waist.
"Must be busy over at the Times because of the Shadow and the press conference."
Namine's smile faded. "Yes, the Shadow's appearance certainly has caused turmoil at the office."
Ven nodded seriously. "I'm sure he did."
Namine looked up at him. "So you think the Shadow is a man?"
Ven's eyes narrowed at her question. "Oh, I just-"
"Many do, but there are some people at the office who think the Shadow is a woman." Stated Namine, looking away.
Ven gazed at her curiously. "And what do you think?"
Namine looked back, shrugging. "I personally believe it's a man. Most who kill like the Shadow does aren't women."
Ven cleared his throat. "What do you think about him? The Shadow?"
Namine blinked. "Most people get angry or upset when they consider his crimes, but I try to think from a more psychological view point," Ven raised an eyebrow as she continued. "I wonder why he does the things he does. Does he feel like he has no other use for his talents? Is he being pressured? I'd like to know why the man behind his guise. I want to know more about the Shadow as an actual person. A lot of the time the media makes out criminals to be like animals that have no control or moral conscience, or pitiful psychopaths, or poor confused people. But I don't think the Shadow's any of those. I think he is lost and doesn't know what else to do." Namine's voice was nearly a monotone, but its softness carried an emotional air to it.
Ven chuckled. "You've really thought the matter through,"
Namine blushed. "Oh, was I rambling? I'm sorry, I sometimes get a bit carried away in my theories."
Ven shook his head. "No, it's fine. I didn't think you were rambling," he said with a smile. He glanced down, thinking of what she had said. "Did you study psychology?"
Namine gave him a shy look. "Journalism and psychology. I know, they're a little odd together, but-"
"How did you get into journalism, then? You're very good at analyzing even though you've never met the Shadow." Said Ven, cutting her off.
Namine looked away. "Kairi pulled some strings and got me an interview at the Times after I graduated from college. Unfortunately, there were no offerings for a psychologist."
Ven looked into her eyes. She seemed…disappointed in herself, he wondered. He saw how much passion she had and how she was stuck doing something that only adequately filled her capacity. Without that passion she seemed almost empty.
"So what do you do?" When Namine asked, Ven could see the distraction in her eyes.
Ven smiled. "I'm in R & D, research and development."
Namine cocked her head curiously. "Do you have a degree in science then?"
Ven nodded. "Physics and engineering."
Namine raised her eyebrows, impressed. "You must be very intelligent then."
Ven smirked. "A calculating mind runs in my family."
Namine gazed at Ven as they danced, not speaking for a few moments. He looked very handsome in his sleek suit, but the way his golden hair stuck up gave him a carefree yet reckless look. She saw in his face a suave and cocky, devil-may-care attitude that was strangely amusing and attracting. He looked very mature, yet his eyes were dark and stormy, making them early unreadable.
"What's this from?" Namine's voice suddenly brought him out of his reverie. Them muscles in his neck tightened as he felt her soft fingers tracing a scar behind his ear, barely a hair's width. Ven bit his lip as he met her wondering gaze.
"Ah, I got it when I was wrestling with my brother when I was younger."
Namine blinked. "You have a brother
Ven slowly nodded. "Yes, I have an older brother. He's in the army."
Namine noticed something in his eyes, but it disappeared as soon as she noticed it. His eyes hardened. He glanced down.
"I see you are friends with Kairi. How well do you know Sora?"
Namine tilted her head to the side. "Only from what I've heard from her or what I've seen myself when I've been with them. He's really very nice. Him and Kairi compliment each other very well." Ven noticed the small sigh she let out.
"Hm, what's wrong?"
Namine's eyes widened at his comment as she looked up. "What? I-" She met his piercing gaze. "Oh, it's just…I've never met anyone who's made me as happy as Sora does Kairi. I try my best to be independent, but sometimes I can't help but wish for someone like that. Someone I can rely on like she does," she averted her gaze quickly. Her hand tightened on his shoulder, wanting to wrap itself around her own torso protectively. "I-I'm sorry if I'm boring you. I just-" Namine's words choked off when Ven's fingers held her chin, lifting her gaze to hers to meet his.
"No, you're not boring me at all. In fact, you're one of the most interesting girls I've ever met."
"Really?" Ven's gaze softened at the wary sound of her voice.
"Yes." Ven leaned his forehead in so it gently touched hers. The caress of his breath washed over Namine, making her heart pound in her chest. She felt his fingers squeeze around her waist. Then, his hand moved to her cheek, his knuckles meeting the soft flesh.
"Your fingers are rougher than I expected," Namine quietly said.
Ven's eyes flashed in surprise. "I play guitar." He responded.
Namine raised an eyebrow. "A guy in a suit who plays guitar? I haven't heard that one before?" she giggled.
Ven frowned. "I like to enjoy myself when I'm not working." He defended. Namine smiled. She inhaled sharply as Ven leaned towards her so that they were only millimeters apart. Ven was taller than her, so she had no choice but to stare at his lips directly in front of her. Time seemed to stop for the blonde. She felt a surge of adrenaline that tempted her to kiss him right then and there. But she was too late. Ven suddenly backed away, bringing the distance between them to almost two feet. Namine stepped back slightly herself in reaction. Ven glanced down at the floor. His eyes widened and he checked his watch.
"I'm sorry, but I have to cut our 'date' short," Ven grinned, but his eyes had a sad apologetic look in them. "It was very nice to meet you." Namine was caught by surprise when he grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. He pressed her fingers closed around it and leaned toward her so his lips were against her ear. "Maybe we'll cross paths again someday." When Ven retreated, his face was upset but it held a longing yet hopeful expression. Then he disappeared into the crowd.
"Namine? Where's Ven?" Sora placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to turn and face him.
Namine knit her hands together. "He had to leave." Sora raised his eyebrows. Then he sighed.
"Knowing him, he wanted to get more work done. I swear, he doesn't enjoy himself enough."
"He didn't seem like a workaholic," she mentioned.
Sora shook his head. "No, he loves what he does. Almost too much, though."
Ven quickly left the building, exiting through the back door into the adjacent alleyway. He looked around before heading down it. About twenty feet down, a figure clad in black stepped out from the shadows. The figure abruptly tossed him a backpack, while he caught with ease. He hastily removed his jacket and shirt and shoved them into the backpack. Then he pulled out a T-shirt and black hooded jacket, which he donned. He swung the backpack over his shoulder and the pair made their way back to the main city drag.
"So, how'd it go?" asked Vanitas casually, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Roxas shrugged. "I didn't get as much as I wanted, but I guess that's just my need for perfection. But I learned an ample amount about his friends."
"How so?" Vanitas glanced at him. Roxas pulled up the zipper of his jacket and placed the hood over his head.
"His girlfriend, her friend. It seems that he spends a lot of time with his girlfriend. He definitely likes to play and do his own thing without taking much responsibility from his father."
"Mm. Was the girl hot?"
Roxas glared at his raven-haired counterpart. "She's out of your league."
Vanitas scoffed. "No woman's out of my league."
Roxas laughed harshly. "You womanizer."
His partner smirked. "That's a compliment. So…you met her friend? Was she hot too?"
Roxas punched him in the shoulder before sighing. "She was…different. I wish I hadn't been playing my brother," he trailed off.
Vanitas threw him a strange look, elbowing him in the ribs. "Eh, you liked her?"
Roxas shook his head. "Well…I don't know. But she's the first girl I've met that seemed down to earth. She had some qualities that reminded me of…me."
Vanitas shrugged. "You gonna try to see her again?"
Roxas inclined his head, sighing in frustration. "I wish, but you know it's too dangerous for guys like us to be in a relationship."
Vanitas scoffed. "That never stopped me."
Roxas glared at him. "Yeah, when the longest relationship you've had lasted a whole week."
"Two weeks!" cried Vanitas, his eyes flashing both with anger and knowing.
Roxas shook his head, chuckling. As much as he wished to see Namine again, to get to know her, he knew it wasn't possible. He had been Ven back there, not Roxas. He was a bad influence and dangerous. Roxas's shoulders slumped as he lowered his head. His life was a curse.
"Ven!" The blonde slowed his pace for his energetic friend to catch up. Sora dashed down the hallway before he stopped next to him. The two immediately fell into step together as they walked to the elevator.
"Hey. How was your weekend, Sora?" Ven asked casually.
Sora smiled. "Good, as always. I came to ask you how it went with Namine. I never did get to talk to you about it."
As the two men stepped into the elevator carriage, Ven gave Sora a confused look. "Who's Namine?"
Sora's jaw dropped in bewilderment. "Who's Namine? Ven, you met her on Saturday night at the gala."
Ven shook his head. "Sora, I was visiting my friends Saturday. I didn't go to the gala."
Sora's eyes widened. "B-but Kairi and I saw you there! You said your schedule cleared up so you could come. You were there, Ven!"
Ven's head was spinning as he glanced upward, thinking. How could he have been to the gala if he was somewhere else? Unless…
"I know this is extremely confusing for you Sora, but I have to go," Ven said, stepping out of the elevator on the next floor.
Sora, puzzled, could only nod. "A-alright. I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
Ven waved shortly before he turned and left, leaving Sora behind scratching his head. Ven walked quickly down the street, digging out his phone from his pocket. He glanced down, navigating to his contacts and scrolling down to a name he seldom called. Ven swore his pulse increased as the line rang for a while until the recipient picked up.
"What?" The voice was sharp and biting, hardly masking their irritation.
"What the hell were you doing, masquerading as me at the company gala?" demanded Ven.
The voice coughed before letting out a chuckle. "Oh, heh that? You needn't worry about that. I got what I wanted and did no harm." This time, the voice was lighter and cocky.
Ven snarled. "How do I know you didn't do any harm? You have no right to be using me as your alias without me knowing."
Roxas sighed. "I didn't do anything, Ven. Even with that girl, I didn't mention…myself," He chuckled. "I played the perfect you."
Ven inclined his head in frustration. "Let me guess, you're not going to tell me what this job is, are you?"
Roxas snorted. "No, but I'll say you're not going to like it. Or…maybe you will. No, you won't." he teased.
Ven groaned. "Ah, knowing this has something to do with the company, I know I'm not going to like it," Then a thought came to him. "Oh, so who's this Namine girl?"
The line went silent for a second. "If you heard anything from Sora, I didn't sleep with her.
Ven's eyes widened. "What were you doing?"
"Hey, Kairi set us up. We mainly talked about her work anyways," replied Roxas. "We just danced and then I had to leave, got it?"
Ven managed a smirk. "You did the Cinderella on her? Oh, that's low, bro."
Roxas sighed. "Hey, suits and galas may be for you, but definitely not me," Roxas paused, and then continued. "Anyways, if you get set up on a date with her, treat her well. She's a nice girl, but lonely."
Ven noted the slight wistful note in his voice. "You liked her, didn't you?"
Roxas was silent. Then: "I cant' be in a relationship with anyone, even if I do hold affection for them." He said quietly.
Ven made a melancholy smile. "Stop saying things like that. That's you putting up a wall, Roxas. You cut yourself off from any relationship that can actually mean something. If you really like her, you can always stop what you're doing and go see her again." Silence filled his ear as he waited for a response. There was none. Ven took the phone away from his ear and looked at it. Roxas had hung up.
It was late at night, nearly one in the morning. A slim figure cloaked in black slipped through the city's network of alleys stealthily. Only the gangs and drunks and hookers were out wandering at this time of night. The wanderers paid him no mind as the figure stole down the streets. When one homeless man tried to grab onto the figure's sleeve, he instantly twisted the man's arm and threw him down upon his back to the ground without hesitation. Only a few passerbies saw the incident but paid the man no mind. The figure strode on before turning into his destination, a populated club.
The exterior was heavily decorated with neon signs and red light pulsed through the windows, matching the loud music blasting from within. The man evenly descended the steps into the club, which resided below the street level. As soon as the man slid inside, he was lost in the crowd moving in the club. The figure made his way towards the back of the club until he reached a long hallway that ended with the emergency exit. There was a door adjacent to the door to the left however, and the man stopped at it. The man took out a key card from his pocket and swiped it past the detector. A light on the door turned green and the man pressed forward past the door. It led to another corridor that led to a second descending staircase. Down below, it was much quieter, although the music's pulse was still clearly audible.
A tall figure was waiting for the man, casually leaning against the wall with their arms crossed. The figure wore leather pants and a black hooded jacket. Their face was obscured but the lower half was visible. There on his lips as cocky smirk played. As the man approached, the figure uncrossed his arms and peeled them self off the wall.
"Good to see you. Been a while since you last stopped by." The figure spoke. His voice was definitely male held a strong sarcastic air. The man nodded. The figure motioned him forward and turned away, leading him further down the corridor.
"You must be pretty busy. It seems like you only swing by for supplies anymore." The figure glanced back at the man, who didn't reply.
The figure's mouth turned down into a scowl. "You don't get out much anymore, do you? You're becoming a man of very little words." At this, the man smirked. The two men walked into a room where a small couch and a long bar stood.
The shorter man looked around the room. "It's empty."
The taller man, who had grabbed a metal case, nodded. "You know them. They're probably off getting drunk and hooking up and frolicking who knows where," he said dismissively, waving a hand.
The man snorted. "And you didn't go with them?" he asked in an amused tone.
"I had to give this to you," the tall man said, smirking. He tossed the case to the man, who easily caught it in his gloved hands.
"Thanks, Ax. I don't know what I'd do without you." He said sarcastically.
Axel frowned at his comment. "You've been doing a lot without me. But I know you're busy."
Roxas sighed and bit his lip. "Axel, I know you want me to come back, but I don't want that. I don't want to be chained down like them." Axel's jaw tightened. It was no use. They had had this very conversation several times before to no avail. He sighed and began to turn away.
"Whatever. As long as you're content."
Roxas glared at his friend's retreating form, but his words had struck home as they always did. Finally, Roxas exhaled deeply and made his leave. His mind was occupied by Axel's comment. Was he really content with what he was doing? Was he happy? The only time he was truly happy was when he wasn't being himself. Like when he snuck in places under Ven's identity. Like when he had met Namine. Roxas furrowed his brow as his cheeks heated up as he remembered the sweet yet hauntingly lonely blonde. She was so much alike him it seemed to be impossible. They were so different, yet so alike at the same time. But if he revealed his true identity to her, would she understand him? Would she hate him for what he was? What he did? Roxas grasped the side of his head in frustration. What was he thinking? He had only just met her! She probably had already forgotten about him. Roxas dropped his head. What was the point? Nobody would fully understand him, let alone forgive him for all his sins. He had made so many mistakes; he couldn't even count them anymore.
For the first time in a long time, Roxas considered suicide. His mind immediately began calculated the various methods when the rational part of his mind kicked in. He was thinking of all of this because of some girl he had unexpectedly met! Roxas felt a flare of anger, although he wasn't quite sure why. Maybe it was because she seemed both a source of hope and an anchor, dragging him down to the depth of darkness. Roxas narrowed his eyes, fire burning in them. He decided he hated the girl.