What's in a Name?
Chapter One: Boredom
Author's Note: Welcome, ladies and gents, to What's in a Name?, the story I was writing before Falling came along. If you're a diehard Falling fan, don't worry – this shouldn't take away from Falling, as I have about nine chapters done with this one.
The first few chapters are in Xigbar's point of view, and I know that his accent is virtually nonexistent, but I'm not very good with accents x.x I'm hoping it improves as the story continues on, though it probably won't with the narrative much, just the dialogue.
Anyway, it is a XigDem (and therefore there will be two males who are romantically/physically involved – if you don't like it, then don't read it), but there will probably be hints of several other pairings within the Organization. It's rated for the future, because I enjoy bad words and so does Xigbar (and he may be enjoying other things, too, though I'm not promising anything.) With that, enjoy the first chapter of What's in a Name?, and don't forget to tell me what you think!
Disclaimer: Hahaha. As if. (I wish.)
Xigbar. Number II. The Freeshooter. Braig.
I had many names, but I'd all but forgotten about the last one. It had been replaced by the much more suitable 'Nobody', but that was okay. It was a weak name anyway, weak because I had been weak when I used it, when I let – no, when I asked – the darkness to take over my heart, making me what I was now, what I (despite Xemnas' schemes) might always be. It didn't really bother me (how could it? I couldn't feel, after all), but it did mean that I had a lot of time on my hands. When it seems like your non-existence is going to last forever, you start looking for ways to pass the time. Although shooting things was fun, even I got bored with that eventually. Maybe that was why I went to the beach that day. Maybe that was why my un-life took the turn it did.
The sun was just beginning to set, the colors spilling out from the sky onto the water. The poetic beauty that the scene had completely escaped me as my boots kicked up sand, my hood down (for once) and my striped hair spilling over it and onto my back. This stretch of the beach was deserted, the closest human sound the distant voice of a woman.
"Priscilla! Priscilla! It's getting late! Say good-night to Mr. Dolphin and come inside!"
"Coming!" Ignoring the form of the young girl and the sleek shape that I assumed to be Mr. Dolphin, I moved further down the beach before finally hitting the sand, tucking my legs beneath me and watching the sinking sun with feigned interest. This had been a stupid idea – why was I even here? Snippets of a conversation momentarily forgotten swirled through my head, unbidden but not entirely unwelcome.
"There has been some commotion in the waters of this world." Standing before a detailed diagram of the worlds, Xemnas pointed at one of them as he addressed the three Nobodies in the room. "They know little of Heartless there, but you can see the close proximity this world has to Atlantica and Port Royal. I believe the creature causing the commotion to be a very large Heartless specimen. It should merit an equally massive heart. Consider taking this mission in addition to your other missions. It is not especially pressing, as we do not know that it is, in fact, a Heartless, but the reward will be worth it."
From the other side of the room, Vexen raised an eyebrow. "Reward?" Shooting a glance at Xaldin, who only grunted, Vexen continued. "A…personal… reward, or a reward that benefits us all?" Xemnas gave him a disapproving look.
"It will benefit us all, Number Four. It will help us reach our goal." Feeling his skin prickle under the Superior's stare, the Chilly Academic nodded hastily.
"Of course." After that, the meeting had closed, but no one had gone to the world on any sort of hunt. It had been rumored that they were preparing massive weapons to fend off a ship of monstrous creatures, but even then, no one wanted to take on the extra load. Selfish to the last, all of them.
I leaned backwards, my hands holding me up as I stared into the sky. It was dark blue, like the ocean depths – depths that held something both great and terrible. Depths that did not seem to mind acting innocent even as they nurtured pure darkness.
Letting my eye shut, I let myself fall on the sand, and soon I, too, was submerged – though only in sleep. Maybe that was why I didn't notice the curious tentacle that was poking and prodding my foot until it grabbed on.
Jerked awake, I swore at my foolishness, twisting as the tentacle dragged me into mid-air. I wasn't scared as I dangled upside down (being a master of gravity, not to mention not having emotions). The tentacle was wrapped tightly around me, pinning one arm fully against my side and constricting so that I couldn't breathe.
My long eye widened, however, at the sight of the creature beneath me. It could have been a Heartless (though the stench of rotting flesh from its mouth said otherwise), or it could have just been a massive sea monster, but whatever it was, it was massive. The tentacle that was holding me so far above the ground wasn't even fully out of the water! Twisting, I tried to get a general idea of where the rest of the creature was; my vision was getting blurry, and as I couldn't teleport or open a dark portal, I had very few options left.
Summoning a gun into my free hand, I winced as I attempted to get a good shot, slightly panicked as the tentacle began to whip me through the air. It was then that I noticed the figure on the sand. He was staring at me, firm in the great creature's tentacle, but no fear, no panic, no regret, no anything crossed his face.
I pulled the trigger and fell to the sand.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! In case you aren't sure, the world Xigbar is in is Junon from FFVII. I was going to use the boss you fight for the monster (I think it's the Bottomswell?), but as it doesn't have tentacles, I had to use something else. Cookies for you if you know what it is, I left a few (two) tiny hints. Hurray for cameo appearances by Mr. Dolphin (and Priscilla, too)! Don't forget to tell me what you think (although if it's a flame, then keep it to yourself. CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, people.)
