I'm only half-listening to the teacher's lesson, my head resting on my desk. It's been a week since the Finders caught me and dragged me to this place. I've gotten one letter from home – from my mom, telling me how sorry she is for what happened to me and how she will visit over the Christmas break. So far, the only Sombodies we've met ar our teachers, and even then they're always accompanied byt their Nobodies and at least one school Guard. Apparently we're still too dangerous to be let near the Sombodies. As if we haven't been around people our whole lives. Well, I guess some of my classmates are only just discovering their powers, but even so. We haven't all suddenly turned Feral.
I turn my head slightly to look at my now close friend Demyx, talking animatedly to a slate-haired teen I've come to know as Zexion. I'm pondering how someone without a heart can show so much emotion when I hear the teacher mention something on that very subject.
"Nobodies are believed to have been Sombodies in a past life," she was saying, walking around to the front of her desk and leaning against it. "It's said that they were once Somebodies who committed some unforgivable sin and are now destined to live out the rest of their existences as Nobodies. Heartless and soulless servants to the remaining Sombodies." I frown thoughtfully at this, as it's the first I've ever heard of it, and eagerly wait for her to continue. "Now, what this means is that any 'emotions' that Nobodies exhibit are simply memories of the true emotions felt during their first lives." She pauses again and cast a sidelong glance at her Nobody, an insubstantial looking man named Vexen who has a wicked mastery of ice, before continuing on. I don't much like the guy. "Having said that, I believe it's bullshit." Cue the murmurs and gasps of disbelieve that accompany a teacher swearing. Normal school or prison-like Nobody school, some things never change.
"I believe you are all capable of true feelings, even without being Connected." She strolls back to the centre of her teaching space. "I want all of you to think about this over the weekend." With that, she dismisses us and we all make a mad dash for the door.
Eventually, I make it back to the dorms. I share a room with Demyx (apparently it's pretty common to put two opposing elements together. Something about promoting balance), but he's gone off to some library somewhere. I would've gone, but the temptation to turn all that paper to ash would be overwhelming. Hey, I said I wasn't Feral. Not that I wasn't still tempted. I mean, I have a decent control over my element. But fire's tough to tame.
I flop down onto my bed and stare at my ceiling, my red spikes splayed above my head, brushing against the headboard I'm sure. I sigh heavily and close my eyes against the hollow aching in my chest. I can't tell if it's an emotion, or the deafening lack thereof. Eventually, I doze off.
My dreams are full of dark swirls and frightening shapes. I'm not easily scared or confused, but I wake up with a start in a cold sweat. I look over and see Demyx snoring away in his bed and begin to relax. It was, after all, just a dream.
The weekend passes uneventfully and Monday comes far too soon for my liking. I enjoy my sleep far too much to have my weekends slip away. I'm not lazy, no. I'm anything but. I just like sleeping. Got it memorized?
So, unfortunately, here I sit in yet another one of my classes. This one is about recognizing the would-be threats to our future Somebodies. There were minor threats, like small negative energy spirits names Heartless, and other lesser things. But the biggest threat? Heh, yeah. You got it.
Other nobodies.
Hearing that makes my blood boil, and the constantly-lit candle that sits at the front of the room flares up. The teacher looks from the blazing wax stick to me, the only fire user in the class, with a mixed look of warning and understanding. With a grimace, I use the breathing exercises that I've taught myself to try and calm down. The flame subsides.
Demyx, my cellmate turned roommate, leans over and nudges me. "You alright, Axel?" he asks, looking curious.
I shrug and lean back, putting my arm over the back of my seat. I'm almost starting to doze off when the teacher says something that I hadn't expected to hear until at least midterm.
"Today, you will be meeting Somebodies." Cue the excited chatter. "You most likely will not be finding your Somebody, or should I say your Somebodies won't be finding you." Groans of disappointment. "The group you will be meeting is on a class trip of sorts, and most have never seen an Un-Connected Nobody. They may also be the first Un-Connected Sombodies that many of you have seen." I make a noise somewhere between a snort and a scoff, remembering that not everybody went to a normal school. In fact, the majority when to Nobody-specified schools. The teacher shoots me another warning glare and I hold up my hands in faux-apologetic surrender. "So I expect you to be civil." He motions for his Nobody – a great mountain of a guy name Lexaeus, who seems as dense as the rocks he controls – to open the door. "Remember, Nobodies. The Sombodies will come to you." And the door opens.
They walk in and instantly huddle together in little groups, like when the grade school kids visited my high school. It reminds me of when those two lion cubs are surrounded by hyenas in that one Disney movie. We probably look like crazed beasts to them. Poor kids. They seem to vary in age from 14-18, and I wonder – not for the first time – if there's any kind of grade system in this school. I smirk at the idea of being the same age as the oldest among them. The stare at us with some kind of mix of fear and awe before one particularly quirky looking one – spiked brown hair, crazy blue eyes, and a friendly smile – steps forwards and weaves his way between our desks. He stops in front of an indifferent looking silver-haired teen that I vaguely remember had introduced himself as Riku.
Suddenly, the kid's smile seems to explode, looking like it could eat his face if it wanted. "I'm Sora!" he announces, plunking down on Riku's lap.
And all Hell breaks loose.
Suddenly a sea of Somebodies surges forwards, paring up with the Nobodies around me. I yawn and look as disinterested as I can muster until the noise and movement dies down.
Well shit.
I'm the only Nobody who hasn't been stuck with a ball of over-emotive energy.
Well shit again.
There's one lonely looking Somebody standing awkwardly at the front of the classroom. I put on my best Cheshire cat grin and go to stand up. But before I can move, that great brute of a guy slams his calloused hands down on my shoulders and forces me further into my seat.
"Your instructions were to-" he begins to hiss into my ear.
"Let the Somebodies come to you. Yeah. I know." I tap my temple once, something that everyone recognizes as my stand in for 'got it memorized. I relax into my seat, focusing my acid green eyes on the blonde at the front of the room.
He looks everywhere but at me, and that's fine. I get a chance to study him. Some part of me notices that Lexaeus has released me. The Somebody is short – probably a little under a foot shorter than me. That puts him at – what? – 5'6"? 5'4"? Probably the second one. He kinda looks like that first kid, Sora. But his hair's styled different, more swept to the side and blonde, but still. I watch his piercing blue eyes dart around the room, searching for something other than me to star at. Suddenly, he finds the window highly interesting. I raise a thin eyebrow (also red. So, yeah. It's natural.) but otherwise continue my studying. He's wearing a black vest – zipped up to his neck – underneath some off-white half vest that he's left open. I can see a little red interior. And two-toned pants. Somehow, it doesn't seem to suit him, and I get the feeling that he's dressed up. I get the feeling I'm being watched, so I flick my eyes back up to his face.
And, whaddaya know, he's looking at me.
I smirk once more and lock eyes with him. For a split second, I swear I can feel a pounding in my chest. I choose to ignore it and hold the little Somebody's gaze. Slowly, ever-so-slowly (god, I hate slow), he begins to walk towards me. Finally, he's standing in front of my desk. I look at Lex out of the corner of my eye and my smile broadens when he gives a small nod.
I stand and offer my hand to the kid, smile now full-blown. The name's Axel, got it memorized?" He ignores my outstretched hand and I pull it back to awkwardly scratch at my head, smile wavering slightly. "Um… want to sit?" I motion towards my empty desk, but he still doesn't move. I frown and stuff my hands into my pockets, wondering what to do next.
I'm so deep in thought that I nearly jump out of my skin when something taps me on the shoulder. Turning around, I see that Sora kid smiling up at me with the ever-stoic Riku standing with his arms folded behind him. I arch an eyebrow at him expectantly.
"That's Roxas," he says, pointing to the silent kid, "he's my twin – we're 16 – and he doesn't talk much. Don't be offended, it's just how he is!" My smile returns and I give Sora an amiable clap on the shoulder.
Bad Idea.
Suddenly, my chest and face smash against the ground, all air forced from my lungs. My head's spinning and I can barely hear shouting over the pounding in my ears. Slowly, I begin to make out the words being shouted, or at least the voice shouting them. It's Lexaeus, that much I know. It explains the weight holding me down. He's yelling for me to stop struggling, so I go limp – my self-preservation instincts kicking in. He hauls me roughly to my feet and I taste blood – my lip split when I hit the ground.
I look down at Roxas and force a smile, the pain from my lip turning it into more of a grimace. "I'll see you later, Rox." I call over my shoulder as Lex pulls me away. "After all, we're friends now."
And right as I get shoved out of the room, I swear I can see him smile.
Wow I really like this story. I love Axel. He's such a little arse. Then again, all my favourites are.
Anyways, I know it's been forever! I'm sorry! Please review. I love you guys.
