I do not own KH or it's characters.
Mezzanine
Chapter Two: The Lore
The hot tempered teen brooded, leaning against the front gates of Twilight High with a foot tucked beneath his rear to support his slouching form. Axel wasn't one for concealer but the ugly rings just below his eyes from lack of sleep wasn't flattering combined with his tattoos that just so happened to accentuate them. So today he made an exception.
Unlike concealing the shadows beneath his jade eyes he decided against hiding the purple and blue bruising at his neck, wearing a simple black shirt. However the shirt did obscure a few things from sight and even if not hidden, he himself hardly noticed they were there until he went home the previous day and analyzed the blemish more carefully. Within the bruise itself were five tiny holes, the skin broken and scabbed with coagulated blood. It explained the blood on his fingers that day but unfortunately it didn't explain how they got there in the first place.
The ominous dark sky above screamed the coming of autumn weather; it was chilly and even sprinkled faintly here and there. But he didn't feel it, only the thrumming in his head and ringing in his ears as he pondered endlessly of the day before and what mystery it held. Curiosity could only begin to describe the blunder in Axel's mind.
"That monstrous thing looks like a hickey gone sour," Demyx's voice came beside him, zipping up his fur trimmed coat for warmth.
Slightly breaking from concentration, Axel shrugged the comment off and peered past a throng of mingling teens and inside the cars pulling into the front lot. He found quite a few blond heads but none were near as bright as the particular color he was looking for.
"What exactly happened yesterday?" the shorter one asked timidly.
Of the three witnesses –including Axel– they hadn't spoken a word to each other about the assault gone wrong. It was mostly because they were never put in a situation like that before. Scratch that, it had everything to do with that. They never exploited weakness. Axel never exploited weakness. The day would come he knew, where someone would be bold enough to take him on. Never like that though. Never so unnaturally.
He winced. "I don't know but I'm about to find out and if you don't mind I'm doing this by myself."
"Ouch," Demyx teased with a yawn, "no need for the cold shoulder dude. I'm just looking out for my buddy that's all."
"Thanks for considering but no thanks. This is something I need to do alone," he said in monotone.
He looked upwards, a little hurt. "You know I think it's about time someone whooped your hard ass for once because if I do say so myself, you need it."
"Yeah well my ass got handed to me okay?" He spun around and faced him with faint scorn beginning to show, "And you know what I think? I think that was just the tip of the iceberg he exposed. Imagine the outcome if Sora hadn't stopped him? Jesus this has been bugging me since it happened. I barely even managed to sleep last night."
Demyx watched him curiously, a broad smile now plastered across his lips. "You like him don't you?" He said in a sing song voice, nudging his side with an elbow.
Green eyes went a little wide. "What? No way. Wait a minute, what the hell are you doing here so early anyway? I thought you said you didn't do zero periods."
He scoffed. "Nice try Mr. Smooth but its not working, you can't change the subject that easily and get away with it. You dig him. Admit it. Tell me please?!" he whined with lips pouting.
"Answer my question and I'll answer yours."
"I asked first."
Damn. "Alright fine I think he's a little cute but that doesn't mean I'm gonna nail the kid alright?"
Clapping ecstatically, Demyx beamed, jumping up and down with excitement. "I knew it! I knew it! Okay we've totally got to hook you up with the little ninja."
Axel gaped. "Uh, yeah, no. Please don't tell me you already forgot that he nearly killed me, on school property no less. Besides it's your turn to answer my question."
"Oh right! Well it's nothing important, I'm just transferring to your class as a teacher's aid that's all. So anyways, he so did not attempt to murder you, be reasonable–"
"Whoa hold it!" he waved his arms, snorting a little. "You mean to tell me that your gonna be Xigbar's lap dog? No. Kiss ass?!"
The dirty blond blushed profusely. "Shut up. Aren't you glad I'm in one of your classes now?"
"Yeah don't forget the little ninja too." Sighing, his warm breath was seen hitting the icy air.
"Seriously!? Roxas is in the class too? I heard from Riku that he's only a junior. That's pretty cool of him to take a senior course," he cleared his throat smugly. "I hate to say I told you so but you should have totally taken my advice last year to take that class with me."
"Yeah well if I had listened to you, I wouldn't have the chance to be sitting next to him for rest of the school year." He shuffled his black sneakers in the gravel below him. "So I guess it doesn't really matter now."
Ignoring his statement, he continued on. "This fits so well and you sit next to him too! You can talk things out with him and everything will be perfect!"
Axel went silent. His face fell and he turned away to hide this. Demyx frowned, knowing that expression all too well. As arrogant and forward as Axel was; his biggest flaw was exposing the truth of his feelings. Something was definitely wrong. Demyx knew it wasn't his problem to handle and as much as he wanted to help, he also knew he'd only be pushed away if he tried.
Resting a reassuring hand onto his shoulder, he hoped it would console him in one way or another. Just as Demyx did this the familiar chime of bells alerted the students to head for class. Or was it just the ringing in the redhead's ears again? He couldn't tell.
"Come on big guy," his hand slipped off his shoulder, "let's go."
He turned the taller one around and the friends trekked slowly, a little farther into the campus. Then, they stopped. It wasn't registered what exactly it was that made them do this but they did it anyway. Shuddering bitterly, Axel suddenly felt the cold punch his senses, it was almost painful too. Simultaneously as the temperature dropped, a rumbling roar pierced the air at their backs. They turned and found a sleek midnight black motorcycle screeching into an empty parking space, two male figures masked with helmets mounting it. The driver kicked the metal stand outwards and stood to take the key out of the ignition, silencing the iron beast.
"Isn't that Roxas and Sora?" a blonde girl announced to her friend, just beside Axel and Demyx who stood there a little confused.
"Yeah," the girl with darker hair sighed in a daze, "It's only their second day here and it looks like they've already got all the girl's attentions, including me."
"Don't forget me too, Kairi!" the other one added before they took off gossiping down a hallway.
Demyx couldn't help but cackle into Axel's arm, saying, "Looks like you've got competition."
"Yeah, me versus the whole school. Joy." He said unenthusiastically.
Before Axel felt any need for the sarcasm to sweep away his worries, a blur of what was barely recognizable as Sora, dashed across their path. He seemed to be in a hurry, or was it avoidance? Perhaps it was both. And as they turned again they found none other than Roxas removing an onyx black helmet, his blond airborne spikes unscathed, expression unreadable, and dull brown contacts as inanimate as doll eyes. Axel couldn't help but stare at the peculiar boy passing by who gave no attention to either of their presence. He had a wonderful feeling that today should bring him something interesting.
.
"Gnarly hickey fire crotch." The smirking teacher commented as Axel entered the room with Demyx giggling at his side.
"Best believe it Xiggy." He responded absently and sucked in a harsh breath of air before heading towards what felt like his very own electric chair.
He tossed his binder onto his desk and slumped into the uncomfortable wooden seat. His gut feelings told him to face the boy he felt so desperate to confront just moments earlier but something else warned him to do just the opposite. To keep his mouth shut and forget the fight ever happened. But he wanted answers; he needed answers to settle the burning curiosity within. Curiosity killed the cat did it not? But then again, Axel was no kitten to begin with.
Xigbar settled the class down and began his lesson for the day, pulling forward a rather comfortable looking mobile chair for his new and excited aid who in fact gestured on numerous occasions towards Axel to make a move. This was pathetic really. Someone needed to nudge the notorious Axel Flurry to make a move that he could hardly act out in his head? Something was gravely wrong here. He wasn't about to sit back and do nothing about this.
He noticed from the corner of his eye that Roxas leaned over to pull out a writing utensil from his bag. Seizing the opportunity, he turned quickly and observed him. He hadn't looked too different from yesterday. Wearing the same tight leather jacket,–which he noted made more sense from riding a motorcycle– dark jeans, ankle high chuck taylors, a snug checkered scarf, and gloves that differed from the day before. What the hell made this kid so strong?
As he pulled out a lavish ball point pen, he also shuffled through his things and popped something inside the bag. A rattling was heard and he quickly brought his fingers to his lips, stuffing two large forest green pills into his mouth. As he swallowed them, his gaze went to meet Axel's but at the last minute he averted them and casually jotted his name and date at the top of his notebook as if nothing happened. Oddly enough, he considered the pills to be the cause of his abnormal strength but now he was getting a little too far fetch even for his own taste.
Deciding it was best to strike up a conversation instead of enduring the thick silence between them any longer; he set his cheap pen down and cleared his throat. "Where's your helmet, Evel Knievel?"
Roxas' body stiffened then reared up with a leer that would possibly do Satan proud. "You've got the balls to still talk to me, Ronald McDonald?"
Axel let a small smile play at his mouth as he leaned closer to him, answering softly, "I do."
"I'll give you props for that but I'm afraid that's all you're gonna get out of me," he said as a matter of fact, whirling his pen between his leather cloaked fingers.
"Why?"
His features hardened. "Because you annoy me."
"Well that makes it a mutual feeling then." Axel replied honestly.
"Then piss off."
"No."
"Why the hell not?"
He straightened his posture and his voice became low so only they would be the wiser. "Because I can't help but notice something different about you. Other than the fact that you lifted me up a few feet off the ground and gave me a real pretty mark to show off to the happy oblivious world."
Roxas clicked his pen repeatedly with a strong indifference. "You brought it onto yourself in the first place and besides you were against the wall for leverage anyway."
"You did it with one hand."
Silence settled between them. The blond crossed one leg over another and flipped his book open and went straight to work. So that was it. Something really is off about him and he's doing a pretty poor job at hiding it. He'll be damned if he didn't find out what it was soon.
"I'm curious," Axel crooned mischievously, "How tall are you?"
No reply came.
"How about your weight?" he pressed. "You can't possibly weigh more than me."
The boy opposing him slapped his pen down in frustration, even catching other people's attention as he faced him again. "Ask all the questions you want, I won't give you any answers."
His smile grew. "Any question?"
"I don't care, I still won't answer."
"Roxas…" Axel whispered gently. "What are you?"
He paused, as if questioning himself whether to answer or not. Then his face became bemused again. "You have got to be the most idiotic, persistent guy I've ever met in my entire life and let me tell you I've come across a lot."
His thin red brows arched up high. "Have you now? Does this officially mean you prefer the same sex?"
He shook his head disdainfully. "It doesn't mean anything, just be quiet I'm trying to do my work unlike some people."
"So you are gay."
"I didn't say I was." He spat.
"But you didn't say you weren't." The other countered.
Roxas was becoming impatient fast. "What do you want from me?"
"A fresh start, is that too much to ask for?"
"What's your opinion Flurry?" The teacher's unexpected voice intruded, everyone's attention turning towards the back of the class.
Axel froze like an undeniably cliché deer in headlights, while Roxas on the other hand produced a smile that held everything but charm. This slightly pissed him off. The confused redhead faced the front and laughed nervously. "My opinion?"
Xigbar sat against the front of his desk and folded his hands neatly in his lap. "Yes. Your opinion Axel. Which would you prefer to hear? Don't tell me my most attentive student wasn't paying attention to our lesson. This is shocking news."
Laughter ensued and Axel found himself blushing, awkwardly wanting to slip under his desk and hide his embarrassment from the teasing stares and this boggled him endlessly. Since when did Axel expose nervous eyes and pink cheeks? Especially towards the boy next to him who seemed to be enjoying himself the most. He cursed inwardly and hoped his bad karma would part its way soon.
"Well," the man enlightened, "We happened to be debating on whether I'd teach the factual history of our town or a version more on the lore side of things."
Immediately Axel's anxious state was washing away as he sighed in relief. "I'll take an urban legend over a history lesson any day."
"Then its settled." He said promptly, raising himself to a standing position.
He began striding to and fro across the front row of seats, turning sharply on the ball of his heels before approaching the end of walking distance. "I'm sure you've all heard of our past warriors. The indestructible three whom put their lives on the line for us, who opposed the heartless son of a bitches who dared to ravage our town and attempt to overthrow our past monarchy."
A few shifted nervously in their seats at his choice of words while others snickered happily. Oh yes. Xigbar was just one of those awesome teachers like that. He continued on with faint hand gestures here and there.
"Terra, Aqua, and Ventus; the fond saviors of our past time." He said coarsely.
A fair blond amidst the room suddenly became uneasy, bearing an expression that only read 'get me out of here'. Axel appeared to be the only one to notice this. The lecture was nothing new to him, he was taught this ever since he could remember. Nothing unusual about it, if anything he was simply brought up on these tales. What had Roxas looking so uncomfortable? This intrigued him all the more as he tuned in on Xigbar's words.
"Well an old fable goes that the said indestructible trio was impossible to defeat because of immortality."
Numerous negative grunts and snorts of disbelief were heard as Roxas remained silent, even avoiding the spiel altogether by doodling aimlessly at the corner of his notebook.
"If they were immortal, they wouldn't be dust and we wouldn't be reading about their past glory days in a history class," a boy at the right side of the room added abruptly.
"Very true Hayner, but interrupt me one more time and I'll give you an extra page of homework to do tonight." The boy who went by Hayner rolled his eyes and slumped lazily. Xigbar tilted his head, continuing. "Now where was I? Ah yes, everlasting life."
We've never known any immortals in our time so it's hard to tell what the rules and boundaries are for mythical beings that outlast the lives of others. But when I grew up, I was told different stories than what you kiddos have been raised on. I'm sure you've been taught that these three were our defenders, our guardians so to speak at one time. But I on the other hand was taught that they were heroes. That they were magical and otherworldly people who put themselves before others who unlike like them were humans."
He sat on the edge of his desk again, Demyx just to the side listening intently with large curious teal irises. "Well, obviously the three fell from existence, supposedly died in their last battle to defend us. But it was said that the youngest of the three survived the ordeal. The wayward sword wielding, Ventus."
Axel heard a snapping sound beside him that broke his train of thought. Looking to Roxas, he discovered black ink spilling across his desk. His expression was feral, almost frightening to look at. He seemed to care less that his pen had just erupted stain-worthy blotches all over his work, now dripping onto his legs. Speaking in which, Axel noticed the pen clutched in his right hand was only the bottom half; the top half was nearly crushed in his left. Chills produced all over and again he refused to say anything, feeling much like how he did when he first entered the class. Weak and powerless.
The instructor swayed his head, tossing the black length of his pony tail aside. "So rumor has it that he still walks among us, hidden from the world but still protecting us in little ways."
Hayner's hand rose with obvious hesitance and giggles emerged from the sea of teens. Xigbar sighed heavily and nodded for him to speak. He did.
"A friend told me that they thought they were vampires."
The sound of metal legs shifting across the floor emitted, the redhead's attention went to the middle of the room where the sound came. Sora continuously stirred in his seat, as if attempting to find a more comfortable position to sit. Axel's face slightly scrunched. What the hell is going on?
"It's possible. Anything is possible really. I've personally heard that too, more so than you know." His chocolate brown eye went to the floor for a moment then directed back to his students. "But I think I know who might have an opinion on all of this. Would you like to add anything Strife?"
Someone half gasped, Axel could have sworn it came from Sora but he was too preoccupied at staring down Roxas who strangely looked calm and content now as compared to just a few moments earlier. He placed the two halves of the pen down gently and cocked his head towards the teacher. Everyone gawked at the brown eyed glaring boy at the back of the room.
"Excuse me?" he asked dryly.
Xigbar chuckled softly. "No need to be dense dude, I'm just pulling your leg. I heard your dad bought the old mansion though. I just thought I'd like to throw you some free bragging rights your way."
A barrage of questions buzzed across the room, some hushed, and some flat out loud and obnoxious. Everybody and their mothers knew the old abandoned mansion was alleged to be haunted, left for dead as its previous owners were. Or at least two of the three owners were.
"You live there?" Axel couldn't help but interrogate too, only to be answered with a swift 'leave me alone' look.
Xigbar brought his hands together into a clap, rubbing them together for friction after. "Alright then, story time's over kitties. I'd like for you to answer all the questions on the chapter review page and I'll be handing out lovely study guides and worksheets for homework."
Whines educed again as the class dreaded at the amount of work they were already getting. Few however could care less. One included Demyx who beamed sunshine and joy as he printed out the assignments at Xigbar's desk. As for the other few, they stayed stiff and uncomfortable at the previous topic said. Preferably two at the back.
.
"I'm not complaining about what happened during zero period but what the hell was that all about?" Axel took a large bite into his peanut butter and banana sandwich.
"What?" Riku questioned awkwardly.
Demyx perked up, finished chewing the food in his mouth and grinned. "Xigbar. He occasionally tells these awesome fairy tale-like stories to liven up the mood every once in a while. He did the same thing last year, don't you remember Riku?"
He rolled his aquamarine eyes. "Not really. I zone out the teachers, can't really stand listening to their annoying 'I know everything' voices."
Demyx pouted slightly. "Aw but he's cool though!"
The redhead snorted. "Yeaaah. I heard he's never given anybody an A. So… what grade did you get again last year, kiss ass?"
"Oh come on, he's had to have given other students an A too. And stop calling me that."
Riku cast a mischievous grin. "I wonder what you did to get him to give you that A, Demy."
Demyx's face flushed a shade of crimson as brilliant as Axel's hair. A small peep came from his lips but then he nestled down in his sitting position and continued to eat his lunch as if nothing was said. The teasing continued between Riku and the silent mulleted teen but Axel couldn't help but daze off about –surprise surprise– the feisty blond.
Then suddenly like a lit match in flame, an idea came to mind that was sure to give him answers. It was a stupid idea no less but it was an idea all the same. He dropped his food down, feeling hungry no more as he delved deeper into his thought. He would wait for the perfect opportunity to part for the mysterious mansion and find his answers there.
He wasn't thinking of breaking and entering though, no. He's had plenty of his share of breaking into the place as a kid that he knew the place inside out. He wouldn't need to do that again. He only needed a good distance from the outside gates in fact. Just to peak at the place and what changes it's made and if he could even possibly be allowed inside. That thought alone had his stomach doing somersaults. He then observed his friends closely. He wouldn't breathe a word to them about this. Not now at least. This was his secret. His mission. A quest he subconsciously held dear to his heart.