Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts right now, but I have a plan. Kidnap all involved, hold them hostage, make my demands, have the rights handed over to me, and then make my escape on a Mickey Mouse go cart….. Yeah, no. not gonna work.
Warnings: Standard warnings aply
Note: This second one goes to themusicalmuffin, you made my day because you gave me my first ever Kingdom Hearts REVIEW! Love you. You get a special prize… what do you want?
They were immediately dismissed from their classes to be taken to the lowest part of the school, the basement, until they were somewhat sure that their island wasn't a target. No one knew what to really do in a situation like this, since the Destiny Islands had never actually been attacked since they had settled it over a hundred years ago. They were meant to be peaceful, and instead they were in a panic. Student filled the halls, putting their books away and heading down to the lower levels of Radiant High.
"Dude, what the fuck? I mean, seriously, what the fuck?" Hayner exclaimed as they hurried down the stairs into a darker part of the school.
"We never even saw this coming." A white blonde girl sighed, joining in next to them. Namine Heiral was the best artist in Roxas' group of friends, and one of the kindest girls in the world. She was either sadly happy or calmly happy or just plain filled with innocence, never inbetween or otherwise. No anger entered her heart. Though she and Roxas tried to make it work, they could never amount to anything other than close friends. Roxas couldn't say he loved her, but he never said that to anyone other than Sora… and…
"Who knew that Spira would go crazy on the Kingdom anyway? We never did anything to them, did we?" Pence, a rather chubby fellow with pineapple like dark hair asked, joining in with Olette and Kairi. Olette had normal brown hair, and was pretty much a tomboy. Kairi, well, she had strange red wine hair, and when Sora asked if it was natural, she dyed her hair brown, to prove that her roots would come out the wine color. They did, and everybody was stumped. She was also way too chipper, and had a kind, yet sarcastic air around her. She didn't beat around the bush, she got to the point quickly. Which she did next.
"The Kingdom has power, and everybody knows all Spiran Douche bags want power. Hello, look at our own military strength, we have Key Blade Wielders, Gun Blades, Soldier Class, and not to mention all those damn computer programs that function more like humans then they do computers. Spira's just jealous, and that jealousy just turned into something icky." She shrugged, having made her point, and turned her IPod back on. Everyone stared at her for a moment, before looking to Roxas himself. He sighed. They always wanted his input.
"Kairi pretty much said it all. And recently, I heard that Spira gained a new advantage. They just gained Crusaders, Summoners, Tonberry missile defense systems, and Their new weapon, S.I.N. From what I heard, its one huge machine." Roxas sighed, and shook his head. "Spirans aren't all bad, remember that. Just most of the ones in power, like Yevon and the Crusader Corps. Zanarkind receded from their government after the last huge blowout between Spira and… um… Sora? Who was it they fought against? You always like to draw their mechs."
"Oh! They tried to fight all the Fal'Cie from Cocoon. Might as well just have jumped off an airship, hehe." He giggled, rolled his eyes, and turned somber once more. "What do you think happened to all those poor people in Hollow Bastion? I mean, the castle itself was probably the target, but there's a town right at its footsteps!"
No one knew how to answer the brunette, because how do you say something you know isn't true, and they know it too? Hollow Bastion was gone, they were sure, and any survivors would be heading….
"Oh shit, they're all coming here." Kairi and Roxas said at the same time. Everyone looked at them for a moment, and, realizing how close Hollow Bastion was to them, they nodded.
"I wonder where the poor things will go… we don't have much empty space on this island." Namine sighed, shedding a single tear. Sora, seeing his cue to intervene before there was a torrent, hugged her tightly and whispered sweet nothings, saying it would be alright and they'd find someplace to put everyone so they wouldn't hurt so much. Namine, though knowing he couldn't guarantee anything, smiled and walked on. Sora could do that to people.
"Everyone, please be seated! We have called for aide as soon as possible, but we must remain calm!" The headmaster, Xehanort boomed over the loudspeaker. Everyone settled down onto the floor of the underground activities room, normally used for school dances, in this case used for a shelter. After everyone was quiet, the principal swiped his long silver hair back and continued.
"As you all know, and have most likely learned by now, Spira has declared war upon all of the nations under The Kingdom Hearts. We have received intelligence that their weapon, S.I.N, is terrorizing Traverse town as we speak, and our army is mobilizing to their location. They made demands earlier in the week for our technology over cyber translation, and when we refused, they attacked our key research center, Hollow Bastion. The Castle itself had reinforced shields, but the town below was…" He choked, stony face twitching once, then smoothing out and sighing, "Not so lucky."
Many people started to cry. A Tonberry, if aimed right, could wipe out nations all at once. Many people on the islands were related, or knew each other in some way. Though Hollow Bastion was farther than the others, It was still apart of their home, and every single person in the room felt a loss because of it. Even Seifer, the head school bully, felt something.
"Why don't we just wipe these fuckers out? We've been tolerating them for way too long! Mickey should never have let them go for what they tried to do to Cocoon!" he yelled, standing up and snarling. His goons, Rai and Fu followed suit, though Vivi's snarl was a little on the unimpressive side. Xehanort nodded calmly, and glared Seifer down until he sat and huffed.
"Cocoon itself has asked if they may fight alongside us, and, though we are still undecided, I do not doubt their Fal'cie and L'Cie will be welcome. The time for tolerance is indeed being pushed, and I doubt, young man, that we will just let them by after this horrendous attack. They will pay for what they have done, you can be assured that." The principals voice, by the end of his speech, had turned cold and very inhuman. He realized that not a few people were worried about the sudden change from calm to cold fury, and eh coughed before continuing again.
"The survivors of Hollow Bastion, though it has been undecided what they are to be done with, will either reside in the castle, or, in the case of south district, come here to stay with us. We will decide arrangements when they arrive, but as of yet, we have no space to put them. If you would like to volunteer to house some of the unfortunate, please come to the office after quarantine is complete and we are off lockdown. Thank you, that is all." He stepped down from the podium and swiftly went over to the other teachers, talking in low, indiscernible tones.
As Roxas looked at his friends, he realized something. Almost every one of them was determined to help out in some way. Kairi and Namine, being sisters, looked at each other and nodded sternly, faces set in an expression of determination. They would be letting people stay with them for sure. Pence looked worriedly at the podium, and kept nodding to himself. Roxas couldn't tell what he would do. Hayner, he sneered and muttered something under his breath, and Roxas understood that he would help too, all he could.
"Roxy… we need to help." Sora whimpered, big blue eyes looking at Roxas with a look of pure sorrow. Roxas just nodded quietly and looked up at the ceiling, painted with stars. They couldn't house anyone in their mansion, but they owned a private guest apartment complex on the side of the beach front, merely five blocks from their own housing. They could stick people in there if need be, probably up to three or four families.
"Yeah, we'll help out Sora. Don't worry." He smiled, tucking his twin under his arm and hugging him to his side. He would have the long conversation ahead, letting Sora worry about other things. He wouldn't tell Sora until after, just in case his worried brother decided talking to his parents wasn't a good idea.
They had been released hours later, around five o 'clock in the afternoon. Everyone was tired, and classes were to be delayed for the next week or so. No one exclaimed with happiness that they were getting a miniature break. Instead, everyone asked each other how much room they had in their house, or if they knew of empty houses and hotels. The miniature city in the middle of the island, Twilight Town, was full of tourist attractions, and there should be a little more room in the apartments and hotels now, during the crisis. The Old town had a few vacant houses, and there was maybe one old motel in it that rarely got visitors anyway. Everyone seemed like they were on a mission to help their island brethren from Hollow Bastion.
Namine bid them farewell, grabbing her redheaded sister and heading to their home, ready to set their plan upon their parents. Pence went home, calling his parents on the way. Hayner didn't know what to do, so he just went with the pineapple headed boy and scowled at the situation.
The twins headed back to their mansion, Sora fixed with a worried look on his young face. Roxas could practically see the gears turning in his head, delaying the party for some time, and making arrangements in his head. Their guest complex held enough space for about three or four families, and there would be room to stick more. He'd arrange to get it cleaned, stocked, and decorated based on the needs of the family living in the level.
Sometimes being Sora could be hard, the blonde guessed.
They were silent, basically having a conversation in their heads. They knew what the other wanted, for the most part, and nothing needed to be said to have the point made clear. Sora would plan out the arrangements, and Roxas would go work on something top secret. In this case, a phone call to his father. Roxas departed for his study after they had arrived, and Sora departed for the kitchen to make them something.
The young blonde slid his backpack off to the side as he walked through the double doors to his study, all wood, dark and shining with polish. He walked to the desk, and instead of just picking up his phone, he sat himself down in front of the conference call area, and pressed the contacts. His hand trembled, ever so slightly, as he chose his fathers number. He expected his father to answer within a minute, and, being right, adjusted himself accordingly. His father, Charles Vente Cross, looked at him with cold, calculating ice blue eyes, pure blonde hair slicked back with a clean cut and polished look. He wore a white suit, impeccable and never dirty, and his handsome features never seemed so disinterested.
"Roxas, there better be a good reason for this call. I am quite preoccupied with matters that don't concern-." His father started, but Roxas did something he normally never did, and in fact had never done. He interrupted his father.
"Hallow Bastion was just bombed earlier this morning at a rough time of 8:13 am. There are matters that must, and will be spoken of here and now. We have been called on to provide shelter, and I plan to open our guest residence to a balanced number of families. This endeavour neither hurts you nor directly pays you, though it will show good faith with the people, and spread a message of tolerance out to you. I believe it would be a wise decision at this point, sir." Roxas said quickly and efficiently. His father, cold and barely detectably outraged, calmed as his son spoke, and thought carefully on what steps to proceed on. He nodded to himself, eyes drifting down, the benefits being weighed with the risks, and, reaching some conclusion, darted his gaze back to Roxas with a final judgment.
"I approve of this plan. I expect you to provide well for these people, and as long as they remain outside of your residential area, I believe all will be respectable by your mother. Do not disappoint me, Roxas." He looked down, chest rising and falling in a deep breath once, and then gathered a few documents and looked back at his son. "Since you have called, I may as well get the reports from you now. There will be no reason to involve your brother."
Roxas nodded, and, sensing that his father wished for absolute privacy, went over and locked the door, posting a 'do not disturb, father is on' sign. Sora would be horrified, but he would be wise enough to obey it.
"We have received our allowance with no complications, and we have spent regularly. Clothing cost has lowered itself to four percent, food has a rise up to twenty percent, and school has remained empty for the time being. Our available budget has been kept at a large sum, and though Sora is holding a celebration soon, I see no reason for us to use even fifty percent of what is left. Now, I believe that it will be our concern to care for our guests, ours meaning Mine and Sora's. I will a lot a number approved by you to the guests. Thirty nine percent seems efficient, do you have a counterproposal?" Roxas spoke, following the same tone and manner as his father. Though he hated it, it was the easiest way to placate the man, by following his manner. It made calls less painful and less complicated.
"I have a mild degrade, I wish thirty five percent of the budget be spent on the guests, and I doubt your brother will achieve even ten percent of your overall allowance. You have done well in keeping a record, I would suggest, though, that you add in data from previous quarters and create a difference plan. Make sure utilities come to an agreeable rate. I see you have spent time outside of the island. I was unaware of a trip; I wish to know the circumstances and the location." He awaited, following his sons hands for a moment, like papers spread on the desks in front of both of them.
"I took a much warranted rest, spent time with a therapist main land. I believe I am reasonably functional now. Sora accompanied me on the trip, and we visited Atlantica. We also met with Ms. Ariel, and I believe you will be pleased that she has asked for your attendance at the next Atlantican Ball." Roxas knew his father wouldn't like it until he could process it. He was rewarded with a frown, and a slight slant to the eyebrows.
"Why would you think I have time for such trifling matters?" Charles asked, glaring quietly at his son. Roxas was proud he didn't flinch at the man's tone and look.
"The King of Atlantica has expressed interest in our company and its workings, what it manufactures. He was quite delighted to hear that you could provide Mythril and various materials to expand Atlantica in the future. He also expressed interest in your new line of Machina. He wishes to speak with you at this ball, and if you attend, it will become beneficial for the Company and for employee morale. Many of our northern workers are from Atlantica, and having their king personally interested in the company they work for will boost morale. With this, we will get better results and most likely faster income. The common people live to please their leaders, as you well know father." Roxas replied, fixing his father with an emotionless stare. His father surprised him then, giving Roxas a curved, business smile. Roxas hated it with all he had inside of him.
"Why, I see I've had an impact on you after all. I approve then, of your trip, and of your mannerisms. Of course, next time you go, I would wish for explanations sooner rather than later, and be sure to leave your brother at the hotel you are staying at. It would do no good to show our customers exactly what kind of character resides inside our family." He smiled again, and then returned to his stoic, neutral face. Roxas wished he could punch the man through the screen, but doubted he'd get anywhere but back in the hospital.
"Of course, sir. The company is well, I assume? You increased our allowance in the past few months." Roxas noted, gazing at his father with mild interest. His father nodded.
"Our new machina line has helped the Kingdom greatly. I have no doubts, from what I have heard, that their will be much profit to be made in the coming years. I have already received orders for Reapers and bio suits. I expect our newest models to wreck havoc on those idiots in Spira." His father, when mentioning Spira, actually seemed to get pissed. Face and body actually into the emotion.
"Father, why are you so angry with Spira? Haven't you sold to them in the past?" Roxas asked, real curiosity growing inside his head. Why would his father get angry with a country waging war? War was the best industry for his company, building coming in second.
"Because, Roxas, they stole our very own specs for that insidious machine of theirs, their 'S.I.N' model. It was based off dozens of our machina, the E.M field, the Scale Robotics, everything! Those bastards stole pieces from MY machine to attack MY homeland. Which is why though I may be making a profit on this war, I'm personally working on specs for new models, models to destroy that infernal abomination. Roxas, there is a point where machine has gone too far. That thing is not an instrument of war, it is an instrument of death. They even gave it A.I capabilities. It can think for itself, and a machine that thinks is a dangerous thing at best, completely lethal at worst." The man panted a little at his outburst, taking his handkerchief and wiping his brow to make sure he was presentable. " Roxas, this world is corrupted. We make profit off of that corruption. But sometimes, you have to stop and step back, to at least try and take a look at what you have wrought. I should have realized Spira's intentions for my machines, and I will not make that mistake again. They will not be allowed to make me look foolish."
"This… machine, it comes from our company?" Roxas felt his eyebrow twitch, and immediately froze. He couldn't let his face betray his feelings, not again. His father would not tolerate ill behavior towards himself again.
"Not directly, boy, they took bits and pieces and assembled them together. The time and power it must have taken to build the thing must have half of that backwater country in the dark and hungry right now. Serves them right for…" his father stopped, feeling his temper rise again. Roxas' temper was rising as well, feeling ashamed yet again that he could not stop his father from destroying the world. At least, that's how he saw it.
Ever since he was twelve, he had known exactly what his father made, other than buildings. Ever since he was twelve, he had hated his father with everything he had in him, even more than before. Because he knew his father would end up being the cause of it all. The cause of the end of the world. He could only hope that his father died sometime soon after he turned eighteen. Then he'd have control of the company, and possibly shut down all weapons manufacturing. Until then, his father was the merchant of death and defense.
"Either way, they will regret it, hear me. Now, off of the subject, I have news for you now. I have reports here… yes, here, that say Twilight Town will have a Naval Ring around it, consisting mainly of our boat models. You won't be caught by surprise again. And, I see that there are a few issues with the Manson's security. I will have that checked by our technician in the morning, is this understood? In the meantime, you must behave appropriately, deal with our guests in perfect manner, and keep a hold of that brother of yours; I wouldn't want him to cause issues with our reputation. Is this all understood, son?" he looked inquiringly at Roxas.
"Yes, father, I understand perfectly. Give mother my mother, if you would be so kind, and I wish you well in your plans for the company. Oh, and father?" the man looked up at his son, eyes questioning. "I had a chance to look over those blueprints you sent over a week ago… I have added my own notes to them, though I admit I cannot say if they are the best qualified. I hope that you approve." He sent them in a link, and his father, instead of exiting out and ignoring him further, decided to open it in front of him.
"This is the… Cactuar model?" Roxas nodded, and his father gazed at the plans intensely, taking his stylus and making notes of his own. "I shall contact you by the end of the week with a report on this. By then, the refugees will have arrived, and I expect you to have a report on their arrangements. Do not disappoint me."
And with that, the screen went black, and Roxas' father left. Roxas stared at it for the longest time, the image of his father still burned into his mind. Do not disappoint me… Of course not. It's always thew exact same parting, 'Do not disappoint me', never an 'I love you', or, 'Be good'…. All Roxas got from his parents were the same goodbyes, filled with business and no love. And Roxas hurt every time his mask melted off.
He got up, sensing a breakdown about to occur, and exited the study. Sora was nowhere to be found, and Roxas was honestly glad. He didn't want to see his brothers worried and scared reaction to his nearly emotionless face. He walked down the halls, ending up in front of his door. He pushed it open slowly, motions memorized, his mind blank and unthinking. As he strode to the bathroom, he felt a buzzing underneath his skin, a strange sensation, as if pain had manifested itself into a certain point, right at his veins. His mind turned from blank to panic in a second. There was too much pain inside his heart, too much to deal with. He had to get it out before it consumed him, he had to let out all of the bad emotions. He was now in front of a mirror, looking at a person with blank, wide eyes, hands gripping the edge of a sink. He saw the person grab a hold of something below the edge, a drawer perhaps. Then he saw the shining savior, something to help him.
"Stop the pain…." He cried to the person on the other side. The person didn't smile, didn't acknowledge it completely, but they did raise their arms, one held out towards Roxas, the other holding the shining metal over it.
The air tasted of copper before long, and the sounds of screams issued soon after.
Sora froze as he was awoken by a scream.
"Oh my god." He gasped, dashing towards his brother's room. He couldn't believe he had fallen asleep, but then he thought that Roxas would notice him waiting outside the door, against the wall immediately… and of course he was too distraught to even notice, because Sora knew… Sora knew how Roxas got. He should have made sure he wouldn't miss him!
"ROXAS! Roxas! Please! Open up!" he cried as he kicked open the bedroom door and slammed himself against the bathroom door. Locked. Sora cried out as another soft, barely noticeable scream came again, more of a moan than anything. He heard the clang of metal on tile, and knew what his brother had done. "ROXAS! NO!"
Sora looked around for something, anything that could open the damn door and get him to his twin, anything at all. He saw a chair, and without thinking grabbed it and started to smash open the door. Oh god, if he was too late….
One final heave of wood against wood made a resounding crack as the door finally caved, lock broken off and the door slamming open.
Roxas was on the floor, looking like an angel, face uplifted and sighing in relief. His back was against the wall, arms out and flopped almost uselessly next to him, bleeding from thin, shallow cuts, placed systematically apart and put there with a purpose. The amount of blood from those tiny, thin cuts was enormous, causing Sora's heart to stop and restart with a kick. Roxas looked over with glazed eyes, smiling softly at him beneath nearly dead eyes.
"Sora… I got rid of the pain… it doesn't hurt anymore, just tickles…." Roxas started to giggle, and Sora cried out and took a towel, trying to use anything he could to stop the bleeding. He binded the cuts as fast as he could, then dashed into the other room and grabbed the phone.
"911, please state your emergency –" a pleasant voice started, and was cut off with a screaming "MY BROTHERS BEEN HURT, GET THE FUCKING AMBULANCE HERE NOW!"
All Roxas could think of was how Sora had a dirty mouth when he got angry. And it just didn't suit him. He giggled slightly, giddy with a high from the blood loss. He slowed when he realized the itching feeling was back, that feeling something was building up in his veins. He frowned as he realized he had stopped bleeding. But the pain wasn't all the way out, he had to make sure every drop of pain was gone, at least until he was better. He tried to take off the towels, but they were bound to his arms, and he was too weak to do anything but glare at them. The pain was back by the time Sora got back in the room.
"Ma'am, if you don't get an ambulance over here right now, I'm going to make what's left of your day a living hell. Oh, and hanging up won't help, I can find out where you- No Roxas, stop trying to get them off! Dammit!" Sora was cut off as Roxas begin slicing at the towels, being more successful as the pieces came off in strips. Roxas glared with a loathing.
"Yes, thank you, lacerations to both arms, self inflicted- Yes, ma'am, I've done this report numerous times… Yes, I know… look, are they coming or not? They are? Good, so stop asking so many god damn questions. Yes, I have a potty mouth… Only when I'm pissed, woman. No, I'm normally incredibly sweet and my world floats on rainbows… funny thing is, I'm actually being some what serious, I'm a happy person normally… ugh, never mind, I'm hanging up now, you already told me they were coming." Sora hung up, sighing and switching back to panic mode, he got little towels, soaked them in hot water, and them quickly changed the towels out and started to clean Roxas. He'd done it some times before now.
"Sora, it still hurts…" Roxas whimpered, almost completely out of it. Sora sighed.
"Roxas, I know it does. It hurts me too. But you doing this hurts me more. Do you like hurting me?" Sora asked, and Roxas flinched. No, no Roxas didn't like hurting Sora. He never thought about how it hurt Sora until after.
"I'm… I'm sorry, Sora… I tried to stop the pain, I… didn't mean to give it to you." He cried, tears falling down his face. He suddenly looked fourteen again.
"I know, Roxas, I know."
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