*KH doesn't belong to me*
"Up. You have to get up."
I blink blearily up at the figure standing over me. "Braig... But it's so hot..."
"But you're going to drown..."
Ugh, he's right. I had been sticking my head in one of Radiant Garden's many fountains, but apparently, that's drawing some odd stares. It must be at least a hundred degrees out, and it feels like it could probably be hotter.
"People are giving me weird looks, me talking to the guy in a lab coat with his head under water," Braig says impatiently.
I pull my head out and grudgingly towel my hair off.
"He's doing it," I point out, nodding towards another young man who's sitting in a fountain. I put my head to the side, and shake, trying to get the water out of my ear.
Braig looks over. "He's... yeah, well... He's Lea. He does pretty much everything anyone else can't get away with. Hey, don't get me wet!"
I splash him again for good measure, but miss by a pathetic margin.
"Fine. Just... hold on..." I take a step back, and Braig gives me an odd look.
"Xehanort, what are you-"
I run past him, and jump into the deepest fountain, landing next to the boy Lea.
"Whoa!" Lea grins. "That was sweet! I gotta try that!"
I climb back out, soaking wet and my boots making strange squishy/sloshy noises as I walk.
"Very well. We can return to the castle now."
Braig stares at me. "You know they'll never let you into the castle like that."
"I know. Maybe I'll dry out before we get there."
"It's a five minute walk."
"I know."
"You're not going to be dry."
"I know."
Braig throws his hands up in the air, obviously deciding to give up on reasoning with me.
"Let's go..."
As we walk up the steps, Elenar, Even, and Ienzo rush past us, yelling happily. Braig and I turn to watch them as they run down to the largest fountain and dive in, dressed in full lab gear, swamping Lea.
I turn to stare at Braig. "And you said I was strange."
Dilan, Aeleus, and Braig all look pained.
"Let's just... go inside..." Braig finally says.
Master Ansem runs out onto the steps. "Where are-?! Oh, hello." He turns to us, and I almost start laughing. His eyebrows are almost scorched off, and his face, red sweater, and coat are covered in soot.
"They ran off in the middle of an experiment, leaving me holding it. It... exploded rather violently, as you can see," he complains. "Where are they? Oh. Well then..."
He passes me the scorched container he's holding. "Hold this."
Master Ansem walks down the stairs, and over to the fountain. Instead of telling them off, like Braig obviously expects, Master Ansem grins and jumps in too.
At the sound of the splash, all three of the apprentices standing with me wince visibly.
"Good thing it's a large fountain, huh?" I ask Braig.
He nods weakly. "Yeah..."
