Heartless
Chapter 4: The sleeping Storm
He never woke up. It's been at least four days since Ai began to stay at the Restoration Committee's humble home. Nothing was uneventful. Leon and Yuffie handled all the physical jobs, enlisting Cloud when they saw it fit (much to Cloud's own dismay). Aeris handled all the recon: nothing went without being fully analyzed. And she often gave advice. Cid was the techie, handling the town's system and making sure it was up and running properly. Again, life was not uneventful...
It just was not enough to ever distract the small girl from the big question: Why had Xigbar come after her? She had no relation to the club of- and this is what she obtained from Aeris- heartless husks with desperate souls and fancy abilities. She was not anything special. If anything else, she was a huge liability. An orphan who just found out that there were other worlds other than this one, and nothing to actually defend herself in any of them? And if there was something Ai didn't want was another stranger almost dying for her.
He still didn't wake up.
He won't wake up any time soon.
He might never wake up ever again...and it was all her fault.
"He's still not up?" The voice was calm and cool. Ai flinched slightly as she felt Leon' s hand land and squeeze her shoulder. How long has it been since she actually interacted with anyone? Other than constantly bugging Aeris for knowledge, the dark skinned teen never talked to anyone else. She barely even moved from a spot next to the bed the comatose blonde was on. 'Her best friend even came to visit...not a peep' Leon thought to himself.
"Wouldn't mind a little company. Old Scrooge needs an errand done at his shop." There wasn't really words, just a soft grunt and the teen rose. Pulling on her trust cropped black hoodie and combat boots, they headed out. The sting from actual sunlight stung at Ai's eyes and she flinched behind Leon. The latter grabbed her hand and led her, careful not to walk her into anything.
"That's what happens when you don't go outside in a while." The brunette chuckled. There was another sign of life, a small pout, and he already knew that this was a good idea.
It was unusually packed in the shops. Townspeople flocked in and out to retrieve groceries and the such. The lastest trends hung out on windows and on mannequins. Leon pondered for a second if Ai was even into shopping like most girls...or at least like his two team mates who took the usual day off just for the habit. Feeling his wallet, there was good supply of munny. A shopping spree might cure her.
"Wow...all the time I've been here, I've never seen everyone so lively..." The small raspy voice took the swordsman from his thoughts. His companion was now wide eyed and mouth slightly ajar. Scratch good idea, this was great. 'Kids should be happy anyway...' It was uncommon for him to let go of his steel heart demeanor. But the world was changing...just because Maleficent ruined his childhood doesn't mean he'll let another child go by the same way.
They strolled for quite some time, stopping here and there to pick up a bracelet Ai saw or maybe a chain or three. This week's pay might be gone faster than Leon expected. Wasn't long until they both were standing in front go what looked like a giant freezer. Uncle Scrooge was busy gazing out.
"Hey, I'm here" Leon called to the old duck, who swiftly turned on his heels and flashed a kind smile.
"Squall! Took ya long enough,lad! Keeping an old man waiting!" Scrooge cackled, not noticing the young man in front of him fuming. "And who might this little rose be?" Ai turned a tint red at the cheeks and pulled on a sweet smile. 'This is making quick progress.'
"This is Ai, my new tenant. So what's the news?" Old Scrooge lost his genuine smile and shook his fuzzy head.
"There's been a strange man lurking around. No face but he sports an outfit entirely of black and keep a hood on all the time! The folks around here are frightened and not to mention those white demons dancing around!" The duck grew even fuzzier as he ruffled up at the mere mention of nobodies. After a few more seconds of contemplation, Leonhart crossed his arms.
"No doubt, Organization XIII. Alright, we're on it." Uncle Scrooge jumped for joy.
"I knew I could count on you, Leon, old boy! Here, take this as a token of my deep gratitude-try it!" Two strangely colored popsicles were handed to Leon and his partner. Ai stared questioningly at the treat before taking a chunk. The brunette was not so quick to indulge; was the color not a sign of the outcome? But he took a bite...regretting it fully.
"Ugh...uh, what's in this?" The petite punk tried her very damn best to be polite...but the bitter sweet taste that filled her mouth helped none.
"I'm trying to capture this flavor of ice cream I once famous around here some time ago...But this was just another dud, I presume." His head hung low, and Ai automatically wanted to take back her question. Leon found this was the perfect time to hit the road lest he come up with a sob story. And knowing the teen girl, like most females, would listen to every word whole-heartedly. A simple tug was all it took for them to be on their way. Ai waved back tot he old duck who smiled and went back to whatever had caught his attention previously.
"That was...interesting." The punk smiled up at Leon, who sighed in response.
"More than..."
Everyone had left the small house. Merlin had some stuff to pick up with the queen and her servants. Yuffie went for groceries, hoping to bump into Leon and Ai. Aeris went in search of Cloud. Cid was out for a cigarette. Roxas was left untouched, sleeping. A figure stood next to him, still as can be. Leather-clad all over and accompanied by two Assassins.
"You guys can go, I got it from here." The command caused the white creatures to faze into the floor and leave the stranger alone with the blonde boy.
"You really out-did yourself this time, Roxy. The Org is serious...they'll kill you." In the masculine voice there was a touch of sorrow. The tall man proceeded to take off his hood, revealing a lush forest of scarlet spikes. This was a great contrast to the bright jade green pupils he possessed. Under each eye a solid black triangle. The man sighed and took a seat.
"Of course buddy, I won't let ya take all the spotlight today. I'm here to make up for good ol Xiggy's mess. I couldn't be more over joyed than to have extra work piled on my own. Lucky, huh?" The redhead chuckled to himself, half expecting Roxas to join him. When no other voice joined him he continued.
"They said this kid you saved is related to the old fodder who used to run this town. Interesting, huh? She's got information locked away and Xemnas is desperate to get it. But hell, if she ain't a looker, what's the point?" Another lonely laugh filled the room. He then grew solemn, turning to his best friend. Roxas' skin was pale and yet seemed to still glow with that ever-bright light of confidence and defiance. But then again, he wasn't the Key to Destiny for nothing.
"..You know buddy...not a day goes by that I didn't wish I could go back and change everything. To stop you and that damned Diz. To stop you from destroying yourself in this stupid search." There would have been a tear...but nobodies don't own hearts. Never had, never will. The man then smirked and rose up. 'See ya later, buddy.' Just as he turned, the door creaked open.
"Ok, Leon, just let me grab some potions!" 'Well, someone is precautions' the black cloaked fellow scoffed and didn't move an inch as a girl with walked in, her honey hue blasting a mess of black hair atop of her head. The description fit to a tee. Petite, dark eyes, strange tastes in clothes and a young face that failed to present a 15 year old teen. It didn't take too long for his target to turn after shutting the front door and freezing upon noticing him. It was dimly lit in the room, but the whites of her frightened eyes were obvious to see.
"Hello, there...Ai."
There was a lot of shit that happened these last few days. The sudden warrant on her head, moving in with the town's crime watch, watching Roxas bleed out. Did she mention defiance of gravity and giant keys of doom? Finding a man with the brightest hair color ever in the middle of the room peering at her with piercing eyes still scared her but didn't impress her.
"Who are you?" Ai spoke pretty loud, hoping Leon was still close enough to the door to hear. 'Please oh please...' The man cracked a smirk and walked calmly over. Ai kept her ground, even when he bent down to meet eye level with her.
"The name's Axel. A-X-E-L. Got it memorized?" His toothy grin was more friendly than frightening. She couldn't help but pull a smirk of her own.
"Ok, my name is Ai. A-I. Got that memorized?" She mirrored his grin. Axel stared then started laughing into the air. Again, nothing about it was menacing or threatening. Just full of good will. This felt more like a meet and greet without the intimidating stares.
"I like you kid! And you know what, screw what my leader says! Let's go out for ice cream!" The fiery mane of hair Axel owned flew frantic as he threw his arms up in utter joy. Ai couldn't believe it.
"And I'm to trust you because...your not Xigbar's friend?" An raised eyebrow and crossed arms met the giddy man's attention. He followed with a pout.
"First of all, we're not friends. Comrades, if you will. That surfer talk crap ain't my style." Ai failed to stifle a giggle. "And you can trust me 'cause the other part of this little mission was to get rid of him" He pinned his thumb to Roxas, who to Ai's disappointment, was still silent and stiff. All of Leon's efforts went down the drain and a frown returned on the girl's round face. 'What am I, stupid? Roxas is still not awake, and I'm here shopping and making plans for ice cream..' Axel, however, noted the change of moods and let his face fall.
"I know how you feel. At one point, when we worked together, he just up and fell unconscious for days. I was worried like hell. He does that, you know. Leaves you worrying your ass off then walking around on that high horse of his." The redhead shook his head and smiled. Chocolate brown orbs still never left Roxas' body.
"You must have been great friends."
"Best friends." The room was hushed by wind as a smooth breeze slipped in through the window. Eyes were all on the sleeping blonde, oblivious to the pain. To the sadness he causes just from his existence. Just from struggling so hard...
"Are you the only one, Axel? Who's after me, I mean." A scratching of the head.
"Most likely not. They sent me 'cause Xigbar failed. I turn up blank, then off with another hound dog." A simple shrug and Axel turned to a dusty old bookshelf. All uninteresting. "I still want Ice cream." Somehow, that made Ai very aware of how heavy her wrist was. Jewelry of different kinds hung on it, dangling at her simplest movement. None were cheap, either. A sacrifice yet again for an unworthy orphan. She wasn't important, not even a supporting character. She didn't want to be.
"It better be some good damn ice cream." A huge grin flashed.
"The best you ever had..."
It was totally unexpected. Squall Leonhart couldn't help leaving Ai behind upon the sight of his long time friend Sora walking up the road with companions Goofy and Donald. Besides, she would catch up and surely forgive him after what she did to his wallet. Or what he did, since anything she even peeked at her brought without hesitation. Sora's sky blue eyes gleamed and he ran to the older brunette, stopping just short of ramming them both together.
"Leon!" His voice called, causing the other to smile warmly. Nothing about the kid didn't bring sunshine and glitter to anyone he met. He was dense, yes, but nobody hated him...well, some bad guys here and there but they didn't get an opinion.
"Hey, Sora. I would like to tell you everything was great but...something happened to Roxas." Automatically, the bouncing hero's face grimmed. That didn't make the task of telling him what happened any easier. 'Feels like I'm telling a five year old Santa doesn't exist...' "Sora, the Org has some other agenda now, and it involved a girl I want you to meet. They sent one of their own to retrieve her for reasons unknown. And in the crossfire, Roxas got severly injured." Sora's face didn't betray not one emotion. Alertness to shock to utter pain. His blue eyes fluttered down to the ground, like it held some sort of comfort from reality.
"Can I see him?"
"Yeah. he's just sleeping inside. C'mon, you'll meet Ai, too."
"Who?"
"Just get inside..."
They were on the train. Roxas, Hayner, Pence, Olette...this is how it should have been always for the first. Always together, always laughing. Nothing short of perfection. But in the midst of all the joy, a strange call came to the blonde boy and his blue eyes turned to a girl sitting far from his quartet. It was as if she held a gloom cloud over her head as she stared blankly out to the buildings painted gold and orange by the sunset. And somehow, this made Roxas uneasy. 'I'm gonna go see if she's ok.' His friends took no notice as he lifted himself from his seat and walked over to the raven haired girl whose feet could barely touch the floor of the tram.
"Are you okay?" The girl turned towards him, sad eyes staring straight into his.
"Wake up." The blonde doubled back confused. 'What...the...hell...'
"Um, what? Is this some kind of joke?" Roxas smiled but got nothing of the such in return. Those eyes were still dark and gloomy and honestly, desperately begging for sleep.
"I'm leaving Roxas. And I won't come back. I don't know if it is my business, but if the Organization won't leave you alone because of me, I'm gonna make the first move." The area around them grew darker and darker until it was just black space. Roxas felt like it was choking him. Flashes came to him, and he suddenly could recall the girl infront of him.
"Wait, you don't have to! You don't know what they'll do to you!" Still no name to call her by...
"But I know what they'll do to you. I would have liked to be your friend...can you tell a girl named Key I'm sorry for leaving with no goodbye? And tell Leon and the others thanks for everything." A tear escaped from the girl's left eye and somehow, Roxas could feel the droplet hit his face.
"Why is this so hard..we just met, right? But...it feels like I'm letting go of someone so important..." Then she began to fade. Desperately, the blonde tried to grab her, to stop her. 'She doesn't know what she's up against! Whatever they want, they'll rip her to to shreds for it! Don't go!'
But she was gone. And so was his friends and his town. Just like everything else, reality was about to punch him right where it hurt most.
He could have sworn he was staring straight into a mirror...only his reflection did not share his golden locks and beamed at him.
"Sora...?" Roxas mustered up with a dry throat.
"Roxas!" Then all oxygen was cut off as his "twin" embraced him. Surely enough, he was back in the real world and his other half was now smiling like a doof and blabbering on and on about being worried and what not. Roxas scanned the area to only find another brunette: Leon. And of course he was pressed up against the wall and said not a word. The blonde couldn't help but want the man to teeter over and fall like the common douche he was. Then Sora grabbed his attention again.
"So Roxy, where's this girl I've been hearing so much about?" He froze.
"Wait, she's not..." Leon opened his eyes and got off the wall.
"She's gone." was all he said in his hard tone. Sora looked confused between the two other males. The room was a haven to conflicting airs of rage and worry. Thick enough to cut and put on like a jacket.
"No one was in here. And I know Ai came on here and shut the door. I wasn't so far away that i wouldn't notice her walk out. Maybe not here what went on inside, but not the earlier." Roxas put her name to memory on the spot and rose up, knocking an unsuspecting Sora to the floor. He grabbed his shoes and rushed them on, about to race out the door. But who would've guessed that Leon would block his way?
"Hold it."
"Get the fuck out of my way!" The smaller boy suddenly regained his voice, full of malice. It took Leon a lot to not pummel the boy into the floor. 'Patience...he just woke up..ad he's confused...patience...' "Are you deaf! She's gone! They could've snuck in while I was unconscious and grabbed her! And they could've hurt her! Why'd you leave her alone!"
"You idiot, I would've heard-"
"No! The Organization are like trained assassins! Jumped her while she was now stepping in! And not to mention they can warp anywhere at any given time! Don't you get it! She's in danger!" He was frantic. He was angry, tired, paining all over. And when Sora put his hand on his shoulder and called his name softly, he was a mess on the floor. Honestly, Roxas had no idea why he cared so much. Maybe it was because it felt like his mission now, to protect her from his old group. Since they screwed him over, he'd never let them get even one step ahead. Or maybe it was because that was his only chance to prove his use, his existence. `One separate to Sora...
...Or, was it because just like him, she had no real family or home? She was lonely and a shadow to every other person. There was no real reason for her to be, for she was of no use to anyone. In any way. Ai was just like a nobody. Just like a husk with nothing left. Just like him.
Then something caught his attention. A darkened spot on his shirt which was full of moisture. Feeling his face, he caught a wet trail that started on his cheek.
"Oh my freaking gosh! This is awesome!" Twilight Town was more beautiful from the top of the clock tower. Ai and Axel laughed together as her scream echoed and scared some pigeons away. They were gulfing down on light blue popsicles that somehow didn't fall from their sticks. 'And he was right! This sea-salt ice cream was to die for!' The two had filled the atmosphere with nothing but good feeling and the inebriation of freedom.
"Hey, wanna know why the sun sets red, Ai?" The girl stopped her senseless giggling and listened. "Red stretches the furthest of all the colors in a sunset. Pretty awesome, huh?" The petite teen stared with new found respect for the man. That was so insightful and at the same time conceited. It was an amazing ability, this Axel had, to turn the most light hearted things into humorous memories.
"I don't think I'll be forgetting that anytime soon!"
"Good! Commit that and everything else I say to memory! Got it?"
"Got you!" They both started another fit of laughter. For two people who had nothing, this was a hell of something. Who knew watching the sun set could be so fulfilling?
"God, everyone should just feel this way! Feel completely happy like this forever! Screw my dark tendencies, I'm in love with this! I mean, if two nobodies could do it, why can't everyone?" The redhead turned to the happy child, and held his breath.
"Your not a nobody. Not like me anyway. You have a heart..." The mood died down a bit.
"Yeah, but...I might as well be like you and Roxas. You know that saying? Home is where the heart is? Well, with all this talk of other worlds, I realized that I could be from any one. And if that place didn't want me, then I have no home. So...I have no heart." Axel listened and couldn't help but agree. He knew his past, his place in this universe. But this was a lost child.
"You know, I think I know why you couldn't separate from Roxas. You two are so much alike..."Silence. Suddenly, the air grew cold. Ai clutched to her pathetic sweater in search for warmth until Axel wrapped his arm around her. It was like being near an open fire. "Hey, we still got a lot of places to see, . Want to head out?" Ai smiled.
"Can we walk though? That corridor of darkness thing makes me feel kind of sick."
Roxas tapped an impatient foot. Everyone was back now, and the story was out. And with Sora here, everything was just bustling with noise.
"So Merlin, think you can track her with your magic?" Goofy asked. Along side him, Donald was also tapping an angry foot. He was probably the only other person who saw why he was so upset. Merlin pushed his glasses up.
"Well, uh, why yes! I should be able to locate her but it might take a second..."
"JUST HURRY UP..." The duck and teen yelled in unison. Merlin jumped and grunted, mumbling something about young people. Sora was too busy chatting it up with the committee and Goofy was...goofy. Nobody understood his silent rage. 'The Org will do anything for their agenda. Ai would be caught up in their twisted game...this is just pissing me off.'
"Found her!" Everyone turned, especially the brooding blonde. "She is in a world called Twilight Town. You, errr, might want to hurry, She seems to be venturing with someone." Roxas jumped up. That was his cue.
"Thanks Merlin! Sora, can you-"
"No problem! See you guys later, okay?" The two boys ran out to the Gummi Ship. Donald chased after with Goofy waving "see you later"s. There was something much deeper going on now, and Ai had some place in it. But there was no way Roxas was letting Organization XIII win. He'll find his heart, his place. And maybe his new friend would join him in that paradise, where they could just be: orphaned, heartless, whatever.
The engine started and they were clear out of the eye of the storm.
I wrote a lot...=-= But I wanna rush to the fun stuff. That and my yaoi senses are tingling like hell. The need to write Roxas rushing Sora into a wall...is killing...me...But yeah. Time to return Roxas to center and torture him a bit...
Roxas has her cornered. But she won't go back. A confrontation of old friends and even bigger clash with the past is leaving the boy more broken than before.
"Roxas, you don't fucking know anything! You other half is sitting right there! You could be whole anytime you wanted! I'll never be whole, because unlike you...the rest of me doesn't exist.
