A/N: I apologize for the insanely long wait. I was making a baby quilt, and the baby it was for was born, so I had to knuckle down and get that finished. On top of that, one of Windows' start up files corrupted, which forced me to do a destructive reboot to get my computer going again. Even though I had backed everything up once I figured out that a reboot was imminent, some things were somehow not saved, including Chapter 9 of The Price, a large section of my next Marluxia fic, and unfortunately, this chapter was also lost. Hopefully I'll be able to get everything rewritten soon. Just a warning though – I have three more quilts to make, so I expect more delays as I try to get those done as quickly as possible.
7.
Xavier carried Xehanort, still wrapped up in his quilt, to the office, and laid him down on the cot. The two private rooms were taken, and he was certain that, despite the boy's decreasing fear, that he would not handle being in the open ward well at all. He peeled the quilt back to see Xehanort's face, hot and sweaty and tired, looking up at him with brown eyes that were glassy with fever and ringed with shadows.
"He took a nap and woke up like this." Masa explained quietly "And he wouldn't stop asking for you until I agreed to bring him here."
"Thank you, Masa." Xavier said quietly "I'll take him from here."
He felt a hand touch him lightly on the shoulder. "I'll be back later with something for you to eat."
Xavier nodded absently as his brother walked out, and Xehanort pushed the folds of the quilt aside and reached out. Xavier hoisted him up into his arms and sat down on the cot with the child on his lap. Xehanort nestled close and tucked his head under his chin, shivering, and Xavier rocked him slightly. "Go to sleep, little one, I'm here."
Xehanort said nothing; he only sighed quietly and relaxed as he went to sleep in Xavier's arms. Xavier held him for a bit longer before loud coughing from Lea's room forced him to reluctantly lie the child down, tuck him under his quilt, and go check on his apprentice.
Lea was sitting up in bed, supported by Isa, and he was coughing like he was trying to expel a lung. A moment later, a gob of thick white sputum came up, and Xavier silently kicked himself for not giving Lea a mucus thinner earlier. After cleaning up the mess and easing Lea back against his pillows, he took care of that, kicking himself the entire time for making such a mistake. He also spotted Isa's concerned frown out of the corner of his eye.
"Maybe you should go home and rest for a while, Xavier?" Isa said quietly, to which Xavier only shook his head.
"Taylor is down for now, so I'm the only doctor we have for the time being." he replied "And I am needed here."
"That is one thing that you and Xemnas have in common then, stubborn to the core."
Xavier glared at him. "I'm not being stubborn." he nearly snarled "I have work to do." He then stalked out of the room to check on the open ward patients. Once that was done, he walked back into the office to see someone that he hadn't expected.
"What are you doing here, Taylor?"
"I said that I would be back. You need a chance to rest for a while."
Xavier wiped at his eyes again and noticed that his boots were just blobs of dark against the wooden floor. "I'm fine."
"You're not fine, Xavier. You're about to collapse. Just go lie down; I can look after everyone for a while."
"Go back home, Taylor, before you relapse."
"I'm not going anywhere until you've had a full night's rest. You're exhausted, and you're either going to collapse or make a catastrophic mistake if you don't sleep."
"Listen to him, Xavier." came Isa's voice, and Xavier looked up – which caused the room to spin for a second – to see him standing in the door. Xavier growled in irritation again and abruptly stood up. That proved to be a serious mistake as the room tilted and rocked. He heard quick footsteps, and he fell into Isa's arms. "You can't even stand up. How are you going to look after everyone in this state? Go to bed, Xavier, everyone can be without you for a few hours."
"You need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others." Taylor said gently "I told you that early on in your apprenticeship. Have you forgotten already?"
"Fine, fine." Xavier growled "I'll sleep, but when I wake up -" He looked over at Taylor. "- you WILL go back home before you end up in the ward again."
Taylor gave him a small smile. "Whatever you say, now let's get you into bed so you can sleep."
Isa walked him over to the cot while Taylor carefully scooted Xehanort over and pulled the quilt back. Xavier grudgingly admitted to himself as they helped him lie down that maybe he really was too tired. If they hadn't helped him, he likely would have just fallen onto the cot and on top of Xehanort, which he definitely did not want. He kicked his boots off, pulled off his lab coat and laid down beside Xehanort, who snuggled close to him. He closed his eyes as someone draped the quilt over them, and then the lights dimmed. He heard Taylor and Isa speaking softly to each other as he went to sleep.
OOOOOO
Sobs.
Tears.
Was someone crying?
Who was crying?
Xehanort?
"I'm sorry!"
Xavier tried to open his eyes to check on Xehanort, but they refused to open, like someone had glued the lids shut. He tried to reach up and pry them open, but his arms felt like lead, and he couldn't lift them? What was wrong with him?
Can you hear me, Xavier?
He tried to answer, but he couldn't make his voice work, so all that came out was a quiet groan.
I was afraid that this would happen if he didn't rest.
Is he going to be alright?
I honestly don't know at this stage.
Who were they talking about? The crying person? Where was he anyway, and who was speaking? He thought that he knew the voices, but he couldn't place them? Who was Xavier? Was that him? What was wrong with him? Why was he so hot and heavy and tired? Why couldn't he open his eyes?
"You've been badly hurt, Xehanort."
Master Ansem? Wait, wasn't Master Ansem angry with him? Angry with him for what? Had he done something wrong?
Please wake up! A child's voice, pleading, with who he didn't know. He didn't know any children aside from that one boy. What was his name? Ienzo or something like that.
"Kingdom Hearts,"came a reedy sounding voice, and he shivered in fear, though he didn't understand why he was afraid. And what was Kingdom Hearts?
"You have potential."said a man with long graying red hair. Who was he?
Who am I?
Xavier?
Who is Xavier?
"Xehanort! Eraqus!"
"Maybe we can unlock your memories somehow."
"Xemnas, is Kingdom Hearts ready?"
"This world is a prison."
"Let it empower you!"
I don't understand! he tried to wail, but body wasn't his to command. Where was he? Where was Master Ansem? Where was Even? Had they thrown him back out into the streets to die? He tried to call out to them, to anyone, but all that he could produce is a strangled croak.
My name...
Xavier?
… my name...
"What is his prognosis?'
"I am certain that he will live, your Lordship, but after that it is too soon to say."
… my name is...
A man with light blond hair and kind orange eyes was smiling gently at him. "You'll be alright."
… Xehanort.
He felt something cold touch his face, and he shivered. "Rest, Xavier."
Who is Xavier? Where am I? Where is Master Ansem? Where is Even?
"M'ster An...sem." he managed to mumble, and the cold touch returned, which made him shiver again.
Ansem is not here, Xavier.
He's delirious.
Maybe we should fetch Even.
Yes, he thought, Even would be nice. Even sat with him when Master Ansem couldn't. Even read books to him and soothed him when he hurt. He croaked Even's name.
I don't think he knows where he's at.
Xavier, please wake up!
Who was Xavier again? Who were the voices speaking to him? What was wrong with him? He felt a hard pinch in one of his hands, and he whined. Not another needle! He'd had enough shots for an entire lifetime already!
"I know that you're tired of them, Xehanort, but this will help you feel better."
I can't get him to drink anything.
An IV it is then.
His fever is so high.
We'll probably have to dunk him soon.
He felt another pinch followed by the sting of a large needle, and he tried to cry out in protest -
Leave me alone!
- but he could only produce a low moan. Why was he so weak? Why couldn't he talk?
Elissa and Jascha are here.
I don't think he'll recognize them. He seems to have forgotten the past several years.
He thinks he's in Radiant Garden.
Xavier? Oh, my poor boy.
"Xehanort? It's time to wake up. You've been sleeping for days."
I'm so tired, Master Ansem.
Don't leave me, Xavier; please wake up.
Where had the child come from? Who was he? He certainly didn't sound like Ienzo. And who in the hell was Xavier!
Someone take Xehanort home. He doesn't need to see this.
Did they find my family? Is someone going to take me home? Will I remember them?
No, I won't leave!
Xehanort, Xavier is very sick, and he doesn't recognize anyone right now. The best thing you can do is go home and wait for him to get better.
Are they talking to me? I don't know any Xavier, do I?
I don't want to go!
He might as well stay. He's sick too, and he might as well stay here close to Xavier, for his own sake if anything.
Xehanort felt a warm weight settle down against his side, and he groaned as it made him feel hotter and more uncomfortable. He tried to push it away, but his arms would not obey him. Had someone sat down next to him? Was it Even? Or Master Ansem?
What's wrong with Xavier? came a voice he had longed to hear, and he smiled slightly.
He's got the influenza that's running around, and since he exhausted himself, he's very ill. He's also delirious from the fever, and he's been asking for you and Ansem for hours.
Rustling clothing, and then the feel of person beside him, followed by Even's cool hand on his forehead.
"I'm right here, Xehanort." Even said quietly "Rest now. I'll stay with you while you sleep."
I'm here, Xavier. Go to sleep; I won't leave you.
Xehanort smiled again, and he sighed as he dropped into the blackness of sleep.
OOOOOO
Xavier shifted as awareness slowly drifted back to him. His body felt heavy and hot, his head throbbed, and he felt dizzy and lightheaded. He cracked his eyes open, which took far more energy than it should have, but he couldn't really see his surroundings. His vision was blurry, and the lighting was dimmed, but he was able to take a quick look around the room, and he spotted Even sitting in the chair by the bed, reading a book.
"Even?" he slurred, and Even looked up at him and smiled.
"Welcome back," he said quietly as he stood up "You have us worried for a while."
"What... what happened to me?"
Even sat down on the bed beside him and gently smoothed his hair back from his face. "You ran yourself into the ground trying to look after everyone. Isa and Taylor convinced you to sleep for a while, and you woke up very ill. That was three days ago. You were delirious for most of it."
"Oh," Xavier mumbled; he was so tired, but since Even was there, that reminded him of something. "Xehanort's a Replica, you know." He saw Even start at the sudden change in topic. "Been meaning to ask you, how long do Replica's live?"
"I think you need to go back to sleep, Xavier. You're obviously not thinking straight."
"M'fine. I just wanna know. Will Xehanort stop working like a wind up toy later? They created him to take the punishment for me, and I had to save him. Couldn't leave him there to be tortured."
Even placed a hand against his sweaty forehead. "You don't know what you're saying, Xavier. Now sleep."
"Eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen." Xavier moaned in protest as the magic in Even's voice sent him back into sleep's embrace.
OOOOOO
When Xavier next woke, he quickly realized that he was ill. He was hot, sweaty, achy, and tired, and he figured out that he was lying in bed in one of the private rooms. The door was open, and he could hear murmuring voices from the rest of the building, including Isa's and Taylor's.
Isa...
Taylor...
Lea!
Xehanort!
He sat up, but the room spun and rocked like the deck on a sinking ship, and he fell backwards to the pillows. He groaned as the impact made his head throb even worse, and someone evidently heard him, because Taylor walked in a few seconds later.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Xavier." he said cheerfully, though Xavier was quick to notice that the cheer didn't quite reach his eyes.
"What in Kingdom Hearts happened to me." he groaned as he rubbed his stinging eyes.
Taylor busied himself checking Xavier's pulse, breathing, and other vital signs as he answered. "I'm not surprised that you can't remember anything. Five days ago, Isa and I convinced you to lie down and sleep, and when you woke up, you were burning up and delirious with a fever. You had forgotten the past several years it seemed, and you kept asking for Ansem and Even and fought any attempt to help you. Isa finally went back to Radiant Garden and brought Even here, and once he was here, you calmed and allowed him to take care of you."
"Is he still here? What about Lea and Xehanort?"
"Lea is still ill, but he is stable for the moment. The pneumonia hasn't worsened any, and he seems to be responding to treatment. Xehanort is doing better. He never became as ill as you feared he would, and right now, he's sleeping on a cot at the foot of your bed." Taylor smiled gently. "He refused to leave you, even when you pushed him away in your confusion. That boy really loves you, so I hope you understand the treasure that you have there. As for Even, he and Vexen returned to Radiant Garden last night, once it became clear that you were starting to improve. Even didn't want to leave you so soon, but his cover story about wanting to take Vexen on a little vacation wouldn't stretch that far."
Xavier smiled slightly. "I need to see them."
Taylor gave him a sharp look. "You're in no shape to be getting out of bed, Xavier."
"I need to see. I need to see for myself that they're alright." Taylor still looked skeptical. "Please, Taylor, I need to see them."
Taylor looked at him for a long moment. "Fine," he conceded "but you're not going in there under your own power. I doubt that you could stand right now, much less walk. I'll be right back." He walked out of the room for a brief moment, and came back with Isa. The two of them carefully helped him stand up, and Isa half carried, half walked him into Lea's room.
His apprentice was sleeping quietly, curled up on his side, with only his head poking out from under the heavy blanket. Isa walked him up to the bed so Xavier could reach out and touch him gently on the cheek. His body was warm but not blazing hot like he had been before. Lea stirred at the touch and then settled back down with a quiet sigh.
"Let's get you back to your own room." Isa said quietly, and he walked him out of Lea's room. Taylor was just finishing up with changing the bed, and Isa paused so Xavier could watch Xehanort, sprawled out on the narrow cot, snoring slightly. Isa then walked him up to his own bed, and he and Taylor helped him peel out of his sweaty gown, bathe, and then get dressed in dry pajamas. He laid down on the clean sheets, shivering, and allowed Taylor to help him lie down. He then held out his arms, and Isa smiled knowingly and gently scooped Xehanort up and deposited him on the bed beside Xavier. The blankets were then pulled over them, and Xavier held Xehanort close as he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
OOOOOO
It was the feel of movement, and a chill against his side that woke him an unmeasurable time later. He peeped his eyes open to see Xehanort climbing out of bed and walking away. He closed his eyes again; perhaps he just needed the bathroom, but no, he then heard him lie down on the cot at the foot of the bed.
"Xehanort?" he mumbled sleepily, but there was no answer, and the child did not come back.
OOOOOO
Xavier spent the next few days doing little more than sleeping. He didn't see Xehanort during those days, and questions about the child only resulted in being told that he was feeling well enough to go home. Part of him found that odd since Xehanort had clung to him at every chance before, but he was too tired to think on it much, so he let it go and focused on getting better. Several days worth of sleep deprivation on top of the influenza had knocked him down hard, and he was fully aware that it would take him a while to get back to normal.
Lea was also still very sick, and it was doubtful that he would be leaving the hospital anytime soon. Though he was slowly getting better, the pneumonia was slow to relax its grip on his lungs, and it would probably be weeks before he would be fit for keyblade training again. When he was able to get a moment without Taylor hovering nearby, Xavier would wobble into Lea's room and sit beside him for a while, like Master Limahl had done for Xehanort on more than one occasion. Taylor inevitably noticed and shooed him back to his own bed, but it didn't feel right to leave his apprentice alone when he was so ill. A few times, he was able to slowly and carefully reach across the bed and enfold Lea into his arms and hold him for a short while.. Lea spent 22 hours a day sleeping, and was barely awake enough to speak the rest of the time, but Xavier liked to believe that Lea knew that he was there and took comfort from his presence.
Of course, Taylor tried to get Xavier to stay in bed, but Xavier refused to leave his apprentice alone while he was ill. After catching Xavier out of bed yet again, the elderly physician sighed in defeat.
"If you're well enough to keep getting out of bed," he said in exasperation "then you're well enough to go home."
"But, what about Lea?" Xavier protested "I don't want to leave him."
"He'll be fine. He has me and Isa to look after him. You on the other hand are going to relapse if you do not rest, so I'm going to ask your father to come and get you. You are then going to stay home and sleep. Am I in any way not clear on this?"
"Says the man who came back to work despite being ordered to stay home." Xavier grumbled under his breath.
"Drop the attitude, Xavier." Taylor warned "I was not as sick as you were, and I hadn't run myself into the ground. You will do as you are told, or I will forbid you from practicing medicine on this world."
"You wouldn't!"
"I would. You're lucky that you didn't harm anyone while you were exhausted -" Xavier winced and hung his head. "- and it was a mistake on my part to leave you alone for so long. Once you've recovered, we're going to try and find another apprentice, but for now you're going to go home and take it easy for another week or two. Only then, if I deem you fit to do so, will you return to work." Xavier heard him walk closer and felt a hand come down to rest lightly on his shoulder. "You did the best you could for as long as you could." Taylor said, his voice noticeably softer than it had been before. "Now it's time for you to step back and relax for a while. The epidemic is finally easing, so things are getting easier for me. The best thing you can do is go home, spent some time with Xehanort, and get better. If Lea worsens or he asks for you, I'll call for you."
Xavier sighed and nodded without saying a word. He lightly kissed Lea on the top of his head and left the room to get dressed. As much as he hated to admit it, a hot bath, and home cooked meal, and a long nap in his own bed sounded wonderful to him. Ten minutes later, Jascha arrived in the wagon, and Xavier leaned tiredly against his father and dozed during the ride home.
He did not see Xehanort when he walked into the house, and when he asked about him, he was told that he was outside with the horses. He took a few steps in the direction of the backdoor, but his mother gently grasped him by the elbow and ushered him towards the stairs instead.
"Rest first," she said gently "Xehanort will still be here later."
"But -"
"You've taken care of everyone else. Now it's time to take care of yourself." She nudged him up the stairs. "Now, on to bed with you. I'll bring you up some supper later."
Xavier sighed and conceded defeat and trundled quietly up the stairs. A quick bath made him feel miles better, but the sight of his own bed made him sag with sudden tiredness, and he climbed into it and went to sleep without another word.
OOOOOO
It was the presence of someone standing beside them that roused him later, and he blinked his open in the dark room to see Xehanort standing by the bed, looking at him.
"Xehanort?" he mumbled sleepily, and the child gave him a hard look and walked out of the room without a sound. Xavier pushed his blanket back, intending to sit up, but before he could complete the action, his body reminded him that he was still in need of sleep, and he nodded off.
OOOOOO
Xavier saw very little of Xehanort over the next few days. He caught glimpses of him whenever he dragged himself downstairs at mealtimes, and occasionally he would wake up to find the child staring at him silently. Questions resulted in the boy simply walking out of the room or ignoring him altogether. He was baffled, but no one seemed to know what was going on with him. Xehanort continued to do Xavier's regular chores, and helped his grandmother out in the kitchen, but he barely spoke to anyone, and often times he could be found staring into space with a thoughtful look on his face.
Four days after coming home, Xavier wandered into the parlor, looking for a place to sit down and rest his still shaky legs. The house was empty of everyone but himself and Xehanort – everyone else was outside finishing up the last of the planting. He hadn't seen or heard from Xehanort all day, so he was quite surprised to walk into the room to find Xehanort already there, seated on the couch and staring hard into the empty fireplace.
"So this is where you've been hiding." he commented lightly as he sat down in the armchair to the right of the couch. Xehanort looked up at him, and for a brief moment anger flickered in his eyes before he turned back to the fireplace. Xavier felt a flash of anger from somewhere, but he shoved it down. Getting angry at the boy for no reason wouldn't help anything.
"It's finally warmed up outside," he said casually "I imagine you feel much more comfortable with the warmer weather, am I right?"
Xehanort ignored him, and Xavier felt another flash of anger. "What is wrong, Xehanort? Why won't you talk to anyone?" Xehanort shrugged his shoulders without saying anything, so Xavier stood up from his chair and moved over to the couch to sit next to the child. "Xehanort?"
Xehanort huffed, stood up, and went to leave the room, but Xavier reached out and caught him by the wrist. "Please talk to me, Xehanort. What's wrong?"
Xehanort slowly turned to look at him, and Xavier flinched at the look he saw there, the same look of anger and accusation that he had seen in Even's eyes when they had met again in Radiant Garden four years ago.
"Why did you lie to me?" the child said quietly.
Xavier tried not to let his sudden fear show on his face. "Lie?" he said warily "Why would you think that?"
"You're never planning to take me home, am I right?" Xehanort shook of his hand and turned to face him. "You are never going to let me leave here. Have you been even trying to find the Destiny Islands?" The look turned into an angry glare as his voice steadily rose. "Why did you rescue me if you were just planning to lock me up again! Are you a part of this! Was this the plan from the beginning! Now that you've gotten my hopes up and I've caught on to your little game, are you just going to take me back to where you found me!" Xehanort paused for breath, chest heaving, and he hastily swiped a few tears that had crested in his eyes.
"Enough, Xehanort." Xavier said and he stood up, and he felt his heart sink as the child flinched away from him. "There is no 'little game', and I am most certainly not take you back to that horrid place." He reached out and gently placed his hands on the boy's shoulders and tried to ignore it when he flinched again at the touch. "Do you want to tell me what's been eating you lately?"
Xehanort looked down at the floor and was silent for a long moment. And then finally: "I heard what you said to Even while you were sick."
Xavier frowned; he could vaguely remember speaking to Even, but he had no recollection of what was said. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, because I can't remember a word of that conversation." He swallowed; he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer to what he was about to ask. "What did I say?"
Xehanort kept his eyes on the floor. "You said I was just a Replica, and that you wanted to know if I would stop working like a windup toy."
Xavier felt the blood drain from his face, and his voice shook as he asked his next question. "What else did I say?"
"That I was taking the punishment meant for you." Xehanort raised his head and pinned him with a piercing gaze. "Before, you also said that your name was Xehanort. I know my family history well, and I know that aside from my parents, I have no relations left, so who are you? Why do you look like me? I asked Alexander what a Replica was, and he told me all about them, about how they're copies of other people, about how there's already been one Replica made of you. I think you owe me some answers."
Xavier sighed and tiredly ran his hand down his face. He then sat back down the couch and patted the space next to him. "Come and sit down. I never intended to hide this from you forever, but it never seemed like a good time to tell you, so sit down, and I'll explain everything." I just hope that you don't hate me at the end of it all.
Xehanort gave him a wary, suspicious look, and then the boy sat down, in the chair at the opposite end of the couch. Xavier sighed again and spent a moment gathering his thoughts, and then he slowly began to speak.
OOOOOO
A/N: Sorry to make you wait for so long for such an evil, evil cliffy, but the chapter was always intended to end here.
