On Glass Wings
--xxSerenity
note: another fun chapter to write. thank you for all the reviews on the last chapter. i was surprised it got the most so far xD hopefully this one will be just as good :) enjoy!
-7-
a new rivalry
The house was quiet with Sora gone.
Too quiet, thought Demyx as he drummed the tip of his water gun aimlessly against the back of the sofa. Tidus was busy staring at the clock, if that could be classified as actually doing something, but the more he stared, the more he was convinced the second hand moved five seconds backwards and two seconds forwards.
"Man! This totally sucks" He finally said, causing Demyx to jump.
"Eh?"
"There is absolutely nothing to do without Sora"
"We could..put pink hair dye in Saix's shampoo bottle like last time" Demyx suggested, but Tidus promptly shook his head.
"No, that was Sora's idea. It was all Sora's idea. It's like we can't do anything without it bringing up the memory of our lost friend."
Defeated by this idea, both sighed in unison and slumped beneath their metaphorical rain cloud.
"Yeah well maybe if someone stood up for her boyfriend, he'd still be here" Demyx remarked, regarding the red headed girl who sat on the windowsill, staring out aimlessly and forlornly into the rain.
Kairi cast him a glare before her head, as well as her shoulder were pressed up against the smooth surface of the window and she sighed, watching as her breath took shape on the glass.
"Leave her alone, Demyx. It was hard enough losing your bo-"
"He wasn't my boyfriend." She finally snapped, causing them both to look up questioningly.
"He spent nights in your room. What was he then?"
"My friend." She replied with a grumble. "My best friend."
"Well still, you let him go really easily" Demyx pointed out to Kairi's dismay. But nevertheless she turned to face the two with crossed arms.
"It was better this way. He needs to get out of this place." She declared.
"And why is that?" Came both of their replies.
"Too many memories for him."
-oOo-
The room's silence was broken by the incessant and impatient drumming of gloved fingers atop a messy desk. Another hour had gone by, and an anointment had been missed.
That is until a single knock was greeted by Xemnas' angered "Enter."
No other time was wasted, and the door was flung open, parting the way for a gruff looking man who bore a strikingly similar appearance to Xemnas. His long silver hair was done a tad differently, and his skin was a bit darker. But cold amber eyes held the same fiery, dark glow as they regarded the other, while moving to slam an old brief case onto his desk.
"You're late." Xemnas growled. The other chuckled, but his sardonic laugh was interrupted by a fierce fit of coughs.
"Your money is here, yes? Time shouldn't matter"
"Well lets just see how much this is endeavor is worth to you." Xemnas replied while reaching out to take hold of that offered briefcase. He flipped open the catch and pried open the top just to behold a rather large pile of money, all hundred dollar bills.
"One hundred grand" The man stated. "And it's all here if you'd like to count it"
Xemnas stared at the pile with seemingly uninterested eyes, though he did run a gloved finger over the smooth papery top.
"Such dirty money" He remarked, before withdrawing his hand merely to settle it over his other folded arm. "I can't believe you were acquitted." Came his sudden change of subject.
To this though, the man smirked and crossed his arms over his dark suit, tilting his head slightly with a scoff.
"They found someone else that fit the scene better than I."
"Hmph.."
"Now, the address, if you would?"
Time.
He was out of it, and oh how he wished he could rewind it to fix that one mistake. That one fatal error that screwed up the routine and caused him, once more, to bellyflop into the net, even though this time he had enough strength to flip himself over. He didn't want to seem like a total screw up anyway.
His best friend for the week, the safety net, cradled his weakened body, which trembled with humiliation, and he stared, transfixed, at the high ceiling, the dimmed lights, as if it held some sort of answer to this predicament.
"I failed.." He muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, in the audience, Sephiroth scoffed.
"The cast will remain unchanged" He spoke aloud, loud enough for Riku to hear as he rolled to the side, while Leon snickered, leaning back in his seat with hands idly folded behind his head.
"He almost got it. He got further than you ever got, Seph"
"Well he didn't make it."
"Still, he has got talent and it's improving. Give it a few more days and he'll have it"
But Sephiroth frowned lightly, retaking his own seat besides his brother as he watched Riku roll out of the safety net. His posture was sort of slackened, not like his usual proud stance. So defeated he must've felt, Sephiroth thought with a small smirk.
Meanwhile, Namine was the first of the group to meet Riku as he rolled off the net, just to land weakly on his wobbly legs.
"I'm sorry, Nami. I couldn't do it.."
"Next time, Riku. It doesn't matter."
"Oh Riiku! You were so close!" The girl with the odd hairstyle pounced the dejected teen, which in turn actually did manage to draw a little chuckle from him, even if he gently pried her clinging form off him.
"I'll get it next time, Selphie"
Sora had hung back from the group as they crowded around the forlorn teen, his hands idly stuffed into his pockets.
Though soon he'd feel a hard jab at his back, and whirling around, he'd find himself face to face with another strange girl.
"Never seen you before!" She chimed happily, and Sora recoiled slightly nervous, slightly annoyed.
"I'm Sora.." though he responded as politely as he could, just so the girl with the short black hair could take him by the hand and shake it in a friendly manner.
"I'm Yuffie!" She exclaimed. "And that's Selphie!" Referring to the brunette who had joined the two, practically pouncing Sora now who drew back in fear of those two brightly shining green eyes.
"Wow! You're really cute!" She poked him in the chest, and he batted her hand away while trying to fend off his blush. "Where'd you come from and what are you doing here? Are you going to be in the show? OH! Are you going to do the trampoline with us!" She grabbed his hands, peering curiously into his eyes while Yuffie bounced around besides them.
"Oh yeah! Just think how awesome he'd be in costume!"
Namine chuckled lightly upon joining the trio, while Riku and Roxas hung back, talking and murmuring, and casting glances towards Sora in particular.
"Leon adopted him. He's not doing anything yet.." She explained, just as Sora broke away from the two "crazies" and practically leapt behind the blond for protection.
"Awh, well tell Leon he'd be good at the trampoline." The one known as Selphie declared, and somehow, recalling back to yesterday, Namine had to agree.
"You're probably right, Selph. But..we'll see." Snickering, she turned around half way, just until she was able to playfully pat the boy on the head, though he merely sulked in response.
"Okay well now that I've just humiliated myself, can we do something fun? It is my birthday anyway.." Riku finally interrupted as he approached the scene..
Namine looked thoughtful for the moment, but then smiled before turning to Sora and whispering something in his ear.
"..Why?" He asked once hearing the request.
"Please? It'll be fun..and maybe you two can bond" She added hopefully, which only made him scowl.
"I don't want to bond with him.." He pouted, causing Namine to frown and then to prod him in the shoulder.
"Well it'll be something fun for you to do. You like to do it, right?"
Well whatever this 'it' was, Sora nodded, and half-heartedly he agreed even if this could've been viewed as doing something nice for him. So to keep himself from getting angry at that thought, he convinced himself it was something nice for Namine instead.
"Fine" He murmured before storming off, leaving the others behind and confused.
"Where's he going?" Riku inquired, and Namine shrugged.
"You'll see! But lets get out of here for now since we all want to give you your present"
-oOo-
They all gathered outside the main building, though Sora hung back a bit once he returned with the requested item, his roller blades, and seated himself on a low wall that lined the main entrance to the main building. Idly, he'd click the skates against the cement as he eyed the group from afar and watching them converse, he couldn't help the certain loneliness that prodded him, making him realize how much he missed his own friends.
Meanwhile, Sora watched as Namine handed the fairly large box she was carrying to Riku..
"We all chipped in since no one knew what to get you." She started cheerily. "And after the big deal you made, we thought you'd like these."
He ripped the paper off the neatly wrapped box, and smirked a bit when he saw its contents pictured clearly on the front.
"Heh, Thanks guys." He said, before holding up the box to the curious Sora, with a grin.
Of course Sora only rolled his eyes and looked away when he caught sight of the gift, and he realized the point of Namine's earlier request.
"I did wonder what it would be like to roller blade ever since he showed up" Riku stated while picking at the tape that held the box shut.
"And now Sora can show you how" Namine added, to which Riku paused, looked up, and actually smirked.
"True." He stated pointedly, while directing his attention to the distracted Sora. "Isn't that right?"
"What?" Sora called back with that hint of aggravation in his voice.
"You can teach me how to skate"
There was something sarcastic about his manner that made the boy really uneasy, so for the moment he didn't answer, and soon he'd see that he was right.
Riku had the box opened, and was in the process of trying on the skates while Sora watched. After buckling the last of the clasps in place, he stood, and was perfectly balanced, unlike most new skaters.
That was the first clue. The second being none other than the fact that when he took a test run around the small area, he glided as smoothly as if he'd been skating all his life. He even managed to turn on them so that when he glided past Sora, he was skating backwards.
"You honestly think I'd need to be taught anything by someone like you? Please, Sora. You may be a good skater, but I'm probably better. And I haven't even roller bladed a day in my life!" He taunted .
"Come on, Sora! Don't let him talk to you like that!" Encouraged Namine, although Sora cast her a dissaproving sort of glare.
"See? He doesn't want to be shown how true it actually is." Riku sneered and spun on his skates, merely testing, once again, just how good he actually was.
"No, stupid. I just couldn't be bothered with you.." Sora replied after those moments of silence from him. But as he cast a glance out across the city, he was struck with a sudden idea. "On second thought, How about a race? First one around the city and gets back here wins. That should show who's actually better"
Riku grinned and accepted the challenge with a confident "You're on." But then he crossed his arms for a moment, while uttering a thoughtful 'hmm'
"We should make this interesting" He said with a grin, and Sora tilted his head while pushing himself off from his seated spot.
"How so?"
"If I win you have to stop complaining and even admit that this is a nice place to live."
Sora scowled while those arms slid over his chest, mimicking Riku's thoughtful pose, but he agreed nonetheless.
"And if I win?"
"Why even discuss it? You won't"
"And if I win?"
"If you win then we'll take you back to the orphanage and I'll admit it was a mistake trying to make you come here."
Sora immediately accepted, although that entailed him to wonder if he should just try to win this race rather than carry out his idea.
Best just stick to the plan anyway, he finally asserted. He could always go back on his word.
Riku nodded himself, and skated to the very edge of the entrance way, motioning for Sora to follow
"Lets get this started then"
Meanwhile, the others hung back to watch with utmost excitement.
"Ready?"
"Set.."
"Go!"
When they both took off, it was clear they were evenly matched for speed skating anyway, that is until Riku suddenly broke ahead in a fast sprint.
That was fine though, Sora was busy being distracted with other thoughts other than winning that stupid race.
But this set up was perfect anyway, he thought as he sped along the streets while pretending to trail. Sora didn't care if Riku won, actually there really was no race. The boy pretended to compete just so he could skate at his normally fast pace while seeking out the street signs that would lead him back to the orphanage.
He wasn't the greatest with actually reading directions, but he had a good visual memory. So he figured he'd be able to recall the streets traveled and the other such landmarks.
"You're going to have to go faster than that if you want to beat me!" Riku called and in spite of himself, Sora actually smirked while spinning out of the way of two delivery men transporting a large package across the sidewalk where the two raced.
He skidded a little, his thin body tilting a bit to the side as he regained control before jumping, and gliding along the edge of the sidewalk before it melted into the street.
Every so often Riku would glance back over his shoulder, and that time in particular, he'd gain sight of the spiky haired brunette as he gradually caught up.
"You're too slow, Sora. You may be a good skater, but you seem to lack control if you go fast."
Or so he thought, since Sora was about to prove him wrong. That smirk never left him as he kicked it into full gear. More pedestrians were dodged and finally he ran past the silver haired teen who remained gawking from behind him.
But before he could react, he'd notice Sora hang a quick left and finally the realization dawned on him.
"He had no intention of racing me.." He murmured out loud, but then actually smirked himself. "Clever little kid.." Strong legs were perfect for speed skating, and his arms pumped for much needed momentum, even though Sora was already out of his range of vision.
But the path was followed and eventually the little blur of chocolate spikes became visible again, and Riku aimed for him, his own wheels scratching at the rocky sidewalk with a speed that couldn't possibly have been exceeded.
"You're not smart, Sora!" He yelled just as Sora rounded yet another corner. Riku took the moment to glance around quickly at the passing world. There was nothing that could aid him acrobatically, so he'd have to rely on speed alone, and apparently..it seemed Sora was faster than him.
But Sora made a mistake, and gradually the surroundings weren't so familiar any more. Cerulean eyes were frantic and wide as they stared around at the unfamiliar blur of a world. He wouldn't slow down though. He'd rather sleep on the street then go back there with them.
Namine might not have been so bad, but he didn't particularly care too much for the others, and he damn well loathed Riku. The mere thought made him grit his teeth. How dare he rip him away from his only family. How dare he.
Though all the thoughts over the said Silver haired acrobat led Sora to become distracted and unfocused, such that he didn't see the form take shape in front of him until it was too late, and he skated into those waiting arms.
"God damn it, Riku!" The boy writhed when he felt strong hands grasp his upper arms, but when he opened his tightly closed eyes he'd find that a terrible mistake had been made.
Sky blue eyes didn't meet with oceanic pools of jade like he thought they would. Instead he was met with the cold hard glare of twin ambers.
"Sora.." The man purred in a deep, dark tone and taking advantage of the fact that Sora had frozen in fear, the back of a gloved hand trailed gently down his cheek.
Of course, when Sora finally snapped out of it, he wrenched in his grasp and with an arm now freed due to the man's wandering hand, he reached up and batted it away.
"Don't touch me" He snapped, eyes once frightened now bore a fierce angry fire. "Get away from me!"
But the man only smirked, and parted dry, cracked lips to speak when a sudden calamity diverted both their attention.
"Gah! Can't stop! Can't STOP!"
For the briefest of moments Sora was thankful to see Riku as well as his inability at skating given he knew how to speed up, just not how to properly break. Only the briefest of moments, since that relief soon dissipated the moment the silver haired teen crashed into the duo, sending everyone crashing and skidding along the hard rocky ground.
The man yelled out in pain and latched onto Sora's t-shirt for support. So when they all crashed into the nearby dead end, Sora heard a very dissatisfying rip right from the neck to his lower stomach, right before he smashed his head against the brick of the wall.
When they settled, Sora, although weakened and dizzy from the impact, wrenched away from the man who still had a hold on his torn shirt, and that said man then growled and forced the cluttered Riku off the two, who then rolled with a groan of discomfort before pushing himself to his hands and knees.
He was just in time to see the strange man force Sora to the ground and then crawl over him, large hands pinning bony shoulders beneath him before those palms trailed threateningly a bit down his arms, that is until they reached the tear in his shirt.
Finger tips splayed against a bared portion of the young boy's chest, and for the life of him he could barely move, too dizzy and dazed from the collision still, and bordering on passing out it would seem.
So the folds of the T-shirt were parted by those gloved hands, bringing to light Sora's scar on his chest, and he then drew a finger tip down the length of it, applying a considerable amount of pressure, enough to make the boy wince.
"Get the fuck off him, you pervert!" Came a sudden outburst that the man hadn't seen coming, so when he looked up, he was treated to a kick in the jaw, awkwardly, with a skate clad foot and he flew backwards, skidding along the hard ground until he was able to stagger to his feet, all the while clutching his aching jaw.
Narrowed amber eyes watched on as Riku dropped to his knees to take hold of the fallen boy, who was still seemingly dazed after hitting his head so hard. But it was then that Riku noticed it, and pushing his shirt a little further down his arm, he eyed the torn, jagged skin that was barely held together. It wasn't a fresh wound, but it wasn't so old that it was faded, or even remotely healed. It didn't even look like it was healing. His brows furrowed a bit at the sight, but then he looked up to see the man still gawking.
"Get the fuck out of here" Riku growled, while sliding an arm beneath Sora's back, the other hooking under the bend in his knees just so he could lift him up.
His eyes locked with those strange amber ones, and the man bore the eeriest of grins. But without having to be told again, he took his leave, idly brushing past the teen and bumping his shoulder. Though Riku would then notice the last glance cast at the passed out boy in Riku's arms, and Riku could've sworn he heard the man mutter the boys name.
-oOo-
He tried to sit up, but found his movement restricted by thick metal cuffs that held him securely to what appeared to be a cold metal medical table. His thin body was bared and stretched out with his arms and legs splayed
Around him machines beeped and buzzed, particularly the heart monitor with its neon green lines arching crazily on the screen.
They only drew faster and sharper upon the approach of the white robed man.
He loomed over the tethered boy, who was more frantic now as he tried to escape or at least dodge the cold eyes bearing down upon his naked form. But those metal bonds made such an endeavor impossible, and the dark, maniacal chuckle echoed off the laboratory walls.
"Sora.." He purred. "It's time. Sora..Sora.."
"Sora?" The boy was shaken awake by small hands at his shoulders, and when he opened his eyes, he'd find his world nothing more than a complete blur, as well as the fact that his head hurt intolerably.
"Huh..? What? Da- Ugh..Oh Namine.." Sora sat up weakly, a hand to his head to fend off the ache, just as his vision finally blurred back into focus. But as he became more aware, the other thing he'd notice was that he was devoid of a shirt, and instinctually, he panicked. "What? Where are my clothes!" He demanded, ripping back his blanket to find that he still had on his pants, but his scar, as well as his back, tingled with an odd sensation"Ugh" he grumbled while reaching back to scratch at the sudden itch at his upper back."What the hell?"
Namine looked a bit forlorn for a moment while reaching out to gently take his hand, bringing it back to his front so he didn't make things worse.
"It's medicine.." She explained. "You have some pretty nasty welts on your back, not to mention that scar on your chest.." She pointed, and after blushing, Sora quickly leaned forward, a palm pressed to his heart in order to hide it.
"Don't look, please" He asked a little coldly, but Namine nodded understandingly.
"I guess I shouldn't ask about it either, huh?"
The only response to that was a scowl and a shake of his head.
"Very well."
There was a silence after that, though they both remained seated on his bed. He was still clutching his chest while she was looking out his window in deep thought, that is until he cleared his throat.
"So..is there anything else you wanted?" He tried to sound a bit more friendly and she looked back to him with a new recollection.
"Oh yeah! I wanted to tell you, if you felt alright that is, to hurry up and get dressed cause we're going out to celebrate Riku's birthday" She sounded a bit more cheery, but Sora only frowned and flopped back on his bed, tugging the comforter with him.
"Excuse me for being mean, but what makes you think I actually want to go?" He grumbled, and Namine frowned a bit herself.
"Well I thought you might've had a bit of a different outlook on things seeing as how he saved you and all.."
"Huh?"
"From that man back there.."
Sora's brow furrowed and he sat up once more just so he could stare at his comforter in deep thought. Just what had happened back there anyway? He seemed to be drawing a blank. That is until he recalled a face, and those eyes..
"Oh.." He murmured to himself, and his expression softened just briefly before he shook his head.
Namine watched him carefully before reaching out to take hold of the comforter and with a playful yank she ripped it off him.
"Give him a chance" She said pointedly, while he flopped onto his side in a fetal position in order to hide his scar further. "Seems like you both got off the wrong foot."
It's more than that though. He thought to himself, while thoughtlessly reaching up to touch his lips with the tips of his fingers, which in turn sparked the memory of their very first encounter, and that awkward, yet faked kiss.
"Whatever, I'll come.." He finally decided, but mainly because he didn't want to be alone in his room all night. Especially after running into him again.
-oOo-
The restaurant was the fanciest Italian place in the city, and they were all escorted there by the limo which Sora had been "kidnapped" in.
Naturally things were a little awkward. Every so often Sora would catch odd glances from Riku either in the car, or even to the side at the table of the restaurant since he sat on one side, Namine sat on the other while Riku sat at the head.
It was during one of those awkward moments, when Sora stared uncomfortably at his lap under the hard stare of those jade eyes, that he heard Leon address his younger brother.
"So Sephiroth and I were discussing things after your performance today.." He trailed off, and Sora felt the sting of those eyes lifted, thankfully.
"And?"
"We've decided to give you the lead in the next show we do."
"That is if Namine ever finishes it" Sephiroth then added to which Namine couldn't resist a small chuckle, though she stifled it with a hand to her mouth.
"Wow, um..Thanks" Riku responded somewhat surprised. Definitely wasn't expecting that reward for his mess up. It's like he succeeded even though he screwed up the routine even if they weren't changing the roles right away.
"Yeah, and maybe by the time Namine is ready with the new production idea, Sora will be able to perform as well" Leon pointed out, just in time to make Sora choke on his water.
Riku cleared his throat as well, and shook his head.
"He won't be" He stated pointedly, and Sora shot him a nasty look.
"Who says? " He grumbled which in turn drew a smirk from the silver haired teen.
"I do. Come on, Sora. You don't even want to be here, right?"
Meanwhile, the others present exchanged questioning looks, Namine especially, who actually sort of glared at Riku, whom appeared to have a whole different attitude.
But then again, so did Sora, so it seemed.
"I don't, but I can do anything you can do!" He growled, slamming his glass down on the table.
Riku eyed him for a moment bewilderedly, but that calm, cool smirk soon crossed his face once more.
"I'm sure that without any training you could pull off what I pulled off this morning?"
Naturally, Sora bit his tongue after that, but Riku stared him down expectantly.
"Well?"
"Come on, Riku, He can do other–" Namine interjected, only to be cut off by him.
"Don't try to save him again, Namine. If he wants to be so bold as to assert that he can do what I can do, then I'm anxious to see him do it."
"I will not have a beginner performing that level of skill, especially not a kid" Leon finally cut in, turning all attention to him then. Inwardly Sora sighed in relief, while at the same time he also cursed himself for his loud mouth.
"We could always start him off with easier things. Whip tricks, or juggling or something. Even the diabolo is good for a kid at a beginners level." Cloud asserted from his spot besides Leon. His arms were crossed, and for the most part he seemed to be drifting in and out of their conversation until he added his input.
Though while the others agreed, Sora knew he wouldn't have that.
"No!" He stood and hit his palms to the table, causing a clatter of silverware and baffled expressions aimed in his direction. "If I'm going to be doing anything then it's going to be what he does." He pointed a finger at Riku, who then scoffed in response. "One day then I'll even play the lead!."
An awkward hush fell over the group, who appeared a bit surprised at this mostly quiet boy's sudden outburst, until finally it was Sephiroth who broke it, after taking a sip of his drink.
"He is determined. It will be interesting to see how much it drives Riku"
There was a murmur of agreement among the group, while jade eyes then met with those deep blues in a death glare that had the tension raised ten fold.
-oOo-
They rode back to their home in silence. Riku and Sora were shoulder to shoulder in the backseat and Namine besides Riku, though she leaned over her friend to get to Sora.
"You better be ready tomorrow, Sora. Now that you spoke so big in there, the time has come for you to learn the swings!" She declared triumphantly. "We can get Roxas started too" She then added, prodding Riku in the arm while he only 'hmphed', and Sora actually managed a small nervous chuckle, but a chuckle nonetheless. His first since having been there.
Truth was, he actually felt pretty good by lashing out like that. It sparked something new in him, after having felt so dead upon leaving his home.
Now hopefully he'd be able to back up that talk.
Hopefully. He thought.
ending chapter 7 note: ( small spoiler xD )
in reference to the man, I don't want to just come out and say it xD but i'm sure you can guess who it is. i just wanted to point out that i really hope people don't poke at me about any technicalities of the game ( they're the same person, yatta yatta.) I'm aware of this. It's just that it's an AU and I ran out of badguys oo Woosh.
