It was odd, being in another's corridor. True, it was darkness, but it wasn't true darkness. Of that, Maria was sure. Her corridors were of the blackest black. The real epitome of what the dark should be. Darkness was hers after all, and yet here they were walking through a dark corridor created by Xaldin. That alone was making her question her slowly settling trust in the man, and even with that his corridor was lacking somehow. That was what set her on edge. As they exited, they came to a large brickwork town with soft lights and constant night sky.
Xaldin stepped forward, arm outstretched as he gestured to the cobblestone streets before them, "Welcome to Traverse Town."
Axel stepped forward, hands clasped behind his head as he observed the area. "Doesn't seem like much."
"That is what will make this trip end more quickly." Xaldin replied easily before turning back to Maria. His violet eyes met her skeptical gaze as he said, "Lead the way. We will follow."
With a huff, she walked off toward on the shops, arms crossed defiantly. "You almost make it sound like a chore."
"It is not something that I would normally spend my time doing. Especially so, given the Superior has no knowledge of it."
"You mean this "Xemnas" guy?"
Xaldin's sharp gaze cut to Axel in disapproval, his scowl deepening given that it was the redhead's fault she knew their leader's name at all and that Axel was pointedly ignoring him. "That is correct."
"Hell of a name," she mused, "It's almost like he wants to be made fun of."
"I would not deem it wise."
"Oh, relax, would ya?" Axel chimed, the bored tone obvious, "Let's just get what we need and go."
With a roll of her eyes, Maria walked forward, gazing through the window at one of the shops. She mildly heard the two bickering in the background, choosing to ignore their quabling. She looked about the garments through the window, her eyes focusing on a red sash before a tightness pulled at her chest; quick, sharp, and pulling their breath straight out of her. She clutched tightly at her chest, gasping for breath quietly while trying not to move as to not alert her 'guards' to the pain.
She focused on pulling air into her lungs, shuddering lightly from the sheer force it took to do so. Willing herself to relax, she moved to head into the shop, brushing her free hand against her pocket where a pendant would normally be. The pain shouldn't be back yet... It should be kept in check. At least for awhile.
"Maria, you okay?" Axel asked as he stepped up beside her, brows raised slightly.
"Yeah, just checking out the scarves." She said, trying to distract herself from her momentary tenseness as she looked back at the deep red item in question.
"You realize it's warm out. Right?" The redhead questioned, staring at her oddly.
"I'm a fan of a dramatic statement."
A small smirk formed on his lips as he argued playfully, "I think you just like layers."
"Whatever would give you that idea?" She asked, voice laced with sarcasm.
"You're pale, for one."
"Wow. Never thought you were one for compliments."
"I wouldn't exactly say that."
"You didn't not say it." Maria responded as she put her hands on her hips.
"Cute."
"Why, Number VIII. You'll make a girl blush like that." She said with a wide smile, pretending to fan her face.
He smirked, hands on his hips, "Oh, now you're just being an ass." He commented playfully.
"If you two are quite finished." Xaldin interrupted with a sigh. Maria was pretty sure she heard him say "insufferable" again but decided not to bring it up. "We are here for a reason. Shall we?" He asked, gesturing towards the shop. With a shrug, Axel walked inside, followed by Maria and the stern towering Xaldin, and the group began their mission. Shopping.
They gandered about for sometime. Maria wandering the shops, getting what she needed and avoiding the rest. She came across an accessory shop, heading inside to look around, nodding towards the shopkeeper in greeting.
"Hey, lass. Feel free ta look around. We've got the finest gear in town." The man called with a grin, a toothpick hanging from his mouth and his blonde hair pulled back by a thick pair of goggles.
"Stunning collection." She commented as Xaldin and Axel entered, looking over some of the bangles.
The man looked them over, hands on his hips as he spoke. His voice gruff yet casual, "Ya'll new to town?"
"You could say that." Axel responded easily.
"Huh." He took the toothpick from his mouth, grinning, "Team's always fond of newcomers. Name's Cid. Ya ever need gear, better come to me. Ya hear?"
Maria looked him over from under her lashes, smiling politely. "Alright. I'm Maria." She introduced before standing up straight, "The silent giant there is Xaldin. And hotshot over there," she nodded towards the redhead, "is Axel."
"Nice to meet ya."
Eyes full of amusement, she turned back to the bangles, going to pick one up before a long, slim fingered hand appeared in her line of vision. A silver armlet held between the slender fingers, Axel's crisp voice spoke. His tone was softer than usual as he said, "This one."
Glancing over the trinket, she noticed the armlet was meant to protect against blizzard and ice based spells. Perfect for someone with a fire affinity like herself. As she took the armlet, she trained her hazel eyes on Axel, gazing at her green eyed companion with a mixture of curiosity and gratitude. "Thank you."
Crossing his arms, Axel nodded, looking away from the woman as though he wasn't sure what made him do that. Her gaze stayed fixed on him for another long moment before she returned her focus to the trinkets in Cid's cleverly displayed case. The light from the window caught a particular item, gleaming off a chaos ring. Xaldin observed as she picked it up, noting that the particular item would help increase one's resistance to darkness.
He gazed at her, tone inquisitive as he spoke, "For the other?"
"Yeah." She responded with a nod, twirling the item in her hand. "That kid's gonna get herself killed surrounded by so much darkness. It's a wonder she hasn't already hurt herself."
With that said, Xaldin's eyes cast over to the other Nobody, "worry" evident in his gaze. Realization washed over Axel's face as the gravity of those words sank in. Acidic green washed over Maria's form, the smallest memory of concern flooding his mind as he took everything in. Her closed off stance, the taut pull of her hunched shoulders, the tenseness of her arms, and the worried furrow set between her brows.
Thinking back, Axel recalled how Maria had been slowing down quite a bit during their outing. Occasionally he saw her clutch at her chest when she thought no one was looking. The soft flutter of lashes as she seemed to struggle to get a quick breath, and the minute twitch of her jaw as she clenched her teeth. All of her brash actions and easy arguments. She was distracting herself and everyone around her. She was in pain.
Maria was in pain because something was wrong with Irene. And their separation only made them worse.
Axel understood their link to a point, but Irene always seemed to be failing in her health while Maria showed only minor symptoms. The question was, why? Why did Irene suffer so much while Maria stood passively by with only minor struggles? Pride and sheer force of will were one thing, but this… this was different entirely. Was it her affinity for magic? The sheer burning defiance so prominent in her very being? Or was it Irene's supposed affinity for healing, yet unable to access that very magic she so desperately needed?
He stepped up to Xaldin as Maria paid for the items, pulling him aside for a moment, "You see it too, don't you? She's not okay."
"Irene was in distress earlier." Xaldin informed him, eyes stern as he played through the information in his mind, "It is why I came looking for Maria."
"And why you rushed in when she screamed." He realized, eyes wide, mind flashing back to his argument with Irene before his expression quickly hardened into something unreadable, his eyes narrowing darkly as he demanded, "Define distress."
"Enough for her to run off and form a portal before vanishing."
"That's not possible." Hissed Axel, knowing full well that one could not create a corridor without proper experience in magic.
"You know," chimed Maria's soft voice as she stepped up behind them, "it's not nice to whisper when there are others in the room."
"Maria." Xaldin moved to look down at her, "I take it you are finished?"
"By finished, if you mean shopping, then yes. If you mean trying to find out what you two are plotting, then no. I tend to be fairly curious." She stated as she crossed her arms, ignoring how Xaldin's violet gaze focused on how her hands tightly gripped her forearms. As if trying to cause a new pain to block out a different one.
With a hum, he nodded, "Shall we depart, then?"
Axel folded his hands behind his head again, looking off to the side, "We should probably head back soon if we don't wanna get dusked."
Curiously, Maria looked Axel over. Trying to decipher the exact meaning of those words. She had her theories, but theories were for another day. Digging her fingers deeper into the muscles of her biceps, distracting herself with the sharp sting of it, she exited the shop. The brisk pace she set soon faltered as the tightness in her chest surged again, sucking the air from her lungs and causing her to fault in her steps. And as quick as it happened Axel was there, one arm snaked through hers as an anchor. Sturdy enough to support her if she needed it, but easy enough to break loose if she decided to.
Axel pulled gently, guiding her to stand up straight, "You good?"
"Peachy." She rasped, looking anywhere but at her tall companion.
"I'd say you're more auburn than peach, but if that's what you want to go with." He snarked, a small smirk trying to force itself on his lips.
"Ha ha." She mocked, taking in a slow breath, lungs protesting at having to expand after having constricted so much before. A shudder wracked through her before Xaldin's sharp voice saying her name snapped her back to her surroundings. She glanced over to their silent guard, seeing his gaze focused on something quite a bit in front of them. Turning to see what was offending him so, she saw a yellow dog bounding towards them.
"Why the hell is there a dog here?" Axel asked as the canine rushed at them, stopping to spin in a circle before jumping at them, promptly colliding with Axel and sending him crashing down onto his backside, golden paws pressed firmly to his chest as it licked his face before jumping off and running around in circles.
Maria stared in apparent shock for a long moment at the scene in front of her before a large smile broke across her features. A warm laugh escaping her; something true and genuine for the first time in ages easing the tension and pain in her chest, and she was left clutching at her side as she leaned over to try and ease her laughter.
Xaldin was taken back by the sudden outburst, not having expected something quite like that to come from the normally angry girl. The sound was almost nostalgic to him; seeing her and Axel much like how Lea and Isa used to be. How Isa would get himself into trouble and Isa would knowingly follow along, laughing at his friend's misfortune with such lighthearted ferver.
He imagined that, if he still had it, his heart would hurt at the memory. Of all that was lost. But in that moment, the Lancer couldn't bring himself to be melancholy. He watched as Axel grumbled and yelled at Maria for laughing instead of helping, the dog running circles around them as if a game. Compared to the constant stress of the castle, this was complete peace.
"Calm down, hotshot." Maria managed to get out through her laughter, still suppression light giggles as she stepped up to help him, arm extended, "Come on. Up." she stated before, just as Axel was about to grab her outstretched hand, the golden dog ran up and jumped into her arms. It's black talons wracking across the exposed flesh of her forearms, earning a sharp hiss from her in the process. The dog's ears perked at the sound of distress before flattening, jumping down and moving in a small circle before taking a seat in front of her. A soft whine of apology rumbling in its slim chest.
"Maria." Xaldin called as he stepped up to her, quickly taking one bleeding arm into his hands, his eyes widening at seeing how badly the cuts were bleeding.
"Geez, is he made of knives or something?" Axel asked as he pushed himself to his feet, glaring and waving at the canine, "Shoo. Go on, get out of here!"
"Axel!" Maria snapped, glaring at him.
"What? You're bleeding. How bad did he get you?" He asked as he moved to see beyond Xaldin's expertly moving hands. The man in question having pulled a cloth from his coat, trying to clean off the blood, "Holy shit, it just keeps bleeding."
"Of course it is. I'm anemic."
"Excuse me?" Axel blinked.
"Anemic. My blood is thinner in a way. Low Iron and all that jazz." She winced when Xaldin pressed down particularly hard on the cut, "From what I've gathered, it's my gift from being separated. Fatigue, headaches. And sometimes my blood doesn't clot. It just keeps going."
"In other words?"
"In other words, she could die if left untreated." Xaldin clarified, taking off his glove and ripping the garment into strips of fabric, wrapping it around her arm and tying it off tightly. Maria knew the fatigue was coming long before she felt it. Preparing for the sudden dizziness by grabbing onto Xaldin's arm was easy. What was far more difficult, however, was to stay standing from the sudden burning in her chest and head.
Taking her completely by surprise as all the air seemed to leave her at once, unable to even try to gasp as she faltered, the strong hands gripping her shoulders and the slender arm wrapped around her waist were the only things keeping her standing. The pain was immediate- the sheer burning will of it all. It wasn't a normal burn, no. She knew what a true burn was. But this? This was something else entirely. Something bright and gleaming, trying to blare it's way to life in a last ditch effort to thrive before it's snuffed out.
Black coated her vision briefly, the ringing in her ears she hadn't noticed was there slowly fading as she took a sharp, agonizing breath. Her vision clearing to the sight of Xaldin staring her down, shaking her shoulders roughly, his lips moving on silent words against the buzzing of her ears.
It's too soon. I shouldn't be dropping yet. The thoughts came to her quickly as she tried to gasp through another breath. The pendant. The connection. I shouldn't drop yet.
"-ia!" called a muffled voice. She shut her eyes, ignoring the sharp pressure against her shoulders. Her muscles protesting at the pain of it.
It's dark there. Everything is dark. They thrive in the darkness, so why am I…?
"-aria! Look at me!" called the stern voice again, the pressure on her shoulders beyond bruising now.
"Damn it, open your eyes kid!" Called another voice, much more crisp than the other. Cinnamon and mountain air swirling around her senses as her thoughts swam through her mind through the blinding pain in her head.
Kid? Came the sudden word, images of short cropped dark hair and wide honey gold eyes flashing through her mind. Irene.
"Look at me!"
Maria's eyes shot open wide, brief flickers of red flooding the hazel irises before she leaned forward, coughing hoarsely as her lungs fought for oxygen. Rough, hacking bursts as Xaldin held her upright, keeping her on her feet.
"Maria-!"
"-Fine!" she rasped, taking a few more shuddering breaths as she shakily moved her hands to grasp Xaldin's upper arms. Grounding herself, "I-I'm fine. But we have to go."
"No way, not until you explain what just happened." Axel snapped, clearly angry, "You all of a sudden collapse and start shaking like Xaldin's got you in a hurricane! Why?"
"There's no time. She's not…" She tried as she fully body shudder wracked through her. The blinding pain in her head causing spots to dance at the edge of her vision.
Given Xaldin's expression, she assumed he must have understood what she was referring to. In one swift movement, he had Maria turned and pressed into his side, one arm supporting around her waist and the other tucked under her knees. Her good arm slung over his shoulders as he lifted her, "Axel. Open the portal."
"You can't just-!"
"Axel."
That made the redhead flinch. The fearful eyes of that young boy flashing in his green eyes before he snapped his fingers, the dark corridor swirling into being before them, a sad realization darkening his usually charismatic features, "It's the kid. Isn't it?"
"Let us pray we are not too late to be of aide." Xaldin confirmed before striding through the portal briskly. A faltering Maria held in tow with Axel falling close behind.
The dog let out a long whine as the portal closed behind the three black clad strangers. His sad howl left only to be heard by the wind.
…
Pausing before Lexaeus retracted his hands, he waited for any other sign of movement. The Keeper of Light had been responding well to the elixirs and potions for a brief time, her memory quickly returning after the damage to her main neural system had been repaired. It was surprising she was able to remember his and Zexion's names so quick, especially since the young scientist hadn't even injected the modified elixir into her body yet.
She had seemed so pleased with herself, staring at the scientist with a smile so bright one would not have believed her to be in such intense pain. Not much longer had her memory fully returned that the elixir began to work on the rest of her organs, trying to mend the immediate damage while Vexen continued to work with Zexion's research on how to handle the more difficult, detailed pieces of her illness, that she had begun to react violently. Irene began to thrash, trying to kick her legs despite the bindings on her ankles, and screaming as loud as her lungs would allow.
Lexaeus had to hold her down when the needles Zexion had placed in her arms began to tug and pull at her flesh, blood trickling down her skin. The whole reason Lexaeus was there at all was in case she reacted like this, the child being the subject of a new experiment with untold results. Zexion and Vexen were not very physically strong, so they needed someone they trusted there who was in case something went wrong. And, unfortunately, it seemed something did.
When Irene went completely limp, her eyes closing as she hit unconscious, Zexion stopped typing and automatically went to fix the wires and needles, irritation clear on his face even if it did not show in his eyes. Grabbing the flashlight from before, he moved over to the unconscious teen and forcefully opened her eyes one at a time, checking for any abnormalities.
The beeping on the monitor was loud and rapid, her breathing shallow and weak. Scowling, the scientist unplugged a few machines before heading over to a shelf stocked full of different colored concoctions, taking out a few bottles and getting to work mixing them together. Lexaeus watched Zexion briefly before redirecting his attention to the girl, wondering if she would survive.
She was certainly odd, but compared to many members of the organization she was easier to predict. Fairly polite, awkward, easily frightened… and kind. Why one would continue to be so nice to their captors he did not understand, but he assumed it had something to do with her being that of light. Those with that affinity did tend to have purer hearts than those affiliated with darkness, but while that is so it could simply be her character. For while one could be affiliated with darkness or light, if they were exposed to too much it would drown that person…
Her light shouldn't have any effect on her personality. It was a curious thing indeed, but not one Lexaeus felt should be examined. She has quite the short attention span as well.
He was interrupted from his recollection of the Saix encounter when Zexion moved back over, removing the oxygen mask from Irene's face and lifting her head up slightly, pouring the new concoction he had made into her mouth. "Humans are so weak," The scientist muttered under his breath, just loud enough to be heard by the giant, "if she dies now after surviving for so long in her condition there shouldn't even be a purpose for Keepers. Her fight for survival would have been completely pointless."
"What's happening to her?" Lexaeus asked, wanting the full explanation as to what was wrong.
Setting the bottle down on the metal tray table beside him, Zexion ran his fingers down the girl's throat to get her to swallow the liquid. "The elixirs were so her magic would be restored, but her light is completely out of balance… I gave her a concoction to battle the darkness, though only temporarily, to try and give her light time to fix itself."
When he was satisfied that the concoction had been taken in, he laid her head back down and stepped away, pulling his gloves off and pinching his nose with a grimace. Though Lexaeus' face showed nothing, he stared at Zexion with the memory of curiosity.
Seeing his gaze, Zexion turned away and muttered, "Light is already a displeasing smell, but a being of full light's heart being out of balance is even more disgusting a stench." The scientist has had a headache for the last five minutes because of it. If he didn't find her so interesting a study, he would have most likely let her die by now.
…
The fractures… the cracks in the glass…
It hurts…
Everything is breaking and it hurts…
I don't want to die.
...
To say Xaldin was concerned might be considered a gross over exaggeration given their "emotionless" state. However, he was well acquainted with how the emotion should feel. And that allowed him to worry. Greatly. He felt the brunette squirming long before she voiced her complaints. The red of her downturned eyes speckling the hazel orbs, swirling in their depths as Maria lost herself to her thoughts. It was unnerving.
As Xaldin exited the portal, taking brisk steps into the elder Keeper's room, Maria had decided she had had enough.
"Okay, fuck this. Put me down now." She snapped, pushing roughly against the Lancer until he let her legs gently fall to touch the floor. He noticed with distaste how her brows pinched the moment she stood on her own; the sharp, nearly silent inhale, the clenching of her jaw from the effort of it. There and gone in a flash as though it had never happened. It made him wonder just how much pain she must have endured to be able to hide it so well.
"I will go and find Irene. Axel will stay with you until I return." Promised Xaldin, keeping his tone steady as he gently gripped her shoulders, "Please do not do anything rash."
"I think you're overestimating my abilities right now." Maria stated, shifting a bit to hide her damaged arm behind her. The skin on her other hand had tinted red from their trying to staunch the flow of blood before.
With a frown, Xaldin stepped back, sharp gaze switching to Axel, "Do not leave her side."
"Wasn't planning on it." came Axel's curt response, hands curled into loose fists at his sides. With that, Xaldin left in search of the Light Keeper, his echoing footsteps the only reminder of Number III's departure before Maria abruptly turned and began ransacking her room in a desperate search for something.
Blinking at the sudden movement, Axel moved over to her, yelling, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Looking for something that will help." was Maria's muttered reply, more to herself than the other as she dropped to her knees, reaching under the bed in a blind search. Rough fabric slid along her palm, prompting her to dig around in it until she was able to slip her hand into the pocket of her discard breaches from Port Royal. Fingers clasped against the cool smooth surface of something metal before a rough hand gripped her arm; yanking her back and up to her feet with a slight hiss.
"Talk to me, damn it. What are you looking for?" He snapped, green eyes sharp and searching.
She shoved his chest roughly, getting a bit of distance between them before she held up her hand, a pewter colored diamond shaped pendant held aloft between her fingers.
"This," she began with a slow inhale, eyes moving up to catch Axel's stare as she continued, "will help her. If we can get her stable, this will help to keep out the pain."
"How is a pin going to do that?"
"Easily. It's what I used when I started training with the mouse." She scoffed a bit, tucking the pin into her pocket. "Come on. We need to get to that Book wielder."
"Zexion? Why him?"
"Because," she said as she wrinkled her nose a bit, "I can feel her light. And he's near it."
"So if we find Zexion we'll find Irene." He breathed, eyes widening at the idea of it, "Xaldin would have went to find Demyx first."
"Which is why we can't wait for him to get back. Where would," she paused on the name, not having used it as of yet, "Zexion be?"
"With Vexen. The lab."
"Lead the way." She ordered, shoulders tensing at a particularly sharp jolt in her chest.
"Can you keep up?" He questioned, brows furrowed.
"Not much of a choice."
"Right. Stay with me." Axel turned towards the door, not looking back, "I doubt you want me to carry you."
"I'm sure you'll survive." She retorted, quickly following as the redhead ran off, his coat billowing behind him as Maria followed close behind. Irene was in trouble.
Who knew how much time she had left?
…
Lexaeus stood there in silence, eyes closed as he listened to the beating of the heart monitor. With every minute that passed it seemed to grow slower, the beeping spreading out between intervals. It had been a long time since the laboratory had been under such stress, the atmosphere heavy with the impending death of the Light Keeper weighing upon them. There was nothing they could do to help the unconscious girl with her light- it was a battle she would have to fight on her own.
All they could do was sit and wait in the quiet, watching and wondering if the girl would succumb to the weakness of her heart or if she would pull through. She survived this long with such a deadly illness, separated and cursed with inevitable death if the reunion with her other half never happened. Despite her appearance and attitude towards all that has been thrown at her so far, she had quite the willpower and strength of heart to actually survive for so long.
Perhaps that's why she was so friendly towards the majority of the members- she refused to give in to her fear. Admirable, but also rather foolish. She hesitates constantly, but makes herself move forward. If she was able to speak up to Axel, whom had frightened her since the first meeting, and lived this long… she should be able to pull through this obstacle as well.
An irritable sigh pulled the silent giant out of his contemplation, his eyes opening to gaze at the annoyed mad scientist that was making his way towards Zexion, a vial in his right hand. "Honestly, I can't believe this child! I can't even prod her a little when she's this broken. What makes you believe this could fix her?"
Cold azure eyes turned to stare up at the older man, slate blue hair falling into the visible side of his face as his expression went blank. "What makes you think it won't, Four? If we can remedy the effects the separation has called, then the percentage of her correcting the imbalance and awakening rises."
"But if it fails her heart will completely shatter! I-"
"Vexen." The mad scientist froze upon hearing the iron voice, standing straight and scowling up at Lexaeus, meeting his gaze. "Is it done?"
"Is it- who do you take me for!? Of course it's finished! All we need is for this arrogant child to input it into that broken one!" He gestured in an irritable nod towards Zexion, who raised an eyebrow at him, and pointed at Irene's pale form on the lab table.
Zexion took the vial, observing it with an inquiring gaze, before smartly retorting to Vexen with the most polite of tones, "If you ever acted as though you deserved respect, perhaps I would show it to you… eventually."
Promptly ignoring Vexen as the mad scientist fumed, Zexion headed over to the side of the room where more medical equipment was stored, opening an I.V and pouring in the liquid. It was only when he had returned to the lab table where Irene was resting, pressing down to find a strong vein, and slid the needle in that the lab door was suddenly thrust open. The pair of fire starters bursting in with panting breaths, the girl more so than the boy.
"What happened?" Maria demanded with a sharp glare around the room before rushing up to Irene on the opposite side of Zexion, "Kid, you better not fucking die."
Axel came up beside her, looking over Irene's unconscious form before looking over the three higher ranked members, eyes focusing on Vexen. "What have you done to her?"
"Me?" Vexen crowed incredulously, "I have done nothing but try to aid her, you pompous child. We are trying to save her life!"
"A shit job you're doing of it! She's practically dead!"
"Like you would understand the intricacies of science and medicine. Give it time to work!"
"I'll show you what works." Axel growled lowly.
Maria ignored them, hands coming to grip Irene's shoulders loosely as she looked her over, eyes roaming over the IV's and small splotches of blood from pulled needles. Her eyes roamed everywhere, searching, feeling for something. For a source. And that's when she felt it, or rather, felt the lack of it. Irene's light was not as it should be. Bright, fierce, blinding like the sun. It was weak, barely burning. Smothered out by the ashes of fire threatening to keep it at bay. That same smothering force filling her with pain and crushing her heart.
"If you die on me, I'm going to be so pissed at you." She muttered quietly to herself as she pulled the pendant out from her pocket, clasping it to the front of Irene's shirt, just over where her heart should be. Hoping the pendant's spell would help alleviate some of the pain for her before she moved to the head of the table. Standing behind where Irene's head rested on the table, Maria knelt down onto her knees; hands clasped loosely to the young girl's temples, moving to press her forehead to the crown of the sickly one's head. Eyes closed tightly.
Zexion watched the scene unfold silently, Vexen and Axel's argument left in the back of his mind as he watched the Keeper of Darkness at work. It was no secret that the Dark Keeper had no care for her other. Irene's death, while unfortunate as it may have been, would not affect Maria as much as one would think. Yes, he knew she would get weaker at being separated yet again from the light, but she would live.
She would hone the dark she possessed and they would find the new Light Keeper. Simple really. It was only logical. And yet, here she was, trying with all she had to help bring the fragile girl back to the world. One so distant and angry standing out on the edge in hopes to pull another back to solid ground, even if that meant toppling over the edge herself. That was what surprised him the most.
With keen interest, he watched her lips move in silent words. Red and black swirling around her thin arms as darkness pooled at her feet, almost as if grounding her. A deep sigh left her lips before all movement with her stopped. The only thing still showing her wakeful being the very darkness swirling beneath her.
It was that very stillness that told him everything he needed to know.
Maria had dove into Irene's heart.
…
It was easy, the fall. To fall into your mind and all it holds. Falling into another's mind?
Now that was so incredibly difficult.
The light of Irene's heart, as weak and feeble as it currently was, knew better than to willingly allow darkness here. Especially since Maria's heart was pure darkness. Everything that damn mouse had tried to teach her fell short when actually faced with the light before her. It pushed at her through the fall, tryin to slow her descent onto the platform; as if falling through mud. Everything was sluggish and heavy, almost as though there was something else pushing back the dark; trying to fight off the black that was Maria's very being.
With wavering steps, she touched down on the platform, a subtle vision of soft forest green within the checker rimmed circle entering her vision. Sharp, jagged cracks ran the length of one side, black cascading lines marring the face of a young boy. The posture and mop of blonde hair easily recognizable now that he had snuck his way onto Maria's own platform.
"That fucker. So he's in my heart because of you." She muttered through the haze, a heavy weight making her movements feel leaden as she stepped away from the center of the platform. She took note how, where the semblance of "home" would normally backdrop their platform, there was a stark emptiness instead. A pale, hollow teal swallowing that empty space with a sad essence. Frowning, she let her gaze move around, finding the sharp distinction of Irene's own self on the opposite side of the platform. A frail painted hand pressed tenderly to her chest as though hurt. It was then that she saw Irene. The real Irene, curled atop the image of herself.
Maria rushed forward as best she could, letting the pressure of the platform force her to her knees once in front of the small child. Hands hovering over the sleeping form but knowing better than touch given her current state.
"Come on, kid. You've gotta give me something here." she rasped, her lungs feeling constricted in the ever present home of Light. With a shudder, she realized that, just at the edges of her vision, were silken white forms. Almost see through in appearance, like wisps or ghosts. Always lingering on the edge of her vision but never in her direct line of sight, no matter how she turned.
"The previous." she whispered as she forced herself to her feet, staggering a bit from the sheer force of it. Her hands shook lightly, eyes flowing about the platform as she took note of the softly wisping tendrils of darkness that crept near the cracks and over the edges of the platform. Threatening to overflow and devour it whole should that chance arise.
Hazel eyes hardened in steely resolve, red tinting the edges of her irises as she lifted her hands. Arms outstretched in a stance of pure control as black flooded the whites of her eyes.
"Darkness is mine to control." She began, feeling the wisps fleeting around her as pure dark power flowed through her. Like calling to like. Black to black. Hollow to hollow. This was her essence, her being, and nothing else could take that from her. "You have no place here. Time to return to the nothing." She hissed as she turned her downturned palms up towards the sky, curling her fingers into fists as she brought her arms towards her in a slow pull. As if the very movement was a struggle. Pulling a weight far greater than what she should be able, sweat darting her brow.
The darkness shifted for a moment, as if fighting against her. Shifting jerkily before heading her call, slowly slithering towards her before jutting out at full force. Crashing around her with the full power of it as it smothered her in its grip. The black cloaking her in its obsidian hold. Choking the life out of any who were not worthy of its blessing.
But she was. It was hers after all. Like calls to like, she thought, pulling her hands in close to her chest, eyes closing softly, it belongs to me. And we should hold no power here.
Shifting, molding around her in a swirling typhoon, the darkness shot up to the sky, shaking it's jagged edges before halting. Stilling into nothingness, a perfect onyx sculpture breaching the sky with its towering peak. A monument. But not one meant to last. One by one, cracks and chips formed along its ashen planes. The monolith collapsing in on itself, and in turn, Maria. Swirling into nothing as it all began to flow into her hands, through the shaking limbs and into her chest. Her Heart.
The sheer force of it was enough to make Maria collapse.
She fell to her knees, arms shaking and breath ragged as she struggled to keep it all in. The light pouring down on her in harsh, unforgiving waves. After a few moments time, too long a time, and with labored movements, the fire starter had managed to gather herself up enough to stumble her way over to the still sleeping girl. Reaching out a trembling hand, hesitating before contact, Maria let out a shudder of a sigh. Claiming her resolve enough to try and wake her.
"Kid?" She muttered, reaching out to gently brush the hair from her face, "Irene. I-" she was cut off the moment she made contact. The world around her seeming to stop and move all at once. Everything changing as memories flooded her. A life she knew and yet chose to forget all at once forcing its way to the forefront of her mind. Of her heart.
…
"You want me to come with you?" came the timid question. Long lashes frame the wide eyes of the small girl. Nine years old with the beauty of the world and all its wonders shining in the bright hazel orbs.
"Yup! We need your help to save the worlds!" was the chipper reply. Voice high and squeaky and filled with hope, "We believe you're one of the Keepers of Heart. It's your destiny to protect the hearts of others."
"But what about my siblings? Darian would be upset if I was just gone."
"We can always come back to visit. Friends and family are what form the strongest bonds in our hearts. They're never truly gone as long as we remember them."
"I don't know...I'm finally finished being sick. And Irene is so small." She took a step back, fidgeting with the sleeves of her jacket. The light from the moon playing off her auburn hair and making it shine like starlight.
"She'll grow. And so will you. Please, Maria. We can't do this without you." His voice was sad, pleading in a way. As if he was being pushed into a corner; to have to do something he didn't want to do should she not answer the way he wanted.
A moment's pause, eyes darting back to the still open door to her childhood home. The sounds of laughter and family and home echoing in its walls as she worried her lip between her teeth. She didn't meet his gaze as she answered, eyes still focused on the door, "Do you promise we can visit?"
"I promise. I'll bring you back to visit the first chance we get!" the happiness in his voice was unmistakable. Relief flooding his high pitched voice and smile broadening on his face as he held out his hand, "Ready?"
With a deep breath, the child turned towards her new friend. Determination flashing in her fierce eyes. She was going to help save the world. Worlds. She could help make sure everything was safe for her family. For Clara and Darian. And for little Irene with her bright chocolate eyes.
Reaching out, she grasped the white gloved hand with purpose, "Okay, Mickey. Let's save the world."
In a flash of light like a shooting star, there were there and gone. Whisked away to the worlds and all their glory.
Never again to step foot in the world she once called Home.
…
Zexion stepped back with a jump as Maria's eyes suddenly flew open wide. The usually stern, resilient girl shoving back from the table as though pushed by Xaldin's winds, collapsing onto her side several feet away from the lab table. Breathing quick and ragged, shoulders and arms trembling as the black around her irises faded into white once more. However, the pure raw, vulnerable sheen in her eyes was probably the most troubling to the Cloaked Schemer. Zexion could not ponder what would have caused such a reaction from the Keeper.
His calculating mind noted that Vexen and Axel had abruptly stopped arguing. The latter having ran up to kneel beside Maria, hand braced gently to her shoulder as though not to harm her. Her name stumbling past his lips repeatedly in the vague hopes that repeating the word would elicit a response from the quivering woman. How trivial.
When it became clear that Maria wasn't going to respond, Axel cursed underneath his breath and picked the young woman up bridal-style, her eyes open wide with shock but the woman unable to speak. Her head rested on his shoulder as he glared at the three Nobodies in the room across from him- all of whom were surrounding the unconscious Irene.
Part of him "wanted" to remain in the room in case they tried anything else with the kid, but his main concern was Maria and he knew that not only Xaldin would throw a fit if something happened to her, but the Superior as well if they lost both Keepers. Saix would chew me out to no end, he thought bitterly, opening a portal to Maria's room. Leaving the laboratory, Zexion stared at the way they left momentarily before redirecting his attention to Irene.
The beeping on the monitor had quickened, intervals now at a much more regular pace, and a surprising amount of color was now returning to the girl's face. Her ragged breathing had calmed, the girl appearing as though she had fallen into a peaceful sleep rather than a painful comatose state.
Lexaeus looked down at his charge with partial interest, seeing how Maria's actions had restored Irene's light and her bodily functions to normal. For someone so full of hate and anger, this was an incredibly odd act of kindness. He could sense the darkness was gone, Maria having taken it out of the girl by force, and her very presence helping restore what Irene had lost. The Keeper of Darkness, out of her own will and power, willingly tightened the chains that bound them together.
Irene was recovering quickly, mending her heart back together now that the perpetrator harming her was gone. If anyone in the Organization had a heart to feel it, they would all probably be relieved by that knowledge. Instead, they just went on with the knowledge that they wouldn't be forced to deal with the annoying task of locating and caring for an infant.
Muttering under his breath, Zexion typed away the computer, taking note of the way she seemed to be accepting the elixirs and the concoctions now that the darkness inside her heart was gone. "Please, Number Four, do refresh my memory of what you said earlier about the antigen not working?"
Scrunching his nose up at the young scientist, Vexen scowled. "Be silent, Number Six. Your behavior towards authority gets worse with each day; I know I raised you better than this."
Shockingly, Zexion did not send a witty retort to match his words, the man growing silent instead. Vexen paused, staring at the younger Nobody in confusion. For a minute, Vexen had thought he had actually won an argument and hurt the boy's pride, before realizing he was staring at the resting girl.
Vexen followed his gaze, watching as the girl shifted slightly, eyelashes flickering as she struggled to wake up. Her fingers twitched, a small cough escaping her lips, and with a quiet groan as her feet pulled against the restraints Irene's eyes fluttered open. Dazed, confused, and alive Irene looked around the room, glancing at Lexaeus and Vexen briefly before her eyes settled on Zexion.
He held her stare, watching as she blinked at him slowly. Her eyebrows furrowed together, mouth parting slightly as if she was going to speak, only to pause. "...Di-Did I die and go to heaven…? Because you look like an angel."
Vexen was the first to react, sputtering and spitting out disbelieving gibberish before looking at the girl with crazed eyes, exclaiming loudly, "That's the first thing you say!? Zexion is the farthest thing from an angel!"
She just stared at him with a tired, unimpressed gaze. Lexaeus noted that it was one of her rare expressions- the girl almost always having a smile on her face. With a sighing yawn, the girl laid her head back down and closed her eyes. "He's pretty and wearing white… fight me."
"H-How dare you-!"
"Bold words considering the brush with death you had." Zexion interrupted, voice cool and expression calm, the man ignoring Irene's comment towards his appearance. Vexen glared at him, crossing his arms with a huff, and spun on his heel to march away. The room dropped a couple of degrees with his attitude and Irene let out a small shiver, scrunching her nose up as she fought against a sneeze. "Do you recall anything that had happened?"
"Uh…" She opened her eyes again, blinked a few more times as she stared at him and then up at the ceiling. "I… I remember Axel. He… He got r-really mad a-and… and then…"
The heart monitor picked up pace with her brief panic.
"We… We got into argument. I-I couldn't breathe and…" She couldn't remember. Irene tried, but everything was a haze. "I woke up here. Everything hurt and then there was darkness…"
She didn't mention the memory of Maria's she saw- the confirmation that they were siblings. It felt too personal, too close to her heart for her to summon the courage to talk about it. There was also this intense ache in her chest, guilt and pain and fear all mixed together. Swallowing down the lump in her throat, Irene's gaze traveled to the restrains on her wrists.
"...Y-You guys didn't, like, cut me o-open, did you?"
The corner of his lips twitching upwards in a smirk at the suggestion, he turned to the large array of computers and typed on a keyboard with one hand, looking at her from the corner of his eye. "This would have been far more interesting if we did, but no. We could do so, if you would like? Vexen has been quite eager to get his hands on you."
Lexaeus watched as her eyes widened, horror dawning on her face, before she quickly forced a grin and stammered nervously, "A-About that, I-uh, I appreciate the offer, but… y-you know. I'm not really f-feeling up to it right now? Maybe next time."
"Shame. You would make quite an excellent lab specimen. Especially now that your internal organs are almost fully functional."
"I-Is that so? S-Sorr- wait, what!?"
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