(A/N: Hey people of the wide wide world! I is back! And it's longer! Yay!
Disclaimer: … I think Beyblade owns Marluxia. There's a dude that looks/ acts JUST LIKE HIM! LOL! I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Disney... Dumb bombs won't get shipped in fast enough... Enjoy!)
The Hunchback Nobody of Twilight Town
Chapter 10: A Guy Like You
The great starting day was ruined. Twilight Town burned, flames everywhere. All by the orders of Judge Xemnas, in a search for the gypsy Xion. At the moment, he was being approached by a guard.
"Sir! We've looked everywhere, and still no sign of the gypsy girl."
"I had the entire Clock Tower surrounded, guards at every door," Xemnas mumbled to himself. "There was no way she could have escaped... unless..." He looked up to the Clock Tower's Bell Tower, and Roxas' home.
Meanwhile, in the Tower, the 'goyles were talking.
"Oh, it doesn't look good," said Olette, observing the fire that was now Twilight Town.
"It's hopeless. Absolutely hopeless," Pence agreed next to her.
Near them, Hayner was playing cards with a pigeon. "You're telling me! I'm losing to a bird!" He threw down his cards, annoyed.
"Oh, that poor gypsy girl. I'm beginning to fear the worst," said Pence.
"I know, but, now, don't you say anything to upset Roxas. He's worried enough already," warned Olette.
"Yeah, you're right. We'd better lighten up," Hayner admitted.
"Shh, shh, shh! Here he comes!" cried Pence.
"Now just stay calm," Olette ordered.
"Not a word," said Pence.
"Easy does it," Hayner said.
"Stone faced."
Roxas joined them, worriedly looking over the balcony. "Any sign of her?"
Pence, next to him, bit his lip, trying to keep his composure, but he quickly lost it. "Oh, it's a lost cause! She could be anywhere! In the stocks, in the dungeon, on the rack!" He began to cry.
"Nice work, Pence," said Olette sarcastically.
"No, he's right. What are we going to do?" asked Roxas.
"What are you guys talking about?" questioned Hayner. "If I know Xion," He showed a Queen from his deck of cards in his hand. "She's three," He showed a 3. "...Steps ahead of Xemnas," He showed a Joker. "...And well out of harm's way!"
"Do you really think so?" Roxas asked.
"Hey, when things cool off, she'll be back. You'll see."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because she likes you," said Olette. "We always said you were the cute one."
"I thought I was the cute one!" Hayner cried as he stuffed himself with crackers.
"No, you're the fat, stupid one with the big mouth!"
"...What are you saying, exactly?" he asked, mouth still full.
"Take it from us, Roxas. You've got nothing to worry about."
"Yeah, you're irresistible!" said Hayner.
"Knights in shining armor certainly aren't her type," pointed out Pence.
"And those guys are a dime a dozen," Hayner said. "But you? You're one of a kind. Look...
"Twilight Town, the city of lovers is glowing this evening... True, that's because it's on fire, but still, there's l'amour. Somewhere out there in the night, her heart is also alight. And I know the guy she just might be burning for... A guy like you, she's never known, kid. A guy like you a girl does not meet every day! You've got a look that's all your own, kid. Could there be two?"
"Like you?" sang Olette and Pence.
"No way!"
"Those other guys that she could dangle, all look the same from every boring point of view. You're a surprise from every angle. Mon dieu above, she's gotta love a guy like you!"
"A guy like you," sang Pence. "Gets extra credit. Because, it's true, you've got … a … certain something more!"
"You're aces, kid!" said Hayner.
"You see that face," Olette sang. "You don't forget it!"
"Want something new?"
"That's you!" stated Hayner.
"For sure!"
"We all have gaped at some Adonis," sang Olette.
"But then we crave a meal more nourishing to cheeeEEEwww!" (Pence can not sing. Or hit high notes. XD)
"And since you're shaped like a croissant is," sang Hayner, holding up said object and comparing it to Roxas.
"No question of she's gotta love a guy like you!"
Suddenly a piano popped out of nowhere, with Pence playing it and Olette sitting on top of it.
"Call me a hopeless romantic, but Roxas, I feel it!" sang/said Olette.
"She wants you so, any moment she'll walk through that door..."
Hayner came through the door dressed as Xion. "Fooooorrr...
"A guy so swell..."
"A guy like you!" sang Olette and Pence.
"With all you bring her..."
"I tell you, Roxas..."
"A fool could tell,"
"There never was..."
"It's why she fell..."
"Another, was he?"
"For you know whoooooo!" Hayner sang.
"From King to Serf to the Bourgeoisie..."
"You ring the bell..."
"They're all a second stringer..."
"You're the bell ringer!" they sang together. "When she wants Ooh-la-la! Then she wants You-la-la! She will discover, guy; you're one heck of a guy! Who wouldn't love a guy like you?"
"You got a lot, the rest have not, so she's gotta love a guy like you!" finished Hayner. Just as he finished the song, Xion burst through the door. The goyles immediately turned back to stone.
"Roxas? Roxas!" she called.
"Xion? Xion! You're all right! I knew you'd come back!" He ran up to her, but refrained himself from giving her a hug.
"You've done so much for me already, my friend, but I must ask your help one more time."
"Yes, anything!"
She turned and brought in the unconscious body of Axel. "This is Axel. He's wounded, and a fugitive like me. He can't go on much longer. I knew he'd be safe here. Please, can you hide him?"
Roxas hesitated. It was the soldier from before, who had tried to find her... He was really her friend? How good of friends, then? "...This way."
They brought Axel down on Roxas' bed. The man moaned gently and came to.
"Xion?"
"Shh! You'll hide here until you're strong enough to move." She pulled out a flask of alcohol.
"Great. I could use a drink."
Instead, she poured it on his wound, and he cried out in pain. "Ah, yes! Hmmm! … Feels like a 1470 burgundy. … Not a good year."
"That family owes you their lives. You're either the single bravest soldier I've ever seen, or the craziest."
"Ex-soldier, remember?" He was cut off as she began sewing his wound. "Urg. Why is it, whenever we meet, I end up bleeding?"
Xion finished up the sewing, ignoring him, and stood up. "You should get some rest."
Ven, looking out the window, began to bleat excitedly. Roxas rushed to join him. He turned to Xion. "Xemnas' coming. You must leave. Quick, follow me! Go down the south tower's steps."
"Be careful, my friend," she said, putting her hand on his shoulder gently, which sent electricity shooting down his spine. "Promise you won't let anything happen to him as well."
"I promise," he said. I won't let her down, even if I hate the guy.
"Thank you." She quickly kissed his cheek and left with Ventus. The goyles came back to life again.
"Quick, we gotta stash the stiff!" Olette said.
They hurriedly dragged Axel's body off the bed and underneath the table with Roxas' models on it. He quickly tried to set his models straight as Xemnas entered.
"Oh, master," he said, feigning surprise. "I didn't think you'd be coming-"
"I'm never too busy to share a meal with you, dear boy. I brought a little treat." After a moment of silence, he slightly cleared his throat, and Roxas realized he hadn't set the table. He rushed off to grab the dishes, and was obviously flustered, dropping and breaking things.
"Is there … something troubling you, Roxas?"
"No. No!" he said as he set up the plates and cups.
"Oh, but there is. I know there is." He pulled out a bunch of grapes. One fell to the floor, near Axel. The blonde cautiously picked it up.
"I think … you're hiding something."
"Oh, no, master. There's nothing-"
"You're not eating, boy," Xemnas said, interrupting him. He quickly gobbled a handful of grapes.
Mumbling through the food, he said, "It's very good. Thank you." Axel then started to moan. Roxas moaned similarly, indicating he enjoyed the food. Axel sighed louder. Roxas kicked him, knocking him out, then pretended to cough to cover up the noise. "Seeds," he said to offer as an explanation.
Xemnas started looking at the models. "What's different in here?"
"Nothing, sir."
"Isn't this one new?" He picked up the Xion figure. "It's awfully good. Looks very much like the gypsy girl. I know..." A nasty look crept across his face as his voice rose. "You helped her escape!"
"But I-"
"And now, all Twilight Town is burning because of you!"
"She was kind to me, master."
Xemnas smashed the table and its setting. "You idiot! That wasn't kindness, it was cunning! She's a gypsy! Gypsies are not capable of real love! Think, boy! Think of your mother!" He took a moment to recompose himself. "But what chance could a poor, misshapen child like you have against her heathen treachery? Well, never you mind, Roxas. She will be out of our lives soon enough. I will free you from her evil spell. She will torment you no longer."
"What do you mean?"
"I know where her hideout is, and tomorrow, at dawn, I attack with a thousand men." He left.
Axel, now awake, got up from underneath the table. "We have to find the Court of Miracles, before daybreak. If Xemnas gets there first … are you coming with me?"
"I can't," he sighed.
"I thought you were Xion's friend!"
"Xemnas is my master. I can't disobey him again."
"She stood up for you! You've got a funny way of showing gratitude." He paused while Roxas turned away. "Well, I'm not going to sit by and watch Xemnas massacre innocent people. You do what you think is right." He turned and left.
Roxas saw the goyles staring at him expectantly. "Look. What am I supposed to do? Go out there and rescue the girl from the jaws of death, and the whole town will cheer like I'm some sort of hero? I'm no knight in shining armor. There's no way she could like me." He sighed. "Xemnas was right. Xemnas was right about everything. I'm tired of trying to be something I'm not."
Olette didn't speak, but handed him a coat. Roxas stared at it for a moment before grabbing it and rushing off. "I must be out of my mind!"
At ground level, Axel was exiting the Clock Tower. No sooner had he opened the door, than Roxas popped out upside down from the roof.
"Axel!"
"Ahhh!"
"I'm coming with you!"
"I'm glad you changed your mind."
"I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for her."
"You know where she is?" Axel asked.
"No, but she said this would help us find her." He pulled out the talisman and handed it to Axel.
"Good, good, good! Ahh! Great!" He examined it. "What is it?"
"I'm not sure."
"Hmm. Must be some sort of code. Maybe it's Arabic. No, no, it's not Arabic. Maybe it's ancient Greek..."
"When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand," whispered Roxas to himself.
"What?"
"It's the city!" Roxas realized.
"What are you talking about?"
"It's a map!" He pointed to the center. "See, here's the Clock Tower, and the river, and this little-"
"I've never seen map that looks like this and-"
They started talking at once. "Look, I've been up on the Clock Tower for fifteen years, so I think I know what the city looks like from above, and this is it!" Roxas said.
"-and this is not it!" Axel finished at the same time.
They both breathed deeply, then Axel gave in. "All right, okay. You say it's a map, fine, it's a map. If we're going to find Xion, we have to work together. Truce?" He slapped Roxas on the back friendly.
"Well … okay." He slapped Axel back, a bit harder than he meant to... maybe. Axel winced from the pain as they started off.
"...Sorry," Roxas apologized.
"No you're not."
(A/N: So? Watcha think? WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END! I don't know if I should be happy or sad...
Please, Please, PLEASE don't let Pence sing. Please. For the sake of all our eardrums. ;D
Olette: R+R!)