OMG! I am so sorry I'm late but a lot of stuff happened (coursework fell on me like a HUGE ROCK OF JUDGEMENT). But I hope this kinda long chapter will make up for it. I felt so bad when peeps commented on how quick I was with updates...sigh I am really sorry! I hope you like this, it isn't beta'd because my beta had better things to do apparently, he was 'busy' (shakes fist at 'Willow) and I reall wanted to get it to you guys so I just put it up anyway :). Point out any mistakes to me and I will edit them! Honest!
Thanks to all those who have reviewed or added this story on alert or fave'd it! I salute you all!
'Thoughts'
Hand signals - ooh a new one!
"Spanish"
"Normal speech!"
Righto! On with the chapter!
Chapter 10
Roxas awoke from sleep slowly, like a diver surfacing from the blue abyss. Sound came first, the gentle sigh of breath and the rustling of material. Next was scent, the familiar aroma of linens and a smell he could only label as 'home'. It was touch that influenced sight, for as soon as Roxas realised that he was lying down with someone considerably larger wrapped around him and clutching him like a teddy bear, his eyes shot open.
He turned his head slightly at caught a flash of crimson hair. His panic vanished as he recognised the body to be Axel. With his memories returned there was nothing at all abnormal to him about their position right now. Axel and Roxas had started officially dating or 'going out' when Roxas was fifteen. Yet their relationship predated that, Roxas had been dependant on Axel from the age of eleven. Even now, he wondered how he had survived two years without the overdramatic redhead at his side.
Carefully, so he didn't wake his sleeping companion, he sat up on what he now realised was a bed. He quietly pried the covers back and got to his feet, stretching to ease the ache of sleep from his joints. He looked around the room, recognising it as one from a safe house they'd used in hard times. He found his jeans on the floor and pulled them on, noting it wouldn't do to wander around in his boxers. It was strange, he couldn't remember taking off his clothes last night…
Roxas quietly melded through the shadows of the door and into the hallway. He ran a hand down the familiar hallway as he strode toward where he remembered the kitchen being. He opened the door to the plain room and glanced around. The kitchen was basic yet the clutter gave it a homely feel. In the centre was a large, beaten oak table surrounded by six similar chairs.
The door was the same and the smell when he entered was the same. But something was different. It couldn't be seen physically but Roxas could almost sense it. He smiled fondly, "stop playing tricks, Zexion, I just woke up…" he said to the seemingly empty room.
"Wanted to see if you'd notice," echoed the reply from a smooth baritone and suddenly there was a man seated at the table. It had been two years but Roxas could never forget Zexion. Both smiled simultaneously as their minds rushed forward to embrace each other and, in a matter of seconds, their exchanged the last two years of their lives in the form of images and emotions. The sharing continued as each absorbed the view of the other.
Roxas began to make them coffee as they interacted and Zexion began to cook breakfast for them. It was just like the old days, the two psychics had always been early risers. Soon four plates decorated the simple table, each full of newly cooked food. A jug of orange juice sat at the centre surrounded by some chipped mugs. Some had coffee in, some did not. Breakfast was ready.
As per old routine the doors to the rooms of Axel and Demyx flew open with a bang, their covers were dragged off and the two were brutally woken up. The stumbled blindly into the kitchen to find Roxas and Zexion seated at the table chatting happily. Axel and Demyx weren't morning people so they merely sat down and devoured breakfast until they felt more human.
Axel burped loudly and was surprised by a kick in the shins, he glanced up to see a pair of sharp blue eyes glaring at him. "What?" he asked Roxas innocently.
"Don't do that at the table, it's rude!" the boy growled.
This surprised Axel and everyone at the table. Roxas wasn't shy but a sudden development of a concern for manners where he hadn't had one before was somewhat odd. Zexion smiled brightly and asked, "Rosa is strict about manners then?"
"Rosa?" piped up Demyx.
He was completely ignored as Roxas replied, "yes. She says there is no excuse to not have impeccable manners at all times."
"Who's Rosa?" Axel also chimed.
"Sound advice I suppose," Zexion commented, delicately chewing his bacon. "I imagined she'll be very worried about you, you should phone her after you get dressed."
"Who's Rosa?" Axel repeated, whining because he was being ignored.
"She'll be beside herself! I completely forgot!" Roxas exclaimed, worried himself.
"Hey! Come on! Who's Rosa?" Axel was nearly shouting, only to have the intimidating nature of it completely destroyed by the fact he was pouting.
Roxas finally turned to him, "she's my foster mother."
"Foster mum?"
"Yeah, when I turned up with amnesia I got recycled into the American child care system and ended up with her as a foster mother. She's really nice! Spanish too, so that's all we speak in at home. She's the best mum ever!" Roxas rambled, picking at his food shyly.
"She's sounds really cool!" cried Demyx happily. He ran a hand through his blond hair for a moment, thinking. "Maybe we could take Rox back and then meet her and stuff?"
"She'd love to have you, she likes cooking for others. I think she gets lonely because all her children have moved away now," Roxas replied, smiling brightly.
Zexion knew how deeply Roxas felt for this woman and could tell Roxas would not leave her easily. But even the youngest of their number knew that there was a task to be completed. The young man glanced around the table before delivering orders, "right, we'll get dressed and then Roxas can call his mother to assure her he's alright. Then we will meet up to discuss how to best retrieve Marluxia."
"You found him then?" Roxas asked curiously.
"Yes, he's being held in a botany lab oddly enough," Zexion chuckled. "He's not far from Bayville. But we'll discuss that later, now scat! Get dressed!"
The boy separated to get dressed in their rooms and only when he saw Zexion follow Demyx into his room did Roxas remember that two were as in love as he and Axel. He smiled; all was how it should be.
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Roxas picked up the phone gingerly, almost fearfully, and looked at the receiver for a long while. Then his fingers moved slowly, dialling out a now familiar number with obvious hesitance. He waited patiently as the phone rang at regular intervals.
After a few seconds there was a muted click and a voice resounded, clear and concise. "Hello?" said the stern, female voice.
"Hello, Rosa," Roxas replied in Spanish nervously.
"Roxas!" she cried in obvious relief, he could hear her voice chocking. "Where have you been? I have been so worried, you just don't come back and there is no word, I was beside myself!"
"I met friends, Rosa," Roxas said by way of explanation.
"Well I know you must have friends from school but that is no excuse to vanish for days on end! I thought you had better sense than that!" Roxas smiled, he could see her hand on her hip in his mind, almost shaking as she berated him.
"No, not them. Other friends, from before I – you know – forgot everything," he intoned softly.
"Why didn't you say so?" Rosa exclaimed and Roxas knew she was throwing up her hands in exasperation.
"Don't be like that! I remembered everything, Rosa; I knew why was where they found me, if that makes sense. I also have someone I'd like you to meet and some things I'd like to tell you…"
"I suppose it is a good thing I am making a large lunch! How many of you shall I expect then? You teenagers are absolute savages when it comes to food!"
Roxas laughed out loud, only Rosa could breeze over his disappearance so easily. "There'll be four of us and one of the guys…we're kind of in a relationship…" He went quiet waiting for her reaction.
"That's nice to, dear, I'll make sure not to snap at him to much then. What time can I expect you?" Rosa didn't even blink.
Roxas smiled, "How about 2 'o'clock? That'll give us time to get there and you time to prepare, okay?"
"Okay, dear, 2 it is. Oh! Do they speak Spanish too dear?"
Roxas paused, thinking slightly. Well Zexion does but the other two don't, they'll just get really confused…"
"I suppose I shall endeavour to speak English, bleh! Such an ugly language!" Roxas laughed merrily and, after they'd exchanged farewells, put down the phone. He was glad that his mother hadn't changed what she thought of him. He walked down the hall to where the others were discussing what Axel was calling 'The Awesome Plan'.
Axel was really fidgeting when they did turn up at Rosa's house, nervous and almost sick to the stomach with it. Roxas found the whole situation really rather amusing. The old woman had looked him up and down before dragging them all inside for some traditional Spanish food. She, like Roxas, had berated Axel for his manners, as well as Demyx, which Zexion found amusing to no end. Yes, it was nice to have a home like this in Roxas' opinion.
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In the middle of a lush forest that lay just outside Bayville was nestled the Institute for State Botany Research. The surrounding area was proof of its research; it was filled with diverse wildlife and beautiful plant life. Yet, at night, that beauty took on an eerie quiet and a strange, almost terrifying quality. The shadows seemed to stretch and the trees clutch with sinuous fingers of leaves, all in the stillness of silence.
Within the forest's tenuous grasp a car lay partially concealed among the trunks of trees. Inside it sat Zexion, Demyx, Axel and Roxas, all wore deep black clothing obviously designed for combat. Each of them, however, wore a long sleeved shirt with a hood, completely darkening their faces. Zexion looked at them all before touching Roxas lightly on the wrist; both of them met eyes for a moment before Zexion's eyes misted over, indicating that his consciousness had detached and was monitoring the surrounding area in as great or little detail as necessary.
Roxas, intricately linked with Zexion now, led them through the undergrowth of the forest. He moved into the shadows, using them as gateways if necessary until they stood just outside the tall fencing of the institute. Roxas glanced at the other two and nodded, all of them melding through the wire as if it wasn't there. Here they separated, each of them darting toward the nearest group of patrolling guards. After a few moments the patrols, the contained no more than three individuals, fell silent and the grounds went still. Like shadows the three ghosted across the grounds toward the building.
'Cameras' whispered Zexion within Roxas' mind and he immediately froze, awaiting instructions. A series of images flashed before his eyes; cameras, walls and corners. 'Black spot' came the whisper again, 'south wall, cooling unit.' Roxas followed the indicated path and signalled Axel and Demyx to copy him with a series of hand gestures. They did and it was almost like they were soldiers again, the feelings of trepidation and elation filling each of them, sickening them.
Roxas moved beneath the camera and silently tested the handle of the janitor's back door. It was locked but, after gentle encouragement from Roxas, it clicked softly and swung inwards. The blond glanced over the hallway beyond, transmitting the images back to Zexion briefly before darting through the shadows into the belly of the beast.
Axel and Demyx followed a little further behind and at a slower gait. Both stilled when Roxas paused to glance round a corner before withdrawing. He was still for a moment. A series of hasty hand signals belied Roxas' intention toward the footsteps clicking toward them, just within hearing. Kidnap. Make talk. Take to mark? – read those deft hands, he looked to them both for confirmation. Axel could see urgency in those blue eyes. Axel's hand flashed the confirmation signal and Roxas nodded.
Roxas counted his heart beats, calming them to match the measured pace of the approaching doctor. A gloss over his mind had revealed he had the necessary information to take them to Marluxia. So as the man began to round the corner his arm shot out, he gripped the collar of the man's white lab coat and used the momentum of his steps to propel in an arc and push him against the wall with a muffled thud. He was smaller than the man but his grip was strong, holding the tall man even as he struggled.
It was Axel who spoke "take us to Number 11, now." His voice was a low growl edged with violence. Demyx walked to the corner and kept watch.
"I don't know what you're talking about! Who are you?" the man snorted indignantly but lowered his voice to a stuttering, halting tone upon the appearance of a blade held to his throat by Roxas.
"You do know, good sir. A mind-scan has revealed that. Now, can you take us to him or need I remove some fingers?" Axel spoke cheerfully, ruffling the man's soft brown hair like he was a child.
"Why should I do anything for you?" the man managed to get out, an attempt at being brave.
Quick as a viper Roxas flipped over the blade in his hand and brought the hilt down harshly on the middle finger of the his left hand, which was splayed out against the wall. There was a gentle crack as the finger snapped. The man cried out, his voice caught and muffled by Axel's gloved hand pressed over his mouth.
"Now that was silly wasn't it?" chided Axel, as if speaking to a small child, frowning as Roxas broke another finger.
"I'll take you there, but please, please stop!" the man sobbed. He was very weak willed and Axel rolled his eyes in disgust.
"Get moving," murmured Roxas, shoving the man forward. He stumbled a bit, clutching his hand to him. "If you betray us, I'll kill you." The man looked down at the smallest member of the three man team; he was small but seemed the most dangerous.
Roxas looked to the side and the others waited while he communicated with Zexion to move to the next phase of the plan. Roxas frowned as Zexion's mind left his and moved onto his unique task. He nodded to show he was ready.
The doctor was almost falling over himself as he led them to the very centre of the research facility. Zexion was certainly doing his job in driving away the other doctors. Roxas could see traces of his specially tailored illusions lining certain halls they passed through. Zexion's unique telepathy allowed him to present strong images and deceptions that you would fall prey to unless you were already made aware them.
Soon they came to a large steel door. On it was printed the Roman numeral for eleven. It was very similar to Roxas' door in Arizona except that it was whole states away. The doctor looked to them quickly before opening it. It opened with a heavy creak even as it swung back easily.
The three almost gasped at what they saw. In the centre of the room appeared to be what was a huge test-tube filled with green bubbling liquid. Floating in that green haze was a naked man. Wire covered his skin as he curled in a foetal position, eyes closed tight. The wires flowed from the strange contraption to many other machines that seemed to be taking obscure readings. There were flowers and plants in the room too, all of them in bloom.
They didn't enter the room immediately. Roxas did a sweep for cameras as they didn't really want to be watched. He focused on the four he found and, after a second of concentration, they exploded in a fizz of sparks. They entered, three of them made no sound as they walked.
"Take him out," this came from Demyx and it was the first time he'd spoken to the man.
"But he's-" the doctor began.
"Yes we know!" Demyx snapped angrily. "Just take him out before I take you out!"
The doctor scrambled to the control panel and fiddled with it. There was an audible hiss as the wires were ejected to the side of the tube. Then, chocking like a drowning man, the liquid began to drain from the tube. When it was gone the thin man lay prone on the floor of the tank, his bright pink hair was bedraggled and sprawled over his face. Finally the glass lifted.
Axel reached inside and pulled the wires from him carefully, handling him like a mother with a child. As he pulled them away all the flowers in the room wilted and died, crumbling on themselves. He draped him in a black sheet which he seemed to have pulled, literally from nowhere. Marluxia was then lifted, bridal style, and Axel held him close to his chest. The pale brow creased and hazy blue eyes opening. Like a babe's they didn't focus at first. The gaze remained on Axel's face and the mouth worked as a voice box that hadn't been used for years tried to speak. "Hush, it's alright," the tall redhead murmured, "we're here now. Sleep." Marluxia smiled and closed his eyes, slumping against Axel's chest.
The doctor needed no coercion to lead them back out, a simply glance from Roxas was all it took. They took him with them into the forest. At the edge Axel handed Marluxia to Roxas and the blond disappeared back to the car and Zexion. Demyx and Axel turned to the doctor who already seemed to know their intention. "Please! I won't tell! Please!" he cried, almost pathetic in the way he wept.
"No," stated Demyx, "you won't." The man barely had to gasp as a jagged blade forced its way through his chest, blood spurted against is slick surface as the heart tried futilely to evade the attack. The man fell back, blood pooling beneath him. "No one hurts one of us and gets away with it. No one." Demyx spat. He turned cold eyes to Axel, "clean up?"
Axel raised an eyebrow at the vicious attack, Demyx was angry clearly. "Of course," he replied. He held out his hands in what seemed to be a welcoming gesture. His emerald eyes seemed to dance with fire inside the hood and grin flashed across his features. The institute far below them erupted with an almighty explosion as the generator was ripped apart spewing gouts of flame and shrapnel. Fire spread across the whole complex like a blanket and vaguely they could hear the wail of engines. "Let's get out of here," Axel muttered. They vanished into the night as if they were but shades of a nightmare.
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Xavier was silent as he observed the news. A botany institute had been attacked brutally; it was burned to the ground. But what was of interest was the fact that an employee had been found with a sizeable hole in his chest on the border with the forest. The body was clean of traces of who had killed him. Moreover there was evidence someone had infiltrated the institute prior to its destruction and the way the staff were acting it was as if something important had been stolen.
Everything pointed to the individuals he and his students had encountered. No evidence, almost no motive. An attack from out of the blue was only the beginning, he knew it. Xavier considered matters, it was logical that they would soon turn up at the school. The x-men would have to be ready. He sighed as his mind reached out for his students.
-----
Roxas smiled at Marluxia as the man opened his eyes. "How are you feeling?" he asked, setting down the tea he had prepared by the bed and taking a seat.
"Fucking awful," Marluxia whined, pouting. He turned to look at him from the pillows; his frame seemed starved, too thin.
Roxas smiled, Marluxia couldn't be feeling too bad if he was already complaining. When he was seriously hurt he went quiet and then they all worried. "Glad to see you're feeling better, how are your abilities? I noticed the flowers are in bloom," he continued, helping the other sit up.
"Yeah, it's so good to be attached to the world again," Marluxia closed his eyes and sighed contentedly. Unlike other members of the order he was far more connected to nature, he could feel all the creatures and all the plants. Marluxia became arrogance since only he could do this. No one begrudged him, they all had pride after all and without that arrogance Marluxia wouldn't be who he was.
"What was it like? In stasis?" Roxas referred to the state that the scientists had put most of them in. When the order for termination came they couldn't bear to kill the subjects they had worked so hard on, so they hid them and put them in controlled comas to keep them quiet, this was called 'stasis'.
"Quiet, confusing. Like sleeping and almost dreaming but not quite…didn't you go into stasis? I know they caught you…" Marluxia looked at the blond curiously.
"No, I was too unstable. They couldn't even out my neuro-kinetics, so they had to leave me awake. They cut away my memories, tried to make me forget." Roxas sipped his tea delicately.
"Obviously it didn't work," Marluxia laughed, he liked the small blond. He'd always been the kid-brother of their entire group.
"Well, it did for a bit, until a few days ago. What they didn't bank on was me having a panic attack and tearing apart an entire maximum security penitentiary. I walked into New York with amnesia, they just shoved me in the foster program," Roxas explained.
"You're kidding! Who did get away?"
"Just Ax, Demyx and Zexion."
"You and him still…close?" Marluxia asked and laughed when Roxas flushed deep red. "That's a 'yes'!" He chuckled for a good while, before claming down and gazing out the window. "So, how goes 'the Plan?' Is it still running after all this time?"
"We're taking the first steps soon, when you're recovered. We have found that Cerebro is not beyond our ability to reach, the X-men are not as skilled as we feared. We will act soon."
"Good. It will be nice to see everyone again." They were both silent as they contemplated the next moves they planned, "when is the meeting?"
"Tomorrow, will you be ready?"
"Yes, I will." The sun was beginning to set and Marluxia smiled. On the windowsill new bulbs sprouted from the flowers and burst into full bloom, filling the room with colour.
So how was it? I hope you liked it! R&R pleeease! Reviews get cookies! (hands out cookies to loyal reviewers!) I'll try and get the next chappie out ASAP, unfortunately coursework is very trying and long and researchful! But I will try!
By the way, watch 'Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street', its amazingly good! (grin)
- D