Sorry this is late. I actually had this finished a while ago, but then I got distracted by Monochrome Factor... Anyways - it's uploaded now!
A big thank you to everyone who's reviewed and a special thanks to MirrorDede who is now kindly beta-ing this for me - god my typo's... *facepalms*
Oh and Tsukinomori Rinneko asked what Apocalypse meant, basically it's like the final catastrophy of the world - I'll probably be corrected later, but I think it's similar to 'armageddon' which is the end of the world... then again I never was the brightest Smartie in the pack, so if I got my definitions mixed up, feel free to correct me.
"Go away," Break said as he sat on the side of the hospital cot, hunched over, face in his hands. It was early morning, too late for that annoying matron to hear him. Hear him talk to nothingness.
"Don't be so mean Kevin. I only want a favour for helping you," it answered. Break refused to acknowledge it as a gendered being. It wasn't there, so why should he?
"I already told you I'd-" Break started as he glared up, only to be cut off by its voice once more.
"That's payment from before; that need I remind you still requires fulfilment? What I want now is different."
Taking a shaky breath, Break sighed. This was an argument he couldn't win by simple dismissal. Its perfection he hated and yet didn't hate. The childish innocence filled its lavender eyes, yet the horrors he knew the being could perform twinkled like a sick reminder within its diamond pupils.
"You chose to act that way." It sounded almost sad, Break thought absently, stress blurring his head, causing anger to sear, were he of sound mind, he may have pitied the girl.
Girl. Break sighed, he couldn't keep pretending. Not least when his mind had created the Will's image before him. "What is it you would ask for?"
"A memory."
"Huh?" Break asked looking up at the Will. "A memory?"
"Yes, a specific one at that." She answered, stepping toward the Hatter. "And I'm not a figment of your mind. Kevin… give me this memory…" Slowly, the Will knelt before him and reached a hand out to caress Break's cheek.
"I am not Kevin!" Break growled, slapping the girl's hand away and stalking past her. "…I'm not… Now get lost!"
"No. You are Kevin Regnard. This is a fact, and I will not leave without payment."
Break sighed. They both knew why he didn't just say 'take it', he was afraid, despite having asked for her help before and offering himself on a platter in his desperation.
As if reading his mind, the Will spoke softly, her eyes not meeting his own, "You once told me you'd give whatever I asked if I helped you. Why have you changed your mind? I-I even… Healed that eye of yours…" Her voice finished with a sob, only furthering Break's annoyance. Oh how he hated when kids blubbered on him.
"Stop crying, that won't work. You also restarted my time. I don't enjoy my body being on fire while the incuse ticks away." Xerxes deadpanned, void of all sympathy he should feel for the girl.
"…I'm sorry it hurts." Break whirled around to face the girl, eye wide. Did she just apologize? "But I need this Kevin. I really do…" More tears fell and Break could feel his resolve weakening.
He didn't know which memory the Will wanted – and that was why he was arguing. He hated not knowing – but now was the time to swallow pride and fear, and admit to himself he was wrong, and that the girl deserved her wish.
"You may take the memory."
Heat grew in his head, reminding Break of how an oven warmed up, probably not the most comforting of analogies, but it was all Break could do to stay quiet as the heat turned to blistering pain, like he was standing before the sun, his very being was being burned away.
When Break awoke mid afternoon the next day, he was drenched in the sweat of fever, his breath shaky as he took a moment to fully comprehend where he was, unable to recognise what he now lacked. He served the Rainsworths, was currently in service to Sharon, he was friends with Liam, and the two were here with the Duke of Barma at a magic school either in or near Scotland. Basics. Break shook his head and focused on details. Finding he knew Alice and Oz as well as their adventures, Break began to calm. At least whatever she'd asked for wasn't important to his everyday life. At least, he didn't think it was.
Patience not being a virtue he currently cared for Break shook his head hard and swept out of the hospital wing, stopping only to inform the matron that he was going to change, and no, he didn't need to return, and that yes, his head felt fine, as did every other part of his body.
"You look like road-kill." The ever kind duke pointed out as Break stalked downstairs, pale as ever, a tired expression on his face as he pulled a few strands of hair from being trapped in the T-shirt he had on.
"Thanks," Break said sarcastically, not in the mood for falsities as he rubbed the still hot incuse on his chest.
"Are you alright Break?" Liam asked, "Maybe you should go back to the Hospital Wing if the incuse is bothering you."
"No," Break said absently letting the monosyllable word trail before adding, "It's always going to be hot, kinda like it's a second hand, not an hour hand."
"Perhaps it would cool somewhat if you were to calm yourself." Barma said, drawing a blank from Xerxes. "Since you are clearly unaware I shall inform you. Your emotions seem all over the place. You seethed in here went upstairs and came back down a defeated man."
"I'm just out of sorts is all."
"Now you are being defensive."
"Go to hell you retard." But even as he said it, Break knew the duke spoke the truth.
With a forced sigh, Break closed his eyes and began to rein his emotions in; even when the girl was gone from his sight she still tormented him. For that was what had caused Break's minor breakdown: He had awakened healed four days ago, not to Liam's face, nor to the matron or the once familiar darkness his world had become, but hers, yes, Liam had been there, but the Will had entrapped him, and the beginnings of madness were within Break once again, just as when he had fallen out of Abyss, a broken and bloodied wreck.
He opened his eye, a forced, temporary calm filling him. "Sorry Duke Barma, it appears my base needs recovering again. I'll be in the forest if you require me."
With that Break left once more, vaulting the staircase banister – after all, falling was much faster – before landing and leaving swiftly for the Forbidden Forest, with the intent of removing the Will's tamperments from himself.
"What the blazes does that idiot mean 'recovering his bases'?" The dumbfounded duke snarled at the now closed door.
"He means his spirit isn't full." His master's head snapped to face Liam so fast, the younger winced at the crack that accompanied the movement.
"Explain." Liam squirmed under the directness of the order as well as the scrutinised gaze Barma was subjecting him to.
"It's the same as when Break first left Abyss. He felt broken and not himself, Lady Shelly could only help him so much…"
"Go on." Rufus pushed.
"Well. Once he was well enough, Break left the main house for several days, returning to his 'base', the thing that has always been a constant in his life. Once he reconnects with it, whatever caused him to break in the first place becomes easier to bear and he can return to 'normal'." Liam explained, finding the words coming easier, the more he said.
"That sounds like a load of crap," Barma said.
"It does work though." At Barma's raised eyebrow, Liam elaborated. "After Isla Yura's, we both felt broken and in need of restoration, I healed first and after talking with Break a while he explained the concept of 'returning to one's base'. To me it seemed a sort of coping mechanism that allows you to think and become whole without forgetting what broke you."
"So you tried his method?"
Liam nodded, "Yes, but our bases are different."
"How so?" Slowly, Rufus could feel his intrigue in this idea growing.
"Break's constant is the blade. At least that's what he told me. Mine is compassion."
"So what will Hatter do to 'find his base'?"
"Fight," Liam said with a shrug. "He'll summon himself and fight until he regains that which is lost."
Barma rose his eyebrow once more, "How will he fight himself?"
Apologies if this doesn't make a lot of sense - the whole 'bases' idea came when I was listening to 'Our Solemn Hour' by Within Temptation. On the plus side, the plots moving better now - also, cookies to anyone who figures out what memory the Will took.