The entire crew had soon gone back to the now abandoned castle as the first drops of rain slam into the ground, the sun long since sunk beneath the horizon. Tifa seemed so ecstatic about showing off her new "weapon" that she just left the castle. Most of the men then went and changed, still taking advantage of the attendance of the servants and of the free clothes and food.
Axel, now donned in a tunic of ebony black with leather boots that stretch up to his knees, and belts and straps wrapping around his thighs and arms and waist to hold his many weapons, now trudges through the moistened stoned halls of the dungeon; his cloak sweeping against the floor. Vanitas is at his side, being surprisingly quiet. Their footsteps are in tune with one another, sounding like nothing more than a single person down in the tunnels.
Vanitas follows Axel, the hood of his dark red cloak pulled up over his head. Axel would question as to why he chose such a noticeable cloak when they are going to be challenging the Faceless soon, but he is in no mood to talk to anyone but one man. Even with the shadows and his amount of skill, Vanitas could still be spotted, unless that's his plan.
They turn a corner and head down the now familiar steps of the bowels and Axel is surprised and cautious when he finds the hallway dark, lit by only one torch that sits across from Cloud's cell. The rest of the hall is dark and Axel and Vanitas find themselves approaching the circle of light as if it can curse away the demons of the darkness.
The door is open. And there's the body of Rikku, the spunky blonde and close friend of Yuna, lying dead with her eyes wide and bathed in a pool of her own blood, already halfway dry and dark.
"Oh no." Vanitas breathes.
Axel still pursues forward, placing his hand on his slenderest dagger and drawing it from his belt. He approaches the cell door and carefully angles his head around the frame.
"He said he would come back for me." A voice speaks from the void. "Though I can't say this isn't a pleasant surprise."
Axel and Vanitas already have their weapons out, and they watch carefully as Cloud steps through the darkness, the shadows clinging to him like smoking tentacles that refuse to let him go. They slowly ebb away as he approaches the light. He walks still with a wobble and his clothes still dangle to show the weight he has lost, but his hood conceals his features and flows out behind him in a wave of obsidian.
When he enters the light, the shadows of his face stretch father, until he angles his head up to look at Axel. His face is gaunt, and there are deep crescents of blue under his eyes, indicating little sleep, and his face still bears the burns and scars. He wickedly smiles. "Axel."
Axel doesn't respond, but Cloud doesn't seem to notice. He turns his head to Vanitas, who by now is nearing his height. "Vanitas."
"Cloud." He replies with a nod of his head.
Turning his attention back towards the captain, Cloud nearly widens his eyes in astonishment when he beholds the lifelessness of Axel's eyes. So much had clearly happened since he had last visited Cloud in the dungeons. And the fact that Roxas is not around only makes the Master Assassin worry.
"So, how did the confrontation go? Judging from the rumble I felt, it sounded like it was quiet the reveal."
"You're the Master Assassin here," Axel snarls without meaning to. His voice mimicking gravel and distant. "You tell me."
Cloud presses his lips into a tight line and instead of feeling anger, he merely feels pity for the captain. Not that he would say that, but he has seen that look in the captain's eyes. He has seen it in his own son, witnessed the power it holds with his own eyes. It is dangerous but strong. But with the way the captain is, the moment he unleashes it, he will be exhausted. So exhausted.
And from there . . .
"Where is my son?"
Axel lips press firmly together, to hard they are white. "She has him."
Cloud's heart flares. "What?" he says stepping closer.
"If you truly care about your son," Axel says as he sheathes his dagger. "Then you will help me."
There, for the briefest moment he can see Axel's eyes flare with desperation and utter urgency.
Without a word, Axel turns away from the Guildmaster and starts the trek back towards the stairs. Vanitas steps out of his way and allows him to pass. He remains there looking at the Guildmaster, waiting for him to move. Cloud nods and follows after Axel, and finds him waiting a few steps up ahead.
"Can you handle the walk?" Axel asks.
"Don't underestimate me just yet." Cloud answers. Since Roxas had left, with his door being open, Cloud had done everything he can to try and least make his body grow tolerable of moving and hauling and swiping. It was a tedious task, given he would grow lightheaded easily and his arms would ache severely, but what he loved most about the seclusion of his cell is that there were little guards around to watch him do pushups in his cell as well as pull-ups and how he would practice his fighting with a small bent nail he pried from the wall.
He still lost a significant amount of weight, but at least his arms were still toned and his legs able. Even though he had to look as dirtied as possible, which he had no choice but to rub his own fesses and urine all over his face, his sweat from his workouts only added to it and making him more convincing.
It still works clearly as Axel and Vanitas seem to struggle to breathe with the close proximity they have in the narrow hall. Thankfully, Cloud's legs hold strong throughout the journey from the cell to the main floor of the castle. His legs burn but he easily overlooks the pain as Axel explains to him everything that had occurred while he remained down below.
Through it all, Cloud pictures nothing more than his dagger piercing that woman's heart with what she had done to his son. He had felt the thin vibrations of a guttural roar, and had nearly thought it to be a creature, like the one Axel had explained. But to find out is it his own son . . .
Cursing himself viciously aloud, Cloud continues to follow the captain with Vanitas two steps behind. And when they breach the door towards the main floor of the foyer, Cloud's feet burst in speed and he hurries straight for the floor-to-ceiling window and braces his hands against it. The glass feels warm as does the light on his face. The day looks so beautiful . . . it's hard to believe or even imagine that his son had slaughtered so many individuals, and probably is still slaughtering them right now.
"Even with the castle abandoned, we can't stay here another minute." says Axel.
Cloud watches as Axel walks his way around, not even looking or possibly caring if Vanitas or the Guildmster is even following. Cloud would've been insulted had it not been for the similar stature that he too has when he walks around the guild. Cloud quickly walks away from the window, shaking off the goose skin that crawls across his arms when he steps away from the light and the window. Cloud prepare himself a he watches Axel ready to push a giant pair of red glass doors.
"I have an apartment in the richer part of town, we can stay there for now." Cloud says. He stops when he finds himself in a training room with a giant glass chandelier and red draperies bordering the long windows in the back. His men, or rather, Roxas' men, and the captain's crew combined are all standing in the room with fresh clothes and weapons old and new, cloaks of varying colors and murmurs between the men are exchanged until they hear the door open.
Most of their eyes widen when they see both Axel and Cloud enter the room. There's a tall blonde young man, muscular and very handsome who turns and narrows his eyebrows, eyes wide. "What's he doing here?" he asks.
"We don't have many options, Maleek. Cloud has connection all over the entire continent of Kingdom Hearts. He is our only chance of even standing a chance against Roxas, Tifa and her so called army. He is staying; that is nonnegotiable."
Maleek presses his lips into a line, then shifts his stare to Cloud, his eyes tracing up and down his body, his sagging clothes, the smell of his body and exhaustion of his eyes. "Don't make us regret this."
Cloud simply glares, trying his best not to feel self-conscious of his dirtied state. "So what is your plan?" he asks the captain.
Axel continues to walk forward towards the group of men, Cloud follows. "We're leaving the castle, taking whatever we need: weapons, clothes, food. Then we're going to get Roxas back, away from that bitch and then we're evacuating from the city."
"What?"
"You can threaten me all you want, blackmail me, torture me, kill me, I don't care." Axel coldly, and daringly speaks. "But you have done nothing to remove the bounty from Roxas' head, nor is this city, even this continent, is a safe place for him anymore with Tifa around."
Cloud sighs through his nose and glares.
"We are leaving the continent, you can be there for the departure, or if you can't really trust yourself, then don't. For once, you need to focus on your son, and not your stupid, pathetic little - !"
"I am thinking about my son! Would you just shut up and let me talk!" Cloud barks back, silencing the captain. "This," he sighs, sweeping his arm through the air. "This is what ignorance does." Cloud motions to the window out towards the garden where the small war battle had taken place.
Axel doesn't show a sign of surprise or fear. Instead, he squares his shoulders and waits. "While I'm not happy with this decision, I can understand. I will remove the bounty, but he can no longer stay in the city if Tifa continues to hunt for him. But where will you go?"
"We're going to Ivalice." Axel answers. "I have family who lives in Lesalia and who will be more than happy to give us shelter."
"That's quite the journey."
"I would hope Roxas is used to such travel. He showed little fatigue when he was on my ship."
Cloud sighs, rubbing his fingers through his still greasy hair. "Fine. I will try to be there. But the biggest hole in your plan is how you plan to get Roxas away from Tifa. More importantly that whistle off of Tifa."
"Leave Roxas to me." Axel says. "I was hoping that you would be so kind to take care of your beloved wife." He sarcastically retorts. "It'll give you two a chance to get reacquainted."
Cloud shrugs his shoulders and gives a small smile. "I do owe her some favors, and it's about time I repaid her wonderful hospitality to me." He shakes his head, the smile staying. "Fine. But what about the rest of the men?"
"Vanitas and Maleek will divide among us, the rest of them will hold off the Faceless defenses."
Cloud crosses his arms. "You think they can handle it?"
"Tifa just let your son slaughter nearly a thousand warriors, without blinking. Those who remain will be tough, but with her Second-in-Command on our allegiance, they will at least be tolerable." Axel notions to Maleek, still with his arms crossed and dressed in an attire of dark blue. His cloak speaks of velvet, the black belts that encase him hold many small weapons and two swords.
"Impressive."
"Excuse me if I don't seem appreciative of your compliment." Maleek snarls.
"You're really giving me attitude after watching what it is my wife did to Roxas?"
"As far as I'm concerned, you're both the same when it comes to how you view your son."
"How dare you –"
"No, I don't care what you say." Maleek takes daring steps forward. He's close enough to Cloud to kiss him, but Cloud still has at least two inches of height above Maleek. "I don't let bygones be bygones. You tortured your own son for simple disobedience. You sought to him as nothing but a weapon and a piece of your plan for domination."
"At least I still see him as a son, whereas she is now using him right now, hurting his body and ruining his mind –!"
"Enough!" Vanitas shouts. "This isn't the time for petty squabbles! Right now the boy that we all love is out there slaughtering innocents at the hands of a psychopath! So will all just please put your differences aside and think about Roxas for once!"
There's silence. And Axel keeps track of his heartbeat as Cloud speaks. His eyes soften once more and all anger seems to melt away and drift off his face like water. "I will not make excuses. Not for everything that I've done. But please, believe that I am different. That I have changed, and that I will do anything for my son to accept me once again."
"Then let's get moving. We need to make sure we have everything we can carry. Remember, we heading straight for the docks afterwards." Vanitas says.
"Once yu have everything, meet me outside the gates, hoods up and weapons concealed." Cloud says.
"Alright, and perhaps you can use the time to freshen up. Gods above, you smell horrible." Vanitas mutters with a grin.
Cloud hisses and grins, his face burning with earnest now. "Sitting in your own filth around moistened stone for weeks isn't exactly conducive to smelling nice! And maybe if I'd maybe been given time for a bath instead of being ordered to come directly here, I could still hold at least a small bit of the dignity I have left."
"We'll give you time to get ready and then you can lead us to your hidden apartment." Axel chuckles.
"Very well."
Cloud disperses from the group, requesting Vanitas' accompaniment. While the rest of the men scour the castle for anything and everything they want, Vanitas escorts Cloud towards Roxas' room since it's the only room he knows by route than other than the training and dining room. Cloud follows quietly, silent.
Vanitas feels his heart sink when he discovers the doors vacant, free of guards and closed off. The wood gleams in the light as the hall is silent. Myde was one of the guards that Roxas had liked; wonder if he had gotten lost in the carnage, or if he simply fled once he felt the castle rumble. Zexion didn't say anything, though he probably assumed nothing was worth mentioning.
Sighing and swallowing his pain, Vanitas opens the door. Inside the room is quiet, but Artemis is still there waiting as she had been all night and day. She notices Vanitas and her tail wags, but the moment that Cloud comes up, it stops and she's on her feet and snarling. Vanitas saunters over to the bed and scoops her over his shoulder. He hauls the dog out, though she is unusually obedient as Vanitas makes his way to the doors. "Don't take too long."
Vanitas closes the door behind him, leaving Cloud alone in the room.
Gods, the room . . . is smells like Roxas. Lingers with his natural scent and bits of where he would spray his cologne. The silence and emptiness threatens to swallow him whole. Still he urges himself forward towards the three bookshelves located off the side of the bed against one wall. The shelf is brand new, the wood gleaming with books placed on it both neatly and sloppily as if he was in a hurry to get it back to its place.
There is still more scattered on his bed, stacked on the coffee table, and half hidden in the shadows of his desk. The desk itself is littered with papers and books as if Roxas had only stepped out for a moment. As he reaches for the first paper, he finds the silver necklace with the star charm hidden under papers written with different languages of Kingdom Hearts.
Cloud wanders over to the dressing room where he finds wardrobes, and chuckles as he sees his son's closet hasn't changed. Despite how much Roxas saying he doesn't care much for clothing or looks, Cloud knew he loved silks and velvets. Cloud pulls out a deep purple tunic, gold embroidery around the lapels and buttons glimmer in the light from the scones. These are clothes for a man's body. And the scent still clinging to the entire chamber belongs to a man – so similar to what he remembers from Roxas' childhood, but wrapped in mystery and smiles.
Finally gathering the courage to step further into the room, Cloud enters the bathing room and smothers himself in water, suds, and steam. He roughly bathes himself, his wounds throbbing and his face feeling like it's been scrubbed to the bone. He watches the dirt swirl down the drain in brown water tainted with red as his wounds begin to bleed.
He stays in the shower long enough when the water drains that there's not a trace of blood or brown or yellow. He scrubs his hair mercilessly, smoothing it with shampoo to soak up the grease and shivers even when he steps out of the stream of warm rain.
At last he emerges from the bathing chamber, a towel around his waist and another rubbing his hair to soak up the moisture. He walks out to the bedroom to find the young assassin of the Faceless, Maleek, leaning against one of the bed posts. Cloud doesn't say anything as he approaches, and the young man lifts his head and gives the Guildmaster a placid stare before he jerks his chin towards the bed.
Cloud walks around him and towards the bed where he finds a fresh new uniform. One surprisingly fitting for him. He looks to Maleek, who only scans his eyes over Cloud's body once again.
He's well aware of how he looks. His body has thinned, but he still has enough muscle to be declared toned and somewhat healthy. He's not as thick as Maleek, though he used to be; and that's probably the one thing he is most embarrassed about. A young man of his teen years more built than Cloud, a Guildmaster. Still his skill is probably nowhere near Cloud's; but he knows better than to underestimate opponents.
The uniform consists of indigo pants with a sleeveless shirt, and a belt to hold multiple weapons. Shrugging the clothes on, he slips his feet into brown boots, and slips gauntlets over his hands with a pauldron over his left shoulder. The gauntlets are capable of holding very thin and slim daggers, and the belt with small swords and throwing knives. As Cloud adjusts the pauldron, he looks over towards the dining room and finds Maleek with a red cloak draped over his arm.
"For me?" Cloud grins.
"If it suits your style, but then again, you're not getting much of a choice." Maleek says, his tone less sharp than before.
Cloud walks around the room, stretches and bends, and even doing simple flips in the center of the room to test the fit.
"How's it feel?" Maleek asks as he approaches.
"Fits good."
As Cloud accepts the red cloak with a nod, he adjusts it around his shoulders and looks over towards the dining table to find a sword with a hollowed-out golden pommel glinting in the pale light leaking in through the window. He observes the sword, amazed at how powerful it just looks. Without second guessing, he lifts his head and to Maleek.
"Are you sure?" Cloud asks.
Maleek nods, a small amused smile on his lips. "Take it. Axel personally picked it from the small armory Roxas has in the gaming room."
Cloud takes the sword and straps it over his shoulder. He secures it in the mirror, and finds Maleek staring at him from behind. "Something I can help you with?" Cloud asks as he turns towards the assassin.
"It's just . . ." Cloud first expected some kind of snarky comment, but the young man's pause leaves him puzzled. "He looks so much like you, and yet he doesn't."
Cloud gives a cold chuckle. "Of course he would, if you mean by physicality. But . . . emotionally . . ." he sees Maleek shift slightly, rubbing his neck. "What I have done, and what she has scarred, it can never be removed."
"Then why did you do it?"
"Why does any parent do anything for their children? They think it will make them better." Cloud answers. "I don't know why it had to take being stuck in that dungeon to understand how, trapped I had made him feel. So secluded. So alone with little to no hope of gaining a friend, or a human in general."
Maleek can see Cloud starting to drift off as his gaze goes vacant. Cloud takes a deep breath. Maleek drifts his eyes for the third time over Cloud's body. With the newly fitted clothes his muscles are somewhat visible, the red cloak puddles at his feet, and his face still remains haunted even as he blinks and his eyes return to the present.
"I regret everything, but I don't know how to make it up to him."
Maleek walks over to the men and places a hand on his shoulder. "You already are." he answers.
Cloud looks to the boy and sees the truth in his eyes. A part of him wants to believe the boy, who seems to claim wisdom beyond his years. But until Roxas himself accepts him as his father once more, Cloud will do however he can to redeem himself.
Leaving the room, Cloud and Maleek make their way down towards the foyer where they find Axel and the men. Vanitas has the dog on a leash, and as Cloud approaches, Artemis approaches him and sniffs around his knees. Cloud extends a hand, and once Artemis deems him not worth eating, she suddenly hops onto her hind legs and places her paws on Cloud.
The Master Assassin lets the dog lick his cheeks, even chuckling as her tail wags and he barks with glee. Their similar scents must've deemed him safe.
Cloud sets the dog down and wipes his cheek. "Alright, we'll need to go four at a time. We don't want to attract too much attention." He says. "Axel, Vanitas, Maleek, Sora and I will go first. Terra, Cid and Leon, you will lead the rest of them, follow Gilwards Road up until the intersection of Market and Celaena." The three Guild leaders nod their heads. Flicking his hood up over his head, Cloud turns to the three. "Alright, with me. At least the dog will allure much suspicion."
Sora keeps his hands folded in front of him as he stays close between Axel and Vanitas. He has changed into a pale blue tunic without sleeves, and a short black jacket over it. His wears dark pants with black boots that stop below his knees, and Axel had given him a thin dagger. Though he's had a decent amount of training with Roxas, Sora was still hesitant to take it; and it still feels like a heavy weight against his hip.
Cloud leads the first four out of the house and down the gravel paths of the castle, where there are still some young ladies dressed with their lace fans. Vanitas keeps Artemis on a leash, though Axel can see he's having trouble restraining her as she's grown fair in size and strength.
Still, the men keep their heads down and as they pass the main gates and into the streets of the city. Thanks to the snow, though large portions have melted, some poor souls still have been conscripted into shoveling Traverse Town's most fashionable districts. Businesses stay open year-round, and despite the slick sidewalks and slush cobblestone streets, the capital city is just as vibrant that afternoon as if is at the height of summer.
Still, Axel wishes it was summer, since the wet streets soak the hem of his ice-blue cloak and so cold that it can't even keep out the chill. As they walk down the crowded main avenue, he keeps close to Cloud. Vanitas adds emphasis to perceiving them as harmless by letting Artemis pull him around, saying polite excuses, feigning embarrassment and letting the dog drag him from a lamppost to a fire hydrant. Thankfully no one pays them much heed – not when there were so many people, and so many stores.
Axel lifts his head slightly as he observes the people that pass them by. Oh, how Roxas adored this avenue, where all the fine things in the world are sold and bartered! Jewelers, hatters, clothiers, confectioneries, cobblers . . .
Unsurprisingly, Cloud stomps right past every shop window, not even glancing at the delights displayed inside.
As usual, there is a crowd outside the Rift – the tea court where Axel and Roxas used to have lunch during their days off. He seemed to dine there every day with a few male courtesans. Of course, it had nothing to do with the fact that most of Traverse Town's elite patronesses also dined there. Axel had nearly forgotten about all of the extra jobs that Roxas was taking in addition to his mother's contracts. Axel doesn't even remember how much money Roxas had stored away in his account that he has always kept separate from his parents.
The secret apartment – hidden on the upper floor of a warehouse – is still untouched. Though someone had taken the time to cover the ornate furnishing. They arrive only to have Cloud knock three times on the door, and then six times with the bronze knocker.
The door opens seconds later to reveal a young man with silver hair wearing the dark purple cloak of the Hawk Guild. It's strange . . . the purple is the same color as the Faceless, and yet it is nowhere near similar. There's just something about the tone of the color, the title it holds, even the wearer that make it different.
Sora peeks out from behind Vanitas, Artemis still sniffing about the hallway, to see the tall and muscular teenager with pale skin, bright blue-green eyes and silver hair. Sora immediately feels his cheeks flush as he watches the young man talk with Cloud before stepping aside and letting the Guild Master step inside. As Sora follows his heart skips a beat as he casts his gaze towards the silver-haired boy's waist to find an intimidating scimitar strapped. The black scabbard glints as the young man's cloak sways left, and only when does it curtain around the weapons does Sora look up to find the assassin glaring at him. Sora's cheeks flush red and he gulps, quickly ducking behind Axel as he stands across from Cloud, speaking with a man with even longer silver hair and ember-gold eyes.
"Who is that?" Sora asks Vanitas as he watches Artemis, who is sniffing around the apartment, having made her inspection.
The dark-haired assassin looks to Sora and then to where the servant boy's gaze remained as the young silver-hair saunters over towards one of the plush armchairs poised in front of the fireplace. "Oh that's Riku."
"Riku?" Sora repeats.
"Yep, he's the son of Xemnas –" Vanitas points inconspicuously towards the long silver-haired man speaking with Cloud. "– therefore heir to the Hawk Guild."
"Oh." Sora breathes. Riku is now sitting in the armchair with his arms crossed as he stares at Cloud and his father.
He seems almost perfectly still just from sitting in the chair. He only blinks, and Sora can barely see the lift in his shoulders as he breathes. Then Sora nearly jumps like a cat when Riku's eyes flick to him so suddenly. His expression remains neutral. "And what exactly are you doing here?" he asks.
Sora remains quiet, carefully stepping behind Vanitas. The assassin Riku narrows his eyebrows in annoyance. "What are you some low-rent whore?"
"Riku." Xemnas barks.
Sora's face feels warm and red, but the anger that boils in his chest is undeniable. He snarls and stands straight, stepping out slightly from behind Vanitas. "My name is Sora you buffoon! And I am Roxas' best friend, so I'd advise you to watch your tongue if you had any idea what was going on."
Vanitas and Axel are wide-eyed, Cloud merely smiling. Riku stares at the boy, but Sora doesn't back down. Finally Riku clicks his tongue and shakes his head before turning away.
As Axel watches Sora weave his way towards the front, though still flanked by Vanitas and Maleek, Axel can't help but give Cloud credit for the punctuality of his men. The last time he had seen Riku and Xemnas, it was when they were in Atlantica and they were escaping bandits looking to collect Roxas for the profit of the bounty on his head.
That was quite the distance they traveled if they truly did come all the way from the coastline to here. Not to mentions Riku looks older within the past months they had last seen him. The newly short hair is the least of his changes.
He's grown in height to match his father and even Cloud. His muscles have grown as demonstrated by the circumference of his biceps simply from folding his arms. His newly acquired sword it tainted with blood and is already showing signs of kinks on the hilt and pommel, signs of good use.
Axel eases his way around the group and does his best to inconspicuously explore the apartment. It consists of two bedrooms with their own bathing rooms, a kitchen, and a great room in which a deep-cushioned couch sprawls before a carved marble fireplace, accented by two oversized velvet armchairs. The other half of the room is occupied by an oak dining table capable of seating eight, its place settings still laid out: plates of porcelain and silver, flatware that has long since gone dull. It is the only evidence that this apartment has been untouched whoever – Cloud himself, probably – had ordered the place sealed up.
Cloud, the King of Assassins. Axel casts his gaze over to the master and grits his teeth. He watches the man still speak with Xemnas as the rest of the guild men file in one after another, some taking their seats at the dining table. Axel stuffs the last of the white sheets into the hallway closet. He's been thinking a good deal about Roxas' old master in the last few days. Cloud was smart enough to forbid Roxas from shifting when he found out about the boy's Elven form.
Cloud had known, and done these things to him . . . The scar on Roxas' wrist flashes before him. He's mad Roxas break his own hand. There must have been countless other brutalities that Roxas didn't even tell Axel about. And the worst of them, the absolute worst . . .
Axel had never asked Roxas why his first priority wasn't hunting down his father and cutting him into pieces for what he'd done to him. But now Roxas can only imagine what Roxas will do to his mother for what she'd done to his mentor Lexaeus. Tifa was the one who had ordered Lexaeus tortured and killed, and then devised a trap for Roxas that got him poisoned into his Elven form and hauled off with his mother. Perhaps Cloud even gave Roxas this apartment in future thinking of Roxas moving out. Maybe even move to this town, if he'd left this apartment untouched. Unless he knew of Tifa living here and must have wanted to Roxas rot with her – until he decided to retrieve Roxas and the boy would crawl back to him, his eternally loyal servant.
It was Roxas' right, Axel tells himself. His right to decide when and how to kill his parents. And if he betrays them all at the last second, Axel doesn't think he'll be able to restrain himself.
The rickety wooden staircase beyond the front door groans, and Axel has his sword drawn in a heartbeat. Then there is a low, two-note whistle and he relaxes, just slightly, and whistles back. He keeps his sword drawn until Terra strode through the door, sword out.
Even with all of the men in the apartment, the space doesn't feel cramped at all. Most of them take places at the dining table and the available furniture. Terra sheathes his sword and approaches the gathering group of Guild leaders.
Axel continues his browsing and stops in the center of the room, scanning everything. It was like Axel was getting a closer inside look of Roxas' personal life. Cloud had mumbled something about how he's left the apartment décor up to Roxas. So it's almost like it's his apartment.
Whether he accepts or hates his past, he'd decorated the dining table in Twilight Town's royal colors – orange and gold. The table and the stag furniture atop the mantel are the only shreds of proof that he might remember. Might care.
Everything else is comfortable, tasteful, as if the apartment was for lounging and night by the fire. And there are so many books – on shelves, on the tables by the couch, stacked beside the large armchair before the curtained floor-to-ceiling window spanning the entire length of the great room.
Smart. Educated. Cultured, if the knickknacks are any indication. There are things from across the kingdoms, as if he'd picked up something everywhere he went the room is a map of his adventures a map of a whole different person.
The kitchen is small but cozy – and . . . Gods. He has a cooling box. Axel knew Roxas was notorious as an assassin, but he hadn't mentioned he was rich. All that blood money – all these things just proof of what he'd lost. What he couldn't protect.
Roxas had become a killer. And a damn good one, is this apartment is any indication. His bedroom is even more outrageous. It has a massive four-posted bed with a mattress that looks like a cloud, and an attached marble-tiled bathing room that possesses its own plumbing system. As he wanders back to the main room, he tunes into the conversation being set between the Guild leaders and Master.
"– the last we saw her, she was already up towards the Silver River. Making her already a four hour's trip form the city walls. Roxas seemed to be leading the entourage." says Xemnas.
"Gods above." Cloud breathes with aggravation.
"It makes no sense though, her members aren't even properly armed, and even her armor seemed too beautiful to be deemed useful." speaks Riku.
"I doubt she wants it to be based on use. Guaranteed it's for show seeing as how she has a new addition to her arsenal." Cloud snarls.
"So what do we do?" Maleek asks.
Cloud simply folds his lips in and turns to Axel – who is still browsing around the apartment, specifically the bookshelf where a bunch of novels are lined up and stacked onto one another. Axel lifts his head and sets the book he had in his hand back on the shelf.
He walks over to the group and swallows. "Our plan is broken down into three parts: Get Roxas from his mother, hold off the invasion, and snap Roxas out of the serum."
"I will focus on keeping Tifa distracted enough so Axel can lead Roxas away from her. The Guild Masters will hold off the enforcers with the rest of you." Cloud explains.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Zack asks.
"No doubt that Tifa's recent massacre has enraged her remaining members. I'm sure through careful convincing you can convince her remainders to mutiny." says Cloud.
"What about you, Axel?" Sora asks.
"I'm going to try and get Roxas free of the serum."
"How?" asks Maleek.
"Zexion had created another serum that can negate the effects of what Tifa had injected into Roxas."
"You don't think that'll be fatal? All of those chemicals inside him." asks Leon.
"We have our theories; our original plan was to just take an empty syringe and just extract the poison. But by now we assumed it's made its way into Roxas' bloodstream. So this is our other option." Axel explains.
"So what do you plan to do after you've injected the serum?" Asks Cid. "Because if we're bordering the line of lethality, Roxas might not be able to think clearly the more you put into the poor boy."
"He'll survive. Wholly." Cloud interjects, more to himself. "I can guarantee that."
"But then what do you plan to do when or if you can calm him?" Riku repeats the question.
"I'm going to try and talk to him."
There's a deep silence, and despite the flush he feels in his cheeks, Axel keeps his gaze on the men.
"That's it?" Vanitas voices at last.
"He is in there, I know he is. Just like I know he can gain control, if he's given the chance."
"And how will you give him the chance?"
"No doubt that there's so much chaos in his mind. I think what he needs is something he can focus on. And if I can clear his thoughts enough, maybe I can get him to focus on me."
"How do you know Roxas will even respond to you? Did you not remember what you last said to him before he tripped out?" Maleek nearly growls.
Axel's chest tightens, but he quickly pushes away the pain. "I do remember, but I didn't mean it. And Roxas knows that."
"Or so you think."
"Look, Maleek." Axel takes a step closer to the boy. "I know what I said, and it was out of anger, out of a heat of passion. But I know that boy better than anyone." Axel says with consideration to Cloud. "And even if he's rooted into the ground, I will pick him up. Like you said. Now if he doesn't respond to me, then I'll leave it for the rest of you."
"You can do this Axel," Sora suddenly speaks. Everyone turns their attention to the servant boy, but Sora keeps his eyes on Axel. "Roxas trusts you. And he loves you."
Axel takes in a deep breath, rattling its way as it goes in. "I hope your right." He whispers on the exhale.
"To Twilight Town, then?" Cloud asks Axel.
The captain looks to the Guild Master, and despite the conditions, gives the Master Assassin and smiles. "To Twilight Town, then."
A young boy walks the streets of Twilight Town at the crack of dawn with a thick burlap sack of papers strapped across his body. He ruffles through the sack and pulls out a thick roll of the day's paper and tosses it to the doorstep of the local tailor.
As he continues down the street, a carriage of white and gold trots down the street, followed by a simple farmer with a wheelbarrow filled with hay stacks. The streets slowly come to life as women and men emerge, arm and arm, sometimes pets in tow. Clocking of hooves echo across the cobblestone and the clicking of shoes morph together with the soft speaking of conversation.
The boy sidesteps couples and women, giving them a nod and friendly smile as they pass; the smell of their perfume delightfully infecting his nose.
Dipping his hand in his bag, he readies to toss another roll of paper, until he looks up to the sky.
The darkness on the horizon has spread, devouring the stars, the trees, the light. He pauses his walk.
Far up ahead, he can see the lining of the wall that protects the city and borders around the perimeter. Then it's a long stretch of land and a single gravel road until the tree line of the forest. Birds and animals stream past the green fortress as they flee – an exodus of flapping wings, padding feet, claws clicking on stone. Several dogs start to give barks of warning, and soon people stop their intended direction of path to turn their heads and shield their eyes.
A reek is rising from beyond the barrier, and some of the townsfolk behind him begin murmuring. A smell form another world, from whatever hellish creature lurks underneath mortal skin. Some straggling animals dart out of the trees, foaming at the mouth, the darkness behind them thickening. Guards ready their weapons and start to prowl towards the gates.
A stray dog, who was barking at first and standing at the main gates of the city, suddenly breaks into a hellish shriek of terrified whines and terrified howls. It turns and starts to bolt for the inner streets, its tail between its legs, racing for the inner archway. Like a paw of a massive beast, the darkness behind the creatures lash out, sweeping over the fleeing animals.
The dog falls midleap, its fur turning dull and matted, bones pushing through as the life is sucked out of it. The guards along the wall and turrets stir, some swearing. A woman screams in terror and grips the arm of her man beside her.
At the edge of the trees, hardly five yards from the outer gate, he emerges.
It's as if the entire town freezes, gathered in a holding breath as they behold the man or creature before them. He is clad in deepest black, his face young and male – unearthly perfection. Around his head is a cowl connecting to a cloak that stretches into a long ribbon of black ink into the forest.
The guards still don't attack, as if entranced. He comes through the early morning fog, no more than a sliver of darkness. He doesn't run – just walk with an insufferable swagger.
One step at a time, he approaches; and the sword on his back whines as he draws it. It's a beautiful sword, sleeked in gleaming silver with a fair-sized sapphire gem gleaming at the center of its hilt. The twilight glints off the long blade.
Finally, one bold guards yells, "Halt!"
The dark figure does, his features still concealed beneath the hood of his cloak. Still, that doesn't stop him as his lips form into a grimly wicked smile.
As he teeth glint in the light, so do the elongated canines; their tips stained with crimson.
The shadows retract, the man's eyes are revealed . . . and . . . and . . .
"Holy Gods," a guard whimpers.
The man's eyes were a stunning turquoise with a core of gold as bright as the sun.
There is nothing anyone could do as a whip of darkness snaps out and strikes the wall. The air shudders, and the stones whine.