After the two of them had their fun, Lea watched as Myde fell asleep. He wanted to fall asleep as well, but was too anxious to sleep. He saw that he only had a half hour before the appointed meeting time. He had no idea how long he was going to be gone for, and wasn't sure if he should wake Myde or just let him sleep in his bed. Letting him sleep won out as the time quickly passed. He disentangled himself from his body and quickly got dressed.
He walked to the lift with his chakrams in hand, not quite sure what to expect. He knew that he had heard a voice last night when he was being led away. There were too many questions that he wanted to ask. He almost did not want to participate in any experiments - he would rather just ask questions and keep his chakrams at hand.
When the lift made it to the first floor, he made his way across the main floor and slowly descended the stairs to the basement. He could hear noises coming from the lab that he was currently making his way to. He stopped in front of the metal door and knocked loudly. He was greeted by the one-eyed apprentice.
"Ah, princess. So glad you could join us." Braig opened the door wide. "Come on in. We're just about to get started." The scarred-face man looked at his chakrams. "I see you were able to get your weapons no problem."
Lea nodded his head. "Yeah. I did as you said and he had no problem with it." He looked around the room and saw that everyone that had been there the night before was there. "Where's Xehanort?"
"Probably screwing, I mean, probably just finishing up some paperwork. He should be here in a few." Even replied from across the room. Screwing? Why am I doing this to myself? Lea felt his stomach begin to turn inside out at that slip up. He made his way further into the lab. He looked over and saw Ienzo approaching him.
"You can put your weapons over there," the slate-haired teen pointed to a table. "We probably won't need you to use them, but it's always better to have them. Just in case."
"Just in case what?" Lea asked. "What is it you guys are doing?"
As he was finishing his question, he watched as a black portal appeared in the room. He stared at it, while everyone else just went about their business. What is going on here? He gasped when Xehanort appeared to come out of the portal and step into the room.
"Ah! Lea! So nice of you to join us this evening. Or this morning, whichever you prefer." Xehanort made his way over to the redhead. "Cat got your tongue?"
Lea shook his head. "Sir? How? What? What was that?" He pointed to where the portal had just been. His eyes widened when he saw it was no longer there. "What was that?" He repeated, not sure what was going on.
"It was a portal made of pure darkness." Xehanort looked at him. "I am able to go to other worlds using that method." He smoothed out his lab coat. "Would you like to go with me through one?"
Looking around at the other apprentices, he could only shake his head. "That's a shame. You'll find that it's a most convenient method of travel. Perhaps when you see that the darkness isn't as bad as Ansem has made it out to be, then maybe you'll reconsider?"
"But that's just it. You're using the power of darkness? Aren't we trying to prevent darkness from taking over? Isn't that what we're doing here?" Lea felt himself become angry. "Why did you ask me here? I made a mistake by coming here last night. I don't want any part of this!" He began to walk away when he heard a man's voice.
"Please! Don't go! You have to save me!" He turned around and saw that a man was strapped to a table, unable to move. He watched as Dilan began to put needles into his body and stood dumbfounded as Even placed a contraption on his head.
He looked at Xehanort. "What are you doing to that man?"
"That man? That isn't a man, Lea. That's a monster. He's been running around Radiant Garden, robbing people. He's a criminal. We took him off the street after we witnessed him hurt an innocent being." Xehanort placed his hand on Lea's back. He felt his body shudder at the touch, and felt himself become nervous as he felt the older man's breath near his ear. "We're just trying to make sure that justice is served."
He felt glued to his spot. He could neither move nor retreat as he watched everything unfold in front of him. "Even! Is everything ready?" Xehanort called out.
"Give me another minute!" Even was fiddling with the computer.
"Please, boy! Help me!" The stranger called out to Lea once more. Lea didn't know what he should do. If Xehanort was telling the truth, then this man deserved whatever was coming to him. Radiant Garden was a nice place - they couldn't afford to have mean people, thieves - rapists - you name it, in their world. "I'm begging you!"
"Now, watch and see if this will work," Xehanort said into his ear. He saw that the other apprentices were all watching the struggling man, all except for Even. "Even, if you please." Xehanort nodded his head at the apprentice.
What Lea saw next, he wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't seen it for himself. He watched as Even made a few different calculations into the computer and saw the man strapped to the table begin to struggle against the restraints. He watched as the man's heart somehow, some way, floated out of his body. All of the apprentices were watching as the experiment continued. As the thief lost his heart, he disappeared from existence. Lea watched as the heart circled in the air and then was enveloped by pure darkness. Once it had disappeared, a creature appeared in its place. Something he had seen before - the black creature with yellow eyes and antennae on its head.
"Braig!" Xehanort called out, soon as the creature began to move towards them.
"On it!" Braig produced his weapon and shot at the creature. Lea stood there and watched as the creature became a wisp of nothing that floated up into the air.
The silence in the room was deafening. Lea wasn't sure where he should look. He could hear his breathing, and began to feel light-headed. He didn't want to faint in front of everyone. He looked at Xehanort, who was staring at the chair where the man had just been.
"Did you record everything, Even?" Xehanort said, making his way over to the computer.
"I did," the blonde apprentice said. "I find it fascinating that he just...vanished. I wonder what this means?"
"It means we need to find more people. That's the first time that that has happened instantaneously. All the others..." Ienzo said.
"They transformed into those creatures," Dilan finished for him.
"There are only so many criminals in this city," Aeleus growled out. "What do you propose when we run out of them?"
"Then we'll have to go to other worlds. Or perhaps...perhaps we build a machine. " Xehanort said softly. "Lea? What do you think?"
Lea felt the blood drain from his face. "What do I think? I think that what I just saw is crazy. What was that thing that took his heart? That was like that creature from before, wasn't it? The others? What others? Why are you doing this?"
"To learn more about the darkness." Xehanort said. The white-haired man approached him. "And yes, that is like the creature you studied. We've never seen one appear after someone loses their heart. We do experiments to learn more about things."
"But - Ansem doesn't know you're doing this. Why are you doing this behind his back? Wouldn't you want his opinion?" Lea asked, trying very hard to keep a grip on reality.
The slate-haired teen came over to him. "Lea, I know there's a lot you don't understand. We've been studying the affects of darkness for the past couple of months. It's how Xehanort was able to get some of his memory back."
"Memory? Oh - you mean you found out how you came to be here in Radiant Garden?" Lea looked at the man, remembering that day from so long ago. "What did you find out?"
"That doesn't matter," the slate-haired teen continued. "In order to learn more about the human heart and how it interacts with darkness, we must experiment on humans. Surely you understand that?"
In some sick and twisted way, Lea did. He nodded his head. "So what do you need from me? How can I help with the research?" He hated hearing those words come out of his mouth. But if he wanted to make sure that Isa was protected, he knew he was going to have to begin listening to Xehanort.
"Lea, there will be time to discuss your questions. Why don't I ask Ansem if you can come and study in my lab tomorrow afternoon?" Xehanort said, back over at the computer.
He shook his head. "No, that's okay, Xehanort."
"I insist." He saw the man look back at him and could feel everyone's eyes on him.
"Don't worry, Lea. I'll be working in his lab tomorrow as well," Aeleus spoke up. He nodded his head and tried to hide the relief from showing on his face. He knew that Isa would more than likely be there, and did not want to be left alone with just the two of them. It already hurt him enough having to be around him in this manner without the bluenette around.
The rest of the apprentices went back to their stations, monitoring the data that they had collected from what just occurred. He walked over to where Dilan was watching a transmission feed of the actual experiment.
"Do you guys record every experiment?" Lea asked him.
Dilan nodded his head. "We do. It helps to figure out what went wrong, what went right, etc."
"Would I be able to look at those videos sometime?"
"I don't see why not, Lea," Xehanort said from where he was working. "It would make sense for you to follow up on the data, see if your fresh eyes might see something that the rest of us didn't see."
"I'll let you do that during our morning session," Braig said after conversing quietly with Xehanort. Lea nodded his head. "But again, you need to just keep it to yourself, princess."
"Stop calling me that," Lea felt his face growing warm. "It's stupid."
"So are the marks on your face." Braig cackled and returned to speaking to Xehanort.
He raised his hand to his face, forgetting that Myde had marked him again. "I think they look good," Aeleus said. "You gonna make them stay?"
Lea shrugged. "I think so. But that means I'd actually have to leave the castle and that hasn't happened since I became an apprentice."
"We do tend to stay here." Aeleus agreed.
"Can you tell me about the failed experiments?" Lea asked, wanting to know more.
Ienzo approached them. "I can show you tomorrow, if you'd like."
"A wonderful idea, Ienzo." Xehanort looked around at everyone. He created a portal near him. "I'll see you all tomorrow? Or rather, later today?" He stepped into the portal and disappeared.
Lea just continued to stare at the spot. "Where did he go?"
"Probably back to...you know what, never mind." Braig said. "Lea, feel free to come to class a little bit late if you want."
He shrugged. "I'll probably be there. Just don't forget to show me those videos." He walked over to where he had set his chakrams and picked them up. He walked towards the lab door. He didn't know what else to say, so he just walked out of the room.
Once he was in the lift, he began to take deep breaths. When he finally made it back to his room, he paused a moment in front of his door. He looked at the door next to him, wanting to knock on it. He sighed and shook his head, and entered his own room. He saw Myde sprawled out on his bed, sleeping peacefully. He smiled, setting his chakrams down. He walked to the bathroom and closed the door. He turned on the shower and took off his clothes, stepping in.
When he felt the hot water hit his back, he felt his body begin to shake uncontrollably. He felt the tears that had been threatening to fall all evening finally spill out of his eyes. He sank to the floor of the shower and sobbed. What have I gotten myself into? Can I get out? He didn't hear the bathroom door open. He continued to hug his body, sitting underneath the spray.
"Lea?" Myde appeared in front of the shower, without clothes on. "Lea, are you okay?"
Not speaking, Lea stood back up. Myde walked into the shower and stood on front of him. "What's going on?" Myde asked him. Lea shook his head, unable to speak. "Did you have a bad dream?"
The sincerity of the blonde's question caused Lea to cry again. He reached out and grabbed on to him, sobbing into his shoulder. I've made a mistake. I wish I could go back. Gaia, what can I do? He felt Myde pull him in for a hug and held on to him tightly.
"Whatever it was, you're awake now. It was just a dream." Myde spoke softly into his ear.
Pulling away from Myde, Lea looked into his aquamarine eyes. "Is it? Am I?" He felt his body continue to shake. "I'm so cold, Myde. I'm so cold." He shivered.
Adjusting the water temperature, Myde put his arm on Lea's shoulder and gently turned him around. The hot water was now hitting Lea in the chest and face, mixing the water with the few tears that were still on his face. He leaned into the spray and felt his body begin to finally relax under the heat.
He felt Myde's hands begin to wash his body. He moaned at the soft caresses, even though he knew that Myde wasn't trying to be erotic. After the few hours that he'd been through, feeling the tenderness from him caused him to react in a needy way. He let Myde guide his body, so that the water could now wash off the soap from his back. He reached blindly for Myde and found his lips with his own and began to kiss him.
It was a tender kiss, lasting only for a few moments. He opened his eyes as he felt Myde pull away from him. "Let me finish washing your body," he said in a husky voice. Lea nodded his head and watched as Myde began to soap up the front of his body. He knew the touches were now meant to be in a pleasing manner and he wasn't afraid to vocalise his happiness. He groaned when he felt Myde's hands begin to wash him down below his stomach. He arched his back under the spray and pushed himself into Myde's soapy hands. "Do you want me to continue?" He nodded his head, leaning backwards, pressing his back against the shower wall. Myde continued to stroke him, causing him to forget about all that had happened, and just allowed himself to feel the innocent pleasure being given to him. He moaned loud when he felt himself release after only a few more strokes. He kept his back against the wall, panting softly.
He watched as Myde washed off his body and hands. He stepped back under the spray and washed off the front of his body. He turned back around and looked at Myde. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Myde's smile encouraged Lea to smile. "You don't have to thank me. It was my pleasure. And then some." He giggled. "Come on, let's get out of the shower. The water is starting to turn cool again." Lea nodded and reached behind him, turning off the shower.
When they stepped out, Myde handed Lea a towel to dry off. "I didn't mean to wake you," Lea said in a soft voice. He didn't have the energy to speak normal. He was still too upset.
The blonde shrugged. "It's okay. I heard the shower running, so I went to investigate. That dream must have been something awful."
Lea stared into the mirror and looked at the two of them. "You have no idea."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Myde began to wring the water out of his hair.
"No." Lea spoke harsher than he had intended. "No, I'm sorry, Myde. I don't. Can we just drop it?" He did his best to control the emotion in his voice. He pulled on his boxers and hung up his towel to dry. He turned and looked at the blonde.
"No worries, Lea. Consider it a dead subject."
Lea froze at those words. He took a deep breath and sighed. "Thank you, Myde." He walked back into his bedroom and saw that it was 4 in the morning. He laid down on the bed and put on a brave face for him. "Feel like going back to bed?"
Myde hopped into the bed next to him and nuzzled against his body. "I'll keep you safe, Lea. I promise." He wrapped his arms around Lea's chest and closed his eyes.
Lea could feel the tears threaten to fall from his eyes once more. "I would appreciate it," he said in a choked up voice. However, the blonde did not answer for he had already fallen asleep. Lea held on to him tightly and forced himself to fall back asleep, even though the only image he could see when he closed his eyes was of that man, and how he begged him to save him.