Flurry of Flames Second Chance: Part 14
After sitting there dumbfounded for a moment Axel finally sat back, a smirk coming over his face as he watched the two adults in front of him. The looks he was getting from both were entirely different, but held the same meaning. While Natasha's mother laid a gentle smile on him she was trying her best not to show how much the chance he would say yes to taking her daughter away scared her. Her father was very open with how much he despised Axel at the moment, but he was also afraid of having Natasha leave. It was odd how well he understood them; he never understood human feelings before when he was a nobody. It was almost like his new heart was telling him exactly what these expressions meant. Still, he was skeptical about what he had already heard.
The smirk on his face was whipped away when he took Natasha's father's look to heart. He wasn't the least bit happy about him taking his daughter away from here. No doubt he would be just fine if he said no; He was probably thinking, "Screw this world; that is my daughter and this red head doesn't look the least bit trustworthy with his bad boy smirks."
Axel cleared his throat, deciding that the sly tone he was going to use before wasn't the best way to address this. Instead he leaned forward a little bit, his elbows resting on his knees as he clasped his hands together, and looked the two adults in the eye.
"Are you serious about this?" He knew they were, but he still needed a moment to process his thoughts.
The elder male's eye twitched as he watched the red-head, dropping the cards he held as he leaned forward to him.
"Do you think I want her to leave?" Axel could just hear the silent 'with you' echoing at the end of his sentence. Father's were scary. He drew his red eyebrows together and sat back again, crossing his arms. He couldn't hold back his next comment.
"Your not the one that is deciding her future anymore, dad." He hated the way it sounded, but he meant it. There was no way he was going to run away with his tail between his legs just because of Natasha's father. If this was as important as it seemed the elder male needed to understand that he was no longer the one who held everything in his hand for Natasha. She was going to be his responsibility soon, if things went the way he thought they were.
Axel already had it in his head that he was going to take Natasha, but something deep down told him that he had to convince her parents that he was not just some kid. Even if he had to be a little rude about it, he was going to get his point across.
Finally the elder male sat back stubbornly, his wife placing a hand on his shoulder before she looked at him.
"We understand, Axel. She's our daughter, and we've been dreading this day even if we didn't actually believe it was going to come for a while. It's hard."
A lop-sided smile was directed at her as Axel again leaned forward. "I understand that, mom." The woman seemed to brighten somewhat. "But you also need to understand something."
Before he could continue Natasha's father fixed a glare on him and said in an angry tone, "What else is there to understand, boy? You're going to be leaving with our daughter and we probably aren't going to see her for years! Who knows what kind of trouble you are going to get her in?" Axel frowned, glaring right back at the man. No brownie points there.
"I'm trying to tell you what kind of trouble I'm going to get her in. And trust me; there will be a lot of it. Got it memorized?"
The elder man practically growled back at him as he stood up, making ready to leave the room. Natasha's mother stood and took a step in front of him. She was surprisingly quick about it.
"Sit down, honey! You're acting like a child. I won't take any more of this from either of you!"
She fixed her fiery violet eyes on Axel as well. "I understand that we are all adults here, and you are not going to abandon this cause. I don't want you angry at him when he leaves whether he has Natasha or not because that will just make things terrible."
The man glared at his wife as well, but it melted when he realized that was probably true. He sat back down with a sigh, his wife standing for a moment with her hands on her hips before sitting as well.
"Now," she said, "I know we all care about Natasha in one way or another, so I'm ready to hear what 'trouble' you are going to get her into." She sounded more than skeptical; it was almost like she was accusing him of exactly what the elder man was thinking; something that wasn't very innocent. He rolled his eyes.
"Listen, it has nothing to do with what you guys are thinking of. You have been living behind this wall for too long that you forget that the world is dangerous. This goes for the other worlds as well. There are even some places that have been destroyed because of all the dangerous creatures running around." He looked at the both of them as thoughts of what had happened earlier in with the silver skinned nobodies sunk in. "I don't know how those dusks, that's what those white monsters are called, got in here, but I'm the one that attracts them."
"Why?" asked Natasha's father in a low, dangerous voice.
"I'm not quite sure, but I've had dealings with them in the past. Whether I tell you are not it doesn't change the fact that they are there. I don't want to talk about it." After a moment Natasha's mother nodded for him to continue. "There's no doubt in my mind that they will follow me wherever I go. I bet that at some times there will be even larger numbers than what I just fought. Natasha will be subject to that." He smirked when he saw the connection drawn on the adults faces. "You say you want her to learn to use magic. Did you ever even know how that is done for normal humans? They have to fight and get stronger and smarter to be able to process how exactly to cast a spell. Natasha will have to fight, and kill, to learn how to use her 'gift' as you call it. Are you okay with all of this?" He didn't really care if they were at this point.
After a few moments Natasha's father nodded, and her mother spoke, "So you're going to take her?"
"I was planning on it the second you told me she had to go. I'd miss the girl if I just got up and left." Another lop-sided smile was directed her way. It was returned by a weak grin.
"Okay then. Kidnap her in a few hours. Go ahead and sleep some on the couch. We need to get back to bed." The woman grabbed her husband's hand and practically dragged him out of the living room. Before they got to the stairs that lead straight up to their door Natasha's father turned around, determination etched on his face. "You better take care of her," He said before marching past his wife and into their room.
The woman turned a sheepish smile on the red-head. "I'll come down and wake you up in a few hours. Don't worry about Natasha coming down and finding you. Whenever we tell her to go to her room she stays till late morning unless we come get her. Sleep well. You're going to need it." She started up the stairs again.
In all honesty, Axel hadn't expected the conversation to be over so quickly. He had expected questions for his answers about other worlds. He had expected answers to his questions about how to get there. When the elder woman was almost half way up the stairs he stood up.
"How exactly am I supposed to get us out of here? I didn't think anyone knew how to travel between planets besides a keyblade wielder." He was somewhat surprised when she didn't look confused.
"This world's transportation is special. Even if the ways between worlds are locked for some reason we hold the key. Few know about our abilities, but those that do guard the information so the greedy won't want to take over other places that wouldn't be able to fight back. I'd explain how all this came about, but I'm too tired. Basically anyone that has lived on this planet even a day can pass through the locked connections. I'll tell you where to go when I come down again." She was about to continue up stairs, but Axel stopped her again.
"What is this world called anyway?" She smiled tiredly back at him.
"Those who know about our location, and who know how to travel between worlds, call our world The Kingdom Keys." She smiled at his surprise. "In a nutshell, a new 'key' is added somewhere in this world each time Kingdom Hearts is opened. Only very few of the people who know about other worlds understand this, and only one living person understands why. Don't bother asking him. He's supposed to carry that secret to the grave, and he doesn't even live here anymore. Now, if you will excuse me I need to get to bed. Good night."
When she left Axel stood there for a moment, trying to figure out whether the answers she had given him were really all that important. Was there any reason these facts should interrupt his new adventure? They weren't exactly ground shaking when you thought about them. He decided he really didn't care, and would just focus on what he wanted to do. He wanted to take Natasha on her 'pilgrimage' and find Roxas. These things didn't matter.
He lay down on the couch as he was told to and dozed, thinking about where they might head next. He was woken up later by Natasha's mother when it was still dark. She told him to go to see a person named Rae in a workshop near the front of town. He would be up at this hour and the letter she gave him would explain their situation. Some currency was planted with him as well. Surprisingly, it was just normal old munny. That stuff really was universal.
"I also want you to give Natasha this letter." She handed him an old looking paper that was folded neatly. "Give it too her if she starts to seem down. And give her these for me too." She gave Axel a gentle hug and a kiss on the cheek, which made him blush out of embarrassment. He never received such a show of affection. "Only give her those when she starts to miss home. Let her think you really snuck her out until then. It will make her feel happy after she finally gets home sick." Another weak smile crossed her face before she started to walk off. There was a very evident quiver in her voice when she spoke next. "When you bring her back, know that you are welcome here any time." Axel was left standing there for a moment until he spoke to her one last time.
"I'll take care of her, mom." The woman only paused for a moment before walking into her room and shutting the door.
((A/N: That was somewhat of an awkward part to write, and Axel ended up being a little out of character. Do think too deeply about the whole Kingdom Keys thing. Basically I made it up to be a world created when Kingdom Hearts is opened. I have a hunch that whenever it is hearts are released and thus new people are somehow made. It is NOT important for the story. The only significance it has is that it is the reason why everyone in this world looks almost alike. If you remember they all have dark hair and eyes. I figured that souls are somewhat identical no matter whom the person is…but none of this is important to the story. Maybe you could say that I also just made it up as an excuse for why Axel and Natasha will be able to travel. Also, when I say Kingdom 'Keys' it's meant to be a type of pun; it means both keys as in what you unlock doors with and keys as in the 'Florida Keys'. Don't kill me because I'm weird.
Yay! I was convinced to write another part! I might not like this addition all that much, but now even more ideas for what's to come are pouring into my head since I have this speed bump out of the way. I still might stop if Natasha becomes too Mary Sue-ish, so please review and tell me if I'm doing okay!
AloneInDespair: Thank you for taking the time to review!
EJ Amber: I was hoping that I would not have to point this out to anyone because it is going to be explained in the future if I do continue writing. Whether or not that was meant to be a flame it still hits rather hard simply because you are questioning the way I go about things. First, I know Natasha is dangerously close to being a Mary Sue character. Remember that this was when I stopped and realized that I might be turning her into one. As far as adding relevant flaws one that you mentioned was already addressed somewhat in this chapter about her being homesick. In the scope of things, I haven't even scratched the surface of the story yet to get a chance to give her any flaws. Of course she is not going to come in with superior magic ability or anything and there will be times when she will end up showing quite a bit of weakness. About her being too popular, well, in my story she is going to be as good as any canon character. She will not, should not and better not outshine Axel or I will kick her butt! I love Axel. ;-; But face it, if Kingdom Hearts were solely about Riku and Sora with no Kairi and someone wrote her in there she would be labeled a Mary Sue, I believe. But Kairi is a cool character, and we all love her, so does that necessarily mean that the writer was wrong for adding her? You can say that it's not way it works because Kairi IS in Kingdom Hearts. Who's to say if Square and Disney decided to take the turn I did with Axel they wouldn't have a character like Natasha or even a boy since I'm not really trying to develop a romantic relationship, to help him along? Maybe I should have made a boy take care of him, but then I might be labeled sexist, or I would be asked for a yaoi fan fiction. ((I have nothing against it; it's just not my expertise for writing.)) I'll stop rambling about that now. I'm beginning to feel like I'm getting defensive.
Now the part I was really hoping I would not have to point out is that Axel is acting the way I think he would act in the presence of a friend after he has obtained a HEART. The only reason, I THINK, the creators of Kingdom Hearts CoM and II made Axel the way they did was because he did not have a heart. ((Do you remember waaay back in Part 3 where I said he was going to be out of character for a while? I didn't need you to remind me. I have things under control. :giggles: )) Sure, later on he will be back to the way he was before, but with a bit more human compassion than when he was a heartless nobody. ((Perhaps in the future I will attempt to write something about him when he was a nobody so I can show you I know what you mean.)) Here he has not yet been introduced to any sort of enemy and has not had to deal with someone trying to manipulate him. In the future he will and then you can see shines of the Axel we all know and love oh so dearly. Also, as far as him caring about himself more than anyone else, do you remember that speck of emotion he showed towards his only friend? Roxas I think his name was? He spent the entire game trying to manipulate those involved so he could see Roxas again. That makes me think he cares quite a bit for Roxas. Even if he cares for himself more, there's still that love he held for his best friend that made him feel like he had a heart. There is a method to my madness, love. Although I hated explaining myself, I think it would have been inevitable anyway. Thanks for the constructive criticism and the review! All authors, at least those that don't do it for money and fame, love to hear it! 'Tis why I posted this here in the first place, since my real life friends are too soft.
InTheDarkWithRiku:giggles: I didn't want to make a big deal about the prophet. Think of her as Yen Sid, which no one remembers after the first ten, or maybe even less, hours of Kingdom Hearts II. ;XD
xUMIXx: I guess you just found out, huh:giggles:
Milante:Looks helplessly at her chained hands: Oh dear… XD I hope the upcoming chapters, which I have yet to write, will be to your liking so I may get up from my computer to use the restroom. ))