Author's Notes: (gurgles) Alright! Huzzah for relatively quick updates! Happy Holidays everyone!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, or any of the characters and worlds affiliated with it. I do own, however, the original concepts, thoughts, and ideas put into this story. So HA!
Chapter 4: In Hindsight
A murky gray sky hovered close to the ground, the buildings standing as if they were towering castles above the clouds, and the rain cried painful pleas as it collided on the pavement.
In hindsight, delivering packages through Traverse Town would have probably been much easier to accomplish if he actually knew where he was going.
Typically, Key wouldn't mind such a task. It would provide and excellent opportunity to explore, and become accustomed to the other people and his new surroundings.
But it was raining. And the boxes were mildly heavy.
He sighed, readjusting the boxes in his arms. The cardboard felt oddly spongy against his already wet skin. He was, however, glad that the rain had reduced to naught but fleeting drizzle as the day had progressed. Despite this, an overwhelming gloom still loomed over the town. It did not feel like day at all with such an obvious lack of sunshine.
Key sighed again, blinking drops of water away from his eyelashes as he set the boxes down. His stomach immediately grumbled in protest, reminding him it was past noon. He mumbled nonsense back to it, and sat on the largest box against his better judgement. It crumpled slightly under his weight, and he presumed lazily that no harm would come to the item inside. He yawned, regretting taking such an early start to the day, stretching his arms in an almost cat-like manor above his head and tickling the thick humid air with his long fingers.
He felt oddly exposed, feeling the wind brush against his arms and across his torso. He shivered at the pleasant chill.
He felt oddly exposed, knowing that Leon knew the truth.
True, Cid was still skeptical. He thanked the man silently for his stubbornness.
But he couldn't help but wonder how would they have reacted if he stepped out and told them:
'I can jump worlds pretty much at will.'
Somehow, he didn't think they'd react calmly. Leon seemed somewhat obsessed with the concept of other-worldly travel.
And what about Anitta? Did she even know about the existence of other worlds?
The whole situation gave him a headache, made him sick to his stomach.
He had not been careful enough in this world; and it was a mistake he didn't make often.
Usually his name was something commonplace; something he'd overhear someone calling someone else.
His past alibis included being Will, Stephen, Tristan…A false identity was easy enough to pass off.
His age was something he would usually let people guess, if conversation ever got that far.
His history was whatever fumbled away from his lips at the time.
But no.
In this world he lacked conviction.
He was too friendly to the strangers in this world.
He was too eager to relate to them.
He was too stupid, and spoke too hastily.
So hastily, in fact, he accidentally spat the truth. And by that time it was too late for him to blend inconspicuously into the background, too late for him to retract his words.
He sighed heavily again.
Not that it mattered. If he left before he could be confronted he wouldn't have to worry about any of it. He wouldn't have to worry.
He kicked his foot out at nothing particular.
He would stay one more night, he concluded, for Anitta's sake. Then, leave her with whatever currency he had in his pocket. She had been too kind, and did not even resent him for not telling her a thing about himself, aside from his name and age. She had not been quick to judge, and welcomed him into her life with open arms.
He couldn't place the lead feeling in his gut when he thought of leaving her with no explanation.
Guilt was something he had never really experienced before.
He shooed the thoughts away with a solid shake of the head.
Key tapped his foot, minding himself that he was currently on job. He glanced at the remaining boxes. He could just…leave them. Surely someone would come across them and deliver them to their rightful places. He scoffed at himself. His work ethic was dying off, and he was becoming a lazy blob.
He read the addresses with more concentration than they deserved. The words jumbled in his brain, letters not forming words but rather personal insults that reminded him how very lost he really was. His eyes widened slightly.
One of the addresses was Anitta's.
He sure as hell knew where that was.
Relief swept over him in a wave of warmth.
Once he was there, he could simply just ask her for the directions to the remaining places.
He clapped his hands as if declaring a genius plan, and stood.
'It is always more sad to leave a pleasant place, and more joyous to leave a dreadful one. Sometimes I wish all places were dreadful, and all people were unpleasant.'
He stayed still for a moment not saying anything, his palms still clasped in each other.
He hoisted the boxes back into his arms.
"It's an awful dreary day for deliveries isn't it?"
Key glanced around quickly to place the unfamiliar voice. It was soft, sweet… And matched well with the face he caught in his stare.
Beside the before-oblivious Key stood a woman, clothed in a delicate dress that hung modestly at her frame, it was a dull shade of pink that was somehow appealing to the eye. Dark auburn hair fell rebelliously around her face, and she grasped in her hands an umbrella. He suspected she had not been standing there long.
She smiled kindly at him as he returned a shrug.
"Good a day as any…" he mumbled quickly.
"I suppose it is." She sighed. He felt humbled at her presence. "I do wish the sun was out, though."
Key could only shrug another reply.
The woman spoke again only as he started to walk away.
"Who are you looking for?"
Key turned slowly to look at her; she stood there as if she had not a care in the world, smiling at him with such sincerity he almost thought she really cared. He tapped his finger lightly on the wet cardboard cocking his head slightly to the side.
"What?"
She pointed to the boxes. "Who are you looking for?"
"Oh! Um…I'm not really sure." He didn't know why the question startled him, or why he felt so stupid for thinking she met something else entirely. On either account, his response was the complete truth.
He blinked as she approached, pulling down her umbrella and taking closer inspection on the boxes.
"I know where that is." She admitted happily.
And Key was grateful.
She led him to the remaining customers, save Anitta. He assured her he could make it there on his own.
The rain started up again as they left the last house.
She twirled the bloomed umbrella around her head as they walked. It reminded Key of a merry-go-round.
"My name is Aerith, by the way." She spun the umbrella more quickly. "And I can only presume that you are Key?"
Key nodded, unfazed. This was, he discovered, a very small town. People were bound to talk.
"Yes." She sighed "Leon told me about you."
This time, Key did not remain unfazed.
"Did he?" was all he managed to stutter.
"Yes, he tells me that you are working for Cid. Quite the courageous task, I might add." She giggled slightly at this.
Key said nothing.
"He also tells me that you are staying with Anitta over at the Hotel."
He nodded obediently.
"I don't mean to sound imposing…" At this Aerith stopped walking. Stopped twirling her umbrella playfully in the rain. Halted her voice to a mere whisper as she completed her sentence. "But where are your parents?"
"Dead." He spat immediately.
She nodded. "I'm sorry."
And he felt bad for not telling the truth.
He felt bad for not knowing it.
"Don't be."
She nodded again, and held out her umbrella for him to stand under. He shook his head, and mumbled lamely as he tucked the last little box under his arm:
"I need to get this to Anitta."
This time she let him leave without saying a word.
Key approached the hotel at almost a tiptoe, snaking through the door quietly. For no reason other than not to disturb anyone. He glanced around.
Anitta was not at the front desk like she typically was.
He stood for a moment, pondering.
The kitchen.
She practically lived in the kitchen.
'Not that you would know by eating her food.'
And he automatically scolded himself and shuffled through the hallway. His stomach grumbled, and he reckoned even burnt food would taste good right about now.
He heard Anitta's voice as he cracked the door open. He froze.
"I always thoughchoo din't lyke coffee Leon." She chuckled slightly, apparent by the look on his face, he still didn't. "Now, what iz eet you wanna talk to me about? 'Cuz youz usually don come to visit me. Why tehday of all days? Couldna waited till the weekend? Or a sunny day?"
Leon poked his thumb through the handle of the coffee cup.
"Yeah…Sorry." He grumbled, sounding a bit guilty. "But I'm really here to ask you about the boy currently staying with you. Key, is it?"
Anitta nodded, then clicked her tongue "He aint in trouble is he? He doesn' seem the type to. He pretty much minds his own."
Key smiled slightly.
Leon shook his head, taking a sip of coffee again. He set the cup down as quickly as he had picked it up.
"Then whatsa matta?"
Leon sighed, looking particularly distraught.
"What do you know about him?"
"He a good kid. Got his head in da right place."
"Anything else?"
"Why you need to know?"
Leon shrugged, and Anitta scoffed.
"Look, Leon. He be a nice boy, youz don' need to be mixin' him up with all the stuff you got that other kid into. He was a good kid too, and I aint neva seen 'im again. That aint fair, he wuz jussa kid, and you went and sent 'im off to do stuff he wuddn't ready ta do."
"So, Key's from another world?"
"It's obvious aint it? Listen, I dun know how he got here, or where essactly he came from, but it obvious he's confused right now. He don' need any udder worries right now."
Leon nodded, but his voice still persisted.
"You have no idea how he got here? Where did you even meet him?"
"Right therr in firs' district. He lookd' awful confoosed and didn't know where he was or nuttin'. He seemed jus' as clueless as you an' me."
"You've never asked him?"
She shrugged, getting noisily up from the table.
"No, Leon, I didn' ask 'im."
And the tone of her voice signaled the drop of the subject. Leon took another sip of his coffee, taking his time as Anitta busied herself with dishes at the sink. She hummed heavily.
'So…it's not so peculiar than?'
And for a moment, Key felt hope.
Then…
'No…It IS peculiar.'
Cid had said it was impossible.
And Leon obviously could not do the same.
But at one point…
Had they too been able to cross to other worlds? He thought of the flying ships Cid had talked about. How they didn't fly anymore.
Was it possible that there were other people living the same nomadic existence as he?
If so…what were the chances of…meeting them? If high, was there an equal chance of…?
He shook his head again. He was being irrational, jumping to conclusions. This was the first place he'd been to where such discussion had ever taken place.
This was the first time he had ever really listened.
He stood behind that door, hiding, as Anitta and Leon kept company in silence. His fingers clutching hard into the corners of the box, he leaned his back onto the wooden walls, painted bright white by Anitta. He never suspected a color such as white could be bright.
Should he tell them?
Admit out loud the truth that all around seemed to be spreading?
He could deny it; fake amnesia and disappear without a word. Cut all attachments with these people.
He hugged the package closer to his chest. He had never owned a teddy bear, but he suspected this was the kind of comfort it was supposed to bring. He heard their voices speak up again, but they were lost amongst the echoes of his own thoughts.
Should he run?
Could he?
He tried to take a step forward, but the lead feeling in his gut weighed him down.
He couldn't move.
Couldn't run.
Couldn't get away from them. He clenched his eyes shut, focusing in on the voices.
"Thanks fo' stoppin' bah, Leon. It really wuz good ter see ya again."
There was a clatter of dishes. Coffee cups in the sink.
"Thanks for the coffee."
"You don' even lyke coffee."
More clatter of dishes. The sound of water running through old pipes. Against the windows, the sound of rain.
"I'm sorry, Anitta."
"S'okay Leon. You're jus' doin' all youz can to find dem again, aincha?"
There was silence.
"I should go."
The sound of a chair scraping against the floor. Footsteps.
"Seeya later, Leon." Water splashing, a faucet being shut off.
Footsteps approached him. Heavy, confident footsteps that made the floorboards creak and wail as they approached him.
Key felt the door opening behind him. He rolled onto the wall as not to be squashed, still clutching the package to his chest.
Leon looked at him. Stopped walking. Key could tell he wanted to say something, but instead he just stared. Their eyes locked into each other. He nodded in acknowledgement toward the boy, and stuck his hands in his pockets.
The heavy footsteps resumed.
For a second, Key was lost.
He waited until Leon was completely out the door before diving into the kitchen. Anitta turned immediately, hearing him stumble behind her.
"Key! Boy youz gave me a startle, you did."
He nodded an apology, tossing the crumpled box onto the table and slumping immediately into the chair.
"Cid told me to give this to you."
She smiled, snatching the package off of the table and tearing the paper away, shredding the box open.
"It's dat udder master key I ordered!"
Strange, that she would be so excited over such a thing.
She looked up at Key.
He slouched forward, his chin in his palm, watching her. He tried to mimic her smile.
She bit her lip. Then dropped all trash to the floor.
"Key, whai donchoo hold onter dis for meh? Jus' fo' now, till I can find a safe place for eet."
He blinked, and she held it out for him to grasp. He took it, gingerly.
It was heavier than he expected. How could such a minute thing be so heavy? It was cold.
"Thank you."
"Iz jus' a key, Key." She snickered. "Heh, get it?" she coughed a bit.
Key slid it into his pocket.
"I'm hungry."
Anitta spun around so fast to look at him, Key thought she would break her neck.
She smiled brightly, gleaming. Her eyes wrinkled into her cheeks.
"Fer what?"
"Um…" He shrugged. He usually just ate whatever someone gave him.
"We got eggz, sammiches…soup? S'a good day fer soup."
"Soup, then."
"Ya sure? I'll make ya a sammich too."
Key nodded.
Key would never forget how happily she hummed as she glided around the kitchen that day.
It's hard to burn soup and sandwhiches.
And he never did make it back to work.
It wasn't until later that night that the rain finally stopped.
Key glanced out of the window of 'his' room.
It wasn't really his. But Anitta had become accustomed to calling it that within the past three days.
He folded the white tee-shirt she had leant him, and slid into his own jacket.
It smelt leathery from the belts and buckles.
And the zippers looked almost rusty.
Its once bright color now a faded grayish blue.
It felt…
Uncomfortable?
He adjusted his shoulders so that the fabric fit more snugly.
He slid out of it again, the sleeves crumpling at his hands.
His normal dull clothes seemed so very out of place in this bright room.
Key flopped onto the bed, back first, inhaling deeply the scent of this place. The comforter curled around his legs. He embraced such familiarity. He stared at the ceiling.
This would be his last night in this place.
He would leave tomorrow.
It was decided.
If he stayed any longer…
…Any longer…
He might never leave.
A part of himself questioned why this would be so bad.
But he quickly pushed that thought away, tucked it into the shadows of his mind.
He sighed.
"Goin' the bed?"
Key turned his head to see Anitta in the doorway.
"No."
"Ah. Well…" She paused, looking around the room.
Key didn't get up.
"You want to…come in?" he mumbled lamely. He felt strange inviting her into her own room at her own Hotel.
She laughed.
She had obviously found it humorous.
"Why, Key, I'd lurve to."
He choked a polite laugh in return.
She sat on a chair across the room.
And they sat in quiet, merely enjoying each other's company.
"Hey, Anitta…?"
"Hmm?"
She sounded half-asleep.
"Thank-you."
"Fer what, Key?"
He didn't reply. She chuckled again.
"Yer welcome."
He yawned, and she did too.
"I best be getin' off ter bed. You get some rest too, boy. Youz still got work tomorrow."
He said nothing.
"If ya wake up early again, Ah'll make ya sometin' good, aight?"
When she realized he was asleep, she tucked him in. Folded the red blanket firmly around his feet, and brushed loose hair away from his face. She glanced over him, her eyes settling on the keyhole marking.
"Youz a strange one, Key. But I really, wuldn't have it any udder way."
The night sky was fogged over in a sheer cloud of gray, but past it, barely visible, was a pleasant deep violet.
Chapter Notes: Did this seem more choppy than usual? I guess it's all the dialogue.
Anyone else happy to see Key opening up a bit more? I am. XD;
As far as this chapter goes, I really had no idea what to do (character wise) while I was writing it. Throw in Aerith? Sure. Any significance in that? Heck if I know.
Sorry if Leon's coming off as a bit OOC. I always thought he was a bit obsessive. Why would he not be obsessive over this as well?
Is Anitta's dialect and accent too confusing to read? I mean, it's not to me since I'm the one writing it…but…What do you think? Should I tone down the funny spellings and stuff?
Thanks to all who reviewed to the last chapter! And a special thank-you to Absinthian, who really just inspired me to get outta my slump and start writing again. Appreciate it!
Remember, it's your input and reviews that keep this story going.
Happy Holidays everyone!
R&R
Seeya next chapter!