Notes: In flashbacks prior to Ienzo's transition, "_" denotes use of his deadname.

2.

Old Friends

Ienzo tried to stay awake, but the long drive and his own exhaustion had him nodding in and out. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt safe like this, thanks to Aeleus.

"Get some rest, child," Aeleus said. "It's alright."

Even was on his phone, the glow bright against his pale face. "I reached out to the safe house. We should be set."

"That's good."

Ienzo slipped under.

In this dream, the ground underneath him was damp with dew. The magic doe, bright and glittering, danced for him, making him laugh. He'd been small, small enough that things were still good. He was still home.

"_, child," Ansem said. He was still in his suit, doubtless having sought him after the endless parliament meetings. "Your creatures just get prettier and prettier."

"Merlin says my magic is almost as powerful as his." Smug.

Ansem chuckled. "It will be, child. Such is your bloodline."

"But practicing Protect is so boring. I want to do laser swords."

Ansem ruffled his hair. "And you'll get there, but first you need to learn the basics-which is control. I'm told you made quite a mess in Even's lab during your lesson."

His face burned. "It was an accident."

"I know. But all the more reason to take control over this part of yourself. Part of being a good ruler is self-restraint. And you want to be a good queen, don't you, _?"

"...Yes, father." He dropped his eyes.

"Well. No need to be so serious. Why don't we get some ice cream?"

"...Even says you give me too much ice cream."

"I'd be a terrible parent if I did not occasionally spoil my child."

Ienzo woke slowly, blinking the wetness out of his eyes. It was light out now; he'd slept hard.

Father.

He tried not to think about him, because it always hurt. He hadn't seen him in years, not since-

"Alright, Ienzo?" Aeleus asked. "We should be there soon."

"Where are we going?" Ienzo asked. "Even never told me what plan B entailed."

At his name, the man jerked awake. "I'd just drifted off," he muttered. "We're headed towards the coast. Twilight Town. Hopefully we can settle there and plan next steps."

Ienzo frowned. The city was one of the biggest, other than the capitol. "Easier to blend in in a bigger city?"

"Precisely," Even said, with a sigh. "There's still a university there."

"We can just… live?" Ienzo was more than a little skeptical. "After so much running?"

"The city government is neutral towards the monarchy at the moment, and historically were loyalists. Better to be… on this sort of ground, while the resistance gathers itself."

"No need for you to be miserable," Aeleus added. "So long as you're cautious."

"But… once they do gather themselves?" Ienzo asked. He raised an eyebrow. "What then?" His own knowledge of the resistance was shadowy, vague-a network of survivors, monarchists and loyalists, and just other people who wanted to be rid of Xehanort's stranglehold, who had lost people to his darkness.

"Then we will figure out what to do," Even said tiredly. His eyes were bloodshot. "It's imperative we keep you alive until then. That is to say…"

"Be prepared to keep moving?" Ienzo nodded. "Right." He watched the city wash in around them, the protective wards around the city making the light rosy, like a sunset. Their contact had assured them that border control would allow Ienzo through, so long as they went to the right window.

Ienzo felt his heart beating harder now, and he pulled his hat a little tighter over his forehead. These moments were always tense, uncomfortable; what if this person had been caught? Or was forced to go to a different post? Or was simply ill? Ienzo held his breath, and he was fairly sure Even did as well, if the grip on his hand meant anything.

Aeleus rolled down the window.

"Passport, please," the voice said boredly, and Ienzo gave another small start; it took all his effort to keep his face neutral, disinterested, in case there were prying eyes. The guard, too, noticing Aeleus, tensed his jaw, but his eyes were shimmering. Even took a quick breath. Aeleus handed over their forged papers. "...Roll down the back window. Just need to see your faces." His deep voice remained impassive. Ienzo swallowed down the joy, the relief, to see the familiar violet eyes, the tangle of thick black braids.

Dilan, he thought desperately. So he was alive too, and not another casualty for the sake of his protection.

The man locked eyes for Ienzo; for a moment there was confusion, and then a sort of recognition, a pride , almost. He nodded once. "I see all is in order," he added in the same bored tone. "Enjoy your visit."

They slipped through the barrier without trouble. Ienzo felt it frisk him and winced; it was like receiving a mild static shock. Even gasped out a breath. "Gods," he whispered. "Gods. I hadn't let myself think about him."

"It seems Ansem really pulled out all the stops," Aeleus added. "Keeping us safe… that we might one day be together again."

Then why couldn't he be here with me , Ienzo thought, though of course he knew why. If both the king and the heir were in the same room… all the easier to dispose of them.

Twilight Town smelled like salt. Salt, and the sea. "The marine biology program here is apparently very robust," Even said. His voice wavered just the slightest, with emotion, Ienzo suspected. "You might consider it."

"...Biology was never my favorite." Even in hiding Even insisted on continuing his education; Ienzo suspected the man didn't want to let his own genius go to waste. The guilt was always there; prior to all this, Even had been surgeon general, and a preeminent researcher in his field. Now he was a fugitive, and it was all Ienzo's fault- "Besides, I have a lot of catching up to do."

Even laughed a little. "A lot of those general education classes will be a breeze, Ienzo. I think you'll do fine."

How odd, to just go to college , to think about having a career. Would he ever? Would he not just be king? Or be dead? Would there ever be life after Xehanort? After the darkness?

Aeleus pulled up to an unassuming townhouse in a quiet, residential part of town. How bizarre, for it to be midmorning and for it to seem like twilight. It was quite easy on the eyes. Ienzo took in the neatly mowed lawn, the false stone front. His legs felt like jelly as he got out of the car. They only had one neighbor quite a few yards away; the next house was empty, for sale. All three looked almost exactly the same. "Cookie cutter," he muttered.

"The point, Ienzo," Aeleus said. "Let's get our things."

The house had been pre-furnished; everything seemed a little old, a little broken in. The walls were a pale blue on the lower floor, making the hardwood flooring seem all the darker. Even set his bag down in the kitchen. "I do so despise the modern white-on-white-on-white," he said.

It was because it was too like his lab. Too much of a reminder. Ienzo bit his lip. "I do as well. Quite lazy. But an improvement on where we came from."

"Yes, at least things here smell clean." He poked around in the cupboards, in drawers. "Everything seems to be in order."

"So quickly?"

Aeleus set a suitcase by the stairs. "For you, Ienzo, there are always set plans in place."

"All these moving pieces I'm never allowed to see," he said darkly. "I'm not a child."

Even scowled. "No, but gods forbid you get captured and interrogated."

"As if I'd ever say anything to anyone."

His green eyes glinted. "You say that now." He took off his glasses, heavy and dark-rimmed. "Besides, Ienzo. I'm sure we'd all rather you speak if it meant you could keep your life."

Ienzo slid off his dirty hat. "Was that all from the car, Aeleus?"

"...Quite."

Ienzo approached him slowly. "Are you… staying with us, then?"

A nod. "For the time being. Even has done well, protecting you, but if we are to be out in the open…"

"I could use a guard." He tried to bite down on the emotion he felt. "Well. I'm glad. Even is horrid company."

"Ungrateful brat," Even called from in the kitchen, but without venom.

"Come here. I never did get to see you in the light."

Ienzo did so.

"You got so tall," Aeleus murmured, setting his hand on Ienzo's shoulder.

"Well. Small compared to the two of you."

"We've missed so much time." He exhaled heavily. "I'd hoped your childhood would be better than-"

"We are all here, healthy, and alive," Ienzo said. "I should take that and be grateful."

"...Indeed." Aeleus drew him into an embrace. He smelled so the same, and for a moment Ienzo couldn't do anything but drink it in. He hadn't realized how badly he needed comfort.

"...Both of you so emotional," Even added, coming into the room. Then, "It would be good to have the presence of old friends."

Aeleus gently let Ienzo go. "Even. I never did imagine you with long hair."

"Somewhere my first chemistry professor is crying," Even said, handling a piece of it. "Best to be somewhat unrecognizable." He smiled a little. He reached to take Aeleus's hand, and the two embraced. "I do hope you'll tell us what it is you've been up to."

"And I shall-once we've all gotten some rest. I'm sure you haven't slept a whit more than you had to since this was all in motion."

"...Quite," Even admitted. "Yes, it is necessary."

"You two go on, then."

Ienzo carried his things upstairs. It was left unclear which of the bedrooms were to be his, so he took the one facing the small yard. It did feel so good to get out of that drab apartment, to see greenery again. To breathe. There was nothing here on the walls, a simple double bed, a writing desk, a dresser and an empty bookshelf. He unpacked-not that it took long-and perched on the mattress.

He would never feel settled, he guessed.

After a shower and a pathetic attempt at a nap, Ienzo went back downstairs to see if anything had been left to eat.

"I made some pasta," Aeleus said, startling him. He was sitting at the small kitchen table, reading a book. "It's in the fridge."

"...Thank you." He gathered some and heated it, got water. Ienzo realized he was kind of procrastinating. He joined Aeleus.

"Even is asleep, then?"

"Yes."

"At some point today or tomorrow we'll need groceries." He set the book aside. "How… are you, Ienzo?"

"...A loaded question. I could ask the same."

"Quite." Aeleus cleared his throat. "It has been… much too long. You're grown now. I can barely believe it."

"Trust me, under Even's watchful eye I certainly don't feel it."

Aeleus barely smiled. "It was his idea, to allow you to come here. Now here, here, but-"

"...Somewhere safe… relatively speaking," Ienzo finished.

"I assume you barely feel like you hit the ground."

Ienzo picked at his bowl. He wanted spices, cheese, but he knew Aeleus had done his best with what had been left. "A month here, a month there. Not so many are as well-traveled."

Aeleus chuckled.

"But… you are right. He was always… overcautious about moving on. I used to… resent it, especially if I made some playmate or another. But I know now he was trying to keep me from prying eyes, and depending on the territory, there were many." He kept his eyes on the wood-grain. "You and he have sacrificed so much for me-"

"Hush, child," Aeleus said. "When we took our posts under Ansem, we knew full well what could possibly happen."

"Twelve years in hiding?"

"You sacrificed it too."

Ienzo exhaled. "What of you, then?"

Aeleus leaned back in the wooden chair. "I too, have… wandered," he began, carefully. "As soon as we were… split up, I immediately sought to ingratiate myself with the resistance. It took time, to find someone trustworthy, who was not merely pretending to be a part of it. I worked with them to scout cities, gauge the threat of darkness. Mostly… I tried to find Ansem. I tried to find you . But Even covered his tracks well. I… have seen this land begin to fall to darkness. The whole west coast is all but lost to lawlessness."

Ienzo exhaled.

"We sought to get rid of whoever allied themselves with Xehanort, but it became clear it was a losing battle. People buy his message, and then the darkness twists their minds."

"There has to be something we can do more immediately," Ienzo said. "There has to-"

"Your duty now is to remain alive," Aeleus said.

"But I can never be a decent ruler if I let my subjects suffer for my life-"

"You can't be a decent ruler if you're dead," Aeleus leveled.

"I've done enough waiting. Let me be a part of this, Aeleus. Let me-" But the man's face had lost all expression.

"The time is not yet right," Aeleus said softly.

"When will it be, then? How much has to be lost?"

"The decision is not up to me."

"Then who? My father?" Ienzo hadn't meant for their first real conversation in years to be an argument.

Aeleus said nothing.

Ienzo frowned. "I should go place some wards around the property line," he said. "At least that is something I can do."