Chapter 153: Twelve
"What are we waiting for, again?" Riku asked.
"For Amaryllis to gather Reinforcements, I believe," Vexen replied.
"How long could that take?"
"Shouldn't be much longer now," Alpha said. "In fact-" He glanced down at his pager. "Yes, Amaryllis says he has reinforcements, and if we're… done… arguing… he'd appreciate it if we could meet him on Floor 13." Alpha frowned. "Really, Amaryllis?"
"We were arguing," Riku said.
Alpha didn't respond.
"Where exactly are we heading?" Vexen asked. "Floor 13 isn't exactly small."
"About three rooms away from the computer room," Alpha said.
"But in which direction?"
Alpha sighed.
Riku chuckled a little.
"Listen, I know where he is," Alpha said. "I'll just form a dark corridor for us." He reached out his hand, summoning a dark corridor to his fingertips. Once it was formed, he stepped through. Vexen followed not long after.
Riku hesitated, though.
I could… stay here.
They probably wouldn't even notice—well, they probably would notice, actually. But…
I could stay here.
Stay out of the battle.
I could—
He stepped through the dark corridor anyway.
When he emerged, he found Amaryllis relaying the battle plan to everyone. Riku didn't really listen, though; he already knew what they were going to do. He surveyed who was in the room, instead.
Amaryllis was here, as were Alpha and Vexen, obviously. Snapdragon was here, along with 7; the two of them were discussing something, actually. And… hadn't Snapdragon been injured? Of course, he must've been healed, for the most part, but that would explain why he and 7 were arguing now. 7 probably didn't want him fighting.
Anyway, their Lexaeus Replica—did he have a classification? Riku couldn't remember—was here. Along with… Thistle. And that was it.
Amaryllis was serious about those reinforcements, Riku thought. That makes… eight of us. Against Axel and Xemnas and 26 and most likely Roxas.
The odds technically aren't that bad.
Even if you count Xemnas as two people, for being Xemnas, and Axel as two people, while you're at it, that's still 6 to 8. We have them out numbered; though they probably have us out muscled.
Maybe this… won't go that bad.
"So, are we going now?" Snapdragon asked. Amaryllis must've been done with his battle plan explanation.
Amaryllis looked over at Alpha, who shrugged.
"Might as well. Axel's standing guard; but we can distract him while they finish up with Roxas—it can't take 26 too much longer. And it's not like they have anyway of leaving except through us."
Amaryllis nodded.
"I guess we're going now then."
They all started walking. Snapdragon and 7 didn't get far, though, because they were still arguing about whether or not Snapdragon should even be fighting. (7 thought he shouldn't be, but Snapdragon kept insisting that he was fine, and that they needed him for the battle anyway so it didn't matter.)
Riku swallowed, and slowly pulled back, ducking around the nearest corner. He pressed his back against the wall, and then sunk to the ground.
I really can't do this.
I was no good against Axel the first time.
Now I'll be facing Axel and Xemnas and 26 and probably Roxas too…
He cradled his head in his hands.
It's too much. I'm not strong enough. Axel was too much for me without trying. Xemnas threw me across a room. I can't. I don't see how I'll be able to hold it out against both of them—even with everyone else there.
I-
No, Riku, stop it! Stop thinking like that, you idiot. You'll be fine. You should be fine. Maybe.
He growled slightly. This was really frustrating. He was so sick of having these thoughts running through his head.
There was movement above him. He froze, paralyzed. What should he do? What could he do? He wanted to run. Get out of here. He didn't need someone knowing that he felt like crud right now, on top of everything else. He didn't need sympathy.
"Riku-"
Riku groaned. No, he did not want to deal with Vexen right now.
"What?" he asked, tersely.
"Are you okay?"
What is he—?
Riku pulled his hands away from his head, clutching them together for a second in frustration. He didn't look at Vexen. Wouldn't look at Vexen. But—
He wrapped his arms around himself, squeezing his shoulders.
"Of course I'm not okay," he said. He didn't know why he was saying it. It was like there was something inside of him that just had to be released and he couldn't hold it back. "I don't see why you even have to ask me. I thought you, of all people, would understand. I failed. I couldn't take Axel. And if I can't take him, I certainly can't take Xemnas, and there's no guarantee that I'll be able to take Saix, either, like the Rebellion wants me to. I can't do anything."
There was a moment of silence. Riku cursed himself internally for even saying all that.
Then, slowly, Vexen squatted down in front of him. Riku glanced up, but didn't look at Vexen for long. They were about eye level, though. About.
Again, there was a long moment of silence. Riku could feel Vexen's gaze on him. He didn't know what to do. Tell Vexen to go away? Or—
"Did Larxene tell you that?" Vexen said, finally, his voice quiet. "That because you failed one little mission you aren't good for anything?"
Riku kept his gaze firmly on the floor.
"What's it matter to you?"
"Riku, listen to me. Whatever is going through your head right now—whether it be something that Larxene told you, or something Marluxia told you, or something I told you—it's not true. You aren't weak just because Axel defeated you. And you aren't incapable of anything just because you messed up one time."
Riku didn't move. Didn't look up. Only clutched himself tighter. What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to respond? Vexen had a point, didn't he? He just didn't want to listen. He didn't want to—
"Axel only defeated you because he had a clearer head than you did," Vexen continued, ignoring Riku's silence. "You were trying to show off, prove you could take Xemnas, and you probably got a bit full of yourself. Then you started panicking because you couldn't live up to your own high expectations—and of course panicking doesn't help your chances of winning. But you are not weaker than Axel because of that. Besides-" There was a short pause, and Riku glanced up. Vexen was smiling slightly. "Axel had something he was protecting. You know how you are when you're protecting Namine? You know how it's almost impossible—it is impossible, actually—for anything to get past you? That's why you couldn't get past Axel. Because he was protecting Roxas."
Riku stared. He didn't know what to say. He didn't—
He focused his gaze back on the floor. No. It didn't matter what Vexen said. It didn't—
But he has a point.
So what if you couldn't get past Axel? What does it matter?
He was protecting Roxas. It wasn't like he was going to just let you past him—
"What are you getting at?" Riku snapped. He was in a bad mood. Vexen was not going to snap him out of it.
"I'm just… trying to help."
"Go away."
I- I don't want to deal with you. I don't care. I don't care. Why do you?
"Riku, please, don't give up," Vexen said. "You can't walk away from this battle. Sure, maybe you're not the best fighter in this universe, maybe you are, but I know for a fact that you are one of the best in this Castle. The Rebellion will not survive without you."
No.
I-
Why do you care? Why do you—
"Stop," he said; practically shouted. "Whatever act this is- just stop it, alright?"
He was so frustrated right now. So frustrated with Vexen.
"It's not an act…" Vexen protested. He did not raise his voice. If anything, it seemed to get quieter.
"Oh it's not, is it?" Riku laughed, bitterly, getting to his feet. "Please. Don't humor me. When have you ever cared about me?" He stormed off.
xxx
The doors opened. 26 suppressed the urge to groan. What did Axel want now?
"Is there any chance we can leave here pretty soon?" Axel asked. "The Rebellion's decided to try and stop us again. I mean, I can try and hold them off, but chances are I won't last terribly long. There's about ten of them."
"26?" Xemnas asked.
"It will be a few minutes, sir."
"Axel, keep them out for as long as possible. We'll leave shortly."
Axel nodded. "Got it." He left again.
"How long will it be, exactly, 26?"
26 swallowed. "I've only barely started on his memories, sir," he said. "It could be a while."
"Will he function without his memories?"
26 frowned. "Yes…"
"Can he fight?"
"He'll hold his own, sir, but I wouldn't suggest relying on him."
"Of course." Xemnas nodded. "We will go. Now. We can finish with his memories when we return to the Castle, can we not?"
"We can," 26 said. "Just give me another minute to get him up and moving."