What up? I'm back! Thank you to KHfan12 for the awesome review, and thank you to the new faves and alerts :) I changed the summary up a bit to better describe the plot of the story. I've changed the plot since the original writing of this story; there's now more to it, and the background and setting is different. It's better, trust me.
In this chapter: We delve into the character of Juliet - relationships, fears, and personality.
Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from any use of Kingdom Hearts, Square Enix, or Disney. All rights go to original owners. Don't sue.
"Honestly, Number XIV, I do not see why you cannot follow the simple instructions given to you."
The tone was stern ― not quite yelling, not soft either. It held a hint of veiled vexation, exasperation, and disappointment. It was the latter emotion that turned my stomach inside out with guilt, but I wasn't going to admit that openly. I didn't feel guilt.
Saїx sighed in frustration, his amber eyes closing as he tilted his head back and lowered his ever-present clipboard. Jaw tightened, he nearly growled, "It is an undemanding task, Juliet. I know you would much rather gossip or play on your phone, but there is work to be done. This is an organization, and you are a contributing member. I expect you to do your duty when asked."
Again I remained silent, not daring to say a word. What was I going to say? Sorry? I'll do better next time? It was better to accept the loss and keep my mouth shut.
"Now, when I walk away, you are going to turn around and immediately go to the basement below Nothing's Call. You will sort through the filing cabinet labeled 'Pureblood Heartless,' and return with the file marked 'Shadow Evolution.' You will report to Vexen the very moment you are I make myself clear?"
Stiffly I nodded. Saїx straightened up, gave me one last piercing scowl, and exited the Grey Area in one fluid motion. When his overbearing presence could no longer be detected, my shoulders slumped and my head fell forward as if I'd lost motor control of my neck.
Why me? Why couldn't he have picked Demyx to go down there? It was a menial task, anyway, one that didn't require much brain power or focus. Surely Number IX could have handled it! But noooo, Saїx had to go and pick me to do it!
Groaning, I stretched out my arm to summon a dark portal. The extended limb felt unfamiliar, like a long pipe of lead. My fingers trembled as they splayed in the air. I bit my lip tightly, willing my ability to summon the corridor to dissipate like water on a hot stove. It didn't.
The swirling mist snaked out, licking the death-white floor and beckoning me forward with serpentine fingers. I usually could handle traveling through these channels, it was no big deal. The darkness only lasted seconds, and then the light was so bright that one would wonder if their retinas were going to suffer permanent damage.
But today was different. Last night I had that dream again. It was recurring, like a startlingly surreal vision of every negative emotion a Somebody could experience ― fear, anger, despair… loneliness.
Where this dream had come from, I hadn't a clue. But in it I felt small. I felt so small, in fact, that I often woke up thinking I was a child, and I would stay curled up in my bed, not able to bring myself to make certain that when I swung my feet over the side of my sweat-soaked mattress they would even touch the cold ground below.
It was also the kind of small that made you feel powerless and meek, neither being adjectives I would ever describe myself as. I earned my respect through proving that I was tough, that I could deck a man almost twice the size of my measly five-foot-something. But it in this dream, I could do no such thing. I didn't know how. All I could achieve was clinging to something, though I never could tell what. But to my feeble mind, it held all of the security and peace in the world. And for a split second, that warm, wonderful, safe sensation held me too, and then it would be ripped from me, tearing a child-like scream from my raw throat and causing hot, sticky tears to roll down my face like violent waves over jagged rocks. Cold, black nothing caved in around me, pulling me down, swallowing me whole until my fingers reached out of the black cloud and brushed against skin―another hand, calloused from years of rigorous work. The fingers gripped mine in a vice so tight that I knew they'd never let me go without a fight. They vainly tried to pull me out, hauling, and tugging, and heaving. A gruff voice cried out in panic and fear as I began to slip away, but the deafening silence that condemned me always won out.
And then I would spring up in my bed, tears rolling down my face and hair matted with sticky salt. I would shiver, for the feeling of bitter cold never quite left even after the dream took flight. But the most striking impression from the aftermath of the terror was the piercing, deadened perception of being utterly bereft.
A name lingered on my lips. It always flitted to me following the nightmare, landing on my tongue just long enough to taste the first letter, and then it would dissolve into the darkness, just as I had done in the dream.
I shook my head to rid myself of the haunting thoughts. The corridor still spewed its grey shadows and swayed in its hypnotic dance. Stepping into the hollow abyss, my body quivered and my knees shook, but I forced myself to stop acting like a child. Pull yourself together, Jule! I demanded internally. Nothing was more embarrassing than being afraid of a little darkness. It was just the absence of light, nothing to be scared of.
But when the mouth of the portal snapped shut and the space around me was submerged in total darkness, I couldn't help the strangled scream that slipped out. Hastily, I raced forward, my feet landing on the airy substance below in a way that made me think it was akin to running on a cloud or one of Saturn's rings.
In seconds, a bright flash enveloped me and sent waves of strange heat through my core. My chest vibrated from the strength of the force and my eyes instinctively squeezed shut. Then I was below Nothing's Call, my fingers clawing at the ground and my chest heaving as if I'd run a marathon.
Unfortunately, this basement was the only room not accessible from any outside place aside form a Dark Corridor. Xemnas had it created so that he could protect all of the important documents (and Vexen's chemicals, since we could never predict what Demyx would put in his mouth next) from being tampered with, stolen, or viewed by anyone aside from our trusted numbers.
It was also dark. Not as soul-stealingly, body-numbingly, or terrifyingly as a dark portal, but it was gloomy all the same. Slowly, I climbed to my feet and straightened out my relatively wrinkled cloak before taking a calming breath and casting Fire on a thin candle I'd had the foresight of bringing with me. The flame didn't do much, and if anything, its evil red hue made the long rows of metal cabinets look like soldiers marching to their death.
My pace quickened and I began the tedious task of creeping through the army ranks to find the Pureblood files. The further I slipped through the phalanx, the farther the soldiers seemed to stretch on. When I turned, I realized that I could no longer even make out the first row of filing cabinet army men. I'd successfully lost myself in foreign territory.
"P's, p's, p's," I whispered to myself. My attempt at shattering the eerie silence fell flat when my voice barely stretch a few feet before disappearing too into the expanse of steel. "Oh, come on, Xemnas, there can't be that many files down here!"
Finally! I nearly cried in relief when my eyes landed on the first filing cabinet that's label started with a P (by this time, I was roughly two hundred rows in). I scanned my fingers across the top of the tags, slowly making my way down the row. Pixies, Potions, Princesses of Light, Principal Objectives, ― I stopped at a marker with the words Project: Regeneration S Files printed on the label. What in the world?
I slid my fingers around the cold, sleek metal of the handle, feeling an irrefutable pull, but then a gust of wind swept my hair back from some hidden air vent and I was suddenly reminded of my determination to get the heck out of there.
Abandoning the file, I located the correct storage unit, yanked the file on Shadows out, and hightailed it through the dark corridor back to Vexen's lab. I slipped it into his hand, ignored the cross look he sent me, and then flew out of the room and towards my own.
The next day found me in class again. I'd luckily made it through the night without a repeat nightmare, but it didn't mean I got much more sleep. Currently, Vexen was droning on about ― no surprise here ― Pureblood Shadow heartless and their emergence as creatures that were leftover shells of their former existence. Seriously, the information was so basic that even Demyx knew the information by heart.
Speaking of the devil, he was leaning over the lab table where I was sitting, asking me at random intervals questions that had nothing to do with the lesson. I was actually kind of glad for the distraction.
"Juliet, can you catch diseases from fleas?" The innocent, puppy-dog look on his face brought a smile to mine. Clear worry could be detected in his eyes.
Zexion's eyes flickered over to Demyx, and I suddenly understood just how bored the schemer was. The guy, no matter how uninteresting the matter, would absorb every detail there was to be had on a subject. He literally thrived on knowledge. But today he knew the material word for word, and it could be seen in the dull, zombie-like glaze in his one visible, aquamarine eye.
"Why?" he asked. "Do you have fleas?" I smirked at Zexion, and he sent one in return, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms as he raised an eyebrow at the blonde.
Scrunching up his nose, Demyx replied, "Nah. I don't have them. But I got bit on the foot by one when Xemnas made me go and rescue Pongo and Perdita's pups." He got a kick out of his alliteration.
"Yes, Demyx," I replied mournfully, "you can get diseases."
His eyes shot open and his jaw dropped. "Wh-wha-what kinds of diseases?"
Trying to contain my grin, I shot back, "Nah, I shouldn't tell you."
"Come on, Juliet!" he begged. "I'm dying here! You gotta tell me!"
With a tsk, I shook my head and met the blonde's eyes morosely. Feigning deep disturb, I lied, "You can get Lyme disease, herpes, AIDS, rabies, even the Plague! For all we know, you could have but weeks left!"
His blue eyes flooded with fear. Jerking his head to look from me to Zexion, he whispered, "You mean, I'm dying?"
With a shrug, I lamented, "It's sad but true… You're going to spend the next few weeks wasting away, growing thinner and frailer, and so sick that your bones will crack and you won't have the strength to even open your eyes…"
Rolling his eyes (at least I assumed, seeing as how I could only see the one), Zexion rebuked, "Juliet, don't tell him that." But even through his chiding, I couldn't miss the hint of a mirthful grin that tugged at one of the corners of his perfect mouth.
"Oh, that's right!" I answered with renewed spirit. "Flea bites skip the disease stage and go straight to rigor mortis!"
A terrified squeal shot out of Demyx at that, and I almost burst out laughing at the absolutely petrified look on his face.
"That is enough yacking from you three!" Vexen shouted, his eyebrows doing that awful worm thing.
I knew I had no choice but to shut my mouth lest I be in more trouble with Saїx than I was from yesterday, so I had to leave Demyx with my oh, so reassuring words of comfort. The poor thing crossed his arms on the lab table and hid his face, mumbling, "But I don't like the Underworld!"
Thankfully, Zexion smoothed things over when Vexen had his back turned. It saved me the trouble of having to tell Demyx that I'd only been joking. He glared at me all through the rest of the day, and when Vexen finally released us from the excruciating lesson, I had accepted that he would not be talking to me for probably the next week. He swept out of the room after Vexen, his chin up in a blatant show of disdain.
Hah.
"Rigor mortis?"
I turned to face Zexion, suddenly acutely aware of the fact that we were alone for the first time since the dance. I'd somewhat avoided him, as immature as that seemed. But I wasn't very good with emotions or expressing myself, especially not when it came to any personal feelings. I mean, when the moment happened between us, it happened and it did so in a way that was comfortable and normal. But now, I had absolutely no clue how to initiate anything else between us or even how to have a normal conversation again without bringing up what happened. I had a lot of questions, ones like were we together, did he regret what happened, was it a onetime thing? But I would never ask them aloud.
I forced a sly smirk. "Well, I didn't anticipate him actually knowing what that was." The Cloaked Schemer shook his head, his locks of sleek hair catching the fluorescents in way that made them look almost blue.
"You've probably scarred him for life, or at least taken a good five years from him." I shrugged again and grinned.
And then the awkward set in. We stood a few feet apart, watching each other under the harsh overhead lights. The air was thick with suppressed words.
I coughed a little into my fist and commented, "Well, I gotta, you know, go now…"
"Yeah."
And then we continued to stand there until finally I convinced my legs to cooperate and I scrambled for the "notes" I had laid out on the lab top. In my haste, my equilibrium left me and I suddenly found myself pitching forward… straight into Zexion.
He landed with a groan on the hard floor and I ended up on top of him, staring down into both of his eyes. His bangs were swept away from his face, and I noticed a slight scar running the length of his cheek to his ear. It was faint, just a shallow indention that was only barely a shade off from his ghostly pallor. I'd never even have noticed if I wasn't this close.
I'd have to remember to ask him about it later.
"Uh…" I began, searching for something to banish the awkward tension.
"Juliet, I need you to― Juliet!"
I was on my feet in seconds, smoothing out my cloak that had very unfortunately ridden up to almost mid-thigh. I tried to find a way to explain, but the unbearable heat the flooded my cheeks kept me from thinking clearly. Saїx stood in the doorway, his knuckles clutching his clipboard so tightly that they were whiter than the walls.
"Saїx, I ― I mean, we― we weren't―"
"Juliet," the second in command started, his face devoid of any expression except disillusionment, "go to your room."
"Saїx, wait―" I tried to get the words out. Nothing was worse than having him disappointed in me. I knew exactly what he thought he'd walked in on, but that wasn't it at all and I needed to make him see that.
"Now!" he thundered, his eyes flashing a bright yellow. My words died in my throat. He never, never raised his voice at me unless he was beyond angry. I felt the sting of tears, but I'd never let either of them see that. Swallowing thickly, I glared at the older man and stormed out, my hands clenched into fists. Behind me, I could hear Zexion attempting to explain, but Saїx was having none of it. I paused outside the door, hiding and waiting for him to continue.
"You are not to see her again, Number VI." My eyes flashed dangerously at that. Who did he think he was, determining who I could and couldn't see? He had no right! And we hadn't even been doing anything ― we were just friends!
A moment of silence passed. I held my breath, not knowing how he'd respond.
"Yes sir," Zexion finally assented, his voice a quiet, flat note.
I gritted my teeth and stalked off.
I woke up the next morning more pissed than I'd been a long time. I'd had the whole night to stew over what happened in the laboratory, and I did just that. No man was going to tell me what to do. Saïx would not and could not forbid me from talking to Zexion no matter what he thought he'd caught us doing.
So I planned my attack this morning. The one thing that irritated Saїx to no end was disobedience and lack of respect. He got plenty of that around here. Usually I would comply with his demands since he was my superior and I didn't have a reason not to listen to him, but I was about to show him what happened when he hacked me off.
At roughly eleven in the morning, I finally left my room and went to The Room Where Nothing Gathers. Since Saїx and I had an unspoken agreement that I would wake up at seven, be ready at eight, and start my mission at eight-thirty every day, he'd definitely be livid to find out I'd slept until nearly noon.
To add insult to injury, I propped my feet up on the table in front of me, yawned, and pulled out a fashion magazine I'd stolen from Kairi, not that she was clever enough to even notice it had gone missing.
The Luna Diviner cocked an eyebrow at me. I knew that because, well, I could feel it. He had a way of making anyone know exactly what he was doing and feeling regardless of whether or not the person was looking. In response to his heavy stare, I unconcernedly flipped the page, making it clear that I did not give a da―
"Number XIV," he growled.
Not lowering the magazine, I asked, "Hmm?" That did it. Scowling in fury, he marched over to me and ripped the publication out of my hands.
I sat up and noted, "I was reading that." That only further irritated him. He wanted a reaction out of me, a submission to his will. Not. Going. To. Happen.
Ever.
"Stand up, Number XIV." The fact that he only referred to me as my given title said enough. We were past niceties. Good.
"Why?" I shot back, wanting to arch my eyebrow but knowing I could never fully execute it properly, so it was best just to not try.
"I am your superior, and you will do as I say," he demanded, angry lines forming on his forehead. I pushed my chin into the air.
"Oh?"
His hand wrapped around my forearm and tugged me up roughly. The moment he let go of me, I smugly plopped back down on the couch and propped my feet up again.
"Why should I go on missions?" I questioned haughtily. "You make us neophytes do all the work ― do you ever go on missions? I'd like to see you pull your own weight." With that, I stood up, flipped my hair back, and announced, "I'm going swimming. Later, loser."
I portaled away faster than he could grab me.
I hope you enjoyed! Please review, and thank you for reading!
