Chapter 8: Secrets
The rattling of the heater echoed through the quiet apartment. Xion stirred in her sleep and she rolled over to her side. Her face twisted with discomfort as she move about. She rolled on her back before giving up. Her eyes slowly opened to see the white ceiling above. She let out a soft groan as she sat up and rubbed her face. Xion stretched her sleepy limbs and turned to let her legs hang over the edge.
Roxas sat across the room from her in a seemingly uncomfortable chair. He was slumped over and gently bobbed up and down with each breath he took.
"Roxas?" Xion got up. Whoa! Her legs felt numb and shook from underneath her. She held out her arms to regain balance and to catch anything if she fell over. Xion wobbled over to the sleepy blond.
His snoring became louder as Xion approached him. It was soft and gently as he slept away. It was almost endearing. Xion placed her hand on his bent back. "Roxas?" She rubbed his back.
"H-huh?" he sleepily groaned. He began to move as he woke more. "Xion?" He sat up and wiped any drool off his chin. "Good morning, Xion." He smiled sleepily.
"Why are you sleeping out here?"
Roxas straightened up and stretched his back, feeling it pop along the spine. "I wanted to make sure you slept."
Xion crossed her arms across her chest. "Roxas," she said sternly. She leaned over and smirked coyly. "If you wanted to watch me sleep, just say so."
Roxas's face grew redder than a tomatoes. "N-no! That's not it, Xion."
"Then why are you out here?"
Roxas shot up and grabbed Xion's hand. "Let's go to town and go Christmas shopping! It's just around the corner. And we can to the park to. I think the lake might be frozen over." Roxas panted after saying that in almost one breath.
Xion glared at him. "Fine, but let's get wash up first. You kinda smell like cigarettes. You weren't smoking were you. I hate smokers."
Roxas pushed Xion toward the hallway. "You're just smelling things. Now go take a bath."
"Ahh! Roxas stop pushing!"
Xion watched the timer on her phone reach the 10 minute mark as she sat around waiting for Roxas. She was growing very impatient. "What's taking him so long?" Xion pushed herself off the couch and marched straight toward Roxas's room. "How long does it take someone to shower?" She knocked against the wooden blue door.
No answer.
Xion frowned and knocked again.
No answer.
She grabbed the door knob and throw the door open out of frustration.
"Eh?" Her face grew red as she laid her eyes upon a half-naked sleeping Roxas sprawled out on his bed. She felt very squeamish at the mere sight. "Um?" She swallowed hard and entered his room. Her feet shuffled along the floor, pushing a path toward the bed as she approached him with caution.
As she grew closer, she was able to make out more on his body. Roxas was lean with muscles that made his arms and chest thick. Her eyes traveled down from his chest to his stomach. Three large scars stretched over his tight stomach. Xion ran her finger lightly over the cool scars. She felt the bump of the scars curve over his body.
"Hehe…" Roxas let out a tiny giggle as he woke up.
Xion quickly pulled her hand away and tried to hide it behind her back. "Roxas?" Her cheeks turned a bright pink.
Roxas sat up and ran his fingers through his messy bright blond hair. "Xion?" he asked in a groggy voice. "What time is it?" His mouth stretched out as he let out a huge yawn. Xion took the time to notice that his lip piercings were gone.
She fumbled around with her phone. "I-it's 10:11."
Roxas stretched. Xion stared at his muscles. "Go wait out in the living room. I'll be out in 10 minutes."
Xion quickly turned around and went out into the hallway, shutting the door behind her. Her cheeks burned. I see why the girls go after him. She sighed sadly. I bet he can get any girl he wants. Xion continued down the hallway, lost in her thoughts. I wonder how many girls he had visit him in his bed. She shook her head. "Stop it, Xion," she told herself. "There's no reason to get all caught up in this." She stopped at the end of the hallways. She hesitated for a moment. Xion inhaled deeply and continued walking to the living room.
A few minutes later, Roxas entered the living room wearing red snow boots, dark grey skinny jeans, and a red sweater. He took out all his piercings and skipped the eyeliner. He looked a bit different.
"You ready?" he asked.
Xion wrapped her red scarf around her neck and buttoned up her dress like trench coat. "Yeah."
"You wanna take the wheelchair?"
Xion shook her head. Her black locks falling into her face. "I can walk. If I need to stop, I'll let you know."
"Okay, Xion." Roxas held open the door for her.
A powdery white blanket covered the entire world. Snow crunched underneath Xion's boots as she went down the steps. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. It was only sound for miles.
"Let's get some hot chocolate first," Roxas suggested, "then we can go see the lake." He rushed down the steps passed Xion. Roxas leapt off the last fifth step and flew through air before landing cooly in the snow. He spun around to face Xion, who was still at the top of the stairs. "And maybe we can go Christmas shopping, if you're willing to walk all the way to the mall."
"Hot chocolate and the lake sound nice," she said, carefully hopping down the steps. " I don't feel like being in an uncomfortably crowded mall."
"Let's go see the gang," Roxas jerked his head, motioning Xion to follow him. The sound of their synched foot steps echoed in the silent world.
"Welcomed!" Kairi instinctively chirped as she heard the bell chime on the door.
"Yo, Kairi!" Roxas shouted into the small café. He stamped his feet against the matt in front of the door, knocking off the dirty snow that stuck to his boots. "I need two hot chocolates."
Kairi smirked at Roxas and turned around to grab a cup before quickly looking back up. A surprised smile came about her face. "Well, well, well… who's this?"
Xion a wave of embarrassment crash over her. "N-no! It's isn't what-" She stumbled over her words.
Kairi let out a whole-heartedly laugh. "I'm just playing around. I know someone like you wouldn't go for a guy like Roxas."
Roxas folded his arms behind his head and leaned a little to the right. "Hey, am I no different from Sora?"
Kairi raised her brow. "Sora doesn't go out and mess with girls' hearts," she defended her fiancé. She grabbed a large cup and filled it to the brim with steamy hot chocolate. She set down the bubbling drink on the counter and went back to grab a small cup, repeating the process.
Xion watched as Kairi activated the machine with the press of a button. The machine whirled and spurted out a hot stream of chocolate. She continued to watch as Kairi released her thumb from the machine and spun around, gently placing the warm cup next to Roxas's.
"That'll be $3.57," Kairi demanded, slamming her palm on the counter.
Roxas blankly stared at Kairi's stern face. Xion slipped her fingers into her coat pocket, looking for loose change.
Kairi's stern frown began to twitch before she erupted into a fit of laughter. "I'll put it on your tab," she said, tossing two lids at them. "Now have fun you two." She gave a little wink to Xion.
Roxas popped the lids on their cups and headed out the door with Xion. The sounds of the bell chime followed behind them. Tiny flakes of snow begun falling from the dark clouds overhead. Roxas pulled his hood over his head, his bangs pushed down and covered his eyes.
Xion absorbed the warmth of the styrofoam cup into her freezing cold hands. She sighed. A tiny white cloud formed in front of her. I wish I had gloves. She brought the cup up to her freezing lips and deeply inhaled the scent melted chocolate.
"Ouch!" Roxas stuck out his tongue as he panted. A heavy white cloud formed in front of his mouth. "I bwurnt maw tongue."
"Good luck tasting rubber for a month." Xion slowly sipped on her drink. She was careful not let the hot liquid touch her tongue. She savored the after taste after it went down her throat, warming it as it flowed down.
They continued walking down the empty street, drinking their hot chocolate and laughing when one of them burnt their tongues.
"It's just up ahead." Roxas lead Xion underneath a banner. "Have you ever been to this park?"
Xion shook her head. "I only take the street up to the school."
Roxas laughed at her. "You're lame. I used to go to this park all the time." Roxas looked around the snow-covered park. There was a large trail that split up at two parts. One way lead to the picnic area and the other lead to the lake. Roxas slowly walked ahead of Xion. "Usually the park is crowded with couples around this time."
There were a handful of families and couples wandering around the park. Two kids ran passed Roxas, both screaming and laughing. He stopped a few feet ahead of Xion.
"I want to take my kids here someday."
Xion walked up to Roxas to join him by his side. "You want kids?"
Roxas shrugged. "Who doesn't?"
Xion halfway raised her hand up. "I never really envisioned myself having kids. I think they would grow up to hate me."
Roxas remained silent. For awhile, he grew up hating his parents. Crying and throwing tantrums after they died. Every night he would scream how he hated them for leaving so suddenly. I wonder if Xion felt the same way about the parents she never met.
"Let's go see the lake," Xion broke the silence.
"You'll love the lake this time of year," he said. "The ice is clear and shines beautifully like a crystal, even on the darkest days."
Xion's eyes widen with amazement. "Wow. That sounds gorgeous."
"Unfortunately since the ice is too frail, they set up blockades to prevent anyone from going on it, so we have to look at it from a distance."
Xion grabbed Roxas's sleeve and skipped forward. "It still sounds beautiful."
Roxas gave into the tug of his sleeve and followed Xion. He watched Xion bounce around in front of him as she hurried toward the lake. "Slow down, Xion! You might slip on the snow," he cautioned her.
She was too busy having fun to listen as the lake became visible in the distance. "I can see it! It looks so beautiful!" The lake glistened brilliantly. She slowly to an eventual stop, soaking up the entire view of the frozen lake. "That's so cool. The snowflakes look like sparkling glittering on the ice."
Roxas laughed at Xion's childlike innocence. "You should see it during the summer time. It's crystal clear."
Xion's eyes sparkled with amazement. "Really?"
Roxas nodded. "Yeah. One time my ex-girlfriend dared me to go skinny dipping here in the middle of the night."
Xion's cheeks became flushed as she frowned. "I didn't really need to know that."
Roxas placed his hand on top of Xion's head and ruffled her hair. "You try it some time with me," he joked.
"That's… really unpleasant sounding."
Roxas felt a sudden chill run up his spine. He felt a cloud of panic swallow him up.
"There are some really weird people dressed in heavy black coats coming by," Xion pointed out.
Roxas looked around him. These cloaked figures were spread out in the crowd of people. They all focused their attention on him. They discreetly grew closer and closer as people passed by. He panicked.
"Xion…" He reached out and grabbed at her hand. His large hand swallowed up hers. "Xion, run!"
Before Xion could register what was happening, Roxas took off, dragging her behind him. "Roxas! What's going on?!" She took large leaps to match his strides as they ran up the trail.
Three of the hooded figures stepped out 10 feet in front of them. Roxas slid on the icy ground as he tried to stop, The small girl collided behind him. Roxas panted heavily. His eyes flicked around as he tried to find a way to escape. The hooded figures drew in close. Roxas spotted the lake.
"This way!" Roxas ran toward the blockade.
"Where are we going, Roxas?" Xion struggled to keep up with him.
Roxas braced himself and broke through the tape that guarded the edge of the lake. He continued running forward with Xion trailing behind him.
One of the hooded figures stopped the others from following the two on to the lake. He gave a slight nod, exchanging silent words. The others watched as Roxas and Xion gained distanced between them before dispersing. The main hooded figure started after the two.
Roxas ran carefully on the tips of his feet, making sure that he didn't slip on the smooth ice. "They all can't follow us this way," he said between breaths.
"Who are those people?" Xion asked. Her lungs burned in her chest as they reached half way on the lake.
"They're very bad people," Roxas answered vaguely.
"Roxas, you need to tell me who those people are!" she screamed at him. She felt light-headed.
Roxas ignored her. He looked back to see one of them in pursuit of them. He appeared to glide across the ice. He pushed himself and picked up speed.
"Roxas!" Xion shouted. They were nearing the edge of the lake. "Roxas! I can't keep up!" Xion released Roxas's hand as she felt her legs give out from underneath her. Her body collided against the ice, knocking the air out of her as she slid along.
Roxas slid to a halt. He quickly spun around and booked his way back to Xion. "Xion!" He slid on his knees and wrapped his arms around her small body.
The hooded figure gained up on them. He was a mere 15 feet behind.
"Come on, Xion," he begged.
Xion pushed herself up. Her arms violently shook underneath her. "Just leave me, Roxas," she pleaded.
"I can't, Xion." Roxas began to panic again. He had to find a way to buy some time. Think, Roxas. Think! His mind drew a blank as he searched for options. HURGH! He slammed his fist again the ice out of frustration. A tiny crack appeared from the force. A light went off in Roxas's head. That's it!
Here, keep this switch blade just in case. You may never know when you need it.
Roxas reached out in his back pocket and pulled out a metallic rectangle. With the flick of his wrist, a long skinny blade switched out. He slowly raised his self in a half crouched position. His eyes locked onto the hooded figure in front of them.
"You're going to fight him?!" Xion's eyes widened at the sight of the stealthy weapon.
Roxas shook his head. "I have a better plan."
He raised the switch blade up above his head. He took a deep breath and began to count to three.
One.
Two.
He exhaled.
Three!
Roxas plunged the modern dagger into the thin ice. He jerked it violently back and forth, sinking it deeper. He shot up and raised his leg up. He kicked the hilt of the switch blade with his heel, sending it further in. With each movement, the ice began to crack. Large cracks began shooting forward toward the hooded man. The ice groaned from the intense pressure.
Roxas gave one final kick before the handle broke off the blade. Dammit! I hope that's enough to give us time. Roxas spun around and scooped up Xion in his arms.
The ice cracked under the weight of the hooded man. He slowed to a stop to prevent the ice from cracking any further. He looked on ahead as the two escaped.
Roxas jumped into the snow that lie at the other bank. He continued running forward until he reached a busy street that was up ahead. A car quickly pulled up near the two.
Axel popped out of the driver's side window. "Get in!"
Roxas swung open the door and threw Xion and himself in as Axel speed off into traffic, swerving around cars and receiving angry honks as he cute in front of people dangerously close.
"Are you alright, Xion?" Roxas asked worriedly. He checked for any scrapes or bruises on her.
Xion slapped Roxas clean across the face. "You have a lot of explaining to do!"