Chapter 3

--

The next day, Lola sat on the edge of the bed Lucrecia still lay in sleeping peacefully. "Wake up Sleeping Beauty," She joked and shook Lucrecia's leg. Lucrecia sat bolt up right.

"Huh? What?" She cried. Lola laughed and Lucrecia gave out a sigh of relief. "Geez, Lola, give me a heart attack why don't ya?" Lucrecia said kicking off her covers and pushing her hair back.

"I let you sleep late enough. Breakfast is getting cold," Lola replied heading out the door.

"Oh, thank you!" Lucrecia called out and Lola waved in return. Lucrecia was lucky she had Lola, she was really nice and reminded her of her own mother. Of course the last time she saw her mother was way too long to remember that much. The blood on her clothes has faded now and you couldn't really tell it was there. She still noticed for the first time how baggy her clothes were, like a boy's. "I wonder what changed my mind, I've been wearing this almost my whole life," She murmured to herself. She walked into the kitchen and ate a good breakfast while chatting happily with Lola.

--

Meanwhile, Nikko walked across the roofs of buildings toward Lola's house. He had spent the night once again under the stars last night. Instead of thinking about what he usually thinks about, like his spells and powers and his situation, not to mention vague memories of the past, he thought of Lucrecia. Not that he wanted too, but he couldn't help it. She seemed to have literally "stumbled" upon his life. Lola also has seemed to take a liking to her, Nikko had thought somewhat in envy. Not that he even still hung around Lola's house, he just visits her daily in the Cafe. He headed there now, jumping down from the last roof and walking in casually into the house. He noticed they were having breakfast, and had stopped abruptly talking once he came in. The pang of being different rang through Nikko again. He wished he could eat breakfast too. He sat down on one end of the table.

"Good day," He mumbled.

"Look who finally dropped by," Lola said sarcastically. Nikko gave her a quick glare. But then her eyes told him everything he needed to know. He had to apologize.

"Um...look," He said turning to Lucrecia, "Sorry I snapped at you. Friends?" He wondered, extending his hand for the second time at her.

"That's ok. Apology accepted," Lucrecia replied and shook his hand quickly, then pulling it back to finish eating. She looked down at her toast and wished someone would speak. She didn't know why, but she was a little scared of Nikko.

"So this being official, Nikko, why don't you show Lucrecia around?" Lola suggested, giving him a motherly look Lucrecia knew meant "...Or else."

Lucrecia couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you hungry? Or did you eat breakfast elsewhere?"

"Elsewhere," Nikko lied stiffly. Lola cleared her throat. "We should go then, since Lola is SO busy with the Café and all," Nikko replied to Lola's action. He got up and headed out.

"I should help-," Lucrecia started and picked up her plate, but Lola shook her head.

--

Before Nikko disappeared completely, Lucrecia had nodded to Lola and rushed off next to him. Once outside, she said, "Boy, you walk fast. How come you don't like Lola?"

"I never said I didn't like her," He replied, not even looking back at Lucrecia.

"Is she your mom?" Lucrecia asked.

"No."

"Where are your parents?"

"What is this, 20 questions?" Nikko growled and Lucrecia immediately hushed up. Nikko sighed, calming down. He didn't want to end up snapping at her again. Instead, he showed her the different shops and buildings around Traverse Town.

"That's the accessory shop, there the item shop, and then the rest are some houses," Nikko explained pointing out some buildings. He climbed some steps, and showed Lucrecia the Second District, then the Third.

"It's all wonderful. Could you show me more?" Lucrecia asked. She then hushed up. "Sorry. I didn't mean to ask," She mumbled. Nikko looked at her oddly.

"It's alright to talk to me you know, I'm not that much of a freak," He said.

"I don't think you're a freak," Lucrecia replied trying to be polite and nice.

"Then you obviously don't know much about me," He said looking back at her for the first time since they've started walking together.

"Oh." Lucrecia wanted to know more. He was the only other person her age around here, and he knew more about this place than she did. He could at least contribute a little. Suddenly he started climbing up a building, and sat on the roof.

Bewildered, Lucrecia shouted out, "What the heck are you doing?"

Nikko didn't answer. Frustrated, Lucrecia tried climbing up the same way he did. "Help?" She called out sarcastically. Nikko sighed and grabbed her hand. He pulled her up on the roof. "Happy? Now why are you still following me?" Nikko asked in a bored voice.

"Aren't I supposed to? Lola said-"

"Who cares what Lola said," Nikko cut her off. Lucrecia had enough and glared at him.

"If you don't want me here, then just say so!" She snapped at him.

"Fine. I don't want you here," He declared and stretched out on the roof. Lucrecia groaned and Nikko just looked up into the sky, listening as Lucrecia struggled to get back on ground. Nikko sighed and was bored again. If he was normal-- acted, felt, and was, normal-- he would probably be having a nice chat with Lucrecia about now, eating a picnic. Or having a dinner date at the Cafe. And he'd eat as much food as he could. Then they'd take a moonlit walk and decide that since the Heartless took both of their worlds, they would get revenge on them. Nikko would show her everything he knew, and then Lola would win the lottery and they would be able to own their own house and visit Lola on the weekends. Then the Heartless would attack but Nikko and Lucrecia were ready, and they would have victory over them. Now being the town heroes, they had as much money as they would ever need and would bring all their friends including Lola, who qualified as family, to their own private island.

Nikko suddenly sat up right, sweating. He just had a dream. He had been sleeping. The sensation of having dreams and sleeping had been forgotten to him, he just wasn't used to it anymore. Now it just felt weird. He shook his head and remembered about Lucrecia. Which lead him to remember the dream.

"Ew," He simply muttered and jumped down to the ground.

--

Over the next few weeks, Lucrecia spent most of her time helping out Lola with the Cafe. Being a waitress, she got to meet lots of travelers who told her excruciating stories of where they came from, and the worlds they've been too. Lucrecia admired listening to stories. Lola soon found that out, and just chuckled as Lucrecia found herself sitting across a guest telling a story, eyes sparkling and wide.

Like Nikko, Lucrecia got familiar with the locals as well as the guests. As for Nikko, he only came back around later in the day...some days he didn't come back at all. Worried, though she didn't know why, Lucrecia asked Lola about this.

"Oh, boys I guess. He's close friends with Leon and Cid, and I suppose they are now letting him go fight off Heartless in some nearby worlds around here," Lola explained. Lucrecia's eyes widened.

"Really? Oh, how many stories I've heard, and how much I hope to one day go explore other worlds too!" Lucrecia piped up. Not only would it be a great adventure...but something bigger and more important was at stake. What of her friend? Lola laughed but Lucrecia narrowed her eyes at her teasingly. "It's true! In fact, I'll ask Nikko myself..." She started to say and trailed off. But then of course, she thought, how the heck am I going to do that? She and Nikko weren't very close, not to mention considering their speaking terms which wouldn't even be speaking terms really, more like barely any speaking terms.

"Oh really? Find him first, then we'll talk," Lola replied sarcastically. Lucrecia turned red. "He's just a stupid boy, how hard can it be?" Lucrecia challenged.

"Boy, yes. Stupid, no. And yes, it CAN be hard," Lola replied placing her hand at her hip. "I haven't seen him in days!"

"Yeah, well...He obviously cares over you, he should come back to check in-"

"Check in! Ha, yes, as if every teenage boy who has the freedom to go anywhere he wants will take one minute of his time to CHECK IN," Lola interrupted. Lucrecia couldn't help but laugh at Lola's annoyance with Nikko's behavior. She was almost never angry, and Lucrecia has never seen her be once. "If he wants to get himself devoured by Heartless instead of staying home safe and sound, that's fine with me!" Lola said throwing her hands up.

Lucrecia laughed once more and simply replied, "Good-night Lola."

--

"Holy cow! Did you see that one time when I was like this-," Nikko swished his blade around, "-then like that and I totally got ALL OF THEM!" He cried. Cid gave out a hearty laugh and Leon shook his head.

"Next time, no caffeine for you before ANY trips," Leon said. Nikko shoved him playfully and replaced his keyblade all cool like.

"Well, I guess if you're implying that there will be more trips, and for me not to drink coffee the next time, then it's obvious you want me to go with you guys all the time, huh?" Nikko said, in a cocky manner.

"Why not?" Cid replied, nodding his head over to Leon who just stared at him and didn't nod back.

Nikko hissed a "Yes!" and jumped up. He's never been quite so happy. "Better get used to me Leon."

Leon and Cid took Heartless Exterminating trips sometimes. They also went to take a break from Traverse Town and visit other worlds. The only worlds Nikko has been to was of course, Traverse Town, and the Coliseum. This time they went to a thick, dense jungle like world and Nikko met some of Cid's and Leon's friends. Also, not to mention the fact that some Heartless tried ambushing them one time, and Nikko had the honored pleasure of wiping them all out. It had been quite a while since he had some real live training equipment to use all his spells and powers. He especially loved hiding in the dark, and using his night vision, he would pounce and surprise Heartless and wipe them out as fast as he could. He liked doing all kinds of things with them, from wiping them out clear with his blade, or blowing them up with spells. He did sometimes overdo it, or got ahead of himself, but Cid and Leon were nearby when his ego went way too far.

Now the trip has ended, and Cid and Leon went off to their own houses for some much needed sleep. Never needing to eat or sleep, Nikko was perfectly fine and was sad and mad the trip ended. Though, he was looking forward to telling Lola all about it. Heck, maybe even Lucrecia could use a great story after spending all her time since she's gotten here stuck in Traverse Town.
Nikko strolled to the Cafe and saw Lola through the window. "Miss me much?" He said walking inside.

"Nikko!" Lola cried and almost let fall some coffee cups she was washing. She ran over to him and gave him one of those hard, suffocating mom hugs.

Nikko squirmed his way out and said, "I had SO much fun, you won't believe what hap-" But Lola shook her head. Nikko stopped and asked, "What?"

"Tell me tomorrow! You must be exhausted-" She said but cut her own self off. Nikko felt a little sorry for her. Of course, he sometimes almost forgot too...

"Um, yeah, exhausted? Yes! Man, I can't wait to get to bed!" He said a little more enthusiastically then he meant. Lola looked at him with a humble look.

"You sure?" She asked softly.

"Yes! Geez," Nikko replied annoyed.

"Ok, ok but I think Lucrecia might be in your room, so...," Lola started.

"...So she'll sleep somewhere else," Nikko finished.

"No! You can sleep on the floor. I have an extra mattress," Lola said.

"What?!" Nikko yelped but let it go. "Fine," He mumbled at Lola's look. They walked over to Nikko's former room where Lucrecia was getting ready for bed inside. Lola knocked.

"Lucrecia honey?" She called.

"Yes?" Lucrecia answered putting on her pajamas. They were an old pair from Lola that were too small for her, so she lend them to Lucrecia so then Lucrecia wouldn't have to sleep in her dirty clothes every night.

"This may sound awkward," Lola started watching Nikko tap his foot next to her, "But is it ok if I set up a mattress in there so Nikko can sleep also-?"

"What?!" Lucrecia couldn't help but cry out loud. She tripped while putting on the pajama pants and fell to the floor with a thud. "Ow," She said rubbing her bottom.

"Yeah I know, but he's just come back from a trip and-" Lola continued but Nikko cut her off. "Yes or no?" He asked impatiently.

"Y-Y-Yeah I guess, I don't-" Lucrecia was saying but as soon as she spoke Nikko kicked the door open and threw the mattress onto a corner. Lola re-appeared with some blankets.

"Well, you two don't fight or anything. Just leave each other with their own space I guess," Lola said, not really knowing what to say to this situation.

"Yeah, thanks," Nikko muttered. While he was arranging the blankets to have something to do, Lola came up to him and pushed the hair back from his forehead, kissing it. While doing the same to Lucrecia he ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head out, getting his hair all messed up, how he liked it.

"'Night," Lola said walking out. Lucrecia echoed it back and Nikko just climbed in to his mattress/blanket prison trying to think of how he should "pretend" to sleep.

Lucrecia still found herself standing in the middle of the room, so she blew out most of the candles and let only one stay alight. She climbed into bed and tried to get comfortable, but it was hard to sleep with a seventeen year old boy laying only five feet away.

Meanwhile, five feet away, Nikko rolled in his blankets until they covered and trapped him completely, disabling himself from moving. If he had too, he'd force himself to sleep. He's done it before, why was it so hard? Just as his eyes were dropping (or more like, he was forcing them too) he heard something like a whisper.

Lucrecia had been just laying there, eyes wide open, her ears picking up any sound Nikko made. But then she thought, this is ridiculous, so she closed her eyes. But it was still hard. Having only one last option, she decided to softly sing her favorite song. As she sang she felt herself get tired, and her eyes ready for sleep. Just to get the feel of it more, she sang a little louder. Suddenly she remembered Nikko was only five feet away, probably listening to all this and thinking, "Ha, she's singing herself to sleep, what a weirdo." So she stopped.

Then a voice piped up, "Don't stop."

"Huh?" Lucrecia got out of the heat from the covers and went to the edge of the bed where she saw a dark heap that must have been Nikko. "Why are you all tangled up like that?" She asked.

"Oh." Nikko went red and de-tangled himself. "I was...forcing myself to sleep," He replied in the dark. Lucrecia crossed her fingers super hard and hoped he wouldn't get mad, because she laughed. Then Nikko laughed too, and Lucrecia felt a load lift, seeing as how she knew he wasn't going to yell at her. "Sorry, you probably think I'm a stupid freak," He said and turned around on his other side, facing the wall.

"Stop saying that. You're just like everyone else," Lucrecia replied.

Yeah, right, Nikko thought.

"We...all have our different traits, right?" Lucrecia asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Nikko mumbled. He could tell she just felt sorry for him. At least she was being nice about it.

"Anyways...'Night," Lucrecia said, realizing that the moment was over.

As she got under the covers Nikko asked, "Can...you keep singing? It just...kinda helped me sleep," He said. It was the truth too. He actually felt drowsy, which to him was like, terrific. He could sleep! And he knew he sounded stupid, thinking like that, but he didn't care. So he pushed away every embarrassing warning voices away, and asked Lucrecia as nicely as he could for her to resume. Lucrecia beamed a tired smile to herself.

"Sure," She replied. And she continued to sing until they both fell asleep.