Theme: red wings
Characters: Even/Vexen, Ansem, Shera, Cid, Squall/Leon, Cloud, Zack

I'm in a good mood. A really good mood.

Also, Damion is forgiven.

Hey guys, you'll probably be wondering about the change in my Pen-Name (if you weren't, too late); the details are in my profile, so do check it out.

This is a short one, perhaps a prequel to the previous chapter: it's yet another flashback scenario that will present itself in When Keyblades Rust, which - believe it or not - in its final stages of storyboarding before I get it up here. And I feel good about that; I have been waiting for this moment for two years.

"You know, Master Ansem," Even quipped. "This is getting frequent."

"Hmm?" was all the wise leader answered in his moment of distraction.

"Anyone can pick up strays; you, sir, somehow get all the strange ones. As pots calling kettles black, we would know."

The man held up a test tube to the light, eying the sample within critically.

There was an almost inaudible rustle of sheets, and Ansem once again brought his attention to the small form on the gurney that was just stirring. As he ran a hand through the head of brown hair, the child's eyes cracked open, and the boy stared glassily out at him through those half-lidded eyes.

Ansem smiled as the child tried to focus on him. "Hello, little one."

"He's still heavily sedated, sir," Even interjected, replacing the test-tube in its holder as he scribbled down information. "We could be talking about the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker, and he wouldn't comprehend a word."

Ansem lifted the blanket slightly and inspected the unresponsive boy's back with solemnity. "...have you found out what caused the injuries?"

"It's not an animal, if that was what you meant," Even replied. "And - as Aeleus confirmed - it's not a conventional weapon either. Too precise, too symmetrical, too deep, too clean."

The boy shivered, and Ansem gently replaced the blanket. "So what you're saying..."

"General Sephiroth's verdict was right." The pen cap snapped back into place as Even spoke. "It was caused by magic, time-based magic at that - whoever made that mark had to be a highly-skilled mage of sorts."

"I was afraid of that," Ansem mused quietly, once again patting the small head as the boy's eyes continued to stare glassily around. "Any effects on his physiology, though?"

"None, whatsoever. Every test we did confirms he is still just a normal, healthy three-year-old...as normal and healthy as a three-year-old can be with a badly torn back, anyway. Still, no direct damage to the spinal cord, and it's already healing, so he'll be fine in a couple of weeks. Scars though, we can't do anything about."

Ansem turned away for a moment, and ran a hand over the articles that had been laid there, away from the sterility of the rest of the room. One was a black bomber jacket, meant for one much older than the child beside him. A dark brown crust had formed where the wounds had bled through, forming a crude shape likened to a pair of wings. The other was blue-dye leather bound book, and when he turned the cover, he found a name written there in bold letters.

"... Squall Leonhart, huh?" and closing the book again, he looked down fondly at the child who had succumbed to sleep once more.

My little red-winged lion...

"You must be Squall."

The boy paused, as though to think, and then nodded solemnly. The lady before him smiled reassuringly at him as she tapped his nose.

"I cannot thank you enough, Shera. You and Cid."

"We're glad to help - Cid may not say it, but he misses having children around the place," the lady replied. The boy raised his arms imploringly despite the still deadpan expression on his face, and she picked him up. "So long as Cid doesn't teach him to swear like a sailor, I think we'll be fine."

"If there is anything you need..."

"I'll be sure to ask; after all, it's only for two weeks before he comes back here. With all your research and a child to care for, it's a wonder how you will manage."

From the troubled look on his face, she knew he was wondering that himself.

"I'm sure we could arrange to take him longer-"

"No, it's fine," Ansem assured. Rising to his feet, he came beside her, and reached up to smooth back the brown strands.

Shera seemed to understand, and added as an afterthought, "Good luck convincing your advisers."

"Thank you, again."

"...and whatever you do, don't touch that. Got it?"

The boy nodded silently, focused on the insides of the exposed airship engine that Cid was showing him. It was his third day here, and already the retired pilot was taking him through his workshop, if only to make sure that nothing got damaged if he ever looked away.

With a grunt, Cid discarded the limp piece of straw he had been chewing for the past hour - all his conscience refused to let him smoke with this kid in the room, and that was the only other alternative he had. Replacing the straw with a fresh piece, he cast a glance at the clock on the wall.
"The kid's gonna be here soon...right, then. Don't move, and don't touch anything."

As pots clanked and cluttered in the next room, Squall turned as the main door swung open. Stepping through was an older boy with dark spikes of hair and a grin on his face. And in that boy's arms was a younger boy with a tuft of blond on his head.

"Mr. Cid, are you there?"

"That you, Zack? Sit your rear end down, and I'll get that tea for y'," Cid called from the next room. In a moment, more pots were clanking.

Turning, Zack spotted Squall staring openly at him. His grin widening he strode up and leaned down so he was a few bare inches from the other kid's face.
"He-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-ey! Who're you?"

"That's Squall," Cid called again. "And don't make him touch anything...!"

"Squall, huh? I'm Zack, and this here is Cloud."

The boy blinked as the smaller child was held up before him. Huge blue eyes bore into steel gray ones as the child cocked his head up at him. And then a chubby finger reached out and poked Squall in the left eye, promptly earning a response.

"Hey!"

Cid, finally stepping back out, dropped his straw again in a moment of surprise, staring straight at Squall.
"...well, I'll be a monkey's uncle, so you can talk!" he exclaimed.

Squall's only response was to rub at his eye and glare back at the innocent-looking child that now smiled at him. Zack seemed to enjoy the turn of events as well, as he reached over and mussed the head of brown hair.

"Hey, Mr. Cid! Can me and Cloud borrow him?" he suddenly turned to ask, earning a shrug from the man.

"If it gets all of you outta here, go ahead!"

Two weeks. Fourteen days and thirteen nights.

There was no logical explanation for why any discussion should take this long. They weren't even discussing the passing of a new law - just every last implication of having a possibly off-world child stay in the castle.

The only one that had been of any help was King Mickey - who had come all the way from his own kingdom in a show of support - and even then the debate dragged on. It was only at last - when he finally reached the end of his nerve - that they brought the talks to a halt and agreed with his decision. And at last, on this thirteenth night, they all retired.

Now, alone in his study, Ansem turned and laid a hand on the book he had left on his desk all this time. The jacket could not be salvaged, in its state of ruin, but this book was still intact. It was all the boy had left, perhaps his last remaining clue of his origins.

Pulling open a drawer, Ansem slid it inside. There would be a time for it. Someday.

Stellar Eclipse: I think I looked at that deviant around eight or nine times myself, just to get that bit with Squall and Cloud right. XD
I'm glad that you liked it.

Shadow Cat17: Er...heh...pretty much. Can't give away a lot, else WKR will be at stake; sorry about that. I'm not sure if I'll continue to address this matter in the following drabbles, but it will be touched upon in the actual story. Please be patient with me - I promise I'll get it up quick!

Niana Kuonji: Ah, yes, Ansem and the Can of Worms. For someone who is called "the Wise", he's in trouble. XD
Good luck with both Kingdom Hearts I and II! And again, I credit the picture from proximity-nine's gallery for inspiring that moment - otherwise, I'm pretty sure I would not have thought about it.