Please read! This is the one time reading author's notes would be great. The reason this chapter took so long is because I'm having doubts about continuing this story. I don't think it's good enough, and I'm worried I may be dragging it out. If I do continue this story, there will be a skip to the next day for sure (it's a shame to have a day drag out four or five chapters. XD). But I'm doubtful if I should continue, any thoughts from my viewer audience? Should I continue, revamp, or just give up and start something else? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, so please drop me a line via review or pm. Thanks, and I look forward to hearing what you all think. This chapter dissapoints me, but I hope you all don't feel the same!
Sora, while he could be considered (and was often called) more than a bit naive, knew very well what he was doing to Riku.
Well, kind of. He didn't know what this 'lick' concept was all about, but it was quite interesting. The act of attacking someone with your tongue, while unsanitary, was actually pretty fun. Riku got so flustered and, though Sora knew it was mean, it was kind of cute to see him like that.
Unfortunately, Riku didn't approve. The silverette had sat safely away from the line of fire, and his chair was all the way in the corner of where the kitchen table and wall met in the kitchen.
An impenetrable fortress.
Until Sora realized you could crawl under the table. Then, well…it would be cakewalk from then on out. Kind of. He just had to wait for the opportune moment…
Roxas was speaking that English. He didn't know a whole bunch, but he knew quite a lot already thanks to Riku's teaching…and he knew something called French (which Riku didn't seem too thrilled about…). Unfortunately, he didn't catch much of what Roxas was saying, as he was speaking way too fast. He did catch the serious air of the conversation, but that wasn't quite enough to sate Sora's interest. There weren't any super strong emotions yet, apart from the occasional shock and a small hint of…anger, was it? He wanted to know what was going on, too!
The winged boy pouted, tapping his fingers on the cold, hard floor. It reminded him of the time when he stayed with Roxas (Which may as well had been his whole life), and Roxas' parents would talk amongst themselves in hushed voices, speaking words that Sora's young brain had yet to learn. Roxas and Sora hadn't had the chance to talk properly yet, had they…
Riku's head hit the table suddenly, startling Sora. But then Sora realized that it was his chance to 'strike', and he quickly squeezed himself between the chairs and over to Riku's side of the table. He laid his arms on Riku's legs, and he heard the silverette yelp in surprise before he looked down. Sora grinned up at him.
"Ca va?"
Riku's head hit the table again, but not before Sora noticed a tint of red covering Riku's cheeks. Why would Riku be red? Was he sick? Sora, despite how cramped his wings felt under the table (They twitched restlessly as if to prove a point.), nudged Riku's chest with his head, frowning.
"Riku, what the hell have you been teaching Sora? He better not be doing what I think he is--!" Sora raised an eyebrow, looking over and seeing Roxas' bewildered expression as the other boy peeked beneath the table.
"Bonjour, Roxas!" Then Sora paused. No…what was it Riku had said for the English? Oh, now Sora remembered. "H-he…llo?" Sora struggled. Did he say that right? He felt a hand on his head, and looked up to Riku. Riku smiled down at him. "Good job, Sora." So he did say it correctly. Sora grinned, leaning back into Riku's hand. This person…his touch had a strange effect on Sora. It calmed him and excited him all at once.
"You people have no shame! Sora, I'll forgive, but Riku…!" Roxas' voice startled Sora from his inner thoughts. Riku began trying to sputter a reply.
"Just…ugh, nevermind that." Roxas feigned his disgusted look, but smirked soon after. "Sora," He directed this to the brunette, who perked up in reply.
"Yes, Roxas?"
"You'll get to meet Axel today." At this, Sora grinned. He clapped his hands together excitedly. "Oh, really! He's so cool! His hair is very fun," Sora giggled. Then he paused. "Roxas, when will I be able to speak with you? I mean, just to catch up?" Apparently, he hadn't been the only one wondering about it. "I've been wanting to speak to you, too. We should go somewhere soon. When it's safer. Riku and Roxas can stay behind, while we hang out." Sora had no objections, and gave his own happy sound of approval.
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Two days had passed since their plan. Axel and Roxas were most likely in position, and it was time for their departure. This was it…this was the moment. There'd be no turning back after this. "Demyx, pacing back and forth will get you nowhere."
The faux-hawked male paused in his steps. He hadn't even realized he was pacing.
"Zexion...I'm nervous. No...scared. Do you really think they'll help us?" Demyx was beginning to have second thoughts about everything. What if they still didn't trust them, and what if Roxas and Axel were secretly planning to kill Demyx and Zexion when they got there? What if their superior already knew their plans, and had an intercepting team out for them? What if—
"You're hyperventilating," a pair of lithe, surprisingly strong arms wrapped around Demyx's waist, and he felt the icy haired man against his back. "Relax."
And Demyx did. Only for a moment, though, before Zexion looked over at the clock on the wall and sighed. "It's time."
Demyx nodded. The yellow eyed man summoned a portal, taking Demyx's hand before they both stepped through.
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"Where are they...?" Axel sighed, kicking up dirt from in front of the park bench.
"They'll be here soon." Roxas reassured, placing his hand over his lover's. "Just be patient and—"
"No, Sora! Don't eat that!"
The shout had come from the playground next to the bench, and thank goodness they were deeper in the large woodland park, or the children would have thought Sora odd for trying to eat the mulch under the swings.
Roxas sighed, but couldn't keep a smile off of his face.
"So he's related to you?" Axel asked, lacing his fingers with the blonde's.
Roxas had to think about that question. "Not...not exactly. We like to think that we're...I dunno, brothers I guess. Sometimes, though...sometimes it really feels like we're related. He really didn't have a family, so my family took him in. And that's how it happened."
"So the kid doesn't have a family?"
Roxas laughed, seeing as how Axel was the kid compared to Sora. "No one...no one knows what happened to his real mother and father. Some say that they ran off. Truth is, he never did have one. He was made...y'know, like most of the higher ranked angels."
"So he's an angel?"
"Not exactly. It's complicated." And indeed it was complicated. Roxas' eyes darkened with his thoughts; it wasn't the most pleasant situation to think of. Axel must have sensed this, because he slung his arm around Roxas' shoulders.
"Don't sweat it. I've had a rough past, too."
Roxas laughed at that, but it wasn't as happy as he'd have liked it to be. "I know. We both have, haven't we?"
"Why so glum, chums?" Riku interrupted. He didn't sound terribly enthusiastic either, holding an excited Sora's hand.
"Roxas! Did you know? They...they put wood under stuff to keep kids from getting hurt! Riku told me...but don't you think that's...I don't know, not smart? Humans are much less advanced than I thought..."
"Hey!" Axel pouted at this. Roxas had nearly forgotten; he'd taught Axel just a teeny bit of Angel speak. Apparently, it was enough. Roxas laughed again, this time more real.
"He knows what you're saying. Some, at least."
"Oh! So he knows about...?"
"No. Not much. I taught him some, though...the kid thinks he knows everything I say now."
Now that, Roxas was sure Axel hadn't caught. But the redhead had insisted on acting as though he knew. He crossed his arms with a huff. Riku and Roxas exploded into laughter at Axel's childishness, and Sora only gave them curious blinks. He must have sensed the redhead's inner turmoil, and padded over to begin petting Axel on the head.
"At least someone's on my side."
"He's not the only one now."
All four of them gasped, whipping around to look to the strangers. Sora had escaped back to Riku's side.
"Roxas, they're--!"
"No, they're alright."
This, Sora was confused at. These strangers, they had the same aura as those evil people that had kidnapped him! What could Roxas possibly mean?
The men were dressed in cloaks, and this seemed to shock Riku. "Those are--!"
"No, no! Let me explain!" Roxas waved his hands in front of himself wildly, as the two cloaked figures stood awkwardly. Riku blinked, but dropped his newly formed fists to his sides.
"They're gonna help us...they're old friends of ours that want the same thing we do—the downfall of the organization. The ones that took Sora." Sora caught his own name in there, and his interest was roused.
"What about me?" He asked, frowning.
"These guys are kind of like spies for us, and are trying to throw down the people that took you."
"So they're doing what you did?" Sora asked, surprised. He wouldn't have guessed it at all. He knew only small details of what Roxas actually did as part of the organization, but he could surmise that it wasn't always kind.
"Kind of like that." Roxas nodded.
"Oh, so this is the key?" One of the figures spoke, startling Sora. He didn't sense any maliciousness in them, but one could never be too sure.
"This is Sora, the one you call the key. And this is Riku." Roxas gestured to each respectively.
"Riku? Oh, the guy that ran from Xaldin? You pissed him off that day. Good job."
Sora, over the past couple of days, had picked up more English with much more ease now that he'd finally distinguished English from French. So while he hadn't caught everything, he had caught the praise at the end.
"Thanks..." Riku muttered, and Sora could feel the discomfort.
"This is Demyx, and this is Zexion." Roxas motioned to both cloaked figures respectively.
"Hi there...I hope you can forgive us for any hardships the organization might have put you through." Demyx pulled his hood back and bowed. Sora had to say, he didn't look the least bit...evil, at all.
Demyx must have caught him looking, because he smiled at Sora. "I know what you're thinking. I told them I was the wrong guy for the job, but..." He trailed off, obviously picking up the fact that Sora didn't have the slightest clue as to what he was saying. That is, Sora knew, but he didn't understand the words very well.
"Oh, forgive me. I didn't know you hadn't learned English yet." Sora gasped at Demyx's words.
"You can speak--?"
"Yes, and quite well. It's…kind of forbidden at the organization, but that never stopped me." Demyx explained. Sora frowned. He couldn't imagine being somewhere where the language—his native language, was banned.
"Roxas, Demyx. We shouldn't stay out in the open too long. We should save socializing for last. Right now we need to think."
"Zexion…" Demyx began, and Sora assumed the other person was the Zexion. The hood was removed, and Sora took note of the man's icy colored hair and piercing yellow eyes. It'd be easier to remember who was who that way.
"You're right." Roxas stated, then sighed. He turned to Axel and Riku. "Demyx and Zexion are gonna help us bring down some bad guys. It's…complicated. I'll explain later." He added at Riku's lost look. "But right now, I need to explain the plan. Demyx and Zexion are supposed to be on a mission to spy on us right now. You know, telling the organization what we're up to and stuff."
"But you see how much of that we're getting done," Demyx giggled.
"They're gonna give the organization false reports on what we're up to. That way, we have a chance to plan just how we're gonna go about this. This is a plan in progress, so it's kind of a process of trial and error…without the benefit of the trial part, and error being replaced with success." Roxas finished, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"That means we only get one chance. Demyx and Zexion came up with a good plan, but it'll be hard to pull off. So all of us are gonna have to work really hard and be really ninja stealthy to pull this off." Axel clarified. "I don't have any doubts about kid here," Axel pointed a thumb to Sora, who blinked curiously. "But I dunno about the rest of you. Especially you." Axel sent a 'glare' in Riku's direction.
"I can take care of myself." Yep, Sora was sensing some annoyance in Riku's statement.
There was a pause in their arguing when Sora held a hand out. Riku raised an eyebrow, and Roxas gave him a look that said, 'go with it.'
After a few minutes, Sora nodded. "They're gone."
Roxas smirked. "Step one, complete." Sora, Roxas, Axel, and Demyx shared a group high-five. Zexion stood casually with his arms crossed, looking casually pleased, while Riku was left standing confusedly.
"What the hell?"
"Yeah, about that. That…was kind of the first step of our 'no trial and success' plan. We had to make them think we'd start going after them immediately. This is so that, while they're busy guarding all the wrong things and areas and people, we can slip through the metaphorical back entrance." Demyx clarified.
Poor Riku still looked confused. Sora kind of felt sorry for him; Sora himself had been let in on the plan about a day ago. He was the one responsible for keeping track of where the spies were and when they left. Roxas had told him that it'd be best to keep Riku in the dark for now—something about the silverette not being able to act…
"On top of sending us in," Zexion began, drawing Riku's attention to him. "they also sent in a second group of people to check in on us. The original plan was to just spy, but the leader, Xemnas, thought he saw a chance to kill two birds with one stone. We're to be convincing Roxas and Axel that we want to help them overthrow the organization—which we do, but he doesn't know that.
"He gave us a plan already to give you all, which is precise and extremely detailed. Since he knows the plan by heart, it'd easily allow him to capture them, and the key as well." Zexion cast a glance to Sora. "That would, of course, be disastrous. The only areas to be heavily guarded are those that will be used in the plan. Which leaves the unused areas easily accessible." The blue haired man finished.
Roxas and Axel wore similar expressions; mouths gaping and eyes wide.
"I've never…ever heard you say that much in one sitting!" Axel was the first to speak. Zexion only shrugged, and Demyx nudged him with a playful elbow.
The previously stunned Roxas shook himself out of his surprise. "But he's right. And we just fooled the group of spies into thinking that we fell for their plan." Roxas' face didn't show his happiness at their success.
"Isn't that good?"
"Yes, it's very good! Just…we have much more we'll need to get through until our mission is complete."
"Like?" Riku prodded.
"You'll see. In any case, we shouldn't continue talking here." Surprisingly, Zexion was the one to speak. "Is there anywhere safer?"
"My place," Roxas replied, and Zexion raised an eyebrow. "They don't expect me to go somewhere so open to speak about such things." To this, Zexion nodded and they were off.