A deep, muffled groan fell from Xigbar's mouth, and he realized he could barely move; He was trapped in some sort of... slimy cocoon... from his feet, to his face. His vision was blurred beyond belief and all he could see was green. Whatever he was wrapped in, he couldn't see through it. Blinking furiously, e shook his head, hacking up slime as he struggled to break free from the cocoon. The slimy cocoon restricted his sluggish movements, but he managed to make a tear in the viscous yet thick membrane. Xigbar's arm was free, and he began to claw at the cocoon, ripping the film of his face first, hand being covered with thick, green slime. He managed to get his other arm free, groaning as he abruptly got exhausted; Whatever kept him unconcious must still be coursing through his system.. Slowly, Xigbar brought his shaking hand to his face, fingers dragging through the dense slime all over his face. He looked, and his glove was torn, exposing most of his palm and fingers; his fingers were cut, caked with dried blood. Xigbar used his finger and thumb to rub the thick, puke green substance between the digits. When he pulled the fingers apart, a sticky strand of slime connected the digits. Suddenly, he began to cough up the slime that had myseriously invaded his mouth; He quickly turned to his side, vomitting up more of the fluid onto what appeared to be a cave floor. Wiping his mouth and spitting copious amounts of stomach fluids out, Xigbar took a chance to examine his surroundings. He seemed to be in a deep brown cave, with the same slime that covered him plastered on the cave walls and tiny bright green plants. He could see a dull, lumanescent light eminating from the left, but it didn't help; He could barely see his hand in front of his face. Xigbar grunted as he pulled the last of the cocoon from around his legs, pulling the webs made slime away, then the actually green film so he could move. He stood, attempting to wipe the excess slime from his body, but he was still sluggish, almost falling to the ground but he grabbed onto a rock from the cave wall.
"Holy shit... where the fuck am I..." Xigbar groaned, holding his aching head as he leaned on the wall. There was more caked blood from a gash on his cheek, his scarred cheek; Another scar, on top of the old one... Then it hit him: How long was he unconcious? And where was he? Was he even in Fantasia anymore? The last thing he remembered was green vines wrapping themselves around his body and beginning to drag him away, then everything went to oblivion, but that wasn't the fact that bother him, was burning in his chest-no, his heart.
Roxas.
He might never see the teenager again, never... apoloize to Roxas. And how was Roxas feeling... right here, right now? He couldn't tell if Roxas liked him... all the boy did was get extra close to him, and only three, maybe four times at that... He... knew now, that he had feelings for Roxas, strong, deep feelings. He just... couldn't...say anything.. He had never been in a real relationship, not in over ten years. back when he was around seventeen, a Somebody. He lost his heart and he just... detatched himself, feigning any emotion, even the ones he truly felt. Then Roxas came, and his facade crashed down... but what now? He didn't know if he could confess, and Roxas probably thought he was dead, and glad of it. Roxas was happy, with Axel, it was...okay.
Then, Xigbar heard a deep, muted grunt, and he sensed movement to his right, further down the cave. He turned towards the echoing sound, and he tried to summon his guns, but to no avail; His powers must have been blocked. The sniper inched down the cave cautiously, the groans escalating in volume as the light dimmed as he moved way from it's unknown source. Xigbar crept down the cave's path, and the groans got even louder, seeming only a few feet away, but he couldn't tell; He could barely see from the lack of light. Xigbar prepared himself for a hostile encounter, clenching his hands into fists as he inched toward the noise's source. Bones crunched beneath his boots, some previously demolished and others fresh and intact, and he looked down in disgust and confusion; How many...things had died here and for how long? There must have been thousands and thousands of bones: from skulls to arm bones and everything in between. Xigbar let out a shocked grunt as his boot knocked into something warm and slimy, and he could see the form was a wriggling cocoon like what he was encased in. He blinked, trying to see through the darkness as the muffled grunts increased. Xigbar bent down, guided by touch and barely by sight, and his fingers got cloaked in even more slime as they trailed up the struggling body, more muted sounds directed at the sniper. Xigbar began to tear at the slime cocoon, yanking the slime web off before ripping the film away, exposing a mouth, and the words came.
"Who's...there? Where... am I?" The man wheezed, nearly coughing slime onto Xigbar's face.
"The fuck? Is that you, big guy?" Xigbar exclaimed, and he tore the film from Lexaeus' face harder. The man's head was exposed, then they worked most of the cocoon off, enough to expose Lexaeus' arms so he could tear it off himself.
"Yes..." Lexaeus responded, panting, shaking his head in a attempt to shake off the sudden grogginess."Vines came from the forest... and I...blacked out..."
"Dude, the same freakin' thing happened to me." Xigbar said as Lexaeus clawed the last of the cocoon from his legs, and he stood, but he fell onto Xigbar, who grunted from the sudden weight. He took the weight until Lexaeus was steady; He let the man clean himself off as much as he could. Lexaeus stared down at Xigbar, who physically appeared okay, but he knew the mental strain on the man; he knew what was bothering Xigbar and he could see it in his eye.
"Xigbar, something's wrong... And we.. both know what. We need to get out of here... and you Xigbar, you know what you need to do.." Lexaeus said softly, saying more words than Xigbar had ever heard from the usually silent hero, words filled with meaning.
"The hell are you talkin' about... I haven't done nothin'... You don't know anythin'." Xigbar muttered, eye widening as he backed away from the taller man. Did he... could he even know? Impossible, it was impossible. Of the short times Roxas and he were together, it was always on missions, never at the Castle or around anyone; it would have been dangerous. If someone saw, someone... like Saix, who would tell... Roxas and he could be murdered. And he would never let that happen to Roxas, even if the teenager was... in love, with Axel.
"Xigbar... this is going to shock you to your core, but I have to tell you, before we leave. I can tell you how you feel, and this gives you a reason to keep going. I've seen everything. I can see how much you love Roxas, I see it in your eye. And I can see how much Roxas loves you back...And Xemnas saw this..." Lexaeus paused, coughing slime up. He wiped his mouth, letting his azure eyes slip shut as his fingers combed through his grimy auburn locks. Was it the right time to tell Xigbar every thing he knew, about the sniper and Roxas, about Xemnas?
"No... No, it ain't true! What ever ya saw, whatever you heard, it ain't true!" Xigbar snarled, lieing through his teeth, keeping his one-eyed gaze away from the silent hero. He couldn't know, Lexaeus couldn't know!
"Xigbar. Calm yourself. I know everything, because Xemnas forced me to trail you during missions, in the hallways, everywhere. I was given a potion to make me invisible, and to veil all sound from me. I watched you, for nearly five months. I've seen the advances that Roxas made, despite that they were small at best, and I know that you two are in love. Xemnas knew something was up between you two, a relationship, if you could call it that, thanks to Saix. Then, I became his informant." Lexaeus gave a pause, to let all the information sink into the shocked sniper as he sighed, shaking his head.
"He sent you both on missions, to get you killed, without anything leading to him, even though I told him nothing happened. I think, Saix might have found out what I've done, which is why we're both here... in this cave, possibly. And Roxas is with Axel, I know. And he's in danger, Xigbar. You both are, and Axel and I. Anyone involved with us is in danger from Xemnas. He's planning something and I don't know what. Xigbar, you need to confess to Roxas before somethin happens, I know what you're going through... I'm in love with Zexion, myself... I don't know what caught us, but I'm sure that Xemnas is involved. I-I can't say for sure, but when you return, confess and run, to save yourself. Truthfully, only you, Zexion, Demyx, and Roxas are the only members I can trust, that aren't in on it. Others, either I know for sure or I have no clue. "
"B-but..W-Wha...Huh?" All Xigbar could to was stutter. Lexaeus... knew everything... Even that he loved Roxas...He believed the hero, so that meant that Roxas.. really did love him.. Then why was he with Axel? Could Roxas, just went with the redhead because of opportuinity or to make him jealous; It might be the truth, but he doubted it. Even Lexaeus.. and that goddamn Xemnas and Saix... could see that he loved Roxas, but he was too much of a coward to admit it...
"Xigbar, tell me... Tell me what's wrong...You can trust me." Lexaeus approached Xigbar, who covered his face in blatant shame.
"I'm a fuckin' coward... I liked Roxas, but I never said a thing... This is all my fault.." Xigbar said, shaking his head in guilt, and anger, all directed at himself. If he could have done something... made a effort to be with the person he loved... Roxas could be hurt right now, and that was his fault. He had delayed all this and now, they were in danger, if what Lexaeus said was true... Roxas could even be dead now.
"You're not a coward, Xigbar...I know you, known you for over 10 years now, since you were Braig, a teenager, and I was a guard at Radiant Garden." Lexaeus placed a hand on Xigbar's shoulder. "We're gonna get out of here, and then you're gonna go be with Roxas."
Xigbar looked up at Lexaeus, eye angry, but determined. Like hell he was gonng let Roxas get hurt, especially if he was at fault. He was pure and simple determined to escape this cave, and get to Roxas. He knew it was going to hurt Axel and possibly Roxas if he just showed up and confessed his love to the blond, but he had to do it, for himself and his beloved; And to apologize. Roxas at least deserved to hear his atonement. He only hoped that Roxas would forgive him. If the blond rejected him for Axel... it would hurt like hell, but it would satisfy him to get forgiven and to see Roxas happy.
"Yeah, fuck yes... I gotta do it, I gotta. I gotta make this right, Lex. C'mon, we're headin' out." Xigbar announced, expression full of genuine determination and concern. Lexaeus could see the emotion clear as day; Xemnas had to be lying...
"I agree.. We should head towards the light, it might mean the cave's opening. Then we can determine where exactly we are then we can portal back to the Castle..." Lexaeus agreed, and he tried to summon his axe sword, but it was no use. "I cannot summon my weapon...'
"Yeah, neither can I. Guess we gotta fist fight anythin' that gets in our way. We pro'lly can't use portals neither.. C'mon." Xigbar said, and he started back towards the light, with Lexaeus following him close behind. The silent man looked down at the bones crunching under his feet, and his brow furrowed; There must be a monster or a Heartless in this cave considering all the bones, from both living animals and humans. If there was, they didn't have much of a chance without their weapons or appearently, their powers; Must be why Xemnas sent Xigbar here, if he had prior knowledge of the beast. The beast had to plant-based, considering the vines that abducted them had to be under some sort of control. Soon, they were up to their ankles in bones, forced to kick them from their past just so they wouldn't trip and be punctured by the cracked, knife-sharp remains of some of the bones. The light was continueously brightening as their reached it's supposed source, and the two men could see that the path curved to the left, where the light clearly eminated from. Lexaeus knew that Xigbar hadn't noticed the vines at their feet, and if he looked close enough... they pulsed with lumanescent light akin to what was brightening the cave walls.
"Xigbar, stop. I hear something." Lexaeus murmured quietly to Xigbar, outstretching an arm to keep the sniper from moving.
"What.." Xigbar trailed off as he heard... breathing? Deep, rough breathing... like a animal. Then he looked down and saw the vines. They perfectly resembled the vines that wrapped themselves around his body, and he guessed, they were the same vines that took Lexaeus as well.
"Whatever abducted us must be around the corner... We should go back." Lexaeus whispered hurriedly, but a deafening, primal roar haulted the men. Both of them jumped, and suddenly the vines at their feet began to react to then roar. The emerald green vines sprung alive like snakes, first binding themselvs around Xigbar and Lexaeus' ankles. They were tripped, grunt as they hurried to tear the vines away, but more and more snaked their way through the bones, and abruptly, the putrid stench of blood invaded their senses.
"The fuck, I can't get'em off me!" Xigbar shouted as vines began to restrict his arms, slithering up his body.
"The same... Dammit!" Lexaeus cursed aloud as the vines tightened thier grip, squeezing his body to an almost unbearable state, and he could tell the vines were doing the same to Xigbar, the sniper cursing in pain. The vines, they dragged the two men through the cave, their backs being nearly ripped apart by sharp bones and rocks alike; they couldn't tell where they were going, things flying past them until everything was a blur, green, brown, and white streaming into each other. Lexaeus could feel the thick blood oozing from scrapes and gashes on his back, when suddenly Xigbar screamed bloody murder, and a massive amount of blood exploded from the man's back, splattering on the cave walls and ground as they were dragged fast enough to make everything blur into colors and nothing else. He saw jagged bone jutting from the sniper's back as latter in agony screamed, but it some was knocked off and others whacked around into the ground. Paths twisted and turned, appearing to be weaving down a tunnel then vearing off to the left or to the right, going through holes... The light was intesifying until it was horrific, actute burning felt even through your eyelids, and if you opened them... Indistinctly, Lexaeus thought he heard Xigbar scream that he couldn't move his arm...but everythiny was so cloudy. Lexaeus tried to scream but he couldn't, vines choking him as they were brought to a hault; Xigbar was still shouting about the wound, but Lexaeus couldn't make out what the sniper was seeing... it was like he was loosing all control of his senses; he couldn't feel anything, say anything, barely being able to see out of his clouded eyes. He felt... like he was being lifted into the air but he could barely tell, only his sense of hearing and smell keeping him aware of the stench of blood and rotted flesh, bones crunching and disturbing, animalistic breathing filling his ears. He couldn't sense the blood running down his neck from a gash on the back of his head, concious slowly dwindling. He registered a sudden yelp as Xigbar's, and he made out a faded shape that resembled a massive flower... with vines... moving Xigbar towards itself. Lexaeus couldn't tell whether the thing was a beast or a Heartless, and he vaguely registered that he gave a slurred scream. He felt like he had over-dosed on drugs, reality blurring into anything and everything, he couldn't tell what was what, the only thing distiguishable was Xigbar's screams and snarls. Abruptly, Lexaeus was thrown at such a force that he crashed through stalagtites and stalagmites on his path unless he finally slammed into a wall where the cave curved yet again. He had no idea if they had traveled only a few feet or so far into the cave system that the entrance was miles away. Lexaeus was stunned, but he finally let out a trapped cry of piercing pain; He couldn't move either. Then, more screams began to echo towards him. Horrid, agonizing screams filled with a excrutiating pain. Screams that deafened the ears and shook one to their very core. The screams... howls and screeches worse than anyone being raped, being stabbed alive, beaten to death. They were the most horrifying thing Lexaeus had ever heard in his two lives; Nothing could ever come close. And the thing was... they were Xigbar's screams. Xigbar was screaming like that, like he was being raped and burned alive, all the same time, but he couldn't smell fire; Nothing but the smell of wet plants and decaying flesh. The screams went on and on, until Xigbar suddenly stopped screaming: He was either dead, or unconcious. Lexaeus tried his hardest to scream, call out for help, but his body was growing weaker and weaker until all he could do was watch as his eyelids fluttered like a dying bug's wings.
They finally slipped shut.