Secrets in the Clock

by KanyaD-28

AU. Fall was just one of those seasons. Leaves fell, things wasted and died, and people shied away from an explicable end. They say fall was the season of dying and, to be honest, Kairi could now see where that came from. A flyer proclaims something new to a dying year: a circus of wonders. Enter madness. Gen. Dark themes. Very slow start.

2. They Told Us Things

002: They Told Us Things

Title: Secrets in the Clock
Prompt: Compulsion
Word Count: 336
Chapter Summary: The group heads to the circus, and their first visit features a certain pyromaniac.
Warnings this chapter: None.

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The tent was shaped weird. That was a fact, and not an observation, though if anyone asked Kairi, she would say that someone seriously screwed up the design. But whatever.

A man with an eyepatch was calling out the wonders of a show, compelling those who'd listen.

"Come one and all! See the great Dancing Flame!" His voice was loud but oh so bored, like he'd rather be some place else. He gesticulated widely to a rail of a boy- or a woman, one could never be sure at the circus- with hair as honest as the spoken trade.

"The name's Axel, kid. Got it memorized?" The boy- 'cause no woman should sound like that, ever- had flagged them down as they passed, and deigned to appeal. Flames snapped briefly to life, but that was all he needed.

They entered.

The tent was brimming with people so, typically, finding seats was a nightmare. After much elbowing and grimy looks, they did manage to find some. Their group was bigger than most- what with Kairi and her loverboys sitting flank, and Wakka, Selphie, Tidus and his visiting cousin Cerri-who really was just roped in with the rest- seated highest of them all.

The din was loud and suffocating and, really, Riku just wanted out.

But then the lights dimmed, a spotlight beamed to life, and the show began. A man with dark hair and eyebrows a little thick roused the crowd, voice booming and shaking the tent's foundation.

"Hey, Sora?" A pause.

"Yeah, Tidus?"

"Why does that one guy look like you?" There was an awkward shuffle, and shifted eyes. "I... have no idea, actually. A clone, maybe?"

Tidus grunted with uncertainty, but let it lie.

After a few shows of minor amazement- though Riku did admit the 30-foot giant-card tricks were pretty good- Axel sauntered through, his hair a catcher of all eyes. And then his flames kicked up, spiraled up, up and away- and the crowd held their breath, because honestly, who wouldn't when they see a man on fire?

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End Drabble

A/N: Updates (like chapter names) will be random at best, as I go over some old notes of ideas. So.. yeah. Let's see where the next one let's this go...