(A/N: Hello! I is back! Are you happy? Probably not. … Whatev.
Disclaimer: I suddenly got into the habit of adding this, but only on this story... hmm... Anywho, I don't own Disney until I get enough money to buy a bomb, nor do I own Kingdom Hearts until I get enough money to get an airplane ticket. (XD) Enjoy!)
The Hunchback Nobody of Twilight Town
Chapter 7: Roxas and Xion
Xion moved through the Clock Tower, singing softly.
"I don't know if you can hear me, or if you're even there. I don't know if you would listen, to a gypsy's prayer. Yes, I know I'm just an outcast. I shouldn't speak to you. Still I see your face and wonder, were you once an outcast too? God help the outcasts, hungry from birth. Show them the mercy they don't find on earth. God help my people, we look to you still. God help the outcasts, or nobody will."
She passed other people, praying as well in a song.
"I ask for wealth," they sang. "I ask for fame. I ask for glory to shine on my name. I ask for love I can possess. I ask for God and his angels to bless me!"
Meanwhile, Roxas had heard Xion's voice, and had come downstairs to watch her. He sighed dreamily as she continued to sing.
"I ask for nothing. I can get by. But I know so many less lucky than I. Please help my people, the poor and downtrod. I thought we all were the Children of God. God help the outcasts, Children of God."
She finished her song just as a man spotted Roxas.
"You! Bell ringer!" he shouted. "What are you doing down here!"
Startled, Roxas jumped and knocked over a candlestaff. He tried to grab it in vain and it crashed to the floor, the noise echoing in the spacious Tower.
"Haven't you caused enough trouble already?" the man continued to shout.
The hunchback quickly ran off to the staircase, and Xion gave chase.
"Wait!" she called. "I want to talk to you!"
Panicked, Roxas continued to run away. He came out the top of the staircase, followed by Xion and Ventus. The gargoyles watched from above.
"Look!" said Olette, pointing. "He's got a friend with him."
"Yeah, maybe today wasn't a total loss after all," Hayner said.
"A vision of loveliness!" cried Pence.
"The one in the dress ain't bad either," remarked Hayner, nudging Pence with his elbow.
Roxas reached his room, where the 'goyles greeted him.
"Roxas!" cried Hayner.
"Congratulations!" praised Pence.
"Got the girls chasing you already!"
"Actually, I-" Roxas began, but Pence interrupted.
"You mustn't run too fast, or she'll get away."
"Yes, ah, ah, ah, I know. That's what-" This time Hayner cut him off.
"Give her some slack, then reel her in. Then give her some slack, then reel her in. Then give her some slack-"
"Knock it off, Hayner!" said Olette. "She's a girl, not a mackerel."
Xion finally entered, and the 'goyles went to stone.
"Here you are. I was afraid I'd lost you," she said.
"Yes. Um, well, I uh, I have chores to do. It was, uh, nice … seeing … you … again. Ohh..." he muttered, turning away.
"No, wait!"
As they talked, Ven was examining Hayner. The 'goyle briefly came to life, made kissing faces at Ven, then went back to stone. Ventus looked confused.
Xion, meanwhile, was giving chase to the once again fleeing Roxas. "I'm really sorry about this afternoon. I had no idea who you were. I would never in my life had … pulled … you … up on the … stage."
She slowed down as she reached his room, with its dangling glass mobile and model of the city. She was in complete awe.
"What is this place?" she asked breathlessly.
"This is where I live."
"Did you make all these things yourself?" She picked up a figure.
"Most of them..."
She fingered the mobile as she observed it. "This is beautiful. If I could do this, you wouldn't find me dancing in the streets for coins."
"But you're a wonderful dancer!" Roxas argued.
"Well, it keeps bread on the table, anyway," she said, placing the figure back on the table. "What's this?" She reached for something covered with a fabric napkin.
"Oh, no, please oh, I'm not finished! I still have to paint them..."
He trailed off as she lifted the fabric to reveal two more wooden figures. "It's the blacksmith!" Xion said in surprise. "And the baker! You're a surprising person, Roxas. Not to mention lucky. All this room to yourself." She gestured around them.
"Well, it's not just me..." he said humbly. "There's the gargoyles, and of course the bells... Would you like to see them?"
"Yes, of course. Wouldn't we, Ven?"
Ventus, who had been munching on mobile sheep, slurped up the shepherd into his mouth.
"Follow me. I'll introduce you," said Roxas.
Up in the Bell Tower, Xion said, "Never knew there were so many."
"That's Little Sophia, and Jean Marie, Ann Marie, and Louise Marie. Triplets, you know." He pointed out every bell.
"And who's this?" she asked, going under a gigantic bell.
"Big Marie."
"Hello!" Xion shouted, and the call echoed and resonated richly.
"She likes you. Would you like to see more?"
"How 'bout it, Ventus?" she asked, turning to the goat.
Ven, under Big Marie, belched loudly, which in turn echoed and resonated richly.
"We'd love to," she told Roxas.
"Good. I've saved the best for last!"
Roxas and Xion proceeded outside to a beautiful view of Twilight Town and the Seine. Xion gazed in awe, already loving the view.
"I bet the King himself doesn't have a view like this! I could stay up here forever."
"You could, you know..." Roxas said hopefully.
"No, I couldn't."
"Oh, yes, you have sanctuary!" If only she would stay...
"But not freedom. Gypsies don't do well inside stone walls," she muttered, remembering her talk with Xemnas.
"But you're not like the other gypsies. They're … evil."
"Who told you that?"
"My master, Xemnas. He raised me."
"How could such a cruel man have raised someone like you?"
"Cruel? Oh, no! He saved my life. He took me in when no one else would. I-I am a monster, you know..." He looked away, ashamed at who he was.
"He told you that?" How could Roxas idolize a man that called him that?
"Look at me." Xion thought for a moment before saying:
"Give me your hand." She took his hand and looked at his palm.
"Why?"
"Just let me see." She traced his palm lines with her finger. "Hmm, a long life line... oh, and this one means you're shy." He blushed at that. "Hmm. Hmm, hmm, hmm … well, that's funny..."
"What!"
"I don't see any."
"Any what?"
"Monster lines. Not a single one." She showed him her hand. "Now you look at me. Do you think I'm evil?"
"No, no, no!" he said, placing her hand back in her own lap. "You are kind, and good, and-"
"-And a gypsy. And maybe Xemnas is wrong about the both of us."
Below, the gargoyles were straining to listen in.
"What did she say?" asked Hayner, sitting on Pence's shoulders and holding up Olette.
"Xemnas' nose is long, and he wears a truss," she told him.
"Hah! Told ya! Pay up!" he said to Pence. The 'goyle handed him a gold coin reluctantly.
Back on the rooftop, Roxas was getting up. "You helped me. Now I will help you."
"But there's no way out. There's soldiers at every door."
"We won't use a door," he said, gesturing to the balconies.
"You mean … climb down?"
"Sure. You carry him," He motioned to Ventus. "I carry you."
"Okay. Come on, Ven." He hopped into her open arms.
"Ready?" Roxas asked, holding her with one arm.
"Yes."
"Don't be afraid."
"I'm not a afraid," she said defiantly.
Roxas leapt over the edge and held on to a gargoyle's head. One wrong step and they fell to their deaths.
"Now I'm afraid."
"The trick is not to look down," he told her.
As he said that, Ven looked down, seeing how far up he was. The scared goat hid his face on Xion's chest. Roxas began swinging down the exterior of the Clock Tower. (A/N: Imagine it with gargoyles and such.)
"You've done this before?" asked Xion.
"No." He finally stopped on a slanted roof.
"Wow. You're quite an acrobat."
"Thank you, I-" His words were cut short as the tile they were on broke free and they began to slide down the roof as if they were on a sled. They were able to jump off their sled just before it went sailing off into the air. It landed a few blocks away. The guards on the ground below heard the crash and went off to investigate.
"Check the alley!"
"This way!"
As the guards passed, Roxas, Xion, and Ventus hid as part of a statue. When the coast was clear, they spoke again.
"I hope I didn't scare you," Roxas said worriedly, putting her down at last, though reluctantly.
"Not for an instant."
Ven groaned as his heart was only just now beginning to beat again.
"I'll never forget you, Xion."
She frowned, then grinned as an idea hit her. "Come with me."
"What?"
"To the Court of Miracles. Leave this place."
"Oh, no. I'm never going back out there again. You saw what happened to me today. No. This is where I belong," he said, patting the Clock Tower's wall.
"All right, then I'll come to see you."
"What? Here? But, t-the soldiers, and Xemnas, and..."
"I'll come after sunset."
"A-At sunset, I ring the evening mass, and after that, I clean the kooisters, and then I ring the vespers, and-"
Xion cut him off with a light kiss on the cheek. Roxas' mouth hung open in the middle of his speech for a moment. She kissed me. She kissed me! Xion kissed me!
"-Whatever's good for you."
Xion pulled a talisman off her neck and hung it around Roxas'. "If you ever need sanctuary, this will show you the way."
"But how?" he asked, observing it in his hand.
"Just remember: When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand." Roxas nodded, quickly hiding it under his shirt.
Ven bleated as the guards were returning, warning them and interrupting their talk.
"Hurry! You must go!" said Roxas.
Xion swung down a rope to the ground and ran off into the dark, Ven following quickly behind her. Roxas climbed back up to his Tower. As soon as he reached the ledge, Axel appeared. He gave him his signature grin.
"Hi there. I'm looking for the gypsy girl. Have you seen her?"
Roxas became extremely angry at the sight of him. The nerve of the guy, trying to arrest or kill his only friend! He tried to punch Axel.
"Whoa, whoa! Easy!" Axel said, putting up his hands and backing up.
"No soldiers! Sanctuary! Get out!" he cried.
"Wait! All I wanted was to-"
"Go!" He forced him back to the staircase.
"I mean her no harm!"
Yeah, sure! Roxas groaned, aggravated. "GO!" He grabbed a torch and began swinging it at Axel. The man backed off, but he continued to swing, enraged. Finally, Axel drew his sword and swung, pinning the torch against the wall. Roxas, in turn, grabbed him by his shirt. It was quiet, besides their panting, then Axel spoke.
"You tell her from me, that I didn't mean to trap her here, but it was the only way to save her life." Roxas' eyes widened when he realized the man was telling the truth. "Will you tell her that?"
No response.
"Will you?"
He thought for a moment, then glared again. "If you go. Now!"
"I'll go. Now, ehm, will you … put me down, please?"
The hunchback realized he had been holding Axel several feet off the floor. He set him back down, albeit roughly. Axel started to leave, then turned to say something.
"Oh. And one more thing. Tell Xion she's very lucky."
"Why?"
"To have a friend like you," he said, sheathing his sword. Then he left an utterly confuzzled Roxas.
(A/N: Did you like? Hmm? Hope ya did!
Damn, Roxas is strong, picking up Axel like that...
Terra: Yay! Spotlight on me! R+R, peeps!
Short Author's Note is extremely short. XD)