Luxu made it to the top of the stairs, reached the door to Roxas's room (where Namine had already disappeared into).
He took a breath to prepare himself, then strode through the doorway.
Immediately, he caught a flash of blonde hair, and then a small and meaty projectile slammed into the side of his face.
Luxu staggered to the side, grasping the door frame. "What the-" he hissed, rubbing his cheek.
Roxas stood there, glaring furiously up at him, his hands balled into fists. The kid was quivering with undisguised anger.
Luxu carefully straightened again, letting his hand fall away from his face. "All right...that was deserved," he uttered.
"Shut up!" Roxas snapped. "You...made her upset - you made her-"
"I know, I made her cry, I KNOW! But I've apologized to her, we've worked it out and-" Luxu began.
"Well me and you haven't!" Roxas retorted.
"Why do you think I came up here?" Luxu said steadily. "Good punch, by the way - nice use of momentum. That follow-through was-"
"You didn't see her, you didn't spend hours trying to talk to her, trying to just tell her- and she still believed it! But I didn't!"
"Believed what?"
"That you'd actually come back."
Luxu glanced over at Namine, who was sitting huddled on Roxas's bed now. "That's fair. I haven't given you much of a reason to have any sort of faith in me, and I botched it by not telling you guys what I was going to do before I did it, and I'm sorry for that. But I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving you two. Okay? I'm still here, this is still what we're doing, and- you don't have to worry. Look, I stand by my promise - you don't want to be just ordered around while having all the information kept from you? I'll start telling you. I'll...tell you whatever you want to know. No holds barred, nothing off-limits. Anything you want to know, you ask, I'll tell."
"Everybody's the same..." Roxas muttered out. "Axel, you..."
Axel...? "Is that what this is really all about, then?" Luxu spoke.
Roxas looked down at his feet, saying nothing more. Then, he looked up at Luxu again. "Do you know where he is now? What's...happened to him? Why he didn't come back, like Saix and the others did?"
Luxu sighed. "No, I don't know. I'm sorry. But I can make some guesses."
"Then guess!"
"Well, Xehanort originally wanted to use the Organization to find vessels to fill with pieces of his Heart - like he did to Saix, and to me - but the last I saw of the man, he didn't seem to think it was wise to carry through with the plan anymore. Not that one, at least. But he might still have gotten his hands on Axel - and the others we haven't found yet, as well. That's what it might mean. He might have other plans for them, still." Luxu held Roxas's gaze, watching the worry and conflict sprouting there. "That's all I can say - that's all I could guess at. That's the truth. Okay?"
"So if Axel's still...working for him...we could get him back?" Roxas spoke quietly. "If we found him, we could do for him what happened to Saix - and-"
"Yes. We could. We- we will," Luxu amended softly. "The second we find the guy, we'll...we'll save him. That's a promise, Roxas. And I know I don't have history's greatest track record with saving innocent people, but-"
"You mean that?"
"Yeah, I do."
"So you really are a Keyblade Master, like Master Terra, and Aqua?"
Luxu wanted to make a joke to the kid about that fact not having sunk in after a month yet, but... "Yes."
Roxas nodded. His hands uncurled, and a breath was let loose in a long woosh. "So could you teach me - things to do with the Keyblade? Like they've been?"
Luxu startled at the idea. It wasn't what he'd have expected - not in a million years. But the kid was offering some kind of an olive branch here, so...he had to take it, no question about it. "I was never an instructor back in the day - that was my friends - but I can give it a shot, sure. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve I could share with you."
"When?" Roxas asked.
"Anytime you want."
"Tomorrow, then."
"Then we'll start tomorrow," Luxu agreed, unhesitating. He paused. "Although, Sora's mother did invite us all back over to her place, tomorrow morning. Thought you should know - both of you," he went on, looking at the kids. He saw the surprise on their faces. And the looks of happiness. "And in the spirit of my new promise..." he continued on. "Is that something either of you two want to do? I could tell her it's too soon, or-"
"No!" both kids said simultaneously.
"Okay," Luxu chuckled. "Great. It's set, then. Tomorrow morning, we hop over to Destiny Islands, and in the evening, we can start seeing what we can do with Keyblade instruction. That...sound good?"
"Yes," they said together, again.
"Good. So...are we good here?"
"I guess," Roxas murmured. "Still kind of want to hit you again."
"Fair." Luxu looked to Namine. "And you? It's okay to still be upset - you can hold this grudge if you want, for a long while."
"I am still upset," Namine admitted. "But I don't want to be."
"Well, just...take the time you need, then. Let it wash away on its own. However long that takes," Luxu murmured.
Namine gave a single nod.
"All right...anyone have anything else they want to say, anything more to get off your chests?"
Both kids shook their heads.
"Okay." Luxu nodded. "Why don't we get those pictures of Namine's all sorted out, then?"
"Yes!" Namine said, in a high voice, jumping to her feet again.
"Why are we doing this?" Roxas asked Namine, with a sidelong look.
"It's a family thing," she told him brightly. "You glue a whole bunch of photos into a blank book and you make an album out of it. Then you can look back on it all later and remember the fun times you had! Kairi has one going with her dad, and Sora has one with his parents, and so does Riku with his! It's a big thing for normal kids and families! So if we're going to be a real family, we need one too!"
Roxas nodded, looking warmed up to the idea now. "I guess that's a good idea. Sort of like tracking the days..."
"Right - except it's for keeping track of important, specific days or moments!" Namine enthused. "And because it's in a picture, it's better than just thinking back on it in our memories. Or, it could also help us to remember things."
Roxas smiled at her. "Okay. It could be fun."
"That's the spirit," Luxu encouraged. He turned and left the room. "You two stay here - I'll grab the album," he called back, from out in the hall.
"Why do you have an album already?" Roxas called after him.
Luxu didn't respond. He was glad to be out of sight, because his face was burning.
Truthfully, he'd just done it because he'd known that was what families did - what people did. Normal ones, that was. Just as Nia had said...he was still just going through the motions of life. Wasn't quite into the swing of it all yet. But he was confident he'd get there, with a little more time...and some help.
Braig had to admit, the first time he stepped out of the castle was a...moment of shock.
He turned and examined the castle itself, first of all.
Scaffolding, cranes, rusted pipes, huge pieces of the whole structure broken off...
He grinned to himself.
He strode away across the stone, to the edge of the steps leading down into the city. From atop the high hill the castle was located atop of, he scanned the area around him in its entirety.
So the apocalypse really had come through here after all...
Beyond the walls, he couldn't see the water - no lakes or rivers surrounding the city anymore. Even those lush, distant mountains were now just...lifeless peaks of blue rock.
For something like this to have happened to this city, to the entire world, to all these people...
It was better than anything he could have ever dreamed up!
I guess fate decided to come in and blow me out of the water...damn! If there's still a bar open around here, I'll buy you the best drink in the house.
Braig took in a long, blissful whiff of air, and began to descend the cracked, ruined stone stairs.
Maybe ten years of his life, his eye, and a little scar on his face were an acceptable trade, really, for all of this. Yeah, it would take some adjusting to, but if he was good at anything at all in this world...it was adapting. Evolving. And surviving, above all else.
Even after all this, he was still here. He'd still come out on top.
That was all that mattered.
He reached the stone landing, stepping off onto the mid-point between castle entrance and the main square below. The stone arches at the top of the stairs were crumbling, on all sides - the stairs to the left, that led to the gardens, the ones to the right, which lead down and around the side of the castle, and the ones straight ahead, that led down into the main square.
Braig stepped over to the archway on his left, leaning against it. He reached out lazily to grasp the metal gate, giving the rusted thing a little shake. He laughed and shoved it open, letting it swing out with a loud creak.
Man, this was GREAT!
He took in another breath, shutting his sole working eye.
In his own head, he could even call it beautiful. A work of art. Or just plain poetic.
Braig crossed his arms, leaning his head back to touch it to the stone. He chuckled to himself, a smile tugging at his lips.
Wish you could see it, too...Ilse...
It was everything they could have hoped for, and sooooo much more.
He wondered how much of his competition had been knocked off the board. Although, he also had to wonder how many of his favorite customers had been lost as well. He'd had some good setups going, some easy pickings - easy wins...
Ah, whatever, right? Ten years, even if there hadn't been an unfathomable apocalypse, would have changed the map a great deal. Too much for him to hope to maintain all his old positions. Especially with his own absence - people would get complacent, and then get bold...
Braig would have to see what he could salvage - scrap the rest. Start fresh, for the rest of it. No biggie: he'd done it it from scratch before, the first time...and he could do it again now.
It just might take a bit more time, even more so than his inexperienced first times had - on account of the apocalypse and all.
Slow and steady, feel things out first, learn the new lay of the land, find the other players...and then ease back into the game. And, all the while, he needed to make a strong, loyal first reappearance to the boss, Master Ansem - maintain his "good" image among the fools and dupes.
He opened his eye, pushed off from the stone, and headed down into the center of the ruined city.
It felt good to have a plan again.
"You look different."
Luxu eyed Namine as she came down the stairs in early morning's dim lighting. He watched her shuffle into the living room - watched as she came right over and sat herself down beside him, despite her own words. "I know."
"You sound different, too."
"I know..."
"But I can tell you're still you, underneath it," Namine continued, turning to look him square in the eyes.
"You can? Am I that obvious now?"
"Yes. It's the way you move, and the expressions you make. When you look at me - like the way you are now - I can see you in there."
"That's- good. But...this is me, princess. This is me with everything else stripped away. Even a black coat," he added lightly, indicating himself. He'd had to use some shrinking spells on his wardrobe to get it to fit his old body now. "This is Luxu, recompleted. Pure me. First time in thousands of years...since the beginning..."
"I know. It's still just kind of weird," Namine said. "That's all."
"I get that. It's going to take some getting used to. That's okay."
"So how old are you now?" Namine said curiously.
Luxu considered her. "Twenty - twenty-one, I'd say? Physically, of course."
Namine smiled at him. Then she suddenly just leaned over, falling across his lap. Luxu tensed, staring down at her.
Dammit, Luxu, do something...
If he wasn't used to being vulnerable with his Heart, he definitely was not used to physical affection yet - not by a long shot. Despite the numerous hugs Namine pressed onto him over the last few weeks in particular...
And now this, here... This was a step further than just hugs. This was waaay more personal and intimate of a gesture and Luxu was just sort of almost- He forced a breath, and brought a hand in to touch the girl's head. He knew how it went, he knew what to do - he'd watched enough affectionate, intimate displays between close people before - but, like Nia had said...just going through the motions wasn't enough. His Heart had to be in it.
"Hey..." he began.
"Yes?"
"I'm still sorry about last night. What you were trying to do, how dangerous it was...I panicked, and I made a bad choice myself. One that affected you guys. I'm sorry for that."
The kid didn't say anything in response.
"Look, I know you were trying to do something good - what you thought was right - but...could you try to listen to me about these sorts of things? Give me just a little bit of that trust? Trust that I at least have a better idea than you do about what's dangerous in these worlds - about which people in them are bad news? Even if you can't understand it?"
"What could it have hurt?" Namine finally said.
Luxu sighed. He patted her head, caressed her as he thought how to get this across to her. How to get through to her. "Okay - remember...back to our fight?"
"Outside the mansion?"
"Yeah..."
"Yes. What about it?"
"Well...remember how you tried to use Xemnas against me?" Luxu went on quietly. He gave a small laugh, even now, at the complete and total audacity of the move.
"Yes..."
"Right. You called him up, you brought him into things, and what happened? He hurt you - tried to kill you. Almost succeeded. He would have, if I hadn't gotten you out of there. Gotten you to Traverse Town, and to that Aerith woman. You were so focused on reaching me that you forgot about the danger he might pose to you - a man you never liked or trusted. And Braig...that man...he's the same way. And you were going to make the same mistake again, Namine. You were too zeroed in on what you wanted to see the danger to yourself. I couldn't get you to listen, and I panicked, and I did the only thing I could think of to stop it, and that was my bad - but you have your bad, too...you understand it now?"
Namine shifted under him. She gave a great, exaggerated sigh and rolled over. She blinked up at him, her lips forming a deep frown. Then, she nodded. "I guess I do..."
Thank god. Finally! "Good - great! So...I expect you to stay true to your word."
She nodded again, closing her eyes. She rolled over again completely, setting her chin on her arms. "Okay..."
"Is that a, 'I'm mad about it but I'll go along with it' sort of an okay, or an, 'I'll just say yes and then go behind your back later' sort of okay...?"
Namine huffed, strands of hair rising up into the air. "The first one..."
"Okay. Thank you."
The kid responded by blowing a long-suffering raspberry.
Luxu rolled his eyes at her and got back to brushing at her hair. Not that it was necessary - as a Nobody, of course, her hair was ninety-nine percent flawless...but she seemed to enjoy it - and he thought he did, too.
After a couple minutes of this, however, the girl sat up, rolled off of him and got to her feet again. She looked at him in silence for a moment.
"What?" he said. Had he overdone it, or...?
"Can we go to Sora's house now?"
Luxu glanced at the clock. Considered her. Considered whether or not it was still inhospitably, rudely early, or if it would be an okay sort of early... Ultimately, he shrugged and got up as well. "Sure. Go see if Roxas is awake - then you two get ready to go."
"And if he's not?" Namine said slowly.
"Then wake him up," Luxu told her.
Namine grinned, then spun on her heel and stalked off for the stairs.
Luxu honestly could have stopped her - could have told her off. But...let her have her fun, right? She was a kid. What was the worst she could do, anyways?
It hardly took a minute before he heard Roxas's voice yell out, followed by a loud thud. And then came Namine's high peals of laughter.
Luxu threw himself back down onto the couch, putting his hands behind his head. It honestly felt good to be back in his own body again. It was a lot younger, of course, than his most recent one - a lot more springy. Though, his Heart felt the same as it ever had - unfathomably old and tired. He could only do so much to mitigate that time-worn feeling...
On the other hand, being in a human body again had its downsides: it was a lot more fragile and...quirky to deal with compared to a Nobody's form. He'd have to be more careful with it, from here on out. More careful than he'd been the last ten years, as a Nobody.
He didn't have to wait long for the kids to come down, entering the living room together. Both dressed for the day. Namine had chosen that favored, dark blue dress of hers for this occasion, apparently. She'd also done her hair up - a ponytail, tied by a little ribbon.
Luxu got up again at their arrival, adjusting his own outfit a little self-consciously. He cleared his throat, gazing down on them (he was glad he was still taller than them - though not by nearly as much as before). "Okay. Before we head over - Namine - I want you...to promise to be on your absolute, best behavior. And I want you to apologize for the other day - please? Can you do that?"
Luxu didn't think he needed to neg her so much - Namine already looked properly guilty and remorseful about it. She was a good kid like that...a good person at Heart.
"I will!" she said earnestly - shamefully.
"Good," Luxu said. "Let's get going, then."
He summoned his Keyblade, turning to create a portal, and motioned the kids on through.
"Luxu couldn't make it today?"
Namine failed at suppressing a giggle. "This is Luxu!"
"Really?" The woman - Nia (better get used to it, Luxu thought in resignation) - peered at Luxu intently. She looked him up and down.
"Yes," Luxu spoke, shifting uncomfortably. "If you need proof, last night you took me out back and told me - among other things - that I wasn't too bright for such an old man."
"Hm. It is you," said Nia, pleased - or rather, completely unashamed! "That's amazing. Are you some kind of shapeshifter?"
"Some kind of..." Luxu hedged. "But this is the real me - my true form and body - and it's what I'll be sticking with from here on out."
"All right. Well come on in, then!" The woman ushered the kids in before following after them. Luxu sighed and followed her. "Why don't you two go upstairs - first door on the right, you'll find Sora's room. He's been up bright and early today, expecting you," she added on, pointing out the narrow wooden steps.
Namine and Roxas, to their credit, looked at Luxu first with some hesitation.
Luxu shrugged, gave a grin. Made a shooing gesture. "Go on - have fun."
Roxas went up the stairs immediately, but Namine still lingered.
"What are you going to do?" she asked.
Luxu eyed her a moment. He glanced sideways at- Ms. Nia. "You know what, princess? I'm going to do what you should be doing: trying to make a new friend," he responded humorously.
Namine scowled, then smiled. She gave him a nod, and finally turned to disappear up the stairs.
Luxu sighed with relief - but he wouldn't pat himself on the back too much. Okay... He turned toward the woman now, fully. Focusing on her. Her eyes hadn't left him for a second, this whole time. What now? Well... "Thanks for the invitation," he said lightly. Politeness first - it usually went a long way.
Said woman turned and stalked off for the nearest sofa, falling into it and placing her hands on her knees. She looked at him, expectant. Inviting, still.
Luxu shuffled over and sat down to join her - making sure there was a full cushion's length of empty space between them.
The woman turned toward him, regarding him with a small and impish grin on her face now. "Is this shapeshifting of yours limited to your own physical sex, or can you switch over to the other side, as it were?"
Luxu gaped at her, completely taken aback. Then he pulled his best scowl. "Do you always ask such brazen and invasive questions of people you've just met?"
"Are you always so evasive when people ask you very direct questions?"
"You first."
Luxu stared at her.
She stared at him.
He sighed. "No, it's not limited to the male sex - and yes, I usually am. But I'm...working on it, all right?"
"Interesting. So, was the grass greener over here, or not?" The woman patted at her hip very pointedly. "Or, did it not bother you, either way?"
Luxu gritted his teeth, his face growing hot. "It hasn't ever been, historically, one of the most comfortable experiences in the world for me, no - but I got used to it. Though, I could certainly appreciate the change in perspective, at least, yeah. It's not a gift most people get, to be able to step into someone else's shoes...to experience the world in a radically different way. Different places in society, different expectations - different ways of being talked to and viewed by others..."
"That's true. I've wondered, myself, sometimes - what it would be like to be on the other side. Fun little fantasies."
"Yeah...sure. Everyone probably has those, at some point," Luxu said absently, entertaining the woman. How was he to know what a normal person actually thought about in their lifetime?
"Oh, not everyone," she refuted, simple and light.
Luxu shrugged at the correction. Again, who was he to know whether that was true or not? He busied himself next with looking around the house. The pictures on the walls, the little fireplace, the little table of awards and a few trophies - her son's, it looked like. "So..."
"So what?"
"I was under the impression you could help me with this whole parenting business?" Luxu reminded.
"Which part of it do you need help with?"
Luxu faltered. He actually had to think about it. After a minute, he just shrugged again. "I'm not too sure? I just know I'm screwing something up. A lot of somethings. Though, I think I managed to patch things up after last night pretty well, if I say so myself..."
Nia leaned in closer, peering at him. Eye to eye. A genuine interest, Luxu judged. "Tell me about it. We can start there - I need to get an idea of how you do things, first. Actually, why don't you just tell me how you've been managing things for the past month?" she amended. "Since you first took those two in?"
Luxu glanced away, rubbing at his neck. "Are you kidding me?"
"No. I take parenting very seriously. It's one of the few things I do, I admit that freely."
"Alright..." Luxu murmured. He sat back, getting comfortable before he began to speak...