"Rise and shine, sunshine..."
Elrena blinked as the world slowly came back to her.
"Fuck you," she said blearily, sitting upright and turning to glower at Luxu. Lauriam was there, too. She was back in Scala Ad Caelum.
"I know," Luxu said simply. "Rawr rawr to you, too. Be pissed all you want, but you had to know I was never going to let it happen - I said it from the outset."
Elrena stayed silent. She hugged her knees and turned her head aside sharply. "Hmph..."
"Hey-" Luxu began, hesitant.
"What?" Elrena snapped.
"Have you ever heard the saying 'the best revenge is a life well-lived?'"
"Just heard it," Elrena retorted.
"Cute. I'm serious."
"Don't call me cute ever again! It gives me the heebie-jeebies!" Elrena said fiercely.
Luxu winced. "My bad. So...?"
"So WHAT?"
"I think it's a saying you should take to heart. It's a saying that means...that no matter what happened, no matter what they tried to do to you, you survived. You're still here, you're alive, and more than that: you're happy, and at peace, and you've got joy and love in your life. You're thriving. You beat them in that way, Elrena. You lord that over them, you shove that in their faces. You're still you, and you're still here, and you're living your best life. Don't give 'em the time of day, don't let them under your skin. Turn your nose up at them and flaunt the good shit you've got going on."
"That sounds nice and all, but I'd really prefer to gut them."
"I know - but I won't let you do that. But, if you can think on that phrase, I could agree to something else you'd find enticing..." Luxu trailed off.
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
"If you agree not to try to kill them, I could arrange to let you get a shot at beating the shit out of them on the regular," Luxu explained.
"Really...? Tell me more."
"Well, that big old skirmish we had back there just had me thinking...we've got so many people, and Xehanort's still out there...it'd be smart of us not to slack off. To keep training, getting stronger. And we could all do that together - by sparring against each other."
"No deal," Elrena said flatly.
"Elrena..." Luxu pressed.
"No deal!"
"Don't lose yourself in all this anger and pain. Don't forget the good things you have now. Don't take it for granted, or let it go to waste-"
"What good do I have now, exactly?"
"You know what you have," Luxu said, gazing at her intently now. "Your human Heart, for a start. And then there's Namine, and then Lauriam-"
"Okay, enough - shut up!" Elrena yelled out, looking to Lauriam with panic rising in her Heart. "You're right, alright? N-now - just s-shut up!"
Luxu sighed, reaching up to rub at his neck. "Okay. Look, I just...don't want to see you waste your second chance, either. The chance to truly live a life - same as Namine. Same as myself, you know. And I know that it's scary shit, it's hard, especially after millennia stuck in the same self-secluded, introverted rut...but I'm here trying. And I think you should too, Elrena. Because- we're all...here for you."
"I'll take it under advisement, old fart," she uttered scathingly. But she couldn't help how her cheeks burned. The sickening squirming feeling in her Heart. She buried her face in her knees, screwing her eyes closed. Hearts sucked...
"Great. So...I'll leave you be, now. Lauriam and I have got to get back to my place, actually..."
"Do we?" Lauriam said curiously, looking sideways at Luxu. "Why is that?"
"Because my kid and your sister have had the run of the place for the past half hour or so now, and I'm kiiinda terrified about what we'll find when we get there," Luxu elaborated.
Lauriam's eyebrows shot up almost comically. Then, he laughed. "Strelitzia wouldn't dare - she's not the misbehaving sort. She never has been; you have nothing to worry about there. Namine, on the other hand...I see your point."
Luxu summoned his Keyblade with a twirl, aiming it out to conjure a portal. "After you, then."
"Hey! You guys are just going to leave me here?!" Elrena spoke up, raising her head and opening her eyes again.
"You could come along," Lauriam offered, smiling at her softly.
"I could, could I...?" Elrena gazed at him, then at Luxu. She bit her lip hard.
"Have I ever turned down your company?" Lauriam added, quiet and intense now as his eyes just-
UGH! Goddamn HEARTS! Elrena threw up her hands and jumped to her feet, stalking over to them. "Okay, why not? If nothing else, this should be entertaining..."
"That's the spirit," Luxu said, grinning at her.
She gave him another glare and gestured to the portal. Lauriam went through, followed by Luxu. Elrena took a moment for herself, in the silence and loneliness (just like she liked it, by the way!), to better compose herself before finally going on after them. Emerging out the other side, she stepped out onto a high, grassy hill in a whole field of them. There were tall, thick trees spread about the place. And looming right in front of her was this big, two-story house at the top of the hill. She raised an eyebrow at Luxu, turning to the man. "So this is where Namine's been living, huh? Not bad."
"Thanks," Luxu responded. "Speaking of which..." He pointed self-evidently to the house - within which they could hear muffled music playing, along with some occasional thudding noises.
Elrena shook her head, putting her hand to her forehead. A smile curved at her lips despite best efforts. "Did you literally tell her to 'have a party' ooor did she do this all on her own?"
Luxu shrugged, giving a helpless grin. "I might have told her to make a mess and have some fun - told her it was anything goes...Look, I was throwing anything I had at the wall to get her to keep her little butt here! And I can't even be sure she listened to me on that regardless..." he swiftly explained.
"Awesome - you're for sure going to win that dad of the year award, yep!" Elrena replied with a snort.
"You know, I would actually love to see you do any better in my position," Luxu retorted, rolling his eyes.
"No thanks - I'm not housewife material," Elrena shot back instantly, making a face of disgust. "Never have been, never will be. Makes me want to puke just saying the word...Eugh."
Another thud came from inside the home, along with high voices now that were almost distinct.
Lauriam started for the door now, stepping up and quickly pulling it open.
"Hey, my house..." Luxu started. He flushed and gave up half-way through, and hurried after Lauriam.
Elrena laughed behind his back as she followed him inside. She had hardly gotten through the doorway before she had to stop again, however - because Luxu and Lauriam had both just stopped. "Hey, what's the holdup, idiots?" she snapped, shoving out at Luxu, before opting to go around him. She froze, too, as she took in the sight before her.
Oh...
It was a scene of chaos: foods and drinks were strewn about; pillows and blankets were laid out everywhere; there were piles of various clothing articles among it all; the furniture was pushed around like an insane person had decided to do some rearranging; and the walls...they were a total mess of paint streaks and marker lines. And in the center of it all, there was Namine and Strelitzia. Both girls wore similar clothes (Namine's?), and they both had their hair down. Totally wild and free. And the pair of them were dancing. Dancing and laughing like careless little idiots!
And neither girl seemed to have noticed they had company now.
"...it's twirl left, twirl right, then unwind, and then I pull you back in - then you just-" Namine was saying to Strelitzia, as she tried to put words into actions. Namine lifted her arm over her head, raising Strelitzia's by the hand she held, and the latter girl spun herself around with assistance. Strelitzia spun back the other way, then took several quick, stumbling steps back - to the limits of Namine's reach, still joined by hands. And then Namine pulled Strelitzia in toward her while Strelitzia twirled again. "See? That was way better than last time! I think we've almost got it! Now we just need to get the whole flip thing down. Are you ready?"
Strelitzia beamed, nodding. She pushed off from Namine, stepping backwards. She half-raised her arms awkwardly, then put them down again. She flushed, then let out a giggle. "Sorry - ready!"
"Okay. One, two, three!" Namine said quickly. She grabbed Strelitzia's hips and spun around with her, lifting her up into the air despite the latter girl being taller than her! In the same moment, Strelitzia threw her whole body sideways and went into a sideways flip, her hair whipping about. Strelitzia came down outside of Namine's reach, stumbling and windmilling her arms.
"Hoo! I didn't fall flat on my butt this time either!" Strelitzia exclaimed exuberantly.
"You really took my words to Heart, didn't you, princess?" Luxu called out loudly, stepping forward.
"AHHH!" Both girls jumped out of their skin, whirling around together.
"I thought you gave up being a sneaky bastard!" Namine said instantly, in a high voice.
"Old habits die hard," Luxu responded, with a face of pure amusement.
Strelitzia's gaze went straight to Lauriam and Elrena - and then just Lauriam. "L-Lauriam? W-what are you doing here?!"
Lauriam smiled widely, crossing his arms. "Do you not want me to be here right now...? How interesting..."
"Nooo, no, no, no - don't start with that again!" Strelitzia moaned, smacking her hands to her face. "We were just having some- fun!"
"A lot of fun," Namine giggled out.
"Yeah, we can see that, kiddo," Elrena laughed, taking an exaggerated look around. "I have to say, I'm impressed! You thrashed this place!"
"They definitely did," Luxu agreed, looking around as well. "I hope it was worth it - because you're going to clean it all up."
"Hey, you were the one who told us we could-" Namine started with indignation.
"I did - I know - which makes this partially my bad," Luxu agreed.
"And?" Namine pressed.
"And I'll help you with the cleanup, since I share some of the blame," Luxu responded. He sighed, putting his hands on his hips. "Now, want to tell me where Roxas is in all this?"
"I don't know." Namine shrugged. "He said it was too noisy here a while ago, so he went out. Strelitzia and I think he really just didn't want us trying to put a dress on him again, though."
"Fled in terror, then - got it," Luxu chuckled. "Welp, I'm going to go track him down, then. Elrena, Lauriam - feel free to leave. Take your sister with you."
"Actually...if she wants to stay - and if you'd be willing to oblige us - I wouldn't say no to an overnight visit," Lauriam said slowly.
Luxu looked at the other man in surprise. "You'd...trust me with her like that?"
Lauriam gave a small nod. "You saved her life before - and then you brought her back to me here, in this era. When I might never have seen her again...you brought her back to me. So yes, I think I can trust you to simply keep an eye on her for a night."
"Even after seeing this ringing endorsement of my abilities as a parental figure?" Luxu snorted, gesturing.
"After seeing my sister enjoying herself with someone more than I can ever remember," Lauriam corrected softly. "Since...before Daybreak Town, I think. And anyways, giving her something like this is what I fought my way out of the Organization for. For myself, and Elrena, and for Namine. A free and normal life in this World. Obviously that now includes my sister."
"I'm also standing right here!" Strelitzia piped up, huffing.
"You are," Lauriam acknowledged. "Well then? Would you like to stay with Namine for the night?"
"I have no objections to the idea," Luxu said casually. "Hey, I'd be happy to have you over a bit longer. Like your brother said: it'd be good for you - as much as for Namine."
"She's staying!" Namine declared, seizing Strelitzia's arm and pulling her in close.
"Wha- oof!" Strelitzia bumped into Namine, righting herself quickly. She looked to Lauriam alone, her face full of anxiety (and some other emotions Elrena wasn't too comfortable giving a name to). "I...I would like to stay with her for a while more. We'll- we'll clean everything up and be quieter! Right?"
"Yeah - we'll just hang out in my room all night," Namine said swiftly, looking to Luxu. "You won't even know we're here!"
"That, I doubt," Luxu joked. But he nodded, all the same. "But all right. If everyone's on board with this...let's do it."
"I'll see you in the morning, then," Lauriam told Strelitzia lightly. "Keep enjoying yourself. I'm glad to see you've found such a good...ah, friend."
"Dooon't," Strelitzia whined, her pale face turning bright pink again.
"Oh, how did the fight go?" Namine asked quickly. "Did you win?"
"No - but only because some idiot interfered," Elrena snapped out. She spun on her heel and stalked out the door. All this mushy lovey happy crap was really just...getting unbearable now.
"Were you the idiot?" she heard Namine ask Luxu.
"Well, she'd see it that way," Luxu's quiet response came.
"I...should go after her," Lauriam murmured. "I trust you to have things well in hand here."
"Hey, I won't let you down," Luxu called after him. "Strelitzia's- all safe with me. Everything's going to be great...yeah..."
Idiots, Elrena thought.
She stopped, however, as she realized the portal had closed. She let out a growl, whirling back to yell out: "HEY! Old man - make me a path back to Scala!"
Elrena stomped out of the portal, back in the world of Scala Ad Caelum again.
She navigated the narrow streets and steep steps, reaching the base level of the vertical city - sea level. She headed out for the docks, extending out across the deep blue waters. Long and wide, with trees and patches of grass down the middle. Benches here and there, along the outer railing that kept morons from just falling in.
"Elrena..."
She stopped, spinning around. "WHAT?"
Lauriam stood gazing at her in the dim evening light. "Did you hear what I-"
"I didn't hear a thing!" Elrena interjected, in mocking tones. "My bad!"
Lies. Of course she had heard him calling her name for the past five minutes or so, as he followed her like a lost puppy. She'd just decided to ignore it all.
And now...she felt...bad about it...
God...
Lauriam's expression changed. But it wasn't irritation, it wasn't anger. She would have been - but not him. It was all just...
Elrena turned away swiftly, joining her hands tight at her waist and bowing her head. "D-don't- look at me like that, okay?" she fumbled out, staring intently at the pristine white stone beneath her feet.
"Elrena, half an hour ago, you told me that you had feelings for me - and you kissed me," Lauriam spoke quickly, stumbling over the words himself! "I think that merits a proper, mature discussion between us...if only to know where we stand going forward."
"W-what do you mean, where we stand going forward? Are you saying you-"
"I don't know what I'm saying, exactly - that's why we need to talk about it," Lauriam replied, with a small smile. An amused glint in his eyes.
"W-well, I-" Elrena looked away again, wringing her hands. "I...Y-you're the idiot who couldn't even realize I-"
"I was," Lauriam laughed gently. "I was also the idiot who couldn't recognize those feelings inside himself. Although, in my defense, it isn't as if either of us have much experience in that regard...do we? No, that's too presumptuous of me - I apologize-"
"H-hey, you're not exactly wrong there: Heartless slaying never left much room for anything else," Elrena admitted, cutting him off. "Not that I was interested, though! I wasn't some sappy romance-loving girly girl!"
"And yet..." Lauriam said, quiet and slow.
Elrena blew a breath, looking down again quickly. She gave a shaky nod. "Y-yeah..."
"Can we sit - and talk? Properly? Please?" Lauriam asked, gesturing to a nearby bench.
Elrena closed her eyes. She dug her nails into her hands. "What would- be the point? I told you already - everything I could have said. And y-you- what's there to talk about?!"
"Well, how about the way we want to move forward from here? Whether it's together, as partners in a new way, or...if you'd prefer to ignore it all?"
"A-are you kidding? I said all that to you, I kissed you, and you think I'd want to just go back to normal afterwards? Just forget it all? You know how hard it was for me to work up the guts to-"
"I think I do, actually. And I'm proud of you. And grateful. Because I never would have figured it out on my own, would I?"
"Yeah...got that r-right..." Elrena stared at him a moment longer, then she strode over to sit down on the bench. He came and sat beside her - touching shoulders. She sucked in a deep breath, squeezing her hands together in her lap. "Okay, so...what now? What do you want to say? What do you want- m-me to say?"
"I don't...particularly want you to say anything, Elrena. Just...the truth of what's in your Heart."
"Okay...w-well, if that's the case, you're going to have to give me a minute here, because even I don't know what's rattling around in there," Elrena snarked out.
"Take your time."
"S-sure, whatever..."
Elrena shut her eyes again, bowing her head and bringing her hands up to her chest. Come on, do it - do this. If you don't do this, you're going to lose him...and then where will you be, huh? Alone again? This is a chance you can't afford to screw up, so get it right! God, maybe Luxu was a little right...
Elrena was here - she'd survived against all odds (and the luck of being in the right place, right time). She was alive, and now here she was, with a chance at a whole heap of new things she'd never gotten in the old world. A real friendship, with Lauriam, and people like Namine (the only kid who wasn't so bad), and...and now maybe even more with Lauriam! With someone who...who she'd felt- what she'd never felt before, for anyone. Ever. Like, eveeeeeer. Who she swore to god she would never feel, because wasn't all that junk just time-wasting, and sappy, and made girls weak little airheads and- and who needed it, anyways?!
She was a Keyblade wielder, she was fighting to collect light, she was doing what she was good at, what she enjoyed: destroying those dark monsters that kept taking people from her - who had torn a hole in her Heart to begin with and-
Elrena's eyes snapped open with a gasp.
"Are you all right, Elrena?"
Lauriam, still just- right there at her side...
Still just looking at her in that way that people hadn't- or if they had, she'd never given it much of a second thought (who needed it? Pity, sympathy? Whatever, right?).
Wasn't going to change...wasn't going to stop...all that had ever mattered was why they were there in Daybreak Town. What they were tasked with doing.
Not a thing else.
No time, no room for anything else.
Friendship? L-love? Yeah right. Like anyone could possibly slip any of that stuff in, when a war was looming, when you were traveling between projected worlds and fighting monsters! Monsters that kept taking people away, more and more party members, and stupid randos that Elrena never cared for because they were randos! Why should she care if they were gone?! Any of them?! Caring just meant you lost.
But...but Lauriam was different - wasn't he? They'd been different, together. He'd always been her partner in crime. They'd always been...just that, right? Partners. Fighters. Equals. Against the entire damn World! And then Namine had come into the picture, and...and yeah, she could be lost, she was a little idiot with a fiery spirit, but...but even Namine didn't have to be lost...because she had- Elrena. A-and Luxu, and everyone else, and...strength in numbers, right?
Like the five Union Leaders who had worked together to survive - and had succeeded. Who had taken Elrena along for the ride, without hesitation or a discussion, even. Someone who didn't deserve a spot on the lifeboat to...life. She'd never done much living before, had she? And what was she doing here, now? Not much... Okay, fine. So- so Luxu was right about - everything about her! She was wasting her life - wasting her second chance! The one that Lauriam and the others had given her!
But that just meant...she had to prove him wrong about that. Proven them all wrong! She had to- she had to-
"Okay - okay, okay, okay!" Elrena exclaimed, turning to face Lauriam in her seat. She looked down, aside, then looked him in the eye. "I...what's in my Heart is...it's... Damnit, what am I trying to say? I'm not good with this 'from the Heart' crap..."
"Then maybe you don't need to say anything yet. It's all right of you to-"
"No, hey! I'm here, I'm doing this, alright? Just-" Elrena cut herself off, stamping down on her own Heart. She squirmed a moment, then jumped to her feet and stalked away. She turned and grasped the railing, squeezing the cool iron bars against her palms. She glanced over to see Lauriam had gotten to his feet as well. But he wasn't getting any closer to her or anything like that. God, if he tried to even... Elrena looked out across the water, to distant mountains built up with these identical, grand cities. She huffed and leaned out over the railing, feeling the chill winds on her face.
"I loved you...since Daybreak Town, since the day we first met," Elrena began to speak - to herself. As if Lauriam wasn't even there. It was easier. So much easier. "When you came to me looking for Strelitzia...you were so focused, so compassionate and kind, and you had this pure strength to you that I saw even then, even if only some deep, subconscious part of me realized it. You were determined; you'd have stopped at nothing to find her again. And I...I was taken with you, from the first time our eyes met, and we sat together on those steps. And I never said a word back then, and I never would have, even if I'd realized it consciously...if I'd had the guts to say it out loud!"
"Because, back then," she rallied, rambling on now. "you were trying to solve your sister's murder, and you were trying to stop the end of the fucking world! My World - even if I had no idea at the time! You were so busy, so single-minded, dedicating all your strength to saving everyone, to...and it was all of that about you at the time that I- admired! That I envied, b-because- because it wasn't how I could be! How I'd ever been, with anyone! Even as a human, as some random girl! I wasn't...I never had real friends, I didn't go out of my way to- I kept to myself, I kept my Heart to myself! But you...for the first time in my life, you made me want to share it with someone else!"
"And you still do. You - and Namine, too - you both make me...want to be a better person," she admitted, in a high, trembling voice. "To be a better me - a better Elrena. 'Cause she wasn't much to write home about, even back then. That's the t-truth! And I want to be someone worth writing home about. I want to be someone worthy of everything you've ever given me, from saving my life to- saving my Heart! I want my H-Heart...to be something worth saving!"
"Oh, Elrena...do you really have such a low opinion of yourself?"
"No, I'm just spouting this all off for fun!"
Lauriam's face blanched. Or maybe he'd winced. Either way, he came forward slowly, and he reached out and he took her arm and pulled her up straight again. Turned her to face him.
Any other time and she would have smacked him for it, or shoved him, or- or-
But right then, Elrena just couldn't...
Lauriam's hand rose higher, and he touched her face. He held her face. Cupped it and caressed it and-
"If you never believe in anything else, believe this: you are worthy of saving. You're worthy of living," he spoke firmly. "And I don't say this...only because of the feelings I have for you in return. I say this because it's nothing but the truth, Elrena. Maybe the truth that you can't see - that you have yet to realize - but it is there."
"No..." Elrena refuted, turning her head aside, reaching up to pull his hand away. "You're- kind, good, empathetic, determined. All of that stuff. And I'm none of it. You should have all just left me behind - let someone else have my spot on the Ark. If you had, it could have saved...Ephemer, or Brain, or-"
"I would never have done that. None of us would have."
"Exactly..." Elrena whispered out, with a soft laugh. "But I would have."
"And I don't believe that. Maybe it's what you tell yourself, but I think that you're...far too unkind to yourself. Would you have spent those times speaking with me on those stairs, would you have independently gone to investigate my sister's disappearance, if you had no empathy or kindness in your own Heart?" Lauriam replied. "My Heart is nothing special, Elrena, for being how it is. It's just the same as yours; yours is the same as mine! You're the only thing keeping yourself from truly understanding...just how amazing, and wonderful it is - as well as just how many amazing things it's capable of."
"Well...maybe it is..." Elrena admitted quietly, closing her eyes. "...But not just yet."
Lauriam sighed. And then she felt the warmth of his hand again, on her face. And then...the warmth of his lips on hers. And then it was gone. Elrena opened her eyes again at the absence. Lauriam was smiling at her again... "I'll be here to help you get there, then. I will always...be here for you. Isn't that what partners are for?"
"I wouldn't know," Elrena muttered out, sagging on the spot. Then she drew herself up again, and she forced her lips into a smile of her own. "Well, okay...I didn't know - until I met you." She stepped in quickly, tilting her head back, and she kissed him.
"And you claim you're not a romantic of any kind," Lauriam laughed.
"C-clearly you're just rubbing off on me! But don't expect it to become a regular thing!"
"Of course. That makes perfect sense."
"S-shut up - ugh!"
Braig had spent the next day mulling over the whole encounter he'd had with that Xehanort guy.
Mostly, considering his options.
Take the offer, or not?
Weigh the consequences of either choice...and what did you get?
What could he stand to gain - or lose?
After a full day of it, he figured the answer was pretty simple.
He spread the word to the boss that he wanted to hold a little meeting - that he had information about Xehanort. More specifically, that he'd had a run-in with him the other day. Ansem The Wise had agreed to hold the meeting in the castle's dining hall - but he'd also gone off to collect some others for it. Among those others...was Luxu. Considering the topic of discussion, it made sense that the boss would bring the guy into this one - but Braig wasn't happy about it. Though, he was glad he didn't have to hide how unhappy he was about it.
"Silver hair, golden eyes - that was indeed Xehanort. And you say he tried to recruit you to his cause...?" Ansem The Wise was saying, sitting rigid in his chair.
"Yeah. Bastard tried to..." Braig gritted his teeth, throwing a glance at Ansem The Wise. "To use her against me."
Ansem's look of pure pity was too damn much.
Braig looked away quickly. He regretted telling the guy the story all those years ago...even if the trust and sympathy garnered from the old man had helped Braig to further solidify his place in this castle. It had been a moment of pure weakness and idiocy from a much younger man - just wanting to get it off his chest, wanting someone to know about her... Pathetic, right? At least the old man had stayed true to his word since that night, when he'd sworn never to tell another Heart about what Braig had told him. Braig's past could stay buried in the past.
"I see," was all the old man finally said, in the here and now.
"And who is this elusive 'her?'" spoke Even curiously.
"If you ever ask that question again, I'll throw you out a fucking window," Braig snarled.
"What was offered is not important - what it signifies is," Ansem said quickly, holding up a hand to Even in sharp warning. "It means that Braig's assessment is correct: Xehanort is getting desperate."
"Quite right. What's important is that he is after my Replicas - again!" Even exclaimed. "I'll want twenty-four hour guards in the laboratory from here on out, Master! We shan't give them even a moment where they think they can slip past us! Not on my watch!"
"Shan't?" Braig snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure the guy will be terrified of our resident walking thesaurus."
"He certainly is more threatened by my great intellectual prowess, compared with, say, your lesser mind that can't even comprehend the word - hence why he's been so obsessive over my Replica Program, of which only I am the one capable of managing!"
"Never said I couldn't," Braig snapped out. "I just said words don't mean a damn thing - but a round through the head does."
"Then why didn't you put one in his while you were face to face with the man?" Even shot back.
"Are you asking me why I didn't murder some guy in cold blood?" Braig held up his hands, pulling his best shocked look. "Woah, man, I didn't think that was how we did things here...what do you think, Master Ansem?"
Ansem sighed. "Of course I would not wish you to have done so - and I do not begrudge you for not having done such a thing. However, I must confess that, were I in your shoes...I may well have. The danger that man poses, the harm he has caused, cannot be overstated. He is a threat of the highest order, one that the entire universe would be better off without! Sooner rather than later!"
Braig sat up straighter, gazing at the old man. He gave a low whistle. "Damn...wouldn't have thought you had it in you, Master. I'm impressed," he said, entirely honestly. Although, it could have just been smoke and bluster; nobody really knew if they were capable of it or not...until the moment came. He knew that well enough, himself...
"It is nothing to be impressed about, Braig - it is merely a necessity," Ansem refuted. "One I would be willing to carry out - for all of our sakes."
"Well, now I'm touched," Braig responded, flashing a grin. "And a little upset I didn't just blow the guy away while I had the chance. Would've saved us all a headache, from what I gather..."
"What, specifically, did he say to you?" asked Ansem.
"Some bullshit about time travel and Hearts, something about a...memory or a medium? Something involving those Replica whatevers." Braig said with a shrug.
Luxu jumped to his feet in an instant.
"What?" Braig said, giving a wide grin at the man. "Something upset you?"
"What did he say?" Luxu demanded.
Braig laughed, sitting back in his chair and putting his feet up. "Hell if I remember. And even if I did, I sure as shit wouldn't tell you."
"Braig - please," Ansem implored. "It is vital that we know exactly what Xehanort spoke of. His words could hold the clues to his current and future plans."
"No can do, Master. It's all just a blur up in here-" Braig started, raising a hand to tap his temple.
"Either you tell us now, or we find out ourselves," Luxu said, his voice low and dangerous.
"Then do it!" Braig challenged, jumping to his feet as well and slamming his fist on the table. "Take another ten years off my life - take my Heart again, dig around until you have what you need! Then throw it away like a used gum wrapper!"
"Enough!" Ansem said harshly. He looked around the table at them all. "All of you: clear the room. Now."
Once they all had left - Luxu included - Ansem looked to Braig. Alone now.
"Will you tell me, and me alone, Braig? You know I will not reveal a word of this to anyone. You have confided in me once before, and I have never betrayed that..." Ansem reminded.
Braig glanced at the old man, seething. He looked to the door. He fucking hated it as much as the first time, but he knew he had to give. He also knew that, much like the first time, if he did, it would earn more brownie points with the man. And that could only be a good thing at a time like this - with Luxu being so openly suspicious and hostile toward him. Every little bit would help...
He stared at the far wall for a minute. Then another. Then a third.
Finally, he sighed, leaning forward and curling his fists on the table. "It was bullshit, nothing more."
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. We live in quite incredible times, where the fantastic has become our new reality. Or, rather, our old."
"He said some shit about being a version of Xehanort from the past, and that his 'current self' pulled his Heart into the present. And he tried to convince me that if I joined him...he'd do the same thing for-" Braig cut himself off sharply. "Said she could live again, in the here and now. Said I had to the key to it. A 'medium' and memories, or one of Even's Replica whatevers."
"Thank you," Ansem said quietly. "This is invaluable information - and if true, absolutely astonishing..."
"Yeah, whatever," Braig muttered. "Can I go now, or do you want me to write up a full report for you?"
"Of course, you may go. And the words spoken here will never leave this room. You can trust-"
"Trust is for fools," Braig scoffed, getting up and striding off for the door.