Complicated

Part One

The show came to a close, as the top of the tent opened up like a flower in bloom. Roxas looked up, shaken and yet thoughtless after the fire dancer's performance. The night sky was revealed to them as the pitch black sky was lit up with a thousand stars, hues of blue and purple streaked through it like a sea of color. There was a screeching followed by a loud explosion as a firework was sent into the sky. Then one after the other great blazing explosions of color filled the world above them. Roxas watched trying to understand why his heart was pounding so much, why his head was spinning and why his body seemed to shake worse than the time he drank three energy drinks in one go or when he was hiding his first hangover from his family. It was the fire dancer. He made Roxas feel this way. He made Roxas feel out of control in a way he never knew before. The fireworks turned into snakes like veins of light creating a network in the night. Roxas was scared. Roxas wanted to get closer to him, wanted to learn about him and know more about who he was. Yet he couldn't. He remembered what happened to Cloud. He remembered what happened to himself as well. He remembers old friends lost. No Roxas refused to allow himself to get hurt by that man. By that demon who plays in fire. It didn't stop the control Axel had over him though. Didn't stop the way he met his eyes when he danced and fell entranced under the man. The firework shows came to an end. Roxas stared at the empty sky as the audience cheered. Everything was changing so fast and he feared now more than ever that he might lose himself in the chaos.

Roxas didn't notice that people had started leaving until he felt Cloud grab his shoulder.

"Hey you alright there?" he looked down at Roxas; Ventus was also stood up on his other side.

"Yeh I'm fine. It's just… a lot to take in." He admitted as he stretched out his limbs and stood up.

"Did you enjoy the show though?" Cloud's voice was worried again. Cloud worries too much Roxas decided.

"Are you kidding? It was awesome! I had never seen anything so cool." It was true; he had never experienced anything like it.

"Right Ventus!" He turned to his brother who smiled and nodded. Ventus wrapped his arms round Roxas shoulders and laughed.

"I didn't trust that tiger though. He seemed too friendly with you." Ventus just looked at Roxas, his head cocked.

"Right, they say she's harmless and before you know it she's made a Ventus sandwich!" That just earned him another laugh and then a shove forward as they followed Cloud out the stands. The three brothers made their way out the tent and into the pleasant summer night. A gentle breeze swept past them as Roxas took in a breath of the fresh air clearing his mind from the all the jumble and junk that had begun to clutter it. Looking over they saw the last of the audience follow a path round the tent and into the night. They walked in the opposite direction back towards Circus Village. Ventus shot Roxas a look.

"That's a point. Cloud where are we going now?" Roxas hadn't even noticed where he was walking. He was just going along with things.

"Xemnas told me that we should meet everyone outside a bonfire. He said it was in the middle of Circus Village so I'm assuming if we walk in that direction we'll find it. He did say it was big." Cloud seemed a little bit bewildered himself. It was jarring leaving the fantasy world of the circus to return to the real world. The suddenness of the life change hitting them. Even the 'real world' seemed different to their old life. The open air. The darkness of the night lit by lamps hanging on various trees and tents, instead of blazing neon signs and streets lights. They could hear the circus folk in the distance but it still didn't compare to the normal night sounds of busy cars, busy people and business still in full flare until the early hours of the morning. It was calming and refreshing.

Xxx

Leading the boys behind him, Cloud saw the flickering fire approaching them and figured that was the bonfire Xemnas was on about. As they got closer he could see some of the acts around the fire. Sat, stood, dancing, chatting, all having a good time. Moving away from the group Xemnas began heading in the direction of the boys with that usual gentle expression on his face.

"There you are!" He called, his deep voice carrying through the night.

"Come, come." He ushered them through the group of happy people towards a slight rise in the ground.

"It's time to officially welcome you!" Xemnas stated not giving the boy any time to argue before he had raised his hand and silenced the circus down. They turned their attention towards the boys and Cloud froze for as second, fearing the worse. What if they turned on them? Was there some rite of passage they'd suddenly have to complete?

"All right everyone, as some of you may or may not know we have new members here at the Cirque Du Keyblade. This is Cloud, Ventus and Roxas who were found in the woods earlier today by our very own Leon." Upon hearing his name Cloud tried to find Leon, remembering that he still was wearing his jacket. He should really return it, sooner rather than later. The leather on his shoulders felt heavier.

"I have decided to allow them into the circus, so as always help them settle in and give a warm welcome into the family." A cheer spread across the large group of people like the three had just return from some epic quest not just inconvenienced them by tagging along. The word family played over in Clouds head. How are they family? They didn't know them? They weren't related to them? As the roar died down Cloud felt uncomfortable yet comforted. He was used to protecting people that it was strange to find himself being protected. Even if the circus didn't know what they were protecting him from.

"So Marley you got names for them yet?" A voice cried from the collection of scattered strangers.

"Of course!" With that the rush of pink appeared close to the boys, energetic as always. Cloud's younger brothers still seemed a bit shocked by him, however hours napping in his tent meant Cloud had started to get used to the flamboyant man's ways.

"This ones just a complete doll. I mean I don't care what you like, you look at him and you have to swoon in the gaze of his beauty." Marluxia's arms were waving about as usual, and Cloud had gathered that over exaggerating everything was just Marluxia being Marluxia.

"Then this little one is an absolute dove. So peaceful." Those paying attention to Marluxia cooed as Ventus blushed. Whilst Cloud could tell Ventus was uncomfortable, he really wanted Ventus to realize that these people were harmless. Of course predictably Roxas didn't think the same way as he stepped protectively in front of his twin.

"Ah yes and of course we have our brave little kitten here, trying to be the tiger as always." Cloud internally rolled his eyes; here we go again he thought.

"I'm not a kitten Pinky!" Roxas growled back. Marluxia laughed seemingly delighted at being insulted. Seeing an opportunity, Cloud snuck away figuring it was for the best that the circus learns now about Roxas's attitude.

Cloud found a log placed to the edge of the group to sit on. Close enough to just feel the lingering heat from the roaring fire in the middle but far enough away he found comfort in the shadows of the night. What am I even doing here? He thought to himself. In a moment it seemed his entire world had changed rapidly. He thought it was for the best, he wanted to revel in the impossibility of his good luck, yet it was all so fast. So out of control. Yesterday everything had been normal, at least to begin with. He was dealing with the usual grief of his father. He was protecting his brothers. Yesterday the world had seemed a dark place. Yesterday people had a certain way to act and everything abnormal was hidden away in unspoken box. That was yesterday night. That was a long time ago it seemed. Now he was here. A world so strange yet so bright and filled with endless possibilities. He was Alice stuck in the wonderland of a circus and he never wanted to wake up. His mind would not let him embrace the joy of it all though. He couldn't let go. Whenever he was tempted his mind taunted him with endless horrible possibilities from abandonment to being caught by his father. And sometimes. Just sometimes. When his brain was feeling particularly cruel, his thoughts would travel to the recesses of his mind and dig up memories of a man he'd long since left in the past. Or so he'd like to convince himself. Cloud shivered.

"You're nervous right?" A voice came from the side of him as looking up Cloud saw the young brown haired performer looking down at him. Aerith. She smiled sweetly as she sat on the left of him, keeping enough distance that Cloud didn't feel as if she was trying to be invasive. Everything about the girl could be summed up as sweet. From her appearance, voice and even the scent of flowers that lingered around her.

"It's hard to get a grip on to begin with. One minute you're struggling through life and the next you're thrown into a fantasy." She laughed lightly.

"You can stay that again. I feel out of touch with reality right now." Cloud confessed deciding he rather enjoyed the others presence.

"I don't think you ever get over it. The magic of this place. Even now there are days when I wake up and think I'm living in a very long dream."

"True but if this is a dream it's the best one I ever had." Cloud sighed. They descended into a comfortable silence for a moment and stared at the flickering fire, watching shapes move about in a stream of voices.

"Oh Aerith you should see how cute this one is! A voice called and ahead of him Cloud saw Yuffie pandering over poor Ventus, who looked a little confused with it all.

"Oh Yuffie be careful with him!" Aerith called over as if Ven was a priceless vase.

"I'll keep an eye on her; I'll see you around cloud." Aerith got up and began to run to the excitable hairdresser waving as she went.

"Look at you! Only a day here and you're already hitting it off with the chicks." The acrobat who had been with Aerith in the show came to approach Cloud. Whilst he had dropped some of the grander looking performance clothes he still had an eye patch on. Cloud assumed it was more than just an aesthetical choice. Especially if the scarring was anything to go by.

"Leave him alone Xigbar, not everyone's a pervert like you." A blonde followed behind him. Cloud had remembered seeing him earlier introducing customers to the tent and showing them card tricks. His accent was strong though from where Cloud wasn't sure. It sounded almost familiar though, like he came from a line of people his father would have associated with.

"Ignore him Cloud, he's a tool. Want to play cards with us? I'll lend ya a couple of bin lids." From his sleeve the blonde pulled out a deck of cards and began to shuffle them.

"Bin lids?" Last Cloud had checked bin lids were not required in cards, not that Cloud knew many card games.

"He means a couple of coins so you can join the poker game. Luxord comes from The Queen Collective off the south system; they use some weird cockney slang up there." Another man directed his attention to Cloud, Xaldin the cook, if Cloud remembered correctly. He was sat next to a plastic fold-up table as the other pair had turned round to join him.

"But I've never played poker." Cloud countered, rather embarrassed by his lack of knowledge. Most men keen how to play poker!

"Never played! Come over 'ere then mate, we'll teach ya!" The pirate guy as Cloud had named him ushered Cloud to a free chair by the table. Cloud wasn't sure he wanted to join really but felt as if he should.

"Hey Xaldin you going to deal?" Luxord said handing Xaldin the cards.

"You can watch me for now Cloud till you get the gist." Xigbar said slinging an arm around Cloud instantly making him uncomfortable. The man smelt musky and not entirely pleasant. Cloud tried very politely to wiggle from the man's arm. The game began. Every now and then Xigbar would quietly explain in Clouds ear what was happening. Whilst Cloud appreciated being taught it also meant the man once again got far too close for Clouds liking, he hated such close personal contact with others, especially other males, and he just simply felt anxious and uncomfortable by it.

"I think our Cloud here is getting the hang of it!" Xigbar exclaimed and once more his arm went around Cloud's shoulder. Once more Cloud tried to reign in the uncomfortable feeling that this action brought about. It's innocent enough; he's just trying to be friendly, Cloud tried to remind himself. He didn't want to think badly of Xigbar. Didn't want his thoughts forever clouded by the past.

"Do you want to join in; here I'll lend you some coins so you're not losing anything. Luxord's a master at this game annoyingly." Xaldin offered, passing over some chips, which Cloud had learnt stood in for real money. He wasn't sure he wanted to play yet. Even though he understood the basics, and understood that most of the game was in fact tricking your opponents with a good poker face and choice moves. He got it all. Yet coming in as a novice and screwing up was just not a situation he wanted to entertain. Perhaps he could practise in private. Master the game first so he didn't come in like an idiot.

"Aw come on now Xaldin!" Xigbar protested pulling Cloud closer as his voice dropped.

"Surly you'd rather stay on my team." It wasn't just Xigbar's voice that was travelling lower. Cloud whipped round smacking Xigbar with the back of his hand. Instinct had taken over thought as he watched horrified when Xigbar fell onto the floor.

"Ha! You deserved that one Xiggy!" Xaldin burst out laughing as a couple of cheers were heard across the crowd who had turned their head at the commotion.

"Oh god!" Cloud felt humiliated and ashamed as red tainted all his features.

"I am so sorry!" He held out his hand trying to help the other man up, and when it was knocked away Cloud panicked. That was it, he thought, they could never like him again.

"It's alright sweetheart, that's hardly the first time." The man just chuckled as he got up; slapping his hand round Clouds back once more.

"I'll give you one thing though; you've got one hell of a backhand on ya." Cloud was dumbfounded for a moment, having not been in this situation he didn't know how to react.

"He got you good Xigbar. You're probably going to have an ocean liner later." Luxord seemed to join in on the chuckling.

"I really am sorry." Cloud spoke up again as Xigbar went to sit down.

"Aw a black eye is far from the worst I've had."

"How'd you think he lost his eye?" Xaldin pointed to the eyepatch

"What?" Cloud asked.

"Ah yeh that. Let's just say you should never feel up a cockney girl with self-defence training round the back of a strip club when her nails are five inches long and her bodyguard boyfriend is literally approaching the car park." Cloud struggled to piece together the story, and when he did he wondered why or how Xigbar had found himself in that situation.

"Anyway. Weren't we supposed to be playing a game of cards?" Oh, Cloud had forgotten about that.

"Sorry guys I'm cutting in." Came a familiar deep voice, looking round Cloud saw Leon had approached them.

"What's up Leon?" Xaldin asked

"I need Cloud for a moment, I'm sure you won't mind." Leon had phrased it respectfully, yet he had left little room for question, and Cloud had to admit he felt relieved to be given an out.

"Aw, and here I was looking forward to playing with him some more." Cloud groaned. Did Xigbar really have to phrase it that way?

"Well I'm stealing him away. Come on Doll." Cloud nodded a little red from Xigbar's previous comment.

He followed Leon to stand near the fire.

"Oh I almost forgot!" Cloud remembered as the heat of the fire began to make his skin sizzle through the leather. Shaking off the jacket he handed it to Leon.

"I believe this belongs to you." Leon smiled as he took the jacket.

"Are you sure you'll be warm enough now?" Cloud appreciated the concern but the coldness of the morning had all but disappeared only to leave a sense of exhaustion.

"Yeh I'll be okay."

"Fair enough. Next time we're in Travers Town I'll have to get you a jacket similar since it does suit you. If I already own any similar you can borrow it. I'd let you borrow this one but…" Leon trailed off.

"It's alright. Marluxia already said it was special. I understand." Cloud spoke softly. He genuinely did understand. Whilst he never had anything to hold onto he had seen it with Roxas. He had a necklace he used to adore. It was a rare gift from their mother. The day it got broken in a fight Roxas was devastated. And livid. Cloud never thought he'd never be able to get Roxas off the poor kid after that. One of the few times Roxas seemed honestly malicious and scary.

"Why did you want me?" Cloud asked both curious and desperate to change the conversation. Things were hitting a little too close to home right now.

"Oh I could just see you were uncomfortable. I was waiting for you to speak up but after you looked so upset over Xigbar I figured I'd step in." Leon explained. Cloud didn't know how to feel. Grateful, charmed or horrified.

"I'm sorry I didn't realise it was that obvious. I wasn't trying to be a nuisance." Cloud readied himself for a more eloquent apology when Leon cut in.

"Cloud its fine. You're new and this is all sudden, no one would blame you for being uncomfortable. I certainly don't mind chipping in to save you. I just want you to know if you tell someone 'no' nothing bad will happen." Leon paused letting the word sink in.

"And trust me there's a reason people cheered when you hit Xigbar. Don't get me wrong he's a good guy; he's just a bit of a perv. Everyone's hit Xigbar at some point." Cloud laughed at this, allowing some relief to wash over him though there was still a lingering feeling of guilt.

"You really do need to relax Cloud, we won't judge you here okay? Just let go-"

"Hey Leon! Cloud! Look at Demyx!" Sora called from the other side of them. Following where he was pointing they watched as the motorcyclist was now doing very impressive tricks on the trampoline. Impressive if it wasn't for the fact that he was getting closer and closer to the edge.

"Demyx you'll hurt yourself!" Aerith called trying to warn him. Cloud watched and couldn't help laughing as the goofball paid no attention. That was until he fell of the edge, tumbling in a ball towards a small group of people around Roxas.

"Well not as laid back as him then?" Cloud laughed.

"Now you're getting it Doll." Leon's voice lowered and Cloud repressed a shiver. Wait…

"That's the second time you called me 'Doll' isn't it?"

"Probably. I'd hate to inflate his ego but Marluxia's right, the name does suit you." Leon winked. Cloud couldn't help the blush that creeped up, though luckily Leon's attention was always taken away by his younger brother.

"Sora before you go announcing its marshmallow time, would you like to tell me where you actually got that bag of marshmallows. I was certain Xaldin had hid them; specifically from the young idiot who would constantly steal them announcing that it was marshmallow time." Leon lectured, causing a semi embarrassed and semi guilty look to call on Sora's face, similar to how Roxas would look when he got caught out being mischievous.

"Yeh but Riku helped!" Sora protested attempting to half the blame it seemed,

"Only because you wouldn't stop bugging me otherwise." The other spoke still rather monotone. More like the person Cloud had met earlier and not the ringmaster he watched in the circus. To be fair Cloud had not even noticed the white haired teen sat nearby him and Leon before he had spoken up and after speaking his face returned to a look of begrudging indifference.

"Oh cheer up Riku!" Sora cried bouncing up to Riku and shoving the marshmallows in his face. All shame was forgotten as Sora attempted to pester his friend into smiling. Cloud found it rather heart-warming. Riku had appeared cold, yet he seemed to allow Sora his games. In fact Cloud was sure he saw the start of a smile forming.

"Leave him alone Sora, we'll go eat." Leon rolled his eyes.

"Brothers right?" He muttered as he nodded for Cloud to follow, the younger boy tow.

Xxx

"You enjoying yourself Kitten?" Came the unmistakable laugh of the pink flamboyant semi-human that Roxas had come to loath in a very short span of time.

"I've said it before, don't call me that!" Roxas groaned in irritation as the man simply paid him no attention. He hated him. He swore he hated him.

"I wouldn't bother he never listens." The animal tamer came to sit by Roxas.

"Great and I'm stuck in a tent with him." Xemnas hated him that was Roxas's only explanation for why he would be stuck with someone so annoying. The medical caravan was looking more appealing by the minute.

"Ah yes, you're staying in a pod with Axel right?"

"Axel. Oh yeh the fire dancer!" Wait. What? Roxas brain froze. The fire dancer. The fire dancer was Axel. Axel was the person he was staying with. He was staying with the fire dancer. The fire dancer. The one who made him feel…strange…

"Oh god." Roxas groaned again, a feeling of dread began to fester in his stomach.

"He's not that bad once you get to know him. We get along quite well actually." Xion explained. Roxas was going to ask by what 'not that bad' meant when he was interrupted by Pinky.

"Don't look so distressed Kitten! You're with the best people in this whole circus!" Marluxia boasted.

"Best?" The magician from the show, Zexion, had decided to join in. "I would beg to differ there." Roxas would agree with him.

"Oh really, then why do you spend all your time around our place? Is it possibly the charm of our idiotic Duckling that keeps pulling you back?" Roxas was glad to discover he wasn't the only one with a stupid name. He felt like he would need to write a list eventually of all the Circus folk's names, and then Marluxia's nicknames next to them.

"Oh no, it's because someone's always desperate to be with their ice prick scientist of a boyfriend." Zexion drawled. Wait, Marluxia had a boyfriend? Roxas couldn't believe anyone would put with him on a full time basis.

"Hey don't insult my babe!" Marluxia acted offended but it was obviously an act. Marluxia seemed to be living in a 24/7 self-aware melodrama.

"Speaking of Demyx what on earth is he doing?" Xion muttered looking in the distance. No one seemingly had heard her quiet voice.

"Wait is Demyx the boyfriend or the Duckling?" Roxas asked though received no response as suddenly a blonde bundle came rolling straight into their group. He stopped upside down on a log which Zexion was sat on until he had jumped up in surprise.

"There you are Duckling. I was just beginning to wonder." Marluxia commented, as if the stuntman's entrance was the most normal thing in the world. Roxas figured here it could be.

"Demyx you've scratched up your entire arm! Look it's bleeding!" Zexion quickly sat back down to examine him.

"Oh calm down Zexy, you worry too much. I'm fine." Demyx then bounced up onto his feet and righted himself out as if to prove his point. Zexion didn't look too impressed as he just simply tugged Demyx back down to further inspect the damage.

"He's fine mother Boo, that boy has to thick a skull to notice damage like that." Demyx dint pick up on the insult, instead he just sat with a grin on his face and allowed Zexion be overly concerned about him. The fall looked nasty but the cut did seem to just be a cut.

"Mother Boo?" Roxas asked, well the mother but he could probably figure out, but boo?

"It was blue, but I guess that just wasn't embarrassing enough for Marluxia so it eventually became Boo." Wait the names could get worse?

So I really shouldn't be uploading this because I'm not far enough ahead, but I'm going to do it anyway :)

Start of a new section and all. Sadly the Complicated sections is mostly filler. I'm having to establish and set up certain dynamic and relationships for the first major plot events to occur. I'll try not to make it too boring, but please warn me if it gets that way.

Will reply to reviews in the next chapter. My apologies.

Enjoy! :)