Welp here's part one of part one. Actually written up. It was weird how differently this whole story starts now in comparison to the old work, my god this took so much longer. To cover the same section of story is at least going to be double the word count if not more. I would also like to think it reads better as well. I'm starting on Part two of Part one but yeh updates arnt gonna be fast on this. I work a full time job and have other stuff I do so I only get a few hours on it in a week. I got lucky this week with some time off. Still I hope it'll be worth it! I'm certainly enjoying having something to write again. As I say its been actual years since I last attempted to write anything.

Finally if you're interested I have a pintrest board based around this story, just so you can get an idea for influence and how imagine things looks like etc. Go the profile genuine_garbage and its the board called masquerade.

www. pinterest . / Genuine_Garbage/ masquerade/

Introductions

Part One

Roxas was going to get him into trouble today. Ventus could tell from the moment he woke and crossed eyes with the mischievous ones of his brother. Roxas swung down from the bunkbed and hung upside down looking at Ven, face beaming, a clear indication he had constructed some idea that would keep them busy. Ven checked the digital clock that sat on the stained wooden flooring of their barron room. 7.30.

"Roxas, why am I awake?" Ventus sat up on his hands, a thin blanket half covering his ratty pyjamas.

"We're going to the circus!" Roxas exclaimed, eyes wide hands raised with a flare of drama that almost sent him off the bed. Served him right, idiot. The outburst would've been strange to most, but Ventus had 16 years of becoming accustomed to his twin.

"What are you on about?" Ventus figured he knew which circus Roxas meant. Midgar only had one. The Cirque Du Keyblade. A popular travelling circus that had frequented Midgar for many years. It had become quite the popular attraction whenever it turned up, and people would clammer for tickets. No one knew when it was coming and the amount of shows they did vary, sometimes only visiting for a couple days. Its unpredictability had come to increase the popularity of the Circus. It was always, therefore, the talk of Midgar when they did show up.

"Well we enjoyed it as kids, I thought it might be nice to go again even though we're technically adults now" He put the last part in air quotes. "Also things have been shit recently, it might be a nice distraction. We also get out of Cloud's hair for a while." Roxas pointed to the floor indicating where Cloud would inevitably be downstairs. Passed out on the sofa. Ventus thought about it a moment, whilst no doubt Roxas was just rattling the first excuses that came to mind, he did have a point. However, as he was thinking, he also couldn't ignore the chill of the morning that seeped through the cracks of the bedroom and caused his skin to goosebump. It lured him to stay wrapped in his blanket.

"That would be nice Rox but - and I dread to ask - how exactly are we going to watch the Circus? What's the plan? And don't just say-"

"We'll just sneak in!"

"Of course." Ven shook his head as Roxas jumped off the top bunk and onto his bed. Shaking Ventus as he spoke.

"Come on, we both know dad never bothers putting proper guards around that thing. I'm sure there's a way into the woodlands outside of opening hours." Ven feared this would be the answer. Granted they're crafty and have been since they were kids scurrying around their father. Still the stakes had changed now, being caught meant far worse things.

"It's risky Roxas and how are we going to watch the show? It's closing night, that's when all those lot go." Ven tried to sound grave but when Roxas just looked back at him, grin still in place, Ven knew this was happening one way or another.

"It's fine Ven, I thought of that. Maybe instead of going to watch the show, we sneak in this morning. We can watch the rehearsals instead. Might not be as good as the show, but it would still be good." Roxas paused and waited for Vens reaction. Upon seemingly still being unimpressed, he went with the argument that always worked; "Come on, gives us something to do." Ventus still didn't like the idea all too much, but it was, as his brother said, something to do. Finding something to do was a big part of the twins' day recently. Unlike their brother, they had not adapted as quickly to their new life in hiding. 16 was supposed to be a time of potential, of growing and learning independence. The cusp of adulthood and all that awaited them. For the twins though it had become a time of missed opportunities and increasing isolation.

"Gives us something to do." Ventus parroted in agreement. It was decided then. Roxas jumped off the bed and went to the pile of what he hoped were clean clothes on the floor. And as Ventus watched him sprint out the bedroom he thought one more time about curling back up and just sleeping the day away. But maybe he had done enough of that this week? He gave in and got out of bed rummaging through the same pile of clothes for himself. Whilst Roxas always got Ventus in trouble, it was, at least, fun.

The twins wasted no time in getting ready and leaving the house. They scribbled a note for Cloud and made their way to the Sector 5 slums train station. The Sector was always shrouded in darkness, under the oppressive shadow of the rest of Midgar. A colossal disk-shaped structure that towered 300 metres above the ground level, it hummed constantly, creating a background noise that haunted the boys with memories of what they had left behind. They pulled their hoods over their heads and lowered their eyes, hoping to blend in with the crowd. They knew it was unlikely that anyone from Shinra would ever venture into this dump of waste and wanderers, but their father's fear still clung to them like the hum of Midgar.

The Sector 5 train station was a Shinra creation, but it looked as neglected and filthy as the rest of the city. The walls were covered with graffiti, and the platforms were littered with mould and garbage. The air was thick with the smell of acid and mako, which stained everything with a faint green hue. It made buildings look sick, as if even the metal and concrete could not withstand the polluted and toxic atmosphere of the sector. Ventus leaned against the fence of the platform and scanned the area. There were only four other people here this morning, which was a lot for this station. Most people had no reason to go to the upper levels. But four people were enough to make him anxious. His eyes darted between them, looking for any sign of recognition, dreading that someone might just notice them a little too much.

Roxas nudged him and passed over the can of coke he had stolen on their way here.

"Why are you so tense? You know it's suspicious right?" Roxas didn't look at him, instead kept staring at where the train would come, as if he could will it into an early arrival. His leg already tapped in impatience.

"Sorry" Ventus spoke more in a breath than in a voice. Roxas put his arm over Ventus and spared him a glance.

"Come on Ven, it'll be fun!" Ven gave him a smile in return but went right back to keeping an eye on everyone. He'd feel better when they're at the woodlands and away from Shinra cameras.

The wait for the train felt long in that way all things do when they have 5 minutes left to arrive but eventually it did come. The engine car train of Midgar was a beast of silver and copper that seemed out of place in its sickly stop. A metal monstrosity with pipes and gears pumping green steam through its mako powered engine, as the black passenger cars glimmered with a fresh polish. The windows of the 6 long carts got increasingly smoggier the closer you got to the front where the engine ran.

Ventus, Roxas, and the other passengers got on the front car, where the train's smog was the densest. It was understood that topsiders didn't like to spend too much time around those from the undercity. To avoid any trouble, they stayed in the front car, along with the others from Sector Five and the slums. The twins found a seat in one of the chairs covered with plastic, ready for the short trip to Sector One. The train started with a clunk and a whine, slowly ascending to the upper levels.

As they left the darkness of Sector Five behind, they squinted and turned away from the bright morning sun. Their eyes, used to the gloom, struggled to adjust to the light. They breathed in the fresh air, though they could still taste the dampness and the acid. Soon, a large red grid appeared at the front of the train and moved down the car. It was the scanner, checking and charging the accounts of the passengers. Ventus held his breath and kept his eyes low as the scanner passed by him and Roxas. It didn't make any noise, as it always did, and Ventus relaxed a bit. Still he refused to look at the city outside as they made their way along the top of the plate instead he kept his eyes on the floor for the rest of the ride.

They reached the Sector One station without any trouble. Ventus recognized the stop by the sound of the fans. They were installed all over the building, blowing and sucking air that was too clean to be natural. It dried out his mouth after a few minutes. The station was quiet and empty, as the day had just started. Only a few people walked on the shiny floors, mostly the lower-class workers who had jobs in the city. They would arrive earlier than their upper-class bosses, hoping to someday join them. Ventus knew that fewer people meant less risk for them, especially since the guards were too lazy to watch the cameras at this hour. But the hollow echo of the station made him feel exposed and scared, as if Shinra's eyes were always on him.

Roxas and Ventus made their way out into the city, trying to walk around as one of the lower-class workers. They passed skyscrapers, billboards, shops and cafes; constant signs of affluence and prosperity that contrasted with their new home of poverty and secrets. As they travelled across the city to the edge of Sector One, they saw signs of Shinra everywhere, the eyes of big brother buried into the fabric of the city. Logos on every bit of equipment, cameras on every corner, Shinra uniform, Shinra soldiers, Shinra slogans and streams of propaganda. A life of constant surveillance and control in return for luxury; Rufus Shinra had raised this city like he had raised his sons. A combination of constant reminders of his power, corporeal punishment for all crimes and the fear that came with always being watched.

The twins left the city behind, heading to the edge where few people dared to go. Beyond a row of buildings and a small road, there was the forest of Sector One, a fake nature made of wires and plastic. It looked like the real thing, but it did nothing for the environment that Shinra had destroyed. It was just a facade to keep the people happy. The trees were tall and green, and the bushes were thick and wide, concealing the edge of the plate. From the treetops, one could see the blue tip of the main circus tent, beckoning them like a beacon of hope. Inside those leaves, there was a promise of magic and escape. They avoided the main entrance and went around the side, where only the dense bushes guarded the area.

"Let's go in here." Roxas pointed to a small gap between the trees and some low plants. It was a natural path that was probably made by a fox that scavenged in the city. One of the few animals that survived in the area after the plate of Midgar was built. Ventus nodded. It was as good as any. They climbed under and into the bushes and entered the woodland.

They had only travelled a few minutes into the dense undergrowth of the woodland when they heard what they figured were the voices of the circus folk. Roxas slowed his pace and was more wary of his step. The good thing about the synthetic woodland was they didn't get stray sticks and leaves as everything was made to appeal to orderly aesthetics. Still, the low running wires and graphic cards that they hid under the bushes meant Roxas could easily trip up if not careful. The wires began to get less dense along with the shrubbery, as the twins began to approach a clearing. Roxas ducked down on to his hands and knees to be out of sight, as they crawled over to a thinning in the bush from which they could see the main circus tent.

They were amazed by the sight of the circus. The main tent was a huge blue and yellow dome that rose high above them, ending in four golden tips at the corners. The centre was a larger blue dome that looked like a crown and peaked into a tip that they had seen over the treeline. The air was filled with different smells: animals, wood, popcorn, and something else that they couldn't identify. There were some people and equipment around the tent, but most of the circus was busy somewhere else. They could hear faint noises coming from afar. Roxas was fascinated by the things he saw: half-finished ramps, long poles with strings and swathes of fabric lay across the floor alongside a red box with a yellow star.

There were four people outside the tent. Furthest from them and to the left was a short pale purple haired man in a long coat, speaking with a tall, lanky looking bloke with a blonde mullet and tanned scarred skin. They appeared to be in some sort of heated discussion, possibly an argument, based on the way the tanned mullet man was flailing his hands at the smaller bloke, who stood firm with his arms crossed. The other two people were far closer to the twins on their right, leaning against a ramp and talking loudly. They also looked strange to Roxas who felt slightly fearful at the sight of them; he had inherited the city's prejudice for strange folks and he had not seen stranger than them before. The man had bright pink hair that fell down his back and contrasted against his black waistcoat. More noticeably he had a thick velvet scarf of pink slung low around his back and draped over his arms. The woman by stark comparison had dirty blonde hair with chequered pants and suspenders. They looked like they came from different worlds.

Roxas listened in, intrigued by the woman's voice. It was low and plummy, but also charming and alluring.

"It wasn't my fault! He was the one who flew off the handle and started yelling at me. How was I supposed to know he was out?" She paused, but the man didn't say anything. He just smiled at her wickedly.

"Anyway, things got out of hand and he got mad. He stormed off to sulk or spit fire or whatever he does when he's in a mood. I don't care, he'll get over it by dinner." She shrugged, but avoided the man's gaze.

"Larxy, come on, you must have known he was likely to be out. We're near a bar, for heaven's sake. Why do you care?" The other voice was deep and flamboyant, rising and falling with his words. She shook her head at the man.

"I don't, of course."

As the others continued to talk, Roxas noticed a fifth man walk past the pair by the tent. He was a tall, muscular, brown-haired man in a brown leather jacket. He looked normal compared to the others.

"Oh, Leon darling!" The pink-haired man waved at him to get his attention. The man turned, but his expression was bored and unimpressed.

"What do you want, Marluxia?"

"My, aren't we grumpy today!" Marluxia put his hands on his hips, leaning towards him. "Don't shoot the messenger, darling. Axel had a little mishap with some wood. We need you to replace it."

Roxas sighed and looked away. This was boring. They weren't even doing anything cool, just standing around and chatting. He figured that the real circus stuff must be behind the big tent, away from the public eye. He looked around for something else to do.

"Come on, let's go see if we can find more. This is just gossip." Ventus nodded but Roxas didn't wait to see it. He crept down and moved a few metres away from the hedgeline, before going round the outskirts of the tent. He didn't need to look to know Ventus would follow him.

It felt as if the tent went on endlessly, as it took them a while to cross around the circumference, however they eventually made it to the other side where they found a small pathway leading through the trees. This path had definitely been made by humans. Following it through it led to another large expansive field. It was far longer than the last field as Roxas couldn't see the end of it. He figured it reached the end of the plate itself, as the sun blazed brightly over it, the morning chill giving way to its heat. The twins hid to the side of the path under the shade of a tree looking over the field with awe; This is more like it!

The field was lined either side with vehicles of bright colours. To the left of Roxas was a blue vehicle made of two domes. Protruding from its side were two orange beetle-shaped wings and six stumpy looking legs poked out the bottom. To his right was an immense red vehicle shaped like a fire engine but three times as big. Various doors, straps, winches, lifts and platforms were littered across its body and roof which Roxas assumed carried equipment. The back of the vehicle was just two large doors with ropes tied across their handles. On either side of the truck were enormous bright red rockets that lifted the body high above the ground. Across each rocket in gold cursive writing was the words Cirque Du Keyblade.

These vehicles were like nothing seen on Midgar; bizarrely shaped and distinctive in appearance, they were starships. Better known to many worlds as Gummi ships due to their resemblance to gummy sweets. Brightly coloured, often rounder in shape than normal vehicles and many requiring magic to properly run. Wedged between these vehicles was a rainbow array of bright and bold tents all of different shapes and sizes. The tents were like a patchwork of colours, each one different from the next. They were scattered across the field, facing different directions and overlapping with each other. But the people who lived in them didn't seem to mind. They walked around the tents, pegs, and guideropes, busy with their rehearsals and preparations. They practised their acts, checked their equipment, and chatted with each other. Roxas looked around in wonder, seeing people in strange outfits, some talking, some carrying things. He saw a woman spinning a baton, another one with a hoop, a man with locks and chains. There was a black haired girl with throwing stars and small knives practising to hit a target. She wore a red bandanna and red straps that held various weapons and balls of Materia. Roxas whispered,

"Look at her. She's amazing." Ventus followed where Roxas was pointing, also impressed by her ability to hit each variant of target perfectly. He then shook Roxas and pointed to a shirtless strong man who walked by in striped pants. Roxas had never seen anyone so strong as his muscles seemed almost unnatural and uncanny. They spent the next half an hour watching the people in awe, as they went about their day. A day that was so different from theirs. They felt a mix of curiosity and fear, as they watched the spectacle. They smelled the sweetness of popcorn and cotton candy, and the sharpness of mako in the air. They heard the music, the laughter, the animals, and the hum of the plate. They pointed at the interesting acts and people, as they scanned the colourful field. But after a while, Roxas turned to Ven and pointed further down.

"Let's go see what else is there. I think I heard some animals over there." Ventus nodded and followed Roxas, as they went to explore more of this harbour of colour in a dim rotting world

They crept behind the strange vehicles, hiding from sight. They passed the blue bug ship and another one that looked like a flat green arrowhead. They crept around a white cylinder ship with a red moon on it, the sign of a medic, and then a red starship with yellow stripes that seemed like a giant rocket with a glass dome. Roxas led the way and peeked around the corner of the red and yellow rocket. They had reached the edge of the field. Beyond them, they could see the edge of the plate and the vast wilderness that separated Midgar from the other cities.

Beyond the vehicles instead of tents were a collection of wild animals. Ventus peaked round and with a small squeak grabbed Roxas and hid behind him. Even Roxas felt nervous as he looked at the menagerie of wildlife in front of him. A goat was nearest to them eating grass, a Carbuncle not too far from him lying in the sun. There was a one legged chocobo that was prancing round the field, only occasionally stopping to squawk before returning to its seemingly aimless run. However, one animal made Roxas really nervous, and it was a large black panther sitting near the edge of the plate. It seemed to have noticed them, as its yellow eyes stared at them, though it made no attempt to move. Roxas went rigid with fear. He had never seen a panther in person as they were not natural to his world, though he had read about them in off-world story books his father picked up when he first helped Gaia join the Kingdom Hearts. It was far larger than he imagined, and the muscles glimmered and rolled under its fur. However it made no attempt to move, instead just yawning before closing his eyes again, perhaps not seeing the boys as threats.

Unlike Roxas, Ventus seemed less worried about the Panther as he started tapping his brother, curling out from behind him and pointing to the chocobo. Roxas glanced at him and Ventus returned the look with wide eyes. Look at that! Roxas translated, and whilst he thought the Panther was a far more pressing issue, he could understand why the chocobo took Vens interest. It wasn't often you saw a one-legged Chocobo, or any disabled Chocobo for that matter. In the wild it would have likely been killed, and farmers only really bred Chocobo for sports such as racing. One with a missing limb would have been put down at birth. The sight of this one therefore made Roxas melancholic, he felt an understanding and then a sinking feeling in his stomach as he watched the prancing bird. The Chocobo in question seemed to have likewise noticed the boys as it stopped its aimless racing to watch them, cocking its head almost as if it was figuring them out. It flapped its wings and Ventus laughed, fully emerging from behind Roxas to make small clicking noises at the thing, wiggling his fingers trying to entice it to approach them.

"Careful Ventus, you don't know the temperament of that thing." Roxas whispered, not wanting to wake the sleeping panther. Ventus shrugged and raised an eyebrow at Roxas, the left side of his lips twitched a couple of times in a small smile.

"Those shits can still bite!" Roxas defended himself against the silent insult. He still had vivid memories of the day Cloud had snuck them out to a petting zoo. Roxas had gotten bored and started chucking peanuts into the enclosure, mostly to annoy the happy-go-lucky staff that were paying far too much attention to Cloud. He didnt mean for it to hit one of the animals, but the Chocobo didn't care as it jumped the fence and began chasing Roxas, trying to nip him whenever it caught up. Cloud had laid the charm on thick that day to avoid their father being called.

Ventus paid Roxas no mind however as he continued to try and get the creature to approach. The chocobo regarded them a little longer, before it made a small chirp and began hopping towards them. Ventus clapped in excitement as it got closer to them and then reached out his arm with his hand outstretched like you would do a stray cat. It seemed however this Chocobo was nowhere near as flighty as others of his kind, as it happily got closer, ruffling its feathers and leaning its head straight into Ventus's open palm. Roxas grabbed the back of Ventus's shirt, ready to pull him back and behind him should the thing show any signs of attitude. It didn't, however, as Ventus laughed petting his head. The chocobo got closer, resting its head over Vens shoulder and shaking its tail feathers again. It looked over at Roxas as Ventus continued to pet it, however Roxas just looked back at it unimpressed. Animals bite and he didn't trust them.

This continued for a couple of minutes when suddenly Roxas felt a chill down his spine when he heard a rustle behind him. He turned around and gasped. A huge grey wolf was standing between two trees, only a few feet away from them. It was as tall as the twins, and its fur had a white glow. Its eyes were black and piercing, staring at them with hunger. Roxas froze and tapped his brother, who hadn't noticed the beast.

"Ventus," he whispered, but his brother didn't hear him. He shook him frantically and raised his voice. "Ventus!" Ventus turned around and saw the wolf. He clutched Roxas's arm, terrified. The two boys stood still, hoping the wolf wouldn't attack. The chocobo, oblivious to the danger, kept nudging their shoulders, wanting attention. They ignored it. The wolf and the boys looked at each other for a moment more. Neither moving. Then the wolf stretched its legs and lowered its head, letting out a loud howl that echoed through the forest as it rose. The birds flew away, startled by the noise. Roxas snapped out of his shock and screamed. He grabbed Ventus's arm and ran past the chocobo, away from the wolf. The wolf howled again, chasing them. Roxas felt a surge of adrenaline, as he and his brother sprinted past the goat, the panther, and the carbuncle. They didn't care about the other animals, they just wanted to get away. They ran across the open field, around the edge of the plate not looking back once. They saw a big white tent with plastic windows, and headed for it. Roxas dragged his brother with him, hoping to reach safety.

Roxas was used to running away from trouble, but he had not known fear like this in years. As he sprinted, lungs collapsing and heart beating, refusing to stop for even a moment. Upon reaching the Marquee Roxas pushed his brother underneath the wall, between two guide ropes before following him under. Only then, laid down on the other side, did he dare turn round to see if the beast had followed them. To his relief, through the window, he could see they had not been followed at all. He sat there, shaking with the rush as Ven grabbed onto his side and buried his face in his brother's chest, the pair panting heavily as they tried to calm their nerves.

"See, I told you to be careful," Roxas said, breathing hard. His brother didn't answer, he just clung to him tightly. Roxas looked around the tent, hoping they hadn't disturbed anyone. But the place was empty. It looked like a dining hall, with wooden tables and benches, and a row of tables at the far end. The walls of the tent were white and gold, with large windows and zippers. Roxas didn't have time to examine the place more closely, as he heard a voice from outside the tent.

"I'm coming Fenrir!" It was a woman's voice, silvery and gentle in tone. They could hear her getting closer and she muttered

"What has that wolf found now?" Roxas and Ventus laid flat against the floor as they saw a shadow approaching. The figure walked up the length of the tent and stopped only inches away from the boys on the other side. Through the window they could make out the figure of a female, back turned to them, with short bobbed black hair and wearing black overalls. Hands on her hips as she shook her head and walked away from them.

"Now what's all this noise about huh?" She asked. Roxas peaked his head up and confirmed that she was approaching the wolf on the other side. Though it seemed the chocobo had other ideas as it ran into her first, stopping her and demanding attention. He motioned to Ventus to follow him, seizing the opportunity to crawl away from the chaos and through the half-open door behind the tables on the right side of the tent.

As he crawled, he heard the girl speaking to the yellow bird.

"Hello, Boko." A pause, then "Hey, Fenrir, don't walk away from me. What was that noise?" While the girl was busy with the animals, the twins slipped out of the marquee, which led them to the edge of the plate. They found themselves among various cooking equipment: a barbecue, gas stoves, fire cookers, large grills, and a big pot over some logs. They were all arranged haphazardly, with collapsible shelves holding pots, pans, herbs, spices, and other utensils. The boys hid from the view of the door, listening for more people. After a minute, they heard the zip of the other side of the marquee open and a resonant voice call.

"There's no one here, Xion. Are you sure that old wolf isn't being paranoid again?" Roxas couldn't hear the reply, but after a few moments, the man said, "Well, I'll tell the guys to keep a lookout, but I doubt it's anyone. This city is way too paranoid about other-worlders." With that, the zip was closed again, and silence fell on the boys.

With the fear of becoming food fading, Roxas finally noticed the sound of bubbling to the left of him and the smell of cooking food all began to creep up and overwhelmed him. On one of the large stoves there was a bowl bubbling away and the hunger which always lingered within the twins reared its head. Ventus must have noticed it too as cautiously he got up to look inside the pot. They should be focusing on getting away, he knew this, they should sneak around and find some way to exit this place of strange people and wild animals. Yet still he couldn't ignore the fact that they were hungry. Always hungry. And this had so far been a very exciting adventure. Ventus stirred the pot with the large ladle inside the bowl, before looking at Roxas with one eyebrow raised questioningly. Well if Ventus was okay with the idea, surely a bite wouldn't hurt.

"We could have a bit…" Ventus gave him a serious look and a nod, before going back to sniffing the pot. That was all the approval Roxas needed as his mouth watered. It did smell good both spicy and earthy, ingredients unidentifiable to him but tantalising to the tongue. Looking around he spotted a half opened pack of bread rolls, shoved on a shelf next to jars of pickled vegetables, honey, tinned meat and other goods both known and unknown to him. All in languages that Roxas figured came from across the otherworlds.

He got up and grabbed a piece of bread out of the bag, splitting it in half. He gave one piece to Ventus and dipped it into the red broth. Anticipation and hunger stirred in his stomach as good food was rare to come by nowadays. No matter how hard he worked some days Cloud just couldn't get food in, so a chance like this was not to be missed. Roxas took a bite and immediately moaned at the taste. It was more exotic than food even his fathers chef's had made. It was certainly no dish from Gaia, as it was spicy and tangy with flavours of tomato, garlic and lemon. Though there were other ingredients Roxas knew not what they were. He closed his eyes and savoured the moment as the spicy sauce began to warm his insides and delighted the mind.

He devoured the bread quickly, as only a hungry man can, and though he craved more, he knew better than to take any. They had to be careful. Not take too much that it would be noticed. As Ventus finished his share of the bread, Roxas took another deep breath of the broth and looked out at the edge of the plate. He let his mind wander. He imagined what life would be like in a travelling circus. Living on the edge of worlds, away from the pressure and shame of Midgar. Eating exotic foods, visiting new places, living among weird and wonderful creatures. Knowing such freedom. He thought of the happy one-legged chocobo and felt a familiar melancholy wash over him. It was a feeling he had grown used to.

"And who exactly do we have here, aye?" A booming voice pierced through Roxas's musing as he turned round to see a large intimidating figure at the entrance of the marquee. Blocking the way stood a tall, wide man with long black dreadlocks and thick sharp sideburns. His large muscular arms were crossed over a chest so massive it seemed to strain against the sleeveless denim shirt, and Roxas would have assumed him a guard or a performer if not for the black stained apron round his waist. He stood so massive any hope of getting around him to the exit was lost. They were stuck, between a beefcake, cooking equipment and the edge of the plate. Roxas considered his options.

"So, what's your story? A couple of thieves?" The man's voice was gruff and clipped.

"Hey, we're no thieves, okay? We just wanted to see the circus, that's all!" Roxas snapped back.

"And get a free meal?" The man retorted. Roxas almost snarled at the man in response,

"We were hungry, and the food smelled good. We only took a little bit, you wouldn't even notice. And maybe you shouldn't leave food lying around if you don't want it eaten." Ventus squeezed Roxas's arm, trying to calm him down. Roxas bit his tongue, though his face was still scowling. He took a breath and tried to sound apologetic, though it came out more sarcastic.

"We're sorry, okay? Just let us go, and we won't bother you anymore." The man looked at them with a hard stare, sizing them up.

"Why were you sneaking around to see the circus anyway? We sell tickets, you know?" Roxas felt insulted by the question. Surely the man could tell they were Sector 5 slummers, he must be mocking them.

"None of your business. Ow!" He winced as Ventus kicked him. He turned to his brother and glared.

"Hmm, well, at least one of you has some manners." The man shifted his attention to Ventus, who hid behind Roxas.

"He's none of your business either." Roxas said, pushing Ventus behind him. The man relaxed his arms, putting them on his hips. His face softened a bit, though he still looked stern.

"Well, I guess there's no other way around it. How about I just make you a plate of food?" This surprised Roxas. Why was the man being so generous all of a sudden? He didn't trust him. Nobody changed their mind so quickly.

"What, why? What do you want from us?" He got ready for a fight, though he knew he would lose. He hoped that if the man tried anything, Ventus would have a chance to run.

"Nothing. But you two look like skeletons, just looking at you makes me hungry." He said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"So you're just going to give us food? After we snuck in? I don't buy it. What's your angle? Call the police while we're distracted?" This made the man laugh, a loud and hearty laugh. He then returned to his serious tone.

"Listen, I get that you're paranoid. All you Midgar lot are but I ain't calling no one. The Midgar police don't care about us circus folks. The big boss of your world can't stand us." Roxas snorted and crossed his arm if only he knew who he was talking to. Shinra would like the circus a lot more if they called in and reported the twins.

"It's just food, boys. I have plenty and I can whip up some more if I need to. If you came here to see the circus, why not have a bite and take a look around, eh? You two are too scrawny to cause any trouble, and not very good thieves, considering you riled up the wolf. So I don't mind letting you stay a bit longer." The man said, with a friendly but firm tone. Roxas felt insulted by his words, even if he was being nice. He was about to say something, when he felt Ventus squeeze his arm and give him a hopeful look. Roxas softened, seeing his brother's hunger. He knew they couldn't pass up a chance for a free meal. And he had to admit, he was curious about the circus. He didn't want to go back to the boring and bleak Midgar just yet.

"Fine," he agreed, facing the man. "But don't try anything funny, or you'll regret it." He warned, though the man just chuckled at his threat. He stepped aside to let the boys into the dining tent, when Roxas thought to ask.

"Who are you, anyway?"

"Oh, the name's Xaldin. I'm the cook. And what about you two?" He moved around the boys to get some bread rolls, and also pulled out two bowls for the food.

"Roxas and Ventus." Roxas answered. The man nodded and looked at Ventus.

"He doesn't talk much, does he?"

"No." Roxas said, curtly. He didn't want to share any more than he had to. The man shrugged and turned to the pot of food.

"Well, sit down then, unless you want to eat standing up."