tampered | Log // ongoing // closed

Log // ongoing // closed

When; 8/19, daytime
Rating; PG? -13? Probably some fighting here
Characters; Roxas

binarysky and Riku

afterlighted
Summary; History repeats itself (and jumps ahead, for Roxas) as two of Sora's most important people meet and do not have crumpets and tea together.
Log;

Roxas felt...unsettled. Maybe even agitated, when he let it get that far. Not that he could feel, of course, nothing like that. But he could think that way, and perhaps be touched by the unremembered echo of feelings that used to be there. The outline of empty space left where a heart once was.

Those people, Sora and Riku and now some girl. What did they want with him? Why? Was he really as weak as all that? New, maybe, certainly the newest here, but he could hold his own. What was the point of conflict when they were trapped here, away from familiar sights and friends and Kingdom Hearts itself? He didn't have any answers for himself.

So he walked around the city on foot where a dark corridor might have been faster. Recon, to learn the ways of this place. He'd been at it for days in between time at home and small missions for Xemnas. There always seemed to be more.

But he kept an eye out as he went. Even if he hadn't met or seen those people aside from what the communication devices showed, they clearly knew what he looked like. The Keyblade was always ready to be summoned.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Riku hadn't expected to find Roxas on his way home, let alone without Xemnas around. How ironic that he'd traded to get the same powers the Nobodies had, and there he was, without him having had to use the portals to help locate him. It really felt like déjà-vu, and he hoped that it wouldn't have to turn out the way it had before. He didn't want to fight Roxas; if anything, he wanted to help him. That's what Sora wanted, and so that's what Riku would try to do.

He walked slowly toward the blond Nobody; a part of Sora, yes, and yet so different. He really was his own being, even though he was lacking a heart. A heart that still beat, of course... in someone else's body.

"Roxas," he let out when he reached a distance close enough to be heard. He hadn't seen him, of course - he couldn't, not since the trade - but he had sensed him; now that he dwelt in the dark world, there was many things he could do that he hadn't been able to since he'd regained his true form. The Deities had taken his sight in exchange, but at least, he remained himself.

Roxas was lost in thought until he heard his name. Vexen wouldn't have been very impressed by his recon skills, but he couldn't get his mind off his friends and what they might think of the city. The people, the places...what would they make of them?

But when he heard the voice, he jerked his head around, eyes widening and then narrowing when he saw who'd spoken. It wasn't a very familiar face, but that silver hair was distinctive, and he knew the voice well enough. Reacting immediately, he slid one leg back into a ready stance, the Keyblade immediately flashing into his hand. "Get away from me."

Well, he couldn't say he hadn't expected that. He had no idea what Xemnas had told him, but he'd figured Roxas wasn't going to be all buddy-buddy with him, or even Sora. It was his job now to try and pull him away from The Superior's grasp.

Get away from me.

"Why so hostile, Roxas?" he started, his lips curved into a small grin. He remained motionless before him, every bit of him fixed on the Nobody; he wouldn't summon his own weapon, not yet... but if Roxas pushed it, he'd leave him no choice. "I'm not your enemy."

The other boy wasn't moving to attack yet, but Roxas didn't trust that would last. They'd gone out of their way to rattle him, hadn't they? Everything Xemnas had said had been true so far.

"You're not my friend," he shot back. "I don't know what exactly you want, but find it somewhere else."

What was his deal? Had he been following Roxas around while he'd been distracted? One more reason not to trust his intentions.

Granted, he wasn't. However, he was the Nobody of his best friend, and that counted for something. It was odd now, having him around while Sora was awake. The way he'd treated him back then had been for a good reason, but now? Standing in front of him reminded him of what had occurred between them, and while he felt like he deserved this hostility - even though Roxas had no idea what had actually happened - he couldn't let his guilt overwhelm him. He couldn't let history repeat itself either, and he'd have to thread very carefully.

He wasn't supposed to exist, granted... but he did nonetheless.

"Why don't you hear me out before labelling us as enemies?" he asked, taking a step forward.

"I'm not the one who made us enemies," he said, glaring hard, even if Riku couldn't see it. Could he see it? On the video the other day, he'd looked blind, unsure of his steps. But he was moving around just fine now, with no one to help him.

What would Axel do in this situation? Roxas swallowed hard and pushed thoughts of his friends to the back of his mind. Getting distracted in a fight could get him hurt.

"You don't have anything to say that I want to hear," he said in a low tone.

Riku couldn't see him glare, but he could definitely feel it. Roxas, like all the others, had his own distinctive scent, and that's how Riku could recognize him. He couldn't see his face - or anything else, for that matter - but the darkness within him helped guiding him, working as a sort of echo-locating device.

I'm not the one who made us enemies.

No. Xemnas took care of that, he thought, frowning as frustration built up inside him. But he didn't say that aloud.

"Tell me what I did, then," he shrugged, taking another step forward.

Edited 2010-08-20 03:13 (UTC)

If Roxas knew that Riku could smell him, he'd be creeped out and a little paranoid about showering from then on. As it was, he was just frustrated.

"You tried to mess with my head," he snapped. "Don't act like you know more about me than I do! I've never even met you!"

It was all too much. Back home or in any of the worlds he'd been to, he would have handled this better, been calmer. Maybe even listened to what these people had to say, even if he didn't believe it, just so he could know for himself. But the stress and uncertainty and homesickness had built and built. As Riku stepped forward, Roxas brought the Keyblade to bear. If this was going to come to a fight, he was ready.

"Nothing you're saying makes any sense, Roxas," he countered, and he figured he'd play along for the time being. "How the hell have I tried to mess up with your head if we never met?"

Truth be told, he had messed up with his head, following DiZ's instructions in order to help awaken Sora. But this had happened elsewhere, nothing that Roxas remembered. Nothing that'd even come to pass in his reality. He didn't think admitting this now would help anything, and so he kept his mouth shut.

He knew his Keyblade had been drawn, but still he took a step closer, his own weapon unsummoned. He still had no intention to fight him, let alone harm him.

"You're only siding with Xemnas because you haven't given us the chance to show you otherwise," he said, his tone even. "Believe what you want, Roxas." he stopped at a fair distance, leaving a few meters between them. When he spoke again, his face was fixed on his, as though he was looking directly into his eyes. "But what if you're wrong?"

Edited 2010-08-20 03:29 (UTC)

"You tried to convince me you did. You said I knew you. I don't know you or your friends!"

Roxas was completely sure of that. He didn't remember most of his early days with the Organization, only bits and pieces of that first week, but they'd kept him safe. It wasn't as if he could have made a strong impression on anybody anyway, acting like a zombie like he had.

Still...for just a moment, he hesitated. Since arriving in the City, he'd seen more of Xemnas than he ever had before. The Organization's number I was their leader, but Roxas didn't know him, not really. He'd made the decision to stay with the group and fight for his chance to be whole, but that didn't make it personal between him and Xemnas. Not really.

But if Xemnas was a liar, out to hurt him, then Axel was, too. And Xion a part of it, even if she'd come after him and knew even less. No. I believe in my friends.

"Xemnas helped me," he said. "And he told me the truth. He hasn't done anything to hurt me."

Oh, so that's what it was. Well, to be fair, he was right; the Roxas he was didn't know him, and he couldn't blame him for thinking of him as a liar for this. Of course, Xemnas hadn't bothered to tell him how it all worked in the City.

"You come from my past, Roxas. I come from your future," he started to explain slowly, staying where he was. "Ask anyone around. Time here doesn't work the same way it worked back there."

At least, if Axel and Xion were there - given that they were from his timeline - they could back him up on this. But he was on his own here, and unless Roxas asked other people, he'd probably always believe what Xemnas said.

"Xemnas' only helping you cause he has a use for you. D'you think he'll keep you around when he's done with his big masterplan? Even Axe--"

Axel. He wasn't sure whether it was a good idea to bring him up now; of course, it'd prove that he did know them, but talking about his friends could also drive them away from the issue at hand.

"That doesn't make any sense," he said, the faintest trace of uncertainty in his voice. Xemnas had said there was a time warp, something like that, but he hadn't said it applied to those within the City itself. Lexaeus was from the past, but he had to be, because he'd been annihilated.

But Demyx had talked about his 'bad mission' too, and Roxas didn't remember anything like that...

"It's everyone's plan. We all want to build Kingdom Hearts." But his eyes went wide again when he heard the start of what had to be Axel's name. "You leave him out of this!"

"Nobody said it was supposed to," Riku shook his head, noticing the uncertainty in Roxas' voice and clinging to it in a desperate attempt to shake some sense into him. "I was on my way home, and I ended up here. We're all here against our will."

It wasn't easy to reason with Roxas. It never had been, and if everything had gone according to plan, Riku wouldn't have this problem now. Still, he felt obliged now to be kind to him, for what he'd done, and for Sora's sake.

Just another thing that piled up on everything else he had to make up for.

"And what d'you think Xemnas will do afterwards?" he wasn't too sure of his secret agenda now; he didn't think he had much power in the City, since there were other beings out there that were above him. But still, it was Xemnas, and underestimating him was foolish. "Tell me then, Roxas. Why do you think I know Axel? He's not even here!"

"Just because we got here the same way doesn't mean we're on the same side." Maybe things would be easier if that were true. They could all find a way to get home and people could go back to their lives and goals without all of this confusion. But it was already too late for that, wasn't it? For some reason Roxas didn't understand, enemies of the Organization were already trying to mess with him, just like Xemnas had said.

"I already know you've been watching the Organization, trying to stop us," he said, the wheels starting to turn now. Riku wasn't familiar to him--but another person was, at least their existence. "Are you that imposter? The one who was walking around, trying to look like one of us?"

He shifted position, not waiting for an answer, and pointed the Keyblade directly at Riku. "Get out of here. This is your last chance."

"You don't think there might be a good reason why we're trying to stop you?" he asked, answering his question at the same time. "Xemnas doesn't care about anything safe for his plan. Sora had to clean up after him, after he was done destroying our worlds. He doesn't care what and who dies in the process. But we do."

An imposter... It'd been easier for them to wear the coats, to support the darkness, and in a way, Riku had been an imposter, interfering with the Organization's plans. He just wished Roxas could see beyond the end of his nose.

And there he was, weapon aimed at him now. Riku didn't move; he knew Roxas could strike anytime now, and he was taking a chance.

"It isn't you we're trying to stop. We're just sick of Xemnas messing up everything we hold dear to our hearts." he even dared taking another step forward now, his eyes still fixed on him. "How do you think you'll build Kingdom Hearts? Did he even tell you who you are? There's a reason why you can use that weapon. That's the only reason why Xemnas needs you."

Edited 2010-08-20 05:39 (UTC)

"I don't care!" He tensed. Riku hadn't denied it—and the confidence evident in his stance told Roxas more than what his opponent was saying with words. It wasn't difficult to imagine him in a black coat, fighting against the Organization.

I messed up a mission really bad. I don't suppose you heard about the guy pretending to be one of us? The Organization imposter? I was ordered to take him out...but I couldn't beat him.

Xion had looked so depressed. Even if Saix's reaction had been the worst part of that incident, it didn't matter. Riku had started it.

"Just shut up! You're a liar, and you hurt my friend!" Charging forward, he swung at Riku, keeping his eyes open for any movement. Roxas knew his own speed, knew that he was tough to dodge, but he had no idea of Riku's capabilities.

He'd never used the Keyblade against a person before. He didn't want to destroy Riku, not like he would a Heartless, but all the confusion and anger and frustration—or the shallow imitations of those emotions he couldn't feel—were ready to come pouring out of him, and there was only one target.

"Hurt your friend? What--"

He was really puzzled for a moment; he didn't remember hurting any of Roxas' friends, not even Axel. Well, he had fought against him, but in the end he'd proved to be an ally, and he'd literally sacrificed himself for Sora - for Roxas. Riku didn't have time to argue though, because he felt the distinct smell of rage building up in the air around him, and in one instant Roxas was charging.

He was fast. He hadn't expected him to react so quickly, but he wasn't really taken aback either; this was a battle he knew well. He drew his own keyblade instantly, the sharp edge of his weapon pressed hard against Roxas', temporarily blocking him.

"I don't want to fight you!" he shouted, frustrated now; he couldn't believe someone could be more stubborn than Sora. Worse yet, he acted like a total brat! "Step back!" he went on, pushing a little harder on his weapon. Once more he had Xehanort's Heartless' powers within him, Xemnas' counterpart, and much like their last encounter, he knew he could get the upper hand.

However, as opposed to their last encounter, he had no reason to want to get the upper hand. Roxas was making it way harder than it should have been, but there was only Xemnas to blame.

"Why're you so stubborn?"

Roxas ignored the moment of confusion—it was probably faked, anyway, just something put on to try to convince him that he hadn't actually done anything to Xion. He knew better.

The block was quick, but not unexpected. He pressed back just as hard, testing his strength against the enemy's. There was power there, he could tell. Nothing like he'd faced before, but that was okay—he was used to new challenges.

"It's none of your business! She's not a mistake, and neither am I!"

He pushed harder for an instant, then whirled backward, Keyblade arcing out in a roundabout strike that would hit Riku's unguarded side if it hit. Maybe his opponent didn't want to fight, but he was still the one making sure it happened by not backing off. Roxas just wanted to discourage him from getting so close again.

She...?

The blow on his side hit harder than he had expected; Roxas was no weakling, even if he was relatively new in the Organization. Well, he was Sora's Nobody after all, wasn't he? Still, he was weaker than the first day he'd fought against him, but that didn't mean he wasn't strong at all. He felt the pain irradiate throughout his body, and his breath was cut short for a moment.

"Your heart's still out there, Roxas!" he yelled as he leapt backward, his arm stretched before him as he prepared to unleash dark energy into a searing blast. "Sora! Axel saved him, Roxas. To save you!"

It was his last attempt at trying to get him to listen to him; if it didn't work, he'd have to knock him out... or simply leave. No matter how much he wanted to shake some sense into the guy, harming him in any way wasn't a good idea; it'd only contribute to making him look like the bad guy.

Even though Roxas had struck first.

"Don't make me do this," he warned him, his opened hand aimed at Roxas. The dark orb was formed, ready to be released, but he was going to wait on his next action before unleashing its energy. "I've made mistakes. There are things I'd do differently. But I'm not the bad guy!"

Normally any of that would have knocked Roxas for a loop, but he was too swept up in the moment. Axel wasn't here, but Roxas knew him better than this stranger, and anger rose in him at the suggestion otherwise.

"Shut up! You don't know anything about him or me!"

What was with this guy? He'd taken a solid blow from the Keyblade and still he wouldn't give up. So stubborn--and incredibly annoying.

"I didn't make you do anything," Roxas growled. "You chose this!"

He felt the dark power as it coalasced to something more solid in Riku's hand, and Roxas went still. He could manipulate the darkness? And that arrogant confidence...this could be a trap.

In an instant, the dark tendrils crept over him as Roxas summoned a dark portal where he stood. Not to anywhere far--in moments, he stood atop the roof of the building across the street. "Not enemies, huh?" He called down. "Right."

Riku tried to shoot, but Roxas was faster; his dark orbs hit the front wall of the building instead, and he looked up right away as he followed the Nobody's scent. Obviously Roxas wasn't going to listen to anyone; however, he knew his friends would try to reason with him as well, and he figured it'd be better if he received the blows instead of them.

He opened his own portal to follow him, melting in the dark one second and reappearing right beside Roxas the next.

"We can play this game for a while," he told him, shrugging as he waved his hands in front of him, showing him that he was unarmed. "Or you can stop being a pain and listen to me. You've got nothing to lose, Roxas. I'm not even asking you to believe me. Just hear me out, and then you'll decide."

What was he afraid of, really? What would it cost him to just sit and listen? It wasn't like Riku was out to kill him; hell, he hadn't even attacked him.

"I'm not gonna fight you unless you do," he added, taking a few steps back.

He could make a corridor too? How? If he wasn't a Nobody, what was he?

"It's not a game." Roxas stepped back. "I'm just trying to get home. I don't want to talk to you."

He never would have thought of Xemnas as someone he'd miss, despite being -art of the same group, but now he couldn't help but wish he'd arrive. What their leader had said made sense, but when the strangers talked like this, things seemed murkier. Less believable.

Roxas doubted.

But only for a moment. "If you want me to ever trust you, you'll give me a reason to do it," he said in a low voice. "'Cause right now I don't have one."

If you want me to ever trust you, you'll give me a reason to do it. Cause right now I don't have one.

Riku couldn't help but scoff slightly, an exasperated snort. At this point, there wasn't much he could do. You couldn't make someone listen, if they didn't want to hear you. Unless he knocked him out and forced him, there was no way Roxas could be comfortable right now to even want to be anywhere near him.

"Thing is, Roxas," he started as he walked backward slowly, opening another dark portal behind him at the same time. "You won't let me."

This first encounter was a complete failure. Riku wondered what Xemnas had told him for him to despise him so. Even Sora, candid as he was, could see past his nose... well, with a little help, sometimes. Could he really blame him, though? There was a time where he, too, had listened to the wrong guys... and the results hadn't been pretty. He'd do what he could for Roxas not to fall in the same trap.

He did owe him after all, didn't he?

"Be careful, Roxas," he shot him one last glance before turning around, ready to leave. "Don't let anyone tell you what to do."

Roxas watched carefully, just in case it was a ruse and Riku was about to rush him at the last second. But there was nothing.

"Yeah," he said. "I never did."

He'd made his choice to stay with the Organization and seek to become whole. He didn't understand everything, but it would be different when he had a heart and could understand Until then, he'd keep trusting his friends. They were the only thing he knew he could completely believe in.

"You can tell your friends what I said." He opened another portal and stared Riku down instead of stepping into it immediately.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Log // ongoing // closed

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

okay, I had to laugh at your first line XD

It's all I can think of whenever the subject comes up

YOU STINK ROXAS TAKE A BATH

Hey. Agrabah was hot, the coats are heavy. Sweat happened.

/PINCHES NOSE

Ow!

8D

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

/STRANGLES ROXAS FOREVER

8)

/PULLS HAIR OUT

That was uncalled for