kingdomdressing | (no subject)

[That knee to the face was pretty much unavoidable given the circumstances he was in and Riku quickly found himself clasping a bleeding nose while his head slammed back against the ground. He gagged out a cry- and was his form flickering? Hair turning darker for a second before lightening again, blue eyes winced and frustrated. And looking up only a few feet from Roxas himself.

Not wanting to give then, he rolled, collecting himself to his knees. Then jerking up to his feet- but that impact from earlier clutched him and he stumbled back, holding his head. One, two, and then the third step hit nothing as the glass shattered underneath it and he started to fall. His hands reaching up, managing to catch the end of the platform momentarily. Hands that turned lithe if Roxas paid mind as the rest of Riku fell out of sight.]

[He was conflicted watching it play out. It was with an almost sick sense of gratification as he watched Riku suffer with his injuries, Roxas' expression turning momentarily curious when his foe's appearance shifted.

This was what he'd wanted from the outset of their duel, wasn't it? He wanted that jerk to tumble off into the hear after, after which the Nobody would just figure out how to save him later. But the longer he watched him stumble back, that part that he'd just figured was irrevocably Sora protested and almost begged for him to render aid.

As Riku neared the edge of the remaining glass, Roxas grit his teeth as his legs moved before he could consciously say that he'd reached a decision. He flopped on his stomach and slid, stopping mere inches from the edge as the silver-haired boy fell. He willed his arm to move faster than he'd ever wanted it to before, reaching and hopefully seizing the other boy's hand with his.]

[One moment, it seemed that his grip would give- The next, a hand was clutched to his. And with that, another flicker rippled through his body.]

[And then his hand was softer. Smaller. And almost limp. With familiar those same familiar blue eyes. Hazy, blurring eyes now, hidden under short black hair. She looked to him, her face pale, white-washed. Murmuring faintly.]

Roxas...?

[And then her hand slipped from his and she was falling away into the dark.]

[Part of him thought that he should have been shocked when he saw Riku's form distort and shift as it had. Part of him said that he wouldn't have expected any of this. And yet, as he'd been fighting that boy, pieces had begun to line up and he'd been forming a guess about all of this.

He'd gone into Xion's mind -or heart or whatever it was that they had. And in the depths of all these thoughts and memories had been Riku. His own recent tangle of memories that had lined up, the things he'd remembered and her own hinting through gesture and even the way she looked at him. He couldn't be certain and odds are, he'd never know. But when he thought things through carefully and then thinking about how much else in both Sora and his own travels that had turned out to be metaphor for something else, Roxas was willing to bet that what he'd been fighting was the guilt she carried as her own personal burden. Or something like that. It was just a guess.

The point was, whatever he'd fought was at least part of Xion.

All of which made it all the easier when he saw her grip slip away from his. Without build-up or any delay, he gripped the edge of the ground cracking and crumbling beneath him and pulled himself over the edge enough to plummet after her.

Falling into the dark, his eyes searched for her, his hand outstretched in case he would touch her before seeing her. And strangely, he didn't feel afraid at all.]

[All his hand would find would be nothing for the longest time. Xion had long since vanished into the dark, not a trace of her to be seen. And meanwhile, Roxas himself would feel as if he were falling for forever. Time almost feeling like it was halted. But just when he might think that he had returned to a nothingness, to not even an outside observer, he was hitting the ground.

It was dimmer than the last and less complex if he were to give it even a glance of attention. Setting a scene he had been refamiliarized with only hours ago. Their last time on the clock tower together hung up in the corner. So small was that panel, perhaps a reflection of thought- and then the crowning piece. An image of he, himself, standing before the gigantic form of Xion's reprogrammed self.

But perhaps what would catch his eye most would be the small framed form of someone familiar laying on the ground nearby in an Organization coat.]

[The impact was both welcome and not. That long free fall eventually eased his concern about falling forever into just wishing he'd find something solid beneath his feet again. With a feeling that was part appreciative, partly nostalgic of his recent revival, he clamored to his feet again.

He checked himself and found to his shock that he wasn't suffering from anything worse than mere broken bones. There was a great deal of bruising, but he could still move like that and so it was then that he immediately set to assessing his new surroundings.

It didn't take him long to notice the image beneath his feet, his expression turning displeased and remorseful as he walked over it, taking in all the little details. While the amount of detail was quite amazing, he couldn't help but feel at least mildly revolted by the subject matter. As he studied it, he almost missed the image in the corner. Upon its notice, he shook his head and sighed, getting that sense of longing for at least those times spent with his friends.

Looking away from the image and trying to figure out what to do next, he gave the 'room' a look over once more, finally noticing the familiar small frame.

As much as he wanted to rush over, he was getting to the point where he was weary of trusting anything too easily here. He approached slowly and cautiously, feeling a little more vulnerable than usual without his Keyblade in his hand. By the time he closes within an arm's length, he reaches out to shake the girl's shoulder.]

Xion. Xion, are you okay?

[At first, she remained still as she was, breath shallow. Whether she was conscious in the first place or if he had shaken her awake was pretty hard to tell when her hood was drawn up as it was. Either or, she slowly stirred with a soft groan. Her voice broke through, careful and wary as ever.]

Roxas...? [Slowly, she was trying to pull herself at least into a seated position on the floor, but she just looked so worn. So tired from the way her body moved so sluggishly. One hand coming to slip into her hood and touch her face.] What are you doing here...?

[As soon as he noticed her trying to right herself, Roxas immediately threw caution to the wind as he did his best to support her and ease Xion upright. When she poses her question to him, he can't help to laugh a little before he replies.]

Saving you.

[He gives a moment's pause to let her recover a little more, taking that time to have a seat next to her.]

How're you feeling?

[With Roxas' help, she at least found herself sitting properly. Quiet as he laughed. Her expression well hidden. As he took a seat, she leaned up against him, looking as if she were trying to recollect what had even happened. Her breaths coming softly, almost as if she would pass out right there.]

I'll... be alright. [She didn't sound so sure. But then it was Xion, after all. She spent a few seconds just holding to that. To the sensation of him being there. And then almost wistfully.]

How did you get here...?

[Something didn't seem right here and he knew it. But after all the trials he'd faced to get to wherever she was, Roxas didn't feel too inclined to back away now. When she leans against him, his arm instinctively curls around her and reassuringly rubs her back.

While he's frankly a little less sure of her self-analysis, he figures that at least for now, he'll have to trust in Xion. And then he'd still need to figure out how to get them both out of here at this point.

When she poses her question, he begins explaining without hesitation.]

After you collapsed -it's weird to explain, but a Naminé found us. I don't know how, but we're somehow inside of you.

[His expression reflects how odd he thinks this must all sound to her. Considering their backgrounds, nothing unbelievable, but odd? Probably.]

She said something about relinking your memories and I needed to help if you were ever going to wake up.

[Finally he offers a somewhat sheepish grin.]

And if you needed help, I wasn't just going to sit by and do nothing.

[Xion seemed to tense just a little when he mentioned being inside of her. And then her body was slowly relaxing again. Admittedly, partly due to the attention he was giving her, feeling his hand on her back. It was a really strange concept without doubt, all of this. But considering what they had been through before and what they had seen, it wasn't as surprising as it might have been to any other person involved in such a situation. She nodded vaguely, her head turning to watch him from under her hood. Only her mouth could be seen, curled into a meek, sad smile.

All this for a puppet. He didn't have to. Why did he put himself up to such things for her when- But she already knew the answer. Or perhaps she simply didn't want to have him fussing all over again about it, so she instead chose to murmur softly:]

I guess... [A careful pause and then.] I've been searching for a way, but... the only one I've found... I was stopped.

[As much as he tried not to pay mind to it, the way she kept her hood up was bothering him. Personally, he liked seeing her face -even if most of the time, her expression just seemed so regretful. But he'd easily admit that all those times sitting up on the clock tower with Axel; the three of them talking and laughing together. He liked seeing that smile.

Still, he listened when she spoke up. As happy as he was to have just found her again, there was still a great deal that needed to be done. First came waking her. Then he needed to figure out what was going on with Sora -assuming that somehow, the Riku/Xion he fought wasn't just some lingering sense of guilt or obligation, he'd have some words of his that he'd need to back up.]

Huh? Well, what'd you find? If you couldn't do it alone.

[Roxas makes sure his smile is about as confident and self-assured as it can make it seem, even if it ends up looking like Sora.]

Maybe we can do it together.

[Maybe they could do it together... Such optimism. But then it wasn't unwelcomed. Perhaps heavily because it was Roxas. And because there was something older and wiser about him. He wasn't so easily lost in the details like he once was. And always was he dependable, always cared. But even so.

Xion went quit for a while. Her expression thinning out as she seemed to lose herself to thoughts, trying to build up an answer perhaps. An unease settling in the air. A minute or so passed before she even moved her mouth, trying to conjure the right words.]

It was me... but not me.

[His expression reflects how generally baffling and vague the statement she just gave him was. Granted, when he considered that he had just fought something that was either some part of Xion or one of her personal demons, the concept made some limited sense. But the idea of seeing Xion have to fight herself was just a strange mental image no matter how he tried to analyze it.

Well, there wasn't any sense in trying to think too deeply on a matter like that -at least not right now. There just wasn't enough context to look at each detail with.

So Roxas pats her back reassuringly while he gives her a little longer to recover. Whatever the ordeal she'd been through, he was determined to see the repeat encounter through with her.]

I guess I'll see what you mean when we see it then. As soon as you're ready, we can move.

[Of course he might be pushing himself a little much. His duel with Riku hadn't left him unscathed and he had bruises to show for it.]

[Roxas really couldn't be blamed for being at such a loss as he was. It was more than strange to think about it. It was one thing for the two of them to have fought. But to really contend with an inner self... That was definitely. Definitely something new. Something different. And not exactly something welcoming.

Another nod signaled her understanding. And then she was quiet again, her head ducked slightly. Appearing to just relax for a while longer. Recuperate. If she had noticed the bruises, she didn't show it. Perhaps she was more out of it than she admitted to. No- she definitely was, but still.

Everything was still. Motionless save the vaguest rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Until she slowly removed herself from resting against him. Slowly rising to her feet and taking a few steps foward. Head turning this way and that... And then she was letting out a gasp.]

Edited 2011-01-08 06:46 (UTC)

[Because in that moment of tranquility, a familiar face had appeared. One that had haunted the last of their days together. The very face she had worn then? Was suddenly standing before them. At least for the barest of seconds before the doll suddenly lunged toward them, silent but very much a threat. One that apparently Xion hadn't seen coming as she was suddenly slammed to the ground-]

[-and with that motion, her hood tucked back. Enough to reveal familiar brown, spiky hair along with those hauntingly familiar eyes. She looked like a younger him. But it was still definitely him.

Sora.]

[It was a great deal for him to take in so suddenly. Not more than a few moments after the two had gotten to their feet to find their way out than did Xion's vague comment make sense.

The sight of that doll stirred up so many mixed feelings. It was still her, but a part of her that wasn't her -to him, it was the amalgamation of all that the Organization had tried to force onto both of them. He could feel anger at knowing that by having him fight her like that, they'd played right into the hands of Xemnas' machinations. Especially after getting to know what he had about their Superior, he'd grown to absolutely detest it when things went his way.

Roxas mentally cursed as it moved before he could react. While it struck Xion to the floor, he was fast on the follow-up. Aubade and Two Become One appeared in his hands in a flash as he immediately closed the distance with an Air Slide. His feelings began leading his actions on a leash as he immediately set loose upon it, hoping to drive it back. He needed to force it away -just for a moment.

There hadn't even been time for him to check on his friend yet.]

[As Roxas came at the doll with his keyblades bared, it ducked back and away. Not fast enough though. But that speed really wasn't needed as wings suddenly sprouted from its back to curve around and take the blow. The doll itself remained silent, but damage still made it stumble back and away as he was hoping.

In the meantime, Xion was slowly trying to get to her feet. Fear more than dominating her features as she watched the doll being held back by Roxas. Hand clutching the air only for nothing to come. But then with her in the state she was in, perhaps it wasn't all that surprising. Stumbling. Falling to a knee. If she was panicked by her appearance though, she didn't show it. Or perhaps she didn't even know.]

[Roxas jumped back once he'd driven the doll a satisfactory distance away. He knew it's forms, he remembered it. It may be what she was without the memories she'd absorbed and made, but to him, those things made all the difference in the world to him; the Xion he knew was the only Xion that existed. This was just a remnant of Xemnas' ambition to acquire Kingdom Hearts... and with his friend, he'd send it to wherever Nobodies went when they were terminated.

Spinning Two Become One neatly in his hand, he re-settled his grasp on it's business end as he reached back and offered the grip to Xion. As much as he wanted to turn to her and look, he knew this thing would come after them as soon as his guard lapsed.]

Can you stand?

[His voice is clearly laced with concern, despite his attention being so focused on their common enemy.]

Y-Yeah... I think so. [Behind him, Xion tentatively took the keyblade by the grip and carefully grounded it, using the weapon as leverage now to stand. Soon enough, she was standing by his side, eyes slightly brighter than before at least. A determined yet more worrisome expression that what would usually would be on the face of Sora. An expression that distinctly indicated Xion, perhaps.

The doll seemed to wince momentarily, but that was about the only moment it spared before it was onto them again. Hopping into the air, it paused before suddenly shooting down in Xion's direction with that same variation of the Sonic Blade. Xion herself started out of the way, but it would be a close one.]

Edited 2011-01-09 08:26 (UTC)

[He'd known what to expect and while that struck the still-rationally-thinking voice in his head as a cause for alarm, the part of him currently doing the fighting wasn't listening. Roxas waited for it to re-orient to attack again, his newly-freed hand grasping closed around nothing as his hand began to crackle with electricity.

When it came in again, he'd loose the Thunder spell he'd prepared and hopefully get its attention properly diverted to him. And then from there? He wasn't quite sure, but he knew he could count on Xion to come up with something.]

[The first strike glanced Xion as she tried to move out of the way, but before the doll could go along repeating the strike, thunder reigned from above and it was temporarily stopped in its tracks. In that moment of recovery, Xion herself was carefully conjuring a cure spell to rid of the mist that was coming from her arm and then looking to the doll again with sharpened eyes. If Roxas was looking for it to go after him though, he would be in for a surprise.

As the doll simply seemed to ignore him, darting after Xion once more only this time with a series of slashes. But Xion was at least prepared this round, blocking and parrying when she could. Mostly it was blocking, the doll's hits coming hard and fast. But for what it was worth and for the state she at least had seemed to be in, she was faring better than Roxas might have first imagined. Although it didn't take much to realize who was really the one with the upperhand at the moment. No matter what, Xion just couldn't seem to get past those strikes.]

[Roxas' eyes narrowed. The doll was making a grave mistake in ignoring him. His recent duel with whatever it was that either was or just looked like Riku had opened some old aggravations and left him with a mean streak wider than the savannah on Simba's world.

At least from what he'd seen from Sora, that place was pretty wide anyway.

He moved as quickly as his legs could carry him, taking a position behind Xion as she struggled to defend herself. For the moment, he was putting his faith in her struggling to get through this as much as he was struggling to help her.

The Nobody took to the air, his High Jump carrying him neatly over his friend's head as he took the offense. Aubade was shifted to his left hand as he reeled his right back, his fist igniting with the Firaga he was preparing within it. In a moment, gravity would take over and with any due fortune, he'd be coming down right on top of the doll, looking to strike it from above with that exploding-fist trick he'd learned against the NeoShadows.]

Dunno. A parallel self of yourself might have been a lot cooler. FFFF~

Oh you... ffff~

1/ You saw that coming. You know it~

2/2

Oh very much so.

So, is it really all that surprising~?

Which part?

I dunno. But then my brain turned off from this conversation a moment back.

No worries. But I'm gonna guess there's an extra twist here.

Of course~ Would just be a rehash otherwise.

Seems I'm being called into work today, hopefully see you later tonight.

/o/ And seems you're off now.

Yup. Paycheck today was nice though.

I suppose it would be.

And tomorrow, I see how much of it I get to play with.

1/2 F-Ffff. True?

2/3 And I lied.

3/3 And another account. F-Fffff.

If this wasn't so entertaining, I'd start haggling you for borderline playercest.

Hey. HEY. It's the DR. It's legal. |D BE NICE.

I said if it wasn't so entertaining. So take that compliment and run with it.

Yeah, yeah. Whatever. ;D

What? I can back-handedly compliment you.

Like a jerkface. 8| F-Ffff..

Cause it wouldn't be fun if I were completely nice.