#tempests crossover

[beastenraged]

the other side of the mirror pt2

@hallowed-nebulae

The Radiant Nightmare misses a lot. This, she remains aware of despite everything else that has happened to her. 

It’s a natural side effect of how she exists. When your Heart has been shattered and pieced together in a parody of its last shape, things are guaranteed to be missing. Whether it’s past memories or current events, can go either way. 

All the Radiant Nightmare knows at this very moment is this: food and territory. She has to protect her territory from enemies and those enemies often can be eaten. 

A perfect mixing match, whatever one wants to refer to the situation. 

Most of her remains in the Dream of Radiant Garden, as matches her name. Some of her, though...travels more far afield. 

Splitting Hearts means a person can be in more than one place at the same time, each Heart fragment to its own Dream-shaped body. Not as stable as the main mass, of course, but it does well enough to fuel the Nightmare’s curiosity. 

Her remembrance. 

This fragment of her stretches out into an entirely new worldline, as this alternating universe is called. Far from her own, only able to be reached because her past self currently resides there. 

(Hearts attract Hearts and magnets push and pull. Everything and nothing is the same.)

This Dream-world is the same but different from the one her territory brushes up against at times. Still called Mirage Arena, but with a different ruler. 

Who would have guessed? That somewhere, somewhen, the Ultimecia would have fallen prey to her own games. Allowing another to take the throne. Another that the Radiant Nightmare has never met before. Not in her past life or her current one. 

This Ruler speaks to her now. Angelic yet not, a swirl of white and sky blue to the Nightmare’s senses. Singing but also incredibly silent. 

“Why are you here? Wandering Nightmares don’t tend to linger as long as you have.”

The Radiant Nightmare hears the unspoken, for once in her life. 

Not unless they want something. 

She knits her claws together. All six of them. 

“My past walks in your world,” she says simply. “As is the one I promised myself with. I am only following after them.”

The Ruler’s brows knit together. Metaphorically or literally? It’s not like the Radiant Nightmare can tell, she’s mostly blind. “I see. If you harm anyone...”

“I will not but I take your warning.” Besides, this is only a fragment. If the main Radiant Nightmare loses this, it will be no loss. 

Not when she’s lost so much of herself already. What’s a little more to add to the pile?

“You should be more careful with yourself.”

The Radiant Nightmare blinks with the eyes she hasn’t got. Her fins flick back. Flick forward. “What’s there to be careful with?”

A hint of a frown. “If you’re asking me that question, you’ve already forgotten yourself.”

“You cannot judge me on that. You do not reign over me.”

“But I know a you,” the Ruler corrects. “You are more similar than you’d like to pretend.”

What is she talking abou- ah. The alternate Ruse. “Not so much. Maybe my past and this other Ruse are the same. But I’ve changed too much to be considered that,” the Radiant Nightmare says while violently swishing her tail. 

Another polite smile. Too polite for the words that leave those lips. “You lie.”

Her ice flares. “You think you know me? Think again. Because Ruse would have never sold the future to Xehanort.”

The names echo. Creating meaning, creating vibrations that cannot be ignored, even in these shadowy depths. 

The Ruler’s wings flick out. “Oh. I understand now. That’s why you’re so insistent on you being  a different person. Because you did what would have been unimaginable.”

“Shut up.”

Too quick, she needs to mind her words here!

A bright smile. “No. You need to face yourself, before you hurt my Radiant Nightmre. And I won’t let you do that. Mind yourself, Nightmare.”

Another Radiant Nightmare...Ruse, hm? The Ruse of this world. 

“I will...leave her be. I am merely watching.”

The Ruler nods. “Then you may stay.”

Radiant Nightmare flicks her fins out in a flourish of a bow. “My thanks.”

So she will stay quiet. She will not interfere as she walks in this Mirage Arena. If another Nightmare or Spirit wants to talk to her, then she will. But the Radiant Nightmare will not reach out first. 

As to the bargain between them. 

But the rest that this Ruler has told her, about denying being Ruse...

What’s the point? 

It’s not like she’ll remember anyway.

[beastenraged]

the other side of the mirror pt1

@hallowed-nebulae

I stare into the eyes of another me. Another Ruse. 

...how? This shouldn’t be possible, should it? I’m certainly no canon character, not canon enough besides the body I’ve possessed for myself. Not enough to fracture out into different versions of myself.

Yet. Somehow. There’s another Ruse. If her name is even Ruse, or if she’s even a ‘she.’ But if she’s me, we would share that much. Wouldn’t we? 

There’s other people to see, what looks like another Riku with wings. A Dream Eater Riku, most likely. Maybe one that screwed up with handling Sora’s dreams in DDD, why else would he be here? Also, just crowds of people around us. Some familiar, some not. Most I could probably name, if you gave a moment. And maybe a few reminders. Just one or two. 

But none of that is nearly so mind boggling as another Ruse. 

"Riku! Why is there another me!"

And it seems this ‘other me’ agrees. 

That Riku yawns. Looking pretty tired, his tail lashes at the ground. His wings flutter as he blinks open red eyes. Nightmare eyes. 

"Every world has similar worlds to it. Every worldline has another worldline similar to it. There's many Rikus, so it makes sense that there would be more than one Ruse, right?"

But wouldn’t that be really rare? Especially if I don’t exist in a wider canon?

“But Riiikuuu,” she draws out. "Wasn't the whole thing about my worldline the fact that me existing is one of those really rare events?"

Same thoughts that I just had, pretty much. I trace along my face scars, careful not to dig in too deep. It’s kind of scary? Creepy? I don’t know the right words for seeing someone else do exactly what I would do with the Riku I know but being someone else at the same time. 

We’re not the same, even if we were the same person once. It’s like with Harper, the bones that I came from. Our paths have clearly diverged if she’s hanging out in the Mirage Arena still where I am not. 

(Is...Naminé still with her? Is Rook? Has some version of me not ruined everything?)

"What, like Ven being Ven and not some other Ventus?" Vanitas speaks up. He seems very comfortable with other Ruse, sliding up to her. Like a friend. 

“Hey idiot,” she greets him. Her hands are on her hips as she looks him up and down. Focusing more specifically on his leg. "Have you decided if you wanna get Rinoa to heal your leg yet?"

Vanitas hums and smirks. All snarky. "Nah. I'll pass. Scars mean I lived, right?"

Well. He’s not wrong. I fight the temptation to touch my own scars again.

She scoffs. Almost laughs as she shakes her head at him. “You didn't live, you just got your leg ripped off 'cause I had you trapped and you didn't want to admit you were going to lose." 

I know Kairi and Xion are busy being horrified by this. I know this. I turn my head, swallow the bile itching at my throat. They’re horrified by this, and they would be horrified by me because I would do the same. I would laugh too, have laughed about something just like this. 

At least...Xehanort gets it. His hand is on my shoulder. Warm. Comforting. More than it should be, from someone like him. 

Wait...she said something about ripping off Vanitas’ leg. Vanitas...said something about a friend I would like? Like this person who ripped off his leg? Which must mean-

Those jerks! They were totally messing with me! ...I have to admit, that is kind of funny. Thinking about it. Just a little. 

But I’m more interested in staring at my doppelganger, as she stares back. 

She flexes her hands by her side. I want to do the same. I don’t. One of us has to keep to reason here, seem unaffected by this...this...whatever. 

The movement in her hands transforms into a loud clap. I almost flinch. I don’t.

"So! Why are all of you here, anyways? Didn't come for a fight, right?"

Not that I’m aware of. Pretty sure Vanitas wouldn’t mind, it seems raring to go even after the revelation of its near loss of its leg. Kind of makes sense? Vanitas isn’t one to calm down about a fight, whether this version or the version that showed up in the games. Not in real life, not like this. 

The Chirthy of the other Xehanort quickly steps in with a head shake and words of their own. "No fights! Not immediately, at least."

She nods, taking that in. The entire group kind of shifts back and forth, instead of saying anything. C’mon, aren’t we here for a reason? I’m about to say something, when my alternate speaks first. Just as impatient as myself. 

(Some things never change, huh?)

“So...?” She asks, leaving the words dangling. Waiting for us to fill it in, to give up the facts. A familiar tactic. But not one that lasts long, the other Ruse growing impatient enough to ask more as she bounces up and down on her feet. 

"What are you looking for? I'm not in a fight any time soon because Rinoa says I'm not allowed--"

"-- Because you tripped out of the layer last time you were in a fight, I am not putting you and Will in the regular arenas ever again,” the Riku-looking Nightmare inserts dryly. 

Will? I pull my attention to focusing on the other Ruse again, putting whatever that is away for later. Because it couldn’t be the Lingering Will, could it?

"-- so I have the free time to help!" She announces with hands on her hips and a soft smile. A Naminé kind of smile, the one she would always use on me to convince me to talk. 

My fingers do dig into my face at that. Can’t help it. 

Only the flash of another person moving towards us stops me before I burrow in any deeper with sharp nails. 

That’s...that’s another Riku Replica. Some part of me just knows, the rest of me recognizes him from the brief encounters I had with myself before...before I lost him. 

Rook. Rook, Rook, Rook. Oh Rook. 

"Rook! Hey Rook! I'm over here!" She waves frantically to him, calling him over in excitement. 

He hurries over in response and I...I...

As the other Ruse explains to him everything about what she knows right now, what’s going with us visitors, I...I look away. I have to. Because if I don’t move away now, I’ll never take my eyes off Rook. Not my Rook, never my Rook, 

“Ruse...” Xion whispers. She tugs at my wrist. “Are you okay?”

I force a smile on my face. The same soft smile that went on a mirror of my face. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, we just need to get home. Right?”

She eyes me critically but slowly nods. “If you say so.”

Man, Xion is totally going to talk with me later. Capital T-Talk kind of talk. Annoying, who’s the big sister here? I help her, not the other way around. 

I move closer to Xehanort, out of Xion’s reach. The Xehanort that I know, watching everything in his distracted observer fashion. Completely ignoring how uncomfortable he seems to be making everyone in the process, especially the other Xehanort. 

Everyone but me and the other Ruse, who is really focused on whatever she’s talking about. Guess all Ruses don’t get bothered by Xehanorts, huh? Weird thought. 

"That one's disaster parents." Vanitas says, jabbing a thumb in the direction of his Xehanort.

Wait, they’re talking about something else? What did I miss? And hey, my Xehanort’s looking a little surprised by the revelation that his alternate has parents, peering carefully at the individual in question. Since he’s looking a tiny bit surprised, he must be really surprised. Honestly! 

Crazy to think, such a huge difference. 

The other Xehanort glares at Vanitas as he speaks up to clarify to the interested party. 

"We're looking for Sephiroth. We were doing a medical checkup for Ven and Vanitas, but then we realized we don't really know how mako works, so we're hoping Sephiroth can help us, since he's. . .  y'know. . ."

Huh, that makes sense. If this Sephiroth has a background with Hojo (fuck that dude), of course he would know mako science stuff. Enough to function, at least. 

But Sephiroth? Most likely not actually related, though I’ll keep the possibility in mind that somewhere, somewhen, a Sephiroth helped give birth to a Xehanort. Weird as that may be...

I lean over to whisper in Xeha’s ear. “Probably adopted.”

His shoulders relax, though I’m the only one who could and would notice such a response. He gives me the shortest nod possible. To avoid notice, of course. He hates anyone catching onto possible weakness. 

"I can probably find him," the other Riku says. The Nightmare one. Judging by how nearly everyone else kind of jumps, they forgot he was there. I didn’t. I can’t forget a Nightmare so close, the feel of that heavy Darkness and the gleam of red eyes.

(My mouth waters. I’m so hungry.)

Shake my head. Ignore. Don’t eat people, don’t eat people...honestly, if I was a proper Replica or person or whatever, I wouldn’t be thinking about eating people in the first place. 

It’s the worst, isn’t it? 

Turning my attention to my surroundings always serves as the best distraction, so I decide to do that. Careful to keep close to everyone else, careful to keep an eye out. 

So very different from the Arena I wandered. But that only makes sense, right? Dreams of different universes would be different from what I know, making this Dream-built place different too. Also, I have a strong feeling that a Nightmare that isn’t Ultimecia runs this Arena. No version of me would linger with a Nightmare like that around, threatening to feed me to people. The other Ruse seems to know where she’s going, yet she relies on the other Xehanort for most of her directions. As bad as I am, then. What a weird thought. Again, more similarities than differences between us. 

Would this be more comfortable, if there were more differences? Like between the Xehanort I know and the Xehanort of here that apparently isn’t an orphan?

(I...don’t know. What can I say?)

She rushes up after a...Cloud? From FF7? I think so, at least. Probably. After a lot of time in the crowd. The other Xehanort sighs but doesn’t bother holding her back. Because no one can hold a Ruse back. Ever. 

Well. We’ll see where this takes us. Because I don’t have a plan. 

(I never do.)

[beastenraged]

striking hot iron

( Ruse POV of Cold Iron after so long! AHHH. @hallowed-nebulae )

I am not sitting in a chair. Not in a medical room. Not here, in Radiant Garden’s castle, all whole and unbroken and lacking the shadows it should have. 

Should have, would have. This is the past and everything is supposed to be like this, even with another person interfering in ‘canon.’ It’s...weird. That’s all. Weird and strange that everything looks like this, so much brighter and how I don’t have to worry about getting ambushed by Heartless if I wander out too far. 

This world is...well, not safe. Nowhere’s perfectly safe, especially not a world that’s also different from the one I know in ways I can’t predict. But safer, that’s possible. 

There’s an Even here and I flinched when I saw him. Stupid of me, I know. He’s not the same as the Vexen in my home world. Hasn’t made a million choices to tear people apart for science. But my body still reacts as if he is. 

Stupid body. So dumb. I hate it. That, and the thing I have about fire now. Really annoying. You know, I used to like fire? No one can tell now, by the way my entire body freaks out at the sight of even a spark. Gross. 

Gotta convince Xion that I’m okay, though. That I don’t need to see any doctors here or anything like that. No need to add more trauma, amiright? 

“I’m fine, Xion.”

“No you’re not, Ruse! You’re hurting and the machines here aren’t broken. You need this checkup.” If there was a table to slam her hands down on, I betcha Xion would be doing that. 

“I don’t need anything! I’m not broken, I’m fine!” 

(I have to be.)

“You’re not fine!” Her voice breaks on the last word, and she withdraws into herself. Wrapping her arms around her shoulders, eyes full of...tears. No no no. She can’t be crying! No no!

I wave my hands frantically at her. She just cries harder, a soundless broken thing, until I lower my hands in defeat. Looks like there’s only one way to fix this.

I sigh. “...fine.”

Xion cheers up so quickly at my acquiesce, I half-wonder if she was faking the emotions. I know for a fact she wasn’t, but...still. Fast turnaround. 

Barely resist slamming the door as I walk out on her. Time for the dumb check-up. As soon as possible. Get this done.

People sitting outside and waiting. Ven and Vanitas and...

Oh. Terra’s here. Look, I know rationally that he’s not the Terra I’ve met before, anymore than the Even of this worldline is the same Vexen. My feelings always say differently. Because in part, he’s the same as the other Terra, isn’t he? 

He’s always the type to refuse to fight someone because they look like a kid, ignorant of what worse fate he dooms his opponent to as he has the audacity to win anyway. A reminder of how weak I really am, compared to any Keyblade wielder. 

But don’t take it out on him. Don’t you dare do that. Calm. 

He knows that I don’t like enough already. No need to make it worse. No need to show my dislike for everyone to see. 

Stick to business. 

“I’m not going to get a checkup unless your Vexen does it.” The man is the best at what he does, after all. I want the best if only to get this done as fast as possible. To assure Xion that it’s been done correctly too. 

Terra quite visibly hesitates before he speaks. Nervous about setting me off, probably. Part of me inwardly preens at the thought of being a threat to Terra. The rest of me is ashamed of losing control so easily that the man thinks he has to watch his words around me.  

“I thought you didn’t like Even? I can ask and see that that gets done.”

I smile. Cold and a slit across my face. A snake’s close-mouthed smile. “I’d rather keep my interactions to people I at least somewhat know.”

No need to bring in more people to freak me out. I’m still embarrassed about what happened with Marluxia and Axel earlier, though I’ll never tell these people that. Nah, best to keep that shame to myself. 

Pale thin hands reach out. Ven, gesturing for my own hands. I give them to him. His hands feel cold to touch, wrapped around my fingers and palms. Not as cold as the ice I wield, but cold enough. Ven is a he/it/them all at the once at the touch, and the memories come. 

I get-

I get-

Cold rooms that shake with fear and pain. Every so often (more often than not), there are whimpers and wails. Screams of hurt animals. 

(Or people. Animals and people in pain sound much the same.)

Needles that are too much for tender skin, thin veins. Jabbed in without care for the one on the other side of it. It stings and there is too much blood lost. 

(Asleep more than awake. Not that really stops the pain.)

White coats, careless hands that touch and touch and touch without heed for the pain those touches cause. Pulling flesh apart like taffy, but also not because that’s just in your imagination, isn’t it-

Dying, your heart shuddering to stop over and over, but chemicals in your bloodstream refuse to give you up. Dying but death never sticking. 

Glasses gleam, curious about this apparent immortality. More pain, more exposure of your guts, more blood. 

(Always more blood.)

A man in red-

I blink and it is over, as quickly as I received the vision in the first place. Like nothing ever happened in the first place, which Ven seems to be pretending to be the truth. 

There’s a hundred and one things I want to ask. To shout, for the world to hear. When that has been done to you, Ven, how can you still pretend that everything's the same? That nothing is wrong? How? 

Because what happened to Ven, that’s bad. So much worse than what Vexen did to me, but I have no doubt that Vexen would have done similar in Castle Oblivion if I hadn’t been able to get away. Hadn’t shredded my own Heart in escaping. 

Ven had never had a chance in the first place, to even try running. 

I know what it’s like to be scared. It’s okay. He sends to me. For once, only words. Not feelings, not images. Only words. Seemingly untainted by any kind of emotion. But I know better, don’t I?

My teeth dig into my tongue, tasting blood. Keeping my words from falling out in return. 

No. It’s not okay. Not what happened to you. It will never be okay, Ven. We can both be scared, but what happened to you...I will not let that happen. Not again. Not ever again. 

(Good thing that Hojo’s already dead, from what I can tell, in flashy glimpses. Stolen as my mind pressed to Ven’s. Lucky for Hojo.)

Speak of one of my personal devils, opening up a door off to the side. There’s Even and I just barely manage to not flinch, because he doesn’t sound the same as the Vexen I know. Not quite. Close but different, less extended. Less life lived, perhaps? Less shitty choices made, for sure. 

“Everything is ready,” he says smoothly. “You may all come in.”

Sliding in, I push the newly gifted memories to the back of my mind. They aren’t necessary here, and I have a gut feeling that Ven didn’t intend to give me so much. How private that is...

Wait. When did Kairi get here? Um, I guess I forgot she existed. Not a good look on me, she already gets more than enough for that from canon. Heh, my bad?

There’s an interesting machine in the room we file into. I watch it carefully, but it doesn’t seem the sort to demand blood or skin to function. Of course, I’m definitely going to have to give up blood later, it’s how these things work. But not yet, apparently. 

The machine gives a little hum as it scans Ven’s Heart. Beeping as we all get some lovely results that to be honest, kind of freak me out. 

How do you exist with a third of a Heart? That seems...impossible. But also, very Kingdom Hearts of Ven, good job pulling off an impossible existence. Much better than I have so far, anyway. 

(I bet it hurts, to live like that. It is for me.)

Vanitas is more of what I expected, two thirds of the Ventus-Heart plus what I’m pretty sure is the Xehanort vessel bit. Considering how everyone appears to be wincing at its existence...yeah, more than sure. 

When it comes to my turn...I grimace but don’t fight back. Let the strange machine do its work on me, ferreting out the details of my weird existence. Not going to be pleasant to see everyone else react to this, that’s for sure. 

Because I may have more of a Heart than Ven, and a bit more than Vanitas, but it’s in worse condition than either of theirs. 

My Heart- 

Well. There’s not a better way to put this. 

My Heart bleeds. Always and constantly. It’s something I’ve gotten used to, since I first shredded it escaping from Vexen in Castle Oblivion. Pretty much all of my life so far. Sometimes the aches of my Heart spread to the rest of my body, and I ache for a day or two. Not really anything I can do to fix that. 

It bleeds and pulses as I breath and I try to keep it together no matter what happens. The pain is more noticeable now that Rook is gone. I’m almost certain that his presence was helping patch up the wounds and without him there, I can’t stop my inevitable dissolving alone. 

Pity. Fear. Sympathy. Emotions that everyone around me feels almost instantly, as Even gently explains to them what my scan means. 

I hate how soft he is about, like he’s a vet telling some kids that their dog needs to be put to sleep.  

Seriously, this is why I didn’t want anyone to take a look in the first place. They’re all worrying and they can all do nothing. 

(I don’t want their pity)

“Your Heart seems to have been in this state for quite some time, I’ll have to run more examinations to find out when that occurred-” 

I shake my head at that. 

“No? Do you know the cause then?”

For once in my life, I choose a bit of diplomacy. Don’t say that his alternate self is to blame. “I was trying to Corridor away from an enemy, shortly after I was born.”

Created. 

“Ah. Your Heart would have been still adjusting and forming itself in response to the world around it, an injury that would have never happened later in your life. Does it hurt often? Does it hurt more and more over time?”

Yeah. What do you think?

(I don’t mention the evergrowing hunger.)

“…As you can see, you likely are experiencing physical symptoms as a result of your Heart’s damaged state,” Even concludes. Giving me answers that I already know, already guessed at. 

I’m dying, that’s all there is to it. Not going to go without a fight, of course, but that still doesn’t change my current reality of death creeping up on me. One that Master Xehanort, of all people, promised to avert for me. 

But don’t worry. I won’t go to him for this. Never.  

(Unless that choice has already been made...has it?)

“But what does that mean? What can we do?” Xion asks almost desperately. 

Kairi bites at her lip. “Can we do anything?” 

Both of them begging for this Even’s help. I never wanted this for them. Not for me. 

“A body and Soul without a Heart is a Nobody. A Heart and Soul without a body is a Luminosity Being, such as a Light or a Darkness – though so if the Luminosity Beings you’ve met are, to the best of my knowledge, the Foretellers. A body and Heart without a Soul is a corpse.” Even explains things I already know (well, maybe not the Luminosity bit, interesting), but I’m not going to stop him. Better this man rant instead of taking me apart. 

Besides, Kairi and Xion don’t know anything and are taking all that they can. Seeming very interested. Maybe I should talk to them more about stuff like this, explain more of our lives like I did to Namine in the past. And Xion, occasionally. 

Even nods at Vanitas and Ven, who both looked bored and not paying attention. “Beings can exist with fractured amounts of any of the three, as I assume you know. The Unversed. Ven and Vanitas have incomplete Hearts and bodies, but they both have their own whole Souls. Reeve Tuesti is another example of an Unversed – while his body and Heart are both whole, his Soul is in at least two pieces at any given time." 

Familiar green eyes laser focus back on me. I fight not to shrink back. "Your Soul is whole, but the state of your Heart and body is still rather concerning. I assume you know this, however, it’s still worth repeating. Ideally, we would work on creating some sort of cast to patch up the damages on your Heart, so that it may have the time and resources to repair itself once it is no longer metaphorically bleeding out – however, given the small time frame that you and your companions have to stay in this world, we may need to find a faster, if less effective, solution.”

Thankfully, thankfully, those eyes go to Ven. Away from me. 

“Now, then. Your Heart and soul are stable, but I’d like some bloodwork from you, to get a better check on your health. It’s standard procedure.” There’s a softness to this Even’s voice, one I’ve never heard from Vexen before. 

I wonder...how much was lost in that transformation from Somebody to Nobody? How much can never be regained? I put it aside, because there’s nothing I can do about that.

But I can do something about Ven’s entire being seems to shudder at the mention of bloodwork. Because I know why that is. Too well, my own Heart pounding in memory. 

“I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Hell, everyone’s staring at me. Especially Vanitas. 

Yellow eyes narrow. “What do you mean?”

Wait. Ven didn’t...tell their twin. What. Beans. Oh man, oh beans. 

(I’m totally going to die. Yay.)

Ven presses their head against Vanitas’ shoulder. Quiet as they presumably exchange stuff through their mind connection, Ven probably showing Vanitas what he did to me. 

“Ven...Ven, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Vanitas looks hurt. Oh man, no, not family drama. I twitch in place. I didn’t want people paying attention to my hurt Heart, but I didn’t want this!

Terra’s saying something. Not my problem. But Vanitas is saying something else. Probably my problem. Tune back in. 

Hissed words. “So you know when Ven went to that other worldline for a few months?”

“…yes?” Terra asks for everyone else. 

“Well.” Vanitas pauses, swallowing something in its throat, trying to come up with the right words. If there are right ones, for this. “They got kidnapped for three days by some crazy biologist and basically experimented on.”

I can’t hide my wince. Everyone else’s responses are similar, letting out gasps and pained hisses. Terra looks the most pained of all, like he’s taken a Keyblade to his gut. Like he’s failed Ven completely and totally. Devasted.

As much as I don’t really like him, he doesn’t deserve that. Because he didn’t fail Ven. Life just...happened. 

“I...see.”  Even’s response is pretty calm, hiding the turmoil that must be underneath. Because how do you respond to a sudden painful revelation like that?“Unfortunately, we do still need bloodwork to check Ven’s health, but given the situation I believe we can put it off for some time. Did Ven get checkups in that other worldline that you mentioned? Would it be possible to find a medical professional that they do trust, or that would have experience to be able to help us with this?”

Ven mentions something, probably. I don’t hear because it’s not directed towards me. Also, because Terra’s utter despair keeps grabbing my attention. I feel bad and I’m not used to that. 

Not about people I’ve already made up my mind on. Not about people that I haven’t failed myself. 

Should I...do something? Maybe I should. I step forward to give Terra a gentle pat on the arm. He glances at me in surprise and before he can do anything else, I whisper. 

“Not your fault. Sorry that it happened to your kid, though. Sucks.”

My good deal done for the day, I withdraw behind Xion and Kairi before Terra suddenly hugs me or something weird like that. 

Vanitas is saying something about bloodwork, from whatever Ven told it. 

“Good to know. Now, then,” Even says slowly, “Ven.”

[Yes?] A slightly shaking hand. Not a motion the more human-adjacent party members will notice, but I know that Vanitas definitely does by the way it shifts as if to move forward. To comfort its twin. 

“Is there any reason why you haven’t informed anyone about your experiences with this… former medical treatment, before now?” 

[What are you, a therapist?] Ah, that’s familiar. An annoyance, a rage I’ve felt many times myself (and am kinda feeling now, about people poking at my Heart condition), present in Ven. Finally mirroring how I respond to things, and that doesn’t seem right for some reason. Annoying, isn’t it? For everyone to drag things out that cannot be fixed?

But this is Ven’s life. I watch and don’t interfere. 

“I need to know what sort of experiences you’ve had, any surgeries or procedures, so that I may take them into account to get you the medical care that you need.”

Of course he does. Makes sense, no matter how irritating that truth may be. 

Ven shrinks back. [Sorry.]

Ugh. Maybe I should step in. I don’t like the look of that sadness on their face. 

“Do you… want to talk about it?” Please, I have very little desire to go into this. Especially when I have a feeling that Vanitas might actually beat me up if Ven tells me more secrets without telling its twin in turn. 

Still, I’ll make the offer. Because if I can help, I will.  

A head shake. [Not today.]

Oh. That works. I nod back, lean back against the wall. Terra and Ven hug, snuggle. Vanitas hovers nearby, almost touching but not quite. I don’t have to get involved, good.

Thankfully I don’t have to stay for when Even needs to take a deeper look at Ven’s everything, after that revelation on Ven’s...past experience with Hojo. Can’t blame the man for wanting to check, that’s what any good doctor would do. A proper doctor. 

I’m more than happy to leave. Not get pulled into anything else. 

Kairi and Xion leave with me, just us three. 

“You should have told me,” is the first thing Xion says. A quiet thing. 

“Told you what? Something you can’t do anything about? That I’m dying?” Xion doesn’t flinch in response and now that I think about it, she’s been awfully quiet about this entire revelation of my Heart’s condition. 

“You...” I narrow my eyes at her. “You already knew, didn’t you?”

She doesn’t even have the decency to look ashamed by the revelation. “Our Even told us.”

Ah-! Of course he would! “He didn’t have the right!”

“Didn’t have the right to say that you were dying and you won’t tell us!” Xion’s eyes are sharp and slice like daggers into my gut. 

Kairi only watches, arms folded over her chest. Saying nothing. Which is great! I don’t need to hear anything from her either. But also...worrying. 

Until there’s a distraction from the lab’s door, that I happily take.

Oh? Vanitas and Ven have come out with canes. 

Kind of jealous, actually. Canes can be pretty cool. Especially for whacking people with. Good for them! Be able to get something to help the pain, at least a little. And so quickly too! Makes sense with the magic, and can make all kinds of stuff much faster than before. Cool stuff, right?

There’s nothing to answer that, in my head. 

Yeah. Cool stuff. 

(I miss him.)

[beastenraged]

Spring Tide

@hallowed-nebulae

Oops.

Demyx is definitely not supposed to be here. 

Guess he screwed up going that water-spiral-thing. Ended up...here. Wherever here is. 

What a nice fountain this is, big enough for several people to stand in it. Surrounded by blooming flowers and carved up with all kinds of fairy pictures. 

He traces a carving, humming to himself. What a nice place, full of the magic that tugs at his gills and encourages his scales to grow. The fountain’s water is especially full of magic in particular, splashing onto him. 

“There’s someone in the fountain.”

Hm? A person? Who is that? Demyx looks over to see two people looking over at him. A muscly man, with black hair and freckles. Blue eyed too? Blacksmith looking guy. The other Demyx actually knows. 

That blue hair and the hum of that Heart...even if a lot else is different, Demyx would know who that is anywhere!

“A baby Saix!” He waves. 

The baby Saix stares at him. Almost the exact same glare too, funny. “It’s Isa.” 

Demyx bobs his head in a nod. “Right, right, Isa.”

His scales are itching up his neck right now. Clear and obvious for everyone to see, like his exposed gills. 

“Isa, do ya know this person?” The beefy man asks the baby Saix.

“He doesn’t,” Demyx says cheerfully before he can answer. “Don’t worry about it!”

“He knows a different me,” Isa confides in the man. Low enough that a non-Nobody wouldn’t catch it over the rushing water. Not that Demyx cares to point that out. 

“Still, sharing names ca’ be dangerous.”

“I’m Demyx,” Demyx offers. He takes out Arpeggio, strums it. “If you want a name from me.”

“Alright. That doesn’t tell me why you’re here.”

“Accident.” Demyx strums a long chord, start humming a tune. Building up the magic in it. Maybe he should sing-

“Mind not doing that around here?” The man asks. 

Oh, right. People don’t like when strangers start using magic randomly, without letting them know why they’re there.

“Right, my bad!” Demyx lets Arpeggio fades away, running his gloved fingers along the slick rock making up the fountain. Sitting down on the watery sill. 

“You can come out, you know.” 

He flaps a free hand. “Nah, I’ll just stay right here!”

Don’t want to risk missing the loop that got him here appearing in the fountain without him. Also, the water’s not too bad. He’s waterproofed his coat well enough and his overcoat will just take it in for later magic usage.

His overcoat’s a new one, patterned lace with seashells and waves and maybe a crescent moon or two. But who’s counting? Who cares? Just Demyx, that’s all. 

The fountain burbles out slowly with water. 

Lazy. Just like him. 

Splash splash goes the water. 

“Oh, who’s that?” Demyx perks up, looking at the newcomer with silver hair and a red scarf. 

“I’m Ephemer,” the newcomer offers. “Who are you?”

“Demyx.” There’s a grey cat off to the side, watching them with thread blue eyes. “Oh, a Chirithy!”

The word comes out without him even knowing where it’s from. Inwardly he shrugs. Done a lot of stuff like that, it’s fine. Part of being a Nobody for Demyx. 

The two kids exchange glances while the adult watches him carefully. In case he moves out of the water probably. The Chirithy looks him over. 

“Heya, how’re you doing? Working hard?” Demyx asks. 

“You don’t seem the type to work at all, but want all the benefits anyway.” The Chirithy tilts their head. 

Demyx deflates. “Aw man, do you have to say it like that? Ouch.”

“Sorry,” the cat eventually says. In the end. After their silver haired owner nudges them with a foot slightly. 

“Sure, whatever.” Hm, it’s getting boring just sitting in the wet without playing any music. His gills flutter as he scratches the back of his head. 

There is one thing he can. 

“Soooo...” he draws out. “Want any sea salt ice cream?”

Baby Saix jerks. “What? Why even offer that?”

Demyx digs into his pockets, pulls out a bag. Holds it up. “Have a stick!”

Silence. 

Ephemer speaks. “Uh, it’s not blue? That’s brown. I thought it was blue.”

“Huh. So it is.”

The ice cream’s for Saix anyway. He’s sure the man won’t mind if a different Saix ends up with it in the end. 

A little explanation, maybe. It’s sea salt ice cream from the world Demyx just visited/fell out of. But also not because he’s too lazy to actually find a store that sells the stuff in whatever world he’s visiting. 

Nah, he finds an ice cream place with a willing maker/crafter/whatever who’ll try making him sea salt ice cream from pure description. 

Demyx’s returned with some pretty interesting combinations that way. Like this one, not quite blue.

Look, it’s nothing special. Not really. Demyx isn’t even doing any real work, he’s making other people do the work of creating the ice cream. Most of the time it isn’t any good and Demyx just gets to see Saix’s face screw up in disgust at the experimental taste. 

Just a joke, just funny. 

“It’s homemade,” Demyx tries, shaking the bag. “I’m bringing it for my Saix, the look on his face is going to be hilarious.”

“Your Saix?” Baby Saix, Isa, lifts an eyebrow.

Ephemer, on the other hand, looks almost delighted. “You’re dating him?”

“...maybe?” Demyx tries, suddenly feeling wrong-footed. “What, you want to give me a shovel talk about it?”

Joke’s on them, Rinoa already did that. 

“No. Just...” Baby Saix looks pained. “How would I ever want to date someone like you?”

Ah. “Well, I blackmailed him first.”

The looks on their faces-! Demyx almost folds over laughing. Waves a hand. “Nah, nah, it was more than that. I guess it was...”

He looks over at the fountain he sits in, the spray creating a rainbow. “Saw him in a different light, I suppose. He cares a lot but doesn’t care a lot about himself.”

Demyx shrugs again, putting his hands behind his head. His scales are probably pink at this point, oh well. “Need someone lazy like me to remind him to relax. Every once in a while. That’s all.”

“I see,” the grown man says, nodding his head. And it looks like he might, unlike the teenagers. “Yah didn’t use magic on ‘im or anythin’ like that?”

Demyx gives out a surprised laugh. “Nope! Saix would go berserk on my ass if I tried that, ha! The thought!”

Fizzy at the edges. Guess his time is up. 

He tucks the bag of ‘sea salt’ ice cream away. Stands up straight. 

“Guess it’s time to go! May your heart being your guiding key!”

Fade. Gone. 

Back where he should be. 

(”Demyx, this tastes like caramel. Did you ask for sea salted caramel?”

“Oops! I might have. Taste good?”

“...not too bad. Come here.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I didn’t thank you!”

“You didn’t have to.”)