It's not the first time. And Mercury's learned, with time and insistence, to comply and make her decisions and her moves later, when she's sure. She's learned she often doesn't want to look, that it only brings cloudiness where there should be clarity. Overthinking.
For a moment, while she decides whether to hold it or throw it off, her grip on the hand wavers, but she makes the choice to keep it. For now.
[Roxas used to take orders all the time. Even now, with the past behind them and Organization seeming like a whole other life, he's part of a regiment. He and Sora, a two tag team with Riku alongside them, rostering, seeking, saving.]
[He's used to taking orders, but wearing the blindfold isn't just that. It's a matter of life, death, and oblivion. He squeezes Ami's hand firmly, softly warning her of the steps before they begin to climb. Forewarning from another, less easy to see source.]
[What? Wait, this is going too fast suddenly. She's not sure she has any business being involved in saving a life (outside of the hospital, which she discounts so often in this endless question). Does she even know how?]
I'm coming, then.
Tell me the rest.
[She's still guarded, careful, wary; perhaps even more so, now.]
[His lips quirk upwards, vaguely. But there's no emotion behind it, nothing really but actions based on memories and the faintest heartbeat in the distance.]
[Roxas is not himself, today. He's more himself than he's ever been. He's missing something.]
I sent him away before Xehanort could possess him. He didn't really need the heart, just the body.
I want my heart back.
[His voice trails off, movements slowing before they come to a standstill, in front of a door that neither can see. Roxas' lips move, faint whispers that remain unintelligible leaving his mouth, as if discussing something with himself.]
[She understands Roxas to mean the metaphorical heart even though that concept, too, means something very different to her - the parts of herself she threw away. It's good that her eyes can't betray her, like this; because there's a hunger in them suddenly.]
Are you saying something like that is possible?
[No. Not now. There's something in front of her, a task to complete, a mission to carry out. In fact, Roxas hushes her the moment they've left her lips. She waits.]
[Its a little more literal than that, really. But its likely best she doesn't know that. He nods to the question, squeezes her hand tight-]
Not a sound.
[And pushes the door open, walking at a brisk pace. Several meters into the new area, the door slams shut behind them, a loud crash which causes Roxas to tense. Around them the sounds of crackling, shuffling can be heard- and then the moans start. The growls, the whimpers.]
[Alert, angry, hungry, pain. Roxas keeps walking. He keeps his face looking straight ahead, despite the urge to stop and fight. Just keep walking.]
[She knows it. Don't be distracted, don't be confused. Pain or not, it isn't her concern. She never knew how to care for people anyway. Protect? She doesn't even know what that's supposed to mean half the time.
The slam makes her tense, alert; not afraid precisely, but straining her senses for any other sound or movement. She won't be taken by surprise. She goes quietly, and says nothing more.]
[Pain is not the feeling being spread around, in this room. The area seems flat, but Roxas keeps turning sharply, taking Ami along with him as if hooking through a giant maze.]
[At one point, he stumbles violently, hitting the wall as if shoved. But he doesn't make a sound, just squeezes Ami's hand, and keeps going.]
[Not a sound. She stops herself from voicing anything that might have been destined to become concern. When Roxas squeezes her hand, she avoids dropping it, but doesn't squeeze back, either. Not right now. Not while she's busy on alert.]
It's not the first time. And Mercury's learned, with time and insistence, to comply and make her decisions and her moves later, when she's sure. She's learned she often doesn't want to look, that it only brings cloudiness where there should be clarity. Overthinking.
For a moment, while she decides whether to hold it or throw it off, her grip on the hand wavers, but she makes the choice to keep it. For now.
Always temporary. Never rely on it.]
What is it then?
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[He's used to taking orders, but wearing the blindfold isn't just that. It's a matter of life, death, and oblivion. He squeezes Ami's hand firmly, softly warning her of the steps before they begin to climb. Forewarning from another, less easy to see source.]
It's a person. We're here to save a life.
They weren't meant for birth by sleep.
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I'm coming, then.
Tell me the rest.
[She's still guarded, careful, wary; perhaps even more so, now.]
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[Roxas is not himself, today. He's more himself than he's ever been. He's missing something.]
I sent him away before Xehanort could possess him. He didn't really need the heart, just the body.
I want my heart back.
[His voice trails off, movements slowing before they come to a standstill, in front of a door that neither can see. Roxas' lips move, faint whispers that remain unintelligible leaving his mouth, as if discussing something with himself.]
The next floor, through this door.
Don't stop moving. Don't turn around. Don't speak.
We're not alone.
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Are you saying something like that is possible?
[No. Not now. There's something in front of her, a task to complete, a mission to carry out. In fact, Roxas hushes her the moment they've left her lips. She waits.]
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Not a sound.
[And pushes the door open, walking at a brisk pace. Several meters into the new area, the door slams shut behind them, a loud crash which causes Roxas to tense. Around them the sounds of crackling, shuffling can be heard- and then the moans start. The growls, the whimpers.]
[Alert, angry, hungry, pain. Roxas keeps walking. He keeps his face looking straight ahead, despite the urge to stop and fight. Just keep walking.]
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The slam makes her tense, alert; not afraid precisely, but straining her senses for any other sound or movement. She won't be taken by surprise. She goes quietly, and says nothing more.]
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[At one point, he stumbles violently, hitting the wall as if shoved. But he doesn't make a sound, just squeezes Ami's hand, and keeps going.]
[Almost there....hopefully.]
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