Genre: Family, Angst, Comfort
Ships?: Hinted Axel/Xion and Vexen/Lucrecia
→Familyships?: faux Vexen&Lexaeus&Zexion&Xion
→Friendships?: the above and Axel&Xion
Characters: Xion, Zexion, Lexaeus, Vexen, Axel
→Mentions: Lucrecia, the wyverns from the Black Cauldron movie, Xemnas, Sabor
Rating: PG
Spoilers: No. Just a 'What If' scenario from Kill the Hero
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any related characters. This was written out of enjoyment of the series, and no profit is being made.
Music: We Live
Notes: Yeah, yeah, Kill the Hero, so sue me. XD Anyway, to explain something, in KtH, Vexen goes about making hairpins that basically mimic the Drives Sora can do in KH2. He gives them to Xion to test them out. They're all embedded with a bit of power from three people: Valor form makes her more in tune with Earth and better at physical combat, Wisdom makes her more attuned to Ice and better at magic, and Master is a balance between the three that helps her with Illusions and also makes her slightly resistant to them. It isn't a big deal, but it helps explain the ending just a bit.
Finality
"I don't want to trade this for anything," she says to Deep Jungle's sunset and the three who sit on either sides of her. The deep red and flowing orange blinds her, makes the rest of the tree house fade away into light behind her and has the jungle below a blur of color. Her legs dangle over the edge as she and her Never-Was family sit there peacefully. She cradles a cup in her hand and despite her best efforts, she can't remember how she even got here, watching the sunset with Vexen, Zexion, and Lexaeus. That doesn't matter, however; she has those she loves with her. What else does she need?
"Keep careful with your words," Zexion says in his quiet, knowing tone besides her. When she sets her cup down, his hand folds gently over hers. "There are things in this universe that are better than us. You could be happy, or in love. You're special that way." She can hear the dry humor in his voice at that last sentence. Something within her cracks, threatens to remind her. Xion grasps Zexion's hand tighter. "Go ahead and live."
"I don't want to," she replies, hand shaking as she turns to him. A hulking form in black is on his other side, but for some reason, Xion can't make out Lexaeus, or even the rest of the tree house. There is only Zexion, a spot of clarity in the vague blur of colors and light. "I like being with you. I like your sense of humor, I like when you teach me how to do little illusions and pretend to be something and you never look down on me-" Tears are starting to gather as she holds his hand in both of hers.
"The feeling is mutual," he assures her gently, brushing her hair away from her face. "But nothing lasts forever. You know that." He looks peaceful, Xion realizes as they sit there. There's none of the lingering insanity, the worry or exhaustion. "Be good for me, won't you?" Even as Xion tries to keep a hold on his hand, Zexion stands up. A small, rueful smile crosses his face. "I'm an unfortunately vengeful person, so kindly try and get back at Xemnas for me, if you could."
"Please..." Unable to be held back, the tears pour down her face. "Don't leave." The only response she gets is a gentle hand in her hair and then Zexion turns away and walks off. Hugging herself, Xion can only sit there and silently cry. A heavy hand settles on her shoulder reassuringly. As she leans against Lexaeus' chest, his arm wraps around her. "Not you too," she murmurs into his coat while he wipes away her tears.
"You're a strong girl," he says, chest rumbling with his voice. "You'll find others you will love and care for. They will be good for you, and you them." The tears haven't stopped yet, but he still pulls her away, holding her by the shoulders. She can see him now, with his kind blue eyes and sturdy features. Her voice is lost somewhere within her chest, locked down by grief, but Lexaeus seems to understand anyway. "We will never leave your side," he murmurs, tipping her chin up with a curled hand. "You have our strength whenever you may need it." When he stands up, Xion somehow manages to make it as well, rubbing at her red eyes. Their embrace is tight and warm; Xion never wants to let go, but Lexaeus does. Pulling away, he goes the same way Zexion did, fading into white. There's nothing but white all about them and the wooden platform.
Now it's only her and Vexen.
Knowing how Vexen despises the sound of crying, Xion stifles her sobs, wiping helplessly at her face. She can hear nothing behind her, and the fear strikes deep. What if- she whirls around, his name already on her lips when she almost runs into his chest. His hands steady her as he snorts incredulously. "Calm yourself. You're so emotional."
A funny thing to say, considering his own temperament, but Xion doesn't say anything. His 'liveliness' has always reassured her, so different form the stoic emptiness of some other Nobodies. The only thing she does is press up against him and cling. Up above, she can hear Vexen make a flustered, awkward noise; affection, or at least showing it, has never been his strong point. Bony fingers nervously flit over her back, unable to find a proper place before they settle nervously on her shoulders. "So emotional," he mutters again before falling silent. They stand there together for a moment, alone on a platform in nowhere. At last, just like the others, he pulls her away. "Come now, get a hold of yourself. Remember, you are- well, were a member of the Organization. Have a bit of pride. Away with the tears, straighten up-" Quickly, he swipes away tears, makes her form straighter. She obeys with no problems, and even smiles weakly at his actions.
Eventually, he quits his fussing and his hands rest once again on her shoulders. Staring at her contemplatively, Vexen says quietly, "It's quite odd. All away in another life, I'd sworn I'd have nothing to do with family ever again, yet I dare say you're practically the closest thing I have to a daughter." He sighs. "I don't have a heart, yet I've still somehow grown attached. Will that muscle never cease to surprise me?"
Xion squeezes her eyes shut at the pain in her chest. "You have to leave, don't you?"
"Physically, yes. But you still have Freeze Pride, do you not? Our weapons are unique connections, don't forget. If you lose it, I shall be most displeased."
She manages a weak smile. "I won't."
"That's a good girl." Cold fingers go through her hair. "How embarrassing, to die before the battles truly start or any of my experiments can be completed. Look after my research, Xion."
"I will." This conversation almost seems normal, and Xion has to open her eyes to see despairing white to remind herself. "I... I don't know what to do without you guys," she admits, eyes downcast. "You were all so smart and strong. You always knew what to do."
"And now we're dead, so don't follow in our footsteps," Vexen says dryly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Besides, don't be foolish; you're not as alone as you think. Lexaeus' flea ridden feline must feel some sort of loyalty to you, and Lucrecia will surely give some assistance."
"And I have my wyverns and Axel," Xion adds with a small smile.
Vexen snorts and rolls his eyes. "Axel," he growls in loathing. "To put it crudely and plainly, Axel is a right b*****d. Surely you have better options? Ah well." He shakes his head. "Do what you must, and find a better life away from the Organization. Who knows? Perhaps it will do you some good. Maybe it would have done us all a bit of good." He trails off, looking to somewhere she can't see. "Ah well. Any form of regret won't get us anywhere now. All you can do is charge ahead." Crisply and professionally like always, he turns her around so that she's facing the edge of the wooden platform. The rest of it behind her fades into white, and beyond the edge, that is the state of the rest of the place. There is only Vexen, the edge, and her.
Nothing has ever seemed so deep.
Squeezing her shoulders, Vexen says quietly, "Sometimes one must fall in order to rise, yes?"
Xion closes her eyes and gulps. Her voice is quiet and hoarse. "Yes."
"Good girl."
His hands rise off of her shoulders effortlessly, and Xion takes another deep breath. Impossibly, the platform seems to stretch on forever and for ages, but Xion just clenches her fists and runs. She's slamming her feet against the wood, but no force reverberates through her bones; she feels as light as air. Behind her, she can feel Vexen call, "You always were my greatest pride!" And then she leaps-
"XION!"
Groggily, she opens her eyes to a blur of red and black, with pinpricks of green within. Another blink, and she slurs, "Axel...?"
Xion has never seen Axel look worried or relieved; before, she had attributed it to the Superior's words being true. Now, however, she can see his thoughts plain as day before he draws her into a tight hug. When had she been on the-? Ah. Right. Axel's saying something, but Xion can't quite hear him as she lies limply in his grasp. That's right, she'd been struck down by one of Xaldin's spears, hadn't she? And...
She remembers the platform. Those she had left. Falling. Rising. A proud 'father'.
Through her blurred sight (ithinkimcrying), over Axel's shoulder and past a relieved woman in a labcoat (theonehehadloved), Xion thinks she spots three familiar little hairpins, glowing with the faintest of lights. Weakly, she wiggles out of Axel's grip and fumbles for a hold on them. Why hadn't she noticed there's a different feel for each of them? Skysplitter is of sturdy warm rock kissed by the sun, the paper crane from the Book of Retribution's pages feels like it may slip through her fingers at any moment, and Freeze Pride is so cold, it burns...
"They're still fighting, right?" she asks, kneeling in cemetery dirt. Far off, she can hear the sounds of battle. "I need to go, too.." Cradled and hidden in her hands, the hairpins glow brighter.
Axel's hand is hot and tight on her shoulder. "Not so fast. You're not looking good, Xion."
She shakes her head. That doesn't matter- she has to do this, has to fight. Vengeance, that which Zexion had suggested with a dark smile, is only a part of the equations. A life of her own... Maybe it's nothing more than a dream, but that doesn't mean she should just sit by and do nothing! "I'll be alright..." Unfolding her fingers, Xion looks down at the object she now holds: a single thallassa shell hairpin, shiny white with a three etched into it. "I'm not alone."
