Genre: Drama, Romance
Ships?: Tony/Zexion
→Friendships?: Tony&Steve
Characters: Tony Stark, Captain America (Steve), Minnie Mouse, Zexion, Surprise!Character
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: No
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: Other Side of the World by KT Tunstall
Notes:
Falling and Catching - Ascent
Bells are ringing inside his head. Nothing form Jarvis. The only thing his throbbing, frazzled brain can think is [******** these Heartless bastards can hit. Oddly enough, he doesn't feel as stifled as he usually should be in a suit of technological armor. There's even a breeze gusting across his face. Groaning, he struggles to open his eyes.
"Did you know you're an idiot?"
Ah, that's a voice he recognizes. Tony smiles faintly before he even sees the face over his. "So you've told me before." His dark eyes lock onto those of deep blue. "I thought you said we'd never see each other again?"
Zexion just sighs, an old familiar sound Tony relishes. "I guess I was wrong." Something seems strange, but Tony doesn't care. He's just happy to see his old friend again, current situation almost forgotten. "Why are you here, Tony?"
Taking a deep breath filled with salt from the ocean, Tony stares up at the sky above him. Tortuga is the name of this place, he thinks as rickety buildings tower over them. "Official or personal?" Against a stormy sky and this gloomy town, the other man's eyes seem a more striking shade of blue. Strange. Tony dizzily wonders if he should blame a concussion. "Superhero, after all."
"Be serious."
"Someone's impatient." A pounding headache has him close his eyes. Any attempt to life one of his arms is met with some serious pain. Damn. Did he break something? "Truthfully? I came looking for you."
Silence. Then- "That's stupid." He sounds almost childish. "You know the truth about me, don't you?"
"That's why I came." Pushing himself up onto one elbow, he looks right into Zexion's eyes. "I heard about what you did in Radiant Garden. I know what you've done while in the Organization. But I also know you. Do you think I'm so stupid to just see the world in black and white? Besides, you came to me for help, you stubborn-" Before he can continue, Zexion interrupts him with a sharp questioning voice.
"So you'd drive away your friends, your teammates, everyone else, and accomplish what? I'm the enemy. I don't care what you sacrifice for me, or why, because I don't have a heart. There's no point."
"I'm one of the richest, smartest men on my world." Tony smirks, chest heaving. "I'd find a way for you to get your heart back. Even if you don't want to admit it... I know I could make you happy. That's one bet I know I could win."
Zexion just stares at him, obviously uncomprehending. Tony guesses he's not the only one tired from all this; of course not. At last, hesitantly, he says, "You'd do all of this for a simple friend?"
"You're far from a simple friend," he tells him seriously, and, ignoring his friend's look of surprise, takes him by the shoulder and pulls him close.
This whole damn situation, from when Zexion had left him to when a damn Berserker had flung him right through at least three different buildings, has been miserable and wrong. That's just how war is, of course, but it had hurt to know he might have to face off against Zexion. God, he'd missed that cocky confidence, the sly jabs and intelligence which rivaled his own. There was none of that in their previous meeting, and there's none of that now, so he tries to get a hold of that one last familiar thing; at this point, it's almost all he has.
Instead of a muffled curse or perhaps a good smack to his head, all Tony gets is the sound of a squeak against his lips. Blinking in confusion, he doesn't protest when he's lightly pushed away. The image of Zexion is flickering and disappearing like a mirage. In his place is a girl, far younger than either Tony or Zexion. She has similar blue eyes, but that's the only similarity. Her short black hair is not at all like Zexion's odd blue-gray slate hair. Her face is bright red as she makes more startled sounds, hands fisting in a dark purple skirt. Hovering about her shoulder is a strange pale creature with stitched-shut eyes and bizarre wings. As the girl scrambles to her feet, the creature darting around her, she says quickly, "I-I'm sorry, but I was just trying to see what you were like and have you help Zexion but-" She almost trips over her own feet. "Just-" With a wave of her hand, she opens one of those dark corridors he's heard about. "Please help him! And- thanks! I think- I know what I'm going to do now!" Then she's gone, shadows twisting and fading in her wake.
Tony can only blink, completely stunned, before he covers his face with a metal palm. "For a lack of better wording," he mutters to the metal alloy, "what the hell?" There's no use just sitting there, however, and he begins the agonizing process of getting to his feet while one arm throbs and screams with pain. When he's finally on his own two feet again, he pulls his faceplate back down right in time for another familiar voice to call his name.
"Tony!" Looking up, the armored super spots another shield-wielding super leaping down from a rickety rooftop. Captain America, idol of all that old American goodness, quickly makes his way to his old friend. "Are you alright?"
"Besides the broken arm and worries over lawsuits suing me for molestation, I'm doing just fine." The deep, mechanized voice lends its own special variety of sarcasm. "What's the damage?"
Even though the face beneath the mask twists in worry, Cap doesn't press the issue. They'll take after everything after the fight is completely done. "We've taken care of most of the Berserkers, but we still have some Snipers taking shots from the shadows. I'll cover you as we make our way-" Five flashes of light slice right past them, causing the two to instinctively twist about, weapons raised in preparation. There's no need, however; from their various positions, five Sniper Nobodies are quickly dissolving into nothingness. A small and light laugh sounds behind them, and Tony smirks beneath his mask.
"Thanks for the daring rescue, Minnie."
The short Mouse Queen just beams as she hops down to the duo, her bow in her hands. "At least someone is calling me by name," she giggles as she trots up to them. "Are you two alright?"
Cap, soldier that he is, just nods stiffly. Tony half expects him to salute. "I'm fine, Your Majesty. But Iron Man-"
"Just a broken arm," he assures her, and is rewarded by a scolding kind of frown.
"Nothing's ever 'just' broken'," she says, edging closer to him and very carefully taking one of his hands as she looks over his wounded arm. "Now, let me see if I can do a 'cure' spell properly..." Tony waits for her inspection and spell patiently, letting Captain America make sure the area stays clear. He's not expecting the little Queen to look up at him hesitantly, even as magical light begins to spark at her fingertips. "Not to pry, Tony, but is something wrong? You seem..." She trails off, letting him put whatever word he wants in that hollow space.
Something? Everything is more fitting, but he keeps that to himself. "No, just tired," he says dismissively. "Getting smashed through walls is far from pleasant." Even as Tony says this, his mind is straying to the mysterious girl who had come to him, pleading on Zexion's behalf.
Who was that girl? And Zexion... What have you gotten yourself into now?
