towerofanimus | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Riku (

lethechained
Setting: Hallway before Naminé's room, I guess? Super Backdated to right after the Infiltration Log!
Format: Action?
Summary: Somehow Riku made it out of the elevator. But even so he's not safe yet, nor is the stylus he's recovered. Not until he's passed it to the one person he trust above all.
Warnings: Character death probably

[There are no words to describe what Riku is feeling when they cross the red line again and manage to stumble out the elevator - too heavy weight the thoughts of what he's seen just moments ago.

Xion and Terra dead, their bodies waiting to be processed.

(And if Xion is dead, then Yu...)

Most of his own team (Sora, his double, Highwind...) creating chaos in the process room, only to be stopped in a matter of minutes - all dead.

The success seems empty, even though the stylus is almost burning in his palm, even though he's always known that this result is a likely possibility, even though they will all be alive again in a matter of hours.

He sighs when he exits the cafeteria, not sure how to categorize this trip, whether to think of it as victory (how can he, with so many dead, even if it might have served the greater good?) or defeat (but that isn't quite true either, is it, they have gotten the stylus after all) relaxing for just a second.

It's then that he begins to hear them, quick-quiet footsteps following him - tap, tap, tap - and his eyes widen when he turns around only to see bloody footprints covering the walls behind him.

'It's just an illusion' he thinks, even as he picks up his pace, taking two steps at once as he climbs up to the next floor - it has to be! It had been in the elevator after all. The stylus, hidden in his coat sleeve, is burning against his skin though and now he's hearing light giggling echoing trough the staircase, following him, causing him to quicken his pace even more - he can't let them catch him, can't let them get the stylus, not after all they've sacrificed to get it.

It's the splitting pain shooting through his head that finally forces him to a stop - something is wrong with him - and it's only that he leans his head against the cool wall to sooth it that he finally notices that in his panic to get away he's wound up in the labyrinth and only then, in a moment of utter clarity, he recognizes the similarities to the last time he'd lost his head like this.

In December. When he had suffered from whatever Jason had inflicted on them.

He takes a deep breath; he needs to stay calm, to regain clarity - he can't count on Ira and his double hunting him down this time (because his double is dead, and Ira possibly...). There are foot steps behind him again, but this time Riku doesn't look and ignores what he hears. If December had been anything to go by, then he can't trust his own senses anymore - non of them.

He can't trust himself anymore. The stylus isn't safe with him.

But who could it be safe with, who when all people that Riku would go to are-

No, not all, he thinks with a start, and he has no idea if he's formed the corridor before or after that thought, but a moment later he is already standing on the first dormitory floor, right before the door of the one person that he will always trust the most for so many reasons.

Light, he just hopes that she's here. Because if not- god, he doesn't even want to think about that, she just has to be!

There is probably a bit of a desperate ring to his voice as he knocks against the door to her room, please please please-]

Naminé? Please, Naminé?

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[There's plenty of reason to worry.]

[There's always reason to worry in a place like this, always some threat lingering in the tower. If it's not the monsters, it's the administrators. If not them, then surely something else, if not another one of the people trapped in the tower, or some machination of the greater group.]

[But... well. Worry this particular time is given clearer form, and so she draws. She works her way through her nervousness with penciled lines, with streaks of color and form and tries so hard not to think of the subjects of so many of her drawings, of the people who are almost certainly meeting some suffering at the very same moment.]

[Waiting has proven an agonizing experience - but it's not the first time and Naminé has long since learned patience of a high degree.]

[The knock on her door triggers the energy she's held pent up inside all this time almost immediately, a jerk of her head just before she freezes and, after hearing that voice, that tone - she all but leaps up, practically flying to the door to open it, wider than she usually would in her distress, because she knows that voice and she knows that if it sounds like that--]

Riku--?

[There are certainly, probably even more so considering what they had all set out to do this morning.

The relieve is beyond obvious on his face when the door opens and he sees her, she is here, sheisherethanksthelight! He flinches a moment later though, warily glancing over his shoulder, before reaching forward to grab her, eyes a little wider than usual and his worry - near panic - is definitely bleeding into his voice.]

Come with me. Please!

[It's not save, it'snotsave-]

[Seeing him like this is frightening enough on its own. Whatever it is that's got him in such a state-- her distress is obvious on her face. Though she stiffens when she's grabbed, she offers no resistance. She's more than willing to let herself be drawn along.]

I will, don't worry...! What's going on?

[It's hard to tear her eyes away from his face - or rather, the look on it.]

[If he was thinking at all, he'd probably realize just how concerning his current state and behavior is. He isn't thought, or at least not all that clearly - all he knows that it isn't save here, that there could be a retrieval unit coming around the corner, could see them, could take what so many had died for so they could claim it.

He draws the Darkness close, opening a Corridor of Darkness to lead them into the bathroom - it's the shortest, the safest that way to get there, even if it's technically just a few steps. The admins can't look inside the Corridors. They can't see where he is going until he arrives there. Now, if Naminé just comes with him...]

I'll tell you in a moment. It's not safe here.

[And back he is to throwing paranoid glances over his shoulder.]

[There's always something quietly intimidating about going into the Darkness, no matter how little she has to fear from it, without a heart to corrupt or steal. She inhales quietly as the portal appears, but does not actually hesitate to follow him into it.]

I understand.

[And really, his looking has her looking, too, peering over her shoulder even though she doesn't know who, specifically, she's looking out for - beyond the obvious.]

[He'll probably come to her to apologize once he's back to his right mind, but right now he's just too glad that she isn't questioning to realize that this just might make her uncomfortable.

He reaches to close his hand around her wrist and tug her with him into the Darkness once he is sure that there isn't anything following, that there isn't a retrieval unit waiting for them or anything. He reopens the corridor in the men's bathroom on the very same floor, blinking as a wave of lightheadedness washes over him once they are out of the corridor and he has to lean heavily against the wall in order to keep himself upright.

As he had thought... something really isn't right with him. He has to hurry, he thinks - knows - as he turns to Naminé.]

Thanks... 'm sorry... It wasn't safe. It's not safe anywhere, but here they can't watch at least.

[There's a slight jump in her chest when she's tugged at, completely unresisting though she is. She never does take well to such things, but-- it's just Riku - not in the sense that he's less, but rather that he's more - and she will not hamper him if she can help it.]

[Her distress, however, is obvious when he leans against the wall and she shifts to try to look more clearly at him, a hand starting to raise as if to try to offer him some help but falling again when she realizes there isn't much of anything she can provide - other than to listen, which she does.]

It's okay, Riku, really, I-- I know you wouldn't be doing this if it weren't important. But-- are you okay? You don't seem well...!

[He takes a step back and rests his weight against the wall, slowly shaking his head at her question - usually he'd deflect or flat out deny that anything is wrong, but there isn't a point in that anymore, not when he's feeling this bad.]

I'm- [He cuts himself off to take a long shaky breath, blinking as he tries to regain his focus. To concentrate on anything that isn't the sudden urge to sink to the floor and throw up.] I'm not. Something isn't right with me.

[Something is very wrong considering that he's actually admitting to it.]

I dunno what they did to me, but something isn't right. I keeps seeing things... hear 'em too. I don't think I can trust my senses right now.

[He shakes his head again.]

But that isn't what I meant to talk about. There is something I need you to do.

[She hesitates, really, to draw any nearer, but before she knows it she's edging a little closer, trying without thinking of it to look for any sign of injury.]

[But she knows, even before he admits to it, that something's seriously not right with him - saying it in so many words just gives her all the more proof, because if even he says that--]

Do you need me to help?

[With her magic, she means - it's her first reaction, even though she is so loathe to use such things in most contexts. For him, there really isn't any question; if that's what he needs, that's what he'll get.]

[For a moment Riku stares wide eyed at the opposing wall, paling as he sees bloody footprints spreading from the ceiling downwards, but then closes his eyes and shakes his head, focus! Focus on Naminé.]

No- Yeah, I- [He is grateful for the offer, he knows what she means, but he isn't sure if she can do anything about this at least. Not with even with her powers. He should explain what she can do, though.] We went downstairs. We made it to Processing and we managed to get out two of those styli that unlock the collars. I-

[He twists his hand to reach into his sleeve and pull out the stylus from where he's hidden it, holding it out towards Naminé.]

Something's wrong. I can't trust myself. So I need you to take it and keep it safe. Please.

[His name is on her lips as he gives the wall that look and she glances back to check it, herself, but the sound never makes it any further, because then he's speaking again and she's frowning as she listens.]

[Her surprise is obvious as she listens, as is her concern, and she almost jumps when the stylus is held out to her. She looks between it and him with wide eyes. She wants to ask if he's sure he should give it to her, if she's really worthy - but she knows him and even if she's still confused by it, sometimes, she can put her faith in his faith in her.]

[And it's hesitant, but-- carefully, she reaches out to hold her hand open for the stylus.]

I--... if you think that's best. I'll protect it any way I can. [Even if she'd rather protect him.] Are you sure there isn't any other way I can help you? Whatever's happening to you-- [She just wants to make it stop.]

[He drops the stylus into her palm, his gratefulness written all over his face as he lets his head fall back against the wall he's leaning against as he closes his eyes.

He's passed on the stylus to someone trustworthy; he's made sure that it's safe. He's made sure that non of the others had died in vain.

He swallows heavily at her question, shaking his head slightly before he slides down the wall until he sits on the ground. Uhg, he hasn't felt this bad since December.]

I don't know... I keep seeing things, hearing things... I don't know what they did that caused this.

[He'll just have to ride it out... and hope that maybe, he'll get better if he gives it time.]

And the stylus is more important than me.

[Distressed, she watches him - follows him down, even, kneeling before him with the stylus still clutched in both hands. Despite how carefully she holds it, she cannot help but disagree with him. It's not more important if something terrible happens to him, if the administrators choose to punish him--]

[She shakes her head, but does not verbally assert her concerns. She just lets her eyes fall to the stylus and then move back up to him.]

It's not like anything that's happened before?

[He will be revived though. If he dies, he will return in a day or two. The stylus however has been paid for with the blood of so many, of Sora, of his double, of John and Naoya and Rose and he just can't allow that to not pay off.

He shakes his head faintly, eyes still closed. If he doesn't look, the blood on the walls won't be there, right?]

No... not like this.

[That's something she thinks of - not that she's eager to think that he'll die. Just that if he does... will they still bring him back, after such a transgression?]

[She doesn't want to think about that, either. What in all the worlds would she do if he--]

I see.

[It's somber - not that she's surprised they've got other tricks up their sleeve. Still,]

... Shall I... see what I can do for you?

[He's already passed on the stylus. That job is complete.]

[Well, they have so far. They know that he’s been involved in different strikes against the administration already, have revived him just after one earlier this month. And they don’t know that he’s been involved. At least they don’t know yet.

At takes a moment until he opens his eyes again, his head has start hurting a lot all of sudden – biting pain pounding against his skull, while he stares up to her, trying to deceiver her question… and come up with an answer.]

…No. Better you just leave me here.

[He isn’t sure if there’s anyone who can help him with this. Besides…]

Don’t want you to catch this.

[Just in case.]

....

[It's hard to watch him like this. It's hard seeing him suffer, seeing him so-- not himself, for his disorientation and the nagging sensation of wrongness, even if she knows it's still Riku and she's still trust him with her life, foolhardy or no.]

[But... walking away? That's even harder.]

I don't know if I--... if I can.

[It's not right, is it? Even if it's smarter.]

Are you sure you want to be alone?

[He really wishes she didn’t have to see him like that. She’s seen him at his weakest before and that alone wouldn’t bother him, but right now his skull is hurting and his ears are ringing and the walls are covered with blood and he flinches slightly because suddenly it feels like someone just ripped open his left calf and he apart of the burning pain he can feel blood running along his skin and he doesn’t quite want to know if he’s imagining that or if it’s true.

He shakes involuntarily when he hears something scratch against the bathroom door (they’ve come to get him, theyarecomingforhimitisn’tsafeitisn’tsafe!!!) and he bites down on his lip in order to force the panic from his mind so that it won’t be quite as obvious when he looks up to Naminé again.

He can’t lose his focus now, can’t give himself to panic and pain just yet.]

Yes. You need to leave.

[It’s safer for her. It’s safer for the stylus. It’s for the best of everyone. It takes a lot of strength and focus, but he does manage to lift his left arm and open up a corridor that will get her back to her room, blinking a few times before he fixates her with a glance.]

You need to go. Please.

[Kingdom Hearts, it makes her feel ill. He's trying so hard to hold himself together - or so it seems to her, who knows what to look for and to fear seeing and--]

[Gosh, it's all she can do not to shake, herself, looking at him. Her chest is full of pity and worry and grief and fear, and dimly she hopes that this stylus turns out to worthwhile, because paying for it in watching him is nothing compared to paying for it by being one of those who were involved.]

[Turning to look briefly at the portal, she knows she must go. For his sake, at his behest, that his efforts might not be in vain--]

[But if it isn't one of the hardest things she's had to do since coming to the tower, she doesn't know what else would take its spot on the list. It's slow and reluctant when she nods.]

Alright. Alright, I'll go.

[For him. She steps back, toward the portal, but does not turn her eyes away from him.]

... Take care of yourself, Riku.

[Inasmuch as he possibly can, at the moment.]

[He nods faintly in reply and then sags into himself in relief once she disappears into the portal and it closes behind her. She is safe now. So is the stylus.

Their sacrifices haven't been for nothing. He groans quietly as he slides further down the wall and comes to lie on the floor, his head pounding with pain, his vision utterly out of focus while he just stares at the blood that's running down the walls and along the floor towards him, flinching when his back starts burning and when suddenly it feels like there is something wet running down from ears along his jaw (and he isn't sure if it's blood or something else, and hell, he doesn't really want to know actually) and maybe if he closes his eyes a little, it will all get better, it will all go away.

He spasms and gasps when there is suddenly a sharp pain just above his heart, eyes wide open, face pale, and the last thing he'll remember is the sinister snickering that's reverberate in the room and all the tiles and walls and the ceiling and even himself covered deep blood red.

And there is nothing more at all.]

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