towerofanimus | Hand in hand

Entry tags:

Hand in hand

Characters: Shion, Xion and you!
Setting: Dorm floors, round the tower
Format: Either
Summary: After Xion's shadow experience Shion and Xion meet up again, and then go on their daily trek to find all their friends and check up on them, whilst chasing away each others shadows
Warnings: Shadows

Shion toweled his hair dry and tried to ignore the shadows surrounding him. What, are we just some extras now? Not even worth mentioning once the curtains are closed?

Shion gritted his teeth, he knew they weren't real and he knew trying to talk to them was useless.

Anger is not a good substitute for guilt and shame Shion, do you really think you can just ignore us?

"Safu..." He tried to push past the shadows, but they followed him, the smallest one piping up next.

Why did you let us die Shion? I thought you were really brave. I don't want to be like this, Can't you fix it, miss Karen says you can fix anything, like you fixed my knee.

He waited outside the bathroom, waiting for Xion, wanting to put his hands over his ears.

Just like your father, a waste of time.

[Around the tower] Hand in hand they walked the tower, chasing away each others shadows. And looking for those they knew, or those they didn't. It seemed people who were alone were in most danger from them, or at least seemed saddest. So anyone who was alone, or they knew at all was approached.

Shion paused every now and again to write notes, though he couldn't even work out how to even start to work out what they were, or if there was any way to get rid of them for good.

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"I don't be knowin' how many times I be havin' ta tell ya lot I be sorry, but if ya be wantin' me ta feel sorry for joos, ya got anotha ting comin'!"

That accent, was generally hard to mistake. And even though the words were strong, her voice had become a bit shaky throughout this event.

"I don't be knowin' WHY it be me who be here instead of dose more deservin'! I didn' be choosin' ta be alive... I jus' do so now in yer honor..."

The voice seemed to be coming from one of the nearby corners down the Tower.

He recognised her voice straight away and turned that way looking at Xion. "It's Xue'kol."

Xion looked back at him, nodding a little shakily. Regardless, her face was set in a determined grimace.

"Let's go."

Scare off the shadows, or at least do whatever they could for the people they came across. Turning, Xion made to lead the way towards the direction the voice was coming from.

Xue had gotten herself away from the mass bulk of shadows, but she was currently surrounded atop a table. They didn't seem to be coming any closer but the ominous whispers could fill the room.

Although known for her keen senses, it seemed the situation had her too focused on the shadows to have noticed Shion and Xion approaching.

"I... Jus'..."

Shion ran forwards a few steps, "Get away from her, leave her alone." He pushed through them to get to Xue'kol's side.

The shadows seemed to sway and move and give way almost like water when Shion pushed through them. They didn't seem to reach or lash out to him but they remained as close to Xue as possible.

With cold sweat running down her brow, Xue looked over with a heavy breath.

"S-Shion? Dat joo mon?"

Upon closer inspection, it seemed that even through her experienced evasiveness, her collar had been slightly drained.

Xion pushed past the shadows herself, not wanting to be separated from Shion. Still, she hung back a little, letting Shion do the talking. She hadn't ever really spoken to Xue'kol face-to-face before, though she was obviously a friend of Shion's. Better to let him do the talking, for now at least.

Still, she turned her back on them, towards the shadows, establishing herself solidly between the shadows and their victim (and her best friend) and glaring.

"It's me." Shion smiled at her, keeping an eye on Xion, not wanting to lose her again. "This is Xion... Xion this is Xue'Kol."

That was a definite sigh for sore and tired eyes and with a small breath she smiled a little.

"Mon, I be glad ya be safe. An' even more fer savin' ma sorry hide."

When he mentioned the other, she leaned up a little and sat, not quite ready to get up yet. "Dat be da same Xion ya be mentionin' before? Yer friend rite?"

Leaning over she offered a weak wave, "Barrin' da circumstances mon, nice ta meet ya."

"Leave me alone!"

Veronica dashed through the tower, doing everything in her power to ward off the three shadows that hounded her. She kept them at bay before, but now they wouldn't leave her alone.

[It's all your fault we're--]

"Shut up!"

Shion heard the voice, it wasn't one he recognised but he around, trying to see where the voice was coming from.

It came from the infirmary. Veronica had finally wandered in there again and the shadows had followed. She has them at a broadswords length away from her.

[Veronica, you should be so ashamed of your--]

"I said shut up! I'm sick of all of you!"

Xion turned her head away from Shion, in the direction of the infirmary doors.

"It's coming from this way," she told him, striding quickly towards them. Judging by that shouting, whoever was in there (it wasn't a voice she recognized) was having a lot of trouble with their shadow children.

Once through the doors, she sees Veronica and her shadow children. "Hey!" Xion shouted, running forward, "Leave her alone!"

She didn't even know this person, so she wasn't sure it'd do much good, but she had to try, at least. She had to help any way that she could. And it would at least let this person know that they weren't alone.

Shion hurried after her, "Get out." He shouted at the shadows, going over to the girl with the sword, waving his hands at a few of the shadows that retreated a tiny bit.

"Are you alright?"

"Huh?

Well hello there, strange people Veronica has never met before. She looked at them while keeping a wary eye on the three shadows. She looked kind of tired actually, her collar was a light yellow.

"I'm... I'm fine I guess. Who are you people?"

[People who want to hurt you squirt. Tear them apart for us!]

"Quiet."

Xion looked from Veronica to Shion.

"I'm Xion, and this is.... well, Shion. His is spelled differently, though..." she started, a little awkwardly. It wasn't often that she and Shion had to introduce themselves at the same time.

"Anyway, we're other residents in the Tower. We've both been here for a while," she finished. Maybe it was a little obvious (at least the first part), but she wasn't really sure how else to introduce the two of them. It wasn't like they had any titles or anything like that.

"Uh..."

Veronica was a bit stunned. Nothing like this had happened yet, or ever to her really.

"Nice to meet you? I'm Veronica."

[There lying to you, take them all out for us.]

"Pipe down! I'm not listening to you."

"Hi Veronica." Shion had been glaring at the shadows trying to shoo them away leyying Xion do all the introducing, she was better at it than he was anyways.

[They're just here to mess with you, like everyone else.]

"Quiet!" She tried to slice one of the shadows, only for her sword to pass harmlessly though.

she looked back at Shion and Xion. "What do you two want anyways?"

Xion paused, tilting her head a little to the side, as if she were surprised at the question. Maybe she shouldn't have been, given the number of non-trustworthy people she'd come to meet... and yet at times like this, it felt normal to Xion for most people to join together.

"We want to help," she answered simply, with an awkward shrug, "These... shadow children, or whatever they're called... they're causing problems for everyone, so we're trying to help however we can."

Shion nodded at Xion's words, "And they seem to go away if chased by others." He told the other girl softly.

[Sephiroth spends most of his time alone.

Though at this point in the week, the small classroom-sized following of grinning shadows isn't bothering him much. Whispers so obviously intended to bait him aren't having much of an effect.

"Talk about a failed legacy.
Look what you turned us into."

He paused, as if to answer that particular whisper, at the junction of the hallways. But out of the corner of an eye Sephiroth spots, and turns in Shion & Xion' direction for a moment, considering them. Noting how they are without any vast amount of lingering shadows, perhaps.]

[Seeing Sephiroth Shion's eyes narrowed and he stepped forwards, to put himself between Xion and Sephiroth, putting his hand on the EMR in his belt.

[Xion's met Sephiroth at least once - just enough times to not have much trust for him either. Still, she didn't like the idea of Shion shielding her (~~that was her job~~). In the end though she merely puts a hand on his shoulder, to let him know that she's there too and ready to lend him a hand if need be.

Though she hopes it won't come to blows or anything. These shadow children are problematic enough on their own - speaking of which, she spots one moving out of the corner of her eye, hears a familiar whisper, and turns, seeing one of the shadows that Shion had chased away earlier crawling on the wall behind them]

[The lingering shadows cling close around Sephiroth's legs as he turns his full attention to Shion - since he stepped forwards. Everything about that gesture screams protection over Xion; Sephiroth tilts his head slightly to one side in response. This is the boldest he's seen the kid.

He blinks though and drops the glare to the shadows to one side of him. An unwelcome whisper is scowled at ever so slightly before Sephiroth looks up again over the two of them and starts to walk down the hallway towards them.]

[Shion blinks expression softening as he realised just how many shadows surrounded Sephiroth.] Hey [He stepped forwards, but not threatening Sephiroth, though that would change if Sephiroth got anywhere close to Xion] Leave him alone.

[By the time Xion turns back from her own shadow child, Shion's already taken a few steps forward. She follows him, keeping her hand on his shoulder. She's a bit more wary though, keeping a careful eye on Sephiroth... and noting the little crowd of shadows following him]

That's a lot of them.

[More than she's seen around any other person yet]

Don't pay them any mind.

[So he thinks, so early on in the week - ignoring them has to happen since he can't fight them like he would any other monster.

As irritated as he sounds from some of the whispered comments around him it's clearly not aimed at Shion, as irritating as he personally finds the notion of friendship. His comment only triggered, by Xion's as he comes to pass them in the hallway, Sephiroth's silver head inclined down towards her a little as well.]

We can try and get them to leave, they seem to move if other people tell them to. [He makes shooing movements at the shadows, keeping an eye on Xion in case Sephiroth even looked at her wrong]

Sora and Roxas and Axel had been waiting for her once she'd gotten out, and followed her up the hall as she made her way back towards the bathroom. She pointedly ignored them, ignored their jeers and their mocking, or at least tried to. Her eyes were still very red by the time she was able to see Shion. Her three shadows had a field day when they saw him.

Oh look, it's the one she really cares about... Roxas said scathingly, and Xion shook her head as if trying to get rid of an irksome fly. She noted the small crowd around Shion, though, and her face hardened further.

"Okay, that's it. You've had your fun. You can leave now," she practically spat at Shion's shadows, before turning back to her own. "That means you too."

Sora laughed, You can't get rid of us that easily, you know.

Shion blinked tears away as he heard Xion's voice and he stepped towards herm glaring at her shadows and waving his hand at them.

"Go away, get away from her. Leave her alone."

See no one cares about the extras once the leading lady takes the stage.

Thankfully, Shion's bond was enough to make Xion's back off.

Well, I can tell when we're not wanted, was the only comment Sora had as he and the other two beat a careful retreat. For now. It was only a temporary reprieve. Xion knew it was, but still...

Still, as Shion's seemed a bit more reluctant to leave, she took a few steps forward, glaring at them threateningly. "Leave him alone," she snarled.

Rat's shadow gave her a mocking bow and led the rest of them off, for now. "Thanks." Shion murmured, still shaken.

Without a word, Xion strode up to Shion and hugged him. She could tell he was still shaken, and truth be told, she needed it herself. She buried her head in his shoulder, taking comfort in the closeness of her nearest and dearest friends in the Tower. Her collar, which had begun to lighten very slightly, darkened once more.

"Anytime," she whispered back.

He smiled bravely at her, watching as her collar darkened and guessing that his did the same. He rested his head on her shoulder. "We should go and check everyone is alright, I don't think anyone should be alone if that is what happens..."

Dark Pit sits in the meadow, surrounded by shadows. He knows they're not real - that they're just trying to push his buttons. But it's working.

I thought our hero was looking a little emo today!

"Go away."

Sure, sure! Just leave you alone again, right? That's all you'll ever be!

"I don't care." He rips up some grass and throws it in 'Viridi's direction.

Yes you do. You do, or you wouldn't have saved me.

Dark Pit glares at the shadow. "Shut up. Just... shut up. I only saved you because I wouldn't be anything without you!"

Yeah, because you're so much of something right now.

The angel just stares for a few moments, and flops backwards into the flowers. He's too tired to really argue.

Shion saw the shadows before the saw any person, but since they only seemed to congregate around those they were hurting Shion tapped Xion's shoulders and pointed. "We should go and see if they are alright."

The tap on her shoulder had been unncessary. Xion was already turning - she could hear the voice, and recognized it. Shion did help point her in the right direction though, to where the shadows were congregated.

She glances at him briefly, gives a firm nod, then strides forward, towards the shadows.

"Hey, stop it!" she calls to the shadows, almost angrily, "Knock it off!"

She wasn't going to just let one of the people who'd braved Jason's floor with her be left alone with those things.

All of them - Dark Pit included - look up, and 'Palutena' laughs.

Oh. It's the people you think might be friends. You should really stop thinking that - they're not.

"Stop it." He tries to sit up, but he can barely manage it. He gets himself to a sitting position and then wavers a bit. He blinks slowly, looking at Xion.

"I don't think they're going to listen to you..."

"Maybe not, but we're going to try anyways." Shion had no idea who this was, but it seemed like Xion knew him, and that was enough.

"Leave him." He batted at one of the shadows.

Regardless of Dark Pit's protests, she planted herself between him and his shadows, glaring at them determinedly.

"We're not going to just leave you here with them," she added onto Shion's statement. She turned to the Shadow Children. "You can leave or not but we're staying."

Shion nodded, stood next to her and smiling reassuringly back at Pit. "You're not wanted here, go away."

["-how much longer are you gonna make us wait, Senpai? This ain't like the senpai I knew..."

"Face it, Kanji - He hasn't been the same since he killed them."

"Yeah! What's up with that, Senpai? And why'd you replace me with that other me? I thought you loved me for me!"]

How many times do I-

[Talk about a massive amount of shadows surrounding one older teen just down the stairs. He's already rather pale after having tried to outrun or outright ignore them the last few days, his collar now a light blue. He knows none of them would say any of this, but...

"Man, talk about cruel... You make me pay for my crimes, but then you go around and have that bastard killed. And what's worse? You then turn around and kill one of your co-conspirators and later your own friends.

Keheheh... Some agent of justice and salvation you turned out to be."

He covers his ears.]

I'm sorry!

["Senpai..."]

Yu? [Suzaku doesn't know him very well but he knows he is one of Xion's friends so makes his way over, shooing at the shadows] Leave him alone, go away.

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Hand in hand

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Dormitory Floors/Hallways - Wednesday

hi he still doesn't trust you

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hope you don't mind a late tag /vacations suck

don't mind at all!