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Missing Scenes #5
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Nope, it ain't mine.
A/N: Did you ever wonder why Even was so quick to return the Wayfinder at the end there?
Believing
Even sat slumped in a chair in the darkened house, tears trickling down his face.
"Oh Xehanort, where are you? Where did you go?" he asked the empty room, but of course there was no answer. There was no one aside from him and Ienzo in the house, and Ienzo was in bed. Aeleus and Dilan were out looking for Xehanort, and Xehanort...
Even let out a choked sob as he thought about Xehanort. He was only six years younger than Even, but Even considered him a son, feelings that had been born during Xehanort's long recovery in the castle infirmary three years previous and that had intensified during the months of protecting him from Braig. He had spent weeks wiping Xehanort's tears away, holding him when he cried, soothing him after his nightmares, and repeatedly assuring him that nothing was his fault. He had given up his home and his apprenticeship to keep Xehanort safe, but now, thanks to his own foolishness, Xehanort was gone.
They were all frustrated with Xehanort's fears; despite months of living on the Destiny Islands, his nightmares had not eased, and his clinginess had relaxed only a tiny bit. They knew he couldn't help it, but it didn't help their mood any after being woke up nearly every night by his terrified screams as Braig stalked his sleep. Even had vented his frustrations to Dilan, thinking that Xehanort was still asleep, but evidently, he hadn't been. It wasn't until he had gone to the bedroom to head to bed himself that he had found Xehanort's bed empty and the window open. The bright moonlight had allowed him to see Xehanort's footprints running down the beach, where they vanished at the water's edge. Either the rising tide had washed them away or...
Even shuddered and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "I'm so sorry, Xehanort." he whispered "I didn't mean it. Please come home."
He had roused Dilan and Aeleus immediately, and the two of them had gone out and marshaled the neighbors, and a search was currently underway, which left Even to wait at home in case Xehanort came back.
If he came back.
Even shook his head, determined not to think that. He had to believe; he had to tell himself that Xehanort was safe and would come home soon.
He shifted uneasily in his chair and felt something jab him in the hip, and he reached into a pocket and grasped Xehanort's Wayfinder. He pulled it out and looked at it with it's blue and white shells and carved sea glass token in the shape of a cresting wave. The cresting wave, he had learned, was the seal of Lord Xehanort, the sea god that Xehanort insisted he was related to.
"You're not even real," Even said to the Wayfinder in his hand "yet you've managed to do so much damage. This is all your fault."
"What is my fault exactly?" said a raspy voice, and Even jumped and looked up to find himself still sitting in his chair, but the house was nowhere in sight. He was on a sandy beach, with dappled moonlight shining down through the palm trees, and just a short distance away was a person sitting on the white sand. The person's face was riddled with scar tissue with a blindfold wrapped around the eyes, and his hair was as white as Xehanort's. Even ignored all of that however; his gaze was focused on what the person was holding in his arms.
"Xehanort!" he cried as he leapt from his chair and ran towards them. He reached out to scoop Xehanort up, but before he could touch him the person held up a hand, and Even came to a sudden stop, unable to move closer. He struggled against whatever it was that was holding him back; Xehanort was so close! "Please, let me hold him!"
The figure held up a hand again. "Even, that is enough."
How did he know his name? Xehanort must have told him. "Please," Even pleaded "Just let me hold him. I've been so worried about him."
"You wouldn't be worried if you hadn't chased him off with cruel words earlier. He overheard everything you said to Dilan, and now he believes that you no longer want him."
"I want him! I do. I love him so much."
"You have a strange way of showing it. Because of you, his previous self was awakened and nearly assumed control of him."
"What?" Even felt fear settled around his heart. "Master Xehanort awoke?"
"He used Xehanort's grief and despair to try and seize control of their shared heart. I stopped him and ensured that he will never be able to awaken again, something that I wouldn't have had to do if it hadn't been for you. You do not deserve him."
Even realized that he was crying as he pushed against the invisible barrier. "I'm so sorry." he whispered as he looked at Xehanort sleeping peacefully in the man's arms "I still love you."
"Do you really? You, among all the others Even, have the ability to hurt him the most. He loves you and trusts you more than the others combined," The raspy voiced lowered, became almost menacing. "and you repay him by telling him that you wish he had never been found."
"I didn't mean it!"
Xehanort whimpered and shifted. "Even." The strange person that was holding him rocked him and cooed to him for a moment, and he quieted. The stranger then looked at Even with a piercing look.
"You are telling me the truth. You do love him very much, and you did not mean to hurt him. For that reason, I will return him to you -" Even reached out eagerly and pushed against the barrier, which prompted the stranger to raise his hand a third time. "- in the morning. Right now, he and I need to speak. You will go home, and you will see him in the morning. Make no mistake, Even. If you hurt him again, intentional or not, I WILL take him from you, and you will never see him again." The air around them grew heavy and oppressive, and the waves crashing down on the sand suddenly grew to double their normal size and intensity. Even felt some kind of power fizzling across his skin, and he shivered.
"Who are you?" he whispered.
"I am Lord Xehanort, and Xehanort is my only remaining descendant."
"But, but gods are not real, and the possession, and -" Even's words stopped when he found himself hoisted into the air and dragged forward until he was face to face with the angry sea god.
"I am very real, and I am very angry with you. Only the fact that your death would devastate Xehanort and Ienzo prevents me from harming you. His heart comes from my last descendant, which makes him a descendant as well. Return home, Even, and wait. I will return Xehanort to you in the morning." Lord Xehanort waved his hand casually, and Even found himself flung across the beach to land hard in his chair. He blinked and found himself back in the living room on the darkened house. "And return his Wayfinder to him! I didn't give it to him so you could take it away!"
Even nodded hastily. "Yes, Lord Xehanort." he said meekly.
The sea god's angry voice fell silent then, and the feeling of power vanished, and Even slumped own in his chair. Had that just really happened?
Yes! a raspy voice whispered into his mind, and he jumped and yelped. And lest you forget...
There was a long pause, and then Even found himself flooded with intense feelings of anguish and grief. Tears immediately pooled in his eyes, and he began to cry before he could stop himself. This is what you did to him! Don't do it again!
"I won't." Even sobbed as he wiped at his streaming eyes "I'll never hurt him again, I swear."
Good. Now sleep; he'll be returned to you in the morning.
Even sank into the cushions of the chair and immediately sank into a deep sleep.
It was the feel of a hand pressing softly against his chest and the sounds of a very familiar voice crying that woke him later. Even blinked his eyes open to find himself still in the living room chair, and he saw Xehanort kneeling on the floor in front of him, crying with his head on Even's lap.
He gently clasped Xehanort's hand in his own." Xehanort?"
Xehanort looked up at him. "Even?"
"Oh Xehanort. You're home. You're safe." Even slid down to the floor, and he gathered Xehanort to him and held him tight. "I was so worried." Behind him, Even saw Lord Xehanort standing in the middle of the living room, watching them both with a smile and showing none of the anger that he had displayed earlier. Take care of him for me.
"I will." Even silently mouthed the words, and the sea god smiled wider and then simply vanished before his eyes.
Later, after he tucked Xehanort into bed for some much needed sleep, Even pulled the Wayfinder out of his pocket. As he held it in his hands, he could feel the power that surrounded it, and he suddenly knew that it was that power that had finally calmed Xehanort's nightmares. He slipped the cord around Xehanort's neck and sat beside him as he fell asleep, grateful to Lord Xehanort for helping Xehanort when the rest of them couldn't.
"Thank you." he whispered to the silent room, and he swore he heard a equally quiet You're welcome. coming in on the sea breeze blowing through the open window.
#4 If You Need Me -- #6 Coming Home
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