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[The touch seems to snap him out of his thoughts. Luke opens his eyes to look at her, an emotion which seems like distress deep within them... And then he shuts them as he reaches his other hand up to press her hand against his cheek, just... grateful for the support.

But after a moment, he brings his hand back down. Just in case she needs to flinch back thanks to what he says next.]

Master Van's here.

[ Which she does. Like she's been burned, snapping her hand back and simply ... holding it there, letting it hover uselessly. And she stares at him with a blankness that slowly, painfully slowly, turns into a deep, dawning horror. Like someone filled her gut with ice or ripped her heart right out. Her hand falls.

Van. Luke's old master. The one who... Akzeriuth...

Everything... Everything Luke had been trying so hard to fight against, everything he'd been doing so much to change, everything... they'd ever discussed about it, the ... the night he sobbed until he broke, telling her about what he'd done, the ... time in the Land of Departure, when he seemed so happy...

"I'm ... proud to be Luke fon Fabre."

Through her long silence her horror grows, until it's almost comically plain on her face. It looks strangely, too, like grief. She feels like she's going to be sick.

A million questions fill her mind. How does he know? How did he find out? Where is Van right now? Has he already spoken to-- no, he must have, or he wouldn't be acting like--

Frozen with indecision, she looks down at the floor, her eyes very, very wide. Wide and terrified. She just ... she just doesn't know what to say. After too long, in a voice just above a whisper: ]

What ... what happens now?

[Luke knows how she's reacting. Months ago he might have thought that such a reaction would be because of him, but now... now, even thought of Van doesn't cloud his changed perception of himself. Not entirely.

He can't bring himself to go to her, though, because he feels much the same way. The hand in his hair falls, until both his elbows rest on his knees, and he keeps his gaze on the floor. Funnily enough, her reaction seems to calm him down a little. At least he knows there's a reason to feel as scared as he is.]

We... Without the Score here, Master Van doesn't have a goal. The whole reason he's like... that is because of the Score. You know what it's like...

[How it practically rules over everyone's lives. How people look to it to see where to go next, and in the most extreme cases, use it to see what they should eat for dinner. How people have been sacrificed just to make it come true. And it almost cost Luke his life.]

So he isn't a threat right now. [There's a slight pause, enough for him to swallow, then frown deeply.] But we're still going to watch him. Asch and me. We know what he can do, and we won't let anything happen. If he does, we'll know about it.

[His voice seems... a little shaky, despite the resolve. A large part of his fear is what will happen to the village he's come to love, the people within it, now that Van's here to cast more puppet's strings. But he's also very afraid for himself and Asch. He knows how much influence Van has over the both of them.

It's why his hands have been gripped into tight fists since the moment he started talking.]

Edited 2011-09-17 21:43 (UTC)

[ Xion swallows hard as she listens to him talk, trying to fight down the cold fear clawing at her insides, trying to fight its way up and make her panic. This is .... as bad as bad ever gets, but freaking out won't make Van just randomly go away. ]

But ... you two, will you be safe? [ ... Luke cares about the rest of the village, but she cares about him. Both of them, actually. His occasionally awful, mostly brusque manner aside, Asch isn't ... so bad, and Xion can't help but care about him at least a little. And both boys are going to be swept up in whatever Van does...

Reflexively, she reaches out, wanting to take his hands ... and encounters his balled up fists instead. A quiet, sad noise escapes her, and she gently, very gently, sets about uncurling his fingers. Pulling them open, one by one, and finally slipping her hands into his. ]

[Luke stays quiet as Xion works on loosening one of his fists. He wishes he could uncurl it for her, but that's proving harder than it ought to be. But she manages, and he holds her hand tightly as he keeps his thoughts to himself.

Will they be safe? It's hard to tell at this point. Van wants to separate him and Asch, and Luke knows why. It's easier to manipulate one or the other when they're separated and pitted against each other.]

... As long as Asch and I are against Master Van together, I think we'll be okay. If we ever talk to him, we'll tell each other what he said and figure out if he's lying or not.

[At the same time, they won't let this overtake their lives. Asch was right; if they spend all their time watching over Van, then he's already controlling them. He already would have won.

Finally, he looks at her, and he loosens his other fist to cover the hand holding his own.]

Please don't... listen to him, if you meet him. I...

[I don't want you to be strung along in his lies, too. I don't know what I'd do if that happened.]

I won't. [ Her voice is sharp, and sudden. Not angry -- not contradicting or rebuking. Simply ... fiery. Determined. She smiles then, a bitter thing. ] I spent a whole year listening to Xemnas's stupid speeches. And Van and Xemnas... [ She pauses, shaking her head. ] The kind of person Van is ... I know that sort of person. I won't listen to him, Luke. I promise.

[ The set of he expression is unusually hard. Xion's not often prone to being fierce, after all. Such a sad, uncertain girl, most of the time. But this ... such a terrible threat, against the person she loves. Any threat to her friends would make her want to go to their defense... but this is, in a way, more terrible. This isn't a threat she can just fight. There's no Heartless here. Just words, and terror.

She has to be strong. For him. She will never, ever let Van have Luke back. Not ever. ]

[He's still scared. He's still terrified. It's probably obvious by the way his hand shakes in her grip.

But seeing how determined she is... It makes him feel a little better. No less shaken, but better. At least he knows that Xion won't listen to him, if she ever meets him... But even if one resolves to not listen to Van, it's hard to get his words out of their heads. He knows this for a fact.]

... Good. [With that, he slides down out of his chair to kneel by her and wrap an arm tight around her shoulders, hiding his face in his shoulder while his other hand still holding hers tightly. Luke knows he can't do this alone... but he does have Asch and Xion to rely on as well as his friends. Even though Tear still doesn't remember...]

A-And if I ever... you know, start to...

[Sympathize with him, start to think that Van might deserve more thanks to whatever he tells him...]

[ All that ... whatever it was -- hardness, determination, drive -- falls right away from her when Luke does that. He's ... he's really scared, isn't he. She makes another, quiet noise, barely better than a gasp, and shuts her eyes, her free arm wrapping tightly around his back. She wants to cry.

It's not fair. Van ... after all this time, why is someone like him allowed to suddenly turn up here and ruin everything?

It's his last line of thought that brings her attention back. And her chest is still aching, so badly, it hurts. She ... she thinks she can get where he's going with that. She wishes she didn't. Does he really mean...?

But then ... she'd been wondering. "What if it's not me who listens to him?" ]

Luke... no matter what happens, or ... what Van ever says to you... I'm always going to be here. Right here, by your side. No one, not even him, can make me leave. And ... I'm always going to be here to remind you. About ... about everything.

[ She pulls back then, suddenly, freeing her hand from his and releasing him, sitting back on her heels. With a deep, shuddering breath, she abruptly throws her arms around him again, this time so she can circle both around his neck and cling to him very tightly, and whisper. ]

He can't have you. He can't.

[Luke holds her just as tightly against him, eyes squeezed shut and the side of his cheek pressed against the side of her head. Back on Auldrant, it wasn't like this; he had many people who knew of Van and were against him, after Akzeriuth happened. Some of them were even royalty, and could make plans to slow him down. Here? It was only a few people out of around three hundred or so. He didn't want another Akzeriuth to happen... He didn't want to see someone be used and tossed aside. He didn't want to be pulled into Van's scheming anymore.

And he didn't want Xion involved in any of that. Now... inevitably, she had to be, considering he and Asch were high on Van's list of useful people.]

I... I know. And he won't. I promise he won't.

[Maybe it's a careless promise against such a huge threat. But promises are important to Luke - it means that even if he can't keep it, he'll try his absolute best to do so.]

Luke ... no matter what, you're ... you're a good person. I'll always believe that, and ... [ And you should too. But ... she knows she can't really ask that of him, especially not right now. ]

[...

He doesn't answer that. Van's arrival just... tore down the dam that had slowly built around his insecurities, allowing them to flood over him once again. Akzeriuth was his fault. The Score being thrown off track was his fault. Everything terrible that happened to his world, his home... was his fault.

How can anyone call him a good person...

But he doesn't let that be known; instead, all he does is tighten her hold around her waist and keep his eyes shut. Maybe... if she keeps believing that, then... he'll believe it too someday. Even with Van here.]

[ ... but she knows why he's not answering. The Luke that kissed her under the stars and swore to her he was proud of his name would have said something. Something, at least -- but now he's silent, and just holding her even tighter.

And she knows what that means. And it makes her breath hitch in her throat as she swallows back a sob.

It's not fair. It's just not fair.

Bizarrely, she thinks of Noel. She thinks of going with Luke that day and finding Noel out by the Battle Dome and just ... talking to her. Three Replicas... all fighting for their humanity. And she remembers Luke standing by her side -- more uncertain than she, but willing all the same to fight. To show that they are worth something, that it's okay to be...

And it feels now like that moment couldn't be further away. Now Van's here, and Van's going to ruin everything. He's going to destroy everything Luke has worked so hard for, every bit of that shaky pride, and he's going to take Luke away from her.

Can she do anything but watch it happen? Are words enough, with someone like that here...? ]

Luke--

[ Her voice is fraught and tight, the edge of it betraying her hidden tears, but he won't get to comment on it. Because abruptly she kisses him hard, desperately, full of sadness.

There is an idea at the back of her mind. A dark and terrible idea. But ... there's just no way ... someone like her ... could deal with Van herself.

...

Right? ]

[And Luke had just leaned back and opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, only to get cut off and let out a very startled sound instead by a fierce kiss from Xion. It's enough to make his eyes go wide and... leave him unsure of what to do with himself. One hand stays at her waist while the other hovers uselessly in the air, until it slowly lowers back to her waist, though he's still no less caught off guard.

...

Damn, Xion.]

[ It's a kiss of all her anger and all her grief. And yes -- it's a fierce kiss. Fierce and hard. Her hands are tangled in his hair, fingertips pressing against the back of his head, and she kisses him so fiercely and so desperately.

She wants him to believe her. And if words won't work, maybe something like this will. ]

[Were Luke in a normal state, he'd... probably stay the same, sitting there uselessly and blushing, maybe push her back and ask her to slow down. All the other times they kissed like this, they always... built up to it, never started right off like that. It was too much right now.

But Luke is still frazzled. He's angry and nervous and scared and helpless against the tide of insecurity. And she's telling him he's a good person, and with Van's arrival still fresh on his mind, he's reminded of everything he's done to prove the opposite. He's trying so hard to be better. So hard... and he thought he was getting somewhere. Van showing up just...

... At the same time, he still wants to fight. Now, not only to prove his humanity and his right to live, but to prove his master wrong. To let him know that his reason for existence was not for destruction, not just to throw off the Score. He's Luke... and maybe someday he can shout that back at Van without that hint of desperation in his voice.

Luke shuts his eyes and lets himself fall back from a kneel to a sit, one hand back to support his balance on the floor while the other reaches up to grip Xion's hair, and he finds himself kissing her with that same fear and grief and anger and resolve. It's still too much, too strong; he has a feeling this kiss won't last long. But right now he just revels in it. Not only does it allow him to get everything he's feeling out of him, but, well... How often does one get kissed like this?]

[ It doesn't. Just a few moments later she breaks it off, though she doesn't let go of him and actually rests her forehead against his, trying to control her breathing. ]

I won't. [ Her voice is much stronger -- surer. ] I won't let him take you back. I don't care how many times I have to say it or -- or how many kisses it takes. [ Her voice falters, just a bit -- if he were able to lean back and get a good look he'd see she suddenly flamed bright red. What did she just do...?!

Focus, Xion! ] You really are a good person, Luke. Or you wouldn't care... remember? You'd be like him. And ... there's no way you're anything like him at all. Don't ever forget that.

[Well, if Xion were to look at him, she'd see a matching color across Luke's face. Did they really just...?!

Focus, Luke, focus! He keeps his eyes shut and one hand still in her hair, just breathing... and listening. That's... That's right. They talked about this once, after he told her about... that day. The reason why Van is weak, and why Luke is stronger than this. Because... he can care, while Van only cares for his own goals. Everyone else is just... a puppet. After all... Van was able to smile at the face of thousands of people meeting their deaths.

Maybe he can fight this after all. It's... tentative; he knows the power his master has. But it's not so hopeless now, at least.]

I don't... want to be like him. I used to, before... everything. But I can't do it now.

[He does lean his head back, only to duck it a little lower.] All my life I thought Master Van was... the only person who understood me at all. He was my teacher, and I... I really looked up to him.

[He shakes his head, the hand in her hair idly sliding down to the back of her neck.] I... don't think I do anymore. Not at all.

[ Slowly -- somewhat sheepishly -- she untangles her fingers from his hair, gently carding through it before letting her hands slip down to rest on his chest. Once he moves his head a little, she lets her arms slip further, so she can circle them loosely around his waist instead. ]

That's ... probably what he wanted you to think. [ Very gently. ] But you're not alone anymore, Luke. You'll never be alone again. And your friends -- they're the ones who understand you, and love you, too. Van ... I don't think he could do that, for anyone.

[Despite her best efforts, his hair is still a little messy thanks to her gripping onto it. Hers probably is, too, but Luke's not looking at that right now.

Instead, his eyes come up to meet hers, though something about it seems shy. Their kissing earlier left him both like that and just slightly dazed. But after a moment, he leans forward a little to bring his balance off of his hand, to give him the freedom to circle his arms around her neck, rest his forehead against hers again, and let out a sigh.]

I've never felt more... [real.] like myself - like Luke until I met everyone here. You, and Miyabi, and Paprika and... and everyone else.

[His lips quirk up into a smile, his first one since he arrived at her house.]

I think I'll be okay with everyone here. [And you.]

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