「The Outside World With You」

Chapter 2

Risk Taker:

   Eraqus was awoken to the sweet smell of pancakes that next morning. Eyes fluttering open, he lazily rolls his head and looks around, silver irises locking onto another. "...Mom?"

   "What? No, I couldn't possibly take care of a child as idiotic as you."

   He recovers from that and swiftly looks over his tied limbs. "Ouch? And another ouch for the time you knocked me out cold."

   "And who's to say that you didn't deserve it?" The silver haired boy that was around his age circles him in a predator like manner. "Why are you even here? There's nothing here for you that would be of any use."

   Eraqus suppresses a low groan. "You sure talk a lot. Look, I'll leave you alone if you want." He flips his head left, right, then behind. "Hey, where's my bag?"

   "A bag?"

   "Don't play dumb! Where'd you put it?"

   "You must've dropped it on the way up here. Or maybe a bag didn't exist at all."

   "Stop it! I know you're hiding it." He was getting frustrated as he tugged at his restraints.

   He shrugs and fights to keep his calm face. "Whatever do you mean?"

   Eraqus growls and thrashes around, eventually tipping and falling ahead onto the ground with a thud, face first. As he laid there, he took deep breaths and searched around the room for any signs of his artifact, finally settling on glaring at the silver haired teenager.

   "We can do this all day, stranger," he says, pulling out a fork and plate of freshly cooked pancakes. "I'll just wait for a couple of days and then I'll figure out what to do with you."

   He bites his lips and turns to search again, and once more, gaze falling on the strangely long haired other. Unknowingly, he found himself doing this a few times. "Fine, I'll do whatever you want. Just gimme the damn bag!"

   A look of amusement is sighted, causing him to gulp unconsciously. "I don't have much to desire and it's not like you can get what I want anyway." He brushes the gray strands from his face and pauses, staring down at his empty plate. "The outside world," he says softly. "Tell me what it's like."

   "Tell you what it's like?" He tilts his head up off of the floor. "What does that even mean? You've never came out of this forest or somethin'?"

   Silence filled the air for just a quick moment. "This tower is all I know. I was told that it was for the best that I stayed here and that I should also know that it's not good for me to be near anything that lives."

   "Wow, you have it pretty rough. Hey, uh, do you mind helping me up?" He seemed more thrilled about the information than himself. This strange person had so much strange details about the world beyond his window that it almost seemed like fantasy.

   "That's right, you haven't even told me your name! I'll start! Hello there, my name Eraqus but Era is fine! You're something new to me so what's yours?" he asks craning his neck.

   He felt a bit overwhelmed from all the talking. "...Xehanort."

   "Xehanort? What a mouthful," sighs Eraqus. "I'm calling you Xeha from now on." He could see something flash in his eyes. "Don't like it?"

   "No, that's not it. No one's ever given me a shorter name is all. Why do you make it sound like we'll meet again?"

   Eraqus closes his eyes and hums. "I might consider giving you a little tour."

   "No, I'm really not allowed to leave."

   He gives him a narrow glare. "But you want to see what's out there, right?"

   "Yes, but actually no," he stutters.

   "C'mon, you're not making any sense, Xeha."

   Xehanort shakes his head and walks towards a mirror that sat in a corner. The small glimmer of the button on the satchel was reflected into his eyes as he brought it over. Pulling the small dagger Xemnas gave him, he cuts off the knots of the rope and hands over the bag.

   "I don't want you here. I am most definitely not a person you want to waste your time with."

   The shock on his face after he shoved the leather sack into his arms still remained. Only soundless words escaped his mouth as he watched him prepare a spare rope down the edge of the tower.

   "But, Xeha—"

   "Don't come back. You'll seriously regret it."

   "Hold up—"

   Xehanort tosses over a small pouch of apples and grasps the rope in his hands. "If you need food for this trip I'll let you have that. Now, you heard me; begone."

   Pressing his lips slightly, he steps over to the glassless window frame and takes hold of the other end of the rope. Glancing back, he digs his hand into his belt, drawing a dagger from its sheath behind his back. "Well, if you insist."

   They both stare at each other for a bit too long before they both gripped onto the rope and pulled.

   "What do you think you're doing?"

   Eraqus was having a bit of trouble in the match of tug of war. Then he smirks. "I hate to say that I also have a strong will," he says, suddenly letting go. He swore that he saw his eyes hold a glint of gold as he stumbled but almost immediately threw that out the window along with themselves.

   On the other hand, Xehanort couldn't process that he had thrown himself out of an insanely tall building. He also didn't notice how that he was falling next to him. His eyes widen at the shadowed ground as he unconsciously grabbed the knife from his pocket.

   Two blades emitted a loud scraping as it ran into a gap of the stone, two bodies hung from the edge of the building, breathing heavily, and two hearts would beat irregularly together.

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Okay, I believe you.

[05|31|19]