stubborn vs stubborn

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

Who: Xion & Fang (Leon and Lightning can join, too!)
Where: Saffron City
When: December 23rd; several hours after this
Summary: It takes a lot of planning to keep a stubborn person down... or to just have another stubborn person step up to the plate. Fang seems to be that person.
Rating: PG? There might be some action, but nothing too bad.
Log:

Phew...

[ It's still mid-afternoon, and the sun's still sorta up. Good thing she woke up extra early today... or not. After that brief incident of blood and Riku's insistence (as well as others') for her to stay in bed a little longer, Xion did obey and has gotten a few more hours of rest.

A few.

Now Xion's slipped out of bed and moving around, gathering things and putting on clothes. Axel the Typhlosion and Bahamut the Gabite stand off to the side while Xion rummages amongst her things for her wooden Keyblade. Once she does, she turns to them, knowing the stern looks on their faces. ]

It's only a walk out, and others are coming... I should at least greet them and show them around, right?

[ Axel puffs out a cloud of smoke in his version of a sigh and Bahamut yelps but doesn't do anything further when Xion moves to walk out of the Center. They follow, trying to be quiet themselves since it seems the staff are busy to look out for her at the moment. Riku also seemed to be out doing his own thing once Xion began to rest. Xion's done this kind of sneaking thing before.

Hopefully it works! ]

Comments

[soggypastry]

[She might not be straining herself, but it can't hurt to sit. Even if Lightning remains standing beside the bench, just waiting for Fang to return.]

Less chance of falling over if your body decides it's had enough for one day.

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ Axel gets to sit beside Xion, much to Bahamut's protests. He's bigger and much warmer, and they don't want their Trainer to get sick. Calm down.

Xion frowns a little. ] I'm not fragile, Lightning.

[soggypastry]

[And she gets a full frown in return, Lightning ignoring the antics of Axel and Bahamut with ease.]

Maybe not, but you are human. There's only so much the human body can take before it gives out no matter what you think you can do. We break easy, Xion. We die easy.

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

But that's-! [ -the way it's supposed to be? It's the oldest reasoning, really. People die. Everything dies, eventually. But Lightning's use of the word "break" hits something inside, makes Saix's voice echo in Xion's head, and it almost looks like Xion's going to rise from her seat and try to hit Lightning-

But she doesn't. She bows her head low with a small hiss as if hit. She's tried Namine's advice with having Bell out whenever she sleeps, and though it works, it doesn't stop the dreams from coming. Even better with the odd fragments she's getting recently... ]

I know that.

[soggypastry]

[Lightning doesn't move, doesn't flinch, doesn't twitch, even as Xion looks like she's about to get up and slug her for what's been said. She doesn't look surprised, either. She knows demons haunt even after months here. They always do.]

You say you do, but I find that hard to believe when all I've seen you do these past few months is get hurt. Are you trying to prove something or just looking for a way out?

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ Xion makes a strangled noise in her throat, but doesn't say anything. Her gaze stays rooted to the ground. Lightning knows something. What that something is... Did Leon tell Lightning? It wouldn't surprise her then.

This instance doesn't count, though. It shouldn't. She doesn't remember how she got hurt here. For all she knows, someone might've attacked. She didn't go out looking for a fight. Grr... ]

[soggypastry]

[Leon did say some things, but the rest Lightning has put together by watching Xion. She doesn't know how much truth her theories hold. Only that Xion isn't denying them.

And this instance only half counts...or perhaps only quarter counts. There are times when running isn't an option, after all.]

Xion, I'm only going to ask you this once. How much do you care about your friends?

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

Enough to die for them.

[ It's an automatic, almost autonomous response, but Xion means it. She did it before. Friends... Friends made it worthwhile back then. But that's when she didn't know any better. Until she goes back, there's still something that has to be set right. ]

[soggypastry]

Then don't. If you care that much, don't die for their sakes. Live for them.

[She looks at Xion for a long moment, as if seeing something or someone that isn't there, before she turns her back and leans against the arm of the bench, arms crossed over her chest.]

Having someone die for you isn't something you get over.

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ Lightning speaks as though she knows, understands. Maybe she does. But she really doesn't. It may not be something you get over, but that wasn't an issue before. Roxas couldn't remember much for that to happen to begin with.

It's better that way.

I finally have a heart, but it doesn't feel any different. There's this hurt... ]

I just want them to be happy. And safe.

[ The last one's the most important to Xion, of course, given she now knows Lightning's stance on this. ]

[soggypastry]

[Maybe she understands, maybe she doesn't. Lightning can't really say if she does or not. She doubts she'll ever be able to, but...she can offer Xion another point of view, at the least.]

Then live. Be there with them and you can help them fight when they have to. You never know when one more fighter could have made all the difference.

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ It does give her something to focus on, yeah. At this point, though, Xion's getting more and more absorbed into her thoughts and silently wondering when Fang's gonna come back. ]

[titanite.livejournal.com]

[ Thankfully it's not long before Fang returns, glancing between the two when she realizes they stopped short of the Center but otherwise not commenting on it, thanks to that lingering atmosphere. Still, she seems pleased with herself as she stops in front of Xion, offering her what's in her hand: ]

Here. Doubt anyone - human or Pokemon - could object to this.

[ It's a brightly colored (http://i44.tinypic.com/apb6md.jpg) kite, and though it folds down for transport, Fang's kept it open because she likes making an impression. ]

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

Ah! [ Blinks in surprise as the blue... blue... ] A kite, right? [ She's seen these things in the air before, but of course, could only wonder how they stay afloat in the sky.

She looks back to Fang after holding onto the wings gently. ] Is this my present? [ And just like that, whatever mood Xion's in previously from her conversation with Lightning is swept away with Fang's presence and the object she's brought, replaced with wonder and curiosity. ]

[titanite.livejournal.com]

[ She grins at Xion. Still, there's something in the way she had to confirm what it was... ]

That's right. Won't tire you out, and I bet if ya take it up to the roof sometime you'd be able to get it really high. You haven't flown one before?

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ She quickly shakes her head, but a wide smile's appearing on her face. Incoming Xion; you're getting a hug, Fang. ]

Thank you, Fang!

[titanite.livejournal.com]

[ Whoa! After the initial start, Fang hugs Xion back, though pretty gingerly thanks to Axel's earlier demonstration of the state of Xion's ribs. ]

Heh. You're welcome, Sunshine. I'll show ya how to fly it whenever you want. [ She chuckles. ] Poor, deprived child. I told ya we'd have some fun.

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

I'm not deprived! [ It's a light protest, and Xion thinks Fang is saying that because of, well. Something else. But she nods in agreement, with Bahamut G walking up and staring at the kite. I wanna play, I wanna play!

Then she looks to Lightning and Fang both. ] We should... head back inside. [ And watch Xion feel the wrath of worried nurses. ]

[titanite.livejournal.com]

Alright.

[ Fang nods, agreeing easily and unaware of that impending wrath. She shifts the weight of her backpack slightly before grinning at Lightning. ]

Hey, when I give ya your present, will I be gettin' a hug from you too?

[soggypastry]

[Xion will see a faint smile on Lightning's face when she looks up at her, the ex-soldier having been watching the two of them with a hint of fondness in her eyes; for all her frustration, she really just wants Xion to be happy and healthy. And if that involves launching kites from the rooftops, well, so be it.

For now, however, she smirks at Fang.]

Maybe. Depends on what it is.

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ She sees the hint of a smile on Lightning's face, which causes her to look down, slightly embarrassed. As the two older women talk with each other, Xion holds out the kite and examines it. So, uh... how do you fly this? Do you throw this in the air and it'll automatically float? Or something.

Bahamut tries to show how it goes, stretching out of his arms and doing an imitation of "flying" while running around in a circle on the ground. It's all about the fins, man. 'Course, Xion doesn't really understand, and Axel only shakes his head. ]

[titanite.livejournal.com]

Guess I'd better hope I did a good job. Maybe I'll go back and get ya a kite of your own, just in case.

[ Fang's smiling, clearly enjoying this. Sure she's gotten to talk to these two, but there's something incomparable about actually being with them. She considers for a moment. ]

I'll give it to ya inside, though. It's warmer in there. Mind waitin' on that first lesson, Sunshine?

[soggypastry]

[still smirking, Lightning shakes her head and pushes away from the bench. A kite? Nah, she'll be fine with whatever Fang's gotten her. ...even if it probably involves teasing.]

You probably should wait, Xion. Those need wind to fly, and there's not much of that today. It wouldn't get very far.

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

Okay.

[ And now the trio walk to the Pokemon Center. Once Xion steps inside...

ONSLAUGHT OF WORRIED NURSES, HOLLA! ] Ack!

[titanite.livejournal.com]

[ Fang glances briefly at Lightning. Of course, she should have expected this. Well, don't say she doesn't keep her word: she steps up next to Xion. ]

Hey, go easy on her. She's been with me the whole time, not gettin' into mischief. Asked her to meet me at the train station so I wouldn't get turned around. -Well I wouldn't have done it if I knew just how bad she had it!

[ This last retort is in response to one of the nurse's glares, but none of them seem particularly impressed by Fang's excuse. But hell, she'll bend the truth if it makes Xion's life a little easier. She certainly doesn't care what the nurses might think of her. ]