[KH] Lights in Shadow: theme 17

Introduction:  Apparently I'm addicted to theme lists, so I couldn't resist when I first heard about the 100ThemesChallenge group a year or so ago. XD  Variation 3 was the list that looked the most interesting to me.  I'd considered taking on the challenge for Kadaj, Riku, & their family, but after discovering that it's more difficult than it looks to finish theme challenges, I decided not to confine myself to a single topic.  And I'm interested in so many challenges, I'm not going to stress about finishing most of them, I'll just work on them as I have inspiration.  For this list, I'm leaving it open for any fanfiction, any artwork, and any original stories (though I don't post my original stories online, it's just for my personal satisfaction).

 

I know that my stories are very disorganized because more and more of them could fit into more than one series, so categorizing them can be problematic.  This is why I'm trying to sort it all out on LiveJournal....  The "headcanon" entry is still under construction, but the "writing challenges" entry should be good, I've been careful to keep track of things there.

 

Lights in Shadow, a Kingdom Hearts fanfic series by Raberba girl

List of themes by DavisJes, Variation 3 for the 100ThemesChallenge group on deviantART

17. Vampire (rough draft)

 

Roxas/Xion Day, 20 June 2013

 

Summary:  She's not going to be able to just stand by and keep watching this for much longer.

 

o.o.o

 

He looked awful.  Xion nearly cried when she saw poor Roxas that morning, shuffling into the Grey Area looking as pale and weary as if he hadn't slept in a week.  He smelled a little, like he'd been too tired to shower, and there was a small bit of blood still crusted in his wild hair from the last battle he'd been in.  She knew he'd been eating like a horse lately, because she was usually right there watching him do it - yet he looked thin and gaunt, his hips seeming sharper even through the thick fabric of his coat.

 

He came and practically fell onto the couch next to her, leaning his head on her shoulder and closing his eyes. "Mornin', Xi...."

 

"Good morning, Roxas," she whispered.  After a moment, she lifted two fingers and touched them gently to his neck, right over a vein where someone with fangs could easily access his blood.  He didn't make a flicker of response.  'Vampires are real,' she thought.  'Maybe not the kind in books.  I'm sure Axel's right about that.  But the kind who suck and suck and suck all the strength and life out of her best friend, getting stronger as he starts dying...those kind of vampires exist, and I'm one of them.'  She was worse than a doll - she was a monster.

 

She let Roxas rest for a while, not knowing what else to do, but the morning drew on and Saïx started glaring at them and she knew they had to get to work.  "C'mon, Roxas."

 

He didn't move.

 

"Roxas?"  She shook him a little, and realized that he hadn't just been resting, he'd actually fallen into a deep sleep.  "Roxas!"  It took a while, and a lot of shaking, but she finally managed to rouse him.  He sat still on the couch, staring like a zombie.

 

"Roxas...hey."  She took out an Elixir and pressed it into his hands.  When his only response was to curl his fingers around it a little, she leaned forward to kiss his cheek.  His hands tightened on the bottle, and he blinked and finally focused on her.

 

"Take care of yourself, Roxas," she said softly.  "Okay?"

 

"Mm...okay, Xion."  He looked down at the Elixir, smiled a little, and put it in his backpack.  "Thanks."

 

'You're not even going to drink it yet?'

 

"What time is it?" he asked.

 

"Uh...."

 

"Flaming pants, how'd it get so late?!"

 

"Well, you fell asleep...."

 

"Man, it might take too long to finish again....  Hey, Xion."

 

"Yeah?"

 

"If I can't make it to the clock tower, come hang out in my room when I RTC, okay?  You guys never come anymore, I kind of miss you."

 

'We do come.  But you're always asleep.  And that's my fault.'  "Okay, Roxas.  I'll be there."  'This time, I'll just go straight to your room and wait until you come and see us before you fall asleep.'

 

"Don't forget snacks."

 

"I won't."

 

He gave her a tired smile and then went to go get his mission brief.

 

'I hate this,' she thought as she watched him leave.  'I hate seeing you waste away.  It hurts just to watch.'  "I have to do something," she whispered.  "Whatever it takes, Roxas...if it'll save you, I will do it."

 

o.o.o

 

Author's Notes:  There's a scene in the Grey Area, near the end of the game when Roxas is tired all the time, where Xion's worried about him and gives him an Elixir.  (It's not a cutscene; you have to go up and talk to her before you start your mission.)  It's cute and sad at the same time.

 

Themes like "vampire" are difficult for me, but it forces me to be creative and usually it turns out all right.   This drabble is sad, though...I don't like sad things.

 

Complete:  1/100