InsaneJournal

Deep Shadows
Kingdom Hearts 2
Ienzo, Xehanort. (Zexion.)
Safe for work. Spoilers.



Ienzo tilts his head up and looks up at the huge machine, spanning rooms over rooms over rooms. His heart is pounding in his chest, his mouth is dry, his hands are shaking spasmodically. He finds himself drawing short, hitching breathes.

Ansem the Wise is going to destroy it.

The knowledge feels like it's burning a hole in his skull. You can't! he thinks desperately. You can't, this is everything, this will let us find out everything. Distantly he wonders if this is his fault for trying to keep Ansem a little in the dark, trying to not let him know exactly how far they're probing with this thing. Resentment grows within him. How can any scientist think to just probe the light? Desperation makes his mouth taste sour. How could any scientist turn away from examining the truth, newly discovered as it was?

"Ienzo," he hears behind him. "Is it true?"

Ienzo turns and, seeing Xehanort standing there so shocked that all emotion has been wiped from his face, rushes over. He's not usually a physically demonstrative man; although he can't seem to control his passions, his physical distance is a result of being the youngest and smallest of a group of elite. But at that time, unsure whether he is trying to brace himself or Xehanort, he throws his arms around Xehanort and squeezes his shoulder with one hand, reassuringly.

"...Ienzo."

"It's true," Ienzo manages to get out. "He's going to destroy it all."

Xehanort's brow's crease and he looks down at Ienzo as if he doesn't exactly know me. "But he can't."

"He's going to."

"He can't," Xehanort says again. "Master Ansem started these experiments because of me. They're all me. In probing the human heart, the seat of memory, he was to discover me. And by discovering me, have solid proof of his theories. He--"

Ienzo swallows hard. His hand shakes on Xehanort's shoulder but he squeezes again firmly, trying to demonstrate his support somehow. That he is here so Xehanort does not have to fall apart. "He's ordered that research stopped."

"He's said that before," Xehanort says. "He's never meant it."

Closing his eyes, Ienzo swallows. "He says that it is an abomination. That he should never have started it. Xehanort, he's ordered it all destroyed, top to bottom. The machines. The notes."

"The notes? Those are private."

"That's not the only private research he's destroying," Ienzo says. It throbs in him, hot and painful. "Even the prototype, Xehanort!"

Xehanort gazes at him. "But that's yours," he says.

It is; it's Ienzo's and Elaeus's and Even's. They'd come up with the plans for it together. Elaeus had designed it and had it built. Ienzo had been the one to find the right formulae and filters to channel the darkness through it without it simply seeping through like a cloud. Even had been the one to conduct the original experiments.

Something makes him feel as though he's falling apart inside. Tearing up. Crystal fissures forming and fragile, ready to crack. He can't seem to stop shaking. He says, "We should use it before Master Ansem has it destroyed, Xehanort. Maybe we can restore your memory. Maybe then he won't--"

"We should," Xehanort says. "As long as he's here, otherwise, we'll never--" His voice is stunned. Hurt. He, the young man who saw the creature and followed it to a door, who had grasped and opened it, who never felt things as strong as fear, only disappointment -- hurt. Ienzo feels something shatter inside.

"We could get rid of him," Ienzo says. It comes out slower than he'd expected, almost cool. "We could -- do you remember when we tried to manipulate the door to get us off this tiny world?"

Xehanort looks at him.

They'd used a test subject, of course, on a rope. Put it through, pulled it out. What went through was a girl, young and scared and furious. What came back was a Heartless, that leaped at them until Xehanort managed to put an end to it.

"It's only right," Ienzo says. His heart is beating faster and faster. "Isn't it the right thing? Even if I have to do it myself, I think-- you're ready to become Ansem the Wise, aren't you? You've already started writing those reports." Xehanort had tried to keep it secret, but Ienzo had found them one day. "And so why not?"

Slowly, Xehanort starts to nod.

Zexion wakes in the cool, still basement air. After a long moment he rises; his hood casts a comfortable shadow over his face and so he does not push it back. After a few hours abed his limbs have grown cold.

He makes himself tea and curls unshaking hands around the cup and, very softly, exhales. He feels a little tired.