Alone in the Dark? [Open]

[Squall Leonhart]

Yuffie would witness the strange composition of the Heartless for herself now as her bolts barraged its large front side. Each impact created a small splash of black inky darkness and ripples across its face, as if she were simply shooting them into a pond. Even the Emblem on its front seemed to be in a liquid state. Regardless, the beast seemed to shudder violently as the attacks piled on even if they left no physical signs of damage. After a few seconds it began to retreat.

And fast.

The4 thing shot back down the way it had come like someone had unplugged the other side of the corridor and it was now being sucked down the drain. It flew back and out of sight(The light Leon had been using to continuously illuminate the place had been drawn in with him, so the place was only a few degrees from pitch black again when no other light sources were being used like Yuffie's bolts) faster than Yuffie could run, vanishing behind the curve of the hall.

[Yuffie !]

[ Sorry about the wait, Bilby. ^^. ]

"Wha-" The ninja began, as her attacks did no damage whatsoever. It was as though she was just tossing rocks in a pond. And that was not something she was happy about. However, she didn't even get her chance to finish her exclamation, as the Heartless retreated a moment later, disappearing around the corner before she could get a word in edgewise. "Oh, come on!" She cried, taking off after the beast.

After all, it still had Leon inside of it.

But it was so dark in the place, as a result of Leon's light disappearing with him, she couldn't see more than two feet in front of her. Regardless, she turned the corner that the monster had disappeared behind, only to find a pitch black hallway greeting her.

She was alone.

Alone, and scared.

"Leon?" She called out, her voice barely above a whisper. As she awaited a response, it was as though the silence had devoured her words. There was no echo. No sign whatsoever that she had even uttered a word.

One question remained.

Would Leon survive?

[Squall Leonhart]

"I'm here."

It was a gruff response, Leon's usually steady voice marred by a clear sense of disorientation. Probably more than acceptable after being swallowed by a semi-liquid monster. Still, he replied loudly enough for Yuffie to hear him from a ways down the hallway. Apparently he had survived just fine... somehow.

After shaking his head a few times Leon lifted his left hand and let his palm face the air. The space above it crackled for a few moments before a bright ball of fire appeared, floating there above his hand. He raised this makeshift torch of fire magic up for Yuffie to see him. The Blade of the Heart was no longer lighting the area and he didn't particularly feel up to bringing it out again. As she drew closer the ninja would be able to see that Leon was seating on the floor of the hall facing back towards her, his right leg propped up on its foot while his left resting along the earth. His right hand and gunblade were both laying on the ground as well.

"Miss me?" he asked, almost sounding like he was trying to make a joke.

Almost.

[Yuffie !]

It took a moment for Leon's response to register. The shock of seeing the man who represented not only her friend, but an ally as well as a mentor was almost too much for her to bear. Sure, she'd been through much worse in the past -- namely, the destruction of her home, followed by the near-destruction of Radiant Garden -- but even still, the loss of someone so close to her had scared her. Sure, she knew that losing at least one of them was inevitable, considering that they spent so much of their time defending the town from invaders such as Madam Mim and the Organization, but she had never expected it to happen in a dark, disgusting place such as this.

But the sight of Leon -- suddenly made much clearer by a fireball, hovering above the gunblader's hand -- made her realize that he was alive. She wasn't sure how, considering that she'd seen the Heartless pretty much devour him and fly away, but she was most certainly not complaining. Forcing back the tears of joy that she could feel attempting to spill forth -- after all, she was a ninja, and a grown woman for pete's sake, she couldn't be seen crying -- she ran over to the man, kneeling down in front of him and smiling in a relieved way.

However, upon hearing Leon's attempt at a joke, her smile faded.

And she hit him.

A swift, painful punch on the arm was all it took to get her feelings across. "Let me get this straight. We almost die. You get eaten. You're somehow alive, and all you can say is miss me? Really!?" Sighing at her friend's stupidity, she turned away from him, crossing her arms over her chest and staring resolutely into the darkness, where the fireball's light didn't quite reach.

Jeez, her friends could be stupid sometimes.

[Squall Leonhart]

Barely feeling Yuffie's little whack on his arm thanks to ridiculous self-enhancement training didn't keep the man from feeling it deep down. He allowed himself a "Leon Smile" while the ninja's back was turned and slowly got himself up off the ground behind her. His revolver gunblade was put away, though he would keep his fingers close by in case it was needed again. The place was still dangerous, Keeping his torch lit the swordsman walked up to Yuffie's left and placed his right hand on the girl's shoulder, tightening affectionately. The scarred man didn't say a word, but by the light of the No Mercy fireball Yuffie would be able to see it all written in his eyes, as those closest to him always could.

He had worried too. He was also happy to see her again.

Was it really any surprise that Leon's deepest fear was to be swallowed by the darkness himself, leaving all his friends behind or, even worse, coming back to torment them as a lightless minion of their enemy? What had just occurred was a staggeringly literal interpretation of the first part of that fear, and it had been incredibly overwhelming. It was fortunate though that Leon was just as lionhearted as he seemed. Despite his fear he kept his cool, even when things seemed their absolute bleakest. That had saved him this time and made him feel all the more thankful for what little light he had.

"We should get out of here," the man said simply and absolutely as he released the short but caring touch. It was back to game face for the protector of Radiant Garden. Squall didn't even comment on his seemingly miraculous escape before he started walking toward the exit again, looking expectantly at Yuffie to follow him once more(Though with less inherent urgency than the last time).

[Yuffie !]

A hand on her shoulder?

Yuffie sighed and attempted to shrug it off, but she could tell that Leon wasn’t about to just let go. Not until she found out what he wanted. However, she wasn’t about to just give the swordsman what he wanted. After what he’d put her through in this godforsaken place? Not a chance. For all she knew, he just wanted to let her know that there was some massive Heartless right in front of them, which he was going to just run off and try to kill. And for all she knew, if he attempted to do so, he’d get captured.

Again.

And this time, he might not survive. In her mind, as long as she kept her eyes down, and didn’t turn to face her friend, ally, and mentor, he’d be there. Watching over her. Protecting her. But a light squeeze of the hand forced her to -- grudgingly, of course -- turn to face Leon. The look in his eyes immediately dispelled any suspicions she may have had. His eyes told her everything he was trying to say, without him actually having to say it.

And the ninja let a tiny smile break through her angry façade.

Chuckling as the swordsman began to make his way towards the exit once more, Yuffie shook her head once more. "Leon… you’re such an idiot." And with that, she followed behind him, glad to be safe once more.

Glad to have this man, who represented so many things that she would have been without, had he not found her so many years ago, back in her life.

And glad to know that, no matter what happened, he’d do his best to stay by her side.

[Squall Leonhart]

He may have been an idiot, but he was still her friend. Leon thanked Yuffie for that. She, along with so many others immeasurably important to him, helped fill his weak heart with light. If it hadn't been for that then Yuffie might not have gotten the chance to be upset with him just now.

Leon didn't generally shudder or twitch, but he almost did at the memory of his capture. Still, a mental smirk covered that and left his outer body undisturbed. The Heartless, whatever it had been, had literally bitten off more than it could chew. Thanks to bonds like the one he had with Yuffie and his desire to return to her Leon had the courage to keep his Blade of the Heart shining in his hand. There was no doubt in the swordsman mind that the Heartless had experienced more than a little indigestion trying to swallow that force of light energy, resulting in his freedom.

"Come on," he replied to Yuffie's comment. "I'll buy you lunch."

Was he trying to make up for his idiotic comment? Perhaps. he sounded as serious as ever. When one considered that he had just been eaten himself, however, it was almost possible to see it as Leon trying to make a joke again.

Almost.

~*~

Curled away in a place of darkness the newly freed Heartless being rested peacefully. It had enjoyed an eventful awakening, but its work was not yet complete. It had a special task in this world. It would now begin to pursue that goal.

This particular monster would not work while hidden away in some unseen corner of Villain's Vale, however. No. Its work was done in plain sight, yet still unseen. It was not hiding in the deep basement or towers of this ruined abode. No.

It was being taken outside right this moment by its unsuspecting carrier.

END