Chapter Fourteen: Fog

Author’s Note: I had a dream in which an owl told me to update this story. o.o There were also speech bubbles.

Leon talks a lot, but I can’t help it. He needs to. D:

This is a really short chapter; sorry about that.

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts, I am your father.

…I wish.

“So let me get this straight,” Zack began, ignoring the fact that Leon was pinching his nose in frustration. “You want me to arrange a meeting with the Organization. The Organization. Organization-fricking-Thirteen.”

“Yes, Zack.”

“Why? And why me?”

Leon eyed the black haired man, ignoring the way Zack’s wing was fluttering. “If what you and the others have told me, Gaia’s a place with serious problems.”

“Actually, I said it breeds weirdos.”

Raising an eyebrow, Leon continued. “Right. Anyway, one of the major parts of this problem was JENOVA, and she’s never manifested like that before – the other cases were all relatively minor. We don’t know why, but more importantly, we don’t know what that makes or means to Cloud. Not only does the Organization include a Keybearer-”

“Roxas,” Zack offered.

“-it is also composed of all sorts of different specialists and has a library a lot bigger than this one. They’re the founders of your order, Zack – you’ve got access to places and people I don’t, Head of the Committee or not. Besides, you’ve got Angeal.”

The winged man huffed, scratching the spot Leon assumed to be where his second wing was beginning to grow. “Yeah, but… maaan, Xemnas is a creepy old bastard. I mean, yeah, if he’s involved we’ll need the Organization to know, at least, but…”

The brunet sighed, rubbing his forehead before looking up. “Zack. Why else would this be happening?”

The violet-eyed man chewed his lip for a moment before nodding. “You’re right. I’ll send word tomorrow. For now, though – oh, hey Yuffs!”

Sprinting into the room, Yuffie slid to a stop on several loose sheets of paper, panting slightly. “Cloud and Vincent are gone.”

--

“Vincent?” Cloud called, looking around in confusion. The city was suddenly foggy, the black feather gone as the white swirled around him.

“Hello, Cloud.”

“Who’s there?” The blond called back, pulling the sword off his back and holding it ready as his eyes tried to pierce the fog.

There was soft laughter, though the volume didn’t disguise the venom in the voice that seemed to come from all around him. “You don’t remember? Poor little puppet.”

Something like ice gripped Cloud’s veins at the words, his eyes sliding partially shut. “I…”

“You have something that belongs to me… something that Mother wants. That’s why I brought you here.”

Cloud froze, eyes flashing open. “You brought me here? But I-”

“You are nothing more than a puppet, Cloud.”

His grip on the Buster Sword suddenly strengthening, Cloud growled. “Who are you? Come out!”

The voice was silent, and the fog began to roll away.

Zack’s line about ‘breeding weirdos’ comes from a saying we use at school a lot: “Wisconsin breeds weirdos.” It’s true – a lot of interesting (or just plain crazy) people come from WI – Jeffrey Dahmer, Harry Houdini, and Chris Farley come to mind.

…it sounds like I’m (badly) pimping my state.