Chapter Text
The next day was largely uneventful. Lea had yet to return, and Xemnas’s stasis remained unchanged, though the bed on which he lay had been moved to a remote corner of the laboratory. Only Ienzo and Aeleus were present when Isa arrived—Even and Ansem apparently had another unrelated matter to attend to.
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” Aeleus had at least apologized. “Our bearing was much less than professional. Your business and your feelings are your own.”
Isa was pleasantly surprised. Aeleus, he supposed, had always been more of a gentle giant than the other members. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, brushing it off. “Sorry you lost the munny.”
Aeleus just chuckled, resuming his stony presence near the door of the lab. Ienzo looked curious, but said nothing.
“Is there any new information, Ienzo?” Isa asked, leaning back against the wall nearest Xemnas. Looking down at his thick lashes, Isa wondered if Xemnas’s eyes, too, had changed with Xehanort’s absence from his heart. The memory of their piercing amber hue was vivid in his mind.
“Not about his state,” Ienzo admitted, “but we have been devising our planned inquiries, as well as preparing his facilities.”
“Where will you be moving him?”
Ienzo shifted, a crease forming at his brow. He looked uncomfortable. “Downstairs,” he said simply. “At least at first.”
A shiver ran down Isa’s spine. The memory of human screams emanating from the basement was still crystal clear. It was there that he had met the girl with Lea, where they had learned of the experiments performed by Ansem, Xehanort, and the apprentices. The thought of those facilities coming back into use in any capacity made him uneasy.
“Do you plan to interrogate him, or to test on him?” Isa’s words were bitter, though he supposed Xemnas would have found the whole situation ironic.
“He still has the potential to be dangerous, Isa,” Ienzo insisted, a note of plea to his voice. “We don’t know what powers he may have retained, or if Xehanort’s consciousness still has a hold on him. We’re just being careful.” Isa realized with a glimmer of guilt that Ienzo, too, was uncertain.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Isa said quietly.
“I—” Ienzo squirmed.
“What else could we do?” Aeleus interjected, defensive of Ienzo. “Let him wander off on his own?”
“We did, didn’t we?” Isa found it more difficult than usual to keep his voice even. “We were all dangerous. And yet here we are.”
“We changed,” Ienzo said, his brow furrowed. “We don’t know yet if he has.”
Isa sighed. Arguing was pointless. They wouldn’t know anything until Xemnas woke.
“I suppose you’re right.” It felt like a lie—somehow, though he could never explain it, Isa was certain they had nothing to fear. “Call me if anything changes. Thank you both,” he said flatly, straightening to leave. Ienzo offered him a weak wave goodbye, Aeleus a simple nod, and Isa once again took the familiar trip back to Twilight Town.
Hurry and wake up, he thought to himself as he walked back through the forest. Show them what I know you can be.
He let his feet guide him aimlessly through the town, his head filled with memories. Xemnas’s uncanny ability to avoid Vexen’s impromptu inquisitions, his propensity towards staring up at Kingdom Hearts for hours on end. The way that, as the years went on, Xemnas seemed to seek out Saïx deliberately for updates or to ask for his input on new findings. “I trust in you, Saïx.”
Isa was knocked abruptly out of his reverie when he collided head-on into some poor soul who had been running the opposite way on the street. He felt something cold through his jacket, glancing down to see two chilly blue stains on his abdomen. Ice cream...? He blinked, disoriented.
“I’m so, so sorry,” said the girl who had run into him. She sounded so distressed. Isa wiped away what he could of the mess with his fingers, looking down at her.
“No, it was my fault, I—” His eyes went wide at the sight of the black-haired girl in front of him, a look of terror on her face. "Xion?"
“Saïx!” She squeaked, holding the squished remains of two ice cream bars close to her chest. “I wasn’t watching where I was going, I should have been more careful—I’m so sorry about your jacket—”
“It’s okay,” Isa said gently, peeling off his soiled jacket and folding it over his arm. A wave of guilt wracked his heart at the sight of Xion’s fearful expression. The sudden sight of Isa’s scarred face must have brought back bad memories. He wasn’t certain he had ever seen her on her own, without Lea or Roxas, since he had come back. “Really. It’s easy to clean. Are you all right?”
“Mhm,” she mumbled, though she looked sadly down at the ruined dessert in her hands.
“It was my fault, really,” Isa said. He bit the inside of his cheek, debating whether to send her on her way or to try and talk to her. “Let me buy you some more,” he decided. “My treat.”
Xion looked shocked. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” he said, “if that’s all right with you.”
She smiled shyly at him. “That’s really nice of you.”
“Everyone always says that with such surprise,” Isa grumbled, though he regretted the joke when he saw Xion’s timid look in response.
They walked back to the nearby sweets shop, Xion trailing behind him after tossing the ruined bars. Isa pulled out his wallet when they got close. “Two sea-salt ice creams, please,” he said, holding up two fingers. He thought for a moment, then held up another finger. “Actually, make it three.” Xion giggled a bit as he took the bars from the vendor.
“There you are,” he said, handing two to her. “Good as new.”
“They are new,” Xion said, a hint of laughter in her voice.
“Exactly,” said Isa. He smiled at her, trying to dispel his awkwardness. “I’m sorry for frightening you.”
“I’m sorry for stabbing you with ice cream,” replied Xion.
“Better than a few possible alternatives.” Isa unwrapped his bar, taking a bite. The flavor was distinctly nostalgic. He missed Lea, he realized. Isa still slept in Lea's bed each night, saw him often, but had been distracted enough that he hadn't noticed what felt like the danger of distance. Or maybe the distance was already there. “Back to Roxas?”
“Yup,” said Xion. “Summer vacation is almost over, I guess. We’re enjoying it before school starts.” She looked down at her two treats. “Is school scary?” she asked. The earnestness in her gaze pierced Isa’s heart.
“Compared to what you’ve been through? Not at all,” said Isa as they walked. “You’ll have teachers, and assignments, and time to spend with friends. It’s like being in the Organization, but nicer. You’re going to be fine.”
“Thanks, Saïx,” Xion said. “I mean—Isa.” As they neared the alley that now led to the mansion, she paused. “Axel is training off-world, right?”
Isa nodded.
“Well,” said Xion, shuffling her feet. “If you’re lonely, you could come hang out with Roxas and me. Unless you think that’s lame.”
The warmth that bloomed through Isa’s chest was unexpected. Guilt still riddled him, but the fact that Xion, of all people, was worried about him being lonely… “I don’t think that’s lame,” he assured her. “But you don’t have to feel obligated to spend time with me just because I got you ice cream.”
“That’s not it!” Xion protested. “Really. You’re Axel’s friend, so you’re ours, too, if you want to be.”
“I…” Isa felt a knot threatening to form in his throat. What was happening these days? “I would be honored to be your friend.”
“You’re so serious all the time, Isa,” Xion said, nudging his arm lightly with her elbow. “When is Axel going to rub off on you?”
“And turn me into a clown?” Isa smirked playfully. “I don’t think so.”
Xion giggled again, and Isa’s heart surged with sudden affection. This girl, born from fragments of memories and a replica body, had birthed her very own heart, her own identity, despite the forces—Saïx included—that had tried so desperately to deny as much. In the face of so much tragedy, she was still here, enjoying ice cream on a warm summer’s day and inviting Isa, of all people, to be her friend.
It was possible.
“Thank you, Xion,” Isa said, suddenly pensive. “I have things I need to take care of today, but before the two of you start school, I would love to… hang out. Unless,” he added with a crooked smile, “you think that’s lame.”
Xion’s laughter was bright and bubbly, like a spring rain. “Sounds good,” she said with a smile.
“Hurry home,” Isa said. “Your ice cream is going to melt.”
Xion waved him goodbye with a smile, running back to the mansion. Isa watched her form disappear around the corner before he returned home himself, the taste of sea-salt ice cream sweet on his tongue.
Lea returned home late that evening, his arrival forecast by a text that read, “got whipped good. omw.” There was a little smiley next to it, followed by a picture of Lea and Kairi making obnoxious faces. Isa smiled at it, tossing the note he had left on the stove from yesterday and sending back a message that said, “Yay... Need to talk.”
When Lea got home, Isa was surprised by the concern evident on his features. “Hey,” he said, hurriedly dumping his bag in the entryway. “What’s up? You okay?”
Isa looked at him, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Lea raised a thin eyebrow, pointing to the screen on his phone. “Your scary text,” he said, as if it was obvious. “The ellipses? ‘Need to talk?’ You made it sound like there's trouble.”
Isa cocked an eyebrow. "I didn’t realize ellipses and the concept of talking were scary.”
Lea sighed, looking equal parts relieved and exasperated. “I don’t think the tone you were shooting for conveys well through text. So you aren’t going to try and kill me?”
Isa chuckled, a little embarrassed by his evident lack of know-how. Lea was the only person he ever texted, after all—though he wondered now if that would someday change. “No, not today. How was training?”
“Well, I’m beat,” Lea said, melting down onto the couch. “Kairi stopped by between her training sessions with Aqua and, putting it lightly, kicked my ass.”
Isa’s ears perked up. “She’s training with Aqua now?”
“Yup,” said Lea, a look of pride on his face. “And doing great. She’s gonna have Sora wrangled back here in no time. Aqua must be quite the master.”
“I spoke with Terra yesterday,” Isa said. “He spoke of her highly, too. They’d like to come visit sometime.”
Lea’s brows shot up. “Since when were you and Terra buddies?”
“Since yesterday,” Isa said, smiling. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Lea groaned. “Oh, great,” he said. “Just because Terra’s biceps are bigger than mine—”
“Lea,” Isa said firmly, folding his arms. “It’s not anything like that. Besides, he has Aqua.” His tone was teasing, and Lea relaxed a bit.
“Well, fair enough,” he said, stretching out. “So, what’s up?”
Isa’s voice grew serious. “It’s about Xemnas.”
Lea immediately sat back up. “What? Did something happen?”
“Yes,” said Isa, sitting beside him. “Terra delved into the realm of sleep yesterday. Xemnas’s heart has been transferred to a replica. Ienzo called and asked me to be there.”
“What?" Lea’s voice grew impassioned, anxiety shining in his eyes. "That fast? Why didn’t you call me? What’s going on?”
“He hasn’t woken up yet. They don’t know how long it’ll take before he wakes.”
Lea passed a hand over his face. “I thought the whole point of everything was to get rid of Xehanort for good. Now you’re telling me they’re bringing him back? On purpose?"
“Xemnas isn’t Xehanort,” Isa stated, a crease forming between his eyebrows. “That’s what I talked to Terra about. Xemnas had memories from him, too, and Terra was able to see fragments of Xemnas’s. He was born from Terra’s body, after all.”
“Yeah, and Xehanort’s heart. That’s kind of a big deal.”
“I know that,” said Isa, leaning forward on his knees. “But Nobodies start as nothing but a body and memories. The heart Xemnas grew was his own, yet he was never given a path of his own to follow. He was bound to Xehanort then, but he isn’t any longer. You see what I mean?”
Frowning, Lea looked down at the table. “You wanna give him a chance.”
Isa nodded. “I do.”
The exhale Lea gave was pointed. “How do you know the heart he grew wasn’t based on, I don’t know, how much he loves being evil? I thought you had to have some kind of a connection to rebuild a heart, and he definitely wasn’t the Organization’s socialite.”
“Terra told me about the memories he saw. Xemnas’s heart did make a connection.” Isa didn’t meet Lea’s eyes when he spoke.
Lea’s brows raised again, and he turned to look at Isa. “Really? With who? Xigbar?”
Isa stayed silent. Gradually, a look of realization dawned on Lea’s face.
“Oh, no. You can’t be serious.”
“It makes sense,” Isa said, fidgeting with his sleeve. “Don’t you think?”
“So that’s why Ienzo asked you to go.” Lea’s voice was subdued. “So if Xemnas woke up, his favorite pet could be there to keep him calm.”
Isa’s head snapped up to look at Lea, his scar crumpled. “You, too?” Bitterness dripped from his voice.
Lea’s eyes went wide for a moment before narrowing in disbelief. “You don’t really think—”
“I think,” said Isa, “that if we, a pair of scheming murderers, can be welcomed back into personhood alongside a team of scientists who performed live human experimentation, then so, too, can Xemnas.” He balled his hands into fists. “When I woke up, after years of running the Organization for him, after everything I did, no one batted an eye before letting me walk out into the world. But the sheer idea of Xemnas even existing is too much?”
“Isa—”
“I’m not saying you can’t hold a grudge, or that you have to forgive him. I’m just saying that he deserves the chance to change that we were given.” Isa looked down at his hands, letting his fingers unfurl. “If, after the first time, I had never awoken, would you have written me off completely? Or would you have wondered what I could have been?”
Lea was stunned into silence, his expression unreadable. Then, at length, he sighed, long and deep. “You’re right,” he said, his voice low. “I’ll give him a chance, too. But if he pulls anything—”
“I don’t think he will,” Isa said, cutting him off. “He has no reason to.”
Lea’s lips drew into a line. “I guess you knew him best. Looks like you see something in him that the rest of us don’t.” He sounded uncertain. Not quite suspicious, but something edging towards it. Isa's stomach churned.
“Maybe,” Isa murmured. “Please, Lea. Trust me this time.”
“I’ll have your back, baby, no matter what.” Lea flashed him a cheeky grin, though it was somewhat half-hearted. It faded quickly into a more contemplative expression. “I didn’t realize you... cared about him so much.”
"Caring about him is putting it strongly.” Isa's mouth had tightened. Did he care about Xemnas? “I just—”
“Didn’t realize he had more than the hots for you all those years? Man, you’re dense.” Lea smiled a little, but it was strained.
“How was I supposed to know anything he truly felt? You didn’t notice, either,” Isa jabbed back.
“Hey, I’m dense, too,” Lea said, raising his hands in surrender. His gaze grew gentle as he took Isa’s hand in his own. “I love you, Isa. I’ll support you, no matter what happens.”
Isa looked at him, his heart aching strangely. “Thank you, Lea,” he said, and he kissed him.