Vesper's Heroes

Author here again. Still no Beta for this story so you are getting raw versions of each chapter. I read through it several times before uploading but there will always be something that’s missed so I’m sorry.
I think with each chapter I’ll cut between Riku and Sora just to avoid confusion, unless I do two Riku chapters in a row. I have a lot more planned for him. So this is a Riku chapter for sure. Besides, things are starting to heat up between him and Hosep. *evil laugh*

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Riku sighed, drawing his knees closer to his chest in an attempt to keep warm. It was doomed to fail though, as he would only receive his wish if a retreat was sounded or the rain let up. Neither one was looking to be at all likely right now. He huddled in the dark, watching it fall in the broken city. At least we have a shelter. The half of a house they took sanctuary in had most of its roof intact, allowing them someone place that was at least dry. It was wood and thatch like all the others, only one story with a basement and no one inside. Hosep shifted next to him on his left side, pressing closer before finally one arm snaked out to grab Riku around the shoulders.

“It won’t be much longer,” the scout whispered to him as he glared at the dark. Riku nodded, feeling numb from more than just the cold rain as they waited for a patrol to pass. It was now into his fifth month on this world with still no idea of how to get home. They had made progress against the Heartless but it was slow work as it seemed even nature itself did not want them to be victorious.

The 9th squad, along with five through eight, had launched an attack on the city. 9th got ahead of everyone else and was split from the main group and then further split with orders from Tik’va. Now Riku and Hosep were on their own, having had no contact with anyone else for a week. Heartless were all over the place and just the two of them didn’t stand much chance against the overwhelming numbers. Speaking of numbers, heavy thudding steps made them both freeze, wide eyes alert for danger.

A largebody Heartless shambled by, followed by a handful of neo shadows and solider Heartless. Riku didn’t even dare to breathe as they came within arm’s reach of their hiding spot. Their armor was useless with so many Heartless around, having run out of power two days ago. But the group did not stop. They continued on without even investigating the area. Once they were beyond earshot, the pair relaxed, slumping against each other once more.

“Ready to move on?” Riku asked. Red eyes met his before moving to stare at the floor, their owner thinking carefully. After several agonizing minutes, Hosep nodded, rising first to help Riku to his feet. With numb legs he tried and stumbled, falling against the lieutenant’s chest. “S-sorry,” he stuttered, as warm arms helped him regain his balance. “Sorry,” he repeated, feeling foolish as he looked at Hosep who had the two-inch height advantage.

Before he could blink, Riku was swept up in a mind blowing kiss, his mouth gaping open on its own to allow Hosep’s invading tongue to destroy what few thoughts he had. It was gentle and inquisitive. And despite having been on half rations for days now, it tasted like coffee and nutmeg. He could feel it running over his teeth and the roof of his mouth, mapping out every crevice in his maw as a surprisingly amiable hand cradled the back of his skull. Just as suddenly as it came, it was over, leaving his head spinning as he gasped to fill his deprived lungs.

“No worries. Come,” Hosep commanded with a smirk, leading the way out of the house with a firm grip on one of Riku’s gloved hands. Now granted they had become close in the five months that Riku had been there. And with war, you get to know people really well, really quickly. But this . . . He followed without finishing that thought, falling into old patterns and habits as they skulked around the city in hopes of escaping. If they weren’t in such a dangerous situation he would have actually dwelled on what had just transpired. No time to think about it now. We have to get out of here alive first. Not that he didn’t want to dwell on it but . . . damn!

They headed south, following the path that the Heartless had just taken. Their boots skidded slightly over the rain washed cobbles as they dashed through open areas and ducked from one piece of cover to the next. Soon they were finding more and more bodies as they moved, showing they were traveling in the correct direction. A few survivors did show up, joining them without a word. Some were from ninth, some not. It didn’t matter though. They were all in this together and all had reports to give. Provided we still have someone to report to. Riku thought grimly.

Even as his thoughts kept drifting back to that kiss, Riku stayed focused on their escape. They had a few close calls with Heartless patrols. All of them wanted nothing more than to jump into the fray but with only a dozen of them and no idea were more Heartless would come from, it remained their best interest to stay hidden.

That became more and more laborious as patrols tightened and grew more numerous. Soon they were back to hiding in crumbling buildings as the main gates mocked them from only a few yards away. Even as one hand fell to his sword hit, Riku’s other was just itching to summon his keyblade. It would be nice and give me an edge but it also acts like a beacon so I think the suicide is out. But it was still tempting.

A tap on his shoulder and a hand signaled ‘Any ideas?’ derailed his thoughts as he considered the question from one of the survivors they had found. He did have his suicide idea but it wouldn’t help them much in the end. He shook his head forlornly as the solider moved on to ask others the same.

‘You lie.’ Flashed a hand in his face. Riku turned to find Hosep was glaring at him. ‘You have an idea. Bad though?’ he queried, tilting his head slightly.

Riku nodded, drawing a key in the grime on the floor. ‘Bad idea but could distract.’ He pointed to the key to explain his idea. ‘Worth risk?’ he replied, making sure that it was clearly a question and not a statement at the end.

‘No!’ was the instantaneous violent reply from his red eyed companion. ‘Not worth risking you!’

‘But advantage - ’ Riku began, narrowing his eyes as he tried to get Hosep to at least consider the idea.

‘NO!’ Suddenly hands were on his face, pulling him forward. He opened his mouth to voice an objection only to have it full of dueling tongue that stole his thoughts once more. The last kiss had been cautions and mild and rather exploratory. This one was demanding and forceful. If they hadn’t already been sitting on his knees, Riku would have been driven to them from the energy behind it. The silver haired boy felt his hands acting on their own accord to grasp at the scout’s hair, holding him close to extend the sensations that were exploding through his nerves.

After what felt like forever but not nearly long enough, Hosep pulled back, eyes slightly glazed. “No. I will not let you take that risk,” he whispered. They stared at each other for a time, the others in the room shifting awkwardly.

“But it is my risk to take.” Realization dawned in Hosep’s eyes but not soon enough. Riku slammed the hilt of his keyblade into Hosep’s head, stunning him long enough for the keyblade wielder to break free and leap into the open street. “Run for the gate!” he screamed at his companions, slicing Heartless into vapor as they surged after him. “Come on!”

Way to the Dawn made quick work of the Heartless that were swarming around him with every blow at killing strength. He had missed using the keyblade in battle. The balance was perfect. The weight was almost nothing. If he dropped it, he could summon it back. He had only refused using it before because of the way it acted like a beacon. But now with caution and good sense being thrown to the wind it was the only weapon he could ever want.

A few Dark Balls appeared behind him with their head splitting grins as they zigzagged around the air. Riku only smirked as his comrades finished passing through the gate. He reached inside himself, drawing out the powers of darkness that Ansem had left for him years ago.

Only those powers weren’t there anymore.

He gasped, spinning out of the way of a neo shadow. This can not be happening! Why is it gone? He dodged again, thrusting his keyblade into dark flesh that would never bleed. There has to be a reason for this! Another Heartless fell to his keyblade. Well, if he couldn’t call on dark powers than he had to get the hell out of there and fast! He tried to work his way to the gates but there were simply too many.

Pain exploded on his back as a soldier’s claws found purchase in his flesh through his armor. He bit back a scream as he spun to take its non-life. He could feel the blood flowing free but he could not stop. Shouts in the distance did not distract him from the fight as he continued on. But his energy could only last so long and with his wound bleeding unchecked he knew it was only a matter of time.

Sora, Kairi, everyone: I’m sorry. I tried. He raised Way to the Dawn and charged.

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“We need a medic! Now!” People rushed forward. Some screamed for medical supplies while others for a commanding officer. Other still screamed for people to stay back and make some room. Those that were calling for a medic placed their cargo down on an empty surgery table within the healer’s tent. Layla came forward, finishing her hasty ponytail as she did so, waving at him to give his report as a pair of assistants began the work of cleaning him up. “We found him during the second assault. He’s got four lacerations down the full of his back, a broken arm, a few cracked ribs, and bruises everywhere.”

There was no telling how long he had been out there. But from the injuries and the sheer amount of mud that caked his body from head to toe, it had been a while. Layla got to work right away, barking orders as her assistants as she worked her magic, literally. Infection was her primary concern as liquid emerald green healing magic flowed from her hands to the appointed spots. She didn’t dare roll him to get a better look at his back over due to his ribs. But that was where she started, sending her magic to clean the wounds, seal them, and then repair the damage underneath.

She pulled back, examining her work carefully. She was surprised that the ones that found him could even tell his gender. She could out of experience, but she couldn’t tell what hair color he had, and his eyes were both terribly swollen, eliminating that piece of evidence that could lead to an ID as well.

“You are one hell of a mess,” she muttered as she brushed her maroon hair from her face. It was hard work to force a body to heal at faster than normal rates. But she didn’t have time to contemplate that as the chief medical officer moved on to his ribs. He was having trouble breathing, his breaths quick and shallow. A quick scan of his lungs though showed they weren’t punctured, bleeding, or collapsed so it had to be just from pain.

Tik’va had entered as she worked but wasn’t saying anything. The Captain of the 9th squad leaned against a tent post out of the way. Hosep was behind her, confined to a bed just as he had been for the last three days since his return. He had been carried here by other survivors that escaped the city with a lump on his head. When he came to, he was screaming to be allowed back to look for Riku, fighting anyone that tried to stop him to the point he was sedated. Even now he was still slightly drugged as he had fought them for a good half-hour before a healer forced more calming draughts down his throat.

And his blight . . . well at the rate it was now spreading Hosep was down to months if he was lucky. It was more likely to be weeks with the way he wouldn’t keep still and off the battlefield. And with Riku among the assumed dead, her squad was dropping like flies.

A full third of her force was either dead or missing and reinforcements were still a week behind them. Fifth through eighth were in the same shape but still had far more people that she. The second attack they launched early this morning was only because fourth squad, numbering over 200 soldiers and support crew, had arrived last night and provided enough people to fill in the gaps.

She sighed, dropping her head into her hands. She hadn’t slept much in the three days since Hosep and the others returned. She had been too busy making arrangements for funerals, informing family members that one of their own had died, ensuring new supplies were en route and that those routes were secure, it all had to be done. A moan from the surgery table interrupted her thoughts.

“Can you hear me?” Layla was asking him, conjuring a light to see how his eyes would react and if he could follow it. He had nodded as Tik’va stepped forward to hear what he had to say. “Can you follow the light for me?” His head moved slightly from side to side as he did so. “Can you tell me your name and squad?” It took him a few tries to answer before someone fetched him some water. He drank gratefully and let it be taken away before finally speaking words.

“Riku of 9th squad under Tik’va of the Vesper Hawks.” People smiled all around, glad to have found one of their own. The captain moved to stand by his head within his line of sight. She smiled and kissed him on the forehead despite the blood and grit on his skin.

“Welcome back solider. I expect a full report when you’re up to it,” she informed him, smiling all the while. Riku gave a weak chuckle and nodded before slipping into unconsciousness once again. She smoothed back his matted hair as she gave orders. “Finish up, get him clean and put him next to Hosep. Also, send a message to the sergeant that we have another name to take off the MIA list.”

Layla snapped off a sarcastic salute as her commanding officer took leave of the healer’s tent to finish her work. “You heard her guys: Let’s get him clean, warm, and intact again. When we are done I want someone on watch until he wakes up again.” Nods were gifted to her over spoken replies and they set to work once more.


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He didn’t want to open his eyes but he was awake. He shifted instead in hopes of having dreams claim him once more. The sand under his body complied and . . . wait . . . sand?

Riku sat bolt upright, staring wide-eyed at what was around him.

“I’m home?” He could be. He was on the Play Island he and his friends always hung out at. Behind him were the small waterfall and the secret place. The docks were on his right. Left would take him to the paopu tree.

But no birds cried out. No insects made any noise. The ocean did not move. There was no wind to stir his hair around his face. The sun, while keeping him warm didn’t feel right.

“Where am I?” He rose to his feet, surprised to see he was back in his original clothes. His hair was back down to his shoulder blades despite being cut just a few weeks prior. The last thing I remember was talking to Tik’va in the medic wing of the base. How the hell did I get here? He started turning in a slow circle as Way to the Dawn was summoned into his hand. “Something is very wrong here.”

“Quite the contrary Riku. Actually things are finally going right,” He spun sharply to face who ever spoke only to feel his arms drooping.

“Sora?” Was it really Sora? He didn’t think so. Sora would never talk like that. But could it still be . . .

“Sorry but I’m not Sora.” Guess not. The clone just smiled warmly, not moving forward. It was dressed like Sora, from the insane hair to the zippered shoes. The stance was all wrong for Riku’s old friend though. It didn’t have any of Sora’s energy or excitability. It was too relaxed. He glared, raising his keyblade once again.

“If you aren’t Sora than who the hell are you?” Riku snarled. “And where are we?” The clone smiled like a mother would, giving a mocking bow.

“I am Kingdom Hearts. And this,” It gestured to all that surrounded them. “This is all inside your head.”