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The Institution (title pending)	By : ninvamphelia Category: Kingdom Hearts > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 1178 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: We do not own the Kingdom Hearts series or the characters mentioned in this fiction. We do not intend to profit from this story.

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“...Leave a message and I'll get back to you."

Beeep

“Uh, h-hey, Mom! Hi…” Sora’s eyes were red and puffy as he disguised the shakiness in his voice. It hurt repressing his emotions and he broke down the second he entered his empty house. He couldn’t let his family see him like this, not when he was the only thing holding them together.

But he needed to hear someone familiar. Someone who knew.

“I just…” he began as his eyes drifted to the small table next to the couch he sat on. It was a picture of him, Roxas, and Kairi. He and the girl looked happy, but Roxas was his usual, dismal self.

Sora wasn’t stupid.

“…I just wanted to see how you were doing.” But he couldn’t bring up what happened. He knew his mother treated Kairi like one of her own and she already had enough on her mind. “So call back. …Please…We miss you.”

By the end of the sentence his ruse slipped. He hung up, hoping that his cracking voice didn’t get caught in the recording. He looked at his phone again. More texts from Riku begging for his forgiveness. He clenched hard onto the device before chucking it at the other side of the room. He slumped forward until his elbows were on his knees and face was buried in his hands. His eyes stung. Why was this day taking so long to end? He just wanted to sleep and go to class as if everything was normal.

But he knew better, deep down.

He heard his phone buzz again but pretended he couldn’t hear it. He didn’t want to face reality, not yet. It hurt too much

Buzz buzz…

Sora was going to kill that boy. He slid off the couch and went to where his phone landed. It was still in one piece, thank goodness. As he prepared to turn off the phone, he squinted at the newest message’s preview:

Just thought u’d know.

Sora pressed on the screen to see what Riku was talking about.

Kairi’s being mentioned on the news.

Channel 7.

Just thought u’d know.

Kairi…

Sora couldn’t avoid it. It would sneak up on him eventually, and he’d rather have more control than that. He turned on the television, which was a foot away from where his phone was, before sitting back down. It was stuck on the cooking channel until Sora dug up the remote　from between the cushions. He pressed the number of the channel Riku mentioned. There was a business suit-clad woman with a microphone standing in front of Kairi’s house, which was still surrounded by caution tape and sirens.

“-ri Hoshiko was found dead this morning inside her home. Her head and left arm were severed, though an autopsy report revealed that the arm’s removal was post mortem. Investigators concluded it was the work of a Reaper, a member of an infamous group that has been terrorizing the city since 2008. There was uncertainty due to the lack of the Reapers’ modus operandi, as the head was left behind, but the cut on her neck was a perfect match with the other victims’. Friends and loved ones were devastated as…”

The Reapers, huh… Sora sighed heavily. Now any lingering doubts he had were put to rest. Roxas didn’t need yet another reason to be ostracized so hopefully a decent amount of schoolmates found out the truth.

His phone began buzzing again, this time alerting Sora to a phone call. He saw it was Riku and he reluctantly answered it.

“I’m sorry. After everything that’s happened, I wasn’t thinking and...I shouldn’t have accused Roxas like that,” Riku said. Sora could tell he was struggling with the apology, but at least he was trying.

“He’s my brother, Riku. I don’t know if I can forgive you for this.”

“...Yeah, I know.”

The news broadcast’s trademark jingle played while an announcer said “This has been Channel 7 news at seven!”. Sora briefly thought of how stupid it was that some channels would use that method to make time slots easier to remember.

Wait...It was seven?

“Hello?” Riku said when Sora didn’t say a word for a while.

“...I’ll see you in class.”

Sora hung up and stared at the phone. Yup, it was around 7 pm. How did he not notice before? Roxas was at the internship for over half a day. He called his brother’s phone and waited in vain for it to ring. The battery was dead...Oh God. Sora hopped off the couch and grabbed his coat.

He thought Roxas would be safe. They said he would be safe!

~~~

A rustling from the living room stole Eight's attention from the bubbling stew on the stove. He grinned and put aside his wooden spoon, crossing rooms to find Roxas sitting up on the couch. The bow was looking down at himself with a blank expression.

"Good morning, or rather, night, blondie!" Eight sung in a Disney-on-crack sort of way. Roxas didn't budge. Not even a twitch. Eight frowned, boredom suddenly looming. He sighed and crossed his arms with a little pout.

"Come ooon, don't just sit there! It's like you're already dead and there's no fun in playing with a rotten corpse."

Still nothing. Anger rose quickly inside him and he raised his hand to smack the boy when a crackling noise came from the kitchen.

"Oh, food! Of course!" he chimed, prancing off to the kitchen.

Multitasking was not his best asset but he couldn't keep his eyes off the boy, who'd seemed to show a little life at the mention of food. Eight continuously spilled hot stew down himself, but it didn't seem to affect him, though the scorching heat and bright red blemishes all over his hands, arms and chest should have been alarming. Eventually he succeeded in filling a bowl and not his clothes and rushed into the living room.

"Here. Eat,” he ordered. Roxas didn't move. "Oh, what's the problem now?"

He then realized he hadn't brought the boy a spoon.

"What, you too good to eat with your hand?" Eight teased. When Roxas slowly brought his hand up and over the stew, the Reaper’s eyes sparkled with joy.

He's such a masochist... He practically swooned in his mind. But for a reason he couldn't find himself, he stopped the blond and put his arm aside. Not yet. Eight left and returned with a spoon, handing it off to the blond who quickly dug into the stew. Eight sat across from him and watched as the color slowly returned to his face and he grew more and more ravenous with each bite.

"Wow, you were hungry!" Eight laughed. Roxas didn't bother to acknowledge him, and he didn't mind. He enjoyed watching the boy seemingly return to life. He'd watched tons of people lose their lives, so watching someone return to life was intriguing.

"Eight!" a voice cried from behind the front door, followed by a rhythmic pounding. Eight sighed dramatically and opened the door to a very pissy Four. The scientist pushed past the redhead and made a beeline for Roxas, who had just finished his stew. Four took hold of Roxas' wrist and pulled him up to stand. The boy did so without a struggle, though he relied on Four to keep on his feet.

"This boy was to be in my lab two hours ago, you idiot! Why is he holed up in your shitty little cave?" said Four. Eight rolled his eyes.

"Your apartment and mine look identical, I'll remind you... Anyway, he's here because I doubt you'd want a dead kid to poke and prod."

"You forgot, didn't you," Four stated more than asked. Eight had a sheepish look on his face and rubbed his arm.

"Well I got hungry..."

"You idiot." Four scoffed before pushing past Eight to leave. Roxas, having not completely recovered yet, crumbled under the first step. Four stopped, but contemplated dragging the blond behind him.

"Carry him," he spat to Eight.

"Do I look like your bitch?"

"Yes. Do it or I'm telling the Boss about this."

"Go ahead! He doesn't care about this kid either." Eight laughed.

The two of them shared a glare which would send a chill down any normal human's spine. Four broke first, however. The insanity in the redhead's gaze was just too much.

"Just do it!" Four finally snapped. Eight laughed at his irritation but picked the boy up regardless.

"So what do you want him for, anyway?" he asked as he followed Four back to his lab.

"Studies. Nothing you'd understand."

"I probably would, if you'd drop the creepy scientist act and explain..."

"You're not here for talk, you're here for grunt work!"

A thud sounded behind Four, then the soft padding of steps. He turned around to see the boy abandoned like a rag doll on the floor, and Eight walking away.

"H-Hey! HEY! Get back here you idiot and pick him up! Do not damage the specimen more than you already have!"

Eight didn't even flinch.

"Damn you!" Four screeched before bending down and grabbing the boy's wrist. He pulled Roxas to his feet and placed his arm around his shoulders, helping him walk the rest of the way to his lab. It was a slow, stumbling walk, but they eventually made it. Four quickly strapped the boy up to some sort of operating table, which he turned upright.

“Now, you’re going to feel some pain for a while,” he explained to the subject, “but once the anesthetic kick in you won’t feel a thing. You’ll be awake, but it doesn’t seem like that will matter at this point. You don’t seem very lively as is.”

Four started pulling over random cords and needles, sticking them in Roxas’ forearms, neck, and chest. He contemplated stabbing one directly into his frontal lobe, but thought better of it. He’d need the boy more alert to read his emotions and personality.

“We’ll wait a few minutes before starting this up. Let the drugs kick in. I don’t want you screaming and causing those idiots to come down here snooping around.” Four turned the table back to it’s original position and rubbed an amber brown substance on Roxas’ stomach. It tingled deep in his muscles. “A little extra wouldn’t hurt, either.”

A few moments more pass and Four returned to Roxas’ side with a large scalpel and long surgical gloves. His face is covered with a white mask and laboratory glasses.

“Shall we begin?” He asked, the smirk on his face visible without the mask being removed.

The scientist was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. Before he could turn his head and shout that he was busy, the visitor came inside. Four slammed the scalpel on the instrument table next to him, causing the other tools to clank. He stopped himself just before lecturing the Boss, who was still in his suit.

“One, sir! T...To what do I owe this pleasure?” asked Four, knowing that the Boss never ventured into the lab without reason.

“Roxas’ brother is here to pick him up.”

Roxas could hear the conversation. He lifted his head as much as the restraints would allow before falling back onto the table.

“Wh-now? But I-” Four began.

“Yes, now. We cannot allow him to suspect anything. He already seems to be on edge. We’ll give him what he wants for now.”

The corner of Four’s mouth twitched. What were the chances of him seeing his subject again? All he could hope for was the barely-conscious boy to think this was all a dream.

“...Yes, sir,” the scientist said as he unbuckled the straps. Even after Roxas was freed, he didn’t move. One hovered over him and gave him a few pinches and slaps to the face. Roxas needed to be awake long enough to be taken out of their hands. He had to be guided back to the entrance by the Boss. He was stared at and talked about, which was nothing new that day, but the people seemed...different from before. Even the secretary gave him a disturbing smile as he passed her. At the front of the building stood a fidgety Sora.

“Oh thank God, you’re okay! I was so worried!”

One transferred the near-lifeless body to Sora. The brother’s suspicious gaze forced Four to assure that Roxas was still alive, just tired. Sora didn’t care for the details as long as they were as far away from the place as possible.

Sora and Roxas took the last running buses back to their house. Roxas was asleep through the whole trip, giving Sora little choice but to drag him around whenever they were on foot. Once they were home, Sora placed Roxas upright on the couch as gently as he could before plopping next to him. He sighed, leaning his head back.

“Roxas, I...” Sora began but wasn’t sure what to say. He pushed his hair back and waited in silence for his thoughts to come together. “I know you’ve had a rough couple of days. I was just...hoping things would get better.”

Roxas shook his head. He was still recovering but could hear his brother just fine. He didn’t want Sora to take all of the blame. He didn’t understand what was so important about this scam of an internship, but at least he knew that he wasn’t being abandoned.

He couldn’t help but wonder, though…

The red-haired man who was kind one minute and threatening the next...There was something about him...

~~~

Once the sun rose, Axel regained control. He had ‘awoken’ in bed, smelling the stew Eight cooked and Lord knows what else his other half did. He turned to his nightstand, opened the drawer, and grabbed a carton of cigarettes from a seemingly endless supply. While reaching, he noticed pale patches of skin on his hand and sighed, knowing of Eight's carelessness. Axel then searched for his lighter, scanning his immediate surroundings and patting the cloak Eight neglected to take off. He eventually found it buried in his bedsheets. He’d have to talk to Eight about that later, but his head was hurting too much to make a fuss. He stretched, exposing his armpits which harshly reminded him that he hadn’t showered in a few days. His smoking would have to wait…

The sun was still rising so Axel had first dibs on the hot water. He stayed under the water long after scrubbing the dirt and dead skin away, enjoying the solitude. Despite having his own office and bedroom, there was hardly any privacy in the Institution. He stood there, brushing back his hair and closing his eyes. He sighed. He couldn’t remember what happened after rescuing the Roxas kid and knew he was going to face the wrath of Vexen the second he left his room. If not him, then it would be the Boss...

At least the shower was comforting. It was right next to his coworker’s living room. The walls were thin, so Axel only had to place his ear on the tiles and listen.

“Hmm…”

There was music playing. No particular song, so the coworker must have been tuning his instrument.

“So sweet,” he said. “The sounds you make when I touch you...When I stroke you here” -he strums another tune- “you make such a naughty sound.”

Axel sighed again, but for a different reason. He pressed his hands onto the shower wall and closed his eyes.

“SiSi…” the neighbor moaned. “You love when I twist and pull on these, don’t you...When I touch those pretty curves of yours...Sing for me, baby…”

He started playing again, emitting a lovely, gentle sound into Axel’s ears. As Axel listened he imagined his coworker’s slender fingers pluck the strings of his sitar, sliding his opposite hand up and down the neck. He imagined the peaceful yet concentrated expression that the coworker was no doubt showing, with his legs kicked up onto his desk. Axel loved when his neighbor did this, but couldn’t quite figure out why. It made him feel...warm. Wanting. Before these thoughts completely clouded his mind, Axel knocked on the wall, causing the music to stop. As he exited the shower and grabbed a towel, he was visited by the neighbor.

“Mornin’, Demyx,” Axel said while patting his hair with the towel. Demyx had his sitar strapped to his back, as usual.

“Hey. Got my headphones?”

“Yeah, sorry, they’re on my dresser. Eight’s been trying to hide them, haha.” the redhead began moving the towel down, drying himself off. Demyx waved away the comment while entering Axel’s bedroom.

“...Eight took over earlier than usual.”

“You really need to put a leash on him...” Demyx resurfaced with his possession resting on his neck. He had Axel’s cigarettes and lighter in hand.

“Gosh, are you worried?” Axel asked sheepishly. “I’m fine. I just didn’t have time to smoke, that’s all.”

“Hm...”

Demyx didn’t seem convinced. Axel wrapped the towel around his waist and leaned in to kiss Demyx.

“I’m fine,” he said again after pulling away.

“Yeah...Yeah, okay. It’s just...” Demyx rubbed the top of his mullet, somehow making it messier. “...Okay. I won’t pry. I know you don’t like that.”

“Oh, it just shows that you care. I don’t mind terribly.” Axel walked to his clothes drawer and opened it. There wasn’t much variety in his wardrobe since he didn’t leave the Institution much. “So I met the kid Boss hired.”

“Roxas, right?” Demyx said, getting a nod from Axel. “I swear I’ve heard that name somewhere before.”

“You’re not the only one. I’m pretty sure everyone’s scratching their heads over it.”

“Not everyone...That snake knows more than he’s letting on.”

“When doesn’t he?” Axel sighed. “Speaking of...Guess we should get going.”

Axel dressed in a button-down shirt and slacks. He didn’t forget to grab the cigarettes and lighter from Demyx and stuffing them in his back pockets. In the process, he took note that Demyx was, once again, not wearing shoes. The sitarist was going to hear about it later…

The couple went up from the basement and down the long hallway. There was a line of sleepy-eyed employees in front of Vexen’s office. One by one, they dragged themselves to their workplaces while rolling down their sleeves or rubbing their arms.

“Next!” Vexen called irritatingly, followed by the line shortening. Demyx said good morning to anyone nearby, but Axel kept staring at the floor or wall or anything that wasn’t a person. They kept their distance from each other, not quite ready to break the news to their coworkers/neighbors. Once it was Axel's turn, he took a breath and went inside.

He had grown used to the below-freezing temperature and assortment of disturbing sculptures. Some from his previous visit must have melted since there were larger ones in their stead.

“I’m getting older by the minute, Hachi, move it!” Vexen snapped after noticing he lost Axel’s attention again. Axel quickly made his way to the stool next to Demyx’s desk, which had a (hopefully) cleaned syringe on top of it. Vexen already had the time to fill it with the strange liquid the Institution became dependent on the past few months. The crazed scientist never told them what it was for or what it did, but surely the Boss knew about it by now and wouldn’t put his employees in any danger.

...Right?

“That Reaper of yours is becoming a real hindrance. You need to control him,” said Vexen while pushing the needle into Axel’s exposed arm.

“Don’t you think I’ve tried?” Axel stated, a twinge of irritation in his voice. Vexen sucked his teeth, pressing the plunger harder than he should have. Axel winced when the liquid entered his bloodstream. Vexen removed the needle, first from Axel and then from the syringe itself to prepare for his next patient.

“Don’t be a smartass,” Vexen said to Axel’s back as the redhead left the room. Axel, usually not one to take Eight’s side, held in a chuckle.

Eight, in his mind, did it instead.
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The Institution (title pending)