Strange and Stranger - For Raina

[small_reservations]

Missions, always missions. Go scout a new world, they said, and ignored him when he pointed out Demyx might be better for the job. Well, he can tell when someone wants him out of their hair, at least, even though it makes him more curious than ever. Regardless, he ends up on the scouting job. You don't turn down someone who can take away your identity when that's all you have left.

So he's in a new world, now, walking in a forest. If that were all the world consisted of, he wouldn't be worried, but there're lights in the distance, sometimes visible between the trees. As he approaches, there's a rustle in the bushes nearby.

Axel's had his chakrams out a while, but now he readies them. "Who's there?" Hopefully it's just a squirrel or a deer.

Comments

[theweirdo]

It's a very different type of small animal: a young girl.

Eleven has been stumbling through the brush for... she isn't sure how long now, terrified, mindlessly pushing forward and away from what and who hurt her; she fumbles out of the bushes headlong, and nearly runs into the newcomer before she can catch herself.

When she does, she freezes, staring up at him with very real fear in her eyes. She's so small, her frame so tiny next to his lanky shape, clad in a dirty hospital gown that clings to her from where rain has soaked it, her feet bare and head shaved.

She stares up at him with round, dark eyes, her breathing ragged, taking a half-step back.

[small_reservations]

Well, shit.

He's not supposed to interact with locals, but he can't exactly avoid this confrontation. He at least lowers his razor-edged weapons; he's not about to cut down an unarmed girl without orders, it wouldn't even be entertaining. But he doesn't move otherwise, just stares. At least at first.

His hood's down - Xemnas can bite him, he's not wearing it up all the time - and he's kicking himself a little. She's seen his face. This can't be good.

Then he hears more sounds, louder, heavier, coming from behind her. Ah. She's being pursued. Well, this just got harder. Now it's an ethical dilemma. He can't be seen, but if they sweep the forest, he likely will be. But then again...

... She's terrified. He's not empathetic in the slightest, but he can tell that much. It'd be wrong to leave her here, and more than that... Maybe he'll be entertained after all. "C'mon. Let's get out of here."

[theweirdo]

She remains frozen where she is, staring, doe-eyed, at him-- until the sounds of her persuers becomes too close for her to ignore. She takes a step back... and then glances over her shoulder at whoever is chasing her.

And then she bolts, not looking to see if Axel is coming along or not-- though it backfires quickly as her foot catches in a root, sending her tumbling to the ground.

[small_reservations]

Almost immediately, Axel descends upon her in a swoosh of black fabric, and... palpates her ankle and foot? His hands wrap around her ankle as he feels her foot, very gently and gingerly. "I don't think it's broken, but I wouldn't walk on it. I guess we're piggybacking."

If she lets him, he'll swing her up onto his back, and start running. This is definitely interesting, he'll give it that.

[theweirdo]

She's too tired and frightened to really fight it much, and instinctively clings to him, much more like a terrified animal than anything else.

[small_reservations]

The only problem with this situation is that he can't dark corridor out of the forest with her here. The sooner he gets away, the better. So he runs, using his long legs to his advantage.

The pursuit has slowed, as well. He's not sure why, but there're loud noises behind them, and they're not the sounds of pursuit so much as combat. Well, whatever; they can use this to their advantage, too. Faster and a good head-start. Both good things. He grins to himself, and picks up the pace.

[theweirdo]

Eleven... after a few seconds, she realizes all at once that she doesn't know this adult, doesn't know where she's going, and she panics, suddenly moving, trying to get down off of him, whimpering wordlessly.

No...!

[small_reservations]

When she releases his throat and whimpers, that's enough of a red flag that he stops, taking a couple yards to slow down, and sets her down before turning to face her.

"You ok? Hungry? Hurt?" He's not sure she understands him. If she runs off, he won't begrudge her that, but he's not sure it's safe to.

[theweirdo]

She stumbles back away from him, falling again, her injured foot dropping her right back into the dirt. She tries to pick herself up, trembling visibly, but...

He's scary, but they're scary, too. At least he was taking her away from there. Right?

She pauses to stare up at him, almost questioningly, as if asking for a reason she should trust him.

[small_reservations]

He sees her stagger, and sighs. That's kind of his fault there. If he hadn't scared her earlier, she may have been able to watch her step.

He bends down, crouching so he's not towering over her, and pulls a squished roll of bandages from his coat pocket. Sometimes he manages healing spells, but he's not sure that'd be appropriate here, so he's going old-school with this.

"I'm going to wrap your ankle. Is that ok?"

[theweirdo]

Wrap...? She takes a second to process that. He's holding bandages. He wants to...

... help her...?

She stops her struggles to get back on her feet, still staring warily up at him-- but... she slowly inclines her head. Her body is still wound tight, ready, prepared to spring away at a moment's notice (or to try to, at least,) but she does try to relax a bit, allowing him to touch her.

[small_reservations]

Once more he lifts her foot in his hands. "Hold it up here if you can." He then begins to wrap, nice and snug, as good a compression bandage as he can manage with plain gauze. Only once that's done does he stand again.

"I think you're probably good to stand up now, if you like." He tries to smile, but it comes out a little strained. "We've got to keep moving. If we split up, they're more likely to find at least one of us, or we can put all our eggs in one basket and stick together."

[theweirdo]

She sits there silently, letting him wrap her foot; he's being... nice to her. Even though he doesn't have to, and she doesn't know who he is. Maybe... he's okay.

While she doesn't quite return that smile, she does, again, incline her head, just slightly. Her expression is more steady and even, less like a cornered mouse now, though she is still on edge. She picks herself up carefully, slowly, and shifts her weight on her feet; it still hurts, but... she can put her weight on it now.

She sighs, her eyes closing for just a second... and then she, again, inclines her head. She steps closer to Axel; she's ready to go.

[small_reservations]

That's a good start, and Axel grins more broadly. He's ready to keep going as well.

"Walk or ride?" He crouches down so she can climb on his back if she wants to.

[theweirdo]

... she glances back, listening; she can hear them approaching, more quickly now. She looks down at her foot, shifting it slightly.

Finally, she looks back at Axel, and she moves over closer, reaching up to try and climb onto him carefully, unsure.

[small_reservations]

"Arms around my neck or on my shoulders." He helps her arrange her arms as he speaks, and then slides his own behind her legs. A piggyback is a very efficient way of carrying someone.

Even if it leaves her back exposed. And butt kinda hanging.

[theweirdo]

She does as he instructs, looping her arms around her neck, and lets him lift her. She doesn't feel the most secure, but... well. She lays heavily against against his back, her slight weight pushing against him fearfully.

[small_reservations]

As soon as she's secure, or as secure as she's going to get, he starts running again. He won't be able to keep this up forever, but he's got decent stamina.

He runs, and runs. The forest would be easy to get turned around in were it not for the people pursuing them. Instead, it's just difficult to navigate, not impossible.