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missingmywing · 9 months

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Borrowing @strangefellows ’s and @redbud-tree’s keykids for this one, Jas and Cherry!

Day 2 of @khoc-week: Friendship!

For a… given definition of the word.

Even with the war in full swing and the Dandelions gone, the daily rote process of lux gathering was something everyone did - even those of them staying as neutral as possible. If nothing else, it powered up their medals and helped them keep somewhat grounded.

Etheria had finished up for the day, but hung around the streets around her favorite fountain plaza, unable to shake the feeling that something was going to happen. An itch beneath her skin that she got sometimes before something bad happened.

The scream that broke the tense silence validated the feeling and she was running almost as soon as it echoed out.

She skidded around the corner and stumbled to a stop at the sight of a small girl with bright pink hair struggling to free herself from the web of a Savage Spider, who was slowly moving towards her with gleaming eyes.

A younger wielder unfamiliar with the heartless had probably broken and egg and summoned the raid boss accidentally, and found herself far out of her league.

Etheria swore beneath her breath and threw herself forward, activating a medal to stun the heartless with a flare of light and heal the other girl. She slashed through the strands of web wrapped around the girl and caught her, leaping back out of immediate range of the heartless or its underlings.

The girl was squirming in her arms, trying to get herself free from the web, and Etheria set her down to help cut the web away. “You need to go-”

“No way!” The girl interrupted, scambling to her feet with a scowl as she summoned her keyblade. “I just managed to summon it! I’m gonna kill it and get all the lux!”

… so not an accident.

“You can’t beat a raid boss all by yourself at your level-” Her keyblade wasn’t even fully upgraded-

“Oh yeah? Watch me!”

“Wait no-”

The girl darted around Etheria, nimbly avoiding her attempt to grab her, and threw herself back at the spider. “You think I’m scared of you, you big ugly creepy? Think again!”

To her credit, she did manage to destroy one of the smaller spiders with a few good hits and a well timed medal activation. But that just made the big one angry, and Etheria barely managed to grab the girl and yank her back in time to avoid a hit.

“Okay, compromise,” Etheria said, arm firmly around the flailing girl’s waist. “You’re going to get yourself killed if you keep flailing around without a plan. If you refuse to run and desperately want to fight it, I’ll help you. But you have to listen, alright? Otherwise you’ll just get us both killed.”

The girl twisted around to scowl up at her, trying to get a good angle to elbow her in the stomach. “I didn’t ask for your help! I’m gonna kill it all by myself! That’ll show Jas that I can take care of myself so he’ll stop nagging all the time!”

Oh, so that’s how it was.

“You can’t prove anything if you’re dead,” Etheria argued, struggling to keep a grip on her. “And you’re not strong enough to fight that thing, no matter how much you want to-”

“Yes I can, put me down!”

Etheria cursed as the girl finally managed to twist around to jab her with a sharp little elbow and escape her grasp. She scrambled after her as the girl leapt at the spider with another screech.

Said screech was cut off with a grunt as the spider lunged at her to attack and a dark shape burst from a nearby alley to grab the small girl and deflect the spider’s manacles. Etheria sent a burst of fire at the smaller ones to fend them off while the new figure made a retreat.

Keeping a wary eye on the giant spider and it’s underling - now down to one after her fireball - she walked over to where the figure had consolidated itself into a boy a couple of years older than her and was growling at the girl in his arms.

“What were y’thinkin’, runnin’ off on your own and tryin’ to take down a godsforsaken raid boss all by yourself-”

The girl was squirming and struggling with a fierce pout. “I can do it! I told you I can, and I can! Lemme go Jas-”

“As if, you’re gonna stay right th’ hell here, Cherry.”

The high pitch of the obnoxious whine she let out in response made Etheria wince. “If you want to take her and get away, I can deal with the spider.”

The boy glanced over with a frown, shaking his head sharply. “Nah, ‘m not gonna do that t’you. No need for you t’clean up our mess just ‘cause someone,” he flashed a sharp glare at the girl, “doesn’t know her own limits.”

Cherry blew a raspberry up at him, crossing her arms with a pout.

Etheria shrugged a little wryly. “I’m used to rescuing new wielders from raid bosses, so it’s no problem on my end.”

“She probably just wants the lux! She’s stealing my kill!”

Etheria felt something tight and cold squeeze in her chest at the accusation, the words echoing the voices of too many others in this whole stupid war, and her hand tightened the slightest bit warily around her Starlight.

The boy sighed. “Shut up, Cherry.”

The girl squawked in offense, but it set Etheria a bit at ease.

“I don’t care about the lux,” she said quietly. “If you want it you can have it. But seven year olds shouldn’t be fighting raid bosses, especially not by themselves.”

“I’M NINE.”

Etheria sent her a very dubious look. She’d been nine when she’d arrived in Daybreak Town, and this girl was definitely younger than she’d been. “… sure. Nine year olds shouldn’t either. That’s how you die.”

“Oh look, someone with actual common sense,” Jas muttered under his breath. “She’s right, Cherry, now shut up and stay here before y’get hurt. Again.” He set her down and she stomped her feet angrily.

“You’re such a jerk! I can take care of myself!” Cherry’s eyes welled up in frustration, making her scrub at them as her shoulders hitched. “I-I can! I can do it! I don’t n-need your he-lp! It’s not fair!”

He sighed, kneeling down in front of her. “That’s not th’ point, Cherry. Yeah, you’re strong, no one’s gonna doubt that. But these things are somethin’ else, y’know that. Plenty o’ people don’t wanna fight ‘em alone, even if they can. I sure as hell don’t. And you gettin’ hurt isn’t gonna make me worry any less, it’s just gonna make me worry more.”

The girl sniffled, glaring at the ground. “But I don’t want you to…”

“Tough luck, you’re stuck with me. kiddo.” He ruffled her hair and pushed himself to his feet as the spider began getting restless behind them. “So, tag team this bastard?”

Etheria sent him a nod, turning back to the spider. “Fine with me. I don’t mind if she helps, but…”

“Yeah. Y’good to take point, Cherry?”

The girl’s lip was still trembling, but she raised her keyblade with a nod. “I’ll listen…”

“Good. Little one first, then th’ big guy?”

“Yeah!”

“Want me to take support, or interference?”

“I’ll handle interference, if y’wanna keep us healed up and buffed.”

Ugh. Support. “Sure, I can do that.” Etheria raised her blade, activating the upright medal with the redhead girl on it. “Go get ‘em.”

A small smirk pulled at the boy’s mouth as he leapt forward just behind Cherry, who flung herself forward with a yell.

Recklessness aside, Cherry was surprisingly strong for her age and with Jas running interference on the Savage Spider Etheria didn’t actually have to offer much support. He was powerful too - enough so that she was really hoping the neutrality of their interaction so far continued and she wouldn’t be forced to fight him - so other than the occasional heal and the regular repeat of buffs on them and debuffs on the spider she… didn’t really have to do much.

Which was partially why she preferred being at the center of the fight. Let Yiskah and Aella do support, they preferred it.

The fight was wrapped up fairly quickly with Jas helping, and Cherry cheered as the spider faded away and the light was drawn into her bangle.

Etheria sent one last healing spell their way to take care of any lingering scrapes and bruises, then dismissed her keyblade. For a long moment she debated slipping away while they were both distracted, but she couldn’t deny her own curiosity. There was something about them that was… familiar. Not in a personal way, but… their magic.

The girl less so - she had strong magic clinging to her that was likely tied to whatever world she was from, but the feel of it was familiar only in that it had a similar shape and feel as that which the humans used in her own world of Enchanted Dominion.

The boy though… he felt like her. Magic seeped into his very essence, a muddy mix of human and unmistakably fae. Different enough that she could tell that he wasn’t from her world, but the base feel of it was the same.

It didn’t really matter, she knew - she’d met several people with fae or fairy lineage here. Had even met a fairy or two from different worlds. But this was the first time she’d met someone who felt quite this similar.

It drew her in, made her feel a likely-misplaced sense of kinship.

“You’re both alright then?” she asked as she approached.

They turned and the boy nodded. “We are, yeah. Thanks for th’ help, and for tryin’ t’keep Cherry out o’ trouble. I would say she’s a magnet for it if the truth wasn’t that she goes lookin’ for it.”

Cherry stuck her tongue out at him.

“I can tell,” Etheria flashed him a wry smile. “I take it this sort of thing happens a lot?”

“You got no idea,” he rolled his eyes. “Pretty sure ‘Cherry, no’ is ingrained in my vocabulary forever now. It’s jus’ reflexive.”

Etheria laughed as the girl protested. “That doesn’t surprise me. I’m Etheria, by the way. What about you?”

He hesitated a moment, something wary flashing in his eyes, before he answered slowly. “I’m… Jas. Jas Tallow.”

Ah, he could sense her fae nature. No wonder he was wary to give his name, and had likely altered it somehow.

She flashed him a smile. “Nice to meet you, Jas. And I’m not fully fae any more than you are, don’t worry. I’ll not be stealing your name. I wouldn’t have anything to do with it here anyway - not in this place.”

Well, that wasn’t necessarily true, she supposed. Not with the war going on - frankly controlling or possessing members of other Unions probably was… something to keep an eye out for.

Judging by his raised brow, he was having similar thoughts.

“Okay fair, I would, but I’m not the type.”

“I’ll jus’ take y’ at your word, shall I?” he asked, crossing his arms. “Still, I do appreciate th’ help.”

“Hmmmm,” Cherry narrowed her eyes and leaned comically far forward. “What Union are you anyway?”

Etheria stiffened as Jasper groaned, “Cherry. It doesn’t matter.”

“But I’m curious!” The girl protested. “If she’s in one of our Unions then it all makes sense!”

Unions, plural. So they weren’t hyper-loyal to their Unions like so many others had become, at least. “Given I don’t even know which Unions you belong to, that logic doesn’t really track, does it?” She pointed out. “I don’t really care much about Union loyalty - if someone is in trouble I help. This whole war is stupid anyway, we don’t even know the real point of it.” She still didn’t know why Aced was so set on killing her - every time they were in proximity they ended up fighting and he wouldn’t even tell her why.

“Hear hear,” Jas agreed with a scoff. “I can’t believe anyone’s takin’ it seriously. Like… it’s so pointless. Collect the most lux t’do what with it?”

She grimaced. What indeed… if everyone knew what it was some of the Union leaders were actually planning…

She didn’t want to know how much worse it would get if Gula’s plan became known. She didn’t think it would work, none of them thought it would work, but…

Etheria nodded crossing her arms. “Yeah. Everything’s gotten so far out of control I don’t think even the Union leaders know what the plans are anymore.”

“Hrmmm.” Cherry puffed out her cheeks. “That’s not what I was asking.”

Such a kid… she shouldn’t be too surprised she supposed. Etheria sighed. “Unicornis, if you’re that worried about it.”

Cherry made a face and nodded. “That makes sense, no wonder you’re so stuffy.”

“Wha- hey!”

“It’s true!!” The girl pointed at her in accusation. “You’re Unicornis so you’re stuffy and no fun, and Jas is Vulpes so he’s a worrywart who’s always nagging!”

… Etheria wasn’t used to being offended at stupid Union stereotypes, but stuffy???

Her party would have a stitch laughing so hard if Cherry had said that to their face. Half the time she was the one they were dragging out of trouble.

Some of her offense must have shown on her face because Jas snorted. “Y’know the stereotypes are bull, Cherry. Even if y’are th’ perfect stereotypical representation of Ursus.”

She stuck her tongue out at him, drawing a huff of laughter from Etheria.

“Maybe I’m boring compared you, then,” she said, “but my friends would beg to differ. Especially given how often I end up fighting Aced…”

They both whipped around to stare at her, Cherry’s expression disbelieving “You’ve fought Master Aced? Multiple times? And you’ve won???”

“I- I never said I won,” Etheria corrected quickly.

“You wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t!”

… alright fair. “Normally yes, but I think he and Master Ira are specifically keeping tabs on each other because Master Ira - or sometimes Master Invi - always shows up not long after the fight starts so I can slip away.” Eventually she might find out why the Union leaders were so interested in her - Ava made sense, and Ira could be rationalized, but the other three? Invi’s was likely a side result of her friendship with Yiskah, but Gula had approached her himself in that house, and Aced was more hostile towards her than anyone else aside from Ira.

Perhaps it was just her connection to the Dandelions.

Jas was looking at her like she was a puzzle, something suspicious in his gaze. She shrugged helplessly at him.

“I don’t know what I did to make him hate me, unless it’s just because Master Ira likes me and I was involved with Master Ava’s… group.”

His eyes widened. “Y’were a Dandelion.”

“No, I… was offered a place, and I had several friends among them, but I… I couldn’t just leave. Not when so many people would be left behind.” She glanced away, twisting her sleeve between her fingers. “My party’s the same. We all turned down the offer, and we’re just… trying to help whoever we still can. Anyone who doesn’t want to fight, or the kids who shouldn’t be on the front lines or aren’t strong enough to protect themselves.”

“Huh. That’s… admirable. There a lot o’ you?”

“There’s only six- five. Five core members.” The memory of Vale’s betrayal still stung nearly as much as the dark scar he’d left across her torso. “There’s around a dozen of active members overall, with about two dozen others under our protection.”

“That’s not a lot,” Cherry said, bouncing on her toes. “Most parties I know are like, a hundred people!”

“There ain’t any hundred person parties, Ursus’ entire Union is less’n five hundred people,” Jas sighed. “I don’t even know if you’ve ever been in a real party. A dozen is on th’ smaller side, though.”

Etheria shrugged. “We were bigger, but the Dandelions left, and we’ve… had casualties.” She tried not to think of many they’d lost, not even bodies left behind to remember them. She shook her head. “Do you guys have a party, or support?”

“We don’t need a party, we can take care of ourselves!” Cherry declared, settling her hands on her hips.

Jas shook his head, hedging, “Not a proper party, no, but we’ve got… friends… who help out here an’ there. S’good enough.”

Ah, true loner types. The offer on the tip of her tongue died, and she nodded. “Well if you need a few more, we’re usually in the area. Ask the Moogle about talking to someone from the Light’s Guard and he’ll let us know that you want to meet up.”

Jas’ expression was startled, brows furrowed. “You… don’t know anything about us.”

“I know you’re loner types, I know you’re going out of your way to protect a kid with a penchant for trouble, and I know you’re they type to fight side by side with a person from another Union, no questions ask, and let them play healer for you.” She flashed him a wry smile, crossing her arms. “As they say, actions speak louder than words, and you’ve a good heart Jas Tallow. I don’t need your full name to read that.” She turned away, tossing a wave over her shoulder. “Send a word our way if you ever need help, or you find someone who does.”

As Etheria walked away she heard Cherry’s loud whisper, “… she was weird.” and snorted to herself.

It was a shame they weren’t interested in joining a party - she would have loved to see their reactions to the others.

This was fun, thanks for letting me borrow your kids! Hopefully I did them justice. Etheria is absolutely nonplussed at Cherry, what is she supposed to do with this child. How is Jas not driven insane.

#khux #khocweek2023 #kingdom hearts #union cross #keykid #friends/lovers #i would have done lovers but etheria skuld and ephemera don't really qualify #they're in that 'are they aren't they' area #the memory wipe thing doesn't help #yiskah had something going on with brain but then brain left and yiskah died #yiskah's gonna my missing link protag because i have etheria busy being someone else so maybe he and brain can hold hands there

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