You Only Live Once

[justabignobody]

[Riku doesn't know how long he's been drifting in the endless space of the Lanes Between with nothing but the silver gleam of his magic to shield him from the Darkness, how long it's been since he just narrowly escaped Xehanort's blade, how many seconds, minutes, hours since Highwind-

His side has started bleeding again a while ago and by now Riku has really started to *feel* the effects of this battle on him, minor tears and bruises, the cut splitting his lip, the sheer exhaustion...

(Highwind is gone.)

He. He needs to find a place to heal up and recover, a place that isn't with Sora and Kairi or Roxas and Naminé – he can't risk Xehanort following him to either of them. Mickey... Going to Mickey, to Master Yen Sid... that's an option, probably and maybe safe – or at very least safer, but.

(It's Xehanort. Nowhere is safe right now.)

There is a gleam of light, catching Riku's attention. A door.

It's instinct that guides his arm up, that twists his wrist so that Way to the Dawn falls into his hand, that give just that one push needed to invoke near age-old magic and in the back of his mind he can hear the sound of a lock clicking-

Riku blinks, almost reels back out of the door again, when he finds himself standing in front of a tower.

Possibly, probably the tower.

Right. He's known this place existed, Xion's told him, even if this is the first time he's seeing it himself. It's. As far away from Xehanort – the Xehanort of his worlds - as he can get. More or less safe. Maybe.

Xion hadn't said anything about monsters after all.

(And well. If there are any, well. With a little hope, he'll have a quick death after all. And Highwind won't be alone anymore.)

It takes a while until Riku manages to climb up to the highest floor – thankfully without any monsters jumping him – and by the time he does, his vision is littered with tiny black spots, his breathing shaky, the wound on his side burning and bleeding even as he keeps his right hand against it, as if to hold himself together.

There's so many doors, so many and Riku isn't in any state of mind to tell if he's seeing right or suffering double vision and he doesn't really care, not now. It's. He's gambling, he knows he's gambling – there is no telling what kind of world he'll end up at, but. But. There won't be any Xehanort after him there. Probably.

And with a little luck, he thinks as he steps through the door, he'll find a friendly face.

(Even if that might take a lot more than his luck stats should allow for.)]

Comments

For Mini too, eventually!

[warriorscribe]

*This world was, thankfully, not Enoch's own. It was a world which had clearly seen disasters. There were recent efforts to rebuild, but it certainly didn't look like a pleasant place to stay, to an outsider.

It certainly doesn't look like Enoch here fits, but here he is anyway, taking Riku's arm as he comes through the door. He can delay his own departure (he was going to get some fresh fruit from the garden he'd helped build) to help the other, someone he'd fought alongside (which would be nearly everyone in Animus, given how long he was there and how involved he became).*

Riku? What happened to you?

Alright, sorry for the late!

[justabignobody]

[Riku doesn't know Enoch well enough to recognize that this isn't in fact his own world, but at very least he recognizes Enoch as... well maybe not quite a friend, but certainly an ally and definitely someone who'll be willing to help him out.

He stumbles a little, trying to somewhat hold his own weight; though he isn't in a position not to let Enoch take on at very least some of it.]

Run-in with Xehanort. Went bad.

[...Obviously.]

It's okay, I'm slow too!

[warriorscribe]

*He doesn't know who or what that is, but now is not the time for conversation.*

I'll take you to someone who can heal you. How well can you walk?

*He asks this, but he's already leading him towards signs of population in the distance. Though the population isn't...entirely human. Some are even fairies flitting about. They fold their arms and glare at Enoch as he passes, but don't interfere with him otherwise.*

[justabignobody]

[Maybe Riku will try to explain once he isn't bleeding out. Maybe.

He grimaces faintly at the question, wishing he could affirm it and knowing that he isn't quite strong enough right now.]

...With some help, well enough.

[To get where they need to go anyway. He lets Enoch take the lead, unbothered by the appearance of the native population. He's seen weirder in his own universe.]

[warriorscribe]

I'd be glad to provide that help.

*Enoch leads Riku towards a structure where several demons have gathered. There's a human figure among them. He calls out to them:*

Aleph!

[alephbet]

[Aleph doesn't need an explanation once his attention has been gained. He presses a button on the Arm Terminal he's wearing, and a dog-headed demon appears.]

Anubis, heal-

[He doesn't need to tell him when it's obvious what the demon's been summoned for. Anubis is already casting a Diaharan, and the warm glow of healing magic will pass over Riku. Ought to fix him right up - Anubis has healed many, many injuries, some of them worse, with that spell.]

[justabignobody]

[Riku blinks faintly startled as the magic does its work; skin and flesh knitting back together seamlessly beneath his cloths – it's not that he isn't familiar with it, but this is definitely more potent than anything Riku himself is capable of.]

Thanks.

[Even so he pretty much slumps to the ground just moments after he has detangled himself from Enoch's support. His physical wounds may be taken care of now, but there is no magic that can do much of anything against the mental and emotional exhaustion that's crashing down on him.]

[warriorscribe]

*Anyone who has been through Animus is likely to know that exhaustion. Enoch is quick to catch him and help ease him to the ground with minimal risk of extra bruises. He's all about helping him, still, his protective nature out in full force.*

Aleph, is there a place he can rest?

[alephbet]

Come inside. There's beds, and he shouldn't be disturbed if I say so.

[Aleph's word carries a lot of clout here. He'll lead them in if they say yes, to a room with several beds and a cart of nursing equipment - used to be an infirmary.]

[justabignobody]

[Riku lets his eyes slip close and leans his weight against Enoch again, too tired to give much of a reply beyond a nod. For all that he usually loathes to be unable to carry himself – at very least partly – he doesn't have the strength to fight right now. His stubbornness has been drained to the point of near non-existence, making him rather compliant.

He won't protest against wherever those are guiding him towards.]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch leads him inside, unbothered by the other's weight, and helps him towards one of the beds. At least he won't sense as divine to bother the demons, right?*

Thank you, Aleph.

*He's still worried, considering he doesn't seem to be inclined to leave.*

[alephbet]

No problem. I'll go make sure everyone leaves you alone.

[It won't take more than just asking everyone to not disturb them.

He'd ask to leave a demon in case he needs more healing, but magic isn't as good for fixing mental exhaustion.]

[justabignobody]

[Once they reach a bed, Riku doesn't bother to do more than to toe off his shoes before he slips beneath the blanket, ignoring the conversation between the other two.

He passes out soon after that.]