[253] Polar Opposites: Full Circle

[minntaka.livejournal.com]

Challenge: [253] Polar Opposites 
Title: Full Circle
Word Count: 508
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Minor Days spoilers
Notes: In which I somehow end up writing more of the polar opposite to polar opposite - sorry guys orz

Full Circle

You smell treachery only three days after the Graceful Assassin joins the ranks. The angular hollows of the Castle hallways reek with the odour of criminal intent and you wonder if anyone else suddenly finds their breathing a conscious activity. You agree with yourself that it's the smile that burns into the back of your mind. A smile like that shouldn't be on a human face; it ought to be daubed into paintings and carved into stone – safe places of imagination and nonexistence.

As a member of the Organisation, you know it's your duty to clear the path so that I can lead you to the completed Kingdom Hearts. You debate with yourself – measuring up the value and worth of your concerns – and your once-flawless face creases and succumbs to the effort of decision.

You turn the last step and your breath echoes more than the sound of your footsteps; the head office is in sight, and then he catches you.

The blurry memory of irrational fear materialises and wriggles to freeze up every one of your joints. You feel nothing, but that doesn't mean you can't be rendered immobile. The Graceful Assassin dips his head to reach your ear.

"You're very sharp," he remarks.

"And you're going to be a traitor," you say, a smooth and swift answer. "You stink of betrayal."

Marluxia smiles, and the remnants of Isa quake and tremble through you in recognition of malice. "Do you have the right to point the finger?" he asks.

"I have the right to protect the Organisation's goal," you reply, and somehow, the statement resonates with pride that's more convincing than its true form of an echo. "In this Castle, we follow the Superior and his orders. He commands us and through our loyalty, we are rewarded with purpose."

"He feeds you pretty words," Marluxia compliments, "but do your words reach him? When you speak to him and serve him, what makes you certain you are being heard? When one sits too high, he sees only numbers and shadows." He pushes you. Leather creaks against leather, and you're caught off guard by the proximity. Winded when you back into the wall, Marluxia continues to whisper and seduce and influence; his voice is the lightest, slightest weight needed to tip the scale. "New and old; superior and inferior. Do you know what is opposite to a traitor, Saïx?"

Your only answer – if it can even be counted – is the hollow look on your face.

"It's someone who quashes his own thoughts and desires for the sake of group welfare. He suffers in silence, pretends they are never there. A liar," Marluxia surmises. "Through loyalty, you only betray yourself. Which brings us full circle." He pulls away, walks off without glancing back.

It's that easy to switch sides. Just a ten second whisper and you taste possibility and discover there are doors opening, the same way I did the more I listened to voices that weren't my own. There's betrayal in all of us – in you, and in me.

Comments

[kaos-sparrow.livejournal.com]

I really like the way this was done, especially the point of view. It took me a while to figure it out, but that actually added to the excitement, and I also enjoyed the flow of the story .

[kiaxet]

That was awesome. The POV threw me for a loop or two, and I'm still not entirely sure I have it figured out, but that just adds to the overall effect of the entire piece. I absolutely love it.

[minntaka.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I wasn't intending it to be first person but it seemed to be the only way I could tie up the end XD

and your icon is gorgeous by the way ♥

[minntaka.livejournal.com]

Thank you! ♥ I even confused myself with pov while writing it, but it's meant to be Xemnas watching his traitors interact. (In my headcanon, I assume that Xemnas was one step ahead of everyone, including his betrayers.)

[kaos-sparrow.livejournal.com]

Thank you! If you like it, feel free to yoink, as long as both I and the person who made the base are credited (it's in the icon info).