Edge of Purgatory [Clive, Jericho]

[Nothingness]

Don't Tempt Me

Nightmare Fiction

Clive had barely moved away from Jericho when a bunch of Heartless appeared in front of him, followed by some strange fog. He was the arrogant one? Coming from the man who treated people as mere playthings? Clive thought he heard footsteps behind and, and quickly twisted his body to throw a punch, but hit only air. He could hear the pitter-patter of the Heartless' footsteps, but had no idea where they were. The swirling was making it look as though beasts were running around, pouncing at him, but they had yet to do anything.

He closed his eyes, shutting down the visuals, but could still hear Jericho's taunts, though only responding to one. "I've never been the one in control. But, you aren't now, either." Clive sped up, taking all three jumps in one, straight line, quickly finding himself outside of the mist, but still with the dozen or so Heartless approaching him.

Though he'd only fought Heartless rarely, the two he saw in front of him now were, nonetheless, new to him. A Shadow made a tentative leap, only to find Clive grabbing its arm, throwing it to the ground, and stomping on its head. That was one down--eleven more to go.

[Slash]

You are absolutely no fun, are you?

[/center]

Jericho sighed. No fun, no fun at all. There would never be anything to be gained from this one, would there? Perhaps it was time to reconsider killing him.

No, no, he had an idea.

"You're so boring. There's no talking to you. It's always just shut-down after shut-down...I almost forgot why I got rid of you. Giving you over to Aerith made you absolutely no more interesting. But as we've been over before, I am quite persistent, so I'll keep trying! But not here. I could throw the reanimated corpse of your dead mother at you and you'd do no more than blink! No, I think I'll just work around the problem before messing with the source. Good-bye!"

He disappeared into a Corridor of his own making. The Heartless surrounded Clive, trying to push him back into the haze.

_____

Jericho reappeared right outside of Aerith's house. Well, he had meant to appear inside, but that was close enough for a first try. He opened the door.

"Nadia, wake up. Quickly." He shook her carefully, getting her to stir. "I can't explain right now- just scream. Scream as if you're in the worst pain of your life."

[Aerith]

You want me to do what? I didn't hear you over my screaming.
--------

Through the fog of sleep, Nadia felt something brush her shoulders. No. It was probably part of a dream. She couldn't see anything, just formless movement at the edges of her vision. Where was she? She didn't remember this place.

Sounds drifted through her mist-like state of mind. She thought she caught a glimpse of Asherah, but it vanished before she could move toward the Persona.

What was that? A growl rumbled close and yet so far away.

Something stalked her. Some ghost of fear beyond her sight.

She ran. Stumbled. Fell. Felt hot breath on her neck.

The shaking grew worse. Something was touching her shoulders.

When she woke up, she barely even registered Jericho's presence. Neither did she hear what he said.

It didn't matter. She screamed.
________________________

Aerith had heard the door open downstairs but had thought nothing of it. She was taking care of a few things in her room, and figured it was probably Clive or Jericho. She had made it clear to the other RGRC members that her house was to be left alone until further notice.

Then she heard Nadia scream.

In a flash, she was out into the hallway. Had someone unfriendly come inside? Were they hurting Nadia? She flew down the stairs, not sure what she would do if it was left up to her to defend her patient.

She caught herself on the railing as she reached the bottom to keep from skidding to an embarrassing halt. Aside from Nadia, Jericho was the only one in the room. Aerith's eyes went from him to Nadia.

"What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

Healer instincts were taking over, and she moved toward the couch.

[Slash]

Time for a little trip.

[/center]

Nadia screamed- whether it was from his orders or something else he was not sure. And there was Aerith. Good.

He opened a corridor and said, "I have no time to explain, but it would really be best for all of us if you'd go through that corridor." Without waiting for a reply, he pushed her in, then carried Nadia carefully.

_______

The corridor opened far out of the town, in a random cavern. Jericho set Nadia down. "Are you hurt? I'm sorry. We had to get out of there quickly. Don't worry. I know how to heal you now. It'll be fine."

He glanced back at Aerith. "We need to talk."

[Aerith]

Not the place I would have chosen to talk.
--------

Nadia still felt half in the dreamworld, but she was slowly coming out of it. Jericho picked her up, and she didn't have the strength or the will to protest.

What happened next was bizarre. She was carried through darkness a short distance, and she could feel something pulling at her heart. But then suddenly they were "outside" again in some cavern. Jericho was setting her down. She didn't respond to anything he said.

Aerith was still recovering from the sudden disorientation of traveling through a Corridor. What was this all about? It seemed Jericho wanted to talk, but she saw no reason why he couldn't have done this in her own house. And bringing Nadia here, too? In her condition?

Nevertheless, she forced herself to concentrate on Jericho. "All right. What is it?"

[Slash]

Hold on.

[/center]

"Nadia?" She was completely unresponsive. "Nadia, I can fix everything. Just give me a second."

He looked at Aerith. "In short, you're going to have to leave Radiant Garden and come with me- unless you want it to be destroyed."

Then, realizing how that sounded, he raised a hand and said, "That's not a threat. I'm not going to destroy this place or anything. I'll try to explain it more in a second, but you're going to need to listen- we have to find the others like you."

Turning to Nadia, he considered what he would say. He knew what to do, but he couldn't do so without her consent.

"I can take away your injuries, Nadia, but it comes at a price. Not a bad one. It won't hurt. But it's going to require you to let darkness into your heart. Not nearly enough to become a Heartless, but still. You have to consent while understanding this." He shook his head and looked down at her with sad affection.

"It won't be so bad, Nadia. As I said before, it won't hurt. It will just take one moment, and then the pain will go away."

[Aerith]

So close to the final precipice.
--------

Even after Jericho explained himself, Aerith was reluctant to comply. She couldn't leave everyone here, especially Cloud. She needed to be here to look after him. Not just him. Everyone. If the pillar was removed, the entire structure would crumble.

But if she didn't leave, the whole world would be destroyed?

Before she could respond, Jericho had already turned back to Nadia, saying he could heal her. Aerith was puzzled. When had he gained the ability to heal? This healing, though, would come with a price, one that Aerith did not want Nadia to pay.

"No, Jericho. If I come with you, I can take care of her. These things just take time. She's already improved markedly since you brought her to me."

That was all she could say, though. In the end, she could only offer alternatives, not force Nadia's hand. Something inside her did not want Nadia to go down Jericho's road.

Nadia sat in silence for a long while, not looking at either Aerith or Jericho. Something about Jericho was different, aside from the fact that he had said he could heal her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, though. He seemed larger somehow.

To take the quick path to restoration at the cost of a piece of herself or to take the slower one with no repercussions? It wouldn't be so bad, he had said. She wouldn't turn into a Heartless. But maybe, just maybe she would have a more permanent taste of the hatred she had felt for her family. Perhaps it would stop coming in spurts and simply always be with her.

That was, eventually, what tipped the scales.

She looked first at Aerith. "Sorry. I appreciate what you've done. I'd be dead if it wasn't for you. But I'm tired of being weak."

In more ways than one.

At last, she turned her head and spoke to Jericho. "I understand." Her gaze was unwavering. "And I give my consent."

[Slash]

It won't hurt.

[/center]

Jericho listened to Aerith's protest, but far more important was Nadia's consent. He nodded, then said to Aerith, "Thank you for what you did. It won't harm her. If it did, I wouldn't do it."

Looking back down at Nadia, he smiled with genuine tenderness and brushed her hair from her face. "All right, then." He set two fingers on her forehead and concentrated.

Darkness revealed itself, in a cloud that surrounded Jericho and swirled around him, first lazily then faster, intent behind it. It moved to Nadia, enveloping her and seeping into her wounds. For one of the light, this would be a horrible experience, simultaneously full of burning agony and extreme cold- but Nadia was no longer of the light. It would be comforting to her.

Then it was done. The darkness returned to Jericho and dissipated. Nadia was now completely unscathed, the horrible wounds inflicted by her family now just a memory.

"Are you okay, Nadia?"

[Jericho used Devil's Cure.]

[Aerith]

This only leaves me wanting more.
--------

Nadia hadn't been sure what to expect, but she mentally walked through the moments after Jericho's fingers brushed her forehead in a half-daze. And yet, all of her senses seemed to be heightened. She could see the darkness wrapping around her, feel it almost caress her skin even through her clothes. It was trying to get her to relax, which she did very quickly.

She felt no fear, no. She felt comfort, safety, even underlying pleasure. A small shiver traveled down her spine.

The feelings grew as the darkness infiltrated her body. Once it had accomplished its medicinal purpose, it slid to her heart. She felt a tightening in her chest that didn't last very long, but there was a noticeable weight that had been absent before. It was some nameless friend come to live with her. A friend wordlessly urging her deeper into the abyss. More safety and comfort and pleasure and power waited for her there, if only she would stretch out her fingers and take it.

She didn't realize that her fingers actually had taken hold of something until she mentally shook off the haze. Her eyes looked down her arm to find her fingers softly clutching the front of Jericho's shirt. A moment or two of confusion passed, quickly replaced by embarrassment. She dropped her hand and blushed.

"S-sorry. I'm... Yes, I'm okay now."

[Nothingness]

Not Good

Clive grabbed a Neoshadow by the face and slammed the back of its skull into a building, causing it to vanish in a burst of darkness. That was the last one, but they had worn him down far more than he anticipated. Jericho's little barrier had long since gone down, and he wasn't even there anymore. Dammit.

Clive walked back to Aerith's house, but found both Aerith and Nadia gone. Dammit. Dammit, dammit, dammit! So much for his plan. And yet, despite it all, he still didn't feel anything at all for either of them. He really only cared about Aerith, but unless Jericho was that spider-abomination, he wouldn't harm Aerith. No, she was too important for him to do that.

"Nothing to do for it now." Clive placed a hand on the opposite shoulder and rolled it. He'd been feeling his age catching up with him lately. He hated to admit it, but he was getting too old for this shit.

He began walking towards the marketplace. He needed a drink.

[Slash]

Better now, isn't it?

[/center]

Jericho nodded, either not noticing Nadia's embarassment or pretending not to. "Good. That's good."

In a lower voice, so that Aerith couldn't hear, he said, "See? Everything's all right now. There's nothing to be feared from the darkness, as long as you accept it. The abyss is not a bad thing- it is source of strength, and it is a home."

He smiled at her, his smile almost too soft for one belonging completely to darkness. Beautiful. Now all she had to do was let it grow further. She wouldn't reach the level he was at- no one could now- but she could come so close as to make no difference. And she would. The temptation of the darkness's power had consumed her.

A great force inside of him pushed him towards something else. Yes, he had a job to do now. A very important job. He turned to Aerith.

"Everything you know is in danger. There's a great imbalance in the universe, and if that imbalance isn't corrected then it's not going to be pretty."

The stab of angry urgency fueled him. He had so much work to do.

"To keep everything from collapsing in on itself, you're going to have to work with me."

[Aerith]

What would you have me do?
--------

Nadia was relieved that Jericho didn't draw any attention to her awkwardness. That would have made things even more embarrassing, especially with Aerith standing over there.

He was absolutely right. The darkness within her did not cause her pain or even slight discomfort. What was there to fear from such a thing? And why hadn't she discovered it sooner?

"Home... Yes." She returned Jericho's smile. The abyss was her home now. She could not claim otherwise, having been rejected from her former one. This was a far greater home than she had ever known. No one could hurt her here, just as long as she stayed. She had no reason to leave. She did not want to.

Aerith watched them silently, and even after Jericho turned to her and asked for her help, she couldn't find words. What had Jericho done? What had Nadia done? She had given in to something Aerith had never supported. But maybe there were reasons. Aerith couldn't bring herself to judge based on the little she knew about Nadia.

"Of course," she said to Jericho. "I'll do what I can. I'm not sure how much help I'll be."

[Slash]

I have an idea.

[/center]

"There are others like you, people who will be crucial to keeping the catastrophe from happening. I will have to execute another part of the plan, but you could convince them to help."

Considering that he happened to be so completely deep in the darkness that he had an invisible cloud of it surrounding him, he doubted that he'd be able to get them on his side so easily. Besides, he didn't want to accidentally corrupt one. That would ruin everything.

He'd have to keep Aerith safe, and on top of that he'd do her one favor- keeping the more horrible part of his plan out of her sight.

The darkness had to be strengthened, after all.

"Here-" Jericho summoned a very, very small creature. It didn't seem to be a Heartless- in fact, it had no emblem to speak of, just one tiny yellow dot of an eye. Really, it was just a very small, floating sphere of darkness. It floated silently and mindlessly over to Aerith.

"That little thing is nothing more than an alarm. When you're in danger, I'll know."

He opened a Corridor. "I'll follow you in. We have no time to waste."

Looking back at Nadia, he said, "Are you ready?"

[Aerith]

Give me a moment to act like a child. Okay, I'm done.
--------

The others like her... Bahamut had told her she was one of seven. He had said she had a pure heart. Suddenly, something clicked. The Princesses of Heart. There were seven of them, all with pure hearts. They were important vessels of Light. She had read about them in Merlin's books.

She was one of them?

With the death of Kairi, it made some sense, she supposed. There always needed to be seven. It was a surprise to her, still.

She was drawn out of her thoughts by the introduction of a new creature, one very tiny and very unobtrusive. It began floating around her like a moon in orbit around the planet. When she thought for a moment, she realized that now, she really did have connections to both Light and Darkness. There was Bahamut on one hand and Jericho on the other. And in the middle was Ava.

"Thank you," she said before moving toward the Corridor and stepping through it for a second time. Should she have felt odd that Jericho wanted to keep her safe?

Nadia had spent most of that exchange marveling at the strength that now pulsed through her. She had spent so much time on the brink of death that she had almost forgotten what it felt like to be fully alive. The abrupt shift was a little jarring.

She looked up at Jericho, then stood easily to her feet for the first time in days. She could not help herself and laughed.

"Ah! I did it!" She shifted her weight to first one foot, then the other. This was the happiest she had been in a while. Amazing what suddenly being able to walk again could do for a person's emotional well-being.

"Yes. Yes, I'm ready."

[Slash]

Time to go.

[/center]

Nadia's nervousness, then elation at being able to stand reminded Jericho a lot of a newborn foal trying to stand on its thin legs. He laughed.

"Okay. Let's go."

He stepped through the Corridor.