Intertwined (Open)

Darkness across from the sides of shadows of the world twisted and formed into a dome with a magical purple glow that left semblances of flower petals scattering by the wind. As the darkness solidified into a humanoid form the color and flesh that embodied desire and beauty grew into reality and formed him, a heartless king of terrible magical might, known only as La Vaeas. Today’s adventure into the realm of light however was of a much softer hearted theme, he would simple explore another world that remained mostly untouched by the ravages of war or madmen of old. Though that was not all in store for the dark king today as a side quest arose to his ear just before he left the sweet realm of his creation. His adversary and familiar of sorcery had informed him of an interesting little diversion that his lieutenant had found, a strong solider of strength and talent, whos size and record named him an excellent heart to corrupt or at least from what Leonardo had spoken.

While his sister ruler liked the more bombastic approached and flashy bouts to the general population of somebodies of this world, the brother enjoyed a much more subtle approached when dealing with enemies in their own territory. Today the king would simple be a guest, be a Lenneth with nothing draw much notice to him. He bore causally attire today, sporting a tight black long sleeve shirt underneath a water short sweater with gold edges in dark blue jeans, hidings monsterous features he appeared all human today with no added tentacles or bat wings. His golden hair was pulled back out of his face today, showing off his flawless face to captivity this target while also hopefully mitigate displeasures aimed at him, remaining hidden with his looks was impossible.

Walking down this street lights filled the night with buzzing colors and sounds that Len could only read about till today, he could not count the number of joyfully children to be seen jumping around, yelling or taking to the odd foods and attraction scattered about this maze of machinery. It was such odd style of weapons or vehicles he had not seen in any other world at least to this scale.

“ Lenny! Lennny!!!” a familiar voice cried out from the back spoke to him

Turning the heartless spoted his familiar in human form, a slender man of defined build and lean features covered in tattered blue and purple clothing, with his large scarf and hood up covering the black threads of his hair. Bloody guy was always so cheerfully and gunhoe about everything while be quite a sick sense of sinister, not sure why Len kept him around either. Gabriel rushed up and hugged Lenny with a big bear grasp despite his smaller size.

“There you are what took so long? Travelling through short cuts shouldn’t be that long”

“I wasn’t in much of a hurry to visit a world like this, its so…cheery reminds me too much of you and that exhausting energy”

“Oh you just being silly wouldn’t hurt to get out and have some fun once and a while”

“I’m here for work and cause you and Leo said you found someone that would make a good heartless”

“Ya ya this way, they should be here pretty soon. I’d thought I would see you sooner to get ready but tartness you will just need to play it all by ear”

Gab playfully wrapped his arms around Lenneth’s shoulder as the charm lord rolled his eyes with a light sigh, this dragon’s birds little antics might prove an annoyance today but Len would amause his former teacher at least for a while. They walked towards the alley of games where they would greet their others.

Crossing the skies as they drew ablaze from his gummi’s engines the roared down at the grounds that touched the landing pads to the solid earth outside the amusement area, setting into park before he leaned back into the chair, curling back the large size of his body back while he pulled back his brown hair out from his golden eyes. Thelennx wondered just what he had agreed  today with that new acquaintance of his Leonardo, they had only meet a few days back on radiant garden, when he stole one of the knights kills in a bounty hunt. Thelen had not seen a man with such stealthy speed, a man in his late 20s clad in tight form fitting jump suit and hair in similar fashion to his color but much shorter and stylized.

Taking his attire he changed into simple white tank top with a blue unbutton short sleeve with some gray jeans in comfy shoes. Walking out Thelen was nervous to meeting this person for the reason that brought the knight into this world. The ninja like man had promised for Thelen to meet an interesting fellow today, something about stop being a stick in the mud, go out and have some fun and try new things etc etc Thelen figured he was being asked out by this stranger any ways. The knight had his fair share of…physically affections, nobles and chargers were often so lonely that they needed company. It was years since his youth blinded him to honor and such so he was a tad rusty at this whole date thing.

He stood outside before walking into the joy filled music and dancing lights of the rides, the little ones where rushing and scream with candy filled mouths and stuff toys that embraced their innocent, he couldn't help but smile at the joy they exuded, if anything today could turn out fun in a place like this. The world that they were supposed to meet seemed like such an interesting place, taking it in as he whirled around to see everything seemed like such a fun loving environment, no wars not bad blood just excitable claim.

10 minutes into explore and there Thelennx meet that man that he invited him here, Leonardo the oddly friendly bounty hunter, he was of medium build and didn't look all that bad in a suit maybe this wouldn't the be too bad. He slowly walked up fidgeting with his hands and biting his lower lips while Leo looked his way crossed armed and with a lit hearted smile.      

“Yo” Thelen said

“Thelen, good to see you thank you for coming. We are running a late so we should just head down towards the game’s ally my friend and the guy your meeting would be waiting up”

“Oh? Two so it’s a double date?”

“What? Oh no I’m just setting you up with one of my friends while we other enjoy the day after you to kids connect”

“Kids? I’m 25”

“Yes of course, how do you like blonds?” Leonardo said while walking to thelen’s side and draping his shoulder over his, despite the size different he didn't need to stand on his tip toes thankfully while leading the giant to the meeting stop.

Lenneth and Gabriel waited near one of the gaming booths for their rest of their party, the one with that had you shoot basket balls into hoops for points and prizes, seemed easily honestly but the humans seemed to be having some difficulty with a few different things. He wondered why those stuffed toys were such attractions for people to spend so much money one, couldn’t they buy them on their own anyways and with easier means? Then again looking at them something from within the LaVaeas gave him pause, an odd feeling that had him slowly try and reach out for it in the air with an almost childlike mannerism. It was so cute and fluffy…he loved the moogle’s design and ooo was that a chocoboo in the back rack?  Gab had to pull Lenny back while he snapped into his more serious looking face, random personality disorder here and there, felt like an echo from something long past.

The dark winged human of darkness nodded his head with a smile, if he only knew himself a little better. Leonoardo and Thelennx walked into sight with Gab happily waving at them and jumping up with excitement at their glances.

“Leo!! Yo yo Leooo! Ove here” Gabriel shouted out loudly

Lenny turned around shaking himself off from that little bout before facing the two people incoming. Looking at Leonardo he was a little surprised such a serious and reclusive man would be so willing to help the cheerfully idiotic man. Then something else caught Len’s eye, a big something as the towering giant walked behind him and soon escaped the soldier’s stature with his own as they walked up the hill. The guy leo was bringing was bloody huge for a human like jeez.  Gazing with a heavily heart something else started to well up inside him a vibration from his core, a resonance in which he couldn’t recognize or understand right then, he knew he felt something distant. Slowly walking over and next to his former teacher he flicked the raven man in the ear.

“Ouch, what was that for?”

“You guys don’t even realize it do ya? That man is-“

“Greetings Gabriel and Lo-Lenneth” Leonardo spoke as he and the soft giant walked behind him in a semi-close distance from his guide. Walking through the park Thelen had gotten his usually bout of shyness from all the gathering masses of people moving about and having fun while he wasn’t on duty, no moral mask that would normally hide behind in some righteous guise to stand behind and act with confidence. And just being himself he couldn’t find enough bravery to and understand them, it was still an odd feeling have the average people looking at him oddly or fearing his stature. The armour must have been also been a factor to his reputation, it was after all a mighty tool of war but here they just saw him raw.

It was then that Thelen’s eyes wonder past the two vessels of the La Vaeas greet each other and started converse with each other, the gaint’s gaze that filled with curiosity and wonderment. He saw the might king of heartless for the “First time” in this life and just didn't quite understand this feeling, the golden hair soft, well-tanned skin that glimmered boozed god. A sense of pure longing washed over the nobody as if in slow motion as he came across and stood right in front of the mighty heartless, looking down he thought of himself simply without question though he didn't know why, blushing as he did for a few seconds while Len looked rather annoyed at the other two talking to each other. When Lenneth looked at him Thelen just quickly looked to the side trying to hide his face and redness building up, even trying to hide his eyes with his bangs while Lenny blinked confused and watched leo and gab chatter on.

“And then we came across a few…comets along the way so we were late here too, didn’t get everything set up” said Gabriel

“Ah I see, Thelennx had some issues finding this world but still forgive our lateness on my behalf. The two of them will be able to have a lovely time alone while we set up”

Gab then walked up to Thelen and gave him a nice one full body look, sly fully gliding his gaze while getting quite close the knight with a bit of a petter patter in his own blood pulsating. Reaching up close Gab playfully touched his hand softly along Thel’s powerfully shoulders.

“My my this is one hell of a guy, such great muscles and so tall hmm tasty. And a pretty cute face, not bad mhmm maybe I can get in a round or two before Lenn, I'm sure I could find a nice place and eat him all up for myself I'm a better-”

Leonardo then grabbed Gabriel cheek rather aggressively while visible snarling at him, pinching and poking his sides at Lenneth’s direction’s, both watching the visible blankness mixed in with a raging sparks flying off his head that their master showed before swiftly turning his back and started to walked away with his fist clentched.

“Wa.wait! Len”

My lord!

“Please wait” Thelen exclaimed while reaching for Lenneth’s hand, almost making connecting with it before Lenny turned around, a little surprised the giant wanted him to stay with such enthusiasm. Leo quickly ran in front of Lenneth, lowering his head while also forcing Gab to bow down as well.

“Please my lord excuse this poor show of manners”

“Yay a what Leo said sorry there buddy” quickly moving the pyromancer got behind Thelen and nudged him closer and closer to Len with the giant kinda shocked at how strong he was. “ See his all yours, meat and all. I didn't mean anything about that last part either haha just a kindly tease and totally don't think anything of it.  Dude say hi” poking at Thelen once more nearly knocked the nobody on top of his date. Nervously Thelen extended his shaky hand still beat red while sweating a little from the sides.

“Hi-Hello there I’m Thelennx its very nice to meet you heehe…”

As he turned at all three of them bagging Lenny couldn’t help but directed his focus on Thelen, while his size was of impressive stature and build was the envy of many lesser males in this world, judging from the green eyes of passersby that keep looking at him in horror. There was just something different that allured Len to this giant, granted his looks were alright to the common but Lenny had seen better, himself for example. No there was something else that he could fixated on but for some odd reason he couldn’t figure out why and it really was starting to bother him. And while he was the only one he knew what Thelen was useless to him in a general sense this outing my provide some entertainment and while not admitting it to himself out loud something told him he needed to know more about this man. Lenny would need to punish the two idiots latter, making a mental noted while glaring at them and seeing them both sweat.

“I’m Lenneth its nice to meet you Thelennx” smiling at him Lenny walked up closer before standing less then an arm’s length away, still trying to be nice and clearly ignored his teammates a bit out of his mood swings.

Lenny took a look around for a couple of moments the place looked like it could take hour juts walking around, he had not seen such a massive world that was flat enough to see as far as they could not to mention the constant lights and dazzling rides that were all around them. He was slightly favoring the gaming stations though just for the cute little prizes that were hanging from their hooks, there was just a slight appeal to them on the cut level Len seemed to have a weakness for as his face lit up a little.

This place was so tacky! All these lights and shoddy attractions...He had to make a mental note to visit the owner of this place and deck him in the jaw. What kind of drugs did it take to enjoy these kind of whacko joint anyway?

Oh well. That was food for thought for another time.
Ooooh! What big, shiny levels of power you have! All the better to abduct you right out of time and space with, my dear Thelennx!

The Gambler waltzed calmly out of the space-time rift, brushing past Lenneth non-nonchalantly.
"Excuse me, pardon me, just need to borrow him for a bit. You won't even notice he's gone!"

*CLICK*

With a snap of the fingers, boom--time and space froze instantly. Even someone with heebie-jeeby levels of strength like this prince of the Heartless couldn't break out of something like that. Time was, after all, the only thing stronger than money!

---

Thelennx has been transported.

Thelennx felt his mood lite up hearing Len’s name and seeing him not upset by their silly exploits, inattention finding his smile widening into a silly grin. His cheeks kinda felt flushed as the blood pooled in with his heart a flutter looking at Lenny, quickly turning away as they walked he tired to hide himself from the sights he were poorly trying to hold back. It was such a strange situation to feel something so intense that suddenly from a stranger, thinking upon it was hard to discern why right then there was just something about the heartless that felt right to feel this way. Sure he was breathtakingly beautifully that much was certain, the blacksmith had never seen such a figure of charm as Lenneth but no that wasn’t all. Looks could only take a person so far the knight considered as a personally trait to judge one’s worth in the eyes of another, hopefully whatever it was he would discover the reason to at least not be
embarrassed by feeling like a school boy finding his first crush.

For a few minutes after being left alone the duo had walked a fair distance together, more so after being left alone by their greeters. And to be honest it felt a little awkward for the gentle giant, his body didn’t seem to really responded the way his mind knew how to act in difficult situations like this.

“Say something, talk about yourself a little then ask him about something too, something anything just do stand there like an idiot thinking…naughty things gahhh” thinking to himself utterly in chaos on the inside while as still as a stature on the outside.

They soon came to booth in which Lenny proceeded to stop and admire something about it, judging from where his eyes were groping that cute stuffed teddy bear the nobody figured it be a good way for him to shine some affection in a kind gesture. Quickly walking up and taking out some munny from his pockets Thelen placed down the required amount for the game. Holding out the toy rifle the nobody held the firing position at a moderate range, looking back at Lenny and winking his confidence in getting the prize.

Bam!

First shot missed the moving ducks that seemed to alternate speeds at different intervenes of time, likely due to the hidden switch that he owner pressed after seeing the sucker pull the trigger.

Bam! second shot this one should have hit but simple skimmed the yellow paint and marked the wooden wall behind him, annoyed thelen was turning a brighter shade of red though now uttering some different naughty things under his breath.

Lenny was a little surprised to see the large man move out to the game without him saying much of a word, either he was some kind of mind reader or Len had lost some semblance of focus and acted like a child wanted that big candy display from the store. Though he was grateful the kind gesture it was a nice little touch to seeing a strange act a little weird and it was kinda of unexpected to see, these human interactions were all just a strange to consider. These little rituals that were supposed to bring people closer to getter by spending a unconfirmed amount of time in each other people’s company and learn while enjoying their little habits. To be honest it seemed rather unnecessary process to what they needed to do, stick it in wiggle the sensory receptors and let the juices fly, biology would do the rest and there mission in life would be finished. The genes of humanity would continue into the future and likely raised into the next stage of procreation, some even stay together for years at a time to continue to produce the little broodings for years till the eggs were worthless.

So if procreation was the main goal of their biology the art of courting must have been a kind gesture to ease the tension of living with others of different minds, seeing Thelennx buy a whole round of shots then failing in taking any of the ducks down let alone the number needed to get the prize the giant wanted to get made Lenny think the guy must have some wrong with him. He was looking a little frustrated with the game to really get that more then Len thought he wanted it but it was sweet.

Bang another round ended with 1 point though they needed to hit 4 more ducks out from the range and that work didn’t seem like he wanted to play anymore fairly. Leaning in to Thelen’s ear Lenny smiled brightly before getting up closer to the nobody.

“May I take a turn?” Lenny slyly whispered in the man’s air as his hair tickled thel’s head

“Uh…Sure have at it haha…” he replied back almost dropping the gun before Len caught it a little surprised to see the dark prince feeling so comfortable getting so close.

Holding the rifle onto his shoulder before taking his expert aim towards the now moving targets, last few shots would need to count. Just as Len’s finger was pulling the trigger he discreetly conjured a small shadowy spike to pop up and poke upward at the worker’s foot, hobbling the man for a moment while Lenny shot. All five done and earning them the grand prize of there pick. Stunned the worker gapped at Lenny and thelen while rubbing his foot.

“We got all 10 points, Is there a problem?”

“What?...oh no just…never mind” the worker said with a clear tone of disappointment before picking out the giant fuzzy bear and handed it to Len. He did turned away scowling while Lenneth turned to Thelen, handing it over while nuzzling toy.

“Hope you like it”

The knight blinked for a few moments shocked at how easy the blonde managed to get it before reaching out for the toy holding it in Len’s arm in somewhat of a half hug as the two of them looked at each other.

“Tha-nnk you”

Still gazing  off in that direction at Len Thelennx found his cheeks flustered as he looked on for a few more seconds longer then the common comfort level was for most people though Lenny didn’t mind too much as he felt the same thing too but much more relaxed. It wasn’t until one of the kids behind them asked for something from the game owner and bummed near the knights massive feet, promoting both of them to kinda unfazed from that little trance and slightly move away.  Lenny remained smiling but Thelen found himself a little frustrated and almost tripping on the kid next to him. And with the towering size difference the kid almost screamed before the giant caught himself off.

“Oh I’m so sorry little guy um…please so sorry about that are you ok? Do you need some help?” waving back and forth with his hands he calmly moved back slightly as a giggling Lenny. The heartless king found it so entertaining to see such a stature of such a man be so timed inside. Always the contractions were so interesting Lenny claiming came up to his date and grabbed him by the arm leading them away so Thelen could stop his sweating so much.

“ Your just silly old big man haha afraid of a child three times smaller then you giving you a mean look attack”

“ The kid could have his parents nearby, I wouldn’t want to offend them or hurt the kid. He was just so small but wasn’t afraid of me it was a good trait”    

“Such a gentlemen hehe”

The two of them walked and chatted about each other, smaller scaled talks what worlds that had been in, what they liked about each of the different things they say and what kind of hobbies that liked. From movies to video games  to what strange street performers walked past them each were listed on their main hot topics. All while the black mage and his white knight were shoulder to shoulder holding each other’s arms tightly with a few casual looks at admiring fans. Both managed to stay away from touchy topics like work or experiences not often thought about as good pillow talk.  

Ending up at the rides both Thelen and Lenneth’s eyes wondered into the different attractions that may be worth the thrill, often adventuring head enough adrenaline pumping moments to numb the experienced from the normal lived people.

"What do you feel like riding? I'm fine with most of these"

“I don’t know lets just wonder around till something hits us”

Lenny then grab’s Thelen’s massive arms and stated to drag him softly as the two of them locked in their eyes at each other. Though a worthless as he had no heart the giant was far from unappealing for the king of heartless, if anything it be an amusing distraction from work and the night was young, anything could happen. As the pair of them moved through the street of rides both were quite affectionate towards the other, playfully matching the other’s jesters with movements suggestive and still innocent to the cowards that watched on. Thelennx did not once look away at the beauty that held him so close with edger energies down that trim fit body, it was strange how alive the nobody had felt around this man. He had a fair share of times with others but this one felt different then anything the knight could think of, recalling his past century of life nothing even came close to filling his massive body with the sheer joy the company of Lenneth seemed to granted him.

It was strange and though he wouldn’t understand it right then Lenny felt something similar as well though that didn’t make sense either. Why would he sudden arise a sensation from a new stranger as strong and large and dim witted as it seemed. It could have been just the Lenny’s ability to feed of the desires of others but wait that didn’t make any sense, nobodies weren’t supposed to have feelings especially with no hearts.

Both heartless and nobody found the common ground to chattering the ear of the other, neither could recall much what they talked about but it was still a pleasure. Their emotions escalated the more they talked the pair of them felt a little light headed, a tingling raising up from their bodies triggered by something.

---

“And you are?”

“My name is Thelennx I’m-“

---

A strange voice called to their minds, whispering the phase neither recalled happening, a setting bathed in white fluff, cold to the touch and high above the clouds and people, faceless people that surrounded them. Red took over white and-. Neither of them made a sound as they broke contact, Lenny stooped for a moment before looking on at thelen who did the same. Blinking nervously a smile to the other was the only thing either of them could think of before containing to walk alongside each other.

---

Their heads flickered back into a different scene, on view changed from Len to Thelen as they were in close distance of the each other’s weapons. A gun in hand and sword of fire aimed squally at wounds both had received. A sudden charge they both rushed at each other but then only fading off into reality

---

Back as thelen was at a counter ordering some cotton candy Lenny found himself waking up at a bench, unable to shake off the feeling of familiarity hunting him right then. And with it a sense of pain strike at his heart, a sliver thorn shape lightning bolt that pierced his entire being.

“Here you are”

Thelennx said as he offered a surprised Len with a large pink ball of candy and a caramel coated apple to boot. Smiling the heartless just played it off as nothing and happily took the sweet, chewing in delight as tensions rose higher.

“Thank you”

Thelen was unsure of how to act right now, the feelings Lenny seemed to be contemplating were also in him he could see it so clearly in those dreamy eyes masked behind fear, the nobody just seemed better at masking his actually emotions then his heartless. Offering his hand to the dark king Thelen knew he had to confront this.

“Hey wanna take a little walk? Seems it’s a little too noisy here for the both of us”

Looking up in shock Lenny found himself accepting the offer after pausing from the gesture, he couldn’t be sure just what he was thinking but he knew he wasn’t acting like himself.  Somehow he felt that the giant was also troubled from the looks of it but it was difficult to get a read on him. Playfully accepting he just went along with it.

Both of them walked slowly through the playfully air of the park, grasping just at the tips of their fingers while still tightly trying not to let the other go, playing with each other’s prints felt comforting for one other but getting too close felt like both of their headaches hurt more. Neither paid much mind to the people this time, nothing else seemed to matter right now as they wondered past the fences behind the large rides.

Thelen was the first to stop, inhaling deeply as he tried to ease some of the tension to leave his body but found it futile. Bring his hand out of Len’s and stretching the back of big old head hidden in the brown of his hair it seemed like the best time to get this out.

“So…ya feeling not that great either huh? weird weird thoughts and stuff right like imagines of…us?”

Lenny looked up from hiding head so far down into his chest, nearly laughing at himself at the coincidence. Looking back up at him looked straight into those bright green eyes, piercing them with his bright blues. Their thoughts mirrored each other it couldn’t have been more easily seen as they didn’t break contact.

“You me, your sword and my guns. Blood and magic. Somehow we know each other”

“Ya I got those exactly imagines playing in my head to and a kingdom, darkness and…heartless. How can this be? I don’t remember anything relating to these things but I feel as though they are very real. And your not human are you Lenneth?”

“No I’m not, I’m a heartless just as you’re a Nobody Thelennx. Maybe we’ve been blessed with different lives in a different time, reincarnation is a common thing with beings with unfinished business”  

“That makes sense but why would we be incomplete again?”

“Life plays itself many times until fate seems to deem it finished, one thing I do recall is that is a feeling of betray, of lost and vengeance. I can’t me sure what this means, what everything means really you and me here and why its torture for us to be close but…What I do know is that I can never forgive you again no matter what this life seems to ask of me I know I must kill you…Riku”

Thelen’s heart skipped a beat and ran cold as Lenneth mentioned that name, he knew somehow to be true even if the visions they shard only showed each other. He didn’t understand why but only guessed that was his true name.  Collecting himself the nobody only felt the pain of that name stinging across untouched scars across his heart, Lenneth and riku seemed like two forces that could not exist without the other.    

“I feel this to be true. I can’t explain why but your right and I can understand your feelings. I honesty don’t know anything about any of this but I do know this you are a heartless, a monster that rips away innocent lives and brings nothing but darkness into our worlds. Thelennx, Riku or whatever name this life gives me dosen’t change the fact I am a protector destined to save lives. If you have been destined to take that duty away in any life before then I know I’ve been sent back to make sure to stop you every time and make sure you don’t again, monsters don’t have the right to exist”

Lenneth’s eyes glowed bright as the world grew dim with darkness, the world shaking underneath his heels while his voiced echoed intensely. Tearing as that disgusting word dropped down into is thoughts, it pained the most coming from this man for some reason as no pain felt in 100 years has every hurt as much.

“You’ve seemed to have failed countless times before. Here I stand before you again, a monster and the feeble knight.  I shall never stop in this life or the next ones, time and time again I shall raise to absolution is mine no matter how many lives it takes me. The next time we meet will be the end of this life time for one of us”

Summoning is large key Thelen held it fast, digging its tip into the ground as both of his massive hands lay resting on the bottom of the handle as he stared down at the beauty with the conviction of light, even though he was nothing more then an empty shell. His own eyes teared in sorrow that he couldn’t control or mask running down his face.

“Let us then meet in the world of dragons, the ancient land of honor that birth the point of time we both met in blood and fire”

Lenneth nodded in mutual agreement to his mortal enemy and allowed his sorrow to cast a reflection in the light. Parts of him dearly wished he had never exist to feel this again but did not question the fate given to them. H vanished into the darkness to meet at their fated places a land of peace that started their eternal vow to one another.

A thin line between love and hate, beginning to end they would start the story anew.

[Topic End]