The Second Match

[realitymods]

Characters: Roxas, Axel, Spectators
Location: The Coliseum.
Time: Two days after Weber's announcement.
Summary: The second of the death matches.
Warnings: Character death warning.


When the arena cleared, the man rose from his seat to again address the Coliseum. His smile was untouched, undisturbed by what it had seen. He made no apologies. "For a fairer fight, friendship. Axel," a twist of irony in the smile at the name, "in the red corner. Roxas in, oh, the yellow? Or it will all be fire, and this will be red and gold."

The sand drained up through the hourglass as he spoke. When it had all slipped through to the top, it held its place, waiting patiently for the start, still defying gravity.

"Good luck."

But gravity won out, and the sand began its descent.

Comments

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

"There's something bigger going on, and the most important thing is what's happening right before me," the Doctor repeated.

"What's happening right before me is the two of them fighting for their lives. But that's not everything, is it? 'Cause here I am standing in an Emperor's box with no Emperor in it." He glanced at the throne again. "Where's he gone?"

[realitymods]

There was nothing in Weber's expression to confirm or deny if the Doctor had understood correctly what he had tried to say. "Maybe he's not invited. Royalty inspires no love in me. Like warmongering Presidents and decadent Generals, they're so often the worst that a people has to offer."

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

"Maybe he's the one I ought to be speaking to, then. Think I've got a shot at getting his attention?" Not that he wouldn't try anyway.

[realitymods]

Something like a hand tightened around Weber's throat, but even that could not stop him smiling. He spoke lightly, lilting, as if he didn't mean what he said. But he was being more sincere than the Doctor could know. "If he ever shows up, you should run and not stop until he can no longer see you. Run and never come back."

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

The Doctor smiled too, but it was more of a smirk. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks." He had no intention of heeding Weber's warning, no matter how sincere it was. "I'm good at running, me."

[realitymods]

"You're also good at stupidity. You don't understand the situation, and if you walk in with your blind assumptions..." He made a gun of his hand and pointed it at his head. "Bang bang. If you're lucky." But Weber had warned the Doctor, and that was all he could do.

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

"If I'm lucky, I'll come back," the Doctor pointed out, before simply leaving the Emperor's box. Weber's insistence that this was a bad idea only convinced him further that it was the right one.