Sometimes all it takes is one small change

Xigbar flinched when Eraqus touched his face and tried to pull away, desperate to grab his hood and cover his face before he completely destabilized. It was so rare that Xigbar let his emotions get so out of control that he lost his grip on his form, and even after all these ages he still hated being seen like this. “Don’t.” He growled.

The situation had changed so quickly, Xigbar was at a loss for how to react to Eraqus’ apology, other than he did not want it. After everything that he had been through, he was owed an apology from somebody, but that somebody was not Eraqus. If anything, he was the one who should apologize to Eraqus.

The problem was that Xigbar had sworn to never apologize for anything he did for the sake of fulfilling his role. Even leaving Eraqus and Xehanort behind, as he had deemed that necessary to his true mission. Xigbar could not apologize for that.

But Bragi could.

It took a moment for him to remember how to use that voice, it had been a long time since Xigbar  had needed to speak as Bragi.

“I’m sorry I left.” He said, perfectly imitating the much younger voice he had used when he and Eraqus had been friends. 

He wanted to say more than that, explain how it had been necessary and in his defense that choice had not exactly been easy. But Xigbar knew Eraqus did not want to hear any of that, he had to quit before he ruined the moment any further.

Eraqus pulled his hands back quickly, letting the other retreat and cover his face. This was incredibly upsetting, seeing this man literally coming apart. He had no idea what to do, and he stood there, hands hovering uncertainly in front of him, as confused and lost as the young man his face reflected.

Then there was the voice. A voice his ears hadn’t heard in decades, but remembered so vividly once it rang into his ears. Nostalgic, painful. 

“Bragi...”   

And he was crying again. Tears streaming down a face he’d should have long grown out of. 

“This is... too much.” He flopped down on his butt in the grass of the graveyard, unable to will himself to do anything else. He simultaneously wanted to punch and hug him, but the strange state the other was in, he was afraid to do either. What if he broke him? Then what? Could he break him? What even was he?

Noctis considered his words for a long moment. He had much of the power he needed already then, he just didn’t have the power to take it back. It made him wonder who had been able to hinder him in such a way. From what he’d seen so far, Mal was powerful, and this was him not even at his full strength. With all of his power at his command, Mal would be a terrifying enemy to have.

He was brought from his thoughts when Mal’s hands landed on his shoulders and he hesitated before voicing his concerns.

“What if I’m not compatible.” The power would mean little to him if it burned him up from the inside. Would they be able to tell in advance? Or would they have to just have to hope that the power wouldn’t kill him. Then again, Noctis was a replica. He wasn’t exactly mortal, but he’d been able to contain some of the power belonging to the original Noctis Lucis Caelum. “Will I die?”

He supposed that wasn’t the biggest concern right now though. What was more pressing was what would happen to his world. What exactly did he mean by rebirth. If his own world was practically collapsed, would he need to revive it from the ashes of Noctis’s own world.

“What happens to the realities that already exist?”

“With any luck it will work! My first well... he was a bit of an artificial construct as well. Malleable. And even if it doesn’t just for giving it a try I will do my very best to make sure that you do not, in fact, die from it. I could still use a youthful face and a fine fighter to aid me, even if I cannot share with you my power.” He let the other go as he paced, motioning grandiosely to the sky.” 

“My reality is dying. Collapsing. At one time I didn’t care. When I left I didn’t care. When I tore holes into it to find new worlds, new hearts to consume I didn’t care. But when I was stripped of all that power I consumed, a little piece of humanity crept its way back into the back of my mind. Annoying as it is. I began to think back. If anyone can save it, perhaps I Can! I have... had the power, I tore the reality asunder! Surely I can put it back! Except my way. Not that I can really stop what is happening to it now. All I can do is pick up the pieces of the collapse and build myself a mighty castle.”

Was it really an answer to Noctis? Not so much, But perhaps he can glimpse the mad monster’s frantic dreams.

Noctis wasn’t sure he fully understood, but he understood enough to know that he didn’t want to get on Mal’s bad side, so he nodded. Better an ally than an enemy, after all, and Mal was at least showing an interest in him – at least pretending to care about him. It wasn’t something he was used to.

He should just be grateful that Mal had chosen to recruit him rather than use him as a battery. He’d have to make sure to prove his worth though – needed to make sure he was more of an asset alive.

“How many would you need? To be powerful enough to get what you want?” Noctis was curious, but he was also a little nervous about what would come afterwards. He had been created to be loyal and with that, came some attachment issues. He’d overcome them eventually, but he’d been a mess after everything that happened with the Organization.

Mal was his master now and he could already feel the fear of abandonment creeping in. Would he just throw him away? Do to him what he’d done to that man?

“What happens after you get what you want?”

“I do not know how much it will take.” Replying flatly. “Most of my gathered power is trapped within a summons sphere. A particularly clever beasty managed to turn me into some kind of trapped creature. Unfortunately for them, my power was not entirely contained. I escaped from my prison, though left most of my accumulated strength behind. In order to get it back, I need to start over. I need the strength to rend it free of its prison.” Turning to look at Noctis. “And a being to share it with to regulate it. See, one person containing all that power? A being or mortal beginnings? It gets difficult to maintain long term.” 

He walked over slapping both hands down on Noctis’ shoulders. “That’s where you come in! If you are compatible, you will have access to my power overflow!” Like it was the most normal concept in the world. “Imagine how strong you can be! All the power to do as you want! Make others see you, respect you. The power to make things different.” He waxed poetically. 

“As for what I need it for... well originally just to call myself a god! From such humble beginnings to a god amongst the cosmos! But... what would I do with those powers once I had them? That got me thinking.” 

“My world, my home reality, is nearly collapsed, ripe for rebirth. I’d like to start it over. Be the deity, the force it needs to be whole again. But I need energy, So much energy to call myself a God. To make a reality that I can proudly declare “This is mine! I made this!”

Noctis had never enjoyed death, but he had been desensitised to it throughout his time with the Organization. Still, he couldn’t help but pity the man he saw by the monitors. He was alive, but only in the most literal of senses. His eyes were dull and glassy, his breathing slow. He didn’t even seem to notice them when they were stood right in front of him.

Then he was dead and Noctis was left wondering just how powerful Mal was. Xemnas had always been powerful, of course, but Mal was something else. His gaze lingered for a moment as Mal steered him away from the scene. Eventually he forced himself to look away, a small frown on his face.

“What did you do to him?”

It was never a good sign when death was the merciful option.

“Are you going to kill them all?”

"I took from him the very core of the power in his heart. Without the emotional baggage that went with it." Well he wasn't about to lie to the young man. He'd either have a cohort or a snack, Noctis wasn't going to get out of this entirely. Though the more time he spent the more attached, however feebly it may be, that he got to the little copy.

"Once it was consumed there was no getting it back. No heart to return to the body. Emotions, memories would all have moved on. Far better than taking the whole thing. At least the soul is free." Though in the beginning, he didn't care about such things. It was only really when he lost his Beast and the majority of the power he'd originally stolen he'd started to care again.

"What... Bragi? Wait Xig... whatever!" His hands were on the others melting, misshapen face. "No! No don't fall apart! What's happening?" His anger replaced by panic for the time being. "What.. I ... I don't know what's happening but I'm sorry. I was mad, I'm still mad... But I know how how feel about Terra. I'm sorry." Completely lost as to what to do.

How do you help someone that's melting? "I don't know what to do, please, just, calm down." He pleaded. Eraqus was certain his current attempts were far from the most helpful, but he was doing his best. This was weird.