Floating in Fantasy, Ch.2

Ha, not even Writer's Block can stop me from finishing this unusually easy developing story from coming out! Yes, I have completed Chapter 2, so all should bow down and worship me!!!

Disclaimer: Yep, still don't own Final Fantasy or anything else mentioned in that genre, nor do I own the lyrics from '30 Seconds to Mars' sitting right below. I do, however, own the sexy characters, so back off!

*Characters may be used with express consent of the write, but don't expect any quarter if you screw up the good parts.*

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“I won't suffer, be broken

Get tired, or wasted

Surrender to nothing

I'll give up what I

Started

And stopped it

From end to beginning

A new day is coming

And I am finally free!”

Jared Leto’s strong, beautiful voice echoed throughout the empty house, making Roan groan inwardly. *Why does he have to play that now of all times…?* Knowing someone to the point of almost being them is nice, but you also start to know when they’re pissed off and how they vent. Lan liked to play songs that coincided with his moods, and ‘Attack’ was never a good sign. It was a nice song… just not when Lan played it.

*At least it’s not ‘Fire’s Touch’ again… I thought that the repeat on the CD Player might give out before the night was over.* The plastic Playstation case was still in his hands, sweat growing from out of the grip that was slowly getting tighter.

“Are you just gonna stand there or are you going to come in…” That empty voice sounded so unfamiliar to Roan that it made him jump.

“Run away, run away

I’ll attack!”

*You’re not helping, Jared!* The music, combined with Lan’s newfound coldness didn’t improve the chill that spread throughout the room at hyper speed. A clap of thunder from outside issued throughout the house, making Roan jump to the dark humor that seemed to be inhabiting the house. Nevertheless, he managed to find Lan’s queen bed just fine, even put the cold out of his mind until he felt a sharp biting pain on his neck, although that would make sense if someone were biting you.

“AH!” The sharp yelp escaped Roan’s mouth before he could compose himself. He jerked away and rubbed vigorously at the now throbbing bite marks that showed bright red against his fair tan skin. After a few minutes of trying to rub the pain away, Roan turned angrily to Lan, nearly screaming, “What was that for?!?!??”

“Now this bruise doesn’t feel so bad.” Roan’s anger vanished in almost an instant. *Oh yeah… I’m the one that put that there… but still, that hurt!* Lan didn’t smile, but his mood seemed to improve just a bit. “Now we’re somewhat square…”

*Uh oh…* Roan didn’t like that somewhat part. It brought him back to ‘Saw 3’ all over again, and his imagination was deadly when he was… scared.

“Um, uh… hey, look at this! Happy Birthday!” The plastic case found its way into Lan’s hands in a second, giving Roan time to back away while his friend tried to hold onto the game. Lan’s eyes jumped up in surprise before he realized it, and Roan smiled a little. *There we go…*

“It isn’t my birthday.” The cold voice jumped out again, lashing him with that cruel verbal whip. “I know that,” Roan started, “but… this was just laying around my house, and I know how you like Final Fantasy, so I thought that you might enjoy it more than I was.” Lan’s eyes wandered over the cover art, his hands turning it over to examine the back while Roan sat in silence, hoping that he did well.

“Um… do you mind if I play right now?” Life entered that once cold voice, and everything seemed right again. “Go ahead, Lan!”

The elder boy smiled briefly, jumping up to insert the first disk into his PS2.

“Let’s see if it’s any good, eh?”

*But… the ground isn’t always so bad.*

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A steady pour of rain tinkled against the glass window of the dark room and down on Lan’s hand. The two hours of gameplay had past him like the flash of lightning that lit up the night sky, and when he finally powered down his PlayStation, he found Roan sleeping against the wall nearest his bed. He watched as the younger teen slept peacefully as the rain began to pour harder, and he felt like everything was right.

The rain always made everything feel better. It felt cool and refreshing to him, the gentle element waking him up from an almost waking dream every time he heard its gentle melody.

*This is how we met… It was just like this…* The memory entered into his mind so suddenly, unbidden but not unwelcome. It felt like it had happened just the day before…

-Flashback!-

The rain was falling from the heavens fast and forcefully. It beat down upon the ground over and over, threatening to destroy anything that dared to grow from the ground underneath. A single figure was moving through the hail of water, his head down and blood running freely from his hair. Teetering and tottering like a drunken patriot after a night on the town.

*Can’t… breathe… can’t see… I can’t… can’t keep on…*

The road became a bed as the figure fell heavily upon it, his breath coming in shallow gasps and heaves.

“why…Why…WHY!!!!” The question screamed over and over, running through the air with an air of cold death about it. “WHY!!!!!!!!!!”

Lan’s head hit the ground, adding his tears to the saturated ground beneath him.

“Do you always find the time for a nap outside?” The question pierced through the beat of the rain, and Lan raised his head just before he felt the world fall away, looked into the face of…

-Flashback End-

The next peal of thunder shocked Lan away from his thoughts, and he looked out at the sky. The color had changed from the unshakable dark blackness that ruled the skyline to an eerie sea green.

“What’s that?” Roan’s voice echoed Lan’s thought as the green seemed to… spread? “What’s happening?”

A sudden flash of lightning erupted in front of them, making both leap back from the open window. “What the hell…!” Another beam of crooked plasma erupted from the sky, hitting the power line of Lan’s house. A second later, the PlayStation erupted into light, which seemed to grab onto both Lan and Roan.

The last thing that either of them remembered was the scream that they shared.

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Ooooh, what's gonna happen? ...As if you already didn't know. Well, I hope you all enjoyed it. I know I enjoyed writing it, even when I didn't know what to write, so please comment!