Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Sephiroth rose from his seat with the grace of a predator, his towering form casting long shadows across the room. His eyes never left Helios's, their cold intensity sending a shiver down Helios's spine. "I'll ask again," Sephiroth said, his tone icy. "What are you doing with him?"

Helios took a slow, deliberate step back, keeping the distance between them steady. "I'm trying to keep him alive," he said honestly, though his voice carried an undertone of defiance. "His condition is critical. If he dies, let's just say your existence might become... unstable."

Sephiroth's eyes narrowed, and his lips curled into a faint, humorless smirk. "You think his survival is necessary for mine?" he asked, his tone almost mocking. "You misunderstand our connection."

Helios tilted his head slightly, feigning curiosity. "Do I? You and I both know you're tied to him in more ways than one. If his heart fails completely, I doubt you'd remain unaffected. Call it a hunch."

For a moment, the room was filled with a charged silence. Then, without warning, Sephiroth raised a hand, a surge of dark energy pooling around him. Helios braced himself, his barrier shimmering brighter in response to the sudden threat.

"I don't need him," Sephiroth said coldly, his voice laced with disdain. "I exist beyond him. But you…" His gaze sharpened, and his aura grew heavier. "You've been meddling in things you shouldn't. That makes you a liability."

Helios's smirk returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "A liability?" he echoed, his voice calm despite the rising danger. "Funny. I thought I was an ally. After all, I'm the one who will give you a new purpose. And let's not forget, I'm the only one keeping you entertained with our little sparring sessions."

Sephiroth took a slow, deliberate step forward, his presence growing more menacing with each movement. The dark energy around him pressed harder against Helios's barrier, causing it to flicker under the strain. "You have an inflated sense of importance," Sephiroth said, his voice cutting. "The word 'ally' is not something you've earned. Not yet."

Helios didn't flinch, though his grip on the Keyblade tightened subtly. "Earned or not, I've been doing my part," he said, his voice steady. "I've stayed out of your way, I've grown stronger under your guidance, and I've kept your existence intact. If that's not enough for you, then maybe you need to reevaluate what you want out of this partnership."

Sephiroth's lips twitched into something resembling a smirk, though it was devoid of any real humor. "Partnership?" he echoed, his tone dripping with derision. "You mistake convenience for camaraderie. I tolerate you because you amuse me. Nothing more."

The oppressive energy in the room grew heavier, and Helios could feel the weight of Sephiroth's power pressing against him. Despite this, he refused to back down. "Then I'll keep amusing you," Helios said evenly, meeting Sephiroth's gaze without wavering. "Because whether you admit it or not, you need me just as much as I need you. Actually, since I have to keep your other half alive you need me more than I currently need you. So I guess you owe me a favor."

For a moment, the tension in the room seemed poised to snap. Then, as suddenly as it had flared, Sephiroth's dark energy began to recede. The air grew lighter, though the menace in his gaze remained. "I'm warn you," Sephiroth said quietly, his tone carrying a deadly edge. "The line between usefulness and expendability is thinner than you think."

Helios exhaled slowly, lowering his Keyblade as the shimmering barrier around them faded. His smirk returned, faint but defiant. "And the line between ally and leech is just as thin," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Sephiroth's eyes narrowed slightly, though he made no move to attack. After a moment, he turned away, his steps echoing ominously as he disappeared into the shadows.

Helios walked into the dining room after laying Cloud in his bed, his thoughts still weighed down by the confrontation with Sephiroth. To his surprise, Maleficent was seated at the table, a porcelain cup of tea in her elegant hand. Across from her, another cup was set, steam curling softly from the surface of the liquid. She gestured wordlessly for him to take the empty seat.

"Trouble in paradise?" she asked, her voice carrying a smooth edge of mockery.

Helios didn't respond immediately. He moved to the chair, sitting down with a controlled grace. Lifting the cup to his lips, he drank deeply, savoring the unexpected warmth. It had been days—weeks, maybe—since he'd felt even a fleeting sense of calm. The tea's soothing heat seemed to spread through his veins, momentarily loosening the knots of tension in his muscles.

But Maleficent's voice broke through that fragile peace. "When can I expect this army of mine?" she asked, her tone sharp and commanding. Her green eyes fixed on him with a piercing gaze. "My patience, dear boy, is wearing thin."

Helios sighed, setting the cup down with deliberate care. He met her gaze evenly, his expression guarded but resolute. "Any day now," he said, his voice carrying a calm assurance that masked the turmoil beneath.

Maleficent leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly on the edge of her cup. "Any day," she echoed, her tone filled with doubt. "That phrase has become a mantra of yours. Are you stalling, Helios? Or have you simply overestimated your abilities?"

Helios's jaw tightened, though he kept his tone neutral. "Neither," he replied. "The pieces are falling into place. But creating something like this takes time and precision. If you want an army worth commanding, you'll have to wait a little longer."

Maleficent's smirk returned, her amusement cold and condescending. "How convenient," she said. "It seems your setbacks grow with every passing day. First, your mysterious excursions, then this guest of yours in the other room. Now, an apparent falling-out with our mutual acquaintance." She gestured vaguely, clearly alluding to Sephiroth.

Helios's expression remained impassive, though his eyes glinted with defiance. "Everything I do is to ensure that your army will be everything you've envisioned and more. Or have you grown tired of waiting for perfection?"

Maleficent chuckled softly, her voice low and velvety. "Perfection is an illusion, my dear. But power—true, unyielding power—that is worth the wait. I only hope you're not allowing... distractions to compromise your work."

Helios leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but laced with a subtle warning. "Distractions don't compromise my work. They're part of the process. Every move I make, every decision—it's all connected to the endgame. You'll have your army, Maleficent. But only if you trust me to do what needs to be done."