Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Helios hurried through the bustling streets of Radiant Garden, his coat fluttering slightly in the cool breeze. His goal was clear: retrieve Kurai from Cid before any complications arose. He knew that Xehanort or one of the apprentices might eventually notice the strange behaviors Kurai's subtle influence had triggered in Cid, and that kind of scrutiny was the last thing Helios needed. Time was of the essence.

Halfway to the workshop, Helios turned a corner and nearly walked straight into Even. The slender apprentice's sharp green eyes locked onto Helios immediately, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Well, well," Even said smoothly, his tone laced with curiosity. "It seems we meet again."

Helios forced his expression into a neutral mask, hiding his annoyance. He had no way to avoid this encounter without raising suspicion. "Good day, Sir Even," he said with a curt nod. "Heading somewhere?"

Even's smile widened slightly. "As a matter of fact, I'm on my way to the lab. It seems we're heading in the same direction. Shall we walk together?"

Helios inwardly cursed his luck but managed to maintain his composure. If he declined, Even might grow suspicious or insist on accompanying him anyway. "Sure," Helios said, keeping his tone casual. "Lead the way."

As they walked side by side, Even wasted no time starting a conversation. "You know, Helios, I've been wondering if you've reconsidered my offer to join us at the lab. Your perspective must be… quite unique. It would be a shame not to utilize them for the greater good."

Helios kept his stride even, his gaze fixed ahead. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm fine where I am," he said smoothly. "I prefer working for Cid and Merlin."

Even's expression didn't falter, but his sharp eyes studied Helios closely. "A shame," he murmured. "With someone of your skill, we could accomplish remarkable things. But I suppose independence suits you."

They walked in silence for a moment before Even shifted the conversation. "How are you finding life in Radiant Garden these days?" he asked casually.

Helios gave quick but solid answers, deflecting the questions with practiced ease. He spoke about his routine, his interactions with townsfolk, and the occasional oddities that came with living in a place like Radiant Garden. Even nodded along, his demeanor polite, but Helios could sense the subtle probing in his words.

As they approached the workshop, Helios could feel his irritation building. The closer they got, the more questions Even seemed to have. "You've changed quite a bit since we first met," Even remarked, his tone light but with an edge of curiosity. "You carry yourself differently now. There's… something darker about you."

Helios froze for a fraction of a second, his mind racing. Even's words were like a blade cutting through his carefully constructed facade. He forced a small, tight smile. "Everyone changes over time," he said, his tone calm. "The challenges we face tend to leave their mark."

Even hummed thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Helios for a moment longer than necessary. Then, with a faint smile, he said, "Of course. I've always believed that adversity shapes us in interesting ways."

A few steps from the workshop, Even stopped. "Well, this is where I leave you," he said, his smile widening slightly. "It's always enlightening to speak with you, Helios. Until next time."

Helios nodded, watching as Even turned and walked away, his form disappearing into the bustling streets. The moment he was out of sight, Helios let out a slow, measured breath, cursing under his breath.

Even had noticed it—the faint scent of darkness emanating from him. Without Kurai present to completely mask the darkness, the orb inside him could only suppress so much. That faint trace would be all someone like Even would need to start connecting dots. If Even realized that Helios's dark form and his current self were one and the same, it would shatter his carefully constructed facade and expose him to Xehanort and the others.

Helios clenched his fists briefly before forcing himself to relax. He couldn't afford to lose his composure now. Kurai had to be retrieved, and quickly. Anything else could be dealt with after that.

Entering Cid's workshop, Helios was greeted by the familiar hum of machinery and the faint tang of oil and metal. The space was a controlled chaos of scattered tools, glowing monitors, and half-finished contraptions. Cid sat at his workbench, hunched over a parchment filled with detailed schematics. His expression, a mask of deep concentration, softened slightly as he glanced up and spotted Helios entering.

"Well, look who it is," Cid said, setting his pen down and leaning back in his chair. A faint smile tugged at his lips, breaking his otherwise stern demeanor. "What brings you here, Helios?"

Helios returned the smile, masking the urgency simmering beneath his calm exterior. "I wanted to check in on that Gummi design we worked on last time," he said smoothly, his tone casual. "I figured you might've made some changes to it. Thought I'd see if you had any insights to share."

Cid chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck with a grease-streaked hand. "You did a damn good job on it, kid. Bit of a rush job, though. There were a few details I ended up smoothing out, but overall, it's solid work. Got me out of a tight spot, that's for sure."

Helios stepped closer, his gaze flicking briefly to the workbench. "Good to hear," he said, maintaining his relaxed facade. "Anything you'd tweak for next time?"

Cid waved a hand dismissively, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "Not much, really. Maybe streamline the propulsion alignment a bit, but other than that, it's spot-on. You've got a knack for this stuff."

Helios nodded, keeping his movements measured. "Thanks, Cid. It's always good to hear feedback from someone with your expertise."

Cid waved him off with a grin. "You and your tech talk. I'll dig up the details for you later. Right now, I've got a backlog of repairs to get through."

As Cid turned back to his work, Helios felt the faint presence of Kurai stir within the room. The subtle darkness seeped from the shadows, coalescing just behind Cid before merging back into Helios with a faint, almost imperceptible pulse. The weight of Kurai's presence settled within him, and Helios felt the suppression of his darkness strengthen immediately.

Kurai's voice slithered into his mind, smooth and sardonic. "You're lucky I handled things as neatly as I did. Those apprentices are quite the nosy ones."

Helios's smile remained fixed as he replied internally, "We'll discuss your methods later. For now, keep quiet."

With Kurai safely returned to him, Helios wrapped up his conversation with Cid, excusing himself with a polite nod. He left the workshop, his mind already shifting gears as he considered the implications of Even's observations and the potential fallout from their encounter. Even's sharp intellect and curiosity made him a dangerous variable, one that Helios couldn't afford to underestimate.