[center][h1][b][u]Beware the Blackcoats[/u][/b][/h1]
[i]An Island-Daxam-Bacon Collab, ft. Hoshi, Zac, & Levi[/i][/center]

As the Islanders started to converse amongst themselves, Zac fell silent, watching them all. He had no doubt they were all nervous, if not outright scared, of not only needing to split up, but also of the task ahead of them. He remembered when he first set out on his journey, the trepidation he felt. Unlike everyone else, he didn’t start off with companions. It was just him and Sigrid for a while, traveling from world to world, fighting tooth and nail to prevent the tragedy that befell his own world. Until he met her, he had to figure most things out on his own. [i][color=orange]I’m glad, though,[/color][/i] he thought. [i][color=orange]If my experience can help these guys out, then everything I’ve been through will have been worth it.[/color][/i]

When his gaze moved to Hoshi, it was drawn to the black square she had deigned to sit on. He spent a moment trying to figure out what it was when it dawned on him. Kicking himself for being so focused on the task at hand to notice, having first noticed it on the way to the Keyhole, he moved away from the wall and came to stand in front of her. [color=orange]“Where did you get that? The coat you’re sitting on?”[/color] he asked. He seemed almost uncharacteristically serious, his usual easy-going demeanor gone. His voice was low, not because he was trying to be quiet, but because he had to consciously hold back an anger that had suddenly bubbled from deep within. He didn’t want to direct it at Hoshi, who he knew would have no idea just what the coat meant to him.

Levi was off the couch before he realized he was moving. It was that subtle aggression in how Zac moved that set him on edge. Levi was quick to interpose himself, and offered a hand over to Hoshi, as he spoke up. [color=82ca9d]“Hey, why don’t you help me grab some spare blankets from downstairs?”[/color] He asked her, trying to sound casual. It’d be a chance to talk in relative privacy, at least. [color=82ca9d]“You can come too.”[/color] He said as he turned to Zac, before lowering his voice. [color=82ca9d]“If you can keep it civil.”[/color] He softly added on, giving a brief but level look to their savior. He figured it wouldn’t be a necessary reminder, but he’d known Zac for less than two days, and it was better to err on the side of caution.

Hoshi looked up at Zac, blinking tiredly; she had been ready to nod off to sleep before he began his move toward her. If she hadn’t been as worn out as she was, she’d have been on her feet and standing her ground similarly to Levi. [color=fff79a]“Where did I get what?”[/color] she asked, half-slurring her words. She scanned herself and the floor around her before realizing what he was talking about. [color=fff79a]“Oh… this? It’s--”[/color] she was cut off by Levi, who had intervened in the conversation. 

[color=fff79a]“Y-yeah,”[/color] she spoke through a light yawn. [color=fff79a]“Blore mankets… I mean, more blankets wouldn’t be a bad idea.”[/color] She pulled herself off of the coat and followed Levi. Being on her feet again forced a bit of extra life into her, and she spoke more clearly as they made their way to a more private corner. [color=fff79a]“It’s OK,”[/color] she whispered ahead to her friend. Once they had gotten out of proper earshot of Morgan and Lucian, she looked at Zac. [color=fff79a]“I- I got it back on the Islands. Just before the world was lost. Some guy, I’m not sure who… he gave it to me. I mean, he basically dressed me into it, said something about it keeping me safe in the Darkness. Then he threw me into the portal thing that brought me here.”[/color]

It was all Zac could do to keep from punching a hole in the wall. He stood there, eyes closed as he got his breathing under control, fighting back an intense wave of anger he hadn’t felt in a long time, muttering, [color=orange]“I can’t believe it…One of them was on the island…So close, but…”[/color]

When he was certain he wasn’t going to blow up on Hoshi or Levi, he let out a long, slow breath before saying, [color=orange]“Sorry. Just…some bad memories.”[/color] Turning to Hoshi, he said, [color=orange]“He was right. That coat is designed to keep you safe when you travel through Corridors of Darkness. Why he helped you off of the island, I can’t even begin to guess, but if there’s just one thing you [i]need[/i] to keep in mind, it’s this: anyone wearing one of those coats is nothing but bad news. He might’ve saved you, but I don’t believe for a second it was because he seriously wanted to keep you safe.”[/color]

Crossing his arms, he leaned against the wall and added, [color=orange]“I need you guys to promise me something: you ever see anyone dressed like that, turn the other way and run. Try to get a hold of me and I’ll come as quickly as I can. Neither of you or any of your friends are any match for them, right now. And I’ve got a score to settle.”[/color]

Initially, Levi was tense, though it lessened slightly at Hoshi’s reassurance. He always got his hackles up when he thought someone or something could be a threat to his friends, it was just part of who he was. Levi relaxed far more, however, as Zac explained himself. And also as he was indirectly assured that Zac wasn’t about to turn on them over a coat Hoshi was given. After a moment, he looked back over to Zac. [color=82ca9d]“Alright.”[/color] He ceded, though there was a quiet conviction across his face as Levi led the group to a linen closet he’d seen when they initially made their way to the blue room. [color=82ca9d]“If push comes to shove though, I’m the last one out. It’s just how I roll.”[/color] He stated plainly, as he kept his pace down the hall, ending at the closet in question.

[color=82ca9d]“Here.”[/color] Levi offered, as he pulled several folded blankets out of the linen closet. One he handed to Hoshi, one to Zac, and took two stacked atop each other himself. [color=82ca9d]“This should be plenty.”[/color]

Hoshi took the blanket from Levi and held it close to her chest. All the while she was looking at Zac, who was visibly shaken by the matter of the coat and the people associated with it. She hadn’t known him long, but had guessed him well-traveled and experienced as a fighter… if he was worried about the people that supplied her coat, then she had to take his word that they were too much for her and her friends; she worried for Alias, where ever he was and would go, and hoped he wouldn’t have to deal with them alone. [color=fff79a]“Weird, though,”[/color] she said. [color=fff79a]“If the guy that gave me that coat was one of these people you’re talking about… should I be more careful then, if they wanted me safe for something? Who even [b]are[/b] they?”[/color]

Zac nodded at Levi as he passed him a blanket. He knew better than to argue with him, given that he was the same way, but he still said, [color=orange]“Just don’t take any unnecessary risks, then. Promise me that much and that you’ll call me, then we’re good.”[/color]

When Hoshi finished talking, he sighed and shook his head. [color=orange]“I’ve tangled with them a few times, but I don’t know much about them. The last time I faced them, I’m pretty sure I went up against their boss…but those memories are fuzzy, at best. Something happened, then I woke up in Traverse Town, alone.”[/color] He faced Hoshi, then Levi, and added, [color=orange]“Just stay on your toes. There are things just as dangerous, if not more so, than Heartless out there.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]“Right.”[/color] Hoshi fought back from yawning into Zac’s face, and affirmed her agreement with a dutiful nod. She looked to Levi, and then back to Zac. [color=fff79a]“I um…”[/color] She began to speak, but stopped herself. She struggled with her thoughts for a moment before saying. [color=fff79a]“Thank you for letting us know to be alert… Uh… if you could, right now… I was hoping to talk to Levi about something private.”[/color]

Levi turned back toward Zac for a moment, considering for a few heartbeats before speaking himself. [color=82ca9d]“Why don’t you let the others know about these black coat guys? Better they know before everyone leaves anyway, in case there are any chance encounters.”[/color] He offered, before his expression became a bit less carefree. [color=82ca9d]“And don’t worry about me. I’m not the type to pull hare-brained stunts.”[/color] He commented, giving the topic the severity it warranted, before softening his face a bit. [color=92ca9d]“That’d be this one’s ballpark.”[/color] He remarked jokingly, as he turned slightly and tapped Hoshi’s arm with his fist, an ever so slight smirk crossing his face.

Zac smiled at Hoshi and Levi, but it wasn’t his usual carefree grin. It was an attempt, but there was a hint of sadness there. [color=orange]“Yeah, sure. I’ll say something to the others and then I think I’ll spend the night in my ship. With how long I’ve been moving around, I’ve gotten to the point where I sleep better in my chair than in a bed.”[/color] With that, the young Gummi mechanic turned around and left, waving over his shoulder at Hoshi and Levi.

As Zac strode out of earshot, Hoshi turned to Levi. She had debated saying something to Zac, but she barely knew him beyond that he was skilled in combat, and his status as a seasoned adventurer and Keyblade wielder. [color=fff79a]“That guy I was talking about, the one that gave me the black coat… when he was near me I… I felt strange. Like something in my chest was burning and about to burst out. I felt it on the Island, and I’ve felt the same a few times since I got to this world, but I don’t think he’s here… I haven’t seen him at least.”[/color]

Levi’s expression turned around to concern quickly with Hoshi’s explanation, as he considered the situation. [color=82ca9d]“Well… it doesn’t seem like he wants to hurt you. From what you’ve said, as dangerous as the guy is according to Zac, he could’ve just left you.”[/color] He stated as he analyzed the situation. It was worrying that these people thought Hoshi was important enough to save, but they had enough problems as it was without going and hunting for answers. That could come after they’d found Alias. After a moment to consider, he tensed slightly as he gave his opinion on the matter. [color=82ca9d]“Still, best to watch your back. We don’t know what he wants with you, so it’d be better to be cautious."[/color] 

The concern Levi had displayed changed to a deadly seriousness, as he reassured his friend, using words he meant with his whole heart. [color=82ca9d]“But if you ever need us, we’re just a call away. We’ll come running to help the second you ask. You know we will.”[/color] Levi gently placed a hand on Hoshi's shoulder, intending to comfort her. A soft yet serious smile was on his face as he met her eyes and promised. [color=82ca9d]“Come hell or high water.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]“Right.”[/color] It was all Hoshi could do to agree with her friend. 

Without further words, the pair returned to their group’s bedroom.