Cheap Shot

~*Their two favorite words.*~

Larxene cracked an eye open at the sound of someone's footsteps echoing in the corridors.

The heck? What do they want? She thought irritably, placing her book to the side. She couldn't even sit and read out by the "moon" could she, without some idiotic boy sauntering up and pestering her. What did they want, and what was important enough to disrupt her solitary time?!

She turned to face her "tormenter", a sharp barb already on her tongue, but her face softened for just a moment when she saw it was only Axel. Then it was back with a vengeance.

"What is it, redhead?" She leaned back, flipping her book open again lazily and letting her eyes trace the words across the pages. Axel clicked his tongue.

"If you keep reading like that, you'll end up like Zexion. The biggest nerd to walk the Castle."

Larxene's jade eyes flashed, and lightning seemed to pierce her eyes. "Are you implying-"

"No, I'm not." Axel interrupted. "Got it memorized? I just thought I'd be chivalrous about something and invite you to our little…battle we're holding outside of the Castle. What do you say?"

"You?" She snorted. "Chivalrous?"

"Well hey, if you don't want to participate in our little tournament…"

Larxene, despite herself, found her eyes flickering interestedly. "Oh? And what…" She stood up, her movements as languid and graceful as a cat's, walking toward Axel. "Do you mean exactly when you say 'tournament'? Is it what I hope you mean?"

Axel smirked. "Yes. No. Maybe."

Her temper flared, but she kept it under control, lightly touching his chest with one finger. "Is it so hard to give a direct answer?" She said in a softer tone.

"Possibly." With a huge grin Axel turned on his heel and headed back down the stairs. "We're just practicing some fighting moves, Roxas, Xion and I. I thought I'd ask you."

She followed him, but was careful to make it look like she was only coming out of bored disinterest. "Oh all right, I guess I might as well."

Axel suddenly jumped off the balcony they were on, and despite herself Larxene raced forward, (and she ran fast), to see if he had hurt himself. She hissed like an irritated cat as she saw he was perfectly fine. Not to be outdone, she leaped down after him.

"Show off," she scoffed. "The stairs too good for you? Or a Portal?"

Axel rolled his eyes and continued onward. "Yes, no, maybe." He grinned wider, though she couldn't see since his back was to her, as she fumed again.

"Straight. Answers. Remember?" Larxene considered placing a lightning bolt on his back, maybe between his shoulder blades.

"Perhaps." He replied.

Larxene's eyes flashed but she resisted the urge to strike him. At least until they were outside, that is. They exited the Castle and walked down the strange path into the empty neon lit city below the Castle. The holographic Moogle was selling something to Roxas, and Larxene gave a huge smirk as Xion gave a little squeak of fear and retreated to Roxas's side.

It took the younger Nobody a moment to see why she was scared, and then he too looked uncomfortable as Larxene approached.

"Axel, you got her?"

"What about me?" Larxene challenged, smiling brazenly. Seeing the dangerous glint in her eyes, Roxas wisely said nothing else.

"Hey, if you two are going to team up on me with Keyblades, I'd rather have Larxene on my side than anyone else." Axel said.

Larxene didn't know whether to be flattered or not, so she simply flashed her knives to her hands with the most ostentatious, flashy effects that she knew how to do. Lightning crackled in the skies, dark clouds gathering on the horizon above. "Well, when do we start?"

"You accused me of being show offy? What was that just now?" Axel accused.

"That wasn't ostentatious at all, Axel." She winked at him, a sardonic smile on her lips. "That was just impressive."

"Impressive? Heh, watch this. Then you'll know impressive." Axel gestured to his friends. "Take a step or five back, guys."

Xion scrambled backwards immediately, as did Roxas.

Axel took a deep breath, as if calling his element through his breath, and Larxene yawned, thoroughly unimpressed, as he called up a whirlwind of fire and embers that licked at the ground and formed into prancing shapes before falling back into a bed of burning ash.

"That all?" She said, unimpressed.

Axel rolled his eyes, which were glowing behind the veil of smoke. Suddenly he pounced and struck her with his chakrams. The spiked instruments dug into her cloak, though not with heavy force, but with enough to send her off her feet.

Almost. She flipped in midair and landed easily. She rushed forward, slashing his chest with her kunai daggers.

"A cheap shot? At a girl?" She chided. Axel leaped to his feet, but Larxene had skipped out of his reach. She flashed down lightning that he countered with a barrage of flames that engulfed the bolt, and the two went at it again.

The reason their cloaks didn't tear during combat was…well, it was a magical cloak. It always tightened to fit someone specifically, not to mention it changed them into different forms to fit the planet. Like in the Pride Lands.

Also, they didn't bleed because Nobodies have natural regenerative energy. Once that energy runs out, then they actually take the blows. Neither Larxene nor Axel was hitting the other hard enough to exhaust their energy for the moment, and they traded blows viciously.

"Um…" Xion said blankly.

"Let's go practice further in the city," Roxas suggested, leading the raven haired girl away just as lightning flashed overhead.

Larxene twisted in midair as she dodged two flying chakrams, then landed lightly and sprang forward. She slashed at Axel's side, and he responded with a flurry of dancing flames that grabbed at her robe. She countered with lightning, and the fight continued. The entire air seemed to be lit with flames and electricity until neither had anything to give.

The fire vanished, and the last lightning strike faded from the air. Larxene glared tiredly at Axel, too weary to give him a proper withering look.

"You…that was just ridiculous. You're lucky I don't feel like fighting anymore."

"So are you." Axel countered, not sounding quite as tired as she did.

The two Nobodies glared at each other, and suddenly Larxene felt darkness eat into her vision and she collapsed on the ground. She heard Axel's footsteps quicken as he neared her, and she felt him touch her face gently with one hand. "Larxene?" He sounded worried. "What's the matter?

She really had been tired, but now…

She jumped up, using the last of her energy, and slashed him diagonally. He stumbled backward, and then they faced each other once more.

"Wow, I'm impressed. You actually manage to get a cheap shot back at me."

Larxene was exhausted, but she didn't show it. She straightened herself and laughed patronizingly. "That's right, I win." She proclaimed.

"What? You don't win! I've still got more energy than you."

The two studied the other, and Larxene summoned her knives back as Axel brought out his chakrams.

"Fine then, one more round? Winner takes all?" His eyes flashed playfully.

"All? What all?"

"Oh I don't know. Munny I guess. Just say yeah!"

"You're on!" Larxene sidestepped him neatly as he jumped, and the two were at it once more. As the clashing and clanging, taunting battle cries and furious bursts of elemental magic warred against each other with renewed vigor, Roxas and Xion paused in their own more down toned fighting to watch.

"Oh, are they killing each other?" Xion asked.

Roxas laughed. "No, Xion. This is how they flirt."

"Flirt?"

"I'll tell you later. Show me your parrying action again!"

Roxas didn't need to see anymore, because as a longtime friend of Axel, he already knew. This strange ritual he shared with Larxene that usually included them trading witty banter or fighting each other was his friend's way of "flirting".

He was a little unsure of what they called "kissing" though. He had a feeling it wouldn't be pleasant.

~***~

A random story that might continue into full fledged Larxene and Axel. Want to review about it?