Xaldin adjusted the black gloves covering his scarred hands and grinned a feral grin. Lexaeus and Vexen stood by the door torn between amusement at their leader's elaborate ritual and impatience to be going. Gathering his snake-like dreadlocks up with a strip of leather Xaldin finally grinned at his restless associates and motioned towards the door.
Whooping with delight Vexen dashed outside and threw himself at his black motorbike. Curling his lip in sardonic disgust at his younger friend's enthusiasm Lexaeus followed more sedately and mounted up, taking the time to make sure his treasured giant axe was firmly strapped to his broad back. Xaldin swung his leather-clad leg over his own bike and kicked it into life with an earsplitting roar. Although he didn't show it the way Vexen did, he too was excited. They were part of the 13 Tribe gang's recruitment raid and they knew tonight would be a night of hell.
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As the moon rose and stars began to litter the sky, the nightlife of Twilight Town began to emerge. The clubs slowly filled with gyrating crowds of young, blank eyed dancers and the streets, like the sky, were littered with diamond-like children of the night. As the alleyways got further from the hotspot of Mysterious Tower, the cobblestones got more ragged and interspersed with discarded needles and once the streets narrowed to the Back Alleys no one ventured out unless hopelessly drunk or suicidal. The Back Alleys were the exclusive territory of the gangs of Twilight Town.
Currently in the sweet embrace of vodka and a small tab of LSD Axel moved sinuously to the throbbing beat of King of Hell by his favorite band Delta 9. He was as good as a million miles away from the roaring echoes of the Back Alleys, standing in the middle of the dance floor of DevianT, the hottest club in Mysterious Tower. Knocking back another shot of vodka Axel let his emerald eyes slip closed and he lost himself in the endless beat surrounding him.
Zexion stood at the bar at the edge of the dance floor with a slight smile on his face watching Axel move. They had only been together for three months, but already he couldn't imagine his life without the red-haired lunatic. His mind slipped back to the previous night and how his fingers had tangled in that flaming hair. His eyes grew lidded as he remembered drawing groans of ecstasy from the emotionally reserved Axel. Biting his lip he brushed his ash gray hair out of his eyes and sighed. If Axel hadn't been buzzing from the acid they could have spent their night as wantonly as they had most of the last week.
Wandering out into the crush of people Zexion slid in behind Axel's thin body and pulled him into an embrace. Axel hardly even noticed he was in his partner's arms however, letting his head fall back onto Zexion's shoulder and passing out in his arms. Ignoring the amused looks of the ravers around them Zexion swore loudly and muscled Axel's limp form out of the mass of people and into the misty street. Dragging Axel with all his strength, Zexion heaved him up against the nightclub wall and after hesitating for a second slapped him smartly across the face.
Snapped back into consciousness if not rationality Axel opened his eyes. Dressed only in black skinny jeans and a thin black t-shirt Axel could only tell that he was not in the warm moshpit of the club and from the look on Zexion's face it was the younger boy who had pulled him into the cold. Slitting his green eyes Axel glared at his boyfriend with unadulterated venom. In a voice dripping with malice he spat, 'I know you wanted to stay home Zex, but slapping me isn't the way to get me back into bed.'
Zexion's mouth dropped open and he took a step back at the viciousness in Axel's voice. 'Axel, y-you passed out.' he stuttered in disbelief. 'If I was so bent on going home I would've left you and your shot-buddies to it alright! I was trying to wake you up before I dropped your ass on the footpath!'
Sneering at Zexion, Axel lurched to his feet and gave him a rough shove. 'I don't need to you baby me arrite? I can look after myself just fine. Go home Zexion, I reckon I can have more fun without you anyways.' Dismissing his upset boyfriend with a wave of his slender hand Axel turned on his heel and attempted to march away down the street. The effect was slightly spoiled by an uneven cobblestone which made him stagger a few steps before he regained his balance.
Totally confused by the aggressive turn Axel had taken, Zexion started to go straight after him. He was stopped in his tracks by an unfamiliar hand on his arm, turning him to face a tall man in a jet black cloak. He gazed at the man uncertainly, he had never seen a 6 foot, silver-haired giant around Twilight Town before. Sure he would have remembered someone so striking he wracked his brains for a name to fit the perfect face.
Grinning at the younger man's consternation the stranger held out a black gloved hand. 'Xemnas. Sorry if I startled ya. Just thought you should let that little firebrand go cool down before going after him. I know someone who shouts like him who would take your arm off for chasing him.'
Smiling a little Zexion half shrugged in the direction Axel had taken. 'Call me Zex, and you're right about the temper. I just don't want Axel to do something stupid. He's usually pretty predictable like that. Anyway, do I know you? My memory is usually pretty good for faces...'
Xemnas chuckled and tossed his hair over his shoulder. 'Don't sweat it Zex I would remember if I had seen your face before. I have a habit of sticking my nose in where it probably don't belong, especially when where it don't belong is near someone who looks like you. And if you so desired there could be a drink inside to tide you over while you wait to follow that redhead.' Tipping a wink at a now blushing Zexion Xemnas turned and strolled back into the dark interior of DevianT.
Once again totally nonplussed Zexion dithered on the sidewalk for a few seconds before throwing up his hands in resignation and following the enigmatic stranger back inside.
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Consumed with red-hot anger at the slap he received from Zexion earlier, Axel didn't notice anything around him for several blocks. 'Bastard!' He muttered angrily, his eyes on something further away than the cobblestones or the dead houses around him. Attempting to punch the wall next to him Axel lost his balance and pitched forward onto his hands and knees. Spitting out a choice selection of swearwords Axel slammed his fist into the ground and then froze as he heard a derisive laugh from the alleyway in front of him.
Before he could even raise his head and focus on the person who had laughed at him, Axel felt a heavy blow to his back that knocked him face first into the debris in the alley. Uncoordinated as he was from the drugs and alcohol, the redhead could not even get his hands out to brace himself. Shouting with pain Axel lifted his hand to his cheeks and felt the blood running down where he had been sliced on either cheek by a broken bottle.
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Xemnas lifted an eyebrow as Zexion slid onto the seat next to him. 'Didn't know what you might be drinking stranger, so I got you a little something of my own design.'
Smiling shyly Zexion took the offered drink and inclined his head in a gesture of gratitude. 'I don't usually let total strangers by me drinks you know.' He muttered in embarrassment. What must Xemnas think of him, fighting in the street and then getting picked up by a stranger. He slid his fingers through his silky hair sheepishly, 'I feel like a bit of an idiot to be honest.'
When Xemnas didn't answer immediately Zexion looked up and saw that Xemnas was talking quietly into his cellphone. As soon as he saw that Zexion was looking he shot him a grin and snapped the phone closed. 'Damn work,' he offered by way of explanation. 'Can't even get away on a Friday night.'
Returning the captivating stranger's grin Zexion took a large sip of his drink. His silvery-blue eyes widened in pleasure and he let out a sigh at the delicious taste of the cocktail. 'My gods, what does that have in it, um Xemnas?' Turning more to face the silver haired man, Zexion leant towards him. 'And anyways, what do you do? Heh, here I am accepting drinks and I don't even know anything about you.'
Sliding his phone into his pocket Xemnas tilted his own drink towards Zexion. 'Well I guess you might say I'm in management. A little bit of importing a little bit of exporting, buy and sell, nothing terribly exciting I'm afraid.' His grin widened more and he locked his eyes onto Zexion's. 'May I ask what it is you do Zex?'
Zexion hid a shiver as he heard his name drop innocently from those perfect lips. He shook his head in surprise at the buzz he was feeling and looked questioningly at his glass. 'Geez, seriously, what was in that drink? Wow that's gone to my head,' he giggled suddenly. 'I'm studying at the moment, psychology. Good choice considering who I'm dating. Getting inside Axel's head should be a whole degree in itself!'
Biting his lip Zexion realized what he had just said and tried to cover his discomfort by taking an overlarge gulp of what remained of his drink. Absorbed as he was in his own embarrassment he didn't notice that Xemnas was now watching him intently with narrowed eyes. As suddenly as the intense buzz had hit him, Zexion found his head starting to swim. He opened his mouth to try and say something, but before any words could escape he pitched forwards into Xemnas's waiting arms.
There was no surprise in Xemnas's face, in fact he remained perfectly expressionless as he caught Zexion's limp body. He slid a $100 note across to the bartender and stood smoothly, draping Zexion's arm around his neck so it looked like he was supporting his drunk companion. Without a word or a backwards glance he manhandled the unconscious bluenette out into the now deserted street. Closing his eyes and muttering a spell, Xemnas opened a small portal and disappeared into it with Zexion. The portal closed after them with a snap, leaving no trace that they had been there or where they went to.
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Disoriented by the alcohol and preoccupied with the blood now streaming down his face, Axel didn't notice the he was now surrounded by three tough looking figures all in black. The man behind the redhead flicked open a cellphone, spat out a few indecipherable phrases and snapped the phone shut again. Tucking the phone into the pocket of his flowing black coat, Vexen brushed his windswept blonde hair out of his eyes and looked over at Xaldin who stood directly in front of Axel's bowed figure.
While Vexen was on the phone, Xaldin took the opportunity to briefly study his prey. He ran his eyes over the boy's bare, pale arms and took note of the skin-tight clothing that offered no hiding place for concealed weapons. As Vexen finished on the phone and looked over to his boss, Xaldin gestured for both the blonde and Lexaeus to stay back. He wanted to pleasure of breaking this lean pale teenager.
While the gang stood over him Axel had managed to pull the shards of glass out of his cheeks and staunch the blood flow somewhat with a strip he tore off of his black t-shirt. Wiping more of the blood off his face he finally looked up and was taken completely by surprise when Xaldin picked him up effortlessly by the throat and slammed him into the brick wall. Axel fell to the ground coughing uncontrollably and when Xaldin loosed a fierce kick into his ribs he threw up a combination of the nights drinks and more than a little blood.
Watching the boy writhe in agony in front of him Xaldin let out a little sigh of disappointment. He had hoped to have some fight in this recruit, like he remembered back when Vexen was brought into the gang. Vexen had fought so viciously against being taken that both he an Lexaeus had had to hold him before they could knock him out. Winking at the smiling blonde, Xaldin could tell Vexen was recalling the same memories. Suddenly sick of the sound of the tortured Axel, Xaldin stepped back and gestured to Lexaeus who grinned as he drew his huge axe from the air. Stepping up to Axel he reversed his weapon and brought the blunt back down on the junction of Axel's skull and spine, slamming him into unconsciousness.
Grinning humorlessly at his companions Xaldin slung Axel's limp form over his shoulder and swung his leg over his idling motorbike. Both he and Lexaeus took off in the direction of their gang headquarters, leaving Vexen to complete the final task of the night. Vexen watched his friends disappear into the fog and summoned his battle shield into his hands. Muttering a complex incantation Vexen knelt and released the spell into the ground with an almighty smash of his shield. Leaping on his own bike he roared after Xaldin and Lexaeus, leaving behind a huge slash in the ground shaped like a jagged broken heart. Everyone would know that 13 Tribe had taken another member for their own.