A/N: That's right, it's Marluxen. No, I don't know why, but it's happening. Banged this out quickly this morning before work, so it's dropped off in a somewhat awkward place, but I'll update soon so no worries. Enjoy, R/R's are welcome and requested!
The chilly academic scribbled something down in his notes. With a soft sigh, he set down his ink pen and pushed away from the heavy, metallic writing desk. He glanced at the simple analog clock- it was late, so late that some would call it early. Probably the meatheads Lexaeus, Xaldin, and Xigbar would begin to stir soon, getting ready for their early morning workout routines, and Larxene, and Axel had all been invited to a late-night poker marathon in Luxord's room. Knowing that lot's inclination to heavy drinking, they were probably all dead to the world. Roxas, Demyx, and Zexion were all pretty late sleepers, as was Saïx, but Saïx would've been piss poor company anyway. Xemnas was out of the question for much the same reason. That left-
"Vexen, I figured you'd still be up," a sly voice cut into his thoughts, and he turned to find the rosy-haired Marluxia leaning on the door frame, arms folded over his chest.
Vexen closed the file and slid it into a drawer. "Work, work, work..." he drawled, "but I've always got time for you, my friend. Come in." He gestured to the stiff-looking upright chair near the desk.
Marluxia's eyes flickered to the chair briefly and he raised a brow at the lanky blonde, continuing the conversation from the doorway. "Yes, I must admit you make a very loyal... friend." His smoothe honeyed voice had an uncharacteristicly sharp upturn at the word, causing a little tug of... something... somewhere deep in Vexen's stomach. He smiled in spite of this, folding his hands in his lap.
"So what brings you here this night, Marluxia?"
"Well, I was having trouble sleeping. Something's been bothering me, but I can't quite put my finger on it," he said, a smirk sliding over his face.
Vexen turned away, his usually stony face breaking for a fleeting moment. Marluxia knew, he was beginning to suspect his betrayal. The scientist had been observing the traitors and reporting back to Lexaeus. But his dealing as a double-agent had brought him inevitably closer to the betrayers, Marluxia in particular. If it hadn't all been a farce, he would've been able to think of Marluxia as "friend", or whatever it was that brought two emotionless beings together.
Scientifically, it was intriguing. He had seen it in Roxas and Axel, who despite being unable to truly feel, had grown thick as thieves. They were known to smile in eachother's company, request missions with eachother, seek eachother out for no reason other than to see eachother. The other members of the organization would form miniature cliques, certainly. But most of that was self-preservation, like Demyx clinging to the stronger members, or Zexion and Lexaeus and himself banding together to seek out the splinter cell. But Roxas admired Axel for reasons beyond that. Axel looked at the kid with an equal fondness. But that kind of connection was impossible for a Nobody to make. There must be some other explaination. Something his calculations and observations didn't pick up on.
But whatever it was, he was beginning to feel it too.