Only Once

Why? Because I can. Anyway, a lot of my friends know that Xigbar x Demyx is my current Kingdom Hearts OTP; I'm on a XigDem spree right now. And I came up with this idea partially out of nowhere and partially based on a Kingdom Hearts roleplay I did with my friend that had a lot of XigDem implications.

This is more or less just a drabble collection that revolves around the plotlines of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts 2, and also the plotline of the actual fic. Xigbar x Demyx is the main pairing, and there are hints of other pairings. Nothing too blatant, except in Axel's case, haha. He's not too subtle o.o;

(And for future reference, any chapter titles written in parentheses indicate that the chapter contains mature content. This will be written on both the actual chapter jump icons AND at the top of the page, so don't go bitching to me about how I didn't warn you.)

The Kingdom Hearts series and its associated characters, locations, etc., belong to Square Enix and Disney.

I. Sea Foam Scales

The first thing Xigbar had noticed about the Organization's ninth and newest member was that he was wet when Xemnas and Saïx brought him into the castle.

And that he was a goddamn FISH from the waist-down.

It didn't take long for the other members to come out and see who or what was "dripping" down the hallway.

"I saw this man in Atlantica when he was attacked by a Heartless and killed," Xemnas explained, with the same monotone voice as Xigbar and the others had come to expect from him, "His Other faded into darkness, and this is all that remained of him. He seemed to withstand it well enough, so he should be a...usable member of the Organization."

"What exactly are we going to do about that, Superior?" Vexen asked, examining the Nobody's fin in curiosity.

"I am certain that it will disappear and be replaced with legs in time. If not we'll terminate him," Xemnas replied, paying no real attention to the Nobody Saïx had carelessly slung over his arms. Xigbar couldn't remember The Superior treating the other two Organization neophytes so haphazardly. Especially not Saïx, his little "prodigy."

"So who gets to take care of our little Fishy?" Axel said, snickering.

"It's not of great importance who's chosen; we only need to keep watch over him until he awakens," Xemnas replied.

And so, in a matter of minutes (or more accurately, in a bloodless battle of numbers III-VII vs. II), Xigbar had been elected to take the new member to his quarters and look after him. Vexen, who was busy working on a new project of his (even as they discussed the subject; he was holding a small--and completely unidentifiable-- gizmo in one hand and a wrench in the other), had immediately left after wishing Xigbar luck; the slight chuckle in his voice was a sure indicator of his intent. Xemnas eased the unconscious neophyte off of Saïx's shoulder and into Xigbar's arms. Xigbar stumbled with the dead weight before regaining his balance, hoisting him in an almost bridal-style hold.

"Does he have an assigned name yet?" Xigbar asked The Superior, who paused for a moment before replying.

"Emyd has lost his name to the Darkness. His name is now Demyx. You can tell it to him when he wakes up."

When Xigbar had gotten tired of watching the kid hog his bed, he got up and started shooting at the target hanging on the wall of his room. The center of the bullseye was splintered and hardly recognizable; on account of how many times he had hit it spot on (as he liked to brag).

"Good God, I wish Xemnas would at least put me out of my misery and give me a mission or something!" he fumed to himself, firing repeatedly at the wall without really aiming. Even though he knew this technically was his mission, he was bored, and he was pissed. And most Nobodies in the castle knew that such a combination wasn't good, particularly for anybody who happened to be walking past II's room.

Three bullets had burrowed into his wall, the only one remotely close to the target board hitting the space above the nail it hung on. One had snuck through his ajar door, barely missing VI. The youth stuck his head in the room and, with a rather peeved expression, said, "Kindly watch where you aim those atrocities, II."

Xigbar rolled his eyes as Zexion continued down the hall with a flip of his hair. Damn pretentious little snot. Hope Xaldin decides to give him a much-needed "trim" one'a these days...

He was interrupted in his scheming by a slight stirring coming from his bed. The kid was finally coming to! Thank God, his "mission" would be over soon. The Freeshooter dismissed his guns and strode over to his bed, leaning down to nudge the neophyte's shoulder. "C'mon, kid. Naptime's over."

The kid's eyes finally began to flutter. Xigbar caught a glimpse of blue eyes before he was sent backward slightly. Xigbar's mission, the new member, hadn't quite realized that he no longer had gills. He gasped for "breath" and was clearly in a state of panic.

"Hey, Sushi boy, calm down! You gotta breathe air now!" Xigbar said loudly, taking a firm grasp on the younger's shoulders. Finally he seemed to calm down.

"I...where am I?" The first time Xigbar had heard the boy speak was no surprise: his voice was frail and shaky, a clear indicator of his fear. The tone of his voice was strong but relatively high, exposing his "age." Xigbar guessed he had been in his early 20s, maybe even younger. The hairstyle certainly wasn't adding on any years, for sure.

"I can tell ya you're not in Atlantica anymore."

His eyes widened at this. He glanced around the white bedroom, and indeed saw that he didn't recognize his surroundings. He flung the covers back as well, and gasped when he saw his fin had been replaced with two human legs. "But...what happened? Those creatures attacking..." he trailed off and looked up at Xigbar pleadingly. "Am I...am I dead?"

The Freeshooter sneered. "Yeah, you wish. You're a Nobody. Got any clue what that is, Sushi?"

"Don't call me that!" the neophyte cried with a scowl. "I have a name!"

"Not your old one, you don't. Your name's Demyx now." At the confused look he received in response, Xigbar sighed. "You got your Atlantican ass killed by a Heartless, but you had a strong enough will so your body's been returned to ya. Sorta."

"But, I'm not Dem--"

"Ya ain't Emyd anymore, either. You're lucky we picked ya up anyway, else you'd be screwed."

"...But..." He leaned forward, shakily bending his knees and leaning against them. "My family...my friends...and Calder..."

Xigbar admitted that the kid was most likely having difficulty accepting his new life. He was familiar with seeing such a reaction. When Axel had to abandon Lae, he went berserk; nearly tore apart Vexen's room. Maybe they just didn't make Nobodies as tough as they used to...

"Sorry, kid. They're probably all dead."

He was mortified. His blue eyes widened for an instant, and then his whole body seemed to shrink. He rested his head against his new knees and sobbed loudly. Xigbar kept his gaze to the side, knowing that the kid couldn't cry no matter how hard he tried. Xemnas had been explicit on the fact that Nobodies were not capable of actual tears.

He persevered still, trying to force the tears out. Finally he seemed to accept that they weren't coming and he straightened his posture, his gaze towards the floor.

"I'm gonna tell the Superior you're awake and get you a robe. I suggest you try putting those new legs'a yours to work," Xigbar finally stated, striding towards his door. "Welcome to The Organization, number IX."

"I thought my name was Demyx."

"You get a name and a number."

"This feels like a prison."

"Prison or not, this is your home now. Try to buck up a little," Xigbar said, not really feeling his own words. He knew that Demyx had very little to "buck up" about in the future. With that, he left his room, and the newly christened Nobody, and headed for the Superior's quarters.