Hours dragged on...
The room got warmer in warmer.. without you there to keep it chill...
Where WERE you...?
I couldn't wait anymore. I headed up the stairs to the surface, the glare burning my eyes accustomed to the darkness of our basement. Namine cowered into the corner when I entered the room, looking around for any sign of my winter. The chamber was empty save for her, a rare occasion. Marluxia was forever cooing over the little hero enjoying his sadistic games. Larxene was always hassling the little nobody girl. It infuriated me to see such immaturity but I expected it from the younger members. Axel's heat entered the room and something in my chest tightened. Blood dripped from his chakrams, his eyes glinting with a sliver of regret. He looked at me and pushed by.
"Let go of me." He shook off the hand that caught him.
"Where's Vexen?"
He didn't answer.
My grip tightened, feeling thin bones in his arm bend. "Where. is. Vexen?!"
One look in the dancing flame's eyes said it all.
"Let me go, Lexaeus. Or do I have to spell it out for you?"
Namine screamed across the room as Axel flew backwards, groaning when his head hit the wall. Blood streaked as he slumped down to the floor, eyes dazed with pain. No.. not Vexen... That son of a bitch.. how DARE he... I grabbed Axel and slammed him back against the wall threatening to snap his thin shoulders. He was so damn tiny for such arrogance. Vexen would have stood no chance against the firestorm... Flames tore at my hands but I ignored the pain, the stench of burning flesh filling the room. It didn't matter what he did to me..he took away my heart.
And hearts mean everything to a nobody.
"Marluxia.." he gasped through the pain. "Marluxia ordered me too.. He.. Vexen committed treason.. he brought this on himself..." He cried out again as his body collided with the floor, staining the pristine tile crimson. Treason... Marluxia was one to declare treason... We all knew what he was planning to do... I hadn't cared. I knew Xemnas's strength, even with Sora Marluxia had no prayer. The child was too strong for such a weakling, he'd eliminate Marluxia and Larxene and everything would have gone back to normal...
Leaving Axel I descended back into the basement. Seeking revenge was fruitless and I no longer had the will. Adrenaline seeped away into bitter pain, leaving me to quietly weep for my fallen lover in the darkness of his laboratory. Strong fumes and chemicals bubbled all around me, echoing the sounds of hours spent late at ngiht working with them. How pretty he was... lost in his experiments. Toying with the pet Heartless he kept caged up in one of the corners. Bubbles, I recall Demyx had named it. Vexen always did have a soft spot for him..
Dragging myself over I stuck a finger into Bubbles's cage and it nuzzled me. Those bright gold eyes looked at me curiously, as if knowing deep inside it's empty chest soemthing was the matter. My brilliant beloved had engineered the little Shadow to become the perfect pet. Obedient and quiet Bubbles would watch Vexen from its carrier, squeaking whenever an intruder entered. Now it looked to me, begging me to tell it where his master had gone. Another fresh wave of tears slid down my cheeks, unable to speak the truth I myself wanted to deny.
"Lexaeus." Zexion came in behind me. "Riku's scent is reaching deeper into the basement. I trust you'll take care of it?"
Rising I made my way to the door, the Cloaked Schemer, shaking his head. He reached up to wipe the tears from my eyes but they refused to cease. He knew...
"Should I expect you back?"
I turned my back and left the labs, my silence saying it all.
I'm sorry, Zexion.