Hey all! Haji here with an experimental story and such. I don't have time to chat, so I hope you enjoy. It's about Zexion. (surprise surprise)

He was sitting there. Just sitting. Sipping on his favorite soft drink even though he knew it would eventually rot his teeth, even though he despised the taste of Dr. Pepper at six o'clock in the morning, even though he was dog-ear tired, irritated, and lonely. He was just sitting there; awakened by the sound of his computer on the fritz.

"What the fuck?"

His dark hair painted a mottled slate from the glow of three or four screens around him, his grey eyes drawing in the numbers flying through his system like a slightly agitated sea sponge, lips twitching into a snarl, Zexion was both impressed and infuriated at the fact that his computer system was being destroyed right before his very eyes. As the numbers and codes flew by with a renewed burst of energy, Zexion sighed, and sipped the Dr. Pepper he despised drinking at six in the morning.

He knew he couldn't do anything. By the time he had been fully awake, and had realized that he was being hacked, it was too late to begin any reverse coding to trap the intruder out. The intruder was in already, and Zexion couldn't risk doing anything against him until he could figure out what he wanted. As soon as the coding slowed by the smallest margin, Zexion placed his drink on a table behind him, cracked his fingers and lashed back at the hacker with a twisted grin on his face and a barrage of coding that even the most advanced web-weavers would scratch their heads over.

Instantly, the threat backed off.

Zexion was surprised by the retreat at first. How peculiar that such an aggravated and intelligent foe would just back off like a newbie. That was script-kiddie stuff. Or a really clever tactic.

Unfortunately for Zexion, as soon as his curiosity got the better of him for the first time in his life, he was locked out of his own system, all his files were dumped into the trash can, and his trash can was zipped up and extracted by the same intelligent foe.

His whole life, his identity, everything that defined him. Lost. Stolen.

And the only thing that was left was a very unattractive, ogre-faced gray hat dancing around his screens, singing a song.

Loser, loser, double-loser. Fist, fist, kiss this.

And a shiny red ass flashed on his screen, and remained that way until Zexion ripped the power supply to his computers out of the socket and rebooted. Upon reboot, his screens were black and unemotional. Permanently destroyed beyond repair.

It was now time to build a new computer.

And to figure out who the fuck that brazen, intelligent, asshole was.

"Ah, Zexion!"

Zexion opened the door to his preferred computer store, which was just about to enter the throes and woes of bankruptcy, grumbling to himself. The clerk, who was an old (unwanted) friend of his, Demyx, was leaning over the counter polishing the glass of the display case that housed a whole host of different drivers, naked USB ports and stripped computer jewels—like RAM chips, and AVID dongles.

"What brings my favorite best friend to a computer store?"

Zexion pursed his lips. "Your sarcasm is duly noted." He searched the shelves with slightly bloodshot blue eyes. "I need to build a new computer."

"Why?"

"Because I do."

Demyx slithered off the counter, disappeared into a back room, and reemerged with a handful of magazines. "Well, I just got all the latest catalogs. I saw some good stuff in here. You might be interested."

"I'm looking for speed." Zexion paused. "Lots of speed, and processing power so I can move a lot of information all at once."

"Well, what's more important?"

Zexion frowned. That was a good question. To him, both were important. Very important, and in the computer world, it was hard to decide. Speed was important for loading and unloading everything. RAM was just as important, as was compressing, reorganizing, launching and—most of all—exterminating. He couldn't have it all, not all at once. He needed to take it in steps, even though he had the means to secure the funds for his project.

Demyx didn't know he could hack computers. Though he was sure Demyx assumed he could, just because all computer literate people knew how to hack computers, just like all self-publishers could write, and all housewives could compete in international cooking competitions. Zexion didn't think telling his unwanted best friend about his "ability" would make the dire situation he was in any better. In fact, it would probably make it worse. The last thing he needed was a blog post about his concerns, then his foe would try to get his goat again.

"I need power," Zexion said. "The best of the best for everything. I don't care how much it costs. And I want it by next week."

Demyx frowned. "Are you sure? You do know that's like..."

He disappeared behind his counter again through the back room. Zexion could vaguely hear the clacking of keys and the crunching of numbers. After a few minutes, Demyx returned with a long roll of slightly coiled paper. He shoved it under Zexion's nose and huffed.

"I'll be able to have a beautiful new computer for you, ready next week, for about five grand," Demyx paused, obviously for a dramatic effect that didn't go over so well, "minimum. It'll keep rising until you have a powerhouse monster. All by next week. I promise. However, I'll kind of need it now."

Zexion arched an eyebrow. "I can wire transfer it to you. But, I'm not walking in here with five thousand dollars in cash. I'm not an idiot."

"I wouldn't rob you, you're my best friend," Demyx said, offended.

Zexion snorted. "I'm not worried about you. I'm worried about the idiots outside this store. I'll transfer it to you tomorrow. I have to call my credit union."

Demyx nodded. "Sure, okay, I'll put the order in to one of my best builders, m'kay? He'll make something beautiful, just for you. And then you can fix whatever you don't like. I don't see any reason you have to build it entirely from scratch. Let me take care of it."

"Demyx, do you even know what you're talking about?"

"Sure I do," Demyx assured. "I can read, you know."

"Whatever. I'll have my credit union contact your bank."

Demyx nodded vigorously and grinned. "Well, then, movie night tonight?"

Zexion shrugged. "I'll think about it. I'm not feeling anything right now."

Demyx sighed. "I know a pirate."

Zexion scoffed. "That's illegal, you know." He looked in the glass display case. "And so are those dongles."

"Illegal, scmi-legal." Demyx waved him off. "What are you even doing in here, huh? I don't know you."

Demyx kindly, but firmly pushed Zexion out the door and closed it behind him. Zexion heard the distinct click of the lock, and Demyx flipped the "Open" sign to "Closed" and drew the curtains faster than anyone had time to think about it being suspicious (which is was). Zexion frowned and turned on his heels, thinking of only one thing. That intelligent and brazen asshole.

The one who dared to step into HIS territory, steal HIS life, challenge HIS authority. Oh, how payback would be a bitch. A great fat one with a terrible taste in music.

However, he was five grand short and didn't have the time to draw upon one of the bank accounts he had set himself up with a long time ago for emergencies. So, he had to start from the bottom with a year old laptop he kept hidden away. It was time for war. Mano a mano.

For, you see, Zexion was an elite hacker. One of the best. And some ass just pissed him off...big time.

Yeah, so I'm experimenting with my writing style again. This is preparation for that something big I may have mentioned.

Hope you liked it.

Has a nice day. :D