Well this fanfic is in dedication for the new Re: CoM game coming to North America. I've already beaten the game boy version (which wasted away two years of my life) and strangely enough, I loved it. Yeah, Vexen/OC (but she isn't going to be sue-ish. I despise nothing else more than mary-sues.) Vexen is my fav. character in KH and I love him to DEATH XD (don't take that seriously)
Disclaimer: I do not own any kh characters! All Kingdom Hearts II characters belong to Tetsuya Nomura.
Vexen sat cross-legged on a random roof ledge towering above the hundreds and millions of people who were scattered about the Hollow Bastion marketplace. The view was magnificent, the wind blowing gently through his thick, blonde hair, the bright and dazzling colors of the far-off sunset, the sound of joyful and happy voices from below…It didn't appeal to him at all. He was a nobody, so such happy and glorious things didn't appeal to him in any way whatsoever. The only thing currently clouding the scientist's active and crazy mind was the assignment or mission the All Mighty Superior granted them. Xemnas had given them no description, no orders, no objectives; just to scan the entire borderline of Hollow Bastion. That was it. Such assignment like these were the very reasons he hid himself from day to night in Castle Oblivion's basement. He avoided pointless missions like these. And to make matters worse, Xemnas found it fit to pair him up with Sai'x.
That foolish, young, disrespectful, blue haired, scar-faced, short-tempered, arrogant dog. Vexen knew all to well how Sai'x acted towards low-ranking members, such as Axel, Demyx, Luxord, Marluxia, Larxene, and finally The Key of Destiny himself, Roxas. Kissing up to the Superior was his only talent aside from being able to transform into a bat shit crazy berserker in less that two seconds. Other than that, he was pretty much about as useful as Demyx in the underworld. He only dirtied his hands when necessary, or rather have his partners do all the spine-breaking work for him. And, as usual, he gets all the credit.
"Disrespectful little swine…" He grumbled angrily, tugging on his dirty blonde locks that swung into his face during his intensive thinking.
Sai'x was currently surveying the barren glaciers that surrounded the area near the Hollow Bastion Castle. But Vexen knew why Sai'x chose such a position, and it had nothing to do with the scenery or depopulation.
Nothing. Ever. Happened. There. End of story.
Again, he never like dirtying his own hands, so it was only fitting that the berserker left Vexen to scan the most populated, noisy, and obnoxiously colorful area on the godforsaken layout. But, strangely enough, it was somewhat of an advantage for the chemist. Why? Because he didn't have to deal with that arrogant and disrespectful attitude of his. He had rather it be silent than have to hear the berserker go on and on about the chemist's current age and uselessness.
"He should be one to talk…" He growled.
Vexen let out a long and stifled sigh and outstretched his arms to either side of him. His body had grown stiff from remaining in one spot for so long, and he found nothing of particular interest in the past couple hours. Plus he had already scanned most of Hollow Bastion, and as it always is, nothing had changed, so there was really no point in staying there any longer. Vexen swung his legs over the edge of the roof and slapped the flat of his palms on the wood frame. In one swift movement of his arms, he repelled himself off the roof and swooped down to the cement ground below. Now one would think that one of his age would either tumble clumsily to the ground or break multiple limbs by falling from such a height. But nobodies were special beings, or non-beings as they would call it, so people like them could jump off a five story building and land gracefully on their feet without so much as a grunt. Plus, nobodies were technically invisible to the human eye, so Vexen remained unseen by the public as he silently dashed through the many crowds of people. Of course they weren't permanently invisible, they could uncloak their presence when and if they wished to.
The speed that Vexen was running at was nearly inhuman. Everything around him, and I mean everything, people, buildings, moogles, were reduced to nothing but blurry strings of colors that whizzed past his face in the fashion of a rainbow.
Turn.
Dodge.
Jump.
Pivot.
He did all these things almost expertly. Then again he was one of the oldest existing members of Organization XIII, so it only made sense…
His black, leather cloak billowed loudly behind him as he only increased in speed. His long blonde hair whipped wildly around his face, and all this made him look almost…cool in a way. The intense look in his eyes, the way he expertly maneuvered obstacles standing in his path, his concentration. He smirked at the thought of how he must've looked by now.
Take that Axel
However, to his misfortune, Vexen seemed to have overlooked just one small detail sitting not so far away from him. A female to be exact. And at that particular moment, clumsily, and almost comically, the tip of his boot caught the young female by her ankles, and lost his footing. Not only was it bad enough did he land flat on his stomach, knocking the air out of him, but his body refused to stop sliding, and in a rather hysterical fashion, he crashed into a large heap of garbage head first.
Food, paper, bugs, dirt, you name it plastered themselves onto the fabric of Vexen's clothes and glued to the blonde strands of hair on the scientist's head.
Sai'x moved his fingers up the pulse of his neck and came to rest at the roots of his blue locks. In one fluent motion, he flipped his hair over his broad shoulders and rested his gaze upon the silent glaciers that towered above him.
"I wonder what has become of Vexen." He questioned himself suddenly remembering the blonde scientist. He ran a hand through the strands of his hair as his gaze focused on the distant marketplace.
"Perhaps it is time for us to depart."
Vexen removed a moldy strand of spaghetti from his hair. Giving it a look of disgust, he carelessly tossed it into the trash heap behind him.
"Ugh, this is utterly unsanitary." The chemist flicked off a piece of egg shell off his arm. " It is times like these that I am thankful I am not a filthy unworthy human."
Vexen rolled up his sleeves and scrunched up his face as he removed his gloves.
"At least it is my fortune that Sai'x was nowhere near to see this…"
As if on cue, and to his misfortune, the scientist heard a light and distinguishable chuckle behind him. Turning his head over his shoulders, his willow eyes spotted the berserker standing just meters above him. And to make matters worse, he was smirking. Something he rarely did unless he saw something totally and utterly amusing.
"Hello, Sai'x…" Vexen slurred, brushing off dirt and food off his tarnished cloak. The smirk on the berserker's face quickly faded and was replaced by his natural frown.
"What are you doing down there, IV?" He questioned impassively, amusement forgotten.
Vexen scowled at the sound of being called by his number yet again…by a nobody ranked lower than him. That was another thing about Sai'x that irked him. He always assumed he could get away with calling everyone by their rank just because he was favored by the Superior.
"Respect your elders, VII" He snarled, slurring the word seven on purpose to catch the attention of his not-superior. He wasn't afraid of Sai'x, nor did he find him threatening unless in berserker state, so that's why he went as far as he did, but it was in his fortune that Sai'x wasn't in one of his bad moods.
"What did you call me?" Sai'x breathed, uncrossing his arms while glaring down at the older nobody below him.
Vexen rolled his eyes, still unfazed by the diviner's false anger.
"I called you by your rank, VII." He stated as-a-matter-of-factly.
Vexen brushed the last of the garbage and food off his cloak and sourly slipped his dirtied leather gloves back on, his fingers brushing up against small crumbs of food left over inside the material. While doing so he avoided looking the berserker in the eye, heaven only knows what he could be thinking right now.
"I believe it's time for us to leave, IV…" He heard Sai'x growl from above him. This reaction caused the sides of Vexen's lips to curve upward in a satisfied grin. It, of course, was a fake grin, seeing as nobodies had no emotions.
"Yes. I believe it is…"
Demyx happily strummed his blue sitar with his index finger while silently tapping his foot to the steady beat. Xigbar was lazily sprawled out on the stairway lying right next to the musician, while Zexion, being the quiet and mysterious person that he was, was seated in a large, red chair reading a rather thick brown book that shielded his mouth and nose from the members sitting opposite of him. The library was a pleasant, desolate place for nobodies like them to relax. The fireplace blazed red-hot with the tiny flames licking at the granite stone, keeping them in their prison with the golden bookshelves that twisted and covered the entire walls of the room. And above the fireplace was a large, golden frame in which a detailed and colorful painting of Ansem the Wise looking not stern, but calm and serene with his hands folded loosely on his lap, smiling mysteriously. The only noises that could be heard in such a place were the flipping of pages in Zexion's book, and the steady rhythm of Demyx's sitar. Xigbar had his arms shoved underneath his head, his ponytail spilled down two of the steps coming at an end near the musician's feet. His one eye was closed, signaling he had dosed off in a light slumber.
"Can you keep that racket down just a tad bit, Demyx? I cannot concentrate on my novel." Came a low and young voice from across the room. Demyx's aqua blue eyes rose from his sitar to the youngest nobody sitting across from him. His book was now sitting open on his lap, and his crystal-like eyes focused on the musician's fingers, which were currently lying on the strings of his instrument.
"Er, uh…sorry Zexy…" Demyx stuttered while quickly taking his hands off the offending sitar.
This action granted Demyx a thankful nod from the schemer sitting in the oversized chair, who currently decided to dive back into his so-called interesting novel. Xigbar grunted, awaken from his nap, and rubbed his eye with his left hand, staring at the schemer.
"Hey, that wasn't nice." Xigbar shot from across the room. "Why don't you behave like a good boy and read your book. Dem's just play'n a little music."
Zexion frowned and lowered his book for the second time.
"I just said I could not concentrate with him playing his sitar like he was; I see no problem with that."
Xigbar gave the schemer a cocky grin, one that could only mean he wanted to start an all out argument.
"As if, your book's louder'n that." He said with a smirk.
Zexion refocused his gaze to one of the paragraphs in his book. His crystal blue eyes wandered from word to word while his mind registered what the Freeshooter just said.
"It is not." He said flatly, turning a page.
"Is so." Xigbar retorted jokingly.
"No. It's not."
"Is so."
"It's a book, it makes no noise."
"Does so."
"Xigbar-"
"Pages make noise."
"Will you stop-"
"Flipp'n pages are louder than Dem's sitar."
"Will you drop it-"
Demyx's head darted from Xigbar to Zexion while both nobodies argued over the most ridiculous subject that could have easily been avoided. While in the midst of their argument, both failed to noticed the musician had gone back to playing his sitar, totally ignoring their little battle while the music drowned out the noise. The once quiet and desolate library had now erupted into a mini war zone as Demyx strummed his sitar rather loudly while both the Freeshooter and schemer went on and on about pointless things that could've easily caught the attention of anyone strolling outside the radiant doors. Such was a typical day in the Organization XIII.
"I am not emo!" Zexion shouted back to Xigbar who, might I add, was still sprawled out on the ten step stairway.
"Fix your hair, shrimp! That outta help!"
"Xigbar, go back to your nap, I have no further interest of-"
"Ohoho! Do I smell forfeit?" Xigbar shouted while pushing himself off the stairs with both his arms. Zexion glowered at the Freeshooter through the large clump of hair that covered his left eye.
"This was never a contest-" That last of his sentence ended not with a retort as he would've liked it to, but with a very loud and disgusted gag and choking sound that could only mean his ultra sensitive nose had caught the scent of something of complete and utter disgust. Xigbar and Demyx quickly ceased their argument to stare at the shorter nobody cringe at whatever he just whiffed.
"Gyuk, ack, huuurrrk…mu…w-what in the name of Kingdom Hearts is that wretched stench?" He managed to gag out as he quickly covered his small nose with the sleeve of his black jacket.
Xigbar and Demyx exchanged confused glances with each other as they both watched Zexion writhe in discomfort in the oversized red chair. But at that moment, oh at that horrible, wretched, godforsaken moment, Demyx and Xigbar finally picked up the scent that immobilized the cloaked schemer so. The musician's eyes grew to the size of saucers as his nose began to burn from the inside from the horrifying smell. As quickly as his arms could move, he slapped both his hands over his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. Xigbar, on the other hand, was doing quite the opposite. He took in one, great whiff of the smell, and erupted in utterly hysterical laughter.
"Dude, that stinks! You really outdid yourself on that one, Dem!" He yelled as he gave a congratulated smack on Demyx's back, earning yet another yelp from the musician.
"W-what? What do you mean, I didn't do it!" He responded, looking the Freeshooter right in the eye. A rather embarrassed look at that.
Xigbar only burst out laughing again.
"As if, dude! It smells just like you!"
Demyx looked at Zexion for help. But before the schemer had a chance to decipher who or what the smell had belonged to, the fire sitting on the opposite wall of Xigbar had suddenly put itself out, plunging the entire library into darkness. In it's place, in the fire's place that is, a pitch black oval, taller than the fireplace mantle, opened up in front of the wall, and to everyone's surprise and dismay, out stepped none other than the Chilly Academic, and the Luna Diviner.
And to worsen things at that point, the minute Vexen stepped out of the darkness, the smell must've increased by at least ten times. Zexion was the first to retaliate.
"Why in the name of Kingdom Hearts do you wreak with such an awful stench?" Zexion demanded, wrinkling his nose.
Vexen frowned and sniffed the sleeve of his coat. Sai'x, however, found it necessary to respond in his place.
"He fell in a waste pile." He answered impassively, attention focused on the fire which had magnificently re-lit in the fireplace in bright, orange colors.
Now it was Zexion's turn to frown.
"Vexen…fell in a waste pile?" He repeated slowly, looking back at the scientist who was now heading towards the door.
"What, might I ask, caused him to do that?"
"I have no details, if you wish to know, ask him yourself." Sai'x retorted, following the footsteps of the chemist out the door and into the hallway.
Vexen tested the water with his index finger while keeping a good firm grip on his towel that hung loosely around his waist. The remains of an embarrassing banana peel entangled itself into his dirty blonde hair. Leftovers of meat and sandwiches were smacked to his pale cheeks, and the banana peel was accompanied by half a napkin, which was of course used. Scrunching up his nose, he pulled the napkin off his head and angrily tossed it into the nearest trash can. The moldy banana peel soon followed.
He rested his exhausted eyes on the glass door of the shower, waiting for the water to get at least a little hotter before he decided to submerge himself in the hot liquid. He honestly couldn't wait, he felt so filthy compared to how dirty he managed to get in the basement quarters. He couldn't really remember the last time he had a shower, perhaps it would be healthier if he decided to bath regularly…okay maybe once a week but that was good enough.
With a long and anticipated sigh, he undid the fold in his towel and reached for the silver handle of the shower door.
"Um, excuse me…Vexen?" Coughed a small and shy voice from behind him.
The chemist nearly jumped out of his skin after hearing the voice of the young girl over his shoulders. As quick as lightning, he snatched his white towel off the rack and tied it around his waist to preserve what dignity he had left. Standing just feet behind him, clutching a small notepad the size of her head, was none other than the white witch Namine.
"Oh, um…sorry, Vexen. I don't mean to bother you but um…Xemnas-I mean the Superior wants to speak with you. He said to report to his office the second you got back so um…" Her sentence trailed off as her eyes darted from everywhere in the bathroom, occasionally coming to a stop on the wet towel that clung onto the thin frame of Vexen's waistline.
The scientist gave the witch a brief scowl and fastened the ends of the towel in a small knot so he could have the use of his hands.
"Have you any manners, Namine? As you can clearly see, I am not decent, so if you would please-" He put the palm of his hand to Namine's back and gently nudged her towards the door.
Namine pressed her heels to the floor and leaned back into Vexen's hand as they approached the entryway to the bathroom. She clutched her notebook tightly in her arms as she tilted her head up to look up into the scientist's face.
"Wait, please! I don't mean to bother you but it was Xemnas's orders! If you don't report down there as instructed, you're putting yourself in danger!"
Vexen slowed as he approached the door and grasped Namine by her small shoulders and spun her around on the spot.
"And I suppose I should believe you? Why in the name of Kingdom Hearts would Xemnas order someone like you to send for me?"
Namine bit her lower lip and lowered her gaze to the tips of her sandals, swaying back and forth on her heels.
"Well…He didn't exactly ask me to do it…" she started innocently. "Marluxia was originally chosen to come and report this to you…but, you see, he doesn't like doing the Superior's work for him…so he told me to go and get you myself…sort of…" Namine gave him a weak smile and stroked the cover of her sketchpad.
Vexen frowned nervously and reached for his black coat that hung on one of the racks.
Xemnas sat silently in his white office lit by only one small lamp that resided in a dark corner. His silver hair hung lazily in his eyes as he dipped his head to read a piece of parchment Xigbar had snatched up on one of his missions in the Land of the Dragons. It looked interesting enough to read, seeing as the Freeshooter had made a rather detailed paper airplane out of it and tossed it at him during one of their gatherings. The Chinese writing had been damaged due to the parchment being carelessly dropped in a large bank of snow, plus to add to that there was a finger sized hole smack dab in the middle which resembled one of the bullets out of Xigbar's freeshooting guns. With an impassive sigh he tossed it into one of many piles of paper sitting on the corner of his desk.
"You may enter, Vexen." Came his low and serious voice, already sensing the older nobody was standing outside the door preparing to knock.
With a long and shrill creek, the white door slid open only a quarter of the way, and the blonde head of the scientist poked it's way into the office. Xemnas made a motion with his hand for him to come inside. With great hesitation, Vexen placed his entire hand on the face of the door and pushed it open, stepping fully inside the room.
"You seem hesitant, IV. Is there something on your mind?" He questioned, leaning forwards a bit and raising a gloved hand to his lips.
Vexen blinked a few times before moving his head from side to side.
"No, Superior. Nothing worth mentioning." He responded dully.
Xemnas grinned under his hand and accepted his response with a brief nod.
"Very well, Vexen. Though I am a bit curious as to see how you faired in your mission at Hollow Bastion…did you find anything of particular interest?" He questioned suddenly, quickly spotting the residue of tiny bits of food and garbage sticking out of the scientist's hair.
Vexen frowned and felt for any traces of wrappers or food left in his hair.
"I tripped over a female back at the marketplace…nothing a little soap and water won't fix." He said while tugging at the blonde strands.
Xemnas quirked and eyebrow and parted his lips slightly, taking in what the scientist had just said.
"You tripped over a female," He started slowly. "And you landed where?…"
Vexen froze. It was at times like these that he was truly thankful that the Superior had no emotions, otherwise he'd possible die laughing at that happening that befell him at the marketplace. He took in a long, and deep breath and pulled his hand out of his blonde locks.
"I fell in a dumpster, Superior." He answered hesitantly. "Pardon my rudeness, but I wish to rid myself of this stench before anyone else in the castle takes notice-"
Xemnas narrowed his eyes and placed his hands on his desk, lifting himself off his chair and planting his feet firmly on the ground.
"Are you still conducting experiments on the functions of the heart, Vexen?" He questioned suddenly, advancing in slow and easy steps towards the scientist.
Vexen widened his eyes and responded with a rather eager nod.
"Why of course, Superior! What other experiments could I possibly be working on?" His sudden upbeat attitude caused him to totally forget about his cleanliness and focus on whatever the Superior had to say.
Xemnas smirked and stopped short just three feet away from the scientist.
"Are you still willing to conduct human experiments?…" He asked rather quickly, confusing Vexen for a brief amount of time.
"Sir?"
"I'm merely implying that if you wish to continue your research on the heart, you should conduct research on a live human instead of using just notes."
Vexen's curious eyes followed Xemnas as he circled him in a hawk-like fashion, hovering slightly closer than he had been before.
"I've known that your somebody, Even, had a rather gifted talent for science just as you do, Vexen. I've come to understand that he previously, before he lost his heart, conducted human experiments under the influence of Xehanort. He was quite good at it, from what I can tell. But what I am saying is, if you would like to experience that feeling once more, perhaps take your research a tad bit further this time."
This man was truly the devil. His offer was absolutely tempting to the scientist, being able to experiment on the heart, but this time more thoroughly…what more could he ask for?
"It would be my honor to, sir," He started rather excitedly. "But, where might I ask would I find such a willing specimen?"
It was at that moment that Xemnas gained the widest grin that Vexen had ever seen him do; it looked almost as if the Cheshire cat was right in front of his face. But there was no mistaking this grin, he knew it meant the Superior knew the exact answer to his question.
"What about that female you acquainted yourself with in the marketplace?"
Sorry if this chap was a little boring T_T I'm trying to make it as interesting as possible. I know you didn't see much of that girl Vexen tripped over, but I promise she'll be in my next chap. As for those of you who are waiting for Axel and Roxas…chapter 2 is worth waiting for :D *hopefully*