I told you all I'd be back. |3 Now, I return with a MarLex-themed 100 Themes Challenge. Be afraid. Be amazed.
Anyways, enjoy! |3
1Introduction1
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"I am pleased to announce…that a new comrade has been chosen to wear the coat."
A heavy silence hung over the massive white room, the only sound being the steady clink of a pair of familiar boots as a medium-length, cloaked figure walked to the center of the stage, face hidden by a dark hood.
"Number XI."
Said being shifted its head up, surveying the ten other creatures on the immensely elevated podiums; nearly all of them had their hoods up, save for the sole figure who was brazen enough to keep it down, even when introduced to this strange new life.
It was perched on a medium-height podium. The being settled in the chair took up nearly all the space it in. It had short, hazel-colored hair, slicked back until the ends were pointing opposite of its head. "XI" couldn't help but notice the eyes, ice-blue like a frozen lake. Even now, from far down below, it could sense the power radiating from this being.
"XI, please remove your hood."
As the soft-strong voice reached the being's ears, XI silently cringed in its mind. It was not looking forward to this moment, and now, everyone was going to see why.
It removed its hood swiftly, as if to get it over as hastily as possible. Pink locks swarmed to meet its shoulders, finally free from the fabric that bound it moments before. Natural spike complexion mixed with dusty rose-color combined to make a very…interesting style.
It waited. Sure enough, he heard a sly titter coming from the second-highest podium, soon joined by various others, creating uproars of laughter within the room spacious room, echoing almost mockingly in XI's ears. Cerulean eyes blinked twice in response. Now, being without a heart, their laughter didn't hurt…very much. It was still the slightest remembrance of hurt; this was definitely not the first time this has happened.
"Enough."
The room was deathly silent once more. XI didn't know whether to be relieved or apprehensive--what now?
"Study the being you see before you, as he is your new comrade for as long as Kingdom Hearts lay unfinished--"
"He?" The familiar voice from before rang with defiance, dripping with sarcasm. "Never would have guessed!"
As the room crowed with laughter once again, seeming suspiciously louder than before, XI fisted his hands. Fighting back an indignant growl from the back of his throat, he struggled to remain calm, reminding himself how undignified it would look for him to snap in this particular situation, in front of his new Superior.
"That's quite enough, Xigbar."
The pink-haired man snapped his head to the deep voice, almost monotone save for the hint of anger and annoyance riddled deep within it. He was slightly surprised to see the bulky, hazel-haired, blue-eyed being that he had analyzed before. Those eyes were narrowed and seemed to be glaring a hole through the hooded figure that had cracked that ever so inconsiderate joke. They seemed to argue for a few moments, but XI's mind was occupied with something else.
He stuck up for…me?
"Enough." XI found it remarkable that as soon as that regal voice spoke, every ounce of will to argue or continue on was completely shattered. It intrigued the pink-haired being. What if I can be like that, someday…?
"As I was saying… he is your new comrade for as long as Kingdom Hearts lay unfinished, and until then, he is named Marluxia."
Marluxia. The newly named man liked the sound of his new self-identity. It sounded vaguely familiar somehow…however, not recalling a single memory of his life before becoming a Nobody, could not place that familiarity.
"All are dismissed. Number V, stay."
As the hooded figure, obviously the one in charge, and number V, whoever that was, conversed about something or another, he saw the other members disappearing through portals that seemed to be made of darkness. He blinked in awe. Will he ever be taught to do that? So distracted was he by these curious portals that he failed to notice one opening right behind him. Marluxia jumped as he felt a massive hand grasp his shoulder, and he turned to face a rather amused-looking figure. He instantly recognized the oh-so-familiar face of the blue-eyed giant--the one who had defended him during the meeting.
"Come with me." His voice was strangely deep, though it fit his overall exterior. Marluxia could only stare at him, wide-eyed, in stupefied shock. How in the world had he appeared behind him without him noticing?
Making an amused sound in his throat, the man's lips twisted into the smallest of smiles. "You will learn how to portal soon enough." As to demonstrate, he held out his arm and did a sort of flicking motion with his wrist, and, like magic, a swirling blackness opened up in the general direction of the man's gesture, causing Marluxia's eyes to go wide with shock, raising his arms as if to defend himself from the unfamiliar thing.
This time, the ice-eyed man didn't attempt to hold back a small chuckle. "It will not hurt you. It is used merely for transportation." When Marluxia didn't show any sign of placating, the man sighed and offered his hand. "If it's any consolation."
For a second, the pink-haired man felt strange. He felt as if he should be offended and, if he had any pride at all, he would turn down the offer and be brave. However…he didn't feel as if he had anything to prove to him. It was almost as if...they were friends? As preposterous as it sounded, Marluxia had a feeling it may be true.
Without a word, he looked at the man, arm outstretched, and looked at him, as a lost puppy would look at a passerby in hopes of finding a home, and took his hand. The other man merely nodded and walked through the portal with Marluxia in hand.
As they walked in the darkness for a moment or two, the other man looked at Marluxia. "I am Number V. Lexaeus, if you may."
Lexaeus. He liked that name.
"Lexaeus…" Marluxia muttered under his breath, the name sounding funny in his voice, which he hadn't heard…ever, he thought.
Finding a burst of courage completely out of the blue, Marluxia looked at Lexaeus resolutely. "Thank you." As the other man raised an eyebrow, Marluxia looked broke his gaze, looking at the floor. He was sure he was imagining it, but he could have sworn he felt his face get…warmer? It was hard to explain. "…For standing up for me, back there."
Lexaeus's eyes widened a fraction, and he blinked a few times in surprise. He obviously wasn't expecting the question. He looked down almost exactly how Marluxia did moments earlier, and the pink-haired man briefly wondered if Lexaeus felt warm, as well. It must be pretty hot in these dark portals, he concluded.
"...'Welcome." He answered silently, lifting his gaze from the floor (which seemed to be pitch-black as well as everything else, Marluxia noted dully). Then, all was silent as the two walked, hand-in-hand, through the darkness, the pitch-black shadows their only witness.
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Whew, you know you need a life when it takes you 2 hours to write a lousy one-shot and you have to stop yourself from squealing like a fangirl at your own Fanfiction…-sigh- You gotta admit though, Newbie!Marluxia was pretty darned cute. X3
