Disclaimer: Any brand names, games, logos, ideas or characters in this story do not belong to me. They belong to good old Tetsuya Nomura and Square-Enix. The only thing I've done is bend their awesome ideas to my will for a while. =D
A/N: For newcomers, this is part of my New Year's Resolution Drabble Challenge, details of which can be found on my profile. And to golden oldies - welcome back!
And yeah, I realise that I'm late already, but that's gonna change from now. To be honest I kinda forgot that March was coming, so I wasn't prepared ^^; But from now, I will be on time!
And to do with the actual story - I've chosen a third person narrative style for Xaldie. So yeah, no more psych profiles, but Xaldin's head seems hard to get into. I think I can get it better by using his surroundings.
Xaldin strikes me as the quintessential warrior, with a bit of a thing for rules, so I've tried to incorporate that. I'll shut up now. Enjoy!
When Xaldin received Saix's orders to go see the Superior now, he tried not to think about it too much. He didn't think about how much it bothered him, how unecessary it was -- he just portaled into Where Nothing Gathers like a good little boy.
His seat was high, towering above most of the others, and he had to admit that it was satisfying. But he wouldn't brag about his prowess - that wasn't polite. It was fun to condescend to the brattier members now and then though.
He didn't grin at the thought - the Superior was watching him. He could feel the amber eyes searching him, and looked up to rest his own steadily - though not impertinently - on them.
"You called, sir?"
Never challenge your superiors. He knew that as a human and he knew it now. Always speak politely and be open to orders. Those were the rules.
And he knew they were appreciated. He knew it as soon as that putrid grin reached Xemnas' face.
"I did, Three. I trust your missions have been going well?"
His efforts at making bthe atmosphere 'comfortable' were laughable, though there was no reason to cause a fuss. Xaldin knew the Superior respected him, which was why he could do the same.
"They have, sir. In my... humble opinion, at least."
Another grin. "That's good. I know you're capable, Xaldin, which is why I have this mission to give you. I'd give it to you through Saix under normal circumstances, but the details are... delicate."
Xaldin raised an eyebrow, purple eyes searching the words hanging above him in the air. "Sir?"
"I assume you've heard of Beast's Castle, and the... subhuman master of it."
"I have, sir," Xaldin responded with a deep nod.
"And you heard about his adventures between worlds ins earch of his stolen sweetheart?"
Xaldin thought 'sweetheart' was overly flowery language for a Superior, but decided to leave the notion alone. Better to answer quickly and not be sidetracked. "Yes, sir."
"Quite a feat for a Beast with no transportation."
Xaldin's eyebrows rose. "No transportation, sir?" It was rude to interrupt, but Xaldin hadn't been expecting that aspect of the story.
The Superior seemed unaffected though, his grin only widening. "That's right. He made it solely on the strength of his Heart." Suddenly Xaldin saw where this was going. "Imagine how strong a Heartless, or even a Nobody, produced by that Heart would be."
"Unprecedented, sir."
"Good, I see you understand me." Xemnas leaned forward from his lounged position. "But do you understand what I'm asking you to do?"
Xaldin smiled for the first time, it was permissable now. Necessary, even, in spite of the jibe. "I do, sir."
The Superior smiled again and Xaldin chose to ignore the poison in it - it wasn't directed at him, it was the poisonous joy of setting plans in motion; of hunting. "Good, take as long as you like in this task; the Beast won't be an easy win. And you have licence to use any methods necessary."
And the Third's efforts were rewarded. "Thank you, sir."
Xemnas respected him. Respected his work and his loyalty, and Xaldin appreciated it. It's what made him strive to perform at his best, and he would wade through any number of unecessary formalities to gain that respect.
To gain that freedom.