Author's note: I have no idea where the idea for this one came from! It just popped into my head. I thought i'd be nice to Marluxia in this one :) Hope it's okay for all you Marluxia fans out there!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot :)


Russian Roulette

Marluxia paced the study. Luxord was sat in an armchair, staring at his distressed lover. Marluxia stopped pacing and ran a hand through his long pink hair. Luxord tilted his head to one side and waited for the tirade that was sure to come.

"Why?" Marluxia said finally, whirling around and placing his hands on either side of the chair. His dark pink-purple eyes stared into Luxord's blue ones with a mixture of anger, confusion and desperation. "Why do you need to do it?"

Luxord smiled lazily at Marluxia.

"Because he interests me."

"Because he interests you?" Marluxia gave a harsh, disbelieving laugh and straightened up. He put a hand over his eyes and wrapped his other arm around his slender waist. He drew a shaking breath, trying to get a hold on himself.

"And what happens if you lose?" He asked, taking his hand away from his eyes and clutching his upper arm tightly. "Did you think of that?"

Luxord simply smiled.

"I don't lose Marly." He said confidently.

"But you could! Even you have to lose sometimes! Luck doesn't last forever!" Marluxia shouted trying to get through to his over- confident boyfriend.

"Good job you'll be there then isn't it, my lucky charm."

Marluxia threw his arms into the air, tears starting in his eyes.

"What'll happen to Demyx if you lose!!? You're making him choose between his only remaining family member and the boy he's fallen in love with!" He gestured wildly, trying to get Luxord to take it seriously. "And Roxas? And Axel? And all of us? What'll we all do if you lose? We can't keep going without you! The group'll fall apart."

Tears were falling fast from his eyes now, like falling stars. His shoulders shook as he cried.

"What about me? What'll I do? I don't wanna go back to what I was before!"

Luxord rose to his feet. He walked over to Marluxia, who's slim frame was trembling with sobs. He placed a soft kiss on the pinkette's forehead, and then folded him into his arms. He held him close as he cried.

Luxord knew that if he lost against the boy, everything would fall.

Everything.

But he was still going to go through with it. He was well known for his gambling prowess.

But even the Gambler of Fate,

Can't cheat at Russian Roulette.

Zexion sat leaning on the cold wall of the room he was locked in. He leaned his head back against the stone. Light from the full moon filled his room, bathing him in a bright light. He took a deep breath. Tomorrow he would be free. Tomorrow, the long chain that was locked onto his wrist and the wall would be gone.

He heard voices outside the door.

"Okay Dem, but not long."

He heard a key in the lock. The door was pushed open.

A boy with a dirty blonde mohawk/mullet walked in. His sea-green eyes were full of confusion and desperation.

The door closed behind him.

They stared at each other for a minute.

Sea-green into silvery-purple.

"Why?" Demyx finally asked.

"My freedom." Zexion answered quietly.

"But what if you…" Demyx couldn't say the word.

"Die." Zexion finished it for him.

Demyx's gasp was almost inaudible.

He rushed over and crashed to his knees in front of the lilac haired boy.

He pulled him into a warm hug.

"Please don't do it. I could talk to my uncle! I could get you your freedom!" Demyx shuddered as he started to cry.

Zexion smiled sadly. He wrapped his arms around Demyx's waist.

"I'm sorry, but I've got to do it myself."

Demyx tightened his hold.

"But why like this? Uncle doesn't lose! And I don't wanna lose you!"

"I need to be free Demyx, and tomorrow… I'll be free either way."

Demyx pulled away from Zexion's arms, his eyes streaming with glittering, moonlit tears.

"You could be dead!" he sobbed. "That's not free!"

Zexion simply smiled.

"I'll be free." He said softly.

"But I lo…" Demyx started.

But Zexion placed his hand over Demyx's mouth.

"Please don't say it. Please." His smile was gone. He knew that if Demyx said those three words, he'd lose his resolve.

Zexion removed his hand, the long chain around his wrist clinking on the stone floor.

Demyx moved closer.

Zexion leaned up.

Their lips met.

A soft, chaste kiss.

They made it last.

As long as they could.

Knowing it could be their last.

When they pulled apart, Zexion's face was wet from Demyx's tears.

"I have to go." Demyx said, tears no longer falling.

"I know." Zexion answered.

Demyx stood and walked to the door. He knocked on it and the key was heard in the lock again. It swung open. Demyx took one last look back at the boy he loved.

Zexion's smile was beautiful. His hair was shining in the soft moonlight.

"Goodbye." Zexion said.

Demyx left the room.

The door slammed shut behind him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"You're to stay here." Xigbar said standing by the door. "And I'm to lock you in, so you won't try and follow."

Demyx nodded, hearing the words but not listening to them. Axel looked mutinous.

Xigbar left, shutting the door.

They heard the lock click.

Roxas sat down on the sofa next to Demyx. His sunshine blonde hair glowing in the afternoon sunlight that spilled from the window.

He opened his mouth to comfort Demyx. Then realised he couldn't say anything.

Demyx was the one who would lose the most today.

Either his uncle,

Or his lover.

Roxas settled for putting his arm around his friend's shoulders. Demyx rested his head on the smaller boys shoulder and quietly cried. Axel came over and sat on his other side.

He caught Roxas' eyes over Demyx's head. Emerald stared into sapphire.

They heard a car engine start.

They heard it accelerate.

Then vanish into the distance.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Zexion had fallen asleep where Demyx had left him.

He woke lying on the floor with the chain digging into his side.

He pushed himself up, squinting as the sunlight reached his eyes.

The sun. Bright and beautiful.

"Not very appropriate for the day." He thought.

The lock on the door clicked.

"There ya go Princess," came the cocky voice of one of his guards. "Just knock when you wanna leave yo?"

Zexion looked up to see Marluxia walk in.

He had a tray in his hands which he placed on the floor in front of the young boy. The door clanged shut behind him.

Zexion looked down at his breakfast.

Two pieces of hot buttered toast, orange juice and an apple.

He picked up a piece of toast.

Marluxia smiled and sat in front of him.

Zexion thought the smile was rather strained.

"I won't say that you're… the bad guy in this. Because that's not fair," Marluxia's voice was unusually hoarse, like he'd been crying all night. "I think you're both doing the wrong thing. You don't have to gamble to win your freedom."

He laughed softly and a little ruefully.

"I did because I had to. And I'll always regret that decision."

"I know." Zexion whispered, starting on the second piece of toast. He was very hungry.

Marluxia looked away sadly.

"Okay, I'll leave you now." He rose gracefully to his feet. "The next time I see you will be across the table."

"Thank you, Marluxia."

The longer they waited the more impatient Zexion got. He was ready now.

Just when he stopped waiting to hear the key in the lock, he heard footsteps approaching.

The door was unlocked and swung open to reveal two tall figures.

One of them Zexion recognized as Axel's older brother. He had heard his name was Reno. He had red hair like Axel's that finished in a long thin ponytail and his eyes were the same emerald green. He had a staff over his shoulder and was looking down at Zexion.

His companion was called Riku. He had long silver hair that shimmered prettily in the light. His eyes were a piercing icy-blue colour. He also had a staff in his hand.

Zexion knew, however, that the staffs were for show. They both had guns on their person at all times.

"It's time yo." Reno said walking into the cold room.

He grabbed the chain where it was cuffed to the wall and pulled out a small key.

Riku stayed by the door. Zexion guessed it was to try put him off of escaping.

Why would he escape?

He had nowhere to run to.

And besides, he was the one who challenged Luxord.

Reno cuffed the chain to his own wrist. Zexion wondered why. If he did want to escape he was now close enough to the older red head to steal his gun and hold him hostage.

Then he saw Riku's eyes and knew that, if it came to that, the silverette wouldn't hesitate to shoot Reno too.

Reno walked to the door and when Zexion felt the tug on the chain he followed.

Reno walked ahead and Riku walked behind.

They escorted him outside.

The bright sunshine assailed Zexion's senses and he threw up an arm to shield his eyes.

The air felt heavy though. And there were black clouds on the horizon.

He saw two black cars. Marluxia was looking at him from the door of the one in front. They stared at each other before an arm dressed in black reached out of the car and wrapped itself around Marluxia's waist. He looked away from Zexion and leaned down to enter the car.

Zexion knew that Marluxia was Luxord's boyfriend. So that meant that the arm had belonged to Luxord.

The man he was gambling his life with.

Reno entered the second car and tugged Zexion into it.

Riku got into the front seat.

A tall man with long black hair and a patch over one eye got into the driver's seat.

The car's engine started.

They accelerated away from the estate. And away from Demyx.