Strings of sunlight spew through my window and paint my face. I sit up and rub my eyes. I peek at the clock. It's about 7:20. I slide out of bed and plod over to my dresser. I select a heavy sweater and some light blue sweatpants to wear. I finish pulling the sweater over my head and I hear a knocking on my door.
"It's Axel! OPEN UP NAMI!" Axel shouts.
"The door's unlocked, Axel. Come on in." I reply to his yelling. The door opens, an about twenty brightly wrapped boxes and bags spew into my room, Axel standing proudly behind them.
"Why-"
"I'm Santa's Little Helper." Axel answers my question before I can even finish asking it. However, his response raises so many more questions. I feel that it is probably best to not ask.
"Don't open them until Christmas, Namine, or Zexi-errrr… the boogeyman will come and eat your soul. Yeah." he instructs.
"I don't believe in the boogeyman."
You're no fun." He says and promptly leaves in a dark portal, dragging a bulging sack of what I can only assume are more presents behind him.
I look down at the new mess in my room. Sighing, I start to stack the boxes up in the corner of my room. Most of them are poorly wrapped and I can see the boxes through giant gaps in the wrapping paper on some of them.
One box has been completely constricted in duct-tape. "FROM SAÏX" is scrawled crudely in green Sharpie on the side. Another box is neatly wrapped up, with paper that has puppies in party hats on it. I know it's from Roxas, before I even look at the tag, because Roxas always uses this wrapping paper pattern. I almost jump out of my skin when a box suddenly twitches and I hear a scratching noise come from inside it. I glance at the tag. "Hi Namine! I hope your X-Mas is filled with lots and lots and lots of presents and happy things! Lots of Love, DEMYX!!" Is written in tiny handwriting inside. I know I should open the box now, and let whatever poor creature that is inside out, but I fear Demyx's reaction to me spoiling his surprise.
I pick up a book that isn't even wrapped. A little sticker on its cover says "from Zexion" while a smiley face lazily scribbled next to it. I stack a few more boxes against the wall and lean the book against them. I move on to the bags. Most of them have a superfluous amount of tissue paper crammed inside of them. The one from Larxene appears to be leaking something, so I put a newspaper under it and place it away from the other presents.
I pick up a massive bag and haul it over to the bag side. I grasp the tag in my right hand and skim it. It's from Xemnas. I look at the bag. I want to open it now, but I know I shouldn't.
I'm now done sorting my presents, so I decide to go down to the cafeteria and see what we're having for breakfast today. I make my way down the halls. A few Dusks join me on my way down, and veer off just before I push open the doors to the Cafeteria. I am greeted by Roxas and Zexion making a scene.
"Those pancakes are mine, Roxas." Zexion grumbles, forking the pancakes off of Roxas' plate and onto his.
"Give those back!" Roxas shouts, ripping the pancakes back onto his plate.
"They were mine first!" Zexion retorts, pulling them back onto his side of the table.
"Shut up!" Roxas grabs Zexion's plate and dumps its contents onto his.
"Marluxia! Tell Roxas those pancakes were mine first!" Zexion whines turning to the pink haired man who was sitting at his left, enjoying being entertained by this argument.
"Roxas, let the midget eat his pancakes."
"MARLUXIA!" Zexion roars, hurt by the "midget" comment.
"Sure thing!" Roxas grins and dumps the pancakes (Which probably had been Zexion's in the first place) onto Zexion's plate. "There ya go, Mr. Midget!"
Zexion slams his head into the table. His body shakes from silent tears as he pounds his fist against the table. Marluxia rubs Zexion's back trying to sooth the poor boy, and assure him that 'He had been laughing with him, not at him', while Roxas has a laughing fit on the other side of the table.
"Namine!" I hear a shout. I look in the sound's direction to see Larxene and Vexen sitting together at a table. Larxene is waving me over. I wave back and march over to their table. Vexen pulls out a chair for me to sit in.
"Thanks Vexen." I say.
"No problem."
"You don't have any food." Vexen reminds me.
"I don't? Oh!" I say, realizing that he's right.
"Oops." Larxene smirks at my mistake.
"Be right back…" I sigh.
I walk back over to the counter where food is being served, passing by Zexion, Roxas and Marluxia, who are now joined by Axel. I pick up a tray and carry it to where some Soldier Heartless are distributing food. I point at the pancakes and it scrambles over to them and brings some back to me. I pick up a glass of milk for myself and grab a can a whipped cream and a bottle of maple syrup. I almost forget the butter, but I remember it at the last second and grab some.
Making my way back to the table where Vexen and Larxene are, I pass Zexion, Marluxia, Roxas and Axel again. Now they're bickering about who used up all the milk. I grin. I know it was Roxas. That boy never stops.
I place my tray down on the table. I sit down in the metal chair and scoot it closer to the table.
"Welcome back." Larxene grins.
"Hey." Vexen re-greets me to the table.
"Hey guys." I say. I slather butter on my pancakes, and then drown them in syrup. Larxene watches me intently while I pile whipped cream on my pancakes. As I finish up the can, Larxene reaches over to the tower of whipped cream and swishes her hand through it, taking a giant glob of it for herself.
"That was mine…" I whimper.
"Yeah, yeah, like you need anymore." Larxene retorts.
"Hey! Are you saying I'm fat?!" I growl at her.
"No, but you used an entire can for three pancakes." She reminds me.
"Now, now ladies… We don't want to end up like them now do we?" Vexen points to a few tables behind us, where Zexion has his hand shoved into Roxas' mouth, trying to retrieve what appears to be some chewed up food, while Axel and Marluxia try to keep him from shoving his hand further down Roxas' throat than need be.
I sigh and let Larxene continue to steal my whipped cream. As I begin to cut up my pancakes and shove them in my mouth, the cafeteria doors slam open. Saix crashes dramatically into the room.
"Everyone!! The Superior is coming! HIDE!" He screams and slides into a table that seats one. Saix is such a drama queen.
"…Wait, what did he say?" I ask, turning to Larxene.
"Well, he didn't really say it… more, he screamed it but…"
"Larxene!"
"Okay! Okay! He said Xemnas is coming." she says, and I feel the color drain out of my face.
"Why, is that a problem?" She asks with a sly smirk, leaning over to my face. Now the blood is rushing back into my face and coloring it red.
"N… No. I just didn't hear him. That's all." I say, looking down at my lap.
"Pfffpt… I'm sure." She tilts back into her seat. I push my pancakes around on my plate nervously.
"You're not hungry anymore?" Vexen asks, watching me shove the pancakes from side to side.
"Not really…" I reply quietly.
"It's because she's sick. Looooove siiiick!" Larxene teases me, giggling at the end of her drawn out 'insult'. Just then, the doors to the cafeteria swing open, and a very tired looking Xemnas walks in. He's got circles under his big amber eyes, and his silvery hair is messed up more than it usually is. He's wearing a white T-shirt and some black jeans that a little too big for him (they pool around his bare feet and are held up by a belt).
He walks over to be served by some Heartless. I watch him grab a glass of milk and walk over to an empty table. He sits down and some Shadow Heartless rush over to give him the newspaper.
"What 'cha lookin' at Namine?" A squeak disturbs my swooning. I look over to see that Demyx has joined our merry little table. He had entered from the other side of the cafeteria when I had been distracted by Xemnas' entrance.
"Nothing…" I mumble, turning my head back to the table. I am greeted by the stares of Larxene, Vexen, and Demyx.
"Well, which nothin'?" Demyx presses.
"Xeeeemmmmnaaaasss." Larxene informs him with a grin in my direction.
"Really, Nami?" He asks, not realizing that he is irritating me to no end, and furthermore, giving Larxene more reasons to harass me.
"Well I-" I start to say, but of course, Larxene interrupts.
"She liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes hiiiiiiiiiiiiiim." She taunts me further.
"Shut up Larxene!" I hiss angrily.
"That's not really nice." Demyx points out the obvious.
"Shut up Demyx!" Larxene and I both spit at him.
"Vexen, why don't we help Nami out?" Demyx turns to Vexen.
"I think that would be a great idea. It would shut Larxene up-" Vexen begins.
"Heeeey…" Larxene groans.
"And it would give Nami something to do." He continues and my face flushes. "And then maybe you and I could eat in peace." He finishes, looking at the younger boy like there was some hope that he would shut up too.
"Namine, I hate you so much!" Larxene shrieks suddenly. She gets up out of her seat and pounds her fist on the table.
"What?!" I don't know why she just screamed that…
"I can't believe you won't let me make you over!" She whines, winking at Vexen and Demyx. Oh dear, she's caught on to their stupid idea…
"Larxene, I don't know what you're talking about…" I say, trying to get her to shut up and sit down. Axel, Saix, and Xemnas have directed their attention to our table. Roxas and Zexion are still fighting over pancakes.
"I can't stand you! GO! You are no longer welcome at this table!" Vexen gets up and points away form our table, aiding Larxene in her quest to make my life miserable. Without warning, I am roughly pulled out of my chair by my collar and dragged over to Xemnas' table by Demyx. I sit there frozen for a second while Demyx runs off. I move my eyes over to Xemnas, who is staring at me, mouth half open, fork shoved into a pancake.
"Er, hello." I say. Before I get a response from him, dearest little Demyx comes bouncing back over to my new seat, with my plate and milk.
"Sorry Nami, I forgot to bring yer stuff when I first dragged ya here." He apologizes and carefully sets the food down in front of me.
"I can't believe you wouldn't let Larxy make you over…" He mumbles with a weak smile.
"Heheh, well it's not like I'd be missing out on anything fun if it was actually a serious offer." I smile. He grins and springs back over to where he was sitting before. I turn back to see Xemnas' eyes following Demyx.
"Such an energetic little boy." He sighs. He turns back to me.
"Hello." I say, twiddling my thumbs and gazing at my food. I pick up my fork and start to squish the pancakes back and forth again. We sit in silence for about five minute while he eats and I smoosh.
"Why are you doing that?" I look up.
"Huh? Doing what?" I ask Xemnas, who is now looking at me. I flick my fork back and forth across my plate.
"That." He points at my plate. "You're… killing those pancakes."
"I guess I'm just not that hungry…" I mumble and slip down so that my chin rests in my elbow.
"Are you sick? If you're not going to eat them, you should give them to Roxas… Or Zexion." He motions to the two boys who are still fighting sprightly over the pancakes, while Marluxia and Axel sit and watch them- they've long since given up on trying to stop the younger two from fighting.
"Oh… Yeah you're probably right." I say softly. "Ummm, shouldn't you do something about those two?"
"I suppose I should." He says. Getting up with a sigh, he shuffles over to their table. As soon as they see him, Roxas and Zexion stop fighting and sit quietly. Xemnas talks to them. I can't hear what he's saying, but I watch his lips moving. Wait, did he just say my name? He points over at our table. Roxas grins and Zexion leaps out of his seat, the dirty blonde soon racing after him. They scramble over one another in an attempt to reach over here first. Roxas arrives a split second before Zexion. He slaps his left hand down on the table causing some of my milk to jump out of its glass. His right hand tugs urgently at my sweater.
"Namine, can I really have your pancakes?" Roxas asks, completely enthralled by the prospect of food, before having his head violently squished down by Zexion's hand. The lavender haired boy straddles Roxas' shoulders to keep him down.
"Namine, may I please have your pancakes?" he asks courteously, his visible eye gazes expectantly at me, while Roxas squirms under him, his face mooshed into the floor.
"Ah, um, sure… Zexion." I say, handing him the plate of minced pancakes.
"Thank you." He smiles contently and pops off of Roxas back. He takes the plate from me and sashays triumphantly back to his table. Roxas gives me a dirty look and sulks back over to the table too.
Xemnas returns to this table after having a short chat with Axel about something or other. The pyro looks a little upset, but soon bounces back and starts to squabble with Marluxia about something. Roxas continues to pout, and Zexion looks like he is enjoying my ex-pancakes a little more dramatically than actually necessary to irritate Roxas. I turn to Xemnas.
"Why… Why did you tell them they could have my pancakes?" I ask, a little upset because now I was A) without food, B) had syrup stains from Roxas on my sweater, and C) the milk that Roxas had spilled in his overly-eager quest for food was now dripping into my lap. Not fun.
"Well, you said I should do something about their fighting. And I don't think I could bear to see you stabbing those pancakes even more." Xemnas explains to me.
"Oh." Great. He thinks I'm a pancake executioner.
"Hey, I just realized I haven't talked to you in a while." He comments.
"Yeah. We probably have some catching up to do." I respond quickly. I hope he'll ask me to spend some time with him where Larxene, Demyx, and Vexen aren't squished behind one newspaper staring through a hole one of them poked in it so they can spy on me.
"Heh. I suppose we do." He finishes up the last pancake on his plate and takes one giant gulp of his milk, finishing it off. "Sorry, but we can't do that catching up now. I've got work to do…" He says the word 'work' like it's the verbal equivalent of a fat naked man belly-dancing on the table.
"Maybe later then?" I press as he gets up to leave. He turns back to me.
"I guess… I'm free tomorrow from twelve-thirty until two-forty five. If you want to talk with me then." He says and stares off into space a little bit, like he's trying to remember if that's true or not.
"Oh! That's great!" I pipe up. Erk! Was I a little too enthusiastic just then?
"Yes… So, will you meet me here?" He asks, apparently not noticing my sudden jump in enthusiasm. But he's always a little spacey, so I'm not surprised.
"Uh, I, uh, guess so. Sure!" I feel a little giddy. Have I just achieved possession of some of Xemnas' precious free time?! I believe I have!
"Well, I'll see you then. Bye." He picks up the newspaper and leaves. I sit very still and watch him leave. The second the cafeteria doors swing shut, Larxene and Demyx sprint over to me, tailed by Vexen, who doesn't take quite as much pleasure in harassing me as they do.
A/N:
Oh dear… This was a very long chapter. Oh my, oh my… Was it perhaps a little too long? Ahhh… I talked about pancakes a lot too… Oooh… I think I overused them…
Gehhhh, I'm bored, so maybe I'll give Demy-chan a little crush on Namine to spice things up a bit… What do you guys think?
Lol, my friend thinks that the part when Zexion is saying "Those pancakes are mine, Roxas." reminds her of the Shoes Song. "Those shoes are miiiiine bitch!" X3 She doesn't like it when I say bitch, though…
Dood! Xemnas is wearing L pants! XD oh, I amuse myself… From what I've seen, L's pants always look a little too big for him. And I just realized that I made Xemnas' pants big too. Ahahaha… -headdesk-
Anyways, thanks for reading! 333 I love reviews!