A/N: For the purposes of this fanfic, please understand that a pyromancer is someone who uses flames to foresee the future. I think Axel is the LAST fire-wielder who would become a pyromancer, don't you?
Axel lifted Vexen into the air by the front of his cloak, raised fist clasping around a chakram. "Tell me how to get it back!" he snarled. "Please! Have mercy! I-I'll tell you everything. Just put me down!"
"Why should I?! A coward like you, afraid of heights?! A scientist with cryokinesis, and a superior intellect, can't even offer me a solution to a very." Drawing his chakram closer to his throat, he spat the next words. "Delicate. Situation?!" Gripping the hand at his neck, Vexen squirmed, dangling feet unable to reach the ground. "P-Please! No! Put me down, and I'll tell you all!" Axel shook him harshly, momentarily flicking his eyes in Luxord's direction. "What do you think? Can we trust him?"
"Perhaps…" Luxord smirked. "But what is existence without a little gamble, eh?" Lifting him higher, Axel dropped Vexen in a crumpled heap on the ground, giving him a swift kick for good measure. Hearing the other blond groan, Luxord turned to look at Axel, keenly observing his erratic movements. "Listen, Love. I can understand why you're restless, but must you damage our only source of valid information this way?" The redhead sighed, holding his head in his hands, facing Luxord. The time lord embraced him, rubbing his back soothingly.
Vexen slowly picked himself up from the floor, groaning and holding his back. The air around the party turned chill as the wicked scientist's nostrils flared and his eyes lit up. His breathing grew ragged and Axel tore himself from his lover's arms, shoving him down and throwing himself out of the way as a dense ball of ice whizzed past their heads. Growling, Axel flung himself at the elderly man, pinning him down with knees either side of his chest, a bare hand gripping the loose material of his collar, free hand raised near his own ear, trying to summon a chakram. Why isn't it working?! The scientist sneered. "Something wrong, Number VIII? Perhaps you can't find your weapons? I took the liberty of removing them for closer inspection and experimentation. As far as I can see, I did you a great service – spikes are SO unbecoming of a pyromancer, wouldn't you agree? Why aren't you overcome with joy? Oh, of course! Silly me – I almost forgot: Nobodies don't have hearts!" Vexen winced as the redhead towering over him punched his jaw hard enough for a few audible cracks to echo around the room. His opposite cheek hit the ground and he moved his head fast enough to see Axel swiftly swiftly snatch a well-aimed card from the air between the first two fingers of his free hand, his eyes never leaving Vexen's neck. Moving the card close to his viewpoint, Axel bared his teeth, glaring. "Get your facts straight, old man. I am not a pyromancer! How did you manage to remove my chakrams from my private pocket dimension?" Long, dusty, blond hair matted itself as its owner shook with laughter, eyes closed from the sheer force of it. "It's all about data, my dear boy!" Cackling was cut short with a croak as a blade was pressed against his throat. Eyes widened in fright as he observed one of Luxord's cards, all but a single edge coated in a thin blade. "D-d-don't act too rashly, men! As you said, I'm your only current source of information. You need me alive-" Dull green eyes rolled into the back of his head as he was knocked unconscious by a deft blow to the temple, an angry Axel on the other end of the palm.
Without a second's hesitation, the redhead had stood up and unceremoniously draped the old man over his shoulder, taking unnecessarily large steps to ensure an unsatisfactory ride. "No need to be cruel, Love. Just because the old coot doesn't have a heart of his own doesn't mean you have to act the same way. Anyway, put him down – you need to conserve your strength." Axel stopped hurriedly, the back of Vexen's head crashing into his shoulder blade as he did so. Luxord cringed, then motioned for his lover to gently put the elderly blond down and back away. When he had, the blue-eyed Brit summoned some life-sized cards which swirled around Vexen, the body disappearing as the cards did. Green eyes watched in wonder before turning to the other man, a fiery eyebrow cocked in curiosity. As though reading his mind, Luxord merely shrugged and turned away, muttering "pocket dimension, albeit much more hospitable than the rest of them." He smirked, much to Axel's surprise. "Not that he'll get to enjoy it, mind you. I'm sure you're aware of how they work depending on a Nobody's abilities. After all, you materialize your weapons onto this plane through flames, correct?" The redhead nodded slowly, stunned, frowning slightly when he understood the meaning. "So, he's frozen in time until you decide to get him out of there?" Blond head bobbed in answer, before turning back to the other man. "But you did not use fire this time. What were the effects on them?" Axel clenched his gloved fist, throwing him a tiny shard of black plastic. "Considerably weakened. Cross guard, I think." Luxord nodded. "Well, Love, enough speculation for the time being. Much as I hate to have you enter a fight unprepared, I doubt we can get your weapons back before we must confront Number XI." As Axel scowled, Luxord strolled over and hugged him. "Even you have the time for love's sweet embrace before marching off to war with your own demons, but rest assured you shan't be alone. So long as time's river flows and even halts, you shall never be alone on your battlefield." Giggling, Axel hugged him back and playfully swatted at his arm. "Really, Lux? Poetry, now of all times?!" They laughed, placing a quick kiss on each cheek before turning and heading towards the door, hand in hand.
A/N: I have nothing against scientists – in fact, I'm studying to be one – but I just can't stand VEXEN! If there are any Vexen fans reading this who are enraged by his abuse, I'm sorry, but have you seen how cruel he is? A violent, fiery, potentially bloody canon death still didn't give me the satisfaction I needed. Also, I am aware that he isn't THAT old, but he's one of the oldest members and he looks far older than he actually is. For the sake of this fanfic, I HAVE made him a cowardly old man. No hating – I'm just giving my opinion. Also, I'm usually better at poetry, but let's just go ahead and say that Luxord is a bad bard *laughs*
