Disclaimer: You've heard it before.
"Not bad there kiddo" Demyx commented as Jaxon's arm finally lowered and the exhausted young nobody dropped to his knees. "Almost had something there, not bad at all."
"Th... tha... thanks" Jaxon gasped. "Who.. who knew pointing and concentrating was... so hard?"
"Ah, don't worry about that, most newbies always struggle to control the darkness on their first try. But you're catching on real quick."
That last part actually surprised Demyx, in the few hours he'd been training Jaxon on the art of opening a corridor of darkness his new partner had put just about every bit of energy he had into trying his luck. He hadn't succeeded, although that may have been as much down to Demyx's inability to properly explain (and just HOW exactly do you explain to a confused kid that he could open doors to other worlds with a mere thought?) but he had come close a few times, his most recent effort being his best although the strain was clearly starting to show.
"Feel like trying again?" He asked as Jaxon finally stood back upright. "Or you wanna rest a little more?"
"I'll give it another shot" the younger nobody replied, he stared straight ahead and raised his arm putting all his concetration into making the darkness follow his will, for a moment there was nothing then a few wisps of darkness started to appear.
"C'mon kid" Demyx muttered. "Just a bit more.." the darkness started to gain mass. "That's it!" He exclaimed. "Just a bit more effort!"
Jaxon nodded and narrowed his eyes as the darkness grew stronger and stronger but his strength failed him again and he slumped forward.
"Whoa!" Demyx was at his side immediately stopping him from faceplanting into the ground. "You OK there Jax?" Unable to actually speak Jaxon just nodded. "OK just have a seat there for a minute" he said lowering Jaxon to the ground. "Jeez kiddo, you keep this up and you're gonna end up wiping yourself clean out of existance."
"Funny... could've sworn I... heard somebody... telling me to... put more effort in..." Jaxon gasped causing Demyx to wince.
"Yeah, my bad?" He offered.
"And for the record, this..." Jaxon tugged at the long cloak he was wearing. "... doesn't breath."
"Standard issue Organziation unifrom kiddo, these things protect us from the darkness, you don't get a choice on the dress code."
"I thought... having no hearts protected us?" Demyx bit back his usual correction to the no hearts issue.
"Yeah, well, better safe than sorry right?"
"I'm never gonna get this am I?"
"You kidding me? You've been doing this, what, three hours and you're already getting the hang of it! You'll be travelling by darkness in no time."
"Yeah, I guess I'm still getting my head round this whole 'Darkness' thing."
"Think of it like this" Said Demyx. "The darkness is like a door, all you have to do is open it, that's how they taught it to me... well, that's how they had to teach it to me because I couldn't understand a word of what they were saying the rest of the time" he admitted. "Does that make it a bit simpler?"
"A bit... yeah" muttered Jaxon standing up. "Shall I try again?"
"If you feel up to it" Demyx answered in surprise. He'd been ready to call a break to let the kid get some of energy back before letting him try again, although if he did he'd probably have to deal with Saix asking him why he wasn't putting all his efforts into teaching Jaxon. "I hate that guy..."
"Huh?" Jaxon's voice caused him to jump, he hadn't realised he'd said that out loud.
"Nothing, just thinking out loud" and thank Kingdom Hearts that it was around you and not Saix!
"Oooooo... kay" Jaxon turned back to what he was doing. "So, just open the door right?"
"Yup, all there is to it."
"OK then" Jaxon raised his arm and focused his energy again. Open the door, open the door, open the door...
Demyx stayed silent this time as he watched Jaxon's effort, the wisps of darkness appeared straight away this time, a lot more solid. Jaxon's whole face contorted with the effort and his hand started to ball into a fist, the darkness started to fade and Demyx stepped forward to stop him but stopped in his tracks as the darkness appeared again a lot stronger and almost in the shape of a...
"He did it..." he muttered before clearing his throat. "You did it!" He yelled slapping Jaxon on the back. "Wow, that's gotta be the fastest anyone's actually learned how to do that, I'm a good teacher!"
Jaxon actually laughed. "If you say so..." he muttered before turning back to the wall of darkness in front of them. "Probably a stupid question but where exactly does that lead?"
"Huh?" Demyx snapped back from his thoughts. "Oh that, that leads to what we call a corridor of darkness, big, void-like place... let's go see!" He stepped forward but Jaxon held back. "What?"
"Well... I'd rather... seeing it's my first..."
"Don't be silly!" Demyx laughed pulling him forward by the arm (and in a position to step through the portal first Jaxon noted) and shoved him into the darkness.
"Whoa..." Jaxon whispered looking at the mess of colours around him, he turned to see Demyx stepping through grinning at him.
"Quite a place huh?" He asked.
"Yeah, quite a place" Jaxon repeated his attention drawn by a group of shadows heading towards them. "What the... WHOA!" He jumped back behind Demyx as three ghostly white figures jumped out of the shadows. "What the hell are those? Heartless?"
"Relax, these guys are on our side" Demyx answered stepping up to them.
"What are they?"
"Nobodies like us, these one's are Dusks, pretty basic but handy to have on your side when things get hairy."
"They're... like us?"
"Pretty much, in plain English, if your 'other' didn't have as strong a heart as he did you'd be one of these guys."
"Well, that makes me feel better about myself" Jaxon muttered sizing up the Dusks. "So, these are our answers to Heartless?"
"No, the Heartless are mindless little things, these guys are aware of what they do and they can communicate, isn't that right?" He asked the nearest one receiving a nod in return. "See?"
"I guess, so how do I tell between a heartless and one of these?"
"Heartless are black, like shadows."
"That's it?"
"Well how do you want me to say it? That's the basic concept, Heartless are born from darkness, Nobodies aren't, simple as."
"OK, so where does this go?"
"Anywhere" answered Demyx. "Anywhere in the Worlds."
"You guys keep saying 'Worlds', there's more than one?"
"Loads more, some beautiful, some not so beautiful, what, you thought we only got the hearts from that gloomy waste we call home?"
"Well... yeah."
"Oh kiddo you really do have a lot to learn" Demyx laughed. "As I was saying, from here we can go anywhere, no matter how far or near, for example, I do this." He snapped his fingers and another portal opened behind him. "And we go to the training courtyard."
He led Jaxon through into another large white room, the ceiling was at least three stories high and the room itself seemed as wide as the castle.
"Looks like we got the place to ourself" Demyx commented. "Should make it a bit easier."
"Make what a bit easier?"
"Lesson two Jax, a well as controlling the darkness the nobodies in the Organization can call a weapon" he opened his hand and his sitar appeared in it. "This is mine."
"A sitar?"
"Well I am a mucisian" Demyx answered in annoyance. "And trust me I hit you round the head with this you'll feel it. But I don't just use it to brain people..." he strummed a few notes and Jaxon jumped back as a column of water erupted at his feet.
"Wow, it can control water?"
"Actually" Demyx waved his hand causing another column to appear. "I can, everyone here controls a different element, I just use this to help me focus on what I'm doing, truth be told I'm not much of a fighter..."
"And I am?"
"One way to find out!" Demyx smirked getting into a fighting stance. "Sorry about this kiddo but it's the best way to.."
"Demyx."
Demyx immediately straightened at the new voice in the room and turned to greet it. "Superior?"
Xemnas strode forward towards the two nobodies. "How is our new recruit progressing?"
"Ummmn, pretty well, he's learned how to manipulate the darkness into a portal."
"Already?" Jaxon wasn't sure but he thought he sense surprise in Xemnas' voice. "That's rather impressive. For both of you."
"Thank you" Demyx nodded. "I was just about to see how he can handle..."
"You've done enough for one day Demyx. I think our new member would be best served to learn combat from another member."
"But, I thought... considering how he hasn't actually been in combat..."
"If he can master the control of darkness as quickly as you claim Demyx then I'm sure he should be able to handle himself with someone a little more... 'able' in combat."
Demyx opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it. "Who did you have in mind?"
Xemnas' mouth curled into a small smirk. "I was thinking..." Another portal opened behind him and a giant man stepped through it holding the largest weapon Jaxon had ever seen (admittedly he'd only seen one, but still the blade this guy had casually draped over his shoulder was HUGE!) he stood next to Xemnas silently surveying the younger nobodies. "Lexaeus."
Jaxon heard Demyx gulp and turned to see the other nobody looking at him with concern. "I don't suppose I get a say in this... superior?"
"Come now Jaxon, apparently you already have some knowledge of the darkness, I'm sure you will be able to fare rather well with Lexaeus here" Xemnas answered walking towards the edge of the room.
"Sorry kiddo" Demyx muttered following after him, as Jaxon watched him go he noticed more hooded figures appearing around the edge of the huge room.
Just how many are there?
Jaxon turned and began counting silently, himself the the giant, Demyx and Xemnas, a stern looking guy with two massive scars on his face... must be Saix. A tall guy with spiky red hair sharing a joke with a smaller blonde kid. A blonde woman surveying him with what seemed like amusement. Another guy is that a guy? Pink hair makes it hard to tell. Two blonde haired men, one cropped short the other letting it grow long, an older, scarred man with an eyepatch and greying hair, a dark haired man looking rather bored at the situation and a small man at the back leaning against the wall surveying the scene in front of him.
So, fourteen of us then? Hang on he quickly glanced back over his shoulder and saw one more member lurking in the corner with their hood still up. OK, fifteen, thirteen of which are gonna watch you get your head caved in by this freak of nature... great.
"Care to make a gamble on this Luxord?" The one-eyed guy asked one of the blondes, the shorter haired one turned to him.
"That all depends Xigbar, what exactly would I gain from making a gamble on such a one sided contest?"
One sided?
"I dunno man, I'm betting on the new kid..."
"You can't be serious?"
"No I am, I'm betting on the new kid... to get absolutely creamed!"
Oh come on! Jaxon shuddered as the group let out hollow laughs and turned back to... Lexaeus was it? The giant nobody was still just standing there, silently staring at him. He hesitantly stepped backwards.
"Come on kid" Demyx muttered, he heard Saix laugh derisively behind him.
"If you've had a hand in training the boy Demyx, there isn't much hope for him."
"Don't judge on appearances" Demyx replied earning another dismissive laugh. C'mon kid, you've proved me right so far...
"While we're young Lex!" Called the red haired guy, Jaxon glanced away for a second but caught the guy moving out of the corner of his eye and jumped back as the giant weapon smashed into the floor where he would have been making the whole room shake.
Is this guy TRYING to kill me? That would've smooshed me into a freakin' pancake! I thought we were on the same side here?
Jaxon jumped back as Lexaeus charged again this time swinging for his head, for a guy as big as he was Lexaeus was remarkably fast, Jaxon felt the next blow whistle just above his head as he ducked.
OK, travelling through the darkness is like opening a door? So using a weapon must be like going into battle. Go into battle, go into battle... crap
Lexaeus continued charging after him but every blow aimed at him was ducked or avoided, after a few minutes the giant nobody stopped and stood just stood there.
"Well, it's obvious he's got the patented Demyx run away technique down" the man called Xigbar commented to another round of empty laughs. Demyx just watched on silently as Lexaeus continued staring at Jaxon.
"So..." the younger nobody gulped. "Wanna call it a draw?"
Lexaeus stared at him and for a moment Jaxon thought he was actually considering that offer only for him to smash his weapon into the ground again shaking the room and knocking Jaxon off balance, he attempted another swing but Jaxon ducked and rolled away, Laxaeus turned and smashed the ground yet again before charging and missing.
"Lex! Enough with the eathquakes!" Called the red haired guy holding onto the wall to keep his balance, Lexaeus ignored him and flew at Jaxon again, the smaller nobody went to duck the blow but the giant had anticipated it and caught him with a kick sending him flying across the room to winces from some of the group. Jaxon rolled to his knees but Lexaeus was already on him and bringing his weapon down, he cried out and instictively raised his arms to cover up only to hear the sound of metal on metal, he blinked in confusion and looked up at the weapon that had appeared in his hand.
"What..." he whispered, and sentiment shared by some of the other nobodies.
"How... is that a gunblade?" Asked Demyx turning to Xemnas, the superior didn't answer but a small smile was playing on his lips as Jaxon stood up twirling the weapon in his hand.
"OK" he muttered. "Dunno how that happened or how I know how to use this... but I'll take what I can get right now" he looked up at Lexaeus. "Round two big man?"
Lexaeus actually nodded then lunged forward, Jaxon parried and swung low only to have his blow blocked, he feinted low again then went high but Lexaeus anticipated it and their weapons locked. Jaxon smirked at the larger nobody before being pushed away then twirled the weapon so it was facing the onrushing giant. He waited until the giant weapon was swinging for his head then pulled the trigger, a round flew from just below the blade catching Lexaeus in the chest and sent him crashing to the ground.
"No... way!" Demyx whispered, as Jaxon stood over Lexaeus and raised the gunblade over his head, he started to bring it down but hesitated.
"Mistake!" Hissed Lexaeus causing the younger nobody to look down, taking the opportunity the giant swung his weapon up with the handle crashing into Jaxon's jaw sending him flying, he stood up but Lexaeus was already waiting and caught him with the flat of the blade sending him skidding across the floor, the gunblade clattered out of his hand and disapeared as Lexaeus raised his weapon again.
"Lexaeus! Enough!" The giant nobody stopped at Xemnas' words. "I think we've seen enough for one day, Demyx. Please help our new recruit and get him some rest."
"Yes superior" Demyx nodded and walked away from the other nobodies. One by one they disapeared until only Demyx, Jaxon and Lexaeus remained. The larger nobody looked down as Demyx helped the other nobody to his feet.
"You fight well" he muttered before turning and disapearing himself.
"You OK there Jax?"
"Ask me again when my ears stop ringing" Jaxon replied. "Where'd my weapon go? And for that matter, where the hell did it come from?"
Demyx smirked. "Another lesson for another day kiddo. Now let's get you some rest, you've had one hell of a day. Good job."
"Thanks, now if someone could get me some ice for my jaw..."
Demyx report number... oh, you know the drill!
Been a strange day. Got the newbie to open up, he's actually an OK kid, maybe it was a good idea to put me in charge of him, he's too much fun for someone like Saix to look after. And I learned I'm actually a pretty good teacher, the kid knows how to control the darkness (somewhat) and he managed to hold his own with Lexaeus for a while which shut some of the others up about him. To be honest I like the kid, he might turn out to be more fun than Roxas, can't wait to go on missions with him, I think he'll make a good partner.
Wait, go back on missions? Did I just write that...
You know the drill, like? Hate? Show some love and let me know guys