Disclaimer: I always try to come up with creative ways to do this, and I always fail. I don't know why I continue to try. So, I don't own it, I have no rights, blah-blah-blah.
Warning: Yaoi (rhymes with 'Owie'), and most likely language.
Chapter 7
When Demyx had first heard that the Gods' Ball was going to be held in the Underworld, the thought that he might be attending hadn't even crossed his mind. However, when some of the castle's servants came in to his room early one morning brandishing measuring tapes, he discovered otherwise. He'd stood there, too dumbfounded to do anything but let those with the tape measures do their work.
After a few hours of this, Zexion had entered the room, and, upon seeing Demyx, he'd looked rather pleased. He'd nodded slowly, eyes sweeping up and down Demyx's frame in a way that made the blonde blush. Shortly after his inspection, Zexion had pulled up a chair and sat comfortably, making it look graceful and fluid, almost as if he were part of the chair.
"Um…Zexy?" Demyx had asked, using the pet-name he'd recently started calling his love.
"Yes?"
"What…is all this for?"
Zexion had leaned back, eyebrow arching. "The Gods' Ball, of course. What else?" He said this as if it were the most obvious thing in the world and that Demyx was silly for having to ask. Despite this, Demyx felt a jolt of excitement shoot down his spine.
"The Gods' Ball? You mean, I get to go?"
"Well…that was the general consensus, yes. Did you not want to go?" Zexion's expression had changed from appreciative to concern. He'd leaned forward with his elbows to his knees, clasping his hands which dangled down between the 'v' of his legs.
"I'm not opposed to going," Demyx was quick to assure, "I've just…never been allowed to go before. I had assumed that I wouldn't be this time, either."
Zexion opened his mouth, no doubt to repeat the same speech he'd been throwing out for the past two months, but Demyx just smiled and cut him off. "Sometimes I forget that life is different now. I don't have to be cut off from everything. Not if I don't want to be."
Zexion had nodded, a small smile lighting his features. Seeing it, Demyx couldn't help but smile back. He loved Zexion's smile. He hadn't gotten to see it very often, because Zexion had been busy.
In the past two months, mortals had been pouring into the Underworld-quite literally-by the boatload. Demyx knew that it couldn't possibly all have to do with government issues. There were too many deaths for that, weren't there? Whatever it was, Zexion was keeping quiet, insisting that Demyx didn't need to worry about such things. Demyx had even tried asking Axel, but the mortal hadn't seemed to know any more then Demyx did.
Now, the Gods' Ball was in an hour, and Demyx hoped that he might be able to find out, either from asking directly or over-hearing the gossip that gods were so prone to. He wasn't quite sure what made him so desperately curious to find out what was behind the plethora of deaths, but he just had this feeling that he had to know.
Zexion was busy with last minute preparations, so Demyx decided that he was going to see Axel. He'd never met any of the other gods before and he was still a bit a anxious about being in a crowd. To put it simply, Demyx was nervous, and he wanted to give Axel the opportunity to talk him down.
He'd momentarily considered backing out and just staying in his room all night, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Zexion hadn't said anything, and Demyx knew that he wouldn't complain if Demyx decided not to go, but he'd be disappointed. Demyx knew that Zexion was just about as nervous as he was himself. Not only was this Ball going to reflect badly on him if things went that way, but it would be the first time in centuries that Zexion, Xemnas, and Aqua would all be in the same room at the same time. Scratch that, it would be the first time they were all in the same realm at the same time. In past Balls, Zexion had briefly explained, one or two of them had been missing. Aqua often couldn't be bothered to leave her watery comfort zone, and sometimes Zexion just didn't have the energy or just didn't care to deal with the rest of the immortals.
Demyx found Axel in his usual spot at the river bank. He appeared to be brooding, watching Riku's continuous unloading of people intently. Demyx plopped down beside him, sighing quietly. Axel had become rather detached lately, everything in him focused on looking for his lover. Demyx wasn't really sure exactly why Axel was so sure that his Roxas would be along any day. Many mortals had a lifespan averaging eighty years. While that was hardly a blink of an eye for Demyx, for Axel, it must seem like an eternity. Why did he torture himself, waiting aimlessly in the same place, day after day?
"Did you ever consider…" Demyx started slowly, wondering if there was a gentler way to ask such a question, "that maybe your Roxas might have…moved on? Because you're dead, I mean." Demyx sat down next to the redhead, who suddenly seemed to notice his existence.
Axel slowly moved his eyes away from the boat to look at Demyx. It seemed to take an eternity, but when their eyes finally met, Axel only nodded. "Yeah. I have thought about it. A lot, actually. But, at the same time, I know that what Roxas and I had…it was special. If he had died first…I know that I wouldn't have moved on. Not so quickly in the least, but even after, I don't think I could have. Roxas…he's stronger then me. I don't know what he's doing right now…but I feel like he still loves me and that he's holding out for now. I don't even know if he knows that I'm dead, to be honest. He must wonder why I haven't been in touch, of course, but he was doing some real secret espionage sort of work, ya know? He was really out of touch with the world. For all I know, he's just expecting to come home and find me there…instead, he's gonna find an empty apartment."
Demyx hadn't meant to strike up some serious and-quite frankly-depressing conversation. He placed a hand on Axel's back and rubbed in what he hoped was a comforting circular motion. "If he doesn't know, I'm sure someone is working on getting a message to him," he said assuringly. "If you guys had as deep a connection as it sounds like, maybe he already knows anyway. Like…instinctual, right?"
Axel nodded slowly. "Yeah…yeah, maybe you're right. Then…he must know that I'm waiting for him, too. Yeah…he's got to know."
With Axel consoled, Demyx felt his own nerves come back full force. He let out a groan and collapsed back on the grass, glad that he'd opted not to change yet. He'd surely ruined anything he was wearing with grass stains at this point. Axel cocked an eyebrow, looking back at the sprawled immortal in partial amusement.
"What's up? You prevented my breakdown, but now you seem like you're about to have one of your own."
Demyx covered his face with his hands moaning heartily. "It's the Gods' Ball. Less then an hour to go. I am so nervous! I won't know anyone but Zexion, who will be busy playing host and…"
"Won't your dad be there?" Axel cut him off.
Demyx blinked stupidly for a moment, staring at the redhead with no comprehension on his face. Suddenly, he sat up bolt right, mouth gaping open like a fish out of water.
"Oh…you…my dad…" A huge grin split over Demyx's face. "You're right! My dad will be here! He never misses the Gods' Ball…it's like, the highlight of his century! I didn't think I'd ever see him again, but he's coming here! Oh, yay!" Demyx clapped excitedly. "I can introduce him to Zexy, even though they've probably met before…but never with a relation, I'm sure. Oh, dad will be so happy to see that I'm happy. He might be a little upset that I left without saying good-bye, but that won't compare much to how extremely happy I am. I'm really excited for this now! Thanks Axel, you're the best!"
"Wait a second…I thought you said that your dad was a total Nazi…keeping you locked up and away from everyone else for, like, a billion years?"
"Firstly, I'm not quite that old," Demyx said with a small glare. "Secondly, he was just being overprotective. I'm his only kid, you know. He was just trying to keep me safe. But I'm perfectly safe in the Underworld with Zexion and he'll see that. Besides, he's still my dad, and I still miss him a lot."
Axel shrugged and shook his head. "Okay, I guess. I wouldn't have wanted to have been smothered so badly by my parents, but then again, I guess I haven't had as long to sort it all out as you have…"
Axel started laughing as Demyx sat up and shoved him roughly. "Why do you always have to poke fun at my age?" he grumbled. "Just because you're only a baby doesn't mean that I'm old."
"Baby?" Axel snorted indignantly. "Please I'm twenty-five. In the mortal realm, I can drink, buy cigarettes, drive, and rent dirty movies, all legally. I am an adult."
Demyx snorted with laughter, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, I've been alive for more then five thousand years. In comparison to me, you are a baby. I'm not that old myself, in comparison to all the other gods. Zexion was around before the dawn of time, and you don't see me harassing him about being old."
Axel nodded as if to show he understood, leaning back on his hands and staring at the sky. "Well, I must say…for being five thousand years old, you sure do look good." Demyx was shocked into laughter.
"You are such an idiot," he sighed fondly after his laughter had died down. "No more talking about age. You're making me self-conscious."
"What the hell…" Axel started his head craning back to look at the dark shape shooting over the river. Upon closer inspection, Demyx realized it was another flying limousine.
"Looks like the others are showing up," Demyx sighed, stretching out. "I guess I better head back and start getting ready." He struggled to his feet, stretching out once more.
"Well…I'll see you tomorrow, Axel."
"Yeah, see ya. Have fun at your little shindig, and good luck with your dad."
"Yeah, thanks," Demyx sighed, feeling a thrill of excitement at the thought of seeing Marluxia again. He set off toward the palace, suddenly looking forward to this Ball more then he had in weeks.
