I bumped the rating up to M because of Larxene's past in this chapter... nothing too bad but its to be on the safe side. This is longer to make up for last chapter, too xD
Chapter 9: to loose what never was pt III
I backed into Zexion, "Hey, throw me up there!" I jabbed my finger at the towering walls that made up the gates around us. The Tryklaws were swarming like a hive on enraged hornets, and Marluxia was trying his best to keep a cowering Larxene safe while watching his own back.
Zexion blocked the advancing Heartless back with the pages of Lexicon and faced me, "Alright. Your main objective is to keep us covered."
"Obviously."
He held out his arm and I sprang into the air, performed a back flip and landed on his forearm. With a strange amount of strength I didn't even know he had he slung me like rocket up and onto the wall.
I landed gracefully and aimed Carron at the Shadows sprinting around the courtyard below.
Zexion's shield broke and the Tryklaws leapt at him. I sniped one in between the eyes and it faded, and Zexion took out the other two with a double casting of fire. Marluxia slashed at another and that Tryklaw faded.
He spun to attack the one behind him, but I had already shot it. He gave me the thumbs up. "Larxene, are you alright?" He asked, briefly letting his guard down.
She had stopped shaking by now, but didn't respond. He sneered, "You're an idiot. you that? I'm risking my life to defend you and that least you can do is actually help! I know what happened to you was scarring, literally, but the Larxene I know doesn't back down!"
The blonde Nobody shook her head. Her lips moved but nothing came out. Marluxia read it as: 'That's not it. It's not them.'
He ignored her and snarled, "I don't care what the problem is, Larxene. Just so something before we ALL die!"
Larxene finally came to her senses and readied her knives. She landed a kick and knocked one Tryklaw away from her, and rapidly punched another, using her knives as knuckle blades to deal massive blows.
She skid back behind the Graceful Assassin once more, lightning sparking from her body.
"That's more like it," Marluxia remarked, his grin breaking apart his otherwise serious expression. A Heartless suddenly grabbed him by his throat and slammed him up against the wall, its claws tightening around his neck to choke down his yelp.
Larxene went for it but two more Shadows jumped her and pinned her to the ground.
"Larxene! Marluxia!" I cried. Zexion was instantly overwhelmed. "Zexion!" I shot at them again but a handful of Heartless emerged from the shadows on the wall and snagged me, shoving me off my position and slamming me effortlessly into the ground below.
Everything went black for a moment, but I struggled to get up. Shit, shit, shit! No! Nonono! This can't be happening! For once, I actually wanted Xigbar to pop up out of the blue and save me. Save us.
Larxene jerked beneath the weight of the Tryklaw, but she could only remember the pain. The pain her Somebody had felt.
She wasn't afraid of what the Tryklaw could do to her. She was scared of recalling her past.
XII let her eyes shut, if only for a moment, so the memories could flood back to her.
It was no use fighting them.
He's drunk. I can smell it on his breath from all the way upstairs. "Nymph!" He's calling me by my pet name. "Get down here!" I don't want to. My feet... Why are they moving? Stop! Please stop! I don't want to!
"You have to the count of three before I come up there! And I won't be gentle!"
I don't want to, but I have to. I'm so scared. Please don't... I'm just a child... Please don't. Not again! He's hitting me for not coming sooner. He's dragging me upstairs by my hair. He loves to do that. He's locking the door. No, please! Don't!
He's zipping off my jacket. Why am I not doing anything? I'm taking the heat. I don't want to. But I'm afraid. He's sliding his fingers down my chest.
No... please... He's flipping me over. My belt comes off, and my pants follow. I'm pinned, and I can't move. I don't want to! Please! I'm just a child! Why can't I scream? Pain. No, it hurts! Stop! STOP! PLEASE!
He's done with me. He's hitting me again. He's calling me names. They hurt almost as much as my body does. Blood is everywhere, but it's all mine.
I run. I run as fast and as far as I can. I'm at a friend's house. She's in the next town over.
"Nalere!" That voice. It's so familiar. "Nalere, calm down? Please, speak to me! What happened?"
"It was..." Tears. I'm crying. "Dad..."
He's done this so many times to me, ever since mom had died. She had died because of what he did to her. But he had covered up the evidence, and I was too young to be considered a witness. I was barely even on my second birthday then.
And what he just did... it was my twelfth birthday. I'm surprised I even made it to my friend's house. She's one year older than me. I can't remember her name, but I can remember mine.
After that, I'm sent to live with an aunt. I'm secluded and dark. I hate everything that reminds me of him. I hate everyone who reminds me of him.
I hate, but I'm afraid. And no one can know.
I don't know what to do with my anger. I take it out on anything that breathes. I get into fights at school until I just skim not graduating.
This is me. Marluxia says the Larxene he knows never backs down. That's Larxene, not Nalere.
But there's no difference.
Larxene began to scream and the Tryklaws glanced at her. Electricity crackled and surged through her body, jumping off her being and shocking the Heartless. They were knocked to the ground, and she rose to her knees.
The air itself was singed with thunder, and lightning dropped from the sky and filled the courtyard. The power destroyed every Shadow, but it avoided Marluxia, Zexion, and even me who were barely harmed by the attack.
The Heartless were struck down and faded into blackness. Larxene finally stopped screaming and her power died out, sparks still jumping from her body.
Blood leaked onto the ground, dripping from her cloak. She had reopened her wounds, but they didn't hurt.
Nalere is weak. I'm weak. I only long for the heart I don't have in hopes that one day I can find someone who won't hurt me... Who won't want to turn me into a monster. Larxene is the monster named Savage Nymph. Nalere is just lost.
Just. Lost.
"Larxene!" Marluxia exclaimed and rushed over to her trembling being. He kneeled down beside her, "What was that?"
She didn't speak. She probably still couldn't. Her form quivered and his arm came up to touch her shoulder. The Savage Nymph went to push him away, but he suddenly said, "Larxene, that was amazing what you did! Something like that is usually a suicide attack!"
Larxene gave him a confused expression, but she fell into his arms and buried her face in his chest. He smiled and held her close.
A moment passed before Zexion coughed, "I think we should RTC... And I don't think Xemnas is going to be all that happy with our report on how we almost had our asses whooped by Shadows, and Larxene left the Castle against his orders, so she's twice as screwed."
I smacked my palm against my forehead, "And I think he'll be pissed that we practically made our whereabouts known to whole universe!" A sudden roar echoed from nearby. "I think that's Beast. And he doesn't sound too happy..."
Zexion grabbed my arm, "Come on. You too, lovebirds! We're fucked over if we don't leave ASANOW."
The office was quiet as we stood in line. Larxene was standing nearby, taking the heat of her mistake.
"You disobeyed a direct order," Xemnas scolded, his tone frigid and level, "Which, if you can somehow recall using that empty skull of yours, is punishable by severe judgment!" He glared us down, but his focus was mainly on Larxene. Saix was there, too, but we weren't very sure why.
I noticed the guilt that crossed Marluxia's elegant features. It wasn't his fault this time around... Larxene was the one who had been careless, and her actions were deliberate. Now she was taking the downfall.
"One strike, and it may or may not be fatal," Xemnas summoned his Ethereal Blades, "You might be better off accepting death."
I didn't realize I was shaking until Saix slipped his hand into mine to keep me steady. I was slightly relieved that Zexion didn't notice. Marluxia had an unreadable expression, like he wanted to look away but he just couldn't at the same time.
"Hold still," Interdiction shimmered in Xemnas's grip, "It will be over quick."
Just put me out of my misery already! Larxene thought bluntly, her emerald pools squeezing shut. She held herself tighter, and blood still dripped to the floor from her reopened wounds as she braced for the attack.
With agile reflexes Xemnas lunged at her, his blades gleaming with death. Interdiction sliced and blood splattered, but Larxene felt no pain.
We were awe-struck for a moment at the sight before us.
Larxene realized she was still conscious, and she dared to open her weary eyes. She recognized the figure standing before her, back to her and arms outstretched. Silence followed and blood spilled to the floor like a cascade from the bone-skimming gash.
I bit my lip. Saix's eyes went wide, and Zexion tensed.
Xemnas finally spoke up, "Marluxia, what is the meaning of this?"
"Don't... Do that... Superior. Please. It's n-not... Her fault...!" The Graceful Assassin forced himself to look at Larxene over his shoulder, his expression wincing from the pain, "Are you... al-alright...?" Blood leaked from his mouth and dripped off his chin.
Larxene didn't reply.
The Graceful Assassin smirked deftly, "No...? Good... That's reassuring..." He hit the floor a moment later.
Xemnas flicked his blade and the tiles beside him were painted crimson red, "Hmph. He won't fade, but that wound might keep him unconscious for a while. Unless I try to kill him and you, too," He pointed Interdiction at her.
"Superior!" Saix barked, much to my astonishment, "There's no need to do that!"
Xemnas's tense figure relaxed.
Zexion finished for the Luna Diviner, "Look, Superior, we don't mean to challenge your actions but... Marluxia had saved Larxene's life, so it's in nature--whether Somebodies or Nobodies or even human at all--to return to the concern. She didn't go against your orders to piss you off. She just wanted to make sure he was alright."
The Superior of the In Between seemed distraught, "Concern is for the heart. But, I see your reasoning. Fine, I'll let you go this once," He directed the statement at the blonde Nobody, "Especially since Saix asked so nicely. I'll spare you both your lives in place of a week's worth of paperwork. Scout, I expect a report on my desk tomorrow. Zexion, take Marluxia and Larxene to Vexen to get their wounds treated. Saix, I need to talk to you about the mission I wanted to assign you. As for all of you as a group, remember there is going to be a meeting tomorrow. Don't miss out or I'll have your heads!"
The next day came awfully fast, and I practically blinked before I found myself standing in the meeting room with my father hugging me. Again.
"OH, MY BABY! YOU'RE ALRIGHT!"
"I'm fine, Dad!" I shoved the blubbering Freeshooter in the chest and his hug on me broke, "It was mainly Marluxia and Larxene who were owned on the mission." Xigbar hugged me again, tears streaming down his face.
I gave in when Demyx also hugged me, but his tears were spilling out like waterfalls. "Scout! WAH!"
"Stop crying," I hissed and suddenly began to loose oxygen, "I can't... breathe! Hugs, too tight!"
The other members were already sitting on their chairs. Well, everyone except Marluxia. Xemnas appeared, and I parted from Demyx and Dad to claim my seat. The Superior didn't seem all that happy and we found ourselves sinking in our seats.
"Let us review what has happened over the past... three months? Now, let me get this straight..." Darkness rose form his body, "Larxene is mute, Marluxia is unconscious, Saix barely has any memories, Luxord is 400,000 munny in the hole, Roxas believes lasagna is a color from the blue family, Xigbar is actually Scout's father, Lexaeus has poison ivy, Axel burned down Vexen's lab, Xion wants to die her cloaks a different color, and Zexion is still emotionally depressed. Is Demyx the only without problems? Scratch that, Demyx just has problems! And I think I'm going bald!" He raked his fingers through his silver hair and flashed the fitful of sparkling strands, "This is why we never get anything done! I always have to solve everyone's problems!"
We avoided eye contact with him.
"Fine! Luxord, you are going to get that munny back or I'm banning alcohol from this Castle!" Luxord's face lost its color. "Axel, after your mission with Saix--which I hope will get his memories back--you're going to fix up Vexen's lab and I don't care how long it takes you! Lexaeus, until the lab is fixed you'll have to buy your ointment from the store! Scout and Xigbar need to figure out a way to make Zexion smile for once in his freaking Nobody life! And Larxene!" He paused and she tilted her head at him, "Actually, you're fine. Demyx can be Demyx but if he doesn't pick up his slack he's going to be broken! Roxas, lasagna is NOT a color! Get it through your head! And tell Xion she is NOT allowed to die her cloak pink! Black is the standard color! So suck it up or take a hike! And if Marluxia doesn't wake up soon I'm going to personally see to it that he doesn't wake up EVER again!"
He was heaving now, trying to keep calm.
Saix dared to speak up, "Uhm... Are you done venting, Superior, sir?"
Xemnas hit his head against the arm chair, "I hate you all!" He began to sob into his arm, but he instantly sat back up, "Alright, now I'm done venting. Moving on, Saix and Axel should know their mission, and everyone else has exactly... Thirty milliseconds to leave before I kill you all."
We left without complaint.
-End of Chapter 9-
End note: Yeah, Xemnas's spasm above was once what my mom did at work. She was complaining about how she was loosing hair over their chaos xD She's the boss but her workers are people like Marluxia, Luxord, Demyx, Scout, and Axel. funny stuff xDD
No preveiw, but the chapter should be up sometime by the end of this week.
