Three children sat in a circle, two boys and a girl. The older boy had steel blue hair that covered the right of his sapphire eyes and was about twelve years old, whereas the other had silver-grey hair and deep green eyes, approximately five years old. The girl was maybe six or five with strawberry red hair and large blue eyes that were slanted as she looked at the boys.

"My dad is obviously cooler than yours," she said in conversation. "He's one of the bestest, best Knights of the Nth Regiment!"

The younger boy frowned, crossing his arms childishly. "No, my dad's cooler than yours, 'cause he's…he's a scientist and the Co-Director of the Academy Division!"

"Academics Division," the older boy corrected, and then he made a triumphant grin. "MY dad is literally cooler than both of yours…'cause his element is ice!" he cheered.

The other two children frowned. "That's not fair!" the girl cried, pointing at him. "It doesn't count if it's his element!"

"Does too!"

"Does not!"

"Seconded!" chimed the younger boy, a fist in the air. "Doesn't count!"

"Does too!"

"Does not!"

Watching them, further away and sitting on couches around a coffee table, Even and Bartholomew glanced at one another with amused smiles. On the table before them were steaming cups of coffee. Bartholomew took his up and sipped softly from it before glancing over at the dark figure partially hidden in the doorway at his left.

Also taking notice of him, Even leaned back, highly amused. "Might as well get used to it, Braig. She's been calling you her father in secret for four years, now," he hummed.

Brown eyes rolled with a groan. "I mean, fine, call Nora 'mother'—cause we all know that's flattering to her—but seriously?" he grumbled, unfolding an arm to wave it. "I'm not cut out for that sort of thing."

"I'd say quite the opposite, you've been doing a great job," Bartholomew said between a sip with more than a hint of amusement that caused his counterpart across from him to chuckle.

Braig glared at them both. "As if. I'm just doing my job."

"Exactly why you're doing so well."

"Hey, Bart? Shut up."

Both scientists softly laughed to themselves, causing the dark-haired man to silently grumble even more.

Even sighed, looking up at his fellow Knight. "Honestly, Braig, is it really so bad? She's a child, an orphan, and she's simply imprinting associations onto the two closest people she has to a mother and father," he explained, his voice no longer amused, but the studious trill so common to him when explaining facts. "Quite frankly, you should be flattered, if nothing else…but irritated? Huh. I didn't know you could be so cruel."

A dark glare was thrown the older man's way, but Braig didn't say anything in his own defense. Instead, he glanced over to the children, who remained oblivious to his presence for the moment. No doubt Kairi noticed he was near, but perhaps unaware just how close. He sighed to himself, his expression easing. He watched them as they finally came to a decision that, fine, Even was "literally" the coolest dad. So then, who was the hottest?

He barely held in a laugh when both Even and Bartholomew practically spit out their drinks upon overhearing that, and then coughed to prevent himself from actually laughing. Kids said the darnedest things.

Was it flattering that Kairi, his ward, saw him as her father…? No. Not in the slightest. Honestly, it made him feel strange, and not in a good, bubbly-fluttery sort of way. It made him think of his own father, and he would rather not think of his parents.

His gaze darkened again and he looked away, back down the hall that led to the main areas of the Academics Division. He stared at the glass he could see from his view that overlooked the labs in thought.

Yes. He did understand why Kairi thought the way she did...but that didn't mean he had to like it.

A/N: L

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Good to see Riku get some attention, sheesh. I mean, it's funny; he's supposed to be the main character, for crying out loud. Of my Kingdom Hearts retelling, I mean. Doesn't seem like it, now, does it? Seems like Kairi or even Braig is the main character...Eventually, I'll fix that...

Don't bother trying to figure out who the Organization members are. Except one, maybe...~ As for the figures and voices within Sora's Dive...those should be obvious...

...Okay. Things are just...going nuts, now. Things are getting darker, less like standalone oneshots and more like legitimate previews to what can happen in my fanfic's canon (but not all, I swear). I already have the eleventh demo done, guys, and it's...*whistles* I mean, dang, it is mind-blowingly incredible! It's got new characters (Disney ones) appearing out of the blue, familiar characters finally making appearances, another OC...! I just can't believe I got it out in two sittings! It's like thirteen pages, too! I just may have to...SPLIT IT INTO TWO CHAPTERS.

...Or not.

...Whereas this chapter is an unusual, short little thing I had lying around. Wanted to use it, somehow, so...here it is. Okay. Back to awesomeness.

I don't think I mentioned it before, but these are non-linear oneshots within the same universe. That's why it seems as if they are all over the place as far as a timeline goes. They're not meant to be connected, though some of them could be.

Don't forget to leave a comment! This is experimental, so critique is greatly desired!