OblivionX
-10-
Whirlwind
They all seemed oddly chipper.
Roxas went by, grinning like mad, carting two suitcases and a backpack, with three guitars slung across it. Axel came out the door next, tipping his giant striped top hat at Xemnas and smiling cattily at him. His two spare guitars were slung across his back and his favorite was hanging in front of him. He trailed a rolling suitcase behind him, followed closely by Zexion, who was staring at Xemnas eerily. Yazoo came behind him, smiling along while carrying both his and Zexion's stuff. Dem and Xaldin came out into the hallway and into the elevator last, followed by Ais, all smiling mysteriously at the Superior.
Xemnas twitched.
"What're you all so happy about?"
"Beautiful day," rumbled Xaldin as he held the doors to the elevator open.
Xemnas suspiciously got inside and waited for them to start moving.
And waited.
He frowned at Xaldin.
"Let go of the elevator doors, Xaldin."
"One more person."
"Who-"
"Excuse me."
Dulor Leblanc pushed his way into the crowded elevator, flashing a smile at his boss as he accidentally trod on the man's foot.
"Manager?!"
"That's me. You weren't thinking of leaving by yourselves, were you dears?"
"What?! When did you- where-"
Xemnas sputtered on, Xaldin let the doors close, Ais took the manager's bags, and Dulor sent the elevator down.
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The bus sank slightly and groaned as they boarded, trooping into the familiar machine that was their home more than anywhere else they'd ever stayed. It was originally Roxas'- he'd bought it when the band was still getting on it's feet. It was a good vehicle, spacious and got good gas mileage, and the band wouldn't have anything else.
Axel leaned curiously into the 'cockpit', looking for the new driver, but it was deserted except for the unfortunate presence of Even, who ignored him. Axel sneered and withdrew, following the rest of the band to the back to stash their things.
Dulor sat down heavily at the window seat, kneading his forehead for a moment until Xemnas stepped onto the bus and strode up to him. The president stared down at him for a moment in silence.
"We're pressed for time right now."
Dulor looked up at him.
"So I'll expect a written report on where exactly you've been on my desk within the week."
The manager blinked. "You're not coming with us?"
"Well there's no need to now. Even will stay with you and manage your funds. I'm heading back to the main building."
"Right then. Ah... Good to see you, Manse-" He trailed off, as the President had already made his exit.
In the other end of the bus, Axel was pulling himself up onto the top bunk as Xaldin claimed the top one in the rear, Yazoo and Zexion claiming the bunk underneath the drummer's. Roxas shoved his stuff into the slot underneath the other guitarist's as Xaldin opened his laptop, turning it on and swiftly resuming typing.
Axel fell back onto his bunk with a heaved sigh, giving a whoop and punching the air.
"Home sweet home! Look around, Dem. This hunk of metal's where you're gonna live."
Roxas smiled and added, "Welcome to the Win Boat, Dem. How d'you like it?"
Demyx stared in awe at the whole scene. "The name definitely fits." He said at last, stars in his eyes. "Its amazing. Wonderful. FANTASTIC!" He grinned. "Where do I sleep? Not that it matters. I'll sleep on the floor, if I have to. This place is GREAT!" In his enthusiasm, he dropped all his luggage in a pile at his feet. "Oops."
Axel laughed and Yazoo got up to help gather all of Demyx's things into his arms again. Roxas looked at the two remaining bunks opposite his, one on top of the other, and said thoughtfully, "Well, there's two left, but one of them is-"
"Mine. I'm usually on top, but you can have it if you like."
Dulor picked up the last thing -Dem's notebook- and handed it to him.
"I even get a top bunk? Whoo!" Demyx dropped his stuff again, unceremoniously at the foot of the bed. He made a mental note to organize it in its proper place, later. A few seconds later and he was sitting on his bed with his feet hanging over the edge.
Catching himself smiling, Dulor turned away. He packed his things neatly into their places methodically, only startled out of his thoughts as the door to the bus suddenly slammed open. The manager straightened up, heading for the front of the bus before anyone could react.
"Xemnas...?"
The man standing in the doorway was too wild to be Manse Superior, or related to him in any way. Even, looking harried, emerged from the cockpit to intervene.
"Nope. Sorry. Name's Braig."
The man grinned and rubbed the cigarette he'd been smoking into the palm of his leather gloves, putting it out with a hiss.
His appearance was slightly alarming, in a profession where the young and beautiful made their way. He had long hair pulled back into a ponytail, colored black with gray streaks, a scarred face, and over his right eye was a black eye patch. His visible eye was amber yellow, like Ais', and his wicked grin was unnerving. Otherwise, he seemed harmless.
Even spoke for the first time in their presence, his high voice icy. "Driver. You're late. Don't tell me you were just having a smoke."
"Yeah," said Braig, "Pretty much. Where's the band?"
He looked around experimentally, as though they might be hiding behind the seats and tables. At this moment Axel burst out of the back, took one look at Braig, his eye patch, scar, the cigarette in his hand, and cracked a grin.
"Awesome! You are now officially my chain smoking buddy. Yes!" He accepted the high-five Braig offered him with enthusiasm. Roxas glared at him as he caught the last words, coming up to stand next to him. Zexion watched him suspiciously from a corner as Yazoo leaned against the wall giving him an appraising eye with an elegantly tilted head. Dulor looked up as Demyx emerged.
"Hey there!" Demyx said cheerfully, peeking around the corner. He eyed Braig suspiciously for a moment, then mentally accepted him and extended a hand. "I'm Demyx. Who're you?"
"'This the new singer? Hey, kid." He flicked the butt of the cigarette out the open door, kicked it shut, and took Demyx's hand.
"I'm Braig Freeshooter, your new driver. Call me Xigbar."
There was a tremendous crash from the back of the bus. A split second of confused silence followed as everyone looked around, and then Xaldin burst out of the back room and into the front of the bus. He clutched one of the chairs beside him with shaking hands, eyes wide. Roxas moved forward worriedly, reaching out to support him, but he shoved the younger man aside.
"X... Xigbar?"
Xigbar grinned wider.
"Hey, baby."
Xaldin flew forward to tackle him, nearly sending both of them through the door and out onto the street.
Demyx was only moderately surprised by this turn of events, mostly because of the sudden change in their drummer. It was actually pretty adorable, he decided, and immediately added this as fact to the database of his mind.
"Uh... Nice to meet you, Xigbar." He said, though the man was quite obviously distracted.
Axel stood blinking in astonishment, keeping Roxas from falling with one hand and the other aimlessly stretched toward the two men. Dulor was speechless, struck dumb with this out-of-character display. Only Zexion seemed to see any sense in things.
"What in all hells-" began Axel, only to be interrupted by the bassist-
"Xigbar is the one he's been shut in his room IMing all this time."
Everyone stared at him.
"How'd you know?" Asked Roxas, while Axel said, "Dear god, we're all turning into fags-"
Zexion only shrugged as Yazoo said evasively, "He's just ninja that way."
Meanwhile, Xigbar was rubbing Xaldin's back soothingly and murmuring into his ear, eyes closed.
After a moment, Xaldin composed himself enough to sit down, not letting go of the driver.
"How... how did you..."
Xigbar shrugged and smiled, waving at Even, who stood stunned where they'd left him.
"I know some people. I've driven limos and shit before, and I convinced ice man over there that I'd be the best for the job to drive OblivionX around the country. Surprise for you, Xaldy."
"But... you were... chatting to me, just a minute ago..."
"Said I'd be right back, didn't I?"
Xaldin just leaned over and kissed him.
Axel made a gagging noise and ruined the moment by tugging Roxas away into the back room.
Demyx grinned. "Hey, Axel. Think on the bright side! He won't be on his computer so much, anymore." He laughed.
"That noise was me dropping my laptop, actually. I think it may be broken..."
"It's in pieces!" Called Axel from the bedroom.
Xaldin sighed.
"Hey. You don't need a laptop anymore. I'm right here."
Xigbar tilted Xaldin's chin back toward him and resumed the kiss with enthusiasm.
At this point Dulor coughed politely, interrupting them again.
"As much as I'm sure this is long awaited, it can be awaited for a bit longer, lads. We need to, ah, get on the road."
Leblanc was more than a little unsettled by witnessing something so private, but he hid it well enough. He shuffled a sputtering Even back into the cockpit and made sure Xigbar and Xaldin were following. The band was left in the main section of the Win Boat alone.
The silly grin was still stuck to Demyx's face like a sticker. "That's adorable. Isn't it adorable, Zexy?" He said cheerfully, as the bus engines roared to life.
The bus rumbled, warming up for a second, and then started to pull away into the street when something hit the door to outside. Being a popular band's bus, it was understandably reinforced so rabid fans couldn't break it down. Whatever had hit it just bounced off. However after a split second the door was kicked again, and a voice from outside yelled into the windows, "Hey! You fuckin' pricks, don't you dare leave without me! Dulor! Stop the fucking bus!"
Xigbar slammed on the breaks as Leblanc got up from his seat.
Demyx hesitantly took a step toward the door.
Dulor slid in front of him, knowing who it was, and pulled open the door for his sister. Relena stood outside panting, disheveled, and carrying several bags. She seemed to be trying to decide whether to look pissed or to grin madly. The waitress then pushed and shoved her way onto the bus and dropped all of her stuff in the middle of the floor. She looked up at Dulor defiantly and by way of an explanation, said breathlessly, "You said you needed a new makeup artist."
The bus started up again, and they were on the road.
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