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Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. It all belongs to Tetsuya Nomura and Square Enix. I make NO money off of this work of fiction.
000
The next day at school, Zexion sat at a picnic table with the Myde Replica. He was going on about some band playing at Club Stardust that weekend. He asked Zexion if he had wanted to go a few times, but all Zexion said was 'I have to check with my parents'. He hated this. The Replica was Myde, yes, and Zexion had to act like nothing was out of the ordinary, yes, but he had Demyx home, and he loved him as much as a Nobody could replicate the emotion. How could he make out with the Replica and go on dates with him when he knew there was someone waiting for him to do the same things with at home? And it's not like they could go out together where anyone else was. If anyone was to see two Myde, then their plan would be discovered and they'd be in some serious trouble.
Lumaria walked over and plopped down. He appeared to be nervous.
"You okay?" Zexion wondered.
"I was just talking with Vexen…" Lumaria responded.
"Talking?" The Replica snickered.
"Fine. Making out with Vexen." Lumaria sneered. "And Arlene caught us and made a comment and Vexen told her not to start a problem like she did in the cafeteria. When he mentioned Dolur, she laughed. She said that Dolur went missing."
"How does she know?" The Replica wondered. "They don't like each other."
"She's his neighbor." Lumaria explained. "His parents called her house and asked if anyone had seen him. They know she's never home, so they asked her first. She hasn't."
"Maybe he was just coming home late." Zexion said.
Lumaria shook his head. "He won't answer the phone, and his parents called her house this morning." He argued. "He should be home by now, right?"
Zexion shrugged.
"Maybe he went to crash somewhere." The Replica offered.
"Maybe." Lumaria agreed. "But Lea and Isa already went missing. What if we lose a third student?"
Zexion started to speak, but Vexen sat across from him.
"Hey." He greeted. "I got some more information from Arlene."
"Yeah?" Lumaria raised an eyebrow.
"She said she saw Dolur sneaking out of his house last night."
"He snuck out?" The Replica wondered. "I wonder where he was going."
"Maybe that's why he's missing." Lumaria offered. "I mean, he was obviously going somewhere he didn't want to tell his parents about if he snuck out."
"I think he's got gambling problems." The Replica offered. "He talks about betting and cards all the time."
"Makes sense." Lumaria smiled softly. "Gambling debts can get you into a lot of trouble."
Zexion nodded as the bell rang. The four of them stood.
Lumaria sighed. "I just hope he shows up soon."
000
Class with Xemnas seemed like it was dragging on forever. The Replica kept sending notes to Zexion, which he ignored, and Xemnas kept shaking his head at him, using it as a cover for making sure the Replica was working. Vexen was doodling on his paper and slipped it to Zexion. Zexion opened it. Inside was a picture of a Replica of Dolur. The words 'just in case' were scrawled across the bottom. Zexion wrote on it and handed it back before the bell rang. Vexen looked over the paper and held Zexion back by the arm.
"I need to ask Zexion something, Myde." Vexen told the Replica. "You mind?"
"No, not at all." Myde kissed Zexion. "I'll wait outside." He winked before he left.
Zexion watched the Replica leave. "You shouldn't be drawing those things in school." He scolded the blonde. "People could get suspicious if they see."
"I know." Vexen responded. "But no one will notice. It's okay."
Zexion didn't quite believe that.
"The Replica seems quite attached to you." Vexen said with a chuckle, trying to direct Zexion's attention from his worries.
Zexion flushed. "He is supposed to be Myde down to the letter, right?" He scratched the back of his neck.
"I guess." Vexen shrugged. "How are you dealing with that?"
"What?"
"I mean, you've got a 'Myde' here that is in love with you, and you have a 'Demyx' waiting for you back at home." Vexen explained. "Conflicting feelings?"
"We don't have feelings." Zexion countered.
Vexen rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean." He said. "I swear, Zexy, sometimes you actually make me believe you have emotions left in you. The way you are with Myde and everything."
"What do you mean 'the way' I am with Myde?" Zexion scowled, ignoring the fact that he let Vexen call him by Myde's nickname for him.
"Well, you act like you're really in love with him." Vexen said. "I mean, you did everything you could to stop him from being consumed by a Heartless, and…"
"Are you going to stand here and tell me you wouldn't do the same for Lumaria if it came down to it?"
Vexen flushed. "My feelings for him mean nothing to you."
"Feelings?"
Vexen snorted. "Whatever." He scowled. "Speaking of Lumaria, he's waiting for me outside. I suggest you get back to your Replica, as well." He sauntered out of the room.
Xemnas chuckled from behind his desk. Zexion gave him a look.
"You could have jumped in earlier, you know." He said.
"I know." Xemnas smiled at him. "You two provide some good entertainment." He chuckled.
Zexion gave him another glare. "Whatever you say, Xemnas."
Xemnas frowned. "You don't really feel anything for Myde, do you?" He wondered.
"Well, not in the sense you guys mean, I'm physically incapable of doing that. But, yeah, I care about him."
"Do you love him?"
"There's no Myde to love anymore anyway, Xemnas, why does it matter?"
"Fine." Xemnas rolled his eyes. "Do you love Demyx?"
Zexion gulped and flushed.
Xemnas chuckled. "I thought so."
"Love isn't the word I'd use." Zexion said. "I wouldn't know what it feels like."
"I hate to tell you, boy, but I think you are in love. And that's something you have to deal with." Xemnas seemed to be offering advice, but Zexion knew it was meant to be a 'control that fake emotion or I'll do it for you' type of advice.
"Sure thing, Xemnas. Sure thing." Zexion left the room without another word.