There were high-risk missions. Then, there were those borderline suicidal missions, in which it was always either a shade below or a whisper above – but Xion still had to pull stubbornly through.
Then, there were those missions of such risk; missions that were meant to be taken in a hero-like fashion, upping the ante, flipping on sunglasses and chewing bubblegum…
Or so Xion had been told, even if she didn't understand half of the terms on that small list. But, well, she hoped bars of sea-salt ice-cream would count as an acceptable substitute. Axel's expression, far from the usual deadpan or joking smile…
Well, Xion was in this now.
"This round of poker begins now."
Luxord enjoyed playing against rookies. They had Lady Luck's favor and the fast-forgotten grace of someone who doesn't know what is she doing, with her fluctuating looks and shaky hold on the stakes.
But Xion was a risk-taker – a pile of ice-cream had already been laid out on the table amidst the small currency stacks and sundry materials. And really, the sidelines were getting to be amusing – more bets hedged on the winner or the severity of Xion's (always her) loss.
Ah, he'll be a gentleman today. Luxord refrained from just leaving Xion-
Yes, she won the round. Amazingly, with a rare hand and wide eyes glaring holes into the small red hearts cloistered in her cards.
He helps her taking her winnings somewhere safe, away from laughs and weary sighs of relief. And Luxord doesn't understand why he is being thanked by the petite female.
He still nods, and wishes Xion a continued streak of luck. Maybe Lady Luck will leave her fickle ways for a while, and grant the puppet – he knows, and he knows she doesn't – a longer streak of life.
Luxord isn't that awed the time Xion asks for a rematch, a lazy day with a friend sleeping his spikes off and the other bound who-knows-where. She is still the same risk-taker, with the same lack of expression, and time hasn't gone by from that day.
Really it has, and Xion has taken her risks. All Luxord can do is try to gamble in her favor and win her a streak of luck…
But luck is an iffy thing, isn't it?
