Darkside is a pretty classical theme for KH, but I decided to take the theme a bit differently! Involving some of my bbies!

"I can't believe you losers are back."

"I mean, you are back as well. Makes you a loser too, Larxene."

"Shut up Demyx."

The four of them were sitting around a table, playing a game of poker that was clearly rigged. At least, that was what Larxene had claimed at least twice by now, rather than admitting she didn't know the rules. She was facing Marluxia, having Luxord and Demyx on either side of her, and the latter and her were exchanging violent kicks under the table.

"What exactly brought you all back here?" Luxord asked, shuffling the cards. A somewhat heavy silence followed his question. He sighed. "Larxene, Marluxia. Rumours had it you had tried to betray the Organization, when in Castle Oblivion. Why are you back? What did Xemnas promise you this time?"

The man was an expert at body language. It was, after all, a very useful trick when playing cards. He noticed how Larxene looked uneasy for a second, glancing at Marluxia who did not look at her. He noticed how instead, the former number Eleven tensed, clenching his jaw, his eyes full of anger and motivation. He noticed Demyx's smirk. And all of that happened in less than half a second.

"He offered me another game," the player said as no one answered. "He said the players would be even more interesting this time. That there would be just as much to lose as before, but much more to win. I'm always up for a new challenge, so here I am now."

"He said he could give me exactly what I wanted." Larxene said, her voice low and threatening. "He said I would get to see the world burn. He said I would be the one to set it on fire."

This was half a lie only, her body said. It might have been exactly what Xemnas had offered her, and what she wanted indeed. But Luxord remembered the caring look she gave to Marluxia for a split second. Xemnas had said he could grant her greatest wish. But that wasn't why she joined.

"I see. I'm glad to be on your side, then, as I would rather not burn."

She snorted. "There's no side, Luxord. Act as a douche and you will burn all the same. I don't trust Xemnas anyway, so I'm quite sure it won't end pretty for anyone of us. Doesn't mean I didn't save a pyre specially for Demyx."

"You did what?"

"Don't worry, Waterboy, at least you'll look hot for a minute of your pitiful life. Really hot. Reaaaaally hot."

"Yes, thank you, I understood the joke," the musician snapped. "But remember I control water. Water beats fire. Ha! Got you there!"

"How old are you, three? That's some kid reasoning here. Urgh, I can't believe you are-"

"What about you, Marluxia?" Luxord interrupted, tired by their endless bickering. "How could Xemnas possibly offer you a second chance? Surely you have wondered yourself?"

"As for the why, it's pretty obvious," the pink-haired man said with a mysterious smile. "He never believed I could be a threat in his plan. I never worried him in the least. And yet I am quite powerful, an asset in his game, to speak as you would. That is why he wanted me back. The rebellious child with potential."

"And what could that rebellious child want from the Organization?"

"More power, of course." He shrugged. "Just the power of Darkness is incredible. You get to teleport through worlds in no time. My powers are amplified. Oh, and of course, I get to spend time with all of you, isn't that wonderful?" He winked at Luxord with a smirk, but the man noticed that this time, it was Marluxia's eyes who drifted towards Larxene for a split second. He chuckled. These two were having a hard time pretending they didn't care about each other, perhaps even lying to themselves about it, but for someone attentive like him, that had been pretty obvious from day one.

"How truly blessed we are indeed," Luxord ironized, throwing a couple of chips on the table. "Now, Demyx, you might be the true mystery here. I thought you hated being part of the former Organization. You of all people I would never have expected being back."

"Waterboy was probably bored and followed Xemnas just to be busy again. Oh, no, let me guess, you were too scared to say no!"

"Perhaps he realised that he had never quite been punished for doing absolutely nothing, still got paid, and had a bed and food for free," Marluxia said. "The real question isn't why he decided to come back, but why Xemnas thought we needed him."

"So I'm not even allowed to answer to a question asked to me, huh?" Demyx frowned. "Do I even need to answer, or are you both deciding for me anyway?"

"Ouch, he bites now," Larxene cackled. "Please, Demyx, enlighten us, we cannot sleep not knowing your motives to join us once again!"

He glared angrily at her, not replying for a while. It would have been more dramatic if she had at least noticed his angry gaze, but she was chatting with Marluxia, ignoring him already.

"... cookies."

That at least managed to shut her up. The table fell quiet, looking at him.

"Come again?"

"There was this ad in the world I was. Join the darkside, we have cookies, it said. What can I say, I was hungry! Next thing I know I signed back in and I was back in the coat."

A silence followed his statement.

"And there was no cookie."

This resulted in at least a whole hour of Larxene making fun and insulting the musician, and Marluxia pretending he didn't exist at all like he always did.

Luxord was looking at them all. Did they really believe that story? Or was Larxene just looking for any excuse to bully him?

Demyx was the one he had the most troubles reading through. Given his own background, he couldn't judge, of course, but he was deeply interested in the young man. How much of Demyx gullibility was genuine? And how much of it was just pretending he was stupid to hide how clever he was? Because he was, Luxord had no doubt about that. There was a reason Xemnas recruited him twice. And it seemed everyone was more than willing to play his game, believing he was some kind of dumb creature, and that only Luxord, Xemnas - and probably Xigbar, who was always very knowledgeable about everything - saw the potential behind that weakling facade.

But, as curious as he was, he didn't really like to butt in other's business. One day, Demyx would finally reveal his cards.

And that was a game he would love watching.

Yes, the first thing I thought about this theme, before the KH boss, before the fight of Darkness vs Light, was cookies. Welp.

Sixteenth theme will be "One that got away", and I'm so excited to post it!