This chapter is NSFW.

Census

"Mail for you. For all of us, really." Demyx dumped the handful of envelopes onto the old oak table. Dilan looked up at him, unamused.

"And what is this tripe?" he asked.

"Radiant Garden's first official census."

"Oh, wonderful," he drawled. "I'll get right to it."

"Just do it. Please. It'll take ten minutes. Aerith has been on my ass about getting you guys to fill out the paperwork."

Dilan, very slowly, opened the envelope. "So you've done yours, then?"

"No, but-"

Dilan flicked an envelope at him. "Go on. It'll take ten minutes."

Demyx groaned. "When Leon comes to kick your ass, don't come crying to me."

When he got back to the apartment, he was still grumbling about Dilan, and the ten wittier comebacks he'd thought of since then. Dilan just didn't get it. Dilan's situation was substantially less complicated than his own.

He had a point, though. It'd have to get done sometimes.

He made himself some coffee and sat staring at the form for a long, long time.

It started with the first box. Name. Okay, did he put his birth name or his real name? And surname? Did he use it? Could he leave it blank? Not to mention that was without bringing age into it. There were only enough spaces for two digits. Needless to say, it was all a fucking mess.

There were also things that threw him for a loop. Birthplace? Address? He knew the town like the back of his hand and yet he didn't really think there were even street names. The only boxes he could fill with any certainty involved gender, basic physical markers, and occupation.

He picked up his phone. "Ienzo, I need help," he whined.

"And I need to finish my studies, but do go on."

"Why is everyone being so sassy today?" he mumbled.

"Because needling you is entertaining."

Ienzo couldn't see him, but Demyx rolled his eyes.

"So what is it you need help with?"

"This census is giving me an identity crisis."

Ienzo sighed heavily. "I'll be right there."

And he was, not fifteen minutes later.

"So what is this identity crisis?" he asked.

Demyx turned the form and slid it towards him on the table. "How the fuck am I supposed to fill this out?"

"Well, typically, via writing."

He shot him a look.

Ienzo sighed. "I have to admit your case is… unique." He poured himself a cup of coffee. "You should probably ask Leon."

"Imagine that conversation. "Hey Leon, I know you have a lot on your plate, but I'm five hundred years old and also changed my name like six times, so what do you want from me?""

He snorted. "You're not five hundred. I think the number Even and I eventually settled on was four hundred and thirty-eight."

"Ienzo. "

"I'm kidding. My goodness. Demyx, it's not worth this much stress." He smiled.

Demyx looked down at the form. "I mean, for me it is," he said. "It's the first time I'm… real, somewhere."

His look softened. "I hadn't thought of it that way."

"No, you wanted to make fun of me instead."

"Hey, I feel like I've earned a few good digs at you." He pulled his chair closer to Demyx's. "Let's see what we can figure out. Your first name is easy. Would you want to use your surname? We could also make one up. I could probably find books on the history of nomenclature if you want to pick something meaningful. You're twenty-three, which would make the birth year…" He scribbled something down. "And your birthday is in spring."

"I'm a Libra."

Ienzo furrowed his eyebrows. "A what?"

"It makes sense if you're from Daybreak Town."

"...Which is where you were born. See? It's simpler than you thought."

"I… I guess so."

Ienzo flipped the form over. "Is it bad that I sometimes miss paperwork? I do so love organizing information."

"...Nerd."

He rolled his eyes. Then, consulting the form. "...What's this?"

"What? Favorite color? Favorite pastime?"

Ienzo set the paper down. "It's asking if you live with anyone. Like, your relationship status."

Demyx raised an eyebrow. "Why do you looked so shocked? That's like the easiest one to answer. Here, let me-" Demyx picked up the pen to write, but Ienzo took his hand and set it aside.

"It's asking if we're together."

"Yeah, I know that."

"Legally together."

He got it. "Oh. "

There was a very long, pregnant pause. Ienzo bit his lip, and then looked Demyx dead in the eye. "Well, are we?"

Was he hearing this right? "Did you just propose to me?"

"Say I did. What would your answer be?"

His heart was beating so fast. They'd never discussed anything like this, mostly because Demyx didn't even think it was an option. It'd been a little over a year that they'd been together.

He didn't see that changing any time soon.

"Yes." He could feel his eyes watering. "I'd say yes."

Ienzo took his hand. "Well then I think that settles that. As well as the issue of your surname; you can take mine." His expression was relatively unmoved, but Demyx could hear it in his voice.

"Did we…" He blinked quickly. "Did we just get engaged?"

"I think so."

Demyx pulled him into an embrace. The tears were hot against his face, but welcome. "I love you."

"And I you. Relatively obviously, I feel." He kissed him, despite the fact that it was probably uncomfortably wet and tasted like salt. Ienzo took his hands and, very gently, led him to bed.

As he worked the next day, Demyx tried the word on.

I'm someone's fiance.

It felt odd. Weirdly mature.

We're engaged. That means we're going to get married.

Admittedly, he had no idea what that meant. He was ignorant of Radiant Garden's customs, and actually not even really aware of his own. Was it just a piece of paper? Was it a ceremony? Even though all their friends knew they were together, the thought of confessing his love for Ienzo in front of them actually made him anxious.

Not that he wasn't ready. He was pretty sure he was. How different was it from living together? They hadn't killed each other yet. That was a good sign, right?

He found himself wanting to talk about it. As he and Aerith met for lunch so he could brief her on the day's cases, he found his mind wandering. He realized that, aside from Ienzo, Aerith was his best friend.

Demyx blurted it between mouthfuls of roast beef. "Hey, so, Ienzo and I got engaged?"

She paused over her udon. "I'm sorry?"

"I'm engaged?" He found he couldn't meet her eyes, and a blush flooded his face.

"...Really?"

He took a drink, almost swallowing the wrong way. "Yep. Happened yesterday."

She left her chair and hugged him. "I'm so happy for you," she said earnestly. "How do you feel?"

"I'm still in shock. But in a good way."

She sat back down. "So did he ask? Did you? Was it romantic?"

"Honestly?" he laughed a little. "Not at all. It's because of the paperwork."

She looked confused. "The-?"

"The census. It asked if I was married. And he said, "well, are we?""

Aerith processed this. She snorted, then laughed until she cried. "That is the most Ienzo thing I've ever heard," she said once she regained her composure.

"Yeah. I thought so too."

She lifted her glass of juice. "Well. To the two of you."

He returned home, feeling better about it all. It suited them. They had never really been the grand romantic gesture type.

(Except for repeatedly getting stabbed/overextending their powers/almost getting killed by Heartless.)

When he got back, a little after dark, Ienzo was waiting for him. He set aside his book. A fire had been lit in the hearth, against the chill of the day. "Hey."

"Hey, you."

"Did you eat? Dinner's about ready."

"No. Not yet."

They ate in near silence. "Would you like some wine?"

"Sure, but what for?"

Ienzo handed him a glass. "Don't people celebrate these things?"

He cracked a smile. "I guess they do."

Ienzo settled back in his chair. "It occurred to me as I was reading a very boring paper this morning that perhaps it all lacked some kind of finesse." He looked into the glass as though studying its deep red color.

"Finesse?" He snorted a little. "What, candles? Rose petals? Chocolate?"

"Well, certainly not by accident over a piece of paperwork. Not accident," he amended quickly. "Perhaps… by premature expression. The possibility did not even enter my mind until I saw that question."

"Do you want to take it back?"

"Of course not. The more I consider... the more it feels right."

He had a point. Demyx blushed. "Well that's good." He finished his glass of wine. "I think… I think it was very you , the way you did it. And that means more to me than some empty gesture you stole from books."

"...You don't feel deprived?"

"You're literally offering to put up with me for the rest of our lives and you're asking if I feel deprived?"

"...It does sound silly," Ienzo conceded. "Still. I should like to try it. Candles."

He caught onto the mood immediately. "I'll do you one better. It's a full moon."

He blushed. "It is. That's good luck."

Demyx leaned across the table to kiss him. Ienzo stood, and, stumbling a little, sat in his lap. They kissed here for a while, long enough to forget the dishes.

"Come here," Ienzo said. They went back out into the living room. He pulled open one of the curtains, enough to let the soft silver light in. "That is nice."

"Hm."

Demyx rested against him for a moment, wrapping his arms around him from behind. He kissed the soft skin of Ienzo's throat and started to unbutton his shirt. He could hear the response, his breath quickening, and he felt himself start to harden. "I'm guessing this is where you wanted things to head?"

"You'd be right," he said thickly.

Demyx helped him slip off his shirt and slacks. Ienzo turned and kissed him more deeply, slipping his tongue into his mouth. It was all so gentle, but he was coming undone, slowly. There was no need to rush. They had time.

He felt Ienzo's hands at his hips, fumbling with the belt and button of his jeans, and broke off the kiss to help him. He tugged off his shirt while he was at it, but before he could kiss him again, he caught sight of him in the moonlight.

It seemed to hit Demyx, all at once, the deep permanence of everything. "What is it?" Ienzo asked.

Demyx pressed his lips against his forehead. "You're so beautiful." Ienzo brushed his hands along Demyx's sides, the touch sending a shiver through him. His skin was so warm, almost feverish. "Things will always be the same."

"No," Ienzo said softly. He traced more circles along Demyx's back. "We'll always grow. We'll always change. And perhaps become more adventurous." He slid his hand downward, over Demyx's dick, and Demyx gasped out loud. "I look forward to exploring it with you."

He struggled out of his underwear and felt at Ienzo's own. "I want you." He pulled him close and could, for just a moment, feel his heart racing.

"I was thinking…" Ienzo mumbled. "That I might…"

"You might what?" He lifted Ienzo's chin slightly.

"That I might take you."

Another shiver went through him, stronger than the last. "You're more nervous about that than asking me to marry you."

"I was always sure about you. Less so than of myself."

A few beats of silence. Ienzo kissed him suddenly, with more insistence, pushing him towards the bed. Demyx fell back against the softness and felt Ienzo straddle him. He reached down to stroke him. Ienzo's whole frame was shaking a little. "So," Ienzo said. "Do you… do you want that?"

"Uh, yeah." He'd been wanting it for months now. "Yes."

"Let me just get the-"

"Okay."

He held the bottle tightly in one hand. "Could you lie on your stomach? I think that might be easier."

Anticipation broke in a warm wave over him. Demyx turned over and adjusted the pillow under him. "Be gentle," he said. His voice quivered a little. "It's been a long time."

"Of course." Ienzo leaned over to kiss him once. It was hard to really see anything like this, other than the open window and the moon. Demyx tried to relax, to make it easier, but god this was really happening. He felt a finger inside of him, an incredible pressure. "You alright?" Ienzo asked.

"Yeah."

"It feels so…" He heard Ienzo take a deep breath.

"You like it?"

"I believe so."

He felt another finger, and more pressure. Relax. Relax. It was nearly painful, but it quickly subsided as he got used to it.

"Can I try?" Demyx heard him ask.

"Gentle. Slow. I'm basically a virgin."

He heard him laugh a little. "It's been a while?"

"Try four hundred and some years."

Demyx felt a little bit of fumbling. He tried to spread his legs a little wider, to soften. His heart was beating so hard he didn't know how it wasn't audible.

"Okay," Ienzo said. "Let me know if it ever hurts."

Demyx felt the warmth of him, then the pressure again, not so bad. He felt against the sheets for Ienzo's hand, or a leg, any part of him to hold. A hand found his and gave it a squeeze.

Ienzo gasped a little, sending another wave of desire through him. He pressed deeper, slowly. There wasn't pain, Demyx noted with relief. It might be easier than he thought. "Try moving," he suggested, as his arousal started to outweigh the previous discomfort.

"You're ready?"

"Yeah."

Ienzo did. There was a minute, or maybe several, where he seemed not quite sure of what to do. He did move gently, not so deeply, a small sound catching in his throat. "I don't want to hurt you," he said, with difficulty.

"It doesn't hurt. At all."

He kissed Demyx's shoulder, the nape of his neck, and thrusted a little more confidently. Demyx could start to feel it, pleasure seeping back into the act, and he moaned. He couldn't quite believe how good it was to have him like this.

"Like this?"

He tried to catch his breath. "It's a little deeper."

"Right. You feel so…" Ienzo trailed off wordlessly, pressing more kisses against his neck and back, and then pushed a little bit more into him.

Demyx felt it like a shock. He'd forgotten what this felt like, how seamless and strong, and really those awkward teenage fumblings didn't compare. "That's it," he gasped. "There, just keep-" Tension was already rapidly twining inside of him. He heard the soft noise he was making, half muffled into the pillow. A complete vulnerability, and to a degree a loss of control.

Ienzo pushed into him slow and deep, almost always getting him in just the right way. "How on earth do you do this?" He asked. "I'm so-you're so-"

He was getting so close. He pushed up against Ienzo. He felt Ienzo's hand slip free from his and under their bodies to touch him, his dick, and this touch on top of everything was too much. He'd forgotten what it felt like this way, so intense, he shivered as he came. For another few seconds he felt Ienzo still inside him, each thrust now a pleasure so strong it threatened pain. A flush of warmth broke it off. Ienzo pulled out of him, still gasping. Demyx turned slightly to kiss him.

"You okay?" Demyx asked him.

He nodded. He was trembling all over. He got off of him and lay down, and for a long time they held each other.

"You know. For your first time, that was pretty fucking good."

Ienzo laughed softly, almost soundlessly. He didn't have to try to speak for Demyx to know he wouldn't be able to. So they didn't talk at all, and soon after fell asleep.

He woke early, when the light was still pinkish. Shifting onto his side, he could just barely feel a soreness between his legs. He didn't mind it much.

Ienzo stirred. "What time is it?"

"Super early o'clock."

He groaned and pressed his face into the pillow.

"Go back to sleep if you're tired." Demyx was surprisingly alert.

"I shouldn't. I have… things to do." He yawned. He tried to smooth down his hair, which stuck up comically.

"Important appointments?"

"I'm a very busy person." Still, he didn't move. "How do you feel?" Ienzo turned a bit pink.

"Sore, but I was expecting to be."

"It surely was… something," he admitted. "I was so afraid of hurting you."

Demyx kissed him once. "You didn't."

"I should like to get better at it."

He laughed. "Maybe in a few days we can try again."

"Maybe."

He stood and scooped his underwear off the floor. "I'll make coffee. You want?"

"Yes."

He'd just turned his back when Ienzo spoke again.

"Demyx?"

"Ienzo?"

He smiled. "I'm glad it was you."

He didn't really have to elaborate; that about said it all. "Yeah. Me too."