Chapter 11

Demyx played his sitar, summoned by Xemnas for some meeting. Larxene and Marluxia stood nearby, chatting away about becoming Xehanort's vessels. He felt a twist of jealousy as Larxene invited Marluxia to throw another coup, but pushed it away. He couldn't make the same mistakes from the old Organization in the new one. He needed to move on.

"Oh, please. You couldn't do it last time. You've got to play it smart, like me." Demyx tuned his sitar a bit, slightly satisfied at the shocked expression on Larxene's face.

Larxene exclaimed, "What!? You're not smart!"

Demyx continued fiddling with his musical weapon. "You heard what Marly said, I don't have to be smart."

"Or capable, or likeable, or attractive. A cereal bowl would make a better vessel," Larxene hissed, crossing her arms.

No, he wouldn't be hurt by her words again. "Whoa, now. You are way out of line. I am extremely imposing...when I want to be. Which is, admittedly, almost never."

Maybe Larxene would get off his back now. It was only a second later when he realized he was wrong. She demanded, "Why haven't you gone to any worlds? Are you slacking?"

"'Course not! I got benched."

The conversation quickly turned into more insults from Larxene, giggling at his current status on the waiting list of the Organization. Then, Xemnas appeared, and Demyx prepared for another boring meaning. Man, he really needed to practice napping more often.

Then everything changed. What was this about an ancient keyblade legacy lying within him? And within Marly, Larxene, and Luxord as well? After the meeting ended, while Marluxia and Larxene remained as well, Demyx clutched his chest. How could this be? Surely Xemnas had the wrong guy.

Larxene had been the only one right for him. Oh, he meant right about him. Of course that's what he meant. He wasn't worthy enough to be a vessel and he wasn't good at anything. Well, save playing his sitar. He knew she was right, yet her words still stung.

Now, glancing at her buddying up with Marluxia again, his chest hurt. Clearly, he was making the same mistake as his old Nobody life. He was still in love with her, despite his best attempts to remain neutral. But why did she have to be so cruel to him all the time?

He set his jaw. "Larxene…"

"Um, hello, I don't remember giving a loser permission to speak with me." She giggled maniacally. Marluxia merely smiled behind her in silent support.

He wished Marly wasn't here as a witness, but he'd never get another chance. "You're right, Larxene. I'm not worthy of being a vessel."

"Duh, I'm right. You're wasting my time, stupid."

He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting her to say, but he couldn't be surprised now. He knew her too well. "Look, there's no way you're a fan of most everyone here, or in the old Organization. But it's always me you go after. Why?"

Marluxia crossed his arms. "Emotions come from the heart, Larxene, and we need to conquer them to gain true power. That includes hatred."

"I am NOT weak!" Larxene insisted with a huff.

Marluxia opened a dark portal. "Prove it."

Demyx deflated. "You hate me?" Of course she hated him. He was wrong to believe anything else. He was just being led by his emotions.

"Such an idiot."

Surely all her insults to him, her focus on tearing him down, apparently even behind his back, must prove that her hatred was true. She must be consumed by it, even, to insult him when he wasn't even there. But it really, really hurt him to hear her vocalize it. Before he could control it, despite desperately trying to hold it back, tears escaped his eyes. All the feelings he felt were coming to a head, Larxene being dead, now alive, now hating him, having always hated him. It was too much.

Larxene was instantly cruel. "Are you...crying?" She began to wickedly laugh.

Demyx wiped them away at her remark, his face hot. "It doesn't matter."

Even despite this awful moment, looking into her eyes sent electricity through his body. She held his gaze this time, the hardness in her eyes vanished again, but her expression otherwise unreadable. Demyx glanced at her neck, suddenly distracted by a bluish mark on it, one he hadn't noticed before. It also seemed to be creeping up towards her face.

"You're..is that ice?"

"What?" Larxene's tough demeanor now totally dropped, feeling the spot on her neck, as if she knew.

Demyx, stomach a tangled mess, hyper-focused on the wound, coming up to share the same rock with her and putting his hand on her shoulder. "Heal," he said.

The wound disappeared, Larxene looking up at him, her features still softened. She looked down again. "I don't know why I hate you. It's like, I can't stop thinking about you."

Demyx rapidly inhaled. "Me-me too."

Can't stop thinking? She meant hatred? But it didn't sound like hatred. It sounded more like exactly how he felt for her. How he loved her…

It was that moment when he had no more doubts. She felt the electricity, too, the undeniable attraction between them, still coming out despite her best attempts at denial. Of course she was in denial! How could he not see it before?

Demyx quietly spoke. "Hatred and love come from the same place. I think...maybe-"

"Don't you DARE say it," Larxene spat.

Oh boy. Here we go. Bully Larxene was back again.

She continued, "You know nothing of my emotions. You're benched for a reason, moron. I already said, you're stupid and definitely NOT attractive. So stop it!"

He looked at her, biting his tongue. He really didn't feel like fighting, it was way too much work. But...why was she bringing up his attractiveness? As if she was actually thinking about it. Nobody else ever brought it up. Surely, that only proved she was in denial. His heart soared, convinced. "Alright, Larxene," he said, waving a hand.

He didn't need to hear more. It was like he was walking on air. He was positive she thought her love for him was hatred. Which meant she felt the same. And for right now, that was all he needed to know to be content. Man, seems like a good time for a nap!