Chapter 12

Demyx, after talking with Vexen in Radiant Garden, returned through a dark portal to the Keyblade Graveyard, somewhat in a daze. Him….betray the Organization? His task was to ensure their plans fail by merely picking up replicas for the Radiant Garden gang. Wow. And to think he wanted to atone…. And it meant no fighting. Score!

"Um, where did you go? I thought you were benched. I didn't even know you were capable of moving, to be honest…"

Demyx gulped, meeting Larxene's gaze. First, he remembered how she mentioned she couldn't stop thinking about him, causing a warmth to rise in his chest. Second, he thought about his current situation. If he was betraying the Organization by helping Vexen, that would mean he was betraying her as well. The feeling in his chest cooled a little. Would he be able to really do this?

Demyx shrugged, trying his best to be nonchalant. "Oh, I was here and there. You know, bench stuff."

Larxene came closer, causing butterflies to flitter in Demyx's stomach. "There's no way they trust you with anything. I'm not stupid."

Demyx shrugged. "Appearances can be deceiving. Unlike you, I've never thrown a coup, so, you know, they kind of trust me."

"What? That is not true! You're as useful as a wet pillow, and everybody knows it. I'm going to let Xemnas know you left. Or Xehanort himself, perhaps." Larxene smiled cruelly.

"No!" Demyx exclaimed, eyes wide. He stared at Larxene, heart rate already elevated from his attraction, but increasing exponentially from panic. He couldn't be found out, then he'd be turned into a dusk, Vexen would be found out, and there was no chance of bringing Roxas back.

To his shock, at his reply, Larxene's demeanor changed from cruelty to concern. She suddenly grabbed his arm, pulling him behind a rock, out of sight from any of the other members. "You're absolutely idiotic! They'll find out…"

Demyx blinked. What was happening? "Huh?"

Larxene crossed her arms, glancing over her shoulder. "They know everything we do!"

Was she helping him? What was her angle?

Demyx waved his hand, still flustered by her reaction. "Well, I haven't, you know, done anything yet. Doing stuff isn't really my thing."

He still didn't want to say too much. Could he even trust her? She might be trying to trick him, somehow. There was no way he could risk ruining Vexen's plan.

Larxene's face changed again, dropping her expression. "I need to go."

"Larxene!" Demyx exclaimed. "Please…"

She whipped around. "There is nothing stopping me from telling anyone else. We don't even need you. They made it clear you're worth less than a replica, an empty husk. Nobody would care if you were destroyed, if they even noticed."

He flinched at her biting words, mind racing. One moment Larxene acted like she wanted to kill him, the next like he wanted to save him, and now kill him again? He was beginning to become tired of being whisked about like the weapons they wielded.

He couldn't help but burst out: "But...what about your feelings!?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me," he muttered, feeling suddenly brave. "I know, c'mon, you must know...everything points to how you feel about," he took in a breath, "me."

Larxene immediately retaliated, fury in her eyes. "That you're a waste of space, time, and energy? You're ugly and lazy? You're…"

"Alright, alright," Demyx said, taking a step back. "I've had enough of this. Look, don't tell. Dude, I'm saving you, too. You don't want to be Xehanort's vessel anyway. I know you don't."

"You know nothing of how I feel! Don't bother stopping me," Larxene said, turning away in a huff.

Oh boy. Demyx watched her go, feeling utterly helpless. He never should have mentioned her feelings. Maybe he was wrong about them, anyway. Why would she ever like him? Everything she said about him was right. He was useless. Or at least, had been until now. He had the chance to change that now with the replicas, but he had already messed that up.

She was going to give him away.

He wouldn't be able to save Roxas, wouldn't be able to help Vexen, wouldn't be able to help, you know, atone. Getting Roxas back could potentially turn the tide in favor of the keyblade wielders. If the seven lights won, Larxene wouldn't have to be a vessel. Why would she sabotage that?

He groaned to himself. Man, she was right, he was stupid. He had totally misread the situation and was going to be destroyed by the Organization.

Except she never told.