"Absolutely not!"

The outburst had caught Ienzo by surprise. He didn't think he was doing anything wrong. He was only working on revising his notes. Barely aware of anything that wasn't ink and paper.

Barely aware of the cup Aeleus had set down on his desk. The squeeze on his shoulder. Or how his hand went up instinctively to squeeze the larger one in return. A routine gesture. It was loving. Tender. Something they were never capable of expressing as Nobodies.

It was proof of Them.

Even was having none of it.

The guard allowed himself to be pushed away by the older man, hands up in submission as he put more distance between himself and Ienzo. This was not a fight he could win with fists. It wasn't a fight he could win at all.

"Even- Calm down." Ienzo was already standing up. The papers were placed a safe distance from the cup of water he had been offered. He didn't want a tragedy on top of this budding fight.

"I will not calm down," said Even. The air felt colder as he spoke, his voice clipped. "I am putting an end t-"

"An end to what, Even?" Aeleus had finally spoken. His voice was soft, but firm. He knew what this was about. How could he not?

Even pointed at the guard and then at the youngest apprentice.

"This," the older man hissed at the two of them.

"This?" Ienzo asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Even as his heart returned to him and he could truly feel the appreciation and love he had for his father-figure, he would still often close himself off around him. Clamming up and assuming a defensive stance, just as Zexion had during many arguments. "Please, do tell me what you mean."

He was challenging Even.

Even narrowed his eyes for the briefest moment. He had to often remind himself they were existing now as fully completed beings. Emotions were always shooting out of control if they were not careful. Now was a moment to be careful.

Finally, after a moment of heavy silence. "You and Aeleus." He gestured again, looking between the two.

Ienzo's challenging stare did not falter. Aeleus stayed in the back, letting the younger one handle this. It was a chance for him to learn how to control these emotions. Stepping into new territory as a person.

"Perhaps I was blind to it while we were in the Organization." That was a lie, Vexen wasn't blind to it. He knew, he saw it forming between the two of them in Zexion's late teens. But he didn't care. Didn't have the capability to care. His research came first.

His research always came first.

Even continued, stepping closer to Ienzo. "But, I can't ignore it now. Ienzo, he's at least fifteen years your senior." Aeleus was well into his adult years when Ienzo was only a child after all. Even remembered that clearly. "When did this even start?" He asked, throwing an accusatory glance towards Aeleus. Ienzo was barely in his twenties now, as a recompleted being.

But he was still very much a child in the Organization.

"It started well beyond you think it did." Ienzo's voice was firm. He didn't want this conversation. He didn't want to hear Even doubting Aeleus' character.

"Did you really expect me to be okay with this?"

"I expected you to mind your own business, Even."

And, for a moment, Even didn't see Ienzo. He saw Zexion, acting bigger than he was. Staring down at Even, despite being much smaller. Respect was slipping away, being replaced with disdain.

"You are my- You are still Ansem's ward. This is my business. If you think he would be okay with this-"

"Since when did you think it was a good idea to speak for Master Ansem again? To try and tell me how he feels?" Ienzo always knew what buttons to push. Where to strike with the proverbial arrow to cause the most damage. It was clear when Even's face fell that he still felt guilt over their lies.

His lies.

Ienzo glanced back at Aeleus, wondering what was on the man's mind. If he was stepping over a line.

Honestly, Ienzo would have appreciated some more backup here. Lexaeus was always at Zexion's heels, there to provide a little more weight to his words. But perhaps here, intimidation wasn't the best tactic.

"Fine." Even's words snapped Ienzo out of his thoughts. "Fine. Ansem aside, I am not okay with this. I will not allow either of you to-" He was cut off again.

"I'm not a child anymore!"

There it was. A slight boil over of an emotion Ienzo was not use to. Anger. His cheeks tinted pink, embarrassed by his own lack of control.

"Aren't you? Can you really call yourself an adult? You spent ten years so detached from yourself, can you really say you grew up?" Even could be just as cruel as Zexion once was. Who else did the boy learn from?

Aside from...

"And whose fault is that?" Ienzo rebounded fast, going in for the weak spots.

"Ours." Aeleus finally spoke up, deep voice a regretful rumble in his chest. He was finally stepping in. "We all failed you. But you need to understand Even only cares about you."

Ienzo stared at Aeleus, feeling betrayed that he seemed to be taking Even's side instead of his. Aeleus was to be loyal to him, not the old man. He opened his mouth to speak, but dropped it when Aeleus lifted a hand to silence him.

Only he could get away with that.

"However. Even, what exactly is your plan here? Do you really intend to force Ienzo?" Aeleus asked, sky-blue eyes staring right at the older scientist.

He had a point. Aeleus could step back and try to put distance between himself and Ienzo, if he wanted to. But he knew it would only drive a wedge between Ienzo and Even. It would only bring back the little monster Zexion once was.

Silence hung in the air between the three apprentices.

Ienzo was clearly holding his words back. Aeleus and Even did not miss the shadow at his feet flickering. The fidgeting movements that he was hiding on his person. Likewise, no one failed to note the drop in temperature. The slow rumble beneath their boots.

There was little room for error here. One wrong move, one wrong word...

"You know it's not right, Aeleus. You are far too old for him."

Aeleus nodded. He knew. He knew this conversation was a long time coming. He knew that the circumstances of everything surrounding them would always be brought into question.

It was why Lexaeus kept Zexion at arm's length for as long as he could, despite the Schemer's possessive attitude.

"You're too young, Ienzo. You don't know what-"

"Oh, so now you want to be a father?"

Even's words stuttered and fell into nothing. The only sound he let out was a shuddering breath, of hurt.

"You lost that right."

Ienzo wasn't wrong. What right did Even have to act as the boy's father? After all he did. After ten years of doing wrong by the boy.

"Ienzo."

Aeleus stepped behind the young man, a hand on his shoulder. He went too far.

Ienzo knew that the moment the words left his mouth. He flinched and pulled himself away from Aeleus' hold, walking out of the room. The moment he was out the door, his footsteps disappeared. He was hiding which way he was going. They would be lucky if they found him at all for the rest of the day.

For a moment the only sound heard was Even's breathing. His feeble attempt to calm himself down, to keep himself in check. He should be better at this.

"For what it's worth, Even," Aeleus's voice finally broke the quiet. "I care very much for Ienzo. Lexaeus and Zexion only cared for each others strength and loyalty. It is why we did not cross that line until after recompletion."

Aeleus turned towards the door. He had his own post to return to, even if he wanted to go find Ienzo.

"But, I understand that you also care for him. I can step back, but it will not give you the outcome you want."

With that, Aeleus was gone.

Even was left alone. Once again wondering where he went wrong. What could he do to fix this?

What to do with all the work Ienzo left.