TBB: Well, I can't wait to start this chapter, so let's go! Oh, by the way, it's Xigbar/Luxord. This isn't a very popular couple, and yet, I've fallen in love with this pairing. Go ahead; give them a shot ;)
Castle Oblivion, home to the most notorious, powerful, sharp, and attractive Nobodies, cleverly dubbed Organization XIII, was looking a little empty today. One would think that such a fearsome group of heartless byproducts who has nobody but themselves to fend off the universe on their own would be a close family filled with support and providence. However, take a closer look at the group before you and you'll notice that small alliances and backstabbing have created charred holes in the family portrait of Organization XIII. First, there's Marluxia and Larxene, a duo that formed to overthrow the organization. There's also Axel, who hastily joins a gorup, and abandons it just as quick. Don't forget Xemnas and Saix, two selfish leaders who would stop at nothing to complete the formation of Kingdom Hearts. And then there was the threesome who wanted to gain control of Riku: Zexion, Lexaeus, and Vexen. But what of the remaining members? Demyx and Xaldin seemed to become good friends. Roxas' intentions still remains unknown, which leaves us with our protagonists of the day: Xigbar and Luxord.
Xigbar descended the long, white stairs of Castle Oblivion, greeted only by the soft taps coming from the light treads know as his footsteps. Walking with a blank mind towards the kitchen, the freeshooter suddenly perked up at the smell of fresh coffee emitted from his destination. A knowing grin graced his scarred face as he quietly tip toed to the kitchen area, playing spy on the chef. As soon as Xigbar's head peeked out from the corner that was his hiding spot, a sharp card was flung towards his face, and was narrowly avoided thanks to the gunner's fast reflexes.
"Feeling moody today, Luxord?" Xigbar growled at the assaulter.
Luxord gave a careless shrug and lifted his mouth from his coffee mug.
"I thought you were a heartless, Xigbar. Besides, now you're fully awake, right?" Luxord teased. Although he didn't show a grin on his face, Xigbar could tell through his eyes that Luxord was laughing at him.
The Organization's number two rolled his eye and walked up to the dining table, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Taking the white pitcher beside the coffee machine, the eye-patched gunslinger added a small amount of cream, with no sugar. His gazed drifted across the table and landed on a small pile of discarded sugar packs whose contents were now swirling in Luxord's mug of coffee.
"How do you eat all that sugar without acting like Axel or Larxene?" asked Xigbar, greatly amused.
Luxord shrugged once again, this time putting his empty mug down on the table.
"Every person's body handles their sugars differently. Axel and Larxene are naturally high, so maybe it isn't the sugar or the caffeine's fault. As for me, I am the best at controlling my emotions and my state of mind since I am a gambler." Luxord stated, like common knowledge.
"So…. are you saying that your mild range of emotions are what keeps you winning every time?" asked Xigbar, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Although we are Nobodies…yes. You could say that," answered the blonde, turning over to face the older man.
"I don't believe you. Gambler of fate or not, I bet I can prove you wrong," suggested the gunner, a spark of challenge glimmering in his eye. Luxord raised an eyebrow at this.
"Then let's wager on it," spoke Luxord, taking out a deck of cards, "I've always been interested in……this," said the dealer, pointing at Xigbar's eye patch.
Organization's number two retained a calm look on his face, and opened his mouth to speak.
"Fine. But if I win……you'll have to teach me your secret." responded Xigbar, giving the younger man an evil grin.
"I'm not a magician, Xigbar. There are no secrets to strategies. But, whatever floats your boat…" sighed Luxord, still keeping his poker face.
Just you wait, number ten…I'm going to break that poker face of yours…, the freeshooter thought to himself, the malevolent grin still plastered onto his face.
"Earth to Xigbar," said Luxord aloud. The older man snapped out of his trance.
"What game?" asked the blue-eyed shuffler.
"Uh….Poker?" Xigbar replied, waiting to see the other man crack into a devious grin. But that didn't happen. Luxord simply nodded at the request and proceeded to deal five cards, back and forth, to both players.
"Whoever reaches ten wins first, gets their end of the bargain," stated Luxord, and a nod from Xigbar was received. Upon observing his hand, Xigbar gave a wide grin and chuckled to himself. Luxord raised an eyebrow.
"So…I guess you're not discarding those," said the blonde.
"Hell no I'm not. Well, are you ready?" Xigbar asked, and turned over his hand, revealing a full house of three Jacks and two nines. Luxord gave a light yawn and revealed his hand of a straight flush of a Ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of hearts. Xigbar's jaw dropped at Luxord's incredible hand, barely catching said man's professional shuffling.
"One to nothing," Luxord stated plainly, earning an annoyed 'hmph' from Xigbar.
The next few games followed basically the same pattern. Xigbar couldn't understand—what kind of mystical force could have possibly blessed his opponent with such luck?
The eye-patched gunner bit his lower lip in aggrevation. To discard or not to discard? Even though his hand consists of four sevens and a lonely six, he was sure that Luxord had something better in his hand.
Time is running out….the score is 9:0, in favor of Luxord. Dammit….I still can't beat that hand of his!
Xigbar looked at the five cards nestling in his hands, his brain working on overdrive.
This whole time I've been playing under his cards, his rules…… maybe it's time I make him play by my rules.
"Luxord…." started Xigbar.
"Hmm?" mumbled the blonde.
"….I give up," spoke the freeshooter, putting his cards down on the table. Luxord froze for a second, not speaking a word.
"….Very well. Then that means I get to see what's underneath that eye patch of yours," said Luxord, maintaining a calm voice.
You're tough….I'll admit that, Luxord….but this final trick is going to destroy you. Once and for all….. Xigbar laughed evilly to himself, as he watched the gambler of fate approach him. He could see that, as calm as Luxord may appear, his steps are cautious and alert, ready to dodge away from any unexpected surprises.
The blue-eyed dealer finally stopped in front of Xigbar, eyeing the black patch that has been covering the gunner's right eye, ever since he has been introduced into the Organization. Xigbar gave a sigh, and lifted both his hands behind his head to undo the knot that attached the patch to his face.
"Luxord….behind this eyepatch lies………"
Luxord could feel anticipation rising within him. Nothing has really gotten him this excited for a long time, more specifically, nothing since he had become a Nobody…
The stretchy black string hung loose, and the black padded material was removed to reveal….
Another eye!
Before Luxord could react from the slight disappointment of the surprise, Xigbar's hand pushed the back of his head and pressed their lips together in a strong, tantalizing kiss. The blonde gambler was so stricken by surprise that his whole body froze at the instant of contact.
Xigbar finally pulled away from the lip-lock and gave a huge, victorious grin.
"Looks like I win, Luxord," Xigbar said silkily.
That's when it hit the younger man---Xigbar never wanted to learn his card tricks and strategies, the man just wanted to break his poker face; his pride!
…That bastard!
Luxord scowled at the gunslinger, who was now howling in laughter. Tears were practically spilling from his eyes. Suddenly, Luxord's scowl was replaced by a mischevious grin that would even scare Jack Skellington out of his Santa clause costume.
"Xigbar," Luxord started, walking up to the gunslinger.
"Hmm?" Xigbar uttered, as he turned around to face Luxord, only to be shoved into the wall with a tongue thrust down his throat. Luxord grinned through the kiss, as he expertly maneuvered his tongue to explore every crevasse of Xigbar's mouth, feeling the other man's breathing accelerate. Through silenced moans and wet kisses, the pierced gambler's own breath was running short, so he gave one last lap of Xigbar's mouth, and playfully bit his lower lip before breaking apart the hot kiss, leaving the other man gasping for air.
"I always win."
Before the gunner could react, Luxord was engulfed in a black aura, and vanished into thin air.
Xigbar steadied his breath, as a deep blush coloured his cheeks while the scarred gunslinger reflected on what had just taken place. After a short moment, his lips curved into a grin. Xigbar briskly made his way out the kitchen, up the stairs, and into his room; his mind now filled will fresh new thoughts.
Whatever that was, he definitely saw a spark in the gambler's eyes.
TBB: Well, what did you think of that? This is definitely a different take on how I do my romantic stories. To me, Xigbar/Luxord is a very special pairing, so they deserved a very special story! Please R&R, I want to see what you think!