"This changes everything."

"No, it doesn't," Demyx said with a sigh. "We still have to talk to Jacob."

Axel stopped pacing and gave Demyx a frustrated look. "You seem to have forgotten who his dad is."

"Don't tell me you're scared of him."

"I'm not scared!" Axel snapped. "I'd just prefer to not confront the guy I impaled on my chakram."

"Fine. I'll do it," Demyx said, shrugging as he headed for the door. Axel practically leapt after him, grabbing onto his arm.

"You're not seeing anyone from the Organization alone."

"What? Afraid I'll cheat on you?"

"I'm afraid you'll get hurt."

Demyx recoiled as if he'd been slapped. "I don't know which is worse."

"Aw, come on, you know what I meant!"

"Yeah. You think I'm weak," Demyx said, pulling his arm out of Axel's grip.

"I do not!"

"I'm not a little kid, Axel," Demyx practically growled. "I don't need you holding my hand every time there might be danger around."

"Who was the one beggin' me to come down to the school and kick ass, then?"

Axel knew he shouldn't have said it the moment the words left his lips. Demyx fell silent, and he looked absolutely crushed- but that heartbreak quickly turned to fury, and he threw the door open and left the apartment. Axel followed an instant later, almost tripping over his own feet in his attempt to follow Demyx into the hallway.

"Demyx! Demyx, wait!"

"Fuck off."

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean it!" Axel insisted, picking up his pace to keep up with the blonde. Demyx was ignoring him completely now, and instead jabbed the call button for the elevator so hard Axel wouldn't have been surprised to see the plastic cover cracked.

"Demyx…please," Axel begged, and Demyx finally turned around.

"You're a fuckin' bastard."

"I know. I am."

"You think just a 'sorry' is going to make me forget what you just said?"

"It would be nice…"

Demyx groaned and turned back around, and Axel felt panic rise in him as quickly as the elevator was dropping toward their floor. He did the most drastic, most un-Axel-like gesture of apology that he could manage as the elevator drew closer; he dropped to his knees and gave Demyx a pleading look.

"Demyx…I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. Forgive me? Please?"

Demyx slowly turned back around, and Axel could tell the musicians resolve to stay angry was fading. The blonde still looked angry, but there was also a good amount of uncertainty there.

"I'm going to talk to Vexen alone first, and I'll come and get you from the car when I feel like he won't kill you."

Axel nodded. "Absolutely. Whatever you want."

"…Get up, you idiot."

Axel grinned and stumbled to his feet, tackling Demyx in a kiss just as the elevator doors opened. They both stumbled back into the elevator, not breaking the kiss even as the doors closed. Neither noticed when the elevator began to move downward, and neither did they notice the little old lady in the corner of the elevator- they were too preoccupied with the deepening kiss, the roaming hands, and the relief at the fight being over.

So, by the time the elevator got to the bottom and the doors re-opened, one of Axel's hands was shoved up under Demyx's shirt and the other was on the small of his back, holding him locked in the kiss. Demyx had one hand clutched in Axel's hair, and the other was clutching the front of the redhead's pants, toying with the zipper.

Someone cleared their throat quite loudly, and Axel and Demyx broke the kiss and looked up, jumping in surprise when the little old woman slipped past them and out of the elevator, looking quite terrified. A younger woman stood in front of the elevator in a suit-like outfit, tapping her foot impatiently as she watched them.

"I presume you're Axel and Demyx?"

Somehow the pair detangled from each other, and Demyx nodded sheepishly. Axel was too busy grinning like an idiot to respond.

"I'm Maria Osterman. I'm here to take your measurements."

It clicked. The fashion designer- Larxene said she would be coming. The woman stepping into the elevator and smacked the button for the fifteenth floor.

"Let's make this fast and painless, boys."

Moments later they were back in the apartment, and Maria pulled Demyx to the center of the room, a white measuring tape in her hands. She looped it around his waist, squinting at the numbers.

"Skinny," she commented, jotting the measurement down on a piece of paper. Demyx snorted, but didn't comment.

She'd taken about thirty measurements when Axel rolled his eyes and said, "You gonna measure his dick, too? There isn't much else left, you got it all."

Demyx blushed bright red and the woman glared at Axel, thankfully releasing the tape measure, which had been strapped around Demyx's neck.

"At least for his I wouldn't have to turn the tape over and measure in millimeters," she said, and Axel glared at both of them as Demyx barely restrained laughter. If he hadn't still been in a bit of a stupor from the elevator, he probably would've set Maria's hair on fire.

"Your turn," Demyx said as Maria gestured for him to sit down. Grudgingly, Axel stood up and walked over to the designer. She pulled the tape around his waist and cinched it tight.

"With your god-awful attitude and your unnatural proportions, I'm tempted to encourage you to model for a living," she said, voice cold as ice as she moved on to measure the length of his arm. "Or at least do a porn video with your boy-toy."

Axel laughed. "You'd be camping out in front of the video store on the release date of that one, I'd bet."

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An hour later, they were sitting with Sora in one of Larxene's many cars, on the street in front of Vexen's house. It looked like a normal middle class home, with a low fence, a golden retriever sleeping in the front yard, and a basketball goal in the driveway. Demyx had used the license plate number from Vexen's car and some creative computer sleuthing to find his address.

"Alright. I'll come out and get you in a few minutes," Demyx said, reaching for the door handle. Axel's hand on his other arm stopped him from leaving the car, though; he gave Axel a curious look.

"Yeah?"

Axel hesitated. "Be careful," he finally said, tugging Demyx into a kiss. Demyx returned the kiss with a smile, and then ruffled Sora's fur and got out of the car. He avoided getting run down by two kids on bikes, then crossed the sidewalk safely, went through the front gate, and headed up the steps to the front door. He knocked three times, shifting his weight nervously.

When the door opened, Jacob was standing behind it, and he gave Demyx an odd look. Demyx could smell something cooking; it smelled good, like turkey.

"Can I help you?"

Demyx smiled. "Is your dad here?"

Jacob turned around. "Dad, one of your weird friends is here!" he yelled, and then he turned back to Demyx. "He'll be right here."

Moments later, Vexen appeared in the hallway, taking off oven mitts. He took a few steps toward the door before he looked up, and upon seeing Demyx he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Demyx? Is that really you?" he asked, and Demyx grinned.

"Been a while, hasn't it?"

Vexen's reaction wasn't at all what Demyx expected; the former Nobody stepped forward and pulled him into a tight hug as Jacob watched in disbelief.

"So many years, my friend!" he said, moving to hold Demyx at arm's length. "You look just as I remembered you."

"And you haven't aged a day," Demyx added.

"Come in, come in! Jacob, go on upstairs until dinner. Demyx and I have much to discuss."

Jacob looked suspicious, but he shrugged. "Sure, whatever," he said, heading for the stairs. Vexen watched after him with fatherly pride.

"That's my boy, Demyx," he said with a smile. "My pride and joy."

"Nice kid," Demyx agreed, and then he took a deep breath. "Listen, Vexen, before we get any farther…"

Vexen's eyebrows rose. "That isn't a good tone."

"Axel's with me. He's waiting out in the car."

Vexen stiffened, and his eyes narrowed. "I hope he died an incredibly painful death."

"Can he-"

"He can stay out there. He's not coming near my son."

"He's changed. He's not going to hurt you or Jacob."

"Would you take that risk with your child?"

"I swear on my life that he won't cause trouble."

Vexen frowned, staring at Demyx. Demyx stared right back until Vexen finally gave in.

"Fine. But one suspicious move and I'm kicking him out."

Demyx sighed with relief, then opened the door and gestured for Axel to come on in. Axel stepped out of the car, followed closely by Sora, though the puppy decided that staying in the yard and clambering all over the sleepy golden retriever was a much better time than actually coming inside.

When Axel got to the door, Vexen crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his chin, blocking the redhead's path.

"If you do so much as give me one wrong look, I will hurt you," Vexen said to him coldly, and Axel wisely nodded. Vexen stepped aside, allowing Axel to step inside.

One hurdle overcome, Demyx thought as Vexen led them into a small sitting room. It was comfortable, low-lit, and Axel was immediately attracted to the massive fireplace built into the far wall.

"Is this your wife?" Axel asked, picking a picture up off the mantle and taking a closer look. Vexen nodded.

"She died, nine years ago. Cancer," he said softly. "Sit down, I'll go make some coffee."

For nearly an hour, they talked about what they'd been doing since, well, death. Vexen had started out in California, worked his way up through the ranks in a weapons development company, of which he was now head of research. It had been in that state where he met Gretchen, an artist, who was also Jacob's mother. He and Gretchen had moved to New York not long after getting married, after Vexen got a promotion that required such a move.

Eventually, though, the topic moved to the recent attack by the Heartless. The conversation took a dark turn from there.

"Do you have your powers back?" Demyx asked, and Vexen laughed.

"I haven't had my powers since I got dropped here," he said. "Why?"

Axel pointed a finger at the fireplace, and the logs lit up with dancing, crackling flames. Vexen's eyes widened.

"You still have your powers?"

"They were given back to us the day before those Heartless attacked," Demyx explained. "I have them too."

"A disturbance between the worlds, perhaps? A misalignment of the boundaries?" Vexen said thoughtfully, obviously intrigued.

"There's more. There's a reason we came here, specifically," Axel said.

"You need my help with something?"

"Not you," Demyx said softly. "Jacob."

Vexen stared blankly for a few moments. "Jacob?"

"We got a visit from King Mickey," Axel explained. "He gave us a keyblade, and told us where and how to find the next keyblade bearer. It's Jacob."

Vexen shook his head. "No. That's simply not possible."

"The keyblade activates around him. We know it's him," Demyx said, but Vexen only kept shaking his head. He stood up and gestured to the door.

"You've overstayed your welcome. Please, leave, and don't come near my son again."

"You can't just ignore this," Axel said, standing up. "If he doesn't take up the keyblade, then-"

"Out. Now."

Axel glared at Vexen, and Demyx stood up and grabbed Axel's arm, dragging him toward the door. He managed to get the redhead out the door, where Axel picked up Sora and headed for the car.

"Well, that was a colossal waste of time," Axel muttered as they stepped out the front gate.

"Maybe he'll come around with more time to think it over."

"Time is one thing we don't have, Demyx."

"Hey! Demyx! Axel! Wait up!"

Demyx and Axel turned around to see Jacob pushing through the front gate of his yard. The teenager caught up to them, glancing back at the house.

"He didn't see me. Don't worry."

Axel frowned, looking at Demyx. "Did you tell him my name?"

"I listened in on the whole thing," Jacob said quickly. "I heard everything."

Demyx and Axel froze and looked at each other nervously. Jacob didn't miss a beat.

"Is it true? Is all of that true, what you said?"

Demyx nodded. "It is."

"So…my dad is from another dimension, Earth is about to be invaded by little black monsters called Heartless, and I'm supposed to fight them all off with…a key?"

"Put bluntly, ah…yeah," Axel said, rubbing the back of his neck.

A voice suddenly called Jacob's name from within the house, and Demyx decided this wasn't the time or place to do this.

"Kid, that café you were at today for lunch. Meet us there tomorrow night at seven and we'll explain everything."

Jacob nodded and started to walk away, but Axel called at him to wait. The redhead opened Demyx's backpack and rummaged through it with his free hand (the other was full of sleepy puppy). He pulled out the keyblade, and then held it out to Jacob.

"Just in case," Axel said. "And don't let your dad see it."

The moment Jacob touched the keyblade, there was a rush of wind and a soft glow from the weapon. He stared at it for a few more moments, until he heard his confused dad call for him again. He ran back to the house, and Demyx and Axel decided enough was enough for one day; they headed home.

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"Finally!"

That was not the exclamation Demyx and Axel expected to hear from Larxene when they walked in the door, but nonetheless, that's what they heard. And when they saw Larxene, they were even more confused, because she had a huge bruise on the side of her face.

"What happened?" Demyx asked, and Larxene smirked.

"I don't know what you two did today, but you sure rattled some cages. Two guys came here looking for you, and they weren't happy when I said you were out fucking in the back of some library or something."

Axel rolled his eyes. "Did they say anything else?"

"Yeah, somethin' about killing that keyblade brat."

One glance at each other, and Axel and Demyx were sprinting back out the door, leaving Sora with Larxene.