5.

Pairbonds

Ienzo told Aeleus everything.

The man seemed more tired than usual. He'd been gone for the past two days on some resistance mission neither Even nor Ienzo really knew anything about. He'd slept soundlessly, almost breathlessly, on the couch for two hours before Ienzo tried to feed him and convince him to sleep in his proper bed. But when Aeleus asked how he was… the words had spilled out of him almost against his will.

"There are more people like me here, Aeleus," he finished. "That much is certain."

Aeleus ate steadily. Ienzo had made pho; he'd forgotten how much he missed cooking with an actual full kitchen. "Of course there are," he said. "Not everyone goes underground in our sense. Some merely prefer to hide."

"In some ways I feel so… naive," he admitted slowly. "I wish you would tell me some things so I don't feel so ignorant."

Aeleus smiled and squeezed Ienzo's hand. "If I could, I would," he said. "Even I am only allowed to know pieces, parts." He set aside his empty bowl. "Though I am curious. I had thought all the seeker lines… were eradicated."

"But why, if they're functionally harmless? He has no magic."

Aeleus rubbed at his eyes. "Their abilities are purely passive… and somewhat latent. It's thought seekers would do anything to trigger their own abilities, even if they do not consciously realize it. But once they wake… they are a force to be reckoned with. Their individualism was what made them dangerous."

Ienzo exhaled. Was that why Demyx was so drawn to him? Because on some level he thought Ienzo's power would awaken his own?

"...Moreover… and Even would say this is all silly mythology."

"If Even says it's silly, then I want to know it all the more."

"Seekers pairbond. It's thought they spend their days looking for their soulmate… and if they find them, they know. Ironically… despite the individualism, they are nearly dependent on those they bond with."

Ienzo smiled a little. "That is very mythic."

"I admit I'm rather jealous of you. I'd like to meet one."

"Well, if I can be subtle about it, I'll ask him."

"He might not know much about his own culture."

"...Soulmates." Ienzo shook his head. "As if anyone has time for love right now."

Still, why was it Ienzo agreed to see him again?

Thanks to the psychology professor, Eraqus, he was able to test out of many gen-ed courses. But this left Ienzo with a dilemma-namely, that he had no idea what to actually major in. It seemed like a superficial problem to have, on top of all this.

" Precisely why I wanted you to actually take those classes," Even told him, with a scowl. "To get to know your cohort, your community-because that influences it too."

Ienzo pursed his lips. "Why bother, when we might have to run again at any moment? You should have at the very least given me the choice, Even."

His disposition did not improve. "You know little of the actual world. Gods forbid I try to actually let you learn."

"Learn what? On paper, I already know all of the content. And you don't want me to truly get close to anyone-else you would actually let me socialize, instead of calling me until I return home."

His head snapped up from his computer. "How dare I worry for you, you mean? If there are Heartless and seekers and goodness knows what else-"

"Even. I can take care of myself. You have to let me make my own decisions. Otherwise, what type of ruler would I ever hope to be?" A bit of an underhanded move, but true regardless.

Even turned pink, and his scowl deepened. He knew Ienzo had cornered him. "Very well . Now leave me be. I have to finish this report."

Ienzo put on a jacket and left the house. He told Demyx he'd meet him at the streetcar station nearest the beach. He thought about what Aeleus told him, about soulmates. He thought of the warmth, the prickling he'd felt with his own magic whenever they were together. Was it possible that-?

Perhaps it was simply a silly schoolboy crush, and given that he'd never much had one on anyone else, this was just how his magic reacted normally. Surely he couldn't simply ask Demyx what he'd felt, could he?

Something to ponder. Aeleus had said it was myth. Ienzo reminded himself to try and study more magic history. It had been some time, and he was rusty.

The streetcar was relatively empty for this time of day, so his trip was smooth and easy. Ienzo liked public transit, its cleanliness, its efficiency. If only all of life could be organized so neatly. He watched the band of sea grow closer and closer until finally the conductor urged him to get off at the terminus.

The memories of the sea were louder now, harder to fight- Braig, where is _?

I dunno, I just turned around for five seconds, couldn't have gone far-

The feeling of water rushing into his lungs, sand as the riptide tossed him back and forth like a ragdoll- then a memory he was almost certain he hadn't recalled in some time, of another child in the water, a child with blonde hair and shiny scales guiding him towards the surface-

"Hey, Zo! You made it!"

Ienzo gasped a little. He had to have corroborated that memory. It was impossible that happened-Braig had to have been the one who saved him from drowning, or Aeleus, not some kind of-creature that looked just like the man in front of him- "Hi, Demyx."

He cocked his head. "You okay?"

"Yes… I… fine. Shall we?"

"Uh. Sure."

They walked along the boardwalk, the old, sand-weathered boards creaking under their feet. Various food vendors, gift shops, and game booths dotted the surface, leading to a set of stairs down to the beach itself. "You ever been?" Demyx asked. "It's too cold to swim, but still pretty to look at."

Ienzo breathed that sea-tinted air, the echoes of the memory making both him and his magic feel… so very strange. Was he being put in a thrall? But this felt like none of the thralls Even and Merlin had trained him on. It did not feel like conscious magic. "Sure. Let's go."

They took off their shoes when they got to the water. The sand, in this twilight, was pleasantly warm. A few people milled about; the brave were swimming, some wading, others flying kites or playing with dogs or simply watching the water. They walked closely enough that every few drifts of tide, Ienzo could just barely feel the cool water on his toes. He felt… relaxed, he realized, even in the presence of this essential stranger.

"Does this remind you of your home?" Ienzo asked him. Demyx's expression was dreamy, his eyes trained on the ocean outside.

"It… does. Whenever I really feel homesick… I come down here. It's a little too cold for surfing now, but even just the sound of the waves… or the birds…" He sighed. "I was supposed to go back for a visit. Before it… fell."

"I truly am sorry."

He smiled sadly. "It's not your fault."

Ienzo wondered if it actually was; if he hadn't been running, if he'd done something or fought , would Destiny Islands be whole?

Demyx took a breath. "I wanted to… talk to you about something," he said. "And I know it's going to sound totally insane-"

Ienzo's heart beat harder.

"But I can't stop thinking about it, and I wonder if it's actually true-"

He felt almost like he couldn't breathe, the world getting dizzy, his magic practically screaming at him to open his eyes and see what was right in front of him-

"Hey… you okay?"

Ienzo's knees gave out, and everything went dark.

"...zo? Hey."

He blinked. He was lying on the soft sand of the beach, and the right leg of his pants was awkwardly wet. "What happened?"

"You fainted. Here." He was handed a bottle of water.

Ienzo sat up slowly. His right eye didn't hurt, but it did feel warm, almost like it was glowing. He opened the lukewarm water and drank it.

"Sorry about your pants. I wasn't able to fully catch you."

"...They'll dry." He looked back towards the boardwalk-there were no people near them. They were almost completely alone in this strange little cove. "A… friend of mine told me a little about seekers."

A flush brightened Demyx's face. "What did they say?"

"He said… that you subconsciously seek out your soulmate, and when you find them, you know." Demyx's face was still doubled in his vision. "Is that true? Is that what you're actually seeking, not magic users to protect?"

A substantial pause. All Ienzo heard for a long moment was the waves. Then, finally, "yeah. It's true."

Ienzo sat up a little more. "When we…" He swallowed, and forced himself to lock eyes with him. "When we met. I felt something in my magic. I didn't know what it was, but I wonder-"

"If we-" Demyx cut himself off. His eyes were watering.

"That wasn't the first time we met, was it?"

"No."

Ienzo's heart was beating so hard. "When I was… little. My family and I took a trip to your islands. My caretaker… lost track of me, and I nearly drowned. I was saved by… something. It was you, wasn't it?"

"Yeah." The tears ran over.

"You're not human."

"Not completely. But neither are you."

Ienzo shook his head slowly. "Not completely."

Demyx took both of his hands. "I'd forgotten it… all the way up until… you saved me from that Heartless, and then I didn't believe it was you until…"

The pull was growing stronger. "Then what are you?" Ienzo asked.

"I guess you would call it… a siren? I guess?" He bit his lip nervously. "But we… I don't remember how, I really don't, but I lost the ability to change form… and one day I just washed up on the beach. I forgot who I was for years ." He took out the pendant. "And since then…"

"You've been looking for your history and your family."

"And you."

Ienzo's breath caught.

"I know we're… we're basically strangers, but… I know we're…" He swiped at his eyes. "Right? You felt it too."

Slowly… in a state of disbelief… Ienzo nodded. The prickling feeling inside of his magic only intensified. Demyx took one hand and touched his cheek. Ienzo gasped despite himself. He'd never had these feelings… maybe there was a reason -

Demyx had said he was a siren. Maybe this was all some kind of enchanting magic he'd never experienced-

But his own energy was telling him this was all truth.

Demyx leaned in a little. How had Ienzo not noticed how he smelled before? Like ginger, and salt, and something else he had no name for. "I…" Ienzo was breathing shakily. He should've been embarrassed, falling apart like this. "I've never-"

"Would you want to?" Demyx asked gently.

"Yes." He closed the space between them, and Demyx's lips on his shouldn't have felt so right . It took him a moment to learn how to do it. Those callused hands tangled in his hair, pulling him a little closer-

Another stronger, warmer wave broke over him, making the fine hairs on his arms stand up straight-

Demyx broke away first, pressing his forehead against Ienzo's. "Your hair's glowing again," he said softly, pressing a kiss against Ienzo's cheek.

The pleasure he'd found quickly shattered. "No," he said, snapping his head around to see if there were any witnesses. "Oh-"

"No one can see us," Demyx said. "I'm blocking you from view."

"I just-I don't know how much magic was released by-" He licked his lips. He could still taste him, for gods' sake, a weirdly sweet flavor.

"I'm blocking you," Demyx repeated.

He got it. "You can… you can do that?"

"More like…" He brushed his fingers across Ienzo's cheek. "Distracting whoever would listen. Making them think about their dinner, or…"

"Passive," Ienzo repeated. "What do we… what now?"

"I didn't… I didn't think I'd get this far." Demyx blinked the tears out of his eyes. "I mean… I guess…"

"Get to know each other?"

He laughed a little, and Ienzo did too.

"I don't know how I'm going to explain this," he told Demyx. "My father… I'm not sure I fully understand what's going on-"

"Me either."

"I was told…" He could barely breathe. "I was told… when I didn't understand the situation… to research. To gather data." Demyx's hand, against the small of his back, was so warm. His whole body felt suddenly so much more alive.

"I think I understand," Demyx said, and kissed him again.

"Where have you been ?" Even's voice was shrill, and Ienzo noted, not without worry. He was late, he knew; the sun had been down for hours. "And why are you-covered in sand ?"

Ienzo winced a little. He had a choice to make here-to lie, or tell the truth. But something this big… he had to be sure. And Even did have a nigh-bottomless knowledge of the monarchy, and Ienzo's own magic. "I'll… explain everything, I promise, but know I am fine . Let me clean up, and then we can…"

Even touched his shoulder. He lifted a strand of Ienzo's hair, the tips of which were still luminous. "Oh," he said softly. He seemed frozen; Ienzo was able to pull away with ease. Even remained there, his one hand still raised, muttering to himself.

Ienzo took a shower. His skin seemed more sensitive than before; in fact, all of his senses seemed as though a film had been peeled away. He combed his hair and looked at himself in the mirror. He took a deep breath. He put on some pajamas and rejoined Even in the parlor.

The heavy mahogany desk had been cleared off. "Up you get. Up," Even said, steering him over. Wordlessly, Ienzo listened; the wood was cold and hard after the sand. Even forced him to lay down.

"Are you going to tell me why I was never informed about all this pairbonding nonsense?"

"Shut up ," Even hissed. "Be still."

Ienzo felt coldness leaching into his body, making him shudder. Even's magic was always sharp and angular as it probed his. Finally, after what felt like a long time… the coldness dissipated. Ienzo shivered. He sat up slowly. Even was breathing hard, with an odd look on his face, as though someone had struck him. "At first I wondered… if he had placed some advanced enchantment on me," Ienzo said. "But judging by your expression… that is not the case."

Even seemed to be struggling. "I'd thought…" He began softly.

"You knew this was a possibility," Ienzo said. "You knew , and you never said-" A sort of rage blotted out the coldness. "Why didn't you-"

"It's old magic, Ienzo," Even said, spreading his arms. "Ancient, even." He pressed a hand to his forehead. "It's that boy, isn't it? The one Aeleus mentioned… the seeker?"

"So is he my mate, or isn't he?"

"That's for you to determine," he said. "You needn't… accept this bond, Ienzo."

Ienzo thought of that kiss, and the many that had followed, the way it all made him feel .

"In fact, if you do… you might as well send up a flare saying "here I am!""

"He blocked me."

Even's head snapped up.

"When we were figuring this out. His magic eclipsed mine." He knotted his hands together. "Why did you not tell me this was a possibility?"

"Because almost all seekers are dead!" Even all but yelled. "How was I to know you'd come in contact with one, much less we'd run into him here of all places? Child, did you even know which gender you favored?"

Ienzo shook his head wearily. He was tired now. "You remember that diplomatic trip we took to Destiny Islands? When I… nearly drowned?"

Even softened. "Do I remember. It's one of the many reasons I'm going prematurely gray. It's due to Braig's carelessness that you almost lost your life."

"He wasn't the one who saved me. Demyx was."

"Oh…" He turned pale. "And the magic released as you struggled for your life… must've forged that bond." He thought a moment, then dashed over to one of the books on a bookshelf. "No matter. I'm certain there's a spell somewhere that could break it, and you can simply-"

"Break it?" Ienzo repeated.

"Don't tell me you want this, Ienzo?"

Ienzo's hand fluttered to his lip without meaning to. "Would it be so terrible?" he mumbled. "Especially… if he does have a shielding property."

Even groaned. "Child, I know you are flush with hormones, and this magic is hard to resist, but think a moment."

The embarrassment burned his cheeks.

"How do we know he isn't allied with Xehanort?"

"If he spent years looking for me, do you really think he'd hurt me?"

"Does he know who you truly are?"

Ienzo said nothing.

"Exactly, Ienzo. Exactly ."

He stood. "I'm going to bed," he said.

Even followed him. "Tell me you're not thinking about it."

How could he not? "I think you should allow me to make my own decisions, Even."

"Ienzo-"

"I am very tired. Good night. "

He tramped up the stairs, reeling. So this was… true, then. He and Demyx were… A flush came over him. Even was partially correct; ever since they'd kissed on the beach, some thing had woken up in him, something hot and wanting, something that had previously been much quieter.

Ienzo drew the blinds and lay in bed. He looked at his cell phone-messages from Demyx-

I hope you got home safe. Everything feels so much louder now… I feel so awake…

Ienzo took a quick breath. I do too.

What do you want to do?

He knew what he wanted. What he said instead was, I need to know more about you. And you need to know more about me.

Just give me a time and place.

Some place private… away from those that may listen.

Leave it to me.

Ienzo set the phone aside. He started up at the moonlight playing on the ceiling. Mate , he thought. I have a mate. Someone who knew neither of his gender nor of his heritage. Someone who might try to get away from him if he found this out.

Ienzo could tell him, gauge his reactions, and wipe his memory if need be…

He wanted to trust Demyx. If his magic could protect Ienzo… could that possibly be a way for him to finally do something about Xehanort's forces? For him to find out more information to pass on to the resistance?

He said he'd tell Riku about the resistance… but he needed to know more about him, too. Demyx was probably a good way to find out more about all this…

That kiss…

He'd known, in an aqueous sort of way, he'd likely have to have an heir at some point, and even for him children didn't spontaneously come out of thin air. But he'd never thought of how he'd get one, nor imagined marriage, nor even… allowed himself the possibility of fantasy, of being loved. His life was too split, always on the run. How could he settle down? He'd barely had friends, much less a boyfriend or girlfriend, much less a lover- he had not, prior to those hours on the beach, even kissed -

Kissed, and kissed, and kissed…

He traced the material of his waistband absently. Perhaps Even was right, he had to ignore this impulse.

He felt awake, and a little less alone. Perhaps it was for this reason, but he let his hand slip below the waistband, to feel at skin he normally avoided, to stroke it gently and imagine he was not the one touching it-

He gasped, feeling it break over him, and instead of feeling shame as usual, he instead felt release, felt… hope.