12.

Something cool tapped Ienzo's face. He groaned.

"Sorry, child." Even's voice. "Go back to sleep."

"Even?" He was nauseous. "I feel…"

"Ill? There's a bin right here." He held back Ienzo's bangs as he was sick and handed him a glass of water.

"What… what happened?" Ienzo asked. He rinsed out his mouth and spat. He felt very odd; his muscles trembly, weak.

"A touch of darkness. You should be alright. It seems that coward finally intervened."

"He's not a coward," Ienzo mumbled. "He saved me. Where-"

"Asleep on the couch. He didn't want to go home until he knew you were okay." A sigh.

Ienzo sat up slowly. His head was pounding. "I… heard them. Almost as though in my mind. Asking where their wives were… and to help them. You were right, Even."

Even's brows furrowed. "For once, I hoped I wasn't. But Ienzo… if they were turned to shadow, the only way to truly save them… was to give them that small mercy of death. They're at peace now."

"I still feel like I've killed someone."

"I know you must. So did Demyx."

"Tell me you consoled him at least a little bit."

"...I believe Aeleus did. I was tending to you. Seeing how your body was impacted. Thankfully… you are fine. The shakiness should pass."

Ienzo tried to stand. Even pushed him back down.

"You need to rest."

"I want to-see him."

"Goodness, Ienzo, if it matters that much, I'll send him up here." A pause, then another tired sigh. "Things are… settled, then?"

"Yes." A million questions were bursting in him dizzily. "Where's my father?"

"He is safe. He's with Dilan."

"Demyx has… magic."

"No doubt brought out when you were in danger." He set the sick aside. "I suppose we should actually teach the fool to use it."

"Saïx was there. I'm almost positive he was at least watching the mansion. I should've sensed that many Heartless sooner-and before I fainted, my eye hurt."

Even's eyebrows shot up. "I… I see. But how could he track you, with-"

"The old fashioned way, I suppose. Or whatever enabled him to use his powers without a full moon."

"The replicas…" Even muttered. "I wonder if-"

"How would they have put him in another body? And what difference would it have made?"

"I've no idea-but I'm certain Xehanort would have mutated my research to suit his own needs." He tapped his fingers together. "I may have a plan… to get you away from the city while things are so hot… and train the fool at the same time."

"Forever?"

"I don't think so-even with Saïx, this is still one of the safest places for you." He stood and, unexpectedly, placed a kiss on Ienzo's brow-that was how he knew Even was worried. "Try to get some rest, okay?"

Ienzo was trying to find the energy to get up and go brush his teeth when the door cracked open. "How are you doing?" Demyx asked in a rush. "I was so-"

"I'm a little weak, but I'll be alright. You saved me."

He didn't look proud; his eyes darkened. "I guess."

Ienzo patted the bed next to him. Demyx sat down. He still smelled like rain from the night before. "You still feel guilty, don't you?"

He looked down at his lap; tears glittered in his eyes. "How can I not?" he asked. "Those were… people . With memories and stories and songs, and I-killed them."

Ienzo wrapped his arms loosely around him. "Even was telling me… that, well, if they were so taken by the darkness, only death could help them find some kind of peace. We need to try and internalize that. We helped them, we didn't kill them."

He took a shaky breath. "Aeleus told me that too, but…"

"I know. I know it's hard." Ienzo felt another rush of guilt, stronger; he was the reason Demyx was suffering like this. "How do you feel… otherwise?"

He swiped at his eyes. "Well… I mean… it's so weird that I have these powers. Like all of a sudden I could just take the rain around us and make it do things."

"It makes sense that it's water, considering where you came from. Elemental magic can be some of the most powerful. Even wants you to train it-and you should. When I first started manifesting my own abilities, not being able to control it could cause… a lot of inconvenience." Ienzo sighed. "I'm sorry, Demyx. Truly I am. If not for me none of this would have happened to you."

Demyx touched his pendant. "I would've felt empty forever," he murmured. "The darkness is still coming, Ienzo. That wouldn't have changed."

"I know," Ienzo said. "I'm still sorry."

Aerith had an ingenious solution to their problem. She had a cottage outside the city limits, along the coast; not only would they be away from Saïx's prying eyes (they hoped), but Demyx could train in relative peace. Even tried to wrangle his way into going with them, but Aeleus was able to convince him that he was still needed here, to do his research on Heartless. For this, Ienzo was grateful.

"This isn't some romantic getaway," Even snapped. "It's for your power-for your safety . You better not touch him." He glared at Demyx.

"Whoa. Easy, alright?"

Aeleus drove them there. "I'm surprised Even relented at all," he said. "He must have faith in your capacity to teach."

"Well, I taught myself most of what I know," Ienzo said. "I think that can apply. Besides… you're right. He's better off doing his research in the city. Likely more Heartless."

Demyx hummed softly, staring out the window. Dilan let them through the city limits. (If he wasn't with Ansem, where was Ansem? ) "Everything's so fucking bright ," he said.

It was; Ienzo had not realized how accustomed he'd become to the rosy tint in the sky. Aeleus did not comment, but he did put on a pair of sunglasses. "Has it been a long while since you left the city?" Ienzo asked.

"Come to think of it-yeah, it is. The sky is so blue ."

Aeleus chuckled.

As they continued up the coast, the land grew greener, wilder, hills rolling gently. Demyx watched it all raptly, and Ienzo watched him enjoying it. A few hours later, they turned off the deserted road onto a dirt path.

The cottage was small, and clearly very old; its stone was etched with erosion, the shingles mismatched. Ienzo could feel the powerful ward around the place, and saw runes covertly etched along the few trees surrounding the property. A small garden was still overflowing with greenery, spells keeping the plants happy and warm. The sea smelled slightly different here, a little more metallic; then again, it was easing into November. Aerith was waiting patiently by her own car.

"This place is way cute," Demyx said.

"Thanks. It was my mom's." She gazed toward it with affection. "I usually stay here all summer-sometimes longer."

"I can't thank you enough," Ienzo added. "Really."

"Well, it is only a few days. And I should really be winterizing it anyway." She shrugged. "The enchantments around it should keep you safe enough, and if they don't, should warn you if someone's coming."

He frowned. "You're not staying?"

She shook her head. "Normally, I would, but I have… affairs to attend to." She winked. "But anyway, make yourselves comfortable. There's a washing machine in the mudroom. Oh, and the hot water runs out quickly, so don't take too long in the shower." She handed Aeleus the key. "Don't have too much fun!" She got in her car and drove off.

They carried in their few bags, their groceries. The place was cramped, and laid out oddly, but frankly it was adorable; small paintings hung on the walls, and while the furniture was mismatched, it was done in an aesthetically pleasing way. Demyx touched the small, old record player. The appliances were old, too, many of them the color of Robin's eggs, and the sink in the kitchen was trough-style. A rag rug covered part of the worn hardwood floors. All over the place were more flowers; ivy, lilies, calendula, the whole place full of color.

There were only two small bedrooms upstairs, along with a pull-out couch in the living room. "I don't mind crashing here," Demyx said, settling on it. "I can fall asleep anywhere."

Aeleus shook his head. "I should be down here, in case there are intruders. It's alright."

He shrugged. "If you say so."

Both of the bedrooms were small, but they both had ocean views. The double-beds were neatly made with linen that smelled very clean. Aerith had clearly spent some time getting the place ready for them, making Ienzo feel another small wave of guilt. Ienzo touched the pink checkered blanket on the room he'd claimed. He suspected this was Aerith's room; it felt vaguely like her magic. The room angled into a point; here was a desk and a bookshelf full of all sorts of titles. Romance novels, cookbooks, self-defense instructions, medical texts. Ienzo realized that if he knew her better, they'd be friends.

This settled, he took Demyx down along the beach.

It was colder here, windier, the beach rockier. They sat on towels and listened to the sea. "What I normally do is try to center myself," Ienzo said.

"Deep breathing?" Demyx asked.

"Whatever would calm you."

Demyx shut his eyes. After a long moment, he said, "the sea… helps."

"Good." He allowed him another few moments, then added, "When you're calm, imagine… you're opening a box and taking out something you really love."

He heard Demyx gasp softly; Ienzo could feel him, his energy. "It's warm."

"Yes. Is it easy, or hard to hold onto?"

"Pretty easy."

A good sign. His passive abilities must have something to do with that. "Good. That's good." He thought of when he'd shaped his own elemental magic. "Do you feel the energy in the earth below you?"

"Kind of-I-" His brows furrowed. "Moreso-the water next to me."

"Imagine picking it up. Carrying it. However would be easiest."

"Um… okay." The tides seemed loud now. Ienzo looked over; The surf was definitely a little more violent than before.

"Keep breathing. Deeply. We're safe here."

The water retreated a little. "Is it supposed to be heavy?"

"That's you expending your own energy. Pull it towards you. Carefully." He watched the water. Part of the shoreline crept towards them, until it was nearly touching the edge of Ienzo's towel. "Open your eyes, Demyx."

He did. He saw the seawater nearly touching them and gasped; at his surprise, the water surged forward more, higher, and slapped them both. It was like ice, soaking Ienzo through. "Shit, I-I'm sorry, I-"

He laughed a little. "Very good. Now let's go get changed."

Back inside, they both dried off and put on warmer clothes. Aeleus was nowhere to be found; he left them a note saying he was patrolling the perimeter and would not be back for some time. "Ugh, why couldn't I get my powers in, like, the summer." Demyx shivered somewhat theatrically. He sat on his bed. This room was more plainly decorated than the other; its wallpaper was light blue stripes, the comforter a soft, pale yellow. He popped open a small instrument case and took out a ukulele. "Was kind of cramped in the car for my sitar."

Ienzo sat down next to him. Even in a sweater, he thought he could still feel the cold water. "You should be proud of yourself. You came pretty far in a few hours."

Demyx strummed a few chords idly. "Did I? I mean. I got us drenched."

"Only because you reacted emotionally. We can work on that tomorrow, when we have all day."

The song Demyx began playing was mournful, delicate.

"Is that how you feel?"

"No," he said. "It's how the ocean feels today. I sensed it, I think."

"It's great that you could."

He hummed distractedly. For a few minutes Ienzo just listened to him play. The melody was surprisingly complex, making the fine hairs on Ienzo's arms rise. For the first time he completely understood that Demyx was a siren. Too soon, it stopped.

"Why'd you-"

Demyx set the ukulele aside. "You're shivering," he said. "Come here." He pulled Ienzo into his arms and they eased back against the bed; Demyx tugged the comforter up over them.

"It smells different," he remarked.

"What does?"

"The bed. I'm used to yours." The warmth helped greatly.

"It's hard for you to sleep, isn't it?"

"It can be, yes. I… think too much."

"Are you thinking now?"

"Not really. Not quite." He could hear the beat of Demyx's heart, steady and vital. Slowly, he looked up. Demyx leaned down and kissed him.

They hadn't done much else than kiss chastely since that initial attempt; very quickly Ienzo realized this was different, and moreover, that he'd missed it quite dearly. Demyx threaded his hands through his still-wet hair and slid his tongue into his mouth. No; now Ienzo was no longer cold at all. He slid his hands down Demyx's back, pulling away his sweater to feel at skin. Demyx moaned a little and eased him down onto the bed.

For a long while they just kissed and touched, a sort of reacquaintance. Demyx traced small circles along Ienzo's sides, gently working his shirt off. He kissed at the bare skin. Ienzo's clit began to throb, faintly, and then less faintly when he could feel Demyx's hard dick pressing against his thigh. He reached to take off Demyx's shirt as well and slid his hands over his ass, smooth muscle. "Ienzo, I-"

"What?" he asked.

The color was bright in his face. "Aeleus… he'll be gone a while, right?"

"That's what he said."

He took a quick breath. He got off of Ienzo and shut the door. Seeing him in the fading light of day made Ienzo's heart beat a little faster.

"Take your pants off," he said.

"...What?"

"Did I stutter?"

Something sparked in his eyes. He did as Ienzo said and crawled back under the covers. Without another word, he slid off Ienzo's, taking the underwear with them. Ienzo pulled him close, kissing his throat, his collarbones, sliding his hand down along Demyx's side to his dick. The small sound he made only turned Ienzo on more. He felt the scratch of fingers along his inner thigh and gasped out loud. Ienzo tugged at Demyx's underwear, and while it was awkward the way they were tangled to remove them, they managed it at last. Demyx laughed a little.

Ienzo took his dick into his hand, gratifying at the way it hardened more. He moved slowly, gently.

"You're killing me," he muttered. He brought his palm up between his legs, quickly finding the clit, rolling his thumb along it in a way that was equally teasing. Ienzo kissed him harder, pressing against his hand, so Demyx stroked him a little more earnestly, sliding a finger into him. "You're really wet."

"Demyx?"

"What?"

"Can we try again?"

This seemed to break his haze. The question startled Ienzo as well. "Are you… sure? I mean, it was painful for you last time-"

"I don't think it will be any more."

"I didn't even bring any-"

"It's alright." Ienzo pressed his lips against his throat. "You still taste like the ocean." He ran his tongue along his jaw; Demyx made a sound between a laugh and a groan. "I've been taking birth control for close to a month now. It's plenty safe."

"You… did that?"

"I like to be prepared." He brushed his fingers along Demyx's cheek.

"If you're… sure. I… don't want to hurt you." He eased another finger inside of Ienzo. Unlike the last time, there was no pain; he was actually at the point where it nearly made him squirm.

Ienzo opened his legs a little more. He stroked Demyx a few more times; he struggled for breath, his head bowed. He pushed away Ienzo's hand.

"If we're going to do this, I want to last for you." He leaned down and kissed Ienzo's nipple, teasing it with his tongue, a sensation so overwhelming he thought he might faint. He felt the fingers disappear, too soon. Demyx's voice dropped. "Tell me if this is too fast, or…" He trailed off and kissed him once more on the mouth. He had to guide it, with his hand, until again Ienzo felt the tip of it against him.

There was a little anxiety, still. He wanted this to work so badly, to make Demyx feel even half as good as he so often made Ienzo. He pressed into him slowly; to Ienzo's intense relief, it didn't hurt at all.

"You're okay?"

"It's really okay."

A smile flitted across his face. Demyx took him a little more, and while Ienzo gasped, it wasn't from pain. "You feel so good," he whispered.

"So do you."

"It's really working." A soft laugh. "That's, um. All of it."

For a moment Ienzo just let himself adjust. Demyx kissed him again, and while it was a little complicated, Ienzo felt his other hand reach down to stroke his clit. He moaned against Demyx's shoulder.

"Just tell me what feels good, okay?" He began to move, gently. Ienzo grasped at his shoulders. The gentle push and pull of their bodies was like the tides outside. It took him a minute or so before he was able to fall into a rhythm with him, resting his legs against Demyx's thighs so he could move more easily.

This was what he'd hoped their first time would feel like, the beauty of their bare skin. His thoughts were losing cohesion. Ienzo pulled him closer. "A little deeper."

Demyx shifted his weight, his cock sliding out more with each thrust, and Ienzo could feel each little movement so distinctly. "Like this?"

A small sound left him. "Maybe faster?"

He took a shaky breath. Demyx's fingertips were still working Ienzo's clit, a lush tightening forming in his belly, his thighs. The same hand moved away, up under his back, helping him bring them back together. Ienzo ground his hips a little against Demyx's and felt his dick quiver a little. Demyx kissed him hard. "That's so good," he gasped.

This felt like losing and getting lost. He'd hoped for this time not to hurt; he hadn't anticipated actual pleasure , every part of him just getting more and more sensitive. They were moving against each other with more urgency now, eager and raw, both of them breathing hard; Ienzo could barely open his eyes.

"I… I'm sorry," Demyx said against his shoulder. "I'm getting really-"

"Me too."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Demyx laughed a little, and Ienzo did too. Ienzo was able to kiss him once more before he lost control.

It was so… odd, to fall apart so wholly. It rocked through him, leaching into his magic, and considering Demyx was still inside him he felt every wave of it. "Ienzo," Demyx moaned, and a moment later he felt a flush of warmth, the slight twitch of Demyx's dick. He leaned against him more heavily for a moment before he was able to ease out of him. "Are you okay?"

"More than." He was breathless. Demyx lay down against his chest. "I'd… hoped it would get easier."

"Me too." He kissed Ienzo once. "God, that was-"

"I know." His clit was still tingling. More than anything, he realized, he felt relieved ; not just from the sex, but from the anxiety that they wouldn't be physically compatible.

"I was… worried."

"As was I. I think I just… simply wasn't used to having anything there."

Another kiss, this time against his shoulder. "Well. I'm happy to take care of that any time."

Ienzo laughed.