Soft music drifted through the apartment, making Luxord smile as he sipped his coffee. History was his chosen topic of study and he could never refuse a good historic novel, but there was nothing as good as music when it came to relaxing, and considering how long it had taken him to fall asleep the night before, a bit of Beethoven while he had his coffee was basically required. He let his eyes close as he listened to the notes, felt the warmth seeping through the mug and into his fingers. It was freezing outside, to be sure, so he had no plans to leave his apartment today. His little adventure the night before had been enough to let him enjoy solitude for a while.

He'd thought it was bad enough that he'd even indulged Kairi by agreeing to go on a test date with her, but that hadn't gone at all like he'd expected. Dinner and a walk, sure. Typical date activities, especially for this time of year. But dancing with her, and actually be charmed by the teenager, well, he hadn't expected that. Kairi was pretty enough and she did well in his class, but Luxord was convinced that he was just a fad to her, that she was bored with boys her age and was pursuing him for entertainment purposes. At least, that's what he'd thought until last night.

This wasn't going to be as easy as he'd been expecting.

The sounds of his Beethoven playlist were interrupted by the harsh rings of his cell phone, sitting off to the side on the table. Luxord stared at the device for a moment, annoyed that someone was calling him while he was trying to enjoy his coffee. His annoyance quickly turned to dread when he checked the caller I.D., and he paused the music before picking up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Good morning, Professor."

"Good morning, Vice Principal. What can I do for you?"

"Principal Xemnas would like a word with you, if you're not otherwise engaged."

Just what he needed, a call from Xemnas while he was trying to relax. "I can speak with him now." He didn't want to, at all, but ignoring the Principal would only bring him trouble later on. Better to deal with whatever the man wanted now.

"One moment, please."

Luxord waited in silence as the phone presumably changed hands, or the line was put on hold so Xemnas could pick up in his own office. He assumed the two were in their offices, even though they had less than a week until Christmas and he didn't understand why they would want to spend the break working. He personally had taken care of all his work within the first two days so that he could relax the rest of the holiday. Xemnas was probably going to interrupt that relaxation, but he tried to keep an open mind.

"Good morning, Professor Luxord. Are you enjoying your holiday?"

"Yes, sir, I am."

"Good, good. And have you considered my proposal?"

"Sir?"

"In regards to your…relationship," the word was said carefully as to convey exactly the right meaning, "with the student Kairi. Having not received any form of payment from you in order to allow it to continue, I had thought you decided to end it."

Shit, did he know about the date? It had just happened last night. Did the man have nothing better to do than to spy on his teachers?

"I'm not in a relationship with anyone, Principal," the blond professor replied calmly.

Xemnas chuckled on the other end of the line. "Then I presume you were merely thinking of Kairi's safety when you returned her to the dorms last night."

The bastard knew.

"I happened upon Kairi during my return to campus and offered to drive her due to the cold. Yes, I walked her back to the dorm hall to make sure she returned safely."

"Was the kiss you gave her also a means to ensure her safety?"

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, Principal Xemnas."

"Of course not. But unless you wish to find employment elsewhere, Professor, I suggest you either accept my deal, or you cease this flirtation before someone gets hurt. Good day, Professor."

The line went dead and Luxord sat at his kitchen table with the phone held to his ear for several long moments. Thoughts whirled through his head, panic and dread and anger. That had been a clear threat and Luxord didn't take kindly to being spoken to in such a patronizing, disdainful way. Being spied on so closely that Xemnas knew about him walking Kairi back to her dorm was enough to make him grip his phone a little too tightly.

Slowly, he set the device on the table again and leaned back in his chair as he let out a breath. This was not good. What was he going to do? He'd been charmed despite himself last night and had half decided that it might be worth trying to have something with Kairi. Now, though, the thought of losing his job, of maybe never being allowed to teach again, overwhelmed him.

I can't. It wouldn't work.

He liked Kairi, that much he knew to be true, and was willing to believe that she genuinely liked him as well, but that wasn't enough. Anything between them couldn't possibly end well and he'd known it from the beginning. He knew it and Xemnas probably knew it. There was only one real problem.

How was he going to make Kairi understand?

X

Wiggling slightly, Demyx sat on the edge of his chair with his hands clasped in his lap. His laptop was set up in front of him, his webcam on and ready as he waited. And waited. It felt like an eternity to sit there in forced patience, just staring at the screen. The only program he had running was something Zexion had helped him set up, one that they were going to use to videochat during break. That was why he was so impatient—he wanted to see his boyfriend.

Ding!

The Cloaked Schemer has logged in.

Zexion's chosen username made Demyx fight back a grin. He'd never seen the older boy in a cloak, but he Zexion would probably wear one if he had the chance. The Schemer part made a little bit too much sense when it came to describing his impressively intelligent partner. For his username, Zexion had helped him choose "The Melodious Nocturne," and Demyx couldn't deny that he rather liked it. It reminded him of how Zexion called him a meadow lark, and that made him happy.

Call from The Cloaked Schemer flashed on the center of his screen and Demyx hurried to click Answer with Video. A loading signal appeared, quickly followed by a large box. His own face looked back at him from the bottom right corner of it, looking excited and eager as a larger image appeared. Zexion soon took up the majority of his screen. Demyx's first reaction was to smile, but a frown soon took over his features and he leaned forward to peer at the image of the senior.

"Hey, Dem." Zexion smiled tiredly. His blue hair was hidden under a black cap, only visible where bits showed by his ears. The bright, observant look was missing form his eyes, under which sat dark, bruise-like bags. Even his shoulders sagged, and the room he was sitting in was dim and looked dirty, from what Demyx could see.

"Zexion, are you all right?" He could help but be concerned. The senior had been gone barely a week and he looked like he'd been run ragged.

"I'm fine."

"You look exhausted."

Zexion's eyes flicked to the side as he nodded slightly. "I've been working a lot."

"I didn't know you had a job."

"It's temporary, just for break and maybe over the summer."

Even though Zexion was older and seemed like he knew what he was doing, Demyx started to worry more and more the longer he looked at him. It was unnerving to see cynical, sarcastic, smart, and surprisingly sweet Zexion in such a state. The senior looked like he might fall asleep where he sat.

"All right," Demyx said slowly, relaxing in his chair. "I miss you."

"I miss you, too, lark."

The pet name helped ease the blond's nerves and he managed a small smile. "You better not open your present before Christmas."

"I wouldn't dare. Has Axel dropped yours off yet?"

"No, but I can go get it from him later."

"All right."

"Zexion, here's your food." A stranger appeared behind the teen, a woman holding a plate with a burger and fries.

"Thanks, Mom." Zexion took the plate and set it nearby, but Demyx hardly noticed. He was too busy examining the stranger, Zexion's mother. She was shorter than Zexion was, her hair a black that was dull but had probably been shiny and soft once. There were bags under her eyes, too, though they weren't as dark as Zexion's. Her irises were the same shade of blue as her son's, and Demyx say a distinct similarity in the shapes of their faces. As tired as she looked, it was obvious that she'd been very beautiful once and would still be if given the time.

"Who's that, Zexion?" she asked when she noticed what was on her son's computer.

"This is Demyx."

"Hi," the blond greeted her, a little shyly.

"Oh! Hello, Demyx. Zexion's told me a lot about you. I'm Akira, his mother." She leaned closer to Zexion and lowered her voice, "He's just as cute as you said."

Demyx's face turned red and Zexion looked mortified.

"Mom! He can hear you!"

"I know." Akira smiled and waved. "It was nice to meet you, Demyx."

"Nice to meet you, too," the junior mumbled, still embarrassed. She was gone a moment later and the silence was filled by Zexion eating. Despite his obvious fatigue, he ate quickly and had finished the burger in only a few minutes.

"Don't choke, Zex," Demyx cautioned when the older boy began devouring his fries.

"I don't have a very long break."

"Do you have to go soon?" There was no hiding his disappointment.

"Yeah, but I can talk again tonight when I get home."

"What time?"

"I'm off at eleven."

Hesitating, Demyx bit his lip. "I don't want to keep you up."

"I don't work until noon tomorrow, so it's okay if I stay up a little late."

"Okay."

"Great. I have to go back to work, so I'll see you tonight. Don't forget to get your present from Axel."

"I won't."

"Bye, Dem."

"Bye."

Zexion flashed a smile before the call ended and Demyx was left looking at an empty box. He'd known the call would be short but that had been almost painfully quickly. At least they would get to talk again tonight, hopefully for a little longer.

Sighing, the blond closed out of the program and shut his laptop. Now what was he going to do? His dorm was almost completely silent as he sat looking towards the window. The sun was shining, the sky a pale blue. It was probably just as cold now as it had been an hour earlier when he'd ventured out for lunch.

With nothing else to do, he might as well got to the senior hall and see if Axel had his present from Zexion.

It was a matter of minutes to don his coat and scarf, his hat, gloves, and boots. When he was fully insulated against the cold, Demyx made sure he had his phone and keys, locked his door, and started the familiar trip from his room to Zexion's. Usually, the senior went to Demyx's room since he had no roommate for them to bother, but they had on occasion spent an evening in the senior hall with Axel. The redhead was friendly but Demyx was always slightly nervous around him, mostly because the older boy was so blunt and outspoken. This would be the first time he'd ever gone to see him by himself.

As he'd expected, the outside air was almost painfully cold on his cheeks and nose, though he was quick to pull his scarf up and his hat down so only his eyes were showing. It was a short walk to the neighboring hall but he still hurried. Demyx wasn't at all used to the cold even after his previous winters spent at the school, so it was a relief to feel the blast of heat when he opened the door of the senior hall and stepped inside. By the time he reached the elevator, he'd already stripped off his gloves and shoved them into his pockets, unwrapped his scarf, and unzipped his coat. There was no reason to stay bundled up during the short time he meant to spend there.

Just like the junior hall, the senior hall seemed deserted. So many students had gone home to spend Christmas with their families that campus was practically empty. He didn't see or hear a single person once he stepped out of the elevator and walked along the hall, though music was audible through the door, which meant Axel was inside.

Demyx knocked twice, loudly so Axel would hear it over the music. Within seconds the sounds stopped, and the door opened a moment later.

Whoa.

He stared. He couldn't help it. Anyone would have.

"Oh, hey, Demyx. How's it goin'?" The senior leaned one shoulder against the door frame, completely comfortable even as the younger student finally managed to avert his gaze.

"Fine. Um. I can wait."

"What for?"

"You to dress." He gestured vaguely and Axel chuckled.

"Oh. Well, come on in."

What.

Confused, Demyx followed the redhead into the dorm room and sat at Zexion's abandoned desk. Axel, meanwhile, vanished into the closet.

"So, what brings ya, Dem?" his muffled voice asked, accompanied by shuffling sounds.

"Zexion said I was supposed to come get my Christmas present from you."

"Oh, shit, I was supposed to deliver that, wasn't I." Axel reappeared, now wearing athletic shorts. It was better than the towel he'd had wrapped around his waist when he'd first opened the door, but he was still shirtless. At least he wasn't still dripping. "Caught me right after my shower."

"Sorry."

"Naw, it's fine. Here." Turning, he held out a gift bag with red and green tissue paper sticking out of the top. Demyx took it and held the bag carefully, his attention drawn to the tag hanging from one of the paper handles.

To my Lark

Merry Christmas

-Zex

"Thanks."

"No problem. Want some cocoa?" the older student offered as he moved towards the fridge in the corner. "Keep you warm for your walk back."

Demyx smiled and set the gift bag on Zexion's desk for safe keeping. "That sounds great."

"Cool." A few moments later, the cocoa maker Axel had set up on top of the microwave began to whir quietly as it mixed the powder with the water he'd put into it. "This thing'll make us a couple mugs each."

"Perfect."

Content to wait for the machine to do its work, Axel finally decided it was time to put on a shirt and Demyx managed to relax a little bit more.

"How are things going with Zexion?"

"Great. I'm really happy."

"Good. I gotta admit, when he started acting weird the last thing I expected was for him to tell me he had a crush on someone. I joked about it when he started spending all that time in the library but I never really thought you were why. When he told me about the Masquerade—"

The mention of it made Demyx blush and he looked down at his hands, embarrassed because he'd never told anyone what happened at the Masquerade, about Zexion dragging him off and kissing him against that tree.

"—I wasn't sure what to tell him." Axel paused, chuckling quietly. "I didn't even think Zexion could like someone. Sort of thought he was asexual."

Asexual? No, no, Zexion wasn't asexual. They'd done too much.

"He isn't," the blond responded quietly, and Axel turned to smirk at him.

"Well, you would know, wouldn't you."

Demyx's ears burned and he bit his lower lip. This was why Axel made him nervous. The redhead had no qualms about saying things to embarrass him. At least he wasn't mean about it. "Right. So, uh, are you still trying to make things work with Roxas?" He'd learned of the green-eyed senior's affection for Roxas during one of the rare evenings he and Zexion stayed here, and while he hadn't spent time with the younger blond in a while—since he started dating Zexion, really—he understood why someone would like him. Roxas was easy to like.

"Yeah." There was pride in the older student's tone and he smiled a little. "He found out about Larxene last night and took it way better than I thought he would. I think I might actually have a chance with him, you know? If I can keep this up and don't fuck myself over again."

"If he knows about Larxene then it shouldn't be that hard, right?"

"Right, but if it gets really bad then he might not think it's worth it. I have to find a way to keep it from getting that bad," Axel pointed out, "and Larxene is gonna hate it."

"Yep."

They were quiet for several moments as they waited for the cocoa to finish. Axel filled two mugs and offered one to the younger student, which Demyx accepted with a quiet word of thanks. The silence continued as they drank.

"Axel." Demyx tapped his fingers against the sides of his mug.

"Yeah?"

"What does Zexion think is sexy?"

"What?" Axel gave him a puzzled look and Demyx felt his face heating in a blush.

Lowering his gaze, the blond fiddled with the gift bag. "I want to do something special for him when he gets back."

"You want to seduce him."

Embarrassed, Demyx nodded, and a grin spread over Axel's face.

"This is gonna be great."