secrets & lies

x...x

x...x

"Yo, Isa, I haven't seen you for a few days- holy hell!" A sudden stop, accompanied by an obvious stare. "What happened to your face?"

"That's Saïx," the young man corrected, holding out a paper. "…Here is your mission for today."

Axel blinked, grabbing the paper but still staring up to his friend, brows furrowed. "…You… feelin' okay?"

Saïx stared hard. He didn't forget the promise, no… whether that was good or bad, he wasn't sure. But he had to act like he did. "Get to work, VIII."

"Tch… Whatever." And he disappeared in a cloud of darkness.

He was the last one that Saïx had to dispatch, and so with that, he left, heading to his chambers. …Was it really that bad? Stepping to the bathroom, he looked in the mirror. He brought his gloved fingers up to the X-shaped scar upon his forehead and ran his fingertips over the skin gently, down the bridge of his nose, just barely brushing onto his cheeks. He winced a little; it was still a bit sensitive. The cuts were a dull red, still healing… but oddly enough it didn't look too bad. It was very strange how fast it had healed… He sighed and rested his hands down on the sink counter, grabbing at it tightly. What a mess this all was…

But, he knew one thing. Whether it was through obeying Xemnas or through his promise with Axel, one way or another, he would get his heart back.

x...x

x...x

x...x

"…So you never did tell me how you did get that scar on your face."

Axel and Saïx sat at the edge of one of the platforms of what was now known as Hallow Bastion- years ago it was home to both. Once a gorgeous and beautiful town that used to don the name "Radiant Garden" was now in ruins and rusted.

"…I don't know if I want to say."

"What, keeping secrets now?!" Axel pouted, looking to him. The man had ice cream in his hand, but Saïx did not. The once salty-yet-sweet taste had become bland to him over time. "You're gonna be like that, huh? Keeping secrets with Number I, like always-"

"Watch your tongue." The redhead glared at him, and Saïx sighed, shifting a bit and trying to appear his cool, calm self, looking out to the sky. "…Confidentiality is part of the agreement to becoming second in command. You know how you've been taking missions and orders from me… Well, it's going to stay like that from now on." He lowered his eyes. "You know how the Superior is with his vague ways."

"…Ah." He bit into his ice-cream. "…So does that mean we have to break our promise?"

"…" Saïx stayed quiet for a moment. "Well… it's like you said, Axel. This just means I'll get more information. To figure out how to gain hearts of our own." Another pause. "I just won't always be able to tell you what I know most of the time."

"Right. Top secret, huh? Don't want Xemnas getting your head, I see how it is. Keeping your friends close but your enemies closer. I hear ya loud and clear."

Saïx nodded. "Right…" That was one thing good about no heart- he didn't feel guilty about playing both sides. He didn't feel guilty about 'keeping secrets' as Axel had put it. He didn't feel guilty about lies.

"So… he had you branded, pretty much. A giant X on your face… Man, that stinks. I mean it's a little badass looking but it still stinks; shitty story behind it."

And then there was silence between them. Saïx wouldn't confirm what he said was true, but… it was rather obvious. How else would he have gotten it, so perfectly shaped like it was, so clean-cut? Certainly not a battle wound. Axel finished his popsicle.

Finally Saïx spoke up. "By the way… I figured it out. My power… celestial, derivative from the moon."

"Hey, see?" The redhead grinned his stupid grin that Saïx was growing to dislike. "Told you that you'd figure it out."