"Xehanort?"

The ivory haired man turned towards the man whom had called his name, offering a slight bow and a small smile at his presence.

"Good evening, Master Ansem." He replied politely, straightening his posture and his coat. The blonde man smiled softly, amused at his apprentice's civility. He pulled his thick winter coat around him tighter, snapping the buttons together quickly.

"Xehanort, my novice, have you not noticed what day it is?" Xehanort turned to his left, scanning the small calendar that was nailed tightly to the wall. Finding his desired answer, he turned back to his elder and replied,

"Why, it is Christmas Eve."

A nod on Ansem's behalf, "I have given the rest of my apprentices the evening off, and you are no different." The man said, pulling on his black winter gloves he produced from his pocket. "Why don't you leave and spend the rest of the night doing something that pleases you."

Xehanort shook his head quickly, before saying, "Oh no, Lord Ansem! There is still so much to be done, with this research and all—"

"Nonsense!" Ansem cut his apprentice off. "It is Christmas, and I do not wish for you to be working here like a dog while the rest of us are enjoying ourselves." The man waved Xehanort off with a pale hand, his dark eyes gleaming with determination. "Now go on."

"I'm sorry, Master Ansem, but I cannot leave." The tanned man apologized, clasping his hands in front of him, reflecting a faint pleading stature. "There's nothing I would rather do that help to complete our beloved research. Besides, there is not a thing that would interest and please me more than to be here tonight."

Ansem the Wise looked in awe upon his apprentice. Xehanort had always been a special one, always going long with their activities, taking every experiment to Heart and working on them to the late hours of the night. And apparently, tonight was no different.

Sighing, Ansem finally said, "I suppose you may stay. But please, if you do happen to come to your senses, be sure to leave and go back home." He chuckled at his own joke, before stepping towards the door. Xehanort nodded politely, bowing slightly out of utmost respect.

"Thank you, Lord Ansem." And with that, he made eye contact with Ansem for only a moment, before turning back towards his project.

The elder man couldn't forget that look in Xehanort's eyes: Determination. Pure and true determination. He was so sure of it. It couldn't possibly be anything else.

And that's what he held to believe.

But it would be, only days later, that Ansem would discover…

…That it was not Determination that shone in Xehanort's eyes.

It was Insanity.

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Another winter-themed drabble :) I liked this one a lot…

(I would've typed a new drabble up, but I had a lot of Homework to get done, and I didn't have the time. I'll try not to let that happen again :D)