Number of themes used: (x6). Members used: Vexen (x4), Axel (x1), Roxas (x2), Luxord (x1), Larxene (x1), Demyx (x4), Xigbar (x2), Saïx(x2), Marluxia (x1), Xaldin (x1), Zexion (x1), Xemnas (x1) Pairing(s): (can be seen as slash) Zemyx (x1)

A Little Extra
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Second Theme Set
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20. Fortitude

"This glass-like material is nigh indestructible, my finest container yet." Vexen gave the large glass cylinder behind him a proud rap on its surface with his fingers. He looked back at the group blankly staring at him. He gave a dignified cough and then waved his hands out to his sides.

"Any questions?" He raised a thin eyebrow and scanned over the still dumbfounded group. At no reply he began to frown. Didn't they understand how important it was to be safe while being able to still SEE what you wanted to study? Didn't they know how LONG it took for him to interrogate the craft's Moogles and extract the formula for creating the material? Or even how LONG it took for him to collect the ingredients, perfect creating it, welding it together to an appropriate size and-

Axel's hand rose up cautiously in the air. The redhead seemed to be trying to not look shocked and was failing horribly. "Uh Vexen-?" Vexen rolled his eyes. Neophytes like him rarely had any intelligent questions, "Yes Number 8?" The scientist didn't even bother to hide his apparent disdain and sarcasm for the younger member's curiosity. Tact was wasted on him.

"Why is uh..." The usually fire-happy and impulsive member was acting unusually distracted. He scratched his head as if searching for the right words in his puny and spike-covered mind. "SPIT IT OUT BOY I DON'T HAVE ALL DAY." Vexen had grown impatient with him and wanted whatever juvenile humor that he was usually trying to get at, to be over with. Vexen's Darkness Infusion project wasn't going to EXPERIMENT ON ITSELF...even though it hypotheticallycould if he let it fester for about a decade or so-

"Why is Demyx inside your indestructible glass...thing?" Axel gave Vexen a bewildered look and motioned to the container, still confused as ever about what he was seeing. Vexen looked at the container. The Melodious Nocturne was indeed inside of it and clawing soundlessly at the glass. The scientist turned ever so casually back, "If you break something you buy it, he is simply paying that price." He flicked back a loose strand of his blond hair back behind his ear; he was beginning to recall why he felt so bitter and happy at the same time...

"He looks absolutely terrified. Why doesn't he just teleport himself out?" Surprisingly it was Luxord who spoke up from the group. The gambler stroked his chin thoughtfully as he looked smugly at Vexen. The gambler cocked his head to the side and materialized a checkered chip in his hand. "Bet a twenty piece you left something out of the description, Vexen." Luxord gave the coin an affectionate flip and Vexen irritably snatched it out of the air before the younger one could catch it.

The researcher smirked coolly despite his previously sour expression. "Why yes I did." He tapped the glass once more, this time with the black and white chip he confiscated. "This container is like a cage in this aspect, but it is a semi-vacuum of space that does not allow for the formation nor passage of any darkness OR light." Vexen tapped the glass resolutely and smiled crookedly at the group. The gravity of not understanding his explanation was expressed with their dead silence. The taxed scientist scoffed at them, "That means he can't summon up a portal you guileless nitwits." A chorus of sounds of enlightenment filled the room and Vexen wanted badly to lobotomize something out of frustration.

"But what did he do that got him there Vexen?" Roxas rarely spoke to Vexen, and Vexen never missed it. Most unfortunately for the older member, the youngest member of their order had a knack for asking the ONE question that positively struck his non-existent nerves the hardest. Vexen's eye gave an involuntary twitch and Roxas stared at him ignorantly. Vexen suddenly sniffed and averted his eyes, "He knows what he did..."

"Oh ho ho, is old man winter blushing at something?" Larxene chimed in her typical teasing manner. She placed a finger over her lips and exaggerated a look of innocent surprise. The others snickered behind her as she grinned impishly at the senior member. Vexen faked a cough to the side to hide his already obvious embarrassment.

"Or should I say...at someone?" Larxene placed a hand over her mouth and giggled evilly.

An iceberg's worth of protruding icicles and overabundance of hail stones later, the group that Vexen has been forced to lecture was now heaped in an uncomfortable pile outside of his lab. Roxas was the first to untangle himself from the leathery bundle of limbs, "Was it really that bad of a question?"

Larxene was the second to roll out of the heap, cackling maniacally and already formulating new insults to use against the scientist, "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I KNEW THAT OLD PRUDE WAS MESSED UP!"

Luxord sprung up out of the pile and pulled up the bottommost Axel up onto his feet. The blond brushed himself off then briefly straightened out the dazed and shivering Axel. It was only natural that the fire user never went well with anything that frigid. Axel regained his senses and shook his head free of any lingering cold. Seeing that he was well again, the gambler jabbed out an open hand and smiled, "Collecting on that 2,000 piece bet my torched friend."

Axel half-flinched and began to argue, "Hey you said traumatized! Verb, second meaning, to cause a serious shock to the mind! He was disturbed at best!"

Luxord urged his open hand even closer up to the now backing up Axel, "The bet was a compromise of fortitude! A reactive outburst likethat is a compromise of said fortitude!"

The redhead opened his mouth to argue and stopped halfway. He ran a hand along the back of his spiked mane and let out a defeated sigh. Axel reached deeply into his coat pocket and retrieved a fistful of golden orbs. "Fine, you win this round." He dropped them reluctantly into the open hand of Luxord who in turn happily counted the shiny spheres.

The skeletal Axel looked from the money he just lost to Luxord, "Hey...Could I at least know what you made Demyx do?"

Luxord pocketed the winnings and smirked back at Axel, "Let's just say that Vexen does not like being hugged, especially when it's a 'hug' from a hyperactive boy running at forty-five miles per hour."
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35. Hold My Hand
(slight/implied slash)

His normally bright blue eyes were filled with fear and soon to be tears of pain. "Do I have to?" Demyx curled into an even tighter ball in the corner of his room. The musician clenched his arms tighter as the small form quietly approached him.

The unconcealed blue eye bemusedly regarded him, "It's a direct order from Xemnas himself..." Zexion kneeled down to where Demyx was palely staring at him. The blue haired boy leaned close to the blond, "Demyx, you know what happens if you don't follow orders, just bear it and get it over with." Zexion pulled his face back and calmly stood up from the still sitting Demyx. The water user didn't move from his place.

"Come on," Zexion reluctantly moved his hand to help Demyx up, "I'll see if the Dusks can get something for you from one of the other worlds." Zexion tried to smile, but it felt strained and fake, even though he no longer had real emotions. Demyx sniffed and beamed with his more characteristic cheerfulness at the senior member, "Ok."

Zexion nearly flinched at the sudden change in expression, but hid it with a tone of indifference, "Let's go then." Demyx reallywent overboard with the grinning.

The two entered the empty room which, like the rest of the castle, was a sterile and bleak white color of metal. The lab room looked different and emptier when there was no Vexen hunched over a crucible or vials of strange chemicals. Zexion walked over to a clean table top and pat the chair next to it for Demyx to sit in. The sitar player whistled to himself and kicked his feet idly as he sat waiting.

The blue haired boy pulled out some unlabeled boxes from under the counters. He brushed some of his tousled bangs back to their proper places as he shook a small packet. "Demyx I need a bare arm." The other complied and rolled down part of his cloak. Zexion torn open the tiny packet and quickly wiped a small area of the shoulder. Demyx couldn't help wrinkling up his nose, the familiar smell of rubbing alcohol made him nervous.

Zexion turned away from Demyx as he searched the contents of his pocket. "Don't make that face, its not going to kill you." Zexion held up a plastic bag and pulled it open. He reached inside and produced a syringe filled with dark liquid. Demyx froze at the sight of it, his other self must have had a really bad time with needles if he was scared this bad.

He tapped the side of the plastic tube for good measure and gave the piston a test push. Satisfied with the rate that the liquid squirted out, Zexion moved the needle to Demyx's arm. "This would be a lot easier if you stopped moving." He placed a hand on Demyx to stop his erratic shaking. His other self must have had an extremelybad time with needles. "Sorry."

Demyx sat perfectly still, but the moment the tip touched his shoulder the musician flung himself backwards. The chair he had been sitting on clanked loudly against the floor and the senior member winced at the sound. Zexion let out a sigh and waved the needle in the air. "Stop acting so scared, its just a pin prick and its done." The blond was acting so childish.

He needed a quick way to deal with the problem, what would Lexaeus or Xaldin do? He tried patience, but unlike them he didn't have nearly enough of it. He could try Xigbar's way, which would be to tease and provoke Demyx into getting the job done, but Zexion hadn't quite perfected the balance between being playful and scornful, and given it was Demyx, he would take it too seriously anyway. Vexen would probably have had the job done regardless of the younger member's protests.

The scientist's method was the best looking one, but for some reason Zexion just couldn't bring himself to act like that. So that left the Superior's course of action. He couldn't think of an accurate projection so he settled for something close.

"Tell me Demyx, which is worse, this needle or Xemnas?" The musician didn't respond and stared at the floor. Logic might work on Demyx, a choice between two evils; he was bound to choose the lesser.

The blond dragged himself to the smaller member. The corner of Zexion's mouth tilted up slightly. "See, nothing to worry-" Demyx looked up at Zexion with strange determination. The blue-haired boy's breath nearly caught itself in his throat, he looked so un-Demyx-like.

"...holdmyhand?"

This time it was Zexion's words that were caught in his throat...

Zexion scooped the scraps of paper from the used band-aid into the palm of his hand. Demyx was happily pulling his cloak back over his arm again, "You're right it really didn't hurt! I didn't feel a thing!" Bright blue eyes watched Zexion as he opened a waste bin and deposited the trash. "You know, you're a lot nicer then the other older ones Zexion."

At no reply, Demyx clicked his tongue curiously. The older member wasn't being very talkative or responsive. Demyx hopped off his seat and stood behind Zexion. Feeling a spur of friendliness, he wrapped two arms around the smaller member and pulled him into a generous hug, "Aw come on, that was a compliment!"

Zexion was slowly brought out of his thoughts, "Don't you have some music to practice?" The musician looked innocently upwards as if searching for the reminder in his head. The blond lowered the other down and eased into a portal.

The schemer was left standing alone in the lab room. He still didn't understand why he was thinking so many irrational thoughts. Was it pity he felt? A bit of morbid guilt? Some sort of clash of loyalty between the optimistic sitar player and the studious researcher? Or was it D, none of the above? Zexion placed a hand into his pocket and felt the syringe that was sitting in it. He didn't have to look at it to see it was still full of the dark liquid. Why did he have a sudden change of thought about it all?

"Give this to Number Nine." A cool and newly sealed bag was placed into his waiting hand. "What is it?" A set of amused green eyes regarded him expectantly. "Something I've wanted to test out on one of the neophytes." Zexion turned the bag over in his hands as he examined it. "Is it supposed to be this unstable?" Vexen's lips pressed into a thin line and he turned back to his scribbled notes. "He acts emotionally enough to seem like he is the most in touch with his former life. It's only logical that I test this imitation of Kingdom Hearts on him. Maybe he'll get his heart back..."

Zexion pulled his hood over his head and summoned up a portal to one of the many abysses.

Demyx gave him a warm smile as he grasped the other's shyly offered hand. "Thanks Zexion."

Zexion saw what happened to the Dusks that Vexen injected the solution into. Demyx didn't deserve that fate.
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48. Childhood

Xemnas had only looked briefly up from his book, "Hmm, I don't recall playing very much with the other children. Go ask someone else about such a thing." He loosely waved off Roxas as he resumed reading over the text. As Roxas walked away, he could hear Xemnas muttering to himself, "Why does he only ask for a single heart? Surely the wizard is more powerful than that. That simpleton..."

Roxas had only taken a few steps out of the library when he bumped into Xigbar. He repeated his question and the gunner laughed heartily. "MAN those were GOOD times! Oh if only you knew!" Xigbar wiped an invisible tear from his eye as he reveled in his personal thoughts. Roxas let out a dejected sigh and began thinking of someone more...suitable and specific to possibly answer his question. Conveniently, Vexen passed by.

"Vexen!" Roxas ran up to the older member. The scientist stopped and turned to him. "What is it?" Vexen tucked back his hair out of irritated habit. He had been heading back to the labs; he wanted to make sure he hadn't left the Bunsen burner on at the wrong temperature...

"What was your childhood like?" The keyblade user asked earnestly. A series of emotions ran across the researcher's face. From his typical blank stare to mild surprise then a frown and finally to a distasteful half-smirk. Vexen placed a hand proudly on his chest, "When I was a child-" "-and dinosaurs still walked the planet." Vexen glared darkly at the snickering Xigbar.

"...Very mature Braig." Vexen rarely resorted to calling the members by their original names. It was reserved for occasions that needed special emphasis.

Xigbar shrugged, his chuckles still lingering, "Just trying to lightenthings up." The sniper waved his hands pointlessly in the air to better convey the meaning of his statement.

Vexen cleared his throat and opened his mouth to renew the previous conversation. "EVEN THE UNLEAVENED!" Xigbar bellowed at the top of his lungs before dashing down the halls. Vexen, as well as a thunderous shower of ice and sleet, trailed after the retreating and cackling form of Number Two.

Roxas stared after them and digested the strange event that had taken place before him. The blond sighed to himself and was about to head back to his room when he was stopped by Xemnas, who was now standing in the doorway of the library. The man was holding the book protectively close to himself and he was peering warily down the halls.

"Did the Soufflé Incident happen again?" He mumbled quietly if not with a hint of dread.

Roxas got the feeling that knowing about the past lives of his fellows would not be favorable to his mental welfare.
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49. Stripes

Xigbar scowled at Vexen from across the table. The blond wore a tilted, but nonetheless, large smile on his face. "Having a good day Xigbar?" The scientist put particularly sweet emphasis on his words.

He responded with a gritted "No." The smirk on the researcher's face grew impossibly bigger. The sniper was sorely tempted to summon up his guns and put a good, thousand or so bullets into his colleague's lithe body. Specifically that toxic smile of his, it pissed him off that Vexen was enjoying how miserable he felt.

Vexen exaggerated concern and clasped his hands together in a melodramatic manner, "Oh poor Xiggy!" He laughed and Xigbar glared even harder at him. Much to the gunner's chagrin, he did not possess the ability to explode people's heads if he glared at them long enough.

After Vexen regained his calmer demeanor, he reached over and lovingly pulled on the side of the sniper's face. "I think that shoddy-looking dye job rather suits you Xigbar. In a skunk stripe-y sort of way of course."

Xigbar was going to have his revenge by the time the day was out...be it with Vexen's lab or Vexen himself resembling extremely Swisscheese. That'd teach him to bleach his hair when he was sleeping.
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50. Breaking the Rules

Saïx looked over the obnoxiously new and rampant plant growth that had overrun Number Eleven's quarters. Admittedly each member was entitled to decorating their room, but not to that obsessive of a degree. The older member could barely keep the snarl out of his words as he called the other member out, "MARLUXIA! GET OUT HERE!"

The brunette member appeared out of a fan of dense and thorny foliage. In his hands he held a ceramic vase with an arrangement of budding flowers. The assassin was completely at ease despite the seething berserker in front of him, "To what do I owe this wonderfulpleasure Saïx?"

"These," he jabbed a scrutinizing hand at the surrounding vegetation, "repugnant things are as unsightly as they are suffocating! As a higher ranking member, you WILL remove these foul affronts IMMEDIATELY or I WILL DO IT FOR YOU." Saïx summoned up the familiar weight of his weapon and angrily brandished it at a nearby shrub. "So will it be the LATTER or the FORMER Marluxia?"

Marluxia smiled thinly at the blue haired man. "Neither. All bark Saïx, you can't bite as long as you're the Superior's pet." His thin smile curled up and he continued with an air of toxicity, "I keep all of my...plants well within the area of my room. So, you've got nothing."

The berserker lowered his claymore from the shrub and took a stance of defeat. He looked dazedly at the growing smirk on Marluxia's face. In an instant the white pot Marluxia was holding was now in Saïx's free hand. Marluxia stared at the abruptly stolen vase. Saïx smiled toothily at Marluxia. With an absent minded toss over his shoulder, the vase went up into the air and crashed just outside the domain of Number Eleven's room.

Yellow eyes glinted savagely at blue ones just beginning to cloud with anger. "Why, Marluxia, you shouldn't go around breaking the rules like that, your plants in the hallways? I'm afraid I have to punish you now."

Saïx swung down his weapon and bits of leaves flew through the air as it connected heavily with the floor. Marluxia had narrowly dodged out of the way and materialized his own weapon which was now pointed at the diviner. "Whatever happened to 'no fighting each other'?" Sarcasm as well as bitterness was mixed into Marluxia's words.

The berserker flashed the assassin a calm smile, "The Superior doesn't need to know about all of the rules I break!" He struck against the lower ranked member, and he was met with a strong block from the scythe.

"Good! Means he doesn't need to know about how badly I'll break your bones then!"
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97. Safety First

Xaldin was sitting at one of the empty desks in the library, in front of him was a box filled with cards. He was apathetically shuffling through them. Card indexes were annoying to look through, why couldn't the books he wanted be easier to find? He could have sent out a Dusk or a Dragoon and found the book faster. However the main flaw in that plan was that Dusks had the unfortunate tendency to chewon things. As for the Dragoons, they had a habit of unnecessarily stabbing things.

Resigning in defeat, he leaned heavily against the chair he sat in. Curse Dewey Decimal and his pathetic number system.

A polite knock came from the doorframe of the library. Xaldin didn't bother to sit up from his seat, or even turn to face the visitor, but he could tell it was Saïx from the blue blob he could see out of the corner of his eye. "Yes Saïx what is it?"

The sound of footsteps told him the berserker was walking towards the desk. He saw a hand move down and a pair of scissors was deposited onto the table. "I am returning what I borrowed." The lancer looked up to properly reply to the statement of gratitude but froze when he saw the other's face.

Upon Saïx's face were two long, diagonal and bloody bandages. Despite what looked like very fresh and painful slashes, Saïx acted like there was nothing out of the ordinary. Xaldin's jaw would have dropped if he wasn't so careful with his etiquette. "What...happened?"

The berserker's gaze drifted off to the side of the room. "Running with scissors was an error on my part..." The way the blue haired man said it was as if it nothing more than a daydream, not some misshapen event of injury. Without another word, Saïx left the room in a daze. Xaldin decided to return to the mind-numbing task of card indexing.

At the next meeting, Xaldin took note of how much shorter Number Nine's bizarre hair seemed to look.
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Hm, mostly light-hearted, some funny and one badly written slash-fluff. I made Vexen so easy to anger (among other characterizations), damn. Revel in the awkward wording.