Trivial Matters
The blues in more ways than one
"I thought you would have learnt your lesson after Larxene." The line was delivered without emotion, simply because it was more entertaining to watch a Nobody react to nothing. To his disappointment, his carefully calculated statement was not met with indignant protests.
"It's just a scratch," replied Vexen off-handedly, adding a third layer of bandages to his arm. While they tended to heal quickly, they still bled when cut and the floors were unfortunately white.
"It looks more like he… no, I'm sorry, she tried to debone you before remembering that the Superior still needs you," Zexion pointed out, watching his senior add a fourth layer to the red bandages.
"It's just a flesh wound, nothing serious," insisted Vexen, sounding a little irritated now. Good, even if he was just acting out the memory of an emotion.
Zexion took his role very seriously. As the youngest of the original six, his job was to irritate, annoy and manipulate his seniors into doing things for his benefit. He took to task enthusiastically when he was Ienzo and he didn't see why he had to stop just because he was Zexion. The neophytes, of course, stole some of his thunder, but he could still rub it into Vexen's face that he was younger, prettier and smarter. For old times' sake.
"Besides, Larxene didn't have C-cups."
Unfortunately, being the youngest also meant being subject to endless teasing about his inability to 'score' with girls. Not that it really mattered now, but there were some things you didn't let go off just because they were irrelevant.
"So, you went with your old 'checkup' trick, I presume," commented Zexion casually. "The one where you tell them you're a scientist by profession but a doctor by training, so clothes off, even if it wasn't strictly necessary?"
Vexen very nearly cackled. "Works every time."
"And I suppose at some point in time, you pulled rank and used the Superior's name?"
There were, Zexion mused, many advantages in setting up a situation. You got first pick of position, and that usually meant that you could get others into the position you wanted them to be in. For example, while Vexen was gloating with his back to the door, Zexion could see exactly who it was who was walking by and overhearing the conversation. This gave him time to excuse himself at the precise moment when Vexen realized who was behind him, allowing him both to see that oh-so-amusing expression on Vexen's face and to escape without an implication.
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Xemnas wasn't aware that they had flag posts. He made a note to keep VII away from VIII in case his trusted second-in-command got too many ideas from the nigh untamable flurry of dancing flames, though he had to admit that this particular idea was innovative, demeaning and painful, all at the same time. Saix alone would have resulted in loss of non-life.
It had been ten minutes since he first noticed Vexen hanging by his underwear on the flag post outside, nine minutes since he'd called some-no-one into his office to deal with it and it would be another half hour before Vexen got rescued. Xigbar was simply laughing too hard.