Genre: General/humour
Paring/s: -
Line: Didn't you learn the two letter word; N-O! Memorise it.
Demyx had put up one hell of a fight. He'd whinged, moaned and begged. I was surprised he hadn't grabbed me round the legs to stop me. Actually he did that right after I thought it.
"Why can't I come?"
"Your not old enough," I lashed out with my foot, meaning to break his nose. Xigbar had clearly been teaching him basic defence skills. He'd been a lot more successful than me.
"I'm roughly the same age as you," Demyx looked at me in disbelief, his mouth curving into his normal pout.
"I meant by Castle date. How long has it been, two weeks tops? Council Meetings are boring, Demyx. Once you're old enough to be let into one, you'll be wanting to escape. Anyway, Xemnas is just handing out some more assignments," I wheeled about, and tried to summon a portal back up. It's very hard to get one up when somebody is distracting you. At last I had one. "I'll see you in about two minutes." And left him.
"Late, Number Eight," Xemnas growled from the highest bleach white chair. I crossed my arms firmly over my chest. I found to my dismay the assignments had already been dished out. Sometimes it's first in, first served. Or it's specifically assigned to you. "Lucky last," a thick wad of paper poofed in front of me. I eyed everyone else's. How come mine was the thickest? Across from me, Zexion was giving me a look something close to pity.
I looked at the top sentence. In solid red letters was; GET NUMBER NINE'S NOBODY
I groaned incredibly loudly.
I sorted out Zexion as soon as we were let out. Big surprise he was in the library. Zexion's a good person to complain to. He just sits there and listens. If he actually computes what you're talking about, I've no idea. But he always comes up with good advice.
"Zexy, I need a favour," I went over to the study table he was at. He was half buried under a pile of books. His assignment papers where flipped open at the second page.
"Don't call me that," well we were off to a good start.
"I wanted to talk to you about the assignments."
"No."
"I didn't even-"
"No."
"Come ooon!"
"No!"
"But-"
"Didn't you learn the two letter word; N-O! Memorise it."
I felt very stung by that. The conversation felt familiar as well. "Have you been spying on me?"
"What?"
"Nevermind," I wearily pulled out a chair and flopped down. Zexion finally looked at me, having a break from his writing.
"What seems to be the problem with your assignment?"
"Like you don't know. It's Demyx's training session. I've had enough of Number Nine to keep me going for the rest of my Afterlife. Or Nobodylife. What ever it is," I uselessly put my arms on the table, and plonked my head between them.
There was a rustle of papers. "I thought you liked Number Nine?"
"Of course I don't. How can we like each other if we have no hearts?"
"Hmm-hm. Then do you like me?" Zexion made things about ten times as complicated. I struggled for a moment. "If you say no, then if your theory of us being Heartless is correct, it shouldn't hurt me one bit."
"It's your theory! You told me it. In the Pride Lands. Or have you forgotten already?"
"Actually, that's the Superiors theory. Your entitled to your own option, Number Eight," he brushed away some of his hair from his eyes.
"Then your saying you don't believe in the Superior?" Zexion was one of the six original 'Members'. I would never would of thought he'd start to question Xemnas.
"Have you even considered the Superior might be wrong?" Zexion looked back down, and picked up his ball point pen again. His hair fell back into place. I eyed the lilac haired man up. There had been a lot of times I'd thought Xemnas was wrong about the no heart thing. But it made things a lot simpler to just believe him.
I swirled the teaspoon slowly. I glared at the culprit. The white marshmallow glubbed back. "What is this?" I threatened Sai'x with my spoon. A few droplets splattered his nose. "This is a white marshmallow."
"Very good. Your eye sight is still perfect," Sai'x drawled, taking his own hot chocolate off the table top.
"But I like the pink ones better."
"Is there a difference?"
"They taste better," I narrowed my eyes.
"Just eat it."
"I will, but I won't enjoy it!"
I'd told a small white lie to, Demyx. I hadn't come back in two minutes. I was avoiding him. And I was going to keep at it until I'd traded my assignment with someone else. Sai'x was my target at the moment. I'd found him with his traditional midnight snack, sitting on the bench seats. I swished my hot drink, blowing on it to cool it down.
"Something on your mind?" Sai'x fiddled with his earring, gazing intently at me. I squirmed in my seat. "You don't normally come here on a whim. Something always drives you here.
I drummed my fingers on the hard surface. "What was your assignment, Sai'x?"
"To go to the Radiant Gardens. There's a strong hold there, like a living Castle that the Superior wants to post Dusks there," he smiled slightly. "I'm going there to have a poke around." Sai'x's idea of poking around usually included something breaking. His smile, however, quickly formed into a frown. "Why?"
"You know what I got for my assignment?"
"Demyx centred, I presume," he took a long draft from his drink, closing his eyes. "Problem?"
"Largely."
"But you two like each other. What's that word… ah yes, friends," Sai'x said, almost repeating what Zexion had told me.
"We have no hearts," I nearly snapped the handle off my mug of steamy goodness, bearing my teeth.
"But here you are, sitting with me."
He gestured with open arms. I pulled up his hood, letting large bunny ears flop forward. He frowned darkly. I first warning for the night.
"I've heard this lecture before," I half apologised as he pulled his hood back down. "Let's talk about something else. Your 'hearts' clearly set on this mission."
"Axel! Put it down!" The bottle of clear hydrochloric acid was snatched away. A small droplet landed on one of my gloves. I shook it off quickly. I would have to find a new glove. Vexen put down the vile on one of the racks, glaring at me.
"Anyway, as I was saying," I strode away from him, and randomly picked up another bottle. It was milky white, with a faint yellow glow around the edges. Sulphuric acid. Hey, I know my stuff, thankyou very much. I gave it a swirl, making Vexen's long hair nearly stand on end. "Do you think this would suit well for a stand in milk substance?"
"If you're planning on burning them from the inside out," that bottle was whisked away too. "Yes."
"Hmm-hm. So what assignment did you get stuck with?" I spied a tub of watered down Gastric acid, and stuck my hand into it. Vexen nearly had a heart attack.
"Axel!!"
"I know what I'm doing," I flicked droplets of the harmless stomach acid at him. I was tempted to lick it off my fingers, but Vexen would probably kick me out of the lab. "Answer the question."
"I'm going to the Pride Land with Lexaeus. To see if bringing back any of the soil will help- don't you dare," he caught me mucking around near the gases. I put out the small flame on my palm.
"I'm not an idiot."
Whooosh!
The small amount of fire I'd created still set off the gas. The heat in the room sky rocketed. Vexen fixed me with his best deadpan look.
"You fucking mor-."
BLAM!!
Lexaeus was something close to a gentle giant. He looked like the kind of person you didn't want to meet in a dark alley. Fortunately he wasn't like that. Lexaeus finished strapping the last of the bandages on my head.
"Should I wake him up now?" Vexen was lying, unconscious, on one of the white sheet beds.
"I think it's kinder to let him sleep…."
Lexaeus fixed his mouth into a jagged line. "You destroyed hundreds of rare ingredients."
"I know."
"Hours of research."
"I know."
"You knocked out half the Castle's interior."
"I know…"
"All because of…?" he tailed off, raising an eyebrow.
"Demyx."
"Demyx?"
"Demyx."
"…. Demyx?"
"Dem- can we please have a normal conversation that's not consisting of one word?" Lexaeus opened his mouth again, then closed it, deep in thought.
"I'm sorry, but what has Number Nine got to do with all this?" He finally said, making the bed springs groan as he sat on the end of my bed.
"I have issues."
"Clearly."
There was a very awkward pause. I slowly drew up my knees, my burnt and bruised chest heaving. It hurt a lot.
"You might as well go, Lexaeus," I got the words out. The Silent Hero got to his feet.
"You'll be fine?"
"I'm fine."
"Don't touch any of the medical equipment."
"Lexaeus…"
"I'm just saying," he waved a massive hand, smiling. "Tell one of the Dusks when Vexen wakes up to come fetch me. And if you're hungry, just tell one of them what you want. And-"
"Stop fussing, you sound like a mother hen."
Lexaeus flushed. "I am not fussing. And The Superior wants to see you once you can walk again," I poked my tongue out after he left. It gave me a little satisfaction. The Dusks hovered about like nervous pigeons. They fluffed up my pillow, and monitored my heart rate. Yeah. Right.
A slow hour later, my first visitors came. A darkness portal unfurled, and Xigbar appeared. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you," I struggled to prop myself up on the pillows. A second person peered round Xigbar's shoulder. "And I'm so not happy to see you."
"We heard-"
"The screams of agony? The huge blast? Saw the smoke and the bodies?"
"We heard from Zexion that something had happened," Xigbar corrected me. "I also came because Demyx says your avoiding him." I glared at the little tattletale.
"Well it's true," Demyx hid back behind Xigbar.
"You're not my shadow," I informed him, folding my arms, and holding back a wince. "I don't need to baby-sit you twenty-four. What has it been? A day."
"You have my file."
"Xigbar!" I yelled at him.
"Neeh, keep me outa this," Xigbar waved both his hands, like he was shielding himself.
"You don't like me?" Demyx said. My chest constricted. That's about as real as emotion got for us. I didn't grace him with an answer. I folded back into my bed, closing my eyes.
"Leave me alone."
The order was followed. I was left alone with the sleeping Vexen.
Some kind of invisible agreement had settled over Demyx and me. It was thick and intoxicating. Obviously I'd broken away whatever friendship we once had. We talked normally enough, but it was always strictly business.
We finally got around to getting his Nobody. I went over the procedure again, and he followed without a fuss. The Nobody that he 'created' looked about as threatening as himself. I didn't comment on how it didn't follow the colour scheme, or that it was far too human. I just jotted down notes as Demyx put it through its passes.
Our first field assignment was a small forest border. It was a strong hold of a lot of weak Heartless. Demyx went under in five minutes. I had to drag him out while he was still on this Earth.
Our second field assignment wasn't until I'd done some personal training. I physically went through the motions, not putting in any passion. His sitar was big, and bulky. His mobility was cut in half. I easily dodged round his defences, and jabbed at his gut, each time saying; "Your dead. Your dead."
Demyx was getting more and more irked. He gripped his sitar more firmly, then span on the spot. A great blue blur faced me, and the next second I was on my back, with no memory of being hit.
My chest felt like it was in a vice. It was getting hard to breathe. That hit hadn't crushed my lungs; they were still tender from that explosion. Putting up a mask, I got back to my feet, breathing fast and quick. The next blow knocked me off my feet. I skidded a few meters, and hit the back of my head on the wall with a dull crack. I stubbornly got back up. The last hit didn't catch me off guard. I blocked it with one of my blazing chakram, setting fire to the instrument.
Demyx dropped it smartly. The whole thing quickly caught alight. The flames hungrily devoured the gentle timber, eating it whole. Soon only a smudge of ash told the story that there was once something there.
Demyx had locked his room door. His Dancers stopped anyone from entering.
"What have you done, Number Eight?" Xemnas snarled, the rest of the Organisation seated beside him, like a court of order. I'd never seen Xemnas this mad before. He was pretty okay with the explosion, but this was the last straw. "You're heading on the way of becoming a Dusk."
My eyes widened. "I didn't think his weapon would disappear for good," I mumbled to my hands.
Xigbar drew out a long sigh. "What happened, Axel? I thought you two were getting along so well. Actually… his sitar is fine, by the way." Not that it mattered.
"It's not denial, is it?" Xaldin rapped his knuckles on the table.
I looked back at my hands, flexing them into fists. Was I? In denial I mean. I was friendly with nearly everyone in the Organisation, but it's so difficult to be close to anyone. We literally danced with death everyday. It was a waste of time to even think like that. Why act on it when the feelings are false anyway.
"Our World is unstable. The World that Never Was... It isn't supposed to exist. It's theoretically impossible. Every new box that appears in the storage rooms are filled with nothing by sawdust. Protecting nothing. The houses we break into have nothing but shadows. We are nothing. We feel nothing, so we give nothing in return. Our time is short here."
Zexion narrowed his eyes, lacing his fingers. "I think you just answered it for your self, Number Eight."
The field assignment was set up by Zexion. He passed over the files without looking up at us. He pulled me to one side. "Do not screw this up," he hissed. His eyes reminded me a lot of his lion counterpart. His grip on my upper arm hurt. "Xemnas doesn't want to go through breaking him again. It's a stress to do the first time."
I ripped out of his vice grip. "I know."
"You say that so many times," Zexion shook his head in dismay. "I'm starting to not trust your word." I licked my lips, and took a firmer grip on the documents.
The new World reminded me of home. It was a very rocky shoreline, with grassy hills and fields all around us. The ocean went on forever. There was a faceless sign in the rocks. My hair was electrified. It was quiet. Way to quiet. I was expecting Heartless to pop out at any second.
A loud clattered behind me made me jump a foot. I span around, lifting my fits. But it was only Demyx. Moving very quickly towards me. He'd tripped on a rock. Next second I was on the ground, head being split open on a rock. God that hurt.
"Aww… shit!"
I lifted my hand to rub my head, only to find I was paralysed. It's a pretty weird feeling when you can't feel anything. Like your limbs are filled with lead, or dense water. I had a feeling I'd done my back in. I'd certainly learnt my lesson with chemicals. I could smell the darkness. Little portals opened up, and Shadows started to encircled us.
"Do something, Demyx!" I yelled.
"What about you?" he asked, getting to his feet. I still couldn't move. Was my spine out of line? My old injuries had started to rear their ugly little heads.
"I can't-mfft!" A dozen Shadows started to clamber over me, giving me a good sniff. They couldn't find a heart to rip apart. A more aggressive Heartless thrust its way through, and started to gnaw at me. As if that was the gun blast for the start of a race, little dark bodies obscured my vision. I felt hot slobber dribbling all over me, and teeth tearing me apart. I heard Demyx desperately yelling my name, and him smacking away the Heartless.
If I got out of this alive, I was going to kill Zexion.
"Axel! Axel, can you hear me?"
"Wake up, buddy."
"Number Eight!"
Somebody was shaking me. I blearily opened my eyes. I saw a white ceiling, and silvery eyes. I smelt a lot of chemicals, and the person's shampoo.
"You!" The yell came out as a half frog croak. I lunged for Zexion. He caught me in a half hug.
"You'll pull your stitches out," he warned, setting me back up right. He brushed back the hair that had flopped forward on my face. At least he was being kind for my sake. I was feeling pretty reached. Xigbar was on my other side, Demyx flanking him.
I looked at my reflection in the steel tray sporting food. It looked like I'd been half dragged through Hell, then back again. I recognised the flaming red hair, but not the parchment white face, covered in slowly dissolving stitches.
"You look terrible," the Nocturne stated.
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious. What happened?"
"Demyx saved your life," Zexion said, getting out a long needle. I eyed it wearily.
"I find that hard to believe," Demyx made a noise of annoyance. "Thanks anyway," I added. He smiled in relief as I sank back, exhausted. Zexion shooed them out soon after. I'd been in a half coma for a week. Apparently Demyx had been like the faithful little puppy he was, and staid by my side.
"Say good night," Zexion jabbed the needle into my neck. I welcomed the darkness.
END
Yeah I enjoy tormenting Dem… bwhahah. They made up… in their own way. Not one of my better titles or plot lines, I must say -- and that marshmallow incident happened to me. My mum(Xemy) gave me some hot chocolate, and it had a white marshmallow, and I hate them x(
I looked at her and said; What is this?
We ran outa pink, so just drink it. What's the difference anyway?
The pink taste better
Just drink it
I will but I won't enjoy it!
-Ixi