But no shot rang out.

Zexion hesitantly opened one eye. Xigbar still stood there, gun still pressed to his forehead, but he'd made no move to shoot him.

"Well, Xigbar?", he asked, nowhere near as calm as he sounded.

Xigbar frowned. "Shut up, Zexion."

Zexion relaxed slightly at the tension in Xigbar's voice, though he was still too nervous to be truly confident. But he had a slight advantage, now. And who was he to let it pass him by?

"Why haven't you shot me yet? You said you were going to. And it's not like you have a pesky heart to make you feel guilty over it."

"I said shut UP."

"Why? Are you hesitant? Could it be…you really do have some attachment to an old friend?"

"Y'know, I liked you better when you were mute."

Zexion grew more confident as Xigbar grew more flustered. "so why haven't you pulled the trigger? You know that as soon as I get out of here, I'll go straight to the others. I know everything."

Xigbar's eye narrowed. "Bullshit."

"Hardly. You know I spoke to Terra, but you don't know what was said, do you? You don't know how much he told me. That's why you haven't killed me yet- you want to know what I know, is that it?"

"As if. As long as I know you he told you something- anything- that's reason enough to take you out."

"Oh, so you're scared of me? Of what I can do? Of how easily I can figure things out?"

"You're dangerous. You may be a tiny little brat, but you've got a dangerous head on those scrawny shoulders."

"Precisely. And you really do have every reason to be wary, Braig. You know why?"

He tensed, looking cautious. Perfect. "No, I don't. Enlighten me."

"I'm touching you."

Xigbar's face drained of color, all Zexion needed to see. Part of his illusory powers was the reading and manifesting of a person's memories- like he'd done with Riku. But if he was touching the intended victim, as the others of the original members knew, the resulting illusion's powers multiplied.

He'd predicted Xigbar would react, but the sheer intensity of the reaction was not what he'd anticipated.

He let go of Zexion's arm and proceeded to backhand him viciously in the face, splitting his lip and sending him tumbling backwards to the ground. Looking up, Zexion saw an expression he'd never seen on his face before, not even as Braig. Pure fury radiated from every feature, and even without a heart, Zexion decided that now was an extremely good time to be terrified.

"DON'T YOU EVEN DARE, YOU LITTLE SHIT. GO INTO MY PAST AND SCREW WITH MY MEMORIES AND I SWEAR, I'LL KILL YOU SLOWLY."

Zexion scooted backwards. He'd definitely gone too far this time, he thought. He put his hand on his stinging cheek, and tried to keep his expression neutral.

"I…I won't, Xigbar. I promise, I won't."

Xigbar took a step forward, and Zexion paled a little. He scooted back further, and his back hit a wall. He looked behind him, then looked up, and it suddenly dawned on him where Xigbar had brought him- the Purification Facility, under the Gardens. Home.

Anger quickly overrode fear, and he decided to do something stupid. After all, he thought, standing up, I'm probably going to die either way, so what the hell. He stood up and looked the still-incandescent Xigbar right in the eye.

"You were going to kill me in our own homeworld, Braig. You're the one who just went too far."

Xigbar didn't seem to hear him, just raised his gun again. Zexion took that as a cue to use his own power. He raised his hand slightly, and closed his eyes. Xigbar's memories danced behind his lids, swirling like a complex piece of music.

He opened his eyes again to note with satisfaction that Xigbar had frozen, his face white. He took a step forwards, and it was Xigbar's turn to step back.

"S-stay away! I know you're Zexion! Stop it! Turn it off! Stop!"

"Why? Can't shoot me when I look like her?"

"STOP IT! GODDAMN IT, ZEXION, TURN IT OFF!"

Zexion continued to advance slowly towards Xigbar, who looked positively sick. When he was within arm's reach, Xigbar simply dropped his gun to the ground.

"Go away…just…go away, Zexion…"

A small part of Zexion was a little guilty at upsetting Xigbar this much, but the logical part of his brain told it firmly that he didn't have a heart to feel guilt with, and besides, Xigbar had just tried to kill him.

He continued walking until he was well past Xigbar, and then he dropped the illusion and ran. He was all the way up the stairs and halfway across the outer garden to the entryway when he ran into someone, who promptly grabbed him by the shoulder.

The last though that floated across his mind before he lost consciousness was to wonder when Xehanort had gotten so awfully old.

hfghfddshdfh

Fun fun fun, Zexion. Screwing with people's heads is entertaining, and I like messing with Xigbar.

Hmmm, I wonder who she is.

Also, thanks to BBS and its much nicer Radiant Garden.