So here we are!! Fourth Chappie up and running YO!! :3 It might be slightly rushed, but we're anxious to get to the end. (wh00t!) and in the end, it shall ALL be worth it!!
For all of you out there, yes, Ramen and I are hard core Luxel fans. This means Luxord/Axel. Nao, before you go all huffy duffy away, I want you to think reeeeeeeeeeally hard about this. Read this, and THEN make a decision. The two just mix. Like Vanilla and chocolate. Macaroni and Cheese. Peanut Butter and Jelly. They just... go.
So, without further adeu... read on my pretties!
From the Desk of;;
The Cornflake Girl aka Lady Pickles
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"Can you help me as I'm starting to burn?
Too many doses and I'm starting to get an attraction.
My confidence is leaving me on my own.
No one can save me, and you know I don't want the attention."
--'Bat Country' – Avenged Sevenfold
Luxord as sitting on the brig, his eyes staring off into the distance. He wasn't sure what to say to the two who were sitting so close together. He watched as Axel snuggled to Demyx, who had his arm wrapped around the man, his blonde head on that red hair. Their eyes closed, as they murmured sweet whispers to one another. His heart was burning in his chest, and he swore if he looked down, it'd be burning a hole in his ribs, to get out.
Swallowing anything he might have regretted, Luxord looked off into the distance, crossing his arms after a moment, keeping his body steady, as the boat rocked. The waves crashed, and the captain could only sigh softly. There was nothing to say was there?
The silence dragged on, and for once, Luxord didn't like it. He continued to stare at the waves uncomfortable, as he listened in on the lovers. It sickened him, this feeling he knew he had. He hated himself. No one had ever touched him, at it bothered him that that…. Boy…. Would dare to reach in and pluck out Luxord's own heart.
With a heavy sigh the blonde captain stood and strode over to the two. "My cabin, immediately."
Turning to leave, Luxord let them believe they were in trouble. Maybe they were if Larxene was their ally, though who would be her ally was beyond him.
As he sat down at his desk, he waited for the two to stumble in. They came in, holding their hand defiantly, though Demyx did look a little less sure than Axel. Luxord felt his heart sink to his feet even more so. The redhead would get his heart broken with that musician.
Would he be allowed to pick up those shattered pieces?
"Ahem, you don't need to flaunt your affections here Mr. Nightrow, Mr. Sinclair. I have no objections." The two looked a tad surprised. Luxord smiled grimly. "I am surprised, at the both of you knowing a certain woman…. Larxene Wallace."
Axel turned red, and Demyx turned white. Luxord was sure his face should be blue, just to complete the trio of colors on the British flag.
"I….I…."
"Don't deny it, she named you both."
"I do know her." Demyx said softly. Axel remained silent, and looked somewhat annoyed that Demyx let go of his hand, and walked to a chair to sit down, looking at the ground.
"Tell me then."
That was when the tale began of the two unfortunate people. Demyx who was a musician had gained favor with the Governor's daughter. Favor he didn't want. But being the gentleman he was, he pledged her to marry him. But before long, he soon knew her character. It was as if the petite woman had become a monster before his innocent eyes. She enjoyed ripping wings off butterflies, and kicking children. She was heartless, and evil. Demyx told her he could no marry her, and he ran.
"It's my entire fault." He sighed, looking dramatically depressed.
"Nonsense. I stole her broach. If she wants to kill anyone it's me." Axel scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
Luxord looked to Axel with a raised brow.
"Hey, it was expensive." He didn't look the least bit remorseful.
"I thought so."
"Well, how do YOU know her then?!" Axel snapped.
Luxord was silent for quite some time. He leaned forward and sighed. "I took her to jail, then killed her captain, and took her beloved boat, the Crimson Dawn."
The two stared at him.
"Well hell, that beats mine!" Axel said raising his hand.
"But I broke her heart!!" Demyx cried, looking fretful. "With all three of us having done her wrong, she'll have a big want to destroy all three of us!"
Luxord grinned as he leaned back. "Let her come. She could never harm this ship, it's her love. Until then, Mr. Sinclair, where to next?"
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Axel crossed his arms and turned his face away. He wasn't sure how to feel about everyone knowing about him and Demyx…not that it had been his idea to hide it. Demyx had a problem with being public with their affection…unless it was extenuating circumstances. And the redhead didn't much like having even the slightest bit of distance between them.
Finally, his sigh broke the silence. "Rural Shore, oh mighty one." He replied drolly. "Can we go now?"
Luxord seemed to pause before nodding curtly. Once gaining the captain's permission, Axel stomped towards the door, snatching up Demyx's hand as he passed, dragging the blond out of the captain's cabin and onto the deck.
"It's going to be a long ride to Rural Shore…what do you say we get started on our diversion from boredom?"
Demyx's face went almost as red as Axel's hair. "A-Axel! You really ARE a bastard. Is sex really all you think about?"
The redhead tilted his head back, staring up at the sky intently. "Hmm…that and stealing. But yeah, that's pretty much it."
Rolling blue-green eyes, Demyx scoffed and pulled his hand away, walking off.
"H-hey! Dem, come back!"
--
Several days into their new heading found Axel leaning over the railing, staring boredly down into the churning waves, watching the flawless blue break into a foamy white as he slammed into the sides of the ship. The sky was overcast, but the wind strong, and everyone was just…wasting time until their next stop.
Boring.
Very, dreadfully, awfully boring.
Axel grunted and stomped off to find Demyx, finding the blond behind the helm, checking and then double checking his navigation. It was almost as if he were purposefully trying to keep busy…which Axel could understand…if that 'busy' status didn't cut so harshly into their time together.
Coming up behind him, Axel wrapped his arms around the blond's narrow waist, resting his chin on Demyx's shoulder. "Hey there, whatcha doin'?"
Sighing, Demyx nonetheless turned to smile at Axel. "Making sure we don't get off course and spend more time on this damned boat than we have to."
"That's nice…but I'd be willing to spend another day or two if you ditch that job and come do something with me." Axel didn't even have to clarify what 'something' implied, they both knew what the redhead wanted.
Another sigh brought Demyx setting aside his navigation tools and turning in Axel's arms, leaning in to press their lips together in a soft kiss that quickly grew heated, leading to Axel pushing Demyx into the helm, hands up the blond's shirt.
"A-Axel…not in front of everyone…" Demyx whispered.
"Mn…" Axel pulled back, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. "Fine…where's free?"
Demyx tried to think, closing his eyes as if that would help. "The…brig is empty. I don't think anyone has been in there since we started this crazy treasure hunt…"
"Except for that one time our stalwart captain locked me in there for a day after defiling his precious hat." Green eyes lit up, smoldering with lust and fire. "But…kinky, let's go then," Axel grabbed onto Demyx's hands, pulling the blond with him.
Neither of them noticed their captain standing in the open doorway of his cabin, watching the two lovers heading below, sharing heated looks and fevered touches.
And neither noticed how azure eyes seemed to darken with some unknown emotion before Luxord turned and disappeared behind a closing door once more.
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Luxord sighed, as they moved closer to the island. There were a few scattered buildings. Rural Shore was named for being by far the least populated island in the western Caribbean. The captain pulled his black duster trench coat over his shoulders, and he pulled out the notes he'd scribbled. It had to be him. Luxord looked over as Demyx crawled into the boat, Axel shortly after him. He remained silent as he leapt into the boat after them, Xigbar not much after, and Marluxia lowered them down, waving them a farewell. The Captain remained grim as Xigbar and he and Demyx rowed them towards shore, Axel looking more than unhappy that Demyx was busy.
So be it, Luxord told himself.
As they made their way amongst shore, Xigbar and Luxord hopped out into the water, to drag the boat onto the dry sand, letting Demyx and Axel crawl out onto dry land. The blonde captain looked towards the house on the hill, so far above them.
"That's where it be?" Xigbar asked.
"I do believe so." Luxord said faintly. Turning, he began to hike up the trail, the others in tow. He occasionally heard Demyx and Axel bicker somewhat. Xigbar seemed to be antsy about something, and Luxord could only think about how blasted long the trail was.
"Why can't we stooooop?" Axel whined.
"We're almost there." Luxord replied firmly, as he continued up the steep trail.
"We've been walking for an hour oh mighty one."
"And you still have yet to prove you can be quiet for longer than five minutes."
"I can too!"
"Prove it."
That ended the conversation with Axel shutting up. He was going to prove to that asshole of a man he could be quiet! But not two minutes later, and the brush separated to show a magnificent house that over looked the sea.
"MY GOD!!"
"That was three." Luxord sighed, as he trekked to the building, Xigbar and Demyx in tow. Axel took a moment to run after them. Before they even reached the door, a man opened it. He wasn't very tall, but moderately sized, with striking blue hair that fell over an eye, and pale skin. He was donned in a messy pair of brown breeches, and a suit jacket that was also slightly messed. He seemed to have been expecting them.
"Zexion."
"Luxord."
The two men nodded to each other, and Xigbar could only make his presence known with a quick nod. Luxord turned to see the other two, his eyes softening when he saw the look on Demyx's face.
The boy was going to break Axel's heart, he knew it.
"Zexion Copperfield, this is Demyx Nightrow, and Axel Sinclair." He said softly, and Zexion nodded in return.
"Pleasure." Demyx said, holding a hand out. The blue haired scientist offered a faint nod in return and shook the offered hand, and then turned leading them in.
"This is a surprise."
"Not much of one. You know why I'm here." Luxord answered Zexion, with a tired voice.
"I know why, but I didn't expect so soon."
"I do come in unannounced."
"Often." Zexion mused.
Axel and Demyx watched the two walk together talking, they seemed almost… at ease with one another. Their words were more informal, and their matter of walking spoke that they were respected allies.
"I'll give you your map Luxord LeBlanc, but on one condition."
"If it's reasonable."
"It is." Zexion looked at him with an affirmed smirk.
"By all means, lay your cards out." Luxord said, as he lounged back in a chair. Demyx took a seat somewhat near Zexion, and for once, Luxord noticed his blue haired friend didn't mind. Instead he saw those eyes stray to the musician occasionally.
Like a moth to the flame, He thought, looking to see Axel near Xigbar, biting his lip. He knew the redhead knew what was going on. It was already starting.
"I'll want to join your crew. I got a request from the King of England recently, saying he desired to know more about… pirates. Since I am a scholar, and I do write books for him…"
"No. Find another crew." Luxord said. Maybe Demyx would forget him when they left.
"I'll share my cabin." Demyx offered helpfully.
Alas, the strings of fate were not to be tempted. Luxord sighed.
"It's quite alright Demyx, I've said…"
"The no map." Zexion said firmly.
Ouch.
Luxord mulled over this long and hard. For a full five minutes before he sighed, leaning forward, and looking at Zexion with a deep frown.
"Fine. But stay out of trouble, and don't mess with my crew's loyalty again."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Zexion replied with false sweetness.
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From the very start, Axel knew something was up. And that suspicion only grew as time passed and Zexion easily settled into their daily ship life. It was irritating, and hurt to an extent, that Demyx found a reason to always be talking to the scholar, finding time for Zexion where he hadn't for the redhead.
And now, though it seemed inevitable, it seemed that Axel was…slowly being replaced.
Demyx meanwhile, was fascinated by Zexion's cool wit and easy, if dry, charm. The scholar just had this…appeal to him that made the blond smile uncontrollably and want to be closer. He was funny, kind in his own way, and so completely ignorant to the ways of pirates though he was a reputable genius. Demyx thought it gave the shorter man an air of innocence to go with all that intelligence.
It was a nice change of pace. Slow and easy going friendship from the start instead of the instant acting on attraction, like with Axel. While it had been wonderful, Demyx knew that it wouldn't work forever. Chemistry was only so much to go on, and the blond figured he'd reached a point in his life where it was time to think in the long term…and the red-haired thief just wasn't the long term type.
As the days passed, the hours grew longer, and a certain redhead grew more and more lonely. The boredom wouldn't be so bad if he didn't ache so. It was amazing, really. He'd never thought he even had a working heart, let alone believed it could hurt so badly.
It seemed the entire crew was out to spite him, as everyone had something to occupy them where he did not, leaving him with nothing to do but dwell and hurt and dwell some more and let his temper simmer and simmer until he felt like he was going to explode.
"I've got to get my mind off of them…" Axel muttered to himself as he paced along the deck. Everyone else was busy, and he sure as hell wasn't going near those two…argh, he couldn't even make himself say what they were now. He'd been replaced. And so easily.
Damn it, why did it have to hurt so badly?
Fed up, Axel stomped off the deck, intent on hiding away in his quarters…or the galley…or…somewhere away from them.
What he found was the captain heading back into his cabin.
"Luxord!"
The blond paused, slowly turning to look over at the slight redhead with an arched brow.
"I think that's the first time you've referred to me by name."
Axel's face flushed a bit in anger at the stoic reply. "Oh shut it, holy one, I need someone to talk to and it looks like you're it, so deal."
Luxord stared down at him silently for what seemed endless moments before turning back to the door. "Very well, I suppose you might as well come in, seeing as you won't leave me alone until I agree."
Muttering to himself about bitchy pirate captains, Axel followed the brit into the cabin, instantly resuming his pacing routine. "I don't like Zexion." He said bluntly.
Walking across the room to sit back in his chair, Luxord watched the redhead moving restlessly around the room with a blank expression. "And why is that?"
"Because!" Axel snapped. "He's…you know…and…he and Demyx…and I just don't like him. I think we should tie him up, gag him, steal all his belongings and toss the kid overboard!"
"We made a deal, I get the map, he gets a deeper insight into piracy. So he stays…unharmed. I'm afraid you'll have to take your heartbreak out on something else."
Axel paused to glare at the blond. "I am NOT heartbroken, okay? I just hate the man. It has nothing to do with the fact that Demyx ignores the fact that I exist in favor of him."
Luxord watched Axel stand in front of his desk, panting in anger before leaning his head back, inputting mildly, "You're right…I must have been mistaken. You have no heart."
"Thank you," Axel nodded and was about to say something else before choking on his unspoken words. "H-HEY!"