A/N part one! Hallo all and welcome once more to the world I'm figuring out called Between the Silences. I haven't updated in a while, and the reason is simple; I was sick, and then school started. Now that things have evened out a little bit and I'm back in my groove (albeit somewhat tired), I can start giving you things to read again.
I will refresh my disclaimer here: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or any of the characters showcased within. That's Square's job and damn it if I don't want that job, but hey. We can't always get what we want.
Thank you all for your patience, loyal fans and reviewers. I shall reward your kindness with more random sequences of words. Also of note... I forgot I had anonymous reviews blocked or not allowed, or whatever you call them. You can drop anonymous reviews now, people without an account that like this story. I apologize for that. On with the show!
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Silence.
Usually, this was a bad sign, but ever since a few days prior, it wasn't quite so disturbing. Six of the members of Organization XIII were gone, sent out on assignment to the Castle Oblivion. Among them was Axel, one of the primary troublemakers when tensions were high. Without Axel, Roxas was subdued as well, spending most of his time in his room.
In fact, that seemed to be the norm after the assignment was handed out, most of the Nobodies kept to themselves in their rooms, not bothering to meet or interact with each other much unless it was forced upon them. Even Saix, with his blazing temper preferred to storm and rage about within the room formallycalled "Addled Impasse", though everyone else had taken to calling it "The Dwelling of Lunatics".
It was in this almost unnerving silence within the Castle that Demyx was found, humming something to himself as he strode through a large, empty room, a mandolin dangling from his right hand. He stopped and plucked the strings, listening as what should have been a pleasant chord ring, reverberate, and echo back grotesquely from the strange shape and size of the room. It caused him to cock a half-smile, and keep walking.
The all too familiar sound of a portal opening stopped Demyx in his tracks, and he turned around confused. From the portal stepped, of all people, Luxord.
"Hello there, Demyx," Luxord said simply, making no move to continue speaking. He was expecting a greeting back, and it was one the water elemental was willing to give.
"Good..." he looked to the ever-black sky, eyes flicking over the incomplete, heart-shaped moon hovering in the sky. "... evening, Luxord. What brings you to the Place Where Music Sounds Funny?"
Luxord gave a short laugh at that, and met the Nocturne's eyes as they returned to watch him. "Not much, my young friend. I have some questions for you, where were you headed?"
Demyx frowned, furrowing his eyebrows. "Back to my room... maybe to drop by and make sure Roxas hasn't tried to jump out of a window yet."
"The boy will be fine," Luxord shook his head. "He shouldn't be feeling depressed the way he is, he'll realize his folly soon enough..."
"What you're not saying is either that or he'll decide to go with what he's 'feeling' and do something drastic. You're just banking that he won't simply by intelligence. Risky gamble, Luxord," Demyx stated simply, picking up the mandolin and cradling it in his arm like a baby. "Or are you simply doing it for the argument?"
Luxord actually laughed at that, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "Well, caught in the act, I suppose. Good to see you're still learning things... and toughening up it would seem. No more happy babble from you."
"It's easier than you think when you've got a 'teacher' like mine," the water elemental laughed back. "She's whipping it out of me... slowly but surely."
"Don't lose all of it, though. I will tell you it makes you unique," the Gambler replied.
Demyx grinned, and stuck his tongue out. "I still have a lot more where that came from."
"How is she, by the way?"
"Sore," the Nocturne replied, his tone stating clearly that he would be unwilling to elaborate as to why, and from the look that crossed Luxord's face at the proclamation, the Gambler wouldn't inquire farther.
"Beyond that."
"Well, whatever it is I'm losing, she seems to be picking up pieces of it."
Luxord blanched. "... oh Twilight help us all she's getting happier..."
"I personally don't see much of a difference when we're alone, but when she's with other people they say she doesn't pick fights nearly as much, even when I'm not around," Demyx replied. "Now, Luxord. You're usually viciously frank, and here we are going on with small talk. There's something wrong, and you need to talk to me about it. So go."
Luxord held up his hands. "Another bluff called."
"That wasn't hard. It's not in your character description to be that sociable. Now what did you need?"
"A simple request, really," the Gambler reached into his pocket and pulled out a simple letter from the Superior.
"Huh. He gave it to you to deliver?" Demyx blinked, taking the card, and setting the mandolin against the wall in the process.
"Xigbar is out on assignment at the moment, and Saix is busy... with important matters."
The Nocturne nodded and opened the note, reading it over silently. His eyebrows inched up little by little as each word was read. Finished, he continued looking over the last few lines. "He wants me to babysit my g... uh... Larxene."
"Indeed," Luxord replied.
"Why?"
"Well... he's been noting her strange behavior as of late and wants to make sure it's not going to be... detrimental to any future assignments."
"You're horrible at lying today, Luxord. You know more about this Organization than anyone but Axel... what's the real reason?"
Luxord just gave a wry smile. "You're beginning to understand the game now, Demyx."
"This would all be just a game..." Demyx sighed. "What is the reason. Now I'm asking you for it rather than you volunteering the information. That's how it goes in the higher-ups, right?"
"Need to know basis, Nocturne. You don't need to know," the Gambler shrugged.
Demyx's hand twitched closed into a tight fist. "Luxord. Why does the Superior want me to spy on someone I am, for all intents and purposes, close to? That is a gamble of trust and security that I can't afford to take given her... volatile nature."
"Like I said," Luxord smiled. "Need to know basis. You don't need to know." Suddenly, and quite forcefully, the Gambler felt himself pinned against a wall, a pair of angry sea green eyes boring into his own, gloved hands bunching the front of his coat.
"What... is the reason, Luxord?"
"My oh my. It would seem seriousness isn't the only thing Larxene broke you into... temper, temper little Demyx," Luxord teased, his face molding into a twisted grin.
Demyx dropped the taller man and backed away, eyes wide in shock as he stared at his hands, like they would hold the answers for his actions.
Luxord laughed once again, this time sounding all the more darkly amused. "Well. Now that you've unwittingly given me some interesting information, I will make an equivalent exchange. As of earlier today, Marluxia seems to have cut off communication with Castle Oblivion. The Superior and Saix both smell trouble brewing, and they're getting a bit worried it might be mutiny. Given Larxene and Marluxia's past involvement together combined with Xemnas' growing paranoia, they have decided to put her under a watch in case she turns out to be some sort of... 'inside man' or something, relaying information on their activities to the folks at Castle Oblivion."
"That's absurd. Everyone knows of their falling out. They come the closest to hating each other nowadays that I've ever seen Nobodies be..." Demyx replied, still looking somewhat shell shocked from his previous actions.
"Yes well. It's the Superior, and he's unsettled. You should know that," Luxord said with boredom. "Well, I've done what I came here to do-"
"That's not all the information, is it?" Demyx said, stopping the older man from leaving. Luxord simply chuckled in response and continued to make a move to leave. The water elemental flinched, and tried to think of something to give Luxord to keep the man talking. "You're looking for another exchange... here's one I never even got the chance to tell Axel, though I'm sure he's figured it out by now. Marluxia has interest in Naminé."
"So do many people. Her powers are simply amazing, and could be used for so many things, another reason for the Superior's concern," the Gambler replied with a shrug of his shoulders.
"I didn't mean like that, Luxord. I meant he has interest in her as a female. As a wom- no, as a girl. Not just her powers. Her... body," Demyx cringed at his own words, instantly feeling dirty for even mentioning such a deplorable lust.
"Oh ho?" Luxord turned around. "That is news indeed. Is your source credible?"
Demyx swallowed and nodded. "Larxene was talking about it when she was arguing with Marluxia at the end of our little vacation. Part of the reason for their... breaking apart... was because of what might be called jealousy on Larxene's part. She called him out, and Marluxia didn't deny the accusation. He simply said something about them not performing any illicit activities yet." The Nocturne closed his mouth after that, plainly telling Luxord that was all the information he'd give out willingly; he'd need to use the rest to bribe things out of the Gambler.
"Fascinating. What do you want to know?"
"The Superior isn't one for needless paranoia, or even for caring much what we do. Why the sudden interest? And why aren't they storming Castle Oblivion?"
"As of right now, they're going to give Marluxia the benefit of the doubt, and give him a few days to report back in, citing it may be injury or business or... Vexen blew a hole in Castle or something. However, since Axel isn't talking either, it's putting them even farther on edge. He's their... 'inside man'. As you should know, the Superior's plans are about to reach a vital stage... one of many. Some sort of large distraction like internal unrest at that moment could prove fatal to his scheming, and perhaps some of the rest of us as well. He can't afford to have such a distraction, and that moment is when he's thinking Marluxia will strike, it'll be the one opportunity the man will have to truly take power from Xemnas. So, Xemnas is covering all of his bases, just to make sure."
"As he should," Demyx nodded. "I personally don't see Larxene helping Marluxia out at this point, but... I'll... sleep with one eye open I suppose. What happens if Marluxia doesn't reopen contact?"
Luxord shrugged, and Demyx opened his mouth to say something else he knew, but the Gambler waved his hand to silence the younger man. "Save your words, as fascinating as they may be. I honestly do not know. They may choose to ignore Marluxia and delay the next stage in the plans as long as possible to throw off his timing so they may deal with him when he strikes. They may send someone in their to help Axel in ridding us of the traitors. They may just isolate Marluxia in the Castle and let the Keybearer take care of him. That is information I can only speculate on at the moment. If I get anything new, though, I'll be sure to taunt you with it."
Demyx nodded. "Thanks, Luxord."
"Save it for a time when you're indebted. We're even at this moment," the Gambler shrugged, and opened a portal behind him. "A pleasure doing business with you, I look forward to our next exchange."
The Nocturne swallowed and nodded again. "Y-yeah."
"Relax, Demyx. No harm, no foul," with that, Luxord stepped into the portal and disappeared.
Silence reigned over the Castle That Never Was again, Demyx simply standing in the middle of the large room trying to piece together everything that Luxord had said. He hadn't known any of that... he wasn't as into the politics of the Organization as he probably should be, he left that up to the people that actually held influence and weren't labeled as a 'whiny, nasal, annoying dork'. But now he was, even on a small scale, part of it. He knew things none of the other Organization members knew... with the exception of perhaps three or four. He could do horrible things with that information, if he told the wrong person it could quickly spiral into tragedy... if he told anyone that information it wouldn't have a good ending. Not to mention Luxord trusted him enough to share those words... he highly doubted the man would've said anything if he didn't think Demyx could be trusted with such important information.
It was frightening. No, it scared the crap out of him. He didn't need to know any of it, and yet he had bargained his way into the information, but for what end?
He knew he should've just taken the orders without question like usual.
He grabbed the mandolin and fled quickly, heading right for the one place he could go to, the one place he could calm his racing thoughts. Without even looking he jogged into the room marked "XII", running into the owner less than two steps into the door. The impact knocked them both to the ground, but before Larxene had the chance to ask Demyx what the hell was going on she found herself on the receiving end of a particularly desperate kiss.
When he finally relented, she seized either side of his face to hold him still and looked right into his eyes. "Demyx, what the hell is wrong with you?"
His face scrunched up into an almost shy look. "It's... nothing..."
"You're a baaad liar, water-boy," she stated, narrowing her eyes. "What is it?" His eyes flicked away from hers to look at the ground, and she jerked his head to regain his attention. "Demyx!"
"I-I was talking with Luxord, alright?"
"What did he want?"
"He... wanted to tell me some stuff..."
"Like...? Demyx, you're acting like a kid. What was it he wanted?"
"H-he told me to w-watch my back, that the Superior was starting to get nervous... something about Castle Oblivion... I don't know exactly, alright?"
Larxene's electric blue eyes narrowed skeptically, and Demyx's breathing caught in his throat. She knew he was lying, he could tell, it was written all over that look.
"So what does that have anything to do with what you're doing now?" the lightning elemental asked, slowly removing her hands from his face, and letting her fingers rest lightly at the collar of his coat.
"I just- I need to not think about it right now, alright? It's... too much..." he leaned forward and buried his face against the side of her neck. "I just..."
"I get it... I'll expect a better answer later, though..." Larxene stated, tilting her head slightly to the side to give him more room to work with. For once, she didn't roll him over and take control. Even though her muscles all protested vehemently, even though the part of her mind that was sadist was screaming her weakness at her, even though another part of her brain was panicking and crying that she was trapped at her... even though Larxene didn't do bottom, she simply exhaled slowly, and relaxed into his hands. For once, and probably the first time since she'd lost her heart, she simply let him take what he wanted.
She hoped it wasn't a mistake.
And it wasn't.
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A/N part two! D: Sorry again for lateness. Continue to R and R and I'll continue to love you more, yes even you Mr. Random Flamer I'm Bound To Get. I like flames, they give Demyx something to pour water on between chapters. Welcome to arc two of the story.
I suppose I should stick a teeny tiny AU sticker on this story since Larxene obviously isn't going to be part of the Castle Oblivion mutiny... call it artistic freedom. However, I did say there were six members in Oblivion, and if Larxene isn't one of them, then who is? OH THE CONTHPIRACIES!
Yeah. I'm a dork. :P Until next chapter... which should be around soon. I SWEAR! cowers You can put the bricks down. I'll make good on that promise come hell or high water.