Title: Mission Impossible
Author: Ladya C. Maxine
Rating: T
Summary: see chapter one
Warnings: see chapter one
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of its characters. I am not making any money off of this. I write only to entertain.
Reading was good.
Reading was productive.
Reading was just what he needed to take his mind off of things …
… Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix …
After having put himself through the displeasure of revisiting his old home to acquire these files, all Xemnas could see on the pages was one word. No matter how hard he tried to read what was really there, his mind was fixed on one name.
Breathing heavily, he closed the file and ran both hands through his hair as he leaned back in his chair. His underlings had accused him of madness in the past. Vexen had even offered psychiatric help, convinced that their superior was beginning to lose himself in his rabid pursuit of hearts. Xigbar had made a crack about the effectiveness of a psychiatry session with a mad scientist, but even the gunner had approached Xemnas, running things by him a second time to make sure the decisions he'd made had been made by a sound mind.
Xemnas had waved off their unfounded concerns. Was he possessed with the thought of the working and importance of the heart? Yes. Did that mean that he was losing it? No. Such dedication was needed if they ever wanted to become human again.
… Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix …
This, however … This was madness!
He was possessed with the thought of one of his underlings, for no good reason. When a mission failed horribly and someone had to drag himself back to their stronghold, in near critical condition, Xemnas would monitor them closely because they could not afford to lose another (dependable) member. There was a time and reason for thinking about the others.
But this was not one of them. And even if it were, it did not excuse the onslaught of images and thoughts, all focused on the Diviner. Just trying to not think of Saix made him think about not trying to think about Saix. Xemnas had found that closing his eyes actually reduced the unwanted thoughts, but when he'd open them again everything would return with the force of an avalanche.
Even the Voice seemed to have given up on chastising him. It hadn't said anything in a long while, perhaps resting up for another lengthy onslaught of words.
There was only one other thing, one feeling that did not relate to Saix: Xemnas had the suspicious feeling that he was being watched. He imagined that he could feel eyes on him, despite being alone.
Mad and paranoid. He was going downhill. Fast.
Pacing usually helped him think, but no matter where he turned insanity seemed to be staring him right in the face. And he couldn't even determine where or what the cause was. He'd torn the place apart, searching for what felt like an incredibly intruding presence, and had come up empty handed.
Sitting down with an un-Superior-like slump in his chair, surveying the mess he'd made, Xemnas watched the clock above the door; watched as the hand ticked past the same numbers, every second bringing him closer and closer to tearing out his hair. And while his eyes could perfectly make out the numbers on the clock's face, his mind seemed set on interpreting the time as twenty minutes to Saix.
… Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix …
It couldn't be guilt, could it? He had dismissed the thought earlier, but he had run out of alternatives. What did he have to feel guilty about? Firstly, Nobodies couldn't feel such petty emotions. Secondly, even if they did, guilt was brought on by the notion of having done something wrong, with the possible consequences of having hurt and/or upset others. Saix didn't get upset, and the only hurt he knew were physical wounds. Saix only knew stoniness and wrath, and nothing in between. Xemnas couldn't be feeling guilty because Saix couldn't have taken offence.
And yet, here he was, still thinking about Saix.
He needed fresh air.
A few hours out on the Alter of Naught, staring up at the only thing that mattered to him, Kingdom Hearts, would clear his head of these unwanted reminders. If not he'd leave Xigbar in charge and go study that new world Axel had charred to within an inch of existence.
He just needed to get away.
"Where's he going?" Axel frowned, lifting his head from where it had been resting in his palms. "Is he leaving? Xigbar, you were supposed to tell him to stay put!"
"Oi, I'm second-in-command," the gunner reminded as he poked at Xaldin's gloveless, bumpy hand with fork, making a game out of pulling away before the larger man could slap him. "I advise him on what to do. If he wants to do otherwise then good luck to him."
"He's hesitating," Roxas yawned. "I don't think he knows what he wants."
"Saix, obviously. Xehanort was just as bad at accepting the obvious," Xigbar said.
"Where is Saix? This sucks! My plan won't work if it's just the Superior in there."
The six of them had been watching the Superior sit and pace around his office for over an hour now. Axel had been doing his own pacing as well. With his friend constantly moving around Roxas had taken to slumping against Xaldin's shoulder. The Lancer, a master of surveillance and the patience it required, didn't object to being used as a cushion, but every now and then he'd upset Roxas' balance by swatting after Xigbar, who, bored, was trying to pop the blisters on Xaldin's arm with an eating utensil, quickly teleporting to a safe distance whenever Xaldin would lash out, only to return like a large, coat-wearing mosquito. Luxord was keeping himself occupied with a game of solitaire. Demyx was lying on the floor, staring at his outstretched hand while alternating between closing one eye at a time.
So far, Axel's Master Plan hadn't been all that masterful, or exciting. Watching their superior walk about aimlessly while talking to himself was nothing new. The man did that every day.
"When was the last time we cleaned this floor?" Demyx asked, sitting up with a sticky sound.
"When you did," Xigbar answered, eager for something new to do because there were no more blisters to pop on Xaldin's right arm.
"I mopped in here, like, a month ago," Demyx said.
"There ya go."
"Gross!"
"Perhaps you haven't noticed," Axel sneered, painfully because the rash on his face was still tender, "things aren't going according to plan. Did Saix leave the castle?"
"That would be going against orders," Luxord said, shuffling his cards. "Perhaps he's been held up."
"By what? Air?"
"Maybe he forgot," Demyx offered, feeling the back of his head where the hair was matted from what it had picked up off the floor. "Maybe he's in his room."
"Wanna go check?"
"Nuh-uh!"
"This is just great! I get myself drunk, infect myself with incurable mould and what do I get in return? Blotchy skin, loss of hair and … "
"And what?" Xigbar grinned when the redhead's rant trailed off into embarrassed silence. He'd been aiming his gun at the unsuspecting Demyx, but he abandoned whatever he was planning in favour of walking up to Axel, who blushed.
"None of your damn business."
"You know, I never did really assess the extent of your symptoms," Xigbar taunted, circling Axel like a bird of prey. "I assume that the rash has spread over your entire body, including … tender areas … "
"Shut up."
"Whatcha going to do about it, pimple-ass?"
"In case you're both wondering, the Superior is heading for the door," Roxas said, just managing to lift his head off Xaldin's shoulder. "He's really going for it this time."
Indeed, on screen their leader was making a beeline for the door.
"Damnit!" Axel slammed his fists on the table, which brought down the house of cards Luxord had been building. Ignoring the Gambler's tsks, he grabbed the sides of the television and screamed at the screen. "Stay put, you idiot!"
"Now go and say that to his face," Xigbar challenged, scratching around his eye patch.
"This plan was supposed to be foolproof! All my plans are foolproof! How else do you think I got rid of Marluxia?"
"Oh, so the eradication of some of our members wasn't an accident after all?" Xaldin sneered sarcastically.
Axel ignored him and continued to bang the set, as if that would somehow knock some sense into the Superior. When the Superior grabbed the doorknob Axel sunk to his knees with a defeated groan and (purposefully) banged his head on the table top.
"Axel…" Roxas said after a few seconds.
His voice promised something reassuring so Axel dared to look up to see the Superior standing before an open door, looking at…
"Saix?" Xemnas blinked, wondering if he'd lost all control of his mind and was simply imagining the figure who'd just been reaching out to knock when he'd opened the door. He clenched his eyes shut, counted to ten and opened them. Still Saix. Still those piercing eyes and ivory face and fighter's built, cloaked in black.
No. It was just a very persistent illusion, he was sure. Xemnas stuck out his hand, positive that it would go straight through the other's chest, but he struck solid flesh.
Saix stepped back, perhaps thinking that he was being pushed away. The Diviner looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Sir?"
Oh Hades, it was even worse than an illusion. This was real.
"Yes, VII," Xemnas asked in as superior a voice as he could muster, trying to overrule his gaff. 'What is it?"
"I was ordered to come here," Saix said slowly, as if only just remembering the events that had led him here. "II told me of a viral outbreak and that I must keep safe in your office until it's been dealt with. But with so many of our members already infected I decided to make sure the castle grounds were secured before coming here. My apologies, sir. I didn't stop to consider whether my presence would disturb your thoughts."
"Right … right. Xigbar did say something about that earlier. I was just on my way to the Alter, however. I will be back in a few hours."
"Pardon me, sir, but I was under the impression that this virus has spread through most of that section of the castle. Is it wise for you, our leader, to go out and risk an infection?" Saix asked sensibly.
" … No, it isn't."
An uncomfortable silence passed between them, the first they had ever experienced in each other's company.
"May I come in, sir?" Saix finally asked.
" ... Yes," Xemnas said, stepping aside.
"Aw come ON!" Axel shouted at the screen, leaning over Xaldin's other shoulder. "It's like a bad first date!"
"Whadya expect him to do? Jump Saix right then and there?" Xigbar asked, lying on the floor next to Demyx, copying the nocturne's hand-ceiling gazing activity. Of course, with only one eye he couldn't make his hand jump from one spot to the next by alternating eyes, so he just stared at his fingers until they got blurry. Then he blinked, cleared his vision, and did it all over again. "Ya know, you wouldn't think it, but this is fun."
Demyx beamed at him.
"He must be at least considering it!" Axel went on, not to be distracted from the monitor. "He's got Saix on the brain, and now he's got Saix in there with him. Doesn't this guy have any animal instincts left in him? It should be driving him insane."
"He certainly doesn't look happy," Luxord said as he searched through the fridge.
"Why don't I have psychic powers?" Axel lamented, still trying to project his thoughts through the television and into their superior. "Just … do it!"
"Psychic powers?" Xaldin laughed. "You don't even have control over your mind."
"I really don't think we should be doing this," Demyx said, getting to his elbows while Xigbar rubbed his single, strained eye. "It's wrong to spy on our own teammates."
Roxas mumbled an agreement, blue eyes having considerable trouble keeping track of the figures on the small screen, especially with Axel's head in the way as he hogged the television.
"Why don't you go to Atlantica and ask that sea witch for your balls back?"
"Hey!" Demyx said loudly, looking at Axel with a hurt expression. "I just don't think it's our place to put our own boss under surveillance."
"You are not wrong to think that," Luxord said, returning to his seat next to Xaldin with a plate of leftovers. "However, I'm afraid the Superior has left us no choice. We are doing what's best for this organization."
"Trying to set him up on a date with Saix and driving him insane in his own office?" Demyx actually made a derisive sound and settled back down. "Excuuuse me for doubting you."
Xigbar turned his head, impressed that Demyx had made a snarky comeback. Okay, so he had allowed himself to be whipped back into his place, nonetheless, but at least the kid had tried. Xigbar himself had known that this whole farce was madness from the very beginning, but he was always willing to give something new and exciting a go.
Axel, too anxious to even sit, crouched down, resting his arms on the table as he stared at the two oblivious Nobodies, trying to use pure mental will to force them into complying with his future intents for them.
Closing his eyes, Xemnas needed to take a few deep breaths and made one last desperate attempt to regain control of his thoughts.
… Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix …
"Saix," he said in a voice that balanced dangerously on high as he turned to the Diviner, who was eyeing the messy office curiously. "Do you notice something … odd in here?"
Saix looked from the Superior right back at the strewn papers, pulled-out drawers and knocked-over furniture, not really wanting to comment on how his leader chose to keep his personal quarters. There was a tiny tingle on his skin, which he would have suspected to be an intruding presence, but now he was almost sure it had to do with the Superior's eccentric behaviour.
"Odd in what way, sir?" he asked instead.
"Let it be," Xemnas said, rubbing his head as he walked back to his desk, feeling almost light-headed, despite his head being stuffed with everything related to the Nobody standing in the middle of the room. "Perhaps I simply need a strong dose of Saix … "
"Yes, sir?" Saix asked, having been preoccupied with the mess, only hearing his name at the end.
Xemnas wanted to stab something with his aerial blades.
"I said I simply need a strong dose of potion."
"Do you not have your potions stored in here?" Saix asked, walking over to a cabinet.
Xemnas sat down heavily and covered his eyes with his hand. It helped a bit, but it also made him more aware of the very person he was trying to block out rummaging through his personal stash of potions.
… Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix …
He tried to think about Kingdom Hearts, only to remember how often he'd go up to the Altar to find Saix already there, staring up at the moon with a child's wonder. He tried to think about their mission to conquer other worlds, only to remember how precise and deadly a warrior Saix was, slicing through those in his way with instinctive ruthlessness. There had to be something he could think about that did not relate to Saix ... Vexen's old charts! Those things had bored the darkness out of him, despite how valuable they still were. Too bad they were down in the lab, where the disease must be running rampant.
But if the virus was so contagious, how was it that Xigbar could still treat the others without catching it ... ?
"Sir?"
Xemnas opened tired eyes to find a green bottle of potion being held out to him. He stared past the bottle at the fingers and hand covered by black leather. A sliver of the diviner's wrist was visible between the bottom of the glove and the opening of the wide sleeve.
To others the Organization's members all looked the same with their coats and hoods on, but amongst them they could always tell who was who, even from a distance. Each coat was slightly different, tailored to fit each Nobody. Vexen had preferred his coat long, almost sweeping the floor, whereas Xigbar's was slightly shorter than the rest to allow for better versatility when he was walking up walls and levitating. Axel's fitted snug around his arms to reduce the risk of being a fire hazard, while Saix's sleeves were wider that the others, which was more a personal taste than a necessity. It looked like the robe of a priest, ironically.
Xemnas reached out and touched the bottle, but didn't take it. The weight still in his hand, Saix didn't let it go. Xemnas stared at his fingers just an inch above Saix's. He'd never noticed this before, but his hands were bigger than Saix's, despite Saix being the wielder of the massive claymore. The Diviner's hand was elegant, attached to a wrist that looked almost too delicate for one so brutish in battle. The pale skin of the slender wrist was flawless and—WHAT?!
Xemnas slapped the hand away with enough force to make it lose its grip on the potion, sending the bottle smashing against the wall. Saix, who was not easily taken off guard, jumped. Xemnas was as surprised as the Diviner. He had berated and yelled at his subordinates before, but he had never used physical force (outside of sparring) to deal with them. A true, strong leader didn't need to lower himself to that level.
… Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix …
"Saix!" he said out loud, getting to his feet and grabbing the hand he'd smacked.
The six Nobodies in the kitchen leaned in, having not expected such a drastic turn of events. Breaths held, they stared with wide eyes at the sight of their leader and the Diviner holding hands, standing face-to-face, alone in the Superior's office.
"Score!" Axel hooted, throwing up his hands.
Saix hadn't expected the slap, but when the Superior took hold of his hand he was at a complete loss for words. One, because the Superior had called his name in such an unnecessarily dramatic manner, and two, because the Superior, a man of stony resolve, looked worried.
Correction: he had looked worried, up until he'd grabbed Saix. Now the Superior looked stunned, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just done.
"Sir?" Saix asked for clarification, trying a weak tug to free his hand, but the other wouldn't let go. "Sir, I am not harmed."
The hand holding his only tightened. The orange eyes were raging with emotions the Superior would vehemently deny having. The Superior looked down at their joint hands. Saix could see the other's chest heaving. Odd behaviour, erratic pulse, flushed cheeks, heavy breathing … perhaps … the Superior was already infected by the mystery virus! How could he have misjudged the situation so badly? His superior was in obvious distress and he'd just stood by and done nothing.
No matter what the Superior's opinion of him was, Saix was loyal to him and knowing his leader was suffering almost made him panic. This wasn't some enemy he could rip to pieces. This called for a different tactic.
Saix pulled off his gloves and took hold of the Superior's head, cupping the burning cheeks.
"Finally!" Axel sang, jumping up and smashing his head against Xigbar's jaw.
"No way! They're really going for it?!" Xigbar gaped, rubbing his throbbing jaw but too intent on the screen to feel any pain.
Roxas managed to pry his eyes open, not wanting to miss a landmark in the short history of the Organization. Demyx, on the other hand, blushed madly and covered his eyes.
"YES! Goodbye crappy missions!" Axel laughed, nursing the back of his head where Xigbar's chin had caught him.
Cupping a burning cheek, Saix gently placed his other hand on the clammy forehead. Using powers he rarely tapped into, Saix scanned the Superior for any diseases. Something was certainly making the Superior unsettled, mostly in the mind, but for the rest his body was healthy.
"My scanning has found no invading micro organisms, sir," Saix said, letting the other go and putting a more respectable distance between them as he pulled back on his gloves.
THUNK
Axel's forehead hit the table. Hard.
Xemnas was petrified. Physically, he couldn't move. Not because of the usual unpleasant feeling of being scanned, but because the overwhelming feeling of wanting to close the distance Saix had put between them.
"I fear that perhaps the visit to the Bastion might have rattled you, sir," Saix said carefully. "Please sit down and rest."
Xemnas thought that that was a good idea. His mind's intentions of asking Saix to help him to his chair wasn't. How could his mind be desiring more contact? It wasn't the mind's function to regulate such emotions. Emotions came from the heart, and he didn't have one. So where were these outrageous ideas coming from?
He looked up. Saix was gone.
With uneasy suspicion, Xemnas pinched himself. No, not a dream. Had it all been an illusion after all?
" … Saix?" he called, almost jumping when he got a response.
"Yes, sir?"
Saix hadn't disappeared. He was simply kneeling on the floor, gathering the papers Xemnas had thrown about so carelessly earlier. When Xemnas said nothing else the Diviner continued, going through the trouble of refilling everything, making sure they belonged together.
… Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix … Saix …
"Leave them," Xemnas said, fighting the urge to follow the curve of the diviner's back, contoured by his long hair.
"I do not mind, sir," Saix said without looking away from what he was doing. "Allow me to do this for you, for you aren't in the state to do this by yourself."
Normally Xemnas would have taken offense at being told that he was unable to take care of himself, but he'd just barely won a battle against his body's urge to pull Saix closer. Brushing stray strands out of his face, he focused all his energy and sanity on taking up the role of independent leader once more, though he still watched Saix's every movement with unsettling interest.
"I was looking for something," he half-lied in a calm voice, coming to stand next to Saix. Looking down at Saix, who looked up at him from his kneeling position, blue hair swept back, Xemnas needed to take a deep breath and count to twenty to retain his control. "I will help you."
Saix nodded and returned to picking up papers and books as Xemnas sank down to the floor next to him. For ever page he collected he snuck a glance at Saix, who worked on, completely unaware of the effect he was having on his superior.
"I spoke rashly," Xemnas said without thought. "What I said at the Bastion, I knew it to not be true. I do not doubt that you are my most loyal."
Saix paused for a moment. Xemnas couldn't see his face, but he saw the slight tension that had strung the berserker's shoulders lift.
"Apologies are not needed, sir. There is nothing you can ever say that will make me lose my faith in our cause, or in you. The poisonous elements in our ranks have been dealt with, and while we lost worthy comrades in the process, the Organization is still strong. We will follow you to the very end, sir."
"That I doubt," Xemnas said. "Not all who remain are as devoted as the rest of us."
"Then I will speak for myself," Saix said, sitting back on his heels and handing Xemnas one file he had already reorganized. "I will follow you, no matter where you lead us to, sir. To the very end, even if it means death."
Xemnas stared at the Diviner. On one hand, it shouldn't be so strange of him to be more in tune with Saix, who was a perfect subordinate. Xemnas appreciated (and secretly revelled in) having someone this dedicated following him. But it didn't explain why he'd developed such a strong … obsession with Saix all of a sudden. Was it the Voice? Was he only rebelling against the part of him that objected the loudest? The Voice had remained conspicuously mute during his apology. Perhaps he'd finally silenced it for good?
"That is all I expect from you," he said.
Saix bowed his head and they went on gathering papers, more comfortable around each other once more, though Xemnas had to stay his eyes from wandering over to Saix from time to time.
"Oooookay," Axel said, nodding approvingly, the bruise on his forehead already darkening. "Not exactly what I had in mind, but it's good. The Master Plan is still intact and in effect. I'm still in control."
"And still shedding hair all over the place," Luxord pointed out, kicking a loose tuff of fire-red hair off his boot. "So, now we have eliminated the tension between them. What is the next step in your Master Plan, if you have one?"
"We send them off somewhere. Just the two of them this time."
"But wasn't their last trip together a disaster?" Demyx reminded.
"That's because they went to the Bastion: the Superior's most hated place in the known universe," Xigbar said, hanging from the roof. He jumped down, but it wasn't his usual flawless landing as the blisters between his toes burst painfully. "And the Superior's office isn't the best place either. It's his domain. We have to get them someplace where both are out of their elements, and thus, equals."
"And we're back to square one," Xaldin said, rolling his head this way and that to work out the kinks in his neck. "How are you planning to get them to whatever perfect, romantic getaway you've got planned?"
By now everyone knew who to turn to. Luxord fanned out the cards, way ahead of them.
"You must play with the cards you've been given," he said. "Clearly, it doesn't matter where we send them. The seed of doubt has been planted in both their minds. The Superior no longer believes in the feelings of the heart, but it is his mind, his very self, that has fixated itself on Saix. Saix, in turn, is aware of the Superior's mixed emotions, though he doesn't know what the cause is. They are both filled with thoughts and theories. Their guards are down. What we have to instil now are actions."
"In short," Xigbar, nursing his foot, said, "one of them has to make the first move."
"It's gotta be the Superior, ain't it?" Demyx asked.
"He is the one in the most doubt, as well as the authority that Saix would never question or disobey," Luxord said. "But we have to be quick. The Superior is strong willed and it won't be long before he regains control and sets his mind straight. We can influence him to make the right decision."
Here Xaldin perked up. Influencing people to do things was what he specialized in. And it would forever be a proud accomplishment, influencing someone like the Superior, who was normally unmoveable. For once, he willingly joined them in coming up with a way to get their leader to take an even more active interest in the Diviner.
"Hey, you okay?" Axel asked Roxas after a few minutes, noticing that Roxas hadn't moved much for the past ten minutes.
Their youngest member groaned, the skin around his eyes dark. He was practically draped across Xaldin's arm, too tired to sit up straight. Being smaller, yet having been given the same dosage as the rest of them, he was suffering the most, even though he looked a lot better than he had an hour ago.
"M fine …" he grumbled, shaking off Axel's hand. "Wanna sleep … "
"I'll take you to your room," Axel offered, concerned.
"Don wanna … move … Comfy here … "
"Like Xaldin can offer any comfort. Here, I'll help you."
"No!" Roxas argued, resisting. He knew Axel was trying to make him feel better, and he'd love to curl up under his sheets, head on his soft pillow, but he just couldn't find it in him to move. "Xaldin's better … "
Axel felt a tick of insult.
"Well then, you can rest against me if you want."
"Axel, leave me alone."
"What's suddenly so great about Xaldin?" Axel demanded to know.
"Nothing. I just don't wanna move."
"You two sure are awfully chummy all of the sudden."
"Whatever. I'm just tired."
Xaldin watched on as the two argued. He couldn't care less what was being said about him, but the nature of the argument gave him an idea. He looked to Xigbar and Luxord and they smirked, both thinking the exact same thing.
"Jealousy," all three spoke as one.
"What?" Demyx, who had been spacing out, sat up.
Axel went on the immediate offensive.
"I am not!" he objected.
"Not you, you fool," Xaldin said.
"Jealousy is what the Superior needs to … How can I say this politely … " Luxord said.
"Nail Saix," was Xigbar's usual uncouth input. "And no one said that you were being ridiculously jealous that Roxas picked Xaldin over you," he told Axel. He teleported just in time to avoid a face-full of fire. Appearing above the fuming redhead, he cooed, "I mean, it's not like there's any underlying sexual tension between the two of you at all."
Xaldin and Luxord laughed. Demyx laughed too, but he didn't fully get what Xigbar was saying. Roxas, unable to take the shaking of Xaldin's shoulder, slid onto the table and rested his head on folded arms, pretty much oblivious.
"Bunch of pervs," Axel sneered at them. "He's my little buddy, alright? I gotta look out for him."
"Has he met your 'little buddy' yet?"
"No, he did no—It ain't little!" Axel said, standing toe-to-toe with the Freeshooter.
"So it isn't true what they say about redheads?"
"Bet yours is all wrinkled and about to drop off, you old fart."
"Boy, I could wear you out in ten minutes," Xigbar winked, purely to further irritate the fiery Nobody.
"Oh yeah? Try me!"
An awkward silence followed his retort. Even Demyx somehow knew that the conversation had strayed into don't-go-there territory. Luxord, a master of hiding his true emotions behind a stony poker face (though really, who could simply forget that little exchange?), cleared his throat.
"Moving on back to the more important topic: jealousy."
"Send them to a world full of lechers," Xaldin said, grinning at the gunner, enjoying the other's uncharacteristic lack of response.
"Then I would suggest Port Royal. If you know all the wrong taverns you will be assaulted within minutes by both women and men," Luxord said.
Again, this would usually be where Xigbar threw in a jab about Luxord's familiarity with such taverns, but he didn't. Axel pretended to look out the window, despite the blinds being shut. With the two most vocal of the group silenced, Luxord and Xaldin took over the scheming.
"We'd have to get them there without them suspecting anything," Luxord said.
"We can't just drop one plan for another," Xaldin said. "They still believe that there's a virus loose. We can use that to our advantage. Tell them that there is only one cure and that it can only be found in Port Royal. Is there any miscellaneous plant, brew, ointment or whatever there that can't be found anywhere else? Something that we can claim is the cure?"
Luxord thought it over.
"Apples."
"There are apples in the 100 Acre Wood," Demyx said, glad he had that much to contribute.
"Rum apples, then."
"What's that?"
"Apples soaked in rum."
"Is that an actual fruit?" Xaldin asked.
"No. But this isn't an actual virus we are trying to cure, is it? Give me a couple of hours to prepare things in Port Royal, then Xigbar will go to the Superior and explain to him that this virus originated in Port Royal and that the native cure are rum apples. Xigbar will then offer to stay behind to monitor us while the Superior and Saix head over there. If they hesitate Xigbar will tell them that if the rest of us don't get those apples on time we will die, and the Organization would be crippled for good."
"Sounds like a lot of work for Xigbar," Xaldin turned to his childhood friend with a fiendish smile, who sneered back at him, then shot a glance at Axel. "Never mind. Looks like he's getting over his not-so-secret crush."
"It didn't mean anything!" Axel snapped guiltily.
"Why is everyone shouting?" Roxas stirred. No one knew when he'd fallen asleep but it had done him some good: he had enough strength to push himself up. "I'm going to bed."
"Lean on me," Axel now said unashamedly, trying to distance himself from his unfortunate words by grabbing Roxas around the waist. "Whatever you thought you heard, you didn't, okay? It was all a dream."
"What are you talking about?" Roxas asked as he was half-carried out the kitchen.
"I believe that the Superior is expecting some medical reports, so I'll leave you to it," Luxord said, standing. "I am off. Mustn't make it too easy for the Superior and Saix to find those rum apples. After all, the longer they spend there, the rowdier the taverns get, the better the outcome. For now, make sure they don't leave that office."
"Not afraid you're going to scare people, looking like that?" Xaldin asked, pointing at Luxord's red skin, greenish gums and black fingernails.
Luxord smiled and pulled on his gloves and hoods, hiding every inch of skin.
"Organization policy, remember?" his posh English accent said from within the darkness of the hood. "Not that I could ever match the pustules of ugliness that inhabit those taverns. And when one can convey charm and class with simple words one need ever show one's face. Gentlemen, it was jolly good dealing with you. We should have tea together sometimes. Cheerio!"
Luxord vanished in a bloom of darkness.
"Talk about laying it on thick," Xaldin said. He turned to Xigbar and asked softly, "Speaking of laying it on thick, you're just pulling Axel's leg, aren't you? The whole 'bashful object of so-called affection' act?"
He didn't need to see the gunner's face: he could hear the evil smirk in Xigbar's voice.
"Yeah. And I'm gonna milk that skinny flamer's humiliation for all it's worth."
"Cruel, dude," Xaldin said, adopting Xigbar's distinct accent.
"Huh, totally."
"I'm off to find something that might actually get rid of this itching," Xaldin growled, scratching the back of his neck as he opened a portal and stepped through.
"I don't think you're old."
Having almost fully forgotten about the last person, Xigbar turned to find Demyx, trying to make a tepee with two of Luxord's cards, the tip of his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration. He smiled brightly at the gunner when he saw Xigbar watching him.
"You're still number two, right? That means you're still the best of us all."
"Do you have any idea what we were talking about?"
"Yeah, Axel said something stupid … I think. But he called you old and I think that maybe he's just a bit jealous, because you can still kick his butt, even if you're a bit older."
Xigbar sighed, shaking his head.
"Kid, seriously, what are you doing in this place?"
Demyx stared, then shrugged innocently. He got to his feet when Xigbar waved him over, following the older (though only by a bit) Nobody down to the labs.
"Gonna need help with those medical reports," Xigbar told him. "Plus I don't like leaving you in the kitchen on your own. Too many shiny objects that just so happen to be sharp."
"Wanna hear a song I wrote?" Demyx asked, completely off the subject, conjuring his sitar and a couple of Dancer Nobodies to provide back-up entertainment.
Xigbar only listened with half an ear to the preppy song, smiling to himself in disbelief. There was no place for Demyx in this world, but perhaps they were stuck with him because, quite frankly, they needed to have someone like him around.
Tbc …
A/N: Bloody hell, is that a Xigbar/Demyx creeping up on me? WHY can't I ever just let things be???
Microsoft Word tried to correct "Xehanort" with "seaport". This document has a sense of humour XD
"Hey, Ladya, what DO they say about redheads?"
Er…I wouldn't know. It's just Xigbar being his cocky self. (Oi, that isn't a pun!)
Read & Review, please.