Wisps of darkness and tiny, glowing hearts were all that remained when Number Thirteen was finished hacking through the crowd of Heartless. The almost-constant rain of Never Was had slacked off somewhat, but puddles remained, shimmering with reflections.

The faintest footstep alerted Roxas to another's presence. He whipped around, bringing the Keyblades up just in time to block the blow. Both blades rang with the force of the hit, and Roxas' arms ached almost instantly.

"I'm impressed," the stranger said, lowering his scythe. Now that there was a moment, Roxas could see that he was clad in the Organization's coat. The stranger flipped his hood back to reveal hair whose color was impossible to describe because of the city's neon lights shining on it.

"Who are you?" Roxas asked cautiously, not letting go of his Keyblades. The man smirked, but like those of all Nobodies, the expression was empty.

"Marluxia. Number Eleven."

"You've been following me since I left the Castle. Sir," Roxas amended reluctantly. This appeared to please Marluxia, who tilted his head in a haughty manner.

"I wanted to see you in action," he said. "I thought Axel was exaggerating."

"And was he?" Roxas asked.

"It's nothing spectacular," XI replied, raising an eyebrow. "I could have done the same and more. One thing intrigues me, however." His deceptively angelic blue eyes lingered hungrily on the Keyblades. A greedy glow flickered there that Roxas recognized. He saw it in Axel's eyes on occasion, or in Luxord's, and occasionally Zexion's. It was a light which spoke of dangerous ambition and an insatiable thirst for power. "Two Keyblades," Marluxia went on. "Remarkable. You're twice as powerful as he is."

"As who is?" Roxas asked, his brow creasing in confusion. An all-too-knowing smile hovered around Marluxia's lips.

"The other half," he responded.

"I don't want to play games," Roxas snapped impatiently, turning away. "If you want to say something, then say it."

"Don't you ever wonder why you have the Keyblades?" Number Eleven asked softly. Roxas stopped mid-step. He missed Marluxia's satisfied grin. "Don't you want to know who you were?"

"What do you know about me?" Roxas asked coolly, struggling to keep the eagerness from his voice.

"More than you do," Marluxia answered.

"Tell me everything," Roxas said, still not turning around. There was a pause which seemed to span hours.

"I could," Marluxia said slowly.

"There's an 'if' there," Roxas muttered. XI laughed.

"Correct," he said. "I like you, Roxas! I'd like to tell you. But you can't expect me to go around giving out favors, can you?"

"What do you want?"

The question was blunt.

"Just your loyalty. If you could obey my orders, without consulting any of the others…"

"I don't trust you," Roxas said.

"Do you trust Xemnas?"

The question lingered in the still air. The tension was almost tangible.

"No," Roxas replied at last. "But I trust him more."

"Suit yourself," Marluxia murmured as Roxas continued on his way. He could make do. There was another Keyblade to be had, after all.

21. Roxas/Keyblade
A/N: Havre you ever listened to "Be Prepared" from the Lion King and imagined Marlu as Scar? 8D

And... why are my Roxas ones so long? XD