-1Splinters
"Axel…"
No response.
"Aaaaxelll…"
Still nothing.
A row of books was pushed apart.
"AXEL!"
Axel slowly detached himself from his book and turned his head to face the owner of the sudden outburst, who had just stuck his head through the vacant space in the bookshelf, his face contorted from anger, his already wild hair standing further on end, his mouth in a wide and almost comical frown.
"What is it now, Demyx?"
"Superior told us to rearrange all the books in here and you're not helping!"
Axel leaned back further. "Pfft. Yeah, so?"
"So you're supposed to be on this side of the bookshelf helping me!"
A grin spread on Axel's face. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
Demyx's face turned crimson. "And why do I have to do this by myself!?"
Axel lowered his book, slowly losing interest. "Because I can get you demoted if you don't."
"I – DON'T – CARE! Our Superior told us to do a job and in this Organization we're supposed to help each other, so get over here and help me and stop being so damn la-"
Crack went the bookshelf as a spiked chakram lodged itself inches from Demyx's head.
"-zy."
"Lazy? I don't like the sound of that." Axel had pulled his head through the hole, pushing a wide-eyed Demyx back. "Listen, I'm just gonna be a bit while I read my book. When I'm done, I'll help you."
He pulled in closer.
"Got it memorized?"
Demyx's eye twitched as he nervously nodded in reply. Axel slyly grinned. "Good. Don't wait up for me."
Axel pushed back on the shelf, turned around and walked back to the couch, slinking back to his now overturned book.
Demyx was left twitching for a good few minutes, still recovering from the sudden turn of events.
"That had to hurt."
Demyx jumped back, raising his arms in self-defense, then immediately relaxed when he saw who it was.
Nathaniel was laid back, arms crossed and eyebrows raised. His eyes moved from the embedded piece of metal to Demyx.
"You're lucky that didn't poke your eye out, kid."
Demyx slumped his shoulders and sighed. "This happens every time."
"Well, he does hold superiority over you."
"By one rank! What difference should that make?"
Nathaniel just shrugged. Demyx sighed again and returned to his assigned job as Nathaniel closed his eyes in thought.
Hard to believe they don't have hearts.