"DAMMIT LARXENE!" The angry scream echoed, waking almost all of the Organization members from their slumber.
Merix opened her door slightly to poke her head out. Moving it from left to right, she investigated the hallway. Silence. Rubbing vigorously at her tired eyes, she let out a yawn and returned to her bed.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!"
Merix sighed, poked her head through the door and repeated her earlier actions. Nothing but quiet…yet again. Wonder how long it'll last this time, thought Merix, who was now becoming frustrated. She once again attempted to return to bed. BANG! BANG! CRASH! It sounded like something smashing: glass. Maybe it was one of the vases in the castle? A window? With a groan, she pushed herself from her bed - for the very last time - and marched over to Saxen's room, hoping he would be able to help her get to the bottom of this (and finally get some sleep). She pounded on the door with her fist in annoyance until he finally answered.
The door swung open, "What's up with you?" Saxen answered in his usual monotone voice.
Merix scanned her companion, "Why don't you look exhausted?" she cried.
"Because I don't," he replied matter-of-factly. "You never answered my question: what's up with you, other than your terrible choice of PJs."
Merix was standing in her favorite pair of 'Hello Kitty' PJs (a white tank-top with the cat's face on the front and pink bottoms to match her pink fuzzy slippers). "What's wrong with them? Don't diss the cat!" she remarked.
"Okay, how about obvious bedhead style you've got going on."
"…"
"Or the fact that you're standing at my door holding a 'Chocobo' plush toy under your arm like a child."
"Okay! That's enough! I'm already suffering from lack of sleep. I can tolerate your constant dissing of everything about me but then you decide to attack my Chocobo with verbal abuse! That is sonot cool," Merix yelled furiously.
"…. Or that you're very bad-tempered early in the morning."
Merix took a deep breath, held it for a couple of seconds, then exhaled (a method of hers she uses to calm down), "Are you done?"
"For now," smirked Saxen.
"Now then, my reason for being here – notto be insulted of course. Did you hear the commotion?" enquired Merix.
"Yes."
"Uhh, didn't it bother you?"
"Not really, to be honest I don't care."
"This really does confirm my theory…" said Merix thoughtfully, tapping her index finger onto her chin without realizing.
"Huh?"
"Nothing!" She laughed nervously, trying to reassure her companion.
"Anyway, knowing you, you'll wanna check it out and you decided to drag me along as per usual right?" Stated Saxen.
"You know me too well," said Merix with a wink and a giggle.
The corners of Saxen's mouth rose slightly, forming a small smile on his face, "Of course." He chuckled, "Well then what are we waiting for?"
Both nodded at one another and made their way towards the ever-growing noises they could hear. The closer they got, the louder it became. The two came to a halt in front of large double doors, which lead to the large circular room. SMASH! Something crashed into the door, prompting Saxen and Merix to burst through, to find out exactly who was behind it all.
Larxene - in all of her multi-colored hair glory – was standing at the other end of the room, her knives at the ready and sparks of lightning jolting from her fingers. Her eyes were fixed towards the other side of the room (not far from where Merix and Saxen stood) ready to attack whoever stood there. The duo's eyes followed Larxene's daggered (no pun intended) glare to find Axel crouched in fighting stance, ready to defend himself against anything Larxene threw (no pun intended again!) at him.
Wait a minute, that can't be Axel. Is it Axel? No way! The signature red-spikey hair (which was infamous) was now a golden blonde. BLONDE! BLONDE? Even the small triangles under his eyes were a yellow-like color.
"Look, it's 'Super Axel'!" exclaimed Merix trying to stifle her laughter, pointing at Axel's head.
Axel bolted upright, standing straight and turned to face the duo who were now erupting into fits of laughter (with Larxene trying to maintain a serious facial expression, fighting to stop herself from joining in), "S-Shut up!" choked Axel as his chakrins disappeared into thin air.
"Is this your impersonation of a super saiyan?" taunted Saxen.
Axel attempted to cover his hair with his hands in frustration, "No it's not! Go away, this doesn't concern you two."
Saxen turned to Merix, "Yeah he's trying to be like Goku in 'Dragonball' don't you think?"
Merix nodded in agreement trying to keep a straight face by biting her lip, "Yes, he definitely is."
Everyone (excluding Axel) burst into more laughter at the mental image of Axel clad in Goku's clothes and in pose for the 'Kamehameha'.
Axel started to growl furiously at the taunts and remarks he was receiving from his fellow members, "Calm down Goldilocks, we're only joking," said Merix in a humorous tone, waving her hands in front of her, palms facing Axel.
"Grrrrrrr!" Axel's hair burst into flames! Yes, BURST from the anger of the ridicule and burned back into his fiery red shade. His tiny triangles crackling back to their original color from the remaining sparks of fire (to his relief).
(In the Underworld)
Hades' head flamed from a neutral shade of blue to a blazing red and orange color, "WHAT! That's my thing!"
Axel smirked triumphantly, "Looks like the 'do is back: can't pick on my hair anymore." Saxen looked like he was ready to make a remark but decided against it, "Now then…" Axel's chakrins appeared into his hands from bursts of flame and wisps of black smoke, "PAYBACK TIME!" yelled Axel as he charged towards Larxene.
Caught off-guard, she just managed to shield herself from the on-coming attack. The two circled as if in a deadly dance. Merix nudged Saxen, "I think this is our cue to leave," she whispered. Saxen nodded and they both crept out into the corridor, out of harm's way.
Merix turned to Saxen, a serious look forming over her doll-like face, "This was our fault."
Saxen met her gaze, "Yeah it was," he agreed with an emotionless response.
Moments later, they began to laugh, "This worked out better than I thought!" Cheered Merix.
"The quiet ones are always the most deadly," Saxen teased. "Not our fault that our fellow members make a Heartless look intelligent."
"Or the fact that they make an ass outta themselves for assumptions. Y'know what they say about that," added in Merix giggling. "What do ya wanna do now?"
Saxen pretended to think long and hard about how he would respond then proceeded to say, "Let's cut a string off of Demyx's sitar." An evil smirk formed on his face.
"Sounds like a plan Nobody Man!"
Merix and Saxen cautiously crept into Demyx's room, being careful not to wake him. This'll be so easythought Saxen smugly. That was until he saw the sitar was nowhere to be found.
"Damn! Where'd he put that thing," whispered Saxen annoyed.
Merix pointed a slender finger towards the bed, "He's sleeping with it in his arms. Freak."
"Merix, use your telepathy."
"What!" She whispered surprised.
"If you can move his arms off of the sitar I'll make a grab for it," explained Saxen.
"Um, I'm not sure this'll go down well, Sax." Merix responded unsure.
"C'mon, don't be a chicken."
"I'm not a chicken," huffed Merix. Saxen tucked his hands at his waist, pretending to flap imaginary wings and began to cluck (quietly of course) like a chicken. "I'm not a chicken!" Saxen continued to tease Merix until she agreed with a sigh, "Fine, I'll do it."
Merix began to conjure up her powers. Once she felt she was ready, slowly, and carefully – with a mere look of concentration from her eyes – she lifted Demyx's left arm away from the sitar, placing it securely by his side. Suddenly, Demyx moved, causing the two to freeze from the fright. Phew! It was just a yawn. Merix then proceeded to move Demyx's right arm and with sheer concentration, she managed to move his other arm out of the way. Saxen crept up by the bed and made a reach for the sitar, stealing it with great ease from Demyx, just before it hit the ground. He then pulled from his cloak a pair of scissors, snipped off one of the strings quickly, then placed it back securely beside Demyx– he would never know (until tomorrow anyway).
The two companions made their escape from Demyx's room and made a dash down the hallway before anybody could see them. The began imitate what Demyx's reaction will look like when he realizes what's happened to his precious sitar.
"No, no, it'll look like this," said Merix as she pulled a face, looking like she was ready to break down into tears.
"How about this?" Saxen pulled a face, quivering his lip like a child being scolded.
"Or this?"
"This!" Saxen was about to pull a face until he noticed yellow lights in the background…those aren't lights…those are eyes. Yellow eyes. The color drained from Saxen's face once he realized whowas glaring at them, his eyes wide from horror and his mouth gaping from the shock.
"Ohhhhh, that's a good one Sax!" cheered Merix applauding her friend's facial expression.
Saxen shook his head, "Uh…Merix…behind you…" he warned her pointing towards the person.
Curiously, Merix turned around to face the direction Saxen pointed to. Moments later, her face turned pale, her eyes wide: the same reaction as her companion's.
"Sai'x!" Merix squeaked frightened.
"What are you two doing?" asked Sai'x in his usual cool manner.
"We were just…" began Saxen.
"Just…uh…" finished Merix, searching for a response.
"You were just acting like children. Immaturity isn't tolerated here. Nobodies do not act childish," responded Sai'x bitterly, practically spitting venom at Saxen and Merix. Saxen and Merix put their heads down in embarrassment, their gaze to the floor, "Now that you've decided to behave, I have an assignment for you both."
"What is it?" enquired Saxen interested; the only time he really shows any emotion whatsoever is when pulling pranks, getting missions and the occasional sarcasm.
"It's been reported that a few of our minions have become resistant to our commands and have began converting their former allies. They must be stopped or soon most of our ranks will secede."
"And that would be terrible," Merix chimed in. "I mean, I could probably take a thousand on, but what if there was a thousand and one?"
Sai'x's penetrating stare silenced the 'upstart' member.
"If you're quite finished, go deal with it. Traverse Town." The silver-haired superior finally said.
With a nod of affirmation, both nobodies stepped towards the main chamber, the ever-present, heart-shaped moon making its existence known. One portal summoning later, and the duo had left.
Once on the other side of the dark corridor, Merix let out a frustrated growl. "My God It's like his goal in life is to kill joy!"
"Almost like he's a heartless villain or something," Saxen agreed.
"Honestly, one of these days, we're gonna do something to him" Merix vowed. "Like… I dunno, paint a sun in his room!"
Saxen glanced at her, his expressionless face conveying a questioning stare.
"He likes moons," Merix explained impatiently.
Saxen merely shrugged and checked their surroundings. From what Saxen knew of Traverse Town, it had essentially played the role of a refugee camp for countless citizens who had somehow escaped the plague of darkness gripping their home worlds. Now… well, it was just a town, really. Less people maybe.
"Anyway. Renegade Nobodies." Saxen reminded his ranting companion. "Might want to do something about that."
"Like make them paint Sai'x's room a bright yellow!" Merix announced.
"There's that," Saxen nodded, and walked towards some giant, wooden doors. "Or we could not give Sai'x a reason to murder us in our sleep and do incredibly easy – if boring – work."
Merix continued grumbling, but followed Saxen as he passed the doors, arriving in the town's first district. The place was empty, somewhat unusually. Most likely the work of the Nobody's rebellion.
The two turned right, ascending the stairs that led to some shop and wound round, still not seeing anything.
"Where do these people go when they hide?" Merix wondered aloud. "Are they all shacking up in the accessory shop?"
"Does it matter? It just means we don't have to do some stupid stealth mission." Saxen stated.
District One yielded no results, so they moved onto the second, where they immediately happened upon a passing Dusk.
The contorting Nobody practically froze as it passed by, while the duo stared blankly back.
"…Hi." Merix eventually said waving her hand slightly at it, causing the Dusk to flip wildly and run away.
"Harsh," Saxen commented. "Didn't even get to use your pick up line."
"Did you know I never exempted you from the prank list?" Merix warned. "Now, go get that thing!"
The male rolled his eyes and casually strolled in the direction that the Dusk escaped. Of course, the girl with the telekinesis made the guy with the children's musical instrument chase after the weakest of the weak.
The Dusk had weaved through the air, passing by the motel and into the bell tower on the other side of the district. Saxen figured that it might be planning to launch an ambush as soon as he stepped inside with all his treacherous pals. Basically, mass suicide.
…Treachery, huh? Saxen wondered as he walked ever closer to the building. Why would mindless little peons even consider this? It's not like they can be unhappy with the working conditions.
And yet, the issue constantly nagged at him, trying to force him to study this avenue of thought. He tried to shake it away. There was nothing to analyze. Those Nobodies, somehow, decided to rebel and break free.
Saxen stopped, frowning slightly. They were free? No… they were traitors. That wasn't freedom. That was a life on the run. The organization weren't big fans of retirement. Not the greatest morale booster, and certainly demanded some commitment to the job, but it was all he and Merix had. That may even be true for at least some of the other members.
It's a nice thought, though. Saxen's mind continued relentlessly. Having the ability to choose what you want to do, how to live your life. As fake as it may be.
"Yo, Ditzen!" Merix's voice sailed through the air, wrenching his mind back to the present. "I gave you a job to do, so get to it!"
With a nonchalant wave in her general direction, Saxen focused on his task and walked to the entrance of the tower, opening the door.
What greeted him was a swift kick to the chest, forcing Saxen to the wall behind and pinning the sarcastic Nobody with a soft grunt.
It was one of those shape-shifting Nobodies, the kind that couldn't decide if they wanted to be a shoe or a sword. Within the cramped-looking building were several more Nobodies of various ranks, although the only 'dangerous' looking one was the samurai class.
The Creeper Nobody had distanced itself slightly, morphing into a sword. As it did, Saxen's weapons seemed to emerge from clouds of darkness around his hands. Before the Nobody could thrust itself through his chest, Saxen casually swung a cymbal, the razor-sharp edge cutting through the 'grip' of the sword, and another slice cut the blade.
Once the Nobody had disappeared into oblivion, Saxen stepped towards the tower, several Nobodies attempted to rush towards him.
Clash.
The sound waves emitted from the crashing of his cymbals forced the enemies back, slamming into walls and each other. As they lay stunned, Saxen dismissed one of the cymbals, a red ball forming in his hand.
"Fira." The magic ball of fire flew into the crowd, destroying the weaker enemies and damaging anyone else caught in the blast radius. Several Dusks staggered to their feet, while the Samurai slowly advanced.
Ignoring the slowly recovering Dusks for now, Saxen concentrated on the Samurai that drew its blade and ceased its approach, a few mere feet away.
"We're really doing that?" Saxen sighed. "Well, fine."
Saxen stepped forward, a single cymbal raised to chest height, while the Samurai pointed its blade skyward. Time seemed to slow down as the two faced off, daring each other to make the first move.
Finally, the Samurai began to move, the blade lowered to cleave Saxen, but before it could take a step forward, the bored looking Nobody simply threw his weapon onto its head, shredding the warrior with ease.
Deciding not to comment on how silly it was to expect a cymbal to be used in a quick draw in the first place, Saxen brought both weapons back to his hands, and finished the job.
A few minutes later, Merix leaned against the wall just outside the tower when her companion emerged, none the worse for wear. "Have fun?"
"I considered giggling manically at one point, but that didn't feel original," Saxen replied. "Thanks for your valuable contribution, by the way. Got us through so much quicker."
"Yeah yeah, I' m awesome and stuff, so let's go and report back." Merix waved the comment away with a roll of her eyes.
"Dismissed."
Sai'x', with no other words to accompany that statement, practically ignored the pair and returned to writing something down in his journal or report or secret diary. Whatever seemed more likely.
Saxen nodded and turned to leave, with Merix following suit. In the empty hallways, she made sure the silver-haired member wasn't about to pounce on them before saying, "You know, the occasional praise is awesome for morale, I hear. He should try it."
"Yeah, I'm sure if he just said 'good job you guys, hugs and kisses all around', we'd be far more willing to waste our time with his stupid odd-jobs."
"You almost sound genuinely annoyed," Merix said with a grin. "Don't tell me you learned to emote!"
Saxen didn't reply, but the organization member approaching them caught his attention.
"Hey guys!" Demyx greeted them with a small wave. "Glad I caught you, I need a favour."
"What? We're not pranking anyone, it's not our thing," Merix lied quite blatantly, leaving the blonde Nobody looking confused.
"What? It's nothing like that! And it's for him anyway," Demyx nodded in Saxen's direction. "So, guy, you hear that Sai'x' paired us up for sparring?"
The silent young man shook his head.
"When'd he do that?" Merix asked.
"It's on the billboard." Demyx pointed out impatiently. "And look, I'm kinda skating on thin ice, and if I lose, Sai'x; might… y'know…"
Saxen exhaled. "So you want me to throw the match?"
"Thanks!" Demyx apparently took that as an affirmative, and immediately took his leave, calling over his shoulder, "I'll pay ya back for this, man! See you tomorrow!"
The duo watched the sitar-playing member leave, before the female rounded on Saxen and said in disbelief, "You're not really going to-"
"Nope," Saxen replied simply. "I don't mind throwing pointless fights, but that's Demyx. I can't bear losing to hm."
Merix looked relieved. "Great. Kick his ass, maybe get him fired, and go on with our lives." She then tilted her head, looking thoughtful. "…Although, if we're doing that to him, maybe we should leave the sitar alone?"
Saxen only shrugged again. "Heh, bit too late for that. Well, whatever. Let's get changed and hit the pub."