Author's Note (from rarmaster!): so uhh... I'm not sure. I've been trying to write something for a while, and all that spewed out was stuff between Joseph and 29. So... yeah, I just figured "what the hey, I'll go with it"
"Can I have a skateboard!"
29 didn't bother turning around, and just continued walking. Joseph quickened his pace to keep up with him.
"Why do you want a skateboard?" 29 asked, glancing down at Joseph.
"The kids in Twilight Town have one, and they let me ride it, and it was really fun! I want one too! Please!"
"No," 29 said simply.
Joseph pouted. "Why not?" he whined.
"No," 29 said again.
"But you won't let me hang out in Twilight Town either! I may never get to skateboard again!"
29 paused, and then slowly pulled a card out of his pocket. "Here," he muttered, handing it to Joseph. "Go create a version of Twilight Town in one of the rooms. You can skateboard there. But only there, got it?"
Joseph took the card, grinning, and nodded.
"Thank you so much!" he called, running off.
29 shook his head. "That boy…" he muttered. "One of these days… One of these days he's going to get himself hurt."
"29?" Master Vexen called. 29 quickly rushed over.
"Yes, sir?" he asked.
"Did I assign you any particular jobs?" Master Vexen asked.
"No, sir," 29 replied.
"Keep an eye on Joseph, then," Master Vexen said, nodding in the direction of a recently created Replica. It was a young boy, probably only 9 or so. "Make sure he stays out of trouble."
29 sighed.
From that day on, I watched over the boy. It was the only job I had ever had, and I took it seriously. I did everything I could to make sure he stayed safe.
And then Saix took over the Replica Program.
Saix never did like Joseph. Joseph didn't have a specific job and, to Saix, was useless.
29 closed his eyes, clearly remembering the day when Saix had confronted him about that.
"That boy is nothing but a nuisance and a distraction," Saix had said. "He has no purpose, no reason to be around, why don't we just get rid of him?"
"Aw! But we can't get rid of Joseph!" Demyx protested.
Saix ignored him, eyes fixed on 29, to whom the question had been originally directed.
"It would be going against the Master's orders," 29 replied simply, calmly.
"Vexen is no longer around," Saix said coldly. "His orders mean nothing."
"I will not allow you to destroy Joseph," 29 scowled. "He has been placed in my care, and I decide what happens to him. Having him destroyed is not an option."
Saix's scowl darkened also. "Keep that boy in line then," he snapped. "If you fail to do so, I will get rid of you both."
29 shook his head, and then walked at a brisker pace.
That was the only reason I rebelled, he thought. To make sure Joseph remained safe.
If I had stayed with the Organization much longer, Saix would have killed Joseph, no matter what I told him.
He paused, as Joseph shot past him on a skateboard. He frowned, and caught Joseph by the scruff of the neck when he skateboarded past again. The skateboard continued rolling, tripping a poor Marluxia Replica.
"What are you doing!" Joseph asked, flailing a bit in attempts to escape 29's grasp.
"This is why I didn't want you to get a skateboard!"
"It wouldn't have tripped him if you hadn't have stopped me!" Joseph complained.
29 sighed and set Joseph down. "Just… be… careful…" he muttered.
"Okay!" Joseph asked, running off again.
29 sighed. "Where's that Vexen from the other universe where you need him? He somehow manages to keep Joseph out of trouble… consistently…"