By : Shawnathan
Chapter : 10
[A/N : I realized after reading the review of chapter X, suggesting that posting filler and calling it quits there was fucking bullshit, was spot on. That being said, I still don't have the time to commit to continuing this. I didn't want to tease people with the new angle I had planned for this story, and then not deliver. So, because I feel somewhat obligated, here is the UNFINISHED final chapter that I wasn't going to post. Well, not final, but the last one that's going up for a long time. It's only about a third of the way written. Dig it or don't, this is where it was (is?) going.]
[Disclaimer : I own nothing. All credit to Disney/Square Enix]
Demyx was scarcely able to pull his jaw off the floor. He hadn't seen his older brother in at least two years, and the circumstances made things even more difficult. Demyx found himself analyzing his brother's appearance; if possible, Saix had gotten even bigger and more muscular, and had grown his hair out halfway down his back, but the large scar was the biggest difference by far... how did something like that happen? Saix was staring back at him with a blank expression, barely showing any emotion at all.
Saix sighed, clenching his fists for a brief moment before speaking. "Demyx, can I come in so we can talk?" He tried not to show weakness or vulnerability anymore, but that would be hard with Demyx. He hoped that this wouldn't be a huge mistake on his part. "Or would you prefer to have this discussion out in the open?" Demyx finally unfroze, stepping to the side and gesturing for Saix to enter. Saix had to duck to enter the building, his massive shoulders scarcely able to fit through the door frame at all.
Closing the door gently, Demyx walked back inside his band's practice space, drifting over toward the fridge as Saix headed for the nearest couch. "Um... did you want something to drink? A beer or... well, water, I guess..." Saix simply shook his head, gesturing for Demyx to come and join him. Demyx hesitated, unsure of how to go about any of this... and Zexion wasn't around for him to lean on, literally or figuratively. He purposefully took his time popping a beer, trying to seem nonchalant as he texted Zexion; Please hurry over here when you can. Unexpected company making me uncomfortable – it's Saix! Sliding his phone into his chest pocket, Demyx made his way to the couches, choosing to sit across from Saix rather than next to him. "So, it's been forever, how have you been? More importantly, where did y-" Saix had cleared his throat, looking back at Demyx with an intensely serious expression.
"Demyx, I'm here to take you back with me. Back home, to our parents." Saix said, with no reservations in his voice. He had meant every word of it. Demyx laughed nervously and averted his gaze, eyes flashing over anything in the room other than his estranged brother, finally settling on his beloved sitar. Saix suppressed an angry growl, taking a deep breath before speaking again, producing a slip of paper and holding toward Demyx. "I just got home from overseas a week ago. This is my hotel's address and number, my cell's on the back. Dem, could you please just look at me. This is serious, and it's important to me... and to mom and dad."
At the mention of his adoptive parents, Demyx's temper spiked. It rarely did, but this was one of the touchy subjects that brought it out in him. "Important to mom and dad?! That's a laugh! They kicked me out, Sai, they disowned me... I was scared that they had shipped you off to military school and that I would never see you again, and to top it all off I had to pretend like I was never a member of the family! You don't know, you don't understand..." Demyx took a swig of beer, which Saix took as an opportunity to speak up in protest.
"They did ship me off, Dem. I graduated and joined the army, moved all of my things out of the house, and threatened to never speak to them again." Saix let that sink in properly before continuing his story. "They weren't ready for it... they weren't prepared to see us like that, either of us. It was never something that had crossed their minds, and then they walk in on..." He trailed off, cheeks reddening a little. "Any parents would freak out, seeing that. They're willing to put it all in the past now, though, and are trying make amends for what they did to us. Can you forgive them, Dem?" His voice resonated deeply with sincerity as he finished. "I really want you back in my life."
Before Demyx could give any sort of response, there was a loud knock at the door. He shot up immediately and bolted for the door, praying silently that it would be Zexion. He needed the support right now. When he opened the door, one slightly confused azure eye stared back at him, Zexion seeming out of breath. Demyx was going to say something, thank him for coming, but before he could speak Zexion's lips were on his. When the kiss broke, Demyx was blushing, but felt a lot better. Zexion looked up at him, running a hand across his collarbone. "You okay, love? You had me kind of worried." Zexion's eyes widened as he looked over Demyx's shoulder, tensing up slightly. "Jesus tap-dancing Christ, that's your brother?" Demyx was struggling to hold back tears, but nodded, taking Zexion's hand. Zexion closed the door behind him, and they walked in together to where Saix was waiting in silence.
Demyx squeezed Zexion's hand gently, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. This had to be done. "Saix, things are different now, I'm different. I'm sorry for everything that happened to you, but... I can't go back with you. I want to see mom and dad again, but... I can't be with you. What we had, it wasn't love, it was lust." Demyx could see that Saix was getting angry, so he hurried his explanation along. "Even if there were feelings there, there couldn't be anymore. I've been in a relationship with Zexion-" He held their hands up, fingers interlaced in a kind and loving gesture. "-for several months now, and he's asked me to marry him." Saix's eyes went wide at the latest revelation, body shaking ever so slightly, tremors that were subtle but threatening. "We love each other, and I fully intend to follow through and marry him after we graduate. I hope that you, mother, and father can respect that decision. There are no plans for any ceremony yet, since it's so far off, but you are all invited... if you really want to be in my life again, then that's the time and place to start."
Saix's face was contorted in anger, but it was his lack of body language that was frightening. No sudden movements, or movement at all, seeming tensed... almost coiled like he wanted to attack. Demyx briefly considered that, with his history, Saix just might. Zexion was standing firm, though obviously scared, hiding behind his slate hair. Demyx opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced by Saix. "I'm sorry to have shown up like this, I had no way of knowing." Saix headed for the door, massive shoulder muscles clenching when he walked past them. Demyx reached out to Saix with his free hand, calling out "I still care about you, and our parents... and you're still my brother. Also, no way of knowing what?" Saix had paused in the doorway, waiting for Demyx to finish, one massive hand clenching the door frame so tightly that it must have hurt. He turned away, hair swaying out behind him as he walked, muscles tensing off and on all the while. "How much things have changed. Bye, Dem." Saix released his hold on the doorway, fingernails scraping away both paint and splinters of wood as he disappeared.
Demyx didn't go after his brother, simply mouthing the name "Sai", and sliding down to the floor. Zexion followed suit, wrapping his arms around bony shoulders, face buried in the spikes he had come to love. "Are you okay Demyx? His timing couldn't have been worse, could it? Right after I bugged you about your family, dredged up bad memories, made you tell that story..." Demyx had been silent until that point, shaking his head and holding a finger to Zexion's lips upon hearing that. "You didn't make me do anything, Zexy. I brought it up, and insisted that you know about... my past. Yes, my brother's timing was poor, but... I miss my family. All of them." It was hurting him to discuss all of this, but he knew that it had to happen eventually. It sucked that it had to happen this way, though. Of all the strange happenings, why would Saix show up here, now?
[Three days later, October 27th]
Twilight University's campus was livelier than usual, decorations going up everywhere in preparation for the festivities. Many students would be using Halloween as an excuse to get wasted, which was their right, but Zexion wasn't so sure. He was deliberating having a few drinks with Demyx, but he needed to be in his right mind in the coming days, so anything else was out of the question. The memory of Saix was still frightening to him; Demyx had explained his brother's violent history to Zexion, but that information, coupled with the fact that Saix now had military training, was making him very nervous. He wasn't much of a fighter, to say the least... if things kicked off, he would have to resort to that. Shaking the dark thoughts from his head, Zexion checked his watch, and headed off to his next class.
Demyx was sprawled out on his bed, strumming mindlessly at his sitar. He knew that the others would find it annoying, but he didn't want to be anywhere near the practice space right now. Roxas had suggested that Demyx go and attempt to reason with Saix, visit the hotel, speak with him in private, but... he didn't think he had it in him to do that. There was no way of telling what might happen. Trying to put it all behind him, Demyx packed a bowl for himself, letting the chemical do its job. He had taken to working on his Halloween costume to keep his mind of things. Without telling Zexion a bit about it, Demyx had made a nearly perfect replica of Vash's red coat from Trigun, and had the perfect sunglasses to match.
Smiling at his now completed costume, Demyx glided to the kitchen for a drink, where he was greeted by Axel. "Hey Dem, can I have a word?" Demyx nodded, grabbing a beer and popping the top, wondering what this could be about, since Axel never sounded this serious. He hopped up on the counter, and motioned for Axel to continue. Axel paced a bit, finally leaning against the fridge with his arms crossed, voice sharp. "I think Saix has been around. Like... he might be following you, or Zexion, or both... I'm not sure which. I'm pretty sure I've seen him about, maybe once or twice, but I feel like someone is being watched." Demyx was speechless for a moment. He didn't think Saix would do such a thing. "If he is, then are you going to report it?" Demyx shook his head, swigging the beer again, taking his time to construct an appropriate answer.
"No. He would never do anything to hurt me, Axel, I know it. He isn't a bad person, really, he's just been through some bad stuff. You know the story. If he ever threatens anyone or anything, I will report him in a second, don't worry about that." Axel's face said that he wasn't entirely buying Demyx's explanation, but he nodded all the same, and walked back to the bedroom. Demyx couldn't help but crack a smile and giggle at Axel, whose body was covered with love bites and scratches. "Tell Roxas I said to take it easy on you, I don't want our front man getting so banged up he can't perform." Axel cracked a smile, the arrogant grin everyone had become so accustomed to, before responding with "Trust me, the last thing you have to worry about is me having performance issues." Demyx heard Roxas groan from the back room, which instantly improved his mood, making him laugh. "I love you guys." Axel waved without turning back, but Demyx was sure he was still smiling.
[October 30th, 1:19 AM, Zexion's Dorm]
Zexion was laying on his bed, headphones in, using music to help him ignore the rough sex going on across the room in Sora's bed. He was going to try to catch some sleep, but Demyx had texted him and asked to come over. Unable to say no, Zexion had simply put his phone on vibrate and turned his music up when Sora had shown up practically wrapped around Riku. He couldn't fault either of them really. The light from the hallway broke Zexion's concentration, causing him to look up and see a half-naked Sora and Riku sneaking off to the bathroom. Before his brain had time to form an opinion on Sora's exposed rear end, Zexion's phone went off, making him jump a little. He rose from the bed like a zombie, heading down to the coffee shop to meet Demyx.
Demyx got coffee for the two of them, and invited Zexion to walk out in the cold with him. Normally Demyx hated cold weather, but with a hot cup of coffee and Zexion leaning against him, it wasn't so bad. "So listen, I know that the whole Saix thing was a lot to take in, but you stood firm... even when Saix was right there, with that intense look he always gets. I guess I just wanted to say thank you for that." Zexion gave his hand a squeeze, making Demyx's cheeks redden, and stood up on his tiptoes to whisper "It's no problem. I love you." They were about to kiss, their bodies pressed together, when a feral growl made the two of them jump. Demyx thought it must have been someone pranking them, until he looked up. Saix was standing before them, but... he was different; glowing yellow eyes, fingernails that had grown into claws... teeth that were now bared as fangs. Demyx was shaking, terribly frightened, but he noticed that Zexion was still, face calm and blank like it was the day they first met.
Zexion stepped in front of Demyx, who was visibly shaken and unable to move, pulling a book out of his hoodie. It had been ages since the last time Zexion had needed to use that, but he had prepared for it the moment he'd first seen Saix. "You need to walk away, Saix. You don't want to hurt your brother, and hurting me would hurt him to. This isn't the way... you know that." Zexion could see his words were having no effect, so he opened the book and began to read.
"Oculus requeus finitus blanchamora"
A dark purple glow, almost black, began to pour from the book. Saix let out a wail and clutched his eyes, angrily swiping at the air. Zexion, however, had already taken Demyx's hand and was running away as fast as his legs would carry him. Demyx was looking very concerned, staring back as he asked "What did you do to him? What was that Zexy?" Zexion simply kept running until he and Demyx were back at the dorm, charging up the stairs and into his room. Mercifully, Sora and Riku had decided to stay gone. Either that, or they were having sex in the shower.
Demyx collapsed onto the bed, clutching his ribs. "What... what was all that?" He was worried about Saix, and about Zexion. What was that weird book, and what did Zexion do to Saix?