I'm terrible. I have every inclination to update and I just can't muster the gumption to sit still and do it. Ugh. Shame on me. We can do this.
FIRST OFF it was definitely Zellarius Burvenia's birthday on the 20th, so we're doing his suggestion and filling this with…action! Well..we're going to try! Bwahaha. (That's right kids, if you tell me when it's your birthday, it'll get me to update, haha)
So PsychoBabble brought up an interesting point and gets a cookie; apparently mistletoe is poisonous when ingested, and Axel drinks mistletoe in chapter 37, so…oops? We'll just say Vexen is awesome and magicked out the poisonous property and replaced it with the plotpoint of that story : )
So..on with the show?
What If…
an Organization XIII sparring match got out of control?
((as suggested by the birthday boy Zellarius Burvenia))
"Fight!"
A clash was heard from the practice room of Castle That Never Was as Axel and Xaldin crossed weapons in the center of the fighting circle. The rules were simple: Don't step out of the circle and don't kill anyone.
"You're at the top of your game today, Axel, I'll admit…" Xaldin commented as he blocked Axel's flying chakram with two lances while sending two in Axel's direction.
Axel smirked and parried the lances by entangling them in his remaining chakram before catching the other when as it returned to him. "What can I say?" he said none-too-modestly, "When you've got it," he paused to enclose Xaldin in flames, who protected himself with a cage of lances, only to be thwarted as Axel leapt down through the top of the flames, knocked the lances away with his chakram wheels, and pinned Xaldin to the ground, "You've got it."
Xaldin glared down at the chakram pointed under his chin as the flames disappeared around them. "Do you give?" Axel asked from atop him.
"I give," Xaldin said reluctantly, ending the match.
"Winner: Axel!" Xemnas announced.
Axel stood triumphantly, bowing to the observing Nobodies of Organization XIII. Roxas clapped; even the rest of the Organization had to give him credit. "That's seven victories!" Axel exclaimed, "I can't be beat!"
"Oh I highly doubt that…" Saix murmured quietly, stepping into the ring. "It's time your reign of this training exhibition came to an end, Axel…"
"Really?" Axel said doubtfully, "and you think you can beat me without help from your beloved moon?"
"My dear Axel," Said said, smiling softly as he summoned his claymore in the ring, "I could beat you with my eyes closed. Now if you would stop your strutting around, we can begin the match."
Axel glared and readied his weapons.
"Fight!" called Xemnas.
Saix wasted no time closing the distance between them by unleashing a mighty swing of his claymore at Axel's knees; Axel quickly leapt into the air and landed deftly behind him. Saix turned and thrust his weapon forward, and again Axel gracefully leapt to the side.
"You can't avoid me forever, you know," Saix pointed out, grinning. Before Axel could respond, he darted forward with inhuman speed and swung his weapon down, sending out talons of blue energy. Axel barely had time to dodge and send up his own wall of flame to dodge the blow. He landed on Saix's left, panting.
"Breaking a sweat now, are we?" Saix said with a smirk.
Axel glared. "Less talking," Axel ground out before sending two flame-encrusted chakrams hurtling Saix's way in rapid.
Saix parried the weapons easily, and it dropped to the ground near his feet. "If you insist," he replied cheekily, before bringing his weapon up in a great arc, aimed to land on Axel. Axel dove to the side and continued to roll, intending to pick up his chakrams that lay useless on the ground. Saix saw his motive and brought the claymore around again, forcing Axel to change his path and roll the other way. He stopped abruptly before he rolled out of the circle.
"I almost had you," Saix commented on Axel's near defeat. He continued to stand close to Axel's weapon. "But I will soon."
"Enough!" Axel exclaimed, encircling the circle in flames. He leapt into them, moving in camouflage with the flame walls.
"Burn baby!" he cried as he leapt out of the flames behind Saix, shooting a jet of rising flames at Saix, who was launched to the other side of the circle.
That's it! He's going out of the circle! Axel thought triumphantly as he reached his weapons. However, Saix threw his claymore in mid-air. As Axel stood with his chakrams he was clocked across the jaw with the heavy end, sending him hurtling in the other direction.
Shit…
"Winner: …" Xemnas paused, determining who left the circle first.
"Axel won, Superior," Roxas tried to explain, "he hit Saix first!"
"But Saix's blow was made before he left the ring," Larxene countered. "And shut up anyway; you're biased!"
"Make me." Roxas declared, shooting a smoldering glare at her. The other Nobodies started to bicker and argue, each trying to determine who the victor was. Meanwhile the combatants picked themselves up off the floor, Axel rubbing his jaw.
"Enough." One word from the Superior was all it took to bring on complete silence. "Clearly the match is a draw. Perhaps a rematch could occur now or at a later date," the Superior added, ignoring protests of exhaustion and injury and future problems. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. "Or," he continued, stroking his chin in thought, "we could all take part in a different exercise to determine the true victor. One that is more…subtle."
"Subtle?" questioned Demyx; he was rarely if ever subtle.
"The game is called Assassins," Xemnas continued as if Demyx had never spoken, "and it will require more than brute force to be the victor."
"Well this'll be easy," Marluxia, the Graceful Assassin, remarked.
"I will pass out a slip of paper to each of you, detailing who you are to kill," Xemnas explained. "However, you are not to actually kill them. Because our team is easily prone to…accidents…of a violent nature," he sent a meaningful look around the room, "you must stab your victim with a spoon. Your victim's target then becomes yours. There is no safe zone, and can be no witnesses. Sound fair?"
No, thought everyone, but agreed to the game nonetheless.
-((the game is afoot Watson!))-
Demyx nervously walked the halls of the Castle, looking all around him for his potential attacker. I hate this game, Demyx thought darkly, I couldn't sleep at all yesterday…
He slowly peered around the corner to the next hall. He looked behind him again before continuing on towards breakfast. Everyone can use portals, making things even more difficult. And the worst part, how am I supposed to sneak up on Marluxia? I have the dexterity of a freight train.
Demyx continued to muse on how best to sneak up on Marluxia, and failed to notice the figure appear in a portal behind him…
-((rewind a bit to that morning with Axel and Roxas))-
Roxas watched lazily from the bed as Axel immediately awoke and dressed for the game. Practically losing to Saix clearly is not sitting well with him… he thought as he watched Axel put three spoons in various cloak pockets. He looked twitchy and was constantly aware of what was around him. I guess he forgets he can't be attacked while I'm a witness, Roxas mused as Axel peered out a crack in the door.
"Are you sure you're not my killer, Rox?" Axel asked for the millionth time.
"Axel, for the last time, no," Roxas groaned, "I could have killed you about fifty times already!"
Axel smiled. "This is true." He gave Roxas a goodbye kiss and summoned a portal. "Now you'll excuse me if I don't wait for you, I'm going to get my assassin on early," he grinned and disappeared into the portal.
Roxas sighed before getting out of bed to dress. He pulled the little sheet of paper with the word Axel written on it, tore it to shreds, and threw it in the trash. I can't kill him, Roxas explained to himself for the umpteenth time, it means too much to him.
With the game already losing its luster, Roxas slowly headed to breakfast.
-((back to Demyx and the mystery man))-
Maybe if I charged into his room one night? No, that wouldn't work; what if he was my assassin? Demyx shuddered, then I'd really be screwed…
"Sorry, Demyx." Demyx jumped as cold plastic was jammed into his back. He turned around abruptly. "Axel?"
Axel nodded grimly. "I wouldn't have done it, but you understand right? I've got to take down Saix in this."
Demyx agreed wholeheartedly. "I don't mind. Besides," he looked around conspiratorially, making sure no one else could hear, "now you have to take down Marluxia!" Demyx smiled as he cheerfully walked to breakfast.
-((flash forwards!))-
Axel wondered through breakfast, lunch, and dinner how to get to Marluxia. He was almost never alone, and when he was he retreated into his plant labyrinth of a bedroom. Sure I could take a portal into there, but I could land in a pile of poisonous plants or something… As Axel stood to leave dinner, deciding to camp outside his door for him to emerge from his room the next day, a miraculous opportunity made itself known.
"Superior," Marluxia inquired, "May I go to the market in Twilight Town? I need to pick up some things…"
Meaning hair products, snickered Axel.
"Of course, Number XI," the Superior, said, "just do not forget the game."
"Never, Superior," he said before disappearing into a portal.
Axel practically tripped over himself to exit the cafeteria and enter a portal to follow him.
-((Twilight Town!))-
Axel found himself stalking Marluxia to a haircare products aisle of a store in the Market District. He watched Marluxia in the huge mirror on the corner of the aisle to make sure he could easily sneak up on him. He chose the right moment and abruptly turned into the aisle to make his move—
"Jeez, finally! I thought you were going to stand there and stare at me forever," Marluxia replied, not even looking up from his shampoo selections. Axel paused mid-stab before finishing off Marluxia.
"You knew I followed you?" Axel asked incredulously.
"Duh, Graceful Assassin remember?" Marluxia continued, "If I wanted to win this silly game, I would. But you're enjoying this so much, I'll let you work your tail off to please the Superior instead."
Axel only heard half of his speech; he had disappeared into a portal mid-sentence.
Marluxia rolled his eyes and continued shopping.
-((flash-forward))-
After taking down Xaldin, Larxene, and Vexen (who thought the game was idiotic and juvenile anyways), Axel was finally given Saix's name a few days later.
Game time, Axel thought as he went to the deserted cafeteria to load up on spoons. He won't see it coming—
"I believe your time has come, Axel."
Axel swiftly turned towards the door to see Saix smiling in the doorway, spinning a spoon with his fingertips. He smirked. "Actually, I think it's your time."
Saix raised an eyebrow. "So you have my name as well? We must be the only two left then, considering I eliminated Lexaeus, Zexion, Xigbar, Luxord, and Roxas before I finally got your name.
Axel's smirk faultered. "Roxas had my name?"
Saix's smile grew wider. "Yes, he hardly put up any fight. Pity he didn't take you out during one of your…encounters," he said none-too-casually.
Axel's mind whirled; he forced himself to focus on the task at hand. "That's Roxas' prerogative, not mine. But now, the only problem I see is…you."As Axel finished his statement, he took one of the many spoons in his hand and sent it rocketing at Saix, who swiftly ducked and headed for the other side of the condiments table, grabbing a number of spoons as well.
"So it comes to this," he murmured as he turned to Axel, "I was hoping I would be able to finish you quietly."
"Yeah right," Axel commented snidely before charging with his weapons. Saix leapt over him easily and calmly landed on the table. Axel moved to the other side and followed him up. Saix smiled evilly and brandished four spoons, throwing them at Axel simultaneously. Axel, who had just gained his balance on the table, leapt into the air again, backflipping back onto the ground. Saix however, had leapt after him; the moment he gained his footing on the ground he was tackled to it. Saix landed on him, spoon first.
"Ha!" he exclaimed victoriously, "I do believe that you have been eliminated."
Axel snorted. "I doubt that." He looked pointedly down between them, and Saix followed his gaze. Not only had Saix stabbed Axel with his spoon, upon landing Axel raised a spoon in self-defense and stabbed Saix at the same time.
"Now what?" Axel asked, "We've both been eliminated." Saix stood, brushing himself off.
"I, for one, do not want to go through the tedium of that game again," he said coolly, flicking invisible dust off his cloak, "However," he started with a manic gleam in his eye, "next time we meet in the practice room—"
"You're going to get your ass kicked," Axel finished with a grin.
Without another word, Saix disappeared through the door.
-((but there is still a loose end!))-
Roxas looked up from his desk as Axel entered his room, grinning. "Did you win?" he asked curiously as Axel pulled him from his seat.
"No," he replied, pulling himself close against Roxas, "we stabbed each other at the same time…You had me the whole time?" Roxas blushed and looked away.
"I didn't have the heart to take you down; I knew how much you wanted to go against Saix." He murmured distractedly as Axel started to slowly kiss down his neck.
"I thought so," Axel replied huskily as he came up and placed his forehead against Roxas'. "And that is why you are wonderful," he kissed him sweetly on the lips.
"And you're just realizing this now?" Roxas grinned and pulled Axel down for a proper kiss.
-((End!))-
I cannot believe that this took three days to write. That never happens. I'm losing my little attention span. Anyway, I just HAD to put some fluff in there.
R AND R!
Last one: Payback!
"HOLD THE PHONE!" Axel said, pulling Roxas to a complete stop. "Toys? I think we need to check this out…"
~freaky-hanyou