#Temperance ZEX
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Show some restraint, would you? (Patreon)
#Doodles#SCII#ZEX#DAX#No <3#Unless you mean of a different kind lol#Human DAX/classic VUX ZEX hits randomly lol#''Oh DAX if only you were a human!'' ''>|/'' Poor DAX haha#Although that second DAX is classic VUX! Just had to set the cast lol#They pop up all over my pages wherever whenever#Highly detailed is still quite fun :) Simplified has its own charms of course! Including being faster and easier lol#Both handsome âȘ#VUX embraces are fun haha - always a tricky business of interspecies interfacing!#DAX in particular is difficult for his own prickly reasons haha#It really is fun to imagine a tentacle-arm hug tho - preference for top or bottom of the arm to grip or lay flat against back or shoulders#What would be more comfortable for ZEX! For DAX! Would the bumpy scales feel strange over his uniform!#As well as trying to twine with stiff arms and no head tendrils âȘ But that's what he wants! Has wanted for such a while!#Getting just a touch spiced with binding DAX's arms in that second embrace#Temperance ZEX#No such thing to be found what a shame hehe <3#What a tricky situation! However will DAX get out of it haha#''Those clothes suit a VUX better anyhow''#You just think that because of your views on humans ZEX#Obviously haha#Silliness
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here are some notes i have for the mcd versions of mid characters ^v^
avaâs dad runs pikoro after luke left, being a mayor instead of a lord
once aphmau comes to pikoro village, not too sure on keeping the war because i havenât gotten there yet, ava begs her dads if she can live in phoenix drop
once they do move, they befriend kiki, brendan, emmalyn, donna, and logan
lorelai also moves to phoenix drop and recognizes dante because they grew up in the same village
they become friends, neala and nana love spending time with her, and becomes a great babysitter
they also become close with eilele {emma}
ava and lorelai also become friends, but thatâs after a lot of pushing and pulling
jake has a crush on ava, and feels it would be creepy to follow her to phoenix drop so he stays in pikoro and does odd jobs around the village
kristen and orin are roomates/best friends
kristen works as a guard and knows ivy well, orin works at a bakery
steve lives in naâhakra because he wanted to join the jury but realized that he couldnât make it as a guard
he tried to join the thiefâs guild, but boss disapproved him because nobody really liked him except kalzul {probably gonna change his name}
mavis oats is the guardian of her granddaughter, marlene, and live in scaleswing
when marlene spends the night at a friendâs house mavis goes to a couple taverns
ash is a shadow knight and barely remembers his living life
his brother, rhett {rhal}, had moved out of meteli looking for a more exciting life
he married a princess, linsdey bish, a well-known woman. she is a cousin of the roâmae family and has a reputation for being cold
he tries to show he cares for his husband, but some days it feels like he just used him to get to the throne
but there are surprising soft days where they stay together and do activities that donât include the other person. rhett cherishes these days
when they have had conversations of heirs, rhett wants to ask if his last name could be used as a middle name. with the kingdomâs relationships with the extinct creature, bish waves it away
after her children/grand children moved away, leah griffin moved from meteli to p-d-g to life out the rest of her life
noi is a fairy who presses his hair pink
rhys is a human scholar who is friends with emmalyn
he was one of the people who warned emmalyn about zane before he showed up
and once the irena-dimension people got stuck, he stopped getting letters from emmalyn and tried to move as fast as possible to phoenix drop
by the time he got there everyone had just gotten back, he stayed for about a week to make sure everything was going to be okay before heading back home
he did come back to officiate his friendâs wedding, though, since he was a church officiated scholar
leif works as a border protector, being one of the strongest elves. they also work as a personal guard for gabriel
theyâre enkiâs oldest child, they donât know about their siblings
pierce is a mer who has a couple of small fishing hooks through thier tail, they like to keep it as decoration like sirens
they live in deeper water than other mermaids, partially because thye donât talk much
mavrick green meets up with marcell stoker for lunch and chess every day
marcell is a retired author who has taken an apprentice, a girl named beatrice, and tries to teach her all he can since he feels he doesnât have much time left
once he does pass, he leaves everything to his daughter. people were confused since he never married, but beatrice grieves even more after learning this
she still meets up with mavrick for chess and lunch in her fatherâs stead
zex is half meiâfwa and half changing
their mother hating raising them, often talking about how she regretted having them
she had also âlost her temperâ when they were about 7 and had hit them across the face, where they have a scar from their temple to the corner of their eye
once zex had enough resources and courage, they caught the boat that the sigil kids, and nana, had built just before they started on their trip
once they were on the water michi asked if they wouldâve swam after them, to which zex said yes
zex works as a personal guard for queen bish, doing whatever she needs
johnny lives as a full-blooded meiâfwa who helps harvest crops for the island
mirage lives with his fairy family instead of her meiâfwa family, preferring that he wonât be stared at when she presses her hair
he likes to style others hair as well
lorelai and ava eventually move in together as well, and start dating <2 love wins n all that
gay: devon, andrew, zex, rhys
bi: kristen, noi, orin, leif, mirage, lorelai, lindsey
aroace: ava, ash, marlene, pierce
aro: bish, leif
ace: orin, jake, rhys
straight: mavis, steve, leah
trans: mirage, orin, lorelai
nonbinary: pierce, mirage, orin, leif, rhys, zex, johnny
cis: ava, kristen, devon, andrew, mavrick, marcell, mavis, noi
she/her: mavis, marlene
he/him: devon, andrew, rhys, mavrick, marcell, steve, jake, ash
they/them: pierce, leif, zex
she/they: ava, lorelai
he/they: johnny, orin
she/he: lindsey, kristen, noi, mirage
#aphmau#minecraft diaries#my inner demons#irena's inkwell#irena's sticky note#just found out about the subset bullet points oh my irene
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Saturated Sunrise
Rating: G Pairings: Demyx/Ienzo, others implied Characters: Various Setting:Â Post KH3
Summary: Observations were his thing and, in all honesty, Ienzo was a very interesting person to observe.
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Ienzo was strange.
Not in a bad way, Demyx thinks, watching the other flip through lab notes for something that heâd explained at least three times already, distracted by far too many things to take in most of the words. How could he not be? Recognisance had always been his forte, few people ever spent too long looking at strange folk with instruments playing for change in the town square, regardless of what world he was observing, it was always the same.
But nowâŠbut now he didnât have an instrument to distract his fingertips, watching how something deeper than annoyance flickered onto Ienzoâs features, eyes break from the hastily scrawled pages of a report to the offended hand before back to his reading, muttering something quietly under his breath.
Heâs switched his breathing, in through the nose, out through the mouth. A calming technique. Was Ienzo anxious or something else? Demyx cocking his head to the side as he tried to figure out his new found puzzle. As Zexion, heâd simply fix him a flat stare and sigh to exhibit his annoyance with him, name him a fool and go back to ignoring him but with Ienzo it was different, his reactions more extreme in the short term before simmering off into seemingly nothing.
Demyx wanted to know more.
Wants to know the differences between the two, were they as similar as Axel and Lea or were they the polar opposite, Ienzo had already provided evidence for this. The shock of seeing him and the hesitation to move forward, the way heâd cried when reunited with his father, it was different but good, an unexpected surprise that had only served to hook him in.
Perhaps its selfish to want more, Demyx contemplates, deciding to put his focus elsewhere, the computer heâd more or less draped himself across, the tea stain on Ienzoâs lab coat on the cuff of his left sleeve, maybe even the black screens on the other side of the lab that had put themselves to sleep about twenty minute ago. Anywhere other than Ienzo before his mind started to-
âYou keep frowning like that and Iâll start to think youâre not Demyx.â
âHuh?â
âYouâve been quiet for thirty minutes and now youâre frowning at nothing.â He teases, Demyx enraptured by the small, almost shy smile on the otherâs lips to the point he forgets to react to the comment, seeming frozen in time as he takes it in. Oh, he could get used to Ienzo smiling at him like that oh too easily Demyx staring dumbfoundedly as Ienzo spoke again only for nothing to register, Ienzo raising a brow at him as that smile almost, almost, broke into a grin.
âWhat did you say Zex- I mean Ienzo, I didnât hear you.â
âNothing important.â
Heâs teasing him again, standing from the desk and stretching, a resounding crack that made Demyx wince whilst Ienzo just sighed, as if relieved to hear it as opposed to somewhat horrified. âI thinkâŠI think I need a cup of tea; Iâll be back shortly. Please donât touch anything.â
And he doesnât. He just sits and watches the way Ienzo goes, wondering if he had missed truly was important or not.
---------------------------
It becomes routine, after a while, for Demyx to come by the lab after heâd finished his rounds, watching the shorter man as he worked, making mental note after mental note of the little changes in emotion and watching for the flashes, as Demyx now referred to them.
Fleeting yet fascinating, it feels strange this role reversal, where Demyx becomes the scientist and Ienzo the unknowing test subject, watching anger flash in blue eyes before resigning quickly to neutrality and ultimately to something sadder, guilt perhaps? Demyx had felt it enough himself but had never really seen it worn by someone else so clearly.
âYou need a break.â He states, eyes flicking up from the screen to fix the Nobody with a reluctant stare, looking torn between arguing against the request and accepting it, pale hands coming up to Ienzoâs neck, picking at something just hidden by the collar. Another new thing heâd noticed, he picks at his neck when nervous or overloaded, Demyx contemplating stepping down before shaking his head. âA small break might clear your head and help you think straight.â
Ienzo snorts, rolling his eyes insolently like heâd heard this a thousand times before, no doubt from Aeleus or Even, the latter always seeming to hover around like a mother hen whenever the older scientist was with Ienzo, seemingly unaware of Demyxâs presence or, the more likely, choosing to ignore him all together. But still, the young man gets up, shedding his lab coat before discarding it on his chair and walking away from the desk, pausing to turn only when he didnât hear following footsteps.
âWell?â
âWell what?â
He clicks his tongue, fixing Demyx with a stare only a fraction less intense than something Zexion would wear when scolding him. âYou, me, break.â Short and sweet, straight to the point with little room to argue, not that Demyx ever would have, scrambling upwards to his feet, practically bouncing along with Ienzo to first the kitchen and then the gardens.
They take seat by a wall fountain, the stress in Ienzo seeming to melt away with the sound of the flowing water, slouching against the cold wall and nursing the cup of tea in his hands like it was the only thing still tethering the scientist to the mortal coil. He looks younger somehow, pinning his hair back with one hand as he sipped his tea, the slight breeze seemingly an ever-present threat to tarnishing both Ienzoâs drink and hair.
âYou know, I could probably get you a headband or some clips after my next shift.â
âWouldnât want to be a bother.â
Youâre never a bother, he thinks, a thought and belief heâs held for long enough now that heâs fairly certain it was incapable of changing into anything but. Heâs talking again, eyes lighting up with almost childlike curiosity as Ienzo talks about his latest project, the thing that had been bothering up until the point Demyx had requested he take a break.
âAerith asked me to look for someone.â The flower girl, a sweet woman who always brought flowers into the office when he dropped by to pick up the mail for the day, the only person heâd seen so far that could lecture his new boss on something without the Blonde glaring as fiercely at her as he had done with any irate customer who came in to complain about a delay or lost delivery. âSomething about your boss and an old friend.â
âHe has friends?â Itâs a jest and heâs thankful when Ienzo smiles at it, unsure of it the younger man had ever met his grumpy boss, Cloud, to fully grasp the concept. Probably not, he only left the lab to eat, sleep and when someone bothered him enough to get out of his chair but, even then, he only went as far as the gardens. âI thought finding someone would be easy, youâve got the database all set up, right?â
âRight butâŠâ Ienzo pauses, the guilt creeping bag in as he seemingly sags under the weight of it, âbut most of them are on world or I have a decent description of. I only have a name to go by and the barest hope that maybe one of the keyblade wielders has heard of him.â
Again, heâs scratching at his neck, frowning at the flowers opposite the pair almost intense enough to make them wilt under the seer force of it. A distraction, perhaps, to get his mind off of the thoughts of anxious and inadequacy that were surely plaguing him. âItâs a weird name donât you think?â
âWhat is?â
âCloud.â
Thereâs a pause, Ienzo freezing before he laughs, genuinely, Demyx struck by just how magical it sounded as shoulders quaked, racked by humour. He wants to hear this again, never thinking that heâd ever get the other to laugh so mirthfully, Ienzo wiping his face before fitting Demyx with a look like he was about to break down into giggles at any moment.
âReally?â
âWell yeah, itâs a dumb nameâ
âYour name is Demyx.â
âI didnât pick my name!â
He starts laughing again, leaning against Demyx this time as he tried to temper the amusement down, covering his mouth as giggles threatened to bubble up all over again. âI donât think he picked his name either, besides people in glass houses should not be throwing bricks.â
âI will throw bricks and stand proudly in the shattered remains of my hypocrisy.â
Ienzo is silent for perhaps a moment too long, Demyx shifting unconsciously under the gaze before shrugging and laughing to himself again. âI never knew you to be so eloquent.â It feels like a compliment so heâll take it, Demyx hating the bubbling embarrassment at the otherâs words, wondering if there would ever be a moment he doesnât fluster at praise. It didnât have to be from Ienzo, heâd nearly crumbled under the kind words of an elderly lady over a simple flower delivery.
âMight have picked up a thing or two from some guy I know.â He huffs, hoping Ienzo doesnât pursue the subject and, much to Demyxâs relief, he doesnât, simply humming and sipping his tea, a silence descending on the pair that is neither uncomfortable or stifling, just he sound of birds, the town below and the pouring water of the fountain acting as the only thing rupturing the otherwise serene silence.
The scientist is still leaning against him, Demyx choosing not to focus on the proximity, the way Ienzo seemed to fit just right there or the way the cavity in his chest seemed to thud, the echoing thunder within it hopefully not that noticeable either on his face or to the man leant against him. It might have been just minutes but, honestly, Demyx wishes it had been hours, Ienzo finally removing himself from Demyx to stand, offering a hand to the other.
âThank you.â
âWhat for?â
âMaking me take a break and listening.â
He takes Ienzoâs hand then, pushing himself up more than letting the other pull him up but he finds he doesnât mind, hesitating before letting go of the hand in his and mentally cursing himself as Ienzo, seemingly oblivious, made his way back to the castle without him. So much for observing his emotional changes, Demyx conceded, running a hand through his hair and refraining from just pulling at it. Itâll be fine, he supposes, following after Ienzo slowly as he attempted to get his thoughts together.
----------------------
They meet outside the lab for once, Demyx finding the scientist in the kitchen as opposed to his usual place, lab coat abandoned once more in favour for an apron, the Nobody wondering how long he could linger in the doorway before Ienzo spoke up and summoned him forward. Maybe a while, he thinks, laughing under his breath, Ienzo was by no means unobservant but often lost himself in things, leaving him open to surprise on an almost regular basis.
His observations have become interesting, to say the least, notebook now brimming with excerpts and examples of how Ienzo reacted to things and how they differed from a typical human. Examples of how heâd exploded at Even in an argument the week before and how heâd crumpled as soon as he was away from the older scientist, looking to Demyx of all creatures to help him assess how heâd reacted.
A Human asking a Nobody how to feel, life truly was stranger than fiction.
âYou know itâs rude to stare.â So Ienzo had noticed him, a small smile betraying the amusement the smaller man had in interrupting whatever it as that Demyx was thinking about. Heâs wearing the headband that Demyx brought him, an admittedly joke purchase of the most ocean-based thing he could find in Radiant Garden, never expecting Ienzo to ever wear and yet, here they were, clownfish still visible even with the mass of hair doing its best to obscure it.
âJust thinking.â No lie to his words but not exactly a full truth either, Ienzo giving him an almost sceptical look before turning back to the chopping board, ignoring the blonde in favour of some shallots and garlic. Coming over to the join the other, Demyx takes seat at the worn kitchen table, far enough to be out of Ienzoâs space but close enough to notice the changes in body language, perhaps for the best considering his upcoming questions.
âDonât strain yourself.â Ienzo retorts without hesitation, a small bounce in his step as he scraped the food from the chopping board into the frying pan, stirring once then twice before turning his attention back to the pile of ingredients nearby. âShould I even ask what about?â
âYou, actually.â
Had he meant to be so honest? Demyx has no idea, biting his lip as he waited for Ienzo to react. Would he laugh or sneer? What response was he due to receive from the scientist who was simultaneously an open book and an enigma to him? Heâs not entirely sure he wants to find out now that the silence has dragged on.
âOh?â
âYeah, about the conversation we had the other day.â
The silence is back, nothing but the sizzling of oil filling the air as Ienzo fell still, as if Demyxâs words had short circuited him, only moving when food began to catch, quickly chopping the rest of the meat on his board before adding it, a shaky breath before hands are under the tap. âI thoughtâŠweâre less likely to be interrupted in here, arenât we?â
Heâs never been here when Ienzo is cooking but he knows the labs and gardens at least always lead to another apprentice making an appearance and, if not them, then a keyblade wielder or former colleague that only served to quickly change the subject into something less important or for their conversations to die all together. Maybe Ienzoâs room but then, no, it wouldnât do, someone would still interrupt them there.
âYes butâŠâ Ienzo trails off, rubbing his hands a little too harshly dry and swallowing, looking almost like a lost child as he looked between the stove and the kitchen table. âBut Iâm not sure if IâŠâ
Demyx is ready for it this time, grasping the hand as it comes up to his neck, weaving fingers together where possible and giving his hand a light squeeze. Were his hands always this cold? Demyx wonders, taking in the shocked look of Ienzo and offering a small smile in response. No time for grins or quips, just open expressions and apprehension, pans moved off the heat before the smaller man can further burn his food. âWe donât have to talk about it if you donât want to, not until youâre ready.â
A tanned thumb rubs lines into the side of a pale palm, the focus back on breathing correctly in a bid to calm nerves and settle his old soul, Demyx watching as eyes closed and breaths came in slowly, a face slowly easing back into calmness after painting a picture so anxious it tugged and tangled his heart strings. He could kiss him, lord knows she wants to, biting his lower lip as he went over why that would be a bad idea over and over again, an inner mantra that he could not ignore.
Heâll be mad at you. He doesnât feel the same way. He wonât want to be near you again after this. Â Just because heâs nice to you and treats you humanely doesnât mean he wants you.
Demyx has taken risks but this time, this time heâs not sure it was worth it.
âI want to I justâŠâ
âYou just canât get it into words?â Demyx fills in, Ienzo sighing and nodding, finally opening his eyes only to avert them to the side, face screwing as if trying to process a thought before Ienzo sighs. Hit the nail on the head there, Demyx surmises, giving the otherâs hand yet another squeeze in hope of either encouraging him to speak or reassurance, which ever Ienzo had the most need for at that moment. âOr is it something else?â
âSomething else. Maybe. Iâm not honestly sure.â He pulls his hand away then, wiggling it out of his grasp and pulling the pan back onto the ring, breathing slowly, exhaling and continuing on like the exchange hadnât just happened. Itâs not long before the sizzling is back, Demyx feeling somewhat lost in the kitchen as he waits for Ienzo to do something, unsure as to where his sudden cowardice to chase the conversation had come from. âItâs easier to ramble my thoughts if I keep my hands busy.â
It clears up nothing and yet everything, Demyxâs mouth forming a small o as Ienzo hums, adding more ingredients to the pot, the tension in his shoulders seemingly melting away with every movement and stir. Â
âIâve gone from bare traces of feelings for so long that now that I feel them at the level I should, it almost feels like drowning. My annoyance is anger and my anger is loathing, my insecurities scream at me deafeningly during the long nights and the moments alone in the lab when I canât find answers.â He whispers his words, barely audible over the hissing of oil meeting stock, Demyx about catching the sight of downturned eyes and the accompanying frown. âThings that bring me joy make my heart pound louder than sirens and bells, my excitement and happiness over the littlest of things exceeds expectations in displays that are hard to tamper down.â
He sighs, anger bubbling back to the surface, movements becoming jagged, aggressive almost as he spat out his next words. âItâs ridiculous, Iâm not- â
âI donât think its ridiculous.â Demyx intersects, hand taking rest on Ienzoâs forearm as the other freezes once more, biting into his lower lip in a way that looks a touch too painful but now wasnât the time to lecture, not that Demyx would have done that anyway. âYouâve gone from drips to an over spilling sink, youâre bound to struggle.â
The laugh surprises him, somewhat strangled and a bit raw, like Ienzo is using it to hide another emotion entirely from spilling from his lips. âWhen did you start making sense?â He chokes out, the heel of his hand wiping his eyes, perhaps wishing he hadnât pinned his hair back so entirely.
âI always have,â itâs just nobody ever cares to listen.
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The market is simultaneously busy enough for him to blend into the crowd but also empty enough that heâs had the ability to occupy the bench by Aerithâs for a solid 40 minutes without being interrupted by anyone beyond the aforementioned shop keeper who had simply brought him a drink and left after asking him if he was okay, slipping a flower behind his ear before leaving after confirming he was.
Thereâs something unnerving about her, though what caused Demyx to feel on edge around her he couldnât place, assuming it was down to how she always seemed to know what had, is and would happen in the foreseeable future if you so much as stepped within five feet of her, her comment of how he could always give the flower to his friend if he didnât want it making Demyx ask himself if he was so obvious that this practical stranger had sussed him out already.
Itâs been eight days since the kitchen confession, Demyx knowing he wasnât intending to ignore Ienzo but his feet had led him to this bench as opposed to the castle, pouring over his notes on Ienzoâs emotional state and the table of differences heâd made between both Zexion and Ienzo. The table was simple, almost childlike, one worded differences in lists under a name and a poorly drawn doodle of both sides of the coin, Demyx cursing himself as he realises the small hearts heâd drawn as almost a halo around Ienzo.
Oh, heâs a fool, staring at the page, blinking rapidly as if trying to erase the obvious signs of his affection as if Ienzo would ever see his scrawled notes that he was the subject to. Why would he? Demyx knew better than to expose himself like this to anyone, never mind the other, already shuddering at the imagined looks of the other apprentices and the laughter of everyone else.
âLooks like a twelve year old when hair is pinned backâŠis that supposed to be me at the bottom?â
Demyx jumps, yelling as he sends his notebook flying, scrambling to catch it, preparing to turn and shout at whoever had surprise him only to falter and clamp his mouth shut at the sight of Ienzo, still leaning over slightly and looking only marginally apologetic for scarring him. Heâs lucky heâs cute.
âIs what you?â
Acting oblivious is perhaps not his best move, Ienzo fixing him a look that is filled with scepticism as he undoubtedly sees through Demyxâs façade, taking seat beside Demyx on the bench, slouching as he sighed. Itâs not stressed this time, relieved, ecstatic almost, barely able to hide the pride from his features, relaxing in the silence that stretched between them. âAnyway, what brings you down into Radiant Garden? You normally donât leave the castle unless I bribe you.â
âI found him.â Heâs not seen the otherâs eyes ever light up like that before, Demyx leaning back slightly as Ienzo leaned towards him, almost blinded by the sheer enthusiasm. Normally heâd make a comment, tell Ienzo to calm down for a second but the saccharine hit of endorphins that seemed to be flooding the humanâs system was simply too irresistible to try and dampen. âI found Zack Fair!â
That would explain the lack of fanfare that would have come from finding Sora, he supposes, Demyx looking over Ienzoâs shoulder to his work place, Cloud in conversation with Leon and Cid looking stressed, before looking back to Ienzo and swallowing. The urge to kiss him is back, seemingly stronger than ever. âKnew you could, where was he then?â
âGame Central Station. Canât say Iâve heard of it either but I got a name match at least.â
He continues to talk, Demyx just watching how animated Ienzo became with every word over what the finding of a new world meant, explaining his work with such vigour that Demyx responds without thinking, tucking a flyaway piece of hair back where it belonged having dislodged itself during the enthusiasm. Fingers trail along a pale jaw, tilting Ienzoâs chin up, swallowing thickly as his movements came to a standstill.
Maybe he should kiss him, maybe it wouldnât be a bad thing after all.
But, as with all things, heâs interrupted, wincing at Cloud calling his name before sighing, dumping his notebook into Ienzoâs hands unceremoniously, huffing as he stood before giving the other an apologetic look. âSorry, duty calls.â
Heâs going to regret giving Ienzo his notebook, isnât he? Perhaps, but the flushed look of Ienzo was a fair enough trade for him, silently hoping he hadnât ruined the one friendship he truly cared for.
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Three days until he sees Ienzo again and, for once Demyx isnât sure if heâs unhappy that it took so long or that the break hadnât lasted longer, still fighting the urge to run as he stands in the courtyard, holding what felt like a suspiciously empty box, the fragile stickers slapped across the brown paper being the only thing stopping the Nobody from just shaking the package.
From off world too, memories of Marluxia mentioning the Kingdom of Corona when he was still with the Organisation and Xehanort, a place of flowers and a princess with long hair trapped in a tower. Half the other worlds sounded like fairy tales, myths and legends but then Demyx knew full well they were. The Underworld still made him shiver, an itch he just couldnât scratch.
Which wielder sent it? He wonders, Aqua being the safest bet of the lot of them, having gained enough of an impression of her from those talking about her to know she seemed the type to send something between worlds. Though, why she had to address it to the lab and not somebody specific he does not know, Demyx glaring at the package like it had gravely insulted him before heading in.
Perhaps the lab would be empty, Ienzo may spend most of his time in there but not all of it. Heâs on a tea break, Demyx reasons with himself, finally took the initiative on his limits as a person and acted before he over worked himself yet again. It had, in part, been the reason for Ienzoâs argument with Even and Demyx can only dream that the message Even had been trying to get across had stuck.
Apparently not, Demyx sighs with resignation.
Sat at his desk as opposed to a computer, Ienzo had, of course, elected to take his break not outside of the lab but still in it, one hand nursing a chipped cup of tea whilst the other tapped a pen against the note book he was writing in, taking a brief break to think before noting something down again.
Maybe if heâs quiet he wonât be noticed, his cowardice coming back full force in the face of his feelings and itâs ridiculous, he believes, knowing full well he would have kissed the other the last time heâd seen him had the pair not been interrupted. Depositing the box is not the issue, the pen he sends clattering to the floor is, the noise seeming to become the loudest thing in existence, echoing beyond the walls of the lab and maybe out into the town square.
âIf this is how you are when youâre trying to be stealthy, I see why you were always on public reconnaissance.â
He teasing him, still looking down at whatever heâs working on but humour still pulls of his lips to create some endearing mix of a smile and a smirk. Only on Ienzo would he find that expression endearing. It wouldnât be wrong of him to think that maybe Ienzo hadnât read his notebook after all, Demyx edging closer akin to a caged animal, swallowing back his fear of the situation.
Ienzo hadnât read it. Ienzo was not aware heâd kept a notebook on his emotional ticks. Ienzo hadnât delved into an admittedly creepy book containing both his thoughts about the newly reformed human and the differences between both himself and Zexion.
Only he had.
Demyx pales as he sees the notebook open, swiftly turning on his heel and making way to leave only for a hand to stop him, gripping the back of his jacket tight enough to stop him but loose enough to let him leave if he wanted to. He doesnât. Despite the shame and feeling of regret welling up in him as Ienzo continues to hold the back of his jacket in silence.
Should he break it or leave it hanging? A spike of panic rising in his chest as the hand gripping him tightens, mumbling an inward prayer to himself for a favourable outcome as the silence is finally shattered. âI added another column, youâre rather observant when you want to be.â
HeâŠWhat?
Turning back to face Ienzo and his work, Demyx takes note of the additional page ripped out from elsewhere in the book and stuck in, creases along the tape where the page had been folded in to keep it from sticking out. So there was another one, Demyx just about able to make out the words Child Ienzo from chicken scrawl, biting back a laugh at both the way his writing was better than an apprentice of Ansemâs but also the words written.
Little Weirdo. Quiet. Shy. Withdrawn.
Words from the other apprentices no doubt, Demyx sure he could place who had said what from what he had known of them whilst in the Organisation. But before he can even voice his guesses heâs distracted by the small doodle at the bottom, better than his vague barely Ienzo or Zexion doodles, of what Demyx guesses to be a child Ienzo. Miniature lab coat, neutral if not sour expression and ice cream? Heâd never taken Ienzo to have a sweet tooth.
âThere was one other thingâŠâ Ienzoâs voice is gentle, fingers pulling at the hemline of his sweater vest as he looked down from the desk to his lap, breathing in the nose and out the mouth as he always did whenever the anxiety seeped into his system.
This was it. This was the time of his rejection, Demyx preparing himself to act like it was nothing, just water off of a duckâs back and nothing to be concerned about. âLook, you donât have to-â
âI donât really have days off but Even and Ansem both force me to take the afternoon off on Tuesday and Friday.â
Demyx canât see his face but he can see the colour creeping along the otherâs neck, hands still wringing the sweaters hemline almost to the point of distortion and oh.
Oh!
It finally clicks, Demyx biting his lip to stop himself from shouting in triumph, leaning down in one fail swoop to press a kiss to Ienzoâs cheek as the giddy energy eviscerated any self-doubt and regret heâd been stewing in for the past three days. âThen I will see you tomorrow, Zo.â The skip in his step is unmissable, practically bouncing out of the lab to finish his round so he can plan for tomorrow.
And if Ienzo hears his shout of celebration as the lab doors close, he doesnât mention it.
#zemyx#ienzo#demyx#ienzo kh#demyx kh#kingdom hearts 3#fluff#its just shameless fluff in all honesty#not sure if i should tag the others but it feels wrong somehow#im too deep in FF7 hell to ignore strife delivery service lads#G#KH fic
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The heart grows ever fonder â„ (Patreon)
#Doodles#SCII#ZEX#DAX#You thought they were just normal SCII doodles but it was a trick! These are still inspired by Helix!! Haha âȘ#Specifically of ZEX going in for one-on-one therapy and being discouraged from being Quite so clingy hehe#I was struck by just how quickly he was convinced - denotes to me a level of not just logical understanding but perhaps even relating#And who could fit such description! Of being a little overly-concerned and hovery near the Admiral? Hehe âȘ#Is it different ZEX? Is it really?#It's all out of looooove~â„ It's only different by so much!#DAX's overbearing husband routine is admittedly a bit differently motivated than ZEX's romantic trysts with his Captain but still haha#Especially of the moments where ZEX wants to protect his human! Again the motivation is slightly different but by how much!#I love ZEX's possessiveness in relation to his protective and patronizing feelings hehe <3 He's so pessimistic!#Way to alliterate me lol#And then so is DAX though he's a little more realistic - at least his pessimism is tempered by hard evidence of ZEX getting hurt :(#Just makes him more of a helicopter! Haha#I really have changed not even a bit in the five years since I first fell in love with ZEX <3 He still inspires head full of love hearts â„#I spent quite literally the entire day thinking about and doodling him he's just so lovely#I can tell that this fixation has already hit its first fever pitch but since there's still more to read hehe âȘ#Rounding out with he <3 Beautiful <3#I was watching a speedpaint and they made such lovely scale-plated armor that I was very inspired!#Much as I enjoy the thought of ZEX preferring his uniform over needlessly dressing up I do still love him in fancy clothes haha#A decorative armor piece but still lovely all the same :) And of course his head feelers decorated! Lightly âȘ#He's really so handsome <3
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But would you tho (Patreon)
#Doodles#SCII#Damned#Schuldig#ZEX#And again the Captain implied from offscreen lol#Two little things âȘ One that Actually happened and one speculation lol#I really like Schuldig :D He's the likeable asshole type and his quirk is very well written :)#I love how he gets on Zelnick's case about his wishy-washy-ness in regards to xenophilia generally and ZEX specifically hehe#Zelnick has no good answer for him! It's so cute hehe <3#But then he turns right around and is wishy-washy himself!! I get the feeling his frustration stems a bit from relating hahaha#Or maybe Zelnick's uncertainty influenced him! It's not such an easy decision to make when you're staring down the barrel is it now :)#Openly attracted to Max's body and flattered by ZEX's personality and outright attraction to him in turn but the alien aspect is too much pf#Sure right okay lol - I have no skin in this game so I'll have to take his word for it haha#Secondarily speculating around ZEX's attraction and standards lol it sounds like an oxymoron but no he is actually a bit picky!#Yes he loves humans generally but he is actually tempered by what mind inhabits what body! It's so interesting to me!#I think it's especially funny how his various desires are in conflict with each other haha#Like it makes sense that he controls himself around Fwiffo - poor thing would have a heart attack - but he genuinely seems less attracted!#Which makes sense to me as well âȘ Spathi and VUX share several traits and were on the same side during the War so he's familiar with them#And he's specifically attracted to differences and novelty - it all lines up!#And then there's also his pride lol he tries to make more friends than enemies of course but he still gets petty and patronizing <3#If he's actually upset with someone /he's/ the one who would need convincing! It's all very interesting :3c#And then there's the matter of his own body vs. Max's body - he's so upset at the metaphysical implications of cloning his consciousness#I've never thought of ZEX in the context of the ''Would you fuck your clone'' questionnaire but I guess I know his answer now haha#Though I still wonder what his reaction would be to Max :0 He's probably not close enough to be ZEX but he is /a/ ZEX - of a sort#All his introspection about the body he's in has my mental ears perked haha - pity and worry for the potential life he's replacing#Discomfort at possibly being Max in some capacity including continuing to be in his body but also of overtaking his life entirely#And of being backed into a corner - Max is pitiful as well as pitiable! Neither of them want to be Max Vyer really#He loves humans but how far does that extend when push comes to shove âȘ It's been interesting watching him fumble through it :)
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Your Weekly TV Guide
On Monday you can expect:
2:30 PM: Star Control II - Helix
And Tuesday:
2:30 PM: Star Control II
Wednesday:
2:30 PM: SCII - Helix
Thursday:
2:30 PM: SCII - Helix
Friday:
2:30 PM: SCII - Helix
Saturday:
2:30 PM: SCII - Helix
Sunday:
2:30 PM: SCII - Helix
Thanks for tuning in! (Patreon)
#Weekly TV Guide#Becoming the most annoying version of myself brb#So hey remember how I mentioned last week not to worry about this week yet? Yeah now's the time to worry lol#Here's a spoiler for you: Next week looks fucking Identical lol#I'm Fine this is Fine#I'm having fun for certain I just#Wasn't my NYR this year to work on OCs where is that energy right now#It's all funneled into ZEX it's just 100% of it completely laser-focused on him lol#I quite literally did this to myself like this is a Big Love hell of my own creation lol â„âȘ#I can't even say I didn't expect this I know how much I love ZEX I just#''This time will be different somehow'' - Me a fool engaging with my faves#Temperance has never been my strong suit lol#I don't even have anything to say that wouldn't boil down to â€ïžđđđđ so - lol#Enjoy :)
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Back, beast >:0 (Patreon)
#Doodles#SCII#DAX#ZEX#Been thinking about this idea again lol#At least enough to write an intro - just keep repeating ''It's just a first draft it's only a first draft'' in my head while writing lol#I actually doodled these first and then decided it was too fun to have DAX calling out ZEX to just leave it there haha#I do wonder if I've maybe made ZEX a bit too tempered lol - trying to prove that he can behave! For now âȘ#Setting it into the timeline after he's met the Captain helps on that front at least haha - not quite so desperate#Doesn't stop him completely of course! DAX can be tempting too haha#DAX is just so cute haha - he's too fun to mess with and even while he's got his hackles up he's adorable!#He suits a cat pfft#Proactive in trying to keep ZEX's eye off him so he ends up a little blanket pile haha#Doesn't last long of course - switch for a very fashionable hooded blanket cape hehe#Smoothing his hair back since it got all frizzed under the blanket and maybe lingering a bit longer than necessary hehehe#Oh darn it feels nice ah gosh and geez ZEX is so good at that how unfortunate lol#ZEX can be so mean âȘ Being a bit manipulative to his own ends haha#I do like it â«
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Predator and Prey (Patreon)
#Doodles#SCII#ZEX#The Captain#Questionably SFW#I have an instrumental I always put on when I want to think about Weird ZEX Vibes haha#I love when he's goofy and salacious and silly and fun and harmless(?) - But#He's still a VUX Admiral he has the potential to be very dangerous#It's also very sad that he was forced to lead a life that was so opposite to his desires - but that doesn't erase his history#Interesting complexity#He has the potential to still do a lot of harm to humanity!#I think it's especially interesting in the Pirate Fic hehe - but his doubts could lead to him dooming those he covets#He's very intelligent so he knows how and when to be tempered but he's also very biased and prideful#His decisions come from logic but aren't always based in the biggest big picture - he still wants to his own ends hehe âȘ#Basically I just like him very much â„ He's a complex character with a lot of potential in any direction#And I don't mean that in a derogatory way like Oh look at his Wasted potential - just that he's a coiled spring! A held-high object!#Potential in a literal sense hehe#Him interacting with the Captain while being a such a big web of history and desire and flaws is wonderful âȘ#How far is too far? And will he know it before it's upon him? It's fun to think about â„
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If You Let Me: Chapter 2
Rating: T Pairings: Demyx/Zexion, Demyx/Ienzo (Eventual/Slowburn) Characters: Various, Zexion/Ienzo Centric Setting: BBS to KH3, Canon compliant mostly
Warnings: Canon Character Death (Temporary)
Summary: âItâs almost a shame really, that you probably wonât survive this.â Only he did. Spending the prelude to adulthood as a nobody, a supposed empty husk of a being was never an option any of them considered, least of all a newly named Zexion who would be living every last one of them.
Note: A wee bit later than expected but thatâs what happens when you procrastinate making maps for the DND campaign you run for about 2 weeks and remember your session is on saturday haha. Points if you can name the disney films i reference in this chapter.
Chapter one | Next Chapter
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Year 2
Meetings are boring but by no means lacking interest, Zexion using this time to study the others from his low seat as they talked over their collective mission and any new world of interest. Heâd read those outline reports later, after another lesson with Vexen on magic or even another round of watching Axel and Saix spar with any of the older members, mostly Xaldin, to become more attuned to their weapons.
His had yet to appear, a sign Vexen took to strengthen his magical abilities, Zexion wondering if this was in part down to him still holding a semblance of care towards him in the same vein as Even had. Nobody had ever mentioned it, at least not before him, but Zexion canât help but wonder if heâd be ultimately replaced, the question of his age not coming into play when compared to his peers.
Everyone has something theyâre good at, itâs what his fa- Ansem had always said, Zexion more than aware that his laid in observations. He was quiet, too many times had neither Axel or Saix had noticed him following them when they were all still whole, an unneeded bribe to buy his secrecy over them having snuck in once more. Ienzo had never done it for the ice cream, not fully, heâd also done it for the opportunity to discover something.
Even now, heâs still curious as to why they were always lurking around Xehanortâs underground lab.
Zexion turns as Xemnas addresses Axel, observing the way the red head tenses under his scrutinous gaze. âThe world is called Prydain. It appears to already be mostly swallowed in darkness,â A waver in his voice betrays his nerves before its gone, the usual self-assured persona coming back as if the blip had never happened.
Heâs getting better at lying then, Zexion notes, swinging his feet ever so slightly as he listened to the recount of the last world VIII had visited. âDark, depressing, talk of a horned king and a black cauldron. I couldnât really gather much information on the world.â
âAnd why is that?â Itâs the same voice, the same mocking tone from that night, like their leader had a joke that no soul else was privy to, humoured by the failure of a mission as if heâd set up Axel to fail. Is Xemnas testing their resolve? Their dedication to the cause? He mostly reserved this antagonising for the red head, as if the rest of them had somehow already been assessed.
Zexion hates it.
âMight I suggest something?â The youngster begins, swallowing back the sudden nerves with an edged annoyance, remembering every etiquette lesson heâd sat through with both Ansem and Even. He didnât usually speak in meetings, in fact he hadnât done before, releasing a calming breath before continuing as he attempted to ignore the 7 sets of eyes seemingly boring holes into him. âWould it not be easier to gather information if we blended in more? Iâve only seen Radiant Garden but I donât believe most worlds dress this way.â
The silence that follows is somehow deafening, Zexion mentally repeating his inner mantra of âdonât back down, donât back downâ as the silence only seemed to grow louder, a familiar static in his ears. Blue meets orange, an elongated pause before Xemnas lets out some semblance of a chuckle, eyes flicking to the higher seats to Zexionâs left. âIn that case, see that heâs mission ready. You have six months.â
The meeting continues on as it had before, a feeling of dread curling in Zexionâs stomach as he thinks over the outcome of his outburst. Heâs not ready for missions, his grasp of magic is decent but he canât even summon his own weapon yet. Heâs got six months to not only figure it out but also learn to use it to defend himself. The appreciative warmth of Axelâs occasional glance does little to temper the queasiness and the ice of Vexenâs glare.Â
 ----
âYou didnât have to do that, you know.â He knew it was Axel before the other even spoke, ash and wood smoke, not as much underlying darkness as the others. It was odd, for sure, but not something Zexion paid much heed to as it made a welcome change. Heâd taken to the grey area for once, the last place anyone would expect him to dwell, making avoiding Vexenâs wrath over his outburst all the more easier. It had been 3 hours since the meeting drew to a closer, after all.
âI know.â I just donât like his voice when he talks like that, he adds on mentally, shifting over ever so slightly as the red head sat down beside him, eyes still focused on the reconnaissance report in his hands. Zootropolis. Nobody wasâŠhuman? Maybe he shouldnât have opened his mouth after all, frowning as he put the file aside and focused on the next one, this time thankful to see something at least humanoid.
Yet another world where long black coats would stand out too much, Zexion isnât surprised but still feels the blow of it.
âIs that a rhino inâŠcapris?â Axelâs voice makes Zexion look up, the redhead frowning with pure bemusement at the file Zexion had just put to the side, thumbing through images of various animals both in clothing and doing typically human things, a low whisper of âwhat the fuckâ accompanying the sound of shuffled photographs and pages.
It isnât as distracting he initially thought, having Axel sat beside him, easy enough to pretend the other wasnât there as he studied the reports, the occasional sound of Axel reacting to the file or it hitting the table serving as only a minor disturbance. Heâll practise later, when heâs alone, in the privacy of his own room where prying eyes couldnât see him.
Lexaeusâ warning over keeping the full extent his abilities a secret had gradually extended to the rest of them, despite his now ever pressing anxiety he would be replaced at the drop of a hat. Why had he spoken up? It had only made it worse, now with an added deadline of when it would happen. He should apologise, he should do something to make Xemnas not-
Heâs tapped on the nose, an assault of smoke in his senses, Zexion not even bothering to tone down his glare at Axel who, to his credit, didnât even flinch under it. Â âNow that Iâve finally got your attention, Iâll ask again. Do you want to practise?â Practise? Practise what? Zexion frowns at him, trying to convey his confusion over just what the other was trying to ask him only for Axel to sigh and mutter something under his breath.
âLook, youâre like five-â
âIâm ten.â
âYouâre five, Xemnas may literally be heartless but even heâs not gonna send you out on your own.â Zexion bites back the anxiety laced retort of âhe mightâ, Axel leaning in conspiratorially and the child canât help but also lean in, expecting Axel to whisper his next words. âSo, do you wanna practise changing the appearance of someone else too?â
âIâll just practise on Vexen when we next have a lesson.â
âVexen has seen less missions than even you have.â
He hates that Axel has a point, inhaling through his nose sharply, face twisting with annoyance as he thought over the opportunity. Practise magic and his abilities with someone who isnât Vexen, come under potentially less scrutiny as expectations were undoubtedly lower, maybe even have a positive response that wasnât laced with concern and the need for secrecy.
âFine!â
If Axel is bothered by his tone, it doesnât show, the older Nobody looking more amused than anything, over exaggerating a bow before his gangly arms gestured to the two piles of reports on the table, one clearly taller than the other. âPick your poison, Zex.â
He doesnât bother correcting Axel on the use of the nickname, sending him a withering look before snatching the top three reports of the closest and tallest tower, thankful these were all humanoid in appearance, stretching before turning to face Axel, already mentally hearing one of his elders scold him for having a foot on the seat. A little rebellion made life more interesting, at least thatâs what Braig used to say before the accident.
Prydain. Dwarf Woodlands. Kokaua.
The first two are somewhat similar, reminding Zexion of the fairy tales his mother used to read to him, mostly simple garments in muted colours, forests and woodlands twisted into monsters. The images were mostly scenery, Zexion frowning at the lack of reference before pausing on one image of Dwarf Woodlands. A small creature, more of a blurred shadow than anything, partially hidden behind a tree at the edge of the titular woods. âWhatâs that?â
Axel leans over, a little too close into Zexionsâ personal bubble for comfort, glancing at where the child was pointing before shrugging and leaning back after making a non-committal noise. âProbably a heartless, those little shadow ones get everywhere.â But it didnât look like one, he wants to argue, pursing his lips but electing to not pursue it further.
He hadnât seen many, Zexion will be the first to admit, a subject he had yet to fully research so maybe Axel was right, that it was just another heartless. If he was ever sent to the Dwarf Woodlands maybe he could even look for it himself, should it still be there.
Filing away that thought for later he turns to the last file, Kokaua, taking a moment to get over the sheer difference between the first two worlds and this one. Not so much a fairy tale but a paradise, bright and vibrant colour in place of the dull muted ones, warmth seemingly radiating from the images both in terms of heat and something more emotional and familial.
He wants to go, part of him wondering if Kairi had ended up somewhere like this. It would only be fitting, sheâd always thrived in the warmth and sun, like a blooming flower stretching for the light, still made him wonder what she had ever seen in him as a friend. Closing the file, he puts it back on the pile, mentally weighing up the options between Prydain and Dwarf Woodlands before also placing the latter back, handing Prydain to Axel.
âOh forâŠwhy Prydain?â
Zexion hasnât schooled himself enough to hide all the amusement from his features, a teasing lilt to his voice as he responds all too matter of factly, as if the answer was obvious. âYouâve been there, youâve seen the people.â The frustration the flashes on Axels face like fire, all too animated as he attempts to summon an argument in his favour only to ultimately fail each and every time. âYou canât find an argument, can you?â
âShut up.â He hisses, the prompt for him to get on with changing his appearance going unvoiced but Zexion still hears it loud and clear, picturing what he wanted to appear. Using his abilities had gotten easier with time, becoming less tiring the more he performed feats but this would be the first time heâd used them like this on another, usually the subject of them being himself.
Taking a breath, he allows black coats to transform, replaced with shirts, tunics and leggings, black boots dying themselves brown. Its near perfect, the odd shimmer revealing the illusion for what it was as his brain seemed to become fuzzy around the edges. He drops the illusion at this point, frustrated at his own limitations, wanting to voice his frustrations only to be jolted as a hand came crashing down on his head, ruffling his hair a little too aggressively for Zexionâs liking.
âThat went better than I thought it would, wanna go again?â
He does, Zexion waiting for the fuzz to clear before starting the process again, a new found level of giddiness in his chest over the praise.
 --------
Vexen finds him. It takes two days but he finally corners him in the kitchen, seemingly having no qualms with addressing his thoughts about Zexionâs outburst towards Xemnas in front of Lexaeus like he did with everyone else. He was a fool to reject the option of practising the illusions with Axel again, Zexion thinks, doing his best to seek an escape route without relying on a dark corridor or an overly elaborate illusion.
âSit down, we need to talk.â Thereâs no room for argument in his tone, Zexion reluctantly sliding into the seat opposite Vexen, staring not at the man but at the space just beside his head. Itâs always been like this, when it came to discipline. Vexen would sit opposite him and Zexion would avoid fully looking at him. âIâm not mad with you-â
âYes, you are.â Zexion canât help himself, taking the momentary distraction to confirm that, yes, Vexen had closed the door behind him, ultimately cutting off that escape route. Time to be creative then, he was an illusionist after all, waiting for Vexen to put his head in his hands before acting. Checking to make sure Lexaeus isnât looking, he duplicates himself, allowing his body to disappear as his copy sits where he previously did.
âIâm disappointed and concerned.â Vexen finished, speaking through gritted teeth, an obvious sign that if he wasnât mad before he was at least annoyed now. âYour want to defend that buffoon is admirable but, no matter how eloquently you put it, undermining the leader to his face is foolish.â
His copy remains sat at the table, schooling the clones face to look guilty as he bit his tongue to avoid spilling the remark of âso I should do it behind his back?â. No point in angering the elder further, no doubt heâd been stewing on this since the meeting and Zexion still isnât one hundred percent sure if that is ultimately going to work in his favour or not.
Sliding up onto the counter, away from where Lexaeus is working, Zexion tenses as his feet hit against eh cupboard door, the rattling seemingly deafening in noise as time seemed to slow. Heâd given himself away, the youngster about to reveal himself and apologise when Lexaeus interrupted, the gentle giant knocking his knee against another door. âApologies, Vexen, I was lost in a thought.â
Speaking to Vexen but looking at him, knowingly, turning back to the book he was thumbing through on the counter barely moments later. Heâd been caught by one but not the other, caught but not exposed, a positive thing Zexion hoped. âYou may have befriended both VII and VIII but I feel it would be more appropriate that you limited your contact with them. They both, especially VIII, have had a negative effect on you and how you approach things.â
âWould it not be beneficial to talk with people around my own age?â Zexion replies, wincing over the stretch to call either Axel or Saix close to his age, the red head the closest to him in age at a full 7 years his senior. Vexen it appears, is just as aware of this as him, grimacing himself at the knowledge that Zexion was not only correct but truly stuck without peers his own age.
âI suppose. But you must learn to keep your feelings in check, child. We are supposed to not have them after all and more outbursts at Xemnas like that may have less favourable outcomes in future.â Vexen stands after this, reaching out to touch the clone before moving his hand back, sighing deeply. âI just want you to be careful.â
âI will be, Iâm sorry.â Heâs sorry for concerning Vexen more than he is for his words to Xemnas, relaxing as Vexen accepts this apology and dismisses himself, his clone dissolving with the close of the kitchen door. The silence is somehow still comfortable as the illusion over himself melts away, Lexaeus paying him no mind nor heed at seeing the small Nobody once again.
âAlmost perfect.â Is all he says, gesturing to Zexionâs feet with a small smile, before beckoning Zexion over, tapping on the pages of his book. Sliding off the counter, the child hurries over, perhaps a little too excitedly, stepping up onto the foot stool set up for him before Vexenâs arrival in order to make his lessons with Lexaeus easier. âTodayâs lesson may be rough on your nose so let me know if it gets too much.â
âWhat are we learning today?â Heâd taken up cooking with Lexaeus a couple of months ago, finding the smell of a dish so perfectly cooked wasnât so much an attack on the senses as a blessing, something that cleared the overload of darkness that seemed to cling to everything around him. The lessons were infrequent but never unwelcome, always seeming to be therapeutic when compared to his others, like they werenât lessons to begin with so much as something the pair of them could do together that didnât centre entirely on the fact they were no longer human.
âCooking Base.â
 -----
Heâs thankful that Xaldin starts off combat training easy, a focus on footwork above all else, closely followed by how to avoid a direct hit when thereâs no access to a weapon. So, all the time for him if things didnât change anytime soon, already a month into training with still no sign of it every appearing. Disguising others and expanding his energy to cast thundara or blizzara he could do, the latter spell bringing nothing but endless pride to Vexen, but his magic was still limited and battling whilst disguised is not something he wishes to think about without a weapon of his own.
Itâs too exhausting, his energy already seeping out of him like a bleeding wound every single time he used disguise or magic, the feeling of being a burden having already bloomed within him regardless of who would be his partner for his first mission. Presuming heâd be granted that mercy, nobody still able to confirm if their speculation on Xemnasâ character was correct or not.
âYou ready for today, kid?â Thereâs a promise of something in Xaldinâs voice, Zexion hesitating before nodding, simultaneously curious and somewhat fearful for what the other had planned for him. No threat had been directed at him, that much was true, but heâd bared witness to some of the more rigorous lessons heâd put Axel and Saix through more than once.
The part of him praying for history related mercy, as Xaldin summons not dusks but his spears, Zexion wondering if thereâs been a mistake up until one pierces the floor beside him, the child swallowing as the spear dislodges, floating back to its master who seemed a little too thrilled with the prospect of potentially spearing him.
Laziness. Heâd comment on the laziness of Axel and Saix when theyâd make a mistake, make a snide comment about how Vexen never attended missions, of how he wasnât pulling his weight. Xaldin wasnât Dilan, they were nothing alike and Zexion would have to remember that. Dilan wouldnât hurt him. Dilan would follow him and Kairi around the gardens after the strange creatures showed up to make sure they werenât hurt. Xaldin, he believes, would not only hurt him but perhaps enjoy it.
âAll you need to do is touch me. Consider that a warning shot.â
A warning shot?! Another thick swallow before Xaldin fires once more, no warning or misfire this time, Zexion fully aware that heâd be impaled if he failed to move fast enough, the fresh cut in his right sleeve testament to that. Checking for blood, he turns just in time to avoid another cut, this time to his cheek, breathing a little panicked as he watched the spears return yet again to Xaldin, swaying slightly like snakes waiting to strike.
Donât panic. Donât panic. He repeats the mantra as Xaldin attacks once more, summoning a wall of ice, a jolt going through him with each sound of the spears connecting with the spell. He wouldnât have much time, even with a distraction, quickly calculating how many heâd need in order to reach his teacher, taking a slow breath in and then out.
Duplication was the easiest option, the one he was most confident in, copying himself not only once but twice stopping only there as the ice wall began to shatter. Sending both distractions forward, he follows shortly after cloaking himself as he had in the kitchen, remembering what Lexaeus had said and committing it to memory. Almost perfect and heâd need better than that to best Xaldin.
Dilan had ears sharper than glass, often wouldnât have to look up or turn to call Ienzo out on his attempts to venture out side the castle grounds alone, he could only assume Xaldin would be the same. Zexion doesnât make it far before his suspicions are confirmed, narrowly avoiding the spear that flew past at speed, the damage it would have caused had it connected not something that child wished to think about.
âIllusions only work if youâre quiet, VI.â
Reduced to a number, Xaldin truly was both frustrated with him and enjoying himself, not bothering to turn as both his clones were impaled and faded, leaving Zexion alone with naught but the spear a hairs breadth away for company. âLetâs try again, shall we?â
If the opportunity ever arose, heâd travel back to inform his past self that lessons with Vexen, as over critical and frustrating as they were, were a joy compared to those with Xaldin, gritting his teeth as a blast of wind pushes him back further than his previous starting position and the training resumes.
 ------
If Xigbar was trying to not be noticed, he was doing a poor job of it, Zexion electing to wait for the another to announce his presence in his usual cocksure fashion as opposed to enquire as to if he wanted something. Better to either ignore the man, and hope he left, or just let him run his course on lingering in the illusionistâs space, until he decided to do whatever it was he had come to do.
Though what Xigbar wanted in Vexenâs lab when the latter wasnât present escaped Zexion, no matter how long he thought on it.
His chair tilts back ever so slightly as Xigbar leans on it, Zexion inwardly wishing the other had only come in looking for Vexen or to view whatever oddities the other was curating, not bothering to hide his groan of annoyance. Gun smoke and supernovas, itâs an assault on the senses, grimacing as Xigbar leaned down and even closer, like he was fully aware it bothered the young Nobody and, at this point, Zexion was more than aware it was deliberate.
âNo need to be so sour, Zexion, I only want to learn something.â Doubtful, Zexion thinks, giving up on the book of spells to stare at the wall opposite, still hoping that ignoring Xigbar would make him leave. It doesnât, it never does, itâs a foolâs hope and, yet, he still decides to pray for it as if the worlds would somehow have mercy on him. âSomething only your observant little head would notice.â
Heâs trying to butter him up, sweet talk him into getting what he wants, knowing full well that the child loved praise and taking advantage of it. âThank you but I have my doubts Iâll have noticed what you want.â Quicker this is over and done with, the quicker he can be left alone. The library had become out of bounds for the most part, far too many times heâd run into both Axel and Saix talking in hushed whispers that would always stop when they noticed Zexion there.
âI wouldnât be so sure. You practically live in the library. You must have run into moon boy and cinders in there.â Zexion pauses at the names before it clicks, the arm on the back of the chair unbalancing it a little more, Xigbar now leaning down far enough he could whisper directly into Zexions ear. âJust curious as to what theyâre doing.â
âThey talk and Axel spends the entire time looking at Saix like heâs never seen the sun before.â Zexion replies smoothly, not an entire lie but not a full truth either. The pair talk, this much was true, but the redhead reserved the looks usually for when Saix wasnât looking at him never when talking to him. If Xigbar isnât happy with the answer, he doesnât let on, nodding solemnly as if this is what he wanted to hear.
Something Zexion doubts.
âBut what do they talk about?â
Zexion simply fixes him with a look at this, slightly pained and uncomfortable, hoping Xigbar got the message, thankful when he did and stood back up. He mutters something to himself that sounds vaguely like âdid not see that comingâ, almost as if heâd been hoping and expecting to have heard something more fitting with his perceived expectations. âCan I help you with anything else or are you satisfied?â
âSatisfied, for now.â Thereâs something to that smile that makes him uneasy, Xigbar disappearing through a dark corridor with a wink, or so Zexion thinks, leaving behind the nervous yet bemused child. What in kingdom hearts was that ïżœïżœfor nowâ supposed to mean and, better yet, does he even want to find out?
Its during a break from combat training that he feels the pull again, a strange tightness in his gut as he healed the fresh cuts on his cheek, left leg and side. Xaldin had temporarily benched him due to distraction, shockingly close to caring if not for the fact heâd impaled Zexion to the floor through his coat. Another repair job for Lexaeus, Zexion feeling a tinge of guilt over it.
If he was better at avoiding things, then he wouldnât be sat casting cure on himself, wouldnât be stuck on the side lines watching Saix and Lexaeus spar. Perhaps wouldnât have that tug slowly seep from his stomach to his chest, having appeared the week before and had persisted on making Zexion once again aware of its presence whenever he used magic.
Was he finally get used to casting magic? Maybe not, Zexion biting his lower lip as he thought, steadily becoming lost in them. Growing accustomed to magic was less of a pull but more of a relief, becoming less drained with the use of his abilities thus granting him the ability to experiment more. It had never acted like a magnetic attraction to something he wasnât sure of yet.
âShit! KID!â
The yell cuts through his thoughts, looking up not at he sparring two before him but the pair to the side, a spear heading straight for him. His mind is blank, frozen in place like his body, short circuiting as he fails to think of what to do, simply throwing his arms up to protect his face and vitals from being pierced. Only it never hits, the pull in his gut replaced by a different sensation entirely, a connection that feels familiar yet he knows heâs never experienced it before, as the new found silence in the room is shattered by the sound of a spear clattering against the floor by his feet.
Opening his eyes slowly, he carefully lowers his arms, still nervous another spear would be making a beeline for him only to find a book, thick and old, floating in the air before him only to suddenly drop, a thud and a clatter as it the spear and sent it rolling away.
A book. His weapon was a book? His comrades had gained weapons such as swords, lances and claymores and he had gained a book. Itâs funny, he thinks bitterly, remembering Ansemâs old words of how knowledge was the most powerful weapon at your disposal and here he was, armed with a tome bursting with pages of lord only knows what.
Its lighter than it looks, Zexion letting out an inquisitive hum as he leafed through the pages, ignoring the voice in the back of his head that losing focus on his surroundings here would be a bad idea. Itâs a story and, yet, it isnât, seeing moments of his own memories printed on pages but also excerpts of Xaldin and Axel, diagrams of their weapons and a basic outline of how they fought with them. Â Almost like the book had somehow downloaded all the information it could when the spear had made contact with it.
What else was stored within? How else could he fill the pages? Questions are running a mile and minute in his head as heâs tapped on the shoulder, Saix not speaking, only nodding towards the door to leave, the teenager letting out the barest of winces when Xaldinâs voice grows in volume. Bellowing at Axel over how protecting yourself should not come at the cost of injuring the other in your party.
 ------Â
His first meeting in a while, Zexion having missed the past few due to over working himself or, after a gruelling session with Xaldin, being a little too injured to remain awake enough to attend. Nobody had reprimanded him for it, no snide comment in the grey room from one of his superiors when they found him alone, pouring over the files on worlds he might visit one day. But he still felt on edge, like something was about to happen that heâd be unable to stop even if he tried.
âHow has progression with VI been coming along?â Xemnas may be looking at him but he knows the question is directed at the others, Zexion clenching his fists and grimacing. Did he have to be present for this? Of course he did, the Superiorâs need to exert his dominance over them all through humiliation was well known now, especially to the youngest two members. If Saix faced the same, it wasnât done openly and in front of the rest of the Organization.
âHis magic is advancing well, a jack of all trades you could say. Heâs progressing wonderfully.â Praise from Vexen, not entirely unexpected but still surprising to hear in such a public arena, he must truly be proud of himself for it. Was he bitter? Perhaps, just a little, wishing the blonde could compliment him without boosting his own ego at the same time.
âHeâs lacking in physical qualities but heâll manage. I would advise a companion or two for his first missions as, whilst his weapon has manifested, I doubt heâll be successful.â A vote of confidence from Xaldin but heâs relieved to say the least, Xaldin had the second highest seat, second only to Xemnas, surely their superior would listen to something he had to say and at least take it into consideration.
Xemnas is quiet, nothing too unusual from the man but it still strikes a spark of uncertainty in Zexion. âVery well, we will continue as planned. Wait for me after the meeting, VI, I have something I wish to discuss.â This was it. He was going to be replaced, Xemnas was going to tell him his fate once his sermon on the power of Kingdom Hearts was over. He was going to be turned into a dusk.
Maybe this was to do with him lying to Xigbar? Had Xigbar figured out his twisted truth and reported him to Xemnas? The anxiety is eating him alive, doubts over the statement they werenât supposed to feel emotions stronger than ever, the impulse to run and hide becoming harder and harder to ignore the longer Xemnas made him wait outside the Round Room.
âWalk with me.â Is all Xemnas says upon finally appearing, hands clasped behind his back as he strode, Zexion having to jog in order to keep up. âTell me of your weapon, what have you discovered?â Should he be honest? Xemnas finally slowing his pace when Zexion remained silent, waiting for Zexion to catch up before continuing the walk at more leisurely pace.
âIt contains a story made of both my memories and those it comes into contact with.â Zexion replies carefully, watching as Xemnas stiffened, looking back to him with such honest curiosity that the illusionist doubted he had the same man before him. Not, mocking, no sense of an inflated ego, just a lost man who looked a mix of hope and curiosity.
This wasnât Xemnas. This wasnât Xehanort. This was someone else.
âInteresting.â Xemnas replies carefully, his usual demeanour seeming to slip back in as a dark corridor opened up before the pair, Zexion looking between his superior and the corridor with confusion. âSearch your memories for a girl with blue hair, youâre dismissed.â He leaves with that, stepping through the corridor that closes behind him, leaving Zexion alone in the naughts approach. Â
#zexion#zemyx#Lexaeus#axel kh#saix#vexen#xemnas#xaldin#xigbar#kingdom hearts#organization 13#T#i only seem to update this blog at like 2am#fic: if you let me
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