[set one] Christmas Request Ficlets!
The first half of the drabble requests! Unfortunately, I did not manage to finish all of them in time. >.< I'm really sorry for those whose requests are still in the works. I hope you forgive me! I promise to finish them as soon as possible.
[3] Kingdom Hearts ; [1] Kingdom Hearts/Big Bang Theory ; [1] Kingdom Hearts/FFXII/Disney ; [1] Kingdom Hearts/Devil May Cry ; [1] Nightmare Before Christmas [kh-verse]
All are rated G or PG
The other half can be found here.
Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Title: Shoot for the Stars
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters: Roxas, Axel
Prompt: Broadway stars
A/N: Modern AU.
Requested by get_in_get_out.
“We should try out for a Broadway play.”
Roxas gave Axel a look that said he was delusional. “I don’t think you can just try out for Broadway. I think you have to be a professional.”
“We are professionals!” Axel crowed, throwing his arm over Roxas’s shoulder. “You’re a professional drama queen and I’m just professional. And stop thinking so much.”
“A professional ass, maybe,” Roxas muttered, standing up and slipping out of Axel’s grasp, starting down the street. The theater district was rather quiet at this time of day. Roxas glanced up at a show poster, blaming their location on Axel’s sudden plunge into total madness.
“Come on, Roxas,” Axel whined, catching up to his sulking friend. “We’d be perfect! Think about it!” Everything we could do - ”
“You sound like you’re going to burst into song. And you just told me to stop thinking.” Roxas rolled his eyes, glancing back at Axel as he walked. “Most normal people want to be movie stars. Or rock stars. Hell, porn stars.”
“Don’t be silly. You’d make a horrible porn star,” Axel retorted, shaking his head. “Unless people like that constant pout.” He cocked his head to the side, inspecting Roxas’s face. “Actually, on second thought…”
“It’s not a pout,” Roxas interrupted before Axel could finish that thought, turning his gaze back to the row of Broadway posters.
Axel noticed where he was looking and grinned. “The Lion King! You’d be the most adorable kid Simba.”
“Axel - ”
“Hairspray! Maybe Link? We’d have to do something with that hair…”
“Axel!”
“Wicked!”
“What’s wicked?”
Axel laughed, ruffling Roxas’s hair. “You’re right, there’d be no one good for you to play, would there. Fine then. I’ll be the famous Broadway star. You can be my favorite little porn star or whatever it is you wanna be.”
“I don’t want to be anything,” Roxas scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. Axel let out a sight, or maybe it was a hum, but didn’t say anything until they turned the corner and he exclaimed,
“Fiddler on the Roof!”
“Axel.”
Title: Unstable
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts/The Big Bang Theory
Characters: Vexen, Sheldon
Prompt: nerd fight
A/N: This crossover needs no real explanation behind it. Because I said so.
Requested by de_yaten.
“No, no, no, if you mix that it will become highly unstable!”
His hand above a shimmering vial of orange liquid, Vexen paused merely to humor the annoying man beside him. “That is rather the point.”
“Personally, I’d prefer not to be in the vicinity when your organs splatter all over the walls.”
“Then feel free to leave.” Vexen picked up the vial.
“Why would I do that? Someone needs to correct you when you’re wrong,” Sheldon declared, looking utterly perplexed at the suggestion.
Vexen took a deep breath. He had never missed Zexion more in his life. Un-life. Damn it, this man had to leave before Vexen started arguing with himself.
“Perhaps you could make yourself useful, if you must insist on staying,” Vexen advised, raising an eyebrow. It was a potentially dangerous suggestion.
Sheldon shrugged. “Okay.”
To Vexen’s surprise (though he didn’t show it), Sheldon actually went to occupy himself elsewhere. Vexen proceeded with his own experiment, decidedly more smug than before. The liquid in the vial had just turned a bright green when the little nagging voice in the back of Vexen’s head told him that if he valued anything in his lab he should see what Sheldon was doing.
The little nagging voice was right. “What are you doing?” It was a mark of how much self-control Vexen had that he didn’t freeze the man in a block of ice and shatter him right there.
“Organizing,” Sheldon explained simply, as if the mess of bottles and jars in front of him should have been explanation enough. “Now, I can almost understand not filing your things by atomic weight or periods or other similar characteristics, but these aren’t even in alphabetical order!”
Vexen stared at the chaos that once was in his own personalized sorting system. He’d have to make Zexion put them all back. “Half of those aren’t even labeled,” he said instead, perhaps as an effort to remain calm. It was just a bunch of jars. It could be fixed.
“Oh, I’ve been running some quick little tests to determine what’s what,” Sheldon replied in the same way one would talk to a small uneducated child (which is how Sheldon talked to everyone). “Though I must point out, if they had been in properly labeled jars, the corner of your table wouldn’t have been dissolved away.”
Eyes wide, Vexen pushed around Sheldon to inspect the remains of the table corner. Part of the floor seemed slightly translucent as well. Slowly, clenching his fists tightly., Vexen turned back to Sheldon.
“Get. Out.”
“I don’t think a little table damage - ”
“Now.”
Sheldon frowned, setting down the bottle in his hands. “All right, no need to get hostile.” He made his way through the maze of lab tables, pausing before the door and saying, “I still think that mixture you are working on is highly unstable - ”
“Out. Or else - ”
Sheldon didn’t wait around for the threats.
Title: Tea Talk
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts/FFXII/Enchanted
Characters: Kairi, Ashe, Giselle
Prompt: the overrated notion of Prince Charming
A/N: Ridiculous, cute crossovers are my guilty pleasure. Just shoot me, guys.
Requested by wayya.
“It’s a bit depressing, really. You wait for them to come to your rescue only to find out that you’ll have to save yourself and them while you’re at it.” Ashe sighed, and Giselle gave her a pat on the back sympathetically.
“It is nice when they do manage to save you,” Giselle pointed out, ever the optimist.
Kairi nodded, taking another roll from the bread basket before passing it to Ashe. She’d always wanted to have a tea party when she was younger, but Sora and Riku had always declined (tea parties with just Selphie never really worked out either). Ashe had been a little reluctant to sit down to tea, but Giselle was delighted at the idea. And so Kairi was finally getting the tea party of her younger self’s dreams. She had just never imagined having it with people like Ashe or Giselle.
“Thank you. I’m not sure what to make of their inherent thinking that we need saving all the time, however,” Ashe went on, reaching for the butter. Giselle handed it to her wordlessly. “You get out of a situation on your own and they’re all stunned and amazed.”
“But grateful as well, surely?” Giselle frowned. She didn’t have as much experience in the realm of battle as her two acquaintances did, but she at least knew the basics.
“I like to think my friends are,” Kairi replied, smiling. “But then, they aren’t exactly the perfect image of Prince Charming.” She laughed, fingering her tea cup lightly.
“Oh? That Riku boy is quite dashing, I thought,” Giselle commented, surprised. “And you always talk about Sora - ”
Kairi cleared her throat quickly. “Just because I appreciate them doesn’t mean I think they’d make good Prince Charmings.”
Ashe let out a laugh, and Kairi turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “And what about you? Your Balthier is very handsome, and the way he talks, you’d think he loves nothing but himself.”
“Sounds exactly like a Prince Charming,” Giselle murmured, smiling into her teacup.
Ashe groaned. “Please never let Balthier hear you say anything of the sort. We do not need him getting a swelled head any more than what is normal.”
“Basch, then?” Kairi suggested, tapping her fingers on the lace tablecloth thoughtfully.
Ashe shook her head. “He tries too hard. I think he sometimes forgets that I am reasonably capable of taking care of myself.”
“You have it very lucky,” Giselle told them, setting down her cup. “I’ve always thought that finding my Prince Charming was the pinnacle of my existence.”
Kairi shrugged. “I did like those fairytales when I was little.”
Giselle looked at her quizzically. “What happened?”
“My Prince Charming was a little slow in arriving. Riku at least thought it would be practical if I could fight. Even if my keyblade looks like something I would have created when I was five.”
“Oh, speaking of such things, Robert has started me in fencing lessons!” Giselle said cheerfully, beaming. “They’re very interesting. It’s extremely odd wearing pants, however.”
Ashe and Kairi glanced at each other. They’d always preferred skirts as well. If you could master fighting in a skirt, you could master anything.
“Well, I hope you continue to enjoy your lessons,” Ashe replied with a smile. She drained the last of her tea and set the cup down, standing up. “Unfortunately, I really must be going. Vaan was supposed to meet me here at least an hour ago so I can only assume he’s gotten himself lost.”
“Tell us how the search goes,” Kairi said, glancing shamelessly at the last roll in the basket. Giselle discreetly nudged the basket towards her.
“I shall,” Ashe assured her, checking that she still had all her weapons on her person.
“The same time next week?” Giselle inquired, pouring herself the last of the tea.
“Sure,” Kairi agreed as Ashe nodded. “As long as Sora doesn’t get into any trouble again. Riku’s getting sort of tired babysitting him. The boy just doesn’t want to sit still. But what can you do?”
Ashe sighed again. “I know how that feels, indeed.”
A princess didn’t need a Prince Charming to save her, but sometimes a Prince Charming needed a princess to keep him in check. And they liked that just fine.
Title: Storms
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts/Devil May Cry
Characters: Axel, Vergil
Prompt: you can tell shit will hit the fan with these two in a room
A/N: I’m afraid I made Vergil too much like Dante. Hopefully that is not true.
Requested by electricfizz.
There was a very impressive chakram lodged in Vergil’s back. Time stood still in that calm that comes before the storm.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Vergil snarled, reaching around and ripping the weapon from between his shoulder blades. “Do you think you can fight without hitting your allies?”
Axel grinned at the man, calling the chakram back to his hand, leaving nothing but smoke in Vergil’s grip. “I don’t recall saying we were allies.” At Vergil’s glare, he rolled his eyes. “Oh, you think I did it on purpose.”
“You certainly are incompetent enough for it to have been an accident,” Vergil muttered, cracking his back into place with a twist. Blood pooled at his feet, staining the marble floor.
“FYI, you got in my way,” Axel pointed out, shrugging. On the ground a body twitched, and Axel kicked it. “Someone’s not good at playing with others.” The last few words sounded like a song.
“You idiotic - ”
“I bet that’s what your teacher put on your report card all the time, huh.” Axel sighed dramatically, sauntering over and putting a hand on Vergil’s shoulder. “And you’re mad because you know it’s true - ”
“If I had wanted company, I would have asked you to join me,” Vergil cut in, pushing away Axel’s arm and smearing blood across his shoulder. “Your assistance in neither needed nor required.”
Axel’s bright green eyes scanned over their blood-stained surroundings. Corpses of demons were beginning to fade away to dust. It wasn’t his usual fare, but it was surprisingly agreeable. Sometimes you wanted a little gore with your meal.
“Naw, I think I’ll stick with you,” Axel said, waving a hand carelessly. “Everyone could use an extra pair of hands, don’t be silly.”
Silly was probably the last word anyone would use to describe Vergil. He narrowed his eyes at Axel, scrutinizing the Nobody’s relaxed figure. Axel raised an eyebrow in response.
“You normally check out people in halls full of cadavers?” he quipped, crossing his arms over his chest. “Very scenic, I admit, but not where I’d suspect - ”
“Yes. All the time.”
Axel blinked, stunned into silence. Vergil’s face was so expressionless that he looked like some sort of horrible combination of Lexaeus, Zexion, and Roxas (oh, that image would give him nightmares).
Satisfied with the silence, Vergil turned sharply and continued down the corridor. The last of the demons were gone from the hallway, but no doubt there would be more ahead. After a moment, Axel laughed, running a hand back through his hair. The blood on his fingers blended right in.
“Bravo, sir,” he shouted down the hall, and took his time catching up.
Title: Winter Winds
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters: Luxord, Naminé
Prompt: don’t forget your scarf
A/N: AU. Bookstore clerk!Luxord. Yum. And okay, I totally “d’awww’d” at the end of this. Curse this cuteness, Tuna!
Request by tunasaladsonnet.
“Miss, you forgot your scarf!”
Naminé stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, shifting about the boxes in her hands to get a better look at who was calling after her. The man from the bookstore came into sight over the top of her packages.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she told him as he approached, her worn scarf in hand. “You didn’t have to come all the way out here to give it to me.”
The man, a tall, older man with blond hair and several interesting piercings, shook his head. “It’s no trouble,” he assured her. “It’s too cold for you to be out and about like that.”
“And what about you?” Naminé said, eyeing his coatless appearance.
“I’m tough, love.”
Naminé raised an eyebrow, smiling. “You think I’m not?” she asked, balancing her packages carefully and holding out her hand for the scarf.
“Oh, I don’t doubt you are,” the man replied, tossing the scarf over Naminé’s head and wrapping it around her neck. “Have a good day, miss.”
*
She started visiting the bookstore with increasing frequency. She told people it was for their extremely delicious apple turnovers, because if she revealed her real reason they’d interpret her intentions all wrong.
She wasn’t interested in him romantically. He was sweet, yes, and funny, but putting it all into perspective she didn’t even know his name. Dreams were nice but she knew where the line into reality started. And the reality was that she sort of wished they could be friends without anyone thinking poorly of them.
So she browsed the shelves until she knew the store from top to bottom, and spent so much at the little café that she probably funded someone’s whole salary, and found herself picking up books she never would have bothered with before if she hadn’t gone through most of them already. Sometimes the man would help her find something or ring up her purchases, and every time she never asked his name. She did, however, manage to forget things at the store quite often. Whether this was unintentional or not, it was rather embarrassing.
“If I didn’t know any better,” the bookstore clerk said to her one winter’s evening, catching her right outside the door and handing over her scarf (the same one she had left behind that first day), “I’d think you were doing this on purpose.”
Naminé blushed slightly but kept her head up. “Why do you say that?”
“Shall I list the ways?” He smiled. “Perhaps you should make a list of everything you bring inside with you so that you do not forget anything on the way out, miss.”
“Naminé,” she blurted, and blushed harder. Oh, he was certainly going to get the wrong impression of her now, she just knew it.
“Pardon?”
“My name is Naminé, not miss,” she said more clearly. Might as well continue what she’d started. “And I’m sorry you have to keep giving me back my things.”
“It’s really no trouble.” He paused, looking at Naminé curiously. “Luxord. I am pleased to officially meet you.”
It took Naminé a moment to realize that he had just told her his name. This…this was a step in the right direction. She repeated his name in her head, savoring the victory. If one could call this a victory. “Really though, you shouldn’t have to chase after me all the time. Please.”
Luxord waved his hand, unconcerned. “But if I don’t, how can we have these charming little conversations?”
“O-oh,” Naminé stuttered, unsure how to reply. She had never imagined they would actually move on to the talking stage like this. “Well, if you want, we can still talk without you having to run out into the cold,” she told him, feeling rather bold. “Whenever I come to the store.”
With a laugh, Luxord ruffled Naminé’s hair. Naminé found that she didn’t mind it in the least. Except that he sort of messed up her earmuffs. “I look forward to your next visit, then. Now if you’ll excuse me, I don’t believe my boss appreciates me loitering about the doorway instead of working. Have a good day, Naminé.”
He turned to leave, but Naminé stopped him with a shout. “Hey, wait.” When he glanced over his shoulder at her, she pulled off her scarf and tossed it over his shoulders. “If you keep it, I can’t keep forgetting it.” Luxord tried to protest, but Naminé silenced him with a wag of her finger. “It’s too cold to be outside without a scarf, you know.”
Luxord touched the white fabric, looking at Naminé thoughtfully. “I’ll keep a hold on it, then,” he replied.
Naminé laughed, waving goodbye. “Thanks.”
Title: Cages
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters: Anti-Sora, Roxas
Prompt: anything Anti-Sora; snark in Sora's head
A/N: Is this canonically possible? Probably not. Like I care at this point.
Requested by tyra_amria.
When Roxas ran into Anti-Sora for the first time, it was quite the spectacle.
Being combined - Fused? Rejoined? - with his Other had been a strange feeling, one he couldn’t properly explain. There was light, and then darkness. And out of that darkness leapt a whirling mass of claws and angry snarls and the only thing Roxas could see were two bright, yellow eyes.
It took some time to get the creature settled down. Roxas had to bop it on the nose (it did not take the gesture kindly and attempted to gnaw at Roxas’s wrist). Only when Roxas really focused did he realize what had jumped him. Or more accurately, who.
“Sora?”
As he stared, their surroundings became lighter, making it easier to see that it was indeed Sora, but…not quite. Anti-Sora scratched at Roxas’s arm.
Tentatively, Roxas backed away, rubbing his arm, but the shadow didn’t follow him. He just stood, slightly hunched over, watching Roxas.
“What are you, some sort of dog?” Roxas laughed, partially disbelieving, partially hysteric. What was going on? “Don’t tell me I have to spend the rest of my life sitting here with you.” He glared at Anti-Sora but received no reply. Oh good. The thing couldn’t even talk. How fun.
Glancing around, Roxas sighed. There was nothing around them in their spotlessly white environment. Without anything better to do, he sat down. Anti-Sora continued to stare at him, so Roxas rolled his eyes.
“What do you want?” As if that wasn’t the creepiest thing ever.
Still no reply. Roxas wondered if he could get the thing to kill him. Surely that would be better than sitting here like this.
“Fine. Go find something else to do,” Roxas muttered, lying back and gazing up. It was pure whiteness in that direction too. In a matter of minutes - or was it hours, or days? - Roxas felt his eyes drifting shut, unable to stay awake. Maybe sleeping wouldn’t be so bad. At least dreaming gave him something to do.
*
“ - Roxas.”
“Who’s Roxas? What are you talking about?”
Something bit him on the ankle and Roxas jerked upright with a yelp. “Hey! What’s the big idea!”
Anti-Sora was at his feet, looking rather smug (or as smug as he could look), and Roxas scowled, kicking out at the Heartless, which rolled out of the way. Someone had been talking about him! Someone…outside. Damn it, why did this stupid thing have to interrupt? Was it Sora? Who was Sora speaking to?
Sourly, Roxas crossed his arms over his chest. “I hope you’re happy.”
It was a good thing Anti-Sora never replied, because he wouldn’t have gotten the chance this time; out of nowhere, a soft light surrounded him, fading him from view. Roxas leapt to his feet, stumbling forward in his rush to grab onto Anti-Sora, but he didn’t make it in time. Anti-Sora was gone.
Roxas didn’t know how much time passed. He paced back and forth, angry. Why did that nasty animal get to leave and not him? Where did he go? It felt like an eternity before something else happened (time felt like it passed here like it did on Never Was - that is, not at all).
Without warning, Anti-Sora reappeared, snarling, dark mist rising from claws covered in blood. Roxas took a step back, eyes wide, but Anti-Sora didn’t lunge for him like he had expected. Instead he crouched low, wiping his hands clean on his dark clothing. Roxas let out a deep breath and relaxed, but just a little.
These seemed to be the facts: He could hear, in a dream, things that may or may not be going on “outside.” Anti-Sora had vanished - been summoned? - only to return looking like he’d just been slaughtering something. It all had to mean something.
Sitting down again, Roxas began plotting silently. He’d find a way to get out of here. He still had some questions that needed answering.
Beside him, Anti-Sora watched him curiously, waiting for the right opening, Sora’s next failed Form change, to be let loose.
Title: Importance
Fandom: Nightmare Before Christmas [KH-verse]
Characters: Jack/Sally
Prompt: “Can feel it in my fingers.”
A/N: Set after the KHI visit to Halloween Town.
Requested by jively.
“Do you think those boys will be okay?”
Jack turned his gaze away from Sora’s retreating back and looked down at Sally. “Are you worried about them already?” he asked, smiling.
Sally shook her head, wrapping her arms tightly around herself. “The world is a dangerous place.”
“They be fine, I just know it,” Jack assured her, setting a bony hand on her shoulder. “Just like I know that you’ll always be here to tell me when my plans aren’t perfect. Even if I don’t listen to the warnings sometimes.” He paused, chuckling. “Or most of the time.”
“It’s all right, Jack,” Sally replied quietly, glancing one more down the path out of Halloween Town. Sora and the others were gone. She silently wished them good luck.
“Sally? Is something the matter?” Jack frowned, moving around in front of Sally and bending over so they were face to face. “Are you sick?”
“I’m fine,” Sally answered, waving away his questions. “Maybe you are right. Maybe I’m worried about Sora and Donald and Goofy.”
“Come on, didn’t you see how they totally wiped out the Heartless? They were great!” Jack crowed, squeezing Sally’s shoulders. “It’d be hard to find something that can beat them. Not even Oogie Boogie was a problem.”
Sally smiled, cheered up a little. “You shouldn’t give them all the credit, you know.”
“I shouldn’t?” Jack looked perplexed and scratched his chin.
“You helped too,” she reminded him gently. “It was…very brave of you.”
“Oh!” Jack grinned again, taking Sally’s hand. “If that’s the case, then you certainly helped as well!”
“Me?”
“I could never have done it without you supporting me, Sally,” Jack told her. “You’re just as important as Sora or me.”
“Really, Jack?” Sally looked up at Jack, head tilted slightly to the side.
Jack smiled, that creepy skeleton smile that Sally adored so much. “I know you are. You feel important to me.”
And that was good enough for Sally.
[3] Kingdom Hearts ; [1] Kingdom Hearts/Big Bang Theory ; [1] Kingdom Hearts/FFXII/Disney ; [1] Kingdom Hearts/Devil May Cry ; [1] Nightmare Before Christmas [kh-verse]
All are rated G or PG
The other half can be found here.
Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Title: Shoot for the Stars
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters: Roxas, Axel
Prompt: Broadway stars
A/N: Modern AU.
Requested by get_in_get_out.
“We should try out for a Broadway play.”
Roxas gave Axel a look that said he was delusional. “I don’t think you can just try out for Broadway. I think you have to be a professional.”
“We are professionals!” Axel crowed, throwing his arm over Roxas’s shoulder. “You’re a professional drama queen and I’m just professional. And stop thinking so much.”
“A professional ass, maybe,” Roxas muttered, standing up and slipping out of Axel’s grasp, starting down the street. The theater district was rather quiet at this time of day. Roxas glanced up at a show poster, blaming their location on Axel’s sudden plunge into total madness.
“Come on, Roxas,” Axel whined, catching up to his sulking friend. “We’d be perfect! Think about it!” Everything we could do - ”
“You sound like you’re going to burst into song. And you just told me to stop thinking.” Roxas rolled his eyes, glancing back at Axel as he walked. “Most normal people want to be movie stars. Or rock stars. Hell, porn stars.”
“Don’t be silly. You’d make a horrible porn star,” Axel retorted, shaking his head. “Unless people like that constant pout.” He cocked his head to the side, inspecting Roxas’s face. “Actually, on second thought…”
“It’s not a pout,” Roxas interrupted before Axel could finish that thought, turning his gaze back to the row of Broadway posters.
Axel noticed where he was looking and grinned. “The Lion King! You’d be the most adorable kid Simba.”
“Axel - ”
“Hairspray! Maybe Link? We’d have to do something with that hair…”
“Axel!”
“Wicked!”
“What’s wicked?”
Axel laughed, ruffling Roxas’s hair. “You’re right, there’d be no one good for you to play, would there. Fine then. I’ll be the famous Broadway star. You can be my favorite little porn star or whatever it is you wanna be.”
“I don’t want to be anything,” Roxas scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. Axel let out a sight, or maybe it was a hum, but didn’t say anything until they turned the corner and he exclaimed,
“Fiddler on the Roof!”
“Axel.”
Title: Unstable
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts/The Big Bang Theory
Characters: Vexen, Sheldon
Prompt: nerd fight
A/N: This crossover needs no real explanation behind it. Because I said so.
Requested by de_yaten.
“No, no, no, if you mix that it will become highly unstable!”
His hand above a shimmering vial of orange liquid, Vexen paused merely to humor the annoying man beside him. “That is rather the point.”
“Personally, I’d prefer not to be in the vicinity when your organs splatter all over the walls.”
“Then feel free to leave.” Vexen picked up the vial.
“Why would I do that? Someone needs to correct you when you’re wrong,” Sheldon declared, looking utterly perplexed at the suggestion.
Vexen took a deep breath. He had never missed Zexion more in his life. Un-life. Damn it, this man had to leave before Vexen started arguing with himself.
“Perhaps you could make yourself useful, if you must insist on staying,” Vexen advised, raising an eyebrow. It was a potentially dangerous suggestion.
Sheldon shrugged. “Okay.”
To Vexen’s surprise (though he didn’t show it), Sheldon actually went to occupy himself elsewhere. Vexen proceeded with his own experiment, decidedly more smug than before. The liquid in the vial had just turned a bright green when the little nagging voice in the back of Vexen’s head told him that if he valued anything in his lab he should see what Sheldon was doing.
The little nagging voice was right. “What are you doing?” It was a mark of how much self-control Vexen had that he didn’t freeze the man in a block of ice and shatter him right there.
“Organizing,” Sheldon explained simply, as if the mess of bottles and jars in front of him should have been explanation enough. “Now, I can almost understand not filing your things by atomic weight or periods or other similar characteristics, but these aren’t even in alphabetical order!”
Vexen stared at the chaos that once was in his own personalized sorting system. He’d have to make Zexion put them all back. “Half of those aren’t even labeled,” he said instead, perhaps as an effort to remain calm. It was just a bunch of jars. It could be fixed.
“Oh, I’ve been running some quick little tests to determine what’s what,” Sheldon replied in the same way one would talk to a small uneducated child (which is how Sheldon talked to everyone). “Though I must point out, if they had been in properly labeled jars, the corner of your table wouldn’t have been dissolved away.”
Eyes wide, Vexen pushed around Sheldon to inspect the remains of the table corner. Part of the floor seemed slightly translucent as well. Slowly, clenching his fists tightly., Vexen turned back to Sheldon.
“Get. Out.”
“I don’t think a little table damage - ”
“Now.”
Sheldon frowned, setting down the bottle in his hands. “All right, no need to get hostile.” He made his way through the maze of lab tables, pausing before the door and saying, “I still think that mixture you are working on is highly unstable - ”
“Out. Or else - ”
Sheldon didn’t wait around for the threats.
Title: Tea Talk
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts/FFXII/Enchanted
Characters: Kairi, Ashe, Giselle
Prompt: the overrated notion of Prince Charming
A/N: Ridiculous, cute crossovers are my guilty pleasure. Just shoot me, guys.
Requested by wayya.
“It’s a bit depressing, really. You wait for them to come to your rescue only to find out that you’ll have to save yourself and them while you’re at it.” Ashe sighed, and Giselle gave her a pat on the back sympathetically.
“It is nice when they do manage to save you,” Giselle pointed out, ever the optimist.
Kairi nodded, taking another roll from the bread basket before passing it to Ashe. She’d always wanted to have a tea party when she was younger, but Sora and Riku had always declined (tea parties with just Selphie never really worked out either). Ashe had been a little reluctant to sit down to tea, but Giselle was delighted at the idea. And so Kairi was finally getting the tea party of her younger self’s dreams. She had just never imagined having it with people like Ashe or Giselle.
“Thank you. I’m not sure what to make of their inherent thinking that we need saving all the time, however,” Ashe went on, reaching for the butter. Giselle handed it to her wordlessly. “You get out of a situation on your own and they’re all stunned and amazed.”
“But grateful as well, surely?” Giselle frowned. She didn’t have as much experience in the realm of battle as her two acquaintances did, but she at least knew the basics.
“I like to think my friends are,” Kairi replied, smiling. “But then, they aren’t exactly the perfect image of Prince Charming.” She laughed, fingering her tea cup lightly.
“Oh? That Riku boy is quite dashing, I thought,” Giselle commented, surprised. “And you always talk about Sora - ”
Kairi cleared her throat quickly. “Just because I appreciate them doesn’t mean I think they’d make good Prince Charmings.”
Ashe let out a laugh, and Kairi turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “And what about you? Your Balthier is very handsome, and the way he talks, you’d think he loves nothing but himself.”
“Sounds exactly like a Prince Charming,” Giselle murmured, smiling into her teacup.
Ashe groaned. “Please never let Balthier hear you say anything of the sort. We do not need him getting a swelled head any more than what is normal.”
“Basch, then?” Kairi suggested, tapping her fingers on the lace tablecloth thoughtfully.
Ashe shook her head. “He tries too hard. I think he sometimes forgets that I am reasonably capable of taking care of myself.”
“You have it very lucky,” Giselle told them, setting down her cup. “I’ve always thought that finding my Prince Charming was the pinnacle of my existence.”
Kairi shrugged. “I did like those fairytales when I was little.”
Giselle looked at her quizzically. “What happened?”
“My Prince Charming was a little slow in arriving. Riku at least thought it would be practical if I could fight. Even if my keyblade looks like something I would have created when I was five.”
“Oh, speaking of such things, Robert has started me in fencing lessons!” Giselle said cheerfully, beaming. “They’re very interesting. It’s extremely odd wearing pants, however.”
Ashe and Kairi glanced at each other. They’d always preferred skirts as well. If you could master fighting in a skirt, you could master anything.
“Well, I hope you continue to enjoy your lessons,” Ashe replied with a smile. She drained the last of her tea and set the cup down, standing up. “Unfortunately, I really must be going. Vaan was supposed to meet me here at least an hour ago so I can only assume he’s gotten himself lost.”
“Tell us how the search goes,” Kairi said, glancing shamelessly at the last roll in the basket. Giselle discreetly nudged the basket towards her.
“I shall,” Ashe assured her, checking that she still had all her weapons on her person.
“The same time next week?” Giselle inquired, pouring herself the last of the tea.
“Sure,” Kairi agreed as Ashe nodded. “As long as Sora doesn’t get into any trouble again. Riku’s getting sort of tired babysitting him. The boy just doesn’t want to sit still. But what can you do?”
Ashe sighed again. “I know how that feels, indeed.”
A princess didn’t need a Prince Charming to save her, but sometimes a Prince Charming needed a princess to keep him in check. And they liked that just fine.
Title: Storms
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts/Devil May Cry
Characters: Axel, Vergil
Prompt: you can tell shit will hit the fan with these two in a room
A/N: I’m afraid I made Vergil too much like Dante. Hopefully that is not true.
Requested by electricfizz.
There was a very impressive chakram lodged in Vergil’s back. Time stood still in that calm that comes before the storm.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Vergil snarled, reaching around and ripping the weapon from between his shoulder blades. “Do you think you can fight without hitting your allies?”
Axel grinned at the man, calling the chakram back to his hand, leaving nothing but smoke in Vergil’s grip. “I don’t recall saying we were allies.” At Vergil’s glare, he rolled his eyes. “Oh, you think I did it on purpose.”
“You certainly are incompetent enough for it to have been an accident,” Vergil muttered, cracking his back into place with a twist. Blood pooled at his feet, staining the marble floor.
“FYI, you got in my way,” Axel pointed out, shrugging. On the ground a body twitched, and Axel kicked it. “Someone’s not good at playing with others.” The last few words sounded like a song.
“You idiotic - ”
“I bet that’s what your teacher put on your report card all the time, huh.” Axel sighed dramatically, sauntering over and putting a hand on Vergil’s shoulder. “And you’re mad because you know it’s true - ”
“If I had wanted company, I would have asked you to join me,” Vergil cut in, pushing away Axel’s arm and smearing blood across his shoulder. “Your assistance in neither needed nor required.”
Axel’s bright green eyes scanned over their blood-stained surroundings. Corpses of demons were beginning to fade away to dust. It wasn’t his usual fare, but it was surprisingly agreeable. Sometimes you wanted a little gore with your meal.
“Naw, I think I’ll stick with you,” Axel said, waving a hand carelessly. “Everyone could use an extra pair of hands, don’t be silly.”
Silly was probably the last word anyone would use to describe Vergil. He narrowed his eyes at Axel, scrutinizing the Nobody’s relaxed figure. Axel raised an eyebrow in response.
“You normally check out people in halls full of cadavers?” he quipped, crossing his arms over his chest. “Very scenic, I admit, but not where I’d suspect - ”
“Yes. All the time.”
Axel blinked, stunned into silence. Vergil’s face was so expressionless that he looked like some sort of horrible combination of Lexaeus, Zexion, and Roxas (oh, that image would give him nightmares).
Satisfied with the silence, Vergil turned sharply and continued down the corridor. The last of the demons were gone from the hallway, but no doubt there would be more ahead. After a moment, Axel laughed, running a hand back through his hair. The blood on his fingers blended right in.
“Bravo, sir,” he shouted down the hall, and took his time catching up.
Title: Winter Winds
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters: Luxord, Naminé
Prompt: don’t forget your scarf
A/N: AU. Bookstore clerk!Luxord. Yum. And okay, I totally “d’awww’d” at the end of this. Curse this cuteness, Tuna!
Request by tunasaladsonnet.
“Miss, you forgot your scarf!”
Naminé stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, shifting about the boxes in her hands to get a better look at who was calling after her. The man from the bookstore came into sight over the top of her packages.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she told him as he approached, her worn scarf in hand. “You didn’t have to come all the way out here to give it to me.”
The man, a tall, older man with blond hair and several interesting piercings, shook his head. “It’s no trouble,” he assured her. “It’s too cold for you to be out and about like that.”
“And what about you?” Naminé said, eyeing his coatless appearance.
“I’m tough, love.”
Naminé raised an eyebrow, smiling. “You think I’m not?” she asked, balancing her packages carefully and holding out her hand for the scarf.
“Oh, I don’t doubt you are,” the man replied, tossing the scarf over Naminé’s head and wrapping it around her neck. “Have a good day, miss.”
*
She started visiting the bookstore with increasing frequency. She told people it was for their extremely delicious apple turnovers, because if she revealed her real reason they’d interpret her intentions all wrong.
She wasn’t interested in him romantically. He was sweet, yes, and funny, but putting it all into perspective she didn’t even know his name. Dreams were nice but she knew where the line into reality started. And the reality was that she sort of wished they could be friends without anyone thinking poorly of them.
So she browsed the shelves until she knew the store from top to bottom, and spent so much at the little café that she probably funded someone’s whole salary, and found herself picking up books she never would have bothered with before if she hadn’t gone through most of them already. Sometimes the man would help her find something or ring up her purchases, and every time she never asked his name. She did, however, manage to forget things at the store quite often. Whether this was unintentional or not, it was rather embarrassing.
“If I didn’t know any better,” the bookstore clerk said to her one winter’s evening, catching her right outside the door and handing over her scarf (the same one she had left behind that first day), “I’d think you were doing this on purpose.”
Naminé blushed slightly but kept her head up. “Why do you say that?”
“Shall I list the ways?” He smiled. “Perhaps you should make a list of everything you bring inside with you so that you do not forget anything on the way out, miss.”
“Naminé,” she blurted, and blushed harder. Oh, he was certainly going to get the wrong impression of her now, she just knew it.
“Pardon?”
“My name is Naminé, not miss,” she said more clearly. Might as well continue what she’d started. “And I’m sorry you have to keep giving me back my things.”
“It’s really no trouble.” He paused, looking at Naminé curiously. “Luxord. I am pleased to officially meet you.”
It took Naminé a moment to realize that he had just told her his name. This…this was a step in the right direction. She repeated his name in her head, savoring the victory. If one could call this a victory. “Really though, you shouldn’t have to chase after me all the time. Please.”
Luxord waved his hand, unconcerned. “But if I don’t, how can we have these charming little conversations?”
“O-oh,” Naminé stuttered, unsure how to reply. She had never imagined they would actually move on to the talking stage like this. “Well, if you want, we can still talk without you having to run out into the cold,” she told him, feeling rather bold. “Whenever I come to the store.”
With a laugh, Luxord ruffled Naminé’s hair. Naminé found that she didn’t mind it in the least. Except that he sort of messed up her earmuffs. “I look forward to your next visit, then. Now if you’ll excuse me, I don’t believe my boss appreciates me loitering about the doorway instead of working. Have a good day, Naminé.”
He turned to leave, but Naminé stopped him with a shout. “Hey, wait.” When he glanced over his shoulder at her, she pulled off her scarf and tossed it over his shoulders. “If you keep it, I can’t keep forgetting it.” Luxord tried to protest, but Naminé silenced him with a wag of her finger. “It’s too cold to be outside without a scarf, you know.”
Luxord touched the white fabric, looking at Naminé thoughtfully. “I’ll keep a hold on it, then,” he replied.
Naminé laughed, waving goodbye. “Thanks.”
Title: Cages
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters: Anti-Sora, Roxas
Prompt: anything Anti-Sora; snark in Sora's head
A/N: Is this canonically possible? Probably not. Like I care at this point.
Requested by tyra_amria.
When Roxas ran into Anti-Sora for the first time, it was quite the spectacle.
Being combined - Fused? Rejoined? - with his Other had been a strange feeling, one he couldn’t properly explain. There was light, and then darkness. And out of that darkness leapt a whirling mass of claws and angry snarls and the only thing Roxas could see were two bright, yellow eyes.
It took some time to get the creature settled down. Roxas had to bop it on the nose (it did not take the gesture kindly and attempted to gnaw at Roxas’s wrist). Only when Roxas really focused did he realize what had jumped him. Or more accurately, who.
“Sora?”
As he stared, their surroundings became lighter, making it easier to see that it was indeed Sora, but…not quite. Anti-Sora scratched at Roxas’s arm.
Tentatively, Roxas backed away, rubbing his arm, but the shadow didn’t follow him. He just stood, slightly hunched over, watching Roxas.
“What are you, some sort of dog?” Roxas laughed, partially disbelieving, partially hysteric. What was going on? “Don’t tell me I have to spend the rest of my life sitting here with you.” He glared at Anti-Sora but received no reply. Oh good. The thing couldn’t even talk. How fun.
Glancing around, Roxas sighed. There was nothing around them in their spotlessly white environment. Without anything better to do, he sat down. Anti-Sora continued to stare at him, so Roxas rolled his eyes.
“What do you want?” As if that wasn’t the creepiest thing ever.
Still no reply. Roxas wondered if he could get the thing to kill him. Surely that would be better than sitting here like this.
“Fine. Go find something else to do,” Roxas muttered, lying back and gazing up. It was pure whiteness in that direction too. In a matter of minutes - or was it hours, or days? - Roxas felt his eyes drifting shut, unable to stay awake. Maybe sleeping wouldn’t be so bad. At least dreaming gave him something to do.
*
“ - Roxas.”
“Who’s Roxas? What are you talking about?”
Something bit him on the ankle and Roxas jerked upright with a yelp. “Hey! What’s the big idea!”
Anti-Sora was at his feet, looking rather smug (or as smug as he could look), and Roxas scowled, kicking out at the Heartless, which rolled out of the way. Someone had been talking about him! Someone…outside. Damn it, why did this stupid thing have to interrupt? Was it Sora? Who was Sora speaking to?
Sourly, Roxas crossed his arms over his chest. “I hope you’re happy.”
It was a good thing Anti-Sora never replied, because he wouldn’t have gotten the chance this time; out of nowhere, a soft light surrounded him, fading him from view. Roxas leapt to his feet, stumbling forward in his rush to grab onto Anti-Sora, but he didn’t make it in time. Anti-Sora was gone.
Roxas didn’t know how much time passed. He paced back and forth, angry. Why did that nasty animal get to leave and not him? Where did he go? It felt like an eternity before something else happened (time felt like it passed here like it did on Never Was - that is, not at all).
Without warning, Anti-Sora reappeared, snarling, dark mist rising from claws covered in blood. Roxas took a step back, eyes wide, but Anti-Sora didn’t lunge for him like he had expected. Instead he crouched low, wiping his hands clean on his dark clothing. Roxas let out a deep breath and relaxed, but just a little.
These seemed to be the facts: He could hear, in a dream, things that may or may not be going on “outside.” Anti-Sora had vanished - been summoned? - only to return looking like he’d just been slaughtering something. It all had to mean something.
Sitting down again, Roxas began plotting silently. He’d find a way to get out of here. He still had some questions that needed answering.
Beside him, Anti-Sora watched him curiously, waiting for the right opening, Sora’s next failed Form change, to be let loose.
Title: Importance
Fandom: Nightmare Before Christmas [KH-verse]
Characters: Jack/Sally
Prompt: “Can feel it in my fingers.”
A/N: Set after the KHI visit to Halloween Town.
Requested by jively.
“Do you think those boys will be okay?”
Jack turned his gaze away from Sora’s retreating back and looked down at Sally. “Are you worried about them already?” he asked, smiling.
Sally shook her head, wrapping her arms tightly around herself. “The world is a dangerous place.”
“They be fine, I just know it,” Jack assured her, setting a bony hand on her shoulder. “Just like I know that you’ll always be here to tell me when my plans aren’t perfect. Even if I don’t listen to the warnings sometimes.” He paused, chuckling. “Or most of the time.”
“It’s all right, Jack,” Sally replied quietly, glancing one more down the path out of Halloween Town. Sora and the others were gone. She silently wished them good luck.
“Sally? Is something the matter?” Jack frowned, moving around in front of Sally and bending over so they were face to face. “Are you sick?”
“I’m fine,” Sally answered, waving away his questions. “Maybe you are right. Maybe I’m worried about Sora and Donald and Goofy.”
“Come on, didn’t you see how they totally wiped out the Heartless? They were great!” Jack crowed, squeezing Sally’s shoulders. “It’d be hard to find something that can beat them. Not even Oogie Boogie was a problem.”
Sally smiled, cheered up a little. “You shouldn’t give them all the credit, you know.”
“I shouldn’t?” Jack looked perplexed and scratched his chin.
“You helped too,” she reminded him gently. “It was…very brave of you.”
“Oh!” Jack grinned again, taking Sally’s hand. “If that’s the case, then you certainly helped as well!”
“Me?”
“I could never have done it without you supporting me, Sally,” Jack told her. “You’re just as important as Sora or me.”
“Really, Jack?” Sally looked up at Jack, head tilted slightly to the side.
Jack smiled, that creepy skeleton smile that Sally adored so much. “I know you are. You feel important to me.”
And that was good enough for Sally.