(no subject)
Title: nothing is eternal
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts 2
Characters/Pairing: Demyx, Roxas, Demyx-Roxas friendship, Axel (mentioned), vague hints at Axel/Roxas
Prompt: Winter Solstice for kisforkurama
Wordcount: 2,228 (longest fic ever)
This one is funnier and a teensy bit crackier than I'm intending for rest of this AU. This may or may not fit into the canon. And unbetaed for spelling/grammar and characterisation.
If they really thought about it, most of the Organization had no idea what they were doing, who they really were, or even what purpose they served within the Organization itself. Saïx was often found wandering the halls of The Castle That Never Was, waxing philosophical on their existential quandaries. Of course, he was simultaneously plotting gruesome and violent deaths for whomever Xemnas needed to get through, so maybe it was really that he was lulling them into a sense of complacency.
And those were only two of the reasons Roxas was beginning to regret taking Xemnas up on his offer of…something. Roxas really could not, for the life of him, remember why he’d done such a thing. He sighed; perhaps Xemnas had tempted him with something shiny. Damn that bastard and his wily ways. But there were reasons to stay as well. Like Axel, who was absolutely fascinating, especially as Roxas got over his initial distaste and confusion. At least Axel had reacted the same way. (Really, ‘what the hell is that?’ was an interesting way to begin an acquaintance).
Regardless of one (or two; he and Number Nine got along rather well) reason to stay, there were at least eleven that made him want to run screaming like a sissy little girl. And hide under his bed for a week. And possibly wet his pants. Number Eleven in particular scared him, even more than Seven and his bloodthirsty tendencies. There was no possible way that anyone could be that masculine with fucking bright pink hair and a flower fetish. Yet somehow Marluxia managed it and Roxas had taken to avoiding him in the hallways. And if Eleven and Twelve were in the same room, Roxas was bound to be spotted disappearing around a corner that led as far away from the two of them as possible.
The others were nearly as frightening, even Axel, who certainly had his escaped convict moments and in the times when Axel was a hairsbreadth away from going straight off the deep-end Roxas sought the company of Nine, who was also known as Demyx. They had a few things in common, the majority being that they were both blond and both tied for ‘least frightening Organization member’, which wasn’t really saying much of anything. Demyx could garner terrified respect if he really worked for it, but often his cute face and fumbling façade didn’t create many stirrings of fear. And anyways, the terror Demyx produced was a meek watered down version compared to that of nearly any other member.
He and Roxas often spent time together commiserating over the sweet faces they’d been gifted with and their apparently inherent inability to frighten. They sometimes talked of other things, like Demyx’s music, which was very good and really his only pride. And to suggest that the two of them traded beauty secrets and frivolous advice like teenage girls was to invite Roxas’ deathglare and the emergence of his spectacularly horrifying violent streak, which normally lay dormant. But they say a vehement denial was sign that there was some grain of truth in an accusation and there really was. Demyx was able to recommend a shampoo that wouldn’t make his scalp itch and in return he was able to confirm to Demyx that he existed for a reason and it was most likely completely to make beautiful music. (Roxas realized, immediately after it left his mouth, that it sounded like a come-on and a really terrible one at that. He said that as well, hot with embarrassment, and Demyx laughed it off, because he understood what Roxas was talking about. Even if Roxas couldn’t say it right). And they went on like that, as friends, or the closest thing to it, as they were of the Organization and were technically supposed to be heartless and soulless bastards. It was difficult to keep it up all the time, but they managed when it was important.
And then winter rolled around. Underground it was even colder than it was aboveground and they were never really sure why. It never snowed of course; precipitation was rather hard to come by when you didn’t have a sky and thus clouds. The cold made everyone snappish, except Four, who was so serene that he nearly glowed with some sort of heavenly radiance. Roxas decided that Vexen in the winter was even more frightening than Marluxia all the time. Until he realized that normal Marluxia was, indeed, around all the time and de-ass-sticked Vexen was only temporary and Marluxia once again became a horrifying (and walking and breathing) paradox who also happened to be flamboyantly gay.
“I want to see the sky,” Roxas complained to Demyx one night when they were holed up in Xemnas’ office, which was heated and absolutely wonderful. Roxas loved the sky at night, a broad expanse of seemingly limitless darkness. The time when city lights had dominated the horizon had been long before his day and the deep, rich darkness was the only twilight he knew. It was exhilarating, the boundless blackness that stretched on and on.
Demyx wrinkled his nose at the suggestion, reminding Roxas, very vocally, that it was cold aboveground and that there weren’t any heaters outside to which Roxas retorted that he knew that and he wasn’t stupid, thank you very much. Demyx laughed, and acquiesced. He missed the sky as well, and cool, clear air (he always felt that hint of rain in a fresh breeze, no matter the weather, and he loved it). It wasn’t as though they were supposed to be doing anything besides. There was no need for any recon missions, so Demyx had had way too much time on his hands. But almost everyone else had missions, so he couldn’t pester Xigbar with inane questions. Or Xaldin. Or Luxord. Even Larxene had been convinced to go out on a mission (Demyx wasn’t sure he wanted to know how Xemnas had managed that). He was getting very bored of the castle and the dark, cold city below. The people in it were like zombies half the time and the other half they prowled about, visibly seething with virulent rage. It was positively creepy.
Getting out of the castle was easy (not that is was that difficult even when most of the Organization was around). Getting through the city was just as easy. The Nobodies never questioned an Organization member (Xemnas provided a refuge and let them do more or less as they pleased but in return they were to respect and obey any Organization member. Even Demyx, who was considered by many to be utterly harmless. They were wrong of course, but that side of Demyx was rarely seen below ground). Demyx decided to lead Roxas out through ‘his’ elevator. He only considered it his because it was in sector nine and had a large IX gouged above the doorway. The elevator and its shaft were both primarily made of glass, which must have cost Xemnas an arm and a leg. Especially considering he had thirteen elevators built, one in each sector (he had also divided the sectors up and one had to wonder if he really just had an unnatural preoccupation with the number). The view as one ascended or descended was magnificent, extending across the entire city, its stark white buildings standing out from the dark rock. The blue-white floodlights Xemnas had installed at the base illuminated the castle with an artificial moonlight.
Though the view was impressive, Roxas’ face remained impassive. After all, it wasn’t as though this was anything new. He’d been in these elevators before and seen the view. Demyx usually found the view pretty interesting, because it wasn’t as though he ever had anything else to look at. But this time he had Roxas and he spent his time examining Thirteen’s face. It was a fascinating conundrum because Roxas had delicate, feminine features but usually had a thoroughly masculine scowl affixed on them. Like now, although his brow was also furrowed in something that resembled worry. Demyx poked Roxas’ cheek, and grinned.
“Hey, Roxy, why the long face~?” he asked as Roxas shot him a deathglare as only Roxas could.
“I was thinking,” Roxas growled, “Which you apparently don’t do. At least not before speaking.”
“Aw come on,” Demyx replied, mock pouting, “Is that anyway to talk to your friend who is so kindly smuggling you aboveground.”
“You smuggle about as silently as an elephant, you know.”
“I don’t”, Demyx responded thoughtfully. “What’s an elephant?”
“A kind of animal that used to live aboveground. It was very big and very heavy. And gray, but that has nothing to do with how sneaky it was. And besides, we’re not supposed to be friends because you need feelings to be friends.”
“Right. So we’re not friends just like you and Axel aren’t friends then. Hm~?”
Roxas flushed, looking the other way. “That’s something else entirely,” he muttered, as red as the aforementioned other’s hair.
“Oh ho, is it?” Demyx teased.
“Drop it, okay?!” Roxas snapped and Demyx fell silent, the smirk sliding off his face.
“That hurt, man,” he said, “That hurt.”
“Sorry,” Roxas murmured, looking contrite and his eyes widened when Demyx laughed.
“I’m just teasing again. You’re funny Roxas, y’know that?”
Roxas crossed his arms huffily. “Yeah thanks Demyx, thanks for that entirely useless information.”
Demyx laughed it off. “That’s what friends are for, hm?”
They spent the rest of the time in silence. Demyx belatedly realized Roxas had been particularly obtuse and had avoided the main topic like Larxene avoided traffic laws, but by that time they were getting out of the elevator and the cold was distracting enough. He swore, pulling his jacket closer and glancing sidelong at Roxas, who looked unaffected. Brat, Demyx thought, without much venom but said, “He, Rox, I know the best place ever. It’s this way~”
And he led Roxas on what felt like a wild goose chase, but was really just Demyx forgetting where he was going at almost every turn. They finally made it to the base of a particularly massive skyscraper that nearly rivaled the castle below. Demyx was able to break into it easily by a series of complicated twists with one of Marluxia’s pink paper clips, leaving Roxas to stare in awe (the expression wasn’t really much different from his usual mask of indifference). They ascended what seemed to be a million flights of stairs. The elevator, along with the power, was not on and so they had to fumble in darkness, occasionally tripping. The stairwell was filled with the sound of cursing and heavy breathing, backed by the faint wailing of the wind outside. They finally made it to the very top and Demyx sought the last door at the end and opened it. Roxas groaned when he saw yet another flight of stairs, but it was short, only eleven steps or so and so he forced himself to keep going.
He was glad he did, because the room Demyx lead him into was amazing. The walls and ceiling were solid glass, thirteen panes set in an asymmetric pattern on the ceiling and another thirteen lining the walls in uniform columns. More importantly, it was warm and you could see the sky.
“Wow,” Roxas said, sarcasm slipping into his voice, “Do you think Xemnas designed this building as well?”
Demyx found this amusing, as he snorted, but he continued to prowl around the room while Roxas stared at the moon and stars above. The last time he had seen them had been nearly a month ago, when he’d been on a mission with Axel. To pass the time as they waited for a meeting to adjourn (so they could get some inside information from a mole), Axel had named off constellations for him, telling ridiculous stories about them that he’d obviously made up on the spot. Roxas had found them funny then and he still found them funny, although that was another memory that made his stomach squirm weirdly.
“Huh,” Demyx said from across the room, inspecting something on the wall. “’S the Winter Solstice today. Makes me glad we’re inside.”
“Why?” Roxas asked curiously and Demyx stared at him in surprise. The kid knew about elephants but not the Winter Solstice? Myde had celebrated it with his family when he had been much younger. Demyx didn’t, but at least he knew about it.
“It’s the longest night of the year. And usually the coldest. It’s a holiday for some people. Just like that other holiday, Christmas.”
“Didn’t Christmas die off with the Christian religion years ago?”
“Yeah,” Demyx murmured, still lost in Myde’s memories. “When the earthquakes hit, the Christians thought it was the apocalypse and when the Rapture failed to happen most began to lose faith. And it slowly declined even more.”
Roxas made an interested noise, but his focus was once again directed at the sky and the stars and subsequently, Axel. Demyx was still caught up in his past and they spent the entirety of the year’s longest night deep in thought, finally returning to the elevator at dawn. They both stared at the rising sun for a moment, burning it into their minds before entering the elevator that would return them to endless darkness and the castle illuminated by cold, stagnant lighting.
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts 2
Characters/Pairing: Demyx, Roxas, Demyx-Roxas friendship, Axel (mentioned), vague hints at Axel/Roxas
Prompt: Winter Solstice for kisforkurama
Wordcount: 2,228 (longest fic ever)
This one is funnier and a teensy bit crackier than I'm intending for rest of this AU. This may or may not fit into the canon. And unbetaed for spelling/grammar and characterisation.
If they really thought about it, most of the Organization had no idea what they were doing, who they really were, or even what purpose they served within the Organization itself. Saïx was often found wandering the halls of The Castle That Never Was, waxing philosophical on their existential quandaries. Of course, he was simultaneously plotting gruesome and violent deaths for whomever Xemnas needed to get through, so maybe it was really that he was lulling them into a sense of complacency.
And those were only two of the reasons Roxas was beginning to regret taking Xemnas up on his offer of…something. Roxas really could not, for the life of him, remember why he’d done such a thing. He sighed; perhaps Xemnas had tempted him with something shiny. Damn that bastard and his wily ways. But there were reasons to stay as well. Like Axel, who was absolutely fascinating, especially as Roxas got over his initial distaste and confusion. At least Axel had reacted the same way. (Really, ‘what the hell is that?’ was an interesting way to begin an acquaintance).
Regardless of one (or two; he and Number Nine got along rather well) reason to stay, there were at least eleven that made him want to run screaming like a sissy little girl. And hide under his bed for a week. And possibly wet his pants. Number Eleven in particular scared him, even more than Seven and his bloodthirsty tendencies. There was no possible way that anyone could be that masculine with fucking bright pink hair and a flower fetish. Yet somehow Marluxia managed it and Roxas had taken to avoiding him in the hallways. And if Eleven and Twelve were in the same room, Roxas was bound to be spotted disappearing around a corner that led as far away from the two of them as possible.
The others were nearly as frightening, even Axel, who certainly had his escaped convict moments and in the times when Axel was a hairsbreadth away from going straight off the deep-end Roxas sought the company of Nine, who was also known as Demyx. They had a few things in common, the majority being that they were both blond and both tied for ‘least frightening Organization member’, which wasn’t really saying much of anything. Demyx could garner terrified respect if he really worked for it, but often his cute face and fumbling façade didn’t create many stirrings of fear. And anyways, the terror Demyx produced was a meek watered down version compared to that of nearly any other member.
He and Roxas often spent time together commiserating over the sweet faces they’d been gifted with and their apparently inherent inability to frighten. They sometimes talked of other things, like Demyx’s music, which was very good and really his only pride. And to suggest that the two of them traded beauty secrets and frivolous advice like teenage girls was to invite Roxas’ deathglare and the emergence of his spectacularly horrifying violent streak, which normally lay dormant. But they say a vehement denial was sign that there was some grain of truth in an accusation and there really was. Demyx was able to recommend a shampoo that wouldn’t make his scalp itch and in return he was able to confirm to Demyx that he existed for a reason and it was most likely completely to make beautiful music. (Roxas realized, immediately after it left his mouth, that it sounded like a come-on and a really terrible one at that. He said that as well, hot with embarrassment, and Demyx laughed it off, because he understood what Roxas was talking about. Even if Roxas couldn’t say it right). And they went on like that, as friends, or the closest thing to it, as they were of the Organization and were technically supposed to be heartless and soulless bastards. It was difficult to keep it up all the time, but they managed when it was important.
And then winter rolled around. Underground it was even colder than it was aboveground and they were never really sure why. It never snowed of course; precipitation was rather hard to come by when you didn’t have a sky and thus clouds. The cold made everyone snappish, except Four, who was so serene that he nearly glowed with some sort of heavenly radiance. Roxas decided that Vexen in the winter was even more frightening than Marluxia all the time. Until he realized that normal Marluxia was, indeed, around all the time and de-ass-sticked Vexen was only temporary and Marluxia once again became a horrifying (and walking and breathing) paradox who also happened to be flamboyantly gay.
“I want to see the sky,” Roxas complained to Demyx one night when they were holed up in Xemnas’ office, which was heated and absolutely wonderful. Roxas loved the sky at night, a broad expanse of seemingly limitless darkness. The time when city lights had dominated the horizon had been long before his day and the deep, rich darkness was the only twilight he knew. It was exhilarating, the boundless blackness that stretched on and on.
Demyx wrinkled his nose at the suggestion, reminding Roxas, very vocally, that it was cold aboveground and that there weren’t any heaters outside to which Roxas retorted that he knew that and he wasn’t stupid, thank you very much. Demyx laughed, and acquiesced. He missed the sky as well, and cool, clear air (he always felt that hint of rain in a fresh breeze, no matter the weather, and he loved it). It wasn’t as though they were supposed to be doing anything besides. There was no need for any recon missions, so Demyx had had way too much time on his hands. But almost everyone else had missions, so he couldn’t pester Xigbar with inane questions. Or Xaldin. Or Luxord. Even Larxene had been convinced to go out on a mission (Demyx wasn’t sure he wanted to know how Xemnas had managed that). He was getting very bored of the castle and the dark, cold city below. The people in it were like zombies half the time and the other half they prowled about, visibly seething with virulent rage. It was positively creepy.
Getting out of the castle was easy (not that is was that difficult even when most of the Organization was around). Getting through the city was just as easy. The Nobodies never questioned an Organization member (Xemnas provided a refuge and let them do more or less as they pleased but in return they were to respect and obey any Organization member. Even Demyx, who was considered by many to be utterly harmless. They were wrong of course, but that side of Demyx was rarely seen below ground). Demyx decided to lead Roxas out through ‘his’ elevator. He only considered it his because it was in sector nine and had a large IX gouged above the doorway. The elevator and its shaft were both primarily made of glass, which must have cost Xemnas an arm and a leg. Especially considering he had thirteen elevators built, one in each sector (he had also divided the sectors up and one had to wonder if he really just had an unnatural preoccupation with the number). The view as one ascended or descended was magnificent, extending across the entire city, its stark white buildings standing out from the dark rock. The blue-white floodlights Xemnas had installed at the base illuminated the castle with an artificial moonlight.
Though the view was impressive, Roxas’ face remained impassive. After all, it wasn’t as though this was anything new. He’d been in these elevators before and seen the view. Demyx usually found the view pretty interesting, because it wasn’t as though he ever had anything else to look at. But this time he had Roxas and he spent his time examining Thirteen’s face. It was a fascinating conundrum because Roxas had delicate, feminine features but usually had a thoroughly masculine scowl affixed on them. Like now, although his brow was also furrowed in something that resembled worry. Demyx poked Roxas’ cheek, and grinned.
“Hey, Roxy, why the long face~?” he asked as Roxas shot him a deathglare as only Roxas could.
“I was thinking,” Roxas growled, “Which you apparently don’t do. At least not before speaking.”
“Aw come on,” Demyx replied, mock pouting, “Is that anyway to talk to your friend who is so kindly smuggling you aboveground.”
“You smuggle about as silently as an elephant, you know.”
“I don’t”, Demyx responded thoughtfully. “What’s an elephant?”
“A kind of animal that used to live aboveground. It was very big and very heavy. And gray, but that has nothing to do with how sneaky it was. And besides, we’re not supposed to be friends because you need feelings to be friends.”
“Right. So we’re not friends just like you and Axel aren’t friends then. Hm~?”
Roxas flushed, looking the other way. “That’s something else entirely,” he muttered, as red as the aforementioned other’s hair.
“Oh ho, is it?” Demyx teased.
“Drop it, okay?!” Roxas snapped and Demyx fell silent, the smirk sliding off his face.
“That hurt, man,” he said, “That hurt.”
“Sorry,” Roxas murmured, looking contrite and his eyes widened when Demyx laughed.
“I’m just teasing again. You’re funny Roxas, y’know that?”
Roxas crossed his arms huffily. “Yeah thanks Demyx, thanks for that entirely useless information.”
Demyx laughed it off. “That’s what friends are for, hm?”
They spent the rest of the time in silence. Demyx belatedly realized Roxas had been particularly obtuse and had avoided the main topic like Larxene avoided traffic laws, but by that time they were getting out of the elevator and the cold was distracting enough. He swore, pulling his jacket closer and glancing sidelong at Roxas, who looked unaffected. Brat, Demyx thought, without much venom but said, “He, Rox, I know the best place ever. It’s this way~”
And he led Roxas on what felt like a wild goose chase, but was really just Demyx forgetting where he was going at almost every turn. They finally made it to the base of a particularly massive skyscraper that nearly rivaled the castle below. Demyx was able to break into it easily by a series of complicated twists with one of Marluxia’s pink paper clips, leaving Roxas to stare in awe (the expression wasn’t really much different from his usual mask of indifference). They ascended what seemed to be a million flights of stairs. The elevator, along with the power, was not on and so they had to fumble in darkness, occasionally tripping. The stairwell was filled with the sound of cursing and heavy breathing, backed by the faint wailing of the wind outside. They finally made it to the very top and Demyx sought the last door at the end and opened it. Roxas groaned when he saw yet another flight of stairs, but it was short, only eleven steps or so and so he forced himself to keep going.
He was glad he did, because the room Demyx lead him into was amazing. The walls and ceiling were solid glass, thirteen panes set in an asymmetric pattern on the ceiling and another thirteen lining the walls in uniform columns. More importantly, it was warm and you could see the sky.
“Wow,” Roxas said, sarcasm slipping into his voice, “Do you think Xemnas designed this building as well?”
Demyx found this amusing, as he snorted, but he continued to prowl around the room while Roxas stared at the moon and stars above. The last time he had seen them had been nearly a month ago, when he’d been on a mission with Axel. To pass the time as they waited for a meeting to adjourn (so they could get some inside information from a mole), Axel had named off constellations for him, telling ridiculous stories about them that he’d obviously made up on the spot. Roxas had found them funny then and he still found them funny, although that was another memory that made his stomach squirm weirdly.
“Huh,” Demyx said from across the room, inspecting something on the wall. “’S the Winter Solstice today. Makes me glad we’re inside.”
“Why?” Roxas asked curiously and Demyx stared at him in surprise. The kid knew about elephants but not the Winter Solstice? Myde had celebrated it with his family when he had been much younger. Demyx didn’t, but at least he knew about it.
“It’s the longest night of the year. And usually the coldest. It’s a holiday for some people. Just like that other holiday, Christmas.”
“Didn’t Christmas die off with the Christian religion years ago?”
“Yeah,” Demyx murmured, still lost in Myde’s memories. “When the earthquakes hit, the Christians thought it was the apocalypse and when the Rapture failed to happen most began to lose faith. And it slowly declined even more.”
Roxas made an interested noise, but his focus was once again directed at the sky and the stars and subsequently, Axel. Demyx was still caught up in his past and they spent the entirety of the year’s longest night deep in thought, finally returning to the elevator at dawn. They both stared at the rising sun for a moment, burning it into their minds before entering the elevator that would return them to endless darkness and the castle illuminated by cold, stagnant lighting.