November 29, 2012 | After Braig's Coma, part 2

Braig played by Hailie/Zeyda

OCTOBER 5

Braig sat up a bit after waking up in the middle of the night... Unable to sleep... He pushed himself up, and grabbed onto an IV pole and walked with it... Using a rolling table as well... He didn't care if there was a bedpan under the bed, he was going to piss in the toilet like a man. He forced himself into the bathroom down the hall, with both the IV pole and rolling table as his weight bearers.

The painful truth was, he couldn't stand to pee, so, he fell back against the toilet, and leaned against the stall wall to sit and pee... Humiliated by that fact, an the fact he couldn't close the door...
---

Marluxia had wandered through the portal in his office closet quite by chance during one of his periodic roams around Castle Oblivion, which he just checked for upkeep nowadays while spending most of his days in Saïx’s quarters, waiting for the berserker to return from his interminable mission.

All he knew at first was that he and his white silk nightgown were now in quite a different dark room. It took him a few moments to recognise it. He blinked a few times, frowning. Xehanort was passed out on the bed and the bathroom door was open. Not bothering to lift the hem of his gown, Marluxia walked over to the bathroom and gazed dispassionately upon the semi-prone figure of the man he’d assumed had left him. As his eye caught the IV, he realised that Braig had been ill.

Marluxia frowned slightly. Why hadn’t Xehanort told him about this? Clearly he’d known, judging by the fact that he was passed out on the bed.

He shook his head and walked out of the bathroom, starting up the burner, greasing a frying pan and tossing a steak in the microwave to defrost. Then he walked back to the bathroom and scooped Braig up, depositing him on the bed next to Xehanort without commenting on his miserable appearance. He knew his own hair was mussed and the sleeves and hem of his gown were frayed. He also probably smelled like Saïx’s linens, which thought gave him a sense of savage satisfaction.

“I don’t know what you’ve been living off of, since /someone/ apparently /forgot/ to tell me how you’ve been,” Marluxia said darkly, casting a glare at Xehanort’s sleeping figure, “but your muscles are crying out for protein. I assume you can eat solid foods. Otherwise, I just wasted a steak.”

Xehanort stirred at the sound of Marluxia’s voice. Was he dreaming? He opened his eyes, only to see the semi-angelic figure of a very irritated Nobody in a white dress glaring at him.

“Well, good morning to you too. Care to explain this?” the pink-haired Nobody asked without preamble, gesturing to Braig. Xehanort groaned and rolled over, pulling the covers over his head.

“Fine. I can wait. But I do expect an explanation eventually,” Marluxia grumbled as he went back to the kitchen to toss the defrosted steak into the frying pan.

Xehanort muttered something, muffled by the covers, that sounded suspiciously like "Screw you too."
---
OCTOBER 10

Braig groaned and oofed as he was disturbed, having fallen asleep on the toilet, and groaned. "Godammit." He sighed and forced himself up to wipe, shakily, and attempt to clean up. He failed half way through and flopped back on the toilet until he heard Marluxia come in.

His eyes opened wide and before he realized it, he was lifted and carried back into bed, laying next to Xehanort... Both of them being scolded viciously. "What's there to explain..." He said gruffly, and moved somewhat to tuck himself under the blankets with Xehanort... "I didn't die." He murmured and draped an arm around Xehanort’s hip... Sighing against his neck...
---
OCTOBER 11

"Well, yes, that much is obvious," Marluxia muttered impatiently. "But what didn't you die FROM? What the hell happened to you, Braig? Because the last thing I remember was that we were on our honeymoon and then you were gone. I thought you'd left us. And then when I didn't hear from Xehanort for weeks, I thought you'd just left me." He tried to keep the irritation in his voice to a minimum-- he'd always known Braig had preferred Xehanort to him, which was why he'd assumed Braig had left him. It was what he'd told Saïx anyway-- that he'd been abandoned on his honeymoon-- and Saïx had been surprisingly... But now was not the time to think about that.

Xehanort snuggled back against Braig, not really wanting to get into it with Marluxia. He knew the Nobody was insane, dressing up like a ghost and hovering around the castles like... well, like a ghost. Arguing with insane Nobodies wasn't Xehanort's idea of a good time, and besides, he had his own things to contend with, like making sure Isa's little boyfriend didn't get in the way of the experiments and research he was trying to run. It was bad enough that Ansem had vetoed it, but what Ansem didn't know couldn't hurt Xehanort. He'd have to fill Braig in on all this later-- much later, when the other was healthy.

Marluxia stalked back into the kitchen and flipped the steak, then floated back to the bedroom. He sat down on the bed next to Braig, simply observing him, not touching him.

"So what did happen?" he asked, his tone gentler.
---

"I dunno..." He sighed and looked over to Xehanort… "I don't remember much of anything..." He sighed... "It all just feels like a bad dream..." He whispered... "Like... I barely remember myself..." He said softly... "All I really remember was... Feeling adrift in a cold… Shallow water... That refused to heat up... I couldn't move... I couldn't breathe... All I could feel was something pulling at me... At my core... Dragging me into the water, suffocating me..." He shrugged... "Then... I heard a voice… Tellin me it wasn't my time yet… And I just felt cold again... No sound... No sight... No nothin… Just... Complete, suffocating darkness..." He said quietly... "It felt like forever... But... I could feel something in the water with me occasionally... A hand... A touch... And... I could feel Xehanort reach for me... And pull me out and into the warmth again..." He shivered again... Still a bit cold… "I don't know how I ended up like that... I assume I just... Fell and died…" He shrugged, and looked in on Xehanort... "I just... Feel safe now." He whispered and tucked his head into the small of Xehanort’s shoulders. "You'd have to ask Norty what happened in the meantime..." He said tiredly... "Cuz I don't remember shit all..." He lifted his head a bit and peered up at Marluxia... His head quivering before he flopped back into the sheets... "I hear you moved on already..." He whispered... "I'm glad I wasn't worth waitin' fo.r.." He murmured, and laid an arm around Xehanort’s waist.
---

From that, Marluxia gathered that Braig had almost become a Nobody-- no, almost became Xigbar-- but the timeline had rejected him. And Xehanort had known about it, the traitor, and kept the information from Marluxia.

"Oh, I'm sure if Xehanort had anything to say to me, he would have said it already," said Marluxia coldly. "I didn't even know what had happened to you, remember? I figured you'd just left me, like Vexen did. Xehanort didn't tell me jack shit, so of course I moved on. Besides, you don't need me. You never did, actually." Marluxia kept his voice upbeat, as though he were talking about the prospects of a polo match. "You have Xehanort and obviously he doesn't really want to share you, or he would have said something. At least when Saïx is gone, it's because he's doing his job."

Truth be told, it did bother Marluxia a little bit that Saïx worked as hard as he did, but in a way, Marluxia also respected Saïx's dedication and focus. And whenever Saïx checked in, he was always happy to see Marluxia and promised to make up his absence. He didn't have to, which Marluxia told him every time, but Marluxia appreciated the offer itself more than he'd ever admit.

"You know, I told everyone you left me on my honeymoon, because that's what I thought had happened. Xehanort didn't say any differently, didn't even try to contact me, so I guess he wanted me to think that too. Well, he's got you all to himself now, and he's probably better for you anyway, so neither of you really has cause to complain. Anyway, Saïx is good for me. He brings out the best in me when he's around, makes me feel human again. The only problem, of course, is that his absence leaves a gaping void like when I first lost my heart. But that's only if he's gone for more than eight weeks, and then it just takes a few more months for the feeling to go away and for me to go back to being my regular non-self. I am a Nobody, after all. I'm quite adjusted to being hollow."

He went back into the kitchen, put the steak on a plate, and carried it and the proper utensils into the bedroom. "Now eat your steak. I forgive you for leaving me, since you didn't really and you were just comatose, apparently, but I'm still pissed off at Xehanort for not saying anything. But either way, I'm not going to have you starve and collapse into another coma. Eat. Build your strength. At least you're not crippled by depression."
---

"You obviously weren't crippled by depression..." He mumbled, and looked down at the steak awkwardly... He wasn't sure how he was to go about eating it like this, when it was damn near bloody murder to speak. He forced himself to sit up, and leaned over the steak stupidly... Like he was half drunk, barely able to keep his posture... He reached down to pick up the fork, or well... Tried to... Before he fumbled with it, and dropped it on the bed. "Goddamnit…" He sighed and tried a few more times, before he growled a loud curse. He shoved the utensils forward, like a child having a fit, and picked up the steak in his hands, trying to eat it with his fingers. He fought to chew and finally stared up at Marluxia... "I didn't just up and leave you..." He said... His jaw falling slack occasionally... "Ow.. I don't think I ever would have..." He said and stared down at the steak... "There a blender or something in there..?" He asked, "please...?" He stared up at him... The steak tasted heavenly... Despite its not being spiced and such.. Everything about it was divine... He loved how rare it was... At least Marluxia remembered he liked his steak still twitching...
---

"I wasn't crippled by depression?" Marluxia repeated incredulously, standing up. "When I got back to the Castle that Never Was, I was too distraught to even go to my room. I fell asleep in the Grey Area!" And then Saïx had come by, made a snide comment about Marluxia not finding his own bed fit to sleep in, and Marluxia had wound up pouring out everything to the senior Nobody, who had been shockingly kind and understanding.

"What, did you want me to waste away pining for you? Nobodies don't /do/ that," Marluxia informed Braig. "We may not fully exist, but we do what we have to do to survive."

He'd been about to pick up the fork himself and try to feed Braig when the merc picked up the meat in his hands and started to eat it. Alrighty then.

He didn't just up and leave Marluxia? "It certainly felt like it at the time," the pinket said.

He reached for the fork and knife, cutting off a small piece. "Open," he instructed Braig. "And I wouldn't know if there's a blender in here. It's your kitchen, not mine."
---

He sighed a bit and opened his mouth... Hating how dependent he looked... "So moving on to some other guy is something you need to survive?" He asked, and opened his mouth slowly... Expecting to get jabbed in the pallet from that remark. "I would've wasted away pining for you..." He sighed between chews, and looked away...

"Msorry...” He mumbled and glanced to Marluxia... "I... Wish you and Saïx the best.." He whispered and forced himself to swallow painfully, naturally...

"I'm sorry man... I haven't been myself lately...” He said calmly... Feeling bad for snapping at the pinket.

"I don't... Really remember how I acted anymore... I just... I feel like I'm startin fresh...” He said and looked down... "I don't think I could drag more people through that again..." He said... "I'm... Not even sure I want to drag Xehanort through that..." He whispered, and shakily touched along the sheets... "Everything is so unfamiliar now... So... Foreign..." He shrugged... "I just dunno what to say or do." He murmured, and rubbed his forehead... And down his cheek, touching over the scar on his cheek... He withdrew his hand for a moment and looked down at it…. Somewhat shocked…. He shook his head and stared up at Marluxia, and opened his mouth when Marluxia told him to... He sat in silence for what felt like forever...
---
OCTOBER 13

Marluxia had been about to say that he wasn't about to waste his life pining away for someone who wouldn't have given him a second thought, but what Braig said gave him pause.

"If someone leaves me, I'm done with them," he said, "and I did think you'd left me. Perhaps I'm not giving you any credit, but there's nothing for it now. Saïx was there for me and he made me feel more human, I suppose. I let down all my barriers with him and I'm just me. Or maybe I'm Lumaria. When I was with you..." Marluxia speared another piece of steak and held the fork up to Braig patiently. "Don't take this badly, but I felt as though I had to put on a show and be a certain way to entertain you. I felt like an outcast, truth be told, like I had to force my place in your world. I don't mean to make you feel badly with this, and of course I do wish you the best as well. You don't have to worry about me taking revenge against you. I'm going to help you get back to your former glory, yes?"

Xehanort stirred at the sound of his name. "I won't let you leave me behind," he mumbled. "Not after I came in here for nine months and talked to a completely unresponsive body. You're not dragging me through anything. I insist on staying."

Marluxia gestured to Xehanort as if to say "See what I mean?" and "Someone /is/ there for you" simultaneously.

What he actually said was, "What you're supposed to do right now is just to eat and get stronger. We'll figure out the rest later."
---
OCTOBER 25

he sighed, and as Marluxia told him about Saix and his getting along so well together, he pushed the pinkets hand away shakily, and took up the steak in his own hands. "so all my effort into making you feel more human was wasted, obviously." he murmured, and began to eat, looking rather stupid as he did, gnawing at it until a piece broke off. he laid back down next to Xehanort, mumbling a soft apology for not waking up sooner, and for eating like a camel in bed.

he stared down at his gnawed steak and reached under the blanket to gently rub along Xehanort’s hip, and up his shoulder just watching him relax in bed. "neither of you had to put on a show for me… i just…. i guess i just couldn't handle double time…" he whispered, and leaned back into Xehanort. "i couldn't handle what i was supposed to do, and… who went where, and…" he closed his eyes and shook his head, his hair had grown out considerably and was now waving around his face lazily. "it doesn't matter. i fucked up, and you fucked off… simple as that." he said with a grunt, and hid the majority of himself under the sheets.

"sorry i went ahead and wasted your time, Marluxia." he said flatly.
---
OCTOBER 26

"Yes," Marluxia said, "your effort was wasted. I'm more human now without Saïx ever having to try, though of course, it fades away the longer he's gone and I become a Nobody again. But, Braig, it was... fun. For what it's worth." Marluxia shrugged, not wanting to get into another pointless, self-pitying argument centered around Braig's need to feel relevant.

"Anyway, we're friends, so I'm not just going to leave you here. I don't really want to go back to the castle and all my business for the week has been taken care of, so I'll stay and help you get better. Xehanort's done a lot, and he can be there for you in ways that I no longer can, but he doesn't have my expertise in medicinal plants." Marluxia noted this without any hint of smugness. The competition he'd perceived between Xehanort and himself was gone and now, he was just being helpful for the sake of being helpful, and to avoid going back to a home with Saïx not in it, because he was still on that blasted mission and Xemnas had made absolutely no effort to call him back. How Marluxia despised the Organization's superior sometimes!

Xehanort smiled and shook his head, indicating that Braig didn't have to apologise to him. He felt a lot better knowing that Marluxia was never going to rip him up with vines out of jealousy again, and felt that now he could relax and just be with Braig. "You couldn't handle double-time and Marluxia can't handle competition," he murmured. "I saw the expression on his face when Saïx admitted to sleeping with Xemnas to earn his current position of trust as Xemnas's right-hand man."

Marluxia frowned. "Lumaria and Isa were a couple," he informed Xehanort, "so it surprised me that the man I was with first was with someone else after me. That's all. If anyone, I would have expected him to be sleeping with Axel, but when I made a joking comment about it, he disdainfully said he'd never sleep with that 'hothead'. Although... come to think of it, it does make sense..." He trailed off.

Xehanort narrowed his eyes. Apparently his theory that Marluxia would stop trying to provoke him now that he'd let Braig go had just been jossed. He knew what Marluxia was getting at: Isa, Saïx's Somebody, was the research assistant of Xehanort, who was Xemnas's Somebody. But as far as he knew—

"Isa's engaged to Lea," the darker Somebody said flatly.

But it turned out that Marluxia was on a completely different train of thought.

"Obviously either the engagement broke or they got divorced," he snarled, "because Saïx is with /me/." His sapphire eyes glowed topaz for a second, then settled back to their normal ocean blue. Xehanort realised that Marluxia hadn't been trying to make a crack at Xehanort's and Isa's working-status and facepalmed.

"Of course," he said. "My apologies." He shook his head and kissed Braig's cheek. /What the hell just happened to his eyes?/ he thought, but did not say. He didn't want to alarm Braig when Braig was meant to be recovering. "So the Darkness rejected you," he said to his reclaimed lover, trying to get the conversation back on a more helpful track. "Said it 'wasn't your time'. What do you think that meant?"
---
OCTOBER 27

He smiled a bit dipped his head down to kiss Xehanort’s cheek softly and rub along His back slowly, "I don't know what it meant… But it was strange…" He said quietly, glad Xehanort made an effort to change the topic… He gnawed at the steak a few more times and finally gave up, and stuffed what was left into his mouth, forcing himself to chew and swallow as best he could.

He coughed once he got it down and laid down next to Xehanort again, tucking his head into the others shoulder, crawling so he could lay an arm and a leg over the other. He kissed his neck softly and sighed into him, closing his eyes.

"Marluxia." He said softly, and tucked his head into Xehanort’s neck, kissing the skin there tenderly. "You think… I never made you feel human…." He said and closed his eyes… Obviously displeased about the pinket telling him this. He sighed into Xehanort’s neck again and stared in on Xehanort… Comforted by the silveret beneath him. "But you constantly said you were beginning to feel more human when I was with you…" He huffed… Obviously getting himself worked up, though it didn't take much anymore.

"And now… All the effort I've done to make you feel alive… Was wasted, and you just want to waltz back in here and expect that, I ain't gunna get mad?" He asked stiffly and clutched into the thin bedding somewhat.

"The man there… Who spoke to me… In the darkness, he knew me… And he knew you." He said, poking his head out to stare up at Marluxia.
---
Nov 29 2012, 06:15 PM
Xehanort smiled and petted Braig's hair, amazed at how gentle the other was acting.

Marluxia shrugged. "Sure, you brought out some emotion in me, and you made me human in a way, but Saïx makes me want to be a /better/ human," he clarified. "Sometimes it seems as though he and I are the only members of the Organization who can stand each other anymore."

"And that's just it," he continued. "You say you tried to /make/ me feel more human. He doesn't have to put in the effort. I feel things with him that I thought were lost to me forever once I became a Nobody. Anyway, I never said I didn't expect you to get mad. Whatever you feel is up to you, but I don't see what there is to be mad about. It simply came naturally to him to comfort me when he didn't have to. When I came ho-- when I got back to the castle and collapsed in the Grey Area, he could have just scolded me and demand that I go back to my room. Well, he did scold me at first, but then he came over and held me and made me a warm drink. He was... so kind to me. You know," he recounted, smiling, "he let me sneak into his bed. He said it was 'deviant' in a way that he liked, and the last time he was here--"

Marluxia swallowed, his voice catching. The last time Saïx had come home from a mission, he'd taken Marluxia to the Altar of Naught for a picnic and said he'd had a surprise for him-- right before Xemnas had called him away for ANOTHER long mission.

"Anyway, it's not anyone's fault. It's just his natural talent. He knows how to handle me without even trying, and that's just a gift that he has. So there's really no reason for you to be upset about it." Marluxia shook his hair back.

"So tell me. What did this man know about us? And what was his voice like?" he asked, going with the subject change. This was much more interesting to him.

October 3, 2012 After Braig's Coma, part 1

Braig played by Hailie/Zeyda.

AUGUST 25, 2012
Braig frowned.. He was tired.. His head hurt and his entire body felt as though it had been stuffed into a blender. He sat up after a few minutes, and rubbed his forehead, getting up a few minutes later. "the hell am I..?" he asked stiffly, and frowned as he realized he was sitting on a gurney, with lights staring down on him all around.

He reached down to pull on his bandanna and tighten it, and reached over to a table nearby.. As if he automatically knew where his clothing lie.

He slipped on his pants and tunic, and leaned over to shakily lean on the floor, and soon collapsed to lean on the wall next to him. "shit." he swore softly, his legs buckling beneath him. He had been in a coma for quite some time.. And his legs were like jello, trying to keep him supported, his arms were no better.. But they just felt weak. He stared around the room a bit. He was in a rather small looking room.. No doubt a hospital ward, or at least a very well managed laboratory, light and various trays lined the floor around him, and he shuddered with the very thought of not knowing what was happening to him while he was asleep.
---

Xehanort idly walked in to check on his ward. How strange, he thought. He remembered when it had been Braig taking care of him and not the other way around. Even had told him it would be months before Braig woke, but every so often, Xehanort liked to come in and read to him or something. He'd heard somewhere that coma patients whose friends spoke to them tended to fare better.

He guessed that must have been true, as when Xehanort walked in, Braig was leaning against the wall.

"You're awake," Xehanort informed him unnecessarily. "Even told me you wouldn't wake up for several months. How do you feel?" He spoke as though Braig were a stranger and not the man he'd married eight and a half months ago. His voice was blank and wooden, though more out of shock than a lack of concern.
---

He looked to the other for a moment or two, and pushed himself up, and leaned on a mobile tray nearby, and began to drag himself forward, his face blank of nearly all expression, except for the darkness surrounding him. He stumbled forward and collapsed the tray with him, falling down beside it.

He pushed himself back up, panting for air already exhausted. He forced himself back up, on doughy legs, and managed to get closer to the other, until he could knot his fingers into Xehanort’s coat, and pull himself up to stand up relatively straight.

He stared down into Xehanort’s eyes... Unsure of who the other was for a few moments.. It had been long enough since they last saw each other, and the other had still managed to age considerably. He placed a hand on his shoulder, leaning his weight on him, with a strikingly firm grip on his shoulder.

"how do I feel..." he said flatly.. His voice was weak and sickly... "like I been in a hard-ass sleep for about a damned year." he groaned, and cupped his cheeks, staring down at him, forcing Xehanort to stare back up at him. He gripped into the others shoulder and dipped his head down to kiss his forehead lightly. "Xehanort..." he whispered, and drew his head back slightly, "I dreamed about you and...” he lifted his head to look around.. "Marluxia..." he whispered and closed his eyes, "where is he..?" he asked softly and leaned back into the bed, and reached forward... Hoping Xehanort would come sit with him.
---

"Not quite a year," Xehanort replied coolly, pulling out of the other man's grasp. "Your muscles are somewhat atrophied. You need to take it more slowly or you'll destroy your body. Don't try to stand." He was surprised by, but did not comment on, Braig's surprisingly strong grip.

"I imagine Marluxia is in the Castle that Never Was," Xehanort responded to Braig's question. "He doesn't know about your coma. I'm a bit unclear on what happened as well, but I know you've been ...asleep. Marluxia has been under the impression that you divorced us. He stopped visiting me, but I heard that he befriended another member of the Organization, who left on a mission at the end of May, and has been living in that member's now-vacant room and occasionally wandering the Castle like a ghost. Of course, that's all speculation. I haven't been through the warp points to see for myself. I've been studying..."

He frowned in concentration. "What happened to you?" he asked. "What's the last thing you remember?"
---

"the last thing i remember...?" he asked and looked down in thought, a little offended Xehanort didn't come to sit with him. he shrugged and laid back on the bed. "i remember... a sudden flash of light, and... pure darkness surrounding me." he said, placing a hand on his forehead, and frowned, touching over his unbandaged eye. "i remember... a voice inside'a me... tellin' me that... it wasn't my time to be lost in the darkness..." he rubbed his forehead. "i can hear 'em though..." he said, hearing the soft echos of Xigbar in the back of his head. "he's..." he looked down. "he's in Marluxias time now." he sighed and winced, as though it hurt too much. it did, to an extent, but he shook his head, and pushed himself to sit up. "so he doesn't know i'm gone anymore..." he sighed and stood after a moment, moving over to knot his fingers through Xehanorts coat, and drag him over to sit next to him.

"do i freak ya out now?" he asked, and leaned back, unable to sit up anymore. he closed his eyes, tired. "i could.. hear your voice, while i was under.." he said. "it was... friggin heavenly." he said softly and smiled. "i missed ya." he said, and peered up at the silveret.
---
AUGUST 26

Xehanort gazed warily at the other, but he softened when Braig said he'd missed him.

"I came to visit you every week," Xehanort said, gently pulling Braig's head into his lap, stroking his hair. "I read to you. Even told me that comatose patients recover quickly when people talk to them. I thought it was bull, but here you are."

Not Braig's time? Xehanort supposed that was a good thing. He had about given up on Braig ever coming back to life, but now he realised he wasn't quite ready to lose him. "I don't think I'll say anything to Marluxia yet," Xehanort murmured. "I want you all to myself."
---

He smiled a bit and draped an arm around his side, nosing into his thighs and abdomen. "I do too.." he whispered, he hated to admit it, but back when all three of them were together, his favors did lean towards Marluxia, but now that Xehanort told him, Marluxia was never here, his opinion had changed immensely.

He relaxed into Xehanort and closed his eyes, loving the feeling of the other running his fingers through his hair. It was heavenly. He smiled, and traced little circles on the others back and sides, he had smelled so different now... He wasn't sure what to think of all he was told, but he reveled in the fact Xehanort did care for him... That he cared enough to come see him as frequently as he said. He sighed softly and a soft smile drew across his face. He opened his eyes and stared up to him, "I'm glad you saved me." he whispered, "I'm glad you're still here to be with me...” he sat up a bit to kiss his chin. "I'm glad... You hadn't given up." he said breathlessly, and laid back down in his lap...

A thought crossed his mind, and he frowned, he would have to build up his muscle strength again, he was rather worried about how long recovery would take, until he was able to be let out of here, and when he could go back to his normal life.

He reached down, and pulled the sheets over himself, unusually cold.
---
AUGUST 27

Xehanort smiled, though he did feel a little guilty. It was no secret that when the three of them had been together, Marluxia had been extremely jealous of Xehanort, thinking that Braig had favoured the darker, more innocent man. What he'd actually heard was that Marluxia had gone insane after Braig's collapse and, thinking the merc had abandoned him, taken up with a berserker who was almost as mad as he. Xehanort held his tongue on these matters though and simply continued stroking Braig's hair.

"That tickles," he complained slightly, flinching away from the touches to his sides. "And I wouldn't exactly say that I saved you. You recovered on your own. I just kept watch over you every so often." He smiled at the little kiss. "You've changed, for the better," he said softly, then reached down to pull a blanket from under the bed. He shook it out and wrapped it gently around Braig.

"Just relax for now," he said. "You'll need to eat and do some light exercises to build your muscles back up. You're rather more de-conditioned than you'd normally be."
---
AUGUST 28

"I'm not... Deconditioned, I'm just, tired." He said softly, and nosed into the blankets softly, reaching up to bring Xehanort down with him. He stretched an arm around him, and buried his face into the others neck, "I don't... Fully remember how I used to be...” he whispered, "some things I do remember... Some I don't." he whispered and closed his eyes, sighing into Xehanort’s neck. "you remember right?" he asked, and lifted his head to stare up at his lover, his eyes wide and pleading.

"how I used to be...?" he asked, appearing to be like a lost child.

"I remembered I love you, and we used to have a life together... But, I died and woke up here...” he sighed and stretched an arm around him, even though it hurt to stretch, it still felt amazingly good afterwards.

He sighed pleasantly, and closed his eyes... He traced both hands down his sides and shoulder. "maybe you can get me back into shape, and tell me how I was back then." he whispered and sighed into his shoulder, "whichever is easiest on you." he said softly.
---

Xehanort yelped softly as he was brought down into the covers. It was really much too warm to be cuddling, but he endured it for Braig's sake.

"I remember," said Xehanort. "It's really all I do remember." He was surprised to hear that Braig had actually died--he'd thought the other had merely collapsed.

"I can try, certainly, but I do have other duties here," said Xehanort gently. "Though I suppose I can have my new apprentice help me with the research I took on..."
---
AUGUST 30

He lifted his head slightly when the other mentioned a new apprentice. He looked down and kissed his neck lightly. He sighed a bit.. No doubt Xehanort had well and moved on with him gone. He lifted the blanket so Xehanort could have his limbs back, and laid his head on the blankets. "I'm going to... Y'know, get some rest." he said softly, "I'll let you get some work done...” he whispered, "so... I'll talk to you in a bit." he said softly, and lowered his gaze, before he closed his eyes and tucked his head into the blankets...

"Gnight...” he said from under the blankets, hiding from the others line of sight.
---
SEPTEMBER 4

Xehanort thought he sensed a mite of jealousy. "The apprentice is an industrious worker," he said. "Helps with paperwork and filing studies so that I have more time to be here. He's a violinist as well. Perhaps I should bring him in to play for you. Normally he plays only for his music teacher and 'the ballet girls', as he calls them. Oh, and of course his boyfriend."
---
OCTOBER 3

Boyfriend? He stared up at Xehanort for a minute or two and laid his head back down on the pillow, too exhausted... "If you say so...” He said quietly, and reached out to take Xehanort’s hand... His grip was weak, but firm in a way. He gently dragged Xehanort’s hand under the blanket, and kissed his wrist softly.. "Thanks for waiting..." He said softly... Near passing out... "You have no idea how... Grateful I am." He sighed, "I love you..." He yawned and slowly drifted back into sleep.
---

Xehanort gave Braig's hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "Love you too," he murmured, gently resting against Braig. "I'll just stay with you here for now, if you want," he murmured, though he suspected Braig had already gone to sleep.
---

He had woken up a few hours later... His entire body ached to pieces from him moving around so much... It would take forever to get his physic back... Wouldn't it..?

He moved a bit and pulled the sheets down slowly, so he could gather his bearings, and let out a quiet groan, before the ever encroaching embrace of sleep took him over once again, making the man fall back into his seemingly endless dreamscape.

September 14, 2012 | Making Things Interesting (Saix/Marluxia)

Marluxia brings juice for a Saïx.

Saïx is currently sitting down reading, then looks up at Marluxia.

Marluxia

Hello Saïx. 

*sets the tray down* 

What’re you reading?

Saïx

Greetings Marluxia~ 

*places bookmark inside of book then sets it down* 

I was just reading “White Witch Black Curse”. What are you up to?

Marluxia

 Bringing you juice. I’ve been trying to think of things to write in my reports that aren’t botany-related, but I’m having a devil of a time… you must be bored, constantly reading about plantlife in relation to Heartless. I do hope your book is more entertaining.

Saïx

Oh, why thank you. 

*Smiles slightly at Marluxia* 

Botany… well, it’s better than nothing at all. And indeed my book is far more entertaining—it’s mostly horror.

Marluxia, curiosity piqued

Oh? Well, why don’t you tell me about it? 

*sits by Saïx and pours them each a glass of juice*

Saïx smiles slightly and grabs glass of juice

 Well I had read a while ago but never finished it. It’s about a white witch who lives in a fantasy world and gets cursed with black magic and everyone mistreats her. All the adventures she goes on is quite interesting~

Marluxia

 I shall have to check it out from the library on my next mission break. It must be nice, reading something other than our crappy reports. 

*smiles slightly back*

Saïx

Well I shall lend it to you. I’m almost done with it. I think you’ll enjoy it. 

*Takes a sip from glass cup* 

Yes indeed, reading reports do get a bit tedious at times, especially reading Demyx’s… his reports are always poorly done.

Marluxia

 Yes, I believe that Demyx’s reports are only good for feeding Larxene’s pet chinchilla. 

*takes a sip as well* 

Thank you for your generous offer, sir. 

*smirk*

Saïx:

Ha- That’s all so true and funny at the same time. It’s just because he’s so entirely lazy. 

*Puts a hand on Marluxia’s knee* 

Anyways, how have you been feeling?

Marluxia: He really is. It’s sickening how much he shirks, forcing the rest of us to pick up the slack. Other than that, I’ve been… fine. I’m better now, though. 

*strokes the hand on his knee, smiling* 

How about you? How have you been?

Saïx: 

Well it’s good that you’re better now. I’ve been… okay I guess. Plenty of work has been keeping me quite busy, as usual.

Marluxia: 

Yes, it’s nice to have some time for relaxation. 

*sips juice* 

And you’re excellent company, so that’s good too.

Saïx:

Indeed we do need a bit of time to… unwind from all the work. 

*also takes a sip of juice*

Marluxia: 

Yes. Though it’s not always easy to find ways to relax. 

*rests his head on Saïx’s shoulder wearily* 

How do you usually unwind?

Saïx feels the softness of Marluxia’s hair on shoulder and slightly smiles once more

 I mostly just read, and drink tea. Although I tend to overthink sometimes…

Marluxia

The plight of the intelligent man. 

*chuckles*

 What do you think about?

Saïx

Well, I tend to think about several things. Mainly about how or when we are going to regain our hearts, and the past.

Marluxia had been expecting something along those lines. He nodded, his head gently nuzzling Saïx’s shoulder as he did. “I wonder the same,” he murmured. “Sometimes I wonder if Xemnas—” He cut himself off. It wasn’t wise to disparage their leader in front of the second-in-command, even if Marluxia had already declared Saïx his true superior. “Well. Perhaps next time I come in, I’ll bring you some tea instead of juice. I had some alcohol left in the distillery, but…” He smiled again. "It might be objectionable for me to try and get you drunk,” he teased.

Slightly acknowledging the fact that Marluxia mentioned Xemnas, he skipped subject. “Is that so? I wonder what you’d try to do if you were to get me entirely drunk.” The small smile had been wiped off his face, being drowned in more thoughts. “So, are you tired, Marluxia?”

“I’d probably end up having to hold your hair and feed you water to prevent you from being hungover the next morning,” Marluxia replied pragmatically. “You do have nice hair, though,” he murmured as an aside. As for whether he was tired… “I am tired, actually. Exhausted. But not from missions. From thinking. From keeping myself busy, I suppose, trying to puzzle everything out.” He was tempted to ask if Saïx was asking him to come to bed with him, but decided that might be a little too cheeky. He reached for his glass and drained it. “I was tempted to spike this,” he confessed. “But Larxene seems to think I have a drinking problem, so I refrained.”

“Well hangovers are a real pain.” He lowered his eyes as if he was relaxed—but he was, with Marluxia’s company. “Indeed thinking may cause to drain one’s energy, then get our minds confused…” Saïx lifted his head and ran his fingers through Marluxia’s soft hair. “I’m a bit tired too. Are you ready to go to bed? If so, I can stay aside you while you do. I would fall asleep with you, but unfortunately I still have plenty of work to get done.”

“Actually, I’d like to help,” said Marluxia. “There’s no reason you should have to do all that work alone. It’ll only make you more tired. And afterwards, perhaps a nice nightcap. What is the nature of this work?” He assumed it was the usual paperwork and supposed they could split it evenly. He nuzzled into Saïx’s hand. “I’ve never been truly hungover, unless you count the time Xigbar drugged me. And I’ll make sure we don’t drink too much and have plenty of water both before and after we sleep and wake up.” He smiled hopefully up at his superior.

“Well if you want to. It’s just reviewing reports from the past week, but with your help I’m sure it’ll slide by much faster.” Wanting to get the work done already, he just realized what Marluxia said. “Wait—why would Xigbar drug you? And how—if you don’t mind me asking.” Saïx looked at Marluxia’s soft smile and smiled back.

“He slipped something in my daiquiri,” Marluxia said sourly. “I assume you can infer why. Most distasteful. Would you hand me the reports you’d like me to review?” he asked, averting his eyes from the unpleasant memory. He found Saïx’s small very pleasant, warm as the sun, but Saïx himself was a beautiful sun upon whom it almost hurt Marluxia’s eyes to gaze. Smiling made his beauty even more unbearably brilliant. Marluxia quickly grabbed a red editing pen and prepared to go over his half of the reports, taking a deep breath and clearing his head.

“Oh lord. Well Xigbar is a disgrace at times. Well so are most of the members.” He got up and grabbed a semi-thick stack of papers and sat once again next to Marluxia. Splitting half of the papers, Saïx pulled out a pen from his right pocket. He paused, thinking—trying to remember what he was supposed to a few minutes ago. He looked at Marluxia’s perfectly created face, then remembered what he was supposed to say. “I honestly can say, I truly enjoy your company. Whether it’s work or free time.”

“Thank you, sir. I find your company most pleasant as well,” Marluxia said quietly, a slight flush coming over his face at what he knew to be a monumental compliment, coming from Saïx. He accepted his half of the papers and read carefully through them, making comments as needed. “I also agree about most of the members being disgraceful. Somehow, a few of them seem to feel it’s appropriate to come to me when they have nightmares, as though their troubled subconscious ought, for some reason, to interest me.” He sighed and shook his head.

“Come to you with their nightmares? That’s odd.” Scanning the pages because he’s so used to reading almost the same thing repeatedly. “This lack of sleep is killing me. Do you get an appropriate amount of sleep, Marluxia?” Already with a good amount of papers reviewed and marked, he sighed, not looking forward to the next few days’ work.

“Usually around six hours,” Marluxia replied. “If there’s no one else in bed with me, that is. Xemnas seems rather fond of summoning me at odd hours for interrogations, so sometimes only two or three hours. And as for the nightmares, Demyx likes to barge into my room or bang on the door whining at me about them. It’s most irritating and then he calls me ‘mean’ when I manifest a plant to snap at him until he goes away. Honestly, as though I’m under any obligation to be nice to the little freak,” the pinket ranted. “And did you know that he insists on calling me by that asinine nickname ‘Marly’? I will cut the next person who calls me that in half with a fucking rose, I swear to Kingdom Hearts.” He heaved a sigh almost identical to Saïx’s at the memory of the irritation. “If you need me to, I can stay up with you from now on and help you with your work. I can copy your handwriting well enough that Xemnas need never know, if that’s what you’d like. You deserve recognition for all your hard work.”

“Demyx calls you that?” He snickered in low laughter. “Well Demyx is like a child… he doesn’t want to do anything he has to, his attitude is very much compared to one.” Saïx sighed in the thought of Demyx’s lack in work. “I don’t want you to lose sleep, I feel like I’d be dragging you into work. you’re a hard worker, therefore I think sleep should be much better than side working.”

“Yes, Demyx calls me that, and I don’t find it amusing. It should be ‘Marluxia’, ‘No. XI’, or possibly ‘Master’.” The last suggestion was in jest, but Marluxia did actually enjoy being called by his number by some of the senior members. It sent a little shiver down his spine. “And you’re not dragging me into anything. I’m volunteering,” he said stubbornly. “You work hard too and without the stress relief that comes from the heat of battle. You deserve to relax, and as long as I’m working with you, I’m sure I can stay awake without issue and still have ample time for my mission work.”

“Well I guess if you would really want to. But thank you, Marluxia, it will help out a lot.” Saïx yawned while getting down to the last of his papers. “I can’t wait to knock out. It feels like I haven’t slept in days for some reason.” He reviewed his last paper slowly, with tired eyes. ‘This means a lot that you’re willing to help.” He capped his pen.

“If it helps you and reduces stress for you, then of course I want to. What else are we neophytes for, if not to assist our superiors?” he asked rhetorically. “That aside, you probably do need to sleep more. It sounds like you haven’t been getting enough. Oh…” He came to the last of his half and noticed that it was his own report. “This one’s mine,” he said. “Shall I lay it aside for tomorrow, then, and we can head to bed now?”

Saïx could hardly think. He nodded. “Indeed, let’s go get rest now.” Saïx sighed at his weary sight, his eyes feeling gritty. “Thank you once more. I’m not used to having the work done so quickly.” Saïx thought about the holiday day off coming up, but decided he should rather mention it tomorrow. He got up and looked at Marluxia. He wanted to say something, but his mind, falling into soft weariness, forgot what.

Marluxia smiled softly and took Saïx’s arm, guiding him to his bed and laying down next to him, as he didn’t feel like going to his own room. “I’ll help you any time you need it. You need only ask,” he mumbled, curling into Saïx and resting his head on the other’s shoulder.

Saïx woke up next to Marluxia, feeling renewed from the night’s worth of sleep. He poked Marluxi’as nose. “It’s morning…” he said softly to Marluxia’s sleepy face. Not remembering much of what occurred last night or what they talked about despite the work, Saïx sat up and yawned.

“That is my nose,” Marluxia informed Saïx, “and you are poking it.” He sat up, stretching. “Did you sleep well, Saïx? Shall I make you breakfast?” he asked, nipping playfully at the older Nobody’s finger.

“Indeed I did sleep quite well. Yourself?” Saïx rubbed his eyes. “And no I’m not really hungry. For some odd reason I’m never hungry when I first wake up. Thank you, though.” Saïx once more pokes Marluxia’s nose with a soft smile. “At least we got the week’s worth of work done. I don’t think we’ll have to do any work for the next few days.”

“I slept well too. Dreamed about pie, which is probably why I have a craving or sweets. Perhaps I’ll bake one later.” He was glad that they’d gotten so much work done, if for Saïx’s sake alone. He nipped at Saïx’s finger again. “Why are you poking my nose?” he asked.

Saïx thought of bringing Marluxia sweets soon for a thank-you of his volunteering for his work. I don’t quite remember what I had dreamt. Suppose I’ve stopped dreaming for quite a while.” Saïx’s smiled stayed upon his face from Marluxia’s questioning. “Because I like your nose. But yet again I like everything about you.” Saïx’s gaze landed upon Marluxia’s face.

“Thank you, sir,” Marluxia murmured, blushing faintly as he tore his eyes away from Saïx. “You’re rather…perfect, yourself. There are parts of you that I like, too, but I don’t poke them,” he said, chuckling. As for dreams, well, he’d also dreamed about things other than pie that involved Saïx and whipped cream, which he chose not to share. He swung his feet over the side of the bed and padded off to the bathroom to—

“Do you have an extra toothbrush?” he asked, realising he hadn’t exactly planned ahead for this.

“Indeed I do. There’s an unopened one under the sink.” Saïx yawned once more, not looking forward to today’s work. He wished he could go back to sleep but that would be unacceptable. He felt like Demyx at this point. “There’s a holiday coming up soon, if you don’t already know about it.” He never mentioned it last night.

“Thank you,” Marluxia said, slipping off to the bathroom. “I was unaware of that, actually, but it should be a nice reprieve. What are you thinking of doing on your time off?” he asked as he started to freshen up, admiring Saïx. He seemed slightly… vulnerable in the mornings. Sleepy. The sight humanised him, made him cute. Well, Marluxia always thought Saïx was cute, but objectively speaking, he looked sweet and kittenish now.

“I don’t quite know yet. I’m thinking of just finishing up work and with any spare time I’ll just relax.” He sighed and swung out of bed to change. “What about yourself? I’m pretty sure Axel and Demyx are going to sleep all day.”

“Perhaps I shall invite you to accompany me on an outing,” Marluxia replied conversationally. “The theatre, perhaps, or a sporting event if you’d prefer. We can simply go for dinner if that’s more to your liking,” he suggested, peeking at Saïx through long pink lashes as he finished his morning routine. He set the now-used toothbrush down on the counter and stalked over to the berserker, lacing his arms around the other man’s waist. “You certainly deserve some fun, and we could both use the relaxation,” he purred.

“Fun?” He laid his hands on Marluxia’s arms that were tied around his waist. “Well I suppose so. I’ve never actually had any ‘fun’ in quite a while, considering I’ve been stuck in work all the time. It’d be nice to spend the day off with you, honestly.” Saïx felt the warm feeling coming from Marluxia, which he enjoyed.

Marluxia’s body shivered pleasantly as Saïx touched his arms. “I’m pleased to hear that,” he purred. “Then you can choose the activity. Whatever you want to do will be lovely, I’m sure. As for today, I’ll assist you in any way you require. You seem a bit tired still, so perhaps you should nap while I work and I’ll wake you when I’m done. Er… there is one thing, though. The last report in the stack was mine and it would be unprofessional for me to review my own report the way I was doing for the others’. Everything else you need me to do, I shall be glad to.”

“Hm I think rather you should choose the activity, because after all you did help me out a lot last night. And I’m not very good at picking out certain events or places…” He paused and thought about everything—the day off, the work needing to be done, and rewarding Marluxia with sweets that he will truly enjoy. “I don’t think it’s such a good idea for me to nap—or slack off.” He gave a big sigh but immediately the stress was worn off because Marluxia was there in his comforting voice. “And I’ll review your report, don’t worry about it. I truly appreciate you assisting me.”

“Hmm… I’m not that good at choosing between one thing and another, so perhaps we can walk around downtown Twilight Town and see what’s going on,” Marluxia said, resting his head on Saïx’s shoulder from behind. ‘When it comes to yourself, you shouldn’t think of relaxing as slacking off. You need the rest and you deserve it,” he said, in a tone that was gentle but firm. “I’ll take care of the work. Just let me know what needs to be done and I’ll do it.”

Saïx sighed to think about relaxing or his way of saying ‘slacking off’. “Okay. Twilight Town it is.” He smiled softly with the feelings of Marluxia against him. He didn’t feel right giving Marluxia any work so he assumed that he’d do most of the work and Marluxia would just help with the small things. “A day off once in a while is always good.”

To the contrary, Marluxia immediately picked up the brunt of the paperwork and rifled through it, quickly setting aside everything that he had written. He tackled the rest with a strange energy that came from the thought of helping Saïx. He absorbed the reports, taking in the frames of mind of the rest of the members, and the research. He soon had a very good idea of how everyone’s minds worked. It was a rush—he felt powerful… and then he realised just how powerful Saïx and Xemnas must be, reading these, gaining insight into how everyone’s minds functioned. It was like they were inside everyone’s heads. Even from this little bit, Marluxia figured out the other members’ goals, to a point. He was momentarily relieved that all he ever wrote about was botany. He didn’t want Xemnas inside his head.

The last research papers were Saïx’s. He touched those carefully, with an affectionate hand, smiling tenderly as he read them. “I didn’t know you wrote reports or research papers,” he murmured, looking over at Saïx.

Saïx looked over at Marluxia while he was being a worker. Saïx, not wanting to respond, walked beside him. “Well yes…” His sentence faded away. “All work matters,” he continued. Saïx couldn’t wait for the day off to spend quality time with Marluxia. And for all the work to be done. Saïx walked over to the nightstand and grabbed a few more reports for himself to go over. I forgot to go over these a few days ago because I nearly passed out.” Saïx reviewed them quickly and added it to the already-viewed pile.

“Of course all work is important, but I thought that Xemnas and Zexion were the ones who wrote research papers. This is…truly impressive, Saïx. I wrote a few myself, on my observations of plants in relation to Heartless.” He went on to explain how in some worlds, plants tended to harbor or attract Heartless, whereas some ate or repelled them. He had such plants in his own garden, in different little greenhouses: samples he’d collected and replicated, original breeds and crossbreeds, and every week he took a sample of the home-grown plants and a sample of the plants from their original habitats to Vexen for comparison. He despised the elder Nobody, but even he had to admit that the scientist was good at what he did.

After explaining the natures of those various plants, he went on to tell Saïx about the more mundane plants and fungi he grew, the ones he used for his underground brewery and the ones from which he made narcotics. “The time you sent me to Wonderland when I was sampling mushrooms was very interesting indeed,” he reminisced laughing.

“Almost everyone thinks they write the research reports. But sometimes I have to step up above all my working skills.” But Saïx’s mind was blown from all the information that Marluxia shared about the Heartless and plants and the detail within it. “Well Marluxia, I would’ve never expected so much brilliance out of you.” Saïx knew of course that Marluxia was smart but all the aspects of what he said made it so interesting and made his mind more open to Marluxia than it already was. Saïx put a hand softly on Marluxia’s shoulder, wanting to get closer to him but not letting himself.

“Yes, you do quite a lot of work,” Marluxia murmured. “It shows that the Superior places a lot of trust in you, because it’s a lot of responsibility and there’s a lot of delicate material to handle, but it seems quite stressful for you.”

He made a slight face. “I studied botany in college,” he informed Saïx. “I’m just applying it to our special circumstances. WE didn’t have Heartless back then, but we had something else, do you remember? ‘Unversed’ or something like that?” He wasn’t sure if Saïx had just complimented or insulted him, but he smiled and nuzzled the hand on his shoulder. “That was sweet… I think.”

“Work isn’t that stressful. I mean, I’ve certainly gotten used to it. And indeed I do remember the Unversed. They were quite similar to Heartless in a way.” Saïx paused. “I find botany very… interesting. It seems the facts go on forever. I studied oneirology a while ago for quite some time. I forgot a few things that go along with it, though.

Marluxia smiled. “It’s tedious, work is, but I like helping you. I mean, it’s more fun working for you than it is doing these things for Xemnas.” He made a little face as he said their cult leader’s name. “So you studied dreams?” he asked. “You didn’t study in the Freudian manner, did you? That is, interpreting everything sexually? I had a therapist who did that. It was irritating.” He nuzzled Saïx’s hand playfully.

Saïx enjoyed the nuzzling of Marluxia against him. “Oh? Is that so—I’m glad you find it ‘fun’ working for me.” He smiled a bit. “Dreams are so… beautiful. And… Freudian manner? No I did not.” Saïx moved his hand from Marluxia’s shoulder down to his waist.

“I suppose dreams are a beautiful thing. They connote feeling, though, which we Nobodies aren’t meant to have, but then, I’ve always suspected that that’s a crock. I like working with you because you’re so interesting. You’re quiet and businesslike in front of the others, so I consider it a wonderful treat to work with you here, one on one. It’s as though the walls have melted away and I’m seeing part of your true self. It’s quite refreshing.

“It’s a relief that you didn’t interpret dreams with Freud as a model. I always thought that man was a bit of a hack, I mean, sex dreams are common enough without insisting that, for instance, my scythe represents phallic overcompensation, because I can assure you that nothing of the sort is true.” He huffed lightly, but the smile returned to his lips when he felt Saïx’s hand on his waist. “Tell me what you find so beautiful about dreams,” Marluxia murmured, partly to hear the other speak and partly out of interest in the subject. He did so love the sweet, soothing sound of Saïx’s voice. He carefully leaned back against the berserker’s firm body and placed Saïx’s other hand on his waist. “There. Now you’re balanced.”

“I also enjoy one-on-one time with you. For some reason, I don’t think I could ever open up to anyone other than you.” Saïx liked his other hand being guided onto Marluxia’s waist. “Sex does take place in a lot of dreams depending on one’s own sexual need or fantasy. I guess I enjoy dreams because dreams aren’t all just imaginary thoughts. Sometimes they lead to more.”

“I’ll bet you say that to all the sexy Nobodies,” Marluxia teased, gently stroking Saïx’s hand. But he believed Saïx—he’d never even heard of their second-in-command opening up to anyone. He felt special. “In my experience, dreams are the manifestation of subconscious thoughts, fears, and desires. But what do you mean about dreams leading to things?”

“Oh, well indeed you are very sexy,” Saïx said with a big grin on his face. He very much enjoyed his alone time with Marluxia. “Dreams can cause hatred, love, or any other desires. But sometimes they’re actually meant to puzzle up and reveal something in reality.”

“Thank you for noticing,” Marluxia smirked. “You’re quite the sex god yourself.” Such a large smile looked odd on Saïx’s normally stolid face, but it pleased Marluxia nonetheless to know that being around him could make Saïx smile. “I’ve felt raw passion, too directionless to become either love or hate, and a shade of it still lingers when I awaken. what do you usually dream about?”

“Well I used to dream about past days when Lea and I were young. Sometimes my dreams didn’t make any sense which confused me. But I’m sure that happens to everyone. I don’t dream anymore. I’m not sure why, probably because of my lack of sleep.” The grin on his face started to fade away.

Marluxia tipped his head back, nuzzling Saïx’s shoulder. “Maybe you just don’t remember your dreams,” he suggested, “or maybe you’re too tired to dream because of all your work. I still dream, usually implausible yet frightening nightmares about blending missions or rather sweet dreams about you or sometimes random things like marshmallow pillows…” He drifted off, a slight flush coming over his face.

“Well, I used to forget my dreams but I would remember some parts of them. I agree on the work part.” Saïx paused, realizing that he enjoyed Marluxia’s head against him. He didn’t know why he enjoyed spending so much time with him. “Honestly, on the holiday that is currently almost here—I’ll probably be sleeping most of the time.”

“Ah, I see. Then perhaps I’ll sleep with you,” Marluxia replied. A moment later, he realised how that had probably sounded. “Or rest with you, rather,” he corrected himself hastily, his light blush becoming much less so. There had been a time, when he was a very new Nobody, that he wouldn’t have known the connotations of what he had just uttered and therefore would not have corrected himself—but now was different. Now he was far from innocent, thanks to Axel’s, Xigbar’s, and even Vexen’s influence, and it would have been highly inappropriate for him to let his statement remain as-was. But he had revealed that he dreamed about Saïx, in positions very much like this one, and he enjoyed being held like this. The illusion that he was wanted was a precious one, one he would not dare to shatter by asking why Saïx was choosing to behave this… nicely. Senior members, he’d noticed, tended to get testy when their actions were questioned in any capacity.

“Perhaps I could take you to a massage parlor,” he suggested. “Your muscles must be as tired as your mind from lack of sleep.”

“I wouldn’t mind you resting with me.” Saïx chuckled at Marluxia’s correction, which he found quite amusing. Trying not to think about the work he had to complete for the week—his mind kind of getting prepared for it as usual. He sighed to the thought. He tightened his grip around Marluxia’s waist and rested his head on his shoulder.

Marluxia shivered at the pleasant sound of Saïx’s chuckle. Saïx had such a nice voice and there was a dangerous appeal to his laughter. Then he heard the other sigh, but as he was turning his head to inquire about it, he felt the arms around his waist tighten and a welcome pressure on his shoulder. He ended up pressing his cheek against Saïx’s, quite by accident. He’d never known how expressive the normally-stolid Nobody could be.

“Hello there,” he said, smiling slightly, relieved that his blush was ebbing. Such an obvious display of embarrassment was quite unbecoming for a proud Nobody like himself. “Is my shoulder comfortable for you?”

“Yes… I believe every part of you is quite comfortable,” Saïx said jokingly. “But you are very warm.” Saïx had a warm smile. All these questions ran through his mind: why is he so comfortable with Marluxia and not anyone else? Why does he like him so much? He still didn’t understand but all that mattered to him was that he got Marluxia all to himself… in a way.

“Oh? You’ve felt every part of me?” Marluxia asked, amused. “I assume all this occurred when I was asleep, then,” he teased. “The sleepy act was a good ploy.” He knew Saïx really had been tired, as he himself had. He nuzzled the berserker’s cheek. “Did I make a good pillow?” he asked, giving that cheek a playful peck.

“Ohh yes,” Saïx said sarcastically. “A pillow?” Saïx asked with the smile still upon his face, enjoying Marluxia’s peck. “You make yourself sound like an object.” Marluxia always had a nice body scent to Saïx for some reason. Maybe because he liked him so much.

“I thought so,” said Marluxia, enjoying Saïx’s customary sarcasm. “Well, we’re not people. Xemnas and you have made that quite clear. Therefore, we are objects, if we are anything. I certainly have no problem with being anything of use to you, if you wish it of me. A pillow, a companion, a report-editor, or… anything else.” He leaned back against Saïx, enjoying the comfort of his body. If he had working pheromone glands, they’d be pumping away right now. He knew he naturally smelled like wild roses, but was that due to pheromones or just an energy signature?

“Whereas you,” he said randomly, “are simply the very concept of perfection.”

“Well I personally think we technically are people. Of course I had to ‘agree’ with Xemnas but… we were people once and now we’re just incomplete souls. We still have our minds so I consider that sort of… a way of keeping our beings.” Saïx paused. “That’s absurd! I would definitely not make you of any object! You mean a lot more to me than any... object.” As Saïx felt Marluxia’s warm body against him, he grinned. “Marluxia…” Saïx didn’t finish his sentence as he was lost in thought.

Marluxia understood having to pretend to agree with their insane boss. He frowned slightly and pursed his lips. He thought Xemnas was a pretentious douchebag that had no idea what it was talking about, but he didn’t verbalise this thought, even now that he and Saïx were alone.

“So I’m not an object to you?” Marluxia asked, his tone playful. He gently pulled away from Saïx and wriggled out of his cloak, in which he’d slept, revealing a black tank top tight enough to show the seams of the corset underneath it. “I think I should be insulted,” he purred, pressing against the other again.

Saïx tried not to make it seem obvious on his face that he liked Marluxia undressing. “Why do you find that as an insult?” Saïx questioned. Saïx once again wrapped his arms around Marluxia but this time fully around his torso. “I find you more interesting than just a boring object.”

“It depends on the object,” Marluxia murmured, smiling as Saïx embraced him, his eyes dancing with wicked suggestion as he ran a hand daringly up the back of Saïx’s thigh. “Some kinds of objects, for example, I might find as quite a compliment if you were to think of me in that regard.”

Saïx stayed quiet as Marluxia touched him. He didn’t feel like actually responding because he enjoyed Marluxia touching him too much. “I guess so,” Saïx responded softly with his mind set off. “What kind of object are you referring to?” Saïx questioned, as his arms still snuggled around the man’s body.

“Oh, you can’t guess?” Marluxia teased. “It’s so much more fun that way…” He stroked Saïx’s other thigh with his other hand. “But very well, I will tell you. I want to be your sex object… sir.” He winked on ‘sir’, being a little more daring with his flirtation, since Saïx wasn’t objecting or pulling away.

“Is that so?” Saïx grinned. “That sounds like one entertaining object,” Saïx joked. Saïx liked Marluxia’s sexual way of teasing. As Saïx embraced the pink-haired man touching him, he lowered his right hand and slipping it underneath Marluxia’s tank top. He let out a soft breath as he touched the man.

“I should hope so,” Marluxia purred. He shivered as he felt Saïx’s fingers on his skin, on the inch-long gap between his corset and slacks. “Ah!” he gasped, as another wave of happy shivers broke through his body. It felt like heaven. “Because I certainly think of you that way… with all due respect, of course.”

Saïx stayed quiet as he touched the man. ‘This is so odd. I’m not used to doing this… at all,’ he thought. Saïx pulled away due to the fact that it was almost time to get dressed and get to work. All the work came back into his mind—his usual and daily mind. “Well it’s about time I’ve got through stacks of work, eh?” Saïx slipped off what he had on and felt the cold air against his skin that had been left warm from Marluxia. He sighed, not looking forward to the work much.

“Guess so,” said Marluxia. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” His skin tingled from where Saïx and he were touching. It was wonderfully electrifying. He stretched, then grew a small apple tree, plucking an apple and munching on it. “How much do you have to do?” he asked.

“I don’t think there’s much to do but I have to assort missions for the week.” Saïx stared at Marluxia’s tree then turned around and opened his drawer. He suddenly felt like his mind was drowning in sorrow from this boring everyday life. Not like he could feel the sorrow, though. “But hopefully there’s not a lot of reports to go through,” Saïx said with a blank expression on his face. He slipped into clothes and sat at the edge of the bed.

Marluxia stared boldly back at Saïx until the other moved, then cracked a smile. “We’ll have to do something to lighten the tedium,” he said, tossing off his tank top so that he stood in only a corset and slacks, then crawled onto the bed behind Saïx and gently rubbed his back. “What if we play one minute of timed Twister between tasks?” he half-jokingly suggested.

Saïx chuckled softly at Marluxia’s suggestion. “Well.” He turned around to face Marluxia with one knee on the bed. “I guess that seems… quite interesting.” Saïx smiled at Marluxia, forgetting about work.

“I should hope so,” Marluxia huffed playfully. “It’s a good incentive to get things done, it makes everyday drudgery far less boring, and…” It gives us an excuse to touch each other, he thought. What he said was, “It’s a good way to remain flexible for missions. See? Very practical.” Though no matter how practical the suggestion was, he couldn’t hide the flush not-so-subtly creeping onto his face. His eye was drawn to the knee Saïx had on the bed, his gaze travelling slowly up the inseam of his slacks…

His eyes flickered away as his face heated even more. “Is it, er, unusually warm in here?” he asked, attempting to sound casual, and failing miserably.

“Ha! That’s brilliant,” Saïx said with a huge smile from amusement. “Hm?” He paused. “Unusually warm? I think just at… a normal warm.” He chuckled, for some reason not finding it awkward at all. “Unless you’d like to tell me if it’s ‘unusually’ warm,” he said, jokingly.

Marluxia’s blush deepened. “My apologies,” he muttered, resisting the urge to run his hand up Saïx’s leg. “I suppose I was just… thinking of something I shouldn’t.” He cleared his throat and strode over to the desk, picking up some paperwork and sifting through it, waiting for the flush to fade.

Saïx bit his lip as the man moved over to the desk, actually wanting Marluxia to touch him. “Well there’s no need for apologizing.” Saïx smiled as he laid back on the bed, thinking. ‘If this kind of thing happens on any work day… I wonder what’ll happen on vacation next week,’ Saïx thought.

“Alright, then I won’t,” Marluxia said, sorting through the work. He decided he’d take on the more time-consuming tasks and let Saïx do the quicker things so Saïx could nap when they were done working and Twistering.

Three hours and several ink-changes later, Marluxia laid out the first Twister board. “I don’t think I’ve ever played this in a corset,” he said, a little apprehensively, meaning that he hadn’t played it since he became a Nobody.

Saïx laid a stack of papers aside and looked at the Twister board. He already knew how to play—not that he’d played it before, just… everyone knew how this went. “I don’t really think I’ve ever played this before,” Saïx commented. “Unless of course, Lea tried drugging me into doing ridiculous things.” He snickered. “But this should certainly be interesting.

“I’m pretty sure no-one can play Twister when they’re drugged,” said Marluxia, smiling at Saïx’s half-ridiculous and half-adorable theory. “I’ll go first, then.” He summoned one of his garden gnome Dusks and ordered it to spin. “Left hand blue. Easy enough. But one moment.” He took off his gloves and slacks, leaving only his corset and underpants. “Otherwise, I will be too warm,” he explained, placing his bare hand on the blue spot and nodding at the Dusk to spin for Saïx.

Saïx slipped off his coat so it’d be easier to move around. “Right foot green.” Saïx took off his shoes and slipped on to the dotted map. “Can’t wait to see where this ends up.” Saïx grinned at Marluxia.

Marluxia chuckled. He doubted they’d get too tangled in only a minute.

He wasn’t entirely right about that. The next few moves had them practically wrapped around each other, so that when the timer went off, Marluxia found it almost impossible to extricate himself—though, truth be told, he didn’t really have any desire to get back to work. He collapsed, willfully, rolling onto his back and looking innocently up at Saïx. “Hello,” he said.