Chapter: 006 - One Man, One Vote.
Chapter: 006 - One Man, One Vote.
Location: Dark Forest
Characters: Vexen, Marluxia, Axel, Larxene, Lexaeus, Zexion
Rating/Warnings: PG-13, swearing
Summary: The group has lingered for far too long, and decisions need to be made before it's too late.
Chapter 006 : Dark Forest - One Man, One Vote.
The morning fog wound in long, misty ribbons though the trees and over the water as the first Nobody awoke. By the time the sun had risen enough to burn the last of it away, the clearing bustled with activity. As much as it ever did, at least.
There was a tense feeling in the air around the morning meal. For the first time since the first morning, there was no fish to be had. Larxene had gone down to the stream thrice since last evening, but had come back empty handed. They did their best to bake a few roots by the fire, but it was a stringy meal that didn't leave anyone remotely full. The mood around the fire hardly improved the situation; Lexaeus and Zexion sat silent, and neither Vexen nor Marluxia seemed inclined to socialize. Only Larxene's and Axel's nettlesome voices flew over the fire. Zexion chewed down the last piece of tough vegetable and sighed.
"We are running out of food here, aren't we? And firewood. If it wasn't for the fact that Axel can get anything to burn."
The fire elemental in question flashed a smile at the comment, but then sadly eyed his empty leaf. "While I'd gladly burn down this entire forest for a meal I have to agree with the squirt. Larxene, have you lost your touch?"
"The only thing left to eat in there are slimy greens and mosquito larvae. You're welcome to them," the blonde sweetly hissed back. A rumble from Lexaeus silenced both of them for the moment.
"Zexion's right. The food is getting scarce, and..."
"Bah!" Vexen appeared to shake of his silence and glared at the larger Nobody. "The food is unimportant! What is important is that we have lingered here in this accursed wood far too long!" For some reason, Marluxia gave him an almost envious gaze before hastily looking away.
Lexaeus returned the angry glare levelly, but nodded slowly. "Yes. Perhaps too long."
"By now, the Organization must know Oblivion have fallen." Larxene was rubbing her arms, perhaps unconsciously. "They must think we died..."
"Because we didn't return."
"Yes. And when they find us..."
"If they find us." Marluxia's voice was firm, but he avoided meeting the Elders' eyes.
"You cursed fool! They will." Vexen had lapsed back into his sulky gloom. "How could we escape them?"
"They won't be looking for us! For all that we know, the mouse-king and the Keyblade Masters continued straight to the World that Never Was." Axel hotly replied. A collective shudder went through the group.
"What is the worst that could happen?" Larxene threw a glance at Vexen. "If we're unlucky, can't you just bring us back again?"
"Oh, of course." Irony dripped off of Vexen's voice. "If you find a way for Cards to work outside the Castle." The Oblivion Card he pulled from his pocket was bent and discolored, but you could still clearly see the Academic's likeness. "Out here it's real, not an illusion of the mind."
"Oblivion was real."
"No. Just because it's not true doesn't mean it's not deadly. The Cards don't work here."
Zexion sighed. "As much as I hate to admit it, there's no going back. Xemnas would not appreciate that we abandoned our duties and loyalties in such a pivotal situation - and if we instead would meet Sora and his followers, the result for us would be even worse."
"I for one won't be sitting here waiting for them to find me!" Larxene snarled, eyes a bit wild.
"I assume it's too late to go back," Vexen said, looking defeated. "And it appears to me that we are actually in agreement over this. Imagine."
***
Silence had fallen over the clearing. The occupants had all lapsed into their own thoughts, and the air was charged with the feeling of things unsaid. Finally Lexaeus cleared his throat.
"We can't go back. At least for the moment, we should… remain secluded."
"Which brings us back to the original discussion; we have no food left." Axel idly set fire to the leaves that had served as a makeshift plate and watched as the hot air made them rise above his head. Vexen hissed and ice encrusted the burning scraps, making them fall down into the fire. "We don't need another wildfire!"
"It's not as if I can't stop it..."
Larxene tittered, and leaned against Marluxia's arm. The Assassin had been unusually quiet though the discussion, and now shifted almost uncomfortably under her weight.
"Perhaps we ought to move." Zexion's face was unreadable beneath his hair, but Lexaeus nodded beside him.
"If we are going to move, we ought to leave this world all together!" Larxene interjected. "I'm tired of fish and rain and sleeping in the grass!"
"If we go to a civilized world, they will surely find us, you dimwit! Our only hope is to stay away from everyone."
"Vexen is right." Lexaeus and Zexion both nodded. "We have to stay hidden. Organization XIII..."
"Organization 'Seven', you mean! Come on! Larxene is right! We might as well hide in a city as hiding here!" Axel complained.
"Not in my life!-"
***
The sun had moved visibly over the sky before the quarrel had died out, and the participants sat silent and glaring at each other around the dying fire. It was a testament to their growing desperation that none had risen and stomped off in a rage. The silence filled the clearing, thick and sullen. Larxene was throwing pine cones into the fire again. One was thrown too had and bounced, hitting Vexen on the shin.
The Academic contented himself with a glare. "We are not getting anywhere with this. The fact is, Axel, that the Corridors of Darkness are far too dangerous. The Organization is sure to keep watch there. I for one wouldn't want Saïx catching a whiff of me… And don't forget Riku, he too can feel the scent of Darkness." He shivered.
Lexaeus frowned at the memory of the young man's strength. "Correct. We shall have to walk to find a new, better location."
Axel hissed. "Who says you have the right to decide that?! If you hadn't noticed, we have left the Organization- you are not the boss of me anymore!"
"Damn right!" Larxene added.
The three Elders, united for the moment by one of their few common points, instantly closed ranks. "It would be unwise for you to leave on your own, Axel. While we no longer stand under Xemnas' command, we need to remain a group. Now more than ever! See where discord left us in the Castle."
"If we are not together, we will only fall one by one." Vexen's face suggested that his conviction had more to do with not trusting any of the other within an inch of their existence, but the other two nodded in agreement.
Marluxia had been silent for most of the discussion, allowing Larxene and Axel to carry the argument with the Elders. It was common enough behavior for the Assassin, a familiar trait from their time in Castle Oblivion. The usual air of lordship and superiority was not the same, though, and he had spent most of the time staring into the fire. His voice surprised the company as he interrupted whatever scathing reply Larxene prepared to throw back.
"If you truly believe so, you should stand by your own words. This 'consensus' that you have touted before us so many times, Lexaeus... will you stand by it? Let us put this to the vote."
The two others Neophytes supported the suggestion vocally while the three Elders squirmed. Marluxia saw Zexion throw Lexaeus a dirty look and smirked inwardly, pleased with every little bother for Number Five. He shall pay. The question hung in the air like double-edged sword, capable of falling in any direction. Finally, Vexen snarled.
"Fine.. We shall vote. But if we do, it's under the agreement that we are, indeed, a group, and that there will be no disagreement or disobedience after a decision has been made. We have had enough of treason." The glare he threw at Axel made his words clear to everyone around.
"I agree", Marluxia said, calm and collected, and Larxene and Axel fell into step easily enough. Despite it being his idea from the set out, Lexaeus and Zexion took the longest to give their assent; finally they both nodded slowly.
Larxene grinned broadly. "Dearie me, such an interesting situation! What would ever happen if we ended up in a tie?"
"I guess we'd just have to... I dunno, drift away on our own?" Axel's smile matched Larxene's. "Who'd stop us? It's not like we'd have "consensus". That's the beauty of democracy."
***
"So… what are we voting about, exactly?" Axel looked at the Elders like a hungry wolf eying a rabbit, sure of his upcoming victory. "Our next move? Because I'm tired of this damn forest."
"So that is your alternative. Leaving to another, more populated world." Zexion seemed to wish to hide his frustration by calmly arranging the procedure. "Any other suggestions?"
Lexaeus raised his hand. "I say we remain on this world, moving by foot to a new location."
Zexion looked around. "That is alternative number two. Anyone else?" The others around the circle shook their heads. "Then we will vote. I suggest hand raising as the easiest option."
"Oh dear, another question to vote about already?" Larxene tittered. "Hands sounds fine by me."
The ordered task ahead seemed to please Zexion, no matter how adverse he was to the idea of it. "Very well. The first alternative is leaving by Portal. Anyone in favour, please raise your hand."
Larxene's hand flew into the air, quickly followed by Axel's languid wave. They both turned and glared angrily at Marluxia, who still sat with his hands in his lap.
"What do you--!"
"Silence." Lexaeus rumbled, and Zexion's eyes twinkled with mirth underneath his hair. "We are not done with the voting yet." Vexen eyed the passive Assassin with unreadable eyes.
"All in favour of moving by foot, raise your hands." Four hands were lifted, and Larxene hissed in loathing at Marluxia. "Bastard! What kind of game are you playing!?"
Marluxia returned her glare with a steady gaze, not rising to the bait. "I find it more prudent for us to remain discrete at this point. Surely, in time, we will have more freedom of movement."
"You two timing turncoat!" The blonde seemed to be on the verge of planting a kunai where Marluxia really would feel it. "And you! How long have you planned this!?"
The Elders shrugged at her accusation, pleased with their unexpected victory. "We have no part in Number Eleven's behavior, I assure you." Vexen returned flatly. He refused still to look at Marluxia, staring instead right ahead over the fire. The other two Elders glanced quietly at Eleven, clearly trying to figure out his motives.
"I'm not putting up with this! I'm leaving!"
Larxene made to rise, but the suddenly towering shape of Number Five made her hesitate. "You agreed to abide by the decision, Larxene. Already breaking your word?" Something in the large man's eyes meant business, and she slowly sank back down.
"…Of course not." She gave him a cute little smile, fake all the way though. "Please, do not overreact on my behalf."
Snorts of disbelief came from all around the clearing, and she glared at her campmates. "Marluxia, you'll be sorry for this." Crossing her arms, she stuck her nose up in the air and ignored him studiously.
***
With Larxene evidently finished on the matter, Axel idly made the fire flame hotter. "Not that it is of pressing importance, in light of the recent developments… but what if mister pink here hadn't turned on his allies? Sooner or later, we'll be tied." Marluxia eyed him out of the corner of his eye, but Axel, too, ignored him.
"True." Zexion frowned. "Not an ideal situation."
"I suggest getting rid of Marluxia," Larxene snarled angrily. "Should make it so much easier."
Zexion made a tiny sound of amusement. "Sadly, we have just decided to remain together. If we start eliminating each other, no matter how pleasant that would be in some cases, we are as good as dead."
"Don't throw away a good idea, Zexion." Axel's eyes shone with malign humour. "Actually killing him might be a bit exaggerated, but really, why should Marluxia have any say in this group?"
"Hold your tongue!" The Assassin in question snapped back.
"Oh, no!" Larxene shone with the same venom as Axel. "Another vote, shall we? I propose that Marluxia only gets half a vote, so he doesn't get airs again. Looks like he needs it."
Marluxia growled, but the other three nodded with barely concealed smirks. "Aye, that sounds about right." Zexion made no attempt to hide the amusement in his voice. "And it appears we have five votes in favour of the notion and only one against. Or one half against, I should say."
"Unacceptable! You have no right!" Marluxia had drawn himself up to his full stature, eyes as enraged as a Nobody could ever be. "I have as much of a voice as everyone else--!"
"No you don't." Vexen interrupted him in short, clipped tones. "We just voted about it, as per your suggestion." He eyed the other as if seeing something incredibly distasteful. "And truthfully, we have had quite enough of your judgment, Marluxia. You brought us all down by conceited arrogance, atrociously inadequate leadership and pretentious ideas of grandeur. We will not repeat our mistake."
Marluxia's face froze for a moment, before he sputtered in rage, not even forming words in his fury. His whole body shaking with restrained wrath, he shot to his feet and marched off into the forest.
"Have a care in the wilderness, Marluxia, so you don't have any unfortunate accidents!" Zexion shouted after him, making Lexaeus smile.
"Will he leave, you think?" Axel asked of the others.
"No." Lexaeus added another log to the fire. "He most of all needs protection. If Xemnas ever caught him, he'd be worse off than dead. He'll come back."
"A pity," Vexen snorted.
"But his sudden departure makes planning so much easier. Now that a decision has been made, I see no reason for us to linger here."
"As much as it pains me, I agree with the Schemer," Axel drawled to Larxene, who nodded reluctantly. "Let's move."
Lexaeus was eyeing the sun, almost straight above. "Let us start tomorrow. We won't get anywhere far today."
"In what direction to move, then?" The thought remained unspoken around the circle that the member with the greatest knowledge of the wilderness was currently sulking somewhere out of sight.
"Rivers tend to attract people, don't they? I'm sure I've heard it somewhere." There was a certain lack of certainty in Vexen's voice.
"This ain't a river."
"But if we follow it, perhaps it will lead us to one."
"At least we will have water as long as we stay by it. I vote for Vexen's suggestion."
There was a murmur of concord from around the company. Axel shrugged. "One direction is as good as the other, as long as we get away from here."
"Then it is decided; we will leave tomorrow morning and follow the water downstream." Zexion's voice held a finality to it, and on its own accord the group broke up. Most of the day had been spent arguing around the fire, and now stomachs rumbled and bladders protested. Vexen stretched his back until he could hear the joints popping. As used as he was to spending hours bent over notes and books, nothing had prepared him for bush life.
Zexion joined him at the edge of the clearing. Lexaeus were quietly herding a grumbling Axel out to find wood, and Larxene had already disappeared among the trees – in the direction Marluxia had stormed off, the Academic could not help but notice. I hope she strangles him, the little snake.. Still, the way Marluxia had been humiliated today sent a warm wave of pleasure through him. It was almost enough to make up for his aching legs and empty stomach. Almost.
The Schemer was silent as they searched the forest floor for something edible. Vexen knew him well enough to see the cogs of his mind turning and whirling behind his eyes. Always planning ahead, Zexion was, always trying to outsmart his surroundings. Vexen resented it, but wasn't the least bit surprised when the other spoke.
"An interesting morning." Vexen only grunted in reply.
"But I must say," the younger man went on, "that I am a bit curious as to your motives. Why propose such a thing, Vexen? You have hardly any reason to wish for the company of some people here--"
"All of the people here, you mean," Vexen cut in, irritated. "I have hardly any reason to wish for your company either, Number Six. You and Lexaeus both deserted me."
"Then why such a suggestion?" Zexion was unusually forward, Vexen reflected. Perhaps it was the hunger, or just impatience. Or maybe he was trying to goad Vexen into unplanned revelations. The notion struck a tiny spark of ire inside him, burning for a short moment before apathy snuffed it out.
"My motives are hardly a secret," He replied, drawing out his words in the way he did when scornful and nettled. "We must stay together. Wholly apart from the fact that we will surely perish if alone, the first one caught would betray the continued existence of all the rest. And the first to leave… more than one here would go back on his or her own accord, to try and buy mercy from the Superior by selling out the others."
For a moment, he concentrated on examining the undergrowth underneath a large tree for edibles, aware of the blue eyes drilling into his back. "And, of course, we will need each other. You, for alerting us to the presence of the creatures of Darkness, be they Heartless or Nobody. Lexaeus' strength and imposing physique will be useful, and Axel has been very convenient the last few days in keeping us warm. I hate to admit it, but Larxene has brought back more food than anyone else. But do not think for one single moment that I want to be here with any of you." His eyes flashed at the last statement, and Zexion mumbled something vague.
"Of course not… still, I appreciate your logical and rational approach to the situation."
Vexen snorted. "It is necessary. There is no need for one to like it."
A small smile touched Number Six's lips. "I also notice that you didn't precise what Number Eleven brings to this group. Why not follow Larxene's suggestion and get your revenge on the traitor?"
Vexen's face turned deadly, lips compressed to a thin line of anger. At Zexion or Marluxia, it was hard to tell. "Because, Zexion… if Xemnas catches up with us, we need somethingto placate him with.
"Oh." Zexion didn't elaborate on the subject, and they walked in silence for a while, both lost in his own thoughts. Vexen had rather continued the conversation. The talk of Xemnas brought the Organization to the front of his mind; capable, ruthless, unseen… and now, enemy rather than friend. The fact that the Elders had been allies since childhood only made their defection worse. He held no illusions of mercy from neither Xaldin nor Xigbar. Organization XIII… though only seven members remained, they were still one member more than their own ragged little team, and immensely more powerful. He shivered.
Zexion seemed to take it as an invitation for talk. "Marluxia seemed quite upset, didn't he?"
Vexen smiled at the unabashed glee in his voice. "I would rather say so. And I wouldn't want to be him when Larxene catches up with him."
"Neither would I. I wonder if Marluxia realized he stormed off into the Ladies' Forest?"