Nothing Is Safe [Zexion]

[Axel]

This is What Happens When You Let Me Get Bored
--------

One day. 24 hours. Nothing but green everywhere.

He was starting to envision it all ablaze.

Once Saïx had left him, Axel had done his best to come straight here. At first, he had appreciated the quiet stillness of the uninhabited jungle, but after only a few hours of doing nothing but lying around, the Flame had grown restless. Now, his desire to do something, anything, was reaching a fever pitch.

He was well enough to stand on his own, and was even able to walk short distances now without grimacing at every step. But there was hardly anything worth exploring here. Just jungle, jungle, and more jungle. While he recognized the necessity of staying in a place where he wouldn't run into anyone at all, it certainly didn't help make the time go by any faster.

Saïx had better hurry the hell up. Can't stand this for much longer.

He had just finished another of his short and hardly diverting rambles through the greenery, and he was now sitting down on the ground, back against a tree trunk. He wasn't going to get better any faster if he kept exerting himself like this. But he was bored, dammit. And he was going to do anything he could to alleviate that boredom.

Some animal scrambled by overhead, bouncing off a branch that sent a load of dirt and leaves down onto the Flame's head.

Oh. That did it.

As quickly as he could in his weakened state, Axel jumped up, summoned Eternal Flames, set them on fire, and hurled them repeatedly against the trunk of that tree. It helped that he kept picturing the tree as Xemnas. And Lexaeus. And Zexion. And Marluxia, Vexen, and Larxene for good measure.

When the tree was sufficiently burning, Axel dismissed his chakrams and sat down again, this time against a tree opposite the one that was now in flames. Much better scenery now. Much better.

[Fate]

Easy to Find

Thankfully, Axel had made himself very easy to find.

Zexion made himself appear in the Deep Jungle, the world certainly not the same as the last time he visited it. There was no overwhelming scent of darkness in this world, but there was certainly the scent of a tree burning. Axel had obviously gotten bored with staying in this world and decided to burn things. At least it wasn't the whole jungle. Yet. The Flame had probably started to consider that at this moment and Zexion was not about to walk into that. He found that he didn't like being in the middle of fire very much.

He made his way to the very tree that was burning, Axel sitting across from it. The Schemer, taking his hood off when he arrived, stood a fair distance from it and Axel, knowing that he was probably not in the best mood at the moment. The things Zexion had to say would make that fluctuate: the coup would improve his mood while the news about the Champion and the King might do something else. He wasn't sure what sort of effect that would have on the Flame, not yet.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Mega-Potion, slowly approaching Axel with it. Hopefully, and he was going out on a limb with this, the other wouldn't attack him with this in his hand. He had every right to be displeased with Zexion at the moment, but maybe the Mega-Potion would ease the tension and allow him to say a few important things, which he would make clear he had to right now.

"This is for you," he said, "And I have a lot to tell you. I have just met with Saïx and need to relay information about the coup to you. There has been a slight change in plans, one that will accelerate my delivery of Xemnas to you. Greatly." That was all he was going to say. He was going to lay that out in front of Axel first and foremost before saying anything about the Champion, the King, and what needed to be done about Sora. This was just as important.

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[Axel]

Interesting Developments
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His enjoyment of his handiwork was interrupted by none other than...

The Schemer?

Sure enough, when the newcomer lowered his hood, there was that familiar, ridiculous hair and those cold eyes. That had been the last face he had expected to see here. Only Saïx had known where he would be. Granted, Zexion had that handy bloodhound nose of his, so there was no reason to jump to--

Oh. Never mind.

Axel stared stonily at Zexion for a moment before finally breaking the silence. "Well, give it here. It's not doing me any good just sitting in your hand." Extending a hand toward Zexion, he motioned for the potion. When Zexion gave it to him, he quickly uncorked the bottle and guzzled the liquid down. Strength rapidly returned to him, and he couldn't hide his smirk of satisfaction.

And now Zexion wanted to talk. He glanced away and chuckled a little. "So, he did decide to talk to you. And what did Lunar Boy say?"

[Fate]

The Moon Is Very Important

Zexion gave him the potion and waited for him to finish it off. It looked like it helped, which was at least something. The Mega-Potion was the strongest potion the Schemer had been able to find and he had saved it for when he truly needed it. Axel had needed it more obviously-- there was no questioning that. Now, with that out of the way, the two could speak about what Saïx and him had talked about. He took a couple steps back from Axel now, his arms remaining at his sides as he started to speak.

"He told me that he had spoken with you after your supposed death and that he had been planning a coup with you as well." He made a small grimace, but that quickly changed to a blank face once again. "We have decided to combine plans for the sake of efficiency. Now that the Superior is no longer inaccessible and incapacitated, and he trusts Saïx as well, we can move in for the coup in a couple of days." He had to make it clear that he was not going to wait around for this. He had done enough of that and it was about time the Organization changed for the better.

"The plan is very simple. I will lure Xemnas to the Altar with the illusion of Kingdom Hearts. Saïx will make himself present beforehand and you will be there as well. Once he arrives..." He trailed off, allowing Axel to finish the obvious end to that sentence in his head. Zexion was very pleased with how simple this plan was and how effective it was going to be. There was no question about if it would work or not. The Schemer was extremely sure of its success.

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[Axel]

The Moon May Be Very Important, but Let's Not Forget About the Sun
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Axel shifted his eyes back to Zexion in time to catch the look that crossed his face when he mentioned the coup he and Saïx had been planning. Oddly enough, there were no questions asking him to elaborate on that. But Axel could guess what Zexion was thinking. He knew how the Schemer's mind worked, always trying to be one step ahead of everyone else.

You don't know for sure, do you, Zexion? What all did Saïx and I plan, hmm? Think it might be a repeat of Castle Oblivion?

Rather than say all of that, he responded to the news that the time for waiting was nearing its end. He could very soon plant his chakrams straight into Xemnas. "The Altar, huh? And you expect me to just be standing there waiting for him? You want to give him fair warning as to what's coming?" He paused, then grinned at Zexion, throwing one of the Schemer's own lines back at him. "You know that's not how I do things."

[Fate]

Whether It Be the Moon or Sun, the Shadow Always Exists

Zexion rolled his eyes and smirked when Axel threw his own words back at him. Of course, Axel would not want to simply wait for Xemnas to show up. He did not want to give Xemnas the benefit of seeing him before striking, which made complete sense. "You can enter however you wish then," he said, "Saïx and I will be there in the beginning. This fight is not going to be simple either. All three of us will need to work hard to defeat him." That was an obvious point that all three of them knew. Superior was in his position for a very good reason. He had power the others did not.

For some reason, the fight was not what the Schemer was worried about. He was assured that the coup would succeed, but he was not assured about what would happen when it was over. The power shift was going to have to be made, which Zexion would have the Organization decide using a democratic process: they would decide who they wanted in power. However, the choices were clear between him and Saïx. Both of them could lead extremely well, even together, and both would be loyal to the Organization goal. Although, if Zexion got that top position, he would constantly be wary.

He did not want a repeat of Castle Oblivion.

Though, that discussion was saved for later. The coup talk was complete as far as Zexion could see, the plan straightforward. He crossed his arms, thinking about how he wanted to say this next bit. "There is something else that I need to tell you, something unrelated to this that I need you to know," he started to say. "Remember the reconnaissance mission I told you about that I had to do with Vexen? He took me to a place named 'The Keyblade Graveyard'. It was exactly that, many old and ancient Keyblades scattered in a large plateau. However..."

He paused again, choosing to make eye contact this time. "The Champion arrived on the world as well. Vexen and I both found that he had made his own part of the Keyblade Graveyard. The Keyblades are new and there are currently fifty-three of them there. There will soon be fifty-four. King Mickey was killed two days ago." He stopped again, his arms remaining crossed. No one else knew this information yet. Axel was the first one to know all of this, though there was of course a reason.

"I mainly tell you this because of what you ask me to deliver to you outside of Xemnas: Roxas. Sora is in grave danger at the moment because of this and does not stand a chance against the Champion alone. What do you want to do?" If Axel still wanted Roxas, then Zexion would do his best to deliver him. However, he was not going to do so until he was told.

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[Axel]

Choice Made
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The idea of working in tandem with the Schemer in the midst of battle was an odd one. But as long as Xemnas was killed in the process, Axel didn't care so much how it was done. The more important show would come after the Superior's murder. Just who would end up taking his place? Someone would, no doubt of that. The only thing Axel knew for certain was that he didn't want the top spot. He still wasn't completely sure he would rejoin the Organization even after this deed was done.

But there was something else to this meeting. Something Axel found very important. Perhaps even more important than seeing Xemnas fade.

"Wait, what?" Axel's eyes latched onto the Schemer's. He had heard him clear as day. Mickey was dead. And the Champion had done it. Before Zexion even got to Sora, Axel's mind was already there. This was more than just concern about losing Keyblade masters. This one in particular meant something to him. This one housed the remnants of his friend.

The question became, what to do? This news demanded immediate attention. What if Sora was in danger right this very moment? The kid needed to be warned as soon as possible.

But Axel was "dead," and literally could not be seen, especially not by Sora. Too many Organization members had access to him, and there was always the chance that this ruse would be blown.

Which was more important to him? The life of a friend or the state of the Organization?

"I can't see him. If anyone is going to warn him, it'll have to be you. As for Roxas..." He paused and examined the ground beside him for a moment. Sora had changed his mind. Typical of the kid to do that to people. "He isn't going to come back. And even if he does, he won't get me what I really want."

He looked back at Zexion with a firm expression. "So, let's just kill the damn Superior and get our hearts back."

[Fate]

Something I Don't Understand

Zexion couldn't hide the bit of surprise that came onto his face from Axel's answer. He had diligently pushed for Roxas before, had made it very clear that that's what he wanted the Schemer to deliver to him. Xemnas hadn't mattered so much to him. Roxas was his friend, the one that he had risked his life for and even sacrificed himself for. The concept of friendship was, albeit, slightly foreign to Zexion; almost everyone was a tool to him, nothing more. But he understood Axel before with his fervor to get Roxas back. He understood the drive.

Then what had made him change his mind? He would have to wait to ask that question though.

"I will warn him then," he told Axel. Whether or not the Flame had told him to warn Sora, he would have done it anyway. Minnie had first told him to do so as the last wish of Mickey and he was going to honor that. "And I understand. Is there anything else you wish for me to tell him? I will not tell him of your supposed death unless you request it of me." Naturally, a plan jumped into his mind once he said that. Sora would be extremely vulnerable after being told of the deaths of his two friends. It would be almost too easy to make him succumb to darkness and bring out Roxas. Zexion could say just the right words and then trap him completely in darkness and--

But Axel said not to, and Zexion was not going to. Instead, he would ask that question. "If I may ask, what caused you to change your mind? I'm merely curious." And that was the look that he was giving Axel: pure curiosity. He was attempting to understand something he had not really grappled with before. Emi had shown him a little bit of this when she had been trying to get Ienzo back. She sort of had, but not the way she wanted to. That was probably what Axel meant, but Zexion couldn't say he understood the sudden change.

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[Axel]

Losing Time
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The wind sighed through the trees, rustling the leaves. Axel didn't look at Zexion for a long while. It was difficult to put into words exactly what he was thinking. If there had been a heart within him, he might have told Zexion it was just a feeling he was having. Trying to explain it was almost impossible. This conversation was taking quite the sentimental turn for him, and he wasn't sure he wanted to cover this territory with the Schemer. Maybe with Saïx, despite the Diviner's affinity for being a wall when it came to any sort of emotional display. But definitely not with Zexion. Business partners didn't delve into these sorts of personal details.

"Good. You should find him as soon as possible." Whether that was before or after the coup, Axel knew it needed to happen quickly. On the one hand, Sora needed to be warned now, if he wasn't dead already. But on the other, if Xemnas was dead, the Organization could possibly do something directly about protecting Sora. "Xemnas needs to be out of the way first, I think."

When Zexion mentioned telling Sora about his "death," Axel could see the wheels turning behind those cold eyes. The Flame's own eyes narrowed a little. Yes, hearing about both Mickey's and Axel's deaths would deal a huge blow to Sora, leaving him open to all sorts of manipulative words from the Schemer. Axel said nothing, though. He just shook his head once.

The question of the hour was at hand. Zexion wanted to know why. Why did Axel suddenly not want Roxas back? Had he not sufficiently explained it earlier? Roxas didn't have what he wanted. Roxas didn't have his heart. Roxas was just a small, temporary fix for the real issue. And knowing what he knew about existing without feelings, Axel just couldn't make Roxas share the same existence again. If his friend could be whole, who was Axel to take that away from him?

No matter that, without Roxas, all the Flame had to keep him going were memories of a friendship that couldn't be again until both he and Saïx obtained their hearts. And he remembered that friendship well. If anyone else had used him the way Saïx had, Axel would have severed all ties to that person faster than that tree had erupted into flames. But despite all the anger he tried to muster, he couldn't make himself burn every last string that bound him to the Diviner. Friendship, even simple memories of it, ran too deep.

I was an idiot, Saïx. I know. I wish I could tell you that. I wish I could try to explain why.

But Saïx wasn't here. Zexion was. And he was waiting for an answer that would sate his curiosity.

Axel wasn't going to give him one. The Schemer didn't have to know everything.

"You may not ask. I'd rather not talk about it. It would only be a distraction from more important things right now." He gave Zexion a look that said he wasn't kidding around, then abruptly switched gears. "When do I need to sneak back into the Castle?"

[Fate]

Too Logical For Sentimentalism

Zexion supposed he would never know the answer to that question. He expected this sort of thing since Axel was only his business partner and nothing else. He didn't need to know anything else from him other than what was related to their business together. He nodded his head in acknowledgement to Axel's point, deciding not to probe any further. The conversation switched quickly back to the coup and when he would need to be in the castle, clearly avoiding the question. The Schemer went into a thinking position for a moment, doing a little bit of math in his head, before looking back at Axel.

"Two days," he said bluntly, "It will give me time to find Sora and warn him and warn everyone else of importance that I have connections with. I was asked to by the Queen." That was all he needed to say about that too. Axel did not need to know about anything that was discussed with Queen Minnie and actually seeing the coffin. He also was not going to go into detail about how the Cornerstone of Light was no longer functioning. This wasn't part of the business deal the two worked out.

"After the coup is finished, you can choose what you wish to do. Either Saïx or I will have power, meaning that you will be safe either way. Once the coup is finished and the Organization re-established, I will put forward plans to protect the Keyblade Masters, particularly Sora. I will figure them out accordingly."

Zexion supposed he had nothing else to say, his eyes now to the ground below him. His curiosity went unsatisfied, but he couldn't pry. Still, the concept of friendship was something that he might need to research perhaps. That was the only way he was ever going to get any of his answers and he figured that. Vexen was of no use in this area and Lexaeus, while having his trust, was still a tool. That was how things always were though and he wasn't about to change what was pre-established in favor of compassion or sentimentalism. That was for people with hearts. Like Minnie, who he might have felt at least a twinge of compassion for had he the heart.

That was a useless road to go down. He stopped himself from thinking and created a Corridor of Darkness hastily. "I promise you that eventually, we will get our hearts back. I will do my best to ensure that. Good day, Axel." He bowed his head slightly, then put his hood back up and went through the Corridor.

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[Axel]

At Least the Jungle Has Provided Me With Some Exercise
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The Schemer was smart enough not to press for his answers. Instead, he took the verbal cue from Axel and moved to talk of coup details. Two days. Two more days in this jungle. But it was a necessary evil. It would all be worth it to see at least a glimmer of almost-shock in Xemmy's eyes when Axel came back from the dead.

So, in two days, he would just assume that everything was in place and sneak into the Castle? Details, Zexion, details. Did the Schemer want him to run into Lexaeus or anyone besides him and Saïx before Xemnas was dead?

He was going to ask Zexion about this, but the Schemer looked like he was already preparing to leave. The last thing he said before disappearing through a Corridor caught Axel by surprise. Another promise. Would this one be just as empty as all the others he had heard and made himself over the years?

"That's a hard promise to keep, Zexion," Axel said to the empty space the Schemer had just occupied. "But you should do a better job at trying to keep it than Xemnas has done."

He leaned his head back against the trunk. Two. More. Damnable. Days. Two days of listening to insects and birds and whatever else lived up in those trees. He had no idea how he was going to make it.

A rustle in the underbrush caught his attention, and he glanced curiously in the noise's direction. If he listened closely enough, he could hear low breathing mingled with a growl. Was something stalking him? He stood easily for the first time in the past couple of days and summoned Eternal Flames once again. No sooner had the chakrams appeared in his hands than they left, spinning toward the sound. Leaves, branches, and bushes did not escape the fire that flew off the weapons. Axel heard an angry snarl, then saw the flash of yellow spotted fur scramble deeper into the jungle.

He grinned. It was time to go hunting.