Scatter, Then Fade

     Hearing Marluxia’s voice raise, Larxene’s head snapped up and her eyes widened. There have been a handful of times that she’s heard that voice be raised in such away…and it was never good. For once she agreed with the hurt her Heart was telling her to feel, but it all still pissed her off. She wanted to tell Marluxia about Letzie- Strelitzia, but she knew that if the flower boy rushed off to be reunited with her…it could hurt them both. Severely.

     Rushing over and grabbing the other’s arm, “I know that you don’t want to give up, and neither do I. Don’t ever assume that Lauriam,” she ignored her usage of the name, “but understand the circumstances that we’re in right now.”

     A voice filled her head, “You should tell him…he loves her too.”

     Larxene knew that was Elrena talking to her and her immediate reaction was just to ignore the voice…but this was something too serious to ignore.

     Sighing, “Clothes shopping will have to wait,” Larxene waved her hand and a corridor opened, “let’s head back to my place…I need to explain something…”

     Walking through the portal, Larxene found herself in her apartment and waited for Marluxia to walk through.

“You’re...right,” he managed through a tight throat. He stared down at his friend’s grip on his arm, face crumpling. The pressure in his chest as unbearable, but he savored the pain of it as much as he resented it. 

“You’re right,” Marluxia repeated, gazing upon the opened corridor. “There are things I don’t know. And you’re being awfully cagey.” 

“If I didn’t know any better, Larxene, I’d think...you were planning to betray me.”

It would be rather funny, in an awful sort of way, wouldn’t it? Together he and Larxene had betrayed the Organization, had tried to do it again with Xehanort--only to fail--and as sages were fond of warning, ‘third time is the charm’, after all. But Marluxia did know better; for as caustic a person Larxene could be, when one earned her loyalty, it was through thick and thin. 

And they’d been through the thick of it plenty of times. Hadn’t they? 

    Clothes shopping was not something that Larxene did often, or at all since even as Elrena she didn’t really care about clothes as long as she didn’t look like an entire mess, and Marluxia mentioning Sora soured her mood slightly.

    Clicking her tongue, “Mention that brat one more time and I’m going to electrocute you.” There wasn’t much malice in her voice but there was a promise there.

    Seeing that Marluxia started to pick out clothes stopped much of her anxiety that had started to form in her chest when he mentioned Strelitzia. Marluxia didn’t know that she was here or her “condition” and something told Elrena that Marluxia dropping the whole “hi I’m your brother” thing wouldn’t end well.

    And as if on cue Marluxia once against mentioned Strelitzia and…their search for her. Elrena knew that it was going to be brought up but she didn’t have the perfect plan to deflect the topic.

    Elrena tried to suppress her Larxene from coming out, and she managed to get most of the bite out of her words, but she wasn’t entirely successful, “Yeah Marluxia. I remember her. And yeah it worked for us…but that’s assuming that a Heartless and a Nobody was created when she lost her Heart. And Mar-…Lauriam” Elrena stepped closer to him and put her hand on his shoulder, “I haven’t seen any Heartless or Nobodies since I’ve been here…” She never said that she wasn’t here. She had to remember that. 

“I can’t...”

“I can’t think in terms like that!” 

His voice rose before he could consider controlling it. The snap of temper was much unlike him, this Marluxia--Lauriam--knew, but like he could help it. Larxene was suggesting that...

That they just stop trying?

It was unthinkable. His little sister was all that he had left. How could he ever, in good faith, give up on her without a second thought. He remembered all too well the years on the streets, hand in hand together, living off of nothing but the pity of strangers. Lauriam and Strelitzia had both agreed not to find replacements for family, not when the threat of separation lingered. 

“I...” He looked around and noticed prying eyes, drawn to their location by his outburst. He cleared his throat and spoke softer. “I simply can’t give up hope like that. I can’t let her be alone any longer.

    Yep. Even with his Heart back Marluxia didn’t change at all. A memory of their first meeting at Castle Oblivion flashed for her and Marluxia first getting his control over the castle. The guy liked being in control, but he was going to have to suffer for right now because she needed to make sure that he didn’t trigger too many memories in Strelitzia.

     Larxene turned to Marluxia as they entered the mall, “Marluxia, just trust me on this. And just because I was called the ‘Savage Nymph” doesn’t mean that I can’t look out for the two people that are close to me-” shit. Larxene felt her anger start to rise and that made her slip up a little. God she hated having a Heart most of the time.

     “Anyway! To the men’s section!” Larxene grabbed Marluxia’s hand and started to drag him to the clothing aisle.

“Why, Larxene...you aren’t hiding something from me, are you?” 

Marluxia allowed himself to be led by the wrist, but his frown was growing less playful and more suspicious. 

‘-I can’t look out for the two people that are close to me-” 

Now, what in the name of Light could that even mean? Though he had grown close to Elrena before their descent into Darkness and the subsequent transformations into Nobodies, he only knew of...Strelitzia...as a previous friend of hers. Perhaps it was someone Larxene had met here, in Wonderland, and whom Marluxia had slighted during his past lives? 

He tossed through his memories idly as his eyes began to scan through the various lines of clothing. Oh, that was a nice shirt; a rose gold, with a little flair by the cuff. He gently, yet firmly extracted his wrist from Larxene’s grip to linger by it, picking out one of his size. Yes, yes, that would do nicely. 

“I won’t press, of course. Your business and your friendships are your own to pursue, darling. But if I can make amends to this other individual, then I would like to. I’m a changed man. I wouldn’t even say no to seeing Sora again.” 

Ah! Some maroon slacks were next to catch his eye, and he compared the color and texture of fabric to that of the button up; Excellent. He plucked those too. 

“And, frankly...I’d like to continue the search.” 

His voice was lowered as he lingered more toward a section labeled ‘Clearance’; just because Larxene was being kind enough to splurge for him the once didn’t mean he could take advantage. Who knew when her generosity would strike? Would it be like her lightning, never in the same place twice?  Idly, he pulled out two more pairs of slacks-charcoal and the other a lighter grey-and three more shirts of various colors, one of them a sharply printed one.

He looked toward Larxene, brows furrowing. 

    Hearing Marluxia, she decided just to use his Nobody name for the sake of Strelitzia, use her Nobody name, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes at his pause.

     “Marluxia, I have my Heart…so I’m technically Elrena now, but for the sake of someone,” Larxene threw a knowing look at Marluxia, “let’s just stick to Nobody names, ‘kay?”

     Hearing from Marluxia himself that he had his Heart back, Larxene could feel her own Heart instruct her to feel happiness and pride that her best friend had his Heart back and to a minor degree she felt those emotions, but she was still subconsciously suppressing emotions in general.

     Larxene sighed, “So, we’re going to go clothes shopping for you first and then we’re gonna have to have a talk about a certain someone before you see them and cause even more chaos in this place. Now follow me Flower Boy, I just got paid and count this as your birthday present.”

     Larxene started to walk towards the mall and those close to her would be able to notice the lightness in her step compared to before.

“You keep saying that... ‘someone’,” Marluxia commented, easily falling into step beside Larxene. He couldn’t contain the amused smirk that curled his lips. 

She was practically skipping. He was genuinely touched by the sight; clearly, his high esteem of her was not unrequited. That she was treating him to actual clothes warmed his new Heart even more. There would be much baking and knitting in thanks, Marluxia vowed. Larxene deserved at least one “Thanks-For-The-New-Shirt” cake. Maybe two, if she got him a very nice one. 

But his curiosity was piqued. Clearly she knew something he did not. Was she speaking of...One of the Guardians of Light, perhaps? Were they supposed to keep their newfound Hearts a secret? Marluxia did not see the point, but Larxene knew the land better than he did, and for once he was content to allow her to take point. 

Not for long, though. He’d always been a bit of a control freak.

     Hearing the chuckle, Larxene knew that the other got his heart back…which meant that he was Lauriam now? That didn’t matter, what mattered right now that she had her best friend back entirely. While she hated having emotions now, times like this had their positive moments.

     Looking up at him, god when did her vision get blurry, “I-I’m not crying!! And I told you that I hated that nickname!” Larxene glared that the taller man, but she didn’t have any hate in her eyes.

    Hearing his comment, Larxene looked at Marlux- Lauriam and couldn’t suppress her giggle, “Don’t worry, you look great in everything~ But the cloak is kinda useless in Wonderland since Darkness doesn’t really exist here.”

     Letting go of Ma- LAURIAM Larxene quickly wiped away the things that were caught in her eyes and looked at back him, “So…you mentioned recompletion…does that mean you have your Heart back?”

“Hmph, being a brat about everything as usual? Ah, I’ve missed you too, L...hm.” 

That did bring up an interesting and worrisome point. Marluxia held his friend at arm’s length and hummed; it was a space that he required, in order to collect himself. Prepared for the storm of emotions he may be, but he was still sensitive, and he would cry if she continued to be so damingly endearing. 

But was he speaking to Larxene, or to Elrena?

The emotions and her knowledge of recompletion pointed toward the latter, but there were also...minor differences. Elrena had worn her hair somewhat relaxed, with a fringe of bangs to soften her often severe expression. Larxene had always slicked back her hair, to keep her eyes clear for her fighting. 

A sigh left him. 

    Larxene’s been distracted the entire day between her job, getting food, and trying to figure more stuff about Elrena- …herself, she didn’t really have the cognitive space for anything else.

    “So I used to live in Daybreak Town…I was a Keyblade wielder…and apparently I was close with Marluxi- Lauriam and ‘friends’ with Strelitzia, and they’re siblings…this is seriously annoying…”

     Larxene had her hands in her short pockets and she saw a familiar head of pink hair in a familiar black cloak, “Hey Flower Boy- ….” Larxene stopped mid walk and slowly backed up.

     There was no way. This couldn’t be happening right now. Was Marluxia- …Lauriam really here right now? They were both defeated by Sora in the final clash but she wasn’t sure if he’d fall into Wonderland like her…but her chest was screaming at her, and for once she listened to it.

    Larxene suddenly rushed forward, accidentally letting loose some electricity, and hugged Marluxi- Lauriam…that part was going to be difficult.

    “Y-Y…you asshole. How long have you been here.” Larxene hated how her voice broke at multiple point. She hated having emotions again.

So distracted by his unfortunate state of affairs regarding his wardrobe, Marluxia missed her at first.

But only at first. 

That stupid little nickname made him whirl around, jaw slack. There--there she was. Larxene--or Elrena? Was she recompleted, as he was? It was a solid theory, but not one he could fully trust. She stopped suddenly, and then backed up toward him. 

When he saw her face, and the emotions sparking like thunder behind her eyes, he knew in an instant that she had her Heart. His own was hammering harder, weeping with tenderness and affection. His partner in crime; the second in command had their coup succeeded. His friend. 

She sparked with electricity as she rushed him, and Marluxia winced as he caught a stray jolt. But his arms enfolded the smaller woman in a hug, chuckling low in his throat as he gently gave her a fond pat on the head, right between the strands of hair that stuck so distinctly from her scalp.