"Family"
Zexion lay awake in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling. He thought about what he had remembered that day. Nobodies weren't supposed to have emotions, but the memories had stirred up something inside of him. One notion in particular plagued him. Aren't we supposed to be like a family? The original six of us were united by that failed experiment, and we're all supposed to be united by the simple fact that we no longer have hearts. How troublesome. These bonds were dissolving, and Zexion could sense it. What was the point, then? The memories had been slowly coming back to him since having his heart removed, and he knew it was the same for the others as well. He was hesitant to ask the others because the issue was taboo. Restless, he decided to wander about the castle until he either arrived at a conclusion or tired himself out trying.
He remembered having done this before. Was I always this way before I lost my heart? No, wait, I was only this way after my parents... He leaned against the wall momentarily for support. That's right. No one here is related to me by blood. Still, they raised me, didn't they? They wanted me to be happy...
Aeleus and Dilan had watched as Ienzo hung ornaments on the lowest branches of their Christmas tree. He'd taken his time, being careful so as not to accidentally break any of them. With the rest of the branches already being covered, all that had been left was the star on the very top. Dilan and Aeleus had known that Ienzo had been feeling somewhat lonely, so they'd wanted to make this holiday special for him.
"Ienzo," Dilan had said, getting his attention. "We need your help to put the star on top of the tree."
Ienzo had looked at the top of the tree and then back at them. "You don't need my help. You're tall enough to do it."
"That's true," Aeleus had said, "but we'd like you to do it anyway."
Ienzo hadn't seen a stepladder or a footstool anywhere nearby, but he hadn't needed one as Aeleus had picked him up and held him at the height of the tree. Dilan had put the star in Ienzo's hands, and the boy had cautiously put the tree topper in place. He'd trusted Aeleus not to drop him, and the elder-brother figure had not disappointed him, continuing to hold him aloft so he could admire his work.
"Merry Christmas, Ienzo," Dilan had said, grinning.
Ienzo had smiled too. "Yeah. Merry Christmas."
Later that night, Ansem had read Ienzo a bedtime story, a poem that had been illustrated and turned into a picture book called The Nightmare Before Christmas. It had told of holiday worlds and what happened when Jack Skellington of Halloween Town found his way to Christmas Town and tried to take over the duties of Santa Claus. Ansem had even done the different voices just to make Ienzo laugh. "Are there really other worlds out there?" Ienzo had asked when Ansem had finished reading.
"Who knows? There might be," Ansem had said. "Santa has to live somewhere, why not his own world?"
"And Jack, too?"
"Yes, I suppose so." Ansem had kissed him on the forehead. "Goodnight, Ienzo. Pleasant dreams."
"Goodnight."
Remembering hurt, but Zexion recovered and went on his way until he was intercepted by Xigbar. "Out for a midnight stroll, Zexion?" Xigbar called out, latching onto him. He still loved messing with the kid.
"Get away from me, Xigbar," Zexion said, annoyed. It was Xigbar's company he hated most of all, and that was definitely not just an imitation.
"Jeez, aren't you cranky," Xigbar remarked. "Better go to bed, then, you big baby."
"Why does everyone treat me like I'm still that young?"
"It can't be helped. You'll always be little Ienzo to those that knew you all those years ago back in Radiant Garden." Xigbar was talking down to him more than usual and gave him a demeaning noogie. "You kids grow up so fast."
"Let go of me," Zexion complained, trying to brush him off.
"Fine, runt," Xigbar said, pushing him. Zexion lost his balance but caught himself on the railing. "You gonna go cry now?"
Zexion made no response. He just opened a dark corridor that would take him to his room. "Stupid Xigbar," he muttered to himself with conviction, plopping down on his bed. He hoped that would be the last restless night he would spend wandering the castle. His run-in with Xigbar had made him remember what had happened next.
Once Ienzo had fallen asleep, Braig had sneaked into the boy's room and hidden something under the bed. Ienzo had awoken when he heard strange noises emanating from under his bed. Not daring to look, he'd pulled the blanket over his head and tried to ignore it; however, not even covering his head with his pillow had made it any quieter, and so he'd been unable to go back to sleep until the noises had stopped.
Aeleus had in at first light to wake him up and found him still cowering under his blanket. "Hey, are you okay?" he'd asked, gently trying to nudge him awake. "Why are you curled up like that?"
Ienzo had peeked out from under the blanket. "I think there's something under my bed," he'd murmured.
"If there is, then why are you presenting yourself as a target?" Aeleus had asked. "You can't see it, but it knows where you are." He'd looked underneath the bed and saw what had been making the noise. "Come look for yourself."
Ienzo had climbed out of bed and looked at what had been frightening him all night. Upon realizing he'd been scared of a pre-recorded tape, he'd been embarrassed. "How did that get there?" he'd asked.
"I think I know who put it there," Aeleus had said, "and he'll get what's coming to him. When something frightens you, though, you have to face it. But if it's really something dangerous, don't hesitate to ask someone for help, okay?"
"Okay..." Still embarrassed and ashamed of being tricked, Ienzo had stared at the floor.
To cheer him up, Aeleus had pulled him into a hug. "It's all right to be scared. Even the brave get scared sometimes. You're a brave kid, you know that?"
"I am?"
"Yes. Now why don't we go see what presents are under the tree and thank Braig for the one he left under your bed."
"What is wrong with you?" Dilan had asked Braig when Aeleus told them what had happened.
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