Lumi had not given Marluxia's decision to go after a relatively easy Mark much thought. The Palace was, for many people, claustrophobic. It was large, yet underground. Granted, the building had some rather sprawling grounds attached, but even they were sealed within a canopy of rock and soil. A garden within a room, while still a garden, was nonetheless enclosed, even with a false sky above it.
He didn't mind being closed in. In fact, he preferred it. He did not suffer anxiety at the idea of open spaces, but he was more than accustomed to being trapped within a familiar set of walls for an extended stretch. Marluxia was not the same and it would not have been the first time that they had taken off on some small-time excursion in search of a Mark far beneath them, simply to get out of the Palace for a while without suspicion. They also always went as a pair, purely to give the impression of a united front, an inseparable partnership. Neither believed that Khamja were above trying to separate them to weaken them, for they were Ryoka both. Divide and conquer, as it were.
Marluxia had been unusually distracted during this trip. It was a subtle difference in his usual demeanour, but Lumi had not missed it. He had, however, not asked about it. They were partners, work partners. Marluxia's life was his own and Lumi was not given to inquiring as to his state of mind. His suspicions, however, were confirmed in the Travel Agency.
"You require a sparring partner," Lumi said, low and quiet, after listening to his request. Marluxia was ... nervous. That was understandable. "Very well."
no subject
He didn't mind being closed in. In fact, he preferred it. He did not suffer anxiety at the idea of open spaces, but he was more than accustomed to being trapped within a familiar set of walls for an extended stretch. Marluxia was not the same and it would not have been the first time that they had taken off on some small-time excursion in search of a Mark far beneath them, simply to get out of the Palace for a while without suspicion. They also always went as a pair, purely to give the impression of a united front, an inseparable partnership. Neither believed that Khamja were above trying to separate them to weaken them, for they were Ryoka both. Divide and conquer, as it were.
Marluxia had been unusually distracted during this trip. It was a subtle difference in his usual demeanour, but Lumi had not missed it. He had, however, not asked about it. They were partners, work partners. Marluxia's life was his own and Lumi was not given to inquiring as to his state of mind. His suspicions, however, were confirmed in the Travel Agency.
"You require a sparring partner," Lumi said, low and quiet, after listening to his request. Marluxia was ... nervous. That was understandable. "Very well."