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Disclaimer: KH does not belong to me. Every character used in the compounds of this fanfic © Square Enix and Disney.
Author's Note: I'M BACK! …Sorry for taking so long with updating, and thank you for the many reviews! I had technical difficulties with this chapter, losing the first thirteen pages and having to re-type them all. But that's only an excuse. Anyway, the much awaited Chapter Three. Again, thank you all for sticking with me! Take this as an extremely late New Year's present/only-slightly-late Valentine's Day Present! xD
Withering Beauty
Wednesday through Friday went by uneventfully, except if you include being interrogated the first day, being pestered the other, sneaking to school clubs on another. This part of the week meant clubs and activities, and Zexion had ended up joining a few clubs at the beginning of the school year because of many different reasons; the first and most important of which was obvious.
A. Teachers and parents alike were always pestering the "young adults" to become active in school and join school clubs so that they could use them for college applications and make it into the school of their choice, B. Zexion truly enjoyed the few clubs he took enough interest in to spare some time for, and C. The most vital reason of all: to have a valid excuse to not go directly to that pretentious asylum called home.
Though the teen could never admit it to his uptight so-called guardian, the silver haired boy had a soft spot for artistic things and activities, and truthfully almost preferred them to music. But his guardian had certain standards and had picked his adoptive child's elective for him at the start of the school year. He wanted Zexion to excel in math, science, and music. His parental figure despised literature, thought history was for people who lived in the past and wanted the teen to become a likely candidate for a future manager of some major company… or something. Basically, control the young boy's life to make him the perfect future specimen of society. So, in order to avoid any and all conflict, Zexion secretly joined the Art Club, telling Saïx that he stayed after school for the Music Club, just like he wanted him to.
He made sure to hide each and every masterpiece he created as carefully and as inconspicuously as possible in the deepest corner of his closet.
"Why did you not choose art class, Zexion?" he had asked as he watched the other boy's gloved hand move rapidly across the easel. Dark brown pastel in mid-stroke, Zexion stopped and turned his attention to Roxas.
"…What?" Roxas sighed as he also stopped what he was doing, placing down his drawing pencil, and waited until Zexion did the same.
"Zexion… if you're so good at Art—whichyoureallyare, nobluff—why did you choose music as an elective?" Roxas asked. Navy blue eyes blinked, then glanced back at the pastel painting.
"Why? Because I like music class," Zexion replied absentmindedly, not realizing that he had given his actual thoughts to the boy. Too late.
"But you don't do anything in there, and don't you dare say that you do! Everyone knows for a fact that Strife can't teach music, even if it was all composed to the tune of 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'" Zexion flinched, as he knew that this was completely true. Cloud really didn't know a thing about music besides instrument names, nor any of the other subjects other than physical education. But he wasn't about to tell Roxas that. A lot of good that would do him in this conversation.
"…Yes… Strife does lack the teaching abilities for Music, but I don't like music class because we basically do nothing. I like music class because hopefully one day we'll get a teacher who knows what he's doing, and I'll be able to learn music correctly and eventually be able to play the dr—" Zexion's eyes widened as he clamped two soft leather gloved hands over his mouth. Dreams were not meant to be shared with "friends," and Zexion had said way too much. Why was it so easy to talk to this person he did not wish to open up to? Zexion waited for him to say something back, afraid to open his mouth lest he commence rambling again, but the younger boy only gave the older a warm smile in return, then went back to his sketch. Zexion took this moment to peek at the boy's artwork, and wasn't ready for what he saw. And Roxas said that Zexion could draw?
Blazing—though in vibrant grey, seeing that it was not in colour—flames surrounded the middle of the canvas, which happened to be a very detailed non-objective human-like figure drawn in an almost black. And the figure seemed to be controlling the fire around him…
Slowly and quite, in a slightly comical way, stealthily, Zexion made his way towards the moss-green doors and was about to turn away once he realized that it was open, but a familiar, exasperated voice stopped him from doing so.
"No, no! You need to sing in an octave lower," came the gym teacher's response as he scolded at one of the girls. "You're singing that line too high. Try again."
The girl gave the brunette man a shy nod, her eyes brimming with tears, then opened her mouth wide to begin once more, but was stopped once again by the teacher.
"Ienzo, are you going to stand out there watching us all afternoon, or would you like to join us?" Squall asked, his cold, grey, icy eyes now turned towards the partially cracked door.
Zexion's immediate response tore him between pulling away from the door and going home immediately and not moving at all and praying that Squall stayed where he was standing. But he realized how foolish both options were, so he replied very slowly, just barely above a whisper, "But Leonhart, sir, I'm not part of this club…"
He was surprised to hear a small chuckle as the reply. "But you are part of music class, so maybe you can help me teach these… children the proper ways of music?" The way Squall had said it made it seem harmless enough, and he was supposed to be staying after for music anyway, so Zexion gave a small sigh, then entered the chorus room.
"Leonhart, sir, what do you think of changing career positions with a certain blonde?"
Well, for most people anyway.
Zexion had not attended any parties the night before, nor had he missed out on any "much needed" sleep during the week, and he surely wasn't one of the few teenagers who normally woke up for the classic Saturday morning cartoons. But on that partly cloudy weekend morning, he was up early and very much awake, having woken up countless times during his slumber.
Glancing at the lime green numbers on his dusty alarm clock, the sleepy teen wasn't surprised to see that it read 8:00 A.M.
Stretching, Zexion fumbled from out of his tangled sheets and headed over towards his closet. Peering into it, a wave of black that he was accustomed to seeing hit him. Multiple black pants covered in either silver chains, handcuffs, or a trillion differently designed belts and/or zippers. Shirts of black, dark blue that matched his eyes, a carefully hidden one of lavender, and the occasional pale blue or creamy white was to the other side of all the black. Then there were his boots. They came in many different sizes and many different designs that could usually match one or more of a pair of his pants—wait. Was that a pair of black vans…?
Deciding finally on a pair of pants with a few belts and zippers here and there, a rich midnight blue thin shirt that matched his eyes and his less-than-noticeable black combat boots, Zexion was ready to leave his wretched home to enjoy his day. All that was missing was… his favourite black coat. …Which… happened to be downstairs on the coat rack.
Great…Hand groping through a neatly stacked pile of dirty clothes for his cell phone and finding it in yesterday's boot, the young teen was ready to head… downstairs.
BOOM!
Zexion stopped in front of the kitchen entrance as he watched in slight alarm as their microwave caught on fire. The phone that Vexen had been talking on now lay a foot from the kitchen table, as the blonde haired man was now hosing down what was left of the mini oven with the fire extinguisher.
"Oh dear. When Saïx sees this…" he heard Vexen mutter as he placed the extinguisher down on the counter. Lexaeus gave a soft apologetic whisper of an answer, then exited the kitchen, not even sparing a glance at the teen. Sighing, Vexen watched the large man retreat from his mistake, running his hands stressfully through his long blonde strands as he began to mutter to himself. Then, after probably staring blankly at the entrance for a good ninety seconds, his green eyes took notice of the boy.
"Zexion? Oh, good morning." Zexion watched Vexen with a careful gaze to see what the man's next move was going to be. Usually, by now, he would have done more than just say "good morning." When it came to Zexion, he was almost as bad as Axel and would not have only greeted him but would have ta—oh.
"Good morning. Zexion!" Vexen shouted happily as he practically dashed across the kitchen and flung himself upon the startled boy. For a second Zexion was afraid that the older male was going to shower him with kisses, which, unfortunately for him, Vexen did do sometimes. But thankfully, the man only took away all of his oxygen for a few moments until he realized that was suffocating the poor boy. "Are you hungry? I can fix you something to eat in the micro—…toaster."
"Not hungry."
"Oh, but my dear Zex—"
"Ienzo."
Every muscle in the boy's body tensed at the calm and softly spoken way of how the newest person who had entered the kitchen had addressed him. The voice had been tinged with slight annoyance as well as wonder.
"G-good m-morn—"
"I see you are up early this morning." Saïx interrupted briskly. He was currently donned in a rich ivory lab coat with the N.H.C. insignia engraved into the coat before that deep voice spoke again. "It is a fine day outside today. No clouds. No rain." he spoke the sentence in a soft tone, with a half smile on his face. Even though there had been no question, Zexion knew that he was meant to give a response.
"I-I had planned on g-going out," Zexion stuttered, and silently cursed himself for doing so, as he tried to pry Vexen off and failed miserably, "to a few stores." He finished as soon as the blue-haired man began to walk over towards him, and stopped mere inches in front of him.
"You know the curfew, Ienzo."
"Yes, sir. Seven, no later." Zexion recited from memory.
"…And," Saïx paused for a moment, almost forgetting his question, but remembering quickly, "your last lone lab assignment and report?"
"Fully completed and on my desk… sir." Zexion replied, then as an afterthought, "Would you like for me to go retrieve it?"
"No, no. That is all right," Saïx said with a slight swish of his hand. "I will go get it myself. Go enjoy your day." And quite surprisingly, he then felt Saïx's heavy hand as the man ruffled his silver locks in a playful manner. "I will be on my way." He then turned to leave the kitchen, but stopped once he reached the door frame. "Oh, and Vexen?"
"Yes, Sa-chan?" Vexen replied in a sweet but definitely sarcastic tone.
"Fix me a cup of coffee. Black. …And let go of the boy. You know better."
Vexen gave a huffy noise in reply but quickly complied with what he had been commanded to do, letting go of Zexion a few seconds after he had been told. Saïx left the kitchen pleased.
He stopped at that very store first, the cashier giving him a shy hello as he stepped inside. He was in and out quickly, purchasing two thin black sleeveless shirts and one pair of parachute pants, then leaving. His next stop was the nearest Seashore Mart, which wasn't really a mart at all but a video store. After searching for some Burton film Saïx had requested and another thirty minutes for a movie that he wanted, he left the bustling store and took to roaming the town.
Zexion frowned at his golden pocket watch as he realized that it wasn't even noon yet as he sat down on a bench in the local public park. The park was near the island's shore, but not near enough for the tall wilting trees to merge with the sand. Little bushes with snaky branches clawed at the park's marigold coloured sign, making the words "Fiery" and "Park" hidden from the eyes. In actuality, the stone sign read "Fiery Globe Park."
Looking up at the clear blue sky, the now bored teen noticed two birds flying together quite animatedly. It was a strange sight, though, a dark coloured bird—perhaps a crow, flying with what looked to be a crimson coloured cardinal.
I wonder what it's like to fly… he suddenly thought, as he further watched the two birds land in a nearby tree. The cardinal then did something unexpectedly, and he thought it was a quite strange gesture—snuggled its head into the crow's breast—if that was the proper description for what it was doing. What—?
"Hey, mister! Wanna play catch with me?" Blue-silver brows furrowed in confusion for a moment, as his mind had been focused on those two birds, but then, turning his gaze back to the surroundings not up in the sky, he saw who it was that had spoken to him.
It was a small boy around the age of seven whom he recognized after noticing the shoulder-length, pale lavender coloured hair that covered his left, ruby-red eye. Looking at the boy's purple sweater, tan pants, and lavender shoes, Zexion remembered exactly who this child was. And that he was not a he, but a she.
"Where is your guardian?" Zexion asked the little girl as he stood up from the bench.
"I came here with Lulu-chan and Irvy!" she answered cheerfully as she held up the red ball again. "Wanna play ball with me, Niichan?" Zexion gave the girl a rare smile then a shake of his head.
"Talkative today, are you?"
"So are you, Niichan."
"…True," Zexion replied with a slight, small chuckle. "I'm sorry though, Fuujin; I have somewhere to be," he half-laughed as he gave the girl a pat on her head and turned to leave. "Tell Lulu and Irvine that they need to stay out of trouble for me."
The small golden bell that tinkled away every time he entered had begun to annoy Zexion, for he had soon realized that its small ringing noise brought much unneeded attention towards the door and whoever had just entered it. Meaning him. Thankfully, though, the normally present ebony-haired ninja was nowhere to be seen, and neither was her fellow devious S.H.G. member. Sighing in relief and beginning his routine glance around the bookstore-café, he felt an odd feeling of disappointment in not seeing those icy, teal pools that he had come to like…
Ignoring the burning feeling that had begun to rise in his cheeks, Zexion looked around the store once more for an employee so he could purchase some food, then felt a slight tinge of anger and neglect towards proper customer service when he could not find a single one. At the moment, he even partially wished that Yuffie were at her cash register, shouting across the café… Sighing, the dark-eyed boy took a seat at the same manila table he had sat at three days ago and went to playing with sugar packets to occupy himself.
After about twenty minutes of organizing the little white packets into various designs across the table, he became extremely bored with them, for the minuscule sweetness of what was inside those securely pressed pieces of paper reminded him that he was hungry, which also had reminded him that there were no employees to take his order to serve him. As soon as the last thought had finished crossing his mind though, he realized that he was being rather stubborn and could just go to one of the many nearby restaurants if he really wished to eat. But… he felt this strange feeling that if he were to leave the store, that some golden opportunity would pass him by.
…Not like he needed a golden opportunity.
Now remembering what he had originally come to the bookstore for, as he pushed his hunger aside, Zexion left his corner table and travelled over towards the kid's horror books section to again purchase a mistreated book that he hadn't finished reading. Picking up a fresh, new, not tortured Ribbajack, Zexion began to retreat back to his table, stopping only once he realized that there were a pair of amethyst pools staring at him.
Oh.
But rather than change his direction and go towards those familiar eyes, he continued his trek towards his table and sat down once more. Now that the Hotaka girl was at the cash register, he could purchase lunch, but… he felt like being difficult thanks to the lack of customer service he had received earlier. So instead, while ignoring the slight grumble that had emitted from his stomach, he slowly opened his not yet purchased book and began reading where he had left off.
Somehow, though, Kairi took this as a sign go over to the quiet boy, which she did almost immediately after he had picked up the book. Zexion didn't bother to look up as she stopped by the rim of his table, but he did acknowledge her presence by placing down his book and gathering up all of the sugar packets to put them back where they belonged. At this, Kairi gave him a small smile as she leaned forward against the table, placing her lithe elbows onto the top surface.
"Good afternoon, Zexion-kun." she began in a low, devious tone as she pressed herself against the table some more, " Welcome to the Emerald Blues and Crimson Jazz Bookstore and Café. How may I be of service?" Zexion suppressed the urge to snort as he listened to how the girl had implied the word "service." As if. He then watched as she slid a menu slowly across the table, stopping only after deliberately poking him with it. Zexion once again suppressed certain desires to do something terrible to the girl as he ignored her obvious flirting. He was doing a splendid job of it, too, until the redheaded girl's hand slowly tried in a subtle manner to touch his gloved one. Catching the action in mid-act, he pulled his hands back quickly in recoil.
"I will call you over when I'm done choosing," Zexion spat harshly underneath his breath, then waited for Kairi to take a step back from the table before opening the menu. It unnerved him greatly to have someone, especially one of the members of the S.H.G., trying to flirt with him, let alone touch him. Before his stomach could become sickly upset from displeasure and discomfort, he let his eyes skim over the fresh fruits and the various drinks to remind that it was void of food.
A few minutes later, though, Kairi was back at his table and gazing at him intensely, as soon as he chose to close the menu.
"Zexion-kun?" The young teen was reminded once again why he wasn't really fond of females. Especially types like the girl fawning over his existence. He didn't need people to fawn over his existence. He had enough trouble avoiding the few people he could actually stand who fawned over his existence. Like Axel and Vexen.
"Zexion-kun?"
Oh, yeah… he was being talked to.
"I would like to order a medium-sized extra buttered popcorn and a cup of hot chocolate with small, fluffy, marshmallows." The silver-haired teen spoke without even re-opening the menu. He really did love annoying the Silver Haired Gods Society members, or at least trying to.
It didn't seem to work on the ringleader, though. "Would… you like to order any real food?" Zexion, at this moment, actually had to give the crimson-haired girl some credit. Unlike Yuffie, she did not stutter when he chose to speak, nor did she hold back what she wanted to say towards the boy. In fact, she was very straightforward and blunt towards him. The teen began to not like this girl even more.
"A bowl of freshly cut strawberries, if you do not mind." Immediately after he was done, he returned to reading and ignored the young girl's presence once again. Kairi made a disappointed face, then left to make his order.
Soon after Kairi had finished preparing Zexion's meal, the hyperactive ninja-girl had come in, loud and overzealous as usual.
"Good afternoon, Kairi!" she bubbled as she dashed through the front doors and hopped over the counter, barely dodging the cash register and Zexion's meal. Kairi yelped, just barely dodging a karate-like kick in the face from the older girl.
"Y-Yuffie!" She ignored her friend and coworker, though, as she turned around and spotted the silver-haired teen, who just happened to have been watching the whole scene, his book forgotten thanks to the clamorous distraction. He immediately felt his muscles stiffen, slight fear creeping into his very soul on what could be going through the "naïve" kunoichi's mind. But to his wary surprise, all she did was shoot a wry smile in his direction, causing the odd, but unfortunately, familiar feeling of a shudder travelling through his entire self. He looked away almost immediately, now curious as to whether or not he had underestimated the other S.H.G. members. Especially Yuffie.
"Good afternoon, Zexion-kun." A whisper. So close, but so far. Zexion had to do all in his will-power to not whirl around as fast as common speed could spin him in regards to someone suddenly standing too close him. Yuffie gave him another testing smile as she placed down his intriguing tray of food. "Here's your medium-sized buttered popcorn, a cup of "hot chocolate with small, fluffy, marshmallows;" a bowl of freshly cut strawberries and a complementary small hot fudge sundae with sweet cherries and strawberries in replacement of the banana," she told him rather cheerfully. "Would you like to pay now or later?" Zexion had to not scoff at the last bit. After not getting the proper customer service earlier, he planned on paying them back full force.
"No, thank you. I'll pay later."
The sound of rushing, flowing gushes of water startled his midnight eyes as rain suddenly began to pour from mushy-grey clouds right outside the window beside his table.
And it had been such a clear, wonderful sky this morning.
Sighing, Zexion felt a slight irritation towards the rain as he cursed Mother Nature for not warning the meteorologists of the chance of percentage of rain. He really wished he had an umbrella with him.
As soon as that irate thought slipped past his exhausted mind, the front door jingled open and a dripping, drooling medium-sized charcoal black umbrella made its entrance known to the bookstore-café and its floor. But the umbrella was not what got Zexion's slowing down brain to reboot; it was the tall, cream-coloured, partially damp man underneath.
L-Luxord…!
If one knew the antisocial teenager, how the normally stolid boy acted towards the rest of the human race, one would know that what Zexion did next was quite amusing and un-Zexion of himself.
Feeling the overcoming need to suddenly hide himself, through he could not fathom why, Zexion snatched up the menu, untouched until then, and jerked it open quickly, effectively shielding his face with it as soon as intense iced seaweed-blue orbs looked his way.
"Ah! Good afternoon, Mister Luxord! Welcome! Welcome!" he heard Yuffie's constantly exuberant voice greet across the store. He was sure that he also heard Kairi let out a loud sigh and had no doubt in his mind that she was probably scolding the slightly older, cheerful girl.
And though he could not see through the menu that now protected his face, he knew that cutting teal eyes were staring directly at him.
Clad in a rich midnight colour that might match the hiding teen's eyes, the man seemed out of place to Zexion once more. This man that caused him to actually care that he existed, seemed as if he shouldn't exist on the island-city. To Zexion, this man that he knew for less than a week, that caused unexplainable actions and emotions to stir, churn, and confuse the poor teen, belonged in a distant town or inland. Zexion peeked to the left of his menu to see if the familiar—yet not familiar, alluring—yet not enigmatic man had proceeded off somewhere else only to jolt back behind the menu once more.
"Good afternoon, Madame Yuffie," he suddenly heard a suave coated accented voice airily reply to the bouncy teenager from where the man had previously—and presently—were standing.
"Good afternoon, Mister Luxord," Yuffie repeated, calmly for once, her voice now closer but further from Zexion. "Is there anything in particular you would like to order this afternoon?"
It was odd to hear the normally peppy girl talk in such a serious tone, void of all mirth, and replaced with a reserved attitude. Who was this man if he could calm the tornado known as Yuffie?
"Ah, no, that is quite all right Yuffie, I will order something… at an later hour." he spoke with such an honourable and authoritative voice, making wheels and gadgets twist and turn in Zexion's mind once more. He had had some pretty unique run-ins with individual adults before, yes, but none of then left impressions on his thoughts like this one. Probably because he literally had run into him. "I will return here later, I make this promise. Thank you, Madame Yuffie." Such a passive voice.
Zexion took this moment to peek once again, and was surprised to see the odd gesture of Yuffie giving a courteous bow to the man known as Luxord, and then the man giving Yuffie a small pat on the shoulder before casually walking off towards the many shelves of books.
Almost-black eyes wavered as the silvern-haired teen let out a sigh he hadn't known he had held, and placed down the menu. Mind spinning, Zexion recalled and thought over what he had just done. Now, the teenage boy was not a person without sense; nor were he one to jump to superstitions or conclusions, but he could feel that he was supposed to catch his attention. To his utter disbelief and surprise though, he welcomed this thought, feeling content with this notion. Groaning, the boy rested his head upon the menu, drifting more deeply into the depths of his unusual thoughts.
Zexion had become somewhat antsy in the last hour, unable to sit completely still, sloppily doing his normal routine of rearranging the sugar packets into little designs on the table. This time, though, he could only arrange them into a quadrilateral version of the oddly designed earring that hung delicately in that man's right ear. His thoughts had become jumbled, and he didn't like it one bit, being confused and not knowing the answer to this problem, for he was one who could catch on to something quickly, who usually kept a calm, collected attitude towards almost any matter. Almost. That "almost" had not mattered before because he had never been presented with anything that could test it, but now…
And here he thought that thanks to the situations at home, he couldn't be surprised about anything anymore.
"…—'re welcome, Mister Luxord," he suddenly heard the ringleader of that horrible silver-haired obsession club speak politely to his right, shattering all crude thoughts that had passed his mind.
A jolt at that moment ran through the silver-haired teen as he glanced to his right to see Luxord purchasing books and Kairi attempting a fake smile. He turned away almost immediately, hoping that the man wouldn't notice him because he had a feeling that if he did, the man would come visit his table. And Zexion didn't want him to, for he couldn't seem to wonder why this man took an interest in him; and how, in turn, the man interested him to an extent. Zexion, letting out a small sigh, decided once more to slowly rest his head upon the manila table, his face pressing against the cool smooth paper of the sugar packets. What was wrong with him today?
He shouldn't have decided on looking up from the sugar packets and the room temperature manila table. Really, he shouldn't have sat up, Zexion thought angrily to himself as he watched as a gloved hand pulled the seat directly across from him at the two-person table, and watched with slight alarm as said person sat down in the seat. Which caused him no choice but to come face-to-face with piercing, unreadable, almost bright turquoise-defined eyes and a warm, but oddly placed smile.
Immediately, different courses of action trailed through Zexion's clambered mind at how to deal with what was presented before him, but in the end he only chose to pull down the sleeves of his coat to hide his many watches, then sat up straight and gave the man a guarded look. Neither said anything for a few moments, watching each other with a slightly comforting gaze, neither breaking the eye contact. Nor did either move. At all.
Forcing his denim-coloured eyes not blink more than needed under the heavy gaze, for fear that the almost-claiming silence would disappear, the young boy could feel his heart racing as he let in and out shallow patches of breath. Why was his heart racing? Why was he reacting this way? Why—…?
He didn't understand his way of thinking today at all.
It had become a challenge, a silent game that neither wanted to lose, but in the end, one must always lose. Though, it was this loser's fault that they had lost the sudden ongoing staring contest.
For, once again, the young teen should not have decided on looking at one of his many watches, but he just had to see the time. Now it was going to haunt him, Old habits that are drilled into ones mind are habits that die hard, though. Or so they say. The consequence to this old habit was really a simple consequence, just an unwanted one. Doing so had broken the eye contact that he and the unnerving man had casually turned into a challenge a staring contest. Now though, thanks to the contest becoming complete once the young teen had lost, the man, Luxord, gave him another eerie smile. But before Zexion could question it, after finally finding a reason to speak, the Hotaka girl with those always devising violet eyes had silently walked over to his table, and placed down a steaming cup of hot chocolate and some cream in front of the man, then stalked off without even saying a word to either of them. Zexion watched her retreat back behind the counter as a tint of surprise crossed his face, before his eyes and thoughts were reeled back to the manila table suddenly. Or, rather, the man at his manila table.
"I see that you are fond of sudoku," came the quiet yet deep, strong voice as he watched the man intertwine his fingers and prop them against his chin, Zexion gave the man a look that was a mix between a glare and surprise, wondering exactly where that line came from, because he currently had no sudoku-like things with him. Regaining his composure as quickly as possible, though, he masked his thoughts once more and made sure not to utter a word of response. Luxord's smile broadened as he suddenly turned his attention to the young teen's bags and spoke once more, teal eyes eyeing the contents inside if it.
"Dark Water—that's by Kouji Suzuki. Is it any good?" Feeling the slightly discomforting notion that he would not be left alone any time soon, Zexion gave a shrug in reply this time. It wasn't like someone to actually seek out the normally hushed boy's company, so in truth, Zexion wasn't sure how to "react" to such attention. He was used to Axel and others like Demyx and Vexen, but… He wondered then if he should continue with the silent game or if he should actually offer up a few words. "I thought you purchased that the day I ran into you, or rather, you ran into me." Zexion would have scowled at being blamed on their little "meeting" which was more of a collision, but a word the blue-eyed man had said had caught his attention instead. Deep blue eyes slowly blinking, Zexion had to glare around to first find out what "that" was. Catching sight of the book on the table, he immediately realized that the man was talking about Ribbajack, the book that had been so poorly treated by his… guardian. Though he tried vaguely to hide it, a solemn smirk graced the young teen's face as he responded with little to no emotion,
"I did. Lost it. Purchased a new one." He watched with an effaced-spiteful look as the pale blonde-haired man opened his mouth as if to question the fragments he had just replied cautiously with, but a bouncy presence caused the both of them to stop their sentences before they could even fully form them. Zexion had been about to tell the man that the repurchasing issue was none of his business, while Luxord… well, Zexion could not read minds, and he was almost positive that he never would be able to, so he wasn't sure what the man actually had planned on saying, really.
The bubbly waitress seemed to not notice that she had interrupted the two males in a seemingly important conversation as she gave her full attention to the silvern-haired teen who was currently sporting a small glance of a look that was composed of a man between annoyance and "saviour."
"Hello Zexion-kun, I was wo—"
"Could I have another hot chocolate?" Interrupt before she could start speed-talking, Zexion had learned, to save oneself from a one-sided Yuffie-chat and a headache.
"Oh, o-okay." Bingo. Hit eight on the mark, and just in time too. The dangerously dark-eyed boy earlier hadn't fully misinterpreted the ebony-haired female as he still could get a stutter out of her. Really, he shouldn't have this sort of an effect on people. He wasn't anything special, not that he knew of. But people seemed to be drawn towards him, like Axel, Demyx, Vexen, Yuffie (and the rest of the S.H.G.), and… Luxord. Thoughts beginning to head in uneasy direction, Zexion was somewhat thankful when Yuffie started to chat anyway.
"By the way, Zexion-kun, who do you believe is going to win the V.D. Poll—contest—to be your date to the Valentine's Day Dance?" Zexion stood corrected. He'd rather have treaded through those uneasy thoughts that have to think about that.
"Do you think that I'll win?"
Zexion groaned inwardly. Why wouldn't people leave him alone? There were the slightly rabid fan girls of his school, his guardians—… cousin (?), the red-handed redhead Axel and his partner in "crime," the slightly manipulative Demyx… and now Luxord. The young teen, compared to what everyone else seemed to think, really didn't care about existing, which was his opinion on his life. But these people…
"Ah, Zexion-kun, you know you're really, really a talented individual." Zexion sighed as the peppy-girl began to switch topics. "And it's not because you're one of the most popular guys at Dawn, either. I mean, you're truly talented! How can one person be so talented in so many different things and get good grades on top of that, Zexion-kun?" Trying not to blink rapidly or look stunned, the now slowly agitating boy stared with a blank expression at the attention-challenged girl as he tried to suppress a confused expression. What now was the probably-crazy girl talking about?
Apparently though, to his utter dismay, his confusion showed on his face, no matter how much he tried to suppress it, for a coy smile now graced the plotting girls face as she continued nonchalantly, "you know, none of your masterpieces from the Art Club are ever put on display it seems. I have a few ideas why they're not though. Either you, Zexion-kun, have seduced the sponsor into becoming your eternal slave who answers at your beck and call to help you conquer the world and all who are not equal to your ethereal beauty; or, Option C, where you are the secret leader of the Silver Haired Gods Mafia of the World and sell your splendid genius art so you can become the next Daimyou of Russia."
What… the… hell.
Zexion had already known the night before, when he could not get a normal night's rest that this Saturday was going to be exceptionally different than his previous ones, ones that could have been considered mostly normal. He realized quickly though that his Saturday would be off that morning when Saïx had actually been in the right state of mind. It dawned in him that this Saturday would hold new experiences as soon as he had entered the bookstore-café, due to the absence of waitresses when had first arrived, then later the sudden, precipitous change in climate and weather—that howling storm brewing outside, which had brought the mysterious man known as Luxord. That same man… the enigmatic yet spontaneously hyperactive child (who, in truth, was most likely older than he) known as Yuffie who completely irked him now to no end.
The girl who finalized his abnormal Saturday, who he now felt like killing with Luxord's big, black umbrella.
Or something equally sharp.
Casting the random whatever—that-could-be-considered that Yuffie had concocted aside, Zexion felt his anger begin to swell as he absorbed the truth the sparky girl had spoken. No one, no one was supposed to know about his artwork, nor that he was part if the Art Club, unless they were an Art Club member or one of his 'friends'. Yet, this sneaky, ninja—brat—knew, which probably meant that the rest of the S.H.G. also knew. Zexion, for the first time in years felt betrayed by… something. Or someone. Zexion then felt the small, familiar, wariness of fear seeping like a foggy haze into the back if his mind as his conscious reeled with what the devastating possibilities of what could happen to his life now that something like that was known to the most gossiping girls on the island. He also felt extremely pissed of and actually ready to cause physical harm to another being. He felt ready to pull put a specific cold piece of metal hidden in a specific place, that he kept on him at all times, to sue to inflict pain upon the exuberant girl. And causing pain was really not his forte. He was actually the complete opposite. He hadn't felt so livid in a while. Zexion felt—Zexion felt so—…Zexion felt quite—no—extremely surprised when the pale-blonde man began to softly speak in his defence.
"Miss Yuffie, I think Sir Zexion does not appreciate being… let us say—flattered—by what you have discovered towards his… abilities. In fact, from what I can understand, I am quite positive that he would appreciate you quickly returning with his hot chocolate he had asked for as soon as possible, rather than continue to chatter, if you do not mind." he finished, a small smile gracing his tanned features.
There was an somewhat oddly-placed silence as Yuffie did not respond. Only then, as she turned her attention slowly towards the man sitting directly across from the slowly calming boy, did reality seem to reappear in her eyes.
"Aa… Ah! Mister Luxord! Are you and Zexion-kun friends?" Zexion noticed then. After the girl's odd reaction, that something was odd about what she had said as a blush graced her cheeks once Luxord gave her a small smile once more.
"Ah, no, we are just… acquaintances, so to say. In reality, we have actually just met." Yuffie's only reaction was a glance between the two, then a meek smile as she turned so that she could keep her attention on the both of them. Why was she so calm all of the sudden, like earlier when she had been around the man? Just a few minutes ago, she was her usual peppy self, but now once the puzzling man had spoken, her attitude—… oh.
The answer to the mystery hit him hard, due to how foolish it was. It actually would have seemed quite hilarious in any other situation, if not for how much the impact this man had on Yuffie's attitude was not as drastic.
Yuffie had not realized that Luxord had been sitting there until just now.
"Aa… Well, I'll be off then. See you in a few minutes, Zexion-kun," she gave him a mischievous wink as she turned to leave, "and Mister Luxord." an awkward wave directed towards the man as she left to prepare Zexion's drink.
As soon as the girl was behind the counter, Luxord turned back to the blue-eyed boy and gave him another smile, while the teen had already donned another guarded look.
"So… you are one who attends New Dawn High School with Yuffie, I take it? Hm?" the man quietly asked as he folded his arm slightly as he leaned forward against the table. This comment caused Zexion to eye him warily as his suspicious magnified.
"What do you want from me?" he spat back in a slight hiss, and apparently catching Luxord off-guard as his teal eyes widened in surprise.
"P-Pardon?" Luxord blinked in confusion. Zexion scoffed, not surprised by his reaction. He was an adult after all. Now he felt like talking, thanks to Yuffie's antics, causing him for the first time in a long, long while to become truly angry. And he felt like taking his anger out on the mysterious man. The same man who stopped him from killing the ebony-haired menace.
"Saïx says that adults, or just people in general, only take interest in someone because they want something from them in return." He huffily explained. "So…
What do you from me?"
Luxord seemed to consider the possibility of what the teen said for only a mere moment before letting out a low chuckle.
"Sir Zexion, if I may call you that, do you trust in what this 'Saïx' speaks?" he asked in such a rhetorical way that it made Zexion glare back in return. Not once had he said that he believed in anything that that "guardian" of his spoke. "…Skill lies within understanding and manoeuvring do that the outcome works in your favour; while, belief lies within trusting your knowledge and common sense." He paused as he watched Zexion's glare slowly subside into a stifled curious expression. "Words from one who was known as the 'Wise King.'"
"And… what does this have to do with what you want from me?" a meek voice replied quietly. Zexion blinked, and forced himself not to cover his mouth, surprised at himself speaking. The man only smiled once more, causing the teen to wonder if those smiles were fraudulent or equitable.
"For now… let us just say that I wish to know about, Sir Zexion." Luxord muttered partly to himself as he glanced out the window. A distant gaze flickered in his eyes, but a moment later it was gone. Right then, for reasons unknown than earlier, the denim-hued boy felt compelled to talk.
"H-how about… how about we start over?" the teen heard his voice suggesting and watched in mild horror as he unfolded his own arms and extended a hand towards the man. Was his own mind now betraying him now? "Introduce ourselves the correct way? Rather than learning of each others names through around us?"
Darn those lips, which were now willingly to speak to the abstruse man sitting before him. But apparently Luxord could not see the inner battle going on in the boy's mind as he extended his own hand and encased the smaller, glove within glove.
Warning alarms went off in the withdrawn boy's mind as his body promptly ignored them and didn't recoil like usual in response to the touch.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Luxord Kirizuma, and I frequent this bookstore as of late."
…And Zexion's subconscious had asked for a normal" introduction.
"He-hello. My name is Zexion I-Ienzo. It's—it's a pleasure to meet you." Heartbeat now also betraying him, Zexion cursed himself for stuttering and actually giving the strange man his real last name. But the thought was soon forgotten as the man gave his still enclosed hand a small squeeze and a partial shake before letting go in what seemed an extremely slow manner.
Feeling the rise of warmth in his cheeks, he turned towards the window as he slowly brought his hand back to his lap. Though the man said he had no ulterior motives, Zexion could feel that the man was only speaking a half-truth.
"I take it that you are of the junior year, correct?" he heard an amused voice inquire him to draw his attention back. Warm swamp-like blue pools delighted in the depths of the teen's dusty sapphire orbs as he returned the gaze and gave a shy nod in reply. "May I ask of the name of your teachers?"
Normally, that question coming from a complete stranger should have caused Zexion to withdraw, especially since he was one who did not normally talk to ones even considered his friends, but he found himself explaining himself to the cream-coloured man. Explaining it down to Cloud's cluelessness, to Squall's secret love for music, Sephiroth's cold demeanour that was only a show (to an extent), Auron's exciting tales and myths that had nothing to do with what they were supposed to be learning in history, Vincent and his love of poetry and Romantic literature, and stopping at Ansem's habit of blowing up the classroom.
"—always pestering Sephiroth, though Sephiroth doesn't seem completely angered about it. On one occasion, I've seen him having a quiet chat with the intelligent yet—disastrous—science teacher, and he seemed to be actually enjoying it," he paused as he noticed a slight change in the man, but he was still listening intently none-the-less. But as soon as he had mentioned the name Ansem…
"I… see. Now, may I ask of what clubs you are in, beside the Art Club? Out of mere curiosity?" A deep frown passed over his face as recollection of what had transpired earlier resurfaced in his mind.
No one is supposed to know of my attendance in the Art Club…
"And why not?"
Zexion blinked and stared at the contemplative man's face. Had he actually said that out-loud?
"B-because…" he felt himself stutter as he bit his tongue so not to answer.
"Unfortunately for you, Sir Zexion," Luxord began with a half-smile, apparently accepting the "because" as a plausible answer, "a member of the club would have eventually mentioned your attendance in it, due to your popularity, it seems." Midnight blues began to prepare a glare, but all was forgotten at the sincere look in the man's sharp blue eyes.
Sighing, Zexion chose to change the subject instead, rather than dwell on how much the man knew about his high school and its attendees.
"Luxord… sir… I have talked much he found himself explaining, though he frowned at what he was saying truly. He usually did not talk much about anything, let alone himself, "but what of you?"
Now was his chance at gaining some information on the stoic blonde.
The methodically hushed boy felt slightly angered hours later after two bowls of ripe strawberries, one handful of popcorn, and a strawberry-chocolate fruit smoothie—plus a couple of hours. He unpleasantly felt disappointed in his abilities also, for throughout the whole time he and the still enigmatic man had talked, the young teen had spoken more about himself than he had ever told anyone who wasn't his 'friend', while Luxord had only briefly mentioned either in the present or in the past working for the No Hearts Corporation. He also alluded towards gambling terms and quotes from the "Wise King" as he spoke, but other than that, Zexion hadn't learned anything about him, while the other had learned almost everything about him. The young teen had even mentioned once being an orphan!
How was he able to speak so freely to this stranger? To speak so freely to him than he had even been speaking to Roxas earlier that week? Zexion silently cursed himself as Luxord began to talk once more, this time about different strategies to playing sudoku. But sudoku did not matter at the time. The man talking about sudoku mattered. It had been hours but—
Blinking, Zexion's thoughts shrivelled as both his digital watch and his cell phone went off at that moment, an annoying, repetitive beeping from the digital, blaring Japanese rock vocals from the cell. A slight blush appearing from embarrassment, Zexion terminated both alarms as quickly as they had gone off, and hastily stole a glance at the time as he put them back where they belonged, then looked up in surprise to see curious, unwavering, icy, rainforest-blue eyes.
"Uh… um, I'm—I'm s-sorry, Mister Luxord," Zexion began in a jumble of words as he began to gather his bags in a rush, "but—it's late, really late—and, and I need to go." Zexion then nodded his head quickly towards his cell phone to prove his point, the phone that was now smiling back malevolently with the current time, 7:02 P.M., then glanced in the direction of the door.
…Only to see tendrils of water splashing down its glass and the window beside the table joining in merrily.
He was going to be wet. Very, very, really super soaked. Wet, extremely cold, and most definitely punished once he arrived home for being late once more.
Biting back a string-full of curses, he swiftly gathered up his bags in his hands, uttered a quick thankful remark to Luxord (for he had paid for all his meals and book no matter how much the teen had protested), and made way towards the door.
—but never made it past the manila table, as a hand firmly encircled his thin wrist and stopped him completely in his tracks.
"Sir Zexion," Luxord began in a deep yet firm tone, "I have an umbrella. Would you care to borrow it?" He watched as Luxord gestured with his free hand towards the large black mass of cloth resting up at the table's end near the distraught looking window.
Borrow the stranger's umbrella, hmm?
But that would mean that I would have to meet him once more to return it…
"I c-couldn't possibly borrow… it… sir…" Zexion felt himself protesting, while his wrist began protesting, as he tried subtly to free it. Blinking, teal eyes realized the vain struggle the boy had been attempting, so he let of the grasp almost immediately, and gave a soft apology only after stealing a light chuckle.
Standing abruptly, then, and giving the silver-haired child one more smile, he spoke a suggestion that approved of no protests,
"Then let it be the pleasure of mine to escort you home, dear child. Besides, you would not with to ruin your purchases, nor catch a cold."
W-what?Zexion opened his mouth to reply, but a reply he could not conjure.
Zexion scowled at his pocket watch as he checked the time, believing truly that if he made it fear him from the look, then time would go back at least forty minutes and would be curfew. For it took at least a half hour for him to get home on wet, rainy days, twenty minutes on a normal. Today was rainy. It also didn't help that it was quite windy outside and that he had many plastic bags…
…some of which were being hauled along by Luxord.
Luxord… Blush familiar for the uncountable time that day crept onto Zexion's chilled face as she felt the man's eyes watching him intently. Quite hastily, Zexion then stuffed his pocket watch back into the depths of his deep pocket, hoping that Luxord didn't notice his many watches, and turned his eyes towards the saturated ground beneath his feet.
He could feel the man radiating close to him as they walked along the wet path in silence. Luxord, and somewhat unwantingly, the platinum-blonde had insisted on carrying some of the teen's bags, and thusly caused a gap between the two of them.
Zexion sighed, as his thoughts once again weren't at rest. But this time he let them flow, letting the uneasy thoughts wash in gentle tide across his subconscious. He'd deal with them later, for right now he had more important problems like…
Like the blonde man, strolling along beside him. Still a complete stranger in his opinion, Zexion did not wish for the man to find out where he lived. But he was being walked home, so usually the escort to find out exactly where the escort's destination were at.
Zexion couldn't have that.
Thinking in rash manners in such haste, the boy decided that he was indeed in the end either going to have to borrow the umbrella or become completely drenched. Picking the latter option, Zexion planned to stop himself and the other male at the next block, his house being two blocks from where they currently were. That way, he wouldn't have to worry about possibilities that even now he was trying hard to not think about.
Now how to tell the light blonde man without sounding suspicious?
"U-um, Mister Luxord," he felt himself awkwardly begin, "can you stop up here at this stop sign? A-and I would appreciate my bags back please, if you do not mind." Well, that didn't sound suspicious, nor nervous at all. Nope, not. one. bit.
"I take it that your home is a bit further though?" he then heard the man speak. Zexion cringed inwardly as the familiarity in how that had been spoken told him that it was rhetorical. Or maybe he was misjudging it and he could have been able to have given an answer to the question.
It was left at that, though, as, as asked, Luxord stopped at the corner and handed the boy his bags. Zexion, feeling somewhat guilty, but about what he did not know, thanked him softly, and looked up at his face one last time to give him proper respect, only to collide with withdrawn, shielded, slightly-guarded, witch-ocean green pools. Suppressing the urge to falter, midnight hues held the eye contact and moment by keeping silent and not breaking the gaze, to make up for the earlier challenge of the same that had been issued that day. Luxord was the first to break the look this time, his eyes gliding in a somewhat morbid manner to which Zexion would be heading.
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Sir Ienzo," he spoke in a low, authoritative manner as Zexion turned to leave.
An odd, unknown feeling swarmed through him then, as he nodded in reply, then stepped out from underneath the umbrella, and dashed off suddenly, trying not to dwell on the change if what name the man had addressed him with. Glancing at the cream-coloured man as he rounded the corner, his heart gave a painful jolt at what he saw.
Seaweed-stained blue eyes burning bright through the fogging, forthcoming night.
7:40 P.M.
-to be continued-
First off, I apologize for taking so long to update! Hopefully (not making any promises now) Chapter Four will be up before my birthday (which is coming up in a few months)! xD
Um… I have a few addendums that explain some things that need brief explanation from the chapter and for chapters yet to come.
Addendum 01: All real things mentioned in this fanfic © their original creator.
Addendum 02: The last names "Hotoka," "Masaki" and "Harada" © Slashapalooza.
Addendum 03: I apologize if anyone (especially Zexion) seemed out of character.
Addendum 04: I will try my hardest not to degrade or bash any character without reason. I feel that only then can you dislike a character, but without reason behind your actions, you are still bad in my opinion.
Addendum 05: A lot of past times and characterization displayed in KH I, KH COM, and KH II are intentionally and unintentionally swapped in this story. An example of this is Saïx being a scientist instead of Vexen.
Addendum 06: Fuujin and the mention of Lulu and Irvine are only the start of a stream of characters that make appearances in this fic. Each character mentioned will be mentioned for a reason, though, and have some importance to Zexion.
One side note, can anyone guess what Luxord's last name means? The meaning behind it was completely unintentional, so if you guess right, I'll give out some sort of prize. Or something. And explain the funny (to me, at least) story behind the naming. xD
Links to horrible fanart for WB drawn by me are in my profile.
