Okay, wow, what am I doing with my life? I think I have actual work I should be doing.
Well I said I'd make a multi-chaptered Vanitas/Roxas story so here it is! Hopefully a lot more entertaining than my no-real-conclusion one-shot.
So yeah, again, with all the crack pairings actually having fanarts and fanfiction, I'm throwing one of my own favorites out there.
As for my other fanfics…um…I promise I'm working on them! Really!
"Only a Thousand Words"
By ShadowYin-Yang
(You are NOT authorized to copy and paste a.k.a steal my work. You are NOT authorized to copy and paste with a few changes here and there either. If caught, you will get no mercy.)
"Riku isn't good enough for you."
"Don't talk as if you know him!"
"Wait, listen-"
"Shut up!"
"You don't know him!"
With a light jump, the being's eyes turned towards the television.
"You don't know him! You're wrong!"
"Oh…just the TV…"
A sigh escaped the man's lips, relieved that he wasn't about to relive anything anytime soon.
"Roxas, turn that drama off. Now."
The blonde spikes slightly moved as the head turned to look at the other man beside him that was focusing on his laptop, almost glaring at the screen. Though Roxas didn't question and simply changed the channel from the drama to a cartoon channel.
"That okay?"
"Yeah…" He replied as his fingers pinched at his brow.
Without word, Roxas went back to the TV playing a classic animated movie. He withheld the urge to scoot closer to the other but knew the man was working. So he sat quietly, enjoying the bowl of popcorn and just merely being in the company of his lover.
Between commercials, Roxas cleaned out the finished popcorn bowl and took out some drinks for the both of them. After clearing out the alcohol when Roxas first started visiting the messy apartment, they settled that soda worked just fine for a casual drink at home. The blonde took strides across the clean floors before plopping right beside the spiky black-haired man again and placed the can beside the laptop on the table before them.
"Thanks…"
"No problem."
When the next commercial came on, Roxas turned to the other again.
"I think you need a break."
He withheld a sigh. Was the other worrying? This is a job.
"Well I can't afford a break."
"Vanitas. You've been at this before I even got here."
"Your point?" the other bit back bitterly, never taking his eyes off the screen.
A sigh escaped Roxas's mouth who only shook off the other's attitude.
"I just worry okay?"
With that tone, Vanitas only created his own sigh and took off his work glasses.
"I'm sorry. The deadline's tomorrow."
"I see…"
"…"
"Are you okay with me keeping you company?"
"Whatever you like."
Blue eyes flashed and Roxas, with hope behind that smile at first, slowly faded…
Always the same…
"…"
Roxas noticed the other holding his prized camera up and facing him, waiting for him to respond.
"…Go ahead," the blonde stated as his attention went back to the television.
"Thanks," Vanitas responded and did a quick click to capture the light blush running up Roxas's face, "Still camera-shy I see."
"Ngh…I'm not camera-shy!"
"Sure-Sure."
"Jerk," Roxas was going to playfully shove the other, but ended up with just a pat on the shoulder. The arm slipped to his side once more when Vanitas silently returned to his work. So the blonde spent the night despite not getting what he wanted…again.
Monday rolled around and Roxas found himself sighing as he entered his office department. The sigh was picked up real fast by his close friend and co-worker who practically leapt from his desk and tailed the blonde until he got to his own desk at the end of the row…the two were working on moving closer for convenience sake…work-related convenience of course.
"Morning, Roxas."
"Morning, Sora," the blonde responded as he sat down. Sora, with skills of a secretary, planted down coffee as fast as if he just dropped a stack of papers instead.
"Oh, thank you."
"Of course. I owed you from last Wednesday!" the brunette responded with a bright smile.
"Oh yeah…"
It didn't look like Roxas was going to be spilling without question. Sora waved a folder around, forcing Roxas to reach up tiredly but Sora made sure it was out of reach.
"Sora…" he groaned with a warning tone.
"Roxy, come on, what's going on? What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong alright? Now give it."
Sora stopped waving and merely straightened his arm completely and left the folder up in the air.
"You sighed. It wasn't a 'Oh I have to come to work today' sigh, it was a 'Something happened over the weekend' sigh!"
Roxas only gave the other a look, though Sora only responded with his usual grin.
"Nothing happened, Sora. It's my relationship, that's all."
"What about it?" Sora immediately continued with his 20 questions game.
"I wish he'd show more emotion other than anger and…yeah. He never expresses himself. I can't even tell if he genuinely is happy about something or not." One more time Roxas reached up but still nowhere within reach with Sora standing and the blonde remaining in his seat. It didn't look like Sora was going to lower his arm either. With a sigh, and the want of not getting up, Roxas continued, "I just don't know if I want this anymore okay?"
"Oh so you're finally doing to dump this guy?"
Geez, Sora seemed pleased to hear that.
"No! I'm not. I don't want…the casual. I think I want something more."
Sora dropped his arm and gave a disapproving look before tossing the folder onto the desk, barely missing the coffee.
"This guy doesn't sound fun to be in a relationship, Rox, and yet you want more?"
"I said I was 'thinking' okay?" Roxas retorted while opening up the vanilla piece and took out the papers inside.
"So? You're thinking about it still!"
Roxas let out a sigh as he pulled out a red pen from his mug of writing utensils.
"Sora, I don't nag you about your love life. Please don't bother me about mine unless it's unhealthy for me."
"Then I'm gonna interfere right now! Roxas, if he's so emotionally closed-off then don't bother!"
Another sigh escaped the blonde's lips and then he looked up.
"I'll keep you updated, Sora. I promise. I won't defend his bad qualities. I'm going to see if he has any great worth-while ones before I decide, okay?"
Though hesitant, Roxas still saw a hint of a satisfied look from Sora before the brunette even answered.
Day in and day out, it was the same old routine. That's what usually happens to people that work anyway, right? The moment someone wants a change, there's a chance change won't happen until a decision is made. So the blonde kept the thought of the change he wants in the back of his head; but it wasn't, yet, a priority.
Other times, it's the matter of constant change that can equal the norm. For Vanitas, while the things he does felt the same, the places are always different.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"We're doing a shoot on animal fashions," Roxas stated one evening at the bar with his partner.
"…" Vanitas, beside him, kept scribbling notes while listening.
"It's not fur, I swear. They're making outfits based on animals," Roxas further explained as he swirled his drink, "I was wondering if…you wanted to take pictures of animals for the article."
"…You sure you want me around at your company?" Vanitas questioned as he pulled out his phone to check the calendar.
"I wouldn't mind. And I thought I'd make it easier for you by not having to look for your next assignment."
With a sigh, Vanitas tapped a few buttons on his phone.
"Who would I talk to about this?"
"Me," Roxas responded with a light teasing smile. Though in return, he got nothing. Vanitas merely responded with an 'oh' and proceeded with his usual business talk now that this conversation has turned into a job discussion. While he didn't sigh, Roxas still had to hold in it and hide his disappointment in lack of response from the other.
"I'll have to be away for a week possibly. At the very least," Vanitas added after receiving a list of things to capture on camera.
"I know," said the blonde, his drink now empty but couldn't bring himself to order more, "I'll be alright."
"…Alright."
Still, Roxas wondered why he kept expecting the other to make some sort of response that was along the lines of what Roxas wanted. This was a business talk after all…not only that, he knew how the other worked after all this time.
"So why do I feel like my heart just dropped because I know he'll be gone for a little bit?"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Taking only a day up, Roxas found himself seeing the other off at the airport. He wasn't sure if he should blame the magazine for wanting such specific exotic animals, or blame Vanitas for being the kind of photographer that refuses to rely on a zoo and in turn gets amazing results.
"Be careful now."
Vanitas has probably heard that a dozen times already, but the man was so used to it that it became less annoying. Though as he looked at the blonde spikes, he only just realized just that: he was looking at blonde spikes.
"Hey…" using his free hand, he lifted up the blonde's chin, and for some reason it felt like ages since he's looked into those blue eyes. Feeling a hint of guilt that the other seemed to be a little down lately, he looked around inside his own head to figure out the right things to say.
"When I get back…want to go out for lunch or dinner?"
It was strange, seeing Roxas respond like that. His eyes widened as if he was a kid at Christmas morning. Though he wasn't smiling yet. Sure he wasn't someone one would deem 'cheerful' but he certainly wasn't, well, someone like Vanitas. Unfortunately, the black-haired man couldn't waste anymore time as he had to board. So even without needing a response, he was pretty sure it was a yes on the other's end. So he quickly placed a soft kiss on the other's forehead as a goodbye before turning to catch his flight. All without recognizing how fast Roxas's heart started to beat…
That was the first time Roxas hoped Vanitas would take a picture of him…just for proof that it had happened.
A week felt like a month to Roxas. Not to mention there was the chance that it may take more than one week. The blonde acknowledged that Vanitas is always on time with deadlines so it wasn't as if he didn't know when he could see Vanitas at latest but rather how soon it would take to. The thoughts kept Roxas sighing throughout his days but didn't distract him from editing Sora's works. The work days tend to pass fast; it's when getting home to nothing but his own apartment is when the feelings hit hard. Time seemed to pass extra slow when you're living alone with no one to see afterwards. Sora has always nagged the other to get a pet, though Roxas got as far as having a goldfish that died faster than Sora thought it would. Although Roxas did pull up a page to reveal how long goldfish tend to last and Sora felt relieved that it was at least well taken cared of by Roxas. The blonde just felt Sora seemed unaware of the different life spans between fish and the cats and dogs.
It was Thursday of the next week and Roxas kept trying to distract himself from the loneliness he had been feeling by putting more effort into work. Sora wasn't helping much by continuously pestering why the other seemed so down. How do you tell a good friend that they can be too overly concerned sometimes? Okay…it's nice to have a friend that treats you like how, uh, a lover is supposed to. But on the flip side, Sora isn't the lover, Vanitas is...
"Sora, just…fetch me coffee or something if you're not writing anything," Roxas finally stated as soon as the phone rang and was forced to pick up before Sora could ask: "What would you like?"
"I see…alright, I'll be there in a few," Roxas hung up and responded by swiftly going through his desk drawers and pulling out vanilla folders as he went through each one.
"What's up?" Sora questioned, "Still want the coffee?"
"Uh…you can pick it up for me within an hour's time. Quick meeting," Roxas briefly responded before pulling up a shoulder bag to fit the folders into and then tossing it over his shoulder. With that he left his seat and shuffled past Sora who only let out a sigh before returning to his own to work. Sora, a master procrastinator until Roxas became his editor, finished work on a timely manner to avoid the blonde's wrath. Making himself type on his laptop, he checked the time upon finishing the latest paragraph. Right on cue, it was 45 minutes and Roxas might be out soon. Closing his laptop, the brunette headed for the elevator. Luckily for a lot of people in this building, there was not one, but two coffee places nearby; one on the same street, and the other across. Sora stepped out in time to catch the walk sign. Roxas always said his job was kind of stressful, not that Sora didn't feel the same about his job, but he found great joy writing about things. Sora tried hard to make it as easy on Roxas as possible by trying to improve grammar and such but it wasn't easy. Still, Roxas didn't complain. He just continued doing his job and looking stressed about it. The bruentte felt it wasn't fair that he didn't feel the same amount of stress as the blonde and the least he could do was do the occasional favors for him.
Coffee bought and ready, Sora rushed back into the building.
"Oh! Mr. Fair," the receptionist stopped him as she waved him closer.
"Mr. Leonhart isn't answering, do you happen to know where he is?" Sora approached the woman and noticed a couple stacks of folders on the counter.
"He's in a meeting, but he should be getting out soon," Sora responded enthusiastically.
"I see, thank you!"
Sora was about to take off again if it weren't for a figure turning from the other hall's corner and caught him closing his cell phone. His clothes were dark save for the white shirt under his jacket that also helped outlined a black camera that hung around the neck. He looked unprofessional, in comparison as Sora acknowledged his own dress shirt and tie, and Sora questioned why the man was even in the building. Though as Sora scanned the other from the bottom up, he found himself staring into golden eyes. It was as if he was falling deep into those pupils and as each few moments passed, flashes of his memory came up, becoming clearer and clearer…
"Vanitas?"
It was as if the other was experiencing a similar trance as the other didn't seem to even register that the voice was there but the black-haired man's wide eyes helped even Sora know that the other knew and remembered him.
"Vanitas! I can't believe it! It's been so long!"
Sora's smile swiftly faded when he took a few steps forward and the other took the same amount back; not only that, Vanitas didn't seem very happy and was gripping that camera pretty hard with one hand…
Sora's insides tightened from that reaction. His mind searched for the right things to say and do to someone that, well, you're well aware to have hurt…
"S…Sora? What are you…doing here?" The voice was so…unconfident? It was so obviously a sign of nervousness that is made Sora's face cover in worry. Vanitas? Vanitas doesn't get nervous! He was strong! And always confidant!
Sora took a swallow before answering.
"Well…I work here." And suddenly Sora remembered the hot coffee cup in his hands that he needed to give to Roxas.
"I…see…" Vanitas looked away and his face showed regret.
"I see you know each other! That's good because this man says he has a delivery for Roxas."
So that's why she stopped him.
"Oh! So you're the photographer that Roxas hired? I'm the columnist!" Sora exclaimed in as much glee as he could muster up in a situation like this. Though each time he got happy, Vanitas seems to withdraw more into his invisible shell. Sora held in a sigh as he looked at the delivery piece.
"Hey…when I'm done with stuff today. Do you want to…meet up...? And talk? If you're not busy of course!"
Sora wasn't sure what was going through the other's head at that moment. But it was as if the other mentally fell and was struggling to stand back up again. His posture made him look almost smaller…The eyes won't stay in one place, it looked as if he was looking for a way out and as if he was stuck in a small room. But the man made a quick recovery as he regained his calm posture.
"…Sure."
It still wasn't the same as Sora's memory of Vanitas. But the tone didn't make it sound like Vanitas was going to be a wreck soon at least. The brunette wondered again if…it was his fault. But he couldn't let this opportunity slip by.
"Okay! Do you feel like meeting here or somewhere else?"
"Whatever you like…"
"Um…oh! Do you know that bakery? Gwen's Bakery?"
"Yeah."
"Is that okay? At say…4:30?"
"Yeah."
"Cool, I'll wait for ya. Oh! I can deliver this for you too," Sora stated, picking up the folders. It would make it easier on everyone at least.
"Thanks…"
"Alright, see you later, Vanitas!"
"…"
Sometimes the world thrusts change at you. Or at least…they give you the chance to change something. The hardest part for human beings is of course: making the right choices that will lead to a change for the better.
I feel like by publishing the first chapter, I'm jinxing myself if I can't keep writing(writing ahead at the moment).
Well, if this catches any VanRox fans' eyes, hope you stick around!
Please R and R!
