A/N: So any and all disclaimers are here. You know usual stuff yatta yatta yatta. I had planned on all the stories in these shorts being connected in a way but not all relating too much. Big time gaps basically, and there will be more to come.
Summary: Celebrations and parties were never really Marluxia's biggest interest though he couldn't get out of this New Year's party. Fed up with the noise, he decides he'd rather spend time in the cold winter air. Much to his surprise, he found her sitting out there too.
POP! The champagne cork burst out the bottle. The party had been going on for a while though it seemed they had no intention of stopping anytime soon. The organization members were cheering and laughing as they crowded around the television set. It was now officially the first of January. It's twelve in the morning, and who knew that so many people could be so full of energy. Marluxia sighed as he stared at the group of bodies at the center of the living room. His lack of enthusiasm demonstrated his distaste for the event. Any other day he would be using this time to sleep so that he could function for missions the next day. Unfortunately, he was roped into this craziness by the other members, not that he would be able to sleep with how loud the music was playing.
Outside of himself, the only others not involved with the partying, not to his surprise, were Lexaeus, Vexen, and Xemnas. He was sure Zexion and Saix wouldn't have been here either had they not been forced into it. Like him, the non-partiers were still in the vicinity watching the others. Marluxia let a sigh escape his lips, if he had to stay awake for this stupidity he would rather be outside; he needed the air. He pushed his back off the wall and made his way to the exit in secret. The last thing he wanted was that annoying old man badgering him for attempting to leave. Though he would never say it, Vexen got under his skin. The scientist's obsession with the status quo obscured Marluxia's ideas of gaining more respect, respect he felt he surly deserved.
The outside was cold. His face spent little time turning rosy from the frozen night. He breathed in deeply. Had it been spring, the sky would smell of moist flowers and plants, currently that wasn't the case. The frost forming on the windows meant it was below the freezing point. His breath forming puff clouds in his face only served to encourage that idea. He was incapable of finding a sanctuary on this heartless forbidden day. The light wind caused a freezing shiver to run down his spine. Regardless of his spoiled mood, he felt the cold was better than the noise bursting from the loud speakers Demyx felt so compelled to bring to the party this evening. He was outside several floors down and the music was still lightly audible. He was glad that Demyx never played his sitar with that thing on full blast.
Marluxia's blue eyes scanned the scenery in front of him. Had the season not been winter, Marluxia would've sworn that Vexen had a field day in the front of the castle because everything was frosted over. He finally noted the small figure sitting on the grass several feet away from him. This piqued his interest. It suggested that someone else was bothered enough as he was to brave the cold. He made his way toward the distant soul until he was able to recognize the shape. He was surprised to see her out here. He could've sworn she would be with Axel and Roxas upstairs, especially Roxas. Xion was playing with the frosted grass on the ground. Her slender fingers pulled at a singular blade until it came free from the dirt, and then she moved onto the next blade.
"You know they have lawnmowers for that?" Marluxia commented, once he noticed what she was doing.
"M-Marluxia!?" the smaller nobody exclaimed, turning her torso slightly to look up at him. Shock clearly painted across her face. She was sure she would remain alone outside. "I'm not trying to cut the grass." She pouted grumpily, returning her gaze back to the ground.
"Hmm? You know they're living things?" Marluxia asked, tilting his head. She looked up again. Despite his mocking words, his face bore no real expression. Had it not been for the tone in his voice, it would be genuinely difficult to read the older man at the moment.
"Yes." She murmured. She didn't know why he was being cross with her. Was it something to do with her or something else?
"What are you doing out here?" Marluxia questioned, finally breaking the silence that hung between them for several long seconds. She chewed at her check, contemplating her words.
"I was uncomfortable." She answered. It was the truth. For whatever reason, she felt out of place amongst the other nobodies. The silence suggested that Marluxia was thinking of something to else to say.
"I see." Marluxia finally said. Things were getting more awkward as time passed. She had never really spoken to the older male. His attractive face and body wasn't the only thing that made him intimidating but his personality as well. He seemed vain and grouchy most of the time. Not to mention he was the only person who could give Larxene an order without her silver tongue biting back. This made him the most frightening.
"Are you going to answer me?" His voice broke through Xion's thoughts. He was looking down at her quizzically. She was certainly lost now.
"Huh?" was all she could muster. He shook his head.
"Were you not listening to me?" He asked. His tone almost suggested that she should've been hanging on to every word that escaped his mouth.
"I-I'm sorry, I zoned out." She confessed meekly. Marluxia mumbled under his breath before he spoke again.
"I asked why are you sitting on the grass anyway?"
"Oh! Uh, the asphalt would've been too hard, and there are no benches to sit on out here, so I had to make do." She explained, standing up and wiped off her wet and dirty cloak.
"Something tells me you would be sitting in the grass regardless." He murmured, as they both walked back to the castle. The music became audible again as they neared.
"Damnit," Marluxia exclaimed, "They're still at it."
"Did you leave because the music was bothering you?" Xion asked.
"Well, that and I just want to sleep." He revealed. His sleepiness explained his current cross attitude.
"Why play music?" she questioned. This was her first party honestly, and she didn't even bother to understand how it worked.
"To dance to it." Marluxia said. She looked at him again.
"Have you never danced?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not that I remember." She responded. For a short time, there was silence again until Marluxia held out his hand. Now it was her turn to raise an eyebrow. Her puzzled look told him to elaborate.
"I'm going to teach you to dance."
"HUH?" she gasped. She was thankful that it was cold out otherwise he would have known she was blushing. He simply said the same thing again.
"Why?" She asked him now.
"A proper lady should know how to at least waltz." He said matter-of-factly. She didn't know what else to say but 'oh'. Nervously, she placed her hand in his. She always knew he was bigger than her, but the difference in the hand size made it painfully more obvious. He instructed her to come closer, and she listened tentatively. He placed his other hand on her back and told her to place her other hand on his shoulder. She had to lift her upper arm high to get her hand there until he told her to settle for his upper arm. His large frame overshadowed hers; at this point, she found herself grateful that at least it wasn't Lexaeus or Xaldin who was trying to teach her, or this would be impossible. He side stepped, and she stumbled after. With every step he made, she found herself trying to keep up.
"Allow me to lead, and stop looking at your feet; that's rude." He ordered. He knew very well that she was nervous. It was that nervousness that was making it all the more difficult for her to follow suit. Forcing her to look at him would only make it worse at the moment, but she had to do it nonetheless. Finally, she was getting the hang of it. A smile crossed her lips as she looked up at him. Excitement filled her face as she followed every step he made more simply now. He smiled back at the young girl. He had never really seen her smile before this evening. It was such a pretty one too. It made him warm on the inside though he could never really explain why.
