Chapter One
"Move over, I can't see!"
"Stop shoving me, I'll move if you ask!"
"Do you really think he's a—"
"Shh! Don't talk about it!"
Zexion slithered his way through the crowd of gossiping people with a fair amount of ease. He was slimly built, and he knew how to use it to his advantage. After all, he really wanted to see this.
Once the silver-haired boy was at the front of the assembly, he had full view of what was going on.
Two men were on the platform, standing about a yard and a half higher than everybody else. Zexion immediately recognized the man on the left as the mayor, but the man on the right was the one his eyes were trained on.
Vexen, Wizard of Tredecim.
Or so he was called.
Vexen had his hands strapped tight behind his back, and had obviously been beaten or whipped quite a bit; he had bruises and whelps that Zexion was fairly sure hadn't gotten there on their own. Yet on his face he displayed an almost bored expression, lazily scanning the group of angry people before him.
The mayor looked irritated that the crowd was so loud and rowdy, and began to shut them up with his commanding voice.
"Thank you." he said when the last baby had stopped crying. He cleared his throat and began to speak, "My people, once again we have been found with a magic-user in our midst; a Satan worshiper..." he took a moment to glare around the audience, letting his seriousness radiate off before continuing, "this man has been seen on several occasions by countless witnesses, preforming feats that could only be accomplished through the use of 'black magic'."
Many of the people surrounding the platform murmured in agreement, having themselves seen these acts. Zexion, however remained silent, watching Vexen with such intensity that it was surprising a hole hadn't burned right through his head. He even noticed the small sigh of annoyance that left his mouth before he could retain it.
The mayor continued, "and therefore, he is condemned to burn at stake for these acts of witchcraft. If anybody objects, speak now..."
Nobody spoke. The silence was so intimidating, that Zexion literally held his breath. The mayor almost cracked a smile, "in that case..." he turned to Vexen, a hysterical look in his eye, "we will now carry out the punishment."
A large man came onto the stage, holding a lit torch. Zexion noticed the burning material that Vexen had been standing on the entire time, and frowned. Was this it? Was this the end?
But just as the flame began to lap at his knees, Vexen's laugh became audible. It started out as a chuckle, but rose to a loud cackle and his entire body shook.
"Fools, you think I haven't thought this might happen?" he screeched, his voice careening off the walls of the village buildings. Zexions's mouth was slightly agape, and he watched, not blinking once.
Vexen stood stone still, until the flames totally engulfed his body, the grin never once leaving his face. The mayor had narrowed eyes, watching carefully until the flames began to die down, and there was nobody there.
Not only that, there were no ashes either.
It was like nobody had ever been there.
"Find him. Search the entire area." the mayor snapped to the team of 5 men he had, his face hard with anger.
Zexion couldn't help but smile. He had known all along that Vexen could never be caught. It was one of the biggest reasons he admired him as much as he did.
That, and the fact that he too was able to use the "magic" Vexen was being persecuted for.
Only he called it by the same name Vexen did.
The proper name.
He called it "science".
Vexen sighed and plopped down on his bed, ignoring the loud creaking noise that it always made, threatening to break. It had been a tiring day.
This wasn't the first time he had almost died. In fact, it was the seventh. The only thing new was that he had saved his escape for the last second this time. Usually he made it away before the crowd even had time to assemble. Vexen almost laughed. To think that he had put fourth so much effort just to entertain one person. It was very unlike him.
That boy, whom he had caught watching him from afar so many times, an admiring look in his eye. The boy that showed up at his shop every day, without fail, just browsing the shelves. The boy that had never once spoken to Vexen, and yet obviously was very intrigued by him. The boy that was at that moment at the window, looking in.
Vexen sat upright, caught off-guard by his sudden appearance. But as soon as he had caught his eye, the boy shot off out of view.
Quickly and fluidly, Vexen flew from the bed to his front door. He swung it open just in time to catch a glimpse of the boy's silver hair dissapearing behind a tree.
The blonde man smirked, shaking his head slowly and closing the door. Was the child so infatuated with him that he had taken up spying? How...adorable.
Vexen moved back to his bed, his pulse slowing without the rush of adrenaline. Yes, Vexen had taken a liking to the boy who's name he did not know. His interest made the scientist's life feel more purposeful, and gave him something to strive for. To be a worthy role model for him.
Zexion was panting like mad when he finally allowed himself to stop. He pounded his fist into a tree, actually drawing blood.
How had he been so stupid? He was standing in broad daylight, staring right through the window of the house that belonged to the person he admired most in the entire world. At the person he admired most in the entire world.
And he had seen him, and now he undoubtedly thought he was either a stalker, or a spy. Either way, he would definently not be allowed back in Vexen's shop again. That was for sure.
In the trees above him, a low hiss emerged from the trees and mingled with the echoing bird chirps. Zexion felt his hair blow into his face, and pushed it back. Sunlight leaked through the canopy and dappled the ground in its bright flavor. The silver haired boy let out a loud sigh. What a disgustingly beautiful day for such terrible things to happen.
Then, he began to sulk back to the orphanage that he lived in, leaving Vexen far behind.
Vexen's home was deep in the forest that surrounded the village of Tredecim, and it took about ten to fifteen minutes to get there from town. He had built it there to avoid confrontations from the mayor and his men. He also used his home as a shop, selling medicines and elixirs to anybody brave enough to go there, which a surprising number of people were when a loved one was sick enough. Though Zexion knew it was probably painfully obvious he was the only one there day after day.
The silver-haired boy trudged through the streets, making a quick stop by the baker to pick up a warm loaf of bread for supper. Marluxia and Larxene were sure to be thankful, since less and less people seemed to be funding them of late. Ever since the new mayor was appointed and orphans became less than a priority to the eyes of the more fortunate.
As Zexion neared his home, the voices of two of his friends became audible. His mood slowly lightened and he sped up his pace a bit, eager to meet them.
"Axel! Demyx! I'm back!" he cried out, holding the loaf of bread under one arm.
Axel was the first to acknowledge him, waving happily and laughing, poking Demyx. Once prodded, the blonde turned and smiled too.
Zexion skidded to a halt in front of them, and was immediately attacked with questions.
"What happened? He's still okay isn't he? How are you feeling?" Axel asked seriously.
"Was Mayor Xemnas upset? Were you scared? Did you cry?" Demyx continued. Zexion gave a recap of everything that had happened, excluding the part about being caught spying. He didn't want anybody to know about that...
Axel smiled and put his arms behind his head, "I knew it! He never gets caught!"
"Still, it's weird he stayed put until the end this time. Usually he gets away before that." Demyx put in, a tinge of seriousness in his voice.
Zexion nodded. He had thought of all of this, and wasn't ready to talk about it. All he wanted was to sleep or eat. Anything to distract him.
Marluxia came outside, and greeted Zexion warmly when he saw the bread.
"Great! Now we may have a decent supper for once!" he cried in joy. The four walked inside, and sat around the table.
"Marly! That soup had better be ready!" a female voice screeched from the kitchen. It was returned with a simple, "mm-hmm..." from the other side. The meger reply was rebounded with a, "don't give me that, you idiot!". The orphans almost laughed. They were used to their caretakers acting in such manners. They seemed hard and cruel on the outside, but really they were caring and would kick anybody's butt who touched one of them. They almost operated like a real family.
A moment later, Marluxia and Larxene came out of the kitchen, balancing all five plates between the two of them. As soon as all the food was passed out, they graced and began to eat.
Larxene and Marluxia, who knew nothing about Zexion's Vexen obsession, only asked broad questions about the execution, nothing on a personal level like Axel and Demyx had. Zexion answered easily, and dismissed himself to bed, having lost his appetite. Turns out, food wasn't as distracting as he had hoped.
Climbing into bed, Zexion sighed again. He knew he would go back to Vexen's house the next day. Even if the blonde man did hate him, there was no way he would be able to stay away. He still had to work up enough courage to ask him the question he had been wanting to ask him for years.
To be his apprentice.
*****Hey guys! I'm a KH newb now, and of course I lurb Vexen and Zexion (:D) So I am writing a story about them. Rated because this is gonna be a yaoi most likely lolol and it may or may not be serious yaoi-ness, depending on how i feel :I
So guys, i set this a while back, and Vexen is a witch XD
Vexen: please, AT LEAST SAY WIZARD =_=
Ireni: Witch :D
Vexen: *face palm*
Ireni: hehehehe
So yeah, have fun, R & R, idk
Also, if you have read any of my other stories, ill update them soon, i promise! I SWEAR!
I HAVE JUST LOST ALL INSPIRATION! BUT ITS COMING BACK! TIS!