DISCLAIMER: I never had, never would, could, and ever own Magi and its wonderful characters and storyline.
A IS FOR ADMIRATION
What on Earth was he doing in her spot?
Serendine had only wanted to a moment of peace to herself. To sit back and read under the shade of the tree as the sun colored the skies hues of red and orange. And then she finds him in her spot. She ought to kick the man awake.
'You can't do that.' She forcefully reminded herself, and reigned in her emotions.
She stared at the sleeping form of the violet-haired boy under the tree and crinkled her nose.
'Lady Killer of the Seven Seas, huh. Yes, he could literally kill me if he wanted to.'
She watched the slow rise and fall of his chest and decided against her better judgment to kneel and take a seat on the other side of the tree, facing in the direction where the sun was starting to set. She took out her book and flipped through the pages, until she heard him wake up with a slight yawn.
"Finally awake, baka no oo?"
Sinbad had wondered for a second if he was hearing things.
"I'm on the other side, in case you're wondering if you actually heard the tree talk to you."
He glanced over his shoulder and saw an array of pink hair blocking his view from the sun.
"Why hello there, Seren; boy, am I glad to see you too." He answered with a yawn.
Hearing no response but the mere sound of a page turning, he turned around and an indignified 'hey!' followed his grabbing the book from her hands.
"Parthevia Through the Times; A History," he read out loud.
Seren moved towards him, trying to get the book back but failing miserably.
She huffed when he put the book well away from her reach, and glared at him shamelessly.
"Now, now; aren't loyal subjects supposed to look at their king with love and admiration in their eyes?" he teased, further agitating the already annoyed pinkette.
Sinbad had never really thought of the girl in context. Mostly because of all he was trying to accomplish within his short span of a lifetime, and partly because the girl had never really caught his interest. Her personality drew a total blank, she never really caused any trouble, nor triggered any eventful day, for that matter; she was just simply there, he thought.
Just an average Parthevian ex-princess turned comrade.
It was inactivity then, he decided, that he wondered how far he can get her riled up?
"Seriously? You're choosing to read the history of Parthevia?" he smirked, "And I thought you couldn't get any more boring."
If he wasn't staring at her closely he might've missed that look of hurt flickering past her eyes before she turned away with a snob.
"Well sorry for being such a bore, your Highness." She added, "Plus, you're not exactly the most fun person I've ever met, either."
Sinbad smirked, a signature look that melted countless women into helpless puddles, but now only further irked the ex-princess, "I can prove you wrong."
"I doubt that. Getting together with a group of women and having them hang around my arms isn't exactly my definition of fun."
"It's their way of showing their love and undying admiration for their king; not really a bad thing, don't you agree?"
She narrowed her eyes. "I don't understand why people worship the very ground you walk on. You're not exactly as flawless as you think you are."
'Or as everyone thinks you are.'
"Oh? Tell me then, princess." She winced at the nickname, "What do you think makes me imperfect?"
She stared at him warily for a second, noting his all-too relaxed posture and gentle smile. His golden orbs were staring back at her with equal intensity.
Maybe she'd gotten her old, childish personality back for a moment. Her mind was muddled as she reasoned with herself; was letting this conversation go any further be of any benefit to both of them?
"I'm not sure I'm allowed to throw insults and crude statements here. You are still the High King, after all."
He waved a hand at her remark, "Plain ol' goody-two-shoes Seren." The girl was getting annoyed by the second, "You have my full permission to insult me, cutie." He winked.
'Cutie?! To hell with reasoning.' Seren snapped.
He wondered if he had gone a bit too far when the girl crossed her arms and coolly regarded him with calculating eyes.
"Alright," she started in full seriousness, "I think you're a prick."
"Fair enough."
"You're an egotistical jerk with a knack for putting yourself high on a pedestal. You're conceited. You think you're better than everybody else; that you're special to some degree of having delusions of grandeur. You play with feelings of women, thinking nothing of the nights they've spent crying over a false hope you've given them through your flirting. Would you care to hear more?"
"I think I've had my fill." He said good-naturedly, as if she just hadn't tried to insult his very existence.
"So, you think I'm arrogant. And that I'm a heartbreaker."
She frowned, "I've said a lot more than that."
"And that's nothing I really haven't heard before." He continued to smile at her.
She regarded him and sighed, maybe she was being a bit too harsh. Blame him for taking her spot after a full working and incredibly tiring day. "Well, despite everything…"
He raised an eyebrow, urging her to continue.
"Despite that, you're still a good leader, I'll give you that."
His smile widened, "Yeah, at least I'm a good leader. Yep, that overshadows everything." He nodded and looked to appear deep in thought.
"And a little bit compassionate, I guess." She coughed, when he looked at her in mild amusement.
"Sweet-talking after putting my spirit down. Are you trying to play with my heart, princess?"
She looked at him dully, "Don't call me that. And your whole persona screams 'flirt,' too, by the way."
He smiled, once more locking eyes with her. "Do you know what I think about you?"
"Since this is probably the first and last time I'd get to have a conversation of this depth with you, oh great king; why not?" she smiled back.
Sinbad had then decided he liked seeing her smile more often.
"Let's see… I think you're boring."
Her smiled faltered as quickly as it appeared.
"Yes, I've heard about that already." she gritted through her teeth as his eyes danced with mirth.
"You stick too much by the rules, you're bound by the book, and a traditionalist, at that."
"Do you suggest I go party out day and night and get drunk while we're at it?"
He laughed, "No, not at all. But would it kill you to actually not be so composed all the time? To laugh out loud, to joke around occasionally, to be thrilled at a new adventure?"
She remained quiet at that, his words ringing in her ears.
"You're much too stiff, too calculating, too close minded."
"Well, it's not like my life has been a fountain of fluff and pink bunnies for me to be little miss sunshine," she said bitterly.
"But then again, neither have anyone in the Sindria trading company." She said the last part more to herself, and Sinbad regarded her closely.
"Alright, I get what you're saying." She raised a brow, "But close minded? Since when did I show to have a narrow outlook on things?"
He gave her a funny look, "Remember your speech about having royal blood?"
Her face reddened at that, fully remembering their little bout, and he had laughed shamelessly at her.
"Did you really need to bring that up?" she refused to look at him.
"Well, you kinda did propose marriage to me, didn't you?"
She shot him a look that refused to acknowledge whatever he was saying.
"Okay, okay, I'm a traditionalist, I'm close minded, bla bla. I was wrong back then, I admit it."
Teasing her was just too fun, he also decided.
"So yeah. I think you're awfully boring and dull,"
She glared at him once more; he met her gaze with a slight tilt of his head.
"And that you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met."
Seren was caught off guard that instant, one thing she swore would never happen in the presence of Sinbad, of all people.
He flicked her lightly on the forehead, and her eyes widened as realization hit her that she was speechless.
"How interesting, you can take on insults without batting an eye, but compliments render you tongue-tied."
She turned away, feeling betrayed by the sudden fast beating of her heart.
"How many women have you used that line on, Sin?"
He chuckled, "Just you, actually."
"I don't believe you."
He feigned looking hurt, "Why not?"
"Your words aren't exactly most credible, are they, Lady Killer of the Seven Seas?"
"I really don't know how I even got that name." he feigned innocence and Seren simply rolled her eyes, "It's putting my reputation in bad light, you know what I mean?"
She looked sourly at him, "Your non-existent already-trampled-on-and-never-will-be-clean reputation, you mean?"
He laughed at this, still looking at her.
Maybe it was too bad that she didn't cross his mind that much.
"Then have I charmed you a bit at least, milady?"
She turned away, "More convinced to stay away from you than charmed, actually. And that was one sentence. Now I see why women fawn over you."
"Aw, you give me too much credit."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm sure that wasn't."
Silence enveloped the two as the sky slowly darkened and morphed into a blanket of stars.
She stood up, dusting her skirt as she looked down at his purple hair.
"Leaving too soon?" he asked, looking up.
"You plan on staying here all night?"
"I might if you will." He suggestively said.
She shook her head, deciding that she will never get used to his flirting.
"I'm not sure I want to face the wrath of Ja'far as soon as he finds you lounging around here." She crossed over and picked up the leather-bound book, curtsying as she did.
"It was a pleasure talking to you," she smiled a bit longer, and Sinbad had once more thought how she should really smile more often.
"I bid you good night, my king."
She walked away, and for a moment, Sinbad wondered if his flirting has rubbed onto her at least a bit.
Owari