Standard disclaimers for Majutsushi Orphen apply. The only thing
I would actually want to own from this series is Majic—well, and Leki,
since he looks like a cat ^_^ and I love cats—and seeing as how I don't
own Majic (represented by the fact that Orphen spends too much time
lusting after Azalie's memory and not noticing Majic hanging off his every
word and whim), it's safe to say I don't own Majutsushi Orphen
either. Don't bother trying to sue; I'll simply send you one of my
numerous manuscripts in retribution.
Warnings: Shounen ai, though there are hints of Cleao's
yearnings for Orphen and reference to a past relationship between
Stephanie and Orphen. Some spoilers for the series up to episode ten. This
story takes place roughly sometime during episodes eight through ten,
so…yeah.
A/N: Think of this as something like conversation snippets,
overheard by various characters, causing various reactions. Also, this
isn't written with the thought of rampant shounen ai in mind; it's written
with the idea that love comes in many forms and isn't always recognised
for what it is. Plus, I wanted to do something somewhat cute and fluffy
for Christmas, and this is what my demented mind came up with. And, just
so you know, I don't think Majic's half as stupid as he tries to appear
sometimes. ::mutters:: Dumb blonde my ass…
P.S. Have yet to see Majutsushi Orphen: Revenge, but have
heard this fic may contradict a few episodes. All I have to say to that is
oh well.
"Majic?"
"Hmmm? What is it, Cleao?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Why are you so nice to Orphen even when he treats you like…like…"
Majic smiled faintly, looking out over the dawning starlight of night.
"Like his apprentice?" he asked.
"Like dirt!" snapped Cleao, still in a fine fit of temper from their
adventure at the ruins of the Wheeled Dragon.
Turning his head, the blonde boy bestowed a beatific smile upon the
older girl. "He doesn't treat me like dirt, Cleao-san," he murmured.
"Oshou-sama… Understand, Cleao, that my father sheltered me most of my
life. Mother dying when I was young had a strange effect upon him, and he
felt that it was his duty to keep me safe from the outside world—and from
myself and my power, I think. I'm a bit naïve, obviously, in areas that I
shouldn't be for my age. Not to mention the fact that the only exercise I
ever had was turning down beds, sweeping stairs, and doing dishes. There
are certain things that a sorcerer needs to be able to handle both
physically and mentally, and, as I am right now, I can't."
"So Orphen being an ass is part of training?!"
He winced slightly at her indignant screech. "He has to try something,
Cleao-san," he said softly.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Reeling on her heal, the blonde
girl stalked back and forth across the wooden floor of the room, arms
laced behind her back. Leki watched his mistress with avid interest, head
trolling back and forth in mimicry of her movement.
"My talent's blocked, Cleao."
She almost didn't hear his words, her heals clacking loud, Leki's
purrs filling the air. "Huh? What did you say?"
"My talent's blocked. Orphen-sama can try and show me all the spells
he wants, try and explain sorcerous theory all he wants, but it doesn't
work without my talent."
She spun to face him, gold hair fanning out behind her. "Let me get
this straight, then: Orphen makes you carry everything, do
everything, in an effort to break this block on your talent?"
Majic found it sweet how Cleao was upset on his behalf, but he felt it
pertinent to point out that her behaviour towards him wasn't always
exemplary either. "Who was it that made me carry her bags when she decided
to tail after us from Totokanta? And I seem to remember a certain
Everlasting miss who made me fetch all the cooking supplies as well—she
even made me peel the potatoes the other night and refused to let me
finish cooking, though I had all the ingredients together and everything
nearly prepared."
Cleao blushed, dragging her toe across the floor. "I cooked so that
you wouldn't have to do everything," she muttered.
"You cooked so you could try and impress Oshou-sama with your
talents."
"So?" Cleao's blush was darker than ever, making her look as though
she'd been in her sister's makeup once again. "There's nothing wrong with
that."
Shaking his head, Majic sighed, leaning sideways in an effort to
relieve some of the ache in his shoulders and lower back. "No, Cleao,
there's nothing wrong with that."
She was sixteen, highly educated, stubborn, pretty, wealthy…and she
was beginning to fall in love with Black Sorcerer Orphen, once of the
Tower of Fangs. Majic didn't want her to be hurt, but he knew that nothing
he could tell her would change her mind.
After all, nothing his father had said to him had changed his
mind, now had it?
"You know, I think we got a bit off track here…"
He was drawn from his musings by Cleao's growl, looking up to find her
face mere centimetres from his own. Gulping, he drew back, eyes wide as he
waited for the proverbial axe to fall. "Um, what's that?"
"Why are you so nice to Orphen?"
He thought for a moment, wondering how best to phrase his reply.
"Because I want to do for him what no-one was able to do for me," he said
at last.
"Which is?"
"Take away his pain."
Silence hung between them for a moment until Cleao burst into gales of
laughter. "Take away his pain? That's a good one, Majic! Huh, the only
pain Orphen feels is the pain of knowing that his money comes from your
father, and if your father ever found out that Orphen's an awful teacher,
his purse strings would be cut."
"I'm serious!" said Majic. "And Oshou-sama is a really good teacher.
It's just…I'm not a very good student right now."
"So…so you mean you were serious when you said you wanted to know
about Azalie so that Orphen wouldn't have to deal with the pain alone?"
Cleao stared at him incredulously. "That's…that's…"
Majic blushed and looked away. "That's the way I am, Cleao."
Throwing up her hands, Cleao sat down beside him, absently leaning her
head against her shoulder. "I just don't understand why, Majic.
Orphen's mean and selfish and condescending and power hungry and…and…"
"He wasn't always that way. Someday, I'd like to meet the person
Oshou-sama was before he fled the Tower of Fangs to find Azalie-san."
"Forget it, kid. Whoever Orphen was before we met him, he's too
different now to go back."
"You love him anyway," said Majic with a small smile.
Cleao sputtered, pulling back to glare at him. "I… Never… What on
earth… Just what's that supposed to mean?!"
Majic continued to smile, bowing his head. "Exactly what it sounds
like, Cleao-san. Sometimes…sometimes we love people because of their
faults, ne?"
Cleao blushed and sputtered some more, alternately denying Majic's
words and berating him for such a silly notion. Hidden in the shadows,
though, sienna eyes watched the pair and mulled over their words.
"Majic!"
"What's wrong, Cleao-san?"
"You, me, outside, now!"
Hurrying to comply, Majic stumbled over the doorjamb and began to fall
down the stairs. Closing his eyes and expecting to end up face-first on
the hard cobblestones, he was surprised when a strong grip latched around
his wrist and hauled him upright and against a lean, hard body.
"Eh?" Opening his eyes, he looked around, blushing when he realised
that it had been Orphen who had saved him from near disaster.
"Oshou-sama…"
"Ch', I swear, you're one of the most accident-prone kids I've ever
met. Keep this up and you'll break your neck before you manage to learn
anything useful," said Orphen. He was smiling, though, which lightened the
blow of his harsh words.
Majic smiled abashedly in return. "Yes, Oshou-sama. I'll try to be
more careful."
Smile turning into a full-out grin, Orphen reached out and ruffled the
blonde boy's hair, making him blush even more. "That's the ticket to
anything, Majic: Just keep trying."
Chuckling, he turned on his heal, leaving a bemused Majic standing on
the landing to the stairs.
"Maaajiiic!"
Shaking his head, he pushed his fanciful thoughts aside. "Yes, Cleao,
I'm coming!"
Orphen found Stephanie at the window, looking over towards the fountain
where Cleao could be seen wailing and shaking Majic's smaller form.
"They act almost like siblings," said Stephanie, pulling her glasses
free with a sigh.
"Hmmm, you think so? I've found them to have very different
temperaments."
"You like the boy."
Orphen arched an eyebrow. "Of course I like the boy; otherwise, I
never would have agreed to teach him."
"Does he know that?"
Her question seemed innocuous enough, but it made Orphen's hackles
stand up. "What kind of a question is that, Steph?"
Stephanie turned, giving him a said, wistful smile. "Apparently one
that doesn't concern you," she murmured.
"Majic?"
"Yes, Oshou-sama?"
"I've got a question for you."
"Yes?"
Orphen gazed the attentive face turned his way, noting how young Majic
looked in his too-large pyjamas, curled up beneath a blanket on the floor
below the bed. He felt a bit bad that the boy had to sleep on the floor,
but it wouldn't do to refuse Stephanie's hospitality. Maybe tomorrow
they'd move to an inn and Majic could have a bed of his own…
"Oshou-sama?"
Majic's tentative hand on his startled Orphen from his thoughts,
making him grasp the boy's hand in reflex. Majic gasped, eyes wide in
surprise. "Oshou-sama?" he asked again, voice a mere whisper.
There was fear in Majic's eyes and voice, but it was a fear tempered
by strength, by stubborn will…and by something else that Orphen couldn't
put a name to, something that spoke of kindness and tenderness—love—and
brought to mind the good memories of Hartia, Azalie, and Childman-sensei.
"Majic, do you…"
Majic bit his lip, waiting for Orphen to finish speaking. When he
didn't, the blonde boy tugged on his wrist, trying to gain his attention.
"What's wrong, Oshou-sama?"
"Do you like being my pupil? I know that my teaching methods probably
aren't what you're used to…"
Smiling shyly, Majic said, "Everything you show me, Oshou-sama, I
learn as best I can. And I'm adaptable; I try to handle whatever you throw
at me to the best of my abilities."
The grip around his wrist loosened, long, callused fingers trailing
over the sensitive skin on the inside of his wrist. "But do you
like being my pupil?"
Again Majic smiled, adorably innocent, adorably sincere. "Of course I
do."
"Why?"
"Because I like you, Oshou-sama, and that's enough for me."
Orphen released Majic's wrist with a sigh, shaking his head. "I'm
going to take a bath. I suggest you get a full night's sleep since we have
a lot of stuff to do."
"All right. Good night…Orphen-san."
He couldn't help but smile at the cheeky reply as he left the room.
Despite appearances, Majic still managed to pleasantly surprise him—and
that was refreshing.
The bathhouse off the back of Stephanie's house was just as he'd
remembered it. Statuary and plaques lifted from Tenjin ruins littered the
walls and floor surrounding the raised pool, lending an atmosphere of
mystery when combined with the heavy steam.
"You look well," murmured Stephanie as he stripped, eyes perusing his
form as he laid his clothes aside on a stool.
"I've got a new scar or two, but other than that, not much has
changed." He smiled, motioning for her to scoot over as he slid into the
pool, settling himself onto one of the ledges. "Mmmm…"
"Hedonist," she laughed, splashing water at him.
"So?"
The warm water felt like liquid heaven to his aching muscles, and
it—combined with the jasmine and cedar scented oils Stephanie had added to
the water—soothed his senses as well as his body. Within minutes, he could
feel sleep tugging at his awareness, urging him to return to the refuge of
Stephanie's guest bedroom and Majic's gentle snores.
"Orphen?"
His eyes fluttered open, gaze drifting to the small window to his
right. Moiré littered the velvet blue-black of night, tiny pinpricks of
hope in the vast darkness. "Yeah, Steph?"
"Why did you choose to apprentice the boy?"
Orphen shrugged, continuing to look out the window. "Dunno. His oyaji
is paying me a lot to train him, though."
Stephanie nodded, gaze dropping to the water of the bath. She raised
her hand, watching tiny droplets fall and ripple across the mirror
surface. "I don't believe you, you know."
"Hmmm."
"Don't you 'hmmm' me, Orphen. I want a straight answer: Why did you
apprentice the boy?"
Orphen avoided her piercing eyes. "You saw it yourself, Steph. So far
he hasn't shown much actually sorcerous ability, but it's there.
Even when the Tower discovered Azalie and me I don't think we had that
much latent potential. But there's something blocking it…and I want to
know what it is."
"You speak as though you would make Majic a partner."
"Wouldn't you?" Finally looking up, Orphen pinned the man-turned-woman
with amber-brown eyes, eyebrows sloping intently. "He has charisma, looks,
intelligence…power… I'd be a fool not to train that potential and
make him my partner."
"So, once again, it's all about you."
Had anyone else said those words, they would have been dead. As it
was, it took great strength of will for Orphen to restrain himself from
reaching over and wrapping his hands around Stephanie's slender, pale
throat. "And just what is that supposed to mean?" he bit out
through clenched teeth.
Black hair trailed over her breasts, framing and tracing angular
cheekbones and jaw line as Stephanie pressed her full lips into a taut
line; she should have appeared vulnerable, but, if anything, it was Orphen
who felt vulnerable under her haughty glare. "Don't play dumb, Orphen.
It's always been about you. Why did you go after Azalie? Because you loved
her, because no-one else believed in her, because you wanted her back if
only to continue adoring her as the perfect idol. Why did you leave the
Tower of Fangs and Childman? Because he said things that hurt you, because
the Tower betrayed your trust in it. Why did you leave Hartia without a
word, the friend who had been loyal to you for years? Because he didn't
understand, because he told you it was foolish to chase after Azalie if
the Tower had declared her rogue and dead. It's always been about you and
what you want, Orphen—and it's no different from your fascination with
Majic."
"It is different!" hissed Orphen, eyes narrowed.
"How? How is it different, Orphen? I watched that boy today and I can
see in him the same things I saw in you when we first met. You are Majic's
Azalie—and that thought scares the hell out of me."
"It's different because Majic's different from me, just as I'm
different from Azalie."
Stephanie leaned forward, poking him in the chest. "That boy loves you
with a devotion that makes me weep," she said hoarsely. "Never, in any
relationship, have I ever someone so willing to follow another to the
gates of hell. He would do anything you asked of him, Orphen. He's not
blind to your faults, either; he loves you in spite of them. So I ask you
again, old friend: Why did you apprentice him?"
Orphen bowed his head, arms drifting from the edge of the pool to his
lap. "Please don't, Steph…"
She ignored his hoarse pleas, determined to make him admit the truth
to at least himself. "Why, Orphen?"
When Orphen raised his head, Stephanie was only a little surprised to
see crystalline droplets pooling in the corners of sienna eyes. "Because
he's my last chance, Steph. My last chance to trust, to think, to feel, to
learn…"
"To love," she said, reaching out to cup his cheek in her hand.
Smiling, she brushed the traitorous tears away. "I'm glad. I was afraid
you wouldn't be able to find someone to hold on to, ever."
"He's it. For all of his youth, his innocence, he knows."
"Yes, I had noticed that. He truly is wise beyond his years, isn't
he?"
And then she was holding him, rocking him as a mother would a child,
as a sister would a brother. Though her form may have changed since the
last time this had happened, her body and mind remembered the comfort felt
in the arms of a friend and she tried to convey her feelings to the young
man she held. Friend, brother, lover… She kissed his brow, fingers drawing
through his hair. "I'm so proud of you, Orphen."
"For what?" Orphen asked, raising his head with a slight sniffle. His
smile was rakish, leaning towards a leer; he'd just had his face pressed
to a rather well-endowed pair of breasts, after all.
She pushed him away with a laugh and rose from the bath, reaching for
her towel and robe. "For starting to grow up. Now, away with you, Tower
rat. Your apprentice is probably worried about what mischief we were
getting up to in the bath."
"My apprentice had better be asleep," he grumbled, rising from the
water.
"Oh, and you were always obedient at age fourteen?"
"…No comment."
"Majic?"
"Yes, Oshou-sama?"
Orphen hesitated in the doorway of the guest room room, his eyes
roving the surroundings until they fell on the moonlit figure standing on
the balcony. "What're you still doing up?"
Majic turned, the moonlight making his hair shine as it drifted across
his face, highlighting the aquamarine depths of his eyes. "The sky just
looked unusually beautiful tonight, that's all."
"Hn." Moving through the room, Orphen stopped when he was beside his
apprentice, lifting his face to peruse the sky that has so captivated the
blonde boy.
"I've always liked the stars. I remember Kaasan pointing them out to
me when I was little, whispering their names into my ear as she held me,
rocking me to sleep."
"You don't talk of your mother very often."
Majic shrugged, returning to his stargazing. "I don't remember her all
that much. I was only about four or so when she died. And Otousan doesn't
like to speak of her. I think it still hurts him, her death and all."
"Some pains never go away."
"No. But sharing them can ease the burden and make life easier."
Orphen laughed, tugging on a lock of the blonde's hair. "I've been
duly chastised, oh apprentice. I won't keep things bottled up anymore, all
right?"
Turning with a smile, Majic nodded. "I don't like to see anyone
hurting, Oshou-sama."
"I know." Orphen turned, returning to the bedroom. He shut the door
and made his way across the floor to the bed. Throwing back the covers and
sitting on the edge, he stared down at the floor, where Majic had made a
pillow out of his pack and the blanket lay folded to the side. "Hey,
Majic?"
"Hmmm?"
"You gonna go to sleep any time soon?"
"Yes, I'm coming right now."
Majic stepped from the balcony, closing the glass doors with a sigh.
He padded on silent feet towards the bed, reaching for the blanket. With a
squawk, he found his wrist captured in a tight grip, and was bodily yanked
onto the bed. "Oshou-sama!"
Orphen laughed at his outraged expression, scooting over so that his
back was pressed against the wall. "What? I thought I'd be nice and share
the bed. It's large enough for two people, as long as you don't hog the
blankets."
"Hey, if anyone in this room can be accused of hogging blankets it's
you, Oshou-sama. I swear, you get those things in a death-grip and trying
to get you to let go is harder than getting Cleao-san to go home!"
He straightened his pyjamas, spreading the blanket out over the bed.
It would be a bit of a tight fit, but they should both be able to sleep
comfortably. It was nice of Orphen to be so thoughtful…
"Majic…"
"Yes?"
"You do know why I asked you to be my apprentice, don't you?"
The light from the window highlighted Orphen's face, making his eyes
shine and his hair appear star-drenched. Majic hesitantly reached up,
fingers touching Orphen's face, watching the sienna eyes for answers. He
closed his eyes when the brunette leaned forward, smiling as Orphen's lips
brushed his brow. "Yes, I know. Thank you, Oshou-sama."
"For what?" Orphen asked into his hair, surprised.
"For giving me a chance."
Orphen chuckled, mussing Majic's hair as the boy settled his head onto
the pillow. "In that case, I'm the one who should be saying thank you."
"What ever for?"
Lips pressed to lips, breath a warm gust of life that promised so many
things. "For giving me a chance. Not many would, you know."
"Someone once told me, Orphen-san, that I was wise beyond my years. I
didn't believe them until I met you."
No more words were exchanged, the only touch the gentle clasp of hands
as they drifted to sleep. But for one night, two souls were comforted by
the closeness that had begun to spring up between them, and were content
to let it blossom in its own time.
|
