Chapter: 2/10
Words: 2676
AN: And here is chapter two. I started this yesterday when I was sick, so I hope the words and everything are okay. I'm feeling much better, minus the face that I'm up at 2:44 am and typing up a story because I went to bed early. 8D ;;; Anyway, on with the story! I plan to have this a long chapter, and this story will, hopefully, move a great deal slower than my rushed ones. I'm really practicing hard on this one. :3
Also, I figure I should include an Age Chart so that nobody gets confused. This will include the other people that will come in later, so don't worry about them, for now.
Ansem – 49
Xehanort – 22
Braig – 32
Dilan – 27
Even – 35
Aeleus – 28
Ienzo – 19
Isa – 20
Lea – 23
Myde – 17
Lumaria - 23
Warnings: Ienzo POV, Same as before, some foul language
Day Two: Small to Say the Least
The sun pours through the large picture window, reaching my bed only as an afterthought and bringing me out of my slumber slowly. I'm fairly used to waking up with the sun, so it isn't much of a problem for me, to be quite honest. I yawn and stretch, looking to the part of my room still lacking sunlight, smiling a little at the shadows attempting to keep their nighttime home. I slowly toss my legs over the side of the bed, one arm folded against my shoulder and the other outstretched towards my high ceiling, a slight scratch to my head before I get up. I don't remember how far the bed is from the ground and nearly take a nose-dive into the intricately tiled floor. I hear an odd noise out my window and curiously step over in front of it to see what it could be.
Down in that hidden garden stood Aeleus, shirtless and sweaty in the morning sun, chopping at wood that seemed fresh cut on a stump that couldn't have been more than an hour old. The tree was already divided nicely into firewood, and it looked just amazing. The sun was at such an angle that a picture of this would have said a thousand things and more about the muscled man before me on the lawn below.
I shake my head and turn blue eyes on my desk, then realize it's about time to get dressed. I slept in a pair of black boxers with skulls on them, and I'm fairly sure that I shouldn't leave my room without a shirt, at least. I slowly work my hands underneath the crinkly edge of my boxers, pushing them down and stepping out before depositing them in my hamper; we all have one. My search for fresh clothes leads me to the closet, where I walk in and begin digging around for things. I had Aeleus help me move the dresser in there, that way I can totally change in my walk-in closet without having to run around for undergarments.
I pick out a pair of black boxer-briefs and slip them on, pulling out a pair of dark pants and a black shirt with a wacky cartoon skull on it. I then head to the small bathroom across the hallway from my room, we all have our own on the other side, and work on brushing my hair and teeth, washing my face and getting a shower. Once I was all nice and clean, I brushed my hair again and worked clothes back on, finally leaving the bathroom. I felt it was time to go find Ansem, figure out what was going on. I finally got to his study and knocked on the door a good ten minutes or so later.
"Come in..." Came the older male's voice and I slowly opened up the door, giving a sheepish smile. "Ah, you're awake bright and early, I see. It's good to have another one...between Braig and Dilan, I'd never get enough work in to be substantial in this place." He smiles, standing and walking over to me.
"What do you mean?"
"They're both very poor at time management. Dilan usually gets up around noon, and Braig will join us around three or so. So, until they wake up, it will just be you, Xehanort, Aeleus and Even. Oh, and I'll give you a warning; Braig usually comes in after surfing in the wave pool downstairs, so..he's usually soaked. Just ignore it and nothing will come of it. I wouldn't permit it to keep going if it didn't help him and not hurt us."
"Yes, Master Ansem."
"Now, I think that you should--" At this point, there was another soft knock on the door. "Oh, come in?"
Aeleus entered the room in nothing but a pair of blue jeans, his eyes sweeping between our blond mentor and I, a bulk load of firewood slung over his shoulder and held under his other arm.
"Where would you like this, Master Ansem?" He asks, voice soft and low; it was a nice change from Dilan and Braig's voices, which I heard a lot of yesterday.
"Oh...over there would be fine, and take the rest to the day room." The eldest replied, and the taller man moved over to the spot designated. He lay the wood down carefully, giving me a good view of his rear, which I promptly turned away from. I don't like to look at people inappropriately; it just drives things in a bad direction. Besides, I'm asexual; I don't like anyone. People are stupid and don't deserve my time. Well, I suppose, except for these guys. Maybe. "Ienzo, why don't you go unlock the library so that Aeleus can spend some time in there? I'm sure he'll have some work for you, too. Even already returned a book and Xehanort is off spending time with a special someone...so you won't have to worry about them."
"Oh...okay. Come on, then, Aeleus." I smile, leading the way happily enough back to the library. I already had the keys in my pocket, because I would keep them on me at all times if I left them on my door handle. The walk to my sanctuary was silent, as it was the night before, and when we got there, the only sound was our breathing and the jingling of the keys. Soon, the library's huge double doors open, thanks to the well-built man beside me, and we're both in. I find a book in the drop box and, it is, in fact, the book Aeleus had checked out the night before. I smile a little and head to go put it away, but a large hand on my shoulder stops me.
"Ienzo..." The way he says my name is a little odd, but maybe it's just the depth of his voice. "What might you suggest as a good book?" Oh, now he was tapping my brain to see a good book I brought with me?
"Well...I can wholeheartedly suggest Death of Socrates, or...a personal favorite is 'Through The Looking Glass' or 'Alice in Wonderland.'" I offer, smiling a little at my fondness for the books. I notice he takes an extra long time to reply.
"You left the latter in your room."
" That one requires something strong to borrow. Go get Death."
"But that is your job."
"Oh...right." And with that, I headed off to go and find the book I'd put up just yesterday, putting the other away. When I return, he's sitting in that chair again, watching me and waiting. I hand over the book and give him a slight smile, "Would you like to check it out or would you prefer to stay in here with me?" While he didn't reply, he remained sitting and opened up the book, so I figure he was going to stay. I headed off to do my work, making sure the books were in and everything, and after a long while, I heard a grating voice that I recognized instantly.
"Yo, little dude! Dil's awake and ready to take ya on!" Well, that was good news.
"Alright, I'll be there in a moment." The worst part about it is that I am fairly high up on a ladder, and I can't see myself getting down any time too soon. That is, of course, until I felt two strong, large hands on my sides and I found my feet suddenly on the floor. Looking up, I saw that carrot-topped wonder above me, and I blinked. "Thank you, Aeleus." He nodded his reply and headed back for the chair to continue reading. I left him alone, heading for the kitchen behind Braig.
"So, you an' the big guy hit it off, or what?" He grinned, looking back at me.
"Huh?" I wasn't paying enough attention to understand what it was he was saying. I never took a class in the language of the Surfer.
A sigh, eye-roll, and overbearingly exasperated wave of his arms later, and I had a repeat in layman's terms. "Are you and Aeleus getting along?"
"He doesn't say much, but we don't have any problems." I reply, raising an eyebrow and giving him an unsure look. He just smirks.
"He likes books. We call him Brick head, rock head, boulder-brain, sure, but he's smart. He's just got a lot more muscle than any of us to throw around. But he's usually pretty good about that, unless his brother's involved. He'd beat down any one of us if something bad happened to Myde." Myde. That name sounds so familiar. "You might know him. Little blond?" That made sense. I paused.
" Wait...so Aeleus is incredibly intelligent, but...he's related to Myde?"
"Hey, don't knock him so soon. Aeleus got all the brains, but at least Myde's a cutie." I have to roll my eyes at that.
"What about Dilan?"
"What about 'im?"
"I figured from all the awkward noises I heard from your room last night that you and he are....close."
"Oh, 'course we are. Myde's just a good friend, is all." From the tone in his voice, I figured he'd be protective over the kid, so I just let it go.
"I see..." He shoots me a look. "What?"
"'I see' is something Even says when he's busy thinking about other things. What're you thinkin' about? Looks to me like you've been up a while...you get a chance to see Aeleus on his choppin' duty? I bet that's why you're distracted. If you lose today, I won't hold it against you."
"I wasn't looking at him!" But by the time I get that out, we've reached the kitchen and he's taking off the way we came.
"Course you weren't! Seeya later, small fry!" I push open the door to the kitchen to find a sleepy Dilan clinging to a large coffee cup at the counter. He glances up to me and gives a tiny wave with two fingers, setting his cup down and looking me square in the eyes.
"You gotta recipe or what?"
"It's all up here." I tap my temple.
"Good, I'll win, then." He smirks, turning. "Be lucky we have almost two of everything in here. Ansem wanted to be sure I can cook a lot if I need to."
"Well, looks like I get half and you get half. What are you making?" It would help not to make the same thing.
"I'm thinking steak, corn and mashed 'taters. You?"
"I was going to make seafood salad."
"Ooh...sounds challenging."
"Not too bad, really." And with that, we both began to gather ingredients together, him taking over the stove while I set about working the microwave.
"So...I hear you an' Aeleus're spendin' lotsa time togetha. What's with that? You two jus' met."
"I work in the library, and he's in the library a lot. Braig said he just likes books; is there such a crime against that?"
"But he actually speaks to you. He only talks to us when he has to."
"He just asked me to tell him a good book to read..."
" Oh, so, now he's talking even more to ya? Boy, you got a crushin' big guy on yer hands." He grinned, looking absolutely sure of himself as he set his steak out on a cutting board to perforate and season. I'm not a huge beef or pork eater, myself; I try to stay away from it because it doesn't feel right when I chew it. I'm very particular about the chicken and seafood I eat, though; if it's chewy and gummy, I really can't do it. That was why I would never eat pork and beef, too; the fat makes it detestable and it's just disgusting.
I'm microwaving my imitation crab, which I found, when he spoke again.
"What, cat gotcha tongue?" He purred, stepping too obnoxiously close to me. I should take the time to mention now that Dilan is also quite large. He isn't as big as Aeleus, but he's got both height and girth on his side.
"No...I wasn't paying enough attention, I guess." I mutter, looking down at my bowl.
"Oh...so did you hear me?"
"...no?"
"I said...he's crushin' on ya."
"You're full of it." I point my wooden spoon at him and he smirks.
"Full of the truth? You got it, Shawty!"
" ...what did you just call me?"
"Shorty. It means he thinks you're short." Came Braig's answer from the door. "I just came to check on you guys. Dil, yer gonna run into a time shortage if you don't get cookin'." We both cracked down more at that, and there wasn't much more banter between us for a while. Eventually Braig left again and got everyone rounded up in the dining hall, ready for their tasting.
Everything was brought out, Dilan going first. Everyone ate his food like they usually did, Braig seeming the most taken with it. Then it was my turn; of course, I had a complaint.
"...is this crab?" Xehanort spoke up softly at the end of the table.
"Yes..."
"I'm allergic to crab." Shit. There went a point.
"It's imitation?"
"I shouldn't eat it..." And there it went.
Everyone else, though, seemed fairly good with it. Finally, it came time for picking their favorite meal. They were all given a piece of cardboard and a marker, and Dilan and I had to wait.
"Hold up your cards." Ansem said, and the cards all turned around.
"One point to Dilan." Thanks to Xehanort.
"Another point to Dilan." Braig.
"Point to Ienzo." Yes! I could hug Even for that.
"Another point to Ienzo..." Aeleus.
"And it appears we're at a tie, gentlemen." Ansem smiled a little. "To be quite honest, I loved both dishes. Ienzo's was very distinguished but not something terribly difficult, and Dilan's was something that he clearly cut corners with by using boxed potatoes." He smirked and rolled his eyes. "I say you both have kitchen duty. It will give you time to become closer."
Dear Diary -
A lot happened today. I ended up with joint kitchen duty with Dilan, and Aeleus and I spent a little more time talking in the library. I can't help but shake the feeling that Braig is wrong; Aeleus couldn't have a crush on me, I look like a nine year old boy, and he's clearly a man. He wouldn't want someone like me trailing behind him everywhere. It'd be like being back with Myde again, for him, I'm sure. Except, of course, I'm shorter than Myde, so it would be that much more obnoxious.
Xehanort nearly drove me nuts today. He kept talking about some Isa person and how he was a better cook than I was because he questioned about allergies, whereas I didn't. I could just punch him...but I'm sure if I did, Braig would be in my face with his fist. He sure seems to love "Norty". It's as if they're brothers or something. Except that's impossible, considering Xehanort is nowhere near as pale as Braig is.
Today during dinner, he claimed that Xehanort was sent to him by the Greek Gods of "Something" so that he may protect him from the evil that is sex. Or something like that. Of course, I had to ask why, and he said some more about this "Isa" Person. I really need to meet him; I'm getting mixed reviews about this guy.
Anyway, Diary, I'm going to go lock up the library and kick Aeleus out. I'll talk to you tomorrow.
AN: Alright, there's chapter two! I hope it's okay; I wanted to get it done right. :3
