The cafe had soon rolled around to ten at night, having the workers inside close up for the night and be sent home for the day, to embrace sleep and the dreams to come. Well more importantly, that applied to Axel alone. For Zexion however, the night was only half done. As he packed up his things, his mind was adrift on the events of what had come to pass, and the logs he had to sort. His life was based around work, science and books. To be able to live on his own, he had to make a salary large enough to pay for all his daily needs, and thus his family graciously offered a part time job at the family name store. Zexion, unable to refuse his family the smallest favour had agreed, and without much profit, thus his second job during the day.
But as much as his family loved him, he loathed them. He sometimes questioned if he was even related, for he was always the odd one out. His sister was a woman of short words, and it showed when she spoke. Her choice of speech sends a great impact on others, even sometimes crushing their will to her bending and manipulation. On the other end is his bigger brother Zack, who was upbeat, happy and joyful, best compared to a puppy of all creatures. The rest of his family followed his brother's path, which to lead to the current belief. Either way, Zexion only cared about what he had to do during his nights, which would never leave the walls of the store to anyone he knew.
"Greetings." Fuu was seated behind the counter, her soft lavender hair hanging chin length into her face as she read the fax papers. Her sharp red-brown eyes scanned the words quickly, reading efficiently and gathering the necessary information without the usual waste of time. The soft purple blue shirt she wore was zipped open, the shoulders hanging onto her arms as the small white muscle shirt hid her bust. The soft skin complexion seemed to have dimmed in the artificial light if the odd bones and skulls littered around her hadn't. Above and around the entire store and shelves hung dead animals, dream catchers and dried plants. The old smell of decay and books littered everything, even the dirt-clad mat at the front of the store. Books and shelves lined everywhere, making the spaces and walkways very small and made for only one person at a time. Zexion simply pushed his backpack under the counter as he ruffled his plume, his other hand straightening the zebra coloured stripped shirt around his waist.
"Hello Fuu. How was work today?" She simply huffed, putting the papers away and pulling out a key that seemed older than the store itself, the gold rusted in some places. Zexion watched her unlock the register and start counting the munny, again both experts in mathematics.
"Lame." He just nodded, taking that as enough info and starts putting on the antique apron they were forced to where as they cleaned. For hygiene of course. With a swift scoop of his hair it was clipped back with a feather clip, the two long blue and red feathers angled up almost like the Indians from children's books. Moving with decency he picked up a rag and some Windex, moving over to the night clad windows.
"It's always lame without business Fuu. I'm disappointed you have nothing to add." She simply shook her head again, carrying the munny into the back room where the safe was. Zexion took that as a no and started washing the windows clean, spraying and wiping when needed. He always wondered why his family kept their old Charms and Spells shop, because really he saw no point in keeping the old thing. Their family had a belief in the spirits and so on, but religions and voodoo were so overrated he highly doubted anyone else even knew what cult they were from anymore. Even the spells they had were older than the acclaimed Jesus Christ, and business was within the family. But diligently he washed and dusted the cases, dedicated to keep them happy with his efforts. Because hell knows what else will keep them happy.
As the hours ticked by however, the store was bustling with after hour cleaning. Zexion passed the broom and spray over dusty articles, keeping the appearance clean. Fuu continued to log what was sold and stolen, which was hardly anything at all, and to tune up the radio so there was actual noise within the cold stoic walls. The news was a safe station where they both would not bicker over taste and music, which they both took advantage to ignore. Fuu sat at the counter, checking the clock that said four twenty six A.M. and returned hr gaze to the radio and turning up the volume. The reporter was female, and her voice held urgency as she spoke. It shook with tension, as if she were on the scene of a ghastly event. By the sounds of smashing glass and pained filled screams, she probably was.
"We come in LIVE from a scene deep in Radiant Garden where a great battle has unfolded. Two groups of adolescents are now fighting tooth and nail to eliminate the other competitors!" the sound of an explosion shook the radio, making the reporter's voice loose itself in it for a few seconds before coming back in. "It seems that one half is cloaked in pitch black outerwear as the other team is wielding long sword like weapons, but the blades are-" A large Impish wail cuts her out again, this time freezing the radio frequency and stunning Fuu. This kind of thing never happened here anymore, and a sort of fear settled within her. Zexion seemed oblivious to her distress, focused on wiping down the last specs of dust on a particular book. Her hand came down hard on the radio, making it squeal and catch again as the reporter was spewing her words quickly, trembling and dripping with utmost fear.
"The battle is critical! No matter whom they are against, they won't stop fighting! They slash at one another, breaking bones with those copper and silver-" A large bang and a triumphant scream echoes, allowing the reporter's soft sob to come through. "In the history of my life, I have never seen such a bloody combat..! They would even kill themselves in a hand made bomb to make sure the other dies…!" A few more yells and police sirens start to flare, the sound of gunfire coming strong and causing a deep throw of silence over the fighters on the other end. For once in her life, Fuu was rendered speechless by the happenings on the radio. Nothing could have shocked her more until the reporter continued.
"This... this is horrible..! The fighters that are shot down refuse to lay down and start getting up, killing their opponents even as they are dying! What has brought such hate to our generation?! What abnormality is this-?!" Before she could go on however, the feed was cut and sent back to base, where an anchorman took over, a softer more controlled volume in his speech. "We… we come to you Live from Radiant Garden Seventh gate square, where the battle and loss of many had begun two hours ago. We will be right back with more information concerning the ending of this story." A chime and tune from the News channel played and commercials took over. Fuu could only stare at the table, lost in the sounds of what had just been reported. People of her age, maybe even people she new, could have died today. This unsettled her, especially with the specifications of the fighters. Who fought in Radiant garden anymore?
"Fuu… I said Fuu. What are you daydreaming about, Dear Fuu?" She jumped, turning her gaze towards Zexion, who was peering with a dull curiosity at her. His expression seemed almost overdone, as if he was trying his best to make it. This did not help Fuu settle her distress.
"… Bothersome." She jabbed her thumb towards the radio as it continued to spill commercials that meant nothing, falling on deaf ears. Zexion looked at it and nodded, albeit grimly, his expressions seemed to remain neutral.
"Indeed. Wisdom is no longer our ally, and it only serves to show that people are foolish." Without clarifying, he turned and started cleaning once more. Fuu shook her head, still bothered and decided this was her break, taking her time in the restroom. Zexion, once she was gone, dropped all his defences and flicked the radio off, dipping his head.
"Fools… they should know better than to infuriate them…" With a stubborn shake, he resumed Fuu's job so they could clock out early. When she came back, without a word began to close up.
They both gathered their things, nodding to one another and parted ways, the lights flickering off as the sun made its slow climb into the sky. Zexion hung his head; letting his feet guide him home as his shoulders sagged with weight. The news on the radio only served to worsen the inevitable, and he knew this would not be the end. As he travelled, he noticed insignias spread about; most he knew all to well. Some had a red heart with a sideway X made of thorns and surrounded by black. Most knew it better as the Heartless Symbol, others as the bringers of death.
Other times, there were odd colours that made a small three-pronged crown, named the Keyblader's crown or better yet, the Chosen Killers. These two groups were common gangs formed among the towns in the region, each one known for their endless feud with the other. No matter what happened, they would remain in constant battle towards one another, merciless and murderous. Zexion should have known better than to hope that they would stop fighting, especially near his own nest. But then again, he was always the first to judge what was to go wrong. It was piteous how they fought without much purpose, killing again and again in the name of nothing.
Before long Zexion arrived to his dorm, opening the door by card and swiftly following up the steps to his room. At the university he went to, it was mandatory to keep rooms clean, and Zexion took utmost pride in how well he could follow the code. When it came down to it though, the true reason was simply to eliminate any sort of trace that meant he inhabited the place. Whether or not it was strange, it only really mattered to him anyway. The walls remained off white, the floor a soft off white, and his bed and sheets off white. Nothing that he had up on his walls attached to him at all, not the single poster behind his door, not the research books in his bookcase, not even the pillows spread on his bed. It was a lonely life Zexion assumed, but it made him feel better to be so isolated, to be more apart from the society's norms. A lone phone sat on the desk, the red light flashing as a signal to a recorded message. Putting his keys down in a tray and hanging up his coat, he pushed the button and let the machine tell him what to do.
Then, his mother's soft sweet voice echoed from the machine, the cheer almost sickening to his stomach. "Hey honey, it's Aqua, your mom." He rolled his eyes, slipping off his shoes and started taking off his shirt, revealing small lacerations all along the inside of his elbows. He paid poor attention to them as he tossed his shirt into a hamper, kicking off his tight pants with slim difficulty and tossing them too. "Just calling in to tell you I love you." There was a husky chuckle on the other line, presumably his father Saix. There was a small shuffle as Aqua hit her father in the arm, giggling softly at his stoic antics. "Your father wishes the same. We also wanted to let you know we're having a family dinner in two weekends so you can put it on your calendar, so don't forget!"
Zexion again rolled his eyes and dressed himself in pyjamas, stalking around the room to tidy up here and there, doing the dishes as his mother continued telling him about her week and how her life was. It was kind of nice sometimes, making him feel like he was still included. Like he was still normal. But soon the message was almost done, his rowdy sibling on the other line chirping in with Aqua to finish a livid tale. He finished his cleaning, sorting his schoolwork in his bag and finishing his small routine.
"So again, we love you Zexion, have a great weekend and do not forget, the second one is our special dinner visit!" There was silence, and her voice dropped to an almost pleading one. "Zexion… please attend this time. We were so heartbroken last time. Please, we love you very much." Here's where it got awkward. The line rolled for a few moments in total silence, the reel making noises as there was a scuffing on the other end, then a weak broken sigh, the ruffle of hair and a last voiced attempt at cheer. "Can't wait to see you. Bye, Zexion. End of Message." He nodded to no one in particular, turning off the machine and flicking on the lamp on his desk. With a glance to the clock, he knew that at nine thirty he had a class, and that if he went to bed now he'd got two and a half hours of sleep. With a soft sigh he flicked the lamp off and slid into his sheets, lying perfectly still in the eerie soft light.
There was total silence except for the vent that shook faintly as the cold air seeped in, the noises from the rowdy students partying downstairs and the cars on the highway outside. A bird fluttered into a nearby branch, singing softly to the cold morning wind. As he listened, he felt he could feel the world at his fingertips, the natural beauty enveloping and welcoming. It was a good silence, a restful and peaceful one that soon before he thought, lulled him into a gentle deep sleep.
The class by this time was empty; hardly any students had dared to attend. The class usually had about seven students, and only three had shown up, Zexion included. The teacher was as exasperated as she could get, her soft forest green eyes resting on all the students in a soft silent pity. Her voice was so soft; it made him wonder why she taught English literature.
"Where is everyone?" The other two students, a Tidus Akazy and Selphie Modish, seemed unable to answer her lest their consciousnesses fail them. But for Zexion, this was a whole different matter. He held a perfect posture in his seat, hands folded over his notebook and pencil, along with a professional eraser pen. His gaze was fixated on his teacher's, expression neutral and cold, as it always was.
"Miss Gainsborough, the other students had a party last night and have been intoxicated to the point of sickness. They shall not be attending today." Her face dropped to a sadder one, causing Selphie and Tidus looking at him as if he were crazy to dare make her feel worse. But instead, Aerith just tucked the curled bang at the side of her face behind her ear, and let the chocolate brown locks fall back into place. Her bow seemed a duller red today, as her face seemed lost. The beautiful button down pink dress also seemed hardly ironed, the creases showing all over.
"I-I see. Thank you, Ienzo." He nodded, eager for his lesson to get started. Aerith took her time getting her things, but soon the lesson was underway and Zexion was able to lose himself in the information. His only purpose at school was to achieve a score that far surpassed an average genius, get his degree and become a psychologist. It was his only reason of existence, and this was the first milestone he was to pass. His mother and father fawned over him often and without prior need, to the point where Zexion moved out to be on his own. Even apart he was rooted to the ground, unable to understand why they needed to remain so close. He felt like he never fit in with any of his family, even the father he resembled dearly, and the sister that shared his behaviour.
It might also explain his detachment to life in general and his lack of care for other human beings, but only he truly knew why he was the way he was. And as most secrets should be, they go to the grave. Days passed like nothing in his brilliant mind, and it was sometimes hard to retain a face that would mean nothing to you later. And so his day had gone by from psychological labs to presentations, and then it was time to head to the café for work again. A never-ending cycle until he could get his own life, and it would remain as such.
"Oh Ienzo!" But he seems to always forget that people are always involved in his life and no matter what, he would have to deal with them. Turning around, his dull cobalt eyes trailed upwards to see his teacher, Miss Gainsborough approach him. He shifted the dull grey sleeve from his hand and fixed his glasses, fixing her with a attentive look.
"Yes, Miss Gainsborough?" She smiled softly, but it never showed through her obvious upset mood. He was tempted to raise an eyebrow, but he restrained such a foolish action.
"I wanted to talk to you real quick. About school of course." He nodded and stepped towards her, a silent signal she seemed to understand and turned around, leading the way with her brown hiking boots clicking against the pale sickly yellow tiles. The walls had a gentle oak brown that lined it, making him think that maybe it would be better on the floor instead, but he shook away such a foolish thought and followed her into her gentle lavender office. The desk was a darker blood oak as the two chairs were metal and plastic green, the kind usually found in elementary schools. Frames of her family polluted the space, crammed all over her desk and forcing her walls to bend with thier combined weight.
Unable to watch all these loving memories without feeling sick, he took the chair closest to the door, the one also furthest from the walls and her desk. She took her seat and curled her dress to her knees; looking up with a sort of wise beauty at him, smile becoming a much better and happier one. His eyes fixed her back, the expression worn ever dull and dead, but it was who he was after all. She seemed to flinch, as if this hurt her all the more and upset her. But alas, nothing ever pleased anyone now did it?
"So you needed my attention, Miss Gainsborough?" She nodded, pulling out a folder and looking it over, eyes flitting over what she knew and then to him ever slightly. He raised an eyebrow, confused by this behaviour as Aerith then shut it and leaned back into her chair, her bangs falling into her face as she eyed him with a gentle and sort of loving expression. Again, she got nothing in return.
"Yes, I wanted to talk to you, Ienzo." Zexion nodded and waited, not in any particular hurry. After all, work started in four hours, one that would be spent en route to get to his destinations.
"Well Miss, I have the time. Please, do go on." Aerith frowned, feeling slightly as if she was being mocked, then remembered her intensions and cleared her voice, making it stronger.
"Well, it's about school."
"School Miss Gainsborough?" Zexion was indeed confused, as much as he could be. Why was school being mentioned? Wasn't he getting perfect scores?
"Yes, mostly about your social skills." Oh great, not another social workshop with her, please.
'What about them, Miss Gainsbo-" She cut him off, leaning onto the desk with speed, as if springing to trap him in that sentence.
"Please, call me Aerith. And I seem to think you are lacking. In something…" The confidence she had was lost in a moment, her eyes showing so much emotion like an open window. Zexion without a doubt took advantage of such openings.
"Please, do continue." His voice had clearly stiffened, his mind battling to keep himself restrained and not to lash at his teacher. That last comment really affected him, and he could not let it show.
"Well… to start…" She rubbed her chin, eyes looking around clearly in thought until she spotted a good picture and looked to Zexion again. "How many friends do you have? Both in and out of school?"
"I have two." His eyes threatened to narrow already, his mood dropping slowly into deeper waters.
"Can you name them?" She was grinning now, as if triumphant. Zexion felt that he was charged to knocking her down.
"Axel and Roxas." She nodded, accepting that and continued, knitting her fingers together, twiddling her thumbs side by side.
"And do you see them often?" He shrugged, playing indifference as he eyed an empty spot on the wall.
"When I go to work at the café. Nothing pressing. They are going out." Zexion huffed softly, confused to the direction of her questioning.
"Well, do you envy that?" He blinked slowly, eyeing Aerith with a hard expression; she knew she had him cornered.
"No, I don't see the point in it. What good is a relationship?" Zexion knew he may lose this battle and quickly retreated into his carapace, looking around and away. Aerith it seemed only wanted to tighten the noose.
"Do they remind you of your mother and father?" Zexion's entire posture straightened and stiffened, becoming unreadable as his face smoothed out and became a mask again. His eyes though, blazed with hidden emotions, almost startling the poor woman from her seat. But in the tides of her mind, she knew she hit gold.
"Miss Aerith, I do have three hours worth of homework, one and a half from your own class. Please, get to the point-" his voice slipped as he hissed, almost losing his control. "or I may have to rudely leave and interrupt our pleasant meeting." Aerith could only bob her head, lips sucked in as she finally understood whom she was fighting with.
"I-I see, let me explain my questions. I was flipping through my folders when I came upon a few oddities in yours." Zexion nodded, his reserve sending chills down Aerith's spine. Never had she seen such fierce restrictions on any of her patients, and this sent dread into her stomach. Zexion however, did not grace her with a response. Taking another deep breath, she continued. "How old are you Zexion?" He hesitated, blinking a few times before responding.
"E-eighteen…" Aerith made a soft sigh, flipping through the files again.
"Eighteen? So your birthday should be in 1992, correct?" Again the silent rage refused to swerve any other way, and he only nodded in response. Again, it seemed hesitated. " But the birth date on your file says you were born 1990. That would make you… twenty. Which is clearly false."
"W-what..? Th-that must be a typo. Just a simple computer mishap." Zexion, in his own mind, was quite confused. Whoever messed up in the office sure drinks too much.
"Hm, I thought so at first. But then again, could be something else." Aerith hummed softly, skimming the pages and trifling over little things. "I guess that's all. Make sure to get this fixed, alri- Zexion?! Wait! Hey!" Before she could say more, however, Zexion had gathered his things and in a flash disappeared out the door. Even as she tried to run into the hall and after him, he was long gone.
Sometimes it paid to avoid conflicts.