It's been awhile. Here is the latest installment of 'Wonderwall' which I've been working on for about four months… -coughs- But! I've been struck with inspiration! Expect more chapters reasonably soon!
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'Wonderwall'
'Chapter Three- Dreams and Healing.'
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I had a dream that I was running through a field of wildflowers, searching for a bright flash of color some where in the darkness. Each flower was black, as if they were painted with a brush, droplets spattering the white ground with heavy sounds... It reminded me heavily of Alice in Wonderland, and I cursed myself for watching that movie so many times.
I remember wading through the flowers, and each time I stepped, they would murmur something important, something I should have known, should have remembered. But all thoughts vanished as that flash of color darted before my vision, and then it was gone again. Each step was painful. My steps were getting heavier, a pressure was settling on my shoulders, and there was a terrible pain in the back of my mind.
I knelt in the flower field and reached out to touch a black flower. The petals were soft, then they turned scaly and a thousand snakes were coiling around my feet, biting my ankles, bleeding me out. The white ground beneath me was stained with crimson, and I began to wake with a flash of red over my vision, blood running in rivulets down my face.
I gasped as I awoke fully, the red still hindering my vision. I panicked and batted at what was covering my face. Hair… Axel's hair.
I took a deep breath and took the time to examine my position. I was on my back, and Axel was stretched across my chest, his head above mine. I seemed to fit perfectly beneath his chin, but his hair was longer than mine and went all over the place when he slept.
I wondered back to my dream, and I couldn't think, for the life of me, what color the color I had been chasing was. It was brighter than black… I usually didn't dream, but when I did, it was always a nightmare. I frowned and turned my head to the side, burrowing my face a little deeper into Axel's neck. His arm was tossed around my chest, and I pulled it closer to me as if it were my favorite blanket.
He was warm, like a soft flame that never died, but never grew brighter, hotter. His jeans were slightly damp from his wet boxers, but I didn't mind so much as I rolled to my side and curled under his arms, wrapping one arm hesitantly around his waist.
I wondered why I was already so attached to Axel. He wasn't someone I would normally hang out with. Leon was more my type of friend, and Kairi and Sora were a given. I had known both of them since childhood. I had never really liked Kairi when I was little, but since Sora was her younger brother, he made me get along with her.
Now, the three of us were inseparable. I glanced to my clock over Axel's shoulder and my eyes grew wide. It was nine o'clock in the morning… I had overslept by three hours. I never overslept. I wondered if it was the warm body beside me… I rolled my foot and gasped at the pain that trailed up my leg.
My sleeping could have been because of my ankle… I thought I should let Sephiroth look at it...but I couldn't move without waking Axel. How do you wake a log?
I blew lightly across his neck and on his ear, and I was rewarded with a soft sigh and a murmur. I blew a little harder, my lips closer to his neck. The sigh grew to a small moan and the arms around me tightened slightly.
"Axel." I said, "Axel! Wake up!"
For some reason, I thought Axel was a heavy sleeper, and he seemed to be unless you said something relatively close to his ear. I pulled back from him with an arched brow as emerald orbs fluttered open slowly, a lazy grin taking over his lips.
"Hello there…" He said softly, pulling me a little tighter against his body, setting his cheek atop my head again. I swore he was purring, his fingers idly running along my arm, tracing abstract patterns on my skin. I gave a sigh of content as I closed me eyes and settled into him.
"Wake up." I said thickly, my face in his chest. I felt the skin of his clavicle and throat against my lips.
"I am up." He said in the same lethargic tone.
"You are not… You're putting me back to sleep."
"Is that a bad thing?" He asked, a mischievous tone lacing through his words.
"Mhmm..." I purred as I rolled more onto my side, nuzzling against his neck. "I've overslept by three hours and I want Seph to look at my ankle."
He snorted, the expulsion of air making my hair flutter wildly. "Jeeze…I've under slept by about five hours." I laughed softly and released me, moving to sit up. I stayed lying on my side, watching him lazily as my arms fell away from his chest, landing beside me with a 'thump'. He gave a mighty yawn, his arms coming up over his head, his shirt riding up to expose taunt, luscious flesh. I had an urge to run my fingers over his skin, to feel the velvet muscles bunch beneath my fingers, but I squashed that urge back by rolling onto my back, and then rolling again and sitting up.
I tested my ankle and winced softly before I moved to stand, wobbling slightly on one foot. I looked to the door, and then down at my massacre that I called a room. This was not going to be easy. Not to mention the stairs. I hopped once, and wobbled again, my arms flailing as I tried to catch myself.
"Riku!" Arms around my waist caught me and I glanced up to see Axel peering down at me, "Think you can walk?"
"Honestly? No. I might have to call Seph up here to look at my ankle." I grumbled as I rested my head against his chest, closing my eyes briefly.
"Oh, no need," He said mischievously. All in a moments time, he swept me up in the same fashion he had yesterday and began to tromp to my door, ignoring my protests and cursing, "Jeeze, calm down, or I drop you!"
Needless to say, I stopped thrashing and sulked loudly all the way down the stairs.
"This is annoying."
"So?"
"I am not a woman!"
"You'd make a hot babe, though."
"Oh, fuck you!" I slapped his arm and he laughed at me.
"Now, now…Language, little brother." I heard Sephiroth chuckle as we reached the kitchen, Lo and behold, there sat Zexion and Saïx.
"Damn! We missed the honey moon!" Exclaimed Saïx in mock offence, a hand coming to his chest. Zexion leaned over and began to coo.
"Oh, it's alright my darling! I had a recorder in his room!"
"Really, my love?"
"Truly!"
I blinked as they embraced and began to giggle like school girls. Axel almost dropped me from shock, and Sephiroth scoffed.
"What the hell?" I inquired to my brother.
"Don't ask… they've been like this all night."
"All night? They slept here?"
Sephiroth lifted a brow. "Of course. You didn't seem to notice as your…friend carried you in."
My cheeks grew pink, making Zexion laugh, and Axel grin widely. Axel, being the gentleman that he was, moved and settled me onto a chair, before he stood and moved behind me, both of his hands settling onto my shoulders. I tried to shrug his hands off, but his fingers tightened slightly. I couldn't see his face, but his words still made me gag.
"After the touching moment we had, you won't even let me... touch you!"
The light pink burst into a red that matched Axel's hair to perfection. I was sure I had just burst a blood vessel… I drew in a breath to tell Axel to fuck off, and I promptly choked on it as feather soft lips caressed my jaw and upper neck. The sensation was wonderful, sending tiny chills up and down my spine. My eyes began to flutter shut before I spied my brother to the right of me, his lithe fingers clenched into deadly fists. He was standing just on the other side of Zexion and Saïx. My eyes grew wide as I watched him take a menacing step forward, and I leapt from my chair, forgetting that my ankle was still black and blue.
I let out one of the most girlish squeals known to man as I toppled over Zexion and Saïx, who had just started to laugh again. "Seph!" I cried as he caught me by my upper arms, still glaring at Axel.
"Seph! He was just playing. Don't look at him with that tone of voice!" The words that tumbled from my mouth made no sense, even to my happy little brain. Zexion seemed to think it was funny, because he doubled over into Saïx's lap.
I heard Axel's chuckle from behind me, and I turned my head to stare at him, my mouth dropping as he approached my brother and I. Was he insane? It seemed so. Anyone who knew me, even for a short amount of time, knew Sephiroth, since he was always around. And anyone who knew Sephiroth… Well, they knew he had more than a few screws loose.
So, I was shocked when Axel placed his hands just above Sephiroth's, giving a gentle tug to pull me away from my brother's grasp. I stumbled back slightly, and one arm darted around my waist, the other still holding my upper arm. I couldn't see Axel, but I could see Seph, and if looks could kill…
"Don't worry Seph." I could hear him grinning. Bastard. "I won't hurt him too much… Just a light slap and tickle, ne?" He took a step backwards as Seph clenched his fists even tighter, the leather of his gloves squeaking dangerously.
Axel was not deterred, even the slightest. He took one step back, and drug me along with him. The front of his body was molded against his back, and it made me sigh lightly. He seemed to fit. Perfectly, utterly. As if he were meant to be there; at my back… Using me as a shield as Sephiroth gave a low, feral growl.
Before Axel could even open his mouth, I let my eyes flutter shut, a small smile curling my lips. It wasn't a pleasant smile. I could feel my face contorting into one of Sephiroth's faces; something deadly, and slightly humorous. Another moment, and I had opened my eyes again, tugging free of Axel's grip as I hobbled a step, or so, to lean against my brother's chest, my hands gripping his biceps.
"Would you stop threatening my acquaintances and look at my ankle, brother?"
I heard Axel scoff behind me. Oddly, Zexion and Saïx were very quiet. I rolled my eyes upwards, giving Sephiroth a stare worthy of one of his own. He watched me for a moment; calculating, as if he was trying to peel back the layers of my skin to find my weakness. After a moment, he lowered his eyes slightly, and when he looked at me again, he was smiling gently; a genuine smile. I returned his with one of my own.
"Sit down." He ordered lightly.
I moved backwards, and Axel's hands caught me before I fell, helping me into a chair. The look on his face wasn't very friendly, and I had to fight the frown. Axel moved away from me, standing beside the door nonchalantly as he crossed his arms over his chest, his head lowered. I could feel his eyes, through that fringe of fire hair, and it was intense. As if, where ever he looked, flames licked along my skin. I fought a shudder as Sephiroth came to kneel in front of me, taking my injured ankle tenderly.
He poked, and he prodded, and asked me if it hurt, even when I yelped from obvious pain. Many rude names were exchanged, before he gave my ankle a light slap, making my bite my tongue.
"Zexion. If you would be so kind?" He lifted a brow towards the silver haired schemer, who looked up innocently. After a moment, he pulled a small green orb from the pocket of his jeans, and tossed it to Sephiroth, who caught it without even looking. He gave a low mumble, and placed the orb above my skin.
As I watched, tendrils of green curled and twisted around my ankle, and the bruises seemed to be sucked into the gentle green. The pain in my ankle stopped suddenly, as if someone had thrown a switch. Sephiroth pulled his hands away, and I rotated my ankle hesitantly, and beamed at him when I felt no pain.
"Thanks Seph."
Sephiroth chuckled lightly, and lifted a hand to ruffle my hair, a very un-Sephiroth like thing to do. I smiled at the show of affection before I moved to hop off the chair, wandering back upstairs to dress. I wasn't to the middle of the stairs, before I heard Sephiroth growl, and Axel scoff, and then the feet were right behind me. I didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
I reached my room, and pushed the door open, frowning down to the mess on my floor. Arms curled around my waist and I slumped back against Axel's warm chest.
"Are you always this affectionate?" I asked dryly as I scanned my room for something to wear today.
I felt Axel shrug, his face dipping down to kiss my temple, "Only to those I like. And you're absolutely gorgeous. What's not to like about you, Riku?" He purred into my ear easily, his voice low and seductive. I was blushing; I just knew it. His tongue was like fire as it graced my ear lightly, in a teasing gesture. I might've made a sound, but I wasn't sure. One arm tightened around me as the other began to crawl up my chest, leaving a hot trail wherever he touched. I knew my mouth was open, and I knew small, keening cries were slipping from my lips as the assault to my ear continued.
His lips wandered down to my neck, and I had to fight to pull away from him, because I didn't want to move away from him. My body was aching for his lips on my flesh, and I scolded myself for that. I didn't need that. I didn't need this. I was a loner. I was fine on my own, with no one to hold me, and sooth my pains. I was fine.
I gave a low growl, as I moved away from him, a little forcefully, and began to search my room for something to wear today. Axel remained quiet. I wandered to my window, and opened it, sticking my head out. It was oddly cool today. Grey clouds had collected in the sky, and a sweet wind blew from the North. I gave a happy sigh as I pulled my head back into my room, closing the window.
My fingers landed upon something leather and something cotton. And socks. I tossed them onto my bed, before I began to strip. I suppose I had forgotten about Axel as I shed my shirt, and undid the first two buttons on my pants, pulling them over my hips. I heard a low whistle behind me, and my face colored brightly.
"Damn. Well, I must say, Riku. You're scrumptious to watch. With all that white, unmarked flesh… Hmm…" Axel's voice was seductive, and it made me shiver. I shot a glare over my shoulder. I would be damned if I let him embarrass me. Without a second through, I kicked my pants the rest of the way off, and stood for a moment, shifting my weight to one leg, hand on my hip.
I listened to the sharp intake of breath, and gave a cocky smile. I was comfortable with my body, and it bothered me that he made me want to cover myself. I almost did.
"So, you going to turn around so I see it all? Or do I get to bend you over now?" I could hear him smirking. That…bastard. I scoffed lowly and moved to grab the leather pants.
"In you dreams, Axel. You don't get to touch a fine work of art." Narcissistic? Yes. But I was good at it.
"And a fine piece of work you are. Is that your birthmark?"
I knew he was pointing at the spot just below my right cheek; the small beige colored spot that seemed to stand out on my white flesh. I gave an affirmative nod, "Mhmm… "
"Looks likes a… Meteor."
I chuckled at that, "Seph has one just like it. He always said it was a sign. I think it's a spot."
He made a small noise, maybe one of agreement as I began to pull on my leathers. "I have one on the back of my right knee. Pretty sensitive, too… Just so you know."
I glanced over my shoulder to see him grinning like a lecher. I rolled my eyes as I turned to face him fully, lacing up the front of my pants. They were one of my favorite pair. The leather hugged every curve, in all the right places. Glimpses of my skin could be seen beneath the both bright and dull colored lace. Four symmetrical gashes went from my upper thighs to just above my knees. An alteration of red and silver lace covered the bottom three, leaving the top two to show my skin. The back of my thighs were cut in a similar fashion, but they started three inches below my ass, and only three cut were shown, the middle having no lace. The bottoms flared out slightly, leaving room for my boots.
They rode fairly low on my hips, leaving a glimpse of my stomach when I put my tight, sleeveless shirt on. Axel gave me an appreciative glance.
"You look like you've walked out of a gothic porno movie. A living wet dream." His words sounded oddly sincere, and I simply rolled my eyes again as I ran a hand through my hair, to settle it against my shoulders. I ran a finger down the middle of my head to straighten my part before I sat on my bed, and began to pull on my socks and boots.
It didn't take long for me to get ready. "You're a lecher."
"And?" He lifted his brow, "If you think I'm bad, you should meet my brother… Shit! Speaking of! He's coming to town today! Staying with us for a week, or so. Finally got time off."
I wandered to my bedroom door, brushing past Axel in the process, "What does he do for a living?"
"Military. He's in charge of the cadets. A Drill Sergeant, I suppose you would call him."
Ah. "Hmm.. Seph used to be in the Military."
"No shit." He sounded wonderfully sarcastic, "Could have fooled me."
I simply laughed as I made my way downstairs to the nearly empty kitchen. Sephiroth sat at the table, sipping his tea and lifting a brow at me, and I returned to expression. "Zex and his single harem went home?"
Sephiroth gave an affirmative nod. I gave him a small smile, and opened my lips to speak, but I was cut off my Axel's absurd suggestion…More like demand.
"I'm taking Riku-baby to meet my brother. That okay with you, Mr. Scary man? His name's Zack, and he's an idiot. I'll keep your brother safe; no worries!"
Sephiroth gave one of his rare, evil smiles as he rose from the table, and moved to the door, opening it, and ushering us out, "Have fun, little brother."
I blinked. That was odd. Sephiroth was a little protective of me, and I was fine with that, but him just letting me walk out with an obvious smart ass? Something had to be amiss. Or he was planning something. I bet on the latter.
"…Thanks, Seph! I'll be home later." And out the door we went.
"I know you will be. Because I'm bringing you home."
I gave a start as Seph came to walk beside me, slowing his stride to keep up with my own lazy one. I knew he wasn't going to let me leave with an idiot so easily. I felt a little bad for Axel, who walked on my other side. It was clear that they wouldn't get along. Ever.
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There you have it. Look for the next chapter to be spewed sporadically from my mind very soon!
-!Phoenix!-
