I'd just been alerted by a friend that a disclaimer is often necessary to ackowledge that I don't own the ideas, but...Isn't posting on Fanfiction a disclaimer in itself? I mean, Fanfiction is fiction based on the works of others so...Hmm, whatever. I'd probably need a second opinion on that: do we need a disclaimer?
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, its ideas or the characters mentioned in this story.
Zexion felt utterly ridiculous. He couldn't even begin to fathom a logical reason for the timeless hours he'd spent simply lying across his bed, staring vacantly at the note the young bookstore-keeper had given him to remind him of his incoming book order. He had admired her girlish handwriting for so long now he could almost pinpoint the sections of the sentences she'd stop to think and talk to him. When she discussed her favourite books, her writing looked all the more lighter and curvier, but when her face contorted with disgust over the girls of her generation, she pressed her pen harder, her writing becoming more rigid and thick.
Zexion then mentally slapped himself, aware of his apparent idiocy- Zexion, you are being an utter fool- snap out of it!
He finally sat up; heaving a deep sigh as he dejectedly took one last glance at the note. Maybe another glance, or two...it couldn't hurt.
"Zexion! Zexioooooon!"
The Cloaked Schemer mentally braced himself as the boisterously demanding Vexen stormed into his would-be quiet room, heaving deep, dramatic breaths.
"Zexion...It's...It's your job. You're assigned for cooking duty,"
"Nice to see you too, Vexen," Zexion muttered quietly, disregarding Vexen's whims.
"Zexion, you've been dallying in your room all day- you're needed in the basement!"
Zexion sighed, finally pushing his limp body up off the bed. "I have errands to attend to."
Vexen's jaw dropped slightly, flabbergasted as Zexion moved about the room to find a suitable space to transport himself. "What...but? B-but what about supper? Surely your errands can wait?"
Zexion took one last glance at his written book order, before looking up at Vexen with a wry smirk. "Food should be the least of your worries, Vexen. Besides, I think those generous thighs of yours could afford to lose a couple of inches, anyway."
And swiftly he submerged himself into the darkness of the portal, hearing Vexen's emotional groans and howls of insecurity melting in the distance behind him. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Just a little.
Much to Zexion's surprise, Twilight Town had become much less of a nuisance since his prior visit. The Cloaked Schemer's less-than-ordinary appearance now seemed to generate less gaspers and gawkers, to the point he could almost stride through the streets as if he were a citizen himself.
Perhaps the townspeople had gotten used to his peculiar look, but Zexion couldn't care less for such nonsense. The only reason such an unremarkable town held the slightest of Zexion's interest, was only because of his book order at the little corner bookstore.
Book order aside however, he also couldn't help his budding intrigue of the young storekeeper that worked there, much to his shame. She was just a petty teenage girl! What hold could she possibly have over the Cloaked Schemer? Was it simply for the fact she'd been so strangely kind to him?
Despite his knowledge reaffirming that his book order would not come in for days, Zexion could not help himself but to pay a little visit.
He convinced himself it was pity for the girl. Pity. That's right, pity. Surely it must get lonely running an old bookstore on one's own...
Zexion's perceptive nose detected the mixture of scents in the surrounding air, familiarising his senses with the powdery coconut-mint aroma of the girl, interlaced with the smell of old hardback books. But instead his senses were inflamed with the smell of something foreign.
Surreptitiously, Zexion crept close to the wooden door entrance, focussing his concentration on identifying the beings he could sense within the store. He knew, without a doubt, she was in there. He could never mistake the refreshingly delicate scent that emitted from her aura. However, a mixture of other unwelcomed smells caused Zexion to decide against going into the building. Minimal contact with people as much as possible was a necessity in this unfamiliar town.
Or in any town, for that matter.
Zexion spied a small window on the right side of the little building, which conveniently looked in to the store. Upon normal circumstances, Zexion was the type to keep to himself and not pry in such matters which did not concern him. But this was beyond normal circumstances.
Well, according to him, that is.
"C'mon, Olette!" whined one voice from within the store.
"What could one little get-together after the Struggle Preliminaries hurt?" questioned another.
"My work shift," the female shopkeeper replied timidly, much to Zexion's surprise. He hadn't beheld the girl in any other countenance besides bright and confident.
She fiddled nervously with her brown work apron before continuing, "I have work straight after the tournament. I can't come."
Zexion observed how the other beings refused the girl's justification for declining to go to the Struggle Prelims after party. They repeatedly pined and begged, much to Zexion's disgust. These people- who appeared to be her friends- had no dignity!
"I'm really sorry, guys..."
The small cluster of people slowly trudged towards the exit of the bookstore, their disappointment evident in their murmurs and sluggish walking. Zexion observed, with much fascination, how the female youth's emerald green eyes darkened with intensity as she spied the group of three boys leaving. Just as the last blonde-haired boy was to walk out the door, the girl stopped him.
"Roxas!" she called out offhandedly, much to Zexion's shock.
Well, well...fancy meeting you here. Traitor, Zexion thought in disgust.
The last individual of the trio, Roxas, a young honey-blonde haired boy, turned back to the young employee. She stared down at her feet, toying and fidgeting nervously with her beige apron.
"I...I'm really sorry. I hope you understand I can't miss my shift," she sighed.
"Olette, it's okay! Don't worry about Hayner- we totally understand," the teenage boy responded confidently approaching the brunette.
She looked up to gaze into his face, taking a deep breath. "Listen. I know my work has been getting in the way of us two, so...how about I make it up to you by...Maybe going out sometime? Make up for lost time?"
Zexion's eyes bulged in utter shock. He didn't know much about these types of things, but was she...did she just-?
The boy blinked, taken aback. "Really? I, well, sure...I guess. Whenever you're free, I'll tell the guys so we can all hang out,"
"No, Roxas...I meant-"
"Shoot! I gotta go, catch you later Olette!"
The girl sighed in defeat as Roxas made a swift beeline for the exit. After waiting momentarily, Zexion deduced that the scent of the group of boys had finally diffused from the air, and concluded in was safe to enter.
Upon hearing the tiny jingle from the bell suspended above the door, the young girl looked up expectantly, her distressingly dull eyes widened in surprise.
As Zexion approached the counter, she stuttered, "Oh, y-you're back. Your...your..."
Zexion raised a questionable eyebrow, not quite understanding what she was alluding to.
She shook her head, taking a deep breath to start over. "Sorry. I never did get your name..."
"Zexion."
"Zexion. Right, well, It's nice seeing you again Zexion, my name's Olette," the girl smiled, taking out her hand for him to shake. He complied.
"So, Zexion...Um..." she paused. "What are you doing here? You know your book wouldn't have come in yet, after one day..."
Zexion deliberated, trying to conjure up a feasible excuse. "I was just...in the area and thought I'd stop by, having just witnessed the little predicament that had just occurred,"
"Oh, you saw that..." Olette muttered, blushing profusely with embarrassment.
After a moment's silence, Olette laughed, in spite of the apparent sadness interlaced with her tone, "Yeah, well...Have you ever felt that you wanted something so intensely, but are unable to get?"
Zexion rested his fist on his chin, responding coolly, "I experience that every day,"
Olette misunderstood, staring at him with large, curious eyes. "Oh? So you have a crush on someone?"
"..."
WHAT!?
Her seemingly innocent response completely took Zexion off-guard, to the extent his shock caused him to choke on his own saliva.
"Zexion?! Are you alright!?"
He coughed and spluttered momentarily before somewhat recovering his cool demeanour. Zexion then heaved a frustrated sigh before finally responding to her previous question, through his gritted teeth, "No, that was not what I was referring to..."
Zexion straightened himself off, turning away from the brunette, trudging towards the exit.
As he opened the door, he quietly growled, "Your affections for that boy is nothing,"
Zexion stepped outside, just as he finished his sentence- "You will never know what it means to not have something important,"
Haha, oh gosh, I think this whole interest in being true to the characters has blown over to full paranoia. Well, what do you think? Could you imagine Zexion getting so touchy about something like that? Or was it jealousy? Well, whatever. It does take time for a character like Zexion to warm up to someone...so here's the very very start to a very rocky road for this pairing ahead.
And by the way, thank you all for your kind support! I'm very much determined to see this story out to the end and with your encouragement I know I can do it! Olexion/Zexiolette/Zexette ftw! :D
Thanks for reading! xxx
