Lisanna and Bixlow II

Us – by – Regina Spektor

When I think of you

I think of beauty

I think of innocence

Because you are who you are

-X-

"You – your hair is blue?" He snorted as he crossed his arms, a smug expression on his slightly dirtied face.

"So? Your hair's white. Care to retort, Granny?" At this, she merely pouted, copying the position of his arms as she turned around, her dress circling at her feet.

"I see your point."

"Besides, it's your fault for ambushing me." She turned back around to stared him down.

"Well, it's your fault for not letting me see."

"You were asking for it the moment you snatched off my mask and –" She held up a delicate, pale hand in protest.

"I did not snatch it off."

"Denial. You know, Lisanna – can I call you Lisanna?"

"No."

"So anyway, Lisanna. You know – liars go to Hell." She rolled her eyes.

"And perverts never find love."

"From what proverb is that?" She 'hmph'ed in defiance.

"It doesn't have to be from a proverb to be true."

"It's your fault." The white-haired princess threw her hands up in exasperation.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

He crossed his arms, "It just does."

To this, she merely shook her head. "You know what? This is childish – you're childish."

"Ouch."

Silence filled the air until Bixlow spoke again.

"It's still your fault."

"For what?" This was getting ridiculous.

"For existing."

"Well, it's your fault for having blue hair."

"Your fault for having old man hair."

"Or old lady!" She stomped her foot on the grass they were currently sojourning over, stubbornly glaring as he laughed at her.

"Your hair is white."

"Well, it's your fault –" She stopped abruptly, trying to think of something witty to say, giving up after a good five minutes. "Yeah." The princess trailed off.

"What do ya mean yeah?"

"I just –" The white-haired beauty found herself at a loss of words once again. "Yeah," She repeated.

He sighed as he started to trudge on, Lisanna following behind.

-X-

"Hey, so Bixlow – where should we go now?" He looked at her incredulously.

"With all due respect, Princess – I'm takin' you back to the castle." She tugged on his arm playfully and began to drag him towards the town, his unwillingness to follow drawing stares from a few passers-by.

"Aw, come on! We're near town, there's a fair. It's the perfect opportunity. Have fun!" At this, Bixlow raised a brow and Lisanna realized the pure irony of her comment.

"Okay – I get it, you're fun. But that doesn't mean I am. I haven't been to a festival like this since I was but a child! Please." She gave him an imploring look that made him simply have to give her what she wanted. His shoulders sagged a little as he sighed, finally agreeing.

"Fine. But are you sure this is a good idea?" The queen-to-be rolled her eyes at him.

"Yes - whenever the villiage idiot says it's not a good idea, you know it's a must on your to-do list." She cocked her head to the side as she said this, looking at him. "Now, come on!" She stressed her words, pulling the knight harshly as they both continued on and Bixlow sighed.

The things I do for my princess.

Five hours later

"Yay! I had fun, didn't you?" He stared at her through half-lidded eyes.

"Sure. Can I take you home now?"

"Okay!"

-X-

The pair walked slowly, the quiet making the air even more awkward. Neither one of them had anything to say, and that fact made Lisanna self-concious. She absentmindedly rubbed the back of her neck trying to conjure up a conversation-starter.

"So –" She stopped herself when she realized the man next her had been trying to say something as well. She bowed her head, suddenly finding the ground very interesting.

"Uh, sorry. Go ahead." He shook his slightly and sent a smirk in her direction, something that he did often – she noted.

"Ladies first." She laughed nervously – uncertain of why – but nonetheless, embarrassed that a person like him had actually remembered that Ladies First rule.

"Heh, um it wasn't really anything important. I just wanted to say that um – I just wanted to – um." She stumbled clumsily over her words – something that she, as a proper princess, was not used to. Lisanna tried hard, but she found that the intensity of Bixlow's stare prevented her from saying anything more. He gave a chuckle.

"What's the matter, Princess – tongue-tied? I wouldn't blame ya though, this face can be a bit distracting." He wagged his tongue and she sighed – mainly for two reasons. One; because she wasn't as disgusted at his tongue-wagging fettish as she should have been – as a princess, of course. And two; he had, yet again, succeeded in ruining a perfectly good, heart-felt moment.

"One of his many talents." She thought with a scoff. What was she to do though? He was her knight in shining armor.

"Well, now I can't tell you what I was going to say because your heavenly beauty," She could've sworn she'd heard him mumble under his breath – you know it. "Made me forget. So anyway, what were you going to tell me?"

"Ah, that. Um – we're almost there – to the castle, I mean."

"That's it?" He put a hand to his chin in thought.

"Oh, and your sister says hi."

"You know Mirajane?" He gave a lazy nod as they continued their walk.

"Yeah, she and Fried have this," Bixlow paused in his hand-motions as he took in her confused expression. "Thing goin' on."

"Ah, so that's why she ran away. For Fried, hmmm." The queen-to-be put a hand to her chin in thought. "Tell me, who is this man courting my sister?" He cocked his head towards her, sighingly quite audibly.

"It's called dating, Princess." Her eyes grew wide, shock flooding her entire appearance.

"Holyhell! He's sleeping with her?"

"No, no no no no – no." The failed knight-in-shining-armor held his hands up, trying to calm the easily distressed girl.

"He's courting her." He sighed in defeat as she blinked up at him with cerulean orbs, befuddled at his stammering.

"But I thought you said that they were – dating." She stressed her pronounciation with every syllable and Bixlow offered a lop-sided grin, amused at her behavior.

"They are dating. It's just that – well, dating is another word for courting. Time passes, Princess. The world isn't what it used to be."

"Well, excuse me! I've been trapped in a tower for the past fifteen years! The last time I even laid eyes on the outside world was when I was four, so pardon me for my lack ofknowledge." He chuckled at her outgoing attitude and slung an arm around her shoulder, to which she awkwardly ducked out of.

"You're a funny one, you know that?" She merely looked at him, horrified that he would even suggest that her genuine personality was entertaining! Lisanna stomped away, internally laughing at the way he called at her.

"O-oi! Come back!" Yet irritated at the fact that he talked to her so casually. Annoyed with the fact that she had let him in – angered at the thought that she actually, maybe, sort of liked his company – though she would never admit it.