Hearts: I'm still trying to figure out why Axel likes burnt toast...
Blossom: It's a pyro thing. * shrugs*
Hearts: Riight...Onto my chapter!
Blossom: Woo! Break time!

For Marluxia, the first day of kindergarten was, well, bad. His parents didn't have the money for things like preschool or daycare, preferring to take the young pinkett and his little sister to the local park for fresh air and the chance to meet others his age before he started school.

Sadly, even this attempt was in vain because once he started school, he didn't know anyone.

Young Marluxia tired to make friends the first day his mom dropped him off at the local elementary school. But for some reason, his lack of social skills and the fact that he looked a lot like a girl with his long pink hair made the other children laugh and then run away from him. The pinkett, being a distant child and not knowing how to deal with his lack of friends, found only one emotion that he could relate to this.

Boredom.

Instead of trying to make friends, he excluded himself from the other children and played by himself in the paper mache cave found in the back of the room. Why would he want to be around such boring people?

That was, until the 11th day of school...

Marluxia was sitting alone in the little cave, starring at the ceiling where small glow in the dark stars were places. All the other little kids were at recess, playing tag outside with their friends or siblings, not knowing or caring that one of their classmates was still inside the room. And personally, he didn't care either. Why would he? They were boring anyway, and the little plastic stars were so engrossing that he almost didn't hear when someone crawled inside the cave and sat next to him.

"Hi," A small voice said softly, as to not startle him.

Marluxia looked to his side to see shoulder length blond hair framing a long face, cheeks chubby with baby fat. But what really caught the pinketts attention were the bright green eyes that this little boy had.

"Hi?" He said back, slightly confused about the fact that someone was really talking to him.

"Why are you always by yourself?" Green eyes asked, blowing a piece of hair out of his face.

Marluxia shrugged, "Cause I think they're boring."

"Boring?" The other asked, tilting his head.

The pinkett nodded, "Yeah, boring."

Green eyes smiled, two of his teeth missing. "Do you mean like, they don't stand up to your expectations and stuff?" He asked, using big words like they were the most normal thing to come out of a five year old's mouth.

The pinkett nodded again, enthusiastically,"Yeah! Like that!"

Green eyes giggled slightly, "Then I know what you mean. Everyone here's a dummy. I don't want to be around dummies the rest of my school career!"

"I agree, everyone here's an idiotic jerk! It's sickening to know that I'll HAVE to be friends with them for the rest of a long time," Marluxia jutted out his lower lip in a pout.

"...You don't HAVE to be friends with them," Green eyes said.

"Really?" The pinkett asked, raises his eyebrows.

"Yeah, in fact..." His smile grew even bigger, "I think that WE should be friends!"

His blue eyes widened in surprise at the proposal. "Why would I want to be friends with you?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Because," he giggled again," At least with me as a friend, I won't be an idiot like the others! I want to be a scientist when I grow up!" His green eyes lit up at the mention of his dream.

Well, to young Marluxia, this was a very good point.

"Hmm...Alright. I'll let you be my friend," Marluxia said, a small smile on his face, "But! You have to hang out with me EVERYDAY. Even if your sick."

"Done and done!" He smiled, holding out his pinkie. "Pinky promise!"

Marluxia giggles and wrapped his pinkie around his, "I'm Marluxia."

"I'm Vexen! We're gonna be the bestist friends ever!"

0-o-0-o

Marluxia dropped his house keys into the tin bowl by the door, rubbing a hand over his tired eyes and face. The only good thing that happened today was that a client of his paid him double what he owed him for sex. Probably out of guilt for not using any lube or prepping him before entering him. He thanked his lucky stars that he didn't tear.

He closed the door to his cheep apartment, throwing his coat and bag on a thrift store chair near the outdated kitchen. He needed to spend his money on food and clothes, so furniture was the last thing on his mind when ever he went shopping. Everything in his apartment was from a thrift store, free, or taken from a family member. Or from his roommate, who was actually pretty wealthy for being bartender.

Speaking of which...

"Hey Pinky!" A red head who was lounging on the couch called as the pinkett stepped into the living room. Marluxia gave him a cold glare as he noticed that his strange roommate was watching porn on a newly acquired laptop.

"Don't call me that, Axel. You know it gets on my nerves," He growled, pushing him to the side so that he could sit on the worn down couch.

Axel shut the laptop, halting the sounds of moans, gasps, and crying out for more. "I know, babe. Why do you think I do it?" His wink made the pinkett sigh and shake his head. Axel was once his ex-boyfriend, but they broke up because their relationship was built mostly on sex rather then feelings. Now they were roommates/fuck buddies. If Marluxia was up for it, at least.

Marluxia rolled his eyes, leaning against the back of the couch as a sigh escaped his perfect pink lips. He reopened them when he felt someone crawl onto his lap. "Axel, get off. I'm not in the mood," He said, glaring at the red head with a gaze that he hoped would make his head explode.

Axel smirked, moving his face closer so that they were only a breath away from each other. "Are you sure?" he whispered, placing his hands behind the others head, gently kneading at his scalp.

"Yes," was the blunt answer.

The red sighed but didn't pull away,"Fine, whatever you say, princess." His trademark grin came across his face again. "Oh, and by the way," He said, one of his hands finding it's way under the couch cushion. "You've got mail." He pulled out a letter and waves it in between their faces.

The pinkett blinked a few times before taking the latter, instantly recognizing the return address. It was the kid...the one who's letter he peaked in.

Axel climbed off his lap and resumed his place next to him, the mini computer back on his thighs. "Really, I didn't even know anyone KNEW our address!" He rolled his eyes and flipped the computer up, the sounds of sex coming back into the room. Marluxia sighed and left to go to the kitchen where he found some note paper and a small stack of envelopes.

He made a mental note to get more.

Dear Zexion:

Do you honestly think that your dad would be proud of you if you died? I mean, yes he does sound like a total asshole, but the kind of asshole that wouldn't feel anything if you gave up your life. I'm just being blunt here and I'm sorry for it, but I think he would feel many thing about your death. Just not proud. NO parent, no matter how huge of a bastard they are, would be proud of their kid dying. And you're friends, even if you have no idea where they are, would miss you too. News travels fast.

I can't give you a life away from your dad. I can't give you back all your friends and I can't give you a reason to trust what I say. All I can give you is a person to talk to. If you want, you can keep sending me letters and I'll reply. You tell me about your life, and I'll respond. But only if you swear that you won't kill yourself.

Think about it.

-M

Marluxia folded the letter and placed it in the envelope, sighing sadly to himself. He felt that his letter to this depressed kid was too harsh, but he really didn't know how else to word it. This guy was raped and abused by his father, how was the pinkett supposed to know how he would react?

His tongue ran across the glue as he sealed the pocket, copying the addresses in his dull blue pen. No person would be proud of someone killing themselves.

No person would be impressed, nor would they be happy.

Because when your dead, your just dead.

And whoever you leave behind will be all alone...

Marluxia shook his strawberry pink hair, ridding himself of whatever memory may resurface. He refused to think about it any further. Taking the note, he flipped off a jerking off Axel before running down to the lobby of the apartment building and sending it off. He glanced out the bared windows of the lobby and onto the dirty street where a homeless man was currently trying to get enough change for his next meal. To where a girl in a short red dress and ripped jacket who looked no older then 16 walked by, shivering in the cold.

It was a hard world out there, but that was something Marluxia already knew.

Leaning his forehead against the window, he breathed on the glass and watched as the glass fogged up in a near perfect circle. He would get out of here. He just had to wait...

And waiting sure isn't easy.

Hearts: Young Vexen sure is cute!
Blossom: Y'know, before he was creepy.
Hearts: ...Uhhh...Review and favor! For Axel's porn?
Blossom: I'd rather have Axel porn...but yeah. What she said