A/N: Sooo the left side of my face is burning like hell and it's all puffy… I think I got bit by a spider! D: Woe is me… Anyways, what do I do when I'm in pain? Write! :P
Also, to answer some questions!
CataclysmicContingency: It's the haircut I'm currently trying to grow out, yes. :P But I just dyed mine from pink to a dark red/black. I suppose I'd sympathize with Kairi the most… though I usually don't like her. As far as adding more FF characters… Idk yet! If I end up adding them, it'll prolly be Cloud and Tifa. But don't count on it. :P I kinda make shit up as I go.
rudeyardveil: You didn't technically ask a question, but you brought up a good point. The "Sir" thing is supposed to be weird and awkward. He's trying to keep it as informal as possible, 'cause he has quite the different reaction when she says his name. (And it's not the reaction he'd like it to be. :P) But you'll see all about that soon! ;D
Also, if any of you have questions feel free to ask! I'll definitely answer them ASAP! :D
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Chapter Twelve
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"Good morning, my love! How much have you missed me?"
I smiled at Sora over Skype, "Tons, darling! How's your trip going?"
He shrugged, "It's all right, I guess… I'm gonna be stuck here for awhile though."
"Really?" I pouted, "Why?"
"They've got me working on a trial project for the company we're trying to land. The work alone is going to take two months…"
"Damn it… I was really hoping you'd be coming home early for once."
He sighed, "I know… So how're things on your end? Nami and Van behaving?"
"Eh, mostly… I decided to let Namine date that guy she likes. Van and I had him over for dinner and got the down low on him."
"Wow, you and Van did something together? That's a first. I'm glad you two are finally getting along," he laughed, smiling brightly.
I felt like shit for lying to him… "I guess so… he's still being a jerk. But he did fix the brakes on the Impala. How did I never know he was a mechanic?"
"I dunno. Did I never mention it?"
"Must not have…" I mumbled, then realized that he hadn't even noticed my haircut, "Hey dork! Notice anything different?!"
He eyeballed me for a long moment before completely flipping shit, "Holy fuck, you cut all your hair off!"
"…Wow," I commented, "We've been together for 7 years and you didn't even notice right away that I was lacking 90% of my hair."
"But… but why did you cut it off? It looked so good long…" he pouted, and I knew immediately that he didn't like it.
I sighed heavily, "I'll grow it back out…"
"N…no… it's fine. I'll get used to it," he stammered.
Wrong answer, love. "You obviously don't like it, so it's fine…"
"I just don't get it… why is the side shaved?"
"I thought it would look cool! It's a trend right now…" I was less than thrilled with his reaction, "I love it…"
He frowned a little, "I… I just liked your long hair a lot is all."
"Hey, I gotta go… my boss is calling me," I said quickly, hanging up on him before he had time to react. I'd lied, of course… I don't really know what I thought he'd say about my hair, but it definitely wasn't that.
"Damn, Pinkie… That was rough… Are you okay?" I didn't even care as Van slinked into my office. I was actually a bit relieved to hear his voice.
I huffed a little, pissed off that Sora was such a jerk, "I just don't get it… even if he really didn't like it, he's not supposed to tell me! He's supposed to tell me I'm pretty no matter what!"
"He's insane if he doesn't see how gorgeous you look…" he said softly, watching me from the doorway.
I blinked a few times, "Did you just compliment me, Van?"
"You know you're not supposed to call me that…" he grumbled, turning and promptly walking away.
That threw me off. He never just walked off like that. …Something was up. "Van, wait!" I caught up with him in the hallway.
"What?" he bit, sounding kinda weird.
"What's wrong with you today, Van? You're being all silent and broody."
His jaw tensed up a little, "Stop… just stop."
"Stop what? I'm confused… are you mad at me?"
He turned to face me, suddenly looking frustrated as hell, "Leave me alone, Kairi… I'm going downstairs."
I stopped following him, standing in the upstairs hallway looking utterly confused. Did I do something wrong?
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"Why are you crying?" he reappeared in my bedroom door about an hour later.
I sniffled a little, "You don't care… Stop pretending."
"Just tell me…" he mumbled, closing the door behind him and sitting down on the edge of the bed.
I pulled out my phone and showed him about twenty different messages from Sora—all of them asking if I was mad at him, but none of them apologizing for being shitty.
"Jeez… he's a fucking moron…"
"It's not even that I need him to like it… I'm not that vain… but…" I trailed off, trying not to start crying again.
"But you felt really beautiful, and for your own husband not to see that hurt… am I about right?"
I looked up at him, "You're smarter than people give you credit for, Van… including myself. I'm sorry…"
"Eh, don't be… I earned your opinion of me."
"Why were you mad at me before?" I wondered, pulling one of my pillows up to my chest and resting my chin on it. "Did I do something wrong? I mean, if it's about the whole 'Sir' thing, I've been meaning to talk to you about that… it's kinda strange."
He shifted a little, turning his gaze down to the floor, "I… When you say my name… it… makes me feel things…"
"Feel things? Like what?"
"Nothing… nevermind. Just forget about it," he said, fidgeting with his hands nervously.
I pouted a little, "You can tell me… What, does it piss you off? Do I say it weird? Or do you not like the nickname 'Van'? 'Cause I can call you Vanitas."
"N…no… I like my nickname… it's just…" he stammered a little, "You don't get it… it's fine. Drop it."
"Tell me!" I whined, poking at his arm annoyingly, "Pleeeease?"
He scoffed, "You're such a brat…"
"Soo… tell me?" I poked at him some more, "Tell me, tell me, tell me!"
Suddenly his hand was clamped around my wrist and my eyes were wide as saucers. I was in for it now…
As his lips came crashing down on mine only moments later, I fully expected it to be another vicious, hateful kiss… but it was the complete opposite. He dropped my wrist and pulled the pillow out of my arms, only to move closer to me and very gently caress my cheek as he kissed me with… what was it? Passion? …Care?
Even in my shock, I returned the sweet kiss with a little moan escaping my lips. As fun as it had been to make out with him angrily… this made my stomach leap and churn in the best way.
"Van…" I whispered, needing answers immediately, "What…?"
I jumped a little as he wiped away a stray tear from my cheek, his golden eyes for once actually looking softly into mine, "Please stop crying…"
"Please tell me what's happening right now…" I chuckled a little, sniffling.
"I… I can't…"
"Vanitas… please…"
He pulled away from me, starting to fidget again, "You don't want me to tell you, Kairi…"
"That may be true, but it's kind of unavoidable now…"
"Damn it, Kairi! Why can't you just be horrible and let me hate you?" he burst out, startling both of us a bit.
I just stared at him, "I thought you did hate me. Isn't that what this all has been? Us taking out our frustrations on each other?"
"That's what it was supposed to be… And then everything I hated about you, I started to find cute and alluring… Even the way you screech at me… Now as hard as I try, I can't fucking hate you!"
"Van… what're you saying…?" my face went completely blank.
He finally made eye contact with me again, "Kairi… Despite my trying very, …very hard to fight it… I—"
"Don't say it… I can't… you can't… Van, I'm married…"
"I need to say it, Kairi…"
I whined softly, "Please don't… don't make it real…"
"I'm in love with you."
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A/N: And BOOM! The world explodes! :D
