Just One More Chance.
Chapter XIV.
"You are My Protector Everywhere; why should I feel any fear or anxiety?" - Sri Guru Granth Sanhib.
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It isn't a overly-fed stomach that Maxi is suffering from. It's a case of the common cold. Again. And from being so close to him, Zexion has picked the illness from the child. Again.
"I just had to let you in here" the man grumbles, furrowing his brow at his boy. "I had to take pity on you and let you lay with me." Maxi tries to hide under the blankets, blinking his lovely blue eyes at him in a apologetic manner.
"I didn't mean to get you sick, Papa."
"Yeah. I know." Zexion wipes his damp nose again on his tissue, and sniff nosily. "I just don't like being cooped in bed."
"Because it's boring?"
"Yes. Very boring."
"You shouldn't think of it as boring," Maxi says with a little smile. "If you think it's boring, it's just going to feel just so."
"Don't give me "wise-man-once-said" wisdom, Maxi." The young man sighs, and he mops up Maxi's runny nose too. "I better not be sick tomorrow. I can't miss work or I won't get paid."
"Munny is stupid" Maxi grumbles. The tissue trickles his face and he screws up his nose at the touch. "You can't do anything without paying."
"Life's tough, boy. Get used to it." Zexion mumbles an annoyed, sleepy sound, and he sees that the child had shuffled closer to him. "I guess it's not so bad. There is one advantage to being sick for us."
"Really? What?" The door opens a touch and Lexaeus looks in, smiling softly.
"How are my little sickly darling?"
"We get a nurse" Zexion whispers with a grin to the kid, before sitting to greet his lover. "We are fine, Lexaeus. No need to fuss." He laughs as a large hand rests lightly on his forehead. "Do we look any better, Doctor Lexaeus?"
"Well, your temperature has gone down." The man rests his hand in the same manner on Maxi's head, and ruffs his hair. "And you're not sneezing. You should be fine tomorrow."
"Oh, I wanted to stay home from lessons" Maxi playfully sulks. Zexion rolls his eyes.
"And I wanted to stay away from work," he smirks, "but it's not going to happen. Oh!" He has just remembered something, something he should have done. "Grocery shopping. I was going to do this week's shopping today."
"I'll do the shopping" Lexaeus sighed. He tucks the slate-haired boys under the covers again, making them comfortable. "You two just rest."
"Thank you Lexaeus. You're too kind" Zexion smiles weakly. He pulls Maxi a touch closer. "Isn't he?"
"Yeah." The child smiles with a yawn and a rub of his eye. "He is." Lexaeus chuckles, and the boys blink at him with confused expressions. "What's so funny?"
"You two look so similar" the man smiles. "Almost like twins." The illusionists furrow their brows at him - they don't like being told they look the same, and pull the covers over their heads, acting childish and annoyed.
"The list is on the fridge" Zexion grumbles. Lexaeus laughs, shaking his head. He makes a quick detour in the living room, finding Lex sprawled across the floor, reading his five new books all at the same time.
"How can you read and take in all that information at once?"
"I'm open-minded," the boy says simple and that is that. He perches his reading glasses atop of his head and turns to face his parent. "What's up?"
"I'm going food shopping and I need you to help me to carry some things. Get your shoes and jacket on."
"What about the sick-and-irritable in the bed?"
"They will be fine for a hour or so. Come on."
------
It seemed like everyone is out shopping today. Sunday market is the busiest day of the week for the area around the castle - Everything is on sale and no one likes to waste munny around here. Lexaeus can easily get through the crowds, thanks to his obvious size. Lex has to stay close behind so he doesn't get lost and tramped underfoot. They strolled through the street, into the borough and Lexaeus is contently looking at Zexion's shopping list.
"We need more cleaning supplies too" he grumbles. He stops in front of a general store; Lex doesn't pay attention and bumps into him.
"Oof!" And he falls onto his backside, hard. "Ouch!"
"Don't daydream, Lex," Lexaeus smirks, giving him a hand up. "You're going to get yourself hurt."
"I already have" the lad grins, rubbing his very lower back. Lexaeus shakes his head at him. He gives him the woven shopping bag, before going inside. "I'm just going to look around in here. Don't go running off."
"Yeah, yeah." Lex leans up against the doorframe of the shop and sighs, watching everyone go by him. Some who know what he is gives him a second glance. He's used to it. Being a fake makes people wary of you.
"Yo! Lex!"
"Up here!" A sharp whistle gains his attention and he looks upwards, towards the top of the city's tall wall barrier and smiles at the sight of two boys and two girls waving down at him: Xenia, Xenos, Dexter and Roxanne.
"Hey guys" he calls back with a returning wave.
"Come and play footie with us" Dexter grins, holding up his new ball he bugged Demyx for above his head. Lex shacks his head.
"Can't. I'm helping my dad with the shopping" he explains, hold up the bag briefly to prove his point.
"Oh come on, Lex" Xenos drowns. "Ya' dad doesn't need your help that badly."
"No use trying to convince him otherwise" Roxanne sighs with a slight teasing undertone. She raked her thin fingers through her thick blonde hair, and it cracks with static under the touch. She sneered back at the earth elemental. "Lex is a sweet not-so-little daddy's boy."
"Shut your gob, Roxanne!"
"What's wrong with caring for your dad?" Xenia asks coolly, narrowing her violet eyes at the younger, smaller, weaker girl. "I'm a daddy's girl. Want to make something about it?"
"Um. No, thank you" Roxanne smiles sweetly, dodging the chance of a verbal or mild physical fight. Xenia will always win, hands down.
"Wonderful. Glad that is sorted. Now," the wind mage climbs onto the very edge of the wall and dangles her legs over the side, ready to jump, "if you don't mind, me and Lex will be having a private, elder discussion. Go ahead. I'll catch up."
"I hate it when you do that," Xenos grumbles. "Being all secretive with your best friend." Xenia blinks at him, eyelashes fluttering innocently.
"I don't know what you mean." She furrows her brow. "Now get!" She makes a sudden sharp movement towards the younger kids and they run away, out of site. A smug smirk spread across the girl's face and she jumps, landing perfectly on the ground like a young cat. She startled a few passers-by but Xenia doesn't care. She just flicks her long black ponytail back over her shoulder and strides up to the boy confidently. She is the only one just as tall as Lex, and he has to stifle a snigger as she get too close and their noses almost touch.
"I have a bone to pick with you," Xenia hisses, her wicked smile showing off her sharp teeth and the wires of her upper retainer. "Where were you last night?"
Lex arches a brow. "Excuse me?"
"On the gaming network," Xenia says, crosses her arms at him. "Remember? We were going to have a one-on-one racing rally during the night. You don't even log on."
"Oh." Lex had completley forgot about that agreement. He tries to think up a reasonable excuse. He can't say that he spent the night in his guardians' bed like a little child. Xenia wouldn't never let him hear the end of it. "Sorry. I… fell asleep on the sofa after dinner, and Dad and Zexion didn't wake me up. You know what they are like. I spend the whole night there." Xenia cocks an eyebrow at him. Lex is bad at lying, and appears to be trying to fib to her, but she shrugs it off.
"Well, Dexter and Xaime were on last night, so it doesn't matter." She smiles cheekily. "I'll just get you back next brawl practice. Ah!" She squeaks as Lex gives her long, black side fringe a playful tug. He can be as rough as he want with her; not with the others.
"As agile as you are, Xenia" Lex says with a mischievous grin, "you know I'll just pin you every time."
"You jerk. Get off my hair" the girl giggles, yanking her locks away from his grasp. She tries to fix her clips and chopsticks for no reason. "Took me ages to get it sorted out." Lex just laughs at her fussiness. He glances at her right hand and his expression turns serious. He sees the bandages.
"What did you do to your wrist?" Xenia loses her cheerful smile and she looks at her harmed arm too, rubbing the off-white material with her left hand.
"Just a sprain" she mumbles. "Told Pa I fell out of a tree."
"How did you really hurt it?"
"Stupid really. It was during a scrap with a couple of bastards. Uppercut the tallest but I did it wrong. Hurt like hell."
"…Did you win?"
"Of course I did. What do you take me for?" The girl sighs, rubbing the back of her neck. "What was I meant to do, Lex? Ignore all the jeers and slander? I don't think."
"We are doing to get into a lot of trouble if we seriously harm someone."
"It's not like I summoned a hurricane on them."
"You know what I mean." Lex runs his fingers through his hair. "If some who hates us attack, and we do something in self-defence, we will be the ones in trouble."
"But it is all in self-defence" Xenia insists. "You know what its like… You and Maxi get to be the punch line of most jokes." Lex looks at the floor. He knows exactly what its like. "Lexaeus doesn't know about it, does he?" Xenia mumbles.
"…Don't tell him" Lex pleads in a whisper. "I won't tell Xaldin about your wrist."
"Like we want them fussing over us anyhow." Lexaeus comes back out of the store, and the children put on big smiles for him. The man smiles down back at them.
"Hello Xenia."
"Hey Lexaeus" the girl beams. "Just passing by and saw Lex. Doing alright?"
"Yes. Thank you." He sees her wrappings and becomes slightly concerned. "What happened to your arm?"
"I was being foolish and fall from a tree branch."
"Oh dear. Are you alright?"
"Fine." Xenia waves her hand around to prove it so. "It's just a sprain and I didn't fall too far. The only bad thing is that it's awkward to play my violin like this."
"Oh. Well. As long as you're alright."
"I'm great. Well, I better get going." She ruffs up Lex's hair as payback. "See you later, junior" and she disappears into the crowd, to find the next set of stairs back up to the top of the wall.
"You can go with her if you want" Lexaeus smiles to his boy. Lex shakes his head.
"I'm doing the shopping with you." He hold up the shopping bag and smiles. "You asked me to help so I will." Lexaeus chuckles, puts the cleaning fluid into the bag and takes it from the lad.
"Let's go up to the market" he says warmly. "Maybe I can find sea salt ice-cream."
"Yeah!" Lex grabs the man by the hand, and pulls him through the crowd, the promise of sugar his fuel.
------
Zexion stares up at the ceiling, watching the tiny dust particles drift in the air. He wanted to repaint the ceiling, but had never gotten around to it. He sighs, rubbing his stomach lazily. It's warm in here so the blankets have been kicked to the bottom of the bed, with a airy breeze coming through the window and his vision goes blurry, not focusing on much. There is nothing to focus on. He sneezes, and rubs the sleeps from his eyes. At least he is relaxing, and not working today. He feels much better now.
Blue smudges swoop into his view and he blinks quickly, his sight becoming normal again. The blue smudges are actually half-a-dozen butterflies fluttering above his head. He sits up sharply, thinking about how they got passed the netted curtain, but he smiles, seeing that the unusual shapes of the wings and the crisp, attractive lines and patterns which would never happen in nature.
"They are very pretty, Maxi."
"Thanks." The boy sighs, never turning his gaze away from the insects. "Too bad I can't conjure up anything bigger then a small dog."
"You're doing well for your age," Zexion smiles, trying to be encouraging. He's doesn't think he is fatherly, but he gives nice words where needed. He lays on his side and pushes the boy's hair out of his eyes. A strand brushes his nose and Maxi laughs, losing his concentration. The butterflies' different shades of turquoise and cyan run together into puddles, and then fade away completely. The boys blink up at the spot they just were, and Zexion frowns a little. "Sorry, Maxi."
"It's okay. They were only practice."
"…Maxi."
"Hmm?"
"You like me, don't you?"
Maxi looks somewhat surprised at that. "Of course, Papa. Why? Don't you like me?"
"Sure I do," the man smiles. "It was just something me and Lexaeus had a brief word about last night…" He laugh slightly, expression dopey. "Truthfully, I like having you here. You're like a little doll I can play with."
Maxi wrinkles his nose at that. "I am not a doll, and you're too old for dolls of any kind. In fact, you're a boy, so you shouldn't play with dollies at all."
Zexion chuckles. "You know, that smart mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble someday." They smile at each other for a small moment, then Zexion stands up, stretching his arms above his head. "I'm bored. Let's go bake something."
"Do you normally bake when your bored?" Maxi queried, toddling after him to the kitchen. "Not that I'm complaining or anything."
"It's a blessed curse I'm afraid. You'll get it when you're older." That said, Zexion pushes his hair back out of his face, ready to cook. "Do you want to make oatmeal or chocolate chip?"
------
The market has a whole manner of stalls and bargains, and it didn't take long for Lex to walk off a little way from Lexaeus, who was trying to get the price down on some fish. The boy is more interested in battle accessories and weapons then anything. In fact, he is so impressed by them, he doesn't see a barrel of the next stall and falls into it.
"Ah!" He trips over and many red apples come bouncing out, travelling across the ground in all directions. He gained a few laughs and eye-rolling movements from adults, wondering where his parents are, and the poor lad has to fight down an embarrassed blush. He is so clumsy at times; he seems to trip over everything below his waistline. No matter. He gets on his knees and starts to put the apples back into the barrel two at a time with both hands. I can't have the owner catch me, or I'll be in trouble. Again…
"Hey!" Lex gulps and keeps his head down, hiding his face under his hair from the obviously furious grocer towering over him.
"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't see where I was going and--"
"Bloody kids these days. Do you know how hard it is to sell damaged goods?"
"Yes sir, but they are not in bad condition. It was just a little bump - Hey!" The man grabs him by the arm and roughly pulls him up onto his feet. He gets a good look for the lad's face and his fury builds a little more.
"Oh. You're one of those fake little kids, aren't you? An Organization brat?"
"What if I am?" Lex sneers back, furrowing his brow. He tries to struggle free of the man's grasp. "And I'm not a brat." He has a urge to open up the ground under the man's feet and let him fall into a hole. The deepest he can forge.
"I've seen you lot running around here," the man hisses. His nails are digging into Lex's arm and it stings. "Making trouble wherever you go. Nothing but hoodlums. The lot of you." He pulls the boy close, and he is too close for Lex's comfort. "I have the right mind to get the police--"
"Excuse me!" Lexaeus is standing right behind them, and when the grocer jumps slightly in surprise of the giant man, Lex manages to free himself from the strong hold and retreats to his father's side, staying where it's safe. Lexaeus glares down at the grocer with a piercing stare. "What in Hell's name gives you the right to manhandle my son?" he growls.
"Son? Ha!" The stall keeper points at boy with a unkind movement. "That little clone for yours should watch what he is doing, and you should be watching him better."
"Don't you dare call him a clone" Lexaeus barks, suddenly feeling angry and protective over his Lex, "and I watch over my child just fine, thank you very much."
"The Mouse King might trust you with everything, but many can't forget the damage you have done." He glares at Lex for a moment, and the boy it shivering from rage, and he looks like he's angry and about to break down all at the same time. "And those illegitimate spawns are against nature. Fake hearts are just as bad as no hearts at all."
"Against nature, hmm?" Lexaeus grabs the man by the front of his shirt and forces him up against a support beam of his stall. Quite hard. "What about embryo screening? Surrogate mothers? That sort of thing? Is that against nature?" His grip tighten and the man is now nervous, quite scared of the giant, muscular man baring down at him. "I have the right mind to break your nose and wipe the smug smile off your--"
"Dad! Stop!" Lex grabs onto Lexaeus' arm, trying to pull him away. "He's not worth it. Can we just go home now? Please!" Lexaeus looks down at the boy, and can see the pleading, distressed look in his eyes and hears how quiet his voice has gone. "Please Dad." The man frowns, suddenly very ashamed. What am I doing? He gives the grocer a quick warning, "stay away from our children," and lets go of his shirt. He extends his open hand to Lex.
"Let's go home, Lex." The boy takes his hand quickly, and they walk past everyone staring at them as they get away. They don't talk all the way home.
------
The kitchen smells delicious, and Zexion is just about to make some tea as his lover and his charge come through the front door. They seem more quiet then normal, and they have their heads hung, but Zexion just puts in down to all that walking tiring them out.
"Hey. Want some honey tea?"
"Please" Lexaeus grunts, dumping his bagson the table. "That sounds heavenly right about now." Zexion nods, pulling another cup from the cupboard.
"Do you want some tea, Lex?" he asks the boy at the fruit bowl, placing bananas and pears into it. Lex looks up, frowning and his eyes misty. He slowly shakes his head.
"I don't want any, thank you."
Zexion blinks at him, puzzled. "Lex, are you alright?"
"Yes." The boy looks away, like he's ashamed with himself. "I'm fine." Zexion puts down his cups and spoon, and walks over to the child, cupping his face with nimble fingers.
"Are you sure?" he asks, voice smoothing as possible. Lex nods again. Lexaeus frowns, watching them. "Are you sick?" Zexion asks, his eyes searching of tell-tale signs.
"A little" the boy mumbles. He places a hand on his forehead. "I think I'm developing a migraine or something." He quickly glances towards Lexaeus, just for a moment. "May I go to my room?" His voice is wavering.
"Um. Of course you can" Zexion says. The boy quickly leaves and the young man turns to Lexaeus, eyes questioning. "What's happened?"
Lexaeus stops unpacking the bags, sighing deeply. "We… got into a bit of trouble at the market."
Zexion walks over to his dear, placing his hand on his arm. "What trouble? Lexaeus, what happened?"
"…This man got angry get Lex for knocking over something, and when he saw that he was one of our children, he more or less verbally abused him."
"What!" Zexion turns Lexaeus all the way around, so they are facing each other. "That's horrid. What did you do?"
"Confronted him, obviously." Lexaeus looks away. "I was so close to punching his lights out."
Zexion furrows his brow. "Lexaeus. Did you hurt that man?"
"…I roughed him up a little."
"Oh, for Gods sake." Zexion puts his hand under the man's chin and makes him look at his face. "Lexaeus. I know you were just doing the right thing, but Lex is obviously upset by this… I think you should go talk to him."
"…Yeah" Lexaeus agrees, nodding his head. He gives Zexion's hand a slight squeeze with his own. "I better do. I'll try to cheer him up… What should I say?"
"I don't know," Zexion shrugs. "Anything. You're Dad, not me." The boy looks around for something helpful, and takes a few cookie off the cooling tray across the room. "Give him some of these." He puts them into the large hands and makes the fingers close around them carefully. "I'll be standing outside the door."
"…Thanks" Lexaeus smiles, and gives Zexion a kiss on the brow, before they make their way to the boy's room. Lexaeus knocks at the door and no one answers, but Zexion encourages him to go in anyway. Lex's room is like the rest of the flat; a little untidy here and there. He has a bad habit of dropping his clothes anywhere on the floor, and he has books and comics in piles and towers everywhere. His desk and shelves are covering in bits and pieces he had collected from here and there, and he had stuck photo of the Organization and his friends on the wall above his bed. On the messy bed, Lex is laid front-down on the quilt, head in arm and on pillow. Lexaeus swallows and puts the door to ajar so Zexion can hear what's going on.
"…Hey, mate" Lexaeus says softly with a smile. "Are you okay?"
"…I'm fine" Lex says, voice muffled by the pillow. "I'm just tired." Lexaeus walks over, standing by the bed and Lex doesn't look at him at all. The man looks at the oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies at his hand.
"Zexion and Maxi made cookies while we were gone. Want some?"
"…No thank you."
Lexaeus sighs, and places the cookies at the bedside table for the boy to have later. He sits on the edge of the bed, and after a moment, starts to stroke Lex's back slowly, being as comforting as possible. He clears his throat nervously.
"…I'm sorry about losing my temper today," he says quietly. "I didn't mean to be so wrathful. I thought I was above all of that… It's not a very nice side of me."
"…It's okay."
"No. It's not" Lexaeus tells him. "My anger got the better of me… I just didn't like the way he was treating you and--"
"If you think I'm angry at you, I'm not" Lex says bluntly. "In fact, I'm grateful for you getting me out of that."
"Oh." Lexaeus wasn't expecting that. "…I guess that alright then."
"…I wanted to hurt that guy too," Lex admits, shifting a little. "I didn't like the way he was disrespecting us; the Organization." He voice sounds very angry. "He didn't have the right to."
Lexaeus frowns even more, shaking his head. "I know he didn't," he agrees, "And I know it's hard being outcasts from most of society and having a bad heritance. It's not nice… but we'll get through it. Won't we? We shouldn't worry about what others think about us."
"…I already know I'm a fake" Lex grumbles. "I don't need reminding all the time."
"You're not a fake" Lexaeus reassure him. "You are just as real as everyone else."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are." Lexaeus sighs, running his fingers through his own hair. "I don't know what else to say, Lex. I'm trying to make you feel better here."
"You don't need to say anything," Lex whines, sounding wound-up and stressed.
"Calm down." Lexaeus places his hand on the boy's crown. "…Look. I'm sorry. I just want to help. That man was basically bullying you and--" Lex lets out a violent sniff and tries to stifle more odd little sounds. Lexaeus arches his brows, realising. …You're been bullying. Aren't you? "…Lex, are you crying?"
"No!" the boy barks. The sound is either a snarl or a sob. Lexaeus frowns even more, causing worry-lines to appear on his brow. He asks again, being more gentle with his voice.
"Lex. Are you crying?" No barking this time. Instead the boy sits up and nods. His eyes are spiked with tears threatening to fall. The man sighs and opens his arms to him. "Come here." Lex shuffles over and lets Lexaeus pull him onto his lap and hold him. He buries his face against his chest before he starts to weep, snivel and sniff. Lexaeus rests his cheek against the child's hair, letting him cry for the moment."You're really upset by this, aren't you?" he mumbles and Lex nods in response, voice lost. Lexaeus does not know what to say. He is a man of action, not words, and this is an unusual situation for him. What does one say to a tired, tearful, miserable child? He puts on a nice smile and tilts the boy's head up gently with his fingers, brushing the tears away. "Come on, Lex" he soothes, stroking his cheek tenderly. "Big boys don't cry, do they?"
Lex hiccups, and wipes his face on the back of his hand. Lexaeus finds a spare tissue in his pocket and gives it to him. "Blow your nose. You look messy." Lex does, mopping up his cheeks and nose quickly, feeling foolish now. Of course, big boys don't blubber like he is. They don't show their feelings like that. He stops himself from tearing up again, and sandwiches his hands between his thighs. "Now" the man says, "what is going on?" Lex sniffs again, bowing his head low. Lexaeus tilts his head back up. "Don't hide it from me, Lex. If something is happening, I want to help… You trust me, don't you?"
"Mm-hmm" Lex nods quickly. He bites at his lip slightly to make it stop quivering. "It's nothing, Dad. Honest."
"It doesn't seem like nothing where I'm looking from." Lexaeus lowers his voice, raspy and gentle. His warm breath tickles Lex's face in a pleasant way. "If people are threatening you, I want to make them stop… I don't want to see you get hurt." Lex smiles weakly at those words, but the expression doesn't stay long. He furrows his brow, eyebrows knitting together.
"…It's just some bigotry gits who don't like the fact we exist," he grumbles, holding his head in his hands.
"Does anyone threaten you?"
"Some teenagers do. You know? They try to rough us up a little."
The clogs of Lexaeus' mind start to turn. "…Xenia didn't hurt her wrist from falling, did she?"
"…No."
"When you kids come home with bumps and scratches, it's from scraps with others, right?"
"…Not all the time, Dad. It's not everyone. Just some."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"We didn't want to make all of you worried." Lex looks at his guardian, putting on his innocent face, in case he will get into trouble for fighting in the first place. "We try holding back on the punches, and we never use our powers. We don't want to fight really. We don't look for trouble."
"I know. I know." Lexaeus nuzzles the boy's hair, just like a lion would do to its cub. He tries his best at being comforting and fatherly. They knew from the very beginning that not everyone would accept the children straight away, or indeed at all. They know everyone would not be nice to them. "…Who gets picked on the most?" he asks, now concerned. "The younger ones? …Does Maxi get a lot of torment?"
"Yeah," Lex's mouth twists awkwardly, and he looks downwards. "…And me," he adds in a whispering volume.
"You?" Lexaeus finds that a bit confusing, not understanding. "But you're tall for your age and extremely strong. Why would everyone start on you?"
"…"
"Lex?"
"…Because of you."
"Me?
"And Zexion." The boy looks at him, eyes darker then normal. "Because we are so-called spawn of gay men, and you don't deserve children, because there are lots of childless straight couples who would kill for off-spring, and you get two for nothing and…" He sees the heartbroken expression on the man's face and he feels like crying again. He hides his face against the broad chest, voice breaking again. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm only saying what they did."
"It's alright." Lexaeus runs his fingers through his long hair slowly. "I just… can't believe that some people act so prejudice. Even in this day of age… Lex."
"Hmm."
"Don't listen to those people… Listen to me." Lexaeus doesn't mince words, so Lex takes notice. He lifts his head and Lexaeus mumbles into his ear. "There are many children out there who don't have anyone to look after them. No mums nor dads. No family. No one to care for them and hold them, but you're a lucky child because you have me and Zexion to care for you. You have two guardians, and you have Maxi, who is like you're little brother. Right?"
"Yeah." Lex smiles slightly. "I do like Zexion, and I like Maxi too."
"Good, because they like you too. Zexion thinks of you as his child as well."
Lex laughs. "No, he doesn't."
"Of course he does, and Maxi looks up to you. He idolizes you." Lexaeus feels a little better about this and he can tell Lex is too. "And you don't just have us three. There is the rest of the Organization, all the adults and the children. We are just like one big… slightly insane family."
"Uncles and a aunt" Lex chuckles quietly. "Many cousins."
"That's right. Just remember that, and don't let anyone make you think otherwise."
"Yeah, Dad."
Lexaeus turns a little serious for a moment. "Lex, you have to promise me this. If anything happens, if anyone harms you or says anything you don't like, I want you to tell me or Zexion straight away."
"Okay."
"And I want you to look out of Maxi. He's not as strong as others, and he can't defend himself, so if someone picks on him, beat them to a pulp."
Lex snorts a laugh. "Alright…" He trails off, thinking about something. He smiles at Lexaeus kindly. "You like me, just a little bit, right Dad?" The man is taken back by that question. He looks at the boy, looking at those inquisitive blue eyes of his. Then he gives up. For a young teenager, Lex makes the most pathetically heart-softening faces. He smiles and leans a touch closer.
"Yeah…" He plants a friendly kiss into the messy hair. "Just a little bit."
Lex smiled too, though it has an embarrassed streak. "…I like you just a little bit too."
"Nice to know. Why don't we watch a bit of television together?"
"…I'll like that."
"That's my boy." Another kiss, then Lex slides off the man's lap, letting him stand. "Come into the den when you're ready, and have one of these." Lexaeus takes one of the cookies off the table and give it to the child. "They are very good." Lex smiles weakly and takes a shy little bite. Lexaeus laughs, ruffles his hair and leaves him to get himself sorted out. Zexion is still standing outside. He looks up at Lexaeus with large eyes and a blank look. The older man purses his lips. "Did you hear all of that?" Zexion doesn't say anything about the bad things, or the reason why Lex was upset. Instead, he smiles and wraps his arms around Lexaeus, embracing him.
"You did good."
Lexaeus smiles, and holds him in return, relaxing. "Thank you Zexion."
------
It's always a challenge to get Maxi into bed, because being a young child, he just wants to stay up all night. It is already way past his bedtime, and Zexion is only now forcing him into his pyjamas, because he won't put them on by himself.
"But I'm not tired" Maxi whines, struggling and trying to get away, but Zexion won't let him.
"You are tired" Zexion smirks, managing to get the shirt over the lad's head, and starts to get his arms through the right holes. "I know you are tired because you're cranky."
"I am not cranky!" Maxi snaps, stamping his foot hard on the floor. Zexion can only laugh at him.
"You're fiery, aren't you?" he teases. He gets both arms in and grins in triumph. "There we are." He stands back to admire his hard work, and Maxi just glares at him, face going red. It's hard to take him seriously when his hair is tangled up, and he's wearing clothes a couple sizes too big. Zexion shakes his head. "No use giving me horrid looks. You're going to bed no matter what." He grabs the child before he can run away, and dumps him into bed, pulling the cover over him. Maxi admits defeat and stays put, grumbling under his breath about how he hates this and he's not tired, and defiantly not cranky. Zexion pretends he can't hear it. "You need your sleep so you can grow properly, Maxi" the man tells him, and the boy scoffs.
"Lex gets to stay up later then me" he complains.
"Well, he's older. When you're older, you can stay up later too."
"…What's wrong with Lex anyway?"
Zexion blinks. "Excuse me?" Maxi leans up on his elbow, curious of the grown-up's reaction.
"He was very quiet this afternoon. Well, I know he's quiet normally, but he was very withdrawn, and he wanted to stay with Lexaeus rather then play. Is he ill?" Zexion sighs, closing his eyes for a moment.
"No. He's not ill. He was just upset." He opens his eyes again and kneels by the bed, eyelevel with his boy. "You and the other children… People say mean stuff to you, right?"
Maxi's eyes widen. "Who told you that?"
"Lex told Lexaeus" Zexion says, and Maxi relaxes.
"Oh. Alright then."
Zexion tries to think of something to say. He lowers his voice. "I know Lex is the eldest, and he's big and strong and can look after himself, but he just got a little upset about what happened today. Everyone needs to have a cry and calm down. You understand, don't you?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah… Maxi. Do people say nasty stuff about me and Lexaeus to you?"
The boy glances away for a moment. "Yeah. Some say stuff to us, but Lex says just to ignore them." He curls his fingers slightly. "Why do people think you shouldn't be together?" Zexion sighs again, this time more shook-up and deeper. How can he talk about this?
"…There are some" he explains, "that don't think people of the same gender shouldn't be together at all."
"…Why?"
"…For many reasons. It's not considered the norm to some people, and some find it sinful."
"But I don't see the problem in it."
"Yes, but you have seen it everyday and you know about it… You know that me and Lexaeus love each other very much."
"Yeah."
"Well, that's all that matters." Zexion takes hold of Maxi's hand and smiles. "When you're a little bigger, you will understand, but don't let it bother you now. You have two guardians who adore you and Lex will be feeling better tomorrow. That's all you should care about… Do you need anything before I go to bed?"
"I'm fine, Papa," Maxi smiles. "Can you just pass me Spooky, please?"
Zexion grabs the toy from the nightstand and tucks it in under the blanket. "Here."
"Thanks. Night-Night."
"Good night." Zexion gives the boy one quick peak on the cheek, and switches off the light as he leaves. In the living room, Lexaeus and Lex had fallen asleep on the recliner. The older snoring softly and has his arms around his boy. The younger is snuggled up against the man's chest, with a blanket slipping off his body. They remain Zexion of bears in hibernation, and the young man laughs. He walks up to them and shacks Lexaeus' shoulder gently.
"Wake up, darling."
Lexaeus grunts awake, eyes opening just a touch. "Uh?"
"Come on. It's way past Lex's bedtime. And yours." Lexaeus sits up properly, keeping a good hold on the boy in his arms, trying not to wake him.
"Of course" he says with a brief nod. "Just let me put this one to bed and I'll join you."
Zexion nods in return, and goes to the master bedroom to dress himself for sleep. He knows Lexaeus is blameing himself for most, if not all of this. He was always blamed himself for everything… just like when they were Nobodies. That's what type of man he is. Lexaeus enters the room shortly with groan, pulling his shirt off and draping it over the chair in the corner. He sits on his side of the king-sized bed, head in hands, thinking too much. Zexion frowns. He hates seeing him like this.
"Lexaeus."
"Hmm?" Zexion crawls onto the bed and knells close to his lover, wrapping his arms around him in a embrace.
"I want you to know that its not your fault."
"I know that." Lexaeus rests his head against the boy's chest, listening to the soft beat under the clean-smelling fabric. "I just don't like seeing him being so upset."
"I know." Zexion gives his wild brown hair a little peak. "We suspected that the children would get some grief. Being so… different. Adults will have bad thoughts about them because of us and their offspring will pick it up. It's the never-ending story. "
"You should have seen his face, Zexion." Long fingers rub up and down that smooth back. "It hurt to just look at him. He was like he was in the most horrible pain possible."
"I know."
"And it's only going to get worse."
"I know dear." Zexion rests his chin lightly on Lexaeus' crown. "We will just have to look out of them."
"Mm."
"…You're very soft-hearted at times, Lexaeus." Zexion sits down on his legs - his knees are hurting - and curls up close to his partner. "It's kind of attractive." Lexaeus smirks a little, for a second, pulling Zexion flush up against his.
"You've never said that before."
The young man shrugs. "I've never noticed it before… Is there anything I can do to make you feel better? Something to eat? Maybe a massage?"
"As much as I enjoy your massages, I don't think it's the right time for that."
"Alright." Zexion rests his head on the board chest. "I just want to make you smile, that's all."
"You do make me smile." Lexaeus kisses his beau's cheek, smiling slightly against his skin. "Zexion, you were the only one who could truly make me smile as a Nobody."
"…What about now?"
"You still do." He brushes his lips against Zexion's ear, coaxing a small pleased mumble. "I have a lot to smile about now." He trails his lips down the curve of the boy's neck, and the vibration of his voice growling and purring makes Zexion chuckle.
"You're so animalistic" he sighs playfully.
"Grr." Lexaeus snarls into his ear, pushing him onto his back, to start kissing him properly, making Zexion laugh.
"Oh, not this again. Get off--Ah!"
"Oof!" They roll the wrong way and land of the floor with a 'thump.' Zexion furrows his brow at Lexaeus', who can only laugh nervously. "Ha, ha… Sorry, darling."
"You're such a oaf sometimes" Zexion sighs and he gives him a tug of his hair in response.