Marluxia nodded, finishing off his drink and standing. Vexen drank the rest of his hot chocolate and put his arm around Marluxia's shoulders again cheerfully. The gesture still surprised Marluxia a little, but he said nothing. He walked quickly, leading Vexen up to his apartment. It still smelt of cleaning products from his cleaning spurt the day before, and the box of polaroid photos- all of the ones he'd taken with the Other Vexen- sat on the kitchen bench after he gave up trying to decide what to do with them. "What do you want to eat?"
"Hmm," said Vexen, considering the question. He didn't know what he liked to eat. "Why don't you pick something for me and I'll see if I like it? It'll be a fun little experiment."
"I think you overestimate my cooking." Marluxia laughed a little, but he started going through the fridge, picking out a few things. "Pancakes?"
"Sure," said Vexen amiably. "And perhaps you merely underestimate your cooking."
"I don't know, I've been cooking for myself for a while." Marluxia smiled as he pulled out the ingredients, and started making the batter. "Take a seat."
Vexen sat down at the table, leaning on his elbow, crossing his legs and watching Marluxia with a dreamy expression on his face. Marluxia was a very pretty man, and Vexen felt a strong attraction to him. Since all of his social conditioning had been destroyed when he took his pills, he was more open, more at ease with himself, and more likely to make a faux pas like staring openly at another man.
Marluxia, however, didn't seem to notice the staring as he heated up a frying pan and poured in the first pancake. He was glad to be home, doing something he enjoyed with no tension or fight brewing.
"Marluxia... since I'm going to be going home to him eventually, what is my flatmate like?" asked Vexen with a curious frown. He didn't really want said flatmate to know he'd lost his memory.
"Well, I don't know him very well, but he's... Well, he seems to like to make bets, spend time with his boyfriend and I think he generally worries about you from time to time." Marluxia said with a nod, flipping the pancake. "But I don't think one finds him easy to get along with."
"Except his boyfriend," said Vexen wryly. "And apparently me, as I live with him."
"Well... Yeah. Like I said, I don't know him very well." Marluxia shrugged, focusing again on his cooking.
."Am I easy to get along with?" Vexen wanted to know, watching Marluxia cook.
Marluxia put some serious thought into that one. "Uh, well- not really. No. We've fought a lot, to be honest." He grabbed to box of photos, handing them to the blond. "But we've had some fun, too."
Vexen looked through the photos. There was him, looking depressed and frustrated in the snow, Marluxia looking adorable with flushed cheeks and tousled hair, Vexen looking in surprise at the camera as though he hadn't expected a picture to be taken. "These are... interesting," he said, unable to think of a less generic adjective. Honestly, he didn't know what to think of them. They seemed strangely intimate to him for some reason.
Marluxia chuckled a little. "Yes, but that was a good day."
"Apparently a cold day," remarked Vexen. "You look great."
"I always look good." Marluxia grinned, flicking off the stovetop and putting the frying pan in the sink. "I take it you don't know what you like on your pancakes?"
"Chocolate," said Vexen automatically, blinking in surprise.
"Oh." Marluxia was just as surprised, but he managed to find some chocolate sauce at the back of the fridge, along with that he put out some lemon juice and sugar. He lay out some plates, one with pancakes stacked on it, and took a seat next to Vexen.
Vexen smiled. "Thank you," he said, dribbling chocolate sauce onto his pancakes and putting a small forkful in his mouth. "They're delicious!" he declared.
Marluxia laughed a little, drowning his in juice and sugar before trying them. Not bad. "Thank you."
Vexen ate slowly, gazing at Marluxia the whole time. He really was gorgeous, thought Vexen, smiling affectionately
"... You're staring at me." Marluxia pointed out, as he heaped a few more pancakes onto his plate.
"You're beautiful," Vexen justified.
"It's a little unnerving, nonetheless." Marluxia laughed, pushing a curled strand behind his ear.
Vexen looked away quickly, continuing to eat his pancakes.
Marluxia smiled to himself a little, quickly cleaning off his plate and taking it over the the sink.
Vexen followed, mentally adding chocolate pancakes to his list of things he liked. "Can I keep this picture of you?" he asked, holding up the ruffled-looking one
"Sure, take whichever ones you want. They're just gonna end up in the back of my closet." Marluxia said with a light shrug as he cleared away the food from the bench.
Vexen smiled, pocketing the picture and rifling through the others. "It's snowing in this one," he observed, "but... the sky is clear."
Oh shit. How was he suppose to explain -that-? Marluxia didn't look up from the dishes he was washing, hoping Vexen wouldn't keep asking.
"You're not very talkative," Vexen observed, not exactly critical. "And I can't think of much to say. I have no idea who I am."
"Sorry, I'm just really tired. I've been up all night."
"I could go for a nap too," Vexen decided.
Marluxia didn't doubt that. "Well, you can take my bed, I'll crash on the couch?"
"Or-" Vexen was about to suggest that they share Marluxia's bed, but reconsidered. "I could take the couch," he said instead.
"Nonsense, you're a guest." Marluxia smiled. "Come on, I'm pretty sure the sheets are clean."
"Is it big enough for two?" asked Vexen, not meeting Marluxia's eyes. He was slightly embarrassed by the bold request, but only because he thought Marluxia might refuse.
Marluxia grinned, nudging Vexen gently. "You wouldn't mind sharing with me?"
Vexen looked up at the nudge. "Why would I?" he asked.