Vexen learned about Marluxia's occupation and accepted it much better than before. They decided to go back to his place instead of to the arcade, because the arcade is full of noisy, sticky people.

Vexen clasped Marluxia's hand and kissed it gently. "I want to see what you wear to work," he said cheerfully, "and besides, I can always find someone to experiment on if I get bored or lonely at home."

"Oh, jeez... " Marluxia replied at Vexen's request. He said nothing more until they, at length, reached his apartment. He let Vexen in, and b-lined for the kitchen.

"Good idea, I'm hungry," said Vexen, scampering behind Marluxia

Marluxia was in the process of pouring himself a rather large glass of wine, but he smiled at Vexen and gestured to the fridge. "Help yourself."

Vexen opened the fridge and grabbed a tinfoil-covered plate. He set it down on the nearest surface and took off the tinfoil, sniffing curiously at the food. "What is this?" he asked.

"Leftover stir fry." Marluxia said at a glance. "It should be safe to eat."

Vexen reached into the open fridge and grabbed a package of tortillas. He piled the leftover stir fry into one tortilla and put the rest back, closing the door. He brought the plate over to the table and rolled up the tortilla. He paused and glanced at Marluxia before bringing it to his mouth.

Marluxia grinned and sipped his wine. "Well, any good?" he asked, sounding just a little cocky.

Vexen took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. It wasn't bad. He nodded and gave Marluxia a thumbs-up with one hand.

Marluxia screwed up his nose. "Hmph, I'll have to make you something fresh someday, if all I got was a thumbs up for that."

Vexen finished chewing and swallowed. "My mouth was full," he protested. "It's tasty."

Marluxia smiled, leaning forward to plant a light kiss on his lips. "Sounds like you just turned down my offer to make you dinner."

"I'm all for that as well," said Vexen, smiling and kissing Marluxia back.

"Damn straight you are." Marluxia nodded, kissing the tip of Vexen's nose, then returning to his glass of wine.

Vexen's smile widened. Being with Marluxia was so easy and fun. Almost more fun than work. "I'm wondering if I should go back to school and try for another degree," he murmured.

"A degree in what?" Marluxia asked, scooting up onto the bench so he sat beside Vexen's plate.

"Hmm... I have biology, chemistry, and physics. Perhaps botany?"

"... Do you just get degrees for fun or something? Because that's weird."

"I didn't make fun of how you spend your time," huffed Vexen, offended. "I /like/ learning," he said plaintively, his large eyes almost pleading.

Marluxia smiled a little. "I didn't even finish high school." he said, a little meekly. "Smarty pants."

Vexen hesitated, unsure of what Marluxia was thinking, then smiled tentatively and took a tiny bite of his wrap.

Marluxia leaned forward and kissed the top of Vexen's head. "Did you still want to see my outfits?" he asked, his lips still against Vexen's hair.

"Yes," said Vexen. "Model them for me?" he requested.

"Mhm, I think I could do that for you."

Vexen smiled and took a somewhat larger bite. He was discovering that he could only eat when he was in a good mood. Interesting. "How many outfits do you have?" he asked.

"... A lot." Marluxia said quietly, and slid off the bench. "But I won't model them until I have my make up, then I won't have to do it before I go to work."

Vexen nodded. "You're so beautiful," he said. "I can't decide if the makeup would add to or detract from your looks."

"Everyone else likes how it looks." Marluxia shrugged, and started to head towards his bedroom.

Vexen nibbled at his wrap. He wasn't everybody else, but decided not to say anything. He was sure Marluxia would look good in whatever he decided to put on

"Stay where you are, okay? Don't turn around until I tell you too." Marluxia called, before he vanished into his room to start his daily tradition of applying the makeup that made him look much like something one only dreamed of, and the first costume that he found in his rather vast selection of them.

Vexen obeyed, concentrating on eating his wrap and patiently waiting to be surprised.

After the better half of an hour, the sound of heels clicking against hardwood floors suggested that Marluxia had emerged from his room with a confident stride. He came up behind Vexen, wrapping his arms around the blond's neck, and pressing his hands over his eyes. "Guess who~." he all but purred.

"Marluxia," Vexen mewled, gently stroking said one's arm.

Marluxia grinned against Vexen's ear, and, taking the blond's hands in his own, Marluxia slowly ran Vexen's hands down his own body- over the red corset that clenched in his waist to almost female proportions, and the tiny leather shorts that left little to the imagination, and stopped at the top of his boots.

"May I turn around now?" asked Vexen, smiling.

"I think you may." Marluxia said with a verbal smile.

Vexen turned. "Oh my," he whispered, eyes large as saucers. "You look... ravishable," he babbled.

"And you like the makeup?" Marluxia asked, flashing his mascara'd eyes, turning his face slightly so the light caught his glitter-sprinkled cheeks and glossed lips.

"You look like a pixie," Vexen giggled.

Marluxia grinned. "That's the point. I'm supposed to be fantasy in human form."

Vexen touched his fingers to his lips and blew ever so slightly to Marluxia, afraid to actually kiss him as he did not want to ruin the younger man's makeup

"Don't worry," Marluxia laughed, kissing Vexen properly. "Turps couldn't get this lip-gloss off."

Vexen kissed Marluxia back, wrapping his arms around the other man

Marluxia pushed himself between Vexen's thighs, pressing his body hard against the other's. "Don't you want to see my other costumes?" he mumbled against Vexen's lips.

"Yes," said Vexen, moaning as Marluxia's body came into contact with his throbbing package.

"Well then." Marluxia smiled, and stepped away from Vexen's body. "I should go get changed."

Vexen moaned louder as Marluxia stepped off him. "V-very well," he whispered.

Almost laughing, Marluxia vanished into his room again. He submerged sometime later, dressed in a skimpy Lolita dress that barely covered his ass, with his hair tied back with ribbons. He twirled for Vexen, standing just out of arms reach.

Vexen smiled joyfully, his hollow cheeks dimpling slightly. "You're adorable," he whispered, taking out his camera phone and snapping a picture.

"It's a shame not many people request this costume." Marluxia sighed overdramatically. "Next?"

Vexen nodded. "I'll request it," he said quietly.

Marluxia smiled and bounced out of the room. Again, he was gone for some time, and returned dressed in a midriff top, denim shorts that were torn and frayed to within an inch of their lives, over the top of stockings that were in similar condition.

Vexen wrinkled his nose. "That one looks horrible," he said. "You're too good to wear rags like that."

"I love it." Marluxia laughed, "it's the closest thing to something I would actually wear. Besides, not everyone likes an expensive-looking whore."

Vexen decided that he didn't like ripped-up clothes. "What about a casual-but-well-put-together-looking whore?" he suggested.

Marluxia grinned. "Give me a second." he said, and dashed out the room. Once again, he stepped out with the sound of heels clicking on the wooden floors. He was dressed in pinstriped shorts that didn't quite cover the curves of his ass, with a short blouse underneath a tight-fitting vest. He twirled, and tipped the matching hat he wore. "It's one of my favorites, but not really casual."

Vexen laughed. "It looks much nicer," he said, "but I was thinking more along the lines of tight-fitting jeans and a tank top."

"Your tastes are plain." Marluxia stuck his tongue out. "Jeans are for outside of work."

Vexen took out his cell phone and scrolled through the pictures. He'd been looking at it earlier. He had the disturbing feeling that something was missing from his mind and had gone through the pictures to recover it. He'd taken a picture of tight silver jeans and an airy sleeveless pink blouse with sparkling silver thread sewn into rose patterns. He located the picture and showed it to Marluxia.

"Something like this," he said.

Marluxia screwed up his face. "It looks like it's from the eighties. No way." he shook his head.

"I might buy it for myself, then," Vexen said thoughtfully. "Marluxia... do you suppose I could do something like what you do?"

"No." Marluxia said with hesitation, and his face quickly became serious. "Absolutely not. You're smart, you could do anything. But this."

Without*

"But you're smart too," Vexen protested, "and witty and sweet. Is there something wrong with what you do?"

Marluxia leaned towards Vexen until their foreheads touched. "This," he said, gesturing to himself, "was a seventeen-year-old boy's desperate attempt at staying out of the streets after dropping out of high school. It wasn't a choice. You have a choice, and I won't let you make this one. Okay?"

Vexen frowned. He didn't understand what was wrong. Tears gathered in his eyes, but he didn't want Marluxia to see him crying or being confused. Suddenly, he became aware of a chill in the room. He shivered and forced the tears back. It got colder. What was happening?

Marluxia smiled meekly and leaned into Vexen more, so that their bodies pressed together. "Don't be upset, I'm not wearing enough to tolerate the cold."

Vexen swallowed his tears. He didn't want to upset Marluxia. The more he tried to fight the tears, the colder it got. He didn't like it himself so after a few moments (and a 20-degree drop in temperature) he finally let the tears fall, crying quietly to himself. "I don't understand what's so bad about your job," he whispered, clinging to Marluxia.

"The dirty looks, the feeling of never being entirely clean, the late nights..." Marluxia said quietly, trying to sound lighthearted. "And I just don't want you doing it. I don't have much to myself, but I want you to be one of those few things."

"That's hypocritical of you," said Vexen, wiping his eyes and frowning again. "You want me all to yourself and yet you would sell your body to others? I don't like that idea." He paused to think. Surely there must be a suitable alternative?

Marluxia shrugged. "It's my job. I had it before I had you. And I'm selfish."

Vexen couldn't argue with that. At least Marluxia was honest about it. "If you did have a different kind of job," he wondered aloud, "what kind of pay would you want?"

"Well... I can sometimes make up to over two grand a night. So it would have to be a high paying job for me to live the way I've grown accustomed to, and with my lack of qualifications... That's unlikely." Marluxia shrugged again. "I know what you're getting at. I'm not giving up my job."

Vexen shook his head. "I was just wondering. You make a lot more money than I do," he sighed, nuzzling into Marluxia.

"That better not be what's upsetting you, because I would be pissed if it was." Marluxia said in absolute seriousness.

"No," said Vexen. "But... I feel as though something is missing. I... I know everything I learned in school but I'm not sure exactly who I am. I know that I like chocolate and dislike ripped clothing. I like you. But I don't remember anything from my childhood. Friends, family, classmates, my boss? I'm going to walk into my workplace on Monday and have no idea who anyone is."

"... It'll come back to you when you see everyone, I'm sure." Marluxia said lamely. He kissed Vexen's cheek and tugged gently on his hair. "So anyway, am I going to stand around in this outfit for the rest of the afternoon, or are you going to help me out of it?"

"You didn't need help before," Vexen teased, groping Marluxia

"Yes, but these shorts are practically painted on." Marluxia grinned, wriggling under Vexen's hands.

Vexen fumbled with the shorts. He could feel himself growing excited again. "Mmmm," he moaned.

"Gonna make it to the bedroom?" Marluxia laughed, brushing his lips over Vexen's in a feathery kiss.

Vexen stretched up to kiss Marluxia back. "Does it have to be the bedroom?" he asked.

"Well, we've already fucked in a public bathroom, so why not the kitchen?" Marluxia laughed, grinding up against Vexen's body. "We'll save the bedroom for later."

Vexen snuggled up to Marluxia, tugging at his shirt. "Sounds like a plan," he said.

"Shut up now." Marluxia ordered as he pulled away his own shirt and plucked at Vexen's, his mouth roaming over the blond's neck and chest as he exposed it.

Vexen moaned softly but didn't dare say anything. He was Marluxia's, utterly and completely.