Author's Notes: Hey guys, amazing that I've only taken a couple of weeks to write this next chapter, rather than four months. Crazy in fact, considering I've been practically dying of strep throat AND food poisoning, both at the same time my major ten page essay for English II was due.
Crazy
Anyhow, this chapter is a 3rd person point of view, but basically an omniscient to Axel. Which means we only follow him around and only hear his thoughts, but we speak of him using "He, his, Axel did…."
So we won't be hearing any thoughts from poor little Roxas today, or evil ol' Marluxia.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, and I never will. **sigh**
Warning: This story contains extreme Yaoi-ness. Like seriously, so yaoi you wouldn't even be able to handle it. ((For those of you who are stupid and have not crossed to the dark side of the Fan-Girl-Force, Yaoi= manly man smex, boyXboy, sweaty hot gayness, etc etc..))
"Announcing the arrival of Lord Axelei!"
Emerald eyes opened lazily, squinting at the sunlight pooling into the carriage. The owner of the eyes cast a brief glance out of the small window. The horse-drawn carriage had come to a stop in a large courtyard, directly in front of an elegant, sprawling castle. Running a hand through his crimson hair, he glared ruefully at the other occupant in the carriage.
"Damnit, Zexion, why didn't you wake me up sooner?"
The smaller man glanced up from the novel in his lap, glasses balanced precariously on his nose. Slate colored hair fell gracefully over one of his eyes, leaving the other to stare with calm annoyance at the newly awakened complainer.
"Master Axelei, I'm your advisor. Not your nanny. If you can't bother to stay awake long enough to ARRIVE awake, I suggest you find yourself an alarm clock."
"But Zexxxxxyyyyyyyyyy, you know how sleepy I get," Axelei whined. "And with the long ride I just bore myself to tears…" He punctuated this sentence by a long yawn, stretching his long arms and legs as far as he could in the small space of the carriage. His black waistcoat, just barely fitting his long lean frame, bunched up in wrinkles as Axelei brought his arms above his head.
Feeling something crumple beneath him, Axelei paused mid stretch. He shifted to the side to find a crumpled pile of papers beneath him.
"Zexion! I thought you said you had these in your folder!" Axelei grasped frantically at the sheets in an attempt to save them. Long fingers stretched out the papers, flattening any wrinkles.
"Like I said, Master Axelei, I am NOT your nanny." Zexion reached over to pluck the ruined papers from him. "Besides, before that little nap of yours, you had said you wished to finish it on the ride here."
"Awwww, does that mean I didn't finish it?"
"No, Master Axelei, you didn't."
"Oh god," Axelei let out a frustrated sigh. "Marly will KILL me if his present isn't ready by his birthday."
A small cough from outside the carriage interrupted the conversation. The stagecoach had been standing there holding the carriage door open for quite some time, and was impatient to bring in the guests.
Giving a small nod to the coachman, Zexion stood from his seat, stepped softly over Axelei's outstretched legs, and exited the carriage without a word.
"Damn Zexion, with his damn folder, god damn not waking me up…" Axelei grumbled as he followed his advisor out of the cramped coach. "Letting me crumple the damn papers, then telling me it was all my damn fault…"
Zexion by this time was already standing beside the great oak doors to the castle, slate hair gleaming in the sunlight. "Master Axelei, do you intend to keep Lord Marluxia waiting all day?"
"Damnit Zexion! Call me Axelei one more time and Marly can just have his birthday without me!"
Axelei sprinted the last few yards between them, grumbling a few more 'damns' along the way. When he reached the giant entrance way, his hand swiped out to give Zexion a playful swat on the back of his head.
"It's Axel. Got it memorized?"
"Yes sir. Axel."
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"Well well, you certainly took your time. I hope your trip wasn't too tiring, little brother?"
"No, big brother, it was actually quite pleasant." Axel gave a small smirk. "If you count Zexion snoring like an elephant at every inn we stopped in for the night."
"Oh, Axelei, you are so cruel to your advisor. I would almost feel sorry for him if I didn't know that he just loves you so dearly."
"Hey now, Marly. It's Axel, not Axelei." Leaning back in the comfortable chair, Axel crossed his long legs slowly. "You should know that by now….. but since it's your birthday tomorrow I guess it can slide."
Marluxia waved a hand as if shooing away the matter. "I will only call you Axel if you cease to call me Marly. After all, I am turning 23 tomorrow, am I not? Marly is a child's name."
"Sure sure….. Marly."
"Axelei!"
The brother's continued their light banter, pleasantly relaxing in each other's presence. They were both currently in one of the many studies plotted throughout the castle, surrounded by shelves of books and portraits. Late evening sunlight filtered in through several tall windows, dust motes dancing in the sun beams. A roaring fireplace dominated the far left wall. Black marble scaled its sides and curved to a flat mantle. Seated in front of the warming flames, the brothers sprawled comfortably in leather reading chairs, a small coffee table of deep burgundy between the two.
"Any way, Axel, the trip must have driven you mad. When was the last time you had a strong drink?" Marluxia reached behind his head to undo the tie on his hair, letting it fall free from its loose pony tail. The very pale red hair, so pale it seemed almost pink, hung lightly to his shoulders.
Axel gave a groan as he answered, clutching at his stomach as if in pain. "You know Zexion. Not a single drop to pass my lips if I am even within a hundred feet of him, at least until I am twenty." Emerald eyes looked up pleadingly to Marluxia's steel grey ones. "Eight weeks. Eight weeks of Zexion's horrible snoring, no pretty wenches for the night, and NO liquor of any sort."
"Well then," Marluxia grinned, lifting up a hand. "I suppose we have to fix that, don't we?" Pale fingers snapped, sending an echo around the large study.
Axel gave a small start as a shadowed figure stepped out from behind Marluxia's chair. He had been nearly invisible in the dim lighting of the study, and never said a word the entire time. The servant was small and slim, so he was easily hidden by the back of the large chair.
"Evin," Marluxia said, turning to the boy. "Fetch the brandy decanter from the liquor cabinet, will you?" The slight boy barely nodded his head before turning away. His step was light and quick as he walked towards a large cabinet nestled between two bookshelves. Axel admired him from the corner of his eye, turning his head back to Marluxia.
"Why Marly," Axel commented in a light whisper. "You old rogue you. Where did you ever find such a pretty little thing?"
Marluxia didn't respond immediately, choosing instead to rest his chin in the palm of his hand. He watched solemnly as the young servant reached up into the cabinet to pull down a dusty, round bottle. Only when he began to pour amber liquid into two low glasses did Marluxia speak.
"I saved him, the poor wretch," he stated softly, steely eyes still upon the boy. "I found him, barely 10 years old, broken and dying in an alley. Shattered bones in his leg, a cracked shoulder on his right side, and one of his ribs snapped and puncturing a lung. He asked me for a sip of water." Marluxia smiled. "Poor little fool."
Axel's green eyes narrowed as he watched the young servant in the corner with newfound interest.
"It took at least two years for my best physicians to help him recover. And then another year before he even spoke a single word." A sly smirk graced Marluxia's lips as he continued. "It seems he has a tad bit of amnesia, though. Can't remember a thing from before I found him."
"Not a single thing."
Axel remained silent, merely just continuing his study of the boy.
"So what could I do? The boy followed me around everywhere as soon as he could stand on his own feet." Marluxia waved his hand over his shoulder, motioning for Evin to quicken up with the drinks. "So grateful, he was, he followed my every command without a single peep. After all, I did save his life. Didn't I, my dear little Evin?" Marluxia directed the last sentence to the boy, who appeared speedily with a tray of glasses in hand.
Axel nodded occasionally as Marluxia continued to prattle on, focusing his direct attention on Evin. He had stepped back as soon as the tray was set down, returning to his past position slightly behind his master's chair. Now that Axel was aware of the boy's presence he took a moment consider the small servant.
He was fair haired, blond locks spiking off and glowing softly in the firelight. And though his eyes were of the clearest aquamarine, they seemed flat; empty as he stared off blankly into the room. But overall, Evin was small. Everything about him seemed as if he were made to appear frail. His height seemed to stand at barely 5 foot 2, even though his age was probably around sixteen. Pale ivory skin accentuated the thinness in his arms, and his long delicate fingers. The off-white shirt Evin wore hung loosely off of him, especially in the sleeves. A black vest was the only thing keeping the top from practically slipping off. Gold buttons fitted it tightly to Evin's chest, thinning in at his narrow waist before giving a small flare near his hips. His bottom half was covered by tight navy breeches, showing how dancer-thin his legs were beneath him. So frail….. like a small girl.
A beautiful girl, Axel though absentmindedly, barely understanding his own thoughts. A man could make Evin his 'wife', and none would be the wiser.
"Well now Axelei, a toast!"
Axel shifted his gaze regrettably back to Marluxia, his train of thought irrevocably lost. "A toast to what, Marly?"
"First off, a toast to growing OUT of nick-names," Marluxia stated simply. He reached over to pluck one amber filled glass off of the tray.
"And second off?" Axel leaned forward to do the same, taking the bourbon and holding it gently in one large hand.
"The second… to Evin!" Marluxia half turned in his chair, looking up into the face of his young servant. Evin didn't seem surprised; in fact, he didn't seem anything. His face was one of blank innocence.
"To… to Evin." Axel raised his glass to the boy, emerald eyes locking on strong to azure ones. To Evin…
"Cheers!" Marluxia raised his cup elegantly to his lips before downing the amber liquid in a single shot. Axel did the same, wincing as the bourbon traced liquid fire down his throat. Though both of them missed the small voice that whispered feather-soft while they drank.
"To… me…"