Corruption

Chapter Two

By Takika

Author's Note: Here is chapter two….enjoy.

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts © Disney/Square Enix

I walked into the courtyard with my bag and lunch. I spotted Marluxia sitting at our usual spot—the cement bench that encircled the dogwood trees. As I approached him, I realized he wasn't looking too happy.

"It looks like your weekend was about as good as mine," I told him glumly as I sat beside him.

"I fucked up big time," He groaned. I was caught off guard. This was Marluxia, after all. In all my years of knowing him, he had never given me a reason to believe that he had a conscience.

"What, did your condom break or something?" A bemused Axel asked as he walked up from behind us. He took a seat beside me, his attention momentarily focused on Marluxia.

"No…I…told—" Marluxia glanced up, seeing Zexion walking into the courtyard with Roxas. He emitted an uncharacteristic 'meep!' and hid his face in my chest.

"Uhhh…Mar, are you okay?" Whatever happened to make him act this way, it certainly wasn't one-sided. As soon as Zexion saw Mar's mass of pink hair, he turned abruptly and walked in the opposite direction. "Dude, tell me what's going on?"

"No," he whimpered, digging his face farther in my chest. If he kept this up I'd have a huge whole going through me. I glanced down at him. His cheeks were as pink as his hair. Poor thing.

I glanced over at Axel. We no longer existed to him, as he was completely absorbed in his 'Roxie', just like Roxas was with him. I turned back to Marluxia. "No one is paying attention, Mar. Talk to me."

Marluxia sat up and rubbed his cheeks, as if it would make his cheeks any less pink. "Okay…well…it started at Reno's."

Marluxia stood next to two women, a beer in hand. He didn't find them to be very attractive. Rather, he wouldn't if he were sober. Alcohol changed that. Hell, if he had enough of it, Reno's bulky refrigerator would start looking mighty sexy.

He found himself bored with the women he was talking to. Both giggled at everything that he said, even when he said nothing at all. The one to his left had a very nasal laugh, not dissimilar to that off that one 90s sitcom. The Nanny, was it? He didn't know, and he really didn't care. He did know that every time the one to his left laughed he wanted to rip his ears off.

He was having a hell of a time getting rid of them, too. No matter what he said, no matter how mean or cruel it was, they would not go away. Somehow the two drunken buffoons would manage to find him when he tried to ditch him. It was starting to piss him off. He didn't want to leave the party just because he wasn't drunk enough [and probably never would be to fuck the two chicks so they would leave him alone.

"Look, ladies," Marluxia said, feigning embarrassment. "I've got to use the bathroom."

"Really?" The girl to his right, who bore the worst acne he had ever seen, said as the left one giggled. Oh, god shut the fuck up, Marluxia thought. "I could help you, you know..."

"Ugh…no," he said quickly. "Gotta take a leak. Don't need help with that." He went down the hallway and slipped into the first door that was unlocked.

"Dude, what the fuck?" A growling voice greeted him.

"Fancy meeting you here, too, Ax," Marluxia said, leaning against the closed door. He glanced over Axel's shoulder. "Hello, Roxas."

The blond muttered a 'hi' in response as Marluxia locked the door and walked into the room. "Y'know, if you didn't want anyone walking in on you, Ax, you should have locked the door."

"Thanks for the advice. Now get the fuck out," the redhead sputtered.

"I will…" Marluxia said, opening the window. "I don't see what you're so worked up about. It's not like I'm asking to watch or join in."

Axel snorted. "I wouldn't put it past you."

Marluxia looked aghast. "That hurt, Axel. Right here," he added, placing a hand on his heart.

"Whatever. Just go."

Marluxia fiddled with the screen. "If two hideous creatures come looking for me…tell them I'm dead….no, gay…Tell them that I'm dead and gay."

Axel arched an eyebrow.

"Just do it," Marluxia said as he climbed out the window on the fire escape. After placing the screen back in place, he made his way down the fire escape and walked down the empty street.

Marluxia shivered, so he started rubbing his arms. He cursed himself for leaving his jacket at Reno's. But there was no way in hell that he was going to back for it tonight. He continued walking, wishing he had a bottle of whiskey or something. That would definitely warm him up. Lights flashed red as he approached an intersection.

Gardenia and Peony. Marluxia thought. His house was another twenty blocks or so from here. It would kill him to walk all the way home in freezing temperatures—and—he patted himself down—he didn't have the keys to his house on him. Why did he have to forget his jacket?! There would be no way to get into his house until late the next morning. But…Zexion lives somewhere around here. He'll be up, Marluxia decided.

Ten minutes later, Marluxia was grinning down at a shorter, slate-haired teen as his teeth chattered. "Hello, Zexion."

Zexion didn't return the greeting. He flicked his hair to his side, momentarily revealing his right eye as he glared at Marluxia. "What do you want, Marluxia?"

"Oh, I was just in the neighborhood. I figured I'd stop by to say 'hi'," Marluxia smiled the sweetest smile he could muster. Unfortunately, since he was a bit under the influence, the smile Zexion saw was anything but sweet.

"It's a bit late for a social call," Zexion growled. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Marluxia simply smiled, never faltering.

"It's three in the fucking morning."

Marluxia bore a thoughtful expression. "Then perhaps you should invite me in so we don't wake your beloved neighbors."

Zexion pursed his lips as he grudgingly opened the door wide enough for Marluxia to get through before closing it.

"You're such a sweetheart," Marluxia cooed, kissing the shorter teen's temple.

Zexion stepped back, repulsed. "Disgusting. You've been drinking," Zexion said, waving a hand by his nose. The stench of alcohol on Marluxia was so heavy that he felt nauseated.

"We had a gig earlier," Marluxia said, plopping down on the couch. "You should have come."

"I don't do gigs," Zexion said stiffly, sitting at his kitchen table, which was littered with textbooks.

"Of course not," Marluxia said sarcastically, dismissing the idea. "Anything remotely fun is against your religion."

Zexion frowned. "I would hardly call getting drunk off my ass and smelling like shit 'fun'." His comment, of course, referred to Marluxia's current state.

"Hey, don't bash it until you've tried it," Marluxia said, sniffing himself. "And I don't smell like shit."

"Of course not," Zexion said cynically.

Marluxia sat in silence, watching Zexion study. He couldn't stop, despite trying. Zexion was so fucking beautiful…

Zexion looked up briefly. "Is there a reason you've been staring at me for the past twenty minutes?"

"I can't help but to," Marluxia's words slipped out. "You look deliciously sexy."

"I know you did not just say that," Zexion snapped.

Marluxia's eyes widened. "I didn't say anything," he said quickly, although they both knew that he did. "You must have been hearing things. …It is, uh, 4 AM, y'know."

Zexion rose from his seat. "I can only tolerate so much of you…" He ran his fingers through his hair as he mumbled. "I'm going to bed. There are extra blankets in the closet. Do the world a favor and take a shower before you go to sleep." He walked to his bedroom door and looked back quickly. "I want you out of here before I wake up."

I patted Marluxia's head once he finished. "You aren't exactly the smartest person when you're drunk." As if I have room to talk.

Marluxia looked at me with pleading eyes. "But I meant it!"

I frowned. "Really?" I paused. "But you should know that telling Zex he's deliciously sexy—sober or not—isn't the best way to…woo him. You're lucky he didn't attack you with a book."

"Yeah, I know," Mar replied absentmindedly. His thoughts were elsewhere. "Hey…where did that book think come from? He do that to you or something?"

I grinned. "But for something entirely different."

"Oh," Marluxia said slowly. "He won't talk to me or anything."

"That doesn't surprise me."

"Huh? Why?"

"More than half of what you say while sober is bullshit. It's twice as much when you're drunk."

Marluxia pursed his lips. "Thanks."

We ate out lunch in silence. Roxas noticed us for the first time while we were eating. And that was only because Axel went to buy his lunch.

"Hey Dem, Mar. When you guys get here?"

"We've been here the whole time," Marluxia replied in a sing-song tone. I was glad that Mar knew how to change his mood so quickly. Handling a depressed Marluxia for more than ten minutes or so is beyond my capabilities. He gets too clingy.

"Oh…well…uh, how are you guys?" Roxas asked.

"Fine," we both replied in unison.

Roxas sat beside me and whispered. "How's your…uh…y'know?"

My eyes widened. "Nosy much?"

"Well, yeah. I mean," Roxas's eyes were as round as saucers. "I feel bad for what happened." He paused. I knew what was coming and I somehow managed to suppress a loud groan. "It's surprising…that it was your first time and all…who would have thought that I lost my virginity before you?"

OH. MY. FUCKING. GOD. Why did he have to bring that up?

"Whoa," Marluxia interjected. "You were a virgin all this time?"

I felt my cheeks burn. I glanced over at the other side of the courtyard, where Zexion sat, absorbed in a book. I wanted to run over there and sit next to him. He wouldn't ask me all these embarrassing, idiotic questions. And if the topic were to somehow arise, he wouldn't gawk at me. If anything, he'd help me plot my revenge.

"Seriously? That's crazy," Marluxia continued. "I thought you would have lost it way before Roxas, considering that he's such a prude."

"Hey, I resent that!" Roxas said, pouting.

I said nothing, burying my face in my palms. When was this going to be over?

"I swear, after seeing you and—"

"Oh, gawd, Mar! Making out and fucking are two different things!" I protested.

"You and who?" Roxas asked.

When I didn't reply, Marluxia answered for me. "Only Zex—"

Roxas's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "Zexion?"

"It was a long time ago," I groaned. "Can't we talk about something different?"

"That sounds like a swell idea," Axel said, returning with greasy French fries.

"Fine," Marluxia agreed. "But one quick question. Who was it?"

"Some dude named Xig."

"That's interesting," Marluxia said, taking a sip from his Kool-Aid Jammer. "That's my neighbor's name. Well, Xigbar anyway. Maybe we're thinking of the same guy?"

"I dunno."

"I'm really surprised though. I didn't think someone like Xigbar would be your type, man. He's a bit…"

"A bit what?" I demanded.

"It doesn't matter," Axel said quickly. "It's not like you're gonna go looking for him or anything, right?"

"How do you know?" My eyes narrowed.

"Because doing so is idiotic." Axel replied.

The bell rang, dismissing us from lunch. Axel didn't see the dirty look I gave him. He was too busy stuffing his face with his remaining fries. It was no matter, however. I could always press the subject later. I grabbed my bag and headed for the door into the building.

"Hey, Demyx."

I turned around. "Yeah?"

Marluxia walked over, his pink book bag hanging from one shoulder. "You have your next class with Zexion, right?"

"Uhh…yeah."

"Can you talk to him for me? He won't give me a chance to apologize."

Apologize? Damn, he wasn't letting this down. "You really do…like, like him?"

Marluxia was exasperated. "Yes."

"I guess I will then. Try, anyway."

He looked instantly relieved. "Thanks, man. I owe you one."

I nodded and walked inside the main hallway, where Zexion waited for me beside the soda machines. "How's it going, Zex?"

"Fine," he replied as we walked down towards the science hall.

"Did you….get all the studying done that you needed to?"

Zexion stiffened slightly. "You're not good at subtlety at all, Demyx." He glanced over at me suspiciously. "What has Marluxia put you up to?"

"Oh, uh, nothing," I said as we took our seats in class. I glanced over at him and said quietly. "I should let you know, though, that you are deliciously sexy. Especially with your glasses on."

Zexion's eyes were like daggers. "Don't make me hurt you, Demyx."

I leaned away, trying to avoid any object that might be used as a weapon against me. "You can't take a joke, can you?"

"I hardly think that this is a time to be joking, Mr. Luve1," our physics teacher, Mr. Ansem, sneered. I don't' know what crawled up his ass, but the guy has hated me since I stepped foot in his classroom several months ago. He didn't bother hiding his distaste for me, either. "Open your textbook and begin defining the terms of chapter thirteen."

I nodded and opened my textbook and began defining the stupid terms. I stole a glance over at Zexion, who wasn't paying me any attention. While Ansem wasn't looking, I began writing a note on a piece of paper that was underneath my notebook and slid it to Zexion.

Look, I didn't mean to piss you off. But…uh, you shold here Marluxia out. He's really sorry about what happened.

Zexion glanced over at me for a second and wrote his reply. I don't have to do anything. You, on the other hand, should work on your spelling and grammar.

I frowned. He always had to point out my grammatical and spelling errors. I crinkled up the paper and whispered, "Not everyone can be a genius like you, Zex."

"Is there something you would like to share with the class?" Ansem asked coolly.

"Nah, I'm good," I said and went back to my work.

An hour and a million years later, Physics class was over for the day. Thank God. Just being in that class gave me a migraine. It made me sad, though, because it was the only class I had with Zexion. Despite all his smartness, and my…not smartness, we had managed to have several classes together since middle school. I doubt it made a difference to him, but I felt sad knowing that this was the only class I had with him, and come January, when we got a new schedule, I wouldn't be seeing him at all, except between classes and at lunch, if I were lucky.

I forced those thoughts out of my head. January was a while from now. Why stress out over it? I walked out of the classroom and headed to my locker. Zexion was already getting his Calculus book out. While I pulled out my French textbook, I asked, "Are you gonna think about it?"

"Think about what?"

"Marluxia." I paused. "He's not going to leave me alone until you forgive him or at least talk to him."

Zexion considered this. "Fine….I suppose I can do that."

I grinned. "Oh, and there's one other thing." He looked at me suspiciously. Damn, I've been getting that a lot from him today. "I want you to come to one of our gigs or something. It's not exactly healthy to coop yourself up in your apartment all the time."

He glared at me. He opened his mouth to say something, and then stopped. Considering this conversation not worth his time, Zexion asked, "Did you practice your skit for French?"

Damn him. Gawddamn him. Why did he have to remind me of that?

1 'Luve' Lux/Vex, without the Xs. I'm so unoriginal. And yeah, you say it like 'love.' HAHA, I just imagined Vexen singing that one song by KISS… Dr. Love. –dies laughing—Please review. 3