"I was waiting a long time, what took you?" The violet haired man sat down and crossed his legs. Roxas found an empty seat and contemplated a moment before sitting down himself. Setting his hands in his lap he looked up and got his first real view of the stranger. A small build as he had expected, soft looking purple hair that was longer in front, light skin and pale blue eyes.

"I got lost." he said honestly. There was no use in lying, something about this person made him feel uneasy and not wanton to deceive.

"Oh?" was simply what he said in response, soundly partially disbelieving. After a few moment of silence Roxas had to break the unusual stillness.

"So, have you lived here long-um?" The purple haired male made a subtle sound of amusement then laced his fingers together and rested his closed hands on one leg. It was like being in a therapist's office, not to say Roxas had ever been to one before. With the exception of school but that was only to examine schedule changes. Nothing ever personal, well there was the time concerning his father but that was a different story.

"I have; three years now." he answered. Roxas played idly with his thumbs trying to mask the fact he had forgotten the other's name.

"It's alright you know." The man said. Before Roxas could question him he said the very thing he was thinking.

"You've forgotten my name and yet I've remembered yours. You feel pressurized by the situation to remember who I am because I so courteously had done so for you. You've moved into the house besides this building, your family comes from somewhere far off. I'm guessing a new relationship or marital has brought you here. You must be under a lot of stress, my name is Zexion. You can ask me for my name anytime."

Roxas was speechless and amazed; there had never been anyone like this where he came from.

"How did you-"

"Know all this information, read your thoughts so to speak? I'm an advanced student studying in psychology. My dream is to work with psychiatric patients or troubled teens and get them the help they need. Challenges draw me in; I'm well trained in understanding the behavioral of people by simple gestures and other signs of body language. By your reaction I'm amusing my assumptions are correct." Roxas could only nod in response, inside he felt fearful of saying anything stupid in the presence of one so smart.

"You also have a good sense of right and wrong Roxas, though accepting a stranger's invitation was quite foolish, I can tell you knew to trust me though. Would you like something to drink?"

Roxas was going to disincline the offer when the other suddenly stood up and walked away. Puzzled, Roxas watched him leave into the open kitchen and return shortly after.

"I don't drink carbonated beverages, too many calories and bad for your health. Nor the diet beverages because they supposedly give you brain cancer. This hasn't been proven but I'd rather not rot my body to maintain a magazine figure with these diet drinks people only inject so not to have disposal of taste." Zexion sat down and resumed his previous position, legs crossed and hands folded.

"Sorry, I understand my methods of handling company are unpractical but to be perfectly honest I was hoping to perform experimental tests by socializing with strangers. I couldn't resist the opportunity to try it out on someone from another place, I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all" Roxas felt the chill from the cold water bottle in his hands, draining his heat away slowly.

He was experimental? It didn't seem that way even if it was the case. He glanced at the floor then slowly lifted his gaze to expand around the room.

"Take a look around if you like, I have nothing to hide." Roxas was surprised but grateful for this privilege and quickly agreed. He was about to thank Zexion when he realized thanks were unnecessary. Simply nodding in response he rose to his feet.

The apartment was compact though plenty in furniture with enough space to move about freely. A glass table with a fake tall plant on the ground beside it was placed against the wall between the two cushioned chairs. The carpet had stains embedded deeply into various locations, but that aside everything in the apartment was orderly. Roxas could tell Zexion was a very neat person and it was obvious those stains must have been made before his arrival; there was also evidence of attempts to remove said markings.

Few frames were hung on the wall with scenic pictures only adding to an office-like atmospheric appearance. He walked up to door which led out to the hallway, when he first came in his noticed there had been a short hallway to his left inside the apartment. Getting a chance to explore he looked down the other end of the short hall structure in the apartment which led to a bedroom. The bedroom door was partially hung open and Roxas could see the makings of a neatly made bed. He turned away not wanting to invade the other's privacy further and walked into the kitchen which was also just as tidy as the rest.

The only separation between the kitchen and main room was a cleared counter top that had another plant top it closest to the wall. This one unlike the other had to have been real because it contained dirt and not dry straw. Curious, Roxas entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. Nothing but rich green vegetables, fruits and dairy, Zexion definitely took good care of himself, unlike Roxas whose current diet consisted of a policy of 'eat whatever deems as eatable.'

"Are you hungry?" The other asked to which Roxas replied no. Closing the door he walked past the other and into the bathroom that was located behind where Zexion was sited. Upon entering he saw few pill bottles lined the counter top and towels where stacked and folded neatly behind the toilet seat. There was a medicine cabinet with a mirror as its door directly above the sink and a narrow shower with a glass screen parallel to that. Satisfied with what he found Roxas returned to the main room and sat down once more.

"You have a nice place," Roxas commented "much better than our own anyways." Zexion said nothing but nodded in response. Roxas could tell he wouldn't get anymore words from the other unless he spoke first.

"So, you're a student?"

"Yes, I've gotten my first master's degree last year and I'm now I'm working towards my second one as well as obtaining my licenses." Impressive; it took at least six years to earn a Master's degree according to his knowledge. With that in mind, just how old was this guy?

"How old are you?" He asked.

"I was wondering when you would ask that. I'm 24, my birthdays in June."

"That was just two months ago, what day?"

"The 6th" Zexion answered

"Oh, well happy birthday then" Zexion said nothing and continued to hold his solid eye contact with Roxas. It was unnerving and Roxas had to look away.

"What drew you to come here today Roxas? Surely you must have had greater a reason than mild curiosity. You don't strike me the type to do things on a whim; instead you seem to need a reason for everything that takes place, at least one that makes sense to you." It wasn't exactly pleasant being defined like a text book term every time the other spoke but Roxas couldn't yet find a good enough reason to ask him to stop.

"I don't know; I just really wanted to get away from everyone. Things at home aren't so great and I really needed to leave."

"The city's an unsafe place to roam Roxas, don't you know how dangerous people can be? Little boys like you go missing all the time." Roxas gulped and gripped his water tighter, as though it would somehow protect him. Zexion noticed this and chuckled.

"I already told you that I wasn't going to harm you. If I had other interior motives I could have already done them." Roxas sighed and his shoulders eased.

"Of course, if I had sudden admiration I could do so easily." He smiled wickedly.

"You have a sick sense of humor." Roxas said plainly, he may have made many embarrassing choices today but he could almost always tell when someone was serious or not. Especially with actors, he hated watching most movies for this reason, because people were so unbelievable.

"Very good, you don't miss a thing."

"Thanks, I guess…"

"I'm going to presume that no one but I knows of your whereabouts?"

"Yes, I couldn't stand the thought of my mom harboring over me whenever I go. I don't like being caged in."

"That's reasonable enough. Roxas, would it be alright if I interpreted on you some more?"

"Why not" Like saying no was going to somehow stop him from adding it into their casual conversation?

"Thank you" clearing his throat; he continued to stare at Roxas for a moment longer before finally speaking.

"You come from a small town, perhaps 700 for total population, your mother was always free with you growing up because she felt a sense a security from where you lived. There was a high amount of community and you were natural shy till a certain age, probably 10. In middle school you joined a sports team in school, perhaps soccer by the look of it and you must have excelled. You have at least one sibling not far part in age and for a time your father was in your life. You're father was-" Father, this word haunted Roxas greatly and Roxas couldn't handle any discussion about his father without breaking.

"Zexion, please, you've been right about almost everything so far, I don't need to hear someone telling me my own story anymore, especially about my dad."

"Right, I'm sorry I understand that whatever it was must have been a painful experience for you since he's been out of your life. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No that's fine; we just don't talk about it ever, my family that is."

"Ever?" Zexion's visible brow arched curiously

"Ever." Roxas confirmed.

"Alright then: Roxas, if would you mind telling me what I missed?" Zexion requested

"Sure" Roxas agreed and filled him in on any misconceptions Zexion made.

The two spent the latter of their time conversing intellectually. After an hour Zexion insisted Roxas go back home to let his family know of his well being. Roxas was disinclined to returning, having snuck out in the first place, but Zexion reassured him it was for the best. He welcomed him back to his apartment anytime so long as he had permission first. Agreeing, Roxas was escorted out by Zexion to the elevators. Roxas learned each elevator system ran only one way so to control traffic between residents. Roxas shared his story of the strange men he had encountered. Telling his speculations on them sent Zexion into a near riot; it was the most emotion Roxas had seen of him the entire meeting.

Zexion explained the two worked small time for a local paper not a mob and that aside from Xaldin's occasional tempers there was nothing to be afraid of. Xigbar in fact was more juvenile in his regular behavior for those who knew him; however it didn't mean he was a push over. He informed Roxas the graying man had been an ex-cop but quit the force when they insisted he retire after 31 years in service. And, oddly enough as it turned out Zexion had been the one to make the frightening stain in the other elevator.

"Yes, I was helping an elderly man move in, or at least someone who looked the part. I never initially asked him his age. He was plenty capable on his own though and carried most of the load. On our way to his apartment I accidentally spilled a bottle of iodine thus making the stain. He worked part time at the college I studied at, but was fired last year for having an afire with one of the students in a botany class." What an interesting spectrum of people came from the city. Roxas felt more of a connection with these faceless beings Zexion described then the man his mother had been dating for over a year.

"Thank you for this afternoon Zexion, I had a great time." Zexion smiled at him as Roxas pushed opened the entry door. Roxas made a disturbed face at his own word choice.

"Okay, that made it sound like we just went out on a date." Zexion chuckled lightly gaining more insight on Roxas's personality.

"Only to those to wish to interpret it that way" Roxas flushed at his answer and started out the door.

"Come back soon." Zexion called after him.

"I will, definitely!" Roxas yelled back and hurried down the sidewalk towards home.

--

Some liner notes,

My father was born on June 6th and I love my dad so I couldn't resist, it wasn't a 6/6 pun but if seen that way that's fine.

Question of the chapter: Who do you think the botany student and science professor were?