The Anti-Zemyx Day Six

Title: Vampires Don't Sparkle

Genre: Indignance

Rating: T

Summary: Sequel to Don't We Look Cute?; Appearances can be deceiving...

A/N: WEDIDITFORTHEDEAD, you just lost some major points! D: He just moved in, of course he has no food! He got bitten, and snakes leave scars. He has a quiet heart, because I tried to mix in his Nobody-ness (Heartlessness) and made it silent, but beating. Also, I'm allergic to sparkles. Yuck. But don't worry. I'm sure no one has yet to take your place... ;)

Knock, knock, knock.

"Please step away from the door, turn around, and return to the elevator. I will not be seeing anyone today," called out the artist irritatedly as he continued stroking the smooth scales.

KNOCKKNOCKKNOCK.

Zexion sighed and stayed quiet, but the determined knocking of a persistent fist upon his wooden door caused him to get up from the threadbare sofa and walk over.

He opened the peephole.

"Would you so kindly–– Oh. It's you. What do you want?" Innocent green eyes gave him a puppy-dog's expression of confused hurt.

Luckily, the artist was immune to such tactics, and had been for a long time. Living with twelve other children in an orphanage could do that to you.

"Let me in?" Demyx asked sweetly, with just enough sadness in his tone to melt even the coldest heart.

Zexion remained firm in his stance, but wondered if he should let the youth in.

"Why?" A challenge. An intrigued threat.

"I made you some apology cookies. They're for you."

Redundant fool is redundant. His throat felt slightly constricted.

Sighing once more, Zexion undid the several locks and bolts on his door and opened it.

Demyx smiled cheerfully in thanks, but froze when he saw his friend.

"Z-Z-Zexion!" he stammered. "There's a snake on your neck!"

A slate-coloured eyebrow rose.

"And...?" Demyx gave him an incredulous look.

"Aren't you worried?"

"Do I have a reason to be? She's quite docile, and, like you said, isn't poisonous. The only thing I have to worry about is being bitten again, and she doesn't seem to enjoy the taste of human flesh. Are you worried?" Demyx shook his head and awkwardly held out the cookies to Zexion.

"They're chocolate chip."

Zexion extended his elegant hand, the sunlight from the window refracting off of his silver and sapphire class ring as he took the transparent bag, and placed it on the table beside him.

"Thank you." They were at a stalemate, with neither willing to make the first move, out of embarrassment and pride.

Demyx swallowed down the lump in his throat and mustered up his courage to apologize.

"Um... I'm sorry for what Roxas said. I didn't know he was going to say that, and... my comment," he laughed nervously; "It just came at the spur of the moment, y'know? And, um, I'm sorry for embarrassing you there. It must've sucked."

Oh really? Do you think so?

"So, uh, I hope you enjoy your cookies. I'm sorry." Demyx managed a weak grin as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Oh, and, uh, you've got guests in about an hour."

Aquamarine eyes widened as Demyx gave him a slightly more confident smile and began eating one of his own cookies.

"What?"

"Oh, wow... you have such a beautiful snake!" was the first thing out of Naminé Strife's mouth as she paused a for moment before she offered her hand to Zexion Evenson upon his opening the door.

She didn't say, "Hi, my name is _!"

She didn't say, "It's such an honor to meet you, Mr. Evenson!"

She especially didn't say, "I'm your biggest fan!"

The slate-haired artist found himself liking her almost immediately, and smiled softly in spite of himself, shaking her hand with his left one: his right one currently had the snake wrapped around it. She seemed to like her new perch.
"Thank you, Miss...?" The blonde smiled as she bobbed a small curtsy.

"Naminé Strife. At your service and mercy." She looked back over her shoulder. "Roxas's girlfriend Kairi should be here by now... She took the stairs," she added. Zexion felt himself stiffen as he heard the name Roxas, and wondered if, by any chance, his girlfriend was similar in personality to him.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Strife. Would you care to come in now, or would you like to wait for your..." He hesitated; "friend?" Naminé thought for a moment.

"Maybe it would be best if I came in? That way, you won't have to wait with your door open for Kairi." She smiled. "Sometimes she gets distracted..."

Zexion nodded and invited the blonde in; she tried very hard to conceal her excitement at entering the (albeit new) apartment of her favourite artist.

In the corner stood several easels, with canvas and paper stretched onto them, along with tubes of paint, cans of water, several brushes and napkins, as well as a colour-stained palette; they all immediately drew her attention and Naminé curiously walked over. Upon seeing it closely, she gasped.

The unfinished painting was beautiful. It was a picture of a sunset, over a still ocean, and three friends with their backs facing the viewer sat together on a tree branch, each staring out at the orange sea. Though only half-done, the colours were mesmerizing, and the scene seemed so... real.

"That looks amazing..." she breathed, not even aware that she had spoken aloud. Zexion smirked.

"Really? Thank you." Naminé gasped and whirled around, but Zexion continued talking. "It's titled, Destiny Islands. It was commissioned by the President Ansem, so I'm hoping to finish it in about three months."

"Are those oil paints?" Zexion handed the teen a glass of water and nodded.

"Yes, they are. I prefer pastels and oils, but not acrylic. I––" There was a knock on the door, and Zexion sighed. He walked to the door (Naminé stood around, staring out the window) and opened it. Kairi's loud voice immediately hit his ears.

"Oh my gosh Roxas was RIGHT!" she exclaimed, looking up at him. "You do look like a vampire! You're pale, you wear black..." Her eyes caught sight of his class ring, and her eyebrows rose.

"You're wearing silver? But those kill––" Naminé made a throat-slicing motion, begging her cousin to stop. Kairi gave her a confused look and looked up at Zexion, before grabbing his arm (not even noticing the snake) and bringing him into the sunlight from the window, and scrutinizing him closely.

"Huh. You don't sparkle..."

Naminé's palm met her forehead. Zexion narrowed his eyes.

"Such a ludicrous thought. Of course I do not sparkle! Neither do vampires. Are you out of your mind?" He glared at her as he tugged his long sleeves down a bit lower. "I would suggest to you, Miss Kairi, that you learn some manners and come back when you're halfway decent. Good day." He turned his back to the redhead and continued conversing with Naminé as though she weren't there, explaining some of his techniques, and showing her some other works of his.

Kairi left indignantly, annoyed at the artist's coldness, and yanked open Demyx's door, barging in.

"The nerve of that man!" she fumed. Demyx looked up from the book he was reading and smirked.

"You speak of him as though he's your guy." Kairi threw him a look.

"You wish that. If he was yours, you'd be oh-so-happy, but no, he throws me out after I call him a vampire, and... urgh! How can Naminé like him?"

Demyx gave her an amused look, nodding as she commented on his crush, and shrugged.

"You offended him. Besides, the two are artists, and doesn't she like him?"

"But he's got so little patience!" Demyx grinned.

"He can seem like that."

A/N: Short. And I rushed. My apologies! :D

Reviews are the anti-sparkles to my real vampires!