Warnings: Angst, and a bit of a hard to follow structure, but that's the way I want it!
Pairing: Aerith/Marluxia
Sassy's Note: God, what is up with all my emo-ness? I promise, the next one to be posted will not be emo! On another note, I really like the way this one turned out.
Pudding
"Hello. Would you like to buy a flower?"
Marluxia glanced toward the young flower girl behind the stand. Every day, she asked him the same questions, and every day he gave her the same reply: "Your flowers are inferior to mine."
She would simply smile at him, twirling a rose between her fingers. Sometimes she handed him a flower, smile never wavering. Marluxia would sniff the flower, cold eyes not straying from her gaze. Then he would walk away, flower tucked inside his coat.
Hollow Bastion was a strange place, and the people there were even stranger.
---
"Hello. Would you like to buy a flower?"
"You're pitiful excuses for flowers are inferior to mine."
A passing man snorted derisively. "Fruitcup," he muttered, brushing past Marluxia. The Assassin spared a glance at the head of red hair, but simply walked the other way.
---
"Would you like to buy a flower?"
"Your flowers are inferior to those of my creation."
A blond man standing beside the stall stared hard at Marluxia. The crystal-blue gaze was cold and challenging. Marluxia made a soft sound of amusement and moved away.
---
"Would you like to buy a flower, sir?"
"No. I'm busy." Marluxia muscled his way past all the people. His target had been sighted and if he didn't hurry, his quarry would get away.
He didn't notice the sweet little brunette sigh sadly and turn away.
---
"A flower today, sir?"
She handed him a small bloom and smiled sweetly. Marluxia stood there a moment, staring at the full petals. Finally, he grunted softly in acknowledgement and tucked it into the color of his jacket.
---
"Marluxia?
"Hn?"
"Why do you have a flower in your coat?"
"It is… of no concern of yours."
---
Marluxia had walked past the flower shop, only to find it closed. He was confused, even more so at the disappointment he – thought he – felt.
---
The next day, however, the little stand was open again, but it wasn't flowers that were for sale.
"Would you like to try some apple pie?"
Marluxia regarded her carefully. "And your flowers? What became of them?"
"They'll be back in a few days. For now, we're trying to raise funds to rebuild the library." She smiled kindly at him.
---
"What is your name?"
"Aerith. And you?"
"I'm… a Nobody."
"I know, silly, but you still have a name."
"… Marluxia."
---
"Will you stay for dinner?"
Marluxia glanced over his shoulder. The blond man was glaring daggers at him. Hmm, he must be jealous.
"I… must be somewhere. Perhaps another time."
He kissed her hand.
The blond went red with rage.
---
"A flower today, Marluxia?"
He nodded and let her stick it in his collar. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
---
"We have some leftover dessert if you'd like some," said Aerith, smiling at him. "Won't you stay a bit?"
With a bit of hesitation, Marluxia nodded. It was hard to say no to that girl.
---
"We have some more pudding. Would you like some?"
Marluxia wordlessly sat beside her. Her smile ever present, she raided the spoon to his lips.
---
The blue-eyed blond had been glaring at him for a good while now. Marluxia smirked to himself, eyes trained on Aerith, who talked softly to him about this and that. She didn't give any notice to the blond, but when the blond stomped away with an angry huff, her smiled tensed a bit.
---
"Who is that?" he asked her finally as the man shuffled away angrily. Aerith sighed.
"That's Cloud. Don't mind him."
Marluxia's brow rose. "Is he your beau?"
Aerith shook her head – a bit sadly, he noticed. "No. Just a close friend."
---
"I don't think he likes me very much," said Marluxia, watching Cloud conversing angrily with a tall brunette.
"He's very… protective." Aerith grinned slightly, taking a seat beside him. "But he's very sweet when you get to know him."
Too bad Marluxia had no intention of getting to know him.
---
"You look thoughtful," she said softly, brushing a lock of hair from his face gently.
"I'll… be busy for awhile. It may be a few days before I can be back."
She nodded understandingly.
---
It had been quite a while since Marluxia had been here, but Aerith simply smiled when she saw him and tucked a flower into the collar of his jacket.
And then he swept her into a kiss.
She didn't resist.
---
"Things are getting harder… I am unsure of how much longer I can continue sneaking away."
She never asked him what he was doing or what his intentions were or even where he went. She just smiled sadly and tightened her fingers around his.
---
"Cloud… I'm worried. I haven't seen Marluxia in a while."
The blond somehow managed to swallow his pride and jealousy.
"He'll… be back… soon."
---
"Marluxia! What's wrong?" She ran her hands over his face and through his hair then back down to his shoulders.
"Some… things… are going on." He sighed tiredly. "I will… try to be back… soon."
Aerith smiled, leaning into his chest. "I'll have warm pudding waiting for you."
---
A few days later found Aerith sobbing in Cloud's arms. They had just gotten the news. This Castle Oblivion was no longer in existence, and it had taken five Nobodies with it.
Her flowers shriveled, and the pudding had gone cold.
-end-
Sassy: I think I can now count myself as a true fan of the Organization. I love each and every member, except Lexaeus, for I am neutral when it comes to him. As the OrgLIX folks say, NOBODY CARES ABOUT LEXAEUS. And it's true.