Title: The Art of Being a Genius

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts II

Characters: Naminé, Roxas

Table: #1

Prompt: #87 - Genius

Word Count: 1951

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Naminé, Roxas, the color of Naminé's hair, and the art of being a genius.

Author's Notes: Err…shameless Naminé idolilzing? Errr…pretty AU since they're standing separate from Sora and Kairi…and they're on Destiny Islands? ACK. SO C-O-R-N-Y.

Naminé let out a low growl as she stomped into Kairi's house, slipping off her sandals at the door. She had been living with the girl for a while, becoming Kairi's adopted sister. She liked Destiny Islands. It was small and secluded. Unfortunately that meant everyone knew everyone, and a new person in town caused serious ripples. She was one new person in town. Roxas was the other. Two new people in town nearly gave Destiny Islands a heart attack.

Naminé liked Destiny Islands, but sometimes the people got her riled up. Just because she was a blonde did not mean she was dumb! Naminé stifled a small screech as she hefted her backpack to her room beside Kairi's. "I'm not stupid," she muttered, pulling out her books. In fact she was probably in the top of her entire freshman class of high school. Unfortunately, people didn't seem to believe that since she was always so quiet and absorbed in sketching.

In reality, while Naminé sketched she also ran through the lessons learned during the day in her mind. That was how she kept her mind sharp by studying as much as she drew which was almost constantly. Naminé sat down to start on her homework which she meticulously turned in each day, awing some of her teachers who just waited for her to slip up. It seemed that on Destiny Islands school was something on the sidelines. Only those who wanted to get off the islands tried hard in school so they could go to a good university somewhere else. However, most students wanted to stay on the island, so they just didn't try.

Even though Naminé enjoyed Destiny Islands, she couldn't imagine herself spending her entire life there. Kairi and Sora couldn't understand her need to become the top in school and go off to an art university. Naminé always wanted to pursue her art. She also always wanted to travel the world. Not even Roxas understood, finally finding a sense of belonging on Destiny Islands. The only person who actually understood was Riku, but Naminé found herself competing with him more than talking to him lately. Both wanted to get off the islands badly.

Sighing, Naminé filled out her math homework quickly and efficiently. Numbers were nothing compared to messing with memories. In fact, none of the school work compared to the work needed to break and chain together memories. Her brain was keen. History was a breeze, dates falling into their places just like that in her mind. You see Naminé thought of her school subjects as a chain. All the pieces were there. She just needed to fit them together, and she did it well.

The girl wasn't surprised when Roxas scrambled through her window, panting heavily. "Hey Naminé," he chirped. "Can I hang here for a while? I think I got Sora really mad, and I don't really want to go home for a while."

Naminé snickered. Roxas lived with Sora, and the two seemed to have been like brothers forever. Unfortunately Roxas had this bad habit of teasing Sora about Kairi too much, and it usually ended in Roxas hiding out in Naminé's room for a while.

"What did you do now?" Naminé asked, sighing and beginning to draw diagrams on a piece of scratch paper to help with her math homework.

"I just waved a papou fruit in front of him and Kairi," Roxas muttered.

"You will never learn," Naminé said, laughing and flicking a pencil toward Roxas. "Did you bring along your homework this time? You know Mrs. Clogine will get angry if you don't bring in your math homework again."

"Homework's boring!" Roxas protested, leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed behind his head. "I honestly don't get how you can just come home and do it. You're already tied with Riku for top of class. You don't need to do anymore."

"But nobody believes it!" Naminé burst out, slamming her pencil against the desk and fighting against the burning in her throat which signaled tears. "Nobody believes that little Naminé could be number one. That Naminé she's always lost in her sketchbook! I bet she's cheating to become number one. Do you think that Riku likes her? She probably made a deal with Riku where Riku does her work for her. I heard they're really close. Besides, she's blonde."

Roxas' jaw dropped open at Naminé's outburst. It was always the quiet ones, he mused. "But Naminé, you are smart!" he protested, scrambling forward to pat his friend awkwardly on the shoulder. "You're the smartest girl that I know."

"Really?" Naminé sniffled, glancing up with Roxas with big blue eyes.

"Er…yeah," Roxas replied truthfully, sitting down on Naminé's bed. "I mean Kairi…well she's smart but not as smart as you. She's always being tutored by Riku. Selphie's more concerned with romance, and all the other girls at school are more concerned with Riku." Roxas smirked.

Naminé giggled. It was true. Riku had turned up even more attractive, and his devilish looks had inspired a gaggle of females all admiring him. Some of them were bolder in their advances, but most were admirers from far away. Naminé couldn't count how many times she had been approached because she was Riku's friend. However, the young girl was never taken in by the girls' wiles and sympathy. She counted a small group of friends, and she rarely hung out with anyone at school, instead preferring to spend her time in the art room. The teacher knew her well by now.

"Still," Naminé said, turning back to her math homework, "nobody considers me much of a genius. Neither do I, but I would like to be seen as more than a dumb blonde."

"Hmm," Roxas said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Those girls are just jealous, and they're using what they see to your advantage. You're always wearing white, so that makes them think that you're trying to pull off being an angel."

"White is a good color," Naminé murmured defensively. "Besides, I don't want to wear red like Kairi! People already say I'm imitating her enough."

"Don't listen to the haters," Roxas replied, waving his hand flippantly. "You just don't look smart. No offense. I mean it in a good way. You look like a sweet little girl who could never harm anyone."

Naminé's lip trembled. "I hope you're going somewhere good with this," she muttered, finishing up her math homework and pulling out history next.

"I am," Roxas reassured the girl, standing up and pacing around the room for a bit. Finally, he snapped his fingers and grinned. "I got it. To get these other people to stop ragging on you, you just need to change a few things about yourself. Nothing bigger, I swear, but some little adjustments are needed. Just you wait, Naminé. I will show you the art of being a genius!"

Naminé smiled. Roxas sure knew how to cheer her up when she was feeling down. "Are you sure?" she asked teasingly. "You don't seem like a genius yourself."

"Believe me," Roxas replied. "You don't need to get good grades to seem like a genius. Just believe me, and if you don't, I'll show you. Next week of school, I'll be seen as a genius. I promise."

"Fine," Naminé replied airily. "I'm counting on you, Roxas." She smiled at the boy beside her who high fived her with a grin on his face.

"Don't worry, Naminé. I always keep my promises!"

Naminé simply smiled and finished her homework in silence while Roxas stole her iPod and leaned back against her bed, listening to music. After the weekend, Naminé went to school and sat under her usual tree before the warning bell rang whereupon she would depart for English class with her essay ready and typed. She blinked a few times when Roxas approached her. He was different today, no longer wearing what would be considered his casual clothes. He was wearing a polo and jeans. It was an unusual mix.

"Roxas?" Naminé queried. "Are you wearing glasses?"

The square frames complimented Roxas' face well and made him look…well…smarter.

"Hush," Roxas said, leaning against the tree next to Naminé and pulling out his iPod. She watched as he specifically changed his settings so that the backlight would never go out and then as he flipped the music to…Bach? Then he took off his glasses, held them loosely in his right hand, and slapped his left hand over his eyes feigning sleep.

Naminé shrugged and continued drawing. Later, when Roxas was sleeping in the history class they shared, she heard several girls whispering about him.

"I heard he's super smart, like a genius."

"That's why the teachers dislike him so much right?"

"Yeah. I heard he's rebelling against the system because they never let him excel, so he just fails his classes."

"Wuah. How cool!"

Naminé blinked and stared at Roxas. Those girls were serious. They seriously thought that he was some sort of misunderstood genius. Naminé gaped. Roxas was serious. He really did know the art of being a genius. The week after that, Roxas visited Naminé in her room having yet again angered Sora. This time he brought his glasses with him.

"The lenses don't do anything," he assured, placing them onto Naminé. "See. I knew you would look good with square rims." He turned Naminé to the mirror. "You already look like a misunderstood genius. You just need to do what you usually do now. Hang by yourself and draw. Then you'll never be scorned as a dumb blonde again."

Naminé stared at herself in the mirror and frowned. No, that wasn't her at all. She didn't like to pretend. Pretending was for those who couldn't face reality or the truth. Pursing her lips, Naminé slipped of the glasses and returned them to Roxas, smiling and replying sweetly, "Thank you, Roxas, for everything you did, but it's okay. I know that I'm smart, and I know that they're jealous. Thank you for opening my eyes."

Roxas smirked. "No problem, Nami," he affectionately said, ruffling the girl's head. "Don't let those haters get to you anymore, okay?"

Naminé nodded, giggling slightly. "You looked funny in a polo, Roxas."

"It sucked!" Roxas exclaimed, preferring his t-shirts. "So formal. I felt like I was going to a society ball or something."

"I'd like to see you show up like that to a ball!" Naminé exclaimed, voice tinkling. She was glad that she had Roxas as a friend, and she knew that Roxas was glad to be her friend as well.

A few months later, Naminé won a prestigious art award for her painting of a winter's day. The judges called it "surreal and extremely poignant". People began to come to her for art tips. Other people watched her with awe, and many even asked for her autograph as the award was chosen from a national pool of contestants. Naminé acquiesced to the requests of her peers and found herself being idolized by some of the former girls who had spoke jealously of her.

A few weeks after she had won the award, Naminé sat in her room drawing. Winter break was only a day away, and none of the teachers had assigned homework. Roxas pulled himself into her room, complaining about how Sora couldn't take a joke. Then he strolled over to observe her drawing.

"It's really good," he finally said when he found the words, knowing it was more than just good.

"Thanks," Naminé replied, smiling, "but I should also be thanking you for showing me a piece of art you made yourself. The art of being a genius…"