Chapter 32: Blame Stephanie

[...seriously, I wrote literally none of the dialogue after the asterisk]

[Zoi reaches the edge of the pool which is lined with fringes of ferns. The creatures here have not learned to be shy of humans. He studies the flowers for several minutes before he remembers that not everyone is as obsessed with flowers as he is.]

[He spins around and sees Kunzite, sunbathing on a patch of clover and watching him with cautious eyes.]

[Zoi comes over and sits crosslegged next to him, the magnificence of Kunzite's body makes even the beauty of the meadow pale in comparison.]

Zoi: I hope this is not too boring for you.

Kunzite: Boring?

Zoi: I'm not keeping you from a hockey game or anything?

Kunzite: I'm far from bored right now. It just so happens I'm a great admirer of natural beauty.

[He reaches up and pulls the elastic band from Zoi's hair runs his fingers through his hair so that it falls forward, framing his face.]

Kunzite: The sun will be setting soon, it will be truly magnificent.

Zoi: I take it we're in Eastern Europe right now?

Kunzite [smiles] How do you figure that?

Zoi: Judging from the sky, as well as the flora and fauna, we're still on earth, however the time difference suggests we're on the other side of it, and yet it is still springtime, so we must be north of the equator.

Kunzite: Clever boy.

[Zoi is mesmerized by the contours of Kunzite's biceps. * He reaches out one tentative finger and strokes the muscles of Kunzite's arm.]

Kunzite: I don't scare you?

Zoi: No more than usual.

[Kunzite closes his eyes as Zoi strokes his arm with his whole hand now. His fingers are shaking. He knows Kunzite must notice that.]

[Zoi lightly trails his hand down the muscles of Kunzite's arm until he nears the palm of Kunzite's hand. Kunzite flinches involuntarily. His eyes opening a bit and harboring a bit of blue.]

Kunzite: Sorry. It is too easy to be myself with you.

Zoi: Do you mind?

Kunzite: No. You can't imagine how this feels.

[Zoi traces the ridges of Kunzite's palm with his finger]

Kunzite: Tell me what you're thinking.

Zoi: I was wishing I could know what you were thinking…

Kunzite: And..?

Zoi: I was wishing I can believe that you're real. I was wishing that I wasn't afraid.

Kunzite: I don't want you to be afraid.

Zoi: Well, that's not exactly the fear I meant, though that's certainly something to think about.

[Kunzite sits up with his palm still in Zoi's hand. Zoi doesn't flinch.]

Kunzite: What are you afraid of, then?

[Zoi struggles to put his feelings into words and finds that he cannot. The proximity to Kunzite is making him feel flushed and dizzy. He sags toward him and can feel Kunzite's breath on his face. Kunzite smells really good to him. It's intoxicating. As he leans in even closer to take in more of Kunzite's scent, Kunzite takes hold of him to steady him, his fingers slipping by accident under his tanktop to the tight contours of his waist. As Zoi sinks closer to him, Kunzite's irises start to fill with blue]

[Zoi knows just enough about Kunzite to know this isn't good.]

[In a flash of violet, Kunzite is gone.]

[Zoi stands up. For ten long seconds he looks around. There is no way in or out of the valley. The mountains would be impossible to scale, even if he was dressed in clothing that would withstand the elements. If Kunzite doesn't return, he knows he'll die there.]

[But he also knows Kunzite will return.]

[Sure enough…]

Kunzite: I'm so very sorry. Would you understand what I meant if I said I was only human?

[Zoi nods]

[Kunzite gives an insane little laugh. The serene look Kunzite normally wears is gone, replaced by a look of deranged insanity. Zoi realizes he is seeing Kunzite's true nature, not the stoic façade he is so careful to project.]

Kunzite: I'm the world's best predator, aren't I? Everything about me invites you in – my voice, my face, even my smell. As if I needed any of that! As if you could outrun me. As if you could fight me off.

[Zod nods again. He is terrified, but the thing that terrifies him the most is that Kunzite has never looked more beautiful to him. Zoi knows he is a bird, hypnotized by a cobra. Knowing it does Zoi no good. He can't fight it. Even if he wanted to.]

[Then the madness passes and Kunzite's face takes on a look of sadness.]

Kunzite: Don't be afraid. I promise…I swear not to hurt you. Don't be afraid.

[Kunzite comes closer and sits on the clover again. Zoi sits beside him.]

Kunzite: Please forgive me. I can control myself. You caught me off guard. But I'm on my best behavior now.

Zoi: *frightened laugh*

Kunzite: Are you alright?

[Kunzite takes his hand again. Zoi smiles shyly]

Kunzite: So where were we, before I behaved so rudely?

Zoi: I honestly can't remember.

Kunzite: I think we were talking about why you are afraid, aside from the obvious reason.

Zoi: Oh, right.

Kunzite: Well?

Zoi: …

Kunzite: [sighs] How easily frustrated I am.

Zoi: I was afraid…because, for, well… obvious reasons, I can't stay with you. And I'm afraid I'd like to stay with you, much more than I should.

Kunzite: Yes, that is something to be afraid of indeed. Wanting to be with me. That's really not in your best interests.

Zoi: …

Kunzite: I should have left a long time ago. I should leave now. But I don't know that I can.

Zoi: I don't want you to leave.

Kunzite: Which is exactly why I should. But don't worry, I'm essentially a selfish creature. I crave your company too much to do what I should.

Zoi: I'm glad.

Kunzite: Don't be! [pulls his hand away] It's not only your company I crave. Never forget that. Never forget I am more dangerous to you than I am to anyone else.

Zoi: I don't think I understand exactly what you mean–by that last part anyway.

Kunzite: [smiles] How do I explain? Without frightening you again…hmmm. [Takes Zoi's hand again. Zoi clasps his other hand around his.] That's amazingly pleasant. That warmth. You know how everyone enjoys different flavors? Some people love chocolate ice cream, other's prefer strawberry?

Zoi: *Nods*

Kunzite: Sorry about the food analogy – I couldn't think of another way to explain it. You see, if you lock an alcoholic in a room full of stale beer, he'd gladly drink it. But he could resist, if he wished to, if he were a recovering alcoholic. Now let's say you placed in that room a glass of hundred-year-old brandy, the rarest, finest cognac – how do you think he would fare then?

Zoi: …?

Kunzite: Maybe that's not the right comparison. Maybe it would be too easy to turn down the brandy. Perhaps I should have made our alcoholic a heroin addict instead.

Zoi: So what you're saying is, I'm your brand of heroin?

Kunzite: Yes, you are exactly my brand of heroin.

Zoi: Does that happen often?

[Kunzite takes a deep breath and looks at that sky]

Kunzite: …Never.

[The word hangs on the warm breeze]