Corruption, Chapter Five
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>The entrance of my father only stopped
Xigbar for about a second. After that short pause, Xigbar thrusted
into me roughly, causing a moan escape from my mouth.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Dad walked into the stall next to us,
humming Ring Around
the Roses. Then he began talking to
himself…something about band-aids passing through him. Holy shit, he was long
gone.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I couldn’t very well focus on my father’s
presence…Xigbar wouldn’t allow me to.
The stall door was getting loose. It was starting to shake. When the stall door
beside us was opened, the whole thing toppled over. I fell forward, landing on
the floor, Xigbar falling on top of me.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Ah, fuck,” I groaned. I looked up, seeing
my Dad standing before us. Shit…and I
don’t even know where my boxers are…
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Fuck,’ Xigbar mimicked, putting on his
clothes. Dad just stood there silently.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I stood, looking around for my clothes. Finding
the pair of jeans I was wearing earlier, I slipped them off. “This is…style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>awkward.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I watched Demyx slip on his pants. Luxord
walking in on us really didn’t bother me…aside from the fact that he style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>fucking interrupted us! I studied
Luxord, who seemed to be forming words in his mind as he muttered to himself.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>He spoke abruptly. “Okay! I don’t like this!
In fact, I hate it! But I know what it’s like with hormones, the fiery
burnings of youth!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Demyx stood, his cheeks burning red. “Yeah…um,”
he managed to say.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I SHALL KEEP YOUR SECRET OF LOVE!” Luxord
wailed like the pathetic bleeding heart that he was.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>My eye twitched. What love?
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Demyx closed his eyes, his face a deeper red
than before. “Dad…that’s…totally…lame.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Luxord seemed not to hear. “Besides, it’s
not out business, as long as your two care for each other!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I looked away. As awesome as Luxord was,
this situation was getting a little disturbing.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I…um, I’m pretty sure that it’s style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>not like that,” Demyx said slowly.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Damn straight
it’s not.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Luxord carried on. “I can see it now! A
sparkling diamond wedding on the beach at sunset! Oh, we’ll have to plan the
band and the…” He droned on without surcease.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“DAD!”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Demyx yelled. I hadn’t heard him yell
before…in anger, anyway. “You’re not
listening to me! Xigbar doesn’t LIKE
me!” He mumbled. “More than a play thing, anyway.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I narrowed my eyes and poked Demyx in the
side. I whispered, “Do you honestly think that?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>He glanced over with a passive expression.
“It’s true though…isn’t it?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>That really pissed me off. I can’t believe
the little sonuvabitch said that! I’ll rape his
scrumptious little ass! “This isn’t over,” I said in a low growl. I pointed
over at the daydreaming Luxord. “We’ll discuss this later.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“…And we’ll have a marching parade and you
two will be carried via elephant caravan with penguins and lions and tigers and
bears! Oh my!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“As much as I’m enjoying the wedding
plans…Are you going to keep your mouth shut or what?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Demyx ignored us. “Where’s my fucking shirt?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I bent over and picked up the remnants of
Demyx’s shirt. “Right here.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>He glared at me and muttered. class=GramE>“Fucking asshole.” He grabbed my leather jacket and put it
on.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“It was my
shirt, you know! And you better not ruin my jacket with sweat! I’ve had that
jacket for years!’
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Demyx glared at me. I didn’t think he was
capable of that. “That explains why it’s all worn out and smells funny.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I smirked. “I could say the same thing about
your boxers. Love the hearts, by the way.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“At least I wash my boxers style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>daily.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Tch, who needs
washing when I barely wear them?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Demyx narrowed his eyes. “I was talking
about your jacket. Smells like shit.” Ouch.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Ah, yes, I will stay quiet,” Luxord said,
stroking his beard. He’s going senile.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“That was forever ago, “ I
pointed out.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Luxord nodded again. “But you’ll have to
tell Vexen eventually.” He pointed to Demyx. “And then it’ll be on YOUR head! class=SpellE>Ahahaha, class=SpellE>ahahaha!” He laughed, leaving the bathroom.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I pursed my lips and watched Dad leave. style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>It’s about time to go home, I decided,
heading out of the bathroom without giving a glance to Xigbar.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I got maybe ten or twenty feet away from the
bathroom before I was firmly grabbed by the neck and had Xigbar’s lips roughly
smash against mine. “I told you, this isn’t over. You’re MINE until I get bored
or—”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“Or what?”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> I demanded, glaring at him as meanly as I
could manage, trying to push him away. “I don’t appreciate being a pawn for
your amusement!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar glared back, grabbing my wrist.
“You’re not a pawn! I wouldn’t do that to someone!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“Oh yeah?style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> You’ve already told me that I was your
slut! So if fucking me as a way to end your boredom isn’t using me, what—” My voice cracked. “What the hell is it?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“Friends with benefits?”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Xigbar looked away, and then turn back with
a smile.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“That’s all?” I managed to say, grunting.
“In that case---”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Okay, that’s enough.” Larxene showed up out
of no where, wearing a tight red skirt and a black V-neck sweater with no
undershirt and no bra, with boots. She pointed to Xigbar. “Go away, to the
cafeteria. That’s where Dem’s ‘mom’ is passed out and
Luxord is strip dancing.” She looked at me. “You, you and me
are talking.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“But—“ Xigbar
protested.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I had a million questions. What was she
doing here? How did she know my father’s name? Why did she want to talk to me?
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Shut up,” Larxene commanded Xigbar. class=GramE>“Before you shove your foot farther up your ass.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar sighed, muttering an ‘okay’ and
walked to towards the cafeteria, where he would no doubt get an unsightly view
of my dad dancing on a table. Or worse.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I stared at Larxene and her gravity-defying
bangs. “Umm…before I ask you what you want…Are you an undercover class=SpellE>Irken invader?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Yeah, sure, whatever,” She said, waving her
hand dismissively. “Why are you throwing a bitch fit?” She demanded, pinning me
an icy stare.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Me?
I’m not the one who started it. He’s
the one who was going on about my being his slut and until he was bored with
me.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Larxene shook her head, sighing. “In the time
you’ve known him, haven’t you noticed that he doesn’t speak before he speaks?
Add the fact that he was the eloquence of a two-year-old, yeah, he started it.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I was confused. “What are you trying to
say?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>She snorted. “All men are idiots.” She gave
an exaggerated sigh and cocked an eyebrow. “I’ll leave that to you to figure
out.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>My mouth dropped. “No! Don’t! I won’t ever figure
it out!” I pouted, trying to appeal to her better nature.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene say right through me. “Don’t even
try that. Xigbar may act all tough, but I
am the man of the house. And I have no better nature.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I nodded slowly. I had no clue
what she trying to explain to me, so I tried not to dwell on it. “Well, thanks,
I guess,” I said, as I turned and headed for the exit.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“Oi,
oi, where ya going?”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Larxene asked, following me as she lit up a
cigarette. In the hospital, of all places.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“To the parking lot.style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Where does it look like I’m going?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>She flicked her ashes onto the hospital
floor. “Don’t take that tone with me, boy.” She was about two feet shorter than
me, but her aura overpowered me, making her tower over me. “I was just trying
to give some womanly advice.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Some advice,” I muttered, frowning. “I
didn’t get any of it.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>She waved her hand with her cigarette
angrily. I stepped away from her, not wanting to get stabbed with the thing.
“For fuck’s sake, pay attention! Jesus Christ! It’s too late for me to be
dealing with idiots!” She grabbed my head and yanked me down so I was eye level
with her. “Don’t take everything he says so personally! I don’t want you
dragging this preteen drama into my house!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I was quiet for a moment, then
spoke while her palms pressed my cheeks together. “Are you saying that Xigbar style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>like-likes me?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“…I have a migraine.” She smacked my head.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“Ow-ow-ow!”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> I wailed. She was definitely stronger than
she looked. “I don’t like you anymore!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene began muttering something about how could
he put up with me and…I don’t know what else. I couldn’t understand her past
that. She glared at me. “I..I am going to go insane.”
She looked away. “Just be patient, okay?” As she turned to leave, the light
made her eyes glow. She looked like a small child who lost something very
important. Weird….style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I nodded, smiling slowly. “Thanks, Larxene.”
I waved, yawning. “I guess I’ll try to be. I’mma class=GramE>go sleep in the car…” I said, walking out into the parking
lot.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>*~*~*~*~*~*~*
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene watched Demyx walk away. Turning
back down the hallway, she pulled out her cell phone that was donned with
Invader Zim charms, calling Xigbar. class=GramE>“Xig? Yeah, he calmed down. Grab Luxord and Vexen and head
out to the car. What? Vexen has alcohol poisoning? Knew it.
No, I…no. Well, stop yelling at me, bitch. Just leave
them and go to the car. The car. The
car. style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>THE FUCKING CAR!” She hung up
the cell and shoved it into her pocket. The strolled down the hallway, got on
the elevator, heading to the fourth floor. Walking past a sign reading
‘Terminally Ill’, Larxene leaned in the doorway of a room, speaking softly. class=GramE>“Hey, Mom.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Rin, Larxene’s mother, was a frail woman
with long black hair and dark, almost black eyes. To a stranger, the two looked
nothing alike, save their pale skin. But their likeness lay within. Both had
fiery spirits and strong hearts.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Rin looked up, coughing violently. Blood
dripped from her lip. “Hey.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene grabbed a tissue and gingerly wiped
the blood from her mother’s face. “The doctors say that you’re getting
better.” Both women knew that this was a
lie, but neither wanted to break the illusion of Rin being healthy again, being
able to live like a normal woman. She’s
too fucking young to be ill like this, Larxene thought, cursing the gods
and heavens above.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“That’s nice to know,” Rin said. Larxene
studied her mother. The once healthy glow of her eyes had diminished. Her flesh
was a sickly pale, tinged with yellow from lack of sunlight and surplus of
disease. Dark ringlets encircled her eyes. Rin was losing her strength and her
will to live. Larxene knew it. Like Larxene was studying her, Rin was studying
her daughter. Her eyes drifted to Larxene’s attire. “I thought you said you
quit…”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene held her mother’s hands. “I never
said that. I said that I got away from him.
Things are different now.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Can’t you get a more respectable job?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I have one,” Larxene insisted. “But that
one alone doesn’t pay the bills.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“When do you sleep, honey?” Rin wore a
concerned expression.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene was quiet. She barely slept these
days. “Well, you know, I have several hours between jobs and I’m off on
Wednesdays…”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Rin stroked her daughter’s face. “I wish you
had someone to take care of you…”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I…” Larxene fumbled with her words. She had
Xigbar and Xaldin, didn’t she? She honestly didn’t know what she would do
without them. They were her best friends. She needed them, but pride would
never allow her to say so, even if she were speaking to her mother.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Rin closed her eyes, her lip twitching. It
took Larxene a moment, but she realized that Rin was trying not to cry. Rin,
her mother, the strongest person Larxene had ever known. She had never seen her
mother cry before. She was always strong, diving through all shit life through
at her head strong, never batting an eye. “Where did I go wrong, Larxene?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene didn’t know what to say. Her mother
had never gone wrong in her opinion.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I…I should have found your father long
before this…he would have taken care of you…”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>Father?style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> What was she talking about?style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Larxene wondered. In her twenty-one years
of life, she had never heard her mother ever mention her father. Rin talked about her parents from time to time
when Larxene was younger, but never about Larxene’s father. It was like he
never existed. “What do you mean?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Rin didn’t hear her. “But he was so young at
the time. I didn’t even know his name…” What did that mean? “After I had you, I
tried to find him; I had a good feeling about him. We barely knew each other,
but I could tell, we both needed the saving. We could
escape from our personal hell.” She paused. “I found him, but it was too late.
I found his marriage announcement in the newspaper. There was no way in hell
I’d go to him after that.” She looked over at her daughter. “I wasn’t low
enough to invade into his life when he had found happiness. We managed just
fine, didn’t we?” The last part was
added painstakingly, as if Rin was trying to convince herself this.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Of course we did, Mama,” Larxene said
softly, smiling.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Rin smiled wryly. “It’s funny…I suppose. He
doesn’t know you exist…but you ended up just like him.” Larxene didn’t
understand that. How could she be just like someone without knowing them?
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene leaned close to her mother. “What’s
his name, Mama?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“His name…” Rin’s voice trailed class=GramE>off, lost in the rapid beeping and screeching of the
machinery she was hooked up to.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene took a step back, wide eyed. What
just happened? She watched in shock, although not really seeing, as a swarm of
nurses rushed in with the one on-duty doctor on the floor. They injected her
IVs with some liquid unknown to Larxene.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>A hand grabbed Larxene’s shoulder and pulled
her out of the room. Larxene stared into nothingness. Then there was silence.
The doctor walked over to Larxene, setting a hand on her shoulder, snapping her
back to reality.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene looked up at the tall, massive man.
“Is my mother okay?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>He nodded slowly. “She’s fine, sleeping
now.” He paused. “What were you two discussing?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene said slowly. “My
father. She was going to tell me who he was…”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>The doctor nodded slowly. “Don’t bring that
up again—” Larxene opened her mouth to protest. The doctor hushed her. “Not for
a while. It stressed her out. If this were to happen again, we might not be
able to save her.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene nodded slowly.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>The doctor studied her. “Go home and get
some sleep. You look like you could use it.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I could,” she admitted. She headed to the
elevator and walked into the hospital lobby. She spotted Demyx’s drunken British
father arguing with a nurse, holding onto his wife’s wrist, who was slumped
against the desk, sitting on the floor.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> “You
damn well better admit my wife! Has alcohol poisoning, he has!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Mr. Luve, calm
down, sir. Your wife does not have
alcohol poisoning!” The nurse insisted.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“Bullocks!”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> He cursed. “You see him, style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>don’t you? He won’t bloody wake
up!” Vexen groaned, his wrist slipping
out of Luxord’s grip. He slid over, banging his head against the tile floor.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Sir, have you considered that your…style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>lack of proper handling has led up to
your wife’s condition?” The nurse asked irritably.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“Of course not!”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Luxord wailed. “Get him a bloody room, style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>now!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Another nurse came and whispered to the one
who was arguing with Luxord. She nodded, grabbed a back of cigarettes, and
headed outside. The new nurse smiled amicably. “How about we start with the
paperwork while we send Mrs. Luve to triage?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Glad there’s someone with common sense around here.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene’s eye twitched, seeing this whole
scene. It was a wonder that Demyx ended up sane and fully functional. Shaking
her head, she latched onto her car key and headed for her car in the parking
lot.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>*~*~*~*~*~*
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I laid on my
stomach in the backseat of Dad’s car, lightly sleeping, After I had punched in
the code to unlock the car, I had thrown myself in the backseat, not even
bothering to lock the car. When the door opened by my feet, I didn’t bother
moving. It was probably Mom or Dad.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I’m tired.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar lay on my shirtless back, after he
closed the car door.. The sensation of skin-on-skin
and the extra weight on me caused my back to arch. I looked up in confusion. class=GramE>“Nya?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Jesus, it’s like Minute="0">midnightstyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> and I’ve been up since Hour="4" Minute="0">four A.M.style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Just calm down and let me absorb your
warmth.” He snuggled against me.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Why were you up at Minute="0">four AMstyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>?” My words slurred as I squirmed underneath
him. Somehow, I managed to get us both our sides, although I was about to fall
out of the seat. I yawned sleepily. class=GramE>“…squishing me.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar chuckled. “Of course I am. I’m pure
muscle. Well, not all of it.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>My eyebrows knitted together as I tangled my
left arm around Xigbar’s arm and shoulder so I didn’t fall off. “Thought you
were tired…”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I am, but it’s hard sleeping near you.” He
paused. “Come here,” he said, pulling me closer. “There now, that’s better.” It
was, I wasn’t on the edge of the seat now.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I used Xigbar’s forearm as a pillow,
yawning. “It’s not hard for me.” I was about to be out in minutes. I could
barely keep my eyes open. My words were
slurring horrifically. “You know…it’s hard being mad
at you.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“That’s not nice,” Xigbar said, trailing a
hand down my side. He was quiet after my second comment. “I, um…wanted to say
I’m sorry for being such an ass.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“S’okay,” I
mumbled as my body shuttered slightly from his touch. I was trying the best I
could to ignore it. “You don’t class=SpellE>gotta do that.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“You really are something,” Xigbar said,
laughing. “Only a few hours ago you really hated my guts.” His hand went lower,
down to my hip.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I don’t…hate
you…I really…honestly—” My body shivered. “…don’t appreciate…you referring to
me as…like…a sex toy….I am a real
person…even if I wasn’t created like everyone else…” I yawned.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar sighed and turned, facing the back of
the seat. He pulled me close again, pulling an arm around his waist. “I…I…style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>DAMN IT.” He cursed. “I can fuck in a
public bathroom, but I can’t get the words right!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I didn’t know what to say. I propped myself
up slightly, using Xigbar’s shoulder as a headrest. “I’m sorry.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“No, no, it’s not your fault.” Xigbar patted
my head.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I was quiet for a moment. My thoughts
drifted back to my conversation with Larxene. “Why did you
say those things if you didn’t mean them?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar was quiet for a moment. “It’s the
only way I’ve ever gotten close to someone. A hug, a smile, anything from a
friend…I’ve never gotten anything like that.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Fucking emo,” I
said, laughing shakily. I really didn’t know what to say to that.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Uh-huh, at least my hair’s not blue and I
don’t wear eyeliner and mascara.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Hmph, you’re
getting pretty close to that.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Oh, that’s it!” Xigbar sat up rapidly,
grabbing a wrist, pulling me up, his other hand on my ass. “class=SpellE>Emo, huh?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Um…haha…my
mistake….now if you’d kindly, uh, lemme go, I class=SpellE>kinda wanna sleep…” I said
uneasily.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“Sleep?style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Sleep?!
Oh no, it’s too late for that.” Xigbar replied with a wicked grin on his face.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I laughed shakily. “Heh…class=SpellE>heh…is it? Are you sure? …We could just, uh, forget about
this…?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“No,” Xigbar shook his head, smirking
evilly. What had I gotten myself into? “Oh, my, you left you boxers in the
bathroom.” He said observantly.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I, uh, couldn’t find them.”style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I avoided eye contact with Xigbar. I could
feel my cheeks burning. I felt self-conscience.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“It’s hard to find things when your eyes are
closed…Aww, Dem’s shy of bad
old Xigbar?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>My eyes widened. “Me? I—no, I—” I fumbled
with words. “Maybe.”
Xigbar loosened his grip enough for me to jerk away. I fell back on the floor,
hitting my head on the consol in between the driver and front passenger seats.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Oho, yes, you are.” Xigbar leaned on
forward on the seat, putting his face in mine. “Why?” He purred, placing a palm
on my chest, sliding it down. “So easy to—”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I need the car!” Dad announced, opening the
car door. “I need a pen!” My savior!
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“GODDAMNIT!”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Xigbar yelled. “This is the fourth fucking
time! Never in the history of forever has there been such a tease! GET OUT!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“But this---” Dad protested.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>But Xigbar cut him off, kicking Dad out as
he snatched the car keys. Xigbar scrambled to the front seat, starting the ignition.
He rolled down the window, yelling at Dad. “I’m gonna
get laid if it kills me! Don’t come home!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=SpellE>style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Geezclass=GramE>, drastic much? style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar sped out of the parking lot, leaving
me in my awkward position in the back. I flailed my arms. “class=SpellE>Xiggy!” I whined. “I’m stuck!”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Good. Then you can’t escape,” he said,
speeding up.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Riku sat in front of the TV, watching
cartoons. He glanced at the digital clock in the entertainment center. How long
was Niichan going to be gone? He was
hungry, very hungry. He had already demolished his brother’s junk food stash
and devoured a half-gallon of ice cream. He was still hungry. There wasn’t
anything that he could fix himself to eat. He wasn’t allowed to use the stove
or anything, after all.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>He lay back on the floor, arms outstretched.
He was so hungry! It wasn’t fair. Why couldn’t Mom have taken him to McDonalds’
or something first? She knew that Zexion didn’t keep a wide variety of edible
food. There was tons of tofu, but Riku wouldn’t touch that with a thirty hundred
thousand gazillion foot pole. Tofu is yucky.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Minutes passed by, then hours. When Riku sat
up again, it was four hours later. class=GramE>Midnightclass=GramE>.style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> He must have fallen asleep. He stood and
walked to Zexion's room. It was empty. He wasn’t home yet? Riku was scared. Did
he die or something? Niichan was a
good boy. He didn’t stay out late unless he was working.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Riku ran to the kitchen, studying the phone
numbers on the refrigerator. Who should he call? Clearly not
Mom and Dad. Both he and Zexion would get in trouble.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Roxas? He lied about
Sora giving Demyx a hockey. Riku was too mad at him to ask for help or
anything. Same with Demyx.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>BANG,
BANG! “SHUT THE FUCK UP, BITCH!” style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Riku jumped, hearing yelling and loud noises
from the apartment next door. He became aware of the sirens in the distance,
the sobbing of a broken woman. Riku wasn’t used to city living, as he lived
with his parents in the suburbs. He might have been scared earlier, but now, he
was terrified.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>He concentrated on the list again. Axel? style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>No way, José!style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Riku thought. He had only met him a handful
of times, but the redhead was terrifying. His eyes dropped to the bottom of the
list. Marluxia. Kairi’s
brother. He was the only option Riku had.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Scrambling into the living room, Riku
grabbed Zexion's cordless phone, ran back to the kitchen, and dialed the
number.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>It rang about five times before Marluxia
answered sleepily. “Hello?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“M..Marluxiaclass=GramE>?” Riku asked. “This is Riku.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Riku could hear a grunting sound and the
shuffling of blankets. When Marluxia spoke, he was more alert. “style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Riku, what’s wrong? You sound terrified.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I don’t know where Niichan is. He left a
long time ago to go somewhere and he hasn’t come back yet. I’m hungry and the
people next door are fighting,” Riku said speedily.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“Slow down, Rikkun.”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Marluxia paused. “You have no idea where Zexion went?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“No,” Riku admitted. “And Mom and Dad left
town.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Marluxia was silent. Riku could hear the
jingling of keys and the cranking of an engine. “I’ll be there soon. Don’t open the door for anyone, got it?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Riku nodded. “Okay.” He hung up the phone
and curled up on the couch. He was hungry and exhausted but he didn’t want to
go back asleep until after he and Marluxia found his older brother. After what
seemed an eternity to Riku, there was a soft rap on the door.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Riku, it’s
Marluxia.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Riku walked over to the door. Standing in
the door, he looked through the peephole and unlocked the chain and doorknob.
Opening the door, he gazed up at the older, taller boy. “I’m glad you’re here.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Marluxia walked in, nodding. He glanced to a
pile of candy and snack cake wrappers along with the empty half-gallon of ice
cream. “I see you found his sweet stash.” He paused. “He might just kill you
when he finds out.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I was hungry! And Zexion doesn’t have any
real food in here. You should know that.” Riku looked around. “I’m scared. Do
you think some one killed him?”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Marluxia was quiet for a long time. “No.
Someone would have come here by now, I’m sure.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“But what if they haven’t found him yet and
he’s laying in a dark alley and stuff…”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
class=GramE>“Rikkun,
chill out.” Marluxia
commanded. He leaned against the kitchen counter. “Zexion didn’t tell you
anything before he left?” This sucked. How the hell was he supposed to find
Zexion if they had no idea where he went.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“He didn’t say anything, aside that I
couldn’t go with him.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>A light bulb went off in Marluxia’s head. class=GramE>His cell phone. He could just call his cell phone and find
out where he was. Why didn’t he think of that sooner? Marluxia pulled his cell
from his front pocket and dialed Zexion's number. It rang twice before a woman
answered.
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Hello?”
Marluxia’s eyes widened. Zexion was straight?style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Hi. I’m looking for my friend, Zexion. Do
you know where he’s at? This is his cell phone.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
“style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Oh!” The woman said. “style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>He’s at class=SpellE>Balamb style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Hospitalstyle='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>.
I’m afraid your friend is pretty hurt.”style='mso-tab-count:1'>
“What happened?
Is he okay?”
“style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>He’s fine. Sleeping now.style='font-weight:normal'>”
That was a
relief. “What room is he in?”
“style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Room 203A, but visiting---” Marluxia
hung up the phone before the nurse could finish.
He looked down
at the little boy, who stood ashen face beside him. “Zex
is in the hospital. We’ll go see him now, okay?” Riku nodded. “But first we’ll
stop by a fast food joint…there should be one open.”
Half an hour
later, Marluxia and Riku sat in Zexion's hospital room, much to the on-duty
nurses’ annoyance. “Hey,” Marluxia said, tapping Zexion's shoulder slowly.
Zexion stirred
in his sleep. After several more taps, Zexion opened his eyes slowly. “What…?”
He sat up slowly, glancing around the room. Riku was curled up in a chair,
asleep. He turned back to Marluxia. “What are you doing here?”
Marluxia
shrugged. “Heard you were hurt, figured I’d come visit you.”
“….At one in
the morning?”
“Well,
actually, I got a call from your brother an hour ago, flipping out because he
couldn’t find you. Thought you were dead. I guess he wasn’t too far off.”
Zexion stared
at his pink-haired ‘friend’.
“class=SpellE>Geez, I was kidding, man.” Marluxia leaned forward, his
expression changing from amusement to concern. “Who did this to you?”
“It doesn’t
matter,” Zexion replied stiffly. He wasn’t going to give Xigbar the
satisfaction of having everyone he knew know that Xigbar helped put him in the
hospital. No, more of the fat woman aided him.
“Yeah, it does,”
Marluxia insisted. “The person who did this needs to
pay.”
“It doesn’t
matter,” Zexion repeated. “He’s long gone anyway…It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Who’s long
gone?” Marluxia asked. There was a long silence between the two. “You mean
Demyx?”
“It’s too
late,” Zexion said, smiling wryly. “I though I had all the time in the
world…but I was wrong.”
Marluxia
stroked the other teen’s slate hair. “You never told him how you felt? class=GramE>Idiot. You should have.”
“What?” Zexion
looked over at Marluxia in alarm. “I would have thought that this would be a
good thing for you.”
Marluxia
shrugged. “Maybe it is. I don’t know. I want you to be happy more than
anything.”
Zexion stared
at Marluxia. “You know I don’t harbor any ‘romantic’ feelings for you, right?”
Marluxia looked
away. “I know that. I can’t ask you to try to like me either. So…I’m just going
to have to get over it.”
“I see.”
“But why are we
talking about me, anyway?” Marluxia raised an eyebrow. “The on-duty nurse said
something about cracked ribs and stuff. When are you getting out?”
“Tomorrow,
most likely. I can’t
afford to stay here, and I don’t want to drag my parents into this.”
“I could talk
to---”
“Don’t,” Zexion
said, shaking his head. “I don’t want anyone’s help. I can manage.”
Marluxia
nodded. “Then how about you and Riku stay at my place for a
while, until your parents get back.”
Zexion was
confused. “They’ll be back tomorrow, I’m sure.”
“Na-uh,”
Marluxia said. He pulled out piece of folded paper. “Riku forgot to give this
note to you when he got over to your place. Found it while he was eating his
happy meal.”
Zexion took the
paper and opened it gingerly.
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Zexion,
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>We’ll
be out of town for a week.
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Love,
Arlene
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
Zexion frowned. “She
seriously should have called. But I can’t accept that offer.”
“Do you expect Riku
to survive on candy and ice cream while you’re in too much pain to cook that
stuff you refer to as ‘food’? It’s all gone now, anyway. C’mon, it won’t be so
bad. My mom’s a good cook.”
“You
mom?” Zexion was silent
for a moment. “I don’t know anything about your family.”
“Mine? Uh…”
Marluxia was silent a moment. “Well, Kairi and I live with Tifa.
She’s really out aunt, but she’s been more like a mother to both of us, especially
after our real mother died.” He paused. “Typically it’s just the three of us
there. But, Mom—Tifa---is into…unconventional
relationships so sometimes her boyfriends are over.”
“Boyfriendstyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>s?”
.
“Yeah.style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> I know it sounds weird and stuff…but
they’re really cool and stuff. They’re not there during the week, typically,
because they work 24/7.” He added
“Oh.” Zexion
became absorbed in his thoughts. “I guess…we’ll stay, if it’s not a problem.”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Xigbar!style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> My body’s cramping. And I’m cold. So cold!
Turn on the heater,” I said. This car ride felt longer than it was supposed to
be, even though Xigbar was going three times the speed limit.
“Can’t,” Xigbar
said simply. “your ass will burn. We can’t have that
until I’m done with you.”
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> My teeth chattered. “Then stop being a stupid
fag and close the window!” I said angrily.
Xigbar blew
smoke in my face, causing me a coughing fit. “What were you saying? I can close
the window.”
“Stupid!” I
pouted. I was down to using every tactic I could think of. “I’ll hold out on
you…”
Xigbar slammed
on the breaks. “You do that and I’ll post the pictures of our porn on class=SpellE>MySpace.”
“I don’t have
a---” I paused. “Hey, wait, what pictures?”
“Larxene will
take them, of course. Gets her rocks off.”
My face
flushed. “She wouldn’t!”
“Apparently you
weren’t there when she caught Axel and Roxas at style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>’s party, along with style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> and Vincent. And she almost got us…”
“ style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> and Vincent…that was hot.” I gasped at what I said. In my state of shock, I realized
what Xigbar said. “Whattaya mean,
us?”
“We.style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Had. class=GramE>Sex.” Xigbar said, mumbling. “Damn, I thought I was good
enough to be remembered. Damn that style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>.”
My eyes
widened. “What about Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>?”
“Nothing.style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> He said I sucked in bed…”
“You style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>slept with style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>?”
“God, NO! WE,
AS IN YOU AND I, HAD SEX! And it was magical.”
Magical?style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> I smiled to myself, unseen by Xigbar. “…How
would Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> have known?”
“He doesn’t.
He’s trying to insult me because he sucks and is on bottom.”
“Oh.” I was
quiet. “Are we there yet? I can’t feel my thighs.”
Silence.style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>
“Xig?style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Xigbar? class=GramE>XIG-FUCKING-BAR?”
“ROAR!”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Xigbar swung the door and grabbed me,
throwing me over his shoulder. “We’re having sexy time, NOW!”
‘You mean put
makeup on?” I asked, looking at the street as Xigbar
walked towards the house. “That’s what Marluxia calls it.”
“No. We are
going to fuck.” Xigbar stopped dead in his tracks. “Fuck.”
“class=SpellE>Yo.”
Xigbar
grumbled. “This has got to be the worst
night, ever.”
