Author: Trilies
Genre: Romance, Humor, Musical
Word length: 1261
Sypnosis: Operation: Enchanted is underway, and if Xion, Axel, Zexion, Demyx, and Roxas have anything to say about it, Vexen is going to be tormented get back with Lucrecia. Whether he likes it or not...
Yaoi/Yuri/Pairings: AkuRokuShion friendship, Xion&Zexion friendship, Vexen/Lucrecia Crescent of FF7
Notes: I love musicals in general, and it doesn't help that this song is just plain freakin' catchy.
Show That You Love Her (You Stubborn Bastard)
Birds chirp, leaves rustle, flowers bloom, and Xion nervously fiddles with the hem of her skirt. Vexen observes all this with a rather bored gaze as he hunches in on himself. Dangling form his left hand is a small bag of bird seed. For the most part, he's ignored it, and because of this, he seems to have pissed off quite a few of the park swans. They're all glaring at him rather menacingly, but Vexen honestly doesn't care.
"If you're feeling uncomfortable, then we don't have to be here," he says suddenly, shifting his elbows, which rest on his knees. "I only accompanied you to this place because you insisted." And Lucrecia is somehow rubbing off on him. Tch, as if she knows more about children than him... W-Well, she does, but the point remains!
"Sorry!" Xion immediately squawks, straightening like a ruler. "It's just that I never expected you to, uh, accept." Her hands flair to the side in a helpless gesture. "Usually, it's Lexaeus or Zexion who do things like this with me." A slow, yet genuine smile spreads across her face. "Thank you, Vexen." He observes both the expression and words in idle curiosity, mentally taking notes as he at last surrenders birdseed to the park lake.
"As long as you properly appreciate the things I do for you," he replies, handing the bag over to her. She takes it, the smile becoming permanent on her lips. Happily, she tosses the seed out to the various water fowl which are now gathering before her in the water.
"Of course I do," she laughs. It's only when Vexen turns away does she let nervousness flicker over her features. Oh boy... She knows the words she has to say, what she has to do, but she worries nonetheless. Still... The show must go on! Coughing into her fist, she asks hesitantly, "So how are things going with Miss Crescent?"
Luckily, Vexen doesn't notice anything is amiss. In fact, he gains an almost distant look in his eyes as he stares out onto the lake. That's something which never happens, and Xion has to marvel at it. "The same as she always is," he says absently, brow furrowing. "Honestly, she's such a brilliant woman-" He doesn't refer to her as a fellow 'scientist', Xion notes, a habit born from so much time spent with Zexion. "--and she excels in almost every field I venture in. Yet her personality is so- frustrating!" He gestures in the air before leaning forward, hands clasped together. "I've never known such a person. She's normally so logical, and then she'll start lecturing me on the most ludicrous of things!" The way he bolts up straight makes Xion almost fall out of her seat with a garbled yelp, but Vexen doesn't seem to notice. He only continues to speak, gesturing as he does so. "We get into some variety of argument almost every day! And then of course she'll get angry and leave-and-!"
His words fall apart and he just makes noises of aggravation, hands spasming in the air before he crosses his arms. Resisting a giggle, Xion empties the bag of seed into the gaggle of geese and ducks. "Well, if she causes so much trouble, which I know you don't like..." She leans closer to the sullen blond, and places a hand on one of his bony shoulders. "How come you keep doing your best to convince her to come back? And how come she keeps coming back?"
"I don't know," he snorts, letting his cheek rest on one set of knuckles. "Love?" he offers sardonically.
Talking emotions with Vexen is never a good idea. Besides Xemnas, Vexen is the most adamant in their lack of hearts. (Most of the Organization, particularly those who still retain a sense of humor, find this hilarious. After all, he is by far the most 'emotional' of them all. ) But they just can't avoid this topic. Not now, anyway. Taking a deep breath, she tentatively asks, "Does she know, then?"
With a blink, Vexen snaps out of his daze to stare at her curiously. "Pardon?"
Nibbling on her bottom lip, Xion asks, "Does she know that you treat her differently? Because maybe it's not just something to joke about. Maybe you really are in love with her. If that's the case..." Alright. Now or never. Closing her eyes, Xion takes yet another deep breath and tilts her head back slightly...
"How does she know you love her? How does she know she's yours?"
Silence. With her face scrunched up into an expression of anxiousness, Xion carefully peels open one eyelid. Vexen's mouth has fallen open slightly, and his knuckles have slipped form his face so that his fingers hang loosely in the air besides his jaw. The quiet continues for a few seconds longer before he slaps a palm to his face. "Oh sweet Light, this is one of those musical worlds, isn't it?" he hisses. "Dammit."
In quick time, Xion finds herself pulled up by one of her arms. Feet ratta-tap-tap on concrete as she's pulled along the path. "There are people watching. Don't sing!" Vexen's voice floats on air back to her, even as Xion feels magic flowing out from the tips of her toes. Carefully, she smiles.
No use now. The show must go on.
There's a large hedge around the path which separates it from the lake, with small inlets every few yards so park goers can sit and feed the ducks. They make for marvelous hiding spots, so Vexen doesn't see Xion's partners in crime until they pass by the inlet right next door.
"How does she know that you love her?"
Vexen immediately freezes in place, and Xion's eyes shine in the sunlight as she grins over at her friends.
Leaning against he back of a bench is Zexion, a book in one hand and an amused smirk on his face. As he finishes singing, he closes his book with a sharp snap.
"You know this song too!?" Vexen asks in an accusing tone to rival the sound of Zexion's book closing. Whatever else he's about to say dies in his throat as he spots the three other people who sit on the bench. They're all turned around, various expressions on their faces.
Demyx, musically inclined idiot that he is, has a grin on his face larger than a face on Rushmore. Roxas is the exact opposite, even as he tries to put some sort of happy face on for Xion, who is practically hopping in excitement. Then there's Axel... And never before has Vexen wanted to slam Axel's smug expression off of his face with an ice sword like now. Smug sonova... He's enjoying this, isn't he!?
No one gives him an answer, like usual, and Xion merely slips out of his grip to skip over to her friends. "How do you show her you love her?" she sings back, and giggles when Roxas does a quick little beat on the drum hanging from his shoulders.
Covering his face with his hands, Vexen tries to not just die as the entire group in front of him bursts into song. "I wish I could hate you all," he mutters, voice drowned under their reply:
"How does she know that you really, really, truly love her? How does she know that you love her?"
"We'll be going now," he hisses, darting over to grab Xion's arm again.
"How do you show that you love her?" Darkness damned singing.
"I am destroying everything you all hold dear," Vexen grumbles, dragging Xion along even as the singing continues behind him.
"How does she know that you really, really, truly love her?"
