[NOTE: Slight AU warning. MPREG Mentions! Consider yourselves warned/advised. Thanks!]
The boy's pants were rolled up to his knees and his black leathers lay beside him on the grass. His legs knee down were submerged in the cold water of the waterfall. This was deep in the Fae forest, and the boy hardly expected to get visitors. Well..except for maybe the demons that attacked the borders of the Fae home without thought to the thousands they had killed. But Nathan wasn't afraid of them strangely enough. His long icy blue streaked black hair fell over shoulders as he hunched forward alittle to swirl designs in the water with his fingers.The forest was old, very old.
It was an entirely new and previously unknown world that Zexion stepped out of the Dark Corridor into. He spared a thought to wonder how he had ended up in such a place. Shrugging it off, he decided to explore this richly vegetated location, having nothing else to do, thanks to the apparent distruction of the Organization. Wandering through the forest, he was rather surprised to come across a young boy next to a waterfall. Concluding that his boy was not a Nobody, he quietly approached him, watching him carefully.
The boy kept up what he was originally doing, the soft humming to himself an offset to his usually quite adept hearing, as a half Sere'th his ears were far more keen to what was about. But he hummed to himself his icy blue vibrant orbs closed to the world in a moment of allowing of no thought process. Just words he was coming up with to the tune of his humming. He usually never let himself be this care free but he had spent a night with his friend Faelos and for a moment all seemed well even if it was only a fascade. "Your face is always clear, it's not diffacult to see you, to me you are just a mirror..reflecting whom I always knew." The soft singing voice had a lilt that leaned to singing and his voice was higher pitched, a bit feminine. Young.
Zexion felt his eyebrow quirking at the boy's soft singing, creeping closer as his curiosity got the better of him. Just what kind of world is this? Standing within the shadows just at the edge of the water, he contented himself with simply listening and observing. If the boy turned around, he was easily visible, but the Schemer detected no hint of malice from this strangely innocent seeming being.
The boy blinked open icy blue eyes to look down at the water, swearing he had heard something but he told himself it was mearly the animals of the wood which was highly possible. So he merely shrugged it off as his own insecurities which were quite high and unstiffened completely again relaxing once more into his own thought process that was at that moment trying to pick up that tune again. Oh bother... "Hmm..." he mumured before finally a soft smile and words floated like before, just off the top of his mind to a tune only he seemed to know. "A silhouette, a shell. No, what you knew was not me. A façade, a charade. Now can you see more clearly? Everything is gone. I can’t feel anymore. I am everything I hid from you. Now tell me, do you like what you see?"
His visible eye widening, Zexion found himself wondering if the boy was quite as unaware of his presence as he acted. His words were hitting rather close to home, and reminded him vaguely of a certain musician who had dogged his steps in a mistaken attempt to become his "friend." Huh, I wonder if Demyx's homeworld was anything like this. I can't say that I remember where he was originally from, now that I think about it. Against his will, he felt a soft cough tickling his throat, and try as he might to surpress it, some of it managed to claw its way out.
The boy's last whispered lyrics to his own tune left his lips before he heard the clawing cough, "No truth in anything you tell me, In anything you show me, In anything you ever do. Deceit." The clawing cough had the boy turning quickly though such a quick movement had a crack sound fill the air and the boy's hand, pale with long black clawed nails ripped into the grass as pain registered over his features. It took mere moments for him to reign in this in, far less then a young boy should take to be able to do such a thing. "Wh-who.." he seemed when he did not sing, or was it in anothers presence? Stutter. Zexion was certainly someone the boy had not seen before. "H-how did y-you come..t-to be here?" Humans weren't able to get into the Fae forest, their were magical barriers...
Taking a step out of the shadows, Zexion lowered his hood to reveal his face. "I am Zexion. There are very few places that are not accessible to the paths I am able to walk," he answered simply, keeping his answer truthful, but vague enough to not reveal his true nature. Appearances, after all, could be deceiving.
Very few places... he couldn't travel? What if... Nathan swallowed heavily but stayed silent on his own theories. Being kidnapped by a sadomasacist bent on the destruction of your world and forced to travel worlds broadened your horizons quite a bit... "Zexion," the boy seemed to whisper the name to himself as if getting his tongue around it to make certain he pronounced it right before saying it louder. "Zexion, I-I, am Nathanial." He flexed his hand from the grass claws having racked into it enough grass had been pulled out. "Th-this w-world... is Cama'ra." Just incase, if he was speaking to someone from his world which he was entirely certain he was not they would not do much beyond give him an odd look for saying something they already knew. But if he was from another then they would know. He knew.
Giving a small nod of his head in acknowledgement, Zexion took a few steps closer, eyes wandering from the boy, Nathanial his mind whispered, to his surroundings. "Cama'ra. I do not believe I have heard of this world, and I have travelled to many, read of more still," he replied after a few moments of relative silence. "Nathanial, I thank you for any information you may be able to divulge to me." His eyes returned to study the obviously nervous boy, although one eye was concealed by his fringe of bangs.
"Oh.." the boy mumured surprised it seemed the other was asking for his help though why when he was sitting there and clearly knew things Zexion didn't was yet to be explained. The boy swallowed and a moment of silence followed as he pulled his pants down over his lower legs and pulled on his boots so he could wrap his arms around his knees. Keeping them close in a very nervous yet personally comforting position. "Th-this worlds'... in a time o-of upheavel. Wi-with the heartless and the u-undead running amoke, a-and the Royal f-family slain, this coun-country we sit in i-is in ci-civil war. The o-one a-above, is priming... r-readying itself to take over."
His eyes would not look up though as he spoke all of this. A sigh escaped his lips at this news. "So the heartless have reached this world as well. I cannot say that I am surprised, infectious as they are." Closing his eyes as he remembered the internal forming of factions that had led to the destruction of his Organization, as well as the near-civil war that had been brewing just before he lost his Heart, Zexion spoke quietly. "Civil war is never a good thing, and is even worse when combined with the invasion of hostile exterior forces. But you spoke of undead; these are not the product of heartless invasion, so I must assume this is something caused by something within this world." Lowering his gaze back to the boy and making careful note of his body language, the Schemer carefully and slowly crouched near him.
"But what is this 'one above' you speak of? Is it this that allowed for the heartless to invade?" he asked, keeping his voice low, both to keep from spooking his only source of information and to also spare his damaged throat.
"With d-darkness inside our h-hearts the h-heartless wil a-always be." It sounded not practised as much as believed. Whole heartedly. A concept driven and believed by the boy from young to now. "U-undead a-are a product th-that I have only s-seen on Camar'a. They a-are the forms of those wh-who are dead, their souls fo-forced into servitude by those wh-who wish to control legions of those mindless, w-willing slaves. In m-many ways... they a-are like heartless." Mindless, willing if only for the goal of attaining hearts, where undead was the goal of destruction. The other crouching eyes opened to look to Zexion a moment worriedly but he calmed. "Th-this world b-believes... in div-divinity, n-not many worlds d-do so a-as far as I have s-seen. But there are l-living Gods on th-this world, beings th-that created us, g-give us our magic. M-many blame Nanqa f-for allowing the heartless and u-undead in, but w-we only have our gr-greed and p-power hungry w-ways to blame."
Despite the boy's stutter, Zexion clearly understood what he was and was not saying. He was rather surprised by what was being revealed to him to be completely honest. Living gods? "I take it you have travelled to other worlds then," he stated. "These undead sound most troublesome, especially when combined with heartless attacks. It is no wonder you are nervous; any being with a Heart would be."
He was admittedly not a religious man; Ienzo had believed in the power of science, of knowledge, and the Nobody he became had changed very little when it came to those beliefs. "Yes," he nodded, expression somewhat wistful. "Greed and the desire for power, among other things, has been the downfall of many nations, of many worlds."
"I h-have, a-against my will. B-but I w-would not u-undo, I have l-learned many things a-and for that I am glad. I am th-the s-sixth person on this w-world to know other worlds exist." He bit his lip and he nodded steadily to the comment of undead. "It i-is... far more... d-difficult, when their i-is..." he bit further seeming nervous more so to speak of this one thing. His answers always honest. "O-one. O-one man, wh-who controls h-heartless and U-undead. Given c-cursed immortality b-by the God of Darkness, i-if only to fufill the Gods bidding o-of destroying this w-world. It m-makes things... thrice. As d-difficult."
That was enough to shock Zexion's eyes into widening. "He controls both?" he asked, voice low. "That... that is unlike any I have previously encountered. And believe me when I say I have encountered my share of unsavory beings." Another cough escaped his throat. "I now find myself wondering just what drew me to this world..."
Nathan nodded in answer of silence to the others exclaimed reaction to his telling of Drefan's powers. "He g-g-gave his heart and soul u-up to Nanqa f-for the powers t-to protect his brother bu-but.." Nathans eyes dropped, it appeared from the emotion in them and his words he loved? This man? Was saddened at his fate? "He e-ended up b-being the reason his b-brother died, he never m-meant for s-such to happen. He l-lost his s-sanity with his brother and m-murdered h-his parents. A-and mine." He ****ed his head hearing the cough a-again eyes looking back up a moment. "Y-your thr-throat hurts?" He asked apparently concerned the man he hardly knew.
"Oh," Zexion said simply, reminded vaguely of what he knew of the Keybearer's story. "And yet... you still feel sympathy for the man who murdered your parents. Your Heart must be one that is strongly allied with the Light, to feel thus." Glancing over at Nathanial, he canted his head to side slightly before nodding. "Yes. It is a lasting side-effect from something that should have killed me. Yet I still stand here before you," he replied simply, still somewhat perplexed by his own apparent rebirth.
"I.." he it seemed did not agree with the statement of the purity of his own heart. But he did not speak up about this except to say, "He h-has always h-hated my pity, m-my sympathy. He h-has s-said I a-am weak for them." He shrugs as if it does not matter to him though it does, having someone hurling verbal abuse at you sense you were 7 begins to change you as a person. Though the boy did not wish to. "You h-have been given a-another chance, th-that is good isn't it?" He asked in inquiry and gestured to the waterfall and lake. "D-Does w-water help it a-at all? The w-water in this l-lake is always clear. T-The F-Fae make it so."
"No, I do not think it makes you weak," he shook his head in negation before shuffling closer to the water's edge and kneeling. "Just the opposite. If there is anything I have learned during the course of my life, it is that it takes a stronger individual to understand and forgive, than it does to become bitter and consumed by anger." Bending and cupping the crystal clear water in his hands, Zexion very briefly sniffed it before sipping it carefully. He found that it did actually help soothe damaged throat. "Thank you, it does help a bit."
Nathanial blinked at Zexion a moment as he spoke of what Nathan himself believed. It was not easy finding someone who believed that, even in the slightest. "It i-is far harder..to-to take the hits and ab-abuse, e-even when you know t-that in taking it you s-save others from the same treatment." Altruism. Self sacrifising. The lake Zexion was bent over, seemed to glow, to twinkle from far below in a rainbow of colors. Reds, blues, greens vibrant from far beneath the water. Crystals of every color far below the surface that twinkled up into the light shinning through the waters surface. A soft shrug, "Y-your welcome Mr.Zexion. The F-Fae a-always keep it c-clear."
"Mmm," Zexion hummed in consideration. He drank another handful of water before sitting back, legs crossed beneath him. "I... have not had much experience with sacrificing for others." His expression was carefully blank, although he was wondering at this shadow of emotion that flickered through him so quickly it was gone almost before it was fully felt. He felt remorse that he had sent Lexaeus to his death. "You need not call me mister, young Nathanial. I am a stranger in a strange land, with no titles or missions to my name," Zexion's lips quirked in a fleeting smile. This child was a mystery, that was for sure.
"Not m-many have," Nathan whispered in return, "It is n-not easy t-taking p-pain for others though it c-comes apparently easy t-to me," was that the tiniest sting of bitterness. As if he did not wish to be the way he was? "It i-is still hard I w-would ne-never recommend th-this path to an-another." From the boys lips achually comes a soft feminine giggle at the others words and fleeting smile. "A-alright Zexion, t-then you can call me Nathan." On a more personal level then. "Perhaps I-I can show you a-alittle of Camar'a Sere'th, m-my world. Th-that is..if you'd like." Giving a soft smile in return.
"No, I don't imagine it is an easy path at all. Nor is it one that many would willing walk," Zexion replied. Again, he was struck by the unusual innocence of this child who had obviously seen and experienced far more hate and pain then any child should. He may had experiemented where lesser mortals feared to dare trying, but he had been an adult in mind, if not in body when he did so. And it had been done of his own free will, not something forced upon him. "Yes Nathan, I should like that very much. Tell me, does Camar'a Sere'th have any libraries? I should like to explore them if there are any," he gifted the boy with a rare smile that actually reached his eyes. When was the last time I really smiled?
A nod, it was not something he had seen anyone else he had ever known walk. Only him. "Libr-Libraries, o-oh yes.Their is o-one h-here, in the Fae Castle a-and one in the Riq'ua's manor. B-but I c-can not g-get us to Riq'ua's s-so.." He stood up very slowly, after that smile. He smiling in return, slowly standing as if not to put to much weight down on one side. He seemed to favour his left side entirely, most weight on his right. "I d-do not think Faelos w-would mind, just p-promise not to hurt a-any of the Fae and he w-will be fine with you be-being here, as l-long as your with me." Someone important Nathan was? Putting forth his long black clawed long fingered feminine hand, the hand fragile, as was the rest of him. Like a China doll. A Gothed up china doll.
"That is most agreeable," the slate haired man gracefully stood, dusting off his long black coat. "Unless they seek to harm me, then there is no reason for me to hurt them. I would much rather have the chance to read any histories or treatises that are available. I am something of a collector of the written word." He noted Nathan's careful movements, the favouring of one side, already making mental notes to later be recorded in his lexicon. What a strange creature, this Nathan is. Gesturing for Nathan to lead the way, he spoke again, "Knowledge is a very precious commodity and should never be underestimated in the power it holds."
"O-oh no, the F-Fae are pacifests u-usually as th-they are dieing out. Th-Their are only 286 F-Fae left, the r-rest have been killed in the wars." He took a step forward closer to Zexion still favouring his right side, even as he walked. Collector of the written word..Hmm. "A-All knowledge is worth h-having, at any a-and all costs." This saying was one the boy lived by himself, he looked at his life as a book writing itself slowly and the more he could fill it with before he died the better. The more experiences, the more knowlege the more he would be fufilled. Then maybe he would deserve rebirth. "A-as long as yo-your with me y-you will be fine. S-Some Fae di-dislike humans, they s-say they are evil but o-of course th-they are not. Fae a-are leery of hu-humans because of humans ignorance a-and killing of Fae. Th-that is why not many h-humans are in these w-woods."
As he nodded in agreement, yet another true smile spread across Zexion normally carefully controlled features. It appeared that he had found a kindred soul of sorts, at least so far as thoughts about knowledge. "Yes, knowledge is worth sacrificing everything," he murmured, part of his mind lost in memories of the past. "My mentor once told us, my fellow apprentices and I, that humankind is not inherently evil, but that it is tainted by the Darkness found in men's Hearts, and that fear of the unknown is the cause of so much of the worlds' suffering. He was a wise man who also believed in the power of knowledge." Glancing over at Nathan, he surprised himself when he offered his arm to aid the delicate boy. "I shall endeavour to leave a good impression of some of humanity, if human I even am anymore. Although I do suppose than in appearance, I still am... and first impressions are what matter in new worlds," Zexion said softly, again shocked that he was revealing as much to Nathan as he was. Perhaps it was a side-effect of his rebirth and the realization that he had been given another chance to redeem himself.
Nathan listened eagerly to the others words, and he smiled deeply, a true deep smile at Zexions Mentor's words. They sounded like the Doctrines. The religious codes of his world and what he had grown up believing completely word for word. The offered arm Nathan took gratefully leaning a little on the other though he was so malnurished and starved that at 5'4 he barely weighed 65 pounds. A feather weight. If Human I still am? Was... "You t-traveled here th-through the darkness..b-but yet, your not.." Nathan a moment it seemed with a furrowed brow was calculating, putting togther what he knew and what he had learned. "No y-your not a heartless, you're... a nobody? A shell, l-like Nana'es'qua." He did not seem shocked by this, nor was he untrusting suddenly of the other man. "How l-long n-now..do y-you know?" How long sense you have been whole?
The boy was so petite in build that even though he was a mere two inches shorter than Zexion, he barely felt as if he was supporting him. He nodded, somehow not surprised that Nathan knew of the existence of nobodies. "Yes, I am a nobody. Formerly, I was an apprentice to Ansem the Wise of Radiant Garden," he answered truthfully. However, he was thrown by the question of how long it had been since he had lost his Heart. Since he had sacrificed everything in his desire to understand the Heart and the Darkness that lurked within.
After a few moments of silence as they continued their way through the forest with Zexion still supporting Nathan, he finally answered, voice soft as if genuinely unsure of himself. "Time flows strangely in the World That Never Was, moreso in Castle Oblivion. It has been... oh at least a few years, I should think," his free hand reached up to brush through shaggy locks of slate. "My body is as it was when I lost my Heart, even though my mind and my soul have continued to age. I do not think it has been too terribly long, as I do not feel that much older than I was then."
A slight nod of incouragement and silence stayed Nathan allowing Zexion the time he needed. "U-usually heartless d-do not age either, I s-supposed nobodies w-were the same but Nana'es'qua comes f-from a race of immortals so-so that could have effected h-her as a nobody. Wh-which is wh-why I asked, to s-see if all n-nobodies didn't age." He may have b-been weak physically but he had a sharp mind. It was his save in grace, his memory that remembered nearly anything it had seen like a picture inside trapped in time. Recalling text from books he had read years ago word for word. He did not know this was not as common as it appeared.
"We wi-will go through the b-back as it will be quieter th-then the front where th-the throne room lays. Le-less people." Coming to what appeared to a wall of grassy hedges, Nathan stuck his hand through entirely a film seeming to waver like the still water of a lake when fingers pressed through. "It is an illusion i-it's alright, just ho-hold onto me a-and we will both w-walk through. It i-is attuned t-to my soul a-and the soul of the Fae."
"Yes, it seems that losing one's Heart causes your body to remain in a sort of stasis. However, some changes of appearances do seem to appear on occasion, such as the lightening of one's hair and eye colour," Zexion replied. He nodded, not at all surprised or disconcerted by the illusion. "I am well acquainted with illusions," he said simply, walking forward, his skin tingling as he passed through. "I appreciate the option to avoid unnecessary conflict. I myself prefer not to be involved in combat, if given the option."
"A-and certain p-powers are gained." Like Nana's invisibility, which had branded her and so many of the Sere'th wanted to kill her for. A perfect killer they called her though she had done nothing, Riq'ua taking in the nobody who was only in apperance no lolder then ten years. Through the hedge, the garden on the other side was wild, far more then any human garden and teeming with life and nature. All colors and wild toward the sky, small paths barely visible from the plants that spiraled around each other. Nathanial gently smiled to a young woman who was differing colors of green, light green in skin, to dark in her hair. Translucent wings from her back of mossy green. She was kneeling before some flowers her hands on the dirt the seeds laying before her hands beginning to sprout, the buds spiraling up and growing far faster with the green light surrounding them.
The girl looked up to Nathan and then to Zexion and for a moment, just a moment of fear entering, as Nathan had said humans were not easily trusted by the Fae. She stood after that moment pushing the fear back, "Your Highness, is he going to be staying with us?" she asked, Nathan bit his lip having not yet told the 'station' he was but nodded and she gave a small smile to Zexion trying to be friendly, she in just a translucent skirt herself, her hair long enough to lay over her breasts to cover the nipples. The Fae were of nature and nudity was natural, the clothing they wore seemed even to blend into them, at least the little they wore.
"Yes," Zexion replied. "It seems that in exchange for losing your strong-willed Heart, you are gifted with unique gifts and powers." His eyes darted around, observing everything about the gardens. Thankfully, his journeys and missions to many worlds had exposed him to a wide plethora of beings, so he was relatively unsurprised by the fae woman’s appearance.
He was, however, very surprised by the way she addressed his companion. Looking at the boy with something akin to curious surprise, he said in a low voice, “You did not tell me you were so highly regarded and ranked, young Nathan.” Glancing back at the girl, he added, “I hope I have not caused too much of a problem. Nathan did not inform me of his position in your society, merely stating that I would be not be bothered so long as I am with him.”
The young woman curtsied, her smile a twinkling one, it even in her brown eyes. "The prince does not tell many but if he trusted you enough to bring you among us then you should know. He is prince of this country, Camar'a. And do not worry, we do not usually get humans but..if the Prince trusts then we shall try." She dissapeared then into the castle leaving the door open, "I shall inform King Faelos." The boy looked to Zexion with a shy blush, "S-sorry, I d-did not mean t-to..I didn't lie. I just.." he swallowed nervously. "I c-can' tell m-many people that, I h-have to be careful. You u-understand right?"
An expression that would have been more at home on Ienzo's face spread across Zexion's. "It's okay Nathan, I understand. I was once in a similar position as Ansem's apprentice; it is not always to immediately announce all of who you are." Reaching across his chest, he was unsure what guided him to gently pat the delicate hand looped through his other arm, but somehow it felt like the right thing to do. "So you said there is a library here that I might visit?"
Nathanial smiled gently up to Zexion, chewing faintly on his lower lip a moment. Leaning up he kissed Zexions cheek, a quick kiss that he hoped did not come across badly. Just a quick friendly peck of gratitude. "Y-yes, come w-with me and I'll b-bring you to the Sorcerer li-library a-and the Historic lib-library. The Sorcerer li-library is a library of books on magic of this world, how it is practised and controlled, the many d-different uses and such. Historic is o-of course the history of the Fae a-and some of this world." He lead into the halls of the castle. It was made of a mixture of wood and transparent crystal formed togther flawlessly. Their was barely anyone in the halls only five servants left in the castle.
Zexion felt his eyes widen with genuine, unfiltered shocked surprise. He could not remember the last time he had been gifted with such innocently offered friendship. His estimations of this seemingly delicate boy escalated into something approaching respect, and if he had still been in possession of his Heart, he was certain Ienzo would have felt something like friendly affection for Nathan. “I…” he coughed slightly to clear his throat of what was obviously just an echo of emotion. “Thank you. That sounds absolutely wonderful,” he said finally, admiring the beautiful castle.
“It’s very beautiful and peaceful here,” Zexion commented, glancing down at Nathan who was still gently holding onto his arm. He idly wondered if it was the boy’s obvious fae heritage that contributed to his slight build.
Nathan giggled with a soft smile, trying to not make the kiss appear as important as it was even to the boy. He had not kissed someone... willingly... since his husband's death 3 years ago. But it was just a peck on the kiss after all so it did not mean that much... Or so he was even trying to make himself believe. No point in hurting yourself more Nathan. "It i-is, Faelos a-always tells me s-stories of when their were over five thousand fae, when they had just co-come h-here from their h-homeworld Tar'os. Wh-where they were enslaved a-and supressed, al-although..th-that was over nine th-thousand years ago." Leading the way down silent halls toward the libraries.
“So the fae have not always been natives here?” Zexion asked, honestly curious. “Did they come here of their own free will, or were they brought here by those who enslaved them?” He did not bat an eye at the long span of years described; well-read as he was, this was not the first time he had encountered such a long-living race. As they continued down the hallways, he listened to what his companion was saying, deftly committing everything to memory and sending it to be recorded within his lexicon. Quietly considering Nathan’s words, he ventured a question on a rather sensitive subject, “Nathan, did you not say your parents were murdered? Is Faelos your grandfather or some other relation?”
"No, th-they were enslaved by th-their own kind, most of th-the fae here were elements that w-were considered dangerous and were slaved. Faelos b-brought his people here after his own f-father sacrifised his existance by creating a great portal of light to bring th-them all here." There were voices ahead, behind a door at the far end of the hall. A crash and laughter followed by a stern, "Watch where you throw those fire balls Jezzela!" And more laughter.
Nathan looked up to Zexion, "I o-oh! N-no, Faelos is m-my friend not a re-relation, my f-family allowed the Fae th-their own King. But... my f-family was rulers o-of the entire country. Faelos h-has been my friend s-sense I was a ne-new born." A fae exited the far door laughing to himself, he appeared young, and was many different varations of the color yellow. Thunder seemed to crackle over his skin. "Come on Jezzela, before Master Wes finds what you did to Urif's prized blue bells." The fire fae female ran from the room behind the thunder Fae though both seeing Nathan they dropped a bow and courtesy. "Your highness." Nathan giggled, "You better both r-run, Master Wes w-will be furious."
“Ah, I see,” Zexion nodded, and he really did understand. It was not that terribly unusual for there to be kingdoms within kingdoms; not the norm, granted, but it was far from unheard off. After all, Ansem the Wise had held a similar position. He chuckled softy as the two young fae careened out into the hallway, reminded of the many explosions caused by Braig and Dilan when they had been apprentices. A small smile remained on his face as he bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement of the two youths. “Are your people always so… lively?” he asked Nathan, voice tinged with an unusual amusement. Perhaps being in this world was like being around the Princesses of Heart, leaving even nobodies feeling more than they were normally capable of.
-- Edited by Zexion at 21:04, 2009-02-23
-- Edited by LionHeart at 04:56, 2009-02-25
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Together we shall walk the dusty paths until we reach our ends.
[Part 2! Moar fun times for all and slight OOC-ness for Zexy]
The two Fae smiled to both Nathanial and Zexion and the Thunder Fae male tugged on the female Fire Fae's hand before they both ran past the two. "The F-Fae..m-mostly, it de-depends on their a-age and their element. Thunder a-and Fire and a-are always lively, Earth i-is calm, Ice is..w-well cold. Hmm. Water Fae a-are generally c-caring and motherly, but it d-depends on the age and the Fae th-themself. Master Wes is a-a Dark Fae, the Fae a-are of the e-elements and upon their world Tar'os, Dark and Light w-were nothing more then el-elements, not so-some great struggling f-force within our h-hearts. The Fae a-are a generally n-neutral people veerying n-neither to the light or th-the darkness." Opening the door just as the Fae Master was about to himself. He had black and rich purple wings, his eyes silver and his skin an ashen color of grey. He dropped a bow, "Your Highness." Though he looked back up with a ****ed brow. "They got away?" Nathan blushed softly and The Master shook his head. "I will punish them later in their next classes, please do come into the Sorcerer's Abode, you and your guest." Standing more fully even as Nathanial gave a bow back, it was a bow of respect of the mans position. "Your name if I may?" The Master asked of Zexion. “Ah, well I suppose that makes sense. It is not that much unlike the way that the powers a nobody is born with are often a reflection of the Somebody’s personality or abilities,” Zexion said, thinking about the elemental affinities of the different members of the Organization. Looking up at the fae he assumed was Master Wes, he sketched a graceful bow while still providing a supportive arm to Nathan. “I am called Zexion, sir,” he said politely. “Lord Nathanial graciously offered to show me the libraries in this beautiful castle.”
Nathan seemed to ponder on what Zexion said for a few moments after. Then what did that say of Nana? Having the power of invisibility? That couldn't be good… She probibly believed herself not worth being around when she was whole, undeserving of attention and better off… invisible. "Ahhh, of course young man please come into the the library. Currently there is a class of mine going on but with how rowdy these youngsters are there is no problem with talking. I just talk over all of them." A grin from the Fae who seemed ageless but from the way he spoke was old. Beconing them into the library he stepped to the side on the winding balcony that went about half the circular room, shelves lined the walls on this level, and on the one below all around the circular room upon the walls. Desks below and students sitting at them, some working. Some talking. "Itur'al please do help Urif with his Blue bells." Students below were Fae of differing elements and genders. And a few were different, they did not have wings but they had the same lithe physique. The one told looked up, pointed ears nestled among thick black hair and she nodded her head moving to the earth male fae to help him. "Much of the books in this hall are in our traditional language. However, their are translated versions here and there. Your Highness if you would help him find them." Nathan nodded as Wes took his way away around the balcony of see-through crystal and down the crystal stairs.
“Thank you sir,” he replied, tone still polite. “I believe youngsters are the same no matter where one goes. I remember my old Master complaining about my fellow apprentices and I never settling down fast enough,” Zexion offered, a wry smirk on his face. He did not mention that anything not in a language he knew could be tranlated by his lexicon once he used two identical texts that had already been tranlated. It was a trick he had used on many worlds to aid in learning the local dialects, and had a feeling it would come in very handy here. Eyes studying both the students as well as the room itself, he was unaware of the very small, almost imperceptible smile hover just over his lips. It had been entirely too long since he had had the opportunity to simply enjoy and appreciate a library without some mission or Great Question hovering over him.
“So Nathan, any recommendations on where I should start? And is there any chance that there are two texts that have been translated that I might study?” He glanced down at the boy, a part of him noting that the youth seemed rather a bit less stressed than he had been earlier. A part of him was oddly glad for this.
A chuckle from the teacher, "Oh it does not matter, Elve, Fae or human, young people are all the same, they wish to suck up all the knowledge of the world like a man of great thirst but they can not sit long enough to take a drop let along a long gulp." Down the stairs back to his students he clapped his hands thrice and finally the students began to pay better attention. Nathan nodded and gestured so they could walk togther, fingers feeling over book spines reading the wording upon them casually until he found two he pulled from the shelves letting go of Zexions arm for a moment. Steadying himself as he held the thick volumes. "I th-think this i-is good to start wi-with," Nathan turned back to Zexion with a 'common' translation of a Fae text and an original Fae text. The book spoke of the three tiers of magic, Magic of Life, Magic of Element, and Magic of Death. Describing the thousands of things over centuries that people have found to be able to do with these powers. Though they did seem, those that had these powers governed by certain laws and rules, the power none the less was great. Cancelation was the greatest law and rule. One of Life can not cast of Death, One of Death can not cast Life. One of Water can not cast Fire etc.
“Ah, good,” Zexion said with a small smile, accepting the books. Deciding it was safe enough, he summoned his lexicon and let it hover in front of them as he began the process of copying the contents of first one text and then the other into it. While the original text was being copied, he skimmed through the other text, nodding occasionally when he read something he agreed with and making a soft “hmm” when something new or interesting was presented. “This is quite interesting, and presents a different perspective. It’s certainly a new way to approach magic, and one that definitely makes a lot of sense,” he commented, almost absently.
Nathan watched the other’s quite amazing book at first seeing the book do the translations itself and then he looked down to the class as there was heard in the Fae language which Nathanial knew some quite 'bad' words. The Earth Fae who had had the earlier difficulties with his Blue bells had a good gash across his shoulder blade and was glaring heatedly at another male who was whites, light blues and greys. An air fae. By the laws of that book, an Earth Fae took twice the normal damage from Air spells, a Fire from Water etc as well as not being able to cast the spells of the opposite element. Looking back to Zexion, "There is an-another theory, it revolves b-better about the Sere'th, the Elves. My p-people, but th-their texts are all i-in Riq'ua's manor in the Elven Forest. The E-Elves l-like humans on th-this world can be born with in-inate powers, but these powers are usually b-because of a lineage of power o-or the favouring of a diety."
Looking over at Nathan, Zexion quirked an eyebrow slightly. “The dieties here really do make their presence known quite literally. It is… quite strange, I must admit. Even before losing my Heart, I was always more of a man of science, than of religion,” he replied. The translation would not take full effect for a few hours. “The idea of a lineage of individuals gifted with a given power is interesting, I must say. Do you know anything more about it?”
Nathanial nodded giving a soft smile, he loved to speak of what he knew even if speaking was difficult because of his stutter. But he trusted Zexion and the stutter was lessening about the man. "My husband w-was born with the ability to manipulate fire, it w-was strange b-because his family th-though inate spell c-casters had a-always had…" He pursed his lips a moment in thought a serious expression on such a feminine and doll like face. "o-other abilities, th-they could ma-manipulate the souls o-of the living and the dead inately. Th-those types of sorcerers are c-called Necromancers, a-and they are… greatly feared on this world. I w-was born with…" He licked his lips. "The s-same the abilities. I h-have just..I o-only used the p-power once, a-and I wont ever ever a-again."
Zexion’s eyes widened very slightly with the mention that Nathan, still a child when it came down to it as far as he was concerned, was not only married but to a man. That… was certainly an usual revelation, to say the least. “So it is generally a similar ability that occurs within a family, then?” His eyes narrowed slightly in thought, trying to decide the best way to phrase his thoughts. “It is not only on this world that the magic of necromancy is feared. I think it is the nature of most living beings to fear death, which translates into a fear of those who can either defy or manipulate it.” Expression softening slightly, he closed and set the book aside. “The soul is not something idly tampered with and I do not blame you for not wanting to willingly do so. The mind, while a fragile, maleable thing is easily swayed and change; but the soul, it takes a greater power to change and control.”
The boy blushed softly at the widening of the other eyes, he was used to that reaction when people from other worlds heard about his marriage and to another male. But he had loved his husband dearly..."Y-yes, I was.." his brows furrow again. "An irregularity, I sh-should have had the powers of illusion o-or healing, a-as my mother had healing, my f-father illusion, my grandfather h-had no powers a-and my GrandAda..err...I'll e-explain that t-term later..had healing a-and earth m-magic b-but his mother h-had illusionary powers." A faint nod thankful for the understanding, "I d-do not want to hu-hurt people by m-manipulating their s-soul that i-is..not right. E-even if it w-were to save me pain. I-it is not right."
“Hmm, illusion you say?” Zexion said, studying Nathan once again. Aside from his lexicon, the power of illusion was his main gift, and the idea of an entire family that use it intrigued him. “Alright, so a child’s powers are dictated by their parents, correct? Are there certain powers that seem to be more dominant, such as hair or eye colour?” He asked, having made a brief study of basic genetics back when he had been an apprentice. Master Ansem had required all of his apprentices to have at least basic knowledge of all the main fields of math and science, even if they decided later not to follow a given discipline. Canting his head slightly to the side, he added, “Your GrandAda?”
"Ai, Illusionary magic r-ran in my family f-for many generations back." The boy nods and licks his lips before explaining, "The more powerful of th-the gift is do-dominant, u-usually an o-offensive magic b-before something s-such as healing. But b-because illusions a-are more defensive healing a-and illusions co-could either pass o-onto the child. But m-my parents s-said to me th-that I w-was given my powers f-for a reason. My D-destiny i-is tied in my powers a-at least..that is what Nillie s-said. Oh..Nilec. My s-step sister, she's a prophetess." A soft blush enveloped his cheeks at the question of GrandAda. "A-Ada..m-means..Birth father in Sere'th. My g-grandfather was a male Elve. And a-as I am half elven..I..I can b-become pregnant too."
“Ah, that would make sense I suppose,” he said, glancing around to see if there where any nearby benches. “Is there somewhere we might sit while we discuss things?” Zexion asked suddenly. His mind was filled with questions swirling around regarding how a male might become pregnant. “Is this due to a sort of hermaphrodotism or the inherent magic of your race? I have never heard of a male naturally being able to become impregnated. The closest is the sea horse, and even that is not a true imprenation, as the female simply lays the fertilized eggs in the male…”
"D-Downstairs," he pointed down to the back of the classroom. "Th-the Fae k-know of it, it's al-alright. To Sere'th it is a g-gift , it-it was g-given by the Goddess of Elves and the Stars o-over th-three thousand y-years ago." Leading the way down the cyrstal stairs and then toward the benches at the back. "Elves b-believe in Love as Thou Wilt, It is a-an edict of the Gods. Their is no homophobia r-really in th-this world, It's a common thing though inter-racial is still co-considered bad." A roll of Nathan’s eyes. "Elves w-were falling f-for their own gender g-greatly and the birth rates w-were dropping, the people dying out. Sila Vor g-gave them the ability to l-love any and have a child s-still. Two w-women can h-have a ch-child to th-though they have to ask Sila Vor t-to get pregnant. Men th-there is that r-random chance like a male a-and female." He licked his lips again still very nervous and blushing.
Nodding and following Nathan, Zexion sat and nodded thoughtfully. “Are all males capable of becoming pregnant or only some?” He asked, suddenly trying to imagine the physical mechanics of a male giving birth. He quickly shunted that thought away as something he’d much rather not experience, thank you very much. “It’s very refreshing to encounter a culture that does not frown upon sexuality, as seems to be the norm in most worlds I have traveled to,” he curled one leg beneath him, his arm propped on the back of the bench as he turned to face Nathan. Without really thinking, he reached up to tuck his long bangs behind his ear. “And how is this affected if one of the males is not of Elven blood? Is pregnancy still possible?”
"Only Elven males and Females b-by their own gender. Fae a-are not of this world and can not, and humans di-did not need such a g-gift as they reproduce s-so fast. Elves h-have a yearly g-gestation period a-and it t-takes a l-lady Elf two y-years to give birth. A-and a m-male six mo-months. Though theirs i-is a very painful six mo-months." Nathan's eyes fluttered closed at the touch, a soft shiver, not a shudder, a shiver at the tuck behind sensitive partially pointed pale ear. "The God o-of Rebirth a-and Silva Vor d-decide when a male e-elf will become pregnant and the natural a-anatomy inside g-grows, l-literally inside of the male, ca-causing great di-discomfort and bad na-nausea for a w-week as the uterus, o-overies all o-of that grow and the egg b-begins to grow w-with the help of the seed. Because the p-pregancy is faster and un-natural in a male body i-it takes f-far more strength to maintain and the m-man is usually b-bedridden half of those six months."
Carefully retracting his hand, Zexion felt a great deal of awe at this information. “That is… amazing. I cannot even begin to imagine what that must be like, to not only have a child growing within you but to also have the womb itself rapidly grow and change the very anatomy of your body. It must be both terrifying and beautiful for both of the elves. One worrying for his husband and unborn child, the other concerned for himself and his child… it must take a very strong elf, physically and otherwise, to undertake such a thing,” he said quietly. He wondered how someone as delicate as his companion could hope to survive such a hard trial.
Nathan smiled softly once more, "Joscelin, s-said to my father th-that it was the m-most terrifying t-time of his life. He h-had always protected hi-his mate who was human a-and now he c-could not. He was the on-one being protected by hi-his scholarly l-little husband who c-could barely pick up a sword l-let alone wield one. The s-strength loss Josclein h-hated but he l-loved h-having Peter my f-father in his arms after it being said and done." Nathan nibbled on his lip, "I h-have..a-always wanted that. To b-bring a b-baby into this world, to h-have a family..E-even if f-for a short time." Because if I do not die giving birth I die two days after my 16th birthday. That is the Destiny given to me. "D-Destiny..c-can be cruel." He whispered. "I've a-always wanted a child b-but will die g-giving birth..a-and at the small chance of not bleeding o-out while my st-stomach is split wide so the child c-can be brought o-out I will die a-after my 16th. Two days. T-two days." His voice so sombre eyes fallen. Two bleedin days. What difference did it make of two days??
Suddenly reminded of his friend Lexaeus and how the larger man had always protected him, Zexion wondered what it would be like had their roles been reversed in such a way. “So it is possible for a male elf to be impregnated by a human male then?” At the revelation that his companion was destined to die at such a young age, he was certain that if he had still been in possession of his Heart, it would have clench in something not unlike sympathy. Unconsciously, he reached out to gently grasp a petite hand. “That is a terrible burden to live with Nathan, I am very sorry to hear that,” he said quietly, expression equally sober. “Destiny can indeed be very cruel to those she targets.” A moment was spent considering the fates of his fellow Organization members. “Am I correct in guessing the child must be born via cesarean section?” he asked, hoping to direct the boy’s thoughts away from such dark topics.
"Y-yes, a h-half elf is born th-then, half Sere'th, b-but still able to have a b-baby with th-their own gender because of the Elven b-blood." He grasped back gently his clawed nails making certain not to hurt his companion. A soft sad smile, a thankful smile to the others words. He had not even expected that much from Zexion as the man had no heart, and he appreciated it. Deeply. He liked this man and he was destinied to get hurt again. But why not? He already loved one man with no heart who could never return it...Topic veered away he nodded, "Y-yes and b-because this world is s-slowly advancing through time, v-very slowly their i-is really only magical w-ways of healing. Herbals w-ways are still being discovered. S-so chances of dying in s-such circumstances if your b-body is weak is high."
A small nod of acknowledgement. They both knew and understood that he was incapable of the feelings his mind said he should. “Do you mean literally moving through time, or that this world is slowly catching up with the medicinal practices you have seen in your travels? It seems a shame that such a wonderful gift is made so treacherous by lack of knowledge,” Zexion said. It had not been that unusual for a child to be born via cesarean back on his homeworld of Radiant Garden to not only survive, but for the mother to recover fully. As if prompted by that recollection, a random thought occurred to him and was immediately voiced, “With the change of internal anatomy, does the father bearing the child also produce milk to feed it?”
"S-slowly s-slowly catching up, r-right now gu-gunpowder h-has first been discovered a-about 10 y-years ago and the f-first barrel musket w-was created it j-jams up a-alot though." Slugging along in technology. "It is..s-sad. But usually the p-parents make the choice, knowing the fragile n-nature of the one who would be pregnant w-wether or not they would risk it." It seemed the boy could reach new shades of red from the following which had lead from pale pink. Of course these questions were just asked for sake of knowing but the boy knew these things personally, he had seen a lot of this and heard of stories. And he would be doing this one day! "A m-males..ch-chest sweels w-with milk, usually leaving him fo-for a few months after the birth w-with very small breasts, h-having b-been given the tissue needed to hold the m-milk to feed the newborn. It is w-why among so many things their is a name specifically for Male 'mothers' because being called mother when your body re-resembles a female so much in that period o-of time can be..insulting. Ada m-means thusly Birth F-father. A bit more appropriate."
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Together we shall walk the dusty paths until we reach our ends.
“Ah,” Zexion nodded, another question answered without him having to actually ask it. “I had wondered how a child would differentiate between two fathers. It would be terribly confusing to call both of them ‘Dad,’ or so I would imagine,” he smiled wryly. His insatiable curiousity had been aroused, the very same curiousity that had previously gotten him into so much trouble. The comparison to a cat and its supposed nine live seemed oddly appropriate, and he found himself biting the inside of his cheek to keep from snickering at his own internal thoughts.
Zexion suddenly found himself absently chewing his bottom lip as he gathered his thoughts again. “I wish there were some way I could safely introduce some of the medical knowledge of my homeworld, so that your chances of survival would be raised,” he said finally, his eyes meeting Nathan’s, even if only one of his was visible due to the other being covered by his hair. “But… I think any pregnancy is a think of risk, of delicate frailty, no matter how strong the mother may be. To do so in this dark times is even moreso. I have seen far too many worlds fall into Darkness, some because of the actions of those I knew and worked with,” he sighed, gaze growing somewhat distant as his attention turning briefly inward towards his memories.
A soft nod, "Father is Udar i-in Sere'th, and Birth Father i-is Ada." He smiled his hands togther on his lap. It was still instilled little things like his posture being nearly perfect, and his eyes though they did look away sometimes when he spoke of personal or more diffacult things did try to keep contact with Zexion’s one. Small things he had been taught as a child who was heir to a throne. "It i-is always a r-risk, but usu-usually the… Priests’ m-magic is able to help here. The healing s-spells of this world wh-which are fueled by Divine belief and conviction t-they do not w-work very well on me a-anymore, the Gods o-of light, their magic doesn't work. Not o-on me, most of them v-view me as dark b-because of the abilities I was born with a-and the taint in my heart." His fingers reached up to gently touch cheek, the side where hair laid, to get a feel for both flesh and hair beneath his heavily scarred pale palm. The scars half moon marks of his nails having ripped open his own flesh with his own claw like nails. It was a comforting gesture. "We a-all have things w-we look b-back on and disagree with."
“You have a very faint scent of Darkness about you, but it is only barely noticeable, even to me. Your gods of Light must be very sensitive to even the slightest of taints,” Zexion replied softly. He held himself perfectly still at the unexpected contact, gradually relaxing to appear outwardly calm once again. The only other being he had recently been in company with who was as physically oriented had been Demyx, and that was months ago. While it was not something he was used to, he had the self-control to neither flinch nor jerk in surprise, somehow instinctively knowing he could trust Nathan. It was a strange state of being, to say the least. “It is the rare person who does not have something from their past which haunts their present.”
"They a-are, though Reinn the m-most." He whispered and licked his lips his hand staying for a few moments on skin. He liked touching other people if they let him, and his thumb began to stroke the other’s skin, just a moment before he pulled back his hand slowly away from Zexion with a soft smile. "If th-they say they don't th-they are just hiding it." Nathan agreed and looked up to the door being opened. His smile blossoming brighter as the Fire Fae entered the room. The grace in this man’s form was far past any of the others, a wiseness to his eyes of fire, his skin tanned, firey sparks seeming to leap from his skin. The transparent orange/red skirt was made of silk to his bare feet. His features more angular then the other Fae, and his eyes far more old. "Eruantien," the Fae spoke as a name to Nathanial. "Zexion th-this is King Faelos, a d-dear dear friend of mine." The Fae King smiled an easy smile, though he was very old by his eyes he still had an agelessness to him. "My pleasure to have you here."
Opening eyes that had unconsciously slid shut at Nathan’s light stroking, Zexion nodded his agreement. “Yes, and they are either in denial or those who should not be trusted.” At the entrance of King Faelos, Zexion felt very little doubt as to the power wielded by this fae, in both the physical and political sense. Smoothly standing, he bowed deeply to the resplendent man. “I am honoured to be welcomed in your realm and allowed to explore this magnificent library,” he said, the words and movements of the courtly dance returning to him easily. “It is my very great pleasure to make acqaintance of one dear to Lord Nathanial.”
Faelos's lips let on his pleasure at the others words. So this one could dance? How quaint, how… fun. "The knowledge this land holds is by far the most vast beyond the Elven forest, your words bring great honor to my people." A slight graceful bow inreturn. "You may stay in this castle as long as you have need to, Nathanial’s trust in others, I trust." Nathan stood up slowly and he smiled at both looking between them happily. Two of his friends got along, that was wonderful. And a new feeling as the boy had had very little friends in his youth as he had not grown up at the castle most of the year, but in a cabin far in the southern woods alone but for his husband and… Drefan. Faelos's arm it seemed glowed less his eyes on Nathan as the fingers now not sparking shifted through the boy’s hair. "He has always had my complete trust and servitude." The boy blushed becoming. "As you h-have had mine."
“I give you my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to further make use this land’s libraries,” he replied, accompanied by another quick nod of his head. A quick glance was sent towards Nathan before returning to Faelos, surrepticiously studying the man as well as his body language. Zexion felt an eyebrow almost imperceptively rising at the seemingly offhanded comments. Well, that’s interesting. “He has proved himself to be a very welcome companion, both compassionate and intelligent,” the nobody said by way of complimenting the shy boy.
The King nodded his head back to Zexion, "Of course, there should be some use of the libraries, our people are so few now they hardly get used. Espicially the older library of historic texts. A wonder no one on this world knows other worlds exist when they are forgetting the old knowledge." Nathan's hand reached up to take the hand that was in his hair. "It do-doesn't help that the lowest c-classes do not know h-how to read… at all." Faelos smiled at Zexions statement about Nathanial, "Compassionate indeed, I know you wish to change that when you become King." Nathan nodded readily, "I w-want that v-very much." Faelos's eyes were filled with soft affection. "And that is why I do not mind being that I gave a vow of servtitude to your family nearly five thousand years ago young Nathanial. You will be a King I will be honored to serve." The boy blushed further eyes falling. "And.." Faelos laughed a tinkling laugh, "There are perks," leaning down he kissed the boys lips softly. "Like taking you to my bed on occasion?" Nathan swallowed, eyes looking from corners to Zexion, Oh dear...
“That is indeed a grave shame. No knowledge should be let to sit unused and unappreciated. It saddens me to hear that there are those who not capable of appreciating what is available, even should they wish to do so,” Zexion said quite honestly. He had always felt a sort of saddened anger when he learned of worlds where there were those who were not given the option of literacy simply because of class, and it was something he had carried with him even after losing his Heart. “Ah yes,” he coughed slightly, just now noticing that his throat was starting to feel strained again. It was amazing that he had managed this long since drinking at the waterfall in the forest. “Nathanial told me of your families’ unusual agreement.” The eyebrow that had previously been slightly quirked now arched completely in surprise. He had never encountered a people who spoke of sex so blatantly, and to think one so young as Nathan thought nothing strange about agreeing to such acts was shocking. He was not entirely sure how to respond to this suddenly awkward situation, for him at least. “Uh... I can see where some would appreciate such benefits?”
Nathan's lip had trembled as his teeth bit into it looking between Zexion and Faelos, he was used to this, in a way. The Fae were a people who cared not for propiety, as their clothing being transparent and and the girls having no tops clearly showed. Nudity and sex were completely natural. But Nathan knew this was not so everywhere and the blush furthered till he was a ripe tomato when Zexion replied with his last. Eyes looking anywhere but at the two of them. Their were a few other eyes on them as well from other people in the room. Though it was the three Elves who were the ones starring, their society open minded but not as...liberated, as the Fae about such things. And of course their was also that to them Nathanial was a child and having sex with him was...disturbing. Finally looking back to the Master who clapped his hands to get their attention. "I th-think we sh-should go g-get something to drink and e-eat." Nathan whispered trying to keep hsi voice from cracking in his embaressment. Faelos nodded though their was a soft teasing smile to his lips before he kissed Nathans brow. "I'll go get a servant to get some things togther, it will be in the council room as I am certain that room will interest Zexion far more then the dining room." Exiting back out the way he came Nathan seemed to..deflate. Curling into himself apprehensively looking to Zexion.
Seeing how embarrassed Nathan was, Zexion wondered if perhaps he had said the wrong thing. When nothing further was said about what in his opinion was mildly inappropriate, he released a small sigh of relief. “That would be greatly appreciated,” he replied to the suggestion of eating, only just now realizing that not only had it been quite a while since he had last eaten, but even longer since he had taken a meal with someone else. By his calculations, it had been at least over half a dozen months since the fall of Castle Oblivion and his subsequent awakening. “Thank you,” he directed to both Nathan and Faelos. When he watched the boy almost literally shrink as the king left, he ****ed his head to the side a little and carefully reached out to rest his hand on a slender shoulder. “Nathan? Are you well?”
The boy swallowed, "I d-don't.."he licked his lips. "I d-don't want you to think bad o-of me." He whispered eyes on the floor even when the hand rested on his shoulder. He looked back up to Zexion. It was apparent then by the look in his eyes that Zexion thinking bad of him would be a horrible thing to the boy. That Zexion’s opinion meant far more to him then he had previously stated, and in such a short amount of time too. "I..w-wanted someone wh-who would treat me well, and Faelos w-would never hurt me, I g-guess comfort w-was what I was a-after, but he l-likes to boister ab-about sleeping with me a-as it is such a thing o-of honor." When the boy thought no such thing, his low opinion of himself very apparent. "S-sorry he m-mentioned it i-if it made you uncomfortable Zexion."
“I would do no such thing, as it is obvious your culture is vastly different in some ways from where I was raised. That is not a thing to be ashamed of, nor is it reason for me to think badly of a person simply because their world is different from my own,” he replied. Gently squeezing the boy’s shoulder, Zexion continued, “There is nothing shameful about seeking comfort. Even among nobodies, it is not unheard of to search for and find comfort in the arms and body of another.” Moving closer, he wrapped his arm around the smaller boy’s shoulders. “I was merely shocked to hear Faelos speak so boldy of something that in my world is private between two consenting individuals. I apologize if this made you feel badly. As I said before, I am a stranger here and do not know the way of many things in this world.”
Nathan gave a soft smile, trying to be happier again. "It is normal a-among the Fae y-yes, though am-among the humans and Elves n-not so." Nathan looked up at Zexion curious now himself, which showed in his icy blue eyes after the squeeze to his shoulder. "So though nobodies feel n-no r-real attachments… th-they can s-still feel physical pl-pleasure from sex?" A blush and he shook his head. "F-forget I asked, I don't mean to keep this conversation open l-like this when it c-causes both of us discomfort. Only Faelos h-has ever made s-sex something I am not afraid of. S-so the topic is one that i-is strange for me w-with my experiences." His hand reached up and took Zexion’s from his shoulder to gently squeeze. "It u-usually appals mo-most because of my age h-hearing me sleep with someone." He gestured so they could leave the library. "As I a-am very young. It's wh-why I usually don't want Faelos talking ab-about it. Age means nothing to Fae but to o-other cultures, what we d-did is wrong.”
A small smirk spread across Zexion’s face as he hummed in a agreement. “Mmm, yes. We may not have Hearts, but our bodies can still feel cold, can be hurt, can feel physical pleasure. We lack hearts, not our minds or bodies,” he explained. “For some, those memories are strong enough that they argued that they were still capable of feeling.” Returning the squeeze, he gave Nathan a rather conflicted expression. “I will admit that it is your age more than anything else that really shocked me. By all that I have been taught and have learned, you would still be considered a child.” That said, he walked beside his companion, once again offering his arm as the youth guided them to the council room. “And I suppose that when you have the lifespan of the fae, age becomes rather meaningless,” he added.
"Oh, I have o-only ever known one nobody, Nana a-and I think she i-is different, e-even to you and th-those other nobodies you knew." She seemed nearly lifeless, a ghost, invisible like her powers let her be. But was that because the Elves had never allowed her to show anything that could be considered a feeling for they said it was a lie? It was a sad thought. The expression given Nathan chewed on his lip walking with Zexion. "My pa-past I am not pr-proud of, of wh-what Drefan has d-done to me and what I had to d-do to survive. This body i-is only a shell for my heart a-and for my soul. Noth-nothing else, the s-scars aren't me, n-nor are the wounds." Looking up, "I am c-considered a child, but the Fae a-as long as both consent i-it is alright. And h-he t-taught me how it i-is to have… sex a-and it be nice." Down silent halls.
“Hmm, each of us is different. We never were quite able to pinpoint the line between a dusk and a higher functioning nobody. The best answer we had was that to create a nobody required an incredibly strong heart and will. But each nobody is as different as any being with a Heart… it affects each of us in a different way.” He looked down at Nathan, their footsteps echoing hallowly down the hallways they traversed. It was strange, this echo of feeling, of caring and concern; he had thought for sure that he would have forgotten such things long ago. “I am sorry that you have had such a hard fate thrust upon, but I am glad that you do not let it crush you under its weight. And that you have someone who has shown you some of the kindness and sympathy you deserve,” Zexion said softly. The silence did not unnerve him as it might have some, since he was used to the relatively empty and quiet halls of both Castle Oblivion and The World That Never Was.
"That would make sen-sense I suppose, each b-being different and the e-effect of losing ones heart effecting them thus." He was stuttering less now that he was not speaking about sex and also, it being around Zexion. His trust in the man showing again in his less stuttering more forthcoming nature. Less timid but still a little shy. "It i-is nice, I enjoy wh-when I am around Faelos a-and his step son." He leaned and kissed Zexions cheek softly again, just a quick brush of moist lips to skin. "It is g-good to know that though you may not b-be able to love o-or h-have true happiness, you s-still can enjoy things. Learning-," a giggle. "Sex. O-other things."
A light dusting of pink spread across Zexion’s cheek and nose, his mind remembering and telling his body that this was the appropriate response to something like this. “Yes, learning has always been something of a constant in my life, something I can always rely on no matter where I am or what form I may be in,” he replied with a small smile. “But don’t get the idea that all of my former companions were sex fiends, that was hardly the case, although some did fit that descriptor. One even found contentment in music to the extent that his powers were centered upon a musical instrument, and another remained devotedly loyal to our leader. Still another never gave up his research, even up to the end. And another, a very good friend of mine from before I lost my Heart, always enjoyed a nice afternoon tea,” his expression was a little bit melancholy, but also a little bit wistfully fond. As he had said, the mind remembered, as did the muscles of the body, and his face moved to create the expressions that in a normal feeling being wouldn’t require any thought.
Nathan listened silently as he always did, an open ear for when someone spoke. He liked to learn about others, and it was the only way he would grow to trust them. The expression on the others face was so strange, it was odd to he who had never been around a nobody who acted and spoke like others. Nana wasn't allowed to so he had not been ready for the melancholy of the other man. Even if it was not 'really' there it looked real enough to the boy and he gently stopped them from walking a hand on Zexion’s side as he stopped so Zexion would get the idea he wished to stop. "Perhaps y-you will see them a-again, that is r-really all we c-can do. Hope." He licked his lips and leaned to Zexion gently lips touched Zexion’s words mumured, "Hope i-is all we really have." His lips were abused ones from his teeth biting into them and their was the slightest tang of blood, but nothing to extreme as it was a bare brush of lips nothing else.
Startled at the much more intimate display of affection, Zexion’s eyes widened in total surprise. While far from unwanted, it was certainly an unexpected intimacy. He also knew that many mistakenly thought him much younger than he really was. Quickly scrambling after his now scattered wits, he replied quietly,” I suppose you’re right. When it comes down to it, sometimes there is little else we can do besides keep hope.” Going on impulse and instinct, he reached out to gently tilt Nathan’s chin up to very lightly return the kiss, a quick brushing of lips. “You know, you remind me very much of someone else I know. He too, never gave up hope. I do not know what has become of him.”
Nathan was deeply bashful after he had initated that, the widening of the others eyes showed that he really had caught the other man by surprise. Tilting his chin he blinked up at Zexion bashfully and innocently, wide icy blues making him appear more childlike not expecting the return in affection. The quick brush of lips had the boy blushing, but the smile was sincere. "Hopefully y-you will find him, but m-maybe until then I c-can help you." His hand grasped Zexions arm a little, not to hard and making certain nails did not hurt the other. "And I k-know, I m-may be foolish, b-but I know what I'm doing." He loved one man with no heart, he did not expect anything back. He just wanted that feeling of giving love freely again without recourse. Even if none was given in return.
“I hope for that as well, among other things,” Zexion replied softly. He returned the obviously genuine smile, wishing not for the first time that the expression resonated from within his being rather than from some memory. But his soul knew, his soul remembered what it was to feel affection and companionship, and this combined with his mind’s memories to allow him to almost feel. “Perhaps you can. But I do not want to offend those who have graciously allowed me a place to stay and the use of these wonderful libraries.” His opposite hand came up to lightly rest on top of the hand grasping his arm. “It is indeed strange to think one as young as you likely has more experience and knowledge when it comes to certain things than I do,” he said with a dry chuckle.
Nathan poked his tongue out at the other showing his childside that he really didn't let out except to giggle occasionally and blush. "I c-can know m-more then you, I c-can speak five l-languages fluently, and read th-them too, w-without help. And th-though this body is young with wh-what has happened in my life, my heart and soul h-have aged prematurely." He leaned and kissed lips again, quick and soft kiss. But a way to show that he if he wanted to do that he would feel more confidence in doing so now. "It i-is always nice to t-talk to someone who is a-as intelligent as you are, o-or more. You learn." Like he had from Zexion already. "We-we c-can both learn."
Another chuckle rumbled in Zexion’s chest, this time richer and surprisingly deep despite his physical appearance. He found really enjoyed speaking with Nathan, surprised by the duality of an adult’s mind and soul within the body of a child. If he hadn’t known better he would have suspected the boy of being something like the Riku Replica Vexen had created, but he knew this was far from the truth in this instance. Leaning down a little, he pressed a warmly gentle kiss to a pale temple before straightening again, his hand that had remained in place softly stroking the back of Nathan’s hand. “It is almost a reversal of when I was an apprentice and was the precocious youth with mountains of knowledge,” he smiled. “I think I shall enjoy my time here very much, as I too enjoy conversing with someone as bright as you are yourself. Shared learning is always a worthwhile experience.”
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Together we shall walk the dusty paths until we reach our ends.
