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Author's Note

I always wanted to write a Zexion fiction and thought pairing the albino up with someone would be quite interesting. I've had the idea of a Namine X Zexion fiction for a while, but sadly, Indigo Eyes beat me to it (in her story "One Page Left.") After crying helplessly for three days straight, I eventually regained enough composure to write one myself since, well, I felt like it. Previously intended to be a three parter, but I just couldn't see two people falling in love after a scant three meetings. So I lengthened it. Enjoy.

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Zexion has just decided it's a fact: Namine can not draw.

The man is not impressed by much, but he is decidedly unimpressed with his captive's lacking artistic skills. He prefers to remain neutral in most matters, for opinions simply require too much effort he doesn't feel is necessary to exert, but the girl's tiny stick figures have actually moved him to take a stance. It is a rare phenomenon, and he feels he should congratulate her on her skill; or lack thereof.

"I must say," he commences from across the room, voice habitually chilly and vacant; disposition characteristically introvert and conserved, "I am dually impressed." Namine's face rises from the pages of her sketchbook, visage donning genuine incredulity, for even if she is a naïve child by nature, she does not fall for every whim thrown upon her.

"You have no artistic ability whatsoever," Zexion concludes. He folds his arms after the fact and resumes his previous riveting activity of staring at the floor.

"And I must say," Namine counters, placidly placing one hand over the other. "I, too, am dually impressed. For you lack benevolencey all together, and your insults..." she can not think of a suitable word, so she decides to go with one she heard Axel utilize some time ago, "...suck."

"It was not an insult, my dear Namine," Zexion mocks condescendingly, if one can give him credit for such an emotion, "it was a simple stated fact."

Namine's feet sway back and forth, hovering mere centimeters over the cold, alabaster floor in juvenile simplicity. "It's better that you could ever do." She sticks her pale tongue out in mockery.

Zexion's eyes glisten in response to this challenge. "Do not tempt me, child," he warns. "For I do not take audacious dares out of the mouth of teenagers lightly."

"Yeah huh."

The man's nose visibly wrinkles in disdain to her melodic retort. His pale mouth sets in a firm line and he contemplates the pros and cons of engaging in such a trivial activity. There is nothing to be gained from this endeavor if he succeeds, yet his pride tells him that is not a primary concern.

"You insolent little brat," he resorts to condemning, though his voice is not without hints of amusement. Though he will never admit it, this is the most fun he has had in months.

"Larxene uses a different word that begins with b," Namine intones, proceeding with her primary scribbles. The digression is ignored.

"I do not tolerate insults well."

"Whaddya gonna do? Bore me to death?"

The line that has taken place of Zexion's mouth sets deeper into his face.

"There are a great many horrible things I could do," he haughtily responds, examining his nails. "Do not tempt me."

"Puh-lease. You won't hurt me 'cuz you need me." She looks up and locks eyes with the expressionless man. "So ha ha I win."

Zexion quirks a purple eyebrow.

"Fetch me a piece of paper," he orders, promptly deciding to take up the challenge.

"I'm not fetching you anything. I'm not your dog, ya know."

"No, but you are my prisoner," Zexion retaliates, waiting for her to begrudgingly oblige.

"Get your own piece of paper. Demyx gave these to me."

"And who supplied you with the crayons? Hm?"

Namine's brow furrows together. "...you," she reluctantly replies.

"I believe that settles this frivolous dispute, then. Give me a piece of paper or I will confiscate your crayons."

"You're a dork wad," Namine spits, tearing out a clean sheet of paper.

"Where did you learn that one? Xigbar?"

"No, it's what Axel calls Demyx."

"And what does Axel call you, I wonder?"

Namine's face goes blank.

"Jail Bait," she recalls innocently, not catching the innuendo laced within the term.

"Oh, that's all we need," Zexion drawls out, the vocal equivalent of rolling his eyes since the action itself requires too much effort. "Axel's spawn running around the castle, wrecking havoc."

"You don't like kids?" Namine questions, handing the paper to her captor.

"I see no need to reproduce. And the recreational purposes are over rated."

Namine misses that last comment.

"Don't bash it 'till you've tried it," Axel abruptly sings from the nondescript threshold of the room, leaning against the frame for unnecessary support. The duo snaps to attention to evaluate the intruder. "Hey, Albino," the pyro petitions, nodding in the general direction of a rigidly lounging Zexion. "I'm here to relieve you of your shift." The man turns to Namine. "Hey there, Jail Bait."

"My name is Namine," the girl in question grumbles, knowing it's an effort in vain, but she makes an attempt regardless.

Zexion seems reluctant to move. His purpose here is not complete. But in the end, he resigns his post wordlessly over to the audacious red head and saunters out of the room.

"Oh, and by the way," he whispers in passing as Axel swaggers by. "I have tried it; otherwise how would I have come to the conclusion that it's over rated?"

Axel quirks an eyebrow.

"Well, ya didn't do something right."

Zexion settles on glaring and moves on.

"Fri-gid," Axel sings in reference to Zexion as he approaches the sitting blond. "So Jail Bait, whatchya drawing there?"

"Larxene."

"She looks kinda anorexic."

"Of course she looks anorexic," Zexion mutters. "She's a stick figure."

He then characteristically sulks out the door.

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Author's Note

I think I made Namine a tad too saucy.

Though I find it hard to believe she would not pick up on some snark after spending god knows how long being babysat by thirteen diabolical villains hell bent on galaxy domination.

And honestly: who thinks the girl can draw? She's, like, fourteen and she's still doodling stick figures with crayons while her somebody is off wielding daisy infested keyblades. (And can we see Square Enix's politically correct attempt at girl power, anyone?)

So, yeah, I gave her a slight attitude adjustment.

Comments? Suggestions? Awesome.