A/N : So, my first fic since 7th grade. Yeah. My first typically on here, since I deleted all my others. But hey, this site needs more MarlyVexen AU, so here we are.

Between the Tall Shelves of My Sanctuary

Chapter one: Introductions

Vexen settled into his chair behind the large oak desk and relaxed, closing his eyes and smiling slightly. He surveyed the room from his place, taking in the beauty of the many books shelved high into the rafters, and ran his fingers over the drawers behind him. They held the cards for all the books in this library, documenting each of the treasures. It made Vexen wishthat each human had a sure place in the world like these books had. Documented, and having a specific purpose. But as if things could be that easy.

Maybe, then, he would feel like he had a purpose in this world.

Ever since he was a child, Vexen had loved coming to the library. He would venture here on his own when his parents would go to work and would grab a random book of the shelf in the children's section, and just stare at it. When he got older, he migrated down to the adult and reference section.

Now he was a junior in college, and still loved sitting in a secluded corner and pouring over books of all types. His favorites were science and philosophy, being his majors in school, but the librarian got used to seeing other's sprinkled throughout.

Vexen's parents were well off, working high-paying jobs, meaning he could buy any book he wanted. But there was just something about the library that made him want to go there more than buying the books from the bookstore and going home to read them. The library was his retreat, and no one had ever bothered him there. It helped him escape from his life. His sanctuary.

But Vexen did choose to buy a few of his favorites. That wasn't a problem. His parents accepted this as school supplies and along with the books for his own and school, they also paid for his expensive tuition each year and the rent for his apartment. His parents were scientists, expecting their son to follow in their successful footsteps, so they accepted his need of money for schooling as helping him to get where they wanted him to be.

Vexen was currentlyathis new job at the library. The previous librarian had gone on maternity leave, and Vexen had been asking around for a job in his favorite place, so the timing had been perfect. Aerith Gainsborough, the previous librarian, had seen him in the building since he was a child, as she had started working there when she was about 21, his age currently, and watched him grow. When he was younger, she had been working at the library, and she had taken it upon herself to watch over him when he came here, and he had helped her with odd jobs such as putting books back on the shelves, sorting the cards for books, or placing stickers on the books to be sorted.

But now that she was leaving, she felt no one knew the library as well as him. So she had appointed him on the spot, making him ecstatic. He had gotten his dream job.

His parents, of course, thought it was just until Aerith had her child. But Vexen knew that she was too loving notto take care of her baby when it was this young. Her husband, Zack Fair, secretlyagreed with Vexen on this, and confided it in him on Aerith's last day. It made Vexen sad to think that the librarian of his childhood would be here anymore, but also made him elated that he may have the job for longer than he had though in the beginning.

Vexen also needed a job for extra money. His savings were sufficient for living after college, but he thought it wouldn't hurt to add a bit more money for when he told his parents he may not be a scientist right out of college. They would be horribly angry with him.

A group of students traipsed into the library, chatting amongst themselves, making him frown. He recognized all of them, except for a blond woman with her hair styled into an impossible style. There was Zexion, from his philosophy class, and his bubbly boyfriend who had introduced himself once as Demyx. Roxas, the boy he had tutored last year in chemistry, had his fingers intertwined with Axel's, the infamous pyro and trouble-maker, and the pink-haired man he knew only from appearance.

Zexion nodded in greeting at Vexen before Demyx dragged him away to a secluded corner of the library. The rest headed over the same direction, but not before the pink-haired man had glanced in the stoic blonde's direction, blue eyes meeting with green for a second. Then he turned and started whispering with the woman, and Vexen had the distinct feeling it was something about him.

His attention was quickly distracted by Kairi, the red-headed senior from the near-by high school. She had been to the library almost everyday since he had been placed as librarian.

"Good evening Kairi." He smiled slightly, receiving a nod and smile in return.

"Evening Vexen. How are you?" They exchanged pleasantries as Vexen got the card of the book she wanted out and she wrote down the set of numbers and letters. She waved and retreated deep into the library. He waved in return, then placed the card back and started sorting misplaced cards.

After a while, he heard footsteps approaching, and looked up expecting Kairi back in need of some help. But he was mistaken.

The pink haired man he had seen earlier was walking towards his desk, with a somewhat feminine sway to his hips. His dark jeans hugged every curve of his hips and legs, and Vexen could've sworn he had seen the same pants on his sister Namine. The man flicked his hair over his shoulder, revealing a glittering hoop in one ear. Now, in which ear was it that meant you're gay?

He reached the desk and cocked his hip to the side, resting his hand on the newfound pedestal.

"I was wondering if you could help me find a book."

Vexen flinched as the man popped his gum, but otherwise showed no annoyance. "That's what I'm here for. What do you need help finding?"

The man re-read the slip of paper he was holding, snickered, and pushed it forward across the desk. Vexen picked it up and scanned it, blushing the slightest bit. He should have known. "One second."

"That book isn't for me. My friend was to embarrassed to come up and get help to find it himself."

Vexen hmm'd in a non-committing manner, not really wanting to get into a conversation with this man. He found the card, and copied the number onto a slip of paper for that purpose, and slid it across the table, turning his back again to slip the card back into its slot. He heard the other man fidgeting behind him, as if trying to decide whether to do something or not.

"Could you show me where it is?"

Vexen turned, surprised. "Do you not know how to follow the Dewy Decimal System?"

"The what?"

Vexen rolled his eyes. He should have expected this. He took the paper back, and put a little sign on his desk that said 'back soon'. It was about eight o' clock now anyway, not many people would be coming in. He could be away from the desk for just a bit.

--

The silence on the walk to the right bookshelf was deafening. The made many twists and turns, making Vexen feel like an idiot for rolling his eyes when the pink-haired man asked where the book was. If he hadn't come here all his life, he wouldn't know either!

"I'm Marluxia."

Vexen turned his head to the side, slowing his pace slightly. "What?"

"My name. I'm Marluxia."

The blonde nodded in response. "Vexen."

There was an awkward silence as they neared the right bookshelf. Vexen traced his finger along the spines of the books, taking note of the numbers along the way. When he found the book, he took it out, and handed it to Marluxia, and began to walk away.

"If I had a rose for every time I thought of you, I would be walking through my garden forever."

Vexen stopped. What did he just say?

"If you stood in front of a mirror and held up 11 roses, you would see 12 of the most beautiful things in the world."

Vexen turned slowly. "What?"

"Are you a bad load of laundry? You make my pants feel two sizes too small."

Marluxia was leaning against the bookshelf, a smirk on his face. The blonde could feel his face starting to flame up.

"You bring a whole new meaning to the word, "edible.""

Vexen ran his fingers through his hair, looking to the side. Aww shit… I'm going to get raped in the library. "Um…"

Said man approached him, a feral look in his eye. He traced a finger down the blonde's chest. "So, what do you do for a living besides always making all the men excited and warm all over?"

Vexen slapped his hand to his face, his blush at full force now. "Please stop."

Marluxia grinned and leaned in, his lips right next to Vexen's ear. "Picture this: You, me, handcuffs, and whipped cream. Interested?"

Vexen put his hand up, trying to push the other away, but he was shaking. No one had ever taken interest in him. He had already realized his sexuality shied away from the fairer sex, but this was like a jolt to reality. No one had ever come on to him like this, even if the lines were all completely cheesy. He had a queasy feeling in his stomach, but there was also a fluttering of something else. Something he had never felt before. "Um… please don't."

The blonde took in a shaking breath as the other moved away, and slumped back onto the bookshelf, looking to the side, his face aflame. The pink-haired man bit his lip, hoping he hadn't gone too far.

"Can I buy you lunch sometime?"

Vexen looked up, surprised. Where was the man who had been practically molesting him a minute ago? "What?"

"Can I buy you lunch sometime? Dinner? Coffee?"

"I…" Vexen didn't know how to respond. "I…"

"When does your shift end?"

"At… At nine."

Marluxa looked at his watch. It was half-past eight. "I'll see you in a half-hour then, ok?" And he walked away without another word.

And Vexen stood against the bookshelf, and buried his face in his hands, wondering what he had just gotten himself into.

--

"Marluxia! Where have you been?" Axel asked, placing his arm around Roxas' shoulder. He grinned as the other made no attempt to smack him for the PDA.

The pink-haired man grinned and flipped said hair, sliding the book he had gotten across the table before settling down in his own chair. "I was chatting up the librarian."

Larxene smacked the table with her palm. "Well, now. How'd it go?"

"I got a date."

Demyx squealed. "You actually got a date with those crappy pick-up lines of yours?"

"Well..." Marluxia smacked Demyx over the head for his comment, "He got pretty nervous, and let me say, he is so cute when he blushes."

Demyx giggled before flipping through the book in front of him, the one Marluxia had gotten. The title was flashed at everyone.

"Kama Sutra, Demyx?" Zexion asked incredulously.

"Yup yup, Zexy!" He opened to a specific page, turned it vertically, and showed it to Zexion. "I though we could try out this one!"

The whole table laughed as Zexion turned various shades of red and slammed the book shut before everyone else could see what Demyx had shown him.

"So…" Larxene drawled, lacing her fingers together and resting her chin on them. "Where are you going? And when?"

Marluxia leaned back in his chair, propping up his converse on the table. "I'm meeting his after his shift, at nine, and I have no clue where I should take him. Any ideas?"

Axel grinned. "I took Roxas out to coffee, and he came over to my house after. He couldn't go to sleep, so we stayed up all night talking. It helped me get into his pants a lot sooner." Said blonde smacked him. "And it was nice, learning about your past." The redhead planted a kiss on the blonde locks, making the other blush, but he still frowned playfully.

Marluxia grinned. "Great idea! Maybe he'll open up to me. I actually want to get to know him before I have sex with him, unlike you, Axel." He said accusingly, narrowing his eyes, but still smiling. The red-head smacked him lightly on the arm.

Zexion had been peeking at the sex book left on the table, much to Demyx's delight, but at that comment he glanced up and slid the book away from him. "Be careful Marluxia. He's… delicate."

"All the more reason I should polish him until he shines, eh?"

Larxene laughed. "There you go with those cheesy lines again."

Zexion frowned. "No, I'm serious Marluxia. I know him better than anyone. I don't think he's ever… I just… just don't hurt him, ok? He's been through a lot."

Marluxia smiled reassuringly. "Zexion, who do you take me for? I don't do that."

Larxene drew together her eyebrows at the tension in the air. Attempting to dispel it, she turned to Marluxia. "What time is it anyway?"

He glanced at his watch. "Time for me to leave. See you guys in class on Monday." He waved, and made his way to the front of the library.

Larxene looked after him, and when the door to the building had closed, she motioned to the others, who leaned closer. She grinned, and everyone's eyes widened, thinking of what could be running through her head. It was one of those grins you didn't want to be on the receiving end of. "So… gentlemen… What do you think about placing a bet?"

--

Vexen leaned against the pole outside of the library, starting to regret his decision to wait for the pink-haired man. Why was he doing this anyway? He had almost been raped by him, in the library of all places! Or… or maybe he was over-reacting. Marluxia didn't have to be so bad…

"Hey Beautiful."

Vexen jumped about a foot as Marluxia whispered in his ear. The warm breath made him shiver.

"Don't do that. Scared the shit out of me." He placed a hand over his heart.

Marluxia grinned. "That was partially the point, but the other part was to make you shiver, which I also succeeded in doing."

Vexen hmph'd in response and crossed his arms. "Ok then, smartass. Where are we going anyway?"

Marluxia grinned. "That's for me to know, and you to find out."

Vexen rolled his eyes. "Lead the way."

--

A/N: The pick up lines Marly uses are from www . pickuplinesgalore . com but without the spaces. I hope you liked, and please review! You get... a... horny Marluxia plushie?