Playlist of Love

A/N: I've been dreading this one. It might not turn out very good...

Disclaimer: Don't own it. By now you should know :D

7: Six Feet Under The Stars

Artist: All Time Low

Couple: N/A Romance - Vaan/Reks

Rating: K+

Summary: The only thing Vaan could think about was how there was something wrong with the clock.

Word Count: 998

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

There was definitely something wrong with the clock. It seemed to go too slow for what the young blond was waiting for.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

The step was dreaded but quick. The stressed teenager had to go to his brother quickly, and he was late.

Soon a creak was heard. And there was something about Reks' face that scared Vaan. It wasn't the same irritated, or stressed, or happy, or upset expression that he normally wore, the boy two years older than himself being extremely predictable. This time, he wasn't, and that's truly what made the sun-kissed blonde stand, no matter what exactly he had told people later.

"Vaan..." He nodded, and smiled as best he could, though his heart was beating as fast as it ever had before. He didn't wish to tell the boy this, but he knew he had to, or one day he would wake up and wonder where his brother had gone. That, in the long run would upset him more.

"Reks..." He repeated in the same tone, raising a worried eyebrow. He was concerned no doubt, when it came to his brother it was easy to tell. There was a sense of tension in the air that was pushing down around them, choking the both of them until they were both sure their life would end. Vaan swore he could hear his own heartbeat echo around the walls of the tiny room.

"I have something to say..." This time, Reks averted his eyes, not wanting to be in the line of shock. Obviously he had something to say, he had only said that about a million times before, insisting that Vaan stay in Migelo's shop, though the doors that day were closed to customers, and await his return.

"Then say it..." Vaan mumbled, irritated with his older brother's way of saying things to the utmost dramatic poise. It didn't make sense - why didn't he just come out and say it? Nothing too horribly bad could happen to them, considering they had basically lost everything they had.

The blonde was the most wrong he had ever been in his entire life...

For some odd reason, he didn't think it could happen. Though Reks was easily old enough to do so, and had no one to stop him from making the decision, Vaan not being older than he, his brother never thought the mixed blonde-brunette would ever go through with it.

When his parents had died it had been different. He had his brother who was going through the same thing. They could be there for each other, both with the same views and opinions on the matter at hand, though Vaan understood it less than Reks did. But this time it was not alright. This time, Reks had a view Vaan didn't understand, and didn't want to understand. This time, they were different... And it could prove fatal for the boy.

Vaan had always wanted to be like Reks in every way. Though he had eventually turned down his own path, straying from Reks' perfect personality, into something a little more deviant, it didn't stop him from idolizing his brother. It had always been Reks and Vaan, Vaan and Reks, and the blonde didn't want that to chance. With an eyebrow risen, he questioned the answer he was about to get; the one he never expected.

"I'm going to war."

It was a long time before anyone spoke. Reks anticipated his brother, hot headed and idiotic, to snap. He would yell and scream and try and stop him from going, using every antic in the book whether it be, don't go because someone else will fill your spot, to don't go because Mom and Dad wouldn't want you to. Hearing all the topics of why he shouldn't go surely would have turned Reks' head, and make him wonder if he had done the right choice, though in his heart he knew he had... But what exactly had happened was not something that he was expecting.

Dead silence was a peculiar thing. It stung worse than words, it broke worse than actions. It was severe, and Reks finally found the reason they called it dead silence. Everything about his brother had theoretically died the moment he decided to lock honey eyes with him. The hurt and the confusion that was painted over his brother's face was enough to tell him perhaps he had approached the subject all wrong.

"What?" He whispered, for the first time in his life, not coming up with something witty to retort with. He fell back on the chair he was sitting in, and looked at the floor, dark by the dim lights, making his mood not in the slightest better.

He wished to be under the stars again, where Reks always told him if he grew up tall and strong, emotionally and physically, he would be able to touch them. He vowed to himself to live up to Reks' promise - to become a sky pirate. But after what he had just heard, he knew... Perhaps he didn't have the courage to do so anymore... He'd always be six feet under them, especially without his brother to lift him the last stretch of the way. Looking back up, his eyes swirling with a mist showing he might, for the first time in a long time, cry, he asked, "Why?"

"I have to fight..." Reks immediately answered, hating the silence far more than the blonde sitting only a few feet away from the heavy wooden doors he had just opened, "I have to protect what we have."

"What do we have besides each other?" He questioned, coming up with something far more intelligent than witty for once too; Reks considered this for a moment, and opened his mouth to answer, but his brother cut him off, "Protecting what we have as a whole, would be to stay here."

"Let me rephrase then..." He said in a soft voice, allowing the door to shut on it's own and walking to his brother, squatting down, and placing a hand on the fifteen-year-old's shoulder, "I have to protect you... What we're going to do is very important, and I have to fight for Rabanastre's safety, so that I can protect you..."

Vaan looked away, deciding on anger for his brother. He didn't want to leave it on this note, so he allowed himself another question despite the fact he was being generous to saving words, "When do you leave?"

"Two days..." Reks answered glumly. He didn't expect to leave his brother so fast, and especially on how fast their terms with each other were lessening. "Please don't be angry. I don't wish to leave you when you're angry with my decision."

"How could I not be?" He almost snapped, closing his eyes to diffuse what he just said. He didn't want the conversation make them fight any worse.

"You've every right... But please, be angry with me when I come back."

"And if you don't come back?"

"I will... I promise..." He nodded, a newfound determination filling his features. He glared hard, but not out of anger, it was more out of his will to live for everyone who needed him there, but soon, looking at his brother's still-upset expression he smiled, "It'll all turn out okay, Vaan... I promise..."

With that he stood up, "Come find me later, okay?" The blonde could only nod.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

The footsteps were loud, echoing off of the tall walls of the room. The now slightly relieved teenager slowly walked out, not wanting to leave his brother.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

There was definitely something wrong with the clock. It seemed to go too quickly for what the blonde was dreadfully waiting for.

??

A/N: Oooo, I actually had a plan on how to end that one. That was awesome! I really like this one a lot, and I hope you guys do too! :D

Let me know what you think!

-zesty-