Fan Fiction ❯ Never Ever in a Million Years ❯ Magus Moves In ( Chapter 8 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I do not own Chrono Trigger or anything having to do with it, and no, I'm not making money off this fic. Even if I tried, it would probably sell for what...a nickel?...maybe less?

"Right over there, Crono. I can't have it too far away from the generator." Lucca pointed to the exact spot where she wanted to situate the Epoch. Giving the handlebars a tiny thrust inwards, Crono propelled the vehicle slowly forward, finally parking it under the cool shade of a bent, twisted maple.

Everyone clambered out, stretching painfully, all exhausted from the overly long and nerve-racking ride. The rear rockets had sometimes smoked a little and one wing wobbled precariously throughout the whole trip, making everyone extremely nervous, especially Frog, who still wasn't quite over his stomach virus. Well, Lucca only WAS human. She was good at improvising things so that they worked for a time, but without the proper components even she couldn't completely fix the Epoch. But that was okay. That was why they had come back to Truce. This meant two days of rest and relaxation in her own home for sure.

Crono went around back to grab everyone's bags and packs. "So Lucca, how much time are you thinking it'll take? I'm afraid to ask, it seems like a big job, but-"

"It'll take two days at most, if Dad helps me in his spare time. Making a pliable metal reinforcement isn't that hard, Crono."

A sigh of relief reached Lucca's ears. "That's good to hear. We can't afford to waste much time. As long as that Black Omen stays in the sky, there's no telling what could happen."

"But are you sure you don't need any help?"

"No, honestly, it's fine! As long as I have Dad to help me with the heavy parts, then I don't need any other help!"

"So what should we do in the meantime?" Marle piped up. "No offense, but hanging out at The End of Time for two days doesn't exactly make me want to jump for joy."

Ayla wholeheartedly agreed. "No fun at all. Old man sleep much. Spekkio big pervert." Lucca shuddered at that one. She had thoroughly washed her hands once after finding Spekkio's "secret collection" located in a hidden drawer on a lamppost.

Crono threw a faded purple duffel bag Marle's way. "Tell ya what, why don't we all stay at my house? Except for Lucca, that is. I'm sure you don't want us hovering around while you're making the repairs, right? That would just be cruel."

Lucca nodded and laughed. "Yeah, it would be. It's OK, just go on. I'll let you know when we're ready to go again."

"Well, if it's all right with you and you don't need any help, then I guess we'll be goi-"

"But what about your mom?" interrupted Marle. "Wouldn't she object?"

Crono waved it off. "Aw, forget about it," he said, shrugging. "Mom would feed a band of carnies if I brought 'em home. Don't worry about it."

Lucca watched as everyone said their farewells to her, gathered up their stuff, and left. She heaved a sigh of relief as they all disappeared over a knoll in the distance, heading north into Truce. Finally, some REAL alone time. No Ayla trying to steal her Jerky every chance she got. No Crono and Marle snogging in the next room. And best of all, no Magus hovering around hissing like an angry goose every time she had a remote chance of being alone for an hour. (Bastard,) she thought irritatedly, turning to go inside the house. But no, she had to forget. She wasn't going to let HIM ruin her good mood. He just simply wasn't worth thinking about.

The first thing she saw upon entering the house was her father Taban wrestling one of their inventions down to the floor. "Dammit!" he spat, banging the prototype of what was going to eventually replace Gato into submission. "Why - won't - you - just - do - what - you're - urgh - programmed - to?!"

Lucca walked up to him and asked, "Having trouble, Dad?"

Taban turned his head, jumping a little in surprise at her sudden presence. "Oh, there you are, Lucca," he replied, narrowly missing one of the robot's flailing arms. "Kind of busy right now. Instead of cleaning the house all this thing does is attack me."

Lucca rolled her eyes and flipped the switch located on the robot's back. "Ever thought of turning it off, Dad?" She stared at the battered robot, shaking her head in frustration. "Must have been that code I used on the third circuit board. I KNEW something was up with that."

"So how's it been going, Lucca?" her father asked, putting a greasy hand gently on her shoulder. The two had always been close, especially since Lara's accident back when she had been seven, and often worked together on new inventions and prototypes. It was their way of bonding.

"Oh, okay." They were close, but there was no way in hell she was going to tell her father about the events of the past week. "Still working on that mess with the portal the Telepod created."

"Bad publicity we had, wasn't that? I've had to shut that area down completely. I only go to the Millennial Fair to repair Gato now and to empty his coin bank. You wouldn't BELIEVE the revenue we're getting from that thing."

"I bet. Um, hey Dad, if you're not busy can you help me fix something? It needs a good weld job and some metal reinforcement, as the very least. I know you're busy, but-"

"Say no more, Lucca. Of course I'll help. But for your sake and mine, can we wait till tomorrow morning? You look too exhausted to be doing anything right now. Oh, and your mom wants to talk to you. I've been worried for the last couple of days now, but that's nothing compared to how Lara feels. Go on now, you'd better face her wrath."

Lucca inwardly groaned as she reluctantly climbed the stairs at a snail's pace. Sure, she loved her mother, but she could be whiny and a little overprotective. She supposed there would be reason to be, seeing that she had one foot chewed up and one completely gone in result of the accident ten years ago, but she had a tendency to take her feelings out on everyone else.

The door to the bedroom was slightly ajar, and Lucca quietly padded inside. Yep, her mother was there, knitting Taban a new sweater. Her eyes flashed as she looked up at Lucca angrily. Uh-oh... "Lucca, where have you been?" she scolded, dropping her needles and crossing her arms over her chest. "Your father and I have been worried sick about you, off doing God-Knows-What! You`d better damn well have a good explanation of why you haven't turned up for the last eight days!"

Lucca sighed and braced herself for what was to come. "I couldn't help it, Mom! It was that Telepod thing we had set up at the Millennial Fair. I've been all over everywhere trying to fix the mess that thing made!" Sure, she was half-lying, but she'd probably be grounded for life if she tried to explain the whole time-travel concept.

"Well, you could have told us where you were! Argh, that's your Father, all right! Letting you go off all over the country trying to fix a stupid machine! You and Taban, always playing with your silly little toys! Sometimes I don't even know why I married that man... It's time you both realized that family and friends are more important than machines!"

Lucca groaned softly. The way things were going, she might not even be able to leave in a few days. And then there was the usual tirade about caring more about machines than people. Didn't she GET it?! She was a freakin' outcast, for crying out loud! A geek! With the exception of Crono and the people she was traveling with, nobody her age would have anything to do with her. Machines were the only thing where she could appear as something's equal. Didn't her mother, after giving birth to her and raising her for seventeen years, even know that?

Lara must have seen Lucca's slightly hurt expression, because then her features softened and she went on more quietly, "Lucca, I'm just worried about you. Can't a mother do that? It's just that-it's just that one day you'll want to settle down and have a family and you'll find that you have pushed everyone away. You're seventeen, Lucca. I was married at eighteen. You have to start thinking about these things. You have to stop running around everywhere and look at what's around you." As you could tell, Lucca's mother was definitely on the conservative side.

Lara, stopping a minute to catch her breath, continued on, "I think maybe you should take a mother's advice and go out and make some friends, perhaps even get yourself a nice boyfriend. There are more nice people out there besides Crono. Lucca, if you just give people a chance, they'll warm up to you immediately. You're really quite beautiful, and-"

"I am NOT, Mom! Open your eyes!" This crap had to be stopped. Lucca's was a face that only a mother could love, and that was it.

"Oh, but you are! If you'd just get your head out of the tool box and wear something besides that oil-spattered old thing, you could be quite stunning. Just think about what I said, honey. Now get to bed. You look like you're ready to fall over in exhaustion."

Slightly put off by her mother's uncalled-for criticism, Lucca said a goodnight and hurried off to her room. No fixing the Epoch tonight. At least her parents were right in that. She just needed to chill out and get a good night's sleep. She had a good long shower, threw on her favorite pair of pajamas, and was lying on her stomach in bed reading a trashy romance novel (it was a closet obsession of hers) when...the door opened.

Now this would have been quite commonplace if it had been her father on the other side of the door...but it wasn't. Oh, no it wasn't. It was Magus. And he had his sleeping bag.

***

"What the HELL are you doing here?"

"What does it look like I'm doing, four-eyes? I'm planning on spending the night."

"Then go spend the night at Crono's, dumbass! Not HERE!"

"Oh, and why should I?"

"BECAUSE I SAID SO, ASSHOLE!"

"PMSing, are we? Well, I'm going to stay here whether you like it or not."

"No, you aren't."

"Yes, I am."

"JUST GET OUT! "

"No."

"Yes."

Lucca threw her hands up in the air, looking around desperately for something to chuck at Magus. Nothing....well, there was that wadded up piece of paper sticking out of the trash, but if that hit him she'd end up feeling bad for it. Deciding that this was out of her hands, she said resignedly, "Then at least tell me why you left Crono's."

"If that idiot princess was trying to braid YOUR hair, I think YOU'D leave too." Lucca saw that this was a very good point, but she wasn't about to voice it.

"But why did you come HERE?! It wasn't like this was your only choice! You bastard, you just did this to piss me off, didn't you?!"

The evil smile spreading across his face answered her question quite beautifully.

Lucca almost threw a fit. Why couldn't he just leave her ALONE?! Now she'd have to take two or three days of being picked on in her own home, of all places. Forget the Kingdom of Guardia, the real people that had to put up with Magus's crap were the ones that had to live with him.

"Well, have anything to say, four-eyes? No cheeky comment at all? My my, and I thought you had grown a real attitude of late. I guess I was wrong."

Lucca suddenly wondered what had possessed her parents to let him up here, and into her room, no less. Normally they wouldn't let someone as punkish-looking as Magus even set foot in the house. Wait...he hadn't HURT them, had he? Because if he had-

"Hey, fanghead, how the HELL did you get up here?! Somehow I don't believe for a second that my parents lost all sense of decency and let you in here."

He smirked. "Well, apparently they did, because here I stand. Want to go see, four-eyes?"

Lucca went with him downstairs, becoming increasingly more suspicious with each step. What was he pulling, anyway? She soon found out when she spotted her parents sitting in the living room, both beaming the minute they saw her. And to her horror, she realized that Magus had wrapped his arm around her waist. Tightly.

Lucca felt like she was in a horrible B movie. This had to be the most NIGHTMARISH scenario ever to take place in her short, miserable life. Well, maybe more like a nightmare with pink candy icing. That well-built, muscled arm around her waist was giving her shivers down her spine, and as close as she was to him now, she could feel the whole length of his body as accurately as if nothing was there... She had been a little surprised when she had seen just what was under that cloak the other night, but it was nothing compared to FEELING it.

Lara was literally smiling from ear-to-ear. "Lucca, you never TOLD us about your new boyfriend! And here he was all confused when we didn't know who he was! Shame on you!"

"Uh...s-sorry, Mom..."

"Well, tell me, you two! How long have you been together?"

"Two weeks," stated Magus, his arm snaking further around her waist. "And I can tell you, she's the greatest girl I've ever had the pleasure to date. So smart and beautiful. You must be proud to have such a daughter." As dire as the situation was, Lucca fought the urge to suddenly burst out laughing. If only the rest of the gang could see him now... He was acting so unMagus-like that one had to wonder if he had hit his head at some recent point. Either that or Marle had been putting some boldly pink ribbons in his hair. She vowed to harass him about this later.

"Well, she is our greatest gift," Lara was saying, still beaming. "I'm glad you realize that. Well, take care of her, young man! That's all I ask!"

A brilliant idea suddenly flashed through Lucca's brain. "Oh, Mom," she said casually, "as much as Janus would enjoy talking to you right now, I believe he's got an -um- errand to run. Come on, sweetums, you'd better hurry or it'll be midnight by the time you get there."

"Oh dear!" exclaimed Lara. "What an errand if it's nine o'clock at night! Well, you be careful, Janus. Take care!"

"Yes, take...care." He gave Lucca a tight hug (quite possibly bone-crushing on purpose) and hurried out the door. Lucca felt quite satisfied with herself at her ability to get rid of unwelcome visitors, until...

"Oh, my little baby, all grown up and with a boyfriend! I couldn't be happier! He's such a nice young man, Lucca! He's your perfect match, a perfect match!" Lara would not let this go. She was so excited about the whole affair that she began to pepper Lucca with questions. "How old is he, Lucca? Where is he from? Where did you meet him? Is he fun to be around?"

Lucca, of course, had to sit through this and fabricate lies about where "Janus" was from and how they had met. (Damn you, you BASTARD!) she thought angrily, as she was sweetly explaining to her parents that her "boyfriend" dabbled in dentistry for a living. (Playing with my head like this!)

As soon as Lara had been told everything she wanted to hear, she adopted a more serious expression and stated, "Well, Lucca, I couldn't be more happy about your boyfriend. As I said, he is a terrific young man. But I could tell that things are starting to get serious with you two. And I know I can't stop you, it's your decision, but if you DO do anything, you should use protection-"

Five excruciating minutes and many emotional scars later, Lucca finally got back to her room. She slammed the door, locking it from the inside, but no sooner had she done this when a very familiar voice rang out from behind, "Why so red in the face, four-eyes?"

She whirled around. Magus, of course. There he was, sitting primly on her bed, a wicked grin plastered on his face. Apparently he had LOVED the havoc he had just created downstairs. Dammit! WHY did she have to open that window earlier?!

Lucca replied, "Oh, it's nothing. But I have to ask you something. Mom wants to know how old you are...sweetums."

He smirked at her comment. "Why, I just turned twenty-eight...snookums. Is that okay?"


"Oh, yes it is. But I'm supposed to remind you that we can't really go all the way. We're supposed to use protection...sweetums."

"Oh, that's too bad...snookums. I was really looking forward to tonight. I even had the hot oil ready."

Suddenly, Lucca just blew up at him. She had TRIED, goodness knows she had VOWED to keep her cool in front of this insufferable Mystic King, but every time she really faced him her fuse became magically shorter. "YOU BASTARD! I HATE YOU! HOW DARE YOU COME IN HERE AND LIE TO MY PARENTS! AND ABOUT BEING MY BOYFRIEND, NO LESS! AND FOR THE RECORD I'D NEVER EVER HAVE SEX WITH YOU, NOT EVER! NOT IF WE WERE THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH!"

Magus crossed his arms and gave off his trademark smug grin. "Well, you don't have to worry about that, four-eyes. Even if it came down to you and Ozzie, I still wouldn't choose you. Want to know the reasons? First of all, I've seen Ogans more attractive than you are. I believe that you are the UGLIEST thing ever to traverse the plains of the living. How could you not be, what with your boyish build, your giant glasses, and a face that would force even Lavos to run away in fear? Secondly, I hate you. No, I take that back, hate is too small a word. I ABHOR you. In fact, I should kill you for your lack of disrespe-"

"Oh, shut up, Prince Asshole! I think you should go-" She never DID get to tell him where exactly he should go, however; because in the blink of an eye she found herself -yes, you guessed it- pinned against the wall.

This time was different from all the others, though. For some reason, Lucca didn't feel...afraid at all. In fact, as perverted as it sounded, it seemed rather...arousing. Maybe it was because this time he was using his knees to keep her in place, and that got him considerably closer, his body almost pressed against hers. Maybe it was because his hands weren't against the wall or balled against her neck; this time they were merely resting gently on her shoulder. And no sadistic grin on his face; instead he conveyed no emotion at all, with just a set stare that perhaps hinted of...puzzlement?

"Get away, Magus," said Lucca quietly. Her voice sounded dead and alien to her, and cut through the still air within the room like a knife. What was happening?! Could it be-

Much to her surprise, he released her and backed off, but continued to study her quizzically, eyes narrowed and mouth drawn. He almost had the look of a trapped animal, Lucca noted. They just sat and stared at each other, both bewildered, for what seemed like hours...

Finally, the tension grew to be too much. Something had to be said. Lucca suddenly blurted out, "Eeeww, gross! You really need a shower, you know that, fanghead? You've got enough B.O. to choke a horse!" Personally, she had no idea if he smelled or not, but getting him in the bathroom would at least separate them for a time and give her a few minutes to sort out what went on.

The reply was dry and bleak. "Come again?"

"I SAID, go take a shower! You really, really smell! Bathroom's over there!" She pointed to the door of her bathroom, which adjoined the bedroom. Again, to her surprise, he just shuffled off towards it, not saying another word.

Lucca stood stock still, shocked and confused beyond her conscious mind. But why? Nothing had really happened that hadn't occurred before...or had it? That intense look he had given her a minute ago...and the close quarters they had been in, which he had done by choice...or had he only done it to keep her from moving? Was her intuition real, or was it a full-blown exaggeration created by her cruel mind because it had nothing better to do? Thoughts continued to spiral throughout her head, circling and circling in a never-ending whirl, until-

Sssssssspppppppppphhhhhhhht! Lucca jumped about a mile when she heard the sound. "Calm down, calm down, it was just the shower going on," she muttered to herself. Walking over to her bed, she went on, "Well, no use worrying about all this. It won't last forever." Lying down on her stomach, she resumed reading her romance novel, but for some reason it was really hard to concentrate on about why Belinda was betraying Lucille. Oh hell, she KNEW the reason. The reason was what was behind the bathroom door. The slightly ajar door was just torturing her; it would be so easy to just take a peek without him knowing-

"NO," a firm voice in Lucca's mind stated. "What if Magus caught you? He'd probably Dark Bomb you all the way to hell and back. And remember Crono. You'd be betraying Crono if you did this. You like Crono, don't you? Don't go wasting your time with this bastard."

Another voice chimed in, "Oh, come on, Lucca! You know you like this one! You like him, don't you? And he's so different than that goody-two-shoes Crono, too! So dark and sexy- AND he's intelligent..."

Forgetting about everything else for the moment, Lucca closed her eyes and debated with herself about what exactly WAS going on. What were her thoughts on Crono? What were her thoughts on Magus? Had she actually FALLEN for Magus, or did she still just hate him? Or perhaps maybe did she both love and hate him at the same time? (Argh, it's so CONFUSING!) she thought. (I don't evenknow what's happening anymore!)

***

"Don't get too comfortable, four-eyes! That's where I'm sleeping, if you didn't know!"

Ten minutes later found Lucca looking up at Magus, who was acting very much like his annoying, bratty self again. Well, looking at his FACE would be more accurate, as he was wearing practically nothing again (his boxers were black this time!) and she was as good as busted if she looked anywhere else.

"EXCUSE ME?" replied Lucca in a shrill voice, her previous thoughts suddenly going forgotten. "I believe this is my bed we're talking about?! Mine, and no one else's! Go sleep on the floor, asswipe!"

"Don't get that way with me, girl!" growled Magus in that now well-known dangerous voice. "If you haven't forgotten already, I am royalty. I, unlike you, deserve BETTER than the floor. NOW GIVE ME THE BED!"

Lucca threw up her hands in mock resignation. "Well, hop in."

"WHAT?!"

"I said, hop in. You want the bed and I'm not moving, so...hop in. I know it's a twin bed and all, but it'll work if I get on top. Well, come on. What are you waiting for? You said you wanted the bed, right?"

Words could not express the mixture of fury and horror on Magus's face. "H-How DARE you!" he cried out, blushing slightly. "How DARE you suggest I sleep with something as ugly as you! Now shut up and give me the bed!"

"No. Extra blankets and pillows are in the closet over there."

Cursing angrily, Magus had no choice but to comply. He made himself a bed on the floor nearby and, lying down, positioned his back to her. Seemed Prince Brat was in a little huff for not getting his way...

Smiling, Lucca turned off the light. She couldn't have been happier. Seemed she was winning more and more of these battles... Well, even if she did like Magus, just a very very little (maybe she did more than she would admit, even if it was to herself), she STILL wasn't planning on letting him get away with things, especially in her own home. She forgot about the affairs of the whole night, having already worried enough about it all, and quickly went to sleep.

Magus, however, was a different story. He stayed awake for a very long time, cursing himself for what he had done earlier that night.

He had taken a cold shower.

A/N: I'll leave it to you as to why Magus showed up in the first place…