Roxas could only sigh at his twin. Trust Ventus to be excited about a sleepover. They weren't kids anymore so why was he so damn happy about it? He didn't drink and the odds of him sleeping with someone were next to zero. A party, yes they'd be sleeping there but a party is still not the same as a sleepover. Actually it seemed to be some sort of welcome back thing. The twins had been gone for about a year. A private boarding school had been their home and while Roxas had adjusted well Ventus was vibrating to be coming home to see their friends, to where everything was the same and safe. Well almost everything.

Just their luck as they pull up, the only person Ventus wasn't excited to see again was sitting on the step. The boys both scrunched up their noses in a nearly identical expression of distaste. Two sets of blue eyes narrowed at one pair of deep gold. They scowled at his smirk and looked away when he ran a hand through ebony spikes, a gesture they'd both learned meant he'd found his target for an evening of abuse. Vanitas just had to be smoking on the step didn't he? Dressed up in denim and a black dress shirt, the collar unbuttoned just enough to show off. The twins were dressed in simple t-shirts, Roxas' with a checker design, and Ventus' a band shirt from a group he'd become fond of.

Roxas at least just opened his door and decided to ignore the leering guy on the step. Ventus however was frozen in place. The bond fidgeted nervously while his twin sighed impatiently. He glanced back up at the ravenette and could see it on his face while he brought the cigarette to his lips and inhaled slowly. The look of amusement in those eyes and that smirk. Vanitas must have missed his favourite person to torment and Ventus sunk down into the seat.

"Ventus come on it's just Van."

"Not until he goes away."

"You know he won't, he's seen you."

"I can dream can't I?"

Roxas opened his mouth to retort but was cut off by a much lower voice. The tone was pleasant, falsely layered with sweetness.

"You two blondies know I CAN hear you right?"

"Hello Vanitas."

"Hey there Roxas. You need some assistance getting that scared little kitten out of your car? I can come hel-"

"THAT WON'T BE NECESSARY!"

Ventus immediately jumped out of the car, grabbing his bags and purposefully keeping Roxas between him and the grinning demon on the porch. A dark chuckle mixed with the smoke he exhaled while the pair hurried passed. Ventus was so fun to tease. Not really worth pissing off the younger twin though. Roxas got down right nasty when he was angry. The 'demon' crushed the butt of his smoke against the wood beside him, flicking it away once it was out for sure. From the squeals inside he guessed his little brother had discovered his crush had made it to the party.

"ROXAS~! Oh and Ventus too! Welcome home!"

"Sora?! L-Let go!"

"Hey Sora!"

Vanitas chuckled again, getting up and eyeying the group from the doorway. Roxas captured in a hug, he'd probably need a crowbar to pry Sora's arms loose. Axel ruffling his hair and ignoring his pleas for rescue. Riku on the couch nearby, trying not to snort into his glass, Kairi with a video camera and... Ventus. Standing off to the side and watching. Now Vanitas wasn't the type to particularly care about people. In fact unless he wanted something from them he tended to ignore them entirely. People called him heartless, freak, evil. He used people. That's just how he was. Yet for some reason Ventus was an exception to the rule. Ven was just too damn fun to tease. Roxas was always the center of attention, he was the golden child who was smart, and skilled, and willful. Which left Ventus on the sideline, alone usually, and very easy prey.

Ventus stood nervously, still jittery after having to pass Vanitas outside. He was used to being set aside for Roxas. People noticed him through Roxas. He was Roxas' twin. That's how everyone saw him. Everyone but Vanitas. Which absolutely terrified him. Vanitas never showed any interest in anyone. Anyone but him. All throughout junior high Ventus was dogding him. He'd show up at his locker with a 'Hey there Ven.' Sit next to him in class and doodle obscene things right next to him. Write him rude and often suggestive notes. Ventus would have assumed it was something like a weird schoolboy crush if Vanitas also didn't love tormenting him.

One day his shoes went missing and he found them on the powerline outside (Vanitas was the only one in class that could throw that high). Another day it was his bag that had been emptied on the hallway floor. His notebooks scribbled in, his lunch vanished, all the contacts in his phone changed to 'bitch' and sent a mass text about how much he liked... Well something inappropriate he certainly didn't like! Why only him? Anyone else who Vani bothered only got hit, or cussed at, or threatened. Ventus would welcome getting the golden eyed man's demon treatment if it meant that whatever THIS was would stop. A year later and he was no better at facing that metalic gaze. Mulling the problem over in his head and holding a cup of alcohol he wasn't planning to drink. Around him the enthusiam continued, just moving without him like it always had. Unless his two best friends were there he was alone in the crowd, and actually content with that until he felt someone breathe against his ear.

Vanitas laughed as Ventus jumped, too busy thinking to notice when he'd been snuck up on, and now it was too late, a stronger pair of arms than the frail blond's had him trapped there and for a moment Ven's invisibility bubble was protecting them both from Roxas' spotlight among their friends. The blond could only shiver while more warm air ghosted passed his neck and ear, squirming to try and get some space between them but ultimately failing.

"Didn't you miss me Ventus?"

Ven only growled at the purring voice in his ear, Vani knew the answer to that. No amount of whispers in his ear would change how much Ventus wanted to be as far away from the older guy as possible. The voice purring in his ear was sending a rush of heat to his cheeks and he swallowed down the odd feeling of attraction Vanitas stirred in him. He didn't trust his voice to speak, especially hearing the older boy continue.

"I missed you..."

The tone lowered and Ven bit his lip nervously. If Vani made him squawk now then he'd be drawing attention to himself. He hated too much attention and especially while being cuddled by this asshole. Was Vanitas always this warm? He started to wonder weird things while the raven haired boy sent another breath down his neck.

"C'mon Ventus say something~"

"H-hello Vanitas."

A low chuckle in his ear along with the constriction of Van's arms signaled his approval of the obedience. Ventus knew better than to think it meant he'd be nice.

"It's sad isn't it.. All these friends and the only one who plays with you is the demon you hate."

"I don't hate you.."

"Oh?"

Was that a tinge of hope in his voice? Ventus had to be imagining it, this guy was a psychopath. He was sick of being held, and if he had to give Vanitas a taste of his own medicine to get free...

"That implies I care enough to feel anything towards you."

With a loud thud Ventus was suddenly on the floor and being stared at, drink spilled all over his lap and everyone staring with mixes of concern and curiosity. Vanitas had all but vanished, what the hell?

"S-sorry."

Ven mumbled out quietly, standing back up and cleaning up his mess. Roxas shot him a worried look but he pretended not to see. He didn't want to make anymore of it than he had to. Van had done that on purpose. Ventus smiled gratefully when Sora came over to help him, joking about how drunk he must be already. Brown spikes that looked so much like Vani's charcoal ones brushed his honey gold ones as they both bent to wipe up the liquor, the brothers looked so alike but were as different as night and day. He and Roxas weren't really alike but how did someone so nice have such an asshole for a brother?

Vanitas glared daggers at the door to his room as if he could burn a hole through it and disintegrate the whole damn party. Now why did Ventus have to say that? Last time he'd checked the fluffy boy had never had a tongue that sharp.

"Doesn't care enough to feel anything.. What a little shit."

As much as Vanitas was sulking he was also plotting. He would MAKE Ventus care. Somehow or another Ven wasn't going to leave without swallowing those words.