A/N: …Well…Merry Belated Xmas.
C H R O S T M A S
- God Damn Arms Race -
The day started out normally, just as all days in which Riku decided to hate with every fiber of his being.
The lights decorated the streets surrounding his own; brilliant colors and the spirit fled through the neighborhoods joyously…
Utterly disgusting him.
Riku simply hated the Holidays. A time to visit a family that never existed and to laugh hollowly at horrible jokes and to eat food that was better left uncooked then the condition it was served.
A time for the cheap beer to endorse the family in drunken merriment that led to horrible mishaps such as beatings, crude language, yelling, and the now box-office-best-seller porno all over the house.
Yes, it was normally a family gathering.
This was the reason he had stopped attending at seventeen, having been tossed out in the snow around this time some odd years ago.
Riku cleared his distraught, tempered mind from the images of cousins' kissing cousins and the other grotesque events happening at such parties as Family Christmas Parties.
Christmas Eve just wasn't in it for him this year either. It really hasn't for the last eight, lonely years usually spent drinking himself into a stupor until the day after Christmas.
He could hear the carolers next door, singing a silly little song about Santa Clause and the Chimney…or something. He stopped hearing the song after tossing firecrackers at them with Axel three years prior. They never came back, and he never had to hear the song again.
Ahh, Axel, the best friend any twenty-five-year old could have. Some years, they both could be found on Riku's couch, passed out with empty bottles littering the floor around them.
Flaming red hair added to the jade-dull green of his eyes created the brilliant creature only known as Axel Shizura. Axel was known best for his high tolerance for alcohol and what a riot the man could be at parties; you know, the one's Riku never goes to because he's traumatized?
Yeah, those ones.
Axel usually stays around on Christmas Eve though, for emotional support. Or to make sure Riku didn't kill himself or something. Almost every visit, Axel would bring his little boy-toy (as Riku would say) Roxas with him.
Roxas was a wonder. At first glance, the kid did look feminine. And it was odd the Axel would bring him, being four years younger than Axel and three younger than Riku, making him twenty-two…or something. Riku never paid attention…
Anyway, Christmas Eve was in four days, not today. Why Riku hated it anyway? He decided this year to get cards for those he thought were worthy of a Spencer's Christmas card for the Almighty Grinch, a.k.a. Riku Murakami.
Spencer's had all those needed and yet so…not needed at the same time. Much like how Riku self-loathing began with thoughts such as those. Spencer's was the best place for the Perversely-Dark and the Darkly Perverted… or something. Riku never gave this much thought either. He just had to walk around with his fucking apron, his fucking nametag that Axel tampered with and now says RIKPOO.
…Don't ask. Horrible story taking place last New Year's, added with too much liquor and Riku's discarded nametag and a sharpie that magically appeared in Axel's hand long after Riku passed out.
He also woke up the next morning with sharpie all over his face and a gigantic RIKU SUKZ MAJR MONKEH BIZZALLZ written in scribbles and scattered in bold black marker.
Okay, that was basically the gist of the story.
The walk to the Mall where work was awaiting consisted of a short walk to the light rail station, a transfer to another trolley on the light rail station after ten minute wait, and a short walk to the mall and another 2 minute walk to the store, located around the store with all the sporty stuff on it with the name-Riku-can-never-remember.
This morning was different. He woke up first loathing the day all together, and expected it to get better as it progressed. But he was oh so very wrong.
He missed the first trolley to the second light rail station, so there was no walking, it was a full-blown sprint half way across town. Luckily, the second train had not arrived yet. He waited…and waited…and waited.
"Fuck…" He breathed out gently, sighing deeply and running his hands through his hair, shivering beneath the black Pea Coat and matching jet-black scarf. The black Dickies he even decided to wear today proved to be too thin for cold winter morning, leaving the city layered in a sheet of snow that continued to fall passed dawn from the dark gray skies.
A woman sitting next to him tapped him lightly on the shoulder. Riku raised his eyes to almost glare at the woman, but settled for his trademark friendly hey-what-the-fuck-do-you-want scowl.
"Are you waiting for the seventy-one train?" She asked quietly, by which Riku nodded. She then smiled sympathetically "That trolley broke down early this morning… It was all over the news, didn't you-"
"Don't have a T.V." Riku said bluntly, getting up and shaking with suppressed anger and from the cold. He left after a short thank you, and took off running in the direction of the mall.
Luckily, Riku had managed to make it only forty-five minutes late. He walked into the front of the mall, looking at all the barely-opening stores and eventually stumbled into his own with a groan.
There, in front of him, stood his co-worker and semi-friend-but-not-really-I-only-work-with-the-guy…friend, Leon.
He stood glaring at the silver haired boy with arms crossed over his chest. Riku only glared back at him with a trademark smart-ass-smirk until Leon sighed.
"You're lucky I watched the news this morning. Sorry about your train."
"No sweat. What'd I miss?"
Leon massaged the bridge of his nose tiredly, "Larxene's been on her rampage all day. Either it's time of the month, or we're getting a noob."
"Oh…fantastic."
"And one of us has to work shift with him. Time schedules are screwy too."
Riku walked into the store calmly, glancing around at the all-too-familiar gizmos and gadgets and smart-ass-y comments on t-shirts, band shirts, and his favorite, the key chains. Riku was usually the one behind the register, distracting Leon from work and getting in trouble with Lar-Lar.
Ahh, the blonde, malicious, whorific-bitch of the story, Larxene Inokami. Larxene was always one to ruin even the best of moods with her diabolical attitude. And when that special time of the month came…WWIII broke loose.
Riku sighed again, tying his apron on and fastening his nametag with the graffiti on it. Leon always smirked at the sight, which earned him a glare. Today was no different in at least that perspective.
Maybe Leon had turned on the radio in the store, because the next thing Riku noticed was the random Green Day song… You know, the one about September and how depressing it is and stuff. Riku ignored it and proceeded to the back of the store, noticing the big red sign saying ADULTS ONLY.
Larxene only put that up after they had caught a ten year old crying because of the pictures in the little book labeled "For Him".
Almost stumbling over the blasted thing, Riku noted the odd small box just randomly sitting in front of him on the floor. He bent down to pick it up, and held it oddly in his hands. He turned to ask Leon what it was for, but wound up screaming in sheer fright and jumping at the mere sight of the horrible thing standing next in front of him…
Larxene. With a scowl on her face enough to make the Devil flinch.
"Almost an HOUR late, and you're not even trying to unload all the new shit that just blew in! The Mall opens in ten minutes!"
"Wh-w-what-?"
"If I catch you just hoggling around like a retard, I'll have your poorly drawn-on nametag faster than you can say Merry Fucking Christmas!"
Riku watched as the smaller, yet frightfully louder and meaner, woman stomped away, giving Leon a glare all his own, and then stomping into the backroom.
Leon stood next to Riku, both boys' eyes wide as dinner plates. Both boys also reeled back when the door to the back slammed shut.
Riku looked up at the taller, brunet male with a quizzical look, "…Hoggling?"
"Larxenism. I just don't even try to read her anymore."
Riku dismissed the thought and looked down at the box again, "Hey, Leon?"
"Yup." Leon replied, already in another one of the doors leading to the storage room and pulling out another, larger box and opening it.
"What's supposed to be in here, anyways?"
"Oh, I think that was the order for the new Chocolate Pens. I think it was either Larxene or Marluxia's idea to get them for the newest edition to this section."
Leon looked up at the silver-haired man, and the two shrugged in unison.
/C/
Riku's break began at three, and much to his dismay, that was not for another hour. He sat at the register, bored out of his mind, looking down at the strange penholder the store decided to use, in the shape of an old man bent over and his pants down, and the pen looking like it was shoved up his ass. Hard. There were others, like of a woman and, Riku thought, a monkey, but they were nowhere in sight.
He sighed, looking at how empty this place looked around this time. He'd like to work at the Borders down the way, or the Target, where everything is quiet all the time…Spencer's Quiet-Days were the off-days.
Christmas was just outright boring on the days before. It was only fun when Axel and Roxas came over and they got drunk. Sometimes, Axel and Roxas would disappear in Riku's bedroom after he had passed out…Riku only knew because he never really passed out.
Totally random thought, but it was the only thing he could do to keep his mind off the one kid who walked in here with a girl. The two disappeared in the back section of the store and haven't quite come back yet, and it's been ten minutes.
Oh fuck. The pens…
Riku jumped at the thought and, without a second thought, was already on his way to unload the random, small box of Chocolate Pens, used for decorating your partner's body with the only thing better than sex, Chocolate. Even though both are respectively easy to get off on, but that's besides the point.
Riku didn't see the two that walked in earlier. Maybe he fell asleep and they walked right out. Or they were sneaky and totally just stole something…
Ahh well. This place got jacked from every day. They stopped really caring after they found ways around the little alarm systems built into most of the merchandise.
Yes, merchandise can be sex toys too.
Oh, the wonders of the back section, laden to the brim with kinky objects, flavored lube, and the random ONE WALL with the lights that looked relatively normal and not-kinky. Like the one shaped like a guitar, and the one shaped like a…vagina.
Okay… Maybe it wasn't the only wall that was safe.
He sighed, looking down and locating the box. He opened it, and found an empty section for the objects to go, gently placing them gently on the shelf.
With another sigh, he realized he'd better price the damn things before putting them up. Durr. Riku groped around his apron until he was CERTAIN that Leon had the damned thing. The labeler, whatever. He called the elder male's name, and found him looking at a magazine near the section with the belt buckles and posters.
"Labeler."
"Larxene's got it."
Riku gasped. "Oh nooooo…"
"Sorry. She needed it to start putting prices on some of the new stuff. She thought you weren't capable of such a simple job."
"Just because I started putting reasonable prices on the dragon-glass-stuff in the window."
"Ten Bucks?"
Riku paused. "Yeah. Not a bad thing to pass up."
Leon sighed, "Look, you want the labeler, go bug her, not me. I'm on break. That new dude was supposed to show up a half hour ago…good thing you're not the only late person around here."
Riku scowled, and went off to the back room, where he found Larxene sitting on the employee couch and running said scanner across a few items at a time, while blowing gigantic pink bubbles with her gum. She looked calm, maybe if he asked really nicely…?
"Hey, Lar-Lar?"
"Yup."
"Can I borrow that? I need to price the choco-pens and stuff…"
Larxene glanced up at the green-eyed man and quirked an eyebrow. After a moment, she popped the bubble loudly in her mouth, stood up, and outstretched the item to him. Riku took it and looked up at Leon with the small gun in hand. Leon only rolled his eyes and continued his reading.
Riku nearly pranced toward the back of the store with the small gun, already inputting the object code and price, a very easy process after only two years working there. He turned to the first pen in reach, and rolled the price sticker onto the back. He repeated a few times until all the items already on the shelf were priced and accounted for. Now all he had to do was put the things in the goddamned register…
He sighed gently before looking up at the other things, up to the poster of the two girls in their underwear kissing on a bed and…ugh.
Oh yes, the ever-controversial concept of Gay-Marriage.
Riku was all for it.
If you could find happiness in this horrible world, then fine, spend the rest of your life with that person. Fantastic.
Oh, the song changed.
Ah, Fall Out Boy.
i am an arms dealer, fitting you with weapons in the form of words
And back to the issue.
It was always the girl-on-girl action that irked him in the weirdest fashion out of all the orientations. Even Axel had explained why time and time again, but it just never occurred to Riku why it was so…fucking hot to some people.
as long as the room keeps singing, thats just the business im in
Riku liked to keep the image like he just wasn't interested in such things like Romance and Love. Which was true, he wasn't interested. At all. Not. One Bit.
this aint a scene, its a god damn arms race
this aint a scene, its a god damn arms race
this aint a scene, its a god damn arms race
Riku knew all the words to this simple little song. He loved it so. He mouthed the words quietly which turned into quiet singing, and lead to the gentle tap of his foot to the beat.
im not a shoulder to cry on, but i digress
He walked lazily toward the register, and began inputting the dumb code into the dumb register with the dumb (but reasonable) price, when he glanced up, noticing a boy walking all alone outside the store.
He glanced up at the store's sigh, and then went back to looking at the displays in the window, then actually came into the store after a moment. He walked in time with the beat of the song with a slight bounce in his step, and just looked around at all the dragon glass stuff.
im a leading man, and the lies i weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate im a leading man, and the lies i weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricateRiku tried not to make it like he was staring but…The kid looked like he was eighteen or something, and he was just walking around by himself with an odd look like he was kind of lost, and yet he fit in just right.
i wrote the gospel on giving up
-you look pretty sinking-
He let his hair run a bit wild, what with the spikes sticking in every direction and the same color as Leon's. His was more of a chocolate brown then the dried wood color Leon had.
Riku finished imputing the codes and continued to sneak glances at the kid as he walked around. The kid didn't even faze Leon, still embedded into his dumb book. Oh well. Riku had to be the happy-dude-who-worked-there guy today.
Oh, how this day had worsened since he got out of bed…
but the real bombshells have already sunk
-primadonnas of the gutter-
Riku staggered lazily to the kid, straightening his apron before approaching. He walked up casually, asking "Hey, you finding everything okay?"
The kid turned, and Riku's heart stopped.
He blinked his deep blue eyes a couple times before gently laughing and putting crossing his arms and popping one of his hips. But those eyes…
"Actually, I was pretty happy just looking at your statues. Did I really see one of them priced at ten dollars?"
It took a couple snaps of the kid's fingers in his face before Riku came back to reality and realized he had been staring at the frigg'n cerulean diamonds he calls eyes…
at night we're painting your trash gold while you sleep
Riku blinked a few times and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "I-I'm sorry, you just have-"
"It's the eyes, right?"
Riku nodded.
"Yeah…I get that all the time. I've caused some pretty cool car accidents just by blinking them to death."
Riku quirked an eyebrow.
"…I'm kidding."
"Right…So, anything in particular you're looking for?"
"Actually, no…"
Riku again paused.
"I was just stalling for time because I'm…kinda nervous…"
"Why would you be nervous? Looking for sex toys or somethin'?"
crashing not like hips or cars
-no, more like p-p-p-parties-
The kid denied the claim and blushed profusely.
"No, I um…actually, well you work here…Can you tell me where I can find a Miss Larxene Inokami? I wanted to tell her I was sorry for being so late. The train I was supposed to take broke down…"
"…You're the noob?"
The kid scrunched his eyebrows together.
"S-sorry, but…you're the new kid?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that…"
Riku stared for another couple seconds before another snap of the fingers made him apologize again.
"I'll take you to Lar-Lar. She'll get you all fixed up, alright?"
"Thanks a lot," He began, walking alongside Riku toward the door to the lounge, "I mean, I saw the sign, and all the stuff…and I thought it'd be awesome to work here…so I applied… I'm Sora, by the way."
"Riku. Riku Murakami."
The two stopped in front of the lounge for a moment and shook hands.
"Hey Larxene?"
"What do you want? I'm busy!"
Larxene's voice rang from above them, making both boys look up to watch her nimbly jump from the top step of the latter in her jean pencil skirt and leggings and band t-shirt glory. She looked up at Riku, then to Sora.
"Ahh, you must be the noobie?"
"…Why does everyone call me that?"
"I'll get you started with a schedule. Riku!"
this aint a scene, its a god damn arms race
this aint a scene, its a god damn arms race
this aint a scene, its a god damn arms race
Riku momentarily looked up from his fidgeting, slightly scowling at her, "What?"
"Don't take tone with me, kiddo. Go slap Leon for me and tell him to start labeling the Penis Christmas Lights for me, Okay? I gotta get him started."
"…Whatever." And again, Riku was disinterested.
bandwagon's full, please catch another
Yes, Larxene was a bitch. Riku was just talking to the kid, and all of a sudden he hears "DO THIS, DO THAT!"
Ugh. Life is disgusting.
Riku swaggered up to the register happily, his smile only widening when he realized the song was still playing.
"All the boys who the dance floor didn't love, and all the girls whose lips couldn't move fast enough-"
"Sing, until your lungs give out."
Riku turned, noticing ther bouncy little brunet boy standing right next to him out the fucking thin air.
"Uh, sorry…I'm a sucker for Fall Out Boy…Anyways, Larxene told me to ask you for the roster with the times on it?"
"O-oh right…" Riku groped around the register without any luck, and proceeded to dive into the cabinet underneath the register table. He crouched down until the damned thing was in sight and grabbed it and handed it to the younger boy.
"There ya go."
"Awesome, thanks much, Riku."
He said that, and bounced off, still singing "This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race, this ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race…"
Riku glanced at the clock, 3:06. Dammit. Riku pulled on his Pea Coat, poked at Leon as he sneered at the penis lights and walked out the door.
He heard a voice from inside the mall call something like his name, but he paid no mind to it. They could have been saying "I SEE YOU" and not "RIKU" at all.
He sighed, again hearing something like his name. He turned this time, watching as Spunky little Sora jogged up to him with a smile on his face.
"God, Riku, ignore me why doncha…"
"I ignore everyone on good days, don't feel special."
Sora laughed, reaching into his pockets and pulling out a pair of holly mittens and slipping them over his skinny, pale fingers. Riku quirked an eyebrow inwardly.
"Larxene said it was alright if I came back in an hour so I could my shift hours and stuff…so, uh…where ya goin'?"
"To this place to get something to eat…"
Riku paused, looking down at Sora. His eyes still had that eerie, but warm touch of blue as they stared. Riku was able to continue without the snapping fingers.
"You, uh…wanna come?"
"I'd love to!"
Wow…Sora's one happy-go-lucky kid.
Riku smiled and sat on the bench to wait for the light rail. Sora sat next to him gleefully and lightly tapped his foot to some beat in his head. Riku ignored until the train arrived and both boarded. The two sat near the back, and got off a few stops later at a diner. Riku led to one of the far back tables, away from the other people, and watched as Sora sat in the seat in front of him.
Sora looked around the place excitedly, teeth still chattering slightly from the cold. Riku looked at him amusedly before finally asking, "You look crazy."
"I've only been in a restaurant like this a few times…it's nice and warm…"
…Now, what kind of a kid doesn't go to restaurants? Riku mentally sighed. Wow…stranger then he thought.
"How old did you say you were?"
"I'm twenty-one. Going to be twenty-two in March."
Riku hmm'd in slight amusement. The waitress came to their table, and politely asked for their order. Riku said something he couldn't even remember, but he'd said it so many times it was something that just fell short of thought to say.
"And you, sir?"
"Oh…I-I don't have any money, Riku…"
Riku glanced up from his current state with his hands shielding his eyes. "What?"
"W-well, I didn't bring any money with me…"
Riku shook his head gently, still all but listening to the conversation. "It's cool, go ahead, get whatever you want, I'll pay for it."
Sora's eyes brightened, if possible. "R-really?"
"Yeah, sure…"
…Yup, one weird kid.
"O-okay then…I think I'll have a-"
And that's when Riku full out fell asleep. He woke up a little later when his…whatever got here and Sora was happily munching away at a little hamburger and a couple of French fries.
After a gulp of soda, Sora smiled weakly and laughed, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be such a mooch…I haven't had a burger in ages."
"It's alright, I don't mind. It's nice to have someone to talk to on break. Usually I'm just here by myself and I pay and leave." Riku shrugged.
"No one at all?"
"Well, my best friend Axel…But he's usually preoccupied with his little boy toy, Roxas…Kid looks kinda like you, actually."
Sora was one hell of a listener, too. Wasn't tuning him out or anything…
"So they're usually off doing their…own things."
"So…Axel's gay?"
Riku shrugged again, "I don't even know. The other day he was telling me why lesbians turn the world on, and yet he had this little nympho-thingy attached to his leg like a frou-frou dog. I'm not sure anymore. I stopped trying to figure him out."
"Hmm…what about you then, Riku?"
Sora asked questions kind of timidly. Like Riku would hit him if he stuttered or something. Riku wouldn't do that, though.
"What do you mean?"
"I guess it's easier to ask… Well, what's your orientation, male or female?"
Riku paused…and paused, and paused.
"Well…I have had sex with girls…"
This was kind of uncomfortable…in comfortable kind of way.
"I won't kill you or something if you say you don't know-"
"I know what I am."
Sora kind of faltered then. "Oh…okay. Sorry."
"I think I just don't know at the moment. I've never really thought about it...Hey wait, then what are you?"
"Oh, I've come to terms with being gay a long time ago." Sora looked from the floor back up to Riku.
That would explain a lot…
Sora began eating again after a bit of a pause, and Riku's staring at his eyes again.
"Yanno…Your eyes are nice, too."
/C/
Riku had paid the bill after a lively lunch and the two were back on their way to the mall. They walked into Spencer's and watched as Leon finished inputting some codes into the register on some item shaped oddly like a breakable glass thing.
Sora took the object gently from Leon's hands, holding it carefully and examining it like it was Pandora's box or something. It was in the shape of a glass dragon.
"Sora, do you have a fetish for dragons or something?"
Sora laughed gently, giving the thing back to the confused Leon, wondering where the hell the thing had gone in the first place.
"You can say that…not like a sexual thing, but I mean, Dragons are crazy things…that's all. I love em'."
Riku nodded, taking off his coat and proceeding to put it in the lounge when Larxene, once again, scared him shitless.
"Riku!"
"WHAT?"
She smiled deviously, "You no longer work this shift."
"…Say what?"
"You are trading places with Zexion and taking the second shift with Marluxia, not the first."
"I'm working LATE HOURS?"
Larxene's smile grew. "Five o'clock to eleven and you have to stay late to help pack up."
Riku groaned, "But I'll be half asleep by that time!"
"Well drink some coffee there, champ! Someone needs to show Sora the ropes!"
Riku glanced down at the brunet. He looked to be cringing slightly.
He was being kind of loud…
He lowered his voice a little until it was no longer yelling, asking, "I start…?"
"Tomorrow. You gotta get here at four in case Marluxia wants to work you to the bone."
"Oh, kinky."
The trio then looked at Leon, watching as he read one of the books called "For Him".
Riku groaned. "At least I'll be away from that…"
Sora laughed at the remark, looking less like a scared little kid and going off to explore the rest of the store.
The second shift with Marluxia had it downsides and upsides. On one hand, you had more customers, more stuff to do, and no one is ever really bored. But on the other hand…more customers…more stuff to do…no one is ever really bored.
Riku sighed, massaging his temples and leaning against the wall next to Leon. Sora followed, standing on the opposing side of Leon.
"Welp. Looks like you got the noob, Riku."
"Yeah Leon. Looks like it."
A/N: I Know who Green Day is. I'm trying to Make Riku a dummy-head.
Song: "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race" By Fall Out Boy
…Chya. I went there. Chapter 1 of 3…I guess. Turned out pretty long, too…Well, Merry Chrostmas!