Going back to the SSX circuit after being off season for a good six months was just plain strange for Oni Sanosuke. She and Psymon had spent the sixth months in LA, either staying out late partying with her boyfriend or attending horseback tournaments, mostly to make fun of the riders that "could never be as good" as her.
Now that she was back, everything was completely different. Odette, with hair that now reached her shoulders in soft curls, had run up to her in the airport, throwing her arms around Oni and Psymon. "JP is gone!" she wailed. Apparently, he had broken his leg in four different places just before the season was to start, and was taking it off with Luther.
Not only were JP and Luther gone, but after further talk from Odette, Oni and Psymon had found out that Marisol, Brodi, Eddie, and Seeiah had all left, each for various reasons, from disagreements with other boarders to spiritual enlightenment to real life getting in the way.
"This just sucks," Oni grumbled, looking around the airport, "I wanted us to all go out partying, too."
"Don't count that out yet!" came a rushed voice from her side. Oni turned, and then raised an eyebrow at the blonde man standing there.
"And who are you?" Psymon asked, sounding hostile, as he wrapped an arm around Oni's waist. The blonde looked from Psymon to Oni, then shook his head and held out his hands.
"Not a guy who's ever going to hit on your girlfriend, that's for sure." Odette shook her head.
"This is Viggo. He's one of the new boarders," she explained. Oni touched Psymon's shoulder.
"Down, boy," she said, then smirked at Viggo and held out a hand. "Oni Sanosuke," she continued after he took her hand, "The big, overprotective Canadian here is Psymon Stark."
"Nice to meet you... Um, both of you," the Swede said, looking from Psymon to Oni again.
"You should see everyone," Odette continued, unaware of Psymon glaring at Viggo, who was standing too close to his girlfriend. "Moby's especially changed. Zoe's pretty different too."
"So we're the last to get here?" Psymon asked, breaking his glare to look at the French girl curiously.
"Fashionably late, as per usual," Oni jumped in, wrapping her arm securely around Psymon's waist, and giving the instantly deflated Viggo a reprimanding look.
"We're waiting for Mac before we head up the mountain. He's actually arriving tomorrow, so you'll have plenty of time to get settled into the lodge."
"Good, good." Oni pulled away from Psymon, and draped her arm over Odette's shoulders. "Now, how about we force these two strong, reliable men to get the bags?"
"Oni, with everything you probably brought, you'll need two or three Psymons and at least five Viggos to carry it all." The taller girl rolled her eyes.
"Don't be silly. I heard this season we can shop more, so I only brought a few suitcases. And Psymon's," she added as an afterthought. "You know, he does actually have more than two pairs of boots and five boxers in his closet? It's amazing, really." The two girls started walking towards the luggage carousel, and Psymon instantly started following, then looked at Viggo, who started walking a different direction.
"Hey, blondie, the girls are going this way," he growled. Viggo nodded.
"Yeah, but I have to go get Griff. We left him at the hot dog vendor." With that, the Swede disappeared in a crowd of tourists, and Psymon shrugged, jogging to catch up with the two girls.
***
"Is that everything?" Odette asked, looking at the five suitcases stacked up on one of the luggage carts, and Psymon's large duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
"Yeah, that's it." Odette grinned, and shook her head.
"Mon ami, I was expecting a lot more from you. I have at least seven bags at the lodge!"
"Yeah, but you were spending off-season with a rich boy who could buy you the world. I was spending it with an insane psycho who thought that a peanut-butter, jelly, and banana sandwich and a beer was a gourmet meal."
"Oh, shove it, ya bitch," Psymon responded lightly, receiving a smack on the shoulder for his retaliation. "Where's that Viggo jackass?"
"Psymon, be nice," Odette said, waving a finger at him. "He and Griff probably got distracted at the Capcom Vs. SNK arcade game that they had at the food court."
"Griff?" Oni asked. Odette smiled, then waved a hand dismissively.
"Don't worry about him."
"Hey!" Odette turned, and then waved at the blonde head walking through the oceans of people around them. Viggo finally pushed past the people, and grinned. "This kid is better at video games than I am, and that's sayin' something."
He was referring to the small redhead boy beside him, looking at Oni and Psymon curiously. "Are they Psymon and Oni?" he asked Odette, who nodded. He instantly lifted a hand in greeting. "Hi, I'm Griff."
"....You're Griff?" Oni asked incredulously, and Psymon instantly started cackling. Viggo touched Griff's shoulder and took a small step back at that. The boy nodded.
"Uh, yeah... Nice to meet you?" he asked cautiously. Oni elbowed Psymon roughly in the side, and he shut up, glaring at her slightly, and then looking down at Griff.
"Don't tell me you're one of the riders," he said, eyes narrowed. Viggo coughed.
"Yeah, he is."
"EA must be having a real bitch of a time finding riders, if this is the best they got."
"Hey!" Griff exclaimed, crossing his arms and pouting. "I could kick your butt on the slopes!" Psymon cackled again, and Oni frowned.
"Psymon, behave." He pouted, shoulders sagging.
"I'm just messing with the kid. C'mon, let's get this shit to the car."
"Right," his girlfriend responded, pushing the cart a few feet to him, and smiling, "Take it away, sugar plum." Psymon made a kissy-face.
"Anything you say, honeybunch." With that, the two quickly started to trot off.
"I don't know which is scarier... his laugh or their relationship." Odette smiled at Viggo's remark.
"They're actually very close. Psymon is a bit... off, this year, however."
"You call that 'a bit off'? I call it insane."
"To each their own, yes?" She started walking, taking Griff's hand. "Now come on, don't want to let them out of our sight. Who knows what they'd do." Viggo shook his head and followed them.
"What am I getting myself into?"
***
Oni was surprised at how different the returning riders were. All of them had grown out their hair, Elise seemed to be much more humble, Kaori was so much more mature, Zoe was withdrawn and barely acknowledged her and Psymon, and Moby had gained a bunch of new tattoos. "Moby!" Oni shouted, grabbing a dreadlock and yanking it lightly, "You have hair!"
"Yes, I have hair," he growled gruffly, then smiled and hugged her tightly. "It's good to see you again, Oni."
"Same to you, Mobes." She pulled away, and looked at Psymon, who regarded both of them stiffly. Moby nodded to him, then grabbed Zoe's hand and pulled her up to him. "So, Zoe, how goes England?"
"It was pretty rockin'... but I missed the states." Oni grinned.
"I would have traded you.... countries and guys, if you wanted." She waggled her eyebrows, and Zoe smirked.
"Moby's not the same guy you knew, Demon-Girl."
"Exactly my point. Look at him, he's.... Damn, you're hot, Brit."
"Why, thank you." Zoe rolled her eyes, and grinned.
"Don't give him anymore ego food, he might just explode." Psymon coughed, and Oni instantly latched onto him.
"Oh, don't worry, potluck, I still love you. But I'm allowed to admire guys. Especially Moby." She looked around, and then raised an eyebrow as Elise reached them. "What's up, supermodel?"
"Do anything interesting over off-season?"
"What is this, high school?" At Elise's slightly deflated look, Oni grinned, "Don't worry, prom queen, I'm just playing. We just partied like it was nineteen ninety-nine. That was a good year for partying, you know."
"What did you do?" Psymon asked, smirking, "Strut down the catwalk in skimpy swimsuits?"
"Yes, actually." Oni frowned, looking past Elise to see a "punk" girl glaring.
"Who's that giving you the withering glare, Elise?" The blonde looked over her shoulder, then sighed.
"Ugh. That's Allegra. She's the new poster girl, supposedly."
"They already replaced you? Damn, you aren't lasting another season."
"Let's hope. If we keep replacing good riders with twelve year olds and posers, I don't think I want to keep riding."
"Hey, Griff's pretty cute. I think he might prove a challenge. He's so small, he'll probably weave between us and we won't even notice." Psymon snorted at Oni's remark, and Moby shook his head.
"Just like Mac."
"Where is that little jackass?" Kaori bounced up to them just as Oni said that.
"Mac is not a little jackass," she said, crossing her arms. Psymon waggled his eyebrows.
"Why, Kay-or-e, how nicely you've filled out."
"Psymon, you are so vulgar," the Japanese girl whined, but smiled, "You have not changed.... You have even put on a few pounds, as they say." Moby chuckled, and Psymon crossed his arms over his chest.
"I know a few ways I can get those pounds off." Kaori blushed, and looked at Oni confusedly. "Unfortunately, they're only things I can do with the other hot Asian chick here. Sorry, Kay. Maybe next time?"
"Psymon no hentai!" With that, she slipped off. Psymon cackled.
"Mac's still en route... I don't know where he went, but it's taking him forever to get back," Elise said, putting a hand on her hip.
"Don't look now, Elise, but the cowboy's checking you out again," Zoe growled, and Elise sighed, flipping off the buzz-cut man behind her without even turning around.
"That's Nate," she said to Oni and Psymon, who looked confused. "He's been all over me ever since I got here."
"What a creep. He reminds me of Luther."
"Don't let Odette hear you say that. She hates Nate, but you know how close she was to Luther," Zoe said, looking at Oni pointedly.
"I don't think I like the new riders," Oni pouted, then smirked, "Except Griff, and maybe Viggo, if he would just stop flirting with me."
"He's still doing that?" Psymon growled, eyes darting around the lodge as he looked for the blonde.
"It's just eye contact. He does it with all of us, Psy," Zoe said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "He's a womanizer."
"I thought he was a fa-" Oni smacked Psymon upside the head.
"Don't you dare even finish that sentence," she growled. "You know I hate that word."
"Soooorry," he hissed, glaring at her, then storming off to their room. Oni sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"What's up with Stark?" Moby asked, raising an eyebrow. Oni shook her head.
"I don't know! He's been like this for a while, ever since he got back from his parent's house. They called him up about halfway through the off-season," she explained to the two. "I don't know what happened, but he seems to have completely gone off."
"That's like Moby here," Zoe said, and poked the man lightly. He frowned.
"You know what happened. I'm not becoming a recluse, I just..."
"I know, I know." Oni blinked, and raised an eyebrow. "It's nothing. He got into a fight with one of his friends."
"Oh." Oni didn't buy the story, seeing how Zoe and Moby traded these knowing, worried looks, but let it slide. "I'm going to go try to calm down Psymon... I'll see you guys later."
"Bye, Oni."
"See ya."
With that, Oni retired to the room for the night, knowing full well that Psymon was in one of his bad moods. They yelled for a few minutes, and then finally went to sleep, each as far away from the other as they could get in the king-sized bed.
***
The next morning found Oni securely in Psymon's arms - this was how they ended fights, because their minds knew that if they didn't make up in sleep, they would be bitching in the morning.
A knock at the door woke Oni up, and she sighed, curling into Psymon, who grunted and covered their heads with a pillow.
"Go away!" he shouted, when the knocking continued.
"Rise and shine, loverbirds!" Viggo sang from the other side of the door.
"Goddamn it, Blondie, if you don't leave I'm going to rip your hair from your head!" Oni shouted.
"It's either this or Kaori comes in! Take your pick!"
"....Damn it." Psymon sat up slowly, and Oni moaned.
"It's cold! Give the blanket back!"
"C'mon, pumpkin," Psymon said, wincing as his feet hit cold hardwood flooring, "You haven't been waken up by Kaori before. It's not a fun experience."
Oni sighed, but knew Psymon was speaking from experience, so instead of whining, she grumbled and stumbled off to the bathroom to take a shower.
Psymon grinned, and slipped in after her.
***
"You two used up all the hot water!" Griff whined. Oni poked him in the stomach.
"We both take a long time to shower," she said dismissively, winking at Zoe and Moby, both of which shook their heads in disbelief. "So, what's the game plan?" she asked, grinning when Psymon pulled her down into his lap.
"Mac's plane is supposed to arrive in about an hour, so we're deciding who's going to go meet him."
"I'll do it," Oni said instantly, nodding. "I'd like to see how little Mackenzie filled out over the season."
"I'll go too," Viggo said quickly, nodding. "I've been to meet everyone else, can't ruin the record."
"You only want to go because I'm going," Oni teased. "Potluck, you in?"
"Yeah, why not?" Kaori was pouting. "Don't worry, Kay, I'll behave if you come."
"Good."
"Okay, so you guys go and take care of that," Zoe said, waving them off. Odette looked up from her fruit parfait.
"Viggo, behave," she said, and he nodded, grinning. "Take the rental, okay? Not the jeep."
"Yeah, yeah. C'mon, let's go," the Swede said, standing up and heading out of the lodge. Kaori skipped after him, and Psymon stood, picking Oni up.
"Now if only we got married, we could start nagging each other too. It would be complete!" she chimed, and her reward for even mentioning the M word was to fall right on her ass.
"Hurry up, doll, or else we'll be late." Oni rolled her eyes and got to her feet.
"Coming, loverboy." She waved to the group. "See ya," and then she was out the door.
***
They reached the gate just as the plane started unloading people from the first class. "He's probably in coach, the boy never knew how to fly," Oni said, crossing her arms and leaning her hip against Psymon's. He looped an arm over her shoulder and leaned against her slightly, so not to knock her down. Kaori was jumping from foot to foot, and Viggo was leaning against a pillar, wearing his lady-killing smile. Who knew how weird this guy was going to be, with all the other crazy people he had met. He hoped he at least proved interesting.
"Mac-An-ZEEEE!" Oni shouted, waving at someone in the crowd of coach passengers. Viggo stood, trying to see the boy before he actually reached him, but couldn't.
"Hey, you guys!" came a kind-of-deep, light voice, and the crowd shifted so the boy could worm his way through.
"What happened to you?!" Oni exclaimed, grinning and ruffling the boy's hair, "You got hair! And you filled out nicely, I see." Kaori instantly hugged the boy, who grinned and hugged her back.
"Should I take that as a compliment, Sanosuke?" he asked, looking over to Psymon. "Whazzup, Sketchy?"
"Still a little wigger," Psymon growled, but he was smirking in his friendly way. Mac's brown eyes ran over his three friends, then hit on Viggo, who was staring unabashedly.
"Yo. You a new rider?" Viggo instantly turned pink and coughed.
"Yeah. I'm Viggo."
"Mac." Mac held out a hand, and Viggo hesitantly shook it, then coughed again, and crossed his arms.
"We have to go back," Kaori said, still securely holding onto Mac's arm.
"Yeah, the sponsors will have our asses if we don't get back in time for their damned briefing," Oni agreed, hooking onto Psymon in a similar fashion. "Shall we, pudding?"
"Sure thing, my little gumdrop." The older couple headed off towards the baggage claim, and Mac and Kaori followed. Viggo shook his head, and smacked his forehead.
"Damn." With that lovesick remark, the blonde Swede followed on Mac's heels.
***^^***
That would be the first chapter... and I think you can deduct from the wording that Psymon and Oni are still in love. Kinda. And what's the slash pairing? Hmmm? I think you know. So review, or no more new chapters. *threatens weakly*
