Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts II or any of the character mentioned. They, and the universe of Twilight Town, are owned by Disney and Square Enix.
This is purely fictional and not subject to real life.
A/N: This is my first story on this site, but I've been hanging out here and writing for years. I finally decided to create an account. I hope you all enjoy this.
Music: The Candy Spooky Theater - Devilish Kidnapper
Chapter 2: It's Called a Job. Ever Heard of Getting' One?
A loud shrill sends jolts of shock to my brain, ripping me out of my dreams. What a rude awakening. Running a hand through my unruly hair, I crawl off the bed, leaving the covers strewn about. I really hope it won't be as hot as it was yesterday.
I hurriedly dress into cargo shorts and a black sleeveless shirt with a red skull painted on it. Mom's alarm sings, so I walk to the living room to make sure she is awake.
"'Morning, Mom."
She doesn't get a chance to reply as a yawn stops her words. I chuckle.
"You take a shower while I start breakfast," I suggest. "I'll make omelets."
"Thank you, darling," she replies with a smile, walking towards the bathroom. She looks better this morning than she did last night. That's good.
I go to the kitchen, grabbing eggs, cheese, butter, and milk from the fridge. The milk jug is almost empty. I'll pick some up later. I light the stove and place a skillet on the flame. While that heats, I place two slices of bread in the toaster and mix the eggs and milk in a bowl. I also put a small amount of butter in the skillet, waiting for it to melt before pouring the egg mixture in. It sizzles pleasantly. I spread strips of cheese across the thin layer of cooking egg. After a few minutes, I fold one side onto the other and flip it.
Too bad I didn't have any tomatoes. Tomato chunks in an omelet makes it so good.
The toast had popped out by the time I cut the large omelet in half and place the halves on plates. I quickly butter the toast and set everything on the table, waiting for Mom. She doesn't take long, waltzing gracefully into the kitchen with her hair in a professional bun and casual business clothing on her body.
"Feeling better?" I ask around a mouthful of egg.
"Yes, dear," she replies before taking a bite. "What do you have planned for today?"
"First I have the mail delivery and a few other odd jobs. The gang is meeting at the docks later."
Mom sighs. "I'm sorry," she says softly, placing her fork on the table. "You're so young, but you live like you're thirty. You shouldn't have to work. I should be the one supporting us."
I shake my head. "Don't say that, Mom. It's fine. I've accepted everything that has happened."
"No, it's not fine. I should be the one paying the bills. I—"
I interrupt her, "No, Dad should."
She quiets almost instantly, sighing before continuing to eat. I also eat, finishing my plate before her. "And don't worry about the dishes," I comment, standing up. "I'll do them when I get home. You just finish and hurry to work." I kiss her cheek, pull on my shoes, and slip out the door.
The air is dry today, making the heat way more bearable. It's still way too early for the trouble to emerge from bed with massive hangovers, so I'm safer now than at night. I leisurely pick my way through the streets, going this way and that through the maze of alleyways. I enjoy the silence while I can.
At the mail office, I grab the mail satchel and wave to the boss before heading out again. Thanks to the boss, everything is in order according to my usual route. It makes everything so much easier.
Walking, walking, and more walking. I catch the tram whenever it's a convenience and go through the tunnels as shortcuts. Also, it's cooler in the tunnels—dark and underground.
I'm on automatic. My feet know where to go, so I let my brain think over the Struggle that is coming up tomorrow. Hopefully, either Roxas or I will win this year. We've been training together. Seifer really needs to be knocked off his high throne—A king without a crown.
Thinking of which, I just put mail in his mailbox. He lives in a really nice apartment complex. The building is huge, clean, and each apartment has a balcony.
I'll get Mom to a nice place like that.
If only I could win the Struggle. First place is always awarded with a one-of-its-kind prize. Something like that would go for a lot of munny.
Seifer and Fuu walk out of the complex. I snap out of my thoughts and finish placing mail in the long line of boxes. Rai and Vivi are not far behind them. Why do I always run into them—both literally and non-literally? Do I unconsciously have a death wish?
"What're you doing out here? Get tired of the dumpster you live in?" the bully asks snidely.
Oh, if only he knew how close to the truth he is. My life would be more of a living hell if he bashed on my real life situation, knowingly of what he was doing. Just him joking about it ticks me off.
"It's called a job, Seifer. Ever heard of gettin' one?" I reply hotly, pushing passed them to finish my route.
I hear Seifer scoff while the others laugh. "How pathetic."
I'm pathetic? You try living the way I do, Seifer…. Stupid asshole. I fumed all the way back to the mail office. The jerk has no right. Sometime I wanna shove him into a wall and attack him… or just ravish him where he stands.
BAM!
That, people, was me running into a door. Ouch!
"You're supposed to open it first, sonny," boss man says with a toothy grin. I laugh with him and play it off coolly, trying not to show my embarrassment.
When the chuckling subsides, I ask, "Do you have any more work I can do?"
He nods and points to another mail bag. "Poor sap got sick, so he couldn't make his route." I pick up the bag, leaving with the route map in hand. "We need more boys like you in Twilight Town, boys who are willing to work." He grumbles about lazy teenagers as he continues his own work.
I look at the map. It's labeled "Sandlot Route." Kill me now. I think I've filled my Seifer quota for the day. Damn. Someone upstairs sure hates me.
And it's getting hotter.
I go as quickly as I can through the route, passing Seifer and his lackeys more than once, completely ignoring them. Did I ever mention that Seifer hates to be ignored (especially by me)? I can tell that he is getting annoyed with every pass.
"Alright, Hayner, what the hell?" He grabs the collar of my shirt.
"As I said earlier, it's called a job." I'm just about as annoyed as he is at this point. "The guy who usually has this route called in sick, so I'm covering. Chill!" I roll my eyes and remove his hands from my shirt.
Rai steps in my way. "No one talks to Seifer like that, y'know?" He cranks back a fist.
I sidestep quickly, and he lands on the ground in a heap. Man, that would have really hurt. He puts lots of force behind that sucka. I don't dare look back as I walk away, nearly running. Seifer's gang versus Hayner would not turn out all that well. I finish my deliveries and return the satchel.
Boss man pays me well for taking the second route. My daily earning quota is filled, and I have some munny to spare. Grinning, I grab some grub from a food stand and eat happily on my way to the docks. Yum! It's better than what is at home.
Roxas is the only one sitting at the edge of the wooden dock with his feet in the water and his eyes glued to a book. I will never understand how he reads so much. I'd get a headache after ten pages. Creeping up behind the blond, I place my hands over his eyes. He lets out a surprised shout and flails about, almost losing his book.
"Geez, Roxas, chillax. It's only me." I remove my hands and sit next to him, pulling my shoes off to hang my feet in the water. Feels good.
"Jerk," he mutters playfully. "Seen Olette or Pence yet?"
I shake my head no. "I just got done with mail delivery, so I didn't get the chance to look."
He nods knowingly.
"Struggle's tomorrow. Excited?
His face brightens. "We're so beating Seifer this year!"
"Totally!" I agree. "And Setzer, too. We're winning it all."
"Yeah!"
We fall into a fit of laughter.
"What's so funny?" Olette asks as she and Pence walk onto the dock.
"Nothing," Roxas and I chime together, making us laugh more. It's no wonder he is my best-of-the-best (of-the-best-of-the-best) friend.
We sat at the dock for the rest of the day, enjoying the water and each other's company. We breached some awkward subjects (especially when Olette brought up her collection of yaoi manga) and had some good laughs (so good that Pence fell into the water from laughing).
Roxas is the first to leave, saying that he had someone to meet before going home. Who could he be hanging out with besides us? Olette and Pence leave together shortly after that. I have a strange feeling that they are in a relationship. Oh well, if they want to keep it a secret, that's okay.
I stay at the dock and watch the sunset. The sun is at its most beautiful just before it disappears. Well, that's what the romantic in Olette says. Whatever. I fell sad when the sun vanishes, like it stole away my smile. When the sun goes down, it means that I have to return home and possibly face a drunken mother.
I sigh. Why can't things be different?
For one, if things were different, I wouldn't be the Hayner I am now; I might be a Seifer clone or something. For two, I probably wouldn't have the great friends that I do now. I don't think I'll trade them for anything. They are my friends, and I'm keeping them. And, yes, I do know that we won't be together forever, but they will always be precious to me.
Man, I'm starting to sound like a sap. Time to stop watching the darkening sky. It's depressing me.
On my way through town, I make sure to avoid the Sandlot. I definitely overfilled my Seifer quota. The trip is a bit longer, but that doesn't matter. The walk through the market makes me remember to buy milk.
In an alley on the walk home, I run into a bad crowd, but I manage to get a few good punches in before sprinting out of there. I have learned that there is no shame in running when one guy is up against twenty or so thugs. Heh, I'd like to see what Seifer would do in that situation.
At home I place the milk in the fridge and find a note on the table. Mom wanted to inform me that she is going out drinking with some co-workers and would crash at one of their houses. There is also some munny on the table. I'll place that in saving with my munny for next month's bills.
My head hurts from the fight. Some guy's elbow caught my cheek just before my head hit a wall. I grab a couple pain pills and swallow them dry as I walk to the bathroom. There is a bit of blood smeared across my face. The skin is bruising, especially around the small gash on my cheek bone. I clean it thoroughly, wincing slightly the entire time.
Showers are really nice things. Now that I feel clean, I dirty myself by cleaning the house. All the trash and bottles need thrown away, the garbage needs to be taken out, and the floors need to be swept. I do all that and more, feeling dirtier than I had been before my shower. Gross.
Oh well, it gives me an excuse to take another shower—a really quick shower. Wasting water is not a good thing. That makes the bill more expensive.
Afterwards, I lay on my bed to rest. I fall asleep almost instantly, towel still wrapped around my waist. I did say that I love to be naked more than anything. It's just so much more comfortable.
