"Hey, Namine?"

Namine hummed in acknowledgment. The movie had inspired her, after all. Weird.

"Am I allowed to kiss you?"

"Of course," she said. "But not when I'm drawing."

"Well of course not now," I said, grinning. "What are you drawing?"

"You."

"Ugh, creeper."

Namine smiled.

"Xion, c'mere," Roxas said, waving me over with one hand while the other rubbed at his imaginary goatee. (No one in his family could grow facial hair. Or age past 20. I swear to god.)

I sauntered over, and he shoved me down onto the chair next to Yuffie. "Um... what's this about?" I didn't like to be near Yuffie for extended periods of time. She scared me.

"You two... look a lot alike."

"I'm not Asian."

"No, I know that- but if it weren't for the eye colour, you'd be like the male version of Yuffie."

"And the fact that Yuffie's completely batshit crazy- no offense, Yuffie," I said.

"None taken," she said. "I said the same thing about you."

"Oh, okay."

Roxas narrowed his eyes at us. "Hey, Axel," he said, waiving the redhead over. Axel came prancing over from where he'd been taking stock of his (multiple) precious. "Don't they look like copies of each other?"

"They look like little flat chested Tifa clones, excluding the fact that Xion has Xaldin's eyes."

It turns out, Axel had a long history of pissing my dad off before we'd even met.

"Ha! See! I'm not crazy!" Roxas said, jumping and snapping and clapping all at once.

"My mom's not Asian!"

"Your mom's Tifa?"

"Figures you'd know my mom..."

"Don't touch me!" I screamed, flailing and pushing her away.

"Baby, what's wrong?" My mom cooed, resting a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" I screamed again, curling into a ball, hands tugging at my hair.

"Xion, what's wrong?"

"Leave me alone!"

"Huggggggggggggggg!" Vanitas said, wrapping his arms around me from behind.

I flinched, elbowing him and thrashing wildly.

"Aw, you never let me hug you anymore," he said, chuckling. "What's wrong, Xion? Afraid of my cooties?"

"Let me go!" I screeched, kicking at his shins.

"You're so cute, and cuddly," he said, rubbing his face against my head.

"Get off of me!"

"Let your sister go," my mother said, smacking Vanitas on the back lightly. "She doesn't want your dirty brother smell all over her."

Vanitas let me go, frowning. "I showered this morning," he said, sniffing himself.

I crumbled to the floor, fingers digging into my shoulders.

"Xion, we need to talk," my mom said, leaning against the frame of my doorway.

"What about?"

"What happened?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, smiling at her.

"Like hell you don't- you think I'm blind? I can tell something's up."

"I'm sorry," I said, shrugging. "I really don't know what you're talking about. I'm fine." As long as no one touches me.

"Did he touch you?"

"Did who touch me?"

"Axel."

I snorted. "No, mom. Axel didn't touch me."

She frowned. "It wasn't Roxas, was it?"

"No, mom- no boy touched me."

The day I graduated, I was happy not because I didn't have homework anymore, but because that meant I would never have to see Pig-face and her squad again. I was free.

It was one of the happiest days of my life.

It was also the day that I was admitted to the hospital.

When I woke up, Roxas was passed out in the chair next to my bed, hand on mine like I was a family member or a sick lover.

That meant a lot to me, because he didn't have to be so nice to me. I knew that no one else I'd ever been friends with would have been so kind and caring.

I lifted my hand from under his and ruffled his hair, smiling.

"Ah- you're awake!" Roxas said, springing into the conscious world. "What were you thinking? You could have died- I don't want you to die."

"I was thinking that I was really stupid, and I might die, and that you'd be the only person who'd really give a damn, but I was really fucking depressed, so you'd forgive me if I did end up dying."

Roxas frowned. "But if you died, who would I eat ice cream with?"

"Axel."

"But... but who would Axel terrorize?"

"Marluxia? Innocent bystanders?"

"But who would I take to Chinese restaurants to make sure my food didn't get spat in?"

"...Is that why you always take me to Chinese restaurants?"

"...no..."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Okay, yes, it is, but that's not the only reason. You get really hyper afterwords, and you flip out and it's funny."

I sighed. "Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm not dead, then, huh?"

"Yeah," Roxas said, grinning.

Sometimes, Roxas reminded me of a little kid.

"Hey, Xion, can you handle stocking the shelves? I'll take care of the customers."

"Oh, sure, take the easy job," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Well, I can-"

"Don't worry about it. Let me do all the hard work."

Namine smiled.

"Xion, have you seen my phone?"

"It's in your hand, mom."

"Wha-oh. Oh. Right. Thanks."

I rolled my eyes and went back to doodling on my arm absently.

"Hey, Xion. Is that a new shirt?"

I glanced down at the shirt. "Uh... no?"

Roxas shrugged. "I've never seen you wear it before."

"Oh." I contemplated the green fabric. "I think it might be Vanitas', actually."

Roxas made a face. "Your brother scares me."

"My brother scares everyone."

"Your entire family scares me, Xion," Axel said, sauntering over and sitting next to me.

"My entire family scares everyone."

"Jeez, you're certainly a chatterbox today," Axel said, frowning.

"I'm a chatterbox everyday."

"Alright, now you're just being a smart ass," Axel said, poking at my face.

"I'm always a smart ass."

Axel scowled. I scowled back.

"Okay, cut it out, children."

"Sorry, mom," Axel and I said, simultaneously.

My mom rolled her eyes and went upstairs.

"My mom is not your mom, Axel. We don't have gingers in this family."

"Like hell you don't!"

"You're not even-"

"Ew, why are you here?" Vanitas asked, glaring at the three of us who were currently sprawled out on the couch.

"I could ask you the same," I said, frowning.

"Not you- the gay guys."

"They're here to be better role models than you."

Vanitas 'tch'd' at me and went back into his room. Where he rightfully belonged.

"Aghhhh I'm so bored," I said, rolling around on the floor.

"Why are you in my apartment, Xion?" Axel asked, staring down at me.

"Because you never lock your doors, and Yuffie scares me."

"I... yeah, she scares me, too," he said, frowning. "That doesn't really- on second thought, I probably don't want to know."

"Yeah, you probably don't."

"So... why are you on my floor?"

"The only other furniture is the couch and your bed, both of which I know you and Roxas have had icky gay sex all over."

He narrowed his eyes. "And who said we haven't on the floor?"

"Um, the fact that Roxas would never allow it, duh."

Axel's eyes narrowed some more. "Touche."

I yawned and rolled around on his floor some more.

"What are you playing?" He asked, grabbing the ice-blue Gameboy Advance from my hands.

"Pokemon Sapphire, duh."

"Ew. Ruby is way better."

"It's the same damn game."

"No it's not!"

"There's like three things different in the game. Shut up."

"You're no fun," Axel said, sighing. "Wait- don't you have school or something?"

I snorted. "I graduated, remember? I'm now an aimless teen who works at Payless and pesters you for a living."

Axel frowned. "Get off my floor, Xion. You're making me feel weird."

I raised and eyebrow, but obeyed him nonetheless.

"So, if you're in my apartment and unaccompanied by Roxas or Kairi, I'm assuming you want me to feed you?"

I nodded.

Axel sighed. "Alright- what do you want."

"I don't care. Food is nice, though."

Axel 'tch'd at me and set out making a Scrambled Breakfast (bacon, potatoes, cheese, onions, and eggs all scrambled together). "You're lucky I'm a good person, kid."

"You couldn't deny my smiling face if you wanted to."

"It amuses me greatly that you say things like that in a deadpan, Xion."

"'swhy I do it, Axel."

I liked to watch Axel cook. It was like watching the Food Network, because he would randomly dance around or do weird things and talk to himself when he cooked. Not to mention, he looked totally weird with his hair drawn back in a pony tail, all tame and not completely porcupined.

"So, Roxas' twin brother is in town," Axel said, as he set a plate down in front of me.

"I didn't know Roxas had a twin brother."

"Yeah- his name is Ventus. They're like the spitting image of each other."

"Huh. Weird."

"He's been off at college, being a hipster."

"Like you can talk, Mr. TV-is-too-mainstream."

"Whatever- anyways, he's in town," Axel said, leaning against the counter. "So I don't get to see Roxas until he leaves."

"Poor little Axie," I said, petting the redhead. "Doesn't get to see his butt-buddy for a whole week."

Axel stuck his tongue out at me. "More like a fucking month," he said, scowling at his plate.

"Why can't you see Roxas when Ventus is in town?"

"Ventus... and I, uh..."

"Oh my god, you whore!"

"What? What'd I do?"

"Geez, I thought it was bad enough when I found out you dumped Namine for Roxas, but no one told me you did his twin!"

"I didn't!" Axel said, staring at me with wide eyes. "We just don't get along too well..."

"Why not?"

"Because apparently, my brother Lea, who is Ven's sometimes-boyfriend, told him that I was abusive."

"You're not abusive to Roxas. Just everyone else you meet."

"Hey, remember who's feeding you, kid."

"My point."

Axel scoffed. "Roxas has to pretend he dumped me ages ago, or Ventus will flip."

I grimaced. "Your brother must be an ass."

"Well... yeah."

"Why does everyone seem to have asses for brothers? Well, except Namine."

"I'm not an ass!"

I raised an eyebrow.

Axel sighed. "I miss him already," he said, hitting his head on the counter.

"Why don't you try to explain to Ventus that your brother is full of shit?"

"You don't think I haven't tried?"

I frowned. "Okay, then I'll tell him."

"Because he's going to believe a complete stranger to him."

"Well... if he's anything like Roxas, then yes."

Axel suddenly looked at me like I was some sort of god.

"Psssttttt," I nudged Axel. "Is that them? All of Roxas' family looks the same."

"Yeah, I think that's them," Axel whispered back. "You ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be to crash a family reunion," I said, and stood up out of the bushes.

"Xion? What were you doing in the bushes?"

"Oh- you know, sleeping."

Roxas looked worried. "I don't think you should fall asleep in places like that."

"Well... I do. Anyways, what's up?"

"Um... family reunion?"

I glanced around. "Oh. Well. This is awkward."

"Uh... yeah..." Roxas glanced at the boy next to him. "Anyways, uh, Xion, this is Ven, my twin. Ven, this is Xion, my best friend."

"Nice to meet you, Xion," Ventus said, smiling at me. His smile was identical to Roxas' smile.

"Nice to meet you, too."

"Man, I'm so glad you're not with that Axel guy anymore," Ven said, laughing.

"Uh... right..." Roxas said, shooting a wary glance at me, trying to get me to play along.

"I can't believe Lea's brother would be abusive," the blond said, frowning. "I mean, I guess I could see it, 'cause Lea's pretty aggressive, and they had bad home lives, but..."

"Axel's only abusive when you kick him in the head."

"You know Axel, Xion?"

"Of course- he's the guy who pierces my face," I said, pointing at my eyebrow. "Plus, his sister is a friend of mine."

Roxas shot me worried glances.

"He's never touched you, has he?" Ventus asked, eyes wide.

I laughed. "No, Axel's like a big puppy."

"Why do you say that?"

"Sometimes he plays a bit too rough, because he doesn't realize what he's doing... but mostly he just tackles you and licks your face."

Ventus grimaced.

Roxas, on the other had, busted out laughing. "Oh my god, Xion- that was hilarious. I can't believe Zexion and Demyx still talk to us," he said, shaking his head. "I mean, I'm used to you two being complete spazzes, but I thought for sure Zexion was going to have an aneurism."

Ventus blinked, clearly confused.

"I'm sorry, Ventus- maybe I should explain."

"Yeah, maybe you should, Roxas."

"So, one of Axel's friends, Demyx, invited us over for new years, right? And Axel's been trying to get Xion to kiss Nami for ages, and there was a mistletoe. So, he shoved Xion under the mistletoe, but Xion was being a smart ass and kissed Nami on the cheek," he said, grinning. "And so Axel hauled Xion back out from the kitchen, and then Kairi pointed out that they were under the mistletoe, so Axel kissed Xion, and Xion wiped it off, and Axel got offended and wiped it back on Xion, claiming that his love couldn't be re-gifted to him, so Xion wiped it on me, and Axel flipped a shit and tackled Xion to the floor and started licking his face, screaming "You can't re-gift my love!""

Ventus blinked and turned to me. "You're... dating Axel?"

I laughed through my nose. "No," I said. "I don't like firecrotches."

"Ven... can I tell you something? You... have to promise you won't be mad."

"Of course, Roxas."

"I never broke up with Axel," he said, flinching as Ventus' face fell. "But he's never hurt me- Xion wasn't lying about Axel being like a big puppy."

"You... never..."

"I love him, Ven," Roxas said.

Ventus frowned. "Oh."

"You're mad at me, aren't you?"

"No, I guess not. I'm just... surprised? Yeah."

Roxas grinned. "That's good, because there's these two redheads hiding in those bushes over there," he said, pointing to the bushes I'd miraculously appeared from.

"Dammit!" I said, pounding my fist on the table. "Abort mission!" I yelled, running and diving into the bushes, tackling the redhead I knew to be Axel down to the ground.

Axel sputtered as he shove me off of him. "Dammit, Xi, what was that for?"

"Who's this kid?"

I glanced up at the newcomer. "Whoa! It's hipster Axel!" I said, pointing at who I assumed to be Lea.

"What'd you call me?"

I cackled and ran away, both Axel and Lea chasing after me and eventually tackling me into the dirt.

"Hey, Xion," Namine said. She glanced up from her sketchpad. "What happened to you?"

"Oh, you know- Axel and his clones," I said, waving my hand and collapsing onto the couch next to her. "I don't think I've ever been mauled by two ginger bears before."

"Mauled?"

"Mauled."

"Oh...my... that sounds... painful."

"...it was."

"You provoked them, didn't you?"

"You bet I did, sweetie."

Namine smiled down at me. "Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, I hung out with a bunch of clones. There's nothing more fun than that."

"You should have brought Yuffie."

"Hell no! She would have mauled me too!"

Namine giggled. "Yeah, she probably would, wouldn't she?"

"Yuffie's mauling what?" Yuffie asked, suddenly appearing on the table a few feet away.

"Oh god," I said, curling up into a ball and latching onto Namine. "Save me, Nami," I whimpered.

"Shhh, I won't let the bad woman get you," Namine cooed, running her fingers through my hair soothingly.

"What's wrong? Are you scared?"

I shook my head. No. I was a big boy- I didn't get scared. Ever.

His lips curled upwards. Sinister. "Good," he said, moving towards me. "It'll all be over soon."

And he was touching me, touching me everywhere, in places I didn't want to be touched, but I couldn't fight him, because my little kid arms where held in place.

I stopped squirming and fidgeting, replacing my cries of protest with sobs of 'Mom! Mommmmmm!' that I knew she couldn't hear, because she was inside, not at the edge of the swamp with me and this guy who was supposed to be watching me and the other kids play in the yard, so that some stranger wouldn't come harm us, but he was the stranger, and he was harming me.

Why couldn't he have chosen someone else? My cousins were prettier than me, with their blond hair and tanned skin.

Why me?

"Xion, you can stop hiding now," Namine said, petting my hair calmly.

"Xion, you can come out, now. The game's ov-what happened to you?"

"I...fell."

"In the swamp?"

I nodded slowly.

"You're such a klutz. Come on, we'll go see if Grandma has a spare set of clothes for you," Vanitas said, grabbing my hand and pulling me back to the house.

"But you're comfortable," I said, frowning.

"Wouldn't you be more comfortable in my bed?"

I narrowed my eyes. "I don't know, would I?"

"I think you would," she said, smiling down at me. "But you are pretty weird, so maybe not."

"Nah, your bed would probably be more comfortable. I can lay on more of you then."

Namine giggled and patted me on the head, signaling for me to get up. I followed her into her eerily white room with the pictures plastered onto the wall.

A/N: I thought I had a bruise on my hand, but it turns out it was just ink...

egyptian1995: pfft. They asked for it. xD
I'm glad you like them. :)

RikuObsession: I'm glad you like the memory flashes. :)
They did. xD It's all 'yeah, let's go on dates and not be a couple for a month or so! yay, us!'
My friend stabbed herself and made me get a bandaid... ._. it wasn't even bleeding.
I don't even get job offers. D:
It tells a lot about his character, too, I think.
ohright. They deserved it...
Delicacies: what people without a choice ate, and then shared with some foreigner who took it back to his people and called it fancy eating.
My mum owes me like $20 by now... /: I need to buy a chain for my organization coat so my friend can borrow it and be Riku. lol
Sometimes I wish I was homeschooled... but then I'd be pretty stupid. xD
I'm glad you thought the OCs were okay. :D I always hate putting OCs in. And yeah, Xion probably did. XD
Lol. I love writing their interactions. They're so wtd. Yes, d. For duck. /can't type/
Surprisingly, he wasn't. o.0
but I'm sicckkkkkk. I need sleep and koolaid and other sick people thingsssss D:

Think I'm going to go make biscuits or something... mrg.