I own none of the characters or places, EA Big does.


Chapter 2: Setting In
News of the engagement spread through the camps on Big Mountain like wildfire, and by noon the next day everyone was calling Zoe and Brody to congratulate them. Psymon and Nate sat in the gondola as it climbed peak two.
"Man, your sister's getting married." Nate said with a sound of disbelief. Psymon smiled and raised an eyebrow.
"You sound so shocked." Nate chuckled.
"I dunno man, I just never pictured those two ever getting married." Psymon smirked. Deep down he agreed. He was very happy for them, but he already was feeling like Zoe was further away over the last two years, he worried in the back of his mind how getting married may effect that. They hopped out of the gondola once they reached their stop and buckled in their boots. They slid down the slope to their race, talking about the engagement the entire time. Psymon couldn't take the smile off his face, Zoe deserved the happiness she had now and it made him feel easier knowing that she was in good hands. They got to the gates for their race and looked at their competition. Mac was down the line, Viggo was next to him and one of Griff's new running buddies stood at the far end. The buzzer sounded the start of the match and off the racers went. Psymon took a very quick lead and left the other boarders far behind him. He eyed the crowd now and then, seeing many signs in the stands regarding the engagement, word had spread very quickly. As Psymon reached the halfway check point, he looked up on the big screen in time to see in big letters "Congratulations Brody and Zoe!" He kept looking up at it instead of the hill, and slammed into a rail. He flipped right up over the rail and crashed down the hill a few yards until spinning to a stop. He clutched his hip and cursed at himself. The pain shot right up his side and left a bad sting. One of Griff's buddies zipped by, pointing and laughing as he did so. Psymon got back to his feet but everyone else had passed him by then. He went the rest of the race but his side hurt too much to gain any momentum and he slid in at last place, much to the dismay of the fans. He unbuckled his boots with frustration and kicked his board off. He was heavily favoured to dominate that race, instead he was dead last. Viggo walked over to Psymon with a large smile.
"Dude, what happened to you? That was the weakest showing I've ever seen you give." Viggo was just kidding, but Psymon did not appear in the mood. He glared at Viggo, said nothing, and walked to the gondola. Viggo leaned back and put his hands up a little. "Whoa, okay, sorry dude."

Psymon slouched into the lodge and closed the door behind him. Zoe was zooming around the kitchen, throwing together a quick meal.
"Hey." Psymon said to her back.
"Hi." Zoe greeted, not turning her attention from her task. "What happened to you? I saw that spill you took." Psymon shrugged and sat in a chair at the table.
"I guess my head just wasn't in it today. Wanna rent a movie or something? I just need a relaxing night." Zoe finished making her sandwich and put the condiments back in the fridge.
"Can't, going out with Brody tonight. I mean you can still rent a movie I just won't be here." She grabbed her sandwich and walked quickly to the kitchen door.
"Not even going to sit down to eat your dinner?" She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek as she walked out.
"See ya." He sat quietly as he heard the front door close behind her. He sighed and nodded his head. This had been pretty much daily life for the last few months. He stood up and walked into the living room and lit a fire in the fireplace. He sat on the sofa just as the phone rang. He picked it up and held it to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hey." Kaori's voice said kindly on the other end.
"How are ya?" Psymon spoke with a more gentle and friendly manner now.
"I'm alright, how are you doing?"
"I'm good."
"Are you now?" Psymon sighed from Kaori's question. "Zoe still not talking to you much?" Psymon shrugged to the phone.
"I don't know, she's busy, ya know?" Kaori didn't sound impressed.
"You were never too busy for her." Psymon was silent, he looked a little less friendly now. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Look, can I come over? I'm just feeling kinda bummed out and need a good cuddling." Psymon breathed out a brief chuckle.
"Well, misery loves company. Need me to pick you up?"
"Nah I'll get a ride, I'll see ya soon." Psymon hung up the phone and leaned back for a moment before he decided to grab a quick shower. He never knew exactly what to expect when him and Kaori had a night alone. Sometimes they just talked or hung out, sometimes they cuddled and flirted a little, other times they would acknowledge their still active mutual attraction and would just have a good makeout session; he never knew what to expect.

Kaori was over within twenty minutes and soon they found themselves snuggled up in front of the fireplace. "So, what's going on?" Psymon asked her, she shrugged.
"I don't know, just feeling down."
"Mac still being a dick?"
"I don't know, he's not being a dick, he just really doesn't seem interested in even talking to me. I mean, HE cheated on ME so why is it that he gets to be the one to brush me off?" Psymon shook his head.
"I don't know, he's smartening up, maybe he'll get his crap together yet." Kaori nodded.
"So what about you? You took a bad wipeout today, are you alright?" Psymon breathed out loudly.
"My hip is freaking killing me, otherwise I'm good."
"Want me to rub it better?" she said with a teasing voice and a seductive facial expression, Psymon chuckled and gave her a playful wedgie with one hand. "Hey!" she shrieked. Psymon didn't pull up much at all, but enough to get her attention. She quickly re-adjusted herself and went back to cuddling. "See if I wear a thong for YOU again." Psymon rolled his eyes playfully. "And how are things with Zoe?" Psymon now said nothing. "Psymon." He sighed and made a helpless face.
"I don't know. I don't think she's pissed off at me or anything, I just miss her, ya know?" Kaori nodded. "It's like pulling teeth to get her to say anything anymore. I know I'm being over-reactive, I guess I'm just having trouble accepting that her life going down a new path." Kaori nodded.
"Well, I don't think it's too much for you to expect to still be a part of it." Psymon nodded.
"Yeah, I guess." There were a few minutes of quiet, then Kaori re-adjusted herself again, pressing herself closer to him.
"So, DO you want her to marry Brody?" Psymon immediately nodded.
"Yeah, Brody's a good man, he treats her well, she's happy… I'm just being selfish." They snuggled some more for a few minutes in silence. "Anything else?" Psymon finally asked. Kaori shook her head.
"You?"
"Nothing." Kaori nodded to him.
"Well." she started. "We've both had a lot of pent up frustration lately, not healthy to keep it all bottled up don't ya know." Psymon laughed now.
"So, I'm supposed to be your outlet?" Kaori raised an eyebrow and smiled in a flirty manner.
"Only if you want." Psymon looked to be giving it hard thought.
"Well, never been one to say no to you before, why start now?"


So just what Is going on between those two? Will Psymon say anything to Zoe or just go with it? Find out next chapter.