A/N: Oh, Amarant. You thought I had left you for Final Fantasy 7? I think not! Unfortunately, you're being too angsty in everything else, so plop you go back in with Kuja in my happy little AU world.

Amarant wonders what the hell he's in for.

Generally, this is how he feels when Lani invites him somewhere without really giving him the specifics, and so he's not surprised that he gets the same vibe from Kuja – who is, in a way, a male Lani. With better taste.

He's not afraid to admit that, thank god, so long as he doesn't say it aloud.

The sushi place is half-full of people, most of them business people or families with yelling children, and the redhead frowns. This probably wasn't a good idea.

Kuja grabs his arm before he can escape, and drags him to a large table where Lani, Zidane, and a few other people are sitting.

"You did it!" Lani exclaims, surprised, "Kuja, you really are amazing."

"I have a charm about myself, yes," the silver-haired man nods, letting go of Amarant, "You can sit, you know."

"I'll stay far away from your girl," the redhead instantly tells Lani, "She's giving me death glares."

Lani looks at the girl sitting next to her, who simply bats her eyes and looks absolutely innocent. "You're crazy, Red. Ruby wouldn't hurt a fly. She's a gorgeous Southern belle, not an Amazon warrior."

"I'm a lot bigger than a fly," Amarant grumbles, "I'm not so hard to hit."

"Point," the girl – Ruby – says, grinning. "But why would I hurt ya, darlin'? Lani would hurt me, and that's no fun when it ain't sexy."

"I like you," Amarant smirks, flopping into the seat across from Lani nonetheless.

"Ya better," the girl says, "Or else I'll hit ya."

She has long, blue hair and big blue eyes, and if she hadn't been wearing so much metal, and hadn't had her ears pierced five times when she was fifteen, Ruby could have passed herself off as a capable member of society. However, she's given up on that, and decides to settle for outcast with Lani. After all, the girl's pretty damned hot – and she has hot friends! She had thought her friend Amarant was a troll looking for a free, live action porno when Lani had told her about him, but man, she was starting to like the idea of him hanging around after hours.

Kuja sits beside Amarant, across from Ruby, and turns to his brother. "I'm so glad you waited for everyone, little brother."

"Mmhmm," the blonde grins, swallowing down his coke, "You know me. Oi, my brother roped you into this?" he directs to Amarant, who shrugs. "Be careful, man, he might think you're being sociable."

"Who's the behemoth?" the boy sitting next to Zidane asks, giving Amarant a look that insists that he introduce himself. He doesn't, of course.

The redheaded boy pouts and his brown eyes dart to Kuja, who swiftly makes introductions. "Blank, dear, meet Amarant. Amarant, this is the little bassist."

Blank has several scars along his bare, deeply tanned arms, and his face is sporting a scar along the bridge of his nose. He grins when he catches Amarant staring, "Hey, take a picture, it'll last you longer."

"Blank," Zidane drawls, looking vaguely official, "Don't be so hard on the man. He obviously has never seen a toughened criminal such as yourself before."

"No," the redhead shrugs, "I was trying to figure out if I could add a few on without taking off anything vital."

"Go ahead, give it a try." Blank puffs up his chest, "I only look this way because the others turned out worse. Isn't that right, Marcus?"

Amarant sees now that there's a third boy, sitting across from the other two. He's muscular and is wearing a beanie low over his eyes, grinning at his two friends and rubbing at his stubbly chin. "Except for that one," he finally says, pointing at one deep scar on the other's shoulder, "He still looks better than you."

"Ah, pshaw." The redhead waves a hand, "I totally fucked that guy up."

"Isn't it cute?" Kuja asks the three his age, "Male bragging rights."

"Reminds me of Amarant when he was that age," Lani bats her eyelashes at her friend, who flips her off.

"Hey, hey, no rude gestures around the children!" Zidane scolds.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were old enough to handle it."

Blank grins, "He's got you there, blondie."

"Really," Kuja turns to Amarant, raising an eyebrow, "You're like a little kid. Don't make me put you in time out."

"Careful," Zidane cuts in, looking worried, "He's not kidding. His time out is really hardcore solitary. Like a prison."

"When are we eatin'?" Ruby cuts in, leaning forward. "So much as I love t' hear y'all tease, I got a desert waitin' for me once this shindig's over."

Lani practically throws herself on her girlfriend, "Isn't she cute? Calls me a desert and everything."

"Is this an 'all invited' type festivity?" Amarant asks innocently, earning a chopstick thrown to his head. "Hey! I was just asking."

"Ya know, Lani," Ruby starts, "Maybe the guy'd really like a night with us."

"You'd think that, wouldn't you? Fucking pig."

Ruby smiles sweetly at her girlfriend, "Well, maybe we should let 'im. I mean, what harm would it do?"

"Ruby!" Lani exclaims, "Don't start ogling my ex-boyfriend!"

"Ex?" the southern girl asks, cocking an eyebrow slyly, "Not what ya told me last night."

"For crying out – Lani, you told your girlfriend you cheated on her with me?"

"It ain't cheatin' if I gave her full rights to it, darlin'. Now shh, yer scarin' the locals. Here comes the waitress, finally."

The timid young girl holds up remarkably well under the not-so-subtle ogling of Amarant, Lani, Ruby, and Blank, and manages to get all their orders before retreating hastily back into the kitchen.

"You are all horrible," Kuja sighs, "Why do I continue to surround myself with people like this?"

Lani rolls her eyes, "Because you're a glutton for punishment?"

"Because you're forced to?" Zidane chips in.

"Because you're trying to put yourself up on a pedestal so that you look better to the right people," Amarant drawls, earning an approving look from Kuja.

"You're good."

"I'm perceptive." The redhead turns to look at Lani, "I'm going in two days, up to the ranch, if you were serious about coming."

"Yeah, totally," the girl nods, grinning.

"Ya work on a ranch?" Ruby asks, eyes lighting up, "That's great! Aw, but yer gonna take Lani away from me for a week, aren't you?"

"If that's okay with you," Amarant nods.

"Aw, isn't he cute?" Zidane coos, "He asks for permission and everything! Lani, you pulled a number on him when he was in school, didn't you?"

"Back down, runt," Amarant grumbles, "I don't need any backtalk from you, little miss Blink 182."

"That's not just an insult to blondie, but to Honor Among Thieves as a whole!" Blank exclaims, before adding, "I mean, just the Blink 182 part. The miss thing is totally a slight on Zidane alone."

"We don't do pop-punk," Marcus tells Amarant.

"It's more like, whatever we can remember when we get up on stage," Zidane nods, "We haven't got a set plan yet, but we have the Super Mario theme if all else fails."

"An instant crowd pleaser," Lani nods.

"Are y'all goin' up alone? Or are there other bands?" Ruby cuts in, leaning forward to get a look at the band.

"Ah," Zidane grins, "There's two other bands. We each get an hour set – we come on after..." He frowns, "Oh, shit. Who do we come on after, you guys?"

"Velvet Nightmare," Blank drawls. "Some hard rock band. We are second set, right?"

Marcus nods affirmative and the three start talking about the night, leaving the other four to their own devices. Kuja excuses himself to the restroom, and Amarant leans back in his seat, taking down some water and frowning at the two completely separate conversations he's hearing.

"I'm surprised you came," Lani finally says, ending her conversation with Ruby – or maybe just morphing it into something else. "Really, Ama, are you looking to score?"

"Lani, you're stupid," Amarant groans, "I just came because it was this or Susan."

"Who's Susan?" Ruby asks, leaning forward, "Should I hurt her for ya?"

"What happened to that not hurting a fly crap?" the redhead asks, shrugging, "She's my dad's fiancée. Piss ass little bitch."

"Such language," Lani chides, before reaching over and putting a hand on his arm. "Are you going to be okay?"

"It's not like I'm dying or anything," he mumbles, looking away. Lani's always made him feel like spewing personal shit out, and it's never good to do that around strangers, or in crowded areas.

"Are ya gonna keep livin' there?" Ruby asks, adding, "Lani said ya lived with yer dad," when he gives her a weird look.

"It's not like I'm going to live anywhere else. I can't just leave. I've got stuff."

"Why don't you move in with me?" Lani asks. "Until you can get your own place. I don't mind."

"Lani," Amarant sighs, shaking his head and putting his hand on top of hers in one of the few openly thankful gestures he's ever performed, "I'm not going to live with you. You live in a tiny apartment, and I've got a dog to look after. Not to mention that if I were to move anywhere, it'd be the ranch."

"Please don't move there," the girl whines, "I'd never see you again."

"They don't have any open space that I can afford, anyways. Remember, I'm not nearly experienced enough to actually do much work."

Lani sighs, though the male doesn't know if it's from relief or sadness.

Kuja comes back and sits down beside Amarant again, frowning. "You all look very... upset."

"We're not," Amarant says, "Lani's just being stupid."

"I'm not being..." She sighs, "Fine, whatever."

Zidane suddenly makes a noise. "That's it!"

The group looks to him, and his bandmates look only marginally confused. "I know how to sneak Dagger out for the show!"

"Zidane," Blank sighs, "Shouldn't you give up on her? Seriously, she's going to lead to trouble."

"Ah, shut up, man. I'll get her out of her house, and she can come see the show."

"What then?" Kuja asks, raising an eyebrow, "Will you shower her with public love sonnets?"

"I don't know any love sonnets," Zidane frowns, "Do you think we could bust some music up to Shakespeare? Is that possible?"

Kuja sighs and covers his eyes with his hand. "My brother, ladies and gentlemen."

Amarant claps politely and Lani whacks him. "Hey!" he exclaims, "I thought I was supposed to clap."

"Shut up," she snaps good-naturedly, "You're such a jerk."

The waitress appears again carrying trays of sushi and the group lets her put it all down with only slight grief, and they all start in.

Amarant easily picks up the chopsticks but looks kind of wary around the sushi.

"What's the matter?" Kuja asks, blinking at the other.

"I don't eat sushi," Amarant drawls, "Raw fish is weird."

"You pansy," Lani groans. Unlike the others, she and Ruby have decided to use their hands – Amarant's not sure if you should do that, but he's good with chopsticks so it doesn't matter.

"Here," Kuja smiles, picking up a roll with his own chopsticks. "Do you trust me?"

"No," Amarant mutters.

"Feed it to him," Lani crows, "He's not going to do it otherwise. That bastard would rather starve than eat something weird!"

Amarant rolls his eyes but isn't surprised that Kuja follows through with Lani's orders, and easily slips his hand over Kuja's, moving his fingers and transferring the chopsticks completely into his care.

"That takes a talent I didn't think you had, Ama," Lani grins when the other easily pops the roll into his mouth. "What was that, anyways?" she asks Kuja.

He smiles, "Not sure. I think it was maguro?"

"What's that?" Amarant asks cautiously.

"Raw tuna."

He makes a face but swallows anyways, and then goes for the tamer California rolls.

Marcus is struck with sudden inspiration and taps out a beat on the table with his chopsticks.

"Soo-she," Zidane sings in an inappropriately high falsetto voice, "Makes the world go round! Soo-she!"

"This is their only time to get ideas for songs out," Kuja sighs to the other three, "Otherwise, they're up until three singing songs about videogames and Godzilla."

"Sounds like fun," Lani grins.

"It's got raw fish and they swam in the sea, until one day I wanted some-"

"Soo-she!" the three chorus in that same high voice.

"So I picked up an eel and I threw it in the pot, and now I've got-"

"Soo-she!"

"The boss is going to come over here," Amarant grumbles, "And then we're going to get kicked out."

"Best or worst case scenario?" Ruby asks, blinking.

"I'm not sure yet."

Amarant settles himself back to listen to the others talk, once the impromptu song session has ended, and takes a few more rolls but keeps, for the most part, out of the way. Whatever possessed him to join in the festivities has passed and now he's left wondering what time it is, and when he can go.

But after the check comes, the group around him decides to hit up the roller coaster down on the beach, and for some reason Amarant is convinced to join.

It's only a few blocks down the street so they walk. Lani and Ruby take up the front, leaning against each other in what Amarant figures is either supposed to be drunkenly, sexually, or lovingly. Behind them is the band, Honor Among Thieves or whatever they're calling themselves, all chatting and occasionally gracing the sidewalk and passerby with impromptu songs. Then comes Kuja, trailing after to make sure his brother doesn't skip off or do anything stupid, and Amarant takes up the end of their line. He's used to it – the back is always the best and he gets a good look at everyone, though he pays the most attention to Lani and Ruby.

Having bisexual women friends? Definitely a plus in his book.

"You know, Ruby would probably invite you in if you asked," Kuja drawls, dropping his speed to match pace with Amarant. "She's a really open person."

"I'm noticing that."

The silver-haired male smiles up at the sky, or maybe at the nothing just beyond the sky, and then says, "Thank you very much for coming."

"...You're welcome?"

Kuja laughs. "Don't sound surprised, please. You didn't have to come, but you did, and even though you probably just came because you wanted to get out, it means a lot to me." He blinks, adding, "And Lani. Her too."

Amarant frowns. "You barely know me. How can anything I do mean anything at all to you?"

Kuja shrugs. "I don't know. I tend to get kind of attached fast. I don't mean anything by that," he elaborates when the redhead looks at him in mild confusion, "I just mean... I don't know. I don't like awkwardness, I'm sorry."

"Most people don't."

They see the rickety old rollercoaster and the two girls in front make loud exclamations of getting first pick, dashing off down the sidewalk, laughing loudly and trying to race without getting too far ahead of the other.

"They're like little kids," Amarant mutters.

"That's a rather kinky opinion," Kuja grins, "Considering you were just watching them rather intensely." A beat, and then, "You're not going on the coaster, are you?"

"No way in fucking hell."

"That's a shame." Kuja sighs, "I guess I'll have to go alone, then. Zidane hates this rollercoaster," he tells Amarant, "So you'll have to babysit him for me, if that's alright."

"I don't care. If you don't mind he's not in one piece when you get off that deathtrap."

"I think you could only improve," the other male laughs. They reach the gates and Lani's already bought tickets for her and Ruby, and motions for the others to get their own. Zidane and Amarant stay out of the way and the group gets into a line, waiting for the next ride to start.

Zidane yawns lazily and goes to a bench across the way from the coaster, and Amarant looks around a bit. It's like a tiny carnival, with some rides and an arcade with ancient games in it, and he's only been here a few times before, when he was a lot younger.

He finally sits next to Zidane as the rest of the group gets onto the coaster, and the blonde grins. "Gotta give my band mates some space, you know?" He motions to Blank and Marcus, who are both teasing each other and trying to decide where they're going to sit. They take the far back. "They're so stupid sometimes."

Amarant shrugs, "Nothing wrong with the back."

"No, not that. Jeez, didn't you see? Marcus digs Blank, one hundred percent. It sucks being surrounded by UST."

The redhead raises an eyebrow. He hadn't seen it – because he wasn't looking. Now he wonders if there's more to this whole group than he previously thought.

"You were saying something about going up to a ranch with Lani, right?" Zidane cuts into the other's thoughts, earning a quick glance in his direction.

"Yeah, so what?"

"Do you think you could take Kuja with you?"

Amarant blinks, and then turns to look fully at the blonde. "Why the hell would I do that? I barely know the guy."

"You wouldn't have to ask him!" Zidane waves a hand, "I just want him out of the apartment for a little while. His neatness and crap really distracts my creative processes."

"You want him gone so you can have parties."

"Can you blame me? Besides, Lani will do all the asking, all you have to do is agree." The blonde grins, "Don't you want to make my brother happy?"

"He looks like he's doing a fine job by himself."

Zidane looks over to the rollercoaster where, indeed, it does seem that his brother is quite content with sitting behind Lani and Ruby, who have their heads half tilted in and turned to him so they can talk – or, rather, scream – to each other. He's got a grin on his face that's noticeable all the way off the ride.

"You'd be surprised and how good my brother is at acting."

It's said kind of melancholy-like, so Amarant looks at the blonde in confusion. The hyperactive kid isn't smiling so much right now, and kind of looks depressed.

"We have a sister," he mumbles. "Or... Well, she's in a boarding school right now. After mom and dad got divorced, she kind of couldn't handle it." The redhead doesn't know why the hell Zidane's telling him this, but... he understands. Sometimes, you have to get it out. "Dad let mom send her away, and he got so wrapped up in work... He was supposed to run the store, instead of Kuja and me, but his 'real job'," Zidane air-quotes the phrase, "Got in the way. So we took it over. It's leased in Kuja's name and everything."

"Why don't you live with your dad?" Amarant asks, not meaning to get into it but curious nonetheless.

Zidane winces and runs a hand through his hair. "I... he's not someone you live with. He's the face on the checks for Kuja's tuition and rent, not really a father. Kuja didn't have to twist my arm or anything to move in after he got the apartment."

The older male looks out at the rollercoaster, which is going into it's second and final run. "When did Lani and Kuja meet?" he asks.

"Nearly the first day of college," Zidane grins now, "From what I've gathered – I take both of their words a little lightly, you know, only way to handle them... Apparently, Lani walked up to Kuja and just kind of asked him, you know."

Amarant smirks. "Wanna fuck?" he suggests.

"Basically."

"That's Lani," Amarant sighs, leaning back and looking at the sky.

"How did you meet Lani? No offense, man, but she seems attracted to more of the..."

"Gay type?"

"Pretty much."

The older male shakes his head. "High school." He grins, "I walked up to her and asked 'wanna fuck?' Haven't seen the end of her yet."

Zidane laughs and then jumps up as the roller coaster comes to a stop, "I think you'd be good for Kuja." He turns to look at the surprised redhead, "Lani made him a lot... he can handle stuff now. And I'll bet having a male Lani around would only help him more."

Amarant frowns. He never really thought of it like that – him, like Lani? He was thinking Kuja was like her...

The group is coming over to them, though Ruby looks a little tilted and is leaning against Lani heavily. "We're gonna go," the blue-haired girl says, smiling, "I've had all the fun I can stomach."

"Poor baby," Lani coos. She looks at Amarant, raises an eyebrow, and asks, "Do you wanna come?"

He blinks in response, looking at the two women. Maybe he's trying to save face, or maybe he's looking for a scapegoat, but he glances at Kuja. The other is looking at the sky with a meaningless smile on his face, arms crossed behind his back and eyes blank. Weirdly blank, like he's forcefully making them so.

"...I'll pass," he mumbles.

Lani makes a noise and he looks directly at her. She shakes her head and then grins, "Alright. Your loss, Red – I dunno if this is a one time deal."

"Aw, honey," Ruby drawls lightly, "It ain't ever gonna be a one time deal for yer friend here." She winks at Amarant, "Yer welcome anytime."

He grins, "I'll take that offer up sometime soon." He shakes his head, "My stomach is getting upset just looking at you. Lani, for fuck's sake, take her home before she pukes everywhere."

"I ain't gonna puke," Ruby pouts but Lani simply pulls her slightly, and they go staggering off out of the park.

"You just blew off a night with two women!" Blank exclaims, eyes wide. "Do you just get laid that often!"

Amarant gets up and gives Blank a glare that could ice blood if he had been more serious about it. "Do you want to give up your left ear and an eye?"

Zidane rolls his eye and then says, "Well," and effectively disarms the conversation. "Let's go into the arcade, okay? Come on," he starts to bounce, grabbing the hand of both Marcus and Blank, "I can't sit out here all night without stretching my fingers!"

The blonde easily pulls the other two in with him and leaves Amarant and Kuja alone.

Kuja finally looks down from the sky and his eyes are still weirdly blank, his smile still on but more curious than anything. "Why didn't you go with them?"

Amarant shrugs, now realizing that the sky is pretty interesting. "I dunno. I guess I just... didn't feel like it."

"A man denying himself a sexual fantasy?" Kuja laughs and it sounds hollow. "Sounds like you have an ulterior motive."

"I don't," Amarant snaps, feeling kind of defensive. He looks away from the sky and back at Kuja. Lani has left and so has Zidane, and it wouldn't be too weird of him to ask himself. After all, he can just say he wanted to pay him back for taking him to the club and taking him to their group dinner and being nice even if he barely even knows Amarant at all. Even if a few years ago Amarant would have punched a guy for looking at him like Kuja is doing now.

"...How does your class schedule look for the next week?"

Congrats, Tyler, you made it this far!