A shamefully long gap between chapters, but I've not been in the right mood for writing recently, so if this one reads differently to the others that's why. Also I finished most of this chapter a while ago but can't for the life of me get the AkuRoku right. Typical that my favourite pairing is the one I can't write XP
Hopefully it isn't too bad though. So enjoy and reviews are very much appreciated!
It was noon when finally got out of bed, roused by the sound of someone in the kitchen. Riku had driven us back at five that morning before he and Sora collapsed in his room to sleep. I'd shuffled around for a glass of water, and spent half an hour talking with Demyx, who'd heard us come in, and then collapsed on top of the covers. And now I stood in my doorway, squinting at the bright light invading the room through the kitchen and living room windows and the open door to the conservatory.
Cloud paused and turned to look at me, greeted me with a smile and a nod and went back to his frying pan. Sora and Riku were sprawled on the sofa clutching the X-box controls, Sora looking wide awake and Riku looking sleepy but still pulling off the stunning look. I think I hate him sometimes. He and his brothers could have been on a three day bender in which they ended up naked and dragged through a hedge and they'd still not have a hair out of place. And I'm pretty sure that actually happened to Kadaj once.
"You want breakfast, Rox?" Cloud asked glancing over at me. I tilted my head and gave him a look that needed little interpretation. The best thing after a night of drinking and dancing was Cloud's cooking.
"He's making pancakes." Sora grinned. "And scrambled eggs, and probably bacon since Riku's here and we all know that the Argent boys need a healthy breakfast."
"It's difficult to maintain this level of beauty on an empty stomach."
"Yes, I'm sure it requires phenomenal levels of energy. Not to mention the expert training."
"Years of intensive instruction just to get my hair to look like this." Riku nodded.
"Which is almost a shame because I very much appreciate the bed head look."
"Really? Maybe I'll pass on the bacon today then."
Cloud looked over at me and I squinted back, still stood in my doorway with my eyes adjusting to the light. "I think it's nice that they've found each other, no one else understands them." I told Cloud.
He grunted and pulled some plates out of the cupboard overhead but I could see he was smiling. I went to help and three minutes later Cloud and I were squishing ourselves onto the couch and handing over the plates to Sora and Riku, who didn't bother to pause the video game as they thanked Cloud and started eating.
"How was Leon's?"
"Good." Cloud responded absently. "He says 'hi'. He might cover one of your shifts next week if you want a day off?"
"Sure."
And after that, conversation descended into mostly "Kick. Kick. Riku kick. The 'X' button! You're not supposed to lose on purpose. You know what? You're banned from playing against Sora." And similar sentences flung around during fight games on X-box.
It was when we'd moved onto a racing game and Riku and I were now leaning back watching Cloud and Sora play, offering our own 'helpful' advice that Cloud turned slightly towards me – without taking his eyes off the screen – and said "Rox, could you go to the store?"
I glanced back at him a little sceptically. "Now?"
He shrugged, "If you want to eat again today we need food."
I sighed and shrugged, figuring at least I could take Cloud's car but when I stood up Riku followed suite and shuffled into Sora's room to find his car keys. Cloud and I ignored this and politely pretended we thought he'd slept on the couch.
"Thanks, the list is on the counter." Cloud said as he overtook Sora on a curve.
I shuffled over to the counter and grabbed the list and the money beside it and then went and switched into a fresh t-shirt and pulled on my chequered converse, didn't bother to grab a sweater. Riku was ready when I got back out into the living room, looking like he'd had a full nights sleep and never tasted a drop of alcohol in his life. Sometimes I hate that boy.
"Remember the milk, you always forget the milk."
"Don't bother to concern yourself with my wellbeing there, Cloudo." I replied sarcastically, "If we returned battered and bruised, don't think to avenge me or anything."
"Good. Get me some Coco Puffs."
--
Fifteen minutes later found us parked in the unnecessarily large car park of the supermarket with obnoxious fluorescent lights in Riku's Mercedes which can only be described as being arrogantly shiny as far as car's go. It puts Cloud's battered Jeep to shame and I'm pretty sure Demyx' old van leaks tears of oil every time Riku comes over and leaves it parked innocently at the curb.
I think I'm a little hung over – that or I'm suddenly a car racist.
Our house is on the quiet, residential side of Twilight Town so we usually do our shopping in the little delicatessens and family grocery stores scattered around the small streets near The Square, but since Cloud and Sora have filled the list with chocolate cereals, every flavour of pop-tart under the sun, sugary drinks, pastries and just the one organic tomato the supermarket seemed the best bet. Even if it is in the commercial side of town near the schools and apartments and ridiculous number of boutiques – ridiculous considering the limited number of tourists Twilight is host to.
"We can hit the cereal isle first." Riku delegated, grabbing the nearest shopping cart and swinging it in front of him, almost hitting me and a shelving unit in the process. "Since your brothers wants so much of it. Which is weird by the way."
"Hey, a Cloud cooked meal is hot commodity, he is in demand in many homes; we can't have him all to ourselves." I shrugged, shuffling along behind him. "Cereal is the next best thing."
"So you're all too lazy to cook?"
"Something like that." I conceded. "And Cloud like the chocolate cereal, Demyx likes the brightly coloured ones and Sora likes any with an outrageous sugar content and absolutely no nutritional value."
"Yeah, there's three boxes of Crusty Creams under my bed for the days he stays over." Riku laughed. "He adds marshmallows to it."
I nodded and stared at the space between his shoulder blades as we stopped in the middle of the cereal isle and I set about collecting everyone's favourite cereals without consulting the list. "So things are ok with you two?"
Riku shot me a sceptical sideways look. "In terms of?"
"Riku, we're stood in the middle of a mostly deserted supermarket, I think we can talk about it without fear of being overheard." I sighed, because it pisses me off when Riku acts dumb.
He shrugged, still wary, but the he sighed and leaned forwards against the shopping cart, jamming the wheels sideways so he wouldn't roll away. "We're fine, although he still doesn't want people to know."
"Which is stupid because we all know." I muttered cheerfully.
"Yeah well, try telling him that." Riku paused for a minute, "Hey you're his twin shouldn't you know why he…Axel."
"Shouldn't I know why he Axel? What does that even mean."
"No, you jackass. Axel. Axel is stood over there." Riku said pointing down our isle, across the centre of the store and into the isle opposite ours. There, dropping a bag of cheetos into a basket, was Axel.
"…shit."
"Shit?"
"Yes, shit." I hissed grabbing Riku by the elbow and manhandling him and the cart behind a huge crate of Fair Trade sugar beside a fridge.
"You don't want to see him?" Riku frowned.
"Because I would say what to him, Riku?" I whispered, peeking around the side of the crate and deciding this was all Cloud's fault before Riku tugged me back by my arm.
"How about 'hi, Axel, last night was fun, we should do it again sometime'?" Riku sighed. "It's not rocket science."
"Says the guy who isn't dating my brother."
"Asshole." Riku hissed.
My lips curved upwards slightly and I was just about to use the word asshole in some sort of demeaning sentence involving Riku's relationship with Sora…only I'm guessing he recognised the look on my face. That's the trouble with Riku being around all the time, he gets to recognise when I'm feeling friendly and when I'm about to say something I'd deserve to be punched in the face for. Not that he ever would punch me.
But he did push me out from behind the sugar crate and onto my ass, very noisily, back into the open area of the isle.
Where Axel now stood five feet away.
I stood up and brushed off my jeans trying to look nonchalant, like maybe I sometimes just like to fall over in supermarkets right? It didn't work so well, one of Axel's eyebrows shot up and the other tugged inward as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing.
A second later Riku strolled out from behind the sugar, cart full of cereal in tow and smiled dashingly because he's a smooth bastard like that. "Axel, what a pleasant surprise."
"Yeah, hey Riku." Axel said, raising one hand slightly and smoothing out his expression into a wolfish grin. I glanced between them and wondered when they got to first name basis. "I hate to break it to you, but I think you grabbed the wrong twin on your way out of the house."
I frowned at this but Riku laughed and replied easily "Ah yes, Sora was otherwise engaged so I figured I'd hijack Roxas' shopping trip, convince him to buy me sugary treats for my driving services."
Axel smiled at that and switched his gaze back to me. I stared back. "You gonna say anything?"
"Hm?" I frowned.
Axel laughed, "You still drunk or something?"
I frowned again and heard Riku let out a sigh and mutter something that could have been 'Neanderthal' "What do you mean?" I asked.
Axel's eyebrow quirked up again and he smiled, more amused than he was showing. "Well it's that or a concussion; you hit that lamppost pretty hard."
I paused. "I…what?"
"That lamppost," Axel repeated. "You and Sora decided to drag us to Kangaroo to see if Demyx was there – even though Riku reminded you he was at an open mic night – and you ran into a lamppost."
"…No I didn't."
"You did, I swear. Sora nearly peed his pants laughing at you." Axel smirked.
I stared at him for a minute, trying to decide whether he was jerking me around, heard Riku snigger behind me and felt my face beginning to flush because - shit, that could explain the throbbing, sensitive patch on my forehead.
And then something else occurred to me.
"What do you mean 'us'?"
"Eh?"
"You said me and Sora decided to drag 'us' to Kangaroo…"
"Oh," his smirk turned wolfish, "You don't remember?"
"Remember what?" I asked, feeling my stomach drop a little. The last thing I needed to find out was that I'd gotten wasted and tried to get into his pants. But surely then I'd have woken up with him right? That's usually how it happens; it would've been like that right? But then again Sora did say that restrooms in clubs are for sexual activity…but Sora was there, and Riku. There's no way Sora and Riku would have let me be dragged off by strange red-heads. Because that's irresponsible right?
"Rox, you look like you're about to start fitting," Riku frowned, "Please breathe."
I shot him a sideways glare because this was now all his fault. "Remember what?" I asked, punctuating it subtly.
At which point Axel burst out laughing. "Jesus, calm down. Sora invited me to join your little trio for the evening, which seemed to mostly involve me and Riku watching you two do embarrassing, drunken things." He smiled and then paused briefly, "What did you think I was gonna say?"
I felt my face flush. "Nothing. We have to go now."
Axel's smile faded slightly and he nodded. Riku said 'bye' and set off down the isle, I ducked my head and went to follow but as I passed Axel he caught my arm and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through every limb.
"Hey, maybe we could do something sometime." He said softly, not in my ear but close enough that I felt his breath on my skin. I resisted the urge to shudder and then wanted to kick myself, because one guy I hardly know shouldn't have this effect on me.
I tried to drag up some of my usual…well, I'd call it gusto but I'm guessing my brother's would use other words, 'bitchiness' might be one of them. And you know what? Why should I be freaked out by this guy, just because he managed to get me flustered that one…two times, doesn't mean he's like…flusterable…
I looked up and set him with a sideways grin, saw the way his lips curved a little, "'Something sometime' huh?" I asked.
"Yeah, you know. Movie or something – I'd say coffee but you might be sick of the stuff."
"I don't know, I've been told not to take up offers from strange red-heads."
"Well, look at it this way. You have two options. In option one we go out for a few hours, maybe we hit it off, maybe we realise it's not meant to be, at the end of the day we'll look forward to seeing each other again or you'll finally be shot of me."
I felt my lips wanting to quirk into a smile, remembered leaning against the wall in Pink, the cool tiles sending shivers up my spine and the electricity from Axel's hand on my scalp sending shivers everywhere else, and when you think about it 'something sometime' is kind of a reasonable request. I wasn't sure I needed a second option.
"Option two involves me turning up at the Usual Spot everyday until you agree to Option One." He grinned and I laughed.
"Ok, fine. Maybe we can do 'something sometime'." I acquiesced, setting off walking again. "You know where to find me."
There was a pause and then I heard his brief bark of laughter, "I'll see you soon Roxas."
I raised a hand in some definition of a wave goodbye and reached Riku, who was stood quietly observing.
"You like him." He said, sounding amused and slightly amazed despite the fact that he and Sora had already established this.
I shot him a sideways glance and resisted the urge to say something unpleasant.
"C'mon, I'll buy you some sugary treats in return for your driving services."
It was a little after one thirty when I got to the Strife house, a small detached with a green front lawn and a path leading around to a back garden where I knew there was a patio for barbeques and a conservatory that could now only be accessed via Roxas bedroom and outside and there was a little pond that had Demyx's fish in it. The house was white in the way of a house that was white once but has been beaten with rain since then, their front door is blue and whilst the house is a good fifteen minutes walk from my apartment twenty minutes from Main Street but it's probably worth the distance for the more peaceful setting.
I didn't bother to knock and pushed the door open just as a cheer went up from Cloud and Riku and Demyx and the twins booed and threw a pillow at the back of Cloud's head, who only laughed and caught sight of me and yelled my name like he hadn't just left my apartment four hours ago. The rest of the room mimicked his greeting half a second behind.
"Come play with us Squally." He grinned and it was one of those genuine smiles, the ones that seem so rare from Cloud until he's surrounded by his family and friends and I felt my heart stutter and I smiled back despite myself.
"Aren't we going out?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow. I'd promised Cloud we'd look around a few places, talk to a few people, try and find him a decent job. He'd been working part time at – actually I wasn't really sure where he was working part time. But since he had almost three months before the next semester of college he'd be needing a lot more money to have stored away for winter.
"We can go out later." He replied whilst Demyx rifled through the box of games.
I shrugged. Because when faced with the dilemma of going outside with Cloud or staying inside with Cloud I think I know which I'd prefer; whether other people are around or not. I wandered over and glanced at the screen, another fight game.
"C'mon Leon." Roxas smirked, shot a glance at Sora, who beamed back and moved from his spot between his twin and his older brother and onto the armrest, mirroring Riku's position on the opposite side. Roxas patted the space between him and Cloud, "Squish in."
I adore the twins. Cloud has said he thinks they might be secretly evil – I think they're utterly fantastic. I might give Roxas a raise.
I dropped into the small space between Roxas and Cloud and tried to pretend that I hadn't noticed the way Cloud's thigh was pressed firmly against mine, Demyx squished back in between Cloud and Riku, who was sat on the armrest but with his feet on the cushions of the sofa, throwing what looked like M&M's at Sora who was trying to catch them in his mouth without breaking his teeth. For the first time I noticed Namine sat cross-legged in the single armchair adjacent to the sofa, she caught my gaze and smiled happily, sketchbook on her lap and pencils propped on one foot.
"Would you like anything to drink?" She asked happily, "Or eat? I'm acting as unofficial waitress." She said on a sigh she didn't really mean.
"Only because you're the prettiest, Nami!" Sora announced, sugary sweet.
"Yes, and you can carry so much with such natural grace." Cloud chipped in.
"And you're so friendly and wonderful." Roxas agreed.
"And you open soda cans in a way that makes them extra yummy!" Demyx nodded wisely.
"And the second choice for waitress is Roxas, and his people skills are appalling."
I barely managed to keep my character alive when Roxas lunged across the sofa at Riku.
--
It was four before we finally managed to pry ourselves off the sofa – quite literally since Sora and Riku gave up with balancing on the edges and forced themselves onto us, sprawling across our laps where necessary – and shuffled out onto the street, only released because we'd promised to come back within a few hours with snacks.
"You might want to grab some fresh clothes too." Cloud warned cheerfully. "None of us are working tomorrow, it could turn into a sit-around-and-drink-a-thon."
I nodded and smiled softly, not mentioning out loud how strangely pleasant it always feels to be automatically included in their plans; me and Riku working as an extension of their family. Instead of saying this I just nodded.
It was humid outside and without the air conditioning from the house we hadn't made it to the end of the street before I felt the back of my neck prickling with sweat; Cloud was wearing baggy jeans and a black t-shirt and shot me a sideways glance as we turned left at the end of the road to heading in the opposite direction to my apartment and towards Main Street. In this heat I almost regretted not having my car with me.
"You could always wear different pants,"
I glanced over at Cloud, completely unaware we'd been involved in a conversation. I let him know this by quirking an eyebrow.
"One day you'll just fall down dead from heat stroke. You don't even sweat as much as a normal person."
"So?"
"So it'd be just as easy for you to look sexy in jeans as it would in leather pants."
I paused, only for a fraction of a second, barely altering my stride, barely changing my expression, but barely was just enough because Cloud has always been perceptive until it comes to the blindingly obvious. He glanced sideways at me, clearly trying to decide what he'd said, running the sentence through his brain, his eyes widened fractionally when he found the word and he turned his face forward. His cheeks turned a half a shade pinker and his eyes were suddenly locked ahead.
"I meant from a girl's point of view."
"Oh did you." I said it deadpan. Not a question because I didn't believe him anyway.
"Yes, I'm sure girl's would find you just as sexy in jeans as they would in leather pants. Girl's like jeans too."
"Probably."
He made a noise that could have been a frustrated groan and was quiet for almost eight seconds. "I wasn't saying that I find you sexy,"
"Really? That's what it sounded like."
"Well it's not what it was."
We walked in silence for a few feet, a smirk twitching the corners of my lips and Cloud shooting aggravated glances at me every now and again.
"So you find anyone in leather pants sexy or me in particular."
He shot me a glare that clearly told me where to stick it and sped up so he was walking a step ahead of me. I chuckled and followed easily, the rest of the trip silent even when Cloud gave up and fell back into place with me.
Riku and I were under orders to get as much sugary crap as we could carry and/or stuff into the back of his car. That was our mission, and like the super magic secret agents we are we'd already gathered more marshmallows, popcorn and chocolate than any one pancreas could possibly handle and were on our way to get soda and debating cooking frozen pizza versus takeaway when I remembered I had another task.
Ancients stays open on Saturdays but closes Sundays, more often than not I get Saturdays off even though Luxord doesn't understand the computer system (of his own store) so as a compromise I pick up the book deliveries – because Luxord also doesn't entirely understand the concept of a 'second hand' book store – and bring them round so he doesn't have to close up shop for any length of time.
Riku had parked the car near The Square and we split ways, him heading off to the end of Main Street that merged with the busier road where the supermarket was, and I headed into the Post office on The Square and picked up my parcel without incident considering the blonde girl – Larxene – was working. With the parcel in tow I headed off to Ancients, resisting the urge to do unnecessary back flips but not quite managing to stop humming the theme tune to Mission Impossible. I dodged around a couple of people using my super agent skills and was not at all surprised to find Luxord in exactly the same position I'd left him in yesterday afternoon. He was sat in a chair reading a magazine with his feet on the desk surrounded by a stack of books that should be sorted and sheets of paper containing information that should be inputted into the system. I often wonder what Luxord does with his time. Work clearly is not the answer. I wondered once if it was like that film Mannequin and when only he's there on of the books comes to life and so they can only be together in private…but then I started thinking about how disturbing that would be and couldn't read anything for a week.
"You know, with all the book we sell – as a book shop – you could probably find something more philosophical than a magazine."
Luxord looked up as I closed the door behind me using my shoulder. "True. But hopefully I'm setting a bad example to you. Seeing the error of my ways you'll set about reading all this fascinating literature yourself and thus can learn new and interesting words like 'philosophical',"
"I just used philosophical in a sentence."
"So I see my plan already works." Luxord dropped the magazine onto the table and dropped his feet to the ground. It looked like he might stand up, but at the last minute he changed his mind. Standing is a stressful thing and after years of drinking and smoking Luxord can't handle much stress.
Or at least this is what he tells me every time I ask why he never does any work.
We opened the package, Luxord read out the book titles, I checked them off a list and then he closed it up again and stuffed it under the desk, no doubt that'd be my job for Monday morning. Not that I mind. I can organize a shelf in mere moments. I'm like an organizing hurricane, I'm a whirlwind of alphabetising.
…
Roxas is right, I'm lucky I found Riku.
"Do you have a minute?" Luxord asked, glancing over towards the shelves.
I glanced over too, thinking he might ask if I had time to shelve them now. I suppose Riku could always show up after spending hours wondering if I was dead in a ditch. Then again he'd have to walk past to get back to the car in about ten minutes…
"Sure." I shrugged.
"There's a girl here somewhere."
I blinked. "The book girl?"
Luxord looked back at me. "What?"
"I uh…nothing."
"Karen!" Luxord called in the general direction of the shelves. I was pretty sure he was off his rocker but thought best not to mention it. Luxord likes to slip honey and whiskey in his tea so at the very least he could be drunk. "Karen! Karly? Carson?...Alice?"
To my great surprise a second later a girl appeared from behind the shelves, red hair to her shoulders and a pink top and skirt on. "Kairi." She corrected.
"Yes. Kerry. That's what I said." Luxord muttered. "Kerry this is Sora, the young man I mentioned earlier."
I stared for a second, trying to think why there would be a girl hiding among the shelves and since there was one, why would they be talking about me. It was as I pondered this that I realised her first impression of me was as I stood beside the computer with my mouth twisted in a confused 'whu' and one eyebrow raised as I stared.
Even Luxord noticed and cleared his throat, elbowing me in the side.
"Sora, this is Kerry. Or Kari."
"Kairi. There's an 'i'." She smiled pleasantly enough, clearly undeterred by my Greeting Face. "Nice to meet you Sora."
"Yeah, you too." I nodded in response. "Uhm, what did you need me for?" I asked shiftily.
"Oh right yes, well. I just wanted you to meet this young lady. She's starting work here on Monday and you'll be showing her how things work while I am, uh…"
"Doing absolutely anything else?" I responded helpfully.
"Yes, that." Luxord smiled. "I just thought it might be easier to work together if you knew each other's names. And if, in fact, you were aware of her existence in the first place."
"It's a good thing to clear up." Kairi agreed with an amused smile. "Anyway, I'll take this one." She said holding up a book.
"Great," Luxord smiled, "And you get an employee discount." He announced turning to the computer. "…which Sora will have to program for me."
I sighed. Luxord is a technology retard. I once found him trying to send a text message on a calculator. Granted he's just stumbled in 'hung over', which with Luxord usually means 'still drunk'. I opened up the retail software and made a few alterations, added the employee discount, didn't bother to show Luxord how to use it, since he'd forget within five minutes anyway, and scanned the book for Kairi.
"Sexing the Cherry." I muttered with a grin, thinking of Roxas.
Kairi blushed a little. "It's for my brother, he mentioned it the other day and I figured I'd grab it for him…"
I smiled, "Well, I hope your brother enjoys it."
"The word 'sex' is in the title, he'll love it." She smiled back before turning to Luxord. "Thank you again, and I'll see you Monday morning?"
Luxord shrugged. "It's a possibility."
"Luxord is often seen only at a fleeting glance Monday mornings."
"I'm a very busy man Sora." He responded with a lecherous grin. "And you are very welcome Kairi. I'll see you…around."
We waved cheerfully as Kairi left before I turned to Luxord. "An employee discount?"
"Yes."
"Usually you just give me the books I want."
"Yes, but I am employing her as a favour to a friend of mine. I employed you out of choice because you are useful and strangely adorable." Luxord grinned affectionately.
I pouted. Why do I have to be the adorable one? Roxas looks the same and no one ever calls him adorable.
Mind you, it'd probably be the last thing they could say for a while.
"Sooooo," Luxord started with a smirk, "you two hit it off."
"…did we?" I asked, reading the synopsis of one of the new books.
"Yes, you had that whole...conversation type…thing." He waved his hands about as if to indicate a conversation. I might not be a professor of hand gestures but I don't think 'Circle, Circle, Jazz hands' is the internationally translated as 'conversation'.
"It's sad that I have to be the one to tell you this but a conversation doesn't always mean you've 'hit it off'." I smiled back, dropping the book to the desk.
"I'm just saying, you're young, she's young, you'll be spending quite a bit of time together…"
My bran connected, I saw where he was going with this and I laughed, a genuine 'I've hurt my lungs!' laugh. "Lux, I have a boyfriend. Emphasis on boy."
Luxord stared at me for a few moments. "Really?"
"Yes. You've met him."
"I have?"
"Yes. Riku."
"Yes, I've met him, but what about that tall girl you're always kissing?"
"Also Riku."
"Really? Well. That explains it. I always thought you had a thing for butch women, I never knew a man could grow that much hair, the only times I've seen him when you weren't attached to his face he had it tied up."
I tried very hard not to die laughing when Riku came sauntering in a minute later to see if I was ready to go and Luxord muttered "Oh yeaaah."
"I hate work."
I glanced over at Cloud whilst my right hand rifled in my pocket for the keys to my front door.
"I'm either too qualified, not qualified enough or the pay is just shit."
I opened the door and held it open for him to come in before heading off towards the lift. It'd been hot today; I didn't really feel like walking up the stairs after wandering around Twilight Town.
"And no decent company is going to employ me because I go back to college in about three months."
The lift doors opened and I stepped in, Cloud following with a frown. I lent against the mirrored walls and was thankful for how cold mirrors are. Cloud copied my position on the opposite wall, falling silent and staring pensively over the shoulder of his own reflection. When the doors opened we shuffled out, still in silence. I fiddled with my keys again and opened the front door, we both walked in and the second the door closed behind me I pulled off my t-shirt and flung it over the back of the nearest chair – because it turns out I sweat just as much as a normal person on a day like this.
"Just keep looking." I muttered in response. "We only went to a couple of places, I told you I know people, I just need to get in touch." I turned to face him. "You've only been really looking for one day you can't just…what?"
Cloud had spent the last few moments staring at me. Mouth ever so slightly open and eyebrows half raised. He closed his mouth, drew in his expression and replied, "Nothing."
He was clearly worried and not for the first time I felt simultaneously relieved to be an only child and guilty for being so carefree when Cloud had spent most of his life worrying about his brothers. "It'll be alright." I shrugged.
Cloud's expression switched to confusion and the he smiled softly. "Yeah probably, it's getting to the 'alright' bit that concerns me."
I walked towards him, still stood near the front door where it enters into the living room. Once I was stood in front of him I wasn't sure what exactly I'd intended to do, so I ended up putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'll help. And I don't see why you don't tell Sora and Roxas, they'll go ape shit as it is when they find out you've been trying to handle it behind their backs."
"I want that to be a last resort," he said distractedly, eyes on my face.
"Which? Telling the boys or letting me help?" I asked softly.
"You're already helping." He frowned. "You hired Rox, you're helping me find a job."
I leaned forward, didn't really mean to, not sure why I did it, just leaned forwards; closed the space a little. My voice dropped of its own accord when I told him "I have money. I could help you out that way."
"I'm not a charity case." Cloud said though he had half a laugh in his tone – his voice had gone just as quiet as mine. "You can give me money if you're hiring me to do something. Ever wanted a maid? I'm sure we could find the little French costume somewhere…"
He was joking. Of course he was, and I knew he was even if he had that flirty tone to his voice. It's not like it's the first time he's pretended to flirt with me. But something about the way he said it – never mind the mental image – had me rapidly approaching 'the edge', whether that be of my sanity of my self control I have no idea and before I knew it I'd moved forwards, caused Cloud to take a step back, pushed up against him, the hand I'd had on his shoulder now on the back of his neck, my other hand on his waist.
He didn't step away again. "What're you doing?" he asked between deep, heavy breaths, tongue absently wetting his lips and eyes flicking to my mouth for a fraction of a second.
"I…"
God, I have no clue. My thumb was running tiny circles on his hip and he shuddered slightly, the movement causing his eyes to half lid and I leant forward again, my lips brushing his cheek and he let out one breath that was almost a pant. The room suddenly feeling very hot and Christ I should let go of him but I didn't. For a few seconds I did nothing and then ever so softly – my brain praying it'd be soft enough for him not to notice – I pressed my lips against the corner of his mouth; his lips parting minutely and his hard breathing blew hot air against my cheek.
And then I leant back, didn't completely relinquish my hold on him, but stepped away. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights and I wanted to kick myself. "I'll go get fresh clothes." I muttered softly and turned to head to my bedroom.
I barely registered the feeling of his hands falling away from my arms.
Namine and I had been playing Tekken for approximately thirty six minutes when she shot me a sideways grin, a look that would terrify me had it come from any male in the house, but from Namine it only made me curious.
"What?"
She shrugged, and I briefly admired her ability to shrug and keep her character dodging away at the same time. "Riku's here, Cloud will be back this evening and no doubt Leon will be coming with him."
I waited.
Nothing.
Namine always does this. She makes a statement and then instead of telling you the point of it, she expects you to understand on your own. Which is ridiculous because none of us are as smart as Nam and we're all boys so our brain's work on a different wavelength anyway.
"…and?" I prompted after a minute.
"And," She responded whilst pulling out some sort of insane punching-kicking combination that had my character knocked out within a second. Then she leant back casually like she hadn't just totally wiped the floor with me and continued, "maybe Zexion would want to come over?"
I felt my cheeks heating up. "Why would I want to invite Zexion over?"
"Because you like him." She said as though it was obvious; soft, knowing smile on her lips.
"What makes you think he'd want to come over?"
Namine sighed. "You're friends; you do all sorts of stuff together, so why wouldn't he want to come over?"
"But-"
"And you said he and Roxas got along."
"They exchanged about three words." I grumbled.
"And Roxas gave him free coffee." She smiled and I regretted telling her things then. "And if he passed the Roxas test, Sora will like him and if they are ok with him Cloud will be too." Namine argued, one eyebrow raising and her lips tilting in a look that was almost smug – but Namine never looks smug.
"What happened to the days when we'd avoid bringing around love interests at all costs?" I sighed, pulling my mobile phone out of my pocket and fiddling with it thoughtfully.
"You all started lusting after your best friends." She grinned. "Now ring him."
I shot her a glance, sighed, wondered why my younger sister felt the need to try and organize my life and then dialled Zexion.
"Demyx." He answered after two rings.
"Hey Zexy." I started, watching the TV screen as Namine started up a solo game. I felt kinda like the guy being punched in the face right about now. Only obviously I wasn't being punched in the face, it was like being metaphorically punched in the face. Because it was awkward…Maybe awkwardness doesn't transcend to metaphorical face punching huh?
And also I said 'like' so it's a simile now anyway.
"…Did you want something?" I heard from the other end of the phone.
"Uhm, well yes. I was wondering if you wanted to sort of like maybe come over later if you maybe sort of wanted to?"
I heard Namine make a scoffing noise, but pretended I didn't.
"…what?" he asked absently, and I could picture him almost-frowning whilst flicking through a stack of CD's to make sure they were in the right order. Which of course they would be.
"Do you want to come over?"
"You want me to come over?"
"That's what I said."
"I thought you didn't like us coming over in case we 'aggravate your potentially homicidal cousins'?"
"I feel you are the least aggravating of a bad lot."
"Charming."
Silence.
"So…will you come over? It's like…a thing. Sora has Riku over and Leon will be round..."
"Sure, I'll come over when I've closed up." He said softly. There's a possibility he was smiling, then again maybe phone static gives people artificial smiles. Or something.
"Ok, see you in a few hours." I beamed. He muttered a bye and then hung up.
Namine was half focused on the screen when she said. "I don't mean to be unpleasant, but you are almost offensively bad at conversation."
"Hm. I'll work on that." I laughed. "So what about you? Aren't you going to invite your mystery man over?"
She laughed, "What makes you think I have a mystery man?"
I shrugged, because that was a very good question. "I just do."
She smiled back at me. Finishing her game and resetting it for two players. "As if I'd bring anyone I liked back to this nuthouse."
…
God damnit.
Demyx Strife
Squall Leonhart
Sora Strife
Squall Leonhart
Roxas Strife
