A/N: Thanks for the reviews, everyone :D
I was in NaNoWriMo, so that absorbed me for the whole of November. It's been too long since I updated this lovely fic, and I'm truly sorry for that. A big thank you to those of you who've stuck around.
On with the show.
"Thank you,"
"No problem. I doubt it's easy to get along in that house anyway," Riku shrugged as he led his visitor through the house.
"Definitely not," Zexion smiled.
They walked around a corner in the carpeted hall and came to a wide, open area. A massive stone fireplace gapped at them from across the room, just to the left of a staircase.
"Alright, here's the living room, you can work here, right?" Riku asked, glancing at Zexion from the corner of his eye. He didn't usually bring people over.
"This will be fine. Thanks again, Riku."
"Yeah, well I've got another damn essay, so I'll be off procrastinating in my bedroom if you need me," Riku said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Up the stairs, second door on the right. Bathroom's right there. Scream if you get murdered," he grinned before heading off to the stairs. He heard the short, apparently not-an-emo teen chuckle and sit down on the big white couch to work. The silveret didn't look back as he left the writer to his work.
Riku turned on his computer and pulled up the nearly blank document of his three page essay and suppressed a groan. It was Saturday, true, but he knew next to nothing about the book he'd been instructed to read, and he had to analyze a quote from it some how. Granted this was all his fault, but honestly, who cares about the colonization of Atlantis anyway? Well, Atlanticans, he supposed.
After a few hours and roughly half a paragraph of solid work-he most certainly did not type 'this is dumb' repeatedly-Riku decided he had earned himself a nice break. Standing up and stretching like a cat waking from its afternoon nap, Riku clicked the little save button and left his computer, deciding to check on his reserved guest and maybe grab a soda.
He took in a breath to call out to Zexion from the top of the stairs, but stopped himself when he realized the slate haired teen was on the phone.
"No, Dem...Yes...I told you already, Friday nights...I don't think so...That's a bit off topic..." His tone changed and Riku could almost swear he sounded embarrassed. "Really, that's a bit inappropriate, don't you think," Zexion hissed. Riku could see how red his face was from where he stood at the top of the stairs. "I'm at Riku's, you'll have to hold off on that kind of talk, thank you very much," Zexion growled. Riku tried not to laugh out loud. "Yes, I'll be home tonight, where else would I be?...I don't need to hear what you're planning, Demyx...Yes, yes, I love you too, now may I return to my work?...Thank you." For a moment the beep of the call ending was the only sound in the room. And then Riku's laughter cut through the air like a razor. Zexion whirled around, face bright red.
"It's rude to eavesdrop," he murmured. Riku slowly stopped laughing.
"Like you guys really try to hide it. Face it, you're just mad I caught you red handed for once," he teased, coming all the way down the stairs. "By the way, your hands aren't all that's red," he tossed over his shoulder as he made his way to the kitchen.
"So what exactly is up with you two anyway?" Riku called as he returned with a coke. He carelessly tossed himself down into an armchair and shook silver bangs from his eyes. Probably should get this cut soon.
"What do you mean?" Zexion asked evasively.
"Don't even," Riku rolled his eyes, pulling on the tab to open his drink. It had been shaken up when he threw himself sideways into the chair and it squirted a bit over his shirt. After cursing under his breath and sitting up, he continued. "You two're doing something to each other. I just wanna know what's up."
"If you must know, we're dating," Zexion sighed.
"Good enough for me," the silveret shrugged, downing half the remaining can of soda in one go. "So?" he added.
"So?" Zexion raised an eyebrow.
"Why try so hard to be all covert operation about it?"
"Oh," Zexion murmured. Riku reflected for a moment that he may have struck a sensitive topic. He shrugged it off and took another swig. "To avoid the drama, I suppose," Zexion finally shrugged.
"That's actually pretty smart," Riku said softly. Zexion looked up, meeting his eyes for the first time since their conversation had begun. "What?" the silveret asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing," Zexion shrugged.
"What, I can't understand the risks of being gay in today's society?" Riku asked sarcastically. Zexion kept quiet. "If you think this changes anything, you're a moron," he added, watching the slate haired boy from the corner of his eye.
"Just stop talking," Zexion sighed, turning back to the papers he'd been working on. Riku sighed and looked up at the clock.
"C'mon, Sora'll kill us if we're late," he said suddenly, nearly leaping to his feet. Zexion calmly looked up at the clock and nodded, gathering up his things and standing to face Riku.
"Shall we then?" Riku grinned. Zexion pointed at his chest.
"Your shirt?"
"You know this now gives me permanent harassment rights, right?" Riku smirked, one shirt change and a few blocks later. Zexion sighed.
"I thought you might decide that," he chuckled.
"Hey, at least you're not giving me that much to work with here. I mean, Demyx is a little flamboyant, sure, but not quite gay stereotype, y'know?" Riku chuckled, leading the way around a corner. They weren't too far now.
"To be fair, he's bisexual," Zexion replied.
"Oh? What about you, then? Loyal to one team or what?" Riku slid his arms up behind his head as they took another turn.
"I haven't decided," Zexion shrugged. Riku nodded. "I take it by your lack of questioning, you know the feeling?" the slate haired teen raised an eyebrow. Riku blinked.
"...Haven't really given it much thought, I guess," he said finally. "I mean, I don't need to be labeled, that's for sure, but so far I've only been with girls, so I guess you can call me straight if you want," he shrugged. Zexion nodded knowingly. "But you're avoiding the topic," he added with a smirk.
"Am I?" Zexion asked, glancing at Riku.
"Yeah, we were making fun of you, remember?"
"Oh, yes," Zexion snorted.
"I don't know, I can't really imagine Demyx with a gay lisp," Riku snorted. Zexion chuckled softly beside him as they crossed the street.
"I'd honestly rather not try," he said.
"Now Axel, that guy I could see being gay. His gestures alone are too much for any 'straight' man. Not to mention his 'Hel-lo'" Riku laughed. Zexion laughed with him as Sora's house came into sight. The brunet was already bouncing down the sidewalk.
"You're late!" he scolded playfully once they'd reached him.
"By what, two minutes?" Riku snorted.
"Everyone else is already here," Kairi called from Sora's doorway. Namine appeared beside her, sketch book in hand as always.
"Is your sister around?" Riku asked Sora as they walked down the stone path to the door.
"Nope, had to work."
"Is she ever not working?" Riku sighed dramatically. Kairi rolled her eyes.
"C'mon, we're all in the living room."
"Hi Riku! Hi Zexion!" A loud voice exploded from the room in question. Riku winked at the slate haired teen behind him. Three seconds later they were met with a hyper blond, followed seconds later by a laughing redhead.
"Hello, Demyx," Zexion sighed, pretending to be annoyed.
"Nice to know I'm invisible," Axel teased.
"Please, with your hair?" Demyx tossed over his shoulder.
"I'm surprised dogs don't confuse him for a fire hydrant," a quiet voice quipped behind the redhead.
"Is that Roxas?" Riku asked in surprise as Axel turned around to ruffle blond hair.
"Yup, the zombies have risen," Axel smirked. "It's the apocalypse, better get your shotguns."
"Shut up," Roxas rolled his eyes.
"So, are we gunna just stand here in the hall, or..."
"C'mon, then," Kairi laughed, leading the group back to the remaining members of Organization XIII.
"Now that we're all here," Larxene said once they'd all cluttered the couch and armchairs. Namine, Roxas, Demyx and Axel all sat on the floor. "I propose we make this our official meeting place."
"Seconded," Marluxia agreed instantly.
"Here here!" Demyx shouted, thrusting his can of Sprite into the air.
"Yay verily!" Axel agreed, mimicking the blond. Namine and Roxas picked up their own sodas. The room was filled with the sound of fizzing as the entire group lifted their cans in the toast. Demyx belched loudly, sending Axel into a fit of laughter. Namine burped next. Larxene's scold was interrupted by Sora's burp, and suddenly the three of them were trying to out burp one another, much to the disapproval of the two mother hens of the group. Riku wondered how it was even possible to have two mother hens.
"Alright, alright," Hayner cut in when it was clear they were burped out. "You're going to get sick if you keep trying."
"Let's get on to business, shall we?" Marluxia put in. All eyes turned to Zexion. "What've you got?"
"I took Sora's original plot idea and just fit it so we'd have enough characters. The main characters are the Red Hood girl and the wolf leader, naturally. Then there's the leader's daughter, the one the girl saved a long time ago. We also need a Granny, and a person to tell Red what to do and give her her basket. There's the other wolf leader who isn't pleased that the first wolf is fraternizing with the enemy. He's the main villain. He has a right hand man as well. After that we just need two sentries, two other people in red, and two wolf citizens."
"So, like, Red saved the wolf's daughter along time ago and so he doesn't want to kill her, but the other wolf guy is mad he's not killing her?" Demyx asked.
"Yes, meanwhile the other red hooded people are angry with Red for stopping in the wolf village rather than delivering her message to Granny."
"I like it," Namine said softly.
"Seems dramatic enough for old Mansex, at least," Axel grinned from the floor.
"Mansex?" Riku raised an eyebrow.
"The teacher making us do this. He's so overdramatic it's creepy."
"But you call him Mansex?"
"His name can be an anagram for that," Zexion sighed.
"What's his name?"
"Xemnas," Roxas answered. Sora made the same face he made when he heard Marluxia's name. Axel seemed to notice and cut him off before he could ask.
"X-E-M, N-A-S. Got it memorized?" Sora thought about it for a moment before nodding. Axel snorted.
"So is Axel Red?" Roxas asked.
"Hoods and my hair don't go so well together," Axel said seriously.
"If you didn't style it and left it flat, we could pretend you're Kairi's older sister," Demyx teased.
"You know as well as I do this is all natural. You're just jealous, Mullet-Hawk."
"Kairi could be Red," Olette offered softly. She was sitting as far away from Hayner and Pence as was possible in the small living room. Riku wondered what had happened between them, but by now it was an unspoken rule of the group not to talk about it.
"There's an idea," Larxene said. Riku couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic.
"So then who's the wolf?" Sora asked.
"Why not you? And then Olette can be your kid, since you both have brown hair," Riku offered.
"Riku can be the villain," Kairi teased.
"Fine, then Axel's my evil henchman,"
"Damn straight."
"I'm more evil than you," Demyx rolled his eyes.
"Larx gets to be Granny!" Axel cackled. Larxene glared at him. Violently.
"I suppose then Namine can give Kairi her basket," Zexion interrupted before someone seriously got hurt.
"Me and Zexion can be sentries, then," Demyx said once he'd counted on his fingers who was doing what.
"Hayner and Pence can wear the red, and then Marluxia and Roxas can be wolves," Kairi finished.
"Done then. That was easy," Axel grinned.
"How are we doing the wolves anyway?" Sora asked suddenly. Silence slowly fell on them as they pondered.
"I guess Namine and Kairi will have to work it out," Larxene shrugged eventually. "They're in charge of character design and costumes, after all."
"A problem for another time!" Axel toasted again. Only Demyx joined in this time.
"On to the real reason we all came here!" Demyx added, turning to the TV.
"What are we watching?" Namine asked softly as Sora got up to put in a DVD.
"Conference with the Werewolf."
"Hayner!"
Hayner turned at the sound of his name to see Pence running up to him. "Your house is on the other side of town, what're you doing?" Hayner asked.
"I just remembered," Pence panted. He must have run the entire way.
"What?"
"Olette,"
"What about her? Is she okay?" Hayner demanded. He grabbed Pence by the shoulders and shook him slightly. "Speak, man!"
"Cookies," Pence managed. Hayner stopped shaking him. "I found some cookies. They had a little note that said 'To Hayner, Love Olette'."
"And you waited until now to tell me?" Hayner demanded.
"I told you, I just remembered!"
"I bet this is why she's been acting so weird,"
"That's what I figured. Olette doesn't make us cookies often. She probably thought you blew her off."
Hayner groaned softly. "What do I do?"
"That depends," Pence said seriously.
"On what?"
"Do you like her back?"
Hayner blinked and met his best friend's eyes for a moment before looking down. "...yeah."
"Then make up with her. After we're all friends again, ask her out."
"You're okay with that?" Hayner asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, she's best friends with both of us," Hayner shrugged.
"Dude, she obviously likes you. Just go for it."
The shrill call of Pence's cell phone woke him up. He groaned as he rolled over and pulled the small plastic object off of his nightstand.
"Hayner?"
"Did you seriously just wake up?"
"It's Sunday!"
"It's three pm!"
"Yeah yeah. What do you want?"
"She cried and ran away."
"What?" Pence asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He must still be half asleep.
"Olette. She cried and ran away. It was mortifying."
"Seriously? I'm sorry man," Pence said as he sat up, looking around his room for something to wear. "What do you think went wrong?"
"I probably waited too long to respond," Hayner sighed. He sounded utterly miserable.
"I'll be over in a few minutes," Pence said, pulling a semi-clean shirt on.