A/N: Saïx's POV.
Jasmine is certainly… something else. My head spun from the combination of teasing, taunting, pleasantries, and anger I'd experienced so far tonight. I knew that girls' moods could shift without warning – Xion and Aqua have taught me that lesson several times over. Yet, after all of her not-quite unwarranted rage, I did not expect one last change: forgiveness. It only came after the most shameless, practically pleading apology, but that was a small sacrifice compared to suffering her wrath next semester in Trigonometry. No, I must stop lying to myself, excusing myself. That wasn't the true reason I had apologized… She deserved my humblest apologies, after I led her on. For all the disdain I felt towards Axel for leading other girls on, I was no better. A hypocrite. A shameless hypocrite.
And I admitted it, finally obtaining her forgiveness. Now only time will tell if things will be restored to the way they were…
XXX
"Are you certain it's not too cold for ice cream?" I ask Vanitas when I bring our treats to the table.
"Is it ever too cold for ice cream?" Sora calls, far too loudly, from the table next to ours.
"Duh, it's not. Even he's smarter than you, Sai-Sai." Vanitas deliberately uses the obnoxious nickname, snagging his bowl of Big Bad Pete ice cream. Jasmine doesn't suppress her snicker of amusement.
"There are many people smarter than Sai-Sai, it sounds like," she teases. What was the purpose of apologizing if this is how I am thanked for it?
Vanitas bursts into a cackling fit, almost choking on a chestnut in his ice cream. "Hah, she called you Sai-Sai."
I dispense a sharp glare. "I am quite aware, Vani."
"Hey!"
When he tries to kick my feet under the table, I ignore him - the most effective solution - and pass Jasmine her Royalberry cone before poking at my bowl of Double Crunch. I am not particularly in the mood for frozen desserts, but I thought it might further appease Jasmine… who is now more focused on my ten-year-old brother. Regardless of my feelings towards her, that is rather insulting.
"Are you going to marry Saix?" He asks her. Because clearly what tonight needs is another dose of discomfort.
"Something tells me it's not likely," she says, with a hint of either annoyance or amusement.
"Good." He belches loudly. "'Cause Saix is stupid, but he's my only brother. Any girls who wanna steal him gotta go through me."
"Is that so?" She raises an eyebrow. Definitely amusement. Odd how those can feel so similar.
"Uh-huh."
"Well, he's lucky to have such a great bodyguard." She smiles impishly. Has she forgotten that less than an hour ago we were tracking him across the skating rink?
"Eat your ice cream," I tell them.
"I would be grateful if I were you," Jasmine says. "You might need a good bodyguard."
I scowl. "I have apologized as thoroughly as possible. You may cease with the passive-aggression."
"What passive aggression? It was just a statement." She returns to licking her ice cream cone innocently. I sigh, but there's no point in arguing.
Familiar laughter trickles over from the entrance - my sisters, Axel, and Terra. I breathe a literal sigh of relief. I had assumed it would be painful to see Axel and Xion together, but I am sincerely grateful that they are both smiling after the chaos I instigated.
"Hey, Sai!" Axel waves broadly, like he's attempting to flag down an airplane, and my mind is put to rest. The only difference is that one hand is occupied with Xion's. "You gonna eat that?"
Yes, it is certainly the same Axel. I slide the bowl of fruit-covered ice cream to my right when he takes the seat beside me.
"Oh… uh…" He rubs the back of his head sheepishly, glancing at Xion. "Hold on, I'll go buy you some—"
"It's fine." She giggles. "I know you eat Saix's leftovers all the time. It's kind of late to try and impress me."
It's somewhat amusing to see his face turn as red as his hair. "Well, then… I can share, if you want."
I roll my eyes. At least they don't feed each other; Axel leaves momentarily to ask for an extra spoon. Meanwhile, Vanitas attempts to slip over to the table where Aqua and Terra have joined Kairi and Sora, but Jasmine occupies him by inquiring about Flood - who is now sitting in my brother's empty ice cream bowl. I do not pretend to be surprised.
"So," Axel begins when he returns brandishing a new plastic spoon, "how'd all that work out?" He gestures between me and Jasmine.
"She-"
"He is my acquaintance," she interrupts. I thought she had been too occupied cleaning Flood with some napkins to notice. "Nothing more, nothing less."
It's more clarification than she had given me earlier. At least I know for certain where I stand.
"Still in the doghouse, huh?" He says through a big bite of ice cream. Vanitas begins a game of 'Spoon Wars' with Xion while his back is turned.
"Axel, there is no 'doghouse.' There is no metaphorical 'house' to speak of."
"Heh, if you say so."
He ends up joining Vanitas and Xion's game as 'Darth Flamelocks.' I am thankful for their ability to handle my younger brother. Father had volunteered to retrieve him when I called to assure him the situation was finally under control, but I couldn't bear him seeing how quickly things had degenerated with Jasmine. Girls are one thing. My father's disappointment is quite another.
Jasmine wipes her sticky hands on a napkin, staring at it pensively.
"Is something the matter?" I ask. She shakes her head.
"When are we leaving?"
Her ice cream is gone, Vanitas's has been long gone, and mine has been repossessed. Technically speaking, we have no reason to stay.
"We may depart now, if that is acceptable."
"Yes," she answers, then frowns. "Though I'm not looking forward to being interrogated when I get home."
"I understand." He long can I hide this mistake from Father?
She sighs, stands, and pushes in her chair. "Well, might as well get it over with."
"What, leaving already?" Axel asks. Vanitas knocks his spoon out of his hand while he's distracted, proclaiming himself 'Lord of the Spoons.'
"Yes. You are not required to leave, but it is time we returned home."
"Yes!" Vanitas cheers. "Bye-bye, Sai-Sai! Hope Dad whoops your butt!"
My eyes narrow. "You are coming too, Vanitas."
"Whaaat?"
"Now."
"Aww…" He picks up Flood, who had had a spoon balanced on his back. "C'mon, Flood. We gotta babysit Saix and his Pretty Girl."
Jasmine laughs out loud, sputtering, "Wh-what?"
"You're a girl. You're pretty." He looks at her like she's also pretty stupid. "Duh."
There's no censoring Vanitas. It isn't even worth a sigh. "He isn't wrong. No come, it's getting late."
XXX
Thankfully, Vanitas does not attempt to dart off in the parking lot. It is far too dark and cold to begin a new search, and I believe he understands that, if his shivers are any indication. Wordlessly I drape my coat around his shoulders, and wordlessly his shivering stops.
Jasmine shivers as well, but I don't dare do anything to assist her. I may not be the "space heater" Axel is, but I could at least warm her hands, if that were still an appropriate action.
I do still open her door. She delivers an automatic "Thank you."
Vanitas waits like he expects me to open his door for him. When I don't he dives in through my own door.
"Seatbelt," I tell him when he tumbles over the center console into the back seat.
"I didn't wear it on the way here," he complains.
"Seatbelt," I repeat with a stern glare. Appealing to the one thing that can occasionally prompt his good sense, I add, "Keep Flood safe."
"Flood's tough. He doesn't need a seatbelt either."
"You may test how tough you both are when I have to scrape you off the windshield."
"Ugh, fine." He buckles himself, then buckles the narrow center seatbelt over Flood.
Jasmine remains quiet throughout the drive to her house. The Disney soundtrack doesn't prompt her singing, which is somewhat regrettable. At least I am not required to duet.
The distance seems longer, perhaps due to the silence, perhaps due to the snow that begins to fall, causing me to proceed more cautiously.
"It's beautiful," Jasmine says, staring out at the passing streets.
"The snow?"
"Yes." She smears frosty condensation from the window. "Where I used to live, no one had ever heard of snow, much less seen any."
Cautiously I ask, "And where would that be?"
"Agrabah," she replies.
I recall the small country from World Geography my sophomore year. Axel had dubbed it 'Sand Capital of the World' after we watched a documentary featuring it.
"Then you're very far from home. Why did you move here?"
"It's a long story," she says, and we've already arrived at her palace-like home. "…Maybe I'll save it for another day."
Another day? She still plans on speaking to me after this? I am strangely… pleased.
I check the back seat, and to my relief, Vanitas is fast asleep, face squished against the cold window. Drool drips from his gaping mouth; I will make him clean that later. For now I take back my jacket that has fortunately escaped his saliva.
I walk Jasmine through the lightly-falling snow to her front door. This exchange is nearly as foreign as the first time I approached it. Axel said that this is the time one would kiss his date goodnight, but I don't believe that applies in this case.
"I apologize again," I say, because it is the only thing that feels appropriate. "It was wrong of me to use you for my own selfish purposes."
"Well," she begins while pushing a strand of hair from her face, "there are much worse 'selfish purposes' a girl could get used for. So… thank you. For not being like that."
I smile in spite of myself. "That is certainly one thing you need not worry about."
She sighs regretfully. "You could've been such a great guy, Saix."
Again with the mood shifts. I thought we were past that. "I… do not understand."
She rolls her eyes. "You're mostly respectful. You're not constantly staring, you don't make inappropriate comments. You're funny… in your own way." She shrugs. "You just had to trick me and… get my hopes up, I guess."
"Believe me, Jasmine," I say quietly, gaze focused at the snowflakes settling on her lawn. "You can do far better than I. Please don't allow me to dash your hopes for the rest of my gender." Not that many of them are worthy of her… but surely someone is, more so than I.
She laughs a little. "There you go. Being funny again."
"It was not intentional."
Suddenly she embraces me, briefly, releasing me before I have time to process it.
"You're a dork. But I had a good time anyway."
"You… did?"
"I thought about it, and except for the whole lying to me part, yes. I did," she admits. "Most of the time boys just take me to dinner and a movie. This was much more interesting."
"'Interesting' does not always mean good."
"I guess you're right. " She shrugs. "But it was fun. I got to learn more about you. That even the great protocol-following Saix can be a complete idiot." She smiles.
"And… how exactly is that a good thing?"
"Now I know you're a real person instead of a robot," she teases. It sounds like something that would come straight out of Axel's mouth.
"Whatever the reason, I am glad that you don't see it as a complete disaster," I reply. Any other girl could have taken my actions much more offensively, but Jasmine somehow forgave my imperfections, even if they are not forgotten.
"Oh, it was still a disaster. But a disaster can be fun."
"…I will never understand you." But I don't mind. I don't need to understand her to enjoy her company.
"Well, I hope one day I might understand you," she replies with an ironic smile.
"If you're willing to keep trying, I will in return," I promise. She may only be an acquaintance, but she is an interesting acquaintance. And one of a small handful who is interested in me, so I suppose I should attempt to keep that intact.
If the first hug was unexpected, this one is startling. "In that case, you've been promoted to Friend. Congratulations."
"I… thank you." She feels surprisingly warm compared to the frigid air. Her hair feels like silk against my cheek, or like the fur of one of the cats I take care of. It's… comforting.
"You're welcome." She releases me, but the warm feeling remains. "Merry Christmas, Saix."
"Merry Christmas, Jasmine." I don't know what prompts me to add, "Your hugs are not unpleasant."
She pauses to smile oddly at me before turning the doorknob. "Isn't that the same as 'pleasant'?"
Sometimes honesty feels painful. Most likely that's my pride again. "…I find your hugs pleasant."
Her smile softens like melting butter. "You don't have to be in love to find comfort in hugging someone. It's okay, Saix."
"I… don't have much experience with the matter." I look away. "It is late. I have kept you in the cold long enough."
"Is that your way of saying goodnight?" She asks. I dip my head respectfully.
"Goodnight, Jasmine," I say plainly.
A tiny giggle escapes her. "Goodnight, Saix. Good luck with your Father."
I'd almost forgotten about that. "And you with yours." Somehow the thought didn't seem quite so intimidating anymore. As long as Vanitas did not spread rumors… rumors that may be true…
As she disappears into the warmth behind her door, I disappear into my snow-crusted car. Vanitas snores deafeningly in the back seat with Flood out of his seatbelt and cuddled in the crook of his neck. In spite of the snoring, an unfamiliar peace sweeps over me. I can compare it only to the few times I have achieved deep meditation under the moon. It begins in my chest and spreads outwards, relaxing tense muscles from my back to my fingertips, loosening my grip on the wheel. I refocus myself, but I still smile.
For the first time since I truly became friends with Axel, I have opened myself to someone. Somehow, in spite of my deceptive, disgraceful actions, I have found a new friend.
A/N: Does the character development between Saïx and Jasmine feel forced? I like this chapter, but I'm not sure everything feels as smooth as it could. Maybe it's just because Saïx is an awkward person trying not to be an awkward person. I don't know.
Anyway, there's only one chapter left! :D :D :D Coming to internets near you (hopefully) some time around two weeks from now!
I've been working on a new schedule, drafting a chapter on paper and typing up one chapter every week, so I should draft it next week and have it typed in two weeks. (Next week should be WPFF, but it's long, so I might be a bit slower typing it.) So far it's been working pretty well for me.
