A/N: Celebrate the weekend! Enjoy a new chapter:D

Riku-The following evening

"It was so weird though, Zex. He seemed surprised that I didn't remember him, but I'm positive I've never met him before. I would have remembered those eyes." I tapped my finger against my chin, racking my brain for some kind of clue. "But I've thought and thought and I know I've never seen him before."

"I'm not quite sure why you're questioning yourself when earlier you told me he was hiding behind a bar, pretending to have a woman's high pitch voice to tell you where I was located." A pause, "Just write him off as insane." When that got him a glare, he sighed, shrugging, "All right, so insane with magnificent blue eyes, better?"

I sighed. "Better. But he still gave me a major brush off right after I got his name. Which sucked as I even employed that stupid, 'smile' method of introduction. Isn't that supposed to work with people? I was trying to be friendly and I just asked him for a drink!" It was so frustrating. I'd never gone to a gay bar before, and after giving it a shot and seeing Sora there, maybe I'd been missing out like Demyx said.

"Again, you're missing the point, he clearly wasn't right in the head." My brother gave me a funny look, "Would you just let it go? All you got was a hello, a name, a nervous smile and then, yeah, okay, he called off the drink. What does it matter? Why are you so bothered by this? You can get anyone if you set your mind to it, just forget blue eyes and target someone else."

Scowling, I flipped him the bird. "If that were true, I would actually have a boyfriend and not a long line of ex boyfriends. Apparently, I'm 'no fun', and 'the embodiment of darkness'. Which I still say matches you more than me." I leaned back into the couch, with my arms crossed over my chest. "And I don't really see why I should let it go without an explanation." Which I was highly unlikely in getting after the brush-off.

"Okay, that's it." Zexion got up, motioning for me to do the same. "Now you're not only annoying, but you've begun insulting me again. Get up, we're going to the bar." When all he got was a blank stare, he grabbed my arm and tugged, "He's Roxas' cousin, Roxas works at the bar, with some luck, that opinionated blond will have dragged his brunette cousin, with magnificent blue eyes, along with him for tonight's shift."

I relented, letting him pull me to my feet. "You're sure Roxas is working tonight? And are you actually coming with me, or are you dropping me off and then abandoning me to neck with your man toy?"

He pulled on my hair, "He's not a toy. I love Demyx, very much." He frowned, "I should probably tell him that one of these days." Shaking his head, he began making his way out, "I'll hold your hand, you big baby."

"Says the actual baby of the family." I muttered.

I gulped nervously as Zexion parked the car, my eyes drawn to the sign proudly proclaiming that this establishment was 'Pinks!'. Which I really didn't understand. Not a single thing in that entire building was pink. Where did the name come from?

"Hey, Zex. Where the hell did the name 'Pinks' come from?" I asked, stepping out of the car and letting my door slam shut.

"The owner has pink hair." My little brother replied easily, locking the car before walking over to the bar's entrance.

"Weird." I gathered my hair in one hand and flipped it all over my shoulder, thinking I should probably get it trimmed again. It was nice long, but too long and I started looking a little too gay, in my opinion. I stared at the door as Zexion moved to open it, trying not to get my hopes up that the cute brunette was inside. If he was, that was one hurdle over. The next would be trying to get him to have a drink with me. And then...who knows?

"You're weird." Zexion returned, pulling me inside before leaving me to myself so he could move over to the bar, Demyx clearly more than happy to see him as he jumped off the stool to go meet my little brother halfway. My eyes scanned the room, happily noticing that Roxas was indeed working, so the odds that Sora was hanging around increased. Maybe I should just ask him? But would he even tell me if Sora was here? It seemed likely, but I should probably save that as a last resort. I moved closer to Zexion and Demyx, my eyes still looking for those spikes, but needing to give the illusion that I wasn't desperately looking for someone.

"Oh, hey Riku! I didn't know you were stopping by tonight." Demyx gave me a big wave after releasing Zexion from an enthusiastic hello kiss.

I simply nodded, then quietly answered, "This place is kinda cozy and relaxing. I was hoping to get to know everyone better."

"Well, go get yourself a drink, Imma borrow Zexy for a few minutes, but we won't abandon you." He looked almost believable, but I snorted, knowing I couldn't count on them to notice me much tonight. Taking his advice, I headed towards the bar. With the bar not open to regular customers yet, I easily confirmed that Sora wasn't around. Unless he was hiding in the back somewhere, which didn't really seem likely. Hayner was behind the bar, wiping glasses, and setting up for the night.

I sat down, giving him a nod in recognition before asking, "I'll just take a scotch and soda, if you can." I sighed, wishing now that I hadn't let Zexion talk me into coming here tonight.

Hayner put down a coaster, easily fulfilling my request. Then as I was raising my drink up, he gently asked, "What's with the sigh? Pining for someone?"

I scowled at him. "No. Don't be ridiculous." Taking a sip, I regretted snapping at him. "Well, I was hoping to see Sora here tonight, but I guess he's not." There. Karma should be appeased. The blonde bartender snorted. Raising an eyebrow at him, I gave him a questioning look. He mutely pointed at the ground to the left of him. I looked at him and blinked. He nodded, then went back to wiping down glasses.

"Sora? Are you hiding behind the bar again?" I asked quietly, hoping I'd read Hayner's body language correctly.

"No, I'm not." A pause. "Dammit."

"Well, then. I suppose I'm talking to a disembodied ghost then. Tell me, do you often haunt the area directly below Hayner's knees?"

His head suddenly popped up, hands gripping the edge of the bar as he frowned at me. "That sounds very dirty, and no, because one, Hayner is married and Seifer sounds like a name that belongs to a very strong man, and two, I only use that area to hide away at when you're here. You've not been here often, so no, I don't." The frown deepened, "Haunt the area often." Getting up on his feet, he broke eye contact with me, a light blush covering his cheeks as he proceeded in smoothing down his clothes.

I was taken aback by his sudden verbal rant, but couldn't help but smile as I'd gotten him to respond to me, albeit negatively. "Well, let me know if I'm crossing the line, but you aren't seeing anyone, are you? Did I cross some line yesterday, or do you just not like me?"

He blinked up at me and then looked very apologetic, "Oh, no, you didn't cross any lines, and I do like you," When I didn't look convinced, a sudden smile appeared on his lips, "Seriously, I do." And then he shrugged, "I just don't like myself very much."

My smile faded at his words. I knew that feeling, but I didn't understand how he could have any negative feelings about himself. "I guess I don't understand how anyone couldn't like you, Sora. Including you." I sat lower in my seat, trying to understand what he was saying to me. "Are you sure I can't buy you that drink?"

"Has anyone ever told you not to use that hurt puppy look? It's really unfair you know." I could hear a hint of amusement in his tone of voice, the good hearted kind.

"Hurt puppy look?" I tilted my head to the side, trying to imagine what my face had looked like. Not like a hurt puppy, I was sure. But I rolled my eyes as he'd avoided the question. "Are you going to give me a straight answer tonight?"

He pressed his lips tightly together, looking very conflicted. "Argh," Shoulders sagging, he moved to lean onto the bar, propping his chin onto his forearms after having dropped them there. "Look, this is how it is going to go between us if I agree to get a drink with you. We're going to hit it off, because let's face it, there's definite chemistry, and neither can deny it, because you came back here looking for me tonight and me, well, I know because I'm the master of my own mind. Anyway."

Looking up at me from underneath his lashes, he sighed, "We'll talk." I waited for more, but he shook his head, pretty much telling me through that that there wasn't more. "If we talk, we'll talk about how old we are, favorite colors, where we come from, what school we went too." He shot up, showing me a thumbs down, "Wrong! I can't go there because the moment I reveal that to you, you'll either kick me until I'm bruising like the peach I am, or," He retrieved his thumbs down, gulping and blushing, "you'll walk away and considering how lovely you are, that might actually affect me more than I can really handle."

Well, I suppose I'd asked to understand about why he kept brushing me off and he couldn't have said it plainer to me. He didn't think we'd get along or be compatible after getting to know each other, which, while a completely huge conclusion to jump to so fast, didn't make me feel any better as he already knew the outcome. I couldn't help but think that maybe he did actually know me from somewhere or through someone, because it was such an accurate description of what all my past relationships had been like. Chemistry, then sharing, and then nothing. I sighed in defeat. Point taken. I could understand where he was coming from and I figured I could gather the last shreds of my dignity and walk out of here with my head held high.

"Well, at least you're honest up front about it, Sora. I'll see you around." Giving him a last small smile, I finished my drink and went to tell Zexion that I was going to take a cab back to my flat.

Sora

Frowning as he slid of the stool and started walking away, I looked over at Hayner. "Why is he leaving?"

Hayner dropped his forehead and smacked it against the counter. "Why me, God? Why is it me that is here to witness this trainwreck? Did I not go to church enough as a child?" Whimpering dramatically, he lifted his head back up giving me the death glare he used on customers that didn't tip. "Sora, now listen with your big boy ears, you just predicted to the poor guy that it will never work out between you two without really giving him a good reason. I'm sure he's jumped to all sorts of conclusions in his mind by now, thanks to you. Bottom line? You ended it before it could begin. I hope that was your intention. Now bugger off, I'm trying to work. Go bother Roxas or something." With that Hayner stomped to the back.

I'd ended it? Wrinkling my nose, I swiveled my head back towards Riku, seeing him appear from the back of the stage, telling me he'd just gotten back from speaking to Zexion. I... Licking my lips, I quickly moved out from behind the bar, picking up in speed as Riku was making his way fast to the exit. Before he could reach it, I grabbed his arm, tugging on it so he would turn. Once facing me, I bit onto my bottom lip and then carefully stepped into his personal space, bringing my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek against his chest, hugging him.

"I'm just really sorry for what I did to you." I muttered, eyes wide open as I waited nervously for his reaction to my hug and words. He froze in my arms, not moving for several seconds before using one hand to awkwardly pat my back. I could hear his heart thudding as I held onto him and I felt him take a breath.

"Sora, it's okay. I'm not going to be permanently scarred because you don't want to go out with me. I just think you're cute and want to get to know you." He chuckled weakly. "I'm not going to force you to go out with me. You don't have to apologize for turning me down."

He really didn't remember me one way or another... He had absolutely no idea. Tilting my face away and up to be able to look at him, I shook my head, "I could never turn you down for such a reason. I-" He was so insanely hot, but more importantly, he also seemed like a truly very nice guy. Sweet... I grinned, "You're a 10, Riku... I'd be insane to not want to go out with you. But..." I looked down at the ground, stepping out of his arms awkwardly, "I do remember you from somewhere, and I was really mean to you once. I feel very guilty and, well, I don't like myself very much for it, so I don't really deserve you."

"That's...really sweet." He murmured, bringing his hand up to my chin, forcing my eyes up from the ground to meet his. There was still a hint of confusion, but also of happiness. "It can't have been so bad and I truly don't remember, so that should make you feel better, right?"

I couldn't stop the grin, "Not really... I mean, I remember you clear as day, yet here you are... Am I really not memorable at all?" I joked. "I mean, I know I'm only a six, but I'm relatively loud enough to leave some kind of mark on the people that meet me."

He dropped his hand, a sheepish smile on his face. "Now I'm feeling a bit apologetic for not remembering you. I've been racking my brain since yesterday. Sorry."

"Oh no!" I exclaimed, quickly stepping forward to place a hand on his chest, "Don't! It's totally okay! I'm almost glad you don't." Biting on my lower lip, I gulped and then retrieved my hand quickly, tucking it behind my back. He really is something... My face was so red, I wanted to fan it.

"So, does this mean that you wouldn't mind getting a drink with me? Or can I interest you in dinner?" His voice was so hopeful...

I couldn't say no again. Didn't have the willpower and even if I did have it somewhere, I didn't want to use it. "Okay." I squeaked out. "Let's start with that drink. I'm buying." I, at least, needed to buy. It wouldn't make me feel as bad about keeping the bullying from him. Of course Roxas would say I should just tell him and get it over and done with, but... If I told him, he might actually not like me, and while I'd tried walking away and pushing him away before, if nothing were to happen between me and him, then I kind of wanted to make sure he at least didn't know about that. So now that I wasn't walking away or pushing him away... Well, I guess I could just worry about it later.

Demyx

"Hey Axel, can we take a break please? You made me play that twice as fast as it's supposed to sound. My fingers are bleeding! See!" I pulled my fingers away from the guitar and waved them at the tall red head frantically. If they were going fast enough, he hopefully couldn't see that they really weren't bleeding. Either way, I needed a break.

"Fine." He agreed easily, "But get me a water from the bar as a thank you for me letting you be a lazy ass." The red head gave me one of his quick charming smiles before waltzing off to the back and behind the stage.

"Hey! I'm the only one actually doing something up here." I pouted at the stage, swinging my guitar onto its stand. "It's not like singing is really that hard." Sighing as it was the constant debate between the two of us, I glanced around, smiling as I noticed Zexion sitting in one of the back booths, his attention absorbed in a book.

"Zexy!" I called, waving at him, hoping he'd look up as I weaved my way through the tables to him, Axel's water request forgotten already. He didn't always come to see me, but when he did, I couldn't stop the bubbles of excitement that seemed to erupt every time I laid eyes on him. Closing the book, he let it fall onto the small table before him with a thud, pushing the hair out of his face, which just fell right back before his eye while he smiled at me.

"Riku didn't leave like he told us he was going to." He said, leaning over to snake his arms around my neck the moment my behind connected with the small couch. Now he didn't talk all that much, that was true, but he had no issue keeping himself glued to my side whenever I was near.

Which was perfect for me as I craved having him in my arms. The world just seemed so much better when he was around. I leaned down, kissing him, snaking my tongue into his mouth as soon as he opened to give me better access. If I'd have had my way, we'd sneak off right now, but I still had sets to play and he would never let me be that irresponsible.

Pulling away, I grinned. "There. Now what were you saying about Riku?" Reaching up, the smile still on his lips, he brushed the hair out of my face, letting his hand rest on my neck afterwards while he nodded over in the bar's direction.

"He came in the back to tell us he was taking off. I guess the brunette with the magnificent blue eyes-" He shook his head when I frowned at him in confusion at his description. "Sora." I nodded, remembering now. "Anyway, Sora and he are having that drink after all, it appears..." And indeed, Riku and Sora were sitting in the most private corner the bar offered, meaning, they were sitting on the barstools located the furthest away from Tidus.

It was strange, I'd known Riku almost as long as I knew Zexion as he'd given me the 'dating my little brother' speech and I'd never known him to just...seem so animated when talking to someone. He looked so strange sitting there grinning. I mean, it's not like the guy never smiled, but his normal face was always, well, normal. Blank. Boring, but I would never say that out loud.

"Zex, you ever seen him look like that? With the sparklies in his eyes and the megawatt smile?" I almost couldn't look away, the image was so odd.

"No." Zexion instantly responded. "It's why I've been trying to play Sherlock Holmes and spy harmlessly from behind my book." Zexion's nose wrinkled up cutely in slight disgust as he continued to watch Sora and Riku. "You know those American divas? When they reach a certain age they get plastic surgery done to keep the wrinkles and aging at bay? And like, you worry that if they form any type of facial expression on their faces, the surgery will just sort of... shatter into a million pieces and BAM!" He clapped his hands together, looking up at me. "I'm worried about Riku's face, Demyx."

I nodded solemnly, glad that I wasn't the only one fearing for Riku's unused face muscles. So, what exactly was so special about this kid who was making my 'almost' bro in law act like it was Christmas morning? I remembered something about Roxas saying Sora was his cousin? I glanced back at Zexion. "What was the deal with that kid again? I wasn't paying attention when Roxas talked about him. Were you?"

"Demyx, we've gone over this, all Roxas lets slip from his lips is utter bullshit. Remember? We actually swore not to take anything he said seriously by spitting through your apartment window." Zexion laughed, not something everyone was privy to hear and see, "Your aim was really awesome, I wonder if your saliva killed the weed growing your neighbor was trying to pull off."

I puffed up my chest at his praise, giving him a quick kiss on the lips in thanks. "I told you I was the watermelon seed spitting champ. Now, I doubt Roxas would blow smoke about his cousin, er, yeah, we'll go with cousin. Well, it seems like he's managed to bring out the smiley side I swore Riku was hiding under his bed. Maybe we should know something about him?" I asked worriedly. "You know, just in case?"

"Riku was complaining about Sora brushing him off yesterday evening, it got so annoying, I ended up dragging him here in hopes Sora was here so Riku could give it another shot." Zexion tapped his chin thoughtfully, "All I know is that Riku gets hypnotized by the guy's eyes, he finds him insanely adorable and Sora apparently remembers him from somewhere, but doesn't give proper specifics, which is eating away at Riku because he can't remember Sora at all."

"Well, does he look familiar to you? We all know you're the brains." Smirking, I reached over and pinched Zexion's cheek softly. "You cutie, you."

Blushing, Zexion grinned and leaned up to kiss my lips softly. "No," He pulled back, frowning over at Sora so intently, he had to be creating a head ache. "I don't remember ever seeing that guy before. I mean, brunettes aren't my type and from the short interaction I had with him yesterday? We're definitely not compatible, but I can't take away the fact that while he may not be tall, broad and jock handsome, he's certainly a looker." Zexion pointed his frown up at me, "You can't forget someone like Sora, right? I mean, if not his looks, then his very strange behavior that seems to be his personality on a general daily basis would trigger the mind." Zexion explained in a way that bordered on the clinical.

I glanced back at the couple, amazed as Riku reached up and tucked his hair behind his ears almost bashfully. What the hell? Riku was confidence personified. I guess he must really like that kid. "Well, then maybe it was a really long time ago or something. Or maybe Sora just has a bad memory." I turned my back on the couple, putting my arm around Zexion to tuck him into my side, sighing as I just breathed him in. "We'll just keep an eye on them." Reaching down, I snagged Zexion's book. "Watcha readin'?"

"Careful!" Grabbing the book out of my hands, he rightened the loose outer cover over his book, but not before I caught a glimpse of a slightly pink hard cover. "If the guys find out I read romance, they'll never let me live that down." So, to the outside world he was reading 'I am Legend', while in truth it was- "Sweet home Alabama. It's about a girl who wants to make it in the fashion world, but she comes from Alabama, and in order to make it, she has to leave everything behind, including her husband, but when she wants to get remarried to another guy, she obviously has to divorce the Alabama 'dude', buuut..." Zexion sighed, a gooey expression on his face. "Upon returning to her home town, she realizes the husband she wants to divorce from, may just be her true love after all."

I bit back a smile and nodded. "You're secret is safe with me, hotstuff. So, does it have a happy ending? Everything works out in the end right?" If it was true love, it had to work out in the end. The universe demanded it.

He looked at me as if I'd lost my intelligence. "I wouldn't read something without a happy ending, you know that. While I may come across as 'no fun' and the 'embodiment of darkness', as Riku so kindly insulted me earlier tonight, it's not true."

I gasped. "He called you the embodiment of darkness?" I sent an evil glare at him across the bar before turning back to Zexion and leaning in to gently breathe against his neck. Running my mouth across the skin there I murmured, "And I think you're definitely fun." I kissed him lightly, loving the hitch in his breathing. "So, Zexy. Wanna go have some fun before my break ends?"

"Yes..." He moaned softly, his fingers twinning into my hair. "But we really should try keeping it above the waist this time."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed some Demyx POV. He just needed some input;)