008: Lay in Wait

Title: Secrets in the Clock
Prompt: Caution
Word Count: 852
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom hearts or any of the Final Fantasy/Disney characters/movies therein, though a girl can dream *sigh*
Chapter Summary: The group tries to make the best of yet another weekend, but certain things don't go as planned.
Warnings this chapter: None, despite an unhealthy addiction for fried food.

The next Sunday found them all at the circus yet again, though it wasn't their first choice. Tidus had scored tickets to the water-park Atlantica- a belated birthday present from his dad. Of course, Jecht couldn't have known what would befall the popular attraction. It had only been their luck that the park was closed for investigation. News traveled fast about what had been called the "Atlantica Tragedy." Newscasters harped on and on about casualties and senseless violence. Apparently, something had been stolen in all of the confusion, and a news anchorman coined it an "act of techno-envy."

Now Riku, Kairi, Tidus and Selphie lay waiting for the events to begin.

That morning, Tidus had kicked his cousin Cerri out and sent him back home- apparently, he'd been bumming it on Tidus' couch for the past two weeks while his parents were vacationing in Deep Jungle (a bit ironic, seeing as how it was Cerri who was on Fall vacation). Wakka had caught the flu sometime between Tuesday and Friday, and was home resting, while Sora had barricaded himself in Kairi's basement with her PS3, a six pack of coke, various junk foods and a ton of videogames.

Selphie let out a large, gusted sigh. "I wonder what's taking so long," she said, a pout quickly forming. For some reason, she had been adamant in going today. Something about a cute guy from one of her sources- though where those sources got their information was a little obscure.

Kairi shrugged and hummed a bit, gazing off and picking her fingers idly.

"Maybe they heard you were coming," Tidus sneered. Selphie rapped her fist against his head for his efforts.

"Getting popcorn," Riku announced after a while. His eyes raked over the stifling crowd with distaste before settling on his friends.

Kairi jumped up from her perch on the dusty, wooden fence, grabbing Selphie as she did so. "Coming with," was what she said as she pulled the girl along. Riku followed soon after, eyes rolling and mouth quirking up in a knowing smirk.

The selection was completely tantalizing; the smell of frying dough, sweet, powdered sugar, and fruity syrups were like a siren to her senses. It wasn't well known of Kairi's addiction to funnel cakes- they weren't as available as she would have preffered like, say, everyday.

For some reason, the line was almost non-existent. They had arrived just as the person in front had finished paying, and Kairi let out a small whoop in appreciation. She hurried towards the counter, intent on bribing for a slightly bigger portion. Fried pastry smathered in sugar and paopu syrup acquired, Kairi turned carefully with her treat, eyes shining with anticipation. After Riku got his popcorn and Selphie settled on cotton candy, they started back toward the others.

Kairi walked as if on eggshells, and she very well may have been. Her eyes darted to and fro, making anyone in her way quail at the intensity. They were close to Tidus now, it was just around that bend-

But a blur shot past at the last moment, and Kairi fumbled to right her hold. It was useless though, and her eyes widened in horror as her plate landed face down.

The blur turned out to be a rather tall guy, possibly in his late teens. "Crud. I'm so sorry, kid!" he was saying now.

It was a show of self-restraint in how she didn't throttle him straightaway. Her glare spoke volumes though. "You idiot! What the hell's your problem?!" Her eyes were like purple fire, and the boy shrank back at the sight of them.

"Woah, man. You need to calm the heck down!"

She showed him the finger, glare still firmly in place.

He laughed nervously. "Fiesty little guy, aren't ya?" he said, hoping to lighten the mood.

A nerve ticked for all of a second before she really did throttle him. "I'm a girl, dammit!" It had been a sore point lately; she'd had to cut her hair on Thursday after a piece of gum had somehow gotten stuck in it.

Riku and Selphie stared as Kairi went off on the poor guy. Neither wanted to get in the middle of that, though; they both knew how... sensitive Kairi was about her hair.

Ten minutes later saw them all sitting in the bigtop. The guy- Demyx- had bought Kairi a new pastry in apology. This one was probably bigger than was healthy, but Kairi wouldn't have settled for less.

The main event came a little earlier that day- a flyer had told of a show with clowns and elephants, but that had been postponed to a later date.

"That's him!" Selphie squealed over the crowd, mouth agape and hand smacked firmly across her cheek. "He's the guy I heard about- I can't believe I didn't notice before!" She was pointing to a very familiar blonde in a blue costume, and Kairi glowered around her mouthful of funnel cake. Demyx's act- an aquatic-themed show with colorful geysers that moved intune with him and the rest of his team- went without a hitch, though, and she grudgingly admitted to enjoying his display.

End Drabble

A/N: And there we go, another update. Finals are officially done—now to catch up on some much needed sleep, heh.