Hayner paced in his bedroom, waiting for Roxas to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" Roxas said, a bit breathlessly.
Hayner scowled. "What the hell are you doing, running a marathon?"
"I'm at Axel's right now." Roxas chuckled.
"Never mind, I don't want to know." Hayner muttered.
Roxas laughed. "So what's up?"
"I want to go snowboarding tomorrow, you up for it?" Hayner asked.
"Sorry, I've already got plans with Axel." Roxas said.
"Oh, c'mon! You've been spending way more time with him than with me, and I thought I was your best friend!" Hayner protested.
"Yeah, but he's better looking." Roxas said.
Hayner snorted. "He's not good for you if he doesn't let you see your friends."
"It's not that he doesn't let me, it's that I don't want to." Roxas laughed. "Look, Hay, we'd already made plans, otherwise I would go with you."
"You're just saying that so I don't get pissed." Hayner decided.
Roxas laughed. "You ask Pence?"
Hayner scowled. "He's still got practices on campus, he can't go."
"Oh. What about Olette?" Roxas asked.
"You know as well as I do she hates going." Hayner said, rolling his eyes. "Man, this sucks! I really wanted to go."
"I've got it!" Roxas said excitedly. "Why don't you call and ask Seifer?"
"Seifer?" Hayner said skeptically. "He's not a big winter person."
"So? I bet he'll go if you ask and that way you won't have to be the loser there by yourself and you'll get to have fun."
"Forget it, you're just trying to set me up with him." Hayner said.
"You like him and you know it." Roxas said, hurriedly continuing before Hayner could protest. "You guys are friends, he's been to your house, you went to the Christmas party at the Box Depot with him, I'd say that's close enough friends to warrant a snowboarding trip."
"You make it sound like a date." Hayner snorted.
"It wouldn't have been a date if me and you went, so why is it a date if you and him go?" Roxas asked.
"...That actually makes sense. Wow." Hayner said.
Roxas snorted. "Don't piss me off and just call him."
Hayner snickered. "All right, all right. But I'm expecting you to clear some time to go for when he says no."
"He's not going to say no."
"Yes he will."
"No he won't."
"Yes, he will."
"No, he won't. Just call him!" Roxas growled.
"Fine! Go enjoy being a sap with your boyfriend!" Hayner snapped.
"I will!" Roxas smirked, hanging up.
Hayner blew out a breath. "Idiot." Sighing, he sat on the edge of his bed. "This is a bad idea..." He said as he dialed, waiting for Seifer to answer.
"Hello?"
"Seifer? It's Hayner." Hayner said, knee bouncing with nervous energy.
"Oh, hey." Seifer answered. There was shuffling before he spoke again, "What's up?"
"Listen, my friends bailed on me and I need someone to go snowboarding with. You wanna go tomorrow?" Hayner asked.
Seifer paused, before chuckling, "Are you asking me out, sweetheart?"
"What? No!" Hayner yelled, flushing. "No way, we're just friends! Forget it, nevermind, okay?"
Seifer laughed, "I'm joking, Hayner. Sure, I'll go snowboarding with you."
"Wait, really?" Hayner asked, a little shocked.
"Yes... Why is this so surprising?"
"I don't know, I just thought you wouldn't want to go." Hayner said.
Seifer chuckled, "Sounds like fun." he said.
"Have you ever snowboarded before?" Hayner asked curiously, flopping back onto his bed and staring up at his ceiling.
"Couple times, but it's been years."
"Okay. We'll take it slow until you're warmed up, then. It'd be easier if we just drove there together - can you pick me up? I don't wanna take the car from my sister unless I have to." Hayner said.
Seifer chuckled, but spoke, "Sure. What time?"
"Doesn't matter, whatever works for you. You don't have your own gear, right? You can borrow some of mine. Otherwise, you'll have to rent it." Hayner said.
"Sure. I'll pick you up around nine, then?"
"Sure. Hey, you know you really don't have to go if you don't want to. I can go by myself or something..." Hayner said, not wanting to make him go but also not wanting to sound pathetic.
Seifer laughed, "Already said I'd go, sweetheart. See you tomorrow." There was a click as he hung up before Hayner could protest.
Hayner scowled at his phone. "Stupid Seifer and his stupid nicknames." He grumbled, before sending a quick text message to Roxas, letting him know what had happened.
XXXX
Seifer pulled up in front of Hayner's house, parking his car and climbing out. Striding up to the front door, he knocked.
Hayner cursed, shoving the water bottles into his pack before hurrying out of the kitchen and going to the door, pulling it open. "Sorry, hi. C'mon in. I just gotta pack a few more things and then we can go."
"Don't worry about it, take your time." Seifer nodded, shutting the door behind him as he walked in.
"Thanks." Hayner said, heading back into the kitchen. Grabbing his pack, he placed it by the front door. "I'll be right back, gotta run up to my room to get the gear and stuff."
Seifer nodded.
Hayner dashed upstairs, putting on his coat, gloves, and boots and grabbing the bag with the rest of his gear and the two snowboards leaning against the wall, managing to juggle it all as he came down the stairs.
Seifer's eyes widened and he grabbed the snowboards, "Geez, you should have told me you needed help." He commented.
"I got it." Hayner grumbled, picking up the other pack he had put by the door before. "All right, I'm ready. You set?"
"Yep." Seifer nodded, holding open the door for Hayner.
"Thanks." Hayner muttered, going out, heading to Seifer's car and waiting for him to pop the trunk.
Seifer did so, helping Hayner stuff the gear into it, finally shutting the trunk a few minutes later. "Got everything?"
"Yeah." Hayner nodded, smiling and climbing into the car, smiling at Seifer as he got in as well. "You didn't have to work today?"
"Nope." Seifer shook his head. "It's my day off. You were lucky."
"That's cool." Hayner said, "So when exactly was the last time you went snowboarding again?"
"About never." Seifer answered. "Should be interesting." He chuckled. "What about you, sweetheart? Go snowboarding a lot?"
Hayner rolled his eyes. "Are you seriously going to keep calling me that?"
"Yep." Seifer shrugged. "Answer the question."
"Well don't do it in front of people or something." Hayner mumbled, blushing lightly. Louder, he said, "I love snowboarding, so yeah, I go a lot."
"So, if you had to choose between snowboarding and soccer…?"
"Snowboarding, definitely. But we don't live in a place really good for it, you know? Our winters aren't long enough." Hayner said.
Seifer nodded. "Yep, I get it."
"Did you ever play a sport or something?" Hayner asked curiously.
"I was on the track team for two weeks in high school, but not beyond that, no." Seifer said.
"Oh, that's cool, I guess." Hayner said. "But if you haven't been boarding in forever and weren't into sports already, why'd you agree to come with me?"
"You sounded like you really wanted to go." Seifer shrugged.
"Well, yeah." Hayner smiled at him. "But I coulda waited for Rox or gone alone or something."
Siefer chuckled, smiling back.
"Whatever. Thanks, I guess." Hayner grinned as Seifer pulled up to the resort. "Let's see what you've got."
"This is going to be interesting." Seifer admitted.
Hayner laughed, climbing out of the car. "We'll start easy, I promise.
Seifer chuckled.
XXXX
Hayner tried to hold in his laughter as he offered his hand to Seifer, pulling him to his feet. "I think we're done for the day, huh? Lemme get you off of the board and do one more run and we can leave."
"Sounds good." Seifer grumbled.
Hayner easily bent and undid the straps. "There. I'll meet you at the car?" He took one look at Seifer's snow-covered back and couldn't hold it in anymore, laughing as he headed for the harder course to zip down before they left.
Seifer shook his head, grumbling to himself, "He is very lucky I actually like him."
Hayner sighed, closing his eyes in the face of the wind as he agily moved down the course. Going over a jump, he couldn't help but let out a little yell of joy. All too soon, he was at the end again. Sighing once more, he took off the snowboard and headed inside, gathering what little gear Seifer hadn't already grabbed before making his way to car, depositing his stuff in the trunk and climbing in. "That was awesome." He grinned.
"I'm glad you had fun." Seifer nodded.
"Did you at least have a little fun? You almost nailed it that last time." Hayner said.
"Yeah, I had fun." Seifer nodded. "Didn't realize I was this bad."
"You'll get better with practice." Hayner snickered. "Have you ever skateboarded? That helps with the balance."
Seifer shook his head. "Nah." He shrugged.
Hayner rolled his eyes. "Well, you'll get better if you keep going. But if you didn't like it, that's okay too, you know. Pence goes with me but skis instead and Rox boards so you won't have to go again if you don't want."
"I told you I had fun, so don't make me change my mind, sweetheart." Seifer chuckled.
Hayner blushed lightly. "Whatever."
Seifer laughed. He pulled up to Hayner's house and parked.
Hayner climbed out of the car, grabbing some of his gear and muttering his thanks to Seifer when he grabbed the rest of it. Together, they walked up the path and Hayner dropped his bags in favor of finding his keys. He reached into his pocket – nothing. Other pocket? Nope. Frowning, he checked his pants pockets.
"Oh fuck. No no no!" He yelled, frustratedly yanking on the locked door.
"What?" Seifer asked, frowning.
"I forgot my keys." Hayner groaned.
"Is your sister around?" Seifer asked.
"No." Hayner sighed. "She's visiting friends of something. I can try calling her, I guess…" He trailed off, pulling out his cell phone.
"Give it a shot." Seifer nodded, putting the stuff he was carrying down and glancing around at the house.
Hayner dialed, cursing when it went straight to voicemail. "Goddammit, Olette! Pick up!" He growled, redialing.
Seifer walked away from Hayner, wandering around to the side of the house. One of the windows on the first floor was open just a little bit. He carefully pried the screen off before pushing the window open and climbing through, walking to the front of the house and unlocking and then opening the front door.
Hayner turned, gaping at Seifer and nearly dropping his phone. "Did you just… break into my house?"
"You left a window open." Seifer answered.
"You broke into my house. You broke into my house. You broke into my house!" Hayner repeated, numbly pocketing his cell phone.
"Would you rather be locked out of your house?" Seifer asked him.
"Well, no, but…" Hayner took a deep breath. "I wasn't expecting you to break in. Thanks, I guess."
"An old friend of mine used to lock himself out constantly. I learned how to pop screens out then." Seifer explained. He grabbed the stuff he dropped and walked in, "So where do you want this?"
Hayner followed him in with the rest of the stuff, still a little shocked. "Anywhere's fine. I'll cart it upstairs later."
Seifer nodded, putting the stuff he was holding down. "Calm down, sweetheart, I'm not going to break in here for fun."
Hayner blushed. "Shut up, I know that!"
Seifer chuckled.
"Anyway," the younger blonde huffed, "you want something to eat? I'm starving."
"Sure. Drop the stuff. We'll go eat somewhere." Seifer answered.
"I've got food here." Hayner offered.
"Nah, come on. I won't even make you spend a dime." He promised.
"No way, if we are going out, I'm paying for my half." Hayner frowned, crossing his arms.
"Not happening, sweetheart. Get in the car."
"Why not?" Hayner demanded. "Just because I don't have a job doesn't mean I don't have enough cash to buy myself food."
Seifer raised an eyebrow. "That sort of proves my point, dear." He said. "I have a job, you don't. Therefore, when I drag you out to eat, I'm paying. End of story, get in the car."
Hayner glared at him before giving up and stomping to the car. "I'm not your 'dear', goddammit." He muttered.
Seifer laughed. "Keys, sweetheart."
Hayner blushed scarlet, stomping back into the house, past Seifer, grabbing his keys and stomping back to the car all while refusing to acknowledge Seifer's existence.
Seifer laughed again. "Gonna fix your screen first." He said, heading back into the living room, laughing all the while.
XXXX
Kairi walked into the living room, balancing four cans in her arms. Tossing one to her sister, she put the other three down on the living room table, plopping onto the couch and stretching, "Reno on his way? Xigbar should be here any minute."
Namine nodded. "Yes, he should get here soon."
Kairi nodded mutely, but hopped up when the doorbell rang. "Be right back." she smiled at her sister before walking over and swinging it open.
Xigbar grinned. "Hey, Red."
Kairi smiled, "Hey, Xigbar. Hey, Reno."
Reno nodded. Kairi took a step back to let him in before stepping forward again and leaning up to give Xigbar a kiss.
Xigbar grinned, kissing her back and moving them forward enough for him to have room to kick the door closed. "How's your day been?" He asked, pulling back.
Kairi shrugged, "Day-like. Yours?"
"Boring without you." He grinned.
Kairi smiled at him, "C'mon." she tugged on his arm, leading him into the living room.
Namine settled closer to Reno, linking hands with him before smiling at Xigbar. "Hi, Xigbar. Did you have a nice Christmas?"
"I did, yeah. Did you?" Xigbar asked, sitting down with Kairi.
"Yes, thank you." Namine smiled.
"You seem to be recovered from the Zack thing." Reno commented, squeezing her hand.
"Reno." Namine blushed.
Xigbar laughed but refrained from commenting.
Reno chuckled, "Sorry."
"What Zack thing?" Kairi raised an eyebrow at her sister.
Namine blushed brighter. "It was nothing important, trust me."
Kairi chuckled at the look on her sister's face, but dropped it.
"So what's the plan for tonight? You got any poppers to celebrate with, Red, for when the ball drops?" Xigbar asked.
"We've got stuff, but I was too lazy to pull it out." Kairi said, "Want me to? I think it's in the closet."
"We can go hunting for it later, definitely." Xigbar grinned.
Namine started to say something but paused when her cell starting ringing. "Sorry." She muttered, pulling it out, intending on silencing it when she saw who it was. She stared up at Kairi. "It's Dad."
Kairi raised an eyebrow, "What does he want? Bet you twenty bucks he forgot what month it was."
Namine just shook her head, answering the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Namine, it's your dad."
"Hello." Namine repeated. "Is everything all right?"
"Of course. Is Kairi around? I have something to tell you two."
Namine glanced at her sister. "Hold on one second." She covered her phone with her hand, "He has something to tell the both of us so I'm putting him on speaker phone." She smiled apologetically at Reno as Xigbar just nodded, uncovering her phone and turning it on speaker, placing it on the table. "All right, Dad, you're on speaker phone."
"Hi, Kairi."
Kairi rolled her eyes, "Hey."
"You had something to tell us?" Namine prompted.
"Right, right. I wanted to let you girls know that a couple of months ago, I met this woman-"
Kairi cut him off again, "So, you're married again, then?"
"Well, yes."
"Congratulations." Namine said tiredly.
Reno raised an eyebrow, shifting so that his arm was around Namine before glancing at Xigbar.
"Thank you. So, how are you girls doing? Is school going okay?"
"Mmm." Kairi answered.
Xigbar shrugged at Reno, just as confused as he was.
"We're both doing well, thank you. How are you and your new... wife?" Namine asked.
"We're doing well. I'm going to bring her by next month." He said, sounding proud of himself.
Kairi just rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
"Oh, really? You'll call before you arrive, won't you? Last visit's surprise was... lovely, but we'd like a little time to... prepare the house for you." Namine said, glancing at Kairi a bit helplessly.
"Of course, of course. Well, I should get going. It was nice talking to you two, see you soon." There was a click as he hung up.
Kairi glanced at her sister, "Bet you fifty we never meet her."
Namine sighed wearily. "We probably won't," she agreed, hanging up her phone and pocketing it.
Reno just blinked.
Kairi sighed, snuggling into Xigbar, "At least we didn't have to sit through the wedding this time."
"All right, Red, what gives?" Xigbar asked.
Kairi glanced at him, "What?"
"You said your dad is never around, but the way you guys talked to him... what's the story there?" Xigbar asked.
Reno tightened his grip on Namine and nodded, "Yeah, that was..." he trailed off.
Kairi shrugged, not sure how to explain it, "He's, er..." she glanced at Namine for help.
"He's a philanderer with an all-too-frequent habit of getting married?" Namine suggested.
"I don't even know what number wife this is." Kairi nodded.
"Forty-five, I think." Namine answered.
"So he just... marries every woman he sleeps with?" Xigbar asked.
"Since our mom, yeah." Kairi nodded.
"That's... uh... interesting." Reno frowned, "Have you met any of them?"
"When we were younger, sure." Kairi shrugged.
"He didn't handle our mother's death well." Namine explained. "When we had no choice, we met them and were in the weddings, but now that we are on our own, aside from the occasional visit, we simply leave each other alone."
"So he was never really a dad to you guys, huh?" Xigbar asked, holding Kairi closer.
Kairi shrugged, "Not really. Sora's mom pretty much raised us."
"Damn. That's really not right, Red. I'm sorry." Xigbar kissed her quickly.
Kairi shrugged again once he pulled back, "Used to it. But thanks."
Reno squeezed Namine, "I'm sorry," he murmured.
Namine smiled at him. "It's all right, really."
"Remind me not to tell my mom this when you meet her, Red." Xigbar chuckled. "She's going to want to kick your dad's ass and then smother you with affection."
Kairi laughed, leaning into him, "I'm completely open to the ass-kicking part."
"I might do that part myself." Xigbar winked. "But I don't want her driving you crazy, either, Sass."
"I think Kairi would like spending time with your mom, Xigbar." Namine reassured him.
Kairi giggled, leaning in to him.
Reno paled, thinking about his father, "You know what, let's just not mention this to my dad either... or Aerith, for that matter. Actually, never mind Dad, he lives an hour away, just keep this from Aerith."
Namine laughed and shook her head. "I don't think I'll ever have a reason for telling either of them, but I'll keep it in mind."
Reno smiled.
"Well, that's enough family drama. It's New Years Eve, let's not mope around. Also, I told you he forgot what month it was." Kairi glanced at her sister.
"He didn't actually mention what month it is, so you can't know that for sure." Namine said.
"Yeah, but Christmas was a week ago, and it's New Years Eve. You'd think he'd at least say Happy Holidays." Kairi reminded her.
"I cannot pretend to understand Dad." Namine shook her head. "Now, I'm in the mood for Chinese. Anyone else?"
"Sure." Reno shrugged.
Kairi grinned, "Chinese sounds good."
Xigbar laughed. "Sounds good to me. Order a little of everything or something, would you? Red and I are going to go digging for the goodies." He grinned, standing and pulling Kairi up as well.
Namine smiled. "All right."
Kairi squeaked but regained her balance quickly, "Right. C'mere." she led him towards the closet in question.
Reno glanced at Namine, "Need help ordering?"
"Yes, please." Namine smiled. "I think we have a menu in the kitchen, I'll be right back." She said, standing and going into the kitchen, searching in the drawers until she found said menu, taking it back into the living room and sitting next to Reno once more.
Reno wrapped his arm around her again and pulled her close.
Namine smiled at him, shifting so that she could kiss him.
Reno smiled into the kiss, leaning in and readjusting his arm so he could hold her close.
XXXX
Roxas slipped into Axel's bedroom with two flutes of champagne, closing the door behind him. He grinned, handing his boyfriend one of the drinks and clinking them together. "To the new year!" He smiled, taking a sip.
Axel raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment on his underage boyfriend's drinking habits, instead carefully pulling him down to the bed and giving him a kiss.
Roxas sighed, reaching over to place his drink on the nearby stand before lying back comfortably. "Any New Year's resolutions?" He grinned.
Axel chuckled. "Not really. I don't usually do resolutions." He admitted. "They're nothing more than goals."
"Mhmm. Would you like to hear mine?" Roxas grinned.
Axel smiled. "Sure."
"I'll tell you my top three, then. Third, I'd like to spend more time with you during this semester than last."
"Second," Roxas leaned up to link his arms around Axel's neck, "Falling asleep in your arms as often as possible."
"And first," Roxas pulled until Axel was hovering over his stretched-out body, leaning up to whisper in the redhead's ear, "I'd like to get you naked."
Axel smirked, leaning in to close the gap between them and kissing him.
Roxas grinned, tightening his grip and kissing him back, happy.
Axel pulled back. "Door unlocked?" He asked.
"Yes." Roxas murmured.
"We should lock it." Axle said even as he leaned back in.
"Probably a good idea." Roxas agreed, kissing him again, tugging softly on his hair.
Axel pulled away and pushed Roxas down onto the bed. "Stay." He said, smirking, before getting up to lock the door.
Roxas pushed himself up onto his elbows. "Hey, Axel? You have my Christmas present somewhere in here, right? Do you want to… try them out? I wonder what it really tastes like…"
Axel turned the lock and smirked at him, grabbing the present off a table and walking back over.
Roxas grinned. "Which flavors you want to try first?"
XXXX
Hey everyone. Long time no see. What? It's Cami. I STILL EXIST, OKAY?
Nah, I lied. I'm dead. Jasmine killed me. She conspired with school and killed me.
Next time I have to do ANs, my brain should hopefully be back.
Maybe.
I hope.
*Posting note: Stupid FF messed up the formatting and spacing of the chapter. I went through and fixed it but sorry if I missed anything. -Jasmine