Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts; it belongs to Squeenix.

A/N: I've decided this is an AU fic, I mean the only resemblance it has to the series plot is struggling and town names. That's it really. So AU here we come~ I've never written Hayner like this before, please tell if you think I'm still keeping him in character. It will help bunches!

Oh and it's rated M for repetitive use of naughty words, I've rated it high just to be safe for possibilities in the future chapters. Better safe than sorry.

Even in a crowd Roxas was easy to spot, Hayner told himself it was the messy blonde bob that gave him away- but it wasn't. It was the way he walked. Now, he didn't envy anything as feeble as posture or how 'cool' you looked. It was how he held his head high- not looking down his nose, but staring straight ahead as if anything could happen and it'd be okay. Hayner wasn't a petty man, he didn't want to steal away his friend's confidence, but he yearned for the same feeling.

This is why Hayner put up a front, his ego, his pride, his…whole outside world was forced through gritted teeth and he hated it. He hated every second he had to live this way, but he didn't know any other way. You were someone or no one in this town, and it was a small enough town so complete isolation wasn't an uncommon behavior.

He deeply believed it could be worse, he might be miserable now but the latter would surely drive him insane.

So he hung out with the Struggle crowd, besides Roxas who was perhaps his only true friend, and desperately immersed himself into their society. It didn't feel right- like shoving a puzzle piece into the wrong place and just leaving it there. He felt alone in crowds if Roxas wasn't there, he cried at night so he spent the night at his best friend's house until his parents suggested he just move in. Roxas didn't bat an eye at the desperation, yet shyly snuck a sympathetic look when realizing his friend's behavior. Roxas would never turn Hayner down, he couldn't- he didn't have the heart too. He knew Hayner acted tough and it would break the boy if he didn't handle things carefully.

And so it turned into a full time job being Hayner's friend, and Roxas had to be tired. Hayner could see it every morning after one of his 'breakdowns'- Roxas would be up distantly looking into a cold cup of coffee, tired shade painted under his eyes. He'd been up all night trying to soothe him, and either the stress or the worry would keep Roxas up. He truly thought Roxas deserved a better friend than himself, but he could never bring himself to let go. He felt selfish.

So he went to every struggle match Roxas had, he'd do anything for Roxas, trying to make up for what he did for him every day. It was cold this particular day, and Roxas was dressed warmly- like the smile on his face as soon as he saw Hayner. Hayner raised his hand and waved as he jogged to the edge of the fence separating the bleachers from the arena.

"You're going to do it this year." Hayner reassured, it sounded all wrong to be telling Roxas this, but it was said anyway.

"Haha, I can only hope so. He's a pretty tough guy."

Hayner rolled his eyes; truly he didn't see why people like Seifer Almasy were revered in the way they were. He was just flashy moves and cocky smile, nothing else. Roxas had actual talent…yet he lost every year to Seifer. This meant that he wouldn't be allowed on the struggle team. Every year you had to try out, even the members had to re-try. [Just to make sure they were up to the status quot, it was a privilege to be on the team, not a right.]

"Whatever, you deserve it more than most of the people out there." Hayner grumbled, Roxas shook his head and smiled.

"Sure wish you were one of the judges then." Roxas teased, ducking a playfully thrown punch, reaching forward to 'fight' back- alas the whistle screeched over the masses and it was time for the matches to begin. Hayner wished Roxas luck and he was off.

He'd raced an old lady to get his seat at the front, but it was worth it. Roxas had started off strong and defeated one of the members from last year's team. Roxas left and Seifer stepped on to his own match, Hayner tried to tune his match out- yet he couldn't. He had to see what Roxas was against- if by chance he was fighting the boy this year. He cursed; Seifer had been the team captain last year and damn was he good.

Roxas and Seifer both went their second rounds without fighting each other, both won their matches. The third round rolled in and Hayner was trying out telepathy- seeing if he could convince the judges not to pair his friend up with Seifer, but just gave himself a headache instead.

His head snapped up when they started screening the match ups and he literally jumped out of his seat screaming when he saw the results. Seifer had the match against his own friend; Rai.

The old lady and those around him have him dirty looks; he alone was cheering.

Roxas covered his mouth from the field to suppress laughter that he knew his friend would hear somehow. Seifer's round ended with Seifer patting Rai on the back and apologizing; Rai understood how important it was to Seifer, so it was okay- the crowd ate this candy coated shit up. Not Hayner though, he figured they had planned it somehow; but he knew he was kidding himself.

Roxas was up against a kid named Riku, Hayner thought it had meant nothing at first- it was just some out of town kid trying to get on the team, but it was so much more. The guy was good, but not good enough. Roxas won his match by ten points.

A few more matches went underway and the last few team members had been chosen. One of the out of town kids won, a guy named Sora, he was the only one on the team who was a stranger.

After they officially announced the winners, handed out the honorary medals, uniforms and schedules- the crowd dispersed. Hayner raced down the steps of the bleachers and hopped the fence to make to Roxas faster. Nearly flew into the boy's arms as he reached him. Roxas made a sound that resembled a gutted pig and steadied himself before they both fell.

"I knew it! Oh, this is great Roxas! I'll come to every one of your games and be the freaking groupie if I have too-"

"Hayner. people. are. looking." Roxas laughed wearily.

Hayner blinked, and whirled around to see the whole team watching them with varied expressions. He blushed vibrantly and pulled away from his friend, taking a moment to calm down.

"Sorry, I'm just excited for you." Hayner explained.

Roxas laughed and grabbed Hayner in a light headlock, trying to noogie him. "You big dork."

"Pst, hey, look can you stop flirting with your girlfriend and listen?" Seifer shouted at them. Hayner glared, but Roxas simply rolled his eyes and let Hayner go.

"We're going out to celebrate, sea-salt ice cream for everyone, my treat." Seifer said with a flashy smirk as jutted his thumb towards his chest. Most let out a cheer, the Sora boy just looked confused whether he should be happy about the flavor of the ice cream. It was a Twilight Town specialty, but it was foreign in most other cities.

Hayner's eyes turned downward and he murmured that'd he'd see Roxas later before turning around to leave. Roxas saw the 'signs' and protested a little too strongly.

"Don't be so dramatic 'wuss, you can come along with your boyfriend and I'll pay for you this time."

Roxas silently thanked Seifer; Hayner visibly perked up -aside from being called Roxas's girlfriend- but for show, rolled his eyes and grumbled his thanks. Silently he thanked Seifer for the invite.

Sora brought his friend along, probably so he wouldn't feel alone- but Hayner soon learned that wasn't it at all, Sora was a very outgoing boy- talking to the whole team even. It was Riku who needed some cheering up; he looked bummed that he didn't make the team with his friend. Roxas apologized for winning [of course he would], but admitted he had been trying forever to get on the team himself. Riku looked a bit better after Roxas said that and ended up talking to us with Sora for the remainder of the evening.

"Destiny Island? My uncle lives there, do you know Namine?" Roxas asked brightly, Sora jumped from his seat nearly and nodded enthusiastically.

"Namine! Of course, she's Kairi's sister!" He exclaimed, and then commenced having an aneurism with Roxas about how it was destiny or fate that was involved in their meeting.

Riku turned to Hayner, a quiet look of contempt for his friend lingered on his face before he could erase it. "So, do you struggle?"

Hayner blinked, and shrugged, "Not really, only with Roxas. I don't have a knack for it." He said shyly.

The silverette smiled and said, "Wow, really? I thought everyone in this town was into struggling- ah, but I don't mean to offend you."

Smiling weakly Hayner nodded, "Ah, yeah, it's not for me- I'm into because of Roxas." He paused, that came out all wrong.

Riku smiled with an odd look in his teal eyes, "Oh, so are you two good friends?" It felt like more was being said behind it, the look in Riku's eyes asked if they were 'together'.

The camo-toting boy was close to giving him a dirty look, "Yeah, just friends though." He added snidely.

Blinking and waving his hands out in front of him, "Oh, it's just earlier when Seifer mentioned it, and neither of you denied…"

Roxas had clicked back into the conversation suddenly, saving Hayner from the awkward reply. "That's because Seifer likes to push buttons, and we try not to encourage him by replying."

A sigh of relief fluttered from the curly blonde's lips, a grating migraine pressed into the back of his head- no wait a sec there was someone leaning on him—

"You lamers talkin' bout me?" Seifer asked, casually leaning on the top of Hayner's head, looking over him as if the younger boy wasn't even there.

Hayner hissed, and pushed the older boy off, "Ugh, get off of me!" Immediately fixing his gelled back curls out of habit.

Seifer smirked and this time looked solely down at Hayner, "Don't get your panties in a knot chicken shit. You can't resist me anyway." He said throwing in a wink for measure before turning on one heel and walking from the table to the ice cream stand.

He had to grit his teeth not to say anything stupid enough to get his ass beat. That prick was always embarrassing them, he had half a mind to go show him just what he thought of his teasing –

A hand grabbed his shoulder gently, yet firm. He was startled from his thoughts, he saw now that Roxas was attached to the hand, giving him a cautious look. Hayner remembered that he couldn't act outrageously towards Seifer any longer without risking his own friend's position on the team.

He took a slow breath, encouraging himself to simmer down, and focused on what they were celebrating. He was happy for Roxas, very happy for him. Naturally, he would go to all of his friend's games and perhaps even attend their practice as well. Though he couldn't help but feel that perhaps Roxas wouldn't want him around 24/7. Hayner decided it would be best if he took a bit to back off as to not suffocate his friend.

"Okay team, and guests," Seifer said pointedly looking at Hayner and Riku, "Here's the ice cream, go crazy."

"Thanks, Prick." Hayner snapped as he received his cold treat.

"No problem, lamer." Seifer replied, unmoved by Hayner's remark.

Roxas took this as a good time to distract his friend by 'accidentally' taking a chunk of Hayner's ice cream. His friend's attention was successfully captured. He complained and shoved his sea-salt treat into his mouth before Roxas could swipe another bite.

They were walking home, supposedly Riku and Sora had just bought an apartment in their complex- unfortunately Seifer lived the same way as well. Roxas kept himself occupied by talking to Sora about Struggling, however stole glances at Hayner from time to time to make sure he wasn't going to kill Seifer. Luckily Riku was talking to Hayner again. Seifer trailed behind them, adding little snippets into both conversations.

"From what I heard you played in high school?" Riku quirked, trying to bring up struggling again, it was making Hayner feel a little bit uncomfortable but he answered anyway.

"Yeah, a bit. Like I said I wasn't any good." Hayner said, wincing at the ice in his own voice. Roxas looked over, this time he wasn't being discreet. His conversation with Sora had halted all together.

Seifer huffed from the back of the pack, "How would you know? You haven't played in years."

Hayner looked back sharply, "I played in high school, on the non-varsity of all things, so I could be in a class with Roxas."

Roxas looked like he was about to say something, Seifer beat him to it. "I remember fighting you though." He said, as if it explained everything, Seifer hadn't realized he couldn't be vague around Hayner.

"So? You beat me, what about it?"

"Yeah…" The air hung around those words, Seifer wanted to say something else, but that's where his pride interfered, he wouldn't admit that last bit 'barely' at the end of his sentence.

No one had cared about Struggle in high school; their generation had been what made Struggling famous in Twilight Town. Hayner had lost a few times and never tried again. Now it was too late to catch up, everyone was already light years ahead of him and he wasn't willing to embarrass himself in the process that would be required to reach their level.

Riku must've decided Hayner was unpleasant to talk to, because he picked up the pace to walk beside Sora, leaving Hayner trailing behind silently fuming, Seifer a little ahead of him.

"Stop moping." Seifer muttered, having some decency not to 'announce it to the world' by keeping his voice down.

"Fuck off." Hayner's remarked snidely.

Seifer glanced back, not with a glare- but god damn him, a look of sympathy. Hayner shot a defiant glare back at him and this time he looked away, for good, as he turned the corner to reach his own apartment complex.

"See you next practice Sora- and hopefully you too Riku!" Roxas smiled at his new friends as they went their own ways.

Sora nodded eagerly while Riku mentioned something about being in the stands merely observing. Hayner inwardly groaned- would he have to talk to Riku when he went to watch Roxas?

The door closed behind Roxas and himself as they made their way into their own apartment, the spiky haired boy sighed and said, "You don't like them much, do you?"

Hayner shrugged, "They're okay, Seifer just put me in a bad mood."

Roxas scrunched his nose up a bit, "You're going to have to get along with him and the others you know…"

"I'm a fairly decent actor."

Blonde eyebrows furrowed down to the blue eyes on the boy's face, "That's not what I meant Hayner. They're going to be around more often, I can't have you fighting with any of them."

He hissed a slow sigh, "I'll be…friendly."

"Gee, Thanks for the effort."

"-Roxas you're leaving your left open! Stop leading with your right so much, switch things up!"

Hayner stared in awe at how quickly Roxas and the others were to fix what the coach and their captain, which was unfortunately Seifer for the umpteenth time, told them to. He was starting to see why everyone deserved their place on the team, and even though he didn't want to admit it- why Seifer deserved to be team captain. He knew how to lead, how to help others and help himself at the same time. It was ridiculous to Hayner that he could think a kind thought about people like Seifer, but he'd have to start getting used to it if he wanted to make Roxas happy. Unfortunately this also meant learning to tolerate Riku and his unending doting on Sora.

Really though, Hayner was getting freaked out and there really wasn't a discreet or nice way to run away from someone. So he sat there in near silence.

"Y'know, I think I can get used to someone like you."

"Huh?" Hayner replied intelligently.

"You don't talk much," The taller man said. Just not with you, Hayner thought. "And we're alike you and I, you're pretty close to your best friend too."

"Ah, I already told you before that Roxas and I aren't-" Hayner began awkwardly.

"Yeah I know, this time I didn't mean it like that. But if you keep bringing it up I might think—" Riku replied with a small smirk on his face, Hayner interrupted him before he could finish. He laughed at the boys reply and told him he was only joking.

Hayner sighed in relief, grateful to whatever benevolent force had helped him avoid that conversation again, "Okay, so what do you mean?" Damn, had he actually just asked that? That meant they would have to keep talking.

"Well, I was trying to figure out if you'd understand what I'm going through with Sora." Riku began, shooting a glare when Hayner gave him a weary look, "I think I'm worrying about Sora too much. I mean I hadn't even wanted to join the Struggle team."

Hayner sat up a little straighter; perhaps he could have a conversation with the man without gagging— now he was far too interested to back out.

"Why would you do that?"

"I want to be there for Sora- well at least that's what I keep telling myself, I mean Sora makes friends just fine, but I want to protect him from the…wrong friends." Riku finished awkwardly, rubbing his hand across his mouth.

The blonde blinked slowly, taking in the rushed information before finally responding. "So you're trying to protect from bad people? All of them? Riku, no offense man, but that's kinda naive of you to think you can protect him from everythi-"

Riku hissed quietly, Hayner wasn't quite getting his message. "That's not what I meant. Listen a second would you? I want to protect Sora…from people who aren't just looking to be his friend."

And it clicked.

"You don't want someone getting into his pants?"

Riku turned violet- no wait, maybe it was magenta. "Well if you put it that way it sounds—"

Hayner waved his hands in front of him defensively, laughing wearily. "Calm down, I just have to hear things the bold way, or it won't quite click with me." Riku gave him a stale stare.

"You're practically calling yourself dense."

"I am calling myself dense. Or as my cousin Olette says, 'You're a boy after all, you can't help it.'" He said, mimicking her right down to the tone of her voice. Riku covered his face and started to shake. Hayner quirked an eyebrow, wait was he—

"Are you laughing?" The brown eyed boy asked, sounding a little offended.

"Yes, I am. See you're not that incompetent at conversation. You got a laugh out of me, usually Sora is the only one who can do muster that."

"I'm not quite sure if that's a compliment, from what I can tell Sora is a huge goof."

"Of course he is, see? Didn't take you long to figure that out. From what I've heard from your friends that you're like that as well."

"Ha, so Roxas is talking about me?" Hayner snorted softly, too interested in what'd he'd heard to be offended.

"Sort of, it's mostly been Seifer. He'll bring up a memorable scuffle or two between you two that he found, in his words not mine, 'hilarious'."

The blonde scoffed, "Ha! First off, I wouldn't call what Seifer and I have a friendship, and two, I've totally won some of those fights. So he can screw right off."

Riku arched an eyebrow, "Okay, okay. Whatever you say. Then tell your side of things, I'm interested now." He said egging Hayner on, despite knowing both sides of the stories would be biased depending on who it came from. One thing seemed to be consistent, they never seemed to back down and they always seemed to come back. Riku saw the glaring similarities in his captain and Hayner more and more. He couldn't help but wonder the potential the younger of the two could have if he was more confident in himself.

Roxas jogged over to where he was standing after practice, panting yet smiling all the same. Hayner waved a hand in front of his face joking about his friend needing a shower. He laughed and looked past his curly blonde friend, watching Riku and Sora talking in the distance.

"Saw you talking to Riku during practice."

"Hm."

"Not going to say anything about it?"

"Naw, it was just small talk."

Roxas left it at that, but Hayner didn't miss the disappointment on his friend's face, he had probably been hoping Hayner had made a new friend. Hayner couldn't help the rush of guilt, Roxas was always hoping for the best for him. What had he done? Shoved Riku away, perhaps he would try again- just with someone else.

"So, you and Sora are getting buddy buddy." Hayner teased lightly, Roxas smiled and said, "Yeah, Sora is the type of guy who befriends everyone."

"You think he'll befriend me?" Hayner asked with a small smirk, Roxas laughed and said, "If you let him, but otherwise you could be his greatest challenge."

Hayner pushed him, however laughed while doing so, "Okay, thanks best friend."

"Oh ho ho, you forget yourself sir!" Roxas began, however had to stop to allow the both of them to laugh before continuing, "Best friends are supposed to be those bold bastards who slap you with the cold truth!" Even though Roxas was joking, there was something painful in those eyes, something Hayner barely missed.

The curly blond merely hummed his amusement and threw his arm over Roxas's shoulders to avoid seeing the look in his friend's eyes.

"So, whad'ya think of your first day of practice?" Hayner asked and Roxas's eyes glittered and he then commenced telling him all about his experience.

He ended up taking Roxas to the ice cream shop to get him a sea salt treat -which his said friend was currently attacking it. Hayner was only a little afraid.

"Why am I not surprised to find you two lamers here?" A voice intruded on their peace and [almost] quiet.

"Hello Seifer." Roxas greeted, but he was still crunching ice cream in his mouth so it came out sounding like 'fheo sighfa!'

Seifer gave him an amused look and turned to Hayner with a laugh and said, "You probably shouldn't give him ice cream after every practice, he'll get fat."

Hayner actually laughed and poked Roxas in the belly, "Yeah, eventually you'll be too slow to keep up with the others~"

Roxas let out a squeak of insult, they both chuckled. Seifer sat down to join them, motioning to the ice cream man for his usual.

"So, I saw you watching us today." Seifer was looking at Hayner expectantly.

"Oh yeah, well, it was mostly for Roxas. You guys are good." Hayner said, remembering what Roxas said about 'behaving'.

To his surprise, Seifer didn't make a joke about them dating, he nodded and said, "Well, it's good to have supporters, you can come and watch whenever- just don't get in our way."

Hayner perked up and actually beamed, "Thanks." He said simply, but it meant so much more.

Seifer looked temporarily stunned by the boys smile, coughing in surprise before nodding distantly.

"Y'know, Hayner's always wondered why you're captain every year, he told me he finally understands why." The spiky blonde said before his best friend could stop him.

Hayner choked on his own spit, while Seifer looked over surprised at the camo loving boy. "Really, chicken shit? Color me surprised." Seifer remarked snidely, sarcasm sneaking in at the end, but his words held no bite.

Roxas kicked Hayner under the table, and the boy resuscitated himself momentarily to make a comment, "A-uh, yeah! Er, you actually do have some skill at bringing people together- y'know, as a team, and junk like that…"

Seifer took the compliment, awkward or not, and smirked, "Yeah, well, thanks then." Hayner may not have noticed the odd way Seifer pulled down his beanie or held his hand close to cover his mouth in case the threat of a smile started to pull at his lips, but Roxas did.

The ice cream man brought Seifer's treat out to him and this was when the beanie wearing boy decided to take his leave. They said goodbye to him and it was just the two of them again.

"So, that went well." Roxas said slyly.

Hayner furrowed his eyebrows, "You didn't believe I could make regular conversation with Seifer? Huh, you don't have much faith in me, y'know being my best friend and all."

Roxas punched his friend's arm playfully and finished his ice cream, "Whatever, let's go. Sora wanted to come over today and check out our apartment. He said a friend of his is looking for a room."

Brown eyes blinked and then he remembered- the extra room down the hall that they used as a game room. "Shoot, I guess I should've used the consoles more often."

Roxas punched him in the shoulder, "Don't be an ass, we could use the extra rent money, we're always almost short."

"I'm willing to deal with almost—ow shit, Roxas! Stop hitting the same spot!"

They walked back to the apartment to clean out the unused consoles and to move the dusty TV. Hayner figured he really should've spent more time in here; he wasn't ready for anyone to invade his home, his sanctuary- the only place he could be himself. What was Roxas thinking?

A/N:

Holy Kingdom hearts, I've found a place to end this bugger finally! So many times I was stopping and then writing again. I can not believe this is almost 12 pages long! It's the longest single chapter I've ever written! -throws confetti- I'm super excited about finally getting this show on the road! Hope you all enjoy it.

Just leave me a review and tell me what you think! It'll really help. :]

-Wahla