It was a Friday night tradition to meet up at Vexen's. The man was on call on Saturdays and had made that a strict part of his contract with the hospital since having Zexion.
Vexen was not even always there for the parties that took place at his house.
The backyard had a firepit that Lexaeus and Xaldin had built with Xigbar's supervision.
A grill that everyone had chipped in to get as a father's day gift. Lexaeus and Xaldin took turns using it.
They had discussed a pool but neither Vexen nor Zexion were big on swimming and were happier with the grassed space. They did have a hot tub that sat upon a bricked off area. It was a more recent purchase.
A midlife crisis. Except his midlife crisis was supposedly Marluxia.
Larxene often arrived first for no other reason than she could. She worked as a wedding planner and her schedule was chaotic. She showed up with chips and pretzels and more often than not jello shots because she could.
The backyard was set up with various coolers that were labeled Yes Zexion and No Zexion. The joke would probably still stay even after he was twenty-one.
It was a toss up on when Lexaeus would show. It depended on school and parents and traffic. He taught first grade these days and he had never seen the man be more fulfilled. He brought soda and juice boxes.
Xaldin had the bakery open later on Fridays and brought whatever was left over from the day over. It was a smattering of fruit flavored cupcakes and flower shapped cookies. He always went home to change before coming over. He also brought burgers and portobello mushrooms with him.
Xigbar showed up with his charming personality and a cooler with fish in it. No one was going to question how far he drove to go fishing.
Marluxia arrived with fruit salad and an apologetic kiss about it being late. Vexen was not going to bring up the fact that everyone would be there until morning. Instead he took more kisses.
Demyx rolled in with vegetarian hotdogs and a thankful look to both Xaldin and Xigbar for remembering he was pescatarian.
Zexion kept Lexaeus and Xaldin company by the barbecue. He took up the task of sous chef, cutting up vegetables and getting things from the house. There was a concrete table built next to the babaque that filled with food just as quickly as it was taken.
Vexen refused to let anyone that came over go hungry. Even if he constantly forgot to eat.
They stayed outside well past the sun going down. His fence was hung with white icicle string lights that stayed up year round. Let alone a few stand lights and a bugzapper that was background noise.
Food was securely packed away before they headed inside. A mix match of Pyrex and Tupperware and Chinese Food Containers. Most of the food would stay at Vexen's and help get them through the recharge weekend the two introverts would have.
Vexen liked blankets. It also helped that one of Xaldin's various hobbies was crocheting and his other hobby was teaching Lexaeus his hobbies.
His couch still had the small quilt that they made for Zexion when he first joined the family.
His couch was shoved back while the coffee table and various chairs and lamps were moved against the walls. His floor was quick to become a mess of blankets and pillows and soon limbs.
A movie was put on, the flat-screen that Vexen found obnoxious illuminating his living room. It was nice.
Marluxia sat against him on the outer edge. Even after all of these years Vexen still found it hard to relax fully. Marluxia held one of Larxene's hands.
Zexion was always in the middle. Often times bracketed by Lexaeus and Xaldin. Safe.
Demyx felt the need to touch everyone in one way or another. Limbs all over the place as he laid on top of them.
Heads wound up in crotches.
Feet wound up held hostage to stop them from being in faces.
Spots were moved and lost between bathroom breaks.
It was what they all needed.
The morning was met with everyone's alarms at different times.
Demyx did not remember to turn his off or change them the night before and had no less than ten alarms that went auto snooze. Zexion turned his phone off. He knew he had no where to be until 2pm.
Breakfast was less of an adventure than the night but only just so.
Vexen owned this fancy vertical waffle maker that Xigbar found the most fascinating thing ever. It was also one of the few things he was allowed to touch in the kitchen.
It meant that Xigbar turned Vexen's kitchen into a waffle factory between people waking up and leaving because he certainly had no where better to be. He got out whipped cream and peanut butter and syrup and Zexion walked in to him in the pantry trying to find pie filling.
It was a nice morning after a nice night. But he was ready to curl up in his bed until monday.
