Chapter Text
“You think Scrooge will hire us again this summer?” Pence asked.
“Well, he’ll hire at least one of us.” Olette chuckled. “You know, the one he didn’t catch sleeping behind his restaurant.”
“Was only once.” Hayner laughed. “All things considered we did a good job. I dunno why he wouldn’t hire us again."
All three of them were gliding across town, traveling by skateboard was faster than walking. Most people around Twilight Town had bikes, scooters, or some other quick methods for traveling the city. No one even gave the three teens a glance.
They’d been roaming the streets together since they were kids. Now they were weeks away from graduating.
“Besides,” Hayner continued. “Remy said he’d give me some pointers in the kitchen.” He was headed to Twilight Community in the fall to enter the culinary program. Any tips he could get would help him.
“Trying to get in the kitchen instead of the waitstaff?” Pence asked. “Think Scrooge will go for it?”
“If i plead my case, maybe.” Hayner nodded.
“Twenty munny says he starts you off as a dish washer and by the end of summer you’ll be up to peeling potatoes.” Olette threw him a grin but all three paused their conversation momentarily as they grinded down the railing of the town square steps.
They’d spent years learning a countless amount of tricks and now their skateboards really were more for travel than entertainment.
“Potato peeler is generous.” Pence finally added.
“Ha ha, you two are so funny.” Hayner snickered. “But i’m good with potato peeler. It’s experience and potato peeler at Scrooge’s restaurant is a big deal.”
It was such a fancy restaurant and reservations were hard to come by. They’d been working there doing odd jobs for the owner Scrooge McDuck for years. They started off hanging posters for him and chasing the imps away. Hayner found sneaking rolls to the imps worked better at getting rid of them rather than chasing them off with a broom. They came back anyway but they were nicer to Hayner…
They’d made it all the way to waiters during their school breaks. Hayner liked to think they had one foot in the door already.
“You know, i don’t know what to do with you being all responsible.” Olette commented. “I mean this from the guy who never once did his summer homework on time.”
“There’s no room for homework during the summer, Lette.” Hayner snickered.
“Seconded.” Pence agreed.
“You two are still fourteen years old.” She laughed, swerving to not hit a man on a bike. “You two wanna go for ice cream?”
“The answer to that is always yes.” Hayner laughed, joined in by the other two a second later. They rolled through town that was bustling with life. People were shopping, working, and wandering.
Twilight Town had it all. A beach was half an hour away in one direction, mountains an hour away in the other direction, and nearly everything accessible by train. For out of towners it could be a maze of twists and turns but for locals, navigating was easy.
Hayner and his friends had grown up here and knew every corner.
The three of them were just a street away from the ice cream shop when something caught his eye.
“You guys go on ahead, i gotta grab something.”
“You sure?” Pence asked.
“Yeah, be right there.” Hayner said, swerving down a different street. He knew he’d seen something. Something fell. Well, he was pretty sure something had fallen. He might have been a little too focused on the blond guy, but.. sue him? He was allowed to look.
The blond guy had been window shopping, peering into shops when his jacket that had been tied around his waist had slumped to the sidewalk. It was resting against his legs while he stood still but when he wandered off to the next shop he'd left the jacket behind.
Hayner kicked off a little harder, speeding down sidewalk and coming to an abrupt stop in front of the jacket. It was brownish black and sorta spotted. It was a strange design but whatever. It wasn’t until he picked it up that he found it strange. It was long. The thing must have been ankle length on the guy. It was like fur but not? He had no idea. He was trying to be a chef, he didn’t know a damn thing about fabrics.
Either way it was soft and probably expensive. He didn't know who wore fur jackets in summer but that was none of his business. Hayner gathered the whole thing in his arms, ignoring the way the hood looked funny. Fashion wasn’t his forte.
“Hey, wait up man!” Hayner called, kicking off again. He didn’t have that far to go and caught up with the blond guy after only a minute. “Hey you!”
The blond turned to him just as Hayner tipped back on his board to stop. The guy's eyes widened when he saw the bundle in Hayner’s arms, his hand reflexively going to his waist and realizing his jacket wasn’t where he’d tied it.
There was a second of fury shining in his gaze before Hayner held his jacket out to him.
“Here, you dropped this a ways back. You should be more careful.”
The blond just stared, lips parted in shock as he took his jacket back. He held it to his chest and yep, the thing had to be floor length on him. He was prettier up close and Hayner winced internally. Other than spiky hair he was painfully average. High school had taught him to stay in his lane. Not even the guy flushing pink a little gave Hayner any confidence. He wasn’t saying anything.
“So, glad i could catch up with you.” Hayner said, stepping back onto his board again. “See ya.”
He turned to ride off, wondering why he felt a hot wave of embarrassment. He hadn’t done anything wrong or embarrassing. He hadn’t even said anything stupid.
“Wait.” The blond grabbed his wrist and Hayner was surprised he hadn’t been jerked right off the board. “What’s your name?”
“What?” Okay, now he was being stupid.
“Your name.” he repeated
“Oh, um Hayner.”
“Hayner.” He repeated, testing it out. He was just staring and Hayner was starting to feel more and more like he’d done something wrong now.
“Um...yours?” Hayner asked to distract himself from the way the blond was fondling his hand, tracing all of his fingers. He could feel all the blood in his body racing to his face.
“Seifer.” He said, so matter of fact. Whatever had stunned him before seemed to be wearing off.
“O..kay.” Hayner said, gently tugging his hand back. He jerked a little more than he’d meant to and Seifer met his eyes. “Well i’m glad you’re good now. I should get going.”
“Where?”
That was...what? Okay, maybe this was more stranger danger than pretty guy window shopping.
“I’m meeting friends.” He said, pushing off and rolling a few feet away. “See you later!” He threw up a hand and waved as he rolled away.
He didn’t look back, too many shivers running up and down his spine. The entire encounter had been strange but by the time he made it to the ice cream shop he was feeling mostly normal again.
~
Graduation was close, literally just days away and it was excitement felt all over Twilight Town. Everyone was getting ready for the graduation parties that would follow to kick off the summer fun.
Hayner had finally gotten the call he wanted. He’d been hired again. Hired in the kitchen no less when Remy didn’t have a problem taking him on. This would be amazing on his transcripts.
Yes, he’d be spending chunks of his summer in a kitchen but that was money in his pocket and experience to actually get a job again later.
He rolled down the street, waving to a few store owners he’d know all his life. Other people who had employed him at one point of another even if it was just for an afternoon when he was a kid.
He was on his own today, wondering if he should do a little shopping. He’d be in the kitchen but that didn’t mean he couldn’t look on the presentable side. He wouldn’t get to wear the nifty chef jacket or anything but he could clean up nice and not give Scrooge anything to complain about. Even if it was just a nice t-shirt. Definitely something to think about.
He’d been in that kitchen so many times he had a good idea over what was acceptable. Maybe he’d have to be a little more firm with the imps that often tried to break into restaurants…
Hayner skidded through town, avoiding a group of smaller kids on roller skates. There were a few girls in the back, two of them helping a third stay on her feet in what was obviously her first time skating. Something about that was just cute.
He passed the shops and was not looking for a weird blond with a fur coat. That encounter had been days before and he couldn’t stop thinking about it. It had been so strange that he couldn’t shove it from his mind.
He must have just been passing through. Hayner knew most of the residents in Twilight Town. Maybe not by name but he was good with faces. He was positive he’d never seen Seifer before.
When he took a sharp corner he nearly face planted, someone ramming into his back as two skateboards collided.
“Damn it!” Hayner hissed, only his palm scraped but laughter had him looking up. “Roxas!”
Roxas was laughing, that gut wrenching amusement that couldn’t be faked “I’ve been chasing you for four blocks!”
“You could have called out!”
“Chasing you was so much more fun.” He snickered, still laying on the sidewalk.
“You are such a dork.” Hayner finally grinned and got to his feet. “What are you doing here? You usually call.”
Roxas lived just outside of Twilight Town in lush woods that almost backed up to the mountains. He liked his privacy and liked to be alone even more. Still, sometimes he wanted company and would call Hayner, Pence, or Olette when he planned on making a trip into the city.
“I was passing through. I spent some time with Sora on his beach. Was fun.” Roxas finally got up, a grin still on his face.
“Oh yeah?” Hayner felt a little envious. He loved the beach. Sora wasn't even on the beach close by but had a whole strip of beach to himself on the coast a little further away on Destiny Island. “How’s Sora?”
Roxas leaned down to pick up his board. “He’s great. He’s dating a siren.”
“Wha-?” Hayner blinked in surprise, “Like Scrooge?”
The owner of Le Grand Bistrot and Hayner’s on again/off again boss was a siren. A bird creature that usually lived in the mountains and lured people towards them with their voices. Scrooge however liked food. Not just eating humans. He liked all kinds of food and money and it made more sense to open up shop then kill humans for a snack. Not everyone was a fan but Scrooge’s restaurant was one of the best in Twilight Town.
“Nah, one of those island sirens. He’s half fish.” Roxas said and Hayner wasn’t sure what to make of that. “He’s an alright guy. Looks at Sora like he personally crafted every star in the sky. It’s borderline nauseating.”
Hayner rolled his eyes but smiled anyway. Roxas cared a great deal more than he’d verbalize.
“Might head back down again in another two or three weeks. They’re good company.” Roxas shrugged.
“You don’t gotta go that far for company.” Hayner offered, “Grab something to eat?”
“Yeah.” Roxas nodded, starved after his train ride. “And i know i can come see you guys whenever. I think it’s just Sora i miss. We were hardly apart as kids." People treated them more like twins than cousins.
Hayner snorted. “Maybe i’ll tag along if i can. I’d love to go to the beach. I did get a summer job though.”
“Oh yeah?”
They walked through the city, catching up and stopping at three different venders for different foods to split. Making an afternoon if it seemed like the thing to do and if Hayner would be working soon, he really wouldn’t have the time later. He was going to have to pack in a lot of fun on his days off.
When they stopped to sit on a bench Roxas finally switched topics. “So what’s the matter with you?”
“With me?”
“Yeah. You’ve been spacy. Even before i rammed into you, you were looking around like you were lost.”
Hayner rolled his eyes. Figures. “How long were you actually following me?”
“Long enough.” Roxas shrugged. “Now spill. What’s the matter?”
“It’s nothing, man.”
“And no one believes that.”
Hayner groaned. “It’s stupid and nothing.”
“Yeah?” Roxas looked amused. “Go on.”
“Ugh, stupid perceptive people.”
“That's me, stupid perceptive.”
Hayner gave him an annoyed glance and sighed. “Bumped into a guy the other day. Was just sorta looking.”
“Intrigue.” Roxas smiled, knowing he'd get more out of him. “Been a while since you had a crush, right?”
“That’s just it though.” Hayner muttered. “I’m not sure what it is. He was cute, sure but i’m not sure i’d call it a crush. I don’t know. Only talked to him for like two minutes but the whole thing was strange.”
Roxas hummed. “Strange how?”
Hayner didn’t really want to explain it, but it had been bugging him. He hadn’t really mentioned it to Pence and Olette other than helping someone out for a second. It hadn’t seemed like a big deal at the time but he couldn’t leave it alone. He couldn’t stop thinking about Seifer either.
It wasn’t really like him. He knew better than to have crushes where they didn’t belong. Still, talking about it with Roxas helped.
“And he just stared at you and asked your name?” Roxas frowned.
“Yeah. It was the weirdest thing.” Hayner said. “I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
Roxas’ brow raised. “And it was a fur coat?”
“I think so. I’m not entirely sure what it was made out of it.”
“And it was as tall as he was?”
“Yes?” Hayner frowned. “Why?”
“Well…” Roxas managed a smile. “You could be in trouble my friend, or not. Guess that depends on you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Roxas gave him a look that said he was stupid. “Sounds like you met a selkie.”
Hayner mauled that over. “The seals. Okay?”
“What do you know about selkie’s, Hayner?”
He thought about it for a second but he knew little. “They’re usually by the ocean towns right? Seals that can shed their skin and come onto land. Super pretty.” That suited Seifer. “People steal their skins, right?”
“Right.” Roxas said. “Their jackets.”
Hayner blinked. “Oh. Right.”
Roxas smiled, having too good of a time. “And what happens when a person returns a selkie skin of their own free will?”
“What?”
“They’re married.”
Hayner blinked, not understanding the information. “What?”
“Married. You proposed to him, Hayner. As far as that guy is concerned, you're married.”
“No, i didn’t!” Hayner inhaled, face going hot.
“You did. Sounds like he accepted. I mean, i guess he accepted.” Roxas shrugged. “Selkie’s aren’t really my area.”
“No way.” Hayner muttered. “No way he’d just accept something like that. He dropped his jacket and i handed it back to him. That’s all. I haven’t seen him since anyway.”
“Okay, Hay.” Roxas mused. “I’m just saying, don’t be shocked when he reappears. He will reappear.”
“Then what?”
“Dunno.”
Hayner had paled a little. “It’s not like i can do what he does.” He wasn't a selkie.
“And he’s aware of that,” Roxas mused, trying to make him feel a little better. “If Sora can make it work with a siren, you can make it work with a selkie.”
“But i don’t even know him!” Hayner’s voice went up an octave.
Roxas shrugged again. “So get to know him.”
Hayner groaned, burying his face in his hands as embarrassment nipped at him. He’d unknowingly...proposed to a selkie…
Of course he did…
~
That nervous excitement was settling in. Tomorrow afternoon Hayner would graduate and his summer would really start.
He didn’t start working for a week and a half and those first few days would be spent sleeping in and hanging out with his friends. They might even sneak in a beach trip before he got serious about being a potato peeler.
A little practice, a little schooling, a little hands on experience and he’d make chef yet.
He’d been out, celebrating early with Pence, Olette, and other kids from school. There had been a party and a little drinking with dozens of teens excited about their next stretch of life.
It was midnight by the time Hayner was walking home. The moon was full and he had his skateboard under his arm. Walking felt nice tonight. Everything was closed for the night and the bustling Twilight Town was calm and quiet. Wandering around town in these moments was like sharing a secret.
No one knew where he was but the moon.
“Hayner.”
He jumped, swirling around to find someone walking towards him in the dark. It should have been eerie, having someone approach him in the middle of the night where no one else was around. However it was hard to misplace the tall blond walking towards him in the moonlight. He was wearing his jacket this time, well his arms were in the sleeves and the jacket itself hung down around his waist, dragging along behind him.
He was pretty, too pretty. No wonder he was a selkie. They didn’t have the reputation for seducing people the way sirens did but they were an alluring race.
“Seifer…”
Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. He’d proposed to this man like a complete idiot.
No one wanted to marry him, let alone a stunning selkie. Roxas said he’d be back maybe this was just a gentle let down kind of a moment. Maybe Seifer wouldn’t actually laugh in his face. He hadn’t known anyway. He didn’t know this guy, it shouldn’t sting.
“Found you.” he muttered and Hayner didn’t even want to think about that. How had Seifer found him? Granted, no one else was around but how did Seifer know he’d be around here?
“Oh-ah?” Hayner muttered. “Yeah, look. No hard feelings, really.”
Seifer tilted his head as if not understanding and continued walking towards him.
“You’re a strange human.” He muttered. “A bit of a doofus, but you’re kind.”
Hayner fought the urge to wince. It wasn’t the meanest thing ever said to him but as far as compliments went…
“It’s alright. Anyway. I should go home.”
“Wait.” Seifer said easily. When he was in front of Hayner he grabbed his wrist and slipped something into his hand.
Hayner’s confusion doubled but he looked at the trinket and turned scarlet. A ring. A silver band that cradled a beautiful white pearl. It was simple, but it was breathtaking.
“I...What?” He looked up at Seifer, sure he looked like a deer in headlights.
“Your proposal was unexpected but special. I wanted to return it in kind. Humans offer rings for a proposal, right?” Seifer suddenly looked smug. “I found the pearl myself or i would have had it for you sooner.
“But.. what?” He was shaking, was he shaking? God, was this crazy Selkie actually going through with his proposal?
“You didn’t know what returning my skin meant, did you?” Seifer’s smile only grew. “I think i like you more.”
Hayner was relatively sure some part of his brain had just shut off. How could this just happen? “I...I have to go.” he said quickly. “Thank you.” He added, actually turning to run the rest of the way home rather than dropping his board and getting away faster. He wasn’t thinking. Couldn’t. Seifer just let him go.
Hayner clutched the ring right in his hand, holding it to his chest as he fled. He was married to a Selkie.