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"Axel, what's hollow bean?"
The water that splashed into the sink nearly drowned out Roxas' question from behind, Lea almost not catching the bizarre term being used that his brain automatically corrected in it's likeness. It was that time of year already, huh? Lea supposed the air had been turning crisper lately, their single tree he could spy in the front yard from the kitchen window sprouting some red and orange here and there. Just yesterday they had spent the hottest days of June teaching Roxas and Xion how to swim by the beach. How fast time flies.
Shutting off the faucet, Lea tilted his head back as he wiped down the last mug in hand to place in the drying rack. "No clue, Rox, but I'll get back to you once I've got an answer. Now if you mean Halloween," he suggested, swinging around with just maybe a little too much enthusiastic gusto, "it's a night come true for kids of all ages! A night of thrill, terrors, and free candy that'll last you months!"
"Ohhh." Roxas' eyes widened with understanding. "Halloween. Like Halloween Town."
"Exactly! Except Twilight Town won't suddenly be chock-full of gooey monsters and the walking dead." Pulling on a devilish grin, Lea ducked his chin behind the washcloth over his arm, showing a mischievous wiggle of his fingers. "Or maybe it will. You never know..." Going for Roxas' unguarded side - amateur - the bursting laugh and successive swatting he received as reward warmed Lea's chest, bubbling a chuckle from himself too. He showed mercy in the sneak attack when the boy's bookbag got involved, backing off with a surrender of his hands in the air.
"Hey! Alright, alright. So," Lea picked back up, tossing the sopping cloth to the sink, "what put Halloween in your mind?"
Dropping his bag to the floor, the school jacket tied around his waist soon joining it - Lea made a mental note to not let him forget it there once more before Isa came home picking it up again - Roxas climbed into a stool at the kitchen island. "Just that Hayner and the others mentioned how excited they were that it was hollo- Halloween season." Lea failed to hide his smile at the near slip up. "Pence wants to plan a hangout of..." Roxas paused before reciting the spoken words. "An 'all-nighter slasher horror marathon fest'. Says he does it every year."
"Ooo, scary movie party, huh?" Lea's elbows met the island, excitement revving up at the mere thought of nostalgic Halloween festivities. "Were you guys planning to dress up? You're ol' pal Lea here can hook you up with the scariest costumes; not to mention, teach you all of the most diabolical pranks in the book!"
"Diabolical?" Roxas repeated. "Scary?"
"Yeah! Scaring the pants off of your friends and all that. Y'know, for fun!"
"For fun?" A wrinkle of Roxas' nose came with his incredulous question, and Lea's head dipped to briefly meet the cool marble.
"Roxas, there's no harm in a little good-natured heckling. It's all in the spirit of Halloween," he attempted to reason.
"That just sounds sorta mean," mumbled Roxas. The boy really had such a kind soul- something Lea could sometimes forget with the angsty teenage moments. He squinted that particular squint of trying to wrap his head around something, eyeing Lea once more. "Are scary movies... fun?"
Oh yeah. It's not like Roxas and Xion have ever had the chance to watch scary movies before. Nor get to dress up in fun costumes. Hell, they've never even gotten to experience the innocent joy of trick-or-treating. There was so much they'd missed out on. But now, they had just as many opportunities to catch up.
"Well, yeah," Lea began, running his hand through the mess of his hair. "They can be, to a lot of people. Usually for the thrill of the story, rooting for the poor main hero and anticipating how it ends. Then you also got your more cheesy stuff where you can laugh at the lame graphics and obliviously dumb characters being chased by goofy creatures."
At Roxas blinking back at him, not to mention looking more confused than before, Lea tried not to feel like he had fumbled the whole explanation. When it came to new things, he and Xion usually learned the best with visuals or hands-on experience, he'd come to realize. Who was to say they'd even enjoy the scary ins and outs that came with Halloween? And thinking on the way Roxas had described Pence's movie night of theirs...
"Actually, maybe we should rent a couple of movies at home first, just so you have a better idea of what you're getting into," Lea suggested with a smile. "We can have our own little movie night to get you prepared; us, Xion and Isa."
Roxas put some thought into the idea, nodding. "That sounds fun." Then, in an almost scrutinizing fashion, he put a hand to his chin. "And snacks...?"
A single finger rose to knock the boy's head back with a playful push. "It's like you don't even know me, Roxas. Ice cream, popcorn, chips, you got it!" Leaning in, Lea dropped to a whisper, prompting Roxas to lean close as well. "I'll even bombard Isa to let us get the extra junky stuff."
"I'll be sure to have Xion and me stand behind you with pitiful faces," Roxas matched with his own whisper, a mischievous grin falling into place. "That'll surely get him to give in."
"Atta boy!" Lea couldn't be more proud. "And here's a little advice..." Feeding that eagerness, Lea beckoned the boy even closer with a cupped hand aimed for his ear. "Picking your school things up from out the floor is sure to soften him up even more."
A slightly confused look then shifted to guilty realization as Roxas' smile turned sheepish. "Oh yeah, before I forget." Hopping off of the stool, he snatched up his belongings, swinging both bag and jacket over his shoulder. "Thanks for explaining, Axel. I'll go fill Xion in on our plan!" And with that, he exited the kitchen, thumping steps signaling his barreling up the stairs.
Lea found himself still smiling even after his departure. Strangely due to a mix of amusement from the innocent antics as well as an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. Long forgotten memories of times past, resurfacing for the first time in forever.
Radiant Garden had always been known for it's year-round festivals. Growing up, it was the most looked forward to and talked about topics in every classroom. The most intricate of the bunch, only second after the Spring Solstice, was the Hallows' Eve Thrill Fest.
That had immediately stolen the spot as Lea's favorite. Each year was spent constructing the spookiest costume he could think up, he and Isa staying out way later than what should've been allowed to indulge in the fun and frights alike that the festival had to offer. Lea always entered the costume contest, having yet to land a win, but rewarding his loss either way with ridiculous amounts of appropriately themed food before tackling more competitions and activities. Isa quite enjoyed the variety of live music and the street lined with booths showing off all kinds of arts and homemade products for sale. Both were sticklers for the carnival rides.
Spending the holiday together late into the night had practically become like a tradition. And when freshly sixteen, Lea had been enthusiastic as ever to repeat the fun of years prior.
A storm had rolled in out of nowhere that 31st, canceling the whole event.
As bumming as it was, the two of them were determined not to end their Halloween on a boring note. Digging up old video tapes courtesy of Isa's parents, they ended up setting up camp in the living room where they marathoned horror film after horror film. Ironically enough, that was the night Lea had discovered he was not a big fan of on-screen slashers, not one bit. He had spent the entirety of the time hiding in the cheap fabric of Isa's cloak- that is, when his jumping didn't find him near curled in his friend's lap.
He briefly wondered how he would fare now. Surely it wouldn't be him this time begging for the more cheesy stuff, their gasps and squeals switching out for them laughing their asses off until passing out on stomachs full of roasted pumpkin seeds and too sweet candies. No, definitely not.
Maybe.
Who was he kidding, probably.
Haunted houses and harmless pranks, Lea could handle just fine. The uncanny imagery that motion pictures had to offer, well... a lot had changed throughout life, but certainly not that much.
Lea chuckled at the memory, adding pumpkin seeds to his mental list of things to look out for on his next shopping trip, along with the same variety of movies from that night spent stormed in. He likely wouldn't find the exact same selection, but that was fine. As long as he got to make new memories with the new people in his life.
Even if those memories came at the expense of garnishing his 'cool guy' image in front of the children when he would inevitably end up hiding from the TV.