The Morning After [House Party cont]

[Hayden]

There was this tantalizing tease still between them and Hayden wondered if there would be another night like this. He'd have to make sure to get Seven's number before they parted ways. Even if it was just a booty call, Hayde didn't have a problem with that.

Nox was indeed cooking. Eggs, bacon, pancakes... Hayden hadn't had pancakes in a while, it was an American thing. Though Nox had made them once, but he didn't eat any. Seems like he didn't eat any this time either.

Nox made a quip about the girl and he looked like he wanted to punch him, but something stopped him. Maybe it was the rugrat he had strapped to his chest. He laughed. "Looks like you have a new growth."

Nox didn't serve them like he had when it had been just the two of us. Maybe that was reserved for lovers. Or maybe he was pissed. Hayden didn't care as long as he got to eat.

Nox introduced himself to Seven. "Nox. Seven. Seven. Nox." He said as he poured a cup of coffee and planted pancakes and eggs and bacon on to his plate. "I didn't know you two had met before." Hayden said as he sat down at the island, the kids who had been present all seemed to flee up stairs with empty hands. The only people remaining were the guy playing with a very broken prosthetic which made Hayden wonder what the fuck Nox had done last night that he now had a broken arm. And the young blond kid he'd walked in on the night before, who seemed to be eagerly sitting next to the other one. They both still worn silly name tags.

Nox called out. "Liam, make sure Sage eats."

The blonde looked up at Nox and frowned. "Who's.... Oh, yeah. Okay. I can do that." He got up and fixed a plate and then carried it back to the couch tapping Sage on the shoulder. Sage barely acknowledged it but he did pick up a pancake and started eating while he continued whatever work he was doing. Strange people surrounded Nox. Himself included.

[Seven]

The kitchen looked like something out of a holiday movie—warm light spilling across the countertops, the air thick with the scent of spices and roasted meat. Someone was bustling at the stove, cooking up a feast for a house full of guests.

As introductions were made, Seven hung back, staying close to Hayden out of polite respect for their host. He hadn’t expected to see him here.

Nox was different now, almost unrecognizable from the performer Seven remembered. The last time they’d crossed paths was at Kallisti, the club where Nox had mesmerized the crowd, summoning a wave of aurora lights that danced across the ceiling. Seven had watched, spellbound, caught in the strange, magnetic pull of Nox’s energy.

Before that, he’d seen the violent confrontation between Nox and Jay—a brutal fight that had left an impression on everyone who witnessed it. This morning, though, Nox wore a different aura entirely, the intense energy subdued into something calmer, but no less captivating.

“We have met before, briefly,” Seven said when they were finally introduced, nodding with a slight smile. “I’m still curious about how you created that blue flame hair. It was… unforgettable.”

He remembered that night well—the people, the music, the way everyone seemed to gravitate toward Nox. Seven had been busy mingling, drawn into one conversation after another, but he’d kept one eye on the performer, waiting for a chance to speak. Now the chance came.

[Nox]

Nox grinned as he pushed a plate in front of Seven. That was his name, a number now he remembered, wasn't sure how he forgot. Nox waved his hand. The power was tightly about him already as he was using the power to augment his missing hand. It was annoying not having two hands. Not that he needed it for most things. But missing the arm only made him miss Raffe more.

He wove the illusion quickly with the wave of the hand and the blue flaming hair came about. He then did it a second time, this time much slower and without any flourish as he applied the flaming hair to Hayden. "It's all magic." Nox would have flirted but obviously he'd spent the night with Hayden and it was already awkward enough. "Make yourself at home, Hayden already has." Nox went through the rest of the introduction. "The kid on the couch is Liam, he's not mine, he's a stay over like you, and a friend of my cousins. The slacker ignoring everything but the busted arm is Sage. You'll find him around a lot more now that he's met you." Sage raised his hand but didn't do anything more. "I hope you enjoyed the party I did not throw." Nox smirked.