Oh Man.
If you watch me already you are probably like 'The shiz?! She hasn't finished ANY of her other fics!"
Well I couldn't not do this.
I am not giving up on any of my other fics, in fact I am finished with the next chapters to 'The Way You Make Me Feel' and 'Wrong Number'… I'm just waiting for my beta to read through them.
I was just so excited about this that I read through it myself and threw it up! I couldn't wait!
Now let me explain this a little.
First of all I am really excited about this fic! I'm sure a lot of you know the move 'Almost Famous', right? Well this fic is going to be based off that. One reason I know I will be able to update regularly. Cause the plot is already written for me, pretty much.. save for some quirks I have to do.
For people who know the movie*** If you know the movie, then you know that William, the journalist… ofcourse does not fall in love with Russel (the guitarist of Stillwater). It's Pennylane and stuff. That's were I have to do that quirking. Cuz… Roxas is the 'William' character, and Axel is the 'Russel' character. So in some senses, a few roles are switched around.
For the first few chapters (save a few things) It's gonna be very similar to the movie… but as I get further in my little changes will start and it will begin to become a tad different. Mind you though, it is very much based off the movie… like I am trying to make it as much like the movie as possible.
I think, right now, that will help me. I want to practice my writing… but it's hard when you brain decides to block any plot from being created… so it's good for me to have a plot already and just write what happens. See, usually I don't do that.
Yeah… it helps that, like the Labyrinth, I know this movie by heart, word for word. Not even shitting you. I could sit down and recite either of those movies to you. So, yeah.
As I'm sure you noticed, I didn't name it Almost Famous…. Already using it's plot and all… don't need to use it's name too xD
Let's get this ball rolling
***
Summary: Roxas is a fifteen-year-old journalist. After hitting the gold and getting an assignment from Rolling Stone he is off on an adventure with an up-and-coming rock band, despite his protective mother's objectives. He soon find's that there is a lot more than music to write about. Fun, drama, love, and Axel. Inspired by movie 'Almost Famous'
Pairings: Hmm.. I wonder? Akuroku, duh.
Rating: M for later language and sex
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or 'Almost Famous'. Or the song 'America' by Simon and Garfunkel
OH, if you don't know the movie, then I should explain that this first chapter takes place a few years earlier. The second chapter will start with Roxas being 15, this just gives you some background to how the story starts. C:
I now present with 'I'm with the Band'
--
Chapter One: All Come to Look for America
"Oooh you wanna be Atticus Finch! That's so good!"
The brown hair woman leaned down and kissed her little boy on his forehead. The two were strolling down the street, on their way home. The sun was shining bright, despite the Christmas season that was fast approaching. The jingle of a bell could be heard as a man dressed as Santa collected money for the homeless.
The blonde smiled at his mother, having to trot at a fast pace to keep up with his mother's long legs. If the boy weren't so young, he would have been horrified at what his mother was wearing. She had her long brown hair tied back into a braid with a massive pink bow. The dress she wore was even more horrific. It reached down past her knees and was decorated with a massive amount of pink flowers, the same pink as the bow that held her perfect braid together.
The young boy shrugged and looked down at the ground, "Well, I like him!"
The mother smiled and nodded, "Why?" The tone in her voice seemed to change, almost as if quizzing him. But the son didn't notice as he grabbed onto her hand to keep up.
"He's Honest."
"Yes." She grinned, pulling him along the crowded street.
"H-he stands up for the right thing." The young boy looked up excited, counting the things on his finger.
"Yes." His mom nodded.
"And he's a good father!" He looked up, a big excited grin.
"He is." She nodded again.
"Mmhm, did it all by himself."
His mom slowed down, turning to face her son, "Did what by himself." Her tone went a little low. Not in a mean way, but almost sounded like a teacher.
The blonde stopped and looked up, confused, "Raised his… kids?"
The mother let out a chuckle and shook her head, "He didn't raise them by himself!"
She began walking at the same pace, pulling her young son along, "Excuse me, who was the woman that came to their house everyday?"
"Calpurnia." The boy responded quickly, not even having to think twice about his answer.
"Calpurnia. He remembered her name!" The mother grinned, the last part was whispered to herself. Her son was exceptionally bright and it made her feel like gold to have a son like that. She never wanted to lose him.
The boy jumped up, excited and interested in their conversation
"A-and, what about Boo?
"What about Boo?
"Don't you feel bad for-"
"Boo Radley is one of the most interesting characters in 'To Kill a Mocking Bird'."
The mother and son stopped in front of their door. She shuffled in her bag to find her keys. The young boy pulled his hand back and bounced on his tiny feet. The shirt he wore was a striped button up with a collar. His pants were a navy blue and he wore a brown belt to hold them up. If anyone were to see him, they would think someone shrunk a businessman. The only thing that looked off was his messy blonde hair that rested on his head. No matter what his mother did, it always spiked to the side. His mother knew it couldn't be fixed; his brother's hair had been the same.
With a sound of triumph, the woman pulled the keys out of her bag and unlocked the door, grabbing her sons' hand as she did.
The conversation took a pause as the two stepped in the immaculate home. Everything in the home had its place. The woman let go of her sons' hand to place the bell on top of the doorknob. There was no way she was letting Cloud, that teenage son of hers, sneak past when he got home.
After a little bit of picking every single dust particle off every surface, the mother proceeded to cook. She called her son over, wanting to talk with him more.
The young boy stood on his tiptoes to see what was on the stove. Excited to talk more, he began to bounce.
"Mom, tell me more about Livia!"
Aerith smiled and flipped a cutlet, lightly pushing her son back so he didn't get burnt by the oil.
"She killed everybody else so her son, Tiberius, could inherit the throne- just like Nixon. It's awfully common in a lot of stories. Like Shakespeare. You know, those plays we go see at the Old Globe!"
The two talking jumped at the sound of a bell ringing throughout the house. Aerith sighed and put her hands on her hips.
"Cloud?"
In the room over Cloud winced, silently punishing himself for his failed attempt to catch the bell before it fell. With a sigh he stepped inside and answered his mom.
"H-Hey, Mom." He wore a fake smile and closed the door. He adjusted his jacket to hide the corner of something large and square under his jacket, hoping that his mother didn't come out to talk so he could run upstairs, but no luck. Her footsteps rang through the house as she met him in the living room, a huge smile on her face.
"Want something to eat?"
Cloud sidestepped toward the stairs and smiled, trying to act like the angel child his mother wished he was.
"N-no thanks. I already ate."
Aerith jogged to the other side of the room, in front of the stairs. Even though she still wore her smile, her eyes were angry. Cloud knew it. He jumped back when she crossed her arms, blocking his way upstairs.
"Are you sure? I made soy cutlets." She smiled bigger, but still had venom in her eyes.
Cloud gritted his teeth, trying to keep his smile. A little harsher he responded, "I'm fine, I already ate."
Aerith stopped, her smile disappearing. She stepped closer to Cloud, her eyes turning from anger to disappointment, "Wait."
She took another step, her finger pointing at Cloud. The blonde stepped back, shoulders rising and arms crossing to hug his chest, trying to hide his 'get away' under his jacket.
"You've been kissing." She stated, not even a question. Cloud's eyes widened, but he tried to cover it up by tilting his head.
"N-no I haven't."
Aerith chuckled and took another step, shaking her finger, "Yes, you have."
"No, I-"
"YES, you have." Aerith said sternly, crossing her arms as she did.
"I can tell."
Cloud stepped back and scoffed, "You can't tell."
Aerith nodded, "Not only can I tell, I know who it is. It's Leon."
The younger blonde stepped into the living room and gasped to himself. Cloud rolled his eyes and began to walk past his mom, towards his little brother. He was curious how his mom could tell but figured for now he didn't care.
With a sigh he tried to make his escape upstairs but was again stopped by his mothers voice.
"Whatcha got under your coat?"
Cloud turned around and sighed, figured it was useless to try and hide it, his mom would just get it anyway. With a rolled of his eyes he pulled it out.
Simon and Garfunkel Record. It was going to be his way of sleeping through the night, his way of dealing with this household.
His mother grabbed the record from him and sighed. Cloud crossed his arms, calmly looking into his mothers' eyes.
"It's unfair that we can't listen to our music."
Aerith looked up at the ceiling, reciting something she felt like she had said hundreds of times.
"It's because it is about drugs and promiscuous sex."
Cloud felt like stomping his foot like a child, but instead just grabbed the record from her hand. He could feel angry tears in his eyes but held them back.
"Simon and Garfunkel is poetry." He flipped the record over, showing his mom the lyrics on the back. Taking the record, Aerith looked and nodded, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, it's the poetry of drugs and promiscuous sex. HONEY!"
She flipped the record over, showing her son the two men on the front, "They're on pot."
With that she pointed to the men's eyes, proving her point. The younger boy stood to the side, eyes wide with interest.
Cloud growled, sticking out his fingers to begin to count out a list, "First, it was butter. Then it was sugar and white flour."
Aerith dropped her arms down and sighed, tired of hearing the same conversation.
"Bacon, eggs, bologna, rock 'n' roll, motorcycles."
Aerith stomped away to the kitchen, but Cloud was right on her tail. Slamming the record on the counter, she spun around.
"THEN, it was celebrating Christmas on a day in September when you knew it wouldn't be commercialized. What else are you gonna ban?"
Aerith sighed and turned toward the stove, finishing off the cutlets, "Honey, You just want to rebel against knowledge."
The woman put the cutlets on a plate and set them on the counter, "I'm just trying to give you the Cliff's Notes on how to live life in this world."
Cloud crossed his arms, "We're like nobody else I know!"
Aerith sighed and turned to look at her teenage son, "I am a college professor. Why can't I teach my own kids? Use me."
Aerith smiled, hoping Cloud would listen. But he just stepped back and shook his head.
"Leon says that you use knowledge to keep me down. He says I am a 'yes' person and your raising us in a… a 'no' environment."
To the side the young boy picked up the record off the counter, examining it.
Aerith sighed, nodding. She hated when Cloud talked about Leon. It was enough that her son was gay. She didn't want to hear about Leon and be reminded of the fact.
"Well, clearly 'no' is a word Leon doesn't hear much." With a glare Aerith began to get out the plates for her and the young blonde.
Cloud scoffed and stepped backwards, "I can't live here! I HATE you, even Roxas hates you!"
Roxas jumped at hearing his name. He looked at the two and shook his head, "I don't hate her."
Aerith smirked to herself but Cloud just rolled his eyes, looking at his brother.
"You do hate her. You don't even know the truth!"
"Honey, don't be a drama queen."
Cloud had enough. He threw his hands up and began to walk away, "FECK YOU!"
Aerith's jaw dropped. That was something she was dreading to hear come form her son.
"H-hey!" She said, not happy with the language. Cloud ran up the stairs to his room, slamming the door. From his room you could hear him scream down to them.
"This is a HOUSE OF LIES!"
Aerith sighed and looked down, talking to Roxas. "There it is. Your brother used the 'f' word."
Roxas shook his head, "I think she said 'feck'."
Aerith sighed and looked at the blonde, "What's the difference?"
"The letter 'u'."
Aerith let out a small chuckle and smiled at her son. She made her way back to the kitchen, making sure to snatch the record out of Roxas' hands.
--
Roxas sighed in the bathroom at school. The fight last night had left many things awkward and he was dreading having to be in the car with them. Looking at the boys next to him he frowned. There they were, all fixing their little bit of facial hair that was beginning to grow and all at least a head taller than him. He turned back to his mirror and grumbled, fixing a few of his spiked blonde locks. Why did he look so much younger?
The thought didn't leave him on the ride home either. He was sitting in the back of the car, fingers tracing himself in his class picture. Cloud and his mother were sitting up in the front in silence. Roxas was tired of it and cleared his throat.
"I look so much younger than everyone else."
Aerith tensed up for a second then shrugged, trying to play it off, "Enjoy it while you can."
Cloud looked over at his mom, not amused by the situation. With a sigh he shook his head, "Mom, it's time."
Aerith looked at her teen son and sighed, tapping her nails on the car wheel, "Can this wait till we get home?"
Cloud scoffed and shook his head, "Mom, pull over. Tell him the truth. Tell him how old he is!"
Aerith sighed and began to stop the car. Roxas just looked at his brother with a confused looked, then at his mother.
With yet another sigh, the car stopped and the brunette leaned into her seat, slightly glaring at Cloud, "He knows how old he is."
Cloud shifted to face his mom, "But other kids make fun of him because of how young he looks. Nobody includes him. They call him 'The Narc' behind his back."
Roxas straightened up and looked at his brother with wide eyes, "They do?"
Aerith looked worriedly at Roxas then back at Cloud, "What's a narc?"
Cloud exhaled a breath and gave his mom a square look, " A narcotics officer."
Aerith smiled and shrugged, letting a small laugh escape while she spoke. "Well, what's wrong with that?"
Cloud rolled his eyes a looked away, ready to deal with the fact that he lost this battle. Roxas on the other hand, wasn't done. He didn't want this to end in another fight.
"Come on, you guys. It's no big deal. I'm twelve. She skipped me a grade. Big deal I'm a year younger. They're thirteen, I'm twelve."
Cloud slowly turned his head to look at his mom, a smirk on his face. He would have to remember to thank Roxas later. Aerith look at Cloud and nodded. They finally agreed on something. It was time he knew.
Roxas looked at the two in front and tilted his head, "Aren't I?"
With a sigh Aerith began to speak, "I also put you in first grade when you were five, and I never told you."
Roxas sat back, eyes wide, "So how old am I?"
Aerith smiled, trying to hide the fact that it was bad, "You're eleven."
Cloud looked back at Roxas, waiting for his reaction. He was silent, just staring at his mother in shock.
"So you skipped fifth grade. There's too much padding in the grades. I taught elemen-"
"ELEVEN?!" Roxas screamed, looking at Cloud in shock. The two in front jumped at the sudden outburst.
Roxas just rested his head on the backrest, letting out long breaths. No wonder he was so tiny. No wonder he hadn't grown and… extra hair yet.
"This explains… so much."
Cloud sighed and glared at him mom, "You've robbed him of an adolescence."
The brunette scoffed and shook her head, "Adolescence is a marketing tool."
Cloud rolled his eyes and turned to face to backseat. He reached out and shook Roxas' knee in a brotherly way.
"Rox, I know you were expecting puberty but you're just gonna have to shine it on for a little while."
Roxas glared, not at Cloud but at his mom. Aerith just scoffed again, "Who needs a crowd?" She put her fingers in the air like quotation marks.
Her voice was rising a bit. She adjusted herself so she could see both Roxas and Cloud, "Who put such a high premium on being typical?"
Focusing on Roxas she smiled, "You're unique. Take those extra years and do what you want. Go to Europe for a year. Take a look around. See what you like."
Her smile faded into a look of concern, "Follow your dream. You'll still be the youngest lawyer in the country. Your dad was so proud of you. He knew you were an accelerated child."
Cloud lifted his head up at that and looked over at his mom, "W-What about me?"
Aerith's smile faded at she looked at Cloud. With a sigh she shrugged, "You were rebellious and ungrateful of my love."
Cloud scoffed and turned to look at the front. Not believing his ears. He had to get away.
"Thank got my birthday's in a month." He mumbled. The mumble went unheard by his mother, but not Roxas.
--
"This song explains why I'm leaving!"
Roxas settled in an armchair, while his mother sat on the couch, her arms folded on her lap. Roxas' eyes followed his older brother as he paced over to the record player then as he put the record in, fingers moving to put the pin in the right spot.
Roxas' looked at his mom when he heard her sigh, "We can't talk? We have to listen to rock music?"
Cloud trudged up behind Roxas' chair and leaned down, hugging his brothers' neck. Leaving a kiss on his forehead he whispered a small, 'I love you'.
Roxas looked up and gave him a small smile, silently telling him he loved him back. His brother, the only connection he had to anything real was leaving. The person he looked up to and loved with all his heart was leaving. He wiped the tear that had begun to trail down his cheek and sighed, eyes falling to lap.
The music started, but Aerith refused to listen. She blocked it out, glaring daggers into the floor.
Roxas let the melody run through him. He smiled and looked at his mom, then back at Cloud. Cloud was making his way to the door, a box in hand. Roxas stood up, not wanting to waste his last moments with his brother, and followed. Leon stepped in, ruffling Roxas's hair as he passed.
Roxas didn't know Leon to well, but from the arguments he would overhear from Cloud and his mom, he knew that Leon was Cloud's boyfriend. It took him awhile to understand, and a lot of explaining from his brother, to understand that two guys can love each other.
He wished his mom accepted that, because Leon looked like he was cool, and Roxas wanted to be cool. He wanted to know all the grown ups and know adult things. He couldn't wait until the day he could leave and do something great.
Aerith got up and followed Roxas out the door. The two stood in the lawn and watched as Cloud threw his suitcase in the trunk, along with a box. Cloud looked over at the two, a small frown gracing his lips. Roxas looked back, a look of disappointment on his face. He wasn't disappointed in Cloud, just that he couldn't spend his soon to come teenage years with him. Aerith, on the other hand, just looked worried. Cloud was expecting more of an angry look from her. It almost made him feel bad for leaving… almost.
Roxas sniffed back a tear. The cool spring breeze blew through his already messed up spikes and it made his bare arms cold. He took a few steps forward, letting a small tear fall from his eye. The sound of the screen door squeaking open made him cover the tear. Leon, the cool looking guy, was coming back again. He didn't want to be seen crying in front of him. Leon walked by with a box in his hand. Roxas jumped and cleared his throat, trying to get his attention.
"H-hey man, take g-good care of him in San Francisco… m-man." Roxas stumbled over his words, trying to get them right. Leon let a small smile spread across his face and nodded, turning and making his way to the car.
Cloud smiled when Leon got over to the trunk, letting a hand run though his boyfriends soft hair. The blonde looked back over at his family, ready to say his last good byes.
He strode over, a sad smile on his face. He bent down so he was eye level with Roxas, his sad smile turning into a smirk. Roxas smiled lovingly at his brother. He didn't want him to leave, but he knew he was and that was that.
"One day… you'll be cool." Cloud grabbed Roxas' shoulders and shook them lightly. Roxas beamed at the older blonde. Cloud grinned back pulling him in for a hug. Roxas wrapped his small arms around his older brother, savoring the last hug he was going to get from him in… a while.
Cloud let out a sigh and pulled back a little, resting his head on Roxas' shoulder. "Look under your bed," Cloud whispered with a smirk, "It'll set you free."
He pulled back and gave him a kiss on his forehead. Cloud looked over at his mom, dreading to see how this was going to end. He stood up, brushing some dirt off his pants as he did. He slowly walked over to his mother, almost shaking out of both excitement and fear.
He stopped in front of her, eyes big. With a sigh he put his hand out, ready to give her a heartless handshake, since that's all he figured she'd want form him. Instead he was mildly surprised when she grabbed his hand and pulled him to her, wrapping her skinny arms around his broad shoulders.
With a sigh she shook her head, not wanting to let go of her eldest son, "You're eighteen, I can't stop you."
With that said she pulled back, but not before she caressed his cheek affectionately.
Cloud smiled then stepped back, his excitement taking over him. He darted towards the car, a huge smile on his face. Darting was his second choice; he was going to skip. But he figured his mother couldn't even deal with the fact that he likes men, he probably shouldn't act like a girl in front of her either.
Roxas sighed at the sight as his brother and his brother boyfriend droving off. He was surprised when the tears didn't come. It must have been the fact that he was happy for him, and he knew it was all for the better.
His mom sighed as well, slowly nodding her head, "He'll be back"
Roxas tried nodding with his mom, but stopped when he heard the voice of his brother, letting out a loud sound of excitement somewhere down the road.
"Maybe not soon."
--
Roxas reached under his bed, and pulled out a bag. He could feel his excitement growing; he wanted to know what it was. He closed his eyes and opened the bag. He let out a breath he had been keeping in and slowly opened one eye. He let out a gasp and opened both his eyes. They were beautiful.
Records; probably at least two-dozen. The first one he read as 'The Beatles'. He felt butterflies in his stomach as he flipped through the beautiful works of art. Running his hand across the smooth cardboard he closed his eyes and thanked his brother. The last one caught his interest. The cover read 'Tommy; The Who' He opened the package up and found not only a record, but a note with a box of matches.
He could recognize the messy scrawled handwriting as Clouds and he smiled. The note was short and read;
Listen to Tommy with a candle burning and you will see your entire future.
With a sigh he picked up the record and began to play it. He watched as the record spun, but before he continued watching the mesmerizing thing he lit a candle, watching and waiting to see his future.
Meanwhile downstairs, Aerith started the record player, finally deciding to listen to what Cloud wanted her to.
It was exactly what she always said it was. Poetry.
The poetry of drugs and Promiscuous sex.
Let us be lovers,
We'll marry our fortunes together
I've got some real estate here in my bag
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies
And walked off to look for America
"Kathy," I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
"Michigan seems like a dream to me now"
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
I've come to look for America
Laughing on the bus
Playing games with the faces
She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy
I said "Be careful, his bowtie is really a camera"
"Toss me a cigarette, I think there's one in my raincoat"
"We smoked the last one an hour ago"
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine
And the moon rose over an open field
"Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping
"I'm empty and aching and I don't know why"
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all come to look for America
All come to look for America
All come to look for America
--
Review please.
ALSO, if you know the movie..
Well, actually even if you don't…
What should the name of Axel's band be (should be showing up next chapter).
I was just gonna stick with 'Stillwater' but I'm already pretty much using the movies plot… might as well be creative with names, right?
But I would love to get some suggestions from you guys too!
Thanks for reading, depending on reviews, next chapter should be up fairly soon~