Author's Notes: So I work in retail, and when I get bored I tend to stick other characters into my situation and see what would happen. Lately, it's been poor Roxas and Axel, and so, this fic was born. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts. Sigh…
Roxas stretched onto the tips of his toes, fingers reaching out and desperately trying to snatch the box only a few centimeters out of his reach. He sighed, relaxing into his normal posture, before once again forcing his body to its full length and failing to grab the object he wanted. Why did his favorite brand of sea salt ice cream always have to be on the top shelf? Never the one below it, which he could reach just fine, but always the one that put it ever so slightly out of his reach.
"Need some help there, Rox?" a voice cooed in his ear. He glared over his shoulder at Axel, whose Cheshire grin greeted him with no remorse as the redhead stood back up; making it clearly evident how easily he would be able to reach the shelf for his blonde friend.
"No, thanks," Roxas spat back. He scooted his toes closer to the bottom of the shelf, only gaining a hair's width, and tried again. Axel snickered behind him as he managed to nudge the box, still coming up... well, short.
"Are you sure you don't want just a little bit of help?" Axel asked, voice a mockery of seriousness and concern. "We wouldn't want you to fall into the display like last time, now, would we?" Roxas' cheeks tinged pink at the memory, but he still growled and tried one last time to get the box on his own. "Really, Rox? Why can't you just let me help you?"
"Because," he answered breathlessly, relaxing after another failed attempt, "I can reach it just fine."
"Yeah, after five tries and climbing onto the bottom shelf." The comment earned Axel an elbow to the ribs, but he still chuckled as Roxas turned around and tried again. He considered for a moment before setting the basket he was carrying down as quietly as possible. This time, as soon as Roxas' heels touched the linoleum, Axel caught him easily around the waist and lifted him up the extra inch he needed, causing a small noise of surprise to slip out of Roxas.
"Damn it, Axel, put me down!" he hissed, horror evident on his face. "You're making a scene!"
"No I'm not," Axel answered, wide grin back in place. "You're the one who won't just grab the box so I can put you down."
"I never asked you to pick me up! Now knock it off!"
Axel's right eyebrow raised just slightly, the grin fading into a smirk. "You don't realize how long I could hold you like this, do you?"
"You don't realize how easily I could throw you off, do you?"
"You don't realize we'd be permanently kicked out of here for causing such a racket, do you?" Axel responded. "And then you'd never be able to get those sea salt ice creams you love so much."
Roxas glared over his shoulder at his friend. He was right, and the blonde knew it. "Shit," he mumbled. Finally he turned and grabbed the box off the shelf, folding his arms over his chest as Axel lowered him back to the ground. As soon as his feet hit the surface he scooped up the basket, dropped in the confection and strode away from his gawking friend.
"Aw, Rox, that's all the thanks I get?" Axel called after him, cocking his head to the side.
Without missing a beat, Roxas lifted his right hand and extended his middle finger, glancing over his shoulder with a grin.
"Much better."
