Okay, back with yet another fic, becuz i'm a sucker for reveiw attention. I mean seriously, inbetween all the cutting, suicide attempts and brotherly harassment...don't you think I need some love? :(
(The quote in the summary is by Jane Howard)
DISclaimer: i dont own ntn.
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. ~Jane Howard
Roxas Strife. The doll of the world. Sexy, blonde, talented and famous. Perfect combination. Said superstar flipped his bang a bit out of his face. A show for the cameras of course, which were trained on his every move.
"Roxas! Over here!" reporters pushed and shoved each other trying to get a perfect shot and other trying to get some dirt on the boy. Superstardom at the tender age of 14 when he did a particularly ravishing photo shoot. Roxas, bed, feathers, half naked decked out in skinny jeans and littered with diamond rings and necklaces strewn around his figure. It had been an add for a french jewellery line: Noir Desir. At first, the public had been out-raged. How do you allow a young boy feature in such a provocative advertisement! He is far too young. His body was still changing but the fact that he had a swimmer's build didn't exactly stop him. But, this was only the beginning. The products sold like crazy. In a few weeks he had already gained a legit and devoted fan club. By the time he was 17, he became known for his sexy stares and his way with words. Of course he had acquired himself a band of haters, but oh well. He was far more mature than most adults around him, having not had an exactly normal childhood.
Growing up with Marluxia Kamine, his manager, from 14 years of age isn't exactly normal. Marluxia was...pretty...and pink. Literally, pink hair, baby pink nails and pink outfits when Roxas didn't chastise him for being so over-bearingly gay. He's been taught to answer smartly in ever interview, so as not to raise any bad publicity. He was sheltered, very much so, even going to the extent of cutting himself off from his family and friends down in the peaceful Destiny's Island where he grew up. Note that he wasn't forced, he insisted. He simply didn't want anyone holding him back from his goals and aspirations. He didn't want him to get in the way.
Roxas, ignoring the flashing lights and array of voices, smoothly eased himself into the limousine after Marluxia, the guards keeping the rabid reporters at bay.
But before he could close the passenger door he heard one questioned that sear through his heart,
"Roxas! Is it true you are going to be finally visiting your family after you long time absence?"
Roxas glared at the nosy crowd searching for the inquirer. Giving up he closed the door and told the driver to drive. Not before giving those reporters the bird though.
During the ride, Roxas' face was hard to read. Marluxia sipped a bottle of spring water, eyeing his charge warily,
"You okay?"
"I'm fine," the 18 year old bit back.
They lasped back into silence before Marluxia spoke again,
"Just remember what we're going there for," he said quietly and stiffly, "I'm not forcing you to get back in touch with your family. We're just there for a little publicity. Everyone loves a good family story," he sounded a bit smug at the end of his reminder. He was pretty damn smart to have thought to bring Roxas' family back into the picture. The topic was always skillfully avoided, and Roxas' family weren't all that active apart from that remote-ass island. Sure, it wasn't that far, but no one, and he meant, NO ONE, has ever heard of the damn place. Apart from that top arts school that's there...but ah, well. Insight into the family life would get some good rating on television. Marluxia side-glanced at Roxas, and from the looks of it, his relatives probably had a mountain of drama to go along with it. Soon enough, the black limousine pulled up at the docks. Marluxia and Roxas stepped out of the vehicle having totally different views on the environment.
The first thing that assaulted Marluxia's nose was fish. Well, not exactly 'fish', but just that over-bearing ocean smell, which in his mind was the same smell as fish. Ocean = Fish and everything shitting in it.
But the sea breeze, weather and smell made Roxas feel...nostalgic. He hated nostalgia. It made him feel weak. Like he was leaning back on the guy he used to be, a bottle of emotions. Now he was simply an empty vessel. He could be whatever his public wanted. I mean, with an empty bottle, there's no chance of it overflowing right? So, now Roxas liked to think that he was superior to emotions such as 'love' and feelings like 'compassion'; normal human faults. Roxas Strife classified himself as 'asexual'.
Roxas removed designer Gucci glasses from his face and took a deep breath in. The weather wasn't exactly perfect, but few grey clouds were in the sky. In the distance he could see the silver of an outline of his own personal hell; where is child hood fell apart...because of him. He glared into the distance. Now he was going to have to back and actually talk to the brat and look him in the face. And tell the camera with a smiling and almost too loving face,
'This is my brother, Sora.'
Sora Strife was excited. Very, very excited. He was finally coming back home. After a long 4 year absence, he was coming home! Sora had everything planned. The relatives would all be here. The dinner would be great. The house was spotless and the colours were nice and easy, lots of indigos and yellows...and greens...and reds...and purples...that wasn't all that loud was it? The whole entire houe had been refurbished slowly over the three years. He took it upon himself to get any odd job he could get his hands on, and with the help of a few friends and Cloud he renovated it. So Roxas had a Marriot-worthy place to stay...when he came back.
He couldn't wait to tell Roxas all about the drama the went on amongst the little island inhabitants. He couldn't wait to show Roxas the garden. He couldn't wait to let Roxas meet his college friends...The lemon that Sora was currently zesting slipped from his grasp and fell into the sink. No. He wouldn't tell Roxas about his college friends. He wouldn't tell Roxas about the college at all. He would pretend like it was the worst thing that ever happened to him; his culinary career was hell. Sora blinked back tears, picking up the lemon and began zesting it into the batter again. Because aside from the great friends his gained...it meant losing Roxas almost completely. It still hurt the way he left. It was a scar on his heart that opened and bled for Roxas.
*Flashback*
'How could things have gotten to bad so fast,' Sora thought.
It was all so surreal. 3 days ago, it had been the epitome of his and Roxas' lives. But now...
"Please, Roxas!" Sora pleaded, voice garbled with tears, "Where will you go! You can't just leave! What are you going to do?"
The pink haired man sitting beside Roxas let out a snort,
"He's going to become a superstar, that's what!" he gestured to the blonde, "Roxas has simply decided to use his gifts to the fullest extent."
"As a model!" Sora exclaimed.
Marluxia bristled,
"Yes, it may start with a modelling career," the smug smirk came back on the pinkette's lips, "But, Roxy here has disclosed his talent and fondness for the Arts. We could, probably further on in his career, get him into a great arts school, like Julliard perhaps?"
Sora felt the air rush out of his lungs. This is what exactly he had feared. Low blow, Roxas...
Sora raised imploring eyes to their older brother and legal guardian, Cloud. But his brother's face was stony. That meant he understood what this was about as well. He couldn't let him go, Cloud would make him stay, Cloud would-
"And the rest of his education?" came the older blonde's slightly strained voice.
No. No. Nonononononononononono!
A new wave of tears slpashed from Sora's eyes. His throat constricted and he couldn't make any words. He turned his bloodshot eyes to his brother. His twin brother. The boy he spent nearly every day with. The boy he shared a womb with. Surely, Roxas and his said twin-ship bond, would strike something that would make Roxas stay. That would make Roxas forgive him. Anything. Slowly, Roxas' head returned from it's ducked position. Slowly he raised his head and locked eyes with Sora,
"Homeschooling," he said with confidence, "I'll get a teacher. And I'll be doing online courses as well."
Sora lips trembled even more violently and he covered his mouth to somewhat muffle the choked sobs wracking from his body. The twin-ship connection bullshit failed. Roxas' eyes...were filled to the brim with disgust, animosity and a sick twisted triumph. Sora realised this was making him feel good. He wailed again and buried his face in his hands. He couldn't believe it. He was losing Roxas. He wished he could reverse everything. He wished he hadn't been such a clutz. He wished he'd payed more attention to Roxas' needs. He wished that Roxas' wasn't going to set off the big apocalypse of his existence; leaving Sora alone.
*End Flashback*
Sora put the baking tin into the oven to sit beside the many other attractive dishes and pastries already set in. He washed his hands of batter and dried them in napkins. Roxas would be here in a few more hours and he would make this the best dinner Roxas ever tasted. A 5-star meal. Complete with all of Roxas' favourite foods and things. So naturally, this meant cooking all day consistently.
"Sora?" he heard the sweet voice of his ex-girlfriend tinkle through the house, "Where are you?"
"I'm in the kitchen!" he called back and his ears were soon greeted with the clicking of Namine's heels as she made her way to the kitchen. In her hands she held atleast 5 grocery bags,
"I got the stuff you wanted-Oo! That smells nice!"
"Thanks," he gave Namine a grateful smile a relieved her hands of the black bags and emptying their contents onto the counter.
"God, Sora," Namine breathed, "I don't know how you do it! Cooking all day is so not my style!"
"Well," he muttered, a smile gracing his lips, "it's all worth it, right?"
Namine smiled,
"Big day, huh?"
"Yeah."
Big day, indeed. Tch, Sora even went as far as to buy new table cloths to spread over the dining room table that would be able to seat 14, rent a few professional servers and do up the place with the help of one of his home designer friends.
"Need any help?"
"Ah...sure!" he replied remembering something he needed done, "can you chop these greens and veggies, please?"
"'Kay," Namine complied making her way over to the draw to get herself and apron, "You know, Sora?"
"Hm?" glancing at the blonde girl.
"You're going to make a great housewife one day," she winked and a blush stained Sora's features,
"Er, uh, thanks."
She laughed lightly reply. Suddenly one more thing materialized on his his list of things to tell/update Roxas on. The reason for his and Namine's break-up. He was gay...well bi really. But at the moment, happily gay.
They went on cooking in perfect silence, Sora only stopping for a few minutes to text all his guests to remind them that they had to be here by 6pm latest, before going back to check on his lasagna. It was when Namine was stirring one of the soups she cleared her throat,
"Uh, Sora?"
"Yeah, Nam?" he answered chirpily.
"You know," she began, "Roxas could've really changed alot in 4 years."
Sora was silent and she continued,
"I don't want you be disappointed if he's not the same." 'If he's not over it,' she added in her mind.
Sora couldn't say he had never pondered this on sleepless nights. He knew Roxas might be different, due to the glamour of being in the celebrity seat for 3 years no end. He might even bring some work home with him; the email his twin's manager sent him had said something about a camera crew and a documentary, but Sora didn't mind.
"I know, Namine...and thanks," he sighed as he added the last touches of icing to the cheesecake.
If Roxas was coming home a criminal...he would welcome him with open arms.
Aww...a bit of angst. sigh. I don't know how Roxas could hold a grudge that long with his twin! I surely couldn't...*stares aggressive/harassing brother in the back of head as he sleeps like the dead* Bitch.
But anyway my pretties! Reveiw and you will possibly, probably get more of this story! And there will be some axel action next chappie ;) so reveiw=update faster!