Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.

AN: I've been thinking a lot about where I want to take Pocketship while it's been on its little hiatus and after careful speculation, I thought instead of just having the entire story be from Roxas's point of view—I'm completely tapped out from writing a first person Roxas since I finished Inertia Creeps—why not incorporate a whole bunch of point of views? I've always wanted to write a story like that, and seeing as I hadn't taken Pocketship that far I figured it would be pretty easy to turn things around and do so.

Pocketship: Chapter One
My Brother's Hot Best Friend
Roxas

Axel Ramirez has been my next door neighbor ever since I was three.

He moved in at the beginning of one summer with his mother, father, and older brother Reno. My mother had just picked me up from Hayner's house, and she was off to pick up my older brother, Demyx, so she could bring us over to the new neighbor's house and greet them.

Axel was sitting down on the curb in a pair of ripped up jeans that had probably seen better days and his unruly red hair as wild as ever. In his lap was a bulldog puppy, which he was petting absent mindedly as he stared off into the sky. My mother soon became absorbed in conversation with Axel's mother and the two seemed to hit it off instantly. Demyx dragged me along to go greet Axel once his mother called his name and he looked nonchalantly over his shoulder to see what she wanted.

The first thing I noticed were his eyes. Those vibrant, one of a kind, malachite eyes. They were so intense like he was burning me without fire. It was on that day that he said his first words to me, "The names Axel. That's A-X-E-L. Got it memorized?" He even tapped his forehead for emphasis.

That was the start of things.

Being that Axel and my brother were the same age, the two of them more or less became best friends in a matter of months. The both of them were always getting into trouble one way or another. Like the time they set old Mr. Merlin's tabby on fire. Or that time when mom caught them throwing water filled condoms off the roof at people that passed by. Mom's probably grounded Demyx more times than I can count on both my fingers and toes.

As for my personal relationship with Axel, I've always been his best friend's smart little brother. You know the one who constantly tries to rationalize the stupidity of his older brother's antics, or covers for him when he's been out at some party and comes into the house at some ungodly hour, too far gone to remember where he is.

In return, Axel, in a way, has always felt like a retarded older brother to me more than anything else. A pyromaniac …retarded older brother. He's always been over to celebrate Hanukkah and Passover and he was at Demyx's bar mitzvah as well as my own. (If you haven't guessed by now, I'm Jewish. Shalom. Or how Axel says it – shaylum.)

Whenever we've got something planned, Axel is always somewhere in the fray doing …something …be it destructive or not. So, when he showed up on our door step one December afternoon, cigarette in hand and a smirk on his face, I really didn't think too much of it. He was probably just here to bother Demyx and the two of them would probably go out and get into all sorts of trouble.

He grinned at me when I answered the door, stubbed his cigarette out, tossed it over his shoulder and allowed it to roll into the street. Trails of smoke wafted out from the dying embers and he relaxed his shoulders. His red hair was subdued by the chill of the winter, flattening and flowing in the harsh wind that encircled the air.

"Roxassss." He rasped, "Long time no see. How's college treating ya? Dem didn't tell me you'd be back so soon."

"I'm fine," I opened the door wider to let him in, "Actually; I just got back last night …"

He shrugged his jacket off, heading over to the coat rack to hang his jacket up. "Is Demyx up yet?" He asked, following me into the living room where I had been watching TV at.

"No, he's probably still knocked out …" I replied, picking up the remote.

He crossed his arms in thought. "Sheesh …"

My mother came into the living room, looking quite rushed. When she caught sight of Axel standing beside me, she instantly greeted him with a cheerful smile, "Axel!" She began, tucking a few loose strands of her unruly blonde hair behind her ear.

He waved toward her, "Hey, Mrs. A. How've you been?"

"Pressed for time at the moment," She replied absent mindedly, "If you'll excuse me, I simply have to find my watch …"

"What's up with her?" Axel asked me.

"Last minute packing." I answered, finding nothing on the first few channels I had browsed through.

My mother and father were off on a two week vacation for the holidays, courtesy of Demyx and me as an early Hanukkah present. With them being gone, that left the two of us—Demyx and I—to our own devices for the entire length of the break.

I would more than likely spend the length of my vacation hanging out with Hayner, Pence, Olette and Naminé …or occupying myself in …other ways …

"So, you turn eighteen yet?" He asked sitting down on the couch next to me.

"On the 26th."

"That right, you're after Marx …" He rubbed his head, "I always end up getting you guys confused. All you December babies …"

My mother rushed by once again, looking like she was on the verge of snapping. My father was lugging their bags down the stairs, calling out my mother's name. "Sabel! SABEL! Can you stop fretting for five minutes and help me with these bags?"

"Forget about the bags for five minutes, Teier! I can't find the keys to the Rav 4! Where in God's name did you put them last night!" She was shaking her hands in exasperation.

"Right on the kitchen table!" My father responded quickly, reaching down to catch a sliding bag.

"Um, mom?" I interjected between them.

"What Roxas?" She asked, her voice growing hysterical. "What? What do you want?"

"Demyx took it out last night after you guys picked me up…" I started, "You might want to check under the first floor bathroom sink…"

"…Of all places …" My mother rushed past my father who was struggling with bags as he was coming down the stairs. Axel rose from the couch, crossing the length of the living room to go help my father with their luggage.

"Why, thank you, Axel." My father slung a bag over his shoulder as Axel picked up the remaining bags off the steps, "Seeing as my wife left me all alone to fend for myself!"

My mother came back, looking absolutely livid. "I'm going to kill that boy." She looked at my father, "Well, what are you standing around for? Get those bags into the car!"

"I need the keys, honey." My father responded, trying to get the venom from out of his voice.

"Right," She dropped the keys into my father's hands as he unlocked the front door and trampled out into the winter cold. Axel began to help him pile the bags into the car while my mother stayed in the house. At that moment, Demyx was coming sleepily down the stairs, yawning loudly. My mom turned on him in an instant, yelling loudly, "You! YOUNG MAN! What have I told you about putting stuff back where you found it!"

He stared at her as if she were speaking another language, "…Wha?"

She sighed in frustration as she shook her head, "Never mind." She reached forward and gathered him into a hug, kissed his forehead and ruffled his hair so that it was out of his face. "We're off, okay? Take good care of my little baby while we're gone and don't you dare think about throwing any parties. I've already asked kind old Merlin to keep an eye on you boys for me."

"Maaaa-OOOM." He moaned, swatting her away. "I'm twenty one!"

"Twenty one or not, sometimes I think Roxas has more sensibility than you and he's still seventeen."

"I am too sensible …" Demyx pouted, as if he were a wounded puppy.

"Roxas, come here honey." She turned to me ignoring him. "Make sure he doesn't do anything … rather … make sure he doesn't destroy or damage anything while we're gone, okay?"

I shrugged just as Axel came back into the house. "I'll try." I headed back over to the couch, sitting down to flip through channels again.

Axel instantly grinned when he saw Demyx standing on the stairwell making his way over to my brother. "Hey, Dem! You're up."

"Hey man." Demyx mumbled tiredly, running a hand through his mess of a hair, "When did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago. Roxas let me in." Axel answered, gesturing off toward me.

"Sabel, everything's packed. Let's go so we can beat traffic!" My father yelled from outside.

The car started up outside and my mother rolled her eyes, reaching for the door knob. She paused as she turned to look back at all three of us. There was her ever deceptive smile before her voice rose and she screamed, "BEHAVE!" Axel and Demyx flinched while I stared on at her. How many times had I heard this coming speech, before? "I don't want to hear any stories about things mysteriously getting set on fire, relieving yourselves in the neighbors yards or crashed cars into the fronts of houses!" She narrowed her eyes, "This warning is completely directed at you two. I know Roxas would never do something like that."

Taking one last look at us, my mother closed the door behind her and was off down the walkway to get into the car. The engine revved, my father honked the horn twice and the two of them were off.

"…Sooooooo," Demyx started, turning to look at Axel devilishly, "What do you wanna do?"

"I dunno. I thought we could go harass Marluxia or something. You know? The usual…" Axel replied, grinning at him. "We could kidnap his cat and dress it up or something …"

"You know I can't refuse a proposition of pissing Marluxia off! I'll go get dressed!" Demyx yelled excitedly, thumping up the stairs.

I sighed, shaking my head at them. Marluxia was of the many members of my brain damaged brother's group of friends. The first time I had met him, I thought he was a girl. Just a thought, how many boys do you know who dye their hair pink and wear a matching flower in it on a daily basis? …Even in the winter time?

As Demyx headed back upstairs, Axel headed over to sit down next to me. He was currently grinning up a storm as the prospect of later antics. With his eyebrows drawn high in curiosity, he turned to look at me. "So, what are you doing for your break, Roxy?" He probed, "Got a sexy little girly you're gonna spend it with?"

I coughed, "Um …sure …."

"What was her name? Larxene's little sister …that little blonde girl …ah …ah …" He snapped his fingers, trying to remember something. Before he could get his thought out, my brother had come trampling back down the stairs dressed and ready to go. "That was quick." Axel stated, standing up.

"Yeah …but you know …I didn't get to brush my teeth …" He scratched his head, "My toothbrush wasn't in the bathroom …"

"That's because you broke it in the car's ignition last night." I told him, "…Then again, you were too drunk to even realize it."

Demyx scratched his cheek. "Yeah …well, I'll have to buy a new one while we're out. Let's go Axel!" He hadn't even bothered to zip up his coat as he reached for the door knob to open the front door.

Axel followed him, pulling on his coat and zipping it up. He turned around to look at me, waving. "See ya, Roxy!" He winked to me just as the door closed and he and Demyx began running down the street in the direction toward Marluxia's house.

I peered out of the kitchen window and watched them disappear out of view. When they were gone for good, I retreated back to the living room where I collapsed on the sofa in front of the television. After a moment, I inhaled deeply as I fell over onto the spot where Axel had been sitting at previously and inhaled deeply.

Yes, that was Axel Ramirez.

My next door neighbor since I was three. My brother's best friend. Pyromaniac.

…And most of all …

My crush. The object of all my boyish glee and …perhaps, someday, maybe affection.

You can insert a dramatic longing sigh here.

Oh come on, like you didn't see that coming? My brother's best friend is hot. Come on. And on a more personal note to myself, I need to find a better name for Axel. …Boyish glee is starting to sound pretty gay.

…As if I'm not.

-x-

I was making a dinner of pasta with garlic and butter sauce when the front door slammed loudly against the wall. Just so you know, this happens every time Demyx opens a door. There's an indentation on the wall where the knob fits perfectly because he does it so damn much.

Demyx and Axel had finally come back in tow with Marluxia—looking positively gay with the flowers in his hair—and their 'emo' friend Zexion, who was quieter than emo if anything. Yes, the 'Organization'—I still have no idea as to why the hell they call themselves that—was back together once again. I definitely knew I was going to be seeing a lot more of them in the days to come.

God, save me.

"I fucking hate you two." Came Marluxia's shrill voice as they entered the house, "How many times do you think you can kidnap Lilac before I figure out who took her?"

"…If you hated us Marx, you wouldn't be over at Demy's house right now." Axel's voice came from behind him, "Something smells good …"

"Rox is probably cooking." My brother yelled excitedly. Demyx was the first one in the kitchen, followed by his entire motley crew. He sidled his way up to my shoulder, trying to peak over at what I was cooking, "What are you makkkkkinggg?" He asked excitedly, somewhat reminiscent of a small impatient child.

"Back!" I ordered, jabbing the spoon at him, "Get back!"

"Jesus, Dem. Can you stop thinking about your stomach for five seconds? You just ate." Axel laughed, coming into the kitchen. "That does smell good though …" He walked over to my older side and leaned in to sniff the pot.

"So, did you make enough for all of us? Hm, hm hm?" Demyx prodded again, shaking my shoulders gently.

"Didn't I say get back?" I asked, pointing the spoon at him again, "And yes, I did. So go sit down and occupy yourself with something and leave me alone while I cook!"

"Why do you always have to yell at me and never Axel, hm?" Demyx whined, standing at full length.

"Because Axel isn't annoying." I quickly answered, turning the flame down under the pot.

"See. I told you he likes me better." Axel winked at him, sticking his tongue out.

"Dude, it is so gross when you do that." Demyx whined, "Put your tongue back inside your mouth. I hate looking at that thing."

Axel dramatically threw his arms around Demyx, leaning in to lick him on the cheek. Demyx strained against his hold pulling his face away from Axel's tongue, "Ohhh, Demy. You burn me with your words."

I found myself drooling. Just a little.

"Get off!" Demyx yelled, flailing his arms.

"Call us when it's done, Roxy!" Axel yelled, pushing Demyx into the living room where Marluxia and Zexion were.

I ignored the shouts and laughter coming from the living room and resumed cooking. I was in my own little world when my cell phone vibrating against the counter knocked me out of my reverie. Naminé, my best friend, was calling me.

I've known Naminé since we were kids like the majority of my friends. I mean …in Twilight Town, the friends you grow up with are the ones you keep for life in most cases. Anyway, Naminé has been my main confident ever since I was younger. She was the first to know about how I discovered that I wasn't exactly getting happy off of posters of big busted girls in bikini's that Demyx had posted all over his room, if you catch my drift.

…Yeah.

Anyway, back to Naminé.

Mom was always trying to get me to go out with her friend's daughters, always yelling, "I want grandchildren one day mister!" or "Why can't you be a skirt chaser like your older brother!"

Naminé tends to think it's pretty amusing to tell you the truth.

Her family is the complete opposite of my own. She lives with her liberal artist mother and nazi feminist bisexual older sister, Larxene—who also happens to be my older brother's possessive, bitchy and psychotic girlfriend—in the more urban parts of Twilight Town. She was more accustomed to the, "free expression and free art!" approach to life.

Whatever the hell that is.

For awhile—really, it was only to get my parents off my back—we dated. Nowadays though, it didn't really matter too much since I'm off at college and she's here in Twilight Town doing her art classes or whatever. I think my parents pretty much figured we "broke up" after high school. Oh, what they didn't know.

I picked the phone up, pressing it to my ear, "Hello?"

"Hey," She began, "Why didn't you tell me you were home?"

"I just got back last night." I told her, peering into the pot again. "I would've called you eventually, you know?"

"Sure you were. Roxas, you're terrible when it comes to calling people." She said, "I saw your brother today."

"Really?"

"Yes," I could hear the mirth seeping into her voice, "And he was with a certain red headed friend of his …"

"Oh really?" I fiend ignorance, "What were they doing?"

"Trying to shave Marluxia's cat." Naminé replied. "Or so my sister tells me."

"Sounds like them." I sighed, peering over my shoulder at the living room. "So, how've you been?"

"Fine," Naminé trailed off, her voice going a bit high.

"You okay?"

"Uhmm …yeah, don't mind that. Anyway, I was calling to ask if you wanted to meet me over in town tomorrow for some catching up or something. You know, for old time's sake?"

"Sounds good …I'm not doing much of anything these days…"

Naminé hummed knowingly, "Really?" She asked, "How goes the Axel hunting?"

I glanced over my shoulder, looking at the shutters that closed the bar area off from the kitchen. Peaking through one of the shutters, I caught sight of what I was been looking for. "Funny that you should mention that, I'm looking at my target as we speak."

"Well? Any new developments?"

"Zilch, Nam like always …" I closed the shutters and reclined.

"…Roxas …"

"Don't start there with me right now. I'm hardly at liberty to discuss my love life or a failure that is at the moment. There are retards within the vicinity." I cast a glance toward the living room.

"Ahh, the motley crew is at your house then?" She laughed, "Should I let you go?"

"If you don't mind." I replied, "I'll meet up with you tomorrow alright? Just call me and tell me when and where."

"You better stay true to your word, Roxas."

"I will, I will …" I sighed, "See you, Naminé."

"Bye, Roxas."

The line went dead and I pocketed my cell phone. I turned around and reached up into one of the cabinets to get a plate down. Swerving back around on my feet, I piled some pasta onto my plate and stuck a fork in the center. After pouring myself a glass of water, I exited the kitchen, turning to look at the group situated in the living room. "You can get your food if you want."

Demyx mumbled something under his breath but stayed fixated on the television. Marluxia was busy talking away on his phone and Zexion appeared to be focused on the television like Demyx was. Axel turned to look at me, grinning widely. "Thanks, Rox!"

I quickly turned away, thudding up the stairs pretty sure a blush was creeping up over my face at that exact moment.

Shit.

-x-

There is a reason I don't make an attempt to remember the majority of my dreams.

I rarely have any worth remembering, and even when I do, all I'm left with are disjointed fragments of something I can't fully remember. Like that one dream I had with a naked Axel, a guitar and butter. Stupid short term memory …or whatever it is.

Anyway, I had a dream last night was nothing short of stupid. It was one of those useless dreams where you're left going, 'what' more than anything else because of its sheer randomness.

God wanted me to be his shepherd. I don't know why, and I really don't care how. All I know is that I was herding sheep. Then out of nowhere, Axel comes onto the field I was herding on one of those …golf cart … things and starts honking around the entire place scaring the sheep away.

He starts yelling at me about how he needs sheep because they're made of pork and he needs to bring them to his father's slaughterhouse because he wants to make me a nice big pork sandwich to eat. But then genius hits him and he goes, "But wait, aren't you Jewish? You can't eat pork, right? What am I doing?" And then he drives away to the other side of the field away from me and my sheep.

I told you it would make no sense.

Ugh.

I woke up early the next morning at close to eight. I still hadn't adjusted my body to its vacation mode clock, so for the time being I just woke up whenever. The sun was hidden behind a handful of clouds, stray rays escaping from small holes in the clouds as they floated on by. I got off my bed, crossing over to the door and opened it to head downstairs.

I was instantly hit with a waft of air that smelled like weed and spoiled milk. Not a very pleasant smell, I can tell you that now. When I got downstairs, I saw Demyx was sprawled out haphazardly on the couch in the living room, his arm hanging off the side and brushing the carpeted floor. Sighing, I turned off the TV he had left running and went into the kitchen to fix myself some breakfast. I nearly jumped when I saw who was standing around in my kitchen, wearing nothing but a wife beater and his boxers.

Axel grinned at me behind a mug of what was probably coffee, "You're up kind of early, aren't you Roxy?"

"I could say the same thing for you." I told Axel, walking around him.

He dropped his mug into the sink, "Ah, but I asked you first."

I shrugged, "I always wake up early."

"The complete opposite of Demyx. Sometimes I forget that you two are brothers." He shook his head laughing.

The thought of my comatose brother passed out on couch elicited a small snort from me as I crossed over to one of the cabinets to get some cereal down. I reached for a bowl out of the dish washer, pouring the cereal into the bowl and then got the milk from out of refrigerator. Axel was standing with his back against the counter humming to himself, watching me walk back and forth all over the kitchen.

I turned to eye him, "What?"

"Nothing." He smiled, standing up straight. "I'll go check on Demy."

As soon as he left, I exhaled the air I had been holding for the entire time Axel had been staring at me. Five minutes later, the silence of our house was interrupted by Demyx's screams and Axel's loud laughter.

…Those two.

-x-

"Staring at you, hm?" Naminé asked, blue eyes lighting up in mischief.

"It wasn't …creepy …" I told myself, knowing I had been lying. Okay, so I liked Axel staring at me. …But I'd prefer it more if he were staring at me while I was— …

"Maybe he was thinking of you naked." Naminé said out of the blue, taking the thought right out of my mouth.

I blanched shaking my head, "Naminé!"

"Like you wouldn't have enjoyed that?" Naminé grinned, "Roxas, come on now. How long have you been chasing after Axel? Two? Three years?"

"Four." I corrected her, "…Ever since my freshman year of high school …"

"And how old are you now?" She asked, mirthfully, "You're going to be eighteen in a couple of days. You'll be legal. Legal, Roxas! Do you know what you'll be able to do now that you'll soon be legal?"

"…Has your sister been talking to you again?" I asked, completely dismissing what she was trying to get at.

Naminé laughed, "Has she? I guess she has …I do sound a bit like her now, don't I?"

"Scarily, yes."

"So, on another topic …how's school been?"

"Fine," I replied. "You know. Full of nothing but drunken parties, streaking, drugs, people passing out everywhere, cramming for tests …typical college things. And you?"

"Art school is wonderful actually …" She replied fondly, a hand coming to her face.

"Tell me about it?"

"There's too much to talk about …but, right now we're doing some work with a model. I'm not really satisfied with my piece but I think it'll come together at the end. Speaking of, I need to get some new supplies. Can we make a stop off at Landscapes and Impressionisms later on?"

I shrugged, "Sure…"

She sighed, "It's a nice day out, isn't it?"

"I guess …"

She wrinkled her nose, "Is there anything you want to do today? Any stores in particular?"

"Actually, I have to go over to the record store… to let Cid know I'm back in town and all so I can work while I'm here. I don't want to be cooped up in the house during my entire vacation, you know." I said.

"Sure." She smiled at me, folding her hands together. "Then we'll pick up some lunch afterwards, is that okay?"

"Sure."

Naminé went on to ramble on about something but I wasn't listening to her really. My mind was drifting away to Axel once again. Demyx, despite our mother's warning, was probably going to go buck wild while they were gone. That meant, the more Demyx was prone to partying, the more Axel was going to be in the vicinity ...which was great for me either way.

The more I got to see of Axel, naturally the happier I was.

"Roxas, are you listening?" Naminé asked me, breaking me out of my reverie.

"Yes. Come on; let's go to your art store."

She looked at me skeptically and then dropped it as she started walking down the street again. I followed suit, my mind on thoughts of Axel the entire way.