Author Notes: Well, no, it's not the much-awaited Snowglobe. -Snort- Yea, because there's HEAPS of people just clambering for it... --
This one's been around my head for a while. T'was supposed to be a one-shot, but turned out really long for a one-shot, so it turned into a two-shot. If that's the right term. I dunno. But t'was funny by the fact that I'd most of it written, except for the ending. The ending had me stuffed.
Dedication: For Zume-Chan (again, yes) for getting me off mah butt and finally getting me to write this. Even though I don't think she knew it. But you did. And yea, I know I just went from first-person-third-person view to first-person-second-person view... if that makes sense. Which I don't think it did.
Prompt: Yea, I have a prompt. It's an icon. A Roxas one. And the caption is 'King For A Day', thus the title.
Summary: It started with a "Hey, Roxas!" and went downhill from there. How could something so beautiful, so real, be so fake? AkuRoku. Waaaah! Depressing summary!
Disclaimer: May less-than-intelligent Vincent Valentines rain down from the sky and strike me where I stand if I dare mention the ownership of anything in this chapter. Which I don't. Own anything, I mean.
On with the sho- I mean story! Yea! That's what I meant!
Chapter One - Beginnings
"Axel, what were you trying to do?" Sora watches as Axel fades, doomed to be cast into oblivion.
Axel grins lopsidedly. It is not a real smile, but it is the closest he can get. "I wanted to see Roxas. He was... the only one I liked. He made me feel... like I had a heart. You make me feel... the same..."
And though neither of them know it, someone else is watching them, Axel in particular. His eyes betray the pain he is feeling. He is screaming out, but no one can hear him.
'Axel... I'm right here. Don't go! Don't you die on me, damnit! AXEL!'
"Hey, Roxas! Do you-"
"No."
"Aw, but-"
"N. O. Spells no."
"Come on, Rox-"
"I said no. Now go away, before I pour scalding hot emo on you," Roxas stated, subtly hinting the cup of coffee in his hands. He lifted it, barely taking the time to glance over at the invading red-head on the other side of his table. Honestly, creepy, perverted stalker guys these days... (1)
Axel whined, flopping his head down on the table, creating what some would class as a headdesk. Teach him to go whacking his head around on inanimate objects. Oh, well. It was probably just the table's revenge for setting it's best mate on fire a couple of days back.
Rubbing his now-injured forehead, he half-glared, half-stared longingly over to where the blond sat. "But, Roxy, you don't even know what I was going to say!"
"Alright, then, what were you going to say?" He asked, then as Axel opened his mouth, added, "If it contains the words "I", "You" and "Tonight" and/or "Tomorrow morning" and/or "After school" in the same sentence/paragraph, then I'm not listening."
Axel paused, his face betraying the fact that it did include those particular words in one sentence. He thought for a moment, then said, "Well, Roxas, none of my sentences actually did have those words in them. You see, Axel would like to take Roxas out to the movies today, if he would be so kind as not to reject." And after that sentence, all Axel could think of was, 'Oh, you sly devil, you.'
Roxas sighed, introducing Axel's face to his fist. Forcibly. "How about no? Does no sound good to you? Well, you'd better get used to it."
The red-head pouted (causing many-a-fangirling, I'm sure). He then checked to make sure his nose was completely intact, before replying with a, "Aw, come on, Roxy, don't rain on my parade! You know how much I hate rain! Just entertain me, this one time. Then you'll never have to come with me to the movies again, I promise," he pleaded. And the picture would've been perfect if he would just get down on his knees and kneel in front of him. But unfortunately, he had a bit too much dignity to do that.
The blonde grumbled. "Fine then, I suppose. What're you going to see?" he asked, flipping through the book he happened to be reading. The coffee cup made another appearance as he lifted it to take a sip.
Axel punched the air in triumph. "Well, Roxy, truthfully, I have no freaking idea. I had planned up until about now and then thought 'aw, stuff it.' So, right now, I'm winging it. How 'bout we just go and see what's there and take our luck with it?"
Roxas sighed, checking his watch, "Whatever makes you happy, Axel. But I've got someplace I've got to be at the moment, so buh-bye." He collected up his book and his coffee cup, dumping the latter in a rubbish bin. He stood up to leave, only to be bowled over by a certain red-head.
"Yay! Me and Roxy are going on a date!" Axel squeaked, latching onto the blond's waist.
"Roxas and I," he corrected, peeling off Axel's fingers. "And who said it was a date? I only agreed to go to the movies with you; nothing else, ok? Now I really have to go, I'm late!"
Axel grinned. "We don't have last period together, so I'll meet you in the car park, 'kay, Roxy? And no trying to bale out on me!"
Roxas nodded hurriedly, running off out of the cafeteria they had been sitting in all that time.
Axel stood up, watching as Roxas left, crashing into a few people. He laughed, feeling his chest constrict. He clutched it absentmindedly. "Whatever makes me happy, eh, Roxas...?" Then he turned and left for his next class.
"Axel..."
"Hello, Riku. I've been expecting you."
Riku hesitates, walks forwards and reaches out for Axel, whose back is turned to him.
"You know what I've come for, then?"
When Axel turns to face him, Riku is surprised. His face lacks the constant smirk, and instead, it is a mask of... emotion?
"One day, Riku. One day is all I ask for."
Riku pauses, then nods uncertainly. "Alright, Axel. One day, but that's all you'll get. It's all I can do, really."
Axel's face is now one of relief. "Thank you, Riku." He pauses, watching Riku. "You'll be there, won't you..."
It is not a question. Riku nods briskly. "I have to be, otherwise things won't work out properly."
Axel nods. "Just as to be expected. But..."
"Don't worry about it. I'll not ruin anything. This is your chance to have fun."
Axel laughs. "Fun, eh? Well, we'll see..."
Heads turned as Roxas crashed through the door, one hand holding a stack if books, the other supporting him against the door frame. He scurried inside, whispering briefly to Mr. Even before he went to take his seat next to Riku.
The silver haired boy leaned over as Roxas dumped his books on the desk. "You're late, Roxas! What kept you?"
Roxas grimaced. "I went to the library to return a book from a coupla weeks ago. Ienzo and Aeleus were there, and they gave me a lecture about how punctuality was extremely valued at this school, and other random stuff like that. I swear, I am never going near that library ever again, even with a ten-foot pole and an anti-emo radar on the end."
Riku laughed, then yelped when a ruler slammed down onto the tabletop. He looked up to see Mr. Even glaring down at him. "Mr. Acriol, it would be very much appreciated if you would stop your chattering long enough for the rest of the class to actually learn something," he scolded.
Roxas grinned at him, opening his exercise book, ready for the lesson; or what was left of it, anyway. He bent his head down studiously, making out he had been paying attention all that time. Which, in reality, he hadn't.
Turning away, Riku smiled sadly to himself. He couldn't bear to look at him any longer. He was doing the right thing, allowing them one more day, wasn't he? Everyone deserved one last goodbye, right? Looking back at the working Roxas, how his brow creased in concentration, he wasn't too sure.
"Sora, there you are!"
Sora turns to see Riku running towards him. His face lights up, and happily he skips towards him, landing comfortably in the silver-haired boys arms.
"Here I am, Riku!"
They allow themselves those few seconds of happiness, then pull apart again. Sora looks up into Riku's contemplating eyes. Had they always been so dark?
"Riku, what's the matter? Why do you look so sad?"
Riku looks away, avoiding Sora's calculating gaze as he explains the situation to him.
Sora nods. "I see. So you want me to... For Axel?"
Riku nods, still unable to look Sora in the eye.
The brunet laughs. "Well, if it's just for a day... I don't see why not."
Rikus' eyes widen and he turns back around to argue, but Sora silences him with a finger on his lips. "We can allow them this last slice of heaven, can't we, Riku?" He whispers
"But, they're-"
"Even those that are nothing have that smidgen of right to exist, right?"
Axel looked over to the classroom wall, counting with the clock as it slowly ticked to 3:30. Just one minute, and he would be free.
Thirty seconds now. He fidgeted slightly in his seat, glancing quickly at his classmates.
Fifteen seconds. Almost there...
Ten seconds, and was that a cat passing by the window?
Five seconds. Damn, how could anyone work in this heat?
Four...
Three...
Two...
On-
BRRRAAAANNGGGG!!
Axel was up and out of his seat before the teacher had the chance to dismiss them. He grabbed his bag up off the ground, swung it over his shoulder and near-ran out the door while the rest of the class simply stared before they registered the fact that the bell had rung, and they were free to leave.
The red-head emerged into a hallway of bustling students. Obviously, some had gotten out earlier. Damn, why hadn't he thought of that? He fought through the sea of students (and trod on a few - but hey, they would live), cursing the school for having such narrow corridors.
Finally, he found a break in the ocean of people and made for it, soon emerging into empty space. He breathed a breath of relief - finally free of the stampede of people. He made a beeline for the car park - that's where he was meeting Roxas, right? Well, providing he didn't try skip out on him, that was.
A few minutes later and he had found his car. Well, to say it was his car was a bit of a misnomer. But hey, that stupid man wouldn't mind. Besides, it was only for today. Pushing all thoughts of whether or not the car was his, he unlocked it and dumped his bag inside.
Looking around, he noticed Roxas walking out of the school, his head turning as though looking for someone - or trying to hide. Sighing, Axel jogged over, sneaking up on him from behind.
Roxas yelped as a pair of arms wrapped around him and lifted him up into the air. He tilted his head around to see - 'Anyone but Axel, anyone but Axel...' - the red-haired wonder himself, grinning happily.
"You trying to run off, Roxy?" Axel laughed, setting him down.
Roxas pouted. He whacked Axel in the head, just for good measure. "I was not trying to run off! I was looking for something, but I haven't found it yet..." he dragged off, looking around again.
Axel laughed, leading the blond back to his car. "Sure you were, Roxy. Sure you were..."
"Roxas! Axel!" Called a voice from behind them. They both turned to see Kairi running towards them, her auburn hair blowing out behind her.
Roxas smiled as Kairi caught up to them. "Hey, Kairi. What's up?"
Kairi handed Roxas a set of paper. He looked at it oddly, and she laughed. "It's tonight's homework. You ran off before Mr. Even could give it to you."
Axel laughed. "Looks like you won't be entirely mine tonight, Roxy! Mr. Even's got you booked!" He grinned lopsidedly, taking the papers and studying them. "And man, you're going to be working on this for a while!"
Roxas snatched his papers back, elbowing Axel in the stomach. The red-head rubbed his stomach tentatively, hounding after Roxas as he walked off.
Kairi laughed as she watched Axel catch Roxas in an awkward head-lock. She turned to leave, contemplating to herself. She hadn't asked for this to happen - in fact, she had asked for anything else - but to see the evidence there, right in front of her eyes, maybe it wasn't such a bad thing after all.
One day. It wasn't that much to ask, was it?
"Riku, why didn't you consult me before you went and did that?!" Kairi exclaims, outraged.
Riku turns away, ashamed. "Kairi, you don't understand-"
"No, you don't understand! How could you- I can't believe- Why...?" She pauses, realizes she has been shouting. Her voice has cracked. Now it is her turn to look away. They were supposed to be friends, why did she react like that?
"Kairi, I understand that you don't approve, but..." Riku stops, his eyes widening as Kairi wraps her arms around him. Tentatively, he hugs her back.
She sniffles. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, Riku. I'm just worried..." she laughs, pulling herself away. There are tears threatening to fall, but she pushes them away.
Riku smiles, patting the top of her head. "We're all worried, Kairi. But you and I will be there to make sure that it doesn't go any further. Well, I will, anyway."
Kairi looked defiantly up at him. "And so will I! How could you think that I'd not come?"
"Of course. But I'm sure Sora'll be fine."
Kairi looks away again. "But, he'll..."
Riku laughs sadly. "Me too, Kairi. Me too."
The two of them stood before the theatre, just standing there, doing nothing.
"It's... closed?" Axel finally spoke. He sighed, reading the sign that hung on the door;
'Closed due to fire three days ago.'
Roxas sighed. He wasn't too sure whether he was pleased or disappointed by this. He shook his head vigorously. No! No! He was pleased by this! Definitely pleased! Not at all disappointed! Nuh-uh! Not even a little bit! Not one little-
He looked over at Axel' sad face, his expression drooping, and he felt a pang of guilt. He was disappointed for the red-head. Yes, he was, wasn't he? He sighed, initiating one of the only hugs he had given him. "Don't worry about it, Axel. We can find something else to do, right?"
Axel's grin returned. "Really? You wouldn't mind?"
Roxas shrugged, letting him go. "Yeah, it wouldn't be too bad, I suppose. In fact, there is a small chance that I might enjoy this," he admitted, the words out of his mouth before he had a chance to think about them.
Axel hugged him again. "Thanks, Roxy! You don't know how much this means to me!"
Roxas blushed. Surely he didn't mean that much to the red-headed pyromaniac? Well, so he always seemed to be hanging off him - so what? It didn't mean scat... right?
Wrong, apparently, as Axel happily lead him back to his car. "Going out for dinner just seems kinda tacky, so we won't. I've got a great store of DVDs and videos at home, though, so that's alright. I'm sure you won't mind, eh, Roxy?"
And in that case, he didn't. In fact, he didn't mind anything the red-head did anymore - well, not as much as he used to. Was he... actually starting to like the red-head? But that was stupid! He would never even dream...!
Riku looks up. He senses someone approaching - three someones, actually. He stands, the back of his neck prickling, as though he is expecting a great evil to approach and demand his soul. Who he actually sees is not quite as intimidating. It is the Twilight Town gang; Hayner, Pence, and Olette.
"So you've heard, then?" Riku asks, though he already knows the answer.
Olette nods. "Kairi told us about it. Is he really..."
Riku nods. He has been through this scenario before - just recently, in fact, with Kairi.
"What'll happen to us?" Hayner asks, stepping forward. "We never knew him before. Will we just randomly get memories that we didn't have before? What right do you have to do this to us! What-!"
Pence moves forward to restrain Hayner from doing anything rash that he would come to regret. Though he is thinking the same things, for he looks questioningly at the silver-haired boy, who has turned away from them.
"Honestly... I don't know. I've never done this before, and I'm not sure anyone else has, either," Riku replies.
Olette comes forward. "So... it's like a test drive, right?"
Riku sits down and nods, not paying anymore attention to the three of them. After all, he never knew them. Why should he start getting to know them now?
The brunette pulls something from her pocket, holding it up to the setting sun. Hayner relaxes, and Pence releases him, both reaching for their pockets.
The sun glints off the multi-coloured orbs, and for a moment, it feels like someone else is in their midst. All of them could feel it; even Riku.
Hayner laughs. "Roxas, eh? Well, good to know we once meant something to you."
End Notes: There we have it. Chapter one. The little notes:
(1) Stole Roxas' little scalding hot emo quote from an icon. T'was about Zexi, tho. :)
Now, no pressure to review this one. Nope, none at all. It obviously isn't worth reviewing... So I know you probably won't. So, no need to... Coz it's the pride and joy of my life to find two story alerts, three favs and no freaking reviews. So, no pressure... And possibly no next chapter.
:)