banquet.of.confusion

pairing ::

roxminé & slight namiel

summary ::

it was just a simple party … until familiar faces sprang up again. AU.

The music was loud, the people were laughing, the fun was never-ending. Wait, scratch that. Fun? What fun was this?

I clutched onto a glass of brandy like my life depended on it. It was slippery, the glass, for the alcohol had slipped and sloshed out of it occasionally, when I shook from nervousness. I had nothing else to hold on to, and I so desperately needed comfort. This party was wild and crazy, nothing like the peace I was used to back home. Yet, Naminé promised she'd be here. And when I look back at it, that was the only reason I was here. For her, I guess. I always do so much for her.

The curtains of the stranger's apartment were now ripped, shattered shot glasses scattered across the floor so that I had to tip toe when I walked. Crack. Occasionally one of my sneakers would step on a sliver of the broken crystals, making me cringe. All I wanted was to find Naminé in this mess. Where was she? And why did she want me here in the first place? How anyone thought this was fun was beyond me.

I glanced down at the glass of brandy I held and took a quick sip, just to quench my thirst. It was everything but pleasant to taste. In fact, this party itself was everything but pleasant as well. And the more torture I was put through, the more I just wanted to find Naminé.

After more weaving through the crowds, a man with pink hair came stumbling across my path. He held a bottle of liquor, and was drinking it without even bothering to pour it in a glass. I recognized him as Marluxia, a senior at Thallassa High. My eyes widened, for he never struck me as the type to get wasted. But then again, I never got to know him very well. Then it struck me. Was this his apartment? The more I thought about it, going to a party at an apartment whom you didn't even know belonged to was a tad foolish.

As I was thinking this, Marluxia pats me on the head, as if I was a dog of some sort. "Enjoyin' the party?" he asked, waving his liquor bottle around with much gusto. I nodded and smiled to the best of my ability, which made him happy. He didn't leave before ruffling my head of blonde hair and bounding off to chase some blonde woman who was scantily clad, also with a bottle of liquor.

I was about ready to give up when I hear a voice call my name.

"Roxas."

Turning around as quickly as possible for my vertically challenged self, my eyes scanned for whoever had called my name. Had I been hearing things? Maybe not. Or maybe I had. Or maybe, just maybe, this whole situation was driving me off the wall. After a good minute or searching, I gave up, turned around, and decided I should leave, or at least find Naminé. But woe, I have never been the most graceful teenager in my life, so as I was turning, I tripped over a stray curtain (tore from the window by the rage of some maddened drunkard) and was almost sent crashing to the ground. However, a strong arm reached out and grabbed me, pulling my body upright and on my feet.

A chuckle could be heard as a light but smooth voice said, "Heh, you need to watch your step. Maybe get some glasses while you're at it."

It was the same voice who had called out my name before. Now, my eyes opened wide to get a good look at him. He was tall, very tall, I might add. His hair was sent up in little red spikes (Sonic reincarnate? Maybe…) The man's eyes were jaded, small tattoos underneath them that glinted in the light shone off of liquor glasses. He wore a red T-shirt with flames embedded on them and tattered black pants. But despite his rough appearance, he seemed kind. I clicked picture through my head of all the seniors in Thallassa High. For a sophomore I had a pretty good repertoire of names to match faces, but this one wasn't in my mind. "Um, I'm sorry," I managed, spluttering my words. "Do I know you?"

He gave me a questioning glance, those eyes of his piercing through my soul, it seemed. "You tell me," he said with an enigmatic smile. "But that doesn't matter now. I know where your friend is." He released my arm and started walking away from me, back into the mess of people. I stood there, not knowing what to do. Could I really trust this guy? Or was it some trick? But then again, if I didn't find Naminé soon, who knew what would happen to her …

The stranger didn't look back, and he was walking fast with those long legs of his. After much thought, I bolted after him, trying to keep up with the mad rat race. Twists and turns were taken until he stopped with a jolt. Before I could even question why, I noticed that we were in front of a door. A normal wooden door with a blob of pink paint splashed upon it - more reason to believe this was Marluxia's apartment. The man with red hair twisted open the doorknob and flung it open, to reveal a small bedroom.

If it was any other occasion, I would've stopped to laugh at the fact that Marluxia's bedroom was painted pink. And I most likely would've taken pictures. And died because of the girly flower patterns on the walls. But my mind brushed past all these facts and I let out a gasp, seeing Naminé's still figure laying on Marluxia's pink sheets. My gaze turned over to the stranger's. "What did you do with her?"

Again, he laughs. "Chill man. I saved her. Little blonde knows how to party." He walked over to the bed slowly, striding easily with his long legs. "She overdosed a bit on the booze. Passed out. I dragged her in here before the other dudes could get to her … If you know what I mean."

He looked over at me, eyeing me carefully. "But I said, 'Hey, girl this pretty has to have a friend, right?' Before she passed out, she said she wanted Roxas. So I said to myself, 'Good thing I know who he is.'" I wanted to ask again how he knew me, but before I could he was prodding Naminé awake with a black gloved hand. "Party's over, kid. Time for you non-legals to scat."

My heart leaped as Naminé awoke, glad to see that she was alright, in some form. Blonde strands flew everywhere as she forced herself to sit up right, a slender hand holding her head. "Wha … what happened?" she asked in a daze. The man made a gesture over to me and with a silly grin, responded, "Your knight in shining armor has arrived."

It was then she noticed me, and I could only grin stupidly and wave. Heh, smooth Roxas. Real smooth. However, leave it to Naminé to find some energy while in a drunken stupor, for she flew off the bed and came bounding to me, wrapping her scrawny arms around me tightly. I could've died. But then again, like I've said, this wasn't a normal situation.

After I was released, her blue eyes met that of the redheaded man. "Who exactly are you?" she inquired, looking over the stranger with curiosity glazing in her eyes. He waves us away, no longer making eye contact.

"You'll get to know me better later on," he says with a slight smile. "Circumstances might be weird … Like this one, for instance. But you'll see me again. I promise."

x-x-x-x-x-x

Naminé kept giving me these thoughtful looks as we walked down the street to our own apartment complex. I could tell she was still thinking about that stranger, she just didn't want to ask anything. That was Naminé for you. The last look she gave me made me burst out laughing for some reason, which made her sport a miffed look. "What?"

"That face," I responded, trying in vain to suppress my laughter. "Just ask me already! You want to know about that stranger, huh?"

After a few moments of thought, the girl responded with a slight, "Yes." A finger entwined in her blonde hair, as she still kept her eyes fixated on me. Geeze, she knows I hate that. Sometimes I think Naminé likes to make me uncomfortable…. Finally she spoke again. "How did he know your name?"

I shook my head. Everything about tonight confused me, and the stranger was the most confusing of all. "I have no clue," I responded, while I stretched my arms out to the sky. "The important thing is that he saved you from getting raped in the ass by a bunch of drunkies."

"I guess…." she said, trailing off. We spoke no more until we came to the door of our apartment. My hand slipped in my jeans pocket as I fiddled around for the keys. Naminé watched with mild interest, since she's very aware that it takes me forever to find something once I've lost track of it for a bit. Finally, I pulled the key out, stuck it the key hole, twisted, then opened the door. "After you," I drawled as if I were a doorman. She laughed and went inside, shaking her head all the while.

The apartment complex where we live isn't that clean at all. Or sanitary. We both climb flight after flight of stairs just to get to our humble home. But hey, it's the cheapest two sophomores that have both been kicked out by their parents can afford. And, the landlord didn't bother to ask our ages, so that's a plus. Ever since high school started, we've been pooling both of our money together, and we're able to live here. We don't know how long this arrangement will last … but we take it as we come.

Finally, we come across our door. Number one hundred thirteen. Naminé has the key out already for this door, so I allow her to open the door. She goes first however, while I roll my eyes. I'm just glad to be home. Away from the craziness of it all.

x-x-x-x-x-x

"We have school tomorrow."

I looked over lazily across the room. Naminé's in her bed, the white sheets draped across her like she's some angelic figure. My raggedy black sheets over me in my bed, like a street rat who lives indoors. I didn't want to think about school tomorrow … Please, anything but school …

After some thought, I respond, "I know." I roll over in bed, trying to sleep. However, I couldn't. Thoughts of the stranger roll around mercilessly in my mind … And then I wonder. "Do you think he'll be there? Maybe he goes to Thallassa High all along. Maybe we just never noticed him."

"He's kind of hard not to notice," she voiced back sleepily. "But we'll keep an eye out for him tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah," I said, now rolling over on my back to look at the ceiling. It was then I remembered Marluxia's room. "And for Marluxia. I just have to ask where he got his room done."

Fits of giggles could be heard as we both drifted off to sleep.

x-x-x-x-x-x

"I beat you!"

"Unfair. I call a rematch."

"In your dreams!"

She poked my chest playfully with a giggle as she said this, now turning towards the rather large white building. Our prison. Our school. Thallassa High. With a slender hand, she opened the door ever so carefully. "May the force be with you," she joked, rushing off to her locker. I smile and nod, act as if I'm moving over to mine, then turn around and head out of the door.

Homeroom? Please. What's the point of it? However, Naminé's a straight A student, and the thought of rebelling against the stupidest of rules would send her in a riot. So I don't tell her anything about me skipping out on it to go play basketball with my friends. I shed my black sweatshirt and toss it on the ground as I run, leaving me in nothing but a muscle shirt and my torn baggy blue jeans. Racing over to the court, I see my two best friends, Sora and Riku, waving me in greeting.

"'Bout time," Riku said with a smirk, tossing the ball my wall. "What took you so long today?" Riku was taller and older than both me and Sora, and he always seemed to beat us in just about everything. Whether it be basketball, getting girls, or even just playing in our band, (dubbed Oblivion), he seemed to always surpass us. That guy was everything. Today he copied my style, also in a muscle shirt and baggy pants, save his were silver. "So? What happened? Got held up making out with your girlfriend?"

I shake my head, passing the ball back to him. "She's not my girlfriend," was what I muttered, still grinning nonetheless. Sora laughed, motioning for Riku to pass the ball over to him. "Please! Is that why you live together?"

Sora could pass for my twin, no joke. He's the same height as me, has spiky brown hair in almost the same fashion as me, and we both have striking blue eyes. Well, most folks around here do … except for Riku, who's eyes are a verdant jade. Sora seemed to be left out, as he was dressed in a white T-shirt and shorts. The ball is passed to me and I catch it awkwardly. "Well," I start, dribbling it around. "At least I have one. You shouldn't talk though. You haven't even made it to first base with Kairi."

A chorus of 'ooohhs!' come from Riku and I, as Sora waves us off. "Yeah, whatever. You'll regret those words."

We always fool around on the court, tossing shots and never really keeping score. Why do we do it? We have no clue! But it's fun, better than sitting around in some small cramped room trying to block out the chattering of girls and their annoying gossip. By the time I heard the homeroom bell ring, I'm sweaty and tired and feel like passing out. Sora beats me to it, letting himself drop on the concrete swiftly, wincing at the slight pain that went to his head. "Life is good."

Riku plops to the ground, his breathing heavy and tired. He sits with his knee raised upright, resting his elbow on it. He seemed to tired to answer Sora, so I did it for him. "Depends…"

He eyed me from the floor, a brow raised. It was then he sat up, still catching his breath. "Why? Something happen with you and Naminé?" He always seems interested to discuss this topic with me, as if girls are all that's important in this world. I decided to entertain him. "Yes. No. Not really. Something happened last night…"

Now Riku seems interested, as his jaded gaze turns my way. "Did you…" he trailed off, looking for a way to ask his question,. "You know…"

"What do I know?" I asked, giving him a look. Oblivious.

The brunette laughed at this. "Dude!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air. "Do you still have your card?"

"What card?"

"Good God," Riku muttered, shaking his head. I truly had no idea what the two of them were talking about, so again I stupidly decided to ask. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"DID YOU DO HE-"

"Oh!" I exclaimed, laughing slightly. "No! Hell no! I told you all, she's not my girlfriend. It's just that … we uh … went to a party last night and …"

Sora interrupted me, his mind obviously too fast for my slow muttered speech. "And then you did her there?"

The silver haired lad punched Sora slightly in the arm. Not hard enough to injure but good enough to make Sora rub it and scowl, shutting him up for a second. "Continue?"

"We met this guy…" Remembering the redheaded stranger brought a chill down my spine, and the cold autumn air didn't help much in this situation. I ruffled my hair with a shaky sweaty hand and kept going on. "Naminé had uh … fainted and he took her away from the madness of the party so … you know …"

Sora grinned stupidly. "So someone else wouldn't do her?"

"Shut up for a sec, will you?" Riku asked, elbowing Sora.

"And he knew my name. That was the weirdest thing. I don't think he knew Naminé though. And he said that we would meet again…"

After a few minutes of silence, Sora let out a low whistle, shaking his head. He stood up now, taking a hold of the basketball while he dribbled it around. Bounce, bounce, bounce. After a bit, we all stand up, and that's when Sora said, "Maybe you're being stalked?"

"He might go to this school," Riku said with a shrug. "Maybe we've never noticed him before."

"He's kind of hard not to notice," I butted in, shaking my head and quoting Naminé. "But, let's agree to all keep an eye out for the redhead?"

They both nod, and it's then Sora dropped the basketball on the floor. My little story had set us off course, and we were all devastatingly late. Not exactly a first for us, but nothing to get all hyped up over. As we all neared the building, as my foot was about to head in my 'prison' I heard my name ring out.

"Roxas."

I spun around, and my deep blue eyes open wide. I couldn't speak, I couldn't talk, but despite this I happened to get five words out of my mouth.

"What are you doing here?"

a.u.t.h.o.r.s.n.o.t.e.

before you get your chakrams in a knot, let me just state that this is not akuroku … for once. my sensei -sama's obsession with namixaxel got me thinking … but my roxminé obsession burns too much in my heart for me to write a fanfic with JUST namixaxel … so this was born. Ah, yes, this is AU. So no, this doesn't take place on destiny islands … destiny islands doesn't have apartment complexes O.o erm, yeah, so commento.