Author's Note-Just a small fiction I wanted to write after seeing my friend play at a small bohemien show. This will be more than just this chapter. Please review. Or no updates.

Disclaimer- I do not own the characters or any of the songs or bands mentioned. Nor do I own Zippo or Coke. I make no money off of this.

Warnings-Language, Cigarettes, Alcohol mentioned. Mild crudeness.

There he was again, just like he always was on Friday nights. On stage playing a song, singing his damn heart out with his band playing in the background. His livid green eyes staring into space, or maybe he was trying to become one with the back wall... it really didn't matter. His music always changed. Mostly they were covers. Once in a while it would be something one of them wrote, most likely him. Today his playlist seemed to contain Green Vinyl Dream or Our Lady Peace.

Riku rolled his aqua eyes as the redhead closed his eyes as the intro notes to Anesthesia, by Green Vinyl Dream, were played. Riku hated to admit it but he loved that song. He smirked as the redhead began to sing keeping rhythm with his beautiful deep purple electric guitar.

I suspect that you're following me

And the truth is I'm equally cold

And beyond, how empty I feel

The words aren't coming

His livid green eyes opened and scanned the dark room. Finally settling on someone, wait... not someone, someone he'd seen for the past three months every Friday night. The silver haired male looked up from his drink and met the far away gaze.

On the surface it all seems the same

Still enjoying the view from the back

But now I'm hopeless and eaten away

You've taken it from me

The redhead's gaze only left him when he closed his eyes, which he did occasionally. It seemed to be a comfort thing.

Give me your anesthesia

Feeding into humming veins oh

Leave me your anesthesia

Welcome to this dreaming shade

I admit I was never defined

And my vision was so uninspired

"Nothing new," the reviewers returned

And now you've come for me

Give me your anesthesia

Feeding into humming veins oh

Leave me your anesthesia

Passing into this dreaming shade

I keep coming back

As this fades to black

Guess I'll lay down somewhere here

Riku shook his head, he'd been here tons of times but he'd never spoken to anyone. Sure he'd been hit on but he wasn't interested. The redhead and his band packed up their stuff and sat down at a table, ordering drinks and waiting for the next set. But now the frontman wasn't with them. Riku shrugged and ordered a Coke with a cherry. He gave the bartender a dont-give-me-your-shit look, as he got his soda.

"Too much of a pansy to drink alcohol?"

Riku's head snapped up, ready to come back with a harsh response when he was met with livid green eyes.

"No, I just don't drink. It's not my goal to become a drunk, " Riku stated before he took a sip from his drink.

"Huh, had me fooled," The redhead sat down beside him, long fingers circling over the lip of his own glass.

Riku watched his movements for a moment before he looked at him again, "Why?"

"You're in here every Friday, alone...I assumed you were a drunk, but now I know you're just stalking me."

"Only when you sound good enough to make me want to hump your leg," Riku watched as his lips quirked into a smile.

"So that's all the time right?" he grinned deviously.

"Heh... not likely," Riku sipped his soda and glanced at the male beside him.

"Ouch! You just ripped my heart out and stepped on it," He made a gasping face and clutched his chest, Riku just shook his head and kept the smile that was threatening to show, at bay.

"What's you're name?" Riku asked.

"Axel. Get it memorized." The redhead smirked.

"Right," Riku took another sip from his drink.

"What about you, stalker?"

"Riku," the silver haired male answered, quiet but confident.

"Riku...interesting. So why are you here every Friday?" Axel looked at him, his head tilted slightly.

"I like music. I like watching people play music from the soul..." Riku met his gaze and noticed just how intense it was.

"Mm that's how it should be..." Axel mused slightly, sipping his drink.

Riku nodded, "Hey you're not drinking alcohol either."

"Yeah... it's dehydrating and I don't need that," He sipped his water.

"Mhm...you already look unhealthily skinny so I guess dehydration isn't on your list of things to do," Riku teased.

"Smart ass. I'm not unhealthy, you're just jealous you don't look half as good as I do," Axel's smirk was back in place.

"Uh huh that's what it is," Riku lifted a challenging eyebrow before he picked up his glass again.

"You know I'm sexy as hell, don't even lie," The redhead winked.

"I never said you weren't. I just know I look better," Riku kept his voice calm and casual.

"Hm," Axel made a small noise as he slid his empty glass back to the bartender. Riku looked at him amused for a moment before he popped the cherry from his drink into his mouth, catching the redhead's attention. The distracted male ran his tongue across the back of his teeth, causing a small clicking sound.

"Tongue pierced?" Riku asked intrigued.

"Hn? Oh yeah," Axel stuck out his tongue revealing a small silver barbell with the words "Fuck You" inside the ball.

The silver haired male grinned, "Classy."

"I know. I'm good like that..." Axel noted silently that it was the first time he'd seen the other male have something close to a smile on his face. He looks better with a smile. Shaking his head he glanced back at his band who were laughing loudly over a pitcher of beer.

Looking back he noticed his companion was standing up, Axel gave him a questioning look. "Smoke." Riku answered.

"Oh. Care if I join ya?"

"Not at all," The silver haired male walked outside as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

Axel leaned against the wall beside Riku, as he pulled out his own pack of cigarettes. Putting one in between his lips he flicked open his Zippo, which had a peace sign on it, and lit his and Riku's cigarettes.

"Thanks," Riku said before he inhaled.

"No problem...you smoke menthol?" Axel made a face, apparently able to smell it.

"Yeah...why?"

"They disgust me," He grinned.

"Oh well... you'll get over it, I'm sure," Riku glanced over at the male beside him. Axel stood under the light out front of the bar so Riku could finally get a good look at the man. He was wearing an olive green tee shirt that said "Make Love Not War" on the front of it, with a long-sleeve black shirt under it. His jeans were well worn and ripped in more than one place. He wore old black combat boots, that were most likely really beat up, but you couldn't see much of them past his pants. He had his right ear pierced in a gauge, a silver ring on his long middle finger, a black bracelet on his left wrist, and a thick hemp necklace around his neck with a metal peace sign, that looked as if it had once been rainbow colored, hanging from it. Riku's gaze moved to the redhead's face, twin tear drop markings rested on his cheekbones under his charcoal outlined eyes.

"Did you do the teardrops yourself?" Riku asked.

"What? Oh hell no. I went and got them professionally done. They're perminate."

"Huh and to think I was going to ask if you were just obsessed with a sharpie marker and had taken to drawing on yourself," Riku smirked a little.

"All the time," Axel said around his cigarette.

The two finished smoking and walked back inside, it was late fall so staying outside wasn't the warmest idea.

Axel looked back over at his group of friends, his band members, they were all getting drunk and laughing. He turned back to Riku as he spoke.

"I'm gonna go bother the drunks, you're welcome to join me."

"No, it's fine...I've gotta go anyway..." Riku stood up and walked towards the door. The redhead just shrugged and saluted him with two fingers.

"Later!" Axel called as he sauntered over to his friends.