A/N: Even though I should be finishing my other multi-chapters before starting a new one, this plot bunny was too distracting and shiny to resist. I haven't had this much fun writing in forever. Don't get me wrong, I love writing my other 'fics, but this has been my favorite yet. :D
Ages, for anyone who cares: Axel and Saïx are 17, Aqua and Terra are 18, and Xion, Roxas, Kairi, and Sora are 16. Oh, and Vanitas is 10. I think that's everyone who might matter.
This chapter is from Axel's POV. The POV will change with each chapter.
Let me just start off by saying this whole thing wasn't my idea. Well, okay, it kinda was, but it wouldn't have worked out if it weren't for Aqua and Kairi, so Saïx can go berserk on them too. Besides, what was I supposed to do when Xion glanced over at me with those irresistible blue eyes?
I was just an innocent bystander who happened to walk out of our "study session" (which is code for "Saïx droning passages out of my Chemistry textbook while I yawn and try to convince him to let us take an ice cream break") at the right time.
XXX
"…I'm not just a girl sometimes," Aqua huffs to Kairi as Saïx and I come down the stairs to finally get some food. "I don't know why Terra teases me about it so much when he apparently thinks I'm girly enough to ask out on a date."
Kairi grins in that know-it-all little-sisterish way. "Don't you think that might be why he teases you? So you'd go on a date with him to prove you can act girly when you want?"
Aqua groans. "If you're right, I did exactly what he wanted me to."
"So? You like him. It's good for both of you."
"I do not – not like that…" She protests helplessly.
I wouldn't tell her this, but Kairi's usually right when it comes to romantic advice, as long as it's for anyone other than herself. She has a reputation for it – her cell phone number's at the top of the Gossip Central Hotline. At least she's smart about knowing what and what not to pass on, which is probably why so many people trust her with their secrets. That and her innocent face, which I'll admit it usually sincere. Usually.
Saïx tenses, gripping the railing like it insulted him. He tries to hide it, but I've always been good at reading his vaulted expressions.
"What, jealous your hot sister's going on a date when you can't get up the nerve to ask out anyone?" I tease. He glares daggers at me, and it's a good thing I've become pretty dagger-proof over the eleven years we've been friends.
"Of course not."
"Y'know, that Jasmine Sultana girl's pretty into you…" I can't help adding. It's an understatement – Jasmine's been flirting with Saïx the whole school year despite his attempts to brush her off.
"I would rather have my scar cut open and washed with salt," he deadpans.
"If you say so." I shrug with a grin, and we continue on our way to the kitchen, catching another snippet of Kairi and Aqua's conversation.
"…Sora and I aren't really a couple yet, we've just talked about this one date for now," Kairi says, startling me into dropping my bag of dried fruit (Eraqus, Saïx's dad, isn't big on chips and junk food, so I'm always stuck with healthy stuff at his house). "I mean, I'd like to be his girlfriend, but you know how Sora can be…"
Aqua nods. "It's easier to take this kind of thing slowly, though. It just hurts everyone if you get too close to each other and then decide that kind of relationship isn't best."
"Amen to that," I agree. It's good that Kairi's got someone smart enough to give her advice that she probably wouldn't take from me, even though I doubt Aqua's learned that lesson the hard way like I have. Sticking my head into the oversized living room, I grin at my sister. "So Sora finally asked you out?"
Kairi rolls her eyes at me. "Axel, we're having girl talk. Stop eavesdropping."
"Well, you are talking pretty loud," I point out. "And I'm taking that as a yes. Did you tell Mom already?"
"Yes, I did, and before you ask, we're going ice skating with Aqua and Terra, six o'clock tomorrow night," she rehearses. I'm glad she's tagging along with Aqua since I know she'll keep my little sister out of trouble. I trust Sora – he, Riku, and Kairi hang out at our house all the time, plus he's Roxas's cousin. Still, I'm Kairi's big brother; sue me if I'm a little protective.
I give her a thumbs-up. "I'll give that the Axel Stamp of Approval."
She rolls her eyes again and goes back to her talk with Aqua as Saïx grumbles something, but the sound of the front door opening distracts me from whatever he said.
"Hi Aqua, hi Kairi," Xion says with an adorable smile, closing the door behind her.
"What, no hi for me?" I pretend to be offended, and she laughs and walks over to the kitchen table where Saïx and I are snacking on some chewy dehydrated apples. Seriously, how does their family live off this stuff?
"Sorry, I didn't see you back there, Axel. Hi." I grin when her smile and shining eyes are directed at me.
"You mean you looked over this amount of awesome?" I gasp exaggeratedly, liking the pink tinge on her cheeks as she rolls her eyes at me. I laugh and ruffle her hair.
"Axel, your conceitedness is showing," Saïx says bluntly.
"Oh, hi Saïx," she adds, taking the chair next to me and eating an apple slice. "What are you guys doing?"
"Studying," he replies curtly. "Nothing that concerns you."
I frown, chewing another tasteless dried apple. "C'mon, Saï, she was just asking. We're not even studying anymore, anyway."
Xion shrugs as usual, unaffected by Saïx's tone. Most of the time when I'm at their house he tries to keep his distance from his siblings, especially Xion, but I don't know why. Well, I can understand him avoiding Vanitas since that kid's annoying and downright evil sometimes. Don't ask me how he ended up in the same family as Xion and Aqua, who are just about the nicest people I've ever met. I'd call Xion the nicest person I've ever met, but I'm biased since she's been my best friend for as long as Saïx and Roxas have, and let's face it, Saïx's not going to be winning any nice guy awards anytime soon, and Roxas… well, Roxas is Roxas. They're just not the same as Xion.
"It's fine, Axel. I'm sure Saïx's just grumpy because you two have been studying for so long." She smiles again, and it's amazing how simply curving her lips upwards can look so nice… Dang it, I've gotta stop look at her like that around Saïx. He's bound to notice sooner or later.
"No, I just need Axel to stop getting sidetracked so I can help him study for his Biology exam." My Chem teacher's crazy, giving an exam the day before Christmas break. How many people does he expect to show up? I bet anyone who does won't have studied at all with vacation so close. Well, except me, thanks to Saïx.
"Ugh, but we've been studying for over an hour," I complain. Saïx's one of my best friends and all, but he can be a total workaholic. I'll admit that I do owe my low B's in most of my classes to his help since I tend to get, for lack of a better word, distracted at school. It's more like I'm focusing on more interesting things, like I dunno, anything else. I only took the class in the first place because I thought we'd blow stuff up.
"You've been trying to get out of studying for over an hour," Saïx corrects.
"So? You helped me study yesterday, and the day before that too. I've got it memorized." I tap the side of my head. "C'mon, let's go get some ice cream. I think McDuck's place started their Half-Price Thursday deal today."
Saïx sighs in that "I-can't-believe-you're-thinking-about-ice-cream-when-we-could-be-working-ourselves-to-death" way he's so good at.
"Don't blame me if you fail your exam tomorrow," he finally relents.
"So you're coming?" I grin.
"All three of us are going, right?" Xion asks hopefully.
"Why not?" I answer before Saïx can take those hopes and throw them out the imaginary window.
"…I suppose so, if Father approves." Saïx clearly doesn't want her to tag along, but at least he hasn't protested at all. He stores the bag of dried apples back in the OCD-organized pantry and walks down the back hall to find Eraqus.
Xion and I migrate over to the living room to wait for him, and not surprisingly, Kairi and Aqua are still chatting away about their dates.
"I've got my work discount if you haven't paid in advance," Aqua offers.
"Don't worry about it; Sora said he's got it covered." Kairi shrugs. "It's just three hundred munny, anyway."
"Three hundred munny for what?" Xion sits on the fancy couch across from the one Kairi and Aqua are on, and I plop down next to her.
"Ice skating," Aqua replies.
"You two area going ice skating? Can I come?" Xion pretty much radiates hope from her eyes. I don't know how anyone could even think of crushing that, but Aqua does.
"I'm sorry, Xion." At least she's sympathetic about it. "Kairi and I are going on a double date with Sora and Terra. I don't want you to end up as a fifth wheel. Trust me; I know what it feels like."
"Oh, that time with Terra and Ella, and Ven and Snow…" Kairi winces.
"Nobody ever wants me to come along," Xion grumbles. "I'm not a little kid; you won't have to babysit me." Aqua gets up and walks over to us, placing a hand on Xion's shoulder.
"You know I don't think you're a little kid. It's just that this times' only for dates, okay? I don't get the chance to go out like this much." That's true; the last time she went on a date was almost a year ago with Zack, which I only know about because Saïx can't stand the guy's constant excitement. Still, Xion slumps in disappointment. "We can go together some other time."
"…You're right. I'm sorry for being rude about it," Xion says glumly, then drops her head and mutters something that sounds like "If only…"
Her eyes flicker over to mine for a moment, and apparently Aqua notices it too because she half-smiles at us knowingly. I don't recognize that right away; I'm too caught up in that expression in Xion's eyes – longing?
"How about I go on a date with you?"
Okay, for the record, I did not plan on saying that. It just slipped out. I'd… entertained… the idea of asking Xion out a few times since she turned sixteen three months ago, but I didn't mean to act on it. She's my best friend. Sure, she's cute, and like I said earlier, the nicest person I know, and I've started looking at her differently since what I just refer to as "The Larxene Incident." But I'd hate to make our friendship awkward. Even though I've got a suspicion about her crushing on me, there's always the chance that I'm wrong.
Besides, there's Saïx to think about. …But he can't be mad at me for helping out a friend, right? It's the natural thing to do.
"You – you'd do that for me?" She stutters. Hopefully out of excitement and not shock.
"Why not? You're sixteen now, so your dad'll let you date as long as you're with a group, right? Nothing serious," I try to act nonchalant about it. "That way we can go ice skating with them and nobody gets left out." It really is the perfect excuse. Even if we crash and burn date-wise, it's casual enough to not put a dent in our friendship. Not a big one, at least. "You do want to go, right?"
Xion beams at me. "Of course! I'll have to ask Father, though…" She give gives me a quick and unexpected hug. "Thank you, Axel," she says before hopping up off the couch.
"My pleasure." I grin, wondering how much of her excitement is the just the idea of going on a date and how much is the idea of going on a date with me. That is, if her dad gives the O.K.
I wince on the inside. Hopefully Eraqus doesn't still hold that grudge against me…
But right now I have another problem. Is it Kairi's mischievous giggling? Nope, but I'm sure that'll be back to haunt me later. Aqua's oddly satisfied expression, then? Confusing, but another no.
Saïx is back, and he's looking between the four of us like we've sprouted tentacles or something. I quickly wipe the stupid grin off my face, Kairi coughs to hide her giggling, and Xion's eyes widen before she turns around.
"Would someone like to explain what just happened here?" He asks with his normal calm voice while I run my mind at ninety miles an hour to come up with answers to the inevitable interrogation I'm gonna get. Knowing how much he hates it when Xion hangs out with us, he's not gonna be too happy about this, but come on, it's just one date. He'll get over it.
"I asked Xion out on a date," I say simply.
"And I'm going," Xion adds, sounding determined.
Saïx blanks, deer-in-the-headlights style. Like, I can't read him at all, which scares me more than his earlier glaring. But then something even weirder happens – he looks frightened, which is frankly insulting. What, does he think I'm going to hurt her or something? I hope I misread his face; he's back to glaring now, and he's about to say something before Xion cuts him off.
"No," she says like she can read his mind. "You're not Father, and Axel's my friend too. I don't need your permission."
"If they want to go out, that's their choice, not yours," Aqua adds calmly, then turns to her sister. "I'll come with you to ask Father."
"I'll come too," Kairi adds quickly. I don't blame her. Saïx's glare-daggers are firing all over the place, and he just bumps it up a notch once the three of them leave. I sit there and stare back, determined not to back down.
Surprisingly, I don't have to hold his gaze long before he looks away with a sigh. "Why?"
Is that all he's gonna ask? I'd expected something more dramatic with the way he'd been glaring. Well, I'm thankful he didn't flip his lid. I've seen his true anger only twice in my life, and I'd like it to stay that way. It's good to know that I haven't pushed his berserk button yet.
"Why what?" I counter, crossing my arms.
No witty retort to that, either. "Why did you ask my sister out?" is his simple reply.
Saïx stands in front of me while I'm still sitting on the couch, which makes me feel strangely like I'm in time-out.
"She's not just your sister, she's my friend. Didn't you hear what she said? Besides, you don't even like her," I retort. "Don't try to pull that card after you've spent so much time making sure she doesn't hang out with us."
Saïx looks away for a moment, but his face isn't guilty. His eyebrows are pulled close together like he's thinking hard about something, and it kills me that I can't tell what. He shakes his head and looks up.
"That doesn't answer my question," he says. "Why?"
"She wanted to go ice skating with Aqua and Kairi, but they're going with Terra and Sora, and Aqua didn't want her to be a fifth wheel. We're going as friends. No need to freak out about it." It's half-true, but that means it's also a half-lie, and I feel horrible for it. But how could I explain that I might like his sister as more than a friend?
Saïx narrows his eyes. "Just friends? Does she know that?"
No, she doesn't. I don't meet his eyes. "Sheesh, Saï, are you gonna stand there and play twenty questions with me all night? Get to the point, if you've got one."
After a long silence he sighs, almost too quietly for me to hear, and sits down beside me. He shifts uncomfortably, like the couch is layered with cactus spines.
"She wasn't supposed to grow up so fast. I still remember when she left My Little Ponyrunning on the television twenty-four hours a day," he mutters softly, managing to sound both nostalgic and disgusted in a way only he can.
"If it makes you feel any better, she still watches My Little Pony." I grin. "Her favorite one's Twilight Sparkle, but I have to say Rainbow Dash is the coolest."
He looks like I've just tried to convince him the moon is made of cheese. "Don't tell me she got you into it too."
"What? Friendship is Magic's actually a good show!" Saïx won't allow it on in his house, so Xion and I, and sometimes Roxas, watch it at my place. Someday I'm going to get him to watch at least one episode all the way through. "Don't knock it 'til you try it."
"Remember what I said about Jasmine Sultana? I'd rather go out with her than watch My Little Pony."
"I could arrange that."
He shoots me a yellow-eyed glare. "The point, which you told me to get to, is that you weren't supposed to help her grow up. That's my job."
I open my mouth to say something about how watching Friendship is Magic isn't going to make her any older, but the words catch in my throat.
"So you really do care about her."
"Why wouldn't I? She's my sister."
"You've got an odd way of showing it." Of course, he has an odd way of showing a lot of things. Like the fact that we're friends, for example. "Anyway, she's been growing up for a long time. Even you can't stop that. What you can do is let me help her, show her the ropes and all that. Do you want her first date to be some moron like Gaston, or someone you can trust?" Gaston would never ask her out; he's too busy chasing after Belle, and Xion would never be dumb enough to date him. But it gets the point across.
I see the color drain from his face, making his scar stand out angrily – I've hit home.
"I can help her avoid some of the dumb mistakes I've made, and we won't make anything awkward. I promise. You're my best friend, and I would never do anything to hurt you or your sister. You trust me, right?"
Saïx pauses for a long moment before mumbling, "Yes… I trust you."
I grin and clap him on the shoulder, mentally sighing in relief. "That means a lot, Saï."
He pushes my hand off and looks me in the eyes.
"Just be sure you keep your promise."
My eyes follow him as he heads up the stairs to his room. I'll have to watch myself pretty close tomorrow…
It's weird being along in the huge living room, but I distract myself by staring at Eraqus's collection of fancy keys in all shapes, sizes, and colors mounted all over the walls until the girls come back.
"Did Saïx…?" Xion trails off. I shake my head.
"He'll get over it; he's just jealous that he can't come ice-skating too," I joke, wishing the rest of me was as confident as my voice.
"He needs to stop acting like he's in charge of my life." She sighs. I've never heard her complain about his control-freakish nature before, but I don't have time to think about it.
"My father wants to speak with you," Aqua says. Of course.
"Now?" I ask through a grimace even though I already know the answer.
She nods. "He's training with Vani in the dojo."
Yes, their house is big enough to have a freaking dojo. And he wants to talk to me there. Wonderful. If Eraqus still holds a grudge from that incident a few years back, he's in the perfect place to beat me into a pulp.
"Follow me," she says when she realizes I haven't moved. "Xion, Kairi, you'd better stay here."
They both nod somberly. As I walk away with Aqua, I look over my shoulder. Xion flashes me an encouraging smile, while Kairi slices a very un-encouraging finger over her neck.
The rest of the walk down the long hallways feels like my own funeral procession.
A/N: This is the second AU I've ever written, and the first was a short one-shot from Zexion's POV, so I'd appreciate any concrit on this. I'm really happy with it so far, though. :D
I feel like I'm being so mean to Saïx in this… I don't want to be, but that's the way it keeps turning out. I actually like Saïx in this universe. He'll get his own chapter eventually.
Raberba girl came up with Jasmine's last name and gave me permission to use it. C:
The next chapter will be from Xion's POV, which isn't as fun as Axel's POV, but it's important.