This is the first of my small collection of shorts, mainly RoxasxAxel for now... but there may be a few SoraxRiku later... maaaybe.

And just for future reference...

Blah blah sample quote-thing blah.

Things like above where it's a single sentence all in italics is Axel thinking.

Enjoy!

The Birthday Kiss

Roxas POV

Naminé and I were walking down the streets of our town as the sky slowly darkened in Twilight Town... threatened with storm clouds. Neither of us were talking much, just making a bit of short talk here and there as we were searching for birthday presents for Roxas...

He was turning eighteen tonight at 8:48p.m.

It has been three years since we first met...

Two years and nine months since I met Naminé...

I was trying to find a place that we could stay in to wait out the storm...

She liked the rain... but she got sick a bit easily if she stayed out too long...

That saved me from admitting that I hated rain.

Naminé had already found a gift... and I was out of luck.

Next to me, Naminé laughed softly.

I eyed her curiously, though my gaze shifted towards the local bookstore... they had a decent sized cafe inside... and before I even opened my mouth, she had started off in the new direction, speaking softly.

"You like Roxas... don't you?"

My eyes widened, I hadn't even been thinking about him! "Gaah! There's a thing called privacy, Naminé... I could use it once in a while..." I felt a drop of water land on my nose, and I hurried to catch up with her. As we arrived inside, the rain started to pour, I sighed, running a hand through my crimson hair, "There's a reason why people aren't meant to read minds..." She stayed silent for a while, only a small smile gracing her face. I followed her as she searched through the books, scanning the titles in the special discount price shelf... but my mind was elsewhere now.

"But he likes you."

I opened my mouth, surprised at first, but brushing it off soon after. "Privacy, girl... why don't you look it up in a dictionary sometime..." She shook her head, still smiling as she scanned through a book she had picked up. "No. He told me so."

My mind came right back into focus.

"WHAT?"

A few of the customers glared at my loud response.

"Uh-huh. But he told me not to tell." She raised a finger to her lips, informing me to be quiet. I slumped against the nearest bookshelf, my shoulders sagging. "Then why'd you tell me?" The same finger she used to wag at me, "Tsk, tsk. If you're going to start slouching, at least keep your back straight!" I glared at her, lowering my voice, "Naminé..." She didn't speak, just stared back at me expectantly. Finally, I gave up, leaning against the bookshelf, my back straight.

She returned her focus to her book. "Because you didn't find anything for him today."

I groaned quietly, annoyed, "So?"

Naminé glanced up outside, noticing that the rain had settled finally. "So tell him. I think that'd be the best birthday gift in the world..." She paused, setting the book back down, walking out of the store.

"He thinks so, too."

I sighed tiredly, "Namin-" She turned, walking backwards down the street, a finger to her lips playfully. "Shh! I didn't tell you that!" I gave up, laughing finally. She smiled at me, turning back around, Roxas' gift in her other hand. "Come on then, he's expecting us soon."

We stopped by her house quickly before we went on to Roxas', saying she needed to wrap up her gift before.

As I rang the doorbell, I cast a sideways glance at Naminé, "You know who's invited?" But before she had a chance to reply, a high-pitched yell was heard... made by a guy from inside.

We both grimaced.

Instantly after, the door was practically ripped open, and I was being hugged to death by Demyx. "AXELLL! I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN SO LOONG!" Naminé sent me an apologetic smile as she walked inside, greeting the others as I dragged the blond back inside with me. I glanced around at the room, noticing that Roxas had managed to bring his cousin, Sora out here from his place in Destiny Islands, and Sora had brought along a few of his friends too. Sora was older than Roxas by three months, he was already eighteen, and I saw the silver-haired boyfriend of his... Riku, I think, leaning against the wall, his eyes on Sora... only leaving to catch my eyes. A cocky smirk reached his mouth as he noticed Demyx still attatched to me. Naminé was busy talking to Kairi, her friends from the island in a small group around the couch along with our friends. I think Demyx had been bugging Sora earlier though, because Riku cast a slight glare at Demyx, tugging Sora upstairs.

"Hey..."

My eyes shot over to the voice, and I saw Roxas... "Hey, Rox-" Demyx hugged me harder.

"ROXAS! AXEL IS HEERE!"

My shoulders sagged, and Roxas just laughed. "I know, I know, but maybe you should let him breathe now."

"Eh?" Demyx looked up at me, and finally saw the 'deadly' glare I was sending him. He grinned a bit sheepishly at me, letting go, and walking towards Naminé. I thought I ought to warn her since I know she was trying to read what I was thinking.

Naminé, watch out, Demyx attacks.

"Thanks, Axel." She called out towards me, and I turned my focus back to Roxas who was looking at me like I was insane. "You... didn't say anything..."

I smirked, placing a hand on my hip, "She can read minds, you know... so I just warned her that Demyx was..." I trailed off when I noticed he was no longer watching me... Roxas' focus now solely on Naminé, his shocked expression fusing with the slight blush forming over his face.

Cute.

I smiled when he looked back to me... still speechless. "Roxas... can I... talk to you... um..." I glanced back behind me, and Naminé was watching me with interest. I glanced back at Roxas a little helplessly. But I didn't need to finish. He smiled a bit nervously as his eyes flicked from Naminé to me again, taking my arm as he gently guided me upstairs to his room...

But first he had to shoo out Sora and Riku.

Roxas sighed, leaning against his closed bedroom door, his eyes shut. I sat down on his bed, glad to be away from everyone finally.

"This will definitely be that last party I throw for a loong time."

"Heh, I'll hold you to that." I smirked at Roxas when his eyes opened again. "So... Axel... what did you want to talk to me about?"

Oh... right... that.

"It's about your birthday present... um... I went with Naminé today to get your gift... but I never found anything..." Roxas opened his mouth to interject, but I wasn't done yet. "But I do have something for you..." I stood up as I spoke, and Roxas didn't interfere as I walked closer to him.

My heart was pounding loudly in my head... I couldn't even hear anything around me.

Roxas straightened slightly against the door when I placed my hands on either side of him. His lips were barely parted, his breath caught in his throat as I leaned down just far enough... and realized I've been staring at his lips the whole time. When I looked back up to his eyes, my breath caught in my throat too, and I shut my eyes, pressing on forward, and closing the small gap between us. I pulled back slowly after the kiss, just as surprised as Roxas... and tried quickly to find my voice, our eyes locked once again.

"H-happy birthday, Roxas..."

Another moment of silence passed before he tried to speak again. "Axel... I..." He moved quickly, his arms wrapping around my neck as he pulled himself up higher. He was also smiling faintly, a deep blush on his cheeks. "Thank you... I love it." I smiled quickly since right after, he kissed me.

That is until Demyx and Sora opened the door, and Naminé flashed her camera.

That picture ended up going in the present she gave Roxas... a simple glass picture frame with several smaller pictures of his friends actually in the glass. I wondered why she just had to get his present today, but I guess the guy wasn't supposed to be done until today. Naminé was smiling at me, keeping a 'I told you' look the whole time.

Don't even say it.

Naminé just grinned.

(FIN) ThE EnD (FIN)

Hmm, there is my first 'short shot' as I will call it... hope you liked it, I tried not to make it too confusing, just thought it'd be cute. (Again with the fluff?) Oh my, yes. I love fluff between these two. Keep on watch for more short shots here, mostly fluffy ones, but I will have a few citrus-y ones because... welllll I dont' need to explain. (So that's why it's under M... hmm.)