Roxas tapped his pencil against his paper, resisting the urge to sketch the person sitting a few seats away. Long slender fingers curled through his twin's hair and Roxas grimaced to see Ventus blushing back at the raven haired boy. Vanitas.

They'd been inseparable until a few months ago. Always they'd had the same streak of mischief in them. Their childhood had been them getting dumb ideas and acting on them together. Breaking in or out of places they shouldn't be, running from teachers and police alike, sneaking off just to go find some adventure that generally ended with Cloud dragging them home.

It got bad enough the boys had been told they had to be kept separate but that never worked, they found their way to each other, and it got too bothersome trying to keep the pair apart. They'd both come from broken homes and somehow after being adopted by Leon Aerith and Cloud they'd just clicked. Sure they got into fights all the time, but never had such a rift formed between them.

It was making Vani's twin anxious and Sora poked the back of his neck just as the blond realized he'd been staring at his ex best friend for too long. Sighing and turning to meet the worried blue gaze behind him, he shot the brunette a reassuring smile. Though if he were honest, he wasn't taking their separation well. Turning back to his paper he bit his lip to stop himself from looking up at Vanitas again. If he'd looked up he might have noticed frustrated golden eyes fixed on him.

. . .

Perhaps the reason he hadn't made up with Roxas was pride. It was always one of his flaws, and in this case Roxas blamed him for the distance they never should have let between them. He didn't deserve the chance to fix it.

Vanitas looked down at the rough sketch of Roxas he'd been working on. Of course if anyone asked he'd tell them it was Ventus. The older twin, yet somehow more naive and altruistic than Roxas was. It annoyed the raven.

If he was honest with himself he'd probably admit he was only dating Ven because he looked like Roxas. He guessed Sora knew, that's why he seemed to be so anxious lately. Or part of it. The brunette kept trying to nudge Roxas into dealing with it before it turned into an even bigger mess.

Vanitas sighed, thinking about this whole dumb thing gave him headaches. Roxas and he were alike in thought and actions and he and Ven were opposites. He'd wanted Roxas yet it seemed the blond who sat in front of him had always had a crush on him, and Roxas had been resistant to the idea at best.

He'd only wanted a fix, a release after he'd screwed up with Roxas, but Ventus had so earnestly responded to dating him he felt... kind of guilty trying to turn him down. And after Roxas found out they'd ended up awkwardly avoiding each other like this. All this thanks to his impulsive actions...

[ "Heeeey... Vani c'mon!"

Looking up he already knew who was calling him, smirking at the grinning blond boy. Roxas was the only one who called him Vani. He got up with a chuckle, already fully dressed for what they were plotting. A night out at a club that had sprung up. Of course their adoptive family was against them going out to anywhere with alcohol, but that's what fake IDs and sneaking out were for.

It had started out fun, Roxas sure as hell could dance, and with both their heads clouded by drink they laughed and partied until in exhaustion they retreated to the wall. Maybe it was the lights, the music.. maybe it was the alcohol dulling his thoughts but watching the blond giggle and look up at him he couldn't stop himself.

Grabbing a hold of slim hips he pushed Roxas up against the wall and stole a kiss, rough, eager, eyes half opened and watching when the blue ones in front of him widened in shock. For a beautiful moment the blond looked like he wanted this, wanted more, hands on Vanitas' arms, only for a second. About to close the space between them and his eyes and just lose himself in the sweet taste of the blond, he was stopped by hands on his chest.

"V-vani? What... What is this supposed to be?"

"Me kissing you?"

He recaptured those soft lips, too focused on what he wanted to be concerned about the worried frown they'd been twisted into. Insistently those hands pushed him back, lips breaking free of his again.

"Vani no, I- I can't just..."

The memory of Roxas looking up at him, scared and confused was going to haunt him. Rejection had hit him like a train, he hadn't heard anything else Roxas had tried to say, leaving quickly before he could fall apart. For the first time they'd been on different pages.

Running home it was just his luck that Ventus was standing by the door as the sun rose. His emotions all twisted and staring at the spitting image of Roxas he couldn't stop himself. Grabbing Ven's shoulders while the boy attempted to greet him, taking out his anxiety, his denial, on the older twin's lips. A violently passionate kiss leaving the blond shivering and breathless. He'd expected to get slapped but to his shock Ventus looked up at him in delight, babbling about he hadn't expected a kiss of all things.

When Roxas got back it was to the sight of an ecstatic Ventus clinging to Vanitas. Before the raven could say a word his favourite person stormed past them and slammed his door so hard a picture frame fell off the wall. For a whole week he wouldn't even look at Vanitas no matter how many times he tried to beg Roxas to just listen. He swore the air itself dropped a few degrees whenever Roxas had to walk past him.

And then for the rest of that month whenever Roxas did look at him it was with a furious glare. He knew what Roxas was thinking, they'd been friends too long for him to not know that look. 'How dare you. You absolute asshole.' ]

Shuddering at the memories he gave up and looked back at the board. By now that anger had mostly faded from Roxas' gaze and now they were just.. stuck here, motionless.

. . .

Roxas sighed and put his head down, hidden by his arm he touched a finger to his lips. He'd never gotten a direct answer. What had that been? What did Vani mean by such a needy kiss? Apparently not what Rox had been hoping for because by the time he'd gotten home Vanitas had already moved onto his twin.

His chest ached as he thought about it. He'd meant to come home, corner the raven haired boy and demand an explanation, but having his hopes torn to bits like that.. He didn't know what he was supposed to do.

For awhile he hated Vanitas for leading him on like that, but after that faded all that was left was a hollow ache. Still when he looked now, Vanitas always seemed so.. awkward. The usually cool and snarky raven didn't seem to know what he was supposed to do with Ventus constantly holding his hand or clinging to him. The only time he seemed to like it was when he had Ven melting in his arms while they kissed.. Gross.

Ven himself was normally very kind, however he was kind of oblivious and so Roxas had gotten into a fight with his twin too.

[ Roxas was so used to having Vanitas around. They'd gone everywhere together. Done everything together. They knew without saying so when the other was uncomfortable and would either change the subject or suddenly decide they had other places to be. Suddenly not having Vani there while Ventus giggled happily, gushing, was suffocating, and yet at the same time he didn't want to be within 50ft of his best friend right now.

"...And he just kissed me! I was so startled I don't even know if I kissed him back but I don't think it matters."

"Mhm..."

"I'm so shocked though Roxas! You know I always thought he liked you, since you w-"

"Shut up."

"... Huh?"

"I said SHUT UP!"

The hurt look on Ventus' face when he finally snapped at him was just too much. He felt awful and just walked out of the room, leaving his twin upset and uncertain. After that he hadn't spoken much to Ventus. Instead going to Sora to confide.

Sora and he had been friends a long time, in a much different way than he was friends with Vani. Sora was selfless and kind and tended to be the friend that inspired them all. He was a goof, impulsive, and kinda dumb sometimes, but he was always the first to help someone. Bullying had dropped to near zero after this kid took it on himself to throw himself in front of anyone weaker than he was.

The brunette had simply hugged him when he told the story, letting the blond boy break down and cry without showing his face. Sora was the only person Roxas was willing to cry in front of. And cry he did, full on shaking with sobs.

He hadn't noticed how much he'd wanted Vanitas until he was up against the wall with the raven kissing him like the world would end tomorrow. He'd been worried though.. Was it just supposed to be another game? Was Vani only aroused and tipsy? He'd tried to ask what it meant, but Vani ran off and was dating Ventus before Roxas could catch up.

Muffled by Sora's shoulder he lamented his lack of worth, wondering what was wrong with him. Sora had reassured him that he was worth just as much as Ventus or anyone else.

His memories after that were blurred by exhaustion, but the night consisted of Sora helping him calm down and cleaning up his face before getting him water and tucking him in to sleep. ]

Roxas sighed deeply, scooping his books up as the bell rings. Sparing another glance at Vanitas, considering talking to him about this so maybe they could at least be friends again. However he had to turn away in pain, Ventus was on his tiptoes kissing Vanitas.

They had a volleball match over lunch and literally all of them were on the team. It was pretty rough, the team didn't function right anymore. Sora was too worried about his friends to keep track of the ball until it smacked into his face. Roxas and Vanitas usually flawlessly in sync and potently offensive were so out of joint they screwed up even the easy plays, and Ventus was on cloud 9 the entire game, fixated on Vanitas and tripping over his own feet. Only Riku seemed to be paying any attention. They all had several more scrapes and bruises than they should.

Showering in silence none of them even felt like they were enjoying this season anymore. Towel still on his head and another around his waist he stepped out into the change area, ready to just be done with this day. However he was stopped outside the shower by a golden eyed boy he was too tired to deal with.

Opening his mouth to tell him to move he was shocked when the raven bent down and kissed him, lazy, dispassionate, tongue swiping at his lips with an almost bored motion. This shit was what had his twin melting?

Pushing back earnestly before he could stop himself, nipping in annoyance at the lips barely moving against his own. Dammit if he was being kissed he might as well be kissed correctly. He felt Vani pause and then lean closer, lips moving aggressively, biting him back but with more dominance. There we go... After a moment their lips parted and Roxas let out a pleased sigh, not realizing he'd whispered 'Vani' in the process. Immediately the taller boy shoved them apart, staring at the dazed Roxas in shock.

"Roxas?"

"Mm... You taste pretty good for a total piece of shit."

"You're sending some pretty fucked up signals Rox.."

"Hey, you kissed me. I just wanted my money's worth out of it."

. . .

Vanitas narrowed his eyes at the twin's jaded attitude wondering why Roxas had been so into that kiss but not their first. He didn't get to ask before Ventus bounded out of the showers and right up to him. He wouldn't admit it but he was still a little eager from Roxas' kissing and Ventus gave a surprised little squeak when he kissed him a little too eagerly.

Whoops. Now the blond was eagerly pushing up against him, clinging and Vanitas sighed. This was stupid. All of it. He wanted to let Ventus go and shove his brother against the wall. This was fine though. He just grabbed blond hair and took his frustration out in the kiss, Ven all but mewling. For awhile he'd tried to pretend Ven was Roxas, but he was too willing, to yielding. Submissive. Still imagining Roxas melting like this for a kiss...

Suddenly Ven found himself pinned to the wall by an over eager raven spurred on by the adorably appealing idea of Roxas all light headed off his lips. The rest of the room turned into a blur but a slammed door probably signaled Roxas leaving. The draft from the door blew the smell of a familiar shampoo through the small room and it only made Vanitas' imaginings more vivid. Much like the blond he pictured once they parted he breathed a name. However it wasn't his boyfriend's and he was snapped back to reality by a fist to the cheek.

"What the hell Van?! Did you just- Did you call me by my twin's name?!"