A/N: So, because I got a lot of positive feedback this week (and because I was able to build up my buffer zone for posting) I figured I could break my once a week posting schedule and put up a second chapter as a sort of Halloween present to any followers waiting for another part. So, thank you for reading and please enjoy!
Roxas got Rascal's stuff set up when they got back to the apartment. The dog's section was a little corner in what could be considered their living area. The food and water dishes were full and next to Roxas's bookcase against the wall. Then there were also some old blankets neither used anymore bundled into a sort of nest for Rascal to sleep in. Axel contributed some stolen newspapers and hoped the puppy would know what to do.
As soon as Roxas set Rascal down, the puppy got right to walking around the apartment, sniffing everything he could get near. Axel kept an eye on him while Roxas finished setting up Rascal's corner.
"No!" Axel said as Rascal squatted in the hallway. "No, no, no, no, no!" He ran over to grab the puppy.
But Axel was too late to stop Rascal. The puppy sniffed the puddle before looking up sweetly at Axel.
"No, bad," Axel snapped and grabbed the soft pup, taking him back to the newspaper. He plopped the puppy down and told him, "This is where you do your business." Rascal tilted his head to the side, eyes wide and innocent. "Don't give me that look. It works for him, not for you." He jerked his thumb in Roxas's direction.
Roxas looked up and noticed the puddle on the floor. "Oops! I'll clean that up!" he said, heading to the tiny kitchen to get some paper towels.
"Yeah, you'll need to house train your dog," Axel grumbled, in a sour mood. The puppy was cute, he could admit that, but he kinda wished the landlord hadn't let them get the dog.
Rascal hopped off of the paper and returned to his sniffing. Axel sighed and plopped onto the couch, suddenly exhausted. Roxas hopped up next to Axel, snuggling into his side, where he fit perfectly. Axel wrapped his arm around Roxas's shoulders, pulling him closer. He leaned his head down slightly to kiss Roxas's forehead, then his lips.
Roxas shifted so that he was in Axel's lap, facing the redhead, arms wrapped around his neck. Roxas seized control. fingers tangling in Axel's hair, pulling him closer. Axel's arms wrapped around Roxas's torso, hands keeping Roxas's face near him.
A loud, shrill barking broke them apart. The two looked over at where Rascal stood near the door, yapping away at it. Axel sighed as Roxas got up to try and calm the puppy down.
"Hey!" Axel snapped. "Shut it!"
"Don't be so mean, Axel," Roxas said, picking up the now quiet puppy.
"It wasn't mean; it was stern." Axel shifted to a more relaxed position on the couch.
"Say you're sorry," Roxas insisted, holding Rascal out so that he was nose to nose with Axel.
"I am not apologizing for teaching the dog not to be a little terr-" Axel got cut off when Rascal licked his nose. "See? He's okay with me disciplining him."
Roxas's lips twisted in a frown and he turned Rascal around to face him. Rascal's mouth fell open and his tongue lolled out in a puppy grin.
"You wanna take him out for a walk and I'll get us a pizza?" Axel asked, pulling out his phone.
"Sure!" Roxas said, tucking Rascal under one arm like a furry little football while he went to get the leash and collar. The puppy was outfitted with his collar and led out of the apartment by Roxas.
Axel watched them go and speed-dialed the pizza place. They were regular customers and always ordered the same thing so he didn't have to do much more than say hi to the girl working. He had the money ready by the time the delivery guy arrived. Roxas got back about the same time, and appeared to have trouble reigning Rascal in as the puppy ran up to sniff his new friend.
"Sorry about that, Sora," Axel said, scratching the back of his head as Rascal took particular interest in the brunet boy's shoes.
"What? Nah, he's fine." The boy crouched down, offering his hand for Rascal to sniff. The puppy all but ignored the opportunity, bounding over to get petted. Sora laughed, scratching Rascal behind the ears.
Afterwards, Sora left and Axel and Roxas sat back on the couch to eat their pizza. Axel admitted that he was happy to have this bit of normalcy.
"Roxas," he groaned. "Don't feed him." He could do nothing but watch as Roxas handed Rascal a piece of sausage.
"But, Axel, look at how cute he's being!"
"You're gonna make him fat or gassy."
"He's behaving! Watch." Roxas peeled another piece of sausage out from under the cheese. He screwed his face up in a serious expression and said, "Rascal, sit."
Rascal's mouth fell open and he shook his butt, tail wagging happily. When Roxas didn't give him the meat quickly enough, Rascal climbed up so that his huge paws rested on Roxas's knees. Roxas grinned and gave the puppy the piece of sausage.
"You can't just give him treats if he doesn't behave," Axel said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Roxas was going to spoil this dog rotten.
"But he's being so cute," Roxas said, just barely pulling his slice of pizza away from Rascal's searching nose.
Axel sighed and sat back, keeping an eye on the two. Now he had two times the trouble.
