Decembers of Love
Pairings:Axel/Roxas
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts
Rated T:Shonen-Ai/Yaoi
Key: -- Time
Skip/Scene Change
Warning: This
story changes POV. It switches from first person (Axel) to a third
person narrative. I apologize if it is a little confusing.
-----
Chapter One
The streets were painted in the familiar winter night's dark blue. As I walked down the frozen sidewalk, street lamps flickered on, bathing small circles in light. From where I was standing I could see the coffee shop, brilliantly lit up and glowing gold through the glass door. I took a deep breath as I forced my shaking legs forward. It was now or never- I reminded myself as I tried to remember how to breathe.
December 2
Breathe In
A bell chimed as I opened the door. The rich scent of coffee washed over me in a charming wave, sweet and intoxicating. I closed my eyes and just stood there inhaling for a moment, until someone opened the door behind me and cursed at me to move. Despite that, I was somehow more relaxed.
I shrugged off my jacket and hung it on the wall, then glanced at my watch. It was only 5:04. My shoes squeaked as I crossed the wood floors to the counter. A tiny red-haired girl looked up at me. She smiled as she brushed back the bangs that had fallen in front of her eyes. Her name tag read 'Kairi'.
"Do you know what you would like to order?" She asked after I had stood there in silence.
I nodded and placed my order. I watched as the employees bustled around behind the counter, all gracefully working around each other, quick and efficiently. It amazed me, slightly.
I turned my back to them and leaned against the counter as my eyes scanned the cozy shop. A fire crackled in the stone fire place on the far side of the room with two large couches positioned near it and a glass table in the middle. Lines of book shelves ran along the wall, groaning under the weight of thick books. A small stage was across from me; a few band members were setting up speakers and plugging in microphones. It was nice here.
The sound of Kairi in the background broke my concentration.
"Roxas, do you mind taking this to that guy waiting at the counter? After that your shift is over. Oh and tell Olette to get her ass out there and help them already! The show starts in less than an hour!" She shouted from the back room.
I felt a cold rod of fear electrify my body, felt the color drain from my face. Before I knew it I was locked in a bathroom stall. I didn't even remember moving my feet. I didn't even know how I found the restroom. The only thing I did know was that I was caught off guard and scared out of my mind.
I wondered as I rested my head against the cold metal of the door. What was happening to me?
---- At The Counter-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roxas kicked open the kitchen doors with his foot, balancing a full coffee pot and three mugs. He quickly set them down on the back counter and filled one of the white mugs with the steaming black liquid. Roxas made a face when coffee splashed on his hand; he had picked up the cup too fast.
He walked up to the register counter to find that behind it was empty.
"No one's there…" Roxas said aloud to himself, placing the cup on a coaster above a glass shelf that held a display of bagels.
His eyebrows knitted together in confusion before walking back to the kitchen, muttering about how Kairi was loosing her mind.
Just as he opened the door, Roxas collided with Olette carrying a tray of smoothies. The plastic cups fell to the ground, splattering the pink liquid across the floor. Olette's eyes were wide with shock as she saw the front of Roxas's shirt dripping. Olette cringed, only breathing a sigh of relief at the sound of Roxas's laughter. She smiled as they both picked up the mess, Olette apologizing every few minutes.
---- In The Bathroom ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was just about to leave the safety of the bathroom stall when I heard the door open, voices echoing off the tiled walls. I held my breath and peered through the gap between the door and the stall divider.
I saw Roxas and another blonde boy enter. They stood in front of the mirror as Roxas ran water over towels, tried to wipe his shirt clean.
"Hayner, why don't you just ignore them?" I heard Roxas say.
God, his voice was amazing.
"Dude, Seifer was dissing you and teasing Pence. They took his lunch money again. Don't you even care? They are just asking for trouble. And if they keep hanging around Olette I….I'll….." Hayner's voice trailed off.
I saw Hayner fold his hands into a shaking fist. Roxas stopped scrubbing and looked up at Hayner. I quickly tried to memorize his profile, each feature so faultless.
"So that's what this is about?" Roxas asked, his voice perfectly tranquil. "Why don't you just tell Olette how you feel? I'm pretty sure she likes you too. I mean…"
"No," interjected Hayner. "I…just…I just can't. Not right now. I will, soon."
Roxas nodded as he returned to washing off his shirt. After a few minutes he groaned in aggravation.
"This is never going to come off!" He complained, throwing the wadded paper towel against the mirror.
Hayner laughed and reached forward to pick up the smashed brown wad of damp paper.
"Hey, Olette has to clean this you know!" He exclaimed, chucking the toweling at Roxas and hitting him right in the face.
Roxas laughed and threw the garbage away.
God, his laugh was amazing.
Hayner stepped around the corner. I heard a combination spin and a locker open and shut. Hayner returned into my sight of view with a dark sweatshirt. He tossed it at Roxas.
"Here, change into this. Your shift's over for tonight anyways, right? I have to go and help Olette set up for tonight's band so I'll see you later Roxas."
Hayner pushed the door open and walked out, leaving only Roxas-and me hiding in the stall.
I felt my stomach flip as I watched Roxas tug at the collar of his shirt, and pull it over his head quickly. In that fleeting moment I got a glimpse of his ivory skin, his lean stomach. My knees felt weak, the room began to spin. Again a question came to mind. What was happening to me? Why was I so fascinated with this boy?
The sound of the door closing broke me from my delusion. Roxas was gone. And now I was left alone.
--
I burst out of the stall, door banging wildly against the wall. I leaned against the sink, staring into the mirror. My skin was flushed. I splashed cold water on my face until the color returned to normal, until my breathing was even.
I laughed as I glanced at the mirror. How was I ever going to make it through tonight?
----- 6:00 pm at the Coffee Shop --------------------------------------------------------------------
People began flooding into the once quiet coffee shop. The sounds of people chatting happily droned in my ears. I secluded myself in a shadowed corner with a good view of the door. I had found out that Roxas had gone home to change and now my heart beat wildly at the anticipation of meeting him face to face.
I tried to think out what to say, tried to work out a good way to start talking. Each time the door opened I found myself holding my breath, only to be exhale disappointed when strangers walked through the door.
The sound of the bell jingling caused my heart yet again to leap. My eyes darted to the door. Roxas walked through in, cheeks red from the cold, snow already melting on his hair. I found a gasp had frozen in my lungs.
The world seemed to slow down just a little and time seemed to escape me. For a moment I wondered how anyone could be so angelic, so unworldly and seem to be unaware of it. I was suddenly over come by dizziness. I had forgotten to breathe.
Two boys stood beside Roxas, grinning as they hung their damp coats on the rack. I recognized them from the wallpaper of Roxas's cell phone. From the address book I found out that the brunette boy was named Sora, the silver hair was Riku. I sighed and leaned back against my chair, closed my eyes and tried to focus on breathing. Now or never I reminded myself, now or never.
--
"May I sit here?"
I opened my eyes at the sound of a shy voice questioning me. I looked up to see a frail-looking girl with very light hair and deep blue eyes. I nodded as I moved my empty mug to make room for her things. She smiled appreciatively as she set down the cumbersome load of books she held in her arms.
As she sat down a spiral-bound sketchpad fell to the floor, opening at my feet. I looked down to see an astounding portrait scribbled across the page. Reaching down, I picked up the fallen notebook and flipped it shut, noticing the name 'Namine' scrawled in beautiful calligraphy across the cover.
"You dropped this" I said, handing the sketchbook to her.
I watched as her eyes widened in surprise and embarrassment as she took it from my hands. She smiled a thank you, hugged it to her chest and then turned it open and began working on a new piece.
I turned my attention again to watching Roxas, but he was no where to be found. I scanned the crowd over and over again. I spotted Sora, Riku, Hayner, and who I am guessing is Olette and Pence- but no Roxas.
"Hey Namine!"
I gasped as I recognized that voice.
I turned around to find Roxas approaching the table, steaming pot of coffee in his hand and clad in the shop uniform. He hesitated when he saw me, almost stumbling over a chair-but he caught himself, not spilling a drop. For a moment a glimmer of hope shined upon me. I thought Roxas recognized me. But I convinced myself that Roxas was surprised to see Namine sitting with me.
Namine smiled up at Roxas when he reached our table. I, too, stole glances at him over the open book I was 'reading'.
"Hello Roxas! How come you are working so late tonight? I thought you were supposed to meet that one…" Namine was cut off by Roxas shushing her.
"I know, but Kairi is making me work because of the huge crowd we are getting. Don't tell Sora or Riku I came to meet someone, k? I wanted to come alone but they just had to come and hear this band." Roxas ended with a scowl.
Namine nodded in understanding. Roxas bent down near Namine's face and whispered in her ear. I strained to hear.
"Who's your friend?"
Namine shrugged and whispered back, "I don't know, this was one of the only seats open."
It was Roxas's turn to nod in understanding. He then turned his attention to me.
"Um…I'm sorry, sir. Would you like a refill?" Roxas asked me.
I nodded, catching his eye as he poured black coffee into my mug. The steam drifted up between us, warming both our faces.
I decided to be bold.
"So you are Roxas?" I asked, catching him by surprise.
He jerked his head up, spilling the last bit of coffee across the table. Namine and I both scooted back instinctively. Roxas grabbed a towel from his uniform's pocket and quickly tried sopping up the mess. His animated movements made me laugh a little. He looked up at me with apologetic eyes, embarrassment written across his cheeks.
"I'm so sorr-" He began but I shook my head.
"It's all right, no harm done." I said, helping him finish wiping up the mess.
Namine stood across from us, clutching her sketchbook tightly to her chest. I didn't notice her open it and start to draw. Her sapphire eyes watched us in unnerving interest. At the time I didn't notice the small smile stretched across her lips.
"I'm Axel by the way." I said, holding my hand out.
Roxas shot me a questioning look, before shaking my hand. That brief contact had my skin tingling all over. I felt like small electric shocks were riding through my veins. I didn't realize I was still grasping his hand. I had been too preoccupied in searching his face, his curious eyes. He, too, was searching mine.
It was one of those awkward moments that seem to come alive again and again, although you try to suppress it. Namine cleared her throat and I came back to reality. A blush crept across both our faces as we dropped hands. Roxas rubbed the back of his head and smiled up at me, trying to cover his embarrassment.
"So, um, how do you know who I am?" He asked, breaking the awkwardness.
It took a little longer than usual for his question to register in my mind, but when it did I reached into my coat pocket and showed him the small red cell phone balancing in my palm.
I watched the expressions on Roxas's face change from surprise to relief. He reached out to take the phone. I almost wanted to close my fingers around it and pull the phone away, but I just stood as still as a statue, let him take the only thing that linked us together.
"Thank you so, so much!" Roxas exclaimed, pocketing the phone. "I don't know what I would have done if some pedophile or weirdo found it! Thanks so much for returning it. Is there anything I can do to thank you?"
Roxas's voice sounded genuinely thankful and almost childlike with the joy of getting his possession back. I smiled. A million things ran through my mind of how he could repay me. I wanted very much to ask him so many things but decided against it.
"No, it's fine really. I don't mind returning it to you…" I was about to say more when the lights dimmed and a guitarist struck a loud chord. In the dimness I saw Kairi marching toward us.
"Roxas! Get your lazy ass back to work! You are going to get us both fired!" She hissed, trying not to make a big scene. She grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away.
"But…" Roxas argued but was already being forcefully pulled to the counter.
I felt my heart sink as I sat back down in my chair. So much for conversation, so much for seeing him again. Namine laughed at my expression and I shot her a quizzical look. She just smiled and shook her head.
"I've seen you before." She said, leaning over the table close to me. I couldn't hear her soft voice, so I leaned closer.
"What?" I asked.
"I've seen you before. You are friends with Zexion and the rest of those people aren't you? You go to the KH University near Twilight Town High School." Namine said.
I must have looked surprised, but I nodded anyway.
"You should hang out with us sometime." She said, leaning back and closing her sketchbook.
She stood up and gathered her things. As she walked passed me I heard her remark,
"I'm sure Roxas would like that."
Before I could ask her to elaborate, she was gone; leaving behind only her words ringing in my ears and an empty coffee cup.
But then I noticed it, a small crinkled paper folded beneath the white mug. What was this?
---To Be Continued-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coming Next: Axel finds that the note Namine left hold the key to keeping Roxas's life intertwined with his own.
A/N: Thank you very much for reading! Please leave a review! It encourages me to keep going and lets me know what you are thinking. :) Have a great week!
