I should read this again shouldn't I? Should I read it? I don't remember what happens... Oh well.
Dsclaimer: No characters, no awesome music, just shattered dreams and piles of fan fiction.
He'd been staring at the blank canvas on its wooden perch for an hour now, his In Your Honour album almost finished in the CD player and all Sora could do was frown.
The space around him had become suffocating since his conversation with Roxas the previous day and now all the brunet could think about was taking some time out to relax. He had been vehemently refusing himself such a luxury since he woke up but once he'd started sketching stick men on his canvas he gave up on fighting and agreed to go with his brother to Axel's performance (Roxas had grinned and clapped him on the shoulder for seeing sense) but that didn't stop the brunet from fretting over his painting –or lack thereof- and his impending deadline/doom.
"Sora!" Roxas called up the stairs, startling the brunet out of his brooding, "come on or we'll be late!" He continued impatiently and Sora rolled his eyes, at least to himAxel could wait, but it was… different for Roxas.
"Alright, alright," Sora mumbled grumpily, giving his canvas one last look of betrayal before grabbing his sketchbook and rainbow, fingerless gloves and trudging downstairs to stare at his brother -who was fiddling with his hair in the mirror- and finally roll his eyes at the blond. "Is there a reason why we have to be there for the first performance?" Sora asked, slightly annoyed by Roxas' unnecessary rushing as Cloud joined them in the passage to smirk at his brothers while Roxas frowned at his twin and tugged on his blue converse.
"Because Axel isthe first act," he explained and Sora frowned, not only was that mildly inconvenient because the twins were already running slightly late but Axel was usually the finishing act. Why was that different tonight? Then again, he'd never played this particular place before; perhaps they had other performers the brunet hadn't seen before.
"Are you waiting for Christmas or something?" Sora asked Cloud, giving his attention to the older male who hadn't said a word since he'd stood against the door frame.
The older blond shrugged, "nice to see you too little brother, it's not like it's been over a week," Cloud raised an eyebrow accusingly at the brunet who let out an exasperated sigh though he didn't deny it, not only had Sora sat in his room from morning till night he'd turned into a racoon when it came to eating, if their mother didn't take him something to eat he'd go to the kitchen late at night to rummage through leftovers or anything his mother had prepared for him with a little 'Sora' note stuck to the plate.
"Did you miss me?" Sora smirked and the elder scoffed.
"As if. Anyway, since you're running late –and even though nothing brightens my day like watching Roxas fuss over himself for that redhead boyfriend of his- I thought you might appreciate this loving gesture from your big brother," Cloud then proceeded to pass his car keys to Sora who caught them with expert reflexes. "You're driving because you're not love drunk, don't total my car or you're toast."
Sora nodded with a 'yeah, yeah,' as Roxas mumbled a 's'not my boyfriend,' somewhat dejectedly and they both left for the bar leaving Cloud with a wave.
It was stuffy and dimly lit inside the box of a pub, the sun was beginning to set outside with a warming glow in the early spring and Sora had all but forgotten what fresh air smelled like while confining himself to his room the past few weeks.
The newly rediscovered joy of the outdoors was short lived by the brunet however as he entered the warm and tightly packed bar. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of cheep booze and stale smoke –even though the smoking ban was in place and it was unlikely anyone had lit a cigarette in the place for at least a year now- and squinted around to take in the interior of this unknown 'The Three Wayfinders' pub.
It was pretty much like any other pub. The walls were scarcely decorated and an off beige colour –which had yellowed slightly from years of wear and smoke- only a few things like the owners licence and some alcohol related advertising posters adorned the off colour walls. The bar itself was made of strong timber wood with a marble top, and its inhabitants talked merrily as they sat on cushioned stools and slouched over their drinks.
Sora made sure to hold onto the back of his brother's shirt with his Technicolour gloved hand as they weaved through the mass of bodies and found an empty table a little away from the stage. The brunet then chose to close himself off from the off smell of smoke and heavy laughter by pulling his sketchbook open and scribbling his surroundings into it.
Roxas then proceeded to grimace at the action but Sora ignored him. The boy really couldn't go anywhere without his book and a pencil, could he? "Sora, you're here to watch a show not draw, this is supposed to be inspirational."
The brunet stopped scratching away at the paper to look up at his brother. "If you started pouring out some huge essay while you were sitting here I wouldn't complain, give it a rest," Sora complained to his brother who grunted in frustration but didn't get the chance to retaliate before an arm was making its way around his shoulder and Roxas gave the unknown arm and its owner his full attention –fully prepared to knock out the person who was invading his personal bubble but changed his mind when spiky red and neon green entered his peripherals and he relaxed into the welcomed contact from Axel.
"Glad you could make it," the redhead was beaming and Roxas blushed, ignoring the impending girlish tendencies he had around Axel to reply with some confidence and keep his dignity.
"Well I had to get the hermit out sooner or later," the blond replied, smiling back and nudging Sora as he spoke (knocking the boy's arm and making a large wobbly line across his sketch).
Axel finally turned his attention to the brunet he hadn't even noticed and smiled at Sora. "Oh good you're really not dead, we were starting to doubt Roxas was actually telling the truth and came to the conclusion that he might have just killed you himself."
The blond responded with a swift elbow to the ribs and Axel winced. "Ow! Jeez Rox I was only kidding," the redhead grumbled as he rubbed his abused chest and frowned.
"I told you he was still alive," the blond scolded, feeling no remorse for abusing his best friend.
"The more you said it the less convincing you sounded. I'm just pointing out the possibility." Roxas went to elbow the redhead again but his lanky frame swiftly dodged the blow and he ruffled the blonde's hair as he stood up. "Demyx is playing tonight so we're doing a duet. I'll see you two later."
Axel waved to the brothers as he walked away, Sora acknowledging his leave as the brunet sketched and the blond waved back.
"It's blinding how much you love him. If Axel hasn't noticed it himself I might eat my 4B pencil." Sora mumbled to Roxas as he continued drawing and the blond frowned at his twin. Were they really going to have this discussion now?
"Just because you're boring and don't have a love interest doesn't mean you can comment on who I like," Roxas snapped, folding his arms across his chest in annoyance. "Maybe if you left your easel and talked to people you'd find a boy you like," he continued to complain at Sora who frowned, laying his pencil flat and closing his book over.
"Will you stop with the 'get out more' speeches, it's really getting boring."
Roxas opened his mouth to retaliate but the arrival of a bored looking Zexion had the blond clamping his mouth shut with a click of teeth as the slate haired boy sent the twins a quiet "hey" and took a seat on the other side of Sora.
"So Demyx dragged you out too?" the brunet asked Zexion as the slate haired boy slid into his seat and Zexion nodded solemnly.
"Someone so air headed shouldn't have such persuasive skills," he complained with a frown.
"Or maybe he just knows you too well," Roxas smirked at his friend as the pub hushed and a sandy blond with a mullet-hawk walked on stage with a redhead and sat on their respective stools.
"Good evening everyone" the sandy blond greeted the crowd who all turned their attention to the beaming male. "Thanks for coming out, we hope you enjoy the show."
A few of the audience clapped (and one had the audacity to cheer) as both Axel and Demyx turned their attention to their guitars.
The pair were skilled enough to have written their own songs (what with them both being university music students) and though the crowd couldn't sing along with them the boys had the audience cheering by the time they were finished. "We have one last song before we go," Axel announced as the clapping died down and all eyes in the room faced the musicians. "It's just for fun but we know you all know it so sing along!"
More whistles and silence fell before Demyx began strumming Flogging Molly's IF I Ever Leave This World Alive and the bar erupted into song.
"Thank you everyone!" Demyx waved as he and Axel left the stage to claps and cheers to be replaced by one of the pub's bartenders.
"Next we have a girl band performing for us." Many of the audience wolf whistled and our trio rolled their eyes though the man at the microphone didn't seemed phased by the audience's reaction and continued on. "There will be a five minute interval while they set up," and with that the male disappeared back to a table full of glasses to continue his job.
"Hey guys," Demyx greeted with a wave as he and Axel approached the trio who returned the greeting. "What did you think?" The boy asked as he slid into the booth beside Zexion and gave the slate haired male his full attention.
By this point Sora was too engrossed in his scribbling to answer but he didn't really need to. The sandy blond had pretty much directed his question to Zexion and Roxas looked on with a hint of jealousy as Demyx rubbed his nose against his boyfriends and smiled softly.
"Anyone in there?" The blond was brought back from his sulking by Axel's hand waving in front of his face and Roxas blinked a few times before turning his attention to said redhead. "Demyx might not be listening but I am actually interested in what you thought."
Roxas raised an eyebrow at the male in disbelief. Axel cared about his opinion? "Well you certainly had the crowd going," Roxas deflected, he knew how much the redhead wanted to hear his praise but it was too much fun to avoid giving it to him.
"Yeah but I'm not bothered about them, I'm bothered about you." The blond blushed, perhaps Axel's words weren't meant in the way Roxas was thinking about them but they sounded caring to him and the heat on his face showed as much.
The blond swallowed thickly and smoothed his face into a small smile. "You were great," he finally answered –having been put through enough embarrassment by avoiding the question- and Axel beamed, ruffling Roxas' hair from where his arm was over the blonde's shoulder.
"Hi everyone!" A cheerful voice came from the microphone and the alcohol buzzed audience stopped talking to look at the short haired raven. "I'm Xion and we're Black and White, your band for tonight," as the cat calls and intoxicated words ensued the barman rang the bell on the wall once in warning that if they kept going there would be no more alcohol and the room silenced in favour of their liquor.
"This is Yuffie on drums and Naminé on bass," the girl said before removing her plectrum from the guitar neck and strumming away.
Sora had managed to pull his attention away from his sketchbook and towards the stage while the girls were playing but all he'd manage to do was frown. However his expression wasn't directed towards the girls but the brunet's twin and said blonde's best friend. Somehow Axel's arm had weaved around Roxas' shoulder but no further contact had been made, they each glanced at each other while the other wasn't looking and Sora watched as Roxas ever so slowly shuffled closer to the redhead but that was as far as this struggling relationship of theirs got. If you could call it a relationship, neither of them had confessed or anything but it was so obvious that they liked each other that Sora would chew his own leg off if it wasn't true.
Even though it was painful to watch the boys act so shy Sora couldn't help but feel a little jealous. At least they had each other and neither one was going anywhere; he didn't even have anyone to crush on. Not that it was important for the brunet to be in a relationship right now, he had his art to think of, but it would be nice to have a crush. If nothing else it would take his mind off this stupid exhibition piece.
"Will you stop thinking about your damn painting for one night and enjoy yourself?" Roxas' words snapped Sora out of his brooding with a jump and the brunet blanked his face. He wouldn't tell the blond what he was really thinking about, but maybe it was better that way.
"What are you, my psychic?" The brunet shot back with a huff and closed his book with a puff of air and shoved his pencil behind his ear so he could fold his arms angrily.
Roxas rolled his eyes but paid no attention to his brother. Sora really needed to loosen up and the blond was only trying to help.
"We have one final act," the male from earlier informed the audience. "Most of you know our regular so without further introduction, here he is." This time the crowd really did stir with enthusiasm as the bartender vacated the stage to be replaced by the third and final act, a boy who took Sora's full attention (including the part which was telling him he should be painting) and his mind all but turned to mush.
"Sora?" Roxas questioned the brunet as his eyes began to widen and his jaw slackened but Roxas' concern fell on deaf ears as Sora soaked in every inch of this unknown guitarist.
The boy had the most striking shoulder length silver hair Sora had ever seen (not that he saw a huge amount of silver haired people) which hung forward to partially hide his pristine face. Sora also noticed while this silverette walked onto the stage that he must have been about four inches taller than him. Not as tall as a particular spiky redhead but he'd still tower over the brunet.
His clothes were plain enough bar a marine coloured shark tooth necklace dangling around the boy's neck but none of this was what caused Sora to gawk so much. The reason for his mushy brain and slack jawed ogling was the boy's eyes. They were mesmerizing pools of turquoise and though they barely glanced over the audience Sora's heart skipped a bit.
He had to draw him.
The silver haired mystery boy didn't bother introducing himself and delved straight into his acoustic music. First was a rendition of Razor but Sora wasn't paying attention, he just remembered that he'd been listening to it that day. Next was a song he'd never heard of called Drive but he'd be sure to ask Roxas about it later (since he claimed to be such a music guru) and finally he played Upside Down before silently standing from his seat and exiting the stage to a round of claps and the bar-goers returned to their socialising and alcohol.
Axel was the first one to break the silence amongst the trio (Zexion and Demyx already talking between themselves) "his voice was pretty awesome," he admitted, Roxas nodded in agreement, the mystery boy had been surprisingly good and Sora would have agreed too if he wasn't still sketching, he'd barely even heard the redhead say anything he was so determined to get the face burned into his mind onto paper.
Axel gave the boy a sceptical look then directed it to Roxas where Sora's behaviour would be explained. The blond could only shake his head; it was typical of the brunet to be ignorant while drawing, "it's his bubble," was the only explanation Roxas could supply and after another curious glance at the scribbling brunet Axel shrugged.
"We should probably get going, I hear it gets pretty rowdy here after the performers leave," the redhead admitted and Roxas agreed to leave wholeheartedly –the last thing he wanted to do was get involved in a fight of any kind- so he tapped Sora, snapping the brunet out of his trance with a start and he blinked at his brother a few times in confusion.
"Come on, we're going home," Roxas explained, standing up with Axel before the redhead slung his arm back over the blonde's shoulder with a happy smile. Sora frowned at the sight out of jealousy but stood along with Demyx and Zexion.
"You'll have to thank Cloud for asking his friend to let us play," the redhead said as he guided Roxas through the crowd. "Though admittedly, he's a little scary."
The blond laughed, "yeah, Cloud said Leon thinks he's a bit of a hard arse, but he's really a nice guy." Axel wasn't sure if he believed that but he wasn't going to ask, the last thing he wanted was a black eye from asking Leon if he really liked fluffy bunnies.
Sora followed his brother and would-be-boyfriend without really paying attention to where he was going, just scanned the area as the group made their way through the crowd towards the door. His heart sank a little when he couldn't find the boy guitarist, but one last glance at the far corner of the bar as he left had his aqua eyes meeting with turquoise and his stomach gave a small jolt of excitement. The boy was staring right at him, and that's all Sora could think about as he clutched his sketchbook and smiled all the way home.
A/N: Yep, say hello to Riku. And obviously I'm adding tidbits of AkuRoku in there because I'm a sucker for those two.
I don't know why Leon owns a bar.
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Kit out.~