[Roxas' POV]
The bell rung and Roxas jumped up from the table. As if being irked by everyone talking about his dad working here wasn't enough, he had to go to that class next. Roxas walked down the hallway, towards his locker, trying to avoid all the pushing as best he could. He stepped up to the locker, shoving a few girls out of the way. Axel was in the center of the circle, joking with the girls.
Roxas rolled his eyes. 'He's gay, by the way.' Demyx's words rang through his head.
Yeah, he sure acts gay… not.
Roxas spun the code into the lock, and then opened the locker.
"Hey, it's my locker buddy." Axel said, putting his arms around Roxas' waist.
Roxas flinched at the strong arms pulling him back, into a rock hard body. It felt weird, being hugged by a guy that was so much taller than him, yet strangely good, all at the same time. A blush spread across Roxas' face. Axel put his chin on the blonde's shoulder and peered into the locker.
"What's wrong, shorty?" Axel asked, smirking.
"L-let me go." Roxas said, softly, in a very unconvincing tone.
"You don't sound like you really want me to." Axel chuckled, and tightened his grip.
Damnit. Why do I feel like this? I… I don't like men. I'm straight.
The group of girls we're all standing back, squealing over the two boys. Roxas clenched his eyes together.
"I'm not gay, Axel. I don't like guys like that. Please, let me go." Roxas said, not allowing any emotion to flow into his voice.
"I bet you'll think differently, sooner or later." Axel whispered, plucking a drumstick from Roxas' back pocket.
Roxas flinched at the words.
I can't let him know how I feel. I can't.
Axel unlaced his arms, and twirled the drumstick in his hand. Roxas spun around, facing the redhead, and ripped the drumstick from his hand.
"Don't ever touch my drumsticks, Axel." Roxas said, anger dripping from his voice.
Axel smirked, and winked at Roxas. Roxas growled under his breath, and pulled his book from his locker. He ran down the hallway, and into his dad's classroom.
"Roxas!" a familiar voice called.
Roxas looked around, and then noticed Demyx and Zexion sitting at a back table, waving like morons. Roxas smiled, and walked over to their table. Demyx tugged on one of Roxas' chains, urging him to sit down. Roxas plopped into the chair, and sighed loudly. The second Roxas sat down, Axel and Lexaeus came walking into the room.
"Okay, thanks Axel. Just take your seat." Lexaeus said, grinning.
Axel grinned back, and walked directly over to the table with Roxas, Zexion and Demyx.
"Hey Dem. Oh, shorty, you're in this class?" Axel smirked.
"Stop calling me shorty." Roxas replied, an undertone of anger still hinting in his voice.
"Axe." Demyx smiled at him.
Why in the hell is he in this class! This cannot be good…
Axel plopped down in the chair next to Roxas, and slung his arm over the back of his chair. Roxas pretended not to notice, and stared at his father. Lexaeus smiled at Roxas, and proceeded to teach as he normally would.
Axel scribbled on a piece of paper, and then thrust it to the middle of the table.
So, band practice after school?
Demyx and Zexion nodded, and then scribbled their yeses onto the paper.
Roxas! We need a drummer. Wanna try out?
Demyx added.
Roxas glanced at the paper. He sighed, and nodded towards Demyx. The three grinned. Roxas rolled his eyes, and leaned back in his chair. Axel's hand moved slightly, to rest on Roxas' shoulder. Axel smiled at the short blonde, as Roxas' eyes formed a glare.
'I bet you'll think differently, sooner or later.'
The words rang through Roxas' head. Roxas looked at the jock's hand, resting on his shoulder. Pale white skin, on top of a pure black fabric, it seemed so wrong, yet… so right. Roxas thought about it. Axel, the tall jock with potential, vs. Roxas, the short new kid, who couldn't fit in with anyone. Pure opposites, that was clear to him.
But just like Axel's skin on his shirt, it was perfect. That's how all the stories go, right? The jock, Axel, falls in love with a nobody, like Roxas, their relationship blossoms, and it's perfect. Roxas shook his head, and rubbed at his eyes. Axel was already getting to him.
It was all probably a cruel joke that Axel was playing on him. Roxas stared at the table, halfway listening to his dad. Axel put his mouth next to Roxas' ear.
"Meet us in the music room, in the basement, after lunch. And play drums for us. Okay?"
Roxas nodded, shivering at Axel's hot breath on his ear. Axel grinned and blew softly into Roxas' ear. Roxas clapped his hand over his ear, as a blush crawled across his face.
"Alright, kiddos, lunch time. You're dismissed." Lexaeus said, literally four seconds before the bell rang.
Axel stood up, pulling Roxas with him, and walked towards the door.
"We have music to make." Axel grinned, his index finger hooked in the belt loop of Roxas' pants.
Demyx and Zexion bounded up to them, and the four walked downstairs to the music room.
"We need to talk, stay out here, Roxas." Axel said, pushing open the soundproof door, and dragging Demyx and Zexion into the room.
[Axel's POV]
"So, Roxas is gonna play drums for us. We're gonna love him, and let him in our band? What if he sucks?" Axel asked, glaring at Demyx.
"He's been playing since he was four. He carries his drumsticks in his back pocket, for fucks sake. He's gonna be amazing." Demyx replied.
"Let's just hear him. How bad could he be?" Zexion offered, sitting on his usual desk and tuning his bass.
Axel and Demyx sighed, and let Roxas back into the room. Roxas walked up to the drum set.
"What do you want me to play?" Roxas asked, sitting on the bar stool and tapping on the rim of the drums.
"Anything, Beat your little fresh meat heart out on those drums. Forget that we're even here." Axel said, leaning on the desk, and staring at the short blonde kid.
Roxas nodded and twirled the drumsticks to the point where he could play. He started with a simple bass beat, and then broke into a perfectly rhythmic song. Axel watched as Roxas let himself out through the drums, he could practically see the emotions flowing from Roxas' hands into the drums, and letting out a rhythm of perfection. Demyx stuck his tongue out at Axel. Zexion strummed on his bass, a deep, dark and melodic tone flowing through the amp.
Demyx smiled and picked up his guitar. Axel rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms over his chest, pretending to be unimpressed. Roxas opened his eyes, feeling more confident. Axel looked down at his hands, which were shaking violently, and fear shot through his brain. He knew the side effects for his medicines.
This can't happen at school. Anywhere but here.
Axel pushed open the door, and ran the hall to the bathroom. He slammed into the wall, and then slid to the ground, hugging his knees. He knew it was bad to curl up like this, before it happened. But at this point, he didn't care.
[Roxas' POV]
Roxas looked up, and noticed Axel practically running out of the room. Without a second thought, he jumped up from the drum set, and broke out into a sprint after him.
Why am I going to help him…?
Roxas speed walked through the hallway and into the bathroom after Axel. He stood in the doorway. Axel had gone unconscious, and was shaking violently.
"Axel!" Roxas said, hoping he was pretending.
Roxas stood in shock for a split moment, and then Axel's movements began to slow down. Roxas tried to be calm, and remembered what to do when someone was having a seizure.
All I know is… I can't let anything that could potentially hurt him be near him… So… the trash can. And my chains…
Roxas moved the trash can, and created an area for Axel. He practically ripped his chains from his pants, and then crouched next to Axel. He placed his hand on Axel's cheek, petting his face softly.
"Axel… I'm here. Don't worry." Roxas whispered, still petting his face.
Once Axel's seizure had slowed down, and then completely stopped for a little over a minute, Roxas pulled Axel's head into his lap.
"It'll be okay, Axel." Roxas whispered, running his fingers through Axel's fiery red hair.
How can someone so unbreakable be so fragile?
[Axel's POV]
All he remembered, thankfully, was passing out. He didn't want to remember Roxas finding him, or, for that matter, having the seizure. He looked up at the blonde, his mind still fuzzy, and immediately burst into tears. Roxas smiled softly, and brushed the tears from his cheek. Axel stared up at him, tears pouring from his eyes, attempting to thank him.
His words ended up coming out as more of "T-t-tha-thanks R-r-rox-roxas" instead of the "Thank you, Shorty." He was attempting. His words sounded like words coming from a kid speaking his first sentence, rather than the 16 year old he was. He sat up slowly, and slid his body back to the wall. Roxas crawled over next to him, and wrapped his arms tightly around Axel. He looked down at the blonde, trying to calm his voice slightly.
"W-why did you come he-help me? And why a-are you hugging m-me?" Axel's voice shook as his emerald eyes locked with Roxas' sky blue ones.
Roxas shook his head softly and smiled. "I helped you because I care, and I'm hugging you, because I know that I've seen a side of you that no one else has."
"If you tell D-Demyx that I c-cried, I'll k-kill you."
Roxas laughed, and then looked up at Axel. "I promise I won't."
"T-Thanks, Shorty." Axel sighed, rubbing his eyes furiously.
Roxas leaned up and kissed Axel's cheek softly. Since the action was so random, Axel was startled by the soft lips pressing against his cheek.
"W-what was that!" Axel asked, a soft blush spreading across his cheeks.
Roxas looked down, his face turning the same color as Axel's hair. The sight made Axel's heart melt, and his secret want… need for the freshman only a million times stronger. Axel tilted Roxas' chin up, and placed his lips softly against Roxas'. It was a short, yet extremely sweet, kiss. Roxas pulled back, clapping his hand over his mouth.
"That's how you do it, shorty." Axel said, smiling and running a hand through his hair.
Roxas stared at Axel, his face turning a deeper shade of red. Axel stood up shakily, and then reached out for Roxas.
"Come on; let's go back to Demyx and Zexion."
He nodded, and then took Axel's hand.
[Roxas' POV]
Does this mean we're dating? Why am I holding his hand? Why did he kiss me? Does that mean he likes me? Do I like him? Of course I like him, there's no denying that. WHAT AM I SAYING! HE'S A GUY. I-I-I'm falling – fell – for a guy. Oh god…
Questions raced through Roxas' mind. He stared at his feet, clutching the taller male's hand, and keeping pace with him. The silence between them was deafening, yet slightly comfortable. The two stood outside the music room when Axel put his arms around Roxas' waist, pulling him into a hug.
"I have one question for you." Axel whispered into Roxas' ear, still embracing him.
"W-what?" Roxas replied, slipping his arms hesitantly around Axel's waist.
"Do you like me… the way I like you?"
The question left Roxas stunned. His throat tightened, and he couldn't breathe.
"I-I… I don't know."
Axel dropped his arms, and stepped away from Roxas.
"Sorry… I was getting ahead of myself." Axel opened the door slowly, and then smirked at Demyx.
"WHERE THE FUCK DID YOU TWO GO! WHAT HAPPENED!" Demyx shouted, practically tackling Axel.
"Don't worry about it, Dem!"
Roxas stood outside the room, staring at Axel.
Why did I say that? I know I like him. Axel… I… I do like you.
Roxas brushed tears from his eyes and stared at Axel and Demyx talking. Zexion stepped over to Roxas.
"Hey. You're in the band." He grinned, tugging Roxas into the room.
Roxas grinned, feeling every muscle in his face begging him not to.
"Seriously! Thanks so much!"
"So you let shorty into the band? Without my consent? You bastards." Axel laughed loudly, and then put a hesitant arm around Roxas' shoulders.
…What have I done…?
