:) Thank you all for the wonderful reviews!
Yes, it is a little confusing... but it was meant to be that way. As things progress, it will slowly stop being so confusing, so sooner or later things will be cleared up.
Also... whoever said that it was Namine who died? :3
Just saying!
Anyway,
Now that my first drill team competition is out of the way, I might have more time for writing. I just have to be in the right mood in order to write a crazy guy, so I'm sorry for taking so long!
Warning: Murder in this chapter. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Enjoy! :)
Axel had almost always looked up to Roxas.
He was crying, hands holding onto his skinned knee tightly like he was afraid that it would fall apart. Dirt was smudged over his legs and his knee was bleeding enough to make him scared for his life. He'd never fallen from the monkey bars before, and getting hurt wasn't something he'd ever had to really worry about. His mom and dad had always made sure that he stayed safe and protected, but now he was alone at the park, his nanny right down the road getting ice cream and not noticing that her charge was hurt.
"M-mommy…" He mumbled softly, large tears welling up in his eyes and rolling down his dirt smudged cheeks. The other kids at the playground ignored him and his injury, their faces turned away and their activities pulling them farther away from the monkey bars. He was well known among the kids as a bully that pushed people off of the swings so that he could have fun, and now they all felt like he was getting just what he deserved.
His knee stung and he pressed his fingers against it in an effort to make the pain go away, but it didn't help. What was he supposed to do? He didn't think that he could stand up without his knee hurting more, and he didn't think that he could yell loud enough for his nanny to hear. She was half deaf, he'd come to realize.
Sniffling pathetically, he hung his head and stared morosely at the ground, waiting for someone who cared to come and help him up. Even though he was waiting for it, it still surprised him when a pair of black and white play shoes stepped up in front of him and shuffled closer hesitantly.
"Are you ok?" A soft, shy voice made him look up and wipe his tears quickly with his sleeve, afraid of looking weak. A small, frail looking boy was watching him with wide, solemn eyes, the thick lashes surrounding them making him look almost girlish. He had thick, side swept blonde hair that looked messy and framed his cheekbones, emphasizing the soft bruise-like coloring under his eyes. He looked weak and easy to hurt, but it was like he didn't seem to know it.
"What do you want?" He demanded huffily. He didn't like the idea of people seeing him like this, as he looked up at a frail boy he'd probably pushed from the swings a few times. The boy didn't get upset at him being mean though; he smiled softly and shrugged.
"You were crying." The boy explained. Aghast at that being said out loud, Axel glared.
"I was not!" He exclaimed, grasping his knee with one hand and brandishing a fist with the other. "And if you tell anyone that I'll knock your teeth out!" He'd meant it as a threat, something to scare the boy, but instead of looking threatened he looked interested, a small smile tilting his lips up.
"Ok," The boy agreed.
"And get that memorized; I don't cry." Axel added on when he felt like the boy was only saying it to make him appeased.
"What happened to your knee?" The boy changed the subject, childishly pointing at the blood running down his leg.
"I fell off of the monkey bars." He explained angrily. The boy with the soft face tilted his head curiously at that and bent down on one knee, leaning towards his leg and examining it thoroughly.
"You need a band-aid." He said matter-of-factly, lips pulled down in a frown.
"I don't need anything." Axel retorted. Instead of replying though the boy's frown deepened and he fumbled in the pocket of his nice pants, scrambling to pull something out. Axel watched, wondrously, as the boy finally pulled his fist from his pocket to reveal a Band-Aid, a triumphant smile on his face.
"Here you go." He peeled the sticky adhesive from the paper and then stuck the band-aid on the skinned knee, smiling softly as he did so. Axel wiped his face angrily with his sleeve again, trying to get the tears off of his face as he stared, surprised up at the boy who seemed so happy to help.
"Thank you." Axel couldn't help but say. The boy shrugged and straightened up, wiping his nose with an expensive looking shirt.
"My mom does that sometimes." He explained. Smiling a little, he held a hand out, offering Axel to take a hold of it. Cautiously, Axel took it and scrambled to his feet, pushing away the twinge in his knee.
"Do you always have band-aids?" Axel asked curiously, shuffling his feet a little as he stood up. The boy shrugged and looked down, hands stuffed back into his pockets shyly.
"When I go to the park, yes. Mom says I should be prepared." Axel didn't know what to say to that; though his mommy cared deeply she sometimes was gone for a few weeks at a time with work. When he went to the park, it was under the impression that he wouldn't need things like band-aids.
"Oh…that's cool. Hey, I'm Axel. A-X-E-L. What's your name?" He shuffled his feet and watched as the boy kept looking down, eyes on the ground.
"I'm Roxas. R-O-X-A-S. We learned how to spell our names at school, too." Shyly, Roxas peeked up from under his bangs and flashed a smile.
"So did I… I just knew it before because my dad wanted me to learn how to read." Proudly puffing out his chest Axel pointed to himself before cracking a big smile and ruffling Roxas's hair.
"Axel! I got your ice cream!" He heard his nanny calling, and turning Axel saw her walking towards him with an ice cream in one hand. An idea coming to mind, he grinned brightly before turning to Roxas with a purpose.
"Wait here." He ordered and then took off, rushing to the older, kind woman. He turned back when he got there and pointed to Roxas, the old lady smiling and nodding as she handed him the ice cream cone. Rushing back he nearly bowled Roxas over as he skidded to a stop and pushed the ice cream cone into Roxas's face.
"This is for you. It's sea salt ice cream, so I hope you like it. It's my favorite." He said breathlessly. Roxas stared at him with slightly large eyes, watching him carefully as he grinned and pushed the ice cream towards him.
"Really…?" He asked carefully, quietly. Grinning brightly and nodding, Axel pushed the cone towards him and beamed as Roxas took the cone gingerly and licked the ice cream hesitantly.
"Thank you…" He murmured, a small smile breaking over his face.
"It's ok…" Axel grinned and wrapped an arm around the smaller boy's shoulder. "I think we're going to be best friends from now on, ok?"
And since then they'd been the best of friends.
The love came a little later.
It was their sophomore year. Axel watched with excitement as he got out of the back of the car his driver had decided to take for the day, eyes taking in the large building that was just full of possibilities. As a freshman Axel hadn't been able to make much of a reputation for himself, the fresh meat of the campus, but now that he was a year older and a year wiser, Axel knew that he could really make his way up the ladder and be on top by senior year.
With his best friend right next to him, of course.
"Hey, Axel!" Axel grabbed his book bag and swung around to find Roxas after a month of him being across the country with his family for vacation. He could feel the twist in his stomach and the way that his heart sped up, eyes searching for the bright, highlighted blonde hair that was so messy that it was almost a sin, styled like he'd just gotten out of bed. Spotting it, he grinned and began making his way over on slightly awkward limbs, his legs growing too fast for him to keep up.
And he completely ignored the red head that was clamped to Roxas's arm like an accessory.
"Hey, what's up?" He coolly made his way up to them and clapped Roxas's shoulder lightly, grinning as Roxas punched his shoulder in return and gave him an awkward one armed hug, the action a little handicapped from the girl that seemed to refuse to let go of him. Well, Axel would just have to break her of that, now wouldn't he?
"How was Atlantica?" Axel asked, eying the girl that smiled prettily over at Roxas and then gave Axel a particularly nasty look. Ah… he'd forgotten just how petty Roxas's girlfriends could be.
"It was… wet." Roxas grinned and shrugged, adjusting the bag on his shoulder and looking over at the girl next to him. "Axel, I want you to meet Ariel. Ariel, this is-"
"Axel, the guy you haven't stopped talking about since you picked me up today." The girl interrupted with a roll of bright green eyes and a smirk on her lips. She fluffed her light, springy red hair and extended a dainty little hand.
"Oh, he's talked about me? Funny… I haven't heard about you. You must be the new girl." He couldn't help the biting words from slipping past his lips and obviously designed to hurt. Sure enough, the girl's lips pulled down, and Roxas gave him a mildly amused look, silently asking him what his deal was. As she rounded on him, he gave a stern glare in Axel's direction before he shook his head.
"I've told you about Ariel… lots of times."He said as she looked up at Axel and then glowered as he shrugged nonchalantly. In truth, Roxas really didn't care. He was just acting for her sake. He was a boy of status, after all, and had to keep up some sort of act.
"Hmm… I don't remember." He tapped his chin and leaned close. "Is she the one that you said had bad B.O. on the first date?"Roxas's eyes grew wide as he said that, the light blue shining in his eyes showing that he was truly amused, and Ariel's face flushed in embarrassment and mortification. Axel couldn't help it though, couldn't help but ruffle the girl's feathers and get under her skin. It was his job to let her know about Roxas, after all. He had to somehow inform her of Roxas's revolving door and the fact that though he was dating her now, she'd probably be replaced by the end of the month. She'd be lucky if he even remembered her name.
"No, that was probably Erica… right, Roxas?" Ariel recovered from her embarrassment rather quickly, turning to give a very amused Roxas an expectant look.
"Of course…" He said comfortingly, smiling that perfect smile that he'd practiced many times in front of Axel.
"Nope, Erica had the flabby arms. I think it was… Jane with the B.O!" Axel leaned down and smiled sweetly at Ariel. "You were the low class girl playing high class, weren't you?" He asked eagerly. Cheeks flushing red in anger, Ariel jerked back from them and gave him a withering glare.
"Roxas, I think I'll head to my locker. Are you coming?" She asked frostily, glaring daggers at a smirking Axel. Roxas shrugged and checked his small pocket watch before giving her a deadpan expression.
"No, I was going to stay with Axel. You'll be fine, won't you?" He asked coolly, smiling. Axel had to cough to hide the full, mocking smile that filled his eyes with light and made tremors wrack his spine. The girl gave Roxas an indignant look, fury lighting her eyes quickly before she looked Axel over and let her eyes trail over his body hatefully.
"Going to catch up with your boyfriend?" She asked snidely. Axel's laugh didn't stop at that though; if anything it grew. He looked over at Roxas to see him with his hands stuffed into his pockets and that small, arrogant, smart-ass smile playing across his lips.
"Something like that." He agreed, looking up at Axel with shining eyes. It was always like that. Girls hated how close they were, and Roxas brushed them off like they were nothing. He didn't care who ended the relationship, as long as he got what he wanted. He was like Axel, all money and no care for the world or its people. They were on top of the food chain, after all.
Sure enough, the girl seemed to realize just when she was being dismissed, and with a withering glare to Axel she stormed off, whipping her phone out to, no doubt, text her friends about the indignity.
"So we're dating now?" Axel teased, laughing. Roxas adjusted his back pack strap and shrugged, hardly giving the girl a second glace as he smirked.
"She won't last the week." He replied. Axel nodded at that and laughed, turning to begin their short trek towards their lockers that he'd ensured were side by side. He couldn't help the small pang of jealousy ripple along his spine though, seeing the way that girls were looking at Roxas. Their eyes were full of want and desire, something that had some hope of being returned. He was just a friend, just the guy to clean up after Roxas's destructive carnal pleasures. Sure, Roxas cleaned up after him, but sometimes… Axel wanted more than that. They wouldn't have to clean up after one another if they only had each other.
"And then who comes after her?" He asked, voice oddly hesitant. Roxas looked up at him with the same smile playing about his lips, the same cold laughter that he gave everyone else.
"Why, are you interested, Axel?" Roxas asked tauntingly. It was then that Axel remembered why it was dumb to be jealous. Sure, he was just the friend, but as 'just the friend' he received more than any lover or girlfriend would ever get. He got to see some shred of humanity. He saw the side of Roxas that no one ever saw, and the side that no one would ever see.
"Hell no," Axel replied, ruffling Roxas's perfect spikes easily. "I'm not some notch in your gold bedpost, you man whore. I've got some weight of my own to throw." Roxas grinned widely at that, nodding slowly as a few people called their name and motioned them over.
"You're exactly right. Girls would be crawling at the chance to jump your bones." Roxas said softly, his eyes still alight with some untold joke.
"Damn straight." Axel agreed. As they neared the lockers and Axel had to lean down to open his, Roxas caught him by his collar and pulled him down even closer, his lips brushing his ear sensually.
"And some boys, too." He added quietly, nipping his ear. Axe could practically feel the smirk against his skin as he calmly took in the action, ignoring how his heart sped up and his pulse pounded against his neck.
Straightening up, Axel looked down at Roxas and kept his face composed, watching how Roxas was studying his reaction carefully. Shoving his book back into his locker Axel closed it and smirked, ruffling Roxas's hair once more before he nodded towards a girl walking down the hall.
"Next month's purchase?" He asked. Roxas slowly tore his gaze away from Axel, satisfied that Axel had acted like he didn't matter and looked her over slowly, the smile on his face growing as she saw him looking and winked.
"Remind me in 3 weeks." He advised, closing his locker.
The bell rang and they began making their way to homeroom, Axel grinning smugly though his heart ached. It was times like that when he remembered why it was dumb to be jealous. Being jealous only provoked pain, and pain took away from the moments where Roxas was really himself.
Besides, Axel would lay down money that Roxas would choose him over any girl, any day.
He was walking down the hallway awkwardly, the light slowly fading away and casting shadows along the house, distorting everything in view. The sunset bled along the carpet, a dark, rich color that spread along his skin as he made his way past the large window, inking him in crimson. He felt distorted and out of odds with himself, his feet hardly lifting from the ground to move, his breath light and soft. Every so often, a shiver passed down his spine and goosebumps slid along his arms.
He was finally home alone, and he was scared out of his mind.
Why was he scared? It wasn't like something was going to happen. The house had state of the art security after all and motion sensors on the lawn kept people from snooping. By the time a car pulled up to the driveway, the cops could be on their way if he so chose.
It didn't stop him from feeling like something was very, very wrong.
He'd had this feeling for about a week. Sometimes he'd be walking around and get the feeling that he was being watched. Of course, he'd turn to see no one staring at him or following him, and he'd push the feeling away that told him that something was horribly wrong. It had been like this since that stupid get together that Kairi had insisted that they had. He'd gone there, hung out with the colder, upper class crowd, and then wished that he'd never gone. Each of them had a strong sense of superiority, their rich, pampered body clothed in the most expensive of cloth and their words far richer than his vocabulary could hope to be.
The worst ones would have had to have been Roxas and Axel.
They were insufferable. They kept the conversation flowing, their snobbish, sardonic jokes and words keeping the evening lively and full of scorn for everything that wasn't considered "cool" enough for them. They'd made sure that the drinks flowed freely and when he mentioned that his father had worked his way up the old fashioned way, they'd made quick work of his reputation without even having to try. They seemed perfect; their hair was immaculate and their suits seemed to fit every bend of their body the right way. They knew the right people, and the right things to say. Everyone had eaten from the palms of their hands with a desperation that was pathetic.
But he couldn't help but envy them.
Walking into the living room he slumped onto the couch the only way a teenage boy could slump, sprawled disjointedly onto the European leather cushions like it really didn't matter. Clicking the remote button he began flipping through channels, hardly taking in the mindless sitcom that he'd ended on in boredom. It wasn't like they mattered anyway.
He'd been watching the show for barely 10 minutes before the doorbell rang throughout the house. Grumbling under his breath he stood up and made his way over to the main hallway, the goosebumps rising along his arms randomly and making him slide on a jacket from the hook to warm up. Opening the door, he folded his arms and leaned against the doorway, taking in the edgy looking, and familiar boy before him.
"Evening, Roxas." He greeted coolly. Roxas looked much different then when he'd first met him, his dress pants an older fashion year and his button up white shirt a little wrinkled. Black, seamless leather gloves covered polished, perfect hands, and he had a zipped up back pack, a cheap, 10$ looking thing that usually the richer, much better off youth wouldn't be caught dead with. Curiously, he took in the boy before him, waiting for him to explain what he was doing on his doorstep. Hadn't he made it clear that their circles would never mesh? Roxas grinned good-naturedly and held up a small six pack of beer, a silent offering in order for him to get inside. Shrugging uncaringly, he moved out of the way of the door and let Roxas walk in, casting a short glance to the driveway to see a cheap, dented looking Toyota parked where he expected a limousine to reside.
"Thought I'd see how you've been; Kairi was asking about you." Roxas said in the same clipped, precise way that he always spoke in. He set the six pack on the small hallway table but kept his backpack on.
"Yeah, she called a few days ago." He replied, grabbing the beer and making his way into the kitchen. Roxas followed him silently, his steps quiet and soft.
"You didn't come to her coffee thing yesterday; she was worried." Roxas added on as they reached the kitchen. Shrugging uncaringly again, he pulled a beer off of the small ring of them, tossing the rest to Roxas who set them on the counter without taking one.
"She worries about me a lot; I don't know why" Taking a large sip of the nasty tasting stuff, he leaned against the marble counter and took in the steady stare that Roxas was giving him. His large, bright blue eyes stared at him unblinkingly, a small, half smile playing across his lips like he knew a great, big secret. It was a little unnerving since he generally had a more resigned, permanent sneer on his face.
"You seem… distanced from the rest of us." Roxas noted quietly his head tilting slightly to the side like he was studying him.
"What do you mean?" He hedged, an uncomfortable feeling settling into his stomach. The way that Roxas was looking at him was intense, suffocating.
"It's like… you were uncomfortable. I noticed that you… were different from the rest of us." His smile widened a little as he grabbed a beer and popped the top, leaning against the counter with the same strange, unsettling look. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and a side part of his thoughts noted that Roxas didn't take a drink of the beer.
"You're right. I was uncomfortable." He shrugged and took another sip, the disgusting drink settling into his stomach heavily. The light in Roxas's eyes seemed to lighten at that, and he leaned in a little closer.
"I wonder why…" He whispered, but it was unclear as to whether or not he was meant to hear it.
"I don't. Let's be honest, Roxas; we didn't exactly get along." Roxas's eyes widened a little at that, but his vague smile remained, a strong contrast to the otherwise perfectly composed face.
"I thought we got along well." Roxas said conversationally.
"Well, we didn't. You insulted me and my father. You can't honestly think I'd be ok with that. It was a bitchy move to make." Roxas didn't look insulted or offended at his words though; if anything his smile became even more mystified and his eyes lightened in delight. A warning bell rang off in his head, but he pushed it away, thinking it as nothing more than annoyance. He really just wanted Roxas to get out of his house.
"So innocent, aren't you?" Roxas asked softly, his voice low and steady.
"What?" He snapped back, a little confused. Roxas didn't say anything for a moment, his eyes taking everything in as his grip slackened a little on his drink.
"Innocent and fresh… a light… in your eyes… but the innocence… hates me…" He whispered, and then there was an edge in his voice that made the atmosphere darken around them like a thick, choking smoke.
"Look, you don't like me, and I don't like you. How about you just leave?" He offered with barely concealed annoyance, though he heard a hint of worry in his voice. Judging by the strange look on Roxas's face, he'd heard it to.
"Let the innocence love me… love me…" Roxas whispered the words, his voice barely audible. His stare brightened as a sharp, jagged breath rippled past his lips, and his smile widened a little, making him look truly demonic. Stepping back in shock, he looked incredulously at Roxas, disgust rippling through him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" He demanded. "You're freaking me out." Roxas leaned forward a little the words passing his lips again, and then suddenly his drink fell from his hands, hitting the floor and spilling the drink everywhere in moments, the dark, brackish looking color making the floor look dirty and stained. He jumped back on instinct and looked up accusingly at Roxas who was staring at the floor, mystified.
"Innocent…" Roxas murmured to himself.
"Stay there." He snapped, moving back to grab some paper towels. Setting the beer can down, he turned to grab the roll, anger settling into his stomach. What, he says the truth and Roxas dumps beer on the floor? Classy.
Turning around, he took a step towards the growing puddle on the floor, anger rushing through his veins. Anger turned to shock though as a sharp, strong shove sent him flying, feet slipping along the patch of beer and careening towards the marble countertop. The paper towel roll flew from his hands as he slammed against the countertop and smacked his head against it, black dots exploding before his eyes painfully.
"Roxas…?" He groaned out, blinking past the blinding pain in his skull. Before he could move though, someone grabbed him by the back of the head, yanking him back by his hair and then slamming his head forcefully against the marble top once more.
Everything went black.
Inspector Strife looked down at the body of the boy before him, his gaze grave and critical. The teenager lay still and motionless, his eyes wide and his mouth lax with a silent shout of surprise. Dried blood trickled from his ear and matted into his dirty blonde hair, indication of head trauma and internal bleeding. A dark, mottled reddish-blue bruise lined the side of his head near his temple and beside him laid an empty beer can, its contents spread around the boy.
"Has the body been moved?" He asked.
"N-n-no… I couldn't bear to…" The maid hugged herself tightly, her red face and puffy eyes softening the lines of the inspector's face as he sympathetically nodded.
"And where are the parents…?" He asked, stepping back and looking once more at the boy before him. He'd be close to around Roxas's age; his youth swept out from under him before he'd had a chance to live. It was always a little depressing for Cloud to see teenagers or children die since they wouldn't have the chance to do so many things that they'd wanted, and this boy was no exception.
"They're on their way; th-they were-" The maid's voice broke and she covered her trembling lips with her hand. "On… a business trip…" Her voice trailed off and she turned away from the body, unable to bear looking at it.
"This looks pretty clear cut, sir." A younger, upstart police officer said, walking up as another officer walked the maid out of the room to talk.
"And what do you see, exactly?" Cloud asked, jotting down the position of the body and the different things around the scene that stood out. The C.S.I team was on their way and he wanted everything preserved so that when they arrived they could begin work immediately.
"I'd say he spilled his beer, most likely a little drunk." The officer nodded over to the trash can where a few other beer cans lay, crushed and empty. "He spilled his drink, intoxicated, and then went to get something to clean it up. Of course, drunk, he didn't really have control over his movements, and slipped on the beer. "The officer pointed to a roll of paper towels that lay, soaking up the drink and in a disarray. "He dropped the paper towels and attempted to catch himself. He ended up hitting his head on the countertop-" The man pointed towards the edge of the marble top where a patch of blood stood out against the light counter. "and the force of the impact with the hardness of the counter led to blunt force trauma and hemorrhaging in the brain. It knocked him out, and then the internal bleeding killed him."
Inspector Strife looked over at the officer with a sharp, piercing gaze that made the man stop from adding anything else. It was a look that sprang from over 10 years of hard work and dedication, and it easily silenced the young man.
"So you're saying," Cloud said slowly, "that this was an accident…?" The man, clearly uncomfortable with the stare, nodded awkwardly.
"A freak accident, but an accident, none the less." He confirmed in a much quieter voice. Cloud shook his head slowly and got down onto one knee, staring into the eyes of the boy lying on the floor, a boy that had life taken from him before it had really begun, a boy that until now thought he had it all. It made Cloud think of his brother and the way that he was so carefree that it was almost sickening. It made him ache to be home and make sure that he was alright.
"What's your name, officer?" Cloud murmured, not wanting to look back up at the man that clearly knew nothing about a crime scene. He was probably a rookie.
"Officer Leonhart, sir. Most just call me Leon." He replied, tone businesslike and brusque as he spoke. He probably realized that he'd just failed Cloud's examination and wanted to try to gain some points back before Cloud removed him from the investigation like others before him.
"Let me make something clear to you, Leon." Cloud jotted down a few notes as he spoke, eyes taking in the placement of the body and the potential scenarios running through his head. "The only reason I would have been called in on this would be if there was any indication of foul play. I'm not just an inspector on the police force; I'm in the homicide unit."
"So, you're saying-"
"I was called in because something here doesn't look right. Though the chief probably thought it was nothing, there's something here that says that this isn't just a 'freak accident' as you so called it." Cloud looked up at the stoic, dark haired man that was staring at the body with a whole new light. "There's some sort of sign here that says that this young man was murdered. And I intend to find out what it is."
He was moving on. Slowly but surely, he was moving on.
"So I heard you and Naminé were getting close." Axel stated quietly as they walked down the strip of the mall, bags in hand and money to spend in their pockets. Roxas looked over at him with his large, dark blue eyes and shrugged.
"Jealous?" He asked in way of reply, a smirk tugging on his mouth. Axel rolled his eyes and then nodded towards the small shop that they always went to, heading in that direction without any real purpose. They had all day, after all. It was fall break for their private school, a week off with nothing to do and more than enough energy to want to do something. Axel was happy that Roxas had even wanted to leave his house for more than a party or a social call. For a year or so the only time he'd left the house was when he had to, for his reputation's sake, or for school. Axel would always have to go to his house, or specifically ask him to come to his house.
Since that day, things had never been the same.
Though, at least they were out in public, not trying to be seen. Roxas had even called him and asked if he wanted to hang out. If that wasn't a shock, but he'd even asked. Roxas didn't ask for things. Roxas didn't take the initiative to do things like call people. And yet… he'd done both in one day. He'd even showed up to Axel's house, ready to go with the limo and a pocketful of debit cards.
Maybe it was his way of moving on?
"Don't you wish." Axel retorted, smirking. Usually, this would be where Roxas would have something particularly witty to say, but instead of being how he usually would, his lips pursed together slightly and he nodded slowly.
"Yes," He whispered. Axel turned to give him a slightly confused look, but the guarded look in his friend's eyes told him not to say anything. Turning away, Axel decided to change the subject. He wasn't exactly surprised that Roxas had blurted something like that out so randomly. Sometimes he'd get a very far away, pained look in his eyes and he'd say something random and odd. Axel was used to that though. It had been that way ever since the, "accident".
Of course, Axel was the only one to ever see that look. Ever.
They stepped into the shop and nodded to the clerk that knew them by face and reputation. He gave them a small, friendly wave before he turned the music down a little lower so that they could browse and look through things without the music right against their ears. Since he was paid on commission, he had to always keep the customers happy.
"So are you going to the party this weekend?" Axel asked carefully as they browsed the suit racks and checked through the different brands and styles. Roxas shrugged, that faraway look still in his eyes.
"I was thinking of bringing Naminé along." He replied. Axel snorted at that, shaking his head and raising an eyebrow.
"That's never been your type."
"Girls have always been my type." Roxas smirked, but it didn't look right. It wasn't his signature, knee melting smirk. There was something dead about it, something that made Axel want to gather him close. But he didn't make a move to.
"And the occasional boy meant nothing…?" He said instead. If Roxas wanted to tell him what was wrong (besides the obvious) then it would be his choice. Though Axel knew he most likely wouldn't say, Roxas would know that he meant well by simply being here for him.
"They were pretty." Roxas said by way of explanation, and that was that.
They got their stuff together and then paid, nodding to the clerk and walking out of the shop at a leisurely pace, Axel not wanting to push Roxas faster than necessary. He could see by the slightly haunted look in Roxas's eyes that he wanted to be away from the public, wanted to be away from the bright lights of the city and the fast pace of his teenage years. Which was fine to Axel, in reality. He was happy that it was just the two of them, and that Roxas seemed more at ease than usual. Sometimes, when he was really agitated, he would begin pacing, face dark and brooding as he clasped his hands tightly behind his back and cut the circulation from his hands unthinkingly. So this… this was good.
They passed by the newsstand, nodding towards the boy that worked there, the usual worker that also happened to go to their school. As they attempted to keep things at a regular greeting and nothing more though, the boy spoke up with an oddly somber appearance. His face seemed crumbled and grave instead of the usual chirpiness.
"Did you hear what happened?" He asked softly, fingers sliding along the grey and recycled paper slowly. Axel shook his head and Roxas waited quietly for him to continue, long, tapered fingers tapping against his shopping bags impatiently. Though he usually had a perfectly composed façade, Axel could see that he wanted to be alone and hadn't really realized that they were in public anymore.
"It's awful, really… Olette's been a mess since it happened." The boy sighed and looked down, and Axel noticed the shadows under his eyes, like he hadn't slept.
"What happened?" He asked curiously, ignoring the way that Roxas was still tapping against his bags, the soft noise oddly distracting. He still hadn't woken up from dreamland.
"You guys remember Hayner, don't you?" He asked. Axel glanced at Roxas and frowned, and then saw the spark in Roxas's eyes as he blinked and realized where they were and what they were doing. He could almost see the way that the gears were turning in his head as his face transformed into the crafty, smart, and open boy that everyone else knew him to be.
"Kairi's old friend?" He asked curiously, leaning in on the stand. His face became slightly mocking as he spoke, probably remembering their first meeting, and his teeth flashed in a fake attempt at a smile.
The thicker boy nodded glumly at that, not noticing the way that Roxas had taken a 100 degree turn. Axel, naturally, noticed it though, and had to smirk. It was like he was putting on a mask, changing his very being to fit what was expected of him. Axel would have been a little shocked seeing it if not for the fact that he had a mask just like it.
"Yeah… he died the other day. An accident when he was home alone." The boy said softly, and he adjusted his head band awkwardly on his head, tears gathering in his eyes. Looking down he didn't see the look of shock that Roxas and Axel gave one another, their faces mirroring each other's perfectly.
Axel could see the way that the word "died" affected his friend. Though it wasn't really noticeable to the untrained eye, Axel could see it. It was in the way that his usually mocking, crafty stare seemed to dull down a little, like someone had stolen his joke from him before he could say it. It was in the way that his fingers were once more tapping against the bag, something to distract him from what he would be feeling, the one thing that he didn't want to show. Though it seemed like normal, average behavior to other people, it was a sign that he was shutting down, going to autopilot, and letting instinct take control of his actions.
"How awful," Axel said softly, his voice broken and sympathetic. Roxas didn't say anything along with that, his face frozen in a perfectly composed mask. His eyes were slowly glazing over, and Axel watched as he reached out to touch Pence's hand, a gesture that was so unlike him that it was almost a crime. Roxas didn't touch people. Roxas didn't break that barrier between him and the rest of the world. Not since… a long time ago.
No, this Roxas was fake.
"The police said it was an accident… he was drunk." Pence said quietly, and he pulled his hand away to rub it against his eyes. Roxas nodded at that, eyebrows furrowed, and he looked up at Axel with his hollow, distant eyes that silently pleaded for help, silently pleaded to take the pain away.
Axel let his fingers brush against Roxas's hand, trying to bring him back to earth. Instead of Roxas flinching away though, he grasped his friend's hand and refused to let go.
"Is there anything we can do?" Axel asked, unable to look at Roxas without feeling like he had to say something to make him feel better. He couldn't stand the way that his friend was staring at him, begging to make the pain go away.
"Just… pray for him?" Pence asked softly. Nodding, Axel murmured something else that he was hardly aware of before they turned away and he tugged lightly on Roxas's hand to bring him along. Roxas followed silently, but after a few moments he pulled his hand from Axel's, a sign that he still knew where he was and the reputation he had to keep up. His back straight and his mouth set in a permanent sneer, he kept his act up until they got into the limo and pulled away from the mall.
And then he crumpled against Axel's side and laid his head on his shoulder, a silent plea for comfort. Axel instinctively rolled the window up that would separate them from the limo driver, and he put his arm around Roxas's shoulder, holding him close to chase the demons away.
"Axel…" He heard Roxas whisper quietly.
"I know, I know… it's terrible." Axel replied, and he felt Roxas's tense body against him. He was scared to show emotion, scared to show how he probably wanted to break down. He was Roxas Strife, heir to the Strife fortune, and he had a reputation to uphold.
"Roxas, it's alright." He added quietly, tightening his hold. Looking down at Roxas, he saw that his friend's eyes were a thousand miles away, taking something in that Axel would never be able to comprehend. It was the look that said he wasn't really there anymore, and didn't want to come back anytime soon.
So Axel held his friend tightly, carefully keeping the horrors at bay.
Hit or miss?
Let me know in a review!
So... now things are going to get rolling. You've got the basics down... and soon you'll meet Reno :D
He's awesome.
But, like I said, let me know what you think in a review! I really appreciate what you guys have to say.
I'll update soon!