I shouldn't spoil you guys like this... but here's chapter two. Remember... I'm kind of debating on where to take this and suggestions are soooooooo needed and appreciated... Also, the fact that Dem and Rox are all over eachother in this chapter doesn't mean there won't be any Dem/Sora action... heh. I'll probably end up talking this one out with my beloved Mousewolf, because people aren't all that up on suggesting anything... and there will be no Sora/Roxas, Roxas/Sora, Demyx/Roxas/Sora etc. Nothing involving the half-brothers. Ever. At all.
I just decided that because it still grosses me out.
Summer ended two days later with a sixteen hour ride in a behemoth of a charter bus, broken only by stops to eat and pick up new kids. Lucky for Demyx, Sora, Kairi, Riku, and Roxas, they were some of the first kids to board and were able to get seats in the same general area. Demyx, Roxas and Sora sat in the bench seat at the very back of the bus, squished together like sardines but not really caring all that much about it, and despite what others might have felt, were quite comfortable. They'd gotten lucky that the bus driver declared the bathroom off-limits.
"Ya'll just gotta learn ta pee when we stop!" the gruff old driver had roared, chewing on the end of what looked like a bamboo skewer.
In front of the three boys, Kairi and Riku sat together, and both were passed out in a matter of two seconds due to the early hour of their departure. Riku was leaned up against the cold window, a halo of condensation from his body-heat and his breath forming a halo around his head and shoulder. Kairi was slumped over onto the pillow in Riku's lap, snoring in a distinctly feminine way because of the weird position she was in.
Demyx felt undeniably lucky that he'd gotten the window seat, sitting half-turned toward Roxas and Sora. They had spent almost two and a half hours talking before Sora finally drifted off against the upholstered wall of the bathroom. Roxas remained awake, but he didn't say much even when Demyx tried to initiate any sort of conversation.
Finally the boy just said, "Move."
"What?" Roxas mumbled sleepily.
"Move for a second."
"Okay," Roxas obliged, scooting over closer to Sora for a moment.
Demyx shifted himself so that his back was flat to the window, and he slid his leg in behind Roxas, letting the other hang over the end of the seat.
"Um…"
"Come here now," Demyx said, his voice hushed, thick with sleep. He put out his hand and drew his long fingers back once, twice, dropped his hand back into his lap. Roxas hesitated a little, then turned his back and leaned up against the older boy, tensing a little when those surprisingly strong arms closed around him.
"Just relax… it's more comfortable like this," Demyx explained.
"Maybe for you…"
"Oh come on!" Demyx whined, "It's not like I'm a pedophile or something…"
Roxas sighed, turning himself a little so that he was mostly on his side, pulling his knees up until they were pressed up against the bottom of Demyx's thigh. He still had his head turned away from the other boy though.
"Chill," Demyx sighed, turning the younger boy's head. "Your head is hard, kid."
Roxas stiffened again. He wasn't sure he was all that ready to be in such a terribly intimate position with this boy that he barely knew.
"D-Demyx…"
"Just listen," the older boy breathed, resting his chin on top of the younger's head.
Roxas took a sighing breath and obeyed. He listened.
"Wha… What am I listening for exactly?" Roxas asked, not sure why the older boy would order him to do something like this.
"Sora always says that my heartbeat is calming. I never knew exactly why; it may just be something that applies to him, but who knows."
Roxas listened, now knowing why and feeling a little more at ease with the whole situation.
"Yeah… he's right…"
He had expected an answer, but when he spoke again, all he got was a soft mumble. No doubt he was out cold. Roxas followed suit soon thereafter, thinking all the while, Maybe I've finally found a friend…
--- ---
None of them wakened for quite some time. At least not until a few stops had been made and the bus got unbearably loud. They dozed on and off until the stop that finally brought a plague: Seifer Almasy.
As soon as he was on the bus with his two stupid subordinates, he was on Demyx like white on rice.
"Molester! Crazy piece of shit faggot!" he crooned from his seat two rows away.
Demyx seemingly ignored him completely, but Roxas' nerves were starting to fray quickly. Even Sora was starting to look visibly pissed. That was a practical impossibility by all rights.
"Startin' 'em early, huh faggot?" Seifer hissed, "Gonna' molest all the freshies comin' in?"
"Shut the hell up!" Roxas roared.
Demyx slapped his hand around Roxas' mouth and pulled him back.
"Don't say anything, kid. He'll lose interest if we don't say anything." Demyx sounded different now. His breathing was erratic, his body tense and stiff. "Just don't answer him."
"Fa-a-a-a-agot!" Seifer warbled, inciting several murmurs and giggles all around.
This time Demyx's chest hitched a little and Roxas came to the startling realization that his friend was crying. It was quiet, and there were no tears, but little dry sobs kept pushing past his guard. Worst of all, he'd probably been like this since the other boy boarded.
Sora noticed it instantly, flared suddenly.
"Mind your own business!" he barked, "You're nothing but a candy-ass bitch!"
Now of course these were words that Demyx had taught Sora in an improvised English slang lesson, and the older boy was amused that his young friend had actually used the term somewhat accurately. It surprised him so much that he started laughing loud and hard, sorrows easily forgotten. Demyx clutched an equally amused Roxas hard to his chest. In fact, most of the bus had burst into uproarious laughter at this point.
"Quiet down, y' damn kids!" the bus driver roared.
Seifer sank down into his seat, defeated.
"I'll show you who's boss later, stupid fruitcake."
"We'll see!" Demyx said, his demeanor suddenly quite cocky and confident, the laughter still heavy in his tone. Roxas thought he was like an entirely different person . "Come any time. I'll show you what the pavement looks like nice and close up."
The bus was mostly silent after that but for a few sniggers that managed to lift above the din of moderate speech.
Roxas curled up against his new friend again. He felt safe, and god, the boy was comfortable despite the fact that Demyx was almost nothing but knotted muscle and bone. He had scooted up more this time, laying on his stomach with his head cradled in the crook of the older boy's neck.
"You're sure friendly now," Demyx whispered, a private musing among friends.
"Well, I can't help it if you're comfortable."
"Be careful. I think Sora's getting jealous," Demyx laughed, this time a little louder so the brunet could hear.
"I think he is," Kairi agreed with a cute giggle.
"Hey! I am not!" Sora pouted, snuggling up against the hard upholstered plastic wall once again. It looked as ridiculous as if he were hugging a cactus.
"Well, I'm going back to sleep. Night, guys," Demyx informed, resting his cheek on Roxas' forehead.
They slept for another few stops.
--- ---
They woke to two new faces who had taken the place Seifer and his lackey Rai had vacated in front of Kairi and Riku.
"Hi," one of the kids said softly. He looked the older of the two, and his hair was so blond it was almost silver with a single chunk that was as black as midnight. It fell around his lapis colored eyes generously, giving him a strangely sultry appearance. "M' name's Michael. This here is m' brother Luxord," he said confidently, pointing to the younger of them. Michael had the oddest accent, and Luxord… well, he just talked funny anyway.
"Would any of you be interested in a rousing game of cards? Do any of you play poker?"
Roxas, Sora, and Demyx all shook their heads.
"Aww," Luxord sighed, "Well… we could always play another game… Michael, I dare say that some of these blokes look prime for fleecing."
"How?" Michael asked, sounding utterly amused.
Roxas looked up to Demyx a little worried, but the older boy was smiling. He hadn't seen that expression before. He turned to Sora for a hint, but Sora was wearing the same small smirk. He tried to emulate it. Demyx glanced down to him, did a double-take and actually raised his eyebrows a little.
"So, what do you propose?" Demyx asked, never taking his eyes off of Roxas.
The expression dropped off of Roxas' face when Demyx's hard, callused hand caressed his cheek with a lovingness he'd not expected in the least. How long had they known each other even? And he was already being this close? Too close…
"Why, I'm pondering something they would pay to see," Luxord suggested crisply, glancing down at Kairi for a suggestion. "Would the lady know of anything? I'm sure she's quite clever…"
"Me?" Kairi asked with a giggle.
Luxord nodded with a charming grin. At that very moment, Riku grunted and shifted against the window, still deep in sleep. This elicited a few quiet sniggers from the foreign boys.
"Well… since Sora was so jealous earlier…"
"Right!" Luxord cried, giving Demyx and Sora a wink. Obviously these boys had been informed. It was time to put on a good show. "Can I have your attention ladies and gents? I've a bet to make, a bet to take!"
Several kids perked up turned around and faced the gregarious blond boy with the impressive little garden of facial hair. He was probably only a sophomore with his current behavior and he looked only a few months or so younger than his senior brother.
"I've been informed of a certain situation between two blokes over this way; a situation I'm sure is prime for betting. Tell me, do you believe these two blokes would lock lips given enough pressure?"
"Which two?" came a loud reply.
Luxord looked over his shoulder.
"Demyx," the blond said loud enough for the prospective bettors to hear.
"And your name, my dear sir?" Luxord called, pointing to Sora.
"M-me?" Sora stuttered convincingly.
Luxord nodded.
"S-S-Sora…"
"Demyx and Sora!" Luxord called, "What say you? Will they do it?"
"I'll put in that they will, so I do," Michael said loudly, "Fifty munny says they'll do it."
"You're gonna lose! Hell no!" Sora cried.
Demyx only smiled.
"Hell, I'll take you up on that!" another boy cried, "One hundred that they won't!"
"Me too," a pretty girl near the front added, "One hundred says they won't."
"Five hundred that they will," Michael said, unperturbed.
"One thousand!" a blond senior boy laughed, "They totally won't do it."
"I'll take that too. One thousand," the first bettor added.
Soon they had six people against wagering a cold hard one thousand. Luxord looked to Michael who shook his head and shrugged.
"If I go any higher, I won't have anything to pay them."
"The bets have been placed! It's up to you, my friends!" Luxord called, turning to give them a look that said "Don't disappoint me."
Demyx sat up, Roxas sitting back and switching positions with Sora so that the two were close enough to do what they were going to be paid to do. Sora was doing some brilliant acting, coyly pushing away Demyx's advances every time he leaned in for the kiss. Finally, he showed a little less resistance, again he pushed less hard, and then the boys locked lips. A short, light kiss on the lips.
"That's not a kiss!" one of the bettors cried, "Tongue! Tongue! Tongue!"
Suddenly almost the entire bus was ringing with the chant, and Sora really was squeamish now. He pushed Demyx away hard.
"No!" he mouthed.
He was trying to escape when Kairi caught him by the hand. Sora looked down at her, confused, but she winked up at him suggestively. "Do it," she mouthed. He looked to a newly roused Riku and the silver-haired boy nodded imperceptivity, an evil little smile curving his lips gracefully.
Sora sighed and leaned in closer to Demyx.
"Are you ready?" the older boy asked quietly.
"Yeah…" Sora said softly, "Let's do it…"
Demyx pressed his lips against Sora's teasing gently with his tongue against the younger boy's lower lip. Sora was still resistant, so without any previous warning, Demyx bit the young boy's lower lip hard enough to make him gasp. He invaded Sora's mouth forcefully, and Sora moaned quietly, allowing Demyx to ravage him. When he pulled back a little, Sora finally took some initiative, kissing Demyx deeply, clinging desperately.
The groaning bettors handed over their losses.
Demyx finally broke the kiss, wiping his mouth on the back of his wrist, smiling softly.
"You're good."
"T-thanks…" Sora croaked, blushing a little. He was surprised when Roxas pushed him out of the way and practically jumped on Demyx.
"Aww," Demyx said softly, hugging his young friend, "I'm sorry I abandoned you. I won't do it again."
It was mostly a joke, but Roxas could actually hear some seriousness in his smooth, musical voice.
Sora smiled winningly, even though he'd been pried away.
After a few moments of idle chat between the five, and receiving their cut from Luxord and Michael—a hefty sum of 1500 munny—Riku and Kairi switched with Demyx and Roxas so that they could sleep in peace.
And they slept like rocks, or logs, or any other inanimate object known for its propensity to stay in one place for long periods of time.