A/N: Thank you all SO much for the lovely reviews, I promise I'll reply to them all once I get back from the camping trip! I hope you're all doing great! Enjoy this new chapter, it is fun :D
Saix
Since I'd offered lunch as compensation for pinching Reno's ass, plus the fact that I had certain places I'd rather eat than others, I ended up driving to a small cafe on main street. The advantage of this place, was that they had two floors. The first floor was a bakery, while the second was the cafe portion. There was a small balcony with few tables overlooking the main street. People rarely looked up, and even if they did, they wouldn't be able to see my face. This gave me the illusion that I could be out in public and be normal.
We were seated by the owner's wife, a wonderful woman that reminded me of what grandmothers were probably like and I was grateful that she didn't treat me any different.
"I hope this is okay. I'm not sure what kind of food you like." I said as I watched Reno glance over the menu.
"Not a complicated guy, Saix." He glanced up, giving me a wink, "Where Axel is picky, I'm not, so I'm sure I'll like this place." After having chosen already, he shut the menu, putting it down on the table as he sat back, looking comfy and relaxed. "Or, well, I used to be, but I didn't exactly have that luxury when I first joined the forces." He shrugged, "The food got a bit better with the promotion, but we, the guys I shared a room with, tended to be either too exhausted or too lazy to go out and eat in a proper restaurant."
"How long were you a pilot? And what exactly did you pilot?" I shook my napkin out, resting it on my lap, then took a drink of the water on the table. Axel hadn't talked a whole lot about Reno. I'd almost forgotten he had a brother until I saw him the other day. They looked so much alike, but I was already enjoying the calmness that Reno seemed to emanate.
"Almost ten years. I'd like to say twelve, but apparently, and this came as a shock to me when I first signed up with the forces, you aren't allowed to instantly try and make a helicopter fly on your first day." He grinned, "I was real bummed out. Was busy running around, doing push ups, sit ups and all kinds of ups, getting screamed at by a superior on a daily basis. Luckily that only lasted 6 months, afterwards I spend a year and a half training helicopter flight before they deemed me ready to actually handle tasks." He stretched out, placing his arms behind his head, "Then they realized I was so damn good at it, they offered me a job as the president's private pilot. Which is essentially a glorified taxi driver."
Nibbling on the complimentary bread, it was all I could do not to have my jaw drop. He was the president's pilot? I highly doubt that glorified taxi driver was the correct description. That was about as elite as you could get. Color me impressed. "How long did you do that? And I'm surprised you aren't still his pilot. The pay had to have been fantastic."
"Eight years." He shrugged, clearly not as impressed with the job as I was, "The pay was indeed fantastic, enough to allow me lots of time off now. But I was obliged to remain in close proximity to wherever the president was at. You know his place is in Lucca and that is hours away from here." He sighed, running a hand through his hair, straightening the goggles along the way, "I saw Ax and my mother only once a year, they always had to come to me, and since both work insane hours at the hospital, well, you get the idea. I sometimes was obliged to skip out on them while we were on vacation." A grimace, "I was offered a contract renewal with our newly elected president, but I miss my family and am kinda in a place right now where I want to settle. Can't do that on base."
I nodded, understanding what he meant. It was a strange feeling, knowing you were getting older and you saw so many other people settled, you started craving that. "That's understandable. So, you actually don't have a job at this point? Is there any particular place you're planning on looking? I know the hospital employs a helicopter for emergencies." I was rather envious of his situation. There were a lot of possibilities and he could take his time.
"I'll probably go freelance, so pretty much work for anyone who needs a pilot." He grinned then, "I got a president for reference, I can nail any job without actually having to get interviewed. But right now is vacation time." He reached over to drink some water himself, "But enough about that, lets talk about you." He straightened, leaning onto the table so he could look at me more intently, "I wanna know all your secrets..." Mischief twinkled in his eyes, and, like always it seemed, he looked amused.
Fighting down a blush, there was the charm Axel had warned me about, I couldn't let it get to me. Waving my hand dismissively, I played down the question. "I hardly have secrets. What exactly were you expecting to learn?"
Although he scanned my face slowly enough for me to notice, I could tell he wasn't focusing on the scar. "How about a last name? Age? Siblings? The reason you became a librarian? Have you always lived in Hollow Bastion? Mind tucking that hair back? I like to look people in the eye when I talk to them." His voice was gentle as he asked that last question, making it clear that he wouldn't mind overly so if I didn't comply.
I was startled by his last comment, and I slowly tucked my bangs back. It was automatic to have them in front of my eyes, shielding my face for the benefits of others. I hadn't realized that I even had them hanging down. I saw a happy smile form on his lips as he could fully see my face now. When he opened his mouth to say something, we were interrupted.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Have you chosen?" Reno blinked up at the waitress.
"We sure have, sweetheart." He opened the menu, tilting it her way so he could point at what he wanted. I chuckled as the waitress couldn't help but smile back at Reno, forcing me to conclude that man or woman, the redhead could catch the eye of any onlookers. As he placed his order, I quickly made up my mind, having already memorized the menu. I always waited til the last minute to decide, it was just a habit. When she turned to me, I made a show of holding the menu up to hide my face as I spoke. With a nod, she gathered our menus and quickly went to place the order and I glanced off of the balcony, a couple walking hand in hand having caught my eye.
"You shouldn't hide like that."
"Hm?" Blinking, almost forgetting that I'd had company, I glanced back as I rested my chin on my hand.
"That trick you just did? Hiding behind the menu so she couldn't catch a look at your face?" He offered me a sympathetic smile, "I sorta get why you do it, people are weird and I don't blame ya for being affected by it. But you shouldn't hide... You're letting them make you feel worse about it than you should. None is perfect."
And, I really didn't want to talk about it. Feeling my back straighten, I bit back the immediate snap that almost made it past my lips. Clearing my thought, trying to come up with some way not to sound defensive about it, I glanced back down on the street, staring at nothing in particular.
"It's not some trick. It's something I've found will make others not as uncomfortable and that in turn makes me less uncomfortable knowing they aren't focusing on it. I don't let them make me feel worse. I can do that all on my own." Shit, the bitterness was seeping through my tone. Forcing the lightheartedness back into my voice, I still couldn't look him in the eye. "It's not that big of a deal at this point. It will never change and I'm not letting it affect me."
"You are cause you can't look me in the eye anymore since this is the first time I let you know I know the scar is there." He shifted in his seat, "Now, I'm not going to pretend what it's like having to live with something on your face that makes people point and stare, but I shared a room with some guys at the base that sported pretty impressive scars themselves. Leonhart has a slash right across the bridge of his nose. Got cut during a sword combat exercise. He was ground while I was air."
A shrug, "Anyways, he told me sometime that he used to get real down when people noticed, and like you, it's hard not to notice. Also like yourself, he avoided human contact as much as he could manage, but at some point he realized that if he felt stared and pointed at? It's cause he felt self-conscience about the scar, thus in turn making him feel awkward when he stepped outside, and when a person is jumpy? Scar or no scar, people notice."
He thanked the waitress when she placed our food before us, taking off quickly again, allowing Reno to continue, "He said that once he stopped caring about the scar himself? People around him saw he owned up to it, and in turn, didn't stare or pity him." And then he dug into his food. "This is really good..."
I was slightly annoyed, but that could also be that the waitress had added pickles to my sandwich, and I hate pickles. Taking a bite, I thought a small amount about what he said. It made sense I suppose, and good for the guy that managed to not get self-conscious about his scar. However, that really didn't mean I wanted to talk about my fucking scar when he supposedly wanted to learn all my secrets.
If that was the purpose of this luncheon, that was fine, but I certainly wasn't going to waste anymore getting lectured about my scar. Axel and Roxas did enough of that already. I wanted to forget about it, not have it brought up and shoved in my face because I'd rather not stare someone in the eye.
Deciding to just let his little speech slide, I agreed with his assessment of the food. "They make everything from scratch here. The bread, the salads and even the dressings." I grinned down at the french fries. "Even the fries are made to order. It's pretty awesome, if I do say so myself."
"Thank you." I heard him say, suddenly.
"For the food? Or what for?" I dipped a fry into ketchup and bit the tip off.
He chuckled, "The food, sure, but I was thanking you for not getting up and leaving my sorry behind here to fend for myself. That was real rude of me, I shouldn't have gotten in your face like that and preached like some know it all." He looked sheepish, and I swear, he did a timid head duck, "I don't always realize what I'm saying until I blurted it out there. Axel got all the tact and smooth genes, the brat."
"The fact that you said it, and then apologizes, just tells me that you said it because you care." I reached over and patted his hand then pulled back, letting the tension leave my shoulders. "You're a lot like Axel, and I have to remember that people can care without giving me a pity party. I accept your apology, and I'll let it slide." It was just something I had to deal with, like the scar.
People tended to worry about me and how I was coping. It was hard to see past the lectures and the poking and prodding to see that sometimes, but I could understand. Didn't mean I liked it and would put up with it more than once, but I wasn't going to walk away from a friendship because of it. At least he wasn't completely ignoring it. It was so hard to find a place to stand about it, I should applaud people who managed to actually be my friend.
I made sure my hair was out of my face, before giving him a smile and asking him teasingly, "Was there anything else you were actually interested in knowing? Or were you going to annoy me some more?"
He was frowning, but not at me, rather at something, or someone inside, passed the doors that led to the balcony we were sitting on. "Fuck." He muttered, turning to look at me with slight panic in his eyes. "Help a man out and don't ask any questions. Play along, yo." Before I could get out a 'huh?' or a 'what?', Reno grabbed the armchairs of his seat, letting the feet grind over the floor as he moved the thing right up next to mine.
Afterwards he proceeded in placing an arm around my shoulders, tugging me close against him, his face turning, meaning his lips were now pressed against my ear. "Ex girlfriend." He whispered, his fingers sliding up in my hair, playing with a lock as he forced a smile on his lips when he looked at the woman who stepped out onto the balcony.
"Rinoa! What a very weird surprise." He took my hand in his, lacing our fingers. "Not sure if it's a happy one, but I guess Imma have to deal." At least he didn't pretend to be glad to see her.
The woman eyed our body positioning strangely, "Since when are you gay?"
"Since the last time we had disastrous sex together." Reno offered for a reply. I bit back a laugh, and almost choked on my food. His hand was warm against my own, reminding me I hadn't held hands with someone in over a year which didn't make it fair that he was doing it now. But he seemed to definitely dislike this girl, so I tried not to let my pulse race and hopefully I wouldn't ruin his facade.
This Rinoa person eyed us skeptically, first fixating on the clasped together hands, then Reno's fingers still playing with my hair, and then of course she had to check out my face. Her eyes did that little widening so many people did when they took in the scar, only with her it was followed by a grimace I couldn't exactly appreciate. Her body language told me she didn't appreciate Reno's fake taken status, and the glare she was sporting told me she was going to make a nasty comment just to piss myself and Reno off for the definite ex position she found herself in now.
Had Reno not faked a relationship with me, I'm not sure she would have thought about commenting on my face. But then, before I could find out what it is she prepared herself to toss out at me in pure spite, I felt Reno's fingers in my hair slide down my neck. His thumb under my jaw tilted my face closer to his... And then he shocked the hell out of me by brushing his lips feather light against the top of my cheekbone, right beneath my eye, smack dab on top of the worse part of my scar.
He pressed a gentle kiss there before moving away. "Leave us alone, Rinoa. You're better than what you were about to do, and you know it. Now please go so we don't have to repeat the thriller marathon that was our break up. I'm exhausted thinking back on it." He offered her a tight smile.
Surprisingly, she relented, giving Reno a tight nod and myself an apologetic look for almost using me to get at Reno. "It's nice to know you finally came to your senses." A small wave, a quick added goodbye, and then she turned to step back inside, joining some of her girlfriends at a table that was out of our line of vision.
Well, that was a surprise, not just the kiss, but the fact that Reno was able to play at being gay just to avoid an ex-girlfriend. It made it almost more awkward as I really was gay and hadn't had a single kiss, on the cheek or otherwise in so long. It was...weird. I didn't know how to view this whole thing, but it made it easier to get past knowing that Reno was actually straight. I couldn't read more into the situation that way. Helping a friend was all it was.
"Well, she seemed...pleasant." I chuckled, pulling my hand from his so he could move back to his seat.
"She is actually," He chuckled, "Compared to ten years ago. She threw a plate at my head, which I ducked, when I broke things off with her." He shuffled his chair back to his side of the table, breaking all physical connection between us, but not looking uncomfortable about the previous close proximity at all. "I was based in Twilight City for a couple of months when I met her." He shrugged, "Now I remember her telling me about wanting to move to Hollow Bastion. Guess she did." He grabbed his fork, shoving some food in his mouth, chewing, swallowing, "Do you have any crazy exes?"
"No, not really. But now I can sort of see why you'd actually pretend to be gay." I thought about it a bit. As I hadn't actually had a relationship in awhile, I hadn't had a reason to think about the past ones. "Well, there was this one guy, Xemnas. He was really...odd. Yes, odd is the word I would use at this point. Back when we were dating, I used the words 'giant freak' but he suffered from an obsession with darkness and hearts. I looked up the actual medical term once, but I can't remember it." Of course that was over five years ago, but he'd been the guy I'd dated the longest. Almost two years of trying to understand his mood swings.
"That does sound a tad freakish." Reno agreed in amusement. "Did Axel ever tell you how he figured out he's gay?" He was trying real hard not to laugh, his teeth latching onto his bottom lip as he tried smothering the smirk. "Actually, he figured it out and came out at the same time." He was forcefully laughing soft, trying not to be too loud and catch attention.
I was intrigued. Roxas had told me how he came out, but Axel hadn't ever mentioned it. I'd assumed it hadn't been something big. "He never told me about it. Why, what happened?"
Reno snickered, reaching up to wipe the happy tears out of his eyes, "Kay, so this was years ago... Ax was fourteen and I was only sixteen myself. Anyway, so, we're watching tv, eating popcorn even though mom had taped a note on the package warning us it would spoil the dinner she'd make after getting home from work. But she was late, some last minute surgery."
He waved that off. "So, late night television, and well, lets just say that our mom hadn't really thought about placing parental codes on certain channels. So I'm flipping through the porn, and when I land on a gay film, I stop for a couple of minutes cause, well," Reno shrugged, giving me a funny look, "I was familiar with straight porn and I guess my sixteen year old curious self couldn't help but get a quick look at what two guys would be doing together."
He waved that off too then, "I was about to move on when Axel jumps up, grabs his crotch, stares at me, and then goes 'Dude, apparently I'm gay!'..." And now he was laughing hard and loud, no longer caring if people were bothered by it.
Snorting and trying to cover my mouth as I still had food in it, I chuckled and could so easily picture Axel reacting that way. He had a certain dramatic sense of timing even as an adult. "That's awesome. I can't believe he came out to gay porn." I may just have to harass him about this...
"Yeah, he is special." Reno agreed, "I'd use that piece of info wisely and not waste it. If he hasn't told you it's for a reason." He toned down his amusement, sighing contently as he finished his last couple of bites. "This is nice. Thanks for this, Saix."
I smiled. "You are welcome, Reno." And really, despite all the little bumps and if I blocked how much I'd been affected by his little kissing stunt, I'd actually had a nice time.
Reno - A week or so later
I'd missed cooking... Had my love for flying not been so great, I'd have loved to become a chef. Hacking into people's brains and putting up with stubborn patience wasn't really my thing. I was glad Axel had a knack for it though, cause I'm pretty sure mom would have thrown a hissy fit if neither of her children had been interested in following her career path.
And, it meant that this newly renovated kitchen of my mother's was left untouched as either were too busy to take the time and make food for themselves. It was comforting to know that my brother hadn't created his usual cooking chaos in this place. Last time he'd cooked my mom and I dinner, the after taste of burnt, yet undercooked pasta had stuck around on my tongue for months. And the memory of it had led me to gag every time I stepped into Axel's kitchen. I hoped Rox could cook, or else they'd be living happily ever after with take out for the rest of their lives.
Smiling when the alarm went off, I jumped off the counter, tossing the newspaper over my shoulder as I went to check on the chicken. I'd not read it. Reading wasn't exactly my favorite thing to do, but mother kept telling me to keep up with the world, so she left the newspaper beside the coffee maker as a hint. I figured if I at least held it and ruffled it some, she'd believe I'd read it. Now I just had to hope she wouldn't spring a surprise test on me concerning current political shit. After having turned the chicken, I closed the oven door and set the alarm for another thirty minutes, blinking in surprise when the doorbell rang. Okay...
Hesitating, I shrugged and left my mother's pink apron hanging around my neck as I walked out of the kitchen, across the huge foyer and then into the long corridor that led to the front door. Pulling it open, I smiled at Roxas.
"Axel isn't here. Nor is mom."
He let his eyes run over me, and smirked. "Good thing I wasn't looking for either one then, huh. You gonna let me in or what?"
"If you're thinking about using the pink against me, believe me when I say I don't care if you shout it out to the world. People can believe I'm camp all they want." Snickering, I stepped aside and gestured for him to get in, closing the door once he had. "They're such nice and jolly people."
Roxas snorted, then sniffed the air, wandering directly into the kitchen, sitting at the counter to overlook my cooking. "What are you making me? Smells good."
"Oh, so you're staying for dinner then?" Grinning, I sat down opposite from him. "It's a simple roasted chicken. I handle more complex stuff, but it's been a while and figured I'd get back to it slowly but securely." Pursing my lips, I scanned my eyes over him. "Whatcha doing here, Rox?" He wasn't here to make friends. Or at least, I knew that he had a specific reason. A very well thought out question. "I know it wasn't for the chicken, initially."
He sighed, running a hand through his spikes. "It's about you actually. Reno, I don't want to step over a line, or push you to say something you aren't ready to say. But, is there a reason you've been coming by the library so much this week?"
Smirking, I slid off the stool, walking over to the fridge to grab two cans of coke, handing him one before sitting back down. "Of course there's a reason."
"Care to elaborate?" Taking a sip, he waited. I knew I had to just come out and make it official, but I liked not having Axel breathe down my neck, or my mother giving me a complex speech about how this wouldn't change my life at all unless I let it.
"I'm gay, and very much attracted to your friend Saix." I told him honestly. While I hadn't told anyone yet, I had never agreed to lying. If Axel had asked me a question that expected me to reveal my preference, I would have answered him with the truth and not lied my way around it. Since he hadn't, I was still able to push off the official label for a while longer. And I wasn't sitting in a crowded mall right now, so that helped.
"I...figured as much. I'm not gonna say anything to anybody as it's none of my business really, but I was getting a vibe and I just wanted to look out for Saix. Can I ask when you're going to tell him? He still believes you to be straight and again, none of my business, but I don't think it's fair to you or him to keep that a secret."
I sighed, nodding my head in defeat, almost. "He's just real skittish, Rox... I'm thinking the only reason he allowed Axel close is because Ax is one hell of an efficient nurse, and, the lack of romantic attraction. You were friends with him before he got the scar, and, well... I feel like he's gonna get real reluctant to be around me if he knows I like ass. His in particular."
Roxas groaned and smacked his head against the counter. "Ugh, god, you're right. You're safe to get to know as you're Axel's brother and he'll see you around anyways, plus you're 'straight'. He would have been instantly wary if you'd announced you were gay. But I know he wouldn't mind if he discovered you were gay, but coming out now after all this time and wanting to date, would seem sneaky."
I wrinkled my nose, sagging my shoulders, "Well, that aint fair. I'm not the sneaky one, Axel is. I was just trying to not freak Saix out." I pointed my confused stare at Roxas. "What do I do? I get I can't keep this from him, cause the longer it remains unknown, the more damage it'll do. But your friend is a really tricky puzzle." I groaned, letting my head loll back on my shoulders. "I'm no good at puzzles..." I whined.
"The thing about Saix is he reacts differently for different things. I think...that the fact that you haven't said anything to anyone and not just him, will be totally in your favor. Because you aren't hiding from him specifically, you're hiding from everyone. He may not like it and maybe it will take longer for him to warm up to the idea of you two dating, but I think he'll be okay." Turning blue eyes on me, he asked. "Right? You guys could totally date."
I rolled my eyes, "Why do you think I'm going to a library three times a week? For reading entertainment?" I waved my hand flippantly, "So, does this mean I gotta come out to everyone? Cause," I cringed, "your boyfriend is the one I'm fearing a reaction out off." When Rox frowned, I shook my head, "Oh, no, he'll be supportive alright. It's the supportive part that has me stalling."
He cringed. "Crap, you're right." Tapping his chin, he thought about it. "How about...you tell him with me? I'll just try and control him or distract him. Then when you can finally talk to him normally, you can tell your mom together? Cause you're gonna have to tell him Reno. And the sooner you do, the sooner you can stop lurking around the library."
I nearly pouted, "But I like lurking..." Chuckling, I lifted up my palms in form of surrender, nodding my head. "Yeah, yeah, alright. Just keep the distracting above the waist, aight?"
"No promises." He smirked.
"Behave or no chicken for you, O'Malley." When he raised an eyebrow at my knowing his last name, I smirked, "I worked for the forces, Roxas, I can do background checks. Or, well, have people do background checks for me." When he paled, I was having fun, so I continued, "You were a teacher's pet in kinder garden, but became a tough cookie in middle school, you got expelled from high school and your mom was forced to home school you as whatever you did to get expelled, made it so no other high school wanted you. Returned to being a teacher's pet in college. Several parking tickets, but otherwise no criminal record." It hadn't been a joke, I had done a background check on him. I shrugged, "So I'm an over protective older brother, sue me. Now, do you want fries or grilled potatoes with the chicken?"
"You're a dick, ya know that?" He scowled, but didn't hit me, which was probably a good sign. His records were partially sealed which meant I didn't know every detail and he definitely had a bulldog vibe. "And I want fucking fries with my chicken."
Rolling my eyes at his cranky behavior, I jumped off the stool, pulling out a bag of potatoes from the cabinet underneath, "Home made ones to make you feel better about my checking up on you, and!" I lifted a finger, silently asking him to remain patient as I walked over to the closet beside the door, pulling open a drawer and then taking out the work file the forces kept on me. "Here." I tossed it his way, "That should make us even. Now you can check me out before you hand me over to your friend and fix us up on a date."
A couple of days later
So today was that day. Not that Roxas was giving me a choice. He'd planned everything out. The day, time and food, which of course I was cooking because he'd really enjoyed my chicken and home made fries. But that wasn't until much later today. Right now I needed to tell my mom. She was working the evening shift, and Rox had suggested I tell them separately so I wouldn't have to deal with their craziness at the same time. I thought it was a good plan, so, in a pair of flaming red boxers and nothing else, I sleepily made my way to the kitchen, knowing she'd be sitting there. Stepping inside, I smiled as I was right, seeing her sipping her coffee and reading the news paper. Ax and I got the red hair from our father. Mom had this long blond hair. I had her eye color though, while Ax had dad's.
"You can't fool me, honey, you didn't read this. Nice try with the ruffling though." Putting it down, she smirked my way, then gestured for me to come closer. Obliging her, I ignored my thirty years of age, and allowed her to pull me in for a hug, her hands petting my hair down and tugging up my boxers. "I gave you a robe..." She reminded, kissing my forehead, before letting go of me.
I shrugged, taking a seat on the stool opposite from hers, smiling gratefully when she poured me a cup of coffee. "I like being partly naked, it can't be helped." I offered.
"Your brother has that same problem." She frowned at my head then, "Must you sleep with those on?" I reached up, straightening the goggles and giving her another simple shrug, as yes, I had to sleep with them on. Of course I didn't, I just always forgot to take them out, but it was funnier to poke her this way.
"So, I gotta tell you something, ma." I started, sipping some from my coffee.
"And what is it you need to tell me, son?" She returned in an amused manner, he eyebrow twitching which told me she was curious alright.
"I've known it for a while now, and I didn't exactly keep it from you cause I didn't like it or anything. Actually, I kept it from you and Ax cause, well," I groaned, "Ya know how I like my privacy, and it's not like you guys really allow me to have any of it once it's out on the table."
She laughed softly, agreeing easily, "Yes, you were always more like your father in that sense." And Axel always more like her. She told us this often. "Now, come out with it, cause clearly it's due."
I sighed, "Yeah, it is, yo."
"Reno." She clipped out.
"Fine, sorry, no more yo." I rolled my eyes before finally just tossing it out there, "I'm gay. Have known for a couple of years, and I figure since I'm here now to stick around for the long run? You guys are allowed to be privy to that part of my life." I smothered the cringe, preparing myself physically and mentally for the supportive outburst.
She smiled incredibly wide, but at least she didn't assault me with a mega hug, so I suppose that got her a few bonus points, "That is great! Now I won't have to deal with the hating of a daughter in law." She sighed happily, picking up her news paper again, "I just don't get along with girls..." She muttered absently, before frowning at whatever was happening in the world.
Okay... So that could have gone worse... "So, eh, I'm gonna go take a shower?" I asked, rather than stated, since I wasn't sure if this conversation was over.
"Yes, do that, you smell." I stared at her dully as I slid off the stool.
"Thanks ma, you make me feel sixteen years old all over again."
She waved me goodbye, "It's what mothers do best, now go along and don't forget to brush your teeth."
"Nahh, my ma handled it real nice, actually." I muttered into the phone all the while stirring the pepper sauce that was supposed to go over the steaks I bought today. If Rox was a true pitbull, then he'd love steak. Placing the phone against my other ear, I propped it between my cheek and shoulder as I checked the spiced rice in the other pan.
"Hmm, yeah, my brother will be here any minute." I answered Cloud. I wasn't exactly his friend, but Leon wasn't much of a talker, so Cloud had snatched the phone at some point when Leon hadn't known what to say anymore. It worked this way. Cloud asked the questions Leon wouldn't, and then he'd inform Leon of the things he'd want to know. Such as the coming out part. They'd been heavily amused when I'd explained to them why I hadn't yet.
"Dude, I have no clue now that I've seen how my mom reacted. But Axel has always been more lively anyway, hence the boyfriend being present. He promised to keep the outburst to a minimum with..." I wrinkled my nose, "distracting tactics." I shuddered, "I've seen them go at it way to many times, my friend." I chuckled as answer when Cloud asked. Then the doorbell rang,
"Kay, gotta go, tell Leon that in order for us to remain friends that are in contact? He'll need to talk back when I call. It's how phones work. Ya know, just in case he didn't read the manual." Laughing when I heard Leon growl somewhere in the background, this telling me Cloud had had me on speaker, I hung up and quickly sprinted through the house to open the door, giving Axel a very deep frown.
"Dude, this is mom's house, why are you knocking?"
He shoved me aside, marching in, "I forgot the key."
I smiled at his rude behavior, "Hi Rox." Closing the door behind the blond, I poked my brother, "Don't bring work home, I hate it and you know it."
"A patient spit up on me today, Reno, just give me a moment to cool my jets!" He growled out, having issues getting out of his coat.
"Hey, Reno. Axel, behave." Roxas gave Axel a hand, smirking at the both of us. "What's for dinner? Smells awesome."
I grinned, motioning them to follow me out to the kitchen, "Steak, cause I'm thinking you're a steak type of fellow," I nodded at Rox, "And since I figured you'd be grumpy, as you often are after work, I made you," I nodded at Axel, "spiced rice." The glare slipped off his face. So that still worked. Good to know.
"Spiced... rice?" He was salivating, "With red peppers, hot peppers, all kinds of peppers?" I nodded, "Dude, I love you!" Placing a smackingly loud kiss on my cheek, he then shoved me again, only not rudely this time but playfully before dragging Roxas passed myself and into the kitchen. Chuckling, I followed them in there, seeing Axel lifting the lid off the rice pan, sniffing it happily.
"Oh yeah..." He moaned, "That's the stuff..."
I caught Roxas' eye and he gave me an encouraging smile, then he turned to Axel. "Am I going to be allowed to taste this famous spiced rice? Or do you not share when it comes to Reno's cooking?"
I was about to wish him good luck, but then he surprised me, or not really I guess since I should have guessed what with Roxas being like no other to Axel... "Of course! You need to taste this." He implored, reaching back to grab Rox's hand, tugging him close all the while sticking a finger in my rice and then pushing it between his boyfriend's lips. "Savor... It's nearly as good as a blowjob."
I groaned in amusement, walking over to them so I could nudge them away from my stove and dump the steaks into the now heated grilling pan. "Keep the details to yourselves, please. Now sit yo asses down and dinner will be served in three minutes."
"Reno's more protective of his kitchens then he is of whatever girl he's banging." Axel told Rox, all the while I cringed, staring down at the steaks. Okay, I couldn't just not correct him anymore since that's the whole point of him being here. So I could tell him that the whole reason I ain't protective or very caring of girls, is cause I'm not interested.
I heard Roxas cough, then give a non committal sound, but I got the feeling that he wasn't going to let another comment like that slide without giving me another nudge. Okay, what was I? Ten? Smacking my head, I flipped the steaks over, counted to twenty, dumped them on plates, spooned some rice on there and then plopped the plates before their noses, taking my own and seating myself opposite from them.
"Ax, I'm not into girls. Never was." I shrugged, "Just took me a while to figure it out." I tried not to laugh when the bite of spice riced he'd shoved in his mouth, fell right back out so he could gape at me.
"You're gay?" He whispered, eye twitching, and I nodded carefully. "He's gay?" He then asked Rox, who nodded also. That led him to sigh heavily, crossing his arms, remaining silent and allowing myself and his boyfriend to stare at him carefully to see how he'd react. Lifting a finger, he opened his mouth, then closed it, and the frown turned into a glare all of a sudden. Okay, now I kind of wanted the supportive outburst, I'd be better at handling that than anger. Why wasn't he getting me his ex-boyfriends phone numbers?
"I swear to GOD!" He pointed his narrowed look at Roxas, "If you leave me for him?" He shoved his index finger harshly against the center of my chest, "I will murder you both, and believe you me, the judges will understand and sympathize." He declared.
Now it was Roxas' turn to spit his food out. "The fuck? Axel!" His glare was...scary. Along with a kick to the shin which I could see Axel's body recoiling from. "Dude, you have about ten seconds to beg my forgiveness for that statement, or you can just plan on staying at your own fucking place for the foreseeable future."
Axel didn't seem ready to back down yet though, "He's always been the hotter one! Can't blame me for jumping there!" I reached over, smacking his head.
"Calm the fuck down, Axel, just cause I'm gay doesn't mean I'm set out to steal your boyfriend." I assured, "Also, Roxas wouldn't let me, he's just as crazy in love with you as you are with him. Now get over your silly insecurity, which, on that note, I thought we'd moved passed that." I gave him a stern look, that leading him to give me a reluctant nod. "Now that we've covered that there will be no stealing of ones love interests, lets eat these steaks before they're completely cold."
The blonde still didn't look happy, and I didn't relish Axel having to deal with his wrath after they left for the night. "Fine. I hope you made mine bloody." He bit out, settling down in his chair and taking a big gulp of the wine I'd had on the table. When Axel leaned closer to Roxas, turning his face to give him a quick, hard and somewhat bruising looking kiss, I turned my gaze elsewhere, giving them a moment.
"You're mine." I heard my brother growl, and then I figured he was doing something to Roxas I really didn't want to witness, as the blond let out a reluctant moan.
"Imma go eat dinner somewhere else." I muttered, rolling my eyes at the pair as I took my plate and left the kitchen. Hormonal morons.