Alrighty, sorry for the wait! Thanks for the reviews! I'm struggling a little so please send feedback!
"Roxy!"
The poor blonde could only retaliate with a sigh. If Sora could understand what a death glare was he wouldn't keep using that nickname.
"What is it?" he asked from his desk and watched Sora practically skip up to him.
"Here is your coffee…aaaaaand a delivery for you!"
Roxas took his drink, which is rather warm and not so much hot now…
He then took the folders curiously.
"It's from that photographer you hired."
"Vanitas came here?" Roxas questioned to himself with a raised brow, wondering what prompted the man to come visit during his work hours. Maybe it was just more convenient to the other…
"And it's a small world because…I know him!"
"…"
"Wait…WHAT?!"
"You…What?" That came out calmer than Roxas thought it would but his mind couldn't stop running.
"I knew him from when I was younger! I haven't seen him in ages though and-"
"This...is Vanitas we're talking about right?" Just to be sure...
"Yeah! It's Vanny!"
"Van…ny?"
"Ah…" Roxas tried to add or even question something else but he couldn't think of anything.
Soon Sora was saying more things about the other. But Roxas couldn't figure it out…if telling his friend that he is casually dating the man he hired…does that fall into something like…a betrayal?
"But Roxy…see…I did something wrong to him a long time ago and…I'm not sure how to go about this. I mean…I know I should apologize right? So..."
A small one but…the reason why the blonde didn't want to talk about Vanitas was purely out of the fact that he didn't think Sora KNEW this guy! It's a little different to hide something like that if Sora KNEW this person!
"Sora," Roxas stood up, facing the other directly in the eyes. Though it didn't intimidate the other, Roxas never did unless it was deadline-related.
"Hmm?" Sora didn't seem to notice the serious tone Roxas was using either.
He wasn't even sure what the brunette was talking about but…yeah, hey, friendship is important here. It's confession time before it gets worse later.
"Vanitas…I hired him because I know him too and-"
"No way! That's…pretty amazing really. I mean, first you knew Riku and now you even know Van-"
"Sora, wait…he's…he's the one I'm dating."
Well, no turning back now.
"…What?"
It was as if you just explained trigonometry and expected a positive response in understanding.
Roxas wasn't sure what the other was thinking as Sora just stared, trying to comprehend this.
"Look, um…I didn't know you knew this guy. I should've at least mentioned the name, and I'm sorry."
"No, it's…no big deal or anything, Roxy," Sora seemed to have snapped out of his gaze as he gave a light smile, "I was just really surprised but I now…I feel a little bad for bagging on him all this time. I remember enjoying Vanny's company. Though…it was a long time ago…"
Sora gave the other a pat before returning to his desk to work, but Roxas couldn't feel…satisfied…about their conversation.
Is the other…upset at all?
As Roxas tried to wrap his head around it, Sora focused on his work, writing as much as he can. His thoughts sometimes wondering if Roxas paid attention to the distress he was going on about regarding Vanitas. But Sora pushed the trouble to the side, as he can make it right by the time he met up with the other. So when 4:00 came around, he dropped off his article to Roxas and took off as fast as he could.
Gwen's Bakery wasn't too far away as Sora only had to jog a couple of blocks. Finally, crammed between two large buildings, was the small vanilla and light pink-schemed bakery. Sora waltzed in, scanned what was available today, picked out a piece of strawberry shortcake with a bunny on top, and before long he was sitting in a comfy red chair. The process was so natural that he forgot he was here to meet up with someone. Sora wondered if the other would actually show up…his stomach felt heavy at the thought.
His heart leapt when the little owl-shaped clock gave out a short hoot to indicate it's 4:30. But right on cue, the little bell on the door jingled and Vanitas himself came in. Sora immediately waved the other over, as Van didn't seem too interested in the sweets.
"Hey…"
"Hi…" Vanitas responded as he sat himself down. Sora was about to jump in on the 'So how have you been?' talk, but his heart suddenly got heavy instead of the stomach. It was probably best to just simply jump straight to the point while being, and sounding, honest.
"Um…it's been a very long time. I'm glad you agreed to meet with me. And…it's hard for me to say really, mainly because I'm…" Sora stopped his eyes darting to the treat on his plate to maybe ease the guilt with something happy looking.
"No time to be selfish, Sora!"
"I'm embarrassed, Vanitas…for my actions. And I'm sorry."
"…"
"I really am…"
"…"
"Vanitas?"
"…He's sorry?"
Sora questioned to himself if he should've apologize on the spot rather than meet in private later. It's…been years after all. He wanted Roxas's advice about the whole situation but…this was the man Roxas was dating…
"Thanks…Sora…"
The other speaking snapped the brunette out of his thoughts.
Sora couldn't help but give a light grin that he was at least, in a way, forgiven?
"I should probably check."
"I'm…glad you accept my apology. I ask for your forgiveness…"
Vanitas opened his mouth, ready to give it…
"And…your friendship back."
But closed it right after.
"Friends…"
"We'll be friends forever, Vanny!"
"I believed you though…"
"I-I understand if you don't want to of course! I'm aware that-"
"It's okay, Sora," Vanitas cut in. Where has all the time gone? The two met eyes again, both thinking back on what they both had…and what went wrong. But only Vanitas knew how different both parties felt about their broken friendship way back…
"I missed you, Van."
"I missed you too," Vanitas responded without thought but he quickly broke eye contact with Sora upon that realization.
"You…were right. About Riku I mean."
"Oh…" that seemed to have gotten the attention back as Vanitas found the courage to look towards Sora again,
"Yeah…and where did you go? I was ready to apologize only to find out…you left."
"…"
"You don't need to tell me of course! But look, um…this is sudden for both of us. And…I guess we can just take it slow if you want us to keep seeing each other?"
"Yeah…"
Sora was waiting for what part of his statement the 'yeah' was for but it just took a moment for Vanitas to continue.
"I…would like us to keep seeing each other."
Sora beamed. Though through the continuous stare at the other, his eye once again caught one of Vanitas's arm movements. It did a continuous up and down action almost throughout the entire conversation. Sometime he'd get a glimpse of the grip Vanitas had and Sora could've sworn it was turning the skin quite white that it might not be…well.
"What's with the camera, Vanitas? You okay?"
"H-Huh? Oh…um…it's nothing," Vanitas swiftly released his camera and let it hang around his neck.
"It…didn't look like nothing. I've told you a billion times before that it won't trouble your friends to talk about things! Erm..! I guess…I shouldn't really say things like that now but…"
Oh how Vanitas does remember that. At the same time…it really was hard to keep to that saying. Though it was even harder not to when Sora was right there, staring you down into submission.
"I…take photographs of many…'moments' in life."
"Huh…? Moment?"
"I…" Vanitas could only stare at the black piece resting against his stomach, "I kind of have a problem regarding that. I'm trying to get over it but the urge to snap a picture…is really strong sometimes."
"Yeah…great thing for me to tell Sora when I haven't seen him for so long," he thought sarcastically to himself.
Though Sora only blinked in confusion for a response.
"Can I ask why? If you know at least…"
"I don't know…I guess…for memory's sake. Each picture can tell a story. It's…irreplaceable. It can't lie. It's…everlasting."
"I think it's okay…so long as the things you photograph has consent from the other person, or the person that owns it if it's an object."
"…"
"You can take one of me if you want! I don't know how but if there's a story that can be told with me, that would be pretty neat."
It didn't even register completely to Vanitas's mind, but it did with his body and almost in an instant his camera captured the brunette's soft smile.
"You have no idea how often I do this with strangers…how often I've done this with…Roxas…"
"Hey, can I take one of you?"
Immediately, Vanitas jerked back when Sora only merely pointed at the camera. His eyes widened as if a gun was pointed at him instead.
"N-No," it took everything within him to not shout that response or even go into a state of panic.
"I…I'm sorry," the brunette immediately apologized and withdrew his hand. Even though it was Sora before him, one that could always make things better for him, Vanitas could still feel his heart pounding against his chest from the mere thought of Sora's request.
Roxas wished he called beforehand, but he couldn't bring himself to in fear of hearing something he didn't want to…still he had to eventually just in case Vanitas just didn't want to be bothered for some reason (maybe Jetlag?). With the phone planted next to his ear, he waited patiently…and finally, he heard the other's voice on the other end.
"Roxas."
"Vanitas."
"Look…I'm sorry, but I can't see you today if that's what you're going to ask."
"Oh…alright…"
"I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay! I understand, I hope I'm not coming off needy. I'll see you around then and I got those photos too. They're wonderful, as always."
"Thanks, I'll see you. Bye."
"Bye…"
He couldn't help but feel disappointed…especially in himself. With a sigh, Roxas looked up at the door before him…he came all the way here for nothing.
"I wonder…if he thinks I just want sex…"
Roxas felt his chest tighten at the thought, adding to his growing pile of miserable feelings regarding this relationship.
"Sora…that was Sora! How…how can this be? What are the chances? He…works with Roxas? All this time he was HERE?" Vanitas sat at the edge of his bed, his hand clenching his hair while acting as a support for his head. He could barely keep himself sitting upright and felt ready to upchuck his meal with Sora in his head…Yet, he couldn't move himself to the bathroom, "Sora…What…What am I supposed to do? I can't…think. What do I do? Sora is here…"
"I missed you…so much…"
His other hand held the camera containing today's events, wondering if it was good for him…to hang onto Sora like this. His eye glanced at the photo sitting on his side-table drawer. Roxas was gripping his hardest on the arm belonging to none other than Vanitas. Though the being completely removed himself from the photo that it only got a part of his elbow. Roxas has always hated that picture, telling the other to get rid the embarrassing attempt he did to get the black-haired man photographed. Vanitas has always wondered if Roxas was only camera-shy if by himself, or if it was because of this embarrassing moment. He always did wanted to ask the blonde though…
"Sora…Roxas…"
The heart works in mysterious ways…but no one ever believes their heart can sometimes be wrong.
"Hey Roxy, um…"
It wasn't hard for Sora to notice the inactivity, communication-wise, between himself and Roxas this Friday at work. Now that work hours were almost over for him, he'd hope that it was a good time to talk to Roxas in hopes of at least cheering him up.
"I'm…not in the mood, Sora. For anything…"
"Oh come on! Let's go out! It's Friday night! And…" Sora flipped open his cell phone and waved it in front of Roxas, "Guess who I got a message from?"
Roxas only gave a frown.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Telling Roxas to save his work for later, meaning work at home, he got off the same time as Sora and they both headed home to drop off their belongings and change. Well the blonde didn't feel the need to do the latter and merely dropped his bag by the front door of his apartment before walking towards their usual ice cream store. He went with a huff and crossed arms; his pouty mood not doing any better since he did not reunite with his…lover…last night. Lovers…right?
His mind was forced to stop when the blazing color red practically slapped him in the face as it moved.
"Is that Roxy I see?"
Roxas only let out a sigh from both the name and the fact he has to, uh, "put up" with a certain friend. Though under normal circumstances it probably wouldn't be as big of a deal in the blonde's head as it was now.
"Yes, it's Roxas you see…and button up your shirt, Axel. You look like manslut," he retorted, practically in a murmur as he approached the taller being enjoying his time against the brick wall.
What other way to describe the fiery personality full of life and style as someone as Axel…especially if he was sporting some black pants with an open white shirt.
"Nothing wrong with being a slut so long as I'm careful, right? Now, Roxy, why are you walking around in such a formal looking shirt?" Axel flipped the black tie decorated in little stars up and into the other's face but as it fell back into place, Roxas gave the man a disapproving look.
"I'm only here because Sora wanted me to alright?" And in return, Roxas tried to smack the golden necklace around Axel's neck to his face but the height difference as well as the fact that the necklace is a heavier than a tie…it didn't go over well. This only seemed to amuse the other to a greater extent.
"You sure would do much for Sora huh?"
Roxas proceeded to frown more if possible at the man's teasing…and the want to wipe the smirk off the other's face suddenly went up.
"I'm kidding, Roxy. Wow, you really are out of it and down aren't ya?"
Roxas only let out a sigh at the man's version of showing concern.
"I'm fine, Axel. Just…in thought, okay? Where's Sora anyway?"
"I assume getting changed," Axel merely shrugged and went along with the blonde's change of topic. He lightly smacked the other's shoulder to tease, "Something you should've done."
"I have absolutely no reason to, Axel. I have a boyfriend so there's no need to impress at where we're going."
"Sora told me you were thinking of dumping the guy."
"Sora…" Roxas's brow twitched. How did he not anticipate Sora opening his big mouth to everyone?
"Besides, Roxy, it's a club. You may get sweaty in that thing. I mean, your tie is gonna choke ya, and you're wearing long pants. Even if you're not out there dancing it definitely won't be very cool with all that sweat and crowds of people-"
"Gee thanks for the reminder…" Roxas cut in, not really making this event sound any more fun than how Sora described it. "One humungously awesome party!" he says…the blonde mentally noted to inform Sora that 'humongously' most likely wasn't even a real word.
Roxas then took another glance at Axel, his eyes wandering. Though he quickly looked away before Axel caught him in the act and then assume the wrong thing.
"And I repeat…manslut. I'm slightly concerned at what Sora's going to show up in. Hopefully with something closed around his chest or he'll just attract people like Axel.."
It was as if the world was out to get him this week when Sora came up with a dark coat that covered his entire body. Roxas was ready to let his jaw drop when he spotted knee-length boots and he knew, oh he knew, that he wasn't going to like what was under that coat.
"Why are you wearing that?" Roxas immediately jumped at when Sora stopped before them.
"Why are you wearing THAT?" Sora pointed and Roxas let out a groan.
"I asked first!" he childishly retorted back. At this point in time, he didn't feel like being the grown up.
"Well it's going to get cold later at night in this. And I figure I can just keep this in Axel's car until then," Sora responded with a shrug and Roxas just didn't bother asking, he went straight up and pulled open the coat.
"Goddamit Axel!"
"Whoa what did I do?" the man exclaimed, putting his hands up in defense as if the blonde's glare was ready to shoot at him.
"Did you take Sora shopping recently?"
"Maybe…"
Well…Sora probably can't be persuaded to change, especially now. So Roxas reluctantly shut the coat and ordered his friend to keep it shut as long as possible. The trio then settled into Axel's car, with Sora calling shotgun, and they took off.