No worries, I'm not going to totally forget the other story I'm working on...
I'm just spacing out my time a bit.
As always, Disclaimer on first page.
Also the Warning.
[YAOI]
A Flicker of the Flame
{ What's Going on? }
:::::::::::::::
At the same time that Roxas was lying awake, Axel was sitting up on his couch, drumming his fingers on the arm of it. He didn't want to wake the Blond if he was already asleep, but he didn't want to wait forever to call him either.
He wanted so badly to pick up his phone, now on the small side table beside him, and punch in the number that had only taken him 2 minutes to memorise.
Sighing, Axel ran a hand through his red spikes.
Maybe he should just turn in.
'Or I could just go over there, pounce on him, and give the neighbors something to talk about in the morning...'
The red-head chuckled, but shook his head. It was way to soon to assume the blond would welcome him back into his life again. Let alone except the feelings that Axel had been keeping from him for a long time now.
Axel had first realized his feelings for Roxas at a school dance.
Neither of them had dates, so they simply went together. No on had questioned why.
It was when a petite blonde-haired girl had started making eyes at Roxas, the Axel pulled him away.
He had led him away from the crowded dance floor and out into the cool night air.
He told Roxas he wanted some fresh air, not that the Blond minded.
Roxas had always seemed ever so happy to do what ever Axel wanted to do.
Axel had started noticing that he was a little more attached to Roxas then he had first thought.
Neither of them said a word as they held hands on their way out of the building.
Nothing was ever mentioned of a prolonged hug afterwords either.
Maybe Roxas had forgotten about that night...
but Axel never could get it out of his mind.
After that, it was harder for him not to think of his friend in other ways.
One week after the dance, Axel found himself touching himself to thoughts of the Blond.
That was when he knew that he had crossed a line.
So he cut all ties with Roxas to give himself time to think.
It wasn't meant to be more then a few days.....but when Axel came to terms with his feelings, he didn't think Roxas would approve of them.
But he couldn't push Roxas from his mind.
That was when he started hanging out with the wrong people.
Xemnas, Xigbar and Luxord.
They helped him get into coke, drinking, and sex.
Axel thought that maybe it would make him forget about Roxas.
But the only hooker he would bang, was a vocal blonde chick.
It was when he called out Roxas' name at the end of it one night, that he knew he had to stop it.
He had to get out of the hole he dug for himself.
It took a while, but he got help.
He got rid of Xemnas and his friends.
Went to a group counciling even....
All for one purpose.
To get back to Roxas. To tell him how he felt. To make everything either better, or a hell of a lot worse.
Because if Roxas turned him away, he would have no one.
-
It was 3:20am when Roxas' phone rang.
'Burn, baby, Burn!'
Roxas sat up quickly, grabbing up his phone and clicking it open.
"H-Hello?" He said eagerly, waiting nervously.
"Rox...Hey, sorry if I woke you."
Axel sounded almost as nervous.
But There was something else. Roxas couldn't quite put a finger on it.
"Oh, no!" Roxas said with a slight chuckle. "I couldn't sleep....so no worries."
Axel smiled softly from on the other side of the line, not that Roxas could see though of course.
"Look, I really am sorry about everything...and-"
He paused, taking a nervous breath.
Roxas felt clear anticipation.
"...And?"
He asked eagerly.
"Roxas. If you hate me, I understand. I shouldn't have done what I did to you."
Axel said slowly, clenching and un-clenching one hand.
"But I did it....so you wouldn't hate me...if that makes any sense..."
This confused Roxas slightly,
"What do you mean?"
He asked in a soft tone.
Axel was talking circles around something, and he was dying to know what it was.
He /Had/ to know.
Axel took a deep and slow breath.
It was now or never.
"Roxas, do you remember when we went to that last school dance together?"
Roxas sighed softly, smiling.
"Yeah."
He said as he his mind wander to that night.
He hadn't even looked for a date, he hadn't wanted one.
When Axel had made that 'agreement' with him to go together if they didn't find a date,
he couldn't say no if he had wanted to.
"I hadn't even looked for a date. I had to turn down like 3 girls..."
Axel said sheepishly.
Roxas was surprised that he didn't have more girls then that after him then.
"You did...? why?"
He asked, frowning slightly.
"Because, it took me that one night to finally realize that I liked you."
Axel said softly.
Roxas could hardly hold onto his phone.
His hands started to shake slightly as Axel went on.
"I still do Roxas,"
The Red-head added,
"I feel like I need you...far more then a friend ever would."
Roxas could feel his throat tightening almost painfully so.
He wanted to say something.....but he couldn't make any words come out.
"...I get it, Rox. I'm sorry...."
Then the line went dead.
Roxas gasped,
"..No! Axel...."
he lowered his phone, looking at it almost longingly.
"Axel, I..."
Roxas understood now.
That's why Axel left...he thought he would hate him for his feelings.
"...Oh Axel...."
The Blond mumbled, and looked down at his hand.
The apartment numbers were still clear enough to read.
Roxas knew what he had to do.
-
Quickly pulling on his shoes, Axel stuffed his phone into his pocket.
He needed to get out of here...away from Roxas. The Blonde's silence had been worse then a clearly stated rejection.
It hurt.
Grabbing his car keys, Axel headed for the door.
Just as he was about to open the door, a flurry of rapid knocks sounded out from the other side.
"Axel? It's me....c-can I come in?"
Came an uncertain Roxas' voice.
It sounded as if he ran all the way from his apartment.
Axel pulled his hand away from the door knob.
"...Why?"
He asked, wondering if he could handle a 'to his face' rejection as well...
"Please."
Pleaded Roxas, sounding almost winny.
"I don't hate you!"
Axel opened the door, his face blank as he looked at Roxas.
The Blonde was now soaked all over again, the rain still pounding down.
He looked like he was shaking too.
Axel couldn't say no to the look on Roxas' face...
and ushered him in side.
Roxas stood on the tile as Axel went to get a few towels, the blond trying to keep his teeth from chattering.
Axel came back and went to work, removing Roxas' coat and wrapping the towels around him.
He sat the blonde down on the couch and went to make some hot coffee.
Roxas sat there, looking around.
He rubbed himself to try and warm up...but he only seemed to get colder.
When Axel came back, he had some clothes of his.
"Bathroom is down the hall to the right."
He said, handing them to the shaking blond.
Roxas took them with a small, "Thanks..."
Heading down the way directed.
Axel had two cups of coffee ready when Roxas came out.
The clothes hung off him, clearly he was a head shorter or so the Axel.
Roxas hung up his dripping clothes and the two sat on the couch.
The coffee was sweet, just how Roxas liked it, but with a sort of...Cinnamon taste to it.
Like Axel.
Roxas blushed slightly at the thought.
But that had been the slight after-taste after that kiss in the car...
"Rox? Are you okay? Your face is flushed."
Axel said, worried.
Roxas set down his cup on the side table.
"...can you h-hold me?"
He asked softly, looking to Axel with pleading eyes.
"Hold you...? Roxas....."
Axel looked slightly stunned as he moved closer.
Roxas shook his head,
"Axel, I could never hate you....you were my best friend."
He pulled his knees up to his chest, closing his eyes tightly.
"I don't know how I feel really....I'm confused. But I think that I might like you, Ax."
The last came out in a choked off hiccup.
Axel quickly pulled the blonde into his lap, grabbing the blanket off the back of the couch to cover them up.
"Roxas...you idiot. You could catch a cold from running out in the rain like that."
He mumbled with a sigh, resting his head on the others.
Roxas clinged to the others chest, still shaking slightly.
It was too much to take in at once.
So he decided to simply push everything else from his mind.
All he knew right then, was this man was holding him...
And it felt good.
---
When Roxas stirred, light from a nearby window told him the sun was already up.
He didn't want to get up, however.
He didn't want it to all go away, like a dream that wasn't true.
But as he focused his eyes, Axel's arms were indeed still wrapped around him, the older male surving as his human pillow.
Roxas smiled softly, and before thinking...
laid a soft kiss on Axel's still lips.
He looked so innocent when he was sleeping. Nothing like when he was awake.
There was no smirk on his face, leaving his expression calm and peaceful.
Roxas wanted to beat himself for causing Axel pain like he did...
He should have been there when he needed him.
The blond cuddled to the older, softly stroking his fingers along the soft pale skin of Axel's neck.
A few moments later, a soft groan came from Axel as he shifted under Roxas.
His bright green eyes opened slowly as he smiled up at the blond.
Roxas blushed slightly, rubbing his face in Axel chest.
The red head sighed as he rubbed Roxas' back lightly under the covers. He wouldn't tell Roxas, but he had wanted to see him in a set of his clothes for a while.
He raised Roxas' head and leaned up.
"Good morning."
He mumbled a bit groggily still as he placed their lips together for a linguring kiss.
Roxas returning it fully this time.
As the pair lay there a while longer,
Roxas had a feeling of resolve.
He would let his feeling sort themselves out. Taking it day by day. He knew that Axel was more then the friend he used to be, but not sure what he was to him just yet.
He was willing to figure that out though.
Axel was happy that Roxas didn't hate him..
and he was currently basking in the fact that Roxas kissed him back.
He knew how he felt about the younger man, but wouldn't push himself on him.
"So, Roxas.....you want some food?"
Axel asked with a chuckle,
....only to find the blond had fallen back asleep with his fingers entangled in Axel's red spikes.
R+R please!