Disclaimers: My fingerprints are all over this, but that doesn't mean I own anything other than the story.

Author's Notes: Man this chapter was hard! Obviously the muses' way of executing their writing karma. I do have the next chapter planned, so hopefully it won't take as long as this one did. *bows in apology* But seriously, to everyone who reviewed, THANK YOU! It did make it easier for me to get in the mood to write. I hope it came out okay, all things considered….

Dedications: Evil-Pixie-Dust. If I haven't mentioned that I loved you yet this day, here you go. I do, you know. Dualism. Because I can. This is for all of my favorite authors, and you're right up there on the top of the list. Sarehptar. You are awesome. Nuff said.

Ta-da! *curtain raises*


There was a confused silence in the dorm room.

"You thought WHAT?"

Thin shoulders rose in an unapologetic shrug, and a grin all-too characteristic of Axel flashed across his face. "I thought I'd crash here for a while. You know, stay in your room?" He seemed to realize something, though, and there was a flicker of uncertainty in too-green eyes. "I mean, it'd be cool, right?" Looking between Demyx and Zexion, the redhead's smile lost some of its confidence. "Guys?"

Demyx sighed. The irritation coming from his smaller roommate was almost tangible. With stiff movements, Zexion stalked over to his desk, setting down his books none-too-gently. He whipped around to stare icily at the intruder in their room.

"How long would you need to stay here?" the blond asked.

Thin shoulders rose in a shrug. "Long enough for me to get a job and a place. A month, maybe two?"

"Our RA would never let us keep a non-resident that long. Two days, tops." And people thought he didn't pay attention! He knew his rules!

Axel grinned suddenly. "Oh, you mean Larxene? Yeah, I already talked to her. She said it was fine and, in fact, encouraged it. True story."

Demyx's jaw dropped. "Impossible. She's a total bitch, how'd you-?"

"She's a sucker for hard liquor of any and all kinds." Axel waved a hand nonchalantly, "Preferably all."

"Oh my god, you bribed my RA to let you stay? With ALCOHOL?" The blond groaned. "What work do you do, anyway? I mean, it might take you longer than two months to get something landed…."

"I do odd jobs. I can fix most anything, I can wait tables, memorize a menu in under a day, mix drinks with the best of them, bounce people without hurting myself. Anything really. I didn't sell my body to keep moving, you know. I can actually do things that are required for a respectable job."

Zexion's eyes were molted in different shades of glacier, evidence of his near-fury. The slight man grabbed Axel and yanked him around, looking as though he wanted nothing more than to yell at him. As it was, his mouth opened and closed several times, a soft, almost inaudible hissing and clicking sound emerging (1) as Zexion formed the words with only air, jaw tight with anger and shoulders hunched defensively.

There was silence after he finished.

It was Demyx who broke it first.

"Um, Axel, I think that means no."


Axel was staying.

Zexion was a little hazy on the details, but in the middle of their argument Larxene had interrupted them. There was a talk about how he, Zexion, needed more excitement in his life, how Demyx needed to interact with people who actually spoke (he had bristled at that), and a whole slew of other things.

End result: Axel was staying. And Zexion hated him.

Other end result: Demyx was extraordinarily happy with him for letting Axel stay.

Zexion still hated him.

Of course, Axel hated him too, so it was all fair.

Now they were setting up the room to accommodate another person. Demyx cheerfully gossiped about everything and nothing while hanging things up in the closet and Zexion sat at his desk and worked on not strangling the intruder. Axel, as the small man foresaw, was doing what he would always do: Nothing.

An electric glare was directed at the redhead lounging on his new 'bed'. Smug green eyes stared back, and a grin stretched slowly across the lean face. Leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, Axel wondered, "So it's a psychological thing, is it?"

Demyx stopped chattering from the closet. His blonde faux-hawked head popped around the corner. "How is Doctor Vexen's Chemistry class a psychological thing? That really makes no sense."

"Not you, Dem. The pale unspeaking thing in the corner there."

A blink of sea-green eyes. "What's psychological about Zexy?"

Zexion shifted slightly, not liking the way Axel was eyeing him. It was as though he was some type of interesting fungus. Disgusting, but not something one would have to worry about hurting.

"His speaking problem. It's not so much that fact that he doesn't talk as much as he can't," Axel explained.

A lilac eyebrow rose. Interesting. Someone had finally noticed that it was more than just unwillingness on his part. What a pity that it was that miscreant, though, Zexion mentally sighed. Only my luck would let him notice first, before…

He halted that train of thought and rewound it. Before who?

Who did he want to figure him out?

No one.

No one, except…

Cobalt eyes tracked the movement of one energetic blond, who was casually shrugging as he folded sheets and saying that he didn't care if Zexion could, would, or should speak, it was his choice and he would respect that. A smile that flashed and lingered like sunlight was directed his way, and the English major almost found himself smiling back.

Except Demyx.

And that thought made his near-smile fade into a troubled frown.


"Demyx, really? Why are we doing this?"

Said blond grinned effortlessly and did a spin to face his two exasperated roommates. As he was walking backwards, he decided to enlighten them. "We're going to a maze."

Axel rolled his eyes, hands jammed into pockets of a sweater that was a garish gold and orange plaid and didn't fit in any of the right places (2). "We got that much. Why are we going to the maze?"

Demyx stopped, his smile melting into an irritated frown, "Because it's been two weeks since you moved in, and the two of you still don't get along! It's time for some neutral ground! At the maze, Zexy won't feel like you're taking over his space, and you won't think he's trying to kick you out."

"I don't think it, I know it," the redhead muttered, shooting a glare at Zexion. The shorter man, Demyx saw, allowed himself the smallest of smirks, and he shook his head ruefully. He didn't know why they didn't get along (they were more similar than either was willing to admit), but it was sometimes funny to watch the extremes they would get to. Then, of course, it just got annoying. Tuning back in to Axel's disgruntled mumbling, the musician caught only disjointed words.

"…little ungrateful…..trying to help….not my fault…too much of a wuss to….from wherever it's lodged…."

There it was, the tension rising in Zexion's shoulders that happened right before he started formulating an evil scheme to get back at his unwelcome roommate. Demyx shuddered as he was reminded of the persistently wet clothes that had been Zexion's latest revenge plot.

Who knew Zexion could disable all the dryers without getting caught?

Throwing himself in between the two of them, laughing loudly, Demyx wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders. "You say things! It's funny! C'mon, the maze is kinda an excuse to get out of the room. I'm bored in there, so humor me."

Somehow, making the reason they were there for him made both of them agree to it.

Demyx had always known he had magical powers.

Why they only worked now and only on these two, he didn't know.

But the maze was waiting. And it would be legendary (3). He had always loved wandering around in them, knowing that everyone else was just as blind as he was for once. The high walls, confusing turns, it made him feel safe when he was with his friends. The blond knew that he would be rushing ahead of the two downers behind him and waiting behind a corner to jump out at them and frighten them.

After all, what was the fun if no one else was there? Then you were just lost.

And no one liked being lost.

Axel growled in frustration, rounding a corner to be met with yet another dead-end. He didn't have to turn around to know that the pale man behind him was smirking in that miniscule way he had that made it seem like he was hiding the remainder of his amusement.

Only, when he faced Zexion, the other was looking behind them, and if the Axel didn't know any better, he would have said that the slight man appeared almost worried.

Running his hand through his hair, Axel sighed. "God damn it, Demyx, this is all your fault!"

Zexion glared at him, but the unease on his face tempered the normally soul-killing look. Pale hands curled into fists and uncurled again, fingers flexing uncertainly and his eyes were turned back behind them, obviously searching agitatedly. There was a gentle wave of compassion through Axel's heart and he almost reached out to pat Zexion's shoulder before he remembered that they didn't get along and the gesture wouldn't be appreciated.

Damn the small man for being so complicated. And cute.

Letting a breath that was almost a groan, Axel went back the way they came. "Dem! This is no longer fun!"

Silence.

A bit more cautiously, if louder. "Demyx?"

There was no answer.

Suddenly, Axel knew why Zexion was so antsy.

"Only you, Demyx, would get lost," Axel growled. He quickened his steps. Damn Demyx for suggesting this, and leaving him alone with the person who hated him most in the world besides that one guy whose house he had burned down (4). Damn him and his persuasion skills, and his ability to get lost.

They crunched along in silence, the gravel making the footing awkward and the quiet even more so. A couple of minutes later, the two were still no closer to finding Demyx, and the redhead had an evil idea. Since they were stuck wandering together, why not have some fun with the brat?

With that in mind, Axel slowed down, beginning the careful process of cornering Zexion. First step, verbal surprises.

"So, Zexion..."

The slate-haired man flinched ever-so-slightly. A grin formed on Axel's face.

"You've been listening in to Demyx talking to you? How sneaky…. And now you also know that you can't ever tell him because then he'd stop sharing these things with you. Poor Zexion...whatever are you going to do?"

Pale hands clenched into fists briefly before relaxing. That relaxation didn't translate to the rest of him though, as Zexion's entire frame was tenser than before. Axel's grin grew into a smirk.

Phase one, complete.

Step two, physical….


He didn't want to admit that he was worried, but damnit, where the hell was Demyx?

Zexion paced anxiously behind Axel, who was still babbling away, though the shorter man had long since tuned him out. Until he found himself unable to move, his way blocked by Axel's body. Inhaling the smell of fire that surrounded the redhead, Zexion tried to escape the imposed capture.

"So…"

Oh, how Zexion was learning to hate that word….

"I wonder if you'll make sounds if you're taken…."

Eyes widening, he stiffened, fury and a sense of fright warring inside him for control. Unfortunately, he froze. A single warm finger traced his jaw gently and the pale man reflexively batted it away, shoulders rigid. There was an amused laugh, almost patronizing, as Axel leaned over him, forcing him against the wall of the maze in order to get away from the unwanted contact. Green met cobalt in a livid staring contest.

That smug, irritating grin adorning Axel's lean face yet again, the redhead backed away, turning to look for Demyx again. A strategic withdrawal. Zexion knew he hadn't won the battle, only a brief respite.

Really, where was Demyx to keep this madman away from him? The only time he wasn't harassed was when the blond was around.

The wind shifted and Zexion raised his face to it in an effort to clear his head. He breathed in, smelling cold gravel and something…a blink and he inhaled again, trying to discern the second scent. Something that smelled of water, sunscreen, sweat, skin, and sun. (5)

Demyx.

He moved a couple of steps towards Axel, sniffed and shook his head. Not that way. Behind, backwards, turn around. Zexion started going in the direction of the smell.

"Hey, where're you going?"

The slate-haired man shifted to look at Axel, who was standing at the other end of the corridor they were in, staring at him curiously. Sighing, Zexion snapped his fingers imperiously and pointed to the ground at his side (6), indicating that Axel was to follow him. He enjoyed the expression of disbelief that crossed the redhead's face, but he didn't wait to see if the other would actually follow, he just went where he thought he smelled Demyx.

"Oi, Zexion, that's just a dead-end! Are you even listening?"

The scent was getting stronger. His steps quickened. The crunch and slide of gravel blocked out Axel's nasal voice. Where? He turned left at a junction, shook his head, turned right, strides lengthening in an effort to cover more ground.

Another right.

Where?

Straight.

Where?

Left.

Where are you, Demyx?

He followed the maze's winding corridor, slowing as he reached the end. One final turn. If he was wrong then he would have just wasted so much time….

A deep breath.

He stepped around the corner.

There –sitting curled over himself, head on knees, arms wrapped around legs- was Demyx.

Red-rimmed eyes lifted at the sound of steps –he had been crying, that wasn't right, Demyx shouldn't cry, never cry-, and a hoarse whimper escaped the blonde's throat. A slight blur of movement was all the warning he got before a shivering Demyx was in his arms.

Zexion blinked. There was someone crying on him (7). He awkwardly raised his hands and gently patted Demyx's back.

Rocks grated in protest as they were trod on. Axel was behind them. "Whoa, whoa, Demy. What's up? It's just a maze. You're alright."

Demyx buried his face into Zexion's shoulder, breathing slowly calming down. Hands that gripped the shorter man's coat didn't let go, though. "S'not alright," he muttered, voice shaking. "Was scared…"

Suddenly, Zexion understood. Demyx hated being lost. Hated feeling helpless, thinking that no one would be able to find him. He turned his face into Demyx's hair, smelling sunlight and water all over again, and breathed gently on his roommate's ear in the only comforting gesture he could give.

It managed to tease a small laugh out of the taller student, and Demyx slowly let Zexion go, leaving Zexion to feel bereft of something. He shook his head, letting his hair cover his face again, and knew that he would have to seriously analyze himself when he got back to the room. What was up with him?

"So…"

He flinched (8), but it was Demyx saying it this time, wiping tears from the corners of his smiling eyes.

"Did you two get to know each other better through this?"

Axel wrapped an arm around the blonde and one around Zexion (to his surprise and chagrin). "Oh yes, Dem. More than you'd know. And we found something even more important."

Zexion almost smiled when he saw the humor in Demyx's green-blue eyes.

"Oh? What is it?"

A Cheshire grin. "We found the exit."

As they walked to the exit, the two friends laughing and joking as though nothing had ever happened, Zexion mused. Maybe their new roommate would stop bothering him if there were other people to torment….

And Demyx could always use some more friends.


It was dark outside.

That was the first thing Zexion processed as he felt his bed shift with someone else's weight. His sleep-clouded mind fumbling for proper cognitive function, he rolled away from the person, sitting up to blink blearily at them.

What the hell was Axel doing in his bed?

Green eyes glinted at him in the light from the window and Axel smirked, motioning him closer. Obviously he was stupider than Zexion had originally thought if he thought he would get any nearer the other man than he had to.

Axel rolled his eyes and grabbed Zexion's shirt, yanking him down. The slate-haired man tensed, feeling warm lips next to his ear. A purring voice made him focus.

"I'm cold, and I sleep better with other people, so just shut up and cuddle with me."

Zexion pulled back and frowned at him. Really? That was his reasoning? Unceremoniously tugged back down, he braced himself on forearms and elbows.

"I could always go and sleep in Demyx's bed, but you and I both know why I won't do that. I'll wake up before he does and get out of your bed, that way he doesn't know, alright?" At his continued non-agreeing posture, Axel let out a ragged sigh. "Look, just let me sleep here for one night and then you can do whatever the hell you want to in the morning. I'm tired of sleeping on that couch."

Zexion sighed. The half of his mind that hated the redhead wanted to kick him out. But the stronger, sleepier half of his brain just begged him to go back to sleep.

It was no contest as to who won.

Curling himself into his usual sleeping position, Zexion resolved to ignore the warm body in his bed. He didn't expect Axel to move closer, cuddling him. He didn't expect it to be comfortable. He definitely didn't expect to sigh and not protest it. Then again, he never thought clearly when he was tired.

Maybe he could look at it again in the morning….


Finito Chapter 3!

- (1) – Try it. It's actually possible do make certain sounds, like "s", "t", and other letters you form mainly with your tongue. It's really quiet, but you can do it without using your vocal cords.

- (2) – Seriously, I love BadFashionSense!Axel. It makes me laugh. He's the sort of person who'd do it just because he can.

- (3) – And thus did Barney Stinson take over the world.

- (4) – One of those "No, you really don't want to know" sort of stories that you really wanna know.

- (5) – Go to Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Texas. You'll smell it there. It's a good smell.

- (6) – I actually do this snapping thing. Bad habit on my part.

- (7) – The idea that Zexion is so intent on finding Demyx that he stops thinking like himself appeals to me. He seems like the type of person who would focus so much that he forgets who he is and how he acts beyond accomplishing his goal.

- (8) – Like Pavlov's dog.

And no, Axel is not trying to put the moves on Zexion. He's really just trying to freak him out. And he's doing a good job. Sleepy Zexion doesn't think like Awake Zexion. Sleepy Zexion just wants to be Asleep Zexion.

Beta'd by: The lovely, magnificent, always wonderful, Evil-Pixie-Dust

Evil-Pixie-Dust: BY THE WAY, dear readers, she really does do the snapping thing. And she calls for you like she would a puppy….or maybe that's just what she does to me, but either way, she really does it. And she also does the Sleepy Zene does not think like Awake Zene.

Next Chapter: Interlude: Fall to winter, meetings, and something about snow.

And as a matter of fact, I did glow from your reviews! This chapter honestly couldn't have gotten out any faster than it did. The next one might come out even faster if more people review…. /smiles hopefully