Author's Note: I really don't know why this chapter took so long. Yes, I was kind of busy, but not full out busy that I couldn't have gotten this done in a couple of days if I put in the effort. I blame procrastination and school. Totally.

Anyway. I want to thank everyone who reviewed, favorited, and/or put this story on their story alert list. I'm glad people are pleased with this story, haha. I didn't really think it would end up getting hits or readers, but it did. Anyway, rambling. This chapter is 4,166 words! Yeah. I'm working on making them longer if that number didn't give you a hint. Hope it makes up for how long it took. I'll try to get the next chapter rolling as soon as possible.

Oh! Also: From what I know about the Witness Protection Program - it gives you new names (first and last, relocates you, all that good stuff) but for the sake of this story and less confusion. I shall just say that they were relocated and their last names are the only things that changed. I know it seems like there isn't much having to do with the WPP (Witness Protection Program) just yet, but I'm making them have a bit of normal life for now. Backstory will be in soon as will further plot developments. :D

Disclaimer: Let's face it ... if I owned Kingdom Hearts - I so wouldn't be stuck in this nowhere town.

A couple of days had passed since the fiasco in the living room with Axel. Things had been relatively quiet, especially with Sora spending every waking minute with Riku and his entourage of friends, which included: Kairi, Namine, Selphie, Wakka, Tidus, and a few others. Kairi seemed like a decent girl and was really the only one he had actually conversed with. He hoped that Sora might have been taken with her, until he figured out that she didn't swing that way and hadn't for awhile. Roxas didn't have a problem with lesbians or gays. In fact, he often thought himself to be classified like so. He did, however, have a problem with Sora being gay for Riku.

It was eight PM at the moment and it was pouring outside. The rain had managed to drench everything in sight and was at least up to the curb. Sora had gone out with Riku & Co. to the movies. He'd invited his brother, but Roxas had declined the offer. He figured his sibling wouldn't mind too much. If he had known that some idiot was going to crash into the pole at the end of the street and knock the power out for three blocks, then maybe he would have agreed to tag along.

But he had not had a premonition of any sort (not that he ever did). Roxas had just gotten out of the shower and was walking towards his bedroom, towel around his waist, when the house switched from lit up to pitch black. He frowned and waited a beat, wondering if it was merely a glitch—perhaps that some idiot just had one too many things plugged in. The lights never flickered back on. He sighed and tried to navigate towards his bedroom, squinting in the darkness as he did so. The blond bumped into the wall and muttered under his breath. The back door opened and closed and he assumed it was his brother.

"Power's out." He called over his shoulder as he entered his room and maneuvered towards his closet. Roxas reached for a random t-shirt and a pair of pants, which he tossed over his shoulder and onto his bed. Now he just needed a pair of boxers. He shuffled over towards his dresser and fumbled around for a handle on the right drawer. After succeeding in finding a pair, he dropped the towel and climbed into them.

A beam of light came around the corner and into his room to shine on his half-nude form. "Sora, get that—"

"—Take it off, Roxie." A cat call followed.

"A—Axel!" The blond's cheeks flushed and he snatched up his black "Blink 182" band shirt off of the mattress. He pulled it over his head quickly and heard a chuckle at his expense from the redhead.

"What do you have to hide? I mean, I can pretty much guesstimate what everything looks like. I already felt it." Axel smirked.

"Shut up!" Roxas didn't need to be reminded of that event. His quick retort hadn't been quite as demanding as usual, but it was hurried and embarrassed. "I don't care if you felt it – I don't want you to guesstimate anything about my body!" A pause as he climbed into his pants. "That's not even a word." The sound of his zipper being tugged up and his ragged breathing followed after his declaration. The flashlight was still on him and he felt Axel's eyes on his body.

"What're you doing here?" He finally asked, deciding that he wasn't as peeved at Axel as he had originally thought. In fact, even though his privacy had been invaded, he didn't mind having the redhead's company.

"The power is out, Rox. I came to check up on you. I'm making sure there aren't any pedophiles lurking around." He crossed the room and took a seat on the bed.

"With the exception of you, right?" Roxas sat down beside him.

"Damn straight." A bright grin plastered itself on Axel's features and one mirroring his was visible on Roxas' face as well.

"You just admitted you were a pedo, Ax. I don't think you should be happy about that." He chided.

"Ah, yes. But I'm your pedophile." He countered. Roxas blushed and it tickled Axel content.

Roxas rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Yeah, because that's so much better."

"Don't doubt concepts you don't understand. It is better. I'm only molesting you instead of the entire neighborhood." He waggled his eyebrows at the blond, before falling backwards onto Roxas' bed and crossing his arms behind his head.

The blond slapped Axel on the stomach, considering his shoulder was too far out of reach with the redhead lying down. "I'd understand your theory if you were molesting me, which you're not."

"Yet."

"Try never."

"Never has so many back roads, Rox." He drawled with a smile in his voice.

Roxas groaned in defeat. "Fucking perv. I bet you'd know all about back roads."

"Do you want to?" An innocent look crossed Axel's features.

"What?" The blond frowned and didn't quite grasp what Axel was asking, until he noted the innocent look. When that was on any pervert's face, it wasn't good. That much he knew. The answer to his question dawned on him, even before Axel explained what he meant.

"Fuck a perv – do you want to? 'Cause I'm right here." He purred.

Roxas rose from his spot on the bed and crossed his arms against his chest. He sent a glare down at Axel. "You're impossible!" He declared, before stalking out of his own bedroom. Leave it to Axel to ruin a perfectly comfortable mood.

Riku liked going to the movies. He liked the cushiony seats, the overly priced concession stand items, the long lines, the smell of popcorn, sticky rows that made one's shoes squeak and even the annoying chatter of people around. He didn't really mind what genre of movie was seen, just that it was halfway decent, or that he was at least in good company. What he did not like, however, was bringing along Selphie when he was around someone he liked.

That someone was Sora.

"Can you believe that they ended up together at the end? It was so romantic." She just about beamed at Sora.

The entire movie had been past salvation, even being in partial good company had not been enough to save it from being complete and total crap. The whole time, Selphie had tried to get Sora to kiss Riku. Selphie had nudged them, commented on how cute Sora was and hinted that Riku had "like ahmigosh an uber crushathon" going on for Sora. Personally, he thought she was kind of insane, but then most people got that perception of the hyperactive girl.

"No, Selph. I can't believe it." Riku commented in monotone.

"I wasn't talking to you." She stuck her tongue out and turned back to Sora. "You know, it would awesome if you two ended up like the movie! And just as a head's up: Riku's never had a girlfriend before. Or a boyfriend really. I always kind of thought that maybe he wasn't into people, because he has all these guys and girls swooning over him and he only ever turns them away. I thought he was into animals. 'Cause hello – who could turn this down?" She flipped her hair and motioned at her body, noted the small smile and blush on Sora's features before continuing. "Turns out he likes people after all, Sora. That's good for you, because you two totally have it in for each other!"

"What? But I don't … I mean … Riku's not … He, uh…" Sora was flustered.

"Don't listen to her lies, Sora. She's mentally insane. I keep telling them to use better equipped straightjackets."

Selphie grinned and ignored the comment. "Subject A evades denial of the attraction, leaving reason to believe that it does exist."

"I just called you a liar … how is that evading it?"

"Subject A appears to speak in one language: blasphemy." She reported, acting like she was a scientist of some sort. "Stop being such a prude Riku and kiss him!" She finally bellowed, hands moving to rest on her hips as she mock glared. Sora took that chance to stare down at his shoes, they were much more interesting.

Riku intercepted that comment and draped an arm over Sora's shoulders, leading him away from the brunette female. Kairi and Namine would have to deal with her when they returned from the ladies' room.

"Hey! You guys can't leave yet!" Selphie whined.

He led Sora out the exit and into the rain, only to curse under his breath. Ignoring the girl's call after them. "Sorry about her, she can be a little … overwhelming."

Sora shrugged. "It's okay. She seemed nice."

"Seeming and actuality are two different things, Sora."

"Yeah, well ... I had fun anyway." He danced around saying anything bad about the girl. Sure, she was a little overbearing and seemed a pinch too interested in the homosexual boys around her. Riku seemed to pick up on that and smiled.

"I'm glad that she didn't scare you away and that I didn't bore you to death."

Sora shuffled his feet and put his hands in his pockets, avoiding the other boy's gaze for a moment, only to glance up and meet those aquamarine eyes. "I don't think you could, Riku."

Riku, of course, was shocked by the intensity of Sora's gaze and looked away. It was a good thing he was an expert at concealing most of his emotions. He pretty much willed away the blush that had tried to form – though a faint line of pink remained. Sora didn't notice. Riku was grateful to whatever higher power controlled that moment. "I – That's good."

The brunette gave Riku a conspicuous look, took a couple steps forward and peered curiously up at the silver-haired male. "Did you just stutter?" Only Sora could pull off such a question and not seem like a jackass.

"…No."

Sora flashed a victorious grin, turned away, and crossed his arms behind his head as he began to walk ahead of Riku.

It was the silence that threw him off. Sora could have said anything and he would have been fine, but the fact that he didn't was nerve wracking. Reluctantly, he unanchored himself from the parking lot and jogged a few paces to catch up with the shorter male. "You know, Sora, it's rude to pick on people for their speech impediments." He stated slyly, side glancing at the boy from beneath his bangs.

A smile just graced his features and one slowly followed on Riku's lips. They continued on home like that, occasionally making comments, but none of it was really relevant to anything. It was just comfortable. Comfortable conversations with very comfy silences that passed and segued into new conversations. Both of them couldn't keep their minds off of each other, or the day they spent together, but neither of them were willing to admit to it.

"We're here already?" The shorter questioned, disbelief in his voice.

"Do you really need to ask that when you can see for yourself?" Riku asked dryly.

"You know, Riku, it's rude to pick on people for their brain impediments!" He scoffed, mocking the boy's comment from earlier.

Riku just broke into laughter to Sora's dismay and it wasn't long before Sora was offering a grin and a few chuckles of his own. "I can't believe you just insulted yourself!"

"I was just making fun of you." He declared.

"Yeah, but you made fun of yourself." Riku scoffed.

Sora felt the inner workings of a pout coming on. "So!"

"So, nothing. It was funny." The taller boy breathed a sigh, catching his breath and coming back down to reality, to a glaring Sora – who really didn't look threatening at all.

The brunette crossed his arms in defiance and turned his head to the side, adding some melodramatics to the light mood the night had occupied with the both of them.

"Oh, come on. Don't be that way." He urged.

Sora didn't give him even one measly glance, instead he remained standing that way. "Don't be what way?"

"That way."

"I'm not being any way, Riku."

"Yes, you are. You're acting like Larxene when Axel eats all her hot pockets."

"Wait – huh?" Sora forgot his anger and turned confused eyes in the silver-haired male's direction. Obviously, it was a friend of Axel's – that much he had gathered. But he didn't see why Riku would bring it up. "Who's Larxene?"

Mentally, Riku smiled, because he felt as if he succeeded in taking the other's mind off of the fact that they were in a fight. "Larxene is just one of Axel's friends. She comes over way too often. She's the biggest bitch in this entire town and she lives for nagging and yelling at people." He lifted a shoulder in nonchalance as if nothing he had said was offensive in any way, shape, or form.

"She doesn't sound very nice. Why is …" His cheeks colored at the question. He was embarrassed to ask – it wasn't really like him to judge people, but from what Riku was saying, he had to know! "Why is Axel her friend if she's so mean?"

"The same reason he's following your brother around like a cat in heat. Axel's mind doesn't exactly follow the same patterns as everyone else. He'll complain about the bitchiness and the nagging and how mistreated he is, but he goes back for it every time. Definitely some kink to that boy." Riku shook his head.

Sora's eyes widened and the blush intensified. "He's not following Roxas around like – like that – like what you said! Axel's just … Well, I mean … he just – he wants to be Roxas' friend." He nodded firmly. The next words caused him to look down at his feet, blushing more, trying to will his mind off of the topic.

"Yes, Sora. And babies come from the stork, there's no such thing as homeless people, the easter bunny is real, Michael Jackson is not a pedophile, Vanilla Ice can sing, OJ is innocent and Aaron Carter is straight." Clearly, he thought it should be more obvious that Axel wanted Roxas for more reasons than to just be his friend. Granted that was one of them, but it certainly wasn't the only one.

"Are you saying I'm stupid?" Sora blurted out.

"No. Whatever gave you that impression?" Riku glanced down at his nails, examining them like they were the best thing since 80s rock.

"Hey – I'm supposed to be mad at you still!"

Well, shit. Riku thought, wondering if fleeing across the yard or acting like he passed out was a better escape plan. "You're right. You're absolutely right. I better get going now as you stand there in your rightness and anger." Slowly, he inched towards his yard.

"You tried to trick me into forgetting." Sora crossed his arms again.

And it would've worked to if it wasn't for you k—Okay, really. Even his mind was making lame references. "Not technically." He declared – it wasn't like he was lying. Yes, part of bringing up something else had been to distract the brunette, but another was just something he had to state for lack of anything better to say.

Sora looked like he didn't know if he wanted to yell some more, or just sigh and drop the matter altogether. He caved, rolled his eyes, and dropped his arms back to his sides. He looked at Riku and gave a forced smile. "Technicalities won't save you next time, Riku." It was his way of saving he forgave him – this time. He wouldn't be so forgiving if Riku tried to manipulate him like that again.

"I'll keep that in mind."

The shorter male's expression didn't change, but his voice was lighter – happier. More like Sora. "I had a good time today. Thanks for inviting me. I'll … see you tomorrow." He offered another smile before turning tail and heading through the front door – leaving Riku in the rain to show himself home. After all, it was only next door.

"Roxas?" Sora called as he closed the door behind him, shaking off his dame self a bit.

An undistinguished lump on the couch grumbled at him and he frowned questionably at it, before crossing the room and poking at what he assumed to be the lump's legs. "Roxas?" Another grunt. "Why are you on the couch?" Blue eyes scanned the room and he glanced back down at the blanket covered lump. Sora just crossed the room, towards the kitchen and moved to flick the light switch on. Nothing happened. He tried two more times only to decide to leave if turned off. "What happened to the lights?"

The blanket finally came tumbling off of the lump, revealing itself to be the blond. "Do you really have to ask so many questions?" Sora shot him a blank stare. Roxas sighed. "I'm on the couch, because that idiot is still in my room." The brunette looked at Roxas with uncertainty, wondering who he was talking about. "Axel."

"Oh. Did Axel do something to the lights?"

"Not that I'm aware of, but I wouldn't put it beneath him." He scowled.

"Did something happen between you—"

"No."

"Yes!" They heard in unison with Roxas' answer, though the vocals clearly came from the blond's room and Sora lifted an eyebrow.

"Don't listen to him. He's brain damaged." The blond declared, slumping against the couch.

Sora shook his head at his brother and grinned. It didn't seem like it, but he knew that Axel was rubbing off on Roxas and it was good to see him making friends. He was glad that someone as persistent as Axel was making an effort to be Roxas' friend, because that was the kind of person it took for the blond to like. People who gave up – they weren't his kind of people. Sora knew Roxas was nice underneath the hard exterior, but not many people bothered to get past that. He could see that Axel would be someone who tried at least. "I'm sure he isn't that bad, Rox." He sat down beside his brother.

"What do you know? You haven't even bothered to get to know him. Too busy pining after Riku." He huffed, lighter blue eyes flicking to Sora for a moment, before peeling away.

A narrow of Sora's eyes was seen, before he reached over and smacked Roxas on the back of the head. "I've talked to him plenty – he seems nice! You would know that if you gave him a chance." He failed to acknowledge the part about pining after Riku.

"I did give him a chance."

"Really?" That disbelieving look was sent in his direction.

"Yes, really!"

"Then why are you in separate rooms?"

Roxas was silent for a beat too long and was given a knowing look from his brother. He shrugged and glanced up at the ceiling, finally bringing himself to look at Sora. "It's his fault. He was being a pervert."

Sora seemed thoughtful for a moment – like he was actually trying to get the right words. It wasn't completely like him to think before he spoke, but it was clear that he was trying to convince Roxas of something. "From what I gather, that's just how Axel is."

"Yeah, well … it's immature and rude and kind of disgusting. He should be able to control himself." Roxas scoffed.

"Is it so wrong that he doesn't, Roxas? It could be that he can't control himself around you." He looked down. "Did you ever think that – maybe – Axel might like you?" Obviously, Riku's words had gotten to him and he was starting to see the pieces.

The blond stared at his brother as if a dinosaur had crawled out of his ass, walked into the kitchen, made itself a sandwich and then crawled back in. "Have you been taking drugs? If I find out Riku is—"

Sora just growled. "No! I haven't." He stood up from his spot on the couch. "I'm going to tell Axel to go home so you can go to bed. He shouldn't have to stick around and be your punching bag. Come find me when you're not being a stubborn, judgmental, brat and then we'll talk. Okay?" He didn't wait for an answer.

Roxas stared at his brother's back, listening distantly to the sound of a knock on his own bedroom door and the murmurs of conversation between Axel and Sora. He hardly gave the male a glance when he passed and headed through the back door again. Sora entered his own room and left Roxas alone in the darkness to think about things. Was he really being that insensitive? It was hard for him to grasp the idea of what Sora had been hinting at.

The blond started to stretch out on the couch when he realized Sora had gotten it all wet by sitting on it. He groaned. He stood up and headed for his own bedroom, slamming the door behind him with a resounding thud. Roxas collapsed onto his bed and crawled under the blankets, trying to will himself to sleep. Everything could wait until tomorrow, because tonight – tonight he didn't want to think about it.

Riku was in the kitchen, candles on the counter and in various other places as he munched on the spaghetti he had cooked for dinner when Axel entered. Aquamarine eyes shifted from his plate towards the redhead – who looked a little sullen. "Whoa – someone kill your Mother?" It was his way of asking what was wrong. Green eyes met blue and Riku looked away, deciding to drop it. "There's some spaghetti left over." He stated.

The redhead helped himself to a plate of spaghetti and took a seat on the barstool, seated at the island in the middle of their kitchen, across from Riku. "How did your date with Sora go?" He asked around a mouthful of pasta that he had just shoveled into his mouth.

"Better than yours went with Roxas apparently." He made a face at Axel talking with his mouthful, but aside from that he wasn't bothered too much – it was a little disgusting, yeah … but ultimately neither of them would die from it.

Axel looked up, fork stabbed into the noodles, and stared at his room mate. He looked like he wanted to jab the fork into Riku's head repeatedly. Instead he took another bite, never breaking eye contact with his dear friend. "I don't know. I think the whole neighborhood heard you two arguing over faggoty things. At least Roxas and I weren't screaming at each other."

A roll of his eyes was all Axel was met with as Riku slipped off his chair and brought his plate over to the sink, turning the faucet on and then off as he headed towards the living room. "Yeah, yeah." At least I made him smile. He thought smugly, doubting that Axel had the same luck with the blond. "Demyx just left. He said something about be prepared for a raid mission sometime between tonight and tomorrow." A pause as he wondered the meaning behind that. "If he wakes me up – I will kill you both." A perfect exiting note or so Riku seemed to think, because he stalked out and into his bedroom.

Axel pushed the food around his plate, taking several more bites. He had nodded through Riku's explanation about Demyx, waving it off as nothing. He hated the fact that his friends were so insane. Demyx was hyper insane and tended to come over whenever he pleased and stayed as long as he wanted. Larxene was just flat-out insane and did just about the same thing, only she would do it in a less than lovely manner.

When he had finished his meal, he tossed it in the sink, not bothering to rinse it off like Riku had. He sauntered towards the phone and punched in the first three digits of Demyx's phone number, only to set the receiver back down, remembering that the power was out. With the power out, there wasn't much for him to do, except wait. Wait like he always did. He was always waiting for something. Something he wasn't even sure was worth waiting for half of the time. But he'd wait anyway, because that was what he did best.

He approached the couch and sat down, shifting an occasional glance towards the window – waiting, because if he slept he was afraid he would dream of something he wanted nothing to do with. Axel yawned and reclined further in the piece of furniture, knowing full well that Demyx would be along shortly. He always was.

Maybe if he waited and concentrated on waiting, he wouldn't think of Roxas.

Author's Note: Well, there you have it! Hope it fit your liking. I don't exactly have a beta, so .. let me know if there are any errors that kill your brain and I'll be sure to fix them! I looked it over, but I was mostly skimming. So I probably missed junk. Hah.