Leven: Happy AkuRoku day! Its officially midnight and the start of best day of the year!
Ewon: Enjoy!
Between the sun leaking through the cracked curtains, the sound of laughing kids, and the smell of something burning, Axel slowly started to wake up.
Wait...
Something burning? The man sat up with a start. Managing to bash his forehead against someone's chin. The clink of their teeth ringing in Axel's ears.
"Fuck!" Was muffled as the speaker was holding their hands over their mouth in pain.
Axel felt the weight of Roxas sliding off of his lap as the blond groaned on the couch. The redhead just stared for a moment or two not bothering to question why Roxas was on top him. Instead his mind was on the fact that the blond's eyes were stinging with tears. Though his own head hurt like bitch for more than two reasons.
"Oh shit, sorry about that-" Axel paused as the smell of something burning hit his nostrils once again.
Roxas pulled his hands away from his mouth, relieved to see no evidence of blood, "I think I'll live." The blond muttered. He looked up to see Axel's panicked face looking all around the room, "What's wrong?"
"Please tell me you smell smoke. Or else I'm having a stroke."
Roxas paused to smell the air. The foul aroma hit his nose followed by the sound of giggling children. He watched, for a moment, Axel quickly wonder off into the kitchen only following mere seconds later. The two easily found the source of the smell coming from the toaster where two little girls stood buttering toast and microwaving what seemed to be pizza.
"Xion," Axel grumbled, getting both girls attention, "What's going on in here?"
The small girl looked up at her father with wide, scared eyes, "We wanted to surprise you with breakfast." She said, trying to control the tremble in her voice
Axel ran his fingers through his messy hair, letting out a heavy sigh. At least they weren't using the stove, but what could they be doing to make burnt toast? Axel walked over to the kids and pressed a button on the side of the toaster to pop the bread out. The grain was almost black. Axel grimaced at the sight. "That's a nice thought, but breakfast is daddy's job, Xion."
"Aqua, how on earth did you two mange to burn the toast?" Roxas quietly asked the other girl.
Aqua gave the man a sheepish smile, "Same way you were able to catch water on fire the last time you made pasta."
Roxas gave Aqua a small glare before glancing to Axel whom was coving his mouth. The man was laughing at him. Roxas rolled his eyes and plucked Aqua away from the counter. "Go play or something." Roxas grumbled while the girl giggled.
Axel rubbed his tired eyes. He didn't want to clean up this mess, "At least the pizzas still good." He went to preheat the oven for the food, but a shrill cry swept over the house, "Or I can go change Marly."
"You go take care of him. I got breakfast." Roxas offered with an equally tired smile.
The older man shook his head, "After what Aqua said, I don't think I trust you alone in the kitchen."
Roxas scoffed at the remark. Why couldn't Aqua keep her smart mouth at home? Oh wait, this was his home, "That was one time and I've gotten better at cooking since then." Roxas pouted without realizing he was doing so.
Axel chuckled really wanting to say something but the shrill cries ringing throughout the house was enough to stop him. "Fine but try not to burn the house down."
"Daddy almost did that! Mommy was so mad she kicked daddy out of the house." Xion giggled at the memory.
Axel glanced away awkwardly, keeping silent while a smirk graced Roxas' face. "Really now? And you're telling me not to burn it down?"
Axel waved the blond off as he made his way down to Marluxia's room. He found the toddler standing on his bed, fussing with his dirty diaper with one hand while holding Mr. Squishybunnybutt to his chest. "Hey calm down, Daddy's here." Axel cooed as he picked the toddler up and brought him to the changing station to get a new diaper on, "Damn Marly, how is there this much poop?"
The child simply whined, holding his plush close as he got cleaned up. His butt now feeling clean, Marluxia tried to sit up before Axel could get a fresh diaper on him. Axel grumbled and wished his son was potty trained. Not that he wasn't learning anyway.
Five minutes later and a lot of Axel bargaining with his son to stop his squirming, the redhead finished changing and dressing Marluxia. The two walked into the kitchen, which Axel expected to be on fire or at the very least find some sort of sticky food stuck to the ceiling. But nope, everything was fine. The girls were sitting at the kitchen bar, munching on some pizza, while Roxas was at the sink cleaning up some dishes.
Axel set Marluxia on his high chair and gave him the small baby bowl of scramble eggs. The redhead went to Roxas side, noticing that his kitchen was a lot cleaner than it was a few minutes ago. "You didn't have to clean, you know."
Roxas rinsed off a cup and put it out to dry on the rack nearby. "Oh, I didn't do it alone. I had Aqua and Xion help me tidy up the mess they made."
Axel stared at his daughter in shock. Xion cleaning without complaint? No that had to have been a lie, right? "Xion actually cleaned?"
Roxas nodded as he finished up the last of the dishes. "Why is that hard to believe? Aqua likes cleaning with me so I just figured it was a kid thing or something."
Green eyes slowly blinked as Axel turned to face his daughter, "Where's my Xion and what did you do with her!?" He yelled as he pointed at the girl.
"Daddy I'm right here!" Xion giggled as she waved her arms around, "Roxas makes cleaning fun, unlike you." She stuck her tongue out at her father before going back to her breakfast and quietly talking to Aqua.
Suddenly Axel felt like he was being stabbed by a rusty dagger. Why did kids have to be so cruel even to their own father? "Well maybe Roxas should be your daddy from now. What do you say Roxas? Wanna switch kids?" The man joked while Roxas rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"Hmm..." Roxas looked at the girls as he thought about the switch off, "I don't know. Xion's a hard worker, but Aqua can do my make up pretty well."
"I can do make up!" Xion interjected as she jumped up and down in her seat.
Roxas nodded his head as he took that information into consideration. "I think they'd work best as a pair. How about I take both girls and you can keep the boy."
Axel raised a brow at the makeup comment but decided that Roxas probably just let Aqua put it on him for her own entertainment. "Hmm that sounds like a plan. I'll keep Marly and you can have the rugrat."
"Want Rossas." Marluxia whined, stretching his arms up toward Roxas. The blond couldn't hold back his laughter as Axel's face went from shock to heart break to just a complete pout.
"Fine, you can have all three of them. I'll be fine living alone. I'll have the whole house to myself and can eat all the candy I want too." The redhead crossed his arms as if that settled the matter.
"Nooo I want candy Daddy!" Xion exclaimed while rushing up to the redhead thinking she could have some chocolate.
"Roxas is your Daddy now. You'll have to ask him for candy."
Xion glanced over at Roxas with pleading eyes. "Sorry, Aqua and I don't eat candy unless it's for a special occasion."
Xion's eyes widen in fear. No candy? What kind of human being was this man in her house. The child clung to Axel as if her life depended on it. "I want to live with Daddy."
Axel chuckled, scooped the child up and gave her a tight hug. "But I thought you wanted Roxas to be your daddy?"
Xion shook her head, burying her face against her father's chest. "He's weird, I want Daddy!"
"I'm not weird..." Axel could hear Roxas mutter to himself.
"Well I'm glad to hear that. You're my favorite baby girl."
Xion pulled away and pouted, "I'm your only girl. Am I your favorite kid?" She asked with a tilt of her head.
Axel quickly put her down, "Uh-ah. I am not opening that can of worms. I love you both equally. Now go play." He picked Marluxia out of his high chair and placed him on the ground so he could go play with the girls too.
Xion pouted but took off with her brother and Aqua into the backyard where her play house was settled. Axel cleaned up the table while shoving a slice of pizza in his mouth. It helped take away the foul taste in his that lingered on his tongue. He wondered if anyone smelt it or if it wasn't as bad as he thought it was. Shrugging to himself Axel shoved another slice into his mouth before turning to Roxas who was tapping away on his phone. "Texting the girlfriend?" Axel questioned, noticing a while back that Roxas didn't have a band on his finger.
"Don't have one." Roxas causally said while shoving his phone back into his pocket. "Besides, if I did I'm pretty sure they wouldn't appreciate this." Roxas laughed and pointed to his hickey.
Axel stared at the mark on Roxas neck, eyes traveling to his collar bone and to the blond's face. The redhead paled. He didn't remember Roxas having those when he arrived. That could only mean one thing. But he felt like he had to ask just to be sure. "Where'd those come from?"
Roxas paused for a moment. The blond looked upset, but it could have just been Axel's imagination. Roxas weakly laughed and pointed at the redhead. "From you when you practically had me pinned to the couch last night."
Axel's eyes widen as the night before flashed before his eyes. Blond hair, panting, sucking, no boobs. "I-"
"Of course, you were kind of drunk, what with all the bottles you practically shoved into your system. But it's fine Axel, I honestly didn't mind it, though next time I think you should make sure it's actually your wife you're feeling up and not the guy you met a few days ago." Roxas laughed, walking towards Axel and patting him on the shoulder as he passed.
"How can you just be so chill and nonchalant about this!?" Axel pulled at the roots of his hair. He could usually hold his liquor and even in the few cases when he did have one to many, he never groped someone like that. Not even his wife. Unless she never told him about it.
Roxas stared back at Axel with a pitiful smile. "Because it's not a big deal. I know you didn't mean it, Axel. But," Roxas stared up at the ceiling feeling only slightly guilty, "I guess I should have pushed you away or something. So, don't worry about it okay?"
"I don't think I can't not worry. I practically cheated on Yuna." Axel moaned as he sunk into a chair. His green eyes zoned out on the wooden table.
Quietly, Roxas sat in the seat across the table. He watched Axel for a moment as he tried to think of what to say to the distressed man, "It wasn't really cheating." He tried, but Axel either didn't hear him or didn't care. "We didn't really do anything, and even then, you thought I was her. You didn't cheat." What Roxas really wanted to say was that the woman left him, probably for someone else, so who cares about something as harmless as a little necking. But the blond knew that would be crossing the line.
"We clearly have two definitions of what is considered cheating. Drunk or not, thinking you were Yuna or not. I fucking cheated on my wife! How am I supposed to live with that?" Axel demanded more of himself than to Roxas. The blond was single so why should he care? Why didn't he care? He was another guy for God's sake.
Sighing, Roxas got up and went to go stand by Axel's side. "Look at me." He ordered but when the redhead refused and started to mutter to himself, Roxas repeated himself. Axel glared up at him. "Axel, calm down. Sure, we could have different views, yours probably stronger than mine but the fact is it didn't mean anything. I get the feeling you'd tell her what happened and only you know what kind of women she is and how she would react to the news."
"She'd cry and never forgive me for touching you." Axel said with disgust which offended Roxas to some degree. "I still don't understand why you're so calm. If it happened to me I'd tell the guy off. If he didn't stop if punch his lights out."
"It doesn't bother me because I'm gay, Axel. It doesn't bother me because I know when something doesn't mean anything and most definitely because I was a little tipsy too." Roxas lied at the last part. He didn't feel like letting Axel know how much the blond enjoyed it at first.
Axel dumbly blinked at Roxas for a moment too long before saying, "You're gay?"
Roxas frowned. Was that all Axel heard? "Yes, if that bothers you, I hope it doesn't effect Xion and Aqua's friendship at all."
"No, no. That doesn't bother me." Axel shook his head, "But I hope you don't mind me asking...?"
"Aqua's my niece." Roxas quickly interjected. He knew what the question was, and he'd rather get it over with quickly. Like a Band-Aid.
"Your niece? Huh, this whole time I thought you were her dad. I feel stupid." Axel chuckled, completely forgetting everything else for the time being.
"It's fine, I get that a lot. But no, I'm just her Uncle. My sister and brother in-law died a few years ago. That's when I took Aqua in and decided to raise her myself. It's hard, but I'm learning as time goes by."
"I'm sorry for both of your losses. She's lucky to have someone like you in her life." Axel said with a genuine smile.
Roxas felt himself blush. "Anyone else in the same position would do the same."
Axel sighed, feeling a little better about his own situation. He didn't know what he'd do if Yuna had died, though disappearing was almost the same. At least there was a chance that that was all it was. The redhead got up and smacked Roxas back. The blond winced, glaring up at the redhead. "It won't be as hard anymore. You've got Xion, Marly, and myself now."
Roxas smiled at him. "Yeah well, it's the same with you."
"How so?" Axel raised a brow.
Roxas smiled at the man and said, "You've got us too."
~X~x~X~x~
Axel kept shaking his leg impatiently the longer he sat waiting in the small front room. The ticking clock over head was starting to get on his nerves as where the couple whispering and occasionally sending him hateful glares. The redhead wished he wasn't alone with the pair and that the damn door to the office would open already.
It had been a few weeks since the sleep over and though he and Roxas had become friends through the awkwardness, things still hadn't gotten better. In fact, Axel would say they gotten worse for him and his family.
Xion was asking when her mother was coming home whenever she wasn't talking about Aqua or how she hated cleaning. Marluxia seemed to be acting up as well. He was stripping at daycare now and even throwing things and hitting other children. Of course, Axel disciplined him but that only made the boy want nothing to do with him for a while. It was like he had a teenager in diapers.
His work life was also getting in the way. His mother had been getting the kids from daycare and school because Axel's asshole of a boss loved being a dick with a twenty-foot pipe up how ass. He kept giving Axel over time, which had nice pay but was not good for home life. More than a few times, his mother suggested that he should just move back home with her, so she could help him with the kids. Each and every time Axel said it was fine and eventually confined in Roxas. The blond told Axel that the women just wanted to make things easier. Eventually, Roxas suggested that he could take Xion with him and Aqua until Axel got out of work while Marluxia went with his grandma, whom had a lot to say about the idea.
In the end that's just what happened. Xion was a lot happier with getting to see her friend more and she stopped asking about her mother for a while. That is, until her other grandparents showed up. They of course told Xion that it was Axel's fault her mommy was gone. They didn't even hide it from the redhead either. Xion then began to blame Axel as well and would ignore him from time to time. With all the chaos going on in his life Axel barely noticed how much he was drinking until he had a lot of recycling. It didn't bother him one bit because he knew it was just to help him relax and get to sleep at night. Nothing wrong with that right?
Axel huffed, tapping his foot now while trying to ignore his in-laws. The couple was across from him in the small room waiting for someone to open the damn door. The trio had pulled their money together, after saving quite a large amount, to pay for a private detective. It would have been sooner but Yuna's parents didn't have the money and they wanted the best detective money could buy even if it meant getting Axel to help them.
"Would you stop tapping your foot. It's bad enough we have to wait, I don't need to hear you smacking the ground." Yuna's mother snapped, muttering about how annoying Axel was.
The redhead rolled his eyes, stopping his actions nonetheless. As the waiting went on for another few minutes, Axel was beginning to feel nervous. What would this detective find? Was Yuna alive and well and did she really leave them because of himself? Would she be kidnapped? Would she be...no, Axel wasn't going to finish that last thought. It has haunted his dreams for a while now anyway.
"Mr. O will see you now." The woman behind the desk called for the trio, breaking the unnerving silence. The in-laws were quick on their feet and headed towards the office before Axel could even stand up. Obviously, they didn't really want Axel there in the room when they spoke to the detective.
When Axel did make it inside the small room he couldn't help but laugh. The older couple looked displeased with their detective. He looked young, almost as young looking as a certain blonde. The detective's hair was unkempt in long brown spikes. What made his appearance worse was the fact that he was dressed so casually. No suit or tie could be seen anywhere in the slightly bigger room. Axel gazed about, noticing a window, the usual desk with what seemed to be an expensive looking computer with three monitors on the far right. In the center of the room was another desk covered in files, pencils, pens, and a few maps. Not to mention the plaque that only said "O".
"What kind of joke is this?" Braska demanded, snapping Axel back to the situation at hand. "We spent good money and I won't have a child running this investigation. I demand you go get the real Mr. O." The brunet behind the desk frowned at that. It was as if he was always being compared to a child and was getting fed up with it.
The brunet cleared his throat, sat up in his chair and said, "Sorry, sir. I'm Sora O, you're PD. My looks don't satisfy you, but I assure my performance will. Besides, have you not heard don't judging a book by its cover?" His frown morphed into a toothy grin.
Axel at once thought the kid was a cocky little shit. But if he could help find out what happened to Yuna then the redhead was going to keep his mouth shut on the matter. His in-laws on the other hand, they didn't seem to like the smart mouth detective.
"Now listen here!" Braska practically yelled, "We're paying you. Keep your comments to yourself and just find my daughter."
Sora kept on smiling as being yelled at by clients was something he had grown accustomed too in all his years of being a detective. "Sir, I assure you that your money won't go to waste. I take my cases very seriously. I will find your daughter, you have my word on that. Now, before anymore out busts," Sora chuckled, "I'll need some information regarding...Yuna was it?" The brunette questioned with a quick glance to the small file he acquired prior to the meeting.
"What kind of information?" Axel asked as he sat down in a plush chair. Might as well make himself comfortable. "Everything's already in your file. Name, where she was last seen and what she was wearing. All the boring stuff we already had to tell the police when we filed a missing person's report."
"Yes, and that's all fine and well," Sora flipped through some papers in said files, "But there are blank spots. Like if she voluntarily left; what would her motives be?"
"She wouldn't have any." Axel contoured with a raised brow. He didn't like Sora's tone. It almost sounded accusing and pointed at him. "She was happy. Plus, she would never just leave the kids without saying anything."
"Even the happiest people leave. Plus, who is to say she didn't resent having kids? What if everything you know was an act and she just got tired of playing the role of the perfect wife and mother? Are we sure she didn't wonder off and off herself? Are you sure she didn't want to get away, not just from the kids and husband but the parents too?"
"Now hold on there!" Braska barked only the be cut off by Sora continuing to speak.
"How do we know, if it indeed was a run away, she even wants to be found at all? You may not like what I have to say but I've seen many cases like this. In the event of a kidnapping, now that just leaves more questions to ask. You may find them boring Mr. Vin but when looking for a missing person every 'boring' question is the utmost importance."
"I can say without a doubt, Yuna did not leave because she was tired of being a mother and wife." Axel defensively said, "She loved the kids more than anything. And we always communicated with each other over everything. If she wanted anything to be different she would have said something to me."
"She would have told us something! We have a mother daughter bond. She even told me how she wished she could have gone to college, but she doesn't regret Xion, just her choices." Yuna's mother commented.
"Our daughter is not some common run away. I don't think she ran away at all in fact. She knows she could have just gone home to us with the kids if she wanted to leave her husband."
Axel felt his left eye twitch from how much the hate was resonating from his in-laws. "Yuna, would never do that. If she had a problem with me, any at all, she would have talked to me. Yuna is not the kind of women to just up and leave without a reason."
"So, you guys are telling me that we should be looking for a body and not a missing person?" The three people in the room looked like they were about to burst and argue with the detective, but Sora continued talking, "If all of you agree she didn't run away, then that has to mean she was kidnapped. And it's been a few weeks with no word from a kidnapper which would mean she had to have been murdered. I don't do bodies, just missing persons. I can direct you to another detective who specializes in that if you'd like his number."
Sora opened up one of his drawers and began to pull a card out, but Axel stopped him, "With all of her stuff missing, it is a possibility she had run away. I don't think we're looking for a body. I'd like to stick with you."
Sora gazed up into exhausted green orbs. Though Axel's words seemed to be strained his expression was telling the brunet to help him find his wife. Closing the drawer, Sora met Axel's gaze with sincerity in his tone. "All right, then if you're serious about this then you're going to have to answer my questions first. You and the in-laws. If possible, but up to you, your children too. I want to be as thorough as possible."
"We can't do business with you." Braska grabbed his wife's hand and started to lead her out of the room. "You write our daughter off as dead too fast. I can't trust that you'd give up just as fast once your fees are paid." And with that the angry couple exited the room, making sure to slam the door.
The room grew quiet for a few moments. Axel didn't know if he agreed with the in-laws or if he wanted to give the spunky detective a chance. Finally, he felt like he should at least say something, "What do you have to ask the kids? And my youngest is only two. I don't know how he could exactly help you."
"I'd like to ask them questions about how they see you and their mother as parents. If they saw or noticed anything different in their mother that you didn't. A child's innocence and bring able to say the blunt truth helps more than one would think. However, as I've said it's totally up to you, Mr. Vin." Sora explained calmly.
Axel sat back in his chair and crossed his arms as he thought. He didn't know if he felt comfortable with his kids talking about such private things with a complete stranger, hell he didn't even know if they would talk without him around, but if it meant getting his wife back safe and sound…. "Guess I have no choice." He finally decided, "But they're busy at a play date right now. We would have to schedule it around their schooling and my work."
"That's fine Mr. Vin. Just talk with my assistant on your way out. Now is there anything else you would like to tell me today?" Sora tapped on a pad of paper with his pen, leaving small marks on the otherwise empty page.
The redhead thought back on the day his wife left, "There was no warning. I got a call from the daycare and school saying Yuna hadn't picked up the kids yet, which is odd for her, so I went and got them. When we got home all of her things were gone. She never said anything to me about being unhappy and there's no evidence of an affair. That's all I can tell you."
Sora jolted that down as Axel talked, "Okay. That's good enough until I can have a sit down with your kids. In the meantime, I'd like you to write down hobbies your wife had and places she liked to go." The men shook hands and Axel was about to leave when Sora called him back. "I just wanted to remind you; I'm working for you, not your in-laws. If they're willing to make statements I'll gladly take them, but any leads or information I get will go to you and only you, not them. As such, you'll now be on your own for my payments. I hope that's not a problem." His dark blue eyes studied Axel's suddenly dejected posture. Almost like he hadn't thought about the money it would cost to do this.
Axel shook his head of all negative thoughts, "Yeah, no problem." He would make it work out. He needed to find Yuna, no matter the cost.
~X~x~X~x~
"...and then he said he wants to talk the kids about God knows what. I'm not sure I'm comfortable allowing him alone with Xion let alone Marly. And thanks to the in-laws I must figure out how to make the payments, but he's the best of the best. I looked him up in the parking lot before I came here. He really does have credibility." Axel drowned on as he lay on Roxas love seat of a couch, legs dangling over the arm rest. The man shut his eyes while running a hand through his messy red hair. "Sora, I really hope he isn't right about one theory of his. That's the worst possible outcome and I pray she rather hate me than be..." Axel paused not wanting to say that four letter word.
Roxas merely hummed in response. He listened silently to Axel ranting about what happened with the detective and the ass holes know as his in-laws. The blond didn't know what to say to the man, but he was sure Axel would be better off if he didn't say thing to him right now either way.
Roxas shifted on the ground, not owning an arm chair or second couch. There was the chair from the dining table but Roxas didn't like sitting on those. The carpet was enough for him. Plus, it gave him a good view down the hall of his apartment where two little girls were playing in Aqua's room. "Would you like anything to drink?" Roxas asked after a bit of silence.
"No, I'm fine." Axel mumbled.
"Okay."
"Sorry."
"There's nothing to be sorry for. Besides, I'm here for you just like you're here for Aqua and I. And if I was sick of ya I'd kick you out." Roxas chuckled.
Axel chuckled, "You'd have to drag me off of this comfy couch first." He rolled on his side and hugged a plush pillow, "So soft. I think I could live on this without ever moving."
Roxas couldn't help but smile at his friend's antics. Even after going through so much in such a short period of time, it was nice to see him goof off. The blond silently wondered if this is how Axel usually acted with Yuna.
"If you're going to be living on my couch you better start helping out with the rent." Roxas joked back.
Axel groaned as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, "Let's see. I have an expired condom and five pennies. Would that cover my part of the rent?"
Roxas held back the laugh that wanted to escape his mouth. So, this was Axel's playful side? The blond liked it more than he should have but at the moment he didn't see anything wrong with that. "Hmm, I think if the condom wasn't broken then maybe I'd let you off with that as rent. However, since it is damaged I'm afraid you'll have to do better than what's in your wallet. Maybe you could be my maid, mini skirt uniform is required." The blond joked as he pictured the taller man in a French maid uniform. Roxas had to cover his mouth with a hand just to hold back his giggles at how ridiculous it would look.
"It's not broken! Just expired." Axel emphasized his point by waving said condom around in the air, "Here you can even examine it if you want oh Master Land Lord." He tossed it in Roxas' general direction and still managed to miss, making the blond crawl towards the discarded object to pick it up
Roxas looked at the condom before opening it up and blowing it up like a balloon. Axel watched as the thing grew larger and larger wondering what would happen if he filled it with water and threw it at someone. Roxas tied the end off and bumped it towards Axel who tossed it back, ignoring the feel of lube on his fingers. "Okay now it's a useless expired condom. Thanks for that."
"Any time." Roxas tossed it to the side, wiping his hands on his shorts.
Axel turned over on to his back, shutting his eyes. "How about I just trade you couches instead of paying rent? Mine is nice and all but Yuna is the one that picked it out. Looks over comfort for her." Axel mumbled suddenly feel sleepy.
Roxas stood up, leaned over the man and stared for a second. Tempted to draw on Axel's face Roxas left the helpless man alone to get the much-needed rest that had been building up as of late. "Guess I'll make lunch for the girls then." The blond said with a small shrug, making his way to the kitchen.
"Hey girls," the blond popped his head into Aqua's room, "Its almost time for lunch. What do you want to eat?" He asked.
"GRILLED CHEESE!" Both girls yelled at the same time. Roxas laughed,
"Okay, okay you convinced me. I'll come get you once it's done."
Roxas busied himself in the kitchen preparing the grilled cheese sandwiches for the two spunky little girls. He set the table for them and called the girls to eat not long after. The two came scurrying down the hall and straight to the table which held their lunches. "Thank you." They said together.
"You're welcome little ladies." Roxas replied, taking a bite of his own sandwich while walking back toward Axel's sleeping form. He decided it would be best to just let Axel sleep for however long he was going to. Though he was pretty sure Axel's mother would want to know where he was and why he wasn't getting his toddler. With that in mind Roxas careful felt around Axel's pants pockets, located his phone, and clicked it on. Luckily enough Axel didn't lock his phone, making Roxas' job easier. A few seconds later and the cell was making its designated call.
"Hello?" An older sounding lady answered the phone.
"Umm...Hello ma'am. I'm Roxas-"
"Oh! Axel's little friend. He's told me all about you dear." Axel's mother laughed as Roxas felt his face heat up. What had Axel told her exactly?
Roxas nervously laughed, "Yeah, that's me. I have Xion and Axel here and he fell asleep. If you wanted to, I wouldn't mind watching Marluxia as well."
"Oh, honey I don't mind having the babe here. I have half a mind of coming down to pick my two little nuisances up and get them out of your hair."
"Oh, they aren't nuisances ma'am, quite the opposite really. I've no problem having either of them here. That and I think my niece wants me to adopt Xion so she can keep her here." Roxas chuckled.
The lady on the other end laughed as well. "That's sweet of her. I do hope to meet you one day Roxas. Axel has said that you are such a good friend to him and my grandkids. It means the world to me that he has someone to talk to and get his mind away from what's happened even for just a bit."
Roxas felt his blush intensify, "I just want to help out my friend in his time of need. I know he'd do the same for me."
The two talked a little bit longer, Roxas finding out some embarrassing things about Axel that he made sure to mentally file away for later blackmail. After saying goodbye and hanging up Roxas went back into the kitchen to see the girls had vanished.
Roxas did a one eighty spotting the kids poking the blown-up condom near the sliding door. The blond inwardly groaned and asked the girls what they were doing. When asked why the balloon was weirdly shaped and slimy Roxas lied and told them it was for a school project he had to do. The girls poked it once more until Xion finally noticed her father sleeping on the couch.
"Lazy bum." She said, glaring at the man. It was then she recalled something her grandparents called him. He was a good for nothing useless bastard who only caused people problems. Xion, still thinking Axel was the reason her mommy left, opened her mouth and repeated the words while raising her hand to smack her dad like her grandma said she wanted to do a few days ago.
"Xion!" Roxas scolded as he pulled the raven-haired girl away from the sleeping man, preventing the slap. The blond knelt down so he was at eye level with her fearful face. "Why would you say something like that?" He asked.
Xion looked down at the ground, eyes darting around the floor, as if looking for a way to avoid answering the man. The realization that she said something bad became apparent and it only made her want to hide in her room, rather, Aqua's room.
"That's what Grandpa calls him to Grandma. And then Grandma says she wants to slap Daddy for making mommy leave." Her blue eyes filled with tears as she finally stared back at Roxas.
"That's not very nice and it's not true, Xion." The man's voice wasn't as stern anymore as he tried to explain. "It's a cruel thing to say about a man who's trying his hardest to care and provide for his kids. Your daddy's done a lot to make sure you and Marluxia are happy. And he isn't the reason your mommy is gone. He wants her back just as much as you do. That's why your dad went to hire someone to help find her."
"He did?" Xion sniffled all the while Aqua went to stand next to her tearful friend.
Roxas smiled, nodding and ruffling her hair. "Yes, he got a detective."
"Like Batman?" Aqua interrupted.
Roxas lightly laughed. "Sort of but without the mask."
"Batman is gonna find my Mommy? And Daddy got him to do it?" Xion glanced at Axel, her eyes burning with new tears.
Roxas scratched the back of his head. "No, not Batman but someone like him. Listen, everything will be okay. Axel loves you Xion and he just wants you to be happy even if you're mad him."
Xion nodded in understanding. "I love Daddy, but-but Grandpa says-"
"Your grandparents are wrong and just mad that your mommy loves him more than them. And they are grumpy because they are old farts who need their diapers changed."
"Ewwwwwwww." The girls said at the same time
Roxas nodded in confirmation, it was indeed ew. "You love daddy, now let him rest. You and Aqua can go play in her room now."
"Okay."
Right before heading off Xion pecked Axel's cheek and gave him the lightest hug possible so she didn't wake him from his sleeping beauty like state. Roxas watched the children wander off and down the hall. The blond got up, went to the kitchen and cleaned up the mess that was there after lunch was over. Feeling a little hot Roxas turned on the a/c wishing he could just strip down to his boxers like he used back when he was still in high school. Ah, those were the good old days. He supposed he could and just lay there in his own room until Axel woke up but what fun would that be if couldn't have personal fun in his room?
Roxas grumbled to himself feeling more annoyed that he hasn't gotten laid in what felt like twenty years when really it had only been a couple. Boy oh boy, he needed some relief. It really was too bad Axel was so committed to his wife. Roxas really wanted to have a good time with the man. He guessed his fantasies would be enough until he could get a one-night stand with someone else. Sighing to himself the blond put a blanket over Axel.
"Aqua, Xion, I'm going to take a shower. Make sure you don't answer the door for anyone." Roxas called out. Despite not liking how he was changing he could admit that he loved Aqua and she was and always would be the best thing in his life. Having Axel as a friend wasn't too bad either.
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