Better make your move tonight, mate. He's right pissed with you.
Axel sighed and snapped his phone closed. For seven long years he had kept in touch with Luxord, if only to know how Demyx was really doing—despite what the media said. He knew it seemed stalker-like since they were no longer together, but just because Demyx didn't want to marry him didn't mean he couldn't care for him. And he had tried to move on, to date other guys, but he never seemed to click with them as well as he did with Demyx.
"You look emotionally constipated, Professor."
Smiling, Axel looked up at his grad-student. "You always have such a delightful way with words, Roxas."
"Now you look even more constipated. What's wrong?" Roxas leaned on the table, his fingers toying with a delicate engagement ring.
Axel rolled his eyes. "Don't you have something else to do?"
"Don't avoid the subject, Axel."
With a sigh, Axel said, "Luxord texted me."
"And?"
"It was Demyx who saw us earlier."
"So?"
"He's angry."
Roxas smiled. "Someone's jealous."
"Unnecessarily."
"So, now what?"
Axel looked out of the coffee shop window, still stained from Demyx. "Hmm…"
Demyx followed Luxord into the hotel room, his body still high on the adrenaline from the gig, but his mind was beyond exhausted. He looked at his best friend's backside and firm ass. What the hell had he gotten himself into? Sex with Luxord! He sighed. That was a bad idea if he ever had one.
"I'm going to shower," Demyx mumbled as he walked into the bathroom.
"Get yer arse nice and warmed up fer me, will ya?" Luxord chuckled from the bed.
Demyx squeezed his eyes tightly as he shut the bathroom door behind him, and whispered, "Fuck."
He was in way over his head with this one. He hadn't eve been able to have proper sex since the Professor! Yes, he had tried for a little while. He'd go out with guys, he'd go back to their place, but then either he couldn't get aroused or he'd become bored halfway through. After two years he just… gave up.
As he undressed he contemplated the possibility of running out on Luxord. It didn't look too good considering that his friend was between him and every possible exit. Starting the shower he wondered at the chance of Luxord being asleep by the time he got out. Not likely, Luxord was usually just as physically jacked up as he was after gigs. He frowned.
Axel laid the roses on the bed and walked to the window overlooking the ocean as Luxord left the room. He didn't know what to expect. Would Demyx accept him again? Even if just as friends? He didn't know if he could handle the love of his life running from him again.
He heard the bathroom door open slightly and Demyx softly call out, "Lux?"
No one answered.
Demyx sighed in relief and exited the bathroom, fully nude. After living so long in very tight quarters, Luxord and he had become familiar with each other's nudity, and generally thought nothing of it. As he walked over to his duffle bag he heard someone clear their throat and quickly turned towards the window.
"Who's there?!"
"Could you please put some pants on?" The voice was tight, strained, and unmistakable.
Demyx's eyes widen. Dear god, what was the Professor doing here? "A-axel…"
"Pants."
"Right." Demyx frowned and went to grab clothes from his bag, but paused at the sight of the roses. "Did you…?"
"For fuck sakes, Dem, put some goddamn pants on!" Axel was next to him in a heartbeat, snatching a pair of flannel pj bottoms from the duffle bag and shoving them in his face. "I want to have a serious conversation with you, not be driven to molestation!"
"What?" Demyx looked at him, Axel's features were tight and his eyes heated.
"You're in better shape than you were seven years ago, idiot, and you're half hard. Now put your fucking pants on." Axel snapped and walked back towards the window, keeping his back to Demyx.
Confused, Demyx slipped his pj bottoms on and sat on the bed, looking at Axel. For several minutes they were quiet. Shoulders slumped, Demyx watched Axel. He was tense and unusually still—Demyx had always found his inability to sit still endearing, but this stillness unsettled him.
Unable to bare the stillness, Demyx looked down at the roses, and smiled. They weren't just the stereotypical romantic roses, like the hybrid tea rose Rosa 'Camp David,' that you find in any common flower shop, these were Louis de Funès. They were gorgeous orange, double flower blooms that are renown for their longevity.
"You remembered," Demyx whispered, running his finger across one of the soft petals.
Axel turned and looked at him. "How could I forget your favourite?"
"Why are you here?" Demyx looked at him.
"I thought that was obvious."
"Seven years is a long time."
"I had memories to keep my company."
Demyx frowned. "I'm not the same person I was then."
"I'm willing to get to know you again, if you'll give me the chance?"
"You were with someone earlier."
Axel walked over to the bed and sat beside Demyx. "My graduate student, Roxas. He's graduating soon and, if his plans go well, will marry his high school sweetheart soon afterwards."
"So you're not?"
Smiling, Axel shook his head. "I haven't been with anyone since you. I tried, but it never worked out."
"Your work."
"I've been thinking of taking some time off to write a book."
Demyx frowned. "I might not settle down for years, Axel."
Turning, Axel cupped Demyx's cheek, his warm fingers brushing against Dem's soft skin. "Was that why you left all those years ago?"
"Will you be mad if I say yes?"
"Furious." Axel leaned forward and kissed him. His lips were hot and demanding. Moaning softly, Demyx pulled him closer until they tumbled backwards and Axel had him pinned him to the bed. "Will you be my Valentine and give us a chance, Dem? Life hasn't been right without you."
Demyx looked at his sincere emerald eyes and his tangled main of vivid red hair. It was the face he had dreamed of over and over again for the past seven years, unable to move forward. Running away had been a mistake, he had known that as soon as the plane took flight, but maybe… maybe it was time for a second chance.
"Yeah, I'll be your Valentine."