Noise Pollution

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: Actually, I just sent my life savings off to Square in the hopes that I can legally claim ownership over everything here that I didn't create. So, the vast majority of it, essentially. Cross your fingers!

Just a warning, there will be an underage relationship portrayed here, so if that offends you, avert your eyes immediately. I do not condone these relationships in real life, but this is fiction, and I can't say I don't have fantasies regarding this sort of situation. The fact that this isn't a major deterrent to some of you is furthering my crisis of faith with humanity, so thanks for proving me right, fellas. Enjoy my awful poetry.

Much thanks to the amazing Painted With a Palette for Beta Reading this monster. You are the bomb.

Sleep was a fickle mistress. At least as far as Roxas was concerned, seeing as Friday had come, and he'd had four hours of sleep combined since that Tuesday. This was the reason that he'd been fading in and out during a couple of classes that were especially dull. He was trying his best not to pass out in the library, as that would be rather rude to Xion. But, seeing as they were situated in one of his cozier hiding places, the temptation was ever present.

"Are you sure that you don't wanna get something to eat?" Roxas asked while stifling a yawn and pulling his knees up to his chest.

"Uh… Yeah, I'm positive." She took a moment to survey the surrounding area, seemingly fearful of someone intruding upon their lovely little oasis in the vast desert of school. At least, that's what her nervously twisting her head back and forth signaled to Roxas.

"Okay, then…." He had a curious expression on his face at this behavior. "Just don't deny yourself all for me, though we both know I'm worth the effort." The teasing smirk that followed made him look like a cocky bastard, and Xion took the bait rather immediately.

"Oh hush, you!" Now she looked substantially more chill. "I doubt that even your engaging presence would make me skive off lunch just to be around it. I'm ravenous when my appetite is flaring."

"And now you're relaxed. My job is done."

"Oh!" The way her face lit up in realization was rather abrupt. "I didn't realize I was so tense. Heh, sorry." Her eyes met her lap as she twirled her hair 'round her finger in an anxious fashion.

"Nothing to apologize for," Roxas said, rising himself from the slump that he had found himself in, and placing more weight on his hindquarters. "Though, I do wonder why you keep looking over your shoulder like a paranoid sentry."

"Oh…. I-it's nothing, really…." Her eyes must have really been drawn to a spot on her jeans.

"If you don't want to tell me, it's fine." His tone was as reassuring as he could manage to make it.

"No, I'll tell y-" Their parade was about to be rained upon, if the three figures approaching their location were any indication. The leader of the holy trinity was a dirty blonde-haired, beanie wearing ponce whose sauntering reeked of narcissism. The tanned, muscled jock-type on his left-hand side had just the dimmest expression on his face, and the earsplitting grin did not help abate that notion. The blue-haired girl on his right held an aura of cold aloofness, and her one eye that was peeking through her bangs was crimson. All in all, they were quite the odd assortment of people. Whilst Roxas was questioning just how common blue hair was in a society, the triad reached them and Blondie opened his mouth.

"And just what are you two doing here?" The blonde's arms were crossed, and his posture was reeking of pretension.

"Living, breathing, occupying space in this miserable world," Roxas said with the most bored expression imaginable. "Y'know, the usual."

"Don't you talk to Seifer like that!" The football player-looking dude said in a voice that was far too loud to be used in a library, leaning forward quite dramatically at the same time. "He's just making sure you're not doing anything bad, y'know!?"

"Exactly, Rai. I'm just doing my part as the leader of the school's Disciplinary Committee." Roxas couldn't help but snort at that last statement. "What's so funny, chicken-wuss?"

"Disciplinary Committee?" Roxas asked incredulously. "That is the worst name for a club I've ever heard. That does the exact opposite of strike fear into me." He was barely suppressing a giggling fit at this point, and Xion had a shy, but still notable smile on her face.

Seifer's face broke into an angry scowl at that blow to his ego. "It's better than anything you lamers could have come up with," he practically snarled as Rai nodded stupidly in complete agreement.

"Hahahahaha!" Roxas clutched his sides to keep from collapsing to the floor in a laughter-induced haze. Even Xion had a hand clasped over her mouth in an attempt to stifle a much warranted laugh. Seifer's face darkened at this display, and his next words came out very harshly.

"What's so goddamn funny now?" he growled out with a murderous glint in his eyes. His arms tensed up as if he anticipated a brawl to erupt from this situation.

"'Lamers?'" Roxas managed to get out amidst his uncontrollable guffaws. "You just…. Coined…. The worst…. Insult…. Ever!" He was wheezing at this point.

Seifer's expression was positively inhuman at this point. Rai seemed to comprehend the sleight, and also looked ready to engage in some meaningless battle. Fuu kept her neutral expression in check and just looked completely disinterested in being there. Seifer's eyes darted between Roxas's barely upright form and Xion's heavily blushing face as she lost the battle to contain her laughter and she collapsed against Roxas in her euphoric fit of giggles. "Rai, let's thrash 'em." The words were garbled, but Rai seemed to understand them just fine.

Roxas sobered instantaneously and stood up with a determined look in his eyes. "''Em?'" He spoke in an eerily calm voice. "Meaning her as well?"

"Oh, we've got Fuu for that. Right?" A noncommittal nod served as his only answer.

"Look, you wanna take me on? That's fine; I can't say I didn't do anything to cause this reaction. But, you keep it between us. I'm fine with taking on that gorilla you have for backup alongside you, but she's an innocent. Leave her out of it."

"As if. If you get on your knees and beg, MAYBE I'll let her off the hook."

Roxas felt conflicted about this. On the one hand, it would really damage his pride to kneel before the cretin before him, and he knew it still wouldn't appease their beef with him. Conversely, he knew that Xion likely wouldn't stand a chance against Fuu. The apparent albino had a reputation for being rather ruthless in physical altercations, and, though he didn't want to assume Xion needed his protection, he didn't wish to put her in a scenario such as that if he could avoid it. Knowing that he had a finite amount of time to make this decision, he was about to begrudgingly get on his knees when someone unexpected walked in to break the whole debacle up.

"Hey!" the tall, white-haired man said, "Break it up. What's going on around here?"

"Nothing, Mr. Gabbiani." Seifer's tone was smug, as was his smile. "Just straightening out some insubordinates."

Setzer just sighed and shook his head. "Almasy, I highly doubt that. Go to Mr. Strife's office. I'll be there shortly to give him the 411."

"But sir, that's ridicu-"

"Now, Seifer. And take your friends with you."

Seifer turned to leave the library, muttering to himself about the injustice of it all. Rai was quick to latch himself onto Seifer's heels, though Fuu made to follow him at a much more leisurely pace. The girl seemed to view the idea of expending unnecessary energy in the highest disdain. As those three traipsed off to Mr. Principal, Setzer focused his attention on Roxas and Xion. His withering gaze washed over them, and Xion once again directed her eyes to the carpet's topography.

"So, wanna tell me what that was all about?"

Roxas swallowed briefly before answering. "Xion and I were sitting here talking, and they strolled up asking about what we were doing. Words were exchanged, and it led to Seifer threatening each of us with physical violence."

"Did you give him any reason to wish you two harm?"

"I said some things that made him mad, yes. But, I'm the only one who uttered a word to him."

Setzer pinched the bridge of his nose in a weary manner. "Roxas…. You know I don't mind you hanging out in here as often as you do, right?" He was offered a nod from the questioned party. "However, in this case, you seem to be partly to blame. I don't like doing this, but Cloud will have my ass if I do nothing here. You both have after-school detention today."

Xion's head snapped upright mere milliseconds after those words came out of his mouth. "D-detention?" Her voice was slight, but there was a clear tone of worry in it.

"Sir, she literally didn't say a word to them. That's really unfair."

"She's still an accessory, and that means she has to share the fall," Setzer said with a look of regret on his face. "I don't doubt that she did nothing, and I'm positive that whatever you did didn't warrant that reaction from Seifer, but my hands are tied. I'm sorry." With that, Setzer took his leave of them. Roxas stood looking straight ahead after the librarian's retreating form, while Xion was wringing her hands and breathing heavily.

"No, nonononono…." She started pacing back and forth, shaking her head at the same time. "I can't get detention." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "H-he'll kill me."

Roxas barely heard that last sentence, but he chose to ignore it in favor of trying to make her feel better. "Hey, at least you get to be around me for an extra hour-and-a-half." He offered her what he hoped was a reassuring grin.

A smile briefly broke out on her face, but she still was muttering distressing things. "Not good. Not good, not good, not good."

"Hey, Xion." Roxas raised his voice a bit, and that seemed to snap her out of her apparent trance. "If you're talking about your old man, I'm sure nothing major will happen to you. You have detention for one day, so if he's even mildly reasonable, then he'll let it slide. If you want, I can tell him that the only involvement you had was being unfortunate enough to be there."

"Y-you'd do that for me?" She quirked her head to the side as a look of bewilderment washed over her.

"Of course I would. You did nothing wrong, and I have no issue with taking the blame." He walked closer to her. "After all, what are friends for?"

Xion looked down as her cheeks turned positively rosy. "As nice as that would be, h-he's not very understanding. Uh…. Where are we supposed to go for detention?"

"I'll show you after Eighth Period." Roxas scratched the back of his head, and then his face lit up in remembrance. "Oh, yeah! So, um…. I was invited to go to a show tonight, and I was kinda wondering if you wanted to come along?" 'Breathe, Roxas, breathe.'

"Ummm…. That sounds like fun, but I'm not sure I should be doing it…. I have a curfew and all….."

"What time is it?"

"Nine o'clock."

"Oh, well the show starts at about six, and it'll probably last about an hour, maybe an hour-and-a-half, so meeting your curfew should be a very simple matter." She looked up at him, and saw an earnest look in his eyes. "I'll be right there with you enjoying myself at the same time."

"A-alright, I guess I can go."

"Sweet." The piercing shriek of the school bell proved to be a major moment-killer. "Let's skedaddle off to class now, madam."

Xion was beaming as she followed him out into the hallway, basking in the wonderful feeling of acceptance.

If boredom was a burden that no one should bear, then detention was an enormous boulder thrust upon the shoulders undeserving students while they were in the middle of the desert. At least, those were Roxas's views on the subject. Xion had no real disagreements as he rattled off his grievances to her while they were strolling out the door.

"Now you know my pain, fair maiden," he said with an exaggerated level of weariness inflecting his voice. "I still have a week-and-a-half left of that accursed nightmare. More forced silence, lack of books, copying sentences, sitting STILLLLL!" His pantomiming caused Xion to let out a snigger.

"Oh, come off it," she said with a teasing grin on her face. "At least you have the benefit of being used to it. I'm an unspoiled flower in this field."

"Chyeah, right." Roxas didn't buy that for a second. "You heard the whispers of that crass lot in the back about how they wanna do awful, tawdry things with the teacher as a part of some twisted fantasy about being in 'detention'." He used air-quotes to illustrate his point. "Now, don't get me wrong. Miss Kisaragi is by no means unattractive, but I really don't see her as befitting that particular fantasy."

And her face turned a little crimson once again. "C-care to elaborate?"

"I think Miss Gainsborough fits the profile a lot better." He sarcastically adopted a contemplative demeanor. "She has the appearance of the prim and proper librarian type, but has the looks to pull off the transformation into a total sexpot with a simple removal of her glasses. She also has the wispy voice to sound like some odd dominatrix figure."

"Hahahaha!" Despite being mildly embarrassed, Xion couldn't contain her laughter. While she got it out of her system, Roxas stopped and surreptitiously surveyed her. 'Whenever I'm around, she seems much less anxious. Even in a crowd, as long as I'm there, she seems much more secure in her own skin. I hope she can find the fortitude to shake her nervousness off eventually.' Quieting his thoughts, he caught back up to Xion, and the pair continued on their way to the tram station in companionable silence.

They sat directly beside each other as the tram came to life beneath them and advanced along its pre-determined course. Roxas was slouching lazily in his seat, while Xion adopted a relaxed, but still proper posture. She turned her head towards him, and proceeded to ask him a question that had been swimming in the forefront of her mind since the debacle in the library.

"Um, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Well…." She trailed off as she averted her eyes to the ceiling for a brief moment before bringing her gaze back to match his. "What's the deal with that guy in the library… Seifer, right?" Roxas nodded. "Yeah, what was his issue with you?"

"The short and skinny of it is that he's a thug who thinks he can police the school. I don't like fascists very much."

Xion swallowed audibly before speaking again. "You… really don't like him, do you?"

"Not in the slightest." His eyes held a fierce glint. "All he does is prey on the weak, and whenever they bite back, he sics his lackeys on them. That contemptuous little coward has it out for me too. I've always managed to escape unscathed, but I know he's just waiting for a chance to assault me."

"Couldn't you handle yourself?"

"If it was one-on-one, then most likely. I'd have to contend with a complete lummox rushing at me, and a detached psycho making precise attacks if things escalated to violence."

She took a moment to absorb that before falling silent. Roxas, seeing how her face had become so downcast, decided to lighten the mood. "So, moving on from that, is this your first time going to a show?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded. "I… kinda don't get out much at all." She brought her arm up and scratched her cheek anxiously.

"Me neither. At least, not for leisure activities. I pretty much stay inside unless I have an errand to run."

"Why's that?" Xion asked with a ponderous expression on her face.

"I-it's not important. The point is, we're together in this voyage of unfamiliar waters."

She stretched her arms over her head and yawned. "I-is it okay that I'm coming along? I-I mean, I won't c-come if I'm not welcome." Her eyes were once again flitting to and fro.

"No, you're cool," said Roxas as he brushed his hand at her. "I texted Axel at the start of detention, and he said that you were more than welcome to tag along."

"R-really?" Her appearance radiated hopefulness.

"Yeah, really." He smiled at her as she relaxed.

They spent the rest of the ride just talking about nothing in particular, and all was once again well. The tram pulled into the station in the Tram Common area, and the two departed swiftly. As Roxas held the door to the station open for Xion, he saw a beat-up black GTO pull into the parking lot. The driver's side door opened, and out stepped Axel, his magnificent hair blowing in the breeze. He saw the pair and waved and shouted in an attempt to be noticed. As the two drew near, introductions were made between Axel and Xion, and the three climbed in the car as Axel decided to emulate drivers in the Indie 500, and sped off like a lightning bolt.

As Axel pulled into the parking lot of the bar, the neon green sign bearing the title 'Betwixt and Between' was the most apparent thing to the trio. Stepping out onto the pavement, Roxas went around to the opposite side to open Xion's door for her, and asked Axel a question that had been bugging him since the initial invitation.

"Is this a twenty-one and over place?"

"Yup, why?" Axel answered with a curious look on his face.

"Well, gee, do we look twenty-one to your keen eyes?" Roxas waved his arm to indicate himself and Xion, who stayed quiet.

"No, but I'm not twenty-one either. Trust me; I can get you two kiddos in pretty easily," Axel fired back with an amused smirk thrown in for good measure.

"How old are you, pray tell?"

"Nineteen." Axel walked over to a large, menacing figure that was apparently the bouncer of the fine establishment. While the two were exchanging words, Roxas turned to Xion.

"So, whaddya think of him?" he asked gesturing to Axel, who was gesticulating as he laughed along with the bouncer.

"Well…" She paused while trying to think of the right words. "He's quite a character. And a pretty nice guy at that."

"I'm glad to hear that you approve of people I befriend," responded Roxas with a smirk.

"I-I just appreciate good t-taste." She adopted a smirk of her own, though hers was much more innocent looking.

At that point, Axel approached the two of them. "C'mon, slowpokes. I told you Uncle Axel would be able to get you in." He beckoned them with an outstretched hand.

Roxas shrugged and turned to Xion. "Eh, I'm game. You game?"

"Yup!" She managed to look enthusiastic about it, at least. They strolled right by the living tower of intimidation and muscle and into the dimly lit club. The bar area was situated at the far right side of the room, and the stage was its exact parallel. The lighting was predominantly in blues and greens, with some light peach tones here and there to accentuate them. As the three walked over to the bar, someone called out to Axel, who looked over to his left and saw a slate-haired guy waving him over.

"Oh shit, guys. That's Zexion over there," he said as he turned to his two companions. "I gotta go see what he wants. I'll meet up with you two kids later, a'ight?" He turned and strolled briskly over to where Zexion was signaling him from, leaving Roxas and Xion to find their way alone.

"Well, while 'Uncle' is busy, what say we get some drinks?" Roxas proposed.

She just gave him a quizzical look. "I-I thought that you'd established that we're underage. Have you got a fake I.D. all of a sudden?"

"You planning on purchasing some vodka?" he asked sarcastically. "I took you for a Sprite kinda gal, myself."

"Oh!" Her face was flushing in embarrassment at that query. "Heh, I forgot about that. I'll take you up on that Sprite proposal, though."

They went up to the bar and flagged down the bartender. The woman walked up to them, leaving many an inebriated male gawking at her form. 'I'm starting to see why this place is popular,' thought Roxas as his own decency and respect towards women were being tested. Not that he was a pervert or anything, but this buxom lady who was wearing a thin white tank top could've roused the dead to life just for the chance to feast their eyes upon her. The rest of her wasn't half-bad either, sporting long, luscious brown hair, smoldering, wine-colored eyes, and an approachable, down-to-earth type of face.

"Hi, what can I get for you two?" Her voice had a certain tone that made her seem less unattainable than her appearance would suggest. It made her appear more down to earth.

"Two Sprites, if you please."

"Someone's feeling adventurous tonight…" she noted as she set two glasses on the countertop and reached underneath for the as of then unopened bottle of soda.

"I doubt our driver is going to stay all that sober, and she's a total lightweight," responded Roxas, indicating Xion to the lady as he improvised.

"As long as you pay, I don't care all that much what you're buying." She lightly pushed the drinks toward Roxas. While he was fishing the Munny to pay for them out of his jacket pocket, the bartender, whose name he now knew to be Tifa, by way of her previously hidden nametag, leaned closer and spoke up once again. "Just a bit of friendly advice: a lot of complete sleazeballs show up here at this time. Seeing as how she looks like a helpless gazelle, I'd keep one eye on her at all times." Xion straightened her head at that comment and tried to look more conspicuous. It was an effort made mostly in vain.

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." He took the drinks and handed one to Xion, who accepted with a shy smile and a word of thanks. They sat for a time just drinking and watching Axel play the role of roadie to the members of the band. Before too long, however, a familiar voice cut through the smoky air that shrouded the room.

"Hey, I said 'no', now beat it!"

"C'mon, sweet cheeks, we both know you really want it."

Roxas looked on and saw Aqua sitting a few stools down, and he also saw some buff redhead leering at her despite her disinterested visage. His continued lecherous stares added to the already apparent uncomfortable expression on her face, but she looked him straight back in the eye with a fierce glint in her own.

"No, I don't. Now will you leave me the fuck alone, or do I have to scream to get you outta my face?" Her countenance issued an unspoken challenge.

"Tch, whatever," the man scoffed. "You're not even worth my time anyway." He quickly departed in a quite noticeable huff.

"Good fuckin' riddance," Aqua muttered as she entered a staring contest with the countertop. Roxas, being the oh so skilled social butterfly that he was, decided to issue the young lady a greeting, and called out to her.

"He seemed like such a nice guy, though," he teased as her head snapped up and swiveled over his way. Once more, a dark look flickered over her visage for a split-second.

"Yeah, totally," she stated dryly. "I was swooning internally, just in case you couldn't tell." She let show a snarky little grin to accentuate the sarcasm laced throughout her response. "That aside, whatcha been up to, Roxas?"

"Eh, nothing spectacular," Roxas shrugged as Aqua moved down to occupy a stool beside him. He noted that she seemed dressed very casually, wearing just a simple pair of blue jeans and a black shirt with the word 'Zero' stamped across it in contrasting white letters. "This is the most exciting thing that's happened to me for the past while."

"Can't say that I took you for a bar-goer, but I'm assuming you're here for The Melodious Nocturnes?"

"You'd be correct with that assumption." Roxas's eyes grew wide as realization crashed upon him like a monsoon. "Oh, uh, pardon my manners; Aqua, this is my friend Xion." He moved back so the two could exchange introductions in a face-to-face manner.

"It's nice to meet you," Aqua said as she flashed Xion a friendly smile.

"L-likewise," Xion replied as she managed to maintain eye contact with the woman.

"You also a fan of The 'Nocturnes?" Aqua asked in an attempt to make conversation.

"N-no, I just tagged along because Roxas invited m-me." Xion looked almost bashful at that admission.

"Really? Well, wasn't that nice of him?" Aqua then looked to Roxas, who just shrugged as if to say 'no big deal'. "Since you don't know anything about this band, do you doubt you'll like them?"

"Not really; Roxas and I've discussed music before, so I trust his j-judgment here." A large amount of the tension that previously wracked her form had disappeared."

"What bands really affect and move you then?" Aqua asked with a quizzical tilt of her head.

"Oh, lots! I like too many bands to count, but my absolute favorite would have to be A Perfect Circle. They just have this way of making me feel like I'm smothered in a warm embrace, and their music seems transcendent to me. I just really love them." She had a faraway look in her eye as she said that.

"Yeah, they're pretty awesome," Roxas concurred, chiming in from what had become his place of observation.

"Well, we're all in agreement of their amazing-ness. Onto this band, if you like Bad Religion, then you'll like this bunch of jokers." Suddenly a shout was heard over the myriad of conversations that were all audible.

"Roxas!"

"Uh, I think that the redhead with the magnificent hair is calling for you, Roxas," said Aqua with a smirk on her face at the sight of the peculiarly styled hair of Axel.

"Fucking cockblocker," muttered Roxas while standing up. "Alright, you two behave yourselves while I go see what he wants." He walked over to the other side of the room, and approached Axel, who was looking at him and shaking his head in envy.

"I leave you alone for twenty minutes and you're already between two good-looking women. I'm curious about the blue-haired one, though, I gotta admit."

Roxas quickly filled him in on how he and Aqua had made each other's acquaintance, which had Axel just chuckling by the time he reached the tale's thrilling conclusion.

"Why can't I have such luck with the ladies?" he asked dramatically, a hand pressed to his face in mocking sorrow.

Roxas could only shrug at that. "Beats me. Anyway, what did you flag me down for?"

"Ah, right. So, since I lost a bet with the guys here, I have to play roadie for them, and there are a couple of things that I need help lifting and carrying. Mind helping?"

"You figured you'd ask skinniness personified for help lifting things?" Roxas asked with a brow raised in skeptical disbelief, gesturing to his oh so muscled form.

"Uh-huh."

"Alrighty then."

With that, Roxas slipped out of his coat, depositing it on the stage, and followed Axel out of the back door of the club, where the cool night air was a massive relief from the lung-scorching fumes of the interior. Axel led him to a parked grey van that was situated just outside the back door; the placement would make their task a much less strenuous one. Roxas had to voice his astonishment at the quality of the equipment that was awaiting them in the back.

"A Vox double stack?!" His inner guitar tech nerd had a giddy fit of joy at the sight of it. "How did whoever this belongs to get ahold of this one?"

Axel had to chuckle at the usually stoic blonde's fanboying. "That'd be Marluxia's. He works at a music shop, so he tends to set good stuff aside for himself until he can muster up the cash for them. Sweet gig, huh?"

"Lucky bastard…." Roxas muttered jealously, but Axel's ears were keen enough to detect his envious words, and he had to crack a grin at them.

"Well, get to lifting, shorty!" Axel moved to assist his height deprived compatriot with the obviously heavy amplifier and they walked backwards with Axel leading the way through the door and back up to the stage. They kept this manner of moving equipment up for the rest of the pieces of the ever so eloquently named 'Nocturnes.

"I'm seriously wishing my equipment was even half as good as theirs," Roxas mused as the two of them lugged a bass drum toward the door.

"What do you play on, now that you mention your equipment?"

"Well, I'd been playing on some knock-off that was honestly just awful sounding, but I recently walked into quite the unexpected windfall."

"Do tell." Axel grunted as they reached the stage and deposited the drum for the band to set up by themselves, wiping the sweat that had accumulated on his brow directly afterward.

"Well, I stumbled across a freaking Les Paul of all things while I was in an alley. I couldn't get home fast enough." The duo reached the van for the last bit of equipment, which was the remaining bass drum.

"Seriously?! How the hell did you get so lucky?" Axel's voice was laced with incredulity as he lifted his end of the drum.

Roxas utilized their trip from to the van to the stage to give Axel the 411 on the events that led up to his acquisition of the prized instrument. Depositing the final piece, Axel leaned back against the stage for a quick breather.

"What if it's some notorious gangster's prize possession and he puts a hit out on the dumbass who stole it?"

Roxas scoffed at that. "That would be fucking ridiculous, dude."

"Yes, but you have to admit that it doesn't seem like something you see everyday. Like, how often do cats lead to great guitars?"

"Improbable though it may be, I'm not gonna turn down an actual Les Paul," Roxas shrugged. "So, is that it?"

"Yup. Now all we gotta do is just sit back until they start playing, and prepare to slam dance when they come on."

"You seem too mellow to really get into slam dancing," Roxas observed.

"Everybody has different ways to let their aggression out, Roxas," Axel replied, his voice taking an ominous air.

"Lovely. Speaking of which, let us return to the ladies, and you can meet the bluenette you seemed so enthralled with."

"Yeah, I think you've got dibs on that one, my friend." His obnoxious smirk was just a tiny bit away from being insufferable.

"Maybe," Roxas replied coolly. "But, that's not for me to decide. Her choice and all that, right?"

"I'm just fuckin' with ya, dude. No need to start quoting the Feminist Manifesto at me."

"Still, girl power all the way."

With that the pair made their way over to the female duo, thus forming a matching gender quartet. Xion looked much more relaxed than when Roxas had last seen her and he was glad that she and Aqua seemed to be getting along splendidly, judging by the fairly animated conversation the two were engaged in when Roxas and Axel walked up.

"Oh, hey, Roxas," said Aqua as she noticed his arrival. "Who's the redhead?"

"The name's Axel, milady." He followed that with a bow. "And you are?"

"I'm known as Aqua 'round these parts," she replied, setting her glass down. "I take it you're the one that invited these two to the show?"

"Yup. Being that I'm a friend of the band, I figure any extra publicity I can get for them is no big deal, even if they do abuse my generosity to exploit me for slave labor."

"'Slave labor', huh?" Her voice was laced with utter skepticism.

"I just played the part of their roadie free of charge, so I think it's apt." His tone made it clear that he was exaggerating things, but Aqua was not quite done.

"So, what was recruiting Roxas to assist you, then, dare I ask?" Her own smile was smug at that little dose of logic.

Axel just shrugged. "Have you seen this guy?" he replied, pointing a finger at Roxas, who was joining Xion in a contest of silence. "I think he could afford the workout; maybe build a little muscle on those bones."

"Aren't you just the sweetest?" Roxas sarcastically responded, chiming in from aside.

"Just calling it like it is, man."

With that, the foursome settled down, and Aqua and Axel made small talk while Roxas and Xion did likewise. For a time they were just sitting there, knocking back drinks and chatting, one duo chiming into the other's conversation at times, and just enjoying each other's company.

'This is nice,' was all Roxas could think.

It was time. The lights were dimming, the patrons started congregating around the stage, and the sounds of one of the players tuning his guitar were reverberating throughout the club. Axel had the look of a man possessed as he rose from his seat and announced that he was off to go knock some heads in the soon to be formed mosh pit, leaving Roxas once more in the company of the gals. Not that Axel was a bad guy by any stretch of the imagination, but Roxas could not claim to have any complaints about his situation.

"Ooh, it's starting!" Xion was practically consumed by a never before seen giddiness that had completely taken over her form, her eyes dancing with excitement as she looked ready to hop up off of the stool.

"I hope they live up to the hype," Roxas drawled, but his posture showed that he was eagerly anticipating the commencement of the first gig he had ever attended.

"No need to sound so cynical," Aqua said with an amused look adorning her face. Not that Roxas was carefully observing it out or anything. "I think you'll have trouble not trying to sing along, despite not knowing the words."

"We shall see," he countered with a faux ominous intonation.

Suddenly, the lights completely shut off, though that wasn't too great a departure from the room when it was fully lit. While the trio at the bar blinked rapidly as a result, the unmistakable sound of guitar feedback slowly spread throughout the room, before erupting into a loud, fast, chugging, three-chord riff. It started with one guitar, before the bass entered playing a similarly speedy accompaniment. The second guitar joined in with a variation of the main riff playing over top of the rhythm guitar. The previously unheard drums burst into the sound barrier with a blistering two measure fill, before banging the cymbals as the lights came on, illuminating the band in a dim yellow glow.

The brief silence was swiftly followed with the riff once more as the pink-haired lead guitarist leaped about onstage, swinging his Stratocaster around while the more reserved looking bassist – 'Zexion,' Roxas recalled - gazed at his shoes, concentrating solely on the exquisite MusicMan that he wielded so disinterestedly, his tremendously long bangs obscuring his face even further, and the mullet-haired blonde on rhythm guitar stepped up to the microphone.

"Trapped in the undertow…

You watch the currents flow…

You stay the course and eat

The seeds of hate they sow…"

The mosh pit was already forming, and Roxas could note Axel getting in the thick of it, aggressively knocking his body against far burlier men with a fire that seemed to come from completely out of nowhere. Roxas directed his eyes back to the stage, where the slate-haired bassist was approaching his own microphone just as the chorus began. The three guitar players all harmonized for it.

"You try to break, they shove you down…

There's no escape; your hands are bound…

Tied to your fate, you can't break out!"

As the rest of the band dropped out for two measures, the lead guitarist and Zexion played a little passage that interwove their respective instrument's parts into one integrated riff. The blonde played a few beats of dead noise on his Ibanez before launching into the next verse, which incited the movement of the crowd anew.

"Do what you're fucking told…

But, what else do you know..?

All you've ever done is

Do as you're fucking told!"

Another drum fill occurred, and Roxas got his first clear look at the drummer. He was a large, burly man with a spiky hairdo that was a muted shade of auburn. He pounded the drums with animalistic ferocity and Roxas had to wonder how he hadn't torn a hole in the skins. The chorus was repeated, and then an instrumental bridge took over, with a different riff that was seeping into Roxas's skin, making him move to the music despite remaining seated, the thunderous bass filling him with the desire to feel connected to the rhythm. The tension that was bubbling up in Roxas became more tightly wound with each passing beat, building and building up to a great, noisy culmination, before only the rhythm section remained playing at a much slower pace than before.

The pair played a more torpid variation of the verse riff, and the mullet bearer sang the final verse much more softly than the previous two, which had been belted out. His high tenor was almost seductive in its crooning.

"Your lives are bought and sold…

Caught tight inside their hold…

Released when you're spent and

Their hands are filled with…

Are filled with…

Filled with…

THEIR HANDS ARE FILLED WITH GOOOOOOOOOOLLD!"

His relaxed, hypnotic singing gave way to a raw and high-pitched scream as his bandmates played the chorus riff for a measure before they broke out into the song's conclusion.

"You try to break, they push you down…

There's no escape; your hands are bound…

Tied to your fate, you won't break out…"

Their harmony was followed by a quick breakdown where each of them went to town on their respective instruments before ending on one last chord.

The amassed group of people erupted in a series of whoops, cheers, whistles, hollers, and various other methods to let the guys onstage know that they approved wholeheartedly. Watching and hearing this, Roxas had to admit that he shared their enthusiasm, but he didn't feel the need to lose his voice by echoing their sentiments. He turned to see Xion still rocking in her seat, seemingly still reliving the riff that concluded the song, her eyes closed as she was lost in a magical world that the enrapturing music caused her mind to create. Managing to crack a smile at this unabashed example of how music can truly send you to other worlds, he did a 180 and looked at Aqua, who had an 'I told you so' look on her face.

"Lucky guess," he teased.

Aqua broke out into mirth-filled laughter at that one. "Admit it: I am awesome at figuring out what people will like musically."

"You're awesome in general, but particularly at that," Roxas stated simply and sincerely.

"Thank you." She was looking down bashfully once again. "That's always a pleasure to hear." Though her smile was shy, it was still as radiant as it ever was to the ever feeling Roxas.

'How peculiar…' Roxas mused internally. 'She ran that guy off really simply, and she was unfazed by everything he said, but when I pay her a genuine compliment, she acts like a shy schoolgirl. I wonder how often she's ever had them sent her way.' He had to cut his inner monologue short, seeing as The Melodious Nocturnes were counting off for the next song.

"One, two, three, four!"

Each member played simultaneously, with the bassist apparently known to the world as Zexion once more keenly observing his shoes, the drummer focused solely on the task at hand, his face stone-set in determination, the lead singer headbanging as he strummed away at his guitar and the man with the fabulous pink hair gazing skyward as he played a little fill before the blonde started singing.

"Don't waste time here…

Drive it into the ground…

Live for the moment…

It'll be dead soon…"

Axel suddenly appeared onstage, apparently having been vaulted up by some of the rowdier patrons in the mob. He danced about for a few seconds, and Roxas could see the Stratocaster equipped man chuckling at the sight of his enthusiastic friend. Before Security could reach him and forcibly remove him, Axel ran and leapt atop the bass drum, posing for a brief second, and then turned and took a running start before flinging himself into the sea of hands that rose to catch him.

"No need to ascend…

Feet on this floor…

And through it all,

You live in overkill…"

Axel was deposited gracefully at the back of the mosh pit, and he stayed outside of it for a few seconds to catch his breath, following it up with promptly diving right back into the throng of sweaty bodies bouncing off of each other. Clearly, Axel was a man who valued his body's safety. Directly succeeding that action, the song's chorus hit.

"Why give when you can take..?

Why save when you can spend..?

Faster comes undone…"

They really seemed to like their harmonies and their voices were an uncannily perfect fit, with the pinkette's high baritone, the bang-ed one's low tenor, and the blonde's seeming alto tenor forming a wall of sound that almost seemed like one, multi-pitched voice. They wasted no time kicking it right back into the verse.

"Saving's illusion…

Use it up now…

And in the end,

It burns to the ground…"

Out of the blue the song, whose rhythm had been fairly moderate up to that point, seemingly doubled in speed as a noisy guitar solo dominated the spectrum of sound. The Stratocaster user sank to his knees as he wrung every note out of the poor, green guitar by aggressively tremolo picking for a good minute. It seemed to emulate the anger of the lyrics, since the song had been fairly passive beforehand, at least musically. As he stood up and kept furiously plucking one note, everyone else started a palm muted ascending riff that seamlessly went into the chorus as the solo concluded. The band took to a heavier, more bombastic take on the verse riff for the outro. The blonde started screaming the lyrics yet again.

"Use just the once…

When done destroy…

Do it all, then

Undo it again…

Faster comes un-done…"

"Oh my God, that was awesome!" That was the loudest he ever heard Xion speak.

"So, you liked the second one better?" Roxas asked.

"Uh…" She trailed off, her eyes directed at the ceiling in contemplation. "I think they're a bit too fresh to gauge, b-but they were both really good!" Her face was alight with joy and wonderment. It suited her.

"Yeah, you're right about them being way too fresh to properly gauge. Aqua, since you've apparently seen these rapscallions before, I would assume that you've heard those songs before. Which one of them's your favorite?"

"Hmm…" She seemed just as conflicted as Xion was. "I'd probably go with the first one; it's just a great example of how to utilize dynamics for an interesting ride."

"So, you have no clue what it's called, then?"

"No, I don't. They haven't recorded anything that I'm aware of, so I have yet to ascertain any of their song titles." Aqua seemed to look disappointed when she mentioned that they had yet to record anything and put it out on the market.

"Well, if and whenever they put something out, I know where my money's going."

"Two songs in and you're already hooked on them?" Aqua appeared to be a bit surprised.

"Yeah, why not? I mean, if the rest of their arsenal is even close to as fantastic as those two, then I think that they've earned my measly Munny."

Aqua appeared as if she had a response to that, but the sound of the mulleted one speaking into the microphone served to break her train of thought.

"Alright, you guys having a good time tonight!?" The response from the patrons was made even more deafening due to the cramped nature of the room. Apparently, their answer was a collective and resounding 'YES!'.

"Great, great. Listen, for this next number, our resident shoegazer is gonna be singing lead, so let him know how much you love him. Ladies and gentlemen, Zexion Sumiku!" The throng of people let their appreciation be known as Zexion still looked completely disinterested. The lead singer continued. "Now, this should be instantly recognizable to all you folks out there, so sing along when it begins." With that, he strode over to where his amplifiers were stacked, joining his pink-haired bandmate while Zexion simply turned to look at their drummer for the count-off.

As they were counted off, they once again made use of feedback as an intro, before Zexion and the rhythm guitarist began playing a riff that had the entire crowd cheering. Even Roxas had to voice his excitement for their magnificent choice for a cover song.

"Righteous!" he exclaimed, his face breaking out into a smile simultaneously.

"Someone's excited," remarked Aqua wryly, but Roxas just waved her off. Xion also looked to be happy about the song choice as the riff kept building before the lead guitar joined in and signaled their transition into the verse riff. Roxas sang along with Zexion, whose voice served as a contrast to their usual singer's, being much less smooth.

"Now here I go…

Hope I don't break down.

I won't take anything…

I don't need anything…

Don't wanna exist…

I can't persist…

Please stop before I do it again…

Just talk about nothin',

Let's talk about nothin'…

Let's talk about no-one…

Please talk about no-one,

Someone,

Anyone…"

The pit was rejuvenated with a fire that was previously unseen as the chorus commenced. Practically all members of the audience shouted or sang along, seeing as it was a hit single for a very notable band decades ago. As was essentially tradition by that point, everybody but the drummer joined Zexion to harmonize for the chorus, and the result was as pleasing to the ear as the original.

"You and me…

Have a disease…

You affect me,

You infect me…

I'm afflicted,

You're addicted…

You and me…

You and me…"

A short little break commenced, and it became all the more apparent to Roxas that the four fine gentlemen currently headbanging and jamming away onstage had a certain charisma to them that was quite rare to come across. Even the mute that they had for a drummer had an appeal that drew eyes to him in a magnetic manner, which was evidenced by the many members of the audience air drumming to his fills, and most being fairly accurate in their imitations. Roxas looked to his left and saw Xion was rocking out with no regard to other's opinions, carefree at last.

"I'm on the edge…

Get against the wall…

I'm so distracted…

I love to strike you…

Here's my confession…

You learned your lesson….

Stop me before I do it again…"

They went through the pre-chorus and chorus once again, with just as many voices joining the bands. In fact, they were very nearly drowned out, especially when the blonde gestured for theaudience to sing louder. The man with the glorious pink hair seemed to be perfectly comfortable just being aloof and never directly looking at the crowd. 'I'll bet he's the biggest ladykiller of them all,' Roxas reasoned as the bridge took over.

"You're clear…

As a heavy, lead curtain;

Wanna drill you…

Like an ocean, we can work it out…

I've been running out…

Now I'm running out…

Don't be mad about it, baby…"

A short guitar break occurred, with the lead guitarist dramatically switching on an effect pedal while once more gazing skyward and dutifully ignoring the random schmo that leaped onstage to mug for the crowd before flinging himself back into the sea of bodies. After that ended, the crowd changed gears from the frenetic moshing that they had been engaged in just seconds prior and started swaying to the more relaxed beat and instrumentation while the guitar players sang the most complex lyric ever.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…"

That little refrain of five-dollar words had the crowd chanting along as it kept at its steady, more sedate pulse, once more building tension in the atmosphere that the music projected. It was they eye of the storm in all but the literal sense. Unlike the first song, where there was a building riff signaling the climactic catharsis of the song's outro, Zexion just shouted the refrain more aggressively and the others plunged into the final chorus as the moshing began anew. This time, Zexion was singing a whole new set of lyrics over the other two's harmony, which served as another contrasting element, since the one with the fringe to end all fringes was singing in a much more desperate manner than his compatriots' vocalization. Roxas sang along with Zexion, whereas most everybody else just sang the lyrics to the first choruses.

"(You and me… Have a disease…)

I wanna tie you…

Crucify you…

Kneel before you…

Revile your body…

(You and me… Have a disease…)

You and me…

We're made in heaven…

I wanna take you…

I wanna break you…

Supplicate you…

With thorny roses…

(You and me… Have a disease…)

I wanna bathe you…

In holy water…

I wanna kill you…

Upon the altar…

You and me…

You and meeeeee…

All the spectators were in a tizzy after that number, and even the antithesis of effervescence known to the world as Roxas had to share in their collective enthusiasm. He noticed Aqua staring at him in his peripheral vision, but it wasn't quite the same as the other occurrences where she became enraptured with him. There was no dark look in her eyes; no hint of past pain or regrets maligning her otherwise beautiful face. She looked almost…

Nostalgic.

Her expression held the same countenance as one would find painting the face of a person looking over old photographs; wistful, to put in a single term. Her slightly upturned lips served to further confirm Roxas's deciphering of what her mien conveyed. 'You'd think I was a cherished friend… Maybe even a lover, at least going by the tenderness in her eyes.' That thought made him avert his eyes and stare at the floor, hoping her gaze would pass over him. '"Lover"… Yeah, not fucking likely.' He swallowed the lump in his throat before turning to her, which caused her to wipe away the look on her face.

"Is something the matter?" He dared to pose the question.

"No, it's…" It was apparently her turn to look away while she tried to piece her thoughts together. "It's just that… You looked so… Free." Her eyes were still directed elsewhere.

Roxas was naturally beset with curious voices in his head, but when he was about to ask her to elaborate on that when she brought her eyes to meet his, and he saw an unspoken plea in them, begging him to not pursue the matter. So, against his baser nature, he chose to let it drop.

"If you're not free at a punk show, where then can you truly feel unrestrained?" Sarcasm clearly was the most effective way to put someone at ease, as Aqua's demeanor noticeably brightened at that faux philosophical question.

"Where indeed?"

"A Smashing Pumpkins show, perhaps?" He finally brought up her shirt, and the word scrawled across her chest, which was totally what he was staring at. The word, that is.

"I changed in a hurry after I got home from my shift, so forgive me if I didn't exactly pick the most appropriate of shirts."

"I'm just screwing with you. Though, I do like the seemingly unintended irony of wearing the colors of a band known worldwide at a show for a band that hasn't even released an album or anything yet."

"Thank you!" Aqua once again seemed to be going into a bit of a rant. "Amongst the sleazeballs, a lot of weirdoes came up, sneered at me, and called me a poser. I naturally countered by pointing out the hypocrisy of those words, since "true punk", as they put it, is about rebellion and freedom of expression. So, my coming in with non-punk regalia is more punk than they could ever be. Good to know somebody can appreciate irony." She looked a bit bashful at that little rant, which was something Roxas found endearingly cute.

"Plus, Smashing Pumpkins are awesome, so there."

"Totally!" Xion, still vertiginous from the last song, chimed in.

The conversation was about to begin anew, but it was halted by the blonde's imitation of a certain Ramone.

"One, two, three, four!"

A/N: Three months and two days later, and at least the length of this one justifies it. Or, so I hope.

To all of the Reviewers, Followers, and Favorite-rs out there, thank you so very much for giving my drivel the time of day, and not hating me for not writing as quickly as I'm sure you'd like me to.

The first song that the band played is called 'Break Out', and is an original poem of mine. The second one, known as 'Undone', is also mine.

The third song is called 'Infected', and it is by Bad Religion. You should seriously go give it a listen.

Lastly, regarding my oh so kind and helpful Beta, Painted With a Palette, you should totally go check out her story 'Lover's Internal Quarrel' if you haven't already. It is very good, especially if you're a fan of dry humor, which, if you couldn't tell, I am. Seriously, go leave her Reviews. She deserves them!

Read, review, and I'll see ya next time.

-TheNotSoTalentedPoet