I can stay here, it's too crowded. I get up and head home. I wasn't supposed to be home for a couple of hours so Cloud isn't expecting my call. And I don't want to call him like this, he would guess something was wrong and would speed up in that damn bike. The last thing I want is to have my dad in the hospital. I decide to walk home. I don't think that Hayner will be calling me soon so I turn my cellphone on.

I remember that Axel sent me a text earlier. Damn it. The last I should be thinking of is texting some other guy but I really could use Axel's words now. He's always so happy. And I need to calm down before getting home. I text him.

Hi Axel. If I'm interrupting something tell me please.

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

ROXIE! U alive! U're not interrupting. I'm at the MacDonalds w/ ma friends. U?

He replies in a matter of minutes and I'm already feeling better. I really need him. Not exactly him, but what he gives me. A distraction, someone who I can talk with.

Going home.

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

U went out 2? Where?

Always curious. That's my stranger. I smile at my own thoughts.

Movies.

His sms takes a while but eventually it reaches my cell.

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

You're sad.

How does he know? I text him back: You wrote "you" in perfect English.

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

You are changing the subject. What happened?

I notice he wrote the words correctly again. Maybe when he's serious he does that. I guess that I might have figured something about him without him telling me.

I had a huge fight with my best friend.

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

At the movies? Were you crying Roxas?

I text him back with a simple yes. But then I start to think, why did he ask if I cried? Did I give him the impression to be fragile or something?

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

Are you alone now? Are you okay?

He's worried and it warms me inside. I guess I have a really good friend in Axel. Texting back yesterday was the damn best thing I've done for the past years.

Yes but don't worry. I'm almost at home.

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

Not convinced. I need 2 stop texting cause I'll be driving but I want u 2 text me when you get home. Got it memorized?

I text him back saying I would. I'm really almost home. I can see it from here already. I dig in my pocket to retrieve the keys and to put my cell there. I open the front door quietly without even meaning to. I just don't feel strong now even though talking to Axel helped a lot. I put my keys on the hall table and head to the living room. The first thing I see is the last I could expect: my dad on the couch making out…with a man.

-/-

As I look at the scene in front of me my brain is working a top speed. This shit explains so much! He staying late at work, the last Saturday and the texting! I can't stop looking at them. I don't think they realize I'm here. I'm about to exit the living room very quietly when their kiss ends and the man kissing my dad opens his eyes and sees me.

His eyes widen and he clears his throat. My dad makes a confused sound and the man points to me with his head. My dad turns around and when he sees me I can see he's terrorized and horrified. He quickly gets up and the other man gets up too but slowly.

"Roxas! I...just... this isn't what it looks like son" his voice sounds so panicked and he's looking everywhere but to me.

"Really? I could swear it was obvious. You were kissing this man. Did I saw it wrong?" To me it's that simple but for some weird reason my dad is being evasive and is trying to lie to me. I don't like that.

Cloud then looks at me and he looks so lost. Moments ago he was on cloud nine and now he just looks… I don't even have words for it. "Roxas please" he pleads "let me explain son"

I give him a weird look. "Explain what?"

I feel the other man looking at my dad and at me. He's uncertain if he should talk or not and I decide to at least say hi. Maybe he can calm my dad. He's distressed and I don't get why.

"Hi. I'm Roxas." I say while I extend my hand. He hesitates for a second before shaking my hand. It's firm and he's looking me in the eye. That alone says a lot about that man. And positive things too.

"Hello. My name's Zack Fair. I work with your father. He talks about you a lot but he never said you were his spitting image." I immediately like the sound of his voice. It's deep. And his eyes? I totally get why my dad was kissing him. They are a faint shade of purple and he has a strong jaw. His body? He looks so toned and defined. A painful combination between hard and soft. Sweet Jesus this man is an Adonis on earth!

"He talks about me? He never said it." I look at Cloud and he seriously looks scared. I don't get it. "Dad? What is it?"

"You're not mad or disgusted?" he asks tentatively. Zack looks intently at me and shifts so he's closer to my dad. He's protective.

"Mad? What about? And disgusted? For the love of GOD dad I'm gay! You know that! What are you thinking? That I wouldn't understand just because it's you?" At this point I don't know if I want to laugh or to cry.

"I married your mom. And I'm moving on now and with a man. I didn't knew I was gay either son".

He's worried I won't accept the whole thing; that I may not want him to move on and with a guy at that. Silly man. I'll share my thoughts with him but that's because I love him to death and I hate to see him so vulnerable. I go to him and I hug him. I can see Zack smiling and my dad hugs me back. I end the hug and look at him in the eyes.

"Listen here dad and listen carefully cause I'm only going to give you this speech once. You're the dad, you are the one that should be lecturing me. But I'm changing roles just this once for you" My dad smiles faintly at me and it gives me strength to say what I'm about to say. "I love you. I love you so much! Yes you were married to mom. But she passed away dad and it has been five years. I don't want you to be alone. I love you too much for that. If you're happy then I'm happy. I don't care if it's a Tiffany, a Zack or whatever. I'm gay too. You helped me so much when I confessed it to you. What in the world gave you the impression I would condemn this? If Zack makes you happy I'm more than fine with this. I'm relieved. You deserve the happiness." My dad tears up but the tears don't fall cause he's stubborn like that. Mine does and I know that's because today had too much emotional crap for my tastes.

"Now Zack," I say while I turn to face the man "You better behave. You can make out with my dad in this house all you want. But sex? Only when I'm not in the house." I hear a choking sound from my dad and Zack smiles at me trying to repress what I know is a laugh. God damn dad you bagged a nice one. That smile must stop the cars in the street. And cause a lot of accidents too. I put my most mischievous face on to continue. "If you hurt him? I'm not going to go after you. You're too built for me to be of any challenge. But I'm totally dismantling Fenrir to fucking pieces and blame you. No matter how heartbroken he is, Cloud will kill you without thinking twice."

Having left two adults speechless I feel pretty accomplished. Cloud is blushing faintly and Zack is smiling tenderly at him. I need to give them a moment.

"Are you staying for dinner Zack?" I invite him.

He looks at me and I see in his gorgeous eyes that he's thankful for what I'm doing. "If you don't mind, I would like it very much".

I beam at him. "Oh, at all. How about ordering pizza? You guys call them whenever. Till they arrive I'm going to my room." I was heading upstairs when my dad remembers.

"How was it with Hayner? Are you guys still best friends?"

"Fucking terrible. Don't mention it ever again."

My dad looks very preoccupied suddenly. Is it me or Zack is bringing a more expressive side of my dad? If he is, he already has the permission to marry him.

"But you seemed fine when you arrived. I mean-"

"I am dad. I talked with someone already." I wink at him and I left the lovebirds alone.

When I get to my room the first thing I do is change to more relaxed clothes. As I take my pants out I realize I have my phone in there. And that I promised to call Axel when I arrived. SHIT!

I check my phone and I see 6 missed calls and 4 texts. I still had my phone mute since last night. I was so down today I didn't remember to put it with sound. That's how I missed Axel's first text today.

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

Are u home yet?

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

Why aren't u answering Roxas?

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

ROXAS! SAY SOMETHING DAMMIT. ARE YOU OKAY?

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

Roxas? I'm worried. Please call me back. Please. If you don't call back or say something in the next two hours I'm calling the cops. Be okay please.

I totally forgot about him with my dad thing. Damn. I type as quickly as I can.

I'm okay and I'm so sorry. I'm home but when I got here something happened and the phone was in silence mode. I'm sorry Axel.

I didn't have to wait much for his answer.

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

Good God kid are u trying to kill me? You say you have a fight, are emotionally unstable and then put a disappearing act on me? Do you have any idea of how worried I've been? I don't even fucking know you and I was so out of my mind. I can't right now, but later I'm going to call you. God help you if you don't pick the phone.

That was the biggest text I ever got from Axel. He helps me so much and all I do is worrying him. I'm SO going to hell.

1 New Message(s)
Axel :)

And put that shitty piece of technology ringing. LOUD

He's mad. And he has all the right to be.

I apologize Axel. And I swear I put it with sound now. Please don't be mad.

He doesn't answer me and I'm feeling so shitty. It could be because he hinted he was busy but still.

I heard a knock at my door. "Yes?" I ask.

The door opens and I see a blond head. "Can I come in?" asks Cloud.

"Of course dad." I manage to put a smile for him. He sits in the bed with me and hugs me hard. "Thank you son." We stay like that for a while. It's not often that we exchange physical comfort but I secretly love it. I feel so safe with my dad.

Cloud then ruffles my head. "C'mon, Zack is setting the table". We head downstairs and Zack is indeed finishing with the table. The pizzas were already there.

"Is he already slave-ing you around Zack?" I ask with humor.

"Yes! Can you believe it?" Zack says feigning surprise and hurt

The dinner was nice and doing the dishes was a whole new experience: Cloud washed, Zack dried and I put them in the right places. I took the moment Zack was leaving to say my goodbyes and to go to my room leaving them for their own private goodbyes.

As I lay in bed I wait anxiously for Axel's call. It will be the first time I'll hear his voice. While waiting I try to process everything that happened today. I think that finally Hayner understood that I just don't love him that way. It hurts that he needs to be away and I know that I won't be seeing him anytime soon. And Olette and Pence are on their own world lately so I'm a bit friendless right now. I have my cousin in town though. I could call him but maybe that's not the best for now. Dad was evasive about the family separation and he has his reasons. Right now dad is happy and I don't want to ruin it. And that's another bomb, dad is dating again. I remember that he and my mom, Aerith, were really happy and I believe him when Cloud says he didn't knew about his homosexuality. My mom died five years ago in a car accident when she was crossing the street and the owner of the car didn't saw her. My dad and I were miserable for quite some time and the thought of him being with someone else didn't cross my mind for some years. But then I started to date and enjoy life and I thought about my dad and that it wasn't fair for him to stay home alone. But for him to move on with a man that's something unexpected but something I can easily accept. Zack seems nice too. Looks deceive yes, but he has some kind of aura around him that tells me that he's a good man. I hope that this happiness lasts for a while cause I enjoyed the new version of dad. Cloud, in this single night, has expressed more emotions and was more open than I remember him ever being.

I'm startled out of my reverie with a loud sound of music coming from my cell.