VIII

Panic, relief, joy, confusion, and guilt washed over him all at once. At the sight of Roxas's blushing face he was relieved to know that in some way Roxas must have forgiven him. Either that or he seriously wanted some answers. If that was the case he couldn't blame him.

The fact that he had bothered to come at all, especially to this part of town, was somewhat amazing to him as well.

His was now fully hungover, so his moment was ruined when the next person shouted. He winced and rubbed his temples in irritation.

Still, he was feeling so happy, and so guilty, but Roxas was just so cute. He was pretty sure he was way too good for someone like himself. Maybe he should give up now… oh but that fine ass he had tapped last night was so not worth giving up…

Axel shook his head to clear his mind out of the gutter.

A soft voice caught his attention and looked down at Roxas's worried face, "I… came to talk to you." The crowd "oohed" and Axel pushed everyone out of the way. He took Roxas's hand and together they fled out the door.

"Aw come on!" he heard Demyx whining in the background as he chased him out into the hall. In retaliation he flipped him off just as the elevator doors were closing.

Now quiet, Axel pushed the button to floor three.

"Where are we going?" Roxas asked sweetly.

"Away from those weirdos. I've got a spare room where we can chat," Axel purposefully avoided looking directly at Roxas. He was pretty sure his lower bits wouldn't be able to handle all the blood rushing to it.

They remained quiet and for once it wasn't awkward.

The spare room he had been taking about was on the third floor. It had a broken lock and since this place was mostly run down and empty, it didn't need to be fixed. It's not like inspectors come by either, this place was a ghost of its former self, only staying upright because of the organization.

Everything was fine, that is, until they got into his other room and were alone. Together. With no one else to see them.

Axel prayed it wouldn't be a clock tower repeat. Or maybe he was? That would be hot, but entirely inappropriate seeing as he was here to explain the clock tower incident.

But as he looked at him, really looked now that he was sober, he couldn't lie. He thought he was adorable at every angle. His face, his hair, his body, everything.

He cleared his throat and looked away. Now was seriously not the time. Explain first, and if he doesn't call the police on your sorry butt, then you can bone him. Probably. He needed a glass of water or something to distract his mind.

"You can have a seat on the couch. I'm going to grab a glass of water, do you want anything?"

Roxas shook his head. Axel went to the kitchen and was really only delaying the inevitable. He would have to tell Roxas why last night happened, and he already told himself that he'd be honest for once but the truth was hard. Especially when trying to say that you think you're totally falling for someone you just met in the worst possible situation.

Maybe he'd leave that part out. Well, if he did that then he may as well just jump out the window and hope he doesn't break every bone in his body and somehow live.

The consequences were inevitable.

With a sigh, and a massive gulp of water, Axel headed back into the living room where Roxas was waiting patiently. Bless his angelic soul for putting up with his bullshit. Axel broke the silence first by setting the cup down with a clink.

To be honest, he had no idea how to start. What did he want to know, if anything? All of his usually smooth skills were gone, replaced by jittery nerves and small waves of awkward nausea. He was actually nervous right now. He didn't want Roxas to think of him as some creepy stalker or weirdo or jerk or something.

If only he could just say it. Most things were not that hard for him to spit out. He just didn't want to further his most likely terrible impression of him.

Instead of anything else, he started with something simple. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "I'm… Axel. Nice to uh… meet you for real."

Roxas laughed, but it was a dry sarcastic one, "Roxas. Axel, can you… explain what happened the night before? Or I guess this morning, I don't really know. You left me very confused you know."

"Well I was uh…" at least he didn't beat around the bush, but in reality Axel would've really appreciated some bush beating or sidetracking. He would've rather they talked about his crazy red hair like most people did. He knew none of that was a possibility right now though.

"I could tell you were drunk," Roxas's voice was serious but his smile was soft and kindhearted. He wasn't sure if that was his normal smile or if was merely pitying him. If it was the latter, he would take it. Any emotion other than anger was fine with him.

"Yeah. Pretty drunk. Uh, well, see the thing is… I go through stages like any normal person and well, one of them is when I just can't control myself for shit and well… last night was the product of that."

He left out the fact that he had been masturbating to his name and was wishing he could see him again. For the first time, it actually began to dawn on him that last night was really, legitimately, real. All this time he had been going through the motions. Every last drop of alcohol had been absorbed, leaving him with god's wrath to rattle in his skull, and now he could clearly tell that everything had been real.

Somehow, it just hadn't completely sunk in until that moment.

In this burst of realization he turned towards Roxas. He looked straight into his blue eyes, pursed his lips, and fell to his knees before breaking down.

He wasn't crying, he wasn't begging, he was just feeling horrible. He spoke with his head hung low, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have… It's my fault, I understand if you want to… get a restraining order or something. Or put me in jail for that bullshit. I shouldn't have gone so far. You're just…" Axel lifted his head just enough to peer through his lashes at the boy.

Roxas was sitting there wide-eyed, "It's okay," he said softly.

As much as he probably shouldn't have, Axel scooted over until he could lay his chin on Roxas's legs. He continued with his previous sentence. "You're just so. Fucking. Cute. God damn. I met you at the worst possible time, in the craziest of ways, but when I saw you there I'm not gonna lie I thought you were the most attractive man I've ever seen. Of course when I chased you down I started to wonder how old you were and how weird everything would be, but that's not the point. The point is I'm sorry. Sorry for everything. Sorry for almost hitting you, and I'm especially sorry for last night. That was just… a mistake."

He pushed through the pain in his heart and looked away. When he looked back up there was moment where Axel thought he saw anger flare in Roxas's eyes. He was proved right when Roxas suddenly shoved him away and stood up. For a brief, horrifying moment, he thought it was all over for them.

Until he started talking, "Last night wasn't a mistake! It was weird, that's for sure. Unexpected, but please don't you dare call it a mistake! It… hurts me because I… feel the same way, Axel. I think you're really attractive and I… haven't really been able to get you out of my mind. Even if you almost ran me over, that was my fault anyway I…"

He was feeling the same thing? At this point he was pretty sure the bike was equal parts their fault since he hadn't been as vigilant as usual, but the sex had been all him.

He began to feel apprehensive yet excited, "Do you really mean that?" his voice was barely a whisper. He stood and stepped closer to Roxas who didn't move away, "It felt a little bit wrong… but mostly right. So right..."

Without warning Roxas hugged him. Axel started in surprise but immediately returned the embrace, "They say some of the greatest relationships come from the ones you never expected to be in."

Something in Axel's heart welled up. He pulled back so he could grab Roxas by his face and stroke his cheeks. His eyes were watery but no tears were falling. Without hesitating, he swooped in and stole a quick kiss.

Just as he suspected, Roxas tasted sweet for some reason or another. He didn't really care, he just knew that he couldn't get enough of the taste. When he pulled back they were both breathless and staring deeply into each other's eyes.

Axel, for the first time in god knows how long, blushed.

Roxas did the same. For him though it probably hadn't been that long.

He smiled with half of his mouth and moved to fall on the couch, bringing Roxas with and angling him so he landed on top to straddle him. He raised a red eyebrow, "So we really are cool then?"

Roxas nodded enthusiastically before hugging him again. Axel was about to say something, when both of their stomachs rumbled loudly. A dusty light bulb went off above his head and he kissed him again before speaking, "Do you want to go out? For dinner, like, right now?" it might be a good idea to start out slow. As much as he didn't want to do that, and just fuck him now, he could wait.

Surprised, Roxas reeled back. Axel could tell that there was uncertainty in his eyes. He wouldn't blame him, "Well…" he started.

Axel quickly cut him off, "It's alright if you don't want to. I understand that so much has happened so quickly and that I'm probably not the most trustworthy. I just want… you to be happy."

He kissed him on the nose, still not getting enough. Okay, so he'd go mostly slow. After last night all he could see was the sight of Roxas screaming, and with him sitting on top of him so innocently, it took all of his strength for him to not buck his hips and grind into him.

Roxas suddenly changed the subject, "Do you really think I'm cute?"

Axel couldn't help but giggle a little at his sweet, questioning tone. Roxas frowned just a little bit, but it was playful. Axel pulled him closer to kiss him on the forehead, "The cutest."

There was silence between them again, but it wasn't awkward. He actually almost couldn't believe that Roxas had just been okay with all of this. It felt like a dream, a really good if not slightly messed up dream.

Axel was pulled from his train of thoughts as Roxas decided to lie down on top of him. He was still straddling him, and Axel decided that he was light enough to pick up. He grabbed Roxas's legs and stood, wrapping them around his waist. He was right, Roxas was rather light for a boy his age, or maybe he was just strong.

Either way, Roxas let out a yelp in surprise. He leaned his head back and the two stared at each other. Hesitatingly, he went in for a kiss again. He couldn't help but feel as if there was an air of uncertainty around them. He didn't want to hurt Roxas in any way, shape, or form. He promised himself he'd try to take it slow, to let him adjust.

It was just so damn hard when he looked at him with those eyes though.

Roxas was blushing when he looked away. Axel moved closer to a wall so he could push him against it and kiss him some more. Damn, he was already hard, he needed to stop before things got out of control again.

He moved away quickly, setting him down on the floor. Roxas didn't deserve to be treated like this. Axel was just too rough, he had no control. He lost any ounce of cool when it came to Roxas.

"Roxas…" he started, "you probably shouldn't be alone with me."

He looked up at him with his big blue eyes and titled his head. Axel bit his lip, regretting on wanting to let him go. All he wanted to do was repeat last night except without alcohol and with a soft bed underneath them.

"What do you mean?"

Axel smiled slyly before kissing him, "If you don't leave now I might" –

He was cut off by a soft jingle. Roxas started for a moment before pulling out his phone. Still trapped between Axel's arms, he answered with a flushed face and wet lips. Unable to resist, and not giving a damn who was on the other end of that phone, he started sucking on his clearly exposed neck. Come on, it was totally begging for him.

Roxas weakly tried to push him away as he talked, "Yeah I'm at the library. No not at school. Yeah I know what happened. I'm … oh you are? Well, I… yeah I just left. I uh, wanted to get a snack and go right back. Oh, right now? Okay, see you home soon. Love you too mom."

Axel stopped giving him hickeys long enough to look up. A wave of sadness and relief washed over him. On the one hand, Roxas wouldn't have to put up with his constant petting, but tonight he'd be alone with his other hand.

Slowly, Axel released his grip on his waist. Roxas's legs wobbled and for the first time he noticed how short he really was. The top of his blond hair barely brushed his chest. He was short, then again he himself was unusually tall.

"I take it you have to leave?" Roxas nodded, and was that a sad glint he saw in his eye?

"Yeah. I told my brother to tell my mom that I was going to the library. The school day got cancelled early because the roof caved in from the rain, so of course my mother heard about it and came rushing home. She went looking for me at the library to pick me up but well… I'm not there, am I?" Roxas's gave him a half smile.

Axel hugged him, "No. You're very much here. With me."

Good god, he thought, when he's gone I'll be all alone again.

He hesitated before letting him go again. He wondered when he'd be able to see him again, maybe today had been a freak accident or he was still dreaming. Axel took a moment to run his hand through Roxas's soft hair and nearly shuddered in delight at the softness. It was like petting a freshly fluffed kitten.

His chest got hot as Roxas breathed into it. He started to withdraw and Axel wanted so badly to grab him and hold him forever. Some of his fears were eased when he spoke, "Will I be able to see you again?"

Roxas's eyes were hopeful and shining. Axel, on the inside, had melted like ice in a fire pit at the sight. He kissed him again, "Of course. Whenever you want."

In the back of his mind, he could just hear Xemnas's voice as he screamed at him. He was certain that there was no way his idiot friends wouldn't tell the big boss man about Roxas's sudden appearance. He flinched as he thought about the consequences, but when he looked into those blue eyes, it was worth it.

"Where? In… that room above?"

Axel tried his best not to shrug. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Roxas was afraid that something would happen to him.

"No. We can figure out a permanent place later, but for now… how about we meet at the clock tower? Tomorrow night? Maybe seven?" he smiled down at him sheepishly.

Roxas only smiled back and squeezed him tightly before opening the door, "It's a date."

The door shut with a soft click, and Axel was left to ponder upon what had just happened.

This kid… man first he nearly runs him over like an idiot, then they do it without his permission, and now he was just totally okay with dating him? At least he thought they were dating. Axel's mind lingered on that word, dating. It's been a while since he's seriously wanted to date anyone, even for a day.

Sure he's had his flings, his one night stands, his other fleeting moments, and so on. Roxas though? He was a whole other story.

He sure wanted to date Roxas. He wanted to see him smile when laughed, hear his voice when he talked, and see his blush when he was pinned down on the bed under him. He almost started drooling at the thought, but quickly punched the imagination away.

Axel started out the door slowly, making his way to the elevator and eventually back up to room 813. It was silent when he entered, everyone had gone off to do whatever they felt like in their own rooms.

He stole a glance at the clock. They hadn't been together very long. From this point in time, it was only twenty-eight and a half hours until he could see his Roxas again.