Hey guys. I just wanna take a quick second to apologize for my serious lack of consistent updating. The problem is that I have my SATs and my AP US History exam coming up in the very same week. That, as you can probably understand, makes me very busy. Hopefully I'll have more time after that, but it being the end of my junior year, I'm not really sure I will. But I promise, I'll try to be as consistent as possible.
Insert standard disclaimer here.
Chapter 6
Roxas and Axel hadn't had another chance to speak since Axel had been sent to get ready. Judging by the subtly venomous looks being sent his way by the redhead, though; Roxas figured he was still pissed off. Well, that was his problem. Roxas didn't have time to nurse the prince's hurt feelings, not when he had more important things to be doing. It was really weird; they'd been getting on so well and all of a sudden they were at each other's throats. Maybe it was just in their blood to want to fight each other.
He tried to focus on the proceedings rather then his own thoughts, watching as the obviously small amount of guards took their vows in front of a watching crowd. Roxas recognized every single one of them, people who had guarded his father and were now lining up to guard him. A brunet man by the name of Leon with a wicked-looking scar stretched across his nose, between his eyes. A large redheaded man called Lexaeus, a man with braided hair and spectacular sideburns known as Xaldin. Luxord was a skinny but stable blonde man with a love for playing cards. There was also, of course, Riku and Larxene. Riku had wanted to take Larxene off Roxas' duty and replace her with someone, for lack of a good word, better. She, however, had pitched a fit and threatened to resign if he did that. So, Larxene stayed as Roxas' personal guard. Six. There were six people left in the Royal Guard out of the original twenty-one.
He snapped back to attention as he realized the small group was heading toward him in a line, lowest ranking first. Roxas jerked his head to Axel, signaling the redhead to join him at the front. He obediently approached, apparently not letting his temper get in the way of duty. Good man. Larxene knelt in front of them, taking both their right hands in each of hers. Roxas could see her eyebrow twitching slightly, no doubt at the thought of swearing fealty to her greatest enemy. Still, she spoke her vow just as she was supposed to.
"To my king, I promise loyalty. My blade shall protect your kin and land. I shall follow your word with utmost devotion. To my rey, I place my trust and allegiance. Should blood be shed, my life ever before theirs."
She pressed her forehead to their hands, stood, and backed away. One by one, they approached and swore the same vow until Riku reached them at last. He bowed before them as well, taking both of their hands. As commander, his vow was different.
"To my king and my rey, I promise that I will train your protectors to the best of my ability. I will lead them well so we might be your warriors when you are in need. To my king, I promise loyalty. My blade shall protect your kin and land. I shall follow your word with utmost devotion. To my rey, I place my trust and allegiance. Should blood be shed, my life ever before theirs." Riku kissed their hands and backed away as well, taking the final place in the miniscule group.
Roxas hoped beyond all hope that the lives of the guard wouldn't have to come before his own. He hoped that the pointless bloodshed would come to a stop. Hopefully, the act of marriage would be enough. Roxas knew, then, that he would have to give up his pride. If things were going to work, if he was going to protect his people, he needed to just grin and bear Axel's apparent mood swings. If he had to become passive and let his rey do whatever he wished, then he would, without a doubt. Just as long as Axel didn't hurt Roxas' people, he could live with that. He didn't want to, but he could.
Much later, after a large feast and much socializing, Roxas was alone in his room for a few sacred minutes of alone time. He'd convinced Larxene to stand outside his door instead of staying in the room with him. He laid out on his bed and closed his eyes, stretching out and trying to relax completely. He'd almost succeeded when a knock sounded on the door. Trying not to cuss too loudly, he called in a weary voice, "Enter." The door cracked open and, alas, it was Axel who entered.
"I have a question for you," the redhead stated, dropping onto the couch and making himself comfortable. Roxas didn't bother moving.
"Shoot," he said from his position.
"Well…people keep mentioning a rey. I would assume that they are talking about me. What the hell does it mean?"
"It's like the male version of the queen," Roxas explained tiredly. "I, being the true blood king have more overall power then you do. As in, I can overrule your orders as pertaining to my kingdom. When the residing male king marries another male, we call them a rey instead of a queen. It seemed a little less, excuse my vernacular, gay."
"Oh," Axel said thoughtfully. "That's kind of weird. In Ne'erwas, you'll just be considered king. We'll both be king, we'll share the power evenly." Roxas stayed quiet, not wanting to snap back a retort about the 'weird' comment. Axel seemed to notice this as well, because he sighed and approached the bed, looking down on the blonde king.
"Look, I'm sorry that I was being an ass earlier. I have this disease where I just say really rude things all the time," Axel said, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"You mean you're a jerk," Roxas said bluntly.
Axel grinned and nodded. "Yeah, but now it's a disease and they have pills for it," he explained.* Despite himself, Roxas found himself smiling and even letting out a little chuckle. Regaining his serious demeanor, Roxas just nodded.
"It will be hard, I get that. Trying to join our two kingdoms, even we'll have problems because of the way we were raised. But they're going to be depending on us to lead them…"
"And we have to set a good example," Axel sighed as if he were being lectured, which, perhaps he was. "I know, I know. I'm sorry, I'll try to keep my idiocies under control."
Roxas closed his eyes and stretched, feeling his back crack as he moved. He let out a small moan of pleasure at the sudden lack of tension in his muscles. When he opened his eyes again, he was surprised to see that Axel's face was hardly inches from his own. He gasped slightly, staring up at those green eyes, the only thing he could really see.
"I want to try something," Axel said quietly. Roxas knew the redhead was going to kiss him. He didn't quite know if he wanted that, but he also didn't have any time to protest before the prince's lips covered his. His body reacted without his mind's consent and his hands came up to cradle the redhead's face, his lips pressing back gently. Axel responded with enthusiasm, his mouth opening just the slightest, his tongue brushing Roxas' lips.
Roxas tensed somewhat, but it was enough that Axel felt it. The redhead pulled away quickly, standing up and backing several paces away.
"Sorry," he muttered, fingers clenching slightly. "I probably should have warned you."
"I…saw it coming," Roxas said quietly. "I just…don't really…"
"Think of me that way, I know," Axel answered, sounding upbeat again. "I was just…sort of curious. Wouldn't want to marry a bad kisser, you know."
Roxas snorted, glad at the prince's attempts to make things less awkward.
"And?" he asked. "Do we have to call things off?"
Axel actually laughed that time and shook his head. "Nah, I think you'll do."
A knock came on the door, interrupting their attempts at playful banter. They both looked at the door and Roxas just rolled his eyes and then closed them, relaxing back on the bed. He didn't want to deal with any more people that day, though he knew he would have to. Axel took the initiative as another knock sounded.
"Come on in," he called, causing Roxas to open his eyes and glare at him. A pink haired man entered, one that Roxas recognized from Nocoraz'on. A wide grin spread across Axel's face.
"Marly!" he greeted with a grin. "What brings you around?"
"It is my job to make sure you don't get yourself killed," Marluxia said stiffly, his eyes focusing on Roxas. The blonde stared back, refusing to be deterred from one of his few chances to relax. He lifted himself on his elbows and stared back.
"I can assure you he's perfectly safe while in my personal chambers," Roxas said. "Is there something specific that you want?" Marluxia bit back a growl, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I was just making sure my prince was still alive. I can't say I trust yours to keep him in as good a condition as I left him in…"
"Marly," Axel spoke up, his voice hard and cheerful at the same time, filled with warning. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. If things went wrong, I'd be okay. There's no need…"
"I'm just trying to do my job, highness," Marluxia shot back, scowling.
"Well, it's unnecessary," Axel spoke carefully. "We're heading back to Ne'erwas tonight, in which case you can guard me all you want. For now, though, I'm fine, so you can do as you will."
Knowing that he was being dismissed, Marluxia sent one last hostile glare at Roxas and turned away. When he was out of earshot, Axel let out a hissing breath.
"Larxene," he called, taking initiative. Roxas just watched, wondering what the redhead would do. Not daring to disobey her future rey, Larxene entered the room looking severely pissed.
"Yes?" she said, her voice harsh.
"If you could get someone to watch out for him while he's here. I'm afraid I don't quite trust him to be left to his own devices." Looking slightly surprised, she nodded slowly and then created a bolt of lightening, the sound of thunder carrying her message out to a guard in the castle.
"Thank you," Axel said before closing the door. It was all Roxas could do not to smile. Maybe things would work out.
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* I stole this from the movie P.S. I Love You. It's the best and I cry every time.
