Ch 7
I want to say that this is going too fast, but then again I'm impatient, so…here we go, and I hope you like the songs I picked. It was for the sound they give and the words, not always who sings it. Though, if you have a song that you think I could use for one of the guys, please, let me know, kay?
Thoughts floated around Zexion as he rested between a deep sleep and a foggy state of being awake. Most of the thoughts centered around one person. He was kind, good natured, open minded, fair, unselfish, funny, responsible…if Zexion was out of his little world he would scold himself for sounding so pathetic, but right now, alone, only pleasant thoughts of Demyx floated by. And now that Zexion was tossing caution to the wind (sort of) he admitted that part of him thought Demyx attractive. A happy person by nature, smiles brightened his green eyes making them even more brilliant.
Slowly, though, Zexion began to wake up, and memories from the night came back in a sort of timeline. Getting to Axel's house, sitting on the porch swing, watching Demyx and Roxas play with Marly, eating dinner, sitting on the swing with Demyx after the sun was gone just talking about whatever came to mind, and then he remembered how after he explained his interest in Wicca Demyx began asking questions, as if it wasn't a taboo at all. Then after they returned inside, how the five of them watched a movie, how as he was growing tired he began to lean on Demyx, how he fell asleep… on Demyx…oops. Zexion hoped he wouldn't have to sort out problems that might have come out of that. As the darkness faded from his eyes he was met with more darkness, but this one playing a soft melody. Zexion turned his head to find Demyx on the floor at the end of the couch, Axel's old beat up guitar in his lap.
Demyx was staring out the front windows as he strummed the strings, soft words leaving his mouth, barely reaching Zexion. "Someone told me love would all save us. But how can that be, look at what love gave us; a world full of killing, and blood spilling, that world never came. And they say that a hero can save us, I'm not going to stand here and wait. I'll hold onto the wings of the eagles, watching as we all fly away."
Zexion listened and was amazed at how beautiful his voice sounded. Demyx never mentioned that he could sing, just that he loved music. Inching closer, hoping Demyx wouldn't notice, he began to hear clearer the words.
"Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I'm sending to you. It isn't the love of the hero, and that's why I fear it won't do. And they say that a hero could save us, I'm not going to stand here and wait. I'll hold onto the wings of the eagles, watch as we all fly away." Demyx glanced over his shoulder much to Zexion's horror and spotted the bluenett, the music instantly stopping and both boys freezing in place. The first one to move was Zexion, and only because he had to blink or his eyes would dry out.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." Zexion began to pull away back to his side of the couch and lay back down, though he didn't remember sitting up in the first place.
"No one's ever heard me play before." Demyx said quietly. He set the guitar down and turned to Zexion fully. "Was I bad?"
Zexion watched him from his spot on the couch and shook his head. "No, you were perfect. And you sounded perfect, too."
Demyx turned a bright red and hid his face in the couch. "I don't normally sing when people are around, but I thought you were asleep."
"Well, I was." Zexion switched places so he was still lying in the couch, but his head was closer to Demyx's. "You sounded really good, Demyx. You shouldn't feel so bad." And I'm sounding pathetic again.
Demyx looked up, his face still really red, even in the dark. "You liked it?"
Zexion nodded, stretching his arms above his head, ignoring the dull pain from his ribs. They would heal in a week or two. "You should play another song."
Demyx pulled his face from the couch and reached for the guitar. "What song?"
Zexion shrugged. "I don't know any happy ones. You pick."
Demyx leaned on the couch again and strummed a few cords before it seemed he had finally picked a song. "Look at this photograph, every time I do it makes me laugh. How did our eyes get so red? And what the hell is on…Axel's head?" The improvising made Zexion smile and it gave Demyx just the little push he needed. "This is where I grew up, I think the present owner fixed it up. I never knew we'd went without, the second floor was hard for sneaking out. And this is where I went to school, most of the time had better things to do. Criminal record says I broke in twice, I must have done it half a dozen times."
Demyx stopped when a creek from the hall produced a sleep induced Roxas in only his pants. He shuffled over to the couch, snuggled right up against Zexion, then waited for Demyx to continue.
Zexion felt a little awkward, but seeing as Roxas somehow looked like one of the kids at home, he gingerly put an arm over his shoulder and let it hang there while Demyx started up again, but on a different song.
"Never made it as a wise man, I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing. Tired of living like a blind man, I'm sick of sight without a sense of feeling." Demyx began.
A loud crash stopped him dead in his tracks. Axel loomed over the three of them with an intent to kill…until he saw Roxas nearly asleep again. "What's with him?"
Demyx put the guitar down and motioned to his cousin. "When Roxas is tired, he migrates to the warmest body. It helps him to sleep."
Axel charged himself with removing Roxas and holding him like a bride. The shorter of the two snuggled even closer to Axel and clutched at his tank top. Axel stared at the other two for a moment before a very tired version of his cat smile played on his lips. "I'll let yo off this time because I have Roxas."
"Don't rape him while he's asleep." Demyx called before sitting on the couch near Zexion's head. He yawned and stretched. "I want to sleep, but I'm not use to the floor."
"So take the couch." Zexion said sitting up.
"No, you have busted ribs."
Zexion glared at the blond. "Fine, suffer then." He turned his back to Demyx and got comfortable on the couch…until he felt something against his back. Glancing over his shoulder he found himself back to back with Demyx, somehow with them both fitting on the couch. "Demyx?"
"G'Night, Zexy." Demyx mumbled, quickly falling asleep.
"Night, Dem." Zexion closed his eyes and wondered if he would regret any of this in the morning.
***Morning***
Yep. Definitely regretted it. Specially when it was Demyx pulling him closer that woke him in the first place. Axel and apparently Roxas were still asleep, so it was only Zexion's voice inside his head that really made any noise. It was screaming for him to get up and away from Demyx, but his body wouldn't respond. He just laid there, staring at the couch as Demyx's chest gently pushed against his back with each even breath. His mind was yelling at him to move, to get out of this situation. Demyx doesn't mean anything more to you than a friend. So get up, don't just lay there next to him, what's wrong with you?!
A soft mumble from behind him broke Zexion out of his inner battle. He chanced a glance over his shoulder to find a sleepy-eyed Demyx beginning to wake up, his green eyes hid behind full lashes, though short. Demyx rubbed his face into Zexion's shoulder blade and mumbled again. "Zexy, you're comfy."
Surly Demyx noticed the temperature change as blood turned Zexion's face a bright cherry red. The heat was almost about to kill him when Demyx propped himself on his elbow and stared at Zexion, eyes barely open. He placed a hand on Zexion's forehead and waited a moment before pulling his hand away. "Thought you had a fever or somethin'."
Zexion took a deep breath to calm himself down just as a knock on the front door alerted to a guest. Zexion managed to roll over Demyx and stand on his feet without touching anything but his chest and the couch, and made his way to the door.
Marluxia and Lexaus stood on the other side, Marluxia holding a single yellow rose and he offered it to Zexion before the teen could ask. "How are you feeling?"
Zexion took the rose carefully, eyeing the thorns. "Fine. Sore, but that will go away in a week or two."
Lexaus eyed Demyx who was on his back, an arm draped over his eyes. It was not a friendly stare.
Zexion saw and shook his head. "It's not his fault, Lex. He kept them from killing me."
Axel came in then, Roxas close behind and when Axel spotted Marluxia and Lexaus, he grinned as best he could for just getting up. "Morning Marly. Lex."
Roxas started to giggle a little. "You named the dog after the guy with pink hair?"
"Careful, kid, I'm no one to make fun of." Marluxia said pointing a finger at Roxas. He was about to continue, but Axel put a protective arm in front of Roxas while yawning. "In any case, Aireth told us to come and see if the kid was doing okay."
Lexaus handed a card to Zexion before he continued to stare down the unaware Demyx. Zexion read the card out loud. "Hope you feel well, because we have to keep our punching bag healthy. Love, the gang and mom"
"Mom?" Demyx asked finally getting up. "I thought you didn't have a mom."
"Aireth. Her nickname from us is 'mom' because she took care of us." Marluxia explained.
"Oh! So the gang is the original kids Aireth took care of, before Yuffie and the others came along." Demyx nodded as if to agree and then headed down the hall to the bathroom he had found last night.
Lexaus put a hand on Zexion's shoulder. "How much did you tell him?"
"No names, really. Just the basics and a few detailes here and there." Zexion said. "Trust him, all right?"
*********
Marluxia, Lexaus, Larxene, Axel, Luxord, Saix, Xemnas, Xigbar, Xaldin, Vexen, Zexion. The eleven original kids "belonging" to Aireth. All but Zexion were out on their own, holding jobs in different parts of town. Marluxia owning the flower shop, Lexaus having the book store. Axel fixed up cars, Larxene cooked for the school, Vexen was the science teacher for the school, Luxord managed the winery, Saix and Xemnas worked in the mayor's office, Xigbar worked at the grocery store, and Xaldin traveled around doing odd jobs. Demyx listened as Zexion explained this over a cooked breakfast thanks to Larxene, and things began to click. Why Zexion and the "boss" seemed so close, why Zexion knew Lexaus' book store like the back of his hand, how he knew Axel well enough to come to his house without any feeling of intruding…it all began to make sense.
Zexion put down his cup of coffee and eyed Demyx. "Confused?"
"No, not at all." Demyx sipped his orange juice while watching through one of the windows as Marly and Marly the dog gave Roxas a lesson in throwing a stick properly. "I just didn't expect to know you so well so soon, is all."
Zexion looked into the light brown coffee and sighed to himself. "Sorry if it's too much to handle."
"Not at all. I just feel a little bad because I feel I know you better than you know me."
"Well, I'm sure it won't last long. Once you get settled into your apartment, you can have us over for a party or something." Zexion put the cup to his mouth but did not drink, rather he enjoyed the warmth against his lip. "Sound fair?"
Demyx beamed, but was stopped from commenting by a red head plopping himself in his lap. "Hey, Dem-Dem." Axel said throwing an arm around Demyx's neck. "So, what ya doing?"
Zexion hid his distaste by biting into his simple toast and chewing. Demyx, on the other hand, tried to push Axel off. "Trying to talk with Zexion."
Axel took the hint and stood, but kept a hand on Demyx. "Listen, I need to know what turns Roxas on."
Demyx shook his head, a light pink in his hears. "How the hell am I to know? As far as I know, Roxas has never been with someone before. Though I give you, he can be a tease."
Axel 'hmm-ed' and rubbed his chin. "I see, so I'll be the first one to see his sex face. Nice."
The pink in Demyx's ears grew brighter. "I doubt you'll get the chance, Axel."
Zexion was now focusing on his toast intently. Who came up with the idea, he must thank them if he ever found out (as you can tell, sex isn't a topic Zexion is use to).
"Well, he's a tease, so he must have some idea about what he's doing. In any case, you're his cousin, right?"
Demyx nodded, a little unsure of where the next comment would go.
"So, what are your spots? Maybe you two have something in common."
Zexion cursed to himself. Damn. Out of toast. Coffee's next.
Demyx was by now red eared and the tint was heading across his cheeks. "I wouldn't tell you them, even if I knew what they were."
Axel's eyes widened. "Oh, so you're a virgin too. Wow, I've never known two at a time before. Is it because you're a-sexual?"
Demyx hid his face in his hands, the embarrassment too much. Zexion cursed when he found his cup empty and looked for a new, longer lasting distraction. None.
Roxas came in then, panting and sweaty again. He spotted Axel and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the back porch. "Axel, help me would you?"
The kitchen became silent once again as Zexion and Demyx tried to recover. "Well, that was…something."
Half an hour later, Axel came bursting in, a look of triumph on his face. Apparently, Roxas turned his head at the wrong time and pecked Axel on the cheek. The read head couldn't stop smiling. "I know he didn't mean to, but it's a new foot hole in my progress."
Demyx ignored him in favor of talking to Larxene about the public school in town and how technically Demyx hadn't finished school. He still had his senior year to do. Larxene said she would see if she couldn't get him transferred over, and Demyx thanked her deeply. Zexion listened while doing the dishes and wondered if they would wind up having any classes. The phone ringing next to him pulled him away and with dripping hands answered the rings.
It was Naminé, and she was calling to let Demyx know that he could move in at last, and that she would be waiting for him at the place with his house key. Demyx then called the place holding his stuff in storage and gave them the address and time to show up. "Could I have your help with unpacking?"
Zexion rubbed his ribs without thinking about it. "I can't do much, Demyx."
"Yeah, but you could direct stuff, and it would be keeping me company." Demyx said as he stood up off the stool and walking over to the shorter teen. "Please?"
"I want to help." Larxene said crossing her arms. "Why does no one ask me for help?"
Demyx looked to her apologetically "Sorry, Larx."
Marluxia walked in then, Marly close behind. "Whatever Larxene does, I do."
"So I have to go, because you both need to be looked after." Axel said carrying Roxas on his back, his hands on his upper thighs, just shy of Roxas' ass.
Roxas held his arms loosely around Axel's neck, knowing he wouldn't be dropped. Resting his chin on Axel's shoulder, he didn't miss the chills on Axel's darker skin because of his breath traveling across it. He grinned, having fun teasing the older man. "Well, wherever Axel's going, I want to go too."
Axel smiled and held on a little tighter, becoming very comfortable with Roxas' weight. The kid was lighter than he looked, by a good couple pounds. "See, we'll all help."
Demyx looked at his cousin and how close he was becoming with Axel. He knew it wouldn't be long before they were together, Roxas followed his heart, and if it trusted Axel enough to be his first (and hopefully only, in Demyx's mind), then what could Demyx do but wish them everything and be there if they ever needed his help. He then glanced at the boy with deep indigo eyes who was becoming very close himself. Would he follow his heart, or test it with time, wait to see what happens? He wasn't sure, but at this point, he was grateful to any of the gods listening for getting Zexion as a friend. His first real friend, but certainly not his only, with how well he worked with the others in the gang.
Zexion finished the dished as axel was arguing with Larxene while Roxas was still on his back. In any case, it would be done sooner if everyone did help; at the very least the seven of them. "I think it's a good idea. It would get done quicker so Demyx could at least sleep there."
And so it was decided. The seven of them (Lexaus being the only unwilling one) set themselves on going to help Demyx unpack. Or get the furniture in, whichever.
