Quick update! :D Go me! XP

Kit: At least this one's not a filler ) I hate fillers.

Tily: It better be good then.

Marluxia: When do I get to be back in a chapter? *pouts*

Kit: I don't know leave me alone! D:

Marluxia: *sigh* Anyway, lets see what happens this time. If Vexen's in here without me I'll be upset!

Tily: ^^; Square own the characters, Kit owns the story.


Roxas' mood continued to stay in a constant state of depression for the next couple of days. He didn't have a reason to be happy right now, and no matter how much his friends tried to comfort him, it just wasn't helping. "Cheer up kid, I'm the only one allowed to scare away the customers; remember?" Xigbar jokingly said to Roxas on Thursday afternoon, making the spacey blond give a sigh and a weak smile. "Not your best, but at least it's something," the eye-patched man mumbled, giving Roxas' hair a ruffle of reassurance and one of his creepy grins before walking off to serve a new customer.

The blond sighed, resting with his back against the counter as he waited for the jingle of the door. He knew he should be happier, personal problems weren't really something you were supposed to carry around at work, but he couldn't really help it. And as long as Sephiroth didn't see him, he'd be fine.

Roxas broke away from his thought as he suddenly felt an impact in his side by whatever it was, scaring the life out of him. He turned towards the assaulter with an angry look before realising who it was clinging to him. "Yuffie?"

"Oh my god, it really is you Roxas!" she laughed, tightening her grip on the boy, who let the air out of his lungs with a huff, trying his best to breath again.

"Yuffie… Can't breath," the blond gasped, making the raven haired girl let go with an embarrassed giggle.

"Sorry Roxas, it's just so good to see you again! It's been forever! I didn't think you were coming back," she explained and the blond gave a small smile.

"Like I couldn't come back," he rolled his eyes at her. "It's good to see you too. Where's the rest of the gang?" Roxas asked, scanning the area and finding no other blitzers in sight.

"They're coming later, the old seniors have work and everyone else has after school classes," she shrugged.

"You wriggled your way out of that one, huh?" Roxas laughed as Yuffie pouted. "I'll come and take your order in a minute," he finished and, with a grin, the raven haired girl bounced away to a table.

"That's the Roxas I'm talking about," Xigbar commented as he walked past the boy, who walked away to take Yuffie's order and to clear a few empty tables on his way back before taking her a drink. "Hey Rox, the dish washers playing up and we're running out of cups. If I bring a few crates through here can you help dry them?" Xigbar asked the boy, who nodded in recognition.

"Sure, as long as you take my orders," Roxas smirked and though the man sighed, he agreed.

"Brat," he complained, throwing a dish towel at the blond and smirking as it hit Roxas in the face. The boy frowned as Xigbar walked away with a triumphant grin.

********

The blond found himself spacing out as he cleaned the cups mechanically. The repetitive motions were somewhat soothing, and, much to his relief, was finally half way through the last crate; he'd rather take orders than do this.

Roxas picked up another cup, continuing his task, though his ministrations were interrupted by a tap on his shoulder and, in response, he stuttered, almost dropping the thing in his hand. He turned to see who had tapped him. The blond was glad the cup was already on the table by the time he'd turned to completely face the person who had startled him, otherwise it really would have gone crashing to the floor.

In front of him was one person he never thought he'd see again, not to mention the last person he ever wanted to see. She was smiling at him, her blue eyes bright, her black hair shimmering in the sun light seeping in through the large windows, and Roxas was speechless. What was she doing here? "You're Roxas, right? I'm Xion."

He knew that. He couldn't forget that name. The name of a girl who had stolen away Axel's heart. But still, Roxas could say nothing. "I want to talk to you about Axel. Do you have a minute?" she asked politely.

"Sorry, I'm working," Roxas built up the courage to say, breaking him out of his stupor so he could turn towards the crate of cups and away from the girl.

"I just need you to listen to me, please. I think you've got this all wrong," she started and Roxas tried so hard not to listen, he couldn't listen, he didn't want to hear anything she had to say. "I need you to see Axel, he's been hysterical for the past few days-"

"I can't," Roxas interrupted without meeting her eye. "This doesn't have anything to do with me anymore," he went on and received a dejected sigh in response.

"Roxas, it isn't what you think. It seems I can't convince you, but I'm telling you the truth. Axel needs you."

"I have to go," the blond mumbled, marching away and into the kitchen.

Xion sighed again as she watched Roxas disappear, "is there something I can get you poppet?" Xigbar asked as he carried a tray back to the counter and she shook her head.

"No, thank you. I was just leaving." She smiled at the man before finally leaving.

"Something wrong?" Paine asked Roxas as he stormed into the kitchen and pressed himself against the door. He looked at her, quickly trying to hide his panic, and gave an unsure smile.

"It's nothing." She knew he was lying. So did Roxas. Everything was wrong right now. He still couldn't believe Xion had just turned up and asked Roxas to see Axel. Why would she do that? Roxas couldn't do anything anymore, and seeing Axel now would kill him. He still needed time to let go. "Think I can take my break now?" The blond wondered, both him and Paine looking up at the clock. She nodded.

"I'm sure Xigbar can handle it," she answered and Roxas nodded, making his way to the staffroom and flipping open his phone.

"Hey Rox," the voice greeted the blond from the other end and he sighed. Thank god Sora had his phone with him.

"Hey Sora, sorry if I'm bothering you, I just need someone to talk to."

"Don't worry about it Rox, you're my best friend so I'm always going to answer whenever you need me. Is something up?" the brunet asked and Roxas took a deep breath, preparing for the reaction he was going to get from Sora regarding the information he was about to share.

"Xion just came to the café," the blond answered and held his breath as the phone went silent.

"Riku!" Roxas winced, moving the phone away from his ear as Sora called for his boyfriend - though the blond couldn't help but laugh a little. He heard some commotion as Sora walked to find the silverette and the mumbling of a conversation before…

"What did she say?" Riku asked bluntly, though Roxas had expected this to happen.

"She… wants me to see Axel," the blond confessed and once again there was a pause of silence over the phone.

"Are you going to?" the silverette asked, "he has been asking about you for the past couple of days, this is the first time he's been home for so long since he digressed the second time." This information relieved the blond, at least Axel was home and safe, even if he was being a nuisance to their friends.

"I know… but..." Roxas sighed in frustration. "I don't know," he admitted.

"I suggest you think about it tonight, maybe talk to Cloud about it too, but don't do it if you don't want to Roxas. We all know it'll happen eventually but it's your choice." Roxas gave a small, sad smile.

"Thanks Riku. Listen, I've got to get back to work, I'll talk to you later; and tell Sora thanks, too."

"Anytime Roxas, we'll see you later."

********

Once home Roxas heaved a sigh of relief. It had been a long day, not to mention he had studying to do - as if there wasn't enough on his mind already. "Hey kiddo," Cloud said, greeting his brother, who smiled. "Work ok?"

"Work is work," Roxas replied. He'd decided against telling Cloud about the incident with Xion, his brother had to put up with enough from Roxas and his current depression, so he didn't want to make it worse. "I've got studying to do so I'm just going to take some snacks up to my room," he informed his brother, who nodded.

"Sure thing, we're just watching TV so you're not missing out on much." Roxas nodded, walking into the kitchen as Cloud returned to the living room. He finally made his way to his bedroom, trudging tiredly up the stairs before Cloud grabbed his attention again. "Oh and Roxas," said blond turned to look at his brother. "Axel called again." Roxas' stomached turned. Why? Why couldn't Axel let this go without the guilt and hurt? It would be better for both of them if it was left the way it was. "Just thought I'd let you know kiddo."

Roxas replied with a barely noticeable smile. "Thanks Cloud," he said and his brother nodded before walking back into the living room as Roxas continued on his way up the stairs.

Roxas attempts at studying seemed futile. He'd been sitting for an hour now just tapping his pencil against his text book. There was no room in his head for Math work. Today's events kept running through his mind and the main source of them all was, of course, Axel.

"Axel," the blond sighed out. The redhead hadn't left his mind, and it seemed like everyone else was making sure he wouldn't, either.

It wasn't supposed to be this complicated. Sure, Roxas knew it was going to be a rocky start but… everything wasn't supposed to just crumble from underneath him. He gave another sigh, tilting his head back and closing his eyes, letting his thoughts run wild until he heard a tapping from… outside? That didn't seem right, and out of curiosity the blond stood up from his chair and made his way over to his window. Opening them and peering suspiciously out into the back garden when Déjà vu hit him like a ton of bricks, making Roxas gasp.

What was he doing here? Why? Why was this happening? "Roxas," even as a whisper, that voice pulled at his heart string's and Roxas' eyes grew wider. "Roxas please, don't go anywhere. Listen to me."

He didn't have to say all that. The blond couldn't move. His feet were glued to the floor, he was stuck where he stood, and as much as he wanted to leave, he couldn't. "Why are you here Axel?" Roxas managed to squeak out past the lump in his throat. He didn't care that tears were rolling down his cheeks, twinkling as if they were stars in the moonlight. But, these tears were nowhere near as beautiful. They were only heart breaking. And as Axel stared up at the crying blond, his own heart broke again.

"Please, don't do this Roxas." Axel begged making the blonde's already wobbly emotional state flare with anger.

"What am I doing Axel?" He cried, wiping rapidly at his red cheeks to try and rid himself of the tears that didn't want to stop falling. "I'm allowed to cry now, after everything," Roxas continued to sob. "Go home Axel, you don't need me anymore."

With that Roxas turned away towards his bedroom again. "Wait, Roxas!" The redhead called frantically. Roxas couldn't just leave, not now. He had to understand what was going on. "Damn it," Axel cursed, making his way over to the trellis beside the back door and shakily climbed it to reach Roxas' balcony. But, he was too late. The blond had already closed and locked the doors, drawing the curtains; so no one could see inside. The redhead sighed heavily, pressing his arms against the glass and sliding onto his knees.

He knocked lightly on the glass, one piece of hope left that Roxas might change his mind. Though, doubtful he would, Axel could only listen to those heart wrenching sobs. "Please Roxas," he said again, "I love you."

Inside the blond sat against the wall beside the windows. He was sick of this. All of this hurt, he just wanted everything to be the way it was, but… that wasn't going to happen now. He listened as Axel spoke and heard the whisper of those three words he'd longed to hear once more, his eyes growing wide and he shakily stood, peering out through a gap in the curtains to look for Axel, however… he was gone, and a new flood of tears started again as Roxas stared out of the window. "I love you too."


A/N: Well... yeah.

Tily: I... can't believe you did that.

Marluxia: oooo drama! Now I'm interested.

Kit: Being the queen of drama I'm not surprised you like it. *mumbles*

Marluxia: Stop being so uptight.

Kit: You're dead Marluxia!

Tily: Leave reviews for more guests and to make her happy!

Marluxia: Do it and I might get more screen time! :D

Kit: Not if I kill you first!