Roxas immediately felt ashamed.
Of course Axel didn't like him! Roxas didn't seem the type that Axel would like. He could only picture the redhead with someone taller than himself, and with much, much more muscles. Roxas had none. He was skin and bones, even though he did plenty of workouts with his father. Sure you couldn't see his ribs near the stomach, but there was no muscle present on his body. It was all bones. Plus, that was downright ridiculous. They just barely met, even though they've been texting. It wasn't like he's known Axel for a month or so. Hell, he didn't even know what he looked like until yesterday. He was just jumping to conclusions, like he always did. It was a habit of his, on account of his deep thinking.
Right?
Axel might've just said that because he wanted to be friends with him. That didn't mean he liked him. Axel did mention that he was his friend, but Roxas was wrong to jump to conclusions and assume the redhead liked him.
Gosh. I'm such an idiot!
Roxas sat up in the bed once 30 minutes had passed by. His mind had been shut down, and he didn't even know if he slept. Sure he felt pretty close to sleeping, he doubted he did. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't sleep. So, giving up, he stumbled out of his room, blind in the dark, opened the door, and trudged into the living room.
There Axel sat. On the sofa, his long legs propped on the table in a comfortable manner, with the TV remote in his hands. He was obviously switching through channels passively. Roxas already felt as nervous as hell, Axel's words echoing in his mind from earlier.
Roxas once again cursed himself. He was jumping to conclusions. Darn him for his—
"Awake already?" Axel asked, noticing the blonde standing in the doorway.
Roxas felt awkward. All the things Axel said to him…they were so….
"I'm sorry." Axel said with a sheepish grin. Roxas froze. Did he know I was awake? "But I didn't stay here while you fell asleep. I kind of went home to get some snacks." He held up two bags of chips—Hot Cheetos. "But I came right back."
"So you left," Roxas said, "right when I went into my room?"
"Yeah. But just to get snacks—I swear! Right after I got them, I came back. Call me a peeper, but I went through your pantry and you had no chips. I was shocked. What kind of American doesn't eat chips? Anyway, so I went to get some from Kairi's house. I have my own little stash. You just can't watch TV without something to munch on, you know?"
Roxas's mind swarmed in confusion. If Axel left right after he went into his room, then how could he have came in and said those things? Did he actually fall asleep, and just had a dream of him doing that? He never remembered going to sleep, but his mind was so hazy he probably didn't even know he did.
"FYI, Roxy, you talk in your sleep." Axel said with a smirk. "I find it adorable. I had to peek in there once I got back, and you were snoring away. Talk about a deep sleeper. And then you were, uh, talking in your sleep."
Roxas's eyes widened. Shit! So he was asleep and did have a dream about Axel saying he liked him!
Ugh. Why did it have to be a dream?
Wait. Get it together! Stop thinking like that! Poor Axel doesn't even like you. If he knew you thought this much he'd probably just leave.
"I was?"
"Yeah. Something about a thief." Axel scratched his hair. "I do have many faults, but invading someone's privacy is not among them. So I just looked in and went right back out." He grinned. "With my delicious mouth-watering Hot Cheetos of course."
Roxas could feel a headache approaching. So it was all a…dream?
Just a dream.
So Axel's not an obsessed guy who thinks they once knew each other? Roxas already felt relieved, but then another thought struck him.
What if he's lying? What if he knew you weren't asleep and was just saying all this so you'd think it was a dream when it really wasn't? Just so you won't freak out?
Roxas searched Axel's face for any signs of lying. He knew that people got nervous when they lied, and would tend to look anywhere but the person's face. Right now Axel looked at complete ease, lounging into the sofa, drowning his mouth with Hot Cheetos. His attention was back to the TV instead of on Roxas.
Roxas sighed. He was over analyzing this. Axel would never go through his room like that. He wouldn't take advantage of Roxas being asleep to go through his drawers. And he wasn't obsessed with him. Who would want to obsess over him anyway? He was boring. He was downright boring. Nothing interesting of him.
Besides, Axel was a good guy. Though he was playful most of the time, Roxas knew that Axel was good. He joked around a lot; that didn't make him a bad person. He wasn't bad. Even though Roxas only knew him for two days in the flesh, Roxas could tell the guy wasn't out to get people. He was just…there.
"Check this out." Axel urged, stuffing more Hot Cheetos into his mouth. Roxas hurried next to him, sitting stiffly beside him. So it was all just a dream. Axel doesn't like me. He's just my friend. "Look! Oh—see the cat! Oh!" Axel busted out in laughter, clutching his stomach as he bent over, laughing breathlessly. Roxas stared at the screen, realizing Axel had a very dry sense of humor. It wasn't complex like a lot of humors existing today. It was just there and easy to spot. Most people would find it stupid and just goofy, but Axel found it hilarious.
"No, guess what movie I found." Axel said, bringing up the remote to go to the menu. "I recorded it just so we could watch it when you woke up."
Roxas looked over all the recordings he had on the TV—war movies from his father, and cartoons from Sora. Roxas was a cartoon-watcher as well, but Sora watched them a lot. Roxas didn't watch TV much, and when he did it was nothing big. He's never even recorded anything before. Whenever he was bored, of course he'd find a good movie and watch it. Axel found his selection and clicked it.
"It's a wonderful masterpiece called Hot Rod." Axel said matter-of-factly. "Most people say it's a pointless movie liked Dynamite, but I beg to differ. I like Dynamite, but Hot Rod is the bomb."
Roxas watched part of the movie with Axel. He had to admit, the humor in the movie was humorous to Axel. And at some parts, the film was so stupid that it made him laugh. It was pretty pointless, even though it had a plot and everything, but it was pretty funny. Roxas had to admit. He knew a lot of people would've just stared at the screen instead of laughing. The humor was that dry. But here he was, laughing along with the redhead.
When it got to the commercials, Axel began eating the second bag of Hot Cheeros. For a skinny guy, he sure as hell ate a lot. He pressed on the fast-forward button, and skipped to when the commercials ended.
"Fucking commercials," Axem mumbled, his mouth full of the chips. He chewed loudly. "Hate 'em. Why have them if everyone just skips them anyway? And they say I'm the stupid one."
"Hey Axel?" Roxas asked, once it got to a quiet part in the movie.
Axel didn't look away from the TV. "Hm?" Roxas was slightly amused by the teen's fascination with the movie. Axel must've really liked watching TV or something.
"Can I try one?"
Axel didn't reply. He simply jutted out the bag, silently answering with a yes. Roxas hesitantly reached within the confines of the bag, grabbed the smallest Hot Cheeto, and pulled it out. Axel retracted the bag, digging around for a whole handful of them and just shoved them into his mouth. He started laughing at one part, and Roxas swore he was going to choke; he ate that many of the chips at once. But the redhead just laughed without chewing, and once he calmed down, he chewed.
Roxas looked at the chip. Its seasoning was making his finger a dark red. Cautiously, he sniffed it. His taste buds were on fire already. Hell, it smelled hot. Just imagine the taste.
He glanced back at Axel, who still hadn't had a drink of water, yet continued eating the hot chips like they were sugar.
He considered throwing the chip away, but felt guilty. That would waste food—he couldn't do that. So he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tossed the chip into his mouth.
Immediately he began panting, his eyes widening from the burning sensation in his mouth.
"Roxy?" Axel muted the TV after noticing Roxas's sudden change. Roxas's eyes were glazed with tears, and he was fanning his mouth frantically. "What's going on?"
"It's-it's hot!" Roxas stuttered, swallowing the chip quickly. His mouth was on fire. "I need water! Now!" He took off running to the kitchen, tore open the fridge, and grabbed the nearest drink, which happened to be bottled water. Must've been Soras. He took a big, refreshing gulp of water, cleansing his throat almost instantly. After he drank half the drink, he set it down, breathing heavily.
"I have to say one thing." Axel said, sitting up and leaning into the back of the sofa so he could gaze at Roxas. "I have never, ever in my life, seen anyone react like that to a Hot Cheeto. I should've taped that and put it on YouTube or something, would've made an internet sensation."
"It's not funny!" Roxas shot back weakly. "I can't even feel my tongue."
"Was that your first Hot Cheeto?"
"Yes! You wonder why I've never had one, and never will. That will be my first Cheeto, and my last. Gosh. Those things are terrible! How the hell do you eat them?"
The flaming redhead shrugged, picking up the bag innocently. "No offense, Blondie, but they're not that hot."
"They're burning hot." Roxas corrected, drinking more water slowly. He swirled it around his mouth before swallowing.
"You might want to stick to gummy worms or something." Axel suggested. "I mean, holy shit. You, like, totally freaked out. You should've seen your face. I could see smoke coming out of your ears!"
"Like I said, not funny! At all."
Roxas trudged back to the living room, sinking down onto the couch. It was then he started to feel embarrassed. Did he really react that abnormally? He could feel his cheeks heating up, so he crossed his arms over his chest, and pouted.
"Hey, don't be all mad. Gummy worms aren't that bad."
"Sorry."
"Sorry?"
"I didn't mean to spazz out. I just…I wasn't expecting it to be that hot."
"I can't blame you for reacting like that." Axel sat back down, shrugging. "To be honest, I, uh, kind of found it funny."
"…shut up."
"I'm serious!"
"Whatever. Just promise me something. If I ever, ever ask for one of those," Roxas turned to glare at Axel gravely, "don't let me have one. No matter how many times I ask you. That fucking burned my mouth. I probably won't be able to taste for a whole week."
Axel chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'll never give one to you again, which doesn't matter for me." He shook the bag, grinning like an idiot. "More for me."
"How long have you been eating those?"
Axel looked down, tracing patterns on the bag. "For awhile."
"So you just got used to them?"
"Yeah. Like I said, they're not that hot. Sure I'll feel a little heat here and there but," Axel smirked over at Roxas, "sometimes a little heat isn't so bad. Know what I'm saying?"
Roxas went still. There it was. That feeling he got. That same feeling he had in his dream—when Axel told him all that stuff about being obsessed about him. That tingling sensation that made him feel funny. The feeling that happened when he used to like Namine.
Wait. Did he like Axel?
Roxas hesitantly glanced over at the redhead, who had returned to the movie. This time Axel had one of his knees up to rest his chin on and the remote in his right hand. He was, once again, absorbed in the movie.
Roxas quickly looked away. Of course he didn't like Axel! He barely knew him. He…he was a stranger.
So why did he feel so comfortable around him? Why did he let himself go around Axel?
Roxas frowned to himself. He was being an idiot. He was completely over analyzing everything. He should just stop thinking, and just go. Like dancing. Just shut his mind down for once and feel.
He's only known the guy for a fricking day. He was just being an idiot.
"Haven't got a lot! I don't need a lot. Coffee's only a dime. Living in the sunlight, loving in the moonlight, having a wonderful time." Sora slammed the door open, singing in a wailing voice that made even Axel cringe.
"Sora," Roxas snapped, his voice rising over Sora's, "can you stop singing like Tiny Tim?"
Sora ignored him, and waltzed into the room. Riku entered the house, smiling softly at his hyper brunette.
"Just take it from me, I'm just as free as any daughter." Sora continued, his voice sounding almost exactly like the real singers. "I do what I like, just what I like, and how I love it!"
Roxas grabbed a nearby pillow and threw it at his twin. Sora tumbled backwards, giggling madly, and Riku caught him just before he hit the floor.
"Finally." Roxas said when Sora stopped singing.
"Hey Rox," Sora greeted with a calm wave, grinning widely. "Hey Axel."
"It is scary," Axel said finally, "how different you two are. You look alike, except your hair colors, but shit, you act like…so different."
"Nu uh!" Sora sprang onto Roxas, hugging him tightly. "We're twins."
Riku stood next to Axel as they both observed the twins. Then Riku said, "Yeah. They look a lot alike."
"Not true." Roxas snapped, shoving Sora off of him. Sora giggled again, latching onto Axel's foot. "I fix my hair differently. See?"
Axel nodded, gently kicking Sora free from his leg. "I see. Your hair spikes to the right, while Sora's is just…spiky."
Sora beamed. "Hey Axel, is your hair naturally red?"
"Believe it or not," Axel replied, "it is naturally this color. Want proof?" Nobody replied instantly, so the redhead sighed, stood up, and began unbuttoning his pants.
Everyone came alive at once.
"No! No, we don't need proof!" Riku said, looking taken aback.
Roxas had his eyes covered, blushing madly.
Sora started laughing, burying his head in the pillow. "Wow! Look at you go!"
Axel mumbled something, but nobody wanted to know what it was. He took back his seat.
"We saw Kairi on the way back here." Riku said softly. "She said her mother wants you home once we got here."
"Damn." Axel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, I'll leave. Well, not without those." He snatched the bag of Hot Cheetos possessively. "See you around, guys."
"Bye Axel!" Sora said loudly, as if the redhead wouldn't have heard him.
"See you around." Riku agreed.
Roxas finally looked out from his hands just in time to see Axel's pure green, feline eyes staring right into them. He was smirking. "Buh bye, Roxy."
"Axel?" Roxas gulped when Axel hugged him, picking him up slightly off the couch. He gasped when the redhead picked him all the way up, swinging him in the air like he didn't weigh anything. "Ah—put me down! Axel! Put me the fuck down! I'm serious."
"Don't get your panties in a bunch." Axel griped, setting the blonde down. He ruffled his hair. "See you around, Roxy."
Meanwhile, while Roxas was being swung around like a toy, Riku said goodbye to Sora and was already out the door. Axel sauntered out of the room, closing the front door softly.
"So," Sora said slyly, giving Roxas a mischievous look, "you and Axel, huh?"
Roxas sat back down. "What?"
"You heard me. You guys are getting close."
"No we aren't."
"I saw the way he hugged you, Rox. I'm not blind." Sora sat up, that goofy look off his face. "To be honest, I think you two would make an awesome couple."
"Sora, I don't like Axel."
"Then stop blushing."
Roxas looked away. "Shut up."
"Hey, don't be ashamed if you like him! Axel's a great guy. He hides nothing, plus he's Kairi's brother."
"You don't get it. I don't know him, Sora. I don't know his past. Hell, I don't even know his favorite color."
"So what? I don't know Riku's favorite color either. You can like someone without knowing them."
Roxas's eyes widened. That stuck his nerve.
Namine.
"Yeah." Roxas said bitterly. "That can be true. You know what happened the last time I did that?"
Sora instantly retracted. "Shit, Rox. I didn't mean that. I take it back—I take it back!"
"I'm sorry if I don't want to just jump into this." Roxas snapped. "I mean, this is bullshit. I don't even like Axel. We shouldn't even be having this conversation." Then he added, "Besides, he'd never like me."
"Why not?"
"Because. He seems to go after guys who, uh, are more interesting. More experienced."
"Don't judge a book by its cover." Sora replied. "Like you said earlier, you don't know Axel. You don't know his mind. I'm sorry if I keep pushing you, but it's like…I don't know. It's weird. Everytime I see you two together, which has only been three times, I feel happy. I feel like there's something going on, you know?" Sora shrugged. "I may be wrong. You guys might just become best friends, but who knows? This might evolve into something much, much bigger than that."
"Speaking of earlier," Roxas said, wanting to change the subject, "how did you know about me drowning?"
Sora looked annoyed. "Hey, he's my dad, too alright? He tells me stuff. He told me what happened. Did you expect him to just lie? Plus he told me to watch after you."
Roxas was surprised. "Watch over me?"
"Yeah. You know, make sure you were okay while he was gone." Sora looked at Roxas. "You know he loves you, right? Dad. He loves you. Sure he's hard on you, but only because he finds you promising. I still think you should tell him you're gay but—"
"—no!" Roxas blurted, horrified by the mere thought. "Hell. No. Tell Dad about me being gay? He'd probably try and convert me, or just stop talking to me all together."
"I don't know why you think that. Dad is actually a nice guy."
"I never said he wasn't. I just…" Roxas sighed, suddenly very, very tired. "I want to wait."
"I'll respect that." Sora said with a nod. "But if you ever want advice from me, you'll know what it is. You have to be open with your feelings, Rox. Remember the first time I woke up and realized I was gay? Do you remember?"
Roxas remembered like it was yesterday. They shared the same room at the time, since Cloud was using Roxas's current room as his workout room. Sora literally jumped out of bed one morning, eyes wide as if startled, and he looked at Roxas and said quietly, "I'm gay."
And then everything changed. Sora was more open about how he was. And once he started dating Riku, he knew for sure that he was gay. There was no going back.
"I remember that I told Dad that very same day." Sora continued. "I got to the point where I just wanted to be myself. I didn't want to lie to him, or pretend I'm someone I'm not. So I told him. Sure he was confused at first, but then he started to realize that, that was who I was. And he accepted it. He's not a tyrant. He won't beat the shit out of you just because you like guys. Sure he might be a little disappointed, but only because you've been lying to him."
Roxas groaned, rubbing his forehead. "Too much to think. I'll make this decision tomorrow."
Sora cracked a grin. "Since when did you become a procrastinator?"
"I don't know." Roxas silently went back to his room, fell onto his bed, and stared up at the ceiling. He remembered the night when he went to Namine's house, and how he came home feeling like it was the end of the world. But it wasn't; it was only the beginning. The beginning of a new him. Sometimes it must take pain for the truth to be revealed.
He remembered everything. He had come home crying, and it felt like Namine ripped open his heart and devoured it. That's how much it hurt. But then…
…he started talking to Axel.
Holy shit, I might like Axel. I might like him. I might…holy shit.
Axel was the one who showed Roxas the other path. Axel changed his life. He may not have changed Axel's life, but the redhead did change his.
A light flickered to his left, looking brighter than ever when in the pitch-black room.
What was it?
Roxas, squinting his eyes from the bright light, turned to see his phone. He picked it up, and saw a message staring back at him.
Hey, Blondie. How's it going?
He couldn't help but smile. It felt like old times, even though that was only two days ago. He texted back immediately.
Laying down. You?
Same here. I didn't feel like sleeping, you know?
Yeah. I know.
So wanna chill with the mow hawk kid? I forgot his name.
Demyx?
Oh—yeah. Wanna chill with him and the other kid tomorrow? They seem cool.
Um, to be curious, why are you asking me? If you wanted to chill with them you can go ahead.
Duh, Roxy. You go where I go. Got it memorized?
I'm genuinely flattered.
You should be. I don't usually hang with just anybody :p
Sorry again. For uh freaking out over the Hot Cheeto.
Bleh. Forget about it. No biggie. Besides, I remember my first Hot Cheeto now that I think about it. I was in some kind of store I think. And I tried one out, and immediately began screaming, running in circles, screaming for water. I had some weird ass looks, I'll tell you. But then the burning sensation was kind of addicting, and I couldn't stop eating them. It was something different.
Yeah. They're definitely different.
I mean, most chips are just salty and crunchy. Hot Cheetos are hot and sure as hell deliver a kick on the first bite. Oh! OH! Like sea salt ice cream! They're alike.
…wow.
What? I compared them, alright? Got a problem and I might have to show off on that kids toy of yours again :p
It's not a kids toy!
Pfft, whatever, Blondie. Whatever floats your boat.
It's not.
It is.
Not.
Is.
Not.
Is.
NOT.
Not.
IS!
Wait. HEY! You tricked me! Jerk!
Hahahaha. Aw, I'll bet you're pouting now :3
No…shut up…
You're so cute, Roxy! I could just pinch those widdle cheeks of yours.
If you even think about pinching them I…won't be happy.
The truth will set you free!
Truth my ass. Besides, I'm not cute. I'm manly.
No. I'm manly. You're cute. There's a difference.
Kiss my ass!
Watch your tongue. Don't want to say anything that might cause something to happen.
That makes absolutely no sense. Then again, you scarcely do.
I know right? But at least I'm not boring :p
Sure, sure.
Shit. Phone's almost out of battery. See you later, Blondie. :D
Bye.
Roxas set down his phone, laying back onto the bed.
Maybe he did like Axel.
So what if he did? Shoot him. Sue him.
He liked a boy.
The blonde woke up to the most terrible noise he had ever heard in his life.
"Tiptoe through the window," Sora was singing in that wailing voice, "by the window, that's where I'll be. Come tiptoe through the tulips with me."
Roxas jumped up to see Sora tiptoeing through his room, smiling to himself. Roxas glared. "What the hell, Sora? What's with the sudden obsession with Tiny Tim?"
Sora continued singing, "Oh tiptoe from the garden. By the garden of the willow tree and tiptoe through the tulips with me."
"Sora!" Roxas snapped, covering his ears. "That sounds like shit. How that guy became so famous I don't know."
"Aw, don't be like that!" Roxas uncovered his ears when he heard Sora stop singing. "Tiny Tim is awesome."
"Yeah, back in the 60's." Roxas grumbled, in a bitter mood. Sora just woke him up—he was going to pay.
"Today's Monday." Sora said in a sing-song voice. He leaned into the bed, meeting Roxas's eyes dead on. "Have any plans with you-know-who?"
"Do you ever give up?"
"Me? Give up? I don't think so." Sora's grin widened. "Oh come on! You two would be so awesome together! We could go on double dates. Hell, I'm sure they'd set up an entire fandom for you at school if you guys went out!"
"Sora!"
"Oh look, it's Axel and Roxas!" Sora said, mimicking a surprised look. He pointed at the wall, as if it was Roxas and Axel. "Aren't they just the best couple ever? I have any idea! Let's make some fan art of them!"
"I'm going to slap you. I will."
"Oh, that reminds me. Demyx and Zexy want us to go to their house today to watch some movies." Sora gushed.
"Zexy? Since when did you talk to them?"
"Since today. I don't know why we've never talked—they're so nice." Sora winked. "And guess who else is going? Your lover."
"He's not my lover." Roxas hid his head into the pillows, wishing he could just crawl under a rock.
"I also told them I'd bring a movie or two over. What should I bring?"
"How about something like Titanic?" Roxas said sarcastically.
Sora's face brightened. "I love that movie!"
"I was kidding! If you brought that, you'd start crying again. You know you cry every single time you watch that movie."
Sora knew Roxas was true. He did cry every time he watched the tragic movie. It was inevitable!
"Fine." Sora pouted. "But Riku's coming in an hour to pick us up. Aren't they nice? They invited us all!"
"I don't really want to go." Roxas admitted. "I don't know how to act around Axel anymore." As if proving his point, he picked up his phone to see he already got a text from the redhead.
"Just be yourself." Sora said finally, all serious again. "Once you get the hang of it, it's not hard."
"Sure. Whatever." Roxas replied to Axel's text, confirming that he was going to watch movies with both of the guys he used to be scared of. No. Not scared; intimidated.
"Get dressed." Sora said with another wink. "You and your love will probably be cuddling on the couch, you two love birds."
"SORA!"
"To eat an egg, you must break the shell."
~Jamaican Proverb
A/N:
Once again thanks to all my reviewers. This has got to be the longest chapter so far in this story. Like it so far? I like it! I'll update again when I can.
Summer! I love summer, even though I like winter better :p no school! Sue me, I hate school. Hate it with a burning passion. So summer is awesome. Plus I get to update faster!
:)SmilinForYa(:
