Xiana: Woohoo chapter 9! This is pretty cool, I guess. I went to the mall and got my ears pierced yesterday and tommorow is pirate day for homecoming! Yay! Now for chapter 9. With a special appearance by Kel, playing the part of herself. (bows) I'm sorry…
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Confetti ConfessionsAfter a half-hour or so, they had created a list of people to be on the jury and to hold various positions. The list went something like this…
Judge: Xaldin
Lawyerss: Larxene, Vexen
Bailiff: Xigbar
Jury members: Xemnas, Lexaeus, Saïx, Luxord, Marluxia, others TBA
Audience: Random Nobodies
xStar Witnessesx: Axel and Roxas!
They decided that Axel and Roxas should make the summonses for jury duty, Demyx should get Xaldin and Xigbar prepared for their jobs, and Zexion would go get Vexen to legally represent him. Larxene got out of doing anything by explaining quite eloquently that she would need to examine the evidence and begin putting together her case against Zexion, though in reality she just wanted to make copies of the film before Zexion could destroy the memory card or something.
Axel and Roxas sat down at what looked like a little kindergarten table for arts and crafts and began creating official-looking documents. "Roxas, you read that book, right? Is there shiny stuff on summonses?"
"I dunno! We should put some on anyway!"
"Okay!" Axel pulled a bag full of sparkly confetti out of a random drawer.
They took turns sprinkling it over the invitations, which now looked slightly less official. They were so absorbed in this task that they didn't realize everyone else had left until Roxas asked, "So, who else do we invite?"
After a bit of silence, Axel finally commented, "Well, the only people I know besides the rest of the Organization are the people from that pizza place… And they're all crazy fangirl-ish types. You know…" He shuddered.
"How exactly does that work? Like, our fangirls?"
"Yes Roxas, our fangirls," Axel repeated, emphasizing the word our. "Mostly anyway… I'm pretty sure I know whose side they're already on."
"Well, biased juries are the best we can do on such short notice." Roxas wasn't exactly worried. It didn't really affect him, right?
"Still, they love spreading rumors. Like that one time, when Vexen had been working in the lab for five days straight, and this Kel girl came bringing me pizza. Vexen came up looking like he had risen from the dead and was moaning, 'Fooooooood' like some sort of zombie. She screamed so loud she woke up Saïx, who was right next door. He came out all grumpy and stuff right when she threw the pizzas up in the air. So then it landed on his head, and Larxene was conveniently there to take a picture. So that moment was recorded forever. I wonder if Toshi took that one. Anyway-" he was cut off by Roxas.
"Shut up," Roxas said curtly.
"B-but Roxy…" Axel was hurt.
Roxas smiled. "Just tell me one thing: pepperoni, cheese, or mushroom?"
Axel laughed, relieved that Roxas had been joking. "Actually… it was double sauce and anchovy. I ordered it 'cuz I was curious."
Roxas thought of Saïx with a double-sauce-anchovy pizza on his shining blue locks he took such pride in. He liked that image so much that he had an XD-like expression on his face when Axel looked up from drawing a lovely, kindergarten-y flower on someone's notice. (It was pink.) He jumped up and ran around the small table to give Roxas a big hug.
"Awwwwwwwww, you're so cute!" Axel squeezed the younger boy tightly. He couldn't really help himself. In fact, it was lucky (for Roxas?) that Axel hadn't given him a biiiiiiiig smooch. For being so adorably cute, of course. No smooching out of context. Because that wouldn't be cool. With Roxy that is. Because Roxas was not going to appreciate random smooching. Just if it had a point. Or maybe not. Maybe Roxas wasn't going to tolerate a smooch from Axel in any sort of context. Hm.
Axel realized that he had captured Roxas so tightly in his sweet embrace, that Roxas was having a hard time breathing. "Aaah, Roxy, I'm so sorry!" he gasped, letting go and running to face Roxas.
After a few minutes of breathing heavily, Roxas looked up and smiled. "It's okay Axel, I don't mind being squeezed to death by you!" He was obviously flirting again, but for what purpose?
Axel decided to ask him straight up. " Uh… Just what is it that you're insinuating?"
Roxas looked away. Axel had caught on, but he hadn't seemed to like it. Was he wrong? The way Axel had been treating him was very affectionate, but what if he only considered Roxas a friend, all evidence to the contrary? He looked back at Axel, deciding he had to do something. Aha!
Axel had noted the expression on Roxas' face and the way he had turned away from his gaze. The voice from before had returned, saying, 'See, there's your proof. And he is afraid of rejection.'
'I'm finding it harder and harder to argue with you, especially when we all want the same thing.'
'True dat, bra. Oh, sorry, that was out of character. Um… Go get Roxy, yeah!' the voice cheered before leaving again.
Axel refocused on the situation at hand to be startled by Roxas, gazing into his eyes from just inches away. "Holy crap, Roxas! You scared me!" he gasped, holding a hand to his rapidly beating heart… thing.
Roxas frowned slightly. "Sorry, Axel. It's just…you had a little bit of glitter right here…." He brushed his fingers lightly over Axel's cheek, tracing the line of Axel's tattoo before flicking an invisible particle off his hand as he regretfully drew back.
Axel stared at Roxas. The boy smiled hopefully back. Axel instinctively raised his hand to his face, feeling where Roxas had made contact, however briefly it was. Although Roxas' hands were cold, his cheek turned red and he realized he was blushing. "Roxas…" Roxas looked into his eyes, obviously waiting for him to say something, but Axel didn't know what he wanted to say.
"I… I…" Dammit. What seemed so easy in theory was once again proving difficult in practice. Axel knew he wanted Roxas. Hell, he could even make a case for loving him. But even when Roxas was definitely reciprocating his feelings, he couldn't say the words he wanted to.
"I… I…Roxas…" He looked at Roxas pleadingly, hoping he could say the words, wanting to, desperately wanting to, with all his being. He couldn't force the words out. I love you, Roxas. How hard could it be?
When it was evident that no more words would escape the accursed prison of his lips, a wave of anguish rose within him. He sank down to his knees, wondering what was wrong. Why couldn't he tell Roxas all he had ever wanted to?
Roxas frowned. This was most definitely not going according to plan. Wasn't this the part where Axel was supposed to confess his undying love for him? He rather doubted Axel didn't have any feelings for him, after that last scene, but…
It appeared as if Roxas was going to have to make a move, after all. No problem. He could do this…
Slowly, Roxas bent down, kneeling closer to Axel's level. He gently pulled Axel's chin up so that Axel's emerald eyes were forced to gaze into his own. Roxas spoke softly, gently, carefully, yet Axel caught every word. "I understand, Axel. I know what you're trying to say. I understand completely. I also understand if you can't say what you want to. Just as long as you don't give up trying to tell me what it is you want to tell me. When you tell me what you want to say, I'll tell you something too, promise?" Roxas gently kissed Axel on the forehead and stood up.
In a normal tone, he said, "I'll deliver these letters to everyone, so don't worry." He grabbed the confetti-covered letters and set off for the others' rooms and the pizza place. Before leaving, he turned back, as if to give Axel one more chance.
Axel remained in that position for several more hours, replaying those events over and over in his head, until his knees gave out and he toppled to his side. A single tear traced the path Roxas had oh-so-recently drawn with his finer. "Roxas… I'm sorry…" he whispered, before falling into a nightmarish limbo between blessed sleep and the cruel life that was the reality he found himself in.
He rolled over restlessly, staring senselessly at the dark ceiling. Everything always seemed better in daylight. Axel only prayed this would be the same.
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Xiana: I'm sorry. It's a sad end to a chapter, isn't it? I'll try to update soon, the next chapter is much better.
Next chapter: Roxas visits pizza girls, Zexion discovers something terrible, and some guy Fred gets beaten up.
