"Okay, all seriousness," Axel breathed, his hot breath going into Roxas's ear. Roxas briefly wondered if Axel had multi personality disorder. Or maybe he had some serious mood swings.

And then Axel started singing. Of course he wasn't trying to sound good—but Roxas had a feeling he was being genuine. But he did recognize the melody; the stupid song Sora liked to sing off that commercial. Amazingly, Axel managed to change the words.

"I like your spiky blonde hair, I like your big blue eyes," Axel sang quietly, not exactly in tune but wasn't terrible, "I like the way you blush, or when you smile at me." Roxas's heart went to a dead stop when Axel grabbed his hands—yet grabbed, and looked him dead in the eye. "You always make me smile."

"Roxas. Hey. You alive?" Roxas snapped out of his daze to see Xion waving her hand in front of his face. Her eyes looked bluer than usual. Maybe it was because of the heavy eyeliner she had on mixed with her pale skin. "You're zoning out again."

"Sorry." Roxas took a drink of his bottled water. They had been working out for a good two hours and the sun was setting by now. It was Monday. Roxas's school day was far from normal. His own brother had stopped talking to him. Hell, even Kairi no longer looked his way. Roxas used his shirt more of a rag to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"Look who's turning into a hunk." Xion joked, poking Roxas's stomach.

Roxas swatted at her hand but said nothing. He was too tired.

"Marluxia's getting us ice cream." Xion said matter-of-factly. She shot Roxas a mysterious look and mumbled, "What do you think of Marluxia?"

Roxas shrugged. "He's cool."

"He's nice, right?"

"Yeah."

"He's tough as shit, too."

"Yup."

"Have you seen his arms? They're so toned."

Roxas glanced at her quizzically. Was it just him or did he think Xion had a crush on the pink-haired male? "Xion…do you like him or something?"

She started laughing as if that were funny. When she stopped, she shook her head and said, "Roxas. I don't like anyone. I'm not a lesbian, I'm not Bi. I'm straight. But I don't like anyone."

Roxas blinked. "Huh?"

She stared down at her lap. "Besides, no guy would like me."

Roxas raised an eyebrow. Xion was pretty. Yes Roxas was gay—but even he couldn't deny the fact that Xion was pretty. Despite her rough appearance, she had beautiful features. "Why not?"

"Because I'm tough." She chuckled bitterly, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "I don't mind, though. I don't need a guy. I depend solely on myself."

Roxas nodded in admiration.

"I'm a firm believer that the past makes us who we are." Xion said, swinging her legs from the ledge of the arena. "People are who they are for a reason, either it's from past experiences or fears as kids. I am who I am because…"

"Because what?" Roxas prompted. He took another drink of water.

"Three years ago, when I was 13, I dated a guy." Xion explained casually. "He was older than I was. Back then I looked much like my sister. Anyway, the guy did some bad stuff, and I wasn't strong enough to protect myself." Roxas saw her cheeks redden slightly. He noticed how lovely her eyes looked in the array of lights and he could see her long eyelashes that curled naturally. "So after that, I decided I just wanted to be myself. I wanted to be able to protect myself in case I ever had to."

"So you've never dated after that."

Xion smiled proudly. "No. Nobody really asks me out, seeing that I'm normally tougher than most guys. I don't mind kicking ass, you know?"

Roxas smiled and said softly, "You're an amazing person, Xion. Don't ever let anyone tell you anything different."

Xion turned her head and gave Roxas a startled look. Roxas was a little confused by it. Her eyes darkened and she quickly looked away, looking almost a little…guilty?

"Roxas…"

"Yeah?"

"What if…"

"What if what?"

"What if I'm not who you think I am?"

Roxas tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean?"

He leaned over to see Xion with a down face. For once, he saw raw emotion coming from her. She looked absolutely guilty, as if she had just committed a crime.

"Nothing." She mumbled. Xion stood up suddenly, smiling cockily, and said, "So what do you think of Marluxia?"

Roxas shrugged. "He's nice."

"Just…nice?"

Roxas stared at her suspiciously. "Yeah…why?"

Xion was smirking now. "What if I told you he might have the hots for you?"

Roxas couldn't help but grin. He hadn't felt this way in awhile. However, when he thought of Axel, that grin was gone. "He shouldn't like me."

Xion stopped smiling. "Why?"

"Because I'm messed up."

"You aren't messed up." Xion disagreed. "And Marluxia's a really cool guy. Trust me, I should know." She smiled, but Roxas thought it looked forced.

He mentally reminded himself to ask her about this weird attitude later.

They heard footsteps and saw Marluxia with their ice cream. Roxas, for some reason, had it in his mind that Marluxia was getting him sea salt ice cream. Instead, Marluxia smiled at Roxas and handed him a vanilla ice cream cone.

"Oh." Roxas tried to hide his disappointment.

Marluxia noticed. "What? You don't like vanilla?"

"I just thought you were getting me sea salt ice cream." Roxas muttered.

Marluxia twisted his face in disgust. "What the hell. That stuff is nasty. You tried it before?"

It's my favorite ice cream. "Nah. I just wanted to try it."

"Well don't. Salty and sweet do not mix. Trust me."

Roxas took the ice cream, which was on a stick, and looked at it hesitantly. Axel glanced down at Roxas.

"Let's try it at the same time." Axel suggested. "Wanna?"

"Sure."

"Alright. One, two, THREE!"

They both took a lick at the ice cream, and both cringed.

It was salty and sweet. Mixed together.

They exchanged looks, uncertain whether or not they liked the ice cream.

"It tastes…" Roxas grumbled.

"…different." Axel finished for him. He licked it again. "Wow. I've never tasted something salty and sweet at the same time." He laughed. "I can feel my taste buds tingling."

"Roxas." Xion said with a hint of annoyance. "You're zoning out again."

Roxas didn't reply. He only looked towards the sky just in time to see the sun dip over the horizon. Sunset. Almost instinctively, he glanced at the watch tower. He briefly wondered if Axel was there…

GET YOUR MIND OFF OF HIM!

Marluxia had ordered a double fudge ice cream cone and was licking it happily. Roxas secretly eyed him, mentally comparing him with Axel. He's bigger than Axel when it comes to muscle. Axel's still taller than him. Marluxia looks like he's in touch with his feminine side more than Axel is. Also, Marluxia has more hair…well, just a thicker head of hair. Axel's is so different…so wild and untamed…

Marluxia caught Roxas eyeing him and paused mid-lick. Roxas felt a shiver run down his spine when Marluxia winked.

Nobody saw Xion take her phone out and text someone, or how guilty she looked, or how reluctantly she did so.

Marluxia is alright…but I'm not a man whore. I don't go around getting rebounds from people. Marluxia is my friend. Nothing more. Hell, I just got over a relationship.

Roxas tore his eyes away from Marluxia and reluctantly ate his vanilla ice cream. It was all right, but nothing like salty sea salt ice cream.

Roxas didn't have time to even blink when Axel whirled around, grasped his face with his hands, and hissed, "How come you didn't tell me?"

"What?" Roxas blinked.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Axel demanded sharply.

Roxas wasn't used to this behavior. He gulped.

Axel shook him roughly. "Roxas! Answer me!"

"I-I'm fine!" Roxas replied shakily. "I'm alive."

"You could've been dead." Axel whispered, looking him deep in the eyes. "Dead. Get it? Dead means death. And death means…you know. Six feet under."

"But I'm not dead." Roxas protested softly. "Really. I feel a lot better. I don't feel like sleeping. I really don't."

Axel didn't look happy. "Well either you go to sleep willingly, or I knock you out. Pick your choice."

"Is that a threat?" Roxas was surprised.

"Yes." Axel replied evenly. Roxas knew Axel would do it—he didn't seem like the kind of guy who would just go around saying things without doing them.

Roxas went limp, giving in. "Fine. Whatever. I'll take a nap, alright?"

Roxas snapped out of his daze (again) to realize Xion was nowhere to be found. He was left alone with Marluxia.

"Where's Xion?" Roxas asked, looking around.

"She had to go." Marluxia said, finishing off his cone. "I can give you a ride home."

Roxas felt his cheeks blush. Damn his skin. "No, it's fine. I can catch a bus."

"No—really. It will be my pleasure." Marluxia insisted, gazing at Roxas's face in an uncomfortable way.

Roxas noticed his ice cream was getting melted. He was licking it quickly, trying not to spill any on his finger. It would get sticky and become a mess.

"So," Roxas started awkwardly, "where do you work?"

"I work at a gas station." Marluxia said casually. "And as a stripper."

Roxas dropped his ice cream cone out of purse shock.

Roxas repeated slowly, "A stripper?"

Marluxia busted out laughing. "No, I'm not a stripper, though I've gave it some thought when I graduated high school. Being a male stripper isn't easy." He stopped laughing and said huskily, "Though I do earn money in strange ways when I really need it."

Roxas's cheeks were on fire. He couldn't look Marluxia in the face.

Marluxia was a fucking prostitute?

A MALE PROSTITUTE?

Roxas would never be able to look at Marluxia the same. Never again. No matter how much of a friend he was to Roxas, Roxas would never be able to date him. Just…no.

"By strange ways," Marluxia said smoothly, "I mean I mow lawns and such." He must've seen the look on Roxas's face.

Roxas couldn't hide it. He looked at Marluxia and the pink-haired male's features softened.

"You're so innocent," Marluxia murmured, moving closer.

Roxas's cheeks felt like they could cook eggs. "I'm not innocent."

So he's not a prostitute? Gosh Roxas. Since when did you become a pervert?

"I'm your friend, Roxas." Marluxia "purred" Roxas's name. Like a damn cat. Roxas couldn't believe his ears. "You can tell me anything." Right now his face was inches from Roxas's.

"You're," Marluxia breathed, "beautiful."

Cut right there. I am NOT beautiful.

Roxas stood up suddenly, a bit peeved. "Okay—first off, I am not beautiful. I'm a fucking guy, got that memorized?" He stopped when he realized what he had just said.

Got that memorized? Wow. It was catchy.

Marluxia opened his mouth to speak but Roxas cut him off. "Now I may be gay. But I'm not a flaming gay guy. I'm a guy. I like being a guy. So don't you dare call me beautiful."

Marluxia was grinning. He slid onto his feet and said, "Oh, the kitten's feisty."

What the hell? Normally Marluxia was so…different in the arena and such.

"Surprised?" Marluxia asked, seeing Roxas's confused face. "Honey—everyone acts different on the arena. This is the true me."

"Look," Roxas said firmly, "I think we should just stay friends."

Marluxia looked taken aback. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Marluxia flipped his hair.

"Because you're not my kind." Roxas tried to be nice about it. But it was true. Marluxia was in touch with his feminine side. Roxas liked guys who were strong and…

Like Axel.

Marluxia sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. Trust me—I get that a lot."

Roxas felt relieved. He thought Marluxia was going to press the subject. "Really?"

"Yes." Marluxia smiled. "Anyway, are you ready to go home now?"

Roxas had to admit, he liked Marluxia better as a friend. He was very thankful that Marluxia wasn't that type of guy who pushed things.

Roxas felt Axel staring at him, so he tried to ignore his stare. What else could he do?

"You have pretty eyes." Axel said after awhile. Roxas looked up, surprised.

"Huh?"

"Your eyes. They're pretty."

I think my heart just stopped. "Uh, thanks? How come you're saying that?" Roxas narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"

Axel smiled softly. "Nothing. Just wanted to let you know that."

"Okay." Roxas shuffled his feet. He checked the time. They had exactly one minute. He might as well get comfortable—they'll never make it in time, even if they left now.

"Now I think is a good time to tell me why you texted me your picture." Axel said.

Roxas sighed. "It's a long story."

"I like stories."

"My aunt wanted me to send her a picture so I was trying to send it, but I sent it to the wrong number—which was your number."

Axel's smile was still there. "That wasn't very long."

Roxas shrugged. He honestly didn't know what to say.

"I still have your picture."

"Really?"

Axel took out his phone. "See?" Roxas saw his picture. He remembered it. He looked irritated, yet it matched perfectly. Weird but cool. "I used to have it as my wallpaper."

"Now?"

"I still have it." Axel looked a little…sheepish? "Let's take a picture together."

Roxas woke up to the sound of his phone ringing. He answered it half asleep, "Hello?"

"Get your ass out of bed." Marluxia demanded sharply. Roxas sat up in his bed, the dream he had still fresh in his mind. Well, it wasn't a dream. It was a memory. A far off memory.

"Why?"

It was Wednesday. One more week before the big competition. Roxas could really feel his improvement now. In fact, he defeated Xion once already. His confidence was slowly building up.

"Xion wants us to have an early practice today since she has to be somewhere later on."

Roxas sighed. "Fine."

"Oh you're just bright and shiny in the morning."

Roxas hung up. Their school had let out for the rest of the week for the county fair. Something about country folk raising their animals or something. Livestock?

He dragged himself out of bed, brushed his hair, brushed his teeth, used the bathroom, and got dressed. He wore a loose, black t-shirt over some basketball shorts he found. After putting on some shoes, he dragged himself out of his room, hearing the familiar sound of Xion's motorcycle pull up.

"Who's that?" Cloud asked, sitting at the table.

Damn. Roxas forgot he was going to be home this morning.

"She's a friend." Roxas replied, rubbing at his eyes.

"Where are you going?" Cloud asked, eyeing his son suspiciously. "Is that Axel?"

"No." Roxas insisted. "It's a friend. Not Axel."

"Where has Axel been anyway?"

Roxas held back a groan. "We're not really friends anymore."

Cloud raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Roxas knew his father didn't push on matters. He was thankful when Cloud got back to reading the newspaper. Roxas exited the house without another word.

"Rise and shine, bitch." Xion greeted heartedly. "How're you and Marluxia?"

Roxas hesitated. "What do you mean?"

She looked a little too innocent but quickly put the helmet on. "Are you guys a…thing?"

"No." Roxas put his helmet on and got on the bike.

"Oh." She sounded disappointed.

"Why?"

"I just thought you two would look good together." Roxas knew that sentence sounded rehearsed.

"Xion, you're acting weird." As if on cue, Xion revved the engine. She began taking off, and didn't seem to hear Roxas for the rest of the ride.

Not knowing what else to do, Roxas wandered around. He wouldn't mind running into the ice cream man again—he was getting kind of thirsty. Kids were running on the playground, parents watching them from afar. It actually felt really nice with all the shade provided.

And then he heard it.

The swings.

Having an odd thought that just seemed to click, Roxas looked up to see none other than Axel sitting on a swing, swinging idly with his head hung low. Roxas carried his skateboard with him to the swing set, his feet crunching on the leaves beneath. He knew Axel heard him coming, but the redhead let nothing on.

He said nothing. Axel said nothing. Roxas set his skateboard against a pole, and took the swing right next to Axel.

He began swinging.

This all reminded Roxas of the night he came back from the hospital, whenever he cut himself. He felt ashamed from the mere thought. How awful it seemed now. He then remembered how furious Axel was that night.

Roxas glanced over at Axel, just to see Axel was doing the same. Roxas quickly looked away, Axel mirroring him.

A few seconds passed before Roxas glanced back. Axel was looking upwards, but he noticed Roxas's stare so he turned to look.

They smiled.

And then Axel said:

"Wanna see how far I can fly?"

As Roxas got off the arena on Friday afternoon, he briefly wondered what Axel was doing. He couldn't deny it. The more time he spent away from Axel, the more he thought about him.

Do I actually…miss him?

No. No way in hell. I can't miss him.

Roxas couldn't lie. He missed Axel's jokes, the way he used to make Roxas laugh. He missed it when Axel called him Roxy or cute, even though Roxas would always glare at him for it. He missed Axel's hugs—which were something Roxas could not forget. He missed the touch of Axel's textured hair, or how Axel would tease him continuously…

Get your mind off of him, Roxas. The competition is in three days. You don't have time to be thinking like this. What's done is done.

End of story.

"Good job, Roxas." Marluxia said, patting him on the back. Roxas smiled at his friend, and noticed Xion going to her motorcycle. Roxas hurried next to her, but noticed something different.

Her eyes looked glazed. They were also slightly red.

"Xion?" Roxas whispered. "What's wrong? Are you crying?"

He heard her sniffle.

"Hell no." She said, her voice firm. "The only time I cry is if I get mad."

"Then what's wrong?"

"I… have something in my eye. That's all."

Roxas gave her a look and stopped her in her tracks. He grabbed her frail shoulders, looked her in the eyes, and said, "Tell me what's wrong."

Oh how the tables have turned. Remember this? Except you were Xion and Axel was you in this position.

Xion didn't look him in the eye. "It's nothing."

Roxas could see the guilt. Why was she so guilty? He also saw a hint of fear.

She saw Roxas's concern and her eyes hardened. Her features turned serious and she pushed Roxas away. "I'm fine. Don't push me on it. Let's get back home."

Roxas followed her, wondering why the hell she was crying. He knew she was crying, he just didn't know why.

A/N: Okay this isn't really a long chapter. I have a lot of flashbacks which make up the majority of the words. :O Man it sucks not writing with Axel in this. I just keep telling myself he will return :3 You're welcome to updating early ^-^