Possible drama next chapter, but for now, everything's going fine. Axel and Roxas are slowly warming up to the idea :) Doing things a little different this chapter by looking at other perspective's than Axel, but it won't happen too often...
At the Leonhart residence...
"The beach?"
Sora rolled his eyes at his brother, who was occupied at the moment, making breakfast. "That's what I just said, Rox. This weekend we're taking a trip to the beach!"
"You and Riku?"
"No, all of us, silly!" The brunet came to his side and slapped his shoulder hard, making him let out a rather unmanly squeak. "We're trying to get the old college gang together to go to the beach. Axel can come too, if you want."
The blonde winced, rubbing his sore shoulder. Sora had almost made him drop the eggs he'd been holding into the sink.
"Do I have to go?"
"Yes, you have to go!" Sora said firmly, frowning. "It's time you had a break anyway."
"But it costs so much for a train ticket..."
"Riku and I are covering everyone."
The blonde's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't say anything more to that.
"But what will I do with Kairi? I'm not bringing her along if there's going to be drinking involved."
The brunet rolled his eyes again. Just then, Riku ambled into the kitchen, wrapping his arm around Sora as he spoke.
"We've already planned for that. Aqua's going to be around this weekend. She's already agreed to babysit."
Roxas paused at the sink, setting down his half scrambled eggs. He liked Aqua a lot; she was like an older sister to him when he had first moved there. He had no problems leaving Kairi with her, but...
"You really think I should invite Axel along?"
"Of course!" Sora beamed. "Demyx and Larxene are coming too! We can all catch up and have some fun at the beach! Why shouldn't he come?" When Roxas remained silent, he sighed heavily. "Rox, you have to start relaxing a little about this. Axel's cool. He's already said he would help you. Can't you just let him?"
The blonde lowered his head a little guiltily. Talking to him a little bit, Roxas found that Axel wasn't that bad of a guy. They were both young when the misunderstanding happened, and it was clear that the redhead had grown up a bit since then. He seemed genuine about taking responsibility for Kairi. Roxas couldn't understand himself why he was still so bitter about it. He wanted to let Axel in...
"I know. I guess it's just that... I'm afraid of getting hurt again."
Sora's eyes softened at that. Pulling free of Riku, he came over to his little brother and hugged him tightly, patting his back soothingly.
"I know, Rox. I don't blame you. But at the same time, I really think you should open up to him. This situation is how it is, and it'd probably help if you made the best of it. Axel's not such a bad guy. He's just dumb sometimes."
The blonde laughed lightly, leaning into his brother more and smiling. A quick glance at Riku gave him a reassuring smile. These two knew Axel better than he did. Maybe, if they had faith in him, Roxas could too...
"Alright, I'll come. I'll ask Axel if he wants to go too." With that, the blonde pulled away slowly and left the kitchen, going to wake up Kairi for breakfast. Sora watched him go with a kind of wistful smile, sighing as he felt Riku come up behind and wrap his arms around his waist, pulling him against him.
"I hope this all works out, Riku," he murmured, still staring at the empty doorway. "I really do..."
"I think it will, babe." The silver-haired boy nuzzled his ear lightly, one of his hands trailing upward slowly to hold his lover's cheek. "We'll back him up. I don't think Axel would purposely hurt him again, but if he does, I'll personally kick his ass for you two."
Sora smiled sadly.
"Thanks, Riku..."
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Axel shut his labtop with a satisfied sigh, leaning back in his chair and stretching widely. The article he had written for the union was long and rather tedious, but it was finally done. And he was looking forward to the big beach trip that would start in just a couple hours. Thank God for loaded friends!
Axel yawned and reached back to scratch his back, deciding he'd get up and head out already. Then there was a tap coming from the other side of his small cubicle, and he turned to see a grinning Demyx waiting there, dressed in a god-awful Hawaiian print shirt and kakis. One or two lays hung from around his neck, and he had a giant, goofy pair of sunglasses sitting on his head. Axel almost had to look away; the light radiating from the guady shirt almost blinding him.
"Where the hell did you get that thing, Dem?" Best of all, the shirt was pink. The manliest color out there. The blonde looked down at himself for a moment, then back up at Axel, looking a bit worried.
"What, too much?"
Axel couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. Demyx was the nerdiest of all his friends, and he loved the ocean more than any sane person should. The redhead knew it was his dream to get a house by the beach one day...
At least it was casual Friday...
"It's too you."
The blonde flipped him the bird before turning and motioning him to follow.
"Come on! It's time to clock out so we can go!"
Axel grabbed his bag and quickly followed after him. They waved goodbye to Chris, one of the IT guys, as they passed, and soon they were on their way to Demyx's apartment, where both of them had left their bags for the trip.
"So, are you totally psyched about this or what?" the blonde asked eagerly, as he checked through the suitcase, making sure nothing was forgotten. Axel sat down on the edge of the bed and leaned back until his back hit the mattress.
"Yeah. It'll be great seeing everyone again." And maybe this could be his chance to get closer to Roxas...
Demyx seemed to sense his thoughts, looking over at his friend with a slight look of worry.
"You nervous at all?"
"Not really," he replied simply, stretching his arms out above his head with a light groan. "I think it'll be fine. Maybe this'll be good for us too. Give us some time to really bond."
The blonde smirked at him, his expression the direct opposite of innocent.
"Oh, I see how it is..."
"Not like that!" Axel growled, smacking a hand over his eyes and forehead heavily. He knew Demyx was joking, but even so, he could feel a light blush tinting his cheeks at the thought. His mind kept going back to that dream he'd had a week before, remembering how the small blonde had beckoned him with open arms...
"Relax, fire crotch. I'm just kidding." Demyx slammed the case shut and then sat on it for good measure. Axel watched him blankly as he made sure it would close, though his mind was somewhere else. Partying and drinking on the beach...
It sounded like fun, but at the same time, it reminded him of how he'd gotten in trouble in the first place. If he did drink, he had to do it responsibly now. No fast shots. He wasn't going to get wasted and end up banging someone at the party. Somehow, he was determined to make this thing with Roxas work, and he highly doubted the blonde would appreciate him making a drunken ass of himself again...
The redhead looked up as Demyx's phone began beeping. The blonde picked it up and checked it, snapping it closed just as quickly.
"That's Sora. They want us to meet at the Traverse Town Station in 20 minutes."
Axel checked his watch quickly, nodding as he stood and grabbed his bag.
"Here we go..."
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The house wasn't the biggest on the block, but it was still nice-looking. It was mostly white with a porch-balcony above the garage in front, and two porches on the back facing the ocean. Three rooms, three beds, and a couch here and there. Sora and Riku claimed one room, Larxene had claimed another for herself and Xion, and the last was for Roxas. He had reluctantly agreed to share it with Axel, so as to use as much space as they had, which left Saix, Zexion, Demyx, and Marluxia to find space on the floor or couches. That was left up for them to fight over.
Roxas stood in the kitchen, his bare feet stepping carefully over the cold tiled floor as he walked to the balcony. The kitchen was open and sunny due to the big windows, giving a very nice view of the ocean. Especially now that it was sunset; the sky was lit up in beautiful reds, oranges, purples, and pinks. There were only one or two clouds in the sky, whispy and insignificant compared to the glorious setting sun.
The blonde slid the sliding glass door aside and stepped onto the porch, sighing contently as he felt the cool ocean breeze rushing past him. It felt so good to relax and just be, not running around and worrying about keeping his daughter out of trouble. Of many things, Roxas missed this freedom to relax and just be more than anything. He missed being able to do what he wanted, when he wanted; here, he could sail out to see and stay there all day, if he wanted...
Leaning on the white railing, Roxas looked out at the sand and sea and smiled. He was happy he had decided to come along for this. He wasn't very social, but Sora seemed to think he'd enjoy the party. He said it'd be good for him...
Roxas squeaked when he felt a hand on his shoulder then. He turned quickly to find Axel standing behind him, a casual grin on his lips at having caught the blonde off-guard. Roxas blushed faintly, quickly looking down at the floorboards like they were the most interesting thing in the world...
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," the redhead chuckled, moving so that he was leaning on the railing too. He looked out at the sea and sunset just as Roxas had, sighing as the light wind blew and ruffled a few spikes of his hair.
"I wasn't scared!" the boy objected quickly, trying not to stutter. "You just surprised me is all." He turned back to look at the ocean too, not looking Axel's way at all if he could help it.
They passed several minutes in silence then. A gull flew by the house overhead, crying as it flapped and flew away. Slowly, aware of the distance between them, Axel moved slightly to his right, inching closer and closer to Roxas.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Roxas hummed slightly, nodding, but never turning to meet his eyes. Axel smiled.
"You know..." he said casually, not looking over even as he moved and Roxas lifted his gaze to look at him curiously. "Sora, Riku, and I used to come here sometimes over the summer."
"R-Really?" It seemed the younger man had finally noticed Axel inching closer. Axel smiled widely, finally looking over at him.
"Yep. Cloud used to rent out this place and bring us along. I think we still have a box of old photos laying around under one of the floorboards here." The two of them kept moving until Roxas's back hit the wall where the divider and the railing met, as Axel moved closer, practically pinning him there. He saw the younger man swallow nervously, his eyes unsure and even a bit scared. He raised a hand to hold his pale cheek gently, looking down at the blonde with kind, but hungry eyes.
"Did you ever go to the beach?"
Roxas shook his head slightly, breathing quickly. "M-My mother never had time to...to bring me here."
Axel chuckled softly, looking down into wide blue eyes. They were so vibrant, so beautiful; he couldn't even begin to compare them. Even the sea couldn't do that deep blue justice...
"Maybe someday we can go. Just the two of us..."
Slowly, carefully, Axel closed the space between their parted lips. His lips pulled and sucked gently, his hand moving slowly over that smooth cheek as he deepened the kiss. He lost track of how long they stood there, but he did registered when pale hands tangled in his hair, pulling him slightly closer. He did hear when Roxas moaned softly, a sound that thrilled him to the core. It was warm and needy, but he didn't mind. He responded eagerly, giving the blonde whatever he wanted easily...
When they finally parted, the sun was much lower, almost dipping below the horizon. The sky was beginning to turn deep purple, as the shadow of night crept over from the east and trailed across the sky. Axel pulled away slowly, looking down into eyes that were hazy and content; seeing a small smile on those lips as the younger man hummed happily. Axel chuckled, delighted to see that the sound had caused him to blush again.
"Let's go see what the other's are up to. Alright?"
Roxas's nod was barely noticeable. Axel wanted to laugh at how cute he was, but he held back. Somehow, it already felt like his dream. Like everything was perfect, and this man was his to love and hold forever. He knew it wasn't true, at least not yet, but perhaps he was close. Perhaps it would only take a little more time. He was sure he could get the withdrawn boy to talk and be open soon...
With a warm smile, he slid his hand into Roxas's and locked their fingers. He led him back inside slowly, all the while feeling his heart jump for joy in his chest. The weekend was off to a great start...