Disclaimer: oops, I forgot this last time. I don't own characters. But the usage of this horribly overused plot device is free range. Don't steal my story tho, folks.
A/N: :::sigh::: Here's the latest chapter. I hope you guys like it more than I do. The story is wrapping up, so if you have any requests, tell me. I won't necessarily work them in, but if you don't ask, you definitely won't get it.
Ch 10
Axel and Demyx were asleep in back seat by the time the car slowed into a parking field outside the city.
"Guys, we're here," Zexion turned off the car.
"Strawberry festival?" Roxas gave Zexion a confused look.
"They have rides and things," Zexion explained, "It's like a carnival."
"Strawberry festival! Zexy you DO love me!" Demyx bounced in excitement in the back seat and embraced his over on the other side of his bucket seat. Zexion choked slightly.
"Yes, I do," Zexion said quietly.
Axel yawned loudly. "So we're finally there?" He stretched as he got out of the car. "Zexion, you drive like a grandma."
"I am aware of your abhorrence of speed limits and common driving legislation, Axel," Zexion looked over at the redhead, "But your daredevil crazy—"
"Ugh! Drooled on by two people in one day! Thanks, Axel," Demyx came over and glomped his boyfriend. "Thanks for the surprise, sweetie," he kissed Zexion on the nose. The slate haired senior blushed lightly. "Roxas! Do you like strawberries?" Demyx turned his glance to the smallest boy.
Roxas's eyes twinkled. "I like them." He said smiling.
"Then let's go!" He grabbed Roxas and Zexions hands and ran towards the entrance. Roxas quickly grabbed Axel's arm before he was pulled away by the overzealous mulleted musician.
"I can't believe you made me pay for all four of us!" Demyx whined to his boyfriend, handing out admittance bracelets.
"Stop whining. You only paid one and a half fare." Zexion responded. "I gave you those buy-one-get-one free passes."
"How come my bracelet is red and you guys' are green?" Roxas asked as Axel fixed the bracelet around his wrist.
"Because I paid child fare for you!" Demyx beamed an "aren't I smart" smile at Roxas who scowled.
"Cheapskate," Roxas scowled lightly, but his mood improved greatly once Axel gave him a strawberries and cream cake.
"Let's get our faces painted and get a picture taken like last year!" Demyx hopped towards the face painting booth. "Roxas, you first."
Half an hour later, the four boys left the face painting booth laughing. Roxas had two strawberries in the shape of a heart painted on his cheek. Axel got flames painted up his cheekbones. Demyx got some bubbles on the left side of his face, and Zexion got a book with a strawberry emblem on the cover on the right side of his face. The face painter took several photos for them, using Demyx's and Axel's phones and Zexion's point-and-shoot.
The group of four walked towards the games.
"I wonder," Zexion began, and darted a mischievous glance towards Axel, "Who is better at the rope ladders, Demyx or Roxas?"
"I'm super agile, there's no way Roxas could beat me!" Demyx laughed.
"But you're bigger than me, and everyone knows that the less you way on those things, the easier it is to get to the top." Roxas looked at Demyx with a competitive glimmer in his eye.
"You're on short stuff!"
In a few moments, the two blondes were on the rope ladders, tediously crawling up the precarious structures. They started on hands and knees, but shortly they pushed off with their legs, figuring out that it was better to have most of one's weight closed to the ground. Bent at the waist, the two blondes glared at each other as they were on all fours, scrambling on the ropes.
Axel and Zexion watched from behind them. Axel smirked as he watched his blond almost topple a few times. The took out his phone and captured a few pictures. (NJB, is this more innuendo? mayyyybe.)
"Zexion, you have some scathingly brilliant ideas," Axel said, "Thank you."
Zexion chucked. "It's as much for my benefit as it is yours," he took a picture with his digital camera.
The two heard an "ompf!" and looked over to see Demyx crawling on the hay. Roxas was three rungs from the top. Demyx walked over to his boyfriend.
"I lost," Demyx pouted.
"You're always a winner to me," Zexion picked a piece of hay out of his hair.
They heard a bell ring, and Roxas dropped gracefully from the rope ladder.
"See, I'm nimble," Roxas sauntered full of himself as he gloated to Demyx.
"That you are," Axel smirked.
"Let's go do the house of mirror next!" Demyx pointed excitedly at the building.
"You guys go ahead. Those aren't designed for tall people, at all." Axel shrugged.
"Axel and I will find something else to do," Roxas volunteered.
"See you in a little while, then," Zexion was pulled by Demyx to the entry way.
Axel and Roxas started wandering. "Wanna try the ferris wheel?" Axel asked.
"ROXIE!" Two grade-school girls clamped onto both of Roxas's legs.
"Kairi? Namine? What are you two doing here?" Roxas hugged them.
"Girls!" a shrill voice started Axel and Roxas. Roxas flinched.
A woman wearing a very tight black dress walked over to the group. She wore a large rimmed black straw hat and her hair was tied in a tight bun.
"Roxie, not today. Come on girls, Marty is looking for us." Her familiar blue eyes glanced over at Axel, then she coldly turned, and walked away from the two boys, her daughters in tow.
"Bye Sally," Roxas said, his voice rang with sadness.
The woman looked over her shoulder passively.
"Roxas?" Axel put his hand on his young friend's shoulder. Roxas jumped, as if he was shaken from a line of deep thought.
"Yeah?" he looked up at Axel, his voice was distant. His eyes were devoid of life, empty.
"Let's try the ferris wheel." Axel pulled him the few steps further and they entered a car. Roxas's eyes never left his feet. The two guys stepped into a car, and soon they were on their way up into the air.
"Who was that woman?" Axel wondered aloud. Roxas's eyes were staring at his knees.
Axel leaned forward, gently pulling Roxas's chin up with his crooked index finger so that the younger's gaze met his own. "Roxas, what's wrong?"
The moment Roxas made eye contact with Axel he couldn't control it any more. Tears filled his eyes. His nose turned red. His emotion dam broke and he was bawling, and his crush was watching him.
"I'm sorry," Roxas looked out of the car. "I look horrible when I cry," he hiccuped for air.
"Jesus, Roxas, don't worry about that." Axel paused, thinking. "If you tell me about it, I may be able to help you." Axel looked at his young friend full of concern.
"I just…I just…" Roxas cried harder. "I can't talk about it right now." The small boy shuddered. "Just distract me, please. I'll tell you about it later." He still couldn't keep eye contact with his upperclassman crush. He felt unwanted, and ugly, and weak.
Axel moved to sit next to holder of his heart, and took off his black trenchcoat, putting it around the small boy's shoulders. He took his mp3 player out of its pocket, put on a playlist, and put the earphones into the blond's ears. He wrapped an arm around Roxas, pulling him close. Roxas's head naturally fell onto Axel's shoulder, and Axel felt cool tears drip onto his leg. He pulled Roxas tighter, as they circled up into the air.
End of chapter 10
Chapter 10 Omake
Scene: The four boys walking through the carnival grounds. Demyx and Roxas stuffing their faces with strawberries and whipped cream crepes.
Dem: Aren't these the best, Roxas?
Rox: They are really good! Really sweet.
Axel: You're really sweet. :::leans into Roxas::: 'Got it memorized?' ::: teasingly licks whipped cream off of Rox's nose.
Rox turns redder than a strawberry.
Dem: Strawberries are my favorite!
Axel: I would think that bananas were your favorite.
Dem: Well, to be truthful, Zex-
Zexion: Demyx, Axel, not in front of the kids!
Dem, Zex, and Ax look at the readers then look at Roxas. Roxas noms crepe obliviously and blissfully.
a/n: review and take the poll on my profile, plzkthnx.
Axel and Roxas :::look at all the subscribers who don't review::: pretty please, review? You don't want Normajean to release larxene out on us again, right? Right?