So... at first I was going to write a little bit about Roxas' day at school... but I changed my mind so this is a little shorter than it might have been. Not 4000 words like I would have liked but close enough.
I enjoyed writing this chapter as much as I said I would xD. Everyone had fun guessing who Leon's little brother was, I'm still not telling anyone since you'll be reading it soon.
Anyway...
'Don't forget about me damnit!!'
...Yeah, I found this thing *points above* under my bed recently... she claims she's my muse.
*waves* Hey, I'm Tily.
Kit: -_- she won't leave me alone.
Tily: If it wasn't for me, you'd still be playing on apollo Justice.
Kit:... I give up. She'll be here for a while, even though it took ten chapters for her to show herself. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Axel, it hurts inside to say that. Except from this story idea, Square owns everything... Apart from America.
Oh, and I want to say a big thank you to PyroLyfe13 for being the first person to add me to their Favourite Author's list. I'm super grateful ^^
"Afternoon shorty." Roxas looked up and glared at Xigbar briefly as the man grinned playfully and the blond just rolled his eyes.
"Hey Xiggy," Roxas smirked.
"Now that, was a low blow," Xigbar commented, wagging a finger before bursting into fits of laughter, receiving a questioning look towards his sanity from Roxas. "Get it? Shorty, low blow?" Roxas tutted as the man continued to laugh, "man, I crack myself up sometimes."
"Yeah, you're a true comedian Xigbar." Roxas said and disappeared to change, emerging to find the older man leaning back against the counter top looking somewhat bored.
"School ok?" Xigbar asked the blond as he too stood against the counter facing the room.
"Yes mum, it was fine," Roxas smirked and Xigbar flipped him off.
"Well, call it woman's intuition," Xigbar smirked, "but you didn't look too 'dancing with the fairies' when you walked in here."
Roxas looked away from the man and towards his shoes. It was true, he wasn't terribly happy. Axel hadn't been in school like he'd said, and though Roxas understood that it was a family thing and it couldn't be helped, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. "It's nothing. But if you get anymore feminine I'm going to have to buy you a pink frilly apron to go with this uniform."
"no need, I've already got one," Xigbar winked at the blond who rolled his eyes and laughed.
Both looked over to the door as the bell chimed, signalling someone was entering or leaving the café, and found an excitable Demyx skipping happily towards a booth. Roxas looked back and found Zexion shaking his head at his boyfriend, a small smile concealed behind his hair, but Roxas could see the look and grinned at the two. "You can get this one," Xigbar said, nudging the blond to get moving, and Roxas stood from his place behind the counter to walk over to his friends.
"Hey guys," Roxas grinned to the two and Demyx beamed back.
"Roooxas!" The older blond sang "hey, are you busy October 12th?" Demyx asked and Roxas searched his mind for any plans, finding none.
"No, I'm free. Why?"
"Axel and I have a concert, you've gotta come see us!" Roxas smiled at his friend's pleading look and laughed.
"What are the chances of me getting out of this?" The blond smirked and Demyx gave a cunning grin.
"None," the blond said and stuck his tongue out playfully.
"Ok, I'll go. Now will you tell me what you want?" Demyx cheered before the two boys ordered and Roxas returned, setting their drinks down. "You know, I'm sure I could get some candles or something for this lovey dovey scene," Roxas smirked as both boys blushed and the blond walked away.
"Are those two together now?" Xigbar asked as Roxas took his place by the counter again and the blond nodded. "Finally," Xigbar laughed "they've been giving each other sex eyes since last year."
Roxas covered his mouth as he snickered and the older man grinned, "now if only someone could do something about Sora. That kid's got some major issues bottled up in that spiky head of his." Xigbar sighed, and walked away to serve another customer, the flow of people steadily increasing as the afternoon progressed.
*********
"That you Rox?!" the blond heard his brother call as he entered the house after work. Roxas dropped his bag carelessly to the floor and walked into the kitchen.
"It's me," Roxas said, looking at Cloud who was rummaging through the kitchen cupboards. "What are you doing?" the younger blond asked, taking a glass and carton of orange juice and setting it on the island.
"Looking for food," Cloud answered as his hands shuffled through the open cupboard.
"Please don't tell me you're cooking," Roxas said in horror as he poured the juice and Cloud turned to look at him. "Granddad said look after the house not burn it down."
The older Strife sighed and nodded "take out?" he asked and Roxas nodded gratefully.
"Leon not here yet?" Roxas asked as he followed his brother into the living room.
"He'll be here soon, I'm not ordering the food until they get here so if you're hungry, find something to snack on." Cloud emerged from the side of the couch with his cell phone and walked back into the kitchen, entering the room again with a menu. "Chinese ok?" the blond asked and Roxas nodded his ok.
"I'm going to put my things away," Roxas said as he walked out of the room, picking up his bag and going to his room.
***********
Roxas looked up from his computer screen when he heard the muffled voice of Cloud downstairs, and quietly opened his bedroom door. "Glad you could make it," Roxas heard his brother say, presumably to Leon. "You must be Leon's little brother, nice to meet you, I'm Cloud." Roxas rolled his eyes and sat back in his desk chair. If Cloud wanted him, he'd come and get him.
"Hey kiddo," Roxas turned to look at his brother. "Get down here and say hi."
The younger blond sighed as he heaved himself out of his chair and Cloud rolled his eyes making Roxas smirk "I'm kidding," the younger blond grinned as he joined his brother and walked downstairs.
Roxas stopped dead as his eyes fell on Leon and his brother. This was the last, and worst thing that could have happened to him tonight, and there was only one word that came to mind when he looked at the spiky haired brunet in front of him, glaring with all his might. 'Fuck'.
"Roxas, this is Leon's little brother Sora." The younger blonde's head snapped in the direction of his brother as Cloud spoke and Roxas tried to swallow the lump in his throat. This wasn't happening. This couldn't possibly be happening. "Um," Cloud said, shifting his gaze from his obviously uncomfortable brother to Leon and Sora "why don't I show you two to our bedrooms, when you're done we can call for take-out."
"Sure," Leon shrugged and picked up his bag, both boys following Cloud as Roxas stood alone in the living room.
They shouldn't even be related! He's Sora Leonheart, it's not like anyone would possibly call their son Leon Leonheart! "What's up with you?" Roxas jumped at the sound of his brother's voice and whirled around to face an obviously annoyed Cloud.
"We have a problem," Roxas admitted.
"Yeah, like you freezing in the middle of an introduction. What the hell was that?" Cloud asked and Roxas sighed, rubbing his temple.
"Is Leon really called Leon?" Roxas asked, and Cloud gave him a questioning look before answering.
"Well his real name's Squall Leonheart." Roxas felt his heart drop into his stomach. "But he refuses to let anyone call him Squall and only answers to the name Leon. Why?"
Roxas sighed "remember that kid I had a fight with last week in the library?" Cloud nodded, "that was Sora."
The older blonde's eyes widened and he hit his forehead. "Fuck," Cloud stated and his younger brother nodded.
"Exactly what I though." He couldn't believe his bad luck. Cloud just had to make friends with his 'enemy's' brother. Roxas glared at his brother as the older blond began to laugh "well you're going to have to resolve this or something because he's sleeping in your room tonight."
Roxas' eyes widened "what?!" he shouted at Cloud who quickly shushed him.
"I didn't know did I? It's not like you ever told me the name of the kid you fought with, or that he was Leon's brother."
"That's because I didn't know it was Leon's brother," Roxas defended himself.
"Seems like we have a little problem." Both boys turned to find a smirking Leon and a pissed off looking Sora standing in the doorway, and Roxas' heart sank again.
"Well," Cloud said, clapping his hands together "all of this tension is making me hungry," the older blond smirked "how about we order some food."
"I'm all for that," Leon said, joining his friend in the kitchen, leaving Roxas and Sora in the living room together.
Sora gave Roxas one final cold glare before walking after the others. The younger blond sighed. This wasn't going to go well at all.
********
Roxas was thoroughly exhausted. They had all sat around in the living room to eat and watch a movie, though he would have preferred to either disappear or swiftly retreat to his room. Apparently Cloud and Leon weren't pleased with that plan, and sat, smirking at the younger pair as they sat together. Roxas sending deadly glares at his brother for making him feel so uncomfortable. But it wasn't over yet. The group were all getting ready for bed, and the younger blond couldn't forget the fact that Sora was staying in his room.
Roxas sighed. He was sick of this. After all, he had done nothing to deserve the hate he was receiving from the brunet. But what could he do? "Something eatin' ya?" Cloud asked as he passed his brother on the landing.
"Yeah, I don't want to be murdered in my sleep," Roxas said, shaking his head and his brother laughed.
"Why don't you just talk to him about it?" Cloud suggested but Roxas scoffed.
"There's no way he'll talk to me. He hated me when I arrived, nothing's changed. Besides, I punched him in the face, I doubt that's going to help us have a conversation."
"Cloud's right Roxas." Both boys turned to face Leon, "honestly, Sora's not that bad. All I know is something's turned him into an emotional wreck, he won't even talk to Selphie about it," the older brunet sighed "if you can, I'd really appreciate it if you talk to him. You're a bit of a miracle worked around the school."
Roxas blushed and Cloud patted his shoulder reassuringly "go for it Rox, you've been good at this stuff since you were little. Besides, if you can make friends with Sora, you might actually get some sleep tonight," the older blond smirked before he headed for the bathroom.
The younger blond looked up and Leon nodded at him "I'm counting on you Roxas," he said before closing the bedroom door, leaving Roxas on his own.
The blond let out another exasperated sigh before opening the door and entering his bedroom, scanning the room before looking out onto the balcony where Sora was sitting, glaring up at the moon. 'Does he always wear that face?' Roxas wondered as he sucked in a deep breath and walked out to join Sora.
"What do you want?" Sora asked bitterly and Roxas flinched. This was already a disaster, and he would have happily given up. If Leon hadn't been counting on him. "Spill it fag, I asked you a question."
Roxas bristled "know something? I'm sick of your bullshit. What the fuck is your problem? I've never done anything to you and you get all bitchy. Then you tell me I don't deserve my friends!" Roxas leaned down to glare at Sora "what did I do? Tell me Sora."
It was silent. Both boys glared at each other, azure eyes clashed, waiting to see who cracked first. But both were as stubborn as each other. But to Roxas' surprise, Sora looked away first, letting out a long sigh as the brunet's eyes turned sad, even hurt, and Roxas felt pity wash over him as Sora's guard disappeared and the tension finally lifted. No one should have such sad eyes.
"Sora, I don't want to be your enemy," Roxas said, his voice gentle and honest. He could see the brunet looking for some hint of a lie. "I'd rather be your friend. But I can't be if you don't let me help you. I know something's wrong but I don't know what." The brunet looked away, glaring at the cold cement. "I want to help you, Sora."
The brunet didn't move, and Roxas shifted to sit more comfortably on the balcony floor. "Why is it?" the blond looked intently at Sora a he spoke in a broken voice. "That none of my friends can see that I'm dying inside," Roxas' heart sank to his stomach as the pain from Sora's words reached him, and the brunet turned sad eyes towards the blond, "but someone who's supposed to hate me for how I've acted, and has only been here for just over a week, can see right through me?"
Roxas wasn't sure what he should do. He'd never seen someone so torn apart, but he had to help. "Cloud said I have a knack for these thing," the blond chuckled slightly, "and I never hated you Sora. I just didn't know what I'd done wrong, and I was frustrated. But I didn't hate you."
Sora gave Roxas the smallest of smiles and sighed again. "You didn't really do anything wrong" Sora admitted and the blond was relieved, but curious. Why had Sora been so cruel then? "I'm going to tell you something that I've never told anyone before. The reason why I was so cold to you." Roxas nodded. "I was jealous, because… you had Riku."
Roxas' heart shot back into his chest but he was still confused. He knew this had something to do with Riku, but he still wasn't sure what that something was. "Because I was friends with him?"
Sora shook his head "it wasn't really that you two were friends, I guess I just felt replaced. I thought Riku might fall in love with you like he did me."
"Do you love Riku?" Sora looked up again with pained eyes and slowly nodded. The blond felt a small smile reach his face.
"When he told me that he loved me that day, I didn't know what to do," The brunet admitted "I hadn't really expected a confession from my best friend. I hated him for confusing me like he did, so I pushed him away. I mean, I'd always liked Kairi, I didn't expect my heart to tell me that those feelings were a lie when I'd felt them for so long. I pushed him away because I thought it would make everything go back to how it was, that I would still only like Kairi," Sora sighed "but I knew that couldn't happen when I realised that being around Riku made my heart race and think about his confession. So I stayed away from him. I even asked Kairi to be my girlfriend to see if it helped." Roxas looked at Sora with sympathetic eyes, all this time he'd loved Riku too, he could just never bring himself to admit it. "I was living in ignorance, even if it was tearing me up, I wouldn't tell anyone. But when you came to school, and Riku was smiling again, everything just came back that much stronger, and I was scared that he would move on and fall in love with you, even though I love him too."
It was quiet again. Roxas sat and processed everything he'd been told silently as Sora looked up at the stars again. "He still loves you, you know," the blond finally said and Sora stared at him. "He told me, and I don't think he could ever love anyone else." The brunet smiled slightly. "I'd never try to win him over Sora, I hope you know that. He will only ever want you." Roxas could see the brunet relax slightly.
"Roxas?" the brunet said, looking at the blond with apologetic eyes "I'm sorry. For everything last week, I shouldn't have been the way I was." Roxas shook his head at the brunet.
"It's understandable Sora, you don't need to apologise."
"I do. There wasn't an excuse for me being so selfish, so just accept the apology Roxas. Please."
"Ok, I forgive you. And I'm sorry too, for what I said in the library… and for giving you a black eye," Roxas said, scratching the back of his head guiltily.
"I deserved it," Sora shrugged before holding his hand out for the blond, "friends?" he asked with a smile which Roxas returned and shook the brunet's hand.
"Friends," he agreed before Roxas heard his phone ring, and walked over to his desk and picking the device up, looking at the unknown number curiously before answering the phone. "hello?"
"Hey there blondie." Roxas stared at the phone as his heart skipped, but he groaned. He was going to kill Demyx.
"Axel, did Demyx give you this number? I'm going to kill him," Roxas complained down the phone.
"Demyx has your number?" Axel asked curiously and Roxas looked at the phone, completely confused. "If I'd known that I wouldn't have went through all of the trouble I did."
"Hold on. Who gave you my phone number?" Roxas asked, confusion lacing his voice.
"Riku." Ok, now he was thoroughly baffled. Why would Riku give Axel his phone number? Riku knew Roxas' situation, and he was pretty sure that his best friend wouldn't just give Axel his number just like that, if at all.
"Why would Riku give you my phone number?" Roxas asked
He heard the redhead chuckle on the other side of the line "Because I told him that if he didn't I'd tell Sora about the pictures he still has hung up in his locker." Roxas had to cover his mouth to stop himself from laughing.
"You blackmailed him?" Roxas asked incredulously and Axel laughed again.
"Blackmail?" Roxas turned around to face Sora, a look of curiosity on the brunet's face.
Roxas shook his head, trying to stop the smile that was easily making its way onto his face. "Axel." Roxas stated simply and Sora rolled his eyes.
"huh?" the redhead said at the mention of his name.
"I'm just talking to Sora," Roxas said and could hear the panic in Axel's words when he spoke.
"Sora?! Why is he there? Are you ok? Do you need me to come over?" Roxas chuckled.
"Everything's fine. There's nothing to worry about."
The blond could imagine Axel's confused expression and couldn't help but laugh. "Well, that was unexpected," Axel admitted.
"Yeah, well my whole night's been pretty unexpected," Roxas said. Unexpected, but in a good way.
"So why is Sora there?" Axel questioned.
"My granddad's in Atlanta and Cloud invited Leon and his little brother to stay tonight. Of course I had no idea that Sora was Leon's little brother."
"Oh yeah," Axel laughed "I forgot about that. Well that must have been awkward."
Roxas nodded "yeah. But it's all good, we managed to survive in a room together," Roxas heard Sora laugh and smirked. "So why are you calling?" Roxas questioned.
The blond could hear Axel shrug "I thought I'd give you a little surprise. And I said I'd be in school today and I wasn't. I hope you survived Chemistry and Music without me," Roxas knew the redhead was smirking and rolled his eyes.
"Oh yeah, how my heart ached," Roxas deadpanned with a smirk.
"See, I knew it," Axel said and Roxas sighed but smiled. "So yeah, I'll definitely be there tomorrow. I can't miss my Roxas filled morning at the coffee shop now can I?" The blond made sure he wasn't facing Sora as he blushed. "Don't tell me you'd forgotten."
Roxas shook his head "no, I just didn't realise that was going to be a regular thing," Roxas admitted.
"Oh yeah. Get used to it blondie, Wednesday mornings are my Roxy time, I though I told you that last week."
"Oh you were being serious?" Roxas smirked, he knew Axel would be pouting.
"When aren't I serious?" the redhead asked.
"When you chase me round my kitchen with a bowl of cookie dough." Roxas saw Sora turn and raise a questioning eyebrow, the blond giving him a look saying 'it's a long story' and the brunet rolled his eyes.
Axel laughed "that was fun. Anyway, I've got to get back, I'll see you tomorrow Roxy baby."
The bond rolled his eyes, "bye Axel," he said, before the line went dead.
"He's a persistent one isn't he," Sora laughed as Roxas placed his phone next to his pillow. "He has your e-mail address, your phone number, and he knows where you live. I wonder what he'll try next."
"Lights out guys," both boys turned to look at Cloud standing at the bedroom door. "School tomorrow, we'll be up bright and early," Cloud smirked at Roxas' immediate look of displeasure.
"Sora, you're not going to kill Roxas in his sleep are you?" Leon said, looking around the door from behind Cloud and the younger brunet rolled his eyes.
"Everything's good," Sora said, wrapping an arm around Roxas' neck and grinning "all kitchen utensils are safely downstairs, the boys laughed.
"Night you two," Leon said, sending Roxas a 'thank you' look before disappearing into the other room.
"Get some sleep and be down for breakfast tomorrow," Cloud said.
"As long as you're not cooking," the younger blond smirked and Cloud flipped him off before smirking himself.
"Nope. You are," the older blond said before disappearing from the room and both younger boys heard the other bedroom door click shut.
"He's such a bastard," Roxas complained as he pouted and Sora laughed.
"Would it benefit our health better if you cooked?" the brunet asked and Roxas nodded.
"Cloud can barely make toast, trusting him with anything else is like suicide," the younger blond sighed again before turning off the light and climbing into bed.
"Thanks Roxas," Sora said, in the darkness "for listening to me."
"Anytime Sora, and don't worry about Riku, something will work out," Roxas said, then raised a question that had been bothering him since their heart-to-heart. "What about Kairi?"
Sora sighed, "I think she knows that it's not the same between us anymore," the brunet admitted.
"I hope everything turns out ok. For you, and for Riku's sake," Roxas said, and Sora agreed before it went silent again for a while, Sora finally breaking it.
"Cookie dough?" the brunet asked and Roxas laughed.
"I don't know what to say. We made cookies and he chased me around the room trying to get me to eat the left over cookie dough off his finger," Roxas could just see Sora's amused expression.
"That's so cliché," the brunet admitted, chuckling slightly and Roxas joined in the laughter before they both said goodnight and went to sleep.
A/N: I had fun with Xigbar and Roxas :)
Anyone not guess who Leon's little brother was?... I didn't think so, I think I made it too obvious huh?
Tily: I think everyone will agree that the Sora and Roxas bit had to be done.
Kit: You wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it.
Cloud and Leon are so evil, making Sora and Roxas sit in the same room together. Poor Roxy.
I hope everyone liked the surprise phone call too xD Axel backmailed Riku lol.
Tily: We loved it. Now go write chapter 11! *shoves at Kit*
Kit: I hope everyone liked it.
Tily: Review please, if you could see how happy it makes her you'll do it.
Oh yeah, and I was wondering whether I should write a little side story one-shot about the day Riku told Sora that he loved him. Good idea? Please let me know, if I get good feedback I write it. If not, I won't.