Chapter XI
Axel regained consciousness ten minutes later, cracking his eyes open, warily. His head ached and his heart felt uncomfortably tight.
"What…happened?" he managed as Isa came into view. The blue haired boy had a look of chagrin on his face, as his worried eyes searched the redheads.
"You…passed out," Isa sighed, moving away as Axel sat up. Aside from the headache, there was a throbbing coming from the back of his head. Gingerly the redhead rubbed at the spot, wincing on impact. "You hit your head- thank god you didn't fall in the opposite direction," both boys glanced at the ledge.
"Yeah…"
"Are you badly hurt?" the redhead glanced up at the other boys, half desperate face. He had a brief flash of the kiss they'd shared and immediately took on a more suitable, embarrassed expression.
"I had another dream," was the redheads only answer, as he pulled himself to his feet. When he staggered, Isa automatically reached out to steady him; their eyes met once before they both looked away, Axel scratching the back of his neck.
"You should go home, get some rest," the blue haired boy suggested, his back now turned.
"What about you?" Axel asked, awkwardly.
"I have somewhere," Isa answered, vaguely.
"Do you have a phone or something?" the other boy merely shook his head.
"Here," the redhead sighed. "So I can call you if…I don't know, I wanna talk, I guess," Isa nodded once before taking the phone and leaving. 'This is just great' taking one last look up at the early risen moon, Axel headed home.
Isa was looking out over the moonlit sky that hung above Villains Vale, when Axel's phone started beeping. Carefully the blue haired boy pressed the answer button and held the small object to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Can I tear you away from moon gazing for a bit?"
"Lea? How did you know I was, 'moon gazing'?"
"What else would you be doing?"
"What do you want?"
"Nothing really, I'm just bored- wanna watch a movie or something?"
"…What about your parents?"
"What about them?"
"…"
"So, what do ya say?"
"Alright then…"
"Hurry up then, or you'll miss all the popcorn,"
"Okay,"
"See ya,"
Isa stared at the phone screen for a moment- it was a photo of Axel and Roxas. The redhead had the blond in a head lock and was grinning at the camera. Roxas was bright red and pouting, all the while struggling in Axels grasp. Standing to the side was a silvery blue haired boy, face palming and clearly unaware that he was in the picture. Isa flipped the phone shut, tucking it away in his back pocket. The picture had hardly been romantic, but all the same the blue haired boy felt a tug of longing for the years that he'd wasted saying very little in the redheads presence, or anyone else's for that matter. Gradually Isa made his way to Axel's house, stopping at the door, unsure. He wasn't sure if he should knock or scale the redhead's window- not that he knew which one that was. The dilemma however, was solved for him when the front door swung open to reveal a pouty redhead in grey pyjamas and a white t-shirt.
"You sure took your time," Axel said, crossing his arms.
"Did I?" Isa replied, deliberately nonchalantly. Axel merely reached out and pulled him in by the collar of his shirt, before closing the door behind them.
"Mum, Dad- Isa's here, we're gonna watch a movie in my room," Axel declared towards the couple curled up on the sofa, in front of the TV. The redheads parents glanced up and looked at Isa; for what seemed like forever to the blue haired boy, the two adults stared at him, going a little spacey. Isa shifted nervously before the moment finally ended.
"Isa! My how you've grown,"
"How are your parents, Isa?"
"So hansom," Axels mother gave the startled blue haired boy a tight hug, pushing his hair back and smiling fondly. "Okay, don't stay up too late, you two,"
"We won't," the redhead replied quickly, pulling his blushing friend up the stairs. Once in Axel's room, with the door shut, the emerald eyed boy breathed out visibly.
"Phew! That was weird,"
"Mhm…"
"What are you smiling at?" Isa settled among the cushions splayed out on the floor.
"Nothing, I…just realised how much I've missed your parents,"
"Don't you mean me?" the redhead teased, picking up a DVD box and walking over to set the film up.
"What are we watching?" the blue haired boy inquired, pulling out a couple pieces of popcorn from the giant bowl.
"It's a surprise," Axel smirked as he sat down beside Isa, placing the remote down on the bed behind them and shoving a large handful of sweet popcorn into his mouth. The blue haired boy rolled his eyes as he watched the redhead. "What?" Isa just shook his head.
"Wait- you cannot be serious…?" the blue haired boy started, finally picking up on the familiar music coming from TV.
"I remembered us watching it once, earlier- I felt like I was remembering one of the happiest days of my life…" the redhead admitted, earning a hint of a smile and a tinge of pink to the other boy's cheeks.
"I'm guessing you don't remember the rest then," Isa wasn't sure if he should be glad or disappointed, so he went for neutral.
"It'll come back to me," the redhead went on, happily. A while later, they'd finished off the popcorn and the cans of Dr Pepper the redhead had fetched them, and were engrossed in the film. It was the scene where David and Teddy go to find the Blue Fairy at the bottom of the ocean and is pleading for her- a mere statue, unbeknownst to the small uncomprehending, robot boy- to make him real. Isa's attention was more on Axel. The redhead had leant forward slightly and was clutching subconsciously at the space over his heart.
'…please, please make me into a real live boy…'
The blue haired boy absently lifted his left hand to stroke the fiery mane of spikes. The redhead responded without hesitating, to lean back again and curl into the other boy's side. Resting his head on Isa's shoulder among the blue locks, Axel felt the first of many tears to come by the films ending, bounce inaudibly off the blue haired boy's shirt. Isa, who had been mentally, battling with himself whether he should put his arm around the other boy or not, paused as he registered his dampened shirt. Silently he took up rubbing the other boys back in a soothing motion. The first time the boys had watched this particular film, Isa had been the first to crack, sobbing quietly, not even bothering to try and dry his eyes. But that was before he became the hardened shell he was today. He was slowly starting to break through, though, one thin layer at a time. At least he had found his place once again; here, at Leas side. Axel sniffed, trying to discreetly rub his eyes. Wordlessly, Isa reached his free arm behind him, fingers making contact with the tissue box that the redhead had undoubtedly placed there earlier in anticipation. Instead of simply handing the other boy the tissue, the blue haired boy shifted in his seat and began to tenderly wipe the tears away himself. Just like Lea had done for him, originally. Emerald eyes gazed up at Isa, blinking away the water collecting within them, looking dazed.
"Your hairs too long," the blue haired boy stated randomly, trying to distract the redhead.
"You're too far away," Axel returned, meekly. The hand that Isa was using to dry the redheads eyes, faltered for a few seconds but it was long enough for the other boy to take hold of it. Axel lowered their hands before tilting his face up towards Isa's. Isa moved his left hand to cover the redhead's mouth. Axel momentarily frowned but relaxed again when the blue haired boy slowly brought his face closer. Eyes closed, Isa nudged the redhead's nose affectionately with his own, before starting to remove the hand he held over Axel's mouth, trailing his fingers down over the partially opened lips and feeling the quick gusts of hot breath escaping them. The blue haired boy couldn't bring himself to be annoyed when the redheads patience ran out and he caught the others lips hungrily for the second time that day. Reality and illusion merged for both the boys. Each saw the other as they were in their memories. Shorter hair, slightly rounder and unmarked faces; innocent eyes…
"There's the Isa I remember," the redhead murmured against silky pale skin.
"…Lea…"
The next morning, as the sun began to rise outside of the redhead's window, he lay on his side watching an unusually peaceful Isa sleep. The blue haired boy was facing the redhead, a hand outstretched across the space between the two as if reaching out for the other boy. The redhead rubbed sleep from his eyes, yawning. He wasn't sure how long he'd been awake, watching the other boy's slow, steady breathing. When he'd first awoken, he'd been startled by the form lying next to him; he had been so caught up in the memory of his lost friend, he was momentarily confused to see the boy older, and the blue river of hair billowing around him instead of the short spikes. Now, he gently trailed the back of his index finger along the length of the others arm. It felt just as soft as the night before, though the redhead was unsure why he expected it to be different. Isa moved, responding to the action. The redhead smiled, placing a feather weight kiss on the other boys hand, slowly working his way down, around the bend in his elbow and then up to his bare shoulder. The blue haired boy hummed in content for a minute, before finally coming to and practically bolting upright. The redhead leant back on an elbow and simply raised an eyebrow. Isa stared down at the other boy in alarm until it finally dawned on him that this was in fact, Lea, and not some random stranger. The redhead had lost himself in the gorgeous colour that had bloomed on Isa's face, when the blue haired boy cautiously lay back down on his back.
"I'm sorry," he said, sounding formal. The redhead refrained from choking.
"For what?" he demanded, defensive as he adjusted himself so that his hand was propped under his chin and he was looking down at the other boy.
"For my reaction just now," Isa frowned. "What did you think I was apologising for?" the redheads face cleared but only to take on an embarrassed smile, not meeting the others eyes.
"Nothing, don't worry about it," he waved a dismissive hand.
"Wait, didn't you do this last time as well?" the redhead shrugged awkwardly.
"I don't remember,"
"You remember exactly! Lea…" the redhead looked away as a light blush crept over his sharp cheekbones. "Oh…"
"What?"
"You thought I was going to say that this was a mistake, didn't you?" Isa sat up again and gripped the other boys chin, turning his face towards his own. Green met green.
"Okay, fine. Yeah that's what I thought- but you have to admit, it didn't really seem like we were the ones having sex…if you know what I mean. I thought maybe you didn't really know what you were doing…" the blue haired boys grip softened.
"How do you explain the first time? Why were you so worried I was going to 'run for the hills' as they say, back then?" the redhead sighed.
"I'm always scared you're going to run, Isa," said boys forehead creased as the other boy cast his eyes downwards.
"Even…back then?"
"Its not like that, it…you just feel that way when you have something…or someone you care about a lot, you know? It's not really a bad thing…"
"I see," Isa slowly made for the edge of the bed and began to get dressed. The redhead sat up ramrod straight.
"What're you doing?" the blue haired boy turned back towards the redhead as he swiftly did up the buttons on his shirt.
"I need to use the bathroom, and I'm definitely not going to risk bumping into one of your parents while I'm in the nude," the redhead nearly laughed, half from relief and half from the grave expression on the others face. Popping his lips back into their usual sunny disposition, he lay back down, arms behind his head and closed his eyes. A step or two and a shift of the bed later, a brisk but firm kiss was pressed to the redheads lips before their owner disappeared out of the door. Leas lips curled further in response just as the first rays of the morning sun shone through his window.