(A/N): While writing this chapter I realized FFnet somehow cut out about 500 words from the previous chapter. This has been corrected, but this chapter may not make much sense without some backtracking. Sorry for the confusion. And for any formatting errors. FFnet loves to eat my line breaks. And Happy New Year!
Disclaimer: Disclaimed.
Between The Lines Of
Roxas sat cross-legged on his bed, staring blankly at his hands. Axel was stretched out half-asleep on his own bed, and the drone of the television filled the room. Roxas scratched distractedly at the kitten's ears when it sidled up beside him, rubbing one cheek against his leg. He couldn't stop looking around the room.
Two more days. Two more days, and he'd never again see this room that had been his whole world for the past week. His journey would be complete.
And he'd have to say goodbye to Axel.
His gaze settled on the man for what felt like the thousandth time. He was laying on his back, hands laced behind his head and eyes half-lidded as he stared at the television. Roxas had to swallow the lump in his throat before he could get the words out. "Hey, Axel?" Axel hummed inquisitively and turned his gaze on the blond, and Roxas had to cut his eyes to the side. "What are you gonna do after you drop me off?"
Axel did a poor job of stifling a yawn before he shrugged. "Head back here, keep working to repair my finances."
Roxas's hands tightened into fists in his lap. "You said you were going to be okay," he said.
"To get you out there and back, yeah," Axel said. "And then I've got enough to pay for the room while I keep working. Come on, kid, you don't wanna stay here for the month or so it'll take me to make enough to be able to leave again."
It felt like something in Roxas' chest was breaking, again and again. He scowled down at his hands, unconsciously hunching his shoulders. "I don't mind," he muttered.
"What?"
Roxas closed his eyes, trying to ignore the way they were burning. "Nothing."
He woke to the scent of cigarette smoke and the kitten pawing at his face. Roxas mumbled an incoherent complaint and pulled the blankets over his head, trying to ignore it when it began to knead its claws in the comforter.
"Will you feed that thing so it'll shut up already?"
Roxas dragged the blankets down far enough to peer at Axel. The redhead was slumped over the small table, head propped in one hand and lit cigarette pinched between his lips. He grunted and crushed the cigarette out when he noticed Roxas watching him. "I don't know how you can sleep through that shit," he grumbled, wiping a hand tiredly down his face.
Roxas winced and threw the covers back. "Sorry."
"Yeah."
He flushed and shooed the cat onto the floor, where it ran for its food dish, meowing loudly. He thought he saw Axel shoot the thing a dirty look before he rubbed at his temples. "I need coffee," he muttered, pushing himself up from his chair. "You want anything?"
Roxas shook his head as he spooned the wet food into the kitten's dish. "I'm good."
"Okay. I'll be back."
He snatched his jacket from the foot of his bed and was gone.
Roxas stood with the bowl in his hand, barely feeling the kitten wind around his ankles. Abruptly, he set the food down and took the two steps necessary to crawl back into bed and pull the sheets over his head. He didn't move when he heard the door open some time later, huddling a little more deeply into the bedding and pretending he couldn't feel Axel's eyes on him.
He heard the other man sigh. "C'mon, kid, don't get like that. It's been a long friggin' week – I'm allowed to have a bad morning." He stepped all the way into the room when the blond made no reply, closing the door behind him; Roxas could hear him shrugging out of his jacket. "All right, Roxas. Breakfast is on the table when you want it."
Roxas twitched, eyes stinging as the scent of fresh coffee reached him. "I said I didn't need anything."
"Yeah, you're welcome," came the dry response.
Taking a moment to steady himself, Roxas scrubbed a hand down his face before he threw the covers aside. Axel was seated at the table once again, settling another cigarette between his lips as he stared down at the kitten, which had finished eating and settled itself at his feet, licking its chops. "This thing isn't very bright, you know that?" he said as Roxas settled across from him. "I haven't done a damn thing for it since you picked it up and it still thinks I'm gonna feed it or some shit."
"Yeah, well, you won't have to worry about it much longer, right?" Roxas said, grin feeling stretched and artificial on his lips as he picked at his food.
Silence stretched between them until Axel blew a stream of smoke to the side. "Guess not." He sat with his eyes downcast before he sighed and took a long drag. "Okay, we are not doing this," he said, tapping the ash into the ashtray. "There's another two days to get through, and I refuse to spend it in awkward silence. So." He brought his gaze up to meet Roxas' again. "We've got some time to kill before we've gotta head over to Tifa's. Anything you've been dying to do while you've been cooped up in here?"
Roxas couldn't help a wry smile. "I don't know what's around here, Axel."
"Details," he scoffed, waving a hand dismissively.
"I dunno," Roxas said, propping his chin in his hand. "You're the expert on the place. What do you recommend?"
Axel regarded him thoughtfully as he brought his cigarette back to his lips. Roxas gazed back, waiting until green eyes lit up as some idea took hold. "All right, Roxas," the redhead said, stubbing the cigarette out. "Let's get out of here."
Roxas nodded and pushed himself up, side-stepping the kitten and grabbing up his duffle bag before he headed for the bathroom. He washed and threw on clean clothes, leaving the towel hanging crookedly on the drying rack before he stepped back into the room. Axel was at the door, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed loosely over his chest, gazing blankly into the middle distance. His gaze focused when Roxas dropped the duffle back on the foot of his bed. "You ready?"
"Yeah."
"Let's go." Not waiting for a response, he turned and breezed through the doorway.
The kitten tried to follow Roxas out, and he had to nudge it backward with his foot to avoid catching it in the door. When he glanced around for Axel, the redhead was standing outside the office, carding a hand through his hair and nodding at something Jim was saying. Roxas' stomach sank as Axel grinned and clapped the brown-haired boy on the shoulder before moving past him; Jim's gaze darted briefly in Roxas' direction, but he only turned away and disappeared back through the door without acknowledging the other boy's presence.
Axel glanced back when he reached the sidewalk, arching an eyebrow when he saw Roxas hadn't moved. "Are you coming or what?"
Roxas nodded. "Yeah."
"Well c'mon, then."
Roxas managed a thin smile and broke into a slow jog to catch up as Axel turned and began walking away. "So where are we going?" he asked as he drew even with the other man.
"This place I know on the edge of town. It'll take about twenty minutes to get out there."
"This place you know – thanks, that explains everything," Roxas said.
Axel smirked. "Guess you'll just have to wait and see, then." Roxas couldn't help a grudging smile as he rolled his eyes.
They walked in companiable silence, breath steaming out behind them in the frosty air. Axel had smoked two cigarettes by the time the buildings began to thin out, finally giving way to a crumbling ruin. "What the heck is this place?" Roxas asked, slowing as he stared at the decrepit structure.
"Nice, huh?" Axel said, grinning at the blond's expression. "It's an old fort."
"Who'd build a fort way out here?"
"Some dead rich guy with more money than sense." Roxas glanced at the redhead, but he was staring at the ruined fort. "Apparently the town used to be named after him."
"Oh. That's...weird."
Axel's lip quirked in a half-smile. "Yeah, maybe."
Roxas waited, but when nothing more seemed to be forthcoming he cleared his throat. "So this is Radiant Garden's big claim to fame? I'd never heard of this being out here before."
"Nah, they don't advertise it or anything. I don't think they even really care it's out here."
"Then how'd you find it?"
Axel shrugged. "Drove past it one time coming into the city. When I asked Tifa what it was she gave me the whole friggin' history of the place."
"Huh." Roxas rubbed at the back of his neck, studying Axel from the corner of his eye and trying to figure out the redhead's point in bringing him here. "So why'd they change the name of the town?"
"Probably 'cause they didn't wanna go down in history as the town named after the dick who built the useless fort," Axel said. He chuckled when Roxas just looked at him. "Okay, I know you're wondering why I dragged you out here to see this, kid. You can just ask, you know." Patience wearing thin, Roxas only frowned at him. Axel sighed and threw another glance at the ruin. "It looks better in the spring," he muttered absently.
"Axel..."
The redhead ducked his head, lips stretching in a rueful grin. "Okay, Roxas. The point is this – there isn't one. I just like the place. This stupid asshole goes and builds this monstrosity no one wants or needs, and a hundred years later no one remembers his name. They even changed the name of the town. But this thing's still here, this giant middle finger that says 'Fuck you, I existed.' I don't think anyone can ask for much better than that," he said, voice taking on a musing quality as he dug a cigarette out of his pocket. Roxas stared at him silently as he lit up, the other man noticing his gaze as he snapped the lighter shut. He smiled crookedly. "Okay, so maybe there's a small point," he said. He paused, studying Roxas' face for a few seconds as he took his first deep drag. "Look kid, I don't know why you left, and I'm not gonna stand here and give you bullshit about how things were probably better than you thought they were. But I like coming out here because it's nice to think that even the major fuck-ups aren't so bad in the grand scheme of things."
Roxas' throat was full-to-bursting, but nothing would come out. He swallowed fruitlessly past the lump in his throat and shook his head. Axel made a small, amused sound and reached over to poke him in the forehead. "Your face'll freeze like that, you know."
Roxas broke. He threw his arms around the redhead's waist, squeezing his eyes shut as he buried his face in the man's chest. He felt Axel stiffen at the unexpected contact and he froze, mind a white haze of panic as he waited to be pushed away. Above him, Axel held himself rigidly for another few agonizing seconds before he sighed and looped his arms around Roxas' shoulders in an awkward hug. "Hey," he said, giving him a squeeze, "you're okay. You'll be fine."
There was too much to say – Roxas could only nod dumbly.
The walk to Tifa's bar was silent; Roxas felt too emotionally raw for conversation, and Axel seemed to sense it. He left the blond to himself, expression vaguely troubled as they traversed the bustling streets. It only cleared when they reached the bar, Axel giving the door a perfunctory knock before he pushed through into the interior. "Hey Tifa, you in here?" he called.
"Just a second," she replied from somewhere beyond the rear door.
"I'm hitting the lights," Axel said, moving toward the bar. "Don't know what you have against sight," Roxas heard him mutter under his breath as the redhead flicked on the lights behind the bar.
"Did you guys eat yet?" Tifa asked, poking her head into the room.
Axel smirked. "Skipped it, because you're too damn predictable. You can bring out the food you've already got made back there."
Tifa only smiled and disappeared briefly, re-emerging with three plates laden with sandwiches, salad, and chips. "Take off your jackets and have a seat anywhere," she said cheerfully.
Axel shook his head, grinning, and motioned at Roxas. "After you."
They settled at one of the tables, Tifa passing out the plates before she popped into the back for three glasses of water. "Cloud not around?" Axel asked, taking a large bite of his sandwich.
Tifa shook her head. "He's out of town on a delivery."
Axel grunted an acknowledgement. "So who's this group playing tonight? Anyone I know?"
"I don't think so. They're local, not even all that big around here yet."
"Uh-huh. Do they have a name?"
"Iron Weasel."
Roxas coughed violently as a piece of turkey went down the wrong pipe, coloring slightly when he looked up to find two amused pairs of eyes on him. "But wait, you haven't heard the best part," Axel said. "As a thank you for setting up for tonight, we get free tickets to the show! All the free eardrum hemorraghing you could ever want."
"Axel, you haven't even heard them play yet," Tifa protested.
Axel rolled his eyes. "With a name like Iron Weasel, I don't have to. Are they bringing their own equipment, at least?"
"Renting."
Axel blew his breath out in a sigh. "Do I even have to say how much you owe me for this?"
"And I appreciate it," Tifa said, reaching out to pat his forearm. "But if you're all finished eating, these tables aren't going to move themselves. Not you, Roxas," she said, trying to wave him back into his seat when he rose opposite Axel.
"Seriously, Tifa? Cut the fucking apron strings already," Axel scoffed.
"I said I'd help," Roxas said insistently, pushing himself to his feet.
Tifa regarded them both with pursed lips before she shrugged and pantomimed waving a white flag. "Okay, all right, I surrender. Just please get these tables moved to the back while I go dig out the sound equipment."
"Anything for you, dear," Axel said acerbically.
"Be still, my heart," she shot back as she gathered the dishes together. "Don't let him make you do all the work," she said to Roxas before she turned on her heel and disappeared back through the rear door.
They stood for a moment in silence, then Axel huffed a laugh and wiped a hand down his face. "God, that woman is going to be the death of me," he muttered. He glanced over at Roxas. "You ready?"
"Yeah?" Roxas scratched at his temple and tried not to look as confused as he felt. "What are we doing?"
Axel stared at him for a second before he stifled a spluttering laugh. "Oh man," he said, grinning widely, "I did not get enough sleep for this shit." He shook his head, grin impossibly widening as he took in Roxas' expression. "Right now, all we need to do is shift all this –" He made a sweeping gesture that encompassed the entirety of the bar's floor space. "– to the back room. And then I get to set up the sound equipment so Iron Weasel can audibly lobotomize everyone who shows up for their show tonight."
"That's seriously their name?" Roxas asked, nonplussed.
"Apparently," Axel said. He shook his head and knocked his knuckles against the nearest tabletop. "Well, come on – this shit isn't going to move itself."
Roxas nodded, grabbing the other end when the redhead hoisted the table into the air. Between the two of them they maneuvered it through the door, Axel giving curt directions to a small storage room where they dropped it into the far corner. "Will everything fit in here?" Roxas asked dubiously, eying the small space.
"It better," Axel said, already striding back out toward the bar floor.
It took twenty minutes to clear the remaining tables and chairs from the bar, by which time Tifa had lugged several speakers to the raised stage situated to one side of the room via dolly. "Need a breather?" she asked from her perch on a stool as they stepped back into the bar.
Axel shook his head. "Let's just get this over with."
"Suit yourself. It's all yours," she said, gesturing at the equipment.
"Yep. Lucky me," Axel muttered as he bent over the first speaker.
Roxas hesitated as Axel began sorting wires. "Can I help?"
Axel didn't look up as he shook his head. "Thanks anyway, kid, but this'll go faster if I just do it myself."
"Okay." Roxas hovered at the edge of the stage, but Axel was wholly absorbed in his work. Biting his lip, he turned to find Tifa watching him, expression thoughtful. She smiled a little when he visibly startled, gesturing him over and motioning to the stool next to her.
"Hey, Roxas," she said as he slid into his seat. "Can I get you anything?"
"I'm okay," Roxas demurred, eyes sliding away from hers.
She hummed faintly, brows knitting together before she shrugged. "Well, if you decide you want something, just ask."
"Okay. Thanks." She nodded and they lapsed back into silence, Tifa leaning back to rest her elbows on the bar as they watched Axel work. "Where'd he learn this stuff?" Roxas asked as Axel cursed colorfully over a tangled clump of wires.
Tifa glanced over at him with a grin. "He hasn't told you about the year he spent as a roadie? How'd you manage that?"
"I can hear you, you know," Axel said irritably.
"You were really a roadie?" Roxas said.
Axel glanced back at him before he snorted and turned back to the sound system. "I said I was, didn't I?"
"I thought you were just bullshitting me."
"Thank you for that vote of faith, there, Roxas, it's truly touching," Axel grumbled as he sat back on his heels. He sighed and carded a hand through his hair before he shifted his position and reached for another clump of wires. "Just so you know, Tifa, I fucking hate you right now."
"Always with the honeyed words," she said lightly. Axel didn't reply, but Roxas caught the sharp grin that flashed across his face. Tifa huffed and glanced over at Roxas. "Well, while he's busy cursing up a blue streak do you mind helping me bring up the cleaning supplies?"
Roxas' gaze flicked to Axel, but the redhead was muttering under his breath as he deftly untangled wires. "Sure."
Tifa smiled and slid off the stool, beckoning for him to follow before she turned and led him into the back room. There was a small utility closet opposite the storage room Axel and Roxas had stuffed the furniture into, and Tifa pulled the door open and motioned him inside. "Just pull the chain for the – okay, yeah, you've got it," she said as the bare bulb flickered to life. "See the bucket back in that corner? If you can just fill that to about three-quarters full at the sink there and take it back out front, that's all I need. Thank you," she said as Roxas grabbed the bucket in question. She waited while he filled it as requested, then squeezed past him to grab the mop and a generic cleaner; then she toed the door shut and followed him back out to the bar floor.
Axel glanced up as they trooped back through the door, Roxas concentrating on keeping the bucket steady as he staggered over to the bar. "Didn't anyone ever tell you water and electricity don't mix?" he said as the blond set his burden down.
"Keep it up and you'll be the one doing the mopping," Tifa said pleasantly.
"What was that? All I heard was 'Axel, please set fire to the nearest available surface.'"
"Pity the insurance on the place isn't better, then."
Axel only grinned and shook his head, bracing his hands on his thighs as he pushed himself to his feet. "You're all set here. Assuming Iron Weasel can handle plugging in their own equipment."
Tifa nodded, expression warm. "Thank you both for your help."
"Uh-huh. And?" Axel prompted, arching an eyebrow.
She rolled her eyes. "And, since you went above and beyond, your drinks tonight are on the house."
"Drink 'til the band doesn't suck, huh?" Axel smirked at the look she shot him, digging for his cigarettes with one hand. "You have the tickets handy?"
"Mm-hmm. Two seconds..." She slipped behind the bar long enough to grab a white envelope, which she slapped into Axel's waiting hand. "Your pay for today's in there, too."
"Great. Thanks." He glanced over at Roxas. "You ready?" At Roxas' nod he grabbed up their jackets from where they'd been shifted to the bar, tossing the blond's at him before shrugging into his own. "We'll see you tonight, then," he said to Tifa, settling a cigarette between his lips as he strode to the door. She nodded, waving when Roxas glanced back at her before following Axel out onto the sidewalk.
"You're seriously going to the show?" Roxas asked as Axel lit his cigarette.
"For free booze? Absolutely," Axel replied, tilting his head back and blowing smoke above Roxas' head. "I'd put up with a lot worse than Iron Weasel for that."
"So you get to get smashed and I'm stuck listening to lousy music?"
Axel snorted when the blond scowled. "No, you get the honor of lugging me back to the room when I'm too shit-faced to see straight. Besides, as I recall someone owes me some beer." He chuckled as Roxas' scowl deepened.
"Fine," Roxas said grudgingly.
"Oh, cheer up, Roxas," Axel said, ruffling his hair as he brushed past him. "Look on the bright side – the band might not completely suck ass."
"Thanks, that's so comforting," Roxas muttered, turning and falling into step beside him.
"That's what I'm here for," Axel said, grinning. Roxas just shook his head, biting his lip to stifle a grin.
