Dear god this chapter was long.
You're lucky we stayed up to post it. We have to take the ACT tomorrow and we still put all of y'all first.
I messed up and tried to delete the author's apology... Don't ever do that.
It kind of screwed up the reviewing, so I hope none of y'all tried to review :( If you did I hope you get a little notice in your email and that you'll read this and review again. :D
And thank you Acherona for pointing it out to me!! I knew I always liked you ;)
Disclaimer: Not ours.
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"N… a… ï… v… e… Take this Riku, I'll shove it back in your face. I am not naïve… whatever that means." Typing the word into google, Sora pressed enter and watched as page after page of websites appeared. After a minute of scanning through them, he clicked on a website he deemed legit enough for his purposes. "Having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality… What does that even mean? I'm looking for the definition of one word, not four." He scrolled the page down to look for any other clues to what it could be. "Synonyms: simple, unaffected, unsuspecting, artless, plain. Simple? Plain? I am the most complex, interesting person out there." While Sora was clicking around on the computer, he hadn't heard Riku enter the room. Riku had hoped that things would be back to normal when they woke up this morning and for the most part, they were. He woke up with the cutest brunette in the world cuddling into him as usual. They snuggled together, ate breakfast together, and took turns using the bathroom just like any other morning. It wasn't until they were finally finished with their usual routine that he realized the normally comfortable silence was replaced with a somewhat awkward one. When Sora had excused himself to use the computer, Riku tried to take his mind off the situation. Finally giving up, he walked over to the study and paused outside the door, watching Sora through the crack. After a moment, he walked in behind Sora, making sure his presence was still unknown. He tried to make out what was on the screen but Sora's persistent clicking made it almost impossible. Giving up, he leaned down and made sure he kept his breath quiet before finally speaking.
"What'cha doing kiddo?" Riku could hardly hold back the laughter when Sora jumped a good 2 feet out of his seat, eyes wide with shock. Trying to catch his breath, he pointed a finger at Riku.
"Don't DO that! And don't call me kiddo." Walking over to Sora, he hugged him by the neck and buried his head in his hair.
"Really though," Riku said between nuzzles, "what're you looking at?" Sora huffed defensively and pried himself from Riku's grasp before walking over to the computer.
"You're so naïve if you don't know." Sora prided himself in using his new found word in a sentence, but was quickly brought down when Riku corrected him.
"Uhh, Sora… You're not using the word right. Are you trying to call me ignorant? 'Cause if you are, you should refrain."
"No, I'm calling you naïve."
"… You're not using is right."
"How would you know!?"
"I'm in college Sora, I know plenty of words, and you're not using it right."
"I'm not stupid, I know what it means! I just don't understand why you call me naïve for not knowing why you got so mad yesterday!"
"… Me neither Sora, me neither," Riku replied sarcastically. Sora could clearly tell that Riku was pissed off by now and he watched Riku turn around and walk out of the room. "I have things to do and people to take care of other than you right now Sora." Slamming the door, Riku was out of sight in a matter of seconds, leaving Sora there in the room, swelled up in his definition of a ridiculous fight. 'Why are we even fighting over something so senile. Can Sora seriously not take an insult that badly? And technically, I wasn't insulting him. Being naïve isn't too horrible, I kinda like it. He's just too dense to see that.' Now stomping down the hall, Riku didn't even bother to look back toward the room where he left Sora. Why go back? Why even look back? Sora was having another outrageous teenage mood swing and Riku really couldn't handle that right now. He had to focus. His energy needed to be on another person.
Sora ruffled his brows and swiveled back to face his computer after the door slammed. He sat there staring at the bright screen. His lips unconsciously puckered, his eyes were narrowed, to make a very sour appearance on his face. Looking at the internet, he clicked it and when the definition of naïve came up with it, he slammed his mouse down on the desk then violently closed the internet. Soon after he had jerked his head off to the side, but after sitting there doing nothing, he still had that expression just as sour as ever plastered across his face. His computer emanated that bright glow on his legs and when he noticed it, he looked back up at his computer where now only his background was up. Suddenly Sora's expression changed from a sour one to another. This time, his eyes widened, his lips started to quiver, and he grinded his teeth together strongly. There, on the background of his computer, Sora had his eyes on a picture. Not just any picture though, a picture of Riku and him smiling and hugging, a reminiscence of a previously happy memory. Now even more agitated, Sora brought back his sour face and shoved himself away from the computer after crashing his fists on the desk once again. Only this time Sora's appearance had hot tears falling down his cheeks. Hiccupping, Sora murmured under his breath, "Stupid Riku… Why are you so mad at me?" Then in a short scream and a cry mixed in his voice, he spit out, "I'm sorry, okay!?"
Axel hadn't called Riku or even tried to contact him since the last time they talked. Riku wasn't sure if that drunkard even remembered what he had said to him. He could have been way past gone to remember or even hear him, but Riku wouldn't have those thoughts run in his head. 'Of course he remembered. Whether or not he'll put up a fight about it is a mystery. For all I know, he might not have taken me seriously.' Riku walked up a stairwell to where Axel's apartment was and stood there in front of the door. He pulled his cell phone out and checked the time. 7:27. He was early… kind of. 'It's early… If I knock, will he even answer? If I knock, will he even be in the right state of mind to understand I wasn't a bomb?' No matter the second thoughts, Riku planted a firm fist against the door. After some banging and crashing from the inside, the silver handle started to turn and a bushel of red hair popped itself out a crack.
"Hello?" The red hair lifted and a face started to appear under it and murmured a greeting.
"Axel?"
"Huh… Riku? Why in the hell are you here at such a god damned hour of the night?" Axel ran his fingers through his messy knotted hair, revealing his drowsy expression. Truth be told, he looked like he needed a good nights sleep.
"I'm here to take you to Alcoholics Anonymous, remember? At 7:30 sharp," Riku said, pushing his way past his friend and into his house. Axel's eyes followed Riku and his body turning, then shutting the door. His house hadn't changed much. You could still smell the alcohol and residue of other actives, some illegal, and his floor was still dirty and unkempt, but more walking space was available. It looked like a sad attempt to clean and whoever was doing the picking up had lost interest or it was what was left over from when Riku "cleaned" last time he was here. Axel's appearance hadn't improved much either. He was untidy and looked, well, as Demyx put it, hobo-ish. There wasn't much time since they had to report there at 8 o'clock, so Riku had to accept taking Axel as is. "Did you just get up?"
"… Yep," he responded in a not too enthusiastic voice while lifting shirts and other clothes, searching for something in a pile in his room.
"You don't really have time to shower; we kinda got to go soon. Check in is at 8." Riku stood motionless, watching his friend scramble back in forth around his apartment. Axel slowly stood up when Riku finished his sentence and exhaled deeply.
"I figured as much. I'm just looking for some shoes."
"And preferably a shirt…"
"… Yeah, a clean one…"
"Listen, I don't want to go to this just as much as you and-" Riku stopped. He couldn't finish, not after that glare. Axel shot him a vicious glare, one that couldn't even describe the chills that followed Riku down into his soul, so he shut up. He knew the only reason Axel was even being so attentive about it was the fact that Riku could decode the message Roxas left him. Riku couldn't say a thing to comfort Axel, at least not now. Axel wasn't in the mood for metaphor, so Riku simply opened the car door and turned the radio on. When they arrived, Axel was barely attentive to the meeting, but the counselor soon got to him. It's not like Axel to turn his back and let the dark side get him, but Riku could have swore that at some points, he was on the verge of tears. This may not have been Axel's cup of tea, but whenever the counselor would mention that fact that they were all here on their own free will… well, most of them, and that they all had their promises to keep, and were probably doing this with support, either for someone or with someone, it got to him. Axel played along with the other children except when someone suggested he look into an anger management course as well. Then, of course, he had to prove to them just how "under control" his temper was. He didn't have compulsive anger. Which, as you could guess, didn't prove anything. They got out just in time for lunch, of course after a 30 minute goodbye and a plea to not see them next week unless they still need it.
"Wanna met Sora?"
"Huh?"
"Sora, the kid I take care of. Do you want to meet him and go to lunch? That is, if we're still friends."
"Don't act gay. I just left the rainbow parade, I don't think my head could handle more brainwashing."
"Ha-Ha, don't get too cocky, I don't except this change to be over night. It takes time and you have to pursue it with your whole self." Riku's voice suddenly mimicked one of a higher, more female pitched one, which caused a laugh out of them both but was then followed by a seemingly awkward silence.
"I guess, I mean, I'm pretty hungry. I haven't eaten actual food in a few days. Why so suddenly, though?"
"You're not the only one with problems, you know." Riku nudged his friend's arm jokingly as the walked outside, only to put a more serious voice one. "I got into a stupid fight with him and I don't want it to continue. So I want you to come home with me to avoid it."
"Don't be so tense," Axel stated, nudging his friend back. "If it's stupid, it'll blow over. Maybe you could lend the kid to me and I'll pay him to clean my house."
"Heh, with what money?"
"Don't push me, I happen to know your bank pin." Sarcasm, one key feature of a sober Axel that Riku had missed. His crude, mean, sarcastic humor that always made him smile.
"Welcome back." Smiling, they both drove back toward the Devane house, where Riku hoped a certain moody teenager was awaiting him. Soon enough, the car ride was over and the two older boys were stepping inside. Riku gave Axel the "grand tour" before telling him to wait and going to find Sora. Axel stood in the middle of the living room, which he would describe more or less as 3 times the size of his apartment with luxurious furniture and what seemed to be a fully stocked bar… Quickly realizing where he had just come from, he shook off any urges he was having and forced himself to calm down, resorting to pacing. What he didn't realize was the pair of tan legs slung over the arm of the couch and a pair of blue eyes watching him.
"What're you doing?" His pacing coming to an abrupt stop, Axel began to look around the room bewildered. Sora shook his head with a giggle and jumped off the couch and over to the tall red head. "Hellooo, I'm down here. Not everyone's your height, you know." At the sight of Sora, Axel couldn't help but feel a tug at his heart. Looking into his deep blue eyes, he could have sworn he was looking at a younger version of his Roxas if it weren't for the hair. Backing up, he looked the boy up and down before smiling to himself. He couldn't help but have a soft spot for the kid. Not when he looked so much like him. This kid reminded him why he was going to those stupid AA meetings in the first place. 'Hn,' Axel thought, 'this might just be the push I need.' Finally taking the initiative to lean down, Axel replied to the short brunette.
"Riku's looking for you, you know."
"Yeah, I know, but… he's mad at me. He doesn't really wanna find me."
"Nah, I'm pretty sure that's not true."
"How would you know?" Axel rolled his eyes. 'Shit. This is the teenage personality Riku was talking about.'
"Just trust me kid."
"Do a lot of people trust you?"
"Yeah, sure. I think I'm pretty trustworthy. Let's just say your secrets won't be on the 10 o'clock news."
"Okay! Well in that case, uhh… What's your name?"
"… Axel."
"Right, Axel, well, in that case, I REALLY need to talk to you later."
"About what?" Sora suddenly jerked his head in the direction of the stairs, the thump of feet stomping down them a good sign that Riku would soon be joining them.
"It's a secret, just trust me." He slyly winked at Axel in an over exaggerated way before giggling to himself and looking in the direction he knew Riku would be coming from. Once he came into sight, Sora began to speak. "Riku?"
"Sora!" Riku all but yelled as he ran over and gave Sora a hug. "I was just looking all over for you!"
"I know. I watched you tell Axel to wait. I was sitting right there you know. Nice to know you pay attention Ri," Sora said with a humph. Before Riku could say any sort of apology, little Sora had started again. "Whatever, I'm hungry Riku. Can we get pizza?" Axel's ears perked up at the sound of the word pizza.
"I like pizza," he chimed in, looking at Riku with his trademark cheshire grin, hoping to throw a hint of pity in his eyes. When Riku rolled his eyes and grabbed his keys, both the younger brunette and the older red head pumped a fist in victory and high fived. Even with Sora jumping in the air and Axel bending down, their hands had a hard time connecting. Riku chuckled as he ignored the two "children" and kept walking towards the door. With Axel acting like a 13 year old and with Sora acting like, well… Sora, Riku knew this was going to be a long lunch.
After walking into the pizza parlor and a waitress giving Riku a flirty look that Sora found rather annoying, they waited at the hostess stand to be seated. A bubbly blonde walked up and introduced herself.
"So table for 2?" she asked with a smile before noticing Sora. "Oh," she giggled, "I didn't see you down there! So table for 3?" Crossing his arms, Sora pouted before reluctantly following her to a booth. He sat himself across from Axel, making sure to keep Riku close to him. Now that all these girls were eying him, Sora wasn't too sure he liked it. Maybe this was how Riku felt. Soon enough, the waitress had come and they were all placing their orders.
"I'll have a beer," Axel announced, looking at Riku with a challenging glare.
"No… He'll have a soda. I'll have a beer," Riku retorted. He could see the glow in Axel's eyes fade with defeat. He was so close, he could feel the glory of winning when Sora chirped in.
"Riku." Sora was using his matter-of-fact voice and Riku knew this wasn't going to go his way. "I took health. Drinking is bad for you. It corrodes away your liver, damages your brain, causes chronic diseases, and your teeth will fall out." All 3 of them, Riku, Axel, and the waitress, looked at him with disbelieving eyes before Riku chuckled and shook his head before returning his attention to the waitress.
"Welp. I guess I'll have a soda." Beaming, Sora gave Riku a quick side hug and ordered a cherry coke and waited while Riku ordered a large pepperoni pizza for all of them to share. When the waitress came back with their drinks, she placed a long neck bottle in front of Riku and winked.
"Don't worry. It's on me." Winking once more, she was about to turn away when Axel looped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.
"Well, well, well, what's your name? I'm Axel." The girl looked like she was about to swoon when both of them turned their heads to a laughing Riku.
"Axel is a sex addict and is currently attending Alcoholics Anonymous classes to get his boyfriend back. I'm Riku." He flashed her a smile and she placed her hand over her heart.
"Oh, well, Riku, Axel," she paused to giggle before continuing. "I'm Tifa." She reached into the pocket of her apron and pulled out a card before scrawling something on it and sliding it to Riku. This time, it was her turn to wink as she walked away. Instinctively, Sora pulled himself against Riku and nuzzled against his arm, shooting the waitress a glare that said "try me bitch". Once the pizza arrived and the waitress scuttled away after receiving yet another dirty glare from Sora, Riku stood up.
"That table over there has more of those red peppers, I'm gonna go switch these out," he said, shaking the jar that was already on their table. Once he was away, Sora leaned forward over the table and whispered to Axel.
"I need to talk to you."
"About what?" Axel questioned, not whispering.
"Shhh!"
"Oh, sorry. About what?"
"Riku. He always poops before he eats, so he'll be gone for awhile, then we can talk."
"… Thank you for that strange trivia. Now that I can win Who Wants to be a Millionaire, what about exactly?" Sora saw Riku heading back and quickly finished the conversation.
"You'll see!" He had leaned back to his side of the table just in time for Riku to come into view and place the shaker down on the table.
"Hey, I'm gonna go to the bathroom, I'll be back." Axel stared in amazement as he watched Riku walk to the bathroom. In all honesty, he hadn't believed the kid when he said that. Shaking it off, he looked at Sora.
"Okay, so what is it?"
"So you and Riku are like, cool, you know, 'cause you guys hang out, right?"
"I don't know," Axel mumbled, "He's only taken me to AA and seen cat woman, I don't know how much closer we can get." Tilting his head to the side in an adorable puppy dog manner, Axel saw Sora's eyes widening with curiosity.
"Who's cat woman?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Okay, 'cause I mean at my birthday party I played this joke on Riku. A friend of mine and I pretended to like each other and I told him we kissed and then he got all pissed about it but when I asked him why, he just got even more mad."
"Wow, you really are naïve."
"What does that even mean!? I looked it up, but apparently I used it wrong!"
"Ignorant too? Man, Riku knows how to pick 'em."
"Hey! Don't make fun of me."
"Whatever kiddo."
"Don't call me that. 1, I'm not a kid, so don't call me that. I'm a teenager, so I guess you could call me teeno or something, but don't. That sounds stupid. Call me Sora. And 2, only Riku calls me that… even though he's not supposed to."
"You know, does this have a point? 'Cause Riku isn't going to shit forever." Thinking to himself for a moment, Sora thought back to all the times when Riku would "be right back" and they wouldn't eat for another 30 minutes. He laughed before continuing his conversation with Axel.
"… Oh, yeah, well I just don't understand what it means."
"The naïve part? 'Cause that could take all night."
"No, the why he got mad part. But if you want to explain that, you can 'cause I don't know, we could have a sleepover or something. I've had one with Riku before."
"Have you now?" Axel remembered that. It was the day Riku came banging on his door at 9 in the fucking morning because he had just left. It was the day the spent drunk and high as hell and the day he met Roxas. He cringed slightly but decided to write it off as just a chill. Axel didn't cringe. Not over a boy… no matter how cute his butt was.
"Yeah, it was a lot of fun. We had sleeping bags and everything! We could make smores!" Their conversation was put to an abrupt end when Riku strolled up and sat back down with a goofy smile on his face.
"What about smores?" Clearly he had heard the last bit of the conversation. What could he say? Every man likes a good smore.
"Me and Axel are gonna have a sleepover!"
"Are you now? And when are you gonna do this? Am I invited?"
"I don't know… We only have 2 sleeping bags. I mean, you could sleep on the couch if you want, but Axel can set up the tent so it won't be all open like last time. It has a zipper."
"Yeah," Axel smirked, "I can put up a tent." Through the corner of his eye, Riku caught Axel motioning down towards his crotch, pretending to zip and unzip his pants while mouthing "with a zipper." After Riku had laughed it off, but not before he shot Axel a look, they finished the pizza and drove back to the Devane house. Axel said something about going back to pick up some pajamas and when an hour had passed and he still wasn't there, Sora went to find Riku. He roamed the halls for a few minutes, peeking into the rooms, before finding him sitting in a chair in their room, looking at a picture frame. He walked in and Riku put the picture back on the small table next to him, revealing it to be the first one they had taken together. It was of him and Riku during the first time his parents had left them alone while they went on a business trip. Riku had taken him to the zoo and they had stopped someone and asked them to take a picture outside the tiger cage. Sora had a sunburn spreading across his cheeks and nose and Riku's hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. They looked happy. It had always been Sora's favorite picture, hence why it was sitting there. It was actually his Christmas present to Riku that past year. There's not much an at the time 12 year old can really buy. Sitting on the bed, he looked at Riku and each waited for the other to speak. Sora finally broke the silence.
"He's not coming back, is he?"
"Nope."
"That's okay. We weren't really gonna have a sleepover anyway. I just wanted to make you mad… You know, Selphie's my best friend, I've known her since I was like 7, I figured you would have known that. We don't really like each other, I was just trying to make you jealous and we didn't kiss. Not that Selphie isn't pretty or anything, but that'd be gross. Why are you mad at me?" Sighing and rolling his eyes, he walked over and sat next to Sora, pulling him into his lap.
"Because Sora. I like having you around."
"But that doesn't explain why you got mad at me…"
"Because I like having you around for myself." He leaned in and kissed Sora before rubbing their noses together in an Eskimo kiss. A grin was spreading across Sora's face and Riku felt his heart skip a beat. He always loved it when Sora smiled. "My birthday's in a couple days. How about the beach, just you and me?" With his smile growing even wider, Sora nodded his head vigorously and yawned, telling Riku it was bed time. Settling down, Riku was glad to finally have things the way they were supposed to be. Now all he had to do was wait.
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