I just got home from my brother's wedding reception, and I'll tell you, he was totally smashed the whole time. He sang a falseto version of Madonna's "Like A Virgin" and it was rather entertaining. On the other hand, I wore a pair of bright red four-inch stiletto heel shoes (that are totally adorable btw) for about twelve hours straight and I'm pretty sure I'll never feel my feet again. Still, they're so cute it was worth it. Anywho, now that I'm officially done with my junior year of high school (WHICH MEANS I'M A SENIOR NOW!!!!!), my brother's wedding is out of the way, and my summer schedule at work is kicking in within the next few weeks, my updating habits should be better. Hopefully. So here's chapter thirteen!

Insert standard disclaimer here.

Chapter 13

While on his search for Axel, Roxas had been intercepted by Aeris and Tifa. Apparently the women had realized that it had been a long time since Roxas and Axel had left Ne'erwas. The subjects back in Hartz were beginning to openly worry about not seeing their king in a long while.

"So…" Roxas said slowly, "We're going back to Hartz soon?" Aeris nodded with a firm smile.

"We've decided that we'll post-pone the wedding a few days because we just found the perfect location for it to be held!" Aeris explained.

"That will give you boys a few days to spend in Hartz schmoozing with the public enough to prove that you haven't killed each other," Tifa added.

"We'll be setting out tonight," Aeris finished.

Roxas paused, fidgeting slightly. "Will Axel be okay to travel?" he asked. "I mean, he was just poisoned…"

Aeris nodded quickly, her eyes serious. "Yes, of course. We'd never endanger him that way, Roxas. Please have more faith in your mother then that. Anyway, if something does happen, Axel will have you, me, and his guard for healing remedies."

Tifa nodded, picking up on the thought. "With all the bad luck that son of mine's been having lately, we've decided we can't be too careful. All the guard is now carrying remedies for poisons, not to mention charms filled with healing arts. Security is so tight, germs will have a hard time getting through."

Roxas nodded, not feeling very reassured by these answers. He knew the Royal Guard was doing everything they could to keep them all safe, but he couldn't help but wonder if it was enough.

"Do you know where Axel is?" Roxas asked. "I can't seem to find him."

"Have you checked the Bazaar?" Tifa asked. Roxas nodded. He'd checked every place he could think of for the redhead, and yet he'd had no luck. The only other thing he could think of was that Axel might have left the Royal City, but that would just be stupid on his part. Axel could be foolish at times, but Roxas didn't think he was stupid. He told Tifa this and she nodded, looking slightly concerned.

"Tell me, did you two have a fight?" she asked. Roxas bit his lip and shrugged.

"I wouldn't call it a fight so much as a disagreement," the young king protested.

"He'll be in the training room," Tifa said with surety. "That's where he always goes to blow off some steam."

"Where can I find it?" Roxas demanded impatiently.

"Are you sure you want to go?" Tifa asked. "If he's still upset he might challenge you…"

"I can handle him," Roxas assured her with a slight scowl. "Tell me the way."

She smiled a small smile as if she knew a secret before starting to explain how to get there. Repeating the directions in his head so as not to forget, Roxas set off in search of his fiancé. Larxene was protesting the whole way.

"Your majesty, if he tries to hurt you, I can't just stand by and let him," she scowled.

"That is exactly what you are going to do," Roxas said. "He won't lose his head enough to kill me and I can defend myself well enough against him until he calms down. No one will be hurt."

"You're making it extremely hard to do my job, sire."

"I know. I'm sorry, but you will not interfere. Is that understood?"

There was a long pause and a dejected sigh. "Yes, your majesty."

Roxas turned into the right room, stopping short as an arc of fire whipped out just in front of his nose. He could feel the burning of the flame inches from his face and his heart started racing with adrenaline. Larxene snarled low in her throat.

Scorch marks covered every surface of the room, along with sharp indents from a weapon. Even as Roxas watched, some of the ruin seemed to melt away, leaving the wall looking perfect and unblemished. He idly wondered what kind of magic was doing it before turning his full attention on the angry redhead in front of him.

"What?" Axel snapped, sounding a bit like a moody preteen, "Can't I get a damn moment to myself?"

Roxas cocked an eyebrow, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Fine, then," he said with a shrug. "When you're ready to act like an adult again, give me a call." He turned to leave, but a sharp, wheel-like weapon whipped out and hit the door, slamming it shut with a bang, locking it firmly in place. Roxas could hear Larxene pounding on the other side of the door where she had been shut out. He didn't have much time to worry about that, though.

Axel was striding toward him, his walk more like a glide. Roxas was reminded of a jungle cat stalking its prey. He backed up out of reflex until his back was firmly placed against the door, the spiky red wheel inches from his arm. Axel didn't stop moving forward until he was directly in front of Roxas; so close their chests would touch if the blonde cared to take even a fraction of a step forward.

Usually a position like this would be frightening and send off danger alarms in Roxas' head. But not with Axel. The adrenaline pumping through his body was easily kin to excitement rather then fear. Every fiber of his being reacted to the fiery redhead in ways that Roxas would never admit out loud. It was the type of feeling that made him want Axel to push him against the wall and take him for his own.

He quickly squashed these thoughts down, noticing that Axel really didn't have the disposition for such acts. Not right that moment, at least. It would be a bad idea for him to let his hormones get in the way.

Axel brought the weapon's twin up, placing one of the lethal spikes at the junction between Roxas' neck and his collarbone, touching enough so that they younger could feel the sharp point, but lightly enough as to where it wouldn't pierce his flesh.

"Why do you follow me?" Axel demanded, his voice lower and more threatening then Roxas had ever heard it. Roxas swallowed with a bit of difficulty before answering.

"Because you keep running."

Axel snarled law in his throat, glaring at Roxas.

"This isn't a joke," he snapped. "You can't fuck around with me like this."

"I'm not fucking around with you!" Roxas cried. "Is it that hard to believe that maybe I'm attracted to you?" Without warning, Axel closed the space between their bodies, pushing their chests flush together and grinding his hips into the blonde's. Roxas let out a strangled gasp as Axel moved his face so that his lips barely brushed Roxas' ear as he spoke.

"I'm not worried abut attraction," he said, tongue flicking out to caress the shell of Roxas' ear. Roxas clenched his fists, unable to stop a small moan from tearing from his throat. "I can tell you want me." He grinded his hips again as if to prove his point.

As suddenly as he had come, Axel was gone again, a few paces away, looking pissed. "But I'm not interested merely in lust," he snapped. He swung the weapon out again, releasing it at Roxas. The blonde ducked out of the way, cussing as he went. The weapon whipped around like a boomerang, sailing back to its master.

Roxas summoned his own swords, Oathkeeper and Oblivion, and rushed the redhead, snarling angrily as he went. The redhead threw his weapon again, this time covered in flames. Roxas threw up his swords, catching the wheel and launching it back at Axel. He summoned up some light and filled the room, basically blinding Axel. He took the opportunity to knock the weapon from his hand and trip him up. As soon as the redhead hit the floor, Roxas plopped down on his chest, holding him in place, and sticking the point of Oblivion's blade against his throat.

"Are you quite done?" Roxas growled. Axel, apparently, wasn't done. He swiped a hand up, scratching at Roxas' face. The blonde recoiled, but not enough to where Axel could free himself. He stuck his swords in the ground in annoyance and grabbed Axel's wrists, holding those to the ground as well.

"Will you step it? For God's sake, are you always this childish?"

In that moment, Axel seemed to deflate. He gave up struggling and a whoosh of air rushed from his body. He relaxed under Roxas' hold and leaned his head back against the ground, staring at the ceiling. Not quite trusting it, Roxas stayed where he was.

"Are you done?" he asked again. Axel nodded wearily. Roxas still didn't let him up. The redhead looked up at him, seeming extremely tired. A small smile spread over his lips.

"If you weren't so pissed at me, this would be kinda kinky."

"Shut the hell up," Roxas snapped. Axel obeyed easily. "Do you care to explain to me what the hell that just was?"

Axel shrugged, quite the feat in his current position.

"I wanted to work off some steam and you were there. You kill me Rox, you really do. You're attracted to my body, but not in any way other then physical and it's frustrating as hell."

"Do you really care that much?" Roxas asked. Axel looked away, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah, I guess I do. I did…I did some stupid shit when I was younger and I regret a lot of it. I promised myself I would never have a relationship like that again and you're making it really difficult for me to uphold that promise."

"I'm not doing it on purpose," Roxas said.

"That's exactly it, though!" Axel exclaimed. "You're so damn seductive to me in the little things you do and you're not even trying! I just…god, I want you so bad it hurts sometimes. I'm trying to behave myself but when you start talking about maybe loving me…I can barely contain myself."

"I don't get what you're talking about," Roxas admitted, a blush coloring his cheeks.

"Like right now, for instance," Axel sighed. "I just want to flip you over and fuck you into the floor." Roxas immediately released the redhead, tripping in his attempts to get off and landing hard on his ass. Roxas had to admit, the idea didn't sound so bad, but did he have to be so…blunt about it?

"So…you're basically saying you won't have sex with me unless we're both in love with each other?" Axel, looking much like he wanted to hit himself for it, nodded.

"Oh." Roxas wasn't really sure how to further the conversation. He didn't love Axel. He was extremely attracted to him, but he didn't love him. He realized that he wouldn't mind having sex with Axel. In fact, he'd probably enjoy it quite a lot. But the thought of loving the redhead was so foreign he almost cringed.

"So, basically, we're looking at many years of sexual frustration," Axel intoned, trying to joke. Roxas cracked a smile, but couldn't force himself to laugh. As Larxene finally managed to bust the door open, only one thought could cross Roxas' mind.

What the hell were they getting themselves into?