A/N- It's happening guys! A big fat shout out now that if you do not like lemons, please skip the first part of this chapter and proceed to the first section break because this chapter just opened a box of lemon Girl Scout Cookies to devour. Again, there will be no citrus free version but I will do my best to steer people around the lemony scenes in these A/N's for anyone who doesn't like in depth stuff. Read and enjoy! XD
The combination of fear, panic, excitement, urgency and simple complacency was a rather unique, new experience. Roxas wasn't sure what to focus on as he attempted to devour Axel's lips while the red head reciprocated the gesture upon his own. His fingers slowly dragged through the crimson locks, feeling every texture that brushed over his warm skin. A happy hum sounded from his throat as Axel's lips migrated down his neck.
"I didn't think you were serious," Roxas murmured, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the sensation of Axel's lips trailing across his skin.
"About what?" Axel mumbled into the blonde's flesh.
"Over Christmas…you mentioned…birthday sex…" Roxas had a hard time keeping his nerves together as Axel's teeth scraped over his skin, sending chills down his spine. His fingers drifted from their nest of crimson fibers before sliding along Axel's neck and his chest. As they reached the elder man's waist, his fingers played with the hem of the shirt waiting there. Slowly, he crept his digits underneath the fabric and used his finger tips to crawl his hands up the man's chest. He felt goosebumps arise beneath his touch, cause a smirk to bloom upon his features. The blonde let out a moan as he felt Axel's hand slide beneath the hem of his pants and trail over the curvature of his ass. He released a small gasp as Axel picked him off the floor and pulled him closer to his chest, allowing Roxas to wrap his legs around the elder man's waist. While it was hard to hold his balance, Roxas rather liked sitting on the man's bony hips as it gave him a couple inches of height over the red head. Not that he had a problem being short but he liked to feel like the superior every now and then.
With the extra height, Roxas was able to pull Axel's shirt up to his collarbone before his armpits got in the way. Unable to let go of the blonde without dropping him, Axel paused in his kisses as he wondered how to get his shirt over his head. He staggered forward as Roxas suddenly leaned back, causing the blonde's back to smash into the thin space of wall between Axel's bed and desk. Before he could even ask if Roxas was alright, the blonde was tugging at the shirt once more. Axel relinquished the article of clothing, using the wall to brace the blonde, and returned to tasting the younger man's neck.
Roxas leaned his head back against the wall and let the warm tingles radiate through his body, his mind thickening to a heavy haze. Yet despite the haze, he could still think clearly, unlike whenever he had been stoned. His fingers loosened their grip on Axel's shirt and it slipped from his grasp where it came to a rest on the floor. Roxas slid his fingers around the hem of his own shirt and lifted it over his head, depositing it on top of the elder's. His breathing hitched in his chest as Axel's nails gently scraped over the skin on his chest. His mouth grew dry and his breathing started to become erratic.
"You're not trying very hard," Axel teased, lips brushing over the blonde's earlobe.
"Nngh…no…" Roxas attempted to protest. He shivered as Axel's other hand started to scrap over his skin, holding back a moan in his throat as it brushed against the side of his nipple.
"What's the matter? Cat got your…" Axel pressed his lips against the blondes, his tongue diving in and wrapping around the smaller of the two. Roxas's arms slid over the red head's shoulders and wrapped around his neck in order to deepen the kiss. As they broke, Axel licked his upper lip with his tongue, his Cheshire grin gleaming. "Tongue?" he finished. Before Roxas could answer, Axel grabbed Roxas by the ass and tossed the blonde onto the bed. Roxas steadied himself as he bounced on the springs and looked up to find Axel crawling up to him on hands and knees. The blonde found himself falling back as Axel crawled higher and higher over him until their lips met and his head was resting upon the pillow.
While their tongues danced around each other, Roxas felt a warmer pressure slide against his hips as Axel settled lower on top of him. His fingers trailed down the scar of Axel's spine and explored every crease, crack and bump there was so he could memorize every detail by touch. With his eyes closed, he felt like he could just float away and live in the feeling forever. Like floating on a cloud, or at least the clouds seen in movies. Real clouds just made everything wet. Roxas chuckled at his own train of thought and Axel sat back on the blonde's hips to give the blonde a strange look.
"What's so funny?" Axel asked.
Roxas smirked up at the red head. "Nothing," he replied.
"Liar," Axel shot back. "I'll just have to pry it out of you." His long fingers tickled the younger man's sides and Roxas failed to hold back his giggles. As he broke out laughing, Axel connected their lips again and Roxas released a happy sigh as his sides were released from their torture. He felt the long fingers travel farther south until they brushed under the hem of his boxers along his hip. They slid along his waist until they reached the button and took what seemed like an eternity to unclasp it. Axel's lips turned back to their work on Roxas's neck, sucking gently at the tender skin, while his nimble fingers began to drag down the metal tab.
"Fuck…" Roxas groaned out as Axel purposely put extra pressure on the blonde's groin as it moved. He felt a rush of warmth slide from his body down to his lower abdomen and his pants started to become rather uncomfortable. Axel purred against his neck, sending vibrations that seemed to rattle his spine. A heavy blush spread over his face as Axel's hand slipped between the layers of fabric to cup the hardening blonde. "God you…suck…" Roxas muttered.
"Oh?" Axel asked, licking the blonde's sensitive nerve. He could tell Roxas was trying to hold back but he wasn't going to let him. He gave the blonde a gentle squeeze and found the moan he was looking for buried deep within the younger man's throat. His fingers shifted so they were hooked around the waist band of Roxas's boxers and he gave them a tug, exposing a pale hip. Roxas caught the glint in Axel's eye and tried to word a protest but it was silenced as the red head began to places kisses along his sternum, diaphragm, and navel before softly brushing against his hip. "You seem to be enjoying it a lot more than you say you are."
Roxas couldn't argue there. He was loving every second Axel was touching him and each new touch sparked new tingles down his spine to the point he felt like he would have permanent nerves damage. His hands ghosted over the tops of Axel's shoulders, trailed through his crimson hair and tangled themselves up in the comforter beneath him. The cool fabric contrasted against his warm skin and it made him want to snuggle deeper into the fluff. His back arched ever so slightly as Axel began to drag the rest of his garments away from his body. Roxas kept his eyes closed as he felt himself be revealed as he knew if he looked at Axel's face his own would break out into a blush. He shifted his legs as Axel's hands guided his clothes along away and pulled his legs up towards his chest out of reflex to keep himself covered.
"Roxas," Axel called out. "Roxas, look at me." The blonde fought the urge but gave in, cracking open his lids. He found a pair of peridot gems staring back at him as a large hand slide up his cheek to cup his face. "It's okay. We don't have to do this if you don't want to."
"It's…it's not that," Roxas replied. He wanted to look away from the intense green but he couldn't bring himself to do it. "I just don't want to screw this up. I mean it's…it's my first time…" A warm smile spread over Axel's lip and he pressed a kiss to the blonde's forehead.
"It's my first time too, you know," Axel reminded. "Don't feel like you have to hide from me. I want you to enjoy this." Roxas held his tongue but he managed to unhinge his legs and return them to a semi-normal position. "See, not so hard."
"Easy for you to say," Roxas muttered. Axel pulled the blonde in for a deep kiss, keeping their tongues to themselves for once, and tried to get Roxas to relax. The younger male's hands unclasped themselves from the bed sheets and found their way back along Axel's spine. They coasted over the rough skin before reaching fabric and followed it along to the clasp in the front. Axel let Roxas work on unhooking his button and zipper, hoping he was going slow enough for a first time. He wanted to make the moment last for as long as he could so Roxas wouldn't have a reason to forget it.
Axel felt fingers slide along the skin on his hips and he shifted his position so Roxas could slide them off. Freed from the confines of his clothes, Axel felt a bit bare, especially since he was in front of his best friend. When Roxas couldn't reach any farther, the red head kicked off the remains of his pants and boxers and sat back on his legs over the blonde's thighs. For a long moment they sat there staring at each other, eyes looking over every curve, mark and imperfection.
"You're really beautiful," Axel murmured, causing Roxas's face to turn bright red. Roxas found his hand unconsciously going to the only piece of fabric he was still wearing, his dog collar, and his fingers ran over the tag hanging against his throat.
"You going to draw me like one of your French girls?" Roxas asked with a serious face. Axel snorted as he held back a laugh and caught the blonde smirking back at him. He shifted so his hands sat on either side of Roxas's face, their eyes looking back at each other.
"All the talent in the world wouldn't be able to capture your beauty."
"Or yours."
Roxas pulled Axel down into a wild kiss with tongues battling each other for dominance. The extra skin on skin contact made the blonde's flesh feel like it was made of fire as each touch sent sparks through his body. He gasped as Axel ground their hips together and lost to the red head in his skirmish. He wasn't going to complain though. Every sensation was like a shot of some sort of magical drug to his brain and he never wanted it to end. The pair broke apart for air, lungs gasping as they tried to catch their breath. Axel brushed his thumb over the edge of Roxas's lips to wipe away the saliva lingering behind and found himself staring down at the panting blonde. The peppered blush on his cheeks and the semi-glazed look in his eyes made him look even more attractive and Axel found his mouth going dry just at the sight alone.
"Are we…?" Roxas started to ask.
"Yeah," Axel replied. "You ready?" The blonde nodded and shifted so he was sitting up on his elbows. Axel leaned in and licked under the younger man's chin, feeling the skin twitch as his jaw trembled. His tongue coasted down the bare flesh, lower and lower until it passed beneath the blonde trail below the navel. Axel's finger slid over the tender skin of Roxas's thighs and he placed a kiss on the end of the blonde's growing erection. Roxas sucked in his breath and tried to keep his breathing steady, failing miserably.
"Gah!" he gasped as he felt Axel's tongue lick the underside of his cock and his fingers tangled deep into the comforter as his body tightened at the sensation. When the red head took him in his mouth, Roxas wanted to buck his hips but he kept them firmly planted on the mattress so he didn't choke the man. But did he have to exercise his willpower to keep himself rooted. His toes curled and uncurled in the fabric of the comforter while a heavy blush coated his cheeks. Wave after wave of pleasure coursed through his body with each movement of Axel's tongue. "Axel…" he panted. "D-don't…you're making me go to…ah!" Roxas released a strangled moan as the red head's teeth slowly scraped down the skin of his arousal. Pressure began to build up inside his lower abdomen and every muscle in his body started to tighten like they were being pulled apart by a dungeon keeper.
Roxas threw his head back, his voice cracking as he called out Axel's name. His back arched painfully and a rush of heat washed over him as he released into the elder's mouth. The blonde panted heavily as he watched Axel slide his lips over his dick, tongue lapping up the remnants of semen that had escaped the confines of his mouth. Axel swallowed in a seductive manor before his tongue trailed over his bottom lip like a cat lapping up the last droplets of warm milk.
"That's…not fair…" Roxas complained. He released his muscles and fell back on the bed with a thump, draping an arm over his forehead. He shivered as Axel started placing kisses along his torso again, taking his time to trail upwards, while Roxas refueled his stamina. The blonde noted his fingertips were sore and glanced to the hand still lying on the bed. He could see strains in the fabric where his nails pulled to hard. Hopefully Axel wouldn't notice or mind because Roxas didn't have enough money in his budget to buy a new one.
"You know, you kind of taste like Pringles," Axel commented, folding his arms on top of Roxas's abdomen and resting his chin on top. The blonde peered down at him with a perplexed frown. "Salty, sweet and good to eat."
"Do I dare ask what kind of Pringles?" Roxas asked.
Axel chuckled and rose to his hands and knees again. Then he slide upwards and brushed his lips over the blonde's earlobe. "The best kind."
"Liar," Roxas shot back. He put a finger on Axel's lips, blocking off the elder from the kiss he wanted. Axel pouted but Roxas didn't budge from his position.
"Dill Pickle," Axel stated.
"Fucking pickles?" Roxas licked the skin on his arm and scowled at the salty taste of his own sweat. To his surprise, there was an herby bitterness that lingered in his mouth. It took him a moment to realize that it was from a bar of soap Zexion had found for him a month ago with "all natural botanicals to make his skin glow". It suddenly dawned on him why the college junior gave him the soap to begin with and he filed it away in his "get back at Zexion and Demyx" folder in his mind.
"I'll be honest, though. You would make a terrible pickle," Axel admitted.
"Why's that?" Roxas demanded.
"Because I'd buy every jar in the universe and hoard them to myself. I'd be eating Roxas flavored pickles for the rest of my life," Axel teased. Roxas finally let him get the kiss he wanted and their tongues danced and twirled for a moment before they broke apart, foreheads pressed together.
"Or we can force Zexion and Demyx to eat them," the blonde opted.
"Ooh, devious and good looking. Careful, Roxas. I might just fall for you even more," Axel warned.
Their lips met once more for a twisting tango of tongues while their bodies pressed together to initiate more electrified touches. Axel revealed a bottle of lubrication from beneath his pillow, alerting Roxas he had been planning this ahead of time, and the blonde tried to relax his muscles. It proved a lot harder than he anticipated as the tenseness increased the amount of endorphins running through his brain. His entire body locked up as he felt a cold finger drag between his cheeks. He pinched his eyes shut as he felt the digit slide up inside of him. It took a moment for him to adjust to the presence of a foreign object and when Axel asked if he was ready to continue, Roxas gave a curt nod. The sensation of his anus getting pried open quickly rushed to the top of his "I will never get used to this" list and he squirmed in attempts to free up his jitters.
"You okay?" Axel asked.
"It's so weird," Roxas replied.
"It'll get better," Axel reassured, smirking as he moved his fingers like scissors. Roxas made a face but didn't indulge his friend with his commentary. The blonde twitched as Axel's fingers delved deeper and the faint echoes of Zexion's words came floated back into his mind. He knew there would be pain but as to how much was starting to worry him. "You feeling ready?"
"Please go before I change my mind," Roxas replied, eyes still pressed shut. Axel nodded and adjusted Roxas's legs before lining himself up. There was a pause as they both braced themselves. Then Roxas bit back a strangled mix between a shout and a scream before Axel pressed their lips together in attempts to distract him. Roxas could feel Axel gently throbbing against the walls of his insides, their heartbeats syncing together like a magic spell. Under the tender kisses from his lover, Roxas began to relax and his fingers unclenched from the bed sheets once more. He didn't know he was shaking until he brushed his hands over Axel's shoulders, feeling his fingertips bounce all over the skin. Axel took his hands one at a time and intertwined their fingers together, the pulses pitter-pattering in their palms sending secret messages to each other.
When Axel felt Roxas return to a semi-relaxed state, he shifted his hips and gave a gentle thrust. Roxas winced under the pain and he waited again for the blonde to readjust. It took half the time than the first, prompting Axel to press kisses along Roxas's jaw until his lips nibbled on the younger man's ear.
"How are you holding up?" Axel whispered.
Roxas's breath trembled against the side of his face as the blonde took a steadying breath. "You're such a saint," he breathed. Axel caught sight of a faint glint in the corner of the younger man's eye and he kissed away the moisture leaking from the oceanic eyes. Roxas leaned into the touch, their cheeks nuzzling together. "I want to feel you, Axel," the younger murmured. "I want to be with you so many more times it…it makes my chest hurt thinking about it." Axel untangled his fingers from his lovers and held them against the sides of the younger man's face. A gentle smile blossomed on his lips as he stared back at cerulean blue.
"Mine too," he whispered. Another drop of water leaked out of Roxas's eye and Axel wiped it away with his thumb. "You ready?" The blonde nodded with a hint of a smile toying with the corners of his lips.
Axel shifted his hands to the mattress and gave an experimental thrust. Roxas winced but his eyes told him to keep going. And so he did. It started off slow and methodical but it quickly began to gain pace as endorphins began to tickle their brains. Sweat broke on their brows and down their spines as their breath turned ragged. Roxas felt Axel's stomach brushing over his arousal with each thrust and it sent tiny shivers over his skin. His hands weren't quite sure where they wanted to be. He would run them over Axel's shoulders before they shifted back to curling in the comforter and back again. His mind had lost any sort of clarity as it all became a muddled mess of pleasure, lust and eagerness.
Roxas gasped as he felt something spark inside of him and Axel paused, staring back at him with a panicked look. When the blonde asked him to repeat what he just did, a smirk spread over the red head's lips. Shifting his aim towards that little bundle of nerves along the younger man's prostate, Axel enjoyed every little gasp and mewl Roxas released from his throat. He shifted his weight to his left elbow so he could run his other hand over the blonde's neglected arousal. Roxas squirmed at the electric touch and his moans filled the room.
"Ax…" he panted. "I-I can't…shit!" Roxas felt a tense coiling deep within himself yet he wanted to hold back so he didn't finish first. He couldn't stop the building up sensation and it exploded in his mind to where his vision blacked out for a brief moment. He could faintly make out Axel tensing with a hiss before his arm gave out and the red head collapsed on top of him. Their breath brushed against each other's sweaty skin as they sat in silence. Roxas snaked his arms around Axel's shoulders and pulled the red head into his body. "Thank you," he murmured.
"I think I need to start jogging again," Axel commented, his throat raw from air rasping against it. Roxas chuckled and let his friend catch his breath before he pushed himself upright. They both made a face as they peeling sensation against their skin as the semen coating their stomachs acted like paste. "Oh, that's gross."
"Where else was it supposed to go?" Roxas asked.
"I don't know," Axel mused, sitting back on the blonde's thighs. "Maybe into another dimension." Roxas snorted and whacked Axel with his pillow. They both broke out laughing and Axel plopped down next to his friend so they both lay staring up at the ceiling. The red head folded his hands behind his head and Roxas clasped them over his chest, taking care to avoid the goo on his stomach. For a moment they sat in silence again letting their thoughts reflect. They glanced at each other at the same time and both broke into smiles.
"Well that was something," Roxas stated.
"Sure was," Axel replied. "Damn, that was some good sex. I get why people get addicted to it but I think it was ten times better than if I did it with some random person." Axel paused before groaning, ruffling his hair against the mattress by turning his head back and forth. "I owe Demyx money, the shit. He's going to be rubbing it in my face for all eternity."
"How much did you bet?" Roxas inquired, glancing up at the red head.
"Two hundred. Maybe I'll just buy his groceries for awhile but knowing him he'll want it up front." Axel looked down as he felt the blonde press up against his side and he hooked his arm around the small man's shoulders. Roxas pressed his face against the soft spot between Axel's shoulder and pectoral, letting his eyes fall closed as he relished in his afterglow. "So what are we doing for the next ten days?" Axel asked.
"Well, we already did what I had planned," Roxas remarked. "Seeing as I don't start class for another week, that leaves my schedule completely open."
"Hmm, that's a definite problem," Axel noted. "We're just going to have to fill that up, aren't we?" Roxas chuckled as Axel kissed the top of his wild locks. "So what's on the menu first?"
Roxas hummed and gave it some thought. "I'm thinking shower." He looked up at the red head. "You're welcome to join me."
"You know I'm always open to an invitation."
Roxas smirked and shifted so his tongue flickered over the elder man's ear lobe. "That wasn't an invitation," he husked. "It was an order." Roxas rolled off the bed onto his feet and sauntered over to the door. He looked back over his shoulder to see Axel sitting up on the bed giving him a sexy, cat-eyed stare. The smirk on the blonde's face broadened and he slipped out of the door, taking his sweet time getting to the bathroom.
He started up the shower and waited a full minute for the water to get to the perfect temperature. Stepping into the mist, he started to wonder if Axel was coming at all and a bit of worry began to bubble up inside of him. He ran his fingers through his hair and let the hot water spray his face. His stomach dropped to the floor as he felt one arm wrap around his waist down to his hip while the other snaked up his chest where the hand spread out on his throat. Roxas wanted to melt as Axel kissed his favorite nerve on his neck. The hand resting on his hip slithered lower and brushed over his genitals, giving his balls a soft squeeze, before sensually stroking the length to the tip.
Unable to control his want, Roxas used the water to his advantage to slide in the elder man's grasp so they were facing each other and pulled Axel's face down so their lips crashed together. Long gone were the patient lovers. Now they were thirsty for each other, pulling and clawing like they had over Christmas. Roxas leapt up and locked his legs around Axel's waist, although he had a small heart attack while doing so since the water almost made him slip off before Axel caught him in time. He was pressed up against the wall of the shower and he moaned as he felt his lover thrust deep inside of him again. Roxas raked his nails over Axel's shoulders and threw his head back against the wall as the waves of pleasure came once more. He used his legs to press each slam of the hips even deep inside of him so it hit that perfect spot.
The pair locked lips again, tongues flailing about as they lost control over their own bodies as ecstasy overtook them. Roxas could feel Axel growing closer and he stroked himself so the red head wouldn't have to drop him. A spray of hot cum coated his insides as Axel gave one last deep thrust and Roxas let his orgasm take him, white coating their chests once more. At least this time the spray of the water washed it away before it started to dry.
There came the silence again, filled only with the sounds of the shower running and their own heavy breathing. Their foreheads rested together while their hair draped over their faces. Roxas moved first and brushed the fiery red locks aside to reveal the beautiful green orbs beneath.
"We're going to have so much fun over break," Roxas gasped between breaths.
"Hell yeah," Axel replied, grins spreading over both of their faces. Roxas realized they were both still wearing their collars and he found his hand reaching up to hold the tag between his fingers. Axel leaned forward and caught the blonde's bruised lips in a sweet kiss.
This year's love was here to last.
XxXxX
The haze started to lift from his mind like cotton candy getting pulled from the side of the machine. Bit by bit, the wispy concoction was removed so his thoughts could clear. Roxas cracked open his eyes to find bright morning sunlight sticking through one of the cracks in the blinds directly on his face. He scowled and buried his face into the sheets. As he moved, he became aware of the warmth pressed against his side and the weight sitting on top of his back. Bit by bit, the memories from the day before came floating back and, much to his regret, so did the pain of the morning after.
"Axel," he called out, his voice muffled by the sheets.
"'M-a wake," the red head mumbled through his half-asleep mind. Roxas peered out from his dark enclave to find Axel watching him with a half-lidded stare. It appeared the elder had been watching him for some time, although his exhaustion had caught up to him and he was now fighting to stay awake. When Axel caught the blonde's blue eyes staring back, he smiled. "Morning."
"How long have you been up?" Roxas pressed, rolling over onto his back. The lower half of his spine ached like he had been out picking beans all day, which he had done before. His mother just had to start a garden and decide not to take care of it two weeks in. Not that Roxas minded tending the garden for the summer but it had taken up half of the backyard. When it came to harvest, he was picking, washing, and cleaning vegetables for hours. That year he forced himself to eat every vegetable from the garden that was put on his plate just so his hard work wouldn't be wasted. He even ate them when they were burnt, doused in salt or dripping with oil when Ven asked Naminé to try and make him fried eggplant. Roxas never wanted to eat eggplant again after that night.
"Dunno. Two, maybe three? I've honestly lost track," Axel replied. "I could watch you sleeping all day long and never get bored."
"You may not but I would. So what's for breakfast?" Roxas asked.
"I don't know. I think we have a big box of cinnamon sex downstairs." Roxas shot his friend an unamused look. "Well, I thought it was clever. What are you feeling up to?"
"Eggs sound good," Roxas said with a shrug. "Are you even awake enough to cook?" The blonde was greeted with a yawn from the red head as his eyes drooped even farther shut. "I'll take that as a no. You stay here and sleep, you lazy cat. I'll go scrounge us up some food." Roxas slipped out from underneath Axel's arm and crawled over the red head. Axel managed to grab him and steal a kiss before Roxas got his feet on the floor. A jolt of pain shot up his spine as he put his weight on the lower half of his body. He clenched his jaw and managed to free his boxers from where they sat tucked inside his pants. Then he slipped them on and headed downstairs.
When the room fell quiet, Axel drifted off into a doze, his body rolling onto where Roxas had been lying before so he could breathe in the scent. He wasn't sure how long he slept, or when he fell back asleep, when his phone started ringing. Axel crawled over far enough so he could reach the phone sitting on his desk and gave a mumbled "hello" to whomever was calling.
"My, my, aren't we sleepy this morning," Marluxia's voice spoke up.
"Mmmm. Hey, Marly. How was the trip?" Axel asked, flopping back down onto the mattress. The faint scent of eggs drifted passed his nose and made his stomach gurgle with glee.
"Good God it was awful! I didn't get an ounce of sleep on the plane and people have been contacting me non-stop since I've got here. It says I'm on vacation in my bloody voicemail why can't they leave me alone?" Marluxia vented. There were some mumbled voices on the other end of the line and Axel took the pause to yawn. "Tifa says hello, by the way," Marluxia spoke up. "She said she wants to meet your boyfriend sometime over a Skype chat."
"You told her?" Axel asked.
"You know how she is. Always grilling me for details about what's going on in the lives of those around me," Marluxia replied. "Plus if I don't tell her something she'll just pester me the entire trip."
"I would not!" Axel heard Tifa shout on the other side of the phone before laughing.
"Anyway, I was just calling to see if everything is going alright while everyone's gone. Sounds like you two had a…adventurous day yesterday. Please tell me my room is still intact."
The red head peeked over at the room finding noting nothing had changed within the past twenty four hours save the extra clothes on the floor. "Pristine as a snowflake," Axel reassured him, hiding another yawn that brought water to the corners of his eyes.
"Glad to hear. Oh, Tifa just got us a taxi so I'll talk with you later," Marluxia stated before ending the call. Axel dropped his arm away from his ear and let his tired mind fall back into a tranquil doze. He was awoken again by a sharp prodding on his hip. Axel peeked out from his cracked lids and found Roxas stabbing him with a fork, two plates of eggs propped up in his free hand.
"Food time," Roxas announced. Axel managed to force himself awake enough so he could sit up and rub the sleep from his eyes. Roxas handed him a plate filled with eggs and two slices of toast, the bread covered in a thick layer of jelly.
"What? No smiley face breakfast?" Axel whined.
Roxas chuckled and sat down on the edge of the bed by Axel's knees. "Sorry. My Kindergarten skills are limited," the blonde replied. He shoveled a forkful of eggs into his mouth while Axel went after his toast while it was still crispy. Much to their surprise, they became ravenous once food touched their mouths. They ate so fast they didn't even stop to talk to each other, although it made sense to why they were so hungry seeing as they missed supper the night before due to their…escapades.
"Damn, I've never seen you inhale your food before," Axel commented as Roxas licked the last of the egg bits from his plate.
"It tasted good," Roxas replied, setting his plate on the desk next to Axel's. "Usually I'm not much of a fan for my own cooking but I guess it's true when they say you're hungry, everything tastes better."
"I think any college student would be able to tell you that," Axel stated. "Finals are brutal towards your daily living schedule."
"I think college in general is brutal towards your daily living schedule," Roxas noted.
"Right." Axel shifted so he sat with his back resting against the wall and his sheets bundled up over his legs so the cold morning air wouldn't give him a chill. "How are you holding up?"
"Alright I guess," Roxas said with a shrug. "My back and hips are sore, and I can definitely tell I'm out of shape. Maybe I should actually go to one of those gyms here on campus instead of saying I will."
"If you're interested in the gym, you have the right roommate for it. Seifer goes to the gym pretty much every day unless he's working a double shift at the shop. If you're lucky, maybe you can persuade him to let you tag along."
"Yeah, and maybe he'll leave me to suffocate under a barbell or smash my head in with a medicine ball in the locker room," Roxas said sarcastically.
Axel chuckled. "Seifer's crazy, but he's not that crazy. He's been to jail already and, from what I can tell, he really doesn't want to go back."
"Can't say I blame him." Roxas pushed himself upright, wincing as his sore muscles pulled tightly against his joints, and shuffled over to the desk to gather the dishes. "You're welcome to stay up here but I'm still hungry so I'm going to go find something else to eat."
"Okay. I'll be down in a minute. I didn't brush my teeth yesterday and I can't stand that gross, scummy coating you get on them when you miss a brushing," Axel replied, scraping at a tooth with a fingernail. Roxas nodded and headed for the stairs to bring the dishes back down.
As he reached the top of the flight, he took a deep breath before bracing himself for the descent. Each step jarred his core and sent a jolt of pain up his spine. 'Zexion wasn't kidding when he said he was worried about me. Fuck! Why doesn't anyone say it hurts when you rush?' Roxas clenched his jaw as a particularly painful wave made his lower back numb for a second and he waited for a full minute on the stairs before continuing. 'My legs felt like they were popped off and back into place like an abused action figure and my ass feels like someone shoved a flaming pinecone up there. Hell, I bet a flaming pinecone would feel better!'
It took him three times as long to get down the stairs but when his feet hit the first floor, he let out a sigh of relief. He wandered over to the kitchen and piled the dishes in the sink before heading to the pantry shelves to find his second breakfast. He spied a box of Demyx's Poptarts and swiped a pack, knowing the musician wouldn't notice as he had done this several times before. It was rather amusing when Demyx went to get a pack and complained on how he didn't remember eating through the box so quickly and would whine to Zexion to go grocery shopping. Looking down at the half eaten pastry between his fingers, he found himself missing the pair despite how much they liked to tease him. They reminded him of a pair of goofy aunts you would go shopping with not because they'd buy you a million things but because you knew you would have fun. He thought of sending them a text to see how their trip was starting off but he figured he would hear all about it later.
Even the details he wished would be kept out.
Axel made his way into the kitchen by the time Roxas finished off his first Poptart and the red head set to washing the dishes in the sink. Roxas chewed thoughtfully as he watched the elder clean off a plate, his mind blank for a change. With his second pastry devoured, he wandered over to the couch and lay down on his stomach. He closed his eyes as he listened to Axel dry the dishes and put them away, his ears perking as he heard soft footfalls nearing him. The muscles along his back began to melt as Axel kneaded his fingers into the sore flesh.
"You're a godsend," Roxas murmured into the couch cushion.
"Some say I have magic fingers," Axel teased.
The blonde let the moment linger as he enjoyed his massage. When he felt like Axel was almost done, he turned his head to peer over at the elder. "So when are we going again?"
Axel's fingers paused in their ministrations. "Again? You're practically dead on the couch," he argued. "Can't you wait to heal up first?"
"But we only have eleven more days before Marluxia gets home," Roxas pointed out.
"What is this? The Twelve Days of Sex-mas?" Roxas managed to smirk at the name. Axel rolled his eyes and crawled on top of the blonde. Roxas was about to roll over when Axel kept him pinned on his stomach. The red head clicked his tongue and flicked it over the top of Roxas's earlobe. "Patience," he whispered, sending shivers down the younger man's spine. "We're going to take this slow."
XxXxX
The week passed by far too quickly for Roxas's liking and it wasn't because he got to spend every second of his day with Axel. After his week vacation, summer classes had begun and he was back to taking classes and spending time at the coffee shop. While he didn't get a second job like he was hoping, he managed to get a load of hours from the staff leaving campus. He found himself not worrying as much as he originally had thought due to the fact his appeal managed to go through at Administration. They had sent him an e-mail stating they would think of giving him a little more money if he managed to get a 4.0 GPA over the summer and with each 4.0 subsequent semester they would add more money back. Although if he messed up, that meant he would return to his current scholarship status with no future chance for improvement. No pressure there.
Along with the new week came a new round of pouring rain and a light fog that lingered throughout most of the day. Roxas wasn't given much of a warning Monday as when he left it was drizzling and when he came back it was as if someone was pouring a wash basin over his head. It didn't help he no longer had access to the Freshman parking ramp as the one for those living off campus was a couple blocks away from where he had class. Some days he found himself day dreaming that Axel would be waiting for him with a warm towel in the seat next to his and a big cup of hot chocolate. Instead, he was forced to carry a change of clothes for when he worked at the coffee shop and wrap the interior of his backpack with plastic shopping bags so his books wouldn't get ruined.
By the end of the day Friday, Roxas was exhausted when he came home from working and his work clothes were soaked through from the rain. He pried off his wet shoes and trudged to the basement, tossing all his clothes, sans boxers, into the dryer. Then he trudged back upstairs to his room, gathered up some dry clothes, and headed to the bathroom to take a shot shower. It took awhile to get the bone numbing cold to leave from his core. Roxas leaned his head against the side of the shower, wishing the headache he had from the day before would just go away. His stomach twisted and he quietly reminded it that supper would be coming as soon as he felt warm enough to brave the cooler air.
Once he finished up and bundled up in his warm clothes, he headed back downstairs to make himself some supper. As he started pulling out ingredients for a sandwich, he noticed that Axel had cleaned the kitchen while he was away. The red head was most likely cleaning the rest of the townhouse as Roxas had yet to see him since he came home. Assembling his dinner, he wondered what homework he should tackle first over the weekend. His stomach squirmed again so he substituted his evening milk for a glass of orange juice.
Two bites into his food, Roxas felt a flash of heat spread over his forehead. He pressed the back of his hand to his face and frowned. The food in his mouth started to turn sour and it made him want to throw up. He chewed slowly, hoping the feeling would pass so he could swallow. Yet as his stomach heaved, he knew he didn't have much time before the contents followed. He bolted to the sink, knocking over the barstool in the process, and clung to the edge of the basin as his dinner came back to see him. Roxas heaved again, his body trembling at the effort as exhaustion started to take hold of him. He barely noticed the footsteps racing towards him as he slumped over the sink, saliva and bile drooling from his mouth as his eyes tried to focus.
"Roxas. Roxas!" Axel called out to him. The blonde didn't reply. Axel pressed a hand to the younger man's forehead, panic seizing up inside of him. "You're burning up! We have to get you to bed." Roxas didn't have the energy to protest. Axel eased him upright and cleaned off his face with a damp paper towel. Axel went to gather a few things from upstairs while Roxas swished out his mouth with warm water from the tap. He felt like he was moving in slow motion as the water sloshed around. Swish. Swish. Swish. Swish. He spat out the sour tasting liquid and refilled his cup to bring with him upstairs to bed. His feet trudged up the stairs one at a time with his stomach churning the entire way. Roxas wondered how he managed not to hurl on his way to his room and gratefully eased himself into bed. Axel came by a short while later with an empty garbage can from one of the bathrooms, some Tylenol, and a thermometer. Roxas managed to stomach the meds and drifted off to sleep with the thermometer poking out of the corner of his mouth. Axel frowned at the number blinking at him when the device beeped and tucked the blonde in, hoping his friend had only caught a 24 hour flu.
As much as Axel wanted to stay and sit with Roxas, he had promised to pick Marluxia up from the airport. He was arriving around seven and Axel didn't want to be a jerk and tell him he suddenly needed to call a cab when Axel knew his roommate would be exhausted stepping off the flight. Forgoing the rest of the cleaning, Axel focused on keeping Roxas comfortable until he had to leave. He even folded up the blonde's dry clothes to keep his mind occupied as he filled the time.
When the time came, Axel made sure Roxas had everything he needed within arm's reach before he headed to the airport. The entire trip he found himself distracted with a million negative "what if" statements revolving through his head. It distracted him enough to the point the drive to the airport was surprisingly short. When he pulled up to the curb, he popped the trunk as Marluxia rolled his large bags behind him. Axel drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as he waited, hoping Roxas's condition hadn't worsened since he was gone.
Marluxia opened the passenger side door and plopped himself down into the seat with a happy sigh. "Hello there," he greeted.
"Hm? Oh, hey," Axel greeted. He pulled away from the curb and weaved his way back to the freeway. "How did it go?"
"Wonderful, actually. A bit stressful trying to keep up but I enjoyed my time. I was hit with a bit of a curveball, though, when Tifa decided to change up our wedding plans again," Marluxia explained.
"Not in Japan anymore?" Axel pressed.
"Ha! No, Japan is final. Turns out she made all the preparations herself and the wedding's in August," Marluxia stated. Axel opened his mouth to reply but then closed it again, pursing his lips as the news registered in his brain.
"Wait, you mean this summer August?" he pressed. "That's like two and a half months away! How are you going to get all the clothes fitted in time?"
"All taken care of. I know a rough estimate of everyone's size so I had everything ordered ahead of time once I learned the change in plans. We'll be wearing kimonos and yukatas so it doesn't have to be an exact fit." Marluxia looked over at the red head and took notice of how focused he seemed to be on driving. The pink haired man shifted in his seat so he was turned more towards the driver and drummed his fingers on the armrest of the door. "So what's bothering you? I sincerely hope you didn't break something."
"What? No. Roxas got sick right before I had to leave to come pick you up," Axel replied.
"Is he doing alright?" Marluxia asked.
"I'm not sure. He mentioned he had a headache yesterday and I found him puking in the sink while I was in the middle of cleaning today. It's been raining almost nonstop all week and the fact he doesn't eat well probably hasn't helped keep his health in the best condition." Axel exhaled sharply out of his nose and readjusted his grip on the wheel. "Maybe I should start cooking for him."
"You won't have to," Marluxia argued. "As soon as Zexion sees how he eats, he'll be all over teaching Roxas how to cook."
Axel smirked, finding himself starting to relax. "He totally would do that." The pair kept the chatter light as they headed back to the townhouse. When they returned, Axel helped carry his roommate's bags upstairs before checking on the blonde the floor below. Roxas was still sleeping, although it didn't appear his fever had deterred much as his face, neck and ears were still flushed.
The next day, Axel went out to find some better medicine while Marluxia worked on laundry. Between loads, the pink haired man continued working on his business, cramming away much time on his computer and phone. As he went down to fetch his third load of laundry, he paused at the bottom of the stairs as he spotted a bit of yellow contrasting against the kitchen. Marluxia frowned and wandered over to where Roxas sat slumped over the counter, face pressed against the cool surface. He pressed a hand on the blonde's forehead and the younger man stirred at the touch.
"Axel?" Roxas slurred as he cracked open his eyes.
"Sorry, not quite the right shade of hair," Marluxia teased. Roxas blinked as his sight focused and he mouthed an "oh" before pushing himself upright. "What on earth are you doing down here? You should be in bed."
"I wanted some more water," Roxas murmured, pointing to his still empty cup.
Marluxia picked up the cup and brought it over to the sink, filling it with tepid water that would settle better in the sick man's stomach. "You know, you could have just filled it up in the bathroom sink." Roxas muttered a defeated "oh" and tried to lie back down on the counter. Marluxia walked over and prevented him from doing so, ushering him out of his seat. "Come on. We're getting you back into bed." The elder steadied his younger housemate as they ascended the stairs, Marluxia taking note of the feverish flush on the blonde's face. Roxas reluctantly went back to bed and lay watching videos on his laptop since he wasn't tired enough to sleep at the moment. Marluxia got him another dose of Tylenol before returning to his laundry. Axel returned an hour later and sat upstairs watching movies with Roxas the rest of the day, which was a bit of a blessing for Marluxia as he tried to get caught up with his work.