Still in flashback, even though it's not italicized. Next part will be back when things are happening
From that day on, Roxas would excuse himself to the library. The blonde would seek out the gardens, the study, any number of quiet, secluded places, and Axel would be there within an hour.
It was almost like a game; once he escaped Sora's hardened, watchful gaze, Roxas would wait, admiring each solitary spot in turn. He would read or water the flowers, shooing the servants off with an honest smile. He would go somewhere he loved, and hide. Not terribly well, as his object of affection would often tease, but that wasn't really the point. Roxas had always loved the silence, the rooms of the castle no one visited. They gave him a sense of peace and calm and control, something he felt himself lacking in the outside world.
At the same time, he couldn't deny the thrill, the spike of adrenaline as arms appeared from the empty silence and wrapped around him. The warm tingle as smirking lips grazed his ear.
"Found you."
Axel always found him without fail. No matter where he disappeared to, the other man would be there, as if walking a clear path that led right to him. Not that Roxas had any real desire to get away, but for once getting so much attention wasn't a bad thing. It was pleasant, and best of all, he actually wanted it. Looked forward to it.
Sora may have suspected, but he said nothing. The servants and court carried on as if nothing had changed, treating the boy with the same polite indifference as always.
But to the blonde, everything had changed. For once, he felt truly loved. Truly precious to someone else.
And it made him so very happy.
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"Prince Axel, the weather is marvelous! Won't you join me for a hunt this afternoon?"
Roxas kept his eyes firmly on the text in front of him. Axel would refuse. He always did.
"Regretfully, I must decline. I have plans to visit the haberdashery. I'm due for a new coat, and I dare not postpone it any longer."
Out of the corner of his eye, the blonde swore he saw his brother's eyes narrow. His gut clenched nervously as he forced his eyes back into the book. There were only so many times they could make excuses. Sooner or later, Sora was going to know...
"Very well. I'll have the servants brew the tea now, so we may have it before you go." Without another word, the brunet left the parlor.
Quickly, Roxas set the book down, just as the redheaded prince launched himself into his lap. The smaller man accepted the awkward embrace, feeling that familiar warmth in his chest as Axel rested his head on his stomach. He ran his hands through fiery hair, working out the tangles with a gentle pull.
"How I wish I could hold you like this in public."
The blonde snorted. "Considering this position, that would surely be scandalous."
"No, silly. I just want to hold you normally. When everyone can see it and know that you are mine." Axel pulled away to look up at him, his gaze warm but also narrow. Possessive. The other boy blushed deeply.
"Someday... I believe I should like that very much."
"But why not now?" Axel rose and turned so that he could sit on the cushions beside him. "Why must our love remain a secret?"
He sighed heavily. "I do not like it any more than you, but if Sora knew, he'd be furious with me."
"So?" Roxas bit his lip. "He will be angry with you either way, but the longer you hide, the worse it will be when you finally tell him."
He knew it was true, but he couldn't possibly tell his brother. It was just out of the question.
Donning a bright smile, he opted to change the subject. "So, what shall we do today?"
Axel raised an eyebrow at him, but thankfully didn't press the matter. He drew the smaller man forward, sighing.
"Restless, my love? We can't have that. What would you like to do?"
They tossed ideas back and forth for a while, quieting just as Sora returned. They sat at the parlor table and enjoyed a nice cup of tea together, and as usual, Roxas let his brother dominate the conversation. He smiled when he felt a light pressure on his ankle; it was Axel's secret way of holding him, reassuring him that they were fine. Sometimes it was easy to write off the whole affair as a dream; a wonderful, distant dream.
But the secret smiles and gentle touches reminded him how lucky he was. How loved.
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"Hello, brother."
Axel had been called home briefly. His father wanted him home for a portion of the summer, and of course he could not neglect his own country. There were matters that needed attending to, and as future king, he wanted all the experience he could get.
Roxas jumped slightly, clasping a hand over his heart as he turned around. He'd been lost in thought watering the flowers in the garden.
"Sora! Sakes alive, you shouldn't sneak up on people like that!"
The brunet smiled casually. "Not my intention, I promise. I just wanted to see my favorite brother."
"I'm your only brother," the other replied dryly.
"All the more reason to see you. I've been so busy lately that I've had no free time at all." He tousled Roxas's hair gently, making the younger man pout. "I've had no time for my darling little brother."
The blonde frowned slightly. That was...a bit odd. Sora could be affectionate, but not very often. He didn't seem to care much that they didn't spend time together. In fact, the most time they spent together in recent months was probably when Axel was around.
Though on edge, Roxas said nothing. His brother was acting different, but not drastically so. Sora was probably just tense because of his duties. He took on more than Roxas did, so it seemed plausible.
Reassured, he turned and hugged the brunet. "I've missed you too." Roxas always missed him, ever since they had grown older and more distant. "Would you, uh, perhaps be interested in doing something today? Together?"
Sora nodded, smiling brightly. "Sounds wonderful. What should we do?"
They chatted as Roxas finished up tending the flowers. There were servants for that kind of thing, but the prince found it much more rewarding to take care of them some himself. Sora didn't question it. Instead, he joined him in watering, even picking away the leaves that were drying or dead.
The blonde was pleasantly surprised. He hadn't seen his brother this open in a long time. Moreover, Sora was interested in his life, helping him in the garden and even asking what he done recently. Had he read any good books in the library? Perhaps they could go to the bookshop and order more volumes for the shelves? Roxas didn't talk much still, but he gradually opened up himself, answering questions with a new liveliness.
With a small escort, they went into town and spent the day together. It was a pleasant afternoon, almost as nice as when Axel was around. Roxas still missed his presence, but it became somewhat more bearable when he had Sora there. It was like having a close friend again, like when he had played with Xion, Sora, Olette, Tidus, and Hayner as a boy. They had had a whole crop of friends, and scampered about, causing upsets at the castle.
When they returned home, the princes ate supper. Tired and satiated, Roxas left the table first, bidding a pleasant night to his brother as he went. Next time, he would have to pace himself with the wine a bit better. The blonde had a bad habit of drinking quickly when the conversation was dull. He should have asked for water.
He was walking down the corridor leading to his room when someone grabbed him.
"Huh?" Feeling fuzzy, he didn't struggle as his arms were pulled behind him. A firm hand grasped his shoulder, the grip hard enough to bruise. Roxas winced and shook his head to clear it, only for a hand to close over his mouth.
'W-What's happening?' Roxas tried to shout, but the hand muffled the sound almost to a whisper. He caught the briefest flash of narrowed blue, watching him as he began to jerk and fight in earnest. The blonde felt multiple hands now. Choking him, holding him almost completely still. He could barely breathe.
"Poor, misguided Roxas. Did you think you could steal anything of mine?"