He may not have Riku running around anymore to conspire and investigate the situation going on with any more, but after that first meeting, Roxas started moving in on that territory. In the more boring lessons, the blond would shift closer in their seats and pass notes. He started out with not-so-subtle questions to confirm his suspicions about who N. was. Then he started interrogating Lea about what it was she was changing about the world, what strange things had led to him noticing something was wrong.

He did his best to answer, but frequently had to tell the blond that he didn't have all the answers on hand, and would need to check over his journals for all the answers.

The week of their first conspiracy, Lexaeus started wrapping up dodgeball season. Not that Lea had bothered to attend these classes. The walls were absolutely covered in indentations in the concrete from the impacts from the dodgeballs. They replastered every summer break, but it always ended up that bad. He could hold his own, but he preferred to avoid another concussion.

Roxas had always skipped classes, but though they hid behind the bleachers, they'd always kept their distance. Or at least as far as their memories told him. His journal might've hinted something else, but it hadn't been clear.

But from Monday, Roxas had invited himself to join him under the outside window. He quickly stubbed out his cigarette before the blond could get close – exhaling his last lungful out the window and pulled his arm back inside.

Blue eyes hovered over the homework splayed around him and raised his eyebrows silently. Lea lazily flipped him off. He shoved everything back in a messy pile and glared at Roxas as the blond settled onto the crashmat beside him. They didn't talk that first afternoon, but the next day Roxas had tugged a deck of cards out of his pocket.

On Thursday, they were comfortable enough to have a quiet, murmured conversation over their card games.

"So. How's the setting things on fire business?" Roxas asked, not looking up from the cards.

Lea stared at him. "Same as it always is. Fun to cook, a nightmare to deal with the dinner rush. Why?"

"Just asking – chill out, Hothead," Roxas replied, rolling his eyes. "You're so touchy. Are you like this with all of your friends?"

"I don't have friends," he muttered, glaring at the cards in his hands. "Not anymore."

"Was R.D.?" Roxas asked hesitantly.

Lea sighed, reaching back to tug his hair into proper order. "Yes. We were."

"'Cause it feels weird sometimes," the blond continued, uninvited. "That I'm the one seeking your attention, and you're brushing me off."

He shrugged, avoiding his eyes. It was true – his journals made it clear that Roxas had been the one rebuffing his overtures towards friendliness. He couldn't imagine why he'd bothered. He was doomed to be alone, he wasn't going to get used to company.

"Sora's your friend," Roxas pointed out quietly.

"Sora is also friends with the dog that hangs around the train station."

The blond smiled gently. "He named him Pluto."

He was in no way surprised. "My point exactly."

They were quiet for a few rounds of cards. Then Roxas started again: "So, dinner rush at Flamin'?"

"Mhm," he said. "It's damn hard to cook and serve a hundred customers at the same time."

"You could hire someone to help you out at dinner time," Roxas pointed out.

"I can't afford to. I can barely turn enough profit to feed myself, I'm not going to pay anyone else and starve in the meantime."

The blond was silent. As Lea shuffled the cards anew, he spoke again: "We used to hang out here, didn't we? Before R.D. went away. This feels so familiar."

"You should trust that feeling," he said. "All your feelings. I find they're much more reliable with N. in the mix."

"Did you really just tell me to follow my heart?" Roxas asked, the mocking smirk clear and audible in his voice.

"Well," he said, gritting his teeth. "I wouldn't phrase it like that." He handed the blond the shuffled cards to deal. "But so long as you're making me a sap: May your heart be your guiding key!"

The cards exploded out of his hands, spraying out across the mat around them.

"What?" Lea asked. Looking at him in startled surprise.

Roxas' face was pale, eyes unfocused as he sat in silence. He was shaking, ever so slightly. Lea reached out to take his arm – and then in a quick burst of movement, he was pinned on the mat, one arm pressed against his throat. He held up his hands and choked out: "Roxas."

The blond's eyes cleared, and then focused on Lea beneath him. "Sorry," he said, pulling his arm back. "You surprised me."

"Didn't realise that was a death sentence," the redhead said dryly. Roxas still hadn't moved. Lea couldn't help but feel how familiar it was, Roxas above him, pressed close and warm. By a look in the blue eyes above him, he suspected Roxas was feeling the same. "Are you going to get off?"

Roxas' tongue peeked out to dampen soft pink lips. "Mm…" He shifted his eyes up to meet Lea's. "What did you say?"

Lea was disconcerted to find his hands on the blond's hips, and used them to push him off. "Off."

Roxas moved away, giving Lea a long, intense look – obviously trying to work something out. The redhead cleared his throat and started gathering up the cards. Neither of them looked at each other for the rest of the day.

On Saturday evening, as the sun was setting, Lea felt a spark shoot down his spine. Turning his head slowly, he looked over his shoulder and locked gazes with sky-blue eyes, and turned as Roxas came up to the cart – his brother and Kairi in tow.

"Hi, Lea!" Sora greeted brightly.

"Good day at the beach?" He asked, leaning against the countertop to get closer to his level.

"Yeah!" the older twin continued. "We're all going to the arcade now."

Lea's eyes broke from Roxas', glancing at the clock above the register. He groaned. "Have fun. I've got to get ready for the dinner rush."

He puttered about the space, sorting out as much as he could to get through dinner rush with as little effort as possible.

"Okay, see you later, Lea!"

Lea called goodbye to them and kept going. But his hyperawareness didn't calm down, and when he felt the weight of the cart shift he whipped around.

Roxas was stepping up into his cart as if he were welcome. "R.D. used to help you with the dinner rush, yeah?"

Lea glared at him suspiciously. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure."

"Then until he comes back, you can have me."

His eyes narrowed. "I can't afford to pay you."

"I know." Roxas smirked and stepped into place behind the cash register. "Customers are coming, Axel. Do you want me or not?"

What a good question. Still glaring, he gave a shallow nod.

"Good. Then let's get to work."