Chapter 21

"Roooxxxyy…" The tall red haired man whined, draping his arm around the blond boy's shoulder. Roxas could tell immediately that the man had been drinking, the scent of alcohol clear on his breath. "Cloudy's no fun…" He whined, his chin resting on Roxas' shoulder, his eyes drooping lazily in his drunken haze. "And Rude won't dance with me."

Roxas sighed and shook his head, "the parties been going on for an hour and you're already drunk?"

"Pssshhhh… I'm not drunk," the red head denied with a lopsided grin, which quickly dissipated when his eyes fell back on Cloud and Rude, who stood down the beach with their backs turned to them. "I don't think he loves me anymore…" he said miserably.

Roxas couldn't help but feel a slight stab of pity for him at the dejected sound of his voice.

"He doesn't want to dance with me anymore…" the red head picked up his head and moved so he was sitting in the sand beside Roxas. Drawing his knees up, he wrapped his arms around them, resting his chin on top and gazing pitifully out at the ocean.

Roxas sighed, the red head always got like this when he was drunk. "Rude does to love you. He's just playing hard to get." He assured him, although he was positive that Rude wasn't playing hard to get, he just wasn't in mood to deal with the red head's antics.

"Really…?" He sniffed, turning to look at the blond with wide eyes.

"Really. Just go over there and give him your world famous puppy dog face. He'll crumble in a second," Roxas advised him.

"Yeah…Yeah." He said, looking determined as he climbed unsteadily to his feet. "Thanks Roxy!"

"Go get 'im Reno!" Roxas laughed, watching as Reno stumbled down the beach.

"What was that all about?" The blond boy looked up to see his own red head standing directly behind him, watching him with a curious look.

"Reno's drunk," Roxas explained, leaning backwards against the taller boys legs as he gazed up at him. "He can get a little needy when he's drinking. Rude wouldn't dance with him so he thought it was the end of the world or some."

"Ah," Axel laughed, looking down the beach to see the long haired red head pulling Rude by the hand toward the makeshift dance floor. A section of the beach in front of two large pickup trucks, both blasting music from large speakers built into the beds. The dance floor was packed with people, it seemed like the entire high school had shown up along with Cloud's friends as well. "Seems like you gave him the right advice."

Roxas laughed, "Yeah, it's not too hard. Rude is a sucker for Reno, he'll cave into everything eventually. Kinda likesomeone else I know," he looked up at Axel.

"Who me? Pee-shaw. I never give in to anything."

Roxas cocked an eyebrow before climbing to his feet. "Oh really?" He asked playfully.

Axel watched him confidently, "of course."

Roxas grinned mischievously, standing up on his toes and wrapping his arms around his boyfriends' neck, "even when I do this?" He whispered into the red heads ear. Without waiting for an answer he nibbled gently on his ear, teasing and biting it just right. Smirking when he felt the taller boy tense, fighting back a moan. Not quite satisfied with the reaction he moved slightly lower, teasing the skin of his neck gently, loving the smoky taste of the boy's skin.

"Oi! Loverboys!" Roxas pulled back at the sound of Tavens voice.

"Okay, you got me," Axel said sheepishly. Roxas took pride that his voice was slightly husky, even after the brief session.

"Come on, we got the bonfire going," Taven turned and fell into step beside them as they retraced his steps across the sand. In his right hand the boy held onto the handle of a deep mahogany cane, polished just right so that it shined in the dieing sunlight around them. When Roxas didn't slow his pace for the injured boy Axel hesitantly followed suit, feeling guilty as he watched Taven struggle slightly to keep up. His can kept sinking into the sand every time he put his weight on it, making it harder for him to move quickly and making him work harder for each step he took. Although you never would have been able to see the boys struggle in his face as he beamed happily down at the blond boy.

"Tory didn't try to blow anything up like she did at the going away party, did she?"

Taven laughed loudly, "Not this time. But she did try to light that Demyx's hair on fire when his back was turned. Luckily Namine pegged her in the back of the head with a volleyball before she could get it lit."

Axel laughed, "She's like Paine, isn't she?"

Roxas grinned. "Pretty much. Except miniature and not a flaming lesbian."

Axel cocked an eyebrow playfully, "you sure? 'Cause you know, I kinda got that vibe coming off of her."

"This Paine sounds interesting," Taven laughed as the large fire came into view over the rise they had been climbing.

"Oh you have no idea," Roxas informed him with a shake of his head.

"Finally!" Brian bellowed as he spotted the three of them, Roxas could see everyone else was already seated on the logs around the fire. Demyx, Sora and Kairi sitting one log. Tory (who was shooting nasty glares in Demyx's direction) and Brian on another. Angela, Selphie (a peppy brunette who had shown up later than the others) and Namine on the third. And on the last log sat Miles, saving the other seats for the three of them. "Now we can get this party started!"

"Were you guys waiting on us?" Roxas asked as he sat down, Axel on his left. On his right Taven sat, leaning his cane against the log beside him. Axel saw now that the handle of the cane was carved to depict a snarling wolf. Its lips drawn back, revealing massive fangs, its ears laid flat back as it glared forward. Along the length of the cane Axel could also see the delicate carvings of other wolves. Some hunting, pursuing some elk or deer around and around. Others nuzzling, fighting or howling. Axel couldn't help but admire the polished wood and the craftsmanship of the carvings. He wondered idly about why the boy had to use it, not wanting to ask the boy himself he decided to ask Roxas later.

"Duh! We can't start the real party without the guests of honor," Angela said teasingly.

"Tory, why don't you break out the booze already," Miles suggested.

A chorus of agreement followed until the blond girl broke her stare, turning and snagging a large sports bag off the sand behind her.

"Y'all are in for a treat today," she grinned as she unzipped the bag, revealing a large case of beer, two bottles of rum and three or four bottles of vodka.

"God Tory!" Angela exclaimed, her eyes growing wide as she took in the bag.

"You hit the mother load!" Taven agreed.

Tory shrugged, reaching into the bag and pulling out cans and bottles to pass around. "I've been saving up for this."

"I can see that," Brian laughed as he passed the drinks around.

Taven grinned as a large rum bottle made its way to his hand. "My favorite," He said blissfully before taking a large gulp and passing it to Miles who followed suit.

Roxas was never really into drinking but when the rum bottle made his way into his hand he didn't hesitate to take a large mouthful. Why not drink; after all, it was his party.

"S-So you two are so- cute!" Axel hiccupped as he laughed. "Y-you should so h-hook up!" On his lap Roxas held his sides as he laughed. Over the course of the night the two of them had ended up sitting on the sand, Roxas in the red heads lap as Axel used the log as a back rest. Beside them Taven and Miles froze, Tavens arm still around Miles shoulder and Miles arm still wrapped about the larger boys waist. Together they watched him with confused looks as they tried to figure out what he was inferring.

It had been at least two hours since Tory had passed out the drinks, by this time night had finally settled over the beach, stars shining brightly over head. And by now the entire group, save for Namine who was the groups designated "guardian", was completely wasted.

After a few moments the meaning finally sunk in causing the two boys to blush furiously and move apart, making sure they were sitting far enough apart so that they wouldn't accidentally brush against the other.

"Awww!" Roxas crowed. "Their blushing!"

"How adorable! Their still in denial," Axel said in a sing song voice. His laughter growing as he watched their face's darken even more.

On the opposite side of the fire Tory, Brian and the others laughed at their own joke.

"So Taven," Axel said slowly after gaining composure once more. "I never asked… why the hell are you wearing long pants? It was like 90 fucking degrees out today, don't you get hot?"

"Oh yeah…" Taven said sheepishly. "I don't usually wear p-pants when it's hot. I just didn't w-want to f-freak you and your friend out right away," he laughed nervously between hiccups.

"C-creep us out?" Axel looked at him, confused.

"Yeah…" The atmosphere around the four of them seemed to grow heavy. The drunken happiness that had surrounded them only moments before seemed to have been replaced with quiet solemnity. "You know how I have to use this to use this cane when I walk?" He asked, gently running his thumb over the fangs of the wolf handle.

"Yeah…" Axel said warily, reaching and wrapping his arms around Roxas' waist, feeling as the blond laid his hands over top of his own.

"It's 'cause when I was nine I was in a car a-accident and hurt my l-leg. It can be kind of a shock at first s-so I wanted to save you and D-Demyx the sight until I could e-explain," he said between hiccups. Swaying slightly he sat the cane down beside him, leaning over pulling up his left pants leg to his knees.

Axel tightened his grip on Roxas slightly as his eyes fell on Taven's leg. The boys golden tanned skin was scarred badly. Long gashes and puncture wounds covered most of his lower leg and foot. But that wasn't the worst of it. From the knee down the leg was twisted to the side, looking as if someone had tried and failed to spin it in a circle. His foot pointed sharply to the left, if he had been standing it would have made close to a right angle with his other foot. The foot itself seemed to be pushed in on itself; at the end only three toes remained. Axel felt a pang of sympathy for the boy.

"When I was nine I was driving with my father, he was drunk and ran a red light. We got hit on the passenger side, where I was sitting. Later they told me that I got the full force of the blow, the truck hit me right on." He paused for a moment, looking down at his leg with a distant look in his eyes. The conversation must have sobered him up some what; he was no longer swaying in place or hiccupping. Beside him Miles stared blankly into the fire as he listened. On Axels lap Roxas idly stroked the red heads hands, staring down at the sand. "When I woke up the doctors told me I had been asleep for four days and that it had been all they could do just to save my leg at the time, a few times they thought they were going to have to amputate… The people in the other car weren't so lucky though, both of them were killed instantly while my father escaped with no injuries what so ever, the damn bastard," he cursed, picking up a can of beer and chugging it.

He fell quiet, lost in his memories.

"Can't it be fixed?" Axel asked finally.

"Of course. Only the surgeries are really expensive, like I mean really expensive and my mom can't afford it."

"Oh…"

"What the hell are you fuckers talk'n about?" Tory asked suddenly, her voice slurring. "This is supposed to be a party. C'mon! We-were gonna go swimming!"

"Roxas! Stop messing with Axel right now and walk before you trip down the stairs," Namine commanded as she walked beside the two of them.

"Oh light'n up Nam! We… were just having some f-fun…" Roxas slurred, his voice slow, a goofy grin on his face.

"I'm the one in charge of watching over you two tonight. If anything happens to you cloud will have my head."

"C-clouds…. Clouds…" Roxas said, trying to speak between giggles. Finally they reach the basement, Namine searches for a moment before switching on the lights.

"Fuck!" Axel cursed as the light flooded into his eyes, stumbling he leaned against Roxas. Who, in turn, lost his balance, before they could fall Namine darted in and saved both of them. Gently she coaxed them forward toward the bed.

"Clouds at R-Reno's…" He burst out laughing as he fell onto the bed.

Axel swayed in spot with a look of concentration on his face as he tried to figure out what Roxas was getting at.

"They-They're gonna k-keep him up a-all night!" Roxas cackled, imagining Cloud lying in the room next to Reno and Rude's.

Finally the light went off in Axels mind, causing him to giggle uncontrollably.

The three of them fell silent as they heard a soft moan coming from the room directly above their heads.

"Damn it. You guys go to bed. No messing around!" Namine commanded them before darting upstairs to stop the two brunettes from going too far in the living room.

Axels giggling increased as he heard Namine trying to get the other boys under control upstairs.

"Axeyy…" Roxas whined, sitting up and tugging on the red head's t-shirt.

"Hmmm?" Axel said as he sat down on the bed beside the blond.

"I wanna kiss," Roxas pouted, his lower lip jutted out childishly. Axel laughed again before leaning over and pushing his lips against Roxas'. Immediately Roxas reached up and wound his fingers in Axel's hair, pulling him closer as he pushed his tongue behind the red heads teeth. Pushing himself to his knees Roxas he tilted Axels head back, diving deeper as he pressed his body against the red heads.

Axel was surprised for a moment; usually it was he who made the moves, not the other way around. He wasn't exactly used to having the roles reversed. He loved it immediately, feeling as lust flooded him.

With a moan Axel wrapped his arms around Roxas, one hand traveling up to the back of his neck, pulling the blond closer. His other hand caressed the smaller boys' side as it made its way around until it cupped the back of Roxas' jeans.

Suddenly Roxas leaned forward, pushing Axel so he was lying on his back, Roxas' legs straddling him. Without missing a beat Roxas shoved his hands beneath Axel's shirt, feeling as the red head shivered at the contact. Axel groaned with pleasure as Roxas rocked against him, gently at first but growing more urgent by the moment.

With a smirk Roxas finally pulled his lips from Axels, moving down to focus on the other boys neck as his hands traveled downward, his hands expertly undoing the red heads jeans.

"W-wait…" Axel said suddenly, something didn't feel right.

"What's wrong?" Roxas asked, his voice husky and out of breath.

"W-We…" Axel stuttered, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to clear his head. "This isn't how it should be."

"Why not?" Roxas asked. Axel found it hard to maintain his composure as he felt the boys' breath ghost over the skin of his neck when he spoke.

"W-we're drunk," Axel groaned, he knew he couldn't control himself much longer. Not with the way Roxas was behaving, it was only a matter of time before he gave into the boy. Which he didn't want to do.

"So?" Roxas asked, perplexed. He pushed himself up and gazed down at Axel, who was watching him with longing eyes.

"Shouldn't we wait…? I mean… I wanted our first time to be special…" he blushed but didn't take his eyes from the blond.

Roxas' face softened as he saw Axel blush. "You're right, I'm sorry," he smiled sheepishly as he moved off of him. "I wasn't thinking."

Axel laughed quietly, "Don't worry about it. Come on, let's get some sleep. It's already like four in the morning."

After they both had climbed under the blanket Axel smiled gently. "Goodnight," he whispered, cupping Roxas' cheek and giving him a soft kiss before they drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Oh My God. This week has been SO... I don't even know the right word for it. One, I started work after school this week, cleaning and moving 250lb boats because I work at a boat rental and this weekend we open for the season. And two, my moms been in the hospital so I've had to go and visit her everyday. (She's fine now though, she had like three ulcers but they released her today.) So with those two things I've had almost no time to write, which is why I didn't have this out sooner. And it'll probably be a few days at the least for next chapter because of school and work. So yeah, I'll try to have it out asap, but no guarantees ^^;