"Sora, could you pass me the carrots?" asked Roxas as he stood in the kitchen in front of a pot that was simmering on the stove, a wonderful scent of stew emitting from it.
"Sure thing Roxas," Sora practically sang as he pranced across the kitchen to the fridge and did the same as he came back with the small bag of carrots.
"Well, you're in a good mood," Roxas chuckled as took the bag and opened it, smiling at the brunette.
"Can't help but be in a good mood when there are things to be happy about now-a-days," Sora hummed as he rested his elbows on the counter with his chin propped in his palms, a smile on his face while he watched the blond slice the carrots and dropping them into the pot.
"And what, may I ask has you in such a good mood?" Roxas asked well humouredly as he turned to his cheerful friend, a bit surprised since Sora was usually gloomy and this was the first time they got to talk in ages.
"I met someone Roxas," Sora breathed as he moved closer to Roxas with a wide grin on his lips.
'When did that happen?' Roxas wondered to himself but just seeing his friend so happy made him happy too.
"That's great!" Roxas exclaimed as he brought his friend into a tight hug. "I'm so happy to hear that! Is he from out school?"
For a fraction of a second, Sora's smile faltered but was quickly replaced before the blond could notice it.
"Not exactly," murmured Sora as he looked away from the blond with flushed cheeks. "He's a little older."
"How much older?" Roxas questioned suspiciously as he eyed the brunette.
"By four years," the brunette muttered, still looking away from his friend in nervous embarrassment, his fingers fiddling with the hem of his shirt.
"Sora this guy is twenty-three?!" exclaimed Roxas as his jaw hung open at his friend. "What were you thinking?!"
"Don't give me that Roxas!" snapped Sora defensively as he glared at his friend. "Axel is six years older than you! Six! That's just as bad!"
"Yeah, but that's different," Roxas whispered, more to himself than to Sora as he looked down at the ground, tear about to slip from his eyes.
"Hey, keep the noise down!" barked Axel's voice from the other room and footsteps could be heard getting closer.
Quickly, Roxas wiped his eyes with his sleeve just before Axel walked into the kitchen with a tired look on his face.
"Roxas, have you seen my glasses? I can't remember where I left them and I've been looking everywhere for them," asked Axel in a voice that was just as tired as his face.
"They should be in the bathroom since you were wearing them when you took a late shower," informed Roxas as he looked away from the teacher and busied himself with mix the stew.
"Oh," said Axel, just remembering before he turned and walked off in the direction of the bathroom.
"So, when can I meet this guy?" asked Roxas in a slightly shaky voice as he tried to relieve the tension with conversation. "I'd like to get to know the guy that made my best friend happy again."
Sora gave a weak smile and hugged his friend from behind, his chin resting on the blonds' shoulder.
"You can meet him soon," murmured Sora. "He's picking me up tonight."
Roxas' eyebrows furrowed but said nothing as he placed the lid over the pot.
"Oh, that reminds me, I have to get ready!" exclaimed Sora as he looked at his watch before running out of the room.
Roxas should be happy for his friend right? He was happy again but Roxas had this gut feeling that Sora might be trying to replace Riku. To somehow get his mind off the hurt.
An hour later, there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it!" Sora called before Roxas heard footsteps running across the living room and the front door opening.
The blond rushed from the kitchen to the living room so that he could see this mystery man but it was too late, Sora was already waving goodbye and closing the door behind him. Roxas only managed to catch a glance of pink hair. He sighed and leaned against the frame of the kitchen door.
"Dinner ready yet?" asked Axel as he looked through some papers that were on the coffee table in front of him. "Smells pretty good."
"Yeah just about," Roxas murmured as he looked at Axel, watching him intently.
Axel glanced up and gave Roxas a surprised and quizzically look. Axel looked so tired and he almost had worry lines on his forehead.
"What?" questioned Axel, a little irritated and worried at the same time.
Roxas stood there for a second before walking forward and taking a paper out Axel's hand before placing it on the table.
"Roxas, what are you doing?" demanded Axel outraged as he practically scowled at Roxas.
He just ignore the death glare Axel was giving him and just placed his hands on the man's shoulders before pushing him back against the couch.
Axel just looked up at the blond with wide eyes, a little taken aback but didn't resist.
Roxas again ignored Axel's expression while he straddled the man's lap, his arms wrapping around the man's neck as he pressed himself up against Axel. Roxas was willing to push things with Axel. It would only be fair right. He wanted Axel to be happy.
It took a few seconds for the situation to sink in but Axel finally came to his senses and he wrapped his arms around Roxas, holding him tightly as he nuzzled the boy's neck and flowered it with soft kisses.
The teen gasped a little before pressing his hips against Axel's, making the man moan softly as he lifted them slightly so that they pressed together even more. Roxas pressed his lips against Axel's as he began to slowly grind himself against the red head, moaning softly even though the blond was nervous and scared.
Axel's hands slid up Roxas' back over the skin as he pushed up the shirt until it was over Roxas' head and now lay on the floor. The man bucked his hips up into Roxas' while holding the boy's hips firmly.
What worried Roxas was that Axel was moving too fast again and Roxas still wasn't sure about this but he moaned anyway, his hips bucking down in response.
"Roxas," Axel moaned against the boy's lips, his tone holding so much wanting that it almost shattered Roxas' entire being, almost filling the blond with guilt for always denying Axel.
He had to block out the fear and he only pressed his lips harder against Axel's who gladly excepted; their hips moving against each other in rhythm as a certain constriction happened in their pants.
Roxas missed how it happened but Axel had shifted so that Roxas was laying on the couch with Axel over him without their lips even breaking apart. Roxas was still not sure about this…
Axel's hand slide down Roxas' chest, making the boy moan and arch his body into the touch before his hand made it down to the boy's jeans and started to undo the fastenings.
'I can't do this…' Roxas thought to himself as he shut his eyes tight and felt himself tense and not having the voice to say it out loud. This is what Axel wanted and Roxas would feel awful if he stopped it now. 'I'm not ready yet…'
"Roxas?" murmured Axel softly in a worried tone.
The boy opened his eyes to see Axel looking down at him with a worried expression on his face.
"What's wrong? Do you want me to stop?" asked Axel in a low voice that held concern and caring in it.
"No, its ok, I'm fine," murmured Roxas in a soft voice, curing how shaky and frighten it sounded.
Axel's eyebrows furrowed with a slight frown setting on his lips.
"Then why are you shaking?" he asked, his voice still soft and gentle.
"I'm fine, really," Roxas lied persistently as he tried to hold Axel's gaze reassuringly.
To his surprised Axel smiled so very slightly in a kind way, his hand reaching up and touched the boy's face.
"Then why are you crying too?" asked Axel, still smiling slightly though in his eyes Roxas could see sadness. "Roxas…you're not ready yet. Don't push yourself into doing something you don't want."
"But I want t–"began Roxas insistently but was cut off then Axel pressed a thin finger to his lips before kissing the boy's forehead gently.
"Don't do this on my behalf," murmured Axel gently as he started to pull away from Roxas.
A sudden panic hit Roxas and he quickly reached up and grabbed Axel's shirt and pulled him back down again.
"Please," whispered Roxas weakly as he looked at Axel with pleading eyes. "I can do it, really."
Axel looked so sad when Roxas stared up into his face and eyes and was a bit surprised when the red head rested down on him, his arms wrapping around the boy and holding him tightly. It put Roxas at ease and calmed him so much.
"You're such a bad liar," Axel stated in a low voice as he nuzzled the boy's neck. "Can I just hold you instead? Like this?"
"Mhm," Roxas murmured softly as he wrapped his arms around Axel's neck, tears still slipping from his eyes for he was so grateful to Axel.
Axel shifted so that Roxas was wedged in between Axel and the back of the couch. The man took the blanket that was draped over the back of the couch before placing it over them before he turned off the TV. The room got dramatically dark when it was shut off and Roxas hadn't noticed how late it really was.
"I'm so tired," murmured Axel softly as he hugged Roxas tightly who gladly snuggled up against the man's chest. "Oh, and Roxas?"
"Yeah?" replied the blond as he looked up at the man who was smiling warmly down at him, a smile soon coming to the boy's own lip.
"When you're ready…let it be special," murmured Axel as he buried his face in blond strands of the boy's hair before taking in the scent. "I want you to be sure…even if it takes a lifetime I'll wait."
"I'm sorry," Roxas sniffled as he clung to Axel's shirt, feeling simply guilty. "I just want you have someone worth loving."
"But you are worth loving," Axel retorted, sounding offended by the boy's statement.
"I love you Axel," Roxas said as he hugged the man's middle tightly, wanting nothing more than this.
"And that's all I need," he said as he returned the boy's hug with an even tighter one. "I love you too Roxas, more than you know."
Roxas gave a soft laugh that seemed to brighten Axel's features a little.
"Alright, now go to sleep," Roxas giggled as he reached up and ruffled Axel's hair, making the man chuckle.
"Hey watch the hair," he said through his light laughs before pulling away the boy's hands from his hair and kissing Roxas on the lips.
Roxas returned the kiss softly and soon Axel drifted off to sleep as they snuggled together under the blanket. Roxas was sleeping lightly since he wasn't very much tired to being with when a soft click awaken him.
A tall beam of light cut through the darkness of the room from the front door being open. Being very careful not to wake Axel from his sleep, Roxas turned over so that he was looking at the door, his face half hidden under the blanket.
"You sure you wont get in trouble?" whispered a deep voice of a man Roxas had never hear before as he saw a tall black figure standing out in the dimly lit hall just outside the apartment room. "It's pretty late."
"They're probably asleep," whispered a voice that Roxas knew was Sora. "The lights are off so I can sneak in no problem. You want to come in?"
The seductive hint in Sora's voice when he asked the question made Roxas' heart hammer in his chest, panic filling him.
'What could Sora possibly be thinking?!' Roxas thought in shock as he remained still under the blanket with Axel breathing deeply beside him.
Roxas didn't want this guy here. He might do something with Sora. But what the man said shocked him even more.
"No I shouldn't," he whispered back in an apologetic tone. "I feel bad enough that I brought you back late. I should just go."
The man turned and started walking away when Sora reached out and grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back before pressing his lips against his for a long moment.
It made Roxas sick and angry at the same time. Sora shouldn't be acting like this.
"I'll call you later," he whispered to Sora before kissing his forehead and turning, walking away this time.
Sora stayed at the door for a moment, probably just watching the other leave before he slipped into the room and closed the door closed behind him and locking up. He must not have even noticed Roxas and Axel sleeping on the couch. Roxas could hear the soft sound of Sora's door closing and as he was left in the dark again, he realized he was shaking. He was angry. No. He was beyond angry. Way beyond.