"Roxas?"
"Hmm?" Roxas stirred from his sleep and discovered he was on the couch. Oh, I guess I knocked out here. He peered into the darkness and found Namine sitting next to him with a small lamp in her hands. "Namine, what are you doing up?"
"I heard you come in," she said quietly. "But then nothing after that. I was a little worried."
Roxas smiled and sat up, rubbing his head. "Was the bed cold without me?"
"N-no, that's wasn't-"
"Just kidding." Roxas heaved a sigh. "Don't worry so much about me. I'm fine."
Namine pursed her lips. "You don't look fine," she remarked. "In fact, you have bloodshot eyes. Even your voice is coarse. Did something happen earlier between you and Sora?"
Sora's my half brother. "No. We just had a nice, friendly chat."
"Oh, really now..." Namine hummed.
"Yeah. Look, Namine?" Roxas placed a hand on her head and gave it a gentle stroke. "Go back to sleep. You'll be exhausted if you don't. I know you're worried, but really- I'm fine."
Namine looked into his dry eyes. No, you're not. "Alright," she sighed and stood up, wrapping a thin blanket around her body. "I'll go."
"Oh, and Namine?"
"Yes?"
Roxas pulled her into a warm embrace. "Thank you for worrying about me," he whispered. "I'm glad I have you." I'm sorry, I can't tell you yet.
Namine buried his face into his chest. "It's nothing..."
"Geez, are you two lovebirds done?" Axel emerged from Namine's room his hair in slight disarray. "I can hear your sappy convo from upstairs. I have sensitive ears, you know."
"What are you doing still up, Axel?" Roxas groaned, parting from Namine.
"I told you," Axel scoffed. "I could hear your little 'whisper chat'. SENSITIVE EARS- got it memorized?" He jumped down from the upper level and took an apple from the kitchen. "Where have you been anyway? Namine and I waited for you all night."
"I uh...went to go have...dinner at Riku's," Roxas articulated uncertainly. "Yeah, um, Sora invited me over after our little talk. I crashed there for a while and then...came back."
Namine turned away. Why is he lying?
"Oh, well," Axel chewed. "You should do it more often. Namine and I got closure over the time you were gone."
"...closure...?"
"Yeah!" Axel grinned and poked Namine's nose. "She's so cute. Always so shy to answer things. Especially when it came to topics about intimate moments with you. Aw, man. She was RED!"
Namine smacked Axel's hand away. "Axel!" she squeaked in embarrassment. "Stop it!"
I can't help but feel a little jealous. Roxas smirked. "Don't cheat on me now, Namine," he sneered and headed out to the patio. "Or else I will have to punish you."
"I didn't cheat!" Namine protested, face reddening.
"Be right back, little cute one," Axel laughed and followed Roxas.
Namine huffed and sat down on the couch. The both of them are unbearably annoying!
Roxas looked out into the brightening skies, the cold wind caressing his cheeks. Glistening dew drops were visible upon the bright petals of morning glory that decorated the patio. Early birds chirped as the colorful trees sighed in serene pleasure.
"So what REALLY happened?"
The skater didn't have to turn around to recognize the voice. "Let's just say that I found out some things about my past," Roxas confessed. "That I would have much rather not really know about."
"Ah, I see." Axel inhaled the fesh scent of the cool dawn. "One tip of advice then."
"And what's that?"
"Forget about it."
"WHAT?" Roxas' pupils immediately narrowed at the reply. "How could you say that? You KNOW about my life, Axel. Do you really think of it so insignificantly?"
"If it's bugging you this much now, you can't have it consistently distract you. You'll lose sight of your goal."
"Oh...right." I have to provide for me and Namine. I have to get that job! The blond relaxed and leaned on the rail. "But I can't help but think about it some more. My father's alive... Maybe he has the answers as to who my mother's drug dealer was."
"Perhaps. But worry about that AFTER the shoot because believe me- those things take A LOT of concentration."
"Why? It's just posing."
"That's what you'd think..."
On the day of the shoot...
"Places everyone!" a tall man wearing black shades shouted at the top of his lungs. He had on a black leather jacket, dark-grey jeans, and black shoes. "Get the lighting right! We have to get this shoot done as soon as possible!"
Axel nudged Roxas. "That's the Director," he informed. "C'mmon, I'll introduce you to him." He walked up to the man with Roxas beside him. "Director!"
The Director jumped in surprise, whirling around to face the model. "Axel!" he breathed. "Don't sneak up on others like that. It's quite rude."
"Nah, forget manners," Axel laughed and pushed Roxas in front of him. "This is Roxas- the guy I told you about."
"Ahh...yes." The man removed his shades, revealing two piercing golden eyes. It stood out greatly from his tan skin and spiky, silver hair. "A pleasure to meet you Roxas," he greeted, holding his hand out. "My name is Xemnas. As Axel must have told you, I am the Director of this shoot, and many more to come."
Roxas shook the man's hand. "Nice to meet you, too," he said calmly. "Oh, I hope it's not a problem but...I kind of brought my girlfriend along. For moral support."
Xemnas pursed his lips. "I see. So where is this girlfriend of yours?"
All of a sudden, the studio door flew open with Namine stumbling inside, her hands filled with a large basket. "I'm sor...sorry for my tar-diness," she panted. "I wanted to make lunch for everyone and I...I ran out of cheese and apples so I ran to the store and back just to finish..u-up." She leaned her back on the wall and continued to pant.
"My, you're quite a generous young lady," Xemnas commented. "Sam, help her with he basket- put it on the table over there."
A young male teen wearing read sweats and sweater with a green hat ran to Namine, take the basket from her, and placed it on a table as instructed. "Thank you very much, miss!" he said.
Roxas quickly went over to Namine's side and gave her a pat on the back. "Namine, take it easy," he hushed. "You look really worn out."
"I'll be...okay," Namine assured him.
Axel looked at Xemnas. "So what do you think?" he asked. "She's good material, right? And Roxas, too?"
"Well done, Axel," Xemnas credited. "These two are an adoring pair and both have the physical appearances to pull off modeling jobs for this company. I'll take them." Besides, that girl can model a cosplay outfit just released. Our first female model this year! He snapped his fingers and, immediately, two tall, wavy-haired brunettes appeared beside him. "Take the girl and dress her in that costume," he whispered to them. "And make sure you get her makeup right!"
"Yes, sir!" the women saluted.
"I really hope you do well on your first day, Roxas," Namine finally caught her breath. "To tell the truth, I'm kind of excited for you. You might be quite a wonder."
"Doubt it..." Roxas mumbled. "I'm not so sure of myself about this."
The woman each took one of Namine's arms. "Sorry, miss," they purred simultaneously. "But these are orders from the Director!"
"What?" Namine looked at both of them nervously. She felt them tug on her and drag her away to the change room. "No, wait! Don't!" Her protests were quickly silenced once they vanished behind the doors.
"Nam-" Roxas called after her, but was cut short when Axel began dragging him away by the collar to the men's change room.
"Time to get in our play suits!" Axel cheered and closed the door behind them.
Minutes later, the two emerged from the change room. Axel had on a black long-coat with dark-purple feathers on the edge of the sleeves and on the hood and collar. His black boots gave him a boosted height of over 6'2" while the silver chains around the laces complimented its unique design. Black skinny jeans were inserted into those boots. His hair shined in the light, rose-colored lip balm enhanced the blushed tint of his lips, and dark eyeliner brightened his emerald eyes. "Yo, Roxas!" he called, glancing behind him. "Get out from behind that door.
Damn it! Roxas stepped away from his hiding place and huffed.
Axel rose an eyebrow. "Dude," he chuckled. "You've GOTTA let go of that robe. The camera's waiting."
"Give me a damn minute!" Roxas fumed. Grudgingly, he untied his maroon robe and threw it on a chair beside him. He had on black skinny jeans as well, only decorated with silver chains that looped from his front hip to the back. The pocket edges, too, were silver along with a lion emblem on the hem to his left. He also had on a black half-shirt, dark-grey choker, and spiked wrist bands. "What's WITH THIS?!!" he yelled.
"What are you talking about?" Axel tried to hold back a laugh. "You look...ahem...great!"
"Don't give me that crap!" Roxas held up his hand. "And what did they do to my hair?!" His hair was slightly adjusted- his spikes lowered into seemingly normal layers. His bangs brushed past his dark-blue eyes, which were complimented with black eyeliner like Axel's. "The makeup is terrible and my boots are spiked! What the hell!?!"
Axel whacked him with a newspaper. "Quit whining," he chastised. "At least you don't have to wear these things!" He held up his hands to show his once-clear fingernails painted pitch black.
"Ew..."
"Yeah."
Xemnas approached the two, clapping his hands. "Bravo," he said. "You two are ready. And the theme- Dark Vengeance! Now, Roxas. You are to be the victim here."
"Victim?"
"Yes. You will lay down half way on that futon while Axel is on top of you."
Axel shivered. "Uh...boss?" he uttered. "Isn't that kind of...I don't know...WRONG? We don't roll that way."
"Yaoi is the new 'in' for girls everywhere," Xemnas articulated. "It's everywhere! Bands, TV dramas, movies, etc. So, our magazine needs to capture this image. We first have to go for a solid offense- raw guy-to-guy. Your outfits serve well for this purpose."
"No way!" Roxas shook his head. "This is way too...graphic. I can't do this- Axel's my best friend!"
"We are all professionals here. So either do it or leave."
Before Roxas could speak, Axel yanked him aside. "Oi, Roxas," he whispered. "Just give this a chance. It's your first shoot after all. Besides, we both know that we're both straight and that you have a cute girlfriend who is missing right now. C'mmon, don't flake."
"Aw, man," Roxas groaned. "But I really don't wanna do this."
"Please?"
"Urgh." Roxas caught a glimpse of Axel's puppy pout and scowled. That face. "Damn it, fine! But I am never doing this again! You got that!?"
"Don't judge until you try it," Axel sneered and pulled Roxas to the green-walled stage.
Roxas unsteadily laid himself down on the futon, supporting his upper body with his left elbow. He grumpily turned away as the green-eyed teen lowered himself on top and moved one knee between his stiff legs. "Shit, don't get so close!" Roxas enjoined.
"I'm not, calm down!" Axel snapped. "Sheesh. Director, what do we do now?"
Xemnas studied them for a bit and ordered, "Roxas, put a hand on Axel's left cheek and look down on his lips with half-lidded eyes. Axel, pull down Roxas' shirt half way from the top and look at his lips, too. Put your faces closer together. Make sure to look as sexy as possible!! I only want to do this shoot once!"
The boys did as they were told and found themselves in a very awkward position. "I am so killing you for this," Roxas threatened.
"I'm killing the Director," Axel responded just as grumpily. "His fetish of black is really getting on my nerves..."
"Picture one!" The camera flashed. "Two more. Picture two!" Second flash. "Last one!" The camera flashed for the third time. "And done! Good job!"
"GAH!!" Axel scrambled off of Roxas immediately. "So wrong in so many levels!! Never do that again, Director!" He spit on the floor and ran to the bathroom, gagging.
"Quit your complaining," Xemnas chuckled. "You boys looked great. I'll have the pictures done to show you by tomorrow."
Roxas jumped off from the futon and dusted himself. "So nasty!" he shuddered. I need a woman's touch right now. He smirked. "Namine?" he called. "Namine, where are you?"
"Ah, speaking of which," Xemnas piped. "Xion!"
Roxas' body stiffened. ...Xion? He turned to his side and saw a slender girl with short, black hair and blue-grey eyes running their way. She wore a simple peach sweatshirt with white capris and white flat shoes. It can't be...
Xemnas approached her. "Is miss Namine ready?"
"Yes, sir." Xion looked past her boss's shoulder and gasped. "Roxas?"
Her voice echoed in his ear. The skater averted her gaze momentarily, but then caught her eye again. "Hey...uh...Xion," he muttered faintly. "Yeah, it's me."
Xemnas grinned. "It seems you two know each other," he said to Xion.
"Yes, well...we had quite a history," she replied quietly. She excused herself and walked over to Roxas, a calm smile on her fair-skinned face. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Roxas?"
Roxas' eyes saddened as he turned away from her. "Yeah..." he spoke under his breath.
Axel came back from the bathroom and turned pale at the scene. "Oh, no..." he mouthed.
The other changing room's door opened and Namine stepped out, dressed in a pink french maid outfit with white cat ears and a tail. "Mr. Director," she stammered. "I don't thi-nk this i-is umm...comfortable. I..I feel s-so strange." She clumsily stepped forward with her white, high-heeled boots and fell on her hands and knees. "I can't walk properly..."
"AHEM!" Axel cleared his throat- rather loudly.
Namine lifted her head and blinked curiously at the sight of Roxas standing next to a dark-haired girl. His expression was that of aloofness and pain while hers was of some sort of guilt. Either way, they both looked melancholic. Her breath was caught in her throat as her lips quivered. Why is my heart aching all of a sudden?
Author's Note:
To Xion dislikers out there, I'm sorry but I had this brilliant idea and I could not let it go to waste! D: Please bear with me for I am a Xion disliker, too hehehe...hate her.
