"I'm not a child."

Roxas' eyes narrow. He's used to being teased about his height, but he doesn't exactly enjoy it. He wonders how long Luxord's been on this side of the pond and if Roxas is too new to the staff to play like Jay Gatsby and call his coworker 'old sport'.

Before Roxas can retaliate, his train of thought derails completely as Demyx waltzes out of the back, humming and spinning between the aisles in a sort of dance.

Roxas chuckles but Luxord doesn't react at all, so apparently this behavior is typical Hot Topic™.

Or at least typical Demyx™.

At the sound, Demyx comes back to his senses, doing another quick scan of the store, and scurrying back to the register. "Did Ax, leave?"

Roxas confirms with a nod, and Demyx sighs in relief, dumping his torso onto the counter like he's just run a half marathon. Although Roxas gets the impression that despite his lanky limbs, he never would.

"Thank God." Demyx reaches out for the lanyard Luxord reaches across Roxas to dangle in front of his nose, and slips it around his neck. "I love that guy to pieces, but sometimes it's like he's a secret double agent assassin, you know what I'm saying, newbie?"

Roxas glances up from Demyx's fuzzy pink unicorn sweater, violet skinny jeans, and white Vans to offer raised brows in response.

Axel seemed kind and considerate to Roxas. Maybe a little forward, blunt, and rough around the edges—but hey, this is Hot Topic not Forever XXI.

Although, come to think of it, Lex had also seemed intimidated by his presence. Something about getting people fired.

Demyx is still waxing poetic, hand clawed over his heart, "It's like, you think—I mean you know—you're friends, and then wham-ba-bam," Demyx karate chops the air, "he sells you out to Saïx for being a couple minutes late."

"Uh, it was more like twenty," Roxas corrects, as he scrolls through yet another menu Luxord has pulled up for him to study, consciously trying not to sound like too much of a dick. "There was nobody here?"

Roxas decides Axel must be some kind of manager. Strange he hadn't said as much. He tries to imagine having to choose between his friendship with someone who had done something wrong and his duty to a good job. Roxas would probably just say 'fuck it' and skip town. Was Axel dealing with that every day?

Roxas turns, worried about Demyx's response.

Demyx frowns, groans. "I dunno. I still think it was kind of lame of him. What do you think, Lucky?"

Luxord has the scheduling binder propped open and writes in another quick correction. "I think Saïx will be here any minute."

Demyx huffs, lifting his head, though his arms remain on the counter. "I mean about Axel."

Luxord flips a few pages, and scans something else. "He has only one true loyalty."

"Ah, c'mon. To what?"

Luxord raises a pale brow, straightens to meet Demyx' gaze, says, "Let me put it to you in a language you can understand," and begins to straight up sing.

"Do you know what Angelica said,

When she saw your first letter arrive?"

Roxas' mouth drops open. Luxord has a decent voice and shows no shame in addressing Demyx in... Showtunes? Hamilton?

What the fuck?

Demyx knows the lyrics, doesn't miss a beat. His voice is good too, indie sounding, like it ought to be accompanied by a guitar.

"She said, 'Be careful with that one, love.

He will do what it takes to survive.'"

Luxord nods and crosses his arms, point apparently made. Demyx quiets, contemplating what he's just sung.

Roxas likes Hamilton as well, was a theater kid in high school, even, but isn't entirely sure what to make of this exchange.

One true loyalty. Loyalty to what?

His heart? His dick?

Himself?

None of it sounds like the man who had just blown his morning plans to make sure Roxas wasn't alone.

Of course that was his job, a more logical part of Roxas objects. But still… How easy would it have been to turn a blind eye? Everyone else had.

Demyx nods, having drawn his own conclusions, and the older man hands him Luxord's metal water bottle to take a swig. The way Demyx winces, Roxas wonders if it is water.

"Now," Luxord tilts his head in Roxas' direction to remind Demyx he's there, "would you like to continue training Roxas on the register or restock the Funkos?"

"I'm about to get fired, Luck. I'm not touching another fucking Funko."

"Yeah," Luxord squeezes the man tightly around the shoulders and then slips out from behind the register, "I thought you might say that."