"You clocked out?"

"Not yet."

Axel and Roxas stare at each other for a long moment. Roxas hadn't thought the intimidating redhead had been serious about making plans with him, and even now, he's not sure he isn't just trying to guide a newbie through the basic routine.

But he doesn't want to say that and make Axel think he doesn't want to. Of course he does.

It's just that Axel seems to be an effortless, unattainable level of cool. James Dean. Elvis Presley. That dude from Die Hard. Why can't he think of a cooler actor…?

And what does Axel want with Roxas?

Roxas can see Demyx wondering the same thing, his gaze flickering between them in Roxas' peripheral, hears him clearing his throat.

Axel cocks an eyebrow. "So go do it."

Roxas inclines his head, though his brows remain furrowed. He weaves through the clearance racks, on his way to the storage room and the time clock, glancing down at the employee ID he'd penned onto his wrist—almost entirely 13's.

"Saïx is in the back," he hears Demyx telling Axel.

"Yeah," Axel drags out the word, making no move to follow Roxas.

"You love Saïx."

Roxas snorts and types in the security code for the back room. 0-7-0-8 does not seem particularly secure, but whatever.

"But he's doing paperwork," Axel whines with an exaggerated sigh, and Roxas doesn't have to turn back to imagine Axel's frown shifting to a sly smirk. "You know how Sai gets into it with his paperwork."

Demyx gives an abrupt laugh, and Roxas wonders if Axel hasn't just thrust his pelvis or made some other inappropriate gesture. Then he tries not to wonder why his mind leapt there.

"Wouldn't want to intrude."

"Axel," Demyx objects through giggles.

"Hot Topic is a cruel mistress," Axel presses, as Roxas slips into the back, a smile tugging at his lips.

Saïx already has his eyes fixed on the door when Roxas walks in.

It takes Saïx a moment to mentally readjust, gesturing in a circle with his pen. "You're...ready to head out?"

Roxas nods, not trusting himself not to say something to upset the razor-tongued, stone-faced boss that, to be fair, had been nothing but kind to him thus far.

"Nice work today, Roxas. I apologize for the scheduling nightmare. I assure you, typically I have this organization running like clockwork."

Roxas mumbles an NBD and thanks for his help, which Saïx waves off, already absorbed with his paperwork once more.

Roxas returns to find Axel and Demyx arguing more or less nose to nose, and he spares a second to reassure himself that the store has emptied out, leaving no witnesses to their apparent insanity.

"I swear to God. He came in today with sweatpants on his legs and murder in his eyes."

"Mm," Axel tilts his head back, shuts his eyes, and groans, cuddling the unicorn-mermaid to his chest, "I do love me some Saïx in sweatpants."

"Dude," Demyx nabs back his plushie like Axel will contaminate its purity with his thirst. "Gross."

Roxas, for his part, isn't sure whether to crack up or gag. Sure, Saïx is attractive: fine features like a faerie queen, bronze skin, and the physique of a brick wall, but he also seems to have the personality to match. Bitchy faerie queen. Brick wall.

Axel refocuses, cocking an eyebrow at Demyx, "Are they the ones that say 'JUICY' across the butt?"

"He was chewing me out, Axel!" Demyx backs up a step, still gesticulating wildly, "I didn't check out his butt!"

Axel grins. "Your loss."

Roxas covers his mouth so they won't hear him choking on his own laughter.

"Please," Demyx full on puppy-dog pouts, hands clasping as if in prayer. "Don't leave me alone with him and his seriosity. You're the only thing that cheers him up."

Roxas almost wishes Saïx would walk out in the midst of Axel's sarcastic lusting, so he could witness his reaction. He has his doubts it would 'cheer him up' but either way it would be quite the sight.

"Cope, Dem," Axel pats the man's cheek softly, "you owe me."

"Hey," Demyx's shoulders slump, caught. "I didn't ask you to save me from being fired!"

Axel rolls his eyes and as his gaze darts toward the back rooms he notes Roxas, frozen halfway through clearance, silently contemplating their exchange.

"I can't tell if you have a thing for Saïx or you just want to torture Demyx," Roxas deadpans to Axel, crossing his arms.

Demyx face stills, shocked at this quip from the quiet newbie. Then he snorts and bursts out laughing.

"Two birds, one stone." Axel's expression brightens as he walks forward and guides his arm around the smaller man's shoulders. "C'mon, Roxas. You survived your first shift. Time for the icing on the cake."

"The what now?" Roxas teases, elbowing the man lightly. For a minute Axel's arm wraps tighter around his shoulders rather than retreating, and Roxas laughs even as he rolls his eyes and nudges him off.

The pair leave Hot Topic with Demyx sputtering behind them, unicorn-mermaid plushie held tight to his chest. "Well," he mumbles, when they have disappeared from view, leaving him alone to restock, man the register, and appease Saïx, "shit."