Chapter Five--Buckets for Bullet Wounds
It was Friday night. As as per Friday night, the large group gathered at Axel's house to drink. Now, the first thing Roxas noticed when the group got back was that Axel was consuming far more then usual. The second thing that Roxas noticed was that when Cloud and Sephiroth finally left, dragging Sora, Riku and Zexion with them, Axel stayed on the couch lining up the beer bottles as he finished them, a scowl on his face.
Leon sat at the opposite end of the couch, sipping at the same bottle he'd started with, lost in thought. Axel would sometimes glance at the brunette and his green eyes would light with a fire Roxas hadn't seen in a long time but the spark soon was smoothered by sadness as the red-head looked away. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Leon stood.
"I think I'm done...gonna hit the shower.." He mumbled, slowly making his way back to his room. Axel didn't move, even as Roxas took Namine to her new room and began making his bed on the couch.
Leon took a long hot shower, musing over the night. It was weird seeing Cloud, his old lover, with Sephiroth. It almost hurt. Leon wanted it to hurt. But even he could see they fit in a way he and Cloud never had. And since Cloud seemed willing, Leon was content kill the past and let it stay dead.
Though, somehow, seeing Cloud sitting next to Axel, the blonde lost some of the glamour and gloss he'd possesed in Leon's eyes. He wasn't quiet so etheral now, compared to the green-eyed devil that had so throughly captivated Leon with side-long glances and flashes of skin and smiles.
Flicking on the fan, Leon exited the bathroom and pulled on his pajama bottoms, towel drying his hair. As he entered the room, it took him a moment to realize Axel was standing in the doorway, hands blessedly free of a bottle. The two looked at each other a long while, jade burning into stormy grey.
Axel broke the staring contest, curling up on the far side of Leon's bed, facing the wall. Leon frowned a bit, tossing his towel into the hamper, turned off the light and lay down. He stared at the ceiling amidst the darkness for a while, wondering just what had happened to the carefree man he'd meet days earlier. He eventually became aware of Axel's soft sobs and the gentle heaving of his body.
The silence seemed to choke Leon as he tried to speak. But what could he say? The weight of Axel's pain almost crushed the brunette but he didn't know if he was strong enough to save the red-head.
As he closed his eyes he heard Axel sniff before turning to look at the supposedly sleeping Leon. He kept his eyes closed, somehow afraid of scaring the red-head. And very slowly Axel scooted closer until his head rested on Leon's pale shoulder as he slipped his arm around the older man. Leon waited a few moments before pulling the younger boy closer with one arm and entwing the fingers of his other hand with Axel's, kissing the knuckles gently.
He felt Axel sigh, almost contentedly and snuggle closer. For once, almost at peace.
An: ok, one of my shorter updates but its an update so be happy!!!!! Sorry it took so long!!!!
Ulti!!!!