"Where did you get these?" Roxas asked, looking at the stack of clothes Axel was offering him.

"I, uh, borrowed them from some middle school kid in Twilight Town. Trust me, he won't miss them," Axel replied as he leaned against the wall in Roxas's room.

"What's middle school?" Roxas asked. It sounded kind of familiar.

"The most awkward time in a person's life, Roxas. You're lucky you can't remember it," he shivered in fake (or perhaps) genuine disgust. There was silence for a moment. "Anyway...uh… I'll just leave and you can try those on…"

So far Axel's outfit looked infinitely more promising than Demyx's had. Roxas was dressed five minutes later but remembered that he didn't have a mirror in his room. Even without one, he could tell the clothes he was wearing fit him well. Axel had given him tight-fitting jeans and a light blue, short-sleeved button up.

He really hoped Axel would like it. It was kind of exciting to wear something Axel has chosen specifically for him. He just hoped Axel liked it. He was standing, waiting nervously, when Axel knocked on the door and walked in.

"Well, let's see it." Axel looked him over once and smiled. "I like it. A definite improvement from what Demyx gave you. Plus, that shirt matches your eyes," Axel winked. "Well, let's get going. You ready?"

Roxas nodded. Axel opened a portal and they stepped into the same dark bar. Roxas saw the table where Demyx had fallen asleep and Axel had later seduced him. It was weird to be back with a sober Axel, no Demyx, and still no clue how to behave. He decided it would be safest to follow Axel's lead.

Axel led him to the pool room which was already alive with activity and hazy with smoke. The whole Organization was there except for Xemnas and Xion, Roxas noticed, but that was normal. Xemnas was never around except during meetings (Roxas didn't even remember meeting him one-on-one), and Xion was still as much of an outcast as ever. Roxas felt bad for her sometimes. He'd been an outcast before Axel and Demyx had befriended him, and he sometimes wanted to include her in things like this, but he couldn't deny that he preferred having Axel's attention solely to himself.

Axel entered the pool room to shouts of greeting, friendly handshakes, and general indications of his popularity. No one noticed Roxas except for Demyx who nudged him playfully.

"Good for you, Roxas. Way to snag yourself a hot date! It seems like things are looking up for you and Axel since last we spoke, eh?" he winked.

Roxas just blushed and smiled. He was gratified to hear this even though he realized it probably wasn't true. No one else seemed to think it was meaningful that he had arrived with Axel. No one had even noticed him. Still, he appreciated Demyx's encouragement. It made him feel slightly more at ease. Thoughts of the past in which Axel rejected and ignored him were not entirely forgotten, but Roxas felt a semblance of hope.

"Hey Axel!" Xigbar yelled from across the room, "Get the fuck over here and play a game with us!"

"Is that okay with you, Roxas? I mean, we don't have to…"

Since when was Axel considerate? Usually he told people what to do instead of asking. Roxas really didn't want to play pool at all, and he honestly couldn't remember much about Axel's last lesson. He'd been far too preoccupied thinking about Axel himself. He feared this time would be the same. However, he knew how much Axel loved a good competition, and he didn't want to let him down.

He managed a half-hearted smile. "Sure. Let's play."

Roxas felt nervous around Axel generally. With the added pressure of trying to help him win while not appearing completely incompetent in front the majority of his colleagues, Roxas was feeling exceptionally anxious. The fact that most of them had made bets on the game, and were thus watching with extreme interest, didn't help.

Luckily, Axel did his part to make Roxas feel at ease. He offered advice while Larxene and Xigbar were shooting and joked about Roxas's admittedly awful skills, which somehow helped him feel better.

Fortunately, Axel was talented enough to pick up his slack, and they ended up only barely losing. Roxas was just glad the game was over, and he was relieved to find Axel didn't seem upset over the loss.

Roxas thought that overall things were going surprisingly well. Although nothing had happened to indicate that Axel felt anything more than friendship towards him, he was still hopeful. It was enough for now.

When Demyx yelled "shots" from the next room, Axel raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "Have you ever had a drink before?"

Roxas figured it was safe to assume he meant an alcoholic drink and shook his head, hoping Axel wouldn't ask him to try one.

"It's okay," Axel smiled. He must have read Roxas's expression, and Roxas was grateful for it. "I promised not to drink this time, remember? Let's go find somewhere to sit…" He started looking around.

Axel chose a couch in an empty room linked to the one they had just played pool in. Roxas sat a couple feet away from him, not sure what distance was appropriate. Unlike Roxas, Axel always seemed so comfortable and at ease. It made everything he did that much sexier, and Roxas couldn't fail to notice how handsome he looked tonight. He froze when Axel noticed him staring. Should he pretend like he hadn't been? He decided to take a look around the room rather than acknowledging what he'd been up to.

"Well, that was fun," Axel said, sighing as he leaned his elbow on the armrest of the couch. "Sorry kid, but you still aren't very good. You're going to have to step it up if you want me to be on my team again."

Roxas only smiled, taking in the simple pleasure of being the center of Axel's attention.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Axel asked.

Roxas really, truly did. He nodded and felt his pulse quicken.

Axel stood up and smiled, clearly satisfied with himself. He opened a portal and gestured for Roxas to enter.

Roxas liked the feeling of living in the moment. He stepped through the portal and into a world of lights.