A/N:Hey guys, this chapter has some AkuRoku moments, but nothing too extreme. I hope none of you mind. I also hope you enjoy the story! Please leave feedback so that I can continue improving the story :)!
Axel and Roxas arrived at the Twilight center, ready to shop. Roxas gave Axel a scrunched up look.
"Is this really necessary, Axel?" The blonde groaned as a knot tightened in his gut. His heart pounded ferociously as the thought of being Namine's date raced through his mind. 'What's happening to me, why am I so worked up?'
"Roxas, you will not show up to a wedding looking like that." Axel replied in a snarky tone, popping his hip out and pointing at his unusual fashion. He then placed his hand upon Roxas' shoulder, pulling him into the automated sliding doors of the facility. "We will make you a man, baby!" He grinned pulling him through the mall, stomping as the heels of his boots clanked against the pure white tiles of the hallway. Axel stopped at one building in particular: Setzer's. The name left an infuriating taste in Roxas' mouth.
"Rucksack!" a cool, calming voice called out from within the store.
"This guy..." Roxas groaned, now remembering who he was. It was the man he fought in the struggle matches.
"Here to buy a tux? I'll make it worth your while." The man glanced down at Roxas for a few seconds before turning his attention to Axel. He narrowed his eyes. "What about you, Red, looking for some new threads?"
"I need a tuxedo...A friend's getting married." Roxas scowled before turning to Axel. "Do we really have to buy from Setzer?" He whispered to him, avoiding eye contact with the snarky tuxedo salesman.
"Whaddaya mean, he's the cheapest in town! I'm not made of money, y'know." Axel proclaimed, gently hitting the younger man in the sternum, before joyfully walking inside. "Besides, I don't see you having any ideas." He said as he placed his arms behind his back, walking towards the rack of tuxedos. Roxas followed slowly behind, dragging his feet across the floor.
"Rucksack, would you be interested in the children's section?" Setzer smirked, lifting his chin, while his eyes continued to look down on him. "Hold still while I take your measurements."
"Burn, baby!" Axel laughed nearly choking on air. Roxas glared at Axel before shoving him.
"I'm not that short." He muttered under his breath as Setzer straightened a tape measurer across his shoulders.
As Setzer finished the measurements, he pointed Roxas to the section he needed to go.
"They look the same..." He sighed, not sure which to pick. He went through the rack, picking through each individual suit jacket.
"Just like your wardrobe, eh buddy?" Axel snarked, trying to make a point, holding back a tiny bit of laughter.
"Okay, I get it." Roxas rolled his eyes, feeling done with Axel's joke. He continued to look through the all the black suits until he found one that caught his eye. It was still dark in color, but the suit was gray. "This one speaks to me." Roxas said, pulling out the dark gray suit from within the rack.
"Ya gotta have a black shirt." Axel said handing him a finely made black blazer. "Now somethin' to make it pop!" He yelled enthusiastically pulling out a silky white fabric.
"What's this?" Roxas said confused at what he had handed him, looking around for a changing room.
"What's this? You don't know what a tie is?" The red-head laughed.
"I do so! I just happen to not wear one often." Roxas said begrudgingly, flustered by his friend's comments. He knew he couldn't tell him that he didn't, his pride wouldn't allow it. He stormed off walking towards a changing room.
"What's takin' so long?" Axel said as he looked at the round clock on the side of the wall. It's been nearly 15 minutes. He walked towards the changing room, to see what was up. "You okay, buddy?" he said while gently knocking on the door.
"Y-yeah. Don't come in! I'm fine!" Roxas exclaimed, unable to put on his tie. 'I can do this myself.' He thought, tangling his tie.
"Y'know, I could tell you're lyin'." Axel said modestly. "I know you all too well, and from this height, I can see over the door." He continued, standing on the tips of his toes.
"Look, everyone needs help sometimes." Axel said softly opening the door before looking down at him sincerely. "Let me get that for ya." He murmured grabbing his tie, fixing the mess Roxas had made. The sunlight crackling through the windowsill of the room. The sun was setting as the two stood there in silence. His nose bumped against Roxas' as he fixed his tie in the small room. "Why didn't ya just say you couldn't tie your tie?" Roxas looked down before lookin' up into Axel's eyes.
"You kept makin' fun of me. Where was the chance?" He whispered as his face became bright red. He turned away from Axel, before saying "Well... What do ya think?"
"Y-You look great. The tie, it suits you." Axel blushed. Knowing he had feelings for Roxas, he held his tongue. "You'll knock her out." He smiled lightly, pained by having to hold back his feelings. 'He loves her, not me.'
"This is the one." Roxas smirked, picturing Namine in the mirror, caressing his arm. As he smiled, Axel walked out of the room and leaned against the door. "Get changin', We gotta go grab a bite." Axel said softly smiling, while at the same time, wishing he could shake away his feelings.
"Alright, alright! I'm coming." Roxas said, changing out of the tuxedo, neatly placing it back on the hanger. He walked up to the counter with Axel, handing it to Setzer.
"Coming from you Rucksack; this looks good." Setzer smiled, ringing up the Tuxedo.
"It's Roxas! And it lo- Did you just compliment me?" Roxas looked at him, his eyes wide open.
"I did. I credit where credit is due." The silver haired man smirked as Axel swiped his card, while placing the suit firmly in a bag. "It is a shame that you bought nothing for yourself, Red."
"Hey, who needs suits when ya got looks like mine." He said, smiling as he stuck his tongue out. "I'm on fire!" The two walked out of Setzer's passing the various shops. Roxas stopped, seeing a dress store, where inside he saw Kairi and Namine. He looked through the window mesmerized, putting his hands against the cold glass, seeing as Namine and Kairi both had tried on dresses. Namine was wearing a glittery white slim dress that hugged her body, with white gloves they stretched across her arms. 'She looks like a princess.' Her face was bright, smiling as her cheeks were blushing a light red. 'They're talking, but I can't make out what they're saying.'
"She looks... ...gorgeous..." he gasped, nearly swooning over her. His face was now a bright cherry pink. He turned around and slid below the windowsill, now sitting, holding his knees. "I don't think I can do this..."
"What's the matter? Cold Feet?" Axel said as he glanced into the window. '"Guess I'll go get her." He walked calmly towards the entrance.
"Get down, she'll see you!" Roxas said, tripping Axel. He fell to the floor at an alarming rate.
"Come on. What are you afraid of?" Axel whispered slightly peeking into the window. Quickly followed by Roxas's hand pushing down on his head.
"Let's just get out of here." Roxas said bluntly, his face still flushed a cherry pink. He jumped up quickly and proceeded to walk towards the exit with his hands in his pockets. Axel sighed and got up making sure that they did not see him.
"Whatever, man it's your choice."
They both arrived at the clock tower, with a pack of double-sticked sea salt ice cream. Axel split the ice cream in half, making it so they each had their own. He stared at the ice cream lost in thought. The night sky glimmered, sparkling in front of them. The view was perfect. 'This could be our last time together, actually hanging out as friends. Once he's with Namine, he won't need me anymore.' He looked down, twiddling his ice cream.
"Axel!" Roxas said placing his hand gently on Axel's shoulder. "You okay buddy?" Axel jumped up, startled by his touch.
"Yeah...Just peachy." He replied collectively. "Y'know Roxas... We've been coming here every week for a year...From better to worse, we've always come here. Like a tradition... I'd like to keep doing this... got it memorized?" He said giving a light chuckle with a small smile escaping the side of his mouth.
"Yeah, of course Axel. What's gotten into you?" Roxas look admirably towards him.
"Nothin' much. I've just been thinkin'... When you do get together... We won't be hanging out like we are now." Axel murmured twiddling the now empty ice cream stick.
"Axel... What are you talkin' about? Of course we'll still hang out." Roxas moved over to gently hug Axel's side. "Besides... She doesn't feel the same about me." He mumbled.
"Please! We all know how she feels about you, man. You're just too blind to see it. She loves you. Why else would she ask you to be her date?" Axel said begrudgingly. 'Why am I getting so worked up?'
"She does?" Roxas' eyes opened wide. His chest began pounding furiously. "She... likes me?" His face now burning up at the thought.
"It's obvious." Axel groaned. "You belong together..." Axel whispered standing up. He stared up at the moon. "Anyways, it's getting late. We should head back."
Roxas nodded overwhelmed by the situation at hand. 'Why was Axel so upset?...Does Namine really like me?' The questions overflowed inside head. "Yeah, okay." The blonde replied, his voice dripping with a bit of concern. He stood up against the cool night breeze. Figures illuminated by the moonlight, they began to walk down the steps.