Forgive any mistakes on this one... I was really distracted when I wrote the majority of it. I had a dentist appointment today right after finishing up with testing and for some reason, every new person who cleans my teeth manages to find the filling in one of my front teeth, and now there's a gap because the woman put the pick in there and pulled it up. I just about gave her a straight-arm to the face. So I'm in a good deal of pain, but it's alright. I have two fillings to get. Hooray for bad genetics! I'm a clean freak about my mouth and I still get cavities anyway!
But on with the story. If you see anything shoddy, do point it out for me. I could use the help since I don't have me a beta... and remember, it was a week before Crimmus when they left, so it's Crimmus now, and they're giving each other their gifts today. Yay!
Bad explanation here, but that's the gist of it. Their lives from before were complete. They don't really remember much unless they really think about it... like make a mental effort... not Blue-Boy though... he's special. Anyway, I'm out. I can't stay up late anymore... my head hurts. LOL.
Read, enjoy, and please, dear god, review! I'll be a much less paranoid writer. Those last four really made my day. I wish I could reply (I've tried) but I don't think they're going through. O well.
Lord only knows how much coffee those men consumed that night, and they were still tired enough to pass out after all the talk was done.
Demyx lay against Axel's chest, the fingers of his left hand tangled in the sleeping man's hair, the other linked with Axel's right. Saïx sat across from them, slowly nodding off, and past the skyline, Demyx could see the sun rising.
I can't believe… I'm dead… but I'm alive too…
He sighed softly.
Maybe that's what Axel means by a "complete" life… it's like I remember, but I don't… but I've always felt drawn to Axel. I felt drawn to Xigbar and Marluxia too. I've felt drawn to all of our reincarnated buddies, but god… how to explain this to them… should I explain at all?
Axel was right. These things are better left forgotten.
"I love you, Axel… I guess it's safe to say I always have…"
"Love… you… too," Axel mumbled, shifting a little in his sleep.
Demyx smiled.
"Good night."
--- ---
By the time they had all awakened, Demyx really knew what Axel meant. Because of the nature of past lives, he really had to think before he could remember any given aspect of the complete life. He'd died and that book closed, and now with a new one open, it wasn't much more than a distraction to crack the spines of old volumes. It was the way fate worked.
Saïx vanished early in the afternoon, refusing the wad of cash Axel pushed into his hand. He was convinced that Axel had given him enough just to tolerate his presence. It seemed Saïx was the only one who had his volumes all collected into one book. To look at him shallowly, one would think he was completely derailed. Really, he was just without any sense of time and space: a strange juxtaposition of many lives all bundled up into one physical being. He was outside the flow of time, and it made him seem inhuman in a way.
He'd left, admonishing Axel for calling him "wolfie" all the way out the door.
And the apartment was cold and quiet again.
"Merry Christmas," Demyx yelled suddenly, leaping off the couch and practically squealing, he blazed around the corner into the bedroom, skidding on his knees next to the bed. The squeal of skin on tile alerted the redhead to the blond's current whereabouts. Axel, still in the kitchen, couldn't help but laugh a little, and sneak over to his own hiding place.
Why didn't I think to look under the bed? Jeez. He knows exactly how I think. Put it in the most goddamn obvious place and I'll never find it.
Axel pulled up the sheet over the canvas and slid under to examine his painting… it was basically done for a portrait piece, and he was extremely happy with it. It was still a little weird to look into your own eyes on a canvas though. He ran a hand across the strokes that made up his hair. The color was a little off, but it was fine. He actually looked more like his past life in the painting, if he really gave it thought. Slipping back out from under the sheet, he picked up the painting and the covering together, wrapped it up and carried it out into the living room to place it under the "Christmas Tree Should be Here" sign that Demyx drew in a moment of despair. All because Axel didn't feel like buying one. He might have to remedy that situation.
"Oh! You did get me something, you sly beast!" Demyx laughed, "Well, let's see here…"
He knelt by Axel, placing three packages in bright paper next to the redhead. Axel smiled softly.
"You didn't have to…"
"Oh, but I did!" the blond cried cutely wrapping his arms around his lover. "You gonna open them?"
"One more thing to get," Axel mumbled, "I'll be right back, okay?"
"Sure…"
Axel got to his feet and ran over to the kitchen, dug into a floor-level cupboard and pulled out two bulky brown paper bags.
He clapped his hands twice and the dogs came running, Leto bringing up the lead for once, and he looked so very intense. Demyx sat back on his haunches and watched as Axel coaxed Zipporah closer with soothing whispers and the occasional comment.
"Good boy; good girl," he laughed, digging something or other out of the bags. As soon as Axel offered it, Leto took the treat and retreated across the room to work on it. Zipporah was slightly hesitant, but she too took the treat and found her own spot on the floor to crunch on it.
Axel trotted back over, the paper bags still under each arm.
"What was that?" Demyx inquired, a brow quirked lightly.
"Pig ear," Axel replied with a snort, "Best thing to happen to doggie kind since the milk bone."
"Ick!" Demyx cried, "Oh that's so nasty!"
He was laughing though, and Axel was still smiling.
"Open your present now, you big dork."
"Alright…" Demyx laughed, leaning over to snatch up the shrouded item. He hesitated a moment before pulling away the covering. The smile on his face was priceless. "Axel…"
"It's the first one I ever did… might want to keep it," Axel said softly, "I guess it's kind of like a collector's item."
Demyx smiled, still not quite sure of what to do. He leaned it against the wall, facing them and pulled Axel close to him.
"Well, of course I will. Now you'll be with me no matter where I am."
"You're so sweet…" Axel sighed, "I keep wondering what possessed me…"
"Don't think about that… this is a new page. Fill it with only what you want, not what you regret. If we've been given this second chance, I think we should make the best of it," he said, his voice suddenly taking that bizarre all-knowing tone that let Axel know he was remembering everything. "Open my presents… the big one first."
"Alright…" Axel said softly, slipping out of Demyx's grasp. He pulled out the first package and tore into it without much of a pause. The smooth leather cover of a sketchbook emerged and he grinned so broad it looked painful. "It's awesome…"
He fingered the terracotta colored cover for a moment, flipped through the pages to examine them. They were thick and heavy, and a soft creamy white. It was perfect.
"Now the next," Demyx urged, a small grin curling at the edges of his mouth.
Axel moved on, placing the sketchbook in his lap and tore through the paper on the next package, which was almost strangely heavy. He gasped at the contents.
"Demyx…"
"I know."
"Demyx, when did you…?" Axel ran his fingers over the tin, "These are Prismacolors… and this is every color…"
"I know," the blond laughed, "It's alright Axel."
"Demyx, this is a… two hundred dollar set of colored pencils…"
Axel looked distressed.
"I got a bonus, and I remember…" Demyx assured him, "But Axel… I did it for you. That's all that matters, right? Open the last one. It's the most important."
Axel numbly set the set of pencils in his lap, picked up the last package, which was suspiciously light. He tore away the paper and gently lifted the top off of the box. Axel stopped breathing.
The box contained two rings: both were very plain but the silver was so bright and beautiful that it made up for that plainness. Demyx reached over wordlessly and took the box, set it in Axel's lap and picked up one of the rings. It was then, with a little natural light that caught the edge, that he realized it wasn't silver at all. It was most definitely platinum. Demyx slid the ring onto Axel's finger, a perfect fit.
"I love you, Axel Ignatius Brenton," he said softly, "I don't believe in marriage… but I want you here by my side… until the day I die. I'm giving you this ring as the symbol of my undying love… will you… will you stay?"
Axel gaped, dumbstruck.
"I… I…"
He shook his head violently, took a deep breath and reached down for the other ring.
"I want you," he breathed. It was all he could manage.
Demyx helped the redhead slip the ring onto his finger.
"You can have me. All of me."
--- ---
The dogs played with their new toys and they enjoyed them thoroughly, romping and loudly fooling around in the living room and studio, but the painting at the art supplies lay untouched.
The bedroom was dark and sultry, the shades pulled.
The sheets were tangled.
Two men entwined in the most intimate way, lying breathless next to each other in the dusk-light of sun filtered through crimson curtains.
"We're running… out of time," Demyx sighed, "Aren't we?"
"I don't know," Axel admitted. "I can't see anymore."
"Well… let's love like there's no tomorrow then," Demyx suggested, rolling over on top of the older man to press a tender kiss on his lips.
"Let's…" Axel moaned.