Sugar Rush
Disclaimer: Don't own any KH rights.
Warning: AkuRoku romance below. Boy-boy relationship. Rated T for language.
Pt.3
-- On the day of the interview --
Roxas woke up earlier than usual, quickly went through his morning routine and set out for the day. Axel promised to be at the store at 10AM. The driver drove him down to London like always, until the blond was reminded of how there should be some pens in the front pocket of a suit as they quickly passed by one of those fancy jewelry shops that sold a simple pen for a hundred pounds. He was going to demand the driver to stop, but then he thought maybe it was too much trouble for the chauffeur to make a U-turn in a narrow snow-covered street so he just let him continue driving and he'd walk back to the jewelry store from the bakery.
Roxas quickly handed the suits to Yuffie, telling her to take care of them until he came back, and walked back to the store to admire a collection of marble fountain pens.
He had just laid eyes on the perfect pen when the glass door was blasted open and gunfire broke the silence in the store. Women screamed and people ducked. The ceiling of the store was completely destroyed in seconds by bullets, the lamps shattering and raining glass shards onto the people below. There was a moment of total chaos mixed with gunshots, shrieking and yelling. The robbers were yelling at the terrified customers, ordering them to sit at a side of the store. Among the pushing and pulling Roxas was thrown into the same pile of people that were quivering and whimpering in fear. Two gunmen aimed their deadly guns towards the crowd, looking out for the two other accomplices that were grabbing the jewels and money from various cabinets.
Roxas had never felt this horrified in his life before. He couldn't think; he only stared blankly at the burglars as they endlessly shoved undeserved prizes into their bags.
----
Axel expected to find Roxas at the bakery, but the boy was nowhere in sight. It was nine thirty and he really had to go. Yuffie gave him his suits and told him that Roxas had went off to some store for something; she sighed and wished him good luck, telling him not to worry about the boy. The redhead exited the store doubtfully, disappointed by the absence of the blonde. It was such an important day to him… It is the turning point of his beggar life and it marked the happenstance of a miracle. How could Roxas not be here…? The more he thought about it the sadder he got; maybe Roxas just didn't care about him after all… Axel was a beggar to begin with anyway. Or maybe Roxas thought Axel was trying to steal his money? Did he do anything that seemed untrustworthy? The poor redhead kept questioning himself on his way back to the law firm, unaware of the situation at the other side of the story…
----
The robbers were finishing up now… They've got everything with them now… They were now taking things from the customers. They're almost done, almost able to get out… They can almost walk right out of there, with no guilt, no punishment, no penalty… It infuriated Roxas. It was unjust. They had bestowed so much fear onto these people in the last ten minutes or so and they could just walk right away with bags of treasures that they didn't deserve?!
A hissing breath that sounded like someone having difficulty breathing diverted Roxas' attention from the image of the thieves' legs to the old man beside him. The man coughed, pressing a hand against his chest as he tried hard to breathe. Roxas whispered harshly, "What's wrong?" for a few times, before he heard a fragmented "asthma" from the old man's lips. Scanning around Roxas found an inhaler lying among the broken glass on the floor. All Roxas could think of doing was try to creep over to the inhaler as slowly as he could.
He was only two steps away until a click right above his forehead made him froze. He didn't even blink at this point. He could feel the icy gun tunnel pressed against his skin, maybe bruising a circle.
It was of point blank distance. Was this it? Was he going to die? He could see his life flashing back before his eyes; all the things he loved; all the people he cared about. And when the gun pressed harder, the only face left in his mind was…
"What are you doing, kid?" The gunman asked in an obnoxious tone, "Trying to go against us, huh?"
"N-No." Roxas gulped down his broken voice, "T-That man… he has asthma… H-He can't… breathe… He needs the inhaler…" Roxas glanced to his right as if in that way he could see the old man who was behind him. The robber looked over his shoulder and chuckled, "Heh… Trying to be a hero now, huh?"
"Vexen, what are you doing?!" Another robber hissed, "C'mon let's go! The police will be here!" The hints of smile on the man's eyes' wrinkles dissolved into alarm as he too stood up. Roxas' shoulders slumped, although it didn't relief him of the anger that rose up in his heart. He crawled up and grabbed the inhaler, returning and placed it in the old man's hands.
The thieves were ready to leave except that Roxas' little interference had slowed them by seconds and the police were here. They retreated back into the store; the guy named Vexen realizing that the situation was really bad for them. Hastily he yanked Roxas up who just handed the old man his inhaler and pressed his gun against the boy's temple. There was another session of screams and whimpers. Roxas tensed up again, fears swimming in his eyes as he looked at his rescuers just a few feet ahead but they were all blocked back by an invisible force of terror.
"Drop the guns and surrender…" The police speaker echoed, "If you harm anyone, it will only add to your guilt when you are caught…"
Oh, but they're not caught yet! With Roxas as the hostage, Vexen was able to let his accomplices escape through the back door.
----
Axel readjusted his tie for a third time. It was still seven minutes away from his turn. Roxas still hasn't contacted him yet. He sighed, pacing back and forth in the waiting room. Reaching into his pocket he felt something to his fingertips; he pulled a receipt out. Roxas' number was on there.
After a while of debating with himself he decided to call the blonde using the office's phone.
----
The intense situation was not helped when Roxas' cell phone rang. Everyone gasped; and Roxas was lucky that Vexen didn't accidentally discharge his gun. Everything was still for a few seconds, the phone just kept ringing. No one dared to move. After a while Vexen was tired of the constant ringing and ordered Roxas to answer the call, but also to be careful about what he would say.
The boy slowly reached into his pocket for the mobile and took it out, placing it against his ear, "H-Hello?"
"Um… Roxas? Hey, it's me." Roxas' eyes widened at the heartbreakingly beautiful voice. "Er… Yeah, it's my turn in about five minutes… I thought… you…"
"I-I…" Roxas choked; his tears refused to stop. "I'm sorry, Axel. I… I have to…"
"Is something wrong…?" This only brought more tears. "You sound… not fine…"
"No, no. I'm fine." Roxas sniffed, "I just… have a cold…"
"Oh… okay."
"Listen, I'm sorry I can't be there. Just… do your best, okay?" Roxas wished Axel good luck with all his heart, "You've worked so hard on this; God would look out for you, so don't worry about it, okay? Don't worry about me, I'm fine."
"Okay." Axel said, a smile redeeming on his face, "…Erhm…. Will you be there when it's over?"
Hell, he doesn't even know if the interview will be over first or he will be over first. "I… I'll try." Roxas sniffed again, "I'll try."
With a call of his name from the background, Axel hastily said goodbye before hanging up. After that the blonde was ordered to drop the phone by Vexen. Roxas let his arm go limp, the cell phone dropping onto the ground. Vexen stomped harshly on the cell phone, smashing it into useless fragments. Roxas closed his eyes; tears rolling down his cheeks sleekly. This was too much; too much pressure for him to handle. When will this be over? The police and Marluxia were stalled in a stalemate. Neither side dared to make a move.
----
Axel left the interview office with a smile on his lips. He felt confident about his performance; after all, he's done this before and succeeded. He's just doing it again this time; though his smile diminished when it became apparent that Roxas was not there. Anger rose up in the redhead's heart; it was Roxas who started all this, and now he's just gonna walk away?! And what was with using a cold as an excuse?! Had Roxas learned how to lie now?
Infuriated, Axel went for the office phone again. It only got worse; Roxas didn't pick up. A sudden feeling of abandonment overwhelmed Axel, leaving him furious. With a grim frown on his face he left for the pastry store.
-- At Highwind Pastry and Confectionery --
Axel entered the shop anxiously, his heart knotting inside out. He went up to the counter where Tidus greeted him.
"Has Roxas come back yet?"
"Roxas? No, I haven't seen him around all day." Tidus replied sincerely. A roaring siren zoomed past the shop outside as an armed response vehicle of SO19 (1) officers flew down along the street. Everyone's eyes trailed behind the vehicle. What could be the severe emergency on such a wide fine day?
Suddenly Cid blasted from the kitchen, hastily leaving the shop without a word. Yuffie stepped out of the kitchen too, looking after her boss with a terribly worried expression. Axel witnessed the incident and asked, "What's going on?"
"Y-You don't know yet?" Yuffie gulped slightly, concerned, "Roxas, he… there's a robbery at the shop… he's stuck… The guy… Roxas is being held hostage…"
"W-What?" Axel asked, eyes wide with bewilderment, "Where is he?! Where is he?!" He gripped her wrists.
"At a jewelry shop, down two blocks, I think… I don't know…!"
Axel dashed down the street like Cid did moments ago.
----
Roxas' neck was starting to get sore from the constant choke asserted by Vexen's arm. The police continued to try persuading the criminal to give up. The boy was terrified; that haunting restless feeling boiling in his stomach. A loud police vehicle skidded to a stop behind one of the police cars with a screech. Armed special unit officers started pouring out. Vexen was intimidated; he started shuffling backwards with Roxas towards the backdoor. The crowd of the other customers sobbed and moved away from the robber. Roxas didn't understand; there were so many of them, and only one robber left. Why didn't anyone try to help him?
The area was fenced by police officers when Axel got there. There were spectators and people clamoring around. The redhead fought his way to the front, horrified when he found the boy held at gunpoint.
"Roxas!!!" Axel was held back by a police officer, "Roxas!!"
"Sir! I need you to stay back! This area is dangerous!" The officer yelled. Another much younger policeman came up and reported with a salute, "Sir! All the accomplices are caught from the back alley and the back of the store is surrounded! Sniper team is ready for fire command, Sir!"
"Alright!" The officer said, "Take care of this guy for me!" He threw the redhead to the young policeman and ran into a narrow alley. Axel glanced back at the store where Vexen was reaching the backdoor closer and closer; Roxas' eyes were trained on Axel's.
Believe in me, Roxas… Axel nodded determinedly before following the officer into the alley.
Vexen thought he would be free when he opened the door, only to find himself entirely surrounded by armed SO19 officers. Roxas whimpered when the gun was pressed closer to his temple, bruising his skin.
"W-Why are you doing this?" Roxas suddenly whispered, "You shouldn't do this… You'll get shot. You'll get punished…"
"Shut up!" The criminal yelled, "It's all your fault!! It's…"
Axel arrived behind the circle of officers with the police commander.
"…all your fault! You made us delay! You caused this! You asked for it!" Vexen was breaking down; he knew he'd lose either way. His finger was starting to bump with the trigger. A sniper officer on a balcony tensed, aiming for the man's arm. He spoke into his headset, "Subject is not stable. Sniper constable D2208 requests for permission to fire; over."
The commander looked at the pack of accomplices locked up in a police truck, "Permission granted for non-lethal shot. All sniper units hold your fire. D2208 don't fire until you have a clear shot, over."
In a blink, a shot was fired into Vexen's arm. The man screamed; his injured arm no longer able to hold Roxas captive. Roxas took a second to recover from the shock and ran. Axel pushed past the officers to get to the blonde. The policemen were advancing towards Vexen…
Both Roxas and Axel thought they'll be fine now, until the dying thief pointed up his pistol at Roxas' back. Axel only had a split moment to widen his eyes and tackle Roxas down onto the ground before Vexen fired, a burning sensation scraped pass the redhead's left arm. The officers immediately fired their machine guns, raining bullets onto Vexen, killing the criminal on the spot.
Roxas shrieked, tears dripping from his eyes as he looked at the wounded Axel. The redhead grunted, trying to support himself with the other arm, "Roxas… Are you okay?"
"I-I'm okay, but you're bleeding…" The blond sobbed, "Police! Help!"
"I'm okay… I think the bullet only swept pass me…" Axel groaned; relieved as paramedics from the front of the store (they were already there to help those other customers) came to rescue…
-- A month later --
It was finally Valentine's Day. Roxas smiled as he looked at his perfectly finished wedding cake. How he secretly wished he could have his own wedding cake one day…
"Someone's lovesick." Yuffie joked, a cheerful smile on her face, "C'mon, the cake needs to be sent." She said as she handed the blonde the tall cover of the cake box. Roxas chuckled and carefully fitted the cover over, letting Tifa and Tidus move it into the catering truck.
Cid closed the store earlier that day, allowing his employees go home to do whatever they want with their significant others. Roxas dropped a quick trip to a supermarket, buying various ingredients for a cake…
----
Axel returned to his apartment with much exhaustion. Going to the court for a divorce case on Valentine's Day is really not a nice thing. He rolled his neck a little, stopping when he noticed the warm light rays pouring out from the door gap at the bottom. A smirk grew on his lips at this and he searched for his keys, opening the door.
Immediately a pair of hands covered his eyes childishly. Axel chuckled, "What's the event, Roxas?"
"Just wait…" The blond giggled, guiding Axel around in his unfamiliarly new apartment. They stopped somewhere and Roxas let go of his hands, "Ta-da!"
There, sitting in the middle of the dining table, was a beautiful heart-shaped white-chocolate glazed Angel Food cake.
Axel smiled and turned to Roxas, "That cake's beautiful, Roxas; but I don't think I need Angel Food cake anymore."
"Why is that?" The blond blinked.
"Because you're my sweetest sugar." Axel expressed before capturing Roxas' lips in a breathtaking kiss.
(1) SO19 is the abbreviation for the police firearms unit in London; it's like SWAT in the US.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed it! I know the whole character development thing was too rushed... but hey! This could've taken up ten chapters instead so don't complain XD And don't forget to leave a review if you liked it:)