Holy crap, I wasn't expecting to finish this tonight. But I did! I'm quite proud of myself.
And I get to leave for the hospital in an hour. Gotta get ready to have my eye cut open! Huzzah!
The only thing I have to say about this one is .. just wait for chapter seven. I guarantee it's going to be a good one, even if no one thinks this one is. Trust me. Also, I just finished this five minutes ago, and I haven't slept since about nine pm last night, so if there are any typos, I'll come back and fix them later. That being said, enjoy!
Sidenote: I love South Park. And Reno makes me giggle.
It was a week before I saw him again. I don't know why it surprised me so much, when I'd only gone by the bar once since then, but … I figured maybe he'd come by the shop, or something.
I'm not obsessed, all right? I'm really not. Just mildly interested. Right.
It was mid-morning, somewhere between ten and eleven and I was in the back room counting boxes of Cuban cigars. I hated the damn things, hated the way they stunk up the tiny space I was currently confined to. It was disgusting, and I tried to hurry myself along so I could do something more pleasant … like sample the new case of Blacks that had come in yesterday. Nothing better in the world than a fresh clove. Except maybe really good sex, and I haven't had any of that in a while so I have to make due with what I'm given.
"Hey, Ax!" My brother poked his head into the small room, grinning at me like the idiot he was. "There's a really cute blond out here, and for some reason … he's askin' for you." I rested my clipboard on my knees, fighting the smile that pulled at my mouth.
"Well? You gonna get up, or do I get to play with him?"
I shook my head, pulling myself up from the floor and idly dusting my pants off. "You get to pull all the stale stuff off the shelves, Reno. You were supposed to do that last week."
He groaned audibly, slumping against the doorframe. "C'mon, yo … that shit is boring." I merely shook my head, poking his shoulder with my pen as I passed him. "It's either that, or go clean out the dumpster out back. Your choice." I heard him grumble under his breath behind me, and fought back another sardonic grin.
"I hate you."
"No, you don't. If it weren't for me, your ass would be unemployed."
I continued to ignore his mumbled pleasantries as I glimpsed the back of Roxas' head, hung low as he leaned against the counter. I wasted no time in sneaking up behind him, pressing my lips to the shell of his ear as I spoke: "It's about damn time you came to see me."
He jumped nearly a foot in the air, yelping in surprise as he whirled around to face me. The laughter bubbled in the back of my throat and I tried to fight it, I really did – but it was stronger than me, and I had to cover my mouth in a half-assed attempt to soften it the slightest bit. He glared, the blue of his eyes almost electric before he relaxed again, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Don't do that."
"That's the kind of greeting I get after not seeing you for a week?" I gave him my best pout, bottom lip sticking out in the most juvenile way. "I'm hurt."
"No, you aren't. So don't even try." He snorted, propping a hip against the counter again as he studied me. He gave me a good once-over before he spoke again, raking his fingers back through his wild hair and averting his gaze just slightly. Was he … was he being shy? Oh, that was too cute.
"I actually came by to pay you for those cloves you gave me last week … I didn't feel right just taking them."
I eyed him incredulously, waving a dismissive hand as I bent down behind the counter and retrieved the half-empty pack I'd hidden from Reno earlier, knowing full well that if he knew I had any, he'd be up my ass to bum one. Or four. Sticking one in the corner of my mouth, I held them out to the boy in front of me, silently offering. He shrugged, looking slightly guilty as he accepted. I took my time striking a match, having for some inane reason forgotten my Zippo back at the apartment and took a deep, satisfying drag as the end lit up like a firecracker. "I didn't give them to you expecting something back, Rox. I was just being nice." I watched as he pulled a blue Bic from his pocket, flicking a tiny flame to life and inhaling as the smoke entered his mouth. His eyes fluttered closed momentarily as he shoved the lighter back into his pocket, sliding open only when he parted his lips to exhale.
I found myself having to swallow in an attempt to regain a bit of moisture in my suddenly dry mouth, chewing absently on a corner of my lip as his gaze settled on me again. "That may be, but …" He shrugged, the movement so slight it almost didn't count. "I was brought up not to accept handouts from anyone, regardless of their intentions."
Who the hell talks like that? It's like … he was raised by the Amish or something …
I stared at him for a minute, trying not to laugh again and then have to explain why … knowing him, he'd be insulted, and I'd be set back a couple of steps. I thought I'd been doing pretty well for myself, all things considered. Except for the past week, that is. I don't know what happened there. There has to be something to it … I just need to figure it out.
"It wasn't a handout. Like I said, I was being nice. You'd better take that at face value and just … accept it. I don't normally just give my Blacks away. They're expensive."
"He's not kidding, yo. He won't even give me any, and I'm family."
I turned around, wondering how long he'd been standing there, listening. I should have known he was going to be obnoxious when I told him to pull all the stale merchandise … it was an easy job, which should have made him a little more eager to do it, but … my brother was notoriously lazy. If it were his choice, he'd sit on his ass in front of the TV all day, either watching Cartoon Network or playing video games. I was actually pretty surprised with myself for having not fired him yet. It … would cause more trouble than it was worth, and when he actually worked he did a pretty good job. It was just a disadvantage for me that that wasn't very often.
Reno smirked, coming around to the front of the counter and standing a bit too close to Roxas for my comfort. I could tell he was up to something, seeing as he almost always was … but, really, did it have to be centered around my toy?
Not a toy, yet. More of … what was he to me, anyway?
The unattainable. That fit pretty well, actually.
I watched as he extended his hand, giving his trademark "hey, I'm sexy" grin. "I'm Reno. The more attractive older brother."
Roxas just stood there, staring at his outstretched hand as though it were something to be dissected. He then looked up, his own sly grin curving his mouth. "More attractive, huh? Did Mommy tell you that?"
I nearly fell over. The laughter hit me hard this time, altogether unexpected because I really wasn't expecting him to say anything like that. I doubled over, hugging my midsection in an attempt to calm myself but it was no good. I had tears in my eyes when I finally straightened, and Reno was standing there with such an apparent mask of shock plastered across his face that I almost lost it again. "He's got you there, man. We all know I'm the pretty one."
Roxas turned those blue eyes on me, and his brows crept upward ever-so-slightly. "Your whole family's just full of unwarranted arrogance, isn't it?" I bit my lip, unable to come back quickly enough with a retort. Reno snickered and I flipped him off … just like every other day around here.
I finished my cigarette and flicked the butt into the nearby ashtray, leaning over the counter and resting my chin in my hands as I stared up at the blond. "So, did you just come here to try to give me money, or was there another reason you finally decided to grace me with your presence?"
He looked uncomfortable, shifting his weight back and forth from one foot to the other; that unbearably cute shyness had returned, and I couldn't get enough of it. "Actually ..." He paused, brows knitting together as though in concentration, before he looked back up at me. "I was going to see if you wanted to have lunch with me."
My eyes widened. I most definitely had not been expecting that. To camouflage having been caught off guard, I decided to do what I do best – be as sarcastic as I possibly could.
"Are you asking me on a date, Rox?"
He flushed a deep pink, starting from his ears and extending all the way down his neck. "No, you asshat. My afternoon class was canceled and I thought that if you weren't busy ..." He shrugged again, crushing his cigarette in the ashtray and turning toward the door. "But if you're going to be like that, nevermind."
Great, Axel, your fucking mouth just screwed you over. Congratulations!
I caught him just as he reached for the door handle and spun him back around, offering my best apologetic smile. "Wait, I'm sorry … really. Um … if you want me to come with you, I could." I motioned back to Reno, who had found my previously hidden cloves and was helping himself. Dammit! "He'll be fine here by himself for a little while, I'm sure."
"Well thanks for the vote of confidence, asshole." He glared at me as a perfectly round smoke ring escaped his mouth, and I flipped him off again. "Don't smoke all my cloves, a'right? And, seriously, pull the stale shit. Because if people start bringing stuff back, I'm taking it out of your paycheck."
I didn't give him a chance to complain as I stepped out the door, pulling the blond behind me. It was nice out, for once, not too cold; which I was grateful for, since I'd left my jacket inside. I wasn't going to take any chances by going back in to get it – if I got cold, I'd deal with it. I am a man, after all. I grinned down at my companion, slinging an arm loosely around his shoulders. "So, where're we goin'?"
He pushed my arm away, scowling. "Quit. I was thinking about this place down the street from the bar, actually. They make really good subs." I fished around in my brain for a minute, trying to remember if I knew the place he was talking about. Wasn't it called Mama's? "Italian place, right?" He nodded, and I shrugged. "Sounds good to me … I could go for a footlong." I snorted at my terrible joke, earning a wide-eyed stare from Roxas as we started walking.
It was quiet, just as it had been that night, and it was still pleasant. I really like feeling that I don't have to fill every little bit of silence with needless conversation. Unlike Reno, I actually kind of like silence – he, on the other hand, probably couldn't shut up if his life depended on it. I have no fucking clue where it comes from, either. Neither of our parents were particularly talkative, especially when it came to us. Father was a workaholic, spending more time away from home than anyone felt was particularly necessary; mother was a housewife, working endlessly to create the perfect home life for her husband and us kids. Too bad he didn't notice how much trouble she went to. But that isn't really important, is it? Nah, I didn't think so.
After a few minutes alone with my thoughts, I got an idea. It seemed kind of like a long shot, but it was worth a try. I mean, you never know what's going to happen if you don't try, right?
"Hey, Rox … you ever go to clubs or anything?"
He looked at me rather strangely, cocking his head to the side. "No, not really … I went to one once when I first turned twenty-one, with my roommate's boyfriend because his band was playing. It isn't really my thing. Why?" I grinned, slinging my arm around his shoulders again. He didn't push me away right off the bat, and I saw that as a good thing. "Well, I was thinkin' … I go to this one place often enough, the music is good, the people pretty much keep to themselves unless you know them …" I paused, chancing a glance down at him, trying to gauge his reaction. "Wanna go sometime?"
His brows were knit tightly together, as though he was trying to analyze the question. It was a bit much, if you ask me, but I'm starting to realize that nothing is really that simple with him. It's kind of invigorating. He looked up at me, a slightly curious expression etched across his face. "What's the music like?"
"Uh … bit of techno … actually, a lot of techno. Not too bad, though. It gets your blood pumpin' pretty well."
He was quiet for a little longer, and I could almost see the gears turning in his head. He really hadn't been kidding when he said he tried to understand everything, had he? I'll admit, I was a little skeptical at first. But apparently he took this whole Psychology thing pretty seriously. Does that mean you have to pick apart every little piece of information given to you?
It seemed that way.
Finally, he sighed. That can't be good. "Yeah, I think I'll go."
Well, smack my ass and call me a bitch. That was easier than I thought it'd be.
I beamed down at him, unable to keep my smile from spreading across the entire bottom half of my face. "Sweet. You wanna go tonight?"
More thought. "I don't have class until noon, so … yeah, I don't see why not." He looked at his right shoulder, frowning, as though just noticing my arm for the first time. Shoving me off him again, he folded his arms over his chest. "Should I wear anything special?"
"Oh, Rox, you can wear whatever you want … but I wouldn't mind seeing you in a miniskirt."
A swift punch landed on my upper arm, a bit stronger than I would have thought. "A'right, a'right, I'm kidding. Jesus." He grinned to himself as he pulled open the door to Mama's and I followed shortly behind, watching him fondly. I really hadn't thought it would be that easy to get him to agree to go out with me. Maybe I was over-thinking the situation a bit?
He turned around, presumably wondering why I hadn't followed him directly to the area squared off for placing orders. As I came up behind him and told the woman what I wanted, I couldn't help but wonder exactly what was going to happen when I took him to the club. It … really was something else.
I was sure he could handle it. And if anything, it'd give him a hell of a lot to analyze.
