Disclaimer: As much I would like to, I do know own Kingdom Hearts or it's beautiful characters.
"Where are we going?" Roxas asked as he walked beside the redhead. It was around 6 p.m and the sky was the bright orange hue of evening. Axel flashed him one of those perfect smiles that glittered in the evening sun.
"You'll just have to wait and see," Axel replied happily with a grin.
"That's not much of an answer..." Roxas grumbled. He had known this guy one day and he could already tell that the ego on Axel was enormous. Roxas wasn't even sure if he could trust him. Yes, they had hit it off and he had promised to wait until Axel was finished with work, but he barely knew the guy.
Roxas was also just plain exhausted from his first day of college. It was a lot to take in. At this point there were only two reasons that kept Roxas from turning around and walking back home to his apartment. Reason number one: Roxas was fairly curious as to what the redhead had planned to do. Reason number two: Axel was incredibly attractive. And actually there was a third reason that Roxas didn't like to admit. Roxas had always had a hard time making friends. That's why he was so close to his twin brother. Since Sora wasn't here, Roxas didn't want to blow it with the one group of people that even bothered to talk to him today.
"Tsk tsk," Axel shook his head, interrupting Roxas' thoughts. "Impatient are we?" Axel's eyes twinkled devilishly in the orange light. "Don't worry, we're almost there. And you'll be able to rest those pretty little feet of yours, princess" Axel teased playfully.
"Rude." Roxas scowled and punched Axel's arm with just enough force to make the older boy sway to the side.
"Ow! I was just teasing!" Axel exclaimed over-dramatically and rubbed his arm. He pouted. "I'm hurt, Roxy."
"Who's the princess now?" Roxas countered and stuck his tongue out at Axel.
Axel laughed. Truly laughed. It was a glorious beautiful laugh that vibrates from the core. Axel couldn't remember the last time someone had talked back to him, and the way Roxas had done so was just so cute.
Roxas was confused...and blushing.
"What?" Roxas asked feeling a little annoyed because he didn't understand what was so funny and also because he didn't understand why he was blushing so much today.
"Oh nothing." Axel said trying to regain his breath. "I guess the princess is me," he said with a chuckle.
Before Roxas could answer, Axel announced, "We're here!"
They had been walking for a good fifteen minutes, cutting through different streets and taking a bunch of turns. Roxas was actually starting to get a little tired, so he was glad that they finally made it to their destination.
Roxas looked around. They were at a train station. The clock tower loomed high in the air above their heads. It was a beautiful sight in the setting sun.
"Why are we at a train station?" Roxas asked. "You're not expecting me to go out of town...are you?" Roxas wasn't comfortable going too far away from his apartment, especially with a guy he just met today...even if they had hit it off.
"Of course not, Roxy," Axel replied. "Calm down, it's just a restaurant."
"Oh." Roxas looked down at his feet embarrassed that he had overreacted.
"Come on! Let's go in!" Axel grabbed the smaller boy's arm and dragged him inside. "Two please." he said in a smooth silky voice to the waitress.
The waitress, flustered by Axel's voice and looks, turned bright red. "Oh of course! Follow me!" she said in a very flirty voice as she took two menus and led them to their table. "Will this be all right for you, sir?" she batted her eyelashes directly at Axel.
Roxas was a little annoyed at the waitress. Her flirting was obvious. "What is this feeling?" he thought to himself. "Am I actually getting jealous?"
"Hello? Roxas?" Axel's voice snapped Roxas back from his thoughts. "Is this okay for you?" the redhead gestured to the table.
"Oh. Yeah, sure." Roxas said quietly.
"Awesome" Axel replied and sat himself down across from Roxas. He leaned forward without picking up the menu and put his elbows on the table with his face in his hands. He studied Roxas' face.
The waitress, finally realizing that Axel was completely ignoring her stomped off in a huff.
Roxas felt very self-conscious with Axel watching him. "Why do you keep staring at me?" he asked, still slightly annoyed at the waitress.
"Because you're different." Axel replied immediately.
"Well take a picture. It'll last longer." Roxas snapped at him and picked up a menu.
"Somebody's grumpy." Axel said teased.
Roxas sighed and looked up into the bright green orbs that took his breath away. "It's not that. It's just been a really long day," Roxas admitted.
Axel smiled at him. "That's why we're here to relax! Order anything you want. It's on me."
Roxas looked at the menu. Everything seemed quite pricey, especially for a college student. "Are you sure?" Roxas asked. "I thought you needed money," Roxas thought back to their conversation at the coffee shop.
"I wouldn't have offered to pay if I couldn't afford it," Axel said to Roxas kindly.
Axel's tone had changed. The Axel he was having dinner with was gentler than the Axel he had met in his first class.
"So..." Axel said with his chin still in his hands, "Are you single?" he said with a grin.
†~†~†
Roxas didn't think that he had ever had a dinner that was as delectable as the one he just had. It was simply amazing. And the conversation was riveting. However he was glad to get away from that waitress who flirted with Axel every chance she got.
Roxas thought back to how flustered he got when Axel asked him if he was single. Roxas said yes and was expecting Axel to make a move. But he didn't. He just continued on with normal conversation.
"So I was thinking we could go to Demyx's house." Axel said. "He' s throwing a small 'We Made it Through the First Day of School' party. Are you up to coming?" he asked.
"Well...I don't know. It's getting kind of late..." Roxas replied. Roxas wasn't a party person.
"Oh come on. It'll be fun, and you already know most of the people who will be there. Plus Demyx's house is really close. Come for me?" Axel asked with a pout and puppy-dog eyes.
Roxas weighed the pros and cons of the situation before coming to a decision. "Okay, I'll go..."
Axel smiled widely at Roxas. "Okay let's go!"
†~†~†
Axel knocked on the blue door of the small house. "We're coming in!" he yelled over the music that was blaring on the other side of the door. The redhead and the blonde walked into the house and Axel led the way to the kitchen. Several people surrounded the kitchen counter who were taking shots. There were also several people on the couch in the living room that was connected to the kitchen. Roxas recognized Riku and Zexion who were part of the group surrounding the kitchen. Axel went up to them, and Roxas followed.
"Hey guys!" Axel greeted them.
"Hey! It's about time! You're late!" Riku responded. "Hey Roxas! Glad you could make it!"
Zexion nodded in agreement.
Roxas smiled, a little uncomfortable of being at the party. "Thanks."
"Where's Demyx?" Axel asked.
"Oh you know, running around playing hostess as usual," Riku said jokingly. Although it was more of the truth than a joke.
Axel laughed and even Zexion let out a chuckle. "Do you want to take a shot with me?" Axel asked Roxas.
"Oooh! I'll join!" Demyx came running up to them and started pouring them all shots.
"Oh. Um...okay" Roxas replied. One shot couldn't hurt he thought.
Once they all had their shots, Demyx raised his shot glass. "Cheers!" he said and swallowed the shot. Everybody followed.
Roxas' throat burned from the alcohol. He coughed a little.
"Here, have a chaser." Axel handed him an unopened Sprite.
Roxas took the soda and downed about half the can to get the previous taste of alcohol out of his mouth. "Thanks," he said to Axel. "So, tell me who everybody is."
"Well, you know Riku, Zexion, and Demyx." he gestured to the people Roxas already knew. "This is Vexen, Luxord, and Xion" he pointed to each person around the counter. "And over there is Maluxia, Lexaeus, and Larxene." he pointed to the people on the couch in the living room. "I'm sure you'll meet everybody eventually." Axel said with a smile. "Okay! Who wants to do another shot!"
There was a universal agreement around the counter.
†~†~†
The orange blaring sun had set and the temperature dropped as the dark blue sky overhung above the house bursting with music. Inside the house, a small blonde sat on the couch looking out the window. His head was buzzing and he was too dizzy to stand.
"How are you doing there, Roxas?" Demyx asked loudly with enthusiasm as he sat down next to the blonde. Demyx patted Roxas' back.
Roxas turned around, away from the window and answered Demyx truthfully, "Meh. My head hurts."
Demyx laughed, "Oh man, you only had two shots! Looks light we have a light-weight on our hands. You really should drink water. And eat something. I have the best cure for a hangover also. You know one time I..."
Demyx's voice faded into the distance for Roxas as his gaze looked past the rocker blonde and focused on the red head in the distance. Axel was speaking to some of the other people in the kitchen. He was chatting and laughing. The spiky red hair was bouncing with his lanky body as the laughs escaped his beautiful mouth. Roxas stared at him with a mix of wonder, excitement, and longing.
"Helloo? Earth to Roxas. Anybody home?" Demyx waved his hand in front of Roxas' face. Demyx smirked as he followed Roxas' gaze towards the red-head. "Whatcha looking at?" He asked playfully.
Roxas blushed, knowing that he had been caught staring. "Oh...um...nothing." Roxas lied.
Demyx sighed. "Look, I get it. Axel's hot. Like really hot. Like really really hot. But he's my friend and I would rather not see him get hurt again." Demyx's demeanor became really serious, "Okay?"
"Huh? I don't know what you're talking about." Roxas replied with a mixture of confusion and embarrassment.
Just before Demyx was able to answer Roxas, Axel came strutting over to them. "You guys having fun?" He turned towards Demyx and grinned, "Taking a break from playing hostess, Dem?"
"Just be glad that somebody's willing to give your ass a place to party." Demyx countered. His demeanor was back to his playful high-energy self.
"Well I think I'm partied out for the first day of school. I'm headed home. Also, you might want to check on Zexion. He's looking a little pale." Axel said.
"Oh no! Zexy hold on! Dem is coming!" Demyx shot up from the couch and ran towards the kitchen. "Later, Axe!" He yelled over his shoulder.
Axel chuckled a low gravelly chuckle, and looked at Roxas on the couch, who was not looking too well himself. "Come on, blondie, let's get you home. You probably don't want to stay here with Zexion spending the night...if you know what I mean." Axel winked.
"Oh okay," Roxas agreed as he tried to get up from the couch, but failing miserably as the world spun around him.
"Oh boy. Let me help." Axel pulled Roxas off the couch and placed his arm around Roxas' waist so that the small blonde could use him for balance.
"N-no I got it. And don't call m-me..." Roxas tried to squirm away, but again, failed miserably.
"Yeah, yeah I get it. Just let me help you, 'kay?"
"F-Fine." Roxas gave up and let the red-head support him home.
†~†~†
Roxas and Axel walked into Roxas' apartment. Well, Roxas stumbled more than walked.
"Good God, you're heavy for someone so small." Axel said as he stretched out his left shoulder. He had been Roxas' grounding force the whole walk home, which meant 150 lbs of basically dead weight.
"Well sorry," Roxas muttered and said something incoherent under his breath.
Axel rolled his eyes. "Come on, let's get you to bed," Axel half walked, half pushed Roxas into the bedroom. "Get changed, and I'll get you some water." Axel closed the bedroom door and clambered around the kitchen through boxes cluttering the floor, looking for a water glass.
Roxas pulled his shirt above his head and fell onto his well-made fluffy bed. His head was hurting from the alcohol. He was so tired that he didn't even bother getting underneath the covers. He heard the door creak open and footsteps leading up to his bed.
"Here. Drink this before you fall asleep." Axel was kneeling at the side of Roxas' bed holding a glass of water. Roxas rolled over and was face to face with the red head. Roxas' water blue orbs locked with the forest green ones in front of him. A spark went through the blonde's body, even in his drunken stupor. He felt the sudden urge to lean forward and lock lips with the lanky red head in front of him. His face was beautiful, his eyes full of wonder and his mouth turned slightly upwards in a smile. Roxas noticed two upside-down teardrop tattoos on the red head's cheeks. Roxas made a mental note to ask him about it later. The two men stared at each other in silence for several moments.
Axel slowly leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on the blonde's forehead. "Goodnight, Blondie." He placed the cup in Roxas' hands and walked out of his room, closing the door behind him.
Roxas was slightly in shock, but was too tired to contemplate what just happened. He downed the water that Axel gave him, put the cup on his dresser and fell asleep before his head even hit the pillow. He dreamt of green eyes and red hair that night.
†~†~†
They had their first kiss! Sort of...Again, I know I'm leading you all on, but I promise I will reward you for waiting! Things will get spicy! Please review! Lots of love! 3