Needless to say, Cloud was not pleased when the two made it back to the house. He had the phone in his hand as they walked in through the back door, obviously about to call the authorities to find out what horrible things Axel had done to his little brother while he was gone. He hung up the phone in a painfully calm manner, then turned to them both with a glare that would frighten the devil himself.
After getting an earful about how irresponsible they had been, and being made to swear not to do it again, the boys were allowed to dig into the pizza that was beginning to get cold. They both made a face at it as they felt it's temperature, and had a mini-fight over who got the microwave first. Roxas won, of course. They both heated the pizza and sat at the table before either noticed that something was amiss.
"Oh! I forgot! Your arm!" Roxas jumped up from the table, literally, and ran to the downstairs hallway closet. He returned with the first aid kit in his hands.
"You don't have to. I'm fine, really." But Roxas, being the stubborn blonde that he was, shook his head and reached out for Axel's arm. Though his immediate reaction was to flinch or fight away, Axel relaxed and allowed the blonde to take his arm. If Roxas noticed the flinch, he chose to ignore it, pouring alcohol onto a cotton puff and dabbing it gently to the wounds. Axel hissed at the burning sensation, and would have hit the person applying the undesirable substance, had they been anyone but Roxas. But it was Roxas, so Axel tried to suck it up and ignore the pain. Roxas covered his arm carefully in band-aids, then repacked the first aid kit. He then returned it to it's closet, and rejoined Axel at the table.
"Better?" He inquired over a mouthful of pizza. He made a face as he realised that it had grown cold again.
"Yeah, thanks." Axel noticed the same as he bit into his.
"Don't talk with your mouths full." Cloud's remark was ignored as the two barely spared a glance in his direction of the living room. "And what happened? Why is your arm torn up?" Axel gave Roxas a look, wondering if he was about to get tattled on.
"He cut it on a thorn bush while we were in the forest. He's not really and outdoorsy person, if you can't tell." Axel gave Roxas a quick 'thank you' look, before shoveling more pizza in his mouth.
"Oh? What were you two doing in there anyway?" Roxas made a 'shit' face, and tried to improvise.
"Um... Well, see I... I wanted... To..."
"I asked him to take me out there. I'm directionally challenged, and I figured it would be better to get a tour of the place beforehand. Just in case, you know. Don't want to get lost and die out there..." Roxas stifled a giggle. Axel smirked, finding pride in his ability to get lost in a forest that small.
"Okay, whatever. Leave a note or something next time. I almost called the cops." The two teens nodded, despite the fact that Cloud could not see them from his vantage point. "Anyway, I'm done, so the living room's yours. Don't stay up too late, kay?"
"Okay. Night Cloud."
"Night. Hey, angsty, don't do anything stupid." Axel Scoffed.
"Sweet dreams to you too, Spiky."
"Be good."
"Uh-huh." With that, Cloud walked upstairs and Axel distinctly heard his door close behind him. There was a pause as Axel tried to find his words.
"Um... So what do you usually do with the living room?" Roxas looked up from his cold pizza.
"Hmm? Oh, I usually watch a movie or play a game or something." Axel scoffed.
"What, no porn?" Roxas face got almost as red as Axel's hair, which was something to be admired.
"Of course not! This is the living room! Cloud could walk in at anytime, and he does! He's the lightest sleeper I've ever met! He comes down like, twenty times a night! For like, no reason!" Axel smirked.
"So you've thought about it?" Roxas flushed further.
"N-No... Well, I mean... I... Um..." Axel laughed at his embarrassment.
"Roxas, you're a guy, it's natural, don't freak out so much. Do you have any?" Roxas shook his head vigorously. "Have you ever seen any?" Again, the response was no. "Wow, the epitome of innocence, huh?" Roxas scowled.
"Shut up. Maybe I just don't want to watch that crap! Everyone knows that it's fake anyway! I don't need to watch that to get off!" As soon as the words were out of his mouth, it was obvious that Roxas regretted saying them at all.
"Oh, so you aren't as innocent as you look?" Roxas stuck his tongue out, still blushing.
"I am fifteen. You know how puberty is." He wouldn't make eye contact as he spoke.
"Yeah, I know. Have you experimented with your sexuality?" It was obvious by the jump that Roxas did that he hadn't expect that. Axel realised how that must have sounded, but he wasn't going to take it back. He was straightforward, and he wanted to know. If Roxas was gay...
"Of course not! That... That's not right! I'm only fifteen!" Axel rose an eyebrow.
"So? Fifteen is too young?" Roxas gave him an incredulous look.
"Of course it is! You shouldn't start having sex until you're eighteen at the earliest!" Axel scoffed.
"Is that right? Well, I guess I broke the code of conduct." Roxas' eyes widened at that.
"You... You're not a virgin?" Axel scoffed yet again.
"Do I look like one?"
"Well, I... I don't know... Oh my god... You aren't... Oh wow... Are you... Um... You know..."
"Gay?" Axel finished for him. Roxas nodded. "No. I'm bi. I don't go specifically for one side or the other. Just whoever suits my fancy." Roxas gaped a bit, but nodded his head.
"O-Okay..." Axel could see his discomfort.
"Is that a problem?"
"N-No! Of course not! I just wasn't expecting that!" Axel couldn't help it, he was relieved. It would have been bad if Roxas was a total homophobe. "One of my best friends is gay, actually, so, yeah..."
"Really?" Roxas nodded. "I thought sex was bad."
"He hasn't done that! He just has a crush on this guy. He has for awhile, actually."
"Um... How do you know if you're gay if you haven't had sex? I mean, is that possible?" He looked miffed at that.
"Of course it's possible! You know if you love someone or not!" Axel tried to imagine that.
"Really? How do you know it isn't just admiration or lust? Like, isn't sex the ultimate test?" He flushed.
"Well, eventually... But it doesn't have to be! You can love without sex!"
"Is that right?"
"Y-Yeah!"
"Have you ever kissed anyone?"
"W-What? Where did that come from?" Maybe the drugs were messing with his head, but the question seemed well placed in Axel's mind. He laughed a bit at the violent reaction.
"I don't know. Have you?" Roxas seemed to contemplate the answer for a bit, or maybe whether or not to give one at all, but decided to tell in the end.
"Well... no..."
"Have you ever had a crush?" Again, his discomfort was obvious.
"Kind of? I liked this girl two years ago, but she's dating someone else right now, and I sort of stopped liking her... I don't know why..." Axel laughed internally. Puberty was why. His body had rejected the idea of the mentioned girl as soon as his sexual drive had set in.
"And what do you consider yourself to be?"
"Huh?" The blonde looked at him, his ignorance so painfully obvious.
"Are you straight, gay, bi?" His face reddened once again.
"I'm straight! Of course I am! Straight as an arrow!" Axel rolled his eyes.
"Okay, so, you've never kissed, barely crushed, and haven't fucked. How do you know that you're straight?"
"Hey, I said no profanity!"
"You said limited. Answer the question." Roxas did his best to imitate a glare, but failed and just ended up making himself that much more appealing.
"I... I don't like boys."
"Well, neither do I. Not all of them anyway. Certain ones, though, yes. Same way with girls. Maybe you just haven't found the right guy yet." Roxas seemed to mull that over, and Axel decided to let him think it through. He took his now pizza-less plate to the sink and dropped it in.
He couldn't help but notice how hard he had pressed the topic. It was almost as if he wanted Roxas to be gay. Actually, that would make sense. Roxas was his type... Short, blonde, blue eyes, young-looking... Axel mentally kicked himself for being a pedophile before heading back into the dining room. Roxas jumped a bit as the door closed, then looked at Axel with a "deer-in-the-headlights" look, before standing and taking his plate in as well.
Axel began to worry, afraid that Roxas would be overly uncomfortable around him now. That wasn't his intent when he had asked the question, he simply wanted to know more about the blonde. But if it kept up like this, then the plan might have backfired. Roxas reappeared, and Axel made a point of noticing him. Roxas didn't make eye contact, and said nothing as he walked past Axel and into the living room. Axel didn't know if he should follow or not.
"Um... Do you want to finish watching The Ring? We left pretty early..." Axel almost released a sigh of relief. It was awkward, but at least they were on speaking terms.
"Sure. But um... Is that a good idea? You seem like quite the scaredy-cat." Roxas threw him a pouty glare.
"I'm not five."
"You sure? You look five." Axel smirked at the indignant growl that escaped the blonde's throat. Instead of answering, Roxas turned the DVD player back on. Axel came and reclaimed his spot on the couch. He decided to stretch out, and pulled his feet up. He had been right about the recliner; It obviously belonged to Cloud. If that was of limits, he was at least going to get full use of the couch.
"Um... It's great and all that you're comfy, but I don't intend to sit on the floor." Axel eyed the blonde defiantly, obviously not planning on moving his feet. "Axel! Move!" The one in question shook his head. Roxas let out another growl, before pouncing. Axel yelped in surprise, not expecting to be attacked. Roxas landed on top of him, and began pushing randomly. Axel smirked and began to wrestle back. After a few moments, they both fell to the floor, still wrestling for dominance. Roxas attempted to right himself, trying to wriggle himself out of Axel's grasp and claim his spot. But Axel pulled him back down, and the rough-housing resumed. They rolled around, both trying to get the upper hand. Roxas, seeing an opening, scrambled to his feet, and literally threw himself at the couch. Finding that the blonde had indeed prevailed, Axel stood with a sigh. He sat on the couch again, this time forced to sit upright. Roxas smirked.
"You're lucky that I'm feeling generous, or you would've been on the floor right now!" Axel chuckled.
"Right, because you could take up this entire couch. Not even if you wanted to, small stuff." Roxas pouted, but said nothing else on the matter. The movie was at the main menu, and Roxas hit a button on the remote that caused the movie to start. Axel relaxed, realising that the awkwardness had evaporated between the two of them. He gazed at the screen, not really watching the movie. He had already seen this part, after all. He decided that watching Roxas would probably be more entertaining, and shifted his attention accordingly. Sure enough, the blonde's reactions to what happened on the screen kept Axel's attention much better than the movie itself. When he heard the telltale sounds of the "Video Tape of Death" being played, he couldn't help but chuckle as Roxas Screwed his eyes shut, a shudder wracking the Blonde's lithe form.
"What are you laughing at? It's gross! They stick a nail through someone's finger!" Axel stopped chuckling, but a smirk was firmly in place.
"...You do know that this is all fake, right?" Roxas threw him a glare.
"I'm not stupid. But it looks real, so it's gross!" Axel rolled his eyes.
"I told you it wasn't a good idea this late at night. It's time for all the little kids to be in bed." Axel let out a surprised yelp as a pillow collided with his face.
"I'm NOT a kid! I'm fifteen! I've seen this movie HUNDREDS of times!" Axel stared a bit, then chuckled again.
"Alright, alright. Calm down, or you're going to get Spiky down here!"
"Roxas? Are you okay?" Axel sighed with exasperation.
"Speak of the devil." Roxas rolled his eyes.
"Yeah Cloud, I'm fine. Go back to sleep." There was a pause, eventually followed by the sound of shuffling feet and the closing of a door. Axel took his turn in eye rolling.
"What does he think I'm gonna do? Beat you unconscious? Honestly." Roxas scoffed at that.
"Yeah, I heard that you mutilated a cop while you were in the holding cell. Cloud said that he had to go to therapy afterwards." Axel laughed, a bit manically.
"Really? I suppose I'd be freaked out if someone like me attacked my face, claws and all." Roxas gave him a look.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." Axel only offered a feral grin. "Hey, do you want some popcorn? It seems... lonely without it." Axel chuckled but nodded. Roxas paused the movie and stood, making his way to the kitchen. He watched, feigning disinterest, until the blonde disappeared. He raised an eyebrow, despite the fact that no one was there to see him do it. Reaching over to where Roxas had been sitting, he closed his hands around the object of his interest. His fingers were met with the familiar feeling of his cheap cellphone cover.
Roxas, in all of his rush to make popcorn, had apparently not noticed that it had fallen out of his pocket.
Axel grinned, feeling rather lucky. He flipped it open and started scrolling through his address book, quickly coming to the D's. He hit call once he found Demyx, and put the phone up to his ear. He listened to the staticy rings as he waited for the dirty-blonde to pick up.
"CRAP! You've got to be kidding me!" Axel jumped, and looked back towards the kitchen.
"Roxas? Are you alright?" The blonde's voice carried, quieter this time, from the kitchen.
"Yeah, I burned the popcorn. I always do this! Ugh. Hold on, I'll make another bag." Axel chuckled, then jumped when a voice spoke to him, sounding closer than Roxas had.
"Axel? Hello?" Axel sighed in relief.
"Holy shit, Dem. You scared the piss out of me!" He could practically hear the pout on Demyx's face.
"You're the one that called me. What happened earlier?" Axel chuckled.
"I'm living with this kid now, and he's against me doing dust. Whatever. ...The hell are you doing?" Demyx made a throaty whine sound into the phone.
"Zexy, stop! Ugh, really? Come on, It's getting late! I'm tired!" Axel had to force himself to muffle the laughter that was desperately trying to escape his mouth.
"Still going at it?" Demyx offered only a groan.
"He doesn't look like the type to have such a hyperactive libido, but holy shit! I mean, I like a nice fucking just as much as the next fag, but damn my ass hurts." Axel couldn't suppress the strangled laugh that came out, but Luckily for him, Roxas didn't seem to notice.
"Right, well, I gotta make this quick." Demyx grunted in understanding.
"Yeah, so how much?" Again, Axel pondered, trying to think back to what he had decided on earlier. His mind seemed intent on revisiting everything that had happened that day though, and he never made it. He got stuck on Roxas' angry face, his cerulean eyes livid with a fire that Axel hadn't expected to experience from the little blonde. "Axel? You still there?" Axel jumped, Demyx surprising him once again.
"Um, yeah. You know what... I changed my mind Dem. Sorry. Good luck with Zexion..." And he hung up, not quite sure why. "What the hell?" That was his last chance, so why had he hung up? He stared at his phone, as if questioning it about his actions.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt arms around his neck.
"THE FUCK? Oh, Roxas... The hell are you doing?" He felt a little nose rub against his neck.
"I'm proud of you." Axel craned his neck in an attempt to look at the blonde.
"Proud of..." And then realization dawned on him. "YOU PLANNED THAT!" Roxas offered him a mock-innocent look.
"No I didn't?" Axel stood, or rather, tried to stand, but failed due to the arms still around his neck. He toppled back onto the couch.
"Let me go you little son-of-a... When I get my hands on that little neck of yours..."
"Yeah, I think I'll keep hanging on... My life seems to depend on it..."
"I swear to fucking god!" Defeated, Axel slumped down into the couch, settling on just crossing his arms in agitation. Roxas kept his hold for a bit longer, before gently relaxing his death-grip, and testing out the mannerisms of the redhead.
"Axel? Don't be mad... I just wanted to see what you would do. And you did the right thing, so... I'm sorry?" The man on the receiving end of the apology glared at the tv, then sighed.
"Whatever. I guess I'm not really angry... I just... Damn. You're not as dumb as you look." Roxas scoffed.
"I look dumb?" Axel smirked, turning to look at him.
"Yeah, you do, Blondie." Roxas growled, but it quickly became a yelp as Axel jumped over the back of the couch and tackled him.
"Wha! Axel!" Said redhead had the smaller boy pinned below him, and was grinning evilly.
"You cost me my dust hook-up twice today. I think that warrants a punishment, don't you?" Roxas looked up at him, torn between fear and mock-agitation.
"Um... Technically I didn't do anything the second time... So..." Axel scowled, not responding, choosing to rub his fist harshly against the sides of Roxas' scalp. "OW! Stop it! Owowowowow! Axel!"
"No, I don't think I will, you little..."
"What the HELL are you two doing?" Both boys looked up, surprise evident on their faces. A rather tired and disgruntled Cloud stared back at them. Axel strained his mind, trying to string together a believable story, but failing in his panic.
"Um... Hi Cloud... You're um... Dreaming? Yeah... And... you should go back to your room, cause there's a um... Unicorn... eating... Bologna? Yeah, Bologna... And um... Abe Lincoln is... Riding a... Chocobo... Which is named... Fang... And... He needs your help to... Make a... Grilled cheese? Yeah."
Cloud blinked at him dumbly.
"Axel! Really? He isn't that..."
"Alright... Call Abe and tell him I'm coming." Two sets of eyes flew to the mess of spikes that had spoken.
"Um... Okay..." And he turned around, and shuffled back upstairs, leaving both boys wide-eyed, still on the floor.
"He... He bought it..." Roxas jumped when he heard the hysterical laughter coming from the redhead, still perched on top of him.
"HOLY...SHIT!... HE...BOUGHT IT!" He gasped out between fits of laughter.
"Shhh! You're going to get him back down here!" Axel rolled off, covering his mouth with his hands in an attempt to keep quiet.
"Kya..ha..nya...haha." Roxas sat up and rolled his eyes.
"I swear... He actually believed... Whatever, let's finish the movie." Axel nodded, still trying to quiet his laughter.
A/N: Alright guys, apology time. I suck, I know. It's late, and it's short, but at least it's here? (Gets shot) Well, anyway, yeah, chapter four! WOOT! Um... Not much to say... I have writers block, I'm sick as hell, and I'm terrified to get out of my chair, cause the last time I did, I had a mini-passout and slammed into the window, then fell to the floor and stared at nothing for a bit... So yeah, fun day... The doctor said that there isn't really anything wrong with me... I'd like to hear him say that now... Fucking intern... (Excuse my language...) Anywho, I had like, half of this typed up, and I felt bad, cause I obviously haven't updated in a long time. So I worked on it today, while I was home sick. So yeah, anything that doesn't make sense, blame on the sickness which is fucking with my mind. I don't own the characters... Please don't sue my sick ass... Love you all, and I'm a total Review Whore, so please feed my lust!