Title: Collecting the Stars

Genre: Romance/Drama

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I no own

Note: This fic is AU, has slight OOC, and contains Yaoi. You have been warned.

Summary: [AU. Yaoi] – It was hard, moving to Twilight Town with my father so soon after mom died. Life just became a whirlwind then, of sex, drugs, wild parties, and a red head that snuck in through my window every night.

Unbeta'd Beware Errors!!!

"Blah" means talking

"Blah" means phone conversations

Blah means thoughts

Chapter 8: Chasing Cars

We'll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?

I laid there on the floor of Naminé's porch. With Sora gone and my avoiding the Fair family, where I could hang out was pretty limited. Since it was summer it meant that there was nothing to do unless one chilled with friends. I was in a state of perpetual boredom, and it sucked so damn bad.

I missed Sora.

Naminé looked at me while she sketched. She was wearing exactly what she had been wearing the first day I had met her. Making her look brighter than the sun and very difficult for the eyes to handle. I think she does it on purpose.

"You're going to have to talk to them sometime," she suddenly stated.

"Are you sober?" I asked lazily, following dust particles with my eyes.

"Yes," I could hear her pencil being dragged across the paper.

"Wow," I replied for lack of anything else to say. It was still unbearably hot, but the air was beginning to taste cool despite the sticky humidity. Autumn was around the corner but summer was making itself known, refusing to go down without a fight.

"Summer's almost over," Nam stated from her perch on the top step. I remained silent where I was sprawled. "You can only avoid Olette for so long."

"I'll avoid the whole thing for as long as I can," I answered, "because I'm a coward."

"Fear is the heart of love," Nam replied casually.

I sat up and scooted close to her to see what she was working on. It was me, "you got that from a song."

"I'll be leaving for home in a week, so if you and Olette don't talk you'll be forced to see each other at my going away party. It's going to be the last party of the summer." Sketch, sketch, sketch, Naminé went silent and I refused to say anything.

We sat that way for what seemed like hours. Me staring out into the too green woods, her working on her latest piece. I wondered what she did what all of her art, what was her portfolio filled of? Why did she come to Twilight Town for the summer to work on it?

She stopped and looked at me, and I turned to look at her. We were sitting pretty close together.

Naminé leaned over and kissed me, her full, soft, mouth set firmly against my own. Her taste, her scent, both was perfectly feminine. I leaned into her and she leaned into me.

It was a kiss. A normal kiss, something that didn't have to be hidden or a secret. I wanted to have this with Axel.

Around midnight there was a knock on my window. I had finally managed to get to sleep early for the first time all summer only to have it interrupted.

Rubbing my eyes and frowning at the window. I turned on my bedside table's lamp and slowly raised the blinds.

Olette was on the other side; she gave me a grin and a small wave. I ran a hand through my hair to move it out of my face before opening the window for her, praying that she wasn't here to kill me.

"What're you—" I began.

"It was a shock," Olette cut me off, yanking on her hair a bit.

We stared at each other for a moment and then I moved aside to let her into the room, closing the window behind her and wondering if the neighbors noticed how all of teenagers used the window instead of the door. They're either used to it, or really paranoid about us breaking into their house too.

Olette took a moment to compose herself before beginning again, "I mean you date Naminé wasn't that bad because everyone knew that it wasn't serious and that it wouldn't last past the summer. But this," her voice cracked, her nose started to turn red and her eyes began to water, "Axel's my brother. And I liked you Roxas. I liked you so damn much."

She covered her eyes with her hands and she lowered her head so that she was facing the ground, but no matter how silent she was about it, it didn't stop her shoulders from shaking or the tears to fall on her shirt.

"I…I didn't know," I stuttered quietly, wanting to comfort her but not sure if she'd welcome it.

"I thought it was because you didn't want to ruin our friendship or something stupid," she sniffled, "but it was because you were too busy paying all your attention to Axel."

Had there been signs? She blushed an awful lot around me, but other than that I'm pretty sure she hid it well.

"I thought you liked Pence," I said pathetically, sitting down on my bed and just watching her cry. I felt like a jerk, a total bastard for making one of my friends cry. Olette was such a sweet girl, always with a sunny smile and a kind word. She laughed at my lame jokes and tried to see my side of things on everything. Aw man, she did have a crush on me. I had thought it was just friendship while she probably thought it was more. I hadn't meant to lead her on.

Olette managed to laugh through her tears, "Pence?" She continued to giggle.

I patted the spot next to me, inviting her to sit as well, "well yeah, I remember Hayner mentioning something about it and you blushing about it."

She was rubbing her eyes, "no, I've never seen Pence that way before. I blushed because I was worried that he'd accuse me of liking you next, and I wouldn't have been good with pulling off that I didn't."

I nodded awkwardly, what did one say to a girl who had a crush on them when one was sexually involved with said girls' brother?

"I think I'm okay now," Olette said after a few minutes of silence.

"Do you want to…wash your face or anything?" I asked, looking her in the face for the first time that night since I let her in. She was one of those pretty criers, something that was extremely rare in the world.

She shook her head, moving some of her brown hair behind her ears, "no. About you and Axel, I'm okay with it. I'm just worried about people finding out. I mean, it's technically illegal. The consenting age here is seventeen, so if you guys get caught Axel can go to jail for statutory rape."

I nodded, "yeah." What else could I say? We knew that, we knew that fact pretty damn well.

Olette looked as if she wanted to reach for my hand to give it a reassuring squeeze, but then suddenly decided against it, "um, anyway, I should be going back home. No one knows that I'm here."

"I'll walk you," I said, leaving no room for debate as I threw on a pair of sandals, lifting up my sweats so that they weren't so loose, the baggy shirt I was wearing covered my underwear in case my pants fell.

We left my room in silence, sliding out of the window with perfect ease and walking onto the main road. I'd have to get back fast before Leon or Cloud noticed I was missing. Cloud had a habit to check up on me at night, just to make sure I was safe I guess. Mom used to do the same thing.

The walk to Olette's house was quiet, and even thought Twilight Town was always quiet at night, tonight it was just a bit unnerving.

Axel was waiting by the front door, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his eyes narrowed once he spotted us. "Do you know how much shit you'd be in if it were one of the parentals that noticed you leaving?" he asked Olette.

His younger sister sighed, "Yes, I know." She rolled her eyes and smiled at me, "see you later Roxas."

"See you Olette," I nodded at her, watching as she stuck her tongue out at Axel and walked up the stairs to her home as quietly as possible.

"I like the hobo look you've got going on," Axel commented, taking a drag of his cigarette, narrowed eyes focusing on me.

I fidgeted under that gaze; it made me uncomfortable how he was scrutinizing me.

"Thanks, it's all the rage in France," I stated dully, and was pleased when Axel's lip quirked into an almost smile.

"You should get back home before Cloud notices you're gone," He said, squashing his half smoked cigarette.

I nodded; wanting to say something, or do something, but in the end just turned around and walked away.

I hadn't seen Axel in a week, Olette and I were cool and I've been hanging out with the usual gang while Cloud and Leon were off working and being the adults that they were.

Naminé had decided that instead of a party on her last night in Twilight Town, she had wanted to go to The Nobodies concert that was sold out but Demyx managed to get us tickets to it anyways.

The club where the band was performing (as the main act) was located in Radiant Garden. Despite the fact that it was only eight' o'clock and, since it was summer, the sun was barely setting; the club was dark and cool. Black lights made all the brighter colors people were wearing stand out.

Larxene managed to sneak us minor's fruity drinks before sitting down next to Marluxia in a booth, leaving the rest of us to our own devices.

"What's going on with you and my brother?" Olette asked, taking a seat next to me in the booth we had managed to snag while Hayner and Pence had headed down to the mosh-pit.

I shrugged, "you tell me. Your brother seems to have been avoiding me all week." I tried not to pout, but it was difficult.

"Maybe he thought that it was a one night thing?" Nam shrugged from my other side, a joint, which she had cleverly concealed to look like a cigarette, rested casually between her lips.

This time I did pout, "It was two nights."

"Have you guys even talked since the last time you two, uh, saw each other?" Olette asked, a fierce blush appearing on her face. She was taking everything pretty well, I guess she figured that there was no point dwelling on things and tried her best to move on. Maybe she had already moved on, it was just a crush.

"Last time I talked to him was when I walked you home, but we didn't really talk," I answered, drinking some of whatever the hell Larxene had bought for me.

"Maybe you guys got to talk?" Olette asked gently, suggesting but not really ordering that we do so.

"Probably," I half agreed. I hated talking. After mom died Sora and I were forced to see a grievance counselor to supposedly help us cope. All he wanted to do was talk. I hated it so much.

The band was setting up on the moderately sized stage that was placed at the far wall of the club. Demyx waved to us from his perch and hopped from the stage, making his way towards us.

"Dudes! What're we gonna do? Axel's not here yet and we go on in like ten minutes!" He yanked at his hair, obviously flipping out, "please tell me one of you guys can sing!"

"Can no one else in the band sing?" Naminé asked, puffing leisurely.

Demyx looked as if he were on the verge of tears, "the rest of us are only talented enough to sing chorus, and even then we don't sound all that great."

Maybe it was the weak booze, or maybe I had gotten a contact high from being near Naminé, but I stood up, "I'll stand in until Axel gets here if you want." I offered before I could stop myself.

Demyx stared at me with eyes full of hope, "can you sing?"

I only nodded, refusing to tell him that I was in chorus for all of middle school, it wasn't exactly the same kind of singing that he wanted, "I've been told that I'm not too bad."

"That's really brave of you," Olette stated, surprised.

Again I nodded, singing in front of a crowd wasn't new to me, I've done it before in the past. I just had to remind myself that the rest of the band was up there with me.

Demyx practically dragged me up to the stage once I got out of the booth. "Found a replacement!" he announced.

"I don't know any of the band's songs, sorry. You guys don't mind doing some cover songs, do you?" I asked them, fiddling with the hem of my shirt.

"That's not a problem," Luxord said smoothly, "it's how we started. What songs do you have in mind?"

"We should compile a list of a couple of songs, just in case Axel can't show up until later," Zexion agreed.

So we spent the next few minutes listing songs that I knew the lyrics to and they knew the tunes to.

"Okay, so we've got Jacks Lament from Nightmare, Basket Case by Green Day, Don't Stop Me Now by Queen, and Hey Jude by The Beatles." I read down the list, making sure that it was alright, if we ran out of the songs before Axel got there then we'd just have to improvise.

I tried to calm my nerves, I've heard Axel before. He sounded a bit like Freddie Mercury; it was the type of voice that no one could imitate. Me, on the other hand, I sounded kind of sound like the lead singer from Panic! At the Disco, Brendon Urie. There really was no comparison on who had more talent in the vocal department between Axel and me.

"We have to start now," Zexion stated quietly, "it's time for our show."

"You ready?" Demyx asked me, assuring smile on his face, as if that could take away my nerves.

I nodded, "as ready as I can be," and that was the truth.

I turned to the crowd; did they expect me to say something to them?

"Where's Axel?" A girl in the back yelled.

Luxord took my mic from me, "darlings, our dear lead singer is running a bit late, so we've got a suitable stand in until he shows up. Please, do try to show our substitute some love." His English accent was so smooth; it made me wonder why he didn't sing.

There was no need to introduce me; we all knew that after tonight I most likely wouldn't be needed again. The band began to play the intro to Jack's Lament and I waited for the right cue, happy that I knew when to start. I had Sora to thank for that, he and Riku used to be obsessed with the movie when we were kids.

"There are few who deny that what I do I am the best for my talents are renowned far and wide! When it comes to surprises in the moonlit night, I excel without ever even trying," I sang, wincing and how sharp it came out and hoping that it would smooth out as the song's progressed. I kept my eyes closed, partially so that the bright stage lights wouldn't blind me, and partially so that I could focus on how I should sing. They were doing their own rock version of the song, and they sounded really good, but after the first line I stopped bothering trying to keep up with them and just sang, hoping that it did the band justice.

We went through the song fast, flying through Basket Case and Don't Stop Me Now, I found myself singing the first few lyrics of Hey Jude pretty fast, and wondered where the hell Axel was.

The crowd hadn't booed me off of the stage yet, but since I hadn't really opened my eyes so for all I knew everyone could've left.

I was about to sing the second verse of Hey Jude when another voice joined me, I tried not to act surprised when Axel sauntered up to the stage, singing a duet with me. I opened my eyes though and looked out at the crowd, noticing how Axel was making his way from the far side entrance, wireless mic in hand. The crowd on the floor, which had actually grown since I had started, parted for him like the Red Sea did for Moses.

He gave a small smile while still singing, getting onto the stage with a feline grace and standing next to me as we sang the last of the song.

Once we were done the crowd went crazy, screaming and whistling, jumping up and down with this buzz of energy that I've never seen in such a large group of people.

Axel turned off the mic he was using, placing it on the floor before taking my mic, "thank you very much!" He grinned, waving at the crowd, "sorry for being so late everyone, I had to save the city from a giant evil t-rex," he winked at me, "give it up for our friend Roxas here, the kid got a pair, to be able to come up here and pull songs out of thin air like that. And didn't he sound great?" More wild screams.

I shook my head, a smile on my face, I turned to Saïx, who was the closest to me, "I'm gonna go sit back down now," I told him. I resisted the urge to puke.

He smirked at me and nodded, and I slipped off of the stage while Axel talked to the crowd, praising them, keeping their attention. I hadn't even bothered doing that, all I did was open my mouth and sing, which worked out well enough for me.

"That was amazing!" Olette gushed as I sat down, "you sounded so good!"

Hayner, who had at some point sat down in my spot, nodded, "yeah man, didn't know you had such good vocals."

Pence merely nodded in agreement while slurping his drink.

Naminé look another puff of her joint, "why do you think Axel was so late anyways? It's not like him to be so late to his own concert. He's too selfish for that."

"That's very true," Olette sat there thinking, "I'll find out." She gave me a look then, it was obvious that she'll find out about more than just the concert.

The band was having another after party at Zell's which I didn't really feel like going to, so I skipped out on it. Nam did as well, and we left the club together. The train ride from Radiant Garden back to Twilight Town was filled with empty silence between us, I had nothing to say and I think Nam was a little high.

When we exited the train she grabbed my hand, smiling up at me in such a way that I didn't have the heart to tell her to let go, so we held hands and walked together. Not even separating as we sat down together on the light night tram.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning," she announced suddenly, fingers laced with my own.

"Will you come back next summer?" I asked her, tugging lightly at her hand. The tram was pretty empty, and from the mirrors across from where we sat I could see our reflections perfectly.

She shrugged, "I don't know."

We got off of the tram silently, and I walked her to her hole in the wall where we both stopped. "This is it then." I sighed, suddenly very tired.

Nam turned and looked up at me, standing on the balls of her feet and kissing me soundly, "it was a pleasure to meet you Roxas, take care of yourself."

"Likewise Naminé," we kissed once more. There were no romantic feelings involved with our kisses, they were comfort— warm, soft, safe, like a mother's hug. I knew deep down that this would probably be the last time I'd ever see Naminé.

I woke up to the sound of my window opening. Didn't I lock it? Axel came in, ass first like usual, and closed it quietly behind him. He caught me staring at him through the darkness of my bedroom, and then went over to the bedroom door to lock it.

"You went home with Naminé," his voice was accusing.

"I only took her home then came here, I was sleeping," I stated lamely, too tired to get annoyed.

The bed dipped under his weight and before I knew it he grabbed my head, giving me a crushing kiss. He kissed down my jaw, and neck, hands going up my baggy sleeping shirt.

"Axel," I breathed, unsure as to what I should do. He hadn't talked to me in over a week and now he was doing this? I didn't understand why were things with him so damn complicated? We weren't in a relationship, he had made this clear, and we were what we've always been. Only now we slept together.

His mouth worked one of my nipples and I gasped, my hands holding onto the sheets underneath me.

"Axel," I repeated, silently willing him to stop, I wanted...no, needed, to talk to him about whatever the hell was going on between us. As much as I hated talking, it needed to be done. He hadn't heard my plea, or misinterpreted it, because his mouth went lower.

His lips were around me, hot, wet, mouth sucking and licking in a way that was pure pleasurable torture. "Axel," I whimpered, hanging onto that name for dear life. His mouth and hands were everywhere; it was as if he were claiming me. I just arched, and sighed, into every little touch, whimpering and gasping pathetically at it all.

Everything got a little hazy around the edges and I forgot exactly what I wanted to say.

It was the early morning sunshine hitting my face that made me wake up that following morning, the blanket draped across my nude body. Wincing as I sat up, I mused my hair and yawned, noticing a packet of cigarettes on the floor, half hidden underneath my bed. That was the only clue that Axel was actually here the night before.

I blinked a few times, slowly getting out of bed on wobbly legs. My ass hurt and there were bruises and love bites along my torso and inner thighs.

"I need a shower," I said to no one in particular, "ick," upon seeing the soiled sheets. Looks like it was time to do the laundry.

I had just finished cleaning the entire house and putting my laundry away when there was a knock on my window. Through the blinds I could see Olette on the other side, she waved at me.

Opening up the window, I let her in, reminding myself to ask Cloud for a key.

Olette smiled at me and helped me put clean sheets onto my bed, we worked in silence for a while, my asking her if she wanted something to drink, trying to be a good host, and her declining politely were the only words exchanged between us. Until I handed her the packet of cigarettes that her older brother had left behind the night before.

Olette frowned, blinking a bit and looking at me, "Roxas, you like my brother a lot, right?" She asked in a gentle voice. It was the same tone that the principle at my old school used when she had called Sora and I into her office to let us know that mom had died.

"What's going on Olette?" I asked her, cutting through that bullshit.

She worried her bottom lip for a few second, letting it go when she decided to speak, "I think he's in a relationship with someone. Someone else."

"Oh," I stated numbly, sitting down on my bed and furrowing my eyebrows, "so...that makes me...the other woman?"

"Something like that." Olette sighed, wanting to comfort me but not sure how to, it made me want to laugh at how our roles were reversed from what they were a week ago, "I don't know details."

"Okay," I said, hands forming into fists around the packet of smokes. "I think it'll be a good idea if you left right now, before I go ape shit or something."

Olette nodded, but paused at the window, "this isn't the right time for it, but I don't know when is. Are you...you aren't going to turn Axel into the police or anything, are you?"

I stared at Olette, she was my friend sure, but she was also a sister worried about her brother. "No," I assured her. She looked a little relieved, and then climbed out of the window, closing it behind her. I locked it after her immediately, standing there facing it, staring at my neighbors house for what felt like hours.

"Fuck."

I threw the cigarettes away.

TBC

ECK: First off, I didn't want to compare his singing voice to Jesse McCartney because I don't think his vocals would sound good for rock songs. Secondly, hurray for an update! This chapter was fun to right ha-ha, I luff it. Also, notice how Roxas didn't go running to Sora. Yes, my baby's growing up.

Please review. Flames always welcome!