The next morning I found myself in a room. It was nice enough, with a queen sized bed and a black and gray color scheme, but I had no idea where I was, so I went outside to investigate. As I left the room I found myself in a short hallway with rooms on either side. One door that I walked up to had the light on and I could hear voices coming out of it, so I walked in. There I saw what looked like a dining room and a hallway on the other side of the room that I assumed was the kitchen. Sitting at the dark oak table was Terra, Xigbar and Axel.
"Well look who's awake," Xigbar said "Going to make fun of me some more?" I looked him up and down. He was wearing a nightgown, really a nightgown? Then I looked up at his face, he still had an eye patch on, and his hair was down. I came up with about a dozen things to say, but seeing his expression I decided to go with "Nah, too easy." He scowled and I saw Axel's mouth twitch upward, but when he saw me looking, he just glared. What's his problem? "Well don't just stand there come sit down!" I turned my attention to Terra who was patting the chair next to him. When I sat down he ruffled my hair "Don't worry little bro! I saved you plenty to eat!" I scowled "Shouldn't you be hung over?" "Nope, I feel as good as new!" I gave Xigbar a dreading look "What did you give him?" "Just Axel's famous coffee. It's how he is able to stay wasted 24/7 without getting a single headache!" Xigbar said brightly, but his smile faltered when he saw Axel glaring at him.
As Xigbar tried to calm Axel down Terra leaned down and whispered "All your stuff is packed right?" "Yeah." I answered confidently. I knew the reason for Terra's question right away. We, of course, had no intention of staying and completing these 'tasks' Xigbar had set out for us. As soon as it was clear we would run.
Xigbar saw us and gave us a look. "What are you two talking about? You're not planning on skipping out on your chores are you?" Terra and I glanced at each other. "No, sir." We said simultaneously with our heads down. "Good 'cause you can start now." He said, taking out a list. "First, Roxas, you can clean the kitchen." I groaned "Can't I do something else?" I asked hopefully. "Nope. And you, Terra, was it? Strange name," I opened my mouth to say something, but shut it when Terra gave me a look. "You can help me clean out the gutters." I immediately felt bad for complaining about my job.
When Terra saw my face, he said, "Don't worry, Roxas, I'd rather do it than see you do it, it could be dangerous. And as your big bro, I have to protect you." As we smiled at each other, out of the corner of my eye I saw Axel roll his eyes. "Are you two really brothers?" Xigbar asked. "Yeah." Terra answered, while I shrugged. "So then how come you two look nothing like each other?" "Genetics." I said. Xigbar looked confused, so I was going to explain, but Axel beat me to it, "The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics," I was impressed "but I don't think I should be wasting my time explaining this to you." Xigbar shot him an angry look, but he was already getting up. "You sure have a smart mouth for someone who couldn't even go to school." Xigbar mumbled.
"Now, you two! Time to start working!" we groaned.
As I walked into the kitchen, I realized how much work I actually had to do. There were literally piles of dishes stacked next to a metal sink, which was also filled with dishes. On all the marble counters were empty containers, there were liquids spilt everywhere and the floor was, well, less than perfect, way less. "I bet Xigbar messed up the kitchen just so I could clean it up." I thought out loud "Or he's just a slob," I turned around sharply, there, by the door, stood Axel "I'd go with the latter, though." He spoke in that same bored tone that made me angry and intrigued again, all at the same time.
He was wearing loose fitting jeans that rested low on his hips, and a black t-shirt. Though he was wearing extremely mundane clothing, he managed to look completely ethereal, with his thin figure, bright green eyes and red hair that just couldn't be real. I felt like he was sizing me up, as if we were about to fight again, as if he wanted us to fight again. His eyes gleamed with a cold and calculating look, imagining every possible move I could make, and thinking of a way to counter it. He was going to win, and the way his confidence was bursting out of every pore, told me he knew it. It was uncomfortable, hell, it was horrifying, but what made it worse was that I couldn't stop thinking that he was beautiful.
"Well he doesn't like me very much, and from how you act towards me, I take it neither do you." I said in a quiet voice, praying to God that I didn't say something without thinking, like I so often did. I stood watching him walk over to the cabinet, reaching inside and pulling out a bottle of scotch. "I guess not," he chuckled as he poured it inside a-probably the only clean-glass; he took a sip "Ahh, nothing like a glass of scotch in the morning." I looked at the clock, it was nearly 3:00, and I frowned. Axel stood there as I cleaned up the kitchen. I had a disgusted look on my face as I began washing the dishes, Axel laughed. I could hear the smirk in his voice as he said "What, haven't you ever had to wash a dish, princess?" I spun around, ready to bite his head off, "Don't you have somewhere to be?" Axel saw my glare and became mildly amused. This only served to irritate me, but again he beat me to it, "Not really, I already repaid my debt for staying with Xigbar-", I cut him off, "Wait, you don't live here?" "No, of course not, I would never live with Xigbar," his face twisted in disgust "I'm only staying here to get away for a while, I made some enemies that are trying to hunt me down. It's best I'm not home until tomorrow night."
My imagination ran wild, from who and what his enemies were to how he acquired them, but, "Oh." Was all I said. After a few minutes of silence I couldn't hold it in any longer, I was too curious. "So what did Xigbar make you do? Wash his dirty underwear? Did you have to Bathe him?" Axel looked at me oddly, "No, all I had to do was bake his birthday cake, it really wasn't that-"I couldn't believe it "You baked that cake?" "Well, yeah, people say I'm a really good chef, but I guess I have to be good, 'cause I have to make my own food." But I wasn't listening to him, all I could think about was how good that cake was and our conversation last night, and before I could stop myself I asked him "Will you marry me?"
Silence. That's all I heard. When I finally gathered the courage to look up, I saw an astonished look on Axel's face. He wasn't expecting this, "Uhhh.." I heard laughing coming from outside. Terra came in. "Oh my God, Roxas. I know you have no filters but this tops all of them!" he tried to control his laughter. Axel took this opportunity to give me a strange look and walk out of the kitchen. He took his bottle of scotch with him. He probably thinks I'm a freak now. Terra saw my face drop. "Awww it's okay, but I mean come on, you don't even know if he swings that way, but you do, apparently." He gave me the 'I can't believe you didn't tell me' look and I just rolled my eyes. "Terra I've been with guys and girls before, remember? I'm pansexual." "Meaning?" I took a deep breath, " It means I don't care what gender or sexuality you are, if you intrigue me, or if I like you, then well, I like you." Terra nodded at me "That's respectable," he moved to the fridge "now, I suggest you hurry up, I'm on my next job already and we have much more to do. I sighed "Okay."
That evening, I was pretty happy with what I had accomplished. I finished cleaning the kitchen, the bathroom, and I helped Xigbar brake up with his girlfriend. Between the two of us, we had completed half of the entire list. It looked like we would be able to leave the day after tomorrow. My good mood, however, was destroyed when I sat down for dinner. Axel was sitting across from me, pretty much avoiding looking at me, except for the occasional, thoughtful look shot in my direction. It looked as if he were trying to figure me out.
It was awkward to say the least. But apparently Xigbar hadn't figured it out, because he talked the entire time, while Terra laughed at my misery, saying it was the 'big-brotherly' thing to do. That night I decided to sleep with Terra, not having sex, mind you, but I just felt lonely.
"I can't believe it. Every time I talk to him I always forget to tell him to give us our money back." I said in a frustrated voice. Terra laughed, "You like him." I thought about it. "Yeah I guess I do." Terra ruffled my hair, "Just don't get too carried away, this always happens to you, it's nice at first, but then you get bored and you throw them away." I winced thinking of my past relationships. "He probably thinks I'm a freak." I could feel the vibrations coming from Terra's laughter, "The kind of freak that asks people to marry them?" "I'm never going to live this down, am I?" "Nope."
That night Terra sung me to sleep.