"Mom please listen to me!" Axel shouted into the phone.
"No Axel YOU need to listen to me! Roxas is DEAD. D-E-A-D. Dead! For the love of God PLEASE accept that!"
"I will NOT! For the past ten years you never listened to me ONCE and now that I have a real reason to suspect that this guy is Roxas, you want me to forget about it because you're afraid that I'm going crazy! I'm asking you to just shut up and REALLY think about this! I did everything you told me to do as a child. I went to all of the therapist sessions and I listened to you. For once in your life listen to me."
Before his mother could utter another word he slammed the phone down in its cradle and sat on the couch. He was thankful that Ventus was at class right now; otherwise he might've heard him screaming.
"...I'm not crazy..." He buried his face in his hands and sighed. For years he had gone through life without his best friend and for years he had thought that he was crazy for holding onto hope, but he could feel it in his gut that Ventus was Roxas. He couldn't be wrong. There were too many similarities between the two and the stories were too easy to link together.
"...I need to figure this out...I have to ask his parents about this...but how do I do that without seeming suspicious...?"
"You know that talking to yourself is a sign of insanity right?"
The redhead jumped at the sound of voice. He looked up and glared at the slender redhead by the door, "What are you doing here Reno?"
"What? I can't come visit my little bro without a reason?" He smirked, strolling towards his baby brother.
"No you can't. Why are you here?"
He sighed and sat down besides him, "I'm here because mom is worried about you. She asked me to go check on you a couple of days ago and I finally gained the free time to do it."
"Well thanks for the concern but I'm fine."
"Yeah you're totally fine. That's why you're talking to yourself and trying to prove that a dead kid is alive."
"Reno...please don't be like mom. You know I'm not crazy. At least SEE Ventus before you assume I'm making it up."
"...Alright little brother I'll make you a deal. I'll meet this kid and if I think he might be Roxas then I'll get mom off your tail and tell her that you're doing fine, BUT if I see him and I think you're going bonkers then you have to promise to go back to the therapist. Deal?"
The redhead stared at the ground thinking for a few minutes then sighed and nodded. It wasn't like Reno was being unfair. He WAS agreeing to see Ventus and not just assuming he was making it all up.
"Okay, now when can I meet this kid?" Reno asked.
"He gets out of school soon," Axel replied.
"Alright! That gives us enough time to drink a couple of beers and talk about our lives!"
"Reno you know that I'm not old enough to drink and you're a cop."
"Cop shmop. You're what? Twenty? Close enough!" With that he grabbed the beers and popped off the caps.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"So you're dating a guy?" Axel said as he sipped at his beer. The bitter taste was disgusting to him, but he always forced himself to drink it in front of Reno. He would never give the redhead the opportunity to call him a sissy and tease him.
"Yeah. His name is Marluxia. Freaking weirdo but in a good way y'know?" Reno replied.
"Uh...I guess. Weird name that's for sure."
"Yeah...but he's nice...and awesome in bed."
"Great to know Reno. I'm always curious about your sex life." Axel rolled his eyes as he took another sip of his beer. God he hated this stuff. He'd rather have a jack and coke.
"Oh shut up with the sarcasm. At least I'm getting some! I don't see you getting any."
"How do you know I'm not?"
"Are you?"
Smirking, Axel replied with a shake of his head and looked down.
"I didn't think so. You need to get laid little brother."
"Thanks for stating the obvious Reno."
"I'll help you. What's your type?"
"...I don't really have a type."
Reno stared at his brother with disbelief and slowly sat up from his lying position, "everyone has a type. Come on; describe to me what you look for in a woman or man or whatever you like."
"Gender doesn't really matter to me."
"Okay good! Now tell me what you look for in a person!"
Axel sighed and avoided eye contact with his brother. For some reason he didn't want to look him in the eyes. Maybe it was because he knew he would be forced to tell him if he did. Reno had amazing blue eyes that pierced your soul if you looked into them long enough.
"Come ooon Ax. Tell your big brother Reno."
"Shut up Rentaro."
"Hey! That was uncalled for! I'm just trying to help you out here!"
With a sigh he finally gave in and stared at the floor, "...I like blonds with short hair and...deep blue eyes that remind me of the sea. Pale skin and a smile that lights up the whole room."
"...Axel are you trying to tell me something?"
"...There's nothing to tell. You already know."
The redhead brought his little brother into a one arm hug and gently ran fingers through his hair, "...Yeah I knew...I just didn't think you still felt that way."
"...I'll always love him. That's why I don't bother getting into relationships. It's why it's so hard, impossible, for me to admit that he's gone. I won't give up until I see his dead body myself."
"...I understand," Reno said, kissing his forehead gently and giving him a gentle nuzzle, "...I hope that this kid you were talking about ends up being Roxas. I really do."
"...You do?"
"Yeah, I do."
"...Why?"
"Because I want to see you really smile again."
"...Thank you Reno."
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Axel opened the door for the blond and let him inside the apartment, "Glad you could come over."
"Sorry it took so long. Zexion wouldn't let me leave the campus without eating something first. He worries a little too much," Ventus explained.
"It's no problem. I want to introduce you to someone."
The blond raised an eyebrow, "Who?"
"My brother. His name is Reno." He motioned to the redhead sitting on the couch.
Ventus smiled and walked over to him with his arm extended, "Hello. My name is Ventus. Nice to meet you."
Reno stared at the blond for a while before finally shaking his hand, "Nice to meet you too...Ventus."
He couldn't believe his eyes. The boy standing before him really looked like Roxas. If he didn't know any better he would believe that he was his long lost twin, but he knew for a fact that Roxas was an only child.
"So...you enjoying school?" Reno asked, shock still painted on his face.
"Yeah. Its fun and interesting," Ventus replied, a smile complimenting his reply.
"Yeah that's...awesome for you. Excuse me for a moment I have to talk to my brother," Reno said, rushing over to Axel and dragging him to his bedroom. He slammed the door shut and locked it, "Holy Christ!"
"Do you agree with me that I'm not crazy yet?" Axel asked, smirking.
"Oh my god you really aren't crazy. That dude really looks like him! Hell his mannerisms kind of remind me of Roxas'!"
"Thank you. I'm glad that SOMEONE finally believes me."
"...I think that that kid is the real deal Axel. I think that's actually Roxas."
Axel stared at his brother, a bubble of hope forming in the bit of his stomach, "are you serious?"
"Yeah I'm serious and I can help prove it."
"You...you can?"
"Yeah bro I'm a cop. I can access records and possibly ask his parents about him. If they're nice people maybe they'll agree to it."
Nothing was going to stop Axel from hugging his brother as tightly as he possibly could. The happiness that was bubbling inside of him was about to burst out of every pore of his body. For years he thought that he was insane. For years he worried if he should hold onto hope and now he knew that those years of never letting go were about to pay off.
"Thank you Reno," Axel mumbled. He didn't even realize he was crying until Reno gently brushed away the tears.
"No problem little brother."
A/N: Reno you beautiful man! Always looking out for you little brother x3 you adorable man~~ Also that whole Reno dating Marluxia thing was sooo taken from an RP that my friend and I are doing –awesome face-