Rookie

Chapter Twenty - Days One hundred and Seventy-Three to Two hundred and Nineteen (Part One)

xXx

Saturday February 27

Day 173 - Afternoon

xXx

"You two're going to be on your best behaviors tonight, right?"

Roxas rolled his eyes as his mother fretted in the hallway, running back and forth to make sure that everything was perfect. "Yes, mother. Don't worry. We'll be perfect little angels."

"We'll keep the homo-erotica down."

Both Roxas and Yuna blushed brightly at the comment, Roxas slamming his fist into Axel's chest. "Jerkwad."

"Love you too."

Yuna started up on her blustering around, tidying every last little thing up for her big date that night. "Want us to go down and set the table?" Axel inquired, watching, amused, as the woman crossed by the door once more.

She stopped, looking in. "Oh, would you?"

"Of course. Ain't that right, Rox?"

"Ugh, do we have to?"

"I'll do it then," Axel sighed, shoving the blonde back onto the opposite side of the bed. Leaving behind homework and love, Axel moved out to the hallway, stopping Yuna as she started by him. He gripped her shoulders softly, forcing her to look up at him. "Don't be so nervous. You've known him for years, he knows I'm not really your son, me and Rox are gonna disappear the second you say the word, and you are the best cook I know. It's gonna be fine."

Yuna let out a sigh and Axel gripped her tight. "Thank you, Axel."

"It's what I'm here for."

"You'd make a good son-in-law, you know that?"

Axel blushed, flustered, as Roxas came out to pry his boyfriend off of his mother. "C'mon, Axe. Let's go set the table."

xXx

"So, how long have you two been going out?" Roxas inquired over the piece of chicken on his fork. The blonde man smirked at the teen.

"Since October."

"And you're just coming over now?"

Yuna blushed, looking away in embarrassment. Tidus noticed this and smiled happily. "It was your mother's idea, actually. She wanted to wait and see if things would work out okay before she decided to introduce me to the two of you."

"You're treating her al-"

"Rox, give the guy some space, would you? He's obviously a good guy."

"But,-"

"No buts, bud. Just eat your supper, kay?"

"You're starting to sound like Mom."

"Because she's right about everything."

Axel smirked at his fuming little blonde that was scowling into his poultry. Tidus and Yuna exchanged a smile before the man turned to Axel.

"Okay, Roxas had his interrogation time. Now it's yours."

Another smirk laced itself over Axel's lips and he chuckled softly. "Only one question. Is she not the best cook in the world?" Yuna's eyes grew wide and a deep blush brushed over her cheeks. Tidus moved his hand over to grip hers, squeezing lightly.

"Of course she is."

xXx

Friday March 5

Day 179 - Lunch

xXx

"Hayner, hurry up, man. You said you wanted to hang with us 'cause Pence was sick, so you gotta hurry it up!" Roxas jeered, glancing over his shoulder at the blonde that was running to catch up to the excited junior. "You're finally gonna meet the guys! Isn't that great?"

"I-I guess ... I'll have to ... give Axel a ... shot, right?"

"That's the spirit! C'mon, hurry, hurry!"

"O-Okay. I-I ... can't talk ... right now."

"I make this dash every day, so, I'm used to it."

Roxas tore off down the hall, not even realizing he left the elder blonde huffing against the wall. "D-Don't worry! I-I'll catch up!"

xXx

"Mmm, Roxy!" Axel spun the blonde around as the younger crashed into him.

"Ugh, do you mind? People are trying to walk here."

"We're in the middle of the music room, Kairi. Shove off."

"Fine, just shut up. I'm trying to listen."

"Go to Prom. You'll see them there."

"Ugh." The girl moved away, closer to the performing duo. Hayner finally caught up, peering into the music room as though he thought he was going to get his head bitten off.

"Aww, you brought the punk?"

"I told you I was gonna. Be nice, please?" Roxas pressed himself closer to the redhead's ear, whispering before pulling his friend in farther. "It was your idea, after all."

Axel grumbled, shoving himself onto a desk. "I know, I know."

Hayner looked between his blonde friend and the blonde that was rocking the stage. "You guys hang here every day?"

"Demyx is one of the friends I've been telling you about, ya'know. Him and Xigbar."

"Yeah, yeah. I just wasn't expecting such an awesome voice."

"Well, he is-"

"Playing prom, I know, I know. You've told me about a million times."

Hayner rolled his eyes, laughing as Roxas pulled him closer to the performing blonde.

xXx

Wednesday April 14

Day 219 - Evening

xXx

"I'm inviting the two of you out for supper."

Hayner raised his eyebrow as he heard his blonde best friend's voice over the phone. "W-What?"

"You heard me. Supper. Me, you, Axel, Pence, Xigbar and Demyx. Deal?"

"What's the occasion?"

"Just celebrating for the sake of celebrating. Do we really need a reason? Besides, we're gonna use the week off school for partying."

"Where're we goin'?"

"Not sure. Ask Axel. He won't tell me. Only him, Xigbar, and Demyx know."

"Then how are we supposed to go?"

"We're taking two vehicles. We're gonna meet them there."

"Are you seriously inviting us?"

"Yeah, you guys are my friends and I want to hang out with ya."

"Alright. You guys'll be pickin' us up?"

"Yup. In about an hour. That okay?"

"Sure. See ya then."

"See ya."

xXx

"Hey, Rox, I'm just gonna stop in here for a minute, okay?"

"What? No. It's the liquor store."

"And I'm going to get us a bottle of wine."

"I don't want any."

"Then you don't have to drink it."

Roxas huffed, crossing his arms in the passenger seat. Axel leaned over, giving him a soft kiss on the forehead to reassure him that he would only take as long as he had promised.

The first person that Axel noticed upon his entry into the store was the bus-boy from months prior. The two exchanged a short glance before the man looked down, obviously embarrassed to see the teen. Axel laughed, clapping the man happily on the shoulder as he moved closer.

"Y-You haven't been around for a while. Is your dad getting better?"

A giant smirk played itself on the redhead's features. "I moved out of there the day after we had out little 'talk', ya'know?"

The man's eyes lit up and he turned his gaze from the alcoholic beverages to the teen he had somehow helped - or at least he had in his own mind. But his excitement turned to mild confusion. "Then... what are you doing back here?"

"It's a surprise for my... um...significant other? Well, they don't want it, but, a few of my friends and I are treating our ... ugh, screw this. I'm treating my boyfriend to a nice dinner tonight. There, ya'know now."

The man smiled, blushing faintly as he remembered his last encounter with the redhead. "Your b-boyfriend... He's the one that saved you from your dad, isn't he?"

Axel returned the smile. "Yeah. How'd you know?"

"Just the tone of your voice."

Shuddering, Axel laughed lightly. "Man, that's right. Shrink in the making, here. How's that comin' anyways?" It was so easy to talk to this man. He really would make a good psychiatrist someday.

"Top of the class." The pride was evident in the young man's voice.

"Most dedicated, too, I bet. But, yeah, I told Rox that I'd only be in here for a second, so, I gotta jet. Good seein' ya again."

"I'm glad you got away."

"Me too."

xXx

"Are you ever gonna tell us where we're going, Axe?" Roxas complained from the front seat, watching the city flit away behind them in the fading light of evening. Hayner and Pence were silent in the back seat, slightly nervous and wondering if the redhead was just going to stop out in the country somewhere and chop off their heads, leaving them to rot because they were hanging out with Little Rox-as more and more.

"We're almost there, babe."

"We're almost out of the city."

"Exactly."

"What do you have planned?"

"Triple-date, for starters. Oh, Rox, can you get that? It's in my pocket."

A recorded song was playing from Axel's front pocket, Demyx's voice filling the car. The smaller blonde reached into the redhead's pocket, pulling out the phone and opening it.

"Hello?"

"You're not Axel. Put 'im on for me, kiddo?"

"Only if you tell me where we're headed."

"Give me that," Axel snapped playfully, snatching the phone away from the blonde. "Yo, Xig. ... Yeah, yeah, I got it. ... Nope, no troubles. ... Almost there, I think? Lots'a trees. ... Okay, perfect. We'll see ya in five minutes then? ... Great, okay, see ya."

"Well," Roxas pressed, determined to get information. Axel rolled his eyes, letting the object fall into his lap.

"Can't I just leave one surprise a surprise?"

"Nope. Doesn't work that way."

"Well, it's gotta. I'm not tellin' ya, Rox."

"Fine. At least tell me why?"

"Mom has a date with Tidus tonight. Wanted the house to herself for a while. Gave me some cash to get rid of us."

"Really?"

"Would I lie to you, babe?"

"Yes."

The blonde pouted, completely forgetting two of his best friends were still sitting in the back seat. "Look, they've already set it up."

Roxas looked ahead of them to a hill overlooking a large field, the sun dipping down over the horizon behind a line of far-off trees. He could see the lights sparkling between the loosely scattered trees that stood on the otherwise grassy hill and the vague shapes of people moving around, setting up more decorations.

"W-What's this?"

"It's a surprise, Rox."

"It's some sort of party?"

"Yeah, pretty much. There, satisfied?"

"Only a bit."

Axel glanced into the rear-view mirror to the two teens in the back seat, smirking at their amazed features. "What do you guys think?"

"So... pretty..." Pence sighed out happily. Hayner turned to him, smirking.

"Y-You ... invited us to a ... party?"

That smirk on Axel's face grew as he turned into a driveway, leading up beside the hill. "Of course. You two aren't half-bad and you've been real good to Rox, so, I thought you deserved to come. Hey, Leon, the spot's up there, right?" Axel slowed to a crawl to call out to the brunette heading up the side of the driveway with a large, beige greyhound pulling at its leash.

"Yeah. Watch out, though. Gran's on the war-path because there're so many 'homos' parking in her yard. She's only letting us 'cause I agreed to take Pluto out for a walk. I've already fed, milked and cleaned the cows. Tomorrow morning, I have to go clean the chicken coop. This better be one fuckin' awesome party, Axel. Better be the best one yet."

Axel smirked at the playful glower he was receiving from his friend. "Well, I'll try my best. I'll go in and say hi to your Gran, too."

"You trust her?"

"Oh, she loves me."

"Take Pluto with you, would you? I don't feel like walking all that way just to come back down here."

"Ugh, I don't want that fleabag in here."

Leon snorted. "Yeah right. Like something of hers would ever be allowed to be dirty. She's had poor Cloud cleaning out her attic since we arrived." Once more, Axel glanced back in his rearview mirror after glaring at the 'fleabag'. Finally, he sighed.

"Hay, Pence, mind if that mutt rides with you for a minute?"

"Nope."

"I hate you both. I hate the three of you."

"Thank you, Axel."

"Whatever," the redhead grumbled, unlocking the back door as Leon opened it, coaxing the dog in. Immediately it leaped up into Hayner's lap, licking at his face enthusiastically. The elder blonde laughed, trying to shove the dog away from him but failing horribly as he forced his way in farther, laying over Hayner in order to lick at Pence, tail slapping loudly against the door. Leon pushed the rear end of the dog into the car before closing the door behind it, locking Pluto inside.

On the short way up the hill, the greyhound managed to lick at everyone's face, almost causing Axel to veer off the driveway into one of the old trees. Roxas leaned over, grabbing the wheel as Axel started cursing the mutt. Pluto fell back, whimpering at the stern tone that he most certainly wasn't used to from his elderly master. A tongue was stuck out at the dog before Axel turned his attention back on the gravel, thanking his blonde for taking the wheel.

By the time that Axel pulled up next to the old farm house, he was glancing nervously into the rearview mirror, looking back down upon the beginnings of the party. "I have a crap load of stuff to take down. Idiot, why didn't you just drive over?"

"We can handle it, you know," Hayner piped up, nuzzling into the dog's warm fir. Axel raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? There's chairs and everything in there."

Pence scoffed. "Just because we're gay doesn't mean we're weak, ya'know."

"I'm just sayin' that there's a lot there to get!"

Roxas pouted. "Including your booze."

"Rox, It's wine. To go with the meal. We always have wine."

The younger blonde didn't respond. Instead, he unbuckled his seat belt, waiting for the car to be turned off so he could get out. "Babe, it's okay. I'm not gonna get drunk and neither are you. I'm not gonna allow it, okay? I'm not my old man." Finally, Roxas sighed, leaning over to receive a peck on the forehead from the redhead. "Thanks, babe. Okay, you guys, you can leave the bottles there for me. Take what you want, I'll get the rest. I just need to slip inside and say hello to Gran."

"Sure thing, Boss-man," Pence chuckled, happily mimicking Roxas and undoing his seatbelt, opening his door to look out at the scenery before the sun dipped down below the horizon. Pluto hurriedly jumped over the elder blonde's lap, landing easily and bounding off to go grab a stick.

"Wait, Axe!" Roxas called out before the redhead made it up the front stairs. He ran to catch up to the redhead that had turned to watch him.

"Yeah, Rox?"

"Uh, ...this is stupid, but ... how many people will we know? You said you always have wine. That means that it happens a lot, right?"

"Don't worry, babe. You know almost everyone. If dickwad and his angel show up, they'd be the only people that you wouldn't know."

"Can I have names, please?"

"Just wait till ya get there?"

Roxas sighed but nodded, smiling happily, his grouchiness from earlier gone as Pluto came bounding towards him with a rock ten times too large for his mouth prying apart his jaws, weighing down his front end. "Okay, Axe. Just hurry up, kay?"

"Sure thing, babe."

xXx

"Roxas! Hayner! Pence! Hi guys! Oh, isn't this place magical? I get some of my best inspiration from this place!" Demyx bounded up to the trio, grabbing at the folding chairs that they held. Roxas began to protest, arguing that they were too heavy for just Demyx to take care of, but he was shushed as Xigbar moved up behind his little musician, grabbing two of the chairs, leaving Demyx with the third and a quick kiss on the back of the neck under the mess of a mullet. Aquamarine orbs grew wide in shock, his mouth dropping open slightly and he turned after the black-haired teen, completely forgetting about the young trio that was trying their hardest not to just burst out laughing.

But the giddiness was overwhelming and soon they were barely able to lug down the plates and sweaters that Axel had hauled up in the trunk. A brunette that looked to be only one or two years their elder bounded up to them, smiling brightly. A silver-haired teen watched from the crowd of talking teens, making sure that the boy was okay.

"Hi! I'm Sora! You must be Roxas, Hayner and Pence! C'mon, c'mon! Let me help you!" Sora exclaimed happily, gripping some of Roxas' items in his own arms, waddling away, supposedly showing them where they were wanted. "It's so great to meet you! I've heard so many stories, it's amazing!"

"He hasn't. He's exaggerating. Sora, you're acting like a stalker. Calm down." The silver-haired teen broke away, walking along beside them, not offering to carry any of the heavy items. Sora turned, a hurt pout breaking across his features.

"I can't help it, Riku! I'm excited!"

"Be excited in a less odd manner."

Roxas glared at the elder teen, disliking his snotty attitude already. "He's not 'odd'. You could stand to take a page out of his book and be nice to strangers." He didn't know what came over him, but he just had the urge to put this Riku in his place.

"You must be Axel's bitch, right? Roxas?"

"And you must be the dickwad he was telling me about. Sorry, man, but, this is starting to get heavy. We'll finish this conversation later, perhaps?" Roxas smirked happily, a teasing tone evident in his voice. Turning from the shocked Riku, Roxas nodded to Sora triumphantly who gaped at him with wide eyes. They moved the rest of the short way down to the large table set up under a string of lights before Sora turned around to the young blonde. Without warning, he gripped Roxas in a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry about him! He can be such a meany!"

Roxas smirked, patting the elder teen on the back. "It's okay. I live with Axel. I'm used to 'meanies'." Sora dislodged himself from the younger teen, smiling wide.

"You're real awesome, Roxas! I'm so happy! For once I'm not the youngest one here! C'mon, let's go see Leon, kay? This is gonna be so great!"

The blonde was mildly confused when he found his hand being gripped by the brunette that began pulling him up towards the small crowd of teens. Just as promised, he knew them all. Hayner and Pence tagged along closely behind him, almost afraid to get separated from their friend. Sora stopped in front of the elder brunette, causing Leon to turn to face him.

"Leon, can we start the game?"

Blue eyes were rolled down at their brighter contestants. "Not yet. We're still waiting for people."

"How many more?"

"Just two. Don't worry, bud. We'll play. We always do, remember."

Sora sniffled, rubbing his toe in the greening grass. Even though it was only the middle of April, it was surprisingly warm. Roxas did a mental check of who could be missing, but he couldn't think of anyone. Axel was heading down the long slope with bags and blankets cradled under his arms and Cloud was at the barbeque, a chef's hat and apron covering his body, each with a different provocative saying on them. Those were the only two that weren't with the gathered teens. Other than that, there was Demyx, Xigbar, Riku, Sora, Leon, himself, Hayner and Pence. Who could be missing?

Confused, Roxas turned to watch as his redhead came easily down the hill, even with the excited pooch running around under his feet. Before Axel made it half-way down to them, however, he stopped, putting down one armload, waving the now-free limb in the air. He wasn't looking at the group. Instead, his vision was trained on the long driveway coming up between the trees. Roxas followed his line of vision and was pleased to see a car moving slowly up the gravel, hesitant to go any farther. He cocked his head at this but he watched as the window was rolled down.

"We didn't miss the party, did we?"

xXx

To Be Continued

xXx

Be awesome and review, 'kay?

~xbuttonsx~