Rookie

Man, no cookies for you guys! :P No one knew who was comin' to the party! I thought it was obvious. o.o

Chapter Twenty-One - Days Two Hunrdred and Nineteen (Part Two)

Wednesday April 14

Day 219 - Evening

xXx

"Re! You guys made it just in time! I'm so happy you two could come!"

Axel jogged to the stationary car, peering in to see his brother and Rude, both men smiling happily at the teen. Reno smirked at his younger brother, leaning over, setting a soft kiss on the servant's cheek before shoving the door open. Once he was safely over with Axel, Reno nodded to the elder man who nodded back, backing down the driveway.

"Wha-? But-? ... I thought both of you were gonna stay."

Reno clapped his brother on the back before turning him back towards his dropped armloads. "Don't worry, bro. Got things under control. Surprise for all you kiddies." Axel blushed, brushing his brother away as he went to retrieve his items.

"He-ey! Reno! Good of ya to come, man!" Leon waved the elder redhead over to the happily conversing crowd. Roxas beamed, ecstatic that his boyfriend had managed to make up with his brother enough to bring him to a party of friends.

Sora looked up at his elder cousin with giant puppy-dog eyes. "Can we play now, Leon?"

Leon rolled his eyes, but couldn't be upset with the younger teen. "I suppose. We've got even teams, right?"

"Yeah, yeah! Okay! We can then? Yay! Leon, I love you so much!" Sora tackled the elder brunette. All the boys stopped what they were doing to look up at Leon as he whistled loudly, gaining their attention easily. Axel had finished his job and was going to move behind his Roxas when he sighed, looking up at his former 'Friend with Benefits'.

"Alright, guys, break off into your teams! Sora, do the honors and go get the ball, would you? Reno, you'll be my opposite, alright?"

Roxas, Hayner and Pence all gazed up at Axel in confusion. The redhead gripped his blonde firmly, hugging him close before stepping back. "Hay, c'mon, you're on this team. Rox, you and Pence over on the other one." Roxas quirked his eyebrow.

"What? But ... I wanna be on your team."

"Look around first, babe." Roxas did as he was told, noting that each of the couples had been broken apart. "Yup, that's right." Axel nodded, knowing that Roxas had caught on. "Soccer with a twist. It's tradition. I'm so pumped! Ye-ah!" Axel charged over to his team mates, picking up his observing brother and spinning him out of happiness.

Roxas glanced over at the black-haired teen beside him. "You gonna be alright, Pence? You look like you're gonna croak."

Pence's wide, dark eyes crept over onto the blonde beside him and Roxas chuckled at the fact that the elder teen's jaw was shivering. The sight made Roxas smirk. "C'mon, we'll see if they can put you in goal."

Sora chirped up behind him. "That won't be a problem! Our team always fights over who's gonna be in goal! Thanks so much for coming, Pence! Xigbar's gonna love you because he doesn't have to play goal! You rock! C'mon, though! I have the ball, so, they can't really start without me, ya'know."

Roxas smiled happily, reaching out his hand out of pure yearning to ruffle those chocolatey spikes. "Nyah!" Sora hummed, pressing his head closer to Roxas' hand before breaking away. "C'mon, c'mon! I wanna play!"

xXx

"Ah! Axel! What do you think you're doing? This has gotta be against the rules! Ah!"

Roxas cried out in amused shock as he was tackled by his boyfriend, being slammed - as softly as possible - to the ground by the elder teen who began to move upwards to take Roxas' lips in his own. The blonde struggled half-heartedly to get out of Axel's grasp.

"Did Leon not tell you anything? This is the rule of the game. Think of who you're playing with."

Accepting the hand up, Roxas stared, wide-eyed at his love. "Explain more please?"

"Jeez, Leon, you suck! You send him into the game without even tellin' him what he's expected to do?" The brunette shrugged as he charged past. Axel sighed, running a hand through his crimson spikes. "Okay, I don't have much time, so, this'll be short. It's anything-goes soccer with a twist. Tackle all ya want, but, you gotta kiss the one getting tackled. And if you get a goal, you gotta kiss the keeper."

"What?"

"Like I said, think of who you're playing with. I was ... thirteen, maybe, when I first started coming here. It's always been the same way. But, why else do you think that Leon and Sora are on the same team? And Reno was put on mine? You don't tackle members of your own team. So, you have a one in four chance of tackling your lover."

Roxas gazed at the jittery redhead in confusion, knowing that he was anxious to get back to the game but not caring.

"So ... you just start making out with someone you tackle?"

"No, don't make out with him. Just ... kiss 'im. We're a bunch of horny teens, babe."

"But ..."

"C'mon, Rox, just play along. Please. We're all friends, we're all hot, and we're all just in it for a good time."

The blonde sighed, allowing the excited redhead to have his way.

xXx

Rude quirked a nearly invisible eyebrow as he watched on the sidelines beside the still-cooking Cloud. The blonde glanced over at the heavily-built man that was watching protectively over the players, smirking slightly as he noticed the grin spreading across that chiseled face.

"Hey." The bald man turned his gaze over to blonde. "Would you like to play, too?" Rude looked taken aback by the simple question.

"I ... I, um, would throw off the teams."

"I'd be your opposite."

"It's ... too late in the game." Rude was glancing around nervously, although not many would be able to tell with his constant use of too-dark-to-see-through sunglass.

"You just don't want to, do you?"

Rude watched as Reno slammed his foot into the ball, sending it hurtling towards Pence. "I would rather just watch."

"Honestly, I'm the same way."

The elder redhead moved to make another swing at the ball as it was sent back towards him, but he slipped, getting tangled up in Roxas as the smaller blonde sped by, taking the ball with him. Rude winced, moving to go run towards his redhead, but stopped as he noticed Reno's large smile as he laughed. Instead, the bald man looked towards the teen standing beside him.

"Aren't you ... ever afraid? That he'll get hurt? Do you not feel helpless when you can't just barge in?"

Cloud placed a comforting hand on the large man's forearm. "All the time. But, let that be our little secret, okay? He'd kill me if he knew I had no faith in him."

xXx

"Gah, Axel, that ball is mine, ya'hear!" Leon rocketed forwards, slamming his foot against the ball, tumbling with the redhead onto the ground as Axel stopped him. Eyes widening as he gasped in a sharp breath, Axel stiffened as he realized who was hovering above him.

"L-Leon," he breathed, worry etching on his features. "We ... We c-can't ..."

"Oh, Axel, lighten up." Leon brushed their lips together, causing Axel to whimper softly, a shiver rolling through his body.

"Y-You shouldn't ... Leon ... Please ..."

"C'mon, man. It's a game. It's not like ... it means anything. Well, not what it used to mean. Alright, up ya get. Told ya it was my ball."

Axel couldn't see straight. His vision was blurred from shock and he felt like he was about to fall over. He barely registered his name as Leon wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Axel-ma-man, c'mon, get with the program. Don't get so worked up over it."

"I-It ... You ... gah!" Axel spluttered, turning on the brunette. "What'd you just do to me?"

Leon shrugged, beginning to move away after the ball once more. "Just playin', D-Axe."

"Fine. Next time, I'll get you down, you prick."

"That's what I wanted to hear."

xXx

"Hey guys, don't hate me, but, supper's ready!" Cloud yelled out to the excited, sweating, running boys, holding up the spatula he had used to flip the hamburgers and steak. Rude had to almost leap out of the way as the mob of ballplayers stormed over to the barbeque. Axel was the first to line up beside the eldest blonde, a Styrofoam plate held up to his heaving chest.

Everyone had lost count of the goals landed, but they were unimportant. They were all tallying up who had gotten close with them and how many times it had happened. Each was talking excitedly to his neighbor, the adrenaline still pumping through their veins. Even though the table was set up, like always, they each moved back out onto the most level ground that they had just been playing on, sitting down on the grass to better keep the conversations going.

Axel moved up behind his Roxas, sitting down beside him. "You havin' fun yet, babe?"

The blonde beamed happily, not noticing the someone that sat down beside him. "Of course! It's so much fun! Sora's so amazing! And I'm so happy Reno and Rude came! Oh, this is just so much fun!"

"I'm happy that you think I'm amazing! I think you're amazing too!" The person beside him cried out happily, mirroring the beaming smile that Roxas held on his face as he turned to look at the elder teen. Axel smirked, happy that his Roxas thought Sora to be as much an angel as he did.

"Am I amazing?"

Sora and Roxas exchanged a glance, smirking. "Nope. Not as amazing as us!" Both sets of bright, flickering blue orbs flew wide open as they moved back to look at the other. Axel cocked his head, confusion written on his face.

"That was just a bit creepy, Rox-as."

"W-We ... just spoke at the same time. That was ... so weird!" Roxas shuddered, laughing as that weird feeling came over him that he always got when saying the same thing as someone else.

"Roxas! Maybe we are twins separated at birth or something! Wouldn't that be so awesome? We were destined to meet each other!"

Sora put his plate in the grass in front of himself, tackling the younger blonde, nuzzling into his cheek. Axel glowered down at the brunette, worried for his Roxy's safety. "Sor, how old are you again?" Big, blue eyes looked up at the redhead.

"Sixteen?"

"I thought so. So, ha, you can't be Rox's twin. But," Axel lowered his voice, licking his lips in anticipation as he pressed himself closer to the two. "You could always join us in the bedroom, you know."

Sora whimpered at the advancements on him, his innocence apparent as he shoved his nose in close to Roxas' cheek, almost pushing the blonde over. "Axel!" Roxas hissed, looking in shock at his boyfriend. Axel just shrugged, the Cheshire grin spreading evilly over his features.

"Hey, prick, leave my boyfriend alone."

Axel didn't let the smirk slip as Riku towered over him. "Oh, come on. You know I would never actually do anything to him. Stop ruining the mood and go back to sulking."

"I'm warning you. If I ever see you so much as look at Sora the wrong way, I'll pop off your prized possessions."

"Ri-ku! Careful! Watch what you say! There are young ears around, you know!" Axel made a big show of lunging onto his blonde. "Oh, Rox, did his foul words hurt you?"

Roxas couldn't help but laugh. "Axel, what the heck are you talking about?" The redhead moved back, sulking. Finally, Sora released his death grip around Roxas' neck, sitting back down and picking up his plate.

xXx

"I ... almost feel like I belong here."

"Aren't you glad that I invited you?"

Hayner watched as the last few rays of sun sparkled over the skyline, smiling to his best friend. "Yeah. Yeah I am."

"Hey, Rox-as! C'mon! Come dance with me!"

xXx

"Hey, Roxas?"

"Hmm?"

The blonde turned to the brunette that was smiling behind him. "I really like you. Not ... not like, like you but ... well, you're really cool." Roxas was unable to hide his blush, but his smile grew.

"I really like you too."

"C'mon, let's go sit. Down the hill a little. I know a nice place."

"A nice place for what?"

"You'll see. Just trust me."

Sora gripped Roxas by the hand, beginning to pull him away from the other teens that were still talking and singing and dancing. But they both stopped cold when two voices reached out to them.

"Sora?"

"Rox?"

Both turned to look at the elder teens standing side-by-side with the same look of confused apprehension, neither liking the looks of the way the two were 'sneaking off'.

"Eh, hi, Ri. We're just goin' down here for a while. I wanna get to know Roxas better!"

"But ..."

"May as well let them go, Riku. What harm could they do?"

"What the hell man? We finally have a common enemy and you side with it?"

Sora cocked his head, hurt evident on his confused features. "Enemy?" His voice had lost its crisp giddiness. Riku's aquamarine orbs shot open in shock as what he had just said clicked into place in his mind.

"Wait, no, Sor! I didn't mean it! I swear!"

"I-It's ... okay. I'm sorry that you think of us as an enemy."

"No! Sora, let me explain!"

The brunette waited, his grip on Roxas' hand tightening. Riku fumbled for the right words inside his head. "I didn't mean enemy. I just meant that Roxas was stealing you away and you were stealing him, so, me and Axel could finally have the same thing happen to us, we'd be in the same boat and ..."

Sora forced a smile, the sting obviously still not gone from the word. "It's okay, Ri. I understand. I know that you're worried about my faithfulness to you and I'm sorry about that, but, I'm taking Roxas down there," he pointed down to a blanket already set up on the cooling grass. "And we're gonna talk and become good friends. Care to come with me, Roxas?" The blonde looked between the three of them, his eyes lingering on those emerald orbs the longest. He hesitated just long enough to see Axel's miniscule nod before he turned with Sora to head down the bank, leaving a worried and sulking Riku behind as even the redhead turned to go back to the large group.

xXx

"What can I do to repay ya, bro? This' a blast!"

Axel smirked at his elder brother as arms wrapped around him in a tight grip. "I'm glad you're having fun."

"All these people are your friends?"

"All 'cept for Riku, 'cause he's a prick."

"Me and him get along good though."

Again, Axel smirked. "He hates me because his boyfriend is hot and I so saw Sora first. Even though the adorable little brat is immune to my charms."

"Hey, remember, you're committed now."

Rolling his eyes, Axel slipped back away from his brother. "I know, I know and I would give the world to keep it that way."

"I know."

"Then, why do you keep bringing it up?"

"Because I'm really happy that your life turned around, even though I feel really crappy that I couldn't help you at all."

Axel shrugged, pulling his brother back over with the dancing teens. "If it helps at all, it was the phone that you got me that helped me save his life, many times."

Reno smiled at his younger sibling. "I suppose that makes me feel a little better."

"I'm glad. Now, c'mon and dance, Re!"

xXx

"You're really lucky, Roxas."

The blonde looked over at the brunette that had the shimmering lights behind him. A golden eyebrow lifted in wonder. "I am?"

"Yeah." Even in the dark, Roxas could make out Sora's large smile. "Really lucky. I kinda wish that Riku was more like Axel."

"Riku'd have to be pretty bad for you to say that," Roxas joked, but his face fell when Sora only laughed lightly. "Are you alright?"

"I ... Oh, yeah, of course. Just thinking. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. What's Riku's problem, anyways? He walks around like he's got a stick shoved up his ass."

The brunette blushed as though it were his fault. He leaned back, lying down on the blanket to stare up at the slowly appearing stars glinting overhead. Roxas mimicked him, locking his fingers behind his head.

"He's just ... really protective of me. He thinks that ... no matter what I do, I'm gonna either get hurt or leave him. I love him and all, but, it gets really hard to know that he doesn't trust me."

"He's not just looking out for you?"

"He takes it to an extreme. I'm not allowed to do anything by myself, you know. I'm really surprised that he didn't insist on coming with me, honestly."

Roxas noted that the brunette had lost his happy, bubbly demeanor and was gazing up at the sky with large, shimmering blue orbs, a serious look etched in stone upon his features.

"When we're alone, just the two of us, me and him ... it feels so right. He is the most amazing person you'd ever meet. But ... when we go out with friends or even anywhere out of the house, he becomes a completely different person. He glares at anyone that comes within three feet of me and he gets to be a total prick. I love him with all my heart but ... it's getting too hard."

Picking up on the sorrow in Sora's voice, Roxas moved closer, sitting up, before pulling the teen up next to him. Sora's shoulders heaved lightly and Roxas could tell that the elder teen would start crying at any moment. But when he spoke next, a bit of the joy had floated back into his voice. The words were choked with a mix of a sob and a laugh. "And look at me. I'm telling my life story to an almost complete stranger that probably doesn't give a darn."

"Aww, that's not true. I care. You're my friend, remember."

"And we're gonna be best friends, right? Best friends for a real long time?"

"Of course. It would make me really happy."

"Then we'd both be really happy. You're a good kid, Roxas."

"I'm glad you think so."

Roxas hugged the slightly taller teen closer.

"You've been really good for Axel."

"I have?"

"Yeah. This time last year, he was stuck inside his shell, barely able to talk to any of us. Even when Leon went to him to try to cheer him up, he wouldn't budge. Then again, I heard he had just been hurt real bad by his dad. But, he's really happy this year. You've brought out a lot of good in him."

"It's true, Rox." The blonde jumped, feeling the redhead move up behind him. Sora scrambled out of the younger teen's embrace, wiping at his face.

"H-How long were you there for?"

"Long enough. But, I won't stay. He really seems to need ya, babe."

Both younger teens blushed, looking away from the redhead. He held out what he had come to them for. "Here. It's getting cold. I don't want you getting sick again."

"Axel, you can stay. I feel bad. I've been stealing away your boyfriend. Riku'll be mad if I stay here for much longer anyways." The brunette stiffened at Axel's glance towards him.

"No, Sor. You'll stay down here because you need a break. If I have to, I'll tether that prick up to a tree for you."

"Th-that won't be necessary!"

"Hey, look, Rude's headed down now. Maybe here's the best place to stay."

Roxas and Sora exchanged a glance, speaking in unison once more, causing each to blush deeper. "Why?"

"Surprise. But, you watch. Look, here they come already."

And Axel was right. The other members of the party came down the hill to sit near the trio, Riku the only one alone as Reno had gone with Rude. Axel called back to Hayner and Pence. "Yo, boys, call someone. You're spendin' the night like everyone else."

Roxas glanced at the redhead before he was pulled back into the elder teen's lap. "We are?"

"Yup."

"Another surprise?"

"You got it."

"Ugh, Axe, enough with all these sur-"

Roxas was cut off in his whining as a loud whizzing sound was heard before a crack, the sky lighting up in dazzling colors. Fireworks. Now that really is a surprise. The blonde watched in awe as the bright fireballs exploded in the sky, nuzzling further back into his redhead. Somewhere in the midst of the show, Sora had moved back to be with Riku, but the elder teen would have nothing to do with him.

xXx

"What do you think you're playing at, Sora?"

The brunette couldn't help the tears that were rolling down over his cheeks as he stood up under a brightly lit tree, his 'boyfriend' yelling at him as everyone else happily watched the display.

"You think I'll just have you back with open arms after you run off with that little punk-ass bitch?"

Again, Sora wouldn't reply, shaking as his clamped eyes pointed towards the ground. Riku stepped towards him and he couldn't help but flinch.

"Answer me, Sora! Stop being such a wuss and fuckin' answer me."

"No, Riku. N-No. I ... I don't want to."

"What?"

"I-I ... I want my old Ri-Riku back! Th-The one that wouldn't y-yell at me. Th-The one that w-wouldn't think th-that I was off with every g-g-guy in the c-country." The brunette hiccupped, stepping back as Riku reached towards him. "I want m-my Riku back. Th-The one that l-loves me! The one that t-t-trusts me!"

"Sora, I love you. I-I love you."

"You don't trust me to love you back!" Sora snapped, spinning on his heel with his fists balled by his side. He fled back down to the group of teens, glad that Roxas and Axel were on the outside of the group. He collapsed to his knees beside them, crawling onto Axel's lap with the blonde, curling into his newfound friend.

"I don't plan on trying any funny business, Sor, so, it's okay."

The brunette sobbed, knowing that everyone had heard his argument with his love, even though they had moved away to attempt to prevent it.

xXx

"Well, I'm beat, guys. I dunno about you, but, I'm ready for bed." Leon yawned, stretching when Reno and Rude had made it back up after putting on their marvelous display and receiving many compliments and thanks.

"Hey, Dembabe, wake up. Time ta actually go ta bed." Demyx moaned as Xigbar shifted him into waking.

"Oh, Reno, Rude, you guys are welcome to stay. I set up a bedroom for you."

The bald man looked away in embarrassment while Reno blushed lightly. "Ya'know, since today was so much fun, I don't think I'll ruin it. Besides, I've got work in the morning. Ugh, Ru! Why didn't you remind me? Now I'm half in the bag and I'm gonna have that damned ringing in ma ears for days!"

"I'm sorry sir. I thought you had remembered."

"It's a shame you two can't stay. It was good to have ya here, though. Keep in touch, kay?"

Reno nodded happily before leaning on his servant to get help moving back to the car. As Demyx, Xigbar, and Cloud began their long trek back up to the house, Leon turned to Hayner and Pence, telling them that he had prepared a room for them as well. They thanked him and were off, quickly catching up to the trio walking ahead of them.

Riku hadn't returned to the group, obviously still sulking over his boyfriend's anger while Sora stuck close to Axel and Roxas, having found two instant friends - even though that was just the way Sora was. He could make friends with a rock.

"Hey, kiddo, how're ya feelin'?"

"Been better," Sora sniffled, once more wiping at his cheeks to get rid of any remaining tears.

"You gonna be okay to be in the same room as him tonight?" The younger brunette nodded to his elder cousin. "You sure?" Another nod as Sora forced a bright smile onto his face.

"I-It's okay, Leon. That's been happening more and more lately."

"Well, bud, just remember; you always got me and Axe here. We'll set him straight."

"I'll hold you to it! Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."

The four of them began to follow the others, Leon unplugging the lights as he went. Axel turned to him half-way up the hill. "Hey, man, I don't gotta sleep on the couch again this year, do I?" Leon shook his head, smirking. "Oh God, what's that look for? I love Gran to death but there is no way in hell I'm sleeping with her."

"No Axel. Roxas gets to sleep on the couch. You get the floor." Axel gaped at the brunette in disbelief.

"You've gotta be kiddin' me! The floor? What happened to that room you had set up for Rude and Re?"

"Gave it to Hayner and Pence."

"But ...Ugh, you're horrible, Leon!"

Roxas smirked up at his love. "If it means so much to you, you sleep on the couch. I'll sleep on the floor." Axel turned his gaping expression upon the blonde.

"What? No! No love of mine will be sleeping on the damned floor! I'll have to deal with it."

Roxas and Leon winked at one another and Sora laughed, not even realizing Riku was stalking behind him unhappily.

xXx

Roxas made himself comfortable on the long couch, yawning as the excitement of the day continued to wash over him. Axel sighed, groaning as he thumped on the floor, his bony hips no cushioning for the hardwood.

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather have me sleep on the floor?"

"Nope. No, I'm good. Just ... oh, wait, there we go. All good. G'night babe. Love you."

"Goodnight Axel. I love you too."

A few moments later, Axel was forcing the blonde closer to the back of the couch, unable to take the floor any longer. Sighing, he sat up, ordering Roxas to do the same.

"Okay, as long as we get up first, this should work. Get on top of me."

"But ..."

"It'll be more comfortable that way. I'm sorry, I know, we're in a giant house filled with sleeping people and you'll be in the perfect position to ride me. Well, too bad. I'm tired, I'm almost starting to get grumpy because nothing's working out right and -" But Axel never did get to finish what else had him cranky as Roxas rolled on top of him, pressing their lips together to still those of the redhead.

xXx

To Be Continued

xXx

I think I love Sora more and more. He's such an amazing kid. I really wouldn't mind just watching them play their soccer. That'd be sexy.:D Agree? Review. :D And don't forget to keep those bandnames coming. They'll be put into a poll at the end of Rookie and then the winner can have a dedific of whatever pairing they want about whatever they want. :D

~xbuttonsx~