Rookie

Chapter Twenty-Two - Days Two Hundred and Twenty to Two Hundred and Fifty-Four

Thursday April 15

Day 220 - Morning

xXx

"God, Cloud, how much would I have to pay to hire you to be our personal chef?" Demyx asked through a mouthful of pancake, causing Xigbar to glare playfully at him. Cloud looked up from his plate, smirking at the younger blonde that had spoken.

"Well, I don't know. Maybe, someday, when you guys make it big, I'd be honored."

"Aww, we'd have to wait that long?"

"What? Are you trying to move in on my man, Demyx?" The musician blushed, staring wide-eyed at the brunette sitting beside the cook.

"Jeez, Dem, didn't know you liked to sleep around."

The blonde's blush grew a deeper shade at the redhead's jar as said redhead reached closer to Demyx to grab a bowl of homemade rolls. Sora was laughing with Roxas, looking around, slightly worried that Riku would come down at the sound of his happiness and steal it away. Cloud put up his hands, his eyes closed, that smirk still laced across his lips.

"Sorry, guys, but, my ass is not for sale. Unless he feels like selling it off." Cloud jerked his head towards the laughing brunette beside him. Said brunette sobered up, sitting up straight and proper before bursting out in another onslaught of laughter.

"And you all know that that ain't happenin'," Leon snorted, leaning over to give his blonde a small peck on the cheek.

Hayner turned to Xigbar with an eyebrow raised in wonder. "This happens every year?"

"Yup. E'ry year. Any time we all get together for food. Turns 'em crazy."

"Apparently."

"Hey, Sora, where's Riku?" Demyx asked, desperate to get the topic away from sex at the breakfast table. The young chocolate-haired teen blushed, gazing down into his extravagant breakfast that Cloud had prepared.

"He, umm ... He said he wasn't very hungry, so he stayed up in the room." Sora added in an undertone, "Even though his stomach was growling like crazy."

The singer tilted his head, only barely able to catch what the brunette had mumbled, but understanding enough. "So, he's just being a big meany-head?"

Sora looked taken aback, unaware that he had been heard. "I-I .. I guess so."

Leon glowered at his younger cousin. "I'll go drag his ass down here, that wuss."

Both Sora and Demyx whimpered. "N-No, Leon, why don't I go talk to him? He ... No one would get a fist to the face that way." Demyx backed away from the table, even though he gained wondering looks from most of the teens still seated. He placed a reassuring smile on his lips, nodding lightly, leaving behind his nearly-empty plate.

Climbing the stairs to the third story of the old farm house, Demyx knocked on the closed door that stood on the opposite side of the hall as his and Xigbar's customary room. There was a muffled groan from within and the blonde entered.

"Oh. It's you. I thought Sora'd be back up here. What d'you want, blondie?"

"You're being a real jerk, you know. Come down and eat breakfast with us."

The younger teen glared at the blonde. "Why? No one wants me there. Everyone hates my guts."

"Sora wants you down there. And not everyone hates you. I don't. I just think you're being really unfair right now."

"How am I being unfair?"

Riku was laying on his bed, staring up at the chipping ceiling, his fingers cradling the back of his head. Demyx stepped in closer, watching the younger teen to make sure that Riku wouldn't jump up and attack him.

"You aren't being fair to Sora. Did you not notice how great of a time he's been having? But you went and ruined it, ya'know? You got jealous and took it out on him. Don't you think you owe it to him to let him have a good time with someone other than you?"

Riku's aquamarine orbs continued to glare at the ceiling. "What do you know?"

"I know that he really loves you, but, if you're not careful, he's gonna get fed up."

"Why would you care if he left me?"

"Because I love him?"

"Exactly. See why I have to be so 'mean'? He's a magnet for-"

"That's not what I mean!" Demyx cut over the younger teen, raising his voice - something he rarely did. "That's not what I meant, Riku. I love him like I love all of my friends. They all mean a lot to me and I love them all. I love them in a different way than I love Xigbar."

"What about Axel? It's obvious that he wants to take him away from me."

"Axel's not the same whore you used to know, Riku. He might still comment on Sora's body, but he has Roxas now and he wouldn't do a thing to hurt him, so, Sora's safe."

"And other creeps out there?"

"Oh, Riku, just give it up!" Demyx cried in exasperation, throwing his hands into the air in annoyance. "You love him, right?"

The silver-haired teen didn't answer so Demyx moved closer, prodding him on his raised knee. "Right?" He stressed.

"Right."

"He loves you?"

"I ... I think."

"Well, then? What's the problem?"

"I ... I don't know if I can trust him."

"Why not? Has he ever done anything behind your back?"

"Not that I know of."

"Then why can't you trust him?"

Again, the younger was silent. Demyx sat down at the foot of the bed, minding Riku's slowly swinging foot.

"I kind of feel like an idiot right now."

"Then come down to breakfast. It's really good. Probably still warm too."

"I'm not going down there."

Demyx sighed, losing patience with the stubborn teen. "Think of how Sora must be feeling right now. His friends are all down there and he has to try to keep on a brave face because you're screwing him up."

"I don't mean to!"

"You said you love him, right?"

"Of course I do!"

"Well, start acting like it. Does he make you happy to be alive every time you look at him? Do you get all jittery when you're away from him? Does he cheer you up when you feel like you could just go curl up in a ball and die?"

"I suppose. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Do you think that you make him feel like that?"

"I ... Probably not. I'm ... a jerk."

"And it takes a lot to say that. But, Sora means a lot to you, right?"

"I already told you he did."

"I'm just making sure; don't go jumping down my throat. Do you think Sora would still be around if he didn't care about you too?"

He seemed to think about this for a moment before shaking his head. "No. I bet he would have been on his way a long time ago if I didn't mean anything to him."

"Then, don't you think you can trust him?"

Riku sighed as Demyx stood, sitting up himself. "I can try."

"Then come downstairs and tell him that yourself."

"But-"

"No buts. Just come on. This is starting to get annoying. I don't like being annoyed."

Again, Riku sighed. "No one will hate you, I promise. There are people Axel dislikes a lot more than you."

"I'm coming, I'm coming. You don't have to pull on me." Riku tried lightly to pull his wrist from the elder teen's hold, but was unsuccessful, being pulled up to his feet.

xXx

"Sora."

The brunette looked down at the floor, a small blush lining his cheeks as he stood in front of his boyfriend. "Y-You needed something?"

"I want to tell you I'm sorry."

Cerulean orbs shot up to look into the face of their love. "S-Sorry?"

"Yeah. I didn't ... realize how much I've been hurting you lately. I ... don't want to hurt you, Sor."

Sora's eyes grew brighter, small droplets beginning to bead on his eyelashes. He lunged forward, gripping the taller teen around the middle, pressing his nose into Riku's chest, knocking the silver-haired teen back into the wall. In shock, Riku slowly wrapped his arms around the shaking teen.

"I love you, I love you, I love you! Riku!" Sora sobbed, nuzzling closer to his love.

xXx

"Ya did a good thing today, babe." Demyx beamed at the black-haired teen that was staring up into the clouds.

"I didn't want them to be unhappy."

"Ya took thin's inta yer own hands. I think ya saved 'em."

The blonde blushed, snuggling closer when Xigbar wrapped his arm around the younger's slim waist.

"Hey, guys, we're heading out. We'll see you at school tomorrow, kay?"

xXx

Tuesday May 4

Day 239 - Lunch

xXx

Demyx was already up on the stage, singing and messing around on his guitar while Xigbar kept up the beat with his drums. The performance was closed off from anyone but the regular group, Axel and Roxas munching away on some of the cafeteria pizza while Hayner and Pence watched the duo on stage, still mesmerized by the raw talent.

"Not intruding, are we?" Leon questioned, opening the door and slipping in, Cloud following close behind. The redhead smirked.

"Gotta pay a small fee to watch the boys play is all, Leon."

"I'll plug my ears. What ever happened to givin' me a nickname, man? Everyone has one. Where's mine?"

Cloud leaned on a desk overlooking the trio now sitting on the floor, not bothering to mention to his lover that had placed himself beside the redhead that he didn't have a nickname either.

"You lost yours, man. You took mine away so I took yours away too."

"Aww, you're mean."

"You're old."

"C'mon, c'mon, stick to the beat!" Demyx exclaimed, turning on his drummer, tapping his fingers against the guitar in his hands. Xigbar wasn't looking at his blonde, instead staring at the brunette and his own love. Noticing how badly Xigbar was shaking, Demyx rushed over to his lover, all playful teasing gone. "Babe, are you okay? What's the matter?"

At the blonde's touch, Xigbar jerked out of his dream world, staring blankly at those aquamarine orbs. He didn't notice that he had gained the attention of the six teens sitting in the 'audience'.

"D-Dem. Oh, Dem." The sorrow in the elder teen's voice caused a little ball of panic to crash over the blonde. "I-I'm sorry, babe."

"What's the matter? What's wrong? Xig?"

"Think."

Demyx reeled back away from the black-haired teen, shaking now himself. He began to shake his head in denial. "No! No! Why the heck did you have to remind me? No!"

Cloud, Leon and Axel averted their eyes away from the scene, something wrenching in each of their chests, knowing full well what Demyx was going on about. Roxas looked at the redhead in concern when he felt those arms pull him closer.

"It'll be okay, Rox. They're just going through a tough time right now." Axel nuzzled into Roxas' blonde spikes after hushing the words into his love's ear.

"There's nothing we can do, is there?" Axel's only reply was to shake his head.

xXx

Friday May 7

Day 242 - Fourth Period

xXx

"You'll be okay, Dem."

The sniffling blonde looked up at the redhead that sat beside him. "Three days, Axe. Three! I don't think I can do this."

Axel moved his chair and desk over to sit with his shuddering friend, wrapping his arms around the smaller teen below the desk so that the teacher couldn't yell at them. "It could always be worse, right?"

"You'll be off at college, so you'll be out of the house! You won't have to still live with him. He has no where else to live, Axe. He doesn't. So, I'll still have to see him every day."

"For a month. Spend every second you can with him until Monday, then."

"That'll only make it worse."

"Just don't hate him. Be friends. You can do it."

"But ... I keep thinking, 'what if he finds someone better?' 'What if he doesn't love me anymore?' 'What if he doesn't want me back?' 'How will our band make out?' I have so many questions, Axe. I'm scared."

"I know. I'm scared too. But, you two are pretty much made for each other. By the time your birthday rolls around, you'll both realize how much you couldn't live without the other. It'll be fine."

Demyx rubbed at his eye with the heel of his hand, gazing blurrily at the Biology questions they were supposed to be working on. "Axe... What if I can't do it? We're missing Prom. I mean, that's something big. What if I can't hold out long enough?"

Axel smirked, hugging the younger teen close. "Then I'd get Re to bail you outta jail." Unable to help himself, Demyx choked out a giggle.

"It's not funny, Axe."

The redhead sighed. "I know. But, Xig loves you, man. Things'll work out."

"They'd better."

"Remember, you said that you'd be strong for Roxy, right? You ain't goin' back on your word now, are ya?"

Demyx shook his head, smiling, forcing away the sorrow that hung over his head.

xXx

Monday, May 10

Day 245 - Lunch

xXx

"C'mon, man, we gotta practice," Xigbar prodded, standing over Demyx as the blonde sat with Axel and Roxas.

"I don't feel like singing today."

"We got less than a month left."

"I don't feel like singing today, Xigbar," Demyx repeated, balling his fists in his lap, legs crossed beneath him. He stared at the floor, just wishing the black-haired teen would leave him be.

"A month."

"I don't care!" Demyx snapped, turning to look up at the 'birthday boy'. Xigbar sighed, backing away slowly, knowing that it took a lot to anger what used to be 'his' blonde. He knew he would regret testing that limitless patience.

Axel and Roxas exchanged glances before the redhead turned to Demyx. "Hey, man, what were we just talking about on Friday?"

Demyx was shaking, glaring at the floor. "I don't care right now, Axel. I'll behave, just not right now. I have every right to not care right now." His voice was low, strained, as if each word stung him further.

"Okay, alright, I won't push it. Just, don't hate him. It's not his fault."

"I know." His voice was lined with defeat.

xXx

Wednesday May 19

Day 254 - Lunch

xXx

"So, the prick is able to sing again?"

Axel stiffened at the voice that appeared behind him as he sat on a desk in front of the stage while Demyx wobbled on the words of the song he was singing. The redhead turned to the teen beside him, holding Roxas tighter to him.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing here, asshole?"

The blonde smirked, putting his hands up in the air to show he held no weapons. Not even the normal gang pooled around his ankles. It was just him; him alone. Just Seifer.

"I don't mean any harm. My fuckin' leg still hurts so, I'm not gonna pick any more fights with you losers. I came here to tell ya that. I know when I've been beat."

"Bullshit. I don't trust you, ya prick."

"Well, that's your loss. Oh, and, Mom pulled her little stunt again. Left Dad for some pimp because he has money. Look out on the street; you'd probably find her there."

Axel snorted a laugh that held no humor. "So, we're actually in the same boat then."

"A bit. 'Cept my old man don't beat me because of it."

The redhead curled his fists, anger once more coursing through his veins. "That's none of your business."

"Hey, think, that is one of the other reasons I'm gonna leave you alone. When you were gettin' beat up by that prick, I could beat you easy. You proved that, when you're not troubled with broken ribs and shit, you could pound me into the ground. I think I'll back off now."

"Smart choice."

"Don't worry. I don't plan on becomin' all buddy-buddy with ya."

"Good."

"See ya around, Axel. Tell the other losers that they're safe too."

"Sure thing."

Roxas turned to look behind the redhead at the retreating blonde that still walked with a limp that would most likely be permanent. His gaze shot back around to Demyx as the elder blonde cried out, tossing the mic down onto the ground, kicking at his guitar that lay out beside his feet.

"I can't do this anymore! I just can't do it!"

"Demyx? Demyx, what's wrong?" Xigbar shot up from behind his instruments, rushing to the aid of the one that still held his heart.

"I can't fuckin' do it!" The room went silent. Demyx was never one for swearing and that was the first time that any of them had ever heard him. "I can't sing anymore! I'm going to go tell Ms. Kisaragi that we can't perform!" The blonde jumped off the stage, running to the door with tears streaming down his face. It took a few seconds to register in their minds what had just happened, but Xigbar was the first to comprehend, sprinting out after his singer.

"Demyx! Demyx, wait! Stop!"

Xigbar chased the blonde up two flights of stairs, only able to grab hold of him on the second floor when he ran out of the stairwell and into the hallway. A firm grip on the blonde's wrist, Xigbar whipped him around so that he crashed into a window with a cry of pain. "Demyx, listen to me. Listen to my voice. C'mon, man, don't do this."

"Let go of me! Let go, right now! I can't do this anymore!"

"Dem ..."

"I'm not 'Dem' anymore! You can't call me that because I'm not yours anymore!"

"Dem." Xigbar repeated, gripping Demyx's other wrist, holding them both back against the window. Aquamarine orbs were slammed shut, the head that they were lodged into shaking back and forth.

"No! Just leave me alone!"

"Demyx, listen to me. We are going to go back down to that music room and you are going to sing your heart out. We're going to go to Prom and play there and everyone will cheer and love us. We'll get more gigs and then go looking for an agent. We'll be big. And, we're going to do it together. I don't care how long I have to go without having you, but I'll go down this road with you. I'll be there, no matter what you do to try and stop me. But, I can't stay if you go to her right now and tell her that we quit. If you quit at something so simple, how would I be able to expect you to make it through everything else?" It took all of Xigbar's strength to talk seriously to the sobbing blonde.

"You've gotta go back down to that music room and show them all that you are as strong as I know you are. Gotta prove to Roxas that if you can make it, he can too. This isn't all about you. Don't you think that it's killing me too? It's been nine days and already I find myself feeling like this month will never end. But, whenever I think about seeing you at lunch, listening to you sing with all of your heart, it makes me able to bear it."

"I-I ... I still love you, Xigbar."

"And I still love you too."

The black-haired teen glanced around nervously, making sure that the coast was clear before moving in closer, quickly taking the blonde's lips for his own, causing Demyx to moan, trying to reach for Xigbar, but his wrists were still trapped.

"Now, c'mon. We gotta go back. And I wanna hear ya sing like a god."

Demyx nodded, forcing back the tears as Xigbar stepped back.

xXx

Demyx took the stage once more, his voice steady and calm and the best it had ever been as he sang with every fiber of his being, knowing that it was the least he could do to keep his love going strong for the elder teen.

xXx

To Be Continued

xXx

Okay, Dem, I hate you, you made me cry. Did he make you cry? Tell me, kay?

~xbuttonsx~