A/N: I AM SO SORRY I have neglected this for so long. The editing took forever; it started out awful. I think I fixed at least 90% of the awfulness, though, so it should be worth it.
Anything else of importance…? Nope, I don't think I have any notes at this moment. (But I'll totally think of like, ten things right after I post this. *sweatdrop*)
Axel's POV.
I'm pretty good at lying to people, long as I don't look them in the eyes. Just smile and slip a few words off my tongue before I think too hard about the consequences. It's easy – when it's not someone I care about.
It was bad enough acting like this date wasn't a big deal while talking to Saïx. I wasn't just trying to convince him, I was trying to convince myself, too. Now, seeing Xion even more beautiful than ever… the only way I can describe it is it feels like someone's stirring soup in my chest. And I don't mind.
She's mine tonight, I think for a second. I don't have to share her with Saïx or Roxas or anyone.
No, bad Axel, that's not right. This isn't like all the other dates I've been on. This is Xion, my best friend, not just another hot girl to steal a kiss from – not that I would mind –
Backpedal backpedal stop it, Axel. Bad. I can't go all night thinking stuff like that.
I'm going to do things right this time. Not go so fast, not jump in without testing the waters. Respect her personal space. Respect the promise I made to Saïx…
It might be too late for that. I've already taken Xion's hand, and whatever happens tonight, I know something's going to change.
I can lie to other people, but I've never been good at lying to myself.
XXX
Holding Xion's hand felt like holding a block of ice: cold, hard, but slowly melting. She's smiling, so that's good, but her palm is sweating even though it's freezing cold. Or is that my palm sweating? I can understand her being nervous; this is her first date. So what's my excuse?
I act nonchalant, but that's all it is, an act. Usually I don't worry much about accidentally pushing girls' buttons… which has been a pretty big mistake in the past… but with Xion, I'm nervous I'll cross some invisible line and she'll shut down on me. Plus Saïx and their dad and maybe even Aqua would murder me. Even Vanitas would hate me (more than he hates everyone), and he'd hide his demon hamster in my bed—
Man, when did I start being so paranoid? Relax. How can I tell Xion not to be nervous when I'm acting so weird?
Sora and Kairi are chattering about something and laughing every five seconds. Aqua's trying to slap Terra's hand away from the radio while somehow focusing on the road. And Xion's still almost-frozen, pointedly keeping her eyes away from me.
"Something wrong, Xi?" I ask, squeezing her hand. She jerks back instinctively, like I startled her, and I get a painful mental flash of Saïx's glare.
"No," she replies, but she doesn't sound convinced herself.
"You're nervous." I want to put an arm around her, but in addition to imaginary-Saïx, I catch Aqua's glance in the rearview. She must be psychic; she's still defending the radio and driving as well as possible in this piece-of-junk van.
Xion dips her head, but her hair doesn't fall into her face since it's pinned back. It's pretty like that, plus I get the bonus of still looking at her eyes. "It's my first date."
"So?" I ask, flashing a smile to comfort her.
"…I don't know what I'm supposed to do."
Thankfully that rules out the possibility that I'm making her uncomfortable. "You don't have to do anything special."
"I don't?" She blinks. Her eyes look so big and blue; when did they start looking so… like that?
"Nope." I smile. It's just like her to make things overly complicated. And just like me to be a hypocrite by thinking that. "Just be yourself. Well, and you don't have to look like someone taped a stick to your back."
"Huh?"
"You're sitting up really straight."
Her face turns pink. Pinker than before, anyway. "Oh." She shifts in her seat, uncrossing her ankles. "Father likes us to sit with good posture…"
I know that, but she looks way more uncomfortably stiff than usual. "Don't worry about it. I just want you to be comfortable."
"I am," she insists, and her knee brushes mine. I smile and lay my hand close to hers before Kairi distracts my attention.
"Before you get too cozy back there, could you grab the extra coat in the trunk?"
Sora giggles, legit giggles. I really wonder how Kairi can crush on that kid. Xion quickly backs down, shrinking into her seat, and I shoot a glare at Kairi. I guess I deserve it for teasing her about Sora for so long, but still. She's supposed to be the nice one out of the two of us.
"I told you you'd get cold." I turn around anyway, stretching the seatbelt, and grab a familiar purple coat out from under Xion and Aqua's ice skates. "Hey, isn't this Xion's?"
"Yes," Aqua says from up front. "I told Kairi to bring a coat too, but I knew she wouldn't listen, so I brought one of Xion's."
"We wear the same size, and I had an extra." Xion shrugs. I grin and throw the coat on Kairi's head, making Xion laugh.
"You messed up my hair!" Kairi complains, trying to comb the static-y strands down with her fingers.
"Your hair's fine, Kairi." Sora takes the hand she was fixing her hair with.
"No it's not…" she mumbles, self-conscious as always. I'm glad Xion doesn't worry the same way (most of the time); I've tried to explain to Kairi that guys get annoyed when girls beat themselves up over how they look.
"It didn't explode into spikes like mine." He grins. "Besides, you'd be pretty even if you were bald."
I can't see Kairi's face as she wraps the coat around herself, but she's probably blushing. Sora's a complete dork, but she eats that stuff up. I turn and glance at Xion. She'd stare at me like I was crazy if I said something that dumb. Luckily I'm more gifted with wit than Kairi's crush.
"Did you bring a coat?" I ask Xion.
"Yeah, it's in the back," she replies easily, smiling brightly. "I've got my scarf, too. It gets cold in the ice rink."
I kind of wish she hadn't prepared that much. When the temperature drops, she lets me hold her to keep her warm. It's been sort of a tradition ever since we were kids.
"I just have this vest and my scarf." I shrug.
"Really?" She grins back, a warning that she's about to start teasing. "I thought your mom would've made you bring a coat with that outfit."
"Wha- how did you know my mom picked this out?" Suddenly I'm the one with the red face.
"Technically I didn't say that, you did." She laughs. "I know you, and I know your mom. She's the only one who would tell you that yellow-green and orange go together."
"I told you not to listen to her," Kairi butts in.
"Shut up," I tell her, then mutter, "I like this scarf."
Xion smiles and says, "You're the only one who could pull it off."
It took me a minute to realize she was complimenting me, and by then Kairi is rambling a whole list of my fashion failures – why does she care what I wear? – and Xion is smiling apologetically at me.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to get her started," she whispers.
"Don't worry about it." Then I said louder, interrupting my sister's ramble, "Oi, shouldn't you be hitting on Sora or something?"
She froze mid-sentence and blushed a shade between our hair colors, shrinking back into her seat. Somehow Sora, being the oblivious dork he is, managed to completely miss the whole thing. I think he was asking Terra how he got so buff or something.
Unfortunately there was now a very awkward silence, and Xion looked embarrassed as well. Plus I knew Kairi would find a way to get me back later.
I'm trying to think of some way to break the awkward, but Xion beats me to it. "Did you tell Roxas that we're going ice skating tonight?"
"So you didn't?" I ask to cover the fact that I couldn't bring myself to. Of course the thought had crossed my mind that Roxas might like her, and she might like him. Same age, close friends, etc. etc. So give me a break if I was just a little bit nervous about his reaction. Even if he doesn't like her – and if he does he should've asked her out already – I don't want him to feel like a third wheel. He's like my little brother, and he's my best friend, but he can't do everything with me. Especially not this.
"I wasn't sure if you were okay with me telling anyone," she says apprehensively.
"It's not a secret, Xi. I just didn't want him to feel left out." He'll feel more left out when he finds out later, but I don't have to worry about that right now. "Why d'you ask, anyway?"
She shrugs. "Just wondering."
We relapse into silence, eavesdropping on Terra and Aqua and Sora and Kairi's conversations, exchanging glances and snorts that translate into our own secret commentary.
"-Riku kept trying to make me study, but I couldn't focus so we ended up getting ice cream-"
"Who does that remind you of?" Xion asks with a look and an almost-smirk.
I fake innocence. "How should I know?"
"Sora." Kairi shakes her head, but she giggles anyway. "If you two goof off every time you try to study, I'll have to come help both of you."
"Pfft, like she would get any less distracted." I snort and roll my eyes.
"Only as distracted as you are around me," Xion's small grin seems to tease, but I'm probably imagining that.
"Riku's actually good at studying. I'm the one that needs help," Sora admits.
"Translation: he wants her all to himself."
It's harder since they're farther up, but Xion discreetly points at Aqua, so I listen in to her and Terra's conversation.
"-can't believe you and Van have something in common." Aqua laughs. What did I miss?
"Power Rangers isn't just for ten-year-olds," Terra pouts, and she smiles teasingly.
"You're right. Van is still immature for his age."
I manage to restrain my laughter, but Xion fails. Terra turns to see why she suddenly broke into giggles, and Aqua stares at us from the rearview mirror.
"See, I knew you were lying about being ticklish." I grin at Xion and wink subtly.
"Wha-? Oh, yeah. You could've warned me before using your Super Tickle Attack of Doom, though." She grins back.
Aqua sighs and mutters, "They better not mumble mumble the whole mumble… thought Axel mumble mumble mumble…" Too bad I can't make out all of what she says. I know I caught my name in there.
Xion and I silently agree to stop eavesdropping on the others' conversations, but for once I can't think of anything else to talk about. Well I bet I could, but I'm actually content with just sitting here next to her.
I watch the frozen streets out the window… Xion's boots clicking together when we bump over inconsistencies in the pavement… Sora holding his breath trying to get rid of his hiccups until his face turns purple… Xion's eyelashes as she blinks so slowly… Terra making Aqua laugh by singing along to some girly pop song on the radio… Xion tentatively leaning closer to me… Streetlamps turning on as the sun sinks down… My hand moving towards Xion's again… Xion…
Aqua turns a corner, and the sliding door on Sora's – and my – side flings open. He screams, which is what I think shocks Xion back to her original stiff-and-straight position more than anything else. I reach forward and push the door half-closed, and Terra reaches back to slam it the rest of the way.
"Just another day in the Rainsmell," Terra says with a grin. Sora's scooted practically on top of Kairi to get away from the door.
"Rainfell," Aqua corrects automatically, sounding like she's been through this more than a couple times.
"Same thing." Terra shrugs.
"Can I switch seats?" Sora pleads.
"Well, you're pretty much in my seat already…" Kairi points out with a mix of amusement and embarrassment.
"Whoops, sorry Kai." He doesn't scoot completely back to his seat, but I doubt she minds. Of course I mind, but I've already got a strike against me for my earlier comment about her and Sora, and I know she keeps track of things like that. Never doubt Kairi's ability to get revenge for the tiniest things. Especially if said things involve Sora.
"It's always an adventure in this car, huh?" I grin at Xion.
"Only every day." She grins back. "I thought I was going to die one time; Aqua was driving me and Saïx to get a birthday present for Vanitas…"
By the time she finishes the story of how she nearly dove out the broken door to save a Red Power Ranger action figure, Aqua's pulling into the skating rink parking lot. I'm last out since I was stuck in the back corner. I stretch and roll my shoulders, perfectly comfortable in the weather that makes everyone else, even Terra, shiver.
"You would think I'd be used to the cold after living here through sixteen winters…" Xion mumbles, pulling her jacket more tightly around herself.
"Global Cooling. I'm telling you, it's a real thing," Terra says. Aqua rolls her eyes at him.
I take Xion's sidelong glance as permission to slide an arm around her waist – no, shoulders. That's safer. (Besides, she's so short that I can't really hold her around her waist without pressing her right up to my side.)
"Global Cooling's going to have to try a lot harder to get to me, heh."
My arm brushes an exposed bit of Xion's neck, and it feels as cold and smooth as metal. "I don't know how you stay so warm…"
"I eat my vegetables," I joke. If Saïx was here, he'd call me out on that and bring up my unhealthy eating habits, like eating grease-soaked pizza from the cafeteria almost every day. The only time I actually eat vegetables is when Mom makes me or I cook for other people, like the other day.
Aqua gets her and Xion's ice skates, and we head towards the rink.
"Isn't it kinda ironic that we're going ice skating inside when all the fountains are frozen over?" I mean, the ice rink's nice and fancy-schmancy, I just think it's funny.
"You couldn't skate on those," Aqua says. "Lakes or ponds aren't very safe, either."
"This ice has to be thick enough, or else it could break." Xion shivers, huddling closer.
"Guess that makes sense," I shrug.
Like I said earlier, the Radiant Garden Skating Rink is pretty fancy since they rebuilt it a couple of years ago. There are two rinks, one for ice skating and one for roller skating, and on the second floor there's a balcony that goes around the edge of both of them. Plus they've got the best arcade games in town since they merged with the old arcade, which are usually what I'm here for. Sometimes I roller blade too, if I feel like it.
We pool all our munny with Aqua since she gets an employee discount, and she pays for our skate rentals. When the girl at the counter asks what size I wear, I laugh, not paying attention to the annoyed "hurry-up-ugh-stop-wasting-my-time" look she gives me.
"I've never ice skated before."
"Really? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Xion asks, unzipping her boots.
"It… uh… didn't really seem important until now…"
The ice skate-girl rolls her eyes, drumming her neon-painted fingernails loudly on the counter. "Do you want the skates or not?"
I tell her my shoe size and she shoves a pair the next size up at me. She turns to the next customer before I can complain, but Xion and Aqua explain that the particular brand runs a size too big, and I'll be glad for the extra room, especially around my ankles. They're right.
"These things are worse than bowling shoes…" I mutter, sitting down to lace them up. Xion and Aqua already have theirs on and are leaning on the bench but standing up. How are we supposed to walk the few feet to the actual rink in these?
"I know what you mean," Terra agrees.
Sora shrugs. "They're not so bad."
Kairi looks down at his feet and makes a noise halfway between a laugh and an exasperated sigh. "That's because yours are, like, three sizes too big!"
"Nah, it's more like four," I say with mock seriousness.
"I always wear shoes this big," Sora pouts.
I look over at Xion's skates while Kairi comforts him girlishly. "Who don't yours go up as far as ours?"
"These are better than the rentals," she explains. "It's easier spin and do other tricks when you can move your ankles."
"You know tricks?" I raise an eyebrow curiously. Xion never told me she was good at ice skating. She mentioned going with her family a few times, but I thought it was just a casual thing.
"Aqua taught me a few," she replies, looking pleased with herself. That makes sense; Aqua's a part-time ice skating instructor. Why wouldn't she show her sister some moves?
"She's the best," Terra adds with a grin.
Aqua blushes. "There are plenty of others better than me…"
Terra snorts. "Name one."
"There's… um… well there's Casey…"
"Casey Carlyle? That's just one person, not plenty," Terra says, smiling and squeezing her hand. "You don't have to be so modest."
I ignore them and turn back to Xion. "How hard is ice skating, anyway?"
"You'd be surprised." She smiles adorably. At first Imaginary-Saïx's scowl rears its ugly head for the first time in a while and I try to push Xion's smile out of my mind, but we're on a date and Saïx's isn't looking over our shoulders, and she is cute and nobody's going to stop me from liking her.
"I get to teach you something for once," she adds, and I smile back.
"Who knows, maybe I'll be a natural."
Terra laughs. "I don't know any guys who're naturals at ice skating."
"Saïx is," Xion says. I'm not surprised; Saïx has lots of talents I'd never expect. Like singing. But I am kinda surprised I didn't find out about it sooner.
"Ice skating's not just for girls," Aqua adds, rolling her eyes. "Stereotypical Terra…"
"What about you?" I ask him, bailing him out of his girlfriend's lecture on sexism. "You a good skater?"
He shrugs. "Aqua's brought me and Ven a few times, but I'm no expert."
I know Kairi's been here at least once with her friends, so that leaves me and possibly Sora as the only ones with absolutely no clue what we're getting into. Much as I pretend otherwise, I'm a little nervous I'll fall on my face and look like an idiot in front of Xion.
"Is everyone ready?" Aqua asks. We've been sitting around with our skates on for a while, adding to the noise and chaos of the packed room, but I don't mind.
Sora grumbles, "Hang on a sec…" He's still wrestling with his laces, so I guess we weren't just standing around for no reason.
"Sora, you doof…" Kairi smiles and helps him untangle a knot even bigger and tanglier than those you get in your headphones after leaving them in your pocket for two days.
When they're done, we all stand up and awkwardly hobble (Xion shows me how) through the masses of hyper children, exasperated adults, and other couples like us to the rink's actual entrance. Sora falls on top of Kairi, who was trying to steady him, before we're even on the ice. Aqua and Xion help them up while Terra and I stand back, nearly falling over ourselves in laughter. Kairi sticks her tongue out at me.
"Some gentleman you are, leaving the girls to give us a hand."
Terra and I glance at each other sheepishly.
"Sometimes you're such a boy," Aqua teases him.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I chuckle and shake my head. "Sometimes I wonder if they actually like each other."
"They do," Xion assures me. We lean on each other as we hobble to the entrance.
"How d'ya figure?"
She smiles, then looks away. "Girl's instinct."
Aqua and Terra lead the way onto the ice, Kairi and Sora bring up the rear, and Xion and I are sandwiched in between them. Time to see if I'm an epic fail at this.
"You're not nervous, are you?" Xion asks suddenly.
"Me? Of course not." I laugh, but my throat's dry.
"Oh…" She looks away again, and I wonder if she wasn't talking about ice skating.
Aqua glides like she's weightless when her skates touch the rink. Terra wobbles, but he keeps his balance. Xion is practically a fairy; how can she make balancing on knife-shoes look so effortless?
C'mon, Axel, don't be a wimp, I tell myself. It'll be easy. Just pretend you're rollerblading. I put on a confident smile.
And then my feet fly out from under me.
A/N: Axel abuse is one of my favorite ways to begin and end chapters, in case you haven't noticed from any of my other fics. ^^;
I feel like Sora should've talked a lot more, but everyone else wanted to talk more than him. :/ Probably because I don't write Sora that much.
Casey Carlyle is a reference to the non-animated Disney movie, "Ice Princess." The random girl at the ice skate booth was just an OC I added for fun.
