CHAPTER THREE
Roxas was pulled from slumber by a noise. Tock. But not just one noise. Tock, tock. No, it had to be a whole series of noises, over the space of five minutes. Tock.
His eyes cracked open, rolling blearily around as he struggled back to consciousness, tugged insistently out of dreams by the incessant sound.
It was low. And quiet. And unceasing.
"What. The fuck?"
Tock, tock. Tock.
It took a minute for Roxas to realise that it wasn't some remnant of his sleeping mind, the noise was an external sort of thing. He rasped out a moan, rolling onto his side.
Tock.
"Oh, man…" He blinked for a while, then sat, arms weak, slinging his legs over the side of the mattress, rubbing kittenishly at his eyes. Tock. He glanced around the room, still as ever, in the exact state he'd left it. Tock, tock. "What is that fucking noise?" he hissed. Tock. His head snapped up. It was coming from – the window?
He climbed up to his feet, shuffled drunkenly over to the curtains, twitching them aside to peer down in bemusement at the street.
"Oh, you're fucking kidding me."
He debated for a moment, then reached up to unlatch the window and pushed it silently outward. Cold night air swirled in, ruffling his blond spikes. Gripping the sill, he leaned out, eyebrows knitted together, wild-eyed. Voice a loud whisper, he called, "Axel?"
Said redhead, who was currently bent over scouring the pavement for more pebbles, straightened sharply. He seemed startled for a second, before breaking out into a broad grin. He dropped the rocks, wiped his hands on his jeans, and waved.
"Roxie," he hissed excitedly. "How's it going?"
Roxas stared in consternation. "Are – are you fucking insane?" Axel's expression fell a little. "Axel…" Roxas shoved back inside, glanced over at the clock on the nightstand, jaw dropping. He pushed back through the curtain, to see Axel looking disheartened. "Axel! It's three AM!"
He perked up upon seeing the blond's return. "It is?"
Roxas' eyes grew wider still. "Are you stoned or something?"
Axel shook his head frantically, waving his hands for emphasis. "No, no – I just couldn't sleep. I – I wanted to see you."
Roxas drooped a little, catching his chin in his hand, elbows on the window sill, clutching his face as if it would, at any moment, fly apart. "Axel, remember the narcolepsy joke? It still applies. I'm really fucking tired, and you're throwing stones at my window at three AM, like this is some kind of Tom fucking Sawyer book."
He looked really discouraged now. "Oh, well… Are you coming down?"
"Am I… Am I - ?" Deep breaths. At this rate, someone was going to notice the ruckus going on, even if it was in whispers. He didn't want his parents waking up and being introduced to his new friend as their friendly neighbourhood stalker. He uncovered his eyes, calling resignedly, "I'm coming down."
He drew the window shut, shifting the curtain out of the way, and threw on a jacket over his bed outfit. Opening the door to his room, he listened intently for a minute. Satisfied that no one was stirring, he emerged into the hall and carefully descended the stairs. In anticipation of the chill, he drew the jacket tighter around his chest and throat, and quietly unlocked the deadbolts to the front door. Again, with a cold wind gasping through the gap, he waited, an ear out for murmurs from above. Nothing.
He took a deep breath, exhaled through his nose, and slipped outside. Axel was waiting by the side of the house, doused in shadow, a bright smile in place. "So, you came after all!"
"Let's walk," Roxas growled. "I don't need my parents hearing us."
The pavement was like ice underfoot, little stones digging into the soft flesh of his soles as they wandered around the block. Roxas tipped his head back, inhaling the cool night air, inspecting the stars. "How do you know where I live?" he asked, throat still rough from slumber. When Axel didn't reply, he lowered his face, cheeks flushed from the chill, scowling. "I asked a question. Did you actually follow me home?"
"No," Axel mumbled.
"No? Then tell me." Still nothing. Roxas, growing concerned, insisted, "How do you know where I live, Axel?"
The redhead sighed, hands shoved deep into his pockets. "Look, Roxas, it's nothing to get paranoid over, okay? The school told me, when they made you my mentor. Apparently, we only live a few blocks apart, so they told me your address. Okay?"
"And you didn't say this before, why?" Roxas prompted, earning an annoyed look.
"Because, you're making me feel like the world's creepiest stalker, Roxie. I didn't want to give you fuel for that."
"You turned up at my house at three in the morning," Roxas reminded him, snuggling deeper into his coat. "I think I'm entitled to make you feel however I damn please."
"Fine, fair enough." Green eyes rolled. "So if you're so ticked off with me, why'd you even come down?"
Roxas snorted incredulously. "Like you gave me a choice?"
Axel halted, shoulders hunching, fixing the blond with an intense stare. "I'm not making you stay out here. If you want to go home, go. I'm not going to tackle you into the bushes."
"But I'm out here now," the blond grumbled. "We might as well circle the block. And didn't you say you wanted to see me?"
Axel's head tilted to the side. He smiled slightly. "Yeah. I guess I did."
The continued walking. Roxas glanced over at the redhead, who, just as he had been before, was gazing at the sky. "So, uh, Axel?"
"Mm?"
Roxas fidgeted. "Why did you want to see me?"
"Why?" The other seemed surprised by this question, almost unnerved. "Well – I just wanted to. No real reason. Should there be?"
"Well…" Roxas frowned. "I mean, considering the hour and all… Did you just – not know what to do at three in the morning?"
"What, and figured, 'hey, I know! Roxas' place is around here somewhere!'?" He arched a brow, shrugged. "It was more just that I couldn't sleep. I felt like a bit of a douche for acting like I did today, and wanted to come make sure everything was cool between us. You didn't even wait for me after school, just ran off towards town."
"I – I had to see Hayner. Had to make things right again."
Axel nodded, pointing a finger at him. "That's it exactly! That's what I'm doing here."
"So – you're here to say sorry?"
"For what?" Axel snorted, before slapping a hand to his face. "Okay, so, yeah. Not great at the apology stuff." He heaved a breath as they rounded a corner. "Honestly, I still stand by what I said today – I don't think you should let that guy push you around like he does – but I also would rather still be friends with you than try and fight my way to being right. Okay?"
Roxas sorted this out in his mind, smiled a little, nodded. "Sure."
Axel grinned happily, slinging an arm around the shorter teen's shoulders. "I'm glad to hear it, Roxie." He gave him a little squeeze. "So did your meeting with Hayner go as successfully as this one?"
Roxas squirmed a little, turning his head away, pretending to be interested in the garden they were passing. "Yeah, it went fine."
"Uh-huh… So, that little thing you did just then, was that because I'm touching you, or because you just told me a big, fat lie?"
Roxas was startled. "Wh-what? Lie? Me?"
Axel laughed, too loudly for the time of night, in a quiet, sleepy neighbourhood. "I guess I can take that as my answer, which, I have to say, makes me very happy."
Roxas scowled. "Why should that make you happy?"
"It means," Axel brought him down to the blond's ear, "that you don't mind me touching you."
"Did I say that?"
"You haven't pushed me off yet."
Roxas sulked. "It's cold out, and you're warm, okay? I'm not homophobe enough to go freeze half to death just because I'm scared of some boy cooties."
Axel straightened, giving him an inscrutable look. "You're scared of boy cooties?"
"No." Roxas wore a pinch-eyed, long-suffering expression. "I am not afraid of boy cooties."
"What if I kissed you?" The green eyes were laser-focused again. When Roxas looked up, whatever scathing retort that had pooled on his tongue fell away into his suddenly dry throat.
All he managed was a croaky, "Kissed me?"
"Mmm." Axel was suddenly very – close. They had ceased walking, were just – standing there, in the middle of the sidewalk. Roxas wasn't feeling too cold anymore, even though the redhead had shifted around in front of him. The long, tapered fingers slid slowly down the sides of his arms, their touch light. He hooked a finger under the blond's chin and craned his neck back, so they were face-to-face. "Well?"
"I'd – there's no such thing as cooties," said Roxas blankly. Axel blinked for a moment, then smiled.
"That's correct, Roxas. There's not." He leaned down to press his lips against the blond's, only to have the elusive creature let out a startled squeak and jump back.
"Three days!" he exclaimed, heart pounding, eyes wide. He held up the same amount of fingers, shakily. "Three!"
Axel nodded slowly. "I see them."
"Three days, Axel!"
"Okay."
"I – I can't kiss you."
"You won't kiss me. There's a difference."
Roxas shook his head frantically. "Don't – I – isn't it enough that in the space of – of three days, you've made me question so much already? You can't – make me question this yet. Not yet."
There was something akin to fear in the boy's eyes, softening the rejection. Axel nodded again, in understanding. "Okay, Rox. It won't happen again."
Roxas didn't think that that was the answer he was looking for, but it was enough, for now. Bewildered, pressured by he didn't know what, he said, "We should keep going. I need to get back to bed."
Axel met up with him, and they continued, this time keeping their bodies to themselves. Five houses from their destination, Axel's watch beeped. He froze, Roxas passing him by several steps before realising he was walking alone. He paused, turned inquisitively. "Axel?"
Axel was looking at his watch. "Uh, in a second, Rox." He glanced up, features tight. "Look – sorry you drag you out and then bail on you, but I really need to go. I didn't – realise the time. We'll both be dead tomorrow after all this moonlight walking. So – sorry." He was already backing away. Roxas followed, concerned.
"Is everything okay? You look worried…"
"I'm fine! Really! Just – go on home, Roxie. I'll see you tomorrow – okay?" He hesitated. "And – sorry. About before. I don't – think very often."
Roxas shook his head. "Forget about it."
Axel let out a choked laugh and a grin. "Forget that? No way. You're too damn cute, especially up close like that. So, yeah." Another anxious glance at his watch, a hasty wave. "I'll see you round."
The redhead jogged away, almost running, leaving Roxas by himself in the cold air. Frowning, he wrapped his arms around his body, gazing out at the empty road for a while, before finally turning back for home.
.o.O.o.
Axel was only a little late the next day, looking pale from their encounter under the stars. Roxas found himself watching the redhead closely, a new interest swimming in his veins. So – all that flirting, it hadn't just been Axel being a jerk. He had tried to kiss him last night, and he wanted to be his friend… Did this mean that Axel liked him? God, he could only imagine what Hayner's reaction would be if they did end up getting together. All the 'told-you-so' in the world wouldn't even begin to make it up.
Roxas had kept the desk next to him clear, and as the redhead walked into class, shyly gestured him over. Axel hesitated, then smiled. He loped over, darting the teacher an apologetic glance, and folded himself into the chair. After keeping quiet for the first few minutes, in which the teacher continued to glower at the disruption, Axel whispered, "Thanks for the seat."
Roxas shrugged, focusing on his papers. "No problem. You get home okay last night?"
Axel ran a hand through his hair, a grimace forming. "Yeah, it was fine."
Roxas shot him a curious glance. "What, did you get caught?"
Axel smirked suddenly, shaking his head. "Nah, I made it, just. It was a close one, though."
"Oh. Parents light sleepers?"
Axel went still, then nodded slowly. "Sure." He hunched over his work, apparently intent on concentrating.
Well, if he'd been trying to not draw attention to himself… pretending to want to work wasn't doing anything but make Roxas stare.
"Subtle," he whispered, at which Axel made an impatient gesture, scowling into his book. Wondering, faintly suspicious, Roxas shrugged and followed suit. They didn't speak for the rest of the lesson.
On the way to English, Roxas had to ask, "What was up with you back there?"
"Hmm?" Axel glanced innocently over.
"That whole thing when I mentioned your parents…"
"Oh. It's nothing." The redhead shrugged. Roxas frowned.
"It didn't seem like nothing. You totally ignored me the whole rest of the lesson."
Axel leered. "Oh, was Roxie feeling neglected? I can always make you feel better…" He leaned close, voice dropping the customary, seductive octave as he breathed, "No really, I can."
Roxas scowled, punched him in the chest. "Get off me, perv. If you don't want to talk about it, fine."
Rubbing his sternum, Axel withdrew, toning down to a smile. "It's not a big deal, Roxas. I just prefer to not talk about my family – okay?"
Curiosity aroused, but mindful of the other teen, he nodded. "Okay, sure." He glanced up hopefully. "Someday, though?"
Axel slowed slightly, a calculative look coming into his eyes. One corner of his mouth lifted. "Someday," he agreed. "No problem."
They entered the English room and took their seats.
"Okay, today you guys get a new assignment," announced the teacher, perched on the back of her chair facing them all, rocking slightly on the heels of her pumps. "It makes up fifteen percent of your grade, so listen up! I want you forming constructive groups within your senior year – so that means you can do this with the other classes – and do a ten-thousand word write-up of your choice on something to do with Twilight Town. It can be about anything, the town founders, the production of sea-salt ice cream, the construction of the clock tower – it's entirely up to you. You have a week to complete it."
"A week?"
She held up a hand, forestalling protests. "You can split up the research, whatever you like, but yes, a week. It's really not hard, you guys. You get four people doing two-point-five k words each, and there's your assignment ready to hand in. Okay?" No further objections were made. "Okay! Get to it!"
Axel swivelled in his chair, grinning. "Sounds fun."
Roxas stared. "What, are you nuts? Easy, sure, but fun?"
The redhead shrugged. "I like history, so shoot me. Aren't you meant to be all proud of your town's heritage, or some shit like that?"
Roxas snorted. "Says the man who wants me to expand my interests outside of Twilight Town."
"It's always good to know your surroundings," Axel retorted. "If there's anything I've learned, it's that you keep an eye out, and things'll be fine."
"Well," sighed Roxas, "I don't see how researching sea-salt ice cream is going to help me anytime in the near future, unless I quit the toy store to become an ice-cream man."
"That," Axel pointed a firm finger, "would be so fucking cool. Man, the music alone would have me hooked."
Roxas gave him a weird look. "You're… definitely not normal, Axel."
The redhead rocked back, fingers steepled, adopting a sage expression. "Ah, yes, one of my many, many, many, many traits."
"Many," Roxas added, reaching down to pull out his workbook. He propped it on his knees, clicking out a pen, then looked over expectantly. "Okay, so what are we doing?" He made a face. "Or is that a stupid question to be asking the new guy?"
"Very possibly," Axel agreed, leaning his elbow on the desk, fingers drumming the side, "but I'm not just any old new guy, now am I? I am in fact – " He bent forward sharply, green eyes piercing. "A new guy with an idea."
"Idea being?"
"I've heard a rumour," Axel said casually, lounging back against the chair, crossing an ankle over one knee. "Well, seven rumours, really." His eyes flashed up to Roxas'. "The seven wonders of Twilight Town."
Roxas was sceptical. "The seven what's of where?"
"Oh, come on, Roxas!" He slapped a hand against the desk, formed a fist with it. "This is your freaking town! Seven wonders of Twilight Town! There's like, seven whole different types of weird freaky shit going down in Twilight Town, and I propose that we be the ones to uncover it!" He sat forward eagerly. "Come on, Roxie, think about it, it'll be cool. No one else is doing it."
"Because no one else knows about it," Roxas responded, one brow hiking up. "Are you sure you didn't just dream this, or make it up?"
"I am one hundred percent certain," Axel confirmed. "A hundred and ten percent, on a good day."
"I see." Roxas tapped an index finger against his book. "Okay, so tell me about these supposed wonders."
Axel counted them off on his fingers. "Okay, I heard some dumbshit with a neck thicker around than my thigh saying there's something weird with the stairs at Sunset Station; I heard something about balls flying out of a wall – mind out of the gutter, Roxie." Roxas spluttered, while Axel continued, ticking off his middle finger. "Keeping to the smut, I hear there's some moaning that comes randomly out of some tunnel, I don't know about you, but it sounds pretty fucking awesome to me; there's a water fountain that gives weird reflections – totally your territory, I once did one of those Bloody Mary things, shit-all happened, but I'm now scared for life; there's a train that goes with no one driving; and then there's a ghost bag on Sunset Hill."
"Ghost bag…"
"Apparently it jumps around. We should charge people for rides, like they do with ponies. You wouldn't even have to feed it! Because it's a bag!"
"…Right. Okay, and the seventh wonder?"
Axel gave him a blank look. "Hm?"
"That was… You only said six things. What's the seventh?"
"Oh! Right, that, the seventh wonder – that's some haunted mansion on the outskirts of town. Heard of it?"
Roxas was suddenly interested. "That, I actually have heard of. Even the haunted theory. So, okay, interesting – what do we do, research the mansion's history?"
"Pfft, fuck that." Axel flipped a hand carelessly. "We're not researching the mansion, we're researching the ghosts. We'll just turn up and see what we can see."
"Uh…huh." Roxas was once again unconvinced. "And what do we do if it turns out this is all just for nothing? Those seven wonders sound pretty damn lame, Axel."
The redhead groaned at the pessimism. "We can still write about all the hard work we did, and the pretty fresh air we breathed, can't we? It's still about Twilight Town." Axel clasped his hands together, pleadingly. "Please, Roxas? I really wanna do this! It'll be so much more fun than sitting around reading books and looking at microfilms."
Well, that was true. They'd have a week to roam around Twilight Town finding out about all these supposed phenomena, however sketchy it sounded. They could draw up some decent plans, that'd take up at least a thousand words… Axel, seeing the blond begin to crack, clapped his hands with glee.
"This is gonna be great, Rox! You, me, the little outdoors – it'll be awesome."
.o.O.o.
"Roxas! You heard about the English assignment, right? You're in our group, aren't you?"
Roxas froze, mid-step. Axel was over in the lunch-line, no doubt stocking up on more orgasm fries, and the others were already waiting at the regular table. They looked… happy to see him. It had been a while since they'd welcomed him so warmly.
Then Pence had asked that question.
His blue eyes widened with comprehension. The seniors were allowed to work with each other, regardless of class separation. And he'd planned to do the whole thing with…
"Come on, Roxas," Hayner insisted, sensing the blond's discomfort. "You're with us, right?"
Roxas squirmed. "Uh… well – "
A hand smoothed over his lower back briefly, making him jump. "Of course, me and Roxie would love to join your group." Axel grinned down at them all, before turning to Roxas. "Right, Rox?" He looked back at the others before the blond could respond. "We were hoping you guys hadn't just formed a threesome."
"We wouldn't do that!" Olette protested. "Of course we'd want you guys in our group!"
"Awesome, then," said Axel happily. He slid down into his chair, today with a sloppy-looking burger. "Roxie, take a seat, you give any more of that statue impression and birds are gonna come shit on you."
Hayner was less than impressed. "See, in my mind, when I asked Roxas if he was joining our group, I expected him to not have this red-haired extra appendage coming along for the ride."
"Deal, Blondie, cuz you're stuck with me," Axel replied sharply. He took a large bite of burger, glaring at the other blond. Hayner turned to his best friend.
"Roxas?" he whined. Roxas finally came back to life, sitting down beside Axel, and shook his head firmly.
"Axel's part of the group. He's even got a really good idea."
Axel arched an eyebrow. "You think so?"
"Yes," confirmed the blond. "But – " He raised a finger at his friends. "We're not telling you what it is until tomorrow. Meet at the Usual Spot, ten o'clock. Dress for sunshine, and walking."
"What, are we drawing our own map or something?"
"Hey, that's a pretty neat idea," Olette enthused.
"No," glared Roxas. "No map. Just meet us there tomorrow, and you'll find out."
Hayner shot a sceptical look over at the redhead. "You're expecting us to show up without a clue of what we're doing, except that bean-pole over there's the one that came up with it?"
"It has the Roxas stamp of approval," Axel sniffed. "What more do you need?"
"You have the Roxas stamp of approval. I'm thinking, next birthday, I'm buying Roxas some new stamps."
Roxas shook his head, bringing out his lunch. "Have a little faith, Hayner. It'll be cool, you'll see."
Axel grinned, tugging one of the blond's spikes.
.o.O.o.
Roxas was at work, behind the till, trying to ignore the pounding headache forming behind his eyes as loud, happy music played over the store's stereo system. He had his Biology book out, finger pressed against the page as he attempted to follow the lines of writing, a pink highlighter poised to sweep key sentences.
"Tickle me!"
"I wuv oo!"
"Crush – kill – DESTROY!"
"It's a small world after allll!"
Patience was a virtue. Patience was a virtue.
"Roxie!"
Patience was a goddamn, fucking virtue.
A jagged line of pink appearing on the page as his chin fell off his hand, Roxas lifted his face in surprise and dismay. Axel sauntered across the store, to come lean against the counter.
"Don't you have a home to go to? Or some schoolwork to do?"
Axel pouted. "Is that any way to welcome your English partner?"
Roxas cocked his head to the side, eyes narrowed suspiciously. "…This is an English visit?"
"Well… we're speaking English, aren't we?"
Roxas buried his face in his arms, voice muffled as he moaned, "What do you want, Axel?"
Pale fingers swept through the short spikes at the back of his head, a gentle gesture that sent shivers through his nerve endings. Rolling his shoulders to get the sensation away, Roxas straightened again, uneasily. Again, quietly now, he asked, "What do you want?"
Axel studied him for a moment. "I came to say hi."
A slight blush faintly stained the blond's cheeks, but was overpowered by the frustrated expression in place. "Axel, I'm working. I'm both at work, and using these precious few seconds that no one seems to need me studying for the biology exam next week. Can't you save the hi for some other, less hectic time?"
"Excuse me, young man – this doll doesn't appear to have a price on it – can you tell me how much it costs?"
Roxas reached out, pushed Axel none too gently to the side, fixing a tight smile in place for the customer. "Of course, ma'am, let me see that." He took the box, flipped it over in search of the price tag, then scanned it to see what the computer said. "It's twenty-five ninety-five."
"Ah, that's a little out of my range. Thank you anyway."
Roxas slid out from behind the counter, taking the toy back to its shelf, straightening the display while he was there. By the time he returned to the register, the redhead was nowhere to be seen. Seemed like maybe, for once in his brief appearance in Roxas' life, he'd actually listened to what the blond had to say. Good thing? Bad thing? Who really cared, when there was a kid scattering white sherbet over the pick-up trucks in aisle two?
Grabbing a dustpan and brush, he jogged quickly over, searching for the boy's mother. The kid was sucking on his fingers, each step spilling more powder over the thin carpet. "Roy, come on, we're not buying a truck today. We're here for a present for Katie's birthday party, remember?"
"Excuse me, ma'am, no food or drink in the store," Roxas called. She came along, taking away the kid's sugar with an apologetic smile and a scolding, while Roxas hunkered down and quickly swept up the mess. He loped back to the counter, reseating himself upon the stool, and ran a hand over his face. Darting a quick glance around to see if anyone was trying to engage his attention, or seemed about to, he picked up his highlighter and tried to resume where he'd left off.
"Hey, kid, how much is this thing?"
A little pre-wrapped package was dropped under his nose, a mess of leftover Christmas paper and angry sticky tape, from when Roxas had had to personally wrap over two hundred 'lucky dip' pieces of crap that sat in the large box near the register. If people could see what they were beforehand, they wouldn't waste the money, but something about being a kid made them all want to buy these mystery presents.
He raised his eyes to Axel's, incredulous. "More than you'd want to spend," he advised, after a pregnant pause.
"If it means mixing business with pleasure, then I'll buy it." Axel tugged out his wallet, flipping it open. "So tell me, young man, how much to buy this lovely little Christmassy-looking thing?"
"Two-fifty," the blond replied automatically, before raising an eyebrow. "Business with pleasure?"
"This way," Axel smiled, "I get to say hi, without distracting you from your job – since I'm making you do your job." He propped an elbow onto the counter, holding out the money, adding suavely, "Clever, no?"
Roxas snorted a laugh. "No. You just wasted two-fifty, and now you have to leave my store anyway." Axel stepped back and pulled apart the paper, withdrawing a bright yellow yo-yo, the plastic so cheap it was almost see-through.
He darted Roxas a wry look. "I'll cherish it always."
"Make sure it works okay," Roxas said, shifting off his stool as a woman down aisle four called for assistance. "Sometimes the string gets caught in the middle, and it's useless."
By the time he helped the woman choose her purchase, a model train for her ten-year-old nephew, Axel had the yo-yo untangled, and was looping it up and down from his finger with a look of intense concentration. Roxas couldn't help the grin that broke out across his features. "You're not half-bad at that. Know any tricks?"
"Huh, tricks? Not likely." The yo-yo chose that moment to bottom out, drawing a muttered curse from the redhead. "It's a damn miracle I got it going in the first place. How do you sleep at night, selling pieces of crap like this?"
"On a big pile of minimum wage. You buying anything else for the pleasure of my company, or are you leaving now?"
Disgruntled, Axel shook his head. "I'm out of cash."
Roxas toyed with his pen, colouring the corner of the page of his textbook. "So, you're coming tomorrow, right? You can come to my place first, and I'll take you there."
"Sure, Roxie, sounds good. I'll be there at quarter-to, okay?"
"Yeah. Axel?"
The redhead glanced up from his task of winding the yo-yo back to its beginning. "What?"
"Don't come and wake me up tonight, again, alright? I'm just about dying from tiredness right now."
Axel gave his hair an affectionate ruffle. "Don't worry, Roxie, it was a one-time screw-up. I won't do it again – you need your sleep." He scrunched up the ball of Christmas paper in his hand, and tossed it onto the counter. "Take care, okay, Roxie?"
His watch went off into its familiar series of shrill beeps, causing him to scowl. "Looks like I don't have a choice in the matter, anyway. I'll see you tomorrow, Roxas, bright and early."
"Don't be late!" Roxas called to his retreating back. "The last thing I need is Hayner getting pissy at me again!"
"Yeah, yeah." A hand flapped over his shoulder, and he was gone, leaving Roxas to face the glaring mother and her sherbet-ridden son.
"Language, please," she snapped. Roxas nodded sheepishly.
"Sorry, won't happen again."
He scanned their purchase, flipped them off as they left, and got back to his studying.
