CHAPTER THIRTEEN

It was a long walk down to the city, with no mode of transportation available to the inhabitants of the castle except for the wicked-looking bike that Aerith informed Roxas was Cloud's. Apparently well-aware of the consequences of bad sunburn, she had asked Roxas how much water he'd been drinking, just like Demyx, then handed over a two-gallon bottle and ordered him to finish it before they reached the Crystal Fissure.

They passed the fissure without seeing the rest of the Committee, continuing down the steady dirt road. It took an hour to walk the whole way, before reaching the outer limits of Hollow Bastion proper. The air grew denser, unusual scents edging the breeze threading out. The walls became sheets of metal and mesh against the rocky walls of the crags, some of the less firm ground boarded over, Roxas' and Aerith's shoes making a din as they crossed it.

"That's the Bailey up ahead," Aerith told him in her soft voice. "It's where the city gate is. Once we're through there, we enter a residential district. Right in the middle is the market district, where we're heading."

Roxas nodded, concentrating on his footing, and the second large bottle of water Aerith had forced into his hands to help keep his core temperature down. Aerith watched him as they walked, the basket bouncing against her thighs with each step. "So, Roxas," she said, as the road levelled out, allowing the teen to catch his breath. "How are you holding up, anyway?"

Roxas glanced over, wiping his forehead with the cool bottle, fluid inside sloshing back and forth. "Uh?"

"Well… are you missing your family yet? Your Twilight Town friends?"

Roxas' pace slowed. Under her gentle green gaze, he considered her question, and found his reaction lacking. He judged himself harshly. "I – I'm okay," he mumbled. She nodded.

"That's good, then. It's natural to get caught up in the rush of a new life, easy. Just don't be surprised if one night," she smiled sadly, "you wake up calling for your mother."

Roxas shot her a disconcerted look. "My mom…?"

Now that he thought about it, yeah – yeah, maybe he missed them a little. It was only normal, right? But – he didn't miss them enough. He felt like… a jerk. A bad son, bad friend, everything. He was only glad he'd been an only-child – at least he was spared the extra burden of being a bad sibling as well.

"A lot of people from the Twilight Children program are just so relieved to be free that it can take a couple of weeks for the reality to kick in," she continued, watching him knowingly, the guilty droop of his features.

"Why – why do you call it that?" Roxas asked, eyes elsewhere, an anxious stutter to his voice that begged her to let him be. She acquiesced, swinging the basket down to her side, head tipped to the side.

"You mean, the Twilight Children program? It's the name of the network you were in. Your Twilight Town was made to be an elaborate day-care centre for the war-orphans of Hollow Bastion."

Roxas blinked over at her, clutching the water to his chest. "It – what?"

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Hasn't anyone told you yet?"

He shook his head, lips pressed thin. "Axel's been trying to find a good time. We haven't really had a lot of alone time for this sort of – discussion."

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said genuinely, touching his arm. "I didn't mean to spring it on you like that. I should have realised when you asked…"

He shook his head firmly. "No – it… it's cool. Forget it. I can just ask Axel tonight."

She nodded uncertainly, withdrawing her hand. "If you're sure…"

They entered the Bailey, trailing dust along the stone floors. The gate was open wide, and they passed through, mounting steps into the city itself. A high wall ran along their right side, a series of longer stairs running alongside the walkway they traversed. Aerith led him around and down into a cobbled street. Large houses sprang up on all sides, the design different to anything Roxas had ever seen. He looked about in wonder, at the higgledy-piggledy arrangement, everything ordered but messy, much like the architecture of the castle.

Aerith led him confidently through the long streets, past the strangers that walked and milled, the children that ran and danced and stood dutifully by their parents, all of them young, the oldest Roxas saw being around ten years of age. Up until they reached the market district, the blond couldn't see much difference between Twilight Town and Hollow Bastion, aside from the aesthetics. Then the noise began to grow in his ears, at first distant, then all-too-close, a cacophony, his first indication that they were approaching new territory – then, they left one road, turning a corner, and Roxas was lost.

The sounds, the smells, the taste of the air changed, more people than he had seen in his life gathered, vehicles everywhere, all in a glorious, bewildering, sickening mess.

There was no way that Roxas would be going back to the castle tonight with anything more than the vaguest images in his head, an overall impression, his senses overloaded by all he had never even known to exist.

His heart leapt into his throat, breaths quickening. Apparently expecting a sharp reaction, Aerith was sure to remain close, within brushing distance, her bright, sympathetic eyes fixed carefully upon his tightened features. "We're heading to the farmer's market first," she said, managing to make her voice carry easily. "I need to order the next month's food supplies." She smiled sweetly at his dazed expression, placed a hand on his elbow. "It's alright, Roxas – it's only like this because of the market. It happens bi-monthly, and everyone comes for the bargains."

The blond nodded distractedly. He clung to the woman's dress as she plunged into the fray, stumbling slightly every now and then. He'd always known there was a bigger world out there than his one small town, but hell, he'd never imagined he'd feel like a hick once he got there. He was like a starry-eyed little boy, except the stars were caused more by terror than wonder, and he wasn't so little.

He kept Axel in mind, concentrated on not getting a blood nose and freaking out from the lack of personal space. Aerith had no trouble moving through the crowds, weaving with quiet grace, managing to never be jostled. Roxas tried to mimic her untouchable motions, tried to slide through the gaps.

They made it into the market without undue trouble, and Aerith spent the next hour trailing a stunned Roxas from stall to stall, placing orders and chatting gaily. At last, she pulled him into a quieter road, somewhere he could hear his own thoughts. He released Aerith's skirt, playing nervously with his fingers as they passed several shopfronts.

"Are you okay?" she asked. He nodded, forced a smile. She patted his shoulder. "You'll get used to it. I don't even notice."

Roxas doubted he'd ever get to the point where he didn't notice the enormous jumble of humanity with seemingly similar, single-minded intent to eradicate his shins in every way possible. Seriously, they were aching like a bitch. He hadn't been kicked so often in his life, not even fifth grade.

Aerith chose a shop, entered, made nice with the man behind the till, ordering this and that to be sent to the castle. Everyone seemed to know her well, they all obviously adored her. There wasn't a face in the city that hadn't welcomed her.

As she waded through the small talk, Roxas wandered over to the large display window, peering out cautiously, hands jammed into his pockets. The sea of people didn't cease, continued to swim past in invisible currents. He thought he caught a glimpse of Riku, saw a flash of silver hair, but when he paid attention, there was nothing there. Perhaps he and Sora were somewhere around town?

Aerith completed her tasks, called to him as she left. He hurried to catch up, fighting the urge to grab onto her again. He had to get better at this. After all – this was his new home. Right?

Aerith led him further from the business district, back into the quieter residential sections. Roxas started seeing signs of destruction, old, a collapsed building here and there that passers-by didn't take heed of. He noticed a sudden build-up of people in uniforms, green cloth, bright metal.

He lowered his face to hover near Aerith's ear, asking uncertainly, "Are those – soldiers?"

She blinked, glanced to where he was looking, smiled slightly and nodded. "Yes, Roxas. They're here from Zanarkand. It's nothing to worry about, they won't hurt us."

"Zanarkand?" Roxas remembered the picture, as yet uncoloured. "Why are there soldiers from there? Is it close by? Or is this to do with that war everyone keeps mentioning?"

"The war," she conceded calmly. "Fifteen years ago, Zanarkand declared war on the country of Ivalice. Hollow Bastion was a neutral city, which is why we were hit so hard – neutrality was frowned upon, by both sides."

Roxas glanced around, eyebrows raised. "It doesn't look like you were hit that hard," he observed. "I mean, it's been a while, but I wouldn't have known if no one told me."

"You're in the rebuilt area," she told him. "This is what the Restoration Committee has achieved in the last twelve years – Hollow Bastion…" She sighed. "It came very close to becoming a big pile of rubble."

"And…" Roxas watched one soldier pass, remembered the flashes of green he had seen in the marketplace. "They did all this?"

"Zanarkand and Ivalice together did all this and more," she said. "But we're at peace now, which is what matters. The soldiers are just to make sure no rebellions take place, but really, everyone's had their fill of war." She shrugged. "Things aren't so different, with DiZ around. He has protected the town the best that he could."

Roxas frowned. No wonder people deferred to DiZ, if he was the reason that everything was still standing. He was an asshole, but a useful one, it appeared.

The rest of the shopping trip passed without incident, Roxas' eyes suddenly picking up the soldiers he hadn't previously noticed, not everywhere, not constant, but present, always present.

In the end, Roxas couldn't talk Aerith out of buying flowers. She filled her basket happily, and he just didn't have the heart to bring Leon's request into it. She was such a beautiful person, and so giving – Roxas figured that if flowers kept her this way, it was the least Leon could do. She made sure to slip in an extra bunch for Axel, despite Roxas' protests.

As they were finally leaving the city again, Roxas' senses filled to overflowing, exhaustion leaking through his eyes and muscles, sunburn aching dully against his shirt, Aerith gave him a curious glance. "Tell me about you and Axel," she commanded.

Roxas blinked wearily, rubbing the dust from his eyes. "What?"

"You and Axel," she repeated. She fingered the lilies she had chosen for the redhead, poking from the top of the basket.

Disconcerted, Roxas shrugged. "What's to tell?"

She smiled, rolling her eyes slightly. "Well, for starters, you can tell me how you met."

"Well… I mean, we met in Twilight Town," Roxas said, uncomfortably. "What exactly did you want to hear?"

She tipped her head forward, eyes narrowing as she thoughtfully studied him. "I'm just curious, I guess. You two seem like such a cute couple."

Roxas spluttered. "A couple? Me and Axel?"

She frowned in slightly incredulity. "Well – yes, obviously. Aren't you a couple?"

Roxas thought back to breakfast, and blushed. Yes, they'd kissed, and hugged, and – and Axel kept touching him and he liked it, and… But he'd never thought of them in – in Demyx-and-Zexion terms. Not like as in, together. Okay, so he wasn't as happy when they were apart, and – and Axel really, really lit things up, but…

Axel was in love with him.

Roxas was… attracted to Axel. Liked him a lot.

Could he be with someone in what was virtually an unrequited relationship, based on the contrast between them?

"We – we're friends," he mumbled, scraping some sand from his eye as they started back up the steep hill.

Aerith looked suddenly torn between sympathy, and looking deeply unimpressed. "If you're friends," she said gently, "why do you kiss him?"

His eyes slid shut, he massaged his forehead. "Because."

"I see," she said slowly. She let the subject drop. How was it that Aerith made him feel like the world's biggest ass without even trying? All she had to do was ask a couple questions, and Roxas was left to flounder in his own indecision and lack of heart.

They returned to the castle by mid-afternoon, too late for lunch, which meant he'd have to wait until dinnertime to see Axel again. He was frustrated with himself – surely, considering how much he desired the company of the redhead, this meant that he had some real, actual feelings for him? As if those three days spent losing his mind with worry back in Twilight Town weren't proof enough.

Friends? They weren't just friends. They couldn't be, there was too much in the air between them. But – Roxas was cautious. He had to introduce some restraint into this pairing, didn't he?

Aerith gave Roxas the rest of the day to himself, a luxury. He used it to try and get some much-needed sleep, stripping off to his boxers and flopping down onto the bed – Axel's bed, the bed that Axel no doubt wanted to share with him.

He was beginning to regret the time spent with Aerith. She was like – some – walking conscience, or something. First asking about his family and friends, then Axel… Was Roxas supposed to be feeling more than he did? Was he not feeling enough?

It wasn't fair, he decided angrily, turning onto his back, ignoring the sting of the burn. Everyone expected him to leap into the redhead's arms and declare some kind of eternal love, but, damn it – wasn't it enough that he really, really liked him? He was a guy, the first guy Roxas had ever been attracted to. Roxas had known him for two weeks. It was like, just because of the force of Axel's feelings, which had had years to develop from the sounds of it, he was expected to just – just reciprocate without question.

He couldn't do that.

He could enjoy Axel's company, he could feel flutters in his stomach, he could love kissing the guy, but for God's sake, why couldn't he do it in his own time? What was with the goddamn pressure?

Too busy angsting, head buried into the pillow to try and smother away the thoughts conflicting his feelings, Roxas didn't notice when the door swung open. Axel entered, peeling off his shirt with a hiss, cursing under his breath. He kicked the door shut, balled up the material, threw it into the corner of the room. "Motherfucker," he muttered, brushing at his chest. He went to the wardrobe, yanked it open, glared at its innards.

Roxas, on the bed, froze. He lifted his head sharply, saw the bare skin of the hunched shoulders, the curve of the back. "A-Axel?"

Axel fell forwards, banged his knee, growled, "Fuck me!" He pushed back out, clutching the doors, eyes wild, hair a mess. "What the – Roxas?" He shifted away from the wardrobe, hands on hips, coming over to the bed. "What's wrong? What're you doing back already?"

"Uh… We finished shopping. Me and Aerith."

Axel's green eyes were concerned. "You sure? Usually it takes a lot longer than this… how come you're in bed?"

"I was sleepy?"

Axel smirked. "You were sleepy. Maybe…" He leaned down, a knee on the bed, hand planted by the blond's face. "…you had some awesome ESP moment and knew I was on my way."

Roxas glared. "Yes, or maybe, I was really fucking tired." He shoved against the bare chest. "Why are you not wearing a shirt?" he demanded.

"Oh, I got a little acid on me," Axel said casually. "Apparently Larxene didn't appreciate my flaming-tampon trick."

Roxas blinked. "You set her tampons on fire," he clarified. Axel nodded happily.

"It was great."

Roxas' eyes rolled. "So, you really are a pyro then. And here I thought it was just an affectionate nickname concerning your hair."

"I set that on fire once, too."

"…It's grown back marvellously."

Axel beamed. "Thank you." He sat back on the edge of the bed, reaching down into the dirty pile of clothing, sorting through for a shirt. "So, uh, are you okay? Like, I know things have been a little different to what you expected…"

Roxas stared at the ceiling. "I'm fine."

"Hm." Unconvinced, Axel turned onto his front, crawling over the blond's stretched body, hands and knees pressing into the mattress. Roxas' eyes widened.

"What the fuck, Axel?" he yelped. "Get off me."

"Relax, I'm not doing anything," the redhead frowned. "I just want to see you better."

His shoulder got punched ineffectually. "You can't see me from the other side of the room?"

"Not up close, no," came the patient reply. "Besides…" He leaned down to kiss the blond slowly. "It's the first time I've had you on my bed since the other night. No one knows we're together…"

"Oh, hey, that's a great idea, let's make them extend this punishment by having you fuck up again and ignore it!" Roxas suggested brightly. "Then maybe I can lose a leg under a rockslide, and we can miss out on mealtimes together!"

Axel snorted, pulling back with eyes rolling. "Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Roxie."

"Aren't you meant to be in some form of pain?" the blond inquired with a quirked eyebrow, pushing up to sitting. "I mean, the acid and all…"

"It was just a little acid," Axel reassured him. "And it just soaked my shirt. That's why I need a new one, ne?" He winked. "I'm just tough that way. Strong, like."

"My hero," Roxas drawled. Axel got up from the bed, going to sort through the wardrobe again, while the blond settled his chin on his knees.

"Tell me about the war," he said suddenly. Axel stuck his head out beyond the door, eyes widening, a frown in place.

"Oh, wow, Rox – that's kind of a long story, you know? I haven't got time. I'm just meant to be changing and scurrying back."

Roxas ignored his protest. "It's why I was put into Twilight Town, right?"

Axel's eyes narrowed. "Who've you been talking to?"

He lifted one shoulder. "Aerith let it slip. She didn't know you were upholding this hush-hush thing with me and, you know, information I might like to hear," he said calmly.

"I'm not doing it deliberately," the redhead muttered, pulling a shirt out at last and tugging it over his spikes. "I just…" He breathed out through his nose, a determined noise, and gave Roxas a hard look. "I promised you I'd tell you everything once you were out."

"Demyx told me," Roxas agreed.

"Yeah, well… I mean…" He stepped away, closing the doors, and shrugged, arms held out. "What do you want me to do? You can either wait a while, and hear it all from me like I promised, or you can go around asking other people." He watched the blond for a moment, eyes intent, before adding, "I'd really prefer you let me tell you."

"Why?" Roxas tilted his head, puzzled. "Is it really that big a deal?"

"It's not…" Axel lifted his eyes to the ceiling. "It's not the sort of information you can take lightly, Rox. The story is simple enough, but…" He met the blue eyes, clear and uncertain, bright. "I'm the one that knows how it all relates to you. I wanted to be the one to let you know."

A frown touched Roxas' features. "That's sounds a little ominous…"

"Yeah, well, it's not always going to be pretty, is it?" he muttered. He shifted over to the bed, bent forward to kiss the blond one last time before leaving. Roxas allowed it, felt the squirm in his stomach, felt his fingers become suddenly lighter, and decided it didn't really matter what Demyx or Aerith thought about how he felt about Axel.

All he wanted was for them to deal with it between them, and that's precisely what they were doing. He had no complaints at all.

Axel drew back, smiling softly. "Everything cool?"

Roxas nodded. "For now. But – don't let this drag out. People are talking like they expect me to know stuff – whatever you want to tell me, I'll end up learning about whether I want to or not."

Axel frowned. "A week – minus two days." He grinned sheepishly. "You think you can keep your ears shut for five days?"

"What?" Blue eyes twinkled. "Just plug my ears and start humming the second someone tries talking about the war, or the Twilight Children network, that sort of thing?"

Axel winced. "You sure do pick things up. But yeah, sure, that'll work. You do that."

Another swift peck to his forehead, it felt like they were a couple – what else could he possibly call this? Friendship with benefits? Might as well call them fuck-buddies and get it over with, if he was going to choose that particular epithet.

"Axel?" His voice was soft, catching the redhead at the door. Axel turned his head, absently sucking on his bottom lip, the twin tattoos drawing attention upward, as if those eyes weren't already grabbing all on their own.

"Hm?"

"I – " Roxas lowered his mouth, hitching his knees a little closer, holding on a little tighter. "I like you."

He didn't look up to gauge the reaction, and the redhead didn't suddenly throw himself over towards the bed in a fit of passion, declaring his undying love for the blond, like maybe Roxas had expected him to.

Instead, Axel, unseen to Roxas, stiffened, eyes widening, mouth open a little. Then it clicked shut, thumbs hooking into his belt-loops. He nodded, smiled slowly. "Okay, Roxas."

He quietly closed the door, leaving the blond blinking from the light, the sudden darkness, the absence of another presence in the room.

.o.O.o.

Dinner rolled around, and Roxas nearly slept through. He would have, if the knock hadn't come at the door, soft at first but then insistent. Eyes winking erratically with grogginess, he pushed himself up from the mattress, the sheet sticking momentarily to his hot face, dragging painfully against his back as he staggered up and over to the door. The part of him awake enough to be alert dreaded the person on the other side, knowing intrinsically that Yuffie would be waving her claws at him with the promise of more torment.

It was to his surprise that he found himself blinking into eyes an almost identical shade of blue to his own, a slight shade of yellow ghosting the skin underside of the right one; the last remaining bruise.

"Sora," he croaked, the name on his tongue before his mind had a chance to catch up and agree.

The owner of the eyes nodded, scratching the back of his brunet spikes, the other hand gracing his hip. "Hi. We haven't really been formally introduced, not since… well, you know…"

Roxas' eyes closed, he nodded. "Did – your boyfriend tell you what I said?" he asked softly.

The boy smiled. "Of course. He then swore he'd kill you, once he made me explain exactly what you were apologising for, but – " He laughed, a bright noise. "I covered for you. After all, I've been talking to Naminé a bit, so I kind of understand what it is you were so mad about…"

Roxas looked up sharply, startled. "Naminé! Of course – she'd have realised. And – you're friends with her?"

Sora shrugged. "Everyone's sort of friends here – well, except with Larxene, though it's not for lack of trying – but yeah, me and Naminé, and Kairi and Riku, and Vaan, we all tend to sit together just like Axel and his closer friends do."

"Oh." Roxas hesitated, flickering to meet the brunet's gaze. "I really am sorry. I know how awful Seifer can be, and I just…"

"Look, Roxas, seriously…" Sora shook his head, spikes bouncing, waving a hand to clear the air between them. "If I thought Riku was some kind of con-artist with Kairi, trying to make an idiot out of me while stealing all my money at the same time? I'd more than freak out, trust me." He rolled his eyes to emphasise the fact that, maybe, Sora had a demon lurking deep behind the happiness. Roxas found it hard to believe, but nodded.

"I appreciate that. Thanks." A silence developed awkwardly. Sora raised an eyebrow.

"So, are you coming to dinner, or what? That was my other reason for coming – Axel's looking pretty depressed in the dining hall, and I thought it might be to do with the lack of – "

"It's dinner?" Roxas threw the door wide, blinking, a slight panic in his gut. "How – how long have I missed?"

"Oh, well – dinner kind of stretches, you know?" Sora smiled. "It's okay, there's still enough time to do whatever. I guess just coz it's the second night you haven't been, Axel figured you were a non-dinner guy or something."

"He would, wouldn't he?" Roxas grumbled, quickly darting back in to throw on clothes and shoes before meeting the other in the hallway. "God forbid that he'd send someone to find me."

"I think I heard Demyx making some loud requests," Sora informed him, "but apparently he's not allowed near you. Something about…" The boy's eyes laughed, while his voice remained steady. "…fucking Leon?"

"Oh, man," Roxas complained. He shot a quick glance over at the brunet, realising suddenly, "You've been out here your whole life, haven't you?"

Sora nodded, a crooked sort of smile in place. "Yeah, that's me. I hid from the soldiers, managed to stay free."

Roxas frowned, feet taking him automatically around a corner that three days ago he'd have sailed right past. "So… Twilight Town – it's some form of – incarceration?"

"That's how I think of it," came the simple reply. "A lot of people view it as the town's saving grace, and no doubt it was, but I think the way they continue to hold people after all this time is pretty disgraceful. DiZ won't give them up, though – he says there's too many to just release into the real world without warning. I've argued, but…" He shrugged.

Roxas smiled a little incredulously. "You've argued? With that weird guy? I thought you people looked on him like a god."

Sora snorted. "It's not quite that bad. DiZ definitely holds a lot of sway, but I'm a full technician – he can't do diddly-squat to me."

"Why not?"

"I'm too damn useful," the boy said cheerily, as they entered the dining hall. "And I see your mildly less useful boyfriend sitting miserably over with his friends – why don't you go say hi?"

Roxas was shoved away before he could argue that they weren't boyfriends, as such, before he could defend Axel's usefulness, before he could ask how one becomes a full technician – hell, before he could even say 'nice to meet you, and sorry again'. His feet took him staggering in the redhead's direction.

Demyx spotted him first, brightening up instantly and giving a quick wave. "Roxas! Come on over!"

Axel straightened, twisting sharply, eyebrows shooting into his hair. "Roxas?"

Having regained his footing, Roxas approached the table self-consciously, scratching at the peeling skin of his neck. "Hi. I hear I nearly slept through dinner."

"Is that what the marks are on your face?" Demyx laughed, pointing. "You've got all these pillow creases everywhere."

"Demyx, don't finish that thought," Zexion muttered warningly, shooting a glance at Axel, but the redhead was acting as if he hadn't even heard, his face breaking out into the first grin of the evening.

"And here I thought you just didn't like eating." Axel stood, moving to hug him, but hesitated slightly as his hands passed Roxas' arms. The blond sighed, spared a glance at the sky, then pulled him close. With a little laugh in his voice, Axel said, "It's nice to see you, too, but – PDA much?"

"I'm not going to promise dry-humping on Aerith's stove," responded Roxas flatly, "but hugging in public I can manage."

"That's enough for now," Axel allowed, returning the embrace. Into his ear he said, "I'm happy to see you here. I thought maybe I was being avoided."

"No, just dreamt about in between drooling on your pillows," the blond admitted. Axel laughed.

"I'll never wash them again." He played with a couple flaxen spikes. "Not that I do anyway. That's more a momma Aerith job."

"You lazy ass," Roxas muttered, pulling back with a smile. "I'm hungry, and all I've eaten in the last couple days is breakfast food and sandwiches. Is there anything – non-Axel – that I can sink my teeth into?"

Axel grinned, shaking his head. "And you say you don't know me well." He wrapped an arm around the blond's neck, tugging him near, and went to show Roxas around the spread-out kitchen. Just as they had managed to pile Roxas' plate up, a hand poked him twice on the shoulder. Roxas glanced over his shoulder, to see a beaming Yuffie.

"Hiya, Roxas," she chirped, still insanely energetic after a full day's work. "You and I don't have our daily grope session until later, but Leon sent me over to steal you to our table."

Axel slid an arm around his waist possessively. "Leon will have to wait," he growled. "I'm pretty sure it was made clear that Roxas belongs to me at mealtimes."

"So come join us, doofus," Yuffie sighed, twirling a hand at him. "It's really not that large a room, you can still yell idiotic things to your friends from our table."

Roxas and Axel exchanged looks. "What does Leon want with me, anyway?" the blond asked suspiciously. "I don't have to do the rock thing again, do I?"

"No, no – Aerith's got you covered on that front, she's gone into lioness mode with you, kid. But Leon doesn't want you shopping all day, either – apparently Aerith managed to buy more flowers today with you than she even got with Cloud, so you're no good at that."

"Oops," said the blond guiltily. "But – she really wanted them all…"

"Yeah, I know." Yuffie winked. "Leon won't admit it, but I know he likes them. He's just not happy if he hasn't got anything to bitch about. So come join us, Roxas!" She took on a wheedling tone. "The only time I get to see you is when I'm causing you pain! It's no fun at our table without a new guy to show the ropes to!"

Roxas sighed. "Okay. But Axel comes, too."

"Did I not just say that?" She jumped around on the spot, landing with her back to them, motioning them forward as she trotted away. Axel, looking decidedly sulky, followed Roxas over to the Restoration Committee table. The redhead glared as Tifa gestured the blond over to the seat she'd apparently reserved for him, greeting him delightedly. Aerith, sitting beside Cloud, smiled warmly at the two males.

Axel set their plates down noisily, glaring around at the table's occupants, reserving a particularly heated look for Leon, who ignored him completely, focusing instead upon the blueprints he and Cid were currently poring over, food forgotten. He looked up only when he heard Cloud, prompted by Aerith, greeting Roxas dully. He flicked an imperceptible glance at the expressionless Cloud, before settling his gaze on the younger blond. "You're our new gopher," he stated plainly, not bothering with small-talk. "Cid and I are working tomorrow on a section of the water generator in the valley, we need you back-and-forth-ing for us. Aerith will provide sunscreen, I advise you use it this time."

"Oh, don't mind me," Cloud muttered from his place. "I don't know anything, after all, except how to steal without getting caught. I sure as shit don't know how to fix machinery, which is why whenever my bike breaks down I stamp my high heels and call for a tow truck."

"High heels?" Leon appeared momentarily distracted, an eyebrow arching slightly.

"And then," continued the blond, "I go and make myself throw up in a ditch because I suddenly remembered I had some gum the previous day and accidentally swallowed."

"Oh, really, you swallow by accident?" Axel asked loudly. "Me, I usually make the decision beforehand and stick by it – spit, or swallow, hmm – and then I tend to save the gum for afterwards."

Leon choked, snorted, tried to make it seem like he wasn't laughing, while Cloud's mouth dropped open. "Now," he scowled, "I see why you never sit at our table." He turned back to Leon, ignoring the knuckles the brunet held to his mouth in an effort to stay quiet, and said, "My point is that I do think I could be of use to you guys. You haven't even bothered to ask me."

"Fuckin' fine," Cid snarled suddenly, throwing his pen hard enough to send it bouncing across the table. "I can't concentrate with you morons being shit-heads on a permanent basis – you can work with us, you can even wear your high-fuckin'-heels, but will you idiots please shut up? And give me back my pen," he snapped at Tifa. She tossed it lazily over, smirking.

"You have a lot of experience with spitting and swallowing?" Roxas asked, quietly enough that no one would overhear. Axel blinked, tearing his amused gaze from the proceedings.

"Oh, uh, a little."

"Who with?" Roxas asked, curious, faintly jealous. His features darkened after a moment. "Not with Demyx, please."

Axel laughed. "No, no, it's not Demyx. It's no one you know." He slid a hand through Roxas' hair, fingertips dragging in a sort of massage, just about making the blond purr at the pressure. "If you hadn't noticed, there's a sort of city-type thing going on down the bottom of the hill, where people live. It has bars I liked to frequent, once upon a time, and as I always say, nothing liquors you up like alcohol."

"Intelligent of you," Roxas grumbled. "Liked, past tense?"

"Pre-Roxie, yes." The redhead leaned in, kissed his temple. "Eat your dinner, or no dessert," he growled into the blond's ear. Roxas fought off the shiver that threatened to overtake, focusing on his food with effort.

Yuffie, meanwhile, squealed at the cuteness of Roxas' strained expression, then pouted. "I don't get why the other tables get to have hot guys kissing, while me, Tifa and Aerith get stuck with all the grumpy shits in the room," she complained.

Tifa smiled wickedly. "One way to solve that problem, Yuffie, dear – " She lifted her head imperiously, gesturing across the table. "Cloud, go make out with Leon."

An eruption of choking volleyed forth, Cloud having almost inhaled his spoon, Leon his own saliva. Nodding smugly to herself, she winked over at Yuffie and mouthed, 'Only a matter of time'.

Axel chose the opportunity to whisk Roxas away, back to the table of techies, where they could finish their meal in whatever passed for peace in this open asylum.