CHAPTER TWENTY

Smoke filled the air, Axel adding to the fog with a cigar, Riku with a cigarette dangling from his lips, Sora dozing quietly against his shoulder, curled against his bare chest. Roxas was slumped down in his chair, cards held out, eyes swinging in and out of focus, alcohol humming through his veins. Larxene was one loss away from flashing her breasts to the world, Yuffie momentarily awake having spent the previous four rounds unconscious on the table again. Cloud had lost all his chips, was lying with his head down, breathing slowly, eyes gently shut. Leon stared at him, hardly even playing the game anymore, a tender expression on his face. Kairi had roused, surprisingly still clothed, and come to sit beside Axel in Demyx's old seat, the blond mimicking Sora, fast asleep on Zexion's lap, his heavy breaths overlapping the quiet, background music. The girl leaned against her brother, sleepily watching his cards as his long, deft fingers slid them back and forth, arranging the fan into order with each new hand. The redhead had linked his ankle behind Roxas' under the table, the contact keeping them allies even as they played against one another.

"Three." Vaan slapped his rejects down, gestured, accepted the replacement. He raised a fist to his lips, cleared his throat, picked up his latest drink, ice cubes clinking, drained the last of it. He licked his lips as he set it down. Kairi turned to whisper into Axel's ear, making the man shrug. He plucked out a card, took another in return, pulled out his cigar and blew out a smoggy lungful, squinting at the patterns hovering and swimming through the air. Kairi chose his chips and slid them into the centre of the table. Larxene's lips pursed. "Meet." She matched the bet.

"Raise." Roxas upped the ante, and Riku shook his head.

"Fold." The cigarette bobbed. He dropped his cards face-down, leaned back, shifting Sora against his chest, lifting up a leg. "Vaan. De-sock me." He wriggled one white-clad foot.

"Oh, fuck off," Leon scoffed. "A sock is not a forfeit."

"Fuck yes it is," the teen objected, teeth clenched to keep from dropping the cigarette. "It's a legitimate item of clothing."

"It should've come off already, both should, when you lost your shoes," the brunet argued. "It's strip poker, Riku, not fucking – gradual – laundry day poker!"

"I lost my shirt, didn't I?"

"You fucking bitch. Cloud's in his underwear."

"So's Sora!"

"Shut. Up," Cloud muttered. He sucked a trail of drool noisily back into his mouth, sat up rubbing the pressed-flat side of his face slowly. "You woke me up," he said petulantly. "I can't play anymore, and now I can't even sleep."

"I offered you some of my chips," Leon reminded him.

"I don't need them," the blond snapped.

"Can we play the fucking game?" Roxas asked hoarsely, blinking sharply out of a tired, mindless stare. Axel took his chin, ran a thumb across the soft skin of his jaw, a flesh kiss. Kairi smiled warmly at them. Vaan shrugged, tugged at the toe of Riku's sock, yanked it a couple times until the pale foot was exposed. He tossed it across the table, hitting Demyx's back, the blond slumbering on heedlessly. Zexion glared, resting his cheek against the back of Demyx's head, elbows gently propped against his broad shoulder.

"You know, Cloud," said Yuffie, as several more bets were placed around the table, "you don't need to bet with chips…"

"It's not the chips I'm worried about," he explained grumpily. "I'm in my underwear and I'm shit at this game – you really think I'm walking back to my room stark naked?"

She smiled thinly, stuck an elbow on the table, chin in hand, scraping her fan slowly back and forth across her nose. "Well, what if we make it so you don't have to take anything off? Say, for example, you just have to start adding things – dumb things. Riku's hair tie, just your belt – we could totally turn you into a gimp."

Tifa, silent and patient by the bar, clapped her hands sharply, startling Roxas out of his freshly sunken reverie, stirring Sora, making him nuzzle Riku's collarbone. "Yes, that's so great!" she enthused. "Come on, Cloud, you're already almost naked – and you're among friends!"

The blond was suspicious. "That felt… rehearsed."

"Rehearsed?" The black-haired woman blinked innocently. Yuffie snorted.

"Yeah, we totally thought this up beforehand, coz we knew you'd end up losing."

"You have to admit, Cloud is pretty consistently shit," Riku pointed out dubiously, plucking out his cigarette to knock ash into the tray provided. "It wouldn't be hard to do."

"Come on, people!" the ninja cried, smacking the table. "Conspiracy theories to be left at the door! We're innocent! We just want Cloud to stop sleeping through poker night!"

After a moment's internal debate, the blond finally assented, disgruntled. "Alright."

Axel raised his eyebrows at the wicked grin that flashed and was smothered.

"Show your hand," Luxord commanded dryly, utterly uninterested in the conversation. Cards lay on the table, winnings going to Larxene.

Roxas drained his glass as Luxord collected the cards and began his elaborate shuffling process. The alcohol had ceased to burn his throat as it went down, each drinking getting stronger, Larxene personally overseeing the blond's intake. He sighed, placing the glass back down, Axel leaning back to blow smoke rings at the ceiling, pushing back to stretch his legs. Roxas took a deep breath, let it out with a murmur, wrapped himself around the redhead's free arm, snuggling close, eyes slipping shut, listening to the scrapes and voices around the room. Axel rested his cigar into the ashtray, brought his newly empty hand around, stinking of tobacco, to leaf through the soft spikes adorning the blond's head. He pressed his nose into the thatch, inhaling deeply, nudging him slightly with his nose.

"I don't know about you," he whispered, "but I'm starting to think sleep is a good thing."

Roxas made a small noise, torn between protest and agreement. He was so tired, face throbbing almost pleasantly along the lines and rises of his swelling bruises, eyes scratchy and hot, shutting them such a sinful satisfaction. "Another round," he mumbled, rubbing his skin against Axel's shirt, pushing his forehead into the material, concentrating only on the feeling. Axel smiled, sighed through his nose. He caught Roxas' chin, tipped his head back, kissed him carefully.

"Alright. One more."

"You're leaving?" Yuffie demanded, halting mid-stretch, glaring. Axel glanced up.

"Yuf, it's two in the morning. Roxie's had enough to drink, I haven't slept in a billion years, we're both kind of dying in our seats."

"I'm actually starting to feel a little sick," the blond muttered. "I'd say I've had more than enough."

"Gonna hurl?" Riku asked, crushing his cigarette out, fingers slightly yellowed, free hand gently massaging Sora's scalp, the boy purring slightly even in slumber. Roxas shook his head.

"Just feeling… icky."

"Icky." Vaan laughed. "Nice. Me, I could do with another." He raised his glass, shook it, the remaining ice cubes chinking against the sides. "Oh, barmaid!"

"Don't you think you've had enough?" Zexion asked, eyebrow raised, arms wrapped around Demyx's kittenish form. Vaan leaned forward, smirking.

"Who says how many's enough?"

"What's this, your seventh?" the man asked sceptically.

"Eighth," Tifa supplied, coming over to take the glass. She shrugged. "It'll be his headache in the morning."

"Stressed?" Axel asked. "You've been drinking harder and harder lately."

The white-blond teen glowered a little, fingers drumming the table. "What are you guys, my fucking multiple mothers? Gonna tell me to pick up my room?"

"Gonna tell you you're turning into an alcoholic," the redhead replied. The boy rolled his eyes.

"Hardly. I know my limit, assholes. Just keep an eye on your own."

Everyone kind of shrugged, left the boy alone, ears shut to any advice they might feel like giving. Roxas slung a leg over Axel's lap, and started to squirm over, grabbing his shoulder, lifting himself wobblingly, settling in a straddle. Axel hooked his fingers around the teen's back, pulled him a little closer, pressed their foreheads together.

"How you doing, Roxie?"

"Axel's Roxie," the blond reminded him with a slight slur. The redhead grinned.

"Axel's Roxie," he agreed.

"I'm glad you didn't jump off a cliff like the – the – one-armed man said you would."

"Vincent has a flair for the dramatic," he muttered. Roxas smiled, poked their noses together.

"Makes two of you."

"Why, Roxas, you little bitch." He kissed the boy, threaded his fingers through the hair at the back of his head, pressed them firmly together. Roxas responded eagerly, shifting closer, hands wrapping around the slender neck of the other, forcing his tongue into the redhead's mouth, licking the muscle he met, the hard teeth, the smoky cavern.

Axel's eyebrows shot up, almost pulling back from surprise. Roxas shook his head sharply, gasped, dove back in, breathing hard, wet noises coming from the pair as Axel submitted to the intensity. Almost as soon as he had control, Roxas gave it up, chose to move along the side of the fair face, pausing only to touch kisses to each tattoo, shifting small licks across his cheek and over to his ear, taking the lobe between his teeth and nipping down. Axel couldn't suppress the groan that rose, attracting several amused glances.

Roxas breathed in sharply, the noise loud in the redhead's ear, hands reaching up to tug him back to his mouth. They connected, Roxas' fingers massaging the back of Axel's neck, nails scraping through the thick hair, seizing small handfuls and tugging. The older of the two hummed intently, lips pressing thin as Roxas drew back, hands pulling free of the blazing red, trailing down his chest, settling between their bodies to roll inexpertly in the redhead's lap. Axel's eyes shot open, a strangled gasp escaping. He licked his lips quickly, glanced sideways to where Kairi had her back deliberately turned, chatting determinedly brightly to Zexion. He pressed a hand against Roxas' chest, pushing him back a little, making the blond whine in protest. He laughed slightly, breathlessly.

"Roxie, not – not here, okay?"

"Come on," Roxas muttered thickly. "It's not like you haven't got any experience."

Axel stared, then tipped his head back with a sigh. "And if I needed further proof that you're drunk off your fucking skull, there it is." He smiled a little. "I wish you were this perverted when you were sober."

"Gimme tiiiime," the blond hissed, grinding his hips slightly, making Axel grunt, "but right now, hammered Axel's Roxie wants to keep kissing and stuff. Doesn't hammered Axel want to as well?"

"Sober Axel wants to, too, you know," the man replied, lips twitching. "But…" He kissed him. "As much as I'd love to take advantage of this wonderfully horny Axel's Roxie, I think Roxie's Roxie might kick my ass in the morning if he woke up with me inside his."

Roxas blinked suddenly, slightly shocked. "Yeah – I think he might."

"Are you two in or out?" Luxord's dry voice cut through, brought their heads around, Roxas frowning a little. Yuffie stood abruptly, hands planted on the table, glaring.

"They're in. Totally in." She grabbed up an empty shot glass, threw it at Sora, the thunk as it connected with his skull making everybody but Riku wince. The silver-haired teen let out a startled noise as Sora snapped awake crying, "Ow! What the fuck? Ow!" He rubbed the side of his head frantically, almost in tears at the sudden, violent, painful waking. Riku glowered viciously, straightening, holding the brunet protectively.

"What the fuck was that for, you fucking bitch?"

Yuffie was already throwing a second one at Demyx. Zexion's reflexes kicked in, he smacked it, deflecting it into the wall. It broke when it hit the floor. "Yuffie, stop that," Leon rapped sharply. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Everybody's in on this round," she answered, scowling. "No more sleeping, not for anyone!"

"Huh." Larxene rolled her eyes, adjusting the cups of her bra. "And you call me crazy?"

"Seems you're contagious, love," Luxord said mildly.

"Yuffie!" Sora's eyes swam, glaring angrily, curling deeper into Riku's embrace. "Why'd you do that? That hurt!"

"Yuffie's out of the game," Riku snapped. "I'm not playing with her. She just went stupid drunk, and everybody knows the rules."

"I'm not being stupid drunk," the girl howled, dragging at her hair. "Just everybody fucking play the round! I'll go afterwards, just play!"

"Yuffie, what the hell?"

She tore her hands down, planted her fists on her hips. "Not another word! You're all in! Luxord, deal!"

The man needed no second prompting, cards already whizzing around, serving everyone. "But what if I lose?" Sora cried. "I don't want to go naked!"

"What's going on?" Demyx mumbled, rubbing the top of his head. He smiled sleepily. "Hi, Kairi. Sleep-walking, or awake?"

"Hi, Demyx. Awake. You?"

"Awake," he nodded. He frowned. "I don't know why, though. I was sleeping."

"At least you didn't get hit with a glass," Sora pouted. Demyx blinked, then pointed and laughed.

"You got hit with a glass?"

Zexion pinched the flesh of his stomach, silencing him as both Sora and Riku glared.

"So, what's the big deal, Yuf?" Kairi asked. The ninja had seated herself, was looking flustered and agitated.

"I just – everyone's going to sleep. We need to have a game with all of us."

"You couldn't wake me normally?" Sora demanded.

"Glass was faster, stop whining," she scolded.

"He has a lump on his head," Riku snarled, fingers gently touching under the spiky hair.

"It'll be worth it," the girl shouted. "Leave me alone! Hate me tomorrow, play the goddamn game now!"

Gaining some nasty looks from around the table, Yuffie pointedly picked up her cards. After a moment, the others followed suit. A silence settled, the sound of flicking overlaying the jazz as people discarded, sorted, added, played their various faces. "Place bets," Luxord said.

"Before Yuffie tries to kill you," Riku added, shooting her a dark look. She flipped him off. Roxas sat on Axel's lap still, facing the table, their arms interlinked, both sets of cards set up, swapping between the two hands. Luxord glared, but didn't comment, apparently aware that this particular poker night was falling down around his ears.

Cloud was looking unhappy, his poker face very much like his regular face. His downfall was that, if he had a good hand, he actually looked pleased with himself for once. Thus, his appalling skills, his distinct lack of clothing.

"Me and Roxie have a full-house between us," Axel announced, Kairi pushing the last of their chips to the middle pile. "We kick all your asses."

"Scarcely," Luxord sniffed. The man lay down his hand, a royal flush. Cloud was busily hitting his head against the table, not even bothering to shrug Leon off as the man patted his bare back. Yuffie stood, leaned across the table, almost climbing onto it to view his cards. That same gleeful grin tugged the corners of her mouth, quickly stifled. Poker face firmly in place, she shrugged, stood, walked over to Tifa, who was waiting, passing her something in a bag.

Riku narrowed his eyes. "Okay, what are you doing to Cloud?"

Yuffie spun on the spot, singing, "No-thing!" She trotted over. "Well, okay, something. Everybody remember to bring cameras? No? That's okay, Tifa did!"

The woman had it out, adjusting the zoom, the flash, readying it at her eye, finger poised over the button. Cloud was getting increasingly nervous.

"So this was planned?"

"Of course it was, darling boy. Now stand!"

All eyes were upon the blond, confused, worried, getting up slowly from his chair. "We're putting something on, though, right?" he asked, hands going protectively to the sides of his shorts.

Yuffie and Tifa burst into identical peals of laughter. Leon's eyebrow rose slowly, glancing between them. "If it's anything too bad, he doesn't have to do it…"

"I'm afraid he does," Luxord interjected smoothly. "Rules of the game, Cloud's more than aware. He did agree, and he played the round."

"And lost spectacularly," Vaan pointed out. Cloud glared at them all, shifting anxiously from foot to foot.

"Okay, so what's in the bag, Yuffie?"

She unveiled the contents with a flourish. "Ta-daaa!"

Roxas started laughing, and wasn't quite sure how to stop. Everyone else just stared.

"High fucking heeled shoes?" Cloud looked traumatised. "Yuffie, I can't walk in those! I'll kill myself!"

"Ah, the joys of womanhood." She dropped them unsympathetically. "Put em on, Spiky."

The man looked around for help, deer-in-spotlight as his eyes fell upon the smirking Leon. "Leon, you said…"

"I was overruled," the man replied quietly. "Looks like you've got no choice, Cloud."

Roxas bent over the table, gripping his stomach, Axel patting his back with a worried grin. "Keep breathing, Roxie."

Larxene looked like someone had given her a new lease on life. She jumped up, sitting on the back of her chair, hands on her lap, eagerly awaiting the prize that was Cloud in women's heels.

"Come on, Cloud, it's all your own damn fault," Yuffie stated firmly. "You're the smartass that thought it up, you're gonna finish this one, walking all the way back to your room."
He bristled suddenly, growing hateful. "Yuffie, I am not happy with you," he growled.

She rolled her eyes, flipped a hand carelessly. "Ah, tell it to someone who cares. Make with the shoes."

Cloud hesitated, fingers balling into fists, obviously struggling for a solution. Evidently out of ideas, he hissed, "Fuck." He bent, snatched up the shoes, sat on his chair and tugged them on. "How come their big e-fucking-nough for me?" he demanded, as they slid easily onto his feet. "Did you special-order these?"

Leon blinked. "Is that why you asked me his shoe size?" he asked Tifa. She winked, refocused the lens. Cloud turned red, apoplectic.

"You told them my shoe size?"

"I thought it was for Aerith," the man defended.

"Oh, it was," Yuffie nodded, swinging her arms back and forth, smiling broadly. "She's the one that ordered them. She sure moves fast when she wants to. Why do you think we're taking a picture?"

"Aerith was in on this too?" Cloud cried. He set his feet back down, knees turning inward as he tried to automatically press his heels to the floor and was halted. He looked down miserably. "Oh, man, I'm going to break my ankles."

"Leon can help you," Tifa suggested. "After all, he's the one that got you into this mess in the first place!"

Amusement all around as Cloud suddenly whipped around, furious. "They're right!" He punched Leon's shoulder ineffectively. "This is all your fucking fault!"

"Then – " Leon cleared his throat, expression carefully schooled. "Allow me to help you."

"Madam," Riku added. Cloud bared his teeth and snarled across the table.

"Easy, tiger," Axel taunted, drawing the breathless Roxas close, the blond still having hopeless hysterics.

"I fucking hate you all." Cloud gripped the table and the back of his chair and levered himself up, muscles hardening as he attempted to find a centre of balance. Leon stood, shirtless but wearing pants still, barefoot, and prepared to catch the man if he fell. Cloud glared, jerking his arms out of range, wobbling. "I can do it myself." He took a hesitant heel-toe step, swayed dangerously, grabbed the chair again, huffed. His eyes narrowed at Tifa, who was moving around to get a better position for the photo. "You're a pair of goddamn bitches," he hissed.

"And now you can be a sexy bitch with us," Yuffie declared brightly. She clapped her hands. "Come on, Cloud, shake that ass, hips swinging, baby!"

He lunged at her, hands clawing, and promptly fell, howling in pain as his ankles twisted out from under him. Yuffie jumped back, cringing at the thump as Cloud, without a chance to catch himself, slammed chin-first to the ground. Tifa let out a yelp of startled laughter, waited until Leon was crouching to pick the man up, and took the photo with a bright flash.

"I'll fucking kill you!" the man roared. Letting out shrill, frightened, hysterical giggles, the two women grabbed hands and ran for the exit, the camera bouncing from its strap around Tifa's wrist. Cloud let out a bellow, started crawling fast, ass in the air, knocking chairs. Leon gulped and covered his eyes, wheeling away towards the wall, hitting his head very deliberately against it.

"Tense, Leon?" Larxene smirked. He flipped her off. There was a final shriek as the ladies slammed the door and went bolting off down the corridor, Cloud screaming obscenities in their wake.

"Whoa." Axel blinked, hitching the now quiet, but half-giggling, Roxas into a new position. "Cloud's gone bugfuck."

Luxord sighed, shook his head, gathering the cards. "Philistines, the lot of you."

Axel took a breath through his nose, leaned forward to glance at Roxas. "Can we go now?"

The blond nodded, wiping his eyes, tiny bubbles of laughter gasping out. "Axel's Roxie is ready to go," he choked, a broad smile twitching his mouth. Axel rolled his eyes, pushed the chair back while Leon went to help Cloud to his feet. The redhead stood, pulling Roxas to his feet, the teen's legs shaky and rubbery. An eyebrow cocking, Axel asked, "Larx, how much did you corrupt my Roxie?"

"Only a little," she replied innocently.

"Maybe I want to be corrupted," the blond pointed out. Then, hanging his head, "I really don't feel so good."

"Take him out of here, Axel," Luxord warned. "No vomiting in the card room."

"Yes, Luxord, thank you for your concern," the other man sighed. He shot a glance over at Kairi. "You leaving yet?"

She shrugged. "I'll go with Riku and Sora."

"Ah, threesomes, the joy that is life with two best friends."

Sora wrinkled his nose. "Ew. Not with Kairi. She's a girl."

"Wouldn't want to catch cooties," Riku agreed. Roxas shook his head.

"No, cooties don't exist. Axel and I already discussed this, like, forever ago."

"Ah, but we ascertained that boy cooties don't exist," Axel reminded him, slipping an arm around him to hold him up, other arm winding around his waist to keep him steady. "Kairi is an entirely different matter."

The wine-haired girl pouted, arms crossing. "You guys sure know how to make a girl feel wanted," she said sarcastically. She gestured over to where Leon was balancing Cloud, telling the man to take baby-steps. "And now it seems my dreams of a straight Leon are also shattered." She shook her head sadly. "Life really isn't fair sometimes."

"Weep, Kairi, that always helps," Larxene said sweetly, making the younger girl scowl.

"Well, we're going," Axel announced, heading over towards the door. "See you guys tomorrow, when we're all hung-over and coughing." He nodded to Cloud as they passed, added, "Ma'am."

"Yeah, just fucking laugh," the blond man grumbled, reluctantly gripping Leon's shoulder, shuffling with difficulty to the lavender sofa.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure Roxie already got us covered for that," came the bright response as they left the room. Roxas chuckled weakly, Axel half-carrying him as they went back to his room. He reached the door and paused, arms full. "Roxie, wrap your legs around my waist."

"With pllllleasure," the blond whispered into his ear, clinging tight, knees gripping the redhead's ribs. Axel groaned, free now to open the door, and staggered into the dark room.

"Roxas, seriously, I'm so tired – why are you choosing now to be a horny little bastard?" he complained.

"One doesn't choose to be a horny bastard, one simply is," the blond growled, and bit his ear a second time. "I'm just returning the favour."

Axel flopped onto the bed, dragging Roxas with him, sighing heavily. "So, do you think you'll still be returning it when you're sober and I have more energy?"

"No promises," Roxas teased. He crawled onto Axel's chest, sat up on the man's stomach. "Do you know," he said thoughtfully, hands pushing up Axel's shirt, gathering it at the man's armpits. "These last couple of days have been incredibly fucked-up." He leaned down and licked one nipple, making the redhead shudder and moan. "But tonight was the most fun I've had in a long time," he muttered, kissing the flat sternum.

"Glad to… help?"

"You will be," the blond promised with an unsteady grin. His eyes slipped back and forth, unable to rest exclusively upon Axel's face, pupils dilated, whites bloodshot. He reeked of vodka. Axel closed his eyes as Roxas lowered to his other nipple, lips closing around it to gently suck.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck! Stop!" His hands grabbed Roxas' face, and with great distress, he detached the boy.

Lips spit-shiny, Roxas frowned from between Axel's palms. "Am I doing it wrong?"

Axel let out a hysterical laugh. "You – you're…" He squeezed his eyes shut, swallowed hard. "Damn it, Roxas, you're doing everything very, very nicely, and – and I hate Larxene, because she's a bitch who got you drunk."

"I'm not just doing this because I'm drunk," Roxas scowled. "I like it. I want to."

"I want you to do it when you're sober, though," Axel replied desperately, wanting to slap himself silly even as the words left his mouth.

"But that's unfair," the blond argued, grabbing hold of Axel's hands and tugging them away. "We're right here, we both want to – why won't you let anything be simple?"

"Because," the redhead replied softly, "there's plenty of time for us to get drunk and fuck each other's brains out, Roxas – but, bless my sentimental little heart, I'm not going to let your first time be like this."

"Who said we were gonna have sex?" Roxas tipped his head to the side and blinked.

"You just sucked my fucking nipple," Axel growled. "That's some prime-example foreplay, right there."

Roxas smirked, settled down with his forearms pressed against the man's chest, face lowering. "And you liked it. So how is this bad?"

"Because I'm a hopeless romantic." Axel leaned up, kissed him roughly, grabbed his shoulders and flipped him over, knees bent at the blond's armpits, arching over to continue the kiss unbroken. Roxas squirmed, bucked upward, then gasped as Axel swung off the bed, pulling the hem of his shirt back down. "Besides," the redhead added, "I'd rather undress you all by myself. You can get your shirt and sweater in the morning. All bets end at daybreak."

"Axel, I want you," Roxas cried, arms outstretched. Axel visibly shivered, but shook his head roughly.

"I've wanted you a lot longer," he said, voice with a harsh edge, cutting off any further protest as he moved over to the door. "And I've held off. So now it's your turn, Rox." He paused, hall light spilling in, turning to smile, though Roxas couldn't see it, could only see the flame that was Axel's hair, shadow where his face once was. "I'm glad you had fun. And I'm happy that you want me. And – thanks for understanding earlier, Roxas."

Roxas curled up on his side, looking suddenly like a small, vulnerable boy in amongst the messy bedcovers. "I was telling the truth, you know," the blond said quietly. "I really – I'm falling for you a lot, Axel. I… feel a lot."

Axel hesitated, nodded abruptly. "That's… good to know."

Roxas yawned widely, stifled it with one hand. "I'll be sure," he said sleepily, "to let Roxie's Roxie know that you didn't molest us too badly while we were intoxicated."

"Oh, there's two of you now?"

"There's the Roxie that exists all by himself…" Roxas' eyes slid shut, the bed, the alcohol, the exhaustion taking over. "And then there's the Roxie that belongs entirely to you… and they're really not so different…"

"That sounds… fine to me," Axel replied gently.

"Go to bed, Axel," the teen murmured, nose burrowing into the pillow. He hummed briefly. "Everything smells like smoke…"

"Good-night, Roxie."

"Good-night…"

"I'll leave a note for Aerith to come get you in the morning, okay?"

Roxas shook himself slightly more alert. "What? Why? Am I working with the Committee again?"

Axel snuffed a laugh. "No, but you'll feel like hell when you wake up. She'll take care of you."

"I'd really rather it was you…" Roxas' voice failed and trailed off, silence filling the room. Axel stared as the blond slipped into slumber. For a moment, he paced back into the room, approaching the bed hesitantly. He gazed down at the sleeping huddle, remembered back to that first night, Roxas so dizzy and disorientated, when Axel had had to leave him. Back then, now… The two versions of the blond looked no different to one another, but this one – this one was actually falling in love with him. He'd confessed, and it now seemed that it hadn't just been to stop Axel from somehow hurting himself. Everything was… paying off.

He was so tired. It had been too long since he'd last seen Demyx's bed. He needed sleep so badly… but he still couldn't help wasting away the next twenty minutes, watching his Roxie breathe.