Muh I'm finally updating! Due to internet being down and having nothing better to do I decided I'd better update lol.
Anyway thanks to HarrylovesDraco, lovetheHams, Undying lover, chickenateefka, Murd3r4lyf3, yaoifanandanimemanga, 666littlefreak666. Yay for lots of reviewers!
Chibi RoseRosa: RoseRosa does not own Kingdom Hearts, she only wishes she did.
Warning: This chapter has a LOT of drama.
Chapter Six: Quality Time
On Sunday morning for the first time in what must have been years Roxas woke up early of his own accord.
Now he could say it was because he was excited for his date with Namine but if he thought about it more seriously he could just say that it was because he went to bed earlier then usual.
It wasn't too early for anyone to be up though, he could hear Sora pacing around in the hall outside his bedroom chatting on the phone to Riku and it sounded like his mum was in the kitchen downstairs.
With a large sigh Roxas rolled out of bed and trudged out his door and into the bathroom. He needed to take a shower if he was going to be going out with Namine later.
There was an unpleasant churning in his stomach and it wasn't the butterflies you were supposed to get when you liked someone. It was almost as if the date was a chore he didn't want to do.
He couldn't think of the date like that, he had been the one to suggest it after all! Plus he'd been looking forward to it when he'd gone to bed.
Sure Namine was a nice, pretty girl if not a little quiet but Roxas just couldn't see himself being-or even wanting to be-anything more to her then a friend. If he loved her at all it was as if she was a sister. Hey, they even looked similar so it wasn't hard to imagine!
What had changed during the night to make him change his mind?
These were the thoughts Roxas was pondering as he stripped down and turned the shower on.
Realisation hit him as he stepped into the still cold flow of water.
He'd dreamed about going on a date with Axel the night before.
It hadn't been like his daydream before; it had just been a simple date in the park and a restaurant. It had been perfect-just as dream dates usually are-and the pretend date with Namine had paled in comparison.
Roxas let out a groan as he rested his head on the tiled wall and softly thumped it. This was confusing to no end.
What was wrong with him?
As the water warmed up Roxas made a decision. He wouldn't let thoughts of Axel ruin his day. If he thought about that damned redhead he wouldn't enjoy himself with Namine. Plus this date was to see if he was just interested in Axel or whether he was willing to give girls a chance. He needed to be fully awake and ready to have fun with the blonde.
With this resolve Roxas returned to showering, he didn't really have that much time to get ready.
--
Time flew by and as noon rolled around Roxas wandered out of the house, Sora chatting away at his heels.
"Wow, so you're really going out with Namine? Wow, I didn't see that coming! I thought you like Axel!" the brunet exclaimed with a chuckle. Roxas scowled,
"Yeah well…you were wrong," he muttered while Sora shook his head with a small grin,
"Well it was an easy mistake to make! I've never seen you like that around anyone before, like you acted pissed but the next moment act like he's the best guy in the world!" he explained.
The brunet grinned once again as they reached the corner,
"Well I'll see ya later Rox! Have fun on your date." Sora then headed down another street to head for Kairi's house where the trio were planning on hanging out for the day.
This left Roxas to ponder on Sora's words. Did he really act oddly around Axel? Did the redhead think he liked him? That could explain why Axel was sometimes so flirty…but then again that could just be how Axel was. It wouldn't surprise the blond if he was honest but what if…what if Axel didn't think Roxas liked him but he liked the blond anyway? Wait did that even make sense…
Without even realising it Roxas had reached the park and Namine who stood under a tree was calling out to him.
Coming to his senses the blond stumbled over to her with a mumbled greeting.
--
Namine hummed quietly as she leaned back against a tree close to the park gate. She'd entered the park early to wait for Roxas; she'd been so excited for the date with Roxas. She'd even dressed less conservatively then she usually would for dates, Roxas made her feel comfortable in her own skin. She wore a white spaghetti strapped top with white shorts and white arm warmers.
The blonde smiled to herself as she awaited the blond boy but when he arrived a small frown appeared on her face. The boy looked confused and deep in thought.
A jolt of guilt hit the girl; she suddenly felt she was taking advantage of him. She knew he was confused about his feelings for Axel and she went and agreed to his stupid idea. She was supposed to be doing her best to help him but instead she was looking out for herself. She couldn't wallow in self pity though, that would just ruin the point of the whole date. She'd just have to try and help Roxas. With a small nod to herself she called out to him.
"Roxas, I'm over here!"
As the boy came over she put a smile back on her face,
"How have you been Roxas? You seem a little out of it," she asked. Her cerulean eyes looked deeply into Roxas' azure eyes. It was almost as if she could see right into the blond's soul. Roxas quickly broke the gaze, looking at the tree instead of Namine. He just couldn't let anyone see too deep.
"I'm fine thanks, I was just…thinking," he answered. He lifted a hand up and ran it through his hair. He heaved a heavy sigh before he pulled his lips into a grin.
"Doesn't matter anyway, let's just have fun huh," he suggested. With a sceptical look and a shake of her head Namine agreed and the two began to wander around.
--
In another area of the park two less then friendly teenagers congregated around the flower gardens, scaring away any old people and young children who came by. The female of the duo scowled as she stubbed out her cigarette on a nearby tree,
"God Marluxia, is this all we're gonna do today, you said you'd help me out with my little problem," she whined, a small sneer growing on her lips at the word little. The boy-if that was the right word-looked up from the flower's he was admiring with a small snort.
"Listen hun, I said I'd help you and I will, in fact the kid's in the park today so just wait," he drawled.
Larxene's sneer soon grew into a smirk,
"Let me guess, information from that Namine chick? Wow either you've scared her into submission or you really do have charm." Marluxia straightened up with a smirk of his own,
"That's my business now isn't it? Now let's go find them shall we?" he replied and began to stroll off further into the park, Larxene right by his side.
--
It didn't take the devilish duo long to find Roxas and Namine, the pair were sitting in front of the café talking and laughing over sea salt ice creams.
"Ooooh looks like a date, Axel will love this," she sneered as she pulled a small digital camera out of her lightening yellow handbag. With a cackle she snapped the photo then placed the camera back in her bag.
Oh she wasn't going to end it there though, oh no. That damn Roxas had ruined her chances with Axel so she was going to ruin his life. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth as the saying went.
So with a fist resting on her hips Larxene sauntered over,
"Well, well, well if it isn't Roxy and Nami, on a date are we?" she greeted.
At the sound of her voice two pairs of blue eyes widened and Roxas looked up with a start while Namine looked like she wanted to run away.
"What is it Larxene?" Roxas asked as his expression turned into one of annoyance and irritation ebbed into his voice.
The antenna haired girl just tutted,
"Really Roxy, I was just being friendly. I felt bad about setting your tie on fire that time," she mocked. The more she tried to sound apologetic the faker she sounded. Not to mention her pout went totally against the devious glint in her electric blue eyes.
All this just caused Roxas to snort and as Marluxia came closer Namine started to shake a little.
"I…I…I need the toilet…Excuse me," she stuttered squeakily before she darted up and away. With a frown Roxas watched her before he turned to glare at the duo.
He'd known there was something odd about Marluxia but he'd seemed alright in their English lessons. It had obviously been an act; no one with even an inch of kindness would hang around with Larxene. She was an evil bitch for god's sake, the devil's human incarnate!
"What do you two really want? And don't bother pretending to be nice, I'm not a fool," he demanded, glaring at the duo.
Larxene's smirk dropped and her eyes darkened. Slamming her hands flat on the table Larxene snarled at the small blond.
"Listen kid! Stay away from Axel if you know what's good for you. You're not the only one who can see through people. I heard about you from my cousin Tidus and it's nothing good."
The blond's face paled and his glare dropped, realising she had the upper hand again the blonde girl began to walk around the table her hand brushing against Roxas' arms. Stopping she lifted the sleeves revealing his pale wrists, her slender fingers stroking the scars that were made visible.
Roxas always wore long sleeves or wrist bands for a good reason and he'd been lucky with the school's PE-shirts being long sleeved.
You see after life got to hard at his last school he's tried cutting and found he'd liked it. It had been what had spurred his masochistic side on and not long after he'd gotten the tattoo. He'd also done a lot worse, he may have only been fourteen but it was amazing what some of the older kids encouraged him to do when drunk.
It was a time in his past he wanted more then ever to forget.
"You're not as innocent as you let on are you?" she breathed into his ear.
Larxene dropped his sleeve as she smirked at him,
"So unless you want Axel to find out about the real you, I'd stay away from him," she finished. Straightening up the girl strutted back over to where Marluxia was standing.
When Roxas finally found his voice he glared again but it was half hearted,
"Why are you even threatening me? It's not like I'm gonna get in the way of you getting in his pants. If I'm anything to Axel, I'm a friend and nothing more."
With one last pitying glance Larxene sighed,
"I guess for a little emo slut you really are naïve in some aspects," she commented before she walked off with Marluxia.
A few minutes after they left Namine returned to her seat, her frown deeper then before.
"What was that all about?" she asked quietly.
The blond boy looked up at her worried face. She honestly cared about what he was going through and he hadn't been able to speak about all of his problems to anyone.
Not even Sora or his parents.
So with little hesitation Roxas began to tell Namine about all he'd been through.
Starting with the bullying in his last school, he told her about his cutting and the tattoo, the desperate need for the move, his meeting with Axel and his newly discovered crush on him. Finally he told her about what Larxene had just said and unsurprisingly she was stunned to silence.
She didn't leave though and that's what Roxas was truly grateful for.
--
The morning so far had been great for Axel. Reno had cooked them up a fry up and then they'd played video games until the elder had received a call from some guy called Rude and had gone out.
So now Axel was sprawled out across the sofa with his music blaring out loudly from the stereo. With video game cases spread across the floor in front of the TV and dirty plates left on the coffee table where they left him the red head actually felt a little more comfortable then usual in the sparsely decorated room. That's how his mother liked things, minimal and clean.
Things were much better with just Reno and himself in the house. If the elder ever got a permanent residence nearby he'd beg to move in with him.
The doorbell then rang and amazingly Axel heard it even with the loud music screaming around him.
With a chuckle Axel sat up and hopped to his feet and went to answer the door. To his surprise he visitors were Marluxia and Larxene.
The pair never usually came to his house. The reason they came over couldn't be good. Larxene's sympathetic expression only added to the hidden worry Axel was beginning to carry. Her expression…it seemed sincere.
Had something happened?
Without even being invited in the duo entered and as Larxene reached into her handbag Marluxia shut the front door.
"God, I hate to be the bearer of bad news Axel but…y'know that Roxas kid?" she started.
The worry Axel was feeling began to thump at his chest, trying to escape and make itself aware but on the outside Axel's expression just hardened.
"What did you do to him Larx?" he asked, his emerald orbs burned into her electric blue ones as she pulled her camera out and proceeded to turn it on.
"I didn't do anything to him; I promised you I'd leave him alone didn't I," she reminded him with a tut.
Axel frowned but raised an eyebrow as she played around with the camera.
"What are you doing?" The girl just ignored him so the pink haired boy spoke up,
"Just hurry up and show him," he grumbled before he turned his gaze onto Axel.
"It seems your little boy toy doesn't she the same sentiments as you, we spotted him on a date with Namine," he explained dryly as Larxene turned the camera around and showed Axel the photo with a flourish.
As Axel studied the photo he couldn't deny it looked like they were having fun but he refused to think of it as a date.
"They're probably just out as friends," he insisted.
That reaction wasn't what Larxene had expected; she'd thought he'd get really annoyed.
"Well yeah but what if it is a date?" she asked.
Axel looked away from her and away from the photo at that moment,
"Then it doesn't matter, it's not like I was expecting any less," he muttered.
Larxene looked like she was going to say more but when Marluxia grabbed her arm and pulled her close to whisper,
"I think you've done it, the kid's not going to stand for it if Axel starts prying and then you can say bye bye to any relationship between them." The blonde had to fight back the growing smirk as she listened. So with a nod and a few muttered sympathetic words the pair left.
Once he was alone Axel headed upstairs, not bothering to turn his music off as he went to his room. Once he'd flopped down on his bed he pulled his mobile out of his pocket and dialled a certain number.
He needed to speak to Roxas about this.
--
After their little talk Namine and Roxas had headed back to her house. Bringing up his past had brought Roxas down heavily and all he wanted to do was relax and forget about his problems.
That was why Roxas was slumped down on a white beanbag in Namine's bedroom eating Ben and Jerry's 'Phish Food' and watching a film-27 Dresses. Okay, it was a chick flick but it wasn't all that bad. He'd have to remember to get a copy of it on DVD some time.
Namine lay on her bed watching the film, she'd been thinking and there was something she had to say to Roxas but she was hesitant about bringing it up. She didn't want to make him mad or upset him she had to say it when he brought up his next suggestion.
"Y'know we should kiss to see if we feel anything or not." If they kissed Namine wouldn't be able to help him anymore, as long as she kept herself on the edge she wouldn't find herself tempted.
"No Roxas," she told him.
With a sigh the petite blonde slipped off the bed and sat next to Roxas. She turned her gaze on him,
"Roxas you just told me you something you said you've never told anyone before and I'm glad you see me as a confidant but how do you see me? As a sister or did you tell me because you think you might love me?"
Her words hit Roxas square in the chest and he was forced to stop and think. He did see Namine as someone who he could trust but…she was right he loved her already just not in that way.
It was different when he was with Axel. He felt as if he didn't know what to do half the time. His mind was telling him the opposite of what he kept trying to convince himself. He found himself embarrassed with all the flirtatious comments and because of that he became mad at himself and then he ended up snapping at Axel.
Once again Roxas found himself confused.
"I think…I see you as a sister," he finally admitted and Namine sighed with a small nod.
"I thought so, do you still want me to help you with your Axel problem?" she asked.
Before the blond could answer his mobile rang in his pocket and looking at the caller ID he saw it was Axel. With a small frown he answered but he couldn't get a word in edgeways before Axel started to talk.
"Roxas…have you gone out on a date with Namine?"
"Yeah…I'm with her right now…so what?"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
The redhead's wail was so loud Namine could even hear it, Roxas winced before he replied.
"Because I only asked her out last night and it's not like I have to tell you everything."
"Awwwhh c'mon Rox, I thought we were mates?"
"We are…I guess."
"You guess? Even after I brought you those clothes and protected you from Seifer?"
Roxas blushed crimson and Namine giggled at his expression.
"NEVER mention those clothes again! And I didn't need protecting!"
There was a chuckle from the other end of the phone.
"Ah don't be such a spoil sport Rox, you've gotta wear the outfit at least once…for me?"
Roxas found himself relenting, he couldn't say no to the pleading tone,
"Fine but no one else must ever find out."
"Okay then, so enjoy the date?"
"It was fun; we had a real heart to heart."
Okay Roxas was lying a little now but he couldn't have Axel knowing what really happened. It would mean explaining his past to him and he'd prefer to keep that a secret.
Quietly Namine took his phone while Axel was silent and turned speaker phone on, signalling for Roxas to mute the film first. So Axel's next quiet words were heard easily.
"Oh, so you two are getting close then? Wow."
The jealousy hinted in the redhead's voice was obvious and Namine shook her head and mouthed something to Roxas who just raised an eyebrow.
"I guess we are."
"Heh…no surprise, I've gotta go now anyway."
Just as it seemed the redhead would hang up Roxas suddenly spoke,
"Hey, you wanna hang out sometime next weekend?"
"…sure! Bye Roxas!"
As the call ended Roxas placed his phone back in his pocket while Namine smiled at him.
"He sounded jealous of me," she commented with a small giggle. Roxas nodded,
"Yeah…"
The two sat in silence for a little while longer before Namine switched the movie off.
"So what are you going to do?" she asked.
Roxas thought for a moment,
"Do you think you could be my girlfriend?" he asked quietly.
The blonde looked surprised,
"Wh…what?"
Roxas shook his head,
"I know that I don't have a crush on you or anything but I'm young, you're nice and it would probably get Larxene…and Sora off my back," he explained. He smiled at her a little.
Namine watched the boy before she sighed. It was more then she thought she could even hope for.
"Okay then," she answered with her own smile.
She knew it wasn't real though, she could see how he obviously felt for Axel and that he was still confused about it.
She knew he didn't really want to be her boyfriend.
So Namine decided, she would be his girlfriend but she'd help him along with his relationship with Axel.
She'd tell the redhead her plan later.
--
Okay I lied last chapter, only a mention of Reno XP. Honestly though I don't have a plan for my chapters, I just write and since I had such a long break my ideas changed.
Anyway it was a bit random I know but I hope you enjoyed!
Please review and help me with ideas for what Namine's planning!