Disclaimer- Gasp! I own Kingdom Hearts?... No one ever told me! Oh right! No one ever told me because I don't own anything :D
Warnings- Nudity :D But is that really a warning? I mean, we all like nudity when it involves the Organization don't we? So forget it... There are no warnings for this chapter.
A/N- OH GOD. FLUFF UP THE BUTT. You'll like it.
Protecting Me
Chapter 8 : Strawberry Bubblegum
When my life's tumbling around
You take me off the ground
You tell me every things o k...
"Get out!"
Axel was jolted from his sleep for two reasons that Saturday morning. One being the daily morning bell that went off and the second being a shrill cry that sounded from somewhere beyond his bedroom door. Roxas mumbled something in his sleep. He rolled over so he was facing Axel as he clung to Sora in his arms. Axel smiled at the fact that Roxas face was still covered in marker from the previous night. The small blond probably ran around so much that waking him up would be a job and a half when the time came. If both the morning bell and the dramatic yells of his fellow members didn't do it already, then surely Roxas was in an impenetrable sleep.
The redhead groaned as he sat up to stretch his long legs until he heard a satisfying crack, before swinging them over the edge of the bed. He headed over to the door, opening it so that he could stand in the doorway and eavesdrop on whoever had the nerve to yell this early.
"I couldn't care less! I said remove yourself from my quarters Number Nine!"
Axel arched a brow. It sounded a whole lot like Zexion. But Zexion was never one to raise his voice that loud unless it was an emergency or someone REALLY pissed him off. The only time Axel had ever really heard him raise his voice was when some of Vexen's experiments got loose and tried to attack Zexion. But never had Zexion been this loud. His bedroom was a distance from Axel's so it would have to be one heck of a yell.
In Zexion's room, Demyx was slowly backing away towards the door, stumbling over furniture in the process. No matter how much he tried to explain himself, the other nobody just seemed to be getting angrier.
In Zexion's opinion he had every right in the world.
The lilac haired teenager woke up in his humid room that morning wearing nothing but his boxers, a pounding headache pushing beyond any limits he thought possible, and his stomach doing flip flops within his body. A much more severe sinking feeling came when he realized that an arm was draped over his body. Not just anyone's arm, but that which belonged to the Melodious Nocturne who slept peacefully beside him.
Of course the first thing he did was scream bloody murder. He sat up so fast that he lost balance and fell backwards off his bed, a loud thump sounded throughout the room as the back of his head connected with the wall. Not too long after that he had a very confused looking Demyx leaning over the side of his bed, repeatedly asking him if he was okay. Fragmented memories from the previous night began to piece themselves together in his mind as he sat on the floor for a few minutes to rub at his sore head. It was only natural for Zexion's mind to jump to the conclusion that they... No, they couldn't have... Please somebody other then Demyx tell him they didn't...
"B-but Zexion I-I swear I didn't do anything to you!"
"Then explain to me why I'm close to being naked and wake up beside you!" Zexion inched closer to Demyx, backing him against the door. "Logic and evidence would tell me that you used me!"
"B-but," Demyx's hand fumbled around, trying to find the doorknob. He knew Zexion rarely attacked, but since that was the first time he had seen Zexion truly angry, it was sort of scary. Not to mention Zexion's harsh accusations pushed him to defend himself. "I-I really didn't- I mean, I would never... When we got back I noticed your room was really warm, you even mumbled something about accidentally leaving the heater on. So I undressed you! It was for your own good! You could have had a heat stroke!"
Zexion winced, the pain in his head threatening to return.
"A-as for me, I just slept with you so I could maybe help when you woke up. I've been through a hangover before. I could help you..."
Zexion held his head in his hands, feeling on the verge of collapsing. He crawled back into his bed before said event could take place, not without shooting a hard glare at Demyx of course.
"Please just leave my room NOW Number Nine. I want nothing further to do with you."
Demyx nodded, finally looking back to find the doorknob to leave. He looked back to see Zexion pull the covers over his head.
"You know," Demyx spoke softer so he wouldn't upset Zexion's headache. "You always act so cold and disconnected. Of course you're a scientist so I guess it's just in your nature to disconnect from everything and distance yourself from forming relationships, but I was only helping you last night, nothing else. I told you I wanted to be your friend. I won't take maybe for an answer." Zexion lowered his covers a bit so he could listen to Demyx better. His interests slightly peaked.
"But deep down I know you're really not that uncaring. One day you'll realize that not everything Xemnas says about not having a heart is true, and on that day you'll start to care about me too." On that note he was gone and Zexion was left alone to the silence of his room.
The cloaked schemer drove the heels of his hands into his closed eyes. The superior would surely have his head if he didn't get the research he was supposed to do today done. Since he was out fooling around yesterday when he knew he should have stayed to get more work done the punishment might even be worse. Even in such a state he figured he had to try to get something done. He picked up his book from the bedside table. For now he pushed Demyx's words and cracked theories out of his mind.
Demyx walked quickly through the halls towards his own room so he could get dressed for breakfast and the days work ahead, not even noticing that he passed Axel standing in his open doorway along the way.
"So you'got him good' didn't you?" The redhead smirked as the blond passed. From the parts of the argument he could hear it sounded as if Demyx had forced himself onto Zexion while the other nobodies guard was down.
Demyx jumped as if not expecting anyone to talk to him. "N-No Axel! I really didn't. I was just helping him."
"Yeah, helping him find his manhood."
Demyx's expression grew bitter, a glare fixed on Axel. "Go to hell, you know I didn't do it!"
"Been there, done that." Demyx hurried quickly away from Axel with his head down. He didn't care to hear anymore about how he seemed to be embarrassing himself in front of Zexion over and over again.
The Flurry of Dancing Flames shook his head, watching Demyx's figure disappear up the stairs. He had the slight suspicions that this whole thing was his fault and could have even possibly been avoided. If he never asked Demyx to distract for him, then the kiss between him and Zexion would have never taken place.
Most of the Organization knew that Demyx was different from other nobodies. One of the advantages of being a nobody was the ability to express pseudo emotions formed through memories of those emotions. Demyx, however, liked to believe these emotions were not fabrications and lies. He would always rant about the possibilities and even thought up evidence, but everyone seemed to ignore him whenever he brought it up. There was no doubt in his mind that Demyx was going to fall flat on his face trying to chase after something that was never going to happen. Especially when that something was Zexion.
The redhead turned away from his friend's situation, slamming the door shut behind him, and back to his own situation. Roxas's sleeping position was laughable really. He was sprawled out on the bed like he owned the place with light snores coming from his open mouth. He resisted the temptation of running towards the bed to jump with full force onto it. The exact way Roxas normally used to wake him up on occasion.
"Roxas," Axel shook the blonds tiny bare foot. His response being a hard kick to the hand causing Axel to reel back in pain. "Come on, it's morning."
"Lemme 'lone!" Adding a little whine at the end of that, Roxas turned away from Axel bringing the blankets over his head as to give the subtle message he was sleeping in. Well, maybe not so subtle, but it was better then the previous kick to the hand.
"Well we can do this the easy way or the hard way." With a smirk, Axel reached his hand under the blankets, tickling Roxas's stomach until he saw the blond squirming around.
"Ax... Sto-ha-p! Go away!" He felt a tiny hand slap roughly at his own and once again Roxas was attempting to dose off. A job and a half? What an understatement when it came to Roxas and his sleep. Not to mention how much pain it brought to others... Yeah, the back of his hand now displayed a lovely miniature handprint in bright red.
Axel shrugged, standing up to go get dressed. "Fine, then I guess you won't be getting that gift I wanted to give you then."
"Gift?" The toddler froze underneath the blankets.
"Yeah, but if you're gonna sleep in all day then I guess you can't have it." His night clothes fell to the floor as he pulled out a clean and pressed cloak from his closet and some clothes to go on under it.
"You weally bought me somethin'?" Roxas hopped out from under the covers in record time, just as Axel was zipping up his cloak. The oldest sat on the edge of the bed.
"Nah, I wouldn't spend all my money on you." He ruffled Roxas's hair, to which he earned an annoyed glare. "But I do have something for you."
Actually, Axel hadn't gotten Roxas a thing, but the bribe seemed to work well enough, and he was bound to have something in his room that Roxas would have liked. His sharp emerald eyes quickly scanned the room. Fortunately he caught sight of something hanging from his bedpost. A long silver gleaming chain was double wrapped around the frame. At the end of it hung a brightly polished silver pendant cut out in the shape of the Organization XIII's symbol. He gently unwrapped it from the bedpost to place it around Roxas's neck.
"It was given to me when I was first initiated into the Organization, so I guess it means something to me because I'm stuck here. Take good care of it." He noticed the toddler beaming at it proudly and soon Roxas had directed that same look towards Axel.
"Can I give you somethin' too?"
Axel rubbed the back of his neck. "Sure."
Without hesitation, the toddler reached over to take his beloved stuffed animal into his arms. He squeezed it tightly, muttering something into its ear before placing it gently into Axel's lap. He crawled closer to Axel so he could rest his head against the others arm, giving a tiny yawn.
"You're giving me Sora?"
"Yeah," Roxas nodded his head rapidly to confirm his decision. "He told me he liked you bettew anyway."
"But you love this... thing." Really he never did see why Roxas cared for it so much.
"But I love you too so," Roxas said quickly with a shrug, drawing circles on the bed with his finger. "he's weally nice, you'll like him." There was a hint of indecision in his small voice, assumable due to the fact that he was giving up something that he loved.
Axel picked up the small doll with one hand to observe it. Already its fabric was stained with ice cream and jelly. A small hole was beginning to form on its belly. He had no clue how Roxas was able to give such a thing a voice and personality of its own. Just another wonder of the three-year-old mind he guessed.
"Thanks." He smiled softly at Roxas as he placed the stuffed heartless back into Roxas arms where it belonged. The toddler looked up at him with curiosity, not understanding why his gift was being returned. "Could you maybe watch after him for me though? I sort of have my hands full right now."
"Like babysittin'?"
"Yeah, just like babysitting."
Roxas hugged Axel's stuffed animal close, his silver pendant shining as the light from the bedside lamp hit it. He was now fully determined to take care of both objects put into his care. There was a moment of awkward silence. Roxas just absorbed in his responsibilities, and Axel... well the old Roxas had never given him anything. But he couldn't take that stuffed animal away from Roxas. Even if he did want proof that Roxas had been generous enough to give it to him. Maybe if Roxas ever did go back to normal, he could have fun rubbing the generosity his smaller self had in his face.
A low grumble came from Roxas's stomach, reminding the both of them of how desperately hungry they were. According to the clock, breakfast was just being served in a few minutes anyway.
xXx
"So Xigbar really never came back last night?" Larxene crossed her arms
"Yeah," Marluxia waved his hand around. "I take it some local girl finally agreed to his ridiculous idea."
"And Zexion's not present either?" Vexen questioned. "The superior will have his head. He was supposed to be doing research today."
"Zexion's under the weather." Xaldin sipped at his drink, offering his reply
"I think not," Luxord looked up from a card trick he was showing Roxas. "He got himself rather drunk last night."
"I think research is going to be the last thing on his mind." Lexaeus added in quickly as he set a plate down in front of Marluxia. "If anyone overheard the fight this morning then surely you know what Demyx did to him."
A steaming hot plate of pancakes topped with various fruits and whipped cream was placed before Axel. He nonchalantly listened to the other members (excluding Xigbar, Zexion, and Demyx who were absent) converse amongst themselves. Amazing... they had no hearts yet still found a strange pleasure in talking down about others. Like gossiping school children. Axel chose not to take place in any of it that morning. He hardly believed those accusations against Demyx were real no matter how much he picked at him for it.
As a smaller plate of pancakes was place down beside his own, he watched Roxas obliviously play.
The toddler seemed to not hear a word of it. His eyes were focused on Luxord's hands as the gambler made cards disappear and reappear. Roxas flashed the older man a smile as a card was pulled out from behind his ear like magic. He giggled wildly, clapping his hand and ordering Luxord to do it again. Axel came to the realization that if he didn't stop Roxas now, he would probably make Luxord perform card tricks all day.
"Rox, come eat!" Axel yelled to him, pointing to his food. Roxas nodded, running towards the sweet smell of his breakfast. To his surprise, someone quickly took hold of his tiny arm before he could even reach the redhead. Axel stood up as if on guard, his eyes fixed on the threat that held Roxas back.
"Oh calm down will you." Larxene pulled Roxas closer to her chair, shooting a glare at Axel. Roxas seemed to turn mute under the female members gaze and sinister smirk. "Property of Axel?" She read the bright blue writing going across the toddler's forehead. She noticed matching marker stains on Axel's face as well. Once satisfied, Larxene released her grip on his arm, laughing lightly. Axel hesitantly sat down with a sneer as Roxas ran nervously into his arms. "Man Axel, you need to get laid."
Laughter sounded from the other Organization members causing Axel to sink low into his seat. Roxas furrowed his brow as he glanced around the table, and then finally back at Axel. It was obvious that he had missed something funny.
"Axey, what does laid mean?"
"Have I ever told you how much I love that kid?" Larxene smiled at how far down Axel had sunk in his chair.
A shadowy portal opened up on the wall of the dining hall. The darkness faded away to a dim light and signature bubbles to reveal Demyx's form. The normally upbeat musician now held a downcast expression. He took his seat on the other side of Axel with a defeated sigh since it was all he could come up with at that moment.
"And the fun never stops." Marluxia nudged Larxene and pointed to Demyx. "I thought you told us that kiss was merely a distraction. Don't tell me it has struck some sort of feeling in you. So what's that theory of yours again? You know... that we do have hearts bullshit"
"Now that we know you bend that way," Larxene soon joined in with Marluxia, throwing cruel words at Demyx. "I guess we'll have to keep little Zexion locked up. He's no good to us if he can't even walk from what Demyx does to him every night."
"Will you both lay the hell off of it?" Axel budged in once he noticed Demyx looking as if he was ready dart from his chair from embarrassment. The pair of antagonizers turned from their subject, instead talking quietly to each other about it.
Demyx side glanced at Axel, taking a deep breath, "Your face is really red."
And thanks for pointing out the obvious there Demyx... Axel ignored his observation.
"So what is this issue with Zexion?"
"I really didn't do it!"
"Didn't do what!" Roxas budged in before Axel could open his mouth.
"Demyx didn't play with Zexion." Axel gave Roxas a quick smile, making up his answer on the spot. He wasn't about to tell a three year old what happened... or didn't happen between those two. After giving Roxas a sufficient answer he turned back to Demyx, deciding to keep the conversation three-year-old friendly, "The sad part is that I believe him, but I know he still wants to play with Zexion."
"... So it's that obvious huh?" Demyx blushed lightly.
Roxas giggled and reached into Axel's plate to steal a blueberry.
By that time, Axel had given up with Roxas's food stealing habits. Instead, he comfortably wrapped an arm around the toddler's waist. "I think you're in way over your head. Zexion will never-"
"Shush!" Demyx slapped a hand over Axel's mouth. He could have even sworn he saw Demyx wink. "He's a challenge, and that's what I like about him."
Axel rolled his eyes, going back to his food. The group of three tried to ignore the others consistent chatting that mostly revolved around them anyway. Uncharacteristically, they were silent. Roxas finished up as much as he could eat of Axel's food. With a sweet smile on his face, Roxas leaned back into Axel. Something that if it happened a few days ago it would have made Axel uncomfortable, now it felt rather comforting.
"You seem to be getting used to Roxas." Demyx said as he stood up to get ready to leave. Everyone else appeared to have finished up their breakfast as well. Most had already left to get ready for missions or research, and some stayed to clean up.
"Yeah I guess." Axel smiled as he felt Roxas playing with his hair as usual. "Where the heck are you headed anyway?" He asked as he saw Demyx headed off into the kitchen.
"I have a mission in a few minutes," Demyx pulled a note with details on his mission out of his pocket. "But since Zexion's too sick to come down to get food, I thought I'd bring something up to him before I left." He disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Axel and Roxas behind.
"Just like I thought... way over his head."
But at least the mission got him away from the castle, and most importantly away from the cruelty of the other members.
xXx
For the past few days, during which Roxas had been a toddler, the only missions Axel seemed to get were trivial tasks. Take care of Roxas, help Vexen in his lab, go shopping, nothing but dull dull dull! Normally they got their missions through meetings, but last minute ones were usually notes pinned on their doors with the details or they were hand delivered by another member. But no notes or briefing missions for the past four days! Even with Roxas keeping him on his toes, this whole "no mission" thing had him nothing but bored out of his mind. He loved his missions. He was a natural fighter and took pride in successfully completing a mission.
"Axxxxxxel!" For the millionth time that day Roxas was by his side...
Just one mission was all he asked for... ONE damn mission! Everyone else was out on one!
Axel rolled over on his bed to stare at the clock... Already six o'clock at night. At this point he pretty much figured his life was doomed to nothing but fulfilling a three year olds stupid little demands… unless he gave up of course. Unfortunately for Larxene, he wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of winning. He could put up with a bit more torture, right?
"What is it now Rox?"
"Play with me!"
"...In ten minutes." Axel rolled back over so he no longer had to face the clock (that was just ticking away the wasted moments of his non-existent life) and Roxas (the reason for his suffering altogether).
"But Ax! You said that like... FOWEVEW ago!"
"Roxas... can you let me have my moment of self pity in peace?" He closed his eyes, hoping it would give Roxas a hint to leave him alone for a while.
"No! You pwomised Sowa you would play with him, 'member?" He could almost hear Roxas pouting.
"So? I promise a lot of things to a lot of people," Axel pulled his covers over his head. "doesn't mean I own up to all of them."
Roxas hit the lifeless lump under the covers with his stuffed animal. Both of them sitting... or in Axel's case, laying on the bed filled with boredom.
"Youw no fun..." Roxas hugged Sora close, glaring towards Axel.
"Yeah, learn to deal with it kid."
"Well, I'm gonna go-!" Roxas' angry rant was interrupted by a loud pounding on Axel's door. Roxas looked back and forth between the door and Axel. Upon realizing that Axel was making no effort what-so-ever to get up and answer it, he slid off the bed to let whoever it was in.
"Move kid." A hand pushed Roxas out of the way the second the door opened as the Organizations only female member made an entrance. Under the covers, Axel rolled his eyes once he recognized the voice. His only guess as to why she would even be in his room would be to make him give up Roxas. He had no clue why she seemed so set on this goal; She seemed to be putting failure in his face a lot. If that's what she came to do, she came to be morosely disappointed.
"What do you want Larxene?" Even though he couldn't see her, he had a bad feeling she was smirking.
"You have a note from Xemnas."
"A mission?" Axel sat up, the covers naturally falling off of him.
"Not quite." She held up the note in front of her so she could read it out loud.
"Number Eight,
It has been brought to my attention by number Twelve," Larxene took a moment to point to herself, more then a little pleased. " that the recent burden placed upon you is quite a mess. Be it your responsibility, I demand you see to it that he is cleaned up.
Signed,
The Superior."
She folded up the note, placing it back into her pocket. "Have fun with that." She gave Axel a lingering smirk, and then captured Roxas's eyes with a mischievous gleam in her own. "Oh, and Roxas, I'd be careful around the drain if I were you."
"W-why?" The blue-eyed boy looked up at her fearfully.
"You're so very tiny that it just might suck you right up." She laced her voice full of false concern for the toddler. "Yeah, like I said, have fun with that Axel." She gave him a curt goodbye.
"I'll kill you one day!" Axel yelled, but Larxene had already taken a portal out of the room.
Roxas still stood in the same spot, suddenly fearing what was going to become of him. Axel noticed the scared to death look Roxas gave him. "Can I w-weally be... sucked up by the dwain?"
"No," Axel picked him up so they could get this unpleasant event over with. "Larxene tells a lot of what I like to call lies, and I hate to say it Rox, but she just told one to you." Roxas nodded his head rather hesitantly, and seemed content with the answer. Axel doubted Roxas's confidence would still be there once it came time for the toddler to face his new fear up close.
How Roxas even thought such a thing as the drain sucking him up was even possible was beyond him.
They reached one of the Organization's bathrooms where Axel set Roxas down on the furry white rug that was placed beside the bathtub, so far so good. The toddler scrunched his toes into the rug a few times, all the while he stared nervously into the empty tub. The knob was turned so that it spewed out lukewarm water. Not too hot and not too cold for Roxas's sensitivity to temperature.
"It'll take a while to fill up, so just wait a couple of minutes." He figured Roxas didn't need it filled up all the way due to the fact that he was tiny. So it wouldn't take that long at all. Axel turned from Roxas, who was doing nothing but gazing down at the drain anyway. He was surprised Roxas didn't make a run for it.
While waiting, Axel took the time to wash the marker off of his own face. He had forgotten it was even there until he passed the bathroom mirror. A few minutes passed, Axel was cleaned up and the bath water was ready. Still surprisingly, Roxas hadn't moved one bit.
Axel pulled Roxas's shirt up over his head. "Alright, now let's make this-"
The second he realized what giving Roxas a bath entailed he literally froze on the spot. His hand just happened to be resting on the button of Roxas pants at that moment.
Naked... Roxas would have to be completely... naked! A deep crimson blush started to take over his face. He would have to see... no, WASH Roxas naked. Which wouldn't have been a problem if Roxas were older... No wait! That was still a problem... Either way it was wrong, right? Then why in his mind did it seem so right? No wait... not right! Wrong! Yeah... what was going on now seemed definitely wrong. Even though it WAS right for the time being.
Wait...
God damn inner thoughts! He was three, and it was his job, not a crime!
Why did Roxas suddenly seem so much older in his mind?
"Axel, I don't wanna get in." Roxas pushed Axel's hand away and backed away from the tub.
'Thank Kingdom Hearts.' Axel sighed, no wait, no sighing allowed. He still was put in charge of getting this job done, like it or not... Crap.
"And why not?"
"Axel... It'll eat me!" He pointed to the drain. Axel rolled his eyes.
"How many times do I have to tell you, it's not going to eat you. It's impossible to go down the drain. Got it memorized?" Axel took a deep long breath in. He held it in as he pushed his libido aside to undo Roxas's pants and pull his tiny boxers off his hips in one fluid motion before he could stop himself. At that moment the two of them were truly an awkward mess together. Axel refused to look down, and Roxas stood there, cold and naked, shifting from one foot to the other out of fear.
"Now all you have to do is get in."
"No!" Roxas backed away towards the slightly opened door.
"Don't make me say it again Roxas!"
"I'm not goin'!" He backed up a bit more.
"Don't you even think about it!" Axel noticed the door as he slowly advanced towards Roxas so he could grab him before he made a run for it. Just as Axel lunged, Roxas slipped between his hands and went running out into the hall.
The toddler shivered as he ran. It didn't help that the Organizations headquarters was always a bit on the cold side. Axel's heavy footsteps followed close behind, threatening to take him back to that horrible bathroom.
'So this is great,' Axel thought as he searched the halls for Roxas. 'he's naked, and now he's running through the halls. The only possible way this situation could get any worse is if I were to run into someone like-'
"Xemnas!" Axel's eyes grew wide.
His Superior stood before him with an aggravated expression. Behind the silver haired man, Roxas clung to the leg of his pants.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're supposed to be taking care of this?" Xemnas knelt down to peel Roxas away from his leg. He motioned for Axel to come and take him.
"No no no please!" Roxas hung onto Xemnas's cloak as if his life depended on it. "I don't wanna go with Axel!" Despite his protest, he was soon back in Axel's arms again. The superior failed to observe the light blush covering Axel's face as Roxas squirmed in his arms.
"I sense that much later tonight I will regret asking this question, but what brought about this... side of Roxas?"
"He's apparently afraid of drains." Axel turned from the superior to bring a fighting Roxas back to the bathroom. "Don't worry, I'll get it done. Remember I never fail a mission..."
"See to it that you do Number Eight..." Xemnas shook his head, a part of him wishing that he never had to witness such an event. The sooner they got to the bottom of this catastrophe the better.
xXx
"Youw cwazy if you think I'm getting' in thewe!"
Roxas was still as resistant as ever about the bath. He grabbed the doorframe as soon as Axel walked through the door. His grip didn't loosen one bit, even as Axel tried to pull him away with every ounce of strength he had. Surely this act had gone on for ten minutes now.
"Roxas, you're acting ridiculous! It's just a bath!"
"No it's not." Did a tear just roll down Roxas's cheek? Axel let out a sigh, softening his hold on Roxas so that the toddler felt at ease again. Roxas balled up in Axel's arms with his head buried in his wild red hair.
"What is it going to take for me to get you in there?" Axel asked as he felt a tear land on his neck. Roxas looked up at Axel, wiping a few tears from his eyes.
"You get in fiwst."
"Then I'll- What!" Axel set Roxas down to take a step back. That was so far from the answer he thought he would hear that he was sort of in shock mode.
"You want me," He pointed to himself,
"to get in there," then to the tub,
"with you?" then of course to Roxas.
The toddler looked up innocently and nodded.
"Not happening!"
"Then I'm not getting in!" Roxas crossed his arms stubbornly, locking his legs into place.
For a good few seconds it seemed as if the two were locked in a staring contest. That is until Axel finally began to slowly unzip his jacket, an 'I can't believe I'm doing this' expression written on his face. The faster he got Roxas in the tub, the sooner he could lay in bed and regret the day...
The only option was to listen to the will of a three year old.
There stood Axel, equally as cold and naked, and Roxas by his feet looking over the edge of the tub. The only difference between the two of them now was the bright red coloring to Axel's face. He stuck a hesitant foot into the water before getting in on the side of the drain. He figured that way Roxas wouldn't even have to look at it. Possibly avoiding Roxas having a panic attack in water he could drown in.
The toddler hopped in afterwards, pretty much having a giggle fit every time some water splashed up to hit Axel in the face.
"All right, all right, enough splashing." Axel pushed Roxas down into a sitting position. He had no plans what-so-ever on enjoying this event, but was that even possible when Roxas looked so happy?
Roxas still giggled, now making the discovery that if he dropped the soap into the water it created a ripple. Axel rolled his eyes, a faint trace of a smile on his face. He cupped his hands to fill with water and dumped it over Roxas' head.
"Ax," The blond whined, looking up at Axel with irritation written all over his face. "you got my haiw wet!"
"That's sort of the point of a bath Rox."
After a moment of pouting, Roxas seemed fine with the answer, letting his hair be washed. He hummed lightly to himself, just a song he heard Demyx play on his sitar. His bright blue eyes caught sight of a pink bottle amongst the bottles of shampoos and conditioners.
"What's 'at?" He tapped Axel and motioned towards the bottle. Axel pulled it off the shelf since it was out of Roxas' reach anyway.
"It's Marluxia's strawberry bubblegum bubble bath." Could this guy be anymore feminine? And he had the nerve to make fun of Demyx when this was what he bathed in...
Before he knew it Roxas snatched the bottle from his hands, spilling its contents into the water. The sweet scent of strawberries began to fill the room and the tub started to overflow with bubbles. Marluxia may have even been onto something. It smelt pretty good, and at least it took Roxas's mind off of the drain. Roxas laughed as he tossed around the sweet scented bubbles and splashed around.
Axel never really thought of baths as fun. Just something that needed to be done. But there Roxas sat, having the time of his non-existent little life.
"You're a weird kid..." Axel shook his head, pushing a pile of bubbles over Roxas head. The pile was so high that the toddler practically disappeared underneath them. Roxas popped out of the pile sending a flurry of bubbles flying in every direction. He moved closer to Axel so that their faces were just barely touching each other.
"Noooo," He poked the end of Axel's nose. "like I said, youw just no fun!" Some more bubbles hit Axel in the face.
"You think I'm no fun?" Axel smirked, picking up a handful of bubbles. Roxas nodded his head slowly, keeping his eyes on Axel the whole time. "Yeah, well then let's see how not fun I am." He tossed the bubbled into Roxas' face, causing him to spit and sputter. Roxas fell backwards, engulfed by the bubbles. Right when Axel thought something happened to him, the blond popped up from the pile, throwing handful after handful of water in his direction.
It successfully hit Axel's well-styled hair, bringing it down past his shoulders. Axel glared harshly at Roxas. He knew how much time Axel spent on his hair, and he knew that's exactly why Roxas aimed for it. The blond always did have a habit of finding weak spots. Axel coughed, some water also successfully going up his nose.
"You think a little water will bring me down?" Axel put his hands on his hips. "I'm still standing."
Roxas smirked jumping onto Axel to try to push him into the water. "Not faiw! Youw tall."
"That's to bad for you then shorty!" Axel smiled.
Roxas' arms were wrapped tightly around his neck. Supposably Roxas was still trying to push him down, but Axel felt no more force coming from his tiny arms. Instead Roxas had cuddled beside Axel as his infectious giggled filled the room.
Axel rolled his eyes. The kid was amazingly adorable at the worst possible moments. He leaned back in the tub, pulling Roxas back with him. The rest of the bath Axel stayed in that position, Roxas splashed happily in the bubbles beside him. If nothing else the bath was relaxing. Nice hot water after a long day of self-pity.
Roxas wasn't all that bad either.
xXx
Larxene pulled her concealing hood from her head.
'Ugh, hood hair.'
She ran a hand through her golden locks until her hair snapped back into place, her normal antennas hovering above her sleek hair style. Directly after gracing Axel with her presence, she was called off on a quick surveillance mission to one of the worlds Roxas had been to before his change. Go here, observe this, take notes on that. Just her luck to get one of the boring missions. The inhabitants she encountered sure weren't all toddler's.
Thankfully, said with much sarcasm, she was now back in the madhouse she called home. Filled with people she generally didn't like and more weirdos then she cared for... By normal standards, that was the key definition of a family and a home.
Just a quick shower and then it's off to bed just to wake up the next morning and do it all over again. If it wasn't for her routinely torture provided to the other members, the castle would probably be... well, by their opinions better, but to her, it made things a lot less dull. Who needed their opinions anyway...
She approached the door to the upstairs bathroom, promptly noticing that the door was already slightly pushed open. The mixed sounds of small giggles and splashes flowed from the crack in the door. With caution she peeked into the bathroom, careful enough not to be seen or heard by whoever was inside.
Her lips curled into the worst form of a smirk. One that hinted to humiliation soon to come.
Axel and Roxas? He had actually gotten in with him. This was just too good to be true. She had given Axel his mission at least a good hour or two ago, they should have been done by now.
Roxas sat in the tub right next to Axel... And the best part came when she noticed Axel smiling about it! Laid back with his eyes closed and a smile on his face.
Demyx had to have been back from his mission. Now where was that little queer bait and his camera?
xXx
What started out as "I'm not getting in!" soon became "I'm not getting out!" Luckily Axel had a secret weapon on his side. He got out of the tub and wrapped a clean white towel around his waist, even taking the time to glance at himself in the mirror. Roxas grew suspicious of Axel's movements. After a few minutes, he ignored the fact that he was in the tub alone, until Axel reached his hands beneath the bubble to pull out the drain plug. The water began to quickly spiral downwards into the drain. It didn't take Roxas long to hop out and run for cover.
Roxas sat on Axel's bed, still wet and smelling heavily of an odd mixture between strawberry and bubblegum. A fluffy towel was wrapped around him from head to toe so only his face was visible. Axel dried himself off first and got changed into a clean pair of boxers before going over to Roxas.
"Can we do that again?" Roxas began to shiver when Axel pulled the towel off his head. The redhead began to dry Roxas's hair.
"Not while I have a say in it."
"But wasn't it fun?" Roxas tilted his head sweetly.
Axel pulled a clean pajama top over Roxas head, one that strangely resembled his black and white teenaged pajama top. He had to admit, something that he imagined being pure torture in the beginning turned out to be not so bad. Roxas had this cheerful aura around him that was pretty contagious. When Roxas started to smile, a strong urge to smile as well twisted in Axel's stomach.
It almost completely made him forget about the fact that at that moment, Roxas was naked... Keyword being almost in this case. It seemed no problem for something like a bath to take place between a father and son figure... But Roxas wasn't... Roxas was his best friend... His best friend who he wanted back with him.
He couldn't help but have the feeling that the reasons he wanted his best friend back were less about companionship and more shifted towards... Well, that part he didn't exactly know.
Roxas being so small and needy now didn't exactly help when all he wanted was to know why he wanted the old Roxas back so badly. Everything he did with the little Roxas, it all just made him picture situations differently. He knew Roxas was different, but his mind still wasn't registering it. His mind pictured the same event... and an older Roxas in his place. Maybe it was making him picture the old Roxas differently as well... Maybe it was making them closer in some odd way.
"Yeah yeah, it was fun," Axel finished dressing Roxas. "now get into bed." He held the covers up so that Roxas could climb under them. He didn't budge an inch. Roxas crossed his arms stubbornly.
"I don't wanna."
"Roxas... just get into bed already."
"'m not tiwed..." He rubbed his eyes with his tiny fist, letting out an audible yawn. "Don't wanna..."
Axel shook his head at how hard Roxas was trying to resist sleep. At this point he feared the poor kid was just going to fall over from exhaustion. He shrugged, leaving Roxas to pout at the end of the bed while he crawled under his nice warm covers. He wasn't about to loose any sleep over it.
"Goodnight Roxas." Axel pulled the switch to his bedside lamp and the room suddenly turned pitch black. In the older nobodies head, he began a mental countdown. '5... 4... 3...'
Roxas blinked a few times, his bottom lip starting to quiver. He let out a small whimper as he struggled to see around the room.
"Axel! Okay! Tuwn it on! I'll go to bed, I pwomise!" Roxas let out a cry. Axel smirked as he switched the light back on.
"Hurry up then." Axel patted the spot on the bed beside him. Roxas crawled quickly to the spot just in case Axel decided to switch the lights off again.
"That wasn't funny!"
"But it worked." Axel laughed, finally settling into his blankets for good. Another day finally done and over with.
xXx
Zexion blinked a few times, his eyes trying to adjust themselves to the darkness of the room he woke up to. Finally the horrible smell of alcohol had fully diminished, the gut wrenching pain in his stomach had faded to nothing but a dull cramp, and his headache seemed to be repairing itself slowly too.
He switched the lamp beside his bed on so he could finally see. A book about psychology and human emotions rested on his stomach, along with a pen and a notepad. He almost dreaded glancing over at the clock, and with good reason.
9pm...
He fell asleep when he realized a headache makes reading unbearable... and didn't wake up since then. The whole day was wasted, and he had to have a detailed research page on Xemnas's desk early the next morning. He was supposed to be in the library all day but that was physically impossible for him.
Zexion groaned inwardly, realizing that this meant he would have to stay up all night to finish that work. All the stuff he was now behind on... The work he failed to finish!... All linked back to one nobody... Demyx! And to think it all started over one damn kiss!
Pushing that naive blond nuisance out of his head again, he set the book down on the table. A paper that wasn't there when he fell asleep was neatly folded into a card beside his stack of books. He opened the note, and inside it read:
Dear Zexion,
I'm so sorry about earlier. Normally I'm really good at expressing myself through the written word. I do write my own music and all, but right now I'm just drawing a blank... I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry for EVERYTHING!
Sorry for the kiss, and taking you to that club when you didn't want to even come, and embarrassing you... and making you fall behind on your work. Axel told me I'm in way over my head with you, and I guess this just means he's right.
I know you must hate me right now, I mean... almost everyone in the Organization thinks that we... well, you know... And you must think I've ruined your reputation. I have a lot to explain to you.
The next paragraph was scribbled out so furiously that Zexion couldn't even read it. He picked back up from where it became readable again.
Sorry, you probably don't want to read my rambling anyway. Maybe later I will tell you in person. So I'll just end things here.
Love, Demyx
P.S.
You were asleep when I came in, but I made you a sandwich since you missed mealtime. Hope you like peanut butter and jelly.
Zexion looked over to a perfectly made Peanut butter and jelly sandwich not to far from where he found the note. A sharp knot twisted in his stomach as he slowly read the note over again... He had a bad feeling that this time the pain wasn't caused by the after effects of alcohol either...
Demyx added a little heart after his name.
How weird...
A/N- Well that was a looooooong, chapter! Many pages typed :3
But I hoped you enjoyed it. I got the Roxas versus the drain idea from personal experience... yes, I used to be TERIFFIED of the drain... and the possibility that it could eat me one day. I always thought the second an adult wasn't looking it would just suck me up...
I'm a dork I know...
Oh, and for all you Zemyx fans, I have begun to build up a collection of Zemyx oneshots. Go check out my profile and read my newest Zemyx oneshot collection if you want :D
Anyway,
Review & until next time!