Chapter 2 - In which food is partaken.

The next day Roxas turned up early, but didn't see Axel when he went to his locker. After lingering a bit longer than he would have deemed 'unsuspicious', he shrugged and walked to the lab where he met his lab partner with a falsely jovial tone. Zexion was a short, slate-grey haired child who looked cold and distant, but up close he made Roxas laugh. He didn't hang out with Roxas outside of physics class, but Roxas didn't mind - he knew Zexion had a job after school, so he did not complain.

"What's wrong with you?"

Roxas jumped at Zexion's cutting tone. He missed nothing. "Nothing, really, Zex, it's dumb." Zexion raised an eyebrow, and Roxas sighed softly, and continued, "Alright, but you're sworn to secrecy, I don't want to get the hound sniffing for blood. So, there's this guy..." He paused and waited for a reaction, and almost missed the barely-perceptible smile appear briefly behind Zexion's eyes. He went on, "...not like that, though. Just met him, thought I'd see him again today, and didn't."

"It's only 8am. Plenty of time. You can save the emo for later, Roxas."

Roxas lightly slapped Zexion's arm. "Oh hush. I'm not moping, just hormones. I am one of those accursed 'teen-agers', my dear boy." Zexion snorted at that, and the moment passed. Just before the teacher walked in, Roxas checked his timetable to remind himself where he was next. As his eye traced down the 'Tuesday' column, his heart skipped a beat - Double English. He had no time to dwell, however, as the teacher arrived at that point with a box full of slinkies, muttering something about waveforms.

He was already there, waiting in the seat he had sat in the previous day, the seat next to it left unoccupied. Roxas entered the room as calmly as he could, and sat down, pulling his books out on the desk in front of him. When this was finished, he turned as nonchalantly as he could to his left. Almost immediately, he had to fight the rising heat in his cheeks as Axel grinned at him.

"Yo."

"Hi. You're still here, then."

"Were you worried?"

"Nah. Did you have a nice evening yesterday?" At Axel's nod, he pressed further. "Any particularly fun things happen?"

"Nothing much. Got grilled by my brother about school. Grilled him about college. Had pizza. Jerked off. Went to bed." Roxas stared at him, and Axel's eyes glittered. "Ha! Prude. Just kidding. How about you?"

After a shaky laugh, Roxas gave a play by play of the previous evening at Tiana's, culminating in the horrendous karaoke climax of the night. Axel sat silently, leaning on an upturned palm, smiling softly all the while. Roxas spoke animatedly, but after a while he began to falter as he noticed that Axel was actually examining him closely. His eyes were as intense as they had been when he first emerged from Cid's office the previous day. They were exquisite - a shimmering, acid green, inquisitive and with a permanent hint of amusement to them. Before the moment could get awkward, however, there was a bluster at the door.

Headmaster Cid entered the room, apologies spilling from his lips about lateness. He was followed by a grey-haired figure whom the class did not recognise.

"Hello everyone, I am sorry for the delay once again. Miss Gainsborough has been taken ill, and will be away for the foreseeable future." Murmurs broke out among the class. "I have managed to secure you a replacement, however. This is Mr Xemnas - I trust you will give him the respect that he can expect from Twilight High's students." The class nodded, and Cid beamed, gave a final 'good luck' handshake to the new teacher, and left. Once the door closed, the smile left the silver-haired man, and he walked to the board, picked up a marker, and wrote 'Professor Xemnas' in a neat script. When finished, he faced the class. Beside him, Roxas could feel Axel trying to keep from sniggering, and only barely accomplishing it.

"Hello, class. My name, as you have heard, is Professor Xemnas. I have been teaching in the Rattigan Academy for the last number of years as head of English. I expect that you will not be at the level I am accustomed to, but it is my aim to correct that. Macbeth, open. We are going to read it together." He fixed the class with a searching stare, before settling on Axel in the third row. His lip curled upwards in what was clearly poorly-controlled disgust, and he schooled himself quickly. Roxas was instantly scowling, almost defensively, but a quick glance in Axel's direction showed the redhead was totally unaffected. "You, read." Axel lazily opened his book, and read from where they'd left off the previous day.

"Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear

Things that do sound so fair? I' the name of truth,

Are ye fantastical, or that indeed

Which outwardly ye show?"

Roxas eventually found where they had started from, and after catching up, he turned his gaze to Axel, and did a double take. Axel was looking at his nails as he spoke, clearly reciting from memory. After finishing Banquo's speech, he languidly raised his eyes to the Professor, giving him what was honestly the most laid-back challenging expression Roxas had ever seen, or even thought possible. After a minor frown, Xemnas picked another student, and the reading continued. Roxas stole another glance at Axel, who was grinning at right back at him. Roxas gave him a curious smile, and they turned their attention back to the class.

"Hey Roxas, how many people have joined that martial arts club?" Axel and Roxas were walking towards the cafeteria for lunch. The elder boy had stuffed his bag in his locker and was carrying simply a battered notebook in one hand.

"I think that last term they had, like, ten people or something. My lab partner goes, he's always telling me just how much fun it is, and he's the most introverted person in existence. I keep thinking that I should." He paused. "Why, were you gonna go?"

"Thinkin' bout it. Used to do some stuff at my old school, not serious or anything."

The words came out of Roxas' mouth before he could stop himself. "If you want, I'd go with you."

"Oh really?"

Roxas could feel the brush creep up his cheeks. "Y-yeah. I mean, uh, y'know, might be fun, and I can't really let you out alone in your first week? 'Cos I'm responsible for you and all."

"Riiiiiiiight. Good to know, shortie."

"RoxAAAAS!"

Roxas balked at the sound of Olette's singsong voice yelling at him from across the cafeteria. He turned around and saw her seated at their usual table, Hayner and Naminé already in audience, Pence nowhere to be seen as yet. He gave a soft wave, picked up his tray and approached the lunch queue ahead of Axel, who paused momentarily, and said, quietly,

"Listen, Roxas, I gotta go get something from the library. Uhh, so are we going to the club tonight or...?"

"Well, I haven't got anything else on... do you?"

"Nope. Ok then, well, I'll see you tonight. Starts at 5, right?"

"Yeah. See ya."

"Later." Axel shoved his notebook under his arm, and promptly walked out of the cafeteria. After picking up his lunch, Roxas moved to sit down next to the group. Olette stole a french fry, and asked, pointedly,

"So... is he as weird as he looks?"

Roxas considered his answer. "Um... not sure yet. Seems ok. I know him a day, Olette, gimme a break."

"Only know him for a day, and your face looks like you got slapped by a lobster."

Roxas went rigid. "Wha-what?"

"It was bound to happen eventually, and he is hot." She shrugged. "Hey Nami, did you still want to go to the lab today?" The conversation moved on like she'd said nothing, but Roxas was stuck on what she'd implied. Was he that obvious? He hoped not, and that she was just teasing him.

The club went differently to Roxas' expectations. He arrived a little early to the gym, to find Axel already changed and standing in the gym hall, talking quietly with the gym leader who ran the club, a deceptively muscular brunette who only went by his first name, Leon. Roxas had had gym with him for four years before he realised he didn't know Leon's surname. He knew Leon was into sparring, as the school trophy cabinet had bloomed with trophies from various martial arts tournaments, since he'd arrived, although famously no-one from the club had ever managed to win the Struggle. How Roxas had never made the connection he didn't know. Zexion turned up just as it was about to start, and he gave a surprised look at Roxas, before spotting Axel across the room, and then he gave Roxas a sidelong wink, mouthing the word 'oh' as he did. He followed it with a thumbs up. Roxas blushed, and turned back to tying his shoelaces.

As it was their first session, Roxas and Axel warmed up with the rest of the club, completed a few basic exercises, but after that were relegated to a bench off to the side as spectators as the rest of the members split into groups practicing different disciplines. Contrary to Roxas' earlier assertions, there were over forty people in the club, and, in fact, Leon had four assistants helping him guide the members in their efforts. Roxas could not tell what appealed to him the most, because he was acutely aware of the body next to him. Even the short twenty minute warm-up had left Roxas out of breath and sweating, but Axel was as calm and relaxed as if he'd been watching television. Wearing a vest, his tattoo was finally visible on his arm - it was a jet black outline of a phoenix, and it covered most of his left bicep, which was surprisingly toned. In fact, most of what Roxas could sneak a peek at was incredibly well-built, which led him to the inevitable conclusion that Axel's semi-interest in martial arts was probably somewhat understated.

"Any idea what you wanna do?" Axel's question pulled Roxas from his reverie.

"Not sure," Roxas sighed. "I mean, that capoeira thing looks awesome, but I have no idea. What about you?"

Axel shrugged. "Well, I did a little kendo in my last school, so probably a bit of that - I like the idea of having something to hold up in my way, rather than just my arms. They're a bit weedy." Roxas laughed and coughed at the same time, and ended up with eyes welling up as he struggled for air. Axel slapped him lightly on the back.

"I-I'm ok. Yeah, real weedy. Kendo looks like the most fun."

"It is fun." They both turned to the new voice, where Leon was standing a few feet away, two shinai held in his hands. He tossed them at the seated duo, and beckoned them forth. "Come on, you can learn the basics over here with Auron while the others are practicing. Axel winked at Roxas, and they both stood.

After the club finished, Roxas followed Axel into the showers, and stood in the cubicle next to him, slowly washing his hair. It had been an invigorating workout, but even from that small lesson, Roxas had seen that Axel was far more skilled than he was letting on. He was sure that Auron, their teacher, had noticed it too, but he'd said nothing as Axel moved gracefully about, and Roxas struggled to even hit the correct posture. However, Auron had been most encouraging, assuring Roxas he had 'potential', and Roxas had left happily.

"Hey Axel?"

"Yeah?" Axel's voice was watery, as his head was under the showerhead.

"Just exactly how much of this have you done before?"

Axel chuckled. "Eh, a little bit, not a lot. A few meetings, you know, casual stuff. I got good muscle memory, I guess." While he appeared completely genuine, it still jarred with what Roxas had seen earlier, but he shrugged.

"Well, you must be some kinda natural then, heh." He rinsed his hair, and when he opened his eyes again, Axel had vanished from beside him. A towel was tossed in his direction and fell over his eyes, and he lifted it off, shut the shower off, and saw Axel already had his jeans on, his hair dropping rivulets of water onto his chest. His jeans rode low, and Roxas could see a little bright red trail of hair just beneath his naval. 'That colour is NATURAL?' Roxas thought to himself. He also had a few more tattoos than simply what was visible on his bicep. Roxas wrapped the towel around himself, and busied himself with getting dressed, while Axel occupied himself on his phone.

"Hey Roxas?"

"Yeah?"

"You maybe wanna get a soda or something? I'm really thirsty, and I'm all out of water."

Roxas frowned slightly, he was sure he'd seen Axel put three bottles of water into his bag just before the club meeting. However, the redhead removed all three bottles from his bag, and they were indeed drained, confusing the blond. "Yeah sure, no problem."

"Uh... do you know anywhere to go? I still haven't quite settled in yet..."

"Yeah, I know just the place."

At 8pm, Tiana's was heaving, but Roxas and Axel managed to squeeze a booth as someone was leaving. Tiana herself rushed over to clean the tables, throwing a hurried hello to Roxas. Axel made to pick up a menu, but Roxas asked him quickly,

"Are you veggie?"

"No, why?"

Roxas ignored his question, and asked Tiana, "Two bayou burgers, a bowl of onion rings to share, and two cinnamon thickshakes. Oh yeah, and a plate of beignets for after." She grinned at him, and nodded, walking off without writing a word down.

Axel stared at him. "Well, I didn't think we'd get to the you ordering for me stage of our relationship so soon." He raised an eyebrow, and Roxas laughed at him.

"Ha. Funny. It's the best thing on the menu, by miles. It's what I usually have in here. I was here last night with everyone for my birthday, but we had a big sharing platter so I didn't get a burger, but damn, I was craving for one! Seriously, you'll die, they're amazing."

"Sure. Happy birthday, by the way. You thirteen now?"

Roxas glowered slightly, before noticing the twinkle in Axel's eye, and realised it was actually a question. "Oh ha ha. Sixteen, thanks. According to my mom I officially know 'everything' now and I should just quit while I'm ahead."

"Probably true. My dad still says the same to Reno, but I'm pretty sure Reno actually believes it."

"Is it just you and Reno, then?"

"Yeah. And my dad and uncle. My dad hasn't moved yet, he's finishing the sale of our house in Radiant Garden and tying up some loose work ends. Should be out by the end of next week, but my uncle came straight up with us."

"Your uncle lives with you? Is he really old?"

An unidentifiable look crossed Axel's face fleetingly, then vanished. "No, not at all, but after my mom died, Uncle Vinny moved in with us, and he's been there ever since. You don't get to see too much of him though, he's kinda private, but fun to talk to when he's in the mood."

"You have an actual uncle who is actually called Uncle Vinny."

"What?"

"Nothing. It's a fil- nothing." Roxas adjusted the cutlery in front of him idly, and changed the subject. "So, uh, why did you move here, anyway?"

Axel paused, and for a moment Roxas thought he wasn't going to answer, but he realised Axel was getting his story straight. "I'm from Midgar originally. Lived there until I was 8, then my mom died. My dad met my mom at work, and he couldn't stand to be there, 'cos it just made him think of her, so we moved to Radiant Garden. It was beautiful there, but I wanted to go to TU to do history, and my dad is freelancing, and my brother decided he wanted to transfer to TU too... he's almost got enough credits to graduate anyway, so... it just sorta happened. It's a bit of a blur, to be honest." He looked at Roxas, who seemed almost to be daydreaming. He waved a hand in front of the blond's face. "Whoa, hello in there?"

Roxas snapped to attention. "Oh, sorry! Uh, sorry, I was just thinking about something."

"How she died."

"How did you-"

"Everyone always wonders that. It's not complicated. I'm supposed to be a middle child."

"Oh? Oh. OH." Roxas' eyes opened wide as he realised what Axel meant, but the face in front of him, while serious, was also completely calm - not even an involuntary twitch.

"It was nine years ago, Rox. I came to terms with it. Things happen, people die. It's really sad, and sometimes I wish I could ask her stuff, but there's nothing I can do about it, so I move on. I hope sometimes she'd be proud of me." He paused, as if considering what to say next, then took a deep breath. "Like, there is ONE thing I know she'd-" At that point, he was interrupted by the arrival of their food, which seemed to completely derail his line of thought. Roxas waited for him to finish his sentence, but instead he started an entirely new topic, in a completely different tone of voice. "Ok, this had better be amazing, seeing as I don't even know what is in it."

"Just trust me."

"Yeah yeah fine." He picked up the burger, and took an enormous bite, and instantly his eyes widened. Through the food, he muffled, "Foh my vuffing vod, vhat ij IN vis?"

Roxas let out a peal of laughter. "I don't even know. I had one, once, about six years ago, and I've had a million since then I'm sure. It's awesome though, isn't it?"

"Vit's infreffabuhl."

Roxas picked his own up, and tucked in hungrily. "Man, I'm starving. This is the best thing ever." He slurped his thickshake, and Axel followed suit, eyes bulging even more as the cinnamon washed down his throat.

"Roxas... this place is amazing."

"Yeah, just wait 'til you see the bill at the end, too. You'll be even happier. I have no idea how she does it, but Tiana's has the best food, and it's really, really cheap. It does mean it is ALWAYS jumping in here, but it's still amazing. If you're nice enough to her... she even does takeout. Not just for anyone, though."

"Lemme guess, you're not just anyone."

"Yep."

Axel raised an eyebrow at the cocky answer, but Roxas was suddenly engrossed in his napkin.