So first thing first, while there is a zoo in Berlin I couldn't really find any info on it so I made this one up :3 also I wrote most of this wile at school and since I didn't want to drag my German books around I cheated and mostly used Google Translate.
And a special thanks to Ewonsama for always nagging me to finish this chapter. Without her this wouldn't have even been started :)
As always, translations are at the end of the story
A loud, obnoxious knocking woke Axel up from deep sleep. A mop of messy hair sprung up from under the covers. The man groaned in displeasure as the annoying noise flooded his room, "I'm coming!" He yelled but the knocking continued. The drowsy redhead rolled out of his bed and yanked open the door a bit on the violent side "Will you calm the fuck down?" Axel growled. Piercing green glared till he realized who was at his door, "Roxas? I'm sorry." He apologized, "Umm…Shit what time is it? I'm sorry I overslept. You can watch TV while get ready." He mumbled, completely forgetting that the boy might not even understand him.
Roxas just glared at the man something fierce before shoving him aside and walking into the room, "Der hirnlose Ochse." The boy mumbled under his breath as he shuffled into the room. He plopped down on Axel's bed and fiddled with the remote till it was on some mind numbing cartoon that Axel couldn't keep up with. The redhead shook his head in wonderment. Did the kid actually understand him, or did he just decide to watch his program while Axel got ready?
"Umm..yeah, if you need me I'll be in the bathroom. You can order a snack or something from room service if I take too long." Axel rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. He quickly gathered up the clothes he'd be wearing for the day. He froze for a moment as he tried to figure out what to wear. He was doing business things so he should wear a suit. But then again it was more like babysitting assignment and it was to the zoo, so normal clothes should suffice, right? Axel snuck a peek over to Roxas to see what the teen was wearing, maybe he could go off that and try to match it.
Roxas was wearing a simple outfit. Just jeans and a black shirt with a silk screen design on it. So casual it was. Axel grabbed his desired outfit and scampered off to the bathroom. He turned the shower on its hottest setting and waited for it to heat up before stripping and stepping in. If Axel hated anything it would be cold showers. Those had to be the bane of his existence. Once he was nice and wet, Axel got to work on shampooing his hair to get all the grease and grime out from the past couple of days. It was gross to go so long and do so much without having at least one shower, but as soon as Axel had gotten back to the hotel he got so engrossed into his German book that by the middle of the night he only had enough energy to strip down to his wife better and boxers before he fell asleep.
A loud knock sounded from the door followed by an angry, "Ich hoffe sie sind nicht am wichsen Beeilen sie sich, Ich muss pinkeln!"
"Will you hold on!?" Axel yelled back as he dunked his head under the spray. He managed to rinse our all of the suds and wash all the guck of yesterday off of his skin in very few minutes. He didn't know what Roxas had said, but it sounded urgent. After he was fully rinsed off and clean, Axel grabbed a towel and dried off his body and blow dried his hair. Once done getting dressed, he exited the bathroom only to be pushed aside and the door slam behind him, "The hell?" Axel asked himself as he stared at the locked bathroom door.
With a shrug the redhead went about his business and collected his cellphone and wallet, and put a pair of worn out sneakers on. As if on cue the sound of the toilet flushing was heard, closely followed by the sound of running water. When Roxas emerged from the room he walked straight for the front door, completely ignoring Axel. This caught the redhead by surprise, but he managed to quickly shake it off and follow the blond out of the hotel and into the busy streets of Berlin.
Outside a long, dark limo sat at the curb of the hotel. The vehicle kind of intimidated Axel, but Roxas didn't seem to mind opening up the back door and climbing right in. Taking the hint that that was their mode of transportation Axel climbed in next to the boy and managed to accidently bump into the blond, "Fass mich nicht an!" The boy exclaimed as he scooted towards the other side of the bench with a sour look directed at the older male. Blue eyes rolled as Roxas directed his attention to the front of the limo, "Können wir gehen?"
The driver didn't say anything as they started the car and drove out away from the curb and into the busy traffic. The whole ride was awkward in Axel's opinion. Roxas would fidget whenever Axel moved a fraction of an inch closer to him. As weird and annoying as the gestures were Axel couldn't help but make a little game out of it. He would scoot away from his side of the car and closer to Roxas till the small blond was squished between the door and something Axel liked to call, the Wall.
The Wall was a space of about two feet that must always be maintained between him and Roxas. It was like an invisible barrier that Axel could not pass no matter how hard he tired. The redhead had even tried to poke the boy's cheek just to see what would happen, and while the Wall was penetrable, it wasn't the best thing to do. Axel managed to poke Roxas's cheek once, only to get his hand violently slapped away.
The drive to the zoo felt long to Axel. The tension between him and his charge was high and the redhead didn't know how much more of it he could take. Taking a breath Axel tried talking to the boy in his native tongue, "Umm…Ich bin Axel." The man said awkwardly, "Ich mag rot" The speech was uneven and choppy but Axel felt like he was doing a good job.
A small smile graced Roxas's face, but it only lasted a moment. Axel caught it though, and he couldn't help but smile as well, "Du haben nettes Lächeln."
"Sie haben ein nettes Lächeln" Roxas corrected. To Axel's surprise the boy didn't sound annoyed, in fact he detected a bit of playful mocking in the boy's voice, "Danke."
"Heh, you're welcome." Axel didn't know how to say it in German, but he hoped Roxas would understand. The limo pulled over and the driver called back to Roxas in his native tongue. Axel didn't know what he had said but judging from Roxas getting out it meant they had arrived to their destination.
The odd pair walked towards the ticket counter where a beefy, bald man sat behind. He was wearing sunglasses that looked like they were made for women, but neither Axel nor Roxas would tell him otherwise in fear that he would jump from behind his post and beat them into a bloody pulp.
"Umm…Zwei, bitte." Axel asked nervously as he held up two fingers to show what he wanted in case he said something wrong. The man just looked Axel up and down like he suspected him of something before muttering the price. Before Axel had time to reach in his back pocket and grab his wallet, Roxas was already handing the intimidating man a shiny credit card.
"Komm schon." Roxas said as he snatched up the tickets and pulled Axel through the gates by the cuff of his jacket. He didn't let up his hold as the two were passed the crowed entrance and gift shop. Axel tried pulling himself lose but the younger boy didn't seem to want to let go. His fist just tightened and twisted into the fabric more until Axel just gave up.
"Where are you taking me?" The redhead demanded as he was pulled passed the bird exhibit. He really hoped Roxas wasn't taking him somewhere deserted and kill him or something along those lines. It wasn't his fault he had to take Roxas away from his home, it was just his assignment.
Roxas never answered as he navigated his way through the people and twisting paths. Once they got to a small area that was surrounded in cages. A sign reading 'Sciuridae' hung from two trees told Axel where they were. This was the squirrel habitat.
"So Roxas, I take it you like squirrels." Axel tried to say casually as he looked over the blond's shoulder and into the cage housing a family of American red squirrels. The blond stared at the furry creatures as they ran around their cage for another moment before nodding his head. Axel quirked an eyebrow at that. Did Roxas understand him? "Nice weather for the zoo, don't you think?" He asked casually and getting another nod from Roxas, "Can we go see the armadillos next?" Blond spikes shook in a 'no'. Axel grabbed Roxas's shoulder and spun the blond around so they were now facing each other, Roxas averted his eyes from Axel like he knew he had been caught, "Roxas, please tell me, can you or can't you speak English?"
Blue eyes looked everywhere but at Axel as Roxas tried to think of something to say, "Ich weiß nicht, was Sie reden." The boy said in a quiet, scared voice.
"Oh come off it!" Axel yelled. In his frustration the redhead shoved his charge back into the cage behind him making Roxas flinch, "You've just been torturing me with your stupid antics to what? Make me look like an idiot? Just stop being a little brat about all of this! Is it because I'm the one who is taking you to your college? Because that's not my damn fault! It was you're dad's idea and he went to my boss who sent me! I'm just a fucking middle man in all of this!" The more he talked the angrier Axel got. His hands grasp tightened on the poor boy making a noise of pain leave him.
The anger left Axel once he saw what he was doing. The redhead quickly let go of Roxas and backed up with a scared look that mirrored Roxas's, "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." The man muttered. He didn't know what had come over him. Maybe it was the lack of sleep and the thought of being toyed with like that is what made his blood boil. And oh god, what if Roxas told Luxord about this? Axel would lose his job! "Can I ask for a small favor? Can you not tell your dad about what I did? I promise I won't do anything again, just please don't tell him." The redhead begged.
"I-I" Roxas stuttered as he looked down at the man. For once he was at a loss for words. He quickly shook it off and said in a cool voice, "I won't tell him." This made Axel's draw drop. While yes he did suspect and accuse the blond of knowing English he didn't think he was actually right. Before he had a chance to question the boy some more, Roxas pushed passed him and practically ran away from Axel.
The taller man hung back even though he wanted to chase after Roxas, but something was telling him that he just needed to give the boy some room. It was a relatively small zoo so Axel knew their paths would cross again before closing, if not then looking for the boy would be easy enough.
Axel stayed near the squirrels for a bit and wondered why such a common animal would be on display before getting bored and wondering off to look at the other animals the small zoo had to offer. He looked at all the snakes and other reptiles in the little, dim, cold house that sheltered the cold blooded beasts. Once Axel was sure he was nice and frozen he left to go look at some monkeys. They weren't doing much, just laying around and picking at each other. Axel hoped one of them would get bored and throw some unmentionable waste at another, but sadly that did not happen.
The lanky man leaned down and crossed his arms over the top of the fence that was meant to act as a barrier so the visitors couldn't get close to the cage the monkeys were in. Axel was getting bored. The zoo was nice and all, but it just wasn't that fun without someone else there to laugh with. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything to Roxas or at least tried to control his temper, "Oh well, look like I get to spend the day alone." Axel mused to himself as he watched a chimp struggle with climbing a rope.
"Is that a good thing or bad?" A voice said next to Axel making the redhead jump a bit. Green eyes looked over and a sigh of relief almost left Axel when he spotted Roxas next to him.
"Hey. I thought I scared you off." The taller of the two said, eyes averted to look at the captured animals.
"You didn't. I just needed some time to think. I just came over to say I'm sorry for how I treated you. You're right, I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you and embarrassed you like that. And I also wanted to say thank you. You know for being so patient with me and trying to learn some German." The more Roxas talked the more impressed Axel was. He didn't know the teen could speak English so well. He almost felt like Roxas was better at his native tongue than he was.
Axel faced Roxas and smiled down at the boy, and was that a blush he saw? "No problem Roxas. It's all a part of the job. Now how does some lunch sound?"
X~x~X~x~
Axel and Roxas found themselves sitting at a small table shaped like a pond with seats that looked like hippos with their mouths wide open, the mouth providing the seat. Axel, being a bit on the adventures side, had a Knackwurst sandwich in front of him and drinking a beer called Warsteiner Pils. Roxas on the other hand had a simple chicken salad and a coke.
"Who est die toy-something." Axel said lamely after swallowing a big bite of his food. Roxas had kindly offered Axel some beginner's lessons for basic German to make up for being a jerk and the redhead had happily agreed. Maybe when he got back home he could show off to his boss and Price may give him a raise or promotion for his dedication for his assignment.
Soda almost came out of Roxas's nose at that but he managed to hold back his laughter, "Nein. Wo ist die Toilette?" Roxas repeated in a slow manner hoping Axel will catch on. Very slowly the redhead managed to repeat what Roxas said, "Good. Now try: Ich spreche kein Deutsch. It means I don't speak German. Which I think is something important you need to remember. No offence Axel, but you're German is horrible."
Before Axel could try the phrase a loud, obnoxious voice said behind him, "Roxas! Was für eine Überraschung, Sie hier zu sehen!"
"Gutten tag Larxene. Was machst du hier?" Roxas replied. Axel had no idea what they were saying so he went back to his meal as the two continued their conversation.
"Wollte nur einen Blick auf einige Affen werfen. Wie dein Freund." The woman, Larxene said as she ran her boney fingers through Axel's hair. Axel didn't know what just happened, but judging from the pissed off look on Roxas's face it wasn't good.
With a snarl Roxas coldly replied, "Er ist immer noch schöner als du." Axel cautiously looked over his shoulder and almost snorted at the woman's face. It was contorted in a weird fashion that made her look like she was half baboon. Her blond hair was poking up in places like she had a bad case of static electricity cursing through her. And her eyes were glaring at Roxas in such a way that Axel was sure laser beam would shoot out of them and fry the small blond.
"Fahr zur Hölle!" The woman screeched as she turned on her heel and disappeared through the zoo's crowded food court.
"So…umm…what just happened?" Axel asked.
Roxas just sighed as he slouched in his seat and poked at his salad, "Nothing. Her dad is in with my dad so we pretty much grew up together, but I really don't like her since she's such a bitch."
"Oh. Okay." Axel said lamely as he finished off the last of his sandwich and beer. He took note that Roxas wasn't eating anymore and frowned. That crazy lady must have really put Roxas in a bad mood, "Do you want to get going? I don't think there's anything else to really do here."
Roxas agreed and the two gathered up their trash and dumped it. The limo was called and pulled up to where they were dropped off. The car ride back to the hotel was a lot more enjoyable than the previous ride. The Wall had disappeared and Roxas had no trouble talking to Axel. The blond even taught the other man some more useful phrases.
When they pulled up to the hotel Axel went to get out but was stopped when two hands clamped around his wrist grabbing the redhead's attention, "My dad wants to take me somewhere tomorrow so you won't have to babysit me again, but the next day he wants us to do something again. Someone will be in contact with you when it's planed out." Roxas said really fast and in one breath. Axel barely caught it since the boy's accent got thicker and thicker the faster he talked, but he managed to understand.
"Okay. I had fun today Roxas. Thanks for not being a total prick this time around." Axel winked at the boy and exited the car. The limo didn't stay long and soon it was speeding along the dying late afternoon traffic. Once the black car was out of sight Axel went back up to his room and crashed the moment his face hit the bed.
Translations
Der hirnlose Ochse – brainless ox
Ich hoffe sie sind nicht am wichsen Beeilen sie sich, Ich muss pinkeln! – You better not be wanking! Hurry up, I need to pee!"
Fass mich nicht an – Don't touch me
Können wir gehen? – Can we go?
Ich bin – I am
Ich mag rot – I like red
Du haben nettes Lächeln – you have nice smile (wrong)
Sie haben ein nettes Lächeln – you have a nice smile
Danke – Thanks
Zwei, bitte – two please
komm schon – Come on
Ich weiß nicht, was Sie redden – I don't know what you're talking about
Wo ist die Toilette? – Where's the toilet?
Ich spreche kein Deutsch- I don't speak German
Was für eine Überraschung, Sie hier zu sehen – What a surprise to see you here
Gutten tag Larxene. Was machst du hier? – Good afternoon Larxene. What are you doing here?
Wollte nur einen Blick auf einige Affen werfen – Just wanted to look at some monkeys
Wie dein Freund. – Like your friend
Er ist immer noch schöner, als man sich bei – He's still nicer to look at than you
Fahr zur Hölle – Go to Hell