Oh crap! CHAPTER THREE! Hooray!

Man, I am trying to be good about writing this as often as possible but I'll level with you guys… I haven't been too good at that. I'm trying to balance my time between writing this before and after work, playing 358/2 days on the weekend (which is the ONLY time I am allowing myself to play it, otherwise this story would be on the backburner in a major way) and then because I'm recently addicted to Magical Angel Creamy Mami, (which I stumbled upon in that happy accident sort of way) I'm trying to work that into my schedule as well.

And I'm trying to stay ahead a few chapters before I post them which I usually fail at but I'm really gonna try this time guys!

Anyway, this chapter is super cute! Roxas and Axel get to know each other. Now the story can really start! Hope you enjoy!

Also, disclaimer! I don't condone under aged drinking… Blah blah blah. Alcohol and cigarettes are bad for you. Don't ever drink or smoke cause both will kill you the first time you try them so stay in school cause school is cool… Yadda yadda yadda.

:| (srs face)

Enjoy the chapter!

Axel offered a pack of cigarettes in Roxas' direction. "You smoke?"

"Oh…" Roxas curled his nose and shook his head. "No thanks."

"That's good. It's a bad habit." Axel put the pack aside and leaned back on his couch. "I don't either but I always keep a pack around for friends that do."

Roxas nodded slowly. "That's really nice of you."

Axel chuckled and shook his head. "Nice? Wow kid, you really are a little goody two-shoes aren't you?"

Roxas looked at Axel offended. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Axel smiled and popped his knuckles. "I can tell a lot about you just by listening to you talk. You were always told to say something polite, even if you didn't like the person you had to say something polite to. Am I right?"

Roxas nodded slowly. "Well, it's rude to talk like a…"

"A punk?" Axel smirked and leaned forward. "The only thing ruder than a person like me is a person who doesn't speak their mind. They have all these bad thoughts swelling around in their head and not voicing them is pretty much like telling a lie, you get me?"

"I never thought of it that way before." Roxas nodded to himself in thought. "I guess you're right. It's probably better to speak your mind than let it boil up inside. I always used to do that and I hated the way it made me feel. You know, my whole life I never truly lived for me. I always did what my parents wanted me to do. They wanted me to get good grades. They wanted me to continue my education at Catholic schools. I didn't want any of that! For once I just wanted to be… To be…" Roxas looked to Axel and shrugged. "Well, normal." He shook his head and laughed lightly. "It's so stupid! I mean, when I was thirteen I had a best friend that I did everything with. I mean everything. If there was trouble to be started or messes to be made we were there. He lived next door and attended the public schools. I thought he was so cool, so of course my parents were already wary of him. And then my parents found out he was Jewish. They didn't want to derail my Catholic teachings so I couldn't be friends with him anymore, just like that. And to this day I wish I had stood up and said something because that kid was the only friend I ever really had. I didn't care that he was Jewish! But he was my friend and I let go of that just to please my parents."

"There are some things we can't change that our parents will never forgive us for." Axel looked down at the floor and sighed. "I did something back when I was in high school that my mother still will not let go. That's why I'm here. I mean, I'm twenty-four. I would have moved out eventually. But it happened a lot sooner than it should have. My mom didn't just kick me out of the house. She kicked me out of Arcadia."

Roxas looked at Axel in question. "How did she stop you from moving into a house in Arcadia?"

"Simple. She's a real-estate agent… Told all her colleagues about me and I was pretty much black listed." Axel took a sip of the beer in his hand and sighed. "Gotta love my old lady."

Roxas looked at Axel sadly. "What did you do to make her so angry?"

"It's a long story." Axel stood and started toward the kitchen. "You sure you don't want a beer or something?"

"I'm fine." Roxas watched Axel curiously from his perch on the couch and fiddled with his fingers. He was already growing fond of Axel but the man's unwillingness to share his past was annoying to Roxas. He made a mental note to ask Demyx later and decided to change the subject. "So… It's weird but that face on your shirt looks so familiar."

Axel glanced down at his shirt and smiled. "The Crimson Ghost looks familiar to you? Now that is weird."

"The Crimson Ghost!? Oh, no way! Now I remember!" Roxas sat up excitedly and stared at Axel. "I didn't know they made merchandise for that movie!"

"Wait…" Axel cocked an eyebrow and looked at Roxas dumbfounded. "You mean they really did get the face from a movie? I had heard that but I thought it was bull shit. And you're telling me you've actually seen it?"

Roxas nodded excitedly. "It's one of my favorite serials!"

"Cereal?" Axel tilted his head to one side trying to make sense of the conversation stream. "They made it into cereal too?"

"No!" Roxas laughed and shook his head. "Not cereal! A serial. You know, like a movie serial. Back when they first had movie theatres they would show all kinds of reels. News reels, cartoon reels. They also showed movie serial reels. A movie serial was basically a full length movie that was divided up into parts designed to make the audience come back for more. I got to see a bunch of movies like that at a local theatre in Salem that showed old movie serials every Monday night during the Summer including The Crimson Ghost. It was compiled all together of course but…"

"I can't believe it! You have no idea of the significance of that, do you?" Axel plopped down on the couch and stared at Roxas in awe. "The Misfits are my favorite band. Ever. They took this face from that movie to use as their emblem! That's so insane."

"The Misfits… The Misfits…" Roxas thought a moment before recalling his conversation with Demyx earlier in the day. "Oh yeah! The Misfits! Horror Punk! You…" Roxas looked at Axel as realization dawned upon him. "You're the one that flies out of state to see them! You're a really big fan!"

Axel chuckled and nodded. "Exactly. You know a lot more than you let on. So tell me, what else did Demyx say about me?"

"Not much." Roxas shrugged. "Just that you love The Misfit's a lot. It's weird, I like music but I can't see spending that kind of money to fly out of the state to go to a concert for one night. I'm sure they have a great sound but really, where's the economic benefit in doing that sort of thing?"

"Economic benefit?" Axel chuckled. "Shit kid, haven't you ever heard of doing something just because you wanted to or because it felt right? Not everything has to have a purpose or a benefit. There's a line between business and fun and you have to separate the two the best you can." He let out a frustrated sigh and grabbed Roxas' wrist. "Come on, you're going to come with me."

Roxas stood with Axel hesitantly as the older man dragged him toward a hallway to his bedroom. "Where are we going?"

"You're going to listen to The Misfits. Once you understand about them you'll understand why I spend my money going to see them." He lead Roxas into his bedroom and bolted instantly for his record collection. He pulled out a record case that had a picture of John F. Kennedy with a blood splatter behind his head on the cover and handed it to Roxas. "This is their first EP. Bullet."

"It's…" Roxas stared at the cover art mortified. "It's horrible!"

"I know." Axel smiled and took the record out of it's cover. "Isn't it great? Here, have a listen. It'll change your mind. There's this song on here that reminds me of your cousin." He flipped the record onto Side B and put it on the record player. He smiled deviously at Roxas and placed the needle onto the spinning disc. After a moment music began blaring from the speakers followed by Glenn Danzig's guttural voice wailing his lyrics. "This song is called "Attitude." Perfect, isn't it? It describes my relationship with your cousin perfectly. Of course it reminds me of Larxene too, and Marluxia sometimes." He chuckled lightly. "Well I guess it reminds me of all my friends when they get to running their mouths."

Roxas listened to the lyrics patiently and after a moment a smile bubbled onto his face. "You're right. It does remind me of Larxene." Roxas laughed lightly. "I really like the sound."

Axel smiled. "I knew you would. Nobody can dislike The Misfits!" He sighed as the song came to an end. "This next song is called "Hollywood Babylon." I don't like it nearly as much as "Attitude" but it's still good." He took the record and flipped it over immediately. "But the song I really want you to hear is "Bullet." If you thought the cover art was horrible then you'll love the song." He put the needle on the record and let the music start. He watched Roxas with interest as the boy began to tap his foot to the beat. It seemed that despite the shocking lyrics that probably offended him, Roxas genuinely enjoyed the song. Axel smiled and leaned against the wall watching Roxas with interest. The light in the boy's eyes reminded him of the first time he had listened to The Misfits. He knew the elicit joy of hearing something so brash and shocking and enjoying it. It almost felt wrong in a way, but that was what made it such a powerful and thrilling experience. After the record was over he put on another and flopped down on his bed. "I fucking love The Misfits."

Roxas nodded slowly. "Yeah, I…" He took a deep breath and looked at Axel. "I really fucking like this music."

Axel chuckled and sat up. "Oh, did the little Catholic school boy just use a curse word?"

"Yeah. I did." Roxas laughed lightly. "But you know what? It felt really good!"

"It feels good to let loose every once in a while." Axel smirked widely. "You just stick with me and Demyx and we'll show you how to let loose and have a real good time." He stood slowly and stretched for a moment and then turned toward the door. "I'm gonna go get another beer. You want one?"

Roxas stood silently for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. Yeah, I'll have a beer."

"Great." Axel smiled and started down the hall. He made his way into the kitchen and grabbed two beers from the refrigerator. There was a knock at his door so he quickly put the beers down and rushed to open it. On the other side of the door Demyx was waiting impatiently.

"What took you so long?" Demyx stepped into the house and looked around. "Where's Roxas?"

Axel rolled his eyes and shut the door behind Demyx. "He's in my room."

"What!?" Demyx spun around and threw an accusing finger in Axel's chest. "I swear Axel, I'll fucking kill you if…"

"Relax." Axel glared at Demyx and stepped back into the kitchen to grab the beers he had set down only moments earlier. "We were listening to music. That's all."

"That had better be all." Demyx lowered his hand and smiled lightly. "You know you're my best friend but I promised my mom I'd keep an eye on the kid and I could just imagine what would happen if his rich ass, holier than thou parents got word of anything they didn't like. You'd find yourself with a law suit shoved so far up your ass you'd have to pull it out of your mouth."

"He's his own person Demyx." Axel sighed and popped open one of the beers. "They can't control him forever."

Demyx stared hard at Axel and shook his head. "No but they sure as hell can for the next month and a half. He's still seventeen you know."

"Yeah, I know." He groaned lightly and took a drink of his beer. "You already told me that once tonight. I've got it. But look, I like the kid and I'm not going to just let his parents or his upbringing stop me from having a friendship with him, got it?"

"Do whatever the hell you want Axel." Demyx crossed his arms and sighed. "Just… Wait until he's eighteen, alright? And don't force it. If things don't progress naturally then don't do anything."

"Don't lecture me like I'm some kind of child. I appreciate that you're being cool about this considering he's your cousin but I'm not stupid, alright? Just let me fucking handle this." He grumbled lightly and motioned for Demyx to follow. "Come on, I've got him listening to The Misfits."

Demyx smiled lightly. "Does he like 'em?"

Axel cast a sly smirk over his shoulder. "He likes them as much as I like him."