"Stop being such a wuss." Axel muttered to the man lying on the table nearby. He was getting his back tattooed by a druid and being a total weenie about it, in the redhead's opinion. The whimpering was distracting.
The atmosphere in the World's End Tavern had almost chased Roxas out before they had got in, but the kid had persevered. Smoke from a dozen different leafs and herbs curled through the room, mixing with the odor of unwashed bodies and wet fur to create a subtle miasma that no cleaning would ever remove. Axel hardly even noticed it anymore, but Roxas was trying to breath through his mouth as he looked around, wide eyed.
"They say this place has been around since the day Ya Tashra made the Twisted World. They say it appeared overnight, no builders needed." Axel took a deep drink from his glass of beer, then shrugged. "Of course, they keep spotting Elvis too so maybe not. But it's been here a long time."
"Who's Elvis?" Roxas muttered, still trying to come to grips with the ambience. The tavern was very dark, and the décor was mostly battered tables that were clearly meant to stand up to a lot of abuse, and the long bar that was just as battered. Hundreds of bottles were on the wall behind the bartenders, who were busy doling out the contents. The World's End Tavern was huge and busy. There were portraits on the walls… rather disturbing ones. After glancing at a few, Roxas had decided not to look. They were all abstract patterns, but when you looked at them long enough they seemed to hint at beautiful and terrible things just waiting to happen. What really made the ambience, though, was the people. It looked like every sort of ruffian, freebooter and general traveler could be found here. For a moment, Roxas watched a pair of samurai who were engaged in a game of go as they sipped their sake. Then he glanced at the bar, and noticed an Edwardian gentleman, complete with top hat and waistcoat. He was speaking animatedly to the man beside him, who was wearing leathers similar to Axel's. Roxas wondered if he was a bodyguard too. There was a small group of very hairy men in one of the corners of the room, and Roxas winced as they howled along with the music on occasion. And that was only a small sampling of the oddities on display.
"Dunno. Some kind of famous guy, apparently. Everyone keeps saying they've seen him but he's supposed to be dead." Axel shrugged, not really interested, then looked up with a blink as someone stopped by their table.
"Oi, Axel!" It was the man with the Edwardian gentleman, and Roxas tilted his head… he had red hair like Axel, although his eyes were hazel. Briefly, Roxas wondered if they were related. "How are you doing? And who's this?" Hazel eyes ran over Roxas briefly, and he blushed. "You got a new friend Axel?" He said with a smirk.
"This is my new master, Roxas. So be polite. I know it hurts Rude, but you can do it." Axel said encouragingly, and Rude threw back his head with a laugh.
"Someone finally bought your sad ass? Hah! Poor child has no idea what he's getting into." Axel snorted and shook his head.
"You're just jealous… speaking of which, how are things going with you and the good doctor lately?" Rude grinned.
"Excellently well. We just finished a trip to a shadow world where the natives tried to eat us and we angered a thunder god. Luckily, we managed to get him by the short and curlies but I don't think we can ever go back. Still, got some lovely samples out of it. We're heading home for a break then off again."
"You realize you're starting to sound like Rufus?" Axel commented, and Rude snorted.
"Bite me, Axel. No, actually, bite this." Axel blinked as Rude put a jar on the table. "Date wine. It's a bit chewy but interesting, thought you might like to have a taste since you like the sweet stuff. Later, fire breath." Rude walked back to his companion as Axel looked at the wine thoughtfully, then shrugged and tried to pour himself a glass. It didn't pour as much as ooze.
"Chewy wine? Good grief. Will I need a knife?" He muttered as Roxas laughed. Axel smiled at him and shrugged, trying it and blinking. "…Sweet! And strong." He licked his lips thoughtfully. "But not bad."
"Can I try?" Roxas was starting to feel a bit warm from the beer, but wanted to try some other things as well. Axel smiled and pushed him a glass.
"Sure." Roxas sipped the wine and blinked. It was very strong and very sweet. He tried a larger mouthful, enjoying it.
"Is there anything else we could try?" He was feeling adventurous now. "What do you usually drink?" Axel blinked.
"Me? Uh… to be honest, I usually drink Demon's Tears. It's a bit hot though, you probably wouldn't like it. If you want something special, how about some Winter Wine? I bet you'd like it."
"Sure! And if you get some Demon's Tears I can try that too." Roxas said happily, and Axel just shook his head with a smile. He was fairly sure Roxas wouldn't want to try the drink when he saw it. The name was more of a description than a trade label. He walked over to the bar, and came back quickly with their drinks… a small bottle of Winter Wine and a jar of Demon's Tears. It was a little expensive, but Roxas had given him more than enough to cover it.
"Okay." Axel opened the Winter Wine and poured it for Roxas. The smooth, amber liquid smelled faintly of honey. "This is made on a frozen world from some really strange fruits. Don't ask me what, I've never been there. But that's why it's called Winter Wine." Roxas took a sip, his eyes widening in delight at the delicate, flowery taste. There was an odd, tingling aftertaste that made him want to drink more. "And this is Demon's Tears." Axel broke the seal on his jar, the indrawn air making a small hiss. He poured himself a glass of the black liquid, and watched as it suddenly caught fire in the glass. Roxas stared, shocked. "Yeah. You probably don't want to try this."
"How can you drink that?" Roxas asked, appalled. It looked dangerous. Axel grinned and took a sip, the flames licking around his face but not touching him.
"Fire magic, remember? Actually, I was born with a flame elemental under the skin. It's a gift." Axel shrugged as Roxas frowned. "That's why I was so expensive."
"Oh." Roxas hesitated, looking down at the table as he remembered what Rude had said… about safaris and angering thunder gods. "Axel… I… my life is pretty boring." He suddenly felt like he was fettering the redhead… chaining him to a boring life on a boring world. Axel shook his head with a small laugh.
"Boring is fine Roxas." Roxas looked up at him anxiously, and Axel grinned. "You're thinking of Rude, right? Rude is fucking insane, Roxas. Mongo couldn't find any good fit for him. They finally had to practically give him away to Rufus. I'm not bugnuts, so boring is just fine." Axel couldn't imagine living Rude's life. It sounded fun but unbearably stressful, and while he liked combat he didn't crave it the way the other redhead did. Roxas looked a bit more happy, and sipped his wine. The time passed quickly as they drank and chatted, but Axel was keeping an eye on it. He finally stood with a sigh. "Time to go Roxas. We don't want to keep your dad waiting."
"We sure don't!" Roxas jumped to his feet… or rather, tried to. Axel caught him as he wobbled, frowning. Surely Roxas hadn't had that much to drink? He glanced at the bottle of date wine and the Winter Wine and saw they were both nearly gone.
"Crap." Roxas had been handling it well for a new drinker, and that had deceived him, but now that Roxas was trying to walk his condition was clear. "Okay… you're drunk. C'mon, let's get you home." Roxas smiled happily as Axel put an arm around his waist, steering him through the crowd.
It took a while to get to the Black Swan Inn, and finally Axel resorted to carrying Roxas over the blond's protests. Roxas soon gave up on that anyway, just nestling his head against Axel's chest like a small child. Axel was glad he was much stronger than he looked… despite being short and on the small side, Roxas was still a sixteen year old boy.
Unfortunately, Vexen and his bodyguard were waiting outside the Inn for them, and Axel had the feeling they were a bit late. But that was nothing compared to the frown on Vexen's face when he spotted them.
"What is going on here?" He asked, his voice soft and deadly. Axel hesitated a moment as Roxas muttered sleepily, then shrugged.
"I took him to the World's End Tavern and I think he's had a bit too much to drink. I'm sorry, sir." Axel said humbly, and was surprised by the anger on Vexen's face. Sure, getting drunk wasn't a great thing, but it also wasn't something to be so upset about.
"Roxas is not of legal drinking age. Why did you take him to a tavern in the first place?" Vexen snapped, and Axel blinked, fumbling for an answer.
"I… er… wasn't aware of the legal drinking age on your world, sir. And Roxas asked to come." Axel struggled to think of anything that could get him out of this, but came up blank. Roxas' father was clearly furious with him. Roxas stirred a bit, pulling his head up.
"Dad… s'alright… I asked him to… punish me." Roxas said, slurring his words a little, and Vexen turned his attention to the blond.
"I don't have to, Roxas. The good lord is going to punish you tomorrow." Roxas blinked uncomprehendingly. "Take him up to his room and don't give him any painkillers tomorrow. As for you…" Vexen gave Axel a look of disgust. "Forget about supper. Just take him to bed." Axel was briefly glad he had sampled the bar snacks. He'd be very hungry tomorrow, but not too bad tonight.
"Yes sir." He wasn't going to push his luck with Vexen any farther. Vexen and his bodyguard watched them go, and when they were out of earshot his bodyguard spoke.
"Did you just send him to bed without supper?" Amusement brightened his tone, and Vexen sighed.
"Fitting for a pair of children, Saix. Hrmph… I should have gotten him an older bodyguard." Vexen grumbled to himself. His blue haired bodyguard tilted his head to one side.
"Oh? How old is he?" He had pegged Axel at perhaps twenty-five, which was definitely not a child. Vexen sighed.
"Only nineteen, apparently. Well, it's too late now." Once the blood bond was made, it could only be broken by specific conditions. Saix shrugged.
"Maybe that will help him and Roxas bond." The fact that they were very nearly peers in terms of age could definitely be helpful. It wasn't necessary for a bodyguard to be friendly with his master… but it was often useful. He and Vexen weren't in love… not hardly… but they were friends.
"I just wish I was sure that would be a positive thing." In Vexen's opinion, the last thing Roxas needed was encouragement on some of his attitudes… but time would tell.
Upstairs, Axel glanced around the room as he gently set Roxas on the bed. He'd never been in the upstairs of the Black Swan before. It was precisely as he had expected… rather garish red velvet and an obscene amount of gilding on the fixtures. He idly wondered if the toilet was gilded too, and smirked. It would be just like this place.
"Axel… Axel, stay…" Roxas sipped his arms around his neck, holding him down, and Axel frowned as he looked into his master's big blue eyes. Roxas looked… extremely kissable, his pink lips parted and begging. But…
"Are you ordering me to?" Axel asked softly, and Roxas blinked, seeing the sadness in his green eyes even through the alcoholic haze.
"N-No… but Axel…" Roxas nuzzled Axel's throat, and Axel smiled before touching a finger to Roxas lips.
"Then not tonight." He said firmly, ignoring the sad, disappointed look on the blond's face. "You're drunk and I'm hungry and a bit mad at you. Now sleep." Tears rose in Roxas' eyes, and Axel sighed as he gently patted the blond's hair.
"Why're you mad at me…?" Roxas asked pathetically, as Axel pulled off his shoes and socks, then gently tucked him under the covers.
"Because you got me in trouble with your dad. Don't worry about it, Roxas. We can talk about it tomorrow." He gently soothed the boy, until he dropped off to sleep. "Was I ever this young?" Axel knew he must have been, at one time. But not since he was fourteen. And it hurt to remember. Axel's eyes darkened for a moment, and he shook his head before taking off his boots and finding a spot on the couch.
It hurt to remember better times.