Chapter four
6 months later
"Ax, there's a guy at the back door who wants to talk to you."
"Who is it?"
"He didn't say. Just said that that he had nefarious intentions."
Axel walked slowly out the door of the concert venue to be greeted by a man with his back to him, mostly in black, a hood over his head.
"'Ku?, you didn't need to be here"
The hood came down.
"I promised didn't I? The show was pretty good, though not my usual taste in music"
He was silent for a few seconds, surveying the changes in Axel. He'd put on some muscle and had smartened up a bit. Maybe he'd been holding him back. Axel took a cigarette from behind his ear and looked Riku up and down approvingly.
"But, I'm glad you came"
"How's your nephew?"
"Fine"
Riku watched his mouth, the mouth he knew was so talented, lips wrapping themselves round the filter. He had to stop himself from drooling.
He spotted a glint of silver in his tongue, the anticipation of what Axel could do with a piercing made him take an involuntary breath, hoping that the redhead would notice and would take the hint.
"You want one?"
"No thanks, I quit a few months ago."
The redhead lit it and blew thick smoke out of his nose like a dragon. Riku felt his body go weak, the redhead was one addiction he was having trouble trying to break. He shouldn't have come. His body was a traitor, all his resolve and will power evaporating, leaving him with the primal instinct that was not above doing the nasty in an alleyway.
Axel smiled and turned to go back into the building.
"Stop"
Against his better judgement, Riku grabbed Axel by the arm. The redhead turned.
Have you learnt anything new?"
"I don't know what you mean" A look of innocence graced his features, as always, it looked out of place.
"You know exactly what I mean." He tilted his head towards the alley, not wanted to look desperate, but was doing a bad job hiding it.
"| thought you had a reputation to uphold."
"Fuck it."
Axel had a way of making him not care. He had a new tattoo on the back of his neck. Three stars. Riku traced his fingers over the ink, relishing in the feel of Axel's skin under his fingers. He pushed the redhead against the wall and kissed him hard. The kiss interrupted as Axel grinned and started to undo Riku's belt. Riku dragged him behind the metal dumpster at the end of the alleyway. So much for romance, but he knew that it was something Axel would never give him. The only thing that was left of them was that moment of shuddering gratification.
What felt like seconds later, Axel got up of his knees and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and joined Riku leaning against the wall. He lit a new cigarette, Riku took it out of Axel's mouth and took a long drag, blowing the smoke out of his mouth before putting it back where it came from.
"So" Axel paused "Are you still single."
"You think I would have let you blow me behind a dumpster if I was."
"Damn, I thought I was a bad influence on you. What about the twink you've been seen with? The one you kicked me out for."
"His name is Roxas and I kicked you out because it wasn't working anymore. Roxas and I are not together"
The last part of the sentence was sad, then Riku finally heard what Axel had said.
"How do you know? Have you been spying on me?"
"I've been bribing a photographer." Axel grinned
It was another one of Axel's statements that he couldn't figure out was a joke or not.
"Are you still single?" This time it was Riku's turn to ask.
"Even though you think I have the morals of a waste paper basket, yes I am."
The stage door creaked open behind them.
"Ax, the band want a word"
"I'll go then" Riku stood up.
"Was he bothering you?"
Even though he was short, the lilac haired man standing in the doorway was able to look menacing.
"It's ok Zex, go back inside, I'll be there in a minute." He turned to go into the building. See you around Riku."
"That's Riku?" The other man said a little too loudly "What's he doing here?"
"He came to see the show, like he promised."
"Why didn't you tell me? He's the one who kicked you out."
"And you said you'd take care of me didn't you baby." Said Axel in a sing song voice as he leant down in the door way to kiss the other man loudly on the cheek.
Zexion rolled his eyes, used to the melodrama.
"Whatever. You coming inside or not?"
"I thought you said you were single"
"You forgot something about me Riku, I'm a liar."
Riku finally realised that he had never really know Axel at all, who knows what else he had lied about. He'd done it again and got inside his head. Riku watched him go inside, not wanting to even look at him anymore.
Spurred on by his last conversation with Axel, Riku knew he had to do something about Roxas, he had to move on.
He'd been out of the public eye for a while, with the press speculating that he'd become a recluse. It was time for a comeback.
He'd seen Roxas a few times at bars since the charity date, they'd chatted, kissed a couple of times in the shadows, then they would smile at each other and that was it.
At the gym the following night the blonde was particularly distracting, flexing his leg muscles on the machines. He watched him for a while, then when the blonde left, he followed home, staying in the shadows,
"You're a terrible stalker." Roxas called, when they were half way down the street.
Riku stepped into the light of a street lamp.
"Actually, I thought I was pretty good."
"I knew it was you when I left the gym. I was just wanted to know why you were following me."
"You are just too adorable and independent and I love it when you smile."
Roxas had never heard Riku's voice falter before and he doubted anyone ever had.
I just wanted to give you this." He passed Roxas his business card and leant forward to give him a light kiss on the cheek. "Call me sometime."
Then he turned on is heels and walked away, leaving the blonde standing in the middle of the street, mouth open, completely speechless.
Riku heard his house phone ring as soon as he got inside.
"I know it's etiquette to wait a couple of days." Said Roxas, his voice rushed as it he thought Riku hadn't meant what he said and would put the phone down.
"Slow down Rox."
"Hey 'Ku" He said shyly "I'm calling you."
"So you are."
"What are you doing?"
"I've just got home."
He took the phone up the stairs and undid his shoes.
"I have an early meeting tomorrow."
"Do you want me to go?"
"We can meet for lunch tomorrow. The restaurant opposite the gym."
"The Rosary? That's really expensive."
"It's our first date, I'm taking you out. It's really private, secluded."
The line went silent.
"Rox, you still there?"
"Yes"
"Are you ok? I'll see you at 1."
Riku threw himself on the sofa and opened the email on his phone. There was another one from Axel, sitting in his inbox. Another email that he was never going to answer. They had started arriving the day after he last saw him. It was like Axel had changed his mind as soon as he had found someone else.
R
I heard that you've met someone. I hope he makes you happy and that he's stronger than I was. I hope that I will find someone else like you one day, you will forever be the one who got away.
A
They were his little secret, not that he wanted one, but the emails just kept coming. Axel was just trying to get into mess with his head, saying the things that Riku had always wanted to hear from him. But, they were just words.
Riku and Roxas were sitting curled up together on the sofa on their fifth date half watching a black and white movie. Roxas moved slowly and before Riku could piece together the series of movements, Roxas had straddled him and was grinding his lap and kissing his neck. wet kisses that made Riku shiver. It was when Roxas started to put his hands down his jeans, that Riku grabbed his wrist.
"No Rox. not like this."
"I thought this was what you wanted."
The blonde slid back onto the sofa, Riku turned to face him.
"Why?"
"I've heard things. About your ex"
"Who from?"
"People."
"I chose you because you are nothing like him. I want us to mean something. I want what we are going to do to mean something. Don't listen to people Rox, please."
Riku leant forward and kissed him softly.
"Lets watch the rest of the movie."
"I can't do this anymore"
"You can't do what?"
"This... with you."
"I don't understand"
" I like you. I want us to go out and you know do proper couple stuff. You know, like our first date."
"Go out where people can stare and pass judgement. We stay at home to keep you safe. I don't go to nice places."
"You're the one that's famous, not me and I can handle it. I'm not as fragile as you think I am."
"Ok, We'll go out tonight. We'll go to the bar at the top of town, but I reserve the right to say I told you so if you want to leave early. You'll have to bear with me though, I haven't been out on an actual date in public with an official boyfriend since I've been on TV."
"Not ever? I feel privileged."
"Wait until it's over, before you say that. You'll be in the papers tomorrow."
"I don't care, as long as I'm in them with you."
Roxas picked up his mobile one lunchtime after a giant bunch of roses arrived as the gallery. He was fed up of the dirty looks and jealous comments he got every day, just because Riku liked to send him things.
"Please could you stop sending flowers to the gallery?" He pleaded down the phone when Riku picked up.
"Don't you like them?"
"Yes, but could you just restrain yourself a little?"
"Why?"
"I don't mind you indulging your romantic side, in fact I love that you have one, but the others are getting jealous. A dozen red roses every day is a bit excessive. The place is starting to smell like a bowl of pot pouri."
"Don't you want anymore?" Riku sounded disappointed in the receiver, making Roxas' heart ache.
"I didn't say that. Once a week is fine."
"Ok Rox, but you know I'd give you the world if I could."
"I know 'Ku. See you when I get home, I'll try not to be late."
"Next up is the new single by 'Refrain of Denial"
The morning radio DJ slid up the music and it blared from the stereo. Roxas turned it up and tapped his foot in time as he made pancake batter. He was stirring the batter, not noticing that Riku had arrived home from the gym and had followed the earsplitting noise into the kitchen.
"Turn that racket off" he shouted
Roxas turned it down
"Why?"
"I just don't like them."
Riku opened the fridge and took out a bottle of beer. He hoped that the query would be left unasked, but obviously underestimated Roxas' sense of curiosity.
"I have my reasons Rox, trust me. Just don't ask, ok?"
"It was a guy, wasn't it?"
"Huh?"
The correct deduction by the blonde took him by surprise. He opened his beer and sat down at the kitchen table
"He was obsessed with this band. Practically stalked them on tour. He was away for months and had a lot of admirers. I don't know if he cheated, but he came back once and he was different. He wasn't in love with me. That band ruined my life."
"Ok, I'll turn it off."
Riku was way too melodramatic sometimes, he sounded like a teenage girl.
