Chapter five
5 years later
Riku and Roxas were walking in the local park, kicking leaves when Riku noticed a flash of red in his peripheral vision. He grabbed Roxas' hand and dragged him behind a tree.
"What was that about?" said Roxas as Riku let go of his hand.
"I thought I saw something."
They continued walking through the park.
"Riku"
Riku heard his name and turned to see a man with bright red hair jogging up behind them. He's in an expensive looking grey suit and a black leather trench coat.
"Wait."
He reluctantly stopped.
"Looking good 'Ku"
Axel looked Riku up and down, his gaze stopping at the concealed muscular arms. He finally looked away and noticed the blonde standing next to him.
"This must be my replacement" His voice was low, but Riku heard.
He put his arm around Roxas' shoulders and squeezed them lightly before letting go.
"This is Roxas."
Axel raised an eyebrow and surveyed the blonde, then turned his attention back to Riku.
"Your new project?"
"No" He snapped "How's the band?" Riku quickly changed the subject.
"The vocalist quit so I took over, not the manager anymore. We have a new album out next year, only need some artwork."
"I draw." said Roxas suddenly.
Riku felt embarrassed that he'd forgotten he was there. Axel still had a strange effect on him, made him feel like they were the only people on the planet.
Roxas pulled some scrunched up paper out of the bag he was carrying and handed them to Axel who gave him a cursory look.
"Not bad. Come by the office tomorrow and we can talk."
He handed Roxas a card and grinned at him.
"Bye Roxas. See you around 'Ku."
Riku felt instantly suspicious. It can't have been a coincidence that he'd turned up and knew Rox could draw. He was up to something, but to be fair, he could have got the information from anywhere.
He noticed that Roxas watched him leave in awe. He turned to Riku
"How do you know him? He's the lead singer of 'Refrain of Denial'"
"It was before I met you, before he got his big break"
"What happened?"
"It's complicated."
"Were you together?"
"It's a long story."
"You love me right?"
"Absolutely."
Riku put his arms around the blonde's shoulders and kissed him on the forehead before they walked home.
Sitting up in bed on a weekend morning, Roxas trawled through the official website of 'Refrain of Denial' for tour dates. Riku sat next to him, peering over his shoulder, listening to random facts about a band that he hated and would only go to see if Hell froze over or if Roxas desperately wanted to go.
"Did you know that Zexion is the writer. Apparently, he wrote 'Bless my soul' about an ex. There are rumors going around that it's about Axel."
Riku felt his stomach clench. The comment was off hand, but for some reason it still hurt, linking Axel with someone else. Roxas didn't know the whole story and Riku was not going to tell him.
He'd want to meet him and that would be a big mistake.
"But, I think it's about Marluxia" Roxas continued "I always get shouted down on the forums though"
"Could be about any one of the groupies that hang around." Riku said, his voice taking on a spiteful tone.
"You're only jealous 'Ku"
"Jealous of the groupies?" He sputtered "They should be jealous of me."
He kissed Roxas very loudly on the lips and swiped the laptop out of his hands. His slender fingers stroking the mouse pad slowly, scrolling through picture after picture of the band. At gigs, on the town, mostly of that goddamn redhead.
"What are you doing Rox?"
"Drawing."
Riku was standing by the open french windows, moonlight shining on his silver hair that he'd tied into a low ponytail. His white shirt was open at the neck, the light highlighting muscular arms.
"What are you drawing?"
"You"
Riku looked over at him and raised an eyebrow
"You have so many stuffy pictures on walls in buildings. I wanted to draw the real you."
"You have the real me right here."
Riku strode across their bedroom, removing the pencil and paper from Roxas' grip and placed them gently on the bedside table.
He leant over Roxas and gently kissed him. Roxas smiled and kissed him harder, pulling Riku down on top of him.
"Why did you say such mean things about me to Riku?"
Roxas and Axel had met up to discuss Roxas' art, moving from the office to the park, on the way to the rehearsal studio on the other side of the city.
Axel silently traced the edge of his polystyrene take out cup with his long fingers. He watched the rain out the front of the wooden shelter with half lidded eyes.
Roxas nervously ran his fingers over the green metal bench they were sitting on then sipped is drink before looking across at the redhead expectantly, waiting for an answer. Axel sipped his coffee.
"I was jealous."
Roxas frowned
"What do you have to be jealous about?"
"You are the way Riku wanted me to be"
"Oh"
Roxas drank his coffee, embarrassed at the sudden emotional outburst from a virtual stranger.
"I've spoken you once before, when I came back from a tour. It was a couple of years ago, but I've never forgotten your voice."
"I can't remember."
"I called to speak to Riku. You answered and I asked you what you were doing in Riku's house. You said that you were his boyfriend and what business was it of mine."
"You said that you were no-one important and hung up. That was you?"
"Yeah"
They watch the rain in silence, waiting for it to abate.
"Were you together?"
Roxas had to ask, but he knew he was pushing it. He'd never got this information out of Riku. Axel grinned, all teeth, eyes shining.
"Let's meet the band"
