Oooh look how nice and long this one is! (no pun intended)
"Can you believe that?" The kid scoffed loudly and tipped his drink back towards his mouth, gulping it down vigorously. Leon watched him with an arched brow, his arms crossed on top of the bar, one hand gripping a sweating bottle of beer. "I mean that he even asked me that." Roxas scoffed again as he finished off his drink, looking down into the now empty glass with a sideways frown. "Do I seem like the type of guy who would be comfortable going to your exes funeral? Is anyone that type of guy? I mean jesus." He rambled on, waving his cup around in the air, calling Reno over to their side.
"Another one?" The redhead asked with a look somewhere between uncomfortable amusement and unwanted worry.
"Damn right fire crotch. Tonight, I am drinking away my problems. Your brother being one of them." Roxas blatantly pointed in the bartender's face, blathering about issues that no one particularly seemed to care about but him. Leon and Reno glanced at each other for a moment before the brunette shook his head lightly and sucked down his beer with one swill.
"Ok, you're done." Leon said and stood, laying his heavy hand down on the kid's shoulder but he was quickly shrugged off.
"Get the hell off of me." Roxas slurred out angrily, dramatically throwing his arm forward, bumping into the bar and grimacing as he let his head fall forward. "I want another drink!" He yelled, gaining the attention of anyone close by. Reno looked at Leon, the kid's glass clenched in his hand but the brunette shook his head firmly and Reno put it down.
"You're wasted. I'm taking you home."
"Gee thanks ya fucking chaperone wannabe. News flash sugar pie, can't fuck the kid you're supposed to be 'taking care' of you stupid asshole!" Roxas yelled and that was it, Leon had had enough. He lifted the kid with ease, tossing the lithe figure over his shoulder and nodded goodbye to the bartender who watched with wide eyes. "PUT ME DOWN!" The kid screamed but it proved fruitless. The man carried him up the street, all the drunks passing by and pointing as they laughed, and finally up the stairs and into his apartment. "Let go of me dick wad!" The kid shouted but Leon wasn't finished yet. The walk had been sobering but not nearly sobering enough, at least for Leon because he walked straight into the bathroom and threw him in the shower. Roxas' body slammed against the grimy tiles and he sank down, feeling tears fall from his eyes. The pain was enormous but the shock of the freezing cold water didn't help. He gasped and struggled for breath, his hands desperately trying to reach for any sort of help, but Leon grabbed his collar and pulled him up to his knees. "What's your problem?!" He shrieked, slightly terrified, slightly furious, his sobs now shaking his entire body, his eyes trying to fight the freezing water, his lungs striving to breathe.
"You Roxas!" Leon yelled back, ignoring the knocking from his neighbor, the screaming and crashing into walls obviously being too loud for three in the morning. "You are my fucking problem!" He clenched his fist, throwing it back as if he was going to strike the kid right across the face, but he knew he wouldn't, he just had to get this fucking point across. He had to get the kid to understand, to get it through his thick fucking childish skull. "Why don't you get it Roxas?" Leon said with a sigh, feeling his grip on the kid's collar loosen.
"Get...what?" He gasped out, unable to tell the difference between the water spraying down on him from the shower and his own tears streaming down his face. Roxas was weeping, trying to breathe, trying to understand what the fuck was going on.
"You make it fucking impossible for people to like you you idiot! You are an awful person. You're an asshole, you're a total fucking slut, you're just some stupid fucked up kid who is fucking starving for attention." Leon shook him angrily, squeezing his own eyes shut as he tried to let it all out, vent it until he felt completely empty of all the resentment and hate that had mixed with the strange somewhat platonic, somewhat not so platonic love that he had harnessed for the kid.
"Leon...please! Please let me go!" Roxas cried, his head falling forward as he wept.
"Roxas you make it so hard for people to fucking care about you because you push everyone away--"
"Not you! Not you Leon you asshole! I've never--"
"Fuck you kid! Bull shit you haven't done the same thing to me that you've done to everyone else!" He screamed, his hands unintentionally tightening. "Just fucking listen to me. You push everyone away and you have to stop. I have stuck around, but not everyone will. Fuck, I don't know how much longer I can. You make it so hard Roxas but for some fucking reason, people want to like you, they want to love you." Leon let go finally and Roxas slowly sank down into the tub, his back sliding against the tiles, still crying softly. The older man reached over and turned off the water, sitting himself down on the toilet and resting his head in his hands. "Roxas you have to let them." The kid tried to stop crying but for some reason he couldn't, he only nodded and started to crawl out of the tub.
"Ok..." He said and wiped at his eyes, whimpering like a child does when they've finished sobbing. He inched closer to Leon and rested his head on his knee, still nodding. Leon looked down at him with pity and finally rested his hand on the boy's sandy blonde head.
"I'm sorry." The brunette said as he wrapped his arms around the kid's shoulders, Roxas looking up at him, his tears starting to dry. The two of them stood, the older one having to help the younger one up, gently running his hand over the boy's shoulder and arm. "You're gonna have bruises..." Leon said with a sigh. "I'm sorry about that too."
"I've had bruises before...I'll be fine..." Roxas struggled to say. They walked towards the bedroom, the kid practically collapsing on the bed. Leon flipped off the light and joined him, trying to gently wrap his arms around Roxas and pull him into his chest. The kid sighed and curled up. "Was throwing me really necessary?" He said, his eyes already dropping. The older man merely smirked as he rested his chin on top of the boy's head.
"I had to get my point across." Roxas nodded but he was already long gone into the dream world. "Good night kid." Leon whispered before closing his own eyes and allowing himself to fall asleep.
~0~
The tie was too tight, he felt like he was choking. The jacket was obnoxiously warm, the button up shirt was itchy, the pants were strangling his cock and he thought he might die. The redhead ran his fingers through hair, slicking it back as he looked into the mirror and sighed gently. Axel felt completely ridiculous. "I feel ridiculous." He called out loudly but Marluxia merely rolled his eyes as he walked into the bedroom, looking in the mirror and tightening his own tie.
"You look fabulous dear." The man said, leaning closer to the mirror and gently running his finger over his eyebrow, smoothing down any unkempt hairs. "Alright, ready to go?" He looked over at his friend who still stared at himself in the mirror with a look of annoyance, struggling to adjust the strain on his neck. "Hey, are you gonna be able to handle this?" Marly asked with a surprising amount of compassion. Axel looked at him with an arched brow but his only response was rolled eyes. "Fine. I can't be a feeling human being, whatever." He sighed and tugged at his ponytail, looking over and pushing back a stray hair from Axel's forehead. They nodded at each other and left the bedroom.
The drive was completely silent. Axel stared out his window and Marluxia, for once, gave his full attention to the road. The two didn't even bother trying to talk, they knew it would be fruitless. The tiny church came up on the horizon and Axel shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Are we late?"
"No, we're just going for the funeral. Just like you wanted." Marluxia answered simply, turning into the parking lot and stopping abruptly. Axel spotted his brother leaning against the corner of the building, a cigarette attached to his lips. Reno looked up to the sky and blew smoke, shaking his head gently and finally spotting the two men walking towards him.
"Hey guys." He said with a smirk as he flicked his butt to the ground. "You're right on time." The three men walked into the building and looked around the lobby. Axel immediately spotted the kid. Roxas was obviously uncomfortable in his suit, raising up on his heels and then sinking back down. He raised his hand to his neck and yanked at his tie, trying to loosen it without completely untying it. The redhead smirked gently as he watched with curiosity. "He called me this morning at like seven and asked if he could come with me." Reno whispered to his brother and Axel nodded, his eyes still focused on the kid. He was shoved forward by his brother who took the hint and finally walked over, gaining Roxas' attention.
"Hi..." He mumbled quietly, gently rubbing his arm.
"Well hi." Axel replied with a smirk but it faded as he raised his hand and delicately touched his fingers to the boy's cheek, softly turning his head. "What the hell happened to you?" The redhead asked as he gazed at the slowly darkening bruise on the kid's face.
"Nothing." Roxas said and grabbed Axel's thin hand, intertwining their fingers in hopes of distracting him. The redhead's focus moved down to their hands. The kid succeeded. "I'm sorry about the other night ok?" Axel just nodded and met the kid's eyes once more, a sad smile streaking out along his lips.
"Ok." He merely replied and their fingers separated as they walked into the chapel.
Roxas lingered behind, still completely uncomfortable with the idea of being here, but he was trying right? Axel only looked down at the floor, trying to go unnoticed which was difficult with his flaming hair and enormous stature. Marluxia and Reno waved them over, praying silently that no one would see them. But it was too late.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Axel looked back up and saw the person he least needed to see at this point.
"Xion, I'm just here--"
"No one wants you here!" The tiny girl yelled out, standing at the front of the aisle, her small fists thrown down and clenched, her knuckles turning white. Axel tried to stand strong but even with her tiny stature, Xion had always been intimidating. He glanced behind her to see Vincent and Genesis who watched him apologetically. They had been friends once, he had known almost everyone in this room before. What had happened? Life happened. He tried to cough, to swallow, to breathe but he suddenly felt overwhelmed.
"Come on, just sit down Xi." Genesis whispered, placing his hand on her shoulder, trying to sit her back down, but it was pointless. She stomped forward, towards the redhead she was indignant on not having here.
"No! NO! He doesn't deserve to be here!" She yelled as she came up to him, having to look directly up in order to look into his bright green eyes. Axel felt significantly uncomfortable but he had to physically hold back a smile as he looked down at her small face, the one he . This was the girl who had been Demyx's brother best friend. Zexion. That was his name. Axel sighed with relief as he remembered the other boy's name. He had been irrevocably distressed since seeing him standing on the porch, watching Demyx slam his fists down on the hood of his car. That night seemed a million years ago now and Axel felt a pang in his stomach, a mix of wanting to cry and vomit at the same time.
"I didn't come to cause problems. I really just want to pay my respects to Demyx." He managed to get out but Xion only shook her head violently.
"Leave!" The raven haired girl screamed out but Vincent came up behind her, placing both of his heavy hands on her shoulders.
"No." Roxas stated firmly as he came up from behind and wrapped his hand around the redhead's. "He's not leaving." He felt sick to his stomach, he felt like he was about to faint. Roxas wasn't this strong, he couldn't handle that but this girl seemed to be unreasonable.
"You can't--" She tried but Roxas shook his head before interrupting her.
"Well we are."
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Xion whispered vehemently and the kid tried not to let his inner flinch become physical.
"I'm not anyone. But we're not here to do anything but listen." He said, tightening his clasp on Axel's hand. The redhead looked down and watched him with widened eyes, eventually looking up to meet Vincent's, which looked at him below an arched brow. Axel could see Xion physically steaming, but then she broke. He felt that pang of nausea grow stronger when he saw the tears start freely streaming down her face. Her anger turned into sadness as she began shaking with sobs and she threw Vincent's hands off of her and ran out. Vincent sighed and shook his head as he watched her and then looked at Axel.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't want to upset her or anything..." The redhead said but Vincent only shook his head in dismissal.
"Today would have been awful for her with or without you." He said and started to follow her out. Axel only nodded and turned to watch him.
"Thanks." The redhead whispered as the two took their seats.
"You're welcome." Roxas whispered back, closing his eyes as he felt his stomach resettle.
Ok! So now that you knoooow that Roxas goes to the funeral I can post the newest chapter of Goodbye Is Overrated! I was holding it off because the little skank himself makes a lovely guest appearance. :D So be sure to check it out if you just cannot get enough of the wonderful Roxykins. Reviews are always appreciated!