Riku spent that night in bed, thankful to say the least that the redhead wasn't holding a grudge, and yet he still tried to get over the entire idea of such a sick joke. His head was healing with the rest he was finally giving himself, yet his mind was as troubled as ever as he tried to deconstruct the mystery of the redheaded teen.
His thoughts carried over through his dreams and into his day while he attempted to help Sora organize the coed soccer game that was to be held to invite students from Twilight Towns Lady Academy to play a friendly game of soccer. This game was scheduled to be held after the big dance that Sora had planned.
"Ok, so for entertainment during the dance, Demyx will host a concert, Marluxia will prepare the garden, and we're still needing one more event." Sora read a rough draft of his agenda.
"Hmm, well, we could throw a talent show," Riku tapped his chin.
"That could work too," Axel said from the doorway of Riku's office, where he stood unnoticed for a couple minutes.
"Seriously, have you no idea what knocking is?" Riku shook his head.
"What do you mean by 'too'?" Sora asked curiously.
"Luxord wanted me to give this to you; it's a proposal to do magic card tricks during the dance event thingy." Axel handed a sheet of paper over to Riku after walking up to his desk.
"Card tricks?" Riku asked, unsure of the idea. True he had spent his entire night thinking about the redhead, but with all the work piling up, he needed answers and solutions, not games.
"Yeah, and he's pretty good at them too." Axel shrugged.
"I'll have to see what exactly he has planned before I can approve his proposal. If we have a talent show, he can be the final act, and we can include TTLA as well." Riku tossed the proposal into a pile of papers as he looked at his calendar.
"Luxord knew you wouldn't appreciate his proposal, so he said I could help him demonstrate his skills." Axel said, keeping his hands in his slack pockets.
"How?" Riku asked suspiciously.
"He said to do this." Axel took one hand out of his pockets and grabbed Riku's wrist, and with his other hand, he cuffed it, then revealed that their hands were hand-cuffed together.
"Axel, I have no time for your games. Unlock it at once." Riku sighed.
"Well, I don't have the key," Axel winced.
"Sora, go get the key from Luxord." Riku growled.
"Axel? Riku?" Luxord poked his head into Riku's office.
"Oh, well you just made my job easier." Sora smiled as he rested his hands behind his head, nodding Luxord into the President's office.
"Luxord, I promise I will look deeper into your proposal, but as of now, I am quite busy. Would you mind setting me free from this?" Riku jiggled his wrist in the air, letting the cuff clank loudly as Axel rolled his eyes.
"Oh, see, that's why I came here. I was hoping to catch you before you cuffed Riku, cause, I uh, I seemed to have misplaced the key." Luxord rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he spoke to Axel.
"WHAT?!" Riku leaned forward in his chair, eyes wide.
"Well, I have an idea where it might be," Luxord tried to hide his fear with his false sense of confidence laced within his accent.
"Where?" Riku sat up, desperate for freedom.
"In the dumpster outside the cafeteria." Luxord gulped as he shared.
"How'd it end up there?" Sora asked.
"I think I left it on my tray after eating." Luxord scratched his well trimmed, light blonde beard.
"I'm sure between the four of us, one can pick the lock." Riku rummaged through his desk to find small sharp objects.
"I'm afraid that's not an option. That model of handcuffs is exclusive, and only the more advanced magicians even know where to purchase them. The keyhole is very distinct, making it fool proof for just any old individual to escape from." Luxord added to Riku's headache.
"So you're saying that there's no way to pick this lock?" Riku asked as he stuck paperclips into the uniquely designed keyhole.
"Exactly. In fact, one might say that the key is so rare that amongst us magicians, we refer to it as a keyblade."
"A Keyblade? Sounds awesome!" Sora smiled as Riku glared at him.
"It is. I'm one of the few who can work with such a complicated pair of cuffs. Thusly, I have earned the nickname Keyblade Master13."
"Thirteen?" Sora asked curiously while Axel winked at Riku, causing the silverrete to snarl through the narrow slit in his angry eyes.
"Thirteen cards for each suit of cards." Luxord explained proudly.
"Alright, how much did he pay you?" Riku shook his head, tired of the random mumbling.
"I beg your pardon?" Luxord was confused.
"How much did Axel pay you to cuff him to me and act like you lost the key?" Riku asked with serious eyes.
"Prez! I may be crazy in love, but I'm not crazy!" Axel pulled on his wrist, tugging Riku closer to him.
"Axel, I demand to be set free this instant!" Riku shouted, calling Axel's words as a bluff.
"I didn't pay him shit!" Axel put a hand to his head.
"Honestly Riku, I lost the keys. Axel didn't pay me to do this to you, although if he wants to give me munny, I won't argue." Luxord ended with a chuckle.
"Then why didn't you give me your proposal on your own? Why send Axel?"
"I told him I was headed in this direction and he asked if I could do him a favor while he finished some homework. Do you really not trust me?" Axel asked with his free hand on his hip.
"So the key is in the dumpster?" Riku asked with a frown, ignoring Axel's question.
"Most likely." Luxord nodded.
"Alright, come on, let's get this over with." Riku sighed taking a step towards the door.
"Whoa! Hey, warn me next time." Axel argued back as Riku dragged him out of his office.
"I can't believe you'd just hand-cuff me without any consent." Riku snarled.
"Well if I ever got your consent to handcuff you, trust me, it wouldn't be for Luxord's magic tricks." Axel winked, but Riku couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Whatever,"
"Hey Prez, this is kind of kinky, no?" Axel moved his cuffed right hand to grab Riku's restrained left.
"Just shut up. We need to get that key as soon as possible." Riku slapped Axel's hand away.
"Is this really that horrible for you?" Axel asked as they continued to walk up to the large dumpster.
"Torture." Riku paused to look Axel in the eye. "Ok, who's going in first?" Riku gazed at the dumpster, wondering how they could maneuver inside.
"We're going to have to do this together." Axel put his free left hand on the edge of the wide bin and hoisted himself up.
"Ouch!" Riku scurried his body up to relieve the pulling tension on his left wrist.
"You ok?" Axel asked as he helped Riku inside.
"Hang on, my shoe is stuck," Riku struggled with his left leg, which was caught on the outside of the bin.
"Here," Axel grabbed Riku's ass with his free hand and pulled it towards him.
"Hey! Watch it!" Riku barked, but Axel ignored him as he continued to pull. "Oww!" Riku griped as his pants tore at the bottom and the inertia of Axel's strength sent the silverrete on top of the redhead, who fell on his back inside of the dumpster.
"Oof!" Axel smacked his head against a trash bag.
"You ripped my pants!" Riku punched Axel's chest.
"Ouch! Hey, take it easy! I was only trying to help. Besides, there are other things related to your pants that I'd much rather rip." Axel smirked, but Riku pushed hard on Axel's chest, helping himself up, before he realized that he was pulling Axel up with him.
"Ugh!" Riku complained loudly.
"Ok, let's get this fact straight! When you move, I move!" Axel shouted, fed up of being yanked around.
"Well this wouldn't be a problem if you weren't such an idiot!" Riku yelled back.
"I was just trying to help Luxy out. Quite being a bitch and just make the best of what you've got." Axel sighed, showing a frustration that Riku hadn't seen in him before.
"Ok," Riku calmed down in his guilt for upsetting Axel.
"Now, we don't we try scanning this area first, and then move that way?" Axel suggested, and Riku nodded.
After twenty minutes of sifting through trash and scraps of food, Riku sighed.
"I don't think it's here."
"Well we need to find it soon, because we need to shower." Axel picked a strand of spaghetti off of Riku's shoulder.
"God I'm going to expel Luxord." Riku growled, causing Axel to chuckle.
"I'll vote for it in the committee." Axel joked along.
"I'm tired." Riku plopped on his ass, not even caring that he was sitting on trash.
"Oww!" Axel fell to his knees to compensate for the sudden drop.
"Sorry, I keep forgetting." Riku sighed, annoyed at the inconvenience.
"This is taking some while to get used to." Axel shook his head in frustration.
"Riku?! Axel?" Sora shouted loudly, so Riku jumped back to his feet, pulling Axel with him.
"Ok seriously?" Axel huffed, rubbing his sore wrist.
"Sorry!" Riku winced, having forgot yet again.
"Oh, there you two are!" Sora ran up to the dumpster with Roxas beside him. "Ewww, you both look gross." Sora was stricken back as both Riku and Axel stood in the middle of the dumpster.
"Thanks Sora, nice to see you too," Axel scoffed, beginning to climb out, forcing Riku to do the same.
"Ow, hang on," Riku tried to move fluidly next to Axel to avoid pain.
"Shit, wait," Axel also tried to coordinate his movements as well, and after Riku slipped, all his efforts went to waste.
"Sorry!" Riku apologized after he landed on top of Axel's back. The redhead groaned, breaking the fall with his chest and stomach.
"Um," Sora watched in amusement, holding Roxas' hand.
"What do you need?" Axel asked rather impatient as he stammered to his feet with Riku.
"Luxord said that he remembered that he didn't leave the key in the dining commons, like he first thought." Sora said, and Axel shook his head angrily.
"He tells us that now?!" Riku shot both hands to his hair, lifting Axel's right arm up as well.
"Well, he already left for the magic store, so he should be back within the next two hours." Sora nodded encouragingly.
"Great, so we just have to smell for two hours." Axel gave a giant fake smile.
"I swear to god Axel, if you weren't cuffed to me, I would kill you first, then Luxord." Riku shook his head.
"Why are you blaming me? I didn't plan for this to happen." Axel put his hand on his slender hip.
"You're the one who put the cuff on my hand!" Riku shouted back.
"It's no use fighting. If you two are going to be close for the next two hours, then you might as well try and act like friends." Roxas advised.
Riku gulped, once again feeling guilty.
"I'm used to being the target of his frustration." Axel shrugged indifferently.
"That's because you're usually the cause of my frustration." Riku narrowed his eyes in.
"Oh wait, it's Luxord!" Sora answered his cell phone. "Hello? Say what? Oh, really? Ok, I'll let them know. Thanks." Sora hang up his phone as all eyes were stuck on him. The timid brunette swallowed hard.
"Well?" Axel waited for the information that Sora was clearly hesitant about sharing.
"Well, Luxord said that the store…..is closed until tomorrow."
"Are you fucking serious?!" Riku screamed.
"Don't take it out on Sora," Axel remained calm.
"Of course you don't care, you wanted this to happen." Riku yanked the chain, pulling Axel closer to him, only so he could push the redhead away.
"Hey! I told you already! I had no control over this, so don't flatter yourself to the point of making me look like a creep." Axel leaned on his left leg, gaining some freedom as Riku was forced to take a step closer to Axel.
"You both are missing the most important part of all of this: You two smell really bad." Roxas plugged his nose, turned around, and coughed.
"Well it looks like we're stuck that way." Riku sighed once again.
"Fuck that. I'm going to shower." Axel started walking, dragging Riku behind him as the Kidakama twins decided to escape the awkwardness by returning to their dorm.
"You're seriously going to shower with me attached to you?"
"I refuse to smell like a dump for a day. Besides, it's nothing either of us haven't seen before." Axel kept his eyes straight ahead as he trudged through the empty hallways of the west corridor.
"Axel, you won't be able to take off of your uniform shirt, because of the cuff." Riku pointed out.
"I'll rip it off. It can't cost more than twenty munny." Axel rolled his eyes.
"But then you'll be shirtless until Luxord can free us."
"So?" Axel clearly didn't have an interest in the conversation that was being held between them.
"What about my shirt; it'll get all wet."
"Then I suggest you take yours off or stand as far as these chains will let you." Axel continued to walk as Riku struggled to keep up.
"Who says you get to make these decisions for me too?" Riku huffed.
"You could just say thank you." Axel took faster steps.
"Hey, slow down. Your legs are longer, so I'm walking faster." Riku huffed.
"Sorry," Axel apologized quietly.
"You ok?" Riku was almost afraid to ask.
"Look, I know I don't have a reason to be bothered that you're accusing me of doing this, but believe me, the last thing I want is you mad at me….again." Axel slowed down a tad as he continued to walk to the giant shower in the men's locker room.
"I, I'm sorry. I believe you; it was an accident." Riku said honestly.
"Well, Roxas is right; we might as well make the best of it, considering we'll be stuck together for the next day."
"Alright." Riku nodded just as the two made it to the locker room.
"Ok, I'm going to rip my shirt. What are you going to do?" Axel asked as he started tearing the cloth with his strong arms. Riku couldn't help but watch the way that Axel parted his clothing.
"Um, you can rip mine too." Riku held out his left uniform sleeve, allowing Axel to rip the white shirt from the wrist up to the collar. "Was it as easy as you made it look?" Riku couldn't help but look. Axel smiled with a modest shake of the head.
"All you have to do is pull one thread and the entire thing becomes loose." Axel shrugged. "So, you ready?" Axel asked as he began to unbutton his pants, which pulled Riku's hand close to his crotch.
Riku watched as Axel stripped, and just as the redhead removed his underwear, Riku coughed and looked away.
"Your turn." Axel said, holding his hand out in front of Riku's body as Riku took advantage of the cooperation and undressed himself.
"I swear, if we keep finding ourselves in these situations where we shower together, rumors are going to spread." Riku blushed as he undressed himself, past the idea of shyness after all the times the two had seen the other exposed.
"Well, rumors are often based on some sort of truth, so I guess I have no complaints," Axel gave a friendly smirk as Riku followed Axel's lead and threw his soiled uniform in the trash can.
"Let's just get this over with." Riku started walking towards the shower as Axel headed in the other direction.
"Oww!" Axel's wrist was burning as violently as Riku's.
"Where are you going?" Riku yelled impatiently.
"To get a towel!" Axel shouted back.
"Well say something next time." Riku massaged his wrist.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you wouldn't want to dry off after taking a shower," Axel rolled his eyes before he took a giant step towards the towel rack.
"Hey! Slow down!" Riku rushed to catch up, realizing that his wrist was bleeding from the rough tugging and strain caused by the unpredicted movements by both parties.
"Quit whining." Axel picked out two towels.
"I'm bleeding," Riku looked at his wrist, which was leaking small yet consistent drops of crimson.
"What?" Axel turned around and held up Riku's limp wrist. "Oh, man it caught you pretty good. I'm sorry Prez." Axel looked into Riku's eyes.
"It's fine. It's nothing really, just a small observation. I don't want to dirty the floor." Riku tried to hold his wrist up in a way that prevented spilling his blood on the ground.
"Here," Axel held the pale flesh up to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss.
"Axel!" Riku yelled in shock as he watched the redhead clean his wrist.
"Just a little blood, don't worry," Axel gave the wound a small kiss before he let it drop.
"Still, it's not safe to do such things," Riku gulped, his heart reacting faster than he cared to admit.
"I'll be fine. Come on, let's shower." Axel took slow small steps in one direction as Riku followed after.
"I can't believe we have to shower together, again." Riku complained.
"You saying you don't like the view?" Axel smirked in his confidence.
"I, no," Riku gulped, looking away in shame.
"Well then," Axel chuckled as he used the bar of soap first. Riku let Axel manipulate his chained hand without much choice, and when Axel was finished, he let his hand follow Riku's as the silverrete cleaned himself.
"Wait," Axel stopped Riku before he could turn off the water. "You missed a spot," Axel used his shackled hand to wipe off soap residue on Riku's nipple.
Riku gulped as Axel flicked the suds off. "Don't do that," Riku squirmed uneasily.
"Sorry," Axel gave a small smile before the two left the shower. After drying off their bodies, they dressed into their spare boxers and P.E shorts in their lockers.
"Great, now we have to go shirtless until tomorrow." Riku sighed.
"It's kind of hot outside anyway," Axel shrugged, not caring.
"Let's just stay in my dorm until Luxord is able to release us. I don't want to walk around this school without the proper attire." Riku covered his nipples with his arm.
"Whatever you say Prez," Axel said indifferently as he followed after Riku. "You're so cute, the way you cover yourself as if you had boobs." Axel couldn't help but chuckle as Riku blushed.
"It's against school policy to wander the halls without a shirt." Riku reminded Axel.
"You're the president, and I'm the head of the housing committee; I'm sure between the two of us, anything we do in the Dorm buildings is fine." Axel smirked while Riku bit his lip, ready for the adventure ahead.
"Alright, just four hallways, one flight of stairs, one bridge, and we're there." Riku took a deep breath to prepare himself.
"You're still super cute," Axel gave a goofy grin.
Riku only rolled his eyes as he nodded to himself. "Let's go,"
"Relax, everyone is in their dorms by now. Curfew starts in like, twenty minutes." Axel checked his watch as he kept up with a determined Riku.
"I'll relax once I'm free." Riku grunted as he raced down another hallway.
"Slow down will you?" Axel whined after the two students cleared the bridge.
"We're almost there."
"Yeah, so stop running," Axel dragged his long legs in defiance.
"It's just the stairs and one more hallway." Riku peeked around the corner, thankful to see no signs of possible human contact as he dashed down the stairs, pulling Axel with him.
"You're ridiculous," Axel shook his head as Riku bolted for the last hallway.
"Wow, you two sure like to wait for the sexual tension to build, don't you?" Hayner laughed and when Riku turned around, he gulped with wide eyes.
"Nah, apparently it was some accident, thanks to Luxy," Roxas clarified.
"You sure Axel didn't pay him to do it?" Demyx asked with a smile.
"See I'm not the only one to think so!" Riku slapped Axel's arm lightly.
"Hey!" Axel rubbed his skin.
"I bet Riku is the one who secretly paid Luxord to do it, and is acting like he doesn't want it." Hayner winked.
"You think?" Roxas asked, just to encourage the tension.
"Oh yeah. I mean, Axel's hot, and rich, and the best player we have, so there's no way he'd actually refuse him unless he wants to be the dominant one. I bet they're rushing to his dorm so he can show Axel a new side to him." Hayner eyed Riku while the silverrete stood, paralyzed in shock and disgust. He was so frightened to even hear such words, but what them even more terrifying was the potential truth behind such statements, about Axel being nearly perfect and how Riku had no reason to refuse him.
"I don't know, Riku topping Axel? Feels like the other way around to me," Roxas scratched his head.
"Are you all done thinking aloud?" Axel asked, his hand proudly on his narrow hip and his friendly yet cocky grin in its usual place.
"Ha, we're just giving you guys a hard time," Demyx waved it all off.
"Sure. Just try not to stare too long at me, Riku gets jealous," Axel winked before he took Riku's hand and guided him up to his door.
Author's Note: Sorry for taking so long to update! Man, talk about a tense chapter! I really wanted to make this chapter longer, but if I don't cut it off at this exact moment, the only other place to cut it off naturally would have been way too long. But I'll try to update soon, to make up for it ^_^
This chapter has a section that was written for Keyblade Master13! Obviously Luxords nickname and the chapter's title was inspired by a reader, keyblade Master13, so just wanted to explain the reason why i added this name into the story ^_^
To Demonicangel2012: Thanks! I love Axel, and his quotes lol. Aww, thank you, I agree, it's my signature, so it's staying. Although it will be edited quite a bit, but for the most part, there will still be tension.
To RikuMewKira: Glad you feel that way, and I agree. I love drama and angst. Oooh, I like that analogy, and I love cake! Great combo lol. So thoughtful and deep, it was awesome!
To The Fabulous A.J: I completely understand, and I'm currently working on it =) I'm focusing heavily on two of my other stories, so sadly this one has been suffering as a result, (and I just started posting yet another story…not my smartest move lol) but I agree entirely, and I will try to think of a way to give Riku's reactions depth in a way that works and fits within the story. Yes, you're on the right track with that. There is a reason why Axel is running, and it'll become extremely clear (if it hasn't already), so you're in the right direction. Aww, I really appreciate that thoughtful comment! I do like the fluff, and I hope that this chapter meets (and maybe even exceeds) your expectations. Thanks!
To Kindofabadger: Yes, I love fluff, and I love writing fluff and tension, but it's a bit complicated to write, just because of balance and plot. Awww, thank you so much! I am a giant fan of angst. Hahaha, I'm also a fan of cliff hangers, and twists, so I'm glad that you expected the kiss, cause it makes it that much more important to not let it happen. Haha, yeah, we still have a long while before any of that happens lol. Aww, thank you.
To Luckycat222: Umm, I like your review ^_^ hehehe. I will add more intimacy (does this chapter not count? Hehehe) but there will also be some drama, because it wouldn't be one of my stories if it didn't lol. Thanks for the review, and of course it doesn't sound perverted, and even if it did, it'd be alright, because lemons are amazing ^_^
To ZeltaFrost: Hahaha, I love the love/hate complex. Haha, I know, I'd die to have Axel fake die to kiss me. Oh wells :P Aww, thank you! You're such a sweet reader. I appreciate your review, every one of them =)
To iythos: Really? I'm so happy to hear that you created an account, for this story! Such a complement. Awww, that is so super kind! And awesome! There will be angst, but I hope to continue writing as much fluff as possible! About the third wheel and jealousy….already wrote that scene a long time ago! So prepare ;) I can't tell you who ends up jealous and what happens because of that, but you'll see soon enough. Thank you so much for creating an account and reviewing ^_^
To RikuObsession: Yes, seeing them get closer is cute, and I really enjoyed writing this chapter, so I hope you enjoyed reading it. Yes, there will be angst and there will be fluff. I shall try to balance them as best I can. Yay, I like a responsible Axel. Thanks, I'm sure my ideas aren't "better" but they work, or at least I hope they do lol. Thanks, I like where it's going, though I'm not sure where it's going.
To Xiola-Nobody: Lol, that is the plan. I plan on having the rough, tense, agnsty moment, mixed with the light-hearted sweet fluff. Let's hope I can pull it off. I need all the "good luck" I can get lol. Aww, thank you! That's so sweet. I appreciate the review =)
Thank you everyone for reading and for reviewing. I appreciate all of the support. Check out my other stories, I have over 30 KH yaoi stories, enough to keep you busy while you wait for an update ^_^
Heart, Sarabellum.