Axel woke up, his body overheated from the warmth of Riku's weight on his.
"Hey," Axel whispered softly as he ruffled Riku's hair.
"Hey," Riku slowly sat up out of Axel's embrace.
"How'd you sleep?" Axel asked as he sat up beside Riku, smoothing his hand over the cotton T-shirt covering the silverette's back.
"Good." Riku answered quietly.
"We should get ready for the game." Axel stretched his long arms in every direction possible as Riku got off the bed.
"I'll see you on the field." Riku headed for the door.
"Wait, Prez!" Axel reached out for the president. "What, what are we?" He couldn't help but ask.
"What do you mean?" Riku saw this coming, but he didn't want to deal with it. Truth be told, when he woke up, he decided that the change was still too new, too intimidating, and too abrupt for him to tackle all while trying to secure his position as President.
"Well, are we dating, are we friends, what are we?" Axel shrugged in confusion.
"We're, we're us. I'm me, you're you." Riku gulped nervously.
"I see." Axel nodded, knowing that if Riku wasn't clear, then it wasn't what he had hoped for.
"See what?" Riku was lost by the ambiguity he had created.
"That even after what we said and what we did, we're still right where we left off before." Axel looked down to the floor.
"Where, where is that?" Riku asked hesitantly.
"It's where I still love you despite how hard you work to push away." Axel bit his lip as he finished his sentence.
"I," Riku didn't know what to say. He knew he loved Axel, he had already confessed, but the fear inside him was stronger than all other feelings. He still didn't expect Axel to be so understanding, although he wasn't sure if that meant he was forgiving.
"See you on the field." Axel gave a fake smile as Riku cleared his throat, nodded subtly, and left the redheads dorm more confused than ever.
Was Axel mad at him? What happened? They were getting along so well and now, now it was as if Axel really was right and they had taken steps backwards in progress.
"This is so stupid." Riku shook his head to himself as he headed down the halls and made his way to the soccer field. As captain he made sure to show up early, before the fans and most of the other teammates; all save Roxas and of course Axel.
"Oh hey." Roxas waved to Riku.
"You guys are here early." Riku said as he helped move the goals in place on the turf field.
"So are you." Roxas joked back.
"Well the others should be here soon." Axel said as he readjusted his cleat, looking ready to go in his white spandex shorts underneath his baby blue and white uniform shorts with his matching jersey.
"It's rather chilly isn't it?" Roxas asked as he stretched his arms with his black long sleeve work out shirt under his jersey.
"It'll heat up once we get moving." Axel jumped in place as the warm up drills began.
"Hey guys! Good luck!" Sora waved wildly from the sidelines as he and Namine got ready to once again host the game as the official announcers.
"You look so cute babe!" Roxas shouted back as he waved. "Look at him, he's so adorable in my 'Away' jersey." Roxas pointed to his twin with Axel beside him as Sora went to his table with Namine wearing the Jersey that Roxas only wore when playing away games.
"You and Sora are the sweetest couple ever." Axel put a hand on Roxas' shoulder as Riku stood behind him.
"I just feel so lucky. I mean, I'll always have him in my life, by my side, and literally no one knows me better than he does. He really is my twin, love, my life." Roxas day dreamed.
"Yeah, stop rubbing it in for those of us who are single and help us win this game." Axel joked but his tone was transparent to Riku's ears.
"Wait you're still single?" Roxas broke the focusing mood that Riku had tried to establish.
"Ye-yeah, I am." Axel shrugged, trying to look indifferent.
"But, but dude, we saw you two kissing, and holding hands, and, and you two looked really happy last night," Roxas' voice was so sorrowful it made Axel's heart ache.
"We did kiss, and we held hands, and we, we even said that we loved each other," Axel smiled as Roxas continued to frown. "But in the end, Riku still isn't ready." Axel gave a hopeful smile. "But I'll be here when he is."
"Axel," Roxas shook his head. "That isn't fair for you. You worked so hard. Sora, Sora and I tried to set it all up for you two cause we felt bad for how long you were waiting." Roxas grabbed Axel's bicep.
"I appreciate it." Axel smiled as he hugged Roxas. "But we can't rush him."
"You can't wait forever, or he'll use you. I, I don't want you to be taken advantage of."
"Look, we, we have a game to play." Axel sighed, trying to get into the proper mood.
"No, we have a game to win." Roxas picked up on the hint that Axel needed motivation.
One half of a game later, the game was at a dead tie, not a single goal as each time was wearing down during the half time break.
"You guys, we, we need a new approach." Demyx huffed with his hands on his knees.
"It's not our fault that the midfielders aren't carrying the ball up every time us in Defense steal it away." Hayner threw an arm around.
"Hey, we're doing the best we can!" Demyx stood up straight and inhaled big.
"Yeah you sure are making it eeeeasy for us." Pence rolled his eyes.
"Hey don't mess with my lineup!" Marluxia narrowed his eyes in at the Defensive players.
"Guys, guys!" Axel clapped his hands. "Cut it out! Come on." Axel shook his head.
"Yeah we can't fight, we're supposed to be a team." Riku added.
"Yeah you're one to give advice." Roxas scoffed.
"Excuse me?" Riku asked in utter confusion.
"What do you know about teamwork when you leave your fellow captain hanging after making him think that you've got his back?"
"Wait what? Just what the hell are you talking about?" Riku's body shook with frustration.
"Guys, now isn't the time." Axel tried to put his hands up to settle the quarrel.
"No you know what? Go ahead! Go ahead and tell the whole team, in fact tell the entire goddamn school that you think I'm hurting your best friend!" Riku snapped as Axel and the rest of the team stared with wide eyes. "I already heard you and Axel talking right before the game about how I'm using him, or so you think!" Riku lost control as he unleashed all his frustrations that he had always swore to keep in check and under control.
"It's not what I think, it's what you're doing to him!" Roxas argued back.
"I'm not doing shit so,"
"You're just leading him on and then throwing him away when he worships you for a reason the rest of us can't figure out!" Roxas spoke his mind as Axel gulped quietly.
"You, you guys," Axel whispered, his mind and his heart aching on top of his already clenched and exhausted muscles.
"Exactly why I'm denying him!" Riku shouted so loudly that even the fans on the bleachers heard distinctly.
"What?" Axel looked confused as he asked in a quiet disbelief.
"Don't you think I noticed I don't deserve him?" Riku ignored Axel and asked Roxas. The blonde swallowed thick. "I know Axel deserves better, and I know you all know it as much as I do. So the farther I push him away the sooner he'll find some pretty rich boy who he deserves instead of wasting his time on a nobody like me!" Riku stood with fisted hands, panting as Axel tried to accept the confusing thoughts.
"Prez, Prez I told you I'd never want anyone but,"
"But someone who doesn't deserve to go to your birthday party?" Riku smirked in a twisted pain.
"And with that random fight amongst the Men's Academy, Half Time is now over." Sora said over the microphone. It was clear that the team had been arguing but besides that one sentence of Riku's confession of denying Axel, everything else wasn't loud enough to reach the ears of the assembled crowd.
"Well, now that we have established the fucked up relationship between our captains, we definitely are ready to win the game." Hayner stood up straight and crossed his arms.
"Oh shut up, they need to get it out sooner or later." Demyx shrugged, having sympathy.
"Look let's just finish this game ok?" Axel ordered.
"Whatever you say, Captain." Roxas saluted with a playful smile. Riku gulped, shying up after his embarrassing outburst.
"Alright, Hayner you take left field and Demyx, switch sides with Marluxia. Luxord, next time you catch a ball, throw it to Prez. Prez, carry it up and I'll wait by the goal." Axel said sturdily.
"Got it." Demyx clapped.
"Come on guys let's go!" Hayner cheered as the boys got back in position.
"The boys team looks ready to go, full of energy! Meanwhile the girls team doesn't look like they're going to give up anytime soon." Sora commented.
"Yes, I'm sure the energy levels on the field must be beyond count." Namine said into her microphone.
"Larxene, I'm open!" Kairi shouted as she ran up the field, but her attempt at a goal was caught by Luxord, who threw it to Riku, who ran up the field with possession of the ball.
"Prez!" Axel ran up to one goal post and waited patiently for the pass that Riku sent his way.
"Yes!" Riku couldn't hold back his joy as the ball went into the net.
"Good job Axel!" Xion clapped and stood up on the bleachers.
"That was a beautiful pass Prez." Axel said as he passed by the silverrete.
"Go Axel!" Xion repeated loudly.
"Time out!" Riku shouted as jealousy once again swept over him.
"Everything ok?" Roxas asked.
"Captain's time out." Riku cleared his throat as he and Axel met privately.
"What's wrong?" Axel whispered as he and Riku stood at the side lines, the rest of the field and all the fans watching.
"Axel, I, I can't do this anymore." Riku couldn't even look Axel in the eye.
"Can't do what?" Axel tried to understand.
"I, I need to know. Do, do you really truly love me?"
"Of course." Axel blinked in all honesty.
"Then, then I need to let you know,"
"What's gotten into you? Really?" Axel couldn't help but show his own impatient frustration.
"What do you mean?" Riku asked, a bit offended, but more confused than anything.
"Just last night you were telling me you loved me, telling me you won't let me get away and that you're scared to lose me, and then I wake up and you leave as if nothing ever happened!" Axel stood with one hand deep in his messy ponytail.
"I, I just," Riku panted as he tried to think of an excuse.
"I can't take it anymore Prez, I can't. I love you and all this ups and downs are just making it harder." Axel shook his head with a sincere frown. "I can't afford to get my hopes up for something I've worked so hard for, but only seems to be getting farther away. I, I love you too much." Axel whispered.
"Axel listen to me," Riku wanted to rush everything out of his aching mind.
"I was wrong to expect you to be who you were when we were children; I was wrong to think you'd still love me." Axel looked down at the grass beneath his cleats.
"But I do love you!" Riku said desperately.
"You, you mean it?" Axel asked with an interested concern.
"Time out over!" Sora warned on the microphone.
"But," Riku wasn't finished.
"After the game." Axel nodded at Riku before they picked up where they left off.
"The last minute of the game, and the guys are still up by the one and only goal of the entire two halves." Sora said, and after the ten second countdown, the boys celebrated their victory.
"Yes! Twice in a row!" Hayner said, referencing their first victory against the girl's team.
"Congrats Axe, game winner!" Roxas said after the team assembled into a circle on the field.
"No, it was Luxord's save and Prez's pass. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, no real skill required for that." Axel shrugged modestly.
"Nah, you're the man!" Demyx whistled loudly.
"It was a good game, and it was fun." Kairi shook hands with her brother after each team got ready to leave the field.
"Thanks Kairi. Safe travels back to your campus. And I'll see you in the summer." He hugged his little sister before Xion walked up to him.
"I, I just, I wanted to say goodbye, and that I hope you and Riku are happy together." Xion gave Axel a quick hug before she walked away with the other members from her school.
"P-Prez?" Axel looked around the emptying field to see that Riku and half of his teammates had already headed for the locker room.
"You coming?" Roxas asked as Axel stood in place.
"Yeah!" Axel jogged over, following his friends and comrades.
"Woohoo! Game ball goes to Axel Lea!" Demyx shouted as everyone huddled in the locker room.
"Alright, practice on Monday, after fifth period, don't be late!" Axel chuckled as half the team went out for dinner and the other half left back to shower in the dorm buildings.
"I'll see you later, gotta go meet my sexy baby for shower time." Roxas waved goodbye.
"Have fun, tell Sora I said hi." Axel waved back with a laugh.
The redhead folded his clothes in his locker before he walked naked to the locker room showers.
"Oh, hey, didn't know you were here." Axel kept his eyes to himself as he began to shower.
"It's hardly surprising by this point." Riku turned to give Axel his backside.
"Prez, did you mean it?" Axel asked randomly as he shampooed his hair.
"Well yeah, we're always showering together in what looks like a predestined way that fate finds us here at the same time." Riku coughed, rinsing soap off his chest.
"No, I meant what you said on the field. Are you refusing me because you want me to find someone else?" Axel asked curiously.
Riku went silent before he coughed down his nerves. "Yes." He answered as quietly as possible.
"Prez that's absurd. You know I love you and you alone." Axel took a step closer to Riku, who blushed and looked down at the tile.
"I, I just don't want to think about these things anymore." Riku bit his lip, his heart burning with frustration and built up tension of unsatisfied desires. "If you move on and find someone else I can pretend I was never hurt by you, never rejected."
"I, I never rejected you." Axel shook his head.
"Yes you did, when I went back!" Riku felt his heart beating faster as his throat closed up.
"Went back? Where? When?" Axel asked bewildered.
"The day of your party, I returned later and you told your nanny you didn't want to see me so I left the card I made you and you, you never came for me." Riku felt tears working their way up his throat and into his eyes.
"I swear I never knew you returned."
"I did and you rejected me!" Riku's lower lip quivered with emotions after he yelled.
"Prez," Axel let a single tear escape from his eyes before he swallowed thick. "I would never do such a thing. I thought you hated me. And I wouldn't have blamed you." Axel frowned.
"No, I went back, and I asked for you, and they told me you didn't want to see me. So I gave you the card that, that," Riku sniffled, hating how vulnerable he felt.
"That what Prez?" Axel asked.
"That asked you to meet me at the playground by the school the next day. I wrote how I was lonely and scared and needed to be hugged." Riku hid his face in his hands as he wept.
"Oh Prez," Axel cooed softly as he wrapped his arms around Riku's skin.
"I waited for hours in the cold, and I got sick since I didn't have a jacket, but I still went back that whole week hoping maybe you'd show up but you never did! And, and the day after your party when you were supposed to meet me, I, I got beat up. And I cried for you." Riku's eyes matched the running faucet that supported their shower.
"I'm right here." Axel whispered as gently as he could.
"I begged for you to help me. But you never came for me." Riku sniffled. "You never came." Riku exhaled loudly, relaxing his body which he finally allowed to calm down.
"Prez, if I could go back….if I would have known," Axel rested his head on Riku's.
"I just thought that you'd take care of me. I needed you Axel." Riku closed his eyes.
"I swear I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I'm so sorry Prez." Axel squeezed his arms.
"It's ok. If, if you really didn't know, it wasn't your fault." Riku tried to exhale his bitterness and frustrations away.
"Please? Forgive me?" Axel asked as he held Riku's hands in his.
"I, I do forgive you." Riku inhaled deep before he let out his fears with another relaxing exhale.
"I love you." Axel reminded the silverrete.
"I love you too." Riku whispered before it went quiet for a while.
"You ok?" Axel asked to break the tension, their hands slipping apart.
"My head hurts from crying and thinking." Riku pouted like an unsatisfied child.
"Then don't think. Act. What do you want? Tell me so I can give it to you." Axel stood before the silverrete, gently taking his hands in his own and raising them to his warm pursed lips. "I will give you anything you ask for." Axel said as he gazed deep into Riku's eyes, and Riku knew Axel meant it. With a heart and wallet as full of Axel's, even Riku knew there was no limit.
"I, I want this pain to go away." Riku whispered as he let his eyes fall down Axel's body before they closed.
"Shh," Axel pulled Riku into a hug. "I love you." Axel said calmly.
"Axel?"
"Yes my prince?"
"Can, can we finish showering before we continue this conversation?" Riku's cheeks stained red with the feeling of Axel's length so close to his body.
"Of course. I'm sorry." Axel bowed and went back to where his caddy was to finish his shower.
It went uncomfortably silent as each boy acted as if the other was absent, but then Axel couldn't fight back the temptation to bring something to Riku's attention.
"P-Prez?" Axel asked nervously and without even having realized it until then, Riku noticed that he had been staring at Axel's body for at least two whole minutes.
"Sorry!" Riku gulped, looking away.
"No need to apologize." Axel smiled shyly, encouraging Riku to look again.
"O-ok." Riku felt his cheeks flush as he gazed in fascination at Axel's firm abdominals and toned chest.
Axel coughed nervously as he felt his own eyes traveling down Riku's face, neck, and chest.
"So," Axel tried to strike up a conversation.
"Huh?" Riku looked back up into Axel's eyes.
"Oh, um, uh, I felt like talking might uh," Axel stuttered, not sure where his mind was taking his words.
"Yeah, I understand." Riku tried to smile away the tension, but that didn't help.
"Good," Axel smiled back as both boys were once again having a shower conversation where neither knew what the other was saying.
"I mean, it's just," Riku tried to think of words.
"No, I get what you're saying." Axel nodded, wanting to understand.
"Yeah, it's just, it's been so… long," Riku said quietly, coincidentally staring at Axel's length. Axel's face turned a bright red when he noticed, and without any control, he lowered his eyes to Riku's.
"M-maybe we should just," Axel cleared his throat.
"You think?" Riku asked and Axel shrugged.
"It might help,"
"I agree, we should," Riku nodded, not sure what he was nodding to. He coughed as Axel took the three steps over towards him, lifted his hands to cup Riku's face, and gently kissed Riku's lips.
Riku gulped as Axel's tongue licked his closed lips, encouraging the school president to part them slowly. Axel pushed in delicately as his hands lowered to Riku's sides, causing the silverrete to jolt.
"Sorry!" Axel pulled back. "I, I should have been more cautious." Axel bowed his head.
"N-no, I, I'm fine." Riku smiled.
"No, Prez, you're not." Axel kept a straight face as his eyes looked into Riku's doubting pair with a certainty he couldn't explain. "You still haven't accepted what Seifer did to you. I can see it in your eyes; you're trying to imagine it all away by bottling it up. I'm telling you Prez, you need to let it out. Let yourself grieve." Axel tenderly rested his hands on Riku's shoulders.
Riku looked away, frowning, realizing just how right Axel was.
"I can't," Riku gulped.
"Yes, you can. It'll help you heal." Axel fingered Riku's hair out of his eyes.
"No, not here." Riku looked around, not feeling safe in a public setting. "Not after I already displayed my weakness."
"You weren't weak, you were honest." Axel insisted.
"I just want to leave and go somewhere private." Riku whispered.
"Ok, how about we shower, and then you can be with me in my dorm? I'll protect you," Axel ended with a convincing yet sincere smile, so Riku nodded.
"Ok." Riku agreed, nervously shaking in anticipation.
"Shhh, it's ok." Axel cooed as he put his finger on Riku's chin, lifting it up as the redhead bent down, planting a soft kiss on Riku's lips as the water continued to rain on them. Riku gasped, his body trembling as he felt his heart churn. He wanted more. He wanted be one with this boy who meant so much to him.
Axel pulled his lips back, causing Riku to gulp in a nervous fear.
"Don't be scared." Axel said calmly as he placed a palm on Riku's neck.
"I'm not scared." Riku lied shakily.
"Of course not." Axel smirked innocently as he hovered his lips over Riku's. Riku inhaled deeply, silently begging for more. "You want a kiss?" Axel asked teasingly as Riku put a hand over Axel's hand that was on his neck.
"Yeah." Riku shuddered helplessly.
"Good." Axel smiled before he made out with Riku, forcing his wet tongue inside of Riku's desperate mouth. Riku moaned loudly, not holding back as he wrapped his arms around Axel's neck while the redhead grabbed Riku's waist. When Axel broke for air, Riku found himself panting.
Riku struggled to process the kiss, his feelings, and the possible consequences. What would that kiss change? Would it change anything? Why wasn't he able to process his thoughts? It was as if all these ideas hit his mind, but weren't able to go through. He wanted to speak, he wanted to say something, but he couldn't think. All he knew, was the straightforward truth.
"I love giving you kisses." Axel said tenderly.
"Me too." Riku admitted as he looked away.
"Let me clean you." Axel smooched Riku's cheek before he retrieved his bar of soap. Riku stood frozen as he watched Axel wave the bar of soap across his chest.
"Cold." Riku shivered as the cool bar swept over his stomach.
"Sorry." Axel apologized with a smile as he rubbed in the soap with his palms.
"Feels good." Riku kept a hand over his parts, not wanting to show the real pleasure that he was feeling.
"I'm glad to hear that." Axel smiled wide before he hugged Riku, moving his hand up and down the silverette's back as he held the soap.
"A-Axel." Riku huffed as he clung onto the redhead's back and neck with his arms.
"It's alright." Axel remained calm as he lowered the bar of soap over Riku's ass.
"Axel," Riku quivered as flashbacks of Seifer stained his mind.
"I'm right here Prez, it's alright. I'm not going to hurt you." Axel released the hug and kneeled in front of Riku, who nodded.
Axel massaged Riku's legs with soap, starting with his strong calves and up to his sensitive thighs.
"How's that feel?" Axel looked up with a sweet smile as he kneaded Riku's muscle.
"Good." Riku put his hands on Axel's shoulders, gazing into happily squinted green eyes.
When Axel finished cleaning Riku's legs, he soaped the president's arms before he pulled him into a close hug, getting the soap on his own body.
"I love you Prez. I love you fully and wholly, with all that I have, all that I am, and all that I have to offer." Axel released the tightness of his embrace to look Riku in the eye, moving his hands to his hips.
Riku smiled shyly as he placed his arms lazily on Axel's shoulders. He wanted to say more, he wanted to just face his fears and get that confession out of the way, but there was still so much to question. He opened his mouth as Axel held his breath. Was Axel waiting for him to spit it out?
"I, I," Riku started, but in his nerves, he had to close his mouth and swallow.
"You?" Axel asked anxiously.
"I, I'm glad you're here." Riku smiled poorly, feeling like a fuck up for not saying what he was really thinking. No, it wasn't even a thought anymore. It was the truth. All he needed was to say it. Was that really so hard? Why wasn't it as easy as he thought it would be? Just three words. That's all. Just the simple truth. It wouldn't even be for the first time so what's the big deal? Why the nerves?
"I love you." Riku said shyly.
Axel's smile widened before he pushed Riku's hair out of his face. "You have no idea much it means to me to hear that." Axel gave a Riku's lips a teasingly gentle kiss before he sighed. "We should finish."
"Yeah." Riku agreed sorrowfully.
"Come on." Axel reached for Riku's hand and turned off the water before the two left the showers, side by side. They each dried themselves off and changed before they walked quietly back to the dorms.
"Axel?" Riku asked as he followed Axel to the redheads dorm.
"Hm?" Axel asked, his mind just as heavy from all the serious conversations.
"Am, should, I should go back to my dorm," Riku cleared his throat as Axel rolled his eyes.
"Come on," Axel grabbed Riku's bicep and led him into his room.
"Thanks," Riku blushed, thanking Axel for having the courage to make the move he clearly couldn't.
"I'm tired. That game felt like more work than the last one." Riku plopped down on Axel's bed in a clear pair of basketball shorts and a white T shirt, his usual post-game relaxing wear.
"That could be because we never even finished the last game, thanks to Larxene." Axel huffed.
"No it was your fault you tried to do something so foolish." Riku couldn't control his mouth until the words came out.
"I, I was just trying to help." Axel shrugged, his eyes slowly looking down.
"I appreciate it." Riku gave a hurt smile. "I just don't see why you do." He admitted shyly.
"What more reason do I need?" Axel asked with a shake of his head. "Prez, I don't know what else to say other than I love you."
"But why?" Riku asked solemnly.
"Do you remember the day we met?" Axel asked and Riku thought carefully before he nodded. He thought back to that awful day. That wonderful day. The day he'd never forget.
He was much shorter than most of the boys in the private day care and his shirt already had holes despite it being his first day. His backpack was tattered and his shoes squeaked with each step as his messy bangs covered his eyes. His grandmother had dropped him off a bit late and he stuck by the teachers side as she led him through the empty classroom, informing the shy silverrete that most of the boys were on the playground for break time. For two weeks Riku lived that quiet lonely life: being dropped off, being ignored, and keeping to himself as best he could. However, not all of the students permitted him to live so privately.
"You're sweater has a hole!" Seifer teased as Riku stood alone against a wall during recess. The silver haired boy looked to where the blonde was pointing before he gulped.
"He doesn't talk you know?" Rai tilted his head curiously.
"What's your name?" Seifer asked and when Riku didn't answer the blonde boy pushed his chest, smashing his back against the wall. "You don't belong here!"
Riku said nothing as he bit his lip and closed his eyes, wishing them away.
"I bet if I pushed you into this puddle your socks would get wet cause you're that poor." Seifer snickered before he did just that. "HAHA!" Seifer pointed and laughed as water seeped into Riku's worn out shoes.
"He's such a loser you know?" Rai mocked along.
"Hey!" A tall redhead boy walked up to them.
"Axel, look how stupid he is!" Seifer continued to laugh as Riku sniffled.
"You guys are being mean." Axel crossed his arms.
"He's not important, it doesn't matter." Seifer shrugged. "Besides, he hasn't told us to stop. Watch." Seifer stepped right up to the silverrete who was whimpering, put his hands on his Riku's pants, and pulled them down. "See!" Siefer laughed before he pushed Riku over. The silver haired boy sniffled loudly as he scrambled to fix his clothes.
"What a loser!" Rai pointed at the silently crying boy who lay defeated on the ground.
"How do you like it?" Axel asked as he pushed Seifer down next. "Don't hurt him anymore!" Axel stood over Riku, who froze with wide and confused eyes.
"Owww!" Seifer slowly stood up.
"If you touch him again I'll tell my daddy on you and I'll hit you again." Axel put his hands on his hips.
"Come on Rai, let's go play over there." Seifer glared at Axel before he and Rai walked away.
"You ok?" Axel asked as Riku remained on the floor. "Here." Axel gave Riku a hand up. "Did your pants get wet?" Axel asked as Riku sniffled quietly. "Hmm, they're a bit wet but it doesn't look so bad. Do you talk?" Riku nodded shyly. "Well, I hope you feel better." Axel smiled before he turned around. After five paces he turned his neck to see Riku right behind him. "Where are you going?" He asked curiously, but Riku never answered. Axel shrugged it off and continued to walk to the bathroom.
"You're still following me?" Axel asked as he realized that Riku was not more than a foot away from him, obediently following after. "I have to go potty." Axel said to Riku, who still remained silent. Axel opened the bathroom door and picked a stall, about to go in when he saw Riku standing right behind him. "You can't follow me in here." Axel said strangely, not expecting a need to say such things. Riku looked up and finally made eye contact with Axel. "I'll, I'll be quick." Axel gulped, seeing a sad loneliness in Riku's eyes. After doing his business Axel opened his stall door to see Riku waiting right in front of it. "Ummm," Axel didn't know what to say. "I have to wash my hands." Axel held them up for Riku to see. The smaller of the two boys moved out of the way and once Axel made it to the sink he soaped and rinsed his hands, all while Riku watched as if he were studying Axel's movements. When Axel finished, Riku looked at his own hands, tilting his head in disappointment.
"Did you want to wash yours too?" Axel asked and Riku nodded, still eyeing his dirty fingers. "Can you reach the soap?" Axel asked, being much taller than the silver haired boy, who shook his head. "Here, I'll give you a boost." Axel stood behind Riku, who went on tip toes, and wrapped his arms around his waist to help him up. Riku extended his arm as best he could to the soap dispenser that was glued to the wall and when he got enough soap he grunted in affirmation. Axel let Riku back down and turned the water on for him. "All better." Axel smiled when he turned the water off after Riku finished.
Axel stared at Riku, who stared back at him, each waiting for the other to say or do something.
"Why don't you talk?" Axel asked, but Riku quickly looked away. "Are you shy?" Riku nodded. "You don't have to be. It must be hard to play with your friends if you don't talk." Axel gave a silly smile, but Riku only frowned at him. "Don't you have friends?" Riku shook his head. "Oh. Well, I'll be your friend!" Axel pointed to his chest as Riku slowly smiled. "Hehe, yay, you smiled!" Axel pointed, happy to see the frail boy before him smiling, but that smile was quickly hidden by small hands that covered his face.
"No, don't hide!" Axel chuckled, gently pulling Riku's hands away from his face. "You have a pretty smile. Are you like an angel?" Axel asked with his head slightly leaning to the side. Riku quickly shook his head. "Well I think you're as pretty as one. Well, I haven't actually seen one, but I'm sure they look like you." Axel pointed as Riku's cheeks went red. "You're cute." Axel giggled.
Riku looked to the floor, unsure what to say or do.
"You want to be friends?" Axel asked to break the silence as both boys remained in the otherwise empty bathroom.
Riku nodded enthusiastically.
"Great! I'm Axel. Got it memorized?" Axel tapped his temple as Riku looked thoughtfully.
"Axel," He whispered.
"Hey, you do talk!" Axel clapped happily. "What's your name?" he asked curiously.
"Ri-Riku." The shy silverrete trembled as he uttered his own name.
"Riku. I like it." Axel nodded contently. For the rest of his time at that daycare, Riku remained within Axel's reach every day at school, and when Axel was using the restroom, he waited just outside the stall door, quick to follow him as his shadow, never questioning as he trusted Axel fully and wholly.
And as the president stood in Axel's dorm those years later, he wondered where Axel was going with their flashback.
"I remember when we met. I remember being so close to you, I never thought I could part ways with you. I never thought you'd want to." Riku spoke quietly.
"Prez, I never did want to. When you left school, I, I felt so alone. I missed you so damn much." Axel frowned.
"Do, do you think we could ever go back? To the way things used to be?" Riku wondered aloud.
"We could try." Axel shrugged as he sat on his bed.
"I wish things were that simple." Riku sat by Axel's side.
"I'm sorry." Axel rested his head on Riku's shoulder.
"For what?" Riku asked curiously.
"For letting you live thinking that I don't love you the way you truly deserve."
"Axel," Riku gulped nervously.
"Hm?" Axel sat up curiously.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" Axel asked back with a small hopeful smile.
"For letting you think that I don't love you when I always have."
Author's Note: Awww, more progress, however slow it may be haha. Well there's really not much for me to say other than this story is slowly winding to an end, so hopefully soon cause even though I enjoyed writing this story, I just have so many others I'm excited to start working on, so I hope that you'll follow me for those too!
To Hinatauchihashyakuganuser: Hopefully I got your name right this second time lol. Yes, thankfully Riku is being cooperative and Seifer isn't in the way, for now, or maybe for good after that fight with Axel haha. One way to be sure.
To Luckycat222: Thank you for understanding, it means a lot! Thanks for your patience too hehe.
To Kindofabadger: Yay for updates and yay for comments, I appreciate it! Yes, I couldn't hold back a Soroku scene lol, glad you liked it!
To xSonya: Aww, I'm happy to hear that you liked the chapter! Yes poor Riku is just too flustered and is thinking way too much for him to move on like he needs to haha. But I'm sure we've all had those moments before. Thank you for the review!
To XxXNamineXxX: Awwww, you're making me blush! I'm so happy that you like the pairing and I'm even more thrilled that you enjoy this plot! Thank you so very much!
To Nowa-Hikari: Awww, I'm so happy that you are that dedicated for updates and I apologize for making you wait! Yes, Xion ruined their moment during the first dance, helped Riku get his butt in gear for the second dance, and I'm sure Axel thought the wait was worth it haha. Yes, it was sad that they kept addressing the issue without really addressing the truth of what happened, but this chapter helped them as they discussed it all in full. Now to wait for the next chapter to see what really changed….once I write it haha.
Thank you everyone for your support!
Living Legacy, Sarabellum