I'm going to actually write some things soon before I run out of chapters to put here. Not that anyone is really following (yet?) but I still feel like I should keep it pretty regular. Anyways, go ahead and read.
The Phrase That Pays - The Academy Is...
Everyone in the school knew who he was; maybe not by name, but they knew. He used to be "Axel's quiet little shadow", but now he was "that poor kid who's dying". When the news got out that Roxas had small brain tumors that were just waiting to go off and end his life, everyone suddenly felt sorry for him. People started to treat him differently: opening doors for him, letting him cut in the lunch line, giving him little, random gifts, and oh the cards he found stuffed into his locker. Although he would never say anything about it, Axel could see that it bothered Roxas that people thought they should treat him different, so one day in the cafeteria when someone offered Roxas the last slice of pizza despite him being five people behind them, Axel blew up. He simultaneously told the entire school that Roxas doesn't need people to treat him differently. He just wants to live a normal life like everyone else.
After that things quieted down again. People still acknowledged him a little bit more than before, with a little smile, or wave, or a soft hello, but that was something he could deal with. He could just pretend that the people that always paid attention to Axel were starting to notice his shadow, not that they pitied him. Unfortunately the looks people gave him never stopped; sure they would hide them when they caught Axel's menacing glare (because who wouldn't be afraid of the 6'2" guy with long red hair, multiple piercings, and tattoos on his face, as well as a few other places?), but Roxas knew they were there. Luckily Roxas had an idea to end all the pity.
The yearly talent show at the high school was coming up quickly, only a few days away, and Axel was beyond nervous. Not for himself, no; he had no sort of talent that would fit in that kind of show, but for Roxas. He was there when Roxas signed up for the show, and he knew Roxas had made it in, but he couldn't help but wonder why. Roxas was a quiet guy; he preferred to blend into a crowd, not stand up and take the attention of one. And what kind of talent could he be displaying? Axel knew Roxas was a pretty amazing writer; he had read any and all of the poems or short stories Roxas had shared with him. Would he read something he had written? Axel just wasn't sure, and he was so nervous that Roxas would freeze up on stage and embarrass himself. He was even a little more freaked out that Roxas didn't seem nervous at all.
"You know the talent show is Friday night, right?" Axel asked, looking down at the little blond walking next to him on their way home.
"I'm well aware. There are posters all over the school, Axel. Anyone that can read and pays any amount of attention to the walls in the halls would know that." Roxas replied.
"You know you are a part of the show, right?"
"I signed the paper and did the tryout, of course I know." Axel gave him a weird look as Roxas continued to walk and respond as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
"But you hate public speaking."
Roxas sighed. "I know what I'm doing, Axel. Just trust me." Axel just shook his head and followed Roxas into his home where they would make an after school snack, finish up homework quickly, so they could spend the evening goofing off like always. The talent show was at the back of Axel mind the whole time.
Apparently the only people who knew what Roxas was doing was the blond himself, the teacher overseeing the entire show, and Demyx, who was in charge of sound for all school activities. Demyx was a part of Axel and Roxas' group of friends, along with his older sister Larxene, the ever-quiet Zexion, and the flamboyant Marluxia. Most of the school knew Roxas as the quiet kid because for the most part he didn't think they were worth his time, but when he was with their little group he talked quite openly. He talked music with Demyx, and sometimes shared his poetry with him so he could turn it into a song. He traded insults with Larxene. He discussed books, his writing, and schoolwork with Zexion. He compared crazy ideas and stories with Marluxia. But everyone knew that Axel was his best friend. He shared everything with Axel and they were nearly inseparable. So why would he keep this from his best friend? Axel tried very hard to worm the information out of Demyx, but he surprisingly stood firm and told Axel that this was really something he should just wait to find out about at the show with everyone else.
So Axel sulked. Roxas knew what it was about, but chose to ignore it and act as if nothing was wrong. He really just wanted this to be a surprise.
When Friday night came, Axel dropped Roxas off backstage, giving him a soft kiss on the forehead for good luck before Roxas was rushed off for hair and clothes, and Axel was shooed away to take his seat with Zexion, Larxene, and Marluxia out in the crowd.
As the show started, the first couple of people were nothing special, mostly just people from the band or orchestra playing their instruments, and one person singing rather blandly. That was when Roxas came out. He was dressed simply in a short sleeved, blue button down, a black vest over it, and dark wash skinny jeans with a studded belt, and his hair was perfectly done. And that was when he held the microphone up to his mouth, music starting around him, and sang.
My eyes can't believe what they have seen
In the corner of your room
You've stockpiled millions of my memories
Axel jaw practically dropped to the floor. All the years of being Roxas' best friend and he had never heard this singing voice come out of the little blond.
Oh doctor, doctor, I must have gotten this sick somehow
I'm going to ask you a series of questions
And I want them answered on the spot, right now
Is it serious? I'm afraid it is, am I gonna die?
Well, son, death is gonna catch up to all one day
But yours is coming quicker than ours, than ours
Some things I may have taken for granted
Again and again, well, here's what was said then
Hold your head high heavy heart
So take a chance and make it big
'Cause it's the last you'll ever get
If we don't take it, when will we make it?
Everyone in the crowd seemed to get over their shock, and started cheering as the beat picked up, but they quickly quieted back down in order to hear what the little blond on stage was belting out.
I make plans to break plans
And I've been planning something big
Planning something big, planning
I've never tried to make the best of my time
When I thought that I had plenty of it
Is this serious? I don't know what to think, is it all a lie?
Well, one thing is for sure, I'm taken back to the glory days when
When we were kids without a brash or bitter thing to say
Now my life is one big, make it, or break it
Hold your head high heavy heart
And save your strength for the morning after
Listening to the lyrics, Axel realized that they were vaguely familiar. He had read some of it in Roxas notebook at some point. It was something Roxas had written about the time he started to get over the shock of his diagnosis and was moving on with his life, content to just live his life not worrying about the end.
So take a chance and make it big
'Cause it's the last you'll ever get
If we don't take it, when will we make it?
I make plans to break plans
And I've been planning something big
Planning something big
Roxas looked completely comfortable on the stage. Moving to the beat of his own song, working the crowd a bit, and simply looking made for the stage.
So take a chance and make it big
'Cause it's the last you'll ever get
If we don't take it, when will we make it?
I make plans to break plans,
And I've been planning something big
Planning something big, planning
Hold your head high heavy heart
And save your strength for the morning after
So take a chance and make it big
'Cause it's the last you'll ever get
If we don't take it, when will we make it?
I make plans to break plans
And I've been planning something big
Planning something big
So take a chance and make it big
'Cause it's the last you'll ever get
If we don't take it, when will we make it?
I make plans to break plans
And I've been planning something big
Planning something big, planning
As the music ended and Roxas let the microphone drop from his lips, the crowd went crazy. Larxene, Marluxia and Axel all leapt from their seats cheering at the top of their lungs for their little blond friend, Zexion quietly standing with a small smile on his face as he clapped a little less crazy than the rest of the school. As Demyx came out to send off Roxas and introduce the next person, the smile on Roxas' face was one that Axel had sorely missed recently. Sure, Roxas had smiled since his diagnosis, he even laughed and joked with his friends, but Axel had never seen this smile on his face since. Axel's favorite smile; it was a little too big for Roxas still-round face, and it brought his whole face to life, blue eyes somehow still standing out behind thick lashes and squinting from the huge smile.
As Roxas and Demyx stepped back behind the curtain and the next person came out, a slightly sick look on their face from having to follow up an act like that, Axel, Larxene, and Marluxia all pushed their way over to the door leading backstage, Zexion following quietly behind. They pushed past the underclassman that was manning the door and went straight to where Roxas and Demyx were standing together, excitedly talking about his performance. Larxene and Marluxia quickly tackled the little blond, Zexion behind them to congratulate him on his amazing performance.
Axel stayed back, watching his friend dramatically fawn over Roxas for a few moments until the finally pulled back and Roxas could step towards Axel. "Well?" Roxas asked, looking up at Axel and opening his arms expectantly.
"That was amazing Roxas. Why didn't you ever do that before?" Axel responded, hands on his slightly too wide to be masculine hips.
"I was too afraid to before." Roxas replied. "But after all that's happened, I decided that we have to live our lives not being afraid of what might happen because we never know when it's going to end." He stepped a little closer to Axel, soft smile on his face. "Which is why there is one more thing I want to do tonight. Something I've wanted to do for a while now."
Axel knew what he was hoping Roxas meant, and he leaned down slightly, completely forgetting their friends were still behind Roxas, watching expectantly. "And what is that?"
Roxas silently reached up to grab the back of Axel neck and pulled him down till their lips met. It was a soft kiss, all lip, eyes slipping closed and breath mingling between them for a moment. That is, until the rather loud cheer from their friends behind them ruined the moment. Roxas pulled away, ears going pink at the ends, and buried his face in Axel chest, mumbling something Axel couldn't understand.
After glaring at their friends, Axel asked, "What was that, Rox? I couldn't understand you all muffled like that."
Roxas turned his head so he was no longer muffled by the soft fabric of Axel shirt (that smelled pretty amazing), and looked up slightly at Axel. "I've had a crush on you for a while now. I hope you don't mind."
Axel chucked lightly before leaning down to softly kiss Roxas forehead as he had done earlier. "Not at all. In fact, I'm quite happy to hear it."
"Really?" Roxas looked up fully to Axel face, the look of pure innocent wonder something Axel loved about Roxas: that he could go from a terrifying force to be reckoned with, to a confident, happy teen, to a little child in a candy store.
"Yeah. I've kinda had a crush on you too for a while. I was just afraid that you would castrate me or something if I told you." Axel admitted.
"I wouldn't do that." Roxas laughed, reaching up for another kiss.
"Yeah," Larxene started form behind them. " If he did that who would- oof" Demyx cut her off with an elbow to the stomach, while everyone laughed a little as the music on stage faded.
Roxas won that night by a landslide. From then on he wasn't known as "Axel's quiet little shadow" or "the dying kid", he was known as "the kid with an amazing voice and an outlook on life to match". The group of six graduated in the spring; Zexion easily taking valedictorian, with Roxas not far behind as salutatorian. In the fall they went off to college, Axel and Roxas sharing a dorm at the local state college, Larxene, Marluxia, and Demyx choosing to start with community college, and Zexion going an hour away to some big university. They made sure to get together every long weekend or vacation, and in the spring of their first year they convinced Roxas to try out for a singing competition that was going on not far from the college. He didn't win, but a recording studio was interested in his talent and his story and agreed to make a CD with him, with Demyx doing most of the music for Roxas' songs.
By the age of 20, Roxas had lived the life he dreamed of. He was in love, living in a little apartment off campus, going to college for writing and journalism, and he had his own CD out in stores and online. He was high on life, until he got a call from his doctor after a routine check up on his tumors.
Roxas sat in the little doctor's office, Axel's hand lightly squeezing his own. He knew Axel was more nervous than he was; he had accepted his fate years ago, as there was nothing he could do about it, but Axel was having a harder time knowing that Roxas would leave him someday. The doctor finally came in and greeted them both with a firm handshake before stepping back, looking slightly nervous.
"I don't really know how to tell you this," He started, and Axel's grip on Roxas' hand tightened. "So I guess I will just show you." He turned to put up three different scans on the board, which Axel and Roxas got up quietly to examine.
After a few moments of staring at the scans Roxas said, "I don't… understand."
"Well, we did the scan three times, just like normal, but we found nothing. Not a single tumor in your brain." The doctor explained.
Axel grip tightened again, "You mean…?"
"I would like to do one more scan on a different machine, just to be absolutely sure, but it appears your tumors are gone." The doctor smiled. "It's a miracle."
Roxas let out a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh as he tightly wrapped his arms around Axel, burying his face in the soft material of Axel's shirt, hiding the tear soaked smile. Axel gripped him tightly back, rubbing his back soothingly. He continued to look at the scans of his boyfriend's now tumorless brain, a huge smile breaking out on his face as a tear slipped past it. "It's a miracle, Rox."
So... I was going to be mean and kill Roxas off... again. But I just couldn't go through with it so soon after killing him off in another one. So I thought I would be nice and let him live this time.