Huzza! A new chapter for you my dear readers!
Enjoy!
Vincent had left at three but not before making sure that I was not going to be telling his employer about our dirty deeds...
Done dirt cheap...ha...just trying to make myself laugh..
He was going to tell Axel about the first part of our little...uh...romp? Because there were pictures of it floating around somewhere so better not to lie about it. Here was hoping it was a good enough cause to keep Axel from going ape shit on Vincent.
After he left I had curled up on my couch and sobbed for a good while. Talk about a hypocrite. I had been given the chance to tell him no and I had gone for it any way. I only had myself to blame. Yet there I sat, crying like I had been taken advantaged of or something.
Eventually I made myself feel better by reminding myself of all the bull shit that I had to put up with and would have to put up with in the near future that Axel had caused for me. After that I felt even shittier for thinking that anyone deserved to be cheated on.
What a fucking conundrum I had dug for myself.
I decided to just ignore it. So now I am sitting on the floor of my living room with all the paper work spread out over my coffee table, trying to make a decision about the company. Several hours had past and I was still none the wiser. My phone rang from the kitchen bar and I jumped at the distraction. I saw Cloud's name flash across the screen and I hit accept.
"What's up broskee?" I asked as I plopped back down on the couch.
"Nothing much little brother. I was just at the manner when I over heard some gossip." I was picking at my nails and smiled.
"Ohhh do tell. I love juicy gossip." I said. I was picking up on the sarcasm of his voice but was choosing to ignore it.
"It would seem that everyone is under the impression that Vincent has taken a lover. Normally this wouldn't be a cause for gossip but Vincent is known for his...hmmm blatant dislike of people? So I was curious and upon further inspection I saw some pictures."
"I know where this is going Cloud." I said, dropping all pretense as I stared at the coffee table.
"What the hell were you thinking?" he hissed.
"The pictures show nothing but us kissing." I said, possibly sounding a little defensive. I heard him huff.
"When Axel finds out.." I cut him off.
"Vincent and I were simply giving Axel a cover story. Marluxia showed up at my door and Vincent came through my balcony when he realized why the other man was there. We had to make him believe that Axel had been here to see Vincent not me." I said just as a beep sounded on my phone and I pulled it away to look at the screen. I put the phone back to my face and sighed. "So we have nothing to hide, in fact I'm pretty sure he already knows." I said in what I hoped to be a care free voice.
"And what makes you think that?" His voice was on the icy side now.
"He's calling me right now. So if you'll excuse me.." I went to hang up the phone but I heard Cloud shout at me. I brought the phone back to my ear and sighed. "Yes?" There was a pause and the beeping stopped, showing that Axel had been sent to voice mail. Not good. "Cloud if he wasn't angry before he might be nooow." I said.
"Promise me all you did was kiss Vincent for those photos. Nothing else happened." I opened my mouth to promise but hesitated and it was enough I heard Cloud groan.
"I promise." I said any way, ignoring the groan and the pause. "Now I have to go brother. I'll talk to you later." I said and hung up before he could ask any more questions. I started to hit Axel's name in my missed call screen when my phone burst into noise, Axel's name flashing across the screen. I sighed and hit accept. "Hello love." I said as I leaned back into the couch.
I was greeted by silence. My heart rate spiked and I squeezed my eyes shut. I hesitated for a moment and bit my lip before breaking the silence.
"Sorry I missed your call the first time, I was talking to Cloud." I said, trying to sound normal but probably making myself sound nervous as hell.
"I am gone for a few hours and you are already in a heap of trouble." His voice was like ice water down my spine.
"The Vincent thing?" I asked, trying to keep calm. I had to see how much he knew...shit,shit,shit.
"The Vincent thing? Thats what you call it? My phone has been blowing up for the past hour with pictures of you and him all over each other." He snarled and I felt a little relieved.
"Have you spoken with Vincent?" I asked, my voice a little edgy.
"Tell me what happened. Now." I sighed.
"Alright. I was sitting on my couch when someone knocked on the door. I got up to answer it but Vincent came through my balcony door at the same moment and I froze. He explained to me that it was Marluxia at the front door and we had to convince him that you had been here to see him and not me. So I went to the door and answered it and asked if he was here to see Vincent. He seemed confused but Vincent came to the door then and told me to go inside. I did as I was told and he closed the door. I waited for a moment and he came back in. We were standing in the living room talking when I noticed the figure on the roof across the street. I told him and he said we had to sale the story. That was the picture you saw." I said, my voice a little angry. "We were just covering your ass."
Once again I was greeted by silence.
"That does not give him the right to touch you."
"He saved your ass Axel and you know it." I said my heart rate still erratic. I couldn't tell if I was worried about Vincent or myself.
"He will still be punished." I opened my mouth to shout at him when my heart dropped but I quickly clamped my mouth shut. 'Don't show interest' my mind hissed at me.
"Good. Then he won't be following me around." I said with a heavy does of 'not-caring'. Axel chuckled and I felt a little better.
"His punishment can wait till I come home." he said and I relaxed into the couch.
"Are you sure? He did kiss me and what not." I said with a little false hope in my voice, trying to convince him that I wanted Vincent punished for my own benefits. At this he laughed full out and I felt myself blush at the sound.
"How very selfish of you love. By the way, a gift for you should be arriving at your place tomorrow" Now I was speechless.
"A gift?" I said, my voice weak.
"Yes you'll need someone to help you put it together. Call me when you get it but I have to go." I smiled and couldn't help a little warm feeling in my stomach start up.
"I will. Bye." I said and was going to hang up the phone but was stopped by a soft.
"Roxas." I brought the phone back to my ear.
"Yeah?"
"I love you." My jaw dropped open and my eyes were probably the size of saucers.
"Wha..wh...what?" I asked my voice a chocked whisper.
"Do you think I would let anyone else do to me the things that you do?" And that was such a cryptic response that I simply wasn't going to go any where near that.
"I...I love you too.." I said and he chuckled.
"I'll see you soon." And the line went dead. I dropped the phone onto the couch and just stared at the blank television screen.
He loves me...I closed my eyes and dropped my head into my hands. And maybe he does in his own way...I shook my head and stood up. Nope, I was not going to think about it. I picked up my phone and called my mom.
Time to get back on track with the company thing.
"Hello sweetie!" I smiled at the sound of her voice.
"Hey mom. How are things?" I asked as I stared down at the mess of papers on my coffee table.
"Oh good I guess. Just cleaning up the house a bit."
"That's good. I was wondering if I could come over for dinner tonight? I wanted to talk to you about the company." I said. I heard her chuckle a bit.
"Of course love! Come on over whenever you feel like it." I smiled and started to pile the papers back into neat piles.
"I'll see if I can get Cloud to bring me over." I said as I slid them back into their envelopes.
"Alright sweetie. I'll see you later then."
"Bye Mom." I sad as I stood and headed for my room.
"Bye Dear."
I hung up and dialed Cloud's number. A few rings in and he finally picked up.
"Yes Roxas?" his voice was a bit stiff and I pouted a little.
"What crawled up your ass and died?" I asked as I started packing my laptop bag with the envelope and my laptop.
"What do you want? I'm busy." I scoffed.
"Alright well I was wondering if you could give me a ride to Mom's when you get a chance." I said. I heard him huff.
"I'm busy. It won't be free for a few hours." I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"Can Leon?" I asked and I couldn't help it if I sounded impatient.
"No, he's out on an assignment." I huffed and crossed my arms.
"Fine. I'll find my own way." I snapped and hung up the phone. I sighed and set there for a moment, contemplating how the hell I was going to get clear across the city. Maybe there were buses? I got up from the couch and grabbed my laptop, I shoved it into its bag along with the envelopes before pulling on some shoes. I made sure I had my keys, wallet and phone and then headed out.
I stepped out onto the sidewalk in front of my building and took a deep breath of the fresh air before looking around me for something that might resemble a bus stop. A little ways down the sidewalk there was a bench with a tall side next to it.
"Looks like my best bet." I said as I headed toward the bench. The sign read 'Intercity Transit', which I concluded was a fancy was of saying 'Bus Stop'. I sighed and set down on the bench and prepared myself for a wait.
Man I need to get a car. I thought to myself after I had been waiting for what felt like forever. I heard foot steps approach and I looked up, hoping to see a fellow bus waiter who I could grill about what time these damn things ran. Instead, know what I got?
My stalker/assassin/dirty deeds doer. (His list was getting longer) I gave a forced smile as he stood behind the bench with his arms crossed. He was wearing black slacks and a black long sleeve shirt tucked in. His hair was loose and falling down his back.
"Why hello Vincent, fancy meeting you here. Though I'm sure it's no coincidence." I said as I shifted my position so I wasn't craning my neck to see him. He just stared down at me, his red eyes scanning me for what, I wasn't sure.
"Let's go." He said and then turned around and started to walk back down the street. I stared after him for a moment, speechless, and then huffed and picked up my bag.
"Jerk." I muttered as I followed him down the sidewalk, a good distance behind him and allowed myself to enjoy the view. He turned a corner into an ally a few building past mine and I hesitated before following him around the corner. He was sliding into a black BMW with heavily tented windows. I paused for a moment before coaxing myself forward. I wanted a ride right?
I opened the car door just as he started the engine and I slid in, laying my bag at me feet. I buckled my seat belt as he pulled out of the ally and booked it down the street. I leaned back in my seat and tried not to let the awkward silence get to me...but I failed.
"So..." I said as I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. "My brother call you?"
"Yes." he said, his attention on the road as he shifted gears (1). "More times today then in all the years we've known each other."
"Well you are my 'protection' detail." I said, trying to coax him into talking. I felt his eyes on me for a moment and I glanced over to find him with a skeptical look on his face.
"Yes, because that's why he's been bitching me out for the past few hours." he said, his voice soft but the sarcasm was not missed. I smiled, a bit smug and turned my attention back out the window.
"Well what did you expect?" I asked.
"My expectations are non existent for this situation, because it is not something I planned for." he said and I felt my heart beat pick up and my mouth go dry. He shifted gears again and I looked out the window. We were quickly approaching my mothers neighborhood and I was feeling anxious about this current conversation and where it was leading.
"And what exactly is this situation?" I asked and my voice was level. Point for me. He didn't seem to have an answer and I had just resigned myself to the silence when he spoke.
"One that will, inevitably be the end of me because with each re-occurrence comes the greater likely hood of being caught." I felt my face heat up and a huge grin split my face. There would be re-occurrences! I glanced over at him to find him looking at me, his red eyes still just as blank and a shiver ran down my spine.
"Oh the games we play." I whispered as I leaned my head back onto the head rest of the seat and gazed at him. His lip twitched as he turned back to the road and I laughed. "The stakes are little high don't you think?" I asked as I watched him, watch the road and shift gears. His lip twitched again.
"What's life without a little risk?" he asked and I full out laughed. I could get use to having him around...not to mention the perks of his presences...I shivered again. We pulled up to the curb in front of my mothers house.
"Well thanks for the ride." I said as I opened the door and started to get out.
"Just let me know when your ready to go back home." he said and I stopped midway out of the door to look back at him.
"What am I suppose to do? Just stand in the drive way and yell your name ten times?" I asked, heavy on the sarcasm. He smirked as he reached over and slid his hand into my jeans pocket. My face flushed as he pulled out my phone.
"That would work but I think this will be less obvious." he said as he tapped away at my phone before handing it back to me, smirk still in place. I just nodded my head as I slid the phone back into my pocket.
"Alright, I'll let you know when I'm ready to go." I said and he just gave me a small nod but remained silent. I closed the door and stepped back as the car pulled away from the curb and shot off down the road. I watched it go for a moment, a peculiar feeling curling in my stomach. I turned toward the house and stared up the drive way when I realized what the feeling was. Excitement.
The next few hours were spent sitting in my mothers living room discussing the business and all the pro's and con's of keeping it or selling it. We were pretty much at a stand still.
"So I should just sell it." I said after a moment of silence. I was sitting on the floor with my back agains the couch that my mother was curled up on. The coffee table was covered in paper work and it made my head hurt just looking at the mess.
"If you don't want it. Then yes, but do not just give it to Axel. Find someone one who wants it and can stand up to Axel, thats what your father would have wanted." Mom said. I nodded and picked one of the sheets of paper.
"Do you know anyone who might be interested in it?" I asked with a sigh. "Because I have no idea how to go about getting rid of this." She was silent for a moment before she set up and started to get up off the couch.
"I might know someone, let me make a quick phone call." She said as she stood and headed for the kitchen. I leaned back and glanced down at my phone to see I had a new message from Vincent. I felt a smile tug at the corner of my mouth as I picked the phone up and opened the message.
I am a patient man, but how much longer? I laughed a little before hitting reply.
As long as it takes. I could always call my brother you know. And besides, your suppose to be watching me anyway so its not like you have better things to be doing. I hit send and set my phone back down as Mom came back into the room, a smile on her face.
"Well it looks like Cid might be interested in buying it off your hands. He says that he'll be glad to meet with us to talk about it." she said as she took her seat back on the couch.
"Old man Cid? The mechanic?" I asked, a little confused.
"Yes, he and your father were pretty good friends and Cid often helped out with the business." she said with a soft smile. I nodded and closed my eyes. It might be a good match, Axel would defiantly think twice about crossing Cid. The red head use to work for the mechanic at his shop all through out high school.
"It would be good if he bought it." I said as I yawned and picked up my phone to find a new message.
True but I could be watching you much closer if you were at your apartment. My heart rate spiked a little as I thought of all the naughty interludes that message could be implying.
Well then, I suppose I had better hurry then. Id hate to make your job harder. I hit send and felt a smile spread across my face.
"Who're you talking to that has you smiling like a fool?" Mom asked and I jumped a little before turning to look at her, a guilty look on my face. She frowned and crossed her arms. "Who is it Roxas?"
"Just a new friend.." I said trialing off as I stood and started to clean up the mess on the coffee table.
"What is this new friends name?" she asked, her voice suspicious. I picked up the important papers and slid them back into the envelope.
"Vincent." I said keeping my voice calm. I heard her take in a sharp breath.
"Roxas! You had better not be doing what I think your doing with that man!" she said as she stood up. I stopped what I was doing and turned my attention back to her.
"Axel has him watching my every move. So I decided since he's going to be around any way he might as well be of use to me. He brought me over here and he is going to take me home as soon as I am ready." I said making sure to keep my face blank. Mom searched my face for a moment before turning away from me.
"Fine but next time just invite him inside." she said and disappeared into the kitchen. I sighed as I stacked the rest of the papers and slid it all into my laptop back. I headed into the kitchen and gave Mom a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Im going to head home." I said giving her a smile before heading for the door.
"Roxas." she called out and I turned to face her in the door way.
"Do me a favor and call your cousin." she said as she turned from the sink to face me. I frowned and crossed my arms.
"Mom, when he's ready to apologize he can call me." I said but she just pointed a wooden spoon at me threateningly.
"Call him Roxas. Make up. He is family." was all she said before she turned back to the sink. I sighed in defeat.
"Alright Mom, I'll call him tomorrow. I love you." I said as I pushed the door opened.
"I love you too dear." she said back. I let the door fall closed and I pulled out my phone. I sent a quick I'm ready to Vincent and headed for the front door. I opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch and sighed at the twilight cast sky. I looked over in time to see my brother pull up on his motorcycle. I walked down the porch steps and went to meet him as he turned the bike off and got off.
"Leaving?" Cloud asked as he placed his helmet on the bike. I nodded just as I heard the crunch of gravel of a car slowing. I glanced over my shoulder to see the almost silent black BMW idling at the curb. I turned back to Cloud to find him glaring at the car.
"Hey, chill. You're the one who told him to give me a ride." I said as I turned away and started toward the car.
"Yes but I don't trust this Roxas." he said and I turned to face him, walking backward.
"Trust what Cloud?" I asked with a sly smile. He just crossed his arms and continued to glare. "That's right. You don't even know what this is." I said before giving him a small wave and turning back to the car. I opened the door and slid into the seat. I gave Vincent a smile as I closed the door and buckled my seat belt.
"Ready?" he asked as I glanced out the window to see Cloud still standing where I left him. I frowned a little but nodded my head and we pulled away from the curb. "He has every right to worry about you" he said. I turned my attention to him.
"I'm a big boy. I can make my own decisions." I said and possibly pouted a little.
"Yes well when your choices end you up being a secret lover to a mafia leader and then lead you to a secret lover who's day job is to assassinate for said mafia leader a brother is allowed to worry a little." he said and I had to laugh.
"Well when you put it like that." I said between giggles. After the laughter subsided I was left with the utter truth of the statement and we remained silent for the rest of the trip back to my apartment. He pulled into the parking spot in the ally like before and I got out. The ally was pitch black now that the sun was setting and the only light came from the street light at the mouth of the ally. I started for the mouth of the ally when I realized Vincent wasn't with me. I turned around to find him standing by the car, his arms crossed as he watched me. I almost couldn't see him because of all the black he was wearing.
"Are you not coming up?" I asked, my head tilted to the side. I could have sworn I saw a smile flash across his face but I wasn't sure.
"Would you like me to come up Roxas?" he asked, his soft voice floating to me on the small breeze that had picked up. I shivered a little and crossed my arms.
"Yes." I said as I kept my eyes on his face and this time I didn't miss the smile that stretched across his face. It sent anticipatory shivers down my spine.
"Well then I will come up in a while. I have some things I need to do." he said and looked up for a moment. "And you have to get rid of your visitors." I glanced over my shoulder but didn't see anything.
"How do you know I have visitors?" I asked as I turned back to him, only to find him standing much closer then he had been before. I gasped a little and took a step toward the light at the mouth of the ally. He just stared down at me, his red eyes empty once again.
"Go, I'm sure they have questions for you." he said and his voice held a hint of laughter. I gave him a confused look but turned and headed out of the ally.
"As soon as they're gone I expect you to show up." I said, trying to not sound scared but in truth the raven haired man had me a bit spooked.
"Of course." he said but I didn't turn around to see where he was now. I quickly made my way to the front entrance of the building only to ransacked by a blond blur.
"ROXY WERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" the blond boy that had tackled me screeched in my ear.
"Dem, I was at my mom's" I said as I gave a feeble wave to Zexion who was standing by the foot of the stair case. He nodded back to me as I started to pry Demyx off me.
"I'VE BEEN SO WORRIED!" he said as I tossed him to the ground.
"I'm sorry. You could have called." I said as I walked around the blond and headed up the stairs.
"I thought you said you called him?" I heard Zexion hiss at his boyfriend.
"I thought I did!" he said and they both started up the stairs behind me. We got up to the apartment and I was looking for my keys when a hand was placed over my mouth. I tried to yell, pissed but Zexion hushed me, his lips to my ear.
"Your door is open." he whispered and I looked down and sure enough the door was cracked open. My heart rate spiked "Is someone suppose to be here?" he asked and I shook my head. He let go of me and placed me by the wall by the stair case. "Don't move." he said and I just nodded. Demyx was already crouched by the door, gun out and ready. Zexion pressed his back to the wall on the other side of the door from Demyx and pulled his own gun.
Zexion held up a finger, then another and then on the third one he pushed the door opened and Demyx rolled into a crouch his gun trained on the room. There was a suspenseful pause in which they waited for something to happened but when there was no movement Zexion went in, his gun trained and ready. I stayed frozen were I was as the two disappeared into the apartment.
"Whats going on?" came a soft voice from the stair case and I just about peed my pants. I looked over to find Vincent on the top step of the stair case, frozen.
"The door was opened." I said my voice a little breathy. He looked to the door for a moment before looking back to me.
"Demyx and Zexion are inside now?" he asked and I nodded but didn't say anything. After a moment the two reappeared in the door way, guns put away. Demyx gave me a reassuring smile and started to say something but was cut off.
"Report." Vincent said and the other two jumped a little at the icy command as they finally registered Vincent's presence. Demyx seemed to retreat into himself but Zexion stepped forward.
"When we came to the landing I noticed that the door was ajar. I stopped Roxas from going to the door and asked if anyone was suppose to be here, when he signaled no we proceeded to inspect the apartment." he said, his voice sounding very mechanical and monotone. I wanted to yell at Vincent for making my friends feel so uncomfortable but I couldn't seem to find my voice.
"Anything out of place inside?" he asked as he moved toward the door.
"Not that we could tell." Zexion said as he moved out of the way of the approaching raven haired man. Vincent didn't reply but disappeared into the dark apartment. Demyx came over and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Don't worry, if anyone was inside Vincent will be able to tell." he said, his voice soft but a little blank. I didn't say anything as I waited for Vincent to reaper.
"Come inside." Vincent's voice drifted from within the apartment. I nodded and went to the door, Demyx and Zexion at my back. We stepped inside and I hesitantly moved toward the living room. Vincent was standing by the couch, his eyes trained on me as I came around the corner.
"Nothing is missing but your things have been looked through. The trash and the laundry in the dryer have been dumped out onto your bed." he said and I knew what he was saying. Someone had come to see if it really had been Vincent that Axel was here to see. I set down on the couch and rubbed my forehead. "Demyx, Zexion, head back to the manor and alert Leon and Cloud to what has happened. Tell them I have things under control here but to keep their ears opened around the manor for anything about this apartment." the raven haired man said. I looked up ready to be angry at him for barking orders at my friends when Demyx placed a hand on my shoulder.
"He's our boss Rox. Leave it alone." he said with a soft smile. I just nodded my head as they left. I let myself fall back into the couch, my arm thrown over my eyes.
"Was it Marluxia?" I asked and I felt the couch sink down as Vincent set beside me.
"No, I don't think so but it was most likely one of Larxene's men." he said. I dropped my arm and looked over at him. All the lights in the apartment were off still and it was full dark outside so the little bit of moon light that filtered through the balcony door was casting strange shadows across the room. The lack of light made Vincent's hair seem even darker (if that was possible) and his skin even whiter. His eye's, without light, were just dark pools (though it didn't take away from their depth at all).
Before I knew what I was doing I was in his lap, my lips pressed to his and my fingers tangled in his hair. His hands went to my hips as he pressed me against him and I groaned into his mouth. I felt his phone vibrate against my stomach and I broke away from his lips as he reached for it. He glanced to the screen before hitting a button and pressing it to his ear.
"Yes sir?" he asked and I knew who it was. I started to get up but he held me in his lap with his free arm around my waist. I opened my mouth to protest but his eyes silenced me. "Yes sir." he said into the phone, his eyes still glued to mine. "He's fine. Cloud and the others are keeping an ear open at the mansion." I let my head rest on his shoulder, my face turned toward his neck and I could hear Axel on the phone.
"...clearly it was her. Make sure you have someone watch the apartment even when Roxas isn't home. I don't know that they found anything yet but even a red hair on the sheets could be enough to put Roxas in danger, stay on him."
"Yes sir." Vincent said as his hand trailed down my back to rest on my ass. I smiled and buried my face into his neck. "I'll have someone out side the apartment 24 hours." His hands squeezed and I nipped his neck.
"Good because if they found something then the next time the apartment won't be empty." I felt a wave of fear wash over me and I set back, gazing into Vincent's eyes.
"I won't allow him to come to harm." he said, his eyes blank as he stared back at me. I couldn't hear Axel's response but Vincent hung up shortly after. We set for a moment, just staring at one another before I finally broke the silence.
"This was just a one time thing, right?" I asked probably sounding like a child, asking a parent for a lie that the monster didn't exist under my bed. Vincent leaned forward and slid his lips along my jaw, his arms wrapped tightly around my waist.
"No." he breathed in my ear and my body tensed. "But as I told Axel, I'm not going to allow you to come to harm." I relaxed a little as his lips continued to caress my neck and trailed lower...but my mind was on the silky smooth voice that I had heard over the phone..
"Could be enough to put Roxas in danger..."
Vincent's teeth sank into my collar bone and I gasped, my hands going into his beautiful silky hair.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
(1) The image of Vincent driving a standard vehicle makes me all hot and bothered. Lol.
Ok so i was really, really disappointed in the lack of reviews for the new chapter of Too Much for One Boy to Handle. It only got 1 review! Can you beleive that? After all the hard work...ugh. Guess I'm gonna have to leave it alone for a while...
But you guys won't disappoint me right..?