A/n:

Guest: (since I have no other way to respond) I'm not offended about it- I've actually gotten yelled at for not writing yuri (girl x girl) so questioning how I write SoRiku (which I think I've only had in 3? Storylines? I don't bother with them as much, they just never had the same appeal to me/ I was angry the whole time I had to play KH2 as Sora after what happened to Roxas) doesn't really bother me haha;

BUT I know what you mean because I've seen a lot of it too (believe me I've thought the same and usually skip over them when reading. It's boring) and I'm clarifying, just because I actually did this on purpose and I'm not making them have a weird cliché Sora, Riku, kissy gooey overly sugary sweet relationship for the sake of doing it.

I like to pick on Roxas when I write him. Right now everything is from Roxas' point of view and he overdramatizes a bit (a lot), which I hope you've noticed anyway. Everything is just terrible to him for at least half of chapter one, as he sees it. He over-exaggerates the SoRiku because he hates the drama it's caused him. He assumes versus caring to be involved. Sora and Riku, they've been dating for four years and are stupid in love, yes, and Riku enjoys picking on Roxas when he's mean to Sora (which I was hoping to write more of when Axel meets Roxas' friends) but I'm not being fun with them yet because –so far- it's more of Roxas' point of view and how he hates his friends harassing him. He's being mopey and grouchy about them pushing him together with guys that he perceived as awful when he didn't think he was gay (until: enter Axel, who he also didn't like right off the bat because it was a setup ha) and how he is overly pessimistic and snarky about the SoRiku going on as well as Valentine's day because it is the root of his problems with his friends thinking he's gay (which is also why they're so concerned about him and want him to be happy too without realizing they're causing his misery).

He doesn't think he'll feel that way about someone ever. Ahaha.

xXx

Warm. I was warm and completely relaxed. It felt really good. All of my tension and aches were gone. I had forgotten why until I stretched and realized that I wasn't in my bed. In fact, I wasn't even in my house and there was a warm body underneath mine. I felt Axel's chest rising and falling and remembered having sex with a man I'd met twice.

I slowly opened my eyes, looking directly at an expanse of bare skin. I'd slept with someone I'd basically spent one afternoon with. A man. Gay sex, after years of being convinced I wasn't gay. I was in fact, cuddling with said man at this very moment. I was still waiting for it to freak me out but thinking about it had the opposite effect. I'd actually really, really enjoyed it and I wanted more, with Axel.

The only part of this that bothered me, it was the fact that this wasn't a thing for me. At all. I'd never even kissed someone on the first date before Axel and every time I was alone with him I left my inhibitions at the door. I didn't want to say no. I just wanted him, and it had led us here.

I sat up slowly. He was laying on his side, facing me and sleeping peacefully, his body soft from sleep. Axel's red hair was a vivid contrast against the grey sheets. It had fallen out of the band and was spilling all over the pillow, oddly tame. I took him in, my eyes traveling from his attractive face to every contour of his covered body. I shivered, cold from the loss of contact, a reminder that we were both very naked. I was only partially covered by the soft black and white checkered blanket that we were sharing, and so was he. I tugged at it, and it fell to his waist. I wanted to see his body again.

My eyes roamed his lanky but strong frame, memorizing every dip, every crevice of his body. They paused at what appeared to be the top of tendrils of flames that looked real, poking out just above his right hip, a deeper part of his identity that was printed on his skin. The tattoo played over his skin, contrasting his pale flesh sharply, but the way that it was done, it wasn't overbearing. The flames were shaded beautifully, blended with embers and smoke, looking like it belonged there. Gently tugging the blanket down revealed that the tendrils of flame were even more elaborate than I had thought and the design continued down his thigh, but I stopped, leaving him covered. One more tug and he might as well have been naked.

I shuddered at the thought, remembering what it felt like inside of him. It was turning me on like crazy and I was mortified at how hard I was getting by just looking at him. I didn't want him to wake up and see me like this. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, trying to stop myself from wanting him so badly but I couldn't. I hadn't ever wanted sex before and now it was like he had flipped a switch inside me I couldn't shut it off. Groaning softly I laid back down beside him and stared into his face instead. I couldn't even be mad about it. What we had done had been incredible. I touched the side of his face gently and then his hair. It was so soft. I wanted him so badly. I kissed him, feeling some relief, but it wasn't enough. My eyes slid shut as I did it again, deeper this time. It slowly woke him up and his lips gradually moved against mine in response. I pulled back, watching him.

Green eyes fluttered open and he smiled at me, looking happy to see me. Just looking into them made me feel like I was going to melt and I did when he spoke. "Good morning, beautiful," he murmured, tugging me closer. I gasped softly, my arousal pressing into his stomach. I was completely embarrassed and caught off guard, automatically feeling my face flame. His smile tugged upward into a grin as I buried my face into his chest and resisted the urge to groan miserably, hoping he didn't hate me.

"Hi," I muttered back, my voice muffled by his chest. Axel was smiling, I could hear it in his voice.

"You don't have to be embarrassed," he told me. I looked at him hesitantly. His smile widened when our eyes met.

"Yes I do," I told him. Axel cradled my chin in his hand.

"Why? I don't mind at all that you want me," he murmured back, kissing me gently. "That's a good thing." Breathing a little hard, I stared at him, trying to think of a response but he was shorting out my brain. Axel gave me a cat-like grin and asked, "What would you say if I told you that I was flattered?" he whispered. White hot arousal tore through me and I groaned softly. Axel's eyelids lowered and he smiled. I watched his hand disappear under my pillow and he pulled out a container of lubricant. I stared at it and at the tattoo on his wrist. It was an infinity circle, wispy like smoke with roman numerals at the curve of each end, one at the upper arch and one at the lower. VIII and XIII. Reluctantly, I looked away from it and into those green eyes. "What if I told you to go ahead and take me, baby?" he asked, his voice soft and serious.

I kissed him without hesitation and I was so aroused that it hurt. Axel kissed me back and it was hot and passionate. It felt like Heaven. It was perfect… but, "I'm not… I'm not normally like this," I told him weakly, "I wanted to get to know you better before we did it again," I whispered, hating myself as I said it.

His green eyes were looking into mine gently, "Okay," he said softly. "Whatever you want," he murmured back. I laughed miserably.

"I want you," I told him.

"Well," he said softly, "There's plenty of time to get to know me, after." I kissed him again and he kissed me back, his mouth drawing me in deeper and I wanted it. I knew that he was right and the thought of rejecting his offer had my body screaming in protest. My eyes slid shut and I felt my restraint slipping away.

Axel's hands touched me intimately, warm and slick from the lubricant, squeezing every so often as they stroked and I moaned into his mouth. His hands were trembling a bit when he grasped my hips, helping to guide me, repositioning me. The blanket fell away and I stared at his gorgeous body, trying to catch my breath. Axel held his legs, watching me with those bewitching green eyes and smiling. I hadn't ever wanted someone so badly before in my life.

He waited until I was ready and I pushed forward, nudging his yielding flesh, watching transfixed as I slid inside, slipping in and out wetly. Axel moaned, wrapping his legs around my waist and meeting me as I thrust into him, angling his hips and drawing me in deeper. It was just as amazing as the night before. I kissed him, and he kissed back, our tongues twisting and tangling together, swallowing up one another's moans. Axel moved against me wildly and I moved harder, faster, feeling a bit self-conscious because I didn't know what I was doing. Axel was gasping and arching his back. He didn't seem to care and it was building my confidence. His body was completely trembling as he came. It tightened around me and I moaned, my entire body shuddering at the new sensation. Axel's lips found mine and I came deep inside. The kiss went on and on even after it was over and Axel was smiling as it ended, a warm flush coloring his cheeks.

"Thank you, that felt amazing," he breathed against my lips, grinning. "Was it good for you, did you like it?" he asked.

"You really don't know how incredible you make me feel?" I asked, completely embarrassed. Axel's grin widened and he shrugged.

"I wanna know if you don't like something," he told me.

"Why? Afraid I'll run away and never come back?" I asked sarcastically. Good. My brain was finally working again. Axel's smile never faltered.

"Well, I would like to keep seeing you," he replied, "and I do like being in this setting with you," he said with a Cheshire grin, our noses brushing together as he kissed me again. When he broke away, I followed, kissing back. It was deep and sensual. My head was spinning. Axel grinned at me through the kiss. "Better stop unless you want to have sex again," he told me. I blushed, watching as he sat up, his face still flushed from sex. He smiled down at me wryly. "I wouldn't mind," he teased, "but you do."

"It isn't like that, I just…" I began looking for the right words.

"Don't worry, I completely understand," he replied, making me feel relieved. "Want to get something to eat and talk?" he asked. "We can go somewhere or I can make you something," he murmured.

"Let's stay here, as long as you have coffee," I told him gratefully, "I'm worthless without it." Axel grinned.

"Well, of course," he told me, turning away. There was another tattoo on his back, between his shoulder blades, and a small one behind his left ear but they were mostly hidden by his hair. He was putting on his boxers and standing before I could ask about them. I watched him rummage through his dresser, putting on a black tank top and some grey lounge pants. He dug around a bit more, pulling out another set. "These don't fit me anymore," he murmured, handing them to me. "You can borrow them if you want." Comfortable clothes sounded really great actually.

"Thanks," I replied. Axel nodded.

"There's a bathroom through there," he said, indicating with a tilt of his head, "if you want to shower or anything." I nodded and he watched as I tried on the shirt. It had a logo on it from Hollow Bastion High's track team and said Sinclair on the back. It was still a bit big but I preferred roomier shirts, so I didn't mind at all. "Any requests besides the coffee?" he asked. I shook my head and a smile curved at his lips. "Okay. I'll do my best not to burn anything." I smirked at him.

"Oh? You're a bad cook?" I asked. Axel nodded.

"The worst you'll ever meet. I tried working the grill one night when we were short at work and set the kitchen on fire. Reno's never let me forget. You might end up with cereal," he told me seriously. I laughed in amusement.

"Cereal sounds great actually," I told him. Axel grinned.

"Well that's a relief," he told me. I smirked at him.

"I don't want you to burn the house down or anything," I said.

"Hey now, that was a onetime thing. I can cook just not well," he protested, pouting a bit. I smiled. It was pretty adorable, actually.

"Well, you brought it up," I teased. He watched me for a moment, crossing his arms. His lips twitched up into an amused smile as he shook his head.

"Oh my God. You're just like Reno," he murmured. "What am I getting myself into?" he asked, chuckling. I shrugged my shoulders.

"I hope that's a good thing," I replied.

"If it means what I think it does…" he told me, walking toward the door and pausing briefly to look back, "We're going to get along great," he said with a smile. "See you in a bit," he murmured, disappearing down the hallway.

I got up, searching for my boxers that had ended up across the room and then used the bathroom. I got dressed, putting on Axel's pants he'd offered me. They were black with white pinstripes. They were still a bit too long but they would work. When I was done, I made my way to the kitchen.

I watched him for a moment. He was sitting at a small table in a comfortable looking nook, cross legged and looking out the window thoughtfully. It was raining outside and the droplets were pelting against the glass. Somehow the gloomy skies made him look even more vibrant. The whole kitchen smelled like coffee. He had poured fruit loops into two bowls, next to two steaming mugs. I padded forward and he glanced at me, smiling. Picking up the mug in front of him, he took a sip, watching me. I sat across from him, adding sugar to mine.

"So what do you wanna know about me?" he asked finally. My face reddened.

"Well," I murmured, frowning thoughtfully, "I don't know. It's weird. I feel like I know you, like we're old friends, but I don't. I've barely spent any time with you at all." Axel watched me thoughtfully.

"I know what you mean. It's so easy, being around you, talking to you," he replied, "and you don't even know where to start, right?" I nodded. He took another drink of coffee, setting the cup down and then Axel took a bite of cereal, chewing thoughtfully. "I feel that way too, like we've been friends forever, but that's cos Kairi's been talking about you for years. So I guess I have an unfair advantage." I sighed, taking a bite of cereal.

"Of course she has," I told him.

"Well, we're really close," he said, his lips quirking upward. "So she has said a lot about you, about your brother, your friends. Good things. Stories mostly. Well, until she tried to help you realize that you might like guys," he said chuckling a bit, "after that she thought you were being ungodly stubborn, but it just made me like you more."

"I hadn't even liked anybody yet when all of that started," I told him unhappily.

"How did you know you didn't like being with guys if you didn't try it?" Axel asked curiously.

"I did try it with one of my other friends because they wouldn't leave me alone. I never told anybody about it, but I thought that maybe they could see something I couldn't," I said, shrugging. "But it didn't feel like anything and I thought that settled it," I told him, taking a drink of coffee. Axel blinked at me.

"You told me you'd never done it before," he said with a frown.

"Well, we just made out. I didn't like it so that's all we did," I admitted, stirring my cereal absently.

"But you like it with me?" he asked. I nodded, taking a bite.

"I thought the other guys that Kairi set me up with were attractive, but it was more of a detached sense of appreciation," I admitted, drinking the coffee. "There was always something about them I didn't like. I wasn't attracted to my friend back then but I loved his personality. The guys she set me up with were the opposite… I couldn't stand their personalities. Needy, clingy, too loud, acting crazy," I told him, cringing and taking another drink. "But then there's you," I told him, looking into his eyes for a long moment. "I think you're really, really, attractive and I don't know… Something about your personality is calming to me, even when I'm mad about something, you make it better somehow. I haven't wanted to kiss someone before or to do what we did, but I want you like that, too," I said, my face reddening. Axel smiled a bit.

"I can understand that," he said, nodding. "I've been trying pretty hard not to pressure you or to push you, because of what you've been through," he admitted.

"And that's why I don't want to claw your eyes out," I muttered back. Axel grinned.

"It's why you came back, isn't it?" I nodded back and took a long drink.

"I never thought we'd have sex the second time seeing each other though," I told him, my face absolutely overheating. Axel stared into his cup thoughtfully.

"I didn't think I was going to see you again and I really wanted you," he admitted, his eyes meeting mine. "When you came by to see me last night, I realized I wasn't the only one and I couldn't help myself." When I didn't deny it, he smiled at me over his cup, "It doesn't seem like you mind that we did it," he hummed softly.

"It felt amazing," I told him. Axel's smile widened. "I didn't think it was going to be like that, I thought… I mean you were taking the lead and I didn't think you'd, uhm…" Dreamy green eyes watched me, swallowing me up.

"Bottom? I like it both ways," he teased, sipping at his coffee. My face went completely red and he grinned. I floundered for a moment, ducking my head down as I drank my coffee.

"I can show you what it's like sometime, if you want. All you have to do is ask," he offered, making me swallow wrong and choke a bit. Coughing I fought to catch my breath and he smiled knowingly, watching me as he finished his coffee with a small chuckle. I ducked my head, at a complete loss for what to say. Axel mercifully changed the subject.

"I grew up here, in Hollow Bastion," he told me, continuing when our eyes met again. "I want to work for the restoration committee when I'm finished with school. I also intern there, which is why I only have time to work part time. Reno's pretty cool about working around my internship because he's also part of the committee." I blinked at him, somewhat impressed.

"That's, wow, really cool. Have you known each other for a long time?" I asked. Axel nodded, smiling tentatively.

"Yeah, we went to school together, our whole lives. He was a year ahead of me though. We've been friends for a long time," he explained.

"That's how I've been with my friends. Riku, Kairi and Sora were in the grade above me but Namine and I were in the same classes. I've always been close to them, except for Riku. We more or less tolerate each other for Sora. He transferred in from Destiny Islands during my freshman year," I admitted. Axel tucked some hair behind his ear, listening intently. "That's when I realized I was a sucker for green eyes but I never really liked the guy. He's really full of himself." Axel smiled at me, resting his chin in his hand and watching me thoughtfully.

"You said you didn't think you liked guys. What about girls?" he asked curiously. I shrugged.

"Twilight Town isn't very big. I never really liked anyone like that, you know?" Axel nodded, humming thoughtfully.

"That's probably why they think you like Riku, if you never showed interest in anyone before," he told me. I blinked.

"What? They think I still like that guy?" I asked, dreading the answer. Axel's lips curved upward.

"Yep," he said, chuckling softly. "Kairi said you get all mopey around Sora and Riku. That's why she wanted to find you someone." I made a face.

"Seriously? No, they're just. Look. They are disgustingly affectionate about each other and I don't like seeing it," I explained. Those beautiful green eyes were absolutely shimmering with mirth. I scoffed at him. "What is so funny?"

"You don't think you're going to feel that way about someone someday?" he asked archly. I blinked at him and I made another face.

"Absolutely not." Axel simply smiled, taking our cups and getting us some more coffee.

"So, Roxas," he asked, "do you mind if I meet your friends sometime? Kairi's been inviting me to come over." My faced reddened.

"She's what?" I asked. Axel grinned but didn't answer until he was sitting across from me again.

"She keeps trying to get me to come over to see the place and to hang out with her, but I was assuming she had other motives and wanted to ask you first." I crossed my arms.

"I should have known they wouldn't give up that easily," I muttered back. Axel chuckled.

"Thought so. I love her but I know how she operates," he told me, his grin widening, "so I've been telling her I've been busy." I tilted my head at him.

"Why? I mean you can come over, you know. You're her family…" He watched me for a moment, still grinning.

"I know." His eyelids lowered slightly. "I wanted to ask you first."

"Uhm, why?" I asked, my stomach giving a little flip. He gave me an exasperated little smile.

"Roxas. You live there too and I didn't want you to be uncomfortable," he told me, sighing softly. "Silly." I smiled a little and ducked my head.

"Well you can come over, if you don't think they'll scare you away." Axel laughed aloud.

"Why don't you want them to scare me away? Hmm?" I stared into those green eyes. They were fiery, alight with mischief. He looked a lot like Kairi at the moment. I shrugged, looking out the window.

"I just… don't." His gaze softened.

"Hey," he said gently. I glanced at him and he took my hand in his. "I'm not going to go anywhere. Promise." I smiled back at him.

"Okay."

xXx