Merlotte's Bar and Grill is said by some to be the star of Bon Temps. Its name has changed throughout the years. The building hasn't changed Much, with maybe a few new additions, and restorations.
The Grills neon sign he saw pulling up was most prevalent, though currently hidden from view by the roof of the taxi.
The sounds of muffled music and the familiar smell of food seeps into the backseat, causing nostalgic feelings to erupt.
It's been years since he's been in Bon Temps.
Coming back after so long is mentally shocking to Axel. The tranquil sense of slowness that tiny towns have, has been lost in the chaos that is New York.
The taxi ride was quick comparatively, traffic was nonexistent. Taking the drive to Bon Temps from the airport in Alexandria was relaxing. The endless greenery that was surrounding him was something he missed in New York.
'Every tik is more money for me. I sure ain't pulling him out of his daydreaming.' thought the cab driver, which ironically is what broke Axel's daydreaming.
Giving a mental shake he gathers his measly belongings, rummaging through his wallet he hands the driver the appropriate amount of cash, giving a cheeky salute as he exits the cab.
Chiding himself for letting his guard down. The quietness of Temps is making lax already, though in this case he's not too upset given it saved him a couple dollars
Pivoting on his feet he strides towards the entrance of merlotte's, pushing the door open, eyes squinted from the sudden change of lighting. He slowly treks through, willing his eyes to adjust.
Just as his vision returns it's obstructed as a body collides into him squealing, almost making them both topple over, taking a second to steady himself. He pulls back to see his childhood friend Dawn.
"Axie it's been so long, where have you been? wait, no duh, New York. Meet any hot guys? Fuck a vampire? Are they different from the ones around here? It's so amazing that they came out of the coffin" stopping she giggles at the silly joke that's been played since 'The Great Revelation'.
Picking up before she can continue, a fond expression on his face. Axel proceeds to spin his tale, telling her how culture shocking it was to experience the city that never sleeps.
"The first time I saw a man being walked, decked out in latex, while leashed, mind you it was the subway." He states like it explains anything.
"it was still jarring though" he continued, letting out a laugh at Dawn's expression.
"Really…"
"That's nothing, and honestly tame comparatively"
A glint appears in her eyes as she opens her mouth, whatever her intent is, was interrupted as a loud cat call is heard.
"sugar tits!"
His loud voice is heard over the ambient noise of the bar.
"Are yuh' gonna take our order? Or you just gonna chit chat with the fairy " he slurs, seemingly in his cups already.
Axel's gaze finds the source of voice as he continues, his unkept beard flicked at each word. Pudgy grease stained hands waving at himself, and his companions before he put his arms down on the table, he leaned forward, his belly folding over the lip of the table as he sneered the word fairy.
Honestly in all things considered that's the least offensive thing he's heard thrown at him. He's more irritated at the demeaning of his friend.
Before he can take a step towards the gap toothed inbred. Dawn pushes him towards the employees entrance.
"I don't need any help from you fruit cake" she calls behind her, the name coming out fondly over her shoulder. She continues to the table, her step promising a verbal beatdown.
The guy losing his vibrato as he gets shredded by the sex vixen.
He pauses before shrugging, knowing she can handle herselt.
'The right hook from when I didn't tell her about that time with Johnny can attest to that.'
Looking at the employee's entrance he feels anxiety creep up.
He's anxious to see his siblings. Worried about how they will react to seeing him back.
He did leave abruptly.
A laugh causes a jolt down his spine as the familiar cackle reaches his ear. Spinning in a circle, he spots his brother.
Jason, he was leaning over as his best friend Hoyt, laughing. Having not seen what he did, but if what he knows still holds true about the sweet clumsy oaf, he must have done something amusing.
A nervous grin appears as he starts towards his brother. The two Stackhouse boys having a unique relationship, and knowing his brother -and sister's- tendency to hold a grudge it's gonna be a challenge.
'Jason and Sookie are more alike than they realize' Axel muses
He side steps a bubbling hag, ignoring her sneer at his eccentric outfit, nothing new.
He's almost tempted to mess with her, but fortunately for her, his attention is dragged back as his name is called.
Gulping he turns to his brother. Cyan eyes filled with disbelief.
"Axe, I, what? When?" Jason starts.
"Oh you know…" he pauses awkwardly, not sure what to say.
Jason being Jason, doesn't seem to care about the details, and pulls Axel into a hug.
He tentatively accepts the hug, before relenting to the tightening of Jason's arms. He burrows into his embrace, taking the comfort he's been deprived of for some time
'it being self inflicted notwithstanding'
Feeling tears build up, he pulls back trying to wipe his eye discreetly, failing as Jason lets a chuckle out before giving another squeeze as he steps back to reach up and ruffle Axel's hair. His typical goofy grin on display. .
The mock glare Axel gives him only widens the grin.
"I'm sorry" Axel starts.
Before he can continue Jason is shaking his head.
"No, I should be sayin' sorry. I'm ya big brother, both of yours' ' speaking about sookie. "I should have been there" here he scowls. "I didn't, and still don't understand what you an' sooks struggle with, I ain't the brightest, but I should have seen the signs" Jason growls before shaking his head.
"Jason..."
Axel is stunned of all the people, he thought Jason would be the most difficult to rekindle with, it seems he underestimated his brother.
That seems to be common, people underestimating the stackhouses.
'Ourselves included' Axel thought wryly.
"I-" Axel Starts "I hope you know it wasn't you, Jason. It wasn't any of you' 'thinking of all of the people he loves.
"I had to leave, I was selfish, I know" he trails off.
"I was honestly expecting you to sock me." Axel jokes after a second, causing Jason to belt out a laugh.
A cough of a throat breaks through their little bubble they found themselves in.
Looking towards Hoyt and someone he doesn't know, he lets out a mischievous smirk as he looks back at Jason.
The widening of Jason's eyes are the only indication that he knows what Axel is gonna do.
Walking up to Hoyt he gives him a charming smile watching in delight as hoyt flushes, before giving a meek smile.
The twinkle in axel's eye could rival Dumbledore's.
'I mean I am, technically a Legilimens'
From Hoyts thoughts, that axel snuck into. he's embarrassed from having an old crush on Axel, thinking he was just a tomboy.
He is fairly androgynous even now, axel can admit.
"Hoyt'y toyt'y" Axel sings as he drags the tall boy into a hug, he looks at the guy he doesn't know over Hoyt's shoulder, offering what he hopes is a warm smile in greeting, getting a tilt to the lip in response.
Focusing his attention back on Hoyt, he untangles Himself, giving the giant a mock scan.
"Your mammas been feeding you good, I see"
"I-"
"Axe! knock it off?" Jason saves Hoyt from having to respond. Axel gives him a glance, relaxing as he sees no real heat in his brother's eyes.
Jason sees that and makes a face. A pulse of emotions wash over Axel for a split second, as he watches his brother struggle to sort his feelings. He's always had difficulty with his emotions.
"Dammit, Axe" is all he gets out.
"It's done, Jason. Just… be here now" Axel states, pitying his emotionally inept brother.
Jason gulps, a serious expression on his face as he nods. Seeing that Jason's onna need a minute he returns his attention to the two others.
Hoyt moved on to reset the table, for another round of pool. Axel wouldn't be surprised if Hoyt was being a gentleman, and gave the two some privacy. The unnamed friend was priming his que, as if feeling being watched he met axel's gaze.
"Hey, hi I'm Axel if you haven't heard"
The man blinks in surprise from the exuberance of Axel's voice, before his face colors into a charming smile, as he introduces himself.
"Rene, at your service"
Axel as he hears that, then proceeds to give a mock leer. His eyes catch his neck, where a hickey is peeking out.
"Too bad you're already taken," he says playfully.
"Arlene! That's not very nice" the voice of Sookie jolts Axel, the frustration in her voice giving a foreboding feeling.
Seeing her standing in front of a box-dyed-Red head, standing in her 'sookie pose' appearing to berate her. The emotions she's giving off haywires, he may have opened his sensory for curiosity's sake.
"Why? They're bloodsuckers! Nasty Fangers." Arlene doesn't relent on her apparent, but not surprising bigotry.
"Fangers, are actually those who get off being fucked, and drained by a vampire." Axel's voice cuts through their argument. Arlene, and sookie spin, startled, not hearing him creep up on them.
Sookie's face flickers as a circus of emotions traverses across her delicate features.
Arlene, not as adjusted to the loud and startling noise of a bar as Sookie, was less dignified.
"Holly balls!"
Clutching her hand to her chest, she breathes out the words. Her blush at being caught unaware nearly matched her hair.
Giving her a quick assessment he deems her just set in her ways and isn't someone he needs to keep from his sister. He gives an apologetic smile.
"Well, anyway blood suckers Fangers, they're all the same. I don't wish them harm but you keep to you I'll keep to me." Arlene finishes her piece before, giving a civil hello as she sweeps past him.
Turning back to his sister, the expression she gives is akin to a kitten's glare. His lip twitches involuntarily with mirth causing her to glare more fierce.
He meets her gaze with a serious expression.
'I know you're mad I left, but come on I thought you were one who didn't hold grudges, you of all people should understand why' Axel mentality pleads.
The anger makes her forget or not care that she could just mentally reply.
"It's not that you left" she spits out.
"Good lord!" She nearly yells, the fragile Barrier that gives them privacy breaks as her pent up emotions fluctuate, from the trigger.
"It's that you barely kept in contact! grams-"Her face in a scowl as she shakes her head.
Making his heart ache thinking of his grams. He called her earlier, tentatively letting her know he's coming back, Her response was something he didn't deserve.
'I don't have nothing to forgive,
As if remembering she's on duty she turns back around while mumbling how she doesn't have time for this.
Knowing his sister's stubbornness he's not surprised. He wishes she'd see his side, but is willing to give her space.
"Well, damn white Boy"
The silky voice of Lafayette, makes his dull emotions soar, seeing his best friend, whom he's missed just as much, if not more as his family.
Contrary to popular belief Lafayette and him haven't slept together. Being the only 'open' gay men in Temps leads to rumors, and speculations.
Axel feels for his fellow gay man, knowing how much more difficult Lafayette has then Himself.
"Not even two minutes and you've already pissed Sookie off." Lafayette says as Axel is pulled into a hug by the muscular effeminate man
Not that he can say anything.
The scent of Lafayette's fragrance mixed with the smell of cooking is a comfort he never knew he missed.
"I know my priorities are skewed, but why aren't you mad? I left you to the vultures" Axel asks, pulling away, Lafayette turns back to cooking.
He gets an amused glance as he flips a patty.
"This sweet sultry dark chocolate doesn't need you to be my white savior" here he pauses with a mirth filled glance while Axel flushes and is about to protest.
Lafayette readies the burger he finishes, before walking to the serving window not letting him get a word in.
"I don't hold anything against you for leaving this cluster fuck of an inbred town. I would have done the same-" he pauses as no one comes to pick up the food.
"Dixie stick, gonna pick this up!" Lafayette shouts at Dawn.
Dawn, who was flirting with Jason, jerks her head towards them, peeling her body off him, not before whispering something in his ear. She stands up giving Jason a sultry wink.
Axel feels nauseous.
She fixes her apron as she walks, her shapely figure causing most of the men, and some women in the bar to follow. The jealous, and sexual thoughts aren't even needed to be read to know what's going on in their heads.
Picking up the plate she smiles at Axel before playful annoyance spreads across her face as she turns to Lafayette, giving him the middle finger as he states
"if you worked as hard as your sex drive, we'd all be a millionaire."
"Is table four's food almost done? The husband keeps waving me over with thoughts about how he wants to fatten me up"
The voice of Sookie speaking from behind makes Axel close his eyes as she is clearly acting like he doesn't exist. The connection they had practically severed.
Lafayette chuckles as he props the patty, picking up the food he's finished making, he sets it on the counter next to Axel, shaking his head as sookie huffs, having to brush against Axel grab the waiting tray. She continues on with the flick of her pony.
"What is up with that, wait she's mad you got vamp dick before her?" dawn inquires.
"Uh, we didn't talk about that?" Axel gives a questioning glance to Lafayette.
"Oh, you don't know," Lafayette states, leaning closer as he waves dawn away with the plate she's supposed to serve.
She pours but knowing he has some hold on the place she relents, though not before stealing Lafayette's thunder.
"She's got herself a vampire beau" with that she struts off, leaving Axel stunned.
"LaLa, our sookie?" He asks, a little stunned.
The last thing he heard from his sister was she wanted a normal life, without the strangeness that seemed to gravitate towards us.
'Now she's heading head first into it?'
Axel feels something is off.
"You've been gone a while sugar, people change"