Days Go By

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts is in no way mine. I don’t own the universe, the characters or the storyline. This story is written for entertainment purposes only (and to appease my muse who has taken the evil form of my demanding best friends) and I am making no money in the writing.

Author’s Note: This is dedicated to Hex, who sees the same things I do when I play the game and always wants a story to keep her entertained, Regi who supports me in everything I do, and Hood, who is my inspiration since I like seeing him turn red.

0 0 0

Roxas felt like he might throw up. The events of the night had taken their toll on him…the explosions, Seifer kissing him…and more than anything, he wanted to crawl into bed and sleep until next year. He was emotionally and physically exhausted, and his head hurt…but the thought of going back to his room left him feeling vaguely nauseated. Going back to his room meant seeing Axel. Roxas was in no way ready to see Axel, he would kill Axel if he saw him in this mood.

He sighed. This meant he would probably spend the night on Sora’s floor…a thoroughly unpleasant prospect. Roxas wanted his soft bed and his Dusk plush (a gift from Sora who knew how many Christmases ago). He wanted to lose himself in the familiar scent of his blanket and forget that today ever happened.

He smelled smoke and saw a flash of red. Rage bloomed in Roxas’ heart again. What had Axel been THINKING putting everyone in danger like that? After grilling Larxene and Marluxia for nearly two hours, Roxas believed that they had honestly had no clue what had been going on until everything exploded. The other members of the Organization had known what was going to happen, but nobody had touched the explosives. Axel. It all led back to Axel. Roxas’ lack of sleep lately, the soot in his hair, the fact that he was pissed because his brother was dating slime, it was ALL. AXEL’S. FAULT.

Summoning his keyblade, he moved faster than the redhead could move, shooting forward to press the blade to the tall redhead’s throat. “What. Did. You. Do?!” He demanded furiously. “Did it occur to you that you were putting EVERYONE’S lives at risk, or did you just not think beyond the pretty explosion to think that someone would have ended up DEAD because of you?!”

Too late he realized that the teen standing very still, head tilted back…was not Axel. The hair color was right, but this teen’s fiery locks were waist length and pulled back at the nape of his neck. He wore goggles on his forehead, held a cigarette in one hand. His eyes were the wrong color too, though they held the exotic cat-like shape. Staring at the tall redhead, Roxas slowly lowered the blade, and the teen lifted his cigarette to his mouth. “I take it you’re looking for Axel.”

Roxas scowled. “I’m not looking for him. If I wanted to look for him, I’d know where to find him. He’s my roommate.”

“Unlucky bastard.” The redhead replied calmly. “How’d you end up stuck with him?”

Roxas sighed and banished the keyblade. “Sorry.”

The redhead shrugged. “It happens. My brother has a way of pissing people off and unfortunately I look enough like him that this happens more often then you’d think.”

Roxas just bet. “You’re brothers.” Dear heavens that would suck. Wordlessly Roxas apologized to Cloud and Sora for the various times he had complained about them. Sora might be obnoxiously optimistic and enthusiastic and Cloud might be a stoic pain in the ass, but they weren’t Axel.

“Mmmm.” The redhead took another drag on his cigarette before flicking it into the trashcan near Roxas’ arm. “The name’s Reno.”

“Roxas.”

Reno fixed him with an amused stare. “Don’t tell me you’re Cloud Hikari’s baby brother.”

Roxas bristled, lack of sleep catching up with him and making him more temperamental than he normally would be. “I’m not his BABY brother.”

Reno laughed. “My mistake. You’re his brother though. Of course you are. You look like a mini-Cloud. You have his eyes.”

Roxas scowled. “So I hear. Is EVERYONE at this dumb school in love with Cloud’s eyes?”

Reno laughed again. “No. Frankly I’d rather kill myself than be in love with your brother, no offense. He’s an asshole most of the time but a likable asshole. Whereas I’m just an asshole. Still, I’ve heard enough about Cloud Hikari’s eyes from the various girls I hang out with.”

He reminded Roxas of Axel, they had the same sardonic sense of humor, the same wicked smile…but Reno didn’t piss him off the way Axel did, probably because Reno wasn’t undressing him with his eyes. “How come I haven’t seen you around?”

Reno threw him a mild look. “I was out with my boyfriend.” He watched Roxas’ face to see his reaction.

Roxas shrugged. “Just decided not to come back?”

Reno laughed shortly. “Something like that. Rude’s around here somewhere, you’ll probably meet him. He spends time with your brother or Tifa on occasion.” He regarded the night evenly for a long minute. “So…” He pointed to the Blitzball dome. “That Axel’s doing?”

Roxas scowled. “Nobody else could have done it.”

Reno fixed Roxas with a thoughtful look. “My brother’s an idiot I’ll admit…it runs in the family…but he’s not stupid enough to mix up his explosives. He’s too much of a pyro for that.”

Roxas snorted. “I never said he mixed them up.”

Reno regarded him with the trademark wicked smile on his face. Somehow…it was somewhat lacking on Reno compared with Axel. When Axel smiled at you like that, it meant trouble…and that you would go along with it because you couldn’t help it…you WANTED to go along with it. When Reno smiled, it was merely attractive in a bad-boy sort of way but nothing overly special. “So let me get this straight…” Reno drawled. “….you’re telling me my baby brother blew up the blitzball dome?” He started laughing.

Roxas scowled. “It’s not funny. People could have gotten hurt.”

Reno snickered. “Look, kid. I know my brother inside and out. I know what goes through Axel’s head. He likes to see things blow up, but trust me on this…he likes Blitzball more.”

Roxas frowned. “What?”

Reno took another cigarette out of his pocket. “Why don’t you go talk to Axel instead of try to kill him? You might regret trying to kill him for a stupid reason.”

“What’s going on out here?” Reno looked up sharply and smiled wickedly at Sephiroth. “Hiya, Seph. How’s it hanging?”

Sephiroth gave him a dry look. “Fine thanks and no, you may NOT check.”

Reno laughed lazily and handed the silver haired teen his cigarette. “Like I’d want to. The science lab doesn’t have a microscope that powerful.” Laughing, he ducked a swipe at his head. “You know Roxas right?”

Roxas stared up into Sephiroth’s eyes. He really did look a lot like Riku. He fingered his hair…what was WITH people and long hair here? Sephiroth’s lips twitched. “Cloud’s little brother.”

Reno snorted. “Man, don’t tell me you’re still hung up on Blue Eyes.”

Sephiroth’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not hung up…”

“Uh huh.” Reno replied dryly, his tone openly bored. “Sure. What IS it with you and Blue Eyes anyway? Can’t there be someone else to stalk? Someone more interested in the fact that you exist?”

Sephiroth growled under his breath. “Reno…”

Reno smirked at him. “Get a grip, Seph. Stalk someone who cares enough about you to either put you out of your misery or sleep with you…because the simple fact is that Blue Eyes doesn’t.”

Sephiroth glared at him for a long moment before stalking away. Roxas shook his head as Reno gazed after him, swearing under his breath. “That was my last cigarette.”

Roxas stared at him, mouth open. He didn’t see the point of taunting Sephiroth like that, didn’t see the point of Reno in general, actually. “Are you out of your MIND?”

“He is.” Roxas turned as a tall teen joined them. “You’ll have to forgive him…” The teen looked at him, and white teeth flashed in a grin. “…you must be one of Cloud’s brothers. You…”

“Have his eyes.” Roxas finished in a bored tone.

The teen smiled again. “…I was going to say your hair sticks up like his but you have his eyes too.” He looked at Reno. “I just saw Sephiroth go stalking by. What did you say?”

“The truth.” Reno replied wickedly. “Do you have a cigarette?”

The teen rolled his eyes. “No. You took my last two cigarettes.” He held out his hand to Roxas. “I’m Rude.”

“Roxas.” He shook it.

“Roxas, hmm?” Rude smiled slightly. “Well Roxas…if you don’t mind, I’d like to steal my roommate and put him to bed before he decides to get drunk or something else stupid.”

Roxas watched him herd Reno away and paused. “Is insanity just hereditary in their family?”

Rude turned and a knowing smirk crossed his face. “You know Axel I take it. Yes, insanity is hereditary…but Axel’s just an ass whereas Reno is out of his damn mind.” He nodded. “Have a good one, Roxas.”

Roxas paused as he thought that through. Reno was the unbalanced one? God that was a scary thought. Still, that was two people who claimed that Axel wasn’t insane…two people who knew him no less….and if he at least TALKED to Axel maybe he could sleep in his own bed. Course of action decided, he started for the castle.

Sephiroth was waiting for him as he neared the doors. He turned as Roxas approached. “I’ve seen you fight.”

And the new award for random phrases… “Er…yeah. You too. You use that thin blade right?”

A slight smile crossed Sephiroth’s face. “Yes.” He agreed. “I’m looking forward to fighting you.”

Roxas watched him walk away, blinking. “Doesn’t he have any FRIENDS?” He asked, shaking his head.

The wind must have been blowing wrong, because Sephiroth turned. “I have a few…” He eyed Roxas. “…but they’re not who I really want.” Nodding politely, he kept walking.

Roxas waited until he was absolutely sure that Sephiroth was out of earshot. “Freak.” Shaking his head, he headed up the stairs and started for the lift. He stopped by his brother’s room first. Sora sported a bruise on his stomach, visible when he lifted his arms, and another on his cheek. Riku also had bruises on his arms and sides, taking most of the hit for Sora when they had rolled to the floor. They looked up as he entered, both seated in the center of a Twister board.

Roxas rolled his eyes. “Tell me you’re not playing Twister after rolling around the stands all afternoon.”

Sora smiled happily at him. “Riku’s never played.”

Roxas blinked at Riku then looked back at Sora. “Unlucky jerk.” He said, shaking his head. “There are very few people on the planet as flexible as Sora.”

Riku glanced at Sora, and Roxas wasn’t surprised to see his eyes slightly glaze as he thought that through. Roxas snorted. Sora was entirely oblivious of course, popping a DVD into his laptop. “This is the caller.” He explained to his silver haired companion. “You just follow what the guy on the screen tells you.”

“Sounds easy enough.” Riku replied, smiling at Sora’s enthusiasm. “You’re going down, porcupine head.”

Sora stuck out his tongue. “In your dreams.” He smiled at Roxas. “Did you come in for a reason, Rox, or do you want to play?”

Roxas shuddered. He’d rather eat glass shards. “Thanks but no thanks. I came in to find out if you have room for me on your floor if Axel and I get into it tonight.”

Sora and Riku both stared at him. Riku was the first to recover. “Why are you going to kill Axel?” He asked mildly.

Roxas growled under his breath. “Other than the fact that he probably has Demyx and Zexion tied to a chair somewhere? A lot of reasons.”

Sora and Riku exchanged a glance. Riku started laughing. “I was WONDERING why I didn’t see them at the game. Demyx HATES missing a game and he usually sits with us since Axel sits with us.”

Sora’s mouth fell open. “You don’t think he has them tied UP somewhere, does he?” He asked, concern in his voice.

Riku snorted. “Only if Dem is tied to a bed. If Axel deterred them, I can guarantee they’re not in a bad place, Sora. Calm down.”

Sora stared at him. “Wait…Demyx and Zexion are…”

Riku started laughing again. He looped his arm around Sora’s neck and ruffled his hair. “It’s a good thing you can beat someone to a pulp, Sora.”

Sora stuck out his tongue. “Don’t stick it out if you don’t want to use it.” Riku shot shamelessly, making Sora squeak and quickly pull his tongue back into his mouth.

Roxas rolled his eyes. “I can see now why you two are friends. You’re as bad as he is.”

Riku laughed again. “Only with Sora. He just brings out the worst in me.”

Yeah. Roxas just bet. He nodded. “Have fun. If things blow up I’ll camp out on the floor and sleep under the Twister mat if I have to.” Feeling like his heart was twisted into a handful of painful knots, Roxas opened the door to the bathroom and followed through to his own room.

For a moment, he felt a wave of relief when he sad nobody in the dark room, but the relief went crashing down as he caught sight of the tall form standing near the window. The form didn’t turn when he entered, but Roxas saw him stiffen. “I didn’t blow up the stadium, Rox.”

Roxas snorted. “Oh really. Then why don’t you tell me what happened?”

Axel scowled. “Why don’t YOU tell me where the hell you were for the last few hours. I know you grilled Larxene and Marluxia, both of them came bitching to me about it but you didn’t. Why is that, Roxas? Is it because you think I’m guilty? You won’t even give me the chance to defend myself?”

Roxas stared in unabashed astonishment as Axel finally turned to look at him. The anger, frustration and hurt shone clearly on his face. “Roxas, I know I piss you off and most of the time I enjoy doing it. You’re funny when you want to kill me….but despite everything I figured we were friends. FRIENDS…” He stressed the word. “…don’t just ditch out assuming the worst. A FRIEND would at least contact me to ask if I really blew up the stadium and give me the chance to defend myself.”

Roxas felt a wave of guilt pass through him. “Axel…”

“Shove it, Roxas.” Axel snarled in reply. “Just shove it. I’m not in the mood.”

Roxas had intended on getting furious with the redhead, having a huge fight and going to bed. He didn’t intend on this. “So…if you didn’t do it…what happened?”

“I don’t KNOW!” Axel stormed at the window. “Those were fireworks, Rox. When they went off they were supposed to say something rude about the Luca team. I don’t know WHAT happened. Even if they HAD gone off without getting high enough, that sure as HELL shouldn’t have happened! The entire dome nearly collapsed!”

Roxas reached out and placed his hand on the redhead’s arm. Axel went stiff, but didn’t move away. “You know what’s funny?” Roxas asked quietly. “I believe you.”

Axel looked at him. “I wouldn’t have tried to blow up the stadium, Rox. At least not with people inside of it. Damn it, you were there, Sora was there, Riku is my best friend and he was there, most of the Organization members were there, Wakka was swimming around in the fishbowl, I wouldn’t have done that! There were too many people I like in there. Hell, if it collapsed even Demyx and Zexion would be dead, they couldn’t get out if it collapsed on them.”

Roxas rubbed Axel’s arm. “All right, Axel.” He soothed, all of the anger gone. His heart told him…Axel was too upset to be lying. He stopped. “Wait…Demyx and Zexion? Where are they? Did they come to the game?”

Axel fidgeted. “Not exactly. I’d go ask Riku but Riku looks busy with Sora.”

Roxas tilted his head. “That doesn’t bother you?” He asked hesitantly. Sora would never have taken advantage of the fact that a friend was so freaked out he couldn’t stop the words from tumbling out of his mouth…but Roxas was sick of games. He wanted answers.

“Hell no.” Axel replied sharply. “I’ve been trying to get him to break up with me for weeks. If Riku makes a move while I’m still dating him he’ll get all guilty and upset. Guilt wouldn’t look good on Sora. He IS cute in a goofy sort of way.”

Roxas thought that through for a very long moment as he slowly processed it. “So you were dating Sora…for Riku?”

“Yeah.” Axel straightened. “Come on. Riku would have unlocked Zexy and Dem’s prison eventually, but you’ll have to do.”

Roxas stared at the redhead. “You LOCKED them somewhere?”

Axel hiccupped and Roxas suddenly realized that his friend had been drinking. He closed his eyes. No wonder. “Maybe you should tell me where they are, Axel…I’ll go get them, and you stay here. I’m not sure you’re in a state you can walk.”

Axel glared at him. “I can walk FINE, Roxas. Unless there’s someone else you’d rather be walking with? Someone like that blond who kissed you? Seifer?” He spat out. “You know he was kicked off the team for scarring Leon’s face?”

Roxas wished he was dead. Axel had seen the kiss? “I know…Cloud told me.”

Axel glared at him. “So what the hell were you doing letting him kiss you if you know he’s dangerous?”

Roxas released a long sigh. “He’s an old friend and I hang out with YOU and you’re dangerous.” He nodded to the door. “Let’s go rescue Zexion and Demyx.”

Axel scowled at him but obediently walked to the door. He led Roxas (with only one minor mishap) down to the basement of the castle, nodding to a door. “Your keyblade should open it.”

Roxas held up his keyblade, and Axel pushed him onto the lift that lowered to meet them. The lift went even lower, bringing them down into a small room. Zexion glared at them as they entered. “About time.”

Axel hiccupped. “Sorry.”

Demyx stared at Axel and then looked at Roxas. “What happened out there?” He asked quietly.

“Stadium caught on fire.” Roxas replied when Axel only glared at him. Everyone’s okay.”

Zexion stared at Axel. “You didn’t.”

Axel blew up. “No I fucking didn’t!” He snarled. “Of course I didn’t! Not with you guys down here and Roxas standing right next to me and Riku over there! I wouldn’t do that! Don’t you people KNOW ME?!”

Demyx looked stunned. “Of course.” He put his arms around Axel. “Calm down. I know you didn’t do that. You wouldn’t do that. You might light something on fire and drop it into a trash can but you wouldn’t light the stadium on fire.”

Axel leaned into the embrace and hiccupped for a few minutes until straightening. “Dem..why is your shirt on inside out?”

Demyx turned red and Zexion choked. On a normal day, Axel would have laughed hysterically and teased them mercilessly. Today, Axel only nodded. “Good…” He said, shaking his head. He swayed dangerously, and Roxas lunged to keep him on his feet. “…you needed to get shagged.”

Roxas sighed. “C’mon, pyro. Let’s get you back upstairs and into bed.”

Axel stared at Roxas for a long minute. “Pyro is different from arson, Roxas.”

Roxas nodded. “I know…and I’m sorry.”

It was far harder getting Axel UP to the room again then it had been getting him down. Axel went from moments of depression to moments of intense vulnerability that frankly scared Roxas somewhat. Axel was not a pretty drunk when he was upset, that was for damn sure. “Where did you get the booze?” Roxas asked gently.

“Reno.” Axel hiccupped. “That’s my brother. He gave it to me when he heard I was a suspect.”

Roxas felt his heart clench. “Yeah. I met him.”

Axel leaned on him as they reached the room, and his arms slipped around Roxas’ waist. Roxas froze as Axel nuzzled his neck. He opened his mouth, but Axel put a finger over it. “Just…for a minute, Rox. Please.”

Roxas really REALLY didn’t like the vulnerability in Axel’s face. “Why?” Roxas asked, but didn’t fight as Axel pulled him onto the bed and drew him close.

Axel kissed his throat softly. “It scared the hell out of me when the dome started cracking and moving. I thought you…I thought…” He shook as he tasted the skin of Roxas’ throat between words. Settling himself in the crook of Roxas’ neck, he let out a long breath. “Roxas…” Axel whispered dreamily, and his breath evened out.

Roxas squirmed slightly as he realized that Axel had fallen asleep, his face flushed a deep red. What the HELL had all that been about? He thought seriously about rolling off of the bed, Axel be damned…he doubted Axel would even NOTICE if he got jostled, he had been hammered...but Roxas relaxed in Axel’s embrace instead.

He didn’t like being cuddled next to the pyro, he didn’t like the arms wrapped protectively around him, he didn’t like the breath tickling his throat, and he DEFFINITELY didn’t like the fact that Axel was like a space heater making him feel warm and utterly content. No…he didn’t like any of those things…and he was going to stand by that thought even if it killed him.

0 0 0

Riku cursed Milton Bradley. Twister had to be the most heinous game on the planet. As if it wasn’t bad enough that he was stretched in ways that no man should ever be stretched, he was all tangled up with the boy who haunted his dreams.

Whatever game Riku had been playing with himself while Sora dated Axel was gone. He liked Sora. Hell…he was pretty sure he LOVED Sora. He loved the long nights they stayed up talking, he loved the way that Sora always saw the good in things and people. He loved the way Sora turned red when he was embarrassed and got defensive when you insulted him. He loved teasing and laughing with Sora.

He wasn’t so hot on being pressed up against Sora, their legs intertwined though. “Right hand, green.” The evil program intoned.

Sora leaned over him, his body contorting, tongue sticking out between his teeth in concentration. His face lit up in a beaming grin when his right hand covered the green circle. “Got it!”

The world was out to get him, Riku decided. First he had agreed to play by Sora’s insane rules saying that the circles could only have ONE body part on them, and then he had ended up UNDER Sora somehow and the only green circle unoccupied was under Sora’s arm. “Damn!” Riku hissed.

Sora laughed. “Give up?” He asked sweetly.

Riku’s eyes narrowed on the brunet. “Never.” He carefully extended his hand, pressing up against Sora. His nose filled with the clean scent of Sora’s shampoo and the sweet scent of his skin as he found his face next to a smooth expanse of skin. The skin near his face slowly turned red, and Sora had stopped laughing.

“Left hand yellow!” The computer sang out cheerfully. Riku was going to kill the evil computer when this was done. He was going to…were those HIS lips?

Sora’s throat was open and exposed to him, and as Riku obediently lifted his left hand, he found himself far more interested in the skin showing on the brunet’s side. Slowly he ran his hand over it. Sora shuddered and collapsed, bringing Riku down with him.

He was so screwed. There was no other way around it. Riku closed his eyes as Sora scrambled away from him, untangling them. “That’s enough, I can’t bend anymore.” Sora said, his eyes too bright, his face flaming red. “Nice try going for it though.”

Riku wanted to yell at the spiky haired brunet and shake him and kiss him and prove that it had NOT been an accident. He didn’t say a word though as Sora helped him to his feet, their bodies pressing together for a brief moment, hands joined between them. Sora’s blue eyes skittered up to meet Riku’s and Riku nearly moaned at what he saw in those crystalline depths. All too soon Sora had pulled away and Riku wanted nothing more then to go after him. “Hey Riku…” Sora looked over at him. “…thanks for helping me get out.”

Riku stared at Sora as Sora reached for the lightswitch. “Sora…I would be lost if something happened to you.”

Sora turned bright red. “I’m going to break up with Axel.”

Riku’s heart leaped into his throat. “What? Why?” He asked, hoping he didn’t sound too obvious.

Sora shrugged. “I don’t think it will work out is all.” He slipped into bed. “You’re not mad? I know Axel’s your best friend.”

Mad? Riku was the happiest he had been in weeks. “Nah.” He said lazily, following Sora’s example and sliding into bed. “Night, Sora.”

Sora smiled at him in the darkness, and Riku plotted his seduction of Sora Hikari.