Betwixt

Note: Dream sequences are always the hardest to tell apart. Hopefully I managed to not confuse anyone.

3.

The deep sleep that covered his eyes like a thick veil had finally slipped through the lids of his eyes and trickled down his body. He’d been conscious for sixteen years, yet it felt as though he was waking up to life for the very first time. The salty air of moist sand and leaves awoke senses in him he never thought existed as they prickled his skin. He slowly sat up, forgetting the dreams that once colored his comfort zone of darkness, and let his eyes feast upon the spectacle around him.
The ruby orange sky shimmered with blue shooting stars that cut through the clouds and landed sharply into the water. It amazed his eyes to see such phenomena as the large body of liquid gave in helplessly, breaking under the pressure of the blue fiery rocks.

He wondered then, as the stars pierced the water’s skin, if the ocean could feel pain. How could it? The ocean was a powerful weapon of mass destruction. Its furious waves could wipe countries off the face of the Earth. Yet, at the same time, the ocean was a vulnerable body that had no control of what or who came into the privacy of its depths. So if it did feel pain, then how would it protect itself from it? Did the ocean choose to ignore pain instead?

As the stars rained down around him, he looked onto the hand clasping his own. It belonged to a brown haired boy with pink lips and a face molded from innocence. They weren’t alone. Kairi was on Sora’s opposite side sleeping softly.

He frowned.

Riku did not like to share.

He didn’t like how Kairi simply walked into his and Sora’s existence and pretended like she’d always belonged. She didn’t grow up with Sora. She didn’t understand him nor had she ever protected him.

Sora was his.

He looked towards Sora again.

He wanted the boy to wake up. He wanted him to admire the beauty, the ocean’s vulnerability, and the stars’ aggressive nature. But Riku’s eyes wouldn’t stir from the boy’s face. An involuntary tremor ran through him as he was wavered between waking the boy up and watching him sleep.

If he managed to wake the boy up, then Sora would be his and his alone. On the other hand, keeping Sora awake from the inevitable sleep would prove rather difficult. He didn’t think he could handle the pain of losing Sora to closing eyelids that would shut Riku out of the world he so longed to be apart of, but could never have.

If awakened, Sora would realize the truth of Riku’s feelings. If kept in his slumber, he would be ignorant of it. So Riku decided that he would risk nothing and everything. Riku would watch him sleep. Why wake up such beauty when his eyes could devour the soft shapes and curves of his innocence?

He felt the tips of his toes grow heavy and soggy as water sloshed its way up with the tide. He looked downward and his eyes widened. His fear became lodged in his throat. He was slowly eroding as the water gradually dragged him away.

He looked at Sora, who was blissfully unaware of Riku’s horrid circumstance, and tried desperately to wake him up. His heart began to race when he saw Sora’s eyes move from under his lids. Maybe he was waking up? Riku held his breath, hoping that Sora would eventually open his eyes.

The water pulled in again. More of him was swept away while Sora remained in one piece.

He tried shaking the hand clasped within his own, he tried squeezing it, he even tried shouting out Sora’s name, but nothing disturbed the slumbering youth.
Riku could feel the water coming up to his hips. He didn’t like this feeling, the feeling of being swept away like grains of tiny sand. He tried to scream, but the fear that was lodged in his throat grew, absorbing his anxiety like a hungry sponge.

He jerked at Sora’s hand again, trying vigorously to wake the boy up. His arm shot forward as his hand slipped from Sora’s grasp. He looked down to see Sora gripping tightly to a pile of sand. Riku looked up and saw his wrist, empty of a hand, slowly becoming white sand and blowing into the wind. His mouth opened to let out a silent scream.

Riku shot up, heart beating, forehead drenched in sweat. He examined himself and sighed in relief to see that his ten fingers and ten toes were intact. The low hum of the air conditioner echoed through the room and he shivered as the cool air made contact with his sweaty form.

Riku hadn’t had a nightmare in years. It spooked him to think that he could fade away by staying silent about his feelings. Would Sora ever realize Riku’s unhappiness? He doubted that. Not when Sora had Kairi, not when everything was so perfect.

Riku came back from his thoughts when he heard a tapping at his window. Selphie opened the window and perched on the sill.

“Good morning!” Selphie chirped.

He sighed, laid back down, and buried his face into his pillow. He was so not in the mood.

He heard her ‘humph’ and crawl inside. Before he could even look up to see the inevitable pout on her lips, she jumped on the bed. The covers were tossed violently aside and he held onto the mattress so that he wouldn’t bounce off.

“I said good morning! Now I expect you to reply in a polite manner. Preferably saying ‘why yes, it is a good morning, my Lady. Would you kindly fill yourself up on tea and cookies while I entertain you by removing the articles that cover my taut sexy figure.’ It’s not that hard”

He hugged his pillow deeper into his face, hoping to drown her out, or at least suffocate. Unfortunately, neither happened.

“Are you still moping? Man up!”

He held his breath and counted toward his bitter end. But the idea was muddled by the fact that he would only pass out. Damn you survival instincts.

Selphie sighed.

“Riku, come on.”

He felt her move toward the edge of his bed. Her fingers poked at his defenseless toes in a comforting manner.

“I won’t lie to you and say that everything is going to be fine just to make you feel better.”

“So you’re opting to making me feel worse?”

“Riku.”

He glared at her.

“Selphie, isn’t Squall due to take a shower now?”

“That’s not important right now, you are.”

He gave a cynical snort.

“Right, I forgot, you already have a shower cam set up.”

He had seen it coming from the way Selphie’s face darkened and scrunched up, but he didn’t dodge in time to avoid the pillow.

He winced.

“Oww.”

“Consider that a warning.”

He knew he shouldn’t be mad at her for being supportive about Sora and Kairi’s decision, but he felt like no one was really thinking through the logic of two fifteen-year-olds being engaged. This wasn’t the perfect ending of a video game nor the happily ever after of some Disney movie. It was life and people change. How could everyone believe that Sora and Kairi were going to be in love forever?

He wished Sora would change his mind about Kairi now…and that Kairi would fall into some random plot hole.

He sank into the mattress and growled miserably into his pillow.

He wished he could fall into some random plot hole, because that would be less painful than dealing with his feelings for Sora.

Selphie ran a sympathetic hand down his back.

“Look, let’s do something together.”

“I’m not in the mood to watch Squall read the paper,” he said into his pillow.

She giggled.

“Not that, you emo!” He felt her stand up. He sat up and watched her cautiously, curious as to what she was going to do.

“Aeris and Zack arrived this morning; don’t you want to meet them?”

There was a pregnant pause.

“No.”

“Please?” She pouted. “I promised them that I would help out.”

“And this concerns me how?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I will be forced to take drastic measures if you don’t get of that bed.”

He snorted.

Selphie was tiny.

In the blink of a second he was pinned—face down because Selphie had her kinks—and his hips were straddled against his will. With his right arm bent painfully behind him, Riku had no choice but to cease his struggle.

Obviously, using her size as a judge had been damn stupid of him. Selphie may have been tiny… but Selphie was also incredibly strong.
He imaged a wicked smile stretched on her face as her lips brushed his earlobe.

“You’re right, the neighbors can wait.” Her breath was hot, her voice husky. “I’ve got a few new games I want to play with you anyway.”

His eyes widened in alarm.

“Alright, alright I’ll go!” he begged, trying to preserve his virginity.

The weight on his back shifted.

“Good to see your spirits up.”

He sat up, pride wounded, dignity in shambles, and vowing to never sleep shirtless and in boxers again.

“Just let me get ready.”

He got up and went to his closet. Selphie joined him and quickly began to flip through articles of clothing, tossing out what she found desirable. He would have yelled at her about her pushiness, but he thought of his virginity again. Instead, he decided to take the subtle approach.

“Um…what the hell are you doing?”

“Picking out clothes to extenuate your hotness.” She looked at a shirt, made a face, and put it back. “Redundant, isn’t it?”

“Why?”

“Because you lost the battle for Sora. Lucky for you, you haven’t lost the war.”

She paused to look at a grey vest and shook her head. That definitely didn’t suit her taste.

“Remember when I told you to explore?”

He nodded. “Unfortunately.”

“Well, there’s a reason why I want you come with me to Aeris’ house.”

“Besides the fact that you want to see me sweat while lifting heavy boxes? Oh do tell,” he said with dry amusement.

“You forgot shirtless, can’t go lifting boxes without mama seeing that chest.”

“Selphie, do you have a point?”

She stopped her search of clothing and her emerald eyes twinkled.

“It appears that Zack has a little cousin. I’m rather curious to see you two interact.”

“Not interested.”

“But you’re gay!”

“I’m not gay!” He spat.

“Fine! Deny it, but it won’t change the fact that you’re going to meet your new neighbors, make nice with Zack’s cousin, and possibly give him a detailed tour of your mouth.”

“Selphie!” he growled.

“What?”

His jaw was clenched, and then he sighed. It was too early to argue with her.

“I’m not stooping to your level,” he said, trying to remain calm.

She snorted.

“This coming from a guy who deemed a coconut worthy of a confession. Ha!” She continued looking for shirts.

“At least the coconut knows the meaning of shut the hell u—”

“Oh! You should wear this!” she squealed, pulling out a fishnet muscle shirt that obviously didn’t belong to him.

His jaw hit the floor.

“NO I AM NOT!” He ripped the shirt out of her greedy little fingers. He refused. There was no way.

“Oh come on! You’ll look so sexy and dirty, he’ll instantly fall in love.”

“I’m not going to seduce Zack’s cousin in that!”

“Then shirtless it is!” she said, going to her next alternative that he hadn’t even considered.

“Selphie, I’m not going shirtless.”

“But you have to open your horizons if you want to get over what’s-his-face.”

“Sora!” he yelled, offended.

“Obviously, you need to expand your vocabulary, because this “Sora” word is holding you back. Now can you say Axel? Come on, Ax-el.”
“You’re ridiculous,” he said, turning around and going to his bed.

Selphie was usually annoying, but today it seemed the gods did not pity him because she was on the boarder of driving him insane.

“A-X-E-L.”

“Selphie,” he warned.

She walked up to him and smiled. “Got it memorized?”

That was it. He pinned her down and attempted tickling her to near death. He had the upper hand in this game. His fingers managed to hit all her weak points as she squirmed and giggled viciously under his hold.

“Okay, okay. Mercy!” Her voice was high, her face red, and her chest heaving to regain lost breath. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry!”

He, unlike her, had a soul and so he stopped his torture. But, just to be safe, he remained in his straddle position. That way, even if she got any ideas, he had it covered. Much to his dismay, their position only made her eyes flicker with a dark lust.

“On the second thought, I’m not sorry.”

He got off her and scowled.

“I’m only kidding.” She giggled. She then sat next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Riku,” her voice now was soft and gentle, “It’s not the end of your world, you’re strong, and you can and will get through this. I’m not here to recite how I understand what you’re going through, because that would be lying. I will, on the other hand, remind you that if this wound you call a broken heart is left untreated, it’s going to get infected. It hurts, yes, but don’t let the pain rule you.”

He didn’t know what to say. It was rare to see Selphie this serious and it felt nice to have someone care about him and his current situation.

“Plus, there’s hope for you.” She perked up. Her somber mood melted away as if it never happened.

“Where?” he asked as curiosity got the best of him.

Her eyes darkened again, and he found himself staring into malicious eyes that were as deep as lush forests.

“No one said you had to play fair to get Sora.”

Riku raised an eyebrow.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Steal him.” And her lips curled devilishly.

“You know you’re going to hell for this.”

“Just for this?” Selphie tossed her head back and laughed.

He forced a smile and inched away slowly. To him, Selphie was now officially the root of all evil.

He managed to get his towel and make it to the door before she noticed.

“Where are you going?” she asked, not so amused by the idea of him leaving.

“Shower.”

Her face lit up.

“Cool.” She hopped off the bed and followed to follow him towards the bathroom.

“Alone Selphie.”

She shrugged and went back to sit down.

“I’ll just come when you need to wash your back.”

He locked the bathroom door.


*~*~*


They walked towards the house across the street, in two very different moods. He did not want to discuss the events that had occurred after he’d come out of the shower. Selphie, on the other hand, was humming her favorite tune with a glazed and satisfied look on her face. Honestly, how could she be so chipper after what had happened? The event crept into his memory and immediately his ears grew hot with embarrassment. He swallowed thickly. She’d seen him naked before, that was an unavoidable fate, but for her to…

It was just unspeakable.

“God Riku, will you quit sulking? Now I know you’re gay,” she spoke, breaking his train of thought. He glared at her.

“You have nerve, Selphie, doing what you did.”

“Really?” she twisted an auburn strand of hair around her finger. “I thought it was tastefully done.”

He stopped mid-step, his forehead twitching.

“Stripping down naked and waiting for me in that position does not constitute as taste!”

“For your information, it’s called the Spread Eagle!”

“That’s beside the point Selphie.”

“Look, I just thought it was fair since you’re always offering to show me your hardware,” she said with her eyes traveling down to his pants. He stormed ahead before she could undress him even further.

“Oh Riku, wait! Don’t be mad at me,” she said, tailing him.

When he stopped and turned towards her, he saw her eyes tremble with tears. She pouted her lips and blinked, letting a single tear brush against her now pink cheek. God she was one manipulative little—

“Just don’t do it again.” He sighed giving in.

“Right,” she said, nodding determinedly. “I won’t do it to you.”

“Or anyone else.”

She was silent.

“Selphie,” he warned.

“Alright, I promise. God, you’re one bossy boyfriend.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the sidewalk. They made their way up the steps of the cream colored house and rang the door bell. Within seconds, the door swung open and there stood a young man, taller than Riku maybe by a foot or so, with blood red hair and bright green eyes. The light inside the house was dim due to the excessive amount of boxes crowding the area.

“Thought I heard you coming,” He said scratching the back of head and yawning languidly.

Riku eyed the young man in front of him and guessed that he looked no older than twenty. The man’s lips pulled back into a cat-like grin as their eyes met. Riku looked to the side, feeling awkward that eyes that were intense as the flames of the sun were able to break the barrier he built with his long bangs.

“So what brings you here, little miss sunshine?” the young man asked in a voice that sounded gruff and too full of himself. The redhead leaned against the door frame and crossed his long arms over his chest.

“Well, I came to offer my help of course and to return this.” She pulled out a small orange book.

The man quirked a curious eyebrow at the sight of the tiny book.

“Tried any?”

“Number seventeen.”

“The Spread Eagle,” Riku mumbled angrily, interrupting the conversation as the memory tried to creep up on him again.

He felt his ears grow hot again and was happy that his face was cast to the side so that they wouldn’t see the blush that he knew was forming on his cheeks. He further ducked his head, trying to avoid any eye contact, and also to keep his ears from getting any hotter.

The man managed to choke down a laugh and Riku looked up to see that he’d straightened up. The redhead took a step forward, into the light of the sun, and Riku was able to see him better. The red blood tresses were wild and he was extremely lanky, but Riku sensed a thick air of confidence that revolved around him. He wasn’t that bad looking. His looks were sharp, almost dangerous looking, a guy who would only look after his own needs and gains. His cheek bones sported tiny triangular tattoos that only magnified his aquamarine eyes. It wasn’t that he liked him. This guy was just different. Sora was different too. He was trustworthy, predictable and safe. Sora was his type. Sora was just fine.

“I’m guessing you’re Riku? The name’s Axel. I heard a lot about you.”

“Lies, everything that comes out of her mouth are lies.” He said throwing a look of displeasure at Selphie, who just smiled.

Axel’s amusement only grew. He took a step forward and leaned towards Riku, their faces mere inches apart. Riku forced himself to stare at the triangular shaped tattoos on the man’s cheek bones because staring anywhere where else—like those bright green eyes that twinkled mischievously or those lips that made him wonder if they indeed were as kissable as they looked— would surely bring an unwanted blush to his seriously overheated cheeks.

“Really?” Axel asked and Riku could smell a hint of tobacco from the breath that tickled his nose. “I was hoping they would be true; hear you have a serious crush—”

“Anyway! Let’s go on a tour of my house, show Axel the ropes,” Selphie said, jogging in place enthusiastically. Axel broke his stare and Riku gave a small sigh of relief as he had been holding his breath the whole time. Then it hit him. What did Axel know?

“Selphie what did you tell him?” he growled more than asked.

Before she could come up with a plausible yet slightly perverted excuse, Axel began to walk down the stairs nonchalantly, ignoring the dark clouds that were forming over Riku.

“Nothing too embarrassing,” he started, stopping at the foot of the stairs without bothering to face the pair. “Minor details were discussed, like the fact that you refused to stop using a pacifier affectionately dubbed “Binky” until you were seven, and that you wore girls’ underwear until you were ten because it was softer, oh and we can’t forget the fact that you’re in love with some kid that could barely recognized the hand in front of him much less the idea that his best wants him.”

Riku felt his anger rumble at the pit of his stomach as each embarrassing detail passed through Axel’s sly lips. He debated on who to maul first. Then again, it was broad daylight and too many witnesses were about, so maybe no one would get mauled… It looked like the slaughter of his new neighbor and his on-the-verge-of-tears-from-laughing friend would have to wait.

“Oh and I almost forgot. You have a tiny heart shaped birth mark on your left butt cheek.” Axel looked over his shoulder and winked at a now smoldering Riku.

“Selphie…must…” he shook slightly, heart yammering in his chest. “…destroy…Selphie…”

“U-um!” Selphie cleared her throat and carefully sidestepped the silver haired boy, for he looked like he was about to lunge. “Let’s get to the tour, shall we?” She quickly joined Axel at the bottom of the steps, and the redhead’s long arm slithered around her petite frame. Riku’s eye twitched.

“Coming with?” Selphie asked sweetly.

“No,” his voice was firm. And he took pleasure in the idea of acting like a total asshole because at the moment he was the victim, him and his poor left butt cheek.

Selphie shrugged and leaned up towards Axel’s ear. The man burst into fits of laughter.

“There’s more?”

And so Riku found himself leaping from the top of the stairs and chasing a giggling brunette as a laughing Axel sauntered along behind.


*~*~*


He should have known that when it came to Selphie, things usually tended to be on the illegal side. Currently, the bubbly girl was giving a tour of the first floor of Squall’s house.

“…And this is the dining area.”

How she had gotten a set of her own keys? Riku would never know. But he refused to partake in any of her mischief. Riku had morals damn it, and those morals said that it was wrong to break into a house and trespass. Riku also had common sense, and that common sense told him that messing with a guy who had a display of large swords on his wall meant that he would lose the use of his limbs.

The sound of feet thumping up stairs quickly snapped his attention from leaving any finger prints behind. He rounded the corner from the living room and saw Selphie half way up the stairs and Axel behind her.

“Where are you guys going?” Riku asked cautiously.

“Upstairs,” Selphie said nonchalantly.

“Why?”

“Because that’s where the magic happens,” Axel answered and took Riku’s wrist. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”

Riku pulled his hand away, not liking the hot sensation that crept onto his skin.

“Are you insane? Did you not see his wall? He will slaughter us.”

“They aren’t real swords Riku,” Selphie said, rolling her eyes. “And besides, do you think he has the heart to hurt this angelic face?”

There was silence between the three.

Riku paled.

“We’re going to die!”

“Hey, relax.” Axel placed his hands on Riku’s shoulders hoping the kid wouldn’t start hyperventilating. “Selphie said he wasn’t going to be home until tonight. We’ll just have a quick look see and leave. It’ll take five minutes, ten minutes tops.”

Riku peered into the redhead’s eyes, seeing them soften a bit with sympathy. Either Axel cared or he was just one good manipulative bastard.

“Fine, ten minutes,” Riku said, tearing his eyes away from Axel’s. “And then we go, without taking any souvenirs.” He glared at Selphie.

“Great! Next stop, the love nest,” she squealed.

They followed suit as she took off and when they reached the bedroom, Riku was surprised at how plain it looked. There were only the basics inside: a dresser with a mirror, a well made bed with two night stands on either side. Selphie headed straight to the dresser and attacked its drawers, smelling the clean underwear she got a hold of and rubbing it against her face. Axel landed on the bed, which weirdly managed to stay made, and Riku stayed at the door, watching them in horror.

“Are you guys insane?”

“Quit being so uptight and sit down,” Axel said, patting a spot next to him.

“I’m not being uptight, I’m just being cautious,” Riku said, coming over and plotting himself down at the edge of the bed. His back was to Axel, who sat on the opposite side.

“So.”

Riku felt the bed shift.

“Are you really in love with your best friend?” The man’s warm breath brushed against the hairs by his ear. Riku imagined Axel’s lips inches away from the rim of his ear lobe and suppressed a shiver.

“Does my love life concern you that much?” Riku asked, trying to ignore the body heat radiating from the person behind him.

“I’m just curious.” The bed shifted some more. Axel was now sitting up, legs stretched out, upper body turned towards Riku’s back. “It sounds to me like you’re in a bit of a jam.” The man’s chin rested on Riku’s shoulder lightly. “I can help you get what you want, all for a price, of course.” Riku felt the man’s voice vibrate on his skin.

“I don’t need your help,” he said biting his lower lip, trying to ignore the ticklish sensation from Axel’s breath brushing across his skin.

“Says the guy who plays with coconut dolls.”

“It was a Sora replica,” Riku hissed.

“Whatever.”

“Who the hell do you think you are anyway?” Riku snapped.

“I’m Axel, considered to be a Flaming Sex God by many, but I’m a modest guy, so you can just call me Axel.” The redhead moved from his position from the bed and stood up in front of Riku.

Riku resisted the urge to maul the man, who peered down at him with a solemn expression.

“It’s a shame you don’t want help.”

The silver haired boy looked up at him curiously.

“Because with that lust worthy mouth, I don’t see how anyone wouldn’t want to tie you down and never allow you to leave their sight.”

Riku felt his face grow warm from the compliment.

“What happened to the Riku Selphie described?” Axel bent down a bit so that he and Riku could be face to face. “Where’s the guy with the smooth, ‘I don’t give a fuck’ attitude? Where’s the guy who walks with a casual swagger in his step and speaks with words that are full of bite? Is he real? Is he only in my dreams?” He asked leaning forward and cupping the boy’s chin with his thumb and fore finger.

“Or… is he too shy to come out to play?”

Axel’s thumb gently brushed against Riku’s bottom lip. Riku couldn’t move, he couldn’t think. He was hypnotized by those bright jaded eyes that seemed to strip him down of his security. He didn’t like that a mere stranger was making him feel that way. He wanted to speak, lash out at Axel for making his pulse race, and scream at him for making breathing difficult. He wanted to punish himself because his torrent jumbled up emotions should have been meant for Sora.
The angry sound of a motor roaring into the drive cut through the air.

“What’s that?” Axel asked frowning at the interruption. He hadn’t finished torturing his victim yet.

“Oh, that’s probably Squall’s bike,” Selphie said tucking away what appeared to be a pair of boxers into her chest.

Squall’s bike was in the driveway?

Riku immediately woke up from his daze.

Oh. Hell. No.

“What! Are you serious?” Riku screeched and shot up from his position on the bed. He looked at it and relaxed when he saw that his body hadn’t left any imprints.

“He’s home early? Well that puts a damper on our plan,” The redhead said, disappointment evident in his voice.

“We have to hide,” Riku said with a hint of anxiousness in his voice.

Selphie rounded the bed, her chest seemingly two breast cup sizes bigger.

“Look, you two need to go hide in the closet. I’ll hide under the bed and we’ll wait until he leaves,” she said sternly.

“What!”

The sound of heavy footsteps could be heard from down stairs.

“What if he doesn’t leave?” Riku asked, glaring at Selphie.

“There’s no use arguing, we’ve got no time.” Axel said, dragging Riku in the direction of the closet, whose wooden twin doors were as white as Riku’s blanched skin. Before the closet doors closed, Riku caught a quick glimpse of Selphie hiding under the bed giving him a thumbs-up. He rolled his eyes. Leave it to Selphie to encourage Riku to “play the field” in a life or death situation.

They stood in darkness. The closet wasn’t that small, but then again, it wasn’t empty. Riku was rather uncomfortable state, with his back pressed against the wall and his head hitting the bottom of a shelf. It didn’t help that the man had to be on top of Riku in order to be completely hidden. The redhead’s legs were entangled with his own and his face was buried into Riku’s neck.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” He huffed, shifting uncomfortably. The small closet was beginning to feel even more cramped as the summer weather began to settle in.

“What’s life without a little excitement?” Axel purred in his ear. Riku grit his teeth, holding back a shudder. He didn’t want Axel to know that he could do that to him in the little time he’d know him.

“A very calm and long one if we get out of this alive,” he hissed.

“Shhh,” Axel whispered as they heard the sound of someone coming into the room.

Riku peered over Axel’s shoulder and saw, through the slits of day light coming from the closet door’s wooden shades, Squall.

The man surveyed the room, as if knowing that something was off. Riku gulped when the tall brunet eyed the spot he’d been sitting on the bed suspiciously. He hoped he didn’t leave any evidence behind, like a skin particle or worse yet, a long strand of silver hair.

He felt Axel shift on top of him and soon his attention was snatched away by the redhead’s hand. It traveled a dangerously low journey towards his navel and hips.
“Can you move your hand?” the boy asked in a hushed tone.

Axel’s fingers gently drew odd trails and figures over the sensitive skin around Riku’s navel.

“Why? Does this bother you?”

No. It didn’t. But Riku would be damned to admit that.

“Yes…it’s…un-comfortable,” he sighed pleasurably. He scolded himself for it by biting his bottom lip hard.

Axel decided to play with Riku in more ways than one and gently blew on the boy’s ear, all the while still tracing forbidden languages on the boy’s skin down below. Axel’s lips captured the boy’s earlobe softly, letting his tongue play with the flexible tip. Riku tensed.

“Just relax,” Axel’s husky voice assured. “I won’t bite.”

Riku closed his eyes, praying that he could over come this. He tried ignoring the feather like touches running across his abdomen that made his knees want to buckle and shake. His breath hitched as he felt Axel’s teeth gently graze his ear in a teasing manner. The feeling sent shock waves of fear and excitement through him as he suppressed a moan.

He felt Axel’s wolfish grin against his neck and felt the man almost shake with amusement.

“Kinky, aren’t we?” The cocky bastard chuckled lightly.

Riku wanted to punch Axel in the face.

Before he could growl his retort, Axel captured his lips. The moment their lips met Riku seemed lost. He didn’t know if his body was reacting to the act or to Axel himself, but the simple sensation of their lips making contact made his body shut down as all his systems melted into a pool heat.

He fell into shock, or at least that was what he thought it felt like as he couldn’t move, couldn’t breath and much less respond to Axel’s lips. His hands took a life of their own as they placed themselves on the redhead’s shoulders. He felt the man’s tongue slip in smoothly, slowly working with his, trying to make Riku’s tongue dance to something that should have been familiar but was completely forbidden. Axel tasted like sweet tobacco and smoke and Riku felt intoxicated by the horribly addictive flavor. The more they kissed, the more he wanted. His hand ran through the blood red spikes, damp from summer heat and sweat. He wondered why it felt better to do this. Why was it so much easier to kiss a stranger?

The closet door flew open and Riku stood still, breaking their kiss. They were still hidden in the darkness, covered behind the rack of dark clothes and jackets. Riku peered over Axel’s shoulder a bit and saw that only one of the closet doors was open, but thankfully it wasn’t their side. His nails dug into Axel’s flesh as he heard Squall move objects in search of something. Riku snapped his eyes shut, trying to escape, if only through his mind, the impending doom that was sure to follow.

There he was a victim. How was he going to explain this to Squall if he got caught? What would Squall do to them if they got caught? Riku paled. He didn’t want to die. He had so much to live for. It would suck to be labeled a closet whore before death. And Selphie! What if she got caught? What if she took him down with her? What would happen if word got to Sora? Sora! No! He’d forgotten about him. What if Sora thought he was weird after this? What if Sora had feelings for him all along and he blew his chances by fooling around with Axel? What if this was a game? What if he was a toy?

“Take a deep breath.”

Riku’s spinning mind was coming to a slow and dizzy stop when he felt Axel’s fingers drawing soothing circles on his back. It was then, only for a second, a blink, a beat of the heart, if fact less than that, that Riku deemed Axel likeable. He began to take in hushed breathes and letting them out slowly, trying to regain some of his nerves.

Axel kept massaging, patiently waiting for Riku’s erratic heart beat to reach a calming rhythm.

Squall shut the closet door and left the room with his bag of golf clubs.

No one moved as they waited for the roar of the angry motorcycle to reach the other side of the island. Riku closed his eyes and felt his body melt in relief.
In seconds he felt a soft gust of air as the closet doors opened again to reveal Selphie, pink in the face, and with a wild look in her eyes. Her chest heaved, blatantly revealing the excitement she felt. Axel let go of Riku and they both left the closet, Axel feeling smugger than he had before and Riku feeling like all the life had been sucked out of him.

“Are you guys alright?” Selphie asked, ignoring the pair of boxers sticking out of her tank top.

“We managed to survive,” Axel said, casually shrugging his shoulders.

“Barely,” Riku mumbled, trying to cement his eyes onto the floor.

“Could I be dreaming?” Selphie asked looking at Riku.

“Is that a hickey?” She roughly pulled him down to investigate his neck. Riku almost tumbled onto of her. Axel was too busy laughing to notice.
“Wow, you gave him a real looker,” she said excitedly.

Riku’s eyes widened in horror. No! He didn’t even want to remember, let alone have a mark of the moment in the closet. He threw the bouncing girl out of his way and went to the dresser mirror. He looked at his neck and saw it. A small, almost purple looking bruise winking at him smugly from his reflection.
“What did you do to me?” He yelled at Axel, who had calmed down and was now smirking at the hyperventilating teen.

“You know.” The redhead strode languidly over to Riku. “I did a little of this, and of little of that.”

“Can I have some of that?”

“Selphie!”

“What?” she whined.

“I’d rather not discuss the details of my work for I am under the Nevada state law and the advice of my lawyer to never reveal them to a minor.”

“You bastard!” Riku growled and tried to lunge at him. Selphie made it just in time to block him.

“Hey! Hey, we’re all almost grown up here. I’m sure we can handle this without our fists,” she said trying to calm the situation. “Let’s make sure that when anger arises that we express it with our lips…ooh and add some tongue, I’m feeling frisky today.”

“Why did you do this to me?” Riku asked, ignoring Selphie.

Axel shrugged.

“I was bored.”

“So sucking the life out of my neck is entertaining?”

“It makes sense when you think about it scientifically,” the redhead snorted.

“What?” Riku was dumbfounded at the man’s stupidity.

“It makes sense to me!” Selphie interrupted.

He stood corrected; he was flabbergasted by their stupidity.

“You!” He pointed to Selphie. “This is entirely your fault! I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

“Aw come on, it’s not that bad, I can cover it up with some foundation and—”

“How the hell am I going to get Sora looking like this? How am I going to face him?”

“Let’s not get over dramatic here and start pointing fingers,” Axel said coming in between them. “We’re all a little bit guilty here if memory serves me right.” He leered at Riku. “Because it takes two to tango, right Ri-ku-kun?”

Riku glared at him, trying to knock the tall man back with the hatred of his gaze. He was the victim here. He’s been advantage of, if anyone here was the closet whore, it was smug looking redheaded bastard in front of him. The room was silent as neither teen wanted to blink.

Selphie took a picture.

Riku tried to ignore effects of the camera’s flash as he stood his guard. It took every fiber of his being to not kick the man before him in the balls. The bastard deserved it.

Instead, he broke his gaze and stomped past the redhead, slamming the door behind him.

The duo stood in silence, staring at the door.

“Now, tell me if this theory of mine is wrong,” Axel said rubbing his chin. “But I get the sense that he’s pissed off.”

“Oh no,” Selphie said shaking her head “He really likes you.” She smiled.

“Really?”

“Yup! Now.” She jumped onto his back. “Give me a ride down the stairs.”