Betwixt

4.

Riku leaned on his door. He felt like his heart was trying to run out of his chest. He managed to dodge his father before the man could question him. Unfortunately, the man thought Riku had the runs and began to sing the Pepto-Bismol commercial tune in an opera voice.

“Nausea, heart burn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea!”

The silver haired boy cringed as he sank to the floor.

“You made a pretty dramatic exit back there.”

He looked up to see Selphie climbing though his window. He really needed to put bars on that.

“Are you okay?”

Papa’s baritone voice vibrated through the walls.

“Nausea, Heart burn, in-di-gestion, up-set stomach, diarrrrheeeaa!”

“Does it sound like I’m okay?” he asked, pointing at the door.

Selphie giggled. Riku frowned at her.

“Are you still mad at me?” She walked up to his slumped figure at the door.

“You are not allowed within ten feet of Axel.”

Selphie sighed and sat down next to him. “Come on, he’s not that bad.”

“Then why did he have to go and do that to me?” The memories of what happened in the closet were still fresh in his mind. He didn’t like how his cheeks flared at the thought of Axel’s tongue licking down his neck and over his racing pulse.

“I’m sure Axel didn’t mean any harm,” Selphie said tilting her head slightly and smiling.

Riku pointed at the hickey that looked like a small continent on his neck.

“It’s a sign of his undying love?”

“What am I going to do? We have to meet Sora and Kairi later for the stupid celebratory dinner. How am I going to walk in looking like this?”

“With your face held high and full of pride?”

“You’re not helping,” he said, glaring at her.

Selphie examined the hickey on the boy’s neck.

“Look, we can’t say I gave you the hickey because that’ll just feed the idea of us getting together. How about we cover it up with some foundation?”

Riku stood up and like all teenagers that think the world is against them, buried his face into his pillows.

“Why is everything going so wrong?” he grumbled.

“It’s not that bad when you think about it,” Selphie said sitting on the edge of the bed. She brushed some of his hair to expose his shoulders and gave them a comforting squeeze.

“I broke into a killing machine’s house and was sexually molested by a complete stranger in said killing machine’s closet.”

There was a short silence.

“It’s not that bad when you don’t think about it?”

Riku moaned miserably into his pillow.

“Come on Riku, live a little. You deserve a break from all this unrequited love game. You should give Axel a shot, he’s ready and willing.”

“More like horny and ready to pounce,” he said after lifting his head up a little to feel the cool air of the room on his face.

Selphie entwined her fingers through his silver locks.

“Stealing Sora away from Kairi is going to be difficult. And I promise that I’ll be with you every step of the way if that’s what you want. But someone is going to get hurt, and I have the feeling it’s going to be you.”

She gently drew her digits through the silk like strands and watched them float down onto his back.

“I don’t want us to ruin our friendship with Kairi and Sora. And I don’t want to see you hurt. So, why not give Axel a try?”

“Sora was mine to begin with, Selphie. I can’t just forget about him because someone new just happened to walk by.”

He sat up and faced her.

“All my life I’ve wanted to be a part of Sora’s world. Every time I was granted access, the opportunity would slip through my fingers because I was scared that I wasn’t good enough. And I’m trying Selphie. I’m trying so hard to get over that fear. I know I can do this. I just need some more time.”

He didn’t mean to tell her that, he didn’t want her to know his weakness. But now that she knew about it, he couldn’t help but feel some of the burden his emotions were baring upon his mind lift up a little. Selphie nodded and smiled.

“So I guess that means you’re still going to dinner then?”

“Yes, I can’t not go, Sora will be disappointed.”

Selphie perked up.

“Great! After we cover up your hickey, we’ll pick up Axel and be on our merry way and—”

“What?” Riku grabbed her by the shoulders. She was slightly startled at first, but then it dawned on her how much damage she could do to him. The ends of her mouth curled upwards and form a maniacal smile.

Oh shit.

“Well I thought it would be cool if Axel met the gang.”

“What the hell for?” he asked sharply.

Selphie’s eyes darkened and Riku let go of her. The evil aura she was emitting made his skin goosebump.

“You said you wanted Sora, right? Why not make him jealous by using Axel? You know, play dirty. Fight fire with fire.”

Riku crossed his arms over his chest and gave her an incredulous look.

“The last time I played with fire I got burned.”

“It’s not that bad,” She said examining the bruise on his neck again. “It sort of looks like Africa.”

“Selphie.”

“But it’ll be rude of me to not invite him. How about I pick him up and you meet us there? It’ll be less awkward and if Sora’s there first, you can make a move.”

“Just don’t tell Axel anything else that he could use against me. I don’t want Sora or Kairi to get wind of what I want to do.”

“Oh! I promise! Your secret fear of gerbils is safe with me!” she raised her hand giving him her scout’s honor.

His shoulders slouched in defeat as his mind collapsed with images of Axel and Selphie combining their forces of evil to make his life a living hell. The man had a great influence on the bubbly girl in front of him and he shuddered to think what else she would learn from the lewd redhead.

Riku hoped he would make it through dinner alive with his pride intact.

*~*~*~*

Riku strode along the board walk, his hands in his pockets, taking advantage of the streets devoid of tourists. The dinner was to take place at a quiet and casual café, where the tables were outside looking out onto the ocean.

With the sun gone, the air was much cooler and Riku was grateful for that. He didn’t want to sweat through the makeup Selphie had meticulously put on his hickey.

He turned right from the main street and saw the café in the distance. Riku wondered how the night was going to play itself out. Would he consider telling Sora everything? He bashed the thought out of his mind. It wasn’t like the boy was getting married the next day. Sora was fifteen; he couldn’t legally get married even if he tried. Still, he felt anxious about the situation. Sora and Kairi were promised to each other, if he waited any longer then what would become of him?

He froze in place once he saw the happy couple waiting at a round table. He took a breath, relaxed his shoulders, and entered.

“It’s about time! We thought you’d forgotten about us.” Kairi said, playfully pouting angrily as he walked towards their table. He took a seat next to Sora.

“Well, it is for an important occasion, no matter how illogical it may be,” he said, smirking.

Sora and Kairi blushed at his comment.

“But you still came, so I’m glad,” Sora said, averting his gaze from his friend. The boy began to fidget with the napkins.

“So what’s the deal with the new neighbors? I heard Selphie took you to meet them,” Kairi said raising a curious eyebrow.

Riku dragged his attention away from Sora.

“It’s nothing worth talking about. They’re just new faces, nothing more, nothing less,” he said, nonchalantly leaning back into his chair.

“Is there something on your neck?” Sora asked, losing interest in the napkins.

Riku’s hand shot upwards to cover the covert hickey, eyes wide and paranoid.

“Nothing!” he shouted. He chuckled nervously, trying to remain calm as Sora gave him a doubtful look. Riku cleared his throat and placed an elbow on the table.

“So where’s everyone else?” he asked coolly.

“Wakka is still at work and Tidus is stuck babysitting.” Kairi sighed with disappointment.

“Really? You would think their lives would revolve around blitz ball,” Sora said, chewing his bottom lip as he thought about his busy friends.

“Yeah, totally suspicious if you ask me…not that I know what suspicious means…because I’m not...suspicious that is, because I’m cool,” Riku jittered as he voice almost cracked.

Sora and Kairi stared at him.

No. You are not cool.

“Riku, are you okay? You look a bit flushed,” Kairi looked worried and leaned forward to feel his forehead.

“N-No, I’m fine!” he said still covering up his neck with his hand and scooting away from her and almost bumping into Sora.

“Are you sure?” Sora asked. The brunet reached for a glass of water. the boy took a sip and pushed the glass towards his friend.

“Here, it’s nice and cold, it’ll make you feel better.”

“Uhhh…”

Riku couldn’t stop staring at the one drop of water lingering on Sora’s bottom lip. The Sora sensed it and licked his lips. As if some form of cruel divine punishment, the boy sensually dragged his teeth over his bottom lip. At least, that’s what it looked like to Riku.

Riku licked his own lips at the sight of Sora’s mouth. His mouth watered at the mere thought of biting and teasing the brunet’s lips raw. Sora leaned in closer, insisting that Riku drink.

“Unnn-noo.”

Riku tried to resist.

“There they are!”

Riku looked up to see Selphie literally hop in while dragging Axel behind her. Sora placed the glass down to greet the new pair.

“How’s everyone?” Selphie asked, sitting next to Kairi.

Before Axel took his seat, Riku saw the man’s eyes widen up in disbelief at Sora. The look only lasted a quick heartbeat before Axel regained his cocksure attitude. But, Riku couldn’t ignore that it happened. What was that about? Did he know already who Sora was?

Axel slid into the available seat next to Riku.

“You must be Axel. Selphie told me all about you. I’m Kairi,” she said introducing herself, “and that’s Sora.”

Sora nodded a greeting.

Axel raised a curious brow. He looked at Riku, who glared at him, and then drew his attention back to Sora. The redhead wolfishly leered at his new toy. To Riku’s horror it looked as if the man was rearing sharp teeth. He could imagine Axel getting ready to hunt.

“So how do you like it here?” Kairi asked. Axel paused in his hunt to answer the cute girl.

“It’s different from the city. I didn’t expect it to be so quiet. But the people make up for it,” He looked towards Riku, who avoided eye contact by staring at his glass of water.

“Riku and I gave him a small tour of the neighborhood,” Selphie chirped proudly.

“Really? How was that?” Sora asked.

“Wonderful.” Axel smiled, snaking an arm over Riku’s shoulders, pulling him close.

This cannot be good.

Riku tensed at Axel’s fingers rubbing his arm.

“Riku gave me an extensive and detailed tour of his mou-”

“Oh my god! Shouldn’t we be ordering? Because I’m hungry, is anyone else hungry?” Riku interrupted while fumbling about for any menus on the table.

Sadly there wasn’t any.

“I’m hungry,” Axel murmured, voice low and lusty. He blew into the boy’s ear, gently.

“Gahh!”

“Hey Kairi, any news on the job?” Selphie asked, ignoring Riku’s cry.

“Yeah, I start this week,” Kairi said, also unfazed.

Why was no one saving him!

He glared at Selphie, trying to communicate through his sudden awesome powers of telepathy.

Mission: take redhead out.

She felt his heated glare and nodded at him sternly.

Affirmative, going in.

“Hey Kairi, let’s go to the powder room and doll up,” Selphie said as she grabbed her friend’s arm.

“Um, ok?”

Abort mission! Wrong redhead! Nooo! He shouted in his mind as their figures grew smaller.

He could have sworn he saw Axel’s eyes light up in excitement as the man slithered his way into Kairi’s seat next to Sora.

“So…Sora is it? How does it feel to be tied down for the rest of your life already?”

“Axel,” Riku growled, mortified at his bluntness.

Sora didn’t seem a bit offended.

“It’s not that bad. I mean, I love her. That’s what counts.”

“You sound so sure of yourself.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Riku watched in horrid fascination.

“Because you’re so young.” Axel leaned in so that his body brushed against Sora’s. “You’re barely out of diapers now. Why take the big leap before you can crawl?”

“But love shouldn’t be restricted because of age,” Sora reasoned.

Axel chewed on his lip as he thought. Riku found himself thinking that it was a cute jester for a split second, and then the urge to violently brutalize him rose.

“You’re right it shouldn’t.” Axel slipped his arm around Sora’s shoulders. “But you also shouldn’t limit yourself on it either.”

Axel cupped the boy’s chin and raised him up to his face. Riku could already Sora’s eyes glaze a bit as he succumbed to Axel’s toxic charm.

“I think you should go out and explore a bit, you know, have a bit of fun,” he breathed huskily.

“But I don’t like any other girl…” Sora said, almost zombie-like.

“Who said it had to be a girl?” Axel smirked.

“Sora, come with me to the powder room,” Riku said, abruptly standing up. It was an abrupt and ridiculous request, but he had to get Sora out of there.

“Huh?” Sora said snapping out of his trance like state.

“I mean,” Riku said, clearing his throat a bit. “Can I have a word with you?”

“No need Riku, the ladies are back,” Axel said, standing up from Kairi’s seat.

Selphie winked at Riku cheekily.

Mission complete.

He glared at her.

You’re an idiot.

“I guess I should leave you guys to your dinner then,” the redhead said, standing near the table.

Kairi’s face fell.

“No, you should stay.”

“I’d love to, but those boxes aren’t gonna unpack themselves.” Axel chuckled.

“Oh! I’ll help you.”

“Selphie!” Riku and Kairi barked in unison.

“I promise to make it up to you later, see ya!” Selphie said, dragging Axel hurriedly through the café.

Kairi sighed in frustration.

“I should have known it was just gonna be the three us,” she said sitting next to Sora, who rubbed her back reassuringly.

Riku went back to looking at his glass of water. He traced the rim with his finger slowly.

Riku didn’t want it to be just the “three of us”. It was never just the “three of us” in the beginning so why should it just the “three of us” now? They eventually ordered dinner and he spoke words coated in false enthusiasm and praise. He didn’t want to be there. He knew he didn’t belong there.

In the end he gave his share of munny for the bill and, although Sora was reluctant to let him go, Riku left before dessert arrived.

*~*~*~*

He walked home feeling his miserable. He felt so helpless. Why was he doing this to himself? It wasn’t like Sora would jump into his arms as soon as he confessed. What if Sora thought he was weird? Kairi and Sora will always be together, no matter who comes in between them and tonight’s attempt at getting Sora proved no different. Riku knew he’d lost the race to Sora’s heart along time ago, but it took tonight to help him realize to that.

Riku walked into his house and stopped at the stairs at the sound of laughter coming from the dining room. He peered in and saw that the room filled with cakes, puddings, and exotic-looking gelatin desserts.

His father was currently roaring with laughter as a young woman, dressed in a pink summer dress, told a story. Next to her sat a young man with dark spiky hair, much like Axel’s—Riku thought he looked strikingly similar to the redhead—poking at his gelatin dessert, which creepily enough poked back. At the end of the table sat Axel, who was slowly licking his custard off of his spoon.

“Speaking of the devil!” his father shouted as he made his way towards his son. “Riku-kun, this is Aeris and her husband Zack! Oh, and I think you already met Zack’s younger cousin, Axel.”

“A pleasure,” Riku replied dryly.

Papa let go of Riku and placed a hand dramatically on his forehead.

“Oh! The joys of parenting are indeed worth the sacrifice of one’s happiness and in my case a small goat! It’s all sunshine and flowers when they’re small and too stupid to know the real meaning of humiliation.”

The man’s long silver hair swung over his shoulders as he posed with one hand reaching for the air.

“It’s when they grow up and become ungrateful little bastards that you realize you should’ve drowned them in the tub when they were two,” Papa said. He flicked his hair and made his eyes sparkle.

“But I digress. It’s a pity that you, Aeris, are barren like a charred, smoking forest after a nuclear attack, and that Zack’s sperm is too slow to even make it through that hostile environment.”

Aeris laughed.

“Don’t worry, I’m not barren,” she said sweetly.

Zack cleared his throat.

“And…” He gestured for her to continue.

“Oh! Right! The spaghetti was delicious.” She smiled.

Zack looked defeated. Riku felt sorry for him.

“What she meant to say…” Zack started before giving Aeris a glare, “…is that we don’t have time to raise kids.”

“That’s too bad,” Papa said as he frowned and pouted, tilting his head sympathetically. “Because nothing is more beautiful than knowing the child you begot of your groin will some day suck the life and happiness out of you, leaving behind a husk of your former self that will eventually wither and crumple, due to the constant emotional tug-of-war your child will make you go through.”

“Awwwww,” Aeris cooed.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Zack’s voice rasped. He paled at the thought.

Meanwhile, Riku looked at Axel, who was viciously having his way with his spoon. The boy gulped as he saw Axel’s tongue travel slowly around the rim of the utensil’s base. Heat rose to his cheeks as he begun to think about that same tongue doing the same things to him.

He tore his gaze away to see Aeris try to force feed Zack some grape gelatin which—now that Riku had a chance to examine it—looked to have sharp pieces of glass floating inside.

“But it tastes like blood,” Zack whined.

“It’s not blood, its cherry,” she reassured him.

“But it hurts when I eat it,” He said, pushing it away. “And yes, it is blood! I think it’s my blood!”

She pushed the plate back.

“You wuss, then swallow it whole.” She tried to push the spoon into his mouth. “Only punks chew jell-o,” she scolded.

Riku concluded that like Selphie, Aeris was insane.

“I’m going to my room!” he said hurriedly.

Papa held him back.

“Wait! Take Axel with you. You need to make friends that actually like you, Riku-kun,” Papa said patting his son on the back.

“Axel’s a fine boy. He’s in his sophomore year of college and plans to go abroad next year to Rome. You could learn a lot from him.”

“I can twist a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue,” Axel said with a straight face.

Riku’s jaw almost dropped.

“See? The young man is multitalented!” Papa cheered as he pushed a mortified Riku in Axel’s direction.

The stupefied teen went up the stairs and Axel followed behind. When Riku closed the door behind him and Axel, he gave an involuntary shudder as his mind tried to repress the events of the last ten minutes.

Axel, on the other hand, was too busy looking around the room to notice.

Riku looked up to see the young man flipping through his sketch book.

“You could ask, you know,” he said annoyed. He took it from Axel’s hands.

Axel ignored the scolding and kept looking around.

“Your room is nice.” He smirked as he pointed to a cream colored door. “Does this mean I get a tour of the closet here too?”

Riku wanted to smite him.

The redhead frowned when he got no answer, then shrugged and jumped onto Riku’s bed.

Riku wanted to smack that adorableness right off his face.

“Don’t think that after the closet stunt at Squall’s house that I’m easy to push over,” Riku spat.

“Whoever said you were?” Axel asked, sitting up.

“You just implied it! And tonight at dinner! I did not appreciate you hanging all over Sora. I thought you were supposed to help me.”

“Well, I never got a straight answer from you back then when I offered.” Axel got up from the bed and stood in front of Riku.

“But, since you’re too stubborn to admit to my greatness, I went ahead and helped you anyway, despite how it may have looked.”

“By seducing him?” Riku almost growled his enquiry.

Axel leaned in.

“Exactly.”

Riku could see the danger illuminating the man’s eyes. He was caught in his gaze and tried desperately to break free.

“Your friend, to put it bluntly, is easy.”

“But he’s not gay,” Riku defended helplessly.

“True, but he’s at least bi-curious and that’s what matters to you at the moment.”

“So what do I need to do?”

Axel placed his hands on Riku’s shoulders.

“If what Selphie told me is correct, then you have a greater chance of success due to your close friendship with him. All you have to do is step up your game a bit, get more assertive, send the kid signals that you like him and then pounce his ass viciously while his pants—err, I mean, defenses are down,” the redhead said with a lunatic smile. Riku could feel the adrenaline pumping through the man’s fingers.

“No!”

“Do you want Sora or not?” Axel asked seriously.

“I do, but—”

“Then it’s official. Tomorrow, I’ll meet you here bright and early to teach you some techniques for use on our victim,” he said with a look of perverted determination on his face. “But, you’ll have to finish that tour Selphie promised me first.”

“What!”

“My services aren’t cheap. But, if you want to pay with something else,” Axel said, pulling up close to Riku’s face, “I’m sure I’ll be able to make some arrangements.” He leaned in to capture the boy’s lips.

“N-no, tour is fine,” Riku stuttered as he slipped out of the man’s grasp.

“So then, we have a deal?”

Riku looked doubtfully at Axel’s hand. Was he selling his soul at the moment?

“Deal,” he said, shaking the redhead’s hand.

Axel chose to wheel him in and pressed their bodies together firmly.

“Can we seal it with a kiss instead?”

Riku’s survival instincts immediately kicked in.

“N-no,” he said, as he again managed to wrestle his way out of Axel’s grip.

Axel sighed, defeated.

“Sorry Selphie, I couldn’t get him to do it.”

Selphie popped out from behind the closet door with a bigger chest than what he usually saw on her. Riku made a mental note to check for missing underwear later.

“It’s okay; I got some nice shots of him in the shower earlier.”

He couldn’t believe it. Were they tag teaming him? Was he their toy?

“Isn’t it nice that Axel is going to help you win Sora?” Selphie smiled.

Axel grinned wolfishly.

Now two people knew about his plan to get Sora. He was sure they were a part of an infamous trifecta in hell where Aeris came first, Axel was second, and Selphie barely squeezed in for third.

He watched the duo laugh at the pictures Selphie took of him this morning. His shoulders slumped.

He was, if not royally, screwed.