Osculation

Riku awoke groggy from his sleep. He rolled over in his bed to look at his clock through bleary eyes. It was early, that’s all he could decipher from the red numbers. Errrrg why can’t I ever sleep in on Saturdays? Riku frowned, he hated Saturdays so much. He wasn’t allowed to watch cartoons as a kid, his mother though they were too violent. So his weekend mornings were spent studying or practicing a new instrument his mother pushed onto him. It wasn’t until a few years ago did Riku finally convinced his mother to let him get his own television so he could contentedly lie in bed until late in the afternoon. Nothing good is on though. Riku sat up and swung his legs over the side of his bed. His room wasn’t overly large, but it was by no means cramped. Posters plastered the walls but the floors were devoid of any garbage or loose clothing. Something his mother had drilled into him. He shifted himself onto two feet and grabbed articles of clothing from his drawer. He threw on an outfit for the day before making his way downstairs.

As he made his way over to the kitchen he heard a familiar high-toned voice, his mother. What he wasn’t expecting was the low chuckle that followed. Dad’s home? He thought, and hurried his steps. Swinging the kitchen door open he found his mother seated firmly in his fathers lap, the newspaper gripped in his hands, eyes intent on the gray print. Although Marcy was obviously trying to correct that particular situation. Riku wondered whether he should leave them be, but his mother caught sight of him. Removing herself from her husbands lap she bustled over to the counter grabbing a fruit bowl. Placing it in front of her son, she tried her best to compose herself.

“Riku, your fathers home,” she announced as if Riku hadn’t already noticed. It wasn’t often he got to see his father any more. A long time ago it was the three of them all the time. But Sephiroth’s wise business decisions had gotten him promoted quickly in the oil industry, and now he was wanted everywhere at once. Riku understood it’s what it took to keep his family in the manner they had grown accustomed too, he was grateful for it. He still wished that he had more time with his father however.

Sephiroth folded the paper and placed it on the table.

“Good morning Riku what are you up to today?” it was the greeting he had always said to Riku in the morning. Riku smiled at the familiarity.

“Well, I was going to tutor a friend today, but since your home I suppose I could call him and reschedule.” Riku hoped Axel wouldn’t be too disappointed in the fact that he wouldn’t be going with him to Sora’s house today. Sora..

“Nonsense Riku, don’t shirk your duties just because of unexpected plans. Besides I’m not here for long. I’ll be leaving later this evening.” Riku saw his mothers face fall, his heart sank along with it.

“But you just got here” he complained.

“I know, I know, don’t fret though. The end of next month and I’ll be on vacation. Just in time for your summer vacation as well, am I correct?” Riku’s mood lightened.

“Yeah that sounds about right.”

“Exactly.” Riku couldn’t argue with his father, not that he wanted to. Sepherioth was just one of those people that you couldn’t argue with. A ringing from the room next to the kitchen interrupted Riku’s thoughts.

“Riku could you get that?” his mother asked. Riku nodded as he got up from the chair walking into the dining room and picking up his mothers favorite antique phone.

“Hello?”

“Heeeeey, Ri.” Riku rolled his eyes.

“Hey Ax. What do you want?” he responded dully.

“Don’t be so harsh, I’m your best friend after all. I was calling to ask whether we were still going to Roxas’s house today.” Riku could tell Axel was on his cell phone, the patchy reception coupled with Axel’s heavy breathing was making it hard for Riku to make out what he was saying.

“Yeah, I gotta help Sora study some more. Why? Aren’t you coming?”

“No,no that’s not it, I was just wondering whether you were ready or not.” Riku looked down, he was dressed but he hadn’t brushed his teeth yet.

“Sorta.”

“Did your mom get new flowers in the front?” Riku was caught off guard by the random question.

“Er, yeah why?”

“They’re nice.” Then Riku heard the doorbell ring. Errg, Saturdays! “You going to answer the door or what Ri?”

“Shut- Just shut up.” Riku bristled.

“Riku are you going to get the door?” his father bellowed from the kitchen. Riku rolled his eyes. Hanging up the phone with Axel still yelling on the other end, he waved to his parents as he made his way to the foyer. Opening the door to his best friend he wasn’t surprised to see him still holding the cell phone to his ear.

“Kay, gotta go. You showed up,” he said, even though Riku had long since hung up on the other end.

“So, you gunna get ready or what?” Riku glared at his friend, but turned around regardless, heading back to his bedroom. Axel followed him, still expecting an answer. “Come on – tell mee,” he whined, poking his friend in the back.

“Tell you what?” Riku asked from over his shoulder. As if he didn’t already know what the redhead wanted. Axel rolled his eyes, obviously he was thinking the same thing.

“If you make me say it I’ll yell loud enough for your mom to hear. The you know what’ll happen.” Axel threatened. Riku stopped as he reached for the handle on his door. His mother would want to meet Sora, and then have dinner with Sora and then go on shopping trips with Sora. His mother had always taken an exceptionally special interest in Riku’s love life, even when he made it quite clear he didn’t like girls. His mother just seemed to like having another body to boss around.

“Ugh alright, I’ll tell you but come in first.” Saturdays. Axel glided past Riku, a smile on his face. Riku shut the door quietly as he frowned; his study session with Sora last night went okay. Better than he thought it would. From what Namine had told him Sora didn’t think much of him. It was his own fault really. The girls before never bothered him, mainly because he never gave them a second glance. But Sora seemed to think he was some sort of playboy. He figured he had made pretty good headway last night. Sora hadn’t once called him a jerk.

“Yo, Ri!” Axel said as he waved a hand in front of Riku’s face.

“Wha-?” was Riku’s response as he came out of his daze.

“What is it about that kid that’s got you so worked up?” Axel asked plopping himself down beside Riku on his bed.

“Dunno,” Riku shrugged, “ it was earlier this year during winter when I saw him walking with Namine, he was laughing at something, and I-“ Riku cut off embarrassed by his rambling.

“Dawww, Wiku gotsa cwuuush?” Axel teased, batting his eyelashes.

“Fuck off man” Riku punched Axel in the shoulder “What about you and Roxas?” he asked as he lay back down on his bed.

“I just like teasing him is all, nothing more.” Riku snorted in disbelief. “Besides Ri…” Axel said slowly, as he turned his body so he was hovering inches above his unflinching friend. Axel straddled Riku’s hips, and leaned down, his lips almost touching Riku’s earlobe. “-I like my guys tall, with long silver locks.” Axel’s elbows rested on either side of Riku’s head, which enabled his to twirl Riku’s hair through his gloved fingers. Riku chuckled low in his throat.

“Oh Ax, you sure know how to turn a guy on.” With out warning Riku quickly leaned up and gave Axel’s neck a quick bite.

“Augh!” Axel leaped off Riku, “You better not have left a mark!” Axel rubbed the side of his neck.

“What afraid your boyfriend is going to see it?” Riku teased pushing himself onto his elbows. Axel glared at him and made his way over to Riku’s only mirror.

“Yeah well you started it,” he grumbled.

“Besides I win.” Riku reminded. Satisfied that no mark had been left Axel grinned once again.

“Yeah yeah, I like the kid, so what?” Riku leaned over the other side of his bed and grabbed his backpack he had thrown there the previous night.

“Alright let’s get going, we don’t want to be late.”

“Late for what?” The red head asked genuinely curious, looking at the clock beside Riku’s bed; it only said 9:30.

Riku smirked. “Hannah’s breakfast desserts of course.” He saw Axel’s face light up.

“Well that what are we waiting for let’s go!” Axel rushed past Riku taking the stairs two at a time.

He stared after the red head, a moment ago you would gave sworn he was going to have his was with Riku. Now he was as distracted as ever. It had been that way ever since he had known Axel; mood swings galore. After all Axel was the one that had practically dragged him out of the closet. Not that he wasn’t grateful for it, but Riku had to get used to the forward, but platonic, advances of his best friend. He had once asked Axel what he had meant by it all, Axel laughed and said it was his ‘training’. Riku didn’t press the issue after an answer like that.

Riku popped his head into the kitchen, to say goodbye to his father. However Sephiroth seemed to be tangled up in something that wasn’t the sports page, and Riku decided it was best to leave them alone this time.

“Riku hurry the hell up!” Axel yelled from the door. “Cupcakes!” He paused, “Hannah’s cupcakes.” Another few moments of silence passed as Riku paused evilly. “Sora!” Riku grinned; Saturday wasn’t going to be all bad.

Riku tapped his pen on his knee as he watched Sora scribble down another word he had gotten wrong. When Axel and him had arrived they had had honey buns shoved into their hands. Hannah, who had decided Roxas and Axel needed to help her deliver cookies to an old age home across town, quickly took him away. That fact, had left Sora and Riku alone for the day. Alone, uhh. Riku rolled his eyes as several thoughts ran through his head, most of which involved Sora’s ass not in that chair…

Riku looked down at his book. This sucks. They were halfway through the ‘g’s, it seemed Sora had done some studying on his own.

“Riku, do you have a cell phone?” Sora interrupted Riku reading a definition, his eyebrows drawn together slightly.

“Yeah…why?” Riku kept his finger on the book, careful not to lose his place.

“Is the ring tone Goo Goo Dolls?” Sora further questioned.

“Yeah, how did you know?” The silver haired boy was slightly taken aback.

“Er…it’s ringing…” Riku realized Sora was right and dug into his back jean pocket. He flipped it open.

“Hello? Okay...yeah – he’s here…Sora, it’s for you” Riku handed the small phone to Sora.

“Uhm, hi?” Sora took the phone from an equally confused Riku and immediately recognized the voice.

“Sora hunny, I have a favor to ask of you.” She said happily. Sora could faintly hear the voices of his brother and Axel.

“Hi mom. How did you get this number?” Sora asked, ignoring her request.

“This is Axel’s phone,” she said as if Sora should already have known that.

“Oh…okay,” Sora looked at Riku who was still obviously confused about how Hannah had gotten his number. Sora pointed to the phone and mouthed ‘Axel’. Comprehension dawned on Riku’s face, got up and started packing up his books. .

“Mom! Axel hit me!”

“I did not, I tapped you! You’re just a wuss!”

“I am not, you take that bac-armphh!”

“Oh my god Roxas, did you just bite me?! Hannah – your rabid son just bit me! Quick, to the hospital – I think he has rabies!” Sora snickered, sounded like they were having fun.

“Oh, hush you two. Roxas, you are a wuss – and don’t go biting your friends. And Axel – stop sneaking cookies from the sick kids. You stole enough from the elderly!” Hannah was quick to the point.

“Mom!”

“I was not! Roxas di-”

“Now, be quiet, I’m on the phone to your brother. Sora, can you and Riku bake a cake?” She asked, completely unfazed by a groaning sound that was audibly Roxas.

“Wait – what?” Hannah sighed, exasperated.

“A cake hunny – I won’t have time to when I get home.” Sora thought about it for a few seconds. They had been working since early this morning, and they really did need a break.

“Sure… what kind?” Sora asked.

“Chocolate, use the recipe I posted on the fridge this morning, ‘kay?”

“Yeah okay,” Sora replied. “Love you-good luck,”

“Sora! Call the cop-!” Roxas had yelled, but Hannah shut off the phone too quickly. Sora hung up and handed the phone back to it’s owner who had packed up the rest of the study notes. Riku looked at Sora and spoke.

“So, what are we doing?” He asked expectedly.

“Baking a cake,” Sora sighed, waiting for the onslaught of excuses. You have to study, or Baking!?. Sora could hear it all now. His excuse to stop studying was going to be ruined…he knew it.

“Yeah,. Alright. Let’s get going,” Sora blinked, surprised at Riku’s casual reply.

“That’s it?” Sora asked incredulously.

“What’s it?” Riku replied, already halfway too the door.

“Well- I don’t know, I thought you were a strict schedule kinda guy,” Sora said, making chopping motions with his hands. Riku laughed loudly and Sora flushed with embarrassment.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me then,” Riku chuckled and Sora could have sworn he saw a dark look pass over his face. In the next instant, Sora was pulled from his chair by a pair of strong arms and lead down the stairs.

____________________________________________________________________

“Oh my god,” Sora stared at himself, a light blue apron covered his front, the large butterfly pocket glaring back at him. He was covered in flour, and he was not happy. Riku had donned the only remotely ‘manly’ apron in the house. Although dark red – it still had little pink hearts on it. Even more infuriating was the fact that Riku stood flourless with a dictionary open his hands, as he quizzed Sora while he mixed batter.

“I hate this apron!” Sora yelled. “I’m taking it off!” Sora started to tug at the bow that Riku had tied in the back, but was stopped by the silver haired boy snatching his wrist.

“Nuh-uh Sora. Not until we finish,” Riku scolded. He let go of Sora’s arms – which he folded defiantly across his chest, sticking his lower lip out in a pout. If this affected Riku, he didn’t show it. “Besides,” he said, turning around and waving his hand nonchalantly. “You’d be covered in a lot more flour if it wasn’t for that pretty little apron.”

It was true, the tips of Sora’s hair were still white. Sora grunted as Riku looked over the card, which the recipe was printed neatly on. “So, we only need to add three eggs, right?” Riku asked, putting down the book and opening the carton to grab the eggs. Sora got there first – he was going to make up for his massive flour failure. I’ll show him who’s mom’s the baker. Grabbing the first egg, Sora cracked it on the side of the counter. As he lifted the egg to break the shell apart, he realized his mistake. His heart sank as almost half the shell fell into the batter. Sora groaned and spent the next few minutes fishing out minute pieces of eggshell. Riku chuckled, and Sora glared at him.

“I’ll get it this time,” Sora stated, Riku continued chuckling. Sora cracked the next egg on the counter again, but this time a little too hard and the yolk spilled onto the counter. Thankfully, he had caught most of the drippings and scooped the rest into his hands. He poured the egg into the batter and once again spent the next few minutes attempting to get the eggshells out. Sora grumbled as he threw the shells out and stood glaring at the bowl. Sora reached for the last egg and his hand was slapped away.

“At this rate we’ll never get done,” Riku frowned and grabbed the egg, cracking it on the counter just as Sora had done – but this time more efficiently. Sora watched has he reached around him to lean closer to the bowl, pressing body against his own. Sora was uncomfortably aware at how close Riku was to him now, as his arms encircled him. Riku cracked the rest of the egg open and the brunet watched as it fell into the batter – shell free.

Then Sora felt a pair of soft lips on his cheek. He could have imagined it – it was so quick. But when Sora look up at Riku, who had removed his arms from around him he noted a familiar white powder on his lips. Sora couldn’t believe what had just happened and was hoping that the flour was covering up most of his blush.

Neither Sora nor Riku mentioned anything about the kiss. And the brunet found himself wondering if Riku had actually done it. But the flour on his lips was evidence, and every time he thought about it, he could feel the heat in his cheeks. The last three steps ended in silence. With Sora still dazed and putting the pan in the oven. Maybe it was an accident Sora told himself, yeah maybe he didn’t mean to. As far as he knew Riku was straight. Pppft about as straight as Lance Bass, a voice in is head scoffed. You leave Lance out of this! No from what he had heard he was probably gotten countless girls pregnant by now.

“Sora!” The brunet looked to Riku who had shaken him out of his thoughts. They had been sitting on the couch watching some design show for quite a while. But Sora had been busy daydreaming and had forgotten what was going on.

“Uhh?” Sora grunted at him. His eyes on a now standing Riku, the apron around his neck that had been untied now sat on his waist. Of course, is he was gay…

“The cake!” Riku shouted pointing to a thin layer of smoke now billowing from the kitchen.

“Holy crap!” Sora shrieked jumping off the couch, and nearly knocking the lamp over in the process. Riku stayed close behind him, as Sora shoved his hands into the pink oven mitts. Riku yanked open the oven, and Sora coughed as more smoke flowed from the oven. Sora thrust his hands into the oven and pulled the cake out, practically throwing it onto the stove. He clipped off the stove quickly, and stood beside Riku glaring at the cake.

“Well… it’s not…burnt per say,” Riku shrugged hesitantly, looking to Sora who had a ‘deer in the headlights look’.

“It’s ruined Riku!” Sora cried throwing himself dejectedly into a kitchen chair.

“No, no it’s not Sora,” the silver haired boy sighed ruffling the brunet’s hair.

“Yes it is!” Sora complained, “ it was smoking and it probably tastes like…like broccoli or something.” He was able to hear the other boy chuckle and try to pass it off as a cough when Sora glared at him.

“That’s impossible,” he said grabbing Sora’s wrist and dragging him back to the stove. The cake didn’t look ruined. The edges were just a little dark. But other than that it wasn’t bad. “Look Sora, it’s fine.”

“Says you,” The brunet grumbled. Riku frowned and rolled his eyes. Sora was over-reacting and was stuck on the fact that their cake was terrible.

“Y’know,” he sighed, resigning himself to Sora’s opinion. “ I bet if we covered it up with icing it’ll look like nothing happened.”


“You think that’ll work” Sora asked raising his eyebrows.

“Of course,” Riku assured him with a smile. “There was barely anything to fix anyway”. Sora’s mood brightened significantly, as he grabbed the vanilla icing. Sora passed Riku a spreader as he attacked the cake by himself, his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth. Riku could almost hear him cackling over the baked good.

“Sora you’re not making a tower of icing y’know,” Riku interjected laughing. With Sora’s desperation to cover anything black with white, and Riku’s apparent experience with a spatula, they had managed to cover the cake quite nicely.

“There it looks fine now right?” Riku asked Sora as he put a hand on his shoulder. Sora blushed, as he felt the weight of Riku’s hand on himself, he didn’t mind so much. It was sort of comforting. The brunet tried not to think about how close they were, instead focusing on their baked masterpiece. The last time they were this close, Sora ended up thoroughly confused. Sora’s breath caught in his throat as Riku leaned closer to him. Oh no! He felt his heart beating faster. Sora closed his eyes, and then he heard Riku’s low rich laugh and felt him pull away. Sora opened his eyes just in time to see Riku smirking and raise his eyebrows evilly. Sora cursed himself. What the hell was he just doing? Riku continued to ice the cake; he had only leaned over Sora to put a few finishing touches on it.

“Did Hannah say what she wanted on it?”

“Well I’d like it to say happy birthday Mrs. Mastersons,” Sora’s Mom said happily. Skirting into the kitchen and moving Riku and Sora aside. “Oh just wonderful boys! Thank you so much.”

“It was our pleasure Hannah,” the silver haired boy said politely. Sora looked to his brother for some sort of help, only to see him and Axel holding in a laugh.

“Hey Rox,” Sora said, making his way to his brother and grabbing him by his wrist. “Can I talk to you for a second?” Dragging him upstairs and practically throwing the blond into Sora’s room, “How long were you two standing there?”

“Long enough,” Roxas snorted, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes at his brother. “”I thought you didn’t like Riku?”

“I don’t!” Sora said immediately.

“Yeah, exactly the reason you two were kissing in the kitchen,” Roxas rolled his eyes.

“No! We weren’t kissing then,” Sora dramatically shook his brother, as if that would help him convince him.

“Then? You man you were kissing?”

“What!? No, maybe…I mean I think he kissed me. But I- I’m not quite sure.”

“What do you mean you’re not sure?” Roxas asked and sat himself on Sora’s bed.

“We’ll we were mixing the ingredients. Well I was mixing the ingredients and I forgot the eggs. So I treid to crack three eggs, and I broke two. And Riku said something smart-ass and grabbed the last egg right from me and –and.”

“Come on Sora spit it out,” Roxas laughed.

“Well he leaned in real close and then I felt his lips on my cheek.” Sora groaned plopping himself beside his brother. “ It was, so gross.” Roxas only clapped him on the back and smiled.

“Well Sor,” he said, “ I guess you’ll have to buy some George Michael albums.” Sora gaped at his now laughing brother. He’s not helping at all! Roxas saw his brothers crestfallen face, and moved overt putting his arm around his shoulder. “Relax I mean, we came in and it looked like you two were having fun right?” Sora thought for a moment, even when they were studying, Sora wasn’t feeling any sever hatred towards Riku. In fact the more Sora thought about it, the less angry he was at his brother. He was getting along fine with Riku, but that’s all getting along. Sora sighed.

“ Yeah alright you win. How was delivering cookies?” he said changing the subject to something less embarrassing.

“It was alright,” Roxas shrugged. “ Axel kept asking me to get him ice cream so now I have to.”

“Why didn’t you just say no?” Sora asked, His brother was no pushover. He heard his brother mumble something about a cookie-throwing contest. Sora didn’t ask any further. His brother was a saver, and having to spend money on anyone other than himself or family obviously rubbed him the wrong way.

“You try saying no to Axel.” Roxas huffed, rolling his blue eyes. “His hands are like lightning. You should have seen him with those peanut butter ones!”

“Sora, Roxas!” the two quieted down at the sound of their mother’s voice. “Hurry up you two we’re leaving!” Sora followed Roxas downstairs.

“Where are we going this time?” Roxas asked exasperated, as they entered the kitchen. Hannah was at the counter concentrating solely on writing with red icing on the cake. She didn’t even seem to notice Axel practically on top of Riku on the counter beside her. Okay, so maybe Sora was over-reacting again. Axel was not on top of Riku. He was, however, leaning against him their bodies squashed together, his head on the others shoulders. The two watched Hannah finish the cake. Riku’s arms crossed, Axel’s hands fumbling in his forest green jacket. Axel yawned and looked up at Riku, saying something that made the silver haired boy chuckle.

“Mom,” Roxas tried to get her attention while Sora gaped at the couple.

“Hmm? What dear,” she mused as she licked her finger putting the red gel down.

“I asked where we were going this time,” he repeated.

“Sunset heights,” she drawled. Sora was still glaring at Riku while he mouthed something that looked like jealous and raised an eyebrow. Sora’s glare only pointed and mocked him with a face of disgust.

“But we were just there,” Roxas complained, completely unaware of the contest going to between his brother and Riku.

“Oh relax,” she said as she opened a cupboard. “This is a special trip. It’s Mrs. Masterson’s birthday.” She closed the cupboard and opened a drawer. “ Oh where did I put those presents?”

“Who’s Mrs. Mastersons?” Sora asked, pulling himself away from Riku’s stare.

“Oh just a lady I’m close with at the home. You’ll like her. Now put that cake in a box please. I have to find thos- oh! Here they are.” Hannah pulled out a large polka-dotted gift bag. Sora did what he was asked and lifted the cake into a cardboard box with a cellophane top. “ Okay boys into the car.” She shooed them out of the kitchen, one hand taking the cake from Sora, while the other held the gift bag. Roxas waited for his mother to leave the house before closing the door and locking it behind them.

“Shotgun!” Sora yelled, there was no way he was going to be caught between Axel and Riku in the back seat.

“Um, Sora you can’t Hun, there’s a bunch of boxes and binders from work in the passengers seat. Plus the cake and stuff.” Hannah informed him. Sora gaped.

“Wait all four of up aren’t going to fit in the back!” he complained. Hannah waved her hand dismissively.

“You’ll just be a little squished is all.” Their mother placed the pastry and presents on the front seat. The twins looked at each other and grimaced.

“Can’t I sit, under all the stuff?” Sora pleaded.

“No way,” Hannah shook her head, “ I’m not trusting you with a cake in your lap.” Hannah frowned and slipped into the drivers seat. “Now get in or we’ll end up late.” Sora’s face fell. There was no way he was going to win this one. Riku shrugged and filed inside, taking the window seat behind Hannah. Axel shoved Sora in after him, and Roxas followed suit before Axel could lay a hand on him.

”Ow Sora! You weigh a ton,” Riku complained as Sora’s leg was pushed so much it was on top of him.

“Do not!” he defended himself, sticking out his tongue.

“Axel! Get your—mmpff,” Roxas tried, but found scolding him nearly impossible as the toqued boy attempted to do up his seatbelt. Roxas ended up with a mouthful of elbow.

“Stop your whining Roxas,” he grunted, as he gave up on safety.

“You boys ready?” Hannah asked politely. She pulled out of the driveway regardless. Setting off across town.

“Yea- hey!” Sora replied as he saw Axel lean over all three of them to check under the seat. “What the?”

“Watch your mouth Sora,” Axel frowned “ I left my bag here, just making sure sasquatch here didn’t smush it.”

“Your taller than me Ax,” Riku said glaring at the red-head.

“Yeah, but your made of more muscle,” he countered and looked up at Riku with a suggestive grin. Riku didn’t have a reply this time.

“Axel will you hurry up. Please. Any longer and you’ll push me into sitting on- oh.. oh great. Too late.” Sora had had a vague idea that something like that was going to happen. He just hoped it would be Roxas. Sora batted at Axel’s head as his lower back came into contact with the door. The redhead returned to his seat just as Sora was trying to squeeze tighter beside Roxas and Riku.

“No, wait Sora.” Roxas stopped him from moving.

“What is there something on me is it a spider? If it is then squash it. Wait don’t I don’t want it to-”

“Sor there’s nothing on you. Just stay there I have more room this way.”

“What? No way Rox,” as Sora shouted, Hannah made a hairpin turn, sending the brunet into the door again. He groaned impatiently and struggled to sit up again, refusing to look at Riku who was most likely smirking. He kicked and tried to get off of Riku’s lap.

“Sora c’mon!” Roxas begged, pressing his hands on his bothers chest and locking his elbows. Sora growled and pushed harder, but Roxas had the upper hand in his position.

“But I’m bothering Riku!” Sora attempted.

“You know what? I don’t think he minds,” Axel commented, but neither Sora nor Roxas heard. Riku scowled and reached behind the struggling twins to tear off Axel’s hat.

“Hey!” Axel yelled as his hair shot up like a light. “You give that back Riku!” he growled over the shouts and grunts of the brothers.

“Roxas you suc-“ but Roxas cut him off.

“Yeah you fight like a girl!”

“Do not!”

“Well if you put some-“ Axel started, but paused to hiss at his best friend. “ Make-up on him he’d look the part. What do you think Riku?” He sneered.

“Don’t you dare answer him you pig!” Sora scolded, leaning into the seat to crush Riku’s chest with the shoulder.

“Oof!” the silver haired boy gasped. “Sora stop!”

“As long as you get you- AHHH!” the brunet finished with a scream. The car made a drastic stop. Sora crashed into the back of Hannah’s seat, Riku up against him. Axel was halfway into the passenger’s seat, while Roxas could barely be seen.

“ IF YOU FOUR DO NOT SETTLE YOUESELVES DOWN, SO HELP ME I WILL TURN THIS CAR AROUND AND THERE WILL BE NO TREATS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.” Hannah’s threat was not bottomless. She would cut them off from cookies and the like. She would even cut Riku and Axel, who weren’t even her kids. They all quieted down and Sora relaxed reluctantly into Riku’s lap, still glaring at his brother. Even though he had to sit on Riku, he still made Roxas frown, by placing his feet in between Roxas’s and Riku’s thighs.

“Sorry Hannah,” Riku apologized first.

“Yeah sorry Mom” spoke Axel, the twins followed mumbling, but Hannah knew what they meant.

“ Now are you ready? Are you done fighting?”

“Not quite,” Axel stalled, punching Riku in his shoulder, hard enough to make him wince. He snatched his hat back and pulled it over his head. “Okay, now were ready.”

“Good,” Hannah said her short curls bouncing as she pulled back onto the road.

“Out of curiosity” Riku drawled with a devilish smirk. “What made you scream like a little girl?”

“I did not sound like a girl” Sora defended trying to buy himself time to think of a proper excuse, the truth was just too embarrassing. “Umm it was, err…Axel’s hair!”

“Axel’s hair?” Roxas asked.

“My hair” the redhead agreed.

“Yeah well,” Sora shifted uncomfortably. “ It just came out of nowhere. It looked like a moomba from that kiddie show.”

“Well I am insulted,” Axel joked with a face of mock disgust.

“I’m sorry Ax that’s not what a meant.”

“I’m just joking Sora geeze. You’re like a little jitterbug. Don’t worry about it, it happens all the time.” Axel laughed, but it was hollow, and his eyes now seemed a little distant. Axel looked to Riku and he read his expression. He really didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

“Oh hey, Roxas, how was the game last night?” Riku expertly changed the subject. Roxas might have been the only one who noticed.

“It was awesome, we won. And I gave Lexeaus a bloody nose,” Roxas informed them.

“You beat the Cerberus?” Axel said with genuine shock.

“Yeah it was a real tough game though. Hayner almost had his head taken off. How did you know we were playing Oblivion High anyway?” The blonde shifted uncomfortably.

“Well I know Lex, and Pete, and Seifer, and-“

“Everyone?” Sora interrupted. Axel pondered this for a moment and nodded his head.

“Yeah basically.”

“How? Oblivion High is on the island across from us. They had to get a ferry here.” Roxas asked.

“Used to live there a long time ago,” Axel stated.

“Why’d you move to the outer islands?” Sora asked.

“Well uhm – I sorta-” Axel started, but was rudely cut off by Sora.

“WHO’S HAND IS ON MY LEG?” Sora bellowed, angrily with a blush on his face.

“Woops,” Axel giggled. “Thought that was Roxas.”

“Now that’s my leg…” Roxas said, with audible forced calmness, but his face was flushed with what seemed like anger.

“Good,” Axel grinned, but didn’t bother to remove his hand. Instead of making a fuss, Roxas settled for crossing his arms on his chest and pouting. Sora, his legs now free off any appendages was sitting on Riku comfortably. The silver haired boy was chatting with his mother from behind Sora – something about Alberta again.

“It’s pretty empty up where I visit. Most of the time I never go into the big cities,” Sora was interested in why Riku was going to Canada in the first place. He was about to ask when he was interrupted once again by his chatty mother.

“Oooo Canadaaa,” she sang. “I have such good memories of that place.” Sora was surprised; he had no idea his mother had ever traveled – let alone out of the country. Roxas spoke first.

“You’ve been to Canada?” Roxas said, unfolding his arms. Sora looked to his twin, who also had a confused look on his face. Sora noticed Axel had removed the hand, and was now staring dreamily out of the window.

“Of course, it’s where I met your father.” Sora could feel his brother tense the same time he did. This had to be the first time Hannah had mention their father in over five years. It was a touchy subject so neither Sora nor Roxas ever pushed it. They never had a reason to, they knew their dad had left when Hannah was pregnant and she’d never heard from him since. Sora never really thought about it – his mother had always been more than what Roxas and he had ever needed.

“Sunset heights!” Hannah said cheerily, thankfully interrupting the awkward moment. Sora was relieved to see the brick building come into view. Axel was the first out of the car, and Sora was practically shoved off Riku’s lap onto the ground.

Sora looked at Roxas, confused. “What’s he so perturbed about?”

“You shouldn’t have said that about Axel’s hair, it wasn’t nice,” Roxas reprimanded. Sora blushed, that wasn’t really the reason. Sora looked around to find Riku talking to Axel in a hushed whisper at the trunk of the car.

Sora assumed it would be safe. “That’s not the reason I screamed Roxas,” he whispered. Roxas still didn’t look convinced. Sora looked around nervously – Riku had a bad habit of sneaking up on him. “Riku he…sort of…wel..groped me,” Sora finished, his face now beet red.

“Pffft – oh god,” Roxas laughed, almost in hysterics. “He didn’t…did he?” Sora blushed more – if that was even possible.

“..yeah..”

“Ah man Sora,” Axel said, coming up from behind Sora, in between laughs. “I’m sorry – ha, I mean – I know why,” apparently Axel was unable to finish his sentence and brushed past Sora – grabbing a box from the front passenger seat, still laughing. “Come on Rox,” he said, his mood now improved. “You can met my gramma,”

“I volunteer here all the time Axel – I’m sure I’ve met her already. Which room is she in?”

Axel lifted the white box with a smile. “The one this cake is going to of course.”

To everyone’s surprise, well maybe not Hannah’s, Axel was telling the truth. Not only was Rose Masterons one of the nicest people in the home she was also one of the chattiest. Her mouth ran like a motorboat.

“Happy Birthday!” They chided, Hannah pushing the door to her room open with her shoulder.

“Birthday? Who’s birthday?” Rose put on her glasses, which were out of date. But she was blind as a bat without them.

“It’s your birthday,” Axel informed her dully.

“Oh how nice. How old am I?” She asked. Riku and Sora felt completely out of place. Was Axel’s gramma actually crazy, or was she just acting that way?

“Eighty-six!” Hannah said happily, giving Riku the cake. The silver haired boy wobbled slightly – he already had enough boxes. Which on did Roxas give him anyway the one full of sinks?

“Come on now Rose, let’s go to the sitting room,” Hannah took her gently by the arm, ushering her out of the room. The four followed behind her, Riku paused to reshuffle the boxes in his arms.

Sunset Heights was a nice retirement home. The staff were nice and the accommodations were perfect. It was very scenic, with lots of bay windows on the first floor. Rose lowered herself in a rocking chair, Axel and Sora sitting in a loveseat across from her. Riku grunted as he tried to put the gifts on the table carefully, then found a spot in between Roxas and Hannah.

“Oh, don’t forget mine,” Axel said, pulling out a neatly wrapped package from his tote bag. He threw it gently onto an empty spot on the coffee table.

“This is wonderful Hannah, thank you so much,” Rose patted her on the hand. Sora found it weird how she didn’t acknowledge her own grandson. “Are these your sons you’ve told me so much about?”

“Well, you’ve probably seen Roxas helping around here,” Hannah motioned to the blond sitting on the end of the couch.

“Oh yes, you gave me my pills the other week,” Rose seemed to forget that Roxas was only able to volunteer with the food, but he smiled at her regardless.

“And that one over there is Sora,” the brunette grinned and held up a hand.” And the silver haired one is his friend, Riku,”

“Mm, yes,” Rose sighed. “Hannah, didn’t you say you were going to being my grandson?”

“Oh Rose, he’s right th-“

“Axel couldn’t make it,” the red head spoke. “He said he had an important assignment to do. He sends his best wished though,” What’s with Axel? Roxas thought, and looked to the red head. He smiled lightly, sitting on the edge of the seat with his elbows on his knees. Although Axel was smiling, his eyes reflected something of what looked like hurt.

“Oh that’ to bad. Tell him I love him very much,” Rose said with a sigh.

“I will mom,” Axel answered and Roxas and Sora were thrust into a pit of confusions.

“How is work anyway, Rick?” Rose asked. Who was Rick? And why was Axel calling his Grandma, Mom?

“It’s going good – just closed a deal with another big corporation,” Axel lied. He did not close deals with big corporations.

“That’s great, I’m so proud of you,” Rose complimented and pulled Axel’s gift close to her. “Do you mind if I?” Hannah nodded eagerly. “To Rose, from Rick,” she read out loud. Roxas looked to Axel, but he was purposely avoiding him. They watched as Rose happily opened her gifts, placing the garbage in one pile while the other was filled with knick knacks. A harlequin romance novel, salt and pepper shakers in the form of roosters (She collects them apparently) and one of those –QRay bracelets were all from Hannah. But of course, she had written Hannah and the boys on the card. Axel, or Rick, had purchased a jewelry box. It was plain with but with an intricate pink rose painted on the lid, also ‘rose’ was elegantly crafted in gold paint. Axel smiled as Rose opened it up, the music of the Nutcracker drifting softly from the tiny box. A smile appeared on her face. The smile wavered for a split second, before she started to cry. Her strawberry blonde curls stayed stiff even as she shook her head. But they were tears of joy.

“Oh Rick,” she sniffed. “You remembered.”

“‘Course Mom,” Axel said, smiling again, but Roxas knew he was holding back. “How could I ever forget?” There wasn’t much to say about that. Axel and Rose talked for a bit, of course he ended up referring to himself in third person again. Hannah cleaned up the mess of wrapping paper as cake was handed out by a cheerful Sora. Roxas spent the rest of the time in silence, trying to figure out what was wrong with Mrs. Mastersons. He had seen her a couple of times around the Sunset Heights, he also knew that she forgot about a couple of things every now and then. But she didn’t even recognize her own grandson? What happened?

The next thing her knew, they were walking back to Hannah’s car.

“Roxas! I said get in the car!” Hannah called.

“Oh? Well, actually I’m taking Axel for ice cream,” Roxas said. Although he didn’t really want to spend money on the red head, he didn’t want to have to be stuck I the car with him again. Plus, he might be able to find out why Axel was acting weird?

“What? You’re really going to take me?” Axel sounded happy as he slung a lanky arm around Roxas shoulder.

“Well, alright. But don’t be out too late, and call me if anything happens.” Hannah waved as she got into the drivers seat.

“We will!” he said, watching his brother tale shotgun, which left Riku alone in the backset.

____________________________________________________________________

“One sea-salt ice cream,” Roxas ordered politely, to the girl across the counter. Roxas recognized her from the cheerleading team; she was also one of Sora’s friends.

“Make that two,” Axel said from behind the blonde.

“Coming right up boys,” she chirped happily, and set off to retrieve the ice cream.

“I thought I was the only one who liked sea-salt.” Roxas furrowed his brows.

“Then you thought wrong blondie.”

“Blondie? That’s a new one.” Roxas subconsciously ran a hand through his hair.

“Here you are,” Selphie said cheerily, handing them the ice cream.

“Thanks,” Roxas smiled and handed her the correct change. Axel took his soft blue treat almost immediately, with a child like grin, licking at the sides to keep it from melting. The duo walked out of the Pixie Parlor, the ringing of the bell indicating that they had left. The ice cream shop was usually busy on Saturdays, and since the booths were all occupied they decided to walk around while they ate their treat.

Pixie Parlor was right along the boardwalk, the window in the front giving the perfect view of the inner islands. Of course the only thing you could make out from where they were was the Ars Arcanum building, a famous recording studio. It’s where Yuna had got her start, and now the songstress was a big star. The sun was setting nicely against the skyline.

Neither of them really knew where they were going, they were just sort of walking. Roxas was busy trying to figure out what was up with Axel. He narrowed his eyebrows, a little uneasy about how to approach him on the subject.

“Just ask me,” Axel mused, as if reading his mind. Roxas, surprised, looked up at the other, frowning slightly.

“What?” Roxas asked innocently.

“Just ask me, you obviously have something on your mind, right? So spit it out,” Axel’s green eyes refused to meet his own. The blond sighed and stared at his feet.

“Well, first off Rick,” he huffed. Where was this sudden anger coming from? “I’d like to know about your big corporation deals. Then maybe about your mother. Oh yeah, then I’d appreciate it if you told me why you were lying to your Gramma back there!” He didn’t mean to sound so angry; it just sort of went out that way.

“Oh,” Axel blinked, frowning. “I thought it was going to be something simple, like my favorite colour or something…”

“Who’s Rick, Axel?” Roxas asked flatly, the edges of his ice cream cone melting. Their feet shuffling against the boardwalk, slowly turned into scrapping on pavement as they found another street.

“…My dad,” Axel hesitated before answering. “He died.”

“Oh,” Roxas managed ,as a wave of guilt washed over him, he had the feeling that he shouldn’t be asking these sort of questions. “S-sorry,”

“Don’t apologize. I wouldn’t have told you if I didn’t want you to know. Besides, only my mom, Riku and myself know what really happened. Everyone just assumes my dad is some sort of drug dealer,”

“What! Why?” Roxas pushed, and then backed down quickly. “Oh, sorry. You can just ignore that if you want you.”

“There’s no harm in telling you right? Besides, you’re a nice kid, I can trust you won’t tell anyone,” Axel finally looked at him, grinning. “Where to start…where to start. Oh I know! My mom and dad.”

“My dad was twenty seven when he met my mom, at some big corporate meeting. I don’t remember much of what my mom told me, but I think it was her dad that dragged her along. Anyway, Alicia was seventeen, they hit it off had me-”

“That’s it?” Roxas asked, finally biting into the cone.

“Hold on…hold on. Dammti! Where was I?”

“You were born,”

“Right. The fabulous miracle that was I was born. And up until when I was about thirteen, everything was great,” Axel waved his hands in the air dramatically. “Than my dad found out he had terminal cancer of the lung, or cervix, can’t remember.”

“Well, we can rule out cervix,” Roxas assured.

“Wait, why?” Axel asked, genuinely confused.

“That’s a lady part Axel,” Roxas sighed. “Didn’t you learn anything in anatomy?”

“Slept through it,” Axel waved the topic of lady parts off. “Bottom line, my dad died,”

“Lung cancer?”

“…yes,” Axel thought for a minute. It was tough for him when he was thirteen; finding out his dad had cancer. “Then my mom tried to take over, but she couldn’t find a decent job, pay for food or rent. And eventu-“

“Hold on a minute, rewind. Wasn’t your mom a daughter of a wealthy business man, couldn’t she just borrow money?” Roxas asked.

“Oh, right. Well, gramps sort of disowned her,” Axel laughed, Roxas nearly chocking on his last bit of cone. Axel patted him on the back.

“Why? That’s terrible!”

“Well, Alicia married Rick,” Axel said, as if pointing out the obvious.

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing? I mean business partners and all?”

“Well, not really. Paupu Inc and Maleficent corporate were rivals – and they were going to discuss a merge in a later meeting. But when they got married, it closed the deal and gramps was furious…”

“That’s just mean. How could he disown his own daughter?” Roxas mouth hung open in shock.

“Relax, it was so bad. Anyway, someone called child services on my mom because they thought she couldn’t provide for me,” Axel frowned at this. He must really have loved his mom Roxas thought. “But before they could send me to some foster home, I ran away to the outer islands.”

“You call that not so bad? What did you do? Live on the streets? Go to your Grammas?”

“Uhm, nope lived with a friend for a bit. Then got a job and my own apartment,”

What happened to your mom? And your Gramma?” Roxas was cautious with his words, he didn’t want to offend Axel.

“Haven’t heard from my mom in almost five years, and my Gramma refuses to accept that her son is dead. Ergo, the reason she called me Rick. I’ve tried telling her that I‘m Axel, but she freaks out on me.” The red head hardly flinched as he spilled his life story. But Roxas could see his green eyes welling up.

“I’m sorry Ax,” Roxas said in a low whisper as the streetlights went on.

“For what?” Axel sniffed, Roxas stopped in his tracks.

“I don’t know, I just am,” Axel had to backtrack a few steps. He was busy trying to keep his emotions in check, and didn’t notice the blond stop. Roxas stared up at his friend; he must not have though about his family in a long while. “It must hurt,” Roxas grumbled.

“Who hurts?” Axel raised an eyebrow.

“Having to pretend to be your father, while your Gramma probably thinks you avoid her. Not knowing where or what your mother is doing, or even if she’s alive. It’s gotta hurt,” Roxas said, with a sense of urgency.

“Well, sometimes. I mean my..m.mom has to be alive. They would have told me if she ha-mmph!” Halfway through however, he couldn’t hold it any longer and a tear rolled down his cheek.

This had been the breaking point for Roxas, the blond didn’t know what he was doing, but he soon had Axel’s cheeks in his hands and his lips on his own. Axel was stunned as much as Roxas was. Finally the blond came to his senses, as his blue eyes shot open. He broke the kiss and Axel straightened himself up, Roxas lowering himself from his toes.

“You taste like sea salt ice cream,” Axel said with a grin. Roxas wanted to say ‘you do too.’ But couldn’t manage.

“Shut up…”