Days Go By

He was cursed. That was the only thing Roxas could think of to justify Axel’s behavior…he was just cursed to live with morning people. It was really as simple as that. He glowered balefully at Axel as the redheaded teen hummed under his breath, stuffing books, with no regard for the pages inside of them, into his backpack. Even as Roxas watched, Axel picked up his laptop and dumped it on top of the bag. Roxas winced in sympathy for the poorly treated items. “I can see your education is very important to you.” He commented dryly.

Axel looked up and his eyes brightened with delight. “Roxy! You’re awake!”

Roxas rolled his eyes. “Roxas. Not Roxy.” He repeated for what felt like the millionth time in the last 24 hours.

Axel waved this off. “How’d you sleep? You were pretty trashed after the dance.”

He pinned Roxas with an intense green gaze and Roxas felt his eyes widening as he stared back at his roommate. Had Axel’s eyes ALWAYS been that green? “Yeah.” He finally muttered, coming to his senses. “Fine. Whatever. Hey…did those hurt?”

Axel looked perplexed. “Did…WHAT hurt?”

Roxas touched his face beneath his eyes. “Those tattoos.”

“Oh!” Axel shrugged. “Yeah I guess. I don’t really remember. I lost a card game with Luxord when I was seven or eight and he dared me to get a tattoo.”

Roxas choked. “Who would tattoo a little kid?!”

Axel grinned. “Xehanort, a friend’s dad. I thought Auron was going to kill me when I came back to school. Started muttering and didn’t stop for nearly a full year.” He stroked his cheek lightly with one finger. “I like them though.”

Roxas stared. “So do you ALWAYS fulfill your bets?”

Axel laughed. “Always.” He confirmed. “If I make a promise, Roxy, I keep it. Besides, Lux is a pain in the ass when you don’t live up to your end of the bargain. It’s easier to go along with it. That’s the reason that girl you saw yesterday was dressed up in a tutu. She lost a game of cards.”

The people in this school were crazy. That was the only thing Roxas could think of…and yet…and yet he felt rather lonely as well. These kids had known each other since diapers, they had history and shared pasts. The only people Roxas had known that long were his brothers and Hayner, a kid from the island who had transferred the year before. That was about it. He couldn’t help but think…it was lonely.

Sora didn’t notice of course, not that Roxas had expected him to. Sora’s nature was bright and open, he made friends with a simple smile and chattered as if he had known them his whole life. Roxas envied that talent. Cloud was a different story but appeared to be popular enough. Roxas knew that Cloud just didn’t really care. He could be antisocial, so having people not bother with him wouldn’t upset him in the slightest.

His expression must have changed, because Axel was staring at him with an unreadable look in his emerald eyes. “Tell me about your friends.” Roxas ordered. “Over a cup of coffee.”

Axel’s lip curled. “Coffee stunts your growth.” He complained. “Which is probably why you’re so short, Rox.” He held open the door though, and his smirk was friendly. “C’mon, my treat. I have to bring something back for Riku anyway, or he’ll eat Sora for breakfast.”

Roxas smirked. “Riku…not a morning person?”

Axel snorted. “That would be putting it mildly. I think it stems from old memories of his older brother, Sephiroth dumping water on his head to wake him up.” Axel’s eyes darkened. “That and…” He trailed off, shaking himself as if suddenly realizing what he was saying. He bit his lip lightly and crossed his arms. “C’mon. Let’s go get that coffee.” He said gruffly.

Roxas mentally filed away this conversation. He knew better than to push Axel, knowing instinctively that the redhead wouldn’t respond well to it. There was some secret about Riku, and Axel was very protective of that secret. “Sephiroth…my brother mentioned him. He’s a stalker?”

Axel laughed. “Your brother WOULD mention him. When Cloud showed up his first year, Sephiroth fell head over heels in love with him. It was funny in a pathetic sort of way. Cloud was moody and antisocial…he still is but whatever…and Leon was his moody, antisocial roommate who took a shine to him. Long story short, Sephiroth thinks Cloud is gay, and Cloud wants nothing to do with him.”

Roxas stopped dead. “But Cloud is….” When Axel turned to look at him, he felt his face turn red. “….gay.” He finally murmured.

Axel burst into laughter. “CLOUD?! Roxy, are you sure you got enough sleep? C’mon. The boy is a magnet for the most beautiful and eligible females in this zoo.”

Roxas gave Axel his most patient look, annoyed that Axel didn’t believe him. This look usually made Sora pout at him and Hayner cuff him upside the head complaining that he felt like an idiot when Roxas gave him that look…which was funny…because that was exactly what that look meant. Axel’s eyes narrowed. “Surrounded by girls maybe…but has he ever really DATED any of them?”

Axel’s mouth opened, closed, then opened again. He looked thoughtful. “He dated Aerith for a week or so his first year…mostly because she asked him. Walked right up to him, gave him her best shy smile and asked him to see a movie in town with her. Cloud turned a shade of purple and agreed. They’re really close now.”

Roxas smirked. “See?”

Axel shrugged. “Just because he doesn’t date any of the girls in this place doesn’t mean he’s gay.”

Roxas snorted. “Trust me. He’s gay. I’m his brother. I should know.”

Axel gave him a thoughtful look as his eyes swept from the top of Roxas’ head down to his feet before lazily letting his gaze slide back up. Roxas squirmed, uncomfortable as Axel’s smirk widened. “And YOU, Roxy?”

“Roxas.” Roxas replied instantly and to his horror, felt his face turning red. “What about me?” He asked gruffly, pushing past his roommate.

Axel grinned lazily and moved in front of him again. “Are. You. Gay?” He poked Roxas in the chest with each word, stepping closer as Roxas took a step back. “Well…Roxy?”

Roxas felt a rush of heat fill his body and he shuddered. Axel’s grin widened and he took another step toward Roxas….and looked extremely surprised when Roxas’ fist sank into his stomach. “Get STUFFED, Axel.”

Roxas was no longer thinking as he slipped past Axel, breaking into a jog to get out of easy reach to scowl at the redhead behind him. “And get it through your head. I don’t like to be touched.”

“Says the boy who cuddled against me last night.” Axel muttered darkly, massaging his stomach.

Roxas stopped dead and Axel’s mouth snapped shut as he mentally reviewed what he had just said and looked dismayed to find that he had said it aloud. “WHAT.” It was not a question.

Axel turned red. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Now about that coffee I promised you, the kitchen is…” He stopped dead as Roxas grabbed his bicep. “…Roxas?”

Roxas squeezed, his teeth gritted. “Excuse me.” Roxas said slowly, trying to keep from killing his roommate. “…are you DELUSIONAL?!”

Axel looked defensive. “No!” He snapped back. “YOU cuddled against ME.”

Roxas could feel a vein in his head throbbing. It might explode if he got any angrier. “When was this?”

Axel looked as if he wanted to run away or kill him. He settled on crossing his arms over his chest and scowling. “Last night.”

“When I was SLEEPING?!” Roxas felt his heart skip a beat. What kind of psycho hit on you in your sleep?

Axel rolled his eyes. “You talked which implies you were half awake as you cuddled against my chest. Get over it, Roxas.”

Roxas glowered at his roommate. “I don’t like to be touched!”

Axel’s eye blazed. “But you like to be WARM.”

Roxas froze. Only a few people on the planet knew he was nearly always cold…and that he despised that chill that settled into your bones and made you ache with an unholy passion. He stared hard at Axel. “I’m not gay.” He finally hissed.

Stalking down the hallway, he could pretend that he hadn’t heard Axel’s disappointed sigh.

0 0 0

Sora hummed to himself as he created a wallpaper, headphones hanging haphazardly barely covering his ears. He was in a brilliant mood, despite not having slept much the evening before. Really though, how could he not be excited? He had attended the first dance of his life (parties on the island didn’t count as only a handful of kids were on the island at any given moment), he was attending a brand new school in a brand new place with both of his brothers, he had made the dueling team. What WASN’T there to be excited about?

A pillow flew at his head, hitting his face and falling down into his lap. Looking bemused, Sora picked it up and studied it. His headphones slipped down his head, falling against his throat, the music sounding far away and electronic. He blinked at Riku who was scowling at him from the other bed. “Good morning!”

Riku groaned. “You’re a morning person aren’t you? How can you be so awake?” He demanded, putting his other pillow over his head.

Sora shrugged, perplexed. “I dunno. I just am.”

Riku groaned. “Figures. I had to be saddled with someone who SINGS first freaking thing in the morning.”

For a moment Riku was worried that Sora would be upset by his rant, but the spiky haired boy only looked resigned and amused. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Riku groaned. “How can you be in such a good mood this early?” He demanded. He looked at his clock with bleary turquoise eyes and groaned again. “You’re insane.”

“So Roxas tells me most mornings.” Sora agreed with a grin that Riku couldn’t help but return with a smirk. “Since you’re up, you can show me around….and I have something I want to talk to you about.”

Riku tilted his head. “Like what?” He asked, studying his roommate, resting his chin on his pillow to stare at the teen. His eyes drank the boy in and despite his lack of interest in the morning, he had to admit that the early sunlight looked good as it bathed over the blue eyed boy. His wide-eyed good humor lent him a youthful appearance that was very appealing to a bemused Riku. “Did you know you have gorgeous eyes?” He asked dreamily.

Sora blinked at him and a flush filled his cheeks. “Er…no…I…I guess since everyone knows Roxas, Cloud and I, nobody ever mentions it.”

He stared at Riku, who smirked at the boy. He watched the flush deepen. “So…what did you want to talk to me about?”

Sora shook himself. “Oh! Right! You know that girl you were dancing with last night? Kairi?” Riku nodded. He remembered her very well. She had stared at Sora the entire time he had danced with Yuna, Rikku and Paine and then had flounced away in irritation when she had failed to catch his eye again. “Well…what did you think of her?”

Riku hesitated. What did he think of Kairi? Did he think ANYTHING of Kairi? “Um…she’s okay…I guess. I just danced with the girl, Sora. Why?”

Sora shrugged. “Well she’s got this twin sister, and I guess she’s really shy. Anyway, maybe we could double date.”

Riku stared at his roommate. “Double…date?” He asked, dumbfounded. “Double date.”

Sora nodded. “You know, see a movie or have a picnic or something. You could ask Namine, that’s her name by the way, and I’ll ask Kairi!”

Riku could think of about twenty things he’d rather do than date a freshman girl. All of them were painful. He opened his mouth to refuse, but caught sight of that extraordinary sky blue that gleamed in Sora’s eyes. “Your name…it means ‘Sky’ right?”

Sora stared at him. “Yeah…I guess.”

Riku smiled at his roommate. “All right, Sora. You have yourself a deal.” He had no interest in Kairi’s shy sister, he had no interest in KAIRI…but he wanted to spend more time with Sora, and to see the happy smile that spread across the boy’s face at his words.

0 0 0

Leon loved watching Cloud sleep. There was a softness in the blond’s expression that was never there when he was awake. It never grew old, and Leon had spent nearly four years with the teen. Not for the first time his eyes lingered on the smooth planes of Cloud’s face, on the lashes that lay heavily on his cheeks, on his lips. Not for the first time he thought about leaning in to kiss those lips, about waking Cloud up like a prince in a fairy tale.

Also not for the first time, Leon was disgusted with his fanciful thoughts. Cloud was no princess, he was too damn moody to be a princess, and he was certainly no prince. That and the world knew Cloud wasn’t gay. He had dated Aerith, and openly spurned Sephiroth, whom many of the girls in the school fawned over. Leon may have fallen in love with his blond roommate shortly after they had met, but he was content being friends. He didn’t want to give that up, not for anything. Not even for the kiss that haunted his dreams.

Cloud’s eyes slowly opened and Leon caught his breath, as always, dazzled by the bright sapphire hue. “Morning.” Cloud yawned and glanced at the clock. “Too late to run. Why didn’t you wake me?”

Cloud liked to run in the mornings, and usually Leon joined him. It felt good to work out. He hadn’t had the heart to wake Cloud up, preferring to watch the blond sleep. “I only just got back myself.” He lied fluidly. “Auron sent me an email first thing this morning bitching about Tidus. Apparently when he asked why Blondie didn’t take you up on your offer, Tidus said that this was HIS story and he didn’t want to fight, he wanted to play Blitzball.”

Cloud’s lips twitched. “I bet that went over well.” He sat up and slid from bed in one fluid movement. “I’m glad we have a few minutes, I wanted to talk to you.”

Leon glanced over, sliding his laptop into his bag. “About?”

Cloud pinned him with an intense blue gaze. “Take a wild guess.” Leon stared at him blankly. His brothers? The dueling team? His heart skipped a beat as Cloud approached him. The blond still radiated heat from his slumber, the smooth planes of his bare chest within easy reach. It was all Leon could do not to grab him to taste the smooth expanse of tanned skin.

Cloud reached for him, trailing one finger diagonally across Leon’s face…following the scar that disfigured it. Leon felt his body throb in undisguised need as Cloud’s finger slipped ghost-like across his lips and released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding when Cloud pulled away. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t think, all he could do was feel again the slow caress of the finger that had ghosted across his skin and lit his body afire. “You didn’t have this last year, Leon. Tell me what happened.”

Leon’s heart hammered in his chest and he drew in a deep breath as he forced himself to look away. He couldn’t look at Cloud any longer, all he wanted to do was look at Cloud. “It was a training exercise.”

“With?” Cloud asked patiently, crossing his arms over his chest.

Leon wanted to squirm beneath the intense sapphire gaze but refrained. “Seifer.”

He wasn’t prepared for the blond’s reaction. Cloud’s fist shot out and connected solidly with the wall, leaving a hole as he pulled his hand away. He stared at Cloud, who looked as calm as ever, studying his hand. “I see. Seifer did that to you. What the hell happened?”

Leon blinked. “We were dueling…and his gunblade slipped.”

“Slipped.” Cloud snorted derisively. “That’s not a ‘slip’ Leon. Seifer’s a decent fighter, that’s a killing blow. He could have brained you, could have decapitated you, could have killed you. That was no slip.”

Leon looked away as a warmth filled his body. Cloud really did care about him. He had no idea how he had gotten so lucky, the blond was notorious for being antisocial and not liking much of ANYONE. He had his friends, but none of them really touched him. Leon had touched him. “Auron thought so too.” Leon replied quietly. “Seifer was banned from the team.”

“Banned from the TEAM?!” Cloud looked pissed. “I’d like to ban him from the world. Damn it, Leon. He SCARRED you. That’s never going to heal away, hell…”

Leon looked away. “Nobody else seemed to notice.”

Cloud snorted again. “Of course they didn’t notice.” He replied with disgust. “You’re still gorgeous, that scar just makes you look more mysterious.” Leon stared at him. Cloud thought he was gorgeous? As if he realized what he had said, Cloud’s eyes widened the slightest fraction. Only someone who knew him as well as Leon did would notice that the blond was upset. “I mean Rinoa’s still drooling over you.”

Leon rolled his eyes. “That’s nice.” He replied dryly and was met with a snort of amusement from his roommate. He paused. “Cloud…what’s really pissing you off about this? Because I have a scar?”

Cloud turned on him and Leon felt the blond’s fingers dig into his biceps. Their faces were only a half inch apart and Leon felt Cloud’s breath ghost across his face. He found himself blushing as he stared into the intense blue eyes he had fallen in love with. “Don’t be an idiot, Leon.” Cloud whispered. “I’m pissed off because you could have gotten yourself killed.”

Their eyes met and locked and the world seemed to hold its breath. Cloud’s eyes flashed at him. “Don’t do anything that stupid again.” He whispered. “If you get yourself killed I’ll hunt you down and make you hurt for eternity.”

Leon had no doubt about that as Cloud pushed away and moodily yanked his uniform down from the closet hangers. Cloud and Cloud alone had the power to destroy him.