You Taste Like...

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Kingdom Hearts, nor am I making any money off this story.

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Oh god.

Oh christ! What did he get himself into this time?

Roxas had woken up only moments before, rudely taken from the most pleasant, comforting slumber of his whole life, to find out he wasn’t at home like he’d though.

Oh no, he definitely wasn’t at home.

His immediate reaction was to panic. He started to hyperventilate as he tried to recall the previous night and all that came to mind was images of flashing bright lights and the blurs of faces. Oh god, what had he done?

He felt himself get light headed from a lack of oxygen so he forced himself to calm down. There must be a logical explanation behind this. What ever this was…

Last night Axel and Sora wouldn’t have let him go home with a stranger. Well, unless he had run off by himself, ran into a stranger and decided to go home with them…. No, he wasn’t going to think like that. He wasn’t stupid enough to do something like that, was he?

As he continued to think back on the night, a few more memories came back to him. He remembered Axel carrying him outside and the chill of the fall air. So Axel had taken him somewhere… Lifting his head and looking around, Roxas felt like he had been doused with cold water when he realized where he was. Axel’s place.

Of course! It had to be, what with all the red in the room.

Well, that was one less thing to worry about. At least he wasn’t in a stranger’s house. Yawning tiredly, Roxas brought one hand up to scratch his stomach. That’s when he realized something else, he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Or the costume he had been wearing the night before. Hell, he wasn’t wearing his street clothes either. He was wearing what he assumed to be a pair of Axel’s pyjamas.

Roxas felt his cheeks immediately start to burn. That meant that Axel could have quite possibly seen him naked.

Crap.

He assumed since he couldn’t even remember the night before he probably wasn’t in the right frame of mind to change himself last night. Oh god that was embarrassing.

As he was slowly coming to terms with his embarrassment, a mouth-watering smell filled the room. It smelled like bacon and it made his stomach growl. Noticing the bedroom door was open, Roxas ease himself off the bed and padded his way to the door. Taking a moment to think, Roxas quickly ran over to the dresser and searched through the drawers until he found a big black shirt. He slipped it over his head immediately feeling far more comfortable. He then followed his nose down the stairs and around the corner into the kitchen.

It was a modest size kitchen with black cabinets and stainless steel appliances. Axel was positioned in front of the stove, diligently cooking breakfast in his matching pyjama pants.

Since Axel hadn’t noticed his presence, Roxas took a moment to admire the intricate tattoo work that was sprawled across Axel’s back. Taking up the largest portion in the center of his back was the Roman numeral for eight. It was done in black and white and the detailing even from that far looked to be amazing. Surrounding the number were cloaked figures, there seemed to be ten of them, maybe more. The backdrop to the whole tattoo was a city skyline with numerous high-rises and telephone wires. All in all it was a very impressive, and no doubt a very expensive, tattoo.

Roxas was pulled from his admiration when he saw Axel flinch and curse under his breath about stupid hot grease. He was unsure if he wanted to disturb Axel, since he would indubitably have to face whatever happened the previous night if he did. Silently, he walked forward and slid himself into a chair at the small kitchen table. He decided to just continue watching Axel until the redhead realized he was there.

As it turned out, it was a while before Axel noticed. He just continued to cook bacon and transfer it to a plate once it was cooked. Then he cracked a couple eggs over the pan and cooked them as well. After about 10 minutes, Axel finally finished on the stove and turned around, two plates plate of bacon and eggs in his hands to find Roxas sitting quietly at the table.

It was rather amusing to see Axel jump in surprise and nearly drop the plates of food and then curse every god possible.

“Holy shit, Roxas. You scared the living crap out of me!” Axel exhaled as he grabbed two forks out of a drawer. “I didn’t know you were down here.”

Roxas just simply smiled as Axel walked over to the table and set the plates down in their spots.

Taking a seat himself, Axel handed the blonde a fork. “I hope you’re hungry,” he stated before starting to dig in himself. There were already ketchup and syrup bottles on the table along with two glasses of orange juice.

Then came that awkward silence. Roxas, idly picking at his food while Axel was gulping it down like air. Roxas was unwilling to ask what had happened the previous night and Axel didn’t seem to want to recount the details. He was trying to think of how to broach the subject but nothing seemed to work. He didn’t want Axel to think he had gotten too drunk to remember, cause he swore he didn’t, but he didn’t know how to ask any other way.

“Roxas, I’m sorry about last night,” Axel spoke softly, staring down at his fork as he stabbed it into a piece of bacon. Roxas let out a mental sigh; at least he didn’t have to start. “I…” he seemed stuck, uncertain how to phrase his next words.

“I don’t remember most of it…” Roxas stated hesitantly.

There was another long pause as Axel just stared at the pork on the end of his fork. “I don’t want you to think badly of Demyx, he’s really not a bad guy… he had good intentions.”

Immediately Roxas’ guard went up. That was not a good way to start any explanation.

“After he saw you in that costume and saw how nervous you were, he thought he would… help,” Axel continued, not daring to look at Roxas. “So he…” there was no nice way to put this, “drugged you.”

Roxas’ heart stopped. He had been drugged? That's what happened? What the hell!

He kept looking straight at Axel trying to form words, but he could only think of curses against Demyx’s mother. It’s not every day one of your boyfriend’s friends’ drug you. How do you even talk about that?

Finally Axel looked up. “I’m sorry Roxas, this is all my fault. I’m the one who begged you to come…” he stated quickly. “If I thought Demyx would pull something like this…”

“What the FUCK?” Roxas even surprised himself with how loud that had come out. He didn’t even want to hear any more. He couldn’t believe Axel’s idiot friend thought it would be a good idea to drug him. “What kind of friends do you have? Drugging people is NEVER a good idea, and you certainly don’t do it with good intentions! Christ!”

His ears were pounding and he was breathing heavily. He couldn’t believe this! How could Axel think this was ok?

Speaking of the redhead, he looked upset, like somehow the roles were reverse. “Don’t talk about Demyx like that,” he replied sharply, his tone low.

Roxas looked flabbergasted for a moment. He stood up quickly, knocking his chair over behind him. “He drugged me, Axel. Drugged me, against my will, who knows what could have happened! That is probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard someone do with ‘good intentions’,” Roxas replied, his expression exaggerated and made quotation signs in the air. “You have to have serious problems if you think that is a good idea!”

“Yes, it was stupid, I agree. But he really did just want to help! He wanted you to have a good time! He didn’t think you would react to it like you did,” Axel tried to explain. It was obvious he was starting to get worked up as well.

“Thinking doesn’t seem to be his strong suit,” Roxas replied harshly.

“That’s enough!” Axel yelled, catching Roxas off guard. “Don’t you dare talk about my friend like that!”

Roxas had had enough, “Well if he is your choice in a friend maybe I misjudged your character. I’m out of here.”

With that, Roxas turned on his heels and just barely managed to restrain himself from running to the door. All he had in the house were his shoes, so he shoved his feet into them and threw open the door. Slamming it closed behind him, Roxas began walking away from the house as quickly as possible. He felt tears start to prick the corners of his eyes, but blamed in on the crisp wind blowing in his face, not what had just happened.

Axel was still sitting in the kitchen when he heard the door slam. He started swearing up a storm as he thought about what they had said. Demyx was his best friend, he may not have been the brightest bulb in the box, but he was a good person. To hear Roxas speak so badly of him really hurt. Roxas didn’t know anything! He and Demyx has been through so much together, he wouldn’t just stand by and let his best friend be insulted.

“Fuck!” he yelled, digging his hands deep into his hair and gripping it roughly.

He also couldn’t just let Roxas leave, the blonde had no idea where he was, and he was hardly dressed appropriately to be wandering the street for hours. Getting up from his chair quickly, he marched over the front door. Throwing it open he called out for Roxas but the blonde was nowhere in sight.

Roxas on the other hand had no idea where he was. He had started running once he reached the end of Axel's driveway and began taking every turn he came across. He was far from where he started, which he supposed was what he wanted, but now he was lost. Slowing, Roxas lifted one hand to wipe at his tears. This was stupid. Boys don’t cry. Especially when they find out they’d been drugged. They got angry.

They got angry and punched, broke and hurt things. Well… he’d hurt someone at least.

However, instead of anger only a deep dark hole formed in the pit of Roxas’ stomach and seemed to suck him in. It was a painful, imploding feeling and made Roxas gasp for breath.

Everything was so similar.

Images flashed briefly through his mind, but he quickly shook them away.

Oh the things Axel didn’t know. A lot had happened in Roxas’ short 18 years. He didn’t want to think about it right now, but he knew eventually he would have to explain it all to Axel.

That is if Axel ever wanted to talk to him again.

Roxas continued to wander down the street, trying to make sense of the street names and intersections, but it was useless. He folded his arms tightly over his chest to try and keep himself warm, but it wasn’t working too well. Goose bumps were forming on his skin as his shoulders shook slightly.

There were only a few people out at this time. Whatever time it was; Roxas didn’t know. His cell phone was probably with his clothes back at The Organization. Oh, it was going to be awkward going to get those later…

The few people on the street did give him odd looks but he paid them no mind. He was lost in his own thoughts, trying to figure out how to get home.

“Roxas!” he heard someone call his name. Snapping out of his thoughts, Roxas turned towards the voice.

It was Axel, driving up on his motorcycle, no shirt, no helmet. The redhead brought his bike to a stop right next to Roxas.

“Roxas, wait. You’re a 3 hour walk away from you house, you’re in pyjamas, let me at least give you a ride home,” Axel stated, running a hand through his wind-blown hair. The front of Axel's torso was a sharp red, it must have been the result of the crisp wind slapping against his chest; Roxas didn't want to think about how much it must have hurt.

Roxas knew Axel was right, perhaps under normal circumstances a 3 hour walk wouldn’t be so bad, but right now he wasn't so willing to try it. Without a word he slid himself onto the back of the motorcycle, but rather than hold onto Axel’s waist, he gripped the bottom of the seat with both hands and just stared at the tattoos covering Axel’s back.

Axel easily swung the bike around and headed back the way he had come, driving slowly.

It was a short ride back to Axel’s house so Roxas didn’t get much of a chance to think. All he knew was the hurt that seemed to claw away at his stomach. As much as he wanted to be angry with Demyx, he couldn’t, Axel was right. The little Roxas knew of the blond was that Demyx was a kind-hearted person and probably did want to help.

What really bothered him was that it happened again, how could he let it happen again?

Axel pulled smoothly into his driveway, “I’ll give you some real clothes to wear home. We can pick up your stuff from the shop on the way back.”

Roxas nodded and slid off the bike, following Axel back into the house.

The silence was awkward as he followed Axel back upstairs to his bedroom. He didn’t like it when Axel was silent, it conflicting with his personality. If Axel was silent, it must have meant something was really eating away at him to be able to cover up his cocky attitude.

“I’m not angry anymore,” Roxas said quietly, watching Axel’s back as he searched through a drawer. The muscles tensed then relaxed as the redhead straightened himself. “I know Demyx would never mean to hurt me intentionally… I’m sorry for what I said about him.”

He turned slowly, a pair of jeans in his hands and a half smile on his face. “You’re too nice for your own good,” he mumbled as he stepped forward and handed Roxas the pants. “Any normal person would still be pissed, cause you’re right, giving people drugs unknowingly is stupid. I just trust Demyx and I know he wouldn’t do anything that would hurt you,” he held the jeans out to Roxas, letting the smaller male take them from him. “I hate myself for what happened,” he continued. “I should have done something… anything! And if you were still angry, that would have been perfect cause I deserve it… but with you being so nice, I just can’t be as angry as I want.”

“I’m sorry you don’t hate yourself as much as you want to,” Roxas laughed quietly, shifting the denim in his hands.

“I’m still sorry…” Axel whispered quietly, his long arms wrapping tightly around Roxas’ waist. He dipped his head lower so they were eye to eye. “I’ll never let it happen again, I promise. Though, it was nice to see you a lot more… forward,” there was a mischievous smirk on his lips as he said this and it had Roxas a little worried.

Roxas’ eyes tensed a little bit, “What do you mean forward?” He didn’t remember doing anything that… out there. What was Axel talking about? What had he done?

“In my defence I tried my best to stop you, I didn’t think it would be appropriate in your state, but you were VERY persistent last night in bed,” his impish smile made it all the way up to his eyes, causing them to light up with amusement.

Roxas’ mouth dropped, causing Axel to chuckle. He didn’t have sex with Axel, did he? That would be so embarrassing! He started sputtering, trying to form words, but nothing was coming out properly.

With another chuckle, Axel squeezed him tighter. “Don’t worry, we didn’t do ‘it’, you just had a little fun using me as a prop,” he explained. Removing one hand from around Roxas’ waist, Axel brought it up to hold his chin. “Though, I may have enjoyed it even more than you did,” he added.

The blush that covered Roxas made Axel wonder if there was any blood left in the rest of his body.

“Seriously Roxas, you need to loosen up! Though watching you freak out is pretty amusing,” he laughed. Leaning in, he kissed Roxas quickly on the lips. “So are we good now?” Axel asked, only the tiniest hint of uncertainty in his voice.

“Yeah, we’re good,” Roxas replied, his cheeks still tinted slightly.

At this Axel pulled away and went back to the dresser, pulling out a black t-shirt, “This will most likely be too big for you, but it’s the smallest thing I have.” Throwing the shirt at Roxas he continued, “I’m going to go eat some more, so come down when you are ready.” Grabbing his own pair of jeans, Axel left the room and thudded down the stairs.

When he heard Axel moving around downstairs, Roxas slipped the satin pyjamas pants down his hips and quickly slid on the jeans and shirt. Both pieces of clothing were visibly too big for him, but he felt far more comfortable in them.

Roxas took a moment to go into the bathroom and look at himself in the mirror. He looked a little worse for wear, black bags under his eyes and his hair an utter mess, but at least he didn't look like he had been on drug the night before. Turning on the tap, Roxas splashed cold water on his face for a moment before shutting it back off and wiping his hands on a towel. With another deep breath, he pulled the jeans that had slid down his hips back up and left the bathroom.

He found Axel in the same spot he was earlier, still shovelling food into his mouth, and still only in his pyjama pants.

"Aren't you freezing?" Roxas asked as he stepped into the kitchen, sliding into his seat at the kitchen table. He picked up his glass of orange juice and took a long sip.

"If I say yes, will you warm me up?" he replied, taking a break from his food to look up at Roxas with a mischievous brow raised.

"Warm yourself up," Roxas muttered with a laugh. As he continued to sip hi orange juice, Roxas contemplated if he should tell Axel why he freaked out. It would probably help the redhead understand a lot better... but Roxas wasn't sure he wanted to revisit that night, and that time in his life.

"If you're finished eating, I should probably get you home to your family.... they're probably wondering where you are and I'm interested to see what story Sora came up with to explain your absence," Axel stated, setting his fork down on his empty plate.

"Yeah, I'm good," Roxas replied, standing up and taking his empty glass to the sink. They quickly put the dishes in the sink and threw out the few remaining pieces of their breakfast; Axel quickly excused himself and got changed so they could leave. As they stepped out of the front door, Axel stopped, causing Roxas to practically run into his back.

Turning, Axel smiled down at Roxas, "We just survived out first fight." The way he said it, he sounded almost proud? "That's a good sign," he added as he turned back around and walked down to the driveway.

Looking puzzled, Roxas started after him, "How so?"

"Means that we can work through our issues," Axel explained as he slid onto the bike, slipping his helmet onto his head. "Means you're stuck with me for a while longer."

"Oh wonderful!" Roxas laughed as he slid his own helmet onto his head before getting onto the bike. As he slid his arms around Axel's waist, he couldn't help but smile under the helmet. Even though they were probably going to run into their fair share of problems in the future, it was nice to know that at least for now, they we're good.