The Passionate Beat

The Passionate Beat
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Chapter Seven

Warning: I don’t own the characters, the game, or Squeenix…so I don’t make money off of this…which is a shame.
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“…but Riku!” the whined voice broke through the small town house, interrupting the silence that the former DJ had come to treasure whenever the twins were absent. Letting out a sigh, Zexion lifted a hand up to his face and pinched the bridge if his nose. He knew that the twins were at work tonight, so that only left one other source of annoyance…

Counting down silently from 10, the slate-haired teen set the text book he had been reading down on the coffee table. As soon as it hit the smooth surface, the door burst open, revealing the teen’s cousin with that annoying redhead trailing closely behind. Seeing the two of them enter like that, as well as the pout that was on Axel’s face, caused Zexion to cock an eyebrow at their entrance.

“Listen, Axel. I’m not agreeing to that until you get the okay from Sora and Roxas.” Riku sighed, flopping down on the couch next to his cousin.

“But it will be so hot! Especially with the two of them doing that in that way!” The pout on the redhead’s face morphed into a fantasizing smirk that honestly scared Zexion.

“Fine. If Sora and Roxas will agree, I’m in. You’re right. It would be really hot.” The smirk almost tangibly flew from Axel to Riku’s face.

“Dare I ask?” Zexion looked over at Riku, not wanting to have to deal with the annoying pyro. The shine in those green eyes told him all that he needed to know. Letting out a groan, Zexion leaned forward to pick his book back up. He did not want to have to put up with these two right now. All he wanted to do was sit down and finish these chapters.

“Not a chance, Zexy.” Just as the slate-haired man reached for the text book, a pale hand beat him to it. Following the pale arm up to the lanky body of the infuriating redhead, Zexion sent a glare at him. How dare he! And nothing seemed to be able to stop Axel from sitting down beside him. “Come on, Zexy. It’s Friday night. We’ve been back at school for like 2 weeks and while I know that studying is important and everything, you haven’t been out yet! You’ve got to be the biggest nerd ever, but you still need to live,” Axel smirked, wrapping an arm around the smaller man’s shoulders, ignoring the harsh glare and shrug that was meant to remove his arm.

“Axel has a point. College life isn’t meant to be all studying. You’ve got to live, even just a little, Zex.” Riku continued, that damn smirk still plastered to his face. “Let’s go out for dinner. Just the three of us, Axel’s treat.”

“Hey!” Axel exclaimed.

“He ate all of our feed again, didn’t he?” sighed Zexion, raising a single eyebrow to both the other men.

“Sure did,” laughed the silver-haired man as he stood up, pulling his cousin up with him. “Come on, I’m about to start digesting my own stomach."

Knowing that it was a losing battle, Zexion allowed himself to be dragged to a café that Axel declared that he got a discount at because his brother was ‘banging the owner chick’. But he had gotten to know the redhead at least a little better over the past couple of weeks, seeing as he was always over at Zexion’s and Riku’s, and that meant that there must have been some sort of ulterior motive for him to take them to this particular diner. And as the three of them walked through the door, a small bell informing people of their arrival rang, and it dawned on Zexion that this just happened to be the restaurant that Sora and Roxas worked at.

Just as they walked in and headed over to a booth, a beautiful melody that was being played on the guitar flowed through the former DJ’s ears along with the sounds of a male singer, and Zexion could tell that whoever it was playing had tremendous amounts of talent. Sparing a moment to look around to see if he could spot whoever was playing, Zexion let out a silent gasp of surprise when he saw who it was sitting there behind the microphone on the stage.

“Um, I’m not actually that hungry all of a sudden. Maybe I should just go home and read for a bit,” the youngest teen said, looking over to his cousin who was dumbly staring over at Sora, who was leaning over the counter to grab something from Roxas. With a quick glance, Zexion saw Axel trying, and succeeding to get Demyx’s attention. The thought of the blond man caused a hard lump to form in the pit of Zexion’s stomach. After all, Demyx had rushed out of the kitchen pretty fast that morning, and Zexion barely had seen him two times after that, and both of those times, the blond man had had an excuse to leave the room almost as soon as the slate-haired man had come into the room. Obviously Zexion had done something wrong.

“If the reason that you are trying to bolt is because Demyx is playing tonight, you can forget it,” Riku answered in a very carefree tone, grinning as Sora finally looked up from the counter, smiling brightly and waving vigorously at the trio, before turning to his brother who mirrored the brunet’s actions.

“Excuse me?” the teen said in a slight bit of disbelief.

“Yeah. Demy has gone and gotten himself into a little funk, and believe it has something to do with you. So, we are here for you to fix whatever you did and get him to snap out of it,” Axel replied instantly. And if the look on Axel’s face was any indication, he was completely serious.

Zexion was shocked. If Demyx was in a funk of some sort, what did that have to do with him? After all, Demyx was the one who ran out that morning, not Zexion. “Why do you think that it has something to do with me?”

Axel just let out a frustrated growl as he looked over at the petit man. “Listen here. Demyx is family to me. And he has been through enough shit in his life already. I don’t need you waltzing in and cracking that fragile shell of his after all we did to rebuild it. And believe me when I say that even Lexaeus wouldn’t be able to save you from Larxene and Naminé if you hurt Demy.”

That was a threat if Zexion had ever heard one. Schooling his features as to not show the fear he felt at the statement, the pewter-haired teen let out an artificial sigh. Frankly Zexion liked Demyx. His personality, his talent, everything that he had heard about the musician from his cousin and all that he had been able to discover that single morning, all wrapped up in such an adorable package, how could one not like him?

“How exactly am I supposed to go and try and fix things if he’s working and I don’t want to end up getting him fired?” It wasn’t as if he was trying to find a reason to not do this. It was just that he was trying to look at it logically.

“Demyx will be having a break in about 20 minutes. And that will last for about 15 minutes. Then he stops playing at between midnight and one, depending on when people leave,” Sora’s voice stated as he walked up to the booth that his boyfriend and friends were sitting at, three glasses of water and menus in hand. Quickly, the brunet listen the specials off before scurrying off to another table. Zexion finally took a look around the small café, noticing that for a Friday night, it actually wasn’t that busy. Then again, football practice was being held over at the school right now, meaning that there would be a lot of this town’s population would be there.

It took another couple of minutes for Sora to make his way back to their booth, knowing what Axel and Riku wanted before they even had a chance to open their mouths. Turning to Zexion, the slate-haired teen noticed that there was a slightly sad hint to brunet’s eyes. Maybe he really had screwed up with Demyx even more then he thought. Giving the bubbly teen his order and handing him the menu, Zexion looked up to meet those bright blue eyes, only to pause as Sora halted his movements. “Please, just talk to him,” Sora whispered, a rare frown briefly forming on his face. Only being subjected to that face for a very few seconds, it still made quite the impact on Zexion. He really did screw up.

Retreating into his mind as he was so often prone to doing, Zexion tried to come up with the best way to approach the blond man without causing a scene, resulting in violence or any other of the many ways that would not turn out in ruin.

And what exactly was Zexion suppose to say to him anyway? It’s not like he had been prepared to confront Demyx or anything. All he had been expecting after these two idiots had made him walk the seven blocks from their house to this little diner was some half decent food at a reasonably cheep price. Not something like this.

“Thank you for all of your wonderful support tonight and every other night! I’m just going to go sit down and take a short break, but I will be back soon. Thanks again!” With the sudden lack of music in the dining room, Zexion’s internal battle was suddenly halted and he sat up straight fast, the slightest bit of panic rushing through his veins. A quick glance down at the plate in front of him revealed a half eaten turkey club wrap that Zexion didn’t remember even getting.

As the youngest teen looked up to ask his cousin about the food, he noticed that Axel and Riku were nowhere to be found. Oh, shit. What exactly did that mean? Before his inquiry could be asked, a certain blond musician was pushed, forcefully but not violently into the booth across from Zexion.

“Now, I have been told by two of my best wait staff that there is something that the two of you need to discuss.” A busty brunette smiled as she stood at the end of the booth, arms crossed over her large chest. Bright brown eyes showed a little mischief and that slightly scared Zexion. After all, if his guess was correct, this was Tifa, the lady that not only hired Sora and Roxas, she was the one who was currently dating Reno, and if Reno was anything like his younger brother, he was probably a lot to handle. And that meant that this woman could and would hold her own. That really frightened Zexion.

“But Tifa…” Demyx whined, beginning to stand up, obviously intent on leaving the younger teen without a word.

“No buts Demyx. Orders from Sora and Roxas. They threatened to cut Axel off, which would result in him whining to Reno, and that would limit the amount of sex that I will get and you don’t want to work with me if I am not getting any. Trust me.” With an almost evil grin, Tifa then turned around, scaring Demyx into sitting back down. She really was an evil bitch sometimes.

Both men let out a sigh of defeat after she walked away, neither sure of exactly what they were suppose to do or say. This wasn’t something that either had been planning to do anytime soon, and to be thrown into doing it so suddenly was something that neither one of them had ever expected. Even Demyx, who was normally so out there, bubbly and bouncy could find no words to speak to the pewter-haired teen.

It took many passing moments of deafening silence in the noisy café before either of them mustered up enough courage to say anything.

“How are your classes going this year?” Zexion questioned, unable to look at the food that sat in front of him, yet having a harder time looking at the man seated across from him.

Demyx just shrugged, not at all interested in this small talk and he only had about 10 minutes left on his break. “Why did you kiss me that morning?” The question was done so quietly that Zexion barely heard it. Obviously Demyx wasn’t one to beat around the bush.

The DJ’s head snapped up towards the blond, only to come face to face with one of the saddest faces he had ever seen. Bright aqua eyes were glazed over with unshed tears, and it sent a pang of something through Zexion’s chest. “What do you mean?” he asked dumbly.

“That morning, why did you kiss me if you have a boyfriend?” The tone of Demyx’s voice was on the verge of cracking, and it amazed Zexion how different it was than the smooth sound that had been flowing through the speaker’s only moments ago.

Wait, what? “Boyfriend, who is my boyfriend?” Zexion questioned.

“That Lexaeus guy. I saw you hanging all over him, when I came back in. I’m sorry, but I can’t handle coming between two people again. But why did you lead me on like that?” Demyx then looked down to his lap, no longer able to look at the other man.

And that was the last thing that Zexion needed to hear before he did the last thing that Demyx expected. The younger teen burst out into hearty laughter, something that he hadn’t done in a very, very long time. “Lex isn’t my boyfriend.” The teen laughed after settling down a little.

“He’s not?” Demyx’s head was now the one that snapped up to look at the man across from him, confusion plastered on his fair features.

“No. He’s my best friend. He is to me kind of like what Axel is to you. He moved in with my family 3 years ago after his parents died. My parents are his godparents. He’s like a big brother to me. And I know that you and Axel act like that around one another,” explained Zexion. “Remember, I thought that you and Axel were a couple when I first met you.”

The blond musician’s eyes went wide at the new information. Lexaeus wasn’t Zexion’s boyfriend? So then, why did Zexion kiss him then? “So, then why…”

“Why did I kiss you?” The familiar smirk made its way onto Zexion’s face once again as he leaned forward over the table towards the other man.

“Yeah.” Demyx was still slightly confused. Zexion was like an enigma and often contradicted himself. And Demyx didn’t always understand what exactly Zexion was getting at.

“Simple. I kissed you because I like you.”

The comment caused Demyx to erupt into a fierce blush. “You…you like me?” the blond stuttered, wringing his hands in front of his body.

“Yes. I do.” Zexion grinned, happy to see a small smile breaking out onto the musician’s face.

“And you and Lexaeus aren’t together?” The grin was growing wider and wider with each passing moment, and those bright aqua eyes start to lose that wet sheen that they had built up, revealing those warm and expressive eyes.

“Never have and never will. Besides, he’s straight.” With a nod, Zexion confirmed the answer, being sure to drink in the sight of the blond in such a cheerful state.

And that warm grin gave way to a smirk that looked slightly out of place on the older man’s features. “So, does that mean that you are single and available then?”

“Well, there was this really cute guy that I met recently that I do like, but I think that we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. I want to see if things are going to be able to work out between the two of us,” Zexion commented in an almost nonchalant manner.

The expression on Demyx’s face just fell as the words passed through the pale lips that he had been admiring, wondering how they might taste again. But obviously that would have been too good to be true. Mentally kicking himself, Demyx let out a disappointed ‘oh’, knowing that he should have sucked it up and come to talk Zexion before this all got this far out of hand. But in this moment of self depression, the musician failed to hear the chuckle from the younger teen.

“Demyx. I’m talking about you.” Zexion smiled that small smile of his, reaching across the booth to place a hand against Demyx’s flushed cheek, causing those soft eyes to dart up to meet his again.

Aqua met indigo and both men felt something deep in the pit of their stomachs just flair to life. This was it, there were no other words needed. In a manner that seemed almost rehearsed, both men leaned forward across the table, eyes sliding closed as they met in the center, lips pressing lightly together in an act like they had been doing this all their lives.

Time seemed to stand still for both men as they were both standing their awkward positions over the table. Everything just felt so right at the moment. Demyx had a fleeting thought that he didn’t know Zexion well enough to start making out with him again, but that instant attraction that the blond felt towards the former DJ was what enticed Demyx so much. And he really wanted to see where this was going to take them.

Zexion’s thoughts were along a similar path, though he was surprised that Demyx was returning the kiss with earnest. The only thing was it seemed that the musician was always waiting for Zexion to make all the moves and take control. The slate-haired man smirked slightly and how some day in the future that might have to change. Knowing that the simple press of lips was not really enough to sate either of their needs, Zexion lifted a single arm up to wrap around the back of the blond’s neck, pulling him even closer.

Smiling against the increased pressure, Demyx couldn’t believe that this was happening. For the second time in his life, he was kissing this really hot teen, and he now knew that their attraction was completely mutual. He didn’t want it to end. And when he felt Zexion’s lips part against his own, Demyx got the feeling that it might not.

“Nice.” An amused voice broke through the fragile barrier that had surrounded them, causing the two to break apart.

“Hehe, you taste like dead bird,” Demyx giggled, his nose still pressed against the smaller teens. “And your hair tickles.”

The comment drew a chuckle from Zexion as their eyes met once again, both shining with happiness, uncaring about who had interrupted them. But obviously who ever that had been had other ideas.

“As hot as it is to watch two hot boys making out, I need my entertainment back.” The busty brunet grinned before pulling Demyx away from the booth.

“Awe Tifa! Just 5 more minutes! We were kissing!” Demyx whined as he was being dragged away. “Hang around, Zexy! I’ll come see you on my next break!”

The pewter-haired man could only smirk as he watched Demyx being forced back up onto the elevated stage, whining and complaining the entire time, even arguing occasionally. But from the grin that was on Tifa’s face as she played owner/tyrant, this was definitely a good way for Demyx to be acting. And Zexion couldn’t help but smile with a slight blush whenever he saw Demyx’s gaze drift over his way or the sparkle that appeared in those clear eyes each time they met Zexion’s visible eye.

“It’s about time,” Riku chuckled, startling his cousin as he flopped back down in the booth next to the smaller teen, flinging a long arm around Zexion’s shoulders.

“Time?” Zexion was confused, raising one eyebrow as Axel slid in across from the silver haired relatives.

“It’s been a while since Tifa has had to fight with Dem to get back on stage. Frankly, he’s been lonely and I think that you, Mister Emo Boy, might be just what he needs,” smirked the redhead, reaching across the table to use his hand to mess up the long fringe of Zexion’s bangs.

“I’m not emo,” grumbled the DJ, swatting away the pale fingers before trying to fix his hair with a sigh.

At the comment, Axel just barked out laughter that was nearly drowned out by the start of Demyx’s set. And there was just something about the must that made it sound just that much more melodic then earlier this evening. Zexion allowed his eyes to slide close as he took in the smooth sounds of the blond’s voice accompanied by the gentle guitar cords he strummed. I was just amazing the amount of talent that was contained within a single soul.

“Hey, Zex!” Riku all but shouted into his cousin’s ear. Zexion jumped at the sound, turning to face the older teen with a silent glare.

“Now that you are finished your trip to lala land, there is something that I got to tell you.” Axel’s voice had gone from jovial to serious in 6 seconds. “I already warned you, but just a reminder that it won’t be just me after your head if you hurt my Demy. You got it memorized?” he glared, tapping the side of his head for effect.

Zexion did everything he could do to not outright roll his eyes at the statement, choosing instead to turn and drink in the sight of the musician once again. How could Axel ever think that Zexion would hurt something so perfect? The pewter-haired DJ knew that he would have no issues keeping it memorized, and that thought brought a genuine smile to Zexion’s face.

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Well, only one more chapter left to go…sniff sniff…and it is almost half done now, so I am hoping to have it out in the next couple of weeks, but I am also trying to get another chapter of Accident out soon. Well, here is hoping I get it out soon, lol.

Thanks again so much for everyone who has shown so much support for this story! I never could have imagined the support that I am getting from everyone! It always makes me feel so happy and all that stuff! And a few people have asked me about there going to be a lemon in this story, and all I have to say to that, is anything can happen in a last chapter, hehe.

And of course, I have to say that I love you Pahoyhoy and that I miss you! I can’t wait for you to come home soon! And in my loneliness, well, and because of a request, there is a new threesome oneshot that I wrote for her posted called Threes Company…or A Threesome, head on over and check it out!

Until next time!