Days Go By

The tension in the locker room was so thick it had solidified into an actual wall as Roxas, Cloud and Riku watched Axel shamelessly leer at Sora as the spiky haired brunet changed his clothes. Riku was at least PRETENDING he wasn’t bothered by the whole thing, shooting Axel dirty looks only when he was certain that neither Axel nor Sora could see him. Roxas and Cloud didn’t bother hiding their displeasure with the situation.

“If looks could kill…” Demyx turned to see Marluxia shaking his head. “…I pity the guy who has to go up against one of them today. Roxas and Cloud are going to beat that unlucky SOB into a bloody pulp…and it will NOT be done with mercy.”

Demyx could hear himself squeak as he shot another look at the group. Sora was pretending that he didn’t notice the tension, but Demyx knew the brunet well enough by now to see that his smile was forced and his eyes were clouded…which just upset his brothers even more. “I’m going against Roxas tonight.”

Marluxia glanced at Xigbar, who smirked. “Nice knowing you, Dem.”

Demyx could feel himself turn pale and was seriously considering running before practice officially began when Axel’s hand found his shoulder. “Geez, Dem…are you okay?”

Demyx wheezed as he looked up into his friend’s green eyes. “Your boyfriend is over there.” He motioned to Sora. “I’m fine.”

Axel smirked. “True.” He agreed lazily. “But I don’t fancy Cloud trying to shove that sword up my ass.” He laughed as Demyx choked, taking advantage of Demyx’s vulnerability to haul him to his feet and lead him outside.

“So you know what you’re doing!” Demyx accused as the cool morning air hit them.

Axel’s expression was one Demyx had seen hundreds of times in their past. That expression never boded well….and usually meant trouble. “Oh yes.” He agreed lazily. “I know PRECICELY what I’m doing.”

Demyx rolled his eyes. “I hope so because if Roxas kills me during the duel, I’m going to haunt you until you die.” He informed his friend. “Switch with me?”

Axel laughed. “Do I look crazy to you? The next time I help Roxie work out his frustrations with me, I intend to do it naked.”

Demyx stopped dead and stared at the redhead as he sauntered toward the practice ring. “Wait…what about Sora?”

Axel threw him a mischievous grin. “By the way. I have an idea I wanted to put into action at the blitzball game this evening and I’ll need you and Zexy.”

Demyx’s heart began to hammer in his chest, not from Axel’s implied plan to get them into trouble…Demyx knew better by now that Axel, for all his insanity, was also brilliant…but from his mention of Zexion. “Sure.” He replied, keeping his voice light and even, trying not to show he was excited at the prospect.

Axel didn’t buy it for a moment though and winked at him before joining Leon in the ring, who didn’t look pleased to see him. Demyx shook his head and glanced sideways at Roxas as the blond walked up, glaring at Axel’s form. “Rox?” Demyx forced a smile as he was pinned by furious blue eyes. “…don’t kill me okay?”

Roxas’ face softened slightly. “Why would I want to kill you?” He demanded. “The jackass I want to kill is standing over there hiding behind Leon.”

Demyx tilted his head. “Is this whole thing just because he asked Sora out?” He asked quietly. “I thought you’d be happy for your brother.”

Roxas’ face tightened and for a moment he looked like he wanted to tell Demyx off, but he forced his temper down. “He’s not as good as he thinks he is.” He replied after a long moment. “And Cloud sees it too. He’s not going to make Sora happy, he’s got his own agenda and doesn’t mind hurting and confusing Sora to get it.”

Demyx studied his blond friend. “And…that’s it?” He asked hesitantly. “There’s nothing else bothering you about all of this?”

Roxas’ face tightened and his eyes blazed. “What else COULD there be?” He demanded. Demyx shrugged and followed Roxas out into the ring.

One hour later found him exhausted and bruised. So, Roxas hadn’t killed him…Demyx wished he had. His body would hurt less. He glared half-heartedly at Axel as he passed. “Asshole.”

Axel smirked at him, but the smirk was apologetic as he slipped one arm around Sora’s waist, ignoring the way the brunet turned bright red. The duel had been going well…until Axel had whispered something in Sora’s ear that made the boy blush so hard he nearly passed out. Roxas had then taken the opportunity to beat the crap out of him. Demyx blamed Axel. It was easy to do. “He’s too adorable to keep my hands off of.” Axel explained wickedly and rested both arms around Sora’s waist, his chin cupped comfortably over Sora’s head. Demyx was not surprised to see Riku and Roxas give the pair matching looks of displeasure.

Cool fingers found his cheek where Demyx could tell he was going to bruise. He hissed softly and met Zexion’s eyes. “Ow.”

Zexion sighed softly. “And to think you WANTED to do this.” He chided quietly. His fingers looped around Demyx’s wrist and Demyx felt his heart skip a beat as he allowed Zexion to yank him back into the locker rooms, completely missing Axel’s satisfied smirk.

“Sit.” Zexion demanded, pushing him onto the bench in front of his locker. He walked over to the first aid kit and brought it down from the shelf above the sink, bringing it back and settling down in front of Demyx. His fingers again found the bruise and Demyx winced as Zexion prodded it gently. “Who’d you go up against?”

Demyx sighed. “Roxas.”

Zexion looked surprised. “Roxas?” He pulled an ice gel pack out of the kit and put it lightly over Demyx’s skin. “Roxas did this?”

Demyx sighed. “After seeing Axel hanging all over his twin brother? Yes. You should see Xig. He had to deal with Cloud. Last time I checked he has to stay the night in the infirmary.”

Zexion rolled his eyes. “This has been going on for a week. Axel showing any signs of backing down?”

Demyx shook his head. “You know Axel…resistance only makes him more stubborn.”

Which actually was what surprised Demyx about this whole thing. They had all expected Axel to continue shamelessly and relentlessly chasing Roxas, giving the blond no peace until he finally gave into Axel’s wishes. It felt…off…somehow that Axel had lost interest and moved onto Sora so quickly.

Axel and Riku entered the locker room next, both laughing as they compared weapons. Riku’s “Bond Of Flames” hadn’t come anywhere NEAR the destructive power of Axel’s chakrams, but it had been an entertaining fight. “Riku’s taking the whole thing well.” Zexion murmured.

Demyx shrugged. “Sure…when Axel and Sora are looking.” He replied quietly. “I don’t think he likes it any more than Roxas and Cloud do, but Axel’s his best friend and Sora’s his roommate. I don’t think he wants them pissed off at him.”

Zexion raised one eyebrow and watched with interest as Sora walked in, Roxas walking silently beside him. Sora was smiling, but it wasn’t his normal carefree smile and his eyes darkened slightly as Axel promptly (and with a wicked smile) draped himself all over Sora’s lean frame. Instantly Riku’s face became wooden and his eyes shallowed. “One day someone’s going to break his face.” Zexion murmured, shaking his head.

Demyx tilted his head and Zexion motioned around. “You can’t see what he’s doing? This is ALL for Roxas and Riku’s benefit. The fact that he’s pissing off the rest of the world is just a benefit.”

Demyx narrowed his eyes as he thought that over, before shaking his head. “You don’t mean Riku and…Sora?”

Zexion shrugged. “Just watch. One more week of this and the couples are going to change.”

Demyx sighed softly. “As long as I don’t have to fight ANY of them again.” He replied morosely.

Axel sauntered over and his eyes sparkled the way they always did when something was going well. “One day someone is going to stab you in your sleep.” Zexion told him as Axel began pulling his clothing out of his locker.

Axel chuckled wickedly. “You offering, Zexy? I’ve never bottomed before. Could be fun.” Zexion choked and Axel’s quiet chuckles grew to all-out laughter. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” He held out his hands innocently though both Zexion and Demyx knew that Axel didn’t mean a word of it. “Has Dem told you I have an idea to make the first blitzball game…” He grinned. “…a night to remember?”

Zexion’s eyes sharpened in interest. “No, he didn’t. What do you have in mind?”

Axel laughed lazily. “Just a few explosions, nothing too fancy. Meet me tonight and you’ll see.”

0 0 0

Sora was going to go mad from the stress of his life. It was sad when his favorite place to be was class because, save for a few classes, he didn’t sit next to anyone he knew. It made his life infinitely easier. “SORA!”

Cringing he turned to look, but relaxed as he watched Tidus run across the grounds, nearly tripping over his feet but managing to stay upright. “Very graceful.” Sora laughed, applauding.

“You just wish you were me.” Tidus teased in reply, falling into step beside Sora. “You going to the game tonight?”

Sora nodded. “Of course!” He replied, his mood lightening. He loved blitzball. “I can’t wait! You and Wakka are awesome.”

Tidus grinned. “Wakka is.” He agreed. “So’s his brother, Chappu…but Wakka’s the better captain. I think he wants to show off for Lulu though.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Not that I blame him. Do you know if Yuna’s going tonight?”

Sora laughed. Tidus never failed to lift his mood. “I don’t know if Yuna is going. I know Rikku is going…so probably she and Paine are coming too. Why?” He elbowed Tidus lightly in the ribs. “I thought you were after Selphie.”

Tidus cringed. “After she called me ‘Tidey Widey?’ I think not. Let Irvine have her, he has a thing for hyperactive brunettes.”

Sora laughed and waved as Tidus, having caught sight of Yuna sitting in the courtyard, bolted off. He made his way toward the cafeteria, but changed his mind as he caught sight of a familiar head of flaming red hair. Axel. He raised his head and Sora ducked behind a stone statue, praying that his boyfriend had not seen him.

“Most people don’t hide from their boyfriends.”

Sora looked up slowly and met Leon’s stormy gray eyes. “Um…”

Leon nodded to the cafeteria. “You hungry?”

Sora shook his head. He was starving…but not hungry enough to want to go in there and face Riku who was probably sitting with Axel, Roxas, who would be glaring, or Cloud who would be scowling. The whole thing just made Sora feel slightly nauseated. His stomach grumbled. Leon snorted. “Stay here and I’ll grab you a sandwich or something.”

Sora obeyed and Leon came back a few minutes later with two peanut butter sandwiches, two bottles of ice tea and two bags of chips. Wordlessly, Sora followed Leon back out into the courtyard and sat down beneath a tree. “Thanks.”

Leon, to Sora’s surprise, sat down beside him and opened his sandwich. It wasn’t that Leon wasn’t nice…or at least POLITE…it was more that Sora hadn’t even said more than a few words to his resident advisor and team captain. “No problem.” They ate in silence for a few minutes before Leon spoke. “If you don’t like him why are you going out with him?”

Sora looked up sharply. “What?” He paused. “Who says I don’t like him?”

Leon threw him a dryly expressionless look in reply and Sora flushed. “It’s obvious.”

Sora paused. “I DO like him though…at least…sometimes I do.”

Leon took a chip and grimaced at it before biting down. He wiped his fingers on a napkin, making a face at the streak of grease. The look of utter disgust made Sora smile. “Why do you eat that if you don’t like it?”

Leon looked over at him. “Because I was in a hurry and it was faster than making a salad.”

“You were in a hurry?” Sora flushed. “You didn’t have to get me lunch.”

Leon sighed. “Sora. Look. Your brother is my best friend. He’s upset. You’re upset. I wanted to talk to you before someone on my team ends up dead because of all of this.” He held up another chip. “Axel is like this chip. Greasy, salty and bad for you.”

Sora eyed the chip before taking one of his own. “Yeah but they taste really good.”

Leon eyed him and Sora, realizing what he had just said, blushed scarlet. “That is…er…not to say…”

Leon smirked as Sora wished the earth would swallow him whole. “You have no idea what Axel tastes like.”

Sora blushed scarlet. “Not the point.”

Leon chuckled, startling Sora. He hadn’t realized that Leon HAD a sense of humor. “You have a nice laugh.”

Leon shook his head. “Don’t change the subject.” He leaned back against the tree. “My point is this, Sora. You don’t strike me as the kind of guy who enjoys hiding from the people he cares about. You’re avoiding Cloud, Roxas, Riku…some part of me even thinks you care about Axel.”

Sora nodded. He DID care for Axel…just maybe not in the way he wanted. “The PDA is starting to get to me.”

Leon’s gaze sharpened. “He’s not going too far when you’re alone is he?”

Sora shook his head vehemently. “No!” In fact that was exactly what was getting to Sora about this whole thing. When he and Axel were alone, Axel was witty, amusing and fun to be around. They had spent endless hours playing cards, had the same opinion of movies, and Axel had even taught him how to dance. The only time Axel acted like a headcase and was on him like ugly on a monkey was when they were in public. “Is Axel the jealous sort?”

Leon studied him. “Sometimes.” He admitted. “Depends on how attached to the boy he is.”

Sora thought that over for a long minute. “Do you think he’s bipolar?”

Leon laughed again. “Maybe.” He studied Sora for a long minute. “Look. I’ve known Axel since I was a kid. Have you ever played cards with him?”

Sora nodded. “Yeah…he’s really good.”

Axel sighed and took a bite of his sandwich. “That’s because he has a good poker face and he’s excellent at bluffing. He’ll make you look at one hand, do something shifty with the other hand and next thing you know you’ve lost the game.” Sora wondered if Leon knew this from personal experience. “What I’m saying is that I’m not sure it’s you Axel’s really after.”

Sora tilted his head. “What?” He asked quietly, hurt filling his eyes.

Leon shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong. Axel isn’t out to break your heart or anything. I doubt he’s thought that far ahead. I’m just saying that YOU aren’t what he’s after. YOU are just a high card he’s holding waiting to toss down.”

Sora thought that through in silence, thoughtfully eating his sandwich. “It can’t be Roxas.” He said, shaking his head. “Roxas is only getting mad at him…not jealous.”

Leon sighed. “Roxas getting jealous would probably be a nice bonus, like finding out you’re holding a wild card, but isn’t what Axel’s after. Stop looking at his hand and start looking at who could be affected by it. You know what card he’s holding…you. Now see who he’s playing against.” Leon stood up and glanced at the half eaten bag of chips in his hand. “You want these?”

Sora smiled at him. “No thanks…you’re right….they’re not really good for me.”

0 0 0

Axel was in high spirits as he entered Demyx’s room. He stopped dead as his eyes were met with complete and utter chaos. Clothes were strewn over every inch of the room. Axel blinked, stunned into silence for the first time of his life. “Dem...most people use closets for their clothes.”

Demyx poked his head out of the closet. “Very funny.” He replied. “I’m looking for a shirt.”

Axel blinked. “You’re trying to tell me that out of ALL this, you don’t have a shirt?” Demyx glared at him and Axel started laughing. “Oh….this is for ZEXY.”

Demyx’s eyes went wide then narrowed dangerously. “Axel…” He said quietly. “Shut UP.”

Axel snorted. “You know that Baralai is going to kill you for this don’t you?” Axel could already picture the reaction of Demyx’s roommate if he happened to walk in. “Where IS Captain Amazing anyway?”

Demyx laughed. “With Nooj. Probably bugging Paine. Making fun of Gippal as he tries to romance Rikku, I don’t know. He’s with one of them.”

Axel smirked and pulled a black silk shirt off of the lampshade. It slid through his fingers like water and he smiled lazily at it. The buttons were snaps. Easy access. He held the shirt up. “You might want to wear black.”

Demyx eyed the shirt uncertainly and Axel rolled his eyes, shoving it into the boy’s arms. “Just take the damn thing and hurry up. We have to meet Zexy in a few minutes and I don’t want to be late.”

Demyx nodded and obediently slipped the shirt on over his bare chest, snapping it up quickly. “What’s all this about anyway?”

Axel laughed. “You’re going to love it. Fireworks, the whole sha-bang.” He grinned. “Emphasis on the bang.”

“Fire.” Zexion rolled his eyes. “Why am I not surprised you want to do something with fire.”

Axel laughed. “Nobody’s forcing you to do this, Zex.”

“You’ll get caught I don’t go.” Zexion looked annoyed. “Not that I care…”

“But DEMYX will get caught too.” Axel wickedly replied, watching them both flush red. “Ready to go?” He chirped cheerfully, ignoring Zexion’s glare.

Silently they made their way down the hallway, Axel leading the way. “Where are the fireworks?” Zexion demanded as they neared the blitzball stadium.

Axel smiled slightly. “I put them in a room down here yesterday.”

“Did it occur to you that anyone can open that room?!” Zexion hissed, his whisper sounding loud in the abandoned hallway. “Wakka or Chappu?”

Axel grinned. “They can’t open it. Nobody can. Well…more appropriately, Sora or Riku probably could. Roxas if you caught him in the right mood.”

Zexion rolled his eyes. “That’s the only reason you’re after Sora isn’t it? You can get him to open any lock you want. What did you tell him?”

Axel smirked. “Actually I asked Riku, NOT Sora.” He looked seriously at Zexion and paused. The plan could wait for a moment. “You know I’m not doing anything with Sora don’t you?”

Zexion raised one eyebrow. “You sure LOOK like you’re trying to.”

Axel smiled. “Only when Riku’s around.” He agreed happily and knew by the look of resigned disgust that Zexion had already figured it out. “Besides…” Axel shook his head. “…I DO like Sora. I don’t regret being his first boyfriend, might relax him when Riku finally makes his move. The kid is funny. He’s no Roxas of course, but cool.” He touched Zexion’s shoulder. “Relax. I’m not going to hurt Sora. If I play my cards right Sora will break up with me, and Riku will get off his butt and make a move on him.”

Demyx looked torn between amazement, amusement and horror. “You’re going to be shot someday.”

Axel grinned. “At least I had a good ride.” He led them toward the massive door to a very old passage. “I think this used to be an old waterway. Riku and I found it years ago, but only recently we got it open…about the time he managed to get his hands on a Keyblade.” Pressing his hand on a glowing orb, the platform they stood on descended down, making Demyx yelp in surprise.

Axel smiled. “See?” He teased. “Nobody’s going to find this place.”

“Neat.” Demyx looked around. “Is that water?!”

Axel looked up. “I think so.” He replied peaceably. “It’s beneath the streams that feed the blitzball stadium.” He motioned to the bags he had put down in the corner of the room the evening before. “There we go. My surprise.” He said with relish.

Zexion followed Demyx across the room and Axel backed up, picking up another bag he had stashed He touched the orb again. Both whirled around as the platform ascended with Axel on it. “What the HELL are you doing?!” Zexion demanded, making an effort to jump…and failing.

Axel stood on the platform above the room, humming softly to himself as he walked away. They would find the blankets and pillows on one bag, a bit of food and some wine in the other…Riku wasn’t the only one who needed to get off his butt and make a move.

Smiling, Axel slung the bag of fireworks over his shoulder and ran to go catch the rest of the game.