Today was the first day of school. It was first period. And Demyx Tazawako was already late. Being late was one of his major fears, especially with a new teacher. He could be an evil one, one that would give him detentions and force him to clean the room or even worse humiliate him. Humiliation made him sweat. He tugged at the uniform's tie, hoping to loosen its choking grip. Lateness also made him sweat.
He could hear laughter in the class room at the end of the hall. He prayed it was his. Maybe his teacher would not be so bad. Maybe his teacher was the kind of guy who passed out cookies and handed out soda to those who got the right answers.
2-D. Was that it? He couldn't remember. With a heart full of hope, he glanced at the number printed in crisp black ink on a half-sheet of paper containing his schedule. No, he was 3-A. He sighed, eyeing the number on the door one last time forlornly, as if it would magically jump numbers. When it did not, he turned the corner, lingering at the water fountain to ease some of the heat, feeling the cool liquid slide between his ribs. He had not eaten. Now he was really hoping for a cookie-passing-out teacher.
"3-A," he whispered, looking at the number. Out of all the other number holders, it looked pristine and polished, the letters standing out boldly. That was never a good sign. That meant the teacher was bound to have issues, especially if they polished number holders that said where their classrooms were.
His hopes plummeted to a sixty percent chance of cookies.
His hand paused over the brass door knob. He could hear a man lecturing. Judging by the fact the only noise the students made was the occasional paper rustle, it meant that the lecture was important. His cookie hopes dropped to forty percent. Okay, maybe I shouldn't. I'll just wait until next class, then I won't interrupt and- unfortunately his mind was on a different connection than his body, for he had already turned the door knob.
Silence.
Icy blue eyes froze his blood, their chilling gaze reaching deep into his soul, then withdrew, as if tainted. "May I help you?" the cool owner of the eyes asked curtly.
"Um...yes. I...um uh..." God, he felt like he was going to wet himself when man of shorter stature stepped forward. This teacher made the grim reaper even appear cuddly.
The teacher took the paper he clutched in his hands, glanced over it then handed it back to him. "Yes. Sit down. Take out your notebook and a pen. Pencil is unacceptable for any work we do, unless it is your notes. Pens are to be blue or black only, and red is for grading. We use the honor system in this class," he paused, his icy stare once again on the frozen Demyx. "Why are you not at your seat?"
The blond boy stuttered an apology before making a mad dash for a seat near a red-headed senior, sliding into it with a nervous flourish. This earned a few snickers, which was immediately silenced by a cruel smile that appeared on the teacher's face.
"Listen, class. I do not repeat myself. Ever. This is the last time I will say this: I do not accept tardiness or foolishness. Each is an infraction. Tazawako you are to have detention today and tomorrow for each infraction you have caused. Welcome to Advanced Psychology."
Demyx said nothing, his face burning as he fished for his notebook and a pen. He could feel everyone's stares, and he knew that red-haired kid was totally smirking at him.
Once everything was over, he glanced at the board. In neat, slanted cursive writing was the name Mr. Zexion Souseki.
Zexion cleared his throat, arms crossed. "Now then, if there are no more interruptions..." Demyx slid into his seat, hoping to make himself as small as possible to shrink the possibility that those cruel eyes would fall onto him again.
His cookie hopes plummeted to negative one hundred..
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"Are you Axel Kamuro?"
"Yes, I am," Axel replied perplexedly at the tiny red dragon in front of him with glasses.
"No takey backs!" the dragon shouted, slapping a paper onto his forehead then running off, cackling madly.
"HEY!" Axel shouted, but he was too tired to really give chase. He loved school and all, because that's where his social life was, but he really hated getting up early. He yawned to prove his mental point before eyeing the paper that had been so rudely given to him.
It was a list of rules for decorations for first dance of the year.
He stared.
And stared.
Wait, what?
He stared more.
There was only one name on the list. It had been scribbled and rewritten to his name.
"I am so not the president of the Decoration Committee with no members!" he shouted to air.
-------------
"Aw come on!" Axel pleaded, tugging at Roxas' arm, his eyes wide and begging.
"No," Roxas said firmly, shrugging him off. "Absolutely not."
"But no one else will!"
"That's the point."
Axel turned his pout into a frown. Usually when they were both talking to each other in italics they started shouting, and he couldn't shout at the person he wanted to join the club he had been randomly appointed. "Please Roxas? I'm begging here, and I don't ever beg! Well, unless you want me on my knees."
"You're disgusting," the blond countered crossly. "Besides, I don't see what the big deal is, don't you have like, tons of friends?" Roxas wasn't particularly fond of Axel. He barely knew him first of all, he had just randomly popped up a few months before school had ended last year, declaring teachers needed to get laid so that they'd lay off detentions.
Oh everyone had found him so funny.
He found him so irritating.
Well, it might be attributed to the fact that Axel had stolen his chocolate pudding when they first met, but still, sexual jokes were just so not funny. And all the things that happened to him, seemed so fake. Yes, he hated this guy.
Axel sighed, eyes downcast. "I know I know, you're just too cool for me huh?"
"That's not going to work on me."
Axel thought hard of another tactic. "We get free food. Pudding, cookies, cake, you name it. Every meeting."
"..."
"..."
"Count me in."
"What was that about?" Sora asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet as Axel flitted away.
"He just conned me into joining his club thing with free desserts, he groaned. "Why did I join?"
"Because your stomach is your brain," Sora giggled -er laughed, it wasn't manly to giggle- still bouncing.
"Shut up," his older twin grumped, picking his checkered messenger bag off the ground and dusting it off. ⌠I was totally forced!"
"Ohhh right. But it could be fun!" Sora grinned broadly, still on his donut-high from the morning. "When do you guys hafta meet?"
"After school today, in the gym."
"Cool! I'll meet you after practice and we can walk home together!"
"Uh huh..." Roxas stared off into the distance. "Maybe I'll just quit and go. I don't want to be alone with him."
"Roxas..." Sora stopped bouncing, his brows knitting together as he stared at the ground. "Don't start."
⌠Look, it's not because he's gay or bi or tri or whatever. It's because he is and he's one of the most sex-crazed guys that always hits on me. I need to save my poor ass."
Sora said nothing, his eyes still on the cement. Usually he'd be wondering how long the dark blot that indicated old gum had been there, but for once he was serious in thoughts.
"Sora?" Roxas approached his other half cautiously. "Are you there? Earth to Sooooora?"
"Huh?" The brunet blinked, his cerulean eyes still showing glimpses of the inward trouble. "Yeah, I'm fine! I'm as fine as a bovine!"
"Where the hell do you come up with these things," Roxas asked disgustedly as they started the trek to the next class.
-------------
Roxas had managed to edge himself well away from Axel, starting on a wall where he was drawing a scene of sakura blossoms in a sickening burst of pink and white chalk. "Did you talk to Sora today?"
"Well, Riku's only my best friend, and seeing as Sora tends to follow him like a puppy..."
"That's my brother you're talking about," Roxas threatened. "And did he seem any different?"
"Maybe he's in loooove," Axel grinned, looking up from the fluffy clouds that was transforming from his golden chalk stick.
"What?" Roxas jumped on the answer immediately. "Who said that? With who? Why didn't I know about this?"
Axel laughed, causing him to be grabbed by the testy blond. "Tell me!" he demanded.
"It was a suggestion. I haven't heard anything, I swear." It wasn't a complete lie, he had heard something from a certain lovestruck friend, but nothing from Sora.
Roxas let the redhead go, still tense. And a wee bit nervous. He had just assaulted the crazy sex guy. "I'd thought that he and Kairi would've gotten together by now."
"Why must it be Kairi?" Axel suggested innocently.
"What do you mean? Anyone else he hangs out with is either a lesbian or taken!" he spat the word lesbian a little ferociously. It was well-known that he had gone after a certain other blond only to be shot down since she liked girls. Though, if he thought about it long enough, it rather made sense, because of all the men in her life so far had been dickwads, but still. He was shot down, so he had a right to be mad.
"Must they be girls?" Axel sighed mockingly.
Roxas rounded on him, eyes blazing. "Don't you dare fill my brother's mind with gay shit! Because he's not!"
"Chill, geeez. Down boy," Axel held up his gloved hands in surrender. "It's my shit you're talking about. And you've never really given him a chance to explore his sexuality."
"He doesn't need to." Roxas snapped.
Blue eyes locked with green ones, electricity cackling between the interaction. "He is his own person, blondie," Axel said softly, a hand settling behind Roxas onto the wall, regardless of the sakura blossoms that the blond had worked so hard on.
"He's an impressionable one. So stay away from him," Roxas said defensively, his body tense and alert. He was completely ignoring the other sensations in his stomach, focusing on the anger instead.
"Why do you think I'm so evil? I'm not the big bad wolf. I'm not going to gobble you up." Axel grinned suddenly, pinpointing Roxas fear. He could tell that the idiot was afraid that he was going to jump him or something. "Don't get me wrong, I'd be more than happy to. But I'm a guy who rather likes his prey to consent."
Roxas took a step backwards, his back pressing against the wall, ruining the rest of the work. He would have to spend an extra day with Axel, although he didn't recognize it until later. "Go fuck yourself."
"I can think of better things to fuck, dear Roxie."
"Don't call me that!" he hissed, the old flame sparking for a second before settling back into the fear that was closing in his chest.
"Fine. I can think of better things to fuck, blondie."
Roxas could feel Axel's hot breath, could see the ink glittering on his facial tattoos, could see the pimple that was barely hidden by his hairline. He could feel fear clasping in his own heart as it beat frantically. "Get away from me!" he cried, pushing the red-head away as hard as he could with adrenaline-pumped muscles. "Just get away!"
"Chill," Axel repeated from earlier, stumbling a few steps backwards. "I'm not going to rape you, you idiot."
"Yeah right! I know how you are!"
A change came over Axel. The usual smirk was replaced with a bitter smile, his face tense, eyes cold. "Oh yeah, I'm sure you know all about me." He picked up his discarded chalk and moved back to his wall, silent.
Oh yeah, like I'm going to actually care. Nice try Axel, I'm not going to fall for your stupid sudden emotional crap. Roxas thought cruelly as he glared at the destroyed artwork. Damn Axel!
"Hey guys!" a chipper voice sounded. Never before had Roxas been happy to see Sora.
Roxas booked it outta there in a second, not even bothering to say goodbye.
Sora frowned, glancing over his shoulder at Axel. "Bye Ax!" he called. When Axel didn't say anything, he rounded on his older twin, planting himself in front of him, hands on his hips. "What did you do to him Rox?!"
"I did nothing!"Roxas growled, hurt that he was immediately being accused. Sora was his brother, he should be taking his side!
"What happened to Axel then?"
"Nothing. He just tried to freaking assault me then he went nuts. Come on I want to get the hell out of here before he tries to jump me from the bushes or something."
"I kinda doubt he'd do that Rox," Sora said with a roll of his eyes, adjusting the strap to his bag.
"HEY!" a new voice called, waving frantically at the two. It was Yuffie in a beat up brown van. "Hop in! I'll give you guys a ride!"
Roxas headed for the van, but Sora hung back, shaking his head. "You go on ahead! I promised Riku I'd wait for him!"
His blond twin gave him an annoyed look, but he went in with Yuffie anyway, and they sped off with a yelp and a burst of black smoke.
In a way, Sora didn't envy Roxas for the ride. Yuffie's van's nickname was Deathtrap.
"Did you just miss your ride?" A voice asked from behind. It was a voice that always soothed him, one that he had known since childhood."Riku!" He launched himself at the boy, hugging him.
Riku held him back a little. It wasn't to be mean, it was rather to keep his emotions in check. Lately, hugs from Sora caused the silver-haired boy sensations that weren't all that appropriate.
The way back home was quiet. Riku was naturally so, but it was unlike Sora. But he didn't press the subject, knowing the brunet for most of his life, he knew that he'd come clean.
As if on cue, Sora spoke. "Hey, um, Riku?"
"Yes?" Teal eyes ran over his face in concern, trying to read what might be bothering. Knowing Sora, it was usually something like he had spilled his ice cream and wanted his, but there was no ice cream in sight, so it had to be bad.
"What do you think of Kairi?"
"...what?"
"Just...Roxas keeps telling me to go out with her."
Riku clenched his teeth, frustrated. This was the first time they were able to walk home together in ages, Roxas always was an accomplice. It was the first day of school, he wanted something else to happen. He wanted...just something new. He was a junior, and time was ticking. But they were talking about Kairi. "And-?"
"And...and..." Sora's face contorted to an anxious look. "I'm scared."
Riku managed a smile, reaching over and playfully tugging on the chocolate locks. "Of what? She won't bite."
"So you think I should?"
"No," he burst out, before putting a hand to his mouth. "I mean, you shouldn't do something because of Roxas and his stupid homophobia."
Sora eyed him. "Are you in love with her?"
"Huh? Wha- no. No I don't."
"I dunno, in manga when you say you hate someone you end up liking them. A lot."
"I don't like Kairi that way, Zo," Riku said softly, using Sora's nickname. The air suddenly became intimate. Riku didn't use Sora's childhood nickname often, and usually odd things happen between them. "There's someone...else."
"Someone else?" Sora repeated, a frown gracing his usually innocent face. "Well...I am too."
Rikus face blanched. Sora was in love? With someone? And it wasn't him? What!? "Someone...else?" he parroted.
"Yep," Sora said brightly, flashing a brilliant smile.
"Who?" Riku pressed.
"I'm not teeeeeeelling!" Sora sang jovially, dancing out of reach as Riku tried to grab him.
"Yes you are!"
"No I'm not!"
"Yes. You. Are."
"No. I'm. Not." With that, he stuck out his tongue and took off down the road.
The silver-haired boy, the real athlete, easily caught him, sending them tumbling before pinning him against the grass. "Who is it?"
"I said I'm not telling," Sora said matter-of-factly, his breathing harsh.
Riku knew he was dangerously close.
His breath was mingling with Sora's.
His legs were straddling Sora's waist.
His arms were holding down Sora's.
His lips were moving down towards Sora's.
It seemed mutual.
"Riku, get off, I have homework," the brunet said softly. He sounded almost hurt.
His friend did as he was told, looking anywhere but at his victim. "Yeah, okay. See ya tomorrow."
It was oddly convenient that Sora's front yard is where they had landed.
Like...for sex...and stuff, Riku thought before scolding himself quickly. He didn't need his cheeks any redder from his imagination.
Notes: I'm fleshing out this story, little by little. I know you guys are probably pretty upset with me for not updating, but every chapter is getting a make over. Believe me, it'll be worth the re-reading. The new chapters will have things to do with the rewritten chapters, so I'm warning you now!
Much love my pretties.