DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own KH or its characters.
Warning: yaoi, shonen-ai, boy x boy, AkuRoku, AkuSo below.
A/N: I believe a lot of (well at least some...) the readers have cried by now... Okay maybe just a little... But still, isn't it scary and sad? I was kind of crept out by myself...
Don't ever cheat on your best friend like that, they know EVERYTHING about you and their lover! You don't stand a chance against them! (lol jk, but still, it's just wrong to do that)
Chapter 4: Never should have
Roxas hated how he'd always bump into people. It's like a stupefied curse that follows him around, not that it really does anything big to his life, but still... Because as we speak, he had just bumped into another pedestrian with all his grocery bags toppled onto the ground.
"Sorry!" He squeaked instinctively, crawling up to pick up his belongings. The person he had bumped into also climbed up and started picking up stuff for him. He dipped his head gratefully until he let out a startled yell when he recognized the person, "You're... You're Sora's ex!! ...What's your face...?" He tipped his head in a thoughtful manner.
"Riku..." The silver-haired man let out an amused chuckle, "Thanks...uh that's... really nice."
"Sorry! I didn't mean that!" Roxas apologized again as he hugged his brown paper bags and stood up, "What a small world!"
"Um...can you remind me what relationship I have with you?" Riku cocked a fine eyebrow. It was then that Roxas realized he was quite chiseled looking. He remembered back when he dated Sora, he looked sloppy and messy and whatnot. But now...he was dressed in refined dark suit and looked very professional; for what, he didn't know.
"Oh um, you used to date my b-" Roxas cut himself off; no, Sora isn't his best friend anymore, at least not to him. Though the brunette still thought he is; he never thought of Sora the same way ever again. "You used to date someone I knew. Do you remember? His name is Sora and he's got hazel hair."
"Oh, of course I remember Sora." Riku smiled, "Is he... Are you his friend?"
"Well..." Roxas was going to say 'not really', but he stopped himself. Maybe... Riku could do me some good... He thought, and winced at how evil he is for thinking of using Riku, but it had to be done, "He's my best friend."
"Cool." Riku nodded politely.
"So, uh, Riku." Roxas started, a plan forming in his mind while he felt sorrily guilty for dragging Riku into this, "What do you think if we have lunch together sometimes? I mean, I'm not asking you out a date or anything, but I was thinking we should have a little get-together."
"Sure." Well, that was easier than I thought, Roxas thought. "Don't worry, even if you ask me out, it doesn't count as a date." Riku grinned, making Roxas confused, "I don't date people that are somehow related to my past or current dates. Y'know, just to avoid aspersion."
"Oh..." Roxas exclaimed, if only Axel was like you... "So um... should I give you my number?"
"And I'll give you mine, too."
-- Back at Roxas' apartment/Sora's old apartment --
Roxas glanced at the text message Riku had sent him about the date of their little gathering. He sighed, sorry, Riku. I know I'm selfish for getting you involved in my personal matter, but you would be a great help to me on the payback...
Mumbling apologies multiple times, Roxas closed the message and went on to call Sora.
"Hello?"
"Hey Sora."
"Hey Roxy! What's up?" Gawd, Roxas groaned mentally, I even hate your fake innocent voice!
"You know I bump into a lotta people, right? Well, guess who I bumped into today!"
"...Who?"
"Riku! You remember?"
"Oh...yeah." Sora's voice sounded bitter, "So...what about him? How is he?"
"He's doing fine!" Roxas said, "Oh man! You shouldda seen him today! He was wearing a nice dark suit and oh my goodness... he looked so hot!" Yeah, Roxas just had to do that on purpose.
"Ok..." Sora whispered, sounding embarrassed; Roxas would bet his ass that he was blushing.
"And, he said we should have lunch together some day! What about Friday, are you free?"
"Uh...sure..." The brunette replied hesitantly, "But...do I have to go?"
"C'mon Sora!" Roxas decided to use to ever-working whiny voice, "It's just like a high school gathering, like old friends getting together! It's just a lunch!"
"O-Okay..." Sora sighed, "Alright then, I'll be there."
-- Restaurant --
"Hey! Sora!" Roxas waved frantically at the brunette, feeling stupid and extremely fake. Sora mouthed an 'oh' as he spotted the blonde and the silver-head, quickly walking over to join them. Riku… was slightly taken aback by Sora's appearance; even though they've broken up, he can't seem to remember why he broke up with Sora in the first place now.
"Glad you made it." Roxas grinned as Sora sat down. Riku's jade eyes were staring at every movement and they soon met sapphire ones.
"W-What's wrong?" Sora asked the platinum-haired man, cheeks slightly flushed. Roxas' guts did an internal disgusted churn, urgh… He's flirting with everyone even after he's with Axel… Riku gave off a nervous response, "Nothing…"
An awkward silence followed. Roxas situated himself behind the menu, leaving the other two males in the uncomfortably awkward moment.
"So…" Riku started, "How's things been?"
"Up and down." Sora shrugged, "It's all changed. I mean, take you as an example; you weren't so… spirited-looking before."
"Oh…" Riku chuckled, looking down at his neat suit, "Yeah, I went back to college and now I'm part time as a law intern." His voice was coated with humbleness, "What about you? Are you…with anyone?" Riku just couldn't find a more discreet way to inquire about the brunette's status. Yes, he was interested, but not exactly sure yet.
"I…" Sora blushed as he hesitated.
"He's with my ex-boyfriend." Roxas' voice suddenly revived his existence in the table, "Aren't you, Sora?" He was grinning widely at Sora with his eyes thinned to lines, "They looked so cute together."
"R-Roxas!" Sora hissed, "Wh-What are you talking about?!" The blonde's tone and grin was just a purely searing needle through the brunette's heart; all feelings of guilty leaked out like overflowing water from a glass. "Well it's the truth!"
"Is it, really?" Riku asked Sora, slightly anxious.
"Y-Yeah." Sora nodded shamefully, much to Riku's dismay, "His name is Axel… He…used to be with Roxy."
Roxas' grin invisibly grew wider at Sora's shameful and guilty state. Yes, invisibly, because if it was visible Riku would've realized something wrong. A waiter came by just at the right moment to break off the fishy moment and took the men's orders.
…So I was just like, 'Are you kidding me?! That's wicked awesome!'" Sora laughed, enjoying his time telling tales with the platinum-haired man. Riku had his 'all-ears' look put out on his face, curiosity stinging in the air. Roxas sipped his soup quietly, finding it satisfying that those two were both making his life so much easier. Now that he has got them talking and socializing, what's left is all depending on them. Gracefully, he slipped out of his chair.
"Hey guys I'm gonna go to the washroom." Roxas gestured lightly; the two men nodded hastily and were seemingly disinterested as they quickly fell back into conversation. Catching the moment that they were not looking – which was pretty easy due to their intense involvement in the conversation – Roxas glided straight out of the restaurant.
----
"Do you think Roxas ditched us?" Sora asked Riku, chewing his bottom lip doubtfully.
"Well, I don't know." Riku shrugged, "But I don't think he's appearing any sooner." As he finished he gestured to a waiter for the bill, "C'mon, let's go have a walk."
-- A week later --
"Yeah, um… Uh-huh. Yeah, I'll send it to you tomorrow." Axel nodded to the phone, "Ok, no prob. Bye."
Click.
The phone was set down back into the charger as the redhead leaned back in his office chair, letting out a small sigh and closed his eyes in a tired manner. Then he realized the scent of food twirling his senses. Shooting his eyes open, he stood up and left the study to head of the kitchen, where Sora was humming as he cooked. Quietly, Axel sneaked up from behind and wrapped his arms around the slender waist. His nose automatically fitted into chestnut spikes and he sniffed, smelling Sora's normal vanilla shampoo scent and- …is that a smell of a different cologne?
"Honey, I gotta cook." Sora sighed, trying to pry himself out; but Axel wouldn't let him go. They haven't been together much for the whole week; so now that Axel has time, he is not bound to spend it alone. "I hardly have time with you this week… Where were you?"
"I was just tending with housework stuff, y'know?" Sora patted Axel's arms lightly, comforting the redhead.
"Hmm..." Axel hummed lowly, the sound coming out as a rather sexy tone. Seeing as the redhead wasn't going to let him go anytime sooner, Sora sighed and turned off the stove, rotating himself so he could be facing Axel. "Look, darling. You sound so tired, why don't you go get some sleep?"
"I'm tired only because I'm bored." Axel expressed, "If you keep me occupied, then I won't be tired." The familiar Cheshire Cat's smirk lifted up those corners 'round the lips, earning an embarrassed squeal of his name from the petite brunette. Knowing that Sora couldn't resist him, Axel attacked the brunette's lips…
----
'Dii! Dii! Dii! Dii! Dii!'
The beautiful scenery of birds' chirpings was disturbed by the constant beep of the alarm clock. A soft voice groaned, growled and grumbled along with the sound of sheets being ruffled around. Ocean deep eyes stared into the little figures flicking '12:30', "Oh shit!" Sora jolted from the bed, and quickly stopped when a piercing sharp pain shot up his spine. He hissed and winced, cursing mentally, why did Axel Jr. have to be so big?! Slowly, he crawled out of bed to get something on his stark naked body, for he had promised someone to show up somewhere today by 1 PM…
I guess he's not showing up then… Riku sighed, turning away from the railings that lined the harbor. Just then, heavy panting erupted from his side as a pair of hands pulled at his arm. He turned instinctively and grinned happily as Sora finally made it.
"I thought…I thought you weren't coming…" The silver-head said.
"I…I don't want to break any promise." Sora panted, trying hard to catch his breath, "So… Why did you want to meet me here today?"
"Oh, there were a few things I need help from you with." Riku smiled, "I know you have better senses at these than I do." He said as he gestured Sora to follow him…
Axel's dreams were disturbed when the alarm clock went off; after that, he tried to fall asleep again, but his mind only slowly became more and more conscious. So he threw the sheets away to let the cold air touch his skin as he went on to get dressed. He looked to the other side of the bed and found it missing, where the hell is Sora? For some reason, Axel find it annoying how the brunette just left without a word the next morning after they'd do something so significant together. And that same feeling with what happened in the case of Roxas was coming back again. Is he losing Sora now? Who is he losing him to? How many times does he have to fight until his true love would stay with him? Frowning, he looked for the phone after slipping into some underwear.
"What do you think about this?" Riku asked, holding the hanger that has a gray shirt on it over his shoulders, laying the shirt neatly on top of him to give a brief projection what it would look like on him. Small fingers grazed the corner of the shirt's sleeve as Sora leant slanted back to take a good look. His lips did a lopsided pout thoughtfully, "Hmm… I think it'd go well with a lighter tie; do you have any?"
"I…don't think so." Riku shook his head after pondering for a while.
"Ok. You stay here and stay put; I'll go look for some." Sora said, "Go try that shirt on and see if the size fits." The silver-head nodded and disappeared into the fitting room. Sora glanced around but failed to find any rack that resembled to be holding ties. He walked around until his cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey Sora." It was Roxas.
"Oh hey, Roxy! What's up?"
"Where are you now? Wanna hang out?"
"I'm at the mall." Sora idly played with a few polo shirts. Suddenly there were two beeps ringing into his ears. "What was that?"
"I don't know, I think someone's calling into our conversation." Roxas said, "Let me check." There were a few ruffles as the blonde removed the phone from his ear to see if someone is trying to call him, "It's not for me. Someone's trying to call you, Sora."
"Oh really? Ah well I'll check it later." Sora shrugged, "So where were we?"
"You said you are at the mall, can I join you?"
Sora was going to say 'yes' until he remembered that Riku was still in the fitting room. Should he tell Roxas about hanging out with his ex? "Um, no, sorry."
"Why??"
"Err… Promise me you won't tell Axel, okay?"
Oh. My. God. Roxas thought, this is the chance of my life!! "Sure!"
"I'm…uh… shopping at the mall with Riku." Sora whispered.
"R-Riku?!" Ha! So I did it!, Roxas thought evilly, "You're hanging out with him?!"
"But I'm not like going out with him or anything!" Sora defended, "Remember how he's an intern now? Well he said he had this test last week and this week he has an interview, so he wanted to buy some new nice suits to wear but he wouldn't have known which ones are better. So he wanted me to help him. It's just that! There's nothing else!"
"Ooh." Roxas let out a prolonged exclamation, "Of course. I won't tell Axel." After he finished, a voice from Sora's background asked 'Sir, can I help you with anything?' Roxas immediately recognized that voice. It was Zexion's. So little Sora was doing some shopping with Riku at the store Zexion was working in, huh? Wonder what Axel would say about that… Smirking as a perfect plan came to his mind, Roxas needed to contact Axel, NOW.
"Roxy, I gotta go. I'll talk to you later, 'k?"
"Sure. Enjoy your shopping!"
After hanging up, Roxas' phone instantly rang again, "Hello?"
"Hey, Roxas?"
"Axel? 'Sup?"
"Yeah I was wondering if Sora has called you."
So it was Axel who tried to call Sora when I was talking to him… Roxas realized, "Um… No. What's wrong?"
"Nothing…It's just… I couldn't find him." Axel sighed, "Oh yeah! By the way my modem kind of died this morning so I can't get online and I can't send you the house's final floor plans I promised you yesterday through email. But I have them on paper and if you don't mind, I can give them to you personally today. Are you free?"
Roxas couldn't have loved Fate more than anything at the moment; everything was going just right at pace for him today. "Of course, hey can you meet me on second floor of the usual mall that we used to go to?"
"Of course, I'll be there in ten minutes."
----
This is perfect. Roxas thought as he paced back and forth in front of the candy store that was diagonally a few shops across from the store Zexion was working at. Zexion's voice in Sora's call had helped making clear where the brunette is; and Sora admitted that he was with Riku. Now all that Roxas had to do was to find a way to make Axel see them together without showing his face physically or else Sora would've realized that he broke his promise and told Axel. Just as Roxas summarized the situation to himself in his mind, leather shoes footsteps approached behind him. He turned around and found Axel walking towards him.
"Hey." Roxas smiled lightly.
"Hi." Axel greeted and handed the blonde the envelope he was holding, "These are the plans that we'd decided on for the basic structure of the house." He explained as Roxas unfolded the envelope and both of them started strolling on a steady pace, "If there's anything you don't like, go ahead and tell me."
Roxas examined the floor plans carefully while making sure they were going on the right direction towards the spot opposite of Zexion's store, "There are really nice; thanks, Axel."
"No problem." Axel grinned. As Roxas slipped the floor plans back into the envelope, he noticed the sign attached to the ceiling indicating that the bathroom was a right turn away. "Excuse me, I'm gonna have to go to the restroom." The blond excused himself as they arrived directly opposite of where Zexion's store is (from Roxas' view, Zexion's store was on the left hand side and the bathrooms are to his right); Axel nodded understandingly and watched as Roxas disappeared into the corridor. Instinctively, the redhead turned around to the railing that lined the second floor's edge facing Zexion's store and leaned on the cold metal handrail. His jade eyes scanned the store lazily at first, starting from the suits in the display to the hanging apparels inside the store; then his eyes finally rested on two men.
It wasn't until half a minute later that Axel regained conscience with his jaw dropped and his mind blank. His boyfriend, his dear lover, his Sora was right there in the store, laughing at a joke that a stranger had told as he helped fixing the cream colored tie on the stranger as if he was his wife or something. Anger burned on an unknown fume inside the redhead's heart like fire burned on kerosene. He wanted to rush into the store and ask Sora who the hell that silver-haired guy is, but his legs wouldn't budge. As if an inexplicable power noted Sora, the brunette reflexively turned to Axel's direction as he felt someone boring holes into his side; but before he could catch a glimpse of anyone, Axel quickly left the scene, his mind beating itself up for leaving without clarifying the situation.
What Axel and Sora didn't know was that Roxas has been watching this all along. A downright wickedness-drenched grin crept its way upwards on those lips as he watched Axel left with a seething rage and Sora returning his attention to Riku doubtfully.
"Sora, you never should have betrayed me."
"Thank you so much for helping me out today." Riku thanked as he and Sora paused in front of the harbor's railing.
"No problem." Sora smiled before turning to leave, only to be stopped by Riku's pale hands. The brunette turned around instinctively, and blushed when he realized Riku wanted to give him a kiss. The silver-haired man moved his face closer and closer…
"Riku, I can't do this."
"Huh?"
"I… I can't be with you. I'm sorry." Sora hung his head low, "Yes, I do have a slight liking towards you; but… Axel is the one."
"…" Riku sighed and released Sora, "I understand. Some things just can't be forced. Well, even if we can't be a couple, can we at least be friends?"
"Sure, anytime." A happy grin spread across Sora face when he shook Riku's hand, waving him goodbye as he got on a taxi.
----
"Where have you been the whole day?" Axel's cold voice scorched its way into Sora's ears like ice on burnt skin. The redhead was glaring blankly forward at nothingness, his hands enclosing around his coffee mug as he sat limply at the dining table.
"I was shopping with Roxas." Sora replied steadily, thinking that he could just slip through without making Axel suspicious; but that did exactly the opposite. What Sora didn't know was that Axel was with Roxas today, so the blond couldn't have gone shopping with him.
"Why are you lying to me?" Axel turned to the frightened brunette, eyes still empty and icy, "You weren't shopping with Roxas! You were shopping with some guy!"
"W-What are you talking about?!" Sora panicked, "Were you following me?!"
"Do I need to do that to know what you've been doing?!" Axel stood up and approached Sora, "I was at the mall today and I saw you with him coincidentally! Who is he?! What relationship are you guys in?!!"
"He's just a friend!"
"Then why did you lie to me about it?!!"
"'Cause! 'Cause I don't want you to misunderstand!"
"Well I think it's 'cause you don't want me to find out that you've been cheating on me!"
"What?!! Axel!! How can you say that?!! I'm not cheating on you!!"
"Yes you are!!!" The redhead pointed at Sora accusingly. The sudden strong image hit Sora like a boulder, leaving him lost at words. Axel stood there with his finger pointing; it might not have been obvious to the redhead what he seemed like now, but it was very obvious to Sora that Axel did not trust him, and that devastated the brunette.
"Why are you saying this?! Why are you accusing me like I'm some outsider that has nothing to with you?!!" Sora yelled, "How can you act like this has nothing to do with you?!! This… This is all messed up!!! Why are you accusing me of something I didn't do?! WHY?!"
"BECAUSE YOU DID IT!!"
"I DID NOT! You… You are such a hypocrite, Axel!"
"What are you talking about?!"
"Am I wrong? HUH? You're pointing your finger at me, accusing me of something I didn't do!!! What's worse is that you're accusing me of cheating on you!! Do you even remember how we got together in the first place?! WE CHEATED ON ROXAS! YOU cheated on Roxas! And now you're pointing your finger at me accusing me of cheating on you?! You're accusing me of something YOU are guilty of yourself! If you're saying what I'm doing with Riku right now is wrong, then you're basically saying what we did back then is wrong!!! This whole relationship is wrong!! You and I! We never should have gotten together in the first place!"
Axel's voice was stolen; Sora was right. He did cheat on Roxas. He did do something that he is now accusing the others of. He is a hypocrite. Suddenly feeling ashamed, Axel retaliated in hopes of saving himself some face, "YEAH!!! So our whole relationship is wrong! So what?! You wanna break up?!"
"FINE!" Sora snarled, "YOU were the one suggesting the breakup! We're DONE!!" With that, he stormed out of the apartment, slamming the front door shut. Axel just stood there; he wasn't expecting Sora to actually agree about the breakup. His trembling legs gave out under him, making his body fall flat onto the floor.
Fury subsided in the quiet environment of the elevator followed by an overwhelming hit of the clarity of the situation. And Sora finally broke down, letting out loud wails and whimpers.
Distant dark laughs echoed as a certain person laughed to himself in the back corridor that leads to the fire escape staircase. Roxas let his delighted heart laugh itself out, completely amused at the show his two greatest adversaries had put on for him. He laughed so hard he was clutching at his sides as he shook his head dismissively.
"You two never should have backstabbed me."
A/N: Whoever loved the ending can leave me a review to tell me so. I want to know how many people actually enjoyed the sick wicked twisted ideas my brain can generate.