Live and Learn

Chapter 1

A/N: This idea occurred to me about an hour ago... And here I am...

I just wanted to see what you think of it, as I'm not really sure what to do with this...

So please, pretty please, read it and tell me if it's good or not, as in whether I should continue it. And if you have any ideas, please tell. I got a few things in my mind but help is always much appreciated :)

Enjoy (?)

~Lumeton

Riku sat beside the dining table and listened as his son – for the nth time that week – talked about his teacher, whose name escaped Riku's mind. To be honest, Riku wasn't even listening anymore, but Roxas didn't seem to notice. The small boy was happily babbling about something funny the teacher had said or done.

Three months ago Riku had found out he wasn't very good at being a father. He didn't have time to attend the parent-teacher meetings, he didn't know what to pack in his son's lunchbox. He more often than not lost his temper when Roxas decided to be stubborn and he sure as hell did not know how to make the boy stop crying.

Roxas' mother, Kairi, had been so much better at all of this, and Riku was so much more suited to be a weekend father.

Riku and Kairi had divorced just a year after Roxas was born. It had been teenage love, and Riku liked to think that it wasn't meant to last. They had hurried into marriage and got a child before they realized they were still children themselves.

Kairi had always hated the fact that Riku put his work before everything else. The man didn't have time for his family, and when they couldn't even be in the same room anymore without fighting and arguing, they had decided it was best to get a divorce. Little Roxas stayed with his mother, and Riku never got a chance to learn to take responsibility for someone else too.

And now, three months after Kairi had died of cancer, Riku was learning it the hard way. Riku hadn't been very happy about the first grader moving in with him, and had suggested if Kairi's sister Namine, who had been taking care of Roxas during Kairi's sickness, could become the guardian of the boy. It hadn't worked out.

It wasn't that Riku didn't love his son. Because he did. He just hated all the annoying stuff that came with taking care of a child. Like the mess.

Ugh, Riku couldn't handle mess. He was a neatfreak. And a workaholic too. He didn't like toys lying around his ultramodern house or messy pictures drawn on his important papers. He didn't have time to cook a healthy meal or help the boy with homework. So he had gotten a nanny.

Well, that hadn't worked out either.

Two weeks later Roxas told Riku the nanny was stealing stuff. And all the other candidates hadn't been good enough, for Riku was very picky. No smokers, no tattoos, no piercings, not too young, not too old, not too scary, not too hot – Riku would not have an affair with his nanny! –, has to cook, must clean, no this, got to be that…

So now, Riku was alone.

Well not exactly alone as Riku's housekeeper, Mrs. Potts had agreed to watch Roxas when Riku was at work. Other than that, though, Riku was all alone.

" – to take care of the fishes next week", Roxas said, nodding as he twirled the spaghetti around his fork.
"Fish."
"Huh?"
"It's fish, not fishes", Riku said, "and be careful not to get spaghetti sauce on your shirt."
"Yeah yeah…" Roxas grumbled, rolling his eyes.

They ate in silence for a while, Riku lost in thought.

"Can my friend come over on Saturday? Hayner and me –"
"Hayner and I."
" – are going to build a tree house", Roxas asked.
"Mm. But you're not allowed to use a hammer."
"Why not!"
"Because you're still a child. Hammers are for grown-ups", Riku said, grinning at Roxas' flabbergasted expression.

"I know how to use a hammer!" The boy argued.
"Does Hayner's parents let him use a hammer?"
"No, that's why we can't do it there…" Roxas mumbled, picking at his food.
"See?"
"Then you can help us", Roxas grinned, proud about finding a solution. Riku shook his head.
"I have work to do. Just because it's a Saturday doesn't mean it's a free day for everyone. Just play games or something", Riku said, shrugging. Roxas' expression was one of disappointment as he grumbled out a 'fine'.

Riku looked at his son. No matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find anything that resembled Riku. Well, maybe the blond hair since Kairi's had been auburn. And maybe that frown too. And the straight nose. Roxas had his mother's blue eyes, though, and the dissatisfied pout was definitely the same as Kairi's.

Riku sighed. Until three months ago Riku had been the perfect dad. He always gave expensive presents when he went to visit Roxas, he'd play ball and take him to amusement parks. Now Riku was a sulky, short-tempered dad, and the boy was probably wondering what had happened to his father.

It had been easier to be Roxas' father when he didn't have to deal with all the troublesome things. Like Roxas' bad days at school or clothes on the floor or stains on Riku's pure white sofa or the whining and screaming and kicking and the constant 'Dad, look! You're not looking!' when all Riku wanted was a moment of peace.

Riku knew it was an awful thing to say but Roxas could be so annoying sometimes.

"Want to see me pull spaghetti out of my nose?"

Riku sighed. He had never before in his life sighed this much during one single day.

"No. I do not. That's disgusting. If you're done eating, go to your room and do your homework", Riku grumbled, eager to lock himself up in his study.

"I already did my homework. Right after I came home!" Roxas grinned, looking for praise.
"Then go play."

Roxas frowned.
"Aren't you gonna check my homework? Mom always went through –"

"Well mom isn't here anymore, okay? I'm not her! I'm me, and I don't have time to sit around. Check it at school tomorrow", Riku snapped before thinking. He sighed again. "Just…go play, I have work to do."

Riku got up and left, trying to convince himself that he couldn't hear his son's quiet sobs.

oOo

Another thing Riku hated was the shopping.

Never before had he had to push a shopping cart around the busy aisles, dodging people and other carts and trying to find things that were nearly impossible to find.

Mrs. Potts had told Riku she couldn't go to shop if she had to watch Roxas too. That meant that after his work, Riku had to drive his expensive car to the local supermarket, walk around the stuffy shop and goddamnit where is the milk!

"Sorry", Riku grumbled when his cart collided with someone else's. He could hear the women behind him giggling. He must have been a funny sight, dressed in an Armani suit, pushing a shopping cart with cereals in it.

"Don't I know you?"

At first Riku didn't think the person was talking at him, but he still turned around, finding the person was, in fact, staring at him.

In front of him was a young man, quite short, with a baby face that made him look younger than he actually was. His brown hair stuck in every direction, and his eyes were the bluest Riku had ever seen.

"Excuse me?" Riku asked, smiling that smile that made all his secretaries fall for him.

The man grinned, lifting his index finger up, remembering something.
"Oh!" The man said. "You're the father of one of my children!"

If Riku hadn't been stared at before, he certainly was now. The giggling women were now gaping at him.

Is he hitting on me? Riku wondered. Because that must be the worst pick-up line ever. And weirdest, since it's coming from a man.

"I think you've got me confused with someone else", Riku said politely, intending to turn around and continue his shopping.

"No, no, wait!" The man said, grabbing Riku's wrist. "You're Roxas' dad, Mr. Foxx, aren't you? I'm his teacher, Sora."

The man – Sora – held out his hand, a wide grin plastered onto his face, and waited for Riku to shake it, which he did after recovering from the surprise.

"How – "
"I saw you once when you were picking Roxas up from school. I didn't have time to introduce myself then. I was actually wanting to speak with you. You're the only one of the parents that haven't been to the parent-teacher-meeting", Sora told, and the grin was kind of starting to annoy Riku.

"Well, I'm a busy man. And I know Roxas is doing just fine at school, so –"
"Is that what he told you?"

The question made Riku pause.
"What do you mean?" he asked, frowning.

Sora's grin was gone now, and he rubbed his temples, shoulders hunching.
"Just… Just come to the meeting, we really do need to talk", the brunette said, pleading silently.

"I guess I have some time to spare on Friday", Riku sighed.
"Great! I'll see you then. Nice meeting you."

Sora was gone just as suddenly as he had came.