Here we go again.

Warnings For This Story: More than anything else, this is a memoir. A moment in Roxas's life. Parts of it are going to be hard to understand, and parts of it are simple to a fault. You may laugh, smile, cry, get a bloody nose (it's happened), and it may not affect you at all. Some of the scenes within will not be appropriate for younger readers, and may offend others- but I think they know better than to read fanfiction by now. Think that's it...

Warnings For This Chapter: Um... nothing really going on in this chapter you need warnings for. Babble at conclusion.

"Are you sure you don't want one, Dem?"

Shaking his head furiously, the blonde replied, "Axel, I hate pain, you know that. Why would I willingly subject myself to thousands of teeny-tiny-pinpricks?"

"Because tattoos are sexy," His best friend replied with a grin, adding, "How do you think I get so much business?"

They heard the front door of the tattoo parlor chime, as if waiting for its cue.

When Demyx shot Axel a suspicious look, he just shook his head and replied, "Relax. It's probably just Xigbar with the new gun."

"Unless it's another creepy psycho who wants alien babies inked on the back of her neck," Demyx presented, following Axel from the office.

It wasn't Xigbar, of course, but the person standing in Axel's shop didn't appear to be one of the types Demyx had described. He didn't even look old enough to be in the lobby; Axel was pretty sure there were laws in Radiant Garden against minors getting tattoos, and the boy in front of him couldn't be legal.

Hell, even if he was legal, Axel didn't think he was in the right place. As far as he could see, the kid didn't have any markings whatsoever, not even a piercing. By the time Axel, who came from a less prestigious neighborhood called Hollow Bastion, was fifteen, he'd had eight piercings, and it wasn't until after the last one that he even considered a tattoo.

"Welcome to Organization XIII," He called with a smile, deciding to give the young blonde the benefit of the doubt. "You look like you need a lip ring."

This based on the mild look of interest on his face as he studied the display, showcasing all the many types of lip piercings, before he'd noticed Axel was there. But when he turned around, giving Axel a most skeptical look, the tattoo artist was caught off guard by the bright, dark blue eyes staring back at him. He might not be legal, but with those eyes, he could pass for it.

But then the look was gone, and he walked towards Axel as he answered, "No, I'm not here for a piercing. I'm discussing a tattoo. Should I talk to you?"

"I'm the only one in the office," Axel replied, giving him the same feral smirk he'd given Demyx. "You old enough for a tattoo, kid?"

Another look, something more like irritation, before he affirmed, "My name is Roxas, and I'm twenty-three."

"NO WAY!" Demyx couldn't help but comment, pushing past Axel and demanding, "I want proof of that, lemme see some I-D!"

Roxas rolled his eyes, reaching for his wallet and pulling out what looked like a pilot's license. "That count?"

"...For fuck's sake, Axel, he's twenty-three!" Demyx turned back to Axel, showing him the card and continuing, "Look, and he's a Gummi Pilot!"

Axel gave him a sharp elbow to his ribs, responding as he took the license, "Yes, Demyx, I saw that. Now stop acting like a crazy before you scare him off."

While Demyx left the pair alone, deciding to mope on the couch from a distance, Axel turned back to Roxas; he had resumed staring around the shop, now more focused on the sample art on the wall. Axel had tried to prevent Xigbar from posting them, and was adamant that he wouldn't replicate any of his previous designs, but in the end his boss had his way.

"Are these yours?" Roxas asked lightly.

Not one to be arrogant, but still reasonably proud of his work, Axel replied, "Yup. Some were collaborations with a traditional artist, but she doesn't like to put her name on them."

"Yeah, Naminé does that." The surprise must have shown on his face, because Roxas glanced at him with a small smirk of his own and explained, "My little sister. It was her recommendation to come here."

Well, la-di-da. Axel gestured him in, past the front counter and into the actual studio. Here there were three sectors, each belonging to a different Nobody, as the members of the conglomeration were called (though Axel still wasn't sure why). One for Axel, who was the primary tattoo artist, doing piercings as needed; one for Larxene who, as the only female member, dealt with the more squeamish female clientele of Organization XIII; and one for Saix, who dealt with the extreme procedures such as branding, dermal implants, and some of the stranger piercings (like wrists and cheeks).

Axel was quite at home in his station, motioning Roxas to sit on the table opposite him. Of course, Roxas didn't, choosing to lean against the edge instead. Axel wasn't bothered by this; a lot of people out for their first tattoo wouldn't sit at first. Because Axel was still sure that Roxas had never had a tattoo- of course, he would find out soon enough. In the mean time, he settled into his desk, sliding the mouse passively to stop the odd montage that was his screen saver. He was going to have to remember to smack Demyx for that later.

With a small sigh, he turned back to Roxas, asking, "So, do you have a tattoo in mind, or are you still thinking about it?"

"It's in my email, here," Roxas moved, leaning across Axel to access the computer.

Now mind you, Axel had often been in situations such as this: a very interesting, very attractive person practically falling into his lap, about to be in a very vulnerable position. Of course, generally, the person in question was making it more than obvious how much they wouldn't mind falling into Axel's lap, so Axel had taken advantage of those situations without a second thought.

He was going to have to mind his manners with this one, though, if Roxas was anything like his little sister.

Finally, Roxas pulled back, instructing, "Naminé designed it for me. She said that she usually gives you a concept and you work off of it. And actually," And for a second, he almost looked sheepish, but he cleared his throat and continued, "She actually said it might do me some good to let you design it."

"Why's that?" Axel asked without even glancing at the screen.

He trusted Naminé. It would be a great design. Maybe even a challenge.

Roxas shrugged nonchalantly, before answering quietly, "She said you like to hear the stories behind tattoos before you start them. That you refuse to make a meaningless mark."

"She's telling the truth," Axel replied with a nod. "Tattoos get a reputation of being stupid and cliché from people who put no thought into them. I won't contribute to that."

Nodding as well, Roxas finally sat on the bench as he explained, "Mine isn't meaningless. It, um.. It's got so many different meanings to it, I don't know how long it would take to explain to you, or if you'd ever really understand what I wanted. That's why I asked Naminé to get the concept down first. She's always been there, she-"

He stopped suddenly, glanced at Axel, then chuckled wryly. Finally, he managed, "She knows more than any sister should know about her brother."

"They usually do," This with a contemplative stare. Axel asked carefully, seeing that Roxas was more like Naminé than he'd thought, "So do you want to use this concept, or do you want to tell me?"

Roxas stared back at him, this redhead who his sister had assured him was trustworthy. Admittedly, he wasn't yet sure he wanted this tattoo. He was pretty sure he did, but sitting here and seeing all the equipment that went along with the procedure was making him question the decision. Even if he did want it, he sure as hell wasn't ready to get started on it that night.

And while he trusted Naminé and her judge of character, he wasn't sure how much of himself he was willing to share with this tall, scrawny, half-condescending man. Not just in a physical sense, either.

Pressing his lips together firmly for a moment, he decided, "I don't know yet. I kinda wanted to just come in and get a feel for things, I mean..."

"You want to know what you're getting yourself into," Axel supplied, and when Roxas nodded but avoided his stare, Axel added, "Look at me when I say this."

Finally, nervously almost, Roxas did, and he received an easy grin. "Relax, kid. This is your first tattoo, it's not something you wanna rush into. If you don't feel confident in the shop, artist, and equipment used, you'll never enjoy it. I wasn't going to start on you tonight, anyway."

He watched Roxas relax, and took the time to look over the concept. After a moment, he asked, "Did you see the design already?"

"Um... No? She said not to open it until I got here." Tense again, Roxas asked in kind, "Why?"

Green eyes flicked over to him; the teasing in them showed in his voice as he turned the monitor, explaining, "Looks like Naminé thought you were rushing into it."

For there on the screen was a simple paopu fruit with a watch face on the side. At first, Roxas just stared at it blankly; then he laughed, rubbing his eyes.

"You should do that more often," Axel mention quietly.

Roxas, smiling still, asked, "Do what more often?"

"Laugh." He watched Roxas's face become more serious, and Axel continued, "Don't look so surprised. I tell Naminé that all the time. It must be hereditary."

Agreeing with this, the blonde murmured, "Well, in the nest, twigs are sharp... so what were you planning on doing tonight, if not starting the tattoo?"

"First, I gotta check on Demyx," Axel said, standing and walking back towards the lobby, adding over his shoulder, "He's quiet, which is never good."

He found his best friend talking with Xigbar, who had showed up with the new gun after all.

"I am NOT getting a tattoo, why does NO ONE believe me?"

Xigbar ignored Demyx's protest, insisting, "C'mon, I betcha Axel will even do it for free."

"Not on your life," Axel teased with a sarcastic grin, "I charge extra to tie people up."

Demyx threw up his hands, exclaiming, "No, really, it's okay! I don't need to be tied up! I'm good!"

Ignoring him further, Xigbar bartered with Axel, "I'll tie him up. Sounds fun."

"Should I be concerned?"

Roxas had apparently followed Axel out, and was leaning against the door frame between the studio and lobby.

Instantly, Xigbar shot Axel a deathly look, demanding, What have I told you about sex at work?

"Roxas, this is Xigbar, the manager for this branch," Axel explained, adding to Xigbar, "This is Roxas, Naminé's big brother. She suggested he come in for a tattoo."

The accusatory look melted instantly, and Xigbar answered Roxas with, "I wouldn't be too worried. Axel's knots are very secure."

"Uh-huh." Roxas smirked, walking towards the group. He said to Demyx with a predecessor to teasing, "So if you don't like tattoos, what brings you in?"

Demyx rolled his eyes, muttering, "I ask myself that every time I come here."

"Aw, c'mon, Demy," Axel said with another sharp jab to his ribs, "You know you love tattoos just as much as I do."

Smacking him away, Demyx nonetheless smiled and admitted to Roxas, "Yeah, it's true. I love tattoos, I'm just too much of a wuss to get one."

Xigbar glanced at his watched, swearing under his breath as he grabbed up a half-empty box. "I still need to stop by the other office to drop off that white ink. You guys still have plenty, right?"

"Yeah, we usually just refer people over to Marluxia," Axel agreed.

Glad of the fact, Xigbar instructed him, "The gun's behind the desk, don't leave the doors unlocked- again- and make sure he signs a waiver before anyone starts."

Roxas was in the midst of deciding whether or not he wanted to ask 'what gun' when Demyx turned to him and asked, "Do you have any piercings?"

"I-? No, I don't," Roxas answered offhandedly.

Demyx continued undeterred, "You should get one. Not a lip piercing, though, you don't want those out of commission."

"Um-"

But Demyx, much the way he'd been treated before, had turned to Axel, asking, "What do you think, industrial? He has really pretty ears."

To Roxas's horror, the redhead leaned over to inspect his ears, agreeing, "Cute. But remember, Demyx, most people had normal jobs that frown upon such modifications."

"Oh, bularky, the kid's a Gummi pilot, they don't care."

At this point Roxas managed to intercede, "I might care?"

Rolling his eyes with a grin, Axel asked, "What, you want a tattoo but piercings freak you out?"

"No, I just don't know what an industrial piercing is," Roxas answered.

Demyx laughed, adding, "Look! His ears are red! This kid's cute all around!"

Before Roxas could threaten him (and Axel was sure he was going to), the older blonde's pocket went off; after checking the ID, he practically skipped back to his couch.

"That's probably his boyfriend," Axel explained quietly, adding almost sheepishly, "Sorry about that. Demyx is kind of a creep that way. He gets all fussy when we talk about sticking him even for medical reasons, but anytime someone comes in for a strange piercing, he HAS to be here. He's like a groupie for the Organization."

Roxas considered this, asking, "So why doesn't he just join as a piercer?"

"I'm in the process," Axel replied as he climbed over the counter to check his new hardware, "His problem is that he gets really shaky when he's about to punch through. He's pretty confident with ears now, but as far as anything less mundane, he's useless. Personally, I think he's got an ear fetish, it's something to do with being a musician."

"He's a musician?" Roxas asked, surprised when Axel nodded.

Laughing at his expression, Axel continued, "The bigger mindfuck is that he plays guitar. Now, ask me if he's a whore."

Which sounded like a trap, a way to completely ruin Roxas's image of him, but he asked, "Is he a whore?"

"Nope," This with a tender smile as he glanced back at his best friend. Then he turned to Roxas, asking, "See that look on his face, like a teenage girl with her first crush?"

It was a fairly accurate description, and Roxas nodded. Axel explained, "He always gets that expression when he's on the phone with Zexion; and he only gets that way when Zexion calls. They met when we were in middle school. From that first day, anytime Demyx has that look, I know it's Zexion. And they didn't even start dating until the summer before graduation. They've been together ever since."

Wow. Such stories didn't exist in the real world, Roxas thought. But watching the way Demyx stared off into space, looking completely content, he believed it.

"So about that industrial," Axel taunted, bringing Roxas back to the previous conversation. Axel pulled him over to an oversized model of an ear, with all different kinds of piercings in it. He pointed to a bar, reaching from halfway up the outside curve to just above where the top of the ear met the scalp. "That's what Demyx was talking about."

Roxas was glad, because all the things he could imagine doing to his ears seemed much scarier. "How much does it hurt?"

"Like everything else we do in this shop," Axel replied, still almost teasing, "It depends on you. Usually, it's a good sharp hurt when the punch is made, and it stays pretty sore for a while afterward. It takes somewhere between three-months and a year to heal, if you take care of it properly and it doesn't get infected."

Demyx had returned, adding lightly, "But don't worry, Axel won't let it get infected. He's a natural caretaker."

Wryly, Axel muttered, "That's why I can't get rid of him."

"Shaddup," Demyx replied with a grin, then asked of the other, "Well, what do you think, Roxas? Can I punch a hole in your ear?"

Again, Axel amended under his breath, "Two holes, Dem."

Demyx turned back to him, smacking him and demanding that he stop making him look like an idiot in front of other people. Axel retorted that Demyx seemed to be able to do that on his own. They continued on in this way for a while, Roxas just watching, until Axel threatened to tie Demyx up and tattoo "Pansy Ass" on his forehead.

"And you know I can tie you up!"

Roxas decided it was time to intervene, answering, "Okay."

"No, not okay, he's not tying me up-!" Demyx stopped mid-tirade, realizing, "Oh, you meant the industrial. Really?"

Nodding, Roxas answered, "Yeah. Punch a hole in my ear."

Demyx didn't need further prompting, heading back into the studio to Axel's station, knowing where things were hidden. Roxas looked to Axel, who was giving him another careful stare.

"What?"

With a shrug, Axel replied, "Nothing. Just trying to figure you out... Naminé never talked about you, and I've never seen you around."

"Yeah, I..." Roxas looked away before responding, "I haven't been around for a while."

Axel saw the hesitation, and offered, "I guess that's part of being a Gummi pilot, right? A year on, three months off, for five years?"

Roxas nodded again.

"Well, when do you head back out?" Axel asked, "I wouldn't want to get halfway done with your tattoo and then have you leave."

Eyes cast down, Roxas answered honestly, "I... I was supposed to head out a few weeks ago. I didn't pass my evaluation this year. They rescinded my qualifications."

Well, fuck. Axel wanted to say something, but really, what could he say? He sure as hell wasn't going to ask why Roxas had failed his evaluation. Gummi pilots were held to a pretty high standard; physical requirements, psychological demands, competency standards- not just any kid off the street could become one. And if Roxas had made it once, but not twice, something had changed.

And Axel could tell the blonde wasn't ready to talk about it. So he just reached out, fussing with the blonde spikes before deciding, "C'mon. I'm pretty sure Demyx is beside himself with excitement."

"Hey! Listen! Hey! Listen! Hey! Listen! Hey! Listen! Hey! Listen! Hey! Listen!" Roxas rolled over to smack his alarm, cursing the day he'd let his best friend program the damn thing.

Once it was silenced, he habitually moved to rub his eyes, hoping to fend off the world for a little longer. But he ended up pressing down on his ear, which reminded him not-quite-pleasantly of his new and intentional injury. Gritting his teeth so tightly he was sure they'd break, he was about three seconds away from finding that redhead and killing him.

Pretty sore my left foot, Roxas thought, the throbbing ache of the piercing murdering what was left of his sleep.

There was one upside to waking up this way: now, Roxas was able to skip over the initial moments of confusion that came from waking up on Naminé's couch. Because now he knew where he was, and he remembered why he was there, and not on his ship, with his crew, where he should have been. Rubbing his eyes, he resigned to starting his morning, rolling off the couch.

As he stepped into the bathroom, he let himself pause to consider the silver bar. When he and Axel had gone into the studio, Demyx was ready and waiting; but Axel told him to wait, going in search of this specific bar for Roxas. It was surgical steel, flat on one side, with embossed black letters that read Oblivion in clear print.

When Demyx asked why Axel wanted to use that one, he'd just shrugged. "Just sounds right."

He'd chosen not to comment on it. That wasn't a door he was ready to open. Roxas wanted to mess with it now, but reminded himself to just leave the bar alone and take care of his shower.

Naminé was making breakfast when he found her in the kitchen. She gave him a soft smile, sliding him toast.

These moments were ones Roxas still wasn't sure how to handle.

Gummi pilots never knew where they would wake up, let alone what they'd be eating, if anything. When he took his three months leave every year, he spent the majority of it trying to remember how to sleep in and spend time doing things other than work. Those three months were never relaxing, like they were meant to be.

He felt like he should be moving from place to place, and even when they were stationed, Gummi ships still tended to shift near constantly. It was comforting.

He wasn't sure what he was going to do now, knowing he wasn't going back to that.

"Axel talked you into a piercing instead?" She asked softly, nodding at his ear.

Sheepishly, he replied, "No, not Axel. Have you met his friend Demyx?"

"Yeah, he's always up there," Naminé replied, "I should have guess he would. He's been trying to guilt me into it for months."

Roxas wasn't surprised by this, mentioning when he remembered, "By the way, I think you're slipping. That design was pretty lackluster."

Naminé gave him a knowing smile, but coyly shrugged and answered, "That could be. Maybe you should have Axel just freehand one for you."

A thought Roxas had already considered. He knew there was something more to the redhead, something hidden; which was something Roxas was used to, in a way, so he wasn't sure why it bothered him so much with Axel. Of course, he'd never been asking any of the seclusive characters to repeatedly stab him with needles to permanently mark him.

"Maybe," He finally managed before adding, "You only have morning classes today, right?"

She nodded, confirming, "It's Tuesday. Just political science and humanities. Any plans for the day?"

"Just... looking for a job, I guess," Roxas replied, looking away before he continued, "Gotta do something, I mean, I'm not gonna crash on your couch forever."

Without hesitation she contradicted, "You can stay as long as you need to, Roxas."

Of course she'd say that. Because she was his sister, and she loved him, and because she thought he needed taken care of. And maybe he did, just a little bit.

But he couldn't stay.

Well, folks, this came out of nowhere. Just so you know, this fic is not just about Axel giving Roxas a tattoo. I agree with Axel; every tattoo has a meaning, a story. This isn't a montage about Roxas getting a tattoo, this is about Roxas getting a story, and basing a tattoo on it. And you're not going to understand everything from the beginning, or at least I hope not.

Things have changed a little from Sincerely, The Cassette Tape obviously. For instance, this story is not based in our world, a world that knows of Korean pancakes and Red Dawn and things like that. Consequently, you won't know about some of the things in this world. So I will cover things I think might raise questions, and if you have any others, please review and ask them. I always respond- no, really, I do. Anyway.

On tattoos, piercings and procedures: Being as I'm not a professional in that field at all, I ask that you please excuse any inaccuracies on my part. I put a fair amount of time into research, but it's one of those things you have to live to fully get, and I've only dipped my toes in.

On Gummi pilots: Oh yes, I went there. Why Gummi pilots, you ask? Well, because that just seemed like the most logical thing. Err, wait. I'm sure there was a better reason, but just go with it for now. As far as the specifications of being a Gummi pilot. Um... You'll learn more about the profession as a whole over the course of the story.

On Roxas's alarm: If you read his alarm's words and instantly wanted to shout "SHUT UP, NAVI!", you were right.