Didn't Stand a Chance (At All)

She's back and she's changed her name! Why is she referring to herself in third person? I'll stop now!

I know it's been forever and I'm so, so sorry. But so much has happened since my last update. I got my Associate in Arts (first girl in my family to get a degree!) and transferred from a State College to a University (the cheap way to get educated!), which meant I had to pack up my life and move about an hour away from home. My car got totaled. -cue gross sobbing- And I became a volunteer Victim's Advocate for Rape/Assault Victims (which means I have 40 hours of counseling training coming in June...Yay?) So...yeah. I've been a busy bird.

Anyway, have 21 pages of my love and apologies.

Chapter 8: Outlines

Song Mentioned: Outlines by All Time Low

Let's try to spot the All Time Low references this time, shall we?

Axel was typically the kind of guy who didn't dwell on pedantic things like regret. It could easily be said that one of his greatest fears was waking up one day and realizing that he was living in a cloud of his own deferred dreams.

However, as the young, self-proclaimed daredevil ran through a thick collection of foliage before scrambling up the nearest tree he could find, he had to wonder if he sometimes lived a bit too dangerously.

"Axel Flynn! When I find you, I am going to slay you like a Skyrim Dragon!"

Axel cursed mentally. He curled himself into an uncomfortable ball, limbs tightly coiled around a thick branch. All the while, he silently prayed that the panic-induced adrenaline that was coursing through his veins would trigger some previously unknown chameleon-like ability to blend into his surroundings.

"I see you, you Rat Bastard."

But of course, prayers from a deviant, like himself, never got far.

The tree-bound redhead looked down, the tension that had gathered in his neck, easing slightly. "Hey, Roxy, Old Pal." He greeted weakly.

Roxas crossed his arm and shot back a glare, his jaw set and tense. It was apparent Roxas would be having none of his shit right now.

"Give me at least 3 valid reasons as to why I shouldn't I shouldn't tie your balls to a Wild Horse and let it drag you around until the fuckers fall off?"

Axel cringed. He instinctively wound his legs tighter around the tree.

"Because I'm nothing more than a precocious little scamp?"

Roxas pursed his lips and gave a single stern nod before he turned around and grabbed a pine-cone that lay near his feet. He rolled it around in his hand before he chucked it up into the tree, pegging Axel right in the shoulder.

"Ow! What the hell?"

Roxas gave the man a venomous smile as he turned and plucked another pine-cone from the ground and threw it, this time narrowly missing the other man's neck.

"Okay, I'm sorry! I'm really really sorry! I am so beyond the realm of sorry, you wouldn't even believe it." Another pine-cone whizzed by. "Did I mention how hot you looked on stage tonight, because damn." A fourth pine-cone caught his forearm. "D-did I mention that you are the most awesome, compassionate, most adorable-"

Before Axel could continue his ass kissing session a final pine-cone whizzed through the air and hit him in the center of the forehead causing him to yelp and lose his grip and fall about four feet from his perch to the cold, hard ground beneath him.

"Ow." He groaned.

Roxas walked over and stood over him, obviously trying to hold back his laughter.

Before Roxas had the chance to conjure up a snippy remark, the blonde was accosted by two incredibly bright lights.

"Oh, good, he isn't dead yet. I would have been so pissed if I'd missed the blood bath." Xion called to them as they got closer.

"And have witnesses? No way. Besides if I really wanted to kill him, I would have used something a lot stronger than a pine-cone to knock him out of that tree. Maybe a brick or a bowling ball." Roxas answered as his brother and best friend walked up, using their cellphones as flashlights.

"You sure he's not dead? He's not moving. I mean, wouldn't it be hard to tell whether or not he's bleeding with that hair color of his?" Sora pointed out.

Roxas turned back to Axel and tapped him in the temple with his foot.

"Ugh, your shoes smell like cheap plastic dildos."

"For the love of all that deep fried and battered, please don't tell me how you know what that smells like." Roxas sighed before turning back to his band mates with a slight frown.

Xion let out a small sigh before walking closer to the other two. She kneeled down and jabbed Axel in the small reddened area that marked where the pine-cone had hit. "You seriously won't be satisfied until you get yourself killed, will you?"

"It was a joke!" Axel coughed, still trying to collect his bearings. Trees were another thing to add to his "Bad Places to Hide from Roxas" list.

"There's a fine line between joking and having a death wish." Another voice chimed in. The four looked over to see Riku walking up to them. "Kissing Roxas on stage in front of a fuckton of fangirls with cameras? If that's not suicidal behavior, I don't know what is."

"You can all eat a giant arsenic pie with a dollop of whipped cat piss." Axel groaned as he propped himself up onto his elbows. The fall may have been relatively small but it had still knocked a considerable amount of wind out of him.

"Anyway, while the Supreme Leader of the Jackass Squad here wallows in his stupidity, Marluxia wants you guys to come get your stuff. He's ready to close. Dem and I already started on your drums, Xion."

"Okay. Rox, you make sure the only thing damaged on Lieutenant Ass-Douche over there, is his ego and we'll finish packing up the instruments." Xion offered.

Roxas gave a slight nod as the other three left. Axel gave an indignant scowl at the amount of name-calling that was being tossed his way. And they called him the immature one. Axel was pulled from his mental rant as a pale hand appeared in front of his face. He looked up to find Roxas giving him a look that ranged somewhere between kind and triumphant. Axel gave him a slight scowl and a small list of mumbled obscenities before accepting the help.

"You're not actually hurt, are you?" Roxas asked. He gave the man a once over, reaching up to pull a couple of stray twigs out of the red spikes.

Axel shook his head before stretching out a little. "Might be a little sore in the morning but - wait, you actually care?" The redhead leaned in. His voice had taken on an exaggerated tone of surprise.

Roxas put an open palm on the man's face and pushed him back. "No, not at all. I was just asking because I was taking a survey. If you knock a common dumbass out of a tree like a pinata, will he have enough sense to feel it?."

Axel let out a small laugh before he began to dust all of the dirt and leaves from his clothes.

"You know, I used to be a wise-cracking smartass like you, then I took a pine-cone to the face."

Roxas paused. "Wait. Was that a Skyrim joke?"

"Hey, you're the one who threatened to 'slay me like Skyrim Dragon'."

Roxas folded his arms over his chest as he tried his best to bite back his smile. "Whatever."

Axel pointedly nudged Roxas as they began their walk out of the small gathering of trees they'd run into. Roxas scoffed and pushed the taller male back. The two continued their walk, passing elbow nudges before upgrading to arm slaps as a means to fill the silence. Axel managed to dodge an incoming arm punch and made a grab for Roxas' wrists, holding them so that the shorter male couldn't attack him again. He

"So, tell me. Were you really mad, or was that just to save face?"

Roxas raised a brow. "Hmm, let's see... I specifically told you that I didn't want to make a big public spectacle out of our - whatever we are - and yet while I was trying to meet and greet some of 3D's fans, you decided to kiss me. You fill in the blanks." Roxas grouched as he struggled to get free.

He sucked his teeth as the grip only seemed to get stronger.

"Well, you don't seem very mad to me." Axel moved closer as though if he zoomed in on the man's face, he could spot something that would go against Roxas' words. "Compared to the time I slapped your ass in the cafeteria, the retaliation seems really low on the 'Axel Ass Whooping' Scale."

"Could have something to do with the fact, that if I ran you over with my car like I really wanted to I'd go to jail. And God knows I don't want my legacy to be boiled down to some poorly written Law and Order episode where I'm portrayed as some effeminate jackass." Roxas let out a sigh as Axel's lips raised in an amused smirk at the off-topic rant. Roxas shook himself out of the distracted thoughts. He narrowed his eyes at the larger musician.

"I don't know why I thought someone who is about as subtle as a grizzly bear in a tu-tu doing ballet in the middle of Toys R Us during Black Friday, could possibly keep quiet. Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if the entirety of the fucking Playboy Manor didn't think we were together, by now. I've never met anyone who was so inexplicably talented at defeating a purpose." Roxas scolded. The frown lines on his face deepening.

He truly was annoyed with the taller male. All Roxas wanted was to avoid the prying questions regarding his sexuality and relationship with Axel. Unfortunately, the questions only grew in volume as Axel upped his antics. Rumors and speculation were flooding the band's social networking accounts. He'd known that with the growing amount of time he and Axel spent together, the pot of gossip would begin to boil. He just hadn't counted on Axel being the primary fuel for the flames.

It wasn't just a matter of avoiding drama but also so that he and the band could build a name of their own merit. He didn't want to be 'the guy that's screwing the lead singer of Re:Coded'.

(Not that there was any screwing going on. A little threat regarding a wine cork and parts of Axel's most intimate bits of Anatomy had nipped that in the bud quite effectively.)

Axel paused and frowned thoughtfully at his captive's words. Roxas took advantage of the lax in the hold in order to snatch his wrists and spun away from Axel with a sneer.

"Asshead." Axel grumbled half at the sudden absence of skin beneath his hands and half at the cocky smile Roxas was giving him.

Before the Roxas could turn back and enact his revenge on the pesky older male, he felt a warm weight wrap around his middle and a chin rest itself in the nest of blond spikes on his head. He froze in place. Underneath the grimy smell of the club and sweat and nature, lie a scent reminiscent of the fresh wisps that danced from a newly blown out candle. Distinctly Axel. His heart began doing an impression of a prisoner slamming against bars, begging for release. He could almost swear it was audible. Axel's chin moved from his head to his shoulder. Roxas was curious as to how the man managed to bend so far down.

"I'm sorry." Axel apologized, his breath ghosted over Roxas' ear.

Roxas did a double-take. "Hold on, I think I've contracted a second-hand high from those stoners we ran past earlier. Care to repeat that?"

"I said: I'm sorry. There's a method to this whole: "courting" madness you put in place and I overdid it again, so, I'm sorry."

"And how much internal damage did admitting that do?" Roxas asked, biting back a smile.

"72% of my dignity and 74.9% of my ego" Axel sighed. Roxas shivered slightly as the warm air blew over his neck. "But you know, this back hug almost makes up for it, so..." The redhead trailed off. Roxas felt his lips graze his neck.

In response, the blonde rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time and elbowed Axel, causing him to double over and let go. Small waves of regret dancing along the goosebumps that formed along his arms. His body instantly missing the additional body heat.

"And it's the last you'll be getting for a while."

"Aw! But I'm the one who got you this gig in the first place. I even performed with you. That has to count for something." Axel whined.

"Yeah, and we see where taking those favors got me. Maybe if you could get the jealousy in check -"

"Hold on there, Jethro. Jealousy? Me, jealous?" Axel pointed to himself, looking both offended and confused.

"Yes, you, jealous. I saw the way you were pouting every time someone complimented me. You looked like someone nuked your puppy."

Axel let out an indignant laugh. "That was not jealousy, Kid. That was me expressing my general disgust for the chicks that were undressing you with their eyes."

"General disgust? Why? Because only you're allowed to do it when you think I'm not looking?" The words came out as half a laugh.

"Ye- No. Shut up." Axel stammered, suddenly caught off-guard.

Okay. So maybe he did need a lesson or two in subtlety.

Axel did his best to fight down the impending splotches of color that were threatening to cover his face. Roxas raised a brow and gave the man his best 'you ain't foolin' me' smile before taking a couple of steps toward him. Axel stayed still, not sure if he should get ready to duck a fist or block a knee to the groin. Instead, Roxas reached up and grabbed the redhead by the back of the neck and pulled him downwards, placing a chaste kiss on his lips. Before Axel's brain could get out of 'Defend Vital Organs Mode' the kiss was over.

"Quit being a little Fuckcrumb all of the time and maybe, just maybe," Roxas pulled back a little as Axel tried to go in for another kiss. "this could happen more often."

The blonde donned a mischievous air before he lightly thumped Axel right in the red mark in the center of his face. Axel hissed lightly and jerked backwards in pain.

"Revenge, motherfucker." Roxas informed him with a sly smile before he shoved his hands into his pocket, turned on his heel, and continued to make his way back to the club that the two had run out of earlier.

Axel followed behind the shorter male at a slower pace. Gently rubbing his tender forehead. He was pretty sure that in about an hour he was going to look like some sort of mutated unicorn. He looked over at Roxas, allowing his eyes to trace over the younger man's silhouette.

In the month since their rooftop rendezvous, the generalized hate between the two had quickly dissipated. Turning into a fragile friendship with sporadic bouts fd kissing, healthy amounts of grumping and an abundance of (for the most part) harmless fighting.

But with all of that, came Roxas' growing ability to see right through him and the jury was still out on how he felt about that. Axel had gone into this thing with his usual "Hit it and Quit it" plan. But Roxas, who had nearly tossed the redhead off of the roof after Axel's hands had gone into forbidden territory that night they first kissed, had (violently) set up boundaries right then and there. Boundaries, that no matter how hard Axel tried, were impossible to limbo under or jump over.

He inwardly sighed as they stepped back into the now audience-empty club. There was something at war in the back of his mind. Something that told him that while being near Roxas felt absolutely amazing, if he continued... Axel was fucked.

"You're dipping french fries in ice cream. Doesn't that violate some kind of general rule of human decency?" Riku asked. His nose scrunched up in obvious disapproval of his dinner mate's dining choices.

"Are you kidding me? This is the closet that any human will ever get to seeing Heaven. It's So Wrong, It's Right."

Sora replied as he popped a a fry, with an exceptionally large amount of vanilla ice cream on it's golden yellow frame, into his mouth

"Ugh, long live the Reckless and the Brave." Riku replied, still frowning.

Sora smirked up at his friend. "Thought I could trip you up with an album title."

Riku scoffed. "You'll have to try harder than that, Goofball."

Sora flicked a crumb at the man sitting across from him with a grin.

The two were sitting in a relatively nice 24 hour restaurant awaiting their friends. They had finished packing up the instruments and at Xion and Demyx's request, the group had decided to celebrate Dream. Drop. Distance's successful show with a meal. Sora had "somehow" found himself riding with Riku as Xion's van, which held the body of three twenty-something males as well as their instruments, left him no space. Xion and the others were at least ten minutes behind them as they had to stop for gas. Sora was actually thankful for the delay. He very much enjoyed the solo time with Riku. Not to mention, he needed the time to gather his thoughts.

Tonight may have been Dream. Drop. Distance's first real performance in years, but for Sora, it was also a mark for something else. And the very thought of it made the brunettes insides start to clump together in a knot and start a slow climb to his throat.

"Speaking of recklessness, how big do you think that lump on Axel's forehead is going to get?" Riku asked thoughtfully as he tended to his own appetizer.

Sora shrugged. "Not sure. But if I were you, I'd get a picture of him when the bruise looks the grossest. Blackmail is always handy."

Riku's eyebrows flew upwards. "Not a bad idea. Pretty devious coming from you."

"With influences like Xion and Kairi, it'd be alarming if something didn't rub off on me." Sora replied.

Riku nodded shortly as he quickly snatched a fry out of Sora's basket. He easily avoided getting his hand slapped as he popped the fry into his mouth with a grin. The brunette was fast but Riku was a smidge faster. Sora made a face at the bassist as he protectively pulled his food closer to himself.

"So, speaking of Xion and Roxas. You ready for tonight?"

Sora's jaw stopped working mid-chew. He kept his eyes focused on the basket of fries in front of him. The food in his mouth suddenly felt like glue. Riku let out a small hum.

"I'll take that impression of a deer in headlights, as a no."

The brunette swallowed his mouthful of food and adopted a doleful face.

"You don't have to go through with it tonight, you know." Riku added as Sora's face continued to fall.

Sora shook his head vehemently. He was ready for this. After a month of sneaking around "Madame Allinyabusiness" (as Demyx had dubbed Xion) to go to LGBT meetings and talking with Riku, he was ready. He was tired of hiding and he knew the quicker he put the truth out there, the better he'd feel. Sora let out a small sigh as he nibbled on the end of the fry in his hand.

"It's a heavy conversation. I barely have basic interactions down and here I am trying to organize a conversation like this." Sora pouted.

He was soon drawn from his bit of turmoil as he felt a hand nestle into his hair. He looked up and met a warm aquamarine gaze.

"It's just Xion and Roxas. You've got this."

Sora nodded lightly. "Yeah. Guess you're right." His voice was low and the very essence of uncertainty.

Riku ruffled Sora's hair before removing his hand and stealing another fry and dipping it into Sora's ice cream. "Scientific Fact: I'm right approximately 98% of the time." He said, before cautiously placing it into his mouth.

"What about the other 2%?" Sora asked, amused.

"Well, this one time, I met this blonde and redhead and said: 'There's no way they can be as crazy as everyone says they are.' and another time I thought: 'French Fries and ice cream couldn't possibly live together in harmony.' I was incredibly wrong on both accounts."

Sora let out a laugh and the two exchanged smiles. The brunette felt himself being sucked into the kind expression. Those mental hiccups that so commonly caused his thoughts to stutter when he first befriended Riku, made themselves known again. Sora easily thought of the bassist to be one of his closest friends, despite the short span of time they'd been hanging out. Being around the fellow musician was just simple. Talking to him was incredibly easy. And being attracted to the guy was -

"You know, you make it really easy to steal your food." Riku spoke up, breaking Sora's chain of thought.

The brunette's head shot up to find Riku dipping three fries into Sora's ice cream. "Hey!"

"Not my fault you zoned out. Survival of the Quickest."

Sora's brow knitted together. "I thought it was Survival of the Fittest."

Riku reached out and snatched up four more fries. Sora's verbal protests and hand-swatting were both easily ignored.

"Nope. Quickest."

Sora was ready to retaliate and go for Riku's plate when his plan was diverted when a cacophony of familiar laughter wafted towards them. The two looked up to find Xion, Demyx and Axel holding their sides. A very unimpressed Roxas leading the way as they made their way to the table.

Roxas plopped down in a chair next to his brother. "I need to seriously re-think my reasoning for deciding to fraternize with other humans." His voice was cold and hard. Sora placed a protective hand on his brother's shoulder.

Sora gave his best impression of a glare over at the other three as they took a place at the table. "What did you guys do this time?"

"Don't look at me." Xion giggled. She looked down the table at Demyx.

Demyx looked over at Axel before he put his head down, his shoulders shaking violently. Sora blinked, unable to tell if the sounds the man made indicated that he was choking or laughing or both. Axel had his arms folded over his chest. There was a shit-eating grin on his lips. He sat forward and made eye contact with Roxas before he uttered three words.

"Little Mermaid Boxers."

Riku's forehead furrowed in confusion as Sora's face went completely blank. He turned to his brother, unable to miss the twitch that afflicted his right eye.

"How?" Sora squeaked.

Xion smothered her laugh with a short cough. "Axel pantsed Roxas in front of about five cars at the gas station. Effectively getting us banned from ever going there ever again." She turned to face the smug redhead. "He now owes me about ten bucks because I hadn't even finished filling up my tank before I heard yelling, cursing and cop threats."

Riku covered his face. Obviously trying to use his fingers to keep his lips from forming a smile. He turned to the disgruntled blonde.

"Rox, Why do you own -"

"They were a gift, Riku." Roxas answered sharply, cutting off the question.

"Let's just...Maybe we should order food now?" Sora offered.

The brunette knew it was only a matter of time before the tension and glaring contest between his brother and Axel turned into a verbal fight. The two were getting incredibly good at getting them kicked out or banned from places. This new gas station incident was just a new one to tack onto the list.

"Great idea, Sora." Xion agreed as she stuck a menu under Roxas' nose.

Roxas reached to take it, stopping short. His lips pursed as he noticed that there was a cartoon depiction of a mermaid adorning it. Above it, the name of the restaurant, 'Under the Sea', in bold blue letters. It was then that they all realized something that had gone completely over their heads before.

This was seafood place.

Mermaids were the mascot.

And 'Kiss the Girl' was playing in the background.

This was officially the most fucktastic day the lead singer had ever experienced.

"This is some Capital Fuckery." Roxas grumbled sourly as he snatched the menu from the already giggling woman.

The entire table, not at all oblivious to the irony, erupted into laughter involuntarily.

Roxas' sour disposition lasted until they were well into their meal. But after Axel started beat-boxing while Demyx rapped and sang an impromptu song about Zombies Twerking in the Grand Canyon, it was near impossible to hold in his laughter. The night wore on in a similar manner. They received a record number dirty looks from some of the nearby patrons and some of the wait-staff for their rambunctious behavior and Axel's extremely loud and continuous dropping of the F-bomb.

Through the laughter, however, Roxas noticed his brother being to act a bit suspicious. His shoulder's progressively got more tense. His laughs became more of a forced staccato and ended more abruptly. A line of worry had settled into his forehead. The blonde caught Xion's eye who, in turn, shrugged. She'd obviously picked up on Sora's change as well and was just as clueless as Roxas was.

Some time passed and the table was abuzz with steady conversation when Roxas thought to take his chance. He gingerly nudged his brother with his elbow. Sora jerked sideways with a startled squawk, in response. His arm bumped against the table making all of the dishes clatter.

"Whoa, Sor. Chill. It was a nudge, not a gunshot. You okay?" Roxas asked.

Sora looked around wide-eyed. The entire table was now focused on him. Their faces were transfixed with a variation of worry. He could physically feel the saliva in his mouth evaporate. He looked over at Riku who just gave him an encouraging nod. The brunette looked heavenward and blew out something between a breath and a silent prayer before he looked back to his friends.

"Actually, I'm not." Sora started quietly.

The rest of the table leaned in simultaneously. He probably would have laughed if he didn't feel like upchucking his entire dinner before hauling ass out of there.

"I have something I need to tell you guys." He said. The sentence ending with an upward inflection making it sound more like a question.

"Oh, God. You got someone pregnant, didn't you?" Demyx asked.

Axel choked on the soda he was sucking up through a straw. Xion made a small snort in an effort to not laugh and Roxas rolled his eyes. The moment of seriousness effectively ruined. Sora turned to the disruptive drummer, glowering.

"Yes, Demyx. Your mom's five weeks pregnant. You should call to check-in. From now on, just call me Daddy." Sora answered with a dull tone and straight face. Annoyance had taken over his nerves.

Demyx stopped laughing and donned a horrified look. Axel and Roxas were both turning red and giggling. Riku smiled proudly and Xion squeaked and bit down on her index finger to control her urge to laugh.

"Looks like someone's wearing Roxas' Sassy Panties." Axel snorted. "Nice to know they're staying warm while Sebastian takes up shop on Roxas'-"

"Finish that sentence and die, Fuckstick." Roxas threatened.

"I'm so fucking done with you guys." Xion mumbled before speaking up, drowning out the impending battle. "Sora, please carry on with what you were saying earlier."

Sora cleared his throat and turned to his brother. "Right. Well, um. A couple of weeks ago, Roxas, you and Xion noticed that I was keeping something from you guys." He met his brother's gaze, briefly. Roxas gave a supportive nod. He caught Xion's reciprocated acknowledgement from the corner of his eye. "Well, I-I wasn't really... ready to tell you then. I mean, I didn't even know what was going on. And I'm really thankful that you guys didn't try to push me too much and gave me my space. But now, I'm ready to tell the truth." He looked up and everyone had their eyes on him. The liquid that had left his mouth had obviously decided to show itself on his palms in the form of sweat. He wiped them on the thigh of his jeans. He kept his eyes down cast before he opened his mouth again. "And the truth is, I'm bisexual."

Sora looked up nervously, not sure what he was expecting to happen now. It was out there. He'd done it. And even without their response, it lessened the thudding of his heart and his shaking hands.

"Well, duh. I could have told you that." Xion broke the silence.

Sora's mouth fell open. He blinked hard before he turned to the dark-haired woman with astonishment written on his face.

"Sorry, Sor, but I'm with Xion. I kind of already knew." Roxas added.

Now, wait one Diddly-Darn minute.

"What do you guys mean you knew?" Sora asked, his eyes darting between the two.

"Well, despite what you may think, you're actually quite obvious." Xion explained. "Especially after you broke up with Kai. It was apparent you had other interests, you know what I mean? I'm just really glad you finally realized it on your own."

Sora's jaw was hanging. He looked to his brother who just shrugged and gave him a smile.

"Honestly, Bro, I have no clue what you were so nervous about. I mean, did you think I was going to disown you or something. That I'd shout: Go full Gay or Go Home? I don't care who you're attracted to because at the end of the day, you're still my brother...as long as it's not Demyx's mom. I'd have to shut that shit down."

Sora stared at his brother for a full thirty seconds before he started laughing. The rest of the table joined in. Sora, despite knowing how his twin felt about Public Displays of Affection, flung his arms around Roxas in a bear hug. He wasn't completely sure but he may have heard a rib ot two crack, but he couldn't be bothered with something like that at the moment. He was euphoric. Everything that had been weighing his shoulders down, floated away. Roxas had a point. In retrospect, at least. He really had no reason to be afraid. He pretty much had the best support system any person could ever ask for. He looked up and made eye contact with Riku who just smiled and gave him a reassuring wink. No, forget 'pretty much'. He most definitely had the best support system that anyone could ever ask for.

The rest of their night went smoothly. After more dirty looks from the staff, the group decided to pay and leave. The group decided to change up car members since Axel and Riku shared a room, they'd ride back to campus together. Demyx didn't really care either way. On the way back to the parking lot, Riku and Sora lagged behind the rest.

"Told you so." Riku said simply.

"Yeah, yeah." Sora replied playfully. "Thanks, Riku."

Riku looked over in surprise. "Why are you thanking me? You did all of the work."

"Well, yeah. But I don't think I would have had the courage to get to this point without your help."

Riku shrugged. "I didn't do much."

"But it was enough." Sora answered him. His voice coming out softer than he expected it to.

Riku smiled at him. The two shared a gaze before they looked away.

"So, would this mean it'd be okay if I asked for a small favor of my own in return?" Riku asked casually.

"Hmm. I guess so." Sora shrugged.

"Sora?" Riku stopped walking briefly. Sora followed suit and tilted his head to the side in a questioning manner. "Would you mind going on a date with me next weekend?"

The brunette's face broke out into a smile. "I'd actually like that very much."

The silver-haired male beamed back. His hands fidgeting with each other, a slight pink hue creeping up his collar.

"Well, So Long, Soldier." Riku waved, taking a tentative step in the direction of his car.

"So Long, And Thanks For All The Booze." Sora answered, waving back.

The two went their separate ways to their respective cars after a lingering look. As Sora walked away, he couldn't fight the overwhelming sense of peace that was spreading throughout his body. He was grinning like an idiot. He knew that for a fact. But it was well deserved. After weeks of inner turmoil and stress, things were looking a hell of a lot better for him. He even had a date to look forward to.

Roxas wondered what sort of soul-selling process one had to go through in order to be one of those smug little shits that never seemed to go to class, never studied and never turned in a damn thing on time and still managed to get As.

Honestly, spending the rest of eternity alongside Satan, was looking like a fucking vacation next to this mid-term paper he had to write on European Literature. He sighed. At least he was only three pages away from meeting the fifteen page requirement. Three pages in three days was do-able. If he also overlooked his Anatomy mid-term he needed to study for. He let out a very undignified whimper at the prospect of studying joints and muscles when he heard a loud knock at his door.

"Oh, Roxy?" A recognizable voice sang.

"Satan?" Roxas asked, perking up.

The knob on his door turned and the door sung open to reveal Axel hanging in the doorway.

"Damn, Satan. You move fast. Hasn't even been five minutes."

Axel eyed the blonde suspiciously. Not sure of how to respond.

Roxas shook his head. "Never mind. You had to be there."

Axel continued to eye the man as he moved through the doorway, closing the door behind. "Hitting the sauce a little early, don't you think?"

"I'm drunk off of an over-abundance of Bronte, Wolfe and Wells. I'm trashed on the legacy of the imaginative, the mentally ill, and the intensely radical."

"Wow. You sound like a pretentious little fuck."

"And that's how you know I'm an English major."

Axel chuckled before walking in and plopping himself down length-wise on Roxas' bed. Roxas turned his chair to face the redhead.

"You look like shit." Roxas observed.

Axel made a non-committal noise as he let his forearm lay across his face. But Roxas was right. The lanky man's skin color was a little off. His normally tan skin a little piqued. The area underneath his eyes were dark and somewhat sunken in. And the way he threw himself onto the blonde's bed. Limbs strewn every which way, stayed wherever they landed, no matter how uncomfortable he looked. It was as if he couldn't be bothered to move them. Despite how carefree and nonchalant Axel acted normally, it was obvious to Roxas, that Hell Week was getting to him as well.

"And you have a show in three days." Roxas continued.

"And a practice with Demyx and Riku later this afternoon." Axel added.

"You're going to die from exhaustion."

"YOLO."

Roxas cringed. "If you ever say that in my presence again. I will lock you in your room and play every Taylor Swift song ever created on repeat."

Axel visibly cringed. "That's the most sadistic thing anyone has ever said to me."

"Then shut that new-age cool kid shit up." Roxas scolded. "So, what are you doing here anyway?" Roxas asked. "You sent a text saying you needed my opinion on something?"

Axel popped up in his spot on the bed reminding Roxas of a bunny subjected to copious amounts of caffeine. He gestured for the blonde to come sit near him.

"That's right! I have some lyrics I want to run by you. Since our last little collaboration went so well, I thought you'd be able to help me out again."

Roxas shrugged. Clearly interested but trying to hide it under a layer of indifference. He pulled himself from the chair and made his way over to Axel who was in the process of yanking himself upwards. He dug into his pocket, a crumpled page littered with notes and crossed out lyrics in his hand.

"Let me see." Roxas reached out and took it and examined it for a few silent minutes. "I think this part should not be here." The blonde spoke up. He pulled a pencil from behind his ear and scribbled out a couple of notes. "That way you can rest here and you won't run out of breath before you get to this line. You could probably rework the bridge completely. The second half of the chorus, from the way I hear it my head, I think there should be someone singing it with you."

"Someone like...you?"

Roxas continued to look over the paper for a moment before he paused, setting the sheet down on the bed and slowly looking up at Axel.

"You didn't need my help at all, did you?"

"Not really."

"This is just your roundabout bitchass way of asking me to record this with you, isn't it?"

"Kinda."

"And you couldn't just ask me because?"

"Being direct is only fun when sex is involved. Remember that Roxy." Axel murmured as he leaned in towards Roxas. Deliberately breathing heavily on the blonde's neck and ear.

Roxas face stayed completely blank as Axel moved in. He heaved an agitated sigh before reaching his hand behind the redhead and popping him on the back of the head.

"Down, boy."

Axel's body jerked forwards at the violent move more out of shock than actual hurt.

"You know a lot of people would kill to have me alone on their bed right now, preferably with less clothing."

"Colonel Mustard called: He wants you to get a Clue." Roxas answered as he got up from the bed. He padded towards his closet and grabbed his acoustic guitar. Digging into a nearby drawer for a pick.

"Yeah and Candy Land called. They're missing a candy cane. They have a gnawing suspicion it's up your ass." Axel shot back.

"Same place you wish you were, Thirsty Mofo." Roxas grumbled as he ambled back over to his bed.

Axel ignored the comment. Opting for an amused smile instead. Roxas plopped down and grabbed the sheet music from where he placed it. He began testing out the chords until he got familiar enough with them. He gently hummed the melody to himself.

Axel watched. Intrigued by the way the blonde deftly moved his fingers along the instrument. How quickly the male just fell into the music. It had become Axel's new favorite past-time to watch him whenever there was music involved. The blonde's constantly furrowed brow lessened. The snarl that consistently danced on his lips, fell away as they instead brought life to lyrics. It was a hard thing to not watch. Axel fought and leaned back slightly.

Of course, watching someone live and thrive through their passion was something that could easily draw in anyone. It wasn't like he was specifically drawn to Roxas' performing or anything.

"I'm half remembered, half way across the world. Twice removed from a second home. The shadow of a ghost in an old haunt. With a lease on life, 'cause I can't afford to own." Roxas sang prompting a small smile from Axel. It went mostly unnoticed by Roxas who'd already been transplanted into the music.

"When being young starts getting old. A new place saves face or so I'm told. Be the new kid, on an old block. A chalk outline on a playground blacktop."

Axel stole a glimpse over Roxas' shoulder at the sheet music. Before stealing the chorus from the blonde.

"I'm just a moment, so don't let me pass you by. We could be a story in the morning, but we'll be a legend tonight." The two exchanged glances. Roxas immediately realized by Axel's tone change that the redhead had opted to go for the last chorus of the song instead of the first. Roxas changed his finger positioning quickly and started in on the latter half of the chorus alongside Axel.

"I'm just a moment, so don't let me pass you by. And they can speak our names in a dead language. Cause you and I, we're alive. But just for a moment."

Axel did not miss the the goosebumps that suddenly peppered Roxas' skin. Nor did he miss the way he looked as if he'd been caught in some mini-whirlwind of befuddlement, as his fingers stopped moving along the strings. The smaller man's eyes dropped to the sheet of paper balanced on his knees. He studied it closely before his eyes lit up with a sudden realization.

"These lyrics..." Roxas trailed off.

"Might be about you. Might have, um, written it for you." Axel answered, the words holding more of a rasp than he intended them to.

Roxas let out a whispered laugh. "Why?"

"Maybe you need a song. Maybe...we need a song"

Axel continued watching the guitarist. He didn't miss the way his body tensed at the word "we". The redhead watched as Roxas opened his mouth to reply. The words dying as soon as lips seemed ready to form the words.

"Axel, I can't - I'm not-" Roxas audibly searched for some way to respond.

His eyes were still scrambling over the paper. The message of the entire thing finally sinking in for him. The redhead took a chance and leaned in again for the second time that afternoon while praying to every deity he could think of, that the blond wouldn't bash his head in with the instrument in his hands.

Axel's spontaneous (and albeit not incredibly earnest) prayers were answered as Roxas not only allowed Axel to kiss him, but reciprocated it.

The redhead could easily boast that over the course of their courtship, he'd kissed the blonde dozens of times. Most of them rather tame and short or aggressive little battles of dominance. But this one...felt different to Axel. This one was slow and rhythmic. The sensations from it shot through his veins. Stinging his limbs and stirring something inexplicable in the pit of his stomach. Quite unlike anything he'd ever experienced with anyone.

His breath hitched as a hand tangled itself in his hair, Axel took the opportunity to wrap an arm around Roxas' waist. He gently bit down on the other man's bottom lip. He then took the liberty of trailing a series of small kisses along Roxas' jawline, as his hands fingered the edge of the blonde's shirt, until he reached the younger man's neck. Axel earned a uncharacteristic groan from him after he traced a long line with his tongue along Roxas' neck. The sound seemed to startle Roxas who, in response, jumped back. He only just managed to keep himself from falling off of the bed.

Roxas' face was as red as Axel's hair. Possibly a combination of both their moment and his apparent embarrassment.

"S-sorry. I-I uh..." Roxas stammered quietly with a frown.

"Roxy can't handle being a little hot and bothered?" Axel teased, huskily.

Roxas looked away, his face burning an nonhuman shade of red. He could swear he could almost hear the blonde mentally curse himself out for his reactions and subsequent voice cracking and stuttering.

"Ax?" Roxas cleared his throat quietly.

Axel perked up slightly at the sound of the nickname. He was used to "Overtly Flamboyant Goof, Jackass, and even "Piss Breath", but not "Ax."

"Uh, yeah?"

"Aren't you ever...afraid?"

Axel could do nothing to hide the obvious confusion that contorted his features. He was expecting many things to come out of the blonde a few of them being insults and death threats, but not that.

"Uh...Afraid? Of what? Lions? Falling anvils? The advances of straight women?" He finally asked, snapping out of his stupor.

"People. Being so open about you? Or us?" Roxas clarified, still unable to hold steady eye contact.

Axel blinked and thought for a moment. "No. I guess when I know what I want I go for it. I only have so many fucks to give in a lifetime, you know?"

Roxas mulled over his answer before nodding. "Yeah, yeah. Makes sense." He muttered, mainly to himself. "You know what, I'm going to uh, finish this paper." Roxas said. Gesturing toward his still running laptop and the Word document splayed on the screen.

Axel could take a hint. "Yeah, guess I should go meet up with Dem and Riku."

Roxas nodded.

"I'll call you later." Axel leaned over and kissed the blonde on the temple, before he stood up and left the room.

Roxas fell backwards onto the bed after he could no longer hear Axel's retreating footsteps. He closed his eyes and scrubbed them with his fingers so hard that there was an array of colored swirls blending with the darkness. It was almost safe to say he'd never been more conflicted in his life. That song was an answer to something that he'd been mulling over quite frequently as of late.

How long would Axel be willing to walk a line filled with boundaries and rules?

Roxas wasn't about to just suddenly throw his own comfort aside for the redhead. Shit just didn't fly like that with him. But if Roxas didn't try to find some compromise, if he didn't stop freaking out every single time Axel made him feel something akin to happiness...

It was so weird to him. He'd always rolled his eyes at those sappy puppy-love drunk idiots who went around professing their love for someone they'd known for such a small window of time together.

Now, he was sure this wasn't love.

No, certainly not love.

Nope. None of that going around.

But he couldn't deny that when Axel got bored with 'Barrier-Laden/Closeted Affection Only Roxas' and left, he'd regret it. He'd been sitting on a pile of that for years and he wasn't looking for any more of it.

Roxas sighed. Maybe he really did have an infection-causing stick up his ass. And maybe Axel was the antibiotics he needed.

...This metaphor didn't sound nearly as deep as he intended it to.

He absently ran his hand over the small area that Axel had bitten earlier. He was sure the Pain in the Ass had left a visible mark. Now, there was now a small but heavily weighted question dancing on the fringes of his mind as he appraised the bruised skin: Would he hide it? Or let it show? And when the inevitable questions came raining down, how would he answer them?

Axel was only half aware of his surroundings as he wandered into the practice room. His footsteps reverberated around the room as he walked. He was at least an hour and a half early. He'd been expecting to "hang" with Roxas a lot longer than he had but well, that plan had gone as well as anyone could have really expected. He slung his guitar from around his shoulders and placed it gingerly on the ground. He dropped himself down on the piano bench before he let his head fall into his hands.

If there was one talent he could claim other than music, it was lying. His lips were still burning from the deception that had eased past them earlier. He'd told Roxas he wasn't afraid but if the way his hands were shaking right now was any indication, he was terrified.

Terrified of Roxas.

Terrified of the strange mixture of butterflies and unease he encountered whenever the blonde was involved.

Terrified of the fact that he knew damn well that his simple initial plan was not going to be enough.

And with this song...

God, he wrote the kid a song. That part hadn't been a lie. But his justifications for writing it, his faux desire of lighting a fire under the blonde's barriers, were

Axel always knew exactly what he wanted from people and generally how to get it, but with Roxas the lines were muddied. Axel didn't want much. What he already had was enough. And knowing that, feeling that contentment, was what made him so eager to attain more. He needed to disappear. Even if he didn't want to. The startled, vulnerable look that had stained the man's face had nearly melted his heart.

His heart.

"Now, this is some real Capital Fuckery." Axel groaned as he dropped his head again, hitting his temples with the ball of his hand.

A/N: Fun Fact: When my male best friend came out to us in our Senior Year of high school, we responded the same way. We had sort of figured it out back when we all met in 7th grade after he got up in Pre-Algebra and did all of the choreography from Shakira's Hips Don't Lie from memory. Great times, awesome guy.

Again, Guys I'm so so so sorry for the delay. I would promise that it won't take forever to bring you the next chapter but I don't like to make promises I'm not sure I can keep. Also, please don't set fire to my house for the cliffhanger.

Oh! By the way, I made a Tumblr/Back up place to store all of my stories. So, if you guys want to follow me/harass me/ make sure I'm not dead, that's an option. The link is on my author page.

Also I found out I've been using the feminine forms of "blond" and "brunet"... If I was a better woman I would go back and fix it... but I'm not so... Oops. Who needs Gender Roles, anyway, am I right? *coughs*