Fic: Silence is Golden (5/9)
Title: Silence is Golden
Pairing: Zemyx
Disclaimer: KH = NOT MINE.
Dedications: to prettypixiechan. Because she is my lovely beta. All other mistakes are my own.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: When Demyx goes to college, he wants to learn and get his degree. He doesn't want to have a roommate who refuses to speak, a drifter who decides to live in his room, or fall in love. Too bad what Demyx wants is not what Demyx gets.
Chapter 1 : Chapter 2 : Chapter 3 : Chapter 4 : Chapter 5 : Chapter 6 : Chapter 7 : Chapter 8 : Chapter 9
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"No."
"YES!"
"Totally should."
"Sounds pretty awesome, I have to admit…."
"Will there be alcohol or blood involved?"
"Can I make money off of it?"
"…"
Axel nodded as he looked around the crowded room, counting absently on his fingers. "Alright, that's three for, one against, two don't-cares, and one who abstains courteously. Seems like we're doing it." A wicked smirk crossed his face and he rubbed his hands together gleefully.
Demyx groaned, letting his head fall to hit his desk. Then, just for good measure, he hit his head on the desk again. "Noooo, why do we have to do thiiiis? It doesn't seem like any sort of fun!"
Slinging an arm around the blonde's shoulders and pulling his head away from further intimate contact with the desk, Axel replied, "But, Dem, it will be fun! I mean, it just doesn't get better than this! Right everyone?"
Demyx raised pleading eyes to the rest of the room, though he knew it was a hopeless cause. Sora was already bouncing in excitement, Tidus and Marluxia were plotting, Namine wasn't there to help him, and Larxene and Luxord really just didn't care. Zexion, though…
Axel headed off that idea. "Zexion agrees with me."
"No he doesn't! He never agrees with you!" Demyx wailed. But the sad truth was he could see the spark of interest in his roommate's eyes. He knew he had lost.
Why, world? Why do you hate me?
The musician pouted, giving up with an ungraceful groan, and he pushed Axel's arm from his shoulders in a gesture of abject defeat, placing his head on the desk again. "Fine, alright, we can do it," he muttered, a scowl adorning his usually sunny face.
Axel's grin stretched razor-sharp across his face. "Awesome, Halloween costumes by pairs it is." He whipped out a hat and some paper, apparently having anticipated his victory. "Names in the hat, we're going to draw for partners."
"Alright, Axel, what are we doing again?" Larxene drawled even as she snatched a piece of paper and began languidly writing on it.
The redhead took in a deep breath and once again launched into the explanation. "Instead of everyone picking out their own costumes, we're going to partner up. Partner A-" he grabbed Demyx again, ignoring the blonde's flailing protests, "-will choose the costume for Partner B-" leaning out to snag the nearest person, Sora, "-and vice versa according to our theme, which I will announce after we draw partners. The only person allowed to know about your costume until Halloween is your partner. No one else. We'll meet on Halloween and change here." He looked around at them. "Understood?"
Tidus pitched his name in, whooping as it fell in without touching the sides. "Yuh!"
Larxene sneered at the football player, but sniffed a second later, also placing her name into the hat.
"Wait a second, why is everyone putting in their name? Shouldn't we only have half in?" Marluxia asked, twirling a strand of hair around his finger.
Shaking his head, Axel got the last couple of names in the hat. "I'll pull out the partner's names once they're chosen. This makes it even more random."
Luxord stroked his goatee, eyes gleaming at the chance. "Fifteen bucks says I'll get Marluxia."
Said Biology major rolled his eyes. "And the chances of that are what? No, don't tell me," he said, holding up a hand to forestall the gambler's answer, "I know you've already figured it out. So, who draws first?"
The hat was offered to him.
Sighing, Marluxia reached in and grabbed a piece of paper. Opening it, he sighed, scowled, and tossed it at Luxord halfheartedly. "One day, you're going to tell me how you know these things. I promise, I will make you tell me. In detail."
Axel smirked, fishing Luxord's name out as well and passing the hat to Tidus. "Keep it going."
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In the end, Zexion mused, the partners could have been worse.
Marluxia was still fuming about his predicted pairing with Luxord, Larxene smirked at Tidus in a way that was more of a vicious baring of teeth than a smile, and he was paired with Sora, not Axel. The only downside was that now, Demyx had to put up with that madman's antics.
Though he was quite interested in seeing what sort of costume Axel chose for Demyx.
For the moment, he turned his gaze back to the energetic brunette, who was happily rattling off a number of costumes he thought might work well for Zexion. The pale man winced at a few of them. Really? A cat-girl? Surely, Sora wasn't as unobservant as to mistake Zexion's gender, was he?
There were times, though, when Zexion really thought he might be.
Then Axel stood, arms crossed and head tilted back arrogantly. The room quieted after a few moments, though Zexion thought it was more from curiosity than any sort of liking. He had to quietly remind himself that not everyone hated Axel as much as he did.
"The theme…" the redhead paused dramatically, fever-green gaze sweeping the room, "for this year's Halloween Partner Costume Contest iiiiissssss….!" Another pause.
A snort came from Larxene as she lied down indolently. "Just get on with it, fire-pants."
Axel sent her a disgruntled glare and a frown that was on the verge of being a pout before saying, "Complete Opposites."
There was silence.
Sora turned to Zexion, eyes wide, "Alright, I've got nothing."
Zexion hid a smirk. This was perfect. The ideal costume for Sora whirled in his brain, but he turned his attention to Axel again as the redhead started speaking.
"Basically, choose a costume that reflects exactly what your partner isn't. Like how for Demyx here, I'm going to try and pick out something ridiculously slutty. Because he isn't normally." Axel grinned down at Demyx's mortified, blushing face.
"You…you aren't really going to, are you?" the blonde pleaded, aqua eyes wide and terrified.
Axel ruffled Demyx's hair with a good-natured laugh, a cutting smirk on his face that belied his friendly actions. "Maybe, kid, but you don't have to know that." He spoke again to the room, "And your partner does have to agree with what you pick. You can't force them into a costume against their will, though all forms of persuasion are allowed."
Tidus immediately turned to Larxene, determination plain on his face. "I refuse to cross-dress."
"Oh, pooh," Larxene purred, a very disturbing sound that was made of nothing close to happiness, "And here I was going to make you dress up as a cheerleader…"
Everyone in the room laughed, even as Tidus blanched and grinned with them.
It felt good to have people, Zexion admitted. They could be amusing.
Then he caught the glint in Axel's green eyes as the redhead studied him covertly and had to sigh.
And sometimes they could be really annoying.
Everyone left after another hour of debate, plotting their partners' demise.
Demyx sighed. The silence was nice after all the clamor about the idea Axel had. It seemed like forever since there had been quiet, and the blonde fully blamed Axel for it. His eyes swung over to the redhead. Now he only had to decide what to do about Axel, since he looked a little upset about…something, and those too-green eyes resting on Zexion for long lengths of time never ended up being good.
Demyx had given up on understanding the inner workings of Axel's convoluted mind.
He hooked an arm around Axel's bony shoulders, reaching out with his other hand to poke at the single inverted teardrop tattoo under his eye. Barely flinching, Axel waved him aside like an annoying fly, still watching Sora murmur animatedly to Zexion who -Demyx noted with a twinge of jealousy- was listening intently.
Poking him again seemed like a good idea. And it worked out a little of his frustration.
This time, Axel turned to him, an expression like confusion and irritation bubbling to the surface of his gaze. "What?" he snapped, a frown twisting his lips.
Demyx prodded him one last time just to satisfy his need for petty violence before answering him. "What are you thinking about?"
Axel's eyes slid back towards Zexion for a brief second, but they found their way to Demyx. "Nothing, really. I was just bemoaning the loss of getting to dress Zexion up in drag."
From the way his pale roommate stiffened, Demyx knew that Axel's words had hit their mark. Zexion didn't bother turning to face them, but he did hiss slightly.
Both Axel and Demyx blinked at him. Huh, Demyx thought, I guess he's trying to make it easier for us to understand him. For some reason, that thought made his heart ache a little. He really enjoyed being the only one who could figure out Zexion. He should be happy that the English major was trying to communicate again, but-
Axel jabbed him in the side, and Demyx snapped out of his melancholy observations to find his friend's face hovering too close to his own.
"Now, as for your costume, dear Demy-kins…."
Demyx groaned and got another bony finger in his shoulder for his troubles.
"Don't start that. I was thinking pop-slut," Axel drawled, eyes glittering.
"No."
A pout. "Fine then. One fourth of a Barber-shop quartet?"
Demyx raised one eyebrow, a trick he had just managed to learn from Zexion. "Isn't that too close to how I am?"
Shrugging, Axel leaned over and started flipping through the stack of movies the roommates had collected. "Hm. You could be an Alien."
"Not happening. At least, not on my budget."
"Predator?"
"What part of Poor College Student do you not understand?"
Axel was still for a few seconds. Then he tossed a movie case into Demyx's lap just as the door opened. Namine walked in, a soft smile on her face.
"Sorry, I seemed to have missed everyone…."
Sora bounded up and grabbed the blonde girl's hands, smiling like the sun. "No, that's alright, we just found out that we're going to be doing Partner Halloween, so your partner chooses your costume that's completely opposite of what you're actually like, and oh no…." His eyes widened, and Sora's face became the vision of misery, "You don't have a partner…."
Patting his hands gently, Namine soothed him, "Don't worry, I'll just bring your brother. You've been complaining that he doesn't socialize more."
For some reason, that made Sora look over at Axel with a worried expression before glancing back to the artist. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean…" and the brunet pointed his thumb not-so-subtly at Axel. "You know…."
"I'm sure it will be fine, Sora. Worst comes to worst, he can't kill anyone with so many witnesses around. You know he's phobic about being caught doing something."
Looking at Axel's bemused face, Demyx thought, Somehow, Namine, that's not actually all that reassuring….
Sora, though, thought it was the best idea in the world. And Demyx sighed, looked down at the movie case in his lap, and his eyes widened.
"Axel, I think I love you."
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Zexion pulled irritably at his costume. Why did Sora have to think that this was a good idea?
More than that, why did he have to think it was a good idea?
He carefully readjusted the pants. Even if the colors were hideous, he would at least make sure they were in the right place. Looking distastefully at the pink and purple stripes once more, he finally stepped out of the bathroom, eyes turned away from the others in the room until he could stand to face them. There was silence.
Then Axel laughed, giving Sora a high-five. "Awesome! Zexion as the Cheshire Cat! It's perfect!"
Zexion glared at him.
Sora wagged a finger at him and chided, "Now now, Zexion, you're supposed to smile, remember?"
He smiled slowly, pulling his lips back and lowering his eye lids to make one of the most disturbing smiles he could.
Judging from the horrified look on everyone else in the room, it worked.
Axel shuddered and rubbed his arms as if he could wipe a slimy film off of his skin. "My god, don't ever do that again. That was just…terrifying…."
Good. Zexion thought viciously. Maybe now you won't ask me to do it again.
"So, who else are we waiting on?" Demyx asked as he slid by Zexion to get to the bathroom.
Sora pouted and tapped his lower lip with his finger. "Well, I'm already dressed," he gestured down to himself, in scrubs and a white lab coat. Zexion smiled to himself. Sora as a doctor was a frightening thought, and it was not something anyone actually wanted to see in real life. The brunet continued, "Demyx is getting dressed, and Axel is sitting right there. So, Luxord, Marluxia, Tidus, and Larxene are going to meet us at IHOP, and Namine and my brother are coming here first."
Cocking his head curiously, Axel dragged Sora closer to him. "Who is this mysterious brother, anyway? We've never heard you talk about him before."
Sora shrugged out of Axel's arms, but remained close, smiling up at him as he explained, "Well, he's a bit…anti-social. He's a bit hard to get along with at first, and he's more than a little upset that his three friends didn't come here with him. I mean, they're still close, but he really misses them. And he likes making good grades too much to really leave the room." The brunet sighed, "It's a good day when I can get him out of the room for lunch or dinner."
"What's his name?"
"Roxas."
Axel hummed for a moment, as if he were letting the name roll around in his mind. "Rrroxas…," he drew out the 'r', almost purring the name. "Sexy, I like it!"
A sputter came from the bathroom. "Axel! Seriously? You don't even know him!"
"Aw, but you never protested when I hit on you!" Axel laughed and suddenly his voice turned sensuous, dark, and purring in a way that made Zexion's hackles rise. "Demy, are you jealous?"
He may not be, but I am!
Zexion blinked. He…was jealous? Of Axel…hitting on Demyx….
Oh, that's just wonderful.
Demyx opened the door and turned on Axel, tapping his foot delicately. "I am not. But I thought you might be a little more discriminating."
Sora's jaw dropped. A second later, he was beaming and hive-fiveing Axel. "Nice! Demyx as Jareth!"
Zexion eyed the furiously blushing blond as Sora and Axel heckled him for wearing tights, trailing his eyes up grey-clad legs. He had to admit, the outfit did justice to Demyx's frame. The fact that it was nearly skin-tight might have had something to do with that. And he barely had to do anything with his hair.
Shaking his flowing sleeves irritably, Demyx scowled at Axel, and said in a haughty tone, "Go on, get in there. I want to see everyone's faces when you get out!"
In a mocking manner, Axel bowed to him as he went by, murmuring, "Yes, Goblin King," and ignoring the casual slap the musician delivered to his shoulder. The redhead disappeared into the bathroom. There were the soft sounds of clothing being pulled off and on, and in barely any time, Axel stepped back out.
Though, if Zexion hadn't seen him enter, he almost wouldn't have recognized him.
The normally spiky red hair had been slicked back into a ponytail, and the tall redhead stood there like a model, adjusting the cuffs of a full suit. Gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, and Axel grinned his leonine smirk at them. The effect was almost ruined by the black teardrop tattoo under his left eye.
Demyx grinned. "I present to you, Axel, respectable businessman."
The whole room started laughing, and even Zexion found a smile tugging at his lips.
Not two seconds later, the door opened.
Namine, covered in blood and clad only in a simple white dress with a butcher knife in hand, sidled into the room, a gentle smile on her face. "Hey guys," she said softly, before giggling at the grins on their faces. Wandering into the middle of the room, she turned in a circle. "Roxas picked out a good costume, didn't he?"
Sora nodded enthusiastically, as he did most everything. "So, where is he anyway?"
"Geez, I'm right back here and you don't even notice? Some brother," a voice teased from behind Demyx. As the boy stepped into the light -did all of Sora's family seem that young?- Sora's jaw dropped.
A short blond stood there, arms crossed, and obviously uncomfortable in his costume, but his blue eyes held the glimmers of a smile. Though any person in their right mind would be uncomfortable in what Roxas was wearing. Zexion raised an eyebrow as he viewed the leather-bound blond. Those pants were a miracle of gravity. Either that or they had been painted on, which the pale man would not put past Namine. And was that…?
A whip?
Axel purred from behind them and sauntered forward, circling the blond. "Oh, somebody has been a bad, bad boy…" he murmured in a sultry tone, eyes trailing all over Roxas's body, and he predatorily licked his lips.
Roxas cracked the whip in his face. "Back off, creep. I don't even know you."
"Namine!" Sora hissed, tugging on the girl's arm, "What were you thinking? I could've sworn you were smarter than this!"
The artist only smiled at him and pointed at Axel, who was sneaking grazing touches whenever he could, and Roxas, who was not above hitting Axel to get him away. "Just look."
Sora did, Zexion noticed, and apparently he saw something that made him laugh.
"C'mon, guys! Let's go to IHOP!" Sora bounded eagerly into the midst of the semi-battle going on between Axel and Roxas, separating them without even trying.
"I'm not riding with him."
"Aw, but Blondie…. I wanted you to ride on my lap…."
"Weren't you supposed to be respectable?"
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Demyx groaned, leaning back in his seat and feeling the vinyl of the booth creak. "Oh, so good… IHOP pancakes are the best…."
Snorting, Marluxia idly spooned out a bit more of his sundae as he shook his head, ponytails flying. "I still can't believe that I agreed to wear this." He gestured at himself, wearing a schoolgirl's outfit, legs crossed moodily. "It's too cold outside for this."
Luxord murmured, "Be glad I let you have stockings. It could have been much worse."
From around his French fries, Sora piped up, "So, why is Luxord a gangster?"
Marluxia wagged his finger. "No, no. He's a rapper, not a gangster. A poor, poser rapper. He's too much like actual mobsters for it to work with the theme."
"Why not a pirate?"
"Because I would have killed him, and I told him so." Luxord answered smoothly, stroking his goatee and 'bling'.
Demyx snuck a glance at Zexion, sitting next to him. The lilac-haired man actually seemed to be having a good time, if his sideways glances at the rest of the table and almost-smiles were to be believed. And his costume! It was hard for Demyx to not pet him and see if he would arch like a cat. But then, Demyx was good at resisting the impulse to touch Zexion.
Sometimes, he wished he would just give in.
Across the table, Larxene snarled and swatted at Tidus again. "I cannot believe I let you put me in this!" She tried to rearrange her skirts, scowling when she realized that it would be uncomfortable no matter which way she moved.
Tidus sighed, touching his dyed hair, now black instead of its usual sun-bleached blonde, gingerly, "I can't believe you agreed to it. I mean, really? A southern belle? The only other one that comes close to that level of irony is Axel as a respectable gentleman." He tugged on his sweater vest and readjusted the thick black glasses.
"You know, with all the fidgeting," Axel drawled, speaking to Tidus, even though his eyes were on Roxas the entire time, "you almost fit the bill for the captain of the chess team. And is it really that hard for you all to think of me as respectable?"
"Yes," Demyx shot back immediately, speaking for both himself and Zexion, who had raised an eyebrow as if to say 'Really, you have to ask that?'
The rest of the table murmured some sort of assent.
Roxas snorted, which was answer in itself.
Axel clutched at his heart, flinging out the other arm as if he were a bad Shakespearean dramatist. "Oh, my bleeding heart! See how my friends have deserted me!" He sat up straight again, dropping his outstretched arm around Sora's shoulders casually. Roxas pushed it off of his brother a second later, and the redhead leaned around the brunette, grinning in a manner that Demyx thought was supposed to be reserved for the bedroom. "Aw, jealous, Roxy?"
"No, I just don't want you infecting my brother with your stupid, and stop calling me that!"
"Mmmmm, no, Roxy, I don't think so…" He rested his head on folded hands.
The blonde boy sighed irritably, "Can we please pay the bill and leave so I can go home?"
Namine gently touched his hand. "You mean you don't want to go trick-or-treating with us? It'll be fun…" she wheedled.
Blinking, Roxas looked around the table. "Seriously, you're going trick-or-treating? But we're college students!"
Everyone at the table stared at him, sans Zexion, who calmly sipped his iced tea.
"So…?" Demyx spread his hands, leaning back against the booth, "It'll be fun. And besides, free candy!"
"You're college students."
Axel raised his hand. "I'm not."
"Shut up, you don't count." Roxas swatted at him again.
"Aw, Roxy, I'm hurt…."
"College students," the short blonde said over Axel's complaints, "And you're still going trick-or-treating. Does that sound wrong to anyone else?" He turned to his brother. "Surely, you don't think this is a good idea."
Sora stared back at him, blue eyes wide. "But, Roxas. Candy." He said it like it was the most important thing in the world.
Grinning, Demyx nudged Zexion's shoulder, reveling in the small contact he was allowed. Leaning over to murmur in his roommate's ear, "I think Roxas is coming with us. Sora's whipped out the begging eyes."
Zexion looked at him, eyes glimmering in secreted joy. Their noses brushed, and Demyx caught his breath, shifting backwards just to resist the impulse to move in the opposite direction. Still, he hovered in the space that wasn't quite outside of the "more than just friends" range. The pale man blinked slowly, and a faint pink tinge swept over his face. Demyx was sure he wasn't imagining it this time. The flush made his eyes more vibrantly blue, and Zexion quickly turned his gaze to the rest of the table, though Demyx could still see his red ears.
The musician sat and blinked, only moving when the rest of the group finally stood up and filed out to pay for dinner. Zexion had blushed, and was still slightly red, even now. It was adorable, but…
But why is he blushing?
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"Honestly, I think the best part was when Sora started asking people if they had seen his watch after telling them he was a heart surgeon." Demyx unlocked the door to their room with one hand, the other holding an almost full bag of candy.
Axel laughed, swinging his bag idly, "Either that or when the guy answered the door to say that no one was home. That was hilarious."
Slinking into the dark room, Zexion immediately pulled off the cat ears Sora had made him wear and scratched furiously at his itching scalp, sighing in pleasure as his discomfort was relieved. He tilted his head to the side, moving his scratching fingers and letting out soft breaths as they soothed the irritation. Once he was done, his entire skull tingling in remembered relief, he opened his eyes.
And found both Axel and Demyx staring at him.
Zexion flushed, but did his best to keep it from his face. Turning around, he stalked, stiff-legged, to his dresser and whipped out his pajamas. He didn't want to hear Axel's mocking voice right now. He just wanted to get into bed and get rid of the headache that was beginning to form. As he was about to enter the bathroom, though, a warm hand caught his wrist.
The scent of saltwater and skin flooded him as Demyx hugged him from behind, wrapping tan arms around his waist and shoulders. Zexion stiffened. He felt the blonde's head drop down to rest on the junction between his shoulder and neck. Unable to relax -why was he touching him, this made no sense, why was he so warm?-, Zexion just stood there, hung in an uncertain limbo.
"Thank you."
The pale man jerked a little at the feel of breath on his neck.
"Really, I was so glad that you came along and had a good time." The hands on him moved, sliding against his body and Zexion let out a breath that would have been a small moan. The skin Demyx touched flinched in hesitant motions, unsure whether he wanted to press closer to the hands and body behind him, or move away and escape the blood-rushing fear he was feeling.
Demyx let him go.
Zexion stood there for a couple of seconds, trying to regain control of his body.
He entered the bathroom and closed the door behind him, pressing his face to the cool wood. What was wrong with him? Surely just a simple touch like that shouldn't make him so frightened.
Only, he wasn't so sure it was entirely fear he was feeling.
Zexion was only sure that it felt nothing like how any book described.
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Demyx turned away to face his bed, shivering slightly.
He shouldn't have done that.
Why had his self-control failed him? Yes, Zexion had looked so irresistible as he arched his neck, shifting his body in obvious pleasure, but it shouldn't have been enough to make his lose his resolve.
He really should have just stayed away from touching Zexion.
But, God, holding him had felt so good...
"Hey, kid. You alright?"
Demyx nodded silently. From the way Axel snorted, he didn't buy the lie.
"No, seriously, are you okay?"
"I…shouldn't have held him, Ax. I really shouldn't have. He's too…" Demyx let out a hoarse laugh. "I hadn't realized that I would still want to touch him so badly."
Axel tapped his shoulder, and Demyx turned, unthinkingly burying his face in his friend's bony shoulder, clutching him tightly. Lean fingers rubbed his neck and back. For several long moments, Axel just held him, understanding that Demyx needed someone warm to touch.
Finally Demyx pulled back, rubbing his face harshly. "I'm better now. It's just…it's been a long night, and I'm tired."
Axel raised one thin eyebrow, but he didn't say anything about it, instead patting his back comfortingly. "Go to bed, kid. It'll be better in the morning."
Demyx nodded, didn't meet Zexion's eyes when the pale man reentered the main room. He got dressed for bed in silence, thoughts dull and pained.
As he laid in the darkness, though, hovering on the edge of sleep, he knew that it wouldn't really be any better in the morning.
Only easier to hide.
* * * * *
Chapter 6...
Pairing: Zemyx
Disclaimer: KH = NOT MINE.
Dedications: to prettypixiechan. Because she is my lovely beta. All other mistakes are my own.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: When Demyx goes to college, he wants to learn and get his degree. He doesn't want to have a roommate who refuses to speak, a drifter who decides to live in his room, or fall in love. Too bad what Demyx wants is not what Demyx gets.
Chapter 1 : Chapter 2 : Chapter 3 : Chapter 4 : Chapter 5 : Chapter 6 : Chapter 7 : Chapter 8 : Chapter 9
* * * * * *
"No."
"YES!"
"Totally should."
"Sounds pretty awesome, I have to admit…."
"Will there be alcohol or blood involved?"
"Can I make money off of it?"
"…"
Axel nodded as he looked around the crowded room, counting absently on his fingers. "Alright, that's three for, one against, two don't-cares, and one who abstains courteously. Seems like we're doing it." A wicked smirk crossed his face and he rubbed his hands together gleefully.
Demyx groaned, letting his head fall to hit his desk. Then, just for good measure, he hit his head on the desk again. "Noooo, why do we have to do thiiiis? It doesn't seem like any sort of fun!"
Slinging an arm around the blonde's shoulders and pulling his head away from further intimate contact with the desk, Axel replied, "But, Dem, it will be fun! I mean, it just doesn't get better than this! Right everyone?"
Demyx raised pleading eyes to the rest of the room, though he knew it was a hopeless cause. Sora was already bouncing in excitement, Tidus and Marluxia were plotting, Namine wasn't there to help him, and Larxene and Luxord really just didn't care. Zexion, though…
Axel headed off that idea. "Zexion agrees with me."
"No he doesn't! He never agrees with you!" Demyx wailed. But the sad truth was he could see the spark of interest in his roommate's eyes. He knew he had lost.
Why, world? Why do you hate me?
The musician pouted, giving up with an ungraceful groan, and he pushed Axel's arm from his shoulders in a gesture of abject defeat, placing his head on the desk again. "Fine, alright, we can do it," he muttered, a scowl adorning his usually sunny face.
Axel's grin stretched razor-sharp across his face. "Awesome, Halloween costumes by pairs it is." He whipped out a hat and some paper, apparently having anticipated his victory. "Names in the hat, we're going to draw for partners."
"Alright, Axel, what are we doing again?" Larxene drawled even as she snatched a piece of paper and began languidly writing on it.
The redhead took in a deep breath and once again launched into the explanation. "Instead of everyone picking out their own costumes, we're going to partner up. Partner A-" he grabbed Demyx again, ignoring the blonde's flailing protests, "-will choose the costume for Partner B-" leaning out to snag the nearest person, Sora, "-and vice versa according to our theme, which I will announce after we draw partners. The only person allowed to know about your costume until Halloween is your partner. No one else. We'll meet on Halloween and change here." He looked around at them. "Understood?"
Tidus pitched his name in, whooping as it fell in without touching the sides. "Yuh!"
Larxene sneered at the football player, but sniffed a second later, also placing her name into the hat.
"Wait a second, why is everyone putting in their name? Shouldn't we only have half in?" Marluxia asked, twirling a strand of hair around his finger.
Shaking his head, Axel got the last couple of names in the hat. "I'll pull out the partner's names once they're chosen. This makes it even more random."
Luxord stroked his goatee, eyes gleaming at the chance. "Fifteen bucks says I'll get Marluxia."
Said Biology major rolled his eyes. "And the chances of that are what? No, don't tell me," he said, holding up a hand to forestall the gambler's answer, "I know you've already figured it out. So, who draws first?"
The hat was offered to him.
Sighing, Marluxia reached in and grabbed a piece of paper. Opening it, he sighed, scowled, and tossed it at Luxord halfheartedly. "One day, you're going to tell me how you know these things. I promise, I will make you tell me. In detail."
Axel smirked, fishing Luxord's name out as well and passing the hat to Tidus. "Keep it going."
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In the end, Zexion mused, the partners could have been worse.
Marluxia was still fuming about his predicted pairing with Luxord, Larxene smirked at Tidus in a way that was more of a vicious baring of teeth than a smile, and he was paired with Sora, not Axel. The only downside was that now, Demyx had to put up with that madman's antics.
Though he was quite interested in seeing what sort of costume Axel chose for Demyx.
For the moment, he turned his gaze back to the energetic brunette, who was happily rattling off a number of costumes he thought might work well for Zexion. The pale man winced at a few of them. Really? A cat-girl? Surely, Sora wasn't as unobservant as to mistake Zexion's gender, was he?
There were times, though, when Zexion really thought he might be.
Then Axel stood, arms crossed and head tilted back arrogantly. The room quieted after a few moments, though Zexion thought it was more from curiosity than any sort of liking. He had to quietly remind himself that not everyone hated Axel as much as he did.
"The theme…" the redhead paused dramatically, fever-green gaze sweeping the room, "for this year's Halloween Partner Costume Contest iiiiissssss….!" Another pause.
A snort came from Larxene as she lied down indolently. "Just get on with it, fire-pants."
Axel sent her a disgruntled glare and a frown that was on the verge of being a pout before saying, "Complete Opposites."
There was silence.
Sora turned to Zexion, eyes wide, "Alright, I've got nothing."
Zexion hid a smirk. This was perfect. The ideal costume for Sora whirled in his brain, but he turned his attention to Axel again as the redhead started speaking.
"Basically, choose a costume that reflects exactly what your partner isn't. Like how for Demyx here, I'm going to try and pick out something ridiculously slutty. Because he isn't normally." Axel grinned down at Demyx's mortified, blushing face.
"You…you aren't really going to, are you?" the blonde pleaded, aqua eyes wide and terrified.
Axel ruffled Demyx's hair with a good-natured laugh, a cutting smirk on his face that belied his friendly actions. "Maybe, kid, but you don't have to know that." He spoke again to the room, "And your partner does have to agree with what you pick. You can't force them into a costume against their will, though all forms of persuasion are allowed."
Tidus immediately turned to Larxene, determination plain on his face. "I refuse to cross-dress."
"Oh, pooh," Larxene purred, a very disturbing sound that was made of nothing close to happiness, "And here I was going to make you dress up as a cheerleader…"
Everyone in the room laughed, even as Tidus blanched and grinned with them.
It felt good to have people, Zexion admitted. They could be amusing.
Then he caught the glint in Axel's green eyes as the redhead studied him covertly and had to sigh.
And sometimes they could be really annoying.
Everyone left after another hour of debate, plotting their partners' demise.
Demyx sighed. The silence was nice after all the clamor about the idea Axel had. It seemed like forever since there had been quiet, and the blonde fully blamed Axel for it. His eyes swung over to the redhead. Now he only had to decide what to do about Axel, since he looked a little upset about…something, and those too-green eyes resting on Zexion for long lengths of time never ended up being good.
Demyx had given up on understanding the inner workings of Axel's convoluted mind.
He hooked an arm around Axel's bony shoulders, reaching out with his other hand to poke at the single inverted teardrop tattoo under his eye. Barely flinching, Axel waved him aside like an annoying fly, still watching Sora murmur animatedly to Zexion who -Demyx noted with a twinge of jealousy- was listening intently.
Poking him again seemed like a good idea. And it worked out a little of his frustration.
This time, Axel turned to him, an expression like confusion and irritation bubbling to the surface of his gaze. "What?" he snapped, a frown twisting his lips.
Demyx prodded him one last time just to satisfy his need for petty violence before answering him. "What are you thinking about?"
Axel's eyes slid back towards Zexion for a brief second, but they found their way to Demyx. "Nothing, really. I was just bemoaning the loss of getting to dress Zexion up in drag."
From the way his pale roommate stiffened, Demyx knew that Axel's words had hit their mark. Zexion didn't bother turning to face them, but he did hiss slightly.
Both Axel and Demyx blinked at him. Huh, Demyx thought, I guess he's trying to make it easier for us to understand him. For some reason, that thought made his heart ache a little. He really enjoyed being the only one who could figure out Zexion. He should be happy that the English major was trying to communicate again, but-
Axel jabbed him in the side, and Demyx snapped out of his melancholy observations to find his friend's face hovering too close to his own.
"Now, as for your costume, dear Demy-kins…."
Demyx groaned and got another bony finger in his shoulder for his troubles.
"Don't start that. I was thinking pop-slut," Axel drawled, eyes glittering.
"No."
A pout. "Fine then. One fourth of a Barber-shop quartet?"
Demyx raised one eyebrow, a trick he had just managed to learn from Zexion. "Isn't that too close to how I am?"
Shrugging, Axel leaned over and started flipping through the stack of movies the roommates had collected. "Hm. You could be an Alien."
"Not happening. At least, not on my budget."
"Predator?"
"What part of Poor College Student do you not understand?"
Axel was still for a few seconds. Then he tossed a movie case into Demyx's lap just as the door opened. Namine walked in, a soft smile on her face.
"Sorry, I seemed to have missed everyone…."
Sora bounded up and grabbed the blonde girl's hands, smiling like the sun. "No, that's alright, we just found out that we're going to be doing Partner Halloween, so your partner chooses your costume that's completely opposite of what you're actually like, and oh no…." His eyes widened, and Sora's face became the vision of misery, "You don't have a partner…."
Patting his hands gently, Namine soothed him, "Don't worry, I'll just bring your brother. You've been complaining that he doesn't socialize more."
For some reason, that made Sora look over at Axel with a worried expression before glancing back to the artist. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean…" and the brunet pointed his thumb not-so-subtly at Axel. "You know…."
"I'm sure it will be fine, Sora. Worst comes to worst, he can't kill anyone with so many witnesses around. You know he's phobic about being caught doing something."
Looking at Axel's bemused face, Demyx thought, Somehow, Namine, that's not actually all that reassuring….
Sora, though, thought it was the best idea in the world. And Demyx sighed, looked down at the movie case in his lap, and his eyes widened.
"Axel, I think I love you."
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Zexion pulled irritably at his costume. Why did Sora have to think that this was a good idea?
More than that, why did he have to think it was a good idea?
He carefully readjusted the pants. Even if the colors were hideous, he would at least make sure they were in the right place. Looking distastefully at the pink and purple stripes once more, he finally stepped out of the bathroom, eyes turned away from the others in the room until he could stand to face them. There was silence.
Then Axel laughed, giving Sora a high-five. "Awesome! Zexion as the Cheshire Cat! It's perfect!"
Zexion glared at him.
Sora wagged a finger at him and chided, "Now now, Zexion, you're supposed to smile, remember?"
He smiled slowly, pulling his lips back and lowering his eye lids to make one of the most disturbing smiles he could.
Judging from the horrified look on everyone else in the room, it worked.
Axel shuddered and rubbed his arms as if he could wipe a slimy film off of his skin. "My god, don't ever do that again. That was just…terrifying…."
Good. Zexion thought viciously. Maybe now you won't ask me to do it again.
"So, who else are we waiting on?" Demyx asked as he slid by Zexion to get to the bathroom.
Sora pouted and tapped his lower lip with his finger. "Well, I'm already dressed," he gestured down to himself, in scrubs and a white lab coat. Zexion smiled to himself. Sora as a doctor was a frightening thought, and it was not something anyone actually wanted to see in real life. The brunet continued, "Demyx is getting dressed, and Axel is sitting right there. So, Luxord, Marluxia, Tidus, and Larxene are going to meet us at IHOP, and Namine and my brother are coming here first."
Cocking his head curiously, Axel dragged Sora closer to him. "Who is this mysterious brother, anyway? We've never heard you talk about him before."
Sora shrugged out of Axel's arms, but remained close, smiling up at him as he explained, "Well, he's a bit…anti-social. He's a bit hard to get along with at first, and he's more than a little upset that his three friends didn't come here with him. I mean, they're still close, but he really misses them. And he likes making good grades too much to really leave the room." The brunet sighed, "It's a good day when I can get him out of the room for lunch or dinner."
"What's his name?"
"Roxas."
Axel hummed for a moment, as if he were letting the name roll around in his mind. "Rrroxas…," he drew out the 'r', almost purring the name. "Sexy, I like it!"
A sputter came from the bathroom. "Axel! Seriously? You don't even know him!"
"Aw, but you never protested when I hit on you!" Axel laughed and suddenly his voice turned sensuous, dark, and purring in a way that made Zexion's hackles rise. "Demy, are you jealous?"
He may not be, but I am!
Zexion blinked. He…was jealous? Of Axel…hitting on Demyx….
Oh, that's just wonderful.
Demyx opened the door and turned on Axel, tapping his foot delicately. "I am not. But I thought you might be a little more discriminating."
Sora's jaw dropped. A second later, he was beaming and hive-fiveing Axel. "Nice! Demyx as Jareth!"
Zexion eyed the furiously blushing blond as Sora and Axel heckled him for wearing tights, trailing his eyes up grey-clad legs. He had to admit, the outfit did justice to Demyx's frame. The fact that it was nearly skin-tight might have had something to do with that. And he barely had to do anything with his hair.
Shaking his flowing sleeves irritably, Demyx scowled at Axel, and said in a haughty tone, "Go on, get in there. I want to see everyone's faces when you get out!"
In a mocking manner, Axel bowed to him as he went by, murmuring, "Yes, Goblin King," and ignoring the casual slap the musician delivered to his shoulder. The redhead disappeared into the bathroom. There were the soft sounds of clothing being pulled off and on, and in barely any time, Axel stepped back out.
Though, if Zexion hadn't seen him enter, he almost wouldn't have recognized him.
The normally spiky red hair had been slicked back into a ponytail, and the tall redhead stood there like a model, adjusting the cuffs of a full suit. Gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, and Axel grinned his leonine smirk at them. The effect was almost ruined by the black teardrop tattoo under his left eye.
Demyx grinned. "I present to you, Axel, respectable businessman."
The whole room started laughing, and even Zexion found a smile tugging at his lips.
Not two seconds later, the door opened.
Namine, covered in blood and clad only in a simple white dress with a butcher knife in hand, sidled into the room, a gentle smile on her face. "Hey guys," she said softly, before giggling at the grins on their faces. Wandering into the middle of the room, she turned in a circle. "Roxas picked out a good costume, didn't he?"
Sora nodded enthusiastically, as he did most everything. "So, where is he anyway?"
"Geez, I'm right back here and you don't even notice? Some brother," a voice teased from behind Demyx. As the boy stepped into the light -did all of Sora's family seem that young?- Sora's jaw dropped.
A short blond stood there, arms crossed, and obviously uncomfortable in his costume, but his blue eyes held the glimmers of a smile. Though any person in their right mind would be uncomfortable in what Roxas was wearing. Zexion raised an eyebrow as he viewed the leather-bound blond. Those pants were a miracle of gravity. Either that or they had been painted on, which the pale man would not put past Namine. And was that…?
A whip?
Axel purred from behind them and sauntered forward, circling the blond. "Oh, somebody has been a bad, bad boy…" he murmured in a sultry tone, eyes trailing all over Roxas's body, and he predatorily licked his lips.
Roxas cracked the whip in his face. "Back off, creep. I don't even know you."
"Namine!" Sora hissed, tugging on the girl's arm, "What were you thinking? I could've sworn you were smarter than this!"
The artist only smiled at him and pointed at Axel, who was sneaking grazing touches whenever he could, and Roxas, who was not above hitting Axel to get him away. "Just look."
Sora did, Zexion noticed, and apparently he saw something that made him laugh.
"C'mon, guys! Let's go to IHOP!" Sora bounded eagerly into the midst of the semi-battle going on between Axel and Roxas, separating them without even trying.
"I'm not riding with him."
"Aw, but Blondie…. I wanted you to ride on my lap…."
"Weren't you supposed to be respectable?"
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Demyx groaned, leaning back in his seat and feeling the vinyl of the booth creak. "Oh, so good… IHOP pancakes are the best…."
Snorting, Marluxia idly spooned out a bit more of his sundae as he shook his head, ponytails flying. "I still can't believe that I agreed to wear this." He gestured at himself, wearing a schoolgirl's outfit, legs crossed moodily. "It's too cold outside for this."
Luxord murmured, "Be glad I let you have stockings. It could have been much worse."
From around his French fries, Sora piped up, "So, why is Luxord a gangster?"
Marluxia wagged his finger. "No, no. He's a rapper, not a gangster. A poor, poser rapper. He's too much like actual mobsters for it to work with the theme."
"Why not a pirate?"
"Because I would have killed him, and I told him so." Luxord answered smoothly, stroking his goatee and 'bling'.
Demyx snuck a glance at Zexion, sitting next to him. The lilac-haired man actually seemed to be having a good time, if his sideways glances at the rest of the table and almost-smiles were to be believed. And his costume! It was hard for Demyx to not pet him and see if he would arch like a cat. But then, Demyx was good at resisting the impulse to touch Zexion.
Sometimes, he wished he would just give in.
Across the table, Larxene snarled and swatted at Tidus again. "I cannot believe I let you put me in this!" She tried to rearrange her skirts, scowling when she realized that it would be uncomfortable no matter which way she moved.
Tidus sighed, touching his dyed hair, now black instead of its usual sun-bleached blonde, gingerly, "I can't believe you agreed to it. I mean, really? A southern belle? The only other one that comes close to that level of irony is Axel as a respectable gentleman." He tugged on his sweater vest and readjusted the thick black glasses.
"You know, with all the fidgeting," Axel drawled, speaking to Tidus, even though his eyes were on Roxas the entire time, "you almost fit the bill for the captain of the chess team. And is it really that hard for you all to think of me as respectable?"
"Yes," Demyx shot back immediately, speaking for both himself and Zexion, who had raised an eyebrow as if to say 'Really, you have to ask that?'
The rest of the table murmured some sort of assent.
Roxas snorted, which was answer in itself.
Axel clutched at his heart, flinging out the other arm as if he were a bad Shakespearean dramatist. "Oh, my bleeding heart! See how my friends have deserted me!" He sat up straight again, dropping his outstretched arm around Sora's shoulders casually. Roxas pushed it off of his brother a second later, and the redhead leaned around the brunette, grinning in a manner that Demyx thought was supposed to be reserved for the bedroom. "Aw, jealous, Roxy?"
"No, I just don't want you infecting my brother with your stupid, and stop calling me that!"
"Mmmmm, no, Roxy, I don't think so…" He rested his head on folded hands.
The blonde boy sighed irritably, "Can we please pay the bill and leave so I can go home?"
Namine gently touched his hand. "You mean you don't want to go trick-or-treating with us? It'll be fun…" she wheedled.
Blinking, Roxas looked around the table. "Seriously, you're going trick-or-treating? But we're college students!"
Everyone at the table stared at him, sans Zexion, who calmly sipped his iced tea.
"So…?" Demyx spread his hands, leaning back against the booth, "It'll be fun. And besides, free candy!"
"You're college students."
Axel raised his hand. "I'm not."
"Shut up, you don't count." Roxas swatted at him again.
"Aw, Roxy, I'm hurt…."
"College students," the short blonde said over Axel's complaints, "And you're still going trick-or-treating. Does that sound wrong to anyone else?" He turned to his brother. "Surely, you don't think this is a good idea."
Sora stared back at him, blue eyes wide. "But, Roxas. Candy." He said it like it was the most important thing in the world.
Grinning, Demyx nudged Zexion's shoulder, reveling in the small contact he was allowed. Leaning over to murmur in his roommate's ear, "I think Roxas is coming with us. Sora's whipped out the begging eyes."
Zexion looked at him, eyes glimmering in secreted joy. Their noses brushed, and Demyx caught his breath, shifting backwards just to resist the impulse to move in the opposite direction. Still, he hovered in the space that wasn't quite outside of the "more than just friends" range. The pale man blinked slowly, and a faint pink tinge swept over his face. Demyx was sure he wasn't imagining it this time. The flush made his eyes more vibrantly blue, and Zexion quickly turned his gaze to the rest of the table, though Demyx could still see his red ears.
The musician sat and blinked, only moving when the rest of the group finally stood up and filed out to pay for dinner. Zexion had blushed, and was still slightly red, even now. It was adorable, but…
But why is he blushing?
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"Honestly, I think the best part was when Sora started asking people if they had seen his watch after telling them he was a heart surgeon." Demyx unlocked the door to their room with one hand, the other holding an almost full bag of candy.
Axel laughed, swinging his bag idly, "Either that or when the guy answered the door to say that no one was home. That was hilarious."
Slinking into the dark room, Zexion immediately pulled off the cat ears Sora had made him wear and scratched furiously at his itching scalp, sighing in pleasure as his discomfort was relieved. He tilted his head to the side, moving his scratching fingers and letting out soft breaths as they soothed the irritation. Once he was done, his entire skull tingling in remembered relief, he opened his eyes.
And found both Axel and Demyx staring at him.
Zexion flushed, but did his best to keep it from his face. Turning around, he stalked, stiff-legged, to his dresser and whipped out his pajamas. He didn't want to hear Axel's mocking voice right now. He just wanted to get into bed and get rid of the headache that was beginning to form. As he was about to enter the bathroom, though, a warm hand caught his wrist.
The scent of saltwater and skin flooded him as Demyx hugged him from behind, wrapping tan arms around his waist and shoulders. Zexion stiffened. He felt the blonde's head drop down to rest on the junction between his shoulder and neck. Unable to relax -why was he touching him, this made no sense, why was he so warm?-, Zexion just stood there, hung in an uncertain limbo.
"Thank you."
The pale man jerked a little at the feel of breath on his neck.
"Really, I was so glad that you came along and had a good time." The hands on him moved, sliding against his body and Zexion let out a breath that would have been a small moan. The skin Demyx touched flinched in hesitant motions, unsure whether he wanted to press closer to the hands and body behind him, or move away and escape the blood-rushing fear he was feeling.
Demyx let him go.
Zexion stood there for a couple of seconds, trying to regain control of his body.
He entered the bathroom and closed the door behind him, pressing his face to the cool wood. What was wrong with him? Surely just a simple touch like that shouldn't make him so frightened.
Only, he wasn't so sure it was entirely fear he was feeling.
Zexion was only sure that it felt nothing like how any book described.
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Demyx turned away to face his bed, shivering slightly.
He shouldn't have done that.
Why had his self-control failed him? Yes, Zexion had looked so irresistible as he arched his neck, shifting his body in obvious pleasure, but it shouldn't have been enough to make his lose his resolve.
He really should have just stayed away from touching Zexion.
But, God, holding him had felt so good...
"Hey, kid. You alright?"
Demyx nodded silently. From the way Axel snorted, he didn't buy the lie.
"No, seriously, are you okay?"
"I…shouldn't have held him, Ax. I really shouldn't have. He's too…" Demyx let out a hoarse laugh. "I hadn't realized that I would still want to touch him so badly."
Axel tapped his shoulder, and Demyx turned, unthinkingly burying his face in his friend's bony shoulder, clutching him tightly. Lean fingers rubbed his neck and back. For several long moments, Axel just held him, understanding that Demyx needed someone warm to touch.
Finally Demyx pulled back, rubbing his face harshly. "I'm better now. It's just…it's been a long night, and I'm tired."
Axel raised one thin eyebrow, but he didn't say anything about it, instead patting his back comfortingly. "Go to bed, kid. It'll be better in the morning."
Demyx nodded, didn't meet Zexion's eyes when the pale man reentered the main room. He got dressed for bed in silence, thoughts dull and pained.
As he laid in the darkness, though, hovering on the edge of sleep, he knew that it wouldn't really be any better in the morning.
Only easier to hide.
* * * * *
Chapter 6...