Fic: Silence is Golden (2/9)
Aug. 9th, 2010 02:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zenellyTitle: Silence is Golden
Pairing: Zemyx
Disclaimer: KH = NOT MINE.
Dedications: to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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
* * * * * *
Demyx looked anxiously through the students walking around him. He shifted from foot to foot and tapped his toes to try to keep from going crazy from the strain of waiting. Finally, just as he was about to give up, he spotted a familiar head of slate colored hair.
A smile lit his face from ear to ear and Demyx stretched on his tippy-toes, waving madly to get his roommate's attention.
"ZEXY!"
By that time, Zexion had drawn close enough that the blond could see the slight tightening around his eyes and pressing together of his lips that meant he was irritated by the use of his nickname again. Demyx grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry Zexy. I forgot."
Cobalt eyes flickered to his, exasperation clear in their depths, but it quickly melted as a breeze slid across their bodies. Demyx watched as Zexion's expression shifted, the eyelids fluttering half-closed while the corners of his lips quirked in what could have been a smile, if it hadn't been hidden so quickly. The wind ruffled the hair covering half of the other's pale face, lifting it mischievously, and Zexion almost quivered in what the musician had once realized was delight.
Yeah, Demyx had laughed when he grasped how much Zexion liked to feel the wind in his hair on cold days. If his roommate spoke, he would have denied his obviously enjoyment until he couldn't talk anymore.
Or so Demyx liked to think.
He fell into step next to the quiet man. "So, how was your class?"
Zexion's eyes rolled slightly and Demyx laughed.
"That good, huh? You really should've tried to test out of it. Then you wouldn't have had to put up with this."
A slight shrug.
"Well, yeah, it's a good review, but you seem so bored by it! I can't think that any review is that important. Really, Zexy."
A slender shoulder was quirked in a half-shrug, eyebrows rising in a considering and condescending manner.
"I'm sure you could teach that class, too." Demyx sighed, a smile crossing his lips at Zexion's mild arrogance. It wasn't like he wasn't right -he was, after all- but he was always so unabashedly sure of it.
Then he noticed an expression on Zexion's face that he had seen frequently in the past couple of weeks, though he still didn't know what it was. It was as if the other's eyes had sharpened into seeking points as the rest of his face became intent. The expression was one of the few only directed at certain people, and Demyx had become increasingly convinced that The Expression (capitals said while speaking, too) was aimed most often at him.
Which really just made him nervous.
He and Zexion had finally fallen into an easy pattern after Demyx tacitly agreed to keep himself out from under the other's feet. It was only after that that The Expression had been turned on him. Sometimes Demyx wondered if it hadn't been created solely for him, but that was simply ridiculous.
It…couldn't be that, right?
No, no, Demyx mentally shook himself, don't start getting ideas. Ideas are bad. At least in this case they were.
Cautiously, he snuck a glance at Zexion, who had begun to examine the passing students pointedly. Zexion never noticed, but his lips would move slightly as he thought sometimes, as if they were partially-forming silent words. Demyx studied him carefully, not noticing he had been caught until he was pulled into a deep, cobalt, soul-seeing stare.
He squeaked and flung his gaze in the other direction. Silently berating himself, Demyx looked for a distraction. He prayed to any god who would listen. Any distraction, he pleaded, I'm serious, anything.
Anything was what he got.
Though, he wasn't sure he expected the heathen gods to reach so far out for a miracle.
With a drawl of "Well, look what we have here", Demyx was suddenly yanked into a gangly, bony hug. His nose filled with the scent of hot metal and matches, and his blue eyes widened. Spitting a length of Crayola red hair out of his mouth –which only confirmed his suspicions-, he laughed and hugged the thin stranger back.
A purr sounded next to his ear. "Miss me?"
Demyx laughed again and pulled back slightly, meeting the almost-fevered green eyes of one person he thought he'd never see again.
"Hey, Axel! What'cha been up to?"
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Zexion fumed.
No, that was a lie. Zexion never fumed. Nor did he sulk, because sulking was for petty children, and Zexion was certainly not one of those. He...brooded in a sullen, regal, and very angry fashion. Fumed implied that he cared. Which he didn't.
Only, he kind of did.
He blamed Demyx. Whether it was actually the musician's fault or not wasn't the point at this moment. Some petty corner of Zexion wanted to point the finger at someone. So he pointed it at Demyx. Silently and frequently.
This time it was the blonde's fault though, so he didn't feel the shadow of guilt that usually passed over him.
Somewhere in the past couple of months, Zexion had become used to the fact that Demyx would find him after their classes and walk with him back to their room, chattering inanely about everything and nothing. Most times, the blond would ask him how his classes were, even though he never spoke. Sometimes, they would just walk in silence. Others, Demyx would hum parts of the songs he was playing for his classes.
He had begun to even –slightly , very slightly- enjoy the talks.
Of course, then everything had to change, as everything was wont to do. Damn fickle everything.
His wonderful roommate had met an old friend of his while they had been walking back to their room. So of course the friend was asked to come in. Zexion didn't mind that. Said friend then proceeded to talk constantly to Demyx for two hours. Zexion didn't even mind that. After all, that's what the headphones were for. Demyx then asked the friend to stay the night.
Zexion minded that.
It was his space. This was his room. Demyx was allowed, because it was his room too, but this stranger? This…deviant? Zexion had subconsciously shuddered at the man's appearance. Tall, thin to the point of unhealthiness, looking like he had just rolled in a pile of three people's clothes and decided to wear whatever stuck to his skin, this Axel was simply not one he wanted in his room at night. Or ever. He had looked unblinkingly at Demyx, trying to convey this, but for some reason, it wasn't communicated.
Wondering idly what had happened to Demyx's innate Zexion-to-English translator, Zexion now sat at his desk, back facing the two friends. His headphones were on, the noise-canceller doing its job to the peak of its ability. The two behind him had started a movie, which distracted him occasionally because the lights flickered at the edge of his vision, making him turn his head to see what was going on. He typed steadily at his computer despite these repeated interruptions. Fingers clacked evenly on as his thoughts seethed.
There were times, like today, where he wished he would speak. It would have been simple. He would have just said "Demyx, I don't want Axel staying the night here. Why don't we just put him up in a hotel room for the night and you can visit him tomorrow?" And Demyx probably would have frowned, carried on, asked him why. After a bit more persuasion, though, he would have finally agreed. And Axel, the poster-child for delinquents everywhere, wouldn't be in his room.
Zexion knew he could be very persuasive.
Instead, he had been forced to stare silently at the musician's face, trying to convey a single desire through an easily misinterpreted look. Demyx had never once glanced at him.
Which also bothered him, but he didn't want to delve into that mystery yet. It would take more evidence than just one occurrence to solve anything, though the slate-haired man would do most anything to not have another incident like this.
Zexion sighed quietly, typing even now, though he had long since lost track of what the point he was writing about was. There was only so much strange mind-reading could do. Though he still could not figure out how Demyx of all people, uncomplicated, transparent Demyx, could understand him so well. Maybe it only worked on the smaller things though.
He hoped so, because he was really craving a cup of tea right now.
A hand gently touched the desk in the corner of his vision – Demyx's typical way of getting his attention- and Zexion turned towards it slightly. Following the hand was a cup of the smoky brew he preferred. He took it gratefully.
It made him think that there might be something to that psychic theory after all.
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Demyx slid back from passing Zexion his tea, feeling Axel's eyes on him the whole while. They had been fine when they had first met, but as the day went on, the blond became aware of a startling fact.
He wasn't in love with Axel anymore.
His first thought was 'Oh yes, now I don't have to worry about conflicted feelings over Zexion!' His second, however, ruined that. 'Wait, what if Axel still likes me?'
The movie was great, but he was a snuggler by nature. Halfway through the movie, Demyx found himself unconsciously pressed against Axel's warm side, one bony arm looped casually around his shoulders.
And now he had to convince someone that might like him that he didn't like them anymore. Demyx mentally whined. Could there be anything more awkward? He shifted uncomfortably and whirled around to face the redhead.
"Demyx, I-" Axel began, but Demyx cut him off with a short nervous laugh.
"Great movie, huh? I love it a lot," he rambled, scrambling with the case for the movie.
There was an amused sigh from the couch and Axel tried to speak again. "No, Dem, really, we need to-"
He squeaked and flung his hands over his ears, eyes already closing, irrationally trying to block Axel out. "I don't wanna hear it!"
Closing his eyes was a bad idea, he found out. It meant he never saw Axel coming.
Hands pried his ear protection away, and he was pulled gently to rest against Axel's warm body. Demyx's blue eyes opened wide and he stared directly into entertained green pools, gaping like a fish. Once again, the redhead opened his mouth to speak, and for the third time Demyx blurted out something.
Though he didn't really know what he was going to say. And that never went well.
"Axel, I don't think I love you anymore!"
One carmine eyebrow arched, and Axel blinked.
"You…don't like me anymore?"
Demyx flushed, but had to keep going now that it was said. "No, I don't. I mean, it was nice at the time, but I just…. I mean, I still like you as a friend, but anything more?"
Another blink. "You don't…like me anymore?" He sounded like he was trying to get it right.
Why was he making this harder on him? "No, I don't! I'M SO SORRY!" Demyx wailed.
Suddenly, there was a lack of arms and closeness, and Axel flopped back down on the couch with a loud breath. "Oh thank God."
"I'm so sor- Wait, what?"
Thin fingers raked through red hair, and Axel grinned. "I was worried about how to tell you I didn't like you like that anymore, too."
Demyx gaped. "You what?"
Axel waved a hand idly. "Love ya as a friend, kid, but as a boyfriend or more? Nah. You're not my type." He almost had the decency to try and look embarrassed. It came off more as proud.
Stunned, Demyx sat down next to him. "So, wait, we're giving up on any previous attraction?"
There was a brief silence. "Yeah, seems so."
He could almost cry in relief. "Oh thank God, Jesus, Allah, and Buddha."
A grin blossomed on the face across from him. "I know, right? Now we can hang out without worrying about any underlying sexual tension!" Axel pulled him in for what Demyx originally thought was going to be a hug. It turned into a noogie session, with the blond wildly struggling to free himself, laughing all the while.
It took a while, but eventually they fell against each other, panting happily and letting out half-laughs every time they managed to breathe in enough oxygen. Another silence fell, this one more comfortable. Demyx winced when a bony finger jabbed him in the side.
"So, what's the story with lover-boy over there?" Axel inclined his head towards Zexion.
Flushing, Demyx stuttered, "H-hey, don't call him that. His name is Zexion. He's my roommate."
Axel rolled his eyes and poked him again. "I can see that. You like him, don't you?"
"Well, yes, I like him." He gazed almost longingly at the slate-haired man's back, wanting to stroke his hair so badly. "I mean, I'd have to in order to live with him, wouldn't I?"
He was nudged hard for that. "You know what I mean, Dem. The attraction isn't between you and I, it's between you and him."
Demyx thought his head was going to explode from all the blood rushing to it. Closing his eyes, he nodded a little, more embarrassed then he ever thought he could be. He thought he was hiding it well. After all, Zexion certainly hadn't noticed.
Or had he?
The thought made him bolt upright in fear. Or at least, he would've been upright if he hadn't run his forehead into Axel's jaw. Even through the pain, Demyx knew one thing.
Zexion must never know.
Axel's hand stopped him from jumping up from the couch. "Whoa, whoa, slow down there, kid." He was slowly turned to meet the emerald gaze of his friend. "Don't freak out on me. You like him like you used to like me, right?"
Demyx nodded, one hand rubbing his aching skull and miserable.
"Does he know?"
He started to shake his head, but stopped. "I…I don't know anymore... I mean, you figured it out…."
Axel let out a bark of laughter and began to tick things off of his fingers. "Let's see, you were watching him instead of the movie, you had gone out to get him from class, you blush every time he looks at you, you're happy that I don't like you…. Yeah, I think you like him. But he seems kind of socially retarded, so I doubt he knows."
Demyx flared, "Zexion's not retarded! He's brilliant!"
"No offense, but he's not exactly the most social of people. He never even said 'Hi' to me."
"He…doesn't really talk to anyone."
Axel looked curiously at the typing man. "Really? Not at all?"
His bangs flew around his face as he shook his head. "I've never heard him speak."
"Huh." Something in Axel's eyes turned calculating and he studied Zexion's back intently. "Do you talk to him?"
Demyx blinked. "Well, yeah, but he's normally wearing those headphones, so he doesn't hear it." There was a sad smile in his voice, "I talk to him about things I never would have if he wasn't wearing those, so it's not a bad thing. It makes me feel a little better."
"So, if he was listening to you…"
"…I would be so embarrassed! I mean, I tell him things that don't make sense outside of my head! I probably would never speak to him again!" Demyx laughed.
Axel made a considering sound, eyes still fixed on their target. "Is that so…"
Something in the vibrant redhead's expression made Demyx pause. What in the world was he thinking? There was part of him that was afraid to find out. "Axel, I'm going to get more tea for Zexion, kay? Don't bother him while I'm gone."
There was a vaguely affirmative noise from the lounging man and Demyx stood and left the room.
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Axel was kind enough to wait until the door clicked shut before standing. He prowled over to stand behind Demyx's roommate; this prissy Zexion. A smile graced his lips before he leaned a little closer.
"So, Demyx likes you, huh?" The sound of Zexion typing kept going steadily. "Impressive, since you never talk to him. He even takes care of you without you asking. How nice of him. And you, Zexion, you just sit there and do nothing."
No break in the typing.
Axel smirked. This one was going to be harder to crack. How fun.
"You know, Dem is the sort of person who needs equal communication. More than anything, he probably just wants to hear your voice. Even if all you tell him is to shut up." He switched sides, his lips hovering near one headphone-covered ear, his voice a purr. "I know him, Zexion. He'll love you more easily than breathing. He already does."
Still the typing remained even. Zexion's eyes didn't even leave the screen.
Tracing a finger lightly over the back of the chair, Axel murmured, just loud enough, "He'll do anything to make sure you never know. You would have to make the first move." He smiled again.
"Only, you already have."
There was the smallest of stutters in the steady sound of typing. Axel bared his teeth in what could have been called a smile. He had him now.
"You see, there was something I noticed while Demyx and I were talking. One, simple thing that he tends to overlook. One thing that you failed to remember." Carefully, ever so carefully, Axel hooked a finger through the top section of the headphones covering the quiet man's ears and gently, oh so gently, slid them off one ear.
Zexion's fingers finally stilled completely.
His lips right next to a pale ear, Axel whispered, "You forgot to plug in your headphones, Zexion."
He was suddenly met with whirling, affronted cobalt eyes and he grinned viciously.
And of course Demyx chose that moment to walk back in.
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Demyx stood, arms crossed and an irritated look on his face. Before him sat Axel, who looked a little guilty, but there was a triumphant gleam to his eyes that the blond wasn't sure he liked.
"One rule, Axel. Just one rule! Don't bother Zexy!" he huffed, tapping his foot nervously. Why did Axel have to mess with his harmony? Everything was going so well…
Axel hung his head a little bit, shrugging as he tried to disappear into the comfortable couch. "Sorry, Dem. I couldn't restrain myself. You know how I am with impulse control."
Sighing, Demyx frowned, not amused. "Not that bad."
A deeper wave of remorse swept over Axel's angular face. Demyx turned to Zexion, who was sitting at his desk, observing the proceedings.
"Zexy, I am soooo sorry! I had no idea he was going to do that!"
As he was watching, an interesting change came over Zexion's expression. The steady cobalt eyes flickered downwards and to one side, not meeting Demyx's at all, while his lips pursed almost like he was biting the insides. The faintest hint of pink touched his cheeks, so light Demyx knew he must have been imagining it.
After all, Zexion blushing?
Impossible.
But absolutely adorable, if it wasn't some sort of hallucination.
Demyx blinked three times, just to make sure he was seeing things. By the third blink, the blush was gone. He sighed, regretting the loss of such an unusual expression, and began to get ready for bed, kicking Axel in the shin as he went.
Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
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Stretching his arms as though reaching for the clouds, Demyx yawned, mentally cursing freshman classes. Anything that began before eleven should have been outlawed. They could be deemed cruel and unusual punishment! As he drew closer to the dorm building, Zexion fell seamlessly into step with him, and Demyx smiled at his roommate.
"Hey, Zexy, thanks."
A single eyebrow quirked inquisitively.
"For letting Axel stay the night. It made me really happy to be able to see him again."
There was a long pause before slender shoulders shrugged. Zexion unlocked the outside door, keeping his keys in hand for the door to their room. The two walked in silence the way up the stairs.
A voice greeted them as they walked in.
"Hey guys! How'd your classes go?"
Demyx blinked.
"Axel? What're you doing here? I thought you left!"
The lanky redhead laughed, and tossed a set of keys at Demyx, who caught them reflexively. Taking a closer look at them, Dem saw that they were his.
"I was looking for these…Axel, seriously, what the hell? Why do you have them?"
"Well, funny story about that! I jacked your keys this morning and made a copy for myself." White teeth flashed in a mischievous grin.
"I thought I'd stay here for a while."
* * * * *
Chapter 3...
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
* * * * * *
Demyx looked anxiously through the students walking around him. He shifted from foot to foot and tapped his toes to try to keep from going crazy from the strain of waiting. Finally, just as he was about to give up, he spotted a familiar head of slate colored hair.
A smile lit his face from ear to ear and Demyx stretched on his tippy-toes, waving madly to get his roommate's attention.
"ZEXY!"
By that time, Zexion had drawn close enough that the blond could see the slight tightening around his eyes and pressing together of his lips that meant he was irritated by the use of his nickname again. Demyx grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry Zexy. I forgot."
Cobalt eyes flickered to his, exasperation clear in their depths, but it quickly melted as a breeze slid across their bodies. Demyx watched as Zexion's expression shifted, the eyelids fluttering half-closed while the corners of his lips quirked in what could have been a smile, if it hadn't been hidden so quickly. The wind ruffled the hair covering half of the other's pale face, lifting it mischievously, and Zexion almost quivered in what the musician had once realized was delight.
Yeah, Demyx had laughed when he grasped how much Zexion liked to feel the wind in his hair on cold days. If his roommate spoke, he would have denied his obviously enjoyment until he couldn't talk anymore.
Or so Demyx liked to think.
He fell into step next to the quiet man. "So, how was your class?"
Zexion's eyes rolled slightly and Demyx laughed.
"That good, huh? You really should've tried to test out of it. Then you wouldn't have had to put up with this."
A slight shrug.
"Well, yeah, it's a good review, but you seem so bored by it! I can't think that any review is that important. Really, Zexy."
A slender shoulder was quirked in a half-shrug, eyebrows rising in a considering and condescending manner.
"I'm sure you could teach that class, too." Demyx sighed, a smile crossing his lips at Zexion's mild arrogance. It wasn't like he wasn't right -he was, after all- but he was always so unabashedly sure of it.
Then he noticed an expression on Zexion's face that he had seen frequently in the past couple of weeks, though he still didn't know what it was. It was as if the other's eyes had sharpened into seeking points as the rest of his face became intent. The expression was one of the few only directed at certain people, and Demyx had become increasingly convinced that The Expression (capitals said while speaking, too) was aimed most often at him.
Which really just made him nervous.
He and Zexion had finally fallen into an easy pattern after Demyx tacitly agreed to keep himself out from under the other's feet. It was only after that that The Expression had been turned on him. Sometimes Demyx wondered if it hadn't been created solely for him, but that was simply ridiculous.
It…couldn't be that, right?
No, no, Demyx mentally shook himself, don't start getting ideas. Ideas are bad. At least in this case they were.
Cautiously, he snuck a glance at Zexion, who had begun to examine the passing students pointedly. Zexion never noticed, but his lips would move slightly as he thought sometimes, as if they were partially-forming silent words. Demyx studied him carefully, not noticing he had been caught until he was pulled into a deep, cobalt, soul-seeing stare.
He squeaked and flung his gaze in the other direction. Silently berating himself, Demyx looked for a distraction. He prayed to any god who would listen. Any distraction, he pleaded, I'm serious, anything.
Anything was what he got.
Though, he wasn't sure he expected the heathen gods to reach so far out for a miracle.
With a drawl of "Well, look what we have here", Demyx was suddenly yanked into a gangly, bony hug. His nose filled with the scent of hot metal and matches, and his blue eyes widened. Spitting a length of Crayola red hair out of his mouth –which only confirmed his suspicions-, he laughed and hugged the thin stranger back.
A purr sounded next to his ear. "Miss me?"
Demyx laughed again and pulled back slightly, meeting the almost-fevered green eyes of one person he thought he'd never see again.
"Hey, Axel! What'cha been up to?"
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Zexion fumed.
No, that was a lie. Zexion never fumed. Nor did he sulk, because sulking was for petty children, and Zexion was certainly not one of those. He...brooded in a sullen, regal, and very angry fashion. Fumed implied that he cared. Which he didn't.
Only, he kind of did.
He blamed Demyx. Whether it was actually the musician's fault or not wasn't the point at this moment. Some petty corner of Zexion wanted to point the finger at someone. So he pointed it at Demyx. Silently and frequently.
This time it was the blonde's fault though, so he didn't feel the shadow of guilt that usually passed over him.
Somewhere in the past couple of months, Zexion had become used to the fact that Demyx would find him after their classes and walk with him back to their room, chattering inanely about everything and nothing. Most times, the blond would ask him how his classes were, even though he never spoke. Sometimes, they would just walk in silence. Others, Demyx would hum parts of the songs he was playing for his classes.
He had begun to even –slightly , very slightly- enjoy the talks.
Of course, then everything had to change, as everything was wont to do. Damn fickle everything.
His wonderful roommate had met an old friend of his while they had been walking back to their room. So of course the friend was asked to come in. Zexion didn't mind that. Said friend then proceeded to talk constantly to Demyx for two hours. Zexion didn't even mind that. After all, that's what the headphones were for. Demyx then asked the friend to stay the night.
Zexion minded that.
It was his space. This was his room. Demyx was allowed, because it was his room too, but this stranger? This…deviant? Zexion had subconsciously shuddered at the man's appearance. Tall, thin to the point of unhealthiness, looking like he had just rolled in a pile of three people's clothes and decided to wear whatever stuck to his skin, this Axel was simply not one he wanted in his room at night. Or ever. He had looked unblinkingly at Demyx, trying to convey this, but for some reason, it wasn't communicated.
Wondering idly what had happened to Demyx's innate Zexion-to-English translator, Zexion now sat at his desk, back facing the two friends. His headphones were on, the noise-canceller doing its job to the peak of its ability. The two behind him had started a movie, which distracted him occasionally because the lights flickered at the edge of his vision, making him turn his head to see what was going on. He typed steadily at his computer despite these repeated interruptions. Fingers clacked evenly on as his thoughts seethed.
There were times, like today, where he wished he would speak. It would have been simple. He would have just said "Demyx, I don't want Axel staying the night here. Why don't we just put him up in a hotel room for the night and you can visit him tomorrow?" And Demyx probably would have frowned, carried on, asked him why. After a bit more persuasion, though, he would have finally agreed. And Axel, the poster-child for delinquents everywhere, wouldn't be in his room.
Zexion knew he could be very persuasive.
Instead, he had been forced to stare silently at the musician's face, trying to convey a single desire through an easily misinterpreted look. Demyx had never once glanced at him.
Which also bothered him, but he didn't want to delve into that mystery yet. It would take more evidence than just one occurrence to solve anything, though the slate-haired man would do most anything to not have another incident like this.
Zexion sighed quietly, typing even now, though he had long since lost track of what the point he was writing about was. There was only so much strange mind-reading could do. Though he still could not figure out how Demyx of all people, uncomplicated, transparent Demyx, could understand him so well. Maybe it only worked on the smaller things though.
He hoped so, because he was really craving a cup of tea right now.
A hand gently touched the desk in the corner of his vision – Demyx's typical way of getting his attention- and Zexion turned towards it slightly. Following the hand was a cup of the smoky brew he preferred. He took it gratefully.
It made him think that there might be something to that psychic theory after all.
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Demyx slid back from passing Zexion his tea, feeling Axel's eyes on him the whole while. They had been fine when they had first met, but as the day went on, the blond became aware of a startling fact.
He wasn't in love with Axel anymore.
His first thought was 'Oh yes, now I don't have to worry about conflicted feelings over Zexion!' His second, however, ruined that. 'Wait, what if Axel still likes me?'
The movie was great, but he was a snuggler by nature. Halfway through the movie, Demyx found himself unconsciously pressed against Axel's warm side, one bony arm looped casually around his shoulders.
And now he had to convince someone that might like him that he didn't like them anymore. Demyx mentally whined. Could there be anything more awkward? He shifted uncomfortably and whirled around to face the redhead.
"Demyx, I-" Axel began, but Demyx cut him off with a short nervous laugh.
"Great movie, huh? I love it a lot," he rambled, scrambling with the case for the movie.
There was an amused sigh from the couch and Axel tried to speak again. "No, Dem, really, we need to-"
He squeaked and flung his hands over his ears, eyes already closing, irrationally trying to block Axel out. "I don't wanna hear it!"
Closing his eyes was a bad idea, he found out. It meant he never saw Axel coming.
Hands pried his ear protection away, and he was pulled gently to rest against Axel's warm body. Demyx's blue eyes opened wide and he stared directly into entertained green pools, gaping like a fish. Once again, the redhead opened his mouth to speak, and for the third time Demyx blurted out something.
Though he didn't really know what he was going to say. And that never went well.
"Axel, I don't think I love you anymore!"
One carmine eyebrow arched, and Axel blinked.
"You…don't like me anymore?"
Demyx flushed, but had to keep going now that it was said. "No, I don't. I mean, it was nice at the time, but I just…. I mean, I still like you as a friend, but anything more?"
Another blink. "You don't…like me anymore?" He sounded like he was trying to get it right.
Why was he making this harder on him? "No, I don't! I'M SO SORRY!" Demyx wailed.
Suddenly, there was a lack of arms and closeness, and Axel flopped back down on the couch with a loud breath. "Oh thank God."
"I'm so sor- Wait, what?"
Thin fingers raked through red hair, and Axel grinned. "I was worried about how to tell you I didn't like you like that anymore, too."
Demyx gaped. "You what?"
Axel waved a hand idly. "Love ya as a friend, kid, but as a boyfriend or more? Nah. You're not my type." He almost had the decency to try and look embarrassed. It came off more as proud.
Stunned, Demyx sat down next to him. "So, wait, we're giving up on any previous attraction?"
There was a brief silence. "Yeah, seems so."
He could almost cry in relief. "Oh thank God, Jesus, Allah, and Buddha."
A grin blossomed on the face across from him. "I know, right? Now we can hang out without worrying about any underlying sexual tension!" Axel pulled him in for what Demyx originally thought was going to be a hug. It turned into a noogie session, with the blond wildly struggling to free himself, laughing all the while.
It took a while, but eventually they fell against each other, panting happily and letting out half-laughs every time they managed to breathe in enough oxygen. Another silence fell, this one more comfortable. Demyx winced when a bony finger jabbed him in the side.
"So, what's the story with lover-boy over there?" Axel inclined his head towards Zexion.
Flushing, Demyx stuttered, "H-hey, don't call him that. His name is Zexion. He's my roommate."
Axel rolled his eyes and poked him again. "I can see that. You like him, don't you?"
"Well, yes, I like him." He gazed almost longingly at the slate-haired man's back, wanting to stroke his hair so badly. "I mean, I'd have to in order to live with him, wouldn't I?"
He was nudged hard for that. "You know what I mean, Dem. The attraction isn't between you and I, it's between you and him."
Demyx thought his head was going to explode from all the blood rushing to it. Closing his eyes, he nodded a little, more embarrassed then he ever thought he could be. He thought he was hiding it well. After all, Zexion certainly hadn't noticed.
Or had he?
The thought made him bolt upright in fear. Or at least, he would've been upright if he hadn't run his forehead into Axel's jaw. Even through the pain, Demyx knew one thing.
Zexion must never know.
Axel's hand stopped him from jumping up from the couch. "Whoa, whoa, slow down there, kid." He was slowly turned to meet the emerald gaze of his friend. "Don't freak out on me. You like him like you used to like me, right?"
Demyx nodded, one hand rubbing his aching skull and miserable.
"Does he know?"
He started to shake his head, but stopped. "I…I don't know anymore... I mean, you figured it out…."
Axel let out a bark of laughter and began to tick things off of his fingers. "Let's see, you were watching him instead of the movie, you had gone out to get him from class, you blush every time he looks at you, you're happy that I don't like you…. Yeah, I think you like him. But he seems kind of socially retarded, so I doubt he knows."
Demyx flared, "Zexion's not retarded! He's brilliant!"
"No offense, but he's not exactly the most social of people. He never even said 'Hi' to me."
"He…doesn't really talk to anyone."
Axel looked curiously at the typing man. "Really? Not at all?"
His bangs flew around his face as he shook his head. "I've never heard him speak."
"Huh." Something in Axel's eyes turned calculating and he studied Zexion's back intently. "Do you talk to him?"
Demyx blinked. "Well, yeah, but he's normally wearing those headphones, so he doesn't hear it." There was a sad smile in his voice, "I talk to him about things I never would have if he wasn't wearing those, so it's not a bad thing. It makes me feel a little better."
"So, if he was listening to you…"
"…I would be so embarrassed! I mean, I tell him things that don't make sense outside of my head! I probably would never speak to him again!" Demyx laughed.
Axel made a considering sound, eyes still fixed on their target. "Is that so…"
Something in the vibrant redhead's expression made Demyx pause. What in the world was he thinking? There was part of him that was afraid to find out. "Axel, I'm going to get more tea for Zexion, kay? Don't bother him while I'm gone."
There was a vaguely affirmative noise from the lounging man and Demyx stood and left the room.
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Axel was kind enough to wait until the door clicked shut before standing. He prowled over to stand behind Demyx's roommate; this prissy Zexion. A smile graced his lips before he leaned a little closer.
"So, Demyx likes you, huh?" The sound of Zexion typing kept going steadily. "Impressive, since you never talk to him. He even takes care of you without you asking. How nice of him. And you, Zexion, you just sit there and do nothing."
No break in the typing.
Axel smirked. This one was going to be harder to crack. How fun.
"You know, Dem is the sort of person who needs equal communication. More than anything, he probably just wants to hear your voice. Even if all you tell him is to shut up." He switched sides, his lips hovering near one headphone-covered ear, his voice a purr. "I know him, Zexion. He'll love you more easily than breathing. He already does."
Still the typing remained even. Zexion's eyes didn't even leave the screen.
Tracing a finger lightly over the back of the chair, Axel murmured, just loud enough, "He'll do anything to make sure you never know. You would have to make the first move." He smiled again.
"Only, you already have."
There was the smallest of stutters in the steady sound of typing. Axel bared his teeth in what could have been called a smile. He had him now.
"You see, there was something I noticed while Demyx and I were talking. One, simple thing that he tends to overlook. One thing that you failed to remember." Carefully, ever so carefully, Axel hooked a finger through the top section of the headphones covering the quiet man's ears and gently, oh so gently, slid them off one ear.
Zexion's fingers finally stilled completely.
His lips right next to a pale ear, Axel whispered, "You forgot to plug in your headphones, Zexion."
He was suddenly met with whirling, affronted cobalt eyes and he grinned viciously.
And of course Demyx chose that moment to walk back in.
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Demyx stood, arms crossed and an irritated look on his face. Before him sat Axel, who looked a little guilty, but there was a triumphant gleam to his eyes that the blond wasn't sure he liked.
"One rule, Axel. Just one rule! Don't bother Zexy!" he huffed, tapping his foot nervously. Why did Axel have to mess with his harmony? Everything was going so well…
Axel hung his head a little bit, shrugging as he tried to disappear into the comfortable couch. "Sorry, Dem. I couldn't restrain myself. You know how I am with impulse control."
Sighing, Demyx frowned, not amused. "Not that bad."
A deeper wave of remorse swept over Axel's angular face. Demyx turned to Zexion, who was sitting at his desk, observing the proceedings.
"Zexy, I am soooo sorry! I had no idea he was going to do that!"
As he was watching, an interesting change came over Zexion's expression. The steady cobalt eyes flickered downwards and to one side, not meeting Demyx's at all, while his lips pursed almost like he was biting the insides. The faintest hint of pink touched his cheeks, so light Demyx knew he must have been imagining it.
After all, Zexion blushing?
Impossible.
But absolutely adorable, if it wasn't some sort of hallucination.
Demyx blinked three times, just to make sure he was seeing things. By the third blink, the blush was gone. He sighed, regretting the loss of such an unusual expression, and began to get ready for bed, kicking Axel in the shin as he went.
Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
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Stretching his arms as though reaching for the clouds, Demyx yawned, mentally cursing freshman classes. Anything that began before eleven should have been outlawed. They could be deemed cruel and unusual punishment! As he drew closer to the dorm building, Zexion fell seamlessly into step with him, and Demyx smiled at his roommate.
"Hey, Zexy, thanks."
A single eyebrow quirked inquisitively.
"For letting Axel stay the night. It made me really happy to be able to see him again."
There was a long pause before slender shoulders shrugged. Zexion unlocked the outside door, keeping his keys in hand for the door to their room. The two walked in silence the way up the stairs.
A voice greeted them as they walked in.
"Hey guys! How'd your classes go?"
Demyx blinked.
"Axel? What're you doing here? I thought you left!"
The lanky redhead laughed, and tossed a set of keys at Demyx, who caught them reflexively. Taking a closer look at them, Dem saw that they were his.
"I was looking for these…Axel, seriously, what the hell? Why do you have them?"
"Well, funny story about that! I jacked your keys this morning and made a copy for myself." White teeth flashed in a mischievous grin.
"I thought I'd stay here for a while."
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Chapter 3...
