Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ Out of My Element ❯ Up Dragon's Breath ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Up Dragon's Breath

 

“This must be how a pack mule feels.” Muttered Axel wearily, trudging along after Demyx. They'd been to several clothes stores and gotten a few things at each of them, four items tops for every store. After so much driving around the city and the suburbs, Axel had somehow gotten it in his head going to the mall would just be easier. That had been his downfall, it was ten times harder. Demyx had to stop at every single thrift shop and store in the two story building, even if it didn't have any clothes residing within. The boy had even managed to coax Axel into buying him some CDs and books. Well, of course, now that they'd been through over half the place much had been bought and Axel was carrying about twenty bags, luckily not all large shopping ones; some were small like the ones for the CDs and most were relatively light. However, they seemed to be getting heavier and heavier by the minute and Demyx showed no signs of slowing down.

“Axel! Hurry up!” Demyx shouted, “I wanna go in here!”

A groan, “Aren't we done yet?”

“Come on,” Demyx stepped back in front of Axel, placing both hands on his chest, “You're tough enough to carry a couple of bags, aren't you… hotstuff?” His last word was said shyly and he bowed his head as he spoke it, busying himself with straightening Axel's shirt.

For a moment Axel was silent, staring at the odd behavior. His heart melted, that or it sank in the soft mush that had already swallowed his pride, “Yeah,” He breathed with a tiny sigh.

“Good, come on!” Instantly perked, Demyx romped back to the shop and disappeared inside.

A little less than happy, Axel followed in obediently. This store unlike the others, contained only odd trinkets, things made out of stone or crystal and the like. Many of the objects were of wizards or dragons, but there were plenty of other mythological things. Demyx had found his way to a shelf with some colorful figurines resting upon it. Coming up behind him, Axel examined the creatures. They were fish of all kinds, hippocampus, and merfolk.

One of these in particular caught the teenager's keen eye: a tiny carp, the color of a polished seashell with a single bluish patch on its forehead. Both its eyes were a deep sapphire blue, its fins a paler color than its body. His fingers danced around all the carp, but lingered over that fish longer then the rest before delicately plucking it up off the shelf. It was brought close to his chest as he held caressed it with his fingertips, gently running a thumb along the neatly carved scales.

“Do you know how dragons are made?”

“Huh?” Axel pulled back, startled by the question. Demyx repeated the question again, slowly and carefully, “Dragons… Can't say I know that.”

“Some people say they come from the carp.” Demyx told him quietly, “That a dragon already existing may breathe into the pond and if a koi can swim up the stream of breath it will turn into a dragon. That's why Asian dragons have the scales of a carp you know? My mom told me that when I was sick. Ya know, to sort of tell me to be strong so that I could grow up to be someone great one day, like a koi to a dragon. Did your mom tell you stories like that when you were a kid?”

Axel hesitated, still gazing at the tiny fish, “I don't know… She might have, but the only stories I remember are from my brother. My mother died when I was four and half due to some complications in a surgery she was having… Reno practically had to raise me, but I had a good life so I don't mind that I never got a chance to get to know her well.”

Demyx quickly put the fish back, “Sorry I asked.” He muttered quickly before slipping away to look elsewhere.

“No worries, doesn't bother me.” Axel commented turning rather awkwardly in pursuit. The musician said something else but it was too low to be audible and Axel let it slide. “So… You've never your mom before-“

“And I shouldn't have just now either.” Demyx cut him off sharply casting an icy look over his shoulder, “I told you I don't like talking about before I came here.”

“All right, all right!” Axel stepped back, raising his hands in surrender, “I won't mention it.” For a moment Demyx just glared then he gave a small shrug and turned to the shelves he stood next to. Picking up a strange clothes web adorned with feathers and beads, he twirled it a little, “Bad dreams?”

“Psh, no.” Demyx scoffed. With a shake of his head he set down the dream catcher, “I'm tired of this place, let's go.” He voiced suddenly very sadly.

“Sure thing.” Axel granted giving Demyx a soft nudge, “You hungry?”

“Yeah.” Mumbled Demyx dejectedly.

“Good. You know, since we're here why don't we just get some food at the food court? It may have enough cholesterol to kill me right on the spot but I'm sure before you came to live with us you ate that stuff all the time.” Axel offered. It was quite the gesture. Normally Axel really did go home in the middle of shopping and cook himself something to eat. He wasn't really a health nut, he just really enjoyed cooking and it was revitalizing after half a day of shopping. Today, however, he really wanted Demyx to enjoy himself and his now foul mood had sort of had been partially his fault.

“I'd like that.”

“Then let's get something to eat, you're sure to feel better afterwards. I think you've spent all the energy you had from breakfast.”

“Yeah, you're probably right.” Demyx smiled and took Axel's arm as they headed back to the food court. The smell wafted down the halls for a good ten shops, a mixture of hotdogs, fires, hamburgers, pizza, tacos, and Chinese food, as well as some sweets. It was almost enough to make Axel gag, but to someone like Demyx it must have smelt absolutely heavenly.

When they arrived, Demyx was grinning ear to ear, “Can I choose anything?”

“Anything you want.”

“Awesome!”

“Here I'll give you fifteen dollars. Go get what you want and meet me at that table.” Axel gestured to a table next to a garden island with a large tree growing out of it, “Don't take too long, there are some strange people here. That means don't talk to anyone you don't know either.”

“Yeah yeah. I know don't talk to strangers, don't wander off, blah, blah, blah. I've been to a mall before.” Demyx said as he was handed the fifteen dollars and took off to find something that suited his taste. With a shake of his head, Axel went to search for something remotely edible. In the end he had to settle for a questionable meat and cheese sandwich, one that was supposedly from a `healthy' fast food restaurant. It was a lie of course; fast food just wasn't healthy no matter where you got it from, especially at a mall stationed one.

Setting the bags up against the island he took a seat and waited for Demyx to show up. It wasn't more than a minute before he did. A shudder ran through him upon seeing the meal Demyx had retrieved, but it had been expected. What he'd gotten was some fish sticks, fried of course, some French fries, also fried, and what appeared to be some soda. Also on the tray were some sauces, probably made mostly out of pig fat or grease. Still, Axel had seen worse.

Demyx placed some money on the table, “Didn't use it all.” He explained before starting to eat. After that, the meal continued in relative silence before they were interrupted by a bold group of teenagers, a group Axel was very familiar with.

“Hey Axel, how's it going?” Greeted Roxas bounding over to the table and sliding into a seat, “Getting that shopping done like you said you were?”

“Yeah.” Axel confirmed, “I think we're just about done with the clothes. Now we just have to go by and pick up some groceries. What about you?”

“Just hangin' out.” Roxas shrugged leaning on the table, shifting to sit sideways in his seat. He glanced over at Demyx for a moment as two of his gang sat down on either side of Demyx. Olette, a pale green-eyed brunette sat to his left, and Pence, a heavier boy, sat to his right, “Oh, hey Demyx these are my friends Pence, O-“

“I know, Pence, Olette, and Hayner.” Demyx cut in, “They're in some of my classes.”

“Oh yeah,” Roxas voiced in recollection, “Slipped my mind for a moment.”

“Oh! That's right! Olette, that dance that we're learning in class, I think I've got it down actually. Do you think I can be in the performance in I show our teacher I can do it?” Demyx asked excitedly.

“I guess, but you could really just wait and join in the next one.”

“But I want to be in it.” Whined Demyx, “I live for things like this.”

“What performance is this?” Axel broke in with interest. Leaning forward in his seat, he scarcely noticed as Hayner sat down beside him.

“We're having a Spring Festival performance. There's going to be singing, dancing, and music all done by the classes from our school. It's going to be held in a week or two.” Olette informed.

“It's actually pretty fun. Don't you remember when you used to go, Axel?” Asked Roxas.

Axel pondered a minute, “Oh yeah, I used to be in the dances.” He confirmed, “I don't remember the activities all that well… I usually went home to study after our cut was done.”

“You should come. It would be pretty cool to have an Alumni come and join in some of the routines.” Pence commented.

“Those things are for pansies.” Hayner muttered, “I'm joining in the competitions so is Roxas, ain't that right?”

“Oh yeah. They're holding some Struggle Matches and a triathlon sort of thing. There's going to be a lot of carnival games to play as well. So Hayner and I are going to hang out around the school grounds winning some prizes.” Roxas looked at Pence, “Hey what were you going to be doing?”

“I'm just going to be watching the events.”

“Do you guys know what day of the week it's going to be held on, I wouldn't mind dropping by.” Axel commented.

“A Friday.” Replied Demyx promptly before suddenly changing the subject, “We should probably head back soon. Don't we have to get some groceries on the way?”

“You're right, we should get moving. Sorry guys.” Axel apologized to the others.

“Oh no, don't worry. We've got to get going too; we've got tickets to a movie that starts in a half hour.” Roxas assured, “Hayner, Pence, Olette, go get in the car. I'll catch up with you guys in a second.” Hayner nodded and they made their way to the front doors. Once they were out of earshot Roxas turned back to Axel and Demyx, “About yesterday. I shouldn't have talked about you like that. Sorry Demyx.”

“No problem.” Demyx voiced lowly getting up and cleaning off it tray and setting it on top of a nearby trashcan, Axel did the same, “Hey, hotstuff, want help carrying the bags back to the car?”

“God yes.” Axel held out one of the handful of sacks, “All of this is yours, you know?”

“I know, but you're such a softie I can't help but take advantage of it just a little.” Chuckled Demyx taking the bags. “Okay, let's get going.”

Roxas snagged Axel's collar and pulled him down, “Hotstuff?”

“Ah… Yeah.” A blush crept onto his face and he looked after Demyx, “I should be going.” He added before pulling away and running to catch up with Demyx. He glanced back only once and regretted that he had. The look Roxas gave him made his stomach turn, like he'd just betrayed him or something.

By the time they arrived at the grocery store, Demyx was in high spirits again and full of renewed energy. The teenager was practically dancing circles around the cart as they made their way to the back of the supermarket.

“Hey Axel, can we get pizza?”

“No.” Replied the redhead replied flatly.

“Can we get raviolis?”

“No.”

“What about waffles?”

“No.”

“Ungh. Why not?” Grumbled Demyx angrily.

“Here's the thing. I don't buy crappy food from stores that I can make ten times better on my own. Now if you ask for something I can't make, then I might consider getting it for you.”

“How about some chips?”

“No.”

“You can make chips?”

“Not particularly well, but it's better than the poison they feed you here.” Axel commented, “Find something else.”

“How about popcorn?”

“We have dried corn at home I use for that.”

“Um…. Oreos.”

“No.”

“Chilli?”

“No.”

Demyx looked around, “Ha! Cereal!”

“Depends on what you want.” Axel muttered, of course, he didn't stop what he was doing to even give Demyx the recognition he'd found something Axel couldn't make with his own two hands, “If it's some sugary children's crap then no.”

“What about Cheerios?”

“If you want.”

“I don't like Cheerios.”

“Then don't ask.” Axel growled glancing up to give Demyx a half-hearted glare.

“Hotpockets?”

“No.”

“Yogurt?”

“No.”

“Icecream?”

“I thought you were lactose intolerant.”

“Oh, right… Oh wait! That ice-cream is made from soy milk so I could eat that.”

“Do you want it?”

“Uh… Not really. I've got a figure to watch.”

“Then don't ask for it.” Axel thought a moment before adding, “Do you need something to do?” He asked leaning against the cart as he stopped before the meat section of the store, “Because it seems to me that you get some sort of sick enjoyment from annoying me.”

“Nope, just curious.” Demyx shrugged, “Hey, then you can make raviolis?”

“Yes.”

“That's pretty cool…” Demyx looked around for something else that he could ask about. Axel shook his head and picked out some lean cut steaks and put them in the cart. “Can we get some… Uh… Hm. Oh! Peanut butter.”

“Go ahead.” This time Demyx actually rushed off to retrieve the item. When he returned he carefully put it in the cart, “What do you want peanut butter for?”

“Dunno yet. Could go on a sandwich, could go in a cookie, I could just eat it out of the jar.” Demyx shrugged, “Can we get some crackers?”

“What kind?”

“Ritz.”

“Go ahead.” And Demyx was gone again. When he came back Axel was figuring what type of cheese they were near out of at home.

“How about macaroni and cheese?”

“Nope.” Axel picked up a block and set it in the cart. For the most part, this was how their shopping went. Demyx would ask for something and most of the time Axel would tell him no, on occasion Demyx would win and get something else. It was only until they got to the front of the store where fresh cut meat was out on display that the routine suddenly shifted.

“Hey Axel… Can we get some of this?” Demyx asked, this time his tone had changed. His voice wasn't whiny or tainted with the evil sort of pleasure detected in his earlier questions. This caught Axel's attention and he turned to see what Demyx was looking at. The teenager was standing before the sushi section of the meats.

“Fish?”

“Yeah… Can we have fish and crab for dinner tonight?” Asked Demyx turning his eyes to Axel, “Please?” Axel shied away from the heartfelt request and glanced at what was being requested. He really couldn't say no to an appeal like that, so he gave a little nod and a genuine smile lit up on Demyx's face. “Thank you!” And the teenager flung his arms around him in a grateful hug. Axel jumped a little but smiled a faintly in return, giving Demyx a tender pat on the head.

“Do you want anything else?” He asked after ordering some of the salmon and king crab.

“No… Just this.” Mumbled Demyx quietly, his voice muffled by Axel's shirt.

“All right. Let's go home then.”

 

 

I was amused by this chapter, mostly because I get a little weird in asking for things when I go grocery shopping with my mom. Despite what it seems each scene had its importance. Should I let you guys in on the secret next chapter? Or, maybe I should keep you in the dark a little bit longer… We'll have to see what gets done in the next chapter.