Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ Out of My Element ❯ Change of Pace ( Chapter 18 )

Chapter 18: Change of Pace

It was the following Thursday night after the park relay race and Axel and Demyx were enjoying a rare moment alone. With Luxord as an indefinite house guest, they often found that their favorite mingling spot on the couch was occupied. It was not so now. The TV was on and, for once, not on a movie channel. Instead, it was on the Science channel and a re-run of Prophets of Science Fiction relayed information on one of the influential early SciFi writers. Axel was interested, but Demyx was not. He'd taken to tracing the fading lines of the henna tattoos covering Axel's skin. It was endlessly fascinating to Demyx and, to indulge him, Axel had turned up the furnace and shed all but his boxer shorts.

Head on Axel's chest, Demyx's fingers glided smoothly over Axel's thigh. When he shifted, Axel's attention turned from the television set and Philip K. Dick to the warm breath washing down his chest. He wrapped an arm around Demyx's shoulder and turned his head to kiss Demyx's head.

He'd blown the relationship issue way out of proportion Saturday. Since then, his worries of a complex system in which he had no means of understanding had been calmed. Demyx was not demanding or particular, and they enjoyed their time together in much the same way they had before. The only difference was that when they were alone, they took the opportunity to steal a kiss from one another. On Tuesday, they'd even had enough time to really get into it, though Axel had been too chicken to actually try and feel Demyx up then. Axel wondered if that made him a coward, maybe that's why he was more inclined to start something up again, just to prove himself otherwise.

He could feel Demyx's expression change against his skin, a smile. The blonde rotated his shoulder and pressed his lips against Axel's bare chest, causing Axel's heart to flutter. Another kiss followed on his collar bone and then his neck before Axel gripped his jaw with his hand and tipped Demyx's head back. He didn't kiss him right away, but stared Demyx in the eyes. Those shimmering blue orbs where beautiful, not a trace of sadness today just light as it played off the textures and colors of the young man beside him.

When their lips did meet, it was gentle and soft. Axel let his eyes close as he focused on the feeling of Demyx's velvety lips against his. Relaxing his jaw, he coaxed Demyx to do the same by running his tongue along his bottom lip. Demyx made a quiet sound, like the meow of kitten, and parted his lips for him.

Demyx tasted sugary, his tongue and mouth laced with the remnants of some unknown candy he'd acquired at school. It was nice, and the quality was something like the texture of a fine chocolate melting on his tongue.

Axel's heart took another leap when Demyx's palm pressed against his leg and slid up so that the back of his hand pressed against his genitals. The sudden move was followed by an increase of intensity in the kiss. Turning from gentle to passionate, Demyx pushed his chest up against Axel and pressed his tongue past Axel's lips.

“Wanna fool around?” Demyx murmured breathlessly when he pulled away. Axel's lips tingled, feeling hotter than before.

Who could decline that kind of offer? “Fuck, yeah.” Axel replied, voice low and husky.

The response elicited a grin from Demyx, who swung a leg around Axel's waist to straddle his hips. Firmly planted in Axel's lap, Demyx wrapped both arms around Axel's neck and Axel rested his hands on Demyx's sides. Axel wasn't about to object to a little lap dance, even if it meant Demyx taking the reigns. He could take control later, or maybe he wouldn't. Damn, Axel didn't care who was in charge as long as he got some!

Grinning, Demyx dove back in for another kiss. Lips pressed together, tongues battling it out between their mouths, Demyx ground his hips into Axel's. It only took a single thrust for Axel to tell that Demyx was already hard. When that happened, Axel wasn't sure, but he wasn't too far behind him.

Hands sliding up and down Demyx's back, Axel pressed his fingers into Demyx's muscles. The way his bones and muscles undulated under his palm made Axel all the more hot for him. He was so lithe, his muscles toned but smooth. How old was Demyx supposed to be? He thought teenager were more sinewy, maybe it was beach living…

Demyx pulled back and pressed his face under Axel's jaw, biting at his neck eagerly. It felt good and Axel let his head fall back, allowing Demyx to attack his throat with fervor. Sure, he might have bite marks and bruises covering his neck when Demyx was done, but really… Even that made it hotter for Axel. People would see it, even if Axel couldn't be seen with Demyx, he'd have proof of a relationship, “Ah, Demyx… Harder.” He demanded lowly, hands shifting to Demyx's hips to aid him but he needn't do so. The words made Demyx wild, grinding harder into him.

“Wow, you're body's so warm now… Ha, and your skin's turning red.” Demyx breathed between kisses and bites.

Something clicked in Axel's brain, probably the off switch to self control, because suddenly Axel couldn't quite take sitting idly by anymore. Letting out an animal-like growl, he lifted Demyx up and switched their places. Demyx pushed onto the couch, Axel had an arm around his back to hold their bodies together. Between Demyx's legs, he was better angled for thrusting his hips against Demyx's and the friction between them was so good Axel swore he saw stars.

It was at this point when a familiar sound registered in Axel's ears, but he was on autopilot. Only when a secondary sound followed did he suddenly shoot up in alarm. His gut turned in his stomach when he locked gazed with Luxord, who had just walked in on them. The first sound had been the front door, the second an audible gasp from Luxord.

Luxord looked surprised a moment, but then if faded into a smile. Folding his arms, he looked smug, “My oh my. Right in my bed even.” He mentioned good-naturedly, entirely pleased he'd caught Axel in the act. Maybe he was flashing back to that fantastic week when he'd been in a similar position with him, Axel wasn't sure.

From below, Demyx gave Axel a shove and darted out from under him. He was up the stairs and in his room in seconds. Axel stared at Demyx's room a minute, still a little baffled at what had happened, his brain wasn't entirely functional.

Sitting on his heels, his shoulders sagged when it caught up to him, “Damn it Luxord…” He groaned as he collapsed against the back cushion. So close…

Rounding the couch, Luxord sat down next to Axel and gave him a pat on the shoulder, “Sorry, mate. I didn't know you two… You know, were doing that kind of thing so soon.” He sounded sincere. I mean, Luxord could barely hold off on sex for four days let alone- Oh Axel didn't want to think how long he'd been celibate.

Axel moved to sit normally on the couch and closed his eyes, head back. His body was so hot still, “So soon?” Axel repeated wistfully. What blood was in his body certainly wasn't in his brain and he was struggling to regain some mental functioning.

Luxord gave a bit of a shrug. Looking away, his expression appeared anxious, like he wasn't used to being so serious or caring, “Well... You only started seeing each other Friday, it hasn't even been a week yet.” Luxord mentioned eyes on the television now. Jules Verne was on now… Maybe they were having a marathon, “But who am I to judge? We weren't even seeing each other when we-“ Axel immediately regained his sense and slapped his hand over Luxord's mouth.

“Shut up!” Axel hissed lowly, glancing nervously up at the door. Demyx was nowhere to be seen, “You… Really think it's too fast?”

Luxord shrugged, “I don't know… You know me. I'm not known for discretion with these kinds of things.” He replied, peeling Axel's hand away. Then his eyes when back to the television, “What is this?”

“Hm? Oh just something on the Science channel… You think I should say something?” Axel asked turning in his seat to stare up at the motionless door, “I, uh… He said he wanted to fool around… Maybe I went too far.” Fuck, if Luxord hadn't interrupted, Axel wasn't sure he would've stopped. Once he got started, he didn't want to stop… Wasn't everyone that way? He didn't know.

When Luxord didn't answer, Axel rolled his eyes, “Dick…” He growled, hopping over the couch. Behind him, Luxord responded with a quiet `wanker' but Axel didn't care.

At the top of the stares and before Demyx's door, Axel leaned up against the frame. Quietly, he knocked on it with the back of his hand, “Demyx? You okay?” He called softly, feeling stupid now. There wasn't a response, “I uh… If I'm ever… Er… You can always stop me… If you, ya know, don't want to…” Axel shifted uncomfortably. Thinking about it, maybe it really was too soon. They'd known each other, what? A month now, but then… How long were they supposed to wait? “Demyx?” He placed a hand on the doorknob.

“Y-yeah! I-I know!” Demyx suddenly blurted out, “You-You don't have to come in!” He sounded breathless, “I'll be down in a minute, c-could you start dinner?”

“Uh… Yeah.” Axel turned away from the door feeling odd. He couldn't quite decide what to make of Demyx's response. Was he upset? Shit…

Axel was in the middle of preparing some rice and green beans when he heard the water turn on upstairs. Leaning over, he peeked into the front room. Luxord was still on the couch and Reno wasn't home… Demyx was taking a shower?

From the front room, Luxord leaned back, arching over the couch to look upstairs, “Maybe I was wrong…” He muttered, loud enough for Axel to hear. Then he slid back into a comfortable sitting position, “Kids these days.”

“You're not that old.” Axel told him from the kitchen as he dumped some water into the steamer and rice pan to get that going. Then he grabbed a hand towel and walked into the entryway. He was wiping his hands and curiously watching the bathroom door, “What did you mean by that?”

Luxord placed an arm over the back of the couch and looked at him, “You really don't know?” When Axel didn't respond, Luxord chuckled, “My god, you are absolutely hopeless.” Just then, the door opened up and Reno stumbled in followed closely by Rude. Luxord waved to them, then looked at Axel, “I'll tell you when you get older.” He teased.

“Tell you what, yo?” Reno asked as he kicked off his shoes by the door. Rude held onto his shoulder so he wouldn't fall over while he struggled with the right shoe.

“Uh…” Axel glanced at the bathroom one more time, “Nothing.” Tossing the rag over his shoulder, he sulked back into the kitchen, “Dinner will be ready in twenty.” He added as he pulled out some fish from the fridge, he'd fry it up in a skillet. He'd chosen fish and rice because he felt he had to fix something Demyx favored as an apology.

“Thanks, little bro-“ Reno's cell rang and he checked the call ID, “Gotta take this.” He said as he rushed upstairs to take the call and get undressed. Rude, however, stayed downstairs and entered the kitchen. He hadn't made any attempt to get comfortable, tie still secured around his neck and shoes laced impeccably. Sometimes, Axel thought Rude knew him better than his own brother because he always seemed to know when something was up.

“Something you want to talk about?” Rude asked in a low tone, gaze resting heavily on Axel's back behind his sunglasses.

Swallowing hard, Axel dared a glance back and regretted it, “N-no! Nothing…” He lied, knowing his higher tone gave him away. Bowing his head, he focused on trimming the fish and seasoning it. Then he glanced back again and regretted it even more than the last time as Rude folded his arms and stared him down.

Axel thought fast and turned to him. Standing up straight, he folded his arms mimicking Rude's stance, “Fine, you got me.” He said a frown on his face, “When the hell are you moving in here? I'm serious, I'm sick of not knowing when you're going to be here. How am I supposed to know how much to cook?”

Rude's form faltered and suddenly he looked like he had somewhere else to be, “I think I heard Reno calling.” He mentioned before suddenly rushing out of the room. Axel chased after him but stopped at the stairs when he saw Demyx narrowly avoid jumping out of Rude's way, “What's his rush?” Asked Demyx looking down the stairs at Axel like nothing out of the ordinary had gone on between them a half hour before.

“I asked him about moving in…” Axel told him, just standing and staring.

“Oh…” Demyx glanced down the hall, “Afraid of commitment, huh?”

“No… Reno and Rude have been together since I was a kid. I don't know what the problem is.”

Demyx shrugged and turned to go into his room to get dressed; after all, he was only wearing a towel around his waist. Axel waited a moment, then returned to the kitchen to put the fish on. No sooner had he started to set the table and Demyx waltzed in. He stopped by the stove and took a peek, “Salmon, yum.” Licking his lips, he lifted the lid to smell the herbs simmering. Then he left it and came up behind Axel, “You don't have to do that, it's my job remember?” Demyx said, taking the plates and silverware from Axel's hands to do it himself, “Hey... Do you have any plans for this weekend?”

“Plans?” Axel repeated as he grabbed some drinks from the fridge, “No, I don't think so… Why?”

“I though we could do something together.” Demyx mentioned vaguely as he struggled on whether the knife and spoon were supposed to go on the left or right side of the plate, “Nothing special really. I just thought it would be nice to do something, just the two of us while your brother and Rude are out.” He added before finally settling on the placement of the silverware.

“That'd be nice... So… What are we going to do this weekend with just the two of us?” Asked Axel with a charming tone as he crossed the kitchen to the table. He plopped some ice in the cups and placed the chilled lemonade in the center of everything. Maybe Demyx really wasn't angry with him, “Oh! But the week after next I've got exams to study for so I'll be pretty busy the weekend before. So…” Where was he going with that?

“All right.” Demyx didn't need him to finish the sentence as he sat at the table and poured himself some lemonade. He sipped it some and watched Axel return to the stove to tend to the still cooking food, “You should lock the front door at night… Someone could break in, man.”

Or we could get interrupted again… Axel thought.

Heart hammering in his chest, Axel felt as though he had a fever. His body felt warm and his skin was damp with perspiration. It wasn't that he was sick; it was that Demyx had his bare chest up against Axel's unclothed back. As it turned out, Demyx hadn't seemed interested in `fooling around' again this weekend what with Luxord due back any moment. Instead, he'd settled on something a bit more safe in his mind.

Maybe Axel should have told Demyx that his back was his weak spot but he was too embarrassed to say anything…

“You're fingers have shifted again.” Demxy murmured. His chin was on Axel's shoulder, peering down at the guitar on Axel's lap. Arms around Axel, Demyx guided Axel's hands back into place, “There like that.” He said, his breath smelled like maple syrup from the French toast they'd eaten for breakfast. It had been several hours since they'd eaten, but it lingered sweetly on his lips, “Listen to the sound of it now.” Gently holding Axels hands, he moved his hand to pluck the pick against each string, “Hear it?”

“I think I might be tone deaf.” Axel muttered softly, catching the smile the words gave Demyx.

“Maybe…” Kissing Axel's shoulder, he strummed the pick in their hands against the chords a few moments, “Try something on your own… Don't worry about it sounding like anything, just play… Learning is more fun when you discover it on your own.” He said before releasing Axel's hands. On his knees, he folded his arms up and rested them just behind Axel's neck.

Staring down at the guitar, Axel swallowed hard, “Okay…” Briefly letting go of the guitar, Axel cracked his knuckles and stretched out his hands before taking the instrument in his hands. He'd been holding it all morning and was hoping he remembered at least some hand positions Demyx had been showing him. For a moment or two, he just tested the sounds of the different strings slowly forming some sort of string in his mind of the sounds he liked.

Then tried to play something... It wasn't much of anything really. Strange notes whined from the instrument, irregularly drawing out their cries or choking them out as though dying. It was slow and awkward, his fingers working it timidly and with hesitation.

Maybe it wasn't what someone would call a song and maybe it would song like a mess to anyone else, but Axel somehow found himself growing fond of it. He'd never tried to make music before.

On a particularly harsh sounding note, Axel placed his hands over the strings to quiet it, “I feel stupid…” He muttered, feeling suddenly even more embarrassed over the whoel ordeal. He'd probably just been making a fool of himself, strumming nothings on Demyx's guitar.

On the back of his neck, he felt a puff of breath as Demyx let out a silent laugh, “Don't… It was good.” He said pushing against Axel's back to get up. Then he moved to sit up against the couch. They'd pushed the coffee table out of the way so they could use up the center of the room. Draping an arm over it, he leaned on it heavily, “I liked it…”

“Sure you did.” Axel rolled his eyes and looked away. Lifting the guitar, he held it out for Demyx, “Here. You play something…”

Dropping his head back on the cushion, he gave a playful groan. Then he sat up and took the guitar from Axel's hands. Getting up, he relocated to sit against the chair so he could prop his legs up on the coffee table that was shoved up against the entertainment system, “Somethin' serious or fun?” He asked.

Axel smiled and flopped onto the floor, “You're serious all the time…” Axel complained with a humorous grin. Reaching over, he nudged Demyx's foot, “Play something that will make you happy!” Advised Axel happily, “I like you better when you're not beating yourself up.”

“Oh really? All right, something fun then.” Tipping his head to the side, Demyx began to tweak the guitar. For a minute, he tested the strings making sure they sounded right when he played the right note. When he was satisfied, he smiled and tapped his foot to a beat that Axel couldn't hear,

“She's not afraid; she just likes to use her night light.
When she gets paid, true religion gets it all, if they fit right.
She's a little bit manic, completely organic,
Doesn't panic for the most part.”

He grinned at Axel, voice sounding ever so slightly breathy and Axel smiled back. Axel was happy that Demyx seemed to be enjoying himself. The way his muscles twitched in time with the beat gave Axel the impression he was really into the song without really singing it out right,

”She's old enough to know, and young enough not to say no
To any chance that she gets for home plate tickets to see the Mets.
Like everybody, she's in over her head,
Dreads Feds, Grateful Dead, and doesn't take meds.

She's a Gemini Capricorn, thinks all men are addicted to porn.
I don't agree with her half the time, but, damn, I'm glad she's mine.”

Axel laughed a little, “I hope you didn't choose this song because it reminded you of me.” He murmured between the lyrics. Demyx chuckled a little, playing but obviously having to loop the tune back around because he missed it the first time.

“Her eyes, that's where hope lies.
That's where blue skies meet the sunrise.
Her eyes, that's where I go when I go home.

She got the kinda strength that every man wishes he had.
She loved Michael Jackson up until he made Bad.”

Demyx cast a meaningful look at Axel, silently implying that the song really did remind him of a certain. As if to emphasize this, he sang just a little louder,

“Tells me that she lives about a hundred lives,

Scares me to death when she thinks and drives,
Says cowboy hats make her look fat, and I'm so glad she's mine.”

Axel grabbed a pillow and gave Demyx a smack with it. Demyx let out an over exaggerated gasp and shoved his guitar off his lap. Jumping up on top of him, he growled, “Oh, man, you're gonna get it!” He exclaimed grabbed the pillow from Axel and beating him over the head with it. On the floor, pinned by the blonde, Axel writhed and called out for help, though no one was there to hear.

“Help! Assault! Domestic abuse!” Axel cried blocking his face with his arms before grabbing the pillow and hitting Demyx in the side of the face. Being more than helpful, Demyx played along and let out a cry of false pain and fell off of him.

“I'm hit!” Yowled Demyx, holding his face as if he were actually hurt.

“Wow, I realized you guys were queer, but I didn't realize you were girls too.”

Demyx scooted to peer around the couch and Axel sat up, “Does anybody bother to knock anymore?” Asked Axel as Roxas went to lean over the back of the couch to look at them. With an agonizing sigh, Axel leaned on the front cushion of the couch, his stomach bowing down to rest on Demyx. Wrist to his forehead, Axel closed his eyes, “Didn't you get the memo, anyway? Demyx and I are staying home together… You know, alone?”

“Yeah, you know what, I think I didn't get that…” Roxas mentioned, “Um, actually I just stopped by to see if you guys knew where Namine is.”

Sitting up now too, Demyx had to hold onto Axel's side to stay up, “When I told her that I wasn't going out this weekend she said that was fine and that she was going to be at the library. I'd check there.” He said, “She spends hours there, drawing I think.”

“Cool, thanks Demyx.” Roxas pushed away from the couch and looked down at the two. For a moment he just looked at them before Axel shifted and scowled at him.

“What?” He barked accusingly and Roxas shook his head.

“Sorry, it's nothing. It's just weird to see you with someone. You two have fun, er, playing together.” Roxas said as he left, scarcely avoiding the pillow Axel chucked at him.

“Aren't you worried that they'll be seen together?” Asked Axel.

Demyx rested his head on Axel's shoulder, “Not really. Namine knows to keep it discrete.”

“I hope you two know what you're doing.”

Took a little shorter than expected, but I originally had them play contact basketball with Hayner, Roxas, Zell, and Tidus. I scrapped the idea after writing it when I realized that the last chapter was too similar to it.

Gonna have some fun next chapter. Planning a time elapse with some `getting to know you' kind of scenes and it'll be pretty pointless unless you know what you're looking for (kinda like this chapter, no Prophets of Science fiction has nothing to do with anything).

Holy fuck, everyone! I just made a list of all the different scenes I still want to include in this story and it is long (I even omitted a few)! I'm guessing this thing has maybe 8 chapters left if I stick to the outline. That's a lot more than I originally planned. It was only going to be 20 chapters when I started! But that's my fault… That last park excursion took way more words than it was supposed to.

Also, I'm not going to lie to you guys. There's going to be some drama in the last chapters (like a lot), but I'm going to try and cram some fun stuff in there so you aren't sad all the time. It'll be three or four chapters to cover the turning point and climax of the story. You're gonna FEEL the drama damn it!