Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ Out of My Element ❯ A Journey Worth Taking ( Epilogue )

Epilogue- A Journey Worth Taking

The salty air whipped through the old shacks, whistling a joyous tune that sung out through the small town. It brought with it the soft warmth of midday and the swept away the smell of fish that seemed to penetrate to Axel's soul. Not that he cared much, Demyx said he liked it and Axel wasn't one to argue with him. Not anymore, not about things that didn't matter.

It had been five years since Axel had packed up his things and followed Demyx to his hometown. They still lived in Demyx's old house, but they'd changed things up quite a bit over there. They'd repainted and redecorated, an adventure in and of itself, removing most of the painful memories that once haunted the rooms. It had been a struggle at first, working through issues of a fresh and real relationship. Figuring out each others quirks, growing frustrated with little annoying habits, and dealing with the fact they practically saw each other twenty-four seven. However, the growing pains had finally worked themselves out and those little things had become inside jokes and running gags between them. They were the kind of things that made them cherish each other all the more. Then again, maybe that was because they were truly, deeply in love with each.

Axel worked at the harbor to pay the bills, having long abandoned his scholarly studies and plans to work for the military. Most days, he picked up the catch from the locals and hauled them in to the market or restaurants. Gutting and cleaning was what he was paid for, along with the errand running. It was hard and it smelled rotten, but Axel was happy. It was simple work and he was one of many, which meant he could take days off as he needed them and often he would cut out after the morning catch. They were hard up for money some months, but they were never too concerned over it. The house was theirs one hundred percent and as long as they had somewhere to stay, that was all that really mattered.

Every other night or so, Demyx played at a snazzy little bar called the Pier. He was booked as a regular performer there and when the old gang got together they really were a sight. Axel always went to see him when he played, sometimes just to make sure Demyx didn't blow all the cash he got the first chance he had. Demyx could be a handful after a few rounds, not to mention he was a partier. Almost every weekend, Demyx took Axel down to the beach and they'd drink and dance and talk until they crashed Sunday night. It was strange. Axel had never thought he would enjoy that kind of thing, but with Demyx… It was fun. He never felt quite so out of place with his lover by his side. Even less out of place when he called Roxas or Luxord down to join them. Both made frequent appearances, bringing their own dates along so they could all get caught up; they usually stayed in the guest room at the house for a day after to rest and just enjoy the beach.

It really was just perfect. There was nothing quite like waking up to the soft sound of waves lapping the beach and gulls calling.

It was almost always sunny and warm, leading Axel to wonder why he owned so many shirts. After all, he almost never wore them, especially around the house. Shirts and shoes were definitely optional along the beach and no one seemed to mind when their local gay couple made their way down the sandy lane half naked, hand in hand.

Lifting the blood stained white apron over his head, Axel tossed it over a table and rinsed off his hands, “See you boys tomorrow!” He called to the crew as he waved. Everyone looked up and smiled, each waving or nodding depending on whether they were elbow deep in chum or not. Then he turned and left the shack and pulled his bike away from the rickety tin fence.

Walking his bike along, Axel looked all around him. No matter how many times he passed through, everything felt new and welcoming. The rust on the metal sheets, the ratty pails and boxes, and scruffy looking townsfolk… They all seemed to greet him on his way. It was nothing like the city, nothing like the suburbs. All the cars were parked along the side of the road, almost never in use except to occasional blast music through the dirty streets. The people never seemed in a hurry and everyone was friendly and knew Axel by name. That whole `Got it memorized' bit seemed to actually work here because people really did have it memorized.

As he passed by a flower shop, Axel paused to consider them. Nothing they planted outside ever quite survived, but house plants seemed to do okay as long as Demyx saw them. Axel wasn't quite as good at remembering what to do with the things. However, they certainly did brighten up the place.

While he was studying the African Violets out on display with interest, something in the peripheral of his vision caught his eye, “Hm?” He rested his bike against the shop and wandered around the corner to see what it had been that he'd seen. When he peeked around the aluminum trash bin, a tiny kitten mewed at him. The brown striped tabby cat stared up at him with olive green eyes, ears flat and looking scared.

A smile spread across Axel's lips and he crouched down, “Hey kitty.” He held out his hand and made a clicking noise with his tongue. The kitten perked its ears and cautiously smelled his fishy fingers. It licked at them a little before stepping forward and rubbing up against his palm. Easily scooping it up, he flipped it on its back and scratched his chest. The little thing was filthy and meowed quietly in complaint at being handled, “Come on, I'll take you home with me.” He said as he sauntered back to his bike. Giving the kitten a scratch under its chin, he kissed it on the head before opening up the basket behind the seat and tucking the feline inside.

He looked back at the flowers. They still seemed like a good idea but… He supposed to soften the news of a new companion in the house he ought to get something a bit sweeter for his lover. Hopping onto the bike, he pushed on. The bike rolled easily down the hill and he skidded to a stop outside the local bakery, “Stay there little kitten, I'll be right back.” He said to the basket and a few minutes later, he returned with a box and set it in the basket with the cat. Then he headed on home.

The rolling golden fields looked like a second ocean cut in two by the dirt path. Silent wind made the dried grass bow and sway. Lifting his head, Axel closed his eyes just a moment to breath in the ocean air. It felt cool against his face, refreshing. Axel loved it; he wasn't sure how he'd ever lived without all of it. The late afternoon sun kissed his face, its heat wash over him. He'd have to put on some sunscreen when he got home and peel off his shirt. It was much too hot to be walking around fully clothed, it had been chilly enough this morning.

As he peaked over the fifth hill home, he looked out over yellow grass to the water. In the distance, he could see an orange streak dance over the blue water. Demyx was out on the waves, enjoying the mild weather on his surfboard. Good, that meant Axel could get home and clean up the kitten before Demyx found out about him, “Gotta make a good first impression, Ches- That's what I'm going to call you. Cheshire, Ches for short.” He said, making idle conversation with his silent feline friend.

Axel didn't bother to chain up the bike when he got home. Nothing really ever happened there. Even if someone did steal it, the bike was a piece of junk by now. Old and worn from the hot salty air. It would give Axel an excuse to buy a new one. Instead, he just left it leaning up against the front porch and unhitched the basket from the bike and snuck inside.

Thomas O'Malley, Oliver, and Dinah rushed around his legs, nearly sending Axel to the floor. Thomas, the orange and white tomcat, leapt up and scrambled onto Axel's shoulder. He let out a curious meow and pawed at the basket and Axel held it away, “I don't think so.” Axel scolded as he stepped over Oliver, the orange tabby, and headed for the kitchen. Setting the basket down, Axel peeled Thomas off his shoulder and set him on the counter, “Stay.” He told him and opened up the basket and lifted Ches out. Dinah jumped up onto the counter and sat next to Thomas. The pair of orange cats tipped their heads curiously while Oliver leapt into the sink and scrambled out the open window. Axel rushed over to the window, “Hey, you little snitch!” He called as Oliver ran to the beach to retrieve Demyx for whatever reason.

“You two, stand guard.” Axel told Dinah and Thomas, who returned his words with blank stares. Then he rushed up the stairs to bath Ches in the bathroom sink. The kitten fussed and meowed helplessly as Axel rinsed away the oily grit that darkened his fur and by the time he was done, Ches turned out to be a striped gray and not brown. Oh well. Cheshire cat was purple so it didn't really matter the cat's color. As he wrapped Ches in a towel, he heard the door close downstairs.

He was halfway down the said stairs when Demyx noticed the bakery box on the counter and called, “Axel!” With a scolding tone. Grimacing a little and Axel peeked into the kitchen, “This is your `I just brought home something I shouldn't have' pastry box.” Demyx said turning to him. Damn it, he looked good. Angry or not, he was smoking hot. His skin was damp from the ocean, hair matted and weighed down by water, and he had a pale red flush from the heat of the sun and exertion.

“Yeah…” Axel purposefully looked away as Demyx put his hands on his hips.

Tapping his foot, Demyx shook his head some, “One of these days, I'm going to come home and we're gonna have, like, fifteen cats.” He said and if Axel had a chance to think about it, this reoccurring scenario was quite the amusing reversal. Usually it was Axel being the adult, but when it came to cats…

“No!” Axel immediately objected, then he looked down at the towel bundle in his hands. All right, so Axel had a soft spot for cats and it just so happened that there were feral cats in the area. “… Okay maybe.” He admitted. Dinah had been his first find. She'd been in a box labeled `free kittens' and she the only one left. Axel hadn't thought twice about it and took her home that night after buying the little lady a collar. Demyx hadn't been happy.

Thomas O'Malley had been their second cat. The tomcat had turned up after they'd had Dinah about seven months. He'd found out that Axel left food on the porch for Dinah in case she got locked out… And, well, Axel decided that one more cat couldn't hurt and Thomas took to him like a fish to water. Of all the cats they had, Thomas was his favorite. He was a parrot cat, always eager to sit up on Axel's shoulder to get a good vantage of the goings ons around the house.

Oliver turned up three months later, the same way Thomas had come around, which had led to the new house rule that cat food stayed in the house. Unlike Dinah and Thomas, who seemed to favor Axel, Oliver took to Demyx. They were unsettlingly close and Oliver seemed to try and enforce Demyx's rules when the blonde wasn't around. He was a smart ass cat.

Truthfully, Axel had been doing really well at not bringing home cats he found. Ches was the first one in almost fifteen months! That's a long time… At least Axel thought it was. However, apparently not long enough for Demyx to forget the pastry box of forgiveness.

“Have you ever heard of the crazy cat lady?” Demyx asked. He didn't wait for Axel to respond as he gestured to himself and Axel, “We're going to be those people, Axel. Is that what you want?” He asked, it was hard to concentrate on Demyx's scolding. He was just so half naked and sexy right now.

“But… It's just a little cat.” Axel said, eyes on Demyx's chest.

Waving his hand in front of Axel's face, Demyx pulled his attention back up to his face, “All right where is it?” He demanded and Axel held out the bundle of towel. Taking it, Demyx unwrapped the kitten like a present until he could take a good look at Ches, “Let me guess… You've already named it.” Axel bowed his head low in shame and clasped his hands behind his back, trying his best to look miserable and innocent. It was Axel's poster `pity me' look and it worked like a charm. Sighing in resignation, Demyx asked, “What's it's name?”

Axel perked up. Lifting the kitten out of the towel, he held him up for all to see, “His name is Cheshire, like from Alice and Wonderland.” Axel told him, “Isn't he handsome?” Asked Axel tilting his head and grinning at Demyx. Bringing the cat to his body, he stepped closer to Demyx and searched his face. Demyx hadn't changed much since they'd met. He was still the same height, maybe a little more fit, but he still looked different to him. Maybe it was because they'd been lovers for five years or maybe it was because Demyx was so much happier now than he'd been before.

Smiling, Demyx pet Ches on the head, “I guess he is kind of cute.” Demyx admitted before looking down at Oliver, who pawed at his leg, “Don't worry; he's not going to replace you.” He stooped down and picked up Oliver. Hugging the cat to his chest, Oliver hissed quietly at Ches as though the kitten were trying to steal them away, “Let me hold him.” Demyx said reaching over and scooping Cheshire from his arms. With Oliver under one arm and Ches under the other, he looked between the two cats. Axel could already see Demyx was maybe even a little excited about having a new cat, “I think he ought to be mine, since Dinah and Thomas like you best.” Demyx said him, looking possibly even hotter than when he'd walked in. Maybe it was the cats in his arms.

Axel wrapped his arms around Demyx's waist and pulled him close. Hips resting together, he licked his lips, “You're trying to seduce me.” He said, a hundred percent sure that Demyx could feel the hard on through his pants.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” Said Demyx with a mischievous smile as he looked away. Oh, he knew all right. Axel loved a man who was good with animals. That was probably why Demyx shifted the kitties in his arms and kissed each on the head before leaning in to kiss Axel on the lips, “How's that working for you?” He asked with a grin, a Cheshire grin.

“You tell me.” Grinned Axel before Thomas O'Malley leapt up onto him and scrambled up to perch on his shoulder. The feline batted at Axel's face a little, “This is the only downside to owning four cats.” Axel told him with confidence as he tipped his head away from Thomas. As he did so, Demyx ducked out of his arms and went into the kitchen with the two cats still in his arms.

Setting both cats on the countertop, Demyx opened up the pastry box, “Pretty big downside if you ask me.” He teased as he leaned over the counter, purposefully arching his back so his ass swung out temptingly, “Guess I'll just have to settle on this consolation prize.” He mentioned as he pulled out a beignet covered in powdered sugar.

“At least it tastes good.” Axel mentioned as he grabbed Demyx's waist and stepped up behind him. Leaning over Demyx, he kissed the blonde's neck just below the hairline. It made Demyx shudder and Axel's grin grow, among other things. Quite unlike the early days, Axel was on top nearly seventy percent of the time now. The change had been gradual, but they found it was better this way considering Axel did most of the working. It was no good to go into work with a sore ass and, besides, Axel was a considerate and gentle lover. Demyx never need complain about him getting too rough, passion was what they did when Demyx threw him to the floor or bed.

Half turning, Demyx gave Axel a playful shove, “Oh, stop! You know I hate it when the cats are watching.” He objected, his eyes meeting Thomas O'Malley instead of Axel's. The feline extended his paw and placed it on Demyx's nose, “Oh real cute, Mr. O'Malley.”

“I thought it was.” Came a deep familiar voice from the doorway, causing the two to nearly leapt out of their skins; the sudden tumble Thomas took to the floor didn't help. Axel, having fallen slightly on top of Demyx, placed both hands on the countertop to keep from crushing him. Demyx rested his hands on Axel's chest to brace him. Both turned their heads to see who'd walked in on them.

Rude leaned up against the doorframe with Reno under his arm, all suited up and still looking like M.I.B. agents. Reno grinned, “This is why I never let him have any pets when he was little. Never stops with just one, yo!” He told them before crossing the threshold to the counter. Plucking out a beignet for himself, “Want one buddy?” He asked, throwing a look over his shoulder at Rude. The other man just shook his head and crouched down to pick up Dinah.

“How many times do I have to tell you to lock the door?” Demyx asked with a sigh of exasperation. Bowing his head, the surfer pressed his face into Axel's chest. No hope of recovering the mood with Reno and Rude.

Oh yeah. Even in their own house, these unexpected drop-ins caught them at the most inappropriate moments… Like now. And Axel was sure he was going to get some. Offering a shrug as Thomas O'Malley weaved between his legs; Axel went to prepare the kitchen for their monthly family dinner, “At least one more time.”

“That's what you always say.”

Oh well… They had a lifetime left together; there would be plenty of opportunities ahead of them.

Happily Ever After~