AkuRoku - Illegal Operation 8

"That bastard!" Roxas thought angrily, both confused and shocked. "What kind of crazy person is this guy! We just had sex, and now he's inviting me out to dinner? Who does that?"
"Uh, you're hungry?" was what he said out loud instead, his face still pressed against the elder's damp chest.
"Well it's almost seven, and we haven't eaten. Besides, once we get out, walk to the restaurant, get a table, order, and have our food actually come, we'll probably be starved," Axel responded with a grin, stroking the blonde's back tenderly.
"You know, we could just eat something here. We don't have to go out if it's an inconvenience..."
"How would it be an inconvenience? I want to treat you to something special Rox."
"Well, you said it yourself, we'd both be hungry by the time our food came… plus, I don't want you spending any more money on me. I still feel guilty about all those clothes you got me."
"Roxas." The green-eyed man held eye contact with the blonde, staring deep into his sapphire pools. "That's what friends do."
"Friends? That's how you're going to refer to me? A friend?" Roxas' mind yelled in fury. However, by the time his short-tempered conscience calmed down, he realized, maybe he was just a friend. Xigbar had said himself; Axel was the kind of guy who slept around. The term 'boyfriend' didn't seem right in this situation. To Roxas, a boyfriend was someone who held your hand, took you to see movies, gave you kisses on the cheek when you didn't expect them, and cooked you meals when you were sick. Was Axel his, dare he say the word, "boyfriend" now? He did buy him an entire wardrobe without asking for anything in return… he did cook for his meals the past week… he did kiss him… and he did make love to him.
Nonetheless, Axel was also very complicated and hard to follow. He'd say one thing and do another. He could lie as easily as he could breathe and wasn't always the most legal of people.

"Uh, right," Roxas stammered, beginning to keep his distance from Axel, "what… friends do."
"So, shall we get going? I mean… after we… you know… get dressed," Axel brushed off coolly, now sitting in an upward position, searching the bedroom floor for his pants.
Roxas sighed, looked at Axel with a small smile and in soft voice decided, "Okay."


"Dear God, Roxas, the hell is taking you so long?" Axel looked at his watch impatiently while his stomach quietly whimpered in hunger. He was wearing a dark green button-up dress shirt with a tight black jacket to match.
The entire time he had been getting dressed, butterflies flew around his stomach, tickling his nerves and making him anxious. The sweet young teen he had met and grown to love nearly two months ago had now shared his bed and was going to dinner with him. The present moment felt so unreal. Never had he guessed in the past that his future would lead to something like this.
The feeling Roxas' presence gave Axel had always been unfamiliar, but after the moment they shared in the restaurant's parking lot, and now the elder's bed, Axel was almost starting to believe it could possibly be love. Love… it was a completely foreign concept, how could something that seemed so cliché and overrated, in reality, be so exhilarating and pleasant?
"I'm almost done!"  An almost inaudible voice groaned from the master bathroom.
"How hard is it to put on a pair of pants? Jesus, Rox. You need me to come in there and help you?" Axel called back annoyed. He was beginning to get hungry and his legs were tired from pacing around his living room.
"N-No! Don't come in! I'll be out soon! Just give me a moment…" the blonde called back, his voice suggesting he was struggling with something frustrating.
Axel decided that, at this rate, he might as well get comfortable while waiting for his dinner companion, and sat himself down on the softly cushioned sofa. He starred blankly ahead at the widely screened television in front of him, the pictures fabricated in his thoughts appeared on the screen instead of whatever programs had been scheduled for this long night.
What would the blonde be to Axel after this date? He'd be much more than one of his gang members, but then again, was he more than a friend? Friends with benefits maybe… that is, really, really, good benefits.
Axel's thoughts were interrupted when he heard his bedroom door open and shut closed, his hungry stomach nearly jumping with joy.  
"Goddamnit Roxas! What took you so long? I nearly died of-" he stopped talking when he looked up to see the blond standing in front of him with a sympathetic look on his face and his tie undone.  
"C-can you help me tie my tie?" he asked, his cheeks turning red as the question left his lips.
Axel couldn't help but smile while lending the boy a hand. "This is why you were taking so long? You couldn't do your tie?" he said while fastening the knot in place.
"I'm sorry… I wanted to look nice for you… but I've never worn a tie before, I didn't know how to do it. I tried it myself but it was taking too long," he said quietly once Axel had stood up, placing his hands on the blonde's shoulder.
"Thank you… Axel," Roxas spoke, looking up at the much taller man with affection.
"Don't mention it man. Grab a coat, it's getting cold outside," Axel said nonchalantly while snatching a thick coat from the rack beside the door.
"We're walking?" Roxas asked, searching the room for his new grey sweater.
"It's just a few blocks, don't worry. I go there all the time, it's like a two minute walk from here."
"Uh, okay, I guess," Roxas said as his pulled the sweater over his head and then fixing the hair it had disarranged.
"Fabulous! Let's get a move on, I'm starving," said Axel and his marched out the door, not taking the pack of cigarettes on the counter next to him.


"I thought you said it'd only be a few blocks!" Roxas growled in anger and pain. His legs were sore from walking so far and he was out of breath from trying to keep up with the redhead.
"It is just a few blocks," Axel said coolly, continuing his stroll, not concerned about Roxas' state of physical health.
"Two minute walk my ass! We've been out here for at least ten minutes! Where the hell is this place, Long Island? And why do we have to eat here anyway! It's not like you made a reservation or anything. We passed like ten McDonalds on our way here and I'm sure a Big Mac could suffice my hunger by now. Hey! Are you even listening to me? You know, I'm still sore from-" Roxas stopped his complaining the second his boss looked over his shoulder, glaring at him.
"We're here." He said, raising his eyebrows as if to say, "Now that wasn't so bad, was it?"
The blonde looked up to see where they were to be dining this night. His eyes widened in surprise as he read the neon letters hung proudly above the entrance. "Rosaline's?! Rosaline's? Axel… do you have any idea how expensive this place is?"
"Yes," the redhead said smiling while a finely dressed doorman showed them inside.  
"No need to take me any place special… that is, unless you plan on proposing to me here," Roxas said sarcastically as he followed the elder indoors.
Inside, the air was a comfortable cool temperate and soft instrumental music glided across the blonde's eardrums. He could have only imaged a restaurant as nice as this in his dreams. He had heard about how outrageously luxurious and expensive it was, but never could conjure up an image like the one his eyes were witnessing right now.
He was surprised when Axel walked past the maître d' and straight into the dining area.
"Axel…" the blonde whispered harshly, "where are you going. You have to wait to be seated!"
The redhead ignored him, and waltzed right up to an already set table for two. Each plate had a "Reserved" card placed neatly on it, written in a fine script font.
Axel pulled out one of the cushioned seats and held his hand out, gesturing for Roxas to sit down in it.
Roxas stared blankly at Axel and the chair awaiting him. "… What the-"
"Sit in the chair Roxas," Axel commanded when he noticed the confused expression on the blonde's face.
"But-"
"Sit."
Without another protest or hesitation, Roxas seated himself in the open chair and placed the napkin in front of him on his lap. Content with the younger boy's actions, Axel walked to the other side of the table and sat himself down facing the blonde.
"Care to explain?" Roxas challenged.
"Explain what?" Axel said while placing his napkin on his own lap.
"Well, you didn't make a reservation, you walked straight past the maître d', and sat us down at a table reserved for someone else. Explain that please, would you Axel?"
"Oh, sorry," Axel said interlocking his hands and shaking his head with a smile, "you see-"
"Good evening Axel, how are you tonight?" a finely dressed waiter interrupted the man's explanation while pouring each diner a glass of ice water and placing a basket of warm bread between the two.
"Fine, thank you Sebastian," Axel nodded towards the waiter and grabbed a steaming roll from the intricately woven basket.
Sebastian nodded, placing two menus down on the table in front of him. "Enjoy your meal," he said, slightly tipping his head forward, and then walked away.
"… You were saying…?" Roxas said skeptically, slowly snatching a warm roll from the collection.
"Oh, right!" Axel said, with his mouth full of buttered goodness. After swallowing nearly half his roll in one gulp, he explained,"Yeah, I'm sort of a 'regular costumer' here."
"Regular costumer?" Roxas nibbled at his bread doubtfully. "And how can you afford to be a 'regular costumer' here? Daddy's money?"
"Not exactly," Axel said, starting on his second piece of bread.  After gorging down what was in his mouth he casually said, "my dad owns this place."
Roxas nearly spit out the lemony ice water he was sipping. "I'm sorry, what? You're father owns Rosaline's? One of, if not the, most notoriously expensive places in all of New York?"
Axel nodded. "Rosaline is my mother."
Roxas picked up his knife to butter his bread.  "Wait, I thought you said you didn't know what your farther did."
"Technically speaking, I don't. He's in business, I know and told you that. I suppose his position in his company is high up enough to be able to say he owns the entire chain," Axel said with his mouth half full while rolling his eyes, "and like, ten other restaurants."
"So… you like… never have to make a reservation?" Roxas asked in disbelief.
"Or pay!" Axel smiled widely, winking at his dining partner. "Actually, if you want to get specific, this table is actually mine. Reserved only for me and whoever I want to bring."
Roxas crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, "whomever you want to bring, eh? Did you take that blonde chick here?"
"Blonde chick?" Axel narrowed his eyebrows in confusion, taking the last roll in the basket.
Roxas rolled his eyes in annoyance. "That pretty blonde girl! The one in your apartment! Hello? Ring a bell? I asked you if she was your girlfriend. Although, now I can clearly see why you denied-"
"Oh! You mean the… oh," Axel winced, then playfully leaned forward, "No Roxy, I only take special people here."   
"Knock that off, there are people here," Roxas grumbled irritated.
"And?" He purred, reaching his hands forward until his hands lightly laid on top of the blondes'.
"Hey!," Roxas forcefully pulled away, turning his head so as not to make eye contact with Axel. "I don't want people getting the wrong idea."   
Axel dejectedly pulled his hands back in rejection. Just as he did so, Sebastian returned with a grin on his face. "Ready to order?"
Roxas glanced at his untouched menu. "Uh, I didn't even look at my-"
"We'll have two of my regular order please," Axel declared suavely, handing their waiter both his and Roxas' menus.
"But Axel, I didn't-"
"And I'll have a scotch on the rocks and two Cokes," he quickly added.
Sebastian smiled, trotting off once again with Roxas' only hope of receiving a meal he could actually enjoy.
Axel reclined back in his seat, taking a swing of his water. "So, any new movies you're interested in seeing? We don't have any plans for next Friday night, I was thinking we could go catch something. It's up to you though."
Roxas stared in shock and confusion at the redhead. "What the hell was that?"
"Was what?"
"That! You totally just ordered for me!"
"I thought I was being polite by saving you the trouble of looking through all those disreputable meals. God forbid you ordered something you didn't like Roxy."
"I think I'm old enough to order for myself, thank you," he uttered coldly while keeping a squinted glare at Axel, "and stop calling me that."
"Trust me, we have the same taste in food. I know you'll like it. You aren't allergic to anything are you?"
"Uh! You see, this is what really annoys me!"
"Annoys you about what?"
"You!. You never explain anything to me, you make big deals sound like nothing and you're either treating me like a child or your propriety!"
"Here you are sir, two Coke's and a scotch," Sebastian entered the scene, speaking while pouring the liquor halfway into glass filled with ice.
"Thank you Sebastian, my good man," Axel said, giving an informal salute to the waiter as his handed Roxas his Coke.
"Thanks," Roxas mumbled under his breath, still ticked off at the fact that he hadn't ordered his own beverage. Although, he was impressed that Axel was able to pick out the drink he would've asked for anyway.
As their waiter walked away, Axel began to pour his own Coke into the short glass already filled with scotch.
"Coke and scotch mixed together huh? I'll have to try that," Roxas said, taking a sip of his soda.
"Here, have a sip. If you like it, it proves we have the same taste," the readhead said, extending his hand holding the glass.  
"It does not," Roxas said, taking hold of the drink and taking a sip.
"You like it?" Axel said, raising an eyebrow.
"… Yeah… actually I do," Roxas said hesitantly. He didn't like proving his boss right, but at the same time would never lie to his friend's face.
"It's the only thing I'll drink at restaurants. Beer, and other stuff like that, is fine when you're just trying to get drunk. But when it's with a meal, I'll only have it this way," he said shrugging while taking a small sip.  
"Why is that? Why not drink an expensive wine? Or some tropical crap?"
Axel leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table and resting his chin under a fist. "Have you ever read a little book called, The Catcher in the Rye?"
Roxas swallowed his Coke, "by J.D. Salinger, of course I know it. I've read it tons of times."
"Well," Axel began, keeping his gaze locked on Roxas' blue eyes, "the first time I read it I was about twelve or thirteen years old. My father had given it to me because I guess he wanted me to read more, I don't know. Anyway, I specifically remember when I got to the part where Holden ordered 'scotch on the rocks and a Coke' so he could mix them together, I wondered what that tasted like. The first time I ever drank, it was a scotch on the rocks with Coke, and it'll probably be the last thing I ever drink."
"Ah, I see, you're a member of Holden's cult," Roxas said, smiling while placing his glass down.
"Holden's cult?"
Roxas grinned and shook his head. "It's nothing," he chuckled, "It's just that Charlotte always hated that book. She was convinced that every English teacher and teenager was obsessed with it and wanted to have Holden's babies or something. Any who, she 'd say those kinds of people were part of 'Holden's cult'."
Axel laughed. "Well then," he said, pouring more soda into his drink, "loan me a hooded robe and tell me the password. I'm a proud member."

Sebastian returned to the table once again, this time with two silver platters under silver covers.  The two boys were still hungry, even after being served two baskets of rolls and butter, and couldn't wait to dig in.
"Here you are, Axel," Sebastian said, carefully placing down the tray in front of Axel, then giving Roxas his meal in the same fashion. "Enjoy your meal," he said kindly before dispatching.
Roxas licked his lips hungrily in anticipation. What could be hidden under the circular dome concealing his dinner? Images of roasted chicken, steamed duck, and roast beef floated in his imagination dreamily.
Finally, the suspense had driven him mad, and in excitement, he lifted the cover, revealing his dinner.
The blonde looked down at plate on the table below him. A strange feeling combining both confusion and offense swirled within him.  On his plate was, what looked like, a neatly placed half-sandwich, cut triangularly, with cut apple slices and celery sticks next to it.
He looked across the table to see Axel had the same meal on his plate as well.
"A-Axel… what is this?" his asked dubiously, raising his eyebrow.
"Peanut butter and jelly," Axel said, already biting into his sandwich.
"This is a meal for a child," Roxas complained, picking up the unsatisfying 'dinner'.
"Exactly," Axel said with a clear mouth. "I told you. You and I share the same taste."
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean? You think I'm immature or something?" Roxas turned his nose away from his food in disgust.
"Not at all," Axel said, taking a sip of his scotch/Coke. "Listen Roxas. You and I were both deprived of a childhood. We try to fill that void with anger and violence, when really we're just longing for that blissful ignorance we never had. That is why I act so childish. After spending this past week with you, I've noticed we've had a lot in common, so I thought I'd order you my usual."
Roxas sat back in utter surprise. Axel always had a plan, a reason, and an excuse. That was the first thing he heard when he joined the redhead's gang. Something as stupid and childish as ordering a meal a kindergartener would find in a lunchbox, actually had symbolism and a point behind it. Once again, Axel had proven himself to be a vivid thinker… a childish, immature vivid thinker, but a vivid thinker nonetheless.
"Does drinking hard liquor with your crustless sandwich represent anything?" Roxas joked, crossing his arms in amusement.
"In a way, yes. It reminds me that I'm not a child. I'm an adult and was a child a very long time ago. I can't change that, so I might as well not fall victim into nostalgia," Axel answered seriously.
"So, why not order me alcohol?" Roxas asked.
"Hey. As the CEO's son, I can usually get whatever I want here. But sorry kiddo, can't exceed age limit laws."
Roxas sighed in amazement. Axel was definitely unusual, but in an innocent and likeable way.
"Are you going to eat your sandwich or not? It's creamy peanut butter and the crusts are cut off," Axel said with a reassuring smile, subconsciously reaching his hand across the table once more.
This time, when the elder's warm, narrow fingers caressed Roxas', he didn't seem to mind. Axel's hands felt warm and affectionate. Roxas didn't want to move a muscle. His entire body fell victim to Axel's warm touch and loving stokes. To think that the hands caressing his own, now tender and kind, had once clutched a bloody knife, and had impaled it into another human's torso violently. Hands that had once been wet and red with someone else blood were now holding fondly onto the blonde's with nothing but warmhearted intentions.
Neither cared if other diners saw them. Neither paid attention to their still growling stomachs. They were both trapped in each other's eyes, nothing was more important than the other in this moment. Not even the alluring smell of creamy peanut butter and grape jelly.


"So, what's for dessert? An oatmeal raisin cookie or a cup of chocolate pudding?" Roxas said after finishing the last apple slice on his plate.
"Actually, I was thinking of going somewhere else for dessert," Axel said, wiping jelly off the corner of his mouth with an embroidered cloth napkin.
"Really Axel, you don't have to. I mean, not that ordering sandwiches for the both of us was a big indent in your wallet or anything… but seriously, don't go through trouble for me."
"It isn't trouble at all! Besides, what if I want to go through trouble for you Roxy?" Axel crooned suggestively.
"Alrighty then,.. If you say so. Where do you plan on dragging me next?" Roxas questioned, not protesting to his, now probably permanent, pet name.
"It's on the way home. We'll stop there on the walk back," Axel said, stretching out of his seat.
"Oh yeah… the walk home. I totally forgot about that," Roxas groaned while standing himself up already feeling his muscles straining.
"It's only a few blocks," Axel smirked while grabbing his thickly lined coat and the two began their way out the door and into the chilly and brightly lit New York City.