Tim Fortune
Presents
Apartment Complex XIII
(Roxas' POV)
Here I am. Apartment Complex #13. The only place in the area that I could afford.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. The name's Roxas. Weird name, huh? Tell me about it. But let's not get into my past here, or what I can remember of it anyway. Something involving keys and stuff, I dunno.
I'm here moving into this rundown place in the rundown corner of town. Everybody needs a place to stay right? Well, I'm about to live at the cheapest place available. When I visited it, I didn't see any of the people who lived there. That was probably what should have sent up a "danger, danger, Roxas, danger!" But with a rent like that, I'd live in Hell itself.
While I didn't see the other 12 people who're supposed to live here, the man who owns the building, Mr. Ansem, said that they were probably the most dysfunctional group of people that any one could ever meet. Particularly the first six that he rented the rooms out to. He said that that was the reason he didn't live there. Everything was instead taken care of by one of those six.
So, here I stand outside of this decrepit building, my meager luggage in hand, just staring at it.
Picture this: two stories, in the shape of a square with a central courtyard, that for all the negative vibes I'm getting from this place, actually has a well kept pool. There's the main entrance, with 3 rooms on each story on each side, with the super's room and office on the far wall. Got the picture? Good. Add all that with your basic run down slightly above the poverty line place and bingo. Home sweet home.
It doesn't seem like anyone's there, at the moment, so I might as well move in. Deal with the introductions later.
(Axel's POV)
Ahh, my head's on fire. No pun intended. Jesus, can't a guy get 15 hours of sleep around here? It's bad enough that Xiggy keeps making noise below me with his drunken shouts. At least Marly's quiet, I can thank Jesus for that. Now there's some asshole walking around dragging shit all over the place.
Ok, maybe if I just lay here a while, the noise'll stop and I can keep sleeping until Dem gets here and we can meet up with Lux for band practice.
30 seconds later
Oh, what the fuck? Did Ol' Mansex decided to do some renovating? He probably mentioned it at some meeting. He knows I never go to those. But, if he in fact did mention something like that, then why the hell didn't Dem tell me? Looks like I'll have to scorch his furniture again. Heh, lucky thing he never tells Mansex or I'd be outta here.
And when you're pretty much leeching off the government attempting to make it as a rock star, you got very limited choices on where to go.
Alright, that fucking noise is driving me insane. Guess I better go check it out.
Wait a minute.
Pants?
Good. Not making that mistake again. And on the day that Ol' Sparky moved in no less. That's a day I'd rather like to forget.
Okay, I'm out the door.
Who the fuck is that going into the empty apartment next to Marly?
A burglar! Yes! All I need to do is beat his ass and Mansex will be so grateful that he's not getting robbed, that my rent will be lowered. Granted, I already pay the lowest rent in the building, but it can go lower!
I just need to grab my chakrams and…oh no.
He's coming out! Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!
Okay, this is it Axel. Are you a man or are you a pussy?
You know the answer to that.
He's coming this way, quick balls to the wall.
Closer, closer, closer.
Jump out!
"Whothefuckareyou?!" Yes! Surprise. Got him off guard. Now for the stealth kill.
"Well, who are you?"
Wait, he didn't flinch. What the hell is up with this kid?
(Roxas' POV)
Who the hell is this guy? I'm here trying to get my stuff moved in and all of a sudden some shirtless guy with bright red hair and flames on his pajama pants has jumped out at me.
Oh god.
He must be one of the other 12. Sweet Jesus.
"Didn't even flinch eh? Usually that works." He mused "Just be glad I didn't have my chakrams with me or your head would be lying 3 feet away from your body."
Okaaaayyyyy.
"So, what're you doing here? Don't rob me. Rob…Vexen. Yeah! Lower level, room 4. Room's filled with expensive scientific equipment. Guaranteed to fetch a bundle. Why, his computer got me…about 150,000 munny when I hocked it."
"That's…good to know." What else was I going to say? "Well, I'll just finish getting my things together."
"Alright" He smiled. Good sign or bad sign? I just can't tell with this guy. "Name's Axel. I'm over in Room 8."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Roxas."
"Roxas, huh? Well, I'm sure to be seeing you around."
And with that, he turned on his heel, went back into his room and closed the door.
Weird. Aside from a few, lets say, unsavory qualities, he doesn't seem like that bad of a guy. At least I have a potential ally here. Who knows what other weirdos could reside here?
(Axel's POV)
And so, crisis averted. Thanks to me, Axel. The Flurry of the Dancing Flames! Best nickname in the group. C'mon. Dem: Melodious Nocturne? What the hell does that mean? And Lux: The Gambler of Fate. Creepy. Creepy as fuck.
Ah, well. What time is it? 2:42, eh? Dem should be getting home in about 2 hours.
Time for a 2 hour power nap.
(Demyx's POV)
And it begins again. I jam my key into the door and I pray to God that Axel didn't break in again. I poke my head in the door and…
Ok, first glance; everything's exactly where it should be. Posters, not a scorch mark in sight. That's good. Those things get expensive if you have to buy them over and over again.
Geez, all I said was I didn't like that one melody he gave me. Suddenly, that translates to: Please let me break into your apartment and burn your things cuz I'm petty that way.
Whatever. Still a great guy.
Hmm, let's see. Axel should be crawling his way out of bed in about an hour. Time enough for a shower and then…
Oh. She's back.
My muse. My inspiration. My… oh who am I kidding? We've lived in the same building on the same level for the past 2 years and she hasn't said one word to me. Not one. And have I said anything to her? No.
Oh, god, she's walking past me. Ok, nonchalant, nonchalant, nonchalant. And she's past and inside her apartment. Better walk in mine too.
Scraps of paper spread around the room with half finished songs written on them. Most are about her.
God! I can pour all my feelings out in music, yet she walks by my door everyday and I can't bring myself to talk to her.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow's the day I finally pluck up enough courage to…
"Dem!
Dem! Get your mulleted ass out here!"
Axel. A little early today. Must've gotten some munny. That was damn fine beer he got us with the munny from Vexen's computer.
Didn't even have time to change. I poke my head out the door. And there he is, standing in his bright red shirt that practically makes you blind alongside his hair. Too much red to process.
"Yeah Axel?"
"You ready yet?"
"Lux isn't here! We've got time!"
"Just get over to my place!"
"Give a minute! I've got to change from work. Which is what some of us do to get munny."
"The government pays my checks, you know that."
"Yeah and I pay your rent."
"Gotta save money for the essentials."
"What, Cheetos and Fanta?"
"And lets not forget my sweet ass keyboards."
"You bought those with the munny you got for torching Lux's bar for the insurance munny for the 5th time!"
"First off, it was the 3rd time. The 5th time I bought my high def TV. Secondly, it doesn't matter. Just come on!"
"Let me change first!"
"Fine!"
And he was off down the hall. At least I can clear my head from all the red I just saw. I quickly throw on some jeans and a shirt and I'm gone.
Dashing down the hall, I quietly sneak past Xemnas' room. I don't know if he's there, but I don't want to take any chances.
At last I'm at Axel's room. I jiggle the door handle. It's locked.
"Son of a bitch" I mumble under my breath. He rushes me out the door and he's not even there. Gawd, why do I continue to put up with him? Because, when he's not an annoying idiot, he's actually a real cool guy? Yeah maybe that.
"Having homoerotic thoughts about me?"
I turn around and there's the Flurry himself standing right behind.
"If you were going to be standing behind me, why'd you rush me out the door?"
"2.6 minutes," he says looking at his watch "A new record."
I can't help myself but laugh. Ah, this guy.
(Axel's POV)
Ha ha! Got him again. I'm on fire!
"But seriously, someone has moved into the vacant room next to Marly and I'd like you to meet him."
"Alright."
We come right to room 13 and what do we hear? Drums.
Wait, what? Drums? Is our long search over?
"Dem, do you hear that? He's a drummer!"
"Axel, you've been into Marly's 'stash' again haven't you?"
"Not in the past 12 hours. Anyway, let's go in."
(Demyx's POV)
A normal person would have knocked. Axel is not by any definition a normal person.
(Axel's POV)
I kicked that fucker in!
(Roxas' POV)
Ok, what the hell? I'm sitting here playing my drums and all of a sudden my door falls flat to the floor and standing there is (what'd he say his was? Axel?) and some other guy.
"Boosh!" Axel said as he walked over my door "See Dem, drums!"
"Well, I'll be." Dem? replied as he walked in too.
"So was that reason you kicked my door in?"
"We could have easily knocked." Said Dem as he picked up my door and laid next to the hinges.
"Yeah, but my way was cooler!" exclaimed Axel as he sat on my bed.
"That may be true, but who's gonna fix my door? I really don't want to have to explain this to the super on my first night here."
"No problem." Dem said as he went out the door "I'm a expert at this. How many times have you kicked in my door Axel?"
"At least 25." Axel answered with a laugh. And he was out of sight.
"So, who's that?"
"That's Demyx. He lives over in Room 9. Great guy. Will do anything for you."
"That's great." I turned and looked directly at him "So why'd you break my door down?"
"I heard you drumming."
"And?"
"Well, believe it or not, me, Dem, and this other guy Lux are in a band, NoHeart."
"I've seen posters around the town and heard some buzz. Most of it was negative."
"That's cuz we didn't have a drummer. Seriously. The beats on my 'boards can only do so much."
"So, you're going to recruit me after barely knowing me for 3 hours and hearing about 15 seconds worth of playing?"
"Uh huh."
"Sounds great."
"Wonderful!"
Was it irrational? Sure it was. But, hey, no matter psychosis this guy may have, he seems friendly enough. And Demyx seemed like a great guy too.
Maybe I can get used to living here.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: My first KH fic. Pretty well done actually. It's set in an AU of my own design. Personalities are based on my own interpretation, but a special thanks to A.N.T. Productions for inspiring Axel's personality. To see what I mean, just search on Youtube for ANT Organization XIII dub. Guaranteed to make you laugh.
The Magnificent Tim Fortune