[story update + art]
Hoorah, chapter 5! This chapter also contains 3 pieces of art.
Title: Brotherhood: Chi Iota Iota (chapter 5)
Spoilers: for the Org, sort of.
Rating: R for now
Warnings: Language, alcohol and drug use, sex, violence, and slash.
Comments: Basically, the Roman numerals X and I also have Greek names as well as English names. Greek-wise, X is the symbol ‘chi’, and I is the symbol ‘iota’. Since I am translating this from Org. XIII, I found it appropriate to name the fraternity ‘Chi Iota Iota’, leaving it at XII for the obvious absence of Larxene (I was going to gender-switch her, but decided against it). Everything else will be explained in the story. (There is also a fanfic.net link if you are so inclined)
You will like this story if you like college AU, long stories, characters who remain IC, thought-out plot, and some good old fashioned fun with the Organization members.
You will not like this story if you despise AU fics, don't want to read about some of the nastier things that can happen inside a frat, and have a bad sense of humor >:D
Previous chapter can be found HERE.
Roxas woke with a start, sitting straight up in the cot with an overwhelming feeling that he had forgotten something very important. This anxiety was quickly squelshed by the sounds of soft snoring somewhere to his right, and he looked to the floor to find Demyx and Axel tangled in blankets and each other. Drunk people liked to snuggle, apparently.
“Wake up,” he hissed down at the pair, swinging a leg over the edge of the cot to kick at them.
“Five more minutes,” Demyx gurgled and shifted over, half-asphyxiating Axel in the process.
Roxas immediately rolled his eyes and rose from the cot, shuffling over to the nearest bathroom for what would surely be a wonderful morning piss. The bathrooms in the house were surprisingly clean considering they were shared amongst men. After relieving himself (he was right, it was wonderful), he washed his face and chanced a look in the cabinet mirror.
Axel withdrew his head from Demyx’s armpit upon being startled awake by a loud exclamation of ‘what the fuck.’ Roxas came stomping out of the bathroom, and he looked far from happy. When he got closer, Axel realized the reason why.
“It says ‘balls’ on your forehead, dude,” the redhead mumbled sleepily, cheeky smile and all.
Roxas paused in his huff to glare down at his friend. “I know that,” he snapped, narrowing his eyes. “It says ‘anus’ on yours. Which I find amusingly appropriate.”
“No shit?” Axel asked, rubbing his forehead as if it would help. He then looked down to Demyx. “Says ‘dick’ on his,” he said matter-of-factly.
“I don’t wanna play Monopoly,” Demyx offered, rolling away from Axel and onto his stomach.
“Did you two have fun last night?” Roxas leered, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“We did, thank you,” was the snide reply. “And you would have, too, if you had stayed downstairs. I can’t believe you’re still bitching about it.”
“I’m not bitching, and I’m glad I didn’t wind up on the floor with you faggots.”
“And would you look at that? You still wound up with balls on your face.”
Roxas’ jaw locked up, nostrils flaring with the purest form of anger humanly possible. He was still upset about not receiving a nickname from the fraternity; it had been something he was really looking forward to. On top of that, it seemed that Axel had been doing nothing but provoking him since the previous night, and the large exclamation of ‘balls’ seemingly engraved into his forehead with permanent marker was just a reminder that he was about to embark on an embarrassing and demeaning journey that signaled the beginning of his pledge-ship. Something he would have to do without a cool nickname like Axel or Demyx.
Still, as Axel glared up at him, he knew he was partially in the wrong for being mad at his friend. He was being childish about the nickname thing, he knew (something Tidus would have mocked him endlessly about), and to let it manifest in his mind to the point where he was lashing out… well, it was a bit ridiculous. So he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, attempting to shake himself out of the bad mood. Axel had been right, the name wasn’t important. It was the fact that he was pledging, he should be happy either way.
“Listen, I’m sorry,” Roxas said. “I’m not mad at you. I’m just, you know, with the name and whatever, and it’s just like… You know I wanted a name too.”
“I do.”
“Yeah, and that just made me get angry and stuff and I got mad at you because you were being all not sorry about it because you had a name, you know? But I wasn’t really mad at you, I was just mad.”
“Slow down, Rox. I’ve got a headache,” Axel said with a slight grimace.
“Oh. Well, I, uhm. I’m just sorry, that’s all.”
“Yeah, okay. Help me up?” Axel extended his hand and Roxas gave it a tug, heaving the redhead from the floor and away from Demyx’s still-slumbering form. He was swaying a little at first, and held on to Roxas’ shoulders for support. “Oh. I might be throwing up today,” he added casually.
“How much did you drink?” Roxas asked, face screwing up.
“Me and Dem had a little contest and I think he won. So a lot?”
“That’s not good…”
“No, it isn’t,” Saix interrupted from behind the pledges. Roxas and Axel turned to look at him, the taller paling a bit. “Considering you’re supposed to spend a good part of the day with me, blowing chunks would be a bad idea, Anus.”
Axel swallowed hard, willing the bile in his esophagus back where it belonged. Maybe just a little vomiting would make him feel better, but he would have to wait until Saix left the area. He held a little harder onto Roxas’ shoulder as if it would help him keep his stomach in place for just a while longer.
“We have to run errands for the party, and I expect you downstairs in twenty minutes,” Saix continued, obviously taking slight amusement in Axel’s face. “You should get yourself ready too, Balls. I expect Vexen will be looking for you soon. And wake up… what did we write on him?”
“Dick?” Axel offered.
“Yes. Wake up Dick, and get yourselves in order,” the Brother sneered before turning on his heel and walking down the stairs.
Axel cocked his head to the side, watching Saix disappear. When he thought it was safe, he exhaled and let go of Roxas, walking towards the bathroom with all the pride he had left. Which wasn’t all that much.
“I’m gonna puke and shower, do you need anything from the bathroom?” the redhead asked casually, one hand resting on the knob.
“I’m okay,” Roxas answered, pulling a face. Axel closed the door, and the blond walked over to where Demyx was still sleeping. “Wake up, would you?” he said, shaking the other with his foot. Awful gagging noises could be heard from the bathroom.
“Hmm?” Demyx said dreamily, cracking his eyes open.
“You need to wake up. Zexion will probably be looking for you soon, so you might want to be wearing something other than the clothes you wore last night.”
A pause. Demyx stretched and groaned, scratching his stomach idly as he rose fully into consciousness. After a yawn, he looked back up to Roxas and blinked.
“It says ‘balls’ on your forehead.”
“Sorry,” Axel said to the hundredth person he nearly knocked into. The woman looked up at his forehead, made a strange face, and quickly walked away. He sighed, shifting the contents in his arms slightly. “Saix? Can’t we just get a cart?” he called pathetically.
“Where’s the fun in that, Anus?” the Big Brother said over his shoulder as he led them down another aisle of the supermarket.
Axel groaned, his arms starting to break from all the cups, napkins, and mixers he was holding. They were piled up high, and he could barely see around them to be able to tell where he was going. On top of that, he still felt weak and slightly queasy from the previous night, and Saix was being completely unsympathetic, the ass.
As soon as they had paid for the groceries, Axel threw up in the parking lot if only to spite him.
“Vexen? Where are we?” Roxas asked, peering out the passenger window with morbid curiosity. Even though it was still early in the afternoon, this particular area of wherever-the-fuck-they-were was unnaturally dark. It may have been due to the large forests bordering both sides of the road, or it may have just been plain creepy.
“Never you mind,” Vexen answered, tapping the wheel lightly with his thumbs. Xaldin had agreed to let them borrow his truck, seeing as it had plenty of cargo space, and could therefore fit all the kegs they needed. As the couple ventured further from campus and deeper into the rural surrounding area, Roxas grew suspicious.
They turned onto a small dirt road, the truck humming happily along as they got closer to their destination. Finally, they pulled up to an old house buried deep within the forest. Vexen turned the car off and got out, motioning for Roxas to follow him. The blonde hesitated, then left the vehicle and followed Vexen up the rickety steps to ring the front doorbell.
“WHO THE FUCK’S THERE?” was bellowed from inside. Fumbling could be heard, as well as the cocking of a gun. Roxas stepped back nervously, but Vexen didn’t budge.
“It’s me, Cid. Open up, would you?” The taller said politely.
The front door swung open, revealing a blond man who had to be in his thirties. He looked mad, and a cigarette was blazing in his mouth as he peered at the intruders through narrowed eyes. He looked to Roxas first, then up at Vexen. His gaze softened slightly.
“Is this your new pledge, Vexen?” Cid said gruffly, eyes flecking back to Roxas.
“Yes, it is. Introduce yourself,” the Brother said down to Roxas.
“H-hi. My name is Balls,” Roxas said, extending his hand.
Cid looked down at him, then over to Vexen then back down at Roxas. Suddenly, he let out a loud bark of a laugh, grabbed Roxas’ hand, and shook it happily.
“Nice to meet ya, Balls!” he said, grinning. “You two can meet me over at the garage, I’ll give you your kegs. But first, pay up.”
Vexen placed a roll of cash into Cid’s waiting palm, and also handed him a plastic bag with some containers of liquid in them. They were chemicals; Roxas knew because he had covertly helped Vexen prepare them in the chemistry building earlier. Cid smiled and took his payment greedily before disappearing into his house. Vexen led Roxas around to the garage.
“What does he need those chemicals for?” Roxas asked as they walked around to the other side of the house.
“What do you think?” Vexen answered. Roxas stayed silent and Vexen sighed. “He makes drugs with them, Roxas. Oops, I mean, Balls. Heh, sorry,” he said and cleared his throat. “Meth, actually. Not that I condone his behavior at all, but he sells me the kegs for a large discount.”
Roxas decidedly remained silent as they loaded the kegs onto the back of the truck.
“It’s…. it’s beautiful,” Demyx said in awe.
“It’s broken.”
“I want to have sex with it.”
“…That’s repulsive,” Zexion murmured, placing his hand protectively over his vintage turntables. He had inherited them from a cousin, and they had worked wonderfully until a fateful day the previous spring. “I want you to fix it, not molest it.”
“I’ll see what I can do, but no promises,” Demyx said cheekily, wagging a finger at his Big Brother.
“You touch it inappropriately, and I swear I’ll kill you.”
“I won’t, I won’t,” the pledge chuckled, taking a screwdriver from the toolbox and beginning to disassemble the machine. “Do you take care of the music at all the parties?”
“Usually, since I got here,” Zexion said absently, sitting on the floor to begin leafing through his massive collection of CDs, picking out the ones he was planning to use at the party.
“That sucks, then you can’t have any fun,” Demyx responded, removing the lime-green plastic shell.
“Music is fun.”
“You know what I mean.”
Zexion looked up from the floor, staring at Demyx’s form as he hummed and took the turntables apart. He frowned slightly. “Dick,” he murmured for good measure, eliciting a light chuckle from the blond.
The next day found the pledges out in the summer heat, hanging up and passing out flyers all over the expansive campus. Axel had even resorted to taking off his shirt, tying it around his head like a makeshift wrap. The trio often found it difficult to hand out flyers with the offensive anatomy still written on their faces, faded as it was, and eventually Roxas and Demyx followed Axel’s example in order to hide their foreheads and make life easier.
Perhaps it made things too easy, as they found themselves often dragged into conversation by a girl or two who appreciated their half-naked state. In any other situation, the boys probably would have found the whole thing flattering and a boost to their ego, but at that point in time, they simply wanted to finish their task and get the hell inside. After many see-you-at-the-party’s, hundreds of staples, and a few rolls of tape, every flyer they had been given was gone, and they retreated to the frat house.
“Water!” Demyx promptly exclaimed as they dragged themselves over the threshold. He led the trio straight to the kitchen, and grabbed the nearest available beverage. It was a beer, and it was gone in roughly 23 seconds. Axel pressed his half naked body against the cool tile of the floor, and Roxas stuck his face into the freezer. Groans of pleasure (and a belch from Demyx) filled the kitchen as Xemnas entered, smirk intact.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” he said idly, pushing Roxas out of the way and opening the fridge to find himself a soda. “You’re going to be fitted for your uniforms soon.”
“Uniforms?” Axel mumbled into the floor.
“Yes, for the party,” the president continued evenly, the hint of amusement masked as he took a swig from the pop. The pledges looked at each other knowingly, worst-case scenarios running through their heads.
“I really don’t have time for this you ass,” Larxene hissed as she stomped into the kitchen, Marluxia in tow. He was holding what seemed to be armfuls of fabrics, with a sewing kit balanced precariously on top. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared at the three shirtless boys before her. “Them?” she said to Xemnas, all disgust and loathing in her sneer.
“Yes, them,” Marluxia interrupted, dumping the materials on the kitchen table. “And if this is really such a big deal, you can just let me do it.”
Larxene laughed to herself, approaching the pile on the table and pulling out a tape measurer. Demyx was closest to her and she motioned for him to stand up, which he did partly out of fear. She yanked him closer to her by the waistband of his pants, and wrapped the tape around his hips hastily.
“Next,” she demanded, and Roxas approached her. “You guys smell,” she murmured while measuring Roxas’ waist.
“Yeah, well that’s what happens when you’ve been outside all day,” Roxas said, doing his best not to pay attention to her hands on his bare abdomen.
After measuring Axel as well, she rummaged through the pile and pulled out three pairs of black slacks. She quickly checked the sizes, and tossed a pair to each pledge. “These will have to do,” she said, crossing her arms. The boys looked down to them and to each other, seemingly frozen where they stood. “Well, put them on! I don’t have all day!” Larxene barked, prompting the three into action: they immediately dropped trouser and slipped into the pants they had been given.
“Too big,” Axel said, pulling on the waistband of his slacks. They were certainly long enough, but were a few inches too big around his middle.
“Have you heard of a belt?” Larxene snapped as she kneeled by Roxas’ feet. She had pins in her mouth and was adjusting the length of the pantlegs. “Mar, give them the white shirts, would you? And have them try the vests, they may need to switch a few times to get the best fit. I don’t want to take them in too much… And would you stop moving, blondie? I’m not trying to stick you with these but if you don’t stand still I will drive them through your toes and into the floor until you do, okay?”
“Yes ma’am,” Roxas said, terrified. He accepted a shirt and vest from a chuckling Marluxia, hastily tossing his sweat-soaked t-shirt aside and pulling the crisp new clothes on. It was a white long-sleeved dress shirt with a black vest on top. He looked over to Demyx and Axel, who were trading vests and looked a bit absurd at the moment.
“There,” Larxene said, stepping away from Roxas. “That should do it. Mind the pins when you take it on and off, okay? I don’t want blood on these.”
“I look ridiculous,” Axel said mournfully as he stared at himself in the mirror. There were so many pins keeping his vest looking proper on his skinny frame, he had nearly been afraid to put it back on.
“We all do,” Demyx offered. “And your tie is crooked, here.”
“Thanks.”
“I can’t believe we have to walk around all night in these,” Roxas sulked. “Everyone is going to be dressed normally, and here us three are like a walking freak show.”
“It could have been worse. I’d rather be dressed like a waiter than… I don’t know, a clown or something,” Demyx said.
“A clown? Where do you get this shit?” Roxas said with a smirk.
Demyx shrugged and pulled down on the sleeves of his shirt. He actually looked relatively decent in the outfit and he knew it, yet he was refraining from making any comments on the matter apart from sympathizing with his comrades. Not that it mattered, really. They were being put in these outfits so they’d stick out as the pledges at the party. Their first big event and they probably weren’t going to have any fun. In fact, chances were they were going to hate it.
“Okay, kiddos. I have your assignments,” Xigbar said, poking his head into the bathroom where the three pledges currently stood. His eye-patch had a heart on it. “You three look dashing, might I add. Anyway, Axel will be collecting fee at the front door. Demyx will be behind the bar… don’t smile like that, you have to stay relatively sober. And Roxas, you’re gonna thank me for this one; you’re on girl duty.”
“What’s that?”
“Ehhh, basically you mill about the party and make sure nothing fishy is going on, you understand? It’s an easy job. If you see a girl who may have had too much or something, maybe a sleezebag trying to take her home, just get in the way, you know?” Xigbar explained.
“No fair!” Axel said, mouth hung open in outrage.
“Obviously I’m the most intimidating,” Roxas said, flexing.
“Okay, shrimp.”
“I’ll kick your ass!” Roxas leered back, punching Axel playfully in the stomach.
“Ah, pins!” the redhead yelped, pushing Roxas away.
The party began as one would expect a normal party to begin. People trickled in slowly at first, mostly in groups of two or three. Axel collected ten dollars from every person who entered, taking his job quite seriously.
“Please? Ten dollars for me and my friend? We don’t have any more money,” a pretty blonde thing asked him sweetly, clutching her well-dressed friend and pouting.
“Go find some guy to pay for you. Liquor ain’t cheap, you know,” the redhead snapped, sending the girls away.
Demyx minded the bar dutifully as well, only sneaking a few sips here and there. While he had to put up with the demands of drunken party-goers most of the night, the bar was stationed next to the music table. Rather, Zexion had set himself up next to the bar so he could talk to his pledge.
“They work perfectly,” he said happily early on in the night, referring to his newly-fixed turntables. “I don’t know what you did, but it works. Almost better than when I first got it.”
“Some of the wiring was worn down, that’s all,” Demyx answered in the middle of distributing tequila shots. “On something as old as that, I’m surprised all the original parts worked for so long… Hey, be careful with that! If you spill it, I’m not pouring you another, got it?” A drunken young woman nodded giddily and took off.
“Whoa, someone’s mad,” Zexion said through a light chuckle.
“I’m not mad, I’m just tired of playing bartender. I wanna have some fun!”
“You’re a pledge, this is how it goes.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Demyx muttered, but smiled at Zexion before ducking down to retrieve more liquor.
As for Roxas, he found himself on top of the world. It seemed that by receiving what he thought to be an important and kick-ass job, his mood elevated enough for him to enjoy himself as he mingled amongst drunken strangers. Being sober at the party was relatively grounding, too; it made everything seem manageable, as opposed to the often overwhelming sensations when one was wasted and surrounded by strangers and loud music. He would never be the sort to move about the crowd in such a way when back home, but he had a new sense of confidence as a pledge of the fraternity. Despite the large amount of people crammed into the frat house, and the large amounts of liquor that had been consumed, the night was mostly quiet on Roxas’ front. That was, until he spotted a girl trying to wander upstairs, an area that was strictly off limits.
“Hey!” he called out, pushing his way through the crowd and towards the blonde girl. She didn’t seem to hear him, and continued to walk tentatively up the stairs. She didn’t stop until Roxas grabbed her arm, causing her to nearly drop the beer she was holding.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, turning around with slight fear in her eyes. She looked young, and was dressed very simply.
“You’re not allowed up there,” Roxas said in his sternest voice.
“Oh, I-I’m sorry,” the girl started. She seemed a bit tipsy. “I didn’t know. I was separated from my friend and I was hoping she was up here, I can’t find her anywhere else.”
Roxas studied her features, her round face and wide blue-violet eyes. She looked a bit frightened, and her arm was limp in his hands. She was very pretty, he noted.
“Are you even eighteen?” he asked, a hint of playfulness in his voice.
“Hey, I will be next month,” she replied, a slight smile creeping onto her face as she tucked some stray hair behind her ear.
“Well, then I can’t let you keep that,” he said with a wink, plucking the beer from her hand and taking a swig. “Come on, you can hang out with me until you find your friend.”
“Thanks,” the girl said with what could have been a sigh of relief. “I’m Naminé, by the way.”
“Roxas. Who’s your friend? Maybe I met her already.”
“Uhm, her name is Larxene.”
“…You’re joking,” Roxas exclaimed.
“You know her?” Naminé asked hopefully.
“Yes. And I’m afraid of her.”
“Me too. Oh, but please don’t tell her that! She’s my Big Sister for the sorority I’m pledging and I may be in a lot of trouble if… she’s really quite nice, you know.”
Roxas snorted and led the pair through the stifling crowd and towards the last place Roxas had seen Marluxia. When it came to those two, often times your best bet was where you found one, you found the other. Sure enough, Marluxia’s ‘drunk voice’ (which was just a very loud version of his normal voice) could be heard nearby, and Roxas and Naminé soon found themselves face to face with their drunken comrades.
“Larxene!” Naminé cheered, flocking to her side.
“Man you’re clingy,” the elder blonde remarked, smirking slightly into her drink.
“I’m so glad I don’t have to be a Big Brother this year,” Marluxia chortled. He looked to the side and saw Roxas giving him a fake-hurt look. “Oh, I didn’t mean it like that,” he said, extending the ‘a’.
As the night died down and the music became a little more like what Zexion liked, and less what the general population liked, people began leaving. It was late, after all (3 am wasn’t that late, to some. But to the drunk, passing out steadily grew into a favorable option) and the members of Chi Iota Iota were relieved to eventually find their home nearly empty save a few passed out students here and there.
“Get up,” Saix snarled down at a young man who had passed out on a sofa. “Or if not, I have no problem throwing you out.”
“I’m tired,” Demyx announced on the other side of the room, stretching out and unbuttoning his vest.
“Don’t even think about sleep,” Zexion murmured, stifling a yawn himself. “Pledges clean up, tradition.”
“Can’t we clean up tomorrow?” Axel groaned from the table where he was counting money.
“Nope. Get to it,” Vexen cut in, shooing Axel away from the cash so he could count it himself.
“It was pretty good up until now,” Roxas offered, handing Axel a trash bag.
“Yeah,” Axel said with a smile. “It really was.”
Next Chapter
Title: Brotherhood: Chi Iota Iota (chapter 5)
Spoilers: for the Org, sort of.
Rating: R for now
Warnings: Language, alcohol and drug use, sex, violence, and slash.
Comments: Basically, the Roman numerals X and I also have Greek names as well as English names. Greek-wise, X is the symbol ‘chi’, and I is the symbol ‘iota’. Since I am translating this from Org. XIII, I found it appropriate to name the fraternity ‘Chi Iota Iota’, leaving it at XII for the obvious absence of Larxene (I was going to gender-switch her, but decided against it). Everything else will be explained in the story. (There is also a fanfic.net link if you are so inclined)
You will like this story if you like college AU, long stories, characters who remain IC, thought-out plot, and some good old fashioned fun with the Organization members.
You will not like this story if you despise AU fics, don't want to read about some of the nastier things that can happen inside a frat, and have a bad sense of humor >:D
Previous chapter can be found HERE.
Roxas woke with a start, sitting straight up in the cot with an overwhelming feeling that he had forgotten something very important. This anxiety was quickly squelshed by the sounds of soft snoring somewhere to his right, and he looked to the floor to find Demyx and Axel tangled in blankets and each other. Drunk people liked to snuggle, apparently.
“Wake up,” he hissed down at the pair, swinging a leg over the edge of the cot to kick at them.
“Five more minutes,” Demyx gurgled and shifted over, half-asphyxiating Axel in the process.
Roxas immediately rolled his eyes and rose from the cot, shuffling over to the nearest bathroom for what would surely be a wonderful morning piss. The bathrooms in the house were surprisingly clean considering they were shared amongst men. After relieving himself (he was right, it was wonderful), he washed his face and chanced a look in the cabinet mirror.
Axel withdrew his head from Demyx’s armpit upon being startled awake by a loud exclamation of ‘what the fuck.’ Roxas came stomping out of the bathroom, and he looked far from happy. When he got closer, Axel realized the reason why.
“It says ‘balls’ on your forehead, dude,” the redhead mumbled sleepily, cheeky smile and all.
Roxas paused in his huff to glare down at his friend. “I know that,” he snapped, narrowing his eyes. “It says ‘anus’ on yours. Which I find amusingly appropriate.”
“No shit?” Axel asked, rubbing his forehead as if it would help. He then looked down to Demyx. “Says ‘dick’ on his,” he said matter-of-factly.
“I don’t wanna play Monopoly,” Demyx offered, rolling away from Axel and onto his stomach.
“Did you two have fun last night?” Roxas leered, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“We did, thank you,” was the snide reply. “And you would have, too, if you had stayed downstairs. I can’t believe you’re still bitching about it.”
“I’m not bitching, and I’m glad I didn’t wind up on the floor with you faggots.”
“And would you look at that? You still wound up with balls on your face.”
Roxas’ jaw locked up, nostrils flaring with the purest form of anger humanly possible. He was still upset about not receiving a nickname from the fraternity; it had been something he was really looking forward to. On top of that, it seemed that Axel had been doing nothing but provoking him since the previous night, and the large exclamation of ‘balls’ seemingly engraved into his forehead with permanent marker was just a reminder that he was about to embark on an embarrassing and demeaning journey that signaled the beginning of his pledge-ship. Something he would have to do without a cool nickname like Axel or Demyx.
Still, as Axel glared up at him, he knew he was partially in the wrong for being mad at his friend. He was being childish about the nickname thing, he knew (something Tidus would have mocked him endlessly about), and to let it manifest in his mind to the point where he was lashing out… well, it was a bit ridiculous. So he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, attempting to shake himself out of the bad mood. Axel had been right, the name wasn’t important. It was the fact that he was pledging, he should be happy either way.
“Listen, I’m sorry,” Roxas said. “I’m not mad at you. I’m just, you know, with the name and whatever, and it’s just like… You know I wanted a name too.”
“I do.”
“Yeah, and that just made me get angry and stuff and I got mad at you because you were being all not sorry about it because you had a name, you know? But I wasn’t really mad at you, I was just mad.”
“Slow down, Rox. I’ve got a headache,” Axel said with a slight grimace.
“Oh. Well, I, uhm. I’m just sorry, that’s all.”
“Yeah, okay. Help me up?” Axel extended his hand and Roxas gave it a tug, heaving the redhead from the floor and away from Demyx’s still-slumbering form. He was swaying a little at first, and held on to Roxas’ shoulders for support. “Oh. I might be throwing up today,” he added casually.
“How much did you drink?” Roxas asked, face screwing up.
“Me and Dem had a little contest and I think he won. So a lot?”
“That’s not good…”
“No, it isn’t,” Saix interrupted from behind the pledges. Roxas and Axel turned to look at him, the taller paling a bit. “Considering you’re supposed to spend a good part of the day with me, blowing chunks would be a bad idea, Anus.”
Axel swallowed hard, willing the bile in his esophagus back where it belonged. Maybe just a little vomiting would make him feel better, but he would have to wait until Saix left the area. He held a little harder onto Roxas’ shoulder as if it would help him keep his stomach in place for just a while longer.
“We have to run errands for the party, and I expect you downstairs in twenty minutes,” Saix continued, obviously taking slight amusement in Axel’s face. “You should get yourself ready too, Balls. I expect Vexen will be looking for you soon. And wake up… what did we write on him?”
“Dick?” Axel offered.
“Yes. Wake up Dick, and get yourselves in order,” the Brother sneered before turning on his heel and walking down the stairs.
Axel cocked his head to the side, watching Saix disappear. When he thought it was safe, he exhaled and let go of Roxas, walking towards the bathroom with all the pride he had left. Which wasn’t all that much.
“I’m gonna puke and shower, do you need anything from the bathroom?” the redhead asked casually, one hand resting on the knob.
“I’m okay,” Roxas answered, pulling a face. Axel closed the door, and the blond walked over to where Demyx was still sleeping. “Wake up, would you?” he said, shaking the other with his foot. Awful gagging noises could be heard from the bathroom.
“Hmm?” Demyx said dreamily, cracking his eyes open.
“You need to wake up. Zexion will probably be looking for you soon, so you might want to be wearing something other than the clothes you wore last night.”
A pause. Demyx stretched and groaned, scratching his stomach idly as he rose fully into consciousness. After a yawn, he looked back up to Roxas and blinked.
“It says ‘balls’ on your forehead.”
“Sorry,” Axel said to the hundredth person he nearly knocked into. The woman looked up at his forehead, made a strange face, and quickly walked away. He sighed, shifting the contents in his arms slightly. “Saix? Can’t we just get a cart?” he called pathetically.
“Where’s the fun in that, Anus?” the Big Brother said over his shoulder as he led them down another aisle of the supermarket.
Axel groaned, his arms starting to break from all the cups, napkins, and mixers he was holding. They were piled up high, and he could barely see around them to be able to tell where he was going. On top of that, he still felt weak and slightly queasy from the previous night, and Saix was being completely unsympathetic, the ass.
As soon as they had paid for the groceries, Axel threw up in the parking lot if only to spite him.
“Vexen? Where are we?” Roxas asked, peering out the passenger window with morbid curiosity. Even though it was still early in the afternoon, this particular area of wherever-the-fuck-they-were was unnaturally dark. It may have been due to the large forests bordering both sides of the road, or it may have just been plain creepy.
“Never you mind,” Vexen answered, tapping the wheel lightly with his thumbs. Xaldin had agreed to let them borrow his truck, seeing as it had plenty of cargo space, and could therefore fit all the kegs they needed. As the couple ventured further from campus and deeper into the rural surrounding area, Roxas grew suspicious.
They turned onto a small dirt road, the truck humming happily along as they got closer to their destination. Finally, they pulled up to an old house buried deep within the forest. Vexen turned the car off and got out, motioning for Roxas to follow him. The blonde hesitated, then left the vehicle and followed Vexen up the rickety steps to ring the front doorbell.
“WHO THE FUCK’S THERE?” was bellowed from inside. Fumbling could be heard, as well as the cocking of a gun. Roxas stepped back nervously, but Vexen didn’t budge.
“It’s me, Cid. Open up, would you?” The taller said politely.
The front door swung open, revealing a blond man who had to be in his thirties. He looked mad, and a cigarette was blazing in his mouth as he peered at the intruders through narrowed eyes. He looked to Roxas first, then up at Vexen. His gaze softened slightly.
“Is this your new pledge, Vexen?” Cid said gruffly, eyes flecking back to Roxas.“Yes, it is. Introduce yourself,” the Brother said down to Roxas.
“H-hi. My name is Balls,” Roxas said, extending his hand.
Cid looked down at him, then over to Vexen then back down at Roxas. Suddenly, he let out a loud bark of a laugh, grabbed Roxas’ hand, and shook it happily.
“Nice to meet ya, Balls!” he said, grinning. “You two can meet me over at the garage, I’ll give you your kegs. But first, pay up.”
Vexen placed a roll of cash into Cid’s waiting palm, and also handed him a plastic bag with some containers of liquid in them. They were chemicals; Roxas knew because he had covertly helped Vexen prepare them in the chemistry building earlier. Cid smiled and took his payment greedily before disappearing into his house. Vexen led Roxas around to the garage.
“What does he need those chemicals for?” Roxas asked as they walked around to the other side of the house.
“What do you think?” Vexen answered. Roxas stayed silent and Vexen sighed. “He makes drugs with them, Roxas. Oops, I mean, Balls. Heh, sorry,” he said and cleared his throat. “Meth, actually. Not that I condone his behavior at all, but he sells me the kegs for a large discount.”
Roxas decidedly remained silent as they loaded the kegs onto the back of the truck.
“It’s…. it’s beautiful,” Demyx said in awe.
“It’s broken.”
“I want to have sex with it.”
“…That’s repulsive,” Zexion murmured, placing his hand protectively over his vintage turntables. He had inherited them from a cousin, and they had worked wonderfully until a fateful day the previous spring. “I want you to fix it, not molest it.”
“I’ll see what I can do, but no promises,” Demyx said cheekily, wagging a finger at his Big Brother.
“You touch it inappropriately, and I swear I’ll kill you.”
“I won’t, I won’t,” the pledge chuckled, taking a screwdriver from the toolbox and beginning to disassemble the machine. “Do you take care of the music at all the parties?”
“Usually, since I got here,” Zexion said absently, sitting on the floor to begin leafing through his massive collection of CDs, picking out the ones he was planning to use at the party.
“That sucks, then you can’t have any fun,” Demyx responded, removing the lime-green plastic shell.
“Music is fun.”
“You know what I mean.”
Zexion looked up from the floor, staring at Demyx’s form as he hummed and took the turntables apart. He frowned slightly. “Dick,” he murmured for good measure, eliciting a light chuckle from the blond.
The next day found the pledges out in the summer heat, hanging up and passing out flyers all over the expansive campus. Axel had even resorted to taking off his shirt, tying it around his head like a makeshift wrap. The trio often found it difficult to hand out flyers with the offensive anatomy still written on their faces, faded as it was, and eventually Roxas and Demyx followed Axel’s example in order to hide their foreheads and make life easier.
Perhaps it made things too easy, as they found themselves often dragged into conversation by a girl or two who appreciated their half-naked state. In any other situation, the boys probably would have found the whole thing flattering and a boost to their ego, but at that point in time, they simply wanted to finish their task and get the hell inside. After many see-you-at-the-party’s, hundreds of staples, and a few rolls of tape, every flyer they had been given was gone, and they retreated to the frat house.
“Water!” Demyx promptly exclaimed as they dragged themselves over the threshold. He led the trio straight to the kitchen, and grabbed the nearest available beverage. It was a beer, and it was gone in roughly 23 seconds. Axel pressed his half naked body against the cool tile of the floor, and Roxas stuck his face into the freezer. Groans of pleasure (and a belch from Demyx) filled the kitchen as Xemnas entered, smirk intact.“Don’t get too comfortable,” he said idly, pushing Roxas out of the way and opening the fridge to find himself a soda. “You’re going to be fitted for your uniforms soon.”
“Uniforms?” Axel mumbled into the floor.
“Yes, for the party,” the president continued evenly, the hint of amusement masked as he took a swig from the pop. The pledges looked at each other knowingly, worst-case scenarios running through their heads.
“I really don’t have time for this you ass,” Larxene hissed as she stomped into the kitchen, Marluxia in tow. He was holding what seemed to be armfuls of fabrics, with a sewing kit balanced precariously on top. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared at the three shirtless boys before her. “Them?” she said to Xemnas, all disgust and loathing in her sneer.
“Yes, them,” Marluxia interrupted, dumping the materials on the kitchen table. “And if this is really such a big deal, you can just let me do it.”
Larxene laughed to herself, approaching the pile on the table and pulling out a tape measurer. Demyx was closest to her and she motioned for him to stand up, which he did partly out of fear. She yanked him closer to her by the waistband of his pants, and wrapped the tape around his hips hastily.
“Next,” she demanded, and Roxas approached her. “You guys smell,” she murmured while measuring Roxas’ waist.
“Yeah, well that’s what happens when you’ve been outside all day,” Roxas said, doing his best not to pay attention to her hands on his bare abdomen.
After measuring Axel as well, she rummaged through the pile and pulled out three pairs of black slacks. She quickly checked the sizes, and tossed a pair to each pledge. “These will have to do,” she said, crossing her arms. The boys looked down to them and to each other, seemingly frozen where they stood. “Well, put them on! I don’t have all day!” Larxene barked, prompting the three into action: they immediately dropped trouser and slipped into the pants they had been given.
“Too big,” Axel said, pulling on the waistband of his slacks. They were certainly long enough, but were a few inches too big around his middle.
“Have you heard of a belt?” Larxene snapped as she kneeled by Roxas’ feet. She had pins in her mouth and was adjusting the length of the pantlegs. “Mar, give them the white shirts, would you? And have them try the vests, they may need to switch a few times to get the best fit. I don’t want to take them in too much… And would you stop moving, blondie? I’m not trying to stick you with these but if you don’t stand still I will drive them through your toes and into the floor until you do, okay?”“Yes ma’am,” Roxas said, terrified. He accepted a shirt and vest from a chuckling Marluxia, hastily tossing his sweat-soaked t-shirt aside and pulling the crisp new clothes on. It was a white long-sleeved dress shirt with a black vest on top. He looked over to Demyx and Axel, who were trading vests and looked a bit absurd at the moment.
“There,” Larxene said, stepping away from Roxas. “That should do it. Mind the pins when you take it on and off, okay? I don’t want blood on these.”
“I look ridiculous,” Axel said mournfully as he stared at himself in the mirror. There were so many pins keeping his vest looking proper on his skinny frame, he had nearly been afraid to put it back on.
“We all do,” Demyx offered. “And your tie is crooked, here.”
“Thanks.”
“I can’t believe we have to walk around all night in these,” Roxas sulked. “Everyone is going to be dressed normally, and here us three are like a walking freak show.”
“It could have been worse. I’d rather be dressed like a waiter than… I don’t know, a clown or something,” Demyx said.
“A clown? Where do you get this shit?” Roxas said with a smirk.
Demyx shrugged and pulled down on the sleeves of his shirt. He actually looked relatively decent in the outfit and he knew it, yet he was refraining from making any comments on the matter apart from sympathizing with his comrades. Not that it mattered, really. They were being put in these outfits so they’d stick out as the pledges at the party. Their first big event and they probably weren’t going to have any fun. In fact, chances were they were going to hate it.
“Okay, kiddos. I have your assignments,” Xigbar said, poking his head into the bathroom where the three pledges currently stood. His eye-patch had a heart on it. “You three look dashing, might I add. Anyway, Axel will be collecting fee at the front door. Demyx will be behind the bar… don’t smile like that, you have to stay relatively sober. And Roxas, you’re gonna thank me for this one; you’re on girl duty.”
“What’s that?”
“Ehhh, basically you mill about the party and make sure nothing fishy is going on, you understand? It’s an easy job. If you see a girl who may have had too much or something, maybe a sleezebag trying to take her home, just get in the way, you know?” Xigbar explained.
“No fair!” Axel said, mouth hung open in outrage.
“Obviously I’m the most intimidating,” Roxas said, flexing.
“Okay, shrimp.”
“I’ll kick your ass!” Roxas leered back, punching Axel playfully in the stomach.
“Ah, pins!” the redhead yelped, pushing Roxas away.
The party began as one would expect a normal party to begin. People trickled in slowly at first, mostly in groups of two or three. Axel collected ten dollars from every person who entered, taking his job quite seriously.
“Please? Ten dollars for me and my friend? We don’t have any more money,” a pretty blonde thing asked him sweetly, clutching her well-dressed friend and pouting.
“Go find some guy to pay for you. Liquor ain’t cheap, you know,” the redhead snapped, sending the girls away.
Demyx minded the bar dutifully as well, only sneaking a few sips here and there. While he had to put up with the demands of drunken party-goers most of the night, the bar was stationed next to the music table. Rather, Zexion had set himself up next to the bar so he could talk to his pledge.
“They work perfectly,” he said happily early on in the night, referring to his newly-fixed turntables. “I don’t know what you did, but it works. Almost better than when I first got it.”
“Some of the wiring was worn down, that’s all,” Demyx answered in the middle of distributing tequila shots. “On something as old as that, I’m surprised all the original parts worked for so long… Hey, be careful with that! If you spill it, I’m not pouring you another, got it?” A drunken young woman nodded giddily and took off.
“Whoa, someone’s mad,” Zexion said through a light chuckle.
“I’m not mad, I’m just tired of playing bartender. I wanna have some fun!”
“You’re a pledge, this is how it goes.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Demyx muttered, but smiled at Zexion before ducking down to retrieve more liquor.
As for Roxas, he found himself on top of the world. It seemed that by receiving what he thought to be an important and kick-ass job, his mood elevated enough for him to enjoy himself as he mingled amongst drunken strangers. Being sober at the party was relatively grounding, too; it made everything seem manageable, as opposed to the often overwhelming sensations when one was wasted and surrounded by strangers and loud music. He would never be the sort to move about the crowd in such a way when back home, but he had a new sense of confidence as a pledge of the fraternity. Despite the large amount of people crammed into the frat house, and the large amounts of liquor that had been consumed, the night was mostly quiet on Roxas’ front. That was, until he spotted a girl trying to wander upstairs, an area that was strictly off limits.
“Hey!” he called out, pushing his way through the crowd and towards the blonde girl. She didn’t seem to hear him, and continued to walk tentatively up the stairs. She didn’t stop until Roxas grabbed her arm, causing her to nearly drop the beer she was holding.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, turning around with slight fear in her eyes. She looked young, and was dressed very simply.
“You’re not allowed up there,” Roxas said in his sternest voice.
“Oh, I-I’m sorry,” the girl started. She seemed a bit tipsy. “I didn’t know. I was separated from my friend and I was hoping she was up here, I can’t find her anywhere else.”
Roxas studied her features, her round face and wide blue-violet eyes. She looked a bit frightened, and her arm was limp in his hands. She was very pretty, he noted.
“Are you even eighteen?” he asked, a hint of playfulness in his voice.
“Hey, I will be next month,” she replied, a slight smile creeping onto her face as she tucked some stray hair behind her ear.
“Well, then I can’t let you keep that,” he said with a wink, plucking the beer from her hand and taking a swig. “Come on, you can hang out with me until you find your friend.”
“Thanks,” the girl said with what could have been a sigh of relief. “I’m Naminé, by the way.”
“Roxas. Who’s your friend? Maybe I met her already.”
“Uhm, her name is Larxene.”
“…You’re joking,” Roxas exclaimed.
“You know her?” Naminé asked hopefully.
“Yes. And I’m afraid of her.”
“Me too. Oh, but please don’t tell her that! She’s my Big Sister for the sorority I’m pledging and I may be in a lot of trouble if… she’s really quite nice, you know.”
Roxas snorted and led the pair through the stifling crowd and towards the last place Roxas had seen Marluxia. When it came to those two, often times your best bet was where you found one, you found the other. Sure enough, Marluxia’s ‘drunk voice’ (which was just a very loud version of his normal voice) could be heard nearby, and Roxas and Naminé soon found themselves face to face with their drunken comrades.
“Larxene!” Naminé cheered, flocking to her side.
“Man you’re clingy,” the elder blonde remarked, smirking slightly into her drink.
“I’m so glad I don’t have to be a Big Brother this year,” Marluxia chortled. He looked to the side and saw Roxas giving him a fake-hurt look. “Oh, I didn’t mean it like that,” he said, extending the ‘a’.
As the night died down and the music became a little more like what Zexion liked, and less what the general population liked, people began leaving. It was late, after all (3 am wasn’t that late, to some. But to the drunk, passing out steadily grew into a favorable option) and the members of Chi Iota Iota were relieved to eventually find their home nearly empty save a few passed out students here and there.
“Get up,” Saix snarled down at a young man who had passed out on a sofa. “Or if not, I have no problem throwing you out.”
“I’m tired,” Demyx announced on the other side of the room, stretching out and unbuttoning his vest.
“Don’t even think about sleep,” Zexion murmured, stifling a yawn himself. “Pledges clean up, tradition.”
“Can’t we clean up tomorrow?” Axel groaned from the table where he was counting money.
“Nope. Get to it,” Vexen cut in, shooing Axel away from the cash so he could count it himself.
“It was pretty good up until now,” Roxas offered, handing Axel a trash bag.
“Yeah,” Axel said with a smile. “It really was.”
Next Chapter
