Chapter three: The mating game

Riku  (Hot n cold) July 3000

My sleep that night had not been a good one. In the middle of the night, the scent of heat had awakened me. Many of the Breeders had probably been disturbed from their sleeps as well. Heat wasn't something that one could hide from us.

It was weird… We just knew about it, even if the one undergoing heat was rooms and rooms away.

But most of the Breeders who'd been disturbed by it probably felt lust immediately. I didn't. A lot of us could somewhat control it- depending on the situation- but for some reason, heat never brought on any desire for me. Well, maybe a slight desire. But I had many other emotions that could overpower it.

I was told that I was actually the best Breeder when it came to controlling myself when a Bearer was in it's time of heat… well excluding one of the Breeders, who was apparently immune entirely.

So anyway, as I was saying; lust wasn't my first feeling. Concern was. I awoke sensing that someone was in heat, and I thought that it might have been Sora. If it had been him, it would have been his first heat. Being fifteen, he was expected for it any day now. But it wasn't Sora considering I hadn't been taken away to 'relieve' him of his first heat. It was clearly someone else.

It was somewhat relieving. I didn't know what to expect from Sora once he reached his first heat… I didn't want to scare him, even though he'd stated to me once that he was ready for it, and was somehow looking forward to it.

I wasn't sure if I believed him fully on that, but I guessed he was ready… somewhat.

I was just afraid for the day where it would actually happen. I wasn't one for surprises.

I woke up early that morning, still feeling a bit shaken from last night. My roommate, Axel, was still sleeping. "Get up," I said groggily, throwing a pillow at his head. He stirred, groaning loudly. I only sighed, pulling the blankets away from him.

"Get up! Don't you know once you've been introduced to your mate, they can be brought here at anytime to visit?" I warned him, giving him a firm gaze, "Hey… and speaking of your mate…" I paused, my tone becoming lighter. Curious. "You were in such a mood when you got back yesterday that you never got to tell me who your mate is."

This got Axel to open one green eye tiredly, which soon resulted in him climbing out of bed fully. Though his arms were still wrapped around his pillow as if he were hugging it. "His name is Roxas. Isn't he your mate's little brother or something?" Axel asked me with a brighter gaze.

I nodded, "Yeah… Sora's mentioned Roxas a few times." Again, I paused as I approached him, nudging him playfully, "So… is he as cute as Sora?"

Axel blushed lightly, making a small nod, "He's really cute… though his personality doesn't exactly seem to match his face. He might look all gummy bears and gum drops, but really he's more like a sour lolly- Badass."

"Gummy bears and gum drops, huh? So now you're comparing people to candy?" I asked him, cocking my eyebrow. But I quickly got over that, skipping onto the next topic, " So… what makes this kid so 'badass', as you put it? I mean… do you even know what badass means?"

Axel's face twisted from embarrassment to extreme defensiveness, "I do so know what it means! Just because Sora isn't like that, doesn't mean his brothers aren't. I mean… Look at their other brother, Ventus. That kid was so rebellious that he had to be given a Binding Ceremony. A binding ceremony! Like, who gets a binding ceremony! I sure haven't heard of anyone else getting one; just that kid."

"Yeah… I was asking about Roxas. Not Ven." And that's when my mood became amused yet again, "Why? Would've rather have been mated to Ventus? Do you have the hots for Roxas' brother?"

"No! I was just saying… I like Roxas. He's just kinda sarcastic and stubborn. But he doesn't know me yet. So just because he gave Xemnas a hard time, doesn't mean he'll judge me, right?"

I shrugged, noticing a guard at our door through the corner of my eye. "I don't know… Maybe now is your time to find out," I smiled smugly as our door opened, and a guard poked his head in.

I felt even more smug when the guard shoved a blonde kid through the small crack in the door, shutting it loudly behind him. "Hey," I greeted the one who was obviously Roxas.

His blue gaze darted in my direction for only a brief second until they seemed to freeze over, becoming completely cold and uninterested. I gave Axel another amused smile.

Axel only seemed to hiss at me in response, afraid that I'd only get his mate even more angry.

"You're Sora's brother, right?" I said, trying to get Roxas to talk… or at least thaw, maybe just a little. It was already awkward that we hardly knew him. He wasn't helping, giving us the cold shoulder and silent treatment and all. I think I was seriously beginning to feel sorry for Axel.

The question accomplished it's purpose.

"Yeah, I am… Why?" It may have gotten him to talk, but it didn't stop him from using a chilling tone.

I swallowed thickly, wondering how I could word this- a way that would make him ease up, if not just a bit. "I'm Sora's mate. I'm not sure if he's mentioned me, but my name is Riku."

He looked surprised at this, a shocked expression overcoming his previous look. "Oh. Hey, Riku. Sora's talked about you a lot," I was probably surprised that his tone suddenly softened, and he actually seemed to smile warmly at me as he continued, "Thanks for being good to Sora. He really loves you."

Axel gave me a hopeful glance, happy that I'd buttered his mate up for him. Maybe Axel could make a move now…

"And I guess you already know Axel, so we can hold off on those introductions," I mentioned, trying to turn Roxas' attention from myself to Axel.

"Yeah… I know him," Roxas' tone didn't exactly turn cold once again, but it did grow dull. I cocked an eyebrow, puzzled as to why Roxas was so distant when it came to Axel.

Did Roxas not realize that he was destined to be with Axel for life? He may as well give Axel a chance…

Axel bit at his lip, standing up from his bed and stepping closer to Roxas. "So Roxas… Do you wanna tell me a bit about yourself? I mean, what you like, what your favourite colour is; stuff like that…?"

He only shrugged silently.

I sighed sharply, saying, "Hey, what about I join you too?" I don't know… maybe Roxas would actually participate if I was included. Not to sound mean, but he seemed to like me.

Axel grinned at me, though it was so obvious that he was desperate and thanking me for tempting Roxas into the game further. To get him warmed up, I decided to begin. "Well… I like to watch American football, my favourite colour is yellow, and I hate… asparagus," I said, hoping that Roxas would pick up after me. Which he did.

He sat down on the ground, crossing his legs, "I like sweet foods, my favourite colour is blue… and I hate Axel." My jaw probably dropped at that. How could he say such a thing right in Axel's face? Axel didn't like that either. He flinched, chewing at his lip even more.

But he carried on our chain anyway, keeping any disappointment from his tone, "I like spicy foods, my favourite colour is red, and I hate the cold."

After Axel fell silent, the rest of us didn't say a word. There was a long moment of awkward silence. That is until I finally spoke up.

"So…" I started, "How has Sora been?" Obviously the question was directed towards Roxas, I didn't know what else to say. I could only imagine Axel's inner thoughts. He was probably crying on the inside about Roxas' insensitive comment.

Roxas brought his lowered gaze up to stare at me with his bright, sapphire eyes. And I must say, they were as beautiful as Sora's. Roxas really was his brother… I only wondered how that worked. I didn't know exactly how we were born, and Roxas, Sora and Ventus were the only case of siblings that I'd heard of.

"Sora's good. I think he misses you." The blonde's voice sounded quite teasing. But I only chuckled in response, as Roxas smiled- though quite mockingly.

I merely chuckled, feeling sorry for Axel all at the same time.

When Roxas was finally taken away, I stood up from where I sat on the ground and walked over to Axel's side, patting him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, man. He'll have to pull through. He'll get used to everything," I reassured my depressed, redheaded friend.

Axel stared up at me with hurt, emerald eyes, "Yeah? So why does he like you?… It's not fair."

"Don't worry," I continued, sighing lightly, "At least now we know what the kid likes. Impress him, Axel. Get him something sweet."