TABLE 6



“ORDER UP!”
“No, don’t put those spices in that one Marly”
“I’m a god damn flower expert not some spice expert Larx!”
Larxene zipped about in her sharp business outfit, inspecting the kitchen business. No one dared to get in the way of Larxene when she had her serious business face on.

“Xaldin, that’s enough with the slicing! Those carrots are done!”
“Enough flame grilling Axel, don’t burn the god damn food!”
“Table 6 needs cleaning! Where is that waiter? Roxas! Get your butt over to table 6 and clean it!”
“Yea yea yea I’m going, cool it Larxene”
“Do you want me to lower your pay check? Now get going blondie, business is already running slow enough with this cold snap”

“Tell me about it, I’m freezing my butt off here!” complained Demyx from the kitchens.
“Get your frozen ass back to work Demyx!” Larxene shot him one of those death glares which sent him turning back to the dishes he was cleaning.
“DANCE WATER DANCE!” A rush of soapy water flew up and began cleaning the dirty dishes. “Geesh, I was just saying, besides why can’t Axel heat things up more around here?”

Axel perked his head up from the pot he was monitoring.
“BECAUSE…I refuse to be your personal heating system and I work almost as twice as much as you do fish boy! That reminds me you’ve got fish to scale too, get your butt in that freezer and start scaling them”
“Oh…you are soooo heartless” whined Demyx as he trudged his way to the freezer.
Axel smirked. “Get used to it kiddo, I’m a nobody”

Roxas grabbed the nearest wet cloth and made his way over to table 6. He stopped suddenly when his sight met the long silver haired boy getting up from his seat. Roxas gulped as his pace seemed to slow.

“Uh…I’ll take those for you” was all he could manage.
The silver haired boy finished putting his coat back on and gave Roxas a nod.

“…much obliged” was all he said as he headed out the café’s door.

“Please please please don’t be blushing Roxas…I am so stupid” Roxas mentally kicked himself over and over again as he cleared away the cup and plate from the table. As he made his way back to the kitchens, he caught sight of Larxene at the tiller.

“Hey, Larxene.”
“What is it now Roxas? I don’t pay you to talk in business hours” she growled still focusing on the munnie she was counting.
“Well I was wondering if you had the name of that silver haired boy at table 6 just before?”

Larxene gave the table a glance before she returned to counting the munnie.
“Silver haired you say? That sounds like Riku; he comes here on a regular basis. Always ordering the same thing and then buggering off. Cheap skate if you ask me, only buys the same coffee and slice of strawberry cake so he never profits us much. Now get back to work!”

Roxas shrugged it off and went back to the “rush” of the cafe’s night hours.

Finally, things became late and people started heading home. The kitchen died down, pots were cleared and aprons and kitchen hats hung up while coats, beanies and scarves were put on.

“Okay losers, Xemnas wants the place locked up for the night! Get out before I make you stay at work for the whole night”

“Hey Roxas, you up for a movie with us back at Demyx’s place?” called Axel as they left the cafe.
“Nah, I’m gunna hit the pillow early tonight, thanks anyway”
“Rightio, night”
“Night”

The air was crisp and cold. The stars seem to shine brighter in the night sky since the cold snap had struck. Roxas pulled his jacket and gloved hands tighter to his body. His scarf and boots didn’t even feel like they were doing their job. No snow had fallen for over 3 weeks now and people were wondering if they were really going to have their white winter. Shuddering, he opened the door to his warm flat.

“Riku…where have I heard that name before?” Roxas blushed again “Gah! Roxas what is the matter with you. You barely know him and yet I feel like I’ve known him for years. Pull it together man, Axel is closer to me then some random guy called Riku. But…”

Roxas pulled open a sea salt ice cream and sat back in the sofa. Even though how cold it was, he could not resist the taste of his favourite childhood snack.

“Come to think of it” Roxas flicked on the TV. “I never remember serving Riku tonight. Damn, guess Demyx got to him”

The droan of late night TV seem to make the blonde’s eyes become heavy and slowly he drifted off into sleep. Roxas began to have the same dream he'd been having for a while.
He'd dream he was standing on a beach, when suddenly that same brown haired boy would appear, walking into the distnace. No matter how much Roxas would call out to him, he'd never answer. When Roxas turned around, behind him he could see that same silver haired boy walking into the opposite distance. He'd call out to him, but he would never reply either.

Roxas rolled off the sofa in his sleep and was only greeted by the hard wood floor. “OW! WHAT THE HELL?!” Rubbing his head sorely he peered at the clock.

“9.30 am? AHR! NO WAY?! I’m an hour late! Larxene is gunna kill me!”

Quickly fixing his hair and straightening his coat and scarf, Roxas flew down the stairs and made a mad dash for work.

A few morning customers were entering the café just as Roxas turned up. Squeezing in between them, he did his best to use them as a shield from Larxene’s eyes.

“ROXAS! I see you! Where have you been?!”

The blonde stood frozen in his tracks. “Please don’t be that time of the month for her” he desperately begged in his head.

“Get your sorry ass into that kitchen, get into the uniform and go serve people like I pay you for!”

“Yes, ma’am! Won’t happen again”
In a flash Roxas was in his uniform and ready to serve.

Axel leaned over the bar counter to Roxas, a smug look on his face.

“So what did…”
“Not now Axel”
“But I…”
“Not now, tell you some other time”
“…ooookay then”

Axel rolled his eyes as he tightened his apron and headed back to the kitchen.

“Demyx! I need those soups done by lunch time today!”
“Aaaaaaaaw, come on man, I’m aaaaaaalready doing 3 other things at once here!”

The day seemed to go by normally, with the occasional passing of customers who dare to crawl from the warmth of their houses. Day turned into night, only making everything twice as colder.

“Can someone shut Demyx up!” shouted Xaldin from the small kitchen window. “He’s asked Axel for the 23rd time today to heat things up!”
Larxene rolled her sleeves up as she slammed open the kitchen doors. “Where is he? He’s been driving me nuts too”

The bell at the front door chimed as another customer walked in from the freezing air.

Roxas’s eyes turned to the see the same silver haired boy again.
“Well Roxas? Go serve him!” growled Larxene as she returned from the kitchen fixing her hair.

Quickly collecting his notepad and pen, Roxas headed to where the boy was seated at table 6.

“Welcome, what may I…er…just the coffee and slice of strawberry cake tonight, Riku?”
Light green eyes met orbs of deep blue. “Um…sure…thanks. But may I ask how you know my name and well…what I order? It's kinda creepy.”

“Heh lucky guess” smiled Roxas as he wrote down the order.
As Roxas turned to leave he was stopped by a strong grip around his wrist.
“What’s your name by the way?”
“What? Oh…it’s R-R-Roxas”
“Well Roxas…” Riku released his grip. “Two sugars in that coffee please”
“Oh…yea sure”

“Order up! Coffee and a slice of strawberry cake!” shouted Roxas into the small kitchen window. He was just about to turn when he heard his name called.

“Don’t get too sweet with the costumers okay Roxas?”
“It’s okay Axel, chill.”
“Whatever you say partner…DEMYX! We need you on that espresso machine pronto!”
“Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?! Dude, I’ve just been scarred for life and you want me to do what? Oh you are seriously picking on me today” complained the nocturne from somewhere in the back of the kitchen.

Finally, Roxas returned to table 6 balancing a coffee and piece of strawberry cake on a tray.

“Here you are one coffee and slice of strawberry cake”
“Thanks Roxas, the cake looks almost as sweet as you”

Roxas froze. He could feel a blush starting to creep over his face.

“Heh heh heh. You’re...too...cute...I MEAN KIND!”

Roxas felt the blush burning on his face. Sharply he turned without second thought and headed for the safety of the kitchen.

“What the heck was that Roxas? Nice one you tool” he thought to himself.
Swinging open the back door, he stepped out into the cold alley way behind the café. A curious Axel had notice Roxas head out back.

“Demyx, watch this pot for me will you”
“Axeeeeeeellll, you’re starting to annoy me now”

Axel swung open the back door and peeked out into the alley, only to see Roxas with his face buried in his hands. Quietly, he made his way over to the blonde and sat beside him.

“What’s wrong?”
Roxas looked up into the emerald eyes. “I…I don’t know really” Axel looked concerned and shuffled closer. “It’s alright you can tell me, I won’t tell anyone”

Roxas sighed. “I don’t think it’d be that easy to explain, it's like, well...can nobodies really feel emotion? It's stupid, nevermind, but thankyou, you’re a real friend”

For some reason, the word “friend” seemed to sorely hurt Axel’s non existent heart. He thought about mentioning it to Roxas just at that moment, but he swallowed the thought and gave a fake smile.
“No problem at all”

After a few deep breaths, Roxas had enough courage to come back out. Except this time, there was no Riku seated at table 6.

The blonde’s eyes met the floor, regret starting to take over.
“…oh, well its closing time soon anyway…I wouldn’t have gotten any time to talk to him”

“Guys! Out! Closing time! You know the drill.” bellowed Larxene as she jingled the keys around.

Axel turned to Roxas outside the café as everyone started heading home.

“Roxas, I er...things will be different tomorrow, you'll see”
The blonde looked up and gave a weak smile. “Yea…it will be. You have a good night Axel”
“You too Roxas”

The two went their different ways home. It wasn’t long before Roxas realised he’d left his coat back at the café. He’d been so swept up in the thought of Riku, that his brain had gone blunt for a while. He could feel the icy wind tug at his thinnly clothed skin.

“Great. Cold, confused and exhausted.”

It was a long walk back to the apartment and it was terribly cold. Almost as if a savior to his thoughts, Roxas spotted a heat lamp hanging outside a small shop.

As fast as he could he ran for the warmth of that single lamp. Not looking where he was running, he tripped on a bit of loose pavement and flew forward. Naturally, he braced himself for hard impact with the concrete, but was stunned when he felt the touch of smooth skin instead grabbing his arm.

“Woah, watch it there. I know it’s cold but the warmth is nothing to hurt yourself over.”
“R-R-Riku?!”
“Yea? I got cold on my way back home. It’s freezing if you haven’t noticed”
“D-d-do you mind if I share some heat for a little while?” Roxas began to feel his teeth chattering as he looked up at the other boy.
Riku pulled Roxas to his full height. “Not at all…the more the merrier”

A few minutes passed and soon Roxas began to feel a little warmer.

“Well, I better get home. It’s pretty late” announced Roxas.
“Want me to walk you there?”

Roxas gulped but then came that second feeling, almost as if someone inside him was pushing him into what to say. “I er um...sure, why not”

No sooner had the two started the journey, Roxas began to shiver.

“Are you alright?” questioned Riku.
“Y-y-y-yea…just…d-d-dandy” stuttered the blonde.
“Here take my coat” replied Riku as he took his off and placed it around Roxas’s shoulders. Roxas was overwhelmed by the kindness.

He couldn’t take it no longer, he had to show Riku that he cared for him too.
“Riku”
“Yea Roxas?”
“It’s funny…but…I…well it feels like I’ve known you for ages, and yet we’ve only met and I really l-l-like y-"
“It’s funny" Riku cut Roxas short "…but I get that same feeling too around you”

Riku seem to move closer to Roxas. Maybe it was because of the cold or maybe it was something more. Riku stopped, Roxas stopped too. Slowly Riku leant over and let his lips brush against Roxas’s. The sensation was all too familiar to Roxas. Warm, yet gentle and soft. Almost in rememberance, Roxas deepened the kiss. He could feel the smile on Riku’s lips as he did. Two arms wrapped around Roxas’s waist and drew him in closer. They stayed like this for what seemed like for ages to Roxas, until something wet and cold landed on Roxas's nose. The odd sensation broke the tender kiss. Gazing up into the night sky, Roxas's jaw dropped at the sight of soft snow decorating the dull black sky in the light of the moon.

“It’s snowing!” laughed Roxas as he burried his face into Riku's chest. Stroking Roxas’s hair gently to brush the snow off, Riku finally joined the blonde's gaze up into the snowy night sky. “Perfect isn’t it?”

Blue and pale green eyes met with one another once more.

“It reminds me of your hair” smiled Roxas. Riku bent forward and gave Roxas a light yet tender peck on the nose.

"Come on, though how beautiful the snow is, it really is starting to get freezing" Roxas held out a gloved hand and took Riku's in it. They began to walk again, only this time with Roxas’s scarf around both of them.

When they finally reached the front door, Riku had begun to shiver.

“Oh! You poor thing, you’re freezing!” exclaimed Roxas.
“Just a little I guess”
“Come on inside where it’s warm. I have coffee and a slice of strawberry cake”
Riku’s eyes seem to light up as he brought Roxas into a close hug.
“Except this time, how about you be the customer and I’ll be the waiter”

The blonde smiled and returned the hug.

“…much obliged.”

The first of a white winter had begun and so had the first of a new relationship.