Hidden Feelings

Chapter 6

Roxas blinked his eyes open early, the gradually lightening sky awakening him much sooner than he was accustomed to, but still filling him witha sense of energy and refreshment. Roxas attributed it to the ocean air, or perhaps the after-effects of the massage the day before. He didn't let himself think it was due to
the release he had found in his twin's arms just hours before.

Roxas looked at Ven sleeping form, at his brother's arms flung around the pillow, sheets half kicked off, barely covering thesmall swell of his. Ven profile was peaceful in repose, his breaths coming in shallow puffs, his skin slightly flushed with early morning sleep, and Roxas felt protective tenderness flood through him. Ven eyes were closed, the thin skin of his eyelids so pale. He looked the same way when he arroved. Still, Roxas didn't see himself in Ven features. He hadn't for a long time. Sometimes he thought that if he had, he'd feel differently, be less
attracted. After all, how could he be attracted to himself?

Ven stirred, and Roxas felt a moment of panic. He didn't want to be in Bed. bed when he awoke; didn't want to see the memories of the night before flash through Vem waking consciousness. So
Roxas quietly crawled out from under the sheets and tiptoed towards his own room.

He didn't get far before an unobtrusive knock on the door startled him. Roxas heard Ven stirring in response to the knock, but he shook off the impulse to flee and forced himself to answer the door. It was the butler, again with his roling cart, this time laden with two plates of waffles smothered in strawberries and whipped cream, accompanied by fresh flowers and some sort of orange fruity beverage in champagne glasses, topped with pineapple wedges and cherries speared onto tiny umbrellas.

"Where would you Iike your breakfast?" the man asked, steering the cart inside with the ease of one who was used to entering other people's private space. "In the master bedroom?"

A romantic breakfast in bed. What else.

"Again, we didn't order this" Roxas said helplessly, his hands clasped at the top of his head in defeat.

"I ordered the waffles from the menu last night" Ven said sleepily from the bedroom doorway, a sheet wrapped low around his waist, looking totally debauched. Roxas blushed, knowing that the spectacle of his brother with ed-up hair and nothing on but a sheet was only reinforcing the honeymoon' vibe they were already giving off. "I didn't order drinks though" Ven added.

"The mimosas are complimentary" the butler said. "it's part of the honeymoon package."

Of course. Roxas picked up a long-stemmed glass off the tray and
downed it in one continuous gulp, almost poking himself in the eye with a miniature umbrella.

"Thank you, Ven said to the butler, giving Roxas a concerned look."You can just leave it there."

The butler nodded, showing himself out.

Roxas set his glass down roughly and headed for his room, saying, "I'm going for a swim."

"You're not hungry?" Ven asked, following him. Roxas shook his head, digging through his stuff for his snorkeling mask.

"Nah." He was too on edge to be hungry and he wondered how Ven could look so calm, standing there with the sheet knotted around his slim hips like nothing had happened between them just hours before.

When Roxas actually looked up and saw Ven face though, he saw that his  brother looked hurt. His twin was hiding it valiantly, but Roxas could see it as clearly as if Ven had told him.

"You want to go snorkeling after your waffles?" Roxas asked, feeling as if he'd been insensitive somehow and wanting to make it up to Ven

Ven face broke into a wan grin as he nodded, looking down at
the floor. "Yeah, sure thank you Roxas."