A/N: Hey, Fullmetalreborn is joining the KH fandom. I really shouldn't. I don't know if I'll ever finish this. No promises. If it catches on, I'll feel amazing. If not it probably will be forgotten. For those following me because of my KHR fanfics, please know its hard to find inspiration to write KHR lately. Sorry!

Warning: I do not mean anything offensive at all. Bullying is a serious issue and I am not making fun of it in any way. I'm a slight victim myself. If something bad occurs to you, please find help, do not think you're alone. If you do not like abuse, depression and that such, do not read.

Notes: I love Axel. Don't hate me, it'll all work out if my planning is anything!

Questions/Concerns please don't hesitate to PM me. Enjoy\

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the Final Fantasy character portrayed. They belong to their respective owners.

Roxas jerked awake, letting out a scream as he crashed into the ground. His blonde bangs were plastered on his forehead as he dragged a hand over his sweaty face. There was a mumble from the slightly lit room as the boy's blue eyes looked at the source. Another blonde lay innocently in a mass of blankets and pillows. He breathed softly, holding the same features as Roxas on the floor. With a deep sigh, Roxas looked towards the alarm clock and groaned. Finding no point in trying to sleep again he dragged himself to his feet and gave a loud yawn.

"Ventus, its time to wake up."

The twin didn't move an inch from his position but his eyebrows twitched downwards as his mouth turned into a frown.

"Ven! Dad will kill us if we're late to school again!" There was a grumble as Ventus turned over and groaned. Roxas smiled lightly before throwing his blankets on the bed and going to grab his uniform for school. It wasn't long before the alarm went off startling Ventus and rendering him a useless heap on the floor.

"Told you to get up earlier." Ventus merely growled at him. While Ventus picked himself up and got ready Roxas ran into the restroom knowing if he didn't hurry he might lose his chance in there. Besides him and Ven living in the house his parents were housing his uncle Leon and Cid who were graciously kicked out of their houses due to a termite problem. Because the house was completely destroyed his loving and caring mother opened the house to them and their friend Yuffie who declined staying with her boyfriend Vincent. Knowing Cid was an early riser and hogged the restroom as much as his mother he always fought to go in first. Being lucky he had no problems and showered quickly before dressing in his uniform and letting Ventus, who was pressed on time, complete his schedule. Grabbing his bag he heard a yawn and saw his dad standing in the doorway.

"Morning dad." The man smiled softly, blue eyes twinkling with sleep as he brushed his gravity defying blonde hair away.

"Morning Roxas, Ven up yet?"

Roxas nodded, tying his shoelace. "Uncle Cid make an appearance?"

"Darn right I'm makin' an appearance, bathroom hogger!" Roxas shook his head, amused before something knocked into his dad who looked shocked.

"Ah, sorry dad! Late!" Ven danced past his father glaring at Roxas before reaching for his shoes.

"Ven, you finish your assignments last night?" Cloud asked seriously as the boy sat on the bed. There was a pause in his movements that Roxas noticed immediately. His dad might have over looked it but being twins did give him a second sense with his brother.

"Yeah! I finished them up before dinner!" Ven said cheerfully with a smile Roxas thought lacked its usual happiness behind it. Cloud crossed his arms over his chest while sighing. "Keep it up then, don't want your teacher calling again, you hear?"

Ven nodded, almost sadly. Roxas felt a small frown tilt on his face before the familiar cries from outside sprang them into action. They finished dressing, said a quick bye to their dad and burst out of the house. Roxas tilted his head to the side as he looked at Ven. Their uniforms were nearly identical, though the red tie hanging from Ven's neck contrasted to Roxas' baby blue one.

Ventus and Roxas attended separate schools, Ventus attended the school for the 'gifted' and 'special.' Roxas was in the normal highschool, the twins, for the first time in their entire life, being separated like they were. In their junior year school was starting to ease out, but being in the gifted program, Ven usually had more to study and work with. Roxas knew Even was diligent, naive and oblivious but he worked hard when an opportunity showed itself. Roxas also watched his brother, every single damn night, work on homework. Roxas didn't understand why he wasn't turning the work in after working so hard on it. Their ride was waiting for them, the bickering twins in the front seats sending a calm effect of Roxas and Ven. It was familiar.

"Ven, this isn't like you. Is everything alright?" Roxas felt his stomach lurch at the look crossing his twins eyes.

Despair.

Hurt.

Pain.

His heart was squeezed, painfully as he couldn't breathe. Then a smile flashed on the older -it was by five minutes. FIVE- Blondes face, looking so fake Roxas stumbled on his steps.

"It's okay, Roxas. Nothing I can't handle, come on!"

Roxas felt horrible, just knowing something was completely wrong with his twin.

Ventus gave a soft sigh, breathing in heavily through his nostrils. He buried himself into the leather seat of his best friend, Vanitas car. The raven haired male was singing softly to himself, nothing unusual to Ven. They had dropped off Roxas, then Sora, all that was left was Ven. They carpooled, the Fair twins the closest friends they had since they were kids. Vanitas had golden sharp eyes, one thing that appealed to Ventus, with spiky gravity defying black hair. His body was lean, muscular and he certainly had a fair amount of piercings and tattoos in random locations. Vanitas was the local bad boy, a junior like Ventus but attending a school more suited for him. Sora was the happy go lucky twin, though he was a smart ass after years of being in the presence of Vanitas. His eyes were a calming sea blue, hair the exact same as Vanitas, only a chocolate brown. The twins were polar opposites, but managed to be the best people to ever be friends with.

"Shit, Ven." The blonde pulled himself out of his thoughts, focusing on Vanitas who was turning the corner. Golden eyes flickered to him with an intensity that made Ven's stomach clench. "The fuck you looking depressed for? You have Roxas looking the same way, you okay?"

The words tugged at his heart again, the same ones Roxas had uttered earlier. Naturally Vanitas sounded more annoying but it was technically the same thing. They stopped by the front, Ven's hands tightening in a fist around the seatbelt strap as he went to unhook it.

"I'm fine, really."

Vanitas stared, eyes boring into the blondes. When panic started rising in Ven's chest, a feeling bubbling to overflow, admit it all, just to scream it out to the world, he looked away. Ven wasn't sure exactly how he felt about that.

"You shouldn't be lying to me, dipshit. You know me better then that."

Ven looked down, the guilt squeezing his heart again. He opened the car door, a whisper of, "I know." The only thing he was able to manage as he shut the door behind him. Vanitas stayed in the car, the blondes blue eyes clouded, pain, misery, despair. He was certain it was written all over his face as he entered the place he referred to as his own hell. The structure was large, a white looking building with a garden and beautiful gates to support the 'gifted' school. But everything blurred into the background, his heart aching as he thought what he would need to do in order to survive that day. Oh, how he wished he could just say something, but where did that land him last time? The pain resurfaced, his eyes going blank. Not there, don't go there, Ventus. And he obeyed his little voice. Obeyed it because that little voice was all he had in this school in order to survive.

"Ventus Strife! How nice to see your sorry ass back here." The voice mocked him, the blonde staring at the books all piled neatly into his locker. On the side of the metal was a mirror, left there from the previous users and an assortment of stickers. The only one Ven had applied to customize the already customized locker was the the weird symbol Vanitas had given to him a few years back. The raven haired teen seemed dead bent on placing them all over town when he had made them at Cid's factory a few years back. He blinked, realizing he had let his thoughts stray in order to escape what he knew was going to come. He closed his locker firmly, clouded blue eyes looking at the famous Axel Smith.

The red head was known for his devilish looks and pyromaniac behavior. Ven knew that all too well. The males acidic green eyes looked down, raising a hand to cup the blondes chin and force his gaze upwards.

"I need the work. You know the drill." He didn't want to. Ven was conflicted. He knew exactly how this would play out. He didn't want it to let the events play out like they were already supposed to. His mind whirled, it was just Axel. Maybe... Maybe.

"I don't want to." He stated firmly, pulling his chin away from those cold strong hands. The red head raised a firm red eyebrow, a dark look crossing in his green eyes.

"Are you talking back to me, Ven? Oh. Oh you know better then that."

The blonde regretted his choice almost instantly, what the heck was he thinking?! This was Axel for fucks sake. The red head turned, pinning the boy back against the locker as he bore his eyes into Ven's sky blue ones. The hallways were bare, as usual. Although Ven knew for a fact that it didn't matter. No one would come to his rescue, not now, not ever. Axel reached down, pulling something that made Ven squeeze his eyes shut.

Kick his ass. Kick his fucking ass, Ven.

But the little voice in his head knew Ven couldn't. He could try, oh he could try so hard. But Axel had always known the wah to slip past his defense, making him immobilized. It'd be like that day all over again, Ven never wanted to face it again.

"Now, I'm sure you remember the rules." The click of a lighter made him stiffen, heart thudding in his chest rapidly. "Come on, Ventus. You came to school, and you risked this on yourself. It's all your fault. Like with those two friends of yours, no?"

He was laid out bare, his emotions ripped out and torn at those words. He hadn't even realized the lick of the flame until Axel was cupping his mouth, the red head letting his lips hover close to Ven's ear. "Don't scream, it's just a game, Ventus."

Ven hated this. Ven hated it all. He hated Axel.

Roxas grinned, waving goodbye to his close friend Xion as he walked up to house. His sky blue eyes took notice of his dads bike, meaning the older Strife was home. Not to mention Leon and Cid were actually gone. Concerned, he opened up the front door, then wished he had just ran back into the car with Xion.

"Don't you know how hard it is having to send you there for you to mess up?" Cloud's raised voice made Roxas flinch. The object of Cloud's anger was his twin, pale faced and on the couch taking it all in stride. "Ventus that doesn't even matter. You lied straight to my face."

Roxas stayed by the door, happy none had taken notice of his presence yet. His twin looked up briefly, the shadows of guilt and pent up anger surfacing.

"I didn't lie." He said firmly. This was going to get ugly, very fast. Roxas chewed on his bottom lips nervously as Clouds blue eyes lit up in rage.

"Really? You tell me that after I get a call from your teacher saying you ditched half the class, came back looking like you were on something and no homework you said you had done. How the hell did you not lie?!"

"I didn't lie! It doesn't even matter!" Ven started on his feet, meeting his fathers angry stare effortlessly. Something about this made Roxas wonder when he got used to a passive Ven.

"Doesn't matter?! You'll get kicked out of the school soon!"

"It's not my fault!"

"Then who's fault is it?!"

It was like someone had slapped Ven, his expressions switching quickly.

Something was terribly wrong, his dad didn't seem to notice at all.

"You can't expect me to let you off this time. Aqua and Terra were the last thing I would ever let you do stupidly."

Oh crap. Roxas cursed inwardly. The terror flashed in Ven's eyes instantly. Ven seethed.

"What the hell do you care. You didn't care about me or Roxas until these past few years. Don't try acting like a father now."

Ven turned from him, going upstairs without another word as their father stayed stuck in his spot, impaled by Ven's words more then he'd ever say. Roxas shuffled awkwardly, nervous look crossing his blue eyes as he moved, his father not saying a word as Cloud tossed the door open and left. The roar of his beloved Fenrir met the younger twins ears as Roxas gave a sigh. Everything was messed up.

The 15 year old tossed his bag by the door, not planning to pick it up at all for the rest of their small off track break. He was tempted to invade on Ventus, but knew at the moment Roxas would only be rubbing salt over the twins wounds. Aqua and Terra was practically a taboo subject, Cloud had made it that way when Ven completely freaked out at the mention of their names.

Aqua and Terra.

Even Roxas hadn't heard those names in awhile. He looked across the room at the dashboard before climbing the stairs. The silence that settled over the usually loud house made Roxas wince. It was deadly, being able to hear the ticking of the old clock downstairs. He opened the door to his shared bedroom, Ventus laying face first in the pillows, his skin was a chalky pale, shirt messed up and looking completely defeated. Roxas shut the door behind him, deciding for that exact moment, Ven did not want to hear any words. Roxas' questions probably would make things worse. He dropped himself, Roxas settling himself onto his brother. He felt the other stiffen before relaxing. The younger twin buried his face in his brothers shoulder, eyes clouded with worry. Ven's scent was relaxing. A sea sort of smell and detergent.

Today, Ven smelled of smoke.