Edit 7/23/08: Okay. There's a lot of things in this fic that needs work, a lot that I don't like. It's currently on hiatus until I figure out what to do with it. Thank you to everyone who reads and reviews it. But if you just clicked on this now, just be aware that this is still a WIP and going nowhere fast.

About: Roxas finds himself on the run from the law and Axel offers to help him by letting him hide out at his place...but why? Soon both of them find themselves in situations they would never have dreamed of! AU.

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.

Warning: Language (swearing) and yaoi (boy on boy)

Opening note: Well, this is my first story on fanfiction and I hope it all goes well.

This story takes place in "the next life", if you will. And all of the characters are pretty much more badass than Disney makes them.

Please review so I know to continue on with the series and am inspired to make it even better!

Partners in Crime

Chapter One: You're in Pretty Deep Shit

Axel leaned against the brick wall with one leg bent. His arms were crossed and smoke was coiling off of the cigarette that was hanging lazily from his mouth. He didn't even need to look up from the ground to know who was running by.

"Going somewhere, kid?"

The blonde froze, halting his panicked run, breathing heavily.

Axel pushed himself off the wall and took a drag on his cigarette. He was wearing a black trench coat, ripped jeans and combat boots. He smirked at the young teen in front of him.

"Thought you were free in the clear, huh? I saw what you did." He said smoothly.

"What are you gonna do about it?" The blonde threatened, his heart racing.

Axel laughed softly and flicked his cigarette to the ground, the light of it faded and was quickly consumed by the night's darkness. He approached the boy, who quickly pulled out a switchblade on him.

"Don't move any closer."

Axel obeyed.

"What do you want?" the blonde asked coldly. "Gonna call the police?"

Again Axel laughed. "No, kid. I wanna help you."

"Help me?" the boy glared at him. He was getting prepared to run any second, he couldn't waste time anymore.

"Yeah," Axel said. "I'm guessing you can't go home, considering what you did."

It wasn't a question, but the kid nodded. He was in a black hoodie, which was covering his head, making his face hard to see in the dark.

"I'm offering you a place to stay, as long as I get something out of it." Axel said.

"How do I know I can trust you?" His blue eyes darted around. He was starting to get really nervous now. They could be catching up.

"You don't." Axel says bluntly. "But, you could hurry your ass up and get in my car, or wait for them to find you running down the street. Your choice."

The teen finally looked up into the stranger's face. Axel's green eyes were staring straight into his, a smirk on his face.

"Where's your car?" he asked simply.

Axel's grin widened and began to walk away from the boy. The boy followed.

"What's your name, kid?" Axel asked.

"Roxas."

"Axel."

And with that they slipped quickly into the red-head's crimson camaro.

After a silent ride, the camaro pulled into a small apartment complex. Roxas followed Axel up the steps of the building and watched him as he unlocked the door to his apartment. Roxas could only wonder what Axel's intentions for helping him were.

Almost immediately Axel walked over to his balcony and slide the glass doors open. He lit a cigarette and leaned against the opening to the outside.

Roxas stood awkwardly at the doorway. The apartment was pretty plain, except for the garbage, empty alcohol bottles, and cigarette cartons lying all over the place. There was a TV with video games piled sloppily around it, a couch, and chair, both red. There was also a little kitchen area. It looked like there were three other rooms as well. Overall, it seemed too nice of an apartment for a guy like Axel, Roxas judged, wondering where he got all the money.

Axel turned his head, glancing sideways at the boy. "Spare room's over there." He inclined with his head.

Roxas didn't have anything with him, so he only walked over and glanced into the room. Then he sat down stiffly into the chair by the opening to the balcony.

Silence.

After Axel was done with his cigarette he closed the glass doors and slid blinds over them.

He walked over and turned on the TV. The news was on, the reporter was saying, "…An unidentified teen boy stabbed and killed Seifer Almasy at an underground club at around midnight tonight. Witnesses did not know who the boy was but said there was there was a heated argument between the two of them until the fight turned physical-"

"Turn that off." Roxas snapped.

Axel looked over at him and flicked the power off with the remote.

"…So you were there?" Roxas asked looking at the ground.

"Yeah," Axel said. "I like to go there to gamble." Ah, Roxas thought, must be where he gets the money.

"Saw the whole thing. You're in pretty deep shit."

Roxas said nothing but took his hood down, since the windows were now covered.

Finally, Axel got a good look at the kid. He felt his heart rate quicken at the sight of him...the boy's hair was messy and he had a baby face with piercing blue eyes. Axel felt a strange feeling as he looked at Roxas, then looked away, trying to shake the feeling off. Good lookin kid, he thought, though you wouldn't think he'd kill someone.

"Are you even old enough to get in there?" Axel questioned.

Roxas glared at him. "Yeah, I'm eighteen."

Axel stood and took off his trench coat and removed the shirt underneath. Roxas stared, then looked away, embarrassed. Though he wasn't quite sure why, Axel hadn't seen him gazing at him. Maybe it was the fact that Roxas found himself strangely attracted to this man.

"I'm going to bed," Axel stated, tossing his clothes aside, turning towards his room. "Bathroom's over there." He said pointing to the last unidentified room.

"Wait!"

Axel turned towards the teen, questioningly.

"Um…why did you want to help me? Why?" Roxas couldn't stand the awkwardness anymore.

Axel just smiled mysteriously and said, "We'll discuss that in the morning. 'Night."

Roxas watched Axel enter his room until the door was closed behind him. Roxas decided to do the same, and flopped on the bed in the other room. His heart was racing. Shit, what have I done…he thought. What had he gotten himself into? And could he trust Axel? His heart wouldn't stop racing since he had first started running... He cursed silently to himself and shifted positions in the bed. He was still shaking slightly in fear, the adrenaline pumping through him. Roxas tossed and turned for what felt like hours before he finally fell asleep.

End note: Sorry this is so short. It's more of an introduction chapter, really. The next chapters are definitely longer!

3/17/08: I would love for people to give me advice on how to make this chapter better (preferably longer, I want more detail but I don't really quite know how to put it in there). Please drop me a review if you have any ideas.