AN: So, yes, I have posted this before, but it's evolved from a oneshot into an actual story, so I am reposting it. Oh, and I don't own anything besides the plot, so don't worry about it.

-0o0-

The Monster Within

Chapter One: Green is the Color of Sorrow

Axel had always been such a flirt, never committing to anyone, breaking hearts and leaving them behind. He'd been like that for years, since anyone could remember. So why did seeing the redhead with another man vex Roxas so painfully? The blonde was used to being abused and then loved on by the green-eyed man, over and over again to the point of mere heartbreak. But this time was different.

Roxas could feel salt stinging his eyes as his gaze followed the movements of his beauty's swaying hips and teasing hands. It wasn't anything new, watching Axel woo another conquest; he'd been doing it for years. What made this time so different was that his heart-wrenching smile was turned on a member of the opposite sex. The girl was practically beaming with happiness at attracting Axel, who was infamous for his preference to be with men, never women.

A sickly roll festered its way through Roxas' stomach as he watched the two flirt, Axel's lanky frame leaned up against the far wall of the luxuriously decorated nightclub, his legs crossed, his hands gesticulating suggestively. He was caressing the girl's short black hair, playfully fingering the ribbon that was tied around her head.

Disgust crossed the Roxas' face as the redhead moved in to steal a kiss from the stunned female. He didn't even need to ask, he was so sure of his game. Her brown eyes fluttered shut as the gesture was returned, her small hands reaching up to lace in his soft hair, so overcome with lust that she could barely stand.

Axel had that affect on people. Somewhere between his dashingly good looks, red hair, emerald-green eyes and the black tattoos that rained down beneath them, you absolutely lost your mind when you looked at him. Roxas was familiar with the feeling- the feeling like you were the only one that would ever matter to the man- it was the only thing that kept him coming back time after time. It almost made Roxas crave the abuse.

It seemed that the more Axel mistreated him, the better the period of loving between them became. Sometimes he would leave Roxas for months on end, doing everything in his ability to stay away from the blonde and dating all sorts of other men. But there was always a breakup that followed close behind, leaving the redhead empty and used and unrelentingly lusty for Roxas. Axel would come crawling back, throwing around words like, "baby" and "Roxy", trying desperately to get in Roxas' pants until, after a short debate about the blonde's feelings, the two were entangled in a sweaty heap of flesh. Roxas felt his loins twinge a bit just thinking about it, longing almost painfully after the redhead's love.

Roxas twisted away sullenly from the scene unfolding before him, and turned his eyes instead to the barkeep that was hurriedly rushing about behind the large slab of oak counter. The man was attractive enough; semi-long gray-blue hair cascaded down his face, obscuring a pair of stormy blue eyes and a small nose set just above a pair of pouty pink lips. He didn't seem like the friendliest of men and he had an air of insolence about him, but the blonde felt a sudden allurement towards him.

Roxas followed the man with his eyes, waiting patiently for contact. When the barkeep did indefinitely look his way, Roxas found himself trying to flirt with the man, giving his drink order with luscious words and running his tongue over his lips in a seductive manner. It made the man's eyes light up in amusement as he fetched the blonde an apple martini.

When the glass of green liquid was plunked down in front of him, Roxas felt the flirtation flee from his body, the stunning depths of the drink bringing forth memories of Axel's all-knowing eyes; it left him vastly empty. The barkeep, who had introduced himself as Zexion, seemed to get the idea, leaving the poor boy to sulk after his alcohol with a twinge of a sympathetic look.

With the glass of apple-flavored liquor held tightly in his hand, Roxas let himself drown in his memories.