WARNING: This story will contain CRUDE LANGUAGE, RAPE, and SELF HARM. Read at your own risk. Thank you and enjoy.

Xion, out

Liar

Is love supposed to hurt?

Why is that the first thing that comes to mind when someone asks me how I am? Why do people have to ask anyway, it's not like I'm asking for help. Why do I have to keep reminding him I'm not asking for help? He can't possibly understand. This isn't the same. It can't be. He snaps in my face, bringing me back to reality. I blink, "Uh, what?"

Roxas sighs, leaning back. His vibrant blue eyes are dark and he's staring me down, "Are you even listening to me?"

I look down, "Sorry.."

He sighs again and he reaches across the table, touching my hand, "What's on your mind, Ven?"

I pull my hands off the table and meet his eyes. His narrowed eyes and the grim line his lips have taken shows me he's not going to take my lies today. I sigh, "I'm just.. It's hard to sleep lately."

It's not an entire lie, I have been having trouble sleeping. Pretending to be asleep when Vanitas came home drunk the other night wasn't the smartest idea. Or maybe it was. I don't want to think about what would have happened if he knew I was awake the entire time. Roxas frowns, almost like he knows, "Can't sleep, huh..?"

Of course he suspects me of lying, I'm a horrible liar. And all I do is lie lately. Roxas leans back again, crossing his arms now, "Ventus, when are you going to start telling the truth?"

Busted.

His eyes are cold now. He's had enough. I wince, making eye contact again, "Roxas.."

I should have known this was a bad idea. I can never lie to my brother, even when we were little, he could always read my like a book. Some things just don't change. Roxas closes his eyes and shakes his head. He gets out of the booth we're sharing and I just look at him. I stare at him in confusion, "Why did you call me here?"

Roxas opens his eyes and looks away from me. He's shaking a little. I don't know what to feel about that. He looks back at me and we just stare at one another in silence for a few minutes before Roxas speaks, "Why are you still with him?"

And there's the punch line. Roxas can't stand my fiancee. I frown, "Because we're getting married in the fall?"

Roxas shakes his head, leaning over me, his hands braced on the table, "No, I mean why are you still with him? You can't keep lying for him. I see the bruises you try to hide, Ven."

I've never seen him so serious before. I look away, "It was an accident."

He grabs the collar of my shirt, pulling it down, revealing the bruises on my left shoulder. He growls, "Are these accidents?"

I push him and stand, adjusting my collar, "Yes."

He scoffs at me, "Why are you still covering for him? You can't honestly think he loves you?"

I shove him back, "Of course he loves me!"

He stands there, staring at me and I turn away from him, "It was good seeing you, Roxas.."

I leave the restaurant, leaving my brother standing there. I walk through the crowded street of Twilight town as the sun shines brightly. The heat is killing me, but Vanitas has the car today, and I don't have any long sleeve shirts, so this sweater has to do for now. I'll take it off and blast the air conditioner when I get home. I walk through town until I get to the apartment complex. I climb the stairs and find my apartment on the second floor.

I try to open the door and it's locked. I frown, "That's weird, I left it open when I left."

I lift the mat for the spare key and there's a note there instead. I pick up the note and groan, reading: You were gone when I came back, so I went out to eat. You can't leave the door unlocked, we'll get robbed, stupid. I told you to wait until I got home to run errands. Have fun on the porch. ;P I sigh and sit down in front of the door. I sit there for a few hours before Vanitas comes up the stairs. I smile and stand quickly, "How was dinner?"

He walks up to me and ruffles my hair, smirking, "How was your afternoon on the porch?"

I shrug, pushing his hand away gently, "It's been hot."

He shrugs, taking our house key from his pocket, "And who's fault is that?"

"Mine.." I reply softly.

He nods, "That's right, so stop bitching. We go into the apartment and I lock the door behind us. He goes to the kitchen and sets two bags down on the table. I walk into our small rundown kitchen and start putting the contents of the bags away in the fridge. As I'm sorting the food in the fridge, Vanitas comes up behind me and reaches past me. He pushes me into the fridge, causing me to hit my head against the freezer door. He pulls back, holding a bottle of beer and I groan, stepping back, rubbing my head.

"Watch out, Ven," he says, "It's a small kitchen."

"Right.." I sigh, closing the fridge. He leaves the kitchen and I throw the bags in the small garbage can under the sink. I then meet Vanitas in the living room. I sit beside him on the couch and he puts his arm around me. I snuggle up against him and stare at whatever show he has on the t.v. He moves and kisses my cheek, speaking softly, "I missed you today."

I smile back, "I missed you, too."

"I love you, Ven." he says.

I lean my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes, "I love you, too."