Hi, first story, everyone. Just a quick start for a fic, if the response is positive I'll continue. Cause we all want to see MORE Axel-Roxas AU fics. Never too much.

Before you ask, there WILL be more dialogue later.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Kingdom Hearts. Hell, I don't even have the games. Which explains why this is AU. The characters are from the games in terms of names and appearances, but besides that they're mine. 'Kay?

The misty gray light of an early-morning sun, barely penetrating the smog of Hollow Bastion, twinkled on the river and threw bright shimmers across the fronts of the well-built houses on the east bank. It was almost pretty, thought a slim blonde as he stood in the graffitied archway. Staring across the water, he could see lights flicker on in the houses as the exercise-oriented middle-agers jogged through the riverside park. The vision of a perfect city, well-trimmed gardens before clean houses in pale pastels and light grays, with the sun sparkling from the gleaming towers of the downtown area. Families with laughing mothers and fathers holding their grinning children, perhaps a dog or a cat standing with them.

Roxas snorted, and turned away from the river. Here there were no joggers, no clean gardens or grinning families. He continued walking along the gum-coated sidewalk, exhaustion-dulled blue eyes staring at his feet. Looking ahead, he could see miles along a narrow street lined with worn-out cinderblock buildings, miles of trash in the gutters. The boy turned again, drawing the sides of his trenchcoat around himself to ward off the early-morning chill. No matter that it was summer; it was always on the chilly side here.

He glared down the empty street and narrowed his eyes, giving parked cars the finger as he knocked on the door of the apartment building he called a home. The owner, used to his early-morning arrivals, ducked his head as the blonde passed and quietly shut the door behind him. The boy walked by without a glance and headed up the stairs. It had been a long night.

Opening his apartment door with a jiggle of the key, Roxas removed his heavy boots and made a beeline for the bed. Draping coat over the back of a chair, he lay down, closing his eyes in a vague attempt at sleep.

He gave up. It looked like today would be another day without rest. The boy stomped over to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him as he glanced in the mirror.

"Fuck you," Roxas muttered as deep blue eyes turned away in disgust. He wasn't here for the mirror. The blonde turned on the shower, dropping his clothes and kicking them over to the side of the room with a bare foot. The water was icy. He didn't care. Scrubbing himself all over, he lay down in the cracked porcelain tub, head back as the cold water thundered against his chest, feeling the ache as the night finally caught up with him.

The boss had gone last, as usual. A kindness, letting his cute little friend (the words accompanied by a mocking ruffle of the hair) get prepared first, the man told him, tossing his long hair back with a smirk. Prematurely gray, it matched his icy, shimmering eyes. Kindness, from him. What a laugh. The blonde ran his hand through his wet hair, giggling quietly at the gesture. It was that hair that had got him in trouble, wasn't it? That and the eyes. Sephiroth loved both of them. "Just like your brother," Roxas whispered, quoting the words murmured in his ear each night. "Isn't that right, Cloud?" he asked, running his hands across his torso. "Just what you wanted, a brother who would follow in your oh-so-illustrious footsteps."

Before the boss, it had been the usual assortment of businessmen, lawyers, and professors at the college across the water. Twelve tonight. No wonder he was tired.

The tub was nearly full. Roxas reached out a pale leg to turn the water off, nudging the handle until it stopped. He bit his lip and reached down to clean himself, meticulously checking for tears and finding none. Finished, he closed his eyes again and slipped under the water, letting his breath go in a stream of bubbles as he lay on the bottom, feeling the peace as the water muted his senses. Forever, just like this, didn't sound so bad, he thought…

He crashed to the surface, lungs burning, as he gulped breaths on unwelcome air, as his sixteen-year-old body shook. Roxas got out, draining the tub as he toweled himself dry and wandered over to the bed, tucking himself again between the scratchy sheets as he ran a long, sharp fingernail across his chest. Once, twice, thirteen times tonight, thirteen lines of red and he could finally fall asleep. Sapphire eyes slid shut as he counted his breaths, falling asleep to the sounds outside as the slums woke up.

It felt like only minutes had passed when the garish ring of his alarm clock woke Roxas up. He moaned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes before reluctantly getting out of the bed and wandering over to the window. A glance outside showed the sun setting over the flat rooftops of nearby buildings, mainly housing for the factories that were the lifeblood of this part of the city. Factories, seedy clubs, and cheap housing for the denizens of both.

He shook himself and turned away from the window. He didn't have the time to daydream, he had to get to the club. Work started soon.

The blonde turned towards the bathroom, glancing in the mirror to confirm that the lines on his chest had faded and last night's bruises were gone as well. He cursed as he stubbed his toe on the dressed, reaching down for his eyeliner. Delicately applying it, he surveyed his appearance in the mirror. It would do, Roxas decided. No lipstick was necessary, and his skin was naturally smooth, no need for any coverup. He left the bathroom, reaching out for the clothes that remained unfolded at the foot of the bed. Pulling out a stretchy fishnet shirt and a loose pair of gray jeans, he reached towards his desk to pick up a pair of black-and-white striped gloves.

Dressed, the blue-eyed boy pulled on his boots and picked up his coat, shrugging it on as he left the apartment. He quickly went down the concrete-and-metal stairs and left the building, nodded to the owner as he passed. Pushing open the heavy door, he half walked, half ran down the street to work. Club Jenova, Sephiroth's own little playground.

Today was Sunday, June 21st. His birthday, the longest day of the year, and the shortest night. "Happy birthday, Roxas." He whispered the words to himself. Another night of selling yourself to men who want some stress relief because they can't get along with their wives. Another day of dreamless sleep... if you're lucky. And tomorrow the same thing. Happy birthday, Roxas. Happy birthday.