A/N: Another nap-time special. Got this while referencing Axel's cut-scenes in COM and KH 2. In my eyes, he's Reno without Reno's Turk discipline. Hence, Axel was the part of Reno that was Street Rat before he became Turk. Reno's actually going to try to be the "responsible adult" here. Yeah. Good luck with that, yo! Reno comes from Final Fantasy 7. Originally published 11/29/08. 2nd Revision 7/22/09.
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Summary: Roxas is so cold without Axel. Axel's Somebody, Reno shows up. Roxas will be warmed with or without Sora's help.
Pairings: Sora in body(Roxas in mind)/Reno, Cloud/Leon (Squall)
Warnings: Shonen-Ai (for now), Non-Con (Sort Of), Cursing, Reference to Character Death
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this fan fiction. All characters in this story are eighteen and older.
Chapter 1 - The Street Rat Returns
XXX
All of Sora's friends believed Roxas to be fully integrated back into Sora.
In fact, Sora expressly telegraphed to the 'ones in the know,' that Roxas would remain a thing of the past.
For the first time in his life, Sora lied.
Sora's personality had completely split into goody two-shoes Sora and angry, horny Roxas.
After defeating Xemnas, and returning to Destiny Islands, Sora began a tentative relationship with Riku.
During dates, Roxas would remain silent.
However, once Sora returned home, usually when attempting to sleep, Roxas would fill unwilling ears with poisonous slander against Riku. "Cold. Riku's so cold. Selfish and vain. He does everything for his own benefit. You're just the willing carpet he walks on, to open the door to his desires. It's been this way, since you were children. While you slept, he did not change. He will always be this way. He will never warm us with his cold version of love."
In denial, Sora tossed-and-turned, mumbling he and Riku wanted to take things slow. He had asked Riku to give him time to get used to the homosexual relationship.
Riku had bowed to Sora's wishes, glad Sora had agreed to the relationship at all. He respected Sora's love.
Roxas met Sora's excuses with scorn and ridicule. In comparison, he would hold up his fiery relationship with Axel. "Respect? Choice? My burning Love, from first glance, never gave me an option. I was never allowed a room of my own. From the first day, through my fear and my tears, he took my body, over and over, until I finally begged for more."
"Your precious Riku did all his deeds to save himself from the Darkness. My Axel gave up everything out of yearning for me. He schemed, killed, and died all for love of me. You've seen and experienced all my memories, Sora. How dare you even think of comparing this tepid crush with Riku with my everlasting love with Axel?"
By this time, Sora would always be in tears.
Roxas spoke this way, not out of malice, but out of hope that Sora would not settle for less. For a short time, he had tasted his form of Heaven with Axel. He wished for his beloved Other to have the same.
After six months of this continuous mental torture, with eighteenth birthday come and gone, Sora broke up with a confused and enraged Riku.
Leaving Destiny Islands for good, Sora returned to his extended family in Radiant Garden.
XXX
Since Sora had been gone, Leon, formerly Squall Leonhart, had married Cloud Strife. From their first meeting, in Traverse Town, he had adopted Sora for a little brother.
Welcoming Sora, with open arms, Leon had set up a clean and airy room for the young man.
Going by his relationship with Cloud, Leon knew how to handle dealing with a person with mental problems.
Actually, Cloud had been the first person to bring up Sora's second personality. Right off the bat, he recognized the signs, having experienced them himself.
With him and Cloud for a living example, Leon hoped Sora would be able to find a true soul-mate of his own, since Roxas's had died.
Sora spent the days helping Cloud with his delivery service, and Tifa at her newly built bar, Seventh Heaven.
With the location change, Roxas failed to be ecstatic. For him, the situation remained the same.
When Roxas felt particularly down, Cid would fly Sora to Twilight Town.
Sora would meet with Hayner, Pence, and Olette.
The diversion would seem to liven up Roxas for a little while. But even then, seeing the places where he once met up with Axel, his spirits would descend even further.
At wit's end, the Gods answered Sora's prayers. Actually, the Gods answered Roxas's prayers.
Sora, like always, came along for the ride.
XXX
Eating breakfast, Cloud, Leon, and Sora talked about their plans for the day.
A strident pounding rattled the front door.
With an uncharacteristic, snarling frown, Cloud yanked open the door. He seemed to know exactly who it would be. "Thought you were dead."
A smirking, slouching, pony-tailed red-head waved an Electro-Magnetic Rod. "Nah, Strife. Take more than a few Heartless to kill this Turk. Cid won't let me start work 'til he's got the ship fully loaded. Got any breakfast? Starvin' here, yo."
Sora's eyebrows rose. What an odd man.
Roxas, on the other hand, cried and laughed at the same time. Oh love! His love's Other! He could feel the missed warmth all the way to the table.
Leon came up from behind a tense Cloud.
Ocean-blue eyes widening, Reno whistled in appreciation. "So this is the Mrs. Strife? Damn, Cloud! You hit the jackpot. Ya mate got any siblings, yo?"
"If he did, Reno, I sure wouldn't let him tell you."
Snorting, Reno leaned against the doorway. "Well, Strife, ya may be wearin' a skirt now, but the undies are still too tight, yo."
Sora crept up behind Leon, so Reno wouldn't see him.
Even though Roxas danced with joy in his brain, Sora felt scared.
Except for differing facial tattoos, the man could have been Axel reborn.
Although Axel had died helping him, he had hurt Sora numerous times before.
Sora believed he had been as silent as the grave.
However, the man seemed to have other senses at his disposal.
Like a fox on the prowl, Reno's nostrils flared with Sora's scent.
Before Cloud could close the door, Reno had darted around the couple. With long arms, he embraced a squealing Sora. "Aw Strife! Ya holdin' out on this Turk! Man! I ain't smelled nothin' this virgin fresh in forever, yo!"
Reno turned to find First Tsurugi pointing at his twitching nose. "Put Sora down or lose the ponytail permanently."
After rubbing his nose in Sora's hair, inhaling the scent, Reno slowly allowed the wriggling boy to slide down to the floor. "Just kiddin', Strife. Not kiddin' 'bout breakfast, though."
Sora felt indignant.
Roxas purred.
Ushering Reno to the breakfast table, Leon gave him a full plate to eat.
Reno chowed down like he hadn't eaten in a week.
When Leon brought it up, Cloud shrugged. He stated Reno always ate like that.
With everyone resuming their seats, Leon inquired on Reno's arrival. "Got here two days ago, from Traverse Town. Only place I could find guys I knew. Cid's always been top drawer. Gave me a pilotin' job right off the bat, yo."
"Were you a pilot before, on your home planet?"
Reno stopped eating for a minute. He peered at Leon, with one eye slightly squinted. "You could say that. Official job title was Turk, yo."
"Turk?"
Cloud leaned forward, on his elbows, to emphasize his point. "Turks did all the dirty-dealing for Shinra. The blackmailing, ball-busting, espionage, and assassinations."
Witnessing Leon's paling of skin, Reno grinned, and winked at Cloud. "Don't forget helicopter pilotin', yo."
Ignoring Reno, Cloud directed his attention to a wide-eyed Sora. "Sora, isn't it time for your shift at Tifa's?"
Sora glanced up at the clock. "Oh gosh darnit! You're right! Sorry! Nice to meet ya, Mr. Reno. I gotta go! Bye!"
With a hug around Cloud's shoulders, and a kiss to Leon's still pale cheek, Sora ran out the door, holding his skateboard.
Clearing his throat, Leon felt ill, noticing Reno's sly eyes still gazing at the door. "So… Reno. How long do you plan on staying in Radiant Garden?"
Eyes darting back to meet Leon's, Reno winked. "Wasn't sure before, Mrs. Strife. Now I'm thinkin' it'll be permanent like, yo."
Hearing Cloud's low growl, Leon placed a comforting hand on his husband's knee. "Oh… well. How lovely."
With a content sigh, Reno tipped his chair back, patting a full stomach. "Yep. Lookin' lovelier by the minute, yo."
XXX
Sora could barely work.
Roxas filled Sora's mind, with his 'dealings' with Axel, over the year he had been asleep.
Sora felt nauseous. He believed Roxas's relationship, with Axel, had been primarily one of sexual and mental abuse from both sides. In the end, the abuse outweighing the true love.
Sora could never see himself in a long-standing relationship like that.
Roxas screamed Sora didn't have a choice. He finally had the warmth back. He would never leave his love's flames again. No matter how much they burned him.
In frustration, Sora began to cry.
"Hey kid, watcha cryin' for, yo?"
Sora looked up, from drying washed beer glasses, to a concerned looking Reno.
Oh. Roxas didn't lie. He had never lied about Axel.
Sora had lied to himself.
In his fiery rage, Axel had lit the very Darkness with his snarling beauty.
In all their meetings, till the very end, Sora had found Axel absolutely mesmerizing.
With the teenager still staring, Reno arched an eyebrow. Well, like the Missus Strife, the kid looked pretty, but he gave off weird vibes like Cloud. "Somethin' on my face, yo?"
Sora shook his head to clear it, joggling Roxas into a semblance of silence. "Sorry. You just look like someone I used to know."
Reno sniggered. Since arriving from the destroyed World of Gaia, he'd been told he looked like a bad guy. A dead bad guy, at that. Just what he loved to hear. "Ya talkin' 'bout that Axel freak. Ain't ya?"
Roxas reared his irate head, but Sora screamed. "Lazy fucker! How dare you call my dead husband a freak! Should cut your eyes out for that!"
Jumping back, Reno peered at the growling Sora before him. Hmm. Hair lighter. Eyes bluer. Yep, just like Strife. "Ya got a hanger-on in there. Don't ya, yo?"
Roxas sulked at being caught by Axel's Other so readily. He should have known. He could never hide from Axel. What made him think he could hide from Reno? "Not a hanger-on. I'm Roxas. I'm Sora's Nobody. Axel, my husband, he was your Nobody. He died helping Sora."
Drumming long white fingers on the bar, Reno squinted at his Nobody's mate. He shook his head to himself. Fucking jailbait. The missing Street Rat part of him had gone straight for the jailbait. He had married the poor kid too; not giving him any way out. "Poor kid. How the fuck did ya survive? I hated, and tried to forget that part of me, once I got good with the Turks. Shouldn't have done it to ya, Roxas. Street rat should've left ya alone, yo."
Roxas gave Reno a fierce glare, quick to protect the husband, who could speak for himself no longer. "Axel loved me! We didn't always get along. I may have run away a couple of times, but he always loved me!"
With a tilt of the head, Reno rolled ocean-blue eyes. "Sure, kid. I bet he loved ya. Let me guess how he loved ya. Ya meet. Ya turn him down flat 'cause he's a walkin' asshole. He don't take no for an answer and kidnaps ya. He marries ya, so ya legally can't get away. He rapes ya, until ya don't know up from down. He never leaves ya alone, so he's the only one ya can count on. Ya run away. He finds ya, beats ya, maybe rapes ya again, and brings ya back to the same misery ya were in before. Soundin' familiar, yo?"
Roxas refused to look at Reno.
Sora bawled inside.
While Reno recited the pattern, Roxas ran through memories one by one.
Absolutely spot-on, Reno could have been reading Roxas's mind.
Sora couldn't believe Roxas survived the first week, much less a whole year with Axel.
"I don't care how it looks. Axel loved me. I know he loved me." Roxas looked up, with an air of determination. "You'll love us too. I took care of Axel. I knew how to calm his rage down. No one else could but me. We'll take care of you."
If Reno hadn't been sitting down, he would have backed up. He shook his head in bewilderment. Kid was nuts. Nuts like Strife, and that would be crazy with a capital C. "Ain't gonna let ya, Kid. Ya may have been married to the Street Rat. He loved ya, for sure. Maybe even loved Sora, in the end, from what I heard. But Sora wasn't married to him, I ain't married to you. Ain't gonna be. Sora deserves better. Leave him be, yo."
Leaning forward, Roxas purred the way Axel had always loved. "You loved us before. You'll love us again. Sora won't admit the truth, but we need your love to survive."
Against his will, Reno found his body responding. He moved towards the possessed boy.
Roxas, in Sora's body, grabbed a wide-eyed Reno's sloppy collar, pulling him out of the bar stool. "I'll have your warmth again, whether you, or Sora, want it or not!"
With that declaration, Roxas jammed firm lips onto Reno's, sticking his tongue down Reno's shocked throat.
