Disclaimer: We do not own Kingdom Hearts…. If we did the pairings would be cannon!

Warnings: This story contains malexmale relations and mentions of various forms of past abuse. Don't like, don't read. :]

Rest in Peace

Chapter Two

Getting to Know You

"Yeah." Roxas snapped his phone shut and turned around, masking the broken look on his face with an emotionless cover…

"As I was saying before, what about you, anybody important in your life?" Roxas asked, his voice deadpanned.

'That jackass! How could he? After... After... All of that...?'

There were a thousand questions Axel wanted to ask. However, he had seen that expression a thousand times before. He just met Roxas, after all, so, he had no right asking something that personal. For now he would let it lie.

"Naw. Had a thing with Demyx, the guy that texted me earlier. We ended up kinda breaking it off. He was just too much hyperness for me and I just wasn't right for him. So we just sorta mutually decided to let it go, especially when he confessed he had a crush on another student that worked in the library. We're still really close so it's not a big deal," Axel explained with a shrug.

Then, he laughed. "We were like water and fire. Incredibly amazing together at first but after a while we started destroying each other. Since him I haven't had anyone, not really," he paused and glanced at the ceiling for a minute. "Well there was that one week fling with Larxene, but she got way too crazy and I was afraid that she was going to remove my balls in a fit of rage or something."

He smirked and shifted his gaze back to Roxas. "I'm bi, by the way. I don't think a person's gender should really matter if there is a connection. Don't worry, I won't hit on you unless you give me good reason to," he said with a wink.

Roxas let out a less-than-half-hearted laugh and stood, returning to his bed and unzipping his second suitcase. He riffled through it while he spoke.

"It's cool that you guys are still friends. I've known a few people that have gone through some nasty break-ups that used to be best friends," he replied, trying to sound as interested as he actually was. After being hit in the face with such a betrayal, Roxas was sure that if he displayed any emotion, he would start bawling.

"I'm not really sure what I am," he ventured, finally finding his panda plushie and climbing back onto his bed. He hugged the stuffed animal to his chest and curled around it, resting his back on the wall behind him. "I mean, I guess, in theory I could be bi, or whatever... But I never really considered the possibility until... Regardless, I guess I'm somewhat undecided," he finished. Roxas cast a glance at the picture he had set aside, earlier. With a blank face, he picked it up and ripped it in two, then four, then eight, tossing the pieces down on the floor in front of him.

"How'd you find out you were bi?" He questioned, pretending as if the picture never existed and that it didn't make him feel completely and utterly worthless and betrayed. He looked up at Axel and found the redhead's bright green eyes trained on him.

Axel didn't comment on the picture, the stuffed toy, or obvious dodge of subject. This kid obviously had a good deal of issues, however Axel was no stranger to that. The entire group of friends he ran with all had their own issues, and Axel was very familiar with 'no tell, no ask' rules. Roxas's question, however, he could answer and with some detail to help keep the kid's minds occupied.

"Well let's see. I dated a few girls in middle school and stuff. It was a lot of that cute little kid love and all the crap. Then I got here and met Dem and we became fast friends. I had a few girlfriends freshmen year of high school. The longest lasted five months, but, by sophomore year, that was that.

"Demyx and I were good friends by that time so it wasn't any big deal. I had friends I figured I didn't need a girlfriend. One weekend I went home to visit my family and came back on Sunday night. When I got back I found Demyx curled up in my bed. He had gone home to see his family for the weekend too.

"When I called to him and he sat up and looked at me he was black and blue all over. It took an hour of me holding him sobbing in my arms before I could even get a solid word out of him, two more for a straight sentence. Turned out his dad was beating him every time he went home but Demyx was afraid to not to go home since his dad threatened to come here and drag him there.

"I eventually convinced Demyx to turn the bastard in and he is behind bars for God knows what else in addition to abuse. Dem never did tell me the whole story. I know he doesn't mind others knowing because he'll tell anyone who asks him what I've told you," Axel added almost as an afterthought. He took a small breath before launching into the rest of the story.

"After that, I understood why Demyx always seemed to look unsettled when someone approached him quickly or grabbed him. He said I was the only one he felt safe being touched by. After several nights of him sleeping in my arms I guess we both just starting feeling more for each other.

"The first time we kissed Demyx just sort of rolled over and asked me if he could kiss me. I told him 'Why the hell not,' and you can imagine where it went from there."

Roxas nodded. His mind began to wander and he decided to keep it busy by asking more questions.

"What's Demyx like?" He mused, falling on his side and curling up. He was still trembling, but he wasn't cold. He was scared. Roxas couldn't believe that his best friend was going out with the school terrorist (bully didn't even begin to describe Seifer), the very same person that had... done that to Roxas not even three months ago. Roxas felt tears well up in his eyes, but he swallowed them down and kept his mind and eyes focused on one thing. Axel.

Roxas was, to say the least, intrigued by the redhead. Not to mention studying him gave Roxas's mind something to do. The blonde really did think that Axel was handsome - well, hot, but still. Axel was an odd character, he had pointy features, but not so much that it made him look weird. He had those piercing green eyes matched with his bright red hair. Not to mention he had to be, like, tall. Hell, even his arms and legs were long. But, speaking of hair, one question tugged at Roxas's mind.

"Demyx is probably the most hyper and bubbly person you will find. Some of it is a front, but most of it is just how he is. He is a very touch sensitive person to those that he know and trusts. We still hug all the time and kiss on occasions and make out when we both are a bit stressed or had too much to drink. Pretty much if Demyx runs up and practically tackles you, you're pretty important to him."

As he spoke he focused on Roxas. He could tell from his experience with Demyx that Roxas was on the edge of losing it. His instincts were telling him to go over and wrap the kid in his arms, but he had no idea if that would make it better or worse. They had only just met after all. He settled for offering more information to the blond.

"Demyx loves just about everything music and he plays several instruments as well as just listening it himself. He's a big player in the music department here and they love him down there."

"Do you use any hair product?" Roxas questioned, after Axel had spoken.

He grinned. "This is all natural and one of my better days. Some days it kinda sags so I have to gel it to normal but this is all me. Dem says it's super soft and he seems very fascinated with touching it all the time."

Roxas nodded, taking in the information like a much needed drink. He picked at the edges of the tag on his plushie, his eyes flickering around the room. He noticed that Axel really didn't have much up on his walls. Or on his side of the room, period. A bitter smile grew on Roxas's face. Hayner had said that if they were ever to get into this school together, they'd share a room and their walls would be completely covered in pictures and random things. Roxas shook his head and cleared his throat.

"That's cool. You said before that Demyx has a boyfriend?" He inquired, his eyes moving back to Axel. The redhead looked oddly concerned. Well, not so oddly. Roxas knew that Axel must have realized by now that something was wrong.

"Yeah," Axel answered immediately. "I don't really know the guy all that well since he is kinda more the silent type, but he treats Dem really well, they are roommates now. I assume he is ok with Demyx and I still being close. I've never asked and he has never said anything about it. All I know is Demyx is happy with him so no complaints here."

Green eyes continued to study the kid and Axel decided that the teen was half trapped in his own memories and thoughts and half trying to crawl his way out of them. The problem was, he didn't know how to help his new roommate. If it had been Demyx, he would have pulled him into his lap and cuddle him while they talked so that Demyx would have the physical contact to focus on as well.

His familiar instincts pulled at Axel to do something. The problem was he didn't know what to do other then continue to answer Roxas questions honestly. If that was one thing that Axel was, it was honest. When asked a question he would never lie no matter what the answer would be. He had had too much of that in his life already.

Before Roxas could reply, he felt his phone vibrate, again. He pulled it from his pocket and stared at the caller ID.

Hayner

The blonde debated whether or not he should answer it. He let the phone continue to ring until his voice mail picked up. A few moments later, his phone beeped, signaling that he had a new voice mail message. Roxas didn't dial his answering machine, as his cell phone had offered. He stared at the screen blankly.

"Should I have answered that?" He mumbled, more to himself than anything else. "I don't need this right now," he sighed, tossing his phone to the floor. "Sorry, about all this... I'm kind of in a bit of a rough spot, right now..." Roxas sighed, casting his eyes down into the blankets as he curled his arms tighter around himself and the stuffed toy.

Axel shrugged as if it didn't matter. "It happens. I, uh, I'm not sure what I should do to help," he admitted scratching the back of his head lightly and gazing at the blond sheepishly. "I mean I'm only used to helping Dem through stuff and he deals best by lots of touch and lots of talk, but I, uh, don't know what to do to help you."

He felt a little stupid for admitting that to Roxas, after all how many people who had just met opened up to each other, roommate or not. Still Axel felt that Roxas was genuinely a good kid and he could never stand to see someone like that hurting. "Uh, you wanna talk about it or something? Just tell me what you want me to do," Axel said, rather uncertainly.

Roxas was a little taken aback at Axel's words, but he smiled nonetheless.

"Thanks for your concern," he mumbled, sitting up. "I mean, I'm not sure if I can really talk about it, specifically..." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I mean, I'm having a hard time coming to terms with it, myself..." Roxas let out a humorless laugh, pursing his lips, then opening his mouth to talk again. He closed it, then sighed, again. "Basically, my ex-best friend is now going out with the reason that I transferred here..."

In truth, that was exactly what was bothering Roxas, but it wasn't the whole story. Even three months later, Roxas still hadn't gotten over the fact that he had been completely violated and the person who did it didn't even get caught. And, now, that person was all gushy-gushy with Roxas's crib-buddy. Roxas was also worried for Hayner. Seeing as Seifer had done that to him, Roxas could only hope that Hayner had enough sense to get away before anything bad happened. Roxas felt a tear slide down his cheek and angrily wiped it away.

He laughed at himself bitterly, unable to stop the flow of tears from his eyes. The blonde felt his face contort and dropped it into his palms. "Just being here is nice," he said, his voice choked, in reply to Axel's question of what he could do. "Or a hug. Yeah, that would be fucking great, right about now." A strangled sob escaped Roxas's throat and his entire body shook.

A soft smile spread across Axel's face. A hug was something he could do. He snagged the fuzzy red throw that was on his bed and wrapped it around himself, being sure that the opening was in front of him, before making his way to the other bed in the room. Axel skipped touching Roxas for the moment and chose instead to settle himself against the head board of the bed. Once he was comfortable he reached out and drew the teen into his arms.

Roxas was small enough - compared to Axel - that he would be able to get most of the teen into his lap and wrapped securely in the blanket. It was one of Demyx's favorite positions when he was upset and he had told Axel numerous times that being surrounded by both the teen and the blanket made him feel safe. Of course, Demyx had gone on to tease him about his incredibly long arms and legs that made it so easy for him to wrap around other people.

Once Axel had Roxas on his lap and the blanket wrapped around the both of them, he settled one arm across the blonds waist firmly enough that he would feel like he was being held but loose enough that Roxas could still feel like he could get out if he wanted to. The other hand stroked through blond locks in soothing motion that he had found worked with Demyx.

"I won't say that it can't be anything too horrible because that isn't true. Even if it isn't horrible to other people, it is to you and that's bad enough. You don't have to talk about it until you want to, you don't even have to think about it if you don't want to, but maybe it would help to cry about it," Axel said softly.

Roxas tensed at first, but relaxed once the redhead started combing through his hair. For some odd reason, it just made him feel so comfortable. He leaned into Axel and rested his head on the redhead's chest. He shivered with the effort to restrain his sobs while the redhead talked, but, as soon as he said 'cry about it,' Roxas had let loose some long over-due tears.

Today was the first time he'd cried since the exact moment that it happened. Roxas curled himself into a tighter ball against Axel, and squeezed his eyes shut.

"I-i'm s-sor-ry," he hiccupped, tears still freely flowing from his eyes. "Y-yo-u'd th-ink th-at af-fter all th-is ti-hime I-i'd be-e ov-er i-it..." His body shook violently, though he tried to force himself to be still. Being next to Axel and under the blanket, though, was helping some. The hand on his waist was reassuring and just having the redhead next to him made Roxas feel like he wasn't as alone as he thought he was.

"Shh, it's alright. It's been over a year for Demyx and there are nights he still wakes me up sobbing." Axel smoothed his hand through the boy's hair and cradled him to his body gently. He found it actually rather humorous that the blond still woke him up for comfort when his roommate was his boyfriend. As far as he knew, they shared the same bed. He wondered idly what Zexion thought of his boyfriend sneaking out of their room to go find comfort in the arms of his ex. "There is nothing wrong with feeling and there is nothing wrong with being upset over whatever it is."

Axel knew that the best thing for the blond right now was to continue to cry out his frustration and fear. This, the red head was used to and he was well prepared to hold Roxas for a long as the teen needed him to.

Roxas only settled for nodding, not trusting his voice one bit. He stiffened at the sound of his phone ringing, once again. The blonde shrunk closer into Axel and pulled his legs up to his chest; Roxas would be happy if he never touched that phone again. Roxas felt his chest constrict in another sob and decided that now would be a great time for breathing.

His once-favorite song still blared from his cell phone, but he refused to reach out and grab it, or even look at it. He was sure it was either Hayner or Olette and he really didn't feel like talking to them.

'How did I even let that happen?' He berated himself. 'Couldn't I have just turned him in? No. You know what he said he'd do if you ever reported it - and you know he'd really do it.' A shiver ran down the blonde's spine. 'Axel's right, I don't have to even think about it if I don't want to. And I don't, so I won't.'

"Thank you, Axel," Roxas mumbled, after regaining his breath and calming down, marginally. He hadn't stopped crying, but it wasn't as violent as before.

"You're welcome, Rox," Axel replied. For now he would just leave the blond be. He knew eventually he would have to help and/or encourage the blond to deal with it, but until then he could offer plenty of comfort.

Axel leaned to the side haphazardly and snatched Roxas's phone off the floor. He pressed the stop button, sending the caller immediately to the blonde's voice mail before flipping the device open. Then he quickly found and pressed the power button, shutting it off. Once the screen went dark he leaned back over and set it on the floor.

"You can turn it back on and check your messages, later," Axel said as he straightened and resettled the blond in his lap. His arm had remained around Roxas waist and now the other one joined it wrapping around the boys shoulders.

Roxas sat on Axel's lap quite comfortably, happy that the redhead was his roommate. Regardless, Roxas couldn't help but feel a little guilty and a bit awkward about it all. What kind of position had he put Axel in, let alone himself? Sure, Axel was used to it because of Demyx, but Roxas wasn't really good at showing his emotions around his own family, let alone a person he had just met.

It was rather odd, the feeling of safety that radiated from Axel, so much so that Roxas just opened up involuntarily. Had his roommate been anybody else, Roxas would've played on the emotionless façade, or just retreated to the bathroom, as he usually would when he felt like crying in school. He never cried in the bathroom, of course, because that was girly and, if anybody caught him in there crying, he'd certainly be labeled as a fag - which he certainly was not.

Not that there was anything wrong with being gay. Hell, Axel was just bi and there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. But, Roxas had to wonder, were all gay people this nice? No. His brain immediately replied. Seifer wasn't nice. At all. And he was gay. But Hayner was nice. And he'd had his fair share of girlfriends. So, maybe it was just bi people that were so nice. Roxas felt like he was a nice person... So, maybe he was bi, after all...

Somewhere in between his musings, Roxas had completely stopped crying and was just resting limply against Axel's chest. He relished in the feeling of Axel's arms around him. Awkward as it was, Roxas thought he might get used to that feeling -.

No. He wouldn't because he wasn't gay. Yet, his mind nagged him. Sighing, Roxas decided that being bi, or gay, or whatever couldn't be all that bad and maybe, because of Axel (no less), he could, in theory, give it a try.

Axel sat holding Roxas, completely unaware of what the other teen was pondering. There was a knock on the door and before Axel could tell the person to go away, the door open inwards and a blond bounced in.

"Axel!" Demyx exclaimed as he shut the door behind him. A confused expression fell across his face as he found his best friend in the wrong bed, with another person in his lap. A smile spread across his face and he bounded over, landing lightly on the bed by their knees.

"Hi! I'm Demyx! You must be Axel's new roommate!" he exclaimed in greeting.

"Demyx, I told you not now," Axel said, irritated.

"Yeah I know, but I was soooo bored, so I thought I would stop by," he said in explanation. "He's cute!"

To say the least, Roxas was startled. Well, he was more like he was completely and utterly scared out of his flipping mind. The only thing he could really do was blink.

"H-hi?" He stuttered, unconsciously pressing himself further against Axel. He felt himself blush at Demyx's words and retreat even further into the comfort of the warm blanket and Axel's arms. The blonde wasn't exactly what he expected from Axel's description, but Roxas supposed that first impressions often were a bit... off. Especially when you're half-dead and disoriented beyond reason.

Roxas felt like a little kid being yelled at for something he didn't do; confused and scared. He was sure his expression had changed to that of a hurt, wet cat. He turned and hid his face in Axel's shirt. Roxas felt stupid and really pitiful, but, honestly, he couldn't exactly help it.

"Hi!" Demyx returned, then he began to pout upon seeing the blonde's expression. "I don't think he likes me."

"I told you not now, you idiot," Axel gripped at swung his foot out and kicked Demyx in the leg. He let his foot drag across the leg on the way back so that Demyx would know he wasn't too upset. He rubbed his hand in soothing circles around Roxas back. "It's okay, Rox, someone probably gave this moron sugar again. This is how he gets when is left unattended for too long."

Demyx stilled for a moment and locked eyes with Axel. Something seemed to pass between them and Axel shook his head slightly. He knew that Demyx understood much more then he gave him credit for and part of the blonde's hyperness was to cover his own insecurity.

"Hey Ax, do you still have my extra baby in here?" he asked with his smile returning.

"Yeah, under my bed," the red head answered returning the smile with one of his own.

Demyx bounded off of Roxas bed and fished under Axel's for a minute before emerging triumphant with a guitar case. The blond popped it open and removed the instrument. He spent a few moments tuning it before his fingers began to play some soothing melodies.

Axel leaned down so he could talk in quiet tones to Roxas. "See, everything is fine. Just relax. You're safe here," he murmured knowing that had been a big issue for Demyx and still was.

He raised his head slightly and looked at the blonde who was playing the guitar and Demyx smiled softly at him. He knew Demyx would much rather be playing beside him, where he could be touching him, but he knew Demyx had realized the effect he had had mistakenly had on the new blonde. If anyone understood Roxas, it was probably Demyx, and Axel figured he would never know exactly how much the two were alike. Maybe if he could get them acquainted they would be good for each other.

Roxas drew in a shaky breath and closed his eyes, nodding. He sighed and turned half out of Axel's arm, sinking down next to him, instead. The arm around Roxas's waist was still there, but Roxas felt a little too open for his comfort without the other arm. He told himself to suck it up and just leaned into Axel's side a bit.

Opening his eyes, Roxas looked over at Demyx. He had curious haircut, to say the least. It didn't look bad at all, just something that Roxas was sure that not a lot of other people could pull off. Roxas bit his lip, embarrassed for his reaction to Demyx's initial introduction. The short blonde wanted to say something, but he didn't; he quite enjoyed the music and felt his eyelids grow heavier by the second.

Somehow (he couldn't recall, for his brain was temporarily fried beyond repair), Roxas managed to slide down on his bed and use Axel's leg for a pillow. He curled into a ball, as was his usual sleeping position, and let his eyes drop completely closed. The music coming from Demyx's guitar faded slowly, and Roxas sighed one last time before falling asleep.

Once Roxas was asleep, Demyx finished the song he was playing and set the guitar to the side. He quietly crossed the room and crawled onto the bed on Axel's other side. The red head immediately lifted his arm letting Demyx press up against and snuggle into his other side.

"He's like I was isn't he?" Demyx asked softly as he nuzzled into Axel's chest.

"Yeah, I think he might be Dem," the red head replied just as quietly as he stroked his hand affectionately down Demyx's side. "He hasn't told me anything really. I'm just sorta guessing it may be kinda the same thing. Although it took forever to get you to tell me some of it and I don't think you have told me all of it still."

Demyx tilted his head up and smiled the secretive smile at Axel. "You may never tell me, and that is alright," he reached up with his other hand and brushed back a piece of stray hair before tilting the teen's head up so that their lips could meet.

The kiss was gentle and brief and Demyx pulled back smiling. "Thank you," he said softly. Axel only smiled and returned his other hand Roxas.

"So how are you and Zexion doing?" he asked in hushed tones so as to not bother Roxas, but wearing his classic smirk nonetheless.

"Good," Demyx simply replied with an evasive smile. Axel knew when to push and when not to and in this he left well enough alone.

"Let me know if he is being a jerk and I'll kick his ass for you."

Demyx laughed lightly. "Thanks Ax."

"Anytime."

-o-o-o-o-o-

Truth be told, the teenager wasn't surprised when Demyx didn't answer his phone. Nor was he surprised when Demyx wasn't in their room when he got back from work. Zexion sighed, his lip twitching slightly as he dropped his bag on his bed. Something was wrong. There was something that Demyx wasn't telling him. And, so help him God, Zexion would figure it out. First step was to find Demyx. And Zexion knew - though he really wished he didn't - that Demyx was in Axel's room. As usual.

Demyx thought that Zexion didn't know that he left in the middle of the night. And it was always to Axel's room. One night, the slate-haired teenager had gotten up to guts to follow him and saw him duck into Axel's room before returning to his own room to toss and turn through another sleepless night.

He really wished that Demyx would just open up a bit. Zexion was a laid-back, easy-going kind of person, so he honestly really wouldn't mind if there was something that Demyx needed that Zexion couldn't give him. Albeit, he would've liked to know that something was so he could, maybe, try to help.

Plopping down on his bed with his head in his hands, Zexion let out a resigned sigh. He laid back and stretched out, his hands behind his head and his eyes closed, knowing he wouldn't sleep until he knew Demyx was back and sleeping. And Lord knew how long that would take.

-o-o-o-o-o-

"Demyx," Axel spoke after a while. "Don't you think you should head back to your room?"

"Don't wanna, you're warm," the blond murmured groggily.

"Yeah, but I bet your boyfriend is back now and wondering where you are," Axel said with a smirk.

"Oh, shit!" Demyx exclaimed in a hushed tone coming awake fully and sitting up. "Thanks Ax! Call you later!" he cried as he leapt from the bed and literally ran out the door.

Axel chuckled lightly at his friends antics. He carefully lifted Roxas head from his leg and slipped a pillow under it. He rose and flipped off the light before returning to the bed where Roxas was laying. There he lay alongside the blond just barely touching him. He didn't want to smother the blond but he wanted to be there in case he awoke.

Roxas stirred slightly and sighed. Within a few seconds, he settled back down and swallowed. He felt the bed sink next to him and felt a small smile cross his face. Within a few moments he was drowsy again and he slipped back into sleep.

Axel, once he was settled beside Roxas, felt himself beginning to drift off. He had always been a cuddler so he was not really responsible for how he awoke in the morning. With that in mind he let himself drift off.

-o-o-o-o-o-

By the time Demyx reached his own room he had slowed his full tilt run to a sedated walk. Carefully he turned the knob and edged open the door, not wanting to wake his roommate/boyfriend in the event that the teen was sleeping. He slipped inside and sure enough there was Zexion on his bed fully clothed with his eyes closed.

Quietly Demyx crept to his own bed and sat on it. It would take him a few minutes to decide if he wanted to go to sleep or not so he decided to spend those few moments gazing at his boyfriend.

He really didn't mean to keep the secrets he did from the teen, and Zexion really did sooth him in a way Axel couldn't, but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to tell the teen the secrets that he held.

Zexion heard the door click shut and opened an eye.

"Dem?" He murmured, sitting up and resting on his elbows. He frowned. "Where were you?" He questioned groggily. "I was worried."

Demyx blushed faintly and looked to the side. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry. I was over with Axel. He got a new roommate today," Demyx said as a way of explanation.

Zexion raised his eyebrows and sighed. He knew the blonde wasn't telling the full story, but he left it alone. He nodded and sat up fully.

"It's okay," he hummed, standing and walking over to Demyx's bed. Zexion took the blonde's face in his hands, a concerned look etched into his features. "Demyx... I know I'm not really the most comforting person in the world, but you can tell me anything. You know me... I don't judge, and whatever it is that you're hiding won't change my opinion of you in any way." His eyebrows creased and he sighed. "You should get some sleep, no skipping first block tomorrow," he ordered, softly, planting a small kiss on is boyfriend's forehead. Zexion brushed a strand of blonde hair from Demyx's eyes and smiled. "Good night, Dem," he mumbled.

"Zexion," Demyx said softly as he put his hands on the teen's wrists. "I know..." he knew that he really could tell then teen anything but that didn't stop his overwhelming fear of telling the secret to any. He and Axel had been best friends and he only told him because the man had held him while he was so broken. Demyx felt that he had owed Axel that much.

"There is nothing to tell Zexion," Demyx said softly, yet as he spoke he couldn't bring himself to look Zexion in the eyes. "You sleep well, too." Demyx leaned forward and pressed his lips to Zexion's quickly.

During the short kiss, Zexion's blood boiled but he stopped himself before he reacted. He just smiled and shook his head.

"You're a really bad liar, Dem," he sighed, letting his hands fall from Demyx's face and returned to his own bedside. "Make sure you shut off the light before you go to bed," was all he said before slipping between his sheets. He knew he was being cold and that it really wasn't what Demyx needed right now, but he was tired and fed up. Either way, this was the closest Zexion ever got to showing his anger - at least to Demyx. As an afterthought, he added, "Wake me up if you need anything."

Demyx rose and shut of the light before returning to his bed where he clenched his eyes shut and burrowed by touch alone underneath his blankets. Tears pooled at the corners of his eyes as he wrapped his arms around himself. He wanted so badly to tell Zexion the truth. He knew he had upset the man with his constant evasion of what was wrong with him but for some reason he still couldn't force himself to say anything.

At the moment Demyx tried the hardest he could to comfort himself. He wanted so bad to run to Axel's comforting arms. The red head wouldn't ask. He never had. He just knew when Demyx was ready to talk. He knew that if he didn't that he would only upset his boyfriend further, so he would simply have to tough it out alone. "I'm sorry Zexion," he whispered softly.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Zexion didn't sleep that night, at all. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but he couldn't. Since he'd heard Demyx apologize, he felt extremely guilty. He was just so fed up with people lying to him. First, his parents, then his brother, and now his boyfriend.

Zexion sat on the edge of his bed, staring at Demyx. He sighed and creased his eyebrows. He stood up and walked to his boyfriend's bedside, again. The slate-haired teenager kneeled beside Demyx's bed and rested his head on the mattress.

"I'm sorry, Dem... I'm pushing you too hard. If only I could know what you've been through," he mumbled, brushing the back of his hand lightly against the blonde's cheek. Somewhere throughout the night, he fell asleep on the edge of Demyx's bed.

To Be Continued…

Mikey~ BWA! A-hem. Aaaanywho… I hate school, as usual, but I didn't fail my chem. mid-term! *dance* Well, now, we'll have the next chapters up, eventually… :/ ^^

Kat – Second chapter done! Cookies for anyone who guessed what happened to Roxas, but do you know the true details *wiggles eyebrows*. Of course Demyx's past is only a secret from poor, poor Zexion. Till next time~!