As promised, here's the third chapter. Chapter 4 will be out sometime tomorrow :)


Axel began driving Demyx to school every day. Xigbar joined them too, graciously taking the backseat every time. Demyx suspected Axel had something to do with this, but he wasn't complaining. In the passenger seat he felt more included which made things less awkward. After that first car ride Axel had made a very obvious effort to clean up his car. There was no longer any garbage on the floor, and it looked as if he had vacuumed the whole thing too.

On the last Friday of April notices went up around the school, announcing that walking partners for graduation would need to be chosen soon. This was something Demyx been dreading slightly since he had stopped hanging out with Larxene. Larxene and him had always agreed that they would be walking partners, no matter what. Clearly that wasn't going to happen now. Demyx knew what he had to do, and so when Roxas took him to lunch that day he brought it up.

"Hey Roxas, would you want to be my walking partner for Grad Night?"

Roxas froze mid-bite, his fork suspended in front of his face. "Really?"

"Of course, did you think I was going to walk with someone else?"

Roxas put his fork down. "Well, I didn't really think about it at all. It just kind of came as a surprise."

"So…?" Demyx prodded.

"Oh, yes! Sorry," Roxas laughed. "Of course I will."

They went back to school and to their separate classes. Demyx's fifth period was one of his least favorites. It was Math, and it was the only class besides English that he had one of his previous friends in. Marluxia had refused to talk to him or sit anywhere near him after they had gone to lunch without him that one day. Demyx hadn't really minded, while Marluxia could be fun to hang out with he was very snobby and it had annoyed Demyx on several occasions when they had been friends.

Today, however, Marluxia sat down next to him. "Larxene wants to know who you plan on walking with."

Demyx tried to be as polite as he could, but Marluxia's tone had been incredibly superior sounding. "How is it any of her business?"

"She said that since you two had planned on walking together since freshman year that she deserves to know who you're walking with before everyone else does."

"Well she'll find out Grad Night, won't she?"

"Is it Axel?"

Demyx looked at him scornfully. "Axel and I are just friends. I haven't even talked to him since this morning when he drove me to school." Now that Demyx thought about it, he hadn't seen Axel's car when he and Roxas had come back from lunch. He had probably just been running late, Demyx told himself.

"So it's that new kid then, isn't it?"

"His name is Roxas. And yes, fine, he's my walking partner." Demyx hoped this would end their conversation, but Marluxia kept talking.

"It's such a shame, you know."

Demyx sighed. "What is, Marluxia?"

"What happened to him. We're actually surprised you're still here."

"What are you talking about? What happened to who?"

Marluxia hesitated. "You don't… know?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Well, I guess you really are out of the loop then." And with that he got up and moved to a seat across the room.

Demyx sat fuming. He tried to tell himself that Marluxia was trying to get him upset, that his words meant nothing, but something about them made Demyx feel uncomfortable. Marluxia really had seemed surprised that Demyx didn't know what he was talking about. But that was probably what he was trying to accomplish. Demyx took out his half finished homework and tried to focus on it so he could get it done before the class ended.

Axel wasn't waiting for him at his locker like he usually did now, so that he could give him a ride. Demyx saw Roxas pass by and called out to him.

"Have you seen Axel?"

"No, and Xigbar wasn't in sixth either."

Demyx told him what Marluxia had said during Math, but Roxas just brushed it aside saying Marluxia had probably noticed Axel wasn't there and he just wanted to upset Demyx. As Demyx rode the bus home he thought about what Roxas had said, and decided that if Marluxia had only wanted to upset him, he had certainly accomplished that. Demyx kept checking his phone obsessively. Xigbar and Axel both had his number now, and if something had happened surely one of them would call?

Demyx stayed downstairs in the living room most of the night. He hoped that if something had happened someone would come by and tell him. He had called Xigbar and Axel, on their cell phones and at their house, but hadn't gotten an answer anywhere. When he had called Axel's cell phone it hadn't actually gone through. Demyx finished all his homework while he sat downstairs. His parents had noticed something was wrong with him, but each time they asked he only replied that he just wanted to work downstairs tonight.

It was around nine o'clock when Demyx had decided that there really was nothing wrong, and that he might as well go up to his room for the night, when there was a knock on the door. This was what Demyx had been waiting for all night, but now that it had actually happened he couldn't find the strength to get up and answer the door. The person knocked a few more times, and tried ringing the doorbell, and finally Demyx's mom came in the room to answer it.

"Demyx, someone's at the door! Didn't you hear them?"

Demyx didn't answer but watched his mom as she went to answer the door. She opened it but Demyx was at the wrong angle to see who it was.

"Mrs. Hyde? I'm sorry to bother you so late, but is your son here?"

Demyx stood up and came to the door before his mom could say anything. He was surprised to find that his legs could still support him. When he saw that it was Xigbar's dad at the door, in his uniform, that support almost gave out.

"Officer, what's going on?" Demyx's mom asked.

He glanced over at Demyx and then back to his mom before answering. "There's been an accident. Axel and Xigbar were hit by a car when they were coming back from lunch." Demyx noticed how his voice faltered as he said his son's name.

"Are they okay?" Demyx asked.

"They're fine, more or less. The car that hit them ran a red light and t-boned them pretty good. He's in worse condition than the boys are."

"Can I see them?"

"Not tonight, Axel's asleep anyway. Xigbar was awake and he kept saying your name. I guess he figured you would want to know." Demyx nodded. "I can take you to see them in the morning." He glanced up at Demyx's mom. "If that's all right with you, ma'am."

"Of course. The boys will be okay, you said?"

"Eventually."

"What's that mean?" Demyx demanded before he had a chance to say anything else.

"Xigbar doesn't have any lasting injuries other than some pretty bad cuts and a possible concussion. The driver hit their car on Axel's side, though, and he's got a broken leg. It'll be a few weeks before he can walk on it, but he'll be fine soon enough."

Demyx's mom asked a few more questions and then Xigbar's dad left. She held her arm out to Demyx to comfort him. "It'll be all right, dear," she said.

"Yeah," Demyx ran up to his room and called Roxas. Roxas was shocked but soon he had to console Demyx because he had barely broken the news when he began breaking down into tears. Eventually Demyx calmed down enough, and Roxas promised to meet him at the hospital the next morning so he wouldn't have to go alone. When he and Roxas hung up Demyx curled up on his bed and laid there thinking.

Demyx didn't know why he had started crying. It had been years since he had cried. Of course he cared about them. Both of them. Xigbar and Axel were his friends now. He tried reasoning with himself: he had spent most of the day worrying that something was wrong only to have that fear realized. That must be why he was acting like he was right now. Surely if Larxene or Zexion had been in an accident when he had still been friends with them he would have reacted the same way. Deep down, though, part of Demyx thought that he wouldn't have felt the same. This got him wondering if maybe he had more feelings for Axel than he had previously thought. Demyx was suddenly worried about seeing him tomorrow, in such a vulnerable state, but he was glad Roxas was coming with him at least.

When Demyx's alarm went off the next morning he realized he had fallen asleep on top of his bed with his clothes still on. He got up to change and get ready, and found himself waiting for Xigbar's dad to come get him earlier than he expected. For some reason this bothered him. Why was he so much earlier than usual this morning? Then he realized it was because he hadn't eaten any breakfast. Demyx didn't have much of an appetite, though. Xigbar's dad showed up and drove him to the hospital. Roxas was already there, waiting for him, and he threw his arms around Demyx when he saw him. They waited while Xigbar's dad spoke to a receptionist, and then followed him down a hall.

They were in separate rooms, and Demyx had decided to see Xigbar first. He wanted to know why Xigbar had kept asking for him. And he also knew that he was going to be a complete wreck when he saw Axel. Hopefully delaying that moment would give him some time to compose himself. Roxas went in to see Axel and Demyx made his way into Xigbar's room while his dad waited outside.

Xigbar looked over at him as Demyx approached him. "Hey there."

"Hi," he croaked. "Are you all right?"

"Never better. I didn't really want to go to class today anyway."

Demyx tried to laugh, but the fact he was still trying to make a joke upset him and the tears started falling.

"Hey," he said suddenly, "don't do that. Come here." He held his arms out to him and Demyx walked into them gratefully. In truth he really didn't look that bad, but thinking about what could have happened made everything so much worse. "Calm down, Blondie. I'm fine."

"I know, I know."

"Axel's the one you should be crying over anyway."

That caused Demyx to jerk back from him. "What do you mean? Your dad said he only had a broken leg!"

"He does, he does! That's not what I meant. Axel's fine."

"Then what did you mean?"

Xigbar hesitated. "You can't tell Axel I said this."

Demyx rolled his eyes. "Fine, what is it?"

"Well I thought you already knew. That he likes you."

"Yeah, I do. I guess."

"To be honest, I'm surprised you're in here at all. I thought for sure he'd be the one you went to see first."

"I… can't yet. I won't be able to… I know I'll…" Demyx couldn't say that he knew he was going to start crying when he saw him without actually crying right then and there. Instead he tried changing the subject. "Your dad said that you were conscious when they brought you in here."

"Yeah."

"And that you kept saying my name." He eyed Xigbar carefully. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why me? Why my name, Xigbar?"

"I thought that was obvious, I thought you should know Axel was in here." This time he eyed Demyx carefully. "Do you like him, Demyx?"

"I… don't know. I haven't really given it much thought, until the accident."

"Why would the accident change anything?"

"I was so worried and scared. For both of you! I couldn't help but think maybe it was because of more than friendship."

"I see." He sat in thought for a while, then he looked back up at Demyx. "You should go see him now. He'll want to see you, and it'll make him happy to see that you care."

Demyx nodded and gave Xigbar another hug before he left. Roxas was standing beside the door, waiting, and they switched rooms. When Demyx walked into Axel's room he started walking very slow, postponing the moment when he would have to see how bad he was. Demyx took a deep breath, and walked over to his bed. It was worse than he had expected. His leg was up in a sling, all bandaged up, but so was his left arm. The left side of his face was bandaged too. He wasn't looking in Demyx's direction, in fact Demyx didn't think Axel realized he was there at all, until he choked on a sob. Axel looked over at him and the smile on his face was instantaneous and incredible. Demyx flung himself down on his right side, careful not to hit any of his injuries, and sobbed on his shoulder. Axel brought his right arm up to hold Demyx, and it was several minutes before he stopped crying so they could talk.

He looked up at him, his eyes still swimming with tears. Axel used his thumb to wipe some of them away, and before Demyx knew what he was doing he craned forward and kissed Axel. Demyx felt Axel's grip around his shoulders tighten, drawing him closer, and Axel kissed him back with vigor. Demyx reached his left hand forward to touch Axel's face, the side that wasn't injured, and planted kisses all along his cheek where he touched him. His forehead rested against Axel's for a moment, but then he drew back so they could actually talk. Axel's arm slipped away from around Demyx's shoulders as he did so, and Demyx clutched onto his hand, refusing to let go of him completely.

Axel looked at him curiously for a few moments, then said with a smile, "I always wondered what that would be like."

"I bet you never pictured it taking place in hospital," Demyx said jokingly.

"That's true," he admitted.

"So are you okay?" Demyx finally asked. "Xigbar's dad said you only had a broken leg."

"I do."

"So what is all this for?" He used his hand, still holding onto Axel's with a death grip, to gesture toward the bandages that covered his left side.

"Precaution, mostly. My arm was banged up pretty bad, but nothing broken. They just want to keep it elevated."

"And your head?"

"I had a pretty nasty cut that needed stitches. The bandages are just covering them."

Demyx nodded. He had made it seem so much worse in his head. He didn't care though, the main thing was that Axel was all right. Demyx smiled and reached one had forward to touch his face again. Axel closed his eyes at his touch, and he noticed how long his eyelashes were. His fingers left Axel's face and trailed down his arm, and Demyx started tracing the lines on his palm.

"What brought this on?" Axel asked.

"I'm not really sure. It just feels…right, doesn't it?" He looked him in the eyes questioningly. His green eyes that Demyx had never taken the time to appreciate before.

"My answer to that may be a bit biased," Axel answered with a smile. Demyx smiled back and leaned forward to kiss him again. His lips were so soft and warm, and he reveled in the delight he was feeling. At the same time he was both nervous and excited, and he didn't want the feeling to end. There had never been butterflies like this when he had kissed past boyfriends. Axel reached up to run his hands through Demyx's hair, and it was several moments before they broke apart.

Demyx pulled back again and Axel sighed. "I wish you could just stay here with me."

"Who says I'm going anywhere?"

"You can't stay in the hospital! I'm fine, go out and have fun."

"I'm staying here with you whether you like it or not. You can't exactly make me leave."

Axel grinned. "Even if I was physically able I don't think I could make myself do it."

Demyx snickered and laced their fingers together. They started talking about other things, and Demyx brought up what Marluxia had mentioned in class. Axel looked suddenly upset. He told Demyx that Marluxia's mom was a nurse there in the hospital.

"She must have told Marluxia as soon as Xigbar and I showed up."

"So he really did know something. Roxas thought he was only saying those things to make me upset."

"Why was he talking to you in the first place?"

"He told me Larxene wanted to know who my walking partner was. Apparently Larxene thinks that since we promised each other we would be walking partners back in freshman year that she at least has the right to know who I'm walking with before everyone else does."

"Who are you walking with?"

"I asked Roxas yesterday during lunch."

Axel smiled. "That was nice of you."

"I didn't do it to be nice, I want to walk with him." Demyx was getting a little annoyed at people saying that like they didn't expect him to be nice.

Axel realized he had offended Demyx and tried to hold up his hand in defense, but Demyx wasn't about to let go of it. "Sorry," Axel said, and squeezed his hand instead.

"Forget it. What happened to your phone by the way?"

"What?"

"I tried calling you before Xigbar's dad came by and the call wouldn't go through."

"Oh, it got smashed in the accident. It was in my pocket."

"Oh," they lapsed into silence then. After a bit Axel spoke up and they started talking about the English project. Demyx finally left Axel's side around lunchtime, but only to get them both something to eat that wasn't from the hospital cafeteria. Roxas had long since gone home, and Xigbar's dad had gone to work after Xigbar's doctor had decided Xigbar could leave. He only left to go home and get a change of clothes, but then he came back to join Demyx in Axel's room. When it was around dinner time Demyx went out again to get some food for the three of them, and when he came back he saw Xigbar waiting in the hall outside Axel's room.

"His parents are in there right now," he explained.

"Oh. How are they?"

"Fine, the doctor's just telling them what's going to happen with Axel."

"And?"

"Well he says Axel will have to be here for a few more days, then they'll put a cast on him. After that he can leave, but he'll need to come back so they can check out his leg and maybe put him in a walking boot."

Xigbar had barely finished when the doctor came out of the room, followed by Axel's parents. His mom gave Xigbar a quick hug, and she turned to Demyx while Axel's dad shook Xigbar's hand.

"Are you Demyx?" She asked.

"Yes." Demyx had no idea how she knew his name, but assumed Axel must talk about him at home a little.

Without warning, Axel's mom pulled Demyx into a tight hug. "We're so glad he's going to be okay. Thank you so much for being with him. His friends are what will pull him through ultimately." She drew back and gave Demyx a warm, teary-eyed smile.

Demyx had no idea what to say to that, so he just smiled as politely as he could. Axel's dad shook his hand too and they left. Xigbar and Demyx entered Axel's room again and Demyx sat on his bed next to him. Axel automatically put his arm around Demyx as he handed him and Xigbar their food.