A/N: Well, I said that I wouldn't post till I got 6 reviews. I think I lied, as I couldn't help but post tonight. This chapter is courtesy of the wonderful Tite Kubo for writing the series Zombie Powder, so that I could buy the 3rd and 4th volumes which got me hyped up. And also to the wonderful staff at Shonen Jump! I sometimes wish that they would come on and read some stories. I thank them because I got my newest issue! Thank you so much! And also to Andrea. Man, I couldn't have calmed enough to do this chapter without you. And also, thank you for mentioning the shower-scene in yours, Hun, cuz that made me make up my mind about the contents of this wonderful (hopefully) chapter. Anyway, I have detained you far too long as it is. Read and review! It would make me happy!
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Walking down the hall on my first day, looking at the chart for the person I was gonna take care of, I was in my own little world. It didn't even cross my mind to look up his name or the picture of him; I just looked at the room number as that was really all I needed to know. I already knew that I was going to be working with a man, and one would already suspect that the man would be locked up in the loony bin because he was just that; loony. I was still pouring over my schedule as I opened the door into the room. I looked up and dropped my papers in shock, gasping as I did so. This was him. This was the man that had been clouding my thoughts. This was Axel, the bloodied man, the cashiers friend.
"A-axel?" I asked quietly and was slightly put off when he only glanced at me for a few seconds before looking back down at the paper at his hands. I noted the pencil, scribbling across the page. I heard a small noise of annoyance as I moved closer to get a better look, although, by the looks of the walls, I already knew what, or who, he was drawing. "Axel?" I repeated. "Do you not recognize me?"
I could see the anger as he glared at me when I looked at the desk. "Should I?" he responded. I felt a knife stab through my heart as he looked back down. I decided to drop it for now as I stared at him. I had found him again. After a while apart, I was so happy just to stand by him. But that made me sound as though I had fallen for him. Had I? I wasn't even sure anymore. Instead, I pointed at his portrait.
"That's really good."
"... Uh. Thank? I guess"
"Can I ask who they are?"
He glared at me, but I stood firm, not portraying the hurt I felt. ... The hurt? Why did I have a need to feel hurt? "My friends," he said shortly.
"Do your friends have names?"
"Why?"
I stared down at the picture. "Because I was with this one a week or so ago," I stated, pointing to the cashier I recognized.
"Demyx? How is he?" he almost gasped, emotions spreading across his pallid face. I thought quickly. What would a mental patient do if I told them I could have killed their best friend? That I had put their best friend in danger?
"He's ... He's brave. Very brave. I don't know if I should be telling you this but, I'm here cuz I tried to rob his store."
I knew I shouldn't have mentioned that bit the second he jumped, staring startled at me with those emeralds.
"You what?!" He cried, jumping up to tower a head above me. I cringed. Such a stupid idiot I was.
"He's not hurt. I couldn't do it! He's okay! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry" I cried, beginning to shake, quivering below him. I chanced a glance up at him and his green eyes were wide in shock or insanity, at this point I couldn't tell.
"Demyx? Demyx? I'm sorry! I'm so sorry Demyx!" he wailed, wrapping those long, slender arms around me. I looked up at him as I felt the tears that fell from his eyes. I felt another knife jab through my heart. He wouldn't be crying if I had just kept quiet. And why did he call me Demyx? I wasn't the blonde that cared so much. But could I be? No. I would never replace his friend and deep down I knew that. With a third stab I pushed away slightly as 'doctors' came running into the room at Axel's distressed wail. They all but pounced on him as I was dragged away, saying I was safe now. But I felt safer with him then with the people now holding me.
"Wait, stop. He needs someone there for him. Let him go for a second and see if he improves," I stated as calmly as I could, trying to comfort him and to stop the tears still leaking from his eyes as he thrashed against his captors. The white clad men looked at me sceptically but decided to act upon my judgements, if only to get away from the crazed man. Axel collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily, sobs still coming from his warn out body. I shifted away from the man holding me and crouched beside the red-head, staring into his tear-strewn face. His emerald eyes locked onto me as I sat fully.
"R-Roxas? Roxas? What are they doing, Roxas? Why did they take Demyx away from me?" His voice was so weak and pleading. I glared at the men behind me, warning them with silent conversation that they were to leave us be. I put an arm up around his shoulders, pulling him closer, laying my head in his spiky red hair as he settled his cheek on my chest. Temporarily ignoring the fact that he remembered my name, I began;
"I'm sorry, Axel. I don't know. But you have me. I will stay here with you. They won't be able to drag me away," I promised, a small hint of defiance in my voice. "You remembered. Why now and not then?"
He gazed up at me, his eyes shining with the halting of moisture. "Why would I not remember? Of course I would remember the first truly kind spirit since Demyx and Zexion. I would never forget you Roxas," He sighed, pulling back. I smiled from all the warmth that I felt in his voice. "I'm really tired. Can I get some sleep?"
My smile widened when he yawned like a little child, pushing himself up off the floor and stumbling over to his presumably soft bed. Once he laid, more or less sprawled, over the bed, he looked over at me. "Are you gonna stay here?"
I smiled again, my jaw almost starting to hurt for so much smiling. "I don't know. I'll have to ask, now, won't I?" He smiled and closed his eyes as I stood and exited, finding a crowd starting to form outside his door. My eyes grew wide with mild shock until I noticed that every eye was on me, expecting a report. I sighed mildly. "He's fine now, falling asleep as we speak, I'm sure. He requested me to stay with him. Is that all right?" I asked, looking at the man I knew to be in charge. He eyed me suspiciously for a moment before nodding slightly. I bowed my head and turned around and headed back into the room I had just escaped from.
"So you can, then?" He asked, a smile appearing on his face. I chuckled softly and sat on the floor next to his bed and in a few minutes heard his breathing even out.
"Goodnight, Axel," I sighed, laying out in a more comfortable position.
-
The next four weeks were filled with long, non-awkward silences between us and small conversations. But we both knew at this point to steer clear of any mention of that night or of Demyx or Zexion. I had random fits of emotion, either crying or complete anger, which would be times when Roxas would latch onto me until I got over it. I felt strangely safe with him there, and I liked it. I would almost forget that I was insane until another doctor would come in and say it was time for a bath or that it was meal time. That made me feel horrible, like I was some child or incompetent fool, that couldn't take care of myself. I think it was these times that made me stay longer at the institute. I would be absurd, I knew it myself, but I would throw fits, making them stay away from me. After a while, they gave up trying. I almost felt bad for Roxas. A week without a shower must be killing his nostrils. I know it was killing mine.
I looked up from my paper at the blonde that was making small work for himself by making my bed. "Rox-as?" I whined, making him look at me, startled. "I need a shower!"
He placed his hand over his face in mock disappointment, chuckling slightly. "Aaaaxeeel! Do you really?" He whined back.
"Yeeees! I mean, come one. Does a sane man smell this rank?"
We both almost doubled over in laughter. "Fine. Come here!" he choked out through his laughing fit. He moved over to the door and swiped his card key through the lock. I jumped up and wrapped my arms around him, making him choke again. "Man! You were right! You do need a shower! Now, I was told that if I were ever to take you out that I had to hold ... your hand?"
"Aww, but mo..." I began, both of us slapped a hand over my mouth so as not to start any bad memories. He half glared at me in his mocking manner again as he took my hand, leading me down the hallway and into the staff showers. I had never been here before... I had never been outside that room. It was almost a shame to move so quickly through that hall.
"I think I could go for a shower myself," he said, letting go of my hand and heading into a compartment. I did the same, stripping down to nothingness and turning on the water. The warm liquid was nice and refreshing after so long without it. I finished quickly, then just stood with the water brushing over my skin. I finally decided that it was best to get out and turned off the water and wrapped a towel around my slender hips. Stepping out I was faced with a giant mirror that showed my body in its entirety. My eyes grew wide with horror as I noticed for the first time all the scars that lined my body.
"Wha?" I gasped, turning around to see extensive, long-healed gashes running the course of my back, dipping below the towel. I must have done something more then gasp as I heard the water from the next cubicle shut off and Roxas was at my side in an instant, gaping in awestruck horror just as I had been.
"Axel? Axel? Are you okay? Axel? Look at me! Axel! Look at me, Axel!" he ordered, lifting my head to make me look him in the eye. When had I fallen? I don't remember. Or I never knew. I think I might have blacked out for a minute. I felt the water dripping down my face and knew that it wasn't from my hair but from my eyes. Again with the water-works; what a shame.
"He did this to me, Roxas. He hurt me so bad," I whimpered, shoving my face into the crook of his neck. He pushed me away, forcing me to look in his eyes again.
"He's gone now! He can't hurt you anymore! You're safe now! I will protect you! I promise. He can't hurt you. He's gone," he tried to calm me, but his words almost made it worse.
"I killed him. That's why he won't be back! I killed him! I K-" I was cut off as he grabbed me tighter, holding me close to his chest.
"No!" he hissed. "We already established that you killed him. We already know that he won't hurt you. So there is no need of you to bring him up ever again, you hear me? Never!"
That was the coldest I had ever heard his voice and it made me stop instantaneously, quivering slightly. He pulled me closer still until I was able to breathe normally. He pulled me up to my feet and dried me off. I looked at him with admiration as he pulled some clothes out from a cabinet on the far wall, placing them within easy reach of me and began drying himself off.
"I don't know what I would do without you, Roxas."
...
A/N: Okay, right now, I don't know who is more off their rocker! Me or Axel. It is pretty close. But you could always tell me what you think so you may find that one little strand that hangs on so desperately to my sanity. It might just save it. So save my sanity by a simple review. It doesn't have to be much. I mean, how long does it take to type, 'good job' or 'horrible, absolute trash!'. Not very long. Unless you are my dad. But that is off topic, but when aren't I off-topic? Review, so that you get to find out what Demyx and Zexion are doing all this time and why they haven't been in for a visit. Maybe if you review fast enough, inspiration will still be left for me to write, write, write! Anyways, I will shut up now and let you go ahead and click that little button! Click it!
Much love!
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