Well hello there!
I just wanna say thanks to the three of you who reviewed! And of course to the rest of you for reading this! Thanks.
The plane ride to Dallas the next morning was pretty uneventful. Granted Roxas had never been on a plane before but he was pretty certain that it was a regular flight. When they landed he followed his Aunt and Uncle into the overly crowded baggage area. They helped him pull all of his bags off the belt then retrieved there own.
"I have a friend meeting us here to take us back to the house." His uncle told him as they made there way to the front of the Airport. Roxas nodded but was concentrating on not running into the impossible amount of people trying to squeeze around him. They finally made it out the main entrance and he took a big gulp of air.
"Is it always the crowded around here?" he asked. His Aunt laughed.
"Yeah, its Dallas and its a Saturday, everything is crowded. We live a in a small subdivision right on the outskirts of Dallas so you won't have to really deal with much of downtown Dallas. We have everything we need out there." Roxas just nodded, happy to hear that, a big city was not what he wanted to deal with. A loud honk woke Roxas up from his thoughts and he looked up to see a black truck pull up to curb in front of them. A man jumped from the cab and made his way around the truck to great his Aunt and Uncle. The man was tall with long black hair and the most beautiful face he had ever seen on a man before.
"Hey Vincent, thanks for coming." Leon said, tossing his suitcase into the back of the truck then moving to collect the rest of bags.
"Its no problem. Have a good flight?" he asked taking the bag that was in Tifas hand.
"Yeah, it was pretty good." Tifa said. "This is Roxas, Vincent." The man turned to Roxas and he could see his eyes for the first time. They were red! "Roxas this is Vincent, he lives across the street from us and is a good friend of your Uncle Leon." Vincent stuck his hand out and Roxas set down his duffel back to shake his hand.
"Its nice to finally meet you." Vincent said in his calm mellow voice. Roxas just nodded and handed his beg to his Uncle when he motioned for the. After all the luggage was in the back they all climbed into the four door truck with Vincent and Leon in the front and Tifa in the back with Roxas. Roxas's eyes were glued to the passing scenery on the drive through Dallas. He found himself even more happy that he wasn't going to have to deal with it all. Eventually the gentle motion of the truck had him fast asleep. He was shaken awake by his Aunt sometime later.
"We're home sweetie." she said smiling at him. He yawned and stretched looking around. They were pulling up to a rather large two story house on Tifas side of the truck with a fenced in front yard were a boy about his age was sitting in the grass. The boy jumped up when he saw the truck and ran toward them. Vincent parked and every one pilled out, Roxas following after.
"Mom, Dad! I'm so glad your home! Were is he?" Roxas figured this must be his cousin Sora. He walked around the truck to stand beside Tifa who the boy was currently clinging to. The boy jumped away from his mother and turned to Roxas. He was the same height as Roxas and had blue eyes like Roxas though the shade was very different they had the same crazy spiked hair but Sora's was brown where Roxas's was blond. "Hi!" The brunette said with a huge dazzling smile. "I'm Sora!"
"Roxas" was the only response Roxas gave before going to help Leon with the luggage. He wasn't to sure about the happy go lucky kid. He usually tried to avoid people like that. Oh well nothing to be done about it. He grabbed his bags and turned to Sora. "Could you show me to my room?" he asked trying to sound a little friendlier. Sora smiled brighten from like a 10 watt light bulb to like a 100.
"Sure!" he said, grabbing another one of Roxas's bags and turning toward the house. "I'm really excited that your gonna be living with us, it'll be cool having another kid in the house." Roxas was getting the distinct impression that his cousin like to hear himself talk. A lot. They entered the house to a really nice living room with kitchen to the left and the stair case to the right, Sora went up the stair case still talking. "And we'll be going to the same school so I can totally introduce you to all my friends and tell you who to stay away from and all that kinda stuff." Roxas highly doubted he would be interested in Sora's friends but kept his mouth closed. Sora led him to a room at the very end of the hall way. "My room is that one," he said pointing to the first door on the left. "This is yours" he said pointing to the door on the right at the end of the hall. "We'll be sharing the bathroom." he pointed to the door in the middle of the hall. He pushed Roxas's door opened and they stepped in. Roxas was shocked, it was rather big and had a queen size bed fully made up in the center of the room framed by two windows that overlooked the front yard. There was a desk on the right and a dresser by the door way, another door on the left must have led to the closet.
"Wow" Roxas said setting his bags down and walking around the room. "This is nice." Sora beamed at him.
"It's always just been empty space so me and mom fixed up for you!" he said. Roxas smiled, a real smile.
"Thanks Sora." he said. Sora looked a little shocked before nodding.
"Well I guess I'll let you unpack and stuff, I'll be in the living room if you need me." and with a wave he was gone. Roxas sighed and closed the door, slightly glad to be alone for a bit. He set about unpacking his cloths and organizing them into his drawers then opening the closet to find it empty with just some hangers. He hung his jackets and a few nice shirts then put all his converse at the bottom. His converse were probably the only thing he had ever allowed himself to splurge on, had a converse collection, almost ever color and design ever made. Almost. He closed the door and set out the picture of his mom and dad on the mirror above his dresser then set on his bed looking around the room. It was nice, and completely new, nothing to remind him...A sharp pain radiated up his arm reminding him that his wounds probably need to be re-dressed. He got up and moved to his last bag were he had put his first aid kit. He opened it up and pulled off his shirt, he pulled out the first aid kit and unwrapped the old bandages, with a sense of familiarity that would frighten any body who might watch, he set about cleaning, and re-wrapping the wounds and pulling back on his shirt. He put everything back into the box and slid it under the bed, he balled up the used bandages and moved to his door. He opened it and peaked into the hall, he didn't want his cousin to question what he was doing...the hall way was clear and he darted to the door that was the bathroom and locked the door behind him. He found the light switch and tossed the bandages into the toilet before relieving himself and flushing. He washed his hands and went back into the hall way to find Tifa at his door. She turned around when the bathroom door shut.
"Oh Roxas, I was coming to tell you that lunch is ready if your hungry?" she asked. Roxas nodded.
"I am thank you." he said following his Aunt down the stairs and into the living room. Roxas was a little shocked to find Sora was sitting on the couch sucking face with a silver haired kid. Roxas felt his heart beat pick up at the flash of silver and he almost bolted from the room but Tifa grabbed his arm.
"Sora!" she said, her voice taking a whole new tone. The two on the couch jumped apart, the silver haired boy stood, turning to the two standing in the doorway. Roxas could only stare He looks like Sephiroth...once again he had to fight the urge to bolt. He did not like the way the kid was looking at him. "Sora, I know I raised you better then that, those kind of things are best done behind closed and locked doors." Tifa told her son. Sora blushed and mumbled an apology. Roxas slowly backed out of the room his head shaking back and forth, pulling Tifa's attention to him. She looked confused but she followed Roxas's gaze to land on Riku. Then compression dawned on her and she quickly shielded Roxas from the other boys with her body.. "Leon sweetie!" She called out reaching to take Roxas's hands out of his hair. "I need you in the living room please!" Sora was looking worried as he walked around the couch toward his mom and Roxas.
"Mom?" he asked hesitantly.
"Sora sweetie, why don't you and Riku go set the table please?" she asked. Sora looked a little confused but he took Riku's hand and left the room. Roxas was still trying to back up images of the boy seared into his brain, How could he look so much like him and not be related, if he is related does he know? could he know? At that moment Leon appeared at Roxas's back.
"What happen?" he asked looking at the obviously distressed boy.
"Riku," Tifa said. "I never realized how much he looks like Sephiroth." she whispered. Leon looked a little shocked before turning to Roxas.
"Are they related?" Roxas asked through tight lips his eyes wide. Tifa pulled him into a hug and after a minuet he relaxed.
"I don't know if they are or not." Leon said. "But if they are then he doesn't keep in touch with Sephiroth because I would have heard if there had been a death in his family." Roxas nodded and pulled away from Tifa.
"I'll be ok. It was just a shock." He said smiling best he could. Tifa ruffled his hair.
"Your a strong kid." she said. Leon made a grunted agreement,
"You should consider telling Sora about what happened." Leon said. Roxas looked at him blankly.
"I know its not fare for him not to know, considering he'll have to see the crap I'm going to be going through, it'll be easier if he knows." Roxas said allowed then nodded. "I'll talk to him this afternoon." Leon nodded but Tifa looked a little worried. Roxas smiled at her. "I'm fine, I promise." he said as they all walked into the kitchen. Roxas was immanently bombarded with questions.
"I'm so sorry Roxas!" was the first thing out of the brunettes mouth. "I didn't mean to upset you!" Roxas raised his hand and Sora stopped talking.
"Please Sora. Its fine don't apologize." he said. Sora opened his mouth to argue but Roxas cut him off. "Don't" Sora smiled a little sheepishly and the rest of lunch was relatively normal. Roxas was introduced to Riku and he managed to shake the other boys hand with out flinching or screaming. He gave himself huge brownie points for that. After lunch Riku went home (he lived next door apparently) and Tifa and Leon had gone to the store to pick up some school supplies for Roxas. Roxas had started up to his room again when he remembered that he was suppose to talk to Sora. He sighed and turned around going back down stairs. He had told this story about a million times so one more couldn't hurt. Sora was stretched out on the couch watching TV when he came back into the living room. Sora smiled at him.
"Hey Roxas! Wanna watch some tv with me?" he asked sitting up to make room for the other boy. Roxas set beside him on the couch.
"Actually I need to talk to you Sora, if you don't mind." he said staring at his lap. He knew telling his cousin about what had happen would make Sora think less of him, but Sora had a right to know. Sora turned off the TV.
"Alright, you've got my full attention." the brunette said turning to sit completely facing Roxas, he was eager and open, Roxas sighed.
"First I want apologize for earlier. When I'm done telling you about what happened to me, you'll understand a little better so just bare with me." Sora's smile had faded and was watching Roxas with a serious expression. Roxas went through the whole story just as he had done many times before. Sora was near tears when Roxas told him how his father had been killed. When Roxas told him about what Sephiroth had been doing to him for the past 8 years the tears won over and streamed down the brunettes face. Roxas stopped for a moment to let Sora take it all in.
"God Roxas. I want to say that I'm sorry but I know that it won't help." he said as he wiped his face on his shirt. "Thats to much for one boy to handle." Roxas didn't say anything just started up his story again.
"One night, about a year ago now, I came home late. I had been studying at the library. I got home a little past dark and he was waiting in the kitchen when I came in. When he called me to the kitchen, I knew I was in trouble. As soon as I stepped into the kitchen he grabbed me, hit me in the face and started to grill me on where I'd been. When I told him, he didn't believe me, he pushed me up against the counter. I remember sliding my hands across the counter trying to keep from falling, when my hand touched something solid and heavy. Sephiroth had my face in his hand had leaned down to force his lips on mine, when I pulled away, which was never allowed. He grabbed my hair and threw me to the ground but I grabbed the pan as I went and when he came to lay on top of me I bashed him over the head, and he went down like a sack of rocks." Roxas trailed off, Sora had his hands pressed over his mouth. "And when he moved again, I hit him again, and again until he stopped." Roxas was staring at the wall behind Sora not wanting to see the judgmental look that would be on his new found cousins face. "I went to trail of course and was found innocent by reason of temporary insanity and self defense." All of a sudden Roxas was tackled to the couch with a sobbing Sora attached to his front. He was so shocked by the action he just lay there for a few minuets.
"Thats..thats..so awful Roxas!" he sobbed into the other boys shirt. Roxas slowly set up pushing Sora back onto his side of the couch.
"Yes it is. But you need to know that the reason I freaked out so bad is that Riku looks just like Sephiroth." Roxas said standing up. Sora looked at him, stunned. "No way?" he asked. Roxas just nodded and motioned for Sora to follow him. He led the still sniffling boy up the stairs and to his room. He pulled out the one picture he hadn't put up. This one had his mother, his father, him and Sephiroth. He handed it to Sora. Sora gasped when he looked at the picture. "Oh wow." he said staring. "He does look a lot like Riku." he gave the picture back to Roxas who shoved it to the bottom of his bag.
"It'll take me a while, but I'm sure I'll get used to him. Just...please excuse any thing I might do around him...for a while." Roxas said staring at his hands. "Its going to be hard to be around some one who looks so much like him..." Sora hugged him.
"It'll be okay. And I promise not to tell a soul." he said. Roxas looked up at him a little shocked. Sora laughed "Of course I knew you would tell me that, I wouldn't tell any body regardless." Roxas smiled.
"Thanks Sora" he said. Sora nodded and went to the door.
"How bout some TV until my mom and dad come back?" he asked. Roxas thought for a moment before following the other out and back down to the living room. They settled down on the couch and watched whatever caught there fancy for a while until they heard the front door open. They both got up and headed into the hall way to help with whatever bags the adults had brought with them. After the sorted through the bags Sora helped Roxas carry his things up to his room. They set it all out on his bed.
"You'll like our school." Sora said as he helped Roxas pack his backpack. "We've only been in class for about a week so you haven't missed much and Mom went and registered you on Thursday so I'll take you to the office first thing in the morning to get you schedule." Roxas just nodded sweeping up all the trash and putting in the bag Sora was holding.
"What are the people like?" Roxas asked, generally curious.
"I guess their like people any were. You've got your good and you've got your bad." the brunette said with a shrug. Roxas just nodded, understanding that all to well. "My group is made up of a pretty decent people though we have our fare share of quacks." Sora said sniggering. "Dymex for example is a complete goof." he said. Roxas just smiled, kinda looking forward to the adventure that would be Sora's school. At 10 Tifa came in and announced it was time for bed. Sora waved goodnight and shut the door behind him. Roxas stripped down to his boxers and crawled into his new bed. He sank into the soft mattress and couldn't remember a time in his life that he had felt more at peace then he did in that moment. And soon the blond was fast asleep.
The next morning he was woken by a gentle shake. He rolled over to find Tifa sitting on the edge or the bed.
"Sleep well?" she asked as Roxas set up rubbing his eyes. He yawned and and stretched, he heard his Aunts sharp intake of breath and he realized his mistake to late. "Roxas.." she said trailing off. He quickly covered his bandaged wrist.
"Its nothing." he said. "Its hard, you know. A lot has happened in a short amount of time." Tifa touched his shoulder gently.
"Me and Leon want you to consider seeing Vincent on a regular basis, he's a Psychologist. He's agreed that if your ready, he'll talk with you." Roxas shifted in his bed, sliding his feet to the ground so he was sitting next to Tifa.
"I appreciate that Aunt Tifa, and I'll defiantly consider it, but I'd like to get settled in before I start any kind of treatment. Tifa nodded.
"I understand." she said.
"This bed is amazing, by the way." he said. Tifa laughed and told him the shower was free and that he had an hour to get ready and eat breakfast. Roxas got out of bed and made his way to the shower. He took a quick shower before going to his room to dress. He pulled on his black jeans with the holes in the knees and his long sleeve Coheed and Cambria shirt with his gold converse, he grabbed his bag and headed down to breakfast. Leon was walking out of the kitchen as Roxas was coming down the stairs.
"Have a good day at school kid." he said as he headed for the door.
"Thanks Uncle Leon." he said before going into the kitchen. Sora was already eating his bowl of cereal, he was wearing tight blue jeans and a green polo shirt.
"Morni rocaass" he said through his bite cereal to which he got hit upside the head by his mother. "mooom" he moaned.
"Do not talk with your mouth full" Tifa hissed at him. Roxas smiled and took a seat next to Sora. "What kind of cereal would you like Roxas? We've got Honey Nut Cheerios or Fruitloops." His aunt asked.
"Cheerios sounds great." Roxas said. Tifa pored him a bowl and set it in front of him. He quickly downed them and rinsed his bowl in the sink. Then they were rushed out the door, Sora explained they would walk the short distance to school. Roxas followed him down the steps and onto the sidewalk, he heard Soar squeak. He looked up to see Sora running toward Riku waiting at the end of the drive way. Roxas had to swallow a scream at the sight of the silver haired boy, he place a hand on his chest and closed his eyes counting to 10 before walking down to meet the two lovebirds. As he approached, Sora dismounted Riku and smiled bashfully at Roxas. Roxas just rolled his eyes as they started their walk to school. Riku and Sora in front holding hands, Roxas behind them following. It took them about ten minuets to get to the high school. Once there Roxas felt a little overwhelmed once again by all the people, the three of them stopped at the sidewalk leading to the doors.
"We'll be back" Sora told his boyfriend "I just gotta take Roxas to get his schedule." Riku nodded and eyed the blond standing a little ways away, staring off into space like he seem to do all the time.
"Alright Sora, See ya soon." he said kissing him on the forehead. Sora smiled and turned to Roxas.
"Ready?" he asked beaming. Roxas nodded and followed the hyper brunette into the school building. Once inside the crowd thinned out marginally and Roxas was able to breath a little easier. He followed Sora to a set of glass double doors that led into what appeared to be the office. Sora approched the lady at the desk, his 100 watt smile in place.
"Hi!" he said. "This is Roxas Strife, he's starting school today. My parents already registered him." The lady behind the desk blinked a few times before turning to Roxas.
"Well Hello there Roxas, and welcome to Meadows High." the lady said.
"Thanks." Roxas said. The lady started typing into her computer then got up and pulled a paper out of the printer before handing it to Roxas.
"There you are dear. Have a great year." she said smiling. Roxas nodded and walked out with Sora on his heel.
"So?" He asked eagerly bouncing around at Roxas's elbow. "What do you have first?" Roxas glanced at his schedule then handed it to Sora. "Oooh, we have our first class together!" he exclaimed. "And lunch!" Sora did a little happy dance while Roxas looked on in amusement. Sora handed back his schedule. "Lets go meet the others!" he shouted and grabbed Roxas's hand and dragged him back out of the building and around to the side were a large tree was casting shadows of a rather large group of kids. Sora slowed to a walk and Roxas's was incredibly thankful. They walked up and immanently had everyone's attention. Sora smiled at everyone.
"Hey guys. This is Roxas." he said wrapping his arm around the blond. "Roxas these are my people." he said in a mock stage whispered. Everyone laughed except an emo looking boy leaning against the tree with his nose in a book. "The emo kid is Zexion, the mullet kid drooling over him would be Demyx,"
"Hey!" Demyx said pouting who was in the process of trying to Zexions attention. Sora laughed.
"The red haired girl is Kairi, the blond is Namine." both girls waved and Roxas nodded to them. "You've already met Riku." they nodded at each other. "Then there's Axle, who isn't here yet as usual. And a few others that don't get here till later but you'll meet them at lunch." Sora finished his introductions and flopped to the grass next to Riku. Roxas set down with his back against the wall of the building which was next to the two girls. Both girls turned to him.
"So your Sora's cousin?" Kairi asked.
"Yeah." Roxas said looking down at his schedule. "My father and his father were brothers." Namine shifted slightly.
"Were?" she asked.
"My father died." Roxas glanced up at the blond girl was was staring at him in shock. "Sorry, I dont mean to be rude. I'm not a very social person." he said. Namine and Kairi both smiled.
"Its alright, sorry bout your dad though" Namine said with a sweet smile. Roxas nodded in acknowledgment and the two girls went back to whatever they were talking about before Roxas had set down. He had just closed his eyes when he heard a loud.
"Hey Sora." Sora screamed like a little girl. Roxas opened his eyes to see someone hanging upside down from a branch of the tree. The person was directly in front of Sora who was now in Riku's lap buried in his neck. The whole group was laughing including the guy in the tree. He had bright red hair that Roxas couldn't tear his eyes from. The guy pulled himself back up then dropped down from the tree. "Sorry shrimp didn't mean to make you scream like a little girl." The red head sniggered. Riku rolled his eyes as the red head stood to his full height. God! He must have been at least 6 foot tall with a lean muscular body (well what Roxas could see of it any way). He was wearing tight dark jeans and a black button down shirt with the top couple of buttons unbutton to show off his chest. Roxas was staring and he couldn't seem to stop, he was happy that the red head hadn't noticed him yet. God he was gorgeous. The red head collapsed next to Riku laying on his back, his long legs crossed out in font of him and his arms holding him up. Roxas couldn't hear what they were talking about so he looked away staring up at the tree above him. He was about to fall asleep when suddenly he was staring into acid green eyes. Roxas blinked rather slowly, the red head was standing over him staring at him.
"Hey blondie." the red head said a smirk on his face. Roxas just stared up at him waiting for him to say something worth responding too. Does he have tattoos under his eyes? This made Roxas squint up at the man leaning over him and sure enough, under each eye the red head had an upside down teardrop. "Like what you see?" the red head asked the smirk on his face growing even bigger.
"I don't think so." Roxas said, his voice coming out low and bored, he felt the whole group grow silent. Roxas let his gaze go up and down the red head making it very clear he was looking. "Too skinny for my taste." he said and looked away from the red head his body language clearly saying 'Dismissed' The whole group erupted into laughter as the school bell rang. Roxas stood and grabbed his bag and walked away from the stunned red head still leaning against the wall. Sora was still laughing when they entered the building.
"I don't think I've ever seen Axle shocked into silence before" he said wiping away a tear from his eye.
"Yeah, me either" Riku said smiling at the blond. "Good job Roxas." Roxas just smirked and continued following them to his first class. Once in class he showed his schedule to the teacher who told him to find a seat. He took the seat next to Sora and the teacher called the glass to pay attention.
"We have a new student, Roxas? Why don't you introduce yourself?" the teacher asked. Roxas took a deep breath and Sora smiled at him encouragingly. He stood and looked around at all the faces looking at him.
"My name is Roxas Strife and I just moved here from Maine." and i've committed murder. He added mentally. The class clapped and he set back down.
The rest of the day was pretty much the same, he had Kairi and Namine in few classes and a few of Sora's other friends as well even Riku (they had gym together) as well as the redhead, who was no longer talking to him (not that Roxas would admit that he cared). Every teacher wanted him to introduce himself and blah blah. By the end of the day Roxas was itching for some damn alone time. He was out front of the school waiting for Riku and Sora as they had previously discussed. He was sitting on the low wall that ran around the edge of the school parking lot and the grounds, when he saw the red head from that morning. He was walking out of the school, his phone pressed to ear. He was walking toward the parking lot, Roxas saw him glance over at were he was and he tensed. He wasn't sure just how mad he had made the taller man that morning and he really didn't want to find out. The red head hung up his phone and made a bee line for Roxas. He had plenty of time to get up and walk away if he wanted to but he found himself dangerously curious about the gorgeous red head. He stopped a few steps away from Roxas and once again they stared at each other.
"Did you have a purpose in coming over here?" Roxas asked raising an eyebrow.
"The names Axel," he said. "Commit it to memory." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
"I'm Roxas, Sora's cousin." Roxas said as he watch Axel put a cigarette to his lips and the lighter to the cigarette. He inhaled deeply and blew the smoke away from Roxas.
"So I've heard. Can I sit?" he asked motioning to the bit of spare wall next to Roxas. Roxas patted the spot and Axel set. "So you just visiting or are you a permeant addition to the Leonhart residence." he asked as he took another drag of his cancer stick. Roxas smiled.
"I'll be staying with them as long as they'll have me." He replied and feeling brave he reached over and took the red heads cigarette from his lips and put it to his own. He took a drag and blew it out as he heard Sora call his name from the other side of the school yard. He put the cigarette back into the shocked red heads mouth. "Thanks Red." he said picking up his bag and walking over to Sora and Riku. Riku was staring over Roxas's shoulder at the shocked redhead.
"You keep leaving him speechless Roxas and he might jump you in your sleep." Riku said to the blond. Roxas chuckled causing both boys to gape at him.
"He'll get over it." he said before heading in the general direction they had come from this morning. Riku and Sora caught up with him soon enough and they started back to the house. Roxas glanced over his shoulder as they were leaving the parking lot to see Axel leaning against the wall, watching him Axel gave him a two finger solute. Roxas turned back around to answer a question that Sora had asked him. I'm gonna like this place quite a bit he decided as a huge smile spread across his face.
Roxas went straight to his room when they arrived home. He pulled off his shirt and collapsed on his bed. It had been a long exhausting day and he immanently felt his eyes fall shut.
He was walking down the hallway of his house looking inside the rooms as he went. Each room was empty and echoed back his foot steps, as he reached the kitchen he could hear a dripping noise. Had he left a faucet on? He went in and froze in the door way. Standing in the middle of the kitchen was Sephiroth his hair bright red with the blood that was leaking out of his caved in skull and he was holding the soup pot..
Roxas why would you hurt your Uncle? All I did was love you. Roxas backed out of the kitchen and ran back down the hall his scream echoing instead of his foot steps. As he ran passed the rooms he saw they were no longer empty but full of memories of his time with his uncle. Each room holding a new horror of how he had been touched...
Some one was shaking him violently, his eyes shot open and he was still screaming. He looked around franticly and his eyes were drawn to the silver haired male standing at the end of his bed. He scrambled out of bed and pressed his back to the window by his bed.
"No, Please Uncle Sephiroth..Please not tonight." he sobbed sliding down the wall. Suddenly Sora was in front of him.
"Roxas! Roxas snap out of it! Riku go get Vincent!" he shot over his shoulder. Roxas heard the door shut and he looked up to meet the blue eyes of his cousin. He through himself into Sora's arms sobbing and screaming.
"Sora please," Roxas begged looking into his cousins eyes, his own eyes looking slightly crazed. "Please don't let him take me back, I dont want to go back." he sobbed. Sora held him tight his own tears leaking out.
"Shhh Roxas Shhh, I'll never let him take you. We'll never let him take you." he whisperd into his cousins hair. The door opened and Sora looked up to find Vincent walking toward him.
"Sora what happened?" he asked as he knelt down next to the two boys.
"He...he was...was screaming in his sleep, me and Riku heard him from the living room. I was trying to wake him, when he opened his eyes he saw Riku and jumped out of bed and started saying 'No, Please Uncle Sephiroth not tonight.' I sent Riku for you and Roxas kept begging me to not let him take him." Sora was crying now full out and clutching Roxas to him. Roxas looked up from his cousin, his eyes were unfocussed and dazed. Vincent waved his hand in front of Roxas's face but got no response.
"Sora, you did very good in sending Riku to get me. But now I need you to help me get Roxas up and sitting on his bed. Then I need you to go and call your parents. Can you do that?" he asked his smooth voice leaving no room for argument. Sora nodded and together they got Roxas on the bed. Roxas set, staring not responding even when Sora left the room.
"Roxas I need you to listen to me. You had a nightmare. I need you to tell me what you saw that drove you over the edge." Vincent said kneeling down and looking up into the shocked boys face.
"Sephiroth." Roxas said between clenched teeth, "He was dead, but he talking to me, telling me what a bad lover I had been because I'd hurt him.." His eyes started to focus more on Vincent's face. Vincent nodded.
"I understand that Sephiroth was the man who rapped and abused you for many years?" Vincent asked his voice gentle. Roxas nodded as his thoughts became clearer. "I need you to close your eyes Roxas and take a deep breath ok?" Roxas nodded and did as he was told. He let out the breath and his shoulders relaxed. "Very good, Now Roxas I want you to lie down and rest, when I come back ill bring you something to help you sleep, ok?" Roxas nodded and pulled his legs up onto his bed and curled into a ball. Vincent shut the door behind him and went back down stairs to find Riku and Sora hugging in the hall way to the front door. "Are your parents on the way?" he asked. Sora nodded.
"Thank you so much for coming." Sora whispered. "Its so awful that he's been through so much."
"I know Sora but you must remember to not take to much of it onto your self. The best thing you can do for Roxas is to be the happy influence he needs." Sora nodded and Riku looked ready to explode.
"Is some one going to tell me what the hell is going on?" he asked. Vincent just shook his head.
"If Roxas decides that you need to know he'll tell you." he said gently. "Why don't you take Sora to his room while I talk to his parents?" Riku nodded and lead Sora up the stairs. Vincent turned to the door as Tifa and Leon came running in. They both spotted him and opened their mouths. He held up both his hands.
"Roxas had a night terror and was screaming in his sleep. When Sora went to wake him, Riku was with him. So when Roxas opened his eyes and saw the silver hair he almost had a panic attack, he went into a delusional state and I brought him out of it." Tifa leaned into Leon and he hugged her.
"What do you mean night terror?" he asked.
"A night terror is a night mare but more violent, often the vicim of a night terror is in a wake like state and you get screaming or thrashing and when awaken they can quickly decline into panic attacks or like with Roxas a delusion." Leon nodded. "I also have to suggest that Roxas start seeing a professional immanently my offer still stands to see him as a patient but if not me he needs to see some one. The bandages on his wrist on enough to get him admitted if any one reports it." Tifa covered her mouth to keep from sobbing out loud. Leon hugged her close.
"Ok Vincent, when do you want to start seeing him?" he asked. Vincent eyed the couple closely.
"Lets start out with every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday." He said. "And also, now that I am his doctor, I must make the suggestion that you have him institutionalized. This is going to be very hard on your family Leon." Leon shook his head.
"He is our family, we'll keep him here with us, let him have a normal life. I owe it to him and to Cloud." he said kissing his wife gently. "Go check on Sora and Riku please Tifa." She nodded and went upstairs.
"Very well then. I'm going to run home and get him some sleeping medication to get him through the night, I wouldn't suggest letting Sora or Riku in the room tonight. You or Tifa would be fine but the other two are going to need time to adjust." Leon nodded.
"I'll walk with you to your house then." he said, following his friend out the door. "Do think he's likely to snap again?" he asked as they were crossing the road. Vincent was silent for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"I do not think he is going to snap in the way that you mean. I've read the case files and several different psychological evaluations that they did on him during the case, and him killing Sephiroth was a psychotic brake brought on by years of abuse. So will he snap and hurt one of you? No. Not unless someone starts to abuse him again. Which I do not see happening." he paused to open his front door.
"I hear a but coming." Leon said following the raven haired man inside.
"Indeed. But, I believe if he continues with out treatment he will most certainty have another mental brake down probably continuously until he has to be institutionalized. Thats to say that he doesn't commit suicide before he gets to that point" Leon rubbed his temples while Vincent went through one of his cabinets. He stood and they made there way back over to the Leonhart household. When the came in Sora and Tifa were in the living room sitting together on the couch.
"Riku head home?" Leon asked. Sora nodded his head but didn't say any thing. Vincent headed up stairs, Leon right behind him. They entered Roxas's room to find him standing at his window, singing to himself.
"All day, staring at the ceiling...making friends with shadows on my wall... All night, hearing voices telling me that I should get some sleep, Because tomorrow might me good for something..." he trailed off when Leon closed the door. He turned to them and Vincent took a step closer examining Roxas, then he noticed the dark liquid poring down the boys arm. "I'm sorry." Roxas whispered. "It's just to much for one boy to handle."