It was because of Roxas that Axel stopped doing drugs.
The effects had been getting to him; he was tired, yet fully awake. He had dark bags under his eyes and he was starting to ignore Roxas.
It pissed the blonde off.
When he first met Axel, the redhead'd been sober. Not the happiest camper, but still outgoing and charismatic when he wanted to be. Roxas was utterly in love with him.
He started to notice changes in Axel right after school started up in the fall. It was their first year at university, and they were lucky enough to go to the same college.
Axel had never had many friends other than Roxas. Demyx was his buddy, but Demyx was too busy with his girlfriend, Larxene. Marluxia and he had a love/hate relationship happening, and Xion only came around when she needed something. Roxas was his only real friend.
When he heard of all the non-judgemental people in the drug community, it sounded appealing. These people could be his friends. The way they described the trip, it sounded actually like fun.
Cocaine was his drug of choice. When he was high, he felt on top of the world. He could be having the shittiest day, and he'd snort a line or two and feel like the happiest man in the world. Roxas didn't know the cause of his sudden giddiness, but he felt happy for Axel.
Gradually, Axel's giddiness was becoming less...fun. He was having all these issues, and he blamed them on everything but the drugs. It was stress from homework, it was his parents constant harassment, it was his sister's pestering.
When Axel dropped out of school, Roxas really started to get worried. But Axel needed the time to be able to acquire his drugs. He couldn't get silly shit like school get in his way.
Money ran low. Roxas would lend him cash for groceries, but he suspected it was definitely not groceries the redhead was buying.
Eventually, Axel would do just about anything to get high. Painkillers, Nyquil, anything he could get his hands on. His friends abandoned him when he stopped being able to pay for it.
The night Axel came home limping with hickeys on his neck and a pocket full of cash and cocaine, Roxas called it quits. They'd never had a fight so intense.
"Axel, I have been trying my hardest to support you and help you through this, but for fucks sake! Now you're cheating? Do the drugs really mean that much to you?"
The redhead tried again and again to explain himself and his situation, but Roxas had had enough.
"No. I've heard the same shit a million times. It's either the drugs, or me."
The redhead frowned. He was so, so tired.
Roxas huffed and grabbed his coat. He was walking out the door.
"I thought so."
The next day, the blonde slept in. It was nice to sleep his troubles away, to forget them if only for a little while.
A knock on the door broke him from his thoughts.
He groaned and pulled the blanket over his head. "If you want to get in, you'll have to break the door down."
A pause, then the sound of a key going through the lock. The only person who had the key to his apartment was...
The redhead stepped through the door. He looked like he hadn't slept. "Hey."
Roxas frowned. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
Axel walked towards the bathroom. "Come with me."
The blonde hesitantly followed him to the door. He raised his eyebrows at the sight. The redhead was dropping his stash into the toilet.
"Axel..."
The older teen flushed the toilet. "It'll be hard, but I love you so much Roxas. Please don't leave me. Help me."
The blue eyed boy felt that familiar sympathy stab at his heart. "I will, Axel."
