Warnings: Violence / Language
Pairings: Future Axel / Roxas
Author's Note: I hope you enjoy the new chapter, let me know what you think! X
x
I stared at Sora like he'd lost his mind.
"You're serious."
He nodded, doing that idiot smile of his. "You're ready Axel."
Ready? I wasn't ready. I'd worked hard to get my own space. There'd been planning, patience… casualties. I leaned towards him over the desk and said darkly, "You and I both know that's not what it says in my file."
Sora's face went cold. And I saw that iron core that beat Saïx in his eyes. "Don't try that, Axel. We both know there's a lot more to you than what's in your file. And besides…"
He levelled me with a stare. "… I think he'll be ok."
I threw my head back and laughed, "In this Hell hole? He's like a cat thrown in with the lions. You saw what happened to him last night. You really think he'll last with me?"
But Sora just kept looking me straight in the eye. Something cold ran down my spine. If I didn't know better I'd have thought it was fear.
"Christ." I muttered, one question burning through my mind. "What the fuck did he do to end up here?"
Sora looked down at his desk, fringe falling to hide his face. A slight tremor ran through his hands as he laid them slowly on the dark wood.
"Murder." He whispered, almost like he was afraid of the word. He'd seen horrible things in Oblivion. Monsters that raped, killed… left hate and death like a trail behind them. But something about Roxas made his voice shake with a kind of sadness I'd never heard before.
x
"What's got you so worked up?" Riku's voice was neutral, but I saw the way his eyes flickered to Sora as the door swung closed behind me.
Scowled. This was not going to plan. Watching the new kid was one thing but I wanted no one –no one – in my cell. Especially not someone that could cause as much trouble as this Roxas. A killer at war with Marly.
Started back towards the cells, not in the mood for Riku's lovesick bullshit.
"Cut the crap, Ri. You're only here to ask one thing."
Ignored his flinch. It's not like the goofball was listening. He was back to his papers, rummaging through notes that clearly stated I did not play well with others, and ignoring them.
Ran a hand over my face and tried to calm the fire building in my chest.
"Look. Ri… it's like this…"
We walked down the long corridor leading to the main cells, a familiar buzz sounding as each of the heavy metal doors slid open and then closed behind us.
"I can't tell you anything you don't already know. He likes the girl –"
Passed Sephiroth. The sick bastard was positively glowing. He must have been in on the hit.
" – and who can blame him?" We reached my cell and I turned to Riku. "I say leave well enough alone unless you hit puberty and grow a bloody pair."
I climbed up onto my top bunk, and waited for the sound of his footsteps to fade. I'd pay for that the next time I needed a pack of smokes, but fuck it. There was work to do. I pulled at a crack in the bed's steel frame. Weather it was for Xemnas or Roxas, I'd need a new shank before the week was up.
x
Days passed and I was twitchy. Zexion was no help at all. For once he seemed to have no angle, no insight on the situation. If he knew anything, he was keeping it zipped. It was like he was waiting, like everyone was just waiting for the right moment to play their hand. The guards seemed uneasy in the quiet, and they were damn right to be. This was the lie. The calm before the storm.
I scratched my belly casually, yawning wide and padding back into my cell. My fingers brushed over the thin shank tucked into the elastic of my trousers. I felt more than heard someone behind me. The rustle of fabric, hairs on the back of my neck standing on end, and they were in. Vexen had my arms pinned in a flash. I crushed down the panic in my throat, the urge to throw my head back and smash that sneering, twisted face.
If he wanted me dead I would already be on the ground, main arteries torn by a homemade scalpel.
A soft chuckle resonated through the glass, as Xemnas closed the door behind him.
I decided it was worth the risk. This was too dangerous. I lifted my foot, ready to bring it crashing down on Vexen's foot, breaking bones and – hopefully – his hold.
Xemnas cleared his throat and leaned on the bed's frame. "There's no need for that, Axel. Let's be civil, shall we?"
Didn't bother stating civil flew out the window when his lacky pinned me.
I nodded slowly, watching Xemnas' eyes carefully. When my arms were released I rubbed my shoulder slowly. So this was it. The power play. The demonstration. The usual drill.
He wanted to intimidate me. Show he was in charge.
I lifted my chin, and tucked my thumbs in the waistband of my pants, "Took your sweet time, Xem." He'd been circling me like a God damn vulture. And Saix was never far behind. Trailing him like a lost puppy, never meeting my eyes. Something about it made me pissed. Royally pissed. And Xemnas knew it. Of course he knew. That bastard knew everything.
I felt the sharp edge of my weapon under the fold of cloth and asked "What's this about?"
Xemnas spread his hands, a show of surrender, placidity, lies. Behind the glass I saw a streak of blue – grey hair. We were all monsters, but Saix was on a leash. Shamed and broken, nothing but a ghost of the wild savage he was before Xemnas took him under his wing. But that's how the big man works. The sly fucker. He digs in deep, hunts for a weakness and exploits the shit out of it.
"Things are changing, Axel." He was saying, voice measured and calm. "You could use friends in troubled times like these."
Part of me wondered what he'd found in Saix to make him heel, but most of me saw the situation for what it was – a lost cause. Best to sheer clear. There's no saving a drowning man, not when you want to stay afloat.
"I have friends." I said, hating the way he laughed. Vexen smiled, like a puppet with a knee jerk reaction to his master on the strings.
"Zexion? Come now," His voice was dripping honey, reason. The bastard. "We both know he knows more than he lets on. Will he really be there for you when Marly starts his war? We both know what's coming. Once Roxas moves into your cell, you'll be nothing but collateral damage."
"I'll take my chances." I said, and watched his face darken.
"Don't be a fool, Axel. You're alone. You need friends. We could be friends. And I always look after my …" a pause, and I thought 'toys' … "friends." He finished, lips curling into an ugly smirk.
My thumb coiled over the shank, ready to strike.
"Sure." Saix stiffened behind the glass, and Xemnas looked smug as Hell. "I'll think about it." I stated. But my eyes said different. They said come closer, fucker. Come and get me.
Xemnas watched me carefully. The tension in the room swelled and I could feel it. Pushing against my body in waves of danger, filling up my lungs with adrenaline.
A short blast of noise, and the main gates were opening. Xemnas' focus wavered as his eyes landed hungrily on the blonde bombshell walking slowly back into Hell.
So that was it. He wanted Roxas. I saw Marly – nose still cradled in a splint – prowl forwards, and almost smiled. Xemnas could join the queue. That bit of meat was in high demand.
I licked my lips and winked at Vexen. "Better scram, babe. Hacks on the way. Don't want them to find you in here.
Xemnas cast me a last look on his way out of my cell – our cell now – and said "Think fast, Axel."
Here he came. There was no stopping it now. Knowing that, I felt almost calm. War was at my doorstep, and everyone wanted in. Blocking out images of Sephiroth and Marly gutting me with my own shank, I stepped out into Oblivion to greet my new cellmate.
