Raise Chapter 5

"Okay…See ya later," Sora said before hanging up his phone.

"Axel's on his way?" I asked.

"Yup, he just left his house," Sora said rolling over on his stomach.

I rolled onto my side and probed my head up on my elbow. I traced patterns on Sora's arm.

"Do you think Rufus will find me?" I asked quietly.

Sora looked up at me, hearing the fear in my voice.

"I won't let him hurt you," Sora said fiercely.

I smiled slightly. Sora is so diligent sometimes. I love him like a brother. I hate how my pain hurts him. If only I could just go away so he wouldn't feel my pain but that'd make him hurt even more.

"So, do you like Riku?" I asked, changing the subject.

"What? No," Sora said blushing.

I smirked at him. "That blush on your face says something else."

Soras blush deepened as he hid his face in the sheets. Sora mumbled something I couldn't hear because of the covers blocking his face.

"I didn't hear that," I said, crawling up to him.

I ran my fingers along his ribcage, tickling him. Sora thrashed around, giggling madly.

"S-Stop!" he begged as I moved my fingers mercilessly along his ribcage. "O-Okay…I-I'll t-tell you!" Sora gasped.

I stopped. "Do you like him?"

"Yes," Sora murmured hiding his flushed face.

"I think he likes you to," I murmured.

Sora pulled the covers down enough to peek at me.

"You think so?" Sora asked sounding extremely insecure.

"He'd be crazy not to," I murmured softly, hiding my awkward feeling.

Sora smiled at me. I smiled back. Sora suddenly caressed my cheek.

"You have a beautiful smile," he murmured. "You should smile more often."

As he pulled his hand away, I grabbed it quickly holding his hand against my cheek.

"I need more to smile about," I murmured.

Sora leaned forward and kissed my nose. "When I get you out of there you will," Sora murmured.

Sora wrapped his arms around me and I snuggled into his chest for once. I snuggled into him looking for comfort.

I looked over as the door opened. Axel looked at us smirking.

"Can we make this a three some?" Axel smirked lifting his eyebrows suggestively.

"Shut up," I muttered blushing.

Sora let me go and I got up. I grabbed my bag and walked to the door. I looked over my shoulder at Sora.

"Thanks," I murmured.

Sora smiled at me as I left. I forced a smile on my face as I looked at Sora. The smile quickly slipped off of my face as I disappeared from Sora's view. I looked up, feeling Axel's gaze on me. He studied my face before taking my hand in his.

I smiled as his warm hand enclosed around mine. He led me down the stairs and out the house.

I gawked at the red sports car in the drive way.

"You like?" Axel asked unlocking the doors.

He opened the door for me as I nodded like a mindless zombie. I got in the car carefully, not wanting to ruin the leather seats. Axel got in and started the car.

As he drove off he asked, "What do you think of my beautiful car?"

"I think it's a pity animals had to die to make these stupid seats that stick to your bare skin when it's hot. I don't think an animal should have died for your stupid car seats," I said folding my arms.

Axel chuckled softly. "Are you an animal rights activist?"

"No, I just don't think animals should die for the luxury of humans."

"Are you a vegetarian?"

"No, I just don't believe in killing animals for stupid things like your car seats."

Axel turned to smile at me. His smile nearly stopped my heart.

"I didn't pick the car, my dad got it for me," Axel said pulling in at his house.

I grabbed my bag and got out of his car. He led me up the porch steps and into his house. I looked around his home. It's not very big but it's nice. How could he afford this?

"Axel, how can you afford this house?" I blurted, and then blushed as I realized how rude I'm being. "Sorry, you don't have to tell me," I said hastily.

"It's okay," Axel said sitting down on his couch.

He patted the spot next to him. I dropped my bag and sat next to him, cuddling into his side.

Axel ran his fingers through his long spikes. "When I was about eight my dad left my mom for another man. He told her he's gay and that he's divorcing her."

"Axel, this is a sad story but I don't see what this has to do with your house," I interrupted.

"I'm getting there," Axel said smirking at my impatience.

"Oh, sorry," I said hastily.

"He ended up moving out and going to live on Destiny Islands with his husband. I could visit him some times but he can't have custody because he's gay. That left my mom real bitter. I look so much like my dad she hates to look at my face. She always tried to cut my hair or die it. When I was sixteen I told her I'm gay and she started yelling at me. She said I'm just like my dad and kicked me out.

"I had no where to go. I stayed over at Riku's house for a while but I couldn't live there. Riku's parents don't know he's gay and they would freak out if they knew why I got kicked out. I had no other choice but to call my dad. I haven't seen him in about a year because he stopped talking to me. He just…disappeared. I didn't even have his number. I had to look him up in the phone book. Well, it turns out he moved to Japan where he owns a computer business or something. He makes a lot of munny. So, he bought me a house and everything. He comes to visit me around Christmas and summer."

"Do you like your dad?" I asked quietly.

"He's okay. We get along alright but I wish I knew him better," Axel murmured.

"Have you seen your mom?" I asked quietly.

Axel made a noise in his throat that can only be described as a scoff. "I went back to talk to her, to try and sort things out. She told me she hates me and that I'm not her son."

I looked up into Axel's green eyes. He looks like he doesn't care but it's just a mask. A façade. Beneath his uncaring mask he's hurting. I can see the hurt buried deep inside his eyes.

I stretched my neck a little to kiss his cheek.

"She doesn't know what she lost," I whispered.

"And you do?" Axel whispered.

"…I think I do."