Twelve reviews?! Guys! You are all amazing! I'm sorry this took so long to come out, truly I am, but these chapters need to be longer… or my story will end up being 75 chapters. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!

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The rest of the day seemed to go by quicker. I didn't see Axel again, however. Pert of me was a little upset, seeing as though he had at least tried to be nice to me. Unfortunately, my more anti-social and skeptical side won out in the end. Why would a senior like him want to entangle his time with me? I was a stupid freshman who nobody cared about.

As strange and foreign as his motifs were, it was a little refreshing to have someone new take an interest in me. If only that air head hadn't have ruined my long-awaited day in Home Ec. It was his fault I was rude!

I sighed and re-adjusted my backpack. My newly received homework was weighing down my spine as I walked along the road to my house.

"You better get used to it," I told myself. "You're in the middle of the year. No more reviews."

I shook my hair in the wind to get it out of my face. That's when I saw the unknown vehicle in my driveway, parked alongside Fenrir, Cloud's motorcycle. After further investigation I found that it was a 1981 Ford Bronco. The back of the car was packed with boxes of all sorts. I could only make out one of the labels on the boxes. It said "Vinnie's Shit". I scowled as I remembered the two new faces that would now inhabit my home, taking up my space and eating my food.

I stormed into my house, throwing all of my things on the floor including my shoes and my coat. I noticed that my kitchen was inhabited by the blonde pilot. He was…making tea?

"Hello?" I called out reluctantly.

"Roxas? Is that you?!" My mother asked from the top of the stairs. She looked tired with the bandana tied around her head and her sweat pants rolled up to her knees. "Oh, I'm so glad you're home! Now you can help Cloud, Vincent and I unpack their things. Do you mind going and getting the last couple of boxes from Cid's car?"

I huffed and turned back around, going out into the crisp air once again.

Cid's arms don't look broken…

I huffed and spun on my heel, slamming the front door dramatically. I basked in the slightly rebellious feel the action gave me. I shuffled over to Cid's car and opened the back, grabbing Vincent's box. Still in the spur of my rather uplifting rebellion, I slammed his car window as well.

"Geez…can this box be any heavier?" I grumbled, grunting as I re-adjusted my grip on the cardboard box.

I struggled to see past its girth as I struggled back to the front door. To my horror, I realized that my act of rebellion had also damned me. How was I supposed to get the door open?

I sighed dramatically, balancing the box between my chest and the door. I groped for the doorknob and turned it. Right as I did, I regretted it. Unable to catch the box in time, it tumbled onto the ground, spilling its contents everywhere. Most fell in close proximity of the box, but one object flew out and skidded underneath the coffee table.

I dropped to my knees and began to retrieve everything. I heard footsteps running towards me and I looked up into the gruff face of the pilot.

"Damn it kid! Whadda' hell are you doin'?! Be more careful!" Cid scolded, lowering himself on his knees and assisted me in gathering everything.

I mumbled an apology as I tried to fit all of the items back into the box, also making sure I hadn't broken anything. After everything was hastily put away, Cid stood up and brushed some invisible dirt off of his blue shirt. He held out a hand to me and lifted me swiftly and forcefully. I looked at my feet, avoiding his gaze.

He gave me a raspy chuckle, "Jesus, kid. There ain't no need to be so goddamn afraid of me. I gotta teach you how to grow a fuckin' pair, huh?"

I scowled and bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from giving a snarky reply. Cid found this reaction amusing and ruffled my hair before returning to his pot of tea, which had yet to boil.

A watched pot never boils…

I grunted and lifted the box, my back tensing. I glanced over at Cid, making sure he was too engrossed in his tea to notice me. When I made sure he had forgotten my presence, I shuffled over to the coffee table, placing the box carefully on it, making sure it made no sound. I bent down and grabbed the object. It was heavy and cold, made of some sort of metal. I lifted it up and gasped.

It was a gun. A solid gold gun.

Even holding the object made my hands tingle in anxiousness. The horror of holding such an object surprised me.

It was a beautiful gun.

There is no way it's real gold…

I turned it over, keeping my hands clear of the trigger. I weakly stared down the barrel, but I quickly pointed it to the ground again. Even though I knew it wouldn't fire, I was terrified. Those three barrels seemed to radiate danger. In doing so, I noticed an engraving on the side.

"Cerberus…" I whispered, trailing my fingers over the letters.

"Roxas!" my mother called, "What are you doing?! Don't think you can escape work that easily!"

I snapped out of whatever trance the weapon had put me under and gingerly put it back in the box, folding the cardboard flaps over it.

"Coming," I replied quietly.

I don't think she even heard me.

~*~*~

It surprised me how many things we had in the old room, and how long it took to move it all. I couldn't do much to assist Cloud and my mother in the move. I mostly just ushered items from the guest room to the storage closet. In mere hours, the room was stripped almost bare of any décor whatsoever. It was simple, two dressers and a desk.

My mother wiped sweat from her bow, "I'm sorry we don't have an extra bed for you two to sleep in. You can leave your things up here and sleep downstairs.'

I glanced at Cloud. Is she talking to us? Cid is downstairs and Vincent…

I looked around once more and was startled to see Vincent's dark, looming figure leaning into the corner of the room. His dark aura contrasted so heavily with the white walls that I was in shock that I didn't notice him earlier. I grimaced at him. What never he had, bringing a weapon into my house!

"Thank you again," He whispered. I widened my eyes. His voice was so dark and smooth, yet terrifying.

"Oi!" Cid yelled from below, "I got da' tea ready! Ya'll come down and have sum'!"

The side of Cloud's mouth twitched a bit as if he was holding back a smile, "Well, you heard the man."

That took long enough!

I glanced at the clock. 9:10. It seemed that as realization of the time hit my body, I became more and more drowsy. I yawned.

"I think I'm just going to go to bed…" I mumbled.

My mother looked back at me in surprise, "But, honey, you haven't even had dinner yet!"

"Not hungry…"

She frowned a bit, "Well, alright. Going to bed early is good for your skin."

I rolled my eyes. Vanity was always one of my mother's strong points.

Cloud gave me a firm nod as we parted ways. I headed off to my room and quietly shut the door behind me, enveloping myself in utter darkness.

I stripped down to my boxers, not bothering to look around for shirt. I tripped over countless and unknown items on my floor as I groped for the bed.

That moment, that one moment when your head hits the pillow, is the only moment of the day when I feel refreshed. When I feel at peace.

Then again, my dreams have been more peaceful lately. They've been warm. It is a wonderful change of pace from my seemingly hollow existence.

~*~*~

I shot awake to the sound of a small crash in the living room. Sadly, I am a very light sleeper. Heart still pounding in my chest, I glance at the clock. Its neon blue numbers inform me that it is 4:11 am.

"What in the hell is going on down there?" I grumble, irritated.

I slowly pushed myself off the bed, coming down from my short adrenaline high. I gingerly navigated around my room and left its sanctity to brave the downstairs. I am surprised that the noise didn't awaken my mother. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if she slept through an earthquake.

I crept down the stairs as quietly as possible. I even surprised myself with my stealth and gracefulness.

I began to hear fait voices, whispering, as I reached the end of the stairs. I flattened myself against the wall and peered out from the corner.

Oh, it's just Vincent and Cid. I forgot they were down here…

I quietly sighed and was about to begin my ascent of the stairs when I started to really listen to their conversation.

"Chief…" Vincent whispered.

"Vinnie, I set us up 'ere so that we didn't have to be discrete no more," Cid replied.

I raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Chief." Vincent said with more force, "Do you know how much trouble we could get in if Cloud found out? Let me assure you, we would no longer be Soldiers."

Cid shushed him, "Cloud won't know ah' thing."

"You promise me?"

"On mah life."

No. They couldn't possibly… no.

Actually, yes.

Now, my eyesight wasn't at its peak in the dark, but my ears worked just fine. And those were not usual noises one heard between two men. They were noises of skin against skin, lips against lips.

"Chief…" Vincent whispered again.

A shiver ran up my spine as I turned my head away. I rushed up the stairs as quietly as possible, retreating to my room. I shut the door behind me with barely a noise and leaned against it.

"No, I'm dreaming. This is ridiculous. It's a dream. You're not in your right mind as of late. Seeing that…that…Riku…all over Sora has messed with your mental stability. Just go back to bed. Everything will be fine in the morning," I tried to comfort myself.

Slipping back into my warm dreams did just that.

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I love Valenwind. But does Roxas? Uh… not so much I guess. By the way, Axel's in the next chapter. Don't worry.