One Wish

Chapter 7 – Monstrosity

xXx

Roxas smiled a bit when he read the note after a few minutes of looking around the small apartment to find it empty. At the thought of the food, the blonde's stomach gurgled in discontent, urging him to follow the redhead's words and find something to eat. Grabbing a pack of microwavable pizzas and popping them in for a few minutes, Roxas glanced at the clock on the stove, realizing just why he was so exhausted.

"Two o'clock in the friggin' morning? You've gotta be kidding me! I didn't take that long! Jeez." Shaking his head, Roxas decided that he could move his bag into Axel's room, which he found with surprising ease, while he waited for his snack.

There was nothing suspicious about the room; it felt normal, nothing screaming that he shouldn't be there, that it wasn't safe. "No kinky bondage things, no duct tape, no kiddie-porn ... So, maybe I won't be raped in my sleep? Alright ... That makes me feel a bit better."

Roxas continued to search until the microwave signalled that his meal was ready, which he ate calmly, his unease about spending the night in the stranger's house again slipping away as he warmed up. When he was brushing his teeth in the small bathroom, the blonde decided to rummage through open medicine cabinet out of curiosity. His fingers stumbled onto the 'perfume' that Axel had worn during their first meeting, the overwhelming stench of sweetness drifting from it. Roxas' lip curled in mild disgust, still not understanding how anyone could possibly use the stuff. Deciding that his teeth were clean enough, the blonde closed the cabinet door and rinsed out his mouth before turning off the light and sauntering back into the short hallway. When he reached Axel's room, he slid into the bed that looked oh-so-inviting.

He didn't move an inch until the smell of eggs and bacon sizzling on the stove woke him up eight hours later. Apparently he had been too tired to undress the night before, so he shuffled down the small hallway, being greeted by a beaming redhead.

"Glad to see I was wrong last night. I thought you weren't going to show up."

Roxas blushed, running a hand through his bed-head in an attempt to straighten it out. "I'm sorry ... I didn't know if I was gonna or not ... so ..."

"It's okay. You have a good sleep?" Axel turned back to the breakfast he was preparing, smirking at the sleepy groan that was his reply. "That bad, huh?"

Roxas shook his head, even though he knew that the elder wasn't able to see him. "Nah, I'm just not a morning person. That was actually the best sleep I've had in a real long time. ... Thanks."

"So you're staying then?"

Roxas frowned at how hopeful the redhead sounded but shrugged. "It's not like I really have any other place to stay. And you haven't tried to kill me yet, so ..."

"I don't think I'll be killing you. You're safe. I only kill the bad ones."

"Right ..." Roxas rolled his eyes, not believing what the redhead had to say. A serial killer wouldn't be allowed to just roam free ... He would have to have been caught by now, so there was no way that Axel could be telling the truth. He didn't kill anyone.

Axel smiled as he turned, not seeing any harm in what he had said to the blonde or the distrust that filled Roxas' word. "Here, eat up. If you need me, I'll be in bed. Unlike someone, I didn't get any sleep last night. You'll be okay out here, right? You know where everything is?"

Roxas nodded. "Thank you ... I ... I'm not used to having people ... make me stuff like this. This looks ... this looks wonderful. Thank you, Axel. I really mean it." Roxas couldn't help but smile at the proud beam that spilt across the redhead's features.

"Not a problem. I um ... I like ... I like helping people out."

The words seemed forced, but Roxas wasn't willing to question it, afraid that maybe the delicious-looking food would be stolen away from him. "I-I'm glad you do. It's um ..." Roxas was at a loss for words, not sure what he was trying to say, his cheeks growing red with his embarrassment. Axel laughed, patting his head and running a strong hand through his blonde spikes which made Roxas duck in an attempt to get away from the hand – both because he didn't like it when people touched his hair and the fact that he still held a little mistrust for the elder.

"Okay, Elf. If you need me ..."

And with that, Roxas was left to eat his meal.

xXx

Axel was exhausted, a feeling that he was unused to. He had gone overboard during the night, taking out five targets rather than the usual two and he had travelled so far that his whole body was ready to give out on him. How he had managed to stay conscious long enough to cook the young blonde stranger breakfast was beyond him. Maybe the pure determination to win him over?

Ridding himself of his shirt, Axel slipped into the still-warm sheets, surprised that there was already a new smell there. Allowing himself to drift off into sleep with thoughts of the blonde teen in his head, the smell of him surrounding the redhead, Axel was content.

Until he was awoken only an hour later by the bedroom door creaking open. He kept his breathing level, knowing that it was only Roxas coming in to disturb him. Maybe he was just getting something out of his bag? He could hear the blonde coming closer, so maybe not. Perhaps he had tried to cook something else and burnt the apartment down? Axel was sure that he would have smelled something as bizarre as that. Maybe Roxas was just lonely and wanted someone to talk to? That seemed like a good hypothesis.

Axel could hear the blonde inching forward, trying his hardest not to be heard. The bed shifted slightly and Axel had to fight to keep his eyes closed, curious as to what exactly the blonde thought he was up to. He couldn't contain the three short intakes of breath as he felt a leg slip over both of his own, caging him down. He's going to think you've woken! Say something! Quick! First thing that comes to mind. "Pancake strudel" was moaned in response to what his mind had shouted at him and he nearly cracked a smile, confused as to where such words could have come from.

Roxas seemed to have taken the bait as Axel could feel the teen shift forward and he wondered what was running through the younger's head, why he was suddenly so interested in being close. Why was Axel so content with having the blonde there, looming on top of him?

It felt so good when Roxas brushed a thumb over the tattoo on his cheek, adjusting a strand of hair that had been tickling Axel's nose for the past minute or so. But again, he had to hold back that smile. He wanted to see where the blonde was going with this, wanted to see what other tender caresses there could be.

And that travelling hand shifted lower, removing some of the blankets that had already been moved by Axel's sleep. His breath hitched in his throat for a moment as Roxas rubbed the bare skin beneath his navel. Shock bristled over his body, but he remained calm as Roxas' hand drew away like it had touched fire.

Interested, huh, Elf? You've never seen anything like me, have you? But Axel didn't speak. When Roxas didn't move on top of him, Axel opened his mouth wide in a yawn, showing off his predator-teeth, stretching his jaws to only a fraction of what they could go to, but enough to make the blonde gasp, leaning away from the gaping maw.

When he felt Roxas' finger enter his mouth, tapping on a razor-sharp tooth, instinct made him close his jaws, only stopping at the panicked yelp that left the blonde's lips. Other fingers were prying his teeth apart and Roxas pulled his finger out quickly after only a small bit of resistance from the redhead.

"Satisfied?" Axel finally allowed his eyes to open, taking in the intruder with an amused smirk even though the sight of crimson dribbling down the blonde's finger made a spark of guilt ignite inside of him.

"A-Axel!"

"You woke me up." Not that he was upset about it.

"I-I .. I'm sorry. I ... I don't know what ... I'm sorry." Roxas stammered, obviously not expecting that he was going to be waking up the elder man. He shifted and Axel's hand shot out, gripping his wrist, making sure that the boy wouldn't be going anywhere. Feeling the horror emanating from the blonde, Axel loosened his grip.

"Do you regret it? Not believing me? I'm sorry. About your finger. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Axel's voice lowered, sincerity slipping into his words as he eyed the wound.

"So ... I ... What you said before ... Who ... What are you?" Roxas was still at a loss for words, his non-injured hand trying to pry Axel's fingers off but to no avail.

"I told you, I'm what people call the Anti-Clause. A monster, in other words. You want me to let you go now, right? Are you going to leave? And never come back? Are you going to fear me? Mistrust me? I told you, I only kill the wicked ..." Axel was scared, though he would never admit to it. He didn't want this boy leaving him already. Someone was just starting to trust him and now he messed it up. He scared the only one that had shown any interest in him in over two millennia.

Roxas slipped his wrist out of Axel's lax fingers, backing away until he was off the bed, mumbling something about work before escaping through the bedroom door, slamming it behind him.

Axel felt a stone sinking in his stomach and he pressed his head back into the pillow. Frustration, fear and sadness enveloped him until he finally rolled onto his side and tried to fall back asleep.

xXx

To Be Continued

xXx

I kinda feel bad for Axel. I'm so mean. But really, if you didn't believe in fairytales and then end up being taken in by a monster, wouldn't you run away too?

~xbuttonsx~