Thanks for all of your reviews guys!! :)

Though.... No one guessed correctly, so sorry for no cookies, love, or confetti!!

But! I love you all for trying anyway :D

Anywho, sorry this took so long, caught up with lots of things... so yeah!

Enjoy!

Roxas kept very still, his pulse pounding right against the blade that was pressed taut against his throat. The person before him was practically glowing with sick excitement as they cocked a hip and raised an eyebrow, looking him slowly up and down.

"My, my, my… it's been awhile, right, Roxas?" The woman in front of him let out a soft, breathy laugh and her mouth twisted into a smirk. She wore the same black outfit as the others in his dreams and reality, the hood pulled down to reveal light blonde hair that had been cut short and slicked back close to her head, two bangs pulled up and away from her face like a weird version of antennae. She was pale and average height, the cloak hugging the curves of her body like a second skin.

"What- who are you? What do you want with me?" Roxas managed to speak past the tightness in his throat as his hands became clammy, and his stomach jumped uncomfortably. The knife hadn't moved from the pulse on his neck and the hand holding it was steady and confidant.

"Oh, you don't remember me either? Poor little Roxas lost all of his memories!" She let out a giggle and shook her head, cold, unfeeling eyes trained on him. "You always were the weaker one; it's no surprise someone got into your head and took all your thoughts away." She laughed again and tapped him on the nose in an almost playful manner that made a picture flash before his eyes.

She was laughing, throwing shocks of electricity at him again and again as she taunted him in a less than joking way that made the fury dance across his skin.

"Are you part of the organization?" Roxas demanded as he blinked and saw the real her again. The sardonic eyebrow rose a fraction of an inch and she tilted her head, eyes sparkling deviously. Some of the cold fear in his stomach lessened merely to be replaced with a sort of anger at her and anger at himself for being caught so easily.

"Yeeees…" She dragged the word out slowly. "And so were you, once upon a time. Before you decided to take a little vacation while the big boys worked. What, was it too hard for you?"

"What do you want with me?" He demanded again, glad that his voice didn't betray the nerves that bounced around and made his spine shiver.

"I'm here on a mission." She replied with an uncaring shrug that didn't match the rest of her. The rest of her was excited and ready, the bone chilling stare telling him that she was prepared to hurt, and maim as much as she could.

She was ready to kill.

"What's the mission?" He had to keep her busy. Something was telling him that she was distracted easily by taunting and by her own self-importance. He had to keep her interested enough to jest and joke while he thought of a way to escape.

"My mission, as boring as it is, is you. Don't you feel special?" She purred softly, green blue eyes sparkling dangerously.

"What do you want with me?" Roxas prompted, mind scrambling. She was in the way of the exit and she'd have to somehow move around him slowly in order for him to even have a chance. Her knife posed a problem though. She seemed in deadly control of what she did with it and could probably stab him in the back as he tried to run since he wasn't that fast.

Naminé… a little help?

I'm sorry Roxas… I didn't know she was coming.

I just need to know how to get away.

I… I don't know how you're getting out of this one, Roxas.

"Oh don't feel so self important Roxy… I'm just here to get something." She laughed lightly and then moved in closer, leaning towards his ear and adding an electric bite to her words. "All I need to pry from your lips is a name. Just one little name and then your usefulness is gone. Not that you were every truly useful, no matter what you thought." Roxas jerked away from her, momentarily pulling the knife from his neck as he stumbled back and glared at her amused face. In the blink of an eye though she had the knife against his neck and her eyes were sparkling in amusement.

"Oh, I'll never tire of that. You were always so, so… jumpy around me. It was amusing." She laughed again and closed her eyes like she was savoring a memory.

"What name do you need?" Roxas asked carefully, trying to pull his head back so that he could shift towards the exit. Maybe if she was distracted enough…

Opening her eyes she tapped the blade against his vein to remind him to stay put.

"I just want the name of the person who took your memories… and the name of the person that's giving them back. That's not so hard now, is it?" She tilted her head to the side and watched him, a predator that had successfully and easily cornered its prey.

"I don't know who you're talking about." Roxas lied edgily, only telling half of the truth. As if sensing this, the girl shifted and tsk'd him with a smirk.

"Now, now, now… no need to lie to me. After all… we do have history together, don't we? Best friends and all." She laughed a cold and cruel laugh as she tapped him on the nose again.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Memories of what?" Her eyes flashed wickedly at that and she tapped the knife against his pulse a little harder.

"Don't be stupid; I heard you talking to yourself, Roxy, there's no use lying. A little nobody is in your head." A dark look passed over her face and she leaned in a little more. "Give me their name."

"I don't know who it is! I don't know who took my memories away and I don't know who's putting them back." He frowned and tried to put on his best serious and honest face. He could almost see the lack of interest starting to form in her eyes and he knew he had to get her attention somehow, soon.

"You're beginning to bore me, Roxas." She warned him with a darkness in her tone that made his blood churn.

"I don't know who is doing any of this to me." He replied with gritted teeth, knowing that she was going to attack soon. How did he know? The knife was beginning to push against his skin in a way that would prove fatal soon if he didn't hurry.

"Not going to talk? That's ok… orders are to get information and kill you anyway. At least I'll complete half of the mission. I can always blame Zexion for all of this… even if he's innocent." Grinning, she pulled the knife back slowly and carefully deposited it in the folds of her cloak, blue green eyes taking on a luster that Roxas didn't like.

"What are you doing?" He asked hesitantly, moving away from her now that his life wasn't in immediate danger. Moving into a mid-crouch she observed him with cat-like eyes that narrowed in concentration as her lips parted to reveal a deadly, sinister smile.

"Why, I'm going to have some fun." She replied easily.

"What are you going to do to me?" He moved farther back, heart beginning to pound against his ribcage erratically. Sliding a hand through her slicked back blonde hair the woman rolled her shoulders back and then winked as she laughed.

"I'm going to kill you, of course."

She launched herself across the distance between them and before Roxas had the time to blink she was right in front of him, fingers sliding up his jacket before she grabbed him tightly by the neck and launched him up and over her head, sending him flying through the air before he landed roughly on the couch upside down. Pain danced up his spine at the jarring contact but at the sound of her laughter he twisted around and struggled to right himself, hitting the floor on his knees.

Before he had time to scramble to his feet he was being lifted again, surprise at her strength fleeting through his mind as he was thrown to the ground, the breath rushing from his lungs with a soft hiss.

"Want to play a game?" Larxene taunted.

"Yeah, I'll play a game. Fight me like a man, Larxene. Stop acting like a spoiled, weak woman." Roxas retorted, shifting into a fighting stance. Surprise flitted over her face before an arrogant smirk settled over her lips.

"Had enough, Roxy? I've only touched you twice. Is this the great power everyone always raved about? I'm not impressed." Roxas blinked past the stars flashing around his eyes and wheezed in a painful breath, flinching as she came into view. She peered over him, laughter in her eyes as she did so, and she poked his nose in jest as he coughed out air.

"Larxene." He whispered hoarsely, inwardly cheering as she froze and regarded him carefully for a moment. Turning her head slightly she raised an eyebrow but leaned in a little closer all the same.

"So you know my name, kid. Pity it's the last thing you'll remember." Shrugging, she went to reach for him but he cut her off again.

"W-want to play… a game?" He wheezed to her, inwardly groaning. Whoever said that action movies were realistic were liars. It hurt like hell to be thrown around like that!

"A… game?" She raised an eyebrow and her grin grew just a little bit. "You want to play a game with me?" She studied him for a moment as if debating as to whether he was serious or not before she shrugged and moved, grabbing him by the jacket to pull him to his feet. Regaining his balance Roxas coughed lightly and breathed in slowly, pushing the pain in his back away for later.

If he lived long enough for later, that is.

"Alright, I'm interested. What game, Roxy?" She cocked her hip and folded her arms, eyes intent on him and the doorway incase he tried to leave.

"Just me and you… the objective is to land ten hits on me." He pulled the idea out of nowhere, hoping she wouldn't call him out on it. He didn't have any other ideas to work with. "If I can keep away from you and manage to get you ten times, I win. If you get ten hits on me though…" Larxene's lips curled up cruelly.

"You die." She finished with a small laugh. Nodding slowly, Roxas positioned himself into what he believed was a fighting stance as she ran a finger down her smooth jaw line like she were thinking it through.

"You really want to play this game, Roxy?" She asked with a tone that said quite clearly that he had no choice anymore. She'd agreed the moment he had proposed the idea. "I mean, even with your gift you were weak… what makes you think that you're going to win against me?" Her grin widening she moved into a strange form, her arms straight out on either side, palms up. "Look up at the sky, genius. It's already threatening to storm and you're just bringing the rain faster. In a hurry to die or something?" She grinned maliciously.

"Fight like a man, Larxene." Roxas taunted, not entirely sure where he was getting the guts to speak to his soon to be killer. Maybe the shock of it had turned him reckless? It didn't matter. What mattered was getting out of the situation alive.

"Oh, I'll do more than that, kid." She hissed before she suddenly flicked her wrist and a soft crack filled the air before Roxas jumped to the side, the spot where he'd just been standing singed with a black mark. Holy shit she was fast! Seeing him stumble to the side in shock her smile grew into a full blown sneer and she crouched down a little, sweeping one arm to the side. Seeing the sweeping motion, he rolled to the other side in time to avoid another swipe of heat filled electricity that crackled in the air next to him.

"You can dodge? I'm surprised; you used to just stand there!" She crowed and then swept each hand down on either side, causing him to move towards her to avoid the sweeps of lightening. As he passed her though she flicked her wrist and he felt something zap his leg before he fell with a yell of pain.

"Ooh… thought I should warn you, Roxy. My hits? Too deadly to reach ten." Giggling, she grabbed him and pulled him back up again, her lips pressed against his ear. "That's not a problem… is it?" Tears of pain stinging his eyes he weakly managed to reach up and grab a fistful of hair, ripping it with all his might and kicking her to pull himself from her grasp, a chunk of corn silk blonde hair his trophy.

Larxene let out a shriek of dismay and slight pain when she saw her hair fisted in his hand. Reaching up she tenderly touched the spot that was missing her hair and then her eyes darkened angrily.

"You'll pay for that." Larxene growled, bending down at the knees into a fighting crouch.

"The score's one to one, Larxene." Roxas retorted heavily, blindly reaching down to touch the burn on his calf from her lightening strike. Hissing in pain he pulled back and rested the weight on it, unsurprised that it was shaky.

"Not for long." Larxene hissed and then she began her barrage of attacks, her hands swinging and twisting as she danced around him to find an opening, the electricity sizzling around them as Roxas moved and ducked, twisting around the white hot strands that proved deadly when one nabbed him in the arm and he stumbled, groaning in pain as he found that he could hardly lift his arm.

"Two to one, Roxy! Whassa matter… poor baby getting tired?" Larxene snapped and then laughed before she picked up the pace and Roxas dug his feet into the ground to add speed to his movements to get away.

He was getting tired quickly, he realized. Sweat was beginning to draw up around his forehead and slowly crawl down into his eyes, but he didn't dare wipe it away and risk losing his vision. It was already hard to see amongst the blinding lightening; he didn't want to give her the upper hand.

You need to use your gift. Naminé urged in his head as he narrowly missed getting struck in the chest with a bolt of lightening. Chest heaving he turned and tried to get closer to her only to have to turn at the last moment to avoid an entire wall of white hot light. Behind it, Larxene laughed at his desperate dodging.

And how can I do that? I'm a little busy here. Roxas gritted his teeth and rolled, feeling his hair sizzle as she struck the lightening right next to his head.

Focus on the shadows; focus on the darkness around you and become a part of it. Fatigue was wearing onto his muscles and his leg screamed in pain.

Trying to focus on staying alive. Roxas snapped back as his breath choked in his throat.

"Oh don't pass out, Roxas, the fun's just beginning!" Larxene hissed something under her breath and above her head the thunder boomed loudly in response. The barrage of attacks ceased and Roxas fell back against the wall, breathing heavily as he watched her motions. His lunged screamed for oxygen and he drank it in greedily, a hand grasping his stinging, useless arm. He was close to passing out, but he couldn't bring himself to stop. Stopping meant failure.

Failure meant death.

She was swinging her arms slowly around her head, pale lips pulled back into an animalistic smile as she watched him, the shield of lightening gone and presenting him with a totally in control, unharmed woman.

"Done yet, Roxy?" She cooed playfully as she moved her arms slowly. It was as if she were gathering some unseen object from above, and wiping the sweat from his face Roxas gulped in air and stared dumbly as he tried to figure out what she was doing.

"I'm not finished 'till I'm dead." He managed to reply. Rolling her head on her neck Larxene laughed.

"You picked a dumb game to play, Roxie." She shook her head and tsk'd him. "You know what this is, kid?" Above them the thunder roared and she laughed right along with it, hands moving in the slow, careful circle. "This is mark three through ten. Play the mark game in a lightning storm? Bad day to be Roxas." Slowly she raised her hands above her head and then closed her eyes, breathing as a bright, painful light engulfed her entirely and flashed with a heat that Roxas could feel from across the way. It was then that he knew; he was as good as dead. There was no way he could absorb it like Larxene was. Gritting his teeth, he braced himself for pain.

And death.

"Bad, bad day to be Roxas." Larxene repeated before she let out a hiss and moved, the light rushing from her and streaking across the way to him, the tendrils snapping and wrapping around one another as they raced towards him hungrily. Eyes wide and panicked, Roxas clenched his teeth and saw death flash right before him.

It never came.

BAM!

Roxas's eyes instinctively closed for the pain, but when nothing happened he slowly opened them to see a boy standing in front of him, large sword drawn and splayed before them. His aquamarine eyes were narrowed and his teeth were gritted as the sword absorbed the lightning and then returned it with equal force, shocking Larxene into dodging out of the way to avoid her own death sentence. As silence filled the hideout Larxene assessed Roxas's savior with disgust and annoyance flashing across her face.

"Aren't you a little old for games, Larxene?" The silver haired boy asked calmly as he slid his feet to the side and swung his sword up like it was a baseball bat. Dusting off her cloak and swiping her hair back, Larxene shrugged in a nonchalant way.

"For Roxy I make an exception to everything." She cooed, her voice contrasting the sharp fury that danced in her eyes. Roxas watched them both avidly, shock keeping him rooted to the spot.

"What do you want with him?" The boy asked in an impatient tone, shifting from one foot to the other as he watched Larxene's every moment with quick, sweeping glances of his oceanic eyes. His fingers were tense on his sword, his grip tight.

"What I want with Roxas doesn't concern you. Kindly step out of the way; you're interrupting our little game." Shifting to the left, Roxas wasn't surprised to see the strange boy move with him and Larxene step in kind to the right.

"Though I usually would hate interrupting, I know people who need Roxas alive and breathing. Sorry to disappoint." The boy didn't sound sorry at all though, and Larxene laughed brightly at that, her stance shifting to that of an offensive fighting while the boy twisted his sword into something defensive. How Roxas knew the difference, he had no idea, but he wasn't going to question it.

"No disappointment at all… I'll enjoy waiting for the chance to rip his throat out by hand." She snarled as she suddenly struck, sending a flash of lightening towards them without batting an eyelash. The boy deflected the blow easily, sending the bright light crashing into the wall beside them.

"I wasn't aware that you were such a sadist." He taunted, swinging the blade up to block another attack. Larxene squealed with laughter, throwing her head back with the effort and sending ice rushing through Roxas's veins with her voice alone.

"Oh, didn't you know? The more pain for you, the more fun for me!" Swinging her arms up, she suddenly lunged, sweeping close and letting the electricity crackle at her fingertips before twisting up and away, throwing the attack down and at Roxas's head. Jumping out of the way, Roxas felt himself being thrown towards the door and he stumbled, barely catching himself before the strange boy jumped over him and blocked another attack.

"Roxas, get out of here!" The boy shouted as Larxene twisted and began throwing rapid-fire bursts of light, her laughter echoing around. Scrambling to his feet Roxas forced himself to move, rushing from the hideout and ignoring the sounds of fighting as he forced his screaming legs to rush away from the battle instead of collapse onto the concrete sidewalk. His injured leg trembled and burned but he pushed the thought aside in favor of self-preservation, hardly giving his rescuer a second thought as he ran.

Feet pounding against the sidewalk his mind scrambled for a safe place. He couldn't go back home; he didn't want to face whatever reality his "mother" would shove at him. He couldn't go to school with the condition he was in, and he couldn't go to his girlfriend's house. She'd probably befriended Seifer again since that's how it would have been if Roxas hadn't come along. Pence would ask too many questions, and though Hayner was probably still angry at him, he was the only person Roxas could think of to hide out with and not get caught.

He picked up his pace, in a hurry to get as far away from the demonic woman as possible. His breathing was ragged and his lungs burned, but he had to keep moving, picturing her face as incentive for a faster pace and a reason to get away. As he reached his best friend's house, he stumbled over to the small porch and slumped onto the concrete, wheezing out breath. He really, really needed to get into shape.

And now he just needed to wait.

Twisting his body around, Roxas pulled at his singed pants to assess the damage on his leg. He was bleeding from a pretty large gash, the skin around it a bright pink that seemed to ooze blood. The skin was completely gone for the most part and whenever his pants brushed it, it burned like sticking a hand into a blazing fire.

"Thought I'd find you here." Roxas jerked his head up, alarmed, but when he saw that it was Hayner the feeling passed into mere wariness. He wasn't sure how his friend would react to him being there, but he could deal with a mere drama problem. In comparison to people trying to take his life and his memories being out of the loop, friend drama was the least of his problems.

"I… can't stay at my house." He stood up slowly, avoiding making any faces of pain so that his friend wouldn't ask any questions. He didn't want to have to lie too much.

"Apparently you couldn't stay at school either."

"Look, I just-"

"I don't need any excuses man. Your business is your business." Hayner shrugged and his light brown eyes assessed Roxas's appearance critically, taking in his haggard breathing, sweaty face, and singed clothing. Drawing his own conclusions he cleared his throat and readjusted his bag.

"I know you're still mad about yesterday but-"

"Hey, past is past. I'd already forgotten about it. You're the one who can't let things go." Hayner raised an eyebrow and moved past him, unlocking the front door and stepping inside, not bothering to welcome Roxas in. Rolling his eyes Roxas stepped in after him and followed him into the kitchen where Hayner dumped his school stuff and reached into the fridge, pulling out a small bottle of some sort of gel.

"Shower's upstairs, man. You smell." Grinning wryly Roxas went upstairs to the room he practically lived in sometimes and then entered the adjoining bathroom, stripping carefully and jumping into the shower. The hot water felt good on his back and aching muscles, but the moment it hit his burns he had to bite back a scream to keep from alerting Hayner. Scrubbing the sweat from his hair and body he had to make the shower quick to save his burns from absolutely murdering him.

While he showered he wondered silently about Hayner's reaction. He usually was a curious, temperamental person when it came to fights and situation's that he didn't understand. Now though, he was open to helping and had seemed nonchalant about the entire thing like he saw stuff like that every day. Would he have always been like that if Roxas hadn't come along?

When he finished he made his way downstairs, clothed in a spare set of jeans and a black t-shirt that Hayner had set out for him.

Setting down on the bar stool Roxas watched as Hayner moved around the bar and sat on the other stool, motioning for Roxas to turn. Doing so, Roxas felt Hayner tugging his shirt up and Roxas rolled the fabric up and away from the burn, exposing the tender skin underneath that was enflamed.

"What's that?" Roxas asked curiously as Hayner poured some of the gel onto his fingers thickly.

"Aloe Vera… heals burns." Hayner quietly but meticulously cleaned the wound, covering the entire burn with the Aloe Vera until he was satisfied. Grabbing some gauze from the cupboard above their heads he then wrapped Roxas's arm in a professional way like he treated burns every day. Motioning for him to lift his leg, Roxas watched him go over the same ritual.

The entire time he was quiet, not asking and not expecting Roxas to speak. When he finished though, he put everything away and then sat back down, eyeing Roxas like one would eye their mother if they found out that she was a part time assassin.

"During roll call in homeroom the teacher said your name and then asked if we had a new student." He said conversationally, watching the way that Roxas shifted uncomfortably at that. When he didn't respond, Hayner continued.

"Yeah, and when Seifer asked if you and Olette were an item… she asked who he was talking about and said that she'd been single for the past year or so." Roxas nodded dumbly along, hating where this was going. He didn't want to get Hayner involved. He didn't want to deal with the problems that would arise. He didn't want any of this happening!

"Seems like I have memories of us as best friends… but I don't know where they came from. I know you showed up one day and the next day I thought that you'd lived here all your life. I know what your room looks like but I don't know your parents that well even though I have memories of all of us laughing and joking." He reached across the counter and grabbed a juice box, tossing one to Roxas who caught it numbly, eyes still on his best friend.

"And now you show up to my house with a look like someone just tried to murder you." Hayner finished slowly, making his tone sound factual instead of curious. He was trying to open up an outlet for Roxas without pushing for it, and for that Roxas was grateful.

As he opened his mouth to speak though, another person flashed in front of his eyes, a man with fiery red hair and acid green eyes that hugged him tightly. Another man that for some reason protected him like he was the most precious thing in the world and nothing else mattered. Closing his mouth slowly, Roxas sighed and stood up, juice box in hand.

"You don't expect an answer from me, right?" He asked softly. Hayner frowned but nodded all the same.

"Course not. We're best friends, after all." Roxas laughed bitterly at that and slowly began walking up the stairs, heading towards the bedroom with the spare bed.

"That's what we'd like to think." He replied softly. As he turned the corner up the stairs he saw Hayner watching him, brown eyes unreadable as he slowly nodded in agreement and turned away, motioning for him to keep going.

"Regardless… you're welcome here until we don't think like that anymore." He informed him in his gruff and surprisingly sentimental way. Making his way into the spare bedroom Roxas collapsed onto the bed and ignored the aches and pains that were all over his body. All he wanted was to sleep off his pain.

How are you feeling?

Sore… and tired. I don't know how I would have gotten out of that without that guy showing up and saving me.

That was pretty lucky.

Do you know him?

… No.

Roxas frowned as he heard the uncertainty in Naminé's voice. She obviously knew him, but didn't want to admit it. Inwardly sighing, he decided to let it go.

Either way, whoever he was, he had to be on the opposite side of the organization.

Probably on the same side as Leon. Naminé agreed

We should try to find him or figure out who he is. He said someone wanted me alive…?

If he's on the same side as Leon of course he'd want you alive. They believe I'm killing you, remember?

Roxas didn't really respond to that, his mind whirling. These people kept showing up to save him from people he used to be a part of but now wanted to kill him. At the same time, Naminé was helping him gain back what someone took from him. And yet the people saving him also wanted him to block out Naminé? It was like Naminé was on a good side all of her own, and the other good side didn't want to share the title.

You're becoming more and more like a friend than a villain, Naminé.

In your subconscious there's a whole different type of friend you've been thinking of.

The red head?

He's been right here in the back of your mind ever since you saw your last memory.

Was he really… my best friend?

Without a doubt.

Roxas took a deep breath, the vision flashing across his mind unbidden. The anorexic looking red head that'd killed without a second thought.

That had killed to protect him.

Hayner knew who he was and understood things about him that sometimes he didn't even know. Even with his memories of him fading he still held onto the memories of their friendship that he could remember in order to help him.

Yet… it didn't feel a thing like what he'd had with the red head.

But what had he had? It was driving him nuts not to remember.

Naminé? Can you… show me another memory of him?

And without a response she shifted the shadows across his mind and showed him.

"And were you aware that you were a nobody?" A man with long white blonde hair assessed him with cruel green eyes.

"Not until Marluxia tried to kill me." Roxas had learned very quickly that mentioning his father was taboo and no one cared about his twin brother's disappearance. Even though he still woke up in a cold sweat and silently crying, he wasn't supposed to show how upset he was without Sora. It wasn't becoming of the organization.

"So your gifts were nonexistent before then… you're going to need a trainer." The man adjusted the hood of Roxas's cloak, much to the blonde's annoyance. He hated how he had to wear the cloak around everywhere like it was a part of him. The others didn't seem to mind it but it drove him nuts. Tugging at the edges of his sleeves he nodded slowly as the man led him into a rec room of sorts. The lights were dimmed except for the glow from the TV. Sprawled on the couch was a boy a few years older than him that he'd seen around a few times in the two weeks that he'd been in the organization. Next to him on another couch was a boy with freakishly cut hair and a grin on his face that was avidly watching the TV. Lounging next to him was a light blonde haired girl who was amusing herself with shooting flashes of electricity up and around their heads at the dust motes in the air.

"Listen up; it's time you met the newest member of the organization." The man stepped in front of the TV and successfully caught their attention. The dirty blonde haired boy leaned back from his attentive stance and blinked owlishly up at them, mouth open.

"Oh, the new kid? I'd heard about him!" The boy leaned in close and examined Roxas like he was some sort of specimen, making Roxas move away and stare incredulously at the guy who was invading his personal bubble. The girl looked over at him with boredom clear on her face as she studied him with blue green eyes.

"He's a scrawny little thing." She stated in a tone that said she really didn't care. The red head glanced up lazily and barely gave him a sidelong glance before shrugging and shifting into a more comfortable spot on the couch.

"His name is Roxas." The man continued, unconcerned for their remarks. "He'd going to need someone to train him with his gift though; the older members can't be bothered with it." The two blondes exchanged glances before they both leaned in towards Roxas with opposite looks of intrigue on their faces.

"He looks fun!" The boy gushed brightly.

"He's weak." The girl noted, looking Roxas slowly up and down. "He wouldn't be able to put up with my training program."

"No one can keep up with your training program." The boy joked brightly. "He's cute though, don't you think? In a little boy kind of way."

"Keep the boy away from him Vex, he might molest him." The girl drawled.

"I wouldn't molest him! You'd kill him, Larxene. You wouldn't put him with her, would you Vex?" The boy looked worriedly between the impatient adult and the girl's darkly amused face.

"No… it wouldn't be wise to put him with her. You would grow impatient and probably kill him." The man nicknamed Vex shook his head and dragged a finger along his lengthy jaw line as Roxas stepped back from Larxene's gaze.

"I'm not disagreeing to that." Larxene shrugged and leaned back, eyeing Roxas like he was a toy she wanted to break.

"I could teach him!" The blonde haired boy declared as he leaned in and inspected Roxas with eager baby blue eyes. Leaning away, Roxas glanced over at Vex with an, "are you serious?" look.

"Oh come on Vexen, you know if Demyx had his way with him he'd never learn anything. He'd just sit there and teach him how to play music." Larxene drawled as she drew lazy figure eights of electricity in the air. Vexen gave the both of them a long, hard look before he nodded and cleared his throat.

"Axel, you will train him." Vexen said in a matter of fact tone, motioning to where the red head was still sprawled on the couch, uncaring about the conversation. The boy in question looked up with bright green eyes, face indifferent. He slowly looked Roxas up and down before he shook his head and hunkered back into the couch.

"No thanks." The red head grunted in reply, closing his eyes and letting a shadow of a smirk steal over his face. Stepping away slightly, Roxas looked up at Vexen and then back at the boy named Axel, a little unsettled. Who would help him get a grip on his gift now?

"This isn't debatable; you're going to train him." Vexen folded his arms and gave the rebellious teen a pointed look. Axel cleared his throat and tucked his arms under his head to prop it up.

"Not interested in the position, Vex." He dead panned, eye still closed and mouth twisted into the strange smile. Larxene and Demyx looked over at him with barely concealed surprise at his rejection and Roxas could almost imagine them on the verge of telling him to come to his senses.

"You're going to train him, interested or not." Vexen snapped, temper starting to flare. "And don't make me go to the superior about this." Half amused by this the boy laughed, a low confidant sound.

"So go to superior; what's he going to do, kick me out? I do my job; babysitting wasn't in the job description." Opening an eye lazily he looked Roxas up and down and then grinned again. "Besides, he doesn't look like he could fight, let alone be much help to any mission."

"Regardless of your opinion, you're going to help him." Larxene rolled her eyes and moved back into her chair, giving Demyx a pointed look as he bit his lip to keep from cutting into their argument.

"Don't think so." Axel replied. Glowering, Vexen placed his hands on his hips and leaned in, getting close to Axel's personal space.

"You'll train him so that he doesn't make the same mistakes that you made. Or have you forgotten what it was like to watch everything you once loved burn?" Vexen hissed snidely. If the comment hit home Roxas couldn't tell. Axel didn't flinch or open his eyes, his smirk merely grew as he yawned and lifted a hand, waving it dismissively.

"Ok, ok, calm down, Vex, no need to get your lab coat in a knot; I'll train the kid." He said calmly, laughter still in his voice. Satisfied, Vexen straightened up and stalked from the room without a backward glance, leaving Roxas to deal with the aftermath.

He stood awkwardly to the side of the TV, watching as Demyx turned his attention back to the screen and Larxene kicked back in her chair, bored once again. The red head was still apparently resting on the couch, his lanky limbs sprawled in a way that only a guy could accomplish.

"You going to sit down, kid?" Larxene demanded when Roxas didn't move from his spot. A little embarrassed, he looked around the room to find a place to sit but saw that the only available seat was the small place near the feet of his new teacher.

"Leave him be, Larx, no need to bite his head off." Axel replied easily, letting out a breathy laugh. He exuberated confidence and smug authority in a way that Larxene's apparent aggression couldn't accomplish. Opening his eyes slowly he once again looked Roxas up and down before he sighed and propped himself up on his elbows, motioning for Roxas to step up closer.

"You're a scrawny little thing." He commented as Roxas tugged on the cloak and scowled at the boy in front of him. He was scrawny? The boy in front of him looked like he could easily fit between the bars of a jail cell he was so rail thin, and his broad shoulders tapered down to slim hips and long, lanky legs.

"So what's your name?" Axel asked when Roxas didn't reply to his jab.

"Roxas." He replied, silently daring Axel to mock his name. He wouldn't have someone making fun of his name. Instead of laughing though, the red head made a weird noise under his breath and nodded slowly.

"Roxas… I like it. Where'd you come from?" He demanded, sitting up and letting out a low breath, smoke falling from his lips like he was smoking. A little startled, Roxas stepped back but Axel grabbed his arm, preventing him from getting away.

"You don't need to fear me, kid." He chided softly, green eyes piercing. "Fear means nothing, ok?" Slowly, Roxas nodded, getting the feeling that there was more to this guy then met the eye.

"Ok… I get it." He agreed softly. Satisfied, Axel relinquished his arm and looked away, thinking hard about something from the look in his eye. Sitting up he pulled one leg up and let the other dangle off of the couch, motioning for Roxas to sit down. As he did so though, Axel let one arm drape around his shoulder so that he could tug him close, an unnatural heat emitting from him.

"Roxas…" His name was gruff on Axel's lips and as he spoke Roxas looked up at him, a little uncomfortable with being so close. "Ok, I got it memorized."

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