A/N: Okay, so this chapter really is more of a filler one. It's just Axel and Hartley being, you know, Axel and Hartley. I'm so glad that these two are so easy and yet enjoyable for me to write about, because I'm been in a bit of a writers rut for about a week and a half now, and writing this has hopefully put me back in the groove of things.


When Hartley had first bought his home he had opted for an actual house rather than an apartment. He had done this for multiple reasons. The first and foremost being that he wouldn't have to interact with his neighbors nearly as much, as he didn't live in the same building as them. He also had more space and privacy in his own home.

Yes, a house was more expensive than an apartment, but Hartley believed that the extra cost was worth it. Besides, Hartley knew how to make money, and while he certainly wasn't rich anymore, he had more than enough to live comfortably.

...somewhat comfortably.

What Hartley hadn't taken into account when he had bought this house was that he might actually have guests who would potentially stay the night. Hartley hadn't really had many friends at the time, let alone ones he would invite into his home, let alone ones he would invite to stay in his home.

...Well, there may have been a couple of times, but Hartley really didn't think that one-night stands counted.

Of course, all of this had been before Hartley had even met Axel. How was he supposed to know back then that he was someday going to meet somebody that he would actually be willing to open up to? Even after he had met Axel and the two of them began spending a lot of time together, Hartley never actually thought that Axel would actually stay the night.

Honestly, he should have seen this coming. Axel's idea of a good time was to go skipping outside with no shoes or jacket on while it was storming outside. Hartley had been predicting that Axel would get sick eventually ever since the day they had met. Hartley had seen Axel's shabby excuse for an apartment for himself, and knew that it was no place for somebody to be when they were recovering from an illness.

So, of course, when Axel did get sick, as Hartley knew he would, he had brought him back to his own place, because where else would he take him?

If Hartley would have thought of all this beforehand he would have remembered that while his home technically had two bedrooms, only one was actually used as such while the other had been transfigured into a makeshift science lab. So while Axel got to sleep on the only bed, because he was sick, Hartley was stuck finding somewhere else to sleep, because while his bed was rather large he didn't think their relationship was quite at the bed sharing level yet.

The obvious choice for where to sleep was the couch. Unfortunately Hartley hadn't realized just how small and uncomfortable his couch really was for sleeping until he actually tried it. Honestly, it was near torture. During that first night after bringing Axel in Hartley had tossed and turned on the couch before eventually falling asleep, only to wake up an hour later and having to start the whole process all over again.

After his first full day of having Axel over Hartley decided that he did not want a repeat of the previous night. So instead of even attempting to fall asleep Hartley just sat on the couch, grabbed a book and read into the night. He did eventually end up dozing off, just like he had suspected he would. Maybe this time he would stay asleep until morning.

He had no such luck.

Hartley had always been a light sleeper. The smallest change in lighting or sound could end up waking him up, no matter how tired he was. Hartley had fallen asleep with the lamp on and yet the sudden, slight additional light ended up waking him up, or at least brought him into a half asleep state.

Hartley moaned and shifted so that his head was facing away from the additional light. All he wanted to do was to just go back to sleep and pretend he was just imagining the light. And who knows? Maybe he was really just imagining things

It was only a second later that Hartley noticed that there was a definite sound in the room. Not just sound though, but music, albeit quiet music. It started as a men's chorus chanting in what must be latin. A small bell part was heard after that, followed by another choir part that sounded more full than it had before.

Because he was still half asleep Hartley didn't recognize the song as quickly as he should have, but as soon as the full choir came in Hartley immediately knew what he was listening to. It was a song that gave him chills every time he heard it, from a movie that he practically revered.

The question was, why was he hearing it?

Hartley turned his face and opened his eyes to see where the music was coming from. The answer became clear soon enough. Hartley's television was on and was showing the beginning of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Hartley wondered for a brief moment why it was on, but then his eyes landed on the form that was curled up on the floor and he found his answer.

"Axel, don't you think it's a little late to be watching a movie?" Hartley asked tiredly. The form on the floor jumped and Axel turned to face Hartley.

"You're awake." Axel said, which just irritated Hartley. He hated it when people stated the obvious.

"So are you." Hartley retorted. His tone must have had more of a bite in it than he had intended, because Axel actually looked hurt, though also embarrassed.

"Yeah." He muttered as he turned to face the tv again. "I couldn't sleep."

"That's what happens when you sleep all day." Hartley sighed and swung his legs off the couch. "So, did you just get bored or something?"

"Or something." Axel said in a tone that was too serious for him. "When I couldn't sleep I started thinking, and I just...I didn't like where my thoughts were going."

Hartley frowned. "Did your thoughts have anything to do with what you said yesterday?"

Axel turned around again, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What did I say yesterday?"

"Just that you were tired." It wasn't a total lie. Axel's words about not wanting to be awake (or alive) and wanting to make the pain go away certainly had something to do with being tired. Hartley still didn't know whether Axel had meant what he said yesterday, or if it really had just been the fever talking. Either way, Hartley wasn't very keen on rushing into that conversation. Later, for sure, he would talk to Axel about this things, but only after he had figured out what to say to him.

Hartley was beginning to believe more and more that it wasn't just Axel's fever talking. Unless, of course, he was feeling just as sick as he had the day before. Hartley leaned forward and laid the back of his hand across Axel's forehead. It definitely felt warmer than it should, but nowhere near as bad as it was yesterday.

"How do you feel?" Hartley asked, because really there was no more accurate way to know how somebody than just asking them.

"Fine." Axel said with the smallest of smiles. "A little cold and tired, but fine."

Hartley breathed a sigh of relief. It looked as though Axel's day of sleeping had done wonders to make him feel better. He was still sick, that much was certain, but it was more the type of sick that meant it was time to be lazy and watch a movie.

Speaking of movies…

"I see you found my Disney movie collection." Hartley noted, which caused Axel's smile to grow.

"It was a little hard." Axel said jokingly. "Your hoard of gay musicals buried them." Now that just wasn't true. Hartley's Disney movies, and other animated movies with decent soundtracks, were just as easy to find as any other movie of his. Axel probably just had a hard time finding anything he thought was worth watching because he didn't want to even look at anything else that Hartley kept in his movie collection.

"I'm curious though, why did you choose The Hunchback of Notre Dame?" Hartley asked. It wasn't normally someone's first pick. Had Axel just grabbed the first animated movie he saw?

"I love this movie." Axel said, which surprised Hartley. "It has my favorite character in it."

"Ah." Hartley nodded, knowing immediately who Axel was talking about. "Clopin Trouillefou." Axel's blank expression reminded Hartley that not everybody was familiar with the character's name from the original book. "The gypsy king." He added, to clear up the confusion.

"Oh, yeah, him." Axel's eyes widened in awe. "How did you know?"

Hartley rolled his eyes. "He's a loud, energetic, annoying jester who is more malicious than he seems. Of course you would like him."

Axel grinned wickedly. "You know me so well."

"Yes, well, I try." Hartley tried to sound annoyed and sarcastic, but his amused grin showed through.

"I don't just like the movie because of...because of jester guy." Axel said, having quickly forgotten the gypsy king's name. "The songs are really cool, and even though there's some romance that's not what the movie's about. Oh, and it has one of the best villain songs ever."

"You appreciate the songs?" Hartley raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't enjoy musicals."

"It's totally different with animated movies." Axel disagreed.

"What about live action musicals made based off of animated movies?" Hartley asked with a smirk.

"There's no such thing." Axel frowned. "...Is there?"

"Of course there are." Hartley chuckled at Axel's ignorance. "Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, Aladdin, Lion King, and Little Mermaid have all been made into well known stage productions." There were others as well, some of them not even Disney or originally musicals in the first place. "Even Hunchback of Notre Dame has been made into a stage production...twice, actually."

"Twice?" Axel's eyes widened, and Hartley scoffed. Of course, now Axel was getting excited by a live action musical.

"Yes, twice." Hartley nodded. "One is in English, and only came out recently. The other came out many years ago and is called Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame."

"...What?" Axel's confused expression made Hartley laugh.

"It's German for 'the bell ringer of Notre Dame'." Hartley answered.

"Why German?" Axel asked with a tilt of his head.

"Because they were the ones who recognized the brilliance and potential that is this movie." Hartley said somewhat bitterly. Axel smirked.

"So you like this movie too?"

"Would I own both the English and the German soundtracks if I didn't?" Hartley pointed out.

"Which is your favorite?" Axel asked eagerly. Hartley frowned thoughtfully.

"Well, I enjoy both." Hartley said after a minute. "The German version feels more epic and majestic, but the English version…" Hartley blushed ever so slightly. "I-I like the english Quasimodo's singing voice." Hartley liked to think that he sounded normal and casual when he said that last bit, but if Axel's mischievous smirk was anything to go by, he hadn't.

"Ooh, you like this guy." Axel said teasingly, which caused Hartley's blush to deepen.

"Please," Hartley scoffed. "I don't even know the guy. I just like his voice."

"No, you totally like him." Axel snickered. "Like, if that guy were to come up and ask you out, you would say yes."

"Obviously." Hartley didn't deny that fact, which just made Axel giggle wickedly. Hartley rolled his eyes. At this point he was pretty sure that he would agree to go out with just about any guy who asked him. And what was wrong with having a slight crush because of one's singing? Hartley knew that he wasn't the only one who had this sort of thing for somebody. And yet Axel still found it the most hilarious thing in the world.

Not wanting to deal with Axel's ridiculousness any more, because it was definitely too early in the morning for that, Hartley suggested that they just watch the movie, because or else what was the purpose of turning it on in the first place? Axel eagerly turned back to the tv, his attention immediately returning to the movie. He didn't even seem to care that they had missed the beginning.

Rubbing the exhaustion out of his eyes Hartley leaned back against the couch and made himself comfortable. He was incredibly tired, but Hartley knew that he wouldn't ever get to sleep while this movie was going on...and it was one of his favorites, so why not watch it?

A few minutes later Hartley only vaguely took notice of Axel shifting uncomfortably and getting to his feet. He assumed that maybe Axel had gotten bored, or was wanting to go back to bed. Perhaps he had grown hungry or simply needed to use the bathroom. Whatever the case, it wasn't worth thinking about.

At least, that was what Hartley had thought until Axel climbed onto the couch right next to him. Axel pulled the small blanket that Hartley had been using over his own shoulders. Axel then snuggled against Hartley, who froze at the contact.

Hartley was not the biggest fan of physical contact. He always felt incredibly awkward and unsure whenever somebody initiated physical contact with him. He never knew if there was something he was supposed to do in return. It was all very weird in Hartley's eyes.

He stayed tense for a few minutes, but gradually began to grow used to the contact. As Hartley relaxed he took notice of Axel's shivering next to him. Huh, so that was what the...well, the snuggling, was about. Axel was just trying to warm himself up.

Now that Hartley understood, and he could deal with it.

Hartley put his arm around Axel's shoulders and pulled him closer. His own body warmth might help make Axel feel better...or it might just make his fever worse. Or who knows? It might just do nothing at all.

Hartley really didn't know much about illnesses and the such.

The two of them stayed like this for the remainder of the movie. By the end of it Hartley assumed that Axel would have fallen asleep by now, because he certainly seemed relaxed and quiet enough to be asleep. However, he was once again proven wrong, as Axel was as wide awake as he had been before. And now that the movie was over, he was bored/looking for a distraction again.

"What do you want to do now?" Axel asked Hartley eagerly.

"Sleep." Hartley said honestly. "Can't you find something to do by yourself?"

Axel frowned. "I don't know what I want to do."

Hartley scowled. "Who else is supposed to know what you want to do except for you?"

"I don't know. I-I don't want to do anything. Not even the stuff that I like doing." Axel almost whimpered, which made Hartley frown. "I never feel like doing anything. And I hate it."

Hartley grew thoughtful. Axel's words certainly explained why he hadn't been doing much these past few weeks. He just wasn't in the mood for doing things that he enjoyed. It was an annoying and frustrating problem, one that Hartley had dealt with multiple times, and he knew just the cure.

"Why don't you try doing something new?" Hartley suggested. He got to his feet and briefly went into his room. Hartley came back carrying wooden box and a black and white checkerboard. He had also brought in a couple of cd's, just in case.

"Have you ever played chess before?" Hartley asked as he laid the board on the ground, opened the wooden box which held the pieces and began setting up the game.

"I don't think so." Axel crawled off the couch and onto the floor, the blanket still wrapped around his shoulders.

"It can be a bit of a complicated game." Hartley warned Axel, though he believed that complicated was something that Axel needed right now. He was looking for a distraction, and nothing was better for distracting than something that tested the mind. Besides, learning something new will hopefully make Axel feel like he accomplished something that day, which will hopefully make him feel not as down.

Hartley wasn't entirely sure though. He was just going by what he felt when he went through depressing periods when he just fell into a funk. It didn't happen very often, but Hartley was still familiar with the feeling. He had figured out how to make himself feel better, even just temporarily. Hopefully the same strategy worked for Axel.

Hartley taught Axel the basic rules of chess, and once he understood the goal of the game and moves sets of the pieces the two of them began. Axel still didn't understand the finer points of the game, but that was fine. Hartley believed that with chess the best way to learn was just by playing it. Axel would get better with experience.

Hartley had expected to win against Axel, but what he hadn't expected at all was just how horrible his friend was at this game.

"I don't think you understand the point of pawns." Hartley commented as he moved his remaining rook piece, putting Axel's king into checkmate. The game had only lasted a few minutes, and Hartley had won by a landslide. He still had the majority of his own pieces, while Axel only had his knight and little more than half of his pawns.

"You know, you probably would have done much better if you sacrificed your pawns to save some of your more useful pieces, and not the other way around." Hartley said, which caused Axel to frown.

"I can do what I want with my pieces." Axel huffed stubbornly. And he did just that. When they set up the board to play again Hartley, once again, easily defeated Axel. It was like Axel wasn't trying to win at all. Axel's goal with this game seemed to be to protect his pawns at all costs. He even sacrificed his queen to save his pawns.

"Axel, what are you doing?" Hartley asked after their fifth short game, which he had, of course, won. It wasn't even a challenge. "You're not using your pawns right."

"Well, maybe I don't want to use them." Axel said in a darker tone than Hartley expected. "Maybe I think that the pawns should be more than just tools for people to use to get what they want."

"...that is literally exactly what a pawn is." Hartley said. Axel frowned and glared darkly at him. Hartley didn't understand what he had done to make Axel so angry. Whatever it was Hartley decided it would be best if he stopped now while he was ahead. Besides, he was beginning to feel rather tired again.

"Look, I'm going to go to bed." Hartley stood up. "If you're still bored, feel free to practice chess for as long as you want. God knows you need it." Hartley handed Axel the cd's he had brought out earlier. "Here are the soundtracks for Huncback and Der Glöckner, in case you were interested. Do whatever you like, but don't be too loud, and don't go outside."

"Yeah, whatever." Axel muttered as he set up the chess board again. He didn't question Hartley's request for him to stay inside, which he was grateful for. Hartley didn't exactly understand himself why he didn't want Axel to go outside, and he doubted he would be able to give a valid reason if asked.

With Axel preoccupied Hartley went to his bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, suddenly feeling his exhaustion returning to him. He was so tired he didn't even care that his bed was unmade. He just laid down on the bunched up blankets and soon fell asleep.

A few hours later when Hartley woke up he found Axel sitting on the floor in the living room, in the exact same position he had left him in. He was practicing his game of chess, just like Hartley had suggested. He was also listening to the soundtrack of Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame, and humming along to the song that was playing.

Hartley was impressed at first, but when he realized that the song that Axel was currently humming to was one that wasn't in the movie at all, only in the German version of the show, he grew confused, and slightly concerned. Axel would have had to have been listening to the song for a while to be familiar with the tune.

Hartley wondered if Axel had moved at all in these past few hours. Had he honestly just done nothing except listen to the music and play chess by himself? It didn't really seem like something Axel would do. Maybe it was what he had ended up doing because that was all Hartley had suggested to him.

Hartley didn't know how to feel about that.


A/N: At first I had planned on having Axel watch Phantom of The Opera, because he might appreciate the darker tone, but I ultimately decided on Hunchback of Notre Dame. Partly because it's animated and fun, though also surprisingly dark, which is definitely Axel...or, at least, it's my version of Axel. If I'm being completely honest I know absolutely nothing about Axel Walker from the comics.

Honestly, I couldn't resist having these two talk about Hunchback, because in all honesty it is my favorite Disney movie ever. Besides, if they didn't get to talking about this show than I wouldn't have been able to include the fun real world reference. Digital brownies to anybody who finds the reference.

The next chapter will be one of two that will be from Axel's perspective. And then the chapter after that...man, I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about writing it. I'm so excited because, for some reason, I enjoy making my favorite characters suffer.