D O N T P A N I C ;


Chapter seven; I would wait forever


- RxN -

I had this odd, unfamiliar feeling about me as the men approached us. Maybe it was the air these people gave off, or maybe it was the strep throat I didn't know I had at that time. Or maybe, perhaps I just knew that something bad was going to happen. I just knew it.

"Well if it isn't number thirteen, Roxas." One man said, a sly smile crossing his lips. I couldn't see the rest of his face, because he, like everyone else, had his hood up. I wondered what he meant by 'number thirteen'.

"Xaldin." Roxas said. He quickly slipped his hand into mine, and held it tightly. This, of course, was not a good sign.

"What brings you to this neck of the woods?" The man, Xaldin, Roxas had called him, said. His voice was deep, and he sounded much older than the two of us. "I thought you were 'too good' to even be seen around here anymore."

"You don't know what you're talking about." Roxas stated. I could tell he was getting angry.

"Don't I?" He inquired, taking a step closer. Naturally, this alarmed me, so I took a hasty step back, hiding myself slightly behind Roxas' arm.

"Scared, poppet?" Another man asked me, an amused grin worn on his face.

"What do you want?" Roxas queried through gritted teeth.

"Aww Roxas, doncha wanna see us?" A younger one, probably around the same age as Axel asked.

"Look-- I can't." Roxas said. "I have to go, now." He tried to turn and leave, but Xaldin reached out and placed his hand on Roxas' shoulder, stopping him. He turned around once again, his expression almost frightened-- Almost.

"Now hold on there, Roxas." Xaldin slurred.

"Yeah, we ain't done with ya yet." Another one said. Though I could not see their faces, they all scared me. Or maybe, it was because I couldn't see them that really chilled me to the bone.

"You quit, Roxas." Xaldin said. He then lowered his hood, revealing as I suspected, an older man, with long, dark hair that was held in cornrows. He looked tough-- Like he'd been through a lot. "You can't quit."

And the rest happened to quickly. Xaldin's light touch on Roxas' shoulder quickly became a harsh grip, and he pulled him right out of my clutches. I screamed and instinctually took a jump back, and watched in absolute horror as Xaldin began to beat him. He punched and punched, and it just wouldn't stop. I think one of the men actually laughed as Roxas, literally, got beaten to a pulp. I started to cry quickly into the fight when I saw that Roxas was struggling; Fighting back, but he was powerless. Completely, utterly, powerless.

"Stop it!" I shouted, hoping that there might be a chance it would help, but I don't even think they heard me. If they did, they clearly didn't care.

Finally, Xaldin punched Roxas for the umpteenth time, ending it there. He threw his almost lifeless body onto the tarmac road, right before my feet. Instantly, I dove to my knees, landing by his side. I didn't care about the painful scratches I'd inflicted upon myself-- They were nothing compared to what Roxas must have been enduring. The men laughed, every single on of them.

"I don't know why you're wasting your time, girly." Xaldin said to me, his gaze piercing me deeply; As easy as shoving a pipe cleaner through jello. I would never forget those stone cold eyes that read no emotion, pouring into my very soul and ridding me of any sense of security I had left. I felt so scared that they would try to do something to me, but thank God, they didn't. "This boy," He continued, "who you apparently care about. He's a criminal."

And with that, they all turned and walked away, their stupid smirks still worn on their faces. I wanted to ask: 'How can you call him a criminal, when you just beat the living shit out of him!' but I didn't. Instead, I watched at they walked down the street, and only looked away when I knew they were gone, and weren't coming back. I looked down at Roxas' face and was instantly horrified by what had happened to him. His eye and cheek were both bruised severely and he had bleeding gashes all over his face. One, particularly large one, crossed from his hairline, down the side of his forehead.

Trust me, it's worse than it sounds.

"Roxas," I said, my voice pleading. I knew that he wasn't dead... But it also wasn't too late for him to allow himself to slip away, right before my very eyes. His eyes squinted, and very slowly he opened them, revealing those big blue orbs of his. They were filled with evident pain that made my heart cringe.

"Naminé," He said, wincing from the pain of even talking. "You stayed." I nodded, and for some reason, he laughed. "That was stupid."

"I couldn't leave you." I told him. "I would never be able to live with myself."

There were many long moments of silence before he replied; "Thank you." I could tell by how genuine his smile was, that he really was thankful for me being there. His cuts there bleeding worse now, so I tore a piece of cloth from the shirt and used it to wipe them. "You don't have to do this." He informed me, and I shook my head.

"Of course I do."

He then raised his hand, capturing my wrist. "No, you don't. You have to go home, Naminé."

"I'm not just gonna leave you here." I informed him, frowning, and he chuckled.

"God, you're stubborn."

"I know." I said, continuing to clean his cuts. The one on his forehead was even more deep than I'd expected, so it was taking extra time to rid of the blood. He laughed, I don't know why. So I laughed too. "You look like Harry Potter." I told him, grinning as the tears on my face dried. He laughed even harder, but quickly stopped himself. Even laughing caused him pain. "Can you walk?" I asked, and he nodded.

"Maybe."

"I'll help you." I got up and didn't bother brushing the dirt off of my pants. I offered him my hand, and slowly helped him hoist himself to his feet. I took his arm and slung it over my shoulder.

"My legs aren't injured, you know." He said matter-of-factly, but I knew he was only kidding. "I can walk."

"I know." I chimed, smiling. "But I'm helping you, and we're going to the hospital."

He stopped me there, turning completely serious. "No. Not the hospital. I'm walking you home, Naminé, and then I'm going home myself."

"Roxas..." I took his arm off of me so I could face him. All of a sudden, he was avoiding my eyes. I pouted at him. "I'm stubborn? Look at how hurt you are! You need medical help!"

"No I don't." He stated. "Its just a few cuts and bruises, Naminé. This isn't the first time it's happened, I'll be fine."

I began to grow frustrated with him, growing more and more ecstatic by the moment. "Just who are you, anyways!?"

And I wish I'd never asked that question.

He looked me dead in the eye, his once brilliant blue orbs showing viciousness, telling me a story of the years of violence he'd endured. He grabbed me harshly (not too harshly, mind you, I believe he was merely getting his point across) by the shoulders. "You want to know just who I am, do you?" He queried. I looked at him with shock, and even fear. This wasn't nice Roxas I'd been getting to know. This was violent, brash Roxas-- This was Organization Roxas. "I'll tell you who I fucking am."

When he said that, well needless to say, I flinched. And I flinched hard. Hard, as in, I was truly frightened of him. And a part of me, in all honesty, was. At that moment, when he saw the look of fright in his eyes, I could see something change in him. His eyed widened and all of their passion filled them once again, relieving me inside. He let go of my shoulders and took a hasty step back.

"I-I'm sorry." He muttered. Though he didn't look me in the eye, I could see that they were becoming glassy.

"Don't be." I said softly, stepping closer to him. "I shouldn't be so... So nosey. It's really none of my busi--"

"Stop that." He interrupted, furrowing his eyebrows. "Stop trying to blame yourself, when its obvious that all of this is my fault. You shouldn't have had to witness that-- God, what was I thinking bringing you to this area? An innocent girl like you-- What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Now you stop that." I practically demanded him. He looked at me with shock, and I couldn't help but smirk at that priceless expression of his. "What, didn't think I had it in me?" I teased.

"That sounded like an order, Naminé." He smiled a very cute, innocent and playful smile. "Bold, bold, bold!" And suddenly, the depressing, doubtful ora surrounding us dissolved with our moods, and all was at peace. I thanked whatever gods there were out there for ending the little quarrel. I knew that then, at least for the night, things would no longer look down on us.

"Now," He said, "I'm taking you home."

I was stubborn-- Yes, I knew that. But in this fight, there was no way I could win. So, I let Roxas take me home and I let him walk home by myself.

"Bye, Naminé." He had said, leaving me alone once again. And I had never felt that way-- So eager to not part with someone. I just wanted to stay with him and talk more. But we parted ways there, and needless to say as I watched him walk away from my mansion, through the forest, I worried about him. What if those men came back? Surely they wouldn't just walk past him. Surely...

I had a very unsettling sleep that night. Even though it was nearly 2:00 am, I felt completely awake. I was energetic, something that rarely happened to me. I knew that it was because my brain was overwhelmed, and when I finally did fall asleep (around 4:00) I had quite the dream.

* * *

I walked to school by myself the next day. It was the first time I'd ever done this, considering Cloud never wanted to let me out of his sight. I didn't know why he was so protective of me, but I had a hunch that it was because I was the only quiet, peaceful person in the house, other than Uncle Ansem of course. I had left early while everyone was still eating breakfast. This would mean that I would be stuck at school for even longer than usual, but that day I didn't mind.

I wanted to get to Roxas as soon as I could. I hoped that maybe he would be there early, too, but he wasn't. I waited and waited for him, but he didn't come. Even at lunch, as I sat alone in the stairwell he didn't pass and I heard no word of him from the others. Instead of the other days constant chatter about 'the new kid', nobody seemed to mention him that day. At least, not around me.

I had this certain unrecognizable, longing feeling inside me. It made me feel weak and my stomach turned-- But the real agony was held right in my heart. That longing feeling tugged and pulled at my chest, leaving me breathless. I was anxious, I assumed, and nervous too. But I couldn't deny a part of me knew that something inside me was different. Something had changed.

I was not a stupid girl. Naive, yes, but never stupid. The whole idea that was forming in my head made me feel silly-- I'm too young. I told myself. I couldn't possibly feel this way for someone I hardly know. But denying it got me nowhere. The way he showed interest in me, the way he never ignored my quiet little speeches, and especially the way he was exactly like the hero I'd been dreaming of, just made me so... happy. Because in all truth, he was that hero. He was the only person who had ever saved me from anything.

I guess it was then that I realized that I would wait forever just for another chance to see him. It was then, that I realized my feelings for Roxas were more than just of friendship.


Author's note: Hey everyone. Here's an update, haha I hope you like it.

Please review and let me know if you're still reading this, I hardly got any reviews the last chapter D:.