Author's Note:

Last original song drabble! O.O Wow. Anyway. The ones that follow this will be the continuations, the random stuff, and sometimes more meme action.

Now, let us have AkuRoku again!

Don't Follow by Alice in Chains

"Axel, it's over. Demyx will be here for my things tomorrow."

"Hmm? Unghh…OK."

A voice drifted quietly to him from the door. "Goodbye Axel. Don't…follow me."

~o~

Six months ago, he had been drunk off his ass in the middle of the day, as usual. He hadn't even had a clue what was going on, and had passed out soon after. It was only later that night that he realized it…when he woke to discover that the love of his life was gone. Really gone.

"Don't…follow me." He couldn't. He didn't even know how.

Roxas had disappeared without a trace. And Axel knew he had deserved it. He had become more and more of a drunk, worthless bastard with every day he had been alive. How he had ever even attracted a wonderful guy like Roxas was an unsolved mystery.

When Demyx showed up, Axel was still half-drunk. He had begged and pleaded and even cried, trying to get the sandy-blond to tell him where Roxas had gone. Demyx had just silently collected Roxas' belongings, then given Axel one piece of advice as he left.

"Axel, you are a drunk, worthless shit. But for some reason, a perfectly great guy like Roxas is in love with you. So if you ever want to find out where he is, get your life fixed. Then maybe you'll be able to find him."

Axel had cried for two days.

At the end of those two days, he had grabbed every drop of alcohol in the house and poured it down the drain.

Within 24 hours he was in the hospital, in withdrawal. He felt worse than dead.

When the worst was over he scraped every cent he could find together and checked into rehab. After finding out what hours he'd be spending in the program, he stopped at McDonald's to apply for a job.

And ended up begging for one.

Which, surprisingly, worked.

And so, for the next six months, Axel had worked his ass off. He never missed rehab. He never missed work. He worked nearly every minute in order to afford his rehab and support himself.

He had never been through such a black, miserable hell.

Roxas was gone. Axel missed him so much it hurt…and it hurt so much that sometimes he was sick. But even when he was sick, he had to get up and work, and he had to somehow stay clean, stay sober…

He had to get Roxas back.

So he worked. And he refused to relapse even once. He couldn't afford a setback. He couldn't wait that long to see Roxas again.

After five months, he was doing better. He was still sober, and McDonald's had done him the great honor of making him an assistant manager. He made a little more money, and had a little more time.

In his free time, he began to walk around the city.

It wasn't a very big city. He started by visiting all the old familiar places…where he had met Roxas, seen Roxas, gone on dates with Roxas. Places where Roxas' friends or family had been or gone or mentioned. Anything he could remember that connected to Roxas. He was there, wandering around, every moment he had free.

He couldn't find Roxas.

He began to walk a wider territory. He began to look everywhere. But even in a small city, there were too many people – he never saw Roxas, and he didn't find anyone who might know where Roxas was.

He searched for a month this way.

His dreams had been haunted by Roxas ever since the day the blond walked out. They hadn't faded at all – every night, he was still tortured by that soft voice: It's over. Don't…follow me. Don't…follow me…follow me…follow me.

After six months, he finally found a straw to grab.

He saw a guy on the streets that he was almost sure he had seen Demyx with once. He raced to catch up with the guy, and immediately began begging for Demyx's address.

The guy, Zexion, was obviously distrustful of this crazy redhead asking for personal information on someone he knew. However, Axel was so desperate, he conceded to call Demyx and ask him if he wanted to talk to the guy.

"Here. He says he'll talk to you."

Axel's hands were almost shaking as he took the cell phone.

"Demyx?"

"Axel. Well?"

"Demyx I'm looking for Roxas, please tell me where he is, I promise I've changed, I've cleaned my life up, really I have…!"

"Hang on a second, shut up!" A sigh. "How long have you been sober? And do not lie."

"Demyx I swear I have not had a drink since two days after I last saw you. Six months."

"Right…you get a job?"

"It's…not a good job, but I've been working at McDonald's since then too, and they made me a manager."

There was another pause. "When are you free tomorrow?"

"Uhh, morning. Before 11:30. But I'll be up as early as you want."

"I will drop by around 7. If you aren't lying…I'll consider passing a message to Roxas."

~o~

Axel cleaned his apartment for hours that night. He worked until it was spotless, then he set his alarm for 6, got up early, and worked some more. He made coffee and waited, nervous as hell.

Demyx was prompt. Axel showed him around. He explained his rehab program, and showed his progress reports, as well as his pay stubs for McDonald's, proving his attendance, hours, and pay rate, as well as promotion. He even showed Demyx where the money had gone – most of it to rehab and living expenses, as well as some old debts – the rest into savings, which he hadn't touched.

Finally, Demyx nodded. "It's an improvement. But I have a question." Axel gulped. "You did all this to get him back?"

"Yes. I fucked up bad, but when he left…I realized how much I need him. I'll chase him with everything I've got for the rest of my life if I have to."

"And what if you get him back? Gonna get lazy again?"

"No. Never. I'll work twice as hard…to make up for hurting him. I'll protect him from everything, including me. I'll make him happy. I swear. I…I love him so much."

Demyx raised his hand – he was holding his cell phone, and it was open. Axel hadn't noticed it before. He flipped it shut. Axel heard the front door creak open slowly. Eyes wide, he dashed into the next room.

Roxas.

Standing in the doorway, where Axel never thought he would see him again, was the little blond. He was clutching his phone, and one hand covered his mouth as tears streamed from his eyes. He was shaking…and Axel felt himself trembling too. He couldn't move…and then Roxas moved his hand, and choked out through his tears:

"Promise?"

Axel felt his own tears overflow, and his voice broke on his answer. "I promise."

A moment later, Roxas was in his arms. Axel didn't know if he had run to Roxas, or Roxas to him, or both. All he knew was the thin body pressed against his, the crushing pressure of Roxas' embrace, the smell of Roxas' shampoo that he had missed so much…and then the taste of tears mingled with the sweetness of his lover's mouth.

He had waited so long…chased him so long. Now he couldn't let go…he could not let go…

"I finally caught you again."

Roxas' voice was a whisper in his ear.

"I'm so glad you followed me."

~o~