After Zexion's first visit to Demyx's house, school began to get a lot busier, fully distracting Zexion from having any more dreams about anything concerning his life before moving to Axel's. Over the next couple of weeks there were several projects assigned, the teachers beginning to lay into the senior class much more than they had been before. Demyx became a little stressed, though Zexion rather enjoyed being able to go to a school where he could be so involved with his work. He got the feeling that he was unique in this.

Fortunately a couple of the projects had the option of working with a partner, Zexion choosing Demyx wherever he could. This provided them time to spend together, Zexion going to Demyx's most weekends where they would fall into a familiar pattern of homework and being distracted by video games. During this time Zexion learned many things; that Demyx was exceptionally good at video games, knew a lot of trivia when it came to subjects like Biology (Zexion noticed that it was Demyx's best class), and couldn't seem to be good at all of his classes at once, only able to focus on half and slip by with the best he could manage on the other half.

Demyx, however, did not learn very much about Zexion. It goes without saying that Zexion's personality was rather familiar to him by the time the next month rolled around and it was March, but things about Zexion's life were still an unfamiliar subject. Something that Demyx, Zexion could tell, was curious about—but something he guarded closely still. Demyx became rather curious one day when Zexion let it be known that Axel had adopted him and named himself as his guardian.

"Is that possible though, that someone in your family could adopt you like they were your parent?" Demyx sat on his bed, Zexion on the floor leaning back against it. They had both finished their English homework, Demyx in need of a break after having a particularly hard time finishing an essay that was due the next day.

"Well, Axel isn't calling himself my parent. Just a guardian, for legal reasons." Zexion stretched his legs out, and Demyx laid on the bed near him so their heads were level to each other.

"But…what about your parents? Why can't they be around anymore?" Demyx was concerned, but didn't seem to sense that he was treading into unwelcome territory.

"It's too much for me to explain." Zexion tried to shrug it off, though it was a memory that was still painful—most of it he didn't even like to mention to himself. He had so easily denied that things still bothered him, that he almost forgot that there were still things he had to come to terms with. His mother was still missing, and the occurring thought suddenly sent sharp stabs of anxiety through his chest.

"C'mon, I can listen. I don't mind." Demyx nudged him. Demyx touching him in familiar ways had become something that Zexion enjoyed. Though now that he was suddenly overflowing with thoughts and twinges of things he needed to let go, things that he still held onto, it was much less enjoyable.

"I do mind, Demyx." He felt a little out of breath. How had he managed to ignore these feelings for so long? "Can I go home now?"

"Really?" Demyx sat up. Finally he knew Demyx recognized something was wrong, Zexion nodding quickly, standing up and feeling as if he was going to cry. It was so strange and sudden, and the confused and almost panicked expression on Demyx's face didn't help. "Okay, Zexion…" He stepped off the bed and stood, looking worried, finding his keys and wallet and leading him back upstairs to the doorway.

Into the car they went, saying very little as Demyx pulled out of the driveway and headed back over to the apartment building that had become almost like home to Zexion. As he drove Zexion's head was dizzy with waves of guilt that hit him as he wondered to himself; how could he get so caught up in thoughts of boys and hormones, making friends as if nothing had ever happened, without letting himself think about before at all?

For Zexion, it was time to recognize the idea that his mother might be gone, and that he had been denying it for more than a month in favor of school and friends. Perhaps it wasn't his fault, perhaps he hadn't been ready. His own mind had forced certain memories to places that he could only seem to find through dreams, and it was clear they were forcing their way back into his conscious.

Overwhelmed, Zexion felt tears burn at his eyelids, not really caring that Demyx was so unusually quiet, and most likely frightened. They pulled up to the apartment building, Demyx turning the car off and looking at him, trying to see his face in the dark.

"Sorry." Zexion muttered as he opened the door, turning his face away and quickly closing it as Demyx said goodbye.

He wiped at his eyes, looking up at the story where the apartment door faced down at him, though the sight wasn't quite inviting. He thought about waiting a while, until he could at least go to his room without being questioned to what his troubles might be.

Demyx hadn't driven away yet, Zexion turning and remembering that Demyx never drove away until he was safely inside, even though there was very little to be worried about. He stood immobile, wondering if Demyx would drive away anyhow, looking back up to the apartment and seeing that the light was on in the window. Roxas would be there too…he wrung his fingers around his wrists, looking back at Demyx quickly, who watched him with his hands on the wheel.

Finally, while still looking up at the apartment, he heard Demyx's car door open, then close. Zexion stood still, closing his eyes for a moment and letting a tear escape down his cheek. He just needed a while to think, to cope, and he was sure he couldn't do that in a place where everyone thought he had coped already.

Demyx walked up beside him, for a moment just standing there with him, looking up at the apartment as well. Zexion looked over, lacking the strength to tell him to leave. Faintly he felt Demyx's hand tugging at his arm, trying to pull him closer. Zexion didn't resist, hesitating at first, and then turning toward Demyx. He looked up at him, and could barely see his face in the dark, but he felt kindness in the way he touched him.

"Sit down." Demyx said to him softly, both boys sitting on the curb next to Demyx's car. "You're getting a panic attack."

"How do you know that?" Zexion pulled his own arms around himself, his teeth starting to chatter, even though it wasn't cold.

"I had them a lot after I nearly drowned." Demyx crossed his arms and leaned forward on his knees, looking out at the lights on the street and in the buildings. "And if there's anything I know about them, it's that you shouldn't leave anyone alone when they're having one."

They sat in silence for a few moments, Zexion shivering. He supposed he wouldn't feel much better if he had been alone, his thoughts still mixed up. He started to feel embarrassed at his behavior, not having had to admit anything like this to Demyx since he had yelled at his philosophy teacher. This, he felt, was much worse. At least Demyx could sympathize with him; otherwise he was certain that Demyx would have kept his distance.

"I guess there's a lot to catch up with, huh? About the things that happened before you moved here." Demyx turned his head toward him, his eyes strangely luminescent in the dark. "I wish you could let me in on it, but that's okay if you can't."

Zexion nodded, looking down at his shoes. He hadn't known Demyx for very long, even though they had spent so much time together. Did he deserve to know about what had happened to him? Thinking back it was clear that Demyx had shared a lot with Zexion, particularly about his accident, something that obviously bothered him. But that was much longer ago, the events not something that left a fresh wound every time they were mentioned. Zexion didn't know that for sure, though…perhaps it was time to be able to confide in someone.

"The reason I had to move here," Zexion began, Demyx leaning to him and listening carefully, "Was because some thugs looking for my dad took my mom. I hid, and one of them found me but he let me run away before anyone else found out that I was there. But ever since then I haven't seen her, and nobody can find her. I saw the man who let me escape in court when the police found my father and held a trial for him, but I couldn't ask him if he knew. If I did, it would expose the fact that he had been to my house, and I didn't want anyone to know."

Demyx watched him, frowning, looking at him with the utmost sympathy.

"What did your dad do?"

"He joined a group of criminals and tried to kill their leader. It turned everyone against him. I didn't know what he had done before it was explained to me in court, but I had known there was something wrong with him. Even before he got involved with those people he had always been a little strange and rough, though at least I still knew him as my father." Zexion sniffed, wiping his fingers at his cheeks and getting them slippery with tears.

"So…your dad did that, and it made a gang go over to your house and take your mom away, and then you had to go to court…" Zexion nodded slowly. "Damn, Zexion…I had no idea. I thought that you had just a little trouble in your house, but I didn't know it was that bad…"

"I've just been trying to act like it's okay, and I think that was the wrong thing to do…but if I think about it too much, I become upset, and then I don't really feel like talking to anyone or doing anything." He felt Demyx's arm slide around his shoulders, pulling him into a hug. He hadn't expected it, but the act felt warm and comforting, tears beginning to soak into Demyx's shirt.

"It's gonna be fine. I'll always be here to talk to you, okay? Just call me and I'll come over." Demyx's voice was soft, and Zexion nodded again, the same subtle smell of cologne easing him. He still couldn't help but feel a bit pathetic, having broken down so quickly and easily, and all Demyx had to do was mention his parents.

"I'm sorry." Zexion muttered, letting his arms slip around Demyx's waist and returning his hug. "I didn't know this would happen."

"It's fine." Demyx insisted, "I wish I had known all of this sooner. I would never have bothered you about it if I knew that it was so painful." The two pulled apart, Zexion wiping at his face quickly. "Do you want to stay over tonight? You wouldn't have to see Axel or Roxas, and you could read or play games or sleep—anything you want."

"I think I'll be okay." Zexion started to smile, glad of the invitation. "But I would like to stay here a little bit longer…I'm starting to feel better."

"Sure." Demyx smiled back, clearly relieved. "We'll stay here as long as you want."