Rookie
Chapter Ten - Day Nineteen
Saturday, September 26th
Day Nineteen - Afternoon (Axel)
He could hear the heavy footsteps of the drunken, angry brute and forced himself to not fall into a panic. Fisting the shirt he was attempting to force into a suitcase along with a few pairs of jeans, boxers and other shirts, Axel felt the tremor of fear pass over him, the thuds coming closer to his unlockable bedroom door. Whipping the suitcase from the bed and under it, Axel gripped a school book in his hands, falling to the floor, feigning to have been reading the entire time.
"Fag, you in here? Get your ass up off that floor and get over here."
Axel cringed as his father slammed his door open, towering above where he sat. He refused to move until he felt fingers lace through his hair.
"What do you want?" Axel ground out through gritted teeth, being pulled to his feet. The man with foul breath frowned in thought, grunting with the effort.
"I'm out of booze. Go get me some."
"Why not go get your own?"
"Because, why do it myself when I have a son to do it for me?" He slurred, grinning in an ogre grin. Axel thumped to the ground when the hand holding him threw him down.
"What if I don't want to?"
A resounding slap. A slap as it would sting but not leave a noticeable bruise for the person behind the counter to be alerted by. Axel cringed, but refused to allow his father the satisfaction of hearing his cry of pain. The burly man sauntered from the room, happy enough with his answer to his son, leaving Axel sprawled on his bedroom floor.
A moment passed before he trembled, moving to get up from the floor. His cheek was throbbing, but he had to force himself to move if he didn't want far worse punishment. He had to move. He was seeing Roxas after all. He couldn't disappoint the little blonde that had slipped back into normality after Tuesday.
"Doin' this for you, lil' buddy," he hissed, staggering slightly. His father was already out in his armchair in front of the television, scantily clad women moaning and touching. His lip curled in disgust just glancing at it. "Where's the money?"
"Nng, use your ... own," the man groaned. Axel's lip curled further, complying just to get out of his father's presence.
"Poor thing. Errands again already?"
Axel shrugged at the young woman behind the counter, placing his father's regular order up to be paid for.
"All I know is that I can't pay for it this trip. I don't have a hundred dollars. Is that okay?"
She gave a soft smile, nodding slowly in understanding. "Don't worry about it, Axel. I understand. No offence, but I think you're dad's really mean, making you get all of his shit with your own money!"
Axel huffed, running a hand through his hair as the cashier placed all the bottles into bags. "Tell me about it. He's a prick. I'm just glad that you guys let me get this for him. Trust me, saves my neck."
"Would you like someone to help you with all these?"
"Sure, why not? Let someone share in my misery." He forced himself to joke, laughing lightly. She smiled her warm smile, calling someone over to help him. "See ya around."
"Have fun and stay safe, Axel!"
"You know I try."
The bag carrier glanced over at him when they made it out to the car. "Is everything okay, sir?"
Axel was caught off guard. "Yeah, why wouldn't it be?" The man's eyes went wide and he became flustered, blushing slightly.
"W-Well, I couldn't help but notice ... the bruises on your neck. It looks like someone tried to strangle you. And the way you limp, ever-so-slightly ... I just figured ... I'm sorry. I've just been taking some courses at school for psychology. If you're fine ... then I must need to go study more."
Another forced laugh as the man backed away, the trunk of the car slamming shut. "What else can you tell about me? Just from looking at me. You have good observation skills."
The helper was staring fiercely at the ground, fingers entwining and releasing his apron nervously. "I ... well ... Y-You ... I noticed that you got really cold and distant whenever your father was mentioned and you tried to put up a shield. You joke about it, but inside it really hurts. He belittles you, so I would guess that you pick on others to gain back the superiority that your personality craves. You're loud and cocky ... in the best of ways, sir, I'm sorry. That was very disrespectful of me. I-I think I need to keep studying."
"You ... could tell all that ... just by standing there for a few seconds?"
"You've been in before, sir. I always feel very bad when I see how sad and scared you look."
"Tell me that you're the only one that can pick up on that. Tell me that."
Axel couldn't believe how badly he was shaking. Just what he needed. The keys were jangling in his grasp and his breath was coming in short, spasmodic bursts. He was going to go into one of his fits soon if he didn't calm down. Leaning back against his car, he tried to catch his breath. The man looked like he was about to move forward and put a hand on his shoulder but thought better of it.
"I ... I'm sure that I am. I've been watching most of the customers and ... have been trying to figure out what their past is. Most of them are alcoholics needing their fix. Some getting exotic gifts or wines and such for parties leading happy lives. But you are the ... the one that I've watched most closely. Mainly because you are here a lot. Don't think I'm some weird creepy stalker or something, because I'm not. And it's not like I'm some fag, so you don't have to worry about me raping you or something. Wait, what's wrong? What did I say?"
Axel had convulsed at the assurance, hearing his father's words reverberating around his mind. The man before him looked scared, as though he had done something wrong.
"F-Fag ... Y-You ... It's ... not my fault. He calls me that, you know? He despises me for it. He despises me for a lot of things." Why was he saying this to some stranger? Why was that man even still standing there? Why was he not leaving? He should have been leaving. After peering into his darkest secrets ... he should have been leaving!
"I-I'm so sorry! I didn't know! I'm sorry. Please, excuse me! I've ... I've been completely out of place! I'm sorry! This was so rude of me! Please forgive me! I-I'll just leave, now. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"Tell no one. Promise me that you will tell no one of what you learned about me. It is my choice to keep it a secret. Tell no one."
He realized he must have looked demonic, glaring and twitching as though possessed. "And keep at the psychology. I'm sure that you would be very good at it."
"Yessir. I promise. And thank you very much. But ..."
"No more prying. I'll live how I please."
"You'll just let yourself be hurt over and over again?"
"I have my reasons. Why else would I still be there? I have my reasons."
"Okay, okay. I'll go. I'm sorry."
Axel watched the man scuttle away, back to do his work. Slowly his breath returned to normal and he forced himself to the driver's door, but didn't dare turn the vehicle on. His eyes were blurry and his fingers still jittered so driving at this moment would be suicide. He wouldn't risk it.
What would his dad say if he lost his booze-mobile? He smirked at the thought, but shuddered at even considering such an act. If he killed himself that would mean leaving Roxas, Demyx, Xigbar, Leon, Cloud ... Too many people that he cared about to just throw it all away. He would be strong. He'd be like Reno and leave when he could. But right now ... no. He would just sit it out.
Half an hour later, he found himself outside of Roxas' house. There was a burning in his gut and slight paranoia racing through his mind as the alcohol was still sitting in the trunk. But he didn't care. He couldn't go back. Not yet. He needed help. He needed his Roxas. He needed someone to just hold him and tell him everything would be okay.
With shaking legs, Axel walked to the front steps, knocking on the door, unable to just barge in. It took a moment but the familiar woman opened the door, a large smile spread across her lips.
"Axel, was it? It's good to see you again. I'm so glad. Roxas is doing the dishes right now and forbade me to let you come in, but I think you would get a kick out of this."
Day Nineteen - Afternoon
"Please leave all overcoats, canes and top hats with the doorman. Badabadump and whatever the rest of the lyrics are 'cause I forget this song. Oh why do I forget this song?!" Roxas sang, 'dancing', swinging his hips around erotically, his eyes closed as he moved to the music thumping in his ears from his headphones. The long white cord dipped down into his pocket where it connected to his drug.
He couldn't hear the snickering behind him, couldn't see the two laughing hysterically as he shook his chest close to the water before backing up. He couldn't see the eyes that lit up upon grazing over him. He couldn't hear the intake of breath as he put a flirting hand up to his lips, drawing a line down over his chin, grazing the soft skin of his neck. All he could do was dance and sing to Brendon Urie's sweet voice.
"Roxas? Roxas, honey? You still can't hear us, can you? Roxas?"
"It's okay, ma'am. I'll just go give him a bit of a scare."
Axel's warning was lost on deaf ears as he stealthily moved towards the blonde, looking like an exaggerated, creeping T-Rex moving forward to gobble the unsuspecting younger. Just as Roxas arched his back to the music, raising his hands high, throwing his head back in his dancing, Axel grabbed him around the waist, causing the blonde to scream and try to jump out of that grasp. Flailing hands shot the headphones out of his ears and he continued to struggle until Axel's voice stopped him cold.
"Hey, kiddo, you invite me over and then refuse to let me in? You're so mean." Axel couldn't even keep up his hurt charade; images of the blonde dancing lodged in his mind for what he felt like would be a very long time. The blonde's mother was still chuckling.
"Roxas, you have company," she chimed, causing the blushing teen to glare.
"Coulda told me that a while ago, mom."
"She did, Rox."
Before the boy could retort, his mother waved her way out of the kitchen. "Don't forget to finish those dishes," she called over her shoulder.
"Yes, mo-ther."
"Aww, Roxy, be good. Be glad you have a mom, remember."
That quieted the blonde. Seeing he had made the boy upset, Axel released him, patting his head, rolling up his sleeves and dipping his hands into the warm water.
"A-Axel ... what do you think you're doing?! Shoo! This is my job! You go sit."
"Nah, it's okay, lil' buddy. I wanna help ya'. And since I don't know where anything goes, I'll wash. There isn't much here anyways. I'm used to doing dishes at my house too. Stop complaining. At least you have a dishwasher to put most of this in. My dad's such a slob."
"Axel?"
"It's okay, Rox. Already had my breakdown of the day. I'm not gonna flip out on you. I promise."
The blonde smiled, reassured. "Are you sure you wanna help me? I mean, I can do it by myself, you know. You don't have to -"
"I know I don't, but I want to. Besides, it'd be no fun just sitting there, since I doubt you'll be dancing again anytime soon. If what you were doing could be called dancing."
Roxas glowered at the chuckling redhead and the blush was already back on his cheeks. He hip-checked his friend over so that he could get at the washed dishes already beginning to dry in the smaller sink. "It wasn't that bad!"
Axel couldn't hold back his laugh. "Yes it was, Rox. You looked like you belonged on a poll."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Looked kinda like a whore."
"You're mean."
"I'm just warning you to never dance in public."
Whining, Roxas reached into his pocket and turned off the music that was still playing. With one sopping-wet hand, Axel pulled the boy close to his side, causing him to struggle lightly and complain about getting wet.
"What was that, anyways?"
Roxas looked up at him, his face still glowing. "What was what?"
"The song. What was it? I don't think I've ever heard it before."
"O-Oh ... No, you probably haven't. It was ... Oh God, what was it? Um ... gimme a second. It has a really long title. Oh! Yeah. There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered, Honey, You Just Haven't Figured It Out Yet. Bleh, long title."
Axel gazed at him in amused confusion. "Sounds ... interesting?"
"It is! I love it! Oh ... wait ... you were making fun of me, weren't you?"
"No, of course not! Why would I make fun of my little buddy?" Axel laughed, his voice laced with sarcasm. Roxas pouted, stepping on Axel's foot 'by accident'.
Day Nineteen - Supper
"So, Axel, I'm so sorry! I haven't even properly introduced myself yet! I'm Yuna, Roxas' mother."
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Axel, a friend from school." Axel smiled warmly.
"Ugh, cut this crap, please! Axel, stop hitting on my mom!"
Roxas thrashed his fists against the redhead's back as Axel bowed to the woman. Yuna smiled happily, chuckling at her son's displeasure.
"Rox, Rox, jeez! Calm down! I just think that it is better if I win your mom over so that she won't throw me out on the street for being a bad influence on you! I may be some old creeper, ma'am, but a bad influence I am not!" He struck a hero's pose, index finger pointing to the ceiling as his other hand rested on his hip.
"Stop sounding so ... weird, Axel!"
"Aww, can I not sound like some valiant hero?"
"No!"
"Why not?!" Axel turned, grabbing those hands that were still attacking his back, causing Roxas to gasp as emerald bore into cerulean. A smile was laced on his lips at the startled expression on the younger boy's face. Yuna was laughing lightly at their antics.
"'Cause I said so." Roxas didn't sound half as fierce as he meant to. Axel just had that effect on him.
"Boys, supper is ready. Now, come fill your plates before it gets cold."
Axel turned once more, licking his lips as he did so. "It looks delicious!"
"It's just lasagna, Axe. Nothing to get so hyped up about."
Ignoring the young blonde's statement, Axel took the offered plate and scooped up a plateful, looking to Yuna as if to question if he were allowed to have any at all. She was still smiling her happy smile so he moved over to the table, awaiting the others. They sat, Roxas beside him, Yuna at the opposite end of the small table.
"Is there something wrong, Axel?"
He was staring at his food hungrily but was still waiting. "No, ma'am. It's just ... well, I'm not sure if you would say grace or just eat."
"We just eat, Axe. Unless you -"
"No, no. Okay, awesome. That means that I actually get to try some of this delicious food! It smells so amazing!"
"Well, thank you very much, Axel."
Axel took a small bite and moaned, closing his eyes happily. "This is the best lasagna I have ever had." Yuna's cheeks lit up and Roxas rolled his eyes.
"Axel, what did I tell you about flirting with my mom?"
"I'm just stating the truth, lil' buddy. This is the first time I've eaten all day and the first home cooked meal in years."
"Really? What about your parents? What do they normally give you?" Yuna was shocked, her own fork resting midway to her mouth. Axel stiffened at her words and Roxas gave her a warning look.
"Uh, Mom, I don't think now's the ti-"
"Nah, it's okay Rox. I think I should tell her what happened. She should know who comes into her house, don't you think?"
Roxas bit his lip, a worried expression on his face. Axel smiled sheepishly, his hand going down to rest on the blonde's knee for support. His eyes were still closed and already Roxas saw the defenses going up around the redhead.
"My dad's an abusive alcoholic and my mom ran away with the guy's dad that hurt Roxas. Seifer's dad. My brother left me at home to deal with Dad. So, now it's just us and he ... doesn't like that. I don't think that he realizes that ... I'm his son. I try to ... ignore him as best I can ... but it's hard. He's really controlling and doesn't let me have privacy. If he doesn't know where I am, he'll go into hysterics. He has bad abandonment issues since Mom left. I guess ... I-I'm sorry. That was ... a little much."
Axel felt the eyes on him and also the tears that were about to spill down his cheeks. Choking them back, he forced a smile, picking his fork up from where he left it on his plate and nibbling at a slate of noodle.
"A-Axel ... So ... that's why ... you didn't want to tell me ..."
His fingers convulsed on the blonde's knee as he felt the younger place his hand overtop the redhead's. "It'll be okay, though. Only a few more months. Then I get to leave."
"You can come stay here any time you want, honey. We have an extra bedroom."
"T-Thank you. It means a lot to me."
"Demyx or Xigbar haven't offered their place?"
"W-Well, they live together and Demyx has two younger sisters that require a lot of attention. I would never allow myself to stay with them. I'd just end up being a burden. It would be hard enough coming here. Besides, Dem's dad doesn't like me much. Never has. But, that's just because of my dad."
"Well, we're always here to help, honey. You seem like such a sweet boy and Roxas really seems to like you."
"Thank you."
"Axe, I'll protect you, 'kay?"
The tears spilled out over Axel's cheeks, something swelling in his heart. "Kay."
"You fuckin' faggot! Where the hell have you been? I've been waitin' for hours! What gives you the right to keep me waiting?! When everything is your fault, what's your right?"
"Fuck off, Dad. Be happy I came home at all tonight."
Axel knew he would regret his confidence, but it didn't matter. He knew that he had people that cared now. What did he care if he were to be beaten for his blatant attitude? As if on cue, he felt that fist connect with his lip. The bags had thankfully already been placed on the counter as Axel crashed into the empty fridge. Letting out a small moan, he felt a strong hand wrap around his throat. He was thrown to the floor, feeling the carpet grate against the bare skin of his arms and cheek.
"Think you're ... gonna ... keep me down? Yeah, Dad, I'm a 'fuckin faggot'. You think you can beat that out of me?"
He didn't care that his defiance was going to cost him; didn't care that his father was on him now, fist colliding with his already-battered body. He didn't let himself cry out at the pain rocking over his body as fists slammed into him, pressing him farther into the carpet grating against his skin. He refused to show weakness.
"I'll beat that god damned smirk off your fuckin' face, fag." Axel only groaned as his face collided painfully with the floor, his father's fist bruising his cheek. Why did he have to be such a dumbass? How much longer would he be able to take such punishment?
"Don't you know who the fuck I am, Dad?"
"Yeah, you're the whole reason that bitch left. That whore thought you were too ugly to be her son and you were a fag to boot. You're the reason she left."
"Wrong answer. I'm your son, Dad. You'r son! You aren't supposed to be hurting me like this!" Axel couldn't hold back any more and began to struggle under his father who had his knee stuck firmly in the redhead's back.
"You are no son of mine. I have no son."
A wave of hurt fury ran over the teen, giving him the inhuman strength to push his father off of him, sending him to crash back into the counter with a grunt of pain. Before he had the time to realize what was going on, Axel took off for his bedroom, ducking under his bed to grab his suitcase. By the time he had his belongings, his father was getting to his feet. Axel shoved by, shouldering the big man out of his way, sending him sprawling back into the counter he had just used for support.
"If you have no son, then I'll be back for the rest of my stuff soon."
Hours later, after driving around the block a few times, having watched Roxas extinguish his light, the redhead picked up the phone.
Roxas thought he was dreaming. And boy, did he have annoying dreams. That damned song was playing. You're the sole reason I keep believing. He had just gotten to a good part in his dream - fighting robots and knocking ninjas' heads in - only to be awoken by the redhead. His eyes could barely open as he fumbled for his cell phone.
"Eh?" He moaned, unable to come up with anything more witty in his groggy state.
"Rox? Rox, I'm so sorry I woke you ... But ... do you think that ... I could come over? ..."
Roxas forced himself to glance over at the clock. Not even three in the morning yet. "Sure." No use arguing when he wasn't even conscious.
"Oh, Rox, I love you."
"Love you too." He really wasn't conscious. There was stunned silence on the other end for a moment before Axel composed himself.
"Key's in the window box?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks so much, Rox. I'll see you in the morning, okay?"
"Meh..."
"Go back to sleep."
"Too late." Roxas could barely hit the end button, able to hear rustlings outside.
By the time Axel made it up to his room, he was almost back to sleep. He was out cold when the redhead undressed and sidled in beside him, pulling him next to a shaking, broken body.
To Be Continued
There's a good reason these tables are number, honey, you just haven't thought of it yet by Panic at The Disco. Just so you know, in case you didn't already, Brendon Urie is/was the lead singer of the group. :D
Where should I go, what should I do? I don't understand what you want from me Cuz I don't know if I can trust you - Out of Control
Hoobastank
~xbuttonsx~