Ohhhhh dear god above I finally finished this chapter and I'm so sorry it took so long but it's a little thing called life and I hope that after all this time wasted on waiting you people still want to read this random piece of shit because I feel like my writing has gotten worse.

...so thank you all. Really.

So prepare yourselves for some lol's (maybe), angsty goodness, and the boys finally growing a pair and setting aside all their differences... ((plays violin)) Well... not all the boys.

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sweet talk 101

1o : papercut - linkin park

When Roxas returned that evening, he was instantly jumped on by his younger sister. She clung to his back with a gleeful grin and Roxas was forced to drop his bag by the door so that he could hook his arms under Yuffie's legs.

"Awesome, you're just in time for dinner."

Roxas tilted his head up curiously and sniffed at the air, mouth instantly watering. The smell of garlic and butter in the pan always made him hungrier than usual. He shifted Yuffie on his back so that it was easier to hold her and piggybacked her into the kitchen were Sora was busy setting up the table and Satsuki was cooking something up at the stove. Hopefully, it was going to be edible.

Satsuki brushed her strawberry blonde hair back with her free hand and looked over her shoulder at her blonde son. "Hey, baby. Nothing bad, right?"

Roxas smiled and shook his head, knowing that she meant to ask him if he stayed late because he got in trouble. Good thing she knew him well enough, because she didn't bombard him with anymore questions. ...Thankfully, there was Sora... his own personal translator.

"Y'know, I coulda sworn I saw you and Axel together after school."

Roxas nodded and set Yuffie down on a chair. We talked, he mouthed.

"Talked? As in, civilly?" Sora gasped, eyes widening in mock shock.

The blonde grinned and took a seat next to his twin. Yeah.

"Seriously? That's almost creepy. You'd at least think he'd like.. try to trick you or something, right?" Sora grinned back and winked, leaning back in his chair. Roxas only smiled and rolled his eyes.

It wasn't too bad.

x.x.x

why am i so uptight today?

When Axel came home that evening, he wanted nothing more than to drown in his bed. He was both mentally and physically exhausted, and a dark room with warm blankets sounded like the most inviting thing in the world.

"Hi, Axel," Kairi called from the couch. She stretched out and tilted her head over the armrest so that she could look into the hallway. Axel barely spared her a glance, much less a response, as he slunk upstairs. "Um... okay. Nice talk, Axel. We should do it again sometime."

The petite redhead huffed in annoyance and slid farther down in her seat. Axel wasn't being a very good companion lately.

...And neither was the TV.

After chucking his stuff into his room, Axel immediately went to the bathroom for a shower. He turned the tap for the hot water and slipped out of his clothes while waiting for the water to heat up. Even the rising temperature offered no comfort. Axel sighed tiredly and ran his fingers through his mane of red hair, turning to the mirror. The person in the reflection was hardly anyone he recognized. Pale skin, dark circles beneath his eyes... He frowned and put a hand against the surface, half expecting his reflection to move on its own accord. He quickly shook those thoughts away and clambered in to the shower.

What was he going to do? This was getting to be slightly insane. Insane in the literal term. Who could he tell? Mom and dad were practically never home. Not that they didn't want to be home, but they were always away on business trips and such. The money had to come in somehow.

Axel groaned and tilted his head against the wall. The feeling of the cold linoleum plus the hot water running down his skin made him shiver.

...Could he talk to Kairi?

"You have to remember," Axel mumbled to himself, closing his eyes, "it's not like she's your little sister or anything. She's your twin. Your equal. You can talk to her, right..?"

He could.. he could.. He could at least try.

After stepping out of the shower and a drying himself off with one of the fluffy white towels, Axel trudged into his room. He threw on a pair of sweatpants and then paced around his room a bit, trying to figure out what to do. Nothing came. He was... scared...? Axel sighed shakily and passed his hands over his face, slumping down on his bed.

What could he possibly say to her? "Hey, Kairi, guess what? I think I'm crazy." No... that couldn't work.

...Roxas had it easy. He didn't have to say a word.

Light suddenly spilled across the floor from the doorway. Axel blinked and lifted his gaze, seeing Kairi's outline leaning against the doorjamb.

"Hey.. Axel, you okay?" she asked, tilting her head. Her expression was hidden in the shadows.

Axel stared at her for a long moment, wondering if he should run away or seek her help. "I don't know," he finally mumbled, letting his gaze fall to the floor.

Kairi shifted away from the doorjamb, blinking in surprise. She had expected her brother to snap at her, or at least offer something sarcastic. She let out a sigh, expression softening. "Did something happen?" she asked, going over to sit by the other redhead. Axel bit his lower lip and raked his fingers through his hair, trying to think of something to say. From the corner of his eye, he could see Kairi watching him with concern.

"I think there's something wrong with me," he finally said, voice leaving him in a breath of air.

Kairi's eyebrows shot up, confusion crossing her features. "What do you mean by wrong...?"

"Wrong. Wrong in here." Axel glanced at Kairi and tapped a finger against his temple.

She frowned at him and shook her head in even greater confusion. "I don't... get what you're trying to say, Ax."

Axel took a deep breath, massaging his temples with his fingers. "A voice," he said, his own voice weak and breaking. "There's a fucking voice in my head."

"...No, really, Axel, what's wrong?" Kairi demanded, crossing her arms impatiently over her chest.

"I'm being serious," Axel muttered, narrowing his eyes at his sister.

"A voice. In your head."

it's there right beneath my skin.

"I swear to you, Kairi, I'm not kidding."

Kairi gave Axel a skeptical look and then cast her eyes away. She bit her thumbnail, staring pensively at the floor. "I... god, Axel..."

"Seriously, Kai, I don't know what to do."

Kairi took in a deep breath and lowered her hand, her fingers tapping nervously at her thigh. He didn't know what to do? How could she possibly know any better?

"Kairi, please..."

Kairi flicked her eyes up, attention caught by the... fearanddesperation in her brother's voice. Of course he'd be freaked out. Of course he was desperate. He was hearing voices in his head.

The longer Kairi remained silent the more nervous Axel got. He bit his bottom lip and fisted his hands against his knees, blunt nails cutting into his palms.

"Shit, Kai, what's happening to me? What going to happen to me? I don't want to... to be sent away to some mental hospital or something!"

The smaller redhead quickly shook her head and held up her hand, signaling Axel to stop talking.

"Stop... stop freaking out, okay?" Even though I'm freaking out just as much as you are- "Just..." Kairi swallowed down a lump in her throat and rubbed the bridge of her nose. It was unsettling. She had never see Axel truely afraid of something before. "...Just get some rest for now, okay? Tomorrow... I'll call our doctor, see if she can suggest something, alright? So... so don't freak out. You're not going to be sent to a mental hospital. You're gonna be okay, you hear?"

Axel nodded shakily and fell back into his bed, curling up on his side. Even if he wouldn't admit it, Kairi could tell he was scared out of his mind.

She smiled sadly and scooted closer, putting her hand on Axel's bare shoulder. He instantly turned around and pulled her down into the bed. Both arms went around her waist and his face was buried in her neck.

"You'll be okay," Kairi crooned, reaching up with one hand to run her fingers through Axel's hair. "Promise."

x.x.x

Two quiet weeks had passed after Axel had told Kairi about what was wrong with him. The days were slowly slipping by into October, but the weather in this little town seemed to show no signs of getting colder. Even the trees were still exploding with green leaves, teeming with life, and cicadas still sang their hypnotizing drone in the shade. Riku was still trying to coax feelings out of a stubborn Sora, Demyx was still trying to make up with an even more stubborn Zexion, Larxene was wondering why Axel started looking so tired lately, and Kairi was busy trying to cover it all up...

He started seeing a doctor, Aeris Gainsborough, two weeks ago.

Two quiet weeks had passed.

Roxas barely saw Axel anymore. Even Axel's own friends had come up to him a few days ago, wondering about the redhead. Not that Axel had been skipping school. He was there, always, but almost as though there was a wall between him and the rest of the world. Almost like a shield. Almost like he was invisible.

But Roxas wasn't thinking about Axel today. Because today he had a reason to momentarily forget him. Hayner, Olette and Rikku were visiting from his old school during lunch and the blonde was too busy looking out over campus to even bother eating his food.

"God, Roxas. You're acting as though they're just going to walk right by you," Sora mumbled, poking Roxas's cheek with his pencil. His math homework lay forgotten on his lap. Roxas shot Sora a look and gave him a swift kick to the shin from under the table.

"Damn, that was my leg!" Kairi snapped angrily, pulling her legs up onto the bench. Roxas grinned sheepishly and snatched Sora's pencil, quickly scribbling Sorry on a nearby napkin. Kairi rolled her eyes despite the smile that lifted the corners of her lips.

So what's up with Axel?

Kairi blinked and pursed her lips, cocking her head to the side. "Are you kidding? I've been telling everyone that he's sick."

Is he?

"Yeeaah.. He's, um... He's getting a little better, but, y'know, still feels like crap and all-"

"Roxas, look! They're here!"

The blonde's face instantly lit up, Axel forgotten once more, and he jumped out of his seat taking off at a sprint across campus. Kairi watched with a questioning look as the white and blue uniformed trio approached Roxas, instantly jumping all over him.

"So... they're from Roxas's old school, right?" Kairi asked, turning towards Sora. The brunette nodded, smiling after his brother.

"Yep. Best friends."

"But... if they were with him why did he transfer here?"

Sora's smile saddened slightly and he cast his eyes downward. "Mom thought it would be best. Since I'm the only one who can really understand him... since he's mute now and all, y'know?"

Kairi hummed thoughtfully, turning her gaze back to Roxas. "...Yeah. I think I get it."

x.x.x

Rikku grinned brightly and slung her arm around Roxas's shoulders. "Hey little dude, you won't believe who we found in the music room last week."

Roxas blinked and furrowing his eyebrows in thought, trying to remember what he had forgotten.

"Stupid," Hayner drawled, rolling his eyes. He pulled the black strap off his shoulder, pushing a guitar case into Roxas's hands. The blonde's face lit up like fireworks and he hugged the case to his chest, grinning like mad. He used to play the guitar back at the Academy and apparently had left his white-red-and-black acoustic in the music room. Poor Spencer must've gotten dusty and lonely...

...Yes he named his guitars and didn't have a problem with it.

...Then he kicked Hayner in the shin.

The dirty-blonde stumbled back, wincing, and threw Roxas a glare. "What the hell was that for?!"

Roxas smirked smugly and clicked his tongue ring against his teeth. Not stupid.

Hayner grumbled and swore under his breath, watching Roxas carefully out of the corner of his eye. Olette chuckled and shook her head. Honestly. Two teenagers that acted like complete... She wanted to say kids... but only the word douchebags came to mind.

"Anyway!" she piped up, rocking back on her heels. "We oughta go. Our lunch is almost over. But it was great to see you Rox!"

"Yeah, we'll keep in touch," Rikku said, drawing her arm away from Roxas's shoulders. "Keep us updated."

Roxas smiled and mouthed a silent thanks, nodding down at his guitar. With a final exchange of grins and hugs, Olette, Hayner and Rikku began their way back towards the Academy. Roxas watched them with a sad smile until they disappeared from his view. He sighed and ambled back to his lunch table where Sora and Kairi were waiting.

x.x.x

Roxas finally saw Axel at the end of the day when he was walking out of school. The redhead was standing by the school gates, smoking a cigarette, and Kairi was right next to him, saying things that Roxas was sure Axel didn't care about. In fact, he looked like he was ready to drop and sleep right in the middle of the road. Of course... the dark circles and limp posture showed it all. Roxas continued to watch curiously as Kairi patted Axel on the shoulder and walked off towards the parking lot. Axel didn't do anything except for yawn, snuff out his cigarette, and pull out another one.

It had been some time since Axel had bothered Roxas. Or even talked to him. He didn't trip him in the hallway or throw weird chemical concoctions at him in class anymore. So Roxas pulled out his Sidekick and walked over. Axel looked pretty surprised when Roxas suddenly appeared out of nowhere, shoving his phone into the taller's face.

Wanna hang out tonight?

Axel stared at the screen with a raised eyebrow making Roxas release an impatient breath.

Roxas? Tonight? Hang out...? Axel blinked in confusion, a frown tugging at the corners of his lips. The medication slowed him down, turned his thoughts inside out. It took him a moment to figure out what was written on the little screen.

"Uhh, I.. don't know, Roxas. I'm kinda tired.."

But Roxas beat him to it, shoving his phone back at Axel again.

Great. I'll pick you up at 9:30.

Roxas snapped his Sidekick shut and gave Axel a bright grin. The redhead could only blink incredulously in return, just a little stunned. Seriously. What the hell just happened? On second thought, how did it happen? Axel had been having great fun picking on Roxas and then getting on with the rest of his day. Then again... Roxas was also the reason the voice had really started getting serious in the first place. So hanging out with the kid would be out of the question... On third thought, if there was such a thing, Axel kinda-sorta-maybe wanted to hang out with Roxas, way, way in the back of his head. And the meds seemed to be working, so there wasn't much to worry about... right?

"I... guess so," Axel mumbled finally, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. It was made even more awkward when Roxas simply left after. Axel had no idea what to expect from the kid later that day.

x.x.x

"You're going out with Roxas? What? Why didn't you tell me?" Kairi demanded, standing with her hands on her hips in Axel's room.

"What are you, my mother?" Axel snapped, sitting up on his bed. He didn't want to snap at Kairi, but the medication just made him tired and cranky and he couldn't help it. "He came up to me after you left and when I came home, you were on the phone talking to Selphie about girly things that I really, quite honestly don't want to know about."

Kairi rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively. "So where are you two going?"

"I... have no idea. He just told me that he'd pick me up at nine thirty."

"He'll pick you up? I guess you're the girl in this relationship, huh?"

"THERE-IS-NO-RELATIONSHIP-GOAWAYKAIRI!"

Kairi burst out laughing and ducked out of the room, narrowly avoiding a flying, projectile-like pillow. Axel frowned and settled back into his bed, reaching for his phone. It was 9:23 so... Roxas would probably be there soon. He wondered why Roxas wanted to hang out with him in the first place, especially after all the hell he put the kid through. But he found it best not to ponder about it, since his head was already working two sides of psycho street.

"Might as well go and wait downstairs," Axel mumbled to himself, standing up and making his way out his door, still in the same skinny jeans and green t-shirt that he was in after school. A few minutes later, a car horn beeped outside, signaling that Roxas was waiting. Axel grabbed his keys and cell off the coffee table and waved to Kairi, who was too engrossed in Everybody Loves Raymond to notice.

"..Shit," Axel muttered when he saw the yellow and black Camaro idling in his driveway. He pulled the passenger door open and plopped down in the seat. "God, kid, how'd you afford this?"

Roxas typed something into his Sidekick and chucked it into Axel's lap before moving the gear shift to reverse and backing out of the driveway.

Rich aunt. Forgot my 16th bday and sent me this. And don't call me kid.

Axel smirked slightly at the last bit and dropped the Sidekick back into the blonde's lap. "I think I can call you whatever I want considering the fact that you never even told me where we're going."

Roxas turned to Axel and grinned. You'll see.

x.x.x

Axel frowned in confusion when he noticed that Roxas was driving away from the city. And there wasn't much outside the city except for plains and plains of grass... until you hit the next city, of course.

"Okay, why are you heading towards the outskirts?"

Roxas shrugged lightly, not taking his eyes off the road.

"Because if you plan on killing me out there with a hammer and then dumping my body in a ditch that you dug only a few hours ago, I'm jumping out of this car right now."

That only made Roxas smile with amusement.

"And now you're thinking that I'm a paranoid bitch, I know it. I don't need-hey, we stopped."

No shit, genius.

Roxas had driven the car off the road and parked it in the grassy area that stretched on for miles. Axel unbuckled his seat belt and looked around as Roxas stepped outside and motioned for Axel to follow him. The redhead frowned a bit and opened the door, swinging his long legs out. "What are we here for?" he asked, pushing himself out of the seat. Roxas grinned back at him and hopped up to sit on the hood of his car. He patted the spot beside him, telling Axel to come sit. Axel stuffed his hands into his pockets and complied, going over to Roxas and leaning against the warm hood of the Camaro.

"So uh... what d'you want?" Axel asked, leaning closer to Roxas when the younger teen pulled out his Sidekick.

I wanted to talk.

Axel let out a surprised bark of laughter. "S-so.. so you drove me all the way out here? Just to talk?"

It's easier for me, when it's quiet and when there's no distractions. Roxas breathed out a silent laugh, smiling shyly.

"...It's hard for you, isn't it?" Axel wondered quietly, truely curious this time. There was nothing to distract him this time either, no voice in the back of his head telling him how worthless, how hopeless he was, how perfectly useable Roxas was.

Yeah. It is, I guess. But enough about me. What about you? Kairi told me you were sick.

"Sick? What? Oh! Right, right.. Yeah, I have a bit of a head cold," Axel recited, gingerly rubbing the back of his head.

A head cold huh?

"Yeah. Total pain in the ass."

Roxas arched an eyebrow, giving Axel a completely disbelieving look. The redhead blinked and shifted slightly, trying to match Roxas's gaze. "What?"

Is that why you haven't been terrorizing me lately? Because of a measly head cold?

"...Yes."

You're a terrible liar.

"Well, why do you care anyway?" Axel grumbled, averting his gaze to the ground. "It doesn't even concern you," yes it does, "and haven't I been a bitch to you enough already? I mean, you should be glad that I'm finally leaving you alone! You should be-stop looking at me like that!"

Roxas frowned slightly, his blue eyes locked on him like x-ray vision, like he was reading him.

In a sudden burst of rage, Axel grabbed Roxas by the collar and threw him down to the ground. He climbed over the boy's writhing body, pinning down his arms and legs. Roxas let out a little gasp, his wide blue eyes staring up at Axel's sneering expression.

"Y'wanna know what the big fucking secret it?" he breathed, leaning down close to Roxas's ear. The boy tensed, not quite sure if he should start panicking or not.

"I'm crazy, mentally unstable, fuckin' cracked so quit trying to analyze me." Axel let out a sharp laugh, oddly reminding Roxas of a wounded animal, and rolled off into the grass, closing his eyes. He couldn't believe he almost lost it. And in front of Roxas, too! The grass beside him rustled, moved, stopped. Axel's opened his eyes, peridot orbs practically glowing in the dark and found Roxas sitting next to him.

"...I have schizophrenia," Axel sighed out, frowning. "It's not... not bad enough to get me locked up in the nut house or something like that, but it was the reason I was acting so shitty to you. Like... I couldn't control it. And I only figured it out when you came around because the fucking voice in my head kept telling me to do bad things to you." Axel heaved another sigh and passed a hand over his face. He felt so unexplainably exhausted that he could probably fall asleep right then and there. "And now I'm on meds. ...Do you understand now?"

Roxas stared down at his lap, trying to take in all that information. So Axel didn't really hate him? And want to make his life a miserable swirling pit of doom?

Axel tilted his head towards Roxas and reached up, nudging the younger's knee with his knuckles, making the boy bring his gaze back down to him. A small smile lifted the corners of his lips.

"Yeah," he mouthed, reaching out to mess up Axel's hair.

Axel grinned weakly, swatting Roxas's hand away. "So... um... we cool?"

Roxas nodded and leaned back on his hands, letting out silent breath of laughter. Axel arched an eyebrow in confusion.

God, a kid who's mute and one who's schizo.

Roxas wiped his eyes, shoulders shaking with silent chuckles as fireflies lit up around them, with no reason to speak.

"...I'll take that as a yes."

x.x.x

Ugghhh I really friggin' hope there aren't any goddamn typos in this thing that I spent weeks (months) on.

REVIEW PLEASE AND TELL ME HOW YOU LIKE IT? D: