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Zexion didn't come out of his room for the next two days. Sometimes Axel would see a lower Nobody taking food into the room, but it always came back out half-eaten. His little ex-lover was hurting, and Axel was not able to help him. He'd tried to see Zexion, but the Cloaked Schemer would only scream at him to get out.
Axel was in his room, brooding, when Xemnas summoned him to his quarters. The redhead went reluctantly, taking a portal. Xemnas stood in front of his huge mirror, watching Zexion.
"He really is suffering, though it has lessened," he said conversationally. Axel bowed his head.
"Good," he murmured.
"Why don't you go to him?" Xemnas asked, still nonchalantly.
"He doesn't want to see me," Axel replied quietly.
"Ah, yes. He blames you," Xemnas chuckled, turning to finally face Axel. The redhead's fists clenched, but he kept his eyes on the ground.
"Answer me, Axel. You know I always want a response." Xemnas approached Axel slowly, smirking to himself as the redhead visibly tensed.
"Yes, he blames me," Axel said quickly. Xemnas stopped in front of him.
"Should he? Is it your fault, Axel?"
"…yes," Axel replied, eyes still on the floor. Xemnas lifted his chin and stared into the emotionless green eyes.
"You really are a beautiful creature, Axel, especially now that you're so broken," he murmured, leaning close. Axel jerked back, nearly tripping in his haste to back away.
"I am not broken," he hissed angrily. Xemnas laughed heartily.
"No, I supposed you're not. But tell me, Axel, how long will that last? You finally have your little love back and he hates you with a passion. He can't stand the sight of you, Axel. In fact, let's have a little test run. You take him his dinner, hmmm?" Xemnas pointed at the cart outside of the door. Axel stared at him.
"What, so you can watch him scream at me?" he growled.
"I want to see if you can make him love you again," Xemnas chuckled, reaching out to touch Axel again. The redhead backed up further, growling. Xemnas only grabbed his cloak and jerked him back.
"You forget your place, Eight," he murmured into Axel's ear. Axel pushed at his shoulders as Xemnas pressed him to the wall.
"Shall I remind you of what you've become?" Xemnas asked, voice low as he unzipped Axel's cloak halfway. The redhead looked away, eyes clenched shut tight, as the Superior's tongue traced his ear.
"N-no, Superior," he whispered. Xemnas pulled away enough to grab Axel's face and force the redhead to look at him.
"You are my toy, Axel. A little whore. What I tell you to do, you will do. You forget that I could still force you to rape Zexion, to take his small writhing body and make it love you even as the boy himself hated you more and more. You wouldn't want me to do that," Xemnas hissed, leaning in and placing a small kiss on Axel's quivering lips. The other man, so suddenly turned into a scared boy, shook his head.
"No, Superior. I…don't want that," he murmured, closing his eyes. Xemnas pulled away.
"Good. Take him his supper and then see how long he'll let you stay," he chuckled, gesturing Axel's dismissal.
Axel pushed the cart to Zexion's room, knocking on the door.
"Yes?" Zexion called. Axel swallowed.
"Um…food. For you," he called back, forcing down the lump in his throat. There was silence for a long moment.
"Axel, gods-dammit, I told you to…"
"Superior's orders, Six," Axel snapped, finally angry. He heard footsteps, and then Zexion opened the door. He looked terrible – haggard and tired. Dark circles had formed under his suddenly dull eyes, and his hair was a tangled mess. Axel felt his breath catch.
"Z-Zexion…"
"Give me the food and leave."
"No." Axel pushed the cart past Zexion, into the messy room. Zexion stared after him.
"What do you mean, no?"
"I mean I'm staying here until I see fit. You aren't taking care of yourself." Axel left the food near the door and sat on the bed.
"Number Eight, as your Superior…"
"Shove it up your ass, Zexion," Axel hissed vehemently. Zexion lapsed into silence, eyes wide.
"I fucking love you, Zexion. What I did was selfish, yeah, but I was so angry, don't you see that? Zoine was whoring out your body. I never, ever considered it his body to whore out, Zexion, and neither should he have done so. And to Lexaeus, to your best friend…Zexion, I was seeing red. I couldn't bear the thought of…"
"IT'S NOT LIKE I WAS FEELING IT!" Zexion shouted. Axel opened his mouth again, but Zexion stormed over and slapped him across the face.
"I WASN'T AWARE OF ZOINE'S ACTIONS! I COULD FUCKING CARE LESS WHAT HE DID WITH MY BODY SINCE IT WASN'T MINE ANYMORE! YOUR BRINGING ME BACK FORCED ME TO BECOME AWARE OF IT, AND NOW I FEEL SO SICK I WANT TO FUCKING DIE! WHAT PART OF THIS DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?"
Axel was speechless. Zexion was breathing hard, fists clenched, looking like he wanted to hit his ex-lover again.
"That, Axel, is why I hate you," he hissed quietly. Axel looked down.
"You'll forget it eventually," he muttered. He held back a cry as Zexion hit him again.
"But you won't. You won't, and the Superior won't, and Lexaeus most definitely will not. Axel, I love you still, but I can-not breathe. I can't think about you without feeling him inside me, about what you allowed to happen."
Something clicked in Axel's mind.
"Wait, you're blaming me for Lexaeus seducing Zoine?" he asked incredulously.
"You weren't there for him!" Zexion hissed.
"What the…there for him? He hated my guts!" Axel shouted, "He didn't want me there!"
"You still should have protected him!"
"He honestly thought Lexaeus loved him, Zexion! What do you think he would have let me do? Lexaeus is my Superior, anyway!" Axel growled, standing and towering over Zexion.
"I'd have you tell Lexaeus the same thing you told me – shove it up his ass!" Zexion screamed. Axel sighed.
"Zex…"
"Don't you Zex me! You cannot sit there and tell me that there was nothing you could do!"
"…you're mad at me for not protecting you," Axel said quietly. Zexion's eyes widened slightly.
"I already told you that I know it wasn't…"
"I know what you said, Zexion. I thought we were way past lying," Axel snapped. Zexion blushed, looking down.
"I just didn't want to sound so weak," he murmured almost inaudibly, "Like I need protection."
Axel reached out and took Zexion's hand, pulling the Cloaked Schemer closer. To his utter surprise, Zexion let him. Axel decided not to push his luck, even though he desperately needed to feel Zexion against him.
"You're not weak. And you don't need my protection. I thought Zoine was already lost, Zex. I'm sorry I didn't try harder," he said pleadingly. Zexion looked away from him.
"He was lost. Now I'm lost."
"Zex…" Axel reached up hesitantly and turned Zexion's face to look at him. The Cloaked Schemer's eyes filled with tears.
"Axel…" And they were kissing.