A/N: Sorry for the lateness again (school and all)! The drama continues.

Axel didn't want to leave Larxene's house that night, but while she slept he slipped out the window and made his way home. He didn't even bother to grab a swig of milk from the fridge. Instead he went to Reno's room. Reno was fast asleep as it was already 11 at night, but he didn't care. He grabbed his brother's shoulders and shook him awake.

"The...hell...?" Reno groans as he slowly opens his eyes and sits up. Axel turns on the lamp that's sitting on the nightstand and posts himself at the foot of his bed. Reno always had a forest green comforter on his bed ever since he could remember. That still hadn't changed. In fact not much in the room had changed since he left. Axel locked eyes with his twin and said nothing for a few moments.

"Where did you go?" Reno asked.

"That's my question", Axel retorted as he crossed his legs, "You never answered." More silence followed. Axel tried again. "Where did you go? You just left without saying goodbye. No note, nothing." Reno shifted uncomfortably in his spot on the bed. He knew he was hiding something. All those months of separation hadn't diminished that sixth sense that came with being twins. Axel bit his lip as he thought of a better question to ask. "What happened?" At that Reno sat upright and rigid. Axel had struck a nerve.

The other young man didn't speak. But something had bothered him. What had happened two years ago?

"It was..." Reno began softly his voice suddenly cutting out. He coughed and covered his mouth and didn't continue. His eyes closed as if in pain. Axel wanted to shake him and make him spit it out. He saw himself in his mind's eye grabbing his shoulders and screaming in his face "Who did it!? What happened to you!?" Instead he saw himself sitting across from his cowering brother as if in a stupor.

"It was Tifa!" Reno suddenly blurted out burying his eyes in his kneecaps. "It was a Thursday after school-the locker room-" his voice was cracking as he kept rambling. "She did it once, and then it happened again and again-and she-" Reno suddenly stopped. It was as if both brothers were expecting tears but none came. Reno looked into his brother's eyes for the first time. "I didn't know what to do, I just ran," he explained, "I was confused and ashamed. I wasn't supposed to like it...but I did...and it was wrong. Was I wrong?" The question rang in Axel's ears.

He couldn't process what his brother just told him. Did he just admit to being raped by a teacher? Was that really what made him run? Suddenly the world seemed to collapse on itself. Everything he based it on no longer had any substance. He believed Reno was selfish for leaving. He believed his brother didn't care about him and subjected him to the scrutiny of everyone around him. He thought his parents hated him for not looking out for his brother; as if they somehow held him responsible for what happened.

"You weren't wrong Reno," Axel slowly replied as he looked down. He wanted to tell the truth now. For the the first time Axel wanted to tell someone the whole truth about himself. He couldn't be honest with anyone, not even himself, not even Larxene. He wouldn't tell anyone about his feelings and he didn't care about theirs. The lies he had worked so hard to build and solidify couldn't hold out against the blatant truth that wanted to come out.

Reno relaxed a little. It was as if those quiet words of approval were all he needed to hear. Axel decided to continue. "I don't blame you for running away. I just hated you for not telling me; for not giving me a reason why you had to leave. I've hated you for a long time."

"I can't pretend I understand all this because I don't," Axel shifted his sitting position, "It's all pretty fucked up. You're fucked up, but so am I." And they were really fucked up. Two brothers who had screwed up lives. One not by his own choice, the other made his own decisions. Reno nodded to his statement in agreement. Nothing was "okay" yet, and things weren't going to be okay for a while. Scratch that: things weren't going to be "okay" for a long while.

...

The next day was Saturday and Axel didn't want to get out of bed. He looked at his phone that was completely blown up with messages from all three parties. Larxene didn't message him at all. He wanted some excuse for his actions, but he wasn't going to find any. He was fresh out of them. He couldn't run anymore just like his brother. Suddenly he had new respect for his brother. Reno was going to come to terms with his inner demons, he had to stop running.

Hey, I'm coming over. He sent the message to all three of them and got dressed. Reno came in just as he was tying his shoes.

"Going somewhere bro?" he asked, leaning against the door post.

"Yeah", Axel grunted as he stood up, "I've got some things to explain." Reno looked slightly amused.

"Should I go with you?" he offered as Axel passed him. He paused a moment to consider it and motioned for him to follow.

"This probably isn't a good idea to have you come along, but someone is going to have to take me to the hospital after this," he mumbled.

The two walked down to the Evangelion house in near silence as Axel recollected his exploits. Reno didn't say anything, he just listened as they strolled along. He remained silent as Axel rang the doorbell and Xion answered. She was surprised to see both of them there at once but she didn't say anything. She motioned for the two of them to come inside and shut the door behind them.

"Where are your sisters?" Axel asked as he shoved his hands in his pockets. For the first time Xion opened her mouth and spoke.

"They're coming down in a moment," she said softly. Her voice sounded hoarse and raspy, as if she wasn't used to talking. As if on cue Namine and Kairi came down the stairs and through the doorway to the living room where they all stood. Kairi looked tired and angry at the same time, her eyes red and puffy. Namine looked emptier than usual. And Xion...poor Xion, she had this knowledge in her eyes. They all did.

"We already know Axel", Kairi started first as she crossed her arms. She exchanged glances with her sisters. Nobody said anything for about a minute. The silence was unbearable, but no one could think of anything appropriate to say or do. All three girls were seething. Axel could feel their unexpressed anger building up and pressing against him from all sides.

As if on impulse he got down on his hands and knees. He couldn't bring himself to say anything. His mind was blank. Kairi's mind wasn't. She stepped forward and kicked him in the side, but she didn't stop there. She grabbed a handful of his hair and forced his head upward so he looked right into his eyes.

"I hate you," she spat in his face, the words sliding between her teeth in a sickening hiss. She let go and kicked him in the face. Axel could feel the blood rushing to his temple as the pain began to spread. "I hate you," she said again as she got on his chest and punched him in the face. At first it didn't hurt, but she kept going and slowly but surely the pain started to build. He felt her punch him in the nose and blood trickled down to his upper lip.

Kairi stood up after a moment, her rage barely satiated.

"He needs more punishment," he heard Namine say, "Doesn't he, sisters?" Axel wasn't exactly sure how he ended up in Namine's room or how he ended up nearly naked. He didn't know where Reno was. He didn't know when he had been bound to a chair with his back expose. But he knew exactly what was going to happen next.


A/N: Sorry for the sudden cutoff! I've run out of juice for the moment and in fact the chapter itself is short! I'll be adding to this later and a new chapter (most likely by this weekend). Thank you for reading!