Chapter Twelve

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts

Sorry for the late update, darlings! I'll make it up to you!

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Axel really didn't know what to do.

The silence of the dinner table was so thick that you could cut it with a butter knife. Roxas and Demyx sat glaring at each other, both shoveling food into their mouths at alarming rates. The few times that he had tried to make conversation, he was glared at by the both of them.

Needless to say, dinner was awkward.

Later, as Demyx hid in his room, Axel debated as to where to let Roxas sleep. He blushed at the mental image of them snuggling together, simply…No! Bad Axel, bad Axel! Stop thinking that way! He mentally commanded himself.

"Are you okay?" Roxas asked, as a bright blush appeared on Axel's face. "Nnn…yeah. Say, why don't you take the bed and I can take the couch?"

Roxas fidgeted awkwardly.

"Um…I'm not sure how to say this…c…can I sleep next to you?"

Axel's face burned brighter. "Sure."

Axel lead him to his room at the end of the hall. As he watched Roxas clamber over the sheets, he sighed. What the hell am I supposed to do now? His mind was racing furiously.

"Axel? What's wrong?"

Axel snapped out of his trance. "Nothing."

He slipped under the covers next to his best friend. He immediately turned to the window as to avoid looking at his face. "Well, good night."

Roxas put his hand on Axel's shoulder.

"Axel?"

"Hnn?"

"…thanks."

"You're welcome, Rox." Axel mumbled sleepily. It had been a long day.

Roxas ran his fingers through Axel's mane of hair, gently pulling the redhead closer to him. Axel turned around and wrapped his arms around the smaller one. He sighed, content to simply be next to him. Roxas stroked his hair, watching him go into a deeper and deeper sleep. It was only then that he pressed his lips to his forehead and whispered, "I love you."

The morning light burned through his eyelids, tickling Axel's eyes. He automatically reached for Roxas-but he wasn't there. He cracked open an eye. On the pillow next to him was a note.

Axel groaned and pushed himself up. He plucked up the little piece of paper and opened it.

"I'll be right back. -Roxas"

Axel groaned louder and flopped back onto his pillow. He covered his eyes with the hand not holding the note.

The door opened, and Axel opened an eye. A blond walked in, but it was neither Demyx or Roxas-

It was Larxene.

He shot up immediately and pulled the covers up, hiding that he was only wearing a tank top and boxers. Larxene rolled her eyes. "I've seen you naked before-trust me, it's not a sight I can't handle."

"What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you."

"About what?" he muttered, thinking he missed a meeting or forgot to turn something in.

"About Roxas."

Axel shot up in bed. "What about him?"

Larxene sighed, and sat on the bed. Uh oh, Axel thought. She only does that when it's serious.

"You need to know a few things about him."

Axel blinked. "Like what?"

"Axel…his parents were horriblepeople. When I looked him up on my files there were pictures from where they beat him. It was-"

Larxene stopped, and looked away. How bad was it that Larxene couldn't take it? Axel wondered.

"Anyway, if you're going to keep interacting with him, and I'm saying this as your friend, not your boss, just…be careful. He's very emotionally unstable right now. I just…don't want you to get hurt."

Axel nodded. He didn't think that Larxene could have thought to be so considerate.

"Thanks, Larx. I'll keep that in mind."

But after Larxene had left, Axel was more determined than ever to protect Roxas-and find a way for him to be happy.

Roxas came in a little later, with a present under his arm.

"Here-I got you something."

"What for?" Axel asked, curious.

"Well…you're…nice to me." Roxas finished lamely.

Axel smiled.

"Thanks."

He unwrapped the small package a gasped. Inside was a silver digital camera, shiny and…expensive.

"How did you even get the munny for this?"

Roxas shrugged. "I had some saved up."

The truth was, he had sold a couple of the little diamonds in his treasure box.

"Thanks, Roxas."

He snatched him up and hugged him.

After a couple hours of having fun with the camera, and after Axel had gotten dressed, they lay side by side on the roof, watching the clouds go by.

"Roxas?"

"Yeah?"

"You know I care about you, right?"

Silence.

"Roxas?"

"Huh? Yeah."

"Roxas, you're not paying attention."

"I am."

"I was trying to talk to you about something important."

"I'm listening."

Axel sighed. This was the topic he had been trying to avoid. Was it really necessary? He asked himself. He glanced sideways, and stared at the fading bruises on Roxas' neck.

"Roxas…"

"Yeah?"

"Is…someone hurting you?"

Roxas stiffened. It was a typical response to a question he didn't want to answer. When he was badgered, he would retreat further into his shell and not say a single word to anyone.

After a long, tense moment-

"I don't know what you're talking about." Roxas replied stiffly.

Axel sighed. He knew this was going to happen.

He wrapped his arms around Roxas.

"Roxas…you're lying."

Roxas froze. I can't, Roxas thought helplessly. I can't tell him what's going on.

"Roxas, talk to me."

His head snapped up. At the sight of Axel's concerned-filled green eyes, however, he lost it.

"What the hell is it to you anyway? Why can't you just leave me alone?" Roxas yelled. He struggled to get up, to disentangle himself from Axel's embrace, but Axel held him tighter.

"What the hell are you doing?! Let me go!"

He fought against Axel's iron grip, struggling to run.

Axel shook his head. "I'm not letting you go until you tell me what's wrong."

"There's NOTHING wrong with me, Axel! Now, let me GO!"

Axel spun him around so he was forced to look at him, straight in the eye.

"You expect me to believe that load of crap, Roxas? Do you honestly believe I'll give up just because you don't want to admit that-"

"There's nothing TO admit!"Roxas sobbed. By this time, tears were streaming down his face, and he only wished to get away from the one friend he had right now.

"Roxas, listen to me. I want to help you-"

"Why? Why does it matter at all to you?"

"Because I love you!"

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GASP!

So yes, the truth comes out. In several different ways. And yes, they are pretty OOC here, but this was actually based on the time when MY friends crowded around me and forced me to confront the fact that I was getting abused and I needed help. And, like Roxas, I just wanted to get away.

Oh, and for those of you who were asking why Roxas was running all the time, it was because he didn't want to face the situation. But he can't do that anymore…muahahahaha…Oh, and the reason that Axel asked him was because he wanted to determine that it was true…from Roxas.

No smex in this one, but yeah. I will be writing all day, because I am sick and my mama made me stay home because she's afraid I might have the Swine Flu. (of doom.) I don't, but I was freaking kids out at school with my sneezes(of doom.)

Reviews are love!(and if you review, I'll update faster. Heh heh…)