Nothing to be said really. I was going to post this ages ago but ended up deleting it entirely and starting over. I like this version better. Thank you all for the reviews of last chapter, there were so many and it made me very happy to hear that you all enjoyed it. That said, I hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Chapter 13

Questionable Pedigree

"Let me in! Let me see him!!"

Demyx was in tears and fought relentlessly against Xigbar. The captain was alarmed by the amount of strength and effort Demyx showed and his struggling paid off when he slipped away. Demyx ran back down the hall he'd been dragged down. The medical staff who'd watched the commotion quickly moved to block him but Demyx wasn't going to let them get in his way, "Move or I'll kill every one of you!" If his rank alone wasn't enough to make them move his threat was. Demyx forced the doors to the OR open and immediately froze at the sight before him. The doctors at work ordered him out but Demyx couldn't move; he couldn't take his eyes off the condition his cousin lay in. He felt someone take his shoulder and lead him out of the room but he just kept staring straight ahead as if still in the OR face-to-face with the body on the table, "…Riku."

"Look I get that you're worried and all but you can't just go saying you'll kill people in your way," Xigbar told him. He sat Demyx down in a chair outside in the waiting room and for quite some time Demyx said nothing at all. Xigbar wondered if he was perhaps crying, "Kid?"

Demyx looked up abruptly with a horrible look of anger in his eyes, "Who did this?! Who did this to Riku!?!" Xigbar said nothing and to his alarm Demyx stood up and grabbed hold of his shirt collar roughly, "Answer me!!!"

With one hand Xigbar shoved Demyx back down into the chair. There were nurses watching from the reception desk, but even if there weren't onlookers Xigbar would not tolerate this sort of disrespect and he punched Demyx hard in the jaw, shocking everyone including Demyx. Demyx looked up at him with rage still in his face, but after only a brief standoff his expression softened and he put a hand on his horribly sore jaw. With the boy put in his place Xigbar straightened his collar and addressed Demyx, "Your cousin is the casualty of a dog who acted out of line and impulse."

"But who did it?!" Demyx shouted loudly. He was seeing red he was so infuriated and he was more than ready to deal with whoever was responsible, "…Riku…poor Riku…Xigbar please! Tell me who!"

"Axel doesn't want you involved," was all Xigbar said and Demyx hung his head. He could tell what was going through his mind and smirked inwardly at how things were playing out before him, "I don't agree but orders are orders…Why don't you go talk to him? He's a bit of a mess right now, not sure why, but if you find out and comfort him maybe he'll tell you whose responsible for your cousin's condition."

Demyx looked up hopefully. He thought it over for a moment before smiling and getting to his feet, "Okay, good idea! Thanks Xigbar!" He looked to the OR doors for a moment longingly though and Xigbar assured him, "I'll call you if anything happens." Naïve but grateful, Demyx thanked his captain before rushing back down the hall. Up the stairs he went, hurrying straight to Axel's office and knocking persistently. Finally after over a minute straight of knocking the doors opened and Demyx held his hands behind his back innocently, "Oh good you're here."

"What do you want?" Axel clearly wasn't in the mood for small talk and appeared to be very busy. With the mess, press, and casualties of last night already eating away at the society before sunrise he likely hadn't slept either.

Demyx could see past that though and after a moment of staring at Axel intently as if studying him, he clasped his hands over his mouth to contain a gasp, "You and Roxas?!"

Axel tightened his grip on the stack of papers in one hand, "What?"

"They don't call me cupid for anything, I can see right through you," Demyx taunted, overly pleased with himself and his discovery. Axel didn't look amused though and grabbed hold of Demyx's arm, pulling him into the office and shutting the door behind him. Demyx looked around the office with great interest. Seldom did he see this place and even if it was dark outside the room was lit well, "Oh breakfast!" he cheered, spotting the untouched platter on the table by the door.

Axel covered it though with the pan and turned on Demyx, "I'll cut your tongue out personally if you breathe one word of this."

"That you like your eggs scrambled? Is that against your rules or something?" Demyx didn't see the big deal but when Axel glared at him it was clear he was referring to something else, "Oh you mean about you and Roxas!" He really was as stupid as he looked and Axel just walked away. He sat down at his desk and much to his displeasure Demyx came over and sat on the edge, "So do you love him?"

Axel just laughed spitefully and paid him no real attention, keeping his attention on the work at hand, "Ofcourse not, don't be foolish."

Demyx hopped off the desk and sat on the arm of Axel's chair instead, "But I am a fool!" Axel ignored him and Demyx watched him work for several minutes in silence. He knew the only reason Axel hadn't killed him or kicked him out yet was because he saw there was some kind of tangible relationship between him and his secretary, something Axel wasn't keen on sharing, "I believe you by the way. You don't love him I'm sure of that."

His brazen confidence sparked some curiosity in Axel, whose pen stopped scribbling and who said, "You seem very sure of yourself."

"I am," Demyx told him with a nod, "I can tell you don't love him. You're a mean person who is just playing with him and his affection, I can see that much. You're ashamed of it too aren't you? I mean that's the only reason you're treating it like some big secret."

Axel set his pen down and leaned back in his chair, paying Demyx full attention now, "For a fool, I figured you'd know when to keep your mouth shut. I'm surprised the king hasn't killed you for the way you carry on."

"You're no king, that's why I'm not afraid of you," Demyx said, his voice trailing off as he remembered what he was here to do, "Axel what happened to Riku? I saw him in the OR and he's…he really doesn't look good at all."

"He was shot in the head," Axel told him bluntly, "Close range, standard caliber, clean in-out shot."

"But who did it to him?!" Demyx asked frantically, the sight of his cousin consuming his mind and eating away at him slowly.

Axel didn't answer right away, instead he seemed to think on it, "In exchange for this information, you'll keep your mouth shut about me and Roxas, agreed?" Demyx nodded quickly. He didn't care who or what Axel did, he just wanted to know who had hurt Riku.

There was a roar of noise which snapped Xigbar out of his thoughts. It was coming from the OR and consisted of various screams, shouts, and clashes. Medical staff rushed to see what the commotion was but Xigbar ordered them back, taking out his gun and heading for the door himself. In the seconds it took to get to the door all fell silent and Xigbar pressed an ear to the doors to see if he could figure out what happened inside. All was silent save for the vital monitor beeping rapidly. He kicked the doors open and looked around the room quickly, training his gun on the table in the center of the room where Riku was sitting up holding one of the nurses against him with his fangs deep in her neck. Xigbar looked over the four dead medics in the room, the apparent cause of death being lacerations to the throat. There was a scalpel still held tight in Riku's hand and Xigbar assumed that was the murder weapon in this situation. The room was an absolute mess with blood splatter from the lightning quick massacre and Xigbar watched the pained look in the nurses eyes slowly vanish along with any trace of life. Riku looked up at Xigbar, one eye covered by the bandages around his head, before releasing her.

"Lower your gun, I'd hate to embarrass you again," Riku said as he dropped the scalpel, removed the iv and vital monitors. Medical staff members were looking cautiously around the corner to see what had happened. A few screamed but others were too afraid to, and when Riku got off the table they rushed out of view.

Xigbar couldn't believe it, "You should be dead."

"Oh come on Xiggy, you know how difficult it is to kill me," he slurred with a grin. His shirt, vest, and jacket were on the stand by the door and he started to get dressed casually, "You tried it once remember?"

Xigbar casually put his gun against the side of Riku's head and said, "So pulling the trigger right now won't do anything?"

"No, you need to move a bit further to the right," Riku finished buttoning his shirt and took hold of Xigbar's gun, readjusting the angle for him, "There, that should do it, sever the stem."

Xigbar scoffed after a few seconds of contemplating what would happen, "Nah, not worth it."

"Smart move," was all Riku told him as he pulled on the vest and buttoned it up. He wiped the blood off his mouth, grabbed his jacket, and brushed past Xigbar on his way out of the OR. He passed several panicked staff members on his way out but nobody dared stop him after what they'd seen. Xigbar watched him leave and leaned against the doorframe with a bemused look.

"…You're a mess Riku."

"You have your one-eyed friend to thank."

Three months ago he left the brat to rot in the church, and if that evening had worked out the way he planned then he wouldn't be in this situation now, "Don't worry, I'll win in the end."

The sound of the door opening above made Sora sit up eagerly. He rushed to the prison bars and looked up in time to see Riku coming down the stairs, "You're okay!" there was no containing the relief and excitement in his voice. Riku looked a real mess though and Sora felt a horrible sense of unease at the sight of the blood on his shirt, "What's going on up there?"

"Axel's going to kill you."

The words landed like a block of ice in his stomach, this being the first time that truth had actually been said out loud. Stiffly Sora nodded, "I know."

"You're scared," Riku said in a very sure tone. He dragged the chair by the stairs over to the cell where Sora stood behind bars and sat down with a huff, "What were you thinking idiot?"

"Do you know what he had Roxas do?! He sent him in to seduce and kill Saix! My brother was almost killed because of that bastard!" Sora was furious that he'd been called an idiot for actions he wouldn't change if given the opportunity. He regretted the fact the bullet intended for Axel though had presumably killed his captain though, "You-you got in my way! You should have let me kill him!"

Riku let Sora yell and eventually after his temper seemed to ease he smiled, "Such an angry little dead man. Even if I hadn't been there to block that bullet and you had killed him, you'd have been killed on the spot. At least with me there you got hustled off to this cell instead of shot dead immediately."

Sora realized he was right. After Riku collapsed the chaos of the room was overwhelming and Axel's orders specifically related to him. So Riku bought him a few extra hours, big deal, he was still going to die, "…So you're okay?"

"More or less," he said, "I need a bit more work to be back to normal." What did 'work' and 'normal' mean Sora wondered. Judging from the blood on his shirt Sora could only assume what he meant, "You know…I wont have any use for my blood after today so you may as well drink your fill," the words came with great difficulty as Sora still struggled to accept the fact he was going to be executed soon.

There was a small look of intrigue though on Riku's face and for several minutes they just stayed where they were in silence. What was he thinking behind that twisted smile which had haunted him since last night when he found him and Demyx in the dinning hall? Riku remained seated and finally leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees, "You're really scared aren't you?" Sora didn't answer. Was this some kind of sick game to him? Like watching a moth struggling helplessly caught in a spider's web, there was no escape.

"I won't let him kill you."

Sora was shocked at first but finally forced a laugh, "You can't stop him again. Besides who said I wanted your help anyways? This is my mess."

Riku stood up and came closer to the bars, reaching through and pulling Sora against them. Sora thought once again of the moth struggling helplessly and slowly he heard his spider say, "It's not your choice."

Watching the sunrise upstairs from the private hospital bed he'd been in less than a week earlier was Roxas. He was lying on his back comfortably, the pain from the stitched stab wounds dulled by the heavy painkillers he'd been given. As the sunlight started to filter into the room through the curtains he sighed contentedly. Though last night hadn't gone as planned and he'd just gotten out of surgery a few hours ago, Roxas couldn't help but find a sense of comfort in the situation. He was so sure that Axel would be angry with the way his assassination failed, but was surprised when Axel visited him after the surgery. Like last time, he woke up with Axel sitting nearby reading a book. This time though Axel left after he woke up without so much as a word and Roxas, still exhausted, fell back to sleep. Roxas didn't mind, and the mere fact he'd signed off on another medical tab meant that Axel wasn't mad enough to let him die. He raised his hand to play with the collar on his neck, wondering how long he'd have to stay here. He felt fine but doubted that would be the case when his pain killers wore off.

"Ah you're awake."

Roxas looked over at the doorway where a nurse had come in. She didn't have a clipboard with her, instead she held a set of clothes. Roxas nodded and she came over to the side of the bed, setting the clothes on the chair that Axel had occupied earlier, "Mr. Tybalt himself asked me to give you these when you woke up."

Roxas carefully pushed himself up onto his elbows after she left. The clothes looked very old and they were clearly dirty. Confused by Axel's gift, Roxas picked up the letter on top of the stack. It was sealed shut and he fell back into bed as he tore it open. It was short and in Axel's handwriting.

You're fired.

Roxas read the two words over and over again. A sense of nausea was threatening to consume him and he covered his mouth with his free hand. Fired? What did he mean? The meaning behind the gift suddenly sunk in and Roxas looked over at the clothes folded neatly on the chair. He'd worn these the day he tried to mug Axel, it was the outfit he'd come to the Cerberus society in. He was fired. Relieved of any and all duties he'd held within the society. Relieved of everything, including debt… Finally he let out a horrible shout and crushed the letter in his hands. Nurses rushed in to calm him but Roxas was already out of bed and halfway to the door.

"Please sir calm down!"

They didn't know about his dismissal and he used his position of authority for the first time, "Out of my way all of you!" To his surprise they moved aside and without any hesitation he ran past them and out of the hospital wing. Fired? He'd been fired with no explanation and was expected to just disappear like all the other dogs who were dismissed? He wasn't like them! He wasn't just another dog, he had to mean more than that to Axel! After everything they'd been through, after all the sleepless nights and time spent together, he had to mean more than the other dogs and Roxas was finally willing to accept that.

The adrenaline rushing through him was weakening the painkillers but it wasn't bad enough to make him stop. In the elevator he slumped against the wall to try and calm his hasty breathing. The soft chime as each floor passed only made his heart beat faster though. What was he supposed to say? After what felt like an eternity the elevator doors opened and Roxas rushed to the doors of Axel's office. He knocked loudly on the wood but there was no noise from inside. Wondering if he was being ignored deliberately, Roxas opened the doors and entered the large office he was all too familiar with. It didn't take long to conclude that Axel wasn't there. Little did he know they'd missed each other by mere seconds on the first floor, Axel having departed the elevator moments before Roxas fled from the hospital wing. Now Axel was on his way down the stairs, beyond the training level and into the holding area. He descended the stairs casually with a handgun at his side. Most Cerberus prisoners were housed in a separate penitentiary on the island and only the ones dealt with on a higher level were locked in basement cells. Axel passed several cells where those imprisoned cursed his name and lunged at him through the bars, and then there were the prisoners who sat silent and didn't even look up at him almost as if to acknowledge their fate was sealed. He didn't pay them any mind though. Axel was there for one reason and he rounded the corner to the last cell in the basement his jaw dropped, "W-what do you think you're doing here?"

"Just thought I'd save you the trouble of killing him yourself." The lock on the door was broken and Riku sat on the prison cot with his legs crossed and one sleeve pushed up to reveal a fresh cut on his wrist. His hand was playing with the brown mess of hair atop Sora's head which rested limply in his lap. From where he stood Axel could clearly see the blood on Sora's throat and down his shirt and he lay stretched out on the cot completely motionless, "That's the punishment for assaulting another member of the Cerberus right?"

Axel knew better though, "You changed him."

"I killed him, just like you would have done," Riku said idly with a sinister sort of grin on his face.

"Is he…like you?" Axel asked hesitantly. Looking closely Axel could see the faint rise and fall of Sora's chest, a clear signal he was alive now.

Riku looked up to Axel with a bemused look, "No, but the technicalities would bore you. Put simply: he won't be any different from the Sora you were planning on killing anyway, but he's living on my terms now."

Axel didn't seem that mad though by the situation and instead crossed his arms, "A ghoul…Why are you bothering to protect him?"

Riku shrugged and didn't think too much on his answer, "What can I say? He's interesting to keep around, so I can't have you killing him."

"I see," Axel laughed in his throat briefly, "Riku you and your cousin should switch titles, fool…And what of the king? By now Zexion must have informed him about your whereabouts."

"Doubtful. Zexion will act on his own I'm sure so we don't need to worry about the king for a while. Odds are he'll aid your Lion enemies in winning this so-called 'war' and couple that gold star with the capture of me and Demyx," Riku told him confidently, "You can bet he'll make contact by this afternoon."

"Narcissistic little bastard isn't he? Runs in the family I suppose," Axel said.

"Don't worry, I'll handle him…besides you'll be needing all the help you can get to win this war," Riku told him. It was clear he planned on cooperating and that alone seemed to help Axel get over the fact Sora was escaping his punishment again. With nothing more to say, Axel turned to leave and Riku returned to ruffling Sora's hair. The unconscious lieutenant had been through a lot since last night and things would only get more difficult for him when he awoke.

For Axel though things didn't appear difficult at all. Granted the fiasco of last night was still looming overhead but the fact he wouldn't have to deal with hell or it's king for a while was good news. He hoped Riku was right in thinking Zexion would remain in the southern hemisphere with the Lions for if he wasn't then he'd have serious royal pains to face. The elevator doors opened up on the top floor and he stepped out into the hall. He reached for the doorknob to his office though he hesitated to open it. Odds were by now Roxas had read his letter and long gone, which meant his office would be quiet and vacant for the first time in months. No more questions about the way things were going in the world; no more sarcastic jabs at the way he ran the society; no more tired sighs through the mountains of paperwork; and no more spontaneous medical bills. It would be better this way, the way things should be. Reminding himself of that once more he opened his office doors and was surprised by what he was met with.

Roxas lunged forward and grabbed the sides of his face, stealing a kiss before Axel could do or say anything. He almost staggered back into the hall but that would mean risking being seen, and with that in mind he pushed Roxas back into the office and turned to push him back against the shut doors. It took several moments for him to realize his arms were wrapped around Roxas and one hand venturing up the back of his shirt over the bandages. He drew back from the kiss and released Roxas with a shove before walking away to his desk. Roxas remained slumped against the door, out of breath and looking flushed, "So that's it then? You're really firing me?" Axel didn't say anything and Roxas clenched his fists tightly as he raised his voice loudly, "Why? What have I done?! Was it because of what happened last night?! I did everything right! The gunshots from downstairs were too early though and he just…What about everything else huh? Axel…doesn't it mean anything to you?"

Axel hadn't reacted at all to any of this but Roxas certainly had been on an emotional rollercoaster. What Axel said next though reminded Roxas just who he'd been sharing a bed with, "A mindless fuck. That's all it was."

Axel told him the same thing the first morning after the relationship started months ago. Nothing had changed since then except what Roxas himself felt, "…You're lying," he mumbled, "You're lying Axel! Why are you pushing me away?" He rushed over and grabbed onto Axel's sleeve before he could reach his desk. Axel turned on him and Roxas saw his other hand raise, immediately bracing himself and shutting his eyes. Axel didn't strike him though. He'd frozen with his hand drawn back and could only stare. Roxas stood with eyes shut tight, his body ready for the blow, and a fresh bruise already on his cheek. Why wasn't he putting up a fight? Why was he just letting Axel treat him like this? When Roxas opened his eyes to see why Axel hadn't hit him though Axel tugged his arm out of his grip and turned back to his desk, "What do you want?" Roxas didn't understand what he meant but Axel just went on, "Money? Property? What will it take to get rid of you?"

"Axel…" Roxas said slowly. Axel didn't even look back at him though and hesitantly Roxas took hold of his arm, "Why do you want to get rid of me?"

Axel didn't reply.

The silence which filled the room was making Roxas feel worse and with one hand still holding onto Axel he mumbled out something unusual, "I don't want to go…" If given the opportunity to leave the society debt free a year ago, or even a few months ago, Roxas wouldn't have thought twice about his answer. Things had changed though and he knew there was only one thing he wanted, "I'll go back to being a soldier if you want, just…just let me stay here."

Abruptly Axel pulled his arm free though and slammed his fist down on the desk. Roxas took a step back when it was clear he was mad. "Don't you get it? I can't have this! I can't have someone like you around me anymore! You're a distraction and if word ever got out-"

"I see," Roxas scoffed, cutting Axel short, "You're worried about your reputation."

"Ofcourse god damn it Roxas, reputation is everything in this world," Axel nearly shouted.

Roxas looked away from him in utter disgust, "Well forgive me for being such a disgrace, but you certainly seemed to be enjoying it all – almost happy even – but I should've known better than to think someone like you could feel anything."

"Don't you start that," Axel seized Roxas by the shoulders and jerked him around to face him, "You should be thanking me! I'm releasing you of all your debts!"

"Oh yes, thank you for saving me when I didn't even want to be saved! If you'd just let me die-"

Axel hoisted him up off the ground by the front of his shirt easily, Roxas' feet a foot above the ground and eye-to-eye with him, "Yeah, and let you haunt me forever?"

"No! That would require you to care Axel, something I know you're incapable of!" Roxas shouted as loudly as he could and he didn't know who heard. He didn't care what happened to him now. Surprisingly Axel fell silent for a moment and for the first time Roxas was the one glaring him through, "You know nothing…" Axel said. Roxas' anger didn't falter and Axel let go of him, landing a bit shakily on his feet but not budging. "Idiot," was all Axel had to say and it was Roxas' turn to fall silent. Axel took advantage of his silence, stepping to him and wrapping his arms carefully around his injured body. Horrible goose bumps spread up Roxas' body and at first he considered pushing Axel away. Nothing was making sense. He cared…he hadn't openly admitted it, but it was plain as day that he cared, "…Don't make me leave."

"You need to," Axel insisted.

"No!" Roxas raised his voice and grabbed onto Axel's jacket tightly, "You're the real idiot if you think you're the only one who cares here Axel!" Before it could escalate into another argument the pair both found better use of their effort, meeting halfway for what Roxas could only call a genuine kiss. Careful of the wounds on his stomach, Axel pushed Roxas back against the desk and Roxas scooted himself onto the surface all while holding tight to the kiss. He could hear some papers crinkling and the sound of something metallic getting knocked over in the move but paid it little to no attention. It felt so indescribable, the new and unbridled passion Axel was showing only for him. Wandering hands and busy tongues froze at the sound of a knock at the door.

Axel looked over his shoulder and Roxas reached up to his cheek to try and turn his attention away, "Ignore it," he whispered in a barely audible voice. They both knew he couldn't do that though and Axel took hold of his hand and kissed it, "Go lie down, I'll be there as soon as I can," he told him quietly. He leaned in for one more kiss before there came another knock at the door and he had to tear himself away. Roxas slid off the desk and hurried through the other doors leading to the bedroom, looking back as Axel recomposed himself at his desk. He wasn't sure what was going on, he didn't know how long it would last either, all he knew was something was different about Axel and about their relationship. As soon as the bedroom doors were shut Axel said, "Come in."

The doors leading to the hall opened and in stepped a tired looking Luxord, "Mail. One marked as urgent." Axel seemed a bit annoyed that he'd been interrupted for mail but couldn't exactly voice his annoyance since Luxord didn't know what he'd interrupted. He dropped the letters on Axel's desk and looked around the office idly, "Xigbar tells me your vampire friend is up and about again."

Axel knew why Luxord was making small talk: he was waiting for Axel to open the urgent letter and share the information with him. Axel picked up the plain envelope, labeled only with his name and no return or send address. He found that highly unusual and flipped over the letter only to see why Luxord dubbed it as urgent. There was a black wax seal marked with an H he recognized. Hastily he tore open the letter and his eyes ran over the contents, slumping back in his chair as the news came to him, "…The king is dead."

Off to bed now. As a quick update on my part: I'm working two jobs full time and my summer is pretty much non-existent at this point. I'm exhausted and have no time to write so please excuse the gaps between updates. Thank you all for reading though and I'd very much like to hear what you thought of this chapter since it helps me write. Wishing you all the best in all the world.

~Your loving bohemian, Mad-TopHat-Ter