Who Do You Think You're Fooling
Chapter 13
It would be two days till Axel would be out of the hospital. It would be another week till Marluxia finally broke out of a his traumatized state. It would be another month till our nine weeks exams started.
Axel texted us saying that he was not to be worried about when he was away and that we were to carry on as if he didn't exist. The nerve, the guy acted like he ruled every thing. He would make a good Shinra advisor. On second thought, no. That would be a terrible idea. Guy is sitting in the hospital with low blood sugar because he doesn't eat and has the nerve to tell us not to worry. My friends were making me worry... not to mention how lucky I was not to be beaten for coming home late. My Father was at work and didn't even know I was out.
Marluxia would barely even reply to my messages let alone not at all to Demyx after he told us that Roxas knew he couldn't harm Axel. Yeah, because that's definitely what it looked like yesterday. I couldn't put my finger on it, but sometimes it felt like Marluxia would hid things from us. Luckily Larxene was around now a days to coach him out of it. He would blank in and out during school and when we would ask he said it was nothing. Marluxia was very protective of Axel's well being after his own Junior year. They both were like brothers after last year. I will never understand how Marluxia puts up with him these days, especially after what happened between the two.
Nine weeks exams were approaching rapidly and none of us had time to miss school. Larxene was too busy protecting all of us from leaping at people's throats to study. Axel was hospitalized and that lead to Demyx, Marluxia, Roxas, Larxene and I to see him after school and bring him his homework. Marluxia was too busy working about protecting our newest addition of the family from being discovered because he had to open his mouth to Reno and Rude. Demyx and Roxas would work on their homework with me in the hospital when we visited Axel. Above all else, I was behind in my books for the Book Club now.
Larxene had run ins with Seifer's gang buddies but the weird thing was, Seifer himself never appeared at school the next two days. Axel just laughed and scoffed at his childish behavior and playing around by saying he was was afraid of Roxas. Larxene would stop a few fights from erupting between them, Demyx and Marluxia. They would constantly think we did something to him and would refuse to believe our story about him and his gang, we didn't have real proof anyway.
Reno and Rude would toil away the next few days talking with sources to make sure Roxas' family had protection. Axel told me that Roxas had to be safe and nothing mattered other than that. He refused to understand the fact that he was the one needing to be protected. We still weren't quite sure if we had figured out what the black coat robed goons were after.
After school Monday we came up to the hospital to give Axel his homework. He was sleeping and refused to wake up till Demyx pressed on his bruise.
The internal bleeding wasn't too bad at the time and quickly formed into a giant black bruise. It looked painful though. Axel kept steering us off the subject by asking questions about us and being his usual funny closings self.
Needless to say he would toss and turn in his sleep. That was one thing I always wondered. Axel never told us his dreams but on several occasions, Demyx would text me in the middle of the night. Friday night he texted me about Axel staying over at his place and he was tossing and turning mumbling something about violence of the sort. I had to assume it was always nightmares about his past.
Axel had so much violence in his life, he lost his real set of parents in kindergarten... or so Demyx tells me. Axel says he could never remember his real parents and maybe that was for the best. He lost his first adoptive parents in third grade. Demyx met Axel in the second grade when he was in third grade and they stuck it out. Axel was so screwed up then, Tillbut it got worse. Axel was only In fifth grade when he screwed up with alcohol. The second set was in eighth grade... I remember that struggle as I just met the two when Demyx and I were in seventh grade. Nothing we did could stop him from smoking too! We managed to get him to quit, but he fell even lower while with his boyfriend at the time. Nothing compared to last year though. He lost his third set just after messing with Marluxia's problems. We met Marluxia when I was in eighth grade with Dem. Marluxia wasn't such a great friend or person then. He was always angry. We were hoping Reno and Rude wouldn't flip out on him, or him on us.
"Hey!" Axel yelled at Demyx, Monday night. "That's my pudding you butt head!" Reno and Rude would check his trash after he ate to make sure he was eating... if he wasn't, well they forced him to eat it out of the waste bin. I for one thought that was hilarious.
"Oh yeah!" Demyx said looking at his plate. "Thought I'd help clear your plate for ya." He said with a toothy grin.
I simply rolled my eyes and glanced over at a corner. Sitting there was Roxas with his homework, he had barely touched anything that Reno and Rude brought up for him. Axel's parents bought us food Monday night so we could stay and eat with Axel.
Larxene noticed my stare and looked over at Roxas. She was sitting beside him, they both were working on their homework. "Hey Roxas, food isn't going to eat itself." She laughed at her joke. She had already shoveled her food.
"Not hungry." He plainly mentioned.
Larxene turned sour and slammed her book shut. "Eat, now!"
Roxas turned to her and glared at her. "What the hell!?" Marluxia who was resting in a stool next to Axel took notice of this and stood up. He casually walked over to Larxene and helped her up.
"Now now, calm down." He teased. He randomly started to dance with her like there was waltzing music playing. Axel and Demyx, who where working on their science homework on his bed as they ate, started to laugh hysterically. Even Roxas smiled. After flushing quickly she shoved him down in the chair she was sitting in and walked out of the room with her stuff. "Wait!" He shouted after her. Before he left he cursed at himself.
Demyx was struggling again with the pudding cup, he finally got the top open. "Hey!" I stood up and snatched the cup from Demyx and plopped it down on Axel's tray. I turned back to my boyfriend who looked with puppy eyes. "Enough of that, Axel needs to eat his own food." I turned to Axel now, who looked questioningly at the cup. "Eat, before you loose sugar!"
"Aw..." They both said at the same time.
"And he needs to do his own homework too!" I started to tug on my boyfriend's sleeve. "Come on, I'll buy you another cup." I suggested with a wanting smile.
"Awesome!" Demyx replied happily and jumped off the bed without force.
"Now what a minute!" Axel said as we walked out. We looked at the window and watched as Axel looked around the room and noticed he was alone with Roxas. He quickly looked back and gave us the finger.
Demyx gave one in return and I quickly shoved him down the hall. "Focus." I said with a teasing tone.
"He's going to have some fun." Demyx teased.
"Are you planning something I don't know about?" I raised an eyebrow and looked at him with the concern of a parent to their son. We held hands as we walked down the long hallway. Hospitals always reminded me of comfort and help. They were always white inside, which helped the feeling.
He stopped and looked at me. I kept walking till my arm length wouldn't let me go any further. I looked back and he had hold of my wrist. "Been a while since we've been alone." He said dragging me to the nearby wall in the corridor.
"That's not what I meant!" I whispered. I laughed a little awkwardly as he smirked. My back was against the wall. He had my wrist pinned to the wall above me and casually shifted his knee in between my thighs. "Ah..." I moaned.
"How are you Zexy?" He teased in my ear.
"N... No!" My left hand started to push against his chest. Either he was too stubborn or just too strong for me. I was nothing but bones basically. Sadly I took my Mother's fragile side. I gave up after a few tries. I loved the attention, but something lingered in the back of my mind. "Someone will see us!" I cried out.
He kissed me and his tongue did its work. He would shift his knee up more and more and I would moan more and more into it. He let go so we could breath. "No one would care."
That was the reason! "My Father would." In fact he would kill him if he figured out I was doing this with him.
"Screw him." Demyx said frustrated and started to kiss me again. I knew how much he hated my Father, all my friends did. I couldn't help but hate him too, I didn't want to though.
I snapped and shoved him hard off of me and I fell onto my knees hugging myself and shaking. "I'm sorry. I just... No... I can't... It's not you... please... I... not yet..." I stuttered. Nothing would come out, Demyx would hate me. It was like this for a year now, he would try and I would always fail him. My Father scared me when it came to this stuff... He never liked any of my friends. He threatened me if I disobeyed him and told me that they were only using me for my smarts. I would even believe him sometimes, but I would be corrected whenever I saw them next time.
"I know." He took a few steps closer to me and I stopped shaking. How is it that those words calmed me. "That's why I'll wait as long as it takes." Isn't he suppose to yell at me, or hit me. Isn't that how it worked.
My eyes shot open and I looked up to him standing above me. "What?" I whispered.
He laughed. "Come now Zexy, I'm not going to lose you to someone as fearsome as your dad or anyone else for that matter." He cocked his head and smiled sadly.
I simply shook my head. "He would kill me if he knew." I wanted to cry, but some how having Demy there, I couldn't. "Or worse." I started to shake all over again. I started to think of how Axel's parents treated him when he didn't follow instructions.
He put a hand in front of my face. It was a hand that helped pick me off the ground so many times. I was reluctant to grab it. "I know. That's why he would have to kill me first. I couldn't let anything or anyone hurt you, so I would stand up to him if he even tried."
I blinked at him in disbelief. He really truly loved me, and I trusted him with all my heart. I took his hand and he pulled me up and into a hug. My hands rested on his chest. I cried silently.
He leaned next to my ear and continued his melody. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have rushed you again."
"No, I'm sorry." I hated how I could never meet his standards. I could never really be his as he was mine.
He hugged me tighter. "You never have to apologize to anyone! You hear me?"
I nodded my head under his chin. All of a sudden a pattern of footsteps walked through the halls. A nurse rounded the corner and Demyx wouldn't let go of our hug. I would apply force, but he didn't budge an inch.
The nurse walked by and swooned. "You two are so cute." We just looked at her and she winked at us. When she rounded the other corner we looked at each other and chuckled.
"I love you." Demyx smiled his childish grin. I returned his love and held his hand as we walked down the hallway towards the elevator. He handed me a tissue from his tissue packet he swiped from the hospital work counter on our floor.
We road down the faster transportation and wound up on the first floor at the cafeteria. It was rounding ten o'clock and we had to be out of there by twelve. No one was around. We were going to turn a hallway when we heard a loud male voice come down another hall.
"Larx! I don't care!"
Demyx looked to me. "Is that Marluxia?" He asked. I shrugged in response. We turned towards the direction and before we rounded the corner we heard Larxene talk and stopped.
"Honey, he has to know you don't mean it. Axel and the others know that it wasn't you who put him here." Came a familiar feminine voice. I tugged on Demyx's arm toward the other direction but he didn't come.
"No!" Marluxia yelled. "I DID IT!" He shouted louder.
Demyx started to walk more and I pulled him back. I whispered to him. "No, we can't be seen." I though of an excuse that Demyx would see reason to. "He could get angry again."
"Larxene I did it... it's my fault... He wouldn't be here if I didn't loose it that night..." We heard a slump and I assumed he fell to the ground as he started to cry. "I'm losing it again Larxy... I can't be around you guys anymore... My Grandpa was right... I'm just like my father, I can't. I'm not fit to help anyone..." He broke out.
Demyx was holding my hand tighter. I knew it was hard for him to watch his cousin be in tears around him, but he had only opened up to Larxene. She seemed to think otherwise though.
Smack!
Larxene had smacked Marluxia and was now very stern as she must have been getting agitated. "Focus!"
He stopped stumbling over his words instantly. "I need to know if he is alright. He hasn't forgave me for it, he said he never would. I feel like shit, I've hurt a friend and I can never take it back. He was on the verge of committing suicide, Larxene!"
"What are you talking about?" Larxene said confidently. "It's not you. You aren't the one responsible for him being so screwed in the head." As much as she was a friend to us, she could really be mean to Axel. She always had been like that to him after realizing she didn't like Marluxia because he was Axel's friend. After the incident with the two though, she changed her opinion quickly and befriend Marluxia.
He was silent after that. "It is..."
"No, Marly! Axel has told me that he's to blame. He can't forgive himself for creating that event. He provoked you. That's why he won't forgive you."
Marluxia scoffed and laughed darkly. "He's lied to everyone! He was stopping me from injecting a second does of heroin that night... I... I got angry and..." He coughed. His voice sounded strained and tired.
Demyx and I stood up, we agreed to leave. Before we could even turn around though, we were stopped by the mentions of our names.
"Demyx and Zexion... Roxas too... don't tell them. But you have to know... Axel... I..." He sniffed again and coughed. "It was me that night... I took advantage of him... I raped him! He didn't take advantage of me, he only stood there and took the beatings."
Demyx shot his head around and I stared wide eyed down the hallway. No way... He wouldn't, we knew he was heightened from morphine and heroine but... He would never. He's like a brother to him, could it be... maybe that's why they were so close though.
"Well," Larxene sighed, "everything adds up now. Doesn't it?" There was a long moment of silence. "I'm not going to tell, it's your truth to tell. Thank you for telling me though, I'm glad you did."
"I don't want you to hate him more, he's done nothing wrong. You love hated me for the right reasons, I understand if-"
"I still love you though, doesn't matter who you've screwed or who screwed you." Larxene interrupted.
Demyx couldn't stand it any longer. We've basically picked me up as we flew down the hallway. We were in the cafeteria now, breathing heavily. Demyx was shaking his head. "No... not my cousin."
"Calm down Demyx-"
He shook his head vigorously. "Axel was messed up because of my cousin!? Both of them! I've been angry at the wrong person, I yelled at Axel!"
"We all did, Demyx. Calm-" I tried to say again.
"Calm down! My cousin has lied to me for the past year! Axel too!" He turned to me. "You don't lie to people about that shit, Zex!"
We were in line now and weren't even paying attention to the food. "I know, but we have to keep our heads. We're not suppose to know!" I said trying to drive the thought deep into his head. He was silent, which scared me. He was never silent. "Demy?"
"You're right." He grabbed a pudding cup. "You're right... We act like nothing happened." He shook his head and laughed."No wonder he's so distracted this year." He looked forward as he was spacing out again.
"Demyx." I said concerned again.
"Man... this is why we don't eavesdrop. You're suppose to be the brains part of me Zexy!" He teased, shoving me a little.
I pulled out two munny and laid it on the counter. "Keep the change." I said to the clerk. He smiled and nodded. We walked back up to the room. In the elevator we both held hands again and Demyx leaned his head on my shoulder.
When we got back to the room, Roxas was gone and Axel was asleep. There was a note left on his covers.
"Whoever Finds This,
I'll see you guys tomorrow. Mom and Dad called and wanted me home so I left. Make sure this guy doesn't keel over in his sleep, k? ;)
Roxas -"
We both looked at Axel, he was sleeping soundly. He also had the biggest smile on his face. He looked different from his usual sleeping state. He wasn't angry, depressed, sad, or distraught. He didn't mumble viciously either. The next day was going to be good.
I woke up the next morning and got dressed. I walked into the kitchen which wasn't big but not small either.
My house was in the second district and I lived alone with my Father. He was a jerk to my friends so I didn't mention them much at home. He would come home drunk or furious because of people at work. He wasn't angry drunk though, he was just spacy. I was ignored completely by him and it hurt emotionally from time to time.
My house was blue and I had a lavender style room. Classical music could usually be heard from my room. Occasionally I would play Dem's CDs and my Father would come in and yell at me about it. So I listened to them when he wasn't around. He worked late nights most days and I would read books or hang out in the living room when he did. We only had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room. It was like Marluxia's, but missing a spare bedroom and dining room that connected to the living room.
This morning was different though, my Father wasn't at work. When I entered the kitchen for breakfast, he was fixing coffee. I stopped dead in my tracks with my dark purple backpack on my back with a book in my hand. I was behind and needed to catch up about three chapters. Marluxia was going to be here soon and I wanted out of there now.
I started to walk backward from the kitchen, hoping he hadn't noticed me.
He had. "Morning, Son." That's all he ever called me... He stopped calling me by my real name when my Mom died. "Headed out?"
I bowed a little, showing respect and answered. I was actually a little shocked that he acknowledged my existence this morning. "Yes Father, I have school. It's Tuesday."
"I know damn well what day it is." He said taking a sip of his coffee. "I don't have work tonight so me and you are going to your mother's grave later." Oh that explains it. Yeah, that all he ever did with me. Guess it was to remind me that it was my fault Mom died.
"I apologize for disrespecting you Father, but you did say I could hang out with my friends tonight."
He glared at me. "Well, if you're too good of a snobby bastard than to visit your dead mother then fine."
I stared at the ground in shock and hurt. Why would he say that? I understand I was being selfish, but he didn't ever ask me how I was or what I had been up to ever. He walked past me, again ignoring me as tears started to brim my eyes.
"Just get your shity breakfast and get the hell out of my house." He sat down on the couch and opened his newspaper.
I wasn't hungry anymore, I actually felt like throwing up now. I walked into the living room and thought about Demyx. My lungs started to compress and I reached for the wall as I felt a bit dizzy. He would try to make conversation with his parents if they did this. After calming down I though I would try to get my father to talk to me again. He may have been an ass, but it was nice to know he was seeing me. "How was work yesterday, Father?"
"Sucked." He closed his newspaper and looked up at me with a glare. I smiled a little at at least getting an answer. He scoffed though. "If you really must know, I'd rather say I wished your friend's parents would fail at one job so that I can get out of the office."
I nodded and turned around, my small smile disappearing. I was so sick of him. "Why did I bother asking?" I breathed loudly as I just realized what I had said out loud. I had just place my hand on the door too.
"Excuse me?" He asked loudly and matter of factly.
I turned around, feed up with the crap. It was time I started being brave like Demyx and my friends. "I said why did I bother asking? You never ask how my day goes! Did you even know I had a friend in the hospital right now?!"
"Mr. Rosch, get your ass over here right now."
I had my hand on the doorknob. Walk out or go over to him. I was in trouble either way. I sighed and was glad to have let go of some anger. I walked over to him. He was a few heads taller than me, I got my shortness from my mother. My hair color was definitely from him though. We stared each other down.
"You will never talk that way to me again, do you hear me?" He said coldly. I nodded and stepped backward. "Did I tell you to go?" I shook my head. "You will visit your mother's grave tonight after you're done with your pathetic friends. Do you hear me?" I nodded. He sat back down and continued to his paper. "Go." He said finally.
I left out the door. Marluxia and Larxene were waiting for me from the car a few streets down. They were nice enough to park there so I wouldn't get into trouble with my Father. I jumped in the backseat. Usually Demyx will be with us, but I remembered, Axel was in the hospital and he walked with Roxas to school now.
"Morning guys!" I shouted as I hopped in. I buckled my seat belt and received a terrific from Larxene. "How did you guys sleep?"
Marluxia started to drive and I placed my bag on the floor of the van. "Okay, slept a bit more than I would like." Marluxia laughed.
Larxene turned to face me. "He slept passed his alarm." She chuckled.
"Actually my Ma'am has off today so she was able to get me up a few minutes past, so I'm actually in a good mood."
"Another nightmare?" I asked carefully.
He looked at me through his rearview mirror. "Um... Yeah. Do me a favor today and be careful." He smiled to reassure me.
I nodded. "So, Lightening had off too huh?"
"Too?" Larxene asked.
"Yeah, Father's off today too!"
Marluxia looked confused and Larxene questioned that with her eyes. Marluxia answered. "Shinra must be giving everyone the day off for their power down and restart."
Suddenly my stomach growled. "Shh..." I said grabbing my stomach.
Larxene smiled. "Did you eat?"
I waved her off and tried to copy Demyx's sheepish grin. I failed. "Yeah, I had-"
"You're a terrible liar! Don't lie to me!" She glared as she leaned over the dashboard. She unzipped her bag and pulled out a banana. "Here," She said, "tide yourself over with this." She tossed the banana back and I caught it.
I ate it while saying thank you over and over. Marluxia was eyeing me. "You've got black under your eyes."
I looked at him. "What?" I breathed. I check to make sure nothing got there overnight. Nothing. Well then, shoot! I need more sleep. "Yeah, haven't been sleeping all too much." I made an excuse as I glanced at Larxene. She was looking at me so I went for it. "Been catching up on my books."
The rest of the ride was over and we were in the parking lot. Axel gave Marluxia his spot so we could park with Marluxia's car. Demyx waved to us from the sidewalk.
"Hey guys!"
"Hey cuz!" Marluxia shouted.
We started to walk over. Demyx gave me a giant hug when he could reach us and I gave one back. "Where's Roxas?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Was invited to hang out with some of his friends. Can't stop him." He said good morning to Marly and Larx and then we sat down in the cafeteria, ready for school to begin. I was sitting next to Demyx and resting my head on his shoulder as Larxene and Marluxia were talking across the table.
My stomach growled again and I lifted my head off of my lover. "Shut up!" I sighed to myself. This was ridiculous. I ate plenty at lunch and dinner. Why was I so hungry in the mornings.
"Didn't eat?" Demyx asked.
"Yeah I did. Had a banana from Larxene." I saw his 'are you kiding me' face. "It's alright, I'll be good."
He squinted his eyes and leaned in to my face. After a few seconds of looking into his eyes he got up and went to the breakfast line.
I put my head in my hands and wished for him not to go and do what he was about to do. Sadly this wish didn't come true, but I couldn't complain.
He sat back down and pushed a strawberry milk and french toast into my elbow that was on the table. I look down at it then back at him. "Eat." Was all he said.
So I began eating. He then grabbed my chin and turned my face to him. He looked at my eyes. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"What!?" I pointed my head downwards and pouted. "Is it that obvious!?" I asked myself.
He laughed sadly. I looked back up to see his childish grin again, but added with sad eyes. "I can read you like a book." I laughed at this. As the saying goes, you are what you do.
"Father wants me to go to my mother's grave after I hang out with you guys." I said looking at my milk.
His face dropped into a frown. "I'll go with you."
"Thank you." I really did hate going alone.
I finished eating and the bell rang. Demyx walked me to my first class of the day; World History. Nobody I really talk to in there. Of course I was top of my class in all my classes so that always made me a loner. I was only called on by others to help them out, they always thanked me though.
I met up with Demyx afterwards to go to English II. This was truly his worse subject so I'm glad I was always there to help him. The bell rang after that and Demyx walked me to my next class.
Don't get me wrong I loved Chemistry. I love to solve reactions, although... I hated the people who lied about their liking of it. Seifer was one of them. Surprisingly enough he was here today. Crap, I heard that Roxas had first period and gym with him. I hope he's okay.
As we approached the door Seifer came around the corner and took notice of us together. Of course Mr. Sid would be at her desk right now. "Hey, gays."
Demyx just rolled his eyes. He let go of my hand though and walked me inside my class so the teacher would be near me. He gave me a wink and scribbled 'I love you' on a piece of random paper on my desk. I whispered 'I love you' in his ear after looking to make sure Seifer wasn't around and still outside.
Seifer walked past Demyx as he left and I heard my boyfriend say something before leaving the room. "Touch one hair on his head and you'll pay for it."
"I'll keep that in mind." He mocked back. He sat on the opposite side of the room and winked at me. I quickly looked away and focused on my warm up.
By the look of Roxas, he was fine. He was in a corner with Pence, Selphie and Olette Tilmitt, and Hayner working on their work. Would have been nice if he invited me over with his group but it was cool.
When the bell rang I packed up my things and waited for Demyx. Usually he would walk me to the library but he was running a bit later than usual. I started to look around.
"Where's your buddy, birdy." I stiffened as a voice came behind me. Mr. Sid had went away on an errand so he wasn't around to stop him if he did something. I simply ignored him and continued to wait for my knight.
"He's not coming, emo." Would you just be quiet for once. He was standing in front of me and I turned to my right looking down the hallway. Not only did I feel insulted but nervous. He didn't scare me, not yet anyway.
"Hey," he stepped in front of me again and smirked, "don't ignore me, hear?"
I simply took a look at my watch. He was a minute late now and I put a piece together with another. I looked back at Seifer cautiously. "What did you do?"
"Finally getting smart, are we?" He placed a hand on my shoulder and pulled himself behind me causing my books to fall out of my hands. "He's fine, just rushing to you right now, actually. Made sure he looked pretty ugly for your all's next date together." I pushed away from him and sighed as I went to the ground to pick up my books.
"He has a bad temper. I'd be careful of what I'd do if I were you." I warned him, not sounding mean or hurtful. Just a causal warning.
He put his chin on my shoulder and my eyes widened. I couldn't move as he placed a hand on my back. He was acting gay for someone straight. Now I remember how Axel turned out after his run in with Seifer two weeks in a row. Now I was scared. Where the hell was Dem! "You better watch your own skin next time," he whispered in my ear, "because lover won't be around to protect you anymore."
I spun on the spot with furry and stood up. He was shocked at my sudden display. I was towering over him with the ugliest glare I could forge. "You touch him, and you'll see just how much pain you can feel." I had never lost my temper like this unless Demyx was threatened. I hated the fact that I couldn't do much but through useless threats. He smirked, seeing through my act.
He stood up and neared my face and I took a couple steps back. I ran out of room when my back hit the wall. This isn't good. He was walking closer. When his face was inches from mine he spat back. "Try me!" He laughed after seeing my scared face. "You're pathetic and useless. Demyx found himself a real wuss. The most you could do was hit the floor I was standing on when you protect him or you." He raised a fist and I flinched.
"Zexion!" My eyes widened.
Seifer grabbed my collar and lifted me a little off the ground. "Threaten me again, and he won't be around much longer."
Seifer scoffed and backed up after jolting me towards the wall. When Demyx came around the corner he started running in the other direction. "I'm sorry... I'm late!" He paused when he saw Seifer's flailing coat behind him. "Was that-"
"Are you okay?" Was all I could say. His left eye was a bit swollen.
"Yeah it's nothing." He scoffed.
Nobody was down this hallway, they were most likely down main street. We had fifteen minutes for each passing period.
I placed my finger tips on the red puffy skin around him. I couldn't protect him, all I could do was depend on him everywhere I went. He was getting hurt because of me!
"I'm sorry." I sighed.
He glared at me and started his speech. "What did I tell you yesterday? You don't- Zexion?" He noticed that I was backing up against the wall. He could easily see that this wasn't like me. I wouldn't have apologized either. He glared and clenched his hands into balls. "Tell me what he said, because what ever it was it wasn't true!"
"It is Demyx!" I yelled at him. I started to walk away towards the library for Library Aid. He walked behind me and tried to get me to look at him.
"What is it?" Demyx kept saying.
I walked faster to get away but he kept following. He grabbed my arm once and I ripped it out of his clutch. He really wouldn't lose me. He had to though, it was the only way to protect him. "Demyx!" I said. "Leave me alone, please. You'll just get hurt again."
I was running and not watching where I was going. Darn it all he wasn't even more athletic than I was. He ran right in front of me and braced for an impact. I slammed into him but we didn't fall over. He was bracing one arm on a wall. I would have ran right into that wall too. Again!? He was getting hurt for me!
"Don't leave me in the dark, Zexion! Please, tell me! What did I do?" I was breathing heavily. He was hugging me and continued to talk. "Please," I felt a tear drop on my cheek and looked up. He was crying with his eyes closed and asking me, no begging me to open up. He continued, "I want to help you. You're in pain. Please, I want to make it go away. I don't care if somebody said something to turn you against me, just tell me!"
I started to break into heavy tears. "I can't protect you." I caved. His tears always made me open up.
I felt his breathing cut short. "What?" He slowly moved me off him so I could see him better.
I repeated louder and a bit more angry. "All I do is cause you pain, I can't protect you from them!"
We just stared at each other for a few seconds. He started to laugh kindly. "You protect my feelings and mind, that's all I need." He plainly said. He was whipping tears off my cheeks. "You protect me more than you know."
I stared straight at him. How could he take all that away, all the pain and anger. I wanted him to be upset with me, to understand. He understood in a different way. His way.
We hugged it out and he gave me a quick peck on the cheek. He carried my stuff to the library and I gave him a hug before he turned around at the doors.
Hayner met me inside and gave me a questioning look. "Why are you so late?! You only have two minutes left!" Was that all, it felt like a lifetime with him. I hope Demyx wasn't going to be late.
I simply turned to Hayner. "Your brother, is the reason why I'm late!" I whispered.
He simply laughed and replied. "That's why our Mom divorced our Dad." He laughed some more. I for one didn't think it was funny, but I smiled. At least his half brother was nice. I bet his mother was an angel. Mom...
I met my friends at lunch and met Roxas outside the Library. The office and it were right across from each other. He looked tired. That's right, Axel wasn't here to help him.
"Hey Roxas!" I called to him. "Picking up the slack?" He looked up and searched around. I waved my hand so he would see across the river of people. He made his way over to me.
"Hey Zex!" He sighed. "Remind me to kill Axel for leaving me all the work." We laughed and Demyx met up with us shortly after.
"Man we are going to have so much fun tonight!" Demyx shouted. His eye was a little closed and looked a bit less swollen and more red. Roxas questioned it and Demyx just waved it off again.
When we got to Larxene and Marluxia, Roxas was dragged away by Sora and Riku. Marluxia made a weary look at Demyx and Demyx explained that he got into a little fight. I questioned that but then noticed Roxas laughing with Riku and Sora. I turned to Larxene. "Um... isn't that Rufus Shinra's son?"
"Relaxe." Larxene played with his Marluxia's hair. "Riku has no clue about the Strife story. He was much to young, besides he rarely sees his father."
"Actually he hates his father!" Demyx shouted. Marluxia, Larxene and I just stared at him. "His brother too! They both told me before. They live alone with their mother too."
Marluxia breathed a sigh of relief. Larxene shrugged and went back to eating. I put the thought to the side and ate. I hoped for a minute Axel was eating too.
When the bell rang Marluxia told Roxas to meet us near his van after school. He kept insisting he pay for the meal even though Axel told all of us that if he suggests it one more time we were aloud to leave him behind. He really hated having people pay for things too.
Demyx walked me to his dad's class and he said bye to Roxas as well as me. Snow noticed his son's eye quickly and demanded to know who was the culprit. He told him it was Marchie. I was afraid of that, Demyx had third period with him too. That's why he was late. I started to remember my father and Seifer's words.
"I'll take care of it. Was it just him or his buds too?" Demyx looked at me and I shook my head. Snow gave me a questioning look and I shook my head. He shrugged and gave Demyx a small man one arm hug. He left while waving bye to me and his father. It was still six minutes before the bell rang.
"I'm going to the bathroom real quick." Roxas told me. I decided to steal Axel's chair for the day. I didn't want to sit alone right now.
When Roxas left Snow walked up to my desk. Nobody was inside the room yet, no one cared to show up early but me and now Roxas. They waited till the bell rang. He pulled Roxas' chair out and sat in it backwards.
"You okay?" He said, pondering my facial expression. "No sleep?" He looked some more. "You're nervous about something too?"
Did I really look all that bad? Strangely enough I always felt comfortable talking with Demyx's parents too, the were what he was after all. They could too, read me like a book. I shook my head. I felt terrible.
"Need the restroom after class starts?" He asked kindly.
"No..." He smiled weakly. "Mr. Villiers, can I ask you a question?" His eyes widened.
He laughed. "That is one," I rolled my eyes, "but go ahead, Mr. Rosch."
I flinched when he said that and looked down at the ground. "Woah." He said in surprise. "Hey, I'm sorry Zexion. You okay?" I lost train of all thought.
Then it hit me. I looked up quickly and I had a tear fall. "Why can't I bring my Mom back?!" I started to cry a little bit more. His eyes were wide with concern. Dem's father treated me more like a father than mine ever would. "If she was back my Father wouldn't treat me like it was my fault she died. He wouldn't treat me like I was dirt under his foot!" I put my head in my hands and Snow just placed a hand on my shoulder. "I wouldn't be weak like I am, and I would be able to protect Demyx like he does me!"
I was crying too hard now to stop. I would hope he would tell me what I needed to hear. It was my fault, she died giving birth to me. She couldn't live through childbirth with her failing heart and yet she did it any way.
Snow stood up and knelt down near my chair. He shook his head and I looked up a little after calming down. "You are special, Zexion."
I shook my head and started to cry again. He put both his hands on my shoulders so I couldn't hide my face. I looked like a mess.
"Zexion, your mother loved you before she even knew you." He pulled out a tissue from his trench coat pocket and handed it to me. He had everything in those pockets. "She gave everything she was to you and that's why your special. We get our strength from the sacrifices our friends and family go through."
I dabbed away at my eyes and blew my nose. This was so embarrassing. "Your dad is a jerk, that's my opinion. Always has been, he doesn't like anyone who understands what he doesn't." I nodded my head, that part was true. "He's mad at you because he thinks you took away his wife, that is never true for any child! Do you hear me!?" He shook me a little. I chuckled some at his silliness and nodded. I frowned again though, something still lingering there.
"I'm still weak though, everyone knows that. Demyx got hurt because-" I tried to argue.
"Because he loves you!" He sat back down in Roxas' chair. "He wouldn't be who he is if you hadn't met him, he would have gone down their path if it wasn't for you." I looked confused. "He fights them because he loves how you were able to be his light at the end of the tunnel. He fights them, even though he shouldn't," he rolled his eyes; realizing the corny lines he was feeding me, "because he wants you to keep protecting his heart."
My eyes widened. He knew I understood by this and I sniffed a few times before I spoke. "I never thought of it that way." I gave him a small smile and he returned it.
He pushed in Roxas' chair and the bell rang. He walked to the door and greeted everyone as they walked in. "Ah! Good afternoon slackers! Get to your desks before I count you all tardy." He teased.
He began class and I helped Roxas with what he didn't understand. He questioned my state as he walked in but I laughed it off. When class was over I forgot everything that happened with Seifer. Roxas said thank you and see you later. I returned the sayings and stood up grabbing my stuff. I was about to leave when Snow grabbed my attention.
"Zexion!"
"Yes, Si- Snow." I said catching myself.
He smiled big. "Sure you don't need me to tell the principal?"
I nodded my head. "He didn't touch me, so I don't think he can do much." I lied. I felt so uncomfortable doing it, but Snow did enough for me.
"I don't care if it was physical. Do you feel threatened in anyway with Seifer?" He said sternly. His face showed no sign of playing around.
"How do you-"
"Please," he teased, "my son tells me everything."
I shook my head. Snow just shook his head and sighed. "Thank you, for earlier Snow. Demyx was right when I told him earlier, I just didn't understand his way of telling it."
He laughed. I was about to leave when he called. "Zexion, don't be afraid to give my son a few friendly reminding smacks upside the head. He needs then from time to time." He said giving me a thumbs up and I smiled wide.
I met Demyx outside and he walked me to my book club room. It was right next to the music hall and he waited for me outside my room afterwards too. It was an easy class and I met Riku there.
"Hey man, how's it going?" Riku said, giving me a small high five.
"Alright, I feel lighter than this afternoon." I chuckled.
"Whatever," he teased, "guess which team won Friday night?"
I was wondering about our competition results from Friday night. "Who?" I always thought humbly though, in case we didn't win.
"We did, duh!" He cheered. "Whipped Twilight Town, Radiant Gardens, and Traverse Town clean off the map."
"Awesome, I was hopping we would win." I said modestly.
Dr. Ross walked in our class room as the bell rang. "Congratulations class! We are in first place with Radiant Gardens in a close second. Twilight Town is in third and not far behind them is Traverse Town."
The class cheered and everyone quieted down when Dr. Ross spoke again. "We need to crown our class readers now so we have a new standing for next nine weeks competition."
"Zexion!" Sora shouted. "I bet you win, watch."
"Thank you Mr. Rhapsodus for clearing that error." She glared at him. She hated to be interrupted.
There was only five people aloud on our team. We start off in the summer dwindling down the numbers with just a summer weekly competition. Riku, Sora, Selphie, Olette, and I were the only ones left. Marluxia and Demyx tried but they fell behind so much. Marluxia had football practice and Demyx with his music. Axel never was one for reading unless it was a movie or turned into a listening tape. Besides he had basketball second semester and art so he wouldn't be able to compete. Larxene had cheerleaders practice so she was out too. Oh well, maybe I could get Roxas to try next year.
"Selphie, you were in fifth with fifty points. Nicely done." Dr. Ross started. She turned to Sora. "Sora was forth with seventy eight points." Olette was looked at next.
"Oh man, I thought I beat you!?" She looked at me. I just smiled.
"Olette was third with ninety nine points." She turned to Riku. "Riku was a close second with Olette with one hundred and two points."
She looked at me and gave me a large smile. "Zexion, last but not least, first-"
"Told ya!" Sora chimed in.
"One hundred and seventy one points. Congrats Mr. Rosch." I flinched a little.
Everyone was cheering and celebrating now but she noticed that I flinched. She just walked to her desk and sat down. I got up slowly and joined the others with snacks and drinks.
I started to hear the loud music down the music hall playing and thought of Demyx. I wouldn't let him down anymore. I would be there for him, even if I couldn't protect him physically.
When school let out I met up with Demyx to tell him the good news. When he heard I was first he picked me up and swung me in a circle. I laughed and Riku and Sora copied Demyx. Dr. Ross just laughed at us.
We walked past Snow's room when Demyx remember that he wanted to say goodbye real quick. There was nobody left in the hallway so I decided to wait outside. I sat down on the carpeted corridor with my book in my face.
"No!" Snow said loudly but with some comfort in it. "He was just upset. I think he understands what you were saying now."
"Good!" Demyx cheered. They really were loud.
I tried to hear more but they quiet down to whispers again. It was long before Snow walked out with Demyx to wave us off. "Have fun you two!" He said with a wink.
When I got to the parking lot Roxas met up with us and said he was so confused and couldn't find the van. I just laughed and lead the way. Demyx of courses had to be sarcastic and teased Roxas about changing out with his friends instead of him this morning. We were waiting for Marluxia and Larxene. We were going to meet Axel, Reno, and Rude at the hospital and go from there.
"Heard you got first on Friday's competition. Congrats, Zexion." Roxas said. He was balancing himself on a parking block and Demyx was keeping his arms around my waist.
"Thanks Roxas." I watched as he tumbled a bit on the cement block. "Do you have trouble with your balance, Roxas?" I asked.
He hoped off and looked at me. "Well a little, I was never one for sports because of it."
"Like you, Zexy!" Demyx teased.
I laughed and replied to Roxas. "Me neither, but for other reasons." I noticed Roxas giving a questioning look. It seemed he was about to give me a question to answer when Marluxia and Larxene came into sight.
We got in the van and drove for the hospital that was in the first Twilight Town. We got there in an hour and a half. We all completed our homework in that time frame. Marluxia had none, again. He was a Senior and Seniors rarely got homework.
When we parked we all jumped out and ran for the doors. They slid open and we were aloud to go up to his room. Reno and Rude were sitting on the couch across the room. Axel was still sound asleep on the bed but it looked like he had had a shower and got dressed.
"He's just napping again." Rude said getting up.
Reno walked over to Axel to check if he was in a deep sleep. "We need to talk to you guys real quick." He said looking up at us.
We were directed to the corner of the room and we all sat down in the chairs and stools placed there.
Rude walked over to stand by Reno who would be giving us our lecture for the day. We all listened clearly. "Axel is fine and he will be if he stops getting into fights."
"That wasn't his fault though, Sir!" Demyx spoke up.
"Yes, I'm quite aware of that. Seifer was and we are going to look into this. I don't think it's just Seifer though, and when I say that I mean this organization that he mentioned." Reno paused.
Marluxia put two and two together. "You think there's someone else behind Seifer pulling the strings."
"Yes." He nodded and questioned himself. "Roxas." What!? We thought he was finishing Marluxia's statement.
We all looked at him and Reno cleared the error quickly. "Roxas, your father is Cloud Strife. Rude and I were-"
"You two were the ones that helped my father!" Roxas finished shocked.
"Yes." He noticed all our shocked and confused faces. I for one was wondering how he knew something so trivial. He turned to Rude. "This can't be avoided, they know too much."
Rude cracked his knuckles. "I think we need to start from the beginning." He could seem so intimidating but nice at the same time. It was because he wasn't wearing any shades right now.
Reno smacked the back of his own head. "Duh... good point." He looked at us. I guess we should start with your father Marluxia."
Marluxia was shocked. "My Father? What about him?" Marluxia was always touchy on the subject of his father.
"Yes, not only was he working under the branch your mother is in know, but he was also a Soilder."
"Bull shit!" Marluxia was standing now. Why was he so angry, it may be a mistake but that doesn't mean you have to jump down his throat.
Reno looked worried. "Your father placed detonators in all the reactors. It was because of us, that Angeal Hewley went into hiding."
"Don't you dare say his name to me!" Marluxia yelled. "He was a fool! That's what my family tells me!" He breathed deeply and Larxene pulled him back down. "He was cowardly and weak. He died in the field!"
"Fine, he died." Reno said mockingly. "That's what you choose to believe than fine." He sighed dropping his hands to his side's. "The truth is beside the point. Axel's real father; his birth father, was also a Soilder." Everyone was quiet now. All we could here was Axel's patterned snores. Even after Marluxia screamed he was still sleeping. That was a bit weird.
"That's not the worse part, his father, was my older brother." He looked back at Axel. "He can't know this, no one can. He would be put at great risk and possibly killed because of his parents actions. Actually, Shinra already thinks he's dead."
We all looked horrified. Our best friends uncle was standing right in front of us and telling us all this. I think the real confusing part was that Axel didn't know. Axel was in deeper than anyone every thought. Why we're we being told, was it because of Roxas?
"Roxas' father helped us destroy the nine reactors in district five. That's why his family went into hiding when he was only five. We've erased everything about them from the Shinra database." He turned to Marluxia briefly. "Why your father also went into hiding." Marluxia looked confused and a bit betrayed.
"Why did you have to destroy the reactors?" I asked bluntly.
"Who gives a damn Zexion!?" Marluxia told me.
"I do." I glared at him.
Interested in my question, Reno answered it. "The reactors were made to power homes, stores, anything. The more hooked to the power lines though, the more the reactors took from the core of the planet. We had to emulate them from the inside out, the only ones who could navigate them though we're Soilders at the time."
"To protect what was left of our island, you had to destroy them." Roxas finished. He was staring at the floor.
"Yes." Reno said. "Sadly though, after the reactors are destroyed everything plugged to them died. Eventually wildlife from the haunted mansion to the fifth district blew over with the help of tiny wind storms. No rain either... and now the reactors feed off of the seas waves from the coast line."
Axel turned over in his bed and Rude walked over to him to check if he was asleep. "Reno," Rude alerted his husband, "we need another dose."
"Excuse me." He told us and walked over to Axel's bedside. He undid a syringe and aimed it at Axel's arm.
Marluxia rose up noticing the familiar round object and shouted. "What are you giving him?"
Reno looked up and gave Axel the white liquid. He was stirring a little but then rested once again after a few second. "Before you get this confused with something else Marluxia," Reno said depositing the white tube and walking back over, "Axel is not the lightest of sleepers but nor is he the heaviest. We have to give him some sleeping medicine so he doesn't hear any of this by mistake."
I looked at Roxas real quick. He wouldn't take his eyes off Axel till Reno addressed us all again. "Now Shinra is planning to rebuild those connections to the core again. If that happens I don't know if we could stop them this time. Without Roxas' father of Marluxia's there is no way we can stop Sephiroth by ourselves."
"No way!" Roxas shouted. This time he stood up. "Sephiroth is dead! My Dad made sure of it."
Reno looked shocked. "Your father told you?" Everyone was looking at Roxas now. He stared in alarm and nodded his head. He hummed, as he shifter to his other leg. "Yes, but how are we for sure he's really dead. Your father didn't watch him take his last breath. Sephiroth imagines he did because he blew up the last reactor with both of them inside, which is why he's not after you right now. Rude, Lightening and Angeal, Zack and Aireth Fair, and Tifa and Cloud all new about this. We imagine that both Sephiroth and Roxas' family see each other as dead." He relaxed and Roxas sat back down.
"My own mother!" Marluxia said slamming his fist on the couch. Larxene reassured him by holding him.
"We tried asking your friends and family for help, but there was only so much anyone could do because of Shinra's security. We're lucky that everyone has been able to stay quiet till now." He looked at Roxas and he looked away. Reno and Rude just smiled. "Don't feel bad Roxas, I'm just warning you of who you tell your name to."
Demyx spoke up. "Why do you need Soldiers?" I was impressed with his question. Now he was thinking.
"We need Soldiers because they hold Mako Energy." We all knew what that was. Legendary force energy that was implanted only to Soldiers. It was one reason anyone wanted to become one, to gain abilities from the stuff. But it was at a cost of life of servitude. "They can fight Sephiroth in an even battle and they have all the training for all the traps in the reactors. Cloud fought for us along with anyone else I named. Simply as that, we owe them our lives. Which is why I'm willing to through my life away to protect my nephew."
We all sat in silence looking at each other, the grounds, ourselves, Axel, his uncle and uncle in law and then repeat. We were lost. Now we couldn't even tell Axel any of this. He was a victim all the way around, What we all were. Although... wait a minute.
"Why is it dangerous for Axel to know?" I asked finally. Everyone looked straight at me, then Reno for his answer.
Reno looked shocked. He laughed. "So, your the brains of the group Zexion. That's very good thinking." He sighed, and put his hand through his hair. His hand balled into fists and he closed his eyes starting to look angry. He walked over to Axel quickly. "I can't, I frighten them." He said plainly to Rude.
Rude patted his shoulder. He answered for him as he walked back over. "Axel's father was a special Soilder. He was Shinra's right hand man. He wanted to take over, so he plotted the world's end so he could restart it. He brought up the reactor project to Rufus Shinra himself." Now things were making sense. "Axel was going to be the pawn as he offered his own son to take his place we he got older." Why would his own father subject him to that. "Reno was too young at the time to join Shinra, but he still found out what his brother was doing. He tried to stop him and Axel got hurt in the process."
Reno breathed and continued for Rude. "He kicked me out of the family and I left! I shouldn't have left Axel on his own!"
"Reno-" Rude turned and noticed panic had stricken his face. I was getting a bit worried. I knew Axel had a long fuse with friends, but with the past... it was much shorter. Reno was related to him.
"I realized what exactly Axel was going through too late." He looked at Axel and back to us. "His Mom would beat him when she would worry about her husband. She was also an addict, so when her husband came home to find the alcohol all gone, he would beat him." He slammed his fist on the bed. We all jumped at this.
"Reno, if you're going to explain it in depth you calm down." Rude said sternly.
"Rufus killed his father and took the idea for himself! The bastard decided to let the two kill each other. I bet he didn't even care if the mom died, just wanted Axel dead!" Reno hung his head. "It wasn't Axel's fault that his father was completely compatible with the JENOVA cells too!"
"Reno!" Rude shouted. Reno fell back onto the stool and broke down. "Damn it!" He cried. After some silence Rude looked back at us. I don't even think we were listening anymore.
"Axel's mom would beat him, thinking it was his fault her husband was killed. Axel had no where to go, and that's why Reno blamed himself. Reno was the one caring for Axel and protecting him since he was born till age five. Axel watched his own mother take her life and wondered alone for weeks. When Reno heard of what happened, he was devastated."
"I... I thought he was dead." Reno spoke before he cried again.
"Axel was taken in by his first adoptive shortly after," Rude continued, "and he didn't even know his last name. It's changed with every family."
"So Lea-" Marluxia said.
"Yes!" Reno said with exasperation. "Lea is his real name. But he can't remember it, he doesn't even remember me." He sighed. That had to be the worse part for Reno, not having the one thing you poured your love into remember you. "That's why he can't know. If he did he would go to the very source of everything, JENOVA. Where's she at? Shinra company, and once Shinra knows of his full title, they would kill him in a heartbeat or make him one of their puppets!"
"But why!?" I shouted.
Reno looked at me with surprise. I didn't think he knew we were still there. None of us had seen Reno so detached. He always seemed to be a pretty lazy loose sort of guy. Like Axel! "Don't you guys know?" He looked at us confused. "Axel's father is one of the two blessed Soldiers to totally fuse their DNA with JENOVA cells. Sephiroth was the second. I could have it too, but I wasn't old enough for the experiments at the time. Soilders now are given Mako Energy. It will slowly disappear from your being over time and that's how you know you're done serving Shinra. That's why you, Roxas and Marluxia don't have acid green eyes like your father's." We still weren't understanding. So Axel was special, why would that get him killed though?
He just sighed and shook his head. He stood back up and walked over to us, a bit calmer than before. "Axel's DNA has completely fused with JENOVA cells and will never go away. Sephiroth whether he's dead or alive, we don't know but he also has a son... Two of them. The first is Hayner Alamasy. The second, well you guys know that one already."
"Seifer." We all said at once. Holy crap, it explained everything. If Seifer had JENOVA cells, it would explain his brutality. Hayner though, was different though. He was nicer.
"Is it because of the mother's cells too, that will determine the personality of the JENOVA cells?" I asked.
"Bingo." Rude said. "Nice job with the books." I wanted to except the complement but right now was neither the time nor the place. It wasn't and achievement, it was he'll knowing exactly what they meant.
"Yeah." Reno looked at Axel. "He can't remember anything passed his first adoption." He laughed sadly. "That's probably a good thing. Having Axel remember anything of that and well, he would shatter if not worse."
Rude looked at us. I started to feel better and uneasy at the same time. If we slipped up and told Axel anything, it could trigger a reaction and cause him to remember. "We won't tell him anything." I said plainly. I knew the others knew it too. They were too stunned to say anything. Everything made sense now.
I felt uneasy though, because if he figured it out on his own, and found out we knew; even Roxas... We would loose him, for good too.
"Thank you boys," he saw Larxene glare and Marluxia smirk, "and lady." He checked Axel's pulse. "Well, that's saves him another dose. He can sleep." He brushed his hair out his eyes and turned to us. "Well, we have work to do and we've really waisted a lot of cover time by doing this. enough It was necessary, enough but we look suspicious enough as it is. Tell him we said to be careful and we love him."
Rude and Reno turned to walk out the door. "Oh!" Reno spun on his heel like we had seen Axel do so many times. He really was Axel's uncle, we all could tell. "Roxas. Axel has told us so much about you and welcome to the family. I'm sure you two will make a beautiful couple!"
As we were all laughing and Reno and Rude left Roxas stared stunned. "I AM STRAIGHT!" Everyone started laughing harder and it was like we just walked in. I settled down and leaned on Demyx. Roxas just shook his head. He got up and walked over to Axel.
The laughing hyenas started to settle down when they noticed Roxas. He was chuckling over by Axel. He shook his head and then turned to us. "And I thought I had it worse than anyone."
We all came over to Axel who was starting to come too. It was exactly four o'clock and we had two hours before we had to be at the restaurant. I laughed as Demyx squeezed me close and noticed that Larxene turned around. Marluxia was crying.