Chapter 13

Roxas dropped the suitcase onto the white sheeted bed. Axel rolled the other two into the corner and they looked around the very empty room. Roxas sat down on the bed and pushed the suitcase out of the way to make room for Axel. He sat next to Roxas and took his hand.

"So here's our new room," Roxas sighed. Axel skimmed the tip of his nose alongside Roxas' jaw. He could feel Roxas softening up to his touch.

"Dem should be here any minute Ax," Roxas said. Axel pulled away and kissed the corner of his mouth.

"I'm gonna talk to him. Tomorrow I've got to work, so that means you're being watched. Tuesday too, but Wednesday during the day I'm here. I work the night shift that day," explained Axel. Roxas groaned and stood up.

"You go wait for Demyx, I'll start to unpack," Roxas said, moving for the suitcase on the bed. Axel stood up and walked out of the room and down the long narrow hallway to the front hall. He backed against the wall and slid onto the floor. Axel put his head onto his knees and closed his eyes.

"Poor Lux, I hope Xemnas found Vex. Otherwise, we're all done for," he said. Axel wanted Kairi to come over and watch Roxas so he and Demyx could go out for a drink and talk. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and checked the time. It was only three in the afternoon. He figured that if they did go out, they'd leave around eight.

"Axel, I'll take top drawer, you take bottom!" Roxas called from the guest room they were staying in. Axel nodded and looked up from his knees. It was a small suburban home, something he remembered living in with his parents.

O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O

Axel turned eighteen before the other two did and that's when Roxas stepped into his life. He was just starting off at the supermarket he still worked at and was working the cashier. There in line was a small fourteen year old boy with big nervous blue eyes, an overnight bag at hand and only a few dollars in his hands.. When the boy came up to check out, Axel watched him curiously. He was all alone, had a bag, looked nervous and didn't have a lot of money. Runaway.

"Hey kid, why you all by yourself?" Axel asked the boy.

"It's none of your business," retorted the snappy teen. Axel scoffed and put in the pack of gum and water bottle into a bag.

"Running away never solves anything. Kid, I'll let you call your parents after my shift. I've only got a few minutes left anyway. The outside world is dangerous and a little guy like you shouldn't be out there alone," Axel said, handing the blonde boy his change.

"M-my mom and dad got into a fight. I didn't know what to do! My sister wasn't home to stop my daddy again! Mom looked at me for help, and…and," sobbed the kid.

"Go sit on the bench over there. You can trust me kid, I ain't a kidnapper or whatever. I just don't like seeing kids like you doing stuff like this," Axel said. Big innocent eyes stared at Axel, but he nodded and took his bags and sat down. Strangely, Axel felt this need to protect him. He could feel this strong pull to the teen. Axel shook his head and finished out his shift. He put the closed register sign down and walked towards the boy. Axel sat next to the boy and pulled out his cell phone.

"Call your folks. Tell them to come get you. I can wait for them," Axel said, handing the boy his phone.

"I'm Roxas," whispered the boy. Axel smiled and watched the boy dial some numbers.

"I'm Axel, and Roxas? If you ever feel like you're in trouble, just come meet me here. I'll be here to help. It's what I like to do. I promise to watch over you."

Roxas nodded and began to speak to someone on the phone. He said where he was and who he was with and gave Axel back his phone. He slid it into his pocket and blew out a deep breath. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he kept an eye on Roxas.

And there began their long friendship. Four years Axel acted as a big brother for Roxas, as a best friend. Every day when Roxas was waiting outside the store, ready to talk to Axel with news of the day. Axel loved the smile Roxas got when he got to the good part of the day. It made him feel like he was doing a good job. Demyx seemed to like Roxas and his shy ways. Marluxia on the other hand… he was very jealous. He felt as if Axel was replacing Demyx and himself with Roxas, the little boy who wasn't even of age!

On Roxas' eighteenth birthday, Axel treated Demyx, Roxas, and Demyx's new boyfriend, Zexion, to a trip to Pence's where Roxas introduced them to Olette and Pence. He was so lively and spunky, nothing like the sad and scared little boy Axel first met at the supermarket. Axel still had his protective guard up around Roxas and as still there just as a friend. One look at Roxas and Axel felt his heart melt. The urge to protect him grew stronger and he knew he had to be with the blonde haired boy for the rest of his life. Thus began the day Axel started to fall in love with Roxas…

Was being friends with Roxas what made Marluxia snap? Right around when the older ones turned twenty, Marluxia just left them without another word. That time, Axel didn't know what Marluxia had been doing. After all, he didn't even bother to contact him. He had Roxas and Demyx to be with.

O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O

Demyx opened the door, causing it to hit Axel, waking him from his memories. Scrambling to get up , Demyx chuckled at Axel. He closed the door and kicked off his shoes. Demyx dropped the keys onto a little shelf above the coat hangers.

"Why would you think of getting in my door's way? Did you wanna get smacked or something?" Demyx asked.

"Never mind that, Demyx I was just thinking to back where I first met Roxas and how coldly Marluxia always treated the little guy. I remembered when he just went and left us. Did… did my being friends with Roxas cause him to break? It sure seems like it," Axel said, pushing Demyx into the living room.

"That's a very reasonable answer. Man, we sure had fun before Roxas. Then even more fun after Roxas came!" Demyx said, adding the last sentence after watching Axel's facial expression change.

"You know I always have this thing of wanting to help everyone. Rox was a fourteen year old boy when I met him. A troubled one at that. Christ, I regretted telling him to come to me when he needed help. It was an everyday thing I swear! Now, of course I don't regret it," Axel said, sitting down.

"This is what brought Roxas into all of our lives. Why you made friends with a baby was beyond me. You were just lucky he was likeable. Only one person didn't like him, but it's not like we cared. Jealousy is what made Marluxia crack," Demyx said.

"But why doesn't he want Roxas now? That's what confuses me."

"Marly wants you to get a taste of your own medicine?"

"Makes sense. Maybe we should have cared about Marluxia's opinion a bit more. Then none of this shit would've happened."

"But would you be with Roxas? If we listened to Marly and tossed Roxas away like he meant nothing, you two wouldn't be what you are now. Ha, maybe you would've ended up with Marly!"

"Don't even say that! Surely Roxas and I would've found each other again. He's pretty dependent and clingy in case you haven't noticed."

"Marluxia's got these strange powers. Well, that's what it seems like. Don't you think he could have made us completely forget him if he wanted to? Damn, it's fun to put up scenarios like this. You squirm a lot."

Axel blushed and punched Demyx in the arm. He laughed at him and said, "Ax, just relax."

"What do Luxord, Vexen, and Xemnas have to do with the three of us? We met Lux and Vex after Roxas and I got together. Xemnas… well he's their friend."

"That's it. Marluxia probably just wanted it to be us three."

"Jealousy is an evil thing."

Demyx wrapped his arms Axel and hugged him tightly. Axel jerked back slightly in surprise, but ended up hugging his best friend back. Dem buried his face in Axel shoulder and sighed. Axel pulled back and looked into his eyes.

"As much as I like a hug, that was quite random," Axel chuckled.

"Kairi said I have to hug you and Roxas, and then take a nap," Dem laughed back.

"Well, that was a nice thing for her to tell you."

"Yeah, wonder why she did though. Isn't she coming to visit Roxas?"

"Hell if I know. Oh and Dem? I'm so sorry I snapped at you. You were already upset and didn't need me to scream at you like that. It was wrong. I hope you can forgive me. You don't deserve an awful friend" Axel apologized. Demyx shook his head and pulled Axel into another bone crushing hug.

"Don't sweat it man. I freak out all the time. Life's just stressful lately" Demyx smiled.

"Hey you better not be kissing him. That's my thing," Roxas said, walking over to them. Axel let go of Demyx, grabbed Roxas and put him on his lap.

"You better be talking about me," said Axel. Roxas leaned into Axel and Axel responded by wrapping his arms around him protectively.

"Yes because I kiss Demyx. I'm so in love with Demyx," Roxas rolled his eyes. Axel growled at Demyx, who was making kissy faces. Roxas laughed and kissed Axel's jaw. That made him loosen up.

"Hey Rox, you remember the day you met Demyx and Marluxia?" Axel asked.

"Yeah I was about fourteen and still going to you after work," Roxas nodded.

"Well, we think it is right around when Marluxia started to break. I liked you and, of course Axel did, but Marluxia is a different story," Dem sighed.

"It's not true Roxy Dearest! They lie! Marly loves you! He always have, remember that. Let me show you something," hissed the voice in Roxas' head. He couldn't shout back a no in time. Axel and Demyx were gone and he was in a slightly altered living room than in the one he was in before. Voices drifted down the hall and loud music followed with it. Roxas got off the sofa and followed the noise down the Demyx's room. The door was opened a little and he peered inside.

The thick smell of cigarettes greeted him. Roxas breathed through his nose rather through his mouth. He remembered that Dem used to smoke a lot before he met Zexion. Zexion made him quit the life killers and he seemed happier and certainly healthier.

Demyx was sitting on his bed, younger and with more wild and messy hair. He was taking a long drag on a cigarette. Roxas rolled his eyes and looked over at the sickly thin pink haired man who sat on the edge of the bed, changing the pounding heavy metal music that Demyx liked to a soft, piano song.

"Marly, what is this shit?" asked the young Dem. He kicked the young Marluxia in the back and Roxas gasped when he saw Marluxia turn around. His face looked happy and full of life. His eyes shone brightly and he didn't look so tired and weak like the way his body gave him.

"Hey! It's something different!" defended Marluxia, putting his small hands on his hips.

"Would you two cut the crap? I've got one bitch of a head ache!" grouched the voice Roxas knew and loved. He looked over to the other side of the room. There sat his Axel dressed in his work clothes, exhausted, beautiful green eyes, and his tattoos that Roxas loved to trace with the tips of his fingers. His red hair seemed to move as if it were a live with every move of Axel's perfect, yet imperfect head. Roxas found himself smiling and heart thumping quickly.

"That kid again, Ax?" Marluxia questioned.

"Yeah! Every day the kid is waiting outside ready to talk my ears off. My head ache gets stronger each time I hear him speak. It's like someone his driving nails through my temples," groaned Axel.

"Drop the freak. He should have friends his own age to bug. Marly and I are the ones who are supposed to annoy you! Not some random little child," Demyx said.

"Aw come on, the kid's okay! It's not like he's that clingy," Marluxia stated.

"I think he's a pest and should leave Axel alone," Demyx and Axel nodded their heads in agreement.

"He keeps asking me to show him my other friends. I don't see why. We are all older than him, so he won't exactly fit in. Dem's right doesn't he have other friends? Can't he go to them every damn day?"

"Seeing as how you told us you promised the kid you'd watch out for him, you should honor your word. Don't you keep promises?" Marluxia reminded.

"I never keep promises. Promises are meant to be broken. Maybe I'll stick with the bay out of pity. Otherwise he'd end up on the streets and get, oh I don't know, kidnapped or some shit," Axel sighed.

"Just let him go. Obviously he's not wanted anywhere," Demyx said, not caring anymore.

"You guys are awful!" gasped Marluxia. Roxas felt his heart shatter and hot tears roll down. He couldn't believe Axel didn't really love or care about him. He just felt sorry for Roxas. Roxas wiped away the water, but it kept pouring down.

The memory disappeared like that. Roxas was back on Axel's lap, Dem and him eyeing him curiously. He was still crying and hurting badly. Roxas leapt off of Axel, leaving the red head confused. He slammed the bedroom door and fell onto his stomach on the bed, sobbing loudly.

A beeping noise came from his phone on the nightstand. Sniffling, Roxas reached over for it and felt around. Wrapping his fingers around it, he pulled it to his face. It was Kairi's text.

"At least I know Kairi loves me and would never do anything to hurt me."

"Roxas? Are you okay?" Axel whispered through the door.

"Don't come in! I don't want to see you!"

"What did I do that made you so upset? I'm coming in anyway." Axel pushed open and walked over to the bed. He laid down next to Roxas propping his head onto his hand. Axel looked into his wet eyes before Roxas flicked his head to the other side childishly. He sighed and put his hand on Roxas' lower back.

"Roxas, I love you and I'm sorry. Look at me please."

"You don't love me, you're only with me because you feel bad for me! Maybe I should just leave and oh, I don't know, get kidnapped or something!"

"Rox, what are you… oh my god."

Roxas sat up, still not wanting to face Axel. He wiped more tears away, but it was no use. Axel didn't say exactly that what Roxas said wasn't true, so it had to be real. Roxas bit his lip and closed his eyes.

"It was a Marly vision wasn't it? What he showed you is wrong! Back then, when I said that, I was joking around. I honestly didn't mean it. We were all laughing at how I seemed like a big brother to you. Roxas, I liked you. You were okay for a little teen. There was this strange sense that I had to take care of you and make sure no harm went your way at all times. Why would we be together if I didn't love you? Roxas, you keep my life full and exciting. This is going to be really cliché, but you complete me."

Roxas' heart leapt out of his chest. His heart said he was being totally honest, but his mind said that something wasn't quite the truth. What Roxas didn't get was why he even believed Marluxia.

"Well, since you still refuse to talk to me, I'll sleep on the couch tonight. But that doesn't mean I'm leaving now," Axel said, crying with Roxas now. Roxas' bottom lips started to quiver.

"C'mon Rox, say something, anything!"

I don't want to hurt you, even if you might have hurt me first, Roxas thought. Axel grumbled to himself and got up to grab the notepad from the dresser. He fumbled around in the top drawers until he found a pen. Axel sat on the ground and scribbled furiously on the paper. Roxas peeked over his shoulder and watch him.

I love you too, you crazy fool, he thought as he looked at his red head lover.