Bryan was my best friend growing up. The two of us were incredibly close. He protected me and I looked up to him. We were two of a kind. When Bryan reached puberty, everything changed. All of a sudden he was filled with raging hormones and became even more affectionate than usual. It was a strange feeling. I knew my parents wanted me to marry a sister (which sounded insanely gross) but I didn't have any sisters yet. My fathers were trying, but all they got were sons.

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Chapter 14

Axel groaned softly and forced his eyes open. He stared at a strange tiled ceiling for several minutes, not understanding where he was or what he was doing there in the first place. There was a blinding light shining in his eyes that made his head ache terribly. He tried to reach up with his hand to block the light from his eyes, but he couldn't move. Panic started setting in and he twisted around, trying to get free. A warm hand was gently placed on his chest and he stopped moving.

"Don't try and move," a soft voice said. "You've been restrained so you don't hurt yourself."

Axel tried to say something, but all that came out was a low groan.

"How do you feel?" the voice asked.

"Light hurts," Axel groaned.

The light was dimmed.

"How's that?" the voice asked again.

"Better," Axel answered.

He blinked and the room came into better focus. He moved his head to the side and blinked to make sure he was not seeing things. Roxas sat in a very uncomfortable-looking chair with a straight metal back. Something stirred in the pit of Axel's stomach when he saw Roxas sitting by his side with a washcloth in his hands.

"Roxas?" he whispered.

"Hi Axel." Roxas smiled.

"Wh…wh…" Axel couldn't get the words out.

"They've been keeping you sedated for the past couple days to make sure you didn't hurt yourself while you were out of it," Roxas explained.

"I…I don't understand." Axel licked his dry lips. "How…how long have I been here?"

"You've been here for several days," Roxas answered, getting to his feet.

Axel followed him with his eyes as he walked over to a table in the corner and picked up a pitcher that rested there. He instinctively licked his lips as Roxas poured some clear liquid into a glass. Roxas gently set the pitcher back on the table and brought the glass over. Axel blinked in surprise when Roxas pressed the glass against his lips.

"Here," Roxas said softly. "Drink." Axel stared at him in astonishment and then glared at him. "Don't be a stubborn ass right now. Drink the goddamned water."

Axel finally caved, his need for water more urgent than his pride at the moment. He allowed Roxas to tip the glass so he could drink.

"Go slow," Roxas urged. "You'll bring it back up if you drink too fast."

Axel nodded slightly and slowed his pace. Finally, the glass was empty and Roxas brought it back to the table in the corner. Axel intently watched him as he walked to the table and then returned to his seat.

"Why are you here?" Axel asked harshly.

"Xemnas told me that you were here, sick so I came," Roxas answered softly.

"Why do you care?" Axel spat. "Why do you care about me?"

"I am your mate." Roxas's expression was gentle. "I made a promise to protect you and love you and I'm not going to break that promise." Axel stared at him. Roxas's voice trembled as he went on, "besides…I…I love you."

Axel felt his breath leave him. He stared at the ceiling, unable to look at his mate any longer.

"Axel?" Roxas asked softly. "Axel, please look at me."

"Why should I?" Axel snarled.

"Don't do this!" Roxas's voice rose.

"Do what?"

"Stop trying to push me away!"

"I don't…"

"I know!" Roxas exploded. "I know what happened to you!" He exhaled slowly. "Riku told me…how you reacted to being touched and that you might have been molested.

"Riku…?" Axel whispered. He didn't remember anything that had happened.

"Were you…?" Roxas asked.

"You have no fucking clue what happened to me!" Axel hissed.

"So you were," Roxas breathed. "Please tell me. Please let me help you."

"I can't…" Axel swallowed hard. "You can't help me. No one can save me."

Tears stung Roxas's eyes. He leaned over and tenderly pressed his lips against Axel's temple. "Well, I can at least try, right?"

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Despite Axel's insensitive words and rough manner, Roxas remained by Axel's side almost constantly, only taking time out to eat, use the bathroom, nurse Colin, and sleep. Zexion and Demyx dropped by from time to time to check on him and to make sure he was eating. Zexion finally transitioned from his regular uniform into maternity clothes. His rounded stomach was growing larger and larger with each passing day.

Slowly, Axel began to recall what had happened through talking to Riku and Sora. He shuddered when he remembered the unpleasant flashback to his past coupled with a rush of distorted images and voices that made everything seem so hellish. Slowly, his health returned and eventually he was able to go back to the dormitories. Roxas returned to his and Axel thought that would be the end of it, but to his dismay, he was called to Xemnas's office one day. To his greater dismay, Roxas was already present, Colin in his arms.

"Come in Axel," Xemnas said, scarcely looking up from writing something at his desk.

Axel wordlessly brushed past Roxas and Colin, his lips pursed.

"What is he doing here?" he asked, gesturing to Roxas.

"he's here because I called him here and he's your mate," Xemnas answered coldly. "And now that you're here, we can discuss why you're here. I'm afraid the time has come for your son to be put in foster care."

"So why am I here?" Axel snarled.

"You are here because he's your son," Roxas snapped back.

"Enough Roxas," Xemnas interrupted before Roxas could say more. "The protocol demands that you be here Axel, whether you want to or not. This also means that we have to make a little trip to see the Council."

"Lave The Institute?" Axel croaked, his mouth suddenly dry.

"Only temporarily. We will be gone for most of the day."

"When are we leaving?" Roxas asked.

"Tomorrow morning. The guards will come and get you when it's time for us to leave."

"But why are we going to see the Council?"

Xemnas smiled. "It's all standard procedure. You will meet with the Council and then meet the family who will take care of Colin."

Roxas nodded and swallowed hard.

"Is that all you wanted?" Axel asked.

"No. I want to talk to you for a few moments Axel. Roxas, you're dismissed."

Roxas nodded and silently shuffled out of the room. The guards escorted him back to the dormitories. The other Bearers were at dinner, with the exception of Zexion and Demyx.

"Roxas? What's wrong?" Zexion asked, heaving himself off the bed where he had been waiting with Demyx.

"I have to give Colin up for adoption tomorrow," Roxas answered in a small voice.

Zexion sucked in his breath. "O…oh."

"I thought I was ready for this, but now I'm not so sure." Roxas fought hard to keep the tears out of his voice.

"I know sweetie," Zexion said gently.

Roxas burst into tears, which woke Colin up and made him start crying. Zexion sighed softly an took Colin from Roxas's arms. He walked over to Demyx, who was still sitting on Zexion's bed.

"Here. You deal with Colin. I'll deal with Roxas," he said shortly.

"Wha…but…hey! I thought you said my childcare skills sucked!" Demyx protested.

"They do. But I have to take care of Roxas." Zexion's glare was enough to shut Demyx up.

Satisfied, Zexion walked back over to Roxas and took him in his arms. Initially, Roxas stiffened at the contact but then he simply melted in Zexion's embrace. He sobbed into Zexion's uniform for what seemed like hours. Finally, he wore himself out and allowed Zexion to lead him over to his bunk so he could lay down. Colin had fallen asleep in Demyx's arms.

"He's not so bad when he's not, you know, screaming his lungs out," Demyx whispered.

Zexion smiled. "Here, give him to me. I'll put him in bed."

Demyx willingly handed Colin over to his lover. Colin stirred a little but didn't wake up. Zexion gently lay him in the crib that had been set up next to Roxas's bunk and tucked him in. Then, he turned to Roxas who was fast asleep. Zexion carefully covered him with a blanket and lightly kissed his temple.

"Sleep well Roxas," he whispered.

He straightened up and walked over to where Demyx waited.

"You all right Zex?" Demyx asked.

"Yeah," Zexion answered with a curt nod. "I just hate having to see him like this. I hate seeing him in pain."

"So do I Zex." Demyx's expression was sorrowful. "I always feel my heart breaking a bit when he starts crying."

Zexion nodded. Demyx stepped forward. Their lips met for a swift, hesitant kiss. They pulled apart before it turned into anything serious. Demyx stared at Zexion for a few seconds before they pressed their lips together again. Zexion gave a soft groan when Demyx nipped playfully at his neck.

"Demyx, we…we can't," he groaned.

"I know," Demyx responded, sucking on the skin of Zexion's neck.

A door slammed open causing them to jump apart. Demyx raked his fingers through his long hair as the dormitory filled. He shot a quick glance at Zexion, who stared at the ground guiltily. Neither of them spoke for the rest of the night

To be continued…

Notes: I'm sorry it was short this time around. Like really short. The next several chapters are going to be epic. Things are going to get...well you'll see. The next chapter will introduce the mysterious Council that I've dropped hints about in previous chapters. That's all I'm gonna spill. You'll have to find out the rest when the next chapter is posted.

I honestly really don't like this chapter. It just sucks. I'll go back and make it better later, I promise.