WARNING!

This is a hard chapter to read and is graphic in Roxas's confession at the end.

It was early morning. Three a.m. exactly. Xehanort couldn't remember the last time he had worked so late at the asylum, but as he sat pouring himself over P13's files, scouring for loopholes, he knew it was going to be a long night and an even longer week.

All the previous doctors had been united and conclusive in their reports –P13 was a patient unable to think coherently without being disturbed by the visitation of an alter, that each of these alters had progressed, and that P13 was becoming further and further beyond their help. All types of therapy, both orthodox and not, had failed. Any attempt to reach P13 on a personal level had been futile. P13 was a lost cause and a closed case. Towards the ends of their shifts the doctors' writings changed and became slack, as if they lost interest and P13 wasn't worth their time or energy when their own persons were being attacked.

Axel's notes contradicted all of this.

The redhead's scruffy journal jottings intrigued Xehanort. The instant attraction, the chemical pull, almost hypnotic in its style, the fluent movement of thoughts that connected to theories and began to branch into P13's memories only to be completely struck off by a tangent idea as if hit by lightning over and over. It was mesmerising to undue someone who was trying to undue somebody else.

Xehanort leaned back in his chair, staring around Doctor Flint's old office on the eighth floor underground. The space was small, too cramped for what he was used to, but with all the doctor's notes close by it made for an easy case study.

Someone knocked lightly on the door and pushed it open. Zexion entered the room, his face still bruised and busted but healing quickly. He kept his eyes on the floor, standing opposite the desk.

"I didn't say you could come in," Xehanort said, flicking through Axel's less organised notes.

"This is important." Zexion reached into his pocket and pulled out his cheque book, clicking his pen and scribbling across it quickly. He ripped the cheque loose and placed it on the desk, sliding it towards his boss. "I'm done."

Xehanort stopped searching the papers and stared at the slip of paper, completely still. "You think this is an appropriate joke, Doctor Zexion?"

Zexion held in a breath longer than he should before gathering the strength to release it. "No joke, sir. It's all there. Ten thousand. The last of her debts."

Xehanort smirked. "Your mother would be proud."

"Sir." Zexion bit the inside of his cheek and turned away. "I'll leave my notes in my office."

"You're leaving tonight? What about your two week notice?"

"You kept me here until I finished what my mother started. Our debt is repaid with more than enough interest. I think I should be excused from two weeks' notice."

"You think yourself above the law?"

"Since when did the law mean anything here?"

"Since I said so. You'll work your two weeks, boy. You'll work them or so help me-"

"I'm done," Zexion said with a sigh, his back to his boss. "You've taken half my wages since I first started working, you took my mother's life, you took my brother away from me, and I have paid off every last penny of her debt." He didn't bother looking back as he opened the door. "I'm done, Xehanort."

"Don't turn your back on me!"

SLAM!

Xehanort stood, boiling with rage, his muscles tense as he snatched his mobile from the desk. "I'll teach you, you bastard." He punched in the numbers, finding the familiar names of men who owed him favours and almost pressing call before a different number lit up across the screen.

Caller: Mr Ansem Wise.

Slide left to answer, right to reject.

Xehanort froze, his courage and bitterness leaving him and replacing his cold blood with fear. Nobody rejected a call from Mr Wise.

It was still dark when Vanitas woke. He groaned and rubbed his eyes, kicking the blanket off his body and leaving it to hang over the back of the couch and sweep against the floor. The clock on the mantelpiece ticked, showed that it was ten past five in the morning, and Vanitas groaned louder.

"Stupid," he mumbled. "Fucking stupid."

He covered his head with his arm to try and block the migraine, his gut squirming with the same queasy hangover feeling and every muscle unbearably stiff, as if his joints had been sealed together with glue and his blood was flowing backwards. Huffing, he rolled onto his front and glanced across the room at the other couch, looking for his brother, but it was empty.

"Eh? Ventus?" He propped himself up on his elbow and breathed heavily out of his nose, stretching like a cat and slowly sitting up, his head in his hands. "Ventus, it's too fuckin' early for games. Where you at?"

A spoon clinked in the kitchen and Vanitas turned. The living room door was open and the hallway was too dark for shadows. Standing up and rubbing his eyes, he wandered towards the door with his arms stretched above his head before letting them fall limp at his sides. He pushed the kitchen door open without knocking, listening to the sounds of snoring upstairs and the occasional muttering of incoherent sleep talk.

The kitchen light was on and the shadows stretched from the cupboards and across the back wall. Vanitas could see clearly outside through the kitchen window, saw that the moon was falling and the sun was just peeping in the distance, the stars slowly going out. Sat at the table in loose joggers and a baggy grey shirt two sizes too big, Ventus looked up. He raised an eyebrow at his younger brother and set his cup down.

'Something wrong?'

Vanitas shook his head and shut the door, joining his brother at the table. "Nah."

'You're up early.'

"Could say the same about you," Vanitas said, rubbing the back of his neck to work out the kinks. "Insomnia?"

'It happens less often,' Ventus signed with a shrug.

Vanitas grunted.

'You want a drink?' Ventus asked, standing and heading to the fridge. 'Think Auron stored a few beers away somewhere. He must have known you was coming, huh?'

"Actually, I er…" Vanitas coughed and drew circles on the wooden table with his finger. "I'll have a coffee. If you don't mind making one."

Ventus closed the fridge slowly and stared at his brother in a state of shock. 'Coffee?'

Vanitas didn't see his brother's hands. Grabbing a paper napkin from the centre of the table he began to pull it apart and rip it, shredding the pieces and trying to put them back together. Ventus reclaimed his seat and pushed his coffee towards his younger brother, the cup so hot and the drink so fresh that the steam was still escaping from the top in thick warm white streams.

Vanitas looked up. "That's yours."

'I wasn't gonna drink it.'

"Then why did you make it?" Vanitas asked, taking the handle and threading his cold fingers around the warm mug.

'Something to do.'

Vanitas nodded and took a long gulp, licking his lips and setting it back down. "Two sugars?"

'Two sugars.'

They both smiled at each other, Vanitas chuckling and Ventus covering his mouth with his hand. Taking a longer gulp, Vanitas leaned back and relaxed.

"Hey, Ventus?"

'Yeah?'

"'M Sorry for being a dick," Vanitas whispered.

'You're not a dick. You're a pain in the arse but you're hardly a dick.'

"Thanks, bro."

Ventus grinned and ruffled Vanitas's hair. 'So you used my card to pay for your munchies. Smart.'

"Stick it on my tab."

'You do know I'm not your personal banker, don't you?'

"A banker wouldn't whinge this much."

'I don't whinge.'

"You sure?" Vanitas laughed, avoiding Ventus's playful swipe. "'S the truth."

'It is not. I worry is all.'

"Oh bloody hell, my heart's bleeding. Grab a band-aid."

'Sarcastic little shit.'

Vanitas smiled and slurped his drink, trying to force the headache out of his brain with sheer willpower. They settled into a comfortable silence, Vanitas concentrating on his drink and Ventus daydreaming and looking at the cooker, both listening to the rhythmic ticking of the kitchen clock.

"He's not going back."

Ventus looked across the table, his eyebrow raised.

"Roxas," Vanitas confirmed. "I won't let them take him back."

'Vanitas-'

"It's not fair, Ventus. It's him, I know it is. They can't take him back to the asylum. I won't let them."

'Let's see how things go, eh?'

"Well why should he have to go back?" Vanitas defended, slurping his mug again and holding the handle so tight his knuckles turned white. He set his cup down. "He's our brother."

'And he needs help,' Ventus signed. 'Just like you and me and Sora need help.'

"So you're thinking about sending him away? Why not cut out the fucking middle man and send him straight back then? Why drag it out? Why even bother getting his hopes up?"

'Vanitas…' Ventus rubbed his forehead. 'I don't want him to go back, you know I don't. Let's just see how it goes, okay? See how he feels at the end of the month. If he wants to stay with us I'll fight tooth and nail to keep him, but if it's too hard for him or if it makes him worse then we have to accept that and adjust to it.'

"Adjust?"

'It's about what's best for him. Not what's best for us. Give him time and we'll see how things go.'

Vanitas grunted, subdued but not deterred, sipping the hot tea.

Upstairs, Roxas opened his blurry eyes.

My head hurts, he thought.

His head ached and throbbed and his shoulder panged with a red hot pain where he had laid on his wound for most of the night. His gut squirmed uncomfortably, sloshing around the alcohol from the night before, and whenever he closed his eyes a brief shot of uneasy light slashed behind them, his parched mouth open and his tongue too dry to wet his lips. He groaned and tried to roll over, wincing halfway and giving up, trying to see through the darkness.

His heart jumped and he almost choked on his own tongue when he saw Axel's bare chest rising steadily in the bed beside him, the covers half way down the doctor's ribs and leaving his shoulders and upper torso exposed to the chilly air. One hand thrown behind his head, his mouth open and snoring, Axel was in a sleep so deep it would be a miracle if anything could wake him.

Roxas gulped and squeezed his sheets, looking at the floor guiltily. The alters in his head were still subdued under the alcohol, but they'd be awake soon and Roxas was too tired to deal with them.

Somewhere in the house a teaspoon clinked and the noise echoed through the building. A door closed softly downstairs and muttering could be heard. Someone was awake. Roxas held his sheets tighter and chewed his lower lip, finally making up his mind.

The blond groggily shook his covers off and stumbled out of bed, his feet sinking into the fluff of the cool carpet. He waited for a moment, holding his breath and looking at Axel, still sat on his bed with his hands gripping the mattress, too dazed to think of moving.

Someone laughed softly downstairs and Roxas looked over his shoulder at the closed door, shivering. Gathering his courage, he stood from the bed and almost wobbled into the lamp, holding onto the post for balance as he kneeled by Axel's bed and gently shook the redhead's shoulder.

"Axel?" he whispered, scared to raise his voice.

"Ngh…" Axel rolled onto his front and hugged his pillow. "Too early, Dem."

Roxas almost withdrew back to his bed, but one look at the cold sheets and the door beyond it had him wriggled with fear. He shook Axel's shoulder again, insistently this time.

"Axel!" he hissed.

"Eh?" One eye opened blurrily, still half asleep. "Ro's?"

Roxas grabbed a fistful of Axel's covers, trying not to admire the perfect muscles and blemish-free skin. He looked down again, staring at the sheets in his hands.

Axel turned on a side, both eyes shut as he smacked his lips sleepily together. "S'up?"

"I don't…" Roxas looked back at the door again, as if expecting someone to walk through it and catch him, though he couldn't understand why that particular thought both terrified and thrilled him. He blushed a dark red. "I don't like sleeping like that. I like the wall."

"The wall?" Axel raised an eyebrow, peeked an eye open and yawned, running a hand down the brick wall on his other side.

"Y-yeah. Can I… Can we… Change places? Please?"

Axel closed his eye and shuffled close to the wall. "I jus' got comfy."

"But-"

"Climb in."

"H-huh?" Roxas looked around the quiet room, checking they were alone. "B-but I-"

"'S ok," Axel said, smiling in his dreamy state.

"But what about… About being professional? I thought…"

"Not doin' anythin' wrong," Axel slurred, pulling the covers back.

Roxas tentatively sat on the end of the bed, his mind racing and his heart thundering in his chest. His pulse was too quick. He couldn't think. Twice he almost laid down but his elbow jerked and refused to bend, his mind racing with thoughts of what this meant or could mean or should mean and why it shouldn't happen but was definitely going to.

"Roxas, it's jus' sleep," Axel mumbled, reaching out.

His cold fingers found Roxas's arm and gently pushed the elbow joint, helping Roxas lay down and feeling the blond trembling under his touch. He shared the pillow, half each, his side cold and Roxas's warm, and when he was sure that Roxas was laid down he grabbed the covers and swung it over both of them, closing his eyes.

Roxas couldn't breathe. At some point the air had just stopped coming. He looked at Axel sleeping beside him, his head on the warmth of the pillow. He kept his arms to himself, laying as far on the edge of the bed as he could manage without falling over, exposing his back to the mystery of what was beyond him. He remembered the day, remembered that it was the day after Friday, Saturday, and he shivered for a whole other reason.

"Axel, I really wanna sleep near the wall."

"Roxas, the others aren't here, I promise."

"But… B-but I can't…" He looked down at his hands under the covers and felt stupid. "Sorry."

"It's ok," Axel said, rubbing his hand up Roxas's arm. "Turn over."

"O-over?" Roxas blushed crimson.

"To sleep, Rox," Axel smiled, peeking an eye open. His heart thumped a little harder when he saw Roxas struggling to understand, his cheeks bright red. "Go on, roll over."

Confused, Roxas turned over, facing the door with his back to Axel, the covers pulled up to his chin.

'What are you doing?!' Alter Vanitas shrieked, forcing Roxas to twitch and cover his eye. 'You never turn your back on someone. He's like the others, he could-'

'He wouldn't,' Alter Sora snapped back. 'He's not like them!'

'He's exactly like them! Turn your back on him and your pants will be round your ankles before you can blink. Just kick this sorry fucker out of bed and sleep near the wall, Roxas!'

'It'll be okay,' Alter Sora said softly.

'It won't!'

'It will.'

Roxas was trembling, his heart racing, his fingers gripping the sheets so tight that his knuckles burned white. He tensed his back, legs and lower half, burying his nose in the covers and waiting for the same chill that came with every forceful touch he was used to. But instead of the force a hand looped around his waist and pulled him back so he was cocooned between Axel's chest and the world. The redhead's breath was hot on the nape of his neck and the blond's eyes opened in complete shock. He looked down at the thumb stroking his belly and the hand holding him tight, shrinking back a little further against the warmth of Axel's chest.

"See?" Axel said, squeezing Roxas tighter. "You're safe here. I'll look after you."

An incredibly warm feeling fit to burst burned in Roxas's chest and he smiled, closing his eyes. He held Axel's hand to his belly and cuddled under the warmth, his eyes slipping shut and his alters fading away.

Behind him, now fully awake, Axel yawned and squeezed the blond tighter, his own cheeks tinted with colour. For five minutes he stayed still, listening to the birds waking up outside and running his thumb over the blond's stomach, his mind lulled.

How long has it been since I held someone like this? Since Larxene? He mentally snorted. She was never this cute. Wait, what? He shrugged the thought away and pressed his hand to Roxas's forehead, frowning. He's too hot.

Soft footsteps and the sound of someone yawning echoed beyond the door and Axel tensed, pulling the blond closer to him. Roxas moaned in his sleep and cuddled Axel's hand.

The handle turned and the door opened just enough to let a mop of brunet hair and sleepy badly bruised blue eyes look in. Sora looked across at them, his nose bandaged across the middle, nodded sleepily, and shut the door.

"Wait…" Axel heard the brunet mumble before the door burst open again and Sora stood completely horrified. "What the hell?"

"Shh!" Axel whispered. "Close the door."

Sora fumbled for the handle, gave up, and nudged it shut with his foot. He walked across the room numbly, sitting down on Roxas's abandoned bed with wide eyes staring at the sleeping teenager wrapped in the doctor's arms.

"Okay," he said quietly, glaring at Axel. "You have five minutes to explain before I rat your sorry arse out to Ventus."

Axel rolled his eyes. "It's not like that. Our relationship is professional-"

"No," Sora cut across, shaking his head. "No, a boss and an employee is professional. This," he indicated to Roxas in Axel's bed and arms. "I don't have words to describe what the fuck this is."

"You don't understand," Axel said softly, propping himself up on an elbow and leaving his arm looped around Roxas, ignoring the brunet's scowl. "Roxas was in the adjoining bed, but I made a mistake putting him there. He doesn't like sleeping in open spaces, he likes to have a wall to put his back against."

"Why?"

"Because…" Axel chewed his lower lip. "Because-"

"Because if not I get scared that the others might do something," Roxas whispered, surprising them both. He held Axel's hand tighter and buried his nose in the covers. "Axel was just trying to help."

"Others?" Sora raised an eyebrow. "You mentioned these before. Who are they?"

Roxas shook his head and squeezed Axel so hard that the redhead grunted. "Nobody. Sora, I… I'm sorry. What I said the other day, I didn't mean it."

"What you said?"

"About something being wrong with you. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I don't mind, Roxy."

Roxas looked up at the nickname and smiled. "Thanks."

"But you know, if your relationship is purely professional then there's no reason why you should be in bed together."

"Purely… professional?" Roxas frowned. "But I like Axel."

"What?!"

"But I've explained things to you, right, Rox?" Axel said, taking his hand away.

"Well, yeah, but-"

"You can't have explained things that well if you're laid topless in bed with my little brother," Sora growled.

"No, h-he did," Roxas stammered, sitting up. "If I get rid of my alters then we… we can… you know."

"You know?" Sora asked.

"Roxas, we will not 'you know'. It takes time for a healthy relationship to get to that stage," Axel said.

"Holy crap, are you talking about sex?!" Sora couldn't believe it. "Roxas, you're only seventeen."

"So? I've had lovers before."

"What?" Sora rubbed his forehead, unable to believe his ears. "Who?"

"Others," Roxas admitted.

"What others? You keep mentioning them, but who are they?"

"Alright, that's enough," Axel said, sitting up beside Roxas and resting a hand on the uneasy blond's shoulder. "Sora, you're pushing too much."

"What?" Sora looked between them, completely baffled. "Is it you?" he asked Axel.

"No! No, it's not him," Roxas protested. "The others, they… they're…"

"Roxas, you don't have to push yourself," Axel said.

"No, no I…" Roxas swallowed a heavy breath and looked at Sora, his eyes stinging and his chest heavy. "The others, when they came, they… three of them and they…"

"It's okay, Rox," Axel said, rubbing up the blond's back. "Sora, can I have a word in private."

Sora nodded. "Sure."

Axel stood and reached over to the bedside unit, passing Roxas one of his inhalers. "Try to calm down, Rox. It'll be okay, I promise."

Roxas nodded and Axel led Sora out into the hallway, closing the door softly around him and making sure they were alone. The cold air stung his chest and the carpets kept the bottom of his feet warm but not the top.

Sora crossed his arms. "So you're fucking my little brother?"

"No." Axel folded his own arms. "And I'd appreciate it if you'd stop saying it like that. Yes, Roxas has an interest me, but as I explained to Ventus yesterday it's merely an attachment he's formed to something of stability in his life."

Sora saw through the technical jargon. "Do you like him?"

"Whether I like him or not is irrelevant. Roxas is my patient and our relationship is professional."

"It looked it." Sora stopped and rubbed the back of his neck. "So, uh, these others. Do you wanna tell me about them?"

"It's difficult."

"Why? Are they friends?"

"Definitely not."

"Other doctors?"

"The opposite really."

Sora frowned. "So they're other patients in the asylum who Roxas doesn't like? Hang on, I thought people in that asylum weren't supposed to mix. Roxas was alone on that floor."

"That's what I thought at first too," Axel said. "But that place is definitely corrupted. If I tell you what I know it can't leave your lips. You can't tell anyone."

"Not even Vanitas and Ventus?"

Axel paused. "Okay. Only Ventus and Vanitas though. Family always has a right to know."

"A right to know what?"

"A right to know that there little brother's been r-"

SLAM!

Roxas flew from the room and knocked Axel into the wall, landing in a heap on the floor with the redhead underneath him. He twitched and pushed his palms down across Axel's lips, trying hard not to hurt him but itching with the desire to act out. He twitched again, his entire left side spasaming.

"You bastard redhead! You promised us you wouldn't tell! You fucking promised!"

Axel pulled Roxas's hands from his lips. "Roxas-"

"My name is not Roxas!"

"Vanitas," Axel gasped, the wind knocked out of him with Roxas sat on his chest, the whole house awake. "Calm down."

"Fuck you!"

Sora walked forwards, trying to intervene. "Roxas-"

"My name's not fucking Roxas?! Didn't I just say that? You never fucking listen!"

Alter Vanitas lunged for Sora but before he could get far Axel caught him and pinned him to the wall, both on their knees. He kept an arm across the blond's upper chest and pinned both arms up over his head, struggling to keep him still as the teen thrashed and kicked out.

"Ow! Roxas-mph!-Roxas, calm down!"

"My name's not Roxas!"

Auron stepped out of his room at the same time as Kairi, the sound of charging feet running up the steps before Vanitas and Ventus were on the landing and yanking Sora back. Auron pushed Rai and Tidus back in their room and locked it when they tried to come out, telling them to stay inside.

"Kairi, you too."

"But, dad-"

"Now."

She saw the fury in her father's eye and with a sad glance at Sora she withdrew into her room, leaving the three brothers, Axel, Roxas and Auron alone on the landing.

"What's going on?" Auron asked, standing tall in baggy bottoms and a loose dressing gown.

"You promised you wouldn't tell!" Alter Vanitas snapped at Axel, still fighting to free his hands. "You fucking promised, you bastard redhead!"

"Will you just calm down?" Axel grunted, avoiding a knee to his stomach.

Vanitas stepped into the ring to help but Ventus dragged him back by his arm. 'No. Not us.'

"He needs help," Vanitas said.

Ventus shook his head. 'Take Sora downstairs.'

"But-"

'Now, Vanitas.'

Vanitas tensed, looked over his shoulder at Roxas finally calming down on the floor, and growled. "Fine. Too early for this shit anyway. Come on, Sora."

"But, I-"

"I wasn't asking," Vanitas said, grabbing Sora's arm and dragging him downstairs.

Ventus listened to them leave and rolled his eyes. Walking to the stairs, he looked round the side and glared at them as they sat halfway up hoping to eavesdrop. 'I mean it. All the way down.'

Vanitas scoffed and whilst Sora stammered about wanting to stay and see Kairi Vanitas pushed him along. When they were both safely at the bottom Ventus returned to the scene.

At some point Axel had released Roxas's arms and now the panting blond was hugging his doctor, his face buried into his neck, both of their chests heaving. Axel gasped for breath. The attack had completely taken him by surprise and although there had been no injuries the struggle had been tough.

"You promised," Roxas said, his voice muffled by Axel's neck, shivering all over. "You promised me."

"I'm sorry, Rox, I just thought they should know."

"There's nothing for them to know," Roxas said, his voice breaking. "It wasn't r… it wasn't ra…" He shook his head and squeezed Axel tight. "It wasn't that!"

Axel rubbed a hand up Roxas's back to soothe him, both still knelt on the floor. He looked over the blond's head at Ventus. "Okay, Rox, it wasn't. We don't have to label it."

'Label what?' Ventus asked uselessly. Nobody could understand him.

"It wasn't," Roxas said, finally calming down.

"Okay, Rox, okay," Axel soothed.

Roxas hiccupped and twitched. "Ho pensato che avrei potuto fidarmi di te."

Axel released the blond, but the thin arms stayed wrapped around him. "Rox, you know I don't understand Ventus."

Ventus stood dumbfounded in the background, unsure of what was happening.

Roxas smiled and leaned back, still holding onto Axel. "No estoy Ventus. Soy Roxas."

"Huh?" Axel looked at Auron. "You're a translator, right?"

"Yes," Auron said, frowning. "But it's difficult. He's switching between languages too fast."

Roxas smiled. "He means I switched from Italian to Spanish before he had time to process it."

"Roxas?" Axel asked unsurely.

Roxas lowered himself down and sat comfortably in Axel's lap. "I don't think I need Ventus anymore." He looked up at Ventus quickly. "Oh, no not you. Erm… my Ventus. This Ventus." He tapped his head. "Does that make sense?"

Ventus nodded.

"Wait, you don't need him anymore? You can make the conscious decision to get rid of him?" Axel asked, looking at the blond sat on him and feeling incredibly cold in the hallway.

"Well, no not exactly. He was here yesterday but he's been gone a long time. It feels a little emptier inside, you know? I didn't know I knew so much stuff. I mean, seven languages? I'm a freakin' genius!"

"So Ventus is gone now?"

Roxas looked down. "It's making Sora and Vanitas uneasy. I think it's because I don't need Ventus anymore."

"You don't need him?"

"Well, no." Roxas looked up. "I have you."

Axel smiled. "Yeah?"

"Ja. Haben Sie vergessen? Du versprach, mich zu kümmern. Du sind wie einen Goldfisch."

Auron laughed and Axel raised an eyebrow at him. "Care to give me a free translation? I think I heard something about a goldfish."

Auron laughed louder, snorting into the back of his hand and ignoring his kids banging on their doors to come out. Roxas rubbed his eyes and yawned.

"I feel sick."

"Probably because you came in drunk," Axel said, gently pushing Roxas off him and standing. He stretched in the hallway and sighed. "I should probably get ready for work."

"You're going back there?" Roxas asked. "Why?"

"Because I have rent to pay," Axel said. "I'll be back tonight though. You won't notice me gone."

"I won't?"

"Nope. You're staying in bed today." Axel looked at Ventus. "He'll have to stay warm and drink plenty of fluids. Although he seems to be recovering-"

"Sorry," Roxas mumbled. "Vanitas just crept up on me."

"-you should probably keep an eye on him," Axel finished.

Ventus nodded and Axel went back into the bedroom to retrieve his shirt. Roxas and Ventus followed him whilst Auron shepherded his kids out of their rooms and down the stairs, catching Vanitas and Sora trying to sneak back up and personally marching them all to the kitchen.

Upstairs, in the bedroom, Axel found his shirt and threw it over his head, tucking it into his pants and pulling on his shoes.

"Axel, I don't want you to go," Roxas said, standing in the doorway with Ventus behind him. "It's bad."

"It'll be fine. Ventus is going to keep an eye on you-"

"I don't need someone to keep an eye on me. I'm fine. Please, don't go back there."

"Roxas, I have to work." Axel finished putting on his shoes and smiled, resting a hand on the young blond's shoulder. "It'll be fine, I promise."

"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep," Roxas said, his left eye twitching. "Please, Axel."

"The duckling's downstairs so you'll have to look after it. I'll see you tonight," Axel said, moving Roxas out the way and walking by Ventus. The older blond nodded his recognition and waved as Axel rounded the steps, catching Roxas around the middle when the teen tried to chase after his doctor.

Axel waved goodbye to the others downstairs and closed the front door, shivering in the cold autumn air and climbing into his car. The drive back to his apartment was long, but he arrived within twenty five minutes due to sparse traffic. He couldn't be bothered to climb the steps so he used the lift, searched his apartment quickly, deducted that Demyx was already at work, changed, and left for work.

Xehanort sat nervously across from Ansem Wise. The man was seventy years old but looked as strong as forty; tall, strong, muscled, defined, blond, chiselled jaw, coloured stubble, blue eyes, a deep voice and charm. Perfect.

Ansem smacked his lips together and his cup clanked on its saucer as he put it down, staring at his employee in the back office. The three security guards on his left and right stood tall with their arms behind their backs, their eyes covered with shades.

"Too much sugar, Xehanort," Ansem said, crossing one leg over the other.

"Sir, I… Yes. Yes, too much. Sorry, I-"

"Stop babbling." Ansem said, glaring at him. "I am here to talk business and I don't need you barking at my heels."

"Sir?"

"I have left you in charge of this facility for… nine years? It seems so much shorter." He chuckled. "Very good. Alright, Xehanort, explain to me your failures. I will rectify your mistakes."

"Sir, not really failures, b-but-"

"You have a high turnover."

"Sir, but with the secrets here, my staff-"

"Are you saying this is my fault, Xehanort? Think carefully."

"No! No, I never-"

"You have a high turnover. Fix it."

"Y-yes, sir." Xehanort looked down and the security guards clicked their knuckles.

"But that is not the reason I am here." Ansem waved his hand, as if all other matters were trivial. "I have come regarding my grandson. You've lost him?"

"No, sir. He's been discharged."

"By whom?"

"Doctor Axel Flint. A new employee. Sir, if I might ask," Xehanort licked his dry lips and shuffled forward in his seat. "Why's it so important P13 stay? Can't we let the brat go?"

Ansem brushed the dust off his knee. "Has your son stopped enjoying himself?"

"N… No"

"Then we cannot allow P13 to leave, can we?" Ansem smirked. "It is best you not ask any more than that. I will see to it that P13 returns to this facility."

Ansem stood, ending the conversation. Xehanort spluttered behind him and Ansem opened the door, walking out into the main lobby and wrapping his scarf around his neck. Security followed him, all in a line, and as he approached the desk he smiled and nodded politely to Namine.

"Good morning, Miss."

"O-oh." Namine blushed and dropped her head. "Good morning, sir."

"Such a pretty face. It is a good thing we have you working for us, eh?" He chuckled and headed for the doors, but before he could reach them the turntable turned and Axel came yawning and dragging his feet into the asylum.

Rubbing his eyes, he saw Namine's horrified stare and looked at the men in front of him, then back at the security officer behind him. Xehanort and Zexion were nobody around, and the cheery blond man in front of him.

"Hello. A new recruit, I suppose?" He smiled and his eyes crinkled in the corner. "My name is Ansem. I help out from time to time."

Axel looked at the guards behind Ansem, watching the men whisper things into their earpieces. Finally he shook Ansem's outstretched hand. "It's a pleasure," he mumbled, completely confused. "I'm Doctor Flint."

"Doctor Flint?" Ansem chuckled. "I see. Well, excuse me. I have some business to attend. Come, gentlemen." He motioned to the guards behind him, smiled warmly at Axel, and passed without another word.

Axel watched the men leave and shrugged his shoulders back, leaning over Namine's desk. "Who was that?"

"You don't know?" She pulled her headset down from her ears and let it hang around her neck. "Mister Wise is one of the main benefactors of the asylum. He gives a lot of money to this place."

"Does he know that the funds are swept under the rug?" Axel asked, looking over his shoulder.

"He insists on it."

"Insists on it?"

"Yes." Namine shuffled uncomfortably. "Weird things happen here." She leaned in close and cupper her hands around her lips. "It's like a cover up."

"He's paying people to keep quiet?" Axel whispered, cautious of the security guard standing stiffly beside the revolving doors. "Why?"

"Because it's in his best interests. Rumour has it he's a relative of someone inside, but Xehanort never says who and the rest of us are too afraid to ask. The only other person who knows is Zexion."

"Uh-huh… Speaking of Zexion, where is he?"

"Oh, you haven't heard? He quit last night."

"He quit?!"

"Yes. Out of the blue, apparently." She leaned back in her seat and looked quickly at her monitor. "How is P13?"

"Settling well," Axel said, still unable to believe the news that Zexion wasn't there. "I think I'm going to spend some time going over Roxas's files. Unless you need me up here?"

"No, that's fine," Namine smiled.

Axel smiled back heading towards the lift and running a hand back through his hair.

Just what the hell is going on?

Roxas was laid on Auron's couch, cocooned in a thick blanket with his eyes closed and a warm flannel resting on his hot forehead. Kairi had wrapped him so tight he felt like a swaddled newborn, his arms and legs restricted to his sides. The living room was quiet. The only sound came from the ticking clock on the mantelpiece and Ventus occasionally turning the page of his newspaper on the other side of the room. The other occupants in the house had slowly left: the boys, Rai and Tidus, had gone to school and college; Ansem and Kairi were at work, Sora had decided to take some business calls upstairs and set up a small office in Kairi's room, and Vanitas went for a drive two hours ago.

Ventus turned the page again and Roxas raised his eyebrow just enough to move the flannel so he could peek an eye open and see the older blond sat across from him. Ventus wore a perfect fitting white shirt with the top two buttons undone, loosely tucked into his trousers with his sleeves rolled up and folded to his elbows. He rested the paper on his crossed legs and frowned.

'I know you're awake.'

Roxas jumped when the hands moved and quickly closed his eyes.

Ventus smiled, looking up from his paper. He folded his paper and rested it on the arm, reaching out and picking up a notepad and pen before he wrote: What's wrong?

Roxas wriggled enough to loosen an arm and lift the flannel, squinting to read. "Nothin'."

Are you thirsty?

The ache in Roxas's throat became inflamed at the thought of a drink, but he shook his head. "No."

Need anything?

"No."

Ventus frowned thoughtfully. Do you want to talk?

"'Bout what?"

Anything.

"You sound like a shrink," Roxas whispered.

Sorry. It's how they train us in law school.

"You're a lawyer?"

Barrister.

"Really?" Roxas propped himself up and coughed into his fist, dragging the flannel down from his forehead. "That's pretty cool."

Ventus smiled. At least someone thinks so. Vanitas and Sora think it's made me stiff.

"Vanitas and Sora…" Roxas rubbed the back of his head. "This is really it, right? Vanitas said I don't have to go back to the asylum, but I…" He twitched and rubbed it away. "I don't want to go back."

You won't be going back. He stood and walked to the couch, sitting down near Roxas's feet and leaning back, ignoring the smaller blond's grunt at the additional weight. Can I ask a personal favour?

Roxas leaned back warily. "How personal?"

Nothing too bad, I hope. I want to see your scar. Ventus paused for a moment. Do you know the one I mean?

"I know." He pulled his feet out from under Ventus and tucked them to his chest, his left eye twitching. "If I show you… you'll let me stay?"

Ventus reached over and patted Roxas's knee. I'm not going to leave one of my brothers behind.

Roxas nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Th-the door's locked, right?"

It's locked.

Throwing the covers back, Roxas reached down to his belt and threaded his fingers through it, giving it a quick tug but stopping at his button. "Just a quick look, right? One look. No more. No touching, no nothing. Just looking?"

Just one look, Ventus scribbled, turning to face him. I promise.

Thin fingers threaded the button and Roxas lifted his top just a little on one side, coaxing his jeans down. His fingers shook as he revealed the burn, his pale skin covered in goosebumps.

Ventus reached out.

"No!" Roxas yanked his top back down, buttoned his jeans, and smacked Ventus's hand away. "No! You said just looking. You said!"

I'm sorry. I just… He stopped writing and looked at the teen shivering in front of him. I'm sorry.

"You're the only one I've shown. You, a-and Axel."

Axel? Ventus chewed his cheek. You're close to him, aren't you?

"He's the only one that helped. When the others came he tried to stop them." Roxas looked away. "He got hurt because of me."

Hurt? Did you attack him?

"No! I mean, well, Vanitas did once…" Roxas twitched and rubbed his eye. "He bit him. But that was a different time."

Ventus's eyebrows shot up. You bit him?

"No, Vanitas did. We were upset and they were sedating us again."

They sedated you? Ventus turned the page, scribbling so fast that his wrist ached. Because you bit him?

"No, they sedate us all the time. Keeps us quiet."

All the time?

"It hurts and I hate it. I don't want to talk about this. I don't like it. Why are you making me?"

I need to know, Ventus admitted, sitting comfortably. You were happy talking about Axel.

"I like talking about Axel," Roxas admitted, blushing and playing with the quilt.

Yeah? Ventus smiled. Do you know why?

"I like him," Roxas shrugged.

Do you like-like him or just like him?

Roxas's cheeks glowed crimson and he dipped his head. He shrugged.

Ventus rested his hand on Roxas's shoulder, scooting closer. There's nothing wrong with that.

"There's not?"

No. You like who you like.

"Axel explained that it's okay for two men to… you know. But not us. Just patient and doctor."

Is that okay with you?

"I don't want to get him in trouble. He says that until these go," he tapped his head, "I can't… we can't…" He deflated, staring at his lap.

Ventus sat and thought for a moment, twisting the pen in his hands before he finally put it to paper. What if I can help?

Roxas looked up. "How?"

I have a friend in the US. A man I'd trust with my life. He's a psychiatrist. I can have him take a look at your case if you'd like.

Roxas wrinkled his nose. "Another doctor?"

He owes me a favour. How about I employee him as your personal psychiatrist? He's world-class.

"But I like Axel."

If Terra was your doctor then Axel wouldn't be. Your relationship would no longer be professional.

"It wouldn't?" Roxas perked up but quickly dismissed it. "I'm not sure. I don't know."

Think about it, Ventus wrote.

"Thanks," Roxas said, his lips twitching in a small smile.

"I'm back!" Vanitas yelled, slamming the front door behind him. "Ouch! Heavy piece of – Sit still!"

Roxas sat up straighter. "What's going on?"

I sent Vanitas out to get you a special present.

"Present? Really?" Roxas beamed, coughing into his fist and rubbing his hot forehead. "I haven't had a present for years."

You'll like this, Ventus wrote, his eyes sparkling.

Vanitas stumbled into the living room, his cheeks bright red and his keys hanging from his teeth. His dark hair was more windswept than ever before and in his arms, whining and licking his neck with his little paws kicking out to try and climb up Vanitas's chest, was an old chubby Westie with little eyes, a thick white fringe, and its tongue poking out.

The Westie looked up and slobbered all over Vanitas again.

"Urgh! Stupid mutt, gerroff! Ventus, my car, there is fur everywhere! And the spit!"

'I'll clean it,' Ventus signed, standing and taking the old dog from Vanitas. The heavy white lump in his arms wiggled and wagged its stumpy tail, happy to see him and licking his cheek.

Roxas sat frozen on the couch. He watched the small dog in Ventus's arms, his breath too light and fast for him to catch it, his heart thumping loudly. "Is that…"

The dog's ears picked up and it tried to see over Ventus's shoulder.

"Doodle," Vanitas finished, crossing his arms gruffly. "The thing still isn't dead."

'You know you love him,' Ventus signed awkwardly, smirking at his younger brother.

"I love my car. What that beast has done-"

"It's really Doodle?" Roxas asked, trying to see around Ventus's back so he could see the dog. "Is it really?"

Remembering the whole reason for flying the animal out first class, Ventus turned and showed Roxas to Doodle for the first time in ten years. The little dog looked at him for a moment and sniffed the air, trying to lean out of Ventus's arms before it wagged it's stumpy tale unbelievably fast and struggled, yapping and kicking and panting in an attempt to get to the couch. Ventus almost dropped him, catching him just before he hit the ground and setting the fat Westie on the ground, it's belly almost scraping against the carpet.

Doodle barked and yapped, waddling to Roxas and trying hard to jump on the couch, it's back legs sticking out over the end of the sofa. Roxas lifted him up and hugged the Westie tight, burying his face in the fur and the comfortable smell of home, letting the dog lick his face and neck and nibble on the collar of his shirt while it laid on his chest and squashed the air out of him.

Roxas laughed, ruffling the dog's fur. "Hello, Doodle."

Doodle tucked his head under Roxas's chin and folded his ears back, his tail wagging slowly and his eyes and muzzle wet.

'Looks like someone was missed,' Ventus signed to Vanitas.

Vanitas smiled and nodded, rubbing the back of his head. "Looks like it. Oi, Sora! Get your arse down here!"

"What?!"

"Your arse, get it down here!" Vanitas yelled. "Doodle's here!"

"Doodle?" Sora's confused voice was followed by the sound of fast footsteps jumping the bottom step. The brunet pushed open the door and entered the living room, looking around and grinning when he saw Doodle hugging Roxas. "Someone was missed."

Ventus smiled and Vanitas rolled his eyes, both shaking their heads.

Knock! Knock!

"I'll get it," Sora said, pushing past Vanitas and heading out into the hallway.

He opened the door, feeling a rush of cold autumn air. Stood outside was a man with silver hair and a parcel under his arms with a young boy stood beside him and rubbing his eyes. Sora stared at them, blinked, and rubbed the back of his head.

"Did we order something?"

"May I speak to Roxas please?" the man said, his face expressionless.

"Why?"

"Zexion, let's go!" the young boy whined, pulling on his brother's trouser leg. "We're gonna miss the train."

"It'll be okay, Riku," Zexion said, taking his little brother's hand in his own and squeezing it. He turned to Sora. "May I speak with Roxas?"

"He's sick," Sora said, looking at them both sceptically.

"This will only take a moment," Zexion said, intruding and stepping around Sora, marching to the living room with Riku close behind.

"Do come in," Sora muttered, shutting the front door and following Zexion and Riku back through to the living room.

Roxas sat up and Doodle slipped down his lap. "Zexion? I don't understand…"

"Who the hell are you?" Vanitas asked.

"He's an employee at the asylum," Roxas said.

"Oh no. No, you're not taking him back," Vanitas snapped. He started forward but Ventus held him back. The oldest brother raised a curious eyebrow and waited patiently for Zexion to speak, holding all of his siblings in check.

"Roxas," Zexion started, his lips itching to smile but his face still too beaten and busted to manage the movement. "I want you to know that I've quit."

"Quit?" Roxas itched behind his dog's ears. "Quit the asylum?"

"Yes. This is my brother Riku. Riku, this is an old friend of mine."

Riku waved, hiding behind his brother and clinging to Zexion's pants. "Hi."

"Hey," Roxas said softly, still confused. "So you won't be at the asylum anymore?" he asked Zexion.

The silver-haired man shook his head. "I am leaving London. But I have something that I think you might like before I go."

"For me?" Roxas took the parcel Zexion offered with his head tilted curiously to the side. "What is it?"

"Something you keep forgetting."

"Keep forgetting?" Roxas peeled the paper back. It rustled loudly in the quiet room and the blond beamed when he saw the faded sketchbook beneath the wrapping. He cuddled it close, holding Doodle with one hand and his book with the other. "Thanks, Zexion."

Zexion's lips twitched into what was almost a smile. "Try to remember it this time. If you ever need me for anything feel free to call, Roxas. Though I have a feeling you'll be just fine. One thing, though. Tell Doctor Flint to quit."

"Why?" Sora asked, folding his arms near the door. "It's a good job."

"It's a bad place," Zexion corrected. "Something big is happening. Make sure he isn't a part of it."

"Something big?" Vanitas snorted. "You mean like some kind of gangster movie? Are we gonna rob a bank?"

Zexion's attempt at a smile disappeared. "A little more subtle than that."

"Will you stop speaking in riddles?" Vanitas asked, huffing. "I get tired trying to decode things. Why don't you save us the hassle and just tell us?"

'What's happening at the asylum?' Ventus signed. Sora translated.

Zexion covered Riku's ears. "Roxas, please believe me when I tell you it's a good idea to break your curfew and leave London."

"Leave?" Roxas frowned. "But Axel said I have to stay."

"Take him with you. One of the bosses has come back, one of the men we are all afraid of, and he has numbers to make up. Xehanort and the others-"

"What is it with these 'others'?" Vanitas asked. "I don't get it. I mean, sure, I'm pretty damn thick, but even I know this is some crazy kind of secret bullshit that you need to open your mouths and talk about." He took a deep breath and turned to Roxas. "What aren't you telling us? What happened?"

Ventus frowned and put his hand on Vanitas's shoulder, pushing him back.

"No!" Vanitas barked, slapping his brother's hand away. "I wanna know. I need to know what happened after that fire. How are you here, Roxas? God knows I'm over the moon that you're back, we all are, we're fucking ecstatic, but you've left some pretty big holes that you need to start filling. We've explained our side of the story, it's about time you shared yours." How did you end up in that place and who are these others?

Roxas's mouth opened and closed like an unsure goldfish, stammering random letters. He twitched and rubbed at it too hard with his knuckles, the skin red, hurting and inflamed, his breaths too quick, his pulse racing. "I… I can't." He swallowed a sob and closed his eyes. "No, I can't do it!"

Zexion sighed. "Let me tell you what I know."

"No!" Roxas tried to jump up but his breath caught in his chest and he bent double coughing, still holding tight to Doodle, his sketchbook slipping off his knee and thudding on the floor.

Ventus sat beside him, rubbing his back gently whilst Zexion coughed and cleared his throat.

"It's a long story," he said, looking at the Strife brothers and gently nudging Riku to go wait on the stairs in the hallway. When he knew his brother was safe out of earshot he sighed, refusing to look at Roxas's pleading stare. "You aren't going to like it, but I won't leave anything out. You might want to sit down."

20 Minutes Later

Ventus set Zexion and Riku to the door.

For a moment Zexion opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but Ventus closed his eyes with a heavy sigh and shut the door on the doctor's face. Through the spyhole he watched the man's shadow hover on the doorstep for a moment but ignored it, turning his back on the door and re-entering the living room.

On the right, sat on the arm of the chair and staring at Roxas wide eyed, Vanitas swallowed a painful breath, unsure of what to say. He was pale, his lips parted and his body swaying. He looked at Roxas for a long time before he turned to Ventus. "I don't know what to do."

Upstairs Ventus heard the sound of Sora retching over the toilet seat and he shook his head at Vanitas. 'You can't do anything.'

The oldest brother walked into the room and sat down beside Roxas, the couch dipping under his light weight. Ventus looked sideways at the shaking blond covering his face. Roxas muttered occasionally, tensed when his body twitched too hard or too fast, his body sweating and coughing with the effects of the flu. Ventus tried to touch him, but Roxas pulled away.

"Don't."

Ventus frowned and gently touched his trembling brother's shoulder.

Roxas buckled and a half sob caught in his throat. "No. No, please don't. It wasn't… It wasn't that. I don't want pity."

"We don't pity you, Roxas," Vanitas said, his voice sombre, lacking its usual sarcasm.

Roxas kept his eyes covered. "Just leave me alone."

Sora wobbled into the living room, taking a deep breath and refusing to lift his eyes from the floor. Vanitas shuffled along the couch and tugged his brother down.

"How you feeling?"

Sora shook his head. "Can't take it in."

"I don't know why you're making such a big deal," Roxas ground out.

"It's a big deal because you're our brother," Sora said. "Our little brother, Roxas. To have something like that happen-"

"It didn't just happen," Roxas spat. "It wasn't spontaneous, it wasn't a moment of nothing and it doesn't have anything to do with any of you, so just let it fucking drop!"

"Roxas, I didn't mean-"

"Didn't mean what? To upset me?" Roxas snorted and looked up, glaring at all three of them and shoving Ventus's hand away. "I don't know you. I don't know any of you. How can you say things like that, like I've wounded you, like I've set out to upset you, how can you say that and not expect me to get just a little bit pissed off?"

"Hey, he said he didn't mean it," Vanitas said.

Roxas twitched and felt the heaviness in his chest sink lower to his gut. He rubbed the ache away from his eyes but couldn't remove the twitch. "Just let it drop."

"How do we let something like this drop?" Vanitas snapped. "How?"

Roxas's twitch tightened over his eye and he winced. "I don't know. Try."

"We can't let this go," Sora said. "We're gonna have to do something, tell someone-"

"No!" Roxas leapt to his feet and clenched his hands into fists. "Nothing happened and nobody needs to know."

"Roxas-"

"I said no! What the fuck don't you understand?"

"Roxas-"

"My name's not Roxas!" the blond spat, crossing his arms. Alter Vanitas scoffed and rolled his eyes at Vanitas's puzzled look and Sora's embarrassment. "What? Don't like it? Tough fucking shit. Roxas doesn't need fakes like you hanging around. He has me."

"Oh not this shit again," Vanitas said, slumping his shoulders forward. "Like it or not, Roxas, you can't hide forever. We need to deal with this sooner or later and it's already out in the open. Grow a pair of balls and let's sort through this."

'Vanitas, that's enough,' Ventus signed, standing slowly and rubbing the back of his neck. He saw Alter Vanitas move nervously away from him and shook his head, looking at his other brothers. 'I think that's enough for one night.'

"But, Ventus-"

'I said enough, Sora.' Ventus's eyes shined dangerously and he scooped Doodle up, hugging him to his side under one arm and grabbing Alter Vanitas's wrist with the other.

"Hey! What the fuck do you think you're doing? Let go!"

Ventus ignored the struggling teen and Doodle's soft whines, ignored his brothers' baffled stares, and dragged the blond to the kitchen. He kicked the kitchen door shut behind him and set Doodle down gently on the ground, ignoring the duck squeaking and swimming in the sink with an upside down bowl as a makeshift rock. He locked the back door, still holding onto the struggling teenager's wrist.

Ventus released his brother's wrist, sinning him around and standing in the way of the kitchen door with the back door key in his hand. Doodle yawned and waddled under the table, his legs flopping out from under him. The duckling squeaked louder and Ventus watched his brother step back and look frantically round the kitchen, as if looking for an escape.

"Let me go," alter Vanitas growled.

Ventus pulled his phone from his pocket, opened a memo, and wrote:

No. We're sorting this.

"Oh for fuck's sake-ah!"

Alter Vanitas yelped when Ventus snatched his arms and dragged him into a tight hug. When the alter struggled Ventus held on tight, his head on the blond's shoulder and his arms interlocked at the teen's back, making sure he couldn't get away. He heard the thick wheezes and saw Alter Vanitas twitch, the exhaustion slowly replacing the aggression.

Ventus chewed his lip for a long time, wincing when the teen's arm jerked and whacked his stomach too hard. Swallowing back an almost audible mouthful of excess saliva, his own heart beating too fast, Ventus swallowed the fear that had been blooming in his chest and turned his lips to his little brother's ear.

"Sorry."

Alter Vanitas froze, eyes wide open, pulse quick. His arms fell slack. The whisper in his ear, the cracked, broken, coarse whisper that could have been an exhalation, it stilled everything. Alter Vanitas twitched too roughly and every piece of anger slipped.

Ventus opened his lips as Roxas regained control, tried to force some sound out of his throat, but nothing else came. He shut his lips tightly and looked away, gripping Roxas tight and letting out a large breath, shivering all over. No more words would come. The courage he'd held onto for so many years had abandoned him and he rested vulnerably in his little brother's arms, both holding each other.

Finally Roxas found some words. Enough for both of them.

"You spoke."

Ventus smiled shakily and nodded.

"But you're mute."

Ventus let Roxas go but kept him at arm's length, typing another memo.

I'm a selective mute. Vanitas and Sora don't know.

"They don't?"

He shook his head. Only you.

"Why… Why me?"

Ventus raised an eyebrow and pulled out a seat at the table, sinking into it. When I was little, after my attack, he rubbed his throat, it took a long time to recover. My voice needed a lot of therapy and I found other ways to communicate. Talking like this, he gestured to his hands, felt safer than using my voice. Sort of like how you say things through different alters.

Roxas was startled. He jumped up onto the kitchen unit and sat on it, stroking the duckling in the sink. "You think so?"

Yes. So, I've told you my biggest secret. You're the only person in the whole world who knows I'm a selective mute.

"I am?" Roxas was amazed. "Is that good?"

I trust you. Do you trust me?

"I don't know you."

Then tell me about yourself. I've told you my biggest secret. Why don't you tell me yours?

Roxas picked up the duckling and shuddered, stroking back it's ruffled feathers. "You mean about… a-about the others?"

If that's your biggest secret.

"Not my biggest."

Ventus frowned. It's not?

Roxas shook his head, letting the duckling down in the sink, holding tight to the edge of the kitchen top. His chest tightened and his eyes began to grow hot with wet tears. "What they did… they were horrible. I hate them! But they… what they did… When they r… When they ra…" He growled. "I can't say it. It's too hard."

Take your time.

The tears fell hotly and left warm streaks on Roxas's red cheeks. "It's too hard, Ventus."

Ventus frowned thoughtfully for a moment before he decided to change tactics. He stroked the top of Doodle's head and typed with one hand.

I'm going to type a list of statements. You tell me if it's true or false and then repeat it. Okay?

Roxas looked at the doors warily but made himself stay still. "'kay."

Your name is Roxas Strife.

"True. My name is Roxas Strife."

Ventus smiled. You lived in an asylum.

"True. My name is Roxas Strife and I lived in an asylum."

You own a goldfish.

Roxas wrinkled his nose. "False. My name is Roxas Strife, I lived in an asylum, but I've never owned a fish."

You, not these alters, were raped.

The tears that had dried on Roxas's cheeks flowed again and he stumbled finding the words. Ventus waited patiently, never removing the words on his phone screen, and finally Roxas looked up from the device, looking in his brother's eyes.

"My name is Roxas Strife, I've lived in an asylum, I've never owned a fish, and me, not my alters… we were-" He stopped, corrected himself, looked at his lap and broke into a fit of fresh sobs. "I was raped. True."

I must have debated with myself for a good four days about whether or not to upload this, but there we go. It's up...

I understand that most selective mutes have anxiety problems, but why Ventus appears confident is all going to be explained in the next chapter, along with a deeper look at Ansem's character and Axel finally cracking now that Ventus is bringing in Terra from the U.S ;)

Also, I know Roxas may have gotten rid of Alter Ventus a little fast, but there is reasoning behind that, too. Have faith in me guys!

Alter Ventus's/Roxas's translations:

Ho pensato che avrei potuto fidarmi di te = I thought I could trust you (Italian).

No estoyVentus. SoyRoxas = I'm not Ventus, I'm Roxas (Spanish).

Ja. Haben Sie vergessen? Du versprach, mich zu kümmern. Du sindwie einen Goldfisch = Yes. Have you forgotten? You promised to take care of me. You are like a goldfish (German).

Anonymous: I'm glad it was worth the wait and I'm really glad you like the story overall! Haha, no kidnap needed, I'll keep updating 'till I finish! I hope you found this chapter interesting too!

miss love: Thank you :) I'm really happy that you like this story! I hope you find this chapter interesting!

mitzi-hindle: Thank you :) I'm very glad that you liked it :) And thanks ^_^' I just get really nervous updating this story because of the content. Especially around the holidays. I don't want someone to click on this story and read something they don't like by accident, so lots of warnings are up lol. Just to cover my own back :) I think poor Vanitas is going to be very overprotective, unless someone puts him in his place lol I hope you find this chapter interesting :) Cheers for the review!

Aiden: I think Axel was mainly covering his back when he said his relationship with Roxas was professional. After all, he could get in a lot of trouble for having a romantic relationship with a patient. I think that the brothers' relationships are going to be rocky for a while, but hopefully it will pick up soon :) Thank you! I'm really glad that you like Kairi's character, even though she only has a small appearance in this fic :) Riku is still in the story, but will only be mentioned a little bit more; him and Zexion, although leaving, are still very much involved in all of the chaos, even if they don't know it yet, poor guys. I'm really glad that you like this story :D Thanks for the awesome review! I hope you find this chapter interesting :D