***Hey guys! Fear not, this story is far from over! Now, let's see what our favorite boys are up to. (David: What?) I told them to read the story. (David: No you didn't, you told them to see what they're favorite boys are up to. I'm a favorite boy.) Dave, you're my brother, of course you're my favorite boy. But you're not their favorite boy. Our common favorite boys are Roxas and Axel. (David: Oh, you're doing that Aky-Rokun stuff, huh?) Yeah. So, I'll just get on with my writing now. (David: Okay. Oh, you want me to leave don't you?) Yeah. (David: Oh. Bye everyone! *waves*) Okay, that was my big brother David. And, here is your fic!***

Roxas Pov

Roxas awoke in a new place, naked. He started shaking violently when he remembered why he was there. But he remembered why he didn't tell anyone, because he wanted to keep Axel safe. It was stupid, he knew, but he didn't want Axel to die, not when the redhead had fought to live on the streets, not now that Axel actually had a family. The thought didn't comfort him much, but it was something to hold on to. Then Vexen came into the room and all good thoughts were erased from Roxas's mind.

Axel Pov

Axel yawned and stretched as he woke up. He smiled lightly and then frowned. Ugh, a school day. He went to the kitchen, since it was only 5:00 in the morning, and he made some pancakes for him and Roxas. He knew that although the blonde didn't want to show it, yesterday had been hard on him. So he deserved a good breakfast, even if it wasn't waffles.

He finished the last one and went to wake up the blonde in question. He called into the dark room, "Rox honey, wake up."

There was no answer. Which was strange, since Roxas was such a light sleeper after all. Axel flipped on the light.

Roxas wasn't there.

"Roxas?" Axel called, panicking. He check all the rooms, running around like a madman and finding that he was the only one left in the house.

"Roxas!" He yelled, over and over. But there was never an answer.

He went back to investigate Roxas's room, and he found a stack of letters in his photo box. And the one on the top said "Axel".

He took it with shaky hands and ripped open the envelope.

"Dear Axel,

I'm sorry. I know you probably won't believe it, but I AM sorry. I… I had to leave. I had to go back. Vexen… he told me he'd kill you if I told anyone, but at least he gave me my time to say my goodbyes. I miss you already, just writing these. And don't blame yourself. Don't you dare blame yourself, it was my choice, this vile man is after me. You had nothing to do with it. I…I hate to ask this of you again, but please find me? I really wish I didn't have to ask, but please? You can… you can dump me or hate me or whatever you want, just please find me. Or get the cops to find me. I'm so sorry, but I did this to save you. I love you. Please believe me when I say-er-write that. I love you more than anything, maybe even more than I love Cloud and Sora. Hope I'll see you soon.

I love you, Roxas."

Axel's legs gave out and he sank to the floor. He couldn't handle this, not again. But… Roxas needed to be saved. And hopefully this time Vexen would die. Axel dried his eyes, which he didn't even know had been leaking tears, and he checked the stack of letters.

Namine, Demyx, Zexion, Marluxia, Larxene, Cloud, Sora, Riku, Kairi, Anastasia, Demitri, even Saix. Axel choked back a sob, realizing that Roxas wrote these because he thought he was going to die, and that the redhead wouldn't be able to save him.

Axel picked up the phone and called the police. Screw the 24 hour law, this note was enough evidence.

One Week Later Roxas Pov

Roxas slowly sat up, sore from the bruises and cuts, but he knew that the worst was yet to come. And with his parents here… this looked like it would be two times as bad as last time.

In fact, his mother was coming in now, holding a bible and some rubbing alcohol. Roxas winced at the thought of what the alcohol was for. Well, at least his cuts wouldn't get infected…

Axel Pov

Axel told himself to calm down, that he would find his little blonde eventually. But that didn't keep him from almost tearing out his hair every time the phone rang and there was no news on Roxas.

One Month Later Roxas Pov

Roxas screamed loudly, though he knew well by now that no one could hear him. He screamed at the top of his lungs, praying to a God he didn't believe in that someone, anyone, would save him from this hell. Vexen smirked and when he was finished, he pulled out some chains.

Even though Vexen had no problem with hurting any other part of Roxas's body, he made sure that his face was never cut. It might become bruised and swollen, but never cut.

As the chains hit Roxas's back, he screamed again, and his frantic praying started up once more.

Axel Pov

Axel was beyond pissed at the police. Sure Hollow Bastion was a big city, and sure there was tins of crime, but there was a big chance that Roxas was still alive and they were taking officers off the case? Fine, that would just mean that Axel would have to work even harder.

Two Months Later Roxas Pov

Roxas was almost at his limit now. He was crying constantly, tears leaking out his permanently swollen shut eyes. His father walked in, drunk like he was every other day for all these two months, and he decided to take out his random rage on Roxas. And Roxas thought to himself, 'and I called this abuse? When I was living with them, this was the worst it got. I should have protected them more, I never should have fallen in love with Axel.'

Then his father's boot connecting with his head caused all thoughts to cease and darkness to take over.

Axel Pov

Axel was in the hospital for exhaustion. He flat out passed out in school. Anastasia knew he would never catch up in his schoolwork like this.

Three Months Later Roxas Pov

It was weird, but Roxas was starting to believe his mother's bible stories and rants. At first he just listened to them to take his mind off where he was, but now…? He didn't know. And the pounding in his head didn't help any either.

Axel Pov

Nothing changed. But no one was giving up hope, not yet.

Four Moths Later Roxas Pov

Every time Roxas thought about his redhead it hurt. It hurt his chest even more than when his mother poured a salt/alcohol mixture on the open wound. And it hurt more than picking glass out of his bare skin hurt, which he was doing now. It hurt so bad.

Axel Pov

Axel thought he found the place but no… it was just where Vexen had ditched the cell phone. But really, that had to mean he was getting closer right? Right?

Five Months Later Roxas Pov

One day, while his mother was demanding he confess all his sins to her, Roxas's mind snapped. He wouldn't move, wouldn't talk, wouldn't eat. They had to shove food and water down his throat for him to live. But he just stared at the walls. It was like he was a mannequin.

Axel Pov

Axel was closer, he could feel it in his bones. It was like he could hear Roxas trying to tell him where he was. But the voice just wasn't loud enough.

Six Months Later

Roxas didn't move. He barley breathed. But Vexen and his parents found it amusing. They thought he had lost the will to live… and after half a year of what hell he went through, they'd be right.

Seven Months Later

Axel found Roxas's sweatshirt. He was close.

Eight Months Later

Roxas snapped out of it. He was hypnotized by his mother's words though. But he hated her. But he knew it was a sin to hate her. And he knew he was a sin. He should not have been born, he should have died, it was all his fault his brother was gay, it was all his fault his brother rebelled, it was all his fault his sister died. It was all his fault his parents lives were ruined. It was all his fault they had to hit him. It was all his fault his friends were miserable. It was all his fault Axel was heartbroken.

No, he couldn't think of Axel like that. He couldn't think of Axel period. He could not love Axel. It was a sin, did he want to go to hell?

Nine Months Later

Roxas had been hit in the head one too many times again and his memories were blurring together with the lies his mother fed him each day along with the salt and alcohol. They were shattered, like the broken glass protruding from his skin.

He deserved it all. Except he didn't deserve what Vexen was doing. What Vexen was doing was wrong, and a sin.

But, Vexen was the devil. So maybe Roxas did deserve it.

Ten Months Later

Axel had the place scanned out, he had all the info… but he had to wait for the police. And wait and wait. For another month. He hoped Roxas could hold on. He needed Roxas to hold on, because he wanted to do this thing right.

Eleven Months Later

Roxas couldn't breathe properly. He was going to die, he could feel it in his bones. The ones that weren't bruised, that is. Vexen was going to kill him soon. And he deserved it. He wanted it, actually. He wanted to die so badly, to escape the pain. He was always in pain, and his head was so confused. He was so confused all the time, he barley knew up from down and definitely didn't know right from wrong.

And, one day as Vexen was finishing his business he started to talk.

"Oh, tell me you love me, Roxas." Vexen commanded. Roxas thought it was weird, since in all of the eternity he had been here, Vexen never once asked that.

Roxas was silent.

"Damn it Roxas, that's an order." Vexen growled.

Roxas still wouldn't say it. Maybe he'd get lucky and Vexen would kill him.

Vexen took his knife and drew it slowly down Roxas's face, causing the smaller blonde to whimper in pain at the deep cut on his cheek.

"Say it." Vexen hissed.

"Over my dead body." Roxas said quietly, so quietly he barley even heard it himself.

"What did you say to me?" Vexen roared.

"Nothing, I'm sorry." Roxas whimpered, shutting his eyes as his self preservation instinct kicked in.

"Better have been nothing."

Eleven Months, One Week, and Two Days Later

Axel led the police to the hide out. They had promised he could see Roxas, and show them where Vexen was, as long as he didn't interfere at all otherwise.

Only two police officers were with him. All the rest of the officers on his case had been assigned to others.

They were Officer Dawn Reese and Officer Willow Fur. They were both girls, Dawn Reese had shoulder length brown hair and kept flicking her eyes to Axel like she thought he was cute. If Axel hadn't been so drained, he would have been flattered. Officer Willow Fur had long black hair with a red streak. She was pretty quiet and serious.

They broke down the door and held up their guns, yelling who they were and why they were there. "Police, we're looking for Roxas Strife!" They yelled.

They noticed movement in a corner of the room, and Officer Dawn Reese went to check it out.

"We found him!" She called to her partner, who cracked a smile.

But then there was another movement. A suspect with long blonde hair was running at Roxas with a knife, as if he was going to kill him. Officer Willow Fur shot. Vexen fell.

There was an ambulance that had accompanied them to this place and they put Roxas in it, and Axel climbed in. Roxas seemed to be knocked out. Either drugs or, more likely, he had just passed out from exhaustion and pain. The EMTs started working on him right away, giving him blood and fluids in bags, along with pain killers.

Axel gripped his hand tight.

He was glad that he hadn't given up hope. That he was going to bring his blonde home.

***Tah Dah! Reese and Willowfur made their promised cameos, and yes Reese, the part you've been waiting for will come. Fear not. We just have to see if Roxas will recover… mentally and physically.***