Chapter 25
Zexion yawned. It was going on three in the morning as he shuffled his way down the hallway to his bedroom and nearly collided into Sora who was sitting on the floor in front of Roxas' door. He hugged his knees to his chest and stared into the carpet. The brunette looked upset.
"What's wrong, Sora?" he asked.
"Roxas and Axel locked all the doors and I can't find my lock picks."
"Why do you have lock picks?" Zexion raised a slender brow.
"Occupational equipment; I'm not going into any more detail," the brunette huffed and rubbed his eyes. "I'm really tired."
"Then go to bed."
"I can't sleep by myself. I get all nervous and jittery."
"I seem to remember you feeling the same way with thunderstorms."
"Yeah, when I was like… little."
"Don't remind me, it makes me feel old. I still remember changing your diapers like it was only a few hours ago."
"That's kind of weird."
"Yes well I like to think I have a good memory. But the dynamic is different now because you're almost as tall as I am now." Zexion sat on the floor with the boy and looked into his eyes. "I don't think Axel and Roxas want any company right now, you should try to get some sleep." Sora laid his head on his knees and shook his head.
"I have a problem."
"Well at least you recognize it," he agreed and leaned back. Zexion thought about what they could do to rectify the issue. Xigbar and Olette were already asleep and the other two were… otherwise occupied. He sighed. "Come on, you can sleep with me." Sora lifted his head.
"Really?"
"Yes. It'll be like you're four again." Sora nodded a little.
"Okay."
***
Xigbar coughed loudly and held his coffee cup at arms length. "Good god that's terrible! People actually sell this stuff?" He gave it a glare. Olette giggled.
"My friend Aerith loved it. She bought some for herself."
"Does she happen to have trees for armpit hair and work at the lumber mill? I might actually have to put cream and sugar in this." The older man grumbled and started to look through the cabinets.
"It wasn't Axel's idea to give you any, so do not get angry with him."
"I'm not angry; it's actually pretty funny that it's so bad. But man that was a punch in the face. No warning either it's just like bam! Manly coffee!"
"It is a nice way to wake up, yes?"
"Not really." Xigbar was stirring his coffee when Zexion walked around the corner, followed shortly by Sora. "Good morning. You have to try this shit Axel gave me, Zex."
"If it involves literal 'shit' then no thank you," the slate-haired man said calmly and went to grab himself a cup. He looked at the slight amount of coffee left. "I assume that's all that's left?"
"Yeah he only gave me a little, try some," Xigbar said with a grin. Zexion eyed him cautiously and Olette tried to hide her giggles behind her teacup. He poured himself a little in the bottom of the mug and took a sip. He immediately scrunched his face up disdainfully and spit the bit in the sink.
"Fuck! That's awful!" he cried and wiped at his mouth. Xigbar started laughing uproariously and Olette joined him. Sora looked confused.
"I haven't heard you swear like that in years!" Xigbar said and wiped at his eyes. "That was so worth it, oh my sides," he said, holding his ribcage.
"Can I try?" Sora asked. Zexion handed the boy his cup and the brunette upended the rest of slight amount. He smacked his lips a little at the taste. "It's not that bad, you guys. You're such weenies." Xigbar quirked a brow at him and tried to stifle the rest of his chuckles.
"Really? You like it? Here have mine," he said and handed the brunette his mug. Sora took a sip and shrugged. Zexion dumped the rest of the coffee out and set up a new brew and left the machine on to run.
"Have you packed yet, Sora?" he asked. The brunette nodded a little and stared into the pattern of the granite countertop. "What's the problem?" Zexion followed up, noticing Sora's blank face.
"I'm a little nervous to go home with you guys."
"Why is that?"
"Namine, mostly. I dunno if I'm allowed to stay with you all at Roxas' house, I haven't asked yet so I'm nervous about where I'm going to live."
"I'm sure Roxas won't let you be homeless."
"I know, but I'm not sure Axel feels about it." Sora nursed his mug with an uncertain face.
"Well it's ultimately Roxas' decision, yes?"
"If you're not allowed home, you could stay here with me," Olette offered. Sora looked at her then back into his coffee.
"Thanks, but this place isn't home for me. Plus, Riku's house is across the street and I'm not sure I should be around that," he said carefully.
"That's a good idea if you want to stay on Roxas' good side," Xigbar said. "I'm happy you're coming to your senses about him."
"I still miss him," the brunette added.
"Of course you would, you spent most of your life with him," Zexion said and opened the refrigerator. He brought out a dozen eggs and some cheese. "Hungry?" Sora nodded then sighed.
"Do you think Marly and Demmy would be okay if I was to stay with you all?"
"That I can't say," Xigbar said. "Luxord is living with us again as well."
"I didn't know that," Sora said with wide eyes. "Are he and Larxene getting back together?"
"That's Luxord's plan anyway. We haven't heard much outside of holiday greetings from them since November."
"That'd be nice for Roxas if they decided to stay together," Sora said and felt a pang through his chest. He sighed and tried his best to push the memories of having a family away. The thoughts of being alone for the rest of his life crept into their places and he couldn't help but feel his stomach tighten and his breath get caught in his throat. He felt his eyes water a little and blinked the tears away. Olette set her teacup on the counter and came around to the other side to pull Sora into her chest. She rubbed her face in his hair comfortingly and spoke in a low voice in his ear. He couldn't understand her French but set his mug on the counter to hug her back. Xigbar looked contemplative. Zexion kept his back turned to the pair and started to whip eggs for an omelet.
"Do you think Axel really forgives me?" Sora sniffled against Olette's pajamas.
"I have no idea, kid. There's a lot about Axel that's still a mystery to me. When he came to the house, we tried to find out as much as we could about him legally but then Roxas got his record off of Namine and he's been a big ball of questions since then. He doesn't seem like a bad guy but he still put Riku in the hospital without batting an eye and that has everyone keeping an eye on him. Not that Riku didn't deserve it, but still," Xigbar said with furrowed brows. "So I can't really tell if he's sincere or not, or if he'll explode if you push him too hard. Just be careful and trust Roxas' judgment for now." Sora nodded. "More importantly, don't do anything stupid to yourself and you won't lose everything he's given you. If you betray Roxas' trust again, he may not let you back. He rules his castle with an iron fist and it would benefit you to remember that."
"Okay," the brunette mumbled and wiped his eyes. Olette stroked his hair gently some more.
"You will be fine," she said.
"I hope so."
***
"I don't understand how you can keep going," Roxas panted. He shuddered and let his head lean against the glass of the shower wall when he felt Axel's tongue run over the inside of his thigh. He was exhausted but the redhead was persistent. The lower half of his torso and parts of his thighs were littered with hickeys and Axel looked like his chest and neck had been bashed in with a log. The previous evening had been exhilarating and lasted for several hours. They fell asleep together and woke up that afternoon to start the process all over again.
"I'm just that awesome," Axel muttered with his lips against Roxas' skin. The blonde laughed a little and sucked in a breath as the redhead's fingers danced up the opposite leg and pressed against his stiff length. Axel flicked his eyes up to watch Roxas' expression as he enveloped the blonde's warmth in his mouth. The redhead reached around and pulled Roxas forward some on the stone seat for better leverage. The smaller boy's face went slack with want and he laid a hand in Axel's hair, pushing him down a little feeling his throat work him over. He let out a squeak he didn't mean to have happen when he felt Axel's lips bury themselves in his hair. The redhead pulled back and gave him a few firm strokes with his long fingers. The sensation, though nice, was so different from the other that some of the tingling that had been building up inside Roxas dissipated.
"Don't tease," Roxas growled at his partner. Axel laughed and the velvety sound brushed against the inside of the blonde's cloudy mind and made his skin break out in goosebumps even under the warm spray of the shower. The redhead let his length go and went back to licking his skin, drinking the water that beaded together on him. "Oh you're awful," Roxas spat and Axel smiled against the meat of his thigh. He wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist and moved farther up his torso. Roxas glared at him and Axel's jade eyes glittered mirthfully. "You're enjoying this too much," he huffed.
"Maybe." He opened his mouth and bared his teeth before clamping onto Roxas' abdomen and pulling at his skin a little with his canines. The feeling sent a shock up the blonde's spine that made him twitch forward and grab onto Axel's hair. The redhead let out a throaty chuckle against him and ran his hands over the curve of the blonde's back. He reached up and pulled Roxas' mouth down to his. The blonde slid himself off the seat and Axel sat back against the wall. The smaller boy straddled Axel's thighs and broke their kiss to lap at the other's throat. The redhead pulled his legs up some so Roxas slid forward and reached between their bodies to run his hand over both of their lengths in tandem. Roxas let out another shudder.
"I'm not sure how much more I can take, Axel."
"Whatever do you mean?" the redhead said innocently and grabbed Roxas harshly causing a gasp to emanate from him.
"That. That's not fair," the blonde panted. Axel gave him a toothy grin and started to stroke him gently making Roxas' thighs ripple with unintentional spasms. Roxas leaned himself forward on his knees and rested his forehead and an arm up against the tile wall over the redhead's shoulder. Axel took to tasting his skin again but kept his hand moving on Roxas' length. The redhead's free hand slid around his thigh and kept and ear open for any protesting when he started to probe the blonde tenderly with a finger. The smaller boy let out a shuddering breath under his touch.
"Are you okay to continue?" Axel asked quietly and Roxas nodded and closed his eyes. The blonde sagged a little in his posture which didn't sit right with redhead. He let go of Roxas' warmth and pulled his other hand away. Roxas pushed himself away from the wall with shaking arms and looked down at Axel who was looking up at him with a scrutinizing face.
"What's wrong?" he panted. Roxas' limbs were shaking and his breathing was uneven. He was sore in places he didn't know could be sore but he didn't want to stop the redhead from enjoying himself.
"You're not okay."
"Sure I am," he said and tried to give him a reassuring smile. Axel pushed his thighs down and Roxas sat back into his lap. The redhead wrapped his arms around the boy and pulled him to lie on his chest. Roxas let out a breath, relieved he didn't have to continue.
"No, you're not," Axel huffed and laid a cheek against Roxas' dripping hair. The blonde draped his arms over the other's shoulders limply.
"I'm just tired," he said, "and sore."
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to push you."
"I'll be fine. Just give me a day to rest a little."
"You should have said something."
"I didn't want to hold you back."
"Well I didn't want to hurt you, which do you think I'm more concerned about?" Axel said gruffly and squeezed Roxas closer giving him a clear answer. The blonde nodded against his chest and closed his eyes again. Axel sighed. He used one arm to keep Roxas pressed against him while he reached up and groped for the soap from the dish. He worked the bar in his hands and ran the lather over Roxas' back. The blonde moved around obediently letting Axel wash him in silence.
"How's your back?" he asked while taking his turn and running the soap over the redhead's chest. Axel was leaning against the wall of the shower with his back pressed to it fully so that seemed like a good sign.
"It feels better when it's wet but I wouldn't look at it," he said and Roxas nodded.
"Are you happy to be going home soon?"
"I'm not sure how I feel yet. I'm actually a little nervous."
"When do you want to give me your phone?"
"Sometime between now and when we get off the plane."
"Okay." The water was starting run cold and Roxas shivered. Axel hugged him close and reached up to turn the knob off. "I might just go back to sleep," the blonde said from Axel's shoulder.
"I don't blame you. It must be harder on you than it is for me," he said, mostly for himself but Roxas nodded anyway. After all, the blonde was taking the brunt of the action and even though he enjoyed himself it started to take its toll on his small frame. The redhead helped him stand and ushered him back to the bed after a quick once-over with a towel. Axel returned to the bathroom and gaped at himself in the mirror. He sighed and went back into his bedroom to dig through his things.
"What are you looking for?" Roxas asked from beneath the covers.
"I need to cover up my neck, it looks like a gorilla attacked me," he huffed and Roxas stifled a laugh. He held up the little bottle of liquid concealer once he found it.
"A very small and non threatening gorilla?"
"Yeah but he had the prettiest blue eyes. You should have seen him."
***
"What the hell do you have in this? Good lord," Axel huffed as he lifted another box into the back of the truck. A delivery service was taking Sora's things back overseas early so it would all be there shortly after they came home. Axel, Sora and Xigbar were helping the men move boxes around in the front yard.
"I have no idea, actually. I didn't pack these boxes; you'll have to ask Xigbar."
"I only got the stuff that looked like it mattered," Xigbar said and set his box on the floor of the truck. "I think that's the last one. Did Roxas get the express delivery?" he asked and Sora took a clipboard from one of the men and flipped through the papers.
"Yep, they'll be there in four days. Good, because I only packed enough clothes for five. As long as I don't shit myself I think I'll have enough underwear."
"Let's hope you've moved on and are actually potty trained," Xigbar added and dug in his pocket for his cigarettes and lighter. Sora handed the clipboard back and they all said their thanks and waved as the men drove away. The three of them walked around to the back of the house. Sora stole a cigarette from Axel and they sat together peacefully under the tree.
"I'm not looking forward to the snow," Axel said and leaned his head back against the trunk.
"I'm not looking forward to seeing Namine," Sora said and Axel nodded in agreement.
"That's going to be a rough one," Xigbar added.
"I already feel awful and I haven't even seen her face," the brunette sighed and went to sit on a swing.
"As long as she stays away from sharp objects, I think you'll be safe. I won't let her kill you at least," the older man said. "Unless you do something to deserve it, that is." Sora gave him a tense smile. The back door opened and Roxas came out in his pajamas.
"Good morning, finally," Sora said and brightened his mood considerably. It was already well into the late afternoon.
"Are you packed and ready to go?" the blonde asked and Sora nodded.
"The moving guys already took everything away. I just have my luggage. Is it really okay if I stay with you?"
"I'm okay with it. Just don't turn my household inside out and I'll be satisfied."
"I'll try not to."
"Go to school or work. Or do both if it suits you, that's all I ask. Oh, and stay out of trouble of course."
"Okay."
"Did you even complete high school?" Roxas asked with a curious face. Sora shook his head.
"I'll have to either go back for a year or get my GED."
"Whichever you want, it's fine with me so long as you move forward."
"Yes, Roxas," Sora said and watched the grass with a blank face. Axel had nearly forgotten that the two were only a few days apart in physical age but Roxas was clearly light years ahead of the brunette in terms of mental development and maturity. The scene almost reminded him of a father chastising his son. Roxas went to sit at the small table near the door, away from the haze of cigarette smoke.
"Speaking of school, Axel," Roxas started and Axel raised his brows to show that he was listening. "Did you think about what you want to do?" The redhead nodded and snuffed his cigarette out on a root.
"Yeah, HBCC has my transcripts from when I graduated so I'll see what I can take when we get back and hopefully I can toss a schedule together before the spring semester starts."
"Fantastic. I'm happy," Roxas smiled. "Perhaps I'll join you."
"Why would you go to a community college if you could get into the university?" Axel quirked a brow.
"Because I've spent my entire life in a private school, that's why. The quality of education isn't all that different so long as you put effort into it. People spend the extra money on the atmosphere and the few extra amenities the universities offer but if I don't need that, then why not just go to HBCC?"
"Oh. Well okay," Axel said. He wondered why Roxas would even bother with higher education since he already had his company under his thumb. But then he remembered he was thinking about Roxas. Duh, of course he wants a degree.
"I wanna go," Sora huffed.
"You can if you can crank out a GED quick enough," Xigbar said. "The spring semester doesn't start for three weeks yet. They have accelerated courses that can get you done and you take the test after two weeks. It'd be a crunch but it's possible."
"Maybe," the brunette added and rocked a little in the swing. He tossed his forgotten cigarette into the grass beyond the tree. Xigbar did the same and went inside. Roxas moved across the grass and sat in the open swing.
"Don't force yourself to do more than you're comfortable with and set yourself up for failure. Take your time and ensure that you will succeed," the blonde said.
"When did you get so smart?" Sora asked.
"Sometime between now and when my grandfather died and I was forced to take responsibility for my future. You're actually in the same situation but you don't realize it."
"I guess so."
***
"Ugh I hate planes," Roxas said and hefted his carry on over his shoulder. Axel patted his head lightly and the blonde brushed his hand away. Zexion and Olette hugged each other tightly and were spitting nonsensical words to each other. Axel hiked a brow and watched the scene. The man seemed the most animated when around her and it was strange to see him show so much emotion. Sora giggled.
"I wonder when he'll go back to see his family," he said.
"What do you mean?" Axel asked.
"He and Olette are cousins. He hasn't seen his family since before he worked for my family years and years ago. Olette has been his only contact."
"Whoa, I didn't know that."
"You didn't hear that from me."
"Right," Axel confirmed and saw Xigbar in the distance talking to an attendant at the gate. Over to their side a flash went off and all three boys turned to see a reporter with an oversized camera readjusting for his next shot. Roxas immediately dug around in his carry on and pulled out a pair of sunglasses and pushed them on his face. Axel simply ignored it and Sora grinned.
"I almost want to go over and bug him," the brunette said.
"God damned cameras, you'd think they'd wait until we actually get on home soil before they start taking pictures," Roxas spat and readjusted his bag. Axel could sense he was grumpy. Weather it was from the reporter or the proposition of getting on a plane, he couldn't tell.
"You think it'll get way worse once we're at home?" the redhead asked.
"Oh yes. Much worse. I expect a call for a press conference."
"Why? You just went on a trip for relaxing and to take care of some stuff, why is it a big deal?"
"It's a long story. There are circumstances surrounding the 'earthquakes' that made everything a little fishy and one of my employees must have talked." The blonde used air quotes to emphasize his point, "I didn't say anything because I wanted you to relax a little but it's going to be something that I'll have to deal with." Sora cleared his throat.
"There's a reason we were in Greece, Axel," the brunette said. Roxas nodded. The redhead's jaw dropped.
"Then why the hell are you coming with us? If I had know—" the blonde cut him off.
"It wasn't Sora personally Axel so you can stop right there," he interjected. Axel furrowed his brows and looked at Sora who wore a blank yet contemplating face. He sighed, he really didn't understand and he tried to remember his mentality of 'I don't get it and I probably never will so why bother?' Then he remembered the empty shell of Sora's destroyed home and shivered a little. Xigbar caught up with them.
"Let's go, everyone," he said and everyone turned to Olette who was wiping at her eyes with a pink handkerchief.
"Come back soon! I will miss you all! It was very nice to meet you Axel, and Sora. I hope you will see me again," she said with a watery smile. "Send me e-mails and things. Find me on the FaceBook." She gave everyone firm hugs and kisses on either cheek just as she had greeted them and waved as they all headed for the gate. Sora sniffled.
"She was so nice," he said. Axel nodded.
"And really understanding of everything, that's a rare thing to find in someone anymore."
"I hate planes," Roxas reiterated causing both of them to laugh at him a little.
"You took your Dramamine right?" Xigbar asked and the blonde nodded. "Not that it helps any," he added and Roxas scoffed in agreement.
***
"C'mon Axel! Let's go join the mile high club together!" Sora squealed from the seat in front of the redhead. Roxas had his head in Axel's lap and the redhead was running his hand over his clammy forehead. The brunette seemed more hyper the higher in altitude they climbed and Axel thanked the airline gods that no one else was in the cabin with them aside from Zexion and Xigbar, of course.
"Go away Sora, I don't want to start that again," the redhead said and reclined back in his seat, sticking his ear buds in his ears. Roxas shifted uncomfortably and got up, making his way into the restroom for the third time. Sora giddily leapt over the back of the seat and plopped in the blonde's spot to lean on Axel.
"Pwease?" he asked with wide puppy-dog eyes. "Once Roxxy is done we can sneak off together for a secret tryst, it'll be romantic." Axel quirked a brow.
"No thanks, I'm good."
"Please?"
"No."
"I'll give you fifty bucks."
"You don't have any money; even if you did I would still say no."
"Aw come on!"
"No, go away."
"Please?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to."
"It'll be fantastic, I promise."
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Sora, be quiet," Zexion chided and the brunette's mouth dropped open. Axel snickered and turned on his MP3 player to drown out any more whining. He watched Sora sulk away into another seat. The redhead adjusted his position and closed his eyes. After about twenty minutes of sitting quietly he felt a weight on his thigh again and lifted his arm for Roxas to lay on him again. When he put his hand down to pet the blonde's hair he was met with wiry brown spikes instead and his eyes flew open. Sora giggled.
"You're so easy," he said with his tongue stuck out. Axel rolled his eyes and kicked his leg up to disturb him and Sora laughed as he sat up. Roxas came back and looked at them with furrowed brows. "Hi Roxxy."
"Hello Sora, get out of my seat please."
"M'kay," he said and moved away again. Roxas replaced himself on Axel's lap and the redhead settled back in his seat. Sora grasped the back of the seat in front of them and watched the pair with his eyes barely peeking over the leather. "You sure you don't want to take me up on my offer, Axel?" he asked and the redhead glared at him. A book came sailing across the cabin and collided with the side of Sora's face. He yelped in surprise and Zexion stood go retrieve the tome. Sora whimpered and held his cheek.
"I said be quiet," Zexion repeated and went back to his seat.
***
They sat together in the common area of the London airport. Their flight was delayed by several hours and everyone was exhausted already. Roxas wandered off with Zexion to see if they could find something to entertain everyone with and get the slate-haired man something to eat. Sora was poking away at Roxas' laptop.
"Did Roxas say you could use that?" Axel asked when he came back from the bathroom. Sora nodded.
"Yeah, I haven't perused the internet in like a billion years," the brunette said.
"A billion, huh?"
"Okay more like eight months. But that's close enou-- whoa," he said with wide eyes. He turned the computer so Axel could see. There was a picture of Namine showing off 'her new tattoo' on FaceBook. On the girl's pale hip there was a spiraling black tree with a bird in the center that made Axel's skin crawl and his blood curdle.
"Why the fuck does she have that?" he growled. Sora closed the laptop quickly and set it aside. Ignoring the fact the he was in public, he stood and pulled up his shirt and tugged the top of his pants down. A few bystanders averted their eyes. The brunette had the same tree scrawled on his own hip and Axel's eyes flew wide.
"Riku got to Namine while we were gone," he said. Sora looked scared, which made the redhead feel a little better but didn't completely settle his anger or his nerves. Sora smoothed his clothes back into place.
"What does that mean?" he asked. Xigbar quirked a brow from his seat, listening intently but not adding anything to the conversation.
"She's working for him now or for Xemnas; one of the two," Sora answered and plopped heavily into his seat again, running his hands through his hair nervously. "This is bad. If she's with Riku he may just be using her for bait or something or to make babies with. But if she's working for Xemnas, that's even worse."
"Should we tell Roxas?"
"I'll do it," Xigbar said. The three of them sat together in a tense silence while Sora clicked around on the laptop again. About an hour passed at an agonizing pace before Roxas and Zexion returned to the group. Roxas sat on Axel's knees and leaned back against him in his arms.
"Aren't you worried about reporters?" Axel asked and nuzzled Roxas' hair. "Not that I mind, but I would think you'd care about that."
"They have to find out eventually," Roxas said with a shrug. Xigbar gave them the opportunity to enjoy each other's company for a few minutes before poking the blonde in the ribs and ushering him off to talk in private. Zexion raised a brow when they passed but didn't ask. Sora sighed heavily and Axel gave him a pat on the shoulder to calm him down.
"When we get on the plane and we have more room, will you hold me?" Sora asked with a tone of misery that made Axel furrow his brows together. He thought about what the brunette might be going through in his own little twisted world for a moment and nodded.
"I can do that for you, so long as Roxas doesn't mind," he said and Sora looked up at him with tortured eyes.
"Thanks."
***
Roxas was incredibly angry. He stalked around the cabin of the plane completely ignoring his air sickness. He still looked pale and sweaty to Axel but he wasn't sure of the reason this time; the anger or the illness? Sora was sitting in the redhead's lap tensely, watching the blonde pace.
"Sit down, Roxxy you're making me nervous."
"I hope for her sake she just decided to get a tattoo," he spat. "She better have a good reason for this bullshit."
"Killing is illegal outside of active militant combat, Roxas. Don't forget that," Xigbar said and crossed his arms. Zexion was silent but he didn't look pleased. Roxas' gaze flicked to him a moment before he stopped and held his stomach, leaning on a seat. He took a breath with closed eyes and Axel prepared himself to see Roxas vomit all over the carpeting, but was happy when he didn't.
"I'm going to have ulcers before we get home," Roxas muttered and made his way to the restroom. Sora sighed and grabbed onto a piece of his hair like a security blanket. He pulled his knees to his chest and leaned to the side to tuck himself under Axel's chin. The redhead didn't cuddle him like he would if he were Roxas but he rubbed the brunette's back a little to give him some reassurance. He felt bad for Sora. If what the blonde had said was true about the brunette's abandonment issues then this must be the last crack in the pillar holding Sora up. Riku was moving on without him, and as much as Axel was annoyed by the brunette on a consistent basis he felt that he deserved better; a little humility at the very least. Sora sniffled against his shirt.
"I'm scared, Axel," he whispered. "I don't know what to do."
"I don't think you should do anything but move forward with you life. What else can you do, really?" The redhead shifted a little with a wince as one of the scabs on his back pinched under the added weight pushing him into the seat. They sat together until Roxas came out from the bathroom again and Sora sat up before they looked too cozy.
"Move over," Roxas ordered and Sora shifted around so Roxas could sit on Axel as well and the redhead grunted as his leg started to fall asleep. He shifted himself around so he sat Indian-style. The smaller boys entwined their legs together and sat with their bottoms in the pit Axel made with his limbs and each leaned a shoulder onto his chest. They pushed their foreheads together under the redhead's chin and curled their arms to their chests. Axel blinked at how surprisingly comfortable the positioning was and draped one arm around Roxas' waist and rubbed Sora's back absently with the other. They both sighed peacefully.
"I remember doing that when they were little," Xigbar quipped and Axel looked at him. Either they didn't care that the older man was talking about them or they didn't hear because neither boy made a sound of protest like Axel thought they would. "Whenever there was a thunderstorm at the Academy dormitories they would climb in bed with me and force me to hold them like that. Seeing it now that they've grown so much is really weird but it's still insanely cute, I should take a picture," he said with a grin and Zexion gave a little smile as he turned a page of his book. Roxas narrowed his eyes at the mention of a picture and Sora giggled.
***
"Rothath! I mithed oo tho muth!" Demyx exclaimed as he squeezed the blonde to his face, causing a slur. He dropped Roxas abruptly and went to throw himself on Axel who grunted under the force. "Athel!" he sputtered.
"Hi Demyx," the redhead croaked. He tried to give the sandy blonde a pat on the back or something that would equal a proper greeting but his arms were locked to his sides. Demyx gasped and held him at arms length.
"You've lost weight," he grumbled at the redhead with narrowed eyes and furrowed brows. Axel gave him a lopsided smile.
"Sorry? I didn't mean to."
"Demmy?" Sora piped from behind the redhead and Demyx's eyes flew wide and looked around him.
"Sora?" he asked. "Wh- why are you here?"
"It's a long story. I'm staying with Roxas and everyone for a bit," he said with a light blush. He looked at his feet. Axel watched Demyx's expression crumble from confusion to a watery smile as he moved to hug the brunette. Roxas watched them with a placid face. Xigbar and Zexion joined them, pulling a cart that held their luggage.
"My Zexxy!" Demyx squealed and collided into Zexion with so much force that the other man staggered backwards. "You brought him back in one piece!" He squeezed their faces together and Zexion hugged him tightly. Axel raised a confused brow at the two and Demyx pushed off Zexion and launched himself at Xigbar who caught him in his huge arms. "Xiggy! You got a little tan! How cute," he squeaked.
"Hey Dem," Xigbar said calmly and set the other man down.
"You're almost as bad as Sora," Roxas said to the sandy blonde and rubbed his ribcage. Sora giggled. Axel leaned over to talk to the blonde in a hushed tone.
"He said 'My Zexxy?'" he questioned.
"Don't you know that everyone belongs to Demyx?" Roxas said with a curt smile.
"Weird."
"Yes, quite." Roxas shuffled around in his bag for his sunglasses again. When they left the baggage claim together and emerged from the airport proper, they were suddenly surrounded by a mob of paparazzi, cameras ablaze. Axel and Sora squinted against the lights and Xigbar moved in front to lead the trio through the crowd. Demyx and Zexion tagged along behind the swarm with the luggage cart.
"God damn," Axel growled through the noise of rapid questions being fired a million a minute.
"I know right?" Sora said in agreement. Xigbar checked the parking tag for the lot number and they all followed the signs, keeping track of their feet so no one tripped on another's shoe in the tight cluster, keeping any trampling to a minimum. At some point in the mayhem, Zexion and Demyx had rounded to the front of the group with the cart and could be seen in the distance loading luggage into an enormous bright orange Hummer. Xigbar ushered the boys into the back and helped shove the rest of the suitcases in the back before leaping into the vehicle with them. Zexion sat in the front and Demyx slid into the driver's seat. Roxas let out a breath when the engine turned over and Demyx leaned out the window to yell at the reporters.
"Go away ya harpies!" the man chirped and switched gears, easing out slowly of the parking spot in order to let the people move out of the way. Axel slouched in his seat.
"I can barely see past the dots," he said and blinked a few times.
"Me too," Sora said and rubbed his eyes.
"You'll have to invest in a pair of Ray-Bans," Roxas said and pulled the frames off his face. "I should have warned you about that, sorry."
"Might have been useful, Roxxy," Sora said. The blonde shrugged. A moment of relieved silence passed before Axel could gather his thoughts enough to speak.
"People still drive these things?" he asked and Demyx smiled.
"Yeah, unfortunately they're shit in terms of fuel economy but get high marks in the 'get the hell out of my way Mr. Reporter' category. I can hear the birds dying around us already."
"Oh no, poor birdies," Sora said with furrowed brows, but then he giggled.
"Traffic and the snow are going to make this a long trip guys so catch a nap now while you can. There is much to talk about when we get home," Demyx warned and turned out of the parking lot.
***
Axel opened his eyes slowly when he heard a light whimper. Sora was looking out the window at the passing wreckage of what used to be his home. The redhead sleepily reached out a hand and patted his shoulder and the brunette sat back. It took Axel a yawn and a half to realize that they were minutes away from pulling into the manor. He tapped Roxas' arm and the blonde scrunched his face in protest but slowly woke up as well. Sora slid lower in his seat and huffed sadly. Xigbar and Zexion were still awake and the latter of the two was talking quietly to Demyx in the front. Axel couldn't hear what he was saying but he had an idea. Luxord and Marluxia were waiting outside of the front door with Alabaster when the group pulled in. They both startled when they saw Sora but continued to greet everyone exuberantly none the less. Axel shivered and squinted against the bright white of the ground cover.
"Fucking snow," he muttered and kicked at it though little damage was done.
"Where's Namine and mother?" Roxas asked his father. The other men were unloading the Hummer and Sora was off running through the snow with the dog.
"Well… your mother went to the bar with a couple of girlfriends. As for your sister, well there's been an incident I think you need to be aware of. Do you want to talk about it now or after you've taken a rest?" Luxord said with a solemn face. Roxas looked contemplative.
"Can I solve it right away or do I have the luxury of a nap?"
"It's not going to go away any time soon. You can deal with it tomorrow if you want."
"Fine. Then that's what I'll do."