A/N: You all have full, personal permission to be really frustrated with my lack of updates...All I can say is 'sorry'. I meant to get this posted before I went on vacation, but didn't as I foolishly thought 'oh, I should get internet while at camp!'. Ha. Wrong. So that's part of the delay.

Anyway, thanks to my betas, as always!

And I'm sure there was something else I was supposed to say, but I can't remember it, so whatever...


Track Season

Are You Sure?

Axel answered the door unenthusiastically when someone started pounding on it a few minutes after his early dinner.

"Uh, Leon, what—"

Leon grabbed Axel's arm, giving the redhead just enough time to grab his shoes before dragging him out of the house and practically throwing him into the passenger's seat. My god, my track coach is kidnapping me, Axel thought for a moment before looking at Leon's panicked face.

"Dude, what the fuck is—"

"Shut up," Leon snapped, silencing the confused teen sitting next to him. Minutes later Leon pulled into Riku's driveway, racing out of the car after telling Axel to stay. Axel watched with an amused face as Riku was grabbed, pulled out of his house and down the porch steps while trying to hop into his shoes. When Riku was thrown into the back seat and they were off again both teens started yelling questions, none of which Leon answered.

The brunette pulled into the harbor parking lot, turning the car off and grabbing the keys from the ignition. Axel and Riku both got out as quickly as possible and followed their coach down the pedestrian ramp and through the rows of docks before Leon stopped at a sleek, dark blue boat called the Sprinter.

"Get in, and I'll explain," Leon ordered, swinging his legs over the railing and searching under the driver's seat for a moment before coming up with a key, which he jammed into the ignition.

"Whose boat is this?" Riku wondered.

"It's Wakka's, he won't mind if we use it for a few minutes," Leon said. Axel finished untying the boat and the brunette accelerated, propelling the boat out of the harbor.

"Leon, what the fuck is going on?" Axel demanded, grabbing hold of the railing to keep himself from falling over.

"Look, Sephiroth took Sora back to his father's, and Sora called me a few minutes ago asking me to come get him. I think he's hurt. Cloud called a few minutes ago as well, telling me to get Roxas who is somewhere in the park. He mentioned the name Marluxia, but it doesn't ring any bells." Axel swore vehemently.

"Fuck. I know who Marluxia is," he replied. Riku looked at his friend, eyebrows raised. "Remember I told you that Roxas had gotten involved with some fuckers who got him hooked on coke when he was younger?" Axel said. Riku nodded. "Marluxia was the ringleader...he...he raped Roxas just before Cloud found out about all the drugs," Axel finished.

"Did Cloud know Roxas was raped?" Leon asked after swearing at Axel's words.

"Not that I know of. Roxas said he never told him," Axel answered.

"Right. This is so fucked up," Riku commented, running a hand through his hair.

"Okay guys, we're going to find Roxas first. He'll probably be on one of the cross-country trails, because those aren't normally used this time of night and I don't think this Marluxia guy is going to want any witnesses to whatever he wants to do to Rox. We'll split up, bring him back to the car and then get Sora," Leon tossed Riku his cell phone, "Call the police Riku, get at least two guys over at the Atari's. I'm going to leave you two there with Sora and Roxas, and then I'm going to the cliffs to make sure Cloud's alright. I called the island police just after he called me, they're heading to the cliffs right now to arrest Sephiroth for kidnapping Roxas and a whole bunch of other shit.

"Once you're at Sora's, make sure both Sora and Roxas are taken care of. The police should be able to handle it, but if Sora's really hurt he's going to need an ambulance," Leon mentioned. Both Axel and Riku nodded, their faces pale. "Do either of you have a cell phone on you?" Axel nodded. "Call me if anything else comes up; you have my number, right?" Axel nodded again. "Good."

Riku pressed Leon's phone to his ear after dialing nine-one-one. When he established the area the emergency was in, the address, and the problem, the policewoman on the phone assured him that a team of cops would check the scene out.

"Don't worry, hun. I'm sure your friend's fine." Riku silenced a few choice words he was dying to spit out and snapped the phone shut, handing it back to Leon.

Five minutes later Leon cruised into the Destiny Island harbor, recklessly docking the boat and throwing a line to Axel who quickly tied it up after Riku dropped buoys into the water just before the boat scraped along the dock. After the boat was secure the three took off down the docks.

Leon led the way onto Main Street where the three ran down the side walks towards the park, each one thanking Destiny Island for being so small. Axel reached the start of the three cross-country trails a good two hundred meters ahead of Leon and Riku, but he waited until they caught up.

"I don't think Marluxia would take Roxas very far. We'll each go a few hundred meters down each of the trails. If you find him...well, we'll figure that out when we need to," Leon said. Axel took off down the first trail.

"You realize that if Axel finds him he's gonna beat the shit out of Marluxia and anyone else there, right?" Riku asked. Leon nodded.

"I'm planning on it," he answered before running down the second trail. Riku shook his head, moving worry for Sora out of his head and taking off down the last trail.

Axel ran as fast as he could down the trail, his feet pounding the dirt several times per second, adrenaline rushing through him. Several moments after starting his sprint, Axel heard voices talking and groans, one set of sounds full of pleasure and the other full of pain. The redhead slowed to a cautious walk, moving until he could just see a man with blue hair sitting against a tree. Axel picked up a rock near his feet and crept forward until he was directly behind the tree. With a swift motion, Axel brought the rock down on the man's head, hoping absently that it wouldn't kill him. The man slumped to the ground, and as soon as Marluxia looked up from Roxas's cock to see what the matter was, Axel ran forward.

"Get the fuck off of him you fucking bastard," Axel screamed, grabbing Marluxia's arm and wrenching him upwards, spinning around and slamming the pink-haired man's head into the tree right behind them. Blood trickled from Marluxia's head on impact, and Axel pulled him back to slam his fist into the man's jaw. Marluxia collapsed on the ground, groaning for a moment before lapsing into unconsciousness.

"Axel..." Roxas gasped from the ground, sitting up.

"Fuck, Roxas...are you okay?" Axel asked, kneeling down next to his boyfriend and bringing a hand up to his face, turning it a bit so he could see the bruising better. The blond's right eye was swollen, a dark purple bruise forming just above the eyebrow, and there was a faint bruise on his cheek with a bloody scrape across it. Axel immediately undid the gag that bound Roxas's mouth and untied his hands. "Did he..." Axel trailed off, glancing down at Roxas's exposed member. Roxas blushed a bit, but shook his head, lying back and lifting his hips to slide his boxers and pants back on.

"No. I'm fine. A little bruised, but fine," Roxas answered, rubbing his wrists where the rope had rubbed them raw. Axel wrapped an arm around his boyfriend and pulled him close, pressing Roxas's head to his chest as the blond wrapped his arms around Axel's neck and bit his lower lip to keep tears from falling. "I really hate that guy," he whispered in a shaky voice.

"I'm with you there," Axel agreed, pulling his cell phone out with his free hand. "I'm going to call the cops before these two wake up," he explained before dialing. Roxas nodded.

"Roxas!" Leon yelled, coming into the small clearing with Riku in tow. The blond raised a hand in greeting, a feeble smile crossing his face. Leon glanced to the two unconscious men on the ground. "This is so messed up," he said with a sigh, going over to Roxas and setting a hand on his shoulder. "You're okay?" he asked.

"Am now," Roxas answered softly, curling into Axel. Leon motioned for the phone, taking it from Axel's hand.

"Hey Roxas, that black sports car in the parking lot? It didn't happen to belong to these guys, did it?" Riku suddenly asked. Roxas thought for a moment.

"I think so. I was blindfolded the whole time while in the car, but there was a lot of wind..."

"The top was down. Awesome," Riku said with a smirk.

"Why?" Axel asked, removing his focus from Leon who was talking to the police.

"Because the keys were still in the ignition," Riku answered, tossing his hair over his shoulder.

Axel carried Roxas to the car, despite the blond's forceful attempts to get his boyfriend to put him down, and Leon jumped in the driver's seat. Riku got in the passenger's seat.

"You know how to get to Sora's house?" he asked Leon. The brunette shook his head and Riku began giving directions.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Axel whispered in Roxas's ear, pulling the smaller boy into his lap and wrapping his arms around him. Roxas was shaking slightly, but even so, he nodded his head.

"I'm fine Axel. Promise."

"You scared the shit outta me," the redhead commented, holding Roxas tighter. Roxas laughed a bit.

"Talk to Marluxia, not me," he replied, resting the back of his head on Axel's shoulder. "I'm glad you found us when you did though."

"I am too. How long had you been with him?"

"Maybe thirty minutes, but some of that was driving, and then Sephiroth talking with Cloud...We were only in the park for about fifteen minutes before you showed up, guns blazing," Roxas said, a small smile crossing his face at the recollection. "God, I wish I could have seen that," he said with a smirk. Axel laughed.

"Dude, it was awesome!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah right, Axel. Stop taking advantage of the situation," Riku teased from the front seat, turning around to look at the couple in the back. Axel glared at his best friend as Roxas and Leon laughed. The mood was slightly lighter until Leon pulled up into the Atari's driveway, Sora's situation painfully clear. Two police cars, lights flashing, were parked on the road, and the Atari's door was open.

"Axel and Roxas, you two get inside but stay out of the way. Roxas, see if you can do something about that cut on your face and the swelling. Riku and I will see how Sora's doing," Leon directed. Everyone expected Roxas to prefer to go with Leon and Riku, but the blonde didn't comment. Axel looked at the boy in his lap, worried. Roxas sighed, sitting up and opening the car door.

"Come on, lets go inside, Axel," he said, stepping out of the car. Axel followed suit, walking up to the door after Riku and Leon with his arm wrapped around Roxas's waist, his boyfriend's head resting on his shoulder.

There were four cops in the living room, two arguing with Roy, one talking firmly to a more complacent Caroline, and one investigating the room. All six people turned to look as Leon, Riku, Roxas, and Axel walked in.

"I'm sorry," one of the cops began, "this is a private investigation. For the privacy of those under speculation I'm going to ask you to leave."

"We'll leave if you let us take Sora. That is if Sora can..." The cops looked confused.

"Sora? We haven't seen the kid." There was a tense silence in the air until Riku spoke up.

"What? Where the fuck is he, then?" he demanded.

"Watch your tone, kid. We haven't seen Sora. Someone called in about twenty minutes ago and said there was some sort of emergency here, so we came to check it out. The place seemed fine, everything was normal, and then some big-shot detective calls into the station saying he wants this man and woman arrested. That's all we're doing. Sorry, but there's been no kid that we've seen.

Roxas struggled out of Axel's grip on his waist and bolted up the stairs, shoving past the officer in the doorway to Sora's room as he called his best friend's name. Moments later he came running out and dashed down the hallway, looking into the bathroom and finally Roy and Caroline's room. When Sora did not emerge, Roxas moved back downstairs, shaking his head.

"They're right, he's not here."

"In that case, we need to find out who this detective is—"

"I have Vincent's number; that is, if it's the same one he was using back when we were in the force together," one of the officers mentioned. Roxas pulled his boyfriend's phone from Axel's pocket, flipping it open and waiting for the officer to give the number. After dialing the number as instructed, Roxas pressed the phone to his ear and walked away from the group. Riku followed him while Leon and Axel were pulled over and questioned by a couple of the police officers.

"Hello?" a low voice spoke into the other end of the connection. Roxas paused for a moment.

"Um...is this...Vincent?"

"Yes. And this is...?" the man replied.

"Roxas. I'm one of Sora's friends. Is he with you?"

"Yes."

"Is he okay? Can I talk to him?" Roxas asked frantically. He heard several muttered questions from Vincent, and then a familiar, slightly hysterical voice spoke up.

"Roxas! Oh my god...Where are you?"

"Thank god, Sora. I'm at your house. Riku called the cops a little while ago and we were just following up, but I guess that the detective got to you first?" Roxas asked.

"Yeah. I'll tell you about it later."

"Are you okay, then? Where are you?" Roxas wondered.

"I'm doing alright. Not seriously injured or anything. And I'm at coach Cid's apartment. Can I meet you at your house a.s.a.p?"

"...Yeah, sure. That'd be fine Sora. Should we come pick you up?"

"Vincent said he'd take me."

"Okay, we'll be waiting there. See you soon," Roxas glanced over at Riku who was rapidly motioning for the phone. "Oh, and Riku says 'hi." Sora giggled as he heard his boyfriend yelling at Roxas. "God, Riku, you'll see him in, like, five minutes. Chill out...Sora? Are you still there? Sora?" Roxas looked back at Riku. "See? You made him hang up."

"Whatever, Roxas. Let's just go to your place and wait for Sora. Does he sound okay?" The blond-haired boy shrugged.

"He's not really acting himself right now. Too...subdued and almost apathetic."

"He might be in shock." Roxas shrugged again.

"Maybe. Let's just go."

"The cops might need us for something..." Riku mentioned. Roxas looked at him, eyebrows raised and ready to fire off a retort when an officer came up to them with a smile.

"Would you two mind answering a few questions right now? I'm sure you're anxious to see Sora, but we can use your answers as evidence against his parents for the moment. It could help." Roxas glared at the man.

"We mind. We mind very much actually. My fucking best friend is about to have a breakdown, I just about got raped in the goddamn park by a fucking drug addict, and my brother is stuck who-the-hell-knows-where with a psychotic bastard who just about cut Cloud's leg off last time they were together! Fuck yes, we mind. And we are leaving. Now," Roxas yelled, grabbing Riku's arm and pulling him towards the door. The silver-haired boy gave an apologetic shrug to the cop who was standing dumbstruck in the living room, and caught Leon and Axel's eyes while he nodded in the direction of the door. The group of four left together, Leon jumping into the driver's seat of Marluxia's car and the other three piling in after. Three minutes later they were parked in the Strife's driveway.

"Alright. You guys can wait here for Sora; and Roxas, you should look at your eye. I need to get to the cliffs. Cops should be there by now as well, I let the officer's back there know about it." Axel nodded solemnly.

"Okay. We'll see ya later, then...Good luck," he said with a subdued smile. Leon tried to smile back, but it came out more of a grimace than anything.

"Just go, Leon. We'll be fine," Riku assured as he stepped out of the car. Axel followed suit, pulling Roxas out with him and then swinging the blond into his arms with a flourish. Roxas's growl of protest was ignored.

The Strife house was silent after the three teens entered it. Roxas silently refused to go into the bathroom to clean his cuts, choosing to sit stubbornly on the couch and wait for Sora. Axel and Riku sat beside him; Axel's arm wrapped around his boyfriend, but not demanding attention, and Riku wringing his hands in his lap. After what seemed like ages there was a knock on the door. The three boys looked at each other, and Axel finally got up as it seemed the other two didn't want to face what was on the other side of the door.

As soon as the door was opened Vincent stepped through, Sora silently following behind him. The tall man turned to Sora and knelt down on the ground, placing his hands on Sora's shoulders.

"Do you want me to stay for any reason?" he asked kindly. Sora shook his head.

"No," he whispered, "I'll be alright. Thank you...thank you so much," he finished, his voice choked as he strained to keep tears at bay. With a fond smile, Vincent wrapped his arms around the trembling boy and pulled him close for a moment.

"It's all uphill from here, kid. Don't worry. And give me a call anytime you want to talk. I'll be around."

"I will, Vincent. Thanks again," Sora whispered, returning the hug and then stepping away. Vincent stood up and gave an appraising look at the other three boys in the room. Riku nodded, understanding the message.

"Thanks for dropping him off," Axel said, moving to the door. Vincent followed him, and was surprised when the redhead left the house, waited for Vincent to come outside, and then shut the door behind them.

"Do you need something else?" the detective inquired.

"How did you know Sora was in trouble?" Axel wanted to know. Vincent cracked a smile.

"I'm a detective, kid. I notice things. And I've given Sora rides home a few times, both under suspicious circumstances that never made sense to me. The second time I actually walked around their house a few times trying to get a glimpse of anything odd going on inside."

"You mean you knew about this? Sora's dad and all?" Axel asked, incredulous.

"No. Not quite. I'll admit I had my suspicions, but they weren't strong enough for me to call in. Child abuse, domestic abuse of any kind, is serious. If someone calls in and makes a claim for abuse, the police must arrest someone for it—almost immediately. I wasn't about to risk the Atari's being innocent on such a mild hunch. But today I was jogging with Cid—we're old friends—and he mentioned he had seen Sora get in the car with Sephiroth, and overheard a conversation between the two of them. Sephiroth had told Sora that Mr. Atari was injured and asking to see his son, and Sora believed him. As soon as Cid told me I ran over to Sora's house. Got inside just as Roy started in on him. I took him back to Cid's apartment and then called the cops on Roy and Caroline. You probably know the rest." Axel nodded thoughtfully.

"Is he hurt or anything?" Vincent narrowed his eyes.

"Why do you care? I mean, you're not one of his friends are you?" Axel glared.

"If I wasn't one of his friends, why the fuck do you think I would ask? Of course he's one of my friends. Thanks, though, for telling me what happened. I kinda thought Sora might not want to...talk about it," Axel said. Vincent nodded and walked away without a word, getting into a sleek black car and driving away. Axel walked back inside to find Sora curled up on the couch, his knees drawn up to his chest, as Roxas talked to him.

"Sora, are you okay?" Roxas asked, sitting down on the couch next to his best friend. Sora looked up at him, tears shining in his eyes as he shook his head.

"No," he sobbed, putting his head down again. "But what happened to you? Your face."

"Long, fucked up story. I'll tell it to you later, 'kay?" Sora nodded.

"Roxas, let's get you fixed up real quick," Axel called from the stairway. Roxas stood up.

"Do you want me to stay with you?" the blond asked. Sora smiled and shook his head.

"I'll be okay, Rox," the brunette assured. Roxas nodded and went to the kitchen to get an icepack for his eye before following Axel into the bathroom upstairs. The blond's place beside Sora was replaced by Riku, who looked beside himself with worry.

"Sora..." he started, but trailed off once he realized he didn't know what to say. Sora shrugged.

"Hey Riku," he whispered. Riku brought his hands up and gently tilted Sora's face up; the smaller teen flinched at the contact, but didn't pull away.

"Everything's going to be okay, Sora. I promise you," Riku said, gathering his boyfriend in his arms. "Anything broken?" he asked.

"I don't think so. My ribs might be bruised, but not too badly. They'll stop hurting in a few days," Sora said, his voice still quiet. Riku held him gently, not wanting to further injure the already damaged boy in his arms.


...Not much else to say. I'm tired.

Oh yeah, comment if you like, I appreciate them (there's still a few reviews that I need to reply to, mainly the ones that I just got after I came home from camp, so if you're one of those people...I'll get back to you soon, hopefully).

Wykkyd