A/n: Hi there, I'm still alive. I just happen to have a certain somebody who doesn't like to listen in my life and broke my computer screen when he was jumping on the couch |:

So yeah. It's putting a hindrance on things.

~o~

Cloud's eyes fluttered open. Some of the color had returned to his face but he still felt incredibly weak. Reno was watching over him, smiling gently while he woke. Cloud bit his lower lip. He didn't want Reno to know about his dreams and so he avoided the vampire's gaze, slowly sitting up and pushing the red-head away when he tried to help. He heard the clinking of metal and caught something before it fell, his stomach automatically clenching as he recognized the weight. It left him gasping breathlessly.

He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He couldn't catch his breath. His eyes widened as he stared at the blades in silence. He understood what it meant that their blades were together like this. Roxas was either dead or he had chosen. Either way, he was gone. Lost forever to Lea who was a terrible and powerful force to be reckoned with. There was no saving him, now.

Reno was watching him silently. Their eyes met and he could sense Cloud's sorrow and pain, his heartache. The blond's eyes drifted downward again. He'd lost them all. Roxas, Xion, Tifa… he couldn't even go back home… and it was unbelievable how much it hurt. Reno's voice drifted between them.

"Why do you want to go back to those humans?" Cloud's face twisted in a grimace.

"They're my family. They need me," he replied, closing his eyes. "They love me." Reno snorted.

"Just like the ones that took you from me to force you fight for their cause, right?" He asked in disapproval. Cloud glared at him coldly.

"If you were so concerned, why didn't you ever come for me? You knew what was going to happen to me and you didn't care," he accused. Something in Reno's eyes darkened but Cloud didn't stop. He couldn't anymore. He'd held it inside for too long and he was angry and bitter. He'd lost everything and he told himself it was because of Reno's lies. "I waited for you, for almost a month. I waited for you to help me to do something, anything!" He yelled. "You didn't. That's when I realized that none of it was real. That's how I learned to shut you out."

"You loved me. That was real." The red-head's eyes were narrowed. His voice was dangerous.

"No. You tricked me. You lied to me! You seduced me," he spat angrily. Stormy blue eyes darkened even further.

"What? Lied to you? Seduced you?!" The red-head hissed back.

"That's why you saved me back then, that's why you kept coming back," he said hatefully. "It was never real, was it?" Reno fisted that blond hair, his eyes blazing from anger. Cloud hissed in pain but glared back defiantly.

"We never, I never touched you until I had to!" His eyes narrowed further. "You thought I would abandon you? My fledgling?" His teeth clenched as he shook from anger. "You never felt it when I searched for you? Even before doing something so foolish?!" His voice was completely bitter as he spoke. Cloud floundered for a moment before speaking again. He was used to sarcastic taunts but nothing like bitterness or anger.

"I felt you but they told me that it was what you do, that you were using me to-" Reno's eyes narrowed and his voice caught.

"Of course they did," he hissed back, his fingers involuntarily tightening, "and then they used you to try to kill me." Cloud whimpered in pain, his eyes brimming with tears as he tried to push away but Reno held him and forced him closer.

"That's right, Cloud, I did find you. I could feel you but you wouldn't come to me when I called to you. It was a trap. The slayers were waiting." Cloud's eyes widened. Reno pulled that blond hair hard, jerking his head back mercilessly and making him wince. "Perhaps I should have left you as a child and let you perish. It would have saved me a lot of trouble." Teeth trailed his neck, "Even now I wish I could kill you sometimes," he whispered. Cloud froze, going cold from fear. "Lea saved your life. Not me. He is the one that truly deserved your gratitude, not me." The words hurt, striking deeply at his heart and Cloud gasped breathlessly when their eyes met again. "All of it was real. I loved you so much that I let you be happy without me. They filled your head with lies."

Tears spilled out of those pretty blue eyes but Reno didn't waver. He angrily held Cloud's gaze and the blond cried harder. He had never angered Reno like this before and he could feel his fury. He was afraid. Sensing his fear and hissing in displeasure, Reno let go, gently stroking his hair out of his eyes before hugging Cloud instead.

Cloud shut his eyes, trying to calm down. He felt breath against his throat again and something inside him tried to relax but failed. His body wouldn't move. He could hear his heart thump faster and feel Reno's body against his. He pulled back enough to look at the vampire but Reno's hold on him didn't loosen. "Reno?" The lovely red-head looked at him but his eyes were distant, cold from pain. He was staring at the blond's tear stained cheeks, hesitating before looking into his eyes. Cloud was questioning himself, searching his memories. He didn't know what to believe.

Gently, he touched Cloud's face with one hand and then the other and wiped his tears away. "It doesn't matter anymore," Reno murmured, quietly. Cloud met his gaze, feeling his emotions and gasping softly. The red-head leant forward, kissing him gently as Cloud's eyes slid shut. This time it was words and he heard them as clearly as if Reno had spoken. That loving him was a curse. Somehow it hurt. Fresh tears slid down his face and Reno deepened the kiss. Cloud grasped his shoulders and broke away.

"I want to know what happened," he whispered, opening his eyes. "All of it."

Reno watched him carefully. "Are you going to believe me?" Cloud scoffed at him.

"Would I be asking if I didn't want to know?" he asked. Reno's eyes narrowed in skepticism.

"I'm not telling you anything if you refuse to believe me," he deadpanned. "You will believe me, Cloud. Swear it to me."

"How will I know?" he asked hesitantly. Reno watched him, contemplating.

"I want you to ask me if I have ever lied to you." Cloud blinked in confusion. Ask. He blinked again, hearing the unspoken command.

"Have you ever lied to me?" he asked hesitantly.

"Never," the red-head promised.

"Will you ever lie to me?" Reno shook his head.

"Never."

Again. Swallowing, Cloud asked again, beginning to understand. "Have you ever lied to me? Will you ever lie to me?" Reno stared into his eyes.

"Never." The blond's heart sped up and he was afraid to ask for the third time. If it was a lie Reno couldn't answer him without feeling the consequences. If it wasn't… "Ask it," Reno commanded. Breathing a little hard, Cloud tried to find his voice.

"Have you ever lied to me and will you ever lie to me, Reno?" He asked finally.

"Never," he promised, "you may strike me down this instant if I am lying." Cloud felt it, the same as before, a surge of pressure. The promise had been binding. Reno hadn't been lying. A tremor worked itself through his entire body and he stared at the creature breathlessly. He blinked, confused for a moment when the vampire sat back and spoke.

"There are rules. A governance of sorts that we all must follow," he began. "One of Lea's rules is to not hunt children. That is why your life was spared." Cloud blinked at him again.

"You… you told me that you saw me get lost," he protested weakly.

"I did. I was the one to tell my brother of you. However I am not the one who commanded that your life was to be spared," he replied. "Lea told me to take care of you. That is why I took you home. Do you understand?" Cloud nodded slowly. "Good. Now, Cloud, I sensed your sadness at never seeing me again as you stared after me in the dark. That is why I returned to you, why I looked after you. Lea forbade me to get attached to you but it was too late. That is why I kept coming back," he told the blond. When Cloud nodded again, his expression still guarded, he continued. "I knew that we were destined to hate one another one day and how dangerous it was to interact with you. That is why I never spoke to you, even as you stared at me longingly. Even as I fell in love with you, much to my brother's displeasure."

"What about our bond?" he whispered. "You weren't using me then?"

"I didn't want it to be like that. I wanted you to decide for yourself," he murmured back. "Lea saw how you felt about me and saw it as an opportunity to use you against your family, just as he did with Roxas." Cloud nodded slowly. "If I hadn't done it, you would have had a bond with Lea and Lea had no problem with hurting you. I couldn't let that happen," he muttered, poking the blond in the forehead, smirking when Cloud's cheeks reddened.

"Why would he do that to you?" Cloud asked, not understanding. Reno glanced away.

"No one can disobey him. Not even me," Reno replied, "and I did."

"What kind of life is Roxas going to have then?" he asked sadly, his eyes silently begging to know. Now was the moment when he'd learn the truth. Roxas was gone, possibly by his own choice. He needed to know what he'd done. His face paled when Reno smiled at him reassuringly.

"You are underestimating the depth of devotion that my brother can feel," he replied, and Cloud forgot how to breathe all over again. Roxas was one of them, by his own choice. He almost didn't hear Reno when he spoke again. "One day you will understand how I feel about you and even then you will never understand how my brother feels about your son." Searching his eyes and afraid for Roxas, Cloud murmured quietly,

"I want to. I need to know that my child is safe." Reno watched him for a moment.

"I have never seen Lea love another outside of our clan before. Even then, his love for us was nothing like this," he replied. "His intention for Roxas is forever and anything that gets in the way of that will feel the depths of his fury." Cloud's gaze fell. He still looked worried, even as Reno's fingers curled under his chin and he raised it, making their eyes meet once again. "If Lea didn't love him, he wouldn't have let him choose, Cloud." He told the blond gently, "He wants him to be happy." He hesitated, looking into Cloud's eyes for a long time. "I want you to be happy, like that too, you know," he said just as gently.

"You can never make me happy. You've already trapped me here," Cloud told him quietly, looking away, "I don't want anything you have to offer."

"Even if I let you see your wife and child?" the red-head asked. The blond's eyes widened. "What if I let you see Roxas too?" he asked.

"Your price will be too high," he murmured back, watching him warily. Reno held two fingers up and shook his head.

"No, not really," he told the blond, "the terms are simple, actually." He held up one finger. "You will always return to me when I call to you," he murmured, before holding up the other. Cloud nodded slowly, waiting. "And we will share blood again before I will allow it."

"I don't want to be like you," he answered defensively. Reno shook his head and raised another finger. Three.

"We both know that you already are like me. However, we must share blood three times before the transformation is complete," he replied. Cloud watched him, his expression guarded.

"You realize how cruel it is to offer such a thing when you knew I would refuse the terms, right?" he asked coldly. Reno tilted his head at Cloud.

"Why are you refusing?" he asked.

"Why would I allow you so much control over me by deepening our bond?" he shot back. Reno shook his head and Cloud's breath caught.

"I will have no more control over you than I do presently," he replied. Cloud exhaled sharply. Reno wasn't lying to him. He would have felt it. His eyes welled up and he was flooded with so many emotions as he thought about his family.

"Then why do you want it?" he asked.

"It's been too long since I claimed you and I want to know without a doubt that you will return to me," he said softly. "I don't want to have to hunt you, Cloud," he said, sighing.

"Of course I would," he told the red-head. Reno shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't believe you," he replied, "and that's why I won't revise my offer." The blond frowned at him and the vampire watched him silently, "You cannot deny that you have broken promises to me. Even binding promises mean little to you, do they not? Or are you going to lie to me and tell me that you were offering peace last night without the intention of escaping me." Reno bent closer when Cloud's pulse quickened. "It's in your nature to betray me, isn't it?" he asked, his fingers caressing the blond's face. "And like a fool, I let you," he said softly. "No more lies, Cloud." Gently, he wrenched the blades out of the blond's hand, holding one to his neck. Roxas' blade. Cloud stared at it. It was reinforced with rare materials for the first kill, especially designed to fulfill its purpose. He didn't know what effect it would have on Reno. "Accept my offer or refuse it."

"No," he gasped, his wide eyes meeting the vampire's. "…not with the blade. Not like that," he added hastily, afraid he'd lost his chance to see his family again. Slowly, Reno lowered the weapon and set them on the desk next to the bed.

"Are you accepting, Cloud?" he asked quietly. Closing his eyes, the blond nodded resignedly.

"I am," he murmured back. Their eyes met and Reno could see the hesitation in Cloud's eyes. He looked deeper and his eyes widened. Cloud looked away first, refusing to confirm or deny to Reno that he had possibly saved his life. He knew that it would be fatal to a weaker vampire. Reno, he wasn't sure. He kept telling himself that if Reno had been harmed in such close proximity to Lea, the vampire would kill both him and Roxas in retaliation. Without the others he would have failed in taking out either vampire. He…

Reno took his hand, raising it to his lips and Cloud looked at him, confusedly. The red-head kissed the backs of his fingers and he clenched them involuntarily. Slowly, he worked his way to his inner wrist and blond brows furrowed. "What are you doing?" he whispered, shivering when Reno kissed his pulse slowly.

Cloud hissed in pain when he bit hard, latching on and suckling at it. Whimpering, he shuddered, watching as Reno released him, licking the wound instead. A lot. There was so much blood. Too much. He'd never seen what it looked like before, having his body mutilated by the creature. He stared at it, trembling and nauseated, when Reno pulled back.

He gasped when the wound closed itself before his eyes, healing as if it had never been there. That was new. His brows furrowed in confusion but before he could speak, Reno grasped either side of his face, kissing him deeply. He tasted blood, trying to recoil, but he couldn't break away. There was so much blood that he could feel it trickling down his face and Reno didn't stop until he swallowed. The vampire kissed him until he couldn't taste it anymore. He was gasping for air and staring at Reno with wide eyes, already feeling closer to him.

"What was that?" He demanded tensely, lifting up his wrist. Reno licked up his chin, up to his lips and ran his tongue across them. The blond shuddered as his mouth was taken again and the red-head smiled gently as he broke the kiss.

"Proof of our bond. Proof of my blood flowing through your veins," he replied. "The abilities that you already possess will only grow stronger, now that you have more." Cloud stared at him, eyes wide in realization.

"And so will our mental connection, won't it." He asked numbly. Reno nodded, his smile widening.

"If you plan to plot against us, I will know," he added, "and so it is up to you, whether or not you choose to put your family in danger by involving them." Cloud let out a shaky breath.

"This was never about making me happy, was it?" he asked. Reno watched him.

"It was, but we both know that I can't trust you," he replied, shrugging. "I want to make you happy but you won't let me."

"If you want to make me happy, let me go so that I have the freedom to make my own choices," he answered coldly.

"You're never going to be free, Cloud," Reno disagreed. "Even if I let you go, do you think that Lea would allow it? You've proven yourself to be too untamable," he said, shaking his head. "How about the slayers? What about your family? What would they say if you abandoned your cause?" he asked. "Although…" he hummed, his lips curving up, reaching over and taking Roxas' blade and twirling it thoughtfully, "I might choose to humor you in exchange for some answers. I am surprised that you protected me, after all." Cloud stared into blue eyes for a long heartbeat. "Tell me about this blade, love."

"Why should I tell you anything?" he asked scoffing. The red-head's lips curved upward into a confident smirk.

"Something else you might be willing to bargain for," he replied lightly. Cloud's scoff darkened.

"I'm not going to make any more deals with you," he told the red-head.

"Even if it got you more freedom?" Reno hummed wryly. The blond folded his arms across his chest but indulged the vampire no further. "Ah I see. It's a sensitive topic," he murmured back. Cloud's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"No more deals," he repeated. The red-head smirked at him.

"That's alright, I know enough," he murmured back. Scoffing, Cloud turned away. "You know, even if you chose to harm me," he breathed into Cloud's ear, "Lea would never hurt Roxas for your actions."

"And why not?" The blond's heart was racing and Reno could hear it. The red-head's lips quirked upward.

"Roxas is blood of our blood, he belongs to our clan now." The blond's eyes widened. It was even worse than he'd thought.

"Oh my God, no," he whispered, shaking his head, but the red-head's lips only quirked upward further.

"That's right, Cloud. They're mates."

~o~

Axel's words rang in his ears as he stared into those beautiful green eyes, trying not to get lost. He'd known of the alliance that Lea had created but not that the red-head ruled them. His father had told him about the former, but the secret wasn't known to those outside of their alliance of slayers. Cloud had feared that the news would induce panic. Roxas frowned pensively. He'd never imagined that the very red-head in his arms was commanding it all or that he was that powerful, and it was hitting him hard. Axel was Lea. They were the same and he couldn't forget that, or that the red-head was a mystery still. But Axel trusted him now. They were 'mates' so…

Roxas' mouth opened and then his teeth clicked shut. He wasn't entirely sure what it meant to be the red-head's mate either, although Axel had mentioned the concept three times already. He understood that what he'd done was permanent, that there was no going back, but… fingers hooked under his chin and his mind blanked. Roxas' brows furrowed as Axel smiled at him.

"Yes, little one, there is much to know still," he mused, making a vague gesture with his hand before taking Roxas' in his own and tracing a vein with the other, watching the motion and humming softly. "Let's see…" he murmured thoughtfully, considering where to begin his explanation. "Power derives from blood. That means that the more of my blood is flowing in your veins, the more powerful you will become." He smiled wryly at the blond. "We could have shared less and you would have still turned." Cerulean searched those lovely green eyes.

"But we… and you said…" he murmured, thinking about what they had done. There had been so much that had been taken, that had been given.

"That's right, Roxas," the lovely red-head purred. "I took all of it and you took more than enough to replace it." His fingers trailed through golden hair affectionately. "My blood is your blood as yours is mine, perfectly mixed," he murmured, to the blond. "That's why being away from me is leaving you burning up right now, that's why it is happening so much more rapidly than you expected," he said, brushing his nose against Roxas', kissing him briefly. "You are not just turning into a vampire, Roxas, you are becoming like me. You are not going to be weak or subordinate to me in any way. You are part of my clan now and will become strong by sharing my power. I chose you to be my equal and I made you my equal. I will protect you. That's what it means to be my mate."

"But I… you could have chosen anyone," he gasped, the realization hitting him hard that he had nothing to offer. Axel nodded in agreement, silencing him.

"And I chose you. I don't need anyone, Roxas, but I want you," he told the blond, nuzzling against him affectionately. "You are young, there is much to learn." Roxas' eyes searched his for a long moment. "If you are willing, I will teach you. Don't be afraid, my love." Roxas' brows furrowed and he turned away, his body aching at the loss of contact.

"What happens when you don't want me anymore?" he mumbled. Axel's hands touched him gently, rubbing his shoulders slowly and trailing down his body to his hips, pulling him back. Roxas' eyes fluttered shut as his back pressed against Axel's chest. The red-head kissed the top of his head and let out a soft exhalation. He was silent for a long moment, and then his fingers gently brushed against Roxas' skin.

"Didn't I already tell you that this is for forever, Roxas?" he asked softly, his gentle touches melting the body beneath them. Roxas forced his eyes open, catching those green eyes. Axel smiled at the boy sardonically. "Did you really think I was going to stop wanting you?" Flushing, Roxas looked away but his breath hitched when fingers curled under his chin, lifting it. "You are mine," Axel whispered, pressing his lips to the blond's firmly, "and I'm never going to let you go. Even if you run from me, I'm always going to bring you right back." Roxas' eyes widened, searching those emeralds. "Because I'm never going to stop loving you."

"Only if I'm yours too," Roxas whispered back breathlessly.

"All of me, forever," the red-head promised.

"Okay, then," the blond whispered back, "teach me." Axel grinned, kissing the blond while his eyes shimmered from excitement.

"You are completing the transformation, now," he breathed, explaining what was happening to him. "The normal period for this is three days but you will complete it by sunrise." Roxas nodded slowly, listening carefully. "However, over the next three days you will become stronger than the others. You will be able to manipulate the darkness and might possibly develop control over an element, as I can."

"Yours is fire, right?" the blond asked. Nodding, Axel held out his palm, a small flame appearing. The tendrils of fire lit his green eyes and Roxas stared, entranced.

"Although I'm not sure what yours would be, if it happens," he murmured and with a tentative smile, he closed his hand and the flames disappeared. "I haven't done this before," he whispered. Their eyes locked for a moment that felt like forever before Roxas grinned.

"Me neither, Axel," he teased. The tension in the red-head's shoulders eased and he laughed in amusement. Roxas smiled at the pleasant sound and touched a pale cheek, letting his fingers caress the smooth skin. He stared into those green eyes for a moment longer before closing the space between them. Axel let him press their lips together in a deep caress, opening his mouth to the smaller boy but Roxas waited, simply keeping their lips locked and stroking that soft red hair gently. He felt Axel's body relax as he continued to touch him in slow gentle caresses, letting his hands explore and rub the spots that made the red-head groan softly. Then, he tentatively brushed his tongue against Axel's before breaking away. "What's wrong?" he whispered.

Axel flashed him a hesitant smile. "I don't know what to expect either. It doesn't feel real and at the same time I feel so many things when I'm used to being so cold," he murmured, threading his fingers through golden hair. "I'm used to being alone and now I have you and suddenly everything isn't so empty," he whispered, searching Roxas' eyes. His smile widened as the blond kissed him again, just as gently, over and over and he kissed him back, his tongue dragging against Roxas' slowly.

When he pulled back his eyes were soft, but still burned as he stared at Roxas intently. There was a gentleness in them, just for the blond. Roxas understood what it meant. He could feel it. "Tonight, you must rest," the red-head murmured, "and tomorrow, once the transformation has been completed, I will take you to our main base." Roxas' brows furrowed.

"But I thought... what about here? This isn't it?" Smiling softly, Axel explained.

"Precious few are those who have seen my home. The others are at the castle in Hollow Bastion." Nodding slowly, Roxas asked,

"My father learned of you alliance there, but why are we going?" He bit his lower lip, "You aren't going to attack again, are you?" Axel's hand gently caressed the blond's face and he pressed his lips to Roxas' forehead for a long time.

"I am aware of your wishes and I do not want to hurt you. Coexistence is what I shall strive for, however those who oppose us must go, Roxas," he explained. Roxas' eyes slid shut and Axel could sense that it left him distraught. "Our chances for this will increase, if Cloud succumbs to Reno once more," he said gently. Blue eyes stared up at him.

"If he doesn't, are you going to kill my family?" he whispered back. Axel could feel his unhappiness.

"It would be foolish not to, Roxas," he said quietly. The blond grimaced. "They must accept peace. It is the only way." Roxas listened but didn't acknowledge him further until hands gently caressed either side of his face. "I want you to help me, little one. I want you to help me change things. You are the only one who can." Brows furrowing, Roxas asked,

"Me?"

"Cloud will not listen to us, believes that we are monsters, but you, you are his child." Roxas nodded slowly in understanding. "Will you help him understand?"

"I was his child. He's going to think I'm a monster, too," Roxas said sadly. "What if he attacks me?" Long fingers stroked through his hair gently.

"I promise you that you will not be in any danger. I would never, never let Cloud get close to you, if that were the case." The blond lent forward, pressing his lips to Axel's.

"Okay."

~o~