Mercy
~O~

Roxas smiled in pleasure. All it had taken to break the man was for his men to flank his sides. His cowardly whimpering had been just as much amusing as it was annoying. Typically he would'a put such a nuisance out of his misery by now. He couldn't stomach cowards. He just barely tolerated it for Axel, because he knew that the end result would be worth it. He glanced at the red-head now and again. He was scowling murderously, his face either flushed from the heat or from anger. He was betting it was the latter. He chuckled softly and shook his head. This fool was making it too easy to get rid of him every time he opened his mouth. Axel would have absolutely no regrets about this. He hummed in curiosity. Seemed somethin' put Zexion in a rather foul mood as well. Odd, in particular, because the rest of his men were especially happy about this. Even his own temperament was surprisingly good. He, for one, was particularity excited to see Axel put this behind him.

"Wha's eatin' you?" he asked the slate haired man just loudly enough to be heard. Normally Zexion would be delighted to be here. All'a 'em enjoyed letting loose and making a statement. Particularly Zexion. His second grunted in frustration.

"I almost had 'im." he muttered back. Roxas tipped his head, humming in confusion. Zexion gave him a withering look over his curiosity that only made Roxas smile. He was about to regret this, but at the same time he knew there was no getting around it with Roxas. It was always best to be honest with the man from the start. "Demyx. 'fore we left." The blond chuckled a bit. Zexion grunted back, a noise of frustrated displeasure. Roxas lips only curved upward further as he contemplated teasing him but supposed his friend had already suffered enough. Mercifully, he backed off, content to mutter,

"Finally." There had definitely been mutual feelings for some time, but they hadn't ever gotten to that point yet that he'd known of, and the man had just confirmed it for him. Roxas pitied Zexion a bit for that virtuous trait of his, glad that he didn't suffer from the same affliction. If he wanted something, he made it his. He eyed his beautiful little red-head in satisfaction and purred, "Don' stop on my account, go get 'im." Zexion frowned at him before glancing past him. Demyx was trying his best to cheer up Axel. Some of his attempts even worked. Even if they were short lived. Axel was not in a good mood. Roxas watched him wryly, knowing exactly how he felt when it came to interfering with their friendship. "I been tellin' ya' you shoulda' had him by now. Take some time off after this. Show 'im what he's been missin'." Zexion sighed.

"You know why I ain't rushin' 'im." Shaking his head, Roxas answered with a small laugh and couldn't help himself as he teased,

"How's that workin' for ya'?" He gazed at Demyx for a moment. The little blond caught Zexion's eyes and smiled cutely, blushing deeply. His aquamarine eyes were warm and happy. "Looks like he's been ready t' me," Roxas murmured seriously.

Zexion grumbled back, "I'd bet on it. You ain't always right." Roxas' smile became mischievous and he called,

"Hey Demyx-" just as Axel finally broke, circling back. Roxas raised his hand in a stopping motion and the entire group followed his lead, snickering at his second's horrified expression. It was a shame. Zexion really did have the best luck. Especially when it came to a wager. Instead, he found himself content to merely observe, Unlucky Thirteen in tow, letting Axel have it out with the man. It was bound to be far more entertaining. The red-head went right up to him without an ounce of fear. Roxas watched proudly. It was just as he'd hoped for. Axel was past the point of forgiveness. He had never seen him so angry or defiant. He as going to enjoy this, he could already tell.

Axel was livid, completely humiliated about how Zack would not stop going on and about what he owed him and his terrible upbringing in front of the entire gang of outlaws. The red-head glared down at him from atop Oathkeeper. He'd already made up his mind. He would never be beneath this man again. "What I owe you?! This is what I owe you!" he seethed, spitting in his uncle's face. The man finally fell silent as the kid looked down on him with a patronizing glare. "You got hunted down for me. You best remember that the next time you open yer mouth." Axel was absolutely fuming. There was a collective silence and no one was moving to stop him. That meant Roxas really was allowing whatever Axel wanted. Then his only way out of this really was through Axel. He just had to convince the kid to let him go. Swallowing his pride, he pleaded with him.

"Don't… don't hurt nobody else. Show mercy. You got me, right? You don't gotta be angry at no one else. That's what this is 'bout, ain't it?" Green eyes narrowed dangerously.

"That whole damned town knew what you were doin' t' me," he hissed back. "No one stood up t' say it was wrong. No one stopped you. Not ev'n my blood relative. Why? 'cause I thought ya' were wrong 'bout Roxas. What right did you have?!"

"Axel… son… this life you want ain't no good, we were helpin' set ya' straight," he pleaded. Green eyes filled with hatred and disgust.

"Don' you ever call me that 'gain," he hissed lowly, "don' you ever try to control me again!" Roxas took a deep breath. He could almost feel how badly Axel was hurting. The red-head inhaled deeply to calm himself before he murmured the blond's name and met his gaze. "Let me light 'im." Blue eyes sparkled in pleasure and satisfaction. He nodded once. Zack completely began to panic as the men around him chuckled in amusement.

"Please, mercy… show us mercy like you were gonna. You promised to let me go, don't be like me, remember?" he rasped, unable to breathe. Axel stared at him blankly. "You don't gotta do this, please, you can still come home…" Zack's voice was incredibly dry and painful. Axel laughed breathlessly, shook his head and smiled a bit. He stared the man down, absolutely appalled over how absurd this hypocrite was, purring,

"Oh, really?" Zack nodded his head desperately. "Mercy…" he mocked, tilting his head in contemplation. He held up his canteen in offering and the man went quiet and absolutely still. He tipped his head thoughtfully, opening it and holding it just out of Zack's reach. When he had the audacity to look relieved like he'd had a change of heart, he slowly poured it all out in front of him. He watched misery and despair fill his eyes instead. It suited him. "That's what I think'a showin' the likes of you ev'n th' smallest'a mercies. I finally got a home, a family, and I never needed you." he answered with a taunting smile. Zack opened his mouth and closed it.

"You'll be hunted down for this. All'a ya'!" Axel snorted, his smile only widening.

"Who exactly 's gonna be left to tell 'bout it?" he mocked, patronizingly. He watched crushing defeat overwhelm the man. Axel gazed at Roxas. "Can we gag 'im. Please?" Roxas smiled in pleasure, some of his men snickering. Axel exhaled in relief when he nodded and returned to his side.

"Oh! Can I do it?! Can I?" Demyx volunteered excitedly. Chuckling, Roxas answered.

"Be quick 'bout it." He laughed wholeheartedly as Demyx completed the task, making faces at their captive as he did. Axel followed Roxas' gaze, his mood lifting as well at his friend's antics. Demyx caught his eye and winked before smiling brightly. Axel had hardly noticed until he relaxed a bit that curious gazes were following him. The outlaws had assumed that this man had offended Roxas. What they were beginning to realize was that Roxas was offended by something he had done to Axel. That alone told them how much the kid meant to Roxas.

They continued on, and when they were close to Radiant Garden, Roxas nodded his head. Much like the train, Unlucky Thirteen descended upon the town. Axel stayed back with Roxas and Zack, making sure that the man watched the outlaws pillage, ransack and then set the town on fire, making him moan in despair. There were screams in the chaos and confusion. Axel watched, engraving the image in his memory. It was freeing to watch it burn. He glanced at his blond with a soft smile. Roxas was amazing, he couldn't ask for anything more than just being next to him whatever their circumstance. This moment was especially perfect.

Roxas calmly watched as his men rounded up the survivors and brought them to him. There was that air of confidence around him that left Axel breathless. He wasn't worried about trouble. He knew his men would burn Radiant Garden to the ground whatever resistance they may face, and he was proud of it, too. Roxas frowned, drawing him out of his thoughts, when one of them recognized his red-head. He presumed it was Axel's aunt by the way she was pleading with him the way Zack had. He glared at her in disgust but let Axel handle it. The red-head watched the hysterical woman, unable to stop himself from feeling some guilt. Roxas hated her already.

"Axel, Axel stop this! Please!" Axel took a breath, dismounting Oathkeeper. Roxas let him. He nodded his head at Vanitas and Xaldin as he made his way to her. They let her go and she stumbled to the ground.

"I can't do that Yuna. I don't expect you to forgive me."

"We failed you, we failed Reno…" Axel scoffed darkly.

"When you let that monster hurt me an' tried to take away my future, you let me an' my daddy down," he corrected. His aunt glared up at him sharply.

"We were protectin' you!" With another sigh, Axel bent down to help her up. She would never understand what they'd done wrong. His eyes went wide and he froze at the feeling of the barrel of a gun pressing into his chest. Roxas was directly behind him. "Don't forgive me either," she answered.

"Roxas move!" he warned, throwing himself on her. The blond reflexively followed the command, watching their scuffle as if it were in slow motion, getting out of the way just before a gun fired. He saw the bullet go straight through Axel and couldn't breathe as the red-head collapsed. His body moved on its own as he ran to his red-head, his men subduing Yuna. Another shot rang through the air and this time she was screaming in agony but Roxas hardly heard her as he examined Axel. The kid was gasping in pain. He ripped open his shirt, examining the wound and working to put pressure on it. It had gone through his left side and even though it looked like a flesh wound, fear crept into his chest. Axel was losing a lot of blood.

"Larxene! Where's Larxene! Damn it! Go get 'er Van!" Axel's hand covered his gloved one and he squeezed gently, his breathing strained from the pain. He'd never seen Roxas look so panicked before. He never thought he'd see Roxas be afraid of anything.

"You're okay," he breathed in relief. Roxas shushed him, his voice tremoring as he murmured,

"You ain't." Axel chuckled painfully.

"Don' look at me like that… 'm okay, I ain't leavin' you," he promised, "help me up, we gotta finish it," he murmured, glowering at his aunt. Roxas gave him a half-hearted smile and gazed at him worriedly before shaking his head.

"Wait for Larxene an' stay put. You don' gotta worry 'bout that." He pressed his lips to red hair, hushing him. He gazed at Xaldin, coldly commanding, "Let 'er join 'im." He glared as she panicked and fought being tied alongside her husband. Axel hadn't been her target or he'd be dead. She'd been aiming for him. Zexion appeared, assessing the situation. Roxas wouldn't be holding himself together much longer. If he wasn't so worried about Axel, whoever had hurt the kid would be dead by now.

"Van's lookin' for Larxene. She can't be far." Roxas pursed his lips and nodded. The gang gathered back up as they heard the news, waiting for further command from Roxas. Larxene, Maluxia and Vanitas were the last three to join them.

"Yo' Roxas, ya' needed me?" She trailed off, watching the blond support Axel. He had a wound that had been bound up but it was already bleeding through. Didn't look good at all. She observed his paling complexion and tisked. He was still pleading with Roxas to let him help, too. Stubborn brat. She raised her voice, cautioning, "Kid needs t' stop movin' round."

Axel scoffed. "I got somethin' t' do," he answered. She raised her hands and gave him a saccharine smile.

"Fine, if ya' wanna bleed out. I won't stop ya'." Axel gave her a defiant look right back, murmuring to Roxas,

"Please…" The blond pursed his lips. He knew Axel wouldn't forgive him if he stopped him now but nonetheless he muttered,

"Stay put." His red-head sighed unhappily, so he told him, "Trust me, let me do it. However ya' want." He hummed softly in approval as Axel nodded in resignation. Even if he was displeased about it.

"My flask…" Roxas nodded, taking it out of his back pocket and opening it for him. Axel grimaced, taking a drink to dull the pain before murmuring something in Roxas' ear. Chuckling a bit, the man nodded.

"Zexion," he purred, smiling a bit as the man came to him, delighted to follow the request. Once he'd gotten his red-head situated, nodded to him once more. Axel watched him take his flask, dousing his tormentors in the alcohol before smacking the horse and setting it into motion. He didn't look away until he saw them burn, himself, the alcohol catching them on fire as they reached town before they could explode, burning them alive. Just as he knew it would. The explosion was as magnificent as their screams and took half the town with it. His eyes slid shut and he let himself remember this moment, finally letting go. He staggered against the man, struggling to stay upright, now that he didn't have to be so strong.

He was hardly aware as Larxene looked him over, until she poured alcohol on the wound to disinfect it. He hissed in pain, hearing her mutter something about him being lucky. "It don't look like he's got nothin' serious, lucky kid, but 's hard t' know for sure." She looked at Roxas seriously as she bound up the wound. "I don't got much with me. Unless we find some supplies, I can't do much. You better get 'im back an' convince th' doc t' look at 'im." Roxas pursed his lips. Axel was fading in and out of consciousness and was losing a lot of blood. He couldn't wait around to see what they could salvage here. He glanced at his second.

"Help me." Nodding obediently, Zexion helped Roxas get Axel on his horse with him. He caught Demyx' eye. "Look after his horse." The red-head groaned in pain and Roxas held him close, murmuring in his ear, "Hold on, 'kay?" Axel nodded weakly. He felt so cold. "See to finishin' it," he told Zexion, tipping his head at the town. The man smirked and nodded. He tipped his head to Zexion before pulling Axel close, riding Oblivion hard into the night.

By the time he made it back to camp, Axel had lost consciousness and was struggling to hold on. His breathing was rapid and shallow. He rushed to the medic tent, finding the three girls tending to Hayner. He laid Axel down on one of the beds anxiously. It hurt to see him like this. It was his fault. He'd let that snake get too close to him without making sure she'd been disarmed. He… He flinched when he heard Namine's soft voice.

"Roxas? What happened?"

"Gunshot. Check 'im over." Olette scoffed and crossed her arms at him.

"I ain't takin' orders from you."

Roxas glared at her just as icily as she'd spoken to him. He took a deep breath. If nothing else, Axel had saved Hayner from being killed immediately. Olette owed him this and she knew it. His voice was hard when he spoke again. "All'a you owe him. You best be payin' up that debt. Axel's th' only reason any'a ya' got a chance t' live. Somethin' happens an' he dies, so d' you." He glared at Olette pointedly before promising, "Hesitate 'gain an' 'll be sure you die last." he promised coldly. Olette glanced at Namine' and Kari, nodding. They went about gathering supplies as Roxas watched. She set about loosening Axel's clothes and raising his legs, huffing in annoyance when the man didn't move.

"Go on then. Let us work." Ocean blue eyes narrowed at her.

"No." The girl gave him a look.

"You ain't gonna be no help in here."

"Can't say I care," the blond answered, making himself comfortable.

"Why you havin' us treat 'im if ya' don't trust us!" she hissed in agitation.

"That ain't why 'm here," he answered, scoffing. "Now you best be gettin' t' work."

Roxas wasn't satisfied even after they'd gathered around his red-head, examining the wound before closing it up and using antibiotics as they neatly bound it up with clean dressings. They made sure to clean him up before covering him with warm blankets. Olette was very thorough, Roxas would give her that, watching as she mixed up some medicine for Axel to take when he woke up. Finally, she nodded to her companions, telling them to take a break before cleaning the blood off of her hands. There was a long silence where they both stared at the red-head. Roxas' heart ached to see him like this. He hated it.

"He's gonna be alright," she promised, finally. "Bullet went clean through. No broken bones or nothin'. We just gotta keep 'im from goin' into shock." Roxas gazed at her for a moment, his expression guarded.

"You better hope so," he answered. The brunette sighed. Oh this man was so stubborn and drove her crazy! As she busied herself, getting ready to finish up, she saw him twine their fingers together. Olette watched Roxas as he gazed at the kid, beginning to understand this man a little bit and how deeply he cared for their patient. She softened a bit, finally knowing what to say to him.

"His pulse is gettin' stronger. Do ya' feel it?" Roxas squeezed Axel's hand but said nothing. He glanced up to see her watching him but didn't stare into her green eyes for too long. It was too painful. She took his hand, guiding it so he could feel. Roxas nodded a bit, tolerating it because he needed her. Axel seemed to have a soft spot for her too. He didn't want to upset the kid. "Both'a ya' need rest. You've been up all night." The blond muttered darkly,

"I ain't leavin'." Olette sat down across from him. Axel was in between them.

"I know how ya' feel, Roxas but…" He smiled at her wryly.

"If ya' did, ya' wouldn' be tellin' me t' go," he answered patronizingly. "Don' you tell me t' leave 'gain," he warned as his mood soured. She watched him patiently.

"Alright. Be mindful'a th' stitches. Don't move him yet. He could get an infection." She handed him the medication and Roxas tipped his head at her, watching her leave. When they were alone, he sighed, finally relaxing, but feeling so guilty.

"'m sorry, I should'a protected you," he murmured to the red-head. He smiled a bit, finally. "Ya' did good today." He didn't realize Axel could be such a malicious little thing. He was proud of the kid. He raised the fingers that were still clasped in his, kissing them. Seemed he owed his little love another debt. Olette too, he conceded. If Axel pulled through he'd reward her.

He sighed tiredly, closing his eyes and grimacing. The first thing he saw was Axel collapsing. He gazed at the red-head, watching him breathe, reminding himself he was alive. He was gonna be alright. He had to be. He'd waited too long for the kind of happiness he felt with Axel to lose him now. He stayed with him, fighting sleep but it eventually overtook him.

~O~

"Roxas…" He hummed softly and faintly smiled at a familiar touch without opening his eyes. He was too exhausted. He was relieved he was still able to relax. It was only Zexion. "I told 'im I gotta ask first but Demyx is awful worried. He wants t' see Axel. That alright? We just got back."

"Send 'im in," he answered tiredly. His eyes were heavy when he opened them. His red-head was still awfully pale but his breathing had evened out at least. He sighed softly. That meant he'd only been asleep for a few hours. He gazed at the worried blond when he came in and sat beside him. Demyx smiled sadly at the red-head.

"Hey best friend, we did right by you, you don't gotta worry 'bout nothin' anymore," he promised, "you hurry up and feel better. Wake up soon!" He was startled when Roxas patted his shoulder. Watery aquamarine eyes met ocean blue.

"She said he'll be alright," he murmured quietly. He stiffened in surprise when the kid hugged him. After a moment he awkwardly hugged him back. Zexion sat across from him with a gentle smile.

"Glad t' hear it," he answered. He gazed at Roxas. "Ya' look terrible." Laughing a bit, the blond shook his head. He felt terrible. "Wanna take a break? 'll watch ov'r 'im for ya'." Stretching a bit he shook his head again.

"Appreciate the offer, but no thanks, Zexion," he answered. He smiled wryly. "Wha's left'a Radiant Garden?" Zexion leaned back, looking pleased with himself.

"Nothin', 's a complete wasteland." Roxas smiled.

"Mmm, good work," he hummed. "Any survivors?" Zexion shook his head and Roxas' lips curved into a pleased grin. He enjoyed their company for a while longer, appreciating the way that Demyx tended to his little love. "Two'a ya' go on, take that time," he told Zexion with a wink.

"What time?" Demyx asked confusedly. Roxas smiled at him wryly and shrugged.

"It'd do ya' both good t' spend a bit'a time together," he answered without answering. "'ll find ya' when he wakes up, if ya' ain't busy," he promised. Demyx nodded, still a bit confused.

"You sure you don' need anything?" Zexion asked. Roxas simply gave him a look that told him what he should be doing, pleased when his face darkened. "Don' worry, I won' let ya be interrupted this time." Zexion actually blushed a bit and Roxas smiled at him archly. He pitied the man a bit for his patience, quietly appreciating his own little love for being so obedient from the start. Demyx looked back and forth between them before sighing. Roxas and Zexion could practically read each other's minds. He pouted a bit, wishing he were that close to the man. Zexion simply smiled at him, taking his hand and saying, "C'mon." Roxas watched them go, happy for them. When they were gone, he took Axel's hand, trailing his thumb across his knuckles and watching over him as he rested.

He could only hope that Olette was right.

~O~