Roxas swallowed. He felt sick in the pit of his stomach. Finally, he set the bread down, staring at the medley of food on the plate distractedly. His lips were set in a deep frown as he contemplated the food in front of him in an attempt to push the rest of his thoughts that were swirling around his head and causing turmoil, out of focus. It was a stew of some sort and it looked delicious, better food than he'd had in a long time, but his appetite was dwindling rapidly. When he spoke again, the words had a bitter taste on his tongue. "You say it isn't my fault, yet you still chose to get me involved, didn't you?" he asked quietly.

"I did," the red-head acknowledged. The blond bit his lower lip. Axel had explained why as well and it been overwhelming. Every last bit of it. He bit his lip harder, unsure of what to make of everything he had been told. He didn't want to accept it. He needed to think about this and decide on his own because every part of his made him angry. The situation, his father's secret, Axel singling him out for it. Most importantly he hated how stupid he'd been even though he knew that it had saved his life. Axel would not have hesitated to kill him otherwise. He needed to clear his head. He needed to get away from the Vampire.

"I…" he murmured finally, "I need to think about what you said. I want you to leave me alone." The red-head's lips curled upward slightly and he nodded his head in acknowledgement. Roxas scoffed at him for having the audacity to look amused.

"For now, at least," he agreed before the blond could continue. Roxas' expression darkened while green eyes gentled. "I know what you are doing," he murmured softly and seriously, capturing Roxas' attention entirely, "I know just how hard you resist me, how hard you try to stay away, and I know that it makes your body and your soul scream in agony." The blond swallowed involuntarily but otherwise did not waver. "It will not hurt so badly if you come to me rather than push me away, Roxas," he purred to the blond in a way that made Roxas' vision grow hazy for a moment. Arousal tore right through him.

"You… you just want me to stay addicted to you," he accused weakly. The red-head shook his head and Roxas followed his movements, unable to look away. Axel leant forward until they were only inches apart. Roxas' heart jolted into motion and he stared into green, green eyes. Axel looked just like everything he hadn't known he'd ever wanted. He would be lying if he said it wasn't overwhelming.

"You will always want me," he promised. Roxas' breath caught in his throat. He forced himself to remain still. The sheer willpower was exhausting because he did want Axel. He began to tremble, shuddering against that magnetic presence.

"I don't believe you." His voice came out harshly and he sounded stronger than he felt. He hoped that he looked angrier than he felt, too, but they both knew that he was lying. Mischief lit those breathtaking eyes and Roxas felt an intuitive sense of dread.

"Then deny me," Axel said simply. The blond scoffed at him.

"How about you knock off the come hither bullshit then," he hissed back.

"You think that I have forced you?" Axel challenged.

"Yeah, I do," the blond remarked, "in fact-" he continued but he words died on his tongue when Axel's eyes changed, becoming more vivid. A forest of green fire that became so intense, Roxas was gasping. He felt raw animalistic need coursing through him as Axel leant forward pressed their lips together. His inhibitions were slipping away rapidly as their tongues tangled together. Axel took his mouth savagely and Roxas' fingers twitched, yearning to bury themselves in fiery hair and pull. He clenched them, hard. "I can," he purred huskily, his lips brushing against Roxas', slickening them with saliva. Fingers trailed his face and Roxas nuzzled into the touch, shuddering uncontrollably. Axel was completely in his space and had proven his point. He had a claim over Roxas and the blond was powerless to fight it if he chose to enforce it. "However, I do not think that either of us want that, little one."

The back door opened, startling Roxas, but he still could not break away from Axel's gaze. He was breathing hard. Two more presences entered the small kitchen, chattering merrily. The red-head's lips curved up into a smile and he broke his gaze with Roxas before pulling away, releasing him and leaving the blond gasping. "Good evening, Aerith," he greeted. The next voice made Roxas tense.

"I told you he would be here," a familiar voice teased.

"I know, I know, I will never doubt you again," a gentle voice acknowledged, part of a normal banter between the trio, Roxas supposed. He turned, his eyes resting on a lovely young lady with beautiful green eyes. She was wearing pink gardening gloves that had dirt on them and a bundle of flowers was in her arms, a pair of shears in her hands, halfway covering her pink dress. Her long brown hair was pulled back. A lot of her torso and some of her face was hidden by flowers. Somehow, it was like she was supposed to look that way and would look strange otherwise. Beside her, Reno towered over her. He was holding a bushel of vegetables with ease, no doubt freshly picked by the young lady next to him.

Her eyes found Roxas and she smiled warmly. "Hello, you must be Roxas!" The blond blinked.

"I uhm y-yeah," he stammered. Aerith adjusted the bundle and held out her hand. Roxas shook it and her smile widened.

"I'm happy to meet you," she replied. Roxas nodded hesitantly and she smiled kindly.

"Were you looking for me, Aerith?" Axel asked. She beamed at him.

"Of course! I was hoping that you were well, I haven't gotten to see you since you've been back," she replied. Axel smiled gently.

"I am, thank you." Roxas observed the girl silently, as she spoke to Axel, trying to determine if she was one of them. She seemed to be human, lovely, but still human. She was unlike Axel or Reno in a way. Her skin had warmth and color, there were more details about her, more imperfections. Her hair was tousled, her clothes were worn from working hard outside, and her face and shoulders were browned from sun exposure. Somehow, her relationship with Axel and Reno was special. He watched her as she set the flowers down and when she looked up again he noticed that there was a smudge of dirt on her cheek. He saw no marks on her, nothing that would indicate that she had been bitten recently.

"What brings you here, Roxas?" she asked politely.

"I'm a consolation prize," Roxas told her humorlessly. Aerith's eyes widened and she looked at Axel and then Reno in surprise. When Reno inclined his head toward Axel, she turned her questioning gaze to him.

"I needed to put the resistance in their place," he told her, "if I had left him behind, he would not be alive." Roxas crossed his arms and scoffed at the red-head.

"That's debatable," he muttered dangerously. The red-head shrugged.

"He doesn't believe me." Aerith's expression morphed into amusement when Roxas spat his answer back, battling wills with Axel. It wasn't something that normally happened to Axel but the red-head was handling himself well.

"You used me to hurt my family!" She sat down across from them.

"I'm not sure that I would believe you either, Axel," she commented finally. She took his hand. "What if the same had been done to you?" The red-head watched her patiently.

"My family did not start this, Aerith," he replied, "nor have they hunted humans down for sport." Roxas bit his lower lip. To become a slayer, that's exactly what was done. The red-head turned to him, sensing his emotions. Their eyes met for a moment before Roxas turned away, feeling guilty. Aerith squeezed the red-head's hand encouragingly. Axel nodded finally, choosing to do as Roxas had asked.

"Come, Reno, Roxas wants some space." Obediently, Reno set down the vegetables and went to his brother. Axel's gaze rested on Roxas but the blond wouldn't look at him. "Take care of him for me, Aerith," he requested, excusing himself.

Reno followed Axel silently to the upstairs study, as was their ritual, closing the door behind them. Axel sat down in his usual spot, and Reno in his- a pair of leather chairs facing the desk. "What happened after I took Roxas?" Axel murmured. Reno watched him for a long moment.

"You are going to get hurt. He's just like his father," Reno told him. Their eyes met.

"Is it better to feel or not to feel for fear of getting hurt?" Axel asked him.

"I wonder that a lot, actually," Reno replied, shrugging. "That is up to you, brother. I cannot decide for you." He crossed his arms, staring down at his feet for a long moment. "You should turn him before he leaves you. Don't make my mistake." Axel shook his head.

"I want him willing," he murmured. Reno nodded, his expression grave.

"If he's going to hate you, there's nothing you can do, you know? Try not to forget," he said finally. Axel nodded.

"I know well. Now, report," he asked again watching Reno expectantly.

"Cloud is really upset because you took Roxas," he replied. "He took out some of my new recruits. I haven't seen him react like that before." Axel nodded. "We took out more of them than they did us but as you asked, plenty of slayers escaped. However most of them will not be fighting again soon."

"Thank you," he murmured. "And you? Did Cloud hurt you?" Reno shrugged, avoiding Axel's gaze.

"He's always been better than the average human, but that's my fault. Nothing more than usual." He glanced down at his torn sleeve. "He got me a few times, but it has healed already." Axel nodded.

"Do you still love him?" he asked gently. Blue eyes slid shut.

"It doesn't matter, Axe. He doesn't love me," he replied.

"It does, Reno. You know that I won't hurt him, so long as you care," the red-head told him. Reno turned to him, their eyes meeting briefly. He smiled a little.

"Yeah, you're always good to me, even though it's in your best interest to kill him," he mused. "I never thank you for that, do I?" Axel shrugged.

"You are my family, it's nothing," he replied, "even if your taste in humans happens to be particularly bad," he murmured amusedly.

"Oh? What about you?" He asked. Axel hummed with a smirk, watching him haughtily. "Oh come on, Axel. Roxas is the same as Cloud." Axel tsked at him.

"Roxas never became a full slayer," he said with a grin. "More importantly, he is not trying to kill me on a regular basis." Reno rolled his eyes before leering at the other red-head.

"Yeah, but now you have reasons to keep my love interest alive, even if I want him dead," he said with a smirk. "Check mate, yo." Green eyes became calculating and Axel's smile was wicked.

"When have I ever not known what I was doing?" he challenged. Reno shook his head.

"All part of the plan? When are you gonna admit that I'm right?" Axel's smile stretched.

"Only when you are right," he told Reno.

"Okay, brother, enlighten me." Nodding, Axel purred,

"Even if I didn't want Roxas, I would have taken him. I want to draw Cloud to us."

"Why? So that you can exchange niceties?" Reno asked sarcastically. "He's not interested in peace, Axe. You already tried that." Axel leant closer to his brother, his eyes shimmering with mirth.

"I want you to seduce him," shock filled blue eyes. Axel's voice lowered a degree, reflecting the seriousness of his next words, "Enthrall him if you have to but don't let him get away until you have had him."

"He hates me, Axel," he murmured, his expression becoming guarded. Axel chuckled lightly and asked,

"Do you know why?"

"He told me he was confused back then and to stay away because he has a wife and a family now," Reno replied bitterly. Axel shook his head.

"It's because he still wants you." Blue met green. Axel watched him pityingly, "He will never stop wanting you and he cannot stand it. That is why he wants to stay away from you." Reno stared at him for a long moment.

"You're certain. You are positively gloating," he gasped. "How could you know that?" Axel held his gaze, grinning wildly.

"You said it yourself. Roxas is the same as Cloud."

~o~

"What are you doing here Aerith?" The girl turned from arranging flowers, her expression set in surprise.

"What do you mean Roxas?" she asked confusedly.

"Are they feeding on you? Are you their slave?" He asked bluntly. Green eyes widened and she shook her head no adamantly.

"Oh goodness, no! No, no no… nothing like that," she told him, looking embarrassed. Roxas frowned at her. She didn't look like she was lying.

"Then what's it like?" he asked, his frown only deepening. Aerith looked completely flustered but she sat down across from him.

"Well… Roxas, you see, when I was a child, they took me in." Roxas' gaze held a fair amount of skepticism, but Aerith continued with only a slight pause, as if she were looking where to start her story. "I had often heard stories of what was beyond the city wall and one winter, I wandered away from my sister when we were playing outside because I wanted to see. I was only seven at the time and I remember that I was small enough to fit through a crack in the wall but when I got through, I ended up falling down an icy slope on the other side. I tumbled for what felt like forever and ended up getting lost in the forest. The fall broke my arm so I couldn't climb back up and couldn't find a way back to where I had gotten out," she told me, absentmindedly rubbing at the spot. There was a scar there. "I was so scared," she murmured with a shiver. "I had been missing for about a day and had run into a pack of lyncrothropes when the sun went down… That's when Axel found me. He must have smelt my blood. I knew what he was because I knew the stories and I was terrified that he was trying to hunt me too but I was too weak to fight him. He fought them off and brought me here, where he helped me regain my strength."

"If he was so great to you, why didn't he take you back home?" Roxas asked dubiously.

"I didn't want to go back," she admitted, "Axel and Reno were kind to me. More than my own family. I had always been a curious child and my mother and father did not spare the rod. They thought they were keeping me safe by abusing me." Roxas continued to watch her skeptically. "Axel and Reno have never touched me in the fourteen years that I've been here," she told him earnestly. "They educated me about what they were and why I shouldn't ever let them, Roxas." The blond crossed his arms, thinking.

"Axel hid it from me when we first met and over the past year he made sure he had me. He got me addicted to him on purpose," he murmured angrily. Aerith bit her lower lip, looking down at the table. "I've pretty much had tunnel vision the whole time and couldn't resist him when it mattered. I still can't."

"I know that it's got to do with who you are but that's all, I'm sorry," she admitted. Roxas took a deep breath and let it go.

"Cloud is my father. He leads the resistance. I was supposed to take his place someday," he explained. They fell into a long but not uncomfortable silence. Roxas let out a heavy exhalation and closed his eyes. He still wanted Axel. He couldn't stop. It made him feel crazy. "Are you happy here?" he asked, not sure why he was asking. Aerith obviously was happy. Maybe he wanted to know for himself, if he could be.

"Sometimes… I wonder what it would be like to be away from here," she admitted. Their eyes locked and Aerith appeared to be really considering the question. "If I'm honest, it makes me sad to think of a world where I would be at odds with Vampires. I really wish I could explain what it's like to be among them, to convince you that I really am happy but I know that you probably won't believe me." Roxas shook his head.

"I can see that you're happy, Aerith." The girl relaxed, becoming less tense.

"Reno and Axe… they're my protectors, always looking out for me, you know? It could have very easily gone differently that day I got lost but they took pity on me. Can they really be the monsters I heard about?" Roxas mulled over the question carefully before answering.

"They are. I've seen it," he replied. Aerith looked sad.

"I really think that they're just trying to survive, Roxas," she told him earnestly. Roxas bit his lower lip, shivering at the echo of Axel's words …we just want to exist…

"I don't know Aerith. I mean, Axel told me why he did it. He also told me other things that I don't know if I can accept, even if they are true," he admitted. "I didn't even know that Vampires and humans could exist together where humans weren't being used until I met you." Aerith nodded slowly.

"I understand, Roxas. This has to be hard for you. If Cloud is your father, that means you're a slayer right? That means that what you're seeing… goes against everything you know." Roxas frowned.

"Yeah." He thought about whether or not to tell her more. Honestly it was nice to be able to talk to someone. It was something he hadn't been able to do before. "I was just in training. I never actually killed a Vampire, which is the final step. I guess that's why I get so angry about it all. I should have known better and Axel still got under my skin because of the venom." Aerith nodded in understanding.

"So… you know how to kill them?" she asked. Roxas nodded.

"I do. I really want to drive a stake through Axel's heart sometimes," he muttered. When Aerith looked alarmed he sighed. "Don't worry. I can't."

"You can't?" she asked.

"No. Whatever he did to me, he ruined me. I can't hurt him, no matter how badly I want to. Killing him is the only way I can go back. I think he's controlling me," he said, frowning in disapproval at himself.

"Do you want my opinion?" Aerith asked with a small smile. Roxas thought about it for a long time. She knew Axel a lot better than a lot of people, even those in his life who had known of Axel. Like his father. Slowly, he nodded. "Axel doesn't control people. He lets them make their own choices in my experience," she told him. Roxas' brows furrowed. It made sense with what he had seen already but he just hadn't known Axel long enough. What she said next struck his heart like a bolt of lightning. "I think you're in love with him. That's why you can't hurt him."

Roxas' cheeks colored. "You don't even know me," he started to deny.

"I do know Axel," she said with a shrug. "He's bitten you, right?" she asked. Roxas nodded, interested in what she had to say. She hummed. "You're still human," she observed, "so, he's leaving that choice up to you, as he did for me. That also means that he can sense your emotions, Roxas, and I can see that you're special to him by the way that he looks at you. The key to Axel is his eyes. You probably think that he's a soulless void of nothingness that doesn't feel but he isn't." Roxas didn't realize he was staring at her until she looked away uncomfortably. "I think you should think about it at least," she said finally. Roxas nodded, almost feeling ashamed for having had thought exactly what she thought he had.

"Thanks Aerith," he murmured, pushing away from his chair and standing. Their eyes met again. Aerith looked like she was looking for an indication that he had heard what she was trying to say. "I appreciate what you said to me. I'll try." Her eyes gentled and she smiled.

"Thank you, Roxas." The blond nodded, excusing himself to find somewhere to be alone.

~o~

Roxas found himself staring at the painting Axel had shown him. He couldn't stop thinking about everything. It was extremely difficult to accept and if what Axel had said were true, humans had deserved to be attacked by the Vampires back then. An undeserved massacre of Axel's family. Dear God. Roxas shuddered. Still, according to Axel, the supposed monster, an offer of peace had been made.

Roxas could definitely believe that his father wouldn't want anyone knowing about him getting involved with Reno. He himself hadn't wanted anyone to find out about Axel. Axel had had other plans about that, however.

His skin prickled and he abruptly turned his attention to the banister that flanked the upstairs hallway on the side opposite from the one his room was on. Axel sensed him and met his gaze. He could see the warmth in those green eyes and it made his heart stutter. The red-head approached, his movements direct and precise. Roxas turned away, staring at the image on the canvas instead. The entire family had been gorgeous but Axel was the only one with eyes like that. His gaze, even when it wasn't real, was like fire. Beautiful and mesmerizing.

Axel sat next to him in a loveseat, careful not to intrude on his space. Roxas could see him in his peripheral vision and was the first to speak. "You offered peace with my father… could you do it again with me?" he asked tiredly. Axel shook his head, his voice filling the space between them.

"No… It has to be Cloud. They will think that you are addicted to me and unable to act for yourself." Roxas frowned pensively.

"He won't do it." The red-head tugged him down into his lap and Roxas didn't fight.

"He is only hurting himself, then," he replied. "By taking you, I have hurt him badly," he hummed, "only he knows truly how I found you or likewise how to find you." Roxas closed his eyes and leaned back against Axel's shoulder. Somehow it was comforting.

"I want to see him." Axel paused, saying nothing. Roxas opened his eyes, staring into green. The red-head held him tightly.

"They will kill you." Roxas clenched his jaw. The statement made him angry.

"Like hell! Don't think that you can lie to me! I won't stay if you try to force me!" He spat angrily. Green eyes watched him, angry but calm. However, Axel still held him protectively.

"Fine, go! See for yourself, what happens to my kind." Roxas stared at him in shocked silence. That definitely had not been the response he had been expecting.

"You can't possibly think that. You just can't, that's my family," he tried to reason.

"Roxas, I have not survived this long by being careless," was his reply before he furthered his answer. "If you have no desire to be here, I will not force you, but you cannot come back." Roxas set his jaw determinedly.

"Are you trying to make me afraid of leaving?" The red-head shook his head.

"If you want to leave me then leave and I will harden myself to you," was his response. Roxas blinked.

"Why?" Axel watched him calmly.

"You are too much like your father," he replied. Blue eyes stared into him searchingly, begging to understand. "I will not allow you to hurt me in the way he has hurt my brother. Do not make that mistake. If you try to kill me, I will kill you," he promised.

"We both know that I can't, even if the thought crosses my mind, which it does," Roxas admitted. "Tell me right now, is that you doing?" Axel watched him intensely.

"Allow me to provide some clarity, little one. I want you willing." Roxas scoffed.

"Why did you addict me then?" he asked, frowning deeply. Axel smiled wryly.

"Truthfully, it was not my intent. I had been tracking you for a long time and I knew that I was going to have you one day once I saw where your attractions lay." Roxas blushed at his bluntness and his arrogance. The red-head looked satisfied. "You saw me first that night, remember?" he purred. "Bold, unashamed desire and you couldn't look away, could you?" Swallowing, Roxas shook his head. "I felt your eyes on me, you were so intense and beautiful. I didn't resist you. When I went to you, before I had even touched you, you stared at me like you wanted me more than anything in the world." Roxas swallowed thickly. "Staring, right at my mouth," he murmured, raising Roxas' chin, making his flush deepen, and his breathing quicken as Axel angled his head, "like you wanted to devour it," he breathed against the boy's lips, "made my decision to devour yours." Roxas shuddered in arousal, struggling to remain focused. "And then, I couldn't stop and neither could you, not even when I bit you. You still wanted me. You allowed it all." Trembling, Roxas nodded. Gently, Axel pressed their lips together, not pressing further. "I know that it is easier to blame me," he murmured to the blond, "and I know that you have every right to question me because of my intentions and because I hurt you."

"Why are you letting me choose? Why not just turn me. It would be safer and more advantageous for you," he asked. Axel shook his head.

"I want to make you mine," he murmured to the blond. "If I force you in any way, you are going to hate me and I don't want that."

Roxas' face reddened and he searched those green depths. "Another thing I'm glad that we can agree on," he replied. Axel leant closer.

"And yet another is that it is okay to want this." Roxas' heart stuttered. He let the red-head kiss him, his eyes sliding shut. Dawn was approaching and so he knew that the red-head would be leaving him soon. Axel broke the kiss abruptly, sensing a disturbance nearing the grounds. Something he recognized. Cloud. His eyes locked on the door while Roxas stared at him confusedly. "Come with me," he murmured. Roxas nodded dazedly, allowing the red-head to pull him along. Axel took him up the stairs, to the room he'd been in, a library, but Roxas didn't see much of it. Axel pulled him into a kiss, pulling on a book when the blond's eyes slid shut. A secret corridor behind the shelves swung open and he pulled the blond inside and down a flight of stairs.

Roxas' eyes slowly adjusted to the dimness and he gasped. There was a labyrinth of tunnels, corridors that disappeared into darkness. His heart was pounding in both fear and excitement. Axel wordlessly led him forward, the corridor lighting as he went. He stopped at a room, the door swishing open and revealing a spacious room. Slowly he walked up to a pod-like device that looked impenetrable. It opened when he neared, as if responding to his presence.

"Why did you bring me here?" He asked.

"I want you to with me, while I sleep."

"Why?" Roxas asked him dubiously.

"I sense a threat approaching and I want to keep you safe," he replied. Roxas nodded uncertainly. He took Axel's hand, stepping into the pod. It shut behind them, encasing them inside. The Vampire pulled Roxas close. "Do not be afraid, we are safe here."

"What about Aerith?" he asked.

"Reno will protect her."

~o~