Wagers
~O~
It was mid-morning by the time the survivors and the dead had been accounted for. There was a gunshot and Roxas frowned, turning his attention to the engine of the train. He sighed. Of course there was a ruckus on even the smoothest of operations. His second appeared by his side shortly after. Roxas was testy. He was gonna kill someone if Axel got hurt.
"Conductor's barricaded 'imself in," Zexion explained. Roxas smiled wryly.
"He'll come out soon enough. Work 'round 'im." He stayed with their hostages as the gang ransacked the train. There were two young women, one blond and one with deep auburn hair. They were bound and blindfolded. Axel felt bad for them, having been in their shoes. They looked frightened and in shock. Roxas saw the look on his face and murmured, "'s ok, darlin'. I ain't gonna hurt 'em if they wanna come along." Axel bit his lower lip.
"If they don't?" Roxas hummed softly.
"Depends on them." he said with a shrug. "Gonna cooperate?" he asked. Trembling, they nodded. Roxas tugged up the blonde, assuming she'd be the least feisty of the two since he had a red-head of his own. She whimpered in fear and he gently tugged off her blindfold. "Everyone accounted for?" he asked her, having her look at the group.
"H-Hayner and Olette are missin' sir," she whispered, trembling. He led her along and she stared at the wreck, dizziness overwhelming her small body. Roxas suspected no less than a head injury from the train getting derailed.
"Who might you be?" He asked.
"N-Namine."
"Well, Namine," he murmured, pushing her forward, "tell 'em t' come out. No one else has t' get hurt." Axel caught her as she stumbled.
"'s ok now," he murmured to her gently. She nodded, trembling.
"Hayner, O-Olette, you gotta come out," she pleaded.
"I ain't leavin' 'im!" Came a muffled voice, "He's hurt!"
"He'll be cared for," Axel promised. The frail girl stared up at him for a moment, and he didn't see it but so did Roxas. The blond took a deep breath. Axel's heart was in the right place, but these decisions were to be made by him, and no one else. He'd only show them mercy if they cooperated.
"You got til th' count'a three t' come out or you can blow up with th' train when we go," he offered. Axel stared at him as Namine' collapsed in shock. Roxas crossed his arms, tapping his fingers impatiently, "One… two…"
"Okay!" The door slid open and the two were met with a revolver. Roxas sighed. Just as he'd predicted, it was pointed right at Axel.
"You best be puttin' that down, sweetheart," he warned. A young girl with fierce green eyes and brown wavy hair emerged. Her dress was torn and covered in blood.
"Get 'im outta there, then we can talk." Roxas chuckled dangerously, drawing his gun and shooting her in the thigh. She cried out in agony, falling to the ground and dropping the gun. Axel kicked it away from her. Olette put pressure on the wound to try to stop the bleeding. The red-head set Namine' down beside her and Roxas held them at gunpoint as he found the unconscious man inside. He moved him out of the wreckage but his breathing was shallow and weak. Roxas assessed the situation as Axel set him on the ground. His wounds were cared for professionally but he wouldn't last long. He pointed his gun at the man and Olette screamed, "No, you can't!"
"'s a mercy t' end it now," he answered.
"He's a doctor, you can use 'im," she pleaded. Roxas smirked wryly, looking her up and down.
"Ya' tellin' me you were runnin' th' train?" He asked dangerously. "No, sweetheart, 'm lookin' at th' doctor." Tears filled her green eyes and she sobbed,
"Please, I'll do anything, just don't kill him, please!" Axel went to Roxas, whispering,
"Couldn' we use a doctor? If you kill him… she'll refuse." Roxas sighed.
"He's gonna die…" he muttered, "bringin' 'im back is a wast'a time..."
"As long as you don' pull the trigger and we try, she'll stay with us." Roxas closed his eyes for a moment and then lowered his bandanna and whistled loudly. Saix appeared out of the train.
"Yes Roxas?"
"Help get th' survivors back t' camp. Take Larxene with you. This one needs to be looked at," he muttered, tilting his head at the brunette. "Blindfold 'em."
"Take Oathkeeper if ya need her," Axel offered. Roxas took a breath.
"Better get Demyx too. That horse only likes th' two'a 'em." Saix set about following Roxas' orders and Axel watched them go. Roxas slid the gun into his holster and gathered up the rifle, collecting more firearms from the wreck. Axel helped him. They went about the wreck, finding medical supplies, food, firearms, and as Roxas had predicted, valuables. There were bolts of expensive fabrics, precious gems, munny and more. "Thanks, Axel," he murmured. The red-head hummed in surprise. "Yer right… the most valuable thing we got today was another doctor," he explained. "Even if we gotta help her bury 'im." Axel smiled, putting loot outside to be gathered by the men.
"Another?" Roxas smiled a bit.
"We got Larxene but…" He rolled his eyes. "Well just hope you never have t' see her. That one's sadistic an' crazy." The rest of the outlaws were currently in the process of taking some of the stolen goods back to camp, some of it back to the caves where Roxas stored explosives, as Roxas directed. Axel chuckled a bit.
"You need me t' do anythin' else?" Roxas shook his head.
"This' perfect," he answered. He led them to Oblivion, offering him a drink as they took a break. Axel accepted the canteen gratefully before giving it back to Roxas. They checked the train over one more time, searching through passenger luggage. Axel rummaged a bit, looking for names. He found three female names, Olette, Namine' and Kairi, pulling their bags aside. He searched for a moment longer finding Hayner. Roxas watched him do it and let him, stopping his men from opening their belongings. He trusted that Axel wanted to build their trust. The rest of the train was ransacked.
"Roxas… can I have these?" he asked. The blond nodded.
"Each'a us gets t' pick enough t' load our horse, for keeps." He smiled a bit, "You want it, 's yours darlin'." Axel smiled cutely just before pressing his lips to Roxas' cheek. Roxas smiled back. Keeping that in mind, he explored one more time.
It was later that day that Demyx came back with his horse, and loading it, he realized that Oathkeeper wasn't able to hold more than two bags and him. Roxas came up behind him and murmured "Want some help?" Axel nodded,
"Yes, please." The blond smiled at him, loading the other bag where he would have sat and murmured,
"Ride back with me." Axel nodded, smiling at him sweetly and guiding Oathkeeper along. He noted he fourth bag in Roxas' hand and the blond smiled a bit, situating it on his own horse. "Th' rest'a th' valuables get split thirteen ways," he murmured to him. Once all thirteen members had gotten the chance to do the same, Axel and Roxas loaded the remaining explosives on the train. When they were a safe distance away, the outlaws cheered in excitement, watching the explosion. Roxas watched his little red-head in satisfaction and pressed his lips to the top of his head and led them home.
~O~
Axel had quietly delivered the luggage to the sleeping captives. What he didn't realize was that Olette, who had only been pretending to sleep, caught him, watching him come and go. She gasped, pretending to be asleep again when she heard a voice.
"Knock, knock, doc?" A blonde woman came into the room where she was being held. They had tied her down and this woman had ripped open her dress to expose the wound, disinfected it with alcohol, dug the bullet out of her leg with a knife and had sewn the wound shut. She froze in both awe and fear. "I got some medicine for the pain."
"I don't want nothin' from the likes'a you." Olette hissed back, not trusting any of these animals for a minute. The pretty blonde smiled. Her hair was slicked back and she dressed like a man. Except for the corset she wore under her jacket. Olette didn't know what to make of it. Sharp green eyes landed on the luggage resting beside her bed and she hummed softly. "Aww, that's what th' kid was up to. Bet you don' want that either." Olette glared at Larxene icily. "Kid could'a had anything too. What a shame."
"Outta everyone, he grabbed my stuff," she muttered suspiciously, rolling her eyes.
"Nah, four bags. One for each'a ya," Larxene told her patronizingly. She held up the medicine and said, "but hey, if ya' don't want it… or this…" The little brunette set her jaw and scoffed. Her jaw dropped when Laxene tipped the bottle to her lips and drank.
"Hey!" Golden brows rose and she smirked, cackling in amusement.
"Sorry, that's all I got, can't give ya' more for a couple'a hours, doctor's orders." Larxene purred with a wink. She propped her feet up on the bed, feeling a rush from the opiates and picked up Olette's bag. She glared at the blonde.
"What kind of lunatic put you in charge of patients?!" Larxene smiled sweetly and unzipped the carpenter bag. She huffed, pulling out clothing and books, a sketch book full of drawings of herbs, and yawned exaggeratedly.
"Kinda boring, ain't ya?" she asked. A picture fell into her lap and she grinned wickedly. Her and that other kid. Hayner. An engagement picture. Olette was so mad she was shaking. "Hmm, nice picture of ya'," she murmured ripping it in half and tossing Hayner's image carelessly on the ground. "Might keep this, thanks!"
"I wanna see the' person in charge'a you," she seethed. Larxene tisked, her eyes widening.
"He shot ya' in th' leg, doll. 'm gonna guess you ain't gonna like 'im much better," she cooed patronizingly. Olette took a deep breath.
"The doctor. I wanna see the doctor. Somebody's gotta be sane 'round here." Larxene grinned wickedly.
"Present," she purred. Olette stared at her speechlessly. Larxene winked at her and said, "hmm, changed my mind. Maybe you ain't so boring after all." Then she nodded. "Well then, see ya' in a few hours!"
Larxene stared at the image of the pretty young doctor, in the firelight, smirking a bit when Vanitas sat beside her. "Tormentin' the fresh blood?" he asked, chuckling amusedly. Larxene smiled.
"Just this one. You can have th' others, if ya want," she murmured, glancing over at Axel who was sitting beside Demyx, laughing happily. "It ain't fair, first Zexion and then Roxas, takin' 'em for themselves." She scoffed. "Roxas even killed Xigbar over it. Him and Lexaus found 'im first." Vanitas shrugged.
"They got a history tho. Axel ain't just a pretty face. He's actually useful. Demyx too, in a way." He hummed, "I like the frail little blond," he purred. Larxene snorted.
"I hope she ain't as frail as ya' think. That'd be interesting." Vanitas chuckled.
"Bet I can break mine first." Larxene's lips curved up.
"Sure, sounds interesting," she nodded, conceeding. "You gotta give me your cut when I win." Vanitas chuckled.
"You gotta give me the girl when I do." Larxene smirked confidently, shaking on it.
Demyx eyed the pair across the fire and sighed. Axel hummed softly. His friend shook his head. "Looks like those two are up to trouble," he murmured, tilting his head. Axel glanced at the two, watching them shake hands.
"Vanitas seemed alright yesterday." Demyx choked, halfway through taking a drink from his flask.
"Woah, woah, whoah, no, stay away from that one. He's crazy!" Axel chuckled.
"Larxene too?" Aquamarine eyes fluttered.
"Ugh, definitely. I hope that new girl works out b'cause she is the worst doctor. Ever." Demyx stared at him desperately. "She's good, but so evil! Savage nymph!" Axel smiled a bit.
"Saix, Larxene, Vanitas… definitely crazy. Got it," he nodded. He chuckled a bit at his friend's determined expression. Then Demyx gave him a smile as if he remembered something.
"When's your birthday, Axel?" The red-head smiled a bit.
"Oh heh, August." Demyx gasped.
"It is August! What day?!" Axel's smile widened.
"Eighth. Honestly I forgot," he chucked in embarrassment. Demyx stared at him for a moment.
"That's in like three days!" He wriggled in excitement then shook his head with a pout. Axel laughed amusedly.
"What?" Demyx sighed,
"Thought 'bout spendin' the day with ya' but Roxas would kill me if I knew it was your birthday an' did that." Green eyes glimmered.
"Nobody knows 'bout it b'sides you," he told him with a smile, "Roxas can share me." Demyx grinned at him.
"You sure?" Axel nodded, humming in affirmation. The blond chuckled. "Maybe the day before, just t' be safe." Axel hummed thoughtfully.
"Mm, yeah, probably best t' bet on not makin' Roxas upset," he chuckled. "How 'bout yours?" Demyx smiled at him.
"September ninth. I been meanin' t' ask ya' 'bout it cos 'm 'bout t' turn twenty-one." Axel nodded.
"We should celebrate yours next month," he murmured with a smile. "'m gonna be nineteen."
"Wow ya' really are a kid," Demyx teased. Axel gave him a playful glare.
"Oh hey, reminds me. I wanna show you a trick, if it ain't too childish," he murmured with a smirk, reaching for Demyx' flask when he laughed and shook his head. Axel took a mouthful of alcohol and set a stick on fire. The blond gasped in awe when he blew a fireball.
"That's awesome, Axel!" he gasped. The red-head chuckled, tossing the stick back into the fire, chattering excitedly about what they'd do together over the next few days to celebrate as they shared Demyx's flask.
Larxene stared at the two of them and gagged. "Idunno how Roxas tolerates that," she muttered to Vanitas. A man sat on the other side of her and she gasped in delight. "Marly!" She leaned into him. The man chuckled.
"Larxene… are you high?" She giggled. "I mighta' drank doc's pain meds," she admitted. Vanitas laughed hysterically.
"You are so bad," he laughed, falling into her. Larxene scoffed.
"She refused. I wasn' gonna let 'em go to waste." There was an amused snort behind them and Larxene jumped, straightening.
"Make sure she gets th' next dose. Ev'n if she refuses. I don' wanna throw away a good doctor 'cause she hates us." The blonde nodded, watching Roxas walk past them, over to the red-head. She sighed, dramatically and flopped against Marluxia and shrugged Vanitas off, who was still laughing at her.
"I gotta say, they look pretty cute together," Marluxia murmured. Larxene grunted. There wasn't much to choose from 'round here and it sucked when they started pairing off. She herself preferred a polyamorous type of arrangement.
"Marly," she whined, "how can you say that. Roxas is so gorgeous, I hate it when he finds a partner." She pouted, "Especially when its a sexy partner like Axel or Zexion." The man chuckled and shrugged.
"They'll break up, Roxas never keeps a partner long." Larxene sighed.
"Idunno. Roxas shot off a man's dick for threatenin' 'im." Marluxia shrugged.
"You'll see."
Demyx watched Marluxia and Larxene shake on something and he tsked. "That one too. Dangerous 'cause he's obsessed with Larxene," he muttered, completely drunk. Roxas chuckled, realizing what Demyx was doing.
"He told you 'm dangerous too?" he whispered to Axel. The red-head grinned and took a sip of moonshine before passing it to Roxas.
"Not yet," he purred. Roxas smiled taking a drink, and Demyx looked at him, aghast.
"Roxas, this is our friendship flask," he slurred, "Axel, how could you share it!" The blond choked a bit, coughing before laughing amusedly.
"Ooh, Zexion is gonna have fun with you t'night." he purred, taking another drink and winking at the kids as Demyx protested. He handed it back to Axel and raised his hands in mock surrender, laughing again. Axel smiled at the two of them in amusement. Demyx pulled him close and whispered something in his ear. The red-head chuckled a bit, grinning at Roxas. He lent close to whisper,
"Demy says you have desecrated our friendship flask and owe us more moonshine." Roxas snorted and raised a golden brow.
"Demy, huh?" Axel blinked, realizing it was his first time giving one of Unlucky Thirteen a nickname. Including Roxas. Except for Xigbar. That didn't count.
"Whadda'ya say, Roxy," he purred into his ear. He felt the blond shudder against him.
"C'mon then," he chuckled. Demyx wriggled in excitement, trailing behind them.
Larxene scrunched up her nose and said quite plainly, "Marly, I think 'm gonna win." Then she pressed her lips to his cheek and winked as she got up to go visit her her new little patient. She sighed, muttering about Roxas ruining her fun as she entered the medic tent. She smiled at little miss sassafrass as she caught her trying to escape her bindings. She plucked up pain medication and watched her for a moment. "Y'kno," she drawled, making Olette jump, "Ya coulda just asked." Olette scoffed, she had halfway severed the rope at one of her wrists.
"You'd let me go?" Larxene went to her, pressing on the wound.
"If ya' want an infection that bad." Olette gasped, whimpering in pain, but submitted.
"S-stop," she gasped, Larxene let go, watching blood trickle down her leg.
"How 'bout those meds? You'll feel great," She purred wickedly.
"Not from you," Olette hissed back, but she was pale from pain. Larxene sighed.
"That leaves me in a bit of a dilemma." Olette stiffened. "See Roxas wants ya' t' have 'em an' you just don't want 'em." She sighed in mock concern, lifting the bottle to her own lips. "What's a girl t' do? Force 'em down your throat?" The brunette stared up at her, wide-eyed but relaxed as she seemed to drink the medicine again. She gasped when the blonde woman bent down suddenly and grasped her jaw with a grin.
"Y-you crazy-" but she was cut off when lips pressed to hers and a tongue slid into her mouth, along with the medicine. Olette whimpered in fear and shock, choking as she swallowed. She tried to bite and the blonde laughed against her lips. She winked at the stunned girl and said,
"Mhm, I know I am. Thanks," before patting her head. "Stay put, doll," and then she was gone.
~O~
Roxas listened to Demyx and Axel whisper and giggle and he refilled and cleaned their flask. He smiled a bit, handing the flask over to the blond. He accompanied them both back to the fire, mostly because he didn't want to leave Demyx alone like this. The whole gang seemed to be in a good, but wild mood. Even Axel and Demyx. He sighed softly. There were all sorts of wagers takin' place around them.
Roxas finally spied his second and grinned as he walked away from Luxord with some winnings. He chuckled as Zexion sat beside him. "You got a very drunk lover." Zexion gave a rare smile and thanked him for keeping Demyx safe before, watching Axel and Demyx laugh and giggle.
"You too, Roxas." The blond smiled.
"'s yer fault, I was watchin' Demyx for ya' an' he corrupted Axel," he teased with mock concern. Zexion actually laughed before offering him a small pouch.
"For th' trouble," he murmured with a smile. Roxas opened it and grinned. Zexion knew him well. "I know ya' didn' get much chance t' look cause ya' were bein' sweet," he murmured with a small smile. Roxas nodded in appreciation and tucked it away. The funny thing about this lot, most of them gambled with the goods they picked for themselves. The best items always ended up in Zexion's possession because he was an excellent gambler. It was actually how he'd ended up with Demyx. Sometimes a possession might be a survivor. No one got to make a claim on any of these because of Axel, even if he hadn't realized it yet. The little blond grinned, realizing that Roxas had found Zexion and drunkenly launched himself at the man.
"Zexyy!" The slate haired man sighed softly as his little blond nuzzled against him. He giggled when the man helped him up and said, "G'night best friend! See ya' in the mornin'!" Axel smiled a bit, waving. The atmosphere sobered up a bit when the blond left with Zexion. Roxas smiled a bit, enjoying the night air. His smile widened when Axel leaned against him.
"Can we go too?" He asked softly. Roxas nodded, helping him up. Axel walked with him, to his quarters and smiled blissfully up at the full moon and breathtaking stars. The cosmos never failed to amaze him. Roxas held him close and he murmured, "I saw somethin' you might like." The blond hummed softly. "On th' train." Roxas smiled a bit.
"Oh?"
Axel reached to his left hip, pulling out a gun from the other side of the holster. A gun with mother of pearl on the handle and inlay. Roxas smiled, examining it. It was beautiful, much like the pistol he had given to Axel. The red-head played with his hair nervously. "I know you want me to have it, but I thought you might like somethin' like this since-" He was cut off when Roxas kissed him gently.
"I do," he answered. The red-head beamed up at him. Roxas took him inside and lit a lantern, examining the gun more closely. It really was gorgeous. Axel sat beside him on the bed and rested his feet on his lap. Roxas smiled, setting the gun down to tug off his boots and gently rub his feet. Axel sighed blissfully.
"You 're amazin'." Roxas smiled, devoting all of himself to pleasing Axel. The red-head chuckled a bit, bending close enough to gaze at Roxas seriously but far enough to sashay way. "Can I do somethin' for you too?" The blond hummed softly and smiled wryly. Roxas' hands had been working on his thighs, relaxing him, and he paused.
"I wanna see th' posters." Axel pouted a bit and Roxas smiled. "I got yours too," he purred. Axel blushed.
"You do?" Roxas nodded, leaving him for a moment and coming back with the poster. He smiled a bit, reading the description and looking over the picture.
"'m gonna start collectin' yers," Roxas teased with a grin. Axel laughed, handing the poster back to go to his belongings to retrieve the carefully rolled papers. He brought them to Roxas and he looked at them, scoffing a bit. "How insultin' 'm worth more than that." Axel laughed again, staring at his face as he smiled.
"I swear you ain't aged a day." Roxas' smile widened. He turned to Axel for a moment, his eyes sparkling.
"I like these, that ya' kept 'em." Axel's smile gentled and he murmured,
"Keep 'em, I got the real thing now. Roxas carefully put the posters of himself with Axel's. He came back to sit beside his little red-head and took his hat and gloves off.
"How ya' feelin'?" Axel tipped his head back and thought for a moment.
"About?" he asked. Roxas shrugged a bit.
"Today." Axel smiled a little.
"I feel bad 'bout th' ones that died. Otherwise I enjoyed it," he said softly. "I liked workin' with you an' meetin' more of Unlucky Thirteen." He chuckled in amusement. "It was kinda fun t' see Demy get so worked up 'bout which ones t' stay away from." He smiled at Roxas for a moment.
"How 'bout you?" Roxas wrapped an arm around him.
"I like workin' with ya," he answered, "always enjoy a good heist too." Axel nodded, leaning against him.
"I think all'a 'em do." Green eyes slid shut when Roxas tipped his chin up, kissing him gently. Axel sighed softly, kissing him back and wrapping an arm around his neck to keep him from getting away. The blond chuckled softly as Axel tugged him closer. He sighed in pleasure when gloved fingers dug into his hair and pulled. Axel's head spun a bit as he kissed Roxas deeply, their lips simply pressed together. He moaned softly when Roxas' tongue slid into his mouth. His heart raced as the blond explored every last bit of it. Axel panted against Roxas' lips and gazed up at him with warm green eyes.
"'m ready t' collect now," he purred softly. Axel chuckled.
"Good, I hate b'havin' he whispered back. Roxas smiled.
"You like th' things I do to ya, huh?" Green eyes fluttered as hands grasped his hips, rolling them down into Roxas'.
"Mmm, I like doin' 'em with you," he answered, shuddering as the man grew aroused against him while he ground into him. Roxas' lips pressed to his neck and he hummed softly in pleasure as fingers worked his clothes open. He moaned deliciously, as hands caressed his skin pleasurably, "I love you," tipping his head back and melting against the blond. Hands reached his thighs, gently uncrossing his legs and stroking him through his clothes. Axel whimpered in pleasure and tugged at blond hair. Roxas hissed in pain and pleasure, burying his hand in red hair with his free hand and tipping Axel's head back to devour his mouth. Axel moaned, rolling his hips into Roxas' and shuddering as he moaned. "I love makin' ya' crazy," he breathed hotly.
"Feelin's mutual," the blond answered, flipping Axel on to his back and pinning him to kiss him deeply. The beautiful little red-head moaned and Roxas set about stripping him. Green eyes were full of desire. "I love you," he breathed, kissing him deeply. Axel tipped his head back, letting Roxas' lips caress the skin. He sighed blissfully. Roxas pulled his shirt off and pressed their chests together, reveling in the sounds Axel was making as he fell apart. He gasped, clinging to the blond and wrapping his legs around him when Roxas thrust into him. He remembered bits and pieces, keenly aware of how good he felt and that he'd probably had too much to drink. He moved with Roxas, feeling bolder, under the influence of the alcohol. His lips covered Roxas' chest and he nibbled at the skin playfully, dragging his tongue along the bruising skin. Roxas moaned, shifting his body so that he could thrust deeper and harder. Axel forgot what he was doing for a moment or two, getting lost in the feeling. Roxas' mouth covered his, swallowing up his pleasurable groan as he came. Axel hummed in pleasure a moment later as Roxas filled him. He smiled softly, drifting off. Roxas kissed his sleeping, beautiful, Axel deeply.
He smiled a bit, settling down beside him and gently stroking fiery hair, very pleased with him. Then he sat up, rummaging for a moment for the pouch Zexion had given him. He tugged a necklace out of the bag. The chain was smooth but strong. Dragon hide. The pendant was a flawless emerald green gem, with silver wrapped around it. The exact same color of Axel's eyes. He gazed at the sleeping red-head for a moment, wondering when to give it to him.
He tucked the necklace away and laid down beside Axel, holding him close. He smiled a bit, resting his chin on top of soft, red hair. Axel had surprised him today a couple of times, but everything the kid did just made him feel more drawn to him. It wasn't something he was used to, but he found himself enjoying it. He covered them with a blanket, settling in for the night.
~O~