Always

Chaper 12

xXx

Two months passed. Two insanely busy months filled with so many of the new people that Axel had introduced me to. When Olette invited us to an event after publishing her article, I hadn't been sure but Axel had insisted that we should go. He wanted me to get out and have some fun. I wasn't entirely sure that I was up for it. I was worn out. I'd been on the edge of sleep when he spoke to me.

"We're here, Roxas," he murmured. I took a deep breath and stretched, trying to let it all go as I opened my eyes. I nodded.

"Okay," I whispered back. I looked at him, smiling a little. "Are you ready?"

Axel smiled back lazily. "You know, not yet."

"No?" I asked.

"Nope," he replied. I leant toward him, my smile widening.

"What are we waiting for?" I asked. Axel leant close.

"Well, I've barely seen you lately…" he whispered, his breath ghosting across my lips, making me shiver, "What would you say…" he began, looking thoughtful as his hand brushed against my face. He leant closer and I gasped when he bit my earlobe. "If I said that I just wanted to kiss you for a while?" he asked directly into my ear, before working his way down my neck and then taking my lips.

"I'd say," I panted when he pulled back, smiling up at him, "that sounds like a wonderful idea." Axel grinned, kissing my nose and then pressing his mouth to mine. My eyes slid shut and I kissed him back. I'm not sure of how long we were like that but each moment left me breathless. When he finally pulled back I found myself following without even thinking about it and kissing him back. Axel chuckled and pulled me close, his tongue brushing against mine before he pulled back.

"Sweetheart, we'd better stop," he told me. I groaned and he smiled, kissing my forehead. "I would love to continue and make love to you," he promised, "but we have to go inside and I want you to make a good impression, okay?" I pouted at him and he smiled, kissing the corner of my mouth. I melted a little and kissed him back.

"I knooow," I groaned, "but I want you." Axel kissed me one more time.

"I know," he told me, "after the party, you will have my undivided attention. I promise." I scoffed.

"Fine," I muttered. Axel laughed at that, smiling even as we went inside.

xXx

The party, I hadn't realized, had been for me. Axel was being sneaky about it and Olette had wanted to celebrate my progress, to keep me motivated and see how I was doing with it. I was finding myself continually surprised at the amount of support I had for this. I could hardly believe it and honestly, I was having a lot of fun with it, working with Ven and Ansem, Aqua and Terra was a blast. It was really cool, seeing everything coming together. So, of course, everyone was thrilled when we announced that the first prototypes would be ready within the next two months.

There were a lot of questions and a lot of interest from the mass of people. Many were already interested in purchasing pieces, wondering when they would be finished. We were all hopeful that it wouldn't take much longer. It was only when I was alone that a familiar face surprised me, the young photographer from the coffee shop, who had given me coffee. She didn't see me at first but I went to her when I had a free moment. Did that mean that Axel knew her? Had he invited her? I hoped so, I wanted him to approve of our friendship.

"Fuu? Hi, I wasn't expecting you to be here." She turned away from a featured design, giving me a smile.

"Hiya Roxas,"she greeted. "I saw your picture next to your work, pretty awesome stuff you made, yeah?" I smiled.

"Thank you!" She nodded.

"My brother wanted to come to the showing, thought your stuff was really neat. He loves this kinda stuff," she said.

"Oh yeah? I haven't gotten to meet him yet, you'll have to introduce us!" I told her excitedly. Fuu smiled ever-so-slightly.

"Can do, he's right over there. Setzer! Setz!" She called but failed to gain his attention. "Ahh, I'll be right back, okay?" I nodded.

"Okay, sounds great!" It wasn't long before her brother came into view. He reminded me of Axel a bit, with his hairstyle, and seemed to be just as nice as his sister. It wasn't long after we were introduced that Fuu was extending an invitation to me.

"Roxas, we have someone else we want you to meet. Would you mind stopping by the shop and meeting her? She'd love to see you." I smiled. They were both so wonderful and made me feel accepted. I felt so lucky to have such great new friends.

"How do you know her?" I asked

"She's our cousin," Setzer explained. I nodded.

"Okay, that sounds great," I said. "I'll be by tomorrow morning. We're going to leave soon though, so I've got to find Axel. Bye, it was nice meeting you!" Fuu and Setzer smiled.

"Great, see you then!" Fuu called as I merged back into the crowd of people.

I was almost disappointed when it was time for us to go for the evening, even though we'd mingled for hours. Olette was particularly interested in my work and wanted to keep promoting it. I was grateful to have so much support, especially from Axel.

It was only later that evening that we really had a chance to speak. I'd fallen asleep on the way home and had woken up in our bedroom, covered with a warm blanket. Axel had been outside when I found him, drinking a glass of wine at the table I'd gotten for our anniversary. There was another glass at the other spot, for me. I smiled and sat beside him.

Axel turned to me, those green, green eyes sparkling like the starlight. "Hello there," he murmured softly.

"I thought I'd have your undivided attention when we got back," I teased, taking his hand when he held it out to me.

"Oh you do," he replied with a wry smile, "but you've been so tired that I wanted to let you sleep, even if I had to miss you for a little while." My smile widened a bit and I took a drink. "Did you have fun tonight?"

"I did," I told him, "thank you for doing that, I'm glad that people appreciate what we're doing." Axel's smile gentled.

"You always do have the best ideas, Roxas," he said softly, making me blush.

"Thank you, for all you've done, Axel. I don't think I could have done this without you," I admitted.

"Of course you could have!" He told me before taking another drink and finishing his glass, "You, believe it or not, have a lot going for you, Roxas." I smiled at him and he gave my hand a squeeze. Axel slipped his hand out of mine and then slid his chair closer to me. His arm wrapped around my shoulders and he squeezed me close. I could tell that he'd had a bit to drink and it made my smile widen.

"You know what? I want to tell you something," I told him. Glitteringly curious green eyes looked into my blue.

"What's up, Roxas?" I leant toward him and kissed him warmly, softly, fully.

"I love you," I murmured, kissing him again. He returned my kiss, deepening it, and my heart pounded out of control. "And I still want you," I told him.

Hazy green eyes watched me as I downed my glass of wine, a small little smile on their owner's lips. When our eyes met again, Axel's eyelids lowered and he leant close, so, so close. "I guarantee," he all but purred, "that I want you more." I moaned softly as he kissed me, feeling incredibly hot, even though the night was chilly. Hands took my wrists and he pulled me up with him, touching me gently just under my ribs as he kissed me all the while.

"You do?" I panted when he broke the kiss. Axel smirked, grasping my hips and hoisting me up, putting me over his shoulder.

"I do," he told me matter-of-factly, "and I'm going to prove it to you," he continued, patting my butt and making me laugh as he took me inside. Axel didn't stop until we were in the bedroom and he'd laid me down on the bed. I smiled up at him.

"Were you waiting for me long? I think you've had a bit to drink," I teased. Axel took his place beside me, propping himself up on his elbow.

"It felt like ages," he told me. His eyes were sparkling with mischief, "But I would have waited forever for you."

"You would have?" I asked. Axel kissed me deeply.

"Yep," he replied. With a smile, I kissed him back. He deepened it, his hand gently trailing down my body, touching the right places and not stopping, even as I was gasping. Fighting to breathe as his hot mouth kissed me everywhere and those long fingers undressed me, I moaned softly. My eyes slid shut as he continued, my mind shutting off as well, as my body trembled. It was only when I was naked that our eyes met again. Axel's eyes were a beautiful deeper green, sparkling with desire. He tugged off his tie in one easy glide, watching me watch him as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt. Losing patience halfway though, I pulled him down into a kiss and took over, getting it off. Axel chuckled at my impatience and took the rest of his clothes off much more quickly. Without having time to process what was happening, his bare body was on top of mine and I was shuddering as he was pinning me down and kissing me senseless, moving against me.

I shuddered as his fingers stretched me, moving with him, encouraging him to do it, and I gasped as he played with me. He repositioned himself, his fingers sliding out and heated flesh taking their place. He smiled down at me. It was a gentle, loving smile. My heart skipped a beat when one of his hands touched the side of my face, the other raised my leg pushing it up, angling it. He kissed me, just before pressing into me, pulling back and pushing forward sharply.

I moaned as he did it again and again, harder, faster, and moved with him. He pushed my legs further apart, before touching me intimately, making me come undone as we made love. Soon, we were coming, one shortly after the other and he was pulling me into a gentle string of kisses, kissing me, even as I fell asleep.

xXx

I'd woken before Axel in the morning, not bothering to leave him a note as I headed to the coffee shop. It wasn't far away and I hadn't planned on being gone long, after all.

I smiled as I entered the warm, inviting shop. Fuu smiled when she saw me.

"Roxas! I'm glad that you made it!" I smiled, a response on the tip of my tongue when Setzer came up behind me and put a black bag over my head. I cried out in alarm, blinded and flailing as I was drug though the shop, toward what I assumed was the back, refusing to go quietly.

"Lock the door," he told Fuu, hissing in pain when we crashed into a table. Despite the setback, he was stronger than me and once we were in the back, he took my phone and shoved me to the ground. I froze when a door snapped shut behind me and the lock clicked. I yanked off the hood and whirled around, testing it. It was indeed locked. I banged on it. "Fuu, let me out! Fuu?!"

I froze when I saw movement in my peripheral vision, feeling goosebumps when I heard click, click, click. Slowly I turned, faced with Axel's bombshell of an ex… Larxene. She was examining her nails. "My, my, that was easy," she commented, smirking up at me. "When I hired Fuu to befriend you I didn't think you'd be so gullible."

"S-she said you were her cousin..?" I questioned, trying to piece everything together. Larxene nodded.

"That's correct, little slut. She didn't lie. I've been dying to see you, to get you all alone." My head was reeling.

"She's been following me?" The blonde smirked.

"Ever since Riku and Sora's wedding," she informed me, shrugging. I gasped, feeling sick and remembering the photographer. That had been Fuu? "How does it feel, knowing that Axel couldn't even protect you from a little girl?" I swallowed nervously.

"What… what do you want?" Larxene smiled, her eyes glittering as they met mine.

"Well, you could start by being a dear and sitting in that chair so Setzer can tie you up. I don't want to shoot you just yet." I hesitated and her eyes darkened. "Now, slut!" She yelled, pointing her gun at me, watching my every move until I'd done as she asked. Then she rapped on the door and Fuu and Setzer entered, locking the door behind them.

When I was secured to the chair, I angrily asked, "Why?! What could you possibly hope to gain from this?" Larxene smirked.

"A couple of things, actually."

"You're delusional if you think that Axel will ever be with you," I spat at her. Larxene tsked.

"He loves me. He'll see that again when you're gone."

"You're crazy!" I yelled, earning a sharp slap across the face.

"Now," she murmured assuringly, "when Axel sees that you left him-"

"I would never!" I yelled, silenced again by another stinging slap. Larxene cleared her thoat.

"When Axel sees that you packed your things earlier today," she said, gesturing to my suitcase, "and walked out of his life for someone who understands you, sure he'll be upset for a little while, but in the end, he'll see that it was for the best. He'll pick a more logical choice next time. Me." I stared at her, horrified.

"Where did you get that?" I asked numbly.

"You packed it. Don't you remember, sweetie?" My eyes watered and I shook my head.

"N-no, you can't do this, no!" Sighing, she rolled her eyes.

"Fuu, Setzer, shut up the little slut," she sneered. I felt a jolt of panic as they approached me.

"He won't believe it! He'll search for me and he'll find me and when he does-" Larxene cackled. Cackled. She rolled her shoulders and then shot me a poisonous glare.

"Gee, what will I ever do then?" She asked sardonically, her hips swaying as she approached me. "If I go down, then so do you, so I guess I'll just have to kill you, won't I?" My eyes widened and I pressed myself as far away from her as possible. Larxene smiled icily, pulled out her gun and checked to see how many bullets there were before spinning the barrel. "Hmm, what to do, what to do, whatever shall we do?" she mused. I squeezed my eyes shut as she aimed and pulled the trigger, trembling as she laughed mirthlessly. I stared up at her warily and she smirked predatorily. "I know!" She exclaimed as if she'd had a revelation, "We can play this game every day that Axel hasn't given up on you until you're dead!" Her green eyes sparkled in amusement and she patted my cheek. I tried my hardest not to show that I was afraid of her but couldn't help but feel like I was failing. "You'd better start praying that you're wrong, little slut. The odds aren't in your favor." My lips trembled but I held her gaze until she walked away the other two trailing behind her once they'd gagged me, leaving me alone in the dark, tied to the chair.

xXx

TBC

A/n: I've been waiting for this for ages it seems. I hope you like the twist ;)