Always

Chapter 15

A/n: I totally spaced off 'last time' bits. I was just getting carried away with writing and forgot. Whoops! Sorry.

xXx

Last time: "I'm sorry, Axel. I won't be careless again," I promised. Axel pulled me to himself and I let him hold me.

"I think that you should stay here for a few days," he said gently.

"What about Aqua, Terra, Ven-?" Axel rested his chin on top of my head.

"If you're up to it, they can come here but we can tell them that you need a little break, if you want that too." I nodded, biting my lower lip.

"I'll let you know tomorrow." Axel nodded.

"Okay."

xXx

I woke to the sound of voices. I was on our bed and light was pouring in on me, from the living room. I strained my ears, listening

"…don't know," I heard Axel sigh. "She had him kidnapped, tried to kill him and convinced him that it's his fault…"

"He was pretty upset today," I heard Xaldin say, "he didn't want you going after her."

"I told you she brainwashed him!" I Demyx said a bit loudly.

"Shh, Roxas is sleeping," Axel scolded. There was a silence and I heard Axel's footsteps approaching. I burrowed into the sheets, hoping to convince him that I was asleep. He watched me for a moment or two before shutting the door with a soft click. Their voices became muffled and I frowned, wanting to hear what they were saying. I snuck out of bed, creeping up to the door and pressing my ear against it. I heard Demyx apologize before Xaldin spoke again.

"Surely he knows what will happen if you let her get away with it… Others will test you, Axel… they'll use him to get to you. You have to do something."

"I know," Axel murmured. "I'm trying to get him to understand that." I felt my eyes widen as he told them how he felt. "This could very well be a trap. If I lash out at her, Roxas will hate me. If I don't, Roxas could get targeted. He thinks it's all his fault but by making herself known to me as his kidnapper, she is either getting us to fight by putting herself at risk or she's putting Roxas in danger if I do what he asks. He said he would leave me in front of her, if I hurt her. He thinks it's a huge misunderstanding. I don't believe that. Larxene is manipulative. I just wish he would trust me." I bit my lower lip, thinking about opening the door. My heart pounded as they resumed talking but I didn't listen to what they were saying. My hand shook a little as I grasped the doorknob before turning it and opening the door. Everyone looked at me and it made me feel uncomfortable. Then Axel shot Demyx a disapproving look for waking me up. "What's on your mind, sweetheart?" he asked softly, when our eyes met again.

"You knew I was awake, didn't you." Axel crossed his arms.

"That's why I shut the door," he replied, approaching me slowly, stopping when he was close. I pulled at my sleeve a little, my cheeks reddening.

"I still heard what you said," I admitted before meeting his eyes. He waited for me to continue. "Look, Axel, she actually loved you. I could tell by her reaction, when I told her that you took me in when I had nowhere to go. I don't think she's trying to hurt you or to hurt me, not anymore. She wanted revenge until I told her what happened. Can you imagine what it would feel like to lose the love of your life and then having them marry the person who you thought killed your brother? I don't know why she told you she was involved but I think she felt bad for what she did and that's why she let you know that she did it." Axel didn't look like he knew what to say. "She cried, Axel… She said she's supposed to be a leader but can't do anything right." I closed my eyes. "Again, I'm not taking sides. I will leave it in your hands. I won't hate you. I just hope that you can find another way, if revenge is what you want. That's how I feel," I explained, hoping that he wasn't mad at me. I glanced at all three of them, telling them each goodnight before slipping back into the bedroom and shutting the door.

xXx

Axel didn't join me that night. When I saw him again, he didn't look like he'd slept. I felt horrible, seeing him like that. "Good morning, Axel," I murmured, feeling concerned as I sat beside him.

"Hello," he murmured back.

"I uhm, I decided that you're right, I'll stay home for a week without seeing anybody, okay?" Axel smiled a little.

"Okay," he replied, kissing me gently. "I'm glad." I smiled back at him just before he looked into my eyes. "I need to talk to you about something," he said. I blinked in confusion.

"What's wrong?" Axel looked conflicted. "Axe?"

"I contacted Larxene," he told me. My heart pounded. That had to be a good sign, right? Had they fixed things? Had they- "She wants to meet up tonight," he continued. I nodded. "With both of us."

"Okay," I told him, preferring to go anyway.

"I'm going to have several people going with us," he told me, making sure I understood what he was about to say, "If she tries anything, she will get shot, I'm making you aware of that." I nodded slowly.

"Alright."

I touched the side of his face gently. "You should get some sleep, Axel," I urged. He laughed tiredly at that.

"…I'm not so sure I can, not yet, sweetheart." I gently touched the tattoos under his eyes with my thumbs as I held his face in my hands.

"I'm worried about you," I whispered.

"And I'm worried about you," he admitted. I frowned, grasping his shoulders.

"Axel, I wish you wouldn't."

"It comes with loving you," he said with a smile before kissing me gently. "I do love you, you know. That's why I'm doing this," he told me softly. I smiled back at him.

"Thank you, Axel. I really mean that," I whispered, hugging him. His fingers trailed along my back gently as held me to himself.

"I know, sweetheart," he whispered back.

xXx

We got to the restaurant, that evening. Larxene had arrived before us and was sitting alone, by the window. She watched without comment as Axel, Demyx, Xaldin and I approached. She opened her mouth as if to greet us, when we sat down but before she could say anything, Axel did.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you," he told her. His green eyes were ablaze while hers seemed rather dull at the question. She thought about it before answering.

"I can't," she told him. Axel looked surprised for only a moment before becoming guarded again. "That's just it. I screwed up, that's all I seem to do when it comes to you, isn't it?" The red-head tensed. "I messed up our relationship, I hurt Roxas many times because of an assumption and I'm sure that you've been fighting about it, so I hurt you both again." She withdrew for a moment or two, looking lost in thought, "But here I am, I'm still apologizing to you both for my actions and the actions of those involved." Axel hesitated for a moment.

"You should know that you didn't screw up our relationship. My grandfather was forcing me to get married and I wasn't ready. It was nothing personal, when I called it off." Their eyes locked for a long time. "I'm sorry too, I should have explained before now." Larxene nodded, taking it in. Axel sighed, looking heavenward and shaking his head. "I've been back and forth with this so much already and I just don't trust you. The only reason I'm here is because it's what Roxas wants. So, what do you propose we do, Larxene? How can I believe that you're telling me the truth?"

"I've thought about it too, Axel," she told him. "I don't know if it makes up for anything or not… but I'm willing to give you the bordering territories your grandfather wanted, so that you can control more of the city and be closer to Radiant Garden, to show you how sorry I am, Axel. I have no intention of getting out of this without giving you something," she explained. Axel levelled his gaze at her, watching every movement as she turned to me, "and Roxas, I would like to help sponsor you, if I can, or donate money. Fuu showed me your designs, they're really good." Axel tensed as I told her she didn't have to do that. I could tell that he didn't like me talking to her. She shook her head. "Yes I do. I would like to help more, because I really am sorry, but I don't think Axel would approve." Axel looked at me, frowning. I could tell that he didn't like this.

"Please?" I whispered. He turned back to her, looking very unhappy.

"If there are any future incidents, I will kill you," he promised irritably. "You are to stay away from Roxas. I don't trust you." Larxene nodded. She looked stunned. Axel's green eyes met mine. "Time to go," he told me.

"Axel wait-" Larxene interrupted, faltering when he fixed her with a murderous stare. She picked up her purse, pulling out papers and sliding them to him, as well as a large sum of money. "Please take them." Axel folded the paper and took the cash, putting them in the inner pocket of his coat, nodding once, before helping me up. I looked back when we were a few steps away, smiling at her when nobody was watching. I saw her smile back, just before Demyx and Xaldin covered us from behind and soon, we were on our way home.

xXx

TBC

A/n: Hope you're still enjoying this, let me know? Thanks (: