Chapter 2: Talk to Me
Roxas POV
I woke gasping for air and clutching my heart. When I turned over to hold Axel, I saw that he wasn't in bed. There was a note however in his place.
Roxy,
Went to visit my mom. I'll be back in a little while. If you want to meet me there her house is the last one down the road.
-A
Roxy, he'd never used a nickname for me before. I could feel myself blushing after reading those words. I could either wait for Axel or go meet his mother. After the dream I'd had I didn't want to stay in this house alone.
I also wanted to make a good impression to. Getting up I shook the remnants of the dream away and went to the bathroom. The shower felt amazing. If I was lucky, I'd get to shower maybe once a week. My father made me earn everything. Clothes, food, water, showers. It was just another way for him to show how much he despised me.
I winced under the water when it touched the wounds on my back. They were healing but not fast enough. I hurried through and after taking my medication and dressing I headed off to see Axel's mom. Since I couldn't bandage my back myself, I wore a soft cotton shirt and brought strips of bandages with me.
It wasn't a long walk about ten minutes, but it was enough time for me to think. Axel wanted me to talk. I wanted to talk. My father had always said that I was useless, that I should have died along with my mother. So, I thought if I stopped talking, he wouldn't hate me as much. I think it only made him hate me more. By that point I was so depressed that I stopped caring. My father whipped me when he found out I was spending time with another wolf. He smelled Axel on me even though I tried so hard to not go near him. I didn't want Father catching Axel's scent because I knew what would happen.
When I refused to tell him who, he and his friends dragged me outside and tied me to two wooden posts. It was freezing outside, and I was only wearing a pair of pants. He'd threatened to whip me before but had never done it. Forcing me down to my knees he asked me who I'd been with. When I didn't answer I felt the whip crack against my back. I almost screamed at the pain. It's what he would have wanted, and I didn't want to give him the satisfaction. Instead I whimpered after every crack.
He soon got tired and left me there for the rest of the day. I was lucky that one of my friends came to check on me. I didn't have many friends; I was isolated from them all. Her name was Larxene. She had a blond hair and a fiery temper. After cutting my binds she helped me to my feet and took me to rest at her home. I was surprised I hadn't frozen to death outside. After kneeling there for hours in the freezing cold I should have been dead.
I was gone the next morning to check on Axel. I made it to his moms house and stood outside of the door. Should I knock or just go in? I didn't want to be rude and just barge in, what if they were talking about something important? I decided to knock.
Axel was the one who answered the door.
"Roxy!" He cried wrapping his arms around my waist and picking me up. "Did you come to meet my mother?"
I nodded once Axel set me down. Taking my hand, he steered me inside closing the door behind him. Tugging his hand, he stopped and turned to me. I wanted to say his name again. I wanted to talk again.
"A-Axel." I said.
It was the second time I'd ever said his name out loud. I liked how it sounded, how it felt.
"Did you say my name?" He asked cupping my face.
I nodded.
"Say it again." He breathed, "Please."
"Axel." I said it more clearly this time.
He pulled me into a deep kiss. Once we heard his mother calling for us, we broke apart. Axel was grinning as we made our way into the kitchen.
"Mom, this is Roxas." Axel said his arm still wrapped around my waist. "Roxas this is my mom Aerith."
"Hi Roxas, how are you?" She asked reaching her hand out.
Taking her hand, I shook it and smiled. I couldn't talk anymore I was too scared. One look at Axel and he kissed the top of my head in understanding.
"Roxas doesn't talk much." He said. "He does use sign language though."
"Oh, I'm a little rusty so you'll have to forgive me." She responded.
I'm sorry. I signed. I want to talk I'm just scared.
Aerith didn't have a hard time keeping up with me. Axel was still lost asking his mom to translate for us as Sora had.
Your son is very kind. I really like him. I signed.
Do you love him? Her hands were jerky, but I understood what she was trying to say.
I will, I know I will. He's been nothing but kind to me. He saved me from a horrible fate. He's a wonderful person. My hands started shaking with emotion.
Aerith was a nice woman. She told me all about Axel when he was a child. How rambunctious he was and that he had an unhealthy obsession for a while with snow.
"He cried when all of the snow melted. So, before it did, I saved some in the freezer. He would look in there every morning to make sure it was there." She giggled.
She'd made us all hot chocolate as the temperature outside kept dropping.
"It should start snowing soon. Are you excited?" She asked.
I nodded vigorously having never played in snow before. I used to watch it fall outside of my window every year. I was never allowed outside during the winter. At first, I wasn't sure why but then I realized it was because I was the only one going through heat. My father told me as I got older that he didn't want me to be the whore my mother was, so he kept me locked away all winter.
Standing up I went outside to see that snow had already started to fall. Arms wound around my waist and pulled me into a well-built chest.
"By tomorrow we'll be snowed in." Axel murmured breath hot against my ear. "How will we pass the time?"
I shivered at his touch. I knew what he had in mind because I had the same thing in mind as well. Turning in his arms I stood on tip toes to bring him down for a kiss. When he pulled away, I reached up and touched his face. His eyes focused on me.
"N-never played in s-s-snow." I stammered trying hard to get my voice to work.
Already my throat was starting to hurt. I needed to talk more if I wanted my voice to become stronger.
Axel stared at me like a starved man. His eyes were wide, and I noticed that he was cupping my face. He was grinning from ear to ear.
"Only you." I said trying to give him a stern look.
"Yes, yes I understand! I won't force you. We'll go at your pace." He said raising his hands. "I love your voice, even if you only talk to me, I'll be happy a man."
I pulled him in for another kiss before we rejoined his mother in the living room. There was a tv in there. Axel had showed me one just recently. I went over to it and poked it. It didn't move or do anything like it had the night before.
"He's never seen one before," I heard Axel whisper.
When the tv did flash to life I squeaked and dove behind the couch. Axel joined me a few seconds later pulling my hands from my ears.
"Hey, you've seen this before remember. We watched a movie last night. Everything's ok I promise." He whispered.
I stared at him for a moment and nodded. Taking my hand, he helped me up and led me back around to sit between he and his mother.
"He's never seen a tv before or most electronics." Axel explained.
"What Pack did you come from Roxas?" Aerith asked.
My father's name is Sephiroth. I signed. He's not my real father though he's just the one who raised me.
"That explains a lot," Aerith whispered. "My family helped me escape from that Pack. It was a nightmare." Her face was pale as she turned the tv off and we sat in silence.
"Mom?" Axel asked reaching to take her hand.
"They will come for you Roxas. He will come for you. They came for me and I had to fight for my life. They track anyone who leaves. I escaped but my parents weren't as lucky. I say this not to scare you but to prepare you." She said cupping my face and turning me to her.
I will fight to stay here. I can't go back, if I go back, I'll die. I signed. I told her everything after that, about how I was supposed to be Mated off to another wolf. How she was handpicked by my father and would kill me once I couldn't give her any pups and then reign as the new Alpha.
"You poor thing." Aerith said after a long silence. "That Pack is terrible. Everyone is too afraid to leave. Not many make it out alive. I was one of the lucky ones. I don't think they'll come right away. They didn't with me, they waited until I'd almost forgotten them. They'll try to catch you off guard, so we have time. Tomorrow Axel take Roxas to see Xigbar he'll help with training."
"He's been injured, and I know how Xigbar trains people. His back is hurt and he's on antibiotics right now." Axel responded.
"I don't want to wait too long I know how this Pack works. Go to Zexion tomorrow and when he releases Roxas then go to Xigbar for training. I'll let him know you're coming soon." She said.
I thanked Aerith profusely. Axel took us home after that. Snow had already covered some of the ground when we left. I couldn't wait. I wanted to play in snow for the first time. I held Axel's hand as we walked back to his house. His limp wasn't as bad as the night before, but it was still bad. He pulled me in his arms right before we made it to his house and kissed me.
Pulling away he pressed his forehead against mine. His smile was blinding. As soon as we made it in the door Axel was kissing me again. He led us to the bedroom where he sat on the bed and pulled me in his lap. I'd forgotten about the bandages so when Axel went to remove my shirt it stuck a little. It felt better being off though.
Axel's eyes closed as he took in a deep breath. When he opened them, I noticed his eyes were a shade darker. I reached for his shirt tugging at it until he lifted his arms to let me pull it off. He was waiting for me. Leaning in I kissed him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
He let me go at my own pace. It wasn't as hot and heavy as the other night. I could tell he wanted to move faster but he wouldn't.
"You smell so good." He whispered. "I just want to stay in bed with you all day."
"But snow." I responded.
Axel laughed so hard I thought I'd fall off his lap. I blushed turning away from him.
"Of course, tomorrow after we see Zexion we'll play in the snow." Cupping my face, he turned me back to him. "I want to give you everything because you deserve it. I know we haven't known each other long but I really care for you. I want you to be happy."
"Happy with you, happy with friends." I croaked.
Things progressed from there. We were both shirtless and I was still in heat. It was a mild heat this year. Some years I was so horny I couldn't take it. I would wake up in cold sweats wishing someone would take me, anyone I didn't care who. Other years it was just like this. A mild heat where sex didn't occupy my mind for the entire week.
Still in his lap Axel scooted back enough for him to lay down. I could feel his erection pressing against my ass. Quickly I got off the bed and took my pants and underwear off while Axel raised his hips and shimmied out of his pants.
Crawling back on the bed Axel had a tube of lube in his hands. He gave me a seductive grin when I resumed my place on his lap. Nervous I grabbed my tail and stroked the fur.
"Hey, we don't have to do this if you don't want." He whispered taking my hands off my tail and holding them.
"I do want to." I cried my voice cracking.
"Ok, we will you just look nervous." He said. "I don't want to make you nervous."
"I'm ok." I was scared, all this talk of my father coming back for me was scary.
Sitting up Axel kissed me. His hands went from mine to rub soothing circles on my hips. When I began melting into his touch, he moved them up to rub against my nipples. Breaking the kiss, I moaned watching his ministrations with rapt attention. Once my nerves were soothed, he had me get on all fours so he could prep me.
He'd done it to me once before and it had felt amazing once I'd gotten used to the digits. He didn't take long to get me ready. He knew exactly what he was doing. When I was comfortable, I crawled back on his lap while Axel steadied his cock. Slowly I sank down. Axel and I both moaned eyes meeting. He smiled at me holding my hips and waiting for me to move.
I started slow trying to build a rhythm. One of Axel's hand moved from my hip to my cock. He stroked me slowly matching my rhythm. When I moved faster so did his hand until we found a comfortable pace. Axel was moaning his praises and I was trying hard not to cum just yet.
"Axel," I moaned.
I knew he'd like it if I said his name. It drove him wild. So, I continued to moan his name until my voice cut out. I angled myself so that he was hitting my prostate over and over. With the way he was stroking me and the way I moved I wouldn't last much longer. Placing my hands on his chest I leaned forward and kept moving. I locked eyes with Axel. He kept nailing my prostate and I couldn't hold out much longer.
"Axel," I whimpered. "P-p-please." My orgasm was approaching fast.
I couldn't hold out even if he wanted me to. Before he could say a word, I moaned releasing myself all over his hand and stomach. He came not long after holding my hip tightly and stroking me through the rest of mine.
Collapsing beside of Axel, I was pulled into a lazy kiss. He brushed my sweaty hair out my face and his hand started to stroke my tail.
After a few minutes he got up and returned with a washrag. I cleaned myself off and settled down in bed for a nice nap. The wind was howling outside as Axel covered us up. The lights were turned off and the curtains were drawn.
"You smell so good Roxy," He started as I lay my head on his chest. "Your part of our Pack now. We'll keep you safe."
"Safe, with you. With friends." I croaked eyes closing.
"Yes, safe." He whispered.
I'd never felt safe before. I'd always felt scared and alone. I was glad I ran away now. It didn't matter if my father was going to send his goons or even come himself, I would fight to stay here.
We slept for about two hours. Axel woke me up with soft nudges and sweet kisses.
"Snow's pretty much covered the ground, wanna go see?" He asked.
Turning the light on he waited for me to sit up and stretch the kinks out of my body. I turned to the window, pulled the navy-blue curtains back and looked out. Snow had blanketed the earth in a beautiful white.
"Yes. We go now?" I asked coming back to the bed.
"Of course." Axel said taking my hand.
Naked we made our way to the living room. I noticed now there was a small doggy door big enough for a wolf to pass through. I knew I would pass through just fine.
We both shifted and I noticed how huge Axel was compared to me. Leaning down he nuzzled my neck. He was a beautiful red wolf with a white tipped tail. He almost knocked me over with how powerful he was. I looked like a pup compared to him. He was warm though, so very warm. When he pulled away, he made his way to the door and slipped through.
I followed behind him. The sun was just starting to set, and it was getting cooler, but with the addition of my fur I didn't feel it as much. I stared for a long while. It was beautiful and it was cold. I stood on the porch with Axel beside me. Taking a step back and then another, I ran and jumped into the snow. It wasn't as deep as I was expecting but it cushioned my impact.
I rolled around and buried myself in the snow. Axel sniffed me out. When I popped out of my hiding spot, he was leaning down front legs resting on the snow. His butt was sticking in the air tail wagging.
I licked his muzzle and darted off. He was right behind me barking and nipping my tail. We played in this fashion for a long while. He chased me and I chased him. We were outside for maybe an hour before three pups ran and tackled Axel.
He nuzzled all of three of them. He knew them. I didn't recognize them, but I waited for Axel's cue. He nudged them towards me. They were scared like I was. The lone female of the group approached me first. She sat in front of me and yipped.
Leaning forward I nuzzled her like Axel did. She licked my face and yipped again. Nipping my heels, she ran and stopped turning back to me. She wanted to play. The other two boys came over nipping my heels as well before one fell and rolled on his back. He was a pudgy black wolf and very cute. The other was a blond wolf who stuck close to the black one.
Standing up I went to the pudgy black one and helped him roll over. He yipped and ran to join the brown one with the blond one following close behind.
"Hayner!" A voice called. The blond wolf yipped his response.
"Pence!" The same voice called. The black wolf attempted a howl.
"Olette!" The brown wolf yipped as all three took off.
Axel joined me soon after. Licking my muzzle, he took off and stopped waiting for me to follow him. We ran until we were to tired to move.
By the time we returned home it was well past midnight. We shifted back to our human form and went to the bedroom where we collapsed. Axel's arms wound around me as he buried his face in my hair.
"Thank you." I whispered.
"Anytime. After we go see Zexion we can play again tomorrow if you'd like." He murmured.
"Yes," I responded.
Going to see Zexion was uneventful. He said my heat would last another few days and that I wouldn't be able to start training for at least another two weeks. He wanted to see me back then so he could asses my progress.
We headed to Aerith's next. I watched the window as Axel greeted her. The snow had still been falling when we'd crawled into bed the night before. Today it was still snowing. Axel tried to be as quick as he could. He told Aerith that my back wouldn't be fully healed until at least two more weeks and that we'd start training as soon as I was able.
I was startled when someone took my hand and I looked to see that it was Axel. He was giving me another blinding smile.
"Riku and Sora are going to join us. They're babysitting the three pups you saw yesterday Hayner, Pence and Olette so they'll be here as well." He said.
Smiling I nodded. He bid his mother farewell and we left to play in the snow. I was bundled in a shirt, a sweater and heavy coat. I wore two pairs of pants and a black beanie over my fur covered ears. My scarf was white with red foxes running across it.
Axel was in the same state of dress, but he wore no scarf. We met up with Riku and Sora who were helping three children make a snowman. They were just wrapping a scarf around the snowman's neck as we showed up.
"Do you want to make one?" Axel asked.
I nodded watching as they stuck a carrot in the snowman's face for the nose and then added rocks that they found for eyes and a smile. I studied them carefully making sure to memorize every detail they put on the snowman.
I tried to replicate it as best I could. Sora was the one who stopped me with a light touch to my back. Jumping I threw the snow I had in my hand in his face. Axel was busy chasing down the three children and I was so busy making my snowman that I'd forgotten about Riku and Sora.
"Hey, everything ok?" Sora asked shaking the snow off him.
Yes. You just scared me is all. I was trying to replicate your snowman. I've never made one before. I signed.
I was having a hard time signing with the gloves I was wearing.
"You can make any kind of snowman you want. That's the beauty of snow you can be as creative as you want." He said.
Creative. I don't think I'd ever been creative before. I'd never been allowed to be creative before. Once I'd made my snowman, I decided to give him three arms, his eyes were made of carrots and his nose out of rocks. He had a frown and I gave him three buttons on his chest.
I liked him. Axel returned just as I'd taken a step back to admire my handiwork.
"Oh, you made Riku." He said.
"Since when do I have three arms?" He cried.
"Not that he got your face right. You're always frowning." Sora responded laughing.
Rolling his eyes, he stalked off shouting Axel and Sora weren't going to get hot chocolate. The way they bantered with each other I was jealous. I'd never had anyone to banter with like that. Cloud and Leon were to watch over me, so I didn't consider them friends as much as chaperones.
Larxene was my only friend. I missed her greatly right now. She was harsh and spoke her mind. My father hated her, and I loved her because of it. She was in a fairly high position because of her family so he couldn't get rid of her.
Axel was the one to bring me back. Cupping my face, he looked at me and smiled.
"You hear that, Riku's going to withhold our hot chocolate from us! We can't have that!" He cried.
"You know what we should do?" Sora asked once Axel pulled away. "Snowball fight!"
It was absolute chaos after that. Hayner, Pence and Olette who had been quiet for a while now shrieked in joy. Bending down they hastily scooped up snow and formed it into balls in their hands. The first ball that Pence threw missed by a mile. Hayner was closer but Olette was the one who nailed Riku in the back.
"You got me!" He cried raising a hand up as he collapsed in the snow.
Olette squealed turning into a wolf as she dashed over the boys not far behind her. Riku shifted as well as they tackled him barking and nipping him.
Sora was next to make a snowball and launch it. It hit Hayner in the back of the head. He stumbled and fell.
"Oh god oh no! Oh, shit I told his mom he wouldn't get another head injury! Shit!" Sora cried rushing over.
Axel was doubled over laughing. I was genuinely concerned for the poor pup.
"Ok?" I asked tugging Axel's arm.
"He's fine! He hit his head on a table last week because he and Pence were rough housing to much. He's totally fine. Just had a knot on his head." Axel explained. "But on second thought maybe we should make sure he's ok."
Taking Axel's hand, we ran as fast as we could to the fallen wolf pup. Hayner popped up shook the snow off and barked tail wagging. Cradling the small wolf Sora kissed his head over and over.
I felt a tug at my pants leg and looked down to see Olette. The pups turned around as we hurriedly stripped in the falling snow. Riku was eyeing Sora as he stripped. As soon as he turned into a wolf Riku shook the pups off and nuzzled his Mate.
I stayed near Pence mostly. I liked his play style a lot better. He wasn't as rough or aggressive as the other wolves were. Plus, he was almost as big as me. The other wolves were a lot bigger and they frightened me a little bit. Even Axel who was by far the biggest wolf. I knew he wouldn't hurt me, but he towered over me.
Pence seemed to prefer my company as well. When Olette and Hayner came to collect him, he shook them off following me around instead. We buried ourselves in the snow when no one was paying attention and waited for everyone to notice.
Olette attempted a howl. She bounced around jumping from pile to pile to find us. When she didn't another wolf whose scent, I didn't recognize yet started the search. Once they got close to Pence and me, we both jumped out scaring Riku half to death. Axel was rolling on the ground barking out what sounded like laughter.
Managing to get up Riku turned to Axel and growled. Axel took off with Riku chasing behind him. We watched for a few minutes before Sora herded us inside.
Sora's house was small from the outside but huge on the inside. His kitchen was probably the largest part of the house. The walls were a mix of colors. The kitchen was a sky blue, the living room a light gray. Down the hall towards the bedroom the walls were green.
Sora and I shifted in the kitchen and quickly changed while Olette was sent to Sora's room and Pence to the living room. Axel and Riku tumbled through a small doggy door just as Olette came down the hall.
They headed down the hall and into one of the bedrooms, as Sora took me to the kitchen to teach me how to make his homemade hot chocolate.
"Even Riku doesn't know what I use." He whispered.
He gathered the ingredients and set them on the counter quickly measuring out everything. He'd just gotten everything put away when Riku rushed in face red.
"Damn it!" He cried. "One day Sora, one day I'll figure out that recipe!"
"Sure, you will. I told you old family secret." He said with a wink.
"Babe we're family!" He cried.
"I'm sorry my hands are tied I just can't tell you." Sora responded bursting into fits of laughter.
"Your doing this on purpose." Riku growled wrapping his arms around his Mate's waist and kissing him.
Axel returned a few minutes later with two children attached to his leg. One of them was Pence and the other was Hayner. They were giggling as Olette trailed along holding onto Axel's shirt. They seemed to have a strong relationship. They were both laughing at each other in a good-natured way.
Waddling over Axel asked if he could be of any assistance. Sora grabbed me to help him make the hot chocolate while Riku pulled the mugs down. Axel got the children set up in the living room with a movie and came back to help.
Sora told me to watch over the pot of milk on the stove and once it looked warm enough to transfer it to the cups. He and Riku started on cookies for everyone. Warm hands rested on my shoulders making me squeak and turn to hit the nearest person. It was Axel.
"Woah, woah sorry there." He said leaning in to turn the stove off. "Are you having fun?"
Looking around Sora and Riku were busy laughing and making the cookies so I felt safe to talk.
"Yes," I croaked. "Fun with Axel. Fun with friends."
"Good," He whispered. "After we warm up, we'll go play again if you want."
I nodded not trusting Sora or Riku to hear me. I wasn't ready yet for anyone but Axel to hear me. He was the first one who had been brave enough to take me away from my home. Even after hearing that my father would come for me one day he still stood by his decision. I would be forever grateful for that.