(A/N:bold text- other person on the phone. Also this chapter is kinda long, but I hope you guys/girls enjoy it anyway. ^^)

Axel's p.o.v:

All I could think about was Reno. His calming smile, his obnoxiously addictive laugh, the way he could calm me down without even knowing what was wrong. And now its been almost a month and he's sitting in jail and I don't even know what for. I think the only thing stopping me from either a) walking a rut into the floor, b) starving or c) slitting my wrists outright was because I have a chance at seeing Reno again. I curled up a lil more in my bed, feeling wave after wave of sorrow and exhaustion hit me like a truck.

"Axel?"

I groaned softly, flicking the covers back over my head.

"Axel? Can you come out, its me Xigbar, we're like worried shitless dude."

I let out a tiny sob, curling further under the covers. "G-go away!"

Xigbar sighed and slid down the door, I heard him adjust while he sat there. "Then at least listen."

I huffed and crossed my arms, sitting up in bed while he started to speak.

"I understand how you must be feeling right about now. Like more than you'll ever know. But believe me when I say that Reno would not want ya like this, sittin' and sulkin' in yer room all day. He'd want ya to step outside, smell some flowers, actually eat and be slightly happier. And I know that's really difficult for you to be comfortable in yer own skin, especially with all the current happenings. But for the time being, Reno would be happy if ya came out and ate dinner. He made chicken parm before he left."

'Ugh he always knows how to make it better.' I swiftly rose from my bed and flicked the covers off me, changing into a pair of black skinny jeans and a grey v-neck striped sweater. Sliding on my red converse hi-tops, I let myself sigh as I quickly ran a brush through my hair, before opening my bedroom door to reveal a smiling Xigbar.

"Hey, look who's a little bit better." Xigbar gently took my hand and led me down the hall, his ponytail bouncing a bit.

"I'm only doing this cause there's food involved." I pulled the edges of my sweater sleeves down, rubbing my wrists.

Xigbar let out a hearty chuckle and sat me down on the couch, motioning to Demyx who went into the kitchen. "I know, but at least its a start."

I set my legs over one arm of the couch, resting against Xigbar's shoulder. "So I got a question for the group here."

Demyx came back from the kitchen and set my plate down before taking his place back next to Zexion. "What's up Xigbar?"

Xigbar shifted so that I was more comfortable. "Does anyone know how tha hell Axel's dad found out about this?"

It was at that point the room immediately fell silent. Xigbar did bring up a good point. I have no idea how my dad would've found out about Reno. Granted this is my dad we're talking about, and to be fair he is kind of a psychopath. But the fact that I have been so careful and he still managed to worm his way back into my life is rather disturbing and most unnerving. I shook a little at the thought, what would he do if he finally got me?

Better question is what wouldn't he do?

"Axel? Axel?"

I shook my head again and looked up at Elena. "Sorry, just thinking."

Xigbar pulled his phone out of his pocket. "About?"

"Just...things..." I played with the hem of my sweater.

"You okay man? You're looking kinda pale." Xigbar ran a hand up my arm.

I twitched slightly, feeling my head start to hurt. "I got with Reno to get the hell away from that asshole I call a father, and I thought I'd be okay, I thought I'd be all good and shit but now he's found me and he's trying to undo all the progress I've made and its not fucking fair!"

Xigbar quickly hugged me, pulling my head onto his chest while I kept sobbing/ranting.

"Why does he have to ruin everything that I enjoy? Why does he have to come in, find something that I can truly be happy about and rip it to fucking shreds! I..I don't fucking know anymore, I don't know why he keeps this up, I don't know when its going to end."

The room was silent for a few moments more before I saw Zexion hunch forward. "Axel, I understand where you're coming from. We all do, in some form or another. And while he caused a great disturbance in your life and is trying to ruin it, you still have us and he won't be getting rid of us any time soon."

I twitched a little and gave a small laugh, twirling some spaghetti around my fork. "You know, you guys are starting to grow on me."

Xigbar chuckled and gripped me gently, laughing softly. "Aww we are? I'm so flattered."

I laughed and gave him a light shove. "Hey that's my line."

Elena chuckled, pulling her phone out while it rang. "Excuse me, I have to take this."

"By all means." I watched Elena walk into the kitchen, already sounding annoyed at whoever was on the other end. "What should we do for the rest of the day?"

Demyx shuffled a bit in his seat. "Maybe we could spend the day inside."

Zexion hmmed and summoned his lexicon. "Agreed. Granted I am usually all for heading outside, but considering the circumstances that your dad's kinda out for your murder I think it best to stay indoors on this one."

I smiled as I ate another piece of chicken parm. "So what should we do? Movie? Cards? Smash Bros?"

Zexion playfully glared at me. "Hell. No."

"You're just jealous that I kicked your ass so quickly in Smash Bros."

"That's only cause Reno helped."

"Suure man, that's totally why."

"Children children, settle down. Zexion you're usually far more composed than this."

Zexion smiled passively and brushed a lock of hair out of his eye. "Well thank you Xigbar. Glad to see somebody is being the voice of-"

Xigbar fired up the Wii and shoved a controller in Zexion's still hands. "I'm just being reasonable so we can SETTLE IT IN SMASH!"

Zexion groaned inwardly (and externally) as he flicked around on the character select screen. "Remind me again why we're doing this."

Xigbar leaned back and popped his feet up on the coffee table, hearing Elena come back in with a tray of coffee and doughnuts. "Because I need to satisfy my winning streak in a peaceful yet annoying manner."

"So beating our butts in Smash Bros is peaceful yet annoying?"

"Now yer catching on!" Xigbar settled on Link before he started finding an arena to fight in. "Yeah, cause using you guys as target practice with a laser rifle...not so much."

"True, very true."

Time skip brought to you by Luxord:

The night went by as peacefully as it could, Reno not being here and all. I guess I could finish my writing, maybe make some muffins. Might as well keep myself occupied, keep the depression just out of reach. My fingers brushed the edge of the tub, a slight shiver coursing through me. 'Maybe I should take a bath. Might help me to get my mind off of things.' I walked back into our room to retrieve a set of pajamas, snagging a towel off the wall. Setting them down on top of the hamper, I quickly disrobed and turned the faucet on, breathing in the vanilla scent of the bubble bath I poured in.

The water did better to soothe my headache than it did for my nerves. I still couldn't get the thoughts and fears from my dad out of my head. The fact that he would stoop so low, just to toy with my emotions like that. But I suppose it can't be helped. He'll always be a bit of a psychopath and I'll always be putting him in jail for something or other. Probably better that way since I really don't want him coming after me again.

*knock knock*

"Yo Axel, you decent in there? I need to ask you something. "

"I'm sitting in a bathtub naked define decent."

"Fair enough." Xigbar opened the door with his spacial distortion, half leaning in the now open door.

"So what's up? Does Elena have anything new on my dad?" I let myself sink into the water up to my chest.

Xigbar chuckled and nodded. "Well that too, but your future husband's calling."

I tilted my head playfully. "I'm assuming you've got my phone in your pocket?"

Xigbar chuckled again and pressed a button on my phone, setting it next to me on a table. "Yep. If you have any dinner requests, we'll be downstairs."

"Thank you Xigbar." I leaned back a bit before chuckling to myself.

I leaned back a little more in the tub as I spoke. "I think this is the only time we've been together that you've actually been speechless."

"Haha very funny Mr. comedian. How's my lil lighter been?"

"Honestly, its been rough. Haven't been sleeping too well, been worrying about you all the time."

"Oh no tha doesn't sound good. You at least been eating?"

"Yeah, Xigbar and the others have been making sure of that. So has Rude been by there yet?"

"A couple times. Brings meh coffee. Why?"

"He called Elena earlier today and said he was coming to get you out tomorrow."

"Oh my g- wait yer serious?"

"As a myocardial infarction."

"Ya know I love the fact that yeh don't just call it a heart attack. Did he say when he was coming by?"

"I think Elena said middle of the afternoon."

"Sweet, so I can bust a cap in your dad's ass and still grab a sandwich."

"Hahaha guess so, if ya can find him."

"Babe I could find him even if he quote on quote made himself disappear. Its mah job."

"I know. I can't wait until you're home again."

"Awww ye've missed meh that much?"

"Mhm yea. I've been aching to have my little devil shoved balls deep inside me, making me scream his name over, and over, and over..."

"Oh believe me, ya ain't gonna be walking for long when I get home."

"Hehe I can't wait. I'll see you then my love."

"See ya then dearie."

I let a heavy sigh of relief escape me right after I hung up. At least I'll be getting Reno back, its been way too weird and paranoid without him. Maybe I just miss him too much, I haven't really been away from him for...well any amount of time really. Sighing again I pulled the plug on the tub and watched the water drain, drying myself off as I stood up. Changing into a pair of black sweatpants, I slid my converse back on and hung the towel around my neck, immediately making my way downstairs. Xigbar laughed at seeing my hair, setting a plate of stir fry down at my usual spot.

"Wow ya really do look like a mermaid with wet hair." Xigbar dished out a plate and handed it to Zexion.

"Well thank you Captain Hook." I chuckled and conjured a small flame in my hand, waving it around my head to dry my hair a little faster.

"Haha very funny laser skunk." I started to dig into my stir fry, surprised Xigbar could actually cook this good.

"Okay I'll let that one slide since that was actually a pretty good one." Xigbar sat down with his plate and brushed his hair aside, pausing before he started to eat. "Hey Axel, when you're done eating, I got something to talk to you about."

I nodded and continued to eat my stir fry. "Of course."

The night went on with a little more conversation and a lot more kicking Zexion's ass at Smash Bros. (He is quite the persistent one.) Xigbar kept eyeing me with a look that was a mix of concerned and also slightly amused. Almost like he was watching for something I would do. What that was I had no idea. The end of the night came to, I was brushing my teeth before I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Xigbar gently pushed the door open, sliding in before shutting the door behind him.

I rinsed my mouth out before turning around and flinging my towel back over my shoulder. "What's up Xig?"

Xigbar looked really nervous, he was fidgeting with his wrists a lot. "There's something I haven't been totally honest about with you."

"Oh? And what that might be?" I raised an eyebrow and turned to walk back into my room, Xigbar following close behind like a lost puppy.

"Yer dad finding out about you being here might not have been a weird coincidence."

I felt my heart almost stop in my chest. "What?"

"Now Axel you know I don't know your dad even had a kid so I wouldn't have known it was him-"

"You told my dad I was living here. I don't know what t-to s-say..."

"I know how you must be feeling right now, and believe me I'd be pissed off and anxious and depressed too, but-"

"No. I'm not anxious or depressed or confused..."

I looked up at Xigbar with tears starting to form in My eyes. "I'm disappointed. And hurt. And even more scared than I was before knowing."

My heart began to skip a beat. "I know you didn't mean to, but right now I think its best for you to leave."

Xigbar paused. "What? C'mon Axel, you know I wouldn't have done this on purpose."

I dropped the towel into the hamper. "I know, and I do forgive you, but i think its best you leave because I need some space to think right now."

"...Okay." Xigbar tried to speak again, but eventually nodded, leaving the room without another word.

I felt the breath I was holding leave my lungs the second he got down the stairs, my body flopping down on the bed like I was a dead fish. I can't believe that he did that. I climbed under the covers and nuzzled my head into the pillow, trying to force myself to sleep. I just needed to forget all of today, and look forward to tomorrow when Reno would be coming back.

Later on that night...

"Oh come now Axel, you're just a little worthless slut. But you're my little worthless slut, and mine only, UNDERSTAND!"

"Dad, I don't know what the hell you're talking abou—"

I was cut off by a rather harsh slap. "You do not swear at me! I'm your father goddamnit!"

The next thing I knew I was shoved down over the coffee table, his belt threaded out of his pants as they dropped to the floor. He gripped my hips and—

I bolted upright in my bed, sweat starting to bead up on mu forehead and roll down my chest and neck. I fucking hated the nightmares I've been having. They haven't stopped for...about twenty years? I'm nowhere near my father yet he still manages to plague me with his presence, and in my fucking dreams where I thought I was safe from him. I really wish this would just stop.

A knock on my door spooked me further out of my thoughts. "Come in."

Elena gently pushed the door open and stepped inside, holding a tray with hot chocolate on it as she sat at my desk. "I heard you up and I figured you weren't sleeping too well so I thought this might help."

"Thanks Elena, can you stay in here for a bit?" I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, slightly avoiding her gaze.

"Of course Axel." Elena adjusted her nightgown over her pajama pants before turning to face me, handing my cup over. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah sure, what's up?" I sipped the warm beverage, feeling waves of calm begin to wash over my shaking frame.

"Its about your dad."

I stiffened momentarily before nodding. "Sure, what's up?"

Elena crossed her ankles. "How does he know about Reno?"

I paused to think before I looked up at Elena and spoke. "I think Reno might have arrested him at one point."

Elena nodded and pulled out her phone from her bra. "I hate to be pushy, but do you remember anything about that? It might help us find him now and help get him for what he got Reno in trouble for."

I rubbed at my neck. "I was..I think I was like eight or nine. He had a couple jobs when I was growing up to support us and his habits after my ma died. He was out on his usual street section, and I was playing at my neighbor's house, and I heard sirens outside. And then when I ran back to my front yard I saw Reno dragging my dad, kicking and kinda screaming of course into the back of the car and the guy in front start driving away."

"What was he doing? Selling drugs, prostitution, trying to solicit a prostitute? Just killed someone?"

"What's concerning is that I think it was all of the above."

Elena made a worried noise. "Damn he is crazy."

"I know. He went to an asylum when I was thirteen because he tried to kill me because one of his medications wasn't working so he stopped taking it, he started seeing shit and thought I was ma."

Elena tentatively placed her hand on my shoulder. "Damn, that's...I don't even know what to say to that."

"Yeah, its pretty fucked up, but I'm okay...sort of." I sipped more of my cocoa, starting to feel sleepy.

"Okay, at least I know what I'm working with here...was his last name different then?" Elena finished the last of her cocoa, stretching her legs in my desk chair.

"No, it was still Flynn." I yawned and put my cup on my nightstand, climbing back under my covers.

"Okay. Its like four in the morning so I'm gonna let you get your rest. Rude's going to be getting Reno before noon so might as well get your sleep now before he gets in."

I smiled at Elena's joke, turning over into my pillow and falling asleep much quicker.

-end of part-