A/N: So I haven't written to this story in quite some time, but reading it again, I actually really like the concept and found myself writing to it. I'm happy with how this chapter turned out actually. This story is kind of filled with a lot of angst, emotion, and mature concepts. There is also some Reno/Axel and later will probably be some Demyx/Zexion. I just wanted to let you know what you're getting into! I hope this chapter pleases you, and let me know if there are any blatant errors. I beta my own stuff by just re-reading it a couple times.
::-Coffee and Cigarettes-::
CHAPTER III
Black Coffee
"Ice-skating is tough..."
"Yeah, it blows. Why the fuck did I agree to this again...?"
Demyx appeared suddenly from behind and slammed into Axel, almost making him fall flat on his face, for the fourth time...
"Stop being such a sour puss! Have some fun, why don't you?!" As if running into the redhead wasn't enough, the dirty blond slapped him on the back, if only for good measure.
"I swear to Jesus Demyx, if you make me fall one more time I'm never speaking to you again."
The younger boy just smirked. "I had nothing to do with your former mishaps, mister sour puss."
Before Axel could retaliate, the boy glided away on the frozen water of the small arena, like he was trained and skilled for the sport. Roxas envied him. He had fallen twice already, once being brought down by the clumsy redhead, but he still counted it. Yet he still smiled as he turned to look at the lanky male, it was kind of funny the way he got upset with the ice as if that would make him any more coordinated with the sport.
"I fucking hate this...lets go..." Axel mumbled loud enough for the boy next to him to hear.
"But I'm just getting the hang of it...look, watch." Roxas carefully positioned his skates so that there was enough space between him and Axel that he wouldn't fall. He then skated, trying to look as eased as Demyx did but he knew he failed horribly at it. Contrary to his beliefs he was actually doing a lot better.
Axel didn't find it astonishing though, not even close. If only he was better at it, then maybe Axel would be impressed like he was with his piano skills. "Do you expect me to clap? Or run you over?"
Roxas giggled slightly and stayed his distance. "Neither? We can leave soon if you want. Or you can sit out and watch I don't have a problem with skating alone. I'm sure Demyx could teach me something."
Axel just huffed loudly and turned to look at the ice instead of Roxas. "Yeah whatever..." he mumbled, sounding upset.
The small blond just gave him a look. The kind of expression you give to a child who is pouting. It was getting so easy to be around Axel, which was strange seeing as how Roxas had only just met the older man.
"I'm going to just go sit out…I'm sick of this cold and ice and…that…" He pointed to Demyx who was doing some kind of flip and twirl.
Roxas of course thought it was amazing but apparently it was really bothering Axel. Maybe he was just jealous.
Whatever it was it caused Axel to remove himself from the ice rink and seat his bottom on the closets bench he could find. He angrily took off the skates that seemed as if they were glued to his feet in an impossible way. After throwing them on the floor he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cigarettes, lighting one instantly.
"Uhm…Axel…" Roxas spoke softly, sitting next to the man. "I don't think you can smoke in here…there are little kids."
The redhead glared at the children running around. "Then come outside with me."
Roxas looked down at his shoes sadly. "But I was gunna skate some more…"
This upset Axel because he knelt down and started to take off Roxas' skates against his will. "I said come outside with me."
"You're pushy! Get off!" Roxas kicked a little, shoving the taller man away with an icy skate.
"All of my harmful smoke will get in the air and into these little children's lungs if you don't come outside with me."
Blue eyes narrowed. Green sparkled.
Roxas sat up and kicked off the shoes, stomping his way towards the front door. Axel followed, happy to finally have the blond under his control.
The cigarette was waning and so was Roxas' anger. Even though Axel deserved to get the cold shoulder for saying the things he did, Roxas was too infatuated with the man to stay mad at him for long.
His shoulder brushed the right side of the other man's arm and Axel instantly pulled the blond so close to him that Roxas was basically breathing his scent.
Though Roxas didn't care how close he was to him, he actually wouldn't have minded being even closer. Even if it was freezing outside, he for some reason wished their clothes away.
Axel blew smoke into the afternoon air; it seemed like clouds of steam more or less. "Hey Rox?"
The boy in question lifted his head a bit, but was a little too constricted to do much else. "Yeah?"
"Where the hell'd you come from?"
He was confused by the sudden question of his origin. He wanted to just be smart and say something like, "well when my mom and dad had sex—" but it seemed like Axel was too serious for something like that. So he told the truth.
"I ran away from Twilight Town. I ran away from…from home…"
Axel stiffened and his cig dropped to the snowy ground. Roxas wasn't sure if he was finished with it and had tossed it himself or if it had just fallen out of his mouth, unnoticed.
Either way, Axel spoke a little loudly to him. "Twilight Town isn't a fucking hop, skip and jump away, Roxas."
"I know…I know, I was driving for a while…"
"They gunna come looking for you?"
Roxas shook his head, his nose brushing against the redhead's shirt. "Probably not…"
Axel contemplated this for a few moments, wondering if the blond really was speaking the truth. Though he figured it really didn't matter either way. It's not like his parents would really end up finding him. Not all the way out in Hallow Bastion.
He sighed heavily and ruffled the little boy's hair. "Such a rebel, huh?"
"Yeah right…" Roxas deadpanned, swatting the hand away.
They both re-entered the ice rink shortly after their talk and met up with Demyx again who had somehow found someone else to show his tricks to. The boy was hunched over slightly, looking very uncomfortable on the ice and well, just talking to Demyx probably had him really frazzled.
"Looks like Dem found Zexion. Great…" Axel spoke a little angrily, sitting back down on the bench, looking at his friend.
Roxas tilted his head a little. "Zexion? Who's that?"
Axel pointed. "The little emo-haired one. That's Zexion. He's an asshole and a prick, to me at least. He works here part time. Oh, and Demyx is totally fucking him."
A blush crept over Roxas' face as he turned to look back at the two men. Demyx was laughing and pushing Zexion on his skates, the slate haired one looking even more upset than he had a few minutes ago.
"Honestly, he's probably going to bring him back to my place…"
"They…they do it at your house…?" Roxas asked, shocked.
Axel shook his head and shrugged. "Beats me, maybe. Maybe not. Doesn't matter to me, I have like three extra rooms I don't even use."
"Why is your apartment so big when it's just you who lives there?" the blond asked softly.
Axel leered at him, grinning. "For all my bitches, of course."
The red-haired man laughed haughtily but Roxas just narrowed his eyes.
"Okay, okay don't give me that look, kitten. It was only a joke. Well, for the most part…"
Roxas' face hadn't changed but Axel's grin grew larger.
"Okay, when I first rented it out I figured I'd probably need the rooms for all the shit I was going to get from my new job. But I end up just spending my money on buying back the drugs I basically sell. I never really have much money just lying around."
This answer wasn't okay with Roxas but it blurred away his glare at least. Axel could see that the blond was still upset about something. Though he really didn't feel the need to ask and get into his mind, for some reason he wanted to. Before he could ask what was wrong, Demyx appeared in his peripheral vision.
"Axel! Look who I fou—"
The redhead waved him to stop. "I saw you two flirting from here. No need to tell me."
Zexion became furious and flushed immediately, Demyx slowly followed.
The dirty blond started stuttering, "We weren't…we—"
"We were not flirting; I'll have you know, Axel. You can go fuck yourself."
"Yeah sure," Axel said, picking at his nails, "You wanna watch, pretty boy?"
One eye narrowed, the other hidden by the mass of hair on Zexion's head. "You're obdurate as always."
"Hey, you're the one who suggested fucking in the first place," Axel said, holding his hands up in defense.
"At least I'm not the one toting around a twelve year old."
Roxas opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Axel. "Actually, he's sixteen."
"Like that makes any difference." Zexion glared at Roxas who just lowered his eyes away from the man. "If you know what's good for you, Axel, you'll put him back where you found him."
Axel turned serious. "He's not your concern, Zexion."
"I'm just voicing my opinion. Which should be considered carefully," the shorted male told him.
Roxas sighed heavily which in turn had everyone looking his way. He became flustered. "I-I…just don't like it when people talk about me like I'm not even there…"
The redhead blew some air out through his nose and stood up. "Let's just get out of here."
"Yeah sure, that's fine with me. Can we all go get some ice cream or something?" Demyx asked, walking closely to Zexion who in turn, tried to keep his distance, seeing as how Axel was eyeing the both of them. He really hated the redhead sometimes, implying things without his consent. Who was he to say that he and Demyx were flirting anyways?
Axel frowned at Demyx's request. "Yeah fucking right, Dem. It's colder than Alaska out there. I'm not getting ice cream; I'm going home and making coffee."
"That's all you drink, you're gunna get depressed."
"Coffee doesn't cause depression, Demyx," Axel voiced.
"Sure does! Tell him, Zex!"
Zexion sighed. "My name is Zexion, Demyx. I would appreciate it if you called me by my real name."
The mullet-head lowered his eyes and nodded a little. He didn't understand what had changed Zexion so quickly. Usually when he called him a nickname or something, Zexion would just blush cutely. Maybe because Axel had suggested what he did. But Axel was almost always that way…Why did it make such a difference now?
Soon enough, they were all back at Axel's apartment. Demyx had begged Zexion to get ice cream and in the end the smarter one just gave in, realizing that it was easier to get the treats than to actually argue with Demyx.
So Demyx and Zexion sat on the couch, the blond eating vanilla ice cream out of a cone while the other silently read out of a book that he had picked up from Axel's shelf.
Roxas was at the counter, watching as Axel made a ridiculous amount of coffee for himself. He kind of figured that the redhead would offer him some as well though.
"Just because it's cold out doesn't mean that ice cream loses its flavor. This is super good, guys."
Zexion pushed up some reading glasses that had fallen slightly down past the bridge of his nose. He flipped a page, eyeing Demyx slightly but saying nothing. The mulleted boy was such a child, but for some god forsaken reason, Zexion enjoyed his company. If only just a little.
While grabbing a large mug, Axel asked, "Roxas? You're having coffee, right?"
The boy sighed and rubbed his eyes. "You're going to keep me up all night if you give me that…"
Axel looked confused. "Oh, that's right. You're a shrimp. Caffeine actually affects you."
"Size doesn't matter!" he fumed, "It's the fact that it's coffee!"
Axel shrugged and petted the cat that had found its way onto the counter again. "Yeah, well…"
A phone rang and everyone suddenly checked their pockets, besides for Roxas who had never even owned a phone before.
Zexion was the one who spoke, putting his book down so he wouldn't get distracted. "I just got off of work, yes…"
Axel and Demyx looked away, both seeming a bit too familiar with the phone call. Roxas listened intently though.
"No, that'd be Axel's job, not mine," he continued.
The redhead poked his head through the little alcove that the kitchen created. "That Saix?"
Zexion nodded. "He's here with me. Why didn't you just call him?"
"Ugh, I swear if he wants more "errands" done for him, I'm so fucking over it. It's not my job to be his lap dog. That's for Xigbar and Xaldin to take care of…" Axel plopped himself down next to the blond, shoving a mug his way even though he clearly didn't want it.
Roxas slowly sipped the cup anyways but quickly regretted it. It was just black. Very black coffee. He put the cup back onto the counter and decided on petting Macchiato. He suddenly felt the urge to sneeze again.
Behind him, the short bookworm was getting aggravated. "I'm in no position to transfer! My job specifically orders me to do one thing, and one thing only. And that is what I am capable of. Please call Axel!"
"Saix is such a fucking asshole sometimes. I usually don't feel bad for Zexion," Axel said between sips.
Roxas piped up finally, "Can I ask what's going on…?"
The redhead looked at him incredulously then smiled. "Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you," he pointed to Demyx and the man on the phone, "these two are also in the organization."
Blue eyes went wide and Roxas almost dropped his mug. "B-both of them…? In the drug thingy…?"
Laughing boisterously, Axel put an arm around Roxas' shoulder, frightening Macchiato into sprinting off the counter. "It's an underground organization for illegal substances, Rox. Not a drug thingy." He laughed some more, drinking from his mug like a mad man.
Roxas felt uncomfortable but a little…relieved at the same time. Surely this drug dealing thing couldn't be so terrible, right? If someone like Demyx was in cahoots with them.
"Here, I'll ease the pain of figuring more shit out by yourself, ya see," he chugged his cup a little and continued, gasping for breath, "Zexion is our researcher, he's not really a drug dealer, per se. He figures shit out, finds out ways to make the drugs, uhh…finds other people who sell so that we can negotiate if need be. He's the brains of the situation, mostly."
The blond nodded a bit, the pressure of Axel's arm suddenly getting to him.
"Then there's me, who as you know, sell's everything and anything that'll get you the tiniest bit fucked up. You want it, I got it. But for a price."
Roxas suddenly realized that all those drugs were most likely hidden in this house somewhere. It made a sinking feeling enter his gut, as if he was already in trouble.
Axel continued, finally poking a thumb towards Demyx who had just gotten up to throw away his ice cream wrapper. "Then we have this lug. Who's…well, his job isn't really important."
"Hey!" Demyx shouted, now standing within good hearing distance of the two who were talking. "My job is well appreciated."
"Dude, almost everyone calls you the joker. Xenmas just hired you to keep everything from getting too serious."
The boy in platforms just pouted when Roxas asked, "What exactly is his job?"
"He's what you would call…entertainment…" Axel eyed the smaller boy then the one who was standing, giving him a gleaming look.
Blinking, Roxas asked, "Entertainment…?"
"I tell jokes and stuff!" Demyx interrupted, "And juggle! I'm good at juggling!"
"Dem, you ruined it…" Axel frowned, placing a palm to his forehead.
Blue eyes turned to both the men. "I'm so confused…"
"He's the freaking janitor — that's it. I was just joking around with everything else," Axel finally admitted.
"I do tell jokes sometimes though…and I juggled for Xigbar once."
"Yeah well, Xigbar likes your balls," Axel reminded him.
The dirty blond looked offended but his attention turned to Zexion who suddenly threw down his phone onto the couch. "My god!" he exclaimed, standing up just to pace, "That man seriously has it out for me, I swear. Every time I take a day off or forget one small thing, it's as if the world has come crashing down on him!"
Everyone looked confused, almost as much as Roxas.
"Dude, what'd he want?" Axel asked.
Zexion was fuming. "Do not call me dude, Axel!"
Axel stuck a pinky in his ear, twisting it around a little. "Calm the fuck down, you're making my ears bleed."
"Zexion…what did Saix say to you?" Demyx tried next, approaching the other boy with caution.
Slate colored eyes hit the hippie with force and Demyx almost backed away. "He wanted me, ME, to do a larceny. Is he MAD? That isn't even in my field!"
Axel cracked up laughing but Demyx tried to comfort his friend.
"Oh shut up, Axel," Zexion spat, sitting back down. Demyx sat too but didn't attempt to touch the boy. When he was upset, the slightest things usually set him off and he didn't want to be the one to make it worse.
Dying of laughter, Axel wiped a tear from his eye then leaned his elbows on the counter behind him. "Just picturing you doing what I do, it's hilarious."
"I'm sure it's all hoots and giggles with you, but we aren't even talking about your life, are we?"
"Oh, I'm sorry granny, let's chat about you, darling!" Axel waved his hand in the air up and down, causing Zexion to practically shoot laser beams out of his eyes sockets.
"Don't mind Axel, Zex! He's just jealous 'cause your job is super easy," Demyx said, sticking his tongue out at Axel who in turn gave him the finger.
Zexion was about to correct Demyx on his name again but was cut off when Roxas spoke to all of them.
"What's a larceny…?"
All three sets of eyes were set on the boy who suddenly felt really nervous and angry. Why were they all staring at him like he was crazy? It wasn't like he had asked what the color of the freaking sky was!
"God, Axel, you've picked a keeper. The boy doesn't even know proper nouns," Zexion mentioned.
Roxas blanched a little but Axel spoke quickly. "Give the kid a break. He's never even smoked weed before. Of course he doesn't know what a larceny is."
The blond had no idea what doing drugs and knowing vocabulary had to do with one another but he didn't voice anything else. He was afraid that Zexion would shoot him down again. He was starting to think that the…emo boy really didn't care for him much.
Axel began drinking out of Roxas' mug when he said, "It's…well, it's kind of like cops and robbers."
"Yes, it indeed involves such things. Which is why I will not involve myself in such idiocy." Zexion flipped his book open and readjusted his glasses.
The small boy next to the redhead still looked confused, so Axel explained a little more. "I just…well, I steal drugs or cash because we're short on funds sometimes. Usually a good idea to bring a gun. Police have been involved before, but obviously have never caught a single one of us."
All this talk of drugs and guns was starting to get to the boy. He had just come from his life of starting high school, which was pretty pure. Besides for his parent's violent fighting all the time, he'd never really seen much of the world. Everything was so new…and such a shock to him. He could hardly comprehend any of it.
Instead of asking more questions like he would have if he was alone with Axel, he just stayed quiet.
Except for the loud sneeze that erupted from his face region.
"Gesundheit," Axel mouthed, handing Roxas a box of tissues.
"Is there more of that medicine anywhere…?" Roxas asked, holding a tissue to his nose.
Axel got up and handed him the drug from the other side of the counter. "Just take like…seven. That should do it."
"You're going to cause his liver to fail, Axel," Zexion noted, flipping a page while keeping an eye on Demyx who was petting Axel's cat.
"Naw, he'll probably just trip."
"You're stupidity astounds me."
Axel shrugged. "You're the one working for a bunch of idiots."
"You know that most of them aren't even addicted to any drugs, or even so much as use them?" Zexion said, slightly putting his book down, glaring from behind his glasses. "The only real idiot here is you, Axel. Because I can make a list of things you're addicted to."
"Oh yeah? Like what?" Axel baited him on.
Zexion angrily closed the book for a second time, putting it on his lap. He began counting off things on his fingers, "Coffee, cigarettes, sleeping, small children, marijuana, assorted pills, LSD, Heroi—"
Axel threw his mug at Zexion's face.
It broke his glasses right in half.
"I am not addicted to—"
"Is that why you threw the damn cup at my face?! To just turn around and tell me off? Oh Axel, you are a fucking card."
The redhead was quiet, his eyes trained on the floor, his fingers twitching. When he spoke everyone was silent. "Just shut up, alright? I don't need to hear that shit from you."
"What? Afraid your underage friend will find out? I know things that you wouldn't think I'd know, Axel. Like what drugs you buy back from us. I'm the brains of this charade anyway."
"Zexion…" Demyx put a hand on the boy's shoulder.
He instantly shook it off, glaring at him. "I think I've had enough of incompetents for the rest of the day. If you'd all excuse me, I'm going to find something better to do with my life. Have a pleasant afternoon." Zexion had left and Demyx bolted right after him, quickly giving Axel an apologetic stare.
Roxas looked slowly to Axel who was twitching even more than a few seconds before. He was scared…scared for Axel. What was even going on…?
"Roxas…"
Said boy nodded. "Yes?"
"You should probably…just, go into my room. Just stay there for a couple hours, either that or leave…" He sounded the most serious Roxas had ever heard him.
The little blond's heart sped up to unnatural speeds. "But, why? Did Zexion really upset you that much? He's pretty mean, just ignore him. You're not really addicted to all that stuff," he said, trying his hardest to convince the redhead it was okay for him to stay.
Axel's head shook almost lifelessly. "Naw, he…he was pretty damn right." He laughed a little to cover up his embarrassment. "These aren't freckles, Rox." Axel showed the boy his arm, pulling up his sleeve.
He…wasn't even kidding. There were holes in his arms that Roxas had never even noticed before but were painfully obvious now. Some were a little redder than others but they were defiantly there.
"You…use drugs…sometimes?"
Axel turned from him and grabbed a cigarette, lighting it inside even though he hated doing that. "Unless you really wanna be here when I'm fucked up, I suggest you vacate the premises, alright?"
"But I—Axel…"
"In other words," Axel leaned down to the boy's level, blowing smoke in his face, "Get the fuck out or watch as I shoot up. Your choice."
"Y-you…you don't need it. Let's just watch a movie. Or go for a walk or something, okay?"
Roxas smiled. Axel did not.
"I'm not gunna say this again, alright?"
"Why were you fine before Zexion said what he did and now you need drugs? This doesn't make sense! You're really going to just prove him right after what he just said?" Roxas shouted slightly, standing still.
Axel laughed throatily. "Well it's not like I'm hiding it anymore. Everyone knows. Why the hell should…why should I care…?" Axel did care. But it didn't matter. He wasn't about to just fight this urge to use. He never did before. Never had to. There wasn't any difference now.
No difference at all, he thought as he stared into the eyes of the boy.
"Axel—"
"Axel!" Reno came busting through the door, almost tripping over his own feet and falling face first into the kitchen counter.
Both inhabitants looked towards the one who had entered so politely. Reno didn't care though. He'd done that many times before, there wasn't any difference now.
He glared at the blond and then at Axel. "I'm so sick of this fucking bullshit."
"Get out of my house, Reno," Axel said, hanging onto his throbbing head. He was definitely sweating. The only thing he had in mind was how good it was going to feel to sink that needle into his skin.
"You're having withdrawals, you fucking idiot. When's the last time you used?" Reno suddenly looked very concerned, running over to the other redhead, cradling him in his arms.
Roxas felt like a mime. As if no one could hear him but he was making all these movements to try…
"Get off of me…"Axel said, slightly pushing the man.
Reno didn't budge. "I asked you a question, you idiot."
"Don't…call him that," Roxas said, glaring right back at Reno.
"You shouldn't even fucking be here, you little homewrecker!"
Homewrecker…? He…he wasn't…
Reno took no time to even look more at the boy as he helped his boyfriend down the stairs and towards the piano.
Roxas slowly followed the two, sensing such horrible feelings of jealousy and compassion and hate deep inside his small body.
The slightly shorter redhead opened up the piano and released a compartment. He pulled out a box then brought it to Axel whom he had set down in a chair not too far away.
"You're basically doing heroin now, aren't you?" Reno asked, smiling while wrapping the large rubber band around Axel's upper arm tightly.
Axel rolled his eyes. "Give me the fucking syringe."
"Wait!" Roxas shouted. He ran down the stairs but Reno was on him too quickly.
"Just watch, kid. Axel will feel much better soon," sly lips whispered into his left ear.
Roxas could do nothing. Reno's hands were around his arms, forcing him to face towards Axel but have no control over what happened.
He had to watch as his redhead stuck the sharp needle into his soft skin. He stared in shock as his body started to accelerate in breathing and his pupils became as tiny as pin heads.
Roxas was screaming but he was silent because he was nothing more than a mime. Axel smiled — he looked amused enough.
Reno didn't let him go until after Axel was finished with his syringe. Once that cylinder hit the floor he released the screaming boy. How annoying he was. Why Axel had to pick up a child off the streets was beyond Reno's comprehension.
The blond grabbed onto Axel's shoulder and shook him. "Axel? Hey! What the hell is wrong with hi—"
"It's called the rush, kid. He can't hear a fucking word you're saying."
Roxas began to cry. He didn't know why and he could have cared less. He was worried, dammit! And Axel had done nothing but…but sat there and…and…
"Roxy…" Axel said, reaching out for the boy's face.
"Why…Why Axel?"
"Fuckin'…shit…"
"You should probably move. He might puk—"
Axel leaned over and threw up on the floor.
Roxas' eyes were nothing but wide.
"Goddamnit, I'm going to have to clean that up too, he's gunna be out for at least another four hours," Reno sighed, running his fingers over the goggles on his forehead.
Roxas' furious eyes burned in the direction of Reno. "Asshole!" He growled, standing up and storming his way to the other. "He's—he just threw up and you're annoyed because you have to clean it up?!" He pushed on the man's chest with both his hands. "You could care less about Axel! You're an insensitive jerk!"
The redhead raised an eyebrow, his mouth hanging open. "You're a real fucking spit fire. Listen to me, kid." Reno grabbed onto Roxas' hair, pulling it towards his face until Roxas was crying and could smell his breath. "This is what Axel does. The only reason you didn't see him do it yet was probably because he was too embarrassed shoot up around you. I'm totally sick of your little innocent brigade, alright? So get out before I report you missing to the police."
He tossed the blond to the floor and walked away from both of them, heading to a room that Roxas had never been in.
The blond rubbed his head. It hurt — a lot. Reno wasn't joking around.
But what did that mean for him…? Did he really have to get out like he said? What would happen if he stayed? He didn't want to go…he needed to stay with Axel to make sure he was okay. He couldn't go back to his parents' house now. Probably not ever. He…couldn't…
He shook his head and rid himself of any tears. Standing up, he wobbled over to Axel who was still sitting in the chair, staring at the ceiling as if it was the most gorgeous thing he'd seen in his life.
Roxas began shaking his shoulder again; the smell of bile was infiltrating his nose and making him want to puke as well. "Axel…" he tried, pleading with the man.
"I don't know…what you want from me…" Axel spoke, lolling his head back and forth like a rag doll.
"Can you walk, Axel? I'd like to take you somewhere else…" He wanted away from the smell and from Reno. He just wanted to escape to Axel's room and…and try to help.
"Baby, you're not even trying." Green eyes sparkled and he laughed loudly.
Roxas couldn't make sense of what he was saying. He'd never ever been around anyone who was high before. Never. He had no idea what to expect.
"Oh my god, let's…fucking just…let's fuck, alright?" Axel grinned and stood up, almost falling into his own throw up.
The boy caught him at the last second and let him lean his large body on him. "A-Axel…just walk this way, okay?"
"Yeahhhwwhatever, babyyy," he was slurring and spitting, laughing his head off at nothing.
Roxas had the hardest time in the world getting Axel up those stairs. When he did he noticed Reno at the bottom, clapping and holding a syringe of his own in his hands. "Hey, kid?" he shouted up to Roxas who was still helping the other man walk. "How about you hand him over to me now? He likes to fuck when he's high."
His heart was beating too fast but probably not as fast as Axel's. Roxas was scared and he felt so stuck.
Reno quickly injected his own dose of heroin then climbed the stairs; he stopped halfway and started cackling. "Axel, baby!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Reno…Reno's here?" Axel looked to Roxas who was clenching his teeth and thinking of ways out of the shit he was in. More like the shit Axel was in…
He figured…since Reno was high now, that he could probably take him down somehow. But…he had Axel to worry about. He couldn't leave him alone. He wouldn't feel comfortable with that. So there wasn't really any other options besides…totally leaving the apartment.
But that wasn't an option.
"Hey…Hey Roxy…can you get me a...sss…"
"Get you a what, Axel?" he asked, holding him up and still walking towards the bedroom which he just planned on locking Reno out of.
"I want…" He held his finger up and made it do a dance. He started laughing and Roxas just rolled his tired eyes. The boy should have had more of that coffee…even if it was black.
Roxas realized that Reno had finally ascended all the stairs but he had already placed Axel on the bed.
Of course, the little blond locked the door behind him quickly. And…that was it.
Reno wasn't going to get in the room with him and Axel.
But he wasn't going to take that very well.
"The…hell, is going on! The door won't ff—fucking open!"
Roxas bit his lip and was almost thankful that Reno was high. Or else he'd probably find a way to open it quickly.
"Axeeelllll…" Reno drawled, banging himself against the door.
Thump, thump, thump, thump. Roxas heart was a little faster than Reno's slamming but it was almost as loud.
"Where's Reno…?" Axel asked, covering his eyes from the light.
Roxas turned to him and smiled. "He's just…he's not gunna come over today, is that okay?" Lying just seemed like the best approach, even though Roxas sucked at it.
Axel pouted but stood up. "I need…sss…toothpaste, my mouth taste like asshole…" he grumbled, walking towards the bathroom that was connected to his room. Roxas let him walk into it alone, watching carefully as the redhead stumbled and knocked over a hairdryer. It made him laugh though so I guess it wasn't too bad.
He ended up just squirting half the bottle into his mouth then throwing up again into the sink. Roxas decided to help him then by placing the toothpaste on the toothbrush and bringing it to his mouth. Axel actually got it from there and did a pretty good job afterwards. Up until he stuck his head under the water from the sink and claimed that he was a whale.
The thumping persisted but slowly died down after about twenty or so minutes. After that, all Roxas could hear was Reno quietly talking to himself, saying things like, "the birds don't fly because of the wind, it's life that makes them soar" or something weird like that…
He felt like HE was the one on drugs with everyone around him acting so strangely. He decided to let Axel shower by himself as well, but he kept the door open slightly to make sure that nothing happened. He wasn't looking, just…listening.
It was a wonder how Axel hadn't died yet from taking this drug. It didn't make any sense.
When Axel came out of the bathroom, he had the towel around his bottom half…but just barely.
Roxas' face flushed when the older man began approaching him. "J-just, I'll get you some clothes, okay?" he smiled and turned around, looking through the drawers of Axel's dresser.
But Axel didn't want to be clothed, he was sure.
Instead he buried his face in Roxas' neck, wrapping his arms around the boy and holding him closely to his chest.
"You smell like coffee, Rox…fuuuuck…"
"A-Axel…? You need to-to get dressed, okay?"
"I need to fuck you, how about that?"
Roxas swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat and coughed. His mouth was dry and his mind was foggy.
"N-no, Axel, that can wait…" Roxas didn't…he didn't want their first time to be because Axel was high. He'd never even had sex before. He wasn't about to just give up his virginity because…
Okay so the other night was an exception but this was different!
Axel's hands apparently didn't hear Roxas because one of them cupped in-between his pants.
The blond gasped for air and Axel grinned. "You're so fuckin' sexy…"
"Axel, please…s-stop…" Roxas was feeling that sex drive again. He hated that stupid thing. Somehow Axel could just magically do it too. It wasn't fair.
"You're the one makin' all the noises, sweetheart…" he whispered, biting the boy's ear a little too roughly. He began rubbing his hand up and down across the blond's pants, feeling it harden beneath them. "Let's take these off…"
Skilled fingers undid Roxas' button and zipper then slipped down his pants without so much as a word from the boy. He was shocked at how Axel was stumbling all over the place but could do something like that no sweat.
In an instant Axel flipped the boy around and began kissing him fervently. Roxas could hardly see. Everything was a blur.
When he pushed further, things on the dresser fell and hit the floor, causing Reno to start yelling again.
"Axel! Hey, open the fucking door, Axel!"
It seemed that was all Reno ever said…
Axel's eyes shot towards the door and he stopped touching Roxas.
"Reno's here...when the fuck did he get here?"
"N-not too long ago…" Roxas said, feeling how wobbly his legs had just become.
The blond reached down and pulled his pants back up, starting to button them with fumbling hands. Without even knowing it, Axel had opened the door and let Reno in. It was then that the two started kissing, which soon turned into violent groping.
Reno was on top of Axel, shoving a hand down past the wet towel and licking almost every inch of him.
Jealously.
Axel screamed and writhed in pleasure on the bed, pulling Reno's hair.
More jealously.
Reno removed Axel's towel and began slipping his fingers into the taller one.
He couldn't take it anymore.
"STOP!"
They both looked towards the boy who yelled, eyes narrowed.
"Who the hell is he?" Reno asked.
"That…it's Roxas…Roxy…" Axel smiled and then cringed when the other began scissoring his fingers inside of him.
"Get him out of here…" Reno growled while biting Axel's thick neck.
Axel groaned and tried pushing the man off of him. "Roxas…" He reached a hand out to the boy who was stiff, shaking, and inwardly crying his head off.
The blond wouldn't be able to take much more of it. He wasn't going to just stand there and watch his new love interest and the only person that seemed to even give a damn about him just get fucked by some other guy.
But what could he even do…?
Apparently Reno didn't care if Roxas was standing there or not because he spit in his hand and started rubbing it onto his dick.
But that was it.
Roxas wasn't standing there any longer.
He whipped himself forward and slammed into Reno's side, knocking the man over and causing him to end up on the floor. Roxas breathed heavily as he looked into the eyes of a very…very upset man named Reno.
"You little FUCKER!" he jumped onto the boy, punched his chin and started pulling out his hair.
Roxas was screaming again, trying to kick the man who had the hold on him.
"I really hate when you bring in strays, Axel, it always ends up badly," Reno said as he slid his hand up the boy's shirt.
Axel reached a hand out to stop him but Reno brushed him away, yelling, "Do you NOT FUCKING UNDERSTAND?!"
He started pinching Roxas' nipples, while the smaller male tried his best to not have Reno's arm choke him to death.
"I'm going to fuck this kid so that he'll leave you alone, Axel. Then we can be together."
He's fucking insane…oh my god…Roxas thought, eyes wide and bulging.
The blond kicked the man on top of him roughly, sending him backwards if only a little. He took that opportunity to bolt up and run for the door.
He heard Reno's boisterous laughter from the living room where he was frantically trying to calm down and collect his breath. Rocking back and forth in the fetal position, Roxas saw Reno towering above him; his eyes reminded him of something evil.
"You see, Roxas?" the man spoke, circling the boy, "This is what you get for staying around Axel. He's a bunch of trouble and hard to deal with almost all the time. It'd be better if you just left. Go back home to your parents." He was knelt down next to the blond by then, touching his face with one very cold hand.
Sea blue eyes were sparkling with tears and pain. "I can't…leave Axel…"
Reno laughed, "Of course you can! Just walk through that door." He pointed to the exit and grinned. "Unless you'd rather have me inside of you…" Feral eyes gleamed and Roxas wanted to throw up.
"I'd rather die," he spat, backing his head away from the approaching male.
Reno became wild with rage. "But you'd be fine with Axel doing it? Listen, BOY!" He grabbed onto the collar of Roxas' shirt, bringing him forward once again. "That man in there is mine. HE'S MINE!" He slapped Roxas on the cheek, shaking him roughly, "Touch him again and there will be fucking hell to pay."
There was blood in his mouth. Roxas bit his bottom lip terribly hard and tried to face away from the man.
The redhead sighed and tossed the boy backwards. "What a fucking waste of my time. Get the hell out of this house." He had gotten up after the last word exited his mouth and began retreating back into the bedroom.
"R-Reno! Stop!" Roxas cried, arms flailing as his tried to stand back up.
He was too late though, because the last thing he saw was Reno's silver-blue eyes and then the door was slammed and locked.
Roxas was left to stare at the door and he covered his ears when he started hearing the noises. The bed squeaking. Reno panting. Axel screaming…so loudly it pierced the air and the boy's heart as well.
Before long, Roxas had stood up and left the apartment.
He shivered in the cold; the snow was falling even harder than it had earlier that day. He stared up at the sky and he regretted not leaving when Axel had told him to. He wouldn't have had to see any of that. His face wouldn't be swelling from the abuse he had taken from Reno.
Ignorance would have been very bliss, he thought as he crossed a snowy walkway, heading towards a few shops that he had seen from about half a mile back.
He was glad when he entered a coffee shop, but also very…depressed. The smell made him only think of Axel. And that almost had tears watering down his red cheeks.
Sitting down in a booth, Roxas caved in on himself and was glad to finally be warm. The sky had gotten dark; the snow looked like puffs of white that the sky was crying out.
"What can I get you?" asked a waitress from his side.
Roxas didn't look at her, but spoke lifelessly. "Black coffee, please."
