AN: Yeah, I know I said I'd get it up fast, but editing was more difficult than usual, because there's no dividers. It's all one scene. Anyway, enjoy.
Here, at the Other Side – Chapter 9
When the door to his room shot open, the first real smile that had grazed his face in six months lit up Axel's face at the sight of Roxas' worried expression. It didn't take long for Roxas to cross the distance from the door to the bed and jump on top of Axel. His ribs felt like they'd been hit by a truck, despite Roxas' light weight, but Axel didn't care, he had his Roxy again.
With Roxas on top of him, Axel didn't feel trapped, he felt free. The one person he trusted more than anyone was here. His angel was smiling down at him, encasing his magnificent wings around him in a protective shield. Roxas brought his lips down to Axel's, kissing him passionately, expressing all of the emotions they had felt over the last six months. As Axel deepened the kiss he felt Roxas' hand slide from his chest down his arms all the way to the restraints. Not breaking the kiss once, Roxas freed Axel's confined hand and as soon as it was released Axel reached up to Roxas face as he pulled away to breath. Axel gently ran his fingers across Roxas' jaw and up his face, caressing the soft skin he hadn't been able to touch in six months but had never forgotten the feeling of it against his own skin. As his hand made its way into Roxas' hair he continued their kiss, and Roxas freed his other hand. When both hands were free Axel felt that Roxas was too far away, even though he was still lying on top of him, so he wrapped his arm around Roxas' back and pulled his Roxas, his everything, closer to him.
"I love you." He whispered so only Roxas would hear.
"I love you too." Roxas whispered to Axel, and threaded his finger's through that red hair that he loved and missed so much. "I knew you were alive, I always knew it. I've missed you so much. It feels like I can breathe again, like the world started turning again and life can continue." He said before capturing Axel's lips again. He just couldn't get enough of his redhead. And Axel knew exactly what Roxas was talking about. It was the exact same feeling he'd had. When they finally ran out of air and ended their kiss, Roxas nuzzled his head into Axel's neck. Axel kept one arm around Roxas' back, gently rubbing circles, and one in his blond spikes. He never wanted to let him go.
"Well that's different." Saix said from the doorway.
"Dr. Saix, doesn't he have a broken rib?" Aerith, who had joined them when she heard the yelling, asked.
"Two, actually." Saix responded. At hearing Saix's response, Roxas tried to get off of Axel. He didn't want to cause him any more pain than he'd already been through, but Axel only held him tighter. He wouldn't let Roxas leave him. He just got him back. He couldn't let him go, he needed him near him.
"Axel." Roxas sighed, trying to move. He didn't want to leave Axel either, but causing him pain wasn't something he was willing to do. When Axel continued to hold him tighter, Roxas spoke to Saix. "Which side?"
"Left." He answered and Roxas rolled onto Axel's right side and cuddled his head back to its position. Once Roxas was in place Demyx moved forward and touched Axel with a single finger. When Axel didn't attack him he wrapped his arms around him and Roxas. He was overjoyed at having his friends back, and together. That was the way it was meant to be, Roxas and Axel, Axel and Roxas forever. You just couldn't have only one. They had to be together.
"I missed you sooooo much, Axel. Me and Zexy have been fucking like crazy because I missed you so much and needed lovins to comfort me." Demyx said, not caring that everyone in the room could hear him.
"Demyx!" Darla scolded as Axel, Roxas, Reno, and Rude laughed. Zexion held a hand up to his mouth to hide his own amusement at his boyfriend's confession, Ellen looked shocked, Saix and Aerith were a mixture of confusion and amusement, and Nora and Darla were failing miserably at holding back giggles. "D-demyx don't s-say," Darla put her head in her hands to let out a string of giggles before continuing, "Don't say things l-like in front of company." She lost control and stared laughing with the boys, soon followed b Nora. Ellen still looked shocked, but Saix and Aerith were now smiling.
"I think it may just be adults that can't touch him." Aerith spoke to Saix. "I'd test the theory but that could be dangerous."
"Well, before you touch him do what Demyx did. If he closes his eyes and starts shaking, get away. We'll leave the restraints off for now." Siax said before walking out. Aerith then turned to Nora.
"Hello Nora, you're Axel's mother, yes?" Nora nodded, "I'm Aerith, and I'm going to be Axel's therapist. Do you know if the cuts and burns on his arms are self inflicted?"
"Yes, most of them, but he stopped doing that by the time I met him." Nora answered and looked at her son. He was still cuddling himself closer to Roxas, if that were even possible. It was as if he were afraid that he would lose him if they didn't stay as close as possible. Both of them had their eyes closed and content smiles on their faces at finally being back in each other's arms. It was a beautiful moment she felt they should be allowed to experience alone. She really wanted to touch Axel but was too scared that she'd frighten him.
"When you met him? You haven't always known him?"
"His father stole him from me after he was born. I came here to find that his father and step mother had abused him, resulting in those awful marks on his arms. And six months ago his father went to jail and his step mother held him captive, using chains on his wrists, until yesterday."
"Oh my God! And they had restraints on him. Axel I'm so sorry. Poor thing. That sure explains a lot though. Is his not talking an old or new issue."
"That's new." Several voices spoke throughout the room.
"I'm going to try to get him talking again" Aerith said, "Is it alright for me to call you guys if I have question for you."
"Yeah, we'll leave our numbers for you." Ellen said.
"Thank you." Aerith said before walking out. Nora walked over to her son's bed, Reno and Rude trailing behind her.
"I've missed you so much sweetie. We looked for you, everyday. A couple of weeks ago Roxas suggested we talk to Rob. He was able to get Morgan to tell us where you were. We went there yesterday. Roxas, Rude and Reno saw where she kept you. I'm so sorry honey. I love you so much. I really tried hard to find you." Nora said with tears in her eyes and looking down. However, when she felt a cold hesitant hand on her own she looked up to see Axel shaking his head, silently telling her not to worry.
She took comfort in her son touching her, but she still wasn't ready to attempt touching him. "Bro, I hope you got a few punches on that bitch, yo!" Reno said leaning his much taller frame over his mother. "We certainly trashed her house looking for the right picture frame door."
"We really did make a mess." Rude said, and Roxas nodded.
"I think we broke every single frame and painting in that house." Roxas stated before placing a chaste kiss on Axel's lips.
"Oh my God! Axel, you're alive." Sora yelled, as he ran into the room with Jim and Riku, and almost hugged Axel, but was caught by Darla and Ellen. "What, I just want to hug him?"
"Roxas and Demyx are the only ones who've been able to touch him. I'd prefer it if you didn't try." Ellen said releasing Sora. "He also doesn't talk, but you can talk to him."
"O-okay, um…oh, guess what, Mom caught Demy and Zexy making babies while they were supposed to be making brownies. Sora gossiped and added in a softer tone, "They did it on the sink."
"Demyx! I told you, no sex in the kitchen. That means other people's houses too." Darla scolded.
"Sorry mom, I might not do it again." Demyx said with his head down and Zexion had to hold a hand in front of his mouth again to hide his smile.
"Might?" Darla asked.
"Well, yeah. I'd rather get grounded than miss out on kitchen sink sex." Demyx said cheerfully and it was becoming obvious that Zexion was having a hard time hiding his amusement. "It's gotta be in the top five for me and Zexy." Demyx reminisced. "Wasn't it Zexy." Zexion nodded before walking out of the room. But not before everyone heard him laugh. "Aww, Zexyyy, you got a pretty laugh, come back." Demyx said, and then it looked as if a light bulb went off in his head. "There's thirteen floors in this hospital, and elevators. I'll be back Axel!" Demyx finished before running out of the room yelling "Zexy, I gots an idea."
"You don't care that your son is having sex?!" Ellen asked Darla.
"I've known for a while that Demyx is sexually active. He told me after his first time. And when he told me about his and Zexion's first time I made them get blood tests. Both of them are clean, and it's not hurting anyone so, no, I don't' care, as long as they're responsible. Although, elevator sex isn't very responsible, I'll be back Axel." Darla left the room in a rush, attempting to keep her kids out of trouble.
Gods, Axel had missed this. He would've been the first one Demyx called after he and Zexion had their first time. But he'd missed it. He'd missed all of his friends, and now here they all are, minus Demyx and Zexion, to welcome him home.
"Well anyway, the brownies were good." Sora finished and Axel started laughing. It felt good to be home. "Maybe I can't make him talk but I got him to laugh." Sora moved closer to the bed and poked Axel, and then he let his finger linger on Axel's skin. When he still couldn't figure out what everyone meant about not touching him, Sora threw himself across Axel and Roxas. "We missed you so much!"
"Sora, he's got broken ribs." Roxas informed, while Nora and Ellen watched carefully, though it didn't seem like Axel minded. He was still smiling and holding onto Roxas for dear life.
Like he was scolded with a hot iron, Sora jumped off of Axel at Roxas' words. "Sorry Axel. Wanna know something else? Me and Riku almost got to our own baby making, but Mom walked in and Riku's been refusing me ever since."
"Sora." Riku sighed from his spot next to Jim by the door.
"But I don't really care anymore; Roxas said some stuff that made sense." Sora finished and wrapped his arms around Riku. "Him not talking is depressing. He always talks." He said to the room, and everyone became quiet.
Axel felt bad for not talking to them, but he wasn't ready. He knew Roxas and Demyx, probably Zexion even, would understand if he didn't want to talk about what happened but no one else would. He wasn't ready for that. He needed time. Hell, he couldn't even handle people touching him, adults in particular. He just felt like they were constricting him. Like they were trying to tie him up and take him away from his glorious angel again.
He assumed Demyx was able to touch him because he trusted Demxy as much as he trusted Roxsa. Sora, he felt, was able to touch him because he probably wouldn't even hurt a mosquito. Seriously, he yelled at Riku for killing on of those little fuckers. Riku, of course was trying to help Sora out by ridding him of that pest, but Sora went off on a rant about how they deserve to eat too. Axel really couldn't picture Sora chaining him up.
He couldn't really picture anyone in this room chaining him up, but not all of them had his complete trust. Axel took a look around the room. Rude and Reno were cuddling in a chair, Sora and Riku were speaking adamantly with Jim, and Mom and Ellen were speaking quietly ext to him. He'd forgiven Ellen while he was in that hell hole. She was just being an over protective mother after all. Roxas was placing small kisses along his neck, and Darla was off trying to stop Demyx and Zexion's sexcapades. Life was good again. At least until Morgan finds him. And he knew she would.
"Does anyone want to go to the cafeteria, give Axel and Roxas some alone time?" Darla asked from the doorway, holding a very disheveled Demyx and Zexion by the neck of their shirts. Zexion looked indifferent, while Demyx was grinning guiltily.
"That sounds good." Nora said, dragging a reluctant Ellen with her. Everyone else filed out of the room after them, leaving Roxas and Axel alone.
"Happy belated birthday, true."
AN: Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I missed the 'true'. So I had Axel say it again. Next chapter, which still isn't done will have Axel talking with Roxas.
This time I didn't lie XD. We got Darla's opinions. And hopefully a little comic relief, and Roxas and Axel will be getting some alone time.
I may be disappearing for a bit to write some more. And I'll definitely be updating less after August 24 but I'll do my best. At least I brought Axel back before I disappeared right? No? Oh well. I'm doing my best here, I have many stressful things to deal with in the coming weeks.
So I'll get chapter 10 up as soon as I can.
Thanks for all reviews, alerts, and favs.