AN: An update! Yes. It's been what now, three, four months. I'm terribly sorry. I've been working on this story I swear, I just had a serious case of writers block, and I started writing a new story, which I've been told is my best yet, called "Details". So yeah, that one has taken over cuz it's just begging to be written. But I have not given up on this story. I just had some trouble with this chapter. However now that its written I can get back to my plot and hopefully update some more.
Okay, so, to save you some trouble, I'm going to recap to the best of my abilities without actually having reread the chapters.
Recap: Once upon a time Ellen caught Roxas and Axel having… 'fun' …twice. So Axel was kicked out of the house and that b*tch Morgan had her boyfriend kidnap Axel while she stole Axels awesome, and very pretty, car. They kept him locked in a basement where the neglected him. Roxas, Rude, Reno, and Nora searched for Axel constantly, and finally, when they went to go see Rob in jail, they found out where Axel was. So, with great haste, Roxas, Rude, Reno, Nora, and Ellen, left Destiny Islands to go find Axel. Meanwhile, Axel's plan of escape was a success and he jumped in his car and headed back to DI to see the love of his life, the reason he leaves, the force behind each breathe he takes, Roxas.
When Ellen, Nora, and the teens arrived at the summer home, where they were told Axel was being held, they proceeded to break and enter, then trash the house, and were unsuccessful in finding their missing red head. Before they could escape the confines of the mansion, Morgan, the B herself, walked in on them. Nora gave her a beating but Ellen convinced her it was best to leave and try to avoid being put in jail. So they made their escape while Morgan was screaming bloody murder at Axel's absence.
To avoid having Morgan find him quickly, Axel left his car on the outskirts of town, and decided to walk to his mother's (nora) home. Unfortunatly, he passed out, exhausted from his imprisonment, before he could reach his destination. Roxas is depressed because he feels that the summer home was their last chance in finding Axel, so Demyx offers to make him brownies, but he and Zexion manage to make babies while doing that, and of course, Ellen walked in on them. While eating the brownies, the phone rings.
As it turns out, the mysterious caller is Darla (Demyx's mom, who is a nurse) telling the family that Axel is alive and in the hospital. So everyone jumps in their cars and heads out to go see Axel. When they arrive there they find out they can't touch Axel, and he won't talk. However Roxas ignores this and rips past the Dr through the door and pounces on his long lost love. Axel does not react as he has for everyone else, he embraces the feeling of Roxas on top of him (despite the pain in his ribs). After everyone has said their greeting to Axel, gotten him caught up and the last six month's events, and a small an unsuccessful trip to the elevator for Demyx and Zexion, the group decides to go eat dinner in the cafeteria and give Axel and Roxas some alone time.
I think that's the best I can do since I didn't reread the chaps, but its better than nothing right?
Oh well, you've waited long enough, go, read, have fun, hope you like it.
WAIT!
Disclaimer: Don't own KH, or any Elton John songs
Okay, go read.
Here at the Other Side – Chapter 10
"Happy belated birthday, true." Axel smirked at his blue eyed blond. Roxas couldn't even explain how much he'd missed that word, those eyes, that smirk, Axel. He was in pure ecstasy at having his redhead back. He could finally breathe again. His heart felt like the whole that had previously occupied it had been filled in. He was complete again.
"Axel." He murmured and shook his head before placing another chaste kiss on Axel's lips. He had just escaped from a prison, where he was tortured for months, and he was concerned about missing Roxas' birthday. "Thank you, Axel. It really is happy, now that you're with me. Does this mean you'll talk to me?" Roxas asked gently.
"I will always talk to you. I just don't want to talk about what happened to me, at least for now. But you'll be the first to know when I'm ready." Axel ran his fingers through Roxas' hair a few times before continuing. "I know I can talk to you because you won't push me to tell you what happened."
"No, you can tell me when you're ready. I'm just happy you're back. God, Axel, I missed you so much." Roxas held himself closer to Axel. "I'm never going to let you go."
"That's gonna be difficult, true. Visiting hours end at eight."
"Then they'll have to drag me out kicking and screaming."
Axel let a laugh escape his lips before grabbing Roxas' face and pulling him in for a deep kiss. His tongue explored Roxas' mouth, reacquainting itself with that warm moist area that made him feel like he was on top of the world. Oh, how he'd missed this. Here in Roxas' arms he was almost home. He pulled away from Roxas before saying, "Roxy, look at me please." Roxas opened his previously closed eyes and curiously looked into Axel's.
"Anything for you."
Smiling, Axel placed his hand on Roxas' face and traced small circles on his cheek with his thumb. "Such blue eyes, such deep blue eyes, like a deep blue sea on a blue, blue day. I'm home now, in your eyes I'm finally home again." Axel pulled Roxas into his chest and fisted a hand in his lover's hair. He was finally home. He never wanted to be separated from this gorgeous blond again. He needed him to always be by his side. They had to be together forever, because Axel knew he couldn't live without Roxas. He needed Roxas more than he needed the air he breathed. And this was not an exaggeration, if Roxas didn't love him anymore, he'd have no reason to live. Roxas was his reason, his everything, his only.
Without realizing it, Axel eyes had started to leak tears for the third time in twelve years. He buried his face into the side of Roxas' face, and Roxas, in return, nuzzled his cheek against Axel's, mixing their newly fallen tears together. Sometimes words are unimportant. Sometimes emotions are so powerful that words are rendered unnecessary. Sometimes emotions are louder than words and say more than anyone could possibly attempt. This was one of those moments.
Neither Axel nor Roxas needed to speak, the contact was enough. They could feel what the other felt, see what the other saw, hear what the other thought without words being spoken. In this moment, they were one. They held each other close for seconds, minutes, hours, they didn't know, nor did they care. They were together, what else could possibly matter.
Then Axel decided it was time. He didn't feel obligated, he just felt like nothing could touch him with Roxas so close. He felt comfortable, safe, and loved for the first time in months, and it was time for him to get it out. He couldn't hold it in forever. "Mom, um Morgan," He couldn't help it, she'd been 'mom' to him for most of his life, slips happened. "Had her boyfriend capture me the night your mom kicked me out."
"Axel, you don't have too…"
"Shh, I wanna tell you. I woke up in the basement of our summer home, and yeah, I knew where I was. I know all the secrets of that house; I've spent so many summers there. This was by far the worst visit. Morgan knows very well that I know everything about that house. I've found every one of the thirteen secret passages built into it, I could find my way through the house in pitch black, I had nothing to do there but explore, and I took full advantage of that.
"Since Mom," Axel sighed, "Morgan knows how familiar I am with the house she chained me up while I was still out of it. She always kept me chained, except on the rare occasion that she remembered to feed me, then she would release one hand. While I was passed out from exhaustion she would chain that hand again. That was the only time they could do it, you know. When I had a free hand I was able to attack them, so to keep that from happening they waited for me to pass out. And water, ugh, I didn't get much. And there was this constant dripping from one of the ceiling tiles that drove me insane. Well, more insane than I already am." While Axel continued his story, Roxas began leaving sympathetic kisses on his chest. How could someone do this to their own child? Sure Axel wasn't biologically Morgan's butt she raised him, and she could still do this to him.
"Morgan's boyfriend, Mr. Clemons, loved to come home and beat the shit out of me while I was immobile. I don't know why I seem to make a good punching bag, but apparently I'm a good one. Maybe that's the only thing I'm good at. Maybe it's all I'm meant to do. Maybe it's all I'm good for."
"That's not true, Axel. You are good for so much more. I don't know where I'd be without you. It's like I was lost and now that you're back, I'm found. Axel you are not a punching bag, anyone who thinks that is blind. You are the most amazing person in the world; don't let anyone tell you anything different."
"I love you Roxy." Axel whispered before deeply kissing Roxas, tongues dancing a familiar dance together. After a moment of silence, where Roxas rested his head on Axel's slowly rising and falling chest, and Axel ran his fingers through the messy blond hair, he continued, "I fought back as much as I could but I was constantly exhausted. The lack of movement, food, and water, was destroying me. I only got one bathroom trip a day, and they would wait until I was so out of it that I didn't even know where I was, to take me. I thought my life…living with my dad was bad. I thought it couldn't get worse, but it can Roxas, it can.
"Whenever I was conscious, you were the only thing I could think of. I had to find a way out, because you were waiting for me. I knew I had to find a way out. And eventually I formulated a plan. Morgan loves to use bobby pins in her hair. I knew if I could get one of them, and have my hand unchained at the same time, I could escape. And I did Roxy, I did it for you, and we're together again. I'm home. After so many months, I am finally home, and in your arms again."
"Axel, I'm so sorry. I was looking for you, I was." Roxas whispered with tears falling onto Axel's chest.
"I know love, I knew you wouldn't give up on me, I knew you were searching, and that's what kept me fighting. I could feel it, true." Axel grabbed Roxas' had and placed it over his heart, keeping his hand on top of Roxas'. "I love you so much Roxy."
"I love you too, Axel" Roxas said before placing a tender kiss on the redhead's lips and closing his eys. After falling into silence, Axel and Roxas fell into the first restfull sleep in six months. Finally, they could sleep peacefully, with the warmth of each other's bodies comforting them. Their hands remained over Axel's heart, as Roxas carefully curled into Axel's injured body, never wanting to leave his side again.
oOo
"Alright, adults at one table, kids at another and Rude and Reno, go wherever you like." Ellen planned out as she picked a table for the adults. It was just in her nature to have every minute of the day planned and organized.
"Oh, gee Ellen, way to make us feel special." Reno oozed sarcasm. "Come Rude, we will go play with the kids." He grabbed Rude's hand and pulled him towards the table the teens had chosen.
"Hey, we aren't kids!" Sora exclaimed as he sat down next to Riku.
"I agree!" Demyx, throwing himself on Zexion, who had already sat down and did an impressive job catching the blond, then passionately kissing him. This surprised quite a few people, seeing as Zexion was generally a very shy guy, and yet he was kissing Demyx, in a not so innocent way, in front of everyone. Though, no one complained, well almost no one.
"Keep the clothes on." Darla warned with a smile on her face.
"Yes mother." Demyx said and slid into the chair next to Zexion. "For now." He added loud enough for his mom to hear.
Darla smiled and shook her head before following Nora, Ellen, and Jim to the food line, which was fairly short, due to the time. Ellen got herself a salad and Jim meatloaf, while Nora stacked, very possibly, every item in on the menu on her plate, it was a wonder how she stayed so thin, and Darla, having already eaten, grabbed a juice. Then they all made there way back to the table and sat down together.
"It's just so wonderful that Axel's back isn't it?" Darla commented. "I think I nearly got fired when I found out he was here."
"It is quite the day to finally have him back. I rarely see him but I admit I missed him horribly. He's like a third son to me." Jim commented, "How did you almost get fired?"
"He certainly needs a better father figure, I'm so happy that you feel that way about him." Darla said and Nora nodded her head in agreement as she bit into her pizza. "I kind of yelled at Dr. Saíx. I was a bit angry that I had not been informed of Axel's arrival."
"I would be pissed too. He's seen you in the room with Axel he should've known to contact you!" Nora said while vigorously gesturing with the hand holding her pizza, resulting in a saucy mess of splatter across the table. Ellen scowled a bit at the careless mess before grabbing a napkin and cleaning it up.
"Now Nora, he probably has many patients and can't remember every single one of them." Ellen finished cleaning up Nora's mess and sat down with a huff. "Axel's never going to forgive me. He probably hates me now." She expressed her concerns.
"Aww, don't worry Ellen," Nora said with a mouthful of cake, and waving her fork back and forth which sent cake plopping onto the table, "Axel still love's Rob, gods know why, but he does. I'm sure if he hasn't already he will forgive you for kicking him out."
Ellen looked up from the cake lying on the newly cleared table when Nora finished. Seeing the disgusted look on Ellen's face, Nora looked to the spot Ellen was looking at, found the cake, looked up and smiled a smile that reminded everyone of Axel. "You are a messy eater." Ellen observed.
"And you are a neat freak. Now that, that's cleared up, I must say, I am so happy I think I'm going to explode. My baby's home!"
oOo
"Keep the clothes on." Darla warned with a smile on her face.
"Yes mother." Demyx said and slid into the chair next to Zexion, "For now." He waited for the adults to go get their food before continuing, "She's always gots to be ruining our fun. First the elevator, now the table top."
"Ugh…at least she lets you." Sora scoffed.
"I know, I wasn't trying to sound ungrateful. I love my mom." Demyx cooed and leaned against Zexion, allowing his head to rest on his boyfriend's shoulder. "She gave my Zexy a home. And she lets him share a room with me."
When the table fell into silence Sora spoke up again, "Its weird when Axel doesn't talk, isn't it?" Sora spoke up, and everyone, except Rude and Reno nodded in agreement.
"If he's anything like Reno, then I imagine it really is strange." Rude commented.
"Hey, you love my never ending chatter, and you know it." Reno said in faux offense.
"Hmm…" Rude agreed, and without warning Reno launched himself on top of the large man, knocking them both to the ground.
"I love it when you talk dirty." Reno gushed as he pressed his hips into Rude's and crushed their lips together.
"I didn't…" Rude tried but Reno's lips were covering his again, his teeth roughly biting Rude's lower lip. With one hand, Rued pulled on Reno's pony tail, "I didn't say anything." He reiterated to the horny redhead, as everyone watched the show, including the adults.
"Oh baby, it was all in your eyes."
"Reno, behave, you're on a cafeteria floor!" Nora shouted.
"And don't get any ideas Demyx!" Darla added.
"Rightio, janitor's closet it is. Come on Rude." Reno pulled Rude off the floor and out of the cafeteria.
"I didn't do anything." Demyx placed a shocked hand on his chest, "Me, bad ideas? Please mom."
"I'm your mother and I know exactly what you were thinking, young man."
"Just because Rude and Reno are getting friendly in a closet and Axel and Roxas are making babies upstairs does not mean I want to throw Zexy down right here and have my wicked way with him…actually, that does sound quite delicious and tempting." Demyx turned to Zexion who smirked.
"Yes, yes it does." The slate haired teen answered.
"What do you mean Axel and Roxas are making babies?" Ellen steamed.
"Well, they're getting reacquainted. I know when Zexy is away from me for more than an hour I like to get reacquainted in baby making fashion."
"Demyx." Darla sighed.
"You're right mom, sorry, it's more like twenty minutes." Demyx beamed, Zexion hid a smile, Riku tried and failed to keep from laughing, and Sora was cracking up beside him, turning red from lack of air.
"Oh good Lord, we have to get back to that room!" Ellen shot up and ran out of the cafeteria doors.
AN: In between writing my six stories (four of which are on FF) I do some beta reading for two great stories. Check 'em out if you're interested:
EvilScotsman "The Bastion" www (dot) fanfiction (dot) net/s/5414575/1/The_Bastion
Lovetoread1983 "Traverse Town Flying Dragons" www (dot) fanfiction (dot) net/s/5460509/1/Traverse_Town_Flying_Dragons
I know this chapter is seriously lacking in excitement, but the drama should be coming back in chapter 11, which is already half written and almost completely planned out. I'm hoping to update that one soon, and just a bit of warning ahead of time, if I can work it in, I'm going to end chapter eleven with a cliffhanger. Then you'll probably have to wait a bit again.
Thank you, to everyone who hasn't given up on this story despite my absence. And thanks for any and all reviews, favs, and alerts. I appreciate every single one of them.