Rookie

My birthday dedichapter to myself. :P I was gonna write a oneshot or something, but, I've been broken lately so I just went with what I already had done! :D Happy reading everyone!

This chapter to the lovely Azurela because she's been waiting patitenly and to myself for a happy Seventeenth! :D

Chapter Seven - Day Eleven to Day Twelve

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Friday September 18th

Day Eleven - Third Period

--

'Please tell me you're back now.'

Of course. I told you I would be. I wouldn't lie to you, Rox.

"Roxas, what are the three types of triangles?"

The blonde's head shot up, his heart racing as his face reddened. He gulped. "Uh, equilateral, isosceles and ... scalene?"

"So it seems you are paying attention, then. Make sure you look it."

Roxas' blush grew deeper as the eyes flitted back onto him in his tucked-away corner. It took a moment for Ms Lockhart to get the class back to attention and Roxas was thankful when she actually managed it with a snapped order.

'Aaxxeell, save me! :P I was just stared at!'

Paha, by who? I'll knock their heads off!

'My hero! *swoons*'

Hey, Tease, behave! Or I'll have to send the fire of Chem class on you! We have CHEMICALS, man, CHEMICALS!

'O.O They trust you enough to handle chemicals?'

*glares*You're so mean to me, Rox!

The blonde couldn't stifle his giggle, his face breaking out in a smile. Honestly, he didn't care if the teacher yelled at him. This was the best he'd felt in a week. For the moment, he forgot about his brutal treatment of the day prior. He forgot about Zexion, about Hayner and Pence, about wanting to be left alone, about Seifer wanting him dead. He forgot it all.

'Sucks you weren't here yesterday, Axe. Missed you.'

Did I just read that right? You missed me? You missed me?

'Yeah, shithead, I missed ya.'

Why is this?

'I'll have to tell you later. Teach keeps giving me such a dirty look it isn't even funny.'

Mind if I come over sometime this weekend? Need to get out of the house.

The blush from before heated his cheeks.

"Roxas, how do you find the area of a triangle?"

"Base times height divided by two." There was no hesitation in his voice. He was too happy for that. He beamed happily as the eyes stared at him once more. They would never know about his secrets. They would never make him smile. They would never be able to take the pain away. Even Hayner was a stranger now. Things had definitely changed.

'I can't believe you'd wanna come over after what happened last time.'

Nah, kiddo, this time would be just to hang out. Promise that there will be no freak-outs.

'I'll see you then. :D'

Love you, lil' buddy.

'You're brave.'

Or just stupid.

Roxas didn't let the smile falter from his features even as he was drilled further for not paying attention. Even as the bell rang and Hayner shouldered his way by, the smile never left.

--

Day Eleven - Lunch

--

"Mmm, tasty Roxas. All mine. All my Roxas."

Not even having Zexion's mouth pressed to his made Roxas feel uncomfortable. He felt his body take control as he just contemplated the following days. He felt like such a girl, getting all worked up about the redhead coming over.

"I'll be back later, okay, babe? Some people wanted me to hang out with them today and they basically forbade me to bring you along."

The words tore at his heart and he whimpered. "Sorry, babe." A quick cold kiss was left on his lips before the slate-haired teen drifted down the hallway, disappearing down the stairs. He was just about to go off in search of the redhead, to force the elder teen into making him feel better when a sneering voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Aww, Roxas is all by himself. How sad. Fuu, restrain him."

"Yes."

Roxas barely had time to turn around as seemingly frail arms trapped him. Struggling, he couldn't break the girl's grasp. Horror filled his body as he caught sight of the sneering blonde sauntering down the hall. Two other teens trailed behind him. One looked as though he had taken steroids all his life while the other appeared to have needed them but didn't take them.

"What, couldn't take me on by yourself, coward?"

"Ooh, brave today, loser? You won't be so cocky when we get through with you. Vivi, knife."

Roxas gulped as the smaller boy pulled an army knife out of his pocket and handed it with shaking fingers to his superior. Seifer smirked, stepping so close that his warm breath sent a shiver over Roxas' skin as it caressed his neck. "I'm going to enjoy this."

"W-What are you doing?! Get that thing away from me!" Roxas yelped, pressing back into the silver-haired teen holding him still. He felt the cold steel pressing against his neck.

So baby keep my heart

Roxas gulped as the ringtone began to blare from his pocket. He wanted so badly to answer it but his hands were trapped. He needed Axel more now than ever. There was silence in the hall once more as the tune ended. Seifer gave him a quizzical look, but shrugged, pressing the blade in closer to Roxas' neck. Just as the younger blonde pulled himself further back, the song rang out once more.

Please be close enough to hear this, Axel! Please! "Get off me, Seifer! Please!" Roxas yelled, trying to see if there was someone to help him. A student passed by the end of the hallway, but they refused to even look towards the distressed teen. "Please!" Roxas sobbed. Again the song faded into silence, but for the blonde's pained panting. "Don't do this, don't do this, please! This is illegal! If you kill me, you'll go to jail!"

"Ah, but to cause Axel pain ... it would be worth it."

"You already cause him enough pain! Please, don-" Roxas was cut off by the song once more. The knife pressed closer to his skin. When the notes ended, Seifer growled at him.

"Who is that?"

"A-Axel. It's Axel. Axel's calling me."

"Then what are you waiting for? Call him back!"

"I-I can't!"

"Fuu, release him."

"Sir."

A quick nod and Roxas fell to the ground, shaking once more. With trembling fingers, he managed to dial in Axel's number. I'm not your boyfriend, baby. I'm not your -

"Axel. Axel, please." Roxas was in shock. The sound was resonating from the stairs that Zexion had just disappeared down.

"Rox, hey, babe. What's up?"

"Y-You were trying to c-call. Wh-what do you n-need?"

"Are you still with Zexion?"

"N-No."

"Not alone, are you?"

"N-No."

"Seifer?"

Roxas nodded frantically, finally letting the tears fall, forgetting Axel couldn't see him. "I'll be there. I'm almost there. Don't worry, Rox. I'll be there!" Axel cried at the sound of the blonde's sobs. "I'll save you."

The connection with the redhead ended but he didn't have to wait three second before Axel bounded up the stairs, having heard the blonde's phone the last time he had called.

"Get the fuck away from him, Seifer!"

The addressed blonde gripped Roxas' hair, forcing him around to look at the bounding redhead. He tilted the younger's head back, placing the glinting knife to his throat, smirking at his nemesis. Axel stopped in his tracks, fearing for the small blonde's safety.

"Come closer, Axel. I just wanted to show you who was in charge here. I won't hurt him as long as you co-oper-ate."

The bruises and bandages were hidden beneath the redhead's shirt and he hugged his arms to himself in a defensive manner. "Leave him alone, Seifer. I don't see why you still wanna screw around with me. You can't even take me on by yourself so you bring your lackeys along. You're pathetic."

Roxas let out a whimper as the elder blonde pressed the blade a feather closer. "Stop, stop, I'm sorry. Just leave him alone, man!"

"Kneel, loser." Axel dropped to his knees. He knew this routine. Seifer had complete control. "Doesn't this look familiar now?"

"Don't hurt him, you god damn bastard!" Roxas shrieked as he felt that blade finally sink into his skin. But Seifer had flicked his wrist and the silver glinted over his cheek. "Roxas, Roxas, no! Don't do this to me again! Don't you dare to this to me again!"

A second slice, mimicking the other, slipping down from the top of Roxas' cheek halfway to his chin. He cried as he felt the blood dripping down onto the tiled floor. The salt of his tears stung at the slices on his cheeks, causing him to cry harder.

"Fuu, take him. Keep the knife on him."

"Affirmative."

"Rai, make sure Axel doesn't move. Vivi, the other knife."

"I'll do my job, ya'know!"

"Yessir!"

The two other lackeys did their jobs quickly. Axel didn't see the point in having the bulky teen holding him tight. It wasn't like he would ever run from the person he was supposed to be protecting. He would never do that. Never again. He hung his head in shame, shuddering as the memory of the blue-haired teen's voice echoed through his mind.

"S-Saix," he whispered, not arguing when he felt his head being jerked up, lolling slightly as he tried to focus on his attacker. "Why? Why are you even bothering, Seifer? Don't you already have enough?"

"Cry and Roxas gets hurt more," was all the answer he got. He didn't understand what it meant until Seifer's fist connected with his stomach. His eyes burned and he felt like he was going to be sick as Roxas cried out. All the breath in his lungs left him and he felt something jolt in his chest. Another broken rib perhaps? It wasn't like he had never been beat before. But the pain didn't matter. He would be strong. Seifer would not see him cry. Roxas would not pay for his weakness.

That fist connected now with his cheek, sending his head lolling about on his shoulders. He found himself hauled to his feet and the small blonde balled his fist, getting ready for another attack.

"Stop, please! Please, don't hurt him any more! Please!"

Roxas' cries were ignored as Seifer slammed his fist once more into the redhead's gut.

"It's okay, babe. I'll survive. He still hasn't gotten as bad as Dad yet. That's what you're aiming for, isn't it, you pathetic twerp?"

A scream from Roxas made him cringe, wishing he could hold his tongue. More crimson blood trickled to the floor, this time from a gash across the blonde's collarbone. Not very deep. Just enough to cause a thin line of blood. What Fuu knew was causing pain. She knew just where to slice and just how deep to get the results she desired. That was the main reason Seifer permitted the quiet girl to stay around.

"Isn't this romantic? Both of you sacrificing yourself for the other. Sweet, really. I hate sweet."

Another punch to the cheek caused Axel to groan. "Am not impressed yet, Axel. Let me know how you're feeling."

"How do you think I feel?"

"Not broken, obviously. But do you really think you'll be able to hold out? Are you sure it won't be a repeat of last time? Maybe Roxas might have to transfer too! Wouldn't that be grand? We could be a happy little family again."

It was obvious how badly Axel wanted to lash out at the blonde. He shook his hanging head, not meeting Seifer's eye. "No. I'm not going to abandon him. I'm not going to leave him."

"That's what you said last time. And guess what! You left him there, crying on the ground! You could have left him to die. Thank God Xigbar and Demyx had been there or else he would have. You could have killed him, Axel."

"No! No! I wouldn't have killed him! It was you! You would have killed him, Seifer!"

"It's all your fault."

Axel barred his teeth, his head springing up as he fought the tanned muscle-man behind him. Roxas' scream of pain was the only thing that returned him to earth while his sanity flickered. "Not my fault. I didn't do anything."

"Exactly. You were worthless. You'll always be worthless."

Tears were gathering at the corners of those emerald orbs but Axel bit hard on his lip. He refused to show his weakness. He wouldn't let Roxas pay. But the tears were forced down his cheeks as Roxas cried out once more.

"Rox, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! I failed! It's all my fault! I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"I think he's had enough, ya'know, Seif!"

"Purpose fulfilled."

Seifer glowered at his lackeys, but realized it would be no fun to torture the redhead any further. A balled fist collided with Axel's stomach before Seifer turned on his heel and stalked off, the trio of weaker teens trailing behind him like lost puppies.

The two were left sobbing on the floor. Roxas recovered first, falling back against the wall. "A-Axel?" his voice was raw and tender from yelling. Where were the teachers? The students? Why had no one intervened? The redhead looked up from his huddled spot on the floor.

"I failed. I failed, Rox. I failed you. It's all my fault."

"Axel ... It's okay. I'm okay."

"You aren't fuckin' okay! Look at all that fuckin' blood! Do you think that's okay?! He could have killed you!"

"I'm okay, Axel. I swear, I'm okay!"

"Just like you were okay yesterday?"

Roxas gaped at the redhead.

"What do you mean?"

"I saw you crying in the staircase!"

"You weren't here yesterday!"

"I lied! I didn't want you to see me!"

Hurt crossed the blonde's face, but Axel was oblivious, emerald orbs shutting the world out. "Why the fuck not? If you loved me, you would want to see me, right?"

"Not yesterday, Rox. I looked bad yesterday."

"Who cares about how you look?"

"Dad hurt me. He went right off on me. Saturday. When I came home. He was waiting and he was pissed. He hurt a few of my ribs. Look, you can still see the fuckin' bruises, Roxas. So, yeah, I care how I look! I didn't want you to find out!"

"So you lied to me?"

"That's what I said, isn't it?"

"No, I mean at my house. About how I could be so much worse off. You really were talking about you, weren't you?!"

"Not entirely. I'm still not failing. After all these years, my school work is the only thing that I can keep up with."

"You could have told me, you know."

"Like you said, it was only five days."

"Four."

"Whatever. I'm just ... really sorry."

"Axel ..."

The blonde felt something tighten in his chest and he forced himself to move over to the writhing, sobbing redhead. He leaned down, placing his cheek on that heaving back, ignoring the pain.

"How much else have you lied to me about?"

"N-Nothing. Nothing, I swear."

"So you do love me? You swear?"

"I swear."

Roxas moved himself down to where Axel's face was rubbing against the cold, dirty tile. His kissed Axel's cheek, trailing a soft line down to capture his lips. He was shocked to feel Axel pull away.

"No, Rox, no! Don't do this! Don't kiss me! If you kiss me, it means you forgive me. If I can't forgive me, you can't forgive me. I hate myself. I screwed up! I failed! It's all my fuckin' fault."

"What did you screw up on, Axel? Tell me that! Tell me why you suddenly don't want me! I'm here, offering myself and you won't fuckin' take me!"

"Roxas ... I couldn't protect you. I tried, but I couldn't protect you. I ... went against my word and I failed you."

"Axel ... No. You didn't fail. You still saved me. You're still my knight in shining armor."

"Too bad armor tarnishes."

"Not yours. You'll shine forever."

--

Day Twelve - Supper

--

"Thanks mom. Love you. I promise I won't be out too long!"

"You had better not, young man. Axel, bring him home alive, okay?"

The redhead smiled at the nervous-wreck of a woman as she waved to her baby.

"What were you calling about yesterday, anyways?"

Axel threw his car into reverse, putting his arm around the back of Roxas' seat, turning to maneuver his way out the driveway. When he was safely out into traffic, he glanced at the blonde. "I-It was nothin'."

"No, it had to be pretty important. You were pretty persistent."

"Glad that I decided to check up on you though. That would have ended badly."

"You mean that wasn't ending badly?"

Axel laughed, gripping Roxas' hand in his own in the blonde's lap as they drove toward the fast-food district. It was a few seconds before Roxas realized he was supposed to struggle against the touch and a few more seconds before his mind connected the thought with his hand.

"You're still here, so it didn't end badly."

The blonde beamed happily, ignoring the pain it caused. The bandages covering his cheeks scrunched up, causing him to laugh slightly. "I guess, if you put it that way. Who was Saix?"

Axel's fingers twitched on both the steering wheel and Roxas' knee, the place it had taken residence on after the blonde had lightly pulled his own from the elder's grasp. "I'll tell you some other time."

"Not right now because you're driving and promised my mom you'd bring me home alive, right?"

"Precisely."

"When we get to my house?"

"Still too soon."

"When won't be too soon?"

"Dunno."

Roxas pouted, bringing out his best puppy-dog eyes as they pulled up to a red light. "Pwease, Ack-zell?"

"What the fuck was that?"

Roxas burst out laughing, joining the redhead. "Me trying to be you."

"What, with my Rocks-ass, thing?"

"Yeah, that. Guess your name doesn't work out that well."

"Or you just fail!"

"Aww, that's mean!" Roxas went to hit his fists against the elder teen, but stopped as the car lurched forward, speeding off down the street, pulling neatly into a parking spot outside a fast-food joint. "So, you coming over tonight or what?"

"Pah, I wish. Dad would be pissed though. Bad enough I'm hangin' out with ya."

"Wh-Why?"

"Jerk's homophobic."

Roxas' mouth formed a small little 'oh' as he nodded slowly. "Well, it's not like we're together or anything."

"He doesn't care much."

"That must be hard then."

Axel shrugged, digging his wallet out of his back pocket, moving up to the counter to order, leaving the blonde to watch from behind. Grabbing their ketchup, salt and straws, Roxas headed off to a back booth, far away from the screaming toddlers and other noisy customers. Soon enough, Axel found him, carrying a tray with hamburgers, fries and drinks. Roxas smiled happily, but not big enough to tear at the bandages.

"When's your birthday, squirt?"

Roxas titled his head, picking his burger from the tray, taking a fry in between two fingers. "Why?"

"Just wondering. Birthday and how old you turned or are turning."

"Tell me yours."

"I asked first. Now, please, Rox?"

The blonde sighed, not seeing why he was being so difficult. "I turned fourteen on August thirteenth."

Axel groaned, putting a hand through his spikes as his elbow connected with the table. "Ugh, you've got to be kidding me."

"What?"

"Three and a half years difference between us, Rox. I'm eighteen on the third of June."

"So?"

"So, that's kinda illegal."

"What is?"

"Dating a minor."

Roxas nodded slowly, pretending to understand. Axel, always so confusing.

--

"I'm so glad you brought my baby back safe-and-sound! You're welcome around here any time, Axel!"

The blonde watched with a hint of sadness as Axel backed once more out of the drive. He knew why Axel had asked him to supper - as an apology for the day before. Maybe he had other plans, but it had been nothing more than two friends out for a bite to eat.

"Roxas, honey, you're face is really red. Are you okay? Do you have a fever? Are you sick?"

Roxas laughed. He didn't know why. He just laughed. He stood out on the front lawn and laughed.

--

To be Continued

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Tell me what you thought? Sorry that your desperate question hasn't been answered yet, Andrea! It shall be soon! :D

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