Rookie

Chapter Eleven - Day Twenty

I still don't know if I am okay with the beginning of this chapter.

Sunday September 27th

Day Twenty - Morning

Axel was awake the moment that the blonde tensed beside him. He could hear the younger boy's accelerated breathing; feel his chest rising and falling quickly. Eyes still shut to the world, Axel didn't see Roxas' horrified expression melt from his features, but felt him begin to calm almost instantly. They lay like that for a moment until Roxas slowly shifted out of the redhead's embrace.

Moaning at the loss of heat beside him, Axel snuggled into the pillow where Roxas' head had just been. He refused to let the younger know he was awake as Roxas slowly slipped the blankets from the redhead's body. Laying on his chest, the redhead forced his nose into the soft pillow farther, whimpering slightly.

Roxas gazed down at the bruised, broken body below him and placed a knee on either side of that dangerously slim waist. Why had he never noticed how thin Axel was before? Perhaps because he hadn't cared? Or maybe because Axel knew how to conceal it.

One arm still down at his side while the other rested under his chin, Axel moved slowly to capture the blonde's knee. A small intake of breath at the contact and Roxas lowered himself, running delicate fingers over the bruises along the redhead's back. His cheek rested between the redhead's shoulder blades after shifting some of those long, red spikes out of the way. He felt his name being hushed from the redhead in question, but quieted him with a soft kiss to the cheek.

"Hey," his voice was just a whisper in Axel's ear. "Turn over, Axel." A small moan of displeasure escaped the redhead, but he did as he was told, shifting under the blonde. Still his eyes remained closed in his groggy state although they shot open the moment he felt something soft and warm brushing against his neck.

"R-Roxas?" The redhead moaned mild confusion as the blonde's lips trailed down a line of bruises and cuts. He wanted Axel to get better. It was some weird, gut feeling, but he wanted the redhead to feel no pain. He didn't care now that he hadn't known him for very long. This was what Axel wanted so it should help him, right?

"Shh, it'll be okay, Axe. I promise. I just wanted to show you ... that I care about you too." That warm breath brushing over his skin caused a shudder to run over the redhead, tossing his head so the blonde could have better access. He began to move to touch Roxas, but found his fingers already entwined with those of the blonde. The younger was kissing down his collar bone, licking at a scar, causing the redhead's back to arch. Already, Roxas was moving up the other side of the redhead's neck. Axel writhed, leaning his face further from the blonde to gain more contact. His eyes closed once more, he didn't see the blonde as he backed away, just slightly. A soft whimper left him and then a shocked gasp.

Eyes shooting open, Axel saw Roxas, a hair width away from him. The blonde had pressed their lips together and was attempting to coax Axel into kissing him back. He drew back for a quick breath before pressing their lips together once more. This time, Axel was more prepared, but no less shocked. His lips moved slowly, hesitantly, disbelievingly. He was still sleeping. He had to still be sleeping. This had to be some sort of sick dream his mind had conjured up to tease him.

But the feeling when he opened his mouth, prodding at Roxas' soft, perfect lips and gaining entry into that warm, moist mouth was so real, so amazing ... that it just had to be true! Roxas lowered himself onto the redhead's stomach, tired of holding himself up. Amazed that he was finally getting what he had wanted for so long now, Axel moved his mouth against the younger blonde's until he could barely breathe any more.

"Oh ... Rox... I ... I love you.... so much," Axel panted, head cloudy, pain gone.

"I love you too, Axel." The words were so foreign from his tongue. But it was true. In the positions they were in right now, Roxas believed more than anything that the redhead had trapped him with his charm.

He didn't find that to be a problem.

Axel shuddered, whining as that warm mouth that he had to memorize left him once more. A soft kiss was placed on his cheek where a large bruise had formed over the night

He realized that he hadn't even let the reality sink in on the redhead, but it didn't matter. Consciousness would catch up later, when he wasn't so brave; when he wouldn't have been able to allow the redhead into his life.

"Wh-What if your mom walks in? Where is she?"

"Shopping," was all the answer the redhead received. Roxas freed Axel's trapped hand, running his own up to grip on the elder's shoulder. The redhead took that opportunity to run his free limb under the blonde's shirt, over the boy's back. The skin was soft, unmarred, perfect. It put his own to shame. Roxas had the body of a God to him.

Roxas pulled away slightly so that he could take in the redhead, wanting to see if he had done the right thing to make the pain go away. They stayed like that for a long moment, each drawing in the other's scent, trying to force it into their memories. Axel was the first to speak. "God, Roxas, I love you so much."

"I know. And I'm glad."

Another few moments passed before Roxas shifted in Axel's embrace. The redhead had almost gone back to sleep so he looked at his love with blurry eyes. "I'm gonna go make us some breakfast, Axe. Don't worry. I won't leave you." A soft kiss was left on his lips for reassurance before the blonde moved off the bed and out the door, closing it softly behind him.

What he had just allowed himself to do didn't register in his mind. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. He didn't realize it would send his world spinning more so than it already was. He didn't realize that he had forced Axel to love him even more. He didn't realize that he had just begun a relationship that would carry him through his life; that would keep him going when he felt like giving up; that would hurtle him into great highs and devastating lows. He didn't realize that he had just opened himself to the love of his life; opened himself to the one that would sculpt him to become the best he possibly could be. After all, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Eggs, toast and bacon were laid out on a plate in front of the redhead as a blush crossed his cheeks. The blonde was smiling happily, his own plate of breakfast sitting in front of him where he faced Axel on his bed.

"Don't expect this every morning, 'kay?" Roxas chuckled softly, picking up a piece of toast and chomping into it. Axel had worked his way back under the covers, but was sitting cross-legged, his back pressed against the cooling wall.

"Do I trust it? How do I know this isn't poisoned or something?"

"I'm a good cook! Mom's actually taught me!"

"Think she'll teach me too? Whoa, I forgot what bacon tasted like."

"Your mom didn't teach you?"

"Nah. Left before she could. Didn't even teach Re. But he's got a servant or something that does it for him."

"Servant? But ... I thought those died out a long time ago."

"Nope. Well, I think that it's like ... one of those ... slave/master relationships or something? I dunno. I don't get to see him enough to get all the juicy details on his fetishes."

Axel cut his egg with his fork, shoving it greedily into his mouth and sighing happily. "Man, your mom taught you good."

A blush ghosted over the blonde's cheeks as he smiled. "Th-Thanks. It's not that hard, you know. I'll have to show you sometime."

"I'd like that. How about we surprise your mom with a cake or something?"

"Sure you won't burn it?"

"No. But you'll take good care of it."

"No distractions?"

"No guarantees."

Roxas laughed, blushing deeper. Things were still so easy. The butterflies were there, but for the most part, they made him feel happy.

"Hey Axe?"

The redhead was almost finished the meal. He smiled, licking his lip to get a stray toast crumb. "Yeah, lil' buddy?"

"How'd you get all those scars? Do I get to know yet? I think I should, shouldn't I? I mean, it would be my business now."

A sigh and Axel placed the last bite of toast back down on the plate, moving it away from him. Roxas watched, tilting his head in mild confusion until he scampered into Axel's embrace when the redhead opened his arms in question.

"Well, Rox ... I think you already know most of it. You should have been able to piece a bit of it together. I know you have the right to know now, but, why not answer a question of mine first?"

"All I know is that it involves Seifer and, sure, shoot."

"What happened earlier? Where'd that come from?"

"Where'd what come from?"

"I wake up and you're on top of me."

"Not as bad as me waking up with your arms wrapped around me!"

"I called you last night!"

"Y-You ... You did?"

"Yeah. You were asleep. Don't worry, though. I didn't do anything to you."

"I trust you. Okay, so, you snuck into the house sometime after I went to bed last night. Why?"

"Don't you think I have a lot more bruises and scraps since I was here yesterday?"

The blonde was quiet for a moment, thinking. "Your dad?"

"Got it. Now, why were you on top of me? Why'd you kiss me?" He wasn't mad. He was honestly curious. Perhaps the blonde was finally returning his affection? Would he dare to hope? Roxas was still in his arms, so there had to be a chance.

Again, Roxas was lost in thought, missing out on the redhead's secret struggles. "I guess .... I guess I fell for you and now I love you and you love me so we can love each other and keep each other safe, right? Even though love is such a strong word. I know I don't believe in love at first sight, but, this time, I'll make an exception." Axel chuckled softly, kissing the top of the blonde's head.

"That's a good enough answer for me. Now, you said you wanted to know about these scars?"

"Yeah. If you don't mind saying that is ..."

"I think I could manage. Just for you, Roxy. Mom had been gone for a while, but Seifer still got really jealous of me, because I had all these friends even after my life was 'ruined'. He ... he told me what my mom had been doing with his dad, but he still hated me. I was hangin' out with the guys at lunch and ... Seifer came. He had a knife that day too. And his lackeys.

"Demyx was lucky. Vivi isn't that strong, as you've noticed. He's tiny; has a really small build. Well, he had to take care of Dem. Seifer underestimated him when he was ordering them around and Dem got him down, but ended up falling before he could make it to us. Rai had Xig, Fuu had Saïx and Seifer was with me. Xig put up a good fight, but Saïx isn't the fighting kind. He couldn't hurt Fuu, even though she was smaller than he was. It ... It turned out bad. Xig got hurt bad, but he could hear Dem screaming for help just a little ways away, so he broke free to help him. They were going out then, too, so it'd only be right for him to help Dem. So, it was just us four. Me, Seifer, Fuu and Saïx. Rai was out cold on the ground. And Seifer just went wild, slicing at me with the knife."

Axel had to stop, shaking all over, his nose pressed firmly into those blonde spikes, cradling Roxas as though the younger could save him from the memories. A few shaky, shuddery breaths were taken and Roxas forced himself closer, trying to comfort the redhead.

"I was in a lot of pain. I was scared. I thought he was gonna kill me. Then he let me go. Just like that. I was on the floor, bleeding like a bugger and he let me go. He went walkin' towards Saïx and ... struck him across the nose with the knife. Twice, so he had a giant 'x-marks-the-spot' around his eyes. He was fuckin' lucky he hadn't gone into his eyes. It was so close, Rox. And I can still hear him screaming. Because I ran. I saw my chance to leave and I took it. I left him to die. He was completely in Seifer's hands. And I just left him."

He was sobbing, rocking, unable to stop. He felt like he was going to be sick as the blue-haired teen's screams reverberated around his mind.

"I passed Xig and Dem. Xig was bleedin' bad, his cheek tore open and his right eye completely drenched in blood. Dem wasn't hurt at all. God, Dem made it out okay. But Xig ... Xig glared at me with his good eye as I ran. He knew. Oh, he knew. He knew I left Saïx behind. Knew I wasn't a good friend. I left him for dead. And ... I know Xig's still mad at me for that. But there was nothing I could do. I just ran. He told me later how Seifer had already left Saïx by the time he was able to go see him."

He was still now. He was numb, cold, lost in the nightmare. Roxas was in his arms, but he could barely feel the warmth. If it were anyone else, that warmth would have been gone long ago.

"I left him, Rox. I left him and he moved. He left. He had to. He hated me. Because I left him. So, he moved to a safer place, because I was a danger to his health. He still keeps in touch with Xig and Dem, because they didn't betray him. His last words to me were 'I hate you, Axel! You can't leave me! I hate you!' I hate me too, Rox. I hate me. You should hate me too. It would make things easier if you hated me. Xig hates me, Dem hates me, my dad hates me, my brother hates me. Do you hate me too? Do you, Rox? And you can't lie. I'll know if you're lying. I don't know who I can trust anymore, Rox. Because I've hurt so many people."

"You haven't hurt me, Axel. I'm still here. Demyx and Xigbar; they're with you too. They don't hate you. I don't hate you. I love you, Axel. All that time you tried to get me to love you and now I do and now you want me to hate you? I can't do it, Axe. I can't hate you. You ran away from him, but you stayed with me. You saved me. Remember? You made up for it. You don't have to worry about it anymore. Let the past stay in the past, okay? I still love you."

Roxas moved away from the redhead only to kneel in front of him, forcing their eyes together before brushing his lips against those of his elder. "It'll be okay, Axe. It won't ever happen again, okay? Everything's fine."

Axel nodded, allowing himself to be cradled by the blonde.

Day Twenty - Evening

"Axel, can I talk to you for a minute?"

The redhead perked from his place on the blonde's bed. Roxas was sitting over in the accursed chair, doing bits of his homework while Axel was sprawled across the bed, reading a book the younger had showed him, having forgotten his own schoolwork at 'home'.

"Uh, sure, ma'am."

"You can call me Yuna, you know. Don't worry, it's nothing bad."

Axel followed the brunette down the stairs to the kitchen. He put his hand up through his red spikes as she turned to him.

"You had better take good care of my son."

Taken aback, Axel gaped at the serious woman that was almost a head shorter than him. "Wh-What do you mean?"

"I saw you this morning. You seemed to be rather comfortable."

Axel had to force his jaw closed as his heart raced. "I-I ... It wasn't what it looked like?"

"It's okay, Axel. I just don't want you hurting my son. He is all that I have."

"I ... I would never dream of hurting Rox. I haven't known him long, but he's something precious to me. I ... I would never hurt him."

"I trust you, Axel. I realize you won't try to hurt him. I just am warning you flat out. And I don't want you two having sex without my permission."

Axel was flustered, gaping at the woman before regaining his composure

"Don't worry, ma'am. I'll protect him with my life if I have to. And I promise that we won't. I'll promise you that right now. He's not going to be something that I use for my own gain. He won't be like all the others that just come in and out of my life on a whim. He will be my life. I promise. No sex. None without your permission."

"Thank you, Axel. Now, will you be staying with us?"

"Eh? Wha-?" Again, Axel was taken off guard. Yuna had just told him that he wouldn't be allowed to have sex with the younger teen and now she was asking if he would stay?

"Your dad. It looks like he hurt you again so I would like it if you stayed with us."

"E-Even with me and Rox-?"

"You mean a lot to Roxas and if you get hurt, he will be hurt as well. So, I want you to stay."

"B-But ..."

"No complaints. Roxas promised to keep you safe, right? Well, he can't ask you to stay, but I can."

"D-Do you mean like ... move in?"

"I told you there is a spare bedroom. I want you to take it. For as long as you need it."

"I-I ... I ..." Axel hung his head. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. It's the least I could do."

"Wh-why?"

"Roxas told me what you've done for him. You've saved him and comforted him. And for that I am grateful."

"I ... It was nothing. Really ..."

"Axel, stay safe, okay?"

A small smile creased his lips as the woman took him into a hug. It feels like a lot of people are telling me that lately.

To Be Continued

This chapter gave me a lot of trouble. At first, it moved too fast and I didn't want to change it but I did. And, yeah, Roxas and Axel are unofficially together now.

Please just follow me I thought you wanted me cuz I want you all to muyself. I can try and suck it up, I just can't suck it up, make me feel - All to Myself

Marianas Trench

~xbuttonsx~