Rookie
Chapter Twelve - Day Twenty One
Monday September 28th
Day Twenty One - Midmorning (Axel)
His stomach was rolling. Every fiber of his being was screaming at him to just leave this place; that he should never have come back. But he was there and he had to do it.
Fingers drumming on the steering wheel, Axel hoped beyond hope that his father was passed out in his chair with a bottle still in his hand. Slowly he moved to leave the safety of his car, setting one hesitant foot out on the curb, followed by the other. He pushed himself up and marched confidently to the front door, even though he felt small and weak.
The door was unlocked. What a shocker, he thought with a snide smirk, pushing it open just enough to squeeze by so that it didn't squeak and announce to his enemy of his whereabouts. Trembling, he moved in farther, heading for his bedroom, fingers on the knob.
"That you, fag? Knew you'd come crawling back."
Even though his mind was yelling at him to ignore the man blocking his exit and just continue on with gathering his things, his body refused, stopping cold, fingers still gripping his door handle.
"I'm just getting my stuff, Dad. Then you won't have to see me ever again."
"Now, who said I would like that?" There was no slur to his speech. He hadn't been drinking yet this morning, which set his mind clear and focused.
"Just leave me alone. I've found a place to stay."
"Your place is here!"
The ground seemed to tremble as that big man moved forward. Axel was beginning to panic, stuck between his door and his already raging father.
"My place is with Roxas, Dad."
"Who is he? Another faggot?"
A smirk crossed over his features despite himself as he spun on his heel to look at his father. "Yeah, Dad, he's another fag. He's my boyfriend."Axel felt himself gaining strength as his father shook. "Hurry up and hurt me so that we can get over that part and I can just get my shit and leave."
"Go."
"That's different. No beating today Daddy-dearest? What a surprise." He knew he would get his head chopped off for having such an attitude, but right now he couldn't care less. The man was backing away, fists clenched and shaking at his side. He raised one trembling finger when he backed into the counter, pointing out the door Axel had just come from.
"Get the fuck out of my house, you disrespectful piece of shit."
"I will. The second I get packed, I'm leavin' this place for good."
"No. You leave now."
"I actually have some nice stuff, so I'm taking it with me." Axel opened his door and disappeared into his bedroom. He quickly stole the phone from his pocket, bringing it out and sending a message to Roxas. 'Hey, babe. Just wanted you to know that step one is complete. I'm in my room right now and he hasn't even touched me yet. Ain't that great? Talk to you soon. Love you.' He checked the time. It would be third period and Roxas would be in math. He smirked, mildly wondering if his little blonde missed him.
"Now, what to take? Poster ... more clothes ... book bag ... books ... and ... sure. This." Axel grabbed each item as he moved through his room, listing them off. The last thing he came across made him tense up. A photograph of he and Reno when they were little, looking down at their mother who was taking the picture. They were up in a large tree, entangled in the branches, both boys laughing hysterically. The sight brought a small smile to his face, but he didn't look at it long, feeling the need to be out of his safest place.
With an armload of possessions, Axel walked out through the disgusting kitchen, vaguely noticing a pot on the stove, a box of Kraft Diner next to it. The noodles in the pot were still white and obviously undercooked with no cheese on them. Axel couldn't help but snicker. His father would starve without him there.
Placing the objects in the back seat of the car, he forced himself to go back, to make one more sweep to make certain he would never have to come back.
"Oh! Oh my God, how could I forget that?" he cried, hobbling over his bed to get to the wall where a chain and pendent hung. He took it gently from where it dangled, hugging the ruby-encrusted circle to his chest. It, too, had been a gift from his elder brother - a peace offering of sorts. Draping it around his neck, he held it up to the bright sunlight streaming through his room, watching the red splatter across his floor. He held it by the sharp points that ran the whole way around. A miniature chakram, a favorite weapon of one of his cartoon heroes.
"What are you doing still here? I thought I told you to get the fuck out of my house. Now!"
The man was there, blocking the door. Axel made one more visual sweep of his room, satisfied he wouldn't forget anything else. But as he made his way to press past his father, the angry man struck him, sending him stumbling back into his bed, tripping over his feet and landing with a thud and a groan.
"What the hell? You tell me that I have to leave and then you make it so I can't?"
"I've changed my mind. You can't leave, Axel." The redhead cringed at his name coming from those cursed lips. His father moved forward, fists still trembling.
Day Twenty One - Lunch
Roxas was moping and worrying. His fingers tapped unknown beats against the rail containing him in line. "C'mon, Axe. Call me. You said that you would."
"What would you be having today?"
The blonde shook his head to clear his thoughts, looking at the kind lunch lady behind the counter. "Ugh, I'll have ... a ... tater bowl? What's that?"
"It has potatoes, corn, cheese, pork and gravy."
"Ugh, okay, sure."
"Axel not with you today?"
The blonde cringed. So even the teachers knew about their 'friendship'? "H-He ... He's kinda busy today."
"Ah I see. Here you go. Have a nice day."
"Y-You too." Roxas moved farther down the line to pay, grabbing a carton of chocolate milk for himself, sloshing a small amount of gravy onto his pants. "Shit. Least I won't be made fun of." The gravy was a bright contrast to his dark jeans on his knee and he knew that if Axel had of been there, he would have been spouting jokes left and right.
He paid for his meal and grabbed a fork before heading off to meet Xigbar and Demyx in the music room. When he saw the scarred teen, memories of what Axel had told him flashed through his mind. Xigbar was laughing, happy, while he danced with the younger teen, in their own world, to their own music. Roxas just stood in the doorway for a moment, waiting to be noticed, not wanting to interrupt.
"Oh! Roxas! Hi!" Demyx squealed as he was spun around, catching sight of the younger teen still standing awkwardly. A blush lined his features as Demyx struggled in Xigbar's grip. "Any news? Where's he at? Is he okay?" The elder teen bounded over to Roxas, gripping his wrists in worry, minding the gravy bowl in the younger teen's hands.
"He hasn't said anything for a while. He should be done by now though."
"Done what?" Xigbar questioned, moving once more behind his love, grabbing him close to comfort him.
"You mean he didn't tell you? He's movin' in with Roxas so he's getting all his stuff from his dad's place."
"Why'm I always the last to know these things?"
The blondes shrugged, Roxas moving over to his customary place on the floor where he normally sat with the redhead, sliding down the brick carefully so as to not spill more gravy onto himself. Xigbar forced Demyx up to their make-shift stage, setting him up in front of the mic while he sat behind his drums. Roxas smirked as the blonde on stage began to sway his hips even before the beat of the drums rang out. He marveled at how in tune the two were with each other, knowing the other's move before they made it.
Midway through his meal, a stringy line of cheese hanging between his lips and the Styrofoam bowl, Roxas jumped as a loud melody erupted from his pocket, causing the two giving the secret performance to stop, mid-beat, mid-word.
So baby keep my heart beat-
"Axel?" The blonde gasped out, worry tingling down his spine.
"H-Hey, lil buddy."
"Axel! God, where the hell are you? You said you'd come! You said you would try to make it to school for at least a bit of lunch!"
"I-I know. Let's just .... say I ran into a little ... problem."
"Axel, are you okay? I can barely understand you!"
"I know. I'm trying, though, Rox. It's sorta hard right now." The redhead's voice was just a forced moan, causing Roxas to shake, all the worst-case scenarios flashing through his mind.
"Axel, you're hurt. Are you still at your place?"
A sigh of defeat. "Yeah. He doesn't much care for the thought of me leaving. I think my arm's broke. Somethin' is. I heard the crack. Hope it wasn't my neck. That'd suck."
"I'll come get you."
"No! You are not coming anywhere near this house. He'd cream you, Rox. I won't let you."
"What the hell am I supposed to do then?"
"Roxas, what happened? Is he okay?" Demyx was beside him, trying his hardest to listen to both sides of the conversation. The younger blonde had tears in his eyes, picturing his love in some dark, dank basement, crumpled on the floor in pain. He was expected to just sit back and let that happen? There was no way he would do such a thing!
"I'll be fine, babe. I'm used to it. I'll be home before you. I promise."
"I don't trust you. I don't believe you. You're hurt. You need help. You need someone to save you."
"Not you. I can't have you saving me! You'd get hurt. I wouldn't be able to deal with it if he hurt you, Rox."
"I won't let him hurt me then!"
"Roxas, what the heck is going on?" Demyx had worry sprawled across his features and Xigbar was behind him, holding onto his shoulders.
"Can I see the phone, Roxas? Let me talk to the dunderhead." The blonde was reluctant to let the redhead's voice leave him, but handed off his phone without complaint. "Yo, man. You at your dad's still? ... Pah, like hell you're fine. ... No, I'm comin'. Hold on for a few minutes. ... No, don't even bother tryin' to talk me outta it. My friend's in danger. I'm helpin' him. ... Bullshit. You deserve it. ... What? No. Where the hell would you get that idea? ... Leave it in the past, man. I'm over it. You should be too. ... Okay, shut it. I'll be there soon. See you. Bye."
"C'mon, he's hurt, right? He needs help, right? Don't leave me outta the loop!" Demyx cried, turning to face his boyfriend as the phone was passed back to the younger blonde.
"I'll be back later. Love you babe. See you soon."
"Don't you dare think I'm just gonna sit here! Axe's in trouble, isn't he? Well, I'm helpin' him too!"
"Me too!" Roxas piped up, a defiant look on his features just daring Xigbar to deny him. With a heaving sigh, the marred teen nodded slowly.
"Fine. But if I get in trouble for bringin' you guys, it's not my fault."
"Deal. C'mon, Roxas. Let's go!"
"Hey, sick fucker. I got this gun loaded. Now tell me where he is." Xigbar demanded of the man swaying at the counter, barging through the unlocked door, two bold blondes as his backup. The large man turned, smirking, facing the threat. A thin trail of blood ran over his forehead, a mark of self-defense.
"What would you say if I said I killed 'im?"
"I'd shoot you right here. I'm serious, man, where's Axel?" The man just smirked his smirk some more, lifting a drunken finger to point down the hall. "Good, now, back up. Keep goin'. Don't be lookin' at them. I'm who you gotta be worried about. Hurry up and go get him." Demyx and Roxas slid from behind Xigbar, dashing down the hall to where Axel's bedroom door still stood open. The redhead was beside his bed, blood splattered across his chest and dripping from his temple. The moment Roxas laid eyes on him, more fear rocked over his body.
"Axel! Axel, please, look at me!" He collapsed beside the elder teen, Demyx only a second behind him. Axel looked so tired as his vision wobbled on the blondes. But at least he was still alive.
"R-Rox? I ... I told you ... not to ..."
"Save it for later. We're here to save you now. Don't worry."
A flash of panic crossed those hazy, bloody features. "T-The ... The necklace ... w-where ...?"
"It's around your neck, Axel. Don't worry. You're fine. That it?" Demyx questioned, glancing around the room. A nod of the head as Axel relaxed. "Kay then. Roxas, do you think you can help me get him out to the truck?" Nodding, Roxas followed Demyx's lead, supporting the redhead between them, even though Axel towered over them both. "'Kay, babe, c'mon. We got him."
Xigbar smirked at the disgusted face the man made as he began to back out. "You group o' fuckin' fags! You's kidnappin' ma son! I ain't gonna let yous get away wit it!"
"Too late, bastard. You'd be lucky if we don't report you to the police."
"Where do we take him?" Roxas huffed under the redhead's arm, crossing the street to the large black truck that belonged to the older teen. Said older teen joined the two supporting Axel, moving ahead and opening the tailgate.
"First, put him in here. It would be better than jostlin' around in the front seat. Look'it'im. Out cold. Dem, you're better at this than I am. Where do we take 'im?"
"He'd make a fuss if we took him to the hospital, but he needs medical attention. I think Mom'd be able to take care of him, but we don't have enough room."
"How about my house then?" Roxas asked as he jumped up onto the back of the truck with the slumbering redhead. "You're mom could come over and tell us what we need to do, couldn't she?"
Demyx nodded. "Okay, settled. Roxas, you stay back there, make sure he's still okay. Babe, you follow behind in Axel's car, kay? I don't want him to have to come anywhere near this hell-hole again."
"Got it." The elder blonde confirmed, dashing to the car parked behind the truck. Xigbar sidled into the driver's seat of the black beast, turning to open the back window of the pick-up.
"Kay, kid. Don't bother tellin' me where your place is. Just tell me to turn. How far is it from here?"
"Not very."
"Alright. You all set? Hold on."
The truck rumbled to life and Roxas gripped Axel's hand, trying to reassure himself that the redhead was going to be okay.
"He most definitely won't be going to school any time soon. I've set his arm back into place, but it will need time to heal. He's really lucky to be alive right now. Most of that blood came from cuts around his chest, stomach and forehead. He appears to have been beaten with a broken bottle."
"Thanks so much Mom. I'm really glad you could come on such short notice."
"Don't mention it, honey. Anything to help out your friends."
Roxas wasn't even able to pay attention to the elder blonde's mother as she told them that Axel was really going to be okay. He could barely breathe as he held the redhead, smoothing down those spikes, wiping away the blood with a warm facecloth. He hadn't expected anything like this happening. He couldn't fathom losing something he had only just gained. He would not even think that way. If Axel were to leave him ... what would he be? He'd be alone and broken. But he wouldn't be alone. Xigbar and Demyx. They would be there for him. And his mother. They would be able to keep him going.
Shaking his head, Roxas distanced himself farther from the trio at the foot of the bed, talking in hushed tones to not disturb the two. Finally Demyx stepped forward, toward the younger blonde. "Hey, Roxas?"
It took a moment, but Roxas slowly responded with a shielded glance at his elder. "He's gonna be fine. I promise. Do you believe me?" Roxas nodded, equally slowly. "My mom's gonna leave now. Me and Xig will go down and get Axel's stuff. Want us to bring it up here?" Another nod. "Will you be okay?"
"I-I'm not a little kid, Demyx. I'll be alright." Roxas said softly, still stroking those crimson spikes, looking down onto that broken, angelic face. "I'll be okay."
"We'll be right outside if you need us."
"I wasn't the one that got hurt. I'm not the one that could have died."
"But you're taking this harder than he would. You get used to this type of thing, Rox. Axel's always been a fighter. He'll pull through anything."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"I just ... feel so bad. He wouldn't have gone there today if I didn't offer him a place to stay."
"But think of how many thrashings you saved him from. Trust me. In the long run, today won't even matter to him. He's happy as long as his friends are safe."
"And we're all ... safe, right? We'll all be okay?"
"Yeah, Rox, we'll all be okay."
Aquamarine orbs sparkled with a smile, reassuring the younger teen. Demyx wrapped his arms around the smaller boy in a hug, proving to him that all would be right with the world. Xigbar even had a small smile on his lips at the scene, gripping his love's hand when they left the room. Roxas felt tired, exhausted from the worry and strain. He curled himself up beside the redhead, burying his face in those slicked-back locks of crimson.
Day Twenty One - Evening
"Hey sleepy head. How are you feeling?"
Roxas blinked blurry cerulean orbs as he lifted his head from the pillow, being met with bright emerald gems. "Nng. I should be asking you that. Are you okay?"
"I have you in my arms. Of course I'm okay. I'll be okay as long as you are with me."
The blonde buried his face in Axel's underarm, the one place he could think of hiding that wouldn't cause the elder pain. "Then I promise I'll never leave. But seriously, does it hurt? Are you gonna be alright?"
"You have no faith in me babe. It only feels like I've been run over by a Smart Car. I'll be back up and on my feet by tomorrow, tops."
Roxas shook his head against Axel's shoulder. "Nope. Dem's mom said no school for a while. Which means you should stay in bed."
"And let you go out into that cruel world all by yourself?"
"I've been doing it for fourteen years."
Axel cringed slightly, remembering just how young the young teen curled up next to him was. "But now you have me here to protect you."
"I think I can manage on my own. At least for a few days. Just until you get better."
"Fine. Be that way."
Axel smirked, kissing Roxas in the forest of blonde spikes. A calm peace fell over the two until Axel gained a worried expression. "I thought I told you not to come today. You could have been seriously hurt, Rox."
"But I wasn't. I wasn't just gonna leave you there. I knew you were hurt. I wasn't gonna let Xigbar and Demyx go alone, you know. And I told you he didn't hate you. You shoulda seen how pissed he was at your dad. I seriously thought he was gonna shoot him!"
"Nah, that bullet's reserved for Seifer. Even has his name on it. But, promise me you won't do something so stupid ever again."
"You're dad isn't that bad. He doesn't scare me. I could so take him."
"Rox, you can barely keep me at bay and that ass can break me. Don't even try, please?"
"I can so keep you at bay! You're safe now, though, so there's no need. But if he ever comes near you, I'm punching him in the balls."
"I love you, Rox."
"I love you too, Axel."
"Now, are you so sure that you can keep me at bay?"
"Yeah, wh- ah! Axel! No! No! I'm ticklish! Don't! Please! Stop! Axel! Ahaha, ahh! Please!"
Axel moved his fingers along the blonde's sides, causing the younger teen to squirm, laughing and yelping lightly. Moving his good arm to trap the blonde, he leaned forward, capturing the younger's lips with his own.
To Be Continued
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