Rookie
So, I'm trying out another Rookie Romance. So far goin' a lot better than the last. Though that might Jinx it. Love ya, Rox. Hope you still love your Saix. :D Dedicated to my Sky, .Dance.
Chapter Fifteen - Days Fifty-Five to Eighty
Sunday November 1st
Day Fifty Five - Morning
Axel groaned as something warm shuffled beside him. Emerald eyes opened slowly, groggily blinking in the gaining light of morning. Blonde hair filled his vision and he instinctively moved closer to the heat. "Mm, Rox-as," he ground out, snuggling in close to the blonde. The redhead arched his back as a warm breath dusted over his ear.
"That's not Roxas, silly. Look closer."
Blinking hard a few times, slightly confused, Axel focused blurrily on the still-sleeping blonde. He turned back around to find his lips captured in a soft kiss. Moaning softly, Axel backed away from the kissing brunette.
"I ... I need to get home. I need to go see Rox."
"I know. I'll miss you, Axel."
The redhead winced at his name, but forced himself to ignore it. Things were definitely going to be ... different now. The two had promised to remain friends, but they both knew that it would never be the same. Sitting up, Axel ignored the slight pain in his backside from the previous night. Leon backed away from him, letting him dress in peace. The younger teen couldn't help but let out the small whimper as the elder left the room.
"It'll be alright, Axel. You still have Roxas. That's all that matters, right?"
Axel stiffened at the voice, not knowing he had awoken the blonde that was curled beside him. Cloud forced a groggy smile as he sat up slowly, the sheets pooling around in his lap, exposing his cleaned upper body. Burying his face in his fingers, Axel groaned slightly before moaning, Cloud moving closer to him, leaning in and nipping at his ear.
"It won't be the same, Cloud. I won't be able to hang with you guys like this anymore. And ... what about-"
"Shh, Axel. It won't change that much. You'll still be our friend, right? We'd still be here for you."
"How?" Axel hissed in frustrated anger. "How will you be here for me? All it ever is is the sex. Ya'know, sometimes I doubt that you even care. I'm just some tool for the two of you, right? Something to toy with?" Axel ripped himself away from the blonde who thought he knew him so well. Cloud gaped at the redhead as the younger teen shoved himself up from the bed, gathering his clothes in a huff.
He didn't understand why he was so upset. They were his friends and just trying to help him. Even though he didn't feel as though he needed any help.
"Axel?"
A naked redhead stomped down the hall towards the front door, not stopping when the brunette peeked around a corner to see what was making such a racket. Again, his name was said, along with the warning to get dressed, but Axel ignored the man that had fallen for him over the years, storming from the house, slipping into his unlocked car. He didn't even care that he didn't have his keys. He just had to hide away.
Clothes pooling in his lap, Axel rested his forehead against his steering wheel. How many times had he sat like this - except fully clothed - in front of his house, contemplating whether or not he should enter? How many times had he cried, broken down completely? But this ... was a different pain. He was saying goodbye to his friends. Not 'see you around' or 'talk to you later.' No. To him, it was goodbye.
Goodbye to the time the three had spent together; to the stress they relieved; to the help they gave; to the company they were leaving behind. Things couldn't be normal with them anymore. And it scared the redhead. He felt as though he were losing them forever. The memories from the night prior were already fading, only fragments sharp enough to flash through the euphoria staying with him. What would he do without them?
Axel had survived the Storm, but now he had life to get a grip on. Being with the two had made him see just how much his own Roxas meant to him. And ... that in eight months, he would have to go through this whole ordeal again, when he came of age.
"Hey," a voice hushed as the door opened a fraction. Keys were jingled into the space. "You forgot these. Are you gonna be alright?"
Emerald orbs flitted up onto the brunette that was checking in, leaning over the door, shielding the redhead from the world.
"You're both just fucking with me, right? Last night ... Last night didn't happen. What you said didn't happen." Axel began to shake his head, feeling one of his attacks approaching at high speed.
"I meant it all, Axel. And you know I did."
"It didn't happen. We're not gonna have to say goodbye and you aren't gonna leave me and you lied when you said you love me. It's all just a lie, right? Tell me it's a lie."
Leon sighed, shaking his head. He threw the keys into the redhead's lap before closing the door. The grip on the steering wheel was tightened before Axel ripped down the window.
"God damn it, Storm, tell me it was a lie!"
Leon reached the door he had left open and turned to look back at the desperate redhead. "It's Leon, Axel." And the elder teen disappeared through the doorway.
Cursing, Axel threw himself back against the seat.
xXxXx
Roxas was alone in the kitchen, his mother off with some friends. She seemed to be coming home less and less lately.
Nervous eyes glanced at the clock on the microwave. The florescent lights showed 9:49. Axel had eleven minutes to make it back.
A loud, angry protest from the front door as it was slammed shut made the blonde cringe. Before he could even turn around to face the intruder, he was pulled close to a shaking body.
"Don't leave me, Rox. Whatever happens, you can't leave me, okay?"
"Axel?"
"Don't leave me."
"Who said I was gonna?"
"I did. So don't, okay?"
"Axel, are you okay? What happened? Why're you ..."
The blonde let his question die in the air as the intruder slid to the ground, arms now wrapped around the younger teen's legs. Burying tear-soaked cheeks into Roxas' pant legs, Axel sobbed, shuddering. Roxas moved out of his grasp before kneeling down beside him, wrapping him in a reassuring hug, despite the fact he was very aware of the lack of clothing on the redhead.
"Don't leave me, Rox."
Wednesday, November 25th
Day Seventy-Nine - Lunch
"Mmm, Rox-as! Hey!" Roxas nuzzled into the redhead's chest as the elder teen met him in the hall. "Oi, what's up?"
"Math still sucks ass. I was lonely."
"Aww, I'm sorry, babe. Chem involved fire today! I couldn't talk to you because Leon was trying not to get the school burned down."
"I know, I know." Roxas chuckled, only struggling lightly against the elder teen as his book bag was taken away from him. "You guys are still partners then?"
"Yeah. Love how not-awkward it is."
"No chances of you running away with him, is there?" Roxas whined playfully, smirking at the redhead.
"Wha? No! Me, run away with him? No way! Silly." Axel joked back, pulling his love closer to him.
"Hey Axel, I kinda need to go to the bathroom. Can you go get me my usual and I'll meet you in the music room?"
"Aww."
"Please?"
"I suppose."
"Don't worry. I can go to the bathroom myself, ya'know."
"I know. Hurry back though. Seifer got back from a long suspension this morning. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Don't worry, Axel. I'll fight 'im off if I have to."
"Ahh, no, you will not!"
"What, you want me to just submit?"
The two were stopped outside of a bathroom, Axel gripping their book bags tightly, worry spread over his features at the sly smirk that covered Roxas'. "No! That's it, I'm coming with you." Roxas laughed before putting his hands on the taller teen's shoulders. He leaned up onto his tiptoes, pressing his lips to Axel's.
"I'll be okay. It'll take me two minutes to get done and come find you. Would you rather that?"
Axel whimpered, his forehead resting against the blonde's. "No. I ... I'll go down and get your lunch. You just hurry and go to the music room the second you're done, okay?"
"Okay, deal."
"Rox?"
Roxas had turned away but stopped, turning back, biting his lower lip. "Y-Yeah?" He really had to go. Axel could see this in his eyes and chuckled.
"I love you."
Roxas smiled but winced. "I love you too, but, can I? Please?"
Axel nodded before the blonde shot off.
xXxXx
Dunno what Axel's so worried about. Afraid I can't stand up for myself? Roxas huffed, running the warm water over his hands. Not hearing the door open and close as he thought to himself, the blonde jumped at the sound of a voice slamming into him.
"Just the loser I was looking for. Roxas, won't you come with me?"
The young blonde closed his eyes at the familiar voice, his stomach sinking and broiling. Why did Axel always have to be right? Gathering his courage, Roxas gazed at the elder blonde intruder. "Sorry, Seifer. Can't you see I'm a bit busy at the moment? Maybe some other time, alright?"
Seifer crossed his arms over his chest, huffing lightly. "Ha, the loser grew a bit of a backbone since the last time. Let me rephrase my question. Care to come with me on your own free will or will I have to force you?"
"What do you want?"
"For you to come with me, duh."
"Why?"
"To screw Axel up."
"Why would I wanna help you with that?"
"I'll hurt you if you don't."
"Oooh, I'm shaking."
Roxas turned to face the elder, hiding his fear with sarcasm. If there ever was a time that Roxas missed his book bag, it was now. With his book bag, he felt bigger, safer. And ... shit. His phone. Even that had been stowed inside the bag.
Seifer was glaring at the smaller blonde, not finding his tone the least bit funny. "You're coming with me, loser. Now, hurry up and get out here."
"What do you have against Axel?"
Hard blue eyes snapped onto the younger teen, causing all of his confidence to slip away from him. "Why should I tell you?"
"Because I'm involved. I deserve to know why you're about to do whatever the hell it is that you're gonna do."
"I suppose. Let's just say that Axel is everything I wish to be, perhaps. Is that a good enough answer for you?"
"No, not really."
"His life is that much better than mine and so it is my duty to destroy him. I steal everything from him because he has done nothing to deserve it."
"Your logic is screwed."
Roxas was forcing the bravery and he knew that Seifer could smell the fear just rippling from him. "Whatever. Just come on." Not seeing any other option, Roxas followed hesitantly behind the tormentor. "Don't bother looking for Axel. Rai is making sure he doesn't come back up here."
"What're you planning?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"He'll come looking for me."
"He won't find you."
"Are you going to hurt me?"
"If you don't comply."
"Comply?"
"Of course. Like I said, I steal everything from Axel."
"What are you going to do?"
"You'll find out."
"I want to know now!"
Roxas stopped walking beside the blonde, shaking in anger and fear. He didn't like where this was headed. "You will find out later."
Cerulean orbs darted up the hallway, looking for someone that might stick there neck out for him. Brown and golden hair, coming towards him. A chance. The two acquaintances glanced up at the pair of blondes and slowed, not getting involved but passing close enough to find out if the younger was in danger.
"Where are you taking me, Seifer?" Roxas glanced at the brunette, pleading with him in secret to listen.
"You shall find out."
"No, tell me now. I need to know!"
"You'll find out. Now, c'mon."
"No. I'm not moving from this spot unless you tell me where you're taking me."
"You will move, Roxas."
"I won't. Just tell me!"
"Out. I am taking you out. Away from this school."
"Where?"
"Out. Literally, out. Out of the building."
"Where?"
"Not far."
"Where, Seifer?"
Roxas made sure that the two passersby were still listening. "Where are you taking me?"
"Outside. Not far. Over by the picnic tables, maybe."
"It's fuckin' freezing out. There's snow!"
"So? It's not like you'll freeze."
"What are you going to do to me?"
"Take a guess, loser. Are you really that dumb?"
Roxas glanced back over his shoulder and felt as though he were going to be sick. Cloud and Leon had disappeared around the corner. They had left him. They had left him to die with the blonde of his nightmares.
His set-in-stone shoulders slumped in defeat as he felt all hope leave him. He was doomed and he knew it. Shaking, he allowed himself to be led out through the deserted hall into the even more deserted outside. No one was such an idiot as to be still sitting around on the benches. They knew that they would catch a cold.
"What are you going to do to me?"
"Ruin you."
xXxXx
"Axel! Oh, God, I'm glad I found you! You weren't in the music room so I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to find you! You've got to come quick! Please!"
The redhead quirked a crimson brow at the brunette that raced towards him. "Leon? Slow down, man. What's the rush?" Axel shifted the dual book bags on his shoulder to attempt to get them into a more comfortable position as he stood in the bulging cafeteria line.
"Roxas! He's in trouble!"
Shocked fear rolled over the redhead. He knew this was no joke. "What?"
"Seifer has him."
"And you didn't think to stop him?"
Axel lurched out of the line, forcing the elder brunette ahead of him, pushing him on. Leon glanced over his shoulder at him as he took off at a trot. "No! I would have gotten creamed, thank you very much. I'm not the fighting type."
"Cloud was with you, wasn't he?"
"You know he only can stand any sort of violence in the bedroom."
"Whatever. Just... where are they?"
"Outside."
"What? But it's like, freezing out!"
"That's what Roxas said."
The redhead forced himself to go faster, shoving through a group of laughing girls, not even bothering to stop and apologize as they hollered at him. He just had to get to his Roxas. "Where outside?" He hissed as he rounded a corner, almost crashing headlong into another group of people. Leon's voice responded in the direction of the music room.
"Up those stairs and out. Over by the benches!"
A demon on a mission, Axel tore up the stairs, ignoring the burning in his chest, legs and back. He didn't even feel the weight of the extra book bag. The only thought that was running through his mind was to save Roxas.
xXxXx
Roxas was shivering, already freezing, frost going into his bones. Snow was soaking into his pants as Seifer held him down against one of the covered tables. He wasn't beyond pleading, still trying to force the elder off of him but he knew that it was no use. Seifer had set his mind on ruining Axel and he wasn't about to let a little cold stop him.
"P-Please, don't d-do this, S-S-Seifer. P-Please. Just let me g-go. I'm c-cold!" Roxas managed to stammer, shoving up on the elder blonde's chest once more. Said blonde growled at him, not seeming to feel the biting chill in the air as his ice cold fingers moved down to the hem of Roxas' shirt.
"Roxas? Roxas, where are you? Roxas?"
With a small sigh of relief, the small blonde loosened his tensed muscles as he heard the redhead's cries. He smirked up at his captor before getting caught in another violent convulsion of cold. "Y-you're not gonna g-get away with this, d-dickwad."
"Roxas? Seifer. Get the fuck off him right now."
The elder blonde snarled, eyeing the disturbance that always seemed to ruin him. "What'll you do about it?"
"What do you think? Get off him now. Hurt him and I swear, you won't live to see Christmas with my mom."
"Ooh, you've got me so scared," Seifer smirked, his lip lifting in malice. "Back off, loser. Sit back and enjoy the show."
From his spot below the elder blonde, Roxas could see the anger that was spread over Axel's features and he mildly feared for the life of his attacker. But that fear and concern dissipated as Seifer slipped his hand up under the fabric of the younger teen's shirt. All he wanted was for the elder blonde to get off him and if that meant having his life taken, he was all for it. Roxas cried out in fear, causing the protective redhead to snap, dropping both book bags on the path of trodden-down snow.
"Get the fuck away from him right now, Seifer. Last chance." Long, strong fingers cracked as their owner began to crouch into a pouncing stance. The elder blonde braced for the impact but didn't move away from his victim. One last warning growl and Axel lunged himself forward, knocking into the elder blonde. Roxas cried out once more as he felt himself lurch, being pulled from the table with the fighting pair. In the confusion of the attack, the grip on his shoulders loosened and he felt the redhead move in to take his place.
Stumbling up to his feet, Roxas felt that bubbling fear of Seifer getting his brains knocked out rumble in his stomach once more. Axel was swearing incoherently, slamming his fist into Seifer's face with each word. Shocked from the force of the attack, Seifer could do nothing to defend himself, pinned below the furious redhead. The younger blonde looked on helplessly as crimson droplets from a broken nose littered the ivory snow.
"Axel, stop! You're going to kill him!" Roxas cried, gripping Axel's shoulders, trying to haul the elder teen away despite the numbness in his body. He looked around in desperation, wondering if there was anyone watching. Catching sight of the filled windows in the hallways, he groaned, pulling harder at Axel's shoulders. "C'mon! I don't want you to go to jail! Don't kill him, Axel!"
"Back up, kiddo. I'll get him away. Axel, man, give it up. I've got the gun handy."
Roxas felt warm arms grip onto him, pulling him back away from his love. Demyx smiled down at him as the black-haired teen that had spoken ripped Axel up off his prey, tossing him back down to the ground at Roxas' feet.
"Xigbar, what the fuck do you think you're doing? Let me hurt him! Let me rip his fuckin' head of!"
"Quiet, Axel. My turn to play with the little prick. Incase you forgot, he's gotten to me too." Xigbar reached into his jacket, pulling out the familiar handgun. Roxas sank down to the redhead at his feet, pressing his nose into the mess of crimson spikes.
"You saved me, you saved me," he chanted, feeling the elder teen loosen as he himself began to tense, shivering from the cold and expectations of what would happen.
"Sick fuck, I'll enjoy this."
The shot rang out and there was a moment of stunned silence before a pained scream echoed through the cold air. Xigbar stepped back slightly, shaking from the weight of what he had just done pressing down on him. Demyx rushed forward, not looking down at the screaming boy as crimson pulsed from the gunshot wound in his leg. With the support of arms holding him steady, the shooter turned from his victim to see the teens he had protected.
"C'mon. We gotta get outta here. You two must be freezin'."
Roxas felt himself be pulled up but he wasn't sure who the boy lifting him was. He knew it was a friend and so forced his face into the warm crook of a neck. Soothing words were hushed into his ear before a soft hum enveloped him from a godly voice. Demyx's arms wrapped tighter around him as he whined at the noise, feeling a sense of calm brushing over his shaking body. He was still so cold.
"Rox ... are you gonna be okay?" Axel asked worriedly, coming up behind the two blondes as Xigbar rushed to get the doors, the two book bags clashing against his back. "Did he do anything to you? Did he hurt you? I'm sorry! I knew this would happen! I'm sorry, Rox!"
"A-Axe?" Roxas' voice was a stuttered plea, causing the scared redhead to move closer. "C-Can you g-go get me some ... something w-warm? From the c-cafet-teria?"
"O-Of course, Rox. Anything you need, I'll get it."
Thrusday, November 26
Day Eighty - Midmorning
"Anything I could get you, babe?"
The blonde blinked blurrily at the redhead that sat alert at the edge of his bed. He forced a smile as Axel gripped his hand, looking anxious.
"Soup?"
"That it?"
Roxas nodded weakly, leaning his head back on his pillow. The prior day's horrors had caused him to end up with a bad case of the sniffles and Axel felt as though it was his entire fault, thus becoming the blonde's personal slave for the day. Even though Roxas didn't enjoy the attention, he allowed the redhead to run around and wait on him.
xXxXx
Axel sat down on a kitchen chair, tapping his fingers against the table as he waited for the water to boil for a cup of hot chocolate to hold the blonde over until he was ready to make lunch. Roxas' ringtone was running through his mind and he was tapping to the beat, muttering the lyrics under his breath.
"I think you're fine, you really blow my mind. Maybe someday you and me could run away.-"
"Axel?"
The blonde's voice could barely be heard from his room on the second floor. It was being slightly overpowered by a melody that the redhead hadn't heard for a while. But Axel put the song out of his mind, thinking it was just a figment of his imagination. He had no reason to call.
"Rox? Everything okay?"
"Phone's ringing."
Shit. Darting out of his seat, Axel turned the stove off and forced himself to take the stairs two at a time. He couldn't miss this call.
- do anything you want, clean your room, or wash your car. I'll do anything so long as you don't go. But he said, this is what brothers are for.
"Hello?"
'Bro! Hey! How're ya?"
"Reno." Axel felt his legs begin to shake and he sat beside his blonde, feeling nervous and excited. "What do you want?"
"Now, is that any way to talk to your Big Bro?"
"It is if he's a total dickwad. What do you want?" He noticed cerulean orbs gazing at him in tired confusion. Roxas moved his hand out, allowing it to be squeezed by the redhead for comfort.
"I was in the neighborhood and wanted to drop in and see ya."
"That's a surprise."
"Shouldn't you be in school?"
"No. Well, yeah. But, Rox is sick and I wanted to take care of him like a good person should do."
"You can stop tryin' to rub it in my face, ya'know? I told ya I was sorry."
"Whatever. What brings you down here?"
"Well, I wanted to check in on my lil' bro. You gonna come out or does Dad have you pinned in there?"
"You're outside the house?"
"Duh. Look out your window."
Axel leaned back, a smirk on his face. "Wrong house."
"What?"
"You got the wrong house. I moved outta there."
"What? Axel, oh my God, that's amazing! When? Where did you go? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I didn't see a reason to tell you."
"Where are you? I wanna see ya!"
"Rude with you?"
"Naturally."
Axel quirked an eyebrow, turning to his blonde. "What d'ya say, Rox? Wanna meet my bro?"
"Who's Rox?"
The younger teen smiled before his features crinkled and he convulsed, sneezing violently. Axel laughed, kissing the blonde on his slightly-sweaty forehead.
"I'd need to get cleaned up first," the blonde sniffled.
"Deal. And you need to eat. Re, why don't you drop by for lunch? I'll make you guys some soup."
"You can cook?"
"Rox's been teachin' me."
"Who is this 'Rox' you keep talkin' about?"
"You'll see. Anyways, so, it's a deal then?"
To Be Continued
Reno's ringtone was Brothers by Dean Brody.
Can ya wait till Next Week to see the Brothers?
~xbuttonsx~