Chapter Six

Roxas slept all day. He didn't wake up, not even when Demyx brought him his favorite happy food. Demyx had first made pancakes when their parents passed on, and ever since then whenever Roxas got sad or down Demyx would make him pancakes. Roxas ignored the plate his brother left and rolled over.

Axel had been silent on the way home, no jokes, no stupid lines, and definitely no touching. He seemed to be able to read Roxas' mood very well, and he seemed to not want to upset him. Roxas was feeling weird; he didn't understand the feelings he had, not at all. Sitting up he pulled a drawer open by his bed and grabbed a thin, razor.

Red on white, paint on a canvas. Something that would make him forget, go numb, and then leave this world for the feeling of bliss and beauty. The cuts were deep, deeper then they had been in a long while. Was it Axel or Sora that was bothering him? Why did he feel this way? He grabbed his cell phone and dialed Zexion's number sighing into the receiver. Demyx had left for work not too long ago.

The other answered his phone with a yawn. "What's up, Rox?"

"Do you want to hang out?"

Zexion heard the defeat in his best friend's voice. He was silent for a moment and then sighed. "Okay, I'll come over. Are you okay?"

"No."

It only took one word for Zexion to hang up the phone and leave his house. Roxas had texted him earlier about Sora and Riku. Sure, Zexion had known his little brother was gay, but he wasn't going to be the one to point it out. He had waited for Riku to come to him about it, and when he did Zexion would be ready.

Moments later Zexion was in Roxas' bedroom. They were lying on the bed, side by side. Zexion's arms tight around his mentally unstable friend. How many times had they done this? How many times had he sworn to protect Roxas from these feelings? Red on white, the lines could be seen through the white fabric of Roxas's shirt. Zexion decided not to comment on it this time. He normally would have torn Roxas' clothes off and take his mind off of it, but his friend didn't seem to be in the mood. When he was Zexion would comply like he always did, but for now he had to sit tight and hoped the mood passed.

"Everything will be okay, Roxas. We just have to wait."

Roxas squeezed his eyes shut and clung to Zexion. No, he was sick of waiting and tired for something to change. Things were never going to change. "I'll be stuck here with Demyx alone."

Zexion looked at Roxas surprised. "What are you talking about?"

"Riku is going to take Sora and then I'll only have Demyx. I can't leave Demyx with no one." His tears started again and Zexion twisted uncomfortably. "I don't want to be stuck here with Demyx!" Roxas loved his brother but this is not how he had imagined his life.

Zexion closed his eyes and kissed Roxas' forehead. "Demyx wants you and Sora both happy, Roxas. You can't stay here for him. He would be pissed."

He wasn't going to leave his brother alone. Roxas would never be able to do that. He whimpered into Zexion's chest and closed his eyes again. Sleep, he just wanted to sleep forever.

His bed lowered from someone sitting down. A hand on his ankle Roxas murmured in his sleep and snuggled into Zexion's arms. He was cold, tired, was Demyx already home? It had to have been late by now, right? Zexion moved slightly and opened his good eye before sitting up startled.

"Axel?" The room was dark but he could see the crimson spikes. "What the…what are you doing here?"

Axel looked at the two boys in the doorway. Sora and Riku stared at the two in shock. "Sora called me and told me Roxas needed me. He failed to mention you were here."

There was talking, buzzing in his ear and Roxas swatted the air angrily groaning. Zexion opened his mouth and then shut it before staring at Axel intently. What was he doing here? "You came just because Sora called?"

"I suppose." He rubbed the back of his head. If it had been lighter one would see the blush on his cheeks. "Roxas wasn't doing okay when I brought him home. I thought he got worse."

"He hasn't left his bed all day." Zexion hissed. "He's not okay by any means! What did you do to him today?"

"Nothing." Axel protested standing abruptly. "I took him to Sora and then I took him home!"

Sora looked at Zexion, tears in his eyes. "Did I make him mad with Riku?"

Zexion stopped talking. Was he worried? Roxas pushed himself into a half sitting, half laying position. He was still half asleep. "Shut the hell up! I'm trying to sleep okay?"

Sora ran forward and threw his arms around Roxas' neck crying. The tears and cries from the smaller male drove Roxas to full awake. He stared at Sore in complete shock, worried and unsure of what was going on.

"What happened? Are you okay? Is Riku okay?" And why was everyone in his room? Axel? Zexion had a protective arm around Roxas' waist and Riku was in the doorway. "Damn it! Riku, turn my light on now!"

The long haired teenage did as told and flicked the switch up. The light was blinding, but after a moment Roxas tore Sora from his neck and stared at him. "Why are you crying?"

"I didn't mean to make you sad! I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about Riku and me. I won't leave you, Roxas I promise!" Great, just great.

Roxas sucked in a breath slightly annoyed. "Don't say that again." His words were sharp, they silenced everyone. "I will not have you trapped here. I will make you leave if it takes Riku tying you up and throwing you in the trunk of his car. I want you to live your life, Sora."

Riku chuckled slightly, "I like the sound of that."

Roxas shot him a dark look, "Shut the hell up. Why are you here?" He demanded from Axel. "I told you to leave."

"I called him, Rox." Sora spoke softly as he let Roxas push him back. "You seem to get along pretty well with him. I didn't want you to be alone when I left with Riku."

Roxas smirked and ruffled the small, brunette's hair. "You have four years, don't plan something so soon."

Zexion heard the front door slam and he jumped off the bed before pulling Axel off as well. "You do not want to be caught on Roxas' bed by Demyx. He will go bat shit crazy on you."

"Hey Roxas, I know you've been sad but…" Demyx stopped in the hallway. "So we're having a party?"

Zexion watched the long, dirty blond haired male before grabbing Riku's arm. "Time to go. I need to get you fed and Sora has homework." They had school didn't they? Roxas hadn't done any of his homework yet and it was already seven

Axel and Demyx stared each other down before Sora turned to escort Riku out. Roxas was left with Demyx and Axel. "Why was Zexion here?"

Roxas shrugged, "He was consoling me."

"You mean fucking you, right?" Demyx's eyes narrowed. "I thought I told you to knock that off, Roxas. There are better ways to…" He stopped talking at the mortified look on the boy's face. "And this guy isn't close to you huh?"

Axel raised an eyebrow as he stared at Roxas. "So you're gay ten?"

Roxas buried his face in his hands and felt his cheeks heat up. Why, why was this happening? Demyx sighed and ran a hand through his sloppy hair, "My bad then. I'll lecture you later."

Roxas threw a shoe at his brother's retreating back. "I didn't sleep with him!" Tonight anyways.

Axel caught the male's wrist when his sleeve reached his first cut. The blond froze and stared at the spiked haired male. Axel flicked the sleeve up in one easy movement before wincing and bending down next to the bed.

"Roxy, why?"

The blond jerked his arm out of the other's grasp and pulled his sleeve down quickly. His heart was racing in his chest, his body trembling. Only Zexion knew that he painted the canvas red. "I…it's nothing. An accident, something I…I don't know!"

Tears filled his eyes and Axel looked down with soft, green eyes. They reminded Roxas less of the sea and more of a gem, an emerald almost. "Roxy, it's okay really. I'm not judging you, its okay."

Roxas burst into tears for the third time that night. Face in his hands he tried to quell the feeling of impending doom. Axel pulled the small blond to his chest and shushed him softly. He had no idea what was going on with Roxas, not in the least, but he wasn't going to leave him to hurt himself more.

"It'll be okay Roxas; you don't have to fight your feelings. It will be okay."

And for once, for a split second, Roxas believed it.

A/N

I always forget this at the end. Sorry I haven't been communicating well. Hope everyone is enjoying so far! Uh…not really sure the direction yet, so if anyone wants a particular ending (which I think is coming kind of soon), then let me know. I'll see if I can work it in! I'm sure I can, I have noooo ideas.