CHAPTER FIVE

Everyone was waiting as Roxas came hurrying at last to the station, lounging on the benches as the trains arrived and left. The lights were beginning to flicker on, one by one, making the outer dimness seem all the more thick.

They all stared as he puffed up the last of the stairs, wild-eyed. His gaze fell upon Axel. "Axel!" The redhead was already in motion, sweeping towards him with concern. He grabbed Roxas by the arms, bending down to see better, disbelieving. "Roxas, what happened to you?"

Roxas shook his head violently, gasping, "You'll never believe it! But you have to! You're the only one who – " He broke off, seeing his friends approach, identical looks of horror on their faces.

"Roxas, why are you wet?"

Pence, slightly awed, said, "You look like you've seen a ghost, Roxas."

Hayner glowered. "What happened, and who do I have to hunt down for payback?"

Roxas, distressed by their upset, quickly replied, "No, no, no one did this to me…"

"Seifer?" Hayner demanded, determined to find a culprit. "Did Seifer do this? Damn it, Roxas, you better tell me if it was, I am not letting that guy – "

"Hayner, please!" They all stared at him, shaking and dripping, face pale under its light tan. Axel's arms tightened around him. "No one did this to me – I fell into the fountain."

"Oh!" Pence brightened instantly. "One of the wonders! Axel told us – did anything happen?"

Roxas stared, eyes going wide for a moment. Then he shook his head. "Nothing happened. I told you. I fell in."

Hayner squinted, canted a hip to one once. "That's what's got you so freaked out? That's why you're racing up here screeching for bean-pole?"

"What can I say, Blondie?" Axel smirked over at him, his posture becoming loose around Roxas, draping himself over the boy. "I'm an easy person to miss."

"Dude, if I had a car of my own, I wouldn't miss."

"Good thing you're still living with mommy and daddy, then, Blondie, I can walk the streets without fear," Axel sneered. Hayner rolled his eyes, kept his temper in check, and refocused on his best friend.

"Seriously, Roxas, that's not your 'I just fell in a fountain' face, it's your 'I just got the shit beaten out of me' one, and I haven't seen it for a while. So tell me:" He leaned forward, glaring. "Did – Seifer – hurt you?"

"Do I look hurt?" Roxas demanded, strangled and frustrated. "Can you please stop being so fucking aggressive? This isn't the schoolyard anymore, Hayner. Grow up a little!"

Hayner flinched away, looking as stunned as if Roxas had reared back and slapped him. He blinked several times, an almost confused expression falling across his features. Olette and Pence had long-since fallen silent, sombre.

"I just – I was worried for you, is all." Hayner's voice was quiet, that stricken quality yet to fade into what would no doubt be injured anger. A disembodied voice announced the arrival of the train to Twilight Town central. Roxas dropped his head.

"Hayner, I – "

"Forget it." The other blond was sullen. "Just – I'm getting on the train now. Why don't you stay and find a bench, and pour out the truth to Axel. I'm sure he'll do a better job consoling you than I ever could. After all, I don't try to stick my tongue down your throat. I guess that makes all the difference."

All remorse swept away. "Damn it, Hayner!"

There was really nothing more to say than that.

Hayner left, the other two following closely, Pence casting glances back, Olette, apparently, just as displeased with Roxas as her boyfriend. As they disappeared into the train, Roxas' head fell back against Axel.

"Damn," he said softly. The train doors slid shut, and it pulled away a minute later, carrying Roxas' childhood friends with it.

Axel held him for a long moment, then gently released and led him over to the benches. They sat, Roxas looking suddenly exhausted.

"I told you," he said at last. "I'm a bad friend."

"How about," said Axel levelly, an arm still around his shoulders, "you tell me what happened at the fountain."

The life bled out of Roxas. He slumped against the redhead. "You'll believe me, won't you?" he asked, voice small. Axel stroked the blond spikes soothingly.

"Of course, Roxie. I know it's real."

His blue eyes slid shut. "My reflection came to life… It talked to me."

Axel lowered his face, asked into the other's ear, "What did it say?"

Golden eyelashes flickered. "It wants to leave. It doesn't like it here."

"Hmm. You know… I can help you with that." Roxas opened his eyes, bright, tired blue, looked at the redhead, saying nothing. Axel leaned forward, and kissed the end of his nose, sending him pink. "Silly Hayner," he murmured. "I haven't had the chance to stick my tongue down your throat yet."

Roxas shut his eyes, drew into himself slightly, nowhere to escape to with the redhead's arm around him like it was. Nothing happened for a while. When he cracked open one eye, he found Axel staring at him. "Axel?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you… looking at me?"

"Because I have a working-man fetish." He grinned wolfishly. "Remember? Or maybe…" He nuzzled the blond's hair a little. "…just a Roxie fetish…"

Roxas' eyes went wide. For a moment, this blanked out his immediate concerns.

But only for a moment.

He dipped his head. "Axel?"

"Roxie?"

"Am – Am I going crazy? Normal people… normal people don't see their reflections come alive." He turned to watch the next train draw into the station, brakes squealing, engine sighing, bringing a fresh wind hissing through the station. "It's not like I haven't looked into that fountain before. When I was little, we used to throw pennies into it and make wishes. Okay, so it's not a wishing well, and half the time the pennies bounced back onto the grass, but… The point I'm trying to make, is that it's just a fountain. It's not magic. None of my wishes ever came true. So why now?" His head swivelled back to the redhead. "Is it you?"

Axel looked startled. "What? Me? How could I make your reflection come to life, Roxie? I wasn't even there!"

Roxas frowned. "I don't know, Axel. But all of today has been weird. You're the only one that believes in what I've been seeing – do you just believe in weird things, or do you know more about this than me?"

"I – Know more than you? No, Roxie, not at all. I just – I like weird stuff. I believe in weird stuff."

"So, really, you don't believe me believe me… You just really want it to be true. Right?"

"No. No! Roxas – " Axel turned the blond to face him full-on, a scowl in place as he said, "I believe you because I know you're not delusional, and you're not a liar. The fact that I'm open to the unknown doesn't mean I'm gullible, alright? I can tell with you. I can tell you're serious about those things. That is why I believe you."

Roxas' mouth turned down at the corners. He met the green eyes reluctantly, nodded slowly. "Okay, I guess. But, I mean – how can you be so certain, when I'm pretty sure I must be going nuts?"

"Roxas, it's easy to blame it on insanity now – because there's no shadow-person around anymore, telling you what it wants. At the time, though, it felt real, didn't it?"

Roxas' eyes narrowed sharply. "I didn't call it a shadow person. I called it my reflection. How do you know it was my shadow?"

Axel's face became shuttered. "You called it your shadow."

"No, I didn't."

"You did, Roxas, I heard you."

"I didn't call it my shadow, Axel."

"Are you calling me a liar?" Axel's tone was sharp, challenging. Roxas blanched, shifting back on the bench, but Axel gripped him, held him in place. "Roxas, I won't do anything that'll cause you harm, you know that, right?"

Roxas blinked rapidly. "Cause me harm? Axel, what – ?"

"So why can't you trust me?"

A silence fell between them. "I feel…" Roxas said softly, after a while, eyes studying Axel's features, "like I've known you before."

It was Axel's turn to jerk back, green eyes wider than Roxas had ever seen them. "What the hell makes you say that, Roxie?"

The blond shook his head. "I don't know. All of a sudden… you feel familiar." Axel froze, barely even breathing, staring at him. Roxas began to grow concerned. "Axel? What's wrong? What is it?"

Suddenly, the redhead's arms were back around him, gathering him close, holding him tight. "Nothing's wrong," he breathed, sounding astounded. "Nothing at all, Roxas. No – this is… it's a good thing. This is a good thing."

"Why?" he asked, muffled by Axel's shoulder.

"Just because, okay? Jesus, for once in your goddamn life, stop asking questions. Just let me fucking hug you for a while!"

"…Okay."

A few minutes passed. The station announcement came on, informing them that the next train into Central Station would be arriving in one minute. Darkness had fallen by now, crickets chirping their song in the background. A cold wind blew, Axel's presence warm, his breath heating a patch of Roxas' head. Roxas could hear the train coming in the distance.

"This is us," he said quietly. Axel hesitated, nodded, pulled reluctantly away, for once not meeting the other teen's gaze.

"Let's get you home, then."

.o.O.o.

The ride back to Central Station was quiet. Axel and Roxas sat side-by-side, not speaking, watching the dark world go by. The train swayed back and forth with its clickety-clack metronome, lulling Roxas almost to sleep. When they arrived at Central, Axel had to shake him back to alertness.

"Roxie…" His voice was soft. "Roxie, we're here. We need to get off the train…"

"Why?" Roxas whispered, enamoured with sleep, content to loll in this fuzzy, between-worlds state. "We could always just… go to the beach…"

Axel snuffed a laugh. "Don't tempt me, shrimp." His watch went off. "Ahh – shut the fuck up!"

Roxas was abruptly hauled from his seat, being carried along. He snapped to consciousness. "Ah! Axel! Hey – put – put me down!"

"In a minute, Roxie, gotta get you onto solid ground, first."

They emerged out into the cold air, and Roxas was deposited back on his feet, flustered. "I could've walked!"

"And I could've skipped, but it turns out I had to carry you, and skipping with an extra person's weight is hard." The redhead smirked, and smoothed Roxas' wild hair. "Look, Roxie, I just wanna walk you home and get going, okay?"

"Why is your watch always going off?" Roxas asked curiously. Axel shrugged, started walking, the blond automatically following. Their steps echoed in the mostly empty station, Twilight Town tucked away for the night despite the hour only being around six.

"I've got a lot of deadlines," was the answer, shoulders hunching as he dug his fists into his pockets.

They pushed through the glass doors, out into the darkness lit only by the occasional, weak streetlight. Roxas laughed a little at the redhead's statement. "I never picked you as a big responsibility-type guy."

Axel lifted his head and sighed, focusing on the road. "Yeah. Not many people do. But then there's just things you've got to do sometimes, you know?"

"Oh… Is everything…" Roxas looked over worriedly. "…okay?"

Axel gave a crooked smile, huffed a little and shook his head. "When did you get so damn nice, Roxie?"

Roxas inhaled, copying Axel's body language by putting his hands in his pockets, lifting his chin as he looked straight ahead. "I'm not, really. I'm not very nice at all. Ever since you came along, all I've wanted is to leave everything behind. It's like, all the years of my life here don't matter enough. I feel like I'm using you… I feel like it looks like I'm using you…" He glanced over, frowning. "But I'm not. And – I know you don't like talking about your home, for whatever reason… you always dodge my questions… but if you ever do want to talk about it, I'm more than happy to – "

"That's what makes you nice," Axel interrupted quietly. "Being nice doesn't mean you're perfect – but you care, so that's enough for me." He flashed the boy a smile. "I'm fine, Roxas, really. Don't worry about me."

Ten minutes later, they halted outside Roxas' house, the pair of them gazing up at it. "You know," Roxas said idly, "if you threw rocks right now, I wouldn't come to the window."

There was a beat of silence. "…Roxie, that's the most fucking random thing I've ever heard you say. You're standing next to me. It's hard to be in two places at once." He added in a mutter, "Believe me, I know."

"You do, huh?" Roxas studied him for a moment. "Thanks for walking me home. Normally when your watch goes off, you just start running."

"Yeah, well – sometimes, deadlines are made to be broken. Or at least pretzeled out of shape."

Roxas grinned. "Right." He didn't move. Axel raised his eyebrows, glanced over towards the door.

"Shouldn't you be getting going? Or were you planning on inviting me in for coffee?"

Roxas was surprised. "You can, you know – if you want. You could come in and meet my parents…"

Axel shook his head, forcing away his distaste at the thought. "No, that's cool. I'd rather not get more tangled up in your life than I already am."

"What? Why not? I don't mind you being tangled in my life."

Axel smiled indulgently at the blond, but shook his head again. "No, really – you don't get it right now, but you will. On the day I tell you everything, how about that?"

Roxas thought for a minute. "Is that day coming sooner, or later?"

"Sooner, Rox. Sooner than you'd probably think." He fixed the blond with a steady look. "Tell me one thing, before I hit the road – how keen are you to leave this place?"

Roxas blinked, looked over towards his house, quiet for a moment. "I don't know. Pretty bad, I guess."

"You think I'll have to wait long for you, Roxie?"

Roxas spluttered a little, startled by the question, blushing. "What?"

He didn't pursue the topic, choosing instead to retreat. "I'd better get going. I'm expected elsewhere." He leaned in, kissed Roxas' nose for the second time that evening. "But I'll see you around, okay?"

Feeling vaguely anxious, the blond asked, "Tomorrow? You're coming back tomorrow, right? Same time?"

Axel's feet carried him backwards, expression twisted in thought. "Oh, yeah, sure – the project." He nodded. "Yeah, I'll be back. Same time, same place."

"Or," Roxas called hopefully, the distance between them growing, "I could always come pick you up. You said you live nearby, right?"

"I'll see you tomorrow, Roxie!" Axel gave him one last grin, an amused acknowledgment of his efforts, and jogged away.

Roxas watched until the redhead was gone from sight, before heading for the house. The smell of turmeric hit him as soon as he shut the door, the warmth of home filling his senses. He stood in the entrance for a long minute, inhaling, arms hanging by his sides, existing in this one moment. He wondered if his mom had got that movie.

"I'm home," he called, levering off his shoes and dropping them to the floor.

"Roxas, how was your day?"

"Dad!" He entered the sitting room, to find his father on the settee, flipping through the cable channels. "Hey, stranger. When did you get home?"

"About twenty minutes ago. I'm sick."

Concerned, Roxas folded himself into the single chair, feet drawn up. "Sick?"

His dad gave a couple of very, very false coughs. "Sick."

Roxas broke into a grin. "Oh. I see. Poor thing."

"It's the earliest he's been home in two weeks," said his mother, emerging from the kitchen with a soda, a wry smirk in place, "and all he had to do was lie his pants off." She tossed the can to the waiting, calloused hands. "Roxas, honey, you want a soda?"

"No, thanks, mom. I like my teeth."

"Says the boy who ate waffles for breakfast…" She trailed back to the kitchen, throwing over her shoulder, "Dinner's in five minutes, buster, you got home just in time. Go wash up."

Roxas sighed at the effort of having to stand so soon after sitting, and hauled himself, tottering, to his feet. Halfway to the stairs, the doorbell rang. A burst of anticipation zinged through his veins – was Axel back? "I'll get it," he called, trotting over to the door. When he pulled it open, the face gazing in wasn't what he expected.

Startled, he said, "Hayner?"

The taller blond gave him a dry, pursed-lip look. "Hi. We need to talk."

Axel sprung unbidden into mind: Oh, no, Blondie, don't tell me you're breaking up with me! I'll kill myself, I swear I will! MARRY ME!

"Oh, uh, okay." Roxas eyed him uncertainly, hugging the door, his face pressed against the edge, hands fiddling with the doorknob on either side. "So, uh, what's up?"

Hayner rolled his eyes. "Can I come in?"

"Oh, well… we're about to start dinner…"

"Great!" Hayner pushed past into the house. "I'm starved!" He raised his voice. "Mrs. Roxas! I'm staying for dinner!"

"Hayner, dear, I haven't seen you in ages! You want a soda?"

Roxas blinked, sighed, shut the door.

Dinner was a noisy affair with both parents and Hayner sitting at the table, the dirty-blond providing a running commentary on just about every piece of food he placed in his mouth and saying how fucking delicious it was. Roxas picked at his food, casting dubious glances around the table, trying to seem engaged in the conversation, all the while fighting with the little voice in his head. This wasn't so bad, was it? No. Best friend, mom and dad, a nice meal, a warm home – what more could a guy want? Aside from a steady girlfriend, a well-paying job, a dog, a cat, his own mortgage, a baby, and an eventual grave right alongside where grammy and pop currently resided.

No, this wasn't hard at all.

"Okay, so who's up for dessert?"

"Mr. Roxas, I'm afraid I'm going to have to break up with Olette and elope with your wife."

"I think… I'm going to be sick," Roxas muttered. The rest of the table laughed. He shook his head sharply. "No, really." He pushed back, got to his feet, and ran for the stairs, gasping for air.

"Roxas, honey?"

He bolted up to the bathroom, slammed the door shut, knelt in front of the toilet and cradled his head in his hands. Tears stung at his eyes. It wasn't meant to be like this. He was supposed to be happy with his life.

His panting filled the room, bouncing off the tiles. Blue eyes squeezed shut. Trapped. Just like his shadow.

Someone knocked. "Roxas?" Hayner pushed the door cautiously open. "You okay?"

Roxas sniffed, pulled his head back from the bowl, nodded. "Yeah, just… for a second there, I didn't think I was going to hold it down."

"Dude, I swear, I'm not into milf's. Not that your mom is one. Or that I'm… trying to insult her by saying she's not..." He shook his head. "Okay, I am not going to elope with your mother."

Roxas smiled weakly. "That wasn't why I felt sick."

Hayner snorted. "I'm aware of that, Roxas. I was trying to make a joke."

"Operative word being: trying."

Hayner studied him. "You still think you might hurl?"

Roxas closed his eyes. "Nah. I'm okay now."

"Come on, then. Come lie down for a while." Hayner stepped in and gently hooked his arms under Roxas'. Roxas staggered a little as he stood, Hayner tightening his grip and steering the shorter blond carefully into his bedroom down the hall. He led him to the bed, got him sitting, and went and closed the door. Grabbing the desk chair, he flipped it around to sit backwards, and propped his chin on his arms. "So," he said.

Roxas wearily pushed himself back, lying on his side, head sinking into the pillow. He sighed, feeling calmer. "So," he agreed. They were silent for a while, falling into old habits, a comfortable peace hanging in the air. "I thought you'd be busy being mad at me," Roxas said at last.

Hayner fixed him with a hard look. "Me, too, to be honest. I mean, I was just trying to be your friend and be supportive, and you threw it right the fuck back at me covered in piss."

Roxas closed his eyes. "Yeah. I know."

Hayner cocked an eyebrow. "Is that it? No heartfelt apology?"

"I like Axel. A lot. But he's never kissed me on the mouth."

The other blond grunted, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Okay, great, good to know. Never do me the favour of enlightening me when it does happen, okay?"

"What the hell makes you think we're involved like that, anyway?" Roxas scowled.

Hayner said scornfully, "Oh, come on, Roxas, we've been best friends our whole lives. You think I don't know by now the way you look at your crushes? This is just like that Naminé chick all over again, only with a redhead who's a dude, and looks like he wants to molest you behind some bushes."

Roxas sat up, snatching up his pillow and smacking the other boy, gasping, "He does not! Don't be so fucking mean!"

Hayner was laughing under the assault. "He so does, Roxas. I told you, I see the way he watches you!"

"He… he watches me?" Roxas hugged the pillow close, uncertainly.

Hayner smiled wryly. "And oh, hear the hope in those words." He sobered up a little as he said, "I didn't know you, you know, liked guys that way."

"Yeah, well, when there's you and Pence around, the last thing I want to think of is making out with guys," Roxas responded with a grin. Hayner shuddered.

"And I thank you for that – desperately, dearly."

Roxas shifted uncomfortably. "Besides, I mean, it's not like I'm bursting out of the proverbial closet. I just… I like Axel. I didn't think I would, but I do."

Hayner, looking equally unsettled, said, "Okay, fine. Look, I'm sorry about what I said at the station. You made me mad, so I kind of hit back. I'm not saying I won't use this against you again, because I probably will, being the absolute bastard that I can be, but I'll try. You know, try to be supportive and stuff."

Roxas grimaced. "What, not scared I'll try to grope you?"

Hayner laughed out loud, rocking back in his chair. "Are you kidding? Olette'd kill you, Rox! I know you value your life better than that!"

A slow grin spread across the shorter blond's face. "So… you're not mad at me?"

"For being totally gay for Axel?" He ignored the reflexive wince that came from stating it so baldly at such a premature stage and shrugged. "I'm not bothered. As long as you don't turn fruity overnight, and come to school wearing a fucking tutu or something, I'm willing to believe you're still the same person – just with serious fucking hang-ups. I mean, it's bean-pole."

"Shut up, Hayner."

That silence fell again, and things felt right for the first time in a while.

"Hayner?"

"What?"

"Do you…" Roxas hesitated. "Do you ever think about travelling? Seeing far-off places? Getting away from Twilight Town?"

Hayner was surprised. "Getting away? Why? I love it here, man. I mean, sure, there's stuff out there, but that's what TV is for. Vicarious shit, you know? I'm happy here. I don't need to travel." He looked curiously at the blue-eyed teen. "Do you?"

"I – I guess… I mean, I'd rather not just stick around forever."

Hayner frowned. "Dude, this is your home, though. You can't leave. I mean, what about your parents? And us, your friends? We've been together for our whole lives. You don't want to just throw that away, do you?"

Stupid Hayner. Stupid, stupid Hayner. "Do you think you'll end up marrying Olette?"

Hayner jumped, spluttered, nearly fell of his chair. "Holy shit, Roxas." He planted his hands on his head, brown eyes wide, startled. "Where's all this coming from?"

Roxas shook his head, rolled over. "I'm not feeling great again," he said softly, staring at the wall. "You mind letting me get some rest?"

"…Roxas, what's going on with you?" Hayner sounded… sad. He sounded like… like maybe, he'd lost his best friend, and didn't know why, or how to get him back.

That part of their lives was over.

"Nothing," Roxas murmured, eyes slipping shut. "I'm just tired. I'll sleep it off, okay? I'll see you tomorrow, Hayner."

Hayner stood there for a while longer, watching the blond's shoulder rise and fall with each breath. When nothing further was forthcoming, he quietly left the room, and closed the door.

.o.O.o.

The next day, Roxas was quiet as he left the house, meeting Axel in the warm sunshine. "You ready for some more wonders, Roxie?" the redhead enthused. Roxas shrugged.

"Sure."

They got walking, Axel frowning down at him. "Everything, uh, okay down there?"

He nodded. "Yeah, Axel. Everything's fine."

They reached the Usual Spot, deafened by the sound of the Sunday train rattling overhead, some dust floating down into Axel's hair.

"Okay," announced Hayner, once everyone was gathered. "So, we figure we'll finish off the other three regular wonders today, and go for the mansion on Tuesday, since both me and Roxas work Mondays after school. Then, it's all just a matter of doing the writing."

"I'm not comfortable only having two days to write it up," Olette said firmly. "I say we split up the wonders once they're all done, and everyone has to write up at least one of them tomorrow after school – even if you are working. You can do it at home."

"Oh, right, like I didn't have better things to do," Hayner muttered. He sighed. "Okay, fine, we'll do what the slave-driver says and not leave everything until the last minute."

"Olette, you ball-breaker," Axel drawled, making the brunette blush.

"Axel, stop that," she scolded. "So, what're we doing today, anyway?"

"We've got the moaning tunnel, the jumping bag, and the spooky train that goes by itself."

"I'm already terrified," Hayner said dryly. "So, okay, how're we going to do this? Do we split up again, or what?"

"The tunnel we can reach from this side of town; it's actually not far from here," Axel informed them. "The jumping bag is on Sunset hill, which, incidentally, is the best place we can hope for to see the mystery train."

"I don't know," Pence said sceptically. "I don't think I've heard of any ghost trains around here. We catch the train pretty often, Axel."

"So? Maybe it chugs around when you're not looking – except that this time, we will be looking." Axel pointed at him. "Just make sure to pay attention." He turned to Hayner. "In answer to your question, we don't have to split up, no."

"Well, then, let's get going," Olette chirped, jumping to her feet, once again clutching her satchel.

They headed out of the Usual Spot, together this time, moving as a chattering group towards the tunnels. Roxas hung close to Axel, who smiled at him encouragingly.

"You seem a little flat today, Roxie," he said, as Olette and Hayner got caught up in some argument over the numbering of the wonders. Roxas shrugged.

"I'm okay. I didn't get a whole heap of sleep last night." Hayner, hearing the last part of this, glanced over his shoulder. Scowling at Axel, he twisted back, resuming the discussion with his girlfriend, but with less determination.

Noticing, Axel nudged Roxas, murmuring, "Is everything okay with him? You guys don't seem to hate each other today…"

Roxas forced a smile. "We didn't hate each other to begin with. But yeah, we got things sorted. He came over a few minutes after you left and stayed for dinner. He sort of gets that I'm not the same person I used to be, I think."

"Really?" Axel asked, interest spiking. "What makes you say that?"

Roxas thought for a moment. "I guess, a couple of years ago, I would have just told him everything straight away. And I wouldn't have got mad at him for threatening to beat up the world. I would have almost… expected it, I guess." He shrugged. "He wasn't even mad anymore when he came over. It's like, he's starting to get, somewhere inside, that I'm drifting away."

Cautiously, Axel placed an arm around his shoulders. Roxas stiffened. This wasn't just a buddy-buddy sort of thing – that's why Axel was being careful. Maybe to anyone looking at them, it would seem casual, but… Axel was trying to hold him, in a sideways sort of fashion. Not just hang on him, but… hold him. After a long moment, Roxas relaxed slightly, leaning in just the smallest amount.

They reached the entrance to the tunnels ten minutes later, and started down into the sloping coolness. "So, there's a few tunnels around here." Pence's voice echoed back to them. "Do we just go around systematically searching, or do we separate to cover more ground?"

"Separate, I guess," Hayner said without enthusiasm. "Seems like the fastest way to get it done. But you know, bean-pole, I haven't found myself too awed by any of this. None of your wonders have panned out so far."

"Not for you, maybe," Axel agreed mildly. "You never know, Blondie, you might find yourself surprised."

"Pssh, yeah, by something you've dreamed up? I doubt it. Same groups as yesterday, only this time, Pence is with me and Olette. Otherwise he'll get lost."

"Will not!" Pence protested. Hayner rolled his eyes.

"You are directionally challenged, Pence. These are some long-ass tunnels. You want to risk it?" Pence joined their couple, muttering away to himself. Hayner threw a glance at the other two, his gaze lingering a moment longer on Roxas, before he smiled. "Try to meet back in an hour, okay? I don't want to have to come fish you out."

As they left, Axel allowed his jaw to swing open. "Did – " He glanced wildly at Roxas, a hand pointing after the retreating trio. "Did Blondie just – smile at me?"

Roxas smirked. "I think he was smiling at me, but you were in the cross-fire, so I guess it counts."

"Miracles happen," Axel stated dumbly. Hand on heart, he nodded, pretending to fight back tears. "Yes, sir, they do." The act dropped, he clapped his hands, the crack echoing around their heads. "So, we go find some moaning, right? Of course…"

Roxas held up a hand, rolling his eyes, stopping Axel as he went to lower himself. "Yes, Axel, I know – we could always make some moaning of our own. You'd even be proving the wonder to Hayner while you're at it. No, I don't think so."

"Ah, you know me too well, Roxie."

"You have any idea which tunnel it is?"

"Nnnnope. Sorry."

Roxas huffed. "Okay, so we just wander around for a while, I guess."

"We'll find it, Rox. We found the others, right? Or, you did, at any rate."

Axel's watch went off.

"You're fucking kidding me," the redhead exploded, snatching up his wrist to glare at the timepiece. "Stupid piece of shit, shut up!"

"Er…" Roxas watched him, disconcerted. "What does this mean? Another deadline?"

"Ah, shit." Axel wiped a hand down his face, eyes to the ceiling, looking irritated. "Yeah, something like that." He dipped his head to meet Roxas' gaze, an angry spark in his eyes. "I'm really sorry, Roxas. Look, how about we get you to wherever the others are, okay? Because I have to leave."

"What, already?" Roxas' eyes bugged. "But – we just got here. It's been, like, thirty minutes since you left your house. This is homework, Axel."

"I know, and I'm sorry," the redhead insisted. "But I really can't screw this off, I'll get in trouble."

"With who?" Roxas demanded. "This is bullshit," he snapped, as Axel lowered his face. "The second that thing starts beeping, you just race off. Who the hell is giving you these deadlines, anyway?" He stepped closer, intently studying Axel's tight expression. "Is it to do with your family? Is it why you don't talk about them, or whatever? Axel!" He gripped the redhead's arm tightly, forcing him to meet his gaze. "What's going on? Are you alright?"

"Of course I am," Axel replied tiredly. "You really need to get off this whole family subject, Rox, it's not the big deal you're making it out to be."

"So why won't you tell me anything about them? Why wouldn't you let me pick you up this morning?" Roxas was frustrated. "I'm trying to not stick my nose where it doesn't belong, but I'm not going to pretend I don't care, and frankly, your behaviour is worrying me. Do you have abusive parents? Are they alcoholics? Are you ashamed of them? What?"

"None of the above," Axel growled, growing agitated. "Roxas, I've told you already, there's nothing to worry about. I understand that you're probably confused by this, but I really can't tell you any more than I have."

"What? You can't say more than nothing?"

Axel planted a hand on the blond's shoulder, scowling. "Roxas, I don't have time for this. I have to leave, and you're not making it easy on me. I'll try and get back in time for the other wonders, because I don't want to blow this off, believe it or not – I like spending time with you, and this is as good an excuse as any. But right now, I have to go. Okay? Can you just let me go without bitching me out?"

Roxas pushed back, a frown in place. "Fine. Go."

Axel groaned. "Roxie, that didn't sound encouraging…"

"What? I said go. I'm not going to bitch you out, so just leave."

Axel stared at him for a long minute, brow knitted. "You're mad at me now," he observed. Roxas sighed.

"I'm not mad, Axel. Just go. Seriously, just get out of here. Go – do your deadline, whatever the fuck it is."

"I don't want to," the redhead snapped. "If it was up to me, I'd stay."

"Who is it up to, then?" Roxas cried. "Damn it, you don't tell me a thing about yourself! You've been here a week already, and you're all over me half the time, you're visiting me in the middle of the night, you keep acting like you want this to go somewhere – hell, you even talk about the two of us leaving together – but I still know nothing about you!"

"I told you I'd tell you one day," Axel argued.

"Fine!" Roxas snarled. "But don't expect anything from me until that day arrives! You want me to trust you, but I can't trust someone I don't know."

Axel's whole body tightened, the skin across his cheeks pulling taut, eyebrows lowering dangerously. "So, what you're telling me is, if I obey the rules, I lose you?"

"Axel…" Roxas trailed off, shook his head. "That's such a dramatic fucking statement. Look, go. Seriously. I'm going to keep looking for the right tunnel, and maybe I'll see you later."

He broke away from the redhead, continuing alone down the tunnel, sneakers slapping along the cold concrete.

"Roxie – wait!"

He turned, as Axel came jogging after him, a wary expression on his face. "Aren't you meant to be leaving?"

Axel hesitated, then undid the strap of his watch, and dropped it in the passage. He stepped on it sharply, crushing the device, Roxas jumping slightly at the splintering noise. "Axel! Your watch…!"

"Forget it," he said curtly. "I've got other watches at home. I don't need it beeping every ten motherfucking seconds to remind me I'm supposed to be elsewhere. I'm staying with you, Roxie."

Roxas faltered, shook his head. "You can't – I feel bad now… You should go keep up with your responsibilities…"

"Right now," Axel bit off impatiently, "my responsibility is to be here. I said I would, so we could do the homework, right? So here I am. Fuck the deadlines, seriously." He saw Roxas' fretting expression, and softened. "Look, Roxas – I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at me, and I'm mad at how much I'm always running off because that fucking thing starts squalling at me. I'm sick of it. I'm not denying I won't get in trouble later, but it's nothing I can't handle. And no – " He glared firmly at Roxas as he opened his mouth. "It has nothing to do with any family members. So shut up, you cute little blond, and let's keep going, okay?" When Roxas still didn't move, undecided, Axel turned pleading. "Roxie, I've done it now – I've made a stand. Don't try and talk me out the one thing I did for you."

Roxas blinked. "For me? You did that for me?"

Axel rolled his bright eyes. "Well, duh, Roxie. I didn't want to leave you. So just shut up for a while, please." He dulled, becoming serious. "Please, Rox?"

Reluctantly, the blond nodded. "Okay."

Axel offered his arm, which Roxas hesitantly accepted. They went off in search of a wonder.