Tori sighed. Why me? She thought for the hundredth time in the last hour. For that had been when it was announced she would be staying with Axel. For the time being. Why him? Why me? Why?! She was screaming mentally, but knew better than to show it. She wondered how (if she could) she would survive one night alone with….Him. Was it even possible? She shook her head. Silly, she thought. Of course it is.

Axel was…nervous. It was silly he knew to be so anxious about sharing his room with a girl. He didn't even know the girl. It's not like he had to show off for her or anything. If she had been a little older, maybe…He smiled to himself. He could imagine the look on her face if she knew.

Tori decided to sleep with one eye open, so to speak. It was getting late and the Castle grew quiet. Axel was still in the restroom. Presumably changing into whatever it was he slept in. She prayed it would all be covered. She lay down silently. Waiting. She would not allow herself to rest until she knew he was sleeping soundly.

"You gonna sleep in your clothes?" Axel asked teasingly. She hadn't realized she had even closed her eyes.

"It's safer," she replied coldly. "With you around." Axel hesitated, but smiled.

"Ooh. That hurt." He said mockingly. His expression remained cheerful, but his tone grew noticeably sharper. "What do you think I am?"

"You really want to know?" Tori asked raising an eyebrow. Axel sat down on the bed next to her.

"Yes." Was all he said. He braced himself.

"Well I am not sure what I think of you. But I know what I've heard and it's not all that respectable."

"Really?" Axel looked amused now. And slightly relieved that she hadn't answered. "And what have you heard?" Tori smiled. She was going to enjoy this.

"Well," she had trouble hiding her smile. "They say you're a loner, a weakling, a pervert, a hot-head, and dangerous."

"Is that so?" Axel looked indifferent. Tori grinned wider.

"And that's not even the half of it." Tori was rather amused at how he was handling all this. But it surely couldn't be the first time he had heard what his reputation was. She had expected him to be angry with her, but he stared beyond her, his expression unreadable.

"And you believe them?" he raised his eyes to meet hers. She was caught by the seriousness of his voice.

"I-" she stumbled. "I don't know what to think."

"Do you hate me?" he asked. It was something he had been dying to know. She hesitated.

"No." she answered truthfully.

"Well then-" He rested his head on the pillow, crossing his hands behind his hair. "Trust me…and promise me something."

"Yes?" He had her complete attention now.

"Make your own observations. Don't let anyone tell you what to believe." Tori was beside herself. Here she had thought he was only nice for one reason. But all along he had only wanted to be judged by who he really was. Not what others said.

"Okay. If you promise me something as well," There was nothing but calm in her voice. Now it was Axel who hesitated.



"Yeah?"

"Never mention my sympathies." Axel cocked his head to the side considering.

"Done."

They spent the rest of the evening in silence. There was nothing but quiet until eventually the two of them slipped gently into blissful sleep.