Disclaimer- Pssh, your mom owns Kingdom Hearts... ok well maybe not but you have to admit that would be SO COOL!

Warnings- Um... Angst?

A/N- So here is part two of the previous chapter. "If you can't take the heat... stay out of the kitchen." Get it? Get it? They go together!...

So it's short, but that also means it's sweet and to the point :D

Protecting Me

Chapter 12 : ...Stay out of the Kitchen

Whenever,where ever baby

You'll protect me

No matter what

The kiss only lasted for a few unbearable seconds before Axel's brain was finally able to register new information again. When he realized what was taking place only then did he begin to thrash against Larxene. Immediately noticing Axel becoming unwilling to participate in her little game anymore, she broke off. Even though Axel was free his feet wouldn't allow him make a move. At this point he wasn't even aware of the other presences in the room.

Larxene put up an air of false violation. Her eyes opened wide as she delivered a sharp blow to the side of Axel's face with the palm of her hand.

"What the-!"

"Axel!" Larxene yelled before the redhead could even utter another word. "How dare you catch me off guard like that!" She strategically pulled her cloak over her exposed shoulder, making it look like it was pulled down in the struggle.

"WHAT-"

"Axel..." Demyx slowly set Roxas down on the ground and took a step forward. "... with Larxene?"

"Listen damn it! That's really not what-"

"I'll tell you what happened. Axel's a no good sleaze and always has been. He only cares for his own needs. Look, he pushed the poor kid off on you and took advantage of me. Axel goes no deeper then that."

Roxas stood in his place with a heavy heart. His features pursed together in a mix of anger and jealousy. If a kiss meant love and Axel kissed Larxene then he had to love her right? It was simple math according to what Zexion said.

If Axel loved Larxene then who would love him? He would be more Axel... Axel would have someone and it wouldn't be him.

"Hold it for one second!"

Roxas was pulled from his thoughts as Axel sped past him to catch up with Larxene. He followed her out of the kitchen and into the dining room. They were followed by both Demyx and Roxas who were curious as to what exactly was happening. Larxene turned on her heel, giving an irritated look to the three inconvenient boys. Her eyes seemed to stop on Demyx for an exceptionally long amount of time.

"Hey Demyx," She tilted her nose into the air. "is it just me or do you smell something... burning?" Indeed she was right. A light air of smoke was creeping in through the kitchen door. It was a perfect distraction that caused Demyx to run full sprint back into the kitchen.

The plan had gone off without a problem so far. Everything was perfect. Finally she was alone with Axel, who by now probably knew that something was going on; And then there was Roxas... The three year old who was not only hurt, but clueless as to what was truly happening.

The females lips curled into a smirk quite unintentionally. There was a silence in the room for a few seconds in which Roxas stood in between Axel and Larxene, looking back and forth until one of them spoke.

"You knew exactly what you were doing didn't you?" Axel shook his head slowly in disbelief when a smirk washed over her face as an answer. He hadn't looked down at Roxas for very long, but he could already sense the tears building up in the corners of his eyes. "You're nothing more than a trouble making bitch Larxene!"

"Oh," Larxene broke eye contact with Axel and focused on Roxas instead. "so Axel showing his feelings towards me was trouble making then?"

Roxas took a cautious step back so that he was closer to Axel. He didn't want Larxene to look at him. He didn't want her attention.

"A-Axel... he's," Once the toddler felt his back hit the redheads leg he turned and clung of his pants. "he's mine! He loves me!"

There was another silence in the room before Larxene burst out in hysterical laughter.

"Y-you think that you... ha ha, that you can have feelings for Axel?" She said through her laughter.

Axel's eyes opened wide as he realized exactly what Larxenes plan was. He attempted to take a step towards her to stop this, but was bound down by Roxas's arms around both his legs. He could have always thrown Roxas off but of course that was all he needed, an injured kid on his hands.

"Don't you dare Larxene! You know he doesn't know!"

"What?" Larxene falsely covered her mouth in surprise. "Doesn't know what?"

"You know!"

"No, I don't. Can you fill me in?"

"Stop acting dumb! Don't you dare tell him!"

"Tell me what?" Roxas finally had enough of those two fighting about him and let his tiny voice rise above theirs.

"Oh now I remember what I think Axel is talking about..." Larxene put a finger to her chin thoughtfully. Now Roxas held onto Axel's leg even tighter in an attempt to immobilize him. He wanted to know what Axel was keeping from him more than anything. First he is denied his source of affection and now something is being kept from him?

"Tell me!" Roxas shouted out with force. Axel was beginning to struggle and honestly Roxas couldn't keep his feet down for much longer.

"Axel never wanted you to find out you're heartless!"

The word 'heartless' repeated itself in Roxas's head over and over again like an echo.

"He wanted you to keep on living that comfortable little lie of yours." Larxene gave a short giggle. "It's funny really, you're just like that little stuffed heartless you play with so much. Empty... Absolutely empty! There's nothing in you that would even LET you care for Axel!"

The words shot from her mouth like venom and stung Roxas right in the chest, and after that he stopped listening completely.

Was that even possible for it to sting him in the chest? It was supposed to be empty in there right? The thought of that alone made something inside Roxas sink. Yes he was young, but he understood the concept of emptiness. Everyone did. He knew that the heart was the center of emotions and... love. Everyone knew that too.

He looked up at Axel with eyes threatening to overflow with tears and a sort of 'please say it isn't true' expression on his face.

Axel ground his teeth together in disgust towards Larxene, feeling a horrible sense of deja vu at the look in Roxas's eyes.

When the blond teenager was first brought into the Organization with nothing more than a black cloak wrapped around his features something similar to this happened... No not even something like this, this was exactly what happened.

Busy schedules, missed meetings, Xemnas being much to preoccupied; That all ultimately resulted in Roxas never being told about the whole 'no heart' deal. It was always a tough meeting when a newly born nobody has to be told they no longer can feel real emotions.

Roxas had absolutely no clue for the longest time He was supposed to be told in a meeting that kept getting canceled due to an increase in missions... but everyone thought someone made him aware.

No one knew about the missed meetings. Everyone except for Axel of course. He knew Roxas was clueless. He was close enough to Roxas to just be able to tell, but he let Roxas live in his comfortable lie. He thought it would be easier that way. He just seemed so happy that way.

It happened the day before Roxas's first ever mission. Axel knew that Roxas would probably ask whoever he got his first mission with what the goal of the Organization was, and of course right then and there Roxas would have found out. Before that could even take place though somehow it slipped out to Larxene that Roxas didn't know and of course she didn't hesitate to tell him. If Axel had a heart, then it probably would have been one of the most heartbreaking nights for two best friends to ever go through together.

Roxas cried his eyes out; certain bitterness was thrown at Axel every time he tried to explain his reasons for keeping such a huge secret from his supposed 'best friend.'

It was a horrible night, one that almost broke the strong bond between Axel and Roxas. Then again Axel was the stubborn type. Roxas pushed, and there Axel was. Pushing right back...

The 'rubbing it in' portion of Larxenes show only slowed down when the main hall door opened up and the other member's stepped through (there for dinner obviously). Roxas still clung to Axel's leg; Only now his eyes were shut tight to block out anymore information.

"Okay everyone," Demyx came back in through the swinging kitchen doors holding a pot of blackened... well it looked like it used to be spaghetti. "dinner might be a little late. This batch got bur-"

"I hate you Lawxene!" The three year old finally had enough. He stopped the whole room with his yelling, and before anyone could stop him he bolted from the room in tears.

Low murmurs circulated among the Organization member's until Roxas's running footsteps could no longer be heard. Demyx shifted a little bit in his spot, looking to Axel for answers.

"What happeeeeee-" Then looking towards Larxene provided him with all the answers he needed. "Oh..."

Naturally Axel didn't hear a word of it, only concerned with the strange sympathy he felt for Roxas at the moment.

And that was just the thing. He was feeling sympathetic. It wasn't only concern for his friend that sent him charging out of the room after Roxas, but also pure curiosity surrounding this new feeling washing over him.

Demyx stood there with the rest of them waiting for another set of footsteps to fade into the distance. Looking towards the door he only saw Saix glaring angrily at him, most likely over the late food.

"Hey," The musician jumped when a hand fell onto his shoulder. The older voice of Xigbar followed. "how about we go back into the kitchen and I help you fix up something quick for us to eat before we all starve?"

"Sure," Demyx said with a sigh as he looked down into his pot. "but whatever we make, can we add some mushrooms to it?"

Xigbar and Demyx left for the kitchen and the other begrudgingly left the dinning room until they were promised a meal. Saix mumbling something about knowing putting Demyx in charge was a bad idea. Luxord quickly agreed to that statement.

Larxene was left alone with nothing but her pride in the empty dull gray dining room. Out of a dark shadow and a flurry of petals, Marluxia stepped into the dinning room.

"You made me proud." A sweet smelling sleeve hooked around Larxene's shoulder.

"It's good... but we can't be sure it worked. Don't get a big head just yet."

"That no good brat will begin to hate Axel for sure. It's all going to go downhill from here."

"Oh I'll see to it that it does." Larxene smirked and created a portal beside her. "I don't think I can bare to eat whatever concoction that idiot is in there coming up with. How about a trip out to eat?"

Marluxia smirked back. A trip out with Larxene was always a fun thing. Usually it included the harassment of a few innocent towns people who were immediately terrified the second they saw people in black cloaks (the reason they always dressed in regular clothes if they didn't want to be feared). That usually earned them a free meal in itself. Testing new methods of manipulation on the town's people was always a fun way of training as well.

"Twilight Town sounds like a plan to me."

"We need to pick up some toothpaste while we're out," Larxene made a disgusted face and stepped through to Twilight town, her voice echoing behind. "I'm pretty sure Axel's mouth has never touched anything sanitary! Do you know how long I'm going to be disinfecting myself?"

xXx

Axel first checked for his miniature best friend in the only place he could think of. It was only place where his tiny friend would have felt most safe and comfortable. His room. Just like he guessed, there the toddler was. He had Cuddled himself up in the middle of Axel's over sized bed, hugging his stuffed heartless with all his strength with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Rox..." Axel slowly shut his door behind him and made his way into the room. Roxas looked up with an icy stare.

"Go 'way!" The blond turned from Axel so he was facing the wall. "You got giwl cooties now..."

Axel looked down at his feet for a moment. Something told him that Roxas only said such a thing to make Axel leave him alone. It was understandable that he wanted Axel gone at the moment. Regardless of what Roxas wanted, he knew that was never what Roxas need. Axel slid onto the bed beside him anyway. Surprisingly, Roxas made no moves to try to get away.

"Rox... Larxene... She was..." What was he supposed to say here? There really was nothing to say, "She was lying to you..."

Roxas looked up at Axel with his red puffy eyes. His harsh expression towards the redhead didn't let up.

"You mean like youw lyin' now?" His tiny fist twisted at the stuffed heartless head before he forcefully chucked it off the side of the bed. If that empty thing was what he was, then he didn't even want to look at it anymore.

Axel sighed. There was no convincing Roxas Larxenes words were fake.

Telling him another lie was just as bad as what Larxene did to him. Keeping him living in a lie was avoiding the problem at hand.

The sad truth was that there was a truth, even if it wasn't a good truth. There was no protecting him from it, only showing him that it was something he could live with. The rest of them had to. Like it or not it was his existence.

The redhead reached over to envelope Roxas's tiny form in his arms. He held Roxas close to his chest so that he could feel the warmth coming from his body like they had done before.

For a while Roxas fussed and protested against being held by such a liar.

"Lemme go!" Roxas pounded his fist against Axel's chest and kicked his legs. His grip on the toddler never lessened. "I said: Le' go me, now!"

When Axel's simple answer of "no" came even after all of Roxas's kicking and screaming the toddler, for some odd reason, broke down.

He buried his face into Axel's cloak and cried his hardest to the only person who truly cared. His fingers laced into the fabric of his older friends clothes, balling up to make a fist.

"I-I w-want Sowa..." He mumbled out weakly.

Axel picked up the creature from the floor where Roxas had thrown it in his fit of rage. Quickly he latched onto his prized possession as if he hadn't held it in years. His head fell against Axel's chest, all the strength and combat drained from his small body. As the blond cried, a water stain grew where his blue eyes rested.

The larger hand ran through Roxas's blond locks in a calming manner. Axel doubted anything would settle Roxas at this point. His body was practically shaking from his sobs... It was exactly like the last time...

It was always hard to watch someone who was normally so break down, even if they are only three at the moment.

xXx

Knock, knock, knock...

"Axel? You in there?"

The redhead had completely lost track of time after the whole incident was said and done. He had remained in his position on his bed for what he guessed was a good hour or so. Roxas still lay cuddled into his chest, fast asleep aside from a few stray hiccups here and there. Neither one of them seemed like they were about to move anytime soon.

Axel tiredly looked to the door once he guessed the knocking wasn't going to end anytime soon.

"Axel?... Your lights are on. I know you're in there!" The voice behind it, thankfully, only belonged to Demyx. Of course he was only naturally concerned for the two of them. "Please open the door Axel. I got something for you."

With a sigh Axel responded. "It's already open..."

Only waiting for the invitation, Demyx pushed the door open with his shoulder and stepped into the dimly lit room shyly.

"Ummm," He looked down at his feet, and then down at the plates he had piled in his hands. "me and Xigbar made tomato mushroom soup with grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. You both really should try some." Demyx set the bowls down on the table beside Axel's bed before inviting himself to sit on the edge of the bed near the pair.

Axel smiled over at Demyx in a way he failed to do in the kitchen. Come to think of it, he should have just given Demyx a break about the whole Zexion thing in the first place, even if it did get a bit annoying here and there.

"So how did Zexion like it?"

"He took seconds." The Nocturne gave an accomplished grin, then his eyes just happened to wander back down to Roxas. "Is he going to be okay?"

Axel shook his head, a finger twirling a lock of Roxas's hair all on its own. "He already had to go through this once. I wanted this kept from him until we figured this damn thing out."

"...I know."

"This was the same thing I did the last time he found out," Axel said it in a voice indicating that he wished he could do more. "Comfort him. It's the only thing I could think to do."

Axel wished the memory of that day wasn't so vivid in his mind. Every time he glanced down at little Roxas's sleeping form he was brought back:

An older Roxas's arms wrapped tightly around Axel's body in an out of character, desperate attempt to stop his pseudo emotions from flooding out all at once. In his state it was damn near impossible, yet Axel held tight to show he was there.

"Why! If I have no emotions why is this hurting so badly!" Roxas was shaking as dry sobs wracked his body.

Axel stayed silent.

Demyx gave an understanding nod.

"It's tough, but I'm sure Roxas will find things that give him the sensation of being happy and forget all about this silly thing. We all did."

"That's just the thing," Axel looked down at Roxas. He seemed content in his mind as of now. He was sleeping, so that didn't really say much about his overall mental state. "I don't think that Roxas was ever really 'happy'. I think he was either covering up pain or confusion."

To that Demyx had nothing to say. He only knew the happy, mischievous, down to earth side of the teenage Roxas. The side Roxas chose to show to everyone. He couldn't have been expected to see through the deeper end of Roxas like Axel did.

His eye caught site of the bowl of warm soup still sitting untouched on the tableside. What a wonderful way to change a subject he knew nothing about!

"You need to eat Axel. You're already skinny enough." The musician pushed the bowl towards his friend. "Besides, I really did work hard on it."

Axel made no move for the food and didn't even yell when a captious comment was made about his weight. After that Demyx was able to take the hint that he had probably overstayed his welcome. The two probably wanted to be left alone at a time like this.

"I'll be going then. See you Axel."

"Yeah, catch up with you at breakfast."

Demyx got up and headed for the door. He caught one last glance at Roxas with a few dried tears in the corners of his eyes. He stood in the doorway for a good minute just thinking.

"Hey Axel?" Demyx closed the door and stepped back into the room. Axel looked up to show he was paying attention. "Have you ever considered the fact that maybe... We do have hearts? All my joking aside..."

"Never, it's a stupid thing to think about."

Demyx gave Axel a stern serious look that caught the redhead by surprise. "If you weren't told that you had no heart, would you have known for yourself? Roxas didn't."

Axel stared blankly into his unrelenting sea foam eyes, "I can't answer that."

"He cried Axel. Both times. None of us have ever cried before. We can't."

"It was a pseudo emotion. The only reason he cried was because he was going with what he thought he felt! In reality, he's feeling no pain right now, he just thinks he is."

"Come on Axel! Look at him!"

"Demyx! I think it's time for you to face the facts! Stop trying to prove science wrong! When the day comes where you put your hand up to your chest and feel something beating in there feel free to come to me, until then. We. Don't. Have. Hearts. Got it memorized?"

"Then maybe we don't need hearts to feel! He cried Axel!"

"Demyx!"

The Melodious Nocturne bit his tongue as he stepped backwards towards the exit. It was really no use trying to explain this to Axel. He had no desire to listen. The main thing he knew from his friendship with Axel was that he didn't get to deeply into things. So then why would he bring it up to Axel?

After watching Axel and Roxas for a while he saw a strange yet undeniable bond beginning to form. It was always there, but recently from what Demyx observed, it was only growing stronger. It was a supportive friendship bond at first, but then Demyx saw something else. When Axel looked at Roxas his eyes changed somehow. Demyx knew he was no longer seeing the little three year old, but his old best friend.

Axel looked at Roxas in a way that begged for there to be something more to their friendship. Of course, he didn't feel like being disemboweled by Axel for bringing up such a subject.

Maybe that was a subject to discuss with Axel at a later date... a WAY later date!

Demyx turned to try to make a second silent exit, when Axel was actually the one that called him back into the room.

"Can you do something for me Dem?"

"Uh, sure. What do you want me to do."

Axel smirked and wrapped his arms a little tighter around Roxas. "If you happen to see Larxene in the halls, tell her she'll have to try harder next time. She hasn't won yet..."

A/N- Sooooo, Happy belated (by like a day) Halloween everyone!

I was a dork and went trick or treating even though I'm way to damn old to be doing that crap xD

Anyway, I got so bored during science class that I made a well thought out seating chart of where the Organization members would sit during meals...

Am I a dork or what? I know, I know. Review and stuff anyway xD Oh yeah, I edited chapters 1,2, and 3.

Enjoy!