Roxas came into school late the next day, by twenty minutes. He came with his head bowed and a plaster on his left cheek and a red mark on his neck. Roxas was silent until he sat down next to Sora who always started the conversations.

"Roxas, what happened to you? Why are you so late and why do you have a plaster on?" Sora frowned heavily as Roxas slunk down in his chair."Sora, I'm fine." His voice was low and sad."Oh yeah sure I'll believe that! Look at you! Something is happening and you're not telling me. Is this something Axel has done to you? If he has then I'm-""It's not Axel!" Roxas clenched both fists and folded his arms."Then…what? Roxas I care about you and I know you. I know when something isn't right…you can tell me."

Roxas sat up in his chair and looked at Sora. The expression on his face explained it all. Sora sighed and put his hand up.

"Teacher, I need to spend some time with Roxas he isn't feeling well."

The two young boys were stood outside in the completely empty hallway together. Roxas was leant up against the wall and Sora was facing him.

"It's at home isn't it?" Sora said this in a way that eve shocked Roxas. So different from his usual loud, carefree voice, this was sympathetic and caring. It made Roxas shudder. Sora noticed that Roxas was shaking. He put his arms around his best friend and hugged him warmly. Roxas closed his eyes and hugged him back.

"I just need…a friend…and I have one…thank you, S-Sora."

"There's no need to thank me, I'm here for you. Just try to be a little bit more open or people will nag more. Okay?"

"Yeah." Roxas broke from Sora's grasp and nodded. Sora smiled warmly and held Roxas' hand as they walked back into class together.

--

At lunch time, Roxas and Sora both sat together on the grass of the school yard. Sora was tucking into a big sandwich while Roxas just led down with his arms supporting his head, staring up at the clouds.

"Do you want some of this sandwich I can't finish it." Sora rested one hand on his stomach and used the other to hand the sandwich to Roxas.

"Really? I can have this?" Roxas took it and gladly started to take huge bites out of the sandwich. In a few moments it was half gone.

"When was the last time you…" Sora stared at Roxas.

"Huh? Did you say something Sora?" Roxas stopped eating to look at his friend sat next to him.

"Uh no, not really."

"Okay." Roxas continued to eat as Sora joined him lying down.

"You know if you eat that fast and while you're lying down you could choke, Roxas." Sora sat up and looked at his best friend.

"Roxas?" Sora said this while frowning. The blond looked as if he was struggling to breathe and he had one hand over his neck and the other across his stomach. The brunette frowned and reached out to Roxas. Roxas sat up and tightly closed his eyes. He then rolled over so he was on his knees still with one had on his neck. "Roxas!"

"I c-can't-" The teen started trembling, violently. Sora then stood up and grabbed Roxas by the back of his shirt and pulled him up to a standing position. Where he wrapped his arms around his middle and bent down slightly.

"I'll help you just hang on!"

"S-Sora!" Sora had started an attempt to do the Heimlich maneuver on the choking Roxas. The teen had never done this before and kept pulling Roxas toward him, not doing much help. Roxas placed one arm on Sora's arm and the other still around his throat.

Just like at home

Thoughts surged through Roxas' mind as Sora tried to do it right. They were exactly the same height so Sora's groin was level with Roxas' rear. Roxas started to blush as he choked one last time.

I don't want him to do this to me! Not him too!

Memories of anger and hatred made themselves known as the blond gripped Sora's arms and turned around, and pushed him away.

"Get off me!" The force, pushing both back until they hit the floor. Sora sat there shocked at his friend while Roxas stood up with tears in his eyes, not wiping them away, just letting them fall.

"Roxas…What-"

"No!" Roxas shut his eyes tightly and ran out of the field, back into the school. Several corridors, entire halls, just to get away from what happened. When he was out of breath, the teen stopped and put his arm against the wall to rest. "I…can't go through with that…not here…again…" Panting heavily, his cheeks bright red. The tears, still streaming. Suddenly he heard Sora's voice from a distance away. He gasped and snuck around the corner of the wall, where there was a small box which he sat on with his back against the wall. Sora came round the corner, looking everywhere.

"Roxas? I'm sorry if I did something! Where are you? Roxas!?" Sora sighed and walked back the way he came. Another tear fell from the sapphire eyes of the boy as he slid to the floor and hugged his knees, burying his head down in between his chest and legs.

Acting so stupid, Sora wasn't trying to do that to you. He was helping you!

Roxas was woken from his thoughts by a hand, gently pressing down on his shoulder. He looked up and there knelt a familiar red head. A concerned look on his face. When he saw the blushing and the tears, Axel wrapped his arms around the scared blond.

"Roxas, what happened to you!?" He squeezed tighter. Roxas' eyes wide open, still wet and dripping.

"I…" Axel hugged even tighter. "You're hurting."

"Sorry." Axel let go of his grip and put both hands on Roxas' shoulders, staring deep into his eyes.

Roxas now noticed that his legs were open, they opened when Axel first hugged him and now the older boy was sat in between them, still staring deeply.

"Axel…you're-" Roxas broke off. Axel put his arms either side of his hips, on the floor. Axel leaned forward and pressed his lips against Roxas', leaving the young boy in shock. Roxas lifted his hands and put them on the tall boy's shoulders, pushing him away.

"Not here." A slight frown appeared on Roxas' brow as he spoke. The redhead sighed and got up to his knees.

"You look so cute when you blush." He said while placing a hand on Roxas' cheek. "I can take you somewhere, come with me."

Roxas wiped his eyes as he noticed that he was now in midair, in Axel's arms. He pulled the young boy against his chest and stood up.

"Axel…you don't have to-" Again he broke off and put his hand on Axel's chest, nuzzling it.

"I'll take you to my place." Axel said this lovingly and smiled warmly. "You can tell me all about it." Axel turned around to face a door that lead out of the school but Roxas opened his eyes and spoke in an almost angry voice.

"Why do you want to take me to your place…Axel?…You know I don't…-"

"I just feel you should know where I live. What it looks like. You need to get out of these clothes, they are soaking wet and you got mud on your back."

"Um…okay…Wait, we're in school-"

"And you care about that? We can just say we felt sick or something but for now lets just go." Axel turned around and walked towards the door. Roxas still in his arms.