You know that one kid that's in every school that everybody just knew? At my school, it's me. Everyone knows who I am, even though I could give two shits about their existence, let alone name. I'm really bad at names, anyway. I only ever bother to learn a select few; one of them belonging to a certain blonde that's recently caught my attention.
Everyone likes me – thinking I'm the coolest person to ever walk the planet. Though there's one thing they don't know about me: I'm gay.
Yes, you read me right. I, personally, don't see what's wrong with that. When I came to high school three years ago, I honestly didn't care whether people knew or not. No one asked my freshman year, so I never told anyone. It was just something that didn't matter as much. But then the next year, almost immediately as he walked in on the first day of school, there was this blonde freshman that got pummeled with anything people could grab. Apparently it got out while he was in middle school that he was gay and everyone hated him for it. After I saw that, I never wanted to come out of the closet.
I know he gets picked on a lot, but I do nothing to stop it, even though I'm fully capable of doing it. I don't know how to help him. I'm not even sure if it would matter or not. He can't even take two steps without someone calling him a name or trying to trip him or something. They pretty much torture him, for crying out loud! And the teachers do absolutely nothing! If that's not fucked up, I don't know what is.
I, for a fact, know that there are several other gay guys in this school besides Roxas and I. Demyx, Zexion, and Marluxia. They're on the basketball team with me. We've been friends since middle school. But because of what these bastards do every single fucking day, we're terrified of what would happen should we speak the truth.
Hell, even Demyx and Zexion started dating. They were madly in love and it pretty much killed Demyx that he couldn't, and I quote, 'show off his sexy bookworm'. Zexion hated that he couldn't even hug Demyx. Marluxia and I hated that our best friends had to live in secret. We have to tip toe around every single fucking thing and let me tell you – it gets real old real fast.
Okay, I got a bit off topic there. Anyway, I might as well say the blonde's name before I go any further. His name is Roxas Strife. Roxas has sun-kissed blonde hair he keeps wind-swept to the right, and gorgeous ocean blue eyes to match. He's short –about as tall as Zexion – and he is teased about that constantly. He's in half of my classes, but he's really quiet and I've only heard him speak a few times. It was only to answer a question from the teacher or to throw quick (and quite funny, I might add) comebacks back at Xemnas, the resident douche.
I have no idea what even possessed Xemnas to do this kind of shit to Roxas. And what's worse is that he influenced almost the whole school to do it too. Apparently Xemnas had seen Roxas with his (hopefully ex) boyfriend kissing behind the bleachers in middle school and freaked out. So he took it upon himself to make Roxas's life a living hell. Personally, I think he was either extremely bored, or just looking for an outlet for his sexual frustrations.
I mean really. Who would even consider tapping that?
Either way, he's simply being a dick for no good reason.
You know, that is one of the best things I like about Roxas. The only thing he never let happen was let the words and bullying get to him. I mean, I bet it still hurt like hell, but he didn't let it affect his whole way of living. He wasn't depressed and cutting himself, at least. I seriously admired him for his strength.
Like in homeroom today. Xemnas just placed his 'oh-so perfect' (fat) ass atop Roxas's desk, effectively bugging him. I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but I heard Roxas call him 'Mansex' before Xemnas hopped off, screaming, "You bitch! What the hell did you just say to me?!" Roxas mumbled something else before the teacher walked in, telling Xemnas to sit down. How did she not hear him practically screech that? God, these teachers were so stupid.
After class, Roxas takes his time packing up; most likely avoiding Xemnas for as long as possible. I wished I could help him, I really did. But the most I could offer right now was a smirk and a, "See you later, Roxas." Yeah. Smooth.
I didn't see Roxas again until lunch rolled around after that. I notice he's sitting under the tree farthest from the building. It's a nice day, so I'm not too surprised he's chosen there instead of the ridiculously loud cafeteria itself. I zone out, gazing upon my secret crush. I don't even realize I'm zoning out until Demyx pretty much announces my name.
"Axel! Are you listening! Earth to Axel!" He shouts, poking me in the shoulder repeatedly. He and Zexion are sitting next to each other as close as they can, their chairs linking together but not their bodies themselves. Zexion looks oddly upset today and he keeps glancing at Demyx's hand. He must really want to hold it.
I swat Demyx's hand away, flicking his forehead in return. "No, what did you say?" I ask, turning my attention back to Roxas then looking around the cafeteria for Xemnas and his Douche Patrol. He was too busy sticking carrots up his nose to notice Roxas at the moment. All clear then.
"I asked what we were gonna do about prom. Are we asking girls, going as a group, or just skipping?" Zexion winces and I put the pieces together.
"Well, I for one simply don't plan on going if I can't take the one I like. I'm sure Zexion would agree with me." Zexion glares at me for calling him out as Demyx looks to his boyfriend in surprise.
"Y-You… want to go to prom with me, Zexion?" He asks. It's more of a question of confirmation rather than whether or not Zexion would go.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Well… I figured you didn't like parties… And I thought we already decided we wouldn't do anything to let our relationship get out. We'd end up like that Roxas kid and… we couldn't handle that, remember?" I cringe a bit as Roxas is brought up. They all know I like someone, just not who.
"Demyx… Well… The way I see it… We're seniors. We'll be graduating in a few months, anyway. Plus, these assholes are too stupid to follow us to college," Zexion points out. "Besides, I feel like showing you off at prom and having fun and ignoring everyone will be better than what you and Axel had planned."
"Hey, I resent that statement," I interrupt. Demyx and I have been planning a series of pranks for the administration office since our freshman year when we kept getting called down to take the blame for a bunch of stupid shit the other kids do. Well, we did some of them, but not the really dumb ones that could easily be pulled off by a five year old. Just because Demyx acts like one, doesn't mean his pranks are at their level.
"Fine, you can still exact your revenge. But I'm just saying my plan sounds like more fun," Zexion says. Demyx gives me a high five before turning back to Zexion and putting his hand comfortingly on the slate-haired teen's knee.
"So… Zexion… Will you go to prom with me?" Zexion blushes and nods. I'm leaning back in my chair and see Demyx smile and link their ankles together under the table. At that moment, it was the most they could do. It was enough for them, but I could tell they were looking forward to acting just like all the other stupid couples in the hallway. They'll be drowning everyone with PDA – I can see it now.
The bell is about to ring, so I glanced once more at Roxas to make sure he was still in one piece. He was still reading his book and Xemnas was still being an idiot, so I decide to take a nap for the remainder of lunch.
Over the summer, the school had changed the tone of the bell. Now, it sounds much more like a door bell and it is so high pitched, I'm surprised my eardrums are still intact. I hate it so much. Maybe Dem and I can fix that when we set up our prank. Speaking of Demyx, I was about to rip his arm off for waking me up. "Dude, we only got a minute and a half to get to class!" Shit!
I shoot up, my eyes, for some reason; automatically going for the tree Roxas was sitting under. Roxas isn't there and the cafeteria is empty except for me and Demyx. I don't know if Roxas got to class safely or not, and I'm worried, but I can't afford to skip any of my next class to go check on him. If I do, I'll fail and be kicked off the basketball team. My dad would kill me. I just have to trust that Xemnas actually left him alone for ten minutes. So I grab my bag and Demyx's wrist and drag them both to class.
A half hour later, I can't take it anymore. I have to piss really badly. I take my bag with me, deciding to skip the last twenty or so minutes of class. Chemistry is my best subject, anyway. Getting a grade for blowing stuff up – best class ever. I'm almost to the bathroom closest to the front door, but for some reason, there's a giant group surrounding it. When did a boy's bathroom become this interesting?
I start pushing and shoving my way through the crowd and when I finally get to the front, I see that it's not the bathroom that is so funny; it's who is coming out of it. Roxas. His hair and shirt are soaking wet and I can tell he is crying, even though water was still dripping out of his hair. His books were poorly thrown in his bag, which was clutched tightly to his chest. Blood is leaking out of his nose and forehead and he looks like he's going to collapse at any moment. God, who the fuck did this to him?!
I look around the crowd and see only one person twisted and fucked up enough to do this to him. Xemnas, Saix, and Seifer. They're orchestrating Roxas' demise as they, along with everyone else, start throwing more names and insults at him than ever. Roxas doesn't see me through his tears, thankfully, as he starts breaking through the laughing douche bags in the crowd and running out of the building. Oh my god… they did it. They finally broke him. They broke Roxas - the boy who was a million times stronger than any of us.
Xemnas cannot – will not – get away with doing this! He has gone way too far this time and I say it's time for some payback! I can't risk getting caught, though, no matter how much I want to. If I get suspended or kicked off the basketball team, everything I worked so hard for would go straight down the drain. I know how selfish that is of me, but I just don't have it in me to risk it. If only Xemnas would just give me another reason to rip his fucking skull off. I would pass it off as self-defense or something.
Fuming, but expertly hiding it, I sneak past the crowd and go into the bathroom to try and figure out what exactly happened. And let me tell you: it is not pretty.
The floor, especially the back stall is soaked with toilet water. The stench of vomit lingers and I notice there's blood on the floor and staining the white door of the same stall. Xemnas must've given Roxas the swirly of a lifetime. I'm so mad, I am visibly shaking. I want to kill Xemnas so badly, but there are so many things restricting these wishes. Like the fact I could go to jail. Then again, maybe jail wouldn't be so bad. If it meant I could bring justice to Roxas, it may just be worth it.
As I contemplate the many ways I could have fun with Xemnas's murder, Demyx walks in with Zexion in tow, gasping rather loudly. "Holy shit! What happened in here?!" he exclaims.
"That fucking bastard Mansex is what happened!" I shout, using the nickname Roxas so cleverly thought of. It is so funny and ironic and I love it, just like I knew I would love killing him. "He tortured Roxas and then had half the student body wait outside to break him!" I'm so enraged and shaking that Zexion actually hides behind Demyx. He has never seen me like this.
Making me pissed is not a pretty sight. Usually, I can keep it under control. I have to or else I would blow up over every single name I have ever been called. But seeing Roxas, the one guy who I thought could handle anything, in that kind of state… Fuck being calm. Demyx whispers something in Zexion's ear and Zexion steps out of the bathroom. I'm still shaking and breathing heavily, and Demyx takes a cautious step towards me.
"Axe. Axe, you need to calm down," He says in a controlled voice, trying to at least get me to stop shaking. I run up to him and he quickly shields his face with his arms. When he lowers them, he sees the anger ebbing from my face as tears replace them. My fist is connected to the wall and blood is coming out of my knuckles. I pull my fist back and punch the wall again but before I could do it a third time, Demyx grabs my arm and stops me at the last second.
My hand is killing me, I probably broke it. Tears freely fall down my face as Demyx holds me. I'm so weak. I'm so fucking weak! I'm such a coward! I have no right to like Roxas when I can't even help him! If I just stepped up sooner, maybe none of this would've happened! I'm such a failure!
My inner self-hate is interrupted when I hear the door to the bathroom open leading with a rather loud and super annoying cackle. "What're you crying for, Axel? Not for that worthless faggot, I hope. You shouldn't waste your time on that, dude," Xemnas remarks, making my blood boil with fury. Demyx puts a hand on my shoulder, holding me back. But just for the moment.
"Xemnas, what do you want?" Demyx calmly asks.
"Oh, you're here, too, Mohawk-freak? I've been meaning to ask you, didn't those things go out of style like, twenty years ago?" Xemnas jokes. Okay, why was he going after Demyx? He was my friend. No one messed with me or my friends. "I just wanted to know if you guys would like to come outside and watch the show," He smiles. Show?
I quickly stand up, pushing Xemnas out of my way and opening the door, Demyx on my tail. Outside… it was something I never would have expected to see.
Zexion is gagged, his arms tied behind his back and shirt gone. Someone had taken a Sharpie and written names all over his arms and torso. Saix and Seifer are passing around rotten tomatoes and other assorted fruits and vegetables to the crowd that seemed to have grown in the few minutes we were in the bathroom. Zexion is covered in fruit as the crowd laughed and are calling him the same disgusting names they called Roxas not even ten minutes before.
How- How could this have happened? We didn't do anything wrong! They have no right to do this to Zexion! Before I can do anything, Demyx pushes his way over to Zexion, shielding his small and broken body with his own, shouting at them to stop. They don't.
"Oh, so now you're going to defend this faggot, Demyx? I would've expected more from you! Get him!" Seifer instructed, the crowd quickly following his order and throwing their produce at the both of them. Wait, did Seifer just call Zexion a faggot? How did they figure out we're gay?! We made sure never to tell anyone and we would never turn on one another! Then it hit me. Where was Marluxia?
Class was already let out, so shouldn't he be here? I looked around and saw Marluxia about to leave the building. I ran for him, grabbing his wrist just before he got out the door. "Marluxia! Did you tell?! Dude, what the fuck! We made a pact! We trusted you!" I shout.
Marluxia snaps his wrist away, just standing there for a moment before he bolts out the door, not even bothering to make up some excuse. God dammit! I run back over the crowd, pushing the nasty fuckers out of my way and getting to Demyx and Zexion. "Stop!" I shout over everyone's laughing and heckling.
They quickly stop, clearly still intimidated by me – which is good. The only ones who keep it up are, of course, Xemnas and his Douche Patrol. "Shut the fuck up!" I shout again, making them stop.
Xemnas smirkes, taking brave struts until he is right in my face. I'm tempted to spit in it. "Oh, Axel. What do you think you can do? You're just like them. Like Roxas. Weak. Pathetic. Useless. Nothing. You're just a little faggot just like them." Okay, you know that reason I've been waiting for? I just found it.
I pull my non-broken hand back, quickly sending it to meet with Xemnas's nose. Oh god, that feels so fucking great to do! He falls on his ass as I smirk in victory and the crowd gaspes. I bet they thought I wouldn't do it. Ha, they have no idea how long I've waited to do that. I turn to Demyx, telling him to get Zexion out of here and to meet up at my place. He quickly does so as Saix gets the crowd to disperse. They're scared of what I'm capable of so they leave, leaving me with the Douche Patrol.
"Alright, boys. If you really want to get me started, I don't mind defending myself," I smirk, cracking my neck and shaking out my hands. My right hand hurts like a bitch from the wall, so fighting – excuse me, defending – is going to be a bit of a challenge. Nothing I can't handle, though.
Seifer immediately takes the opportunity to come at me, fist set back and rage in his eyes for hurting his precious leader. I easily dodged his blow, instead grabbing his wrist and painfully pinning it behind him. Saix tries to come to his aid, so I have them face each other before I push Seifer into him and they topple over. God, this is too easy.
Xemnas stands back up, blood dripping from his nose, as he tries to throw a punch at me. I duck under it, landing another blow to his stomach. He falls backwards onto the other two, still struggling on the floor. Now it is just getting pathetic. They are all bark, but no bite. They all stand up again, taking another fighting stance that leaves way too many openings. If I want to, I could take them all out right now. Then again, I might be in enough shit already even though I've only hit Xemnas twice. All in defense, I might add.
"Alright, you guys bore me. I'm gonna go now," I say, turning to make an exit. I should probably get my hand checked out. Surprisingly, I don't hear them come after me. Wimps. They probably went to tell the principal on me or something. Whatever. There're security cameras. I can easily get away with self-defense and maybe a detention or two. Hopefully, the Douche Patrol will be suspended. Or better yet, expelled.
I leave the building, figuring I should head back to my place to check on Demyx and Zexion, when I remember the reason I was there to begin with. Roxas. Shit! If only I knew where he lives! Just as I think that, a car pulls up in front of me. Riku, from the baseball team, and Sora, apparently Riku's best friend, are sitting in the front. "You're Axel, right?" Riku asks, Sora looking at me skeptically.
I nod my head and he motions for me to get in if I want to see Roxas. I don't question as I hop in the back seat and they drive me to Roxas'. Apparently, he doesn't live that far from the school. Huh, the more you know. They park in front of Roxas' house, but for some reason, I can't bring myself to open the door.
Would going up there mean anything? Roxas doesn't even know me. What would going up there prove? Was there even anything for me there?
"Hey, are you going or not?" Riku asks, keeping his eyes forward. Sora has ear buds in and I can hear some heavy metal song or something beating through the small speakers. I think it was "We Stitch These Wounds" by Black Veil Brides. Why a sweet kid like Sora is listening to them, I'll never know. But somehow, I'm glad that is what's playing. Whether Roxas knows me or not, I know he needs me. He needs me to help stitch his wounds.
I say my thanks, opening the door and running up to the front of Roxas' house. Riku and Sora speed off, leaving me with the lovely company of the front door. I'm about to knock when I remember my hand is busted. Fuck, it still hurts. I might want to make this quick. Just make sure he's okay, get to Demyx and Zexion, then the hospital, then back to Roxas. Okay, there we go. I have a plan.
I notice the doorbell, and I gratefully ring it. I don't hear anyone rushing down the stairs or any movement whatsoever. There is no car parked in the driveway, so maybe Roxas isn't here? But then again, where else did he have to go?
I ring it again, looking into the window for any sign of human life. Nothing. Dammit! I know he's in there! Irritably, I start blowing up the doorbell, the annoying chime ringing loudly throughout the house. He has to come to the door now!
And hey! I was right! I see Roxas stomping down the steps, his clothes are still soaked and dripping. He unlocks the door, but was met with my stomach because he is so short. It takes him a second, but his amazing sapphire eyes soon find mine and widened in shock. "Axel?"
Oh look! An update! Fancy that xD
So yeah, now we know what it's like to be in Axel's head, hurr hurr xD
The rest of the story is more than likely going to be in Roxas's POV, though, lol.
Reviews would be very appreciated! I'd like to know what you guys think! They would make me smile! -griiiiin-
Characters (c) Tetsuya Nomura
Beta-d by the wonderful Elizabeth Anne19