Semi-AU. They're actors... but they still have their powers. Don't question me!
Akuroku. Just saying.

This is where everything goes haywire! WHEEEEEEE!

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS VIOLENCE AND GORE, NOTHING TOO GRAPHIC, BUT... KIND OF MASOCHISTIC.

Note: Utada Hikaru is the singer who sang "Simple and Clean"/"Hikari" and "Sanctuary"/"Passion" (She does the opening and ending songs for the Kingdom Hearts games.)

"Judge Hikaru Utada residing."

Axel gave Roxas' hand a quick, reassuring squeeze before he saw the judge. "A woman? And she's hot, too…"

Roxas growled inwardly before taking his seat at the opposite table.

"The charges against the defendant are statutory rape of a minor and pedophilic action."

The video ended and tears were rolling down Roxas' cheeks. The judge cast a sideways glance at him.

"Someone escort the boy out until he regains his composure."

Roxas stood and ran over to hug Axel, sobbing into his shirt. "Axel…"

"Shh… It's alright, Roxas. Don't cry," he took a handkerchief out of his pocket and gave it to the boy. "We can't have any physical contact here. Take the handkerchief and go sit, alright?"

The courtroom watched in disbelief as Roxas nodded and sat back down, wiping his eyes before holding the handkerchief to his chest lovingly. "I apologize. I'm okay now, your Honor."

"If you're certain," she shrugged. "Would you like to call your first person?" she motioned to the man sitting beside Roxas.

"Plaintiff calls Axel to the stand."

"Figures. Never saw that one coming," Axel muttered sarcastically before taking his vow and sitting down.

"Axel. Is the content of that video familiar?"

"I'd have to say so."

"And is it an accurate representation of what happened between you and Roxas three nights ago?"

"More or less."

"Your Honor, if you will allow me to point out that Roxas did tell Axel to stop four times over the course of that video."

Axel crossed his arms. "Bear in mind the context of each time he said that, and the fact that I did pause each and every time he seemed uncomfortable."

"Your Honor, Roxas can also be heard saying 'no' three times…"

"You can't just pick a new word and use the same excuse! I also asked him if he was alright each time he said 'no'. You can hear that too. And he consented from the very beginning. I did nothing against his will!"

"Once again, Axel. Is this an accurate representation of your actions three nights prior to this day?"

"It's an unfair representation!"

The judge slammed her gavel down. "Order!" she raised an eyebrow at Axel, whom had fully recomposed himself and was cool as a cucumber in his seat once more. "Axel, please elaborate on your last comment."

"The video is accurate, but unfair. Sure, all of that happened, but there's a ton of stuff taken out. Reverse censorship, if you will. They took an unauthorized tape of a romantic night between new lovers together for the first time and made a damn montage of the worst, sketchiest sex clips. It's a tool that is commonly used in cases similar to this one. If I may add, your Honor, the content of that tape qualifies as an invasion and exploitation of privacy. With an altered tape like that, you can make anyone look bad. Seeing just those clips, I understand why you'd think I'm a creep."

"Interesting point. Please continue," the judge said as the interrogator looked as if he were about to object.

"Taken out of context, it's inevitable that the idea of a nineteen-year-old man making love to a fifteen-year-old boy seems taboo and unclean. 'He must have had no choice. It must have been rape…'" he said. "While that initial and overpowering thought is often correct, people don't seem to understand that there is a variation— an exception, if you will—, to every standard. I liked Roxas for a full year before I found out he had feelings for me. We discussed it, and were very cautious before actually touching each other. Roxas, c'mere a second."

The blonde stood and ran over. "What is it?"

He smiled. "Nothing. Just wanted to see your cute little face."

"Your Honor, I object! This is improper conduct in the courtroom!" the interrogator shouted.

"Roxas, sit down. Axel, behave. Any further questions?"

"None, your Honor."

Nomura stood as Axel took his seat once again. "Defense calls Roxas to the stand."

Roxas sat in the chair and vowed, smiling as he thought about how Axel had just been sitting in the same spot.

"Roxas."

"Hi, Nomura!"

"Roxas!"

"Oops…"

"Roxas, what is your relationship with Axel?"

"Well, first he was my co-star, then he became my lover… now I guess he's my boyfriend," he smiled, as if enjoying the concept.

Judge Hikaru blinked at how blunt he was. Truth or not, he wasn't even bothering to think about the way he was wording it.

"And what is your take on the story?"

"We did talk a lot, and Axel was really trying his best to reassure me so I wasn't too scared."

"And?"

Roxas blushed. "I…"

Axel leaned forward, nervously glaring at Roxas. 'Shit!' he thought, willing for the blonde to mentally hear his pleading and continue to speak. 'Hesitation isn't good, Roxas! They're gonna get suspicious! Now is the wrong time to play cute!'

Roxas met Axel's pleading gaze and smiled warmly. "I guess that the obvious happened. We kissed and cuddled and eventually I agreed to sleep with him."

"The plaintiff would like to question Roxas as well, your Honor!"

"Nomura, are you finished?"

"Yes, your Honor."

Roxas looked at the person who now stood before him.

"Roxas, was Axel rough with you?"

"Not at all! He was really careful and he didn't hurt me, not even a little!"

"You had markings. Bruises and cuts according to my charts."

"It was my first time… If I did get bruised, I didn't notice. Axel was as gentle as possible. He didn't hurt me, just like he promised."

"Did Axel pressure you into sleeping with him?"

"He asked me a few different times while we were doing different things, but that's it. It wasn't really pressure."

"You say you were doing other things as well. Would you mind explaining what that covers?"

Roxas shrugged. "Normal stuff, I guess. Like hugging, cuddling, kissing, talking, and… we laughed a lot."

"At what?"

"We didn't have a reason. We just laughed. Happy to be together… to be with someone we loved."

Several 'Aww's could be heard from around the room. Axel blushed.

Roxas giggled quietly at the pale red tint in Axel's cheeks. "All I want is to be able to be with Axel… I… I love him…" he said nervously.

"Love you too, cutie. But I'm in trouble for it," Axel replied lazily from the table. "'Cuz I'm old."

Roxas shot out of his seat, standing defiantly. "No you aren't! Don't say those things! I still love you!" Roxas argued, tears running down his cheeks. "Age is just a number! Axel, you should know that! I don't care how old you are, as long as you're still you… You could be forty—I wouldn't care. As long as you're still the Axel I love!"

"ROXAS! SIT DOWN!" Nomura barked.

"Someone remove the boy."

A muscular man grabbed Roxas, who instantly began to struggle. "Let go!" the boy cried, flailing in attempt to break free.

Axel snarled. "Keep your hands off of him!" he ran at the man, but was sent flying backward by a swing of the man's arm.

"Axel!" Roxas cried out in despair.

Axel stood, blood trickling from his mouth. The room burst into flames as the redhead gripped his chakrams. "I'll ask you nicely one more time. Let. Roxas. Go. If. You. Want. To. Live," there was a demonic, frightening seriousness in his dark tone that made Roxas shudder, petrified. The man was unimpressed.

"You're bluffing."

"I see. I assume you are willing to risk your life to find out, then? I have no regrets keeping true to my word and killing you…"

"Yeah, right! Try your—" the man was cut off as he was winded by one of Axel's chakrams hitting him square in the back. He released Roxas, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as he coughed off blood, falling to the floor, not moving. Axel incinerated the man for good measure, destroying any evidence. The flames reflected in the venom-green, cat-like eyes of the pyro, the pupils being mere slits. Axel laughed as he watched the man burn, and Roxas had never seen anything so… evil.

Roxas was horror-struck as he fell to the floor and looked around. It was pure chaos. People were screaming and panicking, searching for a way out of the burning building. "Axel, stop this!" he begged. "Innocent people are getting hurt!"

Axel turned his malevolent gaze to meet the teary, petrified eyes of the younger. He showed no emotion on his face. "Don't try to tell me who's innocent, you little runt."

This hurt Roxas deeply, but he stood, smashing a window with Oathkeeper as he used Oblivion to deflect the chakrams that inevitably attacked the boy trying to save everyone. "Escape! There's a patch of grass outside this window. Once you get out, help the others get to safety!"

He held up his keyblades, watching Axel's chakrams seeming to be working without him. Axel wasn't throwing them; they just repeatedly went after him. Axel glared at him. "You betray me to save the ones trying to take me away from you. I was under the impression that you loved me, Roxas. Strange how these things seem to go… You cannot stay by my side in the face of adversity: the challenge arises and you give up on your love."

"That's not true! I haven't given up! But love isn't about harming anyone who opposes you! It's about staying true to what your heart tells you and believing in your love, not letting people get to you!" Roxas felt the pain in his chest as each one of Axel's words stung him. This wasn't the Axel he loved. He wanted his Axel back.

He made sure everyone had gotten out safely before he ran over to Axel, not caring that he was being burnt alive, throwing his arms around his lover's neck and kissing him. Axel struggled, but Roxas refused to waver. The emergency sprinklers came on and the fire died away.

The lovers stood, soaked, and kissed tenderly as the flames were put out and they felt the water soak into their clothing and pores. "Axel… I love you…" Roxas pulled back, confirming the return of the soft emeralds to Axel's face before kissing him once more. "I love you."

"Love you too," Axel embraced him tightly, suddenly falling to his knees and breaking down into sobs, tears mixing with the rest of the water. "Roxas…"

"Axel…?"

"I'm sorry… I don't know what… came over me… I…"

Roxas wiped Axel's eyes with the handkerchief. "I love you."

The best part is: This isn't the end. There's still *counts* ...pages left.

Ah, the first appearance of the handkerchief! That is one plot device that doesn't go away.

Same with the key word: "sedative"

None of my friends can prevent themselves from thinking of this story when they hear "handkerchief" or "sedative".

Aww! Axel broke! Is there a... Nobody doctor? (Besides DiZ in Org LIX)

This is a RAPE court case. Roxas says "love" and everyone is just like... AWW! HE'S SO CUTE! LET'S FORGET ABOUT THE RAPE AND MARVEL IN HOW ADORABLE HE IS!