A/n: Here I am with a new chapter! I was really excited after hearing all of your reviews! I honestly didn't think that this story would get as many as it did, so thank you all! :3 I was actually going to wait to post this for like a few more days, but then I was like 'what the hell!' I must warn you all though, all of my chapters won't be this long. I got a little carried away to tell you the truth. Can you blame me though? After all the love you guys gave me I couldn't help it! One last thank you before you go on and read. X3 Okay, hopefully this chapter isn't complete junk, so without further ado, on with the chapter~

"Do you know how irresponsible that was?! Really, what were you thinking? There could've been five people with guns. Did you ever stop to consider about calling back up? Out of all the stupid shit you do, this really takes the cake Axel." The redhead flinched back at the harsh words flowing out of his boss's mouth. Ten minutes after he arrived at the hospital and reporting in, he heard sirens outside signaling the chief's arrival and several other officers. He knew he was going to be mad, but not this bad. Right after the chief had got there, he started chewing him out.

"Listen Cloud-"

"Chief." He corrected sternly, glaring over at him.

Okay...maybe he was even more pissed then he thought. "Okay, chief then. I was in a rush. I was already on the phone for like five minutes, and we both know time is crucial. The only thing on my mind at the time was getting the kid out of there." Axel tried to save himself. He knew he could have screwed up big time, but he didn't. That had to count for something right? And if he really had taken any longer, the kid could have been in worse danger then what he was.

Cloud shook his head. "That still doesn't excuse the fact that you went off without backup and with the phones unoccupied. We had to leave that to Sora, who barely has any training." Cloud folded his arms and frowned, there was no sign of him relenting.

However, luckily for Axel, a worker from the facility walked over interrupting their conversation. "Excuse me, sorry to interrupt, but you brought in a Mr. Roxas correct?" The worker asked. She had light brown hair and square glasses. She wasn't very tall and had a small figure. Overall, the person you expected to work at a hospital, at least in Axel's opinion.

Axel brightened up at the mention of the kid. After witnessing the scene from earlier, he became extremely worried for the boy's well being. He blamed it on the police side of him. "Yes, I brought him in. Is he alright? He's not going to die right?" Axel asked, quickly wanting answers, not even noticing his voice taking on a worried tone.

Cloud scoffed and rolled his eyes earning a glare from the redhead. The nurse chuckled and shook her head in the negative. "No, but you're lucky you got here when you did. He seemed to have had internal bleeding from the abdomen." A stricken look came over the nurse's face that caused Axel's stomach to drop.

"Internal bleeding? It's not serious right?" Axel looked over nervously to Cloud and back to the worker. His anxiety was getting the best of him. Dammit, can't they just hurry and spit it out?

"Well since you got here so fast, we were able to take him straight to surgery. It's almost positive that the treatment will work, so there's nothing to worry about." She answered. So the kid...Roxas right? He had to go to surgery? Well at least he'll be fine. Axel sighed relived.

"That's great. So how long will this surgery be? And when will the kid be able to-" Axel stopped himself. Wait, Roxas couldn't go back to that hell hole he called a home. He would just get beaten again, most likely worse. So where did that leave him to go?

The nurse tilted her head in confusion. She waited for him to complete his question, but after not receiving a continuation, she went ahead and answered the one before. "Well the surgery will take a couple hours, after that he would need to recover for a few days. He should be ready to leave after that." Axel broke out of his reverie. So Roxas would be good to go in a matter of days. Though his housing arrangments still didn't set right with him.

Cloud nodded. "Thank you for the update." Taking that as a dismissal, the nurse smiled and took her leave, leaving Axel alone with Cloud again. Crap...

Cloud turned towards the other again and opened his mouth to speak, but Axel quickly cut him off.

"Listen, boss, I know I screwed up but can't we move on? I mean the kid's going to be alive and well! That has to count for something and-"

Cloud put his hand on the redhead's shoulder to silence him. He smiled and nodded. "Alright Axel." Axel smiled and opened his mouth, but it was Cloud's turn to cut him off. "But if this kind of thing happens again you'll be on toilet duty for a year." He smirked seeing the gaping look from the other officer. That should get him to stay at work. He chuckled. "Alright, now lets get back to the station."

Cloud turned and walked towards the exit. He turned, noticing that there were no sound of footsteps behind him. Axel rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Would it be possible if I..." He trailed off. He wanted to stay and be able to check on Roxas but he knew the blond wouldn't let him shirk off of work. But he was shocked when he got the response, "Only this once. You can stay and make sure the kid's alright." Axel gaped, mouth falling open in total shock. "You have the rest of the day off, but I expect you to work twice as hard the next time you're in." Axel snapped his mouth shut. Well he wasn't expecting that.

"T-thank you sir!" He said happily, giving a mock salute. Cloud rolled his eyes and walked out without another word.

~oOo~

A loud snore filled the waiting room. People were glaring at the noisy redhead seated comfortably in the chair, half on the cushion of the seat in a slouched position. The same nurse from earlier walked over, quickly taking notice of the looks he was receiving. With more rushed steps, she walked the rest of the way over and shook him gently.

"Sir? Please wake up." She urged gently. She sighed, seeing this as a hopeless cause. She shook him harder, making his head wobble back and forth. "Sir, you're making a scene." She said louder, giving one more hard push.

Axel's eyes shot open and jumped up, quickly taking out his gun on reflex. Gasps echo around the room in shock or panic. "What happened? Who's the killer, where's the..." He rushed out. Taking in all the shocked and scared faces brought him back to reality. He blinked owlishly. "Fire..." he finished lamely, lowering his gun and rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Uh...sorry?"

After the initial shock, the nurse shook her head in exasperation. "Did you really have to pull out the gun?"

Axel chuckled and put said gun away, smiling sheepishly. "Always gotta be on alert ya' know?"

"Right...Anyways about Roxas-"

"Is he okay? Was the Surgery a success?!" He asked quickly, interrupting her rudely. She glared at the taller, making him chuckle nervously. She shook her head and continued.

"The surgery was successful. He's resting now, but he should be waking up soon though." Axel perked up.

"Am I allowed to go see 'em?" He asked, nearly bouncing in excitement, reminding her of a child ready for his present on chrismas day. She quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Do you know him? You seem overjoyed to see him."

Axel paused. Why was he so excited to see the little guy? Sure he saved him, but that was part of his job. He has saved lots of people before, no big deal. Somehow, however, he was thrilled to see Roxas. "Weird..."

The nurse tilted her head in confusion. "What?"

Not realizing he had spoke out loud, he looked at her with furrowed brows. "What?"

"What's weird?" She clarified.

Axel blinked, realizing he had spoken out loud. Oops?. "Uh...nothing. But no, we don't know each other. That won't make me unable to see him right?" Now he was suddenly worried. There might be a chance that he won't be able to see him. Only like family members right? That's not good.

"Well we don't usually let anyone other than family visit, but since you're with the police and the one that rescued him, we've got permission to let you on up."

He cheered inwardly. "Thanks a lot! Am I able to go up now?"

She nodded, turned, and waved him over. He immediately followed with a grin. They reached the elevator, and the nurse pushed the up arrow. "He should be up on the fourth floor. He's in room 13-O." Axel nodded in understanding. A ding alerted him of the doors opening. "Well that's for you."

He nodded and smiled gratefully. "Thanks for all the help."

She returned the smile. "Any time." A look of seriousness took over her features, making him stop. "But next time, don't fall asleep in the waiting room."

Axel chuckled nervously and stepped into the elevator, doors shutting behind him. He looked over the buttons and found the number four and waited for the jerk that told him that he was moving up. He whistled to the tune of the elevator, slightly hating himself. He's always hated the stupid chimes they played for your short stay in the lift. The doors opened with another ding and he stepped out. He looked over the rooms he passed with dull curiosity. It wasn't until he made it to room 13-O when he became excited again.

He looked inside and saw the blonde he rescued earlier. His features natural and relaxed, nothing like the scared and tired look he wore earlier. A wave of empathy and hatred washed over him. How could a father do that to their own child?! The next time he sees that bastard, he's so locking him up and throwing away the key. Heck, it might even swallow it for good measure.

He started to walk in when a thought occured to him. What was he supposed to say if he wakes up? He was just a stranger to the kid. Gulping nervously, he walked in and took a seat next to the bed. Well this was awkward. What was he supposed to do, watch him while he slept? That's stalker-ish and pedophile-ish. He shook his head and looked at the spiky blonde. He could see the bruises that most likely was caused from his father. He frowned and reached out to touch one that was on his cheek carefully. It was larger and darker then most of the other ones. His skin was surprisingly smooth. He paused. Now what was he doing touching him?

He quickly withdrew his hand and sighed. Great, may as well call him a crazed stalker now...Sign him up for the pedo train.

He heard the sheets rustle and jumped. He snapped his head back over and noticed the boy's eyes fluttering open. Roxas groaned softly, bringing a hand and rubbed his eyes slugishly. He yawned and looked over and froze like a deer in headlights. Axel's eyes widened.

"Uh…Hello." He greeted lamely. Roxas blinked and the fear was gradually replaced with shock with only slight fear.

"Um…Hi." Roxas answered in a whisper, looking away. Axel noted that his voice sounded hallow, like there was barely any emotion. He sat himself up flinched at the pain that shot through his stomach. Axel noticed and became worried.

"A-are you alright? Do I need to call a nurse?" He asked a bit to hurriedly. Roxas looked back over and eyed him curiously.

"Um…no, just a little pain." He said, voice louder this time. Axel sighed and smiled.

"That's great. N-not the pain, the you being alright. Cause it would suck if you still had injuries and need to go back into surgery and…I'm just gonna shut up…" He hunched forward in defeat. Why did he have to sound so lame? Worst first impression ever. Roxas chuckled, though it sounded a bit empty.

"It's alright, I know what you meant." Axel blinked and looked up. That was the first time he really heard some emotion from the other, even if it was just a little hint. He was shocked to say the least. A smile curled his lips.

Roxas twiddled his thumbs nervously. "So...how did I...get here?" He questioned shyly. He looked up and met with Axel's stare.

"Oh right..." Axel drifted into thought, considering how he should go about this. Roxas furrowed his brows but waited patiently. "How should I start...well do you remember the cop you talked to on the phone?"

Roxas paused and then his azure eyes widened. "It was you." He said in a statement rather then a question.

Axel nodded. "That's correct." He then added in confusion, "How did you know?"

"I have a good memory I guess. I remembered your voice." He stated as if it was nothing.

Axel's brows shot up. "That's incredible."

Roxas shrugged. "Sure...So you're the one who took me here?" He asked, gesturing around the hospital room.

Axel nodded and the thoughts came rushing back into his mind. How merely hours ago the boy in front of him was being beaten senseless. He could feel anger bubbling up and it must have shown on his face because the blonde in front of him took on a face of worry.

"Is everything...alright?"

"Y-yes...just thinking." Roxas nodded and waited for the redhead to continue, slightly wondering if he was going to after a minute of silence. Axel sighed and ran a hand through his flaming locks. "Probably wondering why I look upset huh?"

Roxas paused before nodding. "Well...I kinda saw what happened between you and your father..." Roxas felt his eyes widen but didn't comment. "I...waited and didn't do anything. I watched and saw him beat you." Axel could feel voice wavering and paused. He tore his eyes away from the other's and looked to the floor. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. When he felt he was able to go on he continued. "I blame myself for your condition, it's all my fault." Axel lifted his teal eyes from where they had been resting on the ground and met shocked blue. "I'm sorry."

They sat in awkward silence. Roxas moved his eyes down to his lap, not really knowing how to take this information. A knock sounded from the door and both heads jerked over towards the doorway. A man stood with long blond hair and green eyes. He was wearing the usual doctor get up, long white coat with a white button up shirt underneath, and black slacks.

"Did I come at a bad time?" He questioned. He didn't wait for an answer before walking into the room. "You're Roxas correct? It seems you just went through surgery. Feeling any pain?" He asked.

Roxas looked up and nodded. "It's just...a dull pain though."

The doctor nodded and walked over to where a small desk stood. "Thats to be expected." He picked up a clipboard and looked over the information written on it. He scribbled down something and looked up. "I haven't introduced myself yet have I? I'm doctor Neve, but you can call me Vexen. I came to discuss the arrangements of your release. It's to my understanding that you and your father...don't have a good relationship, so I'm not going to release you to him. Do you happen to have any family that would be willing to take you in?"

Roxas opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it. Vexen waited patiently, but after a minute of waiting he sighed. "I'll take that as a no. If there's no one to take you, I'll be forced to call child protective services. They'll be forced to put you in a home." He said without any hint of sadness or empathy.

The words seemed to hit Axel hard in the gut. The kids already been tortured enough, he couldn't be put in a home! But what was there to do? It's not like he...could...

"Wait." Axel cut in, earning the other two's attention. Nervousness took hold of him from the expecting gazes, but forced himself to continue. "Is it possible...for me to take him in?"

Vexen's brows shot up. Roxas' eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, his mouth hanging open to complete his look of shock. Axel would've chuckled at the animated look any other time, that is, if he wasn't so nervous.

"If your not related to the patient or if you don't have the agreement from one of the parents, there's no way we're able to allow that." Axel cursed his luck. What was he to do now? He couldn't just let the kid go like that. He could only imagine what he would go through in home with no familiar faces.

"Um...may I say something?" Roxas' spoke up shyly. Now the attention was fully on him. He gulped, second guessing what he was about to say. He hardened his resolve and said, "My mom would give me permission." Axel looked over to him in shock. Where was his mother when he was being beat by his father? He had just assumed that there was no mother in the picture.

The room feel silent. Vexen started scribbling more notes onto his clipboard. The only sound feeling the room was the scratches from pen meeting paper. Finally looking up, Vexen eyed the boy with doubt. "It says here that your mother is deceased." Roxas didn't seem fazed, but it was the complete opposite for Axel. He was being taken over by a whirlwind of emotions.

The kid not only had an abuse father, but he already went through a family death? And not just a death, the death of his mother? How much has happened in this kids life? So many emotions were rushing through him: guilt, sadness, pity, empathy, shock. A major question was tackling him as well. Why did he care so much? Sure, anyone would be sorry for him, but why was he taking it this much to heart?

"Yes, but my father quickly remarried, about three months after her death." Axel's thoughts were cut through like a knife with Roxas' reply. He could feel anger boiling through his veins for like the hundredth time that day.

Vexen looked back through his notes, flipping through different pages until stopping at one. His eyes scanned over it quickly before nodding. "Alright, it seems we have information to back that up, however, we don't have a number. Do you have your mother's phone number?"

Axel flinched at the word mother. Something told him that this women was far from the word. Hell, she didn't seem to do anything to stop those bruises that was on her 'sons' body. Roxas nodded without hesitation.

Vexen wrote one last thing in his notes before steping out of the room, leaving the two in awkward silence again. Axel started fidgeting in his chair nervously. Roxas looked over at the redhead. "Why?"

Axel jumped, not expecting to be confronted by the younger. He looked over shyly. "What?"

"Why did you offer to take me in?" He said without a beat of hesitance.

Axel blinked. He had done it without thinking to tell the truth. Something in his gut told him that he couldn't let the kid go. As if...something was bound to happen if he left him in unknown hands. Plus...the kids been through so much already. He wanted to do something to help him. With that being said, what was he suppose to tell Roxas? Could he really just say, 'I felt bad for your horrible life and thought I should be your savior'? That made him seem like he had a screw loose.

Realizing he hasn't answered, leaving the blond to wait on him for like five minutes for an answer, He ran his hands through his hair nervously. "W-well...you see-"

"Is it because of pity?" Roxas interrupted, his voice taking on a bit of edge. Axel flinched inwardly. "If that's the reason, don't. There's no reason to pity me. I've already accepted my life and now I just have to deal with it." He said, his voice sounding empty.

"No!" Axel shout back, earning a startled yelp from the younger. His blue eyes were wide with fear and shock. Axel cursed himself, and forced himself to calm down. "No," he said more softly. "The life you live isn't a good one, we both know that. But I...know that life isn't for you, or any child. Sure, I feel sorry for what you have been through, but most anyone would. Most people would look away because it doesn't concern them, but for some reason I can't. I don't want to just look past your hardships. I know you're probably wondering why. Hell, I wish I could tell you. I just felt the need to help. Please allow me to do that. I know you probably think you don't need it, and I know you don't."

Roxas furrowed his brows in confusion. "You know I don't?"

Axel smiled, and put his hand on the shorter's shoulder. Roxas jumped in surprise but didn't speak or push his hand away. Taking that as a sign to continue, he answered, "Yes, you don't. All this time you took these hardships that were forced on you and carried on. You came this far through your own perseverance. That takes a lot of strength. Most kids your age would most likely resort to suicide, but you didn't. And even that phone call you made to the police, to me. You sounded calm and collective and came up with that perfect cover up. To say the least, I was impressed, and that really is the least I can say about that. Not many adults could even come up with that idea. You really are something you know? That's why I want to help you. You already got my attention, and that's not some easy task, let me tell you. Now I can't just let you suffer. The life you have should not be accepted by anyone. You should fight for the life you want, not the life others have given you. Got it memorized?" Axel squeezed Roxas' shoulder. Their eyes met and Axel could see that the blonde's eyes were quickly becoming watery. He smiled fondly. "Ok?"

Roxas blinked a few times, desperately trying to make the tears fade away. He didn't know why, but the words hit him like a ton of bricks. No one has ever given him a second glance. No one seemed to care. But this guy, this officer, came and helped him when no one would. Out of all the people who had talked to him, pitied him, said everything would be okay, their words meant nothing. There was no real emotion behind their words. But this guy...Axel, he did. He saw him get angry over something that wasn't even his problem. He had even come to see how he fared after the surgery, and after everything that has happened.

He could feel another onslaught of tears come to his eyes. He gave in and let the tears overflow. He couldn't even remember the last time he had cried, but somehow this stranger was easily able to strike a cord with his emotions. He felt like a baby for crying like this in front of someone else, but he couldn't bring himself to care.

He met the officers green gaze and smiled. A real smile; One that he hadn't worn in so long. Axel's words made a shred of hope come to him. Will he be able to change this hell of a life he's been living? He may give up...but with Axel's help maybe, just maybe, Roxas can give his own life meaning again.

"Ok."

A/n: Aaaaaaaand chapter end! Man, this chapter is a monster! Over 4000 words! I usually don't go over 2,300 ^^' So how was it? Good I hope. XD It has fluff though! I also heard that the last chapter's end was a little rushy, so I made sure to take my time and let the story flow. :D I hope I fixed that problem. So this was kind of like a filler chapter, but hopefully it'll get more exciting soon. Next chapter should have more Akuroku in it! I'll try and get on the next chapter soon! If I get a lot of feedback, like I did last chapter, it would probably make me upload faster. (just a thought. XD)

All right, enough of my rambling! I'll see you guys next chapter!