I'm surprised I got so many reviews for this so quickly! I expected like, one, if I was lucky. Thank you so much! –offers cookies to reviewers-

And thank you Oblivious, whoever you may be.

So…I said this would be under five chapters. I might have lied…I don't know yet. I know I have three chapters typed already and I don't believe I'm anywhere near the resolution I wanted. Though I actually do know where this one is going. XD

I think I'm doing updates on Wednesdays and Fridays. Maybe more if I write more. This is tentative.

Anyways, enjoy the chapter! I posted earlier than I ever would have normally because I'm super-excited.

I own a checkered bracelet like Roxas's. Sadly, I don't own him… yet.


New day, same routine.

Crashing, screaming, lacing up running shoes, and wearing out the ancient carpeting in the hallways.

Life on repeat.

Until someone discovers a new interpretation of the lyrics.

Roxas sighed and slipped out the door again, turning on Linkin Park before starting to run. Fate in the form of a redhead who lived above the battle zone, however, decided to intervene.

Seeing Axel, Roxas slowed and took a headphone from his ear, willing to hear the redhead out.

"Didn't I tell you to come and talk to me instead of wearing out the carpet?" He shook his head, frustrated that someone else in his age group could be so stubborn.

Roxas looked around guiltily, avoiding Axel's gaze. "I didn't want to bother you." He shuffled around awkwardly.

Axel looked at the blonde for a moment before sighing and opening his apartment door, motioning for him to go in. Roxas stayed still, making Axel raise a thin eyebrow. "I leave so I won't hear it, and the walls aren't very good at blocking out sound." He explained dully.

Understanding dawned on Axel's face. "Well, how about going to get something to eat? You look like you need food, and this way you're reassured that I won't rape you." He chuckled before disappearing inside, leaving Roxas in the hallway to frown and fully disengage himself from his music. Without much delay, Axel reappeared in a black pea coat and held a tan one for Roxas. "You're not going back to your apartment for awhile."

"I'm not complaining." Roxas took the jacket and pulled it on, noticing that it was much nicer than the hooded sweatshirts he usually used as coats. Axel locked his door and the two proceeded down the stairs and to a small corner café that Roxas knew only by sight and Axel visited occasionally when he was in a people mood.

"So, kid." The redhead started off as he handed Roxas a menu.

"Roxas." Said teenager corrected him. At Axel's raised eyebrow, he elaborated "It's a place in the Philippines. Don't ask me why they named me it, I have no idea."

Axel laughed. "Roxas." He tried out the name, finding it was easier to say than he would have thought. "I'm guessing you like running?"

The blonde shrugged. "I normally run on a bike path near the highway, but since its winter there's no way I can run through two foot tall snowdrifts." Axel nodded in agreement. "So, where do you go to school?"

"Idiots put me at Hollow Bastion High this year." Axel snorted. "I'm normally at Twilight."

The waitress came to take their orders, leaving Roxas to mull over the information. He went to Twilight, too. As he had never been there before, Axel ordered for Roxas and they both wound up having sandwiches.

After setting down their drinks, Axel thanked Yuna and she smiled at him, saying their order would be ready in a few minutes. "So, which school do you go to?" He asked the silent blonde.

"Twilight." He answered, taking an experimental sip of the cherry coke. He discovered that he liked it.

"Strange, I've never seen you there before." Axel wondered aloud.

"I dyed my hair brown during freshman orientation last year. Apparently I looked exactly like this kid from Destiny High, and grew it out again when summer came around."

Axel nodded as Yuna set their orders in front of them, still smiling, before drifting off and making sure the new girl, Yuffie, didn't break any more dishes than she already had today.

Their conversation continued, ranging from classes they liked and hated to video games to what they wanted to be when they 'grew up.'

"Firefighter." Axel stated, finishing off his roast beef sandwich. "Fire's amazing, you know? It's so powerful, and fast, and…"

"…and I think you're more fit to be a pyro than a firefighter. You seem to admire it more than anything. And look at your hair." Roxas pointed to a red spike and laughed. The redhead frowned, crossing his arms.

"Thanks a lot, Roxy."

Roxas froze, flashbacks running through his mind unchecked.

What's wrong, Roxy-baby?

Oh yeah, Roxy's gonna tell me what to do.

Axel noticed Roxas close off. "Roxas? Is everything okay?"

The blonde took a deep breath, fighting the memories away. "Yeah, fine." He smiled a thin attempt at disguising his discomfort. "Just… remembering the past."

Axel frowned. He'd like to think that Roxas and he were friends, but this was only their first time talking and he knew it would take a lot more for the blonde to trust him. He nodded and motioned to Yuna for the bill. He struck up idle chatter whilst handing her fifteen dollars, and within five minutes they were walking back to the apartment building.

"Want to come over after school? I won't have homework, and maybe we can avoid the whole awkward-meeting thing." Axel wondered aloud, kicking an empty energy drink can down the damp sidewalks.

Roxas stepped forward a little bit and kicked it as well. "Sure."

They smiled at one another and Axel dropped Roxas off at the second landing after watching Roxas's father leave.

"You know, I know you don't think it's worth it."

Roxas froze for the second time that night, eyeing Axel warily as he leaned against the doorframe to the stairwell. "I know you think life isn't worth it." Axel challenged again. "Your life sucks, and you're just living until you think you can get away from it all."

Roxas glared at Axel. "I know, who the fuck is this guy that thinks he can tell me what my life is like?" The redhead continued, walking toward the blonde. "But you know, I lived like you are now."

"Shut up." Roxas muttered under his breath. "You don't know."

"Why do you think I live alone? Why do you think I even took the time to notice that every time that same couple under me has a fight, I hear someone running through the hallways? You're running away from it, and you're running away from the fact that someone does understand what it's like and can help."

"Sometimes it's easier to run." Roxas muttered again.

"Roxas!" Axel shouted, grabbing him by the shoulders and slamming him against the off-white wall. "I know what you're thinking. You're going to kill yourself like this." The younger teen stared at his shoes. "Please. Just talk to me next time something's bothering you." Roxas nodded, and Axel finally released him.

"I'll see you tomorrow. If you don't want to keep running away, that is." The redhead walked through the door and up the stairs, presumably to his own apartment. Roxas glared at the door stubbornly. He gave up on glaring at a guy that wouldn't see it, sighed, and entered 2F, moving through the same motions he did every other night.

Finally, when he was in his bed, the nightmares came back. He curled up in a ball and covered his head with his pillow, willing them to go away. The other blonde kept tormenting his dreams. The last horror replayed itself before Roxas bolted upright, clutching his sheets. "GET OFF OF ME!"

Roxas breathed heavily for a few seconds before diving under the covers again and biting his pillow to keep himself from going hysterical. He thought about everything, relaxing only when the first glow of light shone through the dark window. The color red wouldn't leave his thoughts.

"It's easier to run, but sometimes it just feels better to give in."

Uh-oh, who's been traumatizing Roxas? Correct guesses get a dedication. And a paopu, just for the hell of it.

I have no clue why I made Yuna a waitress, besides that I didn't wanna use Aerith and Yuffie seems too clumsy.

Also, you Alert people, I know you can type a "yay" in the little box that pops up when you push the button under this. Give it a try. ;]

Thanks for reading! Please review!