Chapter 4 – You Have to Help Me
Roxas stayed on Axel's back the entire time he ran. The police had caught them so quickly and Roxas believed that he and his friend would never be free. Was this the price of being free for Roxas? To be chased by the police until they give up? But he didn't care, as he just wanted to be free and with Axel. Before Roxas knew it, they stopped at a local train station and Axel put him down, appearing to be out of breath when they stopped.
"Axel,
where are we?"
"The local train station. It seems we lost them
for now but we have to wait for an hour before the train comes. Just
rest here on the bench."
"OK."
Roxas lied down to get some more sleep and Axel covered the young blonde with his jacket to keep him warm. As he looked at the young blonde, he became somewhat… warm and by his cute little face for a 15 year old. He gently stroked his face and brushed his rough fingers against Roxas's soft lips. He then stood up to get something to eat for him and Roxas. When he came back, Roxas was starting to wake up. The sun was rising as they had been running from the police all night.
"Hey there sleepyhead."
"Hi.
What's that?"
"Here. It's only a roll and some water and
it's not much, I know, but this will help you better than starving
yourself."
"Thanks, Axel."
Roxas ate the roll and drank half the bottle of water quite fast, as Xemnas and Saix hardly ever fed him back home. But the city was no longer his home. His home was wherever Axel would live for the rest of his life. When he was done eating, Roxas walked off and tossed his garbage away in the trash can. But when he came back, he saw Axel's face glowing in the sunlight and was somehow… attracted to it. He never saw someone so beautiful in the sunlight before. He walked over and laid his head on Axel's shoulder. He covered himself with the redhead's jacket again too.
"Axel…"
"What is it, Roxas?"
"Will we… ever be free?"
"I don't think… I know will be free. And you will stay with me. I'll make sure of it."
"OK."
The train finally arrived at the station bound for a new town not far from here. Axel was hoping they could stay there for a while because his cousin, Demyx also lived there. But Axel had not seen Demyx in so long. He wondered what he would say if he saw Axel with a young blonde at the age of 15, Roxas.
Back in the city, things were growing hectic. The school, started to suspect why Roxas hadn't been at school in the past 3 days. And other citizens were starting to grow worried why there were so many policemen in the city lately. Usually, Xemnas and Saix would never show themselves in public but for the past 2 days, they had been out a lot more. Saix's cell phone rang while he and Xemnas were out in one of the districts, looking in nearby abandoned buildings.
"Yes? They did huh? Don't worry I understand. I'll call you back later."
"What
was that?"
"The police force found them in the northern
country, but the older one noticed them and escaped with little Roxas
to another part of the country."
"Damn him! He's taunting us because he thinks we can never catch them."
"I actually have an idea. How about if… someone else goes after him? Someone we know very well and who is extremely resourceful…"
"Hire someone to go after him?"
"Yes. And I know just the person for the job." He dialed a number into his phone and waited for an answer… "Yeah. It's me, Luxord. We have an assignment for you." Another voice was heard on the other end.
"Excellent. I can't wait."
Back in the country, Axel and Roxas had boarded the train, the two of them sitting in the same seat and Roxas curled up next to Axel, trying to keep warm, as he didn't know why he was always cold. Axel just stared out the window as the train rolled by the landscape.
Can't blame Roxas for being tired… What have I gotten myself into? On the run with an abused sheltered 15 year old boy… What the hell was I thinking?
He ruffled Roxas's hair a tiny bit and now realizes, he realizes he's attracted to Roxas somehow and didn't know why. To wish him a peaceful sleep, Axel gently kissed Roxas on his forehead, then just before he fell asleep, Axel wrapped his arms around Roxas and gently held him close to his heart. Then he too fell into a deep slumber…
When both guys woke up on the train, their stop had just come and they had to get off. But Roxas was still asleep because he was so tired after running away last night. So Axel got off the train and carried Roxas in his arms like he was a delicate child, which of course he was. He had to go to Demyx's house and talk about what they had been through.
"Hello?"
"Hey,
Dem. What's up?"
"OH MY GOD! AXEL! IT'S BEEN SO LONG AND
LONELY WITHOUT YOU!"
Demyx ran out of the door and embraced Axel with such joy, which almost made Axel drop Roxas on the cemented ground.
"Careful around me, would you?"
"Sorry. Who's the kid?"
"Uhhh… it's a long story. Can we talk inside?"
"Sure."
After a long explanation about what happened over the past three days, Axel finally stopped his story between him and Roxas and not to mention the police force.
"Wow… you really got yourself in a mess this time."
"I can't leave Roxas to be a toy for those… fucked up people in the city. I won't let it happen, especially not a 15 year old like him."
"So… his name's Roxas?"
"Yeah. I'm the one who has to look out for him. He's now my responsibility. But I'm leaving him in your hands for a while. I have to go out and see if the police aren't looking for us."
"OK, then. I'll stay here."
Axel laid Roxas on the couch and covered him with a throw blanket so he could sleep more. But when he was about to walk away, he turned back for a minute and looked at Demyx, who was sitting close to the young blonde, keeping an eye on him.
"Look after him Demyx… please."
"Don't worry Axel. Got nothin' to worry about. I'll look after him. Promise."
"Thanks."
But Axel then turned to Roxas who was still asleep on the couch and seemed comfortable enough. Axel put his on Roxas's face and ran it through his hair. He looked sad but then leaned down and gently kissed the blonde's soft lips.
"I'll come back for you. I promise…"
Roxas woke up a couple hours later to find himself lying down. He got enough sleep to be up and about again but when he looked around, Axel wasn't there. Instead, he saw a young man about Axel's age but with blonde hair just like him.
"Oh… you're finally awake. I was afraid you weren't gonna wake up and then Axel would kill me."
"Who are you?"
"Don't worry, I'm Axel's cousin Demyx. He told me everything. I know your name's Roxas, right?"
"Yeah. You're his cousin?"
"Yeah. I was told by Axel to keep an eye on you while he was out."
"Where is he? Where's Axel?"
"He's out checking for any signs of the police and he should be back in a half hour."
But what both young men didn't know is that someone was watching them in the bushes. A blonde haired man appeared much older then Demyx and Roxas. He held a gun and aimed it at the window because this was the man that Xemnas and Saix had hired to find Roxas and kill Axel: Luxord. He was a cold and heartless killer and the real thing he only cared about was making his employees happy. He shot through the window and the glass shattered. Roxas jumped and so did Demyx.
"What was that?"
"Roxas stay back!" Who's there?" Luxord crashed through the window and stood up.
"I am Luxord. I have come to collect Roxas and take him back. I was hired by your caretakers, Roxas."
"My caretakers? No, I'm not going back. I won't!" But someone jumped in the way of Roxas and Luxord: Axel.
"Axel!"
"Roxas, are you OK?"
"Yeah, I'm OK."
"Come here."
Roxas obeyed and held on to him as tight as possible. But when he finally held tight to Axel, he blushed bright red a little. He felt so safe and warm around him.
"Bastard… what do you want?"
"I said it before… I'm here to take Roxas back."
"No I'm not going back!"
Luxord had no patience and he shot Axel twice in both shoulders. He clutched them from the pain. Demyx got mad too, but Luxord just held him by the neck, choking him and threw him across the room. Then Luxord slowly walked toward Roxas, who was terrified. Axel fainted from the pain of the shots but Roxas still held on to him.
"Now then Roxas… come with me."
"No! Let me go!"
Axel woke up later that night and looked around the room but Roxas was nowhere to be seen, neither was Luxord. Demyx was a few feet from him, unconscious. Axel got up, still wounded, and walked over to him. Then Demyx became conscious again too.
"You OK, Axel?"
"No… I'm not."
Demyx bandaged up his wounds and cleaned him up too. Axel looked sad the whole time because he wasn't able to protect Roxas this time and he felt like he failed himself and Roxas as well.
"Axel… there are different ways to fall for someone. But a 20 year old guy and a 15 year old boy are an entirely different case."
"Don't say that! I… know that's not true. But I know one thing: Roxas needs me because he's so weak, but the actual truth is… I need him more."
Axel got up when Demyx was done and cocked his gun. He walked outside into the moonlight and was determined more than ever to find Roxas and take him back.
Roxas… I'm promised to come back for you. Just keep waiting for me… I promise I'll come.
END OF CHAPTER 4
