Author's Note: I do a lot of research for my fics, so most of this should have some semblance of reality. I'm marking this as complete although there might be an epilogue if I decide to write one. ^_^ Enjoy!
"How do I contact a Senator?" Roxas was feeling more than a bit stymied as he searched the internet. The only options he was finding so far were e-mail, and that just wasn't going to cut it. "Ugh, I should have asked Axel!" But the police weren't letting him anywhere near him.
It had been a day since he'd gotten home, and everyone was still making a tremendous fuss but Roxas could only think of a certain redhead. And he'd drawn everyone into his quest to contact Senator Luxord. Even his mom was helping, although she had already mentioned that she thought he was insane. But having him home safe and sound was making her more forgiving towards Axel.
"Roxas!" Roxas looked up as she walked over, holding a magazine and smiling. "There's a contact number here for the Senator's staff. I don't know if it's still active, but it's probably worth a try." She handed him the magazine and Roxas scanned it, then nodded with a smile.
"Thanks mom." She smiled again, dimples peeking out, and Roxas was very glad that Sora had been the one to weather her disappointment in both her sons being gay. She seemed to be completely over it now, but Sora and Riku had both been able to tell him a few stories.
It wasn't easy reaching someone on the Senator's staff. The number in the magazine was for an answering service, as it turned out, but Roxas finally managed to reach a live person. After getting passed around several times he was just about ready to scream when he finally reached someone who seemed competent.
"Andrew Kraul speaking." A hard, clipped voice answered the phone this time and Roxas swallowed before speaking.
"Hello. I'm Roxas Sturm. You might have heard of me, I was kidnapped?" The hard voice confirmed that he had, and Roxas went on. "I have some urgent information for Senator Luxord. His nephew Axel is in jail for kidnapping me. He was just arrested yesterday." There was a brief, surprised pause at the other end before Andrew spoke again.
"I see. I will have to confirm that… what jail is he being kept at?" Roxas couldn't tell from his tone if the man believed him or not, but he carefully repeated the information as Roxas gave it. "Is there a good number to reach you at?" Roxas gave that as well. "Thank you. I will investigate this and you might receive a call shortly."
"Thank you." Roxas said, feeling rather relieved as the line went dead. Andrew Kraul didn't sound like a friendly sort, but he did sound like someone who would do his job and do it well. Roxas quickly found out he was entirely right about that. It wasn't more than ten minutes before the phone rang again.
"Hello?" He answered, and almost sighed in relief as he heard a familiar voice on the other end.
"Roxas Strum? This is Senator Luxord. What's all this about my nephew? Andrew says he contacted the jail and he's definitely been arrested!" Roxas found himself explaining the whole situation again, to Luxord's disbelief. "You were there the whole time we were talking? Good lord! Drat that boy." Roxas couldn't help but grin, Luxord sounded so vexed. "Why didn't he tell me? I'd have hired someone! Bought him a dog, a cat, a bloody ferret!"
"Axel said he doesn't like pets much." Roxas said, and heard Luxord sigh.
"I know, and I'd rather not know why. Well, I'm flying over with my lawyer. Thank you for letting me know about this. We'll do all we can, although there's no way he'll get off completely." Roxas winced, but really, he had already known that.
"Can you see if the police will let me see him?" Roxas wanted desperately to talk to Axel, although he didn't think it would happen. He was the victim of the crime, after all.
"I'll try, but that's not very likely. I'll call you as soon as I know what's happening." Roxas had to be content with that. At least Axel would have a lawyer now. Innocent or guilty, that was important.
Axel was busy at that moment discovering that jail was both boring and slightly uncomfortable. He'd been mildly terrified when he arrived, but after sleeping far too long on a very thin bed behind boring bars, he was wishing desperately for a book. The only marginally interesting thing that had happened was the police bringing in a drunk woman to sleep it off. She had quickly gotten annoying with her crying and mumbling, but fortunately she'd eventually fallen asleep.
"Hey." Axel opened his eyes, surprised, and saw a police officer opening his cell door. "Your lawyer is here."
"I have a lawyer?" Axel was startled by that. He'd assumed he would get a public defender, or maybe his trust fund would pick up the costs, but whatever happened he hadn't anticipated it happening so quickly. The police officer shrugged as Axel stood.
"Apparently." Axel shrugged right back and went where he was directed. He was brought into a room with a table and a couple chairs, and stared as he saw who was waiting for him.
"Uncle Lux? Marly?" Axel said, slightly overwhelmed as he saw Luxord and Marluxia, his personal lawyer. "Wha… how did you find out what was happening so quickly?" The police hadn't made any statements yet, so the press only knew Roxas had arrived home and the police had made an arrest. Axel's name hadn't hit the papers yet, although he knew that would change soon.
"Roxas managed to get in touch with my staff. He was very determined." Luxord said dryly, and Axel smiled, feeling his heart warming at the thought. "I always wondered how you could stand to live in that cabin all year round. Now I see you couldn't. Why didn't you say something to me?" Axel winced. He'd considered it, but…
"I could take care of myself, Uncle. And I guess I just didn't want to admit that I couldn't take it anymore." Axel rubbed his forehead with one hand for a moment. "I know it's stupid, you don't have to tell me."
"Yet, we're going to anyway." Marluxia said with a thin smile, leaning forward. "Now, tell us everything that has happened. I need to know how bad the damage is." Axel sighed, and gave them the whole story. It took a while, but Marluxia nodded at the end. "Exactly as Roxas described it."
"Except for one part." Axel tapped his fingers against the table, wishing for a cigarette. He didn't smoke except when he was at a bar or very nervous, but he was nervous now. "I was hoping I could make a plea bargain. I've got some info that the police would like. But Luxord, it'll really screw up your getting reelected."
"More than my nephew being arrested for kidnapping? Do tell." Luxord sounded amused, and Axel knew he was completely clueless, really. Despite knowing that his brother had been a complete pervert Luxord had no idea how far it went.
"Dad was a serial killer." Axel stated the truth simply. "I know where he put the bodies and I have his collection of video tapes." Luxord went deathly pale as Marluxia stared.
"What?!? You're joking! He couldn't have…" Luxord trailed off, going even paler as he realized that it was really just a logical progression from what he already knew his brother had done. "My god. He did? How many?"
"I dunno, exactly. He started before I was there and he didn't tape everything." Axel swallowed, and Marluxia pushed a glass of water over to him. "Thanks. But from the tapes, at least a dozen. That was how many crosses Astrid and I put up, after he died." Luxord rubbed his forehead, looking like he was getting a migraine. Axel felt rather sorry for him. He'd had a lot of crap dumped on him all at once. Marluxia just looked cool and thoughtful.
"Tell me everything, Axel. From the beginning." Marluxia glanced at Luxord. "Luxord, feel free to go outside if this is too disturbing." Marluxia needed to know all the skeletons so he could barter effectively, but it didn't mean Luxord had to know. Luxord hesitated, then nodded.
"I'll wait outside." He could get Marluxia to give him a rundown later, and it was painful to find this out about his brother. He'd hated the man, but still, it was a shock. Axel sighed, and prepared himself to tell his story again.
He hoped it would be the last time, but he rather doubted it.
As all the revelations came out, Roxas found himself hounded by the media. He got very expert at avoiding them, but it wasn't easy. With Axel's information, the police immediately started excavating the graveyard. And not just that, but the rest of the property as well. It turned out that there had been plenty of things Axel didn't know, probably because his father had started his activities before the twins had even been born. In the end, almost forty bodies were found on the property. Most would go unidentified forever, but the ones in the tapes were mostly found. Many families finally found out where a loved one had vanished to.
Finally, Roxas was allowed to see Axel. Under close monitoring to make sure Axel wasn't trying to intimidate him in any way, but Roxas didn't care. He just wanted to see the redhead again.
"Axel!" Axel laughed as Roxas hugged him tightly, and hugged the blonde back. "How have you been? I've been so worried about you."
"I've been fine, just really bored." Axel ruffled Roxas' spiky hair fondly, smiling. "How have you been doing? I hope the press hasn't been bugging you too much." Roxas made a face.
"They're pests. Axel, what's happening with your plea bargain?" Roxas knew Axel was making a plea bargain, the newspapers had reported it along with all the details about his dad.
"Not bad at all, actually. They've offered me a year in a minimum security prison. That's the lowest sentence for second degree kidnapping." Axel was actually rather pleased with the deal, although he wasn't looking forward to even a year in minimum security. On the other hand, he was relatively sure it wouldn't be too bad. Luxord has assured him it was a lot like a college dorm, although Axel had never been exposed to that either. He anticipated that losing his privacy was going to be a shock. Roxas looked crushed, though, and Axel hastened to comfort him. "That's really good Roxas. I might get out early with good behavior, and there's a minimum security prison in Fairbanks. That's only a couple hours drive away." If Roxas wanted, he'd be able to visit Axel fairly easily. It was a long trip, but not impossible by any means.
"I was hoping you might get false imprisonment." Roxas had been reading up on kidnapping a bit and it was a touch confusing, but he knew now that there was first degree kidnapping, second degree and things like false imprisonment, which was a misdemeanor. Axel smiled and shook his head.
"Marly tried, but they weren't willing to go that far. That's supposed to be for when, oh, you stop someone from leaving your house during a fight. Not half a year." Roxas had been with Axel far too long for that. "Don't worry Roxas, I'm going to be fine." Axel was feeling a bit upbeat about it now. Marluxia had given him what sounded like a very good rendition of the conditions in minimum security, and it didn't sound bad at all. Although he would have to see to be sure. Roxas sighed and nodded, then hugged him again.
"I love you Axel." He said, burying his face against the redhead's chest, and Axel hugged him back, gently pressing a kiss against his forehead.
"I love you too." A year of separation would be painful, but they could endure it. And then they would be free.
Roxas,
I'm in prison. Yay! Heh. I couldn't believe it, there's no internet here. I mean, dang, get with the 20'th century amiright? This letter might reach you after you've visited me, but c'est le vie.
So, this is interesting. I've got a case manager. He's pretty cool, he got me a work assignment with the kitchen. So I'm cooking a lot! Heh, I wish I could do a Jamie Oliver and revolutionize the prison system to give the inmates good, fresh food. Alas, that's not going to happen. I imagine this is what being a line cook at Appleby's feels like. But hey, that's valuable work experience I guess.
This place is pretty relaxed. I can go outside almost any time I want, I could even just walk away, there's no barbed wire fence or anything. Of course, I'd be a complete dumbass to do that. Most of the people in here are like me, sentences of a year or two and hoping to get out early on good behavior. So not much worrying about prison sex, heh. It's a huge relief.
My case manager is insisting I get a GED. He was pretty shocked to find out I haven't been educated since ten. Anyway, I figure the math will help me open my bakery and he says it'll help me get early parole, so I'm working hard at it. Did you know prison offers all kinds of courses for this sort of thing? I sure didn't.
This place has plenty of books, and there's TV's in the cells. Although my cell mate likes football and I like the food network so, yeah, that's not working out too well. I mostly give up and read a book, except when Ace of Cakes is on. He's agreed to give me an hour on Thursday. Man, my cell mate. He's the one real problem I'm having here. He's an okay guy but… Roxas, he farts. All. The. Time. And they're stinkers. It's not the food, no one else does that. If I die overnight it's all his fault.
How's everything going for you? I hope the press still aren't bothering you. How's your mom taking everything? Write me back, I'm sure I'll see you before I get it but either way, I can't wait to hear from you! I miss you so much.
Tons of love,
Axel
Axel,
I'm glad to hear that prison isn't treating you badly. Mom's car is terrible so can you believe it, Luxord got us a new car to go see you? I can see why you didn't want to take things from him, actually, it's a bit embarrassing isn't it? But it would be a lot worse to have a break down an hour from Fairbanks. We'll be coming down next weekend to see you. Mom plans to drive and go shopping all weekend, heh.
Speaking of mom, we have a bit of a problem. She says she was content not to mention it when she thought we were straight and going to find girlfriends and get married someday, but now she's asked us if we're planning to adopt or what, because she really wants to be a grandma someday. You should have seen the look on Sora's face! But I was probably just as bad. I told her that I only like kids with hot sauce, but how do you feel about that? Actually, you can just tell me when I visit. I know I'll get there before a letter from you can get back.
I miss you so much. I keep telling myself that it's just a year and we can be together again, but it feels like forever. Are you still thinking of opening a bakery? I've been checking around the town and there really aren't any private bakeries, maybe we could make it a success. I bet Luxord would spot you enough to start it up. Although he said something about getting your trust fund dissolved, I'm not sure what that means.
The press aren't bothering us too much anymore, although you wouldn't believe it, I've been approached by a guy who wants to make this into a movie! I told him I'd have to discuss it with you first. I have to admit it would make a cool movie but… me? In a movie? My mind is blown. I don't know what to think. I should be down there in a couple days to see you and I can't wait. I love you Axel.
-Roxas
In the end, Axel only had to serve seven months of his sentence. After finishing his GED, he was allowed out early on good behavior, on probation. He and Roxas got their own apartment, mainly because it was just too embarrassing having sex in the same home as Roxas' mother. It turned out that Luxord was trying to get the trust fund removed so Axel could have full control over his share of the family fortune, but that was proving to be a little difficult. So Luxord had lent Axel enough money to start the bakery. Axel had insisted that it be a loan, and if he lost the trust fund he could pay it back.
Several months later, the bakery was set to open. Sora, Riku and Roxas all let themselves in the back door and gaped at the display in front of them.
"Axel! My god, how many cupcakes did you MAKE?" Roxas sputtered as Axel grinned. It looked like every available surface was covered in cupcakes. Chocolate, vanilla and a good assortment of other flavors with a rainbow of icing. Axel looked exhausted but happy.
"I dunno, a couple thousand?" Sora goggled at him as Riku sidled over to a rack of chocolate and helped himself to one with bright red icing. "Hey there! One cupcake each you guys. I also made a dozen cakes too and a bunch of squares."
"Axel, are you sure all this is going to sell?" Roxas had a dreadful image of all of them trying to eat the cupcakes before they went bad. Although Riku would probably love that. Axel grinned, and Roxas blinked as he realized the redhead had icing smeared on his cheek again. Roxas stepped forward, gripping his collar and pulling him down to slowly lick it off. Axel's eyes widened as Riku spoke up.
"That looks sexy, Roxas, but you don't have anywhere to do it." Roxas blushed and pulled back, giving the silver hair a glower as he shrugged. "Just saying. Roxas has a point though Axel, you're sure this is going to sell?" Axel grinned again, amused.
"Well, Riku, I figure this can go two ways. Either everyone in the town is going to come to gawk at me, or no one will come. Which way do you think it will go?" Axel said teasingly, and Riku didn't have to think twice.
"Everyone's going to come. Good point." The amazing story of kidnapping, the Senator's nephew and love in the mountains still had everyone agog. Not to mention that new stores opened very rarely in a town this small, and cupcakes were cheap. "I wonder if you'll sell out?" Riku wouldn't have been surprised. "Damn, this is a good cupcake." It was moist and super sweet, exactly the way a cupcake should be.
"That's my red velvet flavor." Sora looked interested and grabbed a vanilla looking cupcake with coconut sprinkles on top. "That's coconut. There's also, hmm, maple walnut, key lime, orange chocolate, pistachio and strawberry vanilla." Axel started moving cupcakes out to set up the displays, and Riku blinked at the cakes that were ready for sale. Most were simple butter-cream cakes, but there was one that had been fondanted and looked just like a birthday gift, complete with bow and little patterns air brushed onto the fondant wrapping.
As it turned out, Axel was right. The bakery was a smashing success on it's first day, and by the end of it Roxas and Axel were exhausted. They were running the place jointly, and both of them manned the two cash registers as a crowd started to build. They didn't quite sell out, but only because Axel had made so many cupcakes. By the end, there was only maybe a dozen left.
"Wow, that was amazing." Axel marveled as Roxas boxed up the remaining cupcakes to bring to his mom. The blonde looked up with a grin.
"And you get to do it all over again tomorrow!" Axel blinked, then laughed.
"Gee, thanks Roxas!" Axel smiled though as he started cleaning up the shop. It might involve getting up very early in the morning and working long hours, but he was going to love owning his own bakery, he could tell. Of course, it helped that Roxas was with him all day.
It was a good start to the rest of their lives.
And unless I do write that epilogue…
~FIN~
