Secrets
Chapter 3: Axel

I don't know why, but I ended up getting on the train after leaving Sora's place. It was the middle of the week, so the train was pretty empty. I needed to get away, sit down and think. I stared out the window and watched the slightly blurred scenery as the train chugged along.

I thought about Naminé. Ever since the miscarriage, things had been hard on us. It really strained our relationship. We didn't even want a baby, but it still took a toll on her. But really, I think that when that happened... once we lost the baby, we lost each other.

It's hard for people to deal with something like that; especially fresh out of college.

I hate to say it, but I really am happy that it's over. Granted, I wish she chose someone better than Marluxia to leave me for, but who gives a shit. She'll learn. I hope.

And Sora. Wow. I never saw that coming.

Riku and Sora have known each other for years upon years... I guess it makes sense in a way, but still. That just goes to show that anything can happen.

Anything.

I got up as the train came to a stop. The doors opened and I took a step forward, but was rudely pushed back by a crowd of five or so people in black cloaks.

Organization XIII.

"Well... who do we have here?" I stared at the taller man, his brownish-pink hair accenting his heavy lidded, dilated eyes.

Marluxia.

"What do you want?" I watched him take a seat as the train doors closed shut. The rest of the Organization members took their own seats around him. Most of them looked annoyed and just ready to go home. One though, stayed up and leaned against the small bit of wall beside the train doors. The hood of his cloak was pulled up over his head.

I didn't recognize any of the gang members from Sora's photo, so I assumed these were the other members that Sora didn't really see much of.

"What do I want? Huh!" Marluxia laughed to himself and leaned his head back against the window behind his seat. "I want you to stay the fuck away from Blondie. Simple enough, right?"

"I don't see a problem with that. But why do I need to stay away from her? Worried about something?" I stared into his dilated eyes as he quickly sat up in his chair and looked into mine.

"Should I be?" My eyes slowly closed as I turned to take a seat a few rows down. "Hey, you little fuck! Get back over here, I'm not done talking to you."

"Well, I sure am." I took a seat and pulled my phone and headphones out of my pocket. I shuffled through my playlist and tried to ignore him. I watched him get up from his seat through the corner of my eye, but the hooded Organization member shoved him back down.

"Calm the fuck down, Mar. He doesn't want anything to do with your girl, or you. Stop being so God damn insecure." I looked up and watched the confrontation. That voice sounded extremely familiar; a deep, slightly raspy tone that just felt so good to hear.

"Insecure? Excuse me? That girl's been all over me for months now. I've got her wrapped around my God damn finger. I'm not anywhere near insecure, Axel. Got it?" Marluxia got up and stood in front of Axel, their faces just inches apart. "So why don't you just mind your own fucking business." He turned around, then looked over his shoulder back at Axel. "Or maybe you're just jealous? After talking to Demyx and Zexion, I heard you've got a thing for the dick. Have you been wishing you were in Blondie's place, Axel?"

My eyes widened as I realized who the hooded member was. Axel, huh? And he's gay? God, today was full of surprises. I turned away from the scene and started shuffling through my playlist again... Until I heard a loud thump and a few raised voices.

I turned back around to see Axel leap onto Marluxia, who was now laying on the ground covering his face with his hands. Axel got a few punches in before the other members pulled him off of the cocky pink-haired man.

The train finally stopped and I made sure to get out of there as fast as I could. I nodded to the red-head, who was once again leaning against the wall, as I got off the train. He smiled back at me, winking slightly as I passed by. He may have been an Organization member, and a bit of a freak, but at least he distracted Marluxia for me. I was damn thankful for that. After all, Marluxia was about twice my size; hell, all the Organization members were twice my size.

Either way, I appreciated it and felt that I owed him.

Owed him what? Who knows. I'd probably never even see the guy again.

I slammed the door to my apartment and sighed, leaning against the door. Today had been one hell of a day... and you know what? I needed a drink.

I walked into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of tequila from the freezer. Shots. Shots were nice. I poured myself a shot, drank it, then poured another.

I jumped as the sound of thunder shook the floor beneath me.

Great. Now it was going to storm? Perfect.

My phone lit up and alerted me of a text message as I hopped up onto my kitchen counter, the bottle of tequila in hand. I glanced down at it and saw that it was from an unknown number.

(Could you let me in? I'm getting soaked out here.)

I frowned to myself, then practically fell off of the counter as I heard a knock at my back door. I looked at the door and quickly got up to let him in.

It was Axel.

"Thanks, Roxas. I had just got off the phone with Riku, then it started raining cats 'n dogs." He took a seat at my dining table and took his shoes off, throwing them beside of the door he came in from. "I hope you don't mind me bumming your contact info from Riku. At least you know he trusts me enough to give it to me."

"Riku gave you my number?" I put my shot glass in the sink and shoved the alcohol back in the freezer. I didn't need him getting drunk in my apartment.

"And your address. Hell of a guy, that Riku." He took off his cloak and threw it over by his shoes. He was soaked. Even his spiky red-hair has lost it's natural bounce and was sticking to his face and neck. He got up once he realized just how much he was dripping onto the floor and chuckled.

"D'you mind to throw my clothes in the drier for me? I could use a good shower, too, if you don't mind." I stared at him for a few seconds as I finally started to feel the buzz from the shots I had taken. He was dripping all over my dining room.

"Sure, whatever. The bathroom is down that hall and to the right." He winked at me before making his way down the hall.

I had no idea why he was in my apartment. I had no idea why I was letting him use my shower. I had no idea why I didn't even seem to care. But if Riku gave him my contact info, that must mean he's an ok guy. And plus, I was buzzed... I could really care less after the kind of day that I just had.

I walked down the hall after him, waiting for the sound of the shower before opening the door up and grabbing his clothes to put in the drier.

After quickly cleaning up the puddle of water Axel had brought in with him, I took another couple of shots and made my way to the couch. I needed to lie down. I needed a lot of things.

But what I really needed was a break from all this God damn drama.

My girlfriend cheated on me.

My best friend is gay. And my other good friend is gay. Hell, my two good friends are gay... for each other.

A gang member, that stole my girlfriend, wants to fight me.

And now, a gay gang member is in my apartment.

I should have brought the tequila bottle with me to the couch.

"Hey." I opened my eyes and looked over at the red-head. He was leaning against the door frame of the hallway, a towel wrapped around his thin waist. "Where's the laundry room at?"

"Down the hall a bit from the bathroom and on your left." I closed my eyes again. "I don't know if they're dry yet. You were only in the shower for like, twenty minutes."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll deal." As he walked away, I suddenly felt sick. Not only to my stomach, but, everywhere else. I think at that moment, everything hit me. It was like my body went into shock. Tears started to slowly run down my flushed cheeks and I sat up a bit.

"Roxas?" Axel walked back into the room. I guess his jeans weren't dry yet since he was only wearing a t-shirt and boxers. There was a gay gang member in my apartment... and he wasn't wearing any pants.

Oddly enough? I could care less.

"Are you ok, man?" He took a few steps toward me, noticed the tears, and took a seat beside me. I gasped as he pulled me in close, my head resting on his warm chest. I could smell my shampoo in his hair and the scent of drier sheets coming from his shirt. It was familiar and comforting. His voice was raspy, deep and soothing.

The tears finally began to slow down, and before I knew it, I was asleep in his arms.

My eyes slowly fluttered open as I woke up. I noticed a warm body next to me and pulled it in closely, snuggling up to it and smiling.

"Good morning." The soft, raspy voice struck me hard; my eyes shot open and I pulled away from him.

"The hell?" I scanned the room, but nothing was out of place. But, why was Axel asleep with me on my couch? In his boxers? "What happened?"

"Nothing, you little shit! I stopped by last night, was soaking wet from the storm, and you let me take a shower and dry my clothes. When I came back into your living room, you were crying and shaking... the only thing I could think to do was hold you." He ran his slender fingers through his thick hair and sighed. "And after a few minutes, you fell asleep. I didn't do a thing to you, so don't worry about it."

"Oh..." I got up and walked over to my kitchen. I opened the fridge and poured us both a glass of orange juice. I handed him the glass and smiled. "Thank you... for last night and for what you did on the train. I appreciate it, really I do."

"No problem. You don't need someone like Marluxia as an enemy. He might look like a pansy, but he can get pretty out of hand." He refused to accept the drink and got up. "I'm gonna grab the rest of my clothes out of your drier and head home. I've got things to do, people to see..."

"Alright." I took a seat on the couch and stared at the glass of orange juice I had poured for him. I had so many things on my mind, it was hard to focus.

"Well, I'm headed out." Axel made his way to my back door and put his slightly wet shoes back on. "Thanks for the shower and what not. Maybe I'll see you around?"

"Sure. You've got my number." He grabbed his cloak from the floor and looked over at me, his emerald green eyes almost glowing.

"And you've got mine. It's a two way street, little dude." He opened the door and stepped outside. I kept watching him as he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and walked away.

I hate to say it, but I think I like him. And with him being in Organization XIII, he'd be a good friend to have.

Written By: FembotAxel