Saving Axel

Chapter 5: His Smile

Roxas's POV

I always enjoyed the country. I like the private beach Leon's company owns and the fact we visit it often. Hell, Sora and I spend most of our summer at the small cabin and beach here. I loved to come here on birthdays, because it was always fun with Sora, my aunt, and my uncle.

"Roxas!" I started to run to catch the frisbee that Sora tossed over his father's head. Yuffie started to run for it with me, and I picked up speed.

"I… Got it!" I dove for it and laughed when Yuffie tackled me into the sand. She helped me up to my feet, and I threw it back to Sora. He started to run backward and Leon followed him. With Leon's height advantage, he caught it, and Sora tackled him and they wrestled for the Frisbee. When Yuffie ran over to pull them off of each other, Leon just pulled her down into the little wrestling match, and I just stared. A happy family of three; I had that once.

I remembered a time where that would happen with me, back when my parents were still here, but that didn't last long. They were just too young to raise me, I guess; they wanted to see the world and didn't want to drag me along. I remember when me and my dad would play catch and my mom would make drinks and snacks for us to enjoy during a break. I watched and smiled sadly as I listened to Yuffie's giggled filled protests as Sora and Leon tickled her, only for the tides to change and they began to tickle Sora. I felt the wind blow a stream of cold on my cheek, and I raised my hand to the now wet area. When had I started to cry? I turned and started to walk off to the car and leaned against it. Times like this make me feel bad for living here with them.

I sat beside the car and sighed. I pulled my knees to my chin and placed my forehead on my knees. I was tired from the day of play here and just wanted to sleep and not think of my parents.

"Roxas?" I looked up to see Sora jog over to my brooding corner and sit beside me. "What's wrong? You were having a blast five minutes ago." He cocked his head to the left curiously as he stared at me with big, blue eyes.

"I just… got tired," I lied easily, but that wasn't too far from the truth. He nodded and got up and gave me a hand as well. He pulled me to my feet, and we walked back together. I saw Leon and Yuffie sitting in the sand drinking some lemonade.

"Rox? I was concerned when you just walked off." Yuffie smiled and motioned for us to sit with them. Sora got comfy beside his dad, and Yuffie sat beside me and happily wrapped her arms around me and pulled me close. "Let me know if something's bothering you," she whispered into my hair and pulled away. She smelled a little like my mom, and I got sleepier by the minute. Sora was off to my side babbling up a storm about how amazing his party was yesterday, but thankfully leaving out the drinking we didn't plan on. Yuffie and Leon watched and listened intently, laughing at all the right parts, but I sat in silence and thought about what happened to me at that party.

I had partied for a total of thirty minutes until I went to go sit in my emo-corner and sulk in self-pity. Then Axel wandered over, pissed me off, pinned me to a wall, and then just walked away. Shortly after that, Naminé chased after my virginityin her drunken state, and I hid in a closet only to be found by Axel. Then Axel accidently locked us both in the closet hiding from someone himself. We yelled out to people (which didn't work), Axel showed me his muscular stomach (accidently), and he almost made a move on me in a closet, only to disappear right afterward. Talk about your fun party!

"Roxas, look." Yuffie shook my shoulder and my closed eyes opened to see the sunset. I missed watching them with my parents, especially when we made that random trip to the beach. "Are you gonna smile for me?" she whispered in my ear. I nodded and sat there while Sora lay on Leon's lap and I on Yuffie's. Sora had long since fallen asleep. I was still awake, but they didn't know.

"Yuff, about the doctor~" Leon started, and I felt Yuffie shift.

"I'm fine. I still have a lot of time," she said quietly.

"I'm worried about Roxas and Sora," he said quietly, and I felt Yuffie start to stroke my hair.

"Why? They're eighteen and sixteen-years-old. Old enough to care for themselves~"

"Sora would be no where without you, and Roxas has lost too many people in his life. You'd be forever." That harsh statement made my breath hitch. Forever? What could he mean? Yuffie was fine. I felt myself shift and a shift across from me.

"We'll talk later, dear," she said quietly, and I heard Leon get up, probably taking his small eighteen-year-old with him. I felt myself being lifted as well, and I decided sleep would be really good right about now.

XxXxXxXxXxX

I was worried about what Sora had done when I was not around Friday night. He was pretty tanked, but he had Riku with him; what could he possibly have done? I think my question was answered when guys in the hallway started to sing 'So Hott' by Kid Rock and doing stupid, yet suggestive, dance moves. Sora was blushing the color of a tomato when he dropped me off in homeroom, and I smiled at him encouragingly. I hoped people would be nice to the alternate captain of the Blitzball team. I walked to the back and took my seat quietly. I brought out a piece of lined paper and began to write down all I had to do today. It was a ritual habit that made no sense, but took up time when needed. I was in the middle of item seven when someone walked up to my desk and the entire class quieted. I looked up timidly to meet lily pad green eyes and a smirk almost every girl in school fell in love with.

"Axel," I state evenly and he swung around and took the seat beside me. He flipped it around so he straddled it and leaned over the desk and smiled at his friends. The class began to talk again, but I still felt all those eyes on me. How awkward.

"I was wondering if you have any classes of mine and I never noticed," he replied with a smug smirk. I took out my schedule and shook my head.

"Doubt it. Let's not forget that I'm a sophomore and you're a senior. Plus, you're not even supposed to be in this homeroom," I pointed out with a shake of my head. He sighed and gave me the schedule back.

"You should join a sport," he stated happily. I stared at him, confused, and then laughed slightly. He looked at me confusedly.

"You obviously don't know me," I started with a smile, "I have zero hand eye coordination," I replied still smiling. He looked down and back up at my face.

"So then what do you do in your free time?" he asked me, and I looked to him as well with a coy smile.

"I take pictures and play and write music for the piano," I said proudly with a devious smile while he nodded.

"I better see some of these pictures and hear you play soon," he said with an equally devious smile. I didn't really know what he was suggesting, but I didn't really care. I was having too much fun!

"Axel Lea." We both looked to the teacher and she motioned for Axel to come to her. "I'll see you now," she said quietly, and Axel flashed me a smirk.

"We'll talk later, blondie." He walked away with those as his choice parting words. I looked back to my book, but I was attacked from behind by a hug.

"Why was Axel talking to you?" Olette asked excitedly. "If you're friends, oh, please put a good word in for me!" she cheered into my ear. I laughed when Pence glared, something that almost never happens and looks so foreign on his face.

"We're not…friends…actually," I stated hesitantly. I really don't know what we were to each other. I guess that's another thing for me to have to think about that I don't really want to think about. I looked to Hayner and he sent me a courage filled smile. He had problems with someone as well. I was the only one who knew Hayner liked Seifer,and hopefully the only one he planned to tell since anyone who would know would think he forgot to take his meds. Let's not forget this is the same guy who beats the shit out of me because Naminé likes me. I leaned back and sighed. Olette ran a comforting hand through my hair, but it felt too familiar of a move to me so I jerked away.

I don't like being reminded of those people who were supposed to take care of me.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Why was I doing math homework at lunch? If you're that curious, just ask my brain. Maybe it'll tell you since I have no idea why I'm doing it now. I brought my calculator closer to me and typed in the appropriate numbers. I was so involved in the problem that I didn't notice someone join me at the table until I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Ah!" I yelped, scared. I felt a few eyes on me and a laughter that belonged only to Sora. I looked up to see him smile as he sat beside me. I still felt eyes on me, and I looked for Riku since he wasn't here yet. I scanned the room and my eyes landed on him talking to Axel. No… he was holding him back from running. Weird. I looked back at Sora to see Kairi sitting down while talking about a hundred miles an hour about something dumb. I looked back at the paper and listened faintly to Sora and Kairi talk. Riku eventually joined the conversation when he sat down. Though, I was having a strange feeling. You know the feeling you get when someone is watching you? Well, I felt that way the entire stretch of lunch and hated it. I got up to leave so I could hit the bathroom before class started, but when I walked into the bathroom, I was followed.

I turned, and I was pinned to a wall under Axel.

"A-Axel?" I yelped in surprise. Why was he here, pinning me to a wall? He leaned his face closer to me until his lips ghosted over my right ear.

"Are you all right? You yelled at lunch," he said. Under normal circumstances, I would laugh. I would tell him I was fine and could take care of myself, but these weren't normal circumstances. He had both of my wrists pinned to the small, cool tiles of the wall, a knee in between my legs up against… you know where, and his lips practically kissing my ears. I think my genius answer was:

"I-uh-gah-ee."

Man, I was a genius. Whatever I meant to say was stupid, even if that isn't the exact gibberish I spouted.

I felt his hands leave my wrists as they began to roam over my body, causing me to gasp in surprise and strangely… pleasure. He felt over my sides and then moved to my stomach, and then my back and he followed through to my arms. I was panting at this point, my face flushed with lips parted slightly. His hands were very warm and comforting, but as soon as they had arrived, they left. Axel leaned off me completely, and I slumped down as he left me panting in the bathroom.

I got up shakily to my feet and totally forgot why I came in here from the start since I was just molested by Axel! What the hell!? What is he doing to me! I removed my glasses and splashed some cold water on my face to sober myself up to focus on the rest of the day. I fixed them back on my face and dubbed myself presentable enough to the public and walked back out to the busy hallway and ran to class. I think that counted as sexual harassment… I'll report that when I figure out why the hell I enjoyed that!

XxXxXxXxXxX

"I'm heading out now, Rox! Tell mom and dad when they get home!" Sora called as he closed the door behind him. I heard the car start up, and I knew Riku was leaving with Sora to head to the movies. They watched a ten cent movie every Saturday night since they were little kids. I went a few times when I would visit, and a few times when I first got here, but I haven't gone since. I was lounging on the living room couch in my PJ's with the book I was currently reading with a mug of tea beside me. I re-opened the book and read silently, but after reading the same, damn line over and over again, I gave up.

Axel's little stunt on Wednesday was still on my mind, plus all his creepiness from the week. He would talk to me in homeroom and glare at anyone who looked at me. Then he would stare in the hallways and at lunch. He even stared at me when I was running outside for gym and he was outside as well. He's really starting to creep me out, and I'm getting worried. Ever since the party he's been… I don't even know. Just weird, I guess. I got up from the couch and ran up to my room and grabbed my camera. I grabbed a piece of note paper and wrote a quick note to Yuffie and Leon to read when they got in. Sora was going to the movies and I was going on a walk with my camera. I closed the door and walked down the street with my camera bag on my shoulder and headed toward the park.

I saw a few kids from school and thought I heard Hayner laughing with Olette and Pence, but I didn't look for them. I needed to think for a little bit by myself and going on a trail walk with my camera was just the distraction I needed. I sighed and walked through the iron gate and into the park. I walked forward with my head down, not bothering to look up till I heard grunting and almost walked into a moving basketball game on the black top in the park. Good news is I didn't get hit; bad news was it was Axel and his friends.

Just my luck, right?

"Hey, short stack!" I looked over to the sweating pink haired man, Marluxia. I smiled sourly at him. He laughed and went over to the bench to grab some water with a blond girl. I think her name is Larxene.

"Hey, Roxas," I turned to see a slate haired man sitting up against the nearest tree with a book in front of him. I waved kindly since he was nice.

"What brings you to the park?" I turned to see Demyx smiling like a fool while he dried off his sweaty face. Axel stared from the edge of the black top while talking to Reno.

"I just," I looked directly into Axel's eyes, and he looked away shyly, "wanted to take a walk in the woods."

"Going to take pictures for the school's art show?" I turned to see Zexion had closed his insanely thick novel and was looking at me with his baby blue eye. "I heard you were in the art club with Naminé."

"Well, yeah." I laughed a little and rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. "Nami asked me to join the club; she chooses from all the pictures I take," I explained, again feeling Axel's eyes upon me, but I refused to look at him.

"I guess we better go to one of those, huh, Zexy?" Demyx directed as he sat beside Zexion who nodded silently. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Demyx was nervous talking to his friend.

"These woods are dangerous," Zexion told me and stood up - Demyx looked disappointed - and grabbed the local paper out of his bag. "According to the paper, a woman was attacked in the forest by some man." I grabbed the paper quickly.

"No way, really?" I asked in disbelief. For as long as I've lived here, Twilight Town has been safe; you never hear of a crime being committed. That's why so many people want to live here and raise a family.

"She got away and reported it, but she was rather shaken up. You shouldn't go on these trails alone this late." Zexion walked past me and pointed to Axel. "Go with him," he commanded, and I think we both jumped out of our skin.

"I'm fine, I don't~"

"He's a big boy, I'm playing with you~"

"Just go," Zexion said firmly. He sat down again and opened his book while Demyx played with his hair, not looking at anyone. Can't rely on him to save me; what about Marluxia and Larxene? Marluxia was drinking water on the bench with Larxene sitting on his lap, talking quietly. Reno, maybe? No, he was pushing Axel toward me to go with me. I guess Zexion wasn't someone you ignored; he just has that air around him that screams listen to me.

"Fine," I sighed and started to head toward the trail. "Come on." I motion for Axel to follow with my right arm and he follows quietly, our footsteps being the only noise to be heard besides our own breathing.

XxXxXxXxXxX

I kneeled down again and positioned my camera in front of a pretty wild flower on the trail, and Axel held my bag and stood behind me quietly. I took the picture and waited for the processing to finish so I could take another, but the silence was starting to bother me. Why? Well, Axel normally talks my ear off if he's near me and sends shivers down my spine from staring when he isn't near. So this silence was pretty unnerving. He was also staring at me. He really needs to work on his people skills.

"Do you ever take pictures of people?" Axel asked suddenly, and I turned sharply to look at him. I thought about that for a little bit. I hadn't taken pictures of people since Sora's twelfth birthday. That was the day my parents announced their newest trip… and my new home.

"I used to," I said finally, and he seemed satisfied with that answer. I continued to walk until we hit the forest's stream. It was where all the trails connected. I walked to the small bridge and kneeled down and took a few pictures of the stream and the rocks. After a few of those, I moved off the one bridge and took a picture of the stream and the bridge, plus some trees too. I turned since it was about time we start to head home, but I saw Axel sitting on the other bridge with one knee drawn up to his chin and the other dipping in the water with his shoe sitting beside him. He had his left arm wrapped around his left leg and a gentle smile on his face. My hands started to move on their own, and I flicked the camera to black and white and brought it in front of me and clicked. I took a few more, one in color, and then turned it off and stood beside him.

"We should get going," I said quietly, and he looked up. We held each other's gaze for a long time. He finally stood up and handed me my camera bag so I could put my camera away, and we walked back in silence.

That was until I was pinned to a tree.

Axel was inches in front of my bewildered face, holding my hands at my sides and using his leg to keep me from struggling away, but I wasn't struggling. I wanted to, but I wasn't; I was just staring into Axel's eyes; his green, green eyes. Then he placed a short kiss on my cheek. He pulled away and stood in front of me.

"Let me walk you home," he said quietly, nothing like the Axel I'm used to hearing. I walked beside him as I led him to my house, but seeing as how he's Kairi's cousin, he knew the way already. He walked me up to the door and after I unlocked and opened it, he held it open for me. It was like he was purposely wasting time, like he didn't want to go home just yet. I walked straight to my room and sat in my office chair and opened my camera bag. I withdrew my camera and began to scroll through all my pictures until I landed on the black and white picture of Axel.

I smiled softly and flicked to the next one, a zoom in on his face. His smile was genuine, not a smirk or fake smile like he usually uses at school. It was something I wished I could see more often.

Wait, what?

XxXxXxXxXxX

I walked to school by myself the next day since Sora decided to stay the night with Riku, so I told them I'd meet them at school. I went early today because I needed to clean out my locker since Hayner needs to share it most days. He just leaves a mess in my locker and I have no time during the day to clean it, so why not be early? That was until I made it to my locker and heard Axel laugh. I followed it until I hear another familiar voice.

"…matter, Axel. He has feelings and you should lie off if you aren't serious," Zexion chastised, and Axel laughed again.

"I'm just getting warmed up, using my charm to win. Why don't you keep your nose in that book of yours," he finished rudely.

"I'm just looking out for a friend. He's been through a lot in his life, just ask your cousin." There was silence. "I know you've been through worse, Axel, but just… be reasonable, okay? He's breakable, and I don't want that to happen." Since when did Zexion act so… motherly and kind?

"Zex… I know you're looking out for both parties, you and the others have been there through all the shit, but I just need…" he paused for a long time, "something fresh. Someone who doesn't think I'm scary, mean, or pathetic. He's my clean slate, so let me handle this how I want to," Axel pleaded. I heard a grunt and footfalls and a loud sigh from Axel. At that point I ran off quietly, fixing my glasses from how fast I was running. Why do I get the feeling they were talking about me? I looked to the clock and had lost the better part of my thirty minutes and had no time to start cleaning my locker before the kids started to arrive. May as well head to the court yard and wait for my cousin's friends. Note: I mean his friends since no one likes me for me.

I opened my book bag and read my book quietly until Naminé arrived and sat beside me. She still was apologizing for the party the other day, and I kept telling her it was fine. It helped me bond slightly with Axel. We may not be the best of friends, but at least we aren't at each other's throats every time we talk to each other.

"Roxas!"

I turn to see Sora, Riku, and Kairi run over. I smile as they begin to talk about their night and what they plan to accomplish during the week, but my eyes were fixated on the pair of green eyes watching me intently. I flashed back to his smile in the picture I took yesterday and smiled slightly. He noticed my smile and I could practically see the gears turning as he thought of something, and I wanted to know if it had anything to do with his conversation with Zexion. If I'm right, they were talking about me, meaning something I never thought was possible. Axel flashed an actual smile at me.

Someone likes Roxas Strife and not Sora's cousin.