Sorry for delay. I did promise every Friday, but I was just so busy this past week I forgot to write! That and my beta tends to work when she feels like it...*sigh*. Anyway, I basically had to force her to read this. I hope you enjoy the chap and my little suprise at the end!
Saving Axel
Chapter 12: Why?
Roxas's POV
"I'm thinking about applying here, what do you think?" I asked Axel who was reading a magazine and sipping from a milkshake. He raised his eyes and looked at me and then down to his magazine again. We were seated in the Twilight Town Café or TT Café for short. We had come here plenty of times since we started going out a few weeks ago. We even had our first real date here together where Larxene almost killed a bunch of lookers. He brought me here for milkshakes after school a few weeks ago since I had been bummed about Sephiroth leaving, but I felt better when he was around.
"Why do you need my opinion?" he asked angrily because I ruined his concentration in reading the latest article in Game Informer. I sighed and rested my chin on my propped up hand.
"I don't know, so you don't get bitchy if I'm working and you want my attention," I sighed and he looked up back to the magazine. "Can you make me feel like you're actually listening and it isn't going in one ear and out the other, Ax?" I asked with a tired expression. He closed the magazine and folded his hand girly in front of him and sipped his milkshake like a young girl flirting with her date. He even batted his eyelashes. I had to laugh at that point.
"If you want to get a job, go right ahead." He smiled normally and looked to my half finished milkshake, "You gonna finish that?" he asked and I shook my head and pushed the glass toward him and he hurriedly drank from it.
"You aren't gonna change the straw?" I asked confusedly. He stopped for a minute and looked up.
"Why would I? I've tasted your saliva more than once." He laughed darkly and I made a fake gagging and got up from my chair. I approached the counter and smiled to Larxene who was reading the book that seniors had to read in their literature class. I knew because Sora was reading the same thing; lest we not forget I'm but a lowly sophomore.
"Excuse me?" I called weakly and she glared up at me through narrow eyes, "C-Can I see an application please?" I finished, berating myself mentally for stuttering, but she's scary! How does Marly even find her sweet? She got up and disappeared into the kitchen in the back, returning a moment later with a sheet of white paper and a handed it to me with a smile.
"Hope you get my shift, kid." Now the smile seemed ominous and creepy. I walked back to the table, wondering what she'll do to me if we do end up on the same shift. I stopped when I noticed Axel missing from the table. His bag was still there and I looked around and saw him outside on the phone. He looked pissed off too, yelling into the receiver. I'm glad that isn't me is all I can say. Being on the receiving end of one of Axel's tantrums is pretty scary. He closed the phone and clenched it like he was going to throw it at any minute, but lessened the grip and ran a hand through his spikes and walked toward the door. I scrambled to my seat, hoping he didn't notice me watching him. He sat at the table and propped his elbows on the table and placed his head in his hands. I was filling in the basic information and looked up.
"Everything alright?" I asked and he nodded.
"I just gotta go see my parents about something, so want me to walk you home?" he asked and I shook my head and he got up from the table. "Just one, no one's looking because no one's here, Roxy." I looked around, knowing what he wanted. He was right; the only other people that had been here were outside or in the bathroom. "Larxene won't tell," he whispered into my ear. I nodded and he kissed my lips and I allowed him to use his tongue to help satisfy his taste so he wouldn't try to sneak one right after. We parted and he smiled and turned around to leave. I returned to the paper in front of me.
Last name, first, middle initial
Okay, let's see…are there enough squares?
Strife, Roxas, C.
Thank god, just enough. I filled out some more when the door opened again and I looked up to see Zexion and Demyx walk in. The blond boy saw me and waved frantically as if he hadn't seen me in years. Zexion sighed at his antics and walked quietly over to where I was sitting. He took the seat Axel had been in while Demyx ordered something to eat.
"Hello, Roxas. How are you?" he asked me politely and I smiled and looked up to him again
"Good, how about you?" He nodded and Demyx bounded over happily, placing the cup of tea in front of the slate haired man and eating his sub with a smile.
"What'cha doing, Rox?" Demyx wondered around a mouth full of sandwich.
"Filling out an application to work here," I stated. Zexion looked up slightly and Demyx's smile faded slightly. "Is this place really that bad?" I asked. I thought it seemed like a nice place to work.
"Do you really think a job is the best thing with Christmas coming up?" Demyx asked lightly, if not a bit hesitantly. I shook my head.
"I need the money so I can buy Axel a present, to start with. I've wanted a job for awhile and here seems perfect. I mean, Axel and I spend more time here than we do anywhere else. It's perfect," I reasoned and Demyx looked to Zexion nervously, but the short boy said nothing, only nodded.
"Just watch out for Larxene," he warned and the three of us laughed happily as the blond at the bar glared at us.
Axel's POV
"I'm here because…?" I asked bitterly. My father was the owner of a very successful private business and traveled often, while my mother owned a local woman's boutique in town. They weren't around a lot and by far my favorite foster parents.
"I don't know; the charred curtains in your room are a start," my mother started. I was seated in a chair in the lounge of plush white carpet and big windows letting in tons of light. She was wearing a sky blue dress of her own design and had long, curly chocolate brown hair with electric blue eyes. My father stood behind her chair dressed in a white dress shirt with black slacks. He had short black hair and grey, stormy eyes.
"I didn't like them," I stated sarcastically and leaned back lazily and yawned.
"Axel, this is the fifth time you set something in this house on fire!" my father bellowed in his loud, thunderous voice. I sighed, bored.
"If that's all then~"
"And who is Roxas Strife?" my mother asked. I froze. I kept him secret from my family, "Ella told us you meet with him frequently. Are you involved?" she asked, upset. My father threw his hands in the air while she stared me down he walked around the room.
"He's a younger student I'm tutoring to avoid sitting on my ass all day," I lied easily. Maybe my parents would buy it like Roxas's parents had. She nodded and stood up and walked over to her husband and whispered something into his ear.
"Axel," I looked up to let him know I was listening, "Again, we are heading on a Christmas getaway and I want to know if you wish to come." I shook my head and he nodded and walked out of the room.
"If that's all, I'm gonna go pick up my~" my mother grabbed my wrist and I turned to her. She was shorter than me, but never feared me. She pulled up my sleeve and ran her hands along the red lines littering my arm. I pulled away sharply and pulled my sleeve down again.
"There new, Axel." I started to walk away; my hand was on the door knob, "Do you want to talk this year?" I paused for a minute.
"No," I stated and left her in the room alone. My father may be a dick sometimes, but my mother was always fragile and never raised her voice. She couldn't get pregnant and she found me sitting alone and chose me instead of a younger child. I never understood why, but I enjoyed her company on most occasions. However, this was a matter I'd rather not talk about publically. I walked through the large, impressive front hall and out the front door. I just needed to go play a little bit in the parkand clear my head, then maybe I'll call Roxas later and~
No. I'll call Demyx instead.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Roxas's POV
It had been a good few days until I spent some time with Axel again. He was absent the day after he had to go home, along with Demyx, but both came back the next day and I was glad for that. Things were very quiet without them and Zexion seemed a bit on edge. He was sort of jumpy if you will; they all were. I didn't understand why, but I didn't pry.
"Hey, Axel?" I asked as we sat atop Station Tower, ice cream in hand. He hummed in response and licked his again, "You doing anything for Thanksgiving?" I asked and he looked over at me shocked.
"Well, my parents are going on a tropical getaway for the holidays and again, won't be back until the New Year, so no." I looked toward the sunset.
"Well, since Sora is inviting Riku to dinner I thought that maybe you'd like to come too," I suggested sheepishly. Axel looked toward the horizon and back to me. He finished off what was left just as I did. He quickly pulled me back with him, me landing on top of him and he smiled as he stroked my cheek.
"I'd love to," he answered as he kissed my lips quickly. I deepened it this time and he came back with as much force as I gave, if not more. He wrapped his one arm around my waist and the other around my neck while I used both of mine to support myself above him. I had to pull away from his warm lips because I had to breathe and he brought my head to rest on his chest and I listened to the quiet breathing of his as his chest moved up and down with my head on it. I almost fell asleep to that rhythm while Axel ran a hand through my spikes. Recently, he had been so sensitive and treated me as if I was made of glass. It was a good thing we didn't have homework tonight.
"Roxas, would you like to spend the night?" he asked me quietly. I looked up to him and he smiled to me. I really shouldn't. The look in his eyes tells me he wants something I'm not ready for.
"I can't," I said reluctantly and sat up and grabbed my bag. It was almost sunset meaning we had sat up here motionless for about two hours. Maybe I had fallen asleep at one point. "Yuffie wants me home so we can figure out how many plates to set for tomorrow." He nodded reluctantly and as we started to walk down the stairs, he seemed to cling closer, as if I would leave him at any moment. We walked outside and down the cold roads holding hands secretly. He walked me all the way to my front door where we kissed, but he just didn't want to let go since his hands were wrapped around my waist not letting me leave. I had to move my head to the side to keep contact down until he released me.
"Tomorrow at six. Don't be late," I advised him and he nodded. I closed the door behind me and saw Sora watching TV in the living room happily.
"Axel in for dinner?" he asked, his sight not straying from the TV.
"Yeah, he is," I stated as I walked up the stairs and shut my bedroom door behind me and fell onto the bed only to have Muffins jump up and lay down on my stomach. "You have a good day of sleeping?" she blinked at me, "Well tomorrow you get to meet Axel. The man you hear me talk about all the time." She placed her head down and closed her eyes. I decided to follow her lead and get some sleep considering I have my interview tomorrow after school. Best be awake!
XxXxXxXxXxXxX
I was rather happy with how things turned out at the interview.
I walked toward the Café right after school, hoping to get it over with before dinner. I opened the doors and Larxene pointed to the brown door with "Manager" written on it in golden lettering. I knocked and heard a grumbled response and opened it and walked in and stared shocked to see Tidus sitting in the chair. He smiled to me, and I sat in the seat in front of him.
"Hey Tidus, I didn't know you worked here, much less were the manager," I told him honestly. He nodded.
"Well, in actuality, my dad is the manager, but since he just had a surgery he asked me to take over." I smiled broadly.
"Well, I'm here for my interview," I said, and he waved me off.
"Nah, I know your work ethic. You're in. When can you work?" he asked. I stared shocked and thought.
"I can work after school until six and Saturdays from anytime till nine." He nodded after writing it down. He held out his hand and I shook it, then he handed me an apron and nametag.
"Welcome to TT Café, Mr. Strife. I'll be in touch with you about your work schedule."
I walked home and opened the door and was assaulted by the thousands of smells coming in from the kitchen. I followed my nose to the two pumpkin pies sitting on the counter. I noticed Yuffie tending to the turkey and I tried to snag some of the pie, only to have my hand slapped away by Yuffie.
"How the hell did you do that?" Sora popped out of nowhere and asked.
"Language, Sora, and because I'm a mother of two boys." I looked down because Yuffie always looked at me as if I were her own considering the fact I came from her sister. She would treat me as if I was her own son, and it made me almost block out the thoughts of my birth parents sometimes. "You two go get changed and wait for your guests. Dinner will be eaten when Leon gets home." Sora and I raced up the stairs and, like normal. Sora won, and we went to our rooms to change. I put on my black button up shirt while Sora wore a blue one. We walked down the stairs, except I was holding Muffins as well.
"Yuffs?" I asked and she turned with a smile, "Can Muffins roam the house today?" I asked and she nodded. I placed my cat on the floor and she went about sniffing everything since she hadn't been down here in a few months. The rule is she has to stay in my room unless she has to go to the bathroom. I turned right as there was a knock on the door. Sora jumped up to answer it since it was Riku and tackled him with a kiss. Riku brought Sora into the dining room on his back since the boy wouldn't get off, and I smiled lightly.
"Thanks for letting me come tonight, Yuffie," he thanked my aunt and took a seat beside Sora who just leaned into his arms girlishly, causing them both to laugh happily. I turned around when the door knob jingled and Leon came in holding a few bags from the grocery store.
"Damn it! If Leon doesn't hurry, the carrots won't cook~ Hello dear." She stopped her ranting when Leon walked in with her bags. The man walked toward the laundry room to change from his work clothes into something more comfortable for dinner. I sat by the door waiting for Axel to show. I was thinking that tonight I could tell my family about us, knowing that would make him happy beyond words. When dinner was ready at six sharp, like Yuffie promised, Axel still wasn't here. She walked into the living room and stood beside me as I looked outside again.
"Want to wait a little longer?" I looked to my watch seeing it was past six thirty and Riku and Sora were having a slapping match to prevent the other from stealing food.
"No, let's eat," I told her and she nodded as we walked back into the dining room.
"Alright. Squall? Will you lead us~" there was a loud knocking and we all looked toward the living room. I sprang up and walked toward the door and opened it to reveal a flustered looking Axel. His clothes made it seem as if he just ran here from Kairi's house.
"So sorry, but I took a nap and woke up late, forgot to tell Reno I wasn't coming to Auntie's, and my bike broke down so I just pushed it here," he retold breathlessly. I straightened his red shirt and ran a hand through his hair and kissed his nose lightly and led him to the dining room.
"Axel's here," I stated and he sat beside me with a smile toward Yuffie and Leon.
"Excuse my tardiness, today was just not my day," he laughed and Yuffie smiled.
"Well, everyone's here. Squall," Leon looked up confusedly and she gave him the look. "Lead us in grace please." Leon nodded. She only used his real name when we were in a serious situation like this. His real name was Squall Leon Leonhart, but he hated his real name and everyone called him Leon. After he finished, we all started to fill our plates and talk about simple things, but while Axel talked about his family, he held my hand the entire meal under the table. After the meal, we played a game of Seen It which Sora and Riku won. After that, Axel and I were alone before Riku would drop him off at home in his truck.
"Thanks, Axel," I said quietly and he cocked his head to the side, confused, "For being cool all meal…and showing up." I smiled and he nodded. I looked around for any signs of my family, and when I confirmed they weren't around I leaned up and kissed his lips for a short, sweet one. He turned and walked out the door, but turned back around to look at me again.
"Will you come by my place and help me fix my bike on Saturday?" I nodded and he smiled wider, "I'll give you directions tomorrow in school!" he called and ran to the truck where Riku waited. I sighed and turned to look at Muffins who was perched on the top of the stairs; her eyes held a hint of humor.
"Don't laugh, Muff. I'm just being a good person." I walked up past her and she followed me and I closed the door.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"Holy shit, Ax!" I stated to no one in particular. I was dressed in jeans and an old, white t-shirt Saturday morning. I was standing in front of the large, impressive house that the richest couple in Twilight Town owned. It was white with tons of large windows and a large impressive porch with large pillars holding the porch roof up. I walked through the gate with the pass-code and admired the garden that should be dying, but didn't seem like it would anytime soon. I knocked on the door and a short, stocky woman opened it. She had short, blond hair and tired eyes, but they brightened when she saw me. I smiled sheepishly as her grin widened.
"You must be Roxas Strife." She seemed to have a bit of an accent behind her voice, but I couldn't tell what it was, "Just around the side there you'll see the garage where he should already be working. Mind taking this to him for me?" she handed me a tool kit and a plate of assorted desserts. I nodded and turned to follow her directions. I descended the porch stairs and walked along the house until I reached the garage. In my opinion, it was the size of an average house. I knocked on the door and found it open, then walked in to see something I didn't expect to see.
I thought Axel would be sitting on a chair with his bicycle beside him looking how he normally does with a few things misplaced that he would use to fix up said bicycle. This was… how should I put it…
Completely wrong on all levels.
"A-Axel?" I cried, shocked. The garage was huge with many pictures of different car company logos, pictures of cars and motorcycles, and tons of tools. There were a bunch of tools misplaced on the ground and a few grease covered rags laying about leading to Axel who was dressed in black basketball shorts and a ratty shirt covered in holes. His red hair was pulled back, but a few strands framed his face and he had some dirty grease spots on his face. He kneeled beside a black and red motorcycle that his hand held a rag on. He wiped his brow and smiled to me.
"Hey, Roxy." He examined what I held in my hands and his eyes widened, "Great! Ella sent me cookies and the tools I need!" He grabbed the tool kit from my hands and put it beside him and ruffled through it. I set the cookies on a small stretch of table that wasn't littered with papers. I stood beside him and stared in awe at the motorcycle he was polishing while shuffling through the tool kit. He looked to me and summoned me with a sharp nod to the left. I walked over to him and he moved his hand from the rag slightly.
"Make yourself useful and polish this, would you?" I nodded and moved the rag slowly against the cold, red surface. "Roxas? What the hell are you doing?" he asked after a few minutes. I looked to him, confused.
"What?" I asked and he pulled out a red handled monkey wrench. He turned to me and sighed.
"You're looking at the bike like it fell out of the sky just now." I looked away with a red tinge rising to my cheeks, "Hey, don't act sexy when I'm working, or I'll never finish!" he complained with a wink as he disappeared from my view beside the bike. I blushed even more. Stupid Axel.
"Well, I just thought back to Thursday and when you pushed your bike, I thought you meant a bicycle," I stated. Axel looked up and all I could see was the top of his hair and his green eyes.
"Who the hell would be as tired as I was from pushing a regular bike halfway across the town?" I looked to the ground, embarrassed, and he sighed, "Except you, apparently." I looked up sharply and glared as he laughed nervously. What an idiot. There was silence for a long time until Axel looked to his watch and sighed. I looked up from the cookie I had been picking the chocolate chips out ofand he smiled as he motioned me over.
"What is it?" I asked, carrying my cookie in my hand as I stood beside him. He bit off some of the cookie in my hand and took it from me and brought me closer. He put it to my lips, and I ate it.
"Now your hands are free," he grabbed the wrench and I admired the clean, shiny parts he spent almost the whole day cleaning and fixing. "Here, tighten this for me," he said as he put the wrench in my hands. I looked at it like I was holding the most expensive diamond in the world. He sighed at my expression and kneaded his forehead and leaned closer to me, putting his right hand on mine and positioning himself behind me and placed his left hand on mine. "Put your left hand here," he moved my hand to rest on the leather seat of the bike, "and place the wrench here and…" he positioned right, "turn."
It took a few turns, but it eventually was secured on tight. I beamed at my work because I had never lifted a wrench in my life so I was proud, okay? He grabbed my hand and pulled me up. I smiled to him happily and he turned to the side to take a swig of water. He turned back to me, but this time he looked troubled somehow. I cocked my head to the side, about to ask what was wrong, when he opened his mouth.
"Wanna stay for dinner?' he blurted out. I was taken aback by the forwardness of his question and how fast he said it. Then in the next moment I registered what exactly he asked and my eyes widened.
"I'd love to but~"
"Great! I gotta change!" he brushed past me and through the garage door. "Dinner's at six sharp!" he yelled.
"~I would love to head home and change first," I finished to myself. I looked to the clock on the wall and made a mental note to punch Axel later since it was 5:52 p.m., leaving me absolutely no time to go home and change. I sighed aloud, leaning my head back in the process. I walked through the garage door and made my way toward the large door again. I tried my best to fix my hair and straighten my dirty t-shirt and I pulled up my ratty jeans. This was so not the impression I wanted to put on Axel's foster parents. Sure, they'll think real high of me at this point…I'll blame Axel.
I knocked on the door, but this time the woman, or Ella I think Axel called her, didn't ask for a name, and handed me a pile of clothes and ushered me toward a door and shut it behind me with a smile. I put the pile on the sink and stared in awe at the bathroom. There was a large bathtub that could easily fit five people inside and a beautiful white curtain. The cabinets were a rich-colored wood and the sink and toilet shined like a new penny. Not even my house looks as good as their bathroom when Yuff spends night and day cleaning it. I was jealous.
"Why does a bathroom have to be so fancy looking?" I muttered as I turned to the clothes. There was a small scribbled note on a piece of paper on the top, and I read it silently.
Roxy,
I didn't know if you'd say yes, so here are some old clothes from when I was short!
Ax
"I'm not that short," I hissed as I grabbed the shirt off the top of the pile.
XxXxXxXxXxXxX
Sora's POV
"Dad?" I asked as my father walked into the living room with a bowl of soup. He stayed home from work since he didn't feel well this morning and had had a few bowls of soup already today. He hummed in response. "Where's Mom? Isn't she normally home by now?" I asked as I flipped through the channels.
"She was helping a particularly difficult couple with a home purchase today. Last I talked to her was during her lunch break and she was pretty steamed since they already went through three houses and only had so many more." My Mom was normally a pretty successful realtor, but I guess these people were hard to please, though I'm sure she'll sell them something. The phone rang and Leon grabbed it.
"Hello, Leonhart residence, Leon speaking." There was a pause where his bored face paled for a split second, and his eyes widened slightly, "I understand. Thank you, sir." He pressed the end button and got off the couch grabbing his jacket. "Get ready," he ordered. I put the remote down.
"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly.
"Where's Roxas?" he asked, avoiding my question. He took my worried silence as a no, I didn't know where Roxas was. "Call him and tell him to go to Twilight Town General Hospital." I paled immensely and felt a great deal of dread as I followed my father out the door and toward the car.
XxXxXxXxXxXxX
Roxas's POV
"That was a great salad, Ella!" Axel cheered as she removed the plate from in front of him. He was dressed in a white button up with the top couple buttons still undone at the top with jeans. The clothes I was wearing were the old clothes from when Axel was in eighth grade, and that piece of news depressed me a little, but it was a grey button up and I was wearing an old pair of black suit pants. She removed the plate from in front of me and I nodded my approval of the taste. I turned back to look at Axel who was sitting across from me at the table. He sat beside his mother who was just a short woman who, I won't lie, was very pretty. Her curly brown hair was pulled into a ponytail that sat on her right shoulder and she wore a lime green dress. Her husband sat beside me and he intimidated me slightly, his short black hair was gelled perfectly and I kept feeling his cold, grey eyes on me.
"So, Roxas," Axel's mom began. She was the only one besides Axel trying to relax me slightly, "Axel says you live with your aunt, uncle, and cousin. I hope you don't feel like I'm prying, but would you tell us why?" She smiled. I learned earlier that her name was Snowwhich was a very pretty name, while her husband's name was Cecil and he just plain scared me.
"Well, my parents traveled a lot when I was younger, but they didn't want to take me out of school and stress me anymore, so they moved me here with them." The main course was placed in front of me, and Snow went to talk about her day with us. Her husband actually was talking to me and laughing too. I actually started to feel like Cecil was starting to accept me a little, until my phone rang stopping all conversation. My cheeks burned crimson as I excused myself to answer it.
"Sora!" I barked into the phone in a whisper, "You have terrible~"
"Yuffie's in Twilight Town General, so get over it and move your skinny ass down here!" He hung up after yelling into my ear. Yuffie was in the hospital…no…
"I'm really sorry, but something important came up. A family member of mine is in the hospital." I gathered my normal clothes that I stuffed under my seat and Axel sprang up.
"Let me drop you off since the bus won't be coming till eight." I didn't have time to argue with him and let him follow me out the door as we headed for the garage. He grabbed a black helmet off the wall and tossed it to me I dropped my bag in order to catch it and he smiled as he mounted his bike, and I understood what he wanted me to do.
"Hell no!" I stated firmly, and he sighed.
"I gave you a helmet!" he complained and patted the spot behind him, "Here. Trust me, will ya? I'm an experienced driver of these." I was still skeptical, but I had to get the hospital. I climbed on and he pressed a button on the handle and the door opened. He secured the helmet around my head and after, he sped suddenly down the driveway, causing me to rocket backward and hurriedly force myself to attach myself to Axel's back. I swear I heard him chuckle as I clutched onto him for dear life. We drove down the streets and I let my mind wander a little bit.
"Can I ride with you, daddy?"
"No, it's too dangerous."
"But mommy!"
"Listen to your mother, Roxas."
"Roxas!" I was jolted from my thoughts and saw Axel looking at me through the face shield. I released his torso from my death grip. He turned and unbuckled my helmet and put it under his arm as I dismounted. I started to walk until I realized he wasn't following and I looked to him confused.
"Sorry, but hospitals make me uncomfortable." I nodded and continued on, but only when I got inside the place did I realize he was in a hospital after I got hit in the head with a baseball. He had been by my bedside. I wonder why he won't come now. I looked around until I spotted brown hair and discovered it to be Sora. I ran over quickly, ready to ask him my questions when I noticed he didn't even look at me. I followed his gaze down the hall where Leon had his back turned to us as he spoke to a doctor. Sora looked so hollow, and I didn't know what to do other than stand beside him. We had often been told we could have been twins if one of us died our hair the other's color and we normally agreed. Leon turned from the doctor and to us at the other end of the hall. He held out his arms and summoned us over with his fingers. We followed wordlessly, but I could feel Sora shaking slightly.
"…are here." We walked in right as Leon finished talking to Yuffie. She was awake and had an oxygen mask on her strangely pale face. She had IV's all over her arms and the incredibly light blue didn't go well with her paleness, and the complete whiteness didn't match too well either. Sora ran to her left side as Leon was on her right and clenched his hands around hers. I stood there frozen in place. Had that small cough of a month or so ago progressed into this?
"What happened?" I asked eventually. Yuffie looked to Leon who nodded and faced us.
"Your mother has been keeping a secret from all of us. A couple of years ago she was diagnosed with genetic Systemic lupus erythematosus," he stated sadly, "It's a disease where the immune system attacks a type of body cell and it has been attacking her lungs." I looked to her and she nodded sadly.
"This is what you would have told me back at Sora's birthday, right?" I asked and she nodded. Sora was still silent and I knew he was very sensitive so he wanted to look tough like his father. There was a knock on the door and we all turned to see Axel poking his head in. His eyes landed on me immediately.
"I gotta head home cause Dem showed up and wants to~" he stopped dead in his sentence when he looked to Yuffie and his eyes widened. He took a step back and just left. That shocked me since he never looked so pale. I felt a hand on my arm and looked to Yuffie and I think she knew about our secret, so I left to chase after him. I walked down the halls and caught a glimpse of red leaving the building and I started to run. I ran to the door and saw Axel turn to the side of the building and I ran after until I saw Demyx run after him.
XxXxXxXxXxXxX
Axel's POV
"FUCK!" I yelled and kicked the trash beside the restaurant. I leaned up against the wall and angrily wiped away the tears that fell down my face without permission. God damn these cursed memories.
Mommy loves you, Axel.
You sure as hell didn't, Mom. If you did, would I be where I am today. Fuck no! I slid down the wall I was against and placed my head on my knees. I kept thinking of seeing her face surrounded by medical instruments as she lied about how she ended up there. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my pack of cigarettes and grabbed my lighter from the other and lit one up. I took one long drag and stared at the sky and shivered. I wish I could just forget what happened so I wouldn't have to run away from my boyfriend and his family. Maybe I could do what I used to~
"AXEL!" I turned my head lazily and saw Demyx, his eyes filled with rage glaring to the cigarette hanging from my mouth. He stomped over and ripped it from my mouth and ground it against the wall.
"What the fu~" Demyx pulled me up by the arm and slammed me on the wall and glared at me. I hadn't seen his baby blue eyes so filled with rage in years. Not since that one night five years ago, but I haven't been so low in years, thank god.
"What the hell are you doing, idiot?" he reached in my pocket and grabbed my pack, "I thought we tossed these and that habit!" he roared angrily in my face. I looked away and he put it in his pocket, "Don't throw away what you worked so hard to achieve!"
"Leave me the fuck alone, Demyx. I'm gonna do things my way. It's smoking or my other option I know you're familiar with," I said angrily to him.
"NO!" he said quickly. He sighed and looked to me, "What happened?" he asked and I shook my head, suddenly calmer.
"It's just when I saw Yuffie, I~ It's just~ I~" I turned and punched a wall and fell backward and Demyx caught me as more tears fell, "She won't get out of my fucking head!" I roared and he repositioned me so my head was resting on his chest and I leaned against him as he rubbed my back. "I can't do this anymore Dem…it's too much." I sat up and he glanced to my bleeding hand.
"If you really need the distraction ask Roxas to~"
"NO!" I sat up quickly, ignoring the throbbing hand, "I don't trust my control and I'm not willing to forcibly steal something so precious from him for a distraction." Apparently once a week with Demyx wasn't enough anymore for my mind to be rid of her. He sighed and lifted my chin so I was eye level with him.
"I'll cancel movie plans with Zex and we can go to my place and you can…get your distraction there, okay?" I nodded thankfully and leaned forward to kiss him passionately on the lips. He kissed back and I did stop seeing her face, but when I pulled away, there was a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Axel!" I looked behind Demyx to see Roxas looking shocked, hurt, and angry all at once. I mentally beat the shit out of myself as he stared at us.
Roxas's POV
Axel kissed Demyx…passionately by the looks of it, and this sight just made me want to cry. I quickly turned not wanting to hear what he had to say and back into the hospital and straight to the nearest bathroom. I slammed the stall behind me and leaned on the door as the edges of my vision started to blur with tears. Stupid Axel.
"Why?" I whispered to myself.
Who was shocked? I wanna know who actually saw that one comming, if anyone even did! Reviews are what make me most happy!