Hey Everyone! Can you say HOLIDAY BREAK? Finally! No school for a week in a half, it's amazing! I'm gonna spend the whole break trying to relax, and not write (though I'll end up doing so anyway.) Just so you know, this chapter has a filer feel to it, but there isn't much that happens in this one. Still, you better read it so don't skip it. Ok, I'm done, go and read.
Saving Axel
Chapter 18: The arrival
Axel's POV
I can safely say that watching Roxas sleep can be added to my list of things that are extremely calming. His chest will move up and down slowly, his forehead is creaseless from any kind of thought he faces during the day. He even looks like he is smiling slightly, too. I stroked his head again and smiled slightly. I was really tired after last night's…activities. I was exhausted, but after the news I got from Demyx…I felt compelled to watch Roxas; to protect him from my memories.
The light flooded in through the open window, hitting his golden locks giving them a gentle glow. His pale skin glowed as well from the light, so I could see his bare skin. I held him in my arms, not caring that my left arm was going numb from him laying on it. He was pretty light, so it only started to go numb recently since we had been like this for hours. I idly wondered what he was dreaming about as I stroked his cheek softly. I kissed his forehead and closed my eyes, keeping our foreheads touching.
He stirred slightly, and his eyes twitched. I pulled back slightly and blue eyes, deep blue eyes, stared back into mine. One of my favorite things about him was his eyes.
"Morning, sunshine." I smiled, and he mirrored my smile and laughed slightly. He tried moving, but he hissed in pain and closed his eyes. "Didn't I tell you? Your ass is gonna hurt for a while, and I think I was thorough enough that walking for you will now be limping."I smirked sexily, and he hit my arm under the cover.
"Jack-ass!" He playfully glared, and I laughed happily. He shifted off of my arm with a grunt of pain and lay on my chest. These are the times I'll have to save in my memory, as the memories I am proud of; a memory where someone loves me for me and spends time with me in bed.
Roxas's POV
I leaned down and kissed Axel's collar bone, starting on the far left and working my way to the right. Axel's hands moved to my bare hips under the sheets, and he threw his head back with closed eyes. I looked up and smiled, knowing it was me and me alone that made Axel like this. Times like these need to be remembered.I bit down on his right collar bone, and he gasped.
"Roxas!" he breathed, shocked. I licked the spot and smiled down to him.
"That's my way of getting even with you for the twelve you gave me last night!" I growled and placed my head on his chest where his heart is. It was thumping, but not as crazy as last night. I closed my eyes and stayed motionless. I was still really tired since it has been a good week since I got a decent night of sleep, so I was making up for it. It was silent for a long time.
"You do know you'll have to go home eventually, right?"he stated, breaking the silence. I looked up at him and sighed.
"Yeah, just putting it off," I sighed, falling off of him and onto my back on the bed. There was a shooting pain, but I had bigger problems. I haven't been sending off the best signals to my family the past week, so disappearing after the funeral of my mother figure was probably really stupid. I'm going to be butchered alive for scaring everybody half to death.
"Maybe we should go back," he suggested, rising up so he leaned back on his elbows.
"Why?" I asked, sitting up as well. "So Sora can castrate you sooner? I don't think so," I muttered, and he smiled.
"Thanks for caring about my balls."He grinned, and I hit him again before getting up and looking for my boxers. I spotted them on the far edge of the room. I pointed to them, and Axel stared as he pulled his black slacks on. We were stuck wearing what we wore yesterday. "What?" he glanced to where I was pointing.
"Get my boxers!" I told him, and he sighed.
"Why won't you get them?" he asked, putting his belt on. I pulled the sheets over my lower area even more.
"I'm naked, Axel," I muttered sheepishly, and he was about to put his shirt on, but he stopped. He glanced to me and cracked a smile.
"Roxas," he stared, exasperated, "we had sex last night; I undressed you and kissed every part of your damn body, and you're still embarrassed to be seen naked by me?" he asked, and I nodded quickly. He sighed, and I felt stupid for asking. He handed them to me and kissed my forehead. "Don't be embarrassed, babe," he told me and started to walk off. I turned around, ready to fire back a remark when I saw long, white, jagged scars on his back. I gasped loudly, and he turned.
"What?" he asked. I got up, dressed in boxers, and walked over to him. Upon further inspection, I could see milky, white scars along his chest. I traced a few with my fingers and he looked away, grabbing my hand and pulling it away.
"What happened?" I asked, and he looked to the ground silently. "Axel, please. What h~"
"Shut up!" he yelled in my face suddenly. I was so shocked that I stumbled backward, but he caught my wrist and pulled me right back up in front of him. He forced me to look at him. "You don't need to know! Jesus, why do you care!" he yelled in my face, and I shrank back. I hated his temper, because it scared the shit out of me on most occasions. In this situation, it just made me feel nosy. He seemed to have sensed this, and he sat me on the bed. "Sorry," he sighed.
"It's okay; you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I don't mind," I muttered getting up to grab the rest of my clothes. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back into a deep kiss. It was rather enjoyable, but ended all too quickly. He looked up into my eyes and there was something lingering in them; like he wasn't all here at the moment.
"My past is dangerous waters, Roxas. You aren't ready yet," he told me in an ominous tone. I wanted to pursue this topic more when there was a sudden, loud vibration. I glanced to the floor, picked up my pants, and pulled my cell phone from my pocket. Thirteen missed texts from Sora, five from Riku, and two from Leon with Sora calling me right now. I picked it up while putting on my pants hurriedly.
"Where the fuck are you?" Sora yelled into my ear. I was so taken aback by this that I fell over, dropping the phone from tripping on my pants. I scrambled to grab my phone and held it to my ear.
"The beach house," I explained, and then mentally slapped myself. Axel and I agreed we were having a sleep over at his house.
"The beach house? Alone? Are you an idiot?" he asked me, and I sighed.
"Yeah, I walked here and spent the night." At least this lie saves Axel's balls. "I called in for a ride home, okay? I'll see you soon. Bye." I hung up before he could continue yelling. Axel gave me a hand and pulled me to my feet, and I buttoned my pants. He handed me my shirt.
"We better get going," Axel stated as I pulled it on. He looked a bit sad that I was covered up again, but he'd get over it. We turned all the lights off and walked outside. "Wow… it's actually above 20 degrees today, Roxas," he told me with a big smile. I laughed as we left the beach and headed down the street toward the station. We'd be lucky if we caught the noon train to Twilight Town.
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Sora's POV
I glared at the phone in my hand after Roxas abruptly - if not rudely - hung up on me. I wasn't done ranting yet! I turned to Riku who was leaning back comfortably on the couch. Leon was still up in bed while Rinoa was at work. This was to be her last night staying with us, but that's not the point. Roxas is as good a cook as Yuffie was, so we're fine.
"Why the hell would he go to the beach house all alone in a damn rain storm?" I cursed, and Riku shrugged.
"Well, Roxas loves the beach, and Yuffie loved that beach house. He might have felt comfortable there," Riku answered. I turned to him sharply and glared.
"Always Mr. Logical, huh, Riku?" I spit bitterly. "Ask your great logic if Roxas even considered how much I would worry!"I yelled to him as he stood up and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"Okay, Mr. Over-Reacting." He kissed my forehead and the tense feeling in my shoulders lessened some. "Breathe," he stated quietly, and I nodded. He led me to the couch, and I leaned on his chest.
"I should be more like you, Riku," I stated after a few minutes of silence. "I should trust Roxas knows what he's doing." He nodded once. "I could care less when he gets here, because he's sixteen, and he can think for himself," I finished, and Riku nodded again. He placed a hand on my back and rubbed gently.
There was a knocking on the door, and I shot up and ran for it.
"He's dead to me!" I yelled as I stormed to the door. I know Riku probably face-palmed, but I didn't care as I yanked the door open to reveal Roxas with a retreating figure to a motorcycle. Roxas grinned sheepishly, and I tapped my foot impatiently.
Roxas's POV
He was tapping his foot.
Yuffie did the same thing when she was pissed.
I was really far up shit creek without adequate transportation.
"I'm really sorry~"
"Get in the damn house and change," Sora deadpanned, and I quickly walked in past him up to my room. I reached my bedroom and closed the door behind me with a slam and sighed as I leaned against the door. I glanced to my bed where Muffins popped her head up sleepily, and I laughed slightly. I walked over to my drawer and smiled widely as I shed my shirt. I glanced in the mirror and blushed at the numerous love bites covering my chest area. Axel didn't lie when he said he kissed every part of my body. I put on a plain black T-shirt and took off my pants and put on my pajama pants. I brushed my hair again, noting to get a shower, and I sat next to Muffins.
"Muff, I did it with Axel last night. Can you believe it?" I whispered as I scratched her behind the ears. "It was amazing…if not a little embarrassing," I explained as she purred. "He laughed slightly because I didn't last very long, but he was still really gentle. It was the exact opposite of what I thought being with him like that would be."I turned toward my desk and smiled slightly at the picture of Axel in the woods. I got up and placed my hands on the failed attempts at drawing it. I picked them up and ripped them in half and disposed of them in the trash. I took the picture of Axel from my desk and replaced it with a picture of Muffins. I put down new pieces of paper that were clean and never touched. I held the picture of Axel as I walked to my bulletin board and grabbed a green tack. I placed it on the board along with a picture of me, Sora, Yuffie, Leon, and a few notes to myself.
"There…" I sighed and stepped back. "Right where you belong." I smiled.
"ROXAS CLOUD STRIFE!" I winced and turned toward my door. Sora must be really pissed off. I quickly ran to my door and opened it and walked down the stairs slowly. I'm so busted, but at least nothing will happen to Axel, at least.
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Axel's POV
"How the hell did this happen?" I yelled as I stared at the newspaper that Demyx handed me. Marluxia was sitting on the couch, bored, since Larxene was working today. Zexion was making some drinks and food for everyone. "Why didn't they call me or something? I'm a prime example of why that bastard should stay locked up!" I yelled, throwing the paper across the room. I turned and felt like kicking or breaking something.
"We don't know, Axel," Demyx sighed, sitting down beside Marluxia on the couch.
"At this rate, I won't be able to see any of my friends." I sighed and fell to the nearest arm chair and glared at the floor. "That's just not an option after what happened with Roxas and me yesterday."
"What happened?" Zexion inquired as he walked in with a tray of drinks and chips.
"We had sex," I stated, and Marluxia choked on the chip he was eating, and Zexion just stared. "Yeah, I thought you'd respond that way." I sighed again and looked to the window. It was a sunny Saturday and a good day compared to yesterday. I ran through my memories of last night with a smile. I remembered his gasps of surprise and moans of pleasure. I grinned at the memory of his eyes closed tight, his mouth slightly open as he panted in absolute pleasure. His screams of ecstasy.
I couldn't just stop seeing him, even if it was for his own safety.
"AXEL! Oh, god, yes! Harder! YES!" Roxas moaned.
I was selfish.
"I didn't think Roxas had it in him," Marluxia admitted. Zexion sat beside Demyx who wrapped his arm around his shoulders.
"Well," Demyx began, "you said the same thing about Zexion and look at us!" Demyx smiled wide as he kissed Zexion on the cheek. I didn't want to think about how many times they do it at all.
"Neither did I," I admitted as I stared at the bird that sat on a branch outside the window. "I gave him enough chances to back out," I finished, standing up and going over to the window. Demyx stood up and followed me over and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"What are you gonna do about your dad, Axel?" he asked me quietly. It was a blue bird who returned from its trip south.
"If only I was a bird," I sighed, and Demyx looked down sadly. He remembered the statement from years ago when we were kids. "I could fly away and never have to worry again… I could take Roxas with me, somewhere safe. Somewhere only we knew." Demyx patted my shoulder and went to sit as the bird took off. Truth was, I had no idea what to do about him. All I knew was that I wasn't going to tell Roxas. I needn't worry him, but lying never got us anywhere good.
I'm just being selfish, because I had gotten in too far. I was afraid to be alone, like when I was a kid. The silence of being alone never meant anything good.
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Roxas's POV
I owed Riku about twenty chocolate chip cookies. I swear, had he not been there with Sora and me, my ass would be grass. He currently was sitting in the living room with Sora sleeping on his lap. Apparently he didn't sleep at all last night, so I was grateful for the silence. Leon had woken up, but took his laptop to his room to catch up on the work he missed. He seemed a lot better too, just like me.
I just hope he didn't move on the same way I did.
I rolled the last cookie onto the tray and placed it in the heated oven. Riku told me that Sephiroth was coming over today from Hollow Bastion, so I invited Zackover for some cookies with us. It had been a long time since I had seen him last, so I wondered how he was. I used my spatula to scrape off the other cookies and set them on a plate at the table. That was when the doorbell rang. I stopped and went to the door and opened it slowly.
"Hey, Roxas!" greeted the ever peppy Zack Fair. His hair was a little longer than what I remembered, but he still seemed like the Zack I knew. I let him in, and he glanced around while he slipped his jacket off. He was about to say something loudly, but I pointed to Sora on the couch, and he covered his mouth childishly, and I nodded. He followed me past Riku and Sora as he ran his hands through the chocolate colored spikes. I sat him at the table, and he smiled.
"It's good to see you, Zack." I grinned, offering him a still warm and gooey cookie.
"Same. You haven't come by my cashier stand at the store, Rox," he explained and bit into the cookie. "I was beginning to think I was being ignored," he said sadly, and I sat beside him and sighed.
"A lot has been going on," I stated, and he nodded.
"I know, and sorry about Yuffie." I nodded, and he took another bite. "I just can't wait to see Sephy," he exclaimed, and I shushed him. He grinned apologetically. I heard the steps creaking, and I turned to see Leon walk into the room. He looked tired, so I offered him a cookie which he took gratefully. He sat beside Zack and glanced to him.
"Afternoon, Zack," he started casually.
"Good day, Mr. Leonhart," he responded respectfully. Leon sighed, and I leaned forward.
"Everything okay?" I asked, and he shook his head.
"Apparently my division can do nothing without me being present. They're so behind." He put his head in his hand, and we laughed slightly. It was good to see Leon back to his normal self. I heard stirring on the couch to see Sora sitting up from Riku's lap and staring groggily at him. They walked into the room and sat with us while we talked quietly, waiting for our guest to arrive.
The doorbell rang while we were listening to Zack talk about a really picky costumer he had to deal with yesterday. I sprang up, excited to see my uncle again and ran to the door. I opened it and ran into my uncle with a hug. I surprised him, because he stepped back slightly, but hugged back after a moment.
"Hello, Roxas," he said in that monotone voice. I let go and looked up at his eyes. They were filled with happiness to see me, but there was something else in there too. Worry?
"Roxas. Look who's back." He let go and stepped to the side. Standing behind him were two people; a man and a woman. The man resembled me the most with blue eyes and blond, spiked hair while the woman differed greatly with long brown hair and brown eyes. I would recognize the two people in front of me any day.
My parents, Cloud and Tifa Strife, were back and standing in front of me.
Axel's POV
I kicked another piece of wood and broke it this time. I was up in the Tower alone, kicking and breaking the abandoned boards of wood up here to express my anger.
"Good behavior my ass," I muttered as I kicked another board with a vengeance. The article said he was granted parole on good behavior, but I knew it was just a ruse to get out and come kill me. After all, I was the reason he was in there in the first place! I sighed and fell to the floor and stared at the mess I made. If only I brought a broom up here. I stood up and walked back into the area where I would sit with Roxas. I glanced back to the bells and remembered my desire to ring the bells, but I promised Roxas he could be here when I did ring them. Even if I did get arrested, I wouldn't care.
To tell Roxas, or not to.
I guess after what we had been through, he deserves to know, but I don't want to tell him, because I don't want to worry him. I don't want to bring him into this. Maybe I should just make up some excuses to not see him, so I don't risk my father learning of him and our relationship. It's already bad enough I'm endangering my friends, but I would sooner die than involve Roxas in my past. I still haven't even told him about it yet.
Roxas's POV
Zack had excused himself to the living room with Sora and Riku some time ago as I sat at the table with my parents and Leon. It was strange having my mom hold my hand as she sat to my left, my father to my right with Sephiroth beside him. They were here with me and just…talking. They were asking things like how I've been and what I've been up to. They were talking to me as if they haven't been gone for years, leaving me here in Twilight Town while they lived their dreams.
"I'm just glad to see my baby," Tifa cried, holding me close again. Apparently she missed me. I could see the tears in her eyes after she let me go. My dad seemed a lot more controlled than my mother, even a bit more than what I remember, but my ability to steel my emotions came from him.
"Yuffie would have loved to see you two," Leon said, and Tifa looked away with tears in her eyes.
"I would have loved to see her, too," she stated in a broken voice. "I hate how we have to meet up again like this, but after some thinking, we came to a conclusion," she finished and grabbed my hand again, looking to Cloud.
"We want to take Roxas back with us to Radiant Garden," he said. Leon's normally cold exterior melted, and my jaw dropped. Go back with…them? To go…home.
Home.
A home with two loving parents.
"Are you…sure?" Leon asked as Sora ran into the room with shock written all over his face. He grabbed my shoulder protectively, like the older brother I never had.
"Yes, we are. We thought for a long time, and have finally finished traveling. Cloud starts working at the end of the month," Tifa explained.
"We never wanted to leave Roxas here so long. We want him to finish out the year here and come back with us to finish high school," Cloud finished. It was like everything I knew just disappeared. I can't go back with them! My family is here! My father for the longest time has been Leon, I've found an older brother in Sora, and my mother… she was just buried. My home is here in Twilight Town.
So is Axel.
"I~" I couldn't speak. My mom was looking for my smile, but I honestly couldn't produce one for her. I was too shocked. Sora squeezed my shoulder, and Leon patted the table in front of me.
"Roxas, why don't you go into the living room with Sora, Riku, and Zack," he told me. Sephiroth scooted his chair closer to Leon. Maybe he believed I should stay here, too. I got up and sat in the living room with Sora and Riku, with Sora holding onto my hand like any minute I was going to disappear. Riku must have heard that bit of news because he looked pretty angry. I stared absently at the TV, but my mind was reeling with thoughts. Eventually, Sephiroth walked into the room and told us to go upstairs and wait in our rooms.
I sat by my door and listened to the yelling from downstairs, wondering why they were fighting so much over me. Leon seemed pretty determined to keep me here, but he knew he was fighting a losing battle. Legally, my parents had every right to take me back, but Leon knew that Yuffie wanted him to watch me as if I were his son; she had seen me as if I were their son. I wanted to get away, even for a little bit. I wanted to go see Axel. I picked up phone and dialed Axel's number and waited.
"Hey, Roxy, what's up?"
"Axel…" I felt my voice breaking. "My parents are here and want to take me home!"
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Axel's POV
I hated it up here, but I need something. The attic in this house was creepy beyond all belief. Roxas might tell you that every part of this mansion was amazingly beautiful, but the attic is scary. I moved another box out of the way and found the small box I was looking for. I pulled it closer and stared at it before I opened it. I pulled out a small, green duffle bag and sighed. One of the only few things I saved from my childhood. I unzipped the bag and pulled out the manila envelope and held it. I opened it and peered inside. I pulled out the wad of cash I had saved in here. I stole it from my father and have kept it hidden ever since. I would have put it in my bank account by now, but I had been saving it for a day where I needed cash to just get up and leave. That would be today.
It would be best for everyone if I just left so my dad wouldn't find me here and leave my friends alone. I had already begun to pack, so all I needed was this money.
I think it was three grand.
My phone vibrated, and I pulled it out.
"Hey, Roxy, what's up?" I asked as I began to close the box.
"Axel…" He sounded like he was about to cry. "My parents are here and want to take me home!" he cried, and I stared, shocked. They were gonna take Roxas away? No way! Well, I have no room to talk. I was about to hit the high road and not tell anyone.
"Don't cry, Roxy." I heard him crying on the other end. "I'll be over soon, okay?" I told him, and he hung up without another word. I stared at the money in my hand and stood up with a new destination in mind.
Roxas's POV
I felt someone shaking my shoulder and I peeked open my eyes. Sora was looking at me with concerned eyes.
"How long have you been asleep?" he asked me quietly.
"I made a phone call at three, so what time is it?" I asked him and he checked my alarm clock. I sat up a little more.
"It's about nine-thirty," he told me, and I stared, shocked. I don't even remember getting into bed! "Your parents went to the hotel room they booked around four." I sat up, and he smiled slightly. "You hungry? I saved you some chicken and potatoes," he told me, and I shook my head. "Axel also stopped by earlier and was up here for quite some time… do you remember him being here?" Sora asked, and I shook my head.
"Maybe he helped me into bed… I don't remember him getting here," I said, slightly disappointed that I didn't remember Axel being here. I wanted to talk to him.
"He said to call him over when you woke up so, you up for it?" he asked me and I nodded as he stood up. I grabbed his arm and he glanced down to me.
"Am I going home?" I asked him and he stared down to me hesitantly. He nodded slowly, and I glanced down. No way.
"Yeah… at the end of the school year you'll get on a train heading to Radiant Garden, Hollow Bastion," he told me. "But expect me calling constantly, because they can't separate me from my little brother," he told me, and I smiled gratefully. He was like my older brother and he kissed my forehead. "I'll call Axel, okay?" he told me while leaving. "Come down to eat when you're ready!"
I slowly got out of bed, and rubbed my eyes. I was still tired, but I wanted Axel to come here. I needed to talk to someone about all this.
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There was a knock on the door, and Sora answered it, leaving me alone at the table. He returned with Axel who was holding a small shopping bag in his hands. I sprang up and led him up the stairs.
"Thanks for dinner, Sora!" I called from behind me, and he nodded as he sat down to watch some TV. I closed the bedroom door behind me, and Axel sat on my desk chair as Muffins wandered over to sniff Axel's legs.
"So, you stopped by earlier?" I prompted, and he nodded.
"Yeah, but you were sleeping quite peacefully, so I didn't want to bother," he told me, moving over to sit beside me. "I moved you to your bed though," he added, and I nodded.
"True, but I fell asleep waiting to talk to you," I told him, and he looked away and glanced around the room. "Are you okay? You seem a little worried about something," I told him. He did seem worried about something and moved closer to me.
"I…uh… I need to tell you something, Roxas," he told me. "Get comfortable, because it will probably take a while," he explained, and I nodded, getting into my sheets and fixing my pillows so I could sit up comfortably.
"Go ahead, Axel," I told him, and he took a deep breath.
"You know that Cecil and Snow aren't my real parents, right?" I nodded, and he leaned back. "Well, I've lived in Twilight Town since I was a born." I nodded, but it seemed like Axel was beating around the bush.
"Axel? What's your point?" I asked quietly.
"You do know about 10% of kids are sexually abused? How about 19% are abused physically?Maybe that 63% are neglected by their parents?" (a/n real numbers too, guys)I blinked. Why was he asking me stuff about child abuse? He glanced out the window and slowly reached his hand out on the bed, and I grabbed it.
"Axel? Why are you telling me this?" I asked worriedly.
"Roxas," he started, staring out the window, "I think it's about time you learned about my past."
How many of you want to punch me right now? If I were you I would too. Ok, I want to say a few things. I'm really happy you people have stayed with me so far. To me, just getting a review from everyone who reads this is gift enough to me. Thanks to all my constant reviewers. Thanks to all those who have read and are reading, but haven't reviewed in a while. Also, to those just reading it.
Merry Christmas to All of you out there (or whatever holiday you celebrate)!
Merry Christmas to you too, Super Beta Libb (a.k.a. Sexypants)!