I'm so sorry for the wait, stuff just started cropping up and I'm really no good a time management.

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing.

More than once Axel caught himself heading over to Roxas to tell him about his latest tryst with Namine, and it was only at the last second that the sour memory of his last encounter with the blond reared in the back of his mind and he immediately veered off course. His only condolense was the other blonde in his life, though her presense didn't quite fill the void his friend had left in his wake. If not for his pride, not only for himself, but his mother as well, Axel would have run back to his boy immediately - but that wasn't the case. So he turned his gaze from the blond and took a seat with the struggle team.

"Axel, man, you pummeled Riku in practice yesterday." Hayner laughed as he slapped Axel on the back good-naturedly, and the redhead grimaced before forcing out a chuckle. He never failed to feel mountains of guilt whenever the boy was around. "I don't know how you do it man, i've been struggling with him for years and ive never come close to beating him. Youve got some serious skill going on."

Axel shrugged and laughed off the praise, unsure of what to say so instead just digging in to his sandwich. His gaze flickered up and captured Namine's briefly as she approached his table, and something uncomfortable squirmed in his gut. This was unusual for her. He took solace in the fact that Namine seemed as uneasy as he felt as she sat beside Hayner. Axel forced himself not to watch as Hayner turned his head and captured the blonde's lips.

He bit into his sandwich and prayed he would never be in such an awkward position again.

Roxas often wondered if he should confide in someone the details of his encounters with Riku. He contemplating telling Axel or Zexion, but he brushed the notion off each time — that was too humiliating. So he kept his situation to himself.

Riku still strutted about the school with Kairi on his arm, as if nothing had changed. Kairi looked at Riku as though he was a god sent to earth, worthy of her praise and admiration. She dangled him in front of other girls, as if she'd one some grand prize. And every time she kissed him... Roxas shuddered in pure disgust. Did they still sleep together? Kairi probably relished each moment they spent alone. Roxas wondered if the dense redhead knew that her boyfriend was a rapist.

He shook the thought off. If he thought of Riku as a rapist, that would make him a rape victim. Not only that, but it would imply that Riku was a human being, capable of rape and other such crimes, when he was no more than a monster. There was nothing human about him — Roxas didnt doubt for one moment that there wasnt a heart under that pale skin.

Roxas walked around the school to wait out the football practice. He'd been instucted to wait until Riku could come get him.

That was the worst part of the whole ordeal — that Roxas actually did as he was told, too afraid to disobey. Too afraid of what may happen to him.

He tensed as he heard footsteps approaching from around the corner of the building.

Always afraid.

"Namine, we talked about this." He reached down and clasped her hand in his, effectively pulling it away from the bulge in his jeans. Namine at least had the decency to look ashamed of her actions.

This was the second time since they'd gotten to her house that she'd tried to take things further than Axel was willing to go with her, and he was beginning to get a bit annoyed.

"But... come on!" She pleaded, and Axel rolled his eyes before pushing her off of him and scooting to the edge of the pristine white couch. He ignored her pout and silenced any further pleas with a stern glare. Sometimes he felt like he was getting it on with a child.

He held his resolve until she trailed a hand up the back of his neck and teased the hair there. Determined not to let her pull anything else, he pushed her down and crawled over her, holding her hands above her head.

Axel was just beginning to lose all sense in the kiss when the door opened behind them. They immediately parted with a wet smack as their heads swiveled toward the door.

"As you were," Riku said offhandedly, rubbing at his bruised knuckles. Axel took in the sight of his swollen lips and wondered what the douchebag had been up to. "Carry on."

But Axel wasn't in the mood to do anything now that he'd been caught by Riku of all people, and immediately returned to his corner of the couch. Namine straightened her white dress and stared at her brother suspiciously. "Where have you been?"

He narrowed his eyes and ignored her, walking through the room.

"Wait!" Riku stopped, but didn't turn around. "Don't tell."

Axel held his breath and awaited his respone in painful inpatience. If he didn't keep their secret, he was done for. It was bad enough Seifer knew, but Riku has reason to out them. He and Axel dont get along, at all. Axel's the only one who'd ever beat him in a struggle, surely he'd jump at the chance to humiliate him. If people found out he'd be shunned by the team, he'd lose his position, he'd lose his chance at a scholarship, he'd -

"Return the favor."

Axel blinked at him in confusion, but Riku just walked out of the room. He turned his questioning gaze to Namine, who's face gave up nothing.

What the hell did that mean?

"What did you do?"

Riku pulled the blanket from over his head but left the pillow covering his face. His garbled reply was lost in the feathers.

"Riku."

He pulled the pillow away and took in Namine's no-nonsense pose, her arms crossed in front of her, before looking into her face. "Something bad."

Namine huffed and sat on the foot of the bed, crossing her right leg. "Obviously."

"You can't say anything."

"You know I won't; not when you know about Axel."

Riku sat up and stared at his sister. "I want your word."

"Fine, fine. Out with it, then."

He flopped back, unable to look Namine in the eye.

"I raped someone."

As it was, he had his eyes clenched shut, and only heard Namine stumbling over herself to back as far away from him as possible.

"More than once."

Namine's eyes darted about the room and she gnawed at her bottom lip. When she spoke her voice was barely above a whisper. "When?"

Riku ran his hand through his hair and gave a yank at the roots. "An hour ago."

"Who?"

Riku's eyes flashed in anger and he shot up from his position, sneering. "Who? Who the fuck do you think Namine? Use your pretty little head for one second will you? Who the fuck do you think?" Riku fell back and pulled the pillow over his head again. "God fucking damn it!"

Namine had no idea who Riku was talking about. Morbid curiosity prodded her to ask again, but she had a feeling she really didn't want to know. She couldn't walk around with that knowledge.

"You have to stop."

Namine's hands hung loose at her sides, and Riku didn't move. When he did, it was to slowly slide the pillow from his face and replace it with his hands.

"No."

What's this? Something stupidly weird happening? Or just Riku being stupidly weird?

I don't know. Or maybe I do.

I'm also aware that this is stupidly short. I just got this laptop and the rest of this chapter is actually on my old one. I was far too lazy to transfer it over, so that'll be in the next chapter.

Reviews are nice.