Take the Fight out of the Kid

Chapter Fifteen

'I'm a Nightmare, a disaster, that's what they always said! I'm a lost cause, Not a Hero'- Simple Plan

I guess that my plan wasn't quite as thought out as I was hoping it'd be. Turns out curling up in the back of my car with two large dogs wasn't the best idea and I've got a kink in my neck that's throbbing to the point that I've got a headache now. But thanks to the fact that my car can go close to two hundred MPH I'm getting pretty close to Florida already.

"Oh man… if I'm this close already there is no way it's going to take me a year." but at the same time I've been driving for a week- so it's not that far in retrospect. I'm just getting to the city border now and I can already see that this place is still the place to go for bikini beaches and good times. Teenagers and cougars are flocking the streets in swarms and it takes me a moment to remember that it's Spring break… something that means great parties in Florida and even better drinking parties at night. The whole State of Florida becomes one huge party at night and Miami is the epicenter.

I have to decrease my speed to a crawl here and I reach up to my right ear, working the black clip on the center two piercing off so I'm not labeled as Xemnas' before grabbing the small upside down heart that attaches to a cross plate I picked up somewhere in Seattle. It just clips easily into place on the two rings that actually go through my ear and I let out a sigh as I roll my window down and toss the stupid label into the crowd of people dancing and having a grand old time.

A woman stops my car by not moving out of my way and my eyes go wide as she crawls onto the hood, she's clad in nothing but a bikini and she looks stupid humping the front of my car like she'll get a prize for it.

With a smirk I raise my right hand to the center of my wheel and I cant wait for the reaction of the crowd around me when I push down just a little harder. About two years ago when I first got the car I got a very nice horn put into it: an old eighteen wheeler horn that made my entire car vibrate with it's percussive sound. She mouths something to me and I take this opportunity to scare the shit out of her so I press down on the center of the wheel and an extremely loud honk comes out of my car, startling all the drunk or high people around me and it makes the girl on my hood shriek and climb off.

When I hit the gas again I do it just a little too harsh so the car jerks forward and the people start parting like the red sea- I wonder where that saying came from, I've never heard of a red sea with all that Vexen has taught me… but I've heard it said enough in the Boggle and in Death House to know that it means something about getting out of the way by separating.

Lumier and Cerberus both poke their heads out from the back and this time it's Lumier who climbs forward onto the passenger seat- though he's much to big for it. He sits himself down and lays across the consol in the middle so his front paws are in my lap and he lowers his head so my elbow is just above his forehead.

"You wanna got for a walk boy?" both dogs perk their heads and I guess they do need a pee break, I need a freaking pee break… and I haven't actually gone running with them in forever. "Would you let me get some jogging clothes first?" Lumier nods his head and I really don't know if he's actually answering my question or if he just understands that I like seeing him and Cerberus nod.

I pull into the closest parking spot and roll all the windows down as far as they'll go as I see a clothing kiosk and open my door. "Lumier, Cerberus, guard." they both sit down and I stuff my hands into the slack pockets, hating how they feel on my skin after a week of wearing them straight. I ditched the jacket a while ago and the shirt it buttoned down to my belly button, showing off enough skin for me to be able to flirt and get what I want but not completely open so it says 'come here and fuck me' I've had too many of those kinds of outfits

I slink into the small strip mall building and right up to the men's clothing section. I can see the girl behind the counter staring at me and I don't blame her, my hair is pretty loud, even for this place. I can feel the fabric types and none of it is stuff that'll actually hold together for a long period of time and I'll need these clothes to last as long as I can make them.

"Excuse me… but can I help you?"

"Not really… these aren't the kinds of clothes I'm looking for." I let the flimsy pair of shorts fall from my grasp and shrug my shoulders, not paying any attention to the girl as she swells her chest slightly.

Of course I take a bit of interest at that; she wants me to after all. I look down and notice right away that the pendant around her neck is much like the two Chakrams I wear around my neck. I want to rip it off her neck and demand where she got it, but stay silent for a moment and just look.

"Nice necklace… where'd you get it?" a blush covers her cheeks and her fairly large brown eyes bat a few times as she tucks a strand of black hair behind her ear.

"I uh… got it from a lady I met… she's from Ireland. Things like this have been in the family for forever she said." she gives a smile and I can only raise an eyebrow. I don't know what to think of that really. In Seattle a woman with my picture was looking for me, this girl has a Chakram around her neck. I want to rip it off and demand to know who the old woman is, but I refuse to raise my hand for a moment, just looking at the pendant and into the girls brown eyes, who is she and who is this mysterious lady.

"Would you mind if I looked at it closer? It looks very interesting." the girl glares at me for a moment and I give her a smile- I'm surprised that she hasn't seen my necklace yet but I digress -and pull out my money pouch with at least a hundred gold coins in it- she cant see them though. "I'll trade you, when I give you the pendant back, you give me my money back. Deal?"

"I don't know… she said it's a family heirloom." I shrug and set the pouch down in her open palm.

"Well… I'm not leaving without my money, so you'll get your necklace back. I'm just genuinely curious, I swear." she lets out a sigh and pulls the necklace over her head and sets the pendant down in my open palm.

I instantly snatch it up and hold it closer to my face, inspecting the fine details that my Chakrams have. The only difference I can see is that these Chakrams don't seem to have a- thought too soon. Right underneath the spikes on the back is an engraving 'Come, Flurry of Dancing Flames.' my eyes go wide and I quickly drop it back down into the girls hand and snatch up my pouch from her hand.

I don't care what kind of bullshit this is. Whoever the hell gave that to this chick must be messing with my head. "Whoa… are you alright? Or is something wrong?"

"No… who gave that to you? What'd she look like?"

"Well… she had extremely red hair like yours, and the biggest blue eyes. She was really sweet and kind though."

"Did she say where she was going? When did she give you that."

"A month or two ago… and she said something about going to Vancouver. She was looking for something."

"Did she say what it was exactly?"

"Yes… she said she's looking for a Flurry of Dancing Flames… whatever that means."

Great, so not only am I running from Saïx and copious amounts of people trying to stop me. My running just got harder, the only thing that might be in my saving grace is that it's very possible that this girl who's looking for me is way behind since I last heard of her in Seattle and now know that she's headed for Vancouver- a location I've left behind me for good.

"I should get going… have to find some clothes before it gets too cold tonight." I give the girl a bit of a smile and turn to leave but she stops me.

"You're not running from something, are you?"

"It doesn't matter if I am. What I do is none of your concern."

"Well then here." she lets my hand go and I turn around to see her taking the necklace off and setting it down in my palm. "She said it's good for protecting… and it sounds like you need it. Have fun with whatever it is your running from."

I open my mouth to retort but the sound of loud barking catches my attention and a high pitched scream makes me cock my head in the direction of the door and my car.

I don't bother to drop the pendant and just dash out of the store, quick enough to see a man with his arm half in my car, Lumier and Cerberus both biting the limb and he's screaming his fool head off.

"Oi! Drop 'im!" both dogs instantly let the arm go and I stalk over, picking the bleeding man up and pushing him against the side of the car as a group of people begins to gather. "What're you doin' wit my car?"

"Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow! L-let me go! Y-your fucking dogs bit me! I'm going to sue you!"

"Wit what court? Now what're ya doin' wit my car?"

"Hey, let him go… he did nothing-"

"My dogs wouldn't have bitten 'im if he didn't do some'tin'! Stay out of this bitch!" I turn my head to the side and glare at the girl, she gasps and I'm supposing it's her boyfriend who's stepping forward.

"Don't you dare call her something like that! All he was doing was trying to pet them you asshole."

"Fine then.. Have him!" I push the guy I'm still holding away from me into the couple and the boyfriend easily catches him. "Do with him as you will, burn him, drown him, bash him in the head. I don't really care."

I'm not too sure where the attitude shift has come from, but I feel like I do every time I've killed someone: like I'm burning up and slowing down, the world around me is getting slightly fuzzy and I'm ready to fight anyone for any stupid reason. The boyfriend growls a bit but I just wretch my door open and slip into the drivers seat, lurching forward as I jammed the keys into the ignition and stomped my foot down.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Oh god… six months so far and I'm already so far.

Once I got into Mexico I met up with the Mexican drug cartel, a corporation (I suppose that's the best word for it) run by a family. Mr. Scrooge McDuck, his nephew Donald Duck (he took the Mc out- I have no idea why) and his three nephews; Hewey, Dewey, and Louie. They were pretty awesome, they brought me through Mexico with me working protection detail for them on the way. Beign hired as dumb-shit muscle was nice and easy though.

I was in charge of the triplets, something that was not an easy task. I had to follow them whenever they went out and I had to keep them out of trouble- that was the impossible part. On more then one occasion I was right there beside them making the trouble. Scrooge was a pretty good guy though, he never got too pissed at me for getting into shit with the three fifteen year olds, and to be frank I was even coming up with most of the ideas.

Unfortunately, my time in Mexico was cut abruptly one night when the triplets burst into my room and pulled me into the meeting room. I was wearing nothing but my boxers and the gun vest that scrooge had given me- complete with two fully loaded semi-automatic guns made of onyx.

"The Hell?" Louie and Dewey dropped me into a chair and I had to refrain from grabbing the guns under my arms because I would certainly have shot something I shouldn't have.

"Axel… Saïx has come to Mexico. Are you aware of that?"

"No." I raised my hand and tried to rub the sleep out of my eyes.

"Well because of it I'm shipping you across the Canal, you've done enough to ensure my nephews are safe enough and you don't know too much- be thankful for that. After the Canal though, you're completely on your own." I didn't actually know what was happening as the world just faded black.

Half a week after that I woke up in the middle of the jungle with Lumier and Cerberus, a pile of dead animals beside me and their rotting stench making me gag since there had been nothing to vomit up.

Both Lumier and Cerberus were sitting in front of me, small bottles attached to their collars and the only bag of possessions I had was down beside Cerberus on the ground- at least I got to keep my stuff.

I sat up straight and rubbed the back of my head, trying as hard as I could to not freak out with the fact that I was dazed, in the jungle, wearing nothing but my underwear and two guns, a pile of dead animals was off to my side, and finally the fact that it was nighttime and I could see a pair of bright yellow eyes behind them.

My eyes followed the trail that was a shadow coming up from the eyes and my own eyes went wide as I pulled my guns out and shot twice.

Both Lumier and Cerberus ran off in opposite directions as the large leopard fell off the hill opposite me and out of the bushes it was hiding in. The Leopard wasn't dead, but at that point it could have very easily have died- I wasn't going to do anything for it though.

"Lumier, Cerberus!" my voice was raw and my throat completely dry as I called for them and got no response. I let out a sigh and stood up, grabbing my bag off the ground and rolling my shoulders.

I must have waited there for a good hour, looking through what I had in the bag and finding three large hunting knives, two smaller pocket knives, two clips of extra bullets, a blanket, my personal effects and the few sets of clothes I had at the time.

With a sigh I packed up the bag again and started walking as soon as I figured out which way was South. I was given my pair of most broken in boots and five changes of socks… I was going to be traveling for a while, and looking for Lumier and Cerberus while I was at it. They didn't need me to get food by the looks of that pile they had, so it was very possible that I wouldn't be getting my only two companions back.

Before I got to the tip of South America Lumier and Cerberus found me again and it was a touching moment really, I'd figured they'd left me alone after the first month passed.

But when we got to the tip I bartered my way onto a helicopter and all three of us landed on a research vessel headed for the Falklands. The research was annoying and pointless in my eyes since it was on Orca Whales and they'd been extinct for fifty years, but I just went along with it, finding no sign of them as we sailed through the arctic ocean- I also got over my sea sickness on that part of my trip.

The only interesting thing that happened on that trip is I found out that other types of whales had gotten big enough to tip ocean liners like they were ice floats. We were in a fucking ice-breaker for god sakes!

I digress though, I hopped the first helicopter off the ship with Lumier and Cerberus, landed in Africa and started my dessert trek to Cairo- not a smart idea and I don't recommend it in any circumstance.

I rode on camels- smelly beasts -I walked and I swam. There was one night when I had to run for my life and hide in a tree from a couple lioness' who'd decided I'd make a good meal. And in all honesty I would have if it wasn't for Lumier and Cerberus who managed to scare the two lioness' until they ran away. Another mode of transportation was surprisingly bike and car- pulled by Arabian horses. Every freaking mode of land transportation you can think of I did it.

Arriving in Cairo had been a blessing in disguise- even though my joy at seeing the pyramids was crushed when I saw nothing but three large mountains of rubble. People hadn't even tried to save their ancient kings hidden deep under the earths surface, they'd just been left and all the secrets those tombs were supposed to hold went down with them.

Being in Cairo was annoying though, there was nothing to do but work for a month straight, getting up enough money to be here in St. Petersburg, I've learned little Russian and I need to learn more. The only plus sides to what I've done is that I can now speak dialects of Spanish and a bit of African (the kind spoken in Cairo).

I let out a sigh and look down at Lumier and Cerberus, they don't seem to like the fact that we haven't been moving for a few days… they like exercise and they are getting most of it when we're on the move. I swing my leg back over my bike and sit myself down.

"So… who wants to go back?" I've refrained form using the 'home' word as much as I can with them, just because I don't want them to think of anywhere as a permanent place to stay until I get to Ireland… it's just too bad my next stop wont be Ireland since the Russian Mafia have got their eye on me now and I'm in the process of becoming their dumb-shit muscle now that Saïx has followed me here.

I'll admit I'm not trying to loose him yet though, I'm surprised that he followed me through the jungle for god sakes, the man deserves a bit of tail to chase. I'll take him a little further around the world before loosing him completely.

"Common boys. Lets go." I push off from the ground and start on my trip back to the house where I'm staying with fifteen other men who are acting as dumb muscle for the mafia.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I get into the house and let out a sigh as Lumier and Cerberus walk inside and towards the kitchen where dinner must have been delivered since the loud Russians are all yelling.

There are only a few English speaking men and women who talk to me and seem to think my sometimes Irish sometimes Canadian accent is interesting. "Axel! What're you doing over here?" the sound of Cid yelling catches my attention and I flinch. Cid is the resident 'leader' as I've been told, but for me to even be in the same house as the leader I would have had to live here for years and devoted my life to these guys. But they know I just want to be a bit of muscle with a gun for a while until I accumulate enough cash to get the hell outta dodge.

"What do you want Cid?" I stuff my hands into my pockets and stride into the living room, knowing full well that there isn't food for me because I haven't ordered anything yet tonight.

"I want to know where the hell you've been? Not sending out another one of those odd-ball checks are you?" I raise an eyebrow and sit down on the couch beside Cloud and Leon, stopping the two assholes from arguing in every language they know- again.

"Yeah right… I was just out for a bike ride. Lumier and Cerberus needed their exercise." I point to the two panting dogs on the floor of the living room by the fire. Russian winters really are bad, not as bad as Canadian winters in my opinion… but damn hard. My bike rides are cold and frozen now, if we stop between St. Petersburg Square and the palace that I'm in now for more then ten minutes it's likely that we'll freeze.

"Please… stop giving us bullshit and answer the question." I let out a sigh and glare over at Siefer, Rai, Fuu, Setzer, and Vivi. Their jobs are lower then mine, they do nothing but give drugs to whoever the leader says give them to and they take money, petty crime… the leader basically took pity on them.

But the leader actually gave me a job that's worth something, I protect Arieth when she goes out and if she ever needs it- mainly when she goes to the store for something. She's the resident medic-in-every-way so she's pretty important.

"I'd rather not. I don't have to tell you anything." it's true, I was sending money to my old address every time I got money I'd send a percentage of it off and I just couldn't help it. I guess if they can think that if their there and if they know I'm still alive then they'll be there when I get there.

"Common, tell us squirt." Leon hops over so he's practically laying across my lap and I notice the heavy blush on his cheeks- indicating he's had too much to drink already.

"Fuck off Leon."

"Common Axel… just tell us where you were." he whines a bit and I just roll my eyes as I push him off my lap and get up.

I stalk into the kitchen and grab a beer for myself, one thing that I've learned about the Russians in the palace here is that it's impossible to be around them without having at least a bit of alcohol.

The fridge is out of beer and I glare at the vodka or rum choice. "Fuck me." I grind my teeth together as I reach for the rum and walk back into the living room, around all the yelling and laughing Russians.

"I heard that offer Axel. And I'd gladly fuck you." my eyes go wide as Sepheroth walks up behind me and he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me back towards him and reaching down for my belt buckle.

"Oi! Fuck off you bitch-shit!" I jab my elbow back into his gut but he catches it and spins me so I'm pushed against the wall.

"Oh, don't me so mean Flurry of Dancing Flames… it might be nice to see some hot dancing with the weather so cold outside." he puts his face close to mine but I just raise the closed rum bottle.

"If you don't fuck off right now, I'm going to smash you in the head with this. I don't care how many people you've killed, because it's not scaring me." he just smirks and moves away, removing his hands from my body again. Every time he calls me that it pisses me off- mainly because he took the time to search into my past. But there are no records of Ireland for him to find- I hope.

"You're so touchy… kind of makes me wonder if your that sensitive underneath all those layers." I don't really know what he's talking about, because even in this weather all I'm wearing is a pair of wool socks, boots, jeans, boxers, a tank top, and a business shirt with a hoodie thrown over top.

"Too bad you'll never know." I sneer at him and go back over to sit beside Leon and Cloud.

Leon has fairly long brown hair, always wearing black and white clothes like it's his thing. Cloud on the other hand is the only person I feel like I know, bright blue eyes, bright blonde hair sweeping up on his right side, god… he's just like an older Roxas and it's hard actually.

"Is that some kind of offer Axel? Because I'd take you up on that."

"Listen to me and read my lips Sepheroth, because I haven't told you this yet- though I'm sure that pretty little eidetic memory of yours will retain the information: if there is anyone in this house who I'd let screw me, would be Cloud for nothing but the fact he looks the way I like my men to look. Understand." I see Clouds eyes go wide from the corner of my eye and Leon bursts into laughter as he starts to roll around on the couch between Cloud and I.

"Well… Cloud would be a lucky man in that case."

"Fuck you Sepheroth. I'd rather die then revert." only Cid, Sepheroth and the leader know of my past now and I want to keep it that way, otherwise I'll have to kill again to prove it to them that I'm not a whore they can- literally -fuck with.

"I'd rather not fuck myself… cant really bend that way. But you, oh… I could still fuck-"

"Nine people."

"What?"

"You've looked into my past Sepheroth… how many people have I killed for that same pathetic reason? How many from British Columbia have died because I am the Flurry of Dancing Flames? Should I tell you how I did it all, would that make you think twice about provoking me? Or would it just turn you on?"

"Oh, most certainly Axel." the way he says my name makes me want to shiver and kill him, but the leader likes him for some reason and thinks he's a credible assassin, so there isn't much to say.

"Axel… relax! You take him too fucking seriously!" Yuffie prances into the living room and drops herself across myself and Leon with a bright smile on her face. "You're so docile Axel… you can shoot him if you want, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world." no one else can even threaten Sepheroth without him freaking out and threatening to kill them first.

"No thanks Yuffie… I'd rather just remind him that I'm not running from puppies- though I'd love for him or Cloud to take care of my problem. But I'll do it as soon as I'm done stringing him along." I give her a bit of a smile and run my fingers through her hair. She reminds me a lot of Xion, but she's a little stronger… she's freer too- just how I imagine Xion would be if she'd gotten out first.

"Now, now, now Axel. Playing with your food isn't good! didn't your mother ever teach you manners?" Yuffie- and the rest of the palace -know I'm openly gay (it's one of the reasons Sepheroth likes bugging me about screwing) so having her turn over on my lap and look up at me while kicking her feet up in a still drunk Leon's face means nothing to me where it might for other guys.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you that Yuffie?"

"Touché. Anyhow, I need you to start getting packed. The boss said that blue haired guy that's been following you has just landed in Moscow, should be here by morning, so to keep to his promise to you he's going to ship you out tonight."

"Where to?"

"England. He figures it's a-"

"No, not an option, I'll head out of my own. I'm not going any further west in Europe then I am right now."

Yuffie just gives me a smile and pulls herself into a kneeling position so she's balanced sideways across my legs. "We can talk about it once we're in the car and I'll call the boss alright? I'm sure he'll understand."

"Isn't Cid the boss?"

"Please, I know you're not that stupid… it's the lower people who are dumb enough to believe that shit." I just give her a smirk and shrug.

"Fine… I guess a car ride is better then a long walk." everyone just scoffs and I get up with a sigh to go pack my things from the room I've been given.

AN:

Me: thank you all for reading this chapter, but just so you know this chapter and the next one are filler chapters and are extremely unimportant at the moment. Nothing too interesting is going to happen to Axel throughout his travels and it's really just him meeting different people from the game.

Axel: your telling people to not read?

Me: no, I'm not telling people to not read, I'm telling them that it's uninteresting.

Roxas: am I going to be in it soon? I mean yeah, I love the fact that it's all about Axel, I love him and everything. But I want to be in this fic!

Me: that's it! I'm killing you Roxas! And I'll give Axel… some whiny bitch-shit! I'll do it! I'll fucking do it Roxas!

Axel: but… I want my Roxie.

Me: too bad… this is the end of our discussion.

Gaara: thank you for reading and we hope to hear your comments or reviews. Even constructive criticism is welcomed. Have a good one.