One Wish

Chapter 6 – Escape

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"What was that?" Hayner asked, incredulous, gaping at his co-worker. Roxas' face was bright red and he knew that it wasn't due to the dropping temperatures.

"That was ... um ... Yeah ... Yeah, that was that dude ... that I, uh, chucked the candy cane at the other day." Roxas nodded in embarrassment. He was in shock. The last thing that he had expected was for Axel to pursue him, to offer him over for another night, to offer to feed him.

"And you went over to his place last night? Merry Christmas! Have fun in Santa's Village!" Hayner switched easily from their private conversation to greeting people with candy canes, passing them out with vigour, sending smiles onto the faces of children and parents alike. Roxas was exhausted just standing next to him.

"Yeah?" Roxas handed out a couple of candy canes, receiving a few smiles himself. He was almost scared to have this conversation with the younger teen, especially out in public. But maybe being in public would make the extent of it far less awkward than if they were alone to clean up again.

"Didya bang?"

Or maybe not. Roxas glared at the whispering, giggling teen, his mouth hitched in mild surprise. "What? No! Jeez, Hayner, you're gross!"

That comeback only made Hayner laugh harder, seeing Roxas' disgruntled face. "Here, ya'know what, we'll talk later, okay? You're getting so red."

"I hate you, I really do."

"Oh come on. Merry Christmas to all, right? Hasn't this job taught you anything?"

"Yeah, not to tell all my life secrets to some high-school brat."

"Merry Christmas!" was all that Hayner had to say to that until closing time, when he approached Roxas with a broom in each hand, tossing one to his elder. "So, you were at his place, and you guys didn't do the nasty?"

"Man, Hayner, seriously?"

"Yes, seriously. He's hot. Why wouldn't you do that?"

Roxas pushed his broom along, trying to tune out the younger blonde but to no avail.

"So, are you going back to his place tonight?"

"I don't know ... It depends. I'd have to try my place first. If I can't get in there, then I would have to, wouldn't I?" Roxas gripped his broom tighter with his red and green gloves, not liking the truth in the words that he had just said. Did he really think that he could stay at his own house, even if his dad had left the door open? Could he really live like that?

"That's what I wanna hear. He sounds pretty cool, though, dude. And if he's offerin' to buy ya food, what's the problem? It's his choice, right? If he wants to do everything for ya, why not let him?"

"I just met him. I ... We couldn't even be called friends yet. I'm not gonna go sleep at a random stranger's house just because he's offering me food. What if he's a rapist or a murderer or something? What if I just didn't show up to work tomorrow? No one would even know ..."

"I would."

"And people would believe you? Sorry to break it to ya, Hayner, but you're the boy who cried wolf. No one would listen to you."

Hayner pouted but didn't give up. "So, the worst he could do is kill you, right? Well, at least that's better than gambling with your dad, isn't it?"

A groan left Roxas' lips and he turned to the younger blonde. "Why do I even bother talking to you?"

The younger blonde returned the words with a smirk. "'Cause you ain't got no one else."

"Say that again, in proper English?"

Letting out a bark of laughter, Hayner continued on with his sweeping, leaving Roxas alone to smirk at his fast-becoming friend. He finished quickly, just wanting to go find somewhere to spend the night. He still wasn't so sure about Axel's offer, but Hayner had brought up a very good point. At least if Axel beat him up before killing him, it wouldn't be as bad as if his dad hit him just once. It was biologically programmed in him to trust his father, so the pain caused when that trust died...

Roxas' hands shook as he pulled on his jacket, picking up his bag, finally on his way home. The only light on in the house was the flickering of the television. With baited breath, Roxas tried the door handle, finding it turning slowly under his gloved hand.

Tiptoeing up the stairs, Roxas found his way to his room. His eyes adjusted quickly to the black and orange – the streetlight outside illuminating only half of his room, plunging the other into an even deeper darkness in contrast. A forlorn look was cast onto his bed; he just wanted to crawl into it and never leave.

"Focus, Roxas," he urged himself under his breath, closing the door behind him, cringing at the squawk it gave in protest. Surely his father would hear that, would come storming up the stairs with his baseball bat, maybe even attack his son in blind, drunken fear-mixed rage. "Focus."

Slipping over to his closet, Roxas grabbed an old, discarded bag, one that hadn't been used in years. Fear and desperation giving him the speed needed, Roxas flung clothes into the bag, a few prized possessions finding their way as well. After a few minutes, he allowed himself to slow down, take a breather. If he'd been safe this long, why rush?

After ten minutes, the bag was filled and his pillow was tucked under his arm. He gave his room one last sweeping glance before nudging the door open and gliding down the stairs, many nights' practice guiding him without fault.

"Who's there?"

The voice stopped him cold. He thought he had made it. He was so close, he could see the door. He could see the door being blocked by a wavering man that seemed about ready to topple over at any second.

"It's me, dad. Roxas. Just ... Just let me go by, okay? I'll ... I'll get outta your hair ... Just let me go." Roxas felt like the world was tipping from side to side, lurching beneath his feet. Of course his dad would be waiting for him. Of course. That's just how things went.

"Roxas? My son? ... I thought I kicked that freeloader out."

"I just came back for my stuff." Roxas edged down the stairs, glad to notice that his father's eyes didn't follow him, unable to actually see in the dark stairwell. "You're just dreaming right now, dad. Just go back to the living room, you're dreaming. I'm not really here."

"Dreamin'? .. Righ' ... Roxas is ... Roxas is ... a good-for-nothing ... freeloader ... thief ..."

Roxas wanted to comment on the accusation but was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. There was just enough room for the blonde to slip by the big, lumbering drunk. He took his chances, closing his eyes and holding his breath as he tested his luck. Before his father even turned to look at him, Roxas was slipping out the door, breaking out into a full run as tears slipped down his cheeks.

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"So you're not going to take up in my offer, Roxas? Really?" Axel asked the mug in his hands even though the blonde was nowhere to be found. He didn't know why he felt so let down. Why would Roxas be dumb enough to come back to him? He was a monster. "One shot ... and I blew it. Already."

Frustrated, Axel got to his feet, being careful not to knock the mug over – he didn't feel like cleaning anything tonight – and searched in the large cabinet on the other side of the kitchen for a pad of paper, or a scrap, or anything he could write on, locating a pen as well in his quest.

"On the off chance you actually come back tonight, I went out for a bit, I'll be back in the morning. Go sleep in my bed, that couch doesn't do much for you. Like I said earlier, there's food for you if you're hungry. You're welcome to stay for as long as you wish. We'll talk in the morning. Have a good sleep, I guess."

Axel left the message in plain sight beside his half-empty mug, before grabbing a jacket and leaving his temporary living quarters, sending a quick glance down at the list that he drew from his pocket. The night was cold but not nearly as bone-chilling as Axel was used to. Most of the houses he passed were already plunged into darkness even though it was only a little after midnight.

He was almost thankful for the solitude. Only three more weeks. If that. He had nearly lost track of the days now. So lost in his bet, he was getting even farther behind on his duty, only getting rid of half the amount he would normally have dealt with by this time.

Checking the list once more as he stood outside one of those pitch-black houses, Axel nodded, stuffing it back into his pocket before making his way up to the second story window.

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To Be Continued

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Finished this chapter while at work while listening to Christmas music. I'm nearly disgusted . and yes, Axel's part was kinda filler . It seems I do a lot of writing at work ... My ANs make no sense ... They're so random. And, I think I love Hayner. He's such a doof. And one more thing, for this story at least, Dre is back and that makes me ecstatic. :D

~xbuttonsx~