Merry Christmas. And a happy New Year as well.
Sorry.
The next three weeks were hell for all of us. Something about Axel's appearance had all of us shaken in ways we didn't even realize or understand.
The fighting was starting to get nasty. No one could do anything, or make any decision on what we should do. Mostly because no one knew.
I wanted to go back, I needed to see my mother. No one seemed to understand that though. Variedy and Phystie both thought that St. Louis was out of bounds if we wanted this 'truce' with Axel to last. Zexion and Demyx thought we could make a day trip maybe but we wouldn't be able to stay for long. Vincent was just angry in general these days.
Being cooped up for so long had done nothing for his temper or his violent streak. He'd fired Cerberus more times since he'd gotten here then I had ever fired while it had been in my possession . When he got angry he'd shot whatever was pissing him off, a glass, a chair, a window, a door. You name it and he'd probably shot it full of holes.
Today things were going to change though. Something had to change before one of us killed somebody.
I came into the kitchen to find everyone gathered at the table eating or drinking coffee. Amazingly enough no one was speaking. I took my stance behind the chair that I normally sat in between Vincent and Demyx and across from Variedy.
"Whatever it is Roxas it can wait." Variedy said, not even looking up from his plate of eggs.
"No it can't. I want us to make a decision about what we're going to do." I said, my arms crossed. Variedy looked up from his plate and everyone else kept their mouths closed.
"Alright Roxas." he said. His voice was the calmest I'd heard it in a long time and it threatened to shake me to my core. "This is your battle. We did what we set out to do, we got Vincent back, we sent Axel away with his tale tucked between his legs. We've got a safe house that is actually living up to that tittle. What do you propose we do now?" I opened my mouth to talk but he stood so suddenly that I stepped back and his chair clattered to the ground.
"Your going to say that we need to go back to St. Louis. You're going to stand there and tell us how we should all risk life and limb to go back into that city for a family reunion that in all probability won't go over well any way. You want us to up and leave the safety that we have here just so you can say hello to mommy." The last sentence was a snarl. I stepped back to the table and Vincent grabbed my arm when I went to speak. I glanced over to him to see him giving me a 'be careful' look. I pulled my arm away and looked back to Variedy.
"First off, we are no more safe here then we were any where else. Axel knows where we are, once he's done licking his wounds and he's dealt with Larxene I can guarantee he'll be after us again. And this time it won't just be me, it'll be all of us." I looked around at each person at the table. "Because this time it wasn't just me standing up to him, it was all of you. Each one of you stood in the yard and watched what happened. To him you might as well each have spit in his face and you know it. He knows that we all had a hand in getting Vincent out, and he'll be out for blood." I paused again and took a breath.
"Second off, me wanting to see my family is nothing that you can hope to understand Variedy and we both know it." This set off a few glances around the table and had Variedy's eyes burning with fury. "And I am not asking any of you to risk your life for me or my family. Not any more. It was selfish of me to pull you all into this in the first place." I took a deep breath.
"Roxas.." Vincent started to say but I got my nerve back quickly and stepped away from the hand that reached for me.
"So what I'm trying to say is, I'm leaving." I met everyone's gaze. "I'm going to St. Louis first for a while and then from there I'm not sure. Axel will be after all of us, but he'll come for me first so I'll run for as long as I can to keep him busy while you all bury yourselves."
"You're an idiot if you think your going with out me." Vincent said as he stood from the table and grabbed his crutches.
"You'll only slow me down." I said, keeping my face blank. The entire room went very still. I knew what was coming seconds before it happened. One of his crutches shot out and took me in the back of the knees while the other pushed my feet out from under me. I crumpled to the floor and tried to get back up but found the top of the crutch pressed to my throat with a glaring Vincent on the other end.
"Shut up." he snarled. "I'm going with you so deal with it." The crutch was gone and so was Vincent by the time I got to my feet. I rubbed at my throat as I glance around the room, my eyes met Variedy's and I knew the ass beating for the day wasn't over.
"So that's it?" he asked, his voice strained. "You turn tail and walk away from us?" I made sure to keep my eyes locked with his, afraid of what I'd see in the others around the table.
"I'm not walking away Variedy." I said. "I understand that none of you want to go back to that city and I cannot blame you for that. But I am going. I made the mistake of running away from my family because of Axel once before and I lost my father before I decided to come home. This time I go back, I won't stay long, but I will be going to see her. I will make the effort, even if it kills me."
"You must enjoy the rush of all of this." Phystie said from the table and my eyes went to his. "That's what this is. You wrap it up in this pretty bow of 'wanting to see mommy', but you can't stand the thought that Axel is no longer fixated on you." he stood from the table and I fought to keep my mouth closed.
"You claim that you're not being selfish any more but that is exactly what you're doing, you want Axel to be after you, you like the twisted relationship that the two of you built. Even though we all risked our lives for you. We finally get the dog off of you and you go trampling back into his yard." he snarled.
"The flaw in your logic is big enough to drive my fist through." I said through clenched teeth. "In order for that to be true, Axel would have to be finished with us and he is not." I took a deep breath and made my shoulders relax.
"He is coming for me." I said and I let the knowledge fill my eyes as I looked at each and everyone of them. "You all know him. You know he isn't going to let me walk away, this isn't over. This is the eye of the storm and after this, it's either me or him; because he will never stop. Not till I'm dead or he is." I looked back to Variedy and saw that he had shut himself down again, his anger was gone. All I found in his eyes was the cold look I first saw there all those months ago.
"I'm asking you all as my friends, please let me go visit my mother while I can. I'm not asking you to go with me, I think that separating will be good for us for a while regardless." I said. Silence filled the room as I looked from one face to the next. Movement from the door way caught my eye and I found Vincent leaning in the doorway, his eyes locked on me.
"You take Vincent with you." Variedy said and my head snapped back to him. "You have one week in St. Louis and then we meet up again." I instantly wanted to argue but I closed my eyes and counted to three.
"A week is fair." I said as I looked back to him.
"While they're in St. Louis we split up, go different directions. Phystie and I will go east, Demyx and Zexion, you can go south or west. We meet up again at a location that we will decide on at a later date." Everyone seemed to breath a little easier.
"We'll go south." Demyx said as he bumped his shoulder with Zexions. "I could use some sun and warmth." Zexion gave a nod.
"Alright. We leave first thing tomorrow." Variedy said. I turned to leave but was stopped by Variedy's voice.
"One week Roxas. If neither of you show's up to the rendezvous point we assume you're dead and we move on." I looked back at him with a small strained smile.
"If I don't show up it will be because I'm dead. No assumptions needed." I said before turning back to the doorway and Vincent. He stared at me for a moment before he turned and headed down the hallway. I followed him back to our room, shutting the door behind me.
"This is a bad idea Roxas." He said as he set on the edge of the bed. I leaned against the door and let my head hit the wood with a muffled thump.
"My life is just one bad idea after the next. Why stop now?" I said as I rolled my head over to look at him.
"Because what you said is true. Axel will be coming for you and for me." he said as his calm red eyes met my broken blue ones. "And in the end it will either be him or us or both. No matter what happens this ends badly." I moved toward him now and slid between his legs, my hands going to his shoulders.
"So we should make the most of this time." I said, as I leaned forward, my lips hovering over his.
"Yes we should and I don't think that crossing that line into St. Louis is a good way to make the most of our time." he said as his lips brushed mine. I pulled back a little, a frown on my face.
"I have to see my mother." I said.
"I understand that. Call her, tell her it's time to do some travailing, tell her to take a week in a nice little city some where out side of St. Louis, preferably out side of Missouri. Then we meet her there, spend the week. Tell her that you've made your self a nice safe life away from Axel and that you and I are a happy little couple. Settle her fears, give her peace of mind before we make our next move." he said and I pulled away a little more, letting it run through my head.
"It could work." I said. "I'll tell her it's my gift to her, we'll have to be careful of where we go but I think we could manage it." I felt a little hope stir in my stomach. "Oh Variedy is going to love this." I said and Vincent smirked.
"Yeah that's one of the perks, it will please the warden." he said and I chuckled before crushing my lips to his. His hands on my hips lifted me into his lap, I made sure most of my weight was on my knees so I wouldn't hurt his legs. I ran my hands up his bare arms as he pulled away slightly and buried his face into my neck. I let myself relax against him as my fingers wondered through his long black hair.
"You could walk away from this." I whispered and I felt him go very still.
"I don't know if you've noticed but I'm not doing a lot of walking on my own." he said in a poor attempt at humor. It was my turn to bury my face in his neck.
"Please just listen to me Vincent." I said and when he said nothing I took that as a go on. "I don't want to drag you down with me. Like you said this is going to come down to me or him and he will take as many of you with us as he can and I can't stand the thought of him getting you." He pulled away from me until he had held my gaze, his red eyes searching mine.
"You are a fool Roxas. A fool to care so much about me, a fool to think that I would be safe even if I did leave. I owe you my life." he said, with just a flicker of emotion- but enough. "You have saved me not just once now but twice. Even if I wanted to leave, which I assure you I do not, I wouldn't for that fact alone."
"And how will getting killed pay me back for saving your life?" I asked.
"I am forever in your debt but that is not the reason I stay. I stay because I am as much of a fool as you are." he said and I felt my heart squeeze painfully in my chest. I opened my mouth by my words failed me.
That was as close to an 'I love you' that I would ever get.
Our lips crashed together in a heat so intense I felt I was on fire. Cloths couldn't come off fast enough in our search for skin. His hands were everywhere, his fingers finding all the right parts and spots until I was a gasping, withering mess in his lap. He pulled me further onto the bed, our mouths locked in battle.
Maybe my life was already forfeit, maybe I was headed down a path that would get everyone around me killed but at this point, I didn't care. Couldn't bring myself to care, not when I had everything I wanted right here. His hands, his mouth, his eyes, everything I needed was right here.
I was up bright and early the next morning. I needed to update Variedy on our new plan. I gently unwound myself from Vincent's naked body and slide out of bed. I pulled on a pair of sweats and headed for the kitchen. I found Demyx and Zexion at the table, a map spread out between them and two cups of coffee.
"We're going to Texas!" Demyx said with a bright smile as I moved toward the coffee pot.
"Sounds fun." I said with a small smile. "Vareidy and Phystie up yet?" I asked as I poured a cup for myself.
"Yeah, but Variedy left to do a supply run and set up some new secure phones for us all." Zexion said as he folded up the map neatly. I grunted and joined them at the table.
"There's been a change to mine and Vincent's plans." I said as I pulled my knees up into the chair with me. "We're going to get my mom to meet us somewhere out side of the city and do a vacation type thing with her. Put her mind at ease that I'm 'happy'."
"Sounds a lot safer then going back into St. Louis. Where are you thinking of going?" Demyx said. I shrugged.
"I was just thinking Jefferson City. It's not to far of a drive for her and it's on the river. I'm sure it'll have plenty to do." I said as I sipped at my coffee. Demyx nodded and Zexion pulled out a lap top.
"Let's see what they've got to offer." He said as he came around to my side of the table and put the laptop down so we could both see the screen. He pulled up several images of the city, it looked nice enough not to big but big enough.
"Looks good." I said. "Book two rooms at the nicest hotel they've got." I stood from the table and took my cup to the sink just as the back door opened to reveal Variedy with several bags. "Any more to bring in?" I asked as he dumped it all onto the table.
"No." he said as he looked around the room. "Is everyone ready to go?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.
"Not quite. We've had a change of plans." I said and he eyed me suspiciously "Still going, but we're gonna get my mom to meet us in Jefferson and do a vacation type thing. Put her mind at ease, that kind of thing." He looked me up and down for a moment.
"Sounds better." he said before he went to his bags and began pulling things out. I rolled my eyes and left the room. I headed back to mine and Vincent's room to find Vincent was up and packing.
"Glad one of us has started." I said as I pulled my bags out from under the bed and laid them out.
"I figure Vareidy will be rushing us out of here soon." He said as he neatly packed his weapon bag.
"Yeah. Zexion helped me book two rooms in Jefferson city. It's about two hours outside of St. Louis." I said as I pulled my cloths from the draws of the dresser and began to pack them into the bags.
"Good. Have you called your mother yet?" he asked. I shook my head.
"No, I want to get out of here first. I call her when were on our way." I said as I quickly got dressed in a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. I pulled on my leather jacket and shoved the rest into the bags. I pulled on my shoes and started to check the room for anything I was forgetting. Vincent tossed his two bags to the door before he hobbled his way around to me. I grabbed his arm as he passed and forced him to stop, I stared into his red eyes for a moment before I pressed my lips to his and then let him go. "Leave the bags, I'll get them." I said as he headed toward the door. He paused but said nothing before continuing out. I smiled and shook my head. His pride wasn't going to be able to take much more of my coddling. I grabbed our bags and headed for the kitchen where everyone was already sitting around, bags at their feet.
I dropped our bags by the back door and took a seat at the table next to Vincent.
"Alright." Variedy said. "I got us new phones." He slide each of us a phone. "Everyone's number is in each one under our names. Keep the damn thing private, do not let anyone use it or give the number to anyone." I opened my mouth to argue but Variedy cut me off. "Yes Roxas you can use yours to call your mother, I wouldn't give her the number though, that could be dangerous information." he said. I nodded and kept my mouth shut.
"Zexion and Demyx are going to Galveston down in Texas. Phystie and I are going to the Maryland area, where exactly I'm not sure. Roxas and Vincent are going to Jefferson City to meet up with Roxas Mom. One week from today, we all meet up in Oklahoma City. No excuses, no delays. One week." He said as he looked around at all of us. "We'll wait 24 hours for everyone to show. Anyone who doesn't we assume is dead."
"Where in Oklahoma city are we meeting?" Demyx asked.
"I'll let you all know closer to time." he said. "Phystie and I are headed out. I suggest you all do the same." He stood from the table and we all did the same. We grabbed bags and headed out the back door. I went over to the black SUV and tossed mine and Vincent's bags into the back before going over to were Vincent was talking to Variedy.
"Avoid St. Louis if you can." Vareidy was saying to Vincent. "I like this new plan but lets hope that his mom can make it to you."
"I don't see why she won't." I said as I joined them. "Unless Axel won't let her. And in that case, I go in guns blazing." Variedy glared at me as I smiled at him.
"Let's try to hold off on restarting the war till we're all back together." He said. He shook Vincent's hand and then mine.
"See you both in a week." he said before he joined Phystie by their mazda. I waved to Zexion and Demyx as we headed back to the SUV. I didn't offer to help Vincent get in, didn't want to start this road trip off on the wrong foot. He paused half way into the SUV and glanced back at the other two vehicles as they pulled out onto the road. He felt the smile that ghosted over his face, he'd see them all again but it still felt strange knowing it wouldn't be for a week.
"Roxas let's get this show on the road. We've got a 6 hour drive because we can't go through St. Louis." Vincent said form inside the car. I sighed and slid in and started the vehicle.
"Alright grumpy pants." I said as I pulled the SUV around and headed down the road. "Turn on the radio, I'm not gonna listen to your silence the whole way." The radio came to life a few seconds later as I turned onto the main road.
"This is how I show my love,
I made it in my mind because,
I blame it on my ADD babe.
This is how an Angel dies.
I blame it on my own sick pride.."
It was only a week. So much could go wrong in a week, but I was trusting Variedy and the others to keep themselves out of trouble. Demyx and Zexion I didn't really have to worry about, they would stay low profile, enjoy the sun and surf and then come back. Variedy though, he had more enemies then just Axel...
I let the thought trail off as Vincent gave me my first direction. I followed his instructions and got onto 70 that would turn into 20 and we could follow it through smaller city's till we got to Jefferson City.
"Everyone will be fine." Vincent said after a while. I glanced over at him to find him staring out the window.
"Yeah." I said as I turned my attention back to the road. "I'm more worried about us really."
"Yeah, me too." he said and a silence fell over us that was full of thoughts and 'what if's'. Neither of us wanted to voice them because neither of us wanted to have to be the one to say I told you so when this all went wrong.
And it would go wrong. This was my life we were talking about here. Something would go wrong.