Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Love:: Misunderstanding
By : hachi-miitsu
Category: Kingdom Hearts > AU - Alternate Universe
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Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Chapter Twelve : Son, You're Just Like Me
"Whoa."
"….."
"….whoa." Vincent said again. He flexed his fingers.
Axel flicked out his knife, fearing the worst as he nudged the splintered door open further. A hand came down and squeezed his shoulder. He bared his teeth in a snarl and shrugged off Cid's grip, even as the older man chided for caution. "Think. Slow down."
You left.
The door creaked with a dead groan. The ex-pilot's eyes widened.
You left, and you thought he was safe. You left because Xigbar was in a cage. You left—
"Remind me to never get on blondie's bad side." Vincent appraised the scene with eyebrows arched in elegant approval as he flipped his duster open and reached for his gun.
Cid gave his lover a quelling glare then stepped in behind Axel. "Rox? You here", he called. No answer. Axel swallowed.
—him alone. You left him alone and this is all your fault. If he's hurt, don't you dare look away.
A faint thumping sounded from the bedroom. Figures were strewn about like broken toys. Everywhere they looked, boys—who should've been home studying, eating, getting ready for bed—were stitched in battle scars, all in various states of consciousness. The thumping grew louder, now they could hear wheezes between each jarring blow.
Axel kicked the door open and strode in—
—to find Roxas crouched in front of a very bloody Xigbar, bouncing his head against the wall like a basketball, knife drawn and cradled loosely in his free hand. The boy didn't turn at their approach. Axel didn't hesitate to step closer and wrap him in the shelter of his arms.
"Enough." He forced Roxas's head to his chest and opened his legs to completely surround him. His efforts weren't met with a struggle, and perhaps this was the most disturbing of all. Roxas melted into him with a bored sigh.
Axel didn't ask what happened. It was painfully clear, his lessons had been taken to heart. He wasn't needed anymore. Axel's arms tightened. "It's enough."
"Holy shit."
A woman was screaming again. The redhead scooted them away from Xigbar. The scarred boy hacked, head lolling to the side as he cracked his good eye open. It was a task in itself, seeing as the swelling prevented him from seeing much. His lips were split and undoubtedly numb, but still they managed a raspy, "Flamer."
Then he collapsed.
Vincent tucked Quicksilver away and headed for the door. "Sorry guys, gotta split. I smell bacon."
Cid hooked the ravenette's elbow for a quick kiss before releasing him. "I'll meet you at home." The other man nodded.
With a whisper of crimson duster, Vincent was gone. The ex-pilot cocked his hip and turned back to the two teens that crouched in each other's arms on the floor. He scratched his chin then plucked out a cigarette and nudged it to the corner of his mouth with his tongue.
"I did what you said", Roxas murmured.
Axel titled the smaller boy's chin up to face him. The bruise on his face from his father was yellow but now two horizontal lines carved across his cheek from the corners of his mouth, around his ears. They'd gagged him. Axel traced one of the lines with his thumb, brows pinching together. "I know."
"I let them hurt me. I…"
"You did good Roxas. You did so good. It's enough now." He tucked the blonde's head into the hollow of his throat and started rocking.
"I…was stupid. But I won't get in trouble. Let them hit you, make it count, break them. I bro-ke—" His voice cracked as he coughed. Pale fingers came up to smooth golden sweaty bangs away from his hot cheeks.
"You protected yourself. There's nothing wrong with that", Axel growled.
"Put your hands where I can see them!"
"Get on the ground now! Now!"
It was like a movie, but this was real life. It was real because the police crowded in, guns poised; too little, too late.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
Roxas's head jerked back from the force of the blow. "Hm-mm-mh!" He willed his vision to clear, to not blur and tear up but his body was ever the traitor.
"Where is he? Huh?"
"Mmh!"
Xigbar clamped a hand over the smaller boy's cheeks and squeezed, using his momentum to toss Roxas back on the bed. They'd come. Through metal lock and wooden door they'd busted through. As cold as the night outside, as mean and cruel as…
"I'm being patient here but if you won't tell me, we have ways to make this a little more...interesting."
They'd come. And they weren't going to leave this time. It had been different on the street. It had been a distant, romantic nightmare on the street. But this was his home; his tattered sanctuary where his meager possessions rested alongside his sanity. Someplace familiar that would now be colored from the happenings of tonight forever—of those hands on his things, and on his bed, and in his clothes as they broke his illusion of safety into little pieces.
Luxord crawled over their pray, nibbling at the makeshift gag. He spidered fingers into Roxas's shirt before yanking. Roxas squirmed and grunted louder when his legs were forced down.
Xigbar settled against the wall with a smirk as he watched his men restrain and defile what was most precious to the bane of his existence. It hadn't been that hard to get in here. A pity really, how easy this was. Even if Axel wasn't here…there was still fun to be had. And it wouldn't be long now.
These fags were disgusting, the way they gravitated to one another. No matter, Xigbar thought as he smirked, all things would be remedied soon.
The peroxide-blonde slugged him in the stomach and Roxas sagged into his mattress, his muffled groan drowned by the creaking as Luxord straddled his stomach and made himself more comfortable.
"Remember", the leader sneered. "You brought this on yourself little boy."
Luxord squawked and went flying as Roxas summoned a last burst of strength and freed his legs for a precious moment. He kicked out with a teary snarl and flexed his bound hands, looping them over his legs.
He rocked up but Xaldin was faster. The beads in his dreads clicked while he swept in and wound a leather bind around the slender throat, licking his lips when Roxas choked, his body being drawn supine again. He kicked weakly at the sheets a final time and tried to blink away the dark cloud of spots fogging his vision. His chest heaved, lightheaded, body burning.
Fighting wasn't enough. He was too small. Too weak. Too alone.
Luxord resurfaced and placed his palm to the middle knot between Roxas's wrists, coaxing them above the blonde's head with something akin to gentleness. Blue eyes swam with grudging tears. The gambler's face twisted into a leer while he forced the blonde's thighs apart. As an afterthought, he snatched the gag off and drew back his hand with a hiss, suckling the blood that welled around the bite mark. His eyes glittered murderously. "We have a feisty one boss."
Roxas pushed himself back and arched his body to ease some of the pressure around his neck. He caught Siefer's gaze and implored for his help silently. They had a past…if he could just—
Siefer cocked his hip and frowned, casting a look about the ruined bedroom. The leader didn't notice him sidle up until he spoke. "You're not…serious about this are you?" His words came in a slow, methodical hum while he took up position against the wall with his arms crossed, like there wasn't a boy screaming and crying on a mattress feet away.
"About what?" Xigbar wasn't watching him. His eye was riveted hungrily on the scene unfolding.
Seifer gestured. "That. You're not really going to—It's gross. Roxas may be a loser but he's still a guy, you know?"
The sound of fabric ripping and a shallow grunt. Roxas thrashed with everything in him while Luxord yanked his belt off, folded it in half, and brought it down a few times on Roxas's naked stomach. The sharp cracks ripped at the air, drowned by the blonde's muffled whimpers.
"And if I am?" A cancerous smile spread over Xigbar's lips, head titling like he was appraising a fine piece of art.
"We've got stuff to do though. Hojo will get mad…"
Xigbar scoffed. "This won't take long." His single good eye flicked over to the other blonde, expression mocking. "I make the decisions here. Just sit back and watch."
Siefer sighed. "Guess it can't be helped then."
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"I was wrong. You have changed."
The words didn't sink in. Siefer moonwalked around the destruction with a slight frown and hummed quietly to himself. Roxas stared at the minor ruin in his apartment. He didn't have much, hence there wasn't much to break or scatter. But there were bodies; obscene parodies of decoration that draped his couch, sprawled across his floor, his bed.
Bodies.
Bodies everywhere.
Things didn't matter. What they'd broken in him wasn't something material after all.
Siefer swiped the dripping key from the smaller boy's hand and fiddled with the sticky thing. He chuckled after a moment. "It's like…a keyblade." His thumb traced the jagged teeth and rubbed them clean as he too surveyed the damage. Siefer slid the key down the length of the chain with a metallic zip then swung it around, the makeshift weapon whistling through the stale air that smelt of sweat, fear, and blood. "Yeah. That fits. A keyblade…how did you do that thing before?" His face scrunched as he tried to reenact it but the key snagged him on the cheek. "Tch…fuck."
Finally Roxas seemed to hear him because he blinked then jerked both shoulders in a shrug."Where's Hayner?", he mumbled.
"He's got kendo tryouts. Punk threatened me, so I had to come check on you in his place." The taller blonde mussed his bangs and let the key slow to a lazy pendulum. "I'm glad I did though." He gestured. "Cause, you know, boukens being shoved up my ass are no idle threat when Hayner's concerned."
Roxas looked away.
"Hey." Seifer hazarded a glance in Roxas's direction. "Hey…I was being serious, you know."
"About what." He didn't care, but talking was good. Talking meant noise, talking meant distraction.
"Your…mom, dude. I'm so sorry, she was good people. If I'd known…"
Roxas grit his teeth. "Shut up."
"You were always such a momma's boy. It must be tough, huh?"
"I said, shut up!"
"You shut up, twinkler." The words were sharp and automatic as they'd always been. Siefer hissed and shoved his fingers under his beanie, scratching lightly. "Look…" Roxas turned to him to find the older blonde with a tight grin on his face. "I'm not here to fight. I think there's been enough of that tonight."
Dark laughter crowded the space between them.
"Rox…if you need anything—" A hand reached up like it wanted to clap him on the shoulder. Roxas stepped out of reach.
"…I hate you. Both of you."
The hand lowered. "We know. But Hayner gets what Hayner wants or Hay-Hay's mommy will go all Lion King on me." He pressed his mouth into a thin line, voice softening. "And, despite what you may think, Hayner doesn't hate you..."
Roxas snorted then leaned his back against the cool, roughened plaster of the wall. The difference in temperature made his temples throb. Roxas shut his eyes. "That doesn't answer why you're here."
"Protecting my ass from big wooden sticks, remember?"
"This is all one big fucking joke to you." Roxas snapped his eyes open and rounded on him. "What the hell do you know, huh? You've got a mom, a dad, a little brother, and fuck it, even a little rat—"
"Chihuahua."
"Named Paco. And you're still an asshole. You've got so much and you take it for fucking granted so you can just keep your half-assed pity to yourself."
"Roxas, stop…"
"And what was with the stalling? If you came to check on me why'd you just sit there and fucking watch like some yokel when you could've…could've..." Roxas made a violent gesture.
"Did you just use Yokel in a sentence…?" Seifer snorted and shook his head. He grunted and tucked his hands in his pockets, shuffling a little ways away from Roxas's line of fire. "You're not that little Cinderalla boy anymore. I just helped, you rescued yourself."
Roxas deflated, swallowed. "Yeah..."
Seifer titled his head up and puffed out his cheeks. "You're not as weak as I remember. What the hell happened to you, loser? I never thought you could be capable of—"
"…why?" Why, did you think I'd never be able to protect myself? Why are you even trying? Why is this happening to me? Why… am I turning into my father?
Seifer didn't look at the smaller boy as he sighed through his nose and shifted his weight. Roxas was one he'd come to know over a short time, shorter scuffles, and their game of cat and mouse that seemed so long ago. His younger stepbrother liked the kid enough, and because water tasted better than blood, though it may not have been as thick, Siefer upheld his end of the relationship. Pick on his little bros, but protect them all the same. Just don't let the little punks know about it.
Roxas had never been able to accept that though. It was only for a few months, then he'd left without looking back. Still, the dynamic between the three blondes was more quality than quantity, even if the third member wasn't always as forthcoming. "I was boondoggled", he said.
"Come again?"
Siefer shrugged one shoulder. "You know… swindled. I wasn't kidding about that stupid bouken. And, hell, even I have standards." A shadow passed over his face. "It was fun for a bit, but I can't show my face on this side of town now. I hope you realize that. Threats of ass plundering aside, I can't come here again because if I do, mom, dad, Hay, and Paco will be in jeopardy. You can't ask that of me."
A muscle worked in Roxas's jaw. "Good. I won't."
Siefer's face scrunched with offense. "I did it for you."
"You did it for yourself."
"I didn't like Xig much anyways. Even scum should know when to play by the rules and when not to overstep them. He went too far."
This isn't a game anymore.
The words; the terrible, ugly, blissful luxury they banished made Roxas want to stomp his feet. They made him want to scream, to hop into his bath and scrub himself until all the bruises, the blood that mingled with his own was shaved from his skin.
But that just wasn't possible. Not anymore. Because after all this, he was the last one standing. And there wasn't a soul he was leaning on to do it.
I didn't ask for this.
"You should go." His tone was pleasantly vacant, steel lurking under flowers.
Siefer blinked, scowled. "I can wait till the police get here at least."
"You…should go. He's coming. He's coming and when he gets here…" Roxas turned and ran his fingertips over his grimy forehead before walking back to his bedroom, stepping around the unconscious gathering like they weren't even there.
The older boy watched him then swiveled slowly, stepping through the door where the lock had been broken. He'd done his part tonight. And he had many interesting things to tell Hayner when he got back.
Most important being, the meek did not inherit an ass-whooping tonight. Roxas wasn't the boy they'd known before.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
Hojo steepled his fingers and pressed them to his mouth as Kadaj's leg connected with Luxord's gut once again.
"So you were messing around with some little grudge from across town?" The man examined his fingernails with pursed lips. "When you were supposed to be meeting your quota." Another kick. Luxord groaned and clawed at the cement, face twisted. "Which you still haven't met by the way. I have serious back stock and very…unhappy clients. Unhappy clients mean no money. Now, tell me what's wrong with this picture?"
"We..." He coughed, blood meeting the smooth floor with an obscene splatter. "We're sorry."
"Who's running this gang?"
"X-Xigbar."
"Not anymore."
Xaldin, one of the many on his knees before the boss, stiffened as a shadow separated from the wall and stepped around him into the spotlight. "Boys, meet Marluxia."
The pink-haired male clasped his hands behind his back and stared down his nose at the scruffy gathering. Two others materialized to flank him. "This is what I have to work with?"
Hojo's chest quivered with an indulgent chuckle. "They're all yours. I expect results my boy."
Marluxia inclined his head then sighed through his nose when he raked another glare over the gang of ruffians. "I've got my work cut out for me don't I?"
"If anyone can do it, you can."
Luxord panted and straightened, clutching his stomach and baring his teeth at Kadaj. "What about…Xig. What about…"
"Oh, shut up", Marluxia sneered. "We've got it covered."
The peroxide-blonde's expression twisted with surprise. "But…the cops…"
"Precisely."
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"We'll be filing it as self-defense then."
The officer clicked his pen and sucked on his teeth as he flicked his eyes between the two ragged boys, then the older man. He glanced around the room—much emptier than it had been before—then landed on the place where he'd started.
"How did he get out?" The redhead jabbed an angry finger at Xigbar who groaned as he was hauled to his feet.
The officer arched a brow. "Bail, I suspect."
"This isn't the first time he's done this."
"So we've gathered." He thumbed back a couple of pages in his notepad, pursing his lips.
"Will he get out on bail again?"
"Perhaps."
"What will we do if he comes back?" It was Cid who spoke this time.
"If he comes back…?"
Axel grit his teeth, pulse throbbing in his throat. He wanted to throttle this guy. "Oh, you know. If he tries to hurt Roxas…again?"
The cop gave a lazy shrug. "I recommend having the locks changed. We're filing a report now. If another disturbance occurs then call us—"
"So you can show up late", Axel muttered under his breath.
"—and we'll draw up a restraining order."
"And arrest him again", Cid ventured.
The cop nodded.
"A piece of paper."
The cop nodded again.
"What good is—"
"Okayyyy, well. Thank you, gentlemen, but I think we can take the damn thing from here." Cid puffed on his cigarette and silenced Axel with a glare.
The cop blinked and muttered something into his radio before turning. He stopped and glanced over his shoulder at Cid. "Haven't I seen you before?"
Cid snorted. "Yeah. Highwind service station, broken windows, crushed twinkies. That was me."
The officer swept the trio with a look and raised an eyebrow. "You seem quite… used to this."
The ex-pilot smirked and cocked his hip. "You have no idea." He examined his nails. "Now, do what you do best and scram."
"Watch yourself sir."
He glanced back up long enough to narrow his eyes at the retreating uniform. "I'm the only one who can", Cid muttered under his breath.
The police trickled out of the residence, tactfully soothing the surrounding neighbors who peeked from their windows and milled outside in their bathrobes despite the nippy weather.
Roxas tilted his head to the side and wrapped his arms around himself. He was on his feet again and he wasn't the fragile boy that only a short while ago fell apart under the hands of his tormentors, his father, his mother. He wasn't the same boy who cowered, who feared being alone.
A chill that had nothing to do with the temperature stole over Axel as the blonde stiffened against him.
"You can go."
Twin emeralds blinked stupidly. "No way."
Roxas looked up at his new boss and sighed his thanks. He turned as the ex-pilot donned his jacket and regarded Axel with a weary expression. "I'd like to lay down now. You should go. Really."
Axel cut him a hard look. "A wise man once told me, 'just because you can, doesn't mean you should'. I hate to tell you this but I'm not leaving you."
Roxas snorted. "That's not the same tune you were singing earlier. Out of my way." He pushed past him.
Axel cast a pleading glance at Cid who only shrugged and lit his cigarette. "Don't look at me. The only thing I can offer is couch space and he's already declined."
"Then we've got to—"
"No Axel. Not 'we'. 'We' aren't fuckin' forcing him into anything. You can do what you want, and I seriously suggest you try to fix this. But again, don't fuckin' listen to Cid. What does Cid know?"
"Hey—"
"Now, I'm not gonna wait, so if you're coming now then come or I'm leaving you here."
The younger boy gaped. "I can't believe you."
Cid puffed as he zipped his jacket up and toed on his shoes. "Its probably as safe as it's going to be tonight. You can stay. Or you can go. But Roxas made his choice loud and clear." The blonde glanced around and a fond smile crinkled his eyes. "By the looks of things he doesn't just talk the talk."
Despite everything a sliver of pride tingled in Axel's chest. The older man rubbed a hand over his stubble and contemplated a moment. "He's a scrawny brat though. He couldn't have done this by himself." Blue bored into guilty green. "I'm glad you aren't the only one looking out for him at least."
"Maybe if you just grabbed his ankles, I'll get his wrists and we can—"
"Bye."
Axel pressed his lips into a thin line while he barricaded the door as best as he could. Tomorrow. Locks could be fixed tomorrow. Messes could be cleaned tomorrow. He turned and made his way down the hall to Roxas's room. The door was cracked open slightly, a dark column.
The redhead groped for a light switch then winced at the sudden illumination. The change didn't seem to register with Roxas. No surprise, no irritation rippled behind that careful expression. The boy was sitting on his bed with his legs crossed loosely and his fingers laced in his lap, back hunched. His eyes were trained, intent on the blank TV screen... he'd gotten a TV in Axel's absence. Wow.
Axel almost wanted to find it amusing. He was watching that blank screen now. What was he seeing?
Sighing, the taller boy strode across the room and crawled onto the bed behind his charge. Axel leaned over and clicked on the TV.
"I thought I told you to go."
"I thought you said you wanted to lay down."
"I do", Roxas whispered. "I do."
Axel made sure not to touch him as he pulled his legs up into an apex and reached around Roxas so the blonde could see his hands. Pale fingers plucked the air in invitation. "Then lay down."
A warm chest pressed against his back as Roxas heaved a satisfied sigh. "I'm sorry."
"Me too."
"You don't have to… be here." Roxas's wrist swiveled in a lazy gesture. "I…" He swallowed. "I guess I can do it now. You don't have to protect me anymore."
Axel snorted. "Kid, I don't have to do shit. I do it because I want to."
Roxas puffed out his cheeks and lolled his head back, closing his eyes. "I said awful things to you."
"I ran out on you like a goddamn coward." He pointed a finger in his conviction. "Like a supreme weenie with my tail tucked between my legs. That pretty much makes us even I think."
Roxas squeezed his thigh. "You're not a coward."
"So you're not denying the supreme weenie bit?"
"Nope."
Axel scoffed, his eyes twinkling. "Oh Rox, you wound me." His arms tightened, shifting Roxas around a little so he could speak into his hair. "Neither are you." Axel plucked the tan hand up and laced their fingers together. "A coward I mean." Gold spikes tickled his chin when Roxas nodded. Axel held their hands up to survey all the differences between them. The callouses on Axel's hands, the tender smoothness that was and always would be Roxas. The pale, the tan, the long, the short, their variances that beat with the same breath of life.
Axel pressed the tangle of digits to his lips and carefully kissed each and every one.
An insistent rap. Cursing. Cid.
"Jesus, what now."
He scooted back and swung his legs over the side of the bed. With a growl Axel hauled himself to his feet and shuffled down the hall. He cracked the door open then fumbled with the triple-tiered bento the elder shoved into his hands. Cid cleared his throat. "I know you brats haven't eaten yet. Be sure to get down somma this shit. Got me?"
"Yeah. Uh…thanks." But Cid was already clunking down the stairs again with his collar popped and his hands shoved into his pockets.
Axel brought the lunchbox up and sniffed. He smiled.
When he spread the lacquered boxes out and forced a pair of chopsticks into Roxas's fingers he realized it was a lost cause. "Please eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"You need to eat."
"I need you to go away. You seem to have no trouble disappearing when I want you here."
So much for making progress…
Axel exhaled through his nose. "Hey Roxas?"
When the blonde turned to him Axel shoved a lump of rice into his open mouth that had undoubtedly been working up a snippy comeback. Roxas choked and slumped all his weight on the arm Axel kept dragging his fingertips over gently. He laid his cheek on the pale limb and shivered a moment. "You're not going?"
"I'm not going."
Roxas sat back up a little and allowed Axel to feed him a bite, then took one for himself. Over and over they repeated this in silence with the TV droning some variety show in the background.
A tender ritual, a sacrifice, an offering; in this manner they took their sustenance then Axel gathered the bento and set it on the ground before propping on his side and plucking the air with his hands. Roxas crawled over and laid his back against Axel's front, burying his face into the fold of the redhead's elbow. He dozed off with Axel kneading his back and shoulders until he was poked awake and nudged into the bathroom.
Axel stripped and followed him into the scalding stream as he scrubbed the grime and blood and icky thoughts away. Then he dressed Roxas and carried him back into the bedroom, all in silence. When he tucked Roxas in and the blonde was sure he'd try to amble into the living room or something, Axel crawled into bed as well like they had been doing this their entire lives and would continue to do so.
"It's warm", Axel mumbled around a grin, his eyes closed. His voice was low and caressed Roxas's neck. The blonde shivered, pulling the blanket up to his chin and rolling to his side as he scooted over.
"It's hot. You're lying too close." It's cold. Come closer. You'll never get close enough because this skin separates us.
"Should I make it hotter?" I will brand myself into your body, I will cauterize your heart.
"….."
"Hm?"
"You're such a perv."
Axel chuckled. "Just don't fart in your sleep okay?" He snaked an arm around Roxas's waist and pulled their bodies flush, shoving his thigh between the blonde's knees.
Just like that, without saying another word or doing anything he fell asleep.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
Night terrors. The hands. His knuckles splitting as they hit another human.
The silent cries trapped his chest.
A skirt rippling. Running. Distant laughter that both soothed and made his chest tight with grief. The white. The white…
Roxas sat up with a gasp. Axel twitched then cracked his eyes open. "You alright?" His voice was gravelly from slumber but his arm tightened.
Roxas narrowed his eyes on the thin beam of light spilling through the single window. "Fine." He bunched his hands in the blankets and willed his body back under his control.
A pause, then, "Rox?"
"W-what?"
"Who helped you?"
"Helped? Oh…nobody."
Another pause. The arm loosening as Axel shifted. "That's fair."
"Axel?"
"Mm?"
"What did you mean when you asked how he got out? Did Xigbar get arrested?"
Axel hummed and his arms tensed again, urging Roxas to come lie in the harbor of his arms. The blonde complied readily. "Yeah, but he got to walk with money. It's always the money."
"Well it definitely wasn't good behavior."
The redhead snickered and littered kisses in Roxas's hair. "The same he wanted to show you, no doubt."
Roxas heightened his voice an octave. "Boy, golly gee, he sure showed me." He flexed his fingers and rolled his eyes, hauling the blanket over them as he turned to face Axel.
A muscle worked in Axel's jaw as he propped his chin against Roxas's scalp. Hot puffs ghosted against his neck and this was enough. He whispered, "Just don't get too attached. I don't know how long I'll be sticking around."
Roxas stiffened then looked up at him. Axel's eyes glittered. "Do you remember", he murmured.
Twin cobalt slitted. "The day we met."
"As friends."
He closed his eyes again and traced his nose along Axel's jaw. The older boy dipped his head, his lips dry and warm and soft as he murmured with a voice heavy from exhaustion, "Do you feel…whole?"
Roxas laughed suddenly, a raspy bark that had a sharp edge but hinted at maybe being okay.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
Roxas was jolted from sleep the next morning by a terrible screeching that ricocheted against the fuzzy caverns of his skull. His arm swung out of instinct and slapped the snooze button. The alarm clock.
Nothing was wrong.
It was morning.
Nothing was wrong….
His phone wailed and danced on the nightstand and numb fingers groped for it. "'lo?", he croaked.
"Get up blondie. School today."
"I know. Ugh…" He slammed his head into the pillow with a muffled groan. "I'm up."
"Go, go, go! Don't wanna be late for your first day back!"
"Yuff…if I hadn't asked for a wakeup call I'd be entertaining very murderous thoughts about you right now."
"You do that anyways but we still love your gloomy ass. Now get up!"
He leveled a mutinous glare at his cell then pressed the end button when she started screeching about guppies and bacon.
The blonde forced his breathing to slow as he blinked the last traces of grogginess out of his eyes. He was getting a little too used to this violent upsurge in his life, he realized with disgust. The twinges in his muscles felt more familiar than wrong.
Roxas grunted and tried to sit up. He couldn't. A pale arm was draped over his waist, holding him in place. The boy's head turned and before he could stop it, he grinned so wide that it cracked his chapped lips open. He winced at the sting but even that didn't take from the satisfaction of the sight he was allowed to feast on.
Axel, slightly disheveled, still snored lightly in the grips of his undisturbed slumber. His brows were drawn together in a sleepy pout and he murmured some nonsense before drawing Roxas against his body and nuzzling into a tan shoulder.
In a gush of courage, the smaller boy shifted so he was facing the redhead fully. He licked his lips and leaned over, nudged their mouths together.
A husky groan vibrated between them as Axel smiled into the kiss. Keeping his eyes closed, he reached up with one hand to cup Roxas's cheek and draw them closer, tender pecks tingling. "Good morning sleeping beauty", he rasped.
The blonde slapped his chest. "You were awake."
"I was." Axel released him to pull the entirety of his body into a long, sinuous stretch. "Sue me." His muscles jerked once, twice, then the redhead melted into the mattress with a lusty groan.
Roxas huffed, throwing the covers off and padding naked (he blushed but his steps didn't falter) towards the closet. When he slid the door back, he was surprised at the feeling of such strong nostalgia at the sight of his uniform, hanging innocently on its hanger. He was like any other kid his age, getting ready for school. Surely, it hadn't been that long since he'd been to class. A week, give or take a few days.
A week.
Seven days.
No, it must have been more.
As he plucked it out and draped it on the bed, Roxas couldn't help but feel like he was some imposter trying to keep up with an illusion of normalcy.
The blonde flicked his gaze over to the clock and bit his lip.
"Move it Red. If we're late, Principal Malificent will be picking her teeth with our tibias."
"And grinding the rest of our bones into her bread?"
Roxas scowled and chucked a roll of socks at the redhead who didn't bother dodging. His grin was breathtaking as he lazed back against Roxas's pillows with a lordly air and propped one knee up. Absolutely… shameless in his naked state, perfect and lean and rippling.
The blonde swallowed and glared down as he fumbled with his cuffs.
"Want another sick day? I'm sure the school would understand."
"No…" He frowned. Their return was overdue and though his absence had been excused, Axel was probably going to be in trouble.
School was something so small and insignificant now. In the face of…compared to everything he'd faced and been confronted by. He wasn't an adult yet, but he felt aged and spread out. Lynching, gang violence, mother's death, Axel…then school.
School was for real people, not the drifting phantom he'd become. School and all the reality it stood for was more like a distant, blissful dream to him—like watching a toy commercial as a little kid, thinking and believing with all your heart that those hunks of plastic are really magical. That you can fight, cast grand spells, dance your dance with cheap slippers and plastic swords.
But…then you grow up and your eyes are opened. Plastic is just plastic, no matter how bejeweled or brightly colored. Maybe that feeling would go away if he could get back in the swing of things…or maybe he knew better now.
Axel wiggled his eyebrows in Roxas's peripherals as he pulled on his pants.
"Come onnnn, Roxy."
"If you don't hurry, I'm leaving you behind." Roxas stepped into the bathroom to brush his teeth and tame his hair. The blond locks stuck out at odd angles as they always did but with a watered down brush, and a load of hair gel he was able to bring the beast to heel. Pausing a moment, Roxas regarded his reflection.
He'd lost a little weight and his cheekbones were sharper than they were before. Everything was sharper than before. He reached a hand up to poke at a love bite that showed stubbornly through the various bruises on his skin. More hickies were sprinkled all along his neck.
Twisting his lips, Roxas tugged open a drawer and pulled out a bottle of concealer and a tube of lipstick. He swallowed and glared at them, tapping his nails on the countertop.
She used to do this. His mom used to spend a long time in front of the mirror just like this so she could present herself to the world, so that they wouldn't know that her husband, his father beat her. His eyes hardened, snatching the lipstick and circling it over the worst of his bruises. Then he took the concealer up and dabbed it across some of his fingers.
Blend. Smooth. Perfect…
He turned his head from side to side and examined his handiwork. It really worked. The part of the trail he couldn't smear over the uniform masked. He wanted to be sick. Roxas shoved the makeup back in its drawer.
He leaned closer to the mirror again and touched his face. Some of the concealer stained his finger and thumb. He rubbed them in a circle. It disappeared. Roxas glared at his reflection. Without the evidence of his new life he…he held a…a sort of a…glow?
Roxas blushed. Total virgin-girl-mode activate. He exited the bathroom and clapped off the light while he shook his head.
"Come on Rox, quit primping and let's go."
Axel's voice came from the kitchen. After making sure he had all his stuff, Roxas trotted in that direction.
"Who's leaving who behind now", Axel's lips curved smugly as he shoved a slice of toast in Roxas's mouth. "Wheat, slightly toasted with a little butter on the left side right?"
"You've got to stop putting things in my mouth Axel."
"That's not what you said before." He swatted the blonde's ass playfully before shouldering his bag and holding the broken door open.
Roxas lingered and bit his lip as he cast a last glance at it.
"Roxas." Fingers sliding against his own on the cold rail. "Cid's already got someone on it. Your place will be okay."
"How do you know?"
"Because that's just who Cid is. He takes care of his own."
Roxas scuffed his toe and squeezed Axel's hand. "I just work at his store. I'm not one of his own."
"You are now."
The blonde couldn't stop the smile that tickled his lips.
They didn't let each other's hands go as they headed to school with a rare, untainted happiness. Roxas wished, just once that someone would bottle that shit for when it was needed the most. Like, happiness in a can.
Chocolate ready-whip shots were probably the closest anyone would ever get though.

^^ So he makes a violent transformation. Poor little conflicted Roxie~ I hate being sick. Bleh. Well, here you go! For all you lurkers out there, our favorite frenemy makes his debut next chapter xD Maybe! Thanks for reading :3
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Love:: Misunderstanding	By : hachi-miitsu Category: Kingdom Hearts > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 1821 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Love:: Misunderstanding