Author's Notes: Wow, it's been a while since - well - any update (lol)! So! This has been in the works pretty much since the end of the first chapter though (unlike my other chapter fics) each can stand on its own, even though it follows the same basic story. Sort of.

This is longer than the first and I'm hoping not too dry but - yes!

Warnings: Attempted sexual assault, lemon, character death

Pairing: Axel/Roxas with minor Hayner/Roxas

Disclaimer:I wish. Seriously though, gimmie? D:

Darkness

When Roxas was first brought into the world, he was considered dead.

It took several minutes of CPR to keep oxygen flowing to his brain and more than a dozen jolts from a infant defibrillator but the doctors got him breathing on his own again, tiny heart a flurry of flutters in his chest. Sent for a full check-up once he was stable it was three days later that the problem was found.

"I'm sorry…there's nothing we can do."

A malignant brain tumour in the boy's brain - operating at his age and with its location would do more damage that good and would result in permanent brain damage, or death. "It may grow as he does and could expand into other areas of the brain. Though it is possible that he can have a long, normal life, I'm afraid I have to make you aware of the possibility that he may not live to see two years of age. We can offer you medications to keep the headaches to a minimum and will do everything in our power to keep him as comfortable as possible."

Grief-stricken parents aren't allowed to take their child home until weeks later. A little over a year later the father leaves, declaring that they 'would have been better off having no children at all.'

Roxas did live to see two, then five, then eight. Just past his twelfth year the boy complained of blurry vision. A year and a half a year later, his vision had deteriorated to near-blindness.

"I'm sure that you are aware of this, but the tumour is growing," a doctor said when the mother and boy went in for the results of yet another CT scan. "It has reached into the reticular activation system of his brain, commonly used for sight, sound, taste and so on. Have you noticed any difficulties hearing with him, or anything else? No? Well, then it's just focused on his sight for now. I should warn you that this could expand into other parts of hi…"

And so, life went on for Roxas and his mother. The small, fragile-looking woman took on another job in order to support the pair of them and afford the medication for Roxas' headaches and, at nearly fifteen, Roxas went blind.

It was a year and several months afterwards, after years of watching Roxas playing quietly by himself in the parks and preferring to sit in his room and read rather than go and hang out with friends, that his mother spoke up.

"Maybe…we should get you a pet." Roxas, sitting on his bed and appearing to be staring off into space turned his head towards her, gaze unfocused. "To keep you company when I'm at work, hm? A cat - or maybe a dog. You've always wanted a dog, haven't you Roxas?"

"..I guess." The teenager had long since learned that anything he had been asking for, such as the black and red skateboard, that was refused and later offered by his mom, was to be followed by a disappointment of some kind. He wasn't mistaken.

There was the distinct sound of his mother brushing at the skirt of her dress - a nervous habit of hers. "It's just - I have a business trip coming up. I told them that I could stay a day, two at the most, but they need me for a week. Everything's paid for and I'll be getting extra over-time, and have some sick-days saved up from my other job-"

"It's fine, mom." Having judged her distance and stance from where he sat Roxas got up, walking over to her with a hand out a foot or so before him. Small, trembling fingers grasped his own firmly. "Really. I won't fall apart if you leave me alone for more than a few hours." Roxas could feel the tension slip away from her a bit at that and he put on his 'I'm okay' smile, a false mask that was growing harder and harder to slip into. "So - when are we getting the dog?"

-----

"Welcome to Count D's pet shop."

Before the Count stood a tired-looking woman and a child of no more than seventeen, the latter's head turned towards the chirping birds greeting their entrance, a pair of dark shades over his eyes. In one hand the woman held a cane, though she wasn't using it to walk with. Her other hand held the boy's, her palm up and his own placed within it. /I see./

The woman spoke up first, offering a tired smile in greeting. "Thank you. I was hoping to get a pet for Roxas here - a dog, maybe, a small one?"

"You said that I could choose it," the boy, Roxas, cut in, turning his head back in her direction. "I don't want to be seen walking some foofy-poofy-poodle."

Hiding his smirk behind delicately-painted fingers the Count hummed, musing. "If I may be so bold, your son is blind, is he not? Then are you looking for a seeing-eye dog?"

The surprise was evident on both of their faces and the woman cast a quick glance from the Count to her son. "I didn't think pet shops sold seeing-eye dogs."

"We sell pets of all kinds here at Count D's." Stepping forward the Chinese male presented his open palm to the woman who blinked at him in surprise. "If you don't mind, Madam, I shall take your son to see him. The dog will be able to better recognize its master if they initially meet alone."

The woman, obviously flustered, fretted for a moment before Roxas squeezed her palm. "It'll be fine, mom - I want this, okay?"

"I - oh, well.." With reluctance she transferred her son's hand into that of the Count's and brushed her palms along the skirt of her dress, taking a seat on the lounge couch at the Count's instruction. "Don't take too long, alright honey?"

Even with the shades on the count knew that Roxas was rolling his eyes at her worried tone and, with Roxas' hand firmly in his own, lead the boy through to the back of the store. After several moments of walking, D spoke.

"She worries about you."

The blond snorted, shrugging a shoulder. "She worries about everything. It's my condition." /What's that smell? It's like - flowers, and earth. I wouldn't know that there were pets here if it weren't for all the noise the ones in the front were making./ "She thinks I'll just fall over dead one day." He laughed at that, though it was bitter and without a trace of humour. "Sadly, that's possible."

The Count frowned a bit at that, turning to look at the shorter male. "Is it? What is your condition, if you don't mind my asking?"

Roxas was only mildly surprised to find that he didn't mind explaining his story - usually when people asked it was awkward, ending with him feeling their pity draped over his shoulders and a fountain of apologies for prying or for his situation. As he finished the Count didn't apologize or seem to pity him, though - instead the Chinese man murmured 'I see.' And for that, Roxas was thankful.

"Ah, here we are."

Roxas felt the Count come to a stop and paused as well, listening. /We've been walking for a while - how big -is- this place?/ The sound of a heavy door opening greeted his ears and soon enough he felt himself being tugged into a warm room, a slight breeze ruffling his hair and brushing against his skin. The Count slipped his hand out of the teen's own and for a moment Roxas stood there, ears straining to catch the sound of rustling or the clatter of nails against the ground. "Roxas."

Jumping a good foot into the air the blond jerked his head to his right shoulder, where the Count had come up behind him and spoke near his ear. "Jeez! Give me a stroke, why don't you?" Roxas scowled at the soft chuckle that greeted his ears, long fingers squeezing his shoulder gently.

"My apologies. I just wanted to tell you to offer a hand to the dog. It will let him know that he can approach you, as well as allow me to see how you two will get along."

The scowl pressed into a grimace at this, teenaged boy shifting a bit in place. "Offer a hand, huh?" He wasn't sure if it was the incense of the whole situation but Roxas didn't find it as foolish as he would have normally. Instead he raised a hand forward, crouching slightly to keep it low. "Uh…shake?"

It was unexpected, however, to feel a warm hand grasp his own.

"SHIT!" Jerking his hand away Roxas stumbled backwards, caught by the Count still standing behind him. "What - you - you asshole! You tricked me!" The urge to turn around and swing at the older male was strong but Roxas had no clue as to where he was or how to get out. The shop was a twisting maze of corridors and the blond didn't know if his mother would hear him calling for her.

There was another squeeze at the boy's shoulder, pacifying. "I've done nothing of the sort. This is the dog I have told you about-"

"Dog? DOG? There's no dog here, it's - it's a person!" /What's this guy on? This joke has gone way too far!/ Roxas could feel the anger bubbling within him, just under the surface, but it felt - distant. As if he were feeling through a wall. "Alright, you've pulled one over on me - can we please just go back now?"

Were he anywhere else, Roxas had thought later, rather than in that warm room with the darkness so thick he could feel it pressing against his skin, the blond felt that he wouldn't have done what he did. As it was the Count's voice spoke in soothing, gentle tones and the airy scent of the incense seemed to lull him into a pacifying state of mind.

"This is no joke, dear boy," the Count murmured near his ear, sending a shiver down Roxas' spine. "He is of mixed blood - a cross between an Red Irish Settler and an Australian Shepard. Both beautiful breeds who give their masters the utmost loyalty."

The Count moved to Roxas' side then and the blond could have sworn the man was two seconds from laughing, the voice light but without the teasing edge he was anticipating. "He will never abandon you, nor will he let any harm come your way. In him you would have not only a guardian…but a friend."

A guardian - and a friend…With the sweet smell of incense filling his nose and fogging his mind Roxas reached out into the unknown, only flinching slightly when a hand that wasn't the Count's took it in his own. The fingers were long and almost boney but held a quiet strength that put the blond at ease.

"I'll take him."

-----

I can't believe I took him, Roxas groaned mentally, feet kicking absently at the underside of the front passenger's seat of his mom's car. The visit to Count D's Petshop was a blur of sweet words and even sweeter-smelling incense but once he was outside and halfway home the reality of the situation hit him.

Stranger than the visit, and even stranger than his agreeing to the new arrangement, was his mother. When he'd come out from the back with the Count and the 'dog,' all his mother had done was sigh and say, "You just had to get the biggest one you could find, didn't you?" She didn't sound upset - just wary. She wasn't around as often as she liked and, though she'd never said anything to Roxas, he suspected that she didn't trust any pet bigger than a housecat around him.

But it' s a freaking dude! Shifting in his seat Roxas turned his head towards the driver's side of the car, more in reflex than anything. "Mom?"

He could hear her changing gears as they started to slow down - must be a red light. "Yes, sweetheart?"

Tapping his foot against the floor of the car Roxas shifted again. "Did - did you notice anything weird back at the shop?" It wasn't the question that he had wanted to ask but it was one that was stuck in his head. There was just something off about the whole thing.

"What do you mean, sweetie?" The car begun to move again and Roxas sighed, muttering a 'never mind' under his breath. Why was he the only one who seemed to think something was wrong? "Oh, that reminds me - did you think of a name for your dog?"

"Axel."

Roxas jumped at the male's voice from behind him, almost calling out in surprise. "Axel?" /Have I gone nuts? The tumor must be messing with my sanity, too - there's no way mom would have agreed to take a - a pet -dude- home./

It was an uncertain question but his mother took it as his answer, humming softly as she continued to drive them home.

-----

"Are you -sure- you'll be alright?"

Roxas was standing awkwardly at the front door with his mother, inwardly fuming. Not only was he going crazy - by his own admission - but his mother was leaving him for a whole freaking week. He knew that they needed the money and she felt guilty enough as it was leaving him to fend for himself but the blond couldn't help but be annoyed with her for agreeing to go. Not that he could tell her that.

"Of course I will be," he said with a one-shouldered shrug, hands shoved into the pockets of his cargo pants. "I've done it before - and now I have Axel here." /Who I'll be taking back to the pet shop when you leave,/ he added mentally, ignoring the waves of body heat rolling off the 'pet' to his right. He'd think of a story to tell her about Axel disappearance later.

"The freezer is stocked with frozen dinners," his mother went on as Roxas rolled his eyes. "As well as leftover roast in the fridge - if you want to order out there's a twenty for each day on the kitchen table - pizza and Chinese on speed dial four and five. Oh! And Axel's food is on the bottom shelf of the fridge - it's wrapped for each meal so grab just one-"

"Alright alright, I know Ma!" Then again, he'd enjoy the peace and quiet while he had it. "Your boss is waiting, right? Don't make them miss the flight." Roxas could hear her fretting and reached out, hand brushing against her arm before he moved forward to pull her into a snug hug. "I love you."

"I-I love you too, sweetie." Before he could process the horror of hearing his mother's quivering voice Roxas felt soft lips press against his cheek, a disturbance of air followed by the sound of shoes against the stairs signaling his mother's retreat.

Standing at the open door Roxas waited until he heard a car door open and slam close before raising his hand in a half-wave, stepping back into the house and locking up behind himself with a low sigh. /I miss her already./

"Aw, cheer up, kid."

"Jeez!" He didn't jump as high as he had in the car but the annoyance that followed was sharp, the blond scowling in the direction the voice had come from. "You. I don't know what you're deal is, but-"

A hot hand brushed against one of his own and Roxas jerked, drawing his hand quickly to his chest. "What are you doing?!"

The unseen stranger chuckled, a low rumbling sound that set Roxas's nerves on edge. "Guiding you, what else? You want to go to your room or have a bath?"

"Uh…" It was only his second time hearing the other's voice since they brought him home but Roxas found himself unnerved as well as oddly comforted - the night before he had quickly claimed to be tired from the day, asking his mother to get the 'dog' settled in before moving as quickly as he could to his upstairs bedroom and locking himself in.

Shaking his head slightly Roxas swatted the offered palm away, huffing as he started in the other direction. "I don't need your help, Axel - what kind of name is that, anyway?" Grabbing his cane from against the wall with a scowl Roxas turned to where he knew the stairs to be, holding the solid wood half an inch above the ground as he walked. "Never mind. I'm going to grab some socks and change - and then we're going for a little walk."

Roxas could hear the soft thud of Axel's feet against the ground, blond clenching his jaw and considering smacking at the wall of heat walking beside him. "Were we going to the park? Your mom was telling me about-"

Both sets of feet paused when the unmistakable sound of the phone ringing cut through the air, Roxas cursing as he changed direction to the living room. The blond had taken no more than three steps when those damn hands were reaching for his free one, this time pressing something solid and cool and vibrating into his palm. "Here."

Holding the phone Roxas muttered something that could have been 'thanks' before running his thumb over the phone's buttons, finding the largest raised one to press before bringing it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Hey, Roxas!"

Cringing at the loud voice Roxas reached out with his other hand, hooking his cane onto the stair's banister. "Hi Hayner."

"Dude, did you have any plans today?" Roxas could hear the other bustling about and assumed the other blond was rummaging around in his room. "I totally forgot about Mr. Nelson's paper!"

"Hayner, that paper was due three days ago." Roxas replied dryly, crossing his free arm underneath his chest. A slight sound nearby alerted him to Axel's moving about, possibly settling down on the lower steps.

"I had blitz practice, remember? He gave the players an extension until Monday morning first thing but I haven't even started!" The boy sounded close to pleading and Roxas felt the urge to smack his head against something hard, deciding against it when he considered the migraine that would come from the action. "So can you help me? Please? Pleasepleasepleaseplease-"

"ALRIGHT! God, you're worse than a toddler on crack," Roxas groaned. He knew that Hayner wouldn't rest until he had his agreement. "How long wil-"

"I'm heading out the door right now! Thanksyou'rethebestlater!"

When the line went dead Roxas heaved a sigh, slouching against the stair railing. And I thought today was going to be peaceful.

"Something come up?"

Jerking in surprise at the voice Roxas turned to scowl in the direction it came from, expression faltering slightly when long, warm fingers moved to take the phone from him. "Looks like that walk will have to wait. I have a friend coming to do some schoolwork." Taking up his cane Roxas moved back to the front door, knowing it would take Hayner less than a few minutes to travel the two blocks to his house. "I want you to stay out of sight, you hear me? My mom may have been fine with letting a freak like you into the house but I don't need you giving Hayner a heart-attack."

"Hey hey, is that any way to talk to the newest member of the family?" Roxas ignored the comment, tapping a foot as he stood by the door in his cotton pajamas. It wasn't like He had gotten rid of any embarrassing kiddy ones years ago, thank goodness, so he wasn't worried about answering the door with a Superman 'S' stretched across his chest. "Bah, fine. He'd better not cause any trouble, though."

Snorting at the comment Roxas listened as the other padded away, towards the kitchen from what he could gather from the soft steps. /Pet shop is defiantly first on the list today,/ Roxas thought, reaching out to gauge how close the doorframe was before leaning against it. /Well, after this. It'd better not take all morning./

Minutes later Roxas was able to hear the faint out of wheels against the sidewalk, straightening from his lean. When the sound grew loud enough he unlocked and opened the door, a slight smile on his face. "Hey, Hayner."

He could just imagine the blond standing there, yellow and blue skateboard in one arm while the other was raised in a fist, about to knock. "Dude! How do you even DO that?" Chuckling Roxas stepped aside, feeling the teen enter and locking up behind him. "Going blind give you super powers or something?"

"Yeah, though I don't need them to see that there's not an intelligent thought in your head." Roxas laughed and wasn't surprised when he was caught in a noogie, swatting the other away with his free hand. "Alright, let's get this over with. Unlike SOME people, I like to spend my weekend not cooped up doing homework."

"But only dorks and nerds finish their work on Fridays!" Gauging the distance Roxas darted his cane out to the side and let his lips curl into a satisfied smirk at the resulting sound of stumbling. "Super powers, I'm telling you!"

"You MIGHT not want to diss the person about to save your ass," the blond said by way of warning, finding the steps easily enough and making the way up to his room. Once inside Roxas set the cane aside, knowing where everything was from memory and moving easily to his computer. "So are you just looking for ideas or do you plan on copying me? Because I'll say it now; no. There's no way I'm going get in trouble because you're too lazy to manage your time."

Listening as the computer called the names of each file he scanned over Roxas missed Hayner's approach, noticing only when the other spoke up. "Actually, I don't need help with the report."

Pausing mid-type at the words both of Roxas's brow drew together, lips turning down in a frown. "Uh, what?" He knew that he hadn't misheard Hayner - he just wasn't sure what the other meant. "Why did you ask, then? I know I didn't-"

There was a sudden feeling of disorientation and swift shifting of air and Roxas could feel Hayner hovering over him, the other teen's hands clenched around the sitting blond's spun-around chair. The air seemed to suddenly get very, very dry and Roxas swallowed, trying (but /really/ hoping he's wrong) to figure out what the other was up to. "Hayner-"

"Just shut up a minute." Doing just that Roxas tugged one of his captive wrists, a sinking feeling growing in his gut. /No. No no no, he's just pulling my leg, trying to make me squirm, that's-/

"Mnnf!" Gasping in shock as chapped lips pressed hard against his own Roxas pressed himself back into his chair, realizing too late that Hayner had positioned himself between his knees and would be nearly impossible to kick. The hands holding his own in place were vice-like and beginning to hurt and Roxas jerked, turning his head away. "Hayner, what the fuck?!"

"Don't tell me you still don't get it," the other blond growled and Roxas winced as calloused fingers flexed around his wrists. "I like you, okay? I have for a long time, before any of this happened." Roxas knew that by 'any of this' Hayner meant with his vision and scrambled back in his mind, trying to see where the clues had been. Sure, the shoved and wrestled and slept over at each other's houses but that was normal, right?

Breathing coming out in shallow hitches Roxas gritted his teeth. "You didn't have to tell me like this, fucker. And what makes you think I even swing that way?"

Roxas could feel Hayner leaning in again and quickly turned his head the other way, though that only left his throat exposed for the other blond to lick. "I saw the way you tried not to look in the locker room," Hayner said over the disgruntled sound his friend made and he felt the other stiffen under his grip, a victorious grin spreading across his lips. "It was obvious, for anyone who cared enough to watch you."

/You've been watching me?/ A hiss was pulled from the prone teen's lips as Hayner took that moment to bite down, Roxas trying to jerk away but having nowhere to go trapped as he was. "Hayner, get -off- damnit!"

"No." Roxas clamped his lips firmly together as he felt the other's own trailing along his jaw, moving in for another forceful kiss.

"I suggest you back the -fuck- off, Blondie."

Both teen froze, Roxas's eyes popping open in reflexive surprise more than anything at the voice. Hayner's grip was slowly loosening until the other backed off entirely and Roxas was able to move again, right hand moving to grip his left wrist to rub.

"Uh - h-hey. Nice doggie." Roxas could hear the nervous tension in Hayner's voice but really couldn't find himself to care. "I didn't know you got a dog, Rox."

"You didn't ask," the blond snipped in return. It was then that he noticed the vibrating under his bare feet and seeming to hum through the air, making the tension even thicker. "You should go."

"Uh - yeah. I'll um-" The nervous blond shifted, eyes warily on the pissed creature staring him down from the doorway. It didn't look inclined to move and there was just enough space to squeeze by if he decided to risk brushing up against it. "You mind, uh, getting it from blocking the door?"

Roxas considered. Yes, he was pissed at Hayner but he was sure that if he said the word the other teen would be walking with a limp for some time. Did he really want to do that to him?

"Axel."

At the soft call the vibrating stopped, the sound of shifting following. "Ya'know, I -should- teach this punk not to fuck around with you. It's not like he needs both his legs, right?" despite the situation Roxas felt himself smile slightly, shaking his head and holding a hand out.

"Come on, Axel. Let him go."

There was a long-suffering sigh and sound of footsteps moving towards him followed by more shuffling - Hayner moving towards the door. "So I guess I'll see you Monday - later Rox." The shuffling soon turned to running and Roxas listened as his former friend booked it downstairs, front door slamming closed signaling his exit.

"I still say you should have let me mess him up." A warm hand slid into his own and Roxas didn't pull away, taking comfort in the warmth. "Last I checked friends didn't force themselves on each other by way of greeting."

"He didn't mean it, Axel," Roxas said with a sigh, using his free hand to rub at the bridge of his nose. He didn't know how far Hayner was willing to push things but for the moment the blond was glad that he had the other there in the house with him. If he wasn't… "He's stressed from Blitz and probably took things farther than he would have, I'm sure of it."

"If you say so." Axel didn't sound convinced but Roxas wouldn't let that bother him. Roxas really didn't want there to be any bad blood between he and Hayner but maybe keeping Axel around wasn't such a bad idea after all.

~.~.~.~.~.~

"Why don't we go boarding?"

"Huh?" It was a couple of days after the 'Hayner Incident' and Roxas was starting to get used to having Axel around. The male was attentive to what he needed and had a sharp wit that Roxas didn't expect from some guy who was bought from a shop and found amusement in the oddest things.

They were in his room, Roxas listening to a CD of his after finishing up his home work and Axel poking around at his things. Apparently the newest addition had come across the dust-coated skateboard that hung on the wall above his desk. "Why don't we go skate? Well, you skate while I tag along. You like it, right?"

Roxas couldn't help but snort, laying on his mattress with his hands behind his head and legs hanging off the side. "Well, I did when I could but I can't. Even when I could see Mom nearly had a stroke whenever I went to ride it; there's no way I could go now."

There was a dip to the left of him on the bed and Roxas turned his head towards the other, starting when a hand wrapped around his elbow and tugged. "No way before you got -me-, that is," Axel said with confidence, pulling Roxas onto his feet. "But your days of wishing and wanting are over! Come on, get your gear and let's go!"

"W-wait!" Pulled onto his feet Roxas stumbled as he was nearly dragged across his room, an arm flailing. "No, Axel! I'll take you for a walk or whatever if you want but we're not going boarding! Are you even listening?! Axel, STOP!"

~.~.~.~.~.~

Minutes later Roxas stood awkwardly in the public park, helmet mashed onto his head and skateboard under his right foot. /I cant' believe I'm here./

The male beside Roxas was a bundle of energy, seeming to vibrate in place at the blonds' right side. Roxas could hear kids shouting and a woman calling to her son as well as birds and at least a few dogs some distance off. "Axel," the teen said around a long-suffering sigh, head tilted down. "This is a bad idea. Take me home."

"No way Roxy-"

"Don't call me that."

"-I'm going to get you to ride again and you're going to enjoy it!" Axel sounded quite confident about it and Roxas let out another pained-sounding breath. It was a bad, terrible, horrible idea that would most likely end up with him on his ass or rolling into a truck but maybe if he fell a few times he could discourage Axel enough to let the whole thing drop.

"Alright, fine." Reaching out Roxas felt warm hands immediately grasp his own and the blond took another steadying breath. "So how are we going to do this?"

Axel seemed to take a moment to consider before speaking up again, tone light. "Well, I'll hold on to you for a while so you can get used to balancing again and whatnot - after a while I'll let you go on your own."

"…Let me go - on my own." Roxas knew he heard right but just needed to hear them again, saying a silent prayer in his head before nodding. "Kay - let's go."

And so they did. Axel started by pulling the other along with him in a walk, Roxas wobbling uncertainly and the slightest bump and dip in the walkway. Eventually he was able to ignore the imperfections in the concrete and found his center of balance, encouraging Axel to go into a light jog.

"There's a slow left turn coming up," the guide warned as he lead Roxas on, hand firmly within the teen's. "Start turning - now!"

Roxas wasn't sure how long they spent doing laps in the park, Axel pointing out curbs and turns and inclines. Feeling the wind against his face, the sun at his back - if was all achingly familiar and Roxas wanted nothing more than to be able to go to the skate park and practice tricks as he had done with Hayner and the others what seemed like ages ago, when things were, while not normal, but good. So distracted in thought Roxas didn't notice as the grip of the palm in hand got looser, fingers moving to rest between his shoulder blades for a while before letting go completely.

"Roxas! Right corner - now!"

The blond turned on instinct, applying the right amount of angle to make the bend though stopping the turn before he could overcompensate and run into the grass. It was only after hearing a triumphant 'whoot!' just behind him that Roxas realized he was skating again, on his own as he hadn't done in ages.

"I'm - I'm really doing it!" Roxas couldn't help the slow but broad smile that begun to tug at his lips, laughing and thrusting a fist in the air. "I'm boarding!"

"Left-right curve coming up!"

They were in the park until the air had cooled considerably and both were hungry and tired but happy, Roxas insisting on riding his board home (though at walking speed) and Axel easily complying and directing the way.

Once home Axel took charge, marching the blond upstairs and getting the bath going before heading down to the kitchen to prepare food for the pair of them. Roxas took his time soaking, mind wandering over the day. It had been quite a bit more eventful than his days go, from his mother leaving to that confrontation with Hayner. And the park - that felt like a dream in itself. Making his way down after changing into a pair of soft cotton pajamas Roxas's bare feet shuffled quietly over the hardwood, following the sound of running water. It was cut off abruptly as he made his way to the doorway, what smelled like something fried with tomato sauce.

"Hey." Turning his head towards the sound Roxas wasn't surprised when warm fingers brushed against his own, gripping the hand. "We were out later than I meant us to be so this is more like a late lunch/dinner. Hope you like refried spaghetti."

"Hmm…" Allowing himself to be lead Roxas was pushed gently down into a chair and released, hearing the other's footsteps against the ground followed shortly by the scraping of a chair against tile. Reaching out lightly he soon enough found the fork and the blond set about eating, stabbing and twirling the fork to bring to his lips.

"So I don't know if you had wanted to go anywhere in particular," Axel was saying, seeming content to just fill the air with his voice. "But it's kinda late now. We can try again tomorrow."

Swallowing the bite he had been chewing Roxas shook his head. "No, that's alright," he murmured, working on another forkful. "I changed my mind." Axel had proven himself to be more than useful and to be truthful - well, Roxas was lonely. He thought that having a pet around would at least give him something else to focus on but having someone he could talk to - that would talk back - it put him at ease.

"Alright." And the pair were quiet as they ate, the sound of chewing and metal scraping glass filling the air.

~.~.~.~.~.~

The week went by in a blur. Axel had taken it upon himself to walk Roxas to school while the blond took his board, taking the board to hang onto until the blond was let out at 3pm. Hayner had avoided Roxas for the first two days but eventually had Olette drag the punk-styled blond over to let him know there were no bad feelings. Neither one of them said anything to the other two members of their group and after some prodding Pence and Olette figured that it was best to leave between them and let it drop.

Axel got into the habit of sleeping outside of Roxas's room. His first night there Roxas had been pattering around as usual and was reaching for his brush that had been shifted out of its usual place and nearly screamed when a hand had put it into his own. The other male was banned from entering Roxas's room due to it and though the blond tried to get him to stay in the guest bedroom Axel insisted on being as close as possible in case he was needed.

"Well I have to say, I'm glad that we got him for you, Roxas," the teen's mother was saying as she bustled about his room, putting laundry away. "You seem so much happier than before."

Roxas was sitting at his computer desk though with the back of the chair against the desk, one leg tucked underneath him as the other swung absently. "I wasn't unhappy before," he grumbled, clad in a simple white tank top and green shorts. Spring was just around the corner but they had been getting unseasonably warm weather.

The short woman sighed, closing a drawer. "Maybe not, but you're more energetic than you had been. I have to say that I was worried about this whole 'dog' thing but Axel's been doing good by you."

Roxas could knew that the other male would be hovering in the doorway, awaiting his call should he feel he needed him. It was true - Roxas /did/ feel more up for going out and doing things rather than moping about. A great deal of that was due to getting his ability to skate board back while another was most likely due to the sometimes annoying presence that stayed by his side.

"I guess," the blond said simply, missing his mother's smile.

After dinner and a bath Roxas made his way from the bathroom to his room, fingers brushing against the wall as he progressed. Feeling the change from the wall to a doorframe he turned to go inside. "Night, Roxas."

The quiet voice made the blond pause, hand still pressed against the cool doorframe. After a bit of debating Roxas turned his head in the direction the voice had come from, chewing at his lower lip. "Axel?"

There was a pause and the sound of shifting; Axel had apparently gotten himself settled down for the night. "Yeah?"

"You - you can come in. If you want." Roxas moved away without waiting for an answer, not shutting the door tight as he usually did. It wasn't long before he heard the sound of quiet footsteps and his room door catching on the latch. "There's a roll out bed under my own and there should be extra blankets on the shelf in the closet," the blond said as he made his way over to said bed, flopping down onto the mattress. "Make yourself at home 'cause I'm not doing it for you."

A quiet laugh - more like a huff of a chuckle, really - met Roxas's ears and he heard the quiet steps moving closer. "Don't worry about me, Rox. I can take care of myself."

"I didn't say you couldn't," the blonde grumbled before deciding that he was too tired to get annoyed with the other. Wiggling to pull his blankets from underneath him Roxas was soon settled down, cheek pressed against his cool pillow. The room was quiet for a long moment and Roxas sighed, unseeing eyes pointed straight-up. "Axel?"

"Yeah?"

The voice was a lot closer than he was expecting though lower than he himself, which made the blonde frown. "Are you…laying on the floor?"

"Yeah."

Silence. "Freak," the teen huffed, closing his eyes against the huffing laugh coming from near the foot of his bed. "Night."

"Good night, Roxas."

"Roxas, sweetie, are you alright?" Cool fingers, smaller and weather worn, brushed against the teen's cheek to cup gently. "You're grimacing again. Should we go to the hospital?"

Roxas mentally kicked himself for not realizing that his mother had been watching him; she was always watching him and it wouldn't do to worry her. The headaches that he was prone were getting worse even with the painkillers to the point where he would excuse himself to hide away in the bathroom, curled up on the floor with both hands on his head and the taps running full blast to cover his whimpers. They would ease enough after a while for him to be able to function but the steady throbbing at the base of his skull was slowly becoming a habit.

Though his mother hadn't said anything Roxas knew that the bills they had were atrocious. Even with the child support coming in from his father (a man who he spoke to on the phone on occasion but otherwise refused to see after finding out why he left in the first place) and the long hours that his mother worked the house was still being paid off as well as the last few trips to the hospital, not to mention his current prescriptions and other bills. There was nothing that could be done about the tumor he was born with so he felt the least he could do was bare with the pain and keep from adding another bill to their already long list.

"I'm fine, Mom," Roxas lied, allowing himself to make more of a face. "I just remembered that Mr. Wilkens is going to give a lecture on why we should practice safe sex to avoid teen pregnancy tomorrow before lunch. Ugh. Couldn't it wait till after?"

Relaxing a touch when his mother laughed lightly she patted his cheek and Roxas could imagine her sad blue eyes wrinkling at the corners as she smile fondly at him. "Well you be sure to take notes, mister - I'd love grandbabies but there's a right way an-"

"Mooooooom!"

"-d a wrong way to go about it," she continued, laughing louder as Roxas made a disgusted sound and stalked out of the room. Turning back to folding laundry she was unaware of the fact that Roxas had locked himself in his room not to get away from talks of sex and babies but to crawl into bed, pulling the blankets and pillow over his head and willing the pounding headache to go away.

"Hey Axel?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you - well, I can't have you sleeping on the floor right next to a perfectly good bed."

A huffed laugh. "I'm fine, Roxas."

"Well you might be but I feel weird. If you're afraid of the spare getting in my way or something you could always sleep up here."

There was a long pause at that, followed by a quiet question. "Did you want me to sleep with you?"

"In my bed," the blond corrected quickly, feeling his cheeks burn at the innocent words. "If you want. I just don't want you to get all bent out of shape sleeping like that."

There was another pause, shorter than the first one and then the rustle of movement, bed dipping as Axel moved to settle on the far side of the mattress against the wall. A wall of heat seemed to settle at Roxas's side and a flutter of nervousness curled in the pit of his stomach even as his relished the not-quite contact. "Thank you."

"Whatever," the blond said in an unaffected tone before settling in, drifting off more easily than he had in the last month.

Blinding pain.

Or he thought it would have been had the tumor not taken his sight already, unaware of the low groan of pain pulled from his lips. The headaches were getting worse faster now, enough to wake him from a deep sleep and into the harsh reality of consciousness.

"Here."

Only half-aware of the words spoken Roxas felt warm hands gripping him, sitting him up in bed before cool glass was shoved into his hand. Realizing what was happening he held the water in one hand while the other took the pills, popping both into his mouth without ceremony and downing more than half off the glass in three swallows. It was gone before he could try to find his nightstand to set it on and his world jolted slightly before the ever present warmth in his life wrapped around him, solid and comforting and real.

Uncaring of how he wasn't supposed to care Roxas took all the comfort that Axel had to give, burying his face against the taller male's chest to muffle his sobs. Neither knew how long they sat, one shuddering in pain and the other wishing to do more but eventually exhaustion won out, blond sagging against his friend with his face pressed against damp cloth.

"Are you sure that you'll be alright, Roxas? You've been looking so tired."

His mother was leaving for another trip, this one being over the weekend and she had tried to get Roxas to stay over at a friend's house. "I don't want to be a bother," he had argued with her when she started to call up Hayner's place. "Not to mention he's terrified of Axel and I won't just leave him here by himself. I'll be fine, Mom - you've left me alone a dozen times, once more isn't going to make a difference."

It had taken a lot of fussing, fighting and reassuring but Roxas had won in the end as he usually did when it came to his mother. He could feel the makings of a killer headache in the near future and was trying to hustle her out the door so he could retreat into his bedroom.

The sigh that followed wasn't uncommon and Roxas heard the door open as well as the jangle of keys. "There's leftovers-"

"On the middle shelf, Axel's food on the bottom and money on the counter if I want to eat out I know, Mom!" Reaching out his hands found her side and he moved it to her shoulder blades, giving a gentle push. "Go on already, you've wasted enough time arguing with me."

"Alright, alright." Small arms gripped him in a tight hug and lips pressed lightly against his cheek and the woman was gone, heeled steps trailing off. He stood at the door for as long as he was able to wave her off then quickly closed it, the click of the lock sounding as loud as a gunshot to his head.

"Oh, god." Sinking to the ground with his back pressed to the door Roxas brought both hands up to his head tucked between his knees, feet planted firmly on the polished wood of the mudroom. He felt as if his skull was going to split open and wasn't aware of the other presence until warm hands gripped him behind his elbows, pulling the blond to his feet. "Axel, I can't-"

"Shut up."

The sharp command shocked Roxas into silence and he only whined when his world was tilted, a slight huff of breath being all the complaint from the lanky male as he carried him.

Willing the pain to go away the blonde curled into the warmth, fingers clutching onto the front of shirt the other wore.

It wasn't long before Roxas felt himself being lowered, back pressing against the familiar softness of his mattress. His finger didn't loosen when Axel moved to pull away though and soon there was an accompanying dip in the mattress beside him, a arm moving around Roxas' side. "You're dying."

The words were quietly spoken but as loud as thunder in his mind and Roxas curled in on himself - or rather tried. With Axel right before him all he ended up doing was curling closer to the other male. "Yes." The blonde's voice was even lower than Axel's and held too many emotions to describe. The most prominent one was fear.

The arm around Roxas tightened convulsively and Axel whined, face pressing on top of blonde spikes. "Is there anything I can do?"

Roxas shook his head lightly, groaning at the lightening bolt of pain that shot through his skull at the motion. "No." He's quiet for a long moment, silence broken but a deep, shuddering breath. "I - I don't want to die." Roxas had always known in the back of his mind that he wasn't meant to live but that made every breathing moment precious, every slice of pain telling him that he was alive. "I want to live. I want to live and see and love a-and d-do things that I-I-"

As the first few tears slid down Roxas's cheeks Axel moved his head, the arm resting around the boy moving to have long fingers grasp his chin. "Let me do that for you." The tone of the male's voice was deep, desperate but confident. "Sight, life, love - everything. Let me show you."

Breath coming in uneven hitches Roxas blinked as he tried to will his tears away; crying with Axel on his bed wasn't how he had though he'd go down. The low spoken words seemed to cause the dam to break and Roxas sobbed, nodding as he gave up and closed unseeing eyes. "Yes…"

The gentle press of lips against his own wasn't unexpected or unwelcome and Roxas returned it with a firmer one of his own, arms moving up to wrap behind Axel's neck. Though his head continued to pound Roxas found the kiss seemed to sooth it as well as make his heart beat just a bit faster in his chest, pain becoming a steady pulse that he could somewhat ignore.

A long fingered hand was cupping his cheek, thumb brushing away tears from the corner of his eye before stroking downward, kiss slowly deepening with such soul-searing emotion that Roxas moaned, the soft sound muffled between their exploring tongues and lips.

Roxas didn't noticed when his own arms begun to move but they did, fingers clutching at the other's back before sliding to find entry around the shirt Axel wore, a whispered "Wait…" leaving his lips when Axel pulled away.

"Just helping." There was a rustle of clothing and then Roxas's fingers met with bare skin, head tilted up to meet Axel's lips in another kiss as his own fingers moved across a solid chest and around to Axel's sides to his back. He could feel Axel shifting to press his back fully against the mattress and Roxas complied, a low gasp of need passing between their lips as slender fingers found their way underneath his shirt.

"Can you feel it?" Breaking the kiss to brush his lips along the blonde's jaw and neck Axel worked on pulling the shirt off, breaking contact to pull it over the smaller male's head as Roxas arched in compliance. "My love." Hand skimming along lightly tanned sides Roxas shivered, breath hitching as Axel bit the arch of his neck. "Can you feel my love for you?"

Roxas couldn't respond; never in his short life had he felt electric touches such as the other was giving him, lips and tongue and teeth running over his skin in worship. The pounding in his temples was pushed aside by lust, hips arching and brushing the evidence of his need against something solid and warm and just as hard.

Nimble fingers worked off the layers of cloth between them and soon the couple were both laid bare, naked thighs brushing together while hands roamed over each other's bodies. Axel reached between them and the blonde hissed as both swollen lengths were grasped together in a firm hand, hips rolling in slow, sensual thrusts.

"Can you feel it now, Roxas?" Axel's deep voice was rough with need and Roxas withered underneath him, fingers digging into the other's back as he rolled his hips in turn.

"Oh - ah! Yesss…" It was pure bliss, sparks of light dancing in his mind's eye and Roxas twitched with each grind of the cocks, every light slap of Axel's sacs against sending pleasure dancing up his spine. It was too much and not enough and when a calloused thumb dragged firmly over the head of his length Roxas couldn't get enough air to even moan.

He did manage a weak groan when Axel pulled away, flopping back against the bed. "Why the hel-ah!" Roxas' hips were suddenly much higher than his head and he could feel firm hands on his rear, spreading him at an embarrassing angle. "Axel, what are yo-"

"Tasting." Roxas was hardly able to flinch at the warm breath ghosting over areas normally hidden from the sun when something wet and warm and decidedly wicked ran over his entrance, body going ridged. Axel gave a few more flicks with his tongue before dipping the tip inside and Roxas exhaled in a long, trembling moan, thigh quivering at the sensation.

He was melting, he was burning; Roxas felt as if he was coming apart at the seams but didn't want it to stop, the lazy swipes and teasing dips of Axel's tongue causing him to make sounds he would never admit he could. The blonde didn't know when he started to chant but the sound of his voice begging, "Please, please, please!" reached his own ears after some time, chest heaving with each gasp and inhale.

Axel gave a final thrust with his tongue before shifting his head to suck lightly at the heavy sacs above it, tongue dragging up along the underside of the blonde's length from there and causing Roxas to shout and shudder, hips thrusting forward. Hips lowering Roxas could feel the other shift again, the sound of a cap opening and scent of aloe alerting him that Axel was making use of his lotion.

"Relax, Roxas." The words were murmured near the blonde's left nipple as two slick fingers probed at his entrance, a pair of devilish lips and that wicked tongue teasing at the already hard nub as they pushed carefully forward.

It was odd, feeling something pressing into him from there. Axel's earlier preparation had relaxed him surprisingly but that didn't make the sensation easy to get used to. The fingers just moved for a while, carefully pushing and pulling and stretching apart before pressing deeper, digits curling just so-

"Nnngh-ah!" Fire shot through the blonde's veins as careful fingers brushed against a gathering of nerves hidden within and Roxas could just hear the other's tight chuckle over his own gasps. That didn't matter as Axel brushed it again, then again, then again - Roxas couldn't hold still, hips rolling and lips parted to let out his gasps of pleasure. He hardly noticed as a third finger was pushed into him but all too soon they were gone, a hand moving to the blonde's thigh as the other went to his hips, positioning.

"Roxas."

Panting and trembling with a prickling of sweat breaking out across his skin the blonde nodded, licking dry lips. "Yeah." Roxas could hear how horse his own voice sounded, a tiny quiver at the end of the word. Raising his leg to rest on a curvy hip he felt as Axel moved his freed hand between them ti guide himself.

"Open your eyes, Roxas."

Roxas nearly groans in frustration at the lovingly murmured words, breath hitching instead as Axel started to push forward with his hips. Thought beyond him Roxas opened his eyes, staring straight ahead-

-And was met with deep green orbs staring right into his own..

"I - ohh - what-?" Endless green. It was all Roxas could see at first; darkened with lust and surrounding bottomless pupils. Burning red was the next sight to reach the blonde's eyes as strands of it were surrounding the captivating green, brushing against his own face and neck. Eyes that weren't used to focusing begun to pick up other details; a long, narrow face, sweat dotting the forehead; high cheekbones with twin marks above them; thin, kissable lips spread into somewhat of a strained smile.

"Can you see it?" Axel spoke while Roxas had his gaze fixed on his lips and it was the most beautiful thing the blond could recall ever seeing. The red head continued to push his hips forward and Roxas could see the strain in his features, taller male holding back to keep from hurting him. "Can you see what I'll do for you?"

"Ohh - oh, Axel…" Gasping as Axel set himself fully inside of him Roxas slid a hand from the other's back to cup his face, blue eyes studying every detail as he adjusted to the intrusion. Why hadn't he allowed himself to study the male's features before with his fingertips? Even still, he was sure the image his mind's eye would have come up with wouldn't have been as stunning as the real thing.

As he watched dark tipped lashes slid close, air hissing between clenched teeth. "Gods, Roxas, I don't know how much longer I can hold off. Are you ready?" Roxas refused to blink, afraid that the world would go back into darkness again and didn't realize how much time had passed between them. The discomfort below had passed and Roxas shifted, nodding slightly.

It was all Axel needed; licking his lips (/He's so beautiful,/ Roxas thought) the red head pulled slowly out, sinking back into the tight heat carefully. He continued the steady rhythm, a hand propped next to Roxas' head and the other on the teen's hip, ever cord of his neck and muscle in his form straining to keep it slow. It felt strange being taken and the angle was just a bit awkward to be in but Roxas accepted each intrusion with little hitched breathes, blue orbs focused solely on the tense face hovering some distance above his own. Roxas begun to move his own hips in turn and Axel picked up the pace, shifting on his knees for a steadier position and rolling his hips forward.

"Ah!" The simple move had caused Axel to hit - something. What it was Roxas wasn't sure and he didn't realize he closed his eyes until he couldn't see green anymore and snapped them open in a panic. Axel was still there, frozen at the sound and looking down at him in concern. "Why - the hell - did you stop?"

A slight grin curved at the corners of Axel's lips at the demand and he pulled back only to surge forward, Roxas' hips jerking as a sharp gasp was pulled from him. "Like that?" Axel was moving steadily, finding a good motion thrusting deep and rolling his hips when fully seated within the blonde boy. "Feels good?"

Roxas was struggling between keep his eyes open and not screaming every time Axel sank home and pressed against that sinful spot within him. Those curvy hips were set to be his undoing and Roxas simply hung on, legs wrapping around Axel's hips and crossing ankles at the other's rear for support, trying not to clutch the other and hinder movement but being unable to keep from tightening his thighs as each thrust home. A fire had been set in his veins by a smirking red head and Roxas couldn't think of anything but delicious pleasure as he stared into passionate green eyes.

The pace was picking up and Roxas could feel the end, could see it within his reach and when Axel bent forward to claim his lips in a kiss he tightened so much the taller male nearly lost it and came right there. Though struggling Roxas kept his eyes open to slits, glittering blue barely visible between blonde lashes.

"Roxas." Axel was panting and Roxas could only see red and glimpses of his ceiling as a rain of kisses fell upon his neck and collarbone, thrusts getting more desperate. "Stay with me. I promise to take care of you - always. Will you come?"

Though he wasn't entirely sure what Axel was getting at nor could think clearly enough to try and ask Roxas knew that he never wanted it to end. He could feel the love in Axel's ever touch, every thrust, every caress of his body with his eyes and Roxas never wanted to let that go.

"Yes - yes!" Roxas could feel it, body trembling uncontrollably and each thrust sending stars dancing in his vision, lips parted to gasp for breath. The hand that engulfs his erection was almost too hot but deliciously moist as it begun to jerk him off, quicker than the thrusts against his prostate.

"Come with me, then." The demand was followed by a tight moan that was almost a howl as Roxas clamped down around his partner's length, both males going stock-still for a hair's breath before shuddering, one with his eyes tightly shut and the other wide-eyed in stunned pleasure. The pulses of passion seemed to go on for ages but eventually they both collapsed, boneless and panting and trembling from the after shocks of their orgasm.

Axel moved first, raising himself up on trembling arms to look up and find Roxas staring at him, eyes glazed in bliss and something akin to awe on his face. "You're amazing, Roxas." The normally deep voice was thick and Axel leaned forward, capturing the blonde's lips in a slow, lingering kiss. Roxas responded in kind, eyes sliding to slits as his tongue tangled lazily with the other's.

Drawing back Axel rolled to rest at the blonde's side, an arm wrapped around the teen's waist. "Do you mean it? That you'll come with me?"

Licking at dry lips Roxas forced his body to move, shifting to roll onto his side to face Axel. A hand moved up to rest between them, fingers pressing against the other's chest. "I do." The words were quietly spoken and Roxas felt another hand move over his own, fingers entwining together at Axel's chest. "I don't have much time here, but…I'll go. I just wish I could see Mom again - tell her I love her…"

The fingers holding onto the blonde's squeezed, trying to comfort. "I don't think you have that much time." It was a quiet reminder of the clock ticking away in Roxas' mind and the blonde nodded.

"I know."

Sharing another slow, lingering kiss Axel willed the pair of them up, herding Roxas and himself into the shower. They spent an hour there, kissing, touching, cleaning each other, eventually stepping out to dry off. Changing into comfortable night ware they both tumbled into bed, Axel tucking the blonde snuggly against his form while Roxas clutched the taller male's form. "Sleep well, Roxy," Axel murmured against damp blonde spikes, kissing them lightly.

There was no response.

The funeral took place on a Friday and the school allowed absences for classmates to attend, black dressed teenagers standing somberly and adults just as quiet. It took place outside, the sky dark and clouds heavy with the threat of rain but having yet to break, an ominous presence over the heads of the attendance. A small woman was in the front row of foldable chairs with a man and a woman of similar features on either side of her, female clutching her hand as the male kept a hand on her shoulder. The mother of the boy being laid to rest looked on the verge of a breakdown, the father some seats away though also in the front row standing on trembling legs, a hand pressed against his face to hide his misery.

As the day wore on and the prayers were said the group of three siblings were approached, male of the group tensing as he glared at the newcomer and drawing the attention of his sister. Puffy-rimmed blue eyes meeting red-rimmed blue-green. Then the wall crumbled, trembling arms being held open and a strained, "I'm so, so sorry," pulled from dry and cracked lips. The woman closed the distance between them, collapsing in strong arms as she cried, voice rising over the sound of thunder in some distance off from their gathering.

Watching from a dozen or so yards away sat two dogs sitting side by side in the grass. One was a Red Irish Settler and Australian Shepard mix, reddish fur dull without sunlight, green eyes studying the scene. The other was looked to be a mix of Siberian Husky and Labrador Retriever, its fur the color of sun-kissed sand, blue orb fixed on one group in particular in the front row.

The pair sat there until the occupants of the gathering begun to departs, heading to their respective vehicles while the last paid their respects to the casket's occupant and the family. The Settler-Shepard mix nudged the other dog lightly with his head, pair sharing a look before rising to their feet. With one final look the two trotted off, sun just starting to peek between the clouds ahead while thunder sounded dully in the background, sounding much like a door shutting behind them.

End Notes: So seriously, why can't I ever finish these when I don't have to rush anywhere afterwards? D: D: D: Um - if you've made it this far, congratulations! XD Finding a breed to match Roxas was a pain and the sizing isn't right but blargh. I may go back and change it to something more fitting of his size if I can find something that isn't a oofy-foofy poodle :D So until next time - bai bai!

Reviews feed the soul~:D