Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ Out of My Element ❯ Far Away From Here ( Chapter 26 )

Chapter 26: Far Away From Here

Axel sighed as he stared up at his ceiling. The house felt lonely. Reno had cleaned out Demyx's room the day he left, so not a trace of him was left in the guest room anymore. And when Rude got home that night, he finished cleaning up the house. Everything was exactly the way it had been before Demyx arrived, but Axel felt his presence still lingered. The things that they didn't know about reminded Axel of him and made it all the more forlorn. Axel felt it especially when he was in the kitchen and found himself makin meals without milk or naturally fixing something Demyx had loved.

Closing his eyes, Axel rolled over and tried not to think about it. Even if Rufus didn't permit them to see each other, Demyx still called. It was irregularly, but Demyx would stay on the phone with him for hours. They never had much to say so sometimes Demyx would just sing to him over the line. It was nice to hear him singing again.

His eyes focused on the notebook Namine had given to him at the festival. Reaching for it, he flipped it open and looked over the pages. Pages with him and Demyx in them, pages about seemingly nothing at all: like papers, train stations, and waves… Axel felt the nostalgia creeping over him as he went through them in the dimness of his room. The middle of the day and he had nothing and no one.

The phone rang and his heart stumbled over itself. He dropped the notebook and reached for his cell. He'd hoped it was Demyx even though it was too early in the day. Rufus was home schooling Demyx. Likely they were going over lessons right then. And if not, Demyx might have been hanging out with his friends. Rufus had no qualms about Demyx having friends over or going out with them as long as they were escorted by Tseng or Elana. Rude and Reno weren't allowed to watch over him alone, but they were allowed to see him on occasion as well.

Checking the number, Axel sighed, “Hey Roxas.” He said in a heavy breath as he rolled onto his back again. They'd talked a few times after Demyx had left to live at the hotel so things were better between them. Roxas's involvement in the incident that led to Demyx being bullied had been forgiven but not so easily forgotten. However, Roxas was trying hard to make it up to him. Roxas went to see Demyx on a daily basis and kept Axel up to date on how Demyx was doing, sometimes trafficking things between the two.

“Hi.” Roxas responded easily, “No luck on finding a new job?”

Axel let out another heavy sigh, “No luck.”

“Cool, meet me at the mall in thirty minutes.” Roxas told him before hanging up.

Another sigh, Axel was sure he hadn't sighed so much before but he sure seemed to be doing a lot of it now. Rolling out of bed, Axel brushed his hair to tame it as much as he could, brushed his teeth, and got dressed into something proper. Normally he would have done it earlier but he hadn't given a shit about what his classmates thought of him. For Roxas though, he thought he should look at least somewhat presentable.

Axel arrived at the mall on time and found Roxas in the food court. They got something eat before roaming the mall like a couple of delinquents on the prowl for an easy score. They dropped in and out of their normal hot spots, playing video games, checking out the new music and books, and the like. It was good to be doing something normal again.

“How's Demyx?” Axel asked as they strolled into Hot Topic. They'd been out for at least hour and a half now so Roxas wasn't annoyed when Axel changed to the subject.

“Uh… All right I guess. Looks like he's put the weight back on that he lost.” Roxas told him.

Axel smiled some, “That's good. Are the bruises faded now?” Axel continued as he examined a shirt portraying some television series he really didn't know anything about.

“Most of them.” Roxas shrugged, “His ribs still look a little banged up, but they since two of them are broken, I guess it's normal. Demyx said it still hurts but the doctor said it would be at least five weeks until they'll heal on their own… They're giving him medication though.” Roxas added casually keeping everything downplayed to keep Axel from worrying.

“And his friends… Are they still treating him the same?” Asked Axel. Demyx had been a little vague about how his friends had reacted to the news.

“Oh… I guess some of them keep their distance, but I think everything's fine. Demyx doesn't have to associate with them anymore and if they were doing or saying anything to him I'm sure he'd stop having them around.” Roxas told him as they moved on to a different section of the store, “Axel, you really have to stop worrying over him. He's fine. He can take care of himself.”

“But I want to take care of him.” Axel objected a bit too loudly. Catching the attention of some other customers, Axel nodded his head to the door and they left, “He's been through so much already. I just want to be there for him and it's driving me crazy that I can't see him at all.”

Roxas thought a moment, “But don't you have internet and a webcam? Couldn't you see each other that way?”

“No…” Axel grumbled, “Tseng caught him using it on the computer and had it locked. He can't use it anymore.” He explained. It had been a good idea while it lasted, but they'd been too liberal with it. Damn Tseng. Rufus's dogs could be such jerks.

“Oh… Sorry, man.” Roxas murmured softly, “Hey… Um… I could maybe take a video for you or something, pictures...”

“You would do that?” Asked Axel, pausing in the middle of the corridor. Roxas went a few steps before stopping. He turned and tipped his head thoughtfully. He was quiet a minute then he nodded.

“Why not? It's my fault anyway.” He turned and continued on. Axel followed him, “If Namine and I could've just kept our mouths shut, met outside of school, this wouldn't have happened.” Roxas explained and Axel placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Stop blaming yourself. The fault was everyone's.” Axel told him. It wasn't fair that Roxas beat himself up over this or that Axel was letting him, “You're my best friend, I… You've got just as much right to be happy as everyone else. I'm happy for you and Namine… Really I am. Demyx and I will figure this out.” Axel promised him and Roxas's shoulders sagged a little, “Oh...” Axel looked at the store they were standing in front of, “Hey, you think you could give him something for me when you see him again?”

“Uh, yeah… I saw him this morning, but I could give it to him tomorrow.” Roxas told him.

“That's fine, come on!” Axel rushed into the gift store, “I wonder if it's still here…” He said to himself as he passed through the shelves and tables. Fairies, gargoyles, tortoises, dragons, unicorns, swords… His eyes scanned over everything quickly. He couldn't imagine that it would still be there. It had been a couple of months since they'd been there.

“What are you looking for?” Asked Roxas, following him closely.

“Some little fish.” Axel told him, not bothering to look when he heard Roxas leave his side. Only when he heard Roxas call him over, did he turn his attention away from the task. Lifting his head, he looked about and then went to where Roxas waved his hand.

“Are these what you're looking for?” Asked Roxas pointing to a glass shelf with a dozen or so koi fish figurines.

“Yes! Exactly.” Axel exclaimed with a smile. He gave him a pat on the head, “Good job Roxas!” Picking them up one by one, he examined each carefully. Which of them had caught his lover's eyes? He tried to remember and began to sort them by color. There were a few purple and pink, a couple of green, but he turned his focus to the blue ones. Was it even there?

“Are you looking for one in particular?” Asked Roxas, watching Axel carefully examine each of the koi fish closely.

“Yeah… It was right after he arrived. You saw us here at lunch… But he was looking at them and he told me a story about his mother.” Axel told Roxas, “I want him to have one. Not to remind him of his mother, but to remind him of what she believed...”

“What's that?” Asked Roxas leaning in close with curiosity.

“That strength can come from the most unexpected places.” Axel told him, stopping a moment to look at Roxas, “It's been so hard for him. I think he forgets sometimes how much good there is waiting for him. I want him to remember that.” Said Axel, his voice soft and expression fond, “Sometimes I think we all forget that.”

Roxas had to break the gaze and he flushed, “You're such a sap.”

“Demyx says the same thing.” Flashing a smile, Axel looked back at his choices, “Ah! This one.” Picking it up, he looked at it close. Polished seashell, blue patch between its eyes… This was the one. Purchasing it, Axel had it carefully wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a decorative bag, “Take this to Demyx tomorrow.”

“You got it, Axel.” Roxas gave a nod, then they went their separate ways.

When Axel got home, it was too early for Rude to be home but his SUV was in the driveway. The hotrod was gone, so Axel parked the bike in the garage and went in the garage door. He didn't have to go far to find the large black man. He was in the lab, an odd but not unusual place to find him, “This is a surprise.” Axel said as he moved around the single bench island in the middle of the room and to the other side where Rude stood. Looking around him, Axel saw he was tweaking some wires in a black box, “Tinkering with explosives again?” He asked with a smile, “What's the occasion? Reno still mad?” Asked Axel as he put some protective glasses on and pulled on some rubbers to help Rude out. It was no secret Reno and Axel weren't on speaking terms yet but Axel thought Rude would have broken the barrier of silence.

Rude looked at him out of the corner of his eye and shrugged a little, “Hand me some of that copper sulfate.” He murmured and Axel pulled the chemical off the shelf.

“Something flashy and blue, huh?” Axel opened up the top and began to spoon some out onto a weighboat, “How much?” Rude told him and he put it on a balance to check the weight before refining the amount and handing it over. Opening up the top of the black box, Rude pulled out a pouch inside and poured it inside.

“Reno did what he thought he had to… Don't be angry with him.” Rude said as he continued to toy with the wiring, making sure everything would light up in sequence when triggered.

“I'm not… I'm just disappointed in him.” Axel mentioned lightly, “Of all people, I thought he might be able to understand. I mean… Him and you. I know it can't have all been smooth sailing but I don't remember anything particularly bad happening to you two. I guess you guys would have kept that from me, like I kept these things from you two.”

“That's different.” Rude said abruptly. Axel paused. It wasn't often that he found Rude to be very disagreeable. Actually, Rude was quite accepting of a lot of things. Patience must have been one of those required traits to be able to stand Reno for more than a few hours at a time. Not that his brother wasn't great, but he could sure be a unsympathetic sometimes… Like, say, about sleeping with the boss's nephew?

“How so?”

Rude stripped some insulation from the tips of two wires so he could twist the metal together, “We're protecting you. You're the only family we've got.” Rude said, closing the top of the box and pushing it aside. Pulling off the white latex, he replaced them with black leather. Leaning back against the counter, he looked around the room, “Reno was so sure that you would… It seemed so unlikely that the two of you would both…” Rude was trying to word it gracefully but failed, “He thought that if he was gay, you would have to be straight. He didn't want to force our lives onto you when you could be normal.”

Axel rolled his eyes, “We are normal.” He said, irritation creeping into his voice. When Rude said it like that, it almost sounded like he would rather be straight and that was just stupid, “There's nothing wrong with us, just the way people think about us. That's what you always told me.” He pointed out.

“I know.” Rude sighed, “The difference between our secrets and yours… Whenever we keep anything from you… It's to protect you.”

“Like when you kept the fact you were moving in?” Axel snapped back with sarcasm.

“We didn't know for sure. Why get your hopes up? Axel, please, I'm trying to say something here.” Axel rolled his eyes again but kept quiet, “When you keep secrets from us… It's for you, and that's okay. We know you like your privacy, that's how you've always been.”

Axel stopped him there, “That's not true… I… I knew you guys wouldn't approve of me and Demyx. I mean, there's the age difference and the fact that he's your boss's nephew. Reno reacted just the way I feared. I was right to keep it from him.” Rude raised a brow, “You two are always trying to help me out, make me happy, but it's not enough. I'm in love with him. He makes everything better… The world is more vibrant, life has more meaning.” Axel watched Rude's face then smiled. Placing his index finger his temple he added, “Got it memorized?”

Folding his arms, Rude shifted uncomfortably and looked away. Then he nodded.

That wasn't the reaction Axel was expecting. Concern contorting his face, Axel tipped his head, “What is it? I know Reno is the same to you as Demyx is to me… You've never been shy about that.” Axel pointed out, feeling something out of place. Why was he home? Where was Reno? “Is… Something wrong?”

Rude clenched his jaw and pushed away from the counter, “Elana… Demyx got away from her.” He said tightly. Axel drew his brows together, not sure what Rude meant, “No one knows where he is.”

“You mean…” The cogs in Axel's mind turned slowly, “He's run away?” But why? Where? Instinctively, Axel pulled out his cell phone. He checked it for messages but there was nothing. Flipping it open, he called Demyx's cell. He didn't care that Rude was still there, just feet from him. Rude didn't have a problem with him and Demyx anyway.

Demyx's ring tone sung in his ear and his heart sank as it ceased and switched over to his voicemail, “Demyx, baby, where are you? … Call me back.” Then he closed his cell and looked at Rude, “Where was he last seen?” His mind was working overtime and his heart beat like a jack rabbit in his chest. After what had happened to Demyx, he wasn't about to just let this be until he knew exactly where he was. What if those little fuckers at school had gotten to him? What if he'd been picked up off the street by some psycho, like the one at the festival? So many terrible scenarios were running through his head.

“His room.” Rude responded shortly, watching Axel closely but standing very still. Axel couldn't read him. Maybe he was worried, or maybe he felt guilty, but he seemed to want to say more but his voice failed him.

“How long?” Asked Axel.

Rude looked away, “This morning.”

Pushing past Rude, Axel headed back outside and pressed the speed dial on his phone. Roxas picked up on the second ring, “Miss me already, we just saw each other-“ Roxas began sounding happy and not at all aware of the situation. Before he could go on anymore, Axel interrupted him.

“How was Demyx this morning when you saw him?” He demanded as he straddled his bike. It would be too loud to hear Roxas over so he didn't start it just yet. Rude now stood in the doorway, watching Axel still. Somehow, it infuriated Axel. Why wasn't he looking for Demyx? What the hell was he doing?!

“I told you man, he was fine.” Roxas replied in exasperation, “Why? What's going on?”

“Nothing, just meet me at the hotel in-“ Axel checked the clock on the wall of the garage. Doing a quick calculation, “Fifteen minutes.”

“Fifteen-!”

“Just go!” Axel barked and hung up. Then he glared hard at Rude before starting up the bike and revving out of there much faster than the law permitted. However, he couldn't worry about that now. Demyx might have only been missing a few hours, but Axel didn't care if he was overreacting.

When he pulled up around the hotel, he didn't bother to park the motorcycle in any designated spot. Instead, he left that to Tseng, who was just exiting the building, “Watch my ride.” Axel ordered tossing the keys at the tilak on the man's forhead, it was a good target. Tseng moved his head out of the way, but caught the keys before they would have hit him anyway. His dark eyes glared harshly at Axel; of Rufus's dogs Tseng and Axel got along the worst.

“What are you doing here.” Tseng said, though it sounded less like a question and more like an order to get the hell out of his way. His black hair was back in a ponytail, like usual. Rufus didn't restrict hair length, but men were required to tie it back.

“Just park the damn thing.” Growled Axel, not giving Tseng anymore time of day than needed as he jogged inside. Roxas wasn't there yet, but Axel didn't wait for him as he took the stairs up to the fifth floor. Rounding several corner, Axel easily found himself at Demyx's room, which was currently still being watched by Elena. As Axel approached she turned to him.

Her brown eyes searched him a moment, then she shook her head, “You can't be here.” She told him, her blonde hair slipping in front of the right side of her face, “Rufus gave me orders to-“

“I don't care, I'm fucking going in there.” Axel snapped at her, a little more harshly than he intended to. Elena was nice, but she was serious about her position in the company. Whatever Rufus asked of her, she did it to the best of her ability, which was sometimes lacking.

Folding her arms, she hardened herself against him and stared him down, “I can't let you in.”

“Elena…” Her name came out as a growl on Axel's tongue but he didn't say anymore as Reno suddenly appeared in the doorway of Demyx's room. Elena followed his gaze to Reno.

Leaning up against the doorframe, Reno looked at the two of them. His suite, always a mess, looked even more out of place than normal and his hair was a bit messed up too. He must have been searching Demyx's room for any sign of where he might have gone. His eyes softened when he saw Axel but he quickly looked away. Pulling out his phone, he looked at it as though he just got a text. Then he pushed away from the door, “Let's get out of here, Elena. We got new orders, yo.” He said and shoved the phone back in his pocket, both hands finding home in his pockets as he skulked by her and past Axel.

“But-“ Elena started to object.

“Let's go.” Reno said tiredly. Elena glanced at the open door for a moment, then decided it was better to follow her senior and ran to catch up.

When they disappeared into the elevator, Axel moved into the open hotel room. It looked… Desolate. Reno seemed to have put everything back in its relative place but it was devoid of life. It looked like Demyx never bothered to unpack his things and make himself at home. Then again, Axel couldn't blame him. A hotel room wasn't very inviting.

Axel spotted some of the bags Reno and Rude had taken after Demyx had left and went to them. Opening them up, he found school papers and clothes inside. Were they things he would have taken if he'd just run away? Axel looked around, listening to the trains that sounded nearby. Demyx's guitar was nowhere in sight. He looked around some more before going back to the luggage to riffle through it.

“What are you looking for?” Roxas's voice made Axel jump a little. He'd arrived at some point and was now standing just behind him.

“Demyx is missing; I'm looking to see what else is gone.” Axel told him, noticing that Roxas hadn't even had time to drop the koi bag at his house, “I can't find his guitar and backpack.” Those were definitely things he would have taken with him if he'd run away… But they were also things he took a lot of other places.

Roxas got to his knees next to Axel, “Missing? Since when, I just saw him this morning!” He exclaimed in surprise, “You don't think-“ Roxas cut himself off this time. It was probably for the best because Axel's imagination was already running wild without Roxas's input, “Have you talked to Rufus? Maybe he knows something.”

“Not yet.” Axel closed the bag. Some of his clothes were missing, he decided, “I'll head over there now. You wait here and call me if you see or hear anything.” Axel told him. Roxas nodded.

“Hey, take this with you.” Roxas stopped Axel just as he was about to leave and shoved the bag with the koi inside it towards him, “Just in case.” Axel gave him a bewildered look. In case of what? A fire? A car crash? An alien abduction? A child abduction? Fuck, but Roxas didn't elaborate and he was wasting time!

“Keep your cell on.” Axel told him before leaving with the back in hand. Outside, he looked around for his motorcycle and found it with Reno, who was arguing with Tseng about something. Elena didn't look very happy either. As he got nearer, he caught the end of the conversation.

“Demyx wasn't even there! How could it possibly matter that Axel went into the room?” Reno asked heatedly, body language overly expressive as he spoke. He nearly hit Elena in the face, but she ducked out of the way quickly enough.

“Our orders were to keep Axel away from the hotel room-“ Tseng began his voice low and serious. He still looked pissed, but Axel wasn't sure exactly if it was residual or new anger.

“To keep him away from Demyx!” Reno elaborated, then he shrugged, “And he wasn't there, what's the big deal?”

“You lied to get me out of the way!” Elena accused.

Reno rolled his eyes and spotted his brother. Tossing Axel the keys, he turned away from Tseng, “What's done is done, yo.” He waved a hand to dismiss Tseng and Elena, who now stood alone next to the motorcycle. They gave Axel a look, but Axel didn't dignify them with anything in return and just got on and sped away. He'd have to thank his brother later, and then apologize for giving him the silent treatment since Demyx's removal.

Hammering his fist against the door, Axel paused to catch his breath. It had been no easy feat but he'd finally figured out where the hell Rufus was. Initially, he'd tried Rufus's office, which was made incredibly difficult by the series of secretaries and security he had to go through. Person after person refused to let him pass and when he finally found someone who would cooperate, he found Rufus hadn't even been there. A little investigative work had told him Rufus went to the hotel to see what had happened and then gone home afterwards for some reason or another.

So now, Axel stood waiting outside the man's condominium. When the door opened, Rufus frowned deeply at him, blue eyes narrowing some, “How did you get pass security?” He asked, voice level and calm despite his obvious irritation at having answered the door to Axel. They hadn't seen or talked to one another since he'd taken Demyx away, not that Axel could complain. Reno and Rufus were on his shit list as of late.

Axel flashed him a cocky smile, placing his hand on the door before Rufus could close it on him, “I'm magical like that. Now let me in.” Axel ordered, staring Rufus dead in the eye.

They stood there like that for a while, sizing each other up. Rufus probably considering calling security or Tseng to come haul his punk ass out of his building and Axel considering kicking his face in…

Then Rufus calmly stepped back and opened the door. Axel slipped inside and marched into an open room that appeared to be some sort of front room that gave way to a modern kitchen. Very classy and very expensive. It pissed Axel off to just look at it. And Demyx had been forced to live in some shitty ass hotel? And where was the construction crew that was supposed to be working on some extension or another?

Rufus glided past him and made his way to the pristine white sofa in front of a shining glass table. His own white suit matched the décor and cleanliness of the place. One leg crossed over the other, he sat up straight, hands clasped on his lap, “So… What is it that you came here for?” He asked as though nothing were out of place. It made Axel's hair stand on end and his muscles tighten.

“Isn't that obvious?” Axel snarled standing at the end of the coffee table, “I'm here about Demyx. If you have any idea where he is and what's going on, you'd better tell me or so help me-“

Rufus raised a hand, “I'm certain that I have no more information than you do. In fact, with all those phone calls… I'm sure that you've more an idea than I do.” Placing his hand back on his lap, he stared coldly, “Maybe I should be asking you where my nephew is.”

“You know I haven't seen him since you took him away from me.” Axel snapped back.

Rufus gave a short breathy laugh, “You act as though I'm the villain here.” Pushing himself to his feet, he walked to his large windows to overlook the city, “I'm not the one sleeping around with young men left and right-“

“Shut the fuck up! You don't know what the hell you're talking about!” Axel shouted moving around the table to follow after Rufus. He was sorely tempted to grab his collar and shove his face into the glass but he kept his balled fists at his side.

“Sure I do. Demyx was in your care, you were a figure of authority and you abused that privilege. I know people like you.” Rufus told him, staring at Axel's reflection in the window.

What on earth was Rufus talking about? “People like me- Are you insane?” What kind of person did Rufus think he was? A college student who earns -or rather earned- a living by cooking in a restaurant, what kind of person was that? Axel thought it was a very decent kind. And they'd waited- he'd waited! Axel wasn't the only one involved here, Demyx had wanted it too!

“Listen, I don't care what sex you fancy. I might not even care that it was Demyx. But you were in a position of trust.” Rufus turned to face him, “You think someone in his position has the mind to make the right choice? He was vulnerable. His mother, my sister, died. And you wait all of what? Three months to fuck him over?”

Axel gritted his teeth together, “You fuckin' talk to that nutty professor at his school? The guy's psychotic and you're starting to sound just like him. I love Demyx and it's what we both wanted. We're old enough to make our own decisions.”

“You just don't understand.”

“No! You don't understand!” Axel yelled back this time shoving Rufus, who seemed surprised that Axel dared touch him, “You never wanted him to begin with! The first chance you got, you just turned around and dumped him on somebody else. How the fuck do you think that made him feel? Some egotistical, narrow-minded, corporate jackass comes to his rescue and then thinks better of it! Where the hell is the fucking construction crew? Where are the pictures of his mother? Where were you when all this shit went down at school, when he needed someone there? Where is one single piece of evidence that you give a damn about him in anyway?” He shoved Rufus again just to prove the point but this time Rufus shoved back and knocked Axel off his feet. It caught Axel rather off guard at how strong he was.

“Don't you touch me,” Rufus said, his voice sounding even more dangerous than the look in his eyes. Stepping close, he stared down at him, hand on his hip as if possibly reaching for a holstered gun, “You lay one more finger on me and you'll be leaving this room in a body bag.” Then he stepped over Axel and disappeared into another room. He was back by the time Axel had gotten to his feet again, “You want the evidence? Here.” He dropped a manila folder onto the coffee table.

Axel approached warily, Rufus didn't seem the type to make idle threats, and carefully picked up the documents and flipped through them, “What are these?”

“Contracts, receipts, bank statements…” Rufus mentioned vaguely, just standing and watching until Axel dropped them back onto the table, “I may have never intended on letting him in this building, but that doesn't mean I wasn't doing everything possible to do what's right for him. His mother wanted him to have an education, to live a full and productive life-“

“She wanted him to be happy.” Axel corrected defensively but Rufus didn't skip a beat.

“I contacted the bank that reclaimed the house and paid them what was owed. I bought the house and the land back, and what furniture and belongings that hadn't yet been destroyed or resold.” Rufus told him as he moved back to his white sofa and sat down. As he did, he ran his hand back through his hair to pull back any strands that had been knocked out of place previously, “I had intended on returning him home much sooner, but the house had failed inspections and needed repairs before I could legally hand it over to Demyx. I was doing what I thought best.”

“Best? He was happy with us and you took him away.” Axel's anger had dissipated. Rufus had bought back Demyx's house, even gone through the trouble of restoring it in order for Demyx to live there again. It looked like it cost thousands of dollars. Though maybe Rufus was just used to throwing money at problems to make them disappear, but if that were the case he could have just handed Demyx a wad of cash and turned him out to start with, “How was that best for him?”

“How was it not?” Rufus countered, “Those boys at school could have killed him and you certainly weren't capable of protecting him, or even getting him to take school seriously. He needs an education to make something of himself.”

“That's not what he wants at all.”

“I don't care what he wants!” Rufus said loudly. Then he added more quietly, more reserved, “This isn't about what he wants, it's about what's best for him.”

Axel shook his head, “You really don't get it. Maybe he drops out of high school and maybe he gets landed with a mediocre job… And maybe he doesn't become famous or rich. None of that matters if he's happy. And he was happy with me. He was happy with his friends and my family.”

“You and your family aren't doing him any favors indulging his reckless behavior.” Rufus stood again and picked up the papers, “I know what's best for him and keeping you out of the picture is part of it.”

Axel grabbed the papers and threw them across the room, “You keep saying that you're doing what's best for him but you're not! Stop saying that! What makes him happy will always be the best thing for him! Got it memorized?” Axel felt hurt… Demyx deserved better than this, better than Rufus, “Anyone who loves him would know that… His mother knew that… And I think you knew that once too.”

Rufus went rigid, “Don't make this about me.” He warned lowly.

“His mother left the family to marry for love… And you defended her actions, you protected her. It wasn't what was financially best for her, but it made her happy. You knew that.”

“And look at where it got her!” Rufus barked, “Six feet under and her boy penniless and homeless!” Then he stopped himself before he got anymore carried away. The outburst was unlike him, they both knew it and the reason for it, “It doesn't even matter anymore. The boy's run off to who knows where.” He sat back down and crossed his heel over his knee, “I can't have my men running around looking for him forever. Unlike some people, we have jobs.” He said, voice not particularly accusing but still rubbed Axel the wrong way.

“What about the police? Aren't they looking?” Asked Axel and Rufus raised his brows slightly.

“The police? I didn't even bother. A nineteen year old homosexual boy with a questionable history and no real ties to the community, not exactly on the top of their list as far as missing persons go.” Rufus told him his posture and speaking growing relaxed as the door to his condo opened and Tseng walked in. Great, reinforcements, “Besides, if he has run away… I can't really force him to stay and he'll figure it out sooner or later if he hasn't already.”

Axel struggled with the information. It wasn't even the police part that had him caught up, “Demyx is nineteen?”

Both Tseng and Rufus stared at him as if he'd grown a second head and they found it to be quite the sight, “Of course… He skipped school a year for his mother and he was held back a year once in grade school and again in middle school for poor performance. He's not much younger than you; I thought you'd get along and serve as good example…” Rufus didn't say it, but implied that he'd been sorely wrong on that last part.

Nineteen? Axel just… He wasn't sure whether to be furious or relieved. On one hand, he hadn't been breaking the law by having sex with a minor, but on the other… Demyx had never told him how old he was. Then again, he'd never asked. He'd just assumed Demyx was Roxas's age.

Then it occurred to Axel that even if Demyx was nineteen, just a short time ago he'd been beaten by a gang of homophobic kids, “You didn't call the police?” Rufus just stared with a look that said `I think we've already covered this' and Axel went on, “What if those little shits from school jumped him again? He could be dead in some dumpster and you're not doing anything!”

“I'm doing plenty. Reno and Rude are looking for him.” Rufus stated flatly, “If you want to try your odds with the police, be my guest.” He offered, before raising his hand to signal for Tseng to escort Axel out.

When Tseng grabbed his arm, Axel shrugged out of his grasp, “Fine.” He grumbled softly and turned to leave, “Some family you are.” He added under his breath but loud enough for Rufus to hear as he stepped out of Rufus's condo. Tseng followed him just to be sure he actually left.

Outside, Axel leaned up against his bike and ran his hands over the necklace that Demyx had given him. He fiddled with it between his fingers as he thought. Then he realized how stupid he was acting. He hadn't even called up Demyx's friends!

Pulling out his phone, he called Roxas, who picked up on the first ring, “Hey, you have the phone numbers for Demyx's bandmates right?” He asked hopefully. The last time Demyx had done something this stupid he'd run off to a friend's house. Couldn't he theoretically be there?

“Already called them.” Roxas replied softly, sounding defeated, “Namine, Zell, Gau, Tidus, I called everyone I could think of, but no one knows where he is… And, uh… Axel, “Roxas paused uncomfortably and waited a moment as if he had to moved from end of the room to another, “It's not much, but… Central Station is just a few blocks from here. I can hear the trains and the top of the clock tower from Demyx's room…”

“The train station…” That rang a bell for some reason and his gut told him to go home, “I'll call you back.”

Rude's SUV was gone from the driveway when Axel got home but he wasn't surprised. Rufus had said they were out looking for Demyx. However, he still felt a little ache at no one being home. Maybe he just didn't want the house to feel as empty as it did.

Parking in the garage, he headed for the door within the garage but stopped and looked at the washer and dryer. He wasn't sure why but he felt compelled to go to it. Placing both hands on the machines, he looked at them contemplatively. Something was eating at the back of his mind, but what? His eyes settled on a pile of forgotten objects that had come from the pockets of pants. Demyx had never come to retrieve his unfinished song and Axel looked over the slip of paper.

Wasn't there another paper with this?

He searched the pile. He was sure there had been another but it was nowhere to be seen. Leaning over the dryer, Axel peeked behind it to see if maybe it had fallen back there. Nope…

Stepping back, he looked around each of the sides, not there either. Then he traipsed a ways from them, scouring the ground. Maybe it had been thrown away, ruined… It had been months since he'd seen it.

This was stupid, why was he wasting time with this? Going to the door, he had his hand on the knob when he felt compelled to look again. Just one more place and he'd leave it alone. Getting to his knees in front of the machine, he placed his head on the ground and peered under. Damn, it was dirty under there.

Tentatively, Axel reached under best he could and raked out everything he could reach. When there was nothing left, he sat back on his heels and rubbed off his hands on his pants. His eyes scoured the piles, mostly dead leaves and dust but there were a few things of interest, or not. An old Jolly Rancher that might have fossilized, a rubber band so brittle it would snap if stretched, a couple of clips, and- the paper!

Plucking the paper carefully from the pile, Axel blew the dust bunnies off it and flipped it around eagerly between his fingers. Just as he remembered it, though he didn't remember it well.

Unlike before, he recognized what it was now. One side was the price of the tokens used for currency on the train, the other side were train departure times and their destinations. Demyx had written it a long time ago, but with the station just outside his window, Axel had a feeling that he recalled his previous plans to go back home… Or at least to run far away from here.

Speaking of…

Axel stormed into the house and up the stairs for what he'd originally came back home for. The notebook was gone from his nightstand and his heart did a tumble before he remembered he'd dropped it on the floor earlier. Crawling hastily over his bed, he looked over the edge. The train station! The page stared up at him clear as day. Namine, she knew more than she let on…

Reaching down, he picked it up. It was definitely a train station, but not one at Central Station… Maybe the drop off point. He flipped to the next page. A lonely street, but he had no idea where it was. It was unfamiliar. The page after, the ocean, still unfamiliar. Another, an island. Another- Wait! Island?

Axel flipped back, a small island just off the coast. That meant something, Axel remembered something about it, something… Vague and distant.

I'm thinking of you and I know the space is hard for you.

You said it's getting hard to breathe and there's nothing I can do!

So let's just break away, break away, from all of this.

You say you need to stay, need to stay, I need you here with me tonight.

Why had he thought of that? The song Demyx sang at the festival… Wait! Axel had to hit his palm to his forehead. He was being so stupid! Of course, that was it! Demyx's friends at the coast. The good-looking one, Riku, had said something about being on the island. Demyx had known exactly what he was talking about. That had to be it! Demyx had to gone back there, home to his friends.

Shoving the notebook in the back of his pants, the note in his pocket, Axel left the house and got on his motorcycle. His eyes caught the bag hanging from the right handle… In case of what? In case he thought about giving up? In case he got hurt and was scared?

In case Axel needed to remember just how much every moment with Demyx meant to him?

Seriously, I'm bad at keeping to the outline. Oh well.

I know, I know. Demyx has already disappeared once, why did I do it again? Well the first time was an accident. This time I had planned it and it has more of a purpose this time around.

Conversation with Rufus didn't go as planned either.