Days Go By

Roxas didn’t want to admit that he was worried as he sat down in one of the middle seats of the giant 15 person van. He could see the same tension in Axel’s face and that did little to soothe his nerves. Wherever Sora was…Sora was upset and that ate at Roxas’ heart. He didn’t even realize how long they had been traveling when Axel’s arm slipped around his shoulders, and Roxas found himself drawn tightly against his side. Breathing deeply, he took comfort in Axel’s smoky, warm scent. “Are you okay, Roxie?”

For once, Roxas didn’t mind the nickname. He could hear the tension in Axel’s voice. “I’m worried about Sora.” He admitted quietly. “I can practically taste him…he’s really upset.”

Axel gave Roxas a curious look. “How long has this been going on between you two?”

Roxas smiled slightly and rested his head on Axel’s shoulder, comforted by the gentle arm still wound around him. “Dunno.” He replied quietly. “Since we were kids really. Even if we were across the island from each other if Sora got hurt I would cry. If I got into a fight he would get mad for no reason. I remember when Sora broke his arm. He was playing on the play island…it’s this place where the kids used to go, there’s playhouses, that sort of thing…well he fell off of the paopu tree and broke his arm. I was in summer school at the time…”

Axel snorted. “You? In summer school? I don’t believe that.”

Roxas snorted with amusement. “I got into trouble for fighting. Seifer pissed me off and I hit him, so I had summer detention. Let it go.” Axel chuckled, and Roxas relaxed fully. “So there I am picking gum off of the bottom of the desk…”

“Eww.” Demyx murmured from the seat behind them.

“Too right.” Roxas agreed. “And my arm went into agony. I couldn’t even sit still. I could see it was okay, I knew it was okay, but I felt it. I knew then that Sora was in trouble and that his arm hurt. It took us nearly two hours to find him. He’d had to haul himself up away from the tiny island he was playing at and onto the beach with a busted arm.” Roxas fell silent as he remembered.

He felt safe and secure with the people currently in the van. He liked listening to Xemnas threaten to put the radio on folk music if people didn’t agree to a radio station, Saix chuckling in the bucket seat beside him. He liked listening to Demyx’s soft humming of Christmas carols, entirely ignoring Larxene, who was giving him a look of deep disgust beside him. He liked hearing Marluxia snore and Xaldin curse under his breath as his light pink head fell onto his shoulder. He enjoyed being between Axel and Lexaeus, feeling their silent support. The people in the van really were his friends. They might bitch and complain (as they were doing, and quite vocally) but they followed through when you needed them.

“I remember that.” Lexaeus murmured beside him. “You were hopping around and yelling your head off.”

Roxas blushed as Axel snorted. “YOU were in detention too, Lex?”

Lexaeus smirked. “Of course not. I was picking up Hayner who tended to get into as much trouble, usually at Roxas’ side. I never got into trouble in those days.” He grinned. “I don’t get into trouble now either…I’m just better at hiding.”

Roxas snorted. “How did you all…” He paused.

Axel smiled wryly. “How did the Organization come into being?” He finished. Roxas shrugged, and Axel settled back against the seat.

“We started out as a dare club.” Xaldin pushed Marluxia’s head off of his shoulder. The man didn’t even wake up before falling over onto Luxord, asleep on his other side. Xaldin snapped a picture as they cuddled into each other.

Roxas raised one eyebrow. “A dare club.”

“Sure.” Vexen held a book, but he glanced up. “Xemnas started it with a handful of us. Myself, Zexion, Xaldin, Lexaeus…and we brought in others in time.”

Roxas knew that people could occasionally surprise you…but he was still having problems wrapping his mind around the idea of cold Vexen and stoic Zexion participating in a dare club. “We were bored.” Zexion contributed. “Unlike you, Roxas…we grew up in this place. As soon as we were big enough to go to school we were big enough to be shipped off.”

“Eventually the Organization formed.” Axel finished contentedly. “We entertain ourselves and the masses at once. If we bring new people in, it’s because they can bring something to the group. Some talent that the rest of us don’t have.”

Roxas raised one eyebrow. “And my talent?” Axel grinned wickedly and Roxas felt himself turning red. He smacked Axel’s side.

“You have a keyblade.” Larxene murmured. “Easier to get into locked places with you around.”

“Better than Irvine.” Xaldin muttered, glancing at Larxene.

Larxene rolled her eyes. “Like you brought anyone better.”

Saix turned the radio station and instantly there was a wave of rebellion as everyone began arguing again, Vexen burying his nose into his book. “Your sex appeal and formidable…” Axel licked his ear and Roxas shuddered as he felt Axel’s breath against his cheek. “…talents aside…” Axel murmured quietly. “…you needed us, Rox. You needed to feel like you belonged to something for reasons that have nothing to do with either of your brothers.”

Roxas was stunned by these words. How the hell did Axel always manage to read him that accurately? It wasn’t that Roxas didn’t love his brothers…he did. He adored Sora and Cloud…but sometimes it was hard to live with them. The rest of the world adored his brothers. The world loved Sora’s enthusiasm, optimism and large heart. It loved Cloud’s strong sense of honor, mysterious moody habits and gentle (if not gruff) good humor.

On Destiny Islands, Sora had been the darling of the community. He was the one that school administrators and church activity boards went to when they had a project in mind. Sora threw himself into any project given to him, and did it with a smile. Cloud was the one that mothers called to babysit, not only because they were certain that their child would be protected by the quiet blond but because children LOVED Cloud. Both of his brothers got good grades, both had a circle of friends, both were devastatingly good looking.

Roxas, on the other hand, got into fights…usually with Seifer. He tended to skip school when Hayner didn’t feel like going. He was moodier than Cloud and spent a lot of time in the town helping out shopkeepers and generally staying away from the places either Sora or Cloud frequented. Still, it had never occurred to Roxas to resent either of his brothers…it was simply the way they were all made. Still, Axel’s words struck a nerve and memory in Roxas…he had wanted to be recognized as himself…not as Sora’s twin or Cloud’s baby brother.

If they had just wanted a keyblade wielder, Roxas knew that they would have asked Riku. If they wanted a mascot they would have chosen Sora. He wasn’t sure what he brought to the group, but he was secure in the knowledge that they had wanted HIM. They were here now because he needed help. The thought made him smile.

“I’ve got him.” Xemnas abruptly flipped off the radio, startling them all.

“Where?” Roxas leaned forward, unbuckling and scooting between the two front bucket seats, eyes anxiously scanning the road. He wouldn’t have been surprised to see Sora, Reno, Rude and Yuffie sledding down the mountain, fully aware of what Sora was like when he was worried about someone he cared about.

“There.” Saix pointed. “That looks like Shelinda’s car.”

Axel studied the dark green jeep hurtling across the plains at the base of the mountain, back toward the coast. “Recklessly fast. Yuffie must be driving.”

Roxas bit his lip. “We have to hurry.”

Saix gave him a dry look. “Once we get to the base of the mountain we can. Right now the roads are still too icy to go much faster.”

“What’s wrong?” Axel whispered, drawing Roxas back before Roxas could say something sardonic.

Roxas shook his head, chewing lightly on his lip. “Axel…I need you to tell me what Sora is likely to find.”

Axel froze. “Rox…I…”

Roxas shook his head. “Axel, I’m not asking you to betray every secret Riku has…but Sora and Reno are going to beat us down there. What are they going to find?”

Axel let out a troubled breath, and Roxas felt his heart begin to hammer hard against his chest. Just what was Riku and Sephiroth’s father like? “Basically Sephiroth and Riku come back every year pounded to a pulp.” Marluxia had woken, probably from the lack of the radio, and was running his hand through his hair. He rolled his eyes as Axel glared at him. “Come on, Ax. Everyone knows it. They show up for a few weeks in practice covered in bruises. Then there was the year that Riku came back with a broken arm.”

There was a twitch in Axel’s cheek, he was clenching his teeth so hard. Roxas felt his blood go cold. “Their father does that to them?”

Axel glared at Marluxia, who calmly ignored him. “Yeah.” He finally replied, his voice reluctant. “He does. Riku’s old man considers Riku a failure. He’s usually okay with Riku coming in a few weeks early when Leon opens the dorms and then Riku sticks around a few weeks after…he has no interest in his son.” There was more to the story…and Roxas could tell…but he didn’t ask.

Unlike Sora, Roxas had been exposed to abused kids in his time. Seifer had been abused in the past, that was part of what made him such a jerk to almost everyone. He expected to get hurt, so he didn’t open himself to the possibility. Sora on the other hand had never been exposed to it. Roxas could vividly recall a month or so in the past, comforting his furious brother as Sora raged at Tidus’ father, Jecht. Jecht had never raised a hand to his son, but the psychological damage was there every time that Tidus picked up his blitzball. Sora had been deeply disturbed and upset when he had realized what had happened, and all Roxas could do was hug his brother until he calmed. If he walked in to see Riku’s father beating him… “What does it mean that they didn’t come back last night?”

“Maybe nothing.” Axel looked grim. “He’s not exactly caring, Rox. If weather was bad, I doubt he’d give a damn if Riku and Sephiroth were expected somewhere else…it would put him out. Maybe everything…” Axel’s eyes darkened perceptively, and his lips pressed together. “…we’ll have to see.”

Demyx leaned forward. “What’s Sora and Reno going to do if they walk in and see something went wrong?”

Roxas and Axel snorted as one. “From Sora? Threats…he’ll attack if he has to, but he’ll settle for threats.” Roxas finally murmured. “He won’t attack unless he really has to.”

Axel only shrugged. “From Reno?” A faint smile crossed his face. “If Sephiroth is hurt…there will probably be a blood bath.”

Roxas paused. He hadn’t thought that the pair were close. “Sephiroth and Reno are tight?” He asked curiously.

An odd look crossed Axel’s face. “I get the feeling he probably feels guilty for something. He and Seph have an odd relationship.” Secrets…Roxas liked secrets about as much as Seifer and Hayner liked secrets. Secrets irritated him. He settled thoughtfully back into his seat as they reached the base of the mountain and hurtled forward toward Twilight Town.

0 0 0

Reno tensed visibly as Yuffie drove them directly toward the house that Sephiroth and Riku had grown up in. He could see Sora trembling beside him, but the boy didn’t ask how they had known where to go. Sora had been shockingly quiet throughout the whole journey, sitting silently in the front seat beside Yuffie in the Journalism teacher, Shelinda’s jeep. Reno watched Rude give the boy a troubled look out of the corner of his eye and agreed…Sora looked like hell. The dark smudges that had been beneath his eyes at 1:30 that morning had hollowed out and sunken into caverns that made his eyes look too big for his face. His skin was white, his bottom lip raw from being chewed on. His body in the front seat was so rigid that Reno mentally pitied the boy’s muscles. He would feel it the next day.

Yuffie pulled into the drive. “No movement.” She hadn’t even stopped the car before Sora was out and running. “Sora!” She cursed under her breath as they all watched Sora pound on the door. “How bad do you think it is?”

Reno snorted. “Bad. If they didn’t come back last night like they were supposed to, either they’re both unconscious or they’re not coming back at all and we’ll have to hunt them down in Midgar.”

Yuffie pursed her lips. “Come on. Let’s go keep Sora from doing something stupid.” She slipped from the car, Reno following, inwardly snorting…despite Yuffie’s occasionally annoying tendencies…she hadn’t suggested that they NOT go after Sephiroth, even if it meant going back to Shinra. Reno was grateful for that.

“If he’s not there we’ll have to tell Cloud.” Rude murmured as they walked toward the house.

“We’re not telling Cloud shit until we know for sure.” Reno snapped back. He was not looking forward to that conversation… “Yes, Cloud…I stole a car, took your baby brother down to see Xehanort, yes that’s the same Xehanort that let Axel get a tattoo at the age of eight and who runs genetic tests on teenagers and who probably beat Riku into hamburger…and now we’re going to go to Midgar to get Sephiroth, who by the way, wasn’t there, before he ends up dead.” Oh yeah. That conversation would go SO well.

“You’re afraid of Cloud aren’t you?” Rude asked knowingly.

Reno closed his eyes. Afraid of Cloud? Not really…he was well aware that if Cloud ever punched him he would probably deserve it. It was more…Reno didn’t want anyone else involved. If it ever came down to throwing gauntlets with Cloud, he wanted to do it without an audience. “Sure.” He replied tiredly as they joined Sora on the porch. “I’m afraid of Cloud.”

Sora didn’t even turn at the sound of his brother’s name, stepping back. “Don’t tell me you’re going to kick it down…” Reno drawled, bemused at the image of Sora kicking down a door.

Sora gave him a dry look. “Shut up, Reno.” He advised, holding out his hand. Reno watched with interest as a keyblade appeared in the boy’s hand, looking ridiculously large. The lock clicked softly. Sora didn’t even glance back over his shoulder as he stepped through the door.

Reno followed, his eyes on the blade. Well…that explained why he had such a hold on Reno’s strings. The kid’s heart shone out like a blazing light. “Put that thing away.” He hissed.

Sora turned slightly, but Rude put his hand on his shoulder. “Really…put it away.”

Sora tilted his head, eyes unreadable. After a moment he obediently banished the blade and they started through the house. Reno slipped his own weapon out from beneath his shirt…they would have to protect Sora. Xehanort would be extremely pleased to see Sora’s keyblade…it would complicate matters. “Sephiroth!” Sora lunged forward as he caught sight of a figure sprawled on the floor of the kitchen.

Long locks of silver hair hung in Sephiroth’s face, and Reno fell to his knees beside Sora. Nothing seemed to be wrong…no bruises, no obvious signs of a struggle. “Sephy…wake up.” He ordered, shaking the teen’s prone body.

Sephiroth opened his eyes and Reno was momentarily dazzled by the startling turquoise. “Reno?” He looked bemused, his gaze flickering to the right. “Sora?”

Sora looked anxious. “Are you okay?” He asked, frowning.

Before Sephiroth could answer, Rude’s voice broke the silence. “Sora!” Sora paused, indecision clearly written on his face. After a moment he turned and loped from the kitchen.

Reno glanced at his silver haired companion. “What happened?”

Sephiroth looked uneasy now. “I don’t know.” He paused. “Kadaj and the Idiot Crew were here as usual…Riku was picking fights, Father was getting annoyed…the rest is blank.”

Reno felt as uneasy as Sephiroth looked. Worriedly, he reached out and touched Sephiroth’s forehead. “Did you hit your head?” He flinched as he heard Sora cry out. Since the cry was not followed by gunfire, he was guessing that they probably found Riku.

Sephiroth shook his head, fear filling his gaze. “Where’s Riku? What are you doing here?”

Reno rubbed the back of his neck. “Dunno. Sora’s with Riku. Rude and Yuffie too. The house was empty when we got here. What the hell HAPPENED?!”

Sephiroth’s worry grew. “I don’t remember. I remember dinner and something about dessert…and that’s it. The rest is blank.”

Reno stared. That was a good chunk of missing time. He looked the other teen over…there didn’t appear to be a head wound… “Were you drugged?”

An odd look crossed Sephiroth’s face. “I…” He paused. “…maybe.” He admitted quietly. “Riku. Is Riku okay?”

“Let’s go find out.” Reno slipped his arm around Sephiroth’s waist and drew him up. “Okay, Sephy. You can walk on your own when I say so.” To his surprise Sephiroth didn’t argue.

Riku’s body made up for the lack of bruises on Sephiroth. Both of his eyes were swollen shut. His face was a mass of livid bruises, his left arm twisted to a painful angle that was physically impossible to do with the arm still in the socket. The rest of his body was hidden beneath his clothing, but Reno guessed that the rest of his body looked about the same. The small patches of skin that were not bruised were a paper white.

Sora knelt beside Riku, his face intent as he poured a potion down Riku’s throat, Yuffie at his side. Rude was nowhere to be found, and Reno guessed that his friend was securing the house. “Riku!” Sephiroth looked anguished, his eyes wide. “Riku!” He drew in a shuddering gasp. “When did this happen?”

Reno snorted, but there was no amusement in the sound. “My guess would be sometime between the moment you were drugged and now.” He got a deeply disapproving frown from both Sora and Yuffie at his words. He sighed…it wasn’t that he WANTED to make light of everything and act like a smartass…he just couldn’t help it. Bad things went down and Reno resorted to sarcasm and a weapon.

Sora looked troubled. “I have a curega spell but I’m not sure that it will do any good with his arm out of the socket.”

“Looks broken too.” Sephiroth seemed calmer now as he pushed Reno away and knelt beside Sora. He brushed a strand of Riku’s hair out of his brother’s face, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

Rude entered the room, his face impassive. “Nobody else around. Looks like they left yesterday would be my guess.”

“Bastard.” Sephiroth muttered.

Reno could conquer, sliding a cigarette between his lips. “Calling names, as satisfying as it is at times, isn’t going to help Riku. You two guide his arm back into the socket and we can cast the spell and dump potions down his throat until we get back to school. Nothing we can do for the break until then.”

Sora’s face was pale but resolute. He nodded once. “Do it.”

Yuffie knelt beside Sephiroth as Sora slid out of the way, grabbing Riku’s middle. She nodded to Sephiroth who began to guide his brother’s arm back into the socket. Riku hissed, his body arching. Yuffie held him tighter, and sweat appeared on Riku’s brow. Sephiroth bit his lip lightly but forced Riku’s arm back. Riku’s body went slack, and Sora’s hand shot out. Oathkeeper appeared in his palm and he held it over Riku. “Curega!”

Riku’s body lit by a bright green light. They all watched Riku anxiously, curious to see if he was going to wake. “Riku!”

Reno whirled…he knew that voice. His heart sank as he stared into eyes very much like his own. Axel’s face had gone white. “Riku?!”

“He’s okay.” Sora’s voice was choked and he didn’t look surprised to see Axel…or Roxas just behind him. Roxas crossed the room to join him, and for a moment their foreheads pressed together as the blond twin offered silent support. “We need to get him back up to school.”

“Right.” Axel frowned deeply and held out a finger. “We’re going to talk about this.”

“Yippee.” Reno drawled.

0 0 0

Axel was pissed and he didn’t mind showing it to the world. In the end they had decided that Riku would be more comfortable in the jeep where it was quieter and the shocks were better. Sora refused to leave his roommate’s side, Roxas refused to leave Sora’s. Axel couldn’t very well drive them back up…so he had voted Reno drive. His brother had been less than pleased, but a threatening glare from Roxas decided him. Roxas had a great glare when he looked like he meant it. Sephiroth had settled into the cargo hold of the jeep, his eyes distant as he stared out of the window. This arrangement, however, meant that Axel had no time to calm down during the drive…everyone he was pissed at conveniently sat only a few feet away.

“What the hell were you thinking?!” He raged at Sora first. “You took off with my BROTHER and didn’t tell anyone you were going!? Did it occur to you that you could be EXPELLED? Did it occur to you that you could have been in DANGER?!”

“Axel…” Roxas was looking unhappy, but he stopped as Sora’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

Sora’s arm wrapped around Riku’s shoulders, and his face was ashen…but his eyes were livid pools of blue fire. “NO, it didn’t occur to me that I could be in danger because nobody will TELL me what that danger is!” Sora raged back. “Instead all I know is that Riku’s father isn’t going to win ‘Father Of The Year’ any time soon, Cloud clams up when you talk to him and nobody will tell me WHY!” Sora looked madder than Axel had ever seen him. “So forgive me if I got the only person who doesn’t treat me like a little kid too innocent to know about the darkness in life to drive me down so I can rescue my boy….best friend!”

Though Axel doubted that Sora had even noticed his slip of the tongue or his unconscious fix...it did wonders for taking the edge off of Axel’s temper. All right…so he knew why Sora had gone after Riku…and he didn’t even blame him. If it had been ROXAS…well…they would be lucky if Twilight Town didn’t burn down in the wake of Axel’s fury.

He glowered at Sephiroth now. “What the hell happened?!” He demanded. “How is it you’re sitting there not even a SCRATCH on you but Riku looks like he’s been processed through a meat grinder?”

Sephiroth flinched but looked calm. “I don’t remember.”

Axel was pissed. “What do you mean you don’t remember? You don’t remember them breaking Riku’s arm. You don’t remember the hits, the kicks that connected, you don’t remember…”

“AXEL!” Axel stopped as Reno’s voice cut through the air. “Shut up.”

Axel hissed softly. “And you! You KNEW!”

Reno looked pissed now. “Yes, Axel. I freaking knew. Of course I knew. What do you want me to do about it?” He demanded. “Shinra hasn’t done ANYTHING illegal when the students are VOLUNTEERING to participate in the SOLDIER program. If they all end up as nutty as Sephiroth that’s their problem, NOT mine. Maybe in your happy little world it’s black and white, Axel.” He released a furious breath. “Sephiroth was DRUGGED, Axel. Why he didn’t get the snot beaten out of him, hell…I don’t know.”

“I do.” Sephiroth’s eyes were closed as he leaned against the side of the car. “So I get angry enough to go back…for vengeance.”

Reno swore violently, and Axel felt the last of his fury drain out of his body. He had always gotten mad like that…he burned hot and bright…but burned out quickly. “Enough.” Roxas looked pale, but calm. “When we get back to the castle, nobody’s going to be focused on the cars, but we need to pull up CAREFULLY. Sora, dump Riku in the snow when we get there.”

Sora scowled, and Roxas sighed. “Make it seem like someone drove him up here and dumped him into the snow so nobody asks questions.”

Sora looked away. “Rox…why were all those people with you?”

Roxas snorted. “I don’t know, Sora. Larxene threatened to tell someone if she couldn’t come, Luxord was with her. One thing led to another and we had a full van of psychos.” Roxas met Axel’s gaze, and though his face never changed expressions, his eyes softened.

Sora nodded miserably, his face ashen. They pulled up to the school silently, Reno and Sora hauling Riku’s unconscious form in. Roxas glanced at Axel. “He’s right.”

Axel growled. “I know that.” He ran his hand through his hair.

Roxas released a long breath. “I get why you didn’t tell me about Riku’s home life. That’s fine…you didn’t know about Shinra before Sora’s journal did you?”

Axel looked away. “No.”

Roxas nodded once. “Well…we’re going to find out.” He slipped his hand into Axel’s, and Axel sighed at the warm flesh. “All of us. Together.”

They froze as they quietly hung Cid’s keys back on the ring…only to find the figures of Cloud and Leon standing in the doorway. Cloud lifted one finger and inclined it, his face wooden. Groaning softly, Roxas slumped forward, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else…but obediently trying not to piss off his brother more than he already had. Silently they made their way past Cloud, through the empty garage that served as a shop class. The castle was only now beginning to wake up as 9:00 hit and Christmas began.

Cloud moved faster than Axel had anticipated, and Axel felt the breath shoot from his lungs as his back hit the wall. “Cloud!” Roxas lunged forward, but Leon grabbed his arm.

“Shut up, Roxas.” Cloud snarled. He slammed Axel against the wall. “What the HELL were you thinking?!” He demanded. “Taking my brothers, BOTH of my brothers out in STOLEN cars!”

Axel hissed. “Sora left with Reno. We went after him.”

Cloud slammed him again. “Why didn’t you come and get ME?! We could have gone after him with a TEACHER, LEGALLY! What were you thinking?!”

“CLOUD GET OFF OF HIM!” Roxas rebelled, using two fast moves to push Leon aside, lunging at his brother. “Riku’s hurt, Sephiroth was drugged and Sora’s panicked.”

Cloud glowered at Axel. “I know that, Roxas.” He snarled. “And I’m going to KILL Sora when Riku’s okay for leaving with RENO of all people!” He growled.

Axel could respect his dislike of Reno…but he didn’t much care for the fingers digging into his skin. “Did it occur to you that the only reason Sora did that,” He snarled in reply. “was because he couldn’t trust YOU to go after Riku?”

Cloud reacted as if he had been slapped, and Roxas closed his eyes. “Cloud…” He murmured. “…you told Sora enough about things to panic him when Riku didn’t come back…and it’s a good thing you did. Sephiroth was drugged and Riku was beaten badly. Okay, we shouldn’t have stolen the van to get him. Okay, he shouldn’t have enlisted Reno’s help to get down there…but he did…so let it go.”

Cloud looked frustrated and tired. “Roxas…there are things I don’t want you or Sora getting involved in, and Shinra is one of those things. Sora went after him…fine. I’ll kick his ass for stealing a car to do it later. You went after him. Fine…but why the HELL didn’t you get me up?”

Roxas flinched. “Would you have let me go after him?”

Cloud’s lips pursed. “No.” He replied quietly. “I would have gone after him myself.” Shadows filled his eyes. “Let it go, Roxas…and don’t EVER do something like this again.”

Axel snorted. “How DID you find out anyway?”

Leon rolled his eyes. “You were sloppy. Aerith sleeps lightly and heard everything when Sora went to get Yuffie. She came to get me but by then it was too late. A quick glance around showed that Sephiroth and Riku weren’t back yet…and that you were gone.”

Axel felt his blood run cold. Had he noticed how MANY of them were gone? The entire Organization…would Leon put the pieces together? “Don’t do anything like this again.” Leon said coldly. “…or a lot of things I’ve been overlooking will come out into the open.”

“We’re going to go talk to Sephiroth.” Cloud said quietly. “Come into the infirmary.”

Axel felt icy and he glanced at Roxas. “They know.”

Roxas didn’t look surprised. “We’ll just have to be more careful.”