Therapy

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy; if I did it would have been a yaoi fest.

Warning: this chapter includes some cursing, but not much, and some mild violence.

Pairings: mentions Riku x Sora, Zexion x Demyx, but focuses on the kind of sort of relationship of Axel x Roxas.

Axel stared at the business card in his hand. He was torn between desperately wanting to call Roxas and knowing that there was no point. It wasn't like the blond even liked him and he didn't currently want to burn anything to a crisp. I bet he's not even gay. Well there's a depressing thought. Why couldn't I want to burn something, then I'd have an excuse to call him! Axel slammed his head down on the kitchen table that he was sitting at and ignored Reno's stare and his other brother Zexion's amused smirk.

"You know that this doctor doesn't know that you're not really about to light something on fire." Zexion stated.

Emo bastard. Axel couldn't stop the thought from crossing his mind before suddenly sitting up, a wide smile across his face. "Zexy you're right!"

"Don't call me Zexy." The lilac haired teen growled.

"But it sounds so cute." Reno smirked.

"Besides, Demyx gets to call you Zexy." Axel pointed out.

"That doesn't mean that you get to." Zexion glared at his two older brothers.

"Whatever, I'm going to go call Roxas and tell him I want to light the house on fire." Axel stood and made his way over to the phone. Looking down at the card Axel decided that it would be best to use the office number first, don't want to seem desperate for attention now.

The phone rang several times before the voicemail clicked on. "This is Doctor Roxas Strife's office. I'm sorry but I'm currently away or with a patient. Please leave a detailed message with your name, phone number, and reason for calling and I'll get back to you as soon as possible."

Axel hung up the phone and moved on to the next number. This time there was an answer. "Hey this is Sora, but this is Roxas's cell. Who is this, are you one of Roxy's friends?"

"Sora stop stealing my cell phone!"

"But Roxas it's fun to answer other people's phones."

"Give it here."

"Fine, here's your stupid phone."

"Hello this is Roxas."

Axel felt his heart skip a beat and had to swallow before he could speak. "Um, hi this is Axel. You told me to call you if I wanted to burn stuff."

"Oh hello Axel. What is it exactly that you want to burn and how bad is the urge?"

Why does he have to be so analytical? "Um, I kind of want to light my brother's room on fire. The urge isn't that strong but Reno doesn't want me to burn his bed again so he made me call."

"And Reno would be your brother I presume."

"Yeah."

"Alright, why do you want to light his bed on fire?"

"I dunno."

"Axel, is this making you uncomfortable in some way?"

"Kind of, I don't really like to talk over the phone. Would you mind meeting up somewhere to talk?" Oh please, oh please.

There was a short pause and Axel felt his heart fall. "Sure that shouldn't be to much of a problem." Thank you god! "I can meet you anytime after seven. Do you have anywhere in particular that you are comfortable with?"

Yeah, my bed, wanna join me? "Um, there's this coffee shop at Twilight Mall, The Remnants, could you meet me there?"

"Sure, what time would work for you?"

"How about seven thirty?"

"Alright, I'll meet you there."

"Um, thanks, bye."

"Goodbye Axel."

Hearing a soft click Axel started doing a victory dance. Reno and Zexion stared at the redhead; they had never seen him this happy before. "I got a date!" Axel squealed.

"No you got a therapy session." Zexion stated.

Axel glared at his younger brother and Reno decided now might be a good time to keep his mouth shut. "It's not in his office so it's a date."

"No it's an extra therapy session that you only got because you lied about not wanting to talk on the phone." Zexion returned the death glare.

"Die emo bastard!" Axel lunged at the lilac haired teen.

The pair were soon rolling on the ground punching every inch of the other that they could reach. Reno just got up and left, he had enough experience to know not to try to break them apart. The last time he did that Zexion cut him and Axel lit him on fire. The pair didn't even realize that the front door had opened and a blond was staring at them. With a slight sigh she picked up the fire extinguisher in the corner and turned it on the fighting boys.

"What the hell?" Axel screamed.

Zexion stood and wiped as much of the white foam off himself that he could. "Hello mother, I trust that your day was pleasant." His eyes betrayed his polite comment; they seethed with a fury that would have made most small children cry.

The blond woman smirked at her sons, "I thought I told you not to kill each other in the house. I don't want blood on the carpet again."

"Yes mother." Both said emotionlessly.

"Scarlet, could you try not to use the fire extinguisher on the boys. We only have so many in the house after all." A voice called from the back hall.

"Sure thing honey." The blond woman, Scarlet, called back. Casting an amused look back at her sons Scarlet turned on her heel and left them alone in the kitchen.

"Uh, I need to change for my date." Axel looked down at himself in disgust.

"Therapy session." Zexion corrected.

"Bastard."

"Ass wipe."

"Emo."

"Pyro."

"Queer."

"Flamer."

"Stop yelling insults or I'm sending your father in there!" an agitated voice screamed.

"Yes mother." Both boys glared at each other.

An hour later Axel was washed and staring at himself in the mirror. "I look hot!" he announced. He had spent extra time choosing out the perfect fuck me outfit, black leather pants and a skin tight black tee. His hair was perfectly spiked and had so much gel in it that there was no way in hell that it was going to come out of place. His eyeliner was perfect, not a smudge in sight. Twirling around in front of the mirror Axel couldn't keep the smile off his face and he set off to meet Roxas.

Axel arrived at the mall early and quickly made his way to the coffee shop. His smile widened when he saw the familiar blond spiked head of his therapist at one of the tables. As he made his way over he stopped dead a scowl forming on his face when a silver haired man walked up to Roxas. "Hey Roxy, what are you doing here?" the man asked.

"Oh, hey Riku, I was just waiting for a patient. Sora was trying to call you earlier; did he get a hold of you?" Roxas looked up smiling warmly.

"Yeah, he asked me to come spy on you. So I'm here, but I'm not going to spy, that would be rude. What do you want me to tell Sora?"

"Just tell him I said he is an overbearing ass. Not even Cloud tries to pry this much." Roxas shook his head, a slight frown on his lips.

"Alright, I'll tell him." With that Riku walked away ruffling Roxas's hair with one hand as he did.

Who the hell is this Sora? Wasn't he the guy who answered Roxas's cell? Oh crap, I bet he's Roxas's boyfriend! I don't have a chance do I? Well I will just have to steal him away from this Sora guy. Axel walked up to Roxas still scowling. "Hey." He mumbled.

"Oh, hello Axel. I hope you don't mind but I went ahead and ordered while I waited." Roxas looked up, that big smile on his face.

Axel felt like his knees were going to give out, that smile was just so breathtaking. "Um, no I don't mind." Axel managed to get out, "Do you care if I get something before we talk?"

"No, go right ahead."

Axel walked up to the counter and ordered a mocha from the guy behind the counter. He couldn't help but scowl even harder when he saw the guy had silver hair just like Riku. Getting back to the table that Roxas was sitting at his scowl softened a bit. Roxas was looking through a file in front of him, so completely concentrated on the task before him that he didn't even notice Axel practically drooling over him. Roxas was in a black zip up shirt, a white short sleeve jacket, and black and khaki pants. He is just so adorable! I wonder what he looks like without all those clothes on.

"Axel are you alright?" Roxas was looking up at Axel with obvious concern.

"Oh, yeah I'm fine." Axel took a sip of his mocha and sat opposite Roxas at the table, praying that whatever god there was out there would let him not blush.

"Okay," Roxas didn't sound the least bit convinced, "Well we might as well get to business. You said on the phone that you wanted to light your brother's room on fire; can you tell me why you wanted to do that?"

So this is therapy. Axel was thoroughly dejected by that revelation. "Um, not really. Well my other brother was being an ass to me but I don't know if that would make me want to destroy Reno's stuff."

"Well let's talk about your brothers then. You said you have two brothers, are you the oldest, youngest or middle child?"

"Middle."

"And do you usually take things out on Reno?"

"No, not really. I usually go after whoever is pissing me off. Like today I beat the crap out of Zexion."

Roxas choked on his coffee making Axel jump up and thump him on the back. Every time Axel touched the blonde's back he felt a jolt run through his entire body, coming to a rest in his groin. Damn it Axel, do not get a hard on in front of Roxas! He will never like you if you do that!

"Did you say your brother's name is Zexion?" Roxas finally managed to get out.

"Um, yeah. My little brother's name is Zexion, why?"

"My little brother is dating a guy named Zexion. Would your brother be dating a guy named Demyx?"

"Yeah, I can't believe he's your brother. I mean he's way taller than you and has a mullet mohawk thing, not exactly what you picture as a therapist's little brother."

"Yeah, well you should meet my twin brother Sora. He's like a two year old on sugar."

"So that guy who answered your phone was your twin brother."

"Yeah that would have been Sora." I have a chance! Axel rejoiced in his head, mentally doing his victory dance. "Axel are you okay, you are looking really flushed."

"Oh, um, I'm fine." Axel get a hold of yourself!

"I don't know." Roxas reached a hand up and laid it on Axel forehead before quickly snatching it back, "You're really hot."

"Why thank you, I did think I was looking pretty good today." Axel smiled widely. Maybe he does like me; he thinks I'm hot after all.

"No I mean you have a fever."

"Oh," Axel's face fell, "Don't think anything of that, I have a really high natural body temperature."

"I don't know Axel. I would feel a lot better if you went home and got some rest. Come on I'll walk you to your car." Roxas stood a frown on his face.

"Actually I don't drive; my older brother dropped me off. He won't be back for an hour."

"I can give you a ride then. Come on, I'm not leaving you here."

YES! I get a ride from my hot doctor! "Sure, whatever." Don't be so cold you jack ass! This is your chance.

Axel followed Roxas out of the mall into the parking lot still mentally berating himself for not being able to just tell the blond that he liked him. He remained silent as he climbed into Roxas's jeep and stared at the floor. "Axel I'm going to need directions to your house."

Roxas's voice made him jump in his seat. "Oh, yeah. Just turn left once you get out of the parking lot and go straight for a long time, I'll tell you when you need to turn again."

"Thanks." Roxas started up the motor and pulled out of the parking lot. They road in silence, mind numbing, almost deafening silence. Axel was about to break the silence when suddenly he felt lightheaded. "Axel are you okay? You just got really pale."

Axel didn't have time to reply before the world started to go black. He was slightly aware of the fact that he was falling and the car had stopped. "Shit! Axel stay awake, don't pass out on me!" a voice called from far off. Then there was nothing, only darkness and the feeling of being on fire.

Roxas sat at his desk his head cocked to the side. Why is Sora at my apartment again? Roxas thought numbly. The brunette was currently doing the chicken dance in the middle of Roxas's home office. The music that was playing was not the chicken dance song; in fact it was heavy metal. Note to self, never let Sora play with the radio again.

"Come on Roxy, dance with me!" Sora yelled.

"Sora turn that music down before the neighbors call the cops." Roxas watched the scene before him with slight detachment, knowing full well what his twin was going to do.

First there was the pout, no one pouted like Sora. Second the response. "But Roxy I wanna dance!" When all he got was a blank stare Sora threw his hands up in defeat. "Fine, no more music."

When the music was finally turned down Roxas heard his cell phone going off. Reaching to his pocket he found that there was no phone to be found. "What the hell, where'd my phone go?"

"Hey this is Sora, but this is Roxas's cell. Who is this, are you one of Roxy's friends?"

Roxas glared at his brother before yelling, "Sora stop stealing my cell phone!"

"But Roxas it's fun to answer other people's phones." There was that pout, Sora should have realized by now that it didn't work on his twin.

"Give it here." Roxas held out his hand expectantly.

"Fine, here's your stupid phone."

Raising the phone to his ear Roxas had to fight to keep the irritation out of his voice, "Hello this is Roxas."

There was a slight pause before the voice Roxas had been fantasizing about all day answered, "Um, hi this is Axel. You told me to call you if I wanted to burn stuff."

Great he calls and it's actually for a medical reason. "Oh hello Axel. What is it exactly that you want to burn and how bad is urge?"

"Um, I kind of want to light my brother's room on fire. The urge isn't that strong but Reno doesn't want me to burn his bed again so he made me call."

Again? How many times has he done that? "And Reno would be your brother I presume."

"Yeah."

What's with the one word answers and this guy? "Alright, why do you want to light his bed on fire?"

"I dunno."

"Axel, is this making you uncomfortable in some way?"

"Kind of, I don't really like to talk over the phone. Would you mind meeting up somewhere to talk?"

Hell yeah! Roxas glanced at his agenda before answering. "Sure that shouldn't be to much of a problem. I can meet you anytime after seven. Do you have anywhere in particular that you are comfortable with?"

"Um, there's this coffee shop at Twilight Mall, The Remnants, could you meet me there?"

"Sure, what time would work for you?"

"How about seven thirty?"

"Alright, I'll meet you there."

"Um, thanks, bye."

"Goodbye Axel."

Roxas hung up the phone a smile forming on his lips. "So did you get a date?" Sora chirped.

"It's not a date." Roxas glared at his twin. Why is he always trying to pry into my private life? I leave him and Riku alone. "It's a therapy session outside of normal office hours."

"Sure, you just keep telling yourself that."

"Sora don't get any ideas. He called me for a valid medical reason and simply wants to avoid getting arrested again." Roxas sighed slightly, "Besides, it's not like he even likes me. He barely says anything and all his answers are one word responses. If that isn't proof that he's uncomfortable around me I don't know what is."

"Maybe you should just jump him. I mean that's how I got together with Riku and it seemed to work for Demyx and that Zexy guy."

"Sora."

"Yes."

"Get out."

"Fine, I need to call Riku anyway." With that Sora marched out of Roxas's apartment.

Sighing Roxas looked down at himself. He was still in his work clothes, a blue button up shirt and khaki slacks. Well if Axel is uncomfortable talking to me on the phone he'll probably be just as uncomfortable talking to me if I look like this. I should change into some normal clothes so I don't scare him off. Wait a second; you're not going to go down that path. You are not trying to make him like you; you're trying to make him talk to you. Bad Roxy, don't even think about him like that! He's your patient for god's sakes!

Smacking himself on the forehead Roxas groaned and stood up to go change. It took him almost an hour to get dressed. He kept having to remind himself that he was not trying to date Axel and if he chose something nice he would just scare the guy. No it was much better to just go with something he would wear around his friends, that way there wouldn't be any misconceptions about his intent. Finally deciding on a black shirt, white jacket, and black and khaki jeans Roxas glanced at the clock. Six forty five. Damn, why couldn't he have said some earlier time? Then I could just show up a little early or late. Well I might as well go now and just bring some work with me.

Roxas got to the mall with about twenty minutes to spare and ordered himself a hot cocoa before starting to go over his cases. He was just starting to get some work done too when he heard a familiar voice. "Hey Roxy, what are you doing here?"

Looking up he found a silver haired man standing in front of him. Smiling warmly Roxas replied lightly, "Oh, hey Riku, I was just waiting for a patient. Sora was trying to call you earlier; did he get a hold of you?"

"Yeah, he asked me to come spy on you. So I'm here, but I'm not going to spy, that would be rude. What do you want me to tell Sora?"

Roxas frowned and shook his head, "Just tell him I said he is an overbearing ass. Not even cloud tries to pry this much." I can't believe Sora sent his boyfriend to spy on me! At least Riku is a decent person and understands that it's totally inappropriate.

"Alright, I'll tell him." Riku ruffled Roxas's hair and walked off.

"Hey." A voice said from behind Roxas. Turning he found Axel with a scowl on his face.

Great he really doesn't want to be here, this should be fun. "Oh, hello Axel. I hope you don't mind but I went ahead and ordered while I waited." Roxas smiled up at Axel trying to placate him.

It seemed to work a bit; his scowl softened just a touch. "Um, no I don't mind. Do you care if I get something before we talk?"

"No, go right ahead."

Axel simply walked away from the blond who frowned slightly. Oh well, not like I expected him to jump into my arms the moment he saw me. Roxas turned back to his paperwork, he was a little behind and it was best to get it in wherever he could. He was so caught up in it that he didn't even realize that Axel had come back until he felt the redhead's eyes on him. When he looked up he saw that Axel had the most peculiar look on his face, almost like he was dazed. "Axel are you alright?" Roxas asked.

"Oh, yeah I'm fine." Axel took a sip of his drink and sat down quickly, a slight blush crossing his cheeks.

"Okay," what was that blush about? "Well we might as well get to business. You said on the phone that you wanted to light your brother's room on fire; can you tell me why you anted to do that?"

Axel looked slightly depressed at the line of questioning, "Um, not really. Well my other brother was being an ass to me but I don't know if that would make me want to destroy Reno's stuff."

Yes! More than one word in that reply. "Well let's talk about your brothers then. You said you have two brothers, are you the oldest, youngest, or middle child?"

"Middle." So much for multiple word responses.

"And do you usually take things out on Reno?"

"No, not really. I usually go after whoever is pissing me off. Like today I beat the crap out of Zexion."

Roxas was in the middle of taking a sip of cocoa when he heard that name. choking he spat a mouthful of the hot liquid on top of the table. Axel jumped up and thumped him on the back and despite the reason for the contact; Roxas couldn't stop himself from enjoying it. Finally regaining the ability to speak Roxas managed to gasp, "Did you say your brother's name is Zexion?"

"Um, yeah. My little brother's name is Zexion, why?" Axel seemed completely at a loss as to why that was important.

"My little brother is dating a guy named Zexion." Roxas could just picture the lilac haired emo, "Would your brother be dating a guy named Demyx?"

"Yeah, I can't believe he's your brother." Axel seemed mildly amused at that, "I mean he's way taller than you and has a mullet mohawk thing, not exactly what you picture as a therapist's little brother."

"Yeah, well you should meet my twin brother Sora. He's like a two year old on sugar."

"So that guy who answered your phone was your twin brother."

"Yeah that would have been Sora." Axel seemed slightly relieved for some reason but then flushed violently. "Axel are you okay, you are looking really flushed."

"Oh, um, I'm fine." Axel seemed almost embarrassed that Roxas had noticed.

"I don't know." Roxas reached out to feel Axel's forehead, snatching his hand away at the intense heat he had not expected to be there. "You're really hot."

"Why thank you, I did think I was looking pretty good today." Axel smiled cockily.

"No I mean you have a fever." How can he be making jokes when he's so overheated?

Axel's face fell suddenly, "Oh." He stated, "Don't think anything of that, I have a really high natural body temperature."

Like hell! You feel like a freaking volcano! "I don't know Axel. I would feel a lot better if you went home and got some rest. Come on I'll walk you to your car." Roxas stood frowning at the redhead.

"Actually I don't drive; my older brother dropped me off. He won't be back for an hour."

"I can give you a ride then. Come on, I'm not leaving you here."

"Sure, whatever."

Axel followed Roxas to his car in silence. Great he really doesn't want to be around me. Well there is no way in hell that I was going to leave him there with such a high fever so he'll just have to suck it up. Once in the car Roxas turned to find Axel staring at the floor. "Axel I'm going to need directions to your house."

Axel jumped so high that had it not been for his seat belt he probably would have hit his head on the roof. "Oh, yeah. Just turn left once you get out of the parking lot and go straight for a long time, I'll tell you when you need to turn again."

"Thanks." Roxas started the car and pulled away from the mall. Axel didn't say a word to Roxas as they headed towards his house. Finally fed up with the uncomfortable silence Roxas turned to look at Axel only to see him suddenly turn deathly pale. "Axel are you okay? You just got really pale."

Axel looked like he was about to reply but instead simply fell forward against his seat belt. Stopping the car abruptly Roxas yelled, "Shit! Axel stay awake, don't pass out on me!" The redhead didn't respond, only slumped even further into his seat. "Shit, shit, shit!" Roxas did the only thing he could think of and headed in the direction of his apartment.