Corruption

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Corruption, Chapter Six

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Yo”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>My head jerked up quickly. I only saw my
yard and everything behind Xigbar. “Axel?
Huh? ‘Ju turn invisible?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“…No.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“What do you want?” Xigbar demanded,
shifting me downwards to a more comfortable position, so my stomach wasn’t
digging into his shoulder anymore. He didn’t put me down though.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I could hear the anger in Axel’s voice.
“What’s it matter to you, Scarface?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I twisted around so I could see Axel. He
stood on the front porch, smoking. The porch light illuminated his hair,
forehead, and his nose, but the area around his eyes was dark. I stared at his
eyes, and realized that the darkness around the left one wasn’t just because of
the lighting. “Axel, what happened to your face?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel flicked his cigarette into the grass.
“Doesn’t fucking matter now, does it? You’re busy
with…that.” He sneered.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar swung me down to my feet. “Who
punched you?” He demanded.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Your mom, shut the fuck up,” Axel retorted.
He turned to me. “Where the fuck where you?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“…hospital…” I replied meekly, although I
was virtually unheard.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar continued talking. “Okay, I’ll ignore
the mom comment. I only asked you because you’re his friend,” Xigbar said,
nodding towards. “Never mind that you’re style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>’s kid brother or anything.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel sighed, running his hands through his fiery
red tresses. “Doesn’t fucking matter. It’s class=SpellE>nuthin’ new.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I stood silently, gaping at what Axel said.
Xigbar strode to Axel, grabbing him by the collar. “I asked you a question, so
answer it!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel jerked away. “It’s none of your
business.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I started muttering without realizing that I
was actually doing it. “I outta kill him…or
something.” I paused and admitted sheepishly. “But I dunno
how.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar and Axel both ignored me, continuing
their own ‘discussion’. “Fine,” Xigbar sneered. “But why is your bag here?” He
nodded towards Axel’s duffle bag that sat next to the front door. “Is Lea at it
again?” How did Xigbar know class=SpellE>Axie’s dad?

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel stared at him for a minute, and then
looked to the ground. “..Yeah.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“D’aw! class=SpellE>Axie!” I
cooed, extending my arms to embrace my best friend. “You can stay here
forever!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel opened his mouth to say something,
probably along the lines of ‘never again,
Demyx’ but he was cut off by Xigbar yanking him and dragging him to my
dad’s car. Xigbar for some reason must find my dad’s car fun to drive…or
something.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel resisted. “What the style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>fuck are you doin’?”
He demanded.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

class=GramE>“Axie!”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> I cried. “I thought we were class=SpellE>gonna do makeovers and run around in our bunny slippers and
eat ice cream!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel and Xigbar stared at me with ‘what the
fuck’ expressions. I have that affect on people.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Uh-huh,” Xigbar said slowly, class=GramE>then turned to Axel. “I am finishing something with Lea and
that sorry excuse for a whore!” He paused. “Wait, Larxene will love this.” He
whipped out his cell phone and texted Larxene,
getting an immediate response. “She’ll be here in five.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“But it takes twenty minutes to get here!” I
said, my eyes widening.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel, all the while, was eyeing Xigbar
suspiciously. “Why are you doing this?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Doesn’t matter, she’ll be here,” Xigbar
told me, then looked to Axel. “Why, you don’t believe
in the general goodness in people?” He asked with a catlike grin.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“…Not from people like you…”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

class=GramE>“Oh, ooohhh!”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> I bounced up and down, forgetting that I
was really tired. “I wanna go!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar poked my forehead. “You would get
raped.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“But…I’m not allowed to be left home alone.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar looked at my skeptically, then
nodded. “Fine, but you are staying in the car.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene pulled up in her car, wearing a
completely different outfit than what she was in when I saw her at the
hospital. This time she was wearing a black tank top and black jeans, with
four-inch steal stilettos. “Oi, oi,
are we going?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I didn’t really hear anything Larxene said.
I was too busy bouncing around. “Yay! I class=GramE>gets to go!” I jumped on Axel’s back. “OH! You still got
that puppy?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Uh…no…it died five years ago.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar turned to us and barked. “Come on,
let’s go! The faster we solve this, the faster I get smex.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“What?
Ah, hell nah!” Axel said. He tilted his head back at
me. “What were you saying about makeovers?” He started back for the house as I
cheered.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I could hear the annoyance in Xigbar’s
voice. “Fine, but you’ll miss your father finally getting what’s coming to him.
Or is it that you can’t let go of him? He’s not the same as he was fifteen
years ago, Axel. Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> moved on, why can’t you?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

class=GramE>“Maybe…because I’m style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>not…fucking class=GramE>Renoclass=GramE>!”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Axel said painstakingly. He slammed his
fist into the pillar of my house, not saying anything. He seemed to have gotten
lost in his own thoughts.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>*~*~*~*~*

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Axel
had a pretty good childhood. That is, as good as a childhood could be when your
father was an abusive alcoholic who loved to beat his wife. And he was
homophobic. Couldn’t forget that.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>It
hadn’t always been like that. Sometimes, when Axel took the time to reflect, he
could remember a time where his father wasn’t an ass. Back when they had money
and his father didn’t spend all his earnings on booze. What had changed? Axel
could never figure it out. It just happened abruptly, after Lea got laid off
from his work.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Everyday
since then, Axel would come home from school, attempt his homework, then rush
outside to play. He would rush back inside only a little bit later to bathe before
his father got home from ‘job hunting.’ Axel was young at the time, virtually
innocent, but he even knew that his father must have been doing some serious
‘job hunting’ if he came how trashed every night.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>When
it was time for dinner, Axel would sit at the kitchen table alone, swatting
away the roaches so he could eat the gruel his mother had prepared for dinner.
Afterwards, he would retreat to his room and lay on the box spring mattress
that he shared with his older brother. He would stare at the ceiling, studying
the yellow stains from leaking water as mother got knocked around in the living
room.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Sometime
after nine, sometimes even after style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>midnightstyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>, style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
would come home. Being eight years older than Axel, style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
had the means to stay out later, even though he would get in serious trouble
for it every night. It never helped that the stubborn redhead chose to walk
through the front door, into the living room where his drunken father would be
standing with a whiskey bottle in his hand while his mother laid on the floor,
sobbing. Common sense suggested that climbing in through the bedroom window
would be a little more intelligent, but style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
seemed to go out of his way to be completely dim.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>   

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Their
father would take his attention off his wife then, when style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
entered and took his drunken rage out on him. Lea was always careful to land
his blows on inconspicuous places on his son’s body. The chest, the back,
forearms…it really didn’t matter, as long as it didn’t queue RSC to come invade
in their family affairs again. Fucking pricks tried to take his sons away from
him once. He was damn sure not gonna let that happen
again.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>This
was the daily routine of the Rose residence. The screams and howls of his
mother became like and ill-sung lullaby for Axel.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Reno
would stalk into the bedroom, locking the door behind him, then collapse on the
bed beside Axel. He would rustle the boy’s hair, promising that they would one
day escape from this hell. Axel would nod and watch his brother sleep ruggedly,
wondering why Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> allowed
Dad to do those things to him.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Both
boys wanted nothing more than for their life to change, but as the years
passed, things only got worse. The only good thing that happened was their
meeting of Demyx. He changed everything for Axel, and in a way, style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
too. Demyx’s home was a refuge, but only until the time came for Axel to return
home.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>When
Axel was nine, Axel got beat as severely as his mother and brother for the
first time. Lea had found out about Demyx’s parents. They were faggots. And if
they were, that meant that their brat was too. And if the brat was Axel’s best
friend, Axel must be a faggot too. Lea had Axel lay on the kitchen table, among
the roaches, while Lea beat him repeatedly with his metal-enforced belt. Over,
and over, Axel thought it would never end. When it finally ended, Axel’s back
was bloody and he couldn’t move. style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
had earned himself a broken arm from trying to stop Lea. [Lea’s convenient
cover story for thatstyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> was that style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
had fallen off the roof trying to set up Christmas lights.] Axel’s mother…well,
it didn’t matter. She was too much of a bitch to care anyway.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>    

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>When
Axel was eleven, he started working under the table so he could save up money
to run away. He started by running errands for Reno’s friend, carrying big bags
of tea in his backpack and transporting them place to place on his way to
school. The recipients would give him money, which he would return to his
‘boss’. Axel got a small percentage of that money, and over time, he had a
large accumulation of munny hidden under the
floorboards beneath his mattress at home. Lea—Axel refused to refer to him as
his father now—could never know. If he knew, he would most certainly take all
Axel’s hard-earned money. So naturally, the only people who knew about Axel’s
earnings were Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
and his boss.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>One
Saturday, Axel was walking to a warehouse to deliver some sugar. When he walked
into the warehouses, he heard weird noises coming from the back. Too curious
for his own good, he crept to the back of the warehouse. He was shocked to see
that his own brother was shirtless, lip-locked with another man.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

class=GramE>“R-Reno?”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Axel asked uncertainly.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Reno
detached himself from the other man and looked down at his brother, pulling a
shirt over him. His hair was messier than usual, his eyes bloodshot and glazed
over. “Axel?”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“W-what
are you doing?” Axel demanded, avoiding eye-contact with style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
and the other man.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“class=SpellE>Nu~in,” style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
said with a drawl, and then started giggling.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Axel
narrowed his vibrant green eyes. “Are you…on drugs?” Axel didn’t exactly know
of them firsthand, but he had often learned about them at school.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“class=SpellE>Aww, Axie, ‘s
jus’ pot. Nuttinclass=GramE>’ bad.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The
man spoke a moment later. Axel looked up, studying him. He was much taller than
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> with
broad, muscular shoulders and a bald head. He wore dark sunglasses, so Axel
couldn’t see his eyes. “Why are you here, kid?”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“..Are
you Rude?”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

class=GramE>“Yeah.”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Axel
set his backpack to the ground and pulled out the package of sugar and handed
it to Rude. Axel received a large amount of munny,
folded together neatly in a billfold. He nodded in thanks, turned and headed
out of the warehouse, Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
following.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>There
was a thick silence between the two. After fifteen minutes of nothingness, Axel
looked up at his brother, who was smoking a cigarette. “You…uh, like guys?”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“class=SpellE>Mhm,” Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
said, discarding his cigarette butt on the sidewalk. “Always have,
bro.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“Oh,”
Axel didn’t know what to say. He looked at the grass growing from the sidewalk
cracks, and then looked up. “Aren’t you scared about D—Lea?” Lea had gone
insane when he had found out that Demyx’s parents were both men.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“Nope,”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
said simply, shoving his fists in his pockets.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

class=GramE>“Really?”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> Axel looked up in admiration. style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
had always been braver than Axel…

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

class=GramE>“Yeah.”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Axel
was silent for a moment. “We should hurry up so I can return the sugar money.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“Sugar
money?” style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
snorted.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

class=GramE>“Yeah…because I got it…for giving the guy sugar.”style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“Is
that what Xigbar told you that it was?” style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
grinned.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“No…he
never said what it was.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“I’ll
let you keep those illusions, then.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Axel
didn’t say another word until they arrived at Xigbar’s apartment. It was
located in the same low-project sector that style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
and Axel lived. Axel knocked on the door, style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
standing behind him.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The
door opened a moment later by a tall man in his early twenties. He had shoulder
length black hair with purple stripes [though at the roots of these stripes,
his hair was grey] which brought out the color of his gold eyes.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“You
finish the job, Axel?” Xigbar asked gruffly.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“Yeah,”
Axel said, handing over the munny.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Xigbar
ran his fingers across through it and gave Axel a fifty munny.
He was generous today.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“Thank
you,” Axel said beaming. Xigbar simply grunted in response and closed the door
again.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>When
Axel was almost fifteen, he smoked pot for the first time. He was sitting with style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
and style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>’s
friend, Vincent in their bedroom, leaning against the wall. With his first
inhalation, he was sent into a coughing fit.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“You’re
not doing it right,” Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
said. “Do it like this.” He instructed, smoking
‘correctly’, then blew the smoke in Axel’s face.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“class=SpellE>Asswipe,” Axel jeered, snatching the joint.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“I’m
planning on coming out to Lea,” style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
said. Over the past several years, he hadn’t told Lea that he was gay, but he
made no effort to try to hide it, either.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Axel
was silent a moment. “Why?”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“It’ll
be an opportunity to leave…and he won’t try to find me.” style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
paused. “You should come with me.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“I...I
don’t think I can.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“Are
you saying that you like being here with that cunt
licker?” style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
narrowed his eyes.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“No,
it’s not that…” Axel’s voice trailed off, unable to explain his internal
conflict. “You’re a fucking buzz kill.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Reno
laughed, then rustled his brother’s hair, reaching up now that Axel was taller
than him. “You’ll get over it.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“…How
are you going to do it?”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“With
style, naturally,” Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
said.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>That
meant loud and exaggerated. Axel grimaced. “You plan on going out with a bang?”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

class=GramE>“Of course.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>There
was a loud banging sound from the living room. Lea was home. style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
stood up, grinning. “This is going to be fun.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Axel
raised an eyebrow. What exactly did style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
have in mind? “Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>…what
are you--?”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“class=SpellE>Ssh,” Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
commanded. He nodded his head at Vincent, who had been silent the whole time.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Vincent
looked up at Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
dully. It was clear that Vincent didn’t want to do this. Knowing style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>,
his ‘plan’ was formulated for disaster.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Reno
opened the bedroom door, giggling. Lea looked up immediately with a raised
eyebrow. “Hello, Daddy,” Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
said with a lisp. “We need to talk.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“What
the FUCK?” Lea demanded, glaring venomously at style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>.
“Why the hell are you talking like that?”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“Because,
Daddy, there’s something I have to tell you,” style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> said,
motioning for Vincent to stand beside him. Axel watched from the bed. “I am
gay.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“WHAT?”
Lea demanded, his knuckles white.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>“Yeah,”
style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
said, nodding. “And, like, this is my gay lover, Vinny.
We have smex all the time.” style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
cocked his head to the side. “And we like, have gay smex
on your bed when you’re not here.” 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Axel
had never seen Lea so angry. There was as much steam coming out of his ears as
a freight train. Lea slammed open his gun case and
pulled out a shotgun. He loaded it swiftly, pointing it at his son. “Faggots
don’t deserve to live.”

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>What
happened next was unclear. There was a wave of various movements. Next thing
Axel knew, Lea was doubled over on the floor and style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
was giggling like a school girl. Vincent led style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
out to his car and they sped away. 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Renostyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
never returned to that small house in the slums.

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Every
day since then, Axel wanted to do the same. But something always held him back.
It wasn’t like he enjoyed being beaten. He could never figure out what that
was…

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>*~*~*~*~*~*~*

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I got off Axel and let him brood in his own
thoughts for a moment before wrapping my
arms around his waist, setting my head on his back. “Of course you’re not style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>. You’re Axie. And
Demmy loves Axie and will
be with you through the whoooolllleeee thing.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I’ll kill you, you bastard!” I turned my
head to see Xigbar lunging for us. Well, Axel, anyway.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Calm down,” Larxene commanded, holding
Xigbar by one arm. With her other hand, she twisted her cigarette into Xigbar’s
arm. Damn, she’s scary.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“What the fuck?” Xigbar growled.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“That’s for being a drama queen,” Larxene
sneered.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel stared at the two then looked down at
me. “Are you trying to get me killed, Dem? Let go of me.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I obliged, pouting. “So…uh, are we going or
what?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>We all piled into my Dad’s car. Much to his
distaste, Axel was to drive, since Xigbar claimed that he didn’t remember where
Axel lived. That didn’t make sense to me. Why would he know? I shoved the
thoughts aside and stared out the backseat window, watching the streetlights
pass by in an orange blur.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“This adventure’s getting my blood pumping,
how about you?” Xigbar purred, leaning close to me.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel whipped his head back. class=GramE>“What the hell?!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“…um…uh…I want chocolate milk!” I sputtered.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Shut up and pay attention to the road!”
Larxene commanded, shoving her cigarette in Axel’s thigh. I could see the red
embers diminish in Axel’s jeans.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“OW! WHAT THE FUCK?!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Don’t look at me, look at the road or I’ll
burn you again. Where the fuck did you learn to drive?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>While Axel was distracted by Larxene, Xigbar
leaned even closed, his hand trailing up my thigh, right to my crotch.
“X-Xigbar...” I hissed.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Hmm, are you still rowdy from the
hospital?” Xigbar whispered in my ear. His voice sent a chill down my spine. I
didn’t have to look at him to know that he was.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Even though I mentally wasn’t ‘rowdy’ my body was. Xigbar seemed to sense that and started
rubbing my shaft.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I shuttered slightly. “We…really style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>shouldn’t…”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel heard and emitted a low growl as he
floored it in response. I had forgotten to put on my seatbelt and involuntarily
jerked forward.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar ignored it all. “But you know,” he
continued, his voice sinking to a sexy whisper. “That’s what makes it all the
more satisfying.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene immediately turned around, holding
some kind of weird looking camera, pointing it at us. “Straight
to my portfolio.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Whatstyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>? If I wasn’t flustered earlier, I certainly
was now. “OH-EM-GEE,” I said, scooting away from Xigbar. “Stop it.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>This time, Axel took a sharp turn. I’m sure
he meant for it to help me, but instead it slammed Xigbar into me. “Much
better,” Xigbar murmured, kissing my lips roughly, his tongue invading my
mouth. He pinned my wrists against the seat as he grinded his hips against
mine.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I tried to resist. Seriously, I’m sure some
part of my tried to. It just wasn’t
any conscious part. I leaned forward, deepening the kiss with a soft moan.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Axel grumbled, making
another sharp turn, in the opposite direction this time, and then slamming on
the brakes. “Break it up; we’re here.” Axel and Larxene got out of the car,
leaving me with Xigbar.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Jealous,” Xigbar sneered, then turned to me
as he got out of the car. “Stay in the car, okay? Things are going to get
really ugly really soon.” He locked the door and waved. I planted my face on
the cold window and watched them. It wasn’t fair that I had to be stuck in the
car!

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Let’s hurry, I’m horny,” I head Xigbar say.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“All the more reason to take our time,” Axel
grumbled.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I pouted. “Don’t leave me!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“We’ll be back in a minute. Won’t die on
you, promise.” Xigbar said to me. He turned and walked with Axel and Larxene to
the front door…

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>*~*~*~*~*

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Let’s go,” I said, turning away from the
car, heading to the front steps of Axel’s house.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Yeah,” Axel nodded in agreement. He strode
fast me swiftly, and opened the door. A shrill squeak emitted from the rusty
hinges.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>We were immediately greeted by the barrel of
a shotgun. Lea’s gun, precisely, pointed directly at Axel’s face. ”class=SpellE>Wa’chu doin’ here, style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>faggot? I toughttaye
tol’ju ta leave.” I didn’t
bother hiding my disgust for this man. I had never put any stock in rednecks
like him. Even though it was very dim in the house, I could make out his
features. Swollen belly, greasy, receding grey hairline and a
face so ugly, getting hit by a semi truck would have been an improvement.
How Renostyle='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> and Axel came out looking like normal human
beings, I had no idea. I had first met Lea over ten years ago, and he was still
the same pathetic creature as he was when I had had the misfortune of being of
acquaintance. 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I’m not sure if it’s because I couldn’t
stand Lea’s measly existence, the way he treated people or just everything in
general, but I really wanted to bash his face in. So I did. “He came back for
this,” I said, before Axel could say anything. I jerked the gun away and
smashed my fist into his face. “And this, and this,” I added, overall beating
the shit out of him.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene was incapable of standing on the
sidelines. When Axel’s mother entered the room—what was her name? It was either
‘bitch’ ‘whore’ or ‘cunt’ as far as I knew. As soon
as Larxene laid eyes on her, she yanked the poor woman by her hair. “I’ve
waited for your head for a while, bitch.” With a wicked grin, she pulled out
two butterfly knives.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Despite having her hair being yanked out of
her, the woman was more concerned with her husband. Lea was struggling, trying
to fight back, to get me to stop. It wasn’t working for him.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “What the fuck! Who the fuck
are you?! Axel! Get this fucker off me!” Lea wailed.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“….No.” Axel said, staring down at Lea.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

class=GramE>“Lea!”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> His wife screamed.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Oh, you won’t have to worry about him
anymore, Sweetie,” Larxene cooed. She reached across the whore’s throat, lightly
dragging the blade of the butterfly knife across her throat.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I was throttling Lea. “You don’t remember
me, you bastard?!” I pointed to Larxene. “You beat her!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Lea flinched. “I don’t remember, I
swear!” 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene snorted at his response. Of course
he didn’t, considering that it never happened. I just felt like fucking with
his head.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“And I find out you’re beating Axel because
he’s gay?! You have a lot of nerve.” I leaned over him, my face close to his.
In a malicious whisper, I said, “I should kill you both, right here.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Police sirens went off. Axel placed his hand
on my shoulder and pulled me back. “Lemme finish
this,” he said, kicking Lea as hard as he could in the groin. He turned
abruptly and walked out.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I ran out and jumped in the backseat. “Come
on!” Axel started the car and pulled out of the driveway.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>*~*~*~*~*~*~*

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene sat in the front seat, laughing. “class=SpellE>Eheeheehee…”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“You didn’t!” Xigbar said, leaning forward.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“What, they won’t investigate anyway.”
Larxene replied.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>My eyes widened. “Investigate what? Bloody
hell, what did you guys do?” I felt
my hands shaking. “I dun wanna go to jail!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I just cut his vocal cords.” Larxene
shrugged and looked out the window.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>That didn’t ease my panic at all. I was somehow
and accomplice or something wasn’t I?

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“You’re not going to jail,” Xigbar said.
“But I might. So I’m using this time as I damn well please.” He grabbed my
head, raping my lips. A hand dropped down, yanking off my belt, his hand
plunging down my pants.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I should have expected as much, but it still
shocked me. “Mmf!” I
groaned, clinging to Xigbar, my fingers entangling in his hair.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

class=GramE>“Load, stupid camera,
load!” I heard Larxene
hiss, but I didn’t pay her any mind.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I feel like I’m going to be sick…” Axel
muttered, keeping his eyes on the road. “How come I don’t get it anymore?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Because you’re not as sexy as I am,” Xigbar
replied.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I bit Xigbar’s lip. “Shaddup,”
I said. The blue light from Axel’s cell illuminated the front of the car.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Oh, so you’re in control now?” Xigbar said,
bringing my attention away from the cell phone. He had a wicked gleam in his
eye.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

class=GramE>“Mhm.”style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> I tugged on his hair while Axel was
muttering to himself. ‘Stupid Roxie…pick up,’ I heard him say. Xigbar grinned
and started licking my hickey, starting on the edges and moving closer to the
center, twisting my nipples. I gasped loudly, short of breath.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“ANSWER THE PHONE, FUCK DAMN IT!” Axel
yelled into his cell phone, and then redialed again.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“WHAT
DO YOU WANT?” I could clearly hear Roxas’s voice like he was sitting beside
me, not yelling at Axel through the phone. 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I want you,” Axel purred.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  I couldn’t hear what Roxas said aside from
saying that it was three in the morning. “Why is Sora up?” Axel asked. He
paused. “But I want you Roxie! And I probably won’t get to see you tomorrow and
Demyx is getting some in the backseat and it’s not fair.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I heard the impatient tone of Roxas’s voice,
but didn’t understand a word of it until he decided to yell again. “style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>AND WHY THE HELL IS XIGBAR WITH YOU?!”

style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Because he’s a fucking mooch,” Axel paused,
hearing me moan loudly. “YOU HEAR THAT, ROXIE? WHERE’S MY LOVE?” Roxas started
talking again. He must have agreed to sleep with Axel or something, because he
cheered ‘yay’. He looked into the backseat through
the rear-view mirror, and then yelled at me.
“YOU HEAR THAT, DEM?!” Naturally, I didn’t. “IF YOU KEEP ON DOING THAT YOU’RE
GOING TO GET HERPES!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>My eyes widened. “class=SpellE>Wha--?” I pushed Xigbar away. “AAHH1”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“He’s joking,” Xigbar said, giving Axel a
glare of doom. “Tell Roxie if he doesn’t act soon, AXEL’S GONNA BE MARLUXIA’S
SEX SLAVE!” He said, pulling me back. I lay limply in his arms.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

class=GramE>“Umm…Roxie?style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> I’ve just been informed that I’m doomed to
being Mar’s sex slave if you don’t put out.” Axel said.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“Damn straight,” Xigbar said, kissing me.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“This is better than Xaldin’s soap operas!”
Larxene observed, loving it.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“…Are you going to leave me to that fate?”
Axel asked, pulling into Roxas’s driveway. “Roxie?”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Roxas slammed into Xigbar’s window, yelling
at him. “Get out of here, you sonuvabitch!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar laughed hysterically while I sunk low
in my seat. “Roxie is scary,” I said.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel was absorbed in messing with my dad’s
built-in coffee maker. “A-ha! I found coffee!” Axel
looked back a moment later, seeing Roxas making faces at Xigbar in the window.
“What the fuck, Roxie? What’s with all the innuendos in the window? I got you
coffee!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar pointed to Roxas, looking down at me.
“That’s what your face looked like when I finished sucking y---”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“AAH!” I cut Xigbar off, panicking. I
scrambled away from Xigbar. I was leaning against the car door. It opened, and
I fell out. I looked up to find Sora glaring at me. He looked so much bigger
than he usually did…

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

class=GramE>“You meanie!style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> I didn’t give you a hockey!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I didn’t know you were into that,” Xigbar
said, leaning close to me. “Don’t I satisfy
you?” He turned to Sora. “Beat it, kid.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Sora ignored Xigbar. “It’s your fault! I
can’t see Riku for a month because of you!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I didn’t know what to say to Sora. I was a bit
distracted, because of Xigbar. Just his being close to me sent a chill down my
spine. I scrambled to my feet, unable to form words. “Uh….”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>“I know how to make you talk,” Xigbar said,
getting out of the car. He skimmed his hand down the length of my…uh, penis,
then grabbed my hand and lead it to his crotch.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I didn’t know what to do. I just stood
there, distracting myself from Xigbar by paying attention to everyone else
around me.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Roxas was freaking out. “Sora!
I’ll sneak Riku, just go inside!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Larxene was smoking while she filmed us.
“This’ll get Xaldin so horny that he’ll screw me again.”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I saw Axel jerk his head towards Larxene. I
can only imagine the expression that he wore. He got out of the car with a pot
of coffee. “Now we can go to your bed, Roxie!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Roxas ignored that comment, pointing at me
and Xigbar. “A-Axel!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>‘Eh?” Axel looked over, spilling the coffee
as he flailed around.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I tried to jerk my hand away, but I
couldn’t.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar shook his head. “Either we’re getting
back in the car or we’re going somewhere else, but you won’t get away from me.”
He nudged my hand so I had to feel Xigbar's cock.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>I started to have an anxiety attack. My eyes
were wide, and I was shaking. I was in so much shock of the fact that I was
touching Xiggy’s…style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>xiggy that I couldn’t move,
think, anything.   

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Axel ran over. “Demyx!
Come with us!” He said. “You can have a threesome with me and Roxie and you
won’t have to touch anyone’s cock unless you want to!”

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>….That really just topped it off for me. I
was going to explode.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Xigbar glared at me. “Fine, fine, I see how
it is. Go have your threesome! Call me, if you get a chance!” He got back into
my dad’s car with Larxene, who drove the car away.

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> 

style='font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>