Status: Writing a new chapter!

It's Easier to Run

Bring It.

Roxas pulled out his Statistics homework, easily filling out the worksheet in only a few minutes and flipping it over so he could write the other problems on the back. "So, what kind of music do you listen to, Ax?"

Axel looked up from the German translation he was still completing. Roxas had finished his just before starting math, despite the redhead's pleading to work slower and let him copy Roxas'. "I dunno, all kinds. Anything except for Miley Cyrus." Axel shuddered at some memory, or perhaps her in general, before putting his pen back to paper.

"I meant what kind did you like." Roxas copied a formula from his orange textbook and looked again at the problem, filling out the probability of picking a blue or an orange M&M from a large bag.

"Probably more rock and metal than anything else." He pointed at the iPod screen attached to his earbuds. Roxas leaned over to see that he was listening to Rammstein.

"German music during your German homework? Good idea." Roxas complimented. "I've actually never thought of that before…"

"It helps me to think more consistently in one language, but I can still speak in English. Not like I really fucking care about some dead guy who carved a bunch of religious things in copper, but I need the grade." Roxas laughed at Axel, who scribbled something else down in his notebook before throwing it aside. "Enough of that shit." He also dug out his Statistics, copying Roxas' work as the blonde handed the worksheet over. "What music do you listen to?"

Roxas thought for a minute. "All kinds, not to steal your 'term' or anything." He put his hands up in air quotes. "Rammstein to Basshunter to Fort Minor to Kelly Clarkson." Axel began laughing at mentions of the last one. "Shut up, some of her stuff is good." Roxas pouted. "It's only like, one song."

"Alright, alright." Axel slowly stopped laughing. "Just give me your iPod instead of trying to describe it. You're doing a horrible job."

Roxas frowned at the description and got up, unplugging his earbuds. He walked toward Axel, 'tripping' as he got close. "Oops, sorry!" He chuckled as he landed on top of the redhead, shoving the homework from his hands as he fell. Their worksheets and textbooks hit the floor with a soft thud.

"I get the feeling that wasn't an accident." Axel chuckled, wrapping his arms around the blonde and running one hand through his short, spiky hair.

"You might be correct in that assumption." Roxas smiled, leaning into the touch slightly and snuggling deeper into Axel's embrace. The others' nimble fingers stole the iPod from Roxas and proceeded to cycle through the songs. "What the hell is this… Why do you still have Good Charlotte on here? That's from a while ago."

"'cause they're still good." Roxas rationalized. Axel shook his head in disbelief. "You don't believe me? I have their CD downstairs. I'll show you."

Axel froze as panic began to rise in his chest once again. "Uh, Rox, your dad's still home…"

"He's asleep right now." Roxas willingly clambered from the redhead's arms, standing up and straightening his shirt out. "You wouldn't object if you came with me, would you?"

Axel thought for a minute. Surely Roxas' father wasn't so strong that Axel couldn't defend both himself and the shorter boy, right? Somehow even this thought wouldn't stop the nagging feeling that something would go wrong if they went downstairs. "Alright, I guess." He gave in when he noticed Roxas pouting rather cutely. "But in and out, no side trips, no messing around, got it memorized?"

"Perfectly." Roxas grinned, dragging Axel up by his wrist. "C'mon."

Axel smiled despite himself and let the blonde force him into a standing position, pulling him in for a hug once he was upright. "We have to be really quick, okay? I don't want anything happening to you because of that lunatic…"

Roxas smiled into Axel's hoodie. "Got it. The sooner we go, the sooner we get out, okay?"

Axel nodded, and the obliviously happy Roxas led him downstairs. Both were silent on the way there, making their trip seem even more like a top-secret reconnaissance mission. Axel reached for the key and easily took it down, allowing Roxas to unlock the door before replacing it. Both crept silently into Roxas' bedroom, where the owner shut the door silently and let a sigh of relief out. "Told you he was asleep. I heard him snoring while we were upstairs."

"Just get the CD and let's go, okay?" Axel was on edge; being so far into 'enemy territory' had him nervous and he would rather not spend time chatting if necessary.

"You're too nervous, Ax." Roxas crossed his room, hugging the other. "Settle down, it's alright. All we have to do is go upstairs and we're home free." He felt Axel nod above him, so he pulled away with a smile and grabbed a few CDs, including a self-titled Good Charlotte CD. "This is one of their best." He explained quietly.

Their mission done, Roxas grabbed Axel's wrist and led him from the bedroom. Their silence had become habitual as they snuck through the house, instinctively avoiding the creaking sections of the floor as they made their way hand-in-hand toward the door. Axel latched the lock behind them without a second thought – though he really did hope that that bastard got shot in his sleep – and both slipped out the door just as stealthily as they had entered.

"Anyways, this really is a good album, it's their first, but it shows a lot of promise…" Roxas' voice faded down the hallway as he walked away from apartment 2F, all worries forgotten; he was with Axel, surely nothing could happen to him as long as his protector was there.

As they had exited, the small blonde had failed to notice the absence of the ever-present snoring that indicated his father was asleep. "No son of mine would do that in my house with some bastard…" A voice hissed softly through a bedroom door, the light from the window in the living room barely revealing the silhouette of Roxas' father.

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The two boys reached the door of 3F, smiling broadly. "See, I told you nothing would happen." Roxas chirped as they entered, walking over to the PlayStation and putting the CD in, allowing Axel to hear the music that had gotten him hooked on 'punk' for the first time in years.

"Yeah…" He agreed absentmindedly, pulling Roxas down onto his lap and holding him securely in his arms. Roxas didn't object, enjoying the contact, and turned halfway around to lay his head on Axel's shoulder.

No need for nervousness, it's just a little turbulence.