Until We Bleed

Fall Apart In Parts

Roxas leaves the house while Axel's asleep later in the night. He leaves without a coat, barely remembering to put his shoes on. He walks out into the snow and he just stares ahead as he takes one step after another after another. He can't let himself think because his mind is still too full at the moment. He's upset and tears fall freshly down his face. His legs are shaking as he walks, but he keeps going. Bruises on his wrists and the hickies on his neck are the only afflictions seen from the night.

He swallows and coughs lightly. The cold stings his throat and leaves a heavy pain in his lungs. But he doesn't care. Before he even fully realizes it, he finds himself standing on Sora's front porch once again. He stares at the door, trembling because of too many things for him to fathom at the moment. But he can't make himself knock on the door. So he just stands there for awhile, staring at the faded, chipping white pain against the wood.

His legs wobble and he slowly sits himself down, wincing. He shudders and curls up beside the door, leaning on one of the columns holding up the porch's awning. He wraps his arms tightly around himself, trying to fight the cold, while his eyes never leave the door. It's like a barrier has been placed over the entryway that was once a beacon of hope for him, and now he feels wrong having come here despite not having anywhere else to go. 

Sure, he could probably go home to his parents, but he left almost three years ago for a good reason and he refuses to step back through that door. So he stares at the door, willing for it to open while not wanting to have to open it himself. He hadn't even talked to Sora since the day he left a few weeks ago and he doesn't know what to expect. What if Sora's not even living here anymore? What if it's just Riku's house now? What will I do then?

After awhile, his body starts to feel numb, he can't even feel himself trembling anymore. He starts to fall asleep when he's suddenly startled by the sound of a car coming up the driveway. He forces his stiff body to sit up and he turns away from the door, blinking tired eyes. He's somewhat relieved and scared to see Sora's car park and the headlights flash off. The door opens and Sora steps out, carrying a plastic bag. He stops short, eyes widening as he notices Roxas sitting there like a pathetic puppy.

Sora rushes over and kneels in front of him, looking worried, "Roxas? What are you doing here?"

"What are y-you doing h-here..?" Roxas asks back through chattering teeth. 

"I live here," Sora frowns, pressing a hand to his friend's forehead, "Are you okay?"

His eyes fall on the marks on Roxas' neck, before returning to his eyes, "What happened?"

Anger and fragile sadness swim around in Sora's dark blue eyes, pain for the pain his friend has endured, and anger for the one who put him through it. Roxas stares back at him, opening his mouth like he wants to say something, but no words come out. He coughs violently instead, shivering wracking his body. Sora looks concerned as he moves and pulls Roxas to his feet. He opens the door and leads Roxas over to the couch, sitting him down. He takes off his own coat and drapes it over him before shutting the door and heading for the stairs. He looks back, "Wait here, I gotta talk to Riku."

Roxas finally looks over at him, "Is he st-s-still mad at m-me?"

He continues shivering and Sora's eyes soften, "He's mad at me."

Sora turns and rushes upstairs. Roxas rubs his eyes and looks around slowly. His eyes land on the clock on the wall and he looks confused. Only ten-thirty? How? He blinks, looking down. He had thought it was so, so much later than that. Guess it didn't last as long as I thought.. Roxas stares at the floor for awhile before Sora and Riku come downstairs. He looks over at them cautiously. Riku frowns, though his eyes are soft. Not at all like Roxas ever expected the silver-haired man to look at him. He sits in the chair across from the couch and Sora sits next to Roxas, looking worried again.

Roxas looks between them slowly, he isn't sure what they want from him right now. The silence is deafening and he shudders lightly. The silence continues for a moment more before Riku speaks up. His voice is softer than Roxas would have expected. He glances at Riku as he speaks, "How long were you standing outside? You can talk to me, you know. Just.. Because we don't always get along doesn't mean I don't care about your well-being, too."

Sora nods, smiling at Roxas softly, encouraging, "Can you tell us what happened? Please..?"

Roxas notices the shift in Riku's eyes as Sora spoke to him, but he says nothing about it. It's not hard to see they're trying to work through-or past the kiss incident and the last thing Roxas wants to do is hurt either of them, especially not right now. He looks at the floor, trying to find the courage to say coherent words. There's so many things he wants to say, and yet, he doesn't want to say any of it at the same time. Roxas is a venting person, for sure, but sharing something quite as.. Personal as this,  he isn't sure if he can bring himself to say what happened to him tonight.

The three continue to sit in silence and Sora glances at Riku for help. Riku looks back at him and he looks worried about the situation. They both can tell something really bad happened this time. He makes a gesture towards Sora, knowing Roxas won't open up to him. Sora gently puts a hand on Roxas' shoulder, "Would you.. Feel better if it was just me..?"

Roxas frowns lightly, Would I? I don't know.. He looks at Sora, and then at Riku. Riku nods lightly, a soft smile at his lips. Roxas hardly sees this side of Riku, so openly caring. It kind of worries him. He looks back at Sora and the brunet looks just as worried, but there's something else in his eyes. Something Roxas isn't able to read. He looks down again, taking a breath as he steels himself, "N-no.. No, that's.. That's okay, Riku can.. H-he can stay."

His words surprise Riku, but he tries not to show it. He clears his throat lightly, "Alright.. Can you tell us what happened? You don't have to get into it if you don't want to, but we at least need to know something if we're to help you, Roxas."

Roxas nods a little, squeezing his eyes shut tight, "Yeah, just.. G-give me a m-minute here.."

"Of course." Riku replies softly.

Sora pats Roxas' back gently, trying to reassure him. After some more silence Roxas is finally able to make himself speak, "I.. I'm sorry.. You.. You guys were right.. All a-along.."

He sniffles, his eyes hurt as he starts to cry again, "Th-there was a-another fight a-and.. He raped me."