Disclaimer: None of the characters in this story are mine, only the plot driving them.

Is - is this what pain feels like?

Face down on something hard and unforgiving Axel felt as if every centimeter of his body were screaming. His back, his legs, his arms - even his eyelids ached from some mysterious affliction that the red head would have gladly lived without. For the longest time all he could think of was keeping himself from crying aloud and admitting his weakness before he even learned of his surroundings.

Eventually the world faded from bloody reds to dull pinks and then to flashes of blue and green behind his closed eyelids. Axel begun to sense other things - the dryness of his throat and mouth; the chill of the air, causing his skin to prickle; the sound of life around him.

"Hey."

Willing his eyes open Axel stared at what looked to be a hovering blur for a long, uncomprehending moment. Blinking several times helped to clear his vision and the blur begun to gain features; arms, legs and torso covered in what looked to be elaborate garb. Short, ridged cornflower hair seemingly kissed by the sun its self. Deep, worried blue eyes that would make the angels themselves weep to see. Axel would know.

"Hey, are you alright?" It was the human's voice, muffled somewhat by some kind of cloth tied about his face. It left only his eyes, forehead and a bit of his cheeks visible and Axel wished he could see more of the seemingly angelic face.

"…Mungh." Latin, Greek, Italian, Russian, Chinese - English. "You…English. You speak English."

Though proud of himself for finding the right language so quickly the boy (all humans were children in their eyes as well as His) looked even more worried, crouching down. "Yeah - listen, I don't know what happened that left you out here in the nude but you shouldn't lay here like this. Are you hurt? Can you move?"

Mulling over the question Axel let his eyes trail down to the arm he could see, extended from his body. One, two, three, four, five… Flexing each digit he took account of each part of his body, ignoring the nips of pain for each he moved. "Every part is accounted for," he mumbled, mostly to himself.

The blonde boy looked rather confused but after hesitating for just a moment reached up with oddly-colored fingers, pulling at the front of his garb. "You need to get some clothes on or you'll freeze," he said, shrugging off the puffy outer layer of his robes. He leaned forward then, reaching out to-

"Don't touch me!"

The boy jerked, startled by the venom in the male's voice as well as the quick movement. The odd stranger was crouched, a hand planted on either side of his braced feet with an expression of a caged tiger just set loose.

Gaping for a few stunted moments the blond scowled. "Hey, I'm trying to help you here! Do you plan on just laying out on this construction site until they build over you?" He motioned to the open lot around them. Now that Axel was looking he could see buildings and cars, as well as a few people bundled up similar to how the blond was and staring at the pair. "Do you need help or not?"

Axel paused, panting from the strain of moving so soon after his journey. The thought of needing anything from such vile, disgusting creatures - even ones with beauty to rival the angels - was enough to make his skin crawl. But…

But he was alone. He was mortal. He not only was stripped of his rights and abilities but was given a sex, which meant…

"I'm…" The words got caught in his throat and Axel's legs gave out, red head falling over heavily. The boy was by his side in an instant, a hand clutching his large robes and the other reaching, hovering near but just out of reach from the fallen male.

"Hey, I'm sorry - I should have asked first." The voice was quiet, tone subdued. "Can I help you up? I don't live too far from here." The blonde's gaze trailed down to Axel's bare feet dubiously though he seemed determined.

Every point in his form groaning in pain Axel closed his eyes, swallowing hard. "…Yes…" He flinched violently when wool-covered fingers first brushed against his arm but then they were gripping him and pulling, prone figure forcing his eyes open as the long-limbs worked, struggling to his feet.

Puny human. The child is hardly to my chest. Even still the blond was strong and braced Axel on his side as he used his free hand to throw the fabric over his shoulders. Axel found it cold to the touch but it soon warmed up and he was grateful for it, body beginning to shudder uncontrollably.

"Damn, you're freezing." Grunting the boy put an arm around the taller male's waist, guiding him. "Come on, this way. I'm Roxas, by the way."

Putting one foot in front of the other the red-head leaned heavily on the smaller figure, staring at the top of blond spikes. "Axel. That was the name…I was given."

"Well, Axel-" Roxas grunted again as they stumbled, bracing his feet to support the both of them. "Don't mind me trying to keep us from falling on our asses."

Holding on to the boy - to Roxas - Axel absently considered the humans standing on the sidewalk to stare at their progress, praying to the high heavens that it was all a bad dream.

~.~.~.~

"You did WHAT?!"

Jerking the phone away from his ear Roxas cringed, waiting a moment before bringing the receiver back to his ear. "What was I supposed to do, Nam? Just leave him there?"

"Well-" There was a moment's pause before a heavy sigh sounded on the other line. Roxas knew that his best friend had a passion for helping people - heck, until that moment it was usually him calling her nuts for the lengths she'd go through - but even she seemed to have limits.

"I couldn't, exactly." Looking out into the living room Roxas eyed his unexpected guest. Axel was sitting right where the blond had put him, plopped down on the couch and staring at his bare knees. "I don't know what came over me. He was just lying there. In the nude."

Roxas could hear the other blonde shifting. "That's just insane. It's almost cold enough to snow outside." There was a moment's pause and the girl's tone grew lighter with a teasing edge. "Are you sure you just didn't want a naked piece of man-meat in your apartment?"

"Aw, Nam!"

Tinkling laughter sounded on the other line. "Well, I'll come over in a bit to help you out," she suggested. "Do you know his sizes? You don't have anything that would fit, right?"

"No, not at all," Roxas replied, frowning. He was thinking just that but didn't like the idea of leaving some nude stranger in his house alone. Giving a quick estimate Roxas huffed. "He's at least six feet and super-thin. But I should go. He's just kind of - sitting there in the buck and should probably have a bath, at least."

"Just make sure you cover him up in something before I get there," Namine agreed. "See you."

"Later."

Hanging up the phone Roxas put it back on its base before moving into the living room. The tall figure still had his down jacket over his shoulders though Roxas had kicked off his sneakers and pulled off his scarf and gloves. "Do you think you could sit up in a tub?" The blond didn't trust the other enough to let him stand in the shower after the painfully slow, awkward shuffle to his home.

"…Tub…" There was a heavy silence in the air as Axel seemed to consider before nodding slowly. "The large basins that you bathe in, correct?"

"Uh…yeah." Roxas wasn't sure what was up with the odd speech but just took it as shock. As soon as he had Axel cleaned up and dressed he would question the stranger as best as he could to find out where he came from. If that turned up nothing, well, then he would just have to go to the police. The guy could be a missing person. "I'll go set the water then come back for you - wait here."

Roxas turned to do so before the other could respond though he doubted that a response was forthcoming. Flicking on the bathroom light to illuminate mint-green tiles and white ceramic the blond set up the tub to run, grabbing a deep green towel from off of his clean rack to set nearby before leaving to retrieve Axel. The man hadn't moved an inch, gaze seemingly fixed on his bare toes.

Roxas stopped in front of him, holding out a hand and keeping his own eyes fixed on Axel's bright red mane. "Alright, come on."

Drawing his gaze up from the ground Axel looked at the outstretched hand, then at the blond. After a long moment Roxas made a sound close to a growl of frustration before closing the distance between them and grabbing a hold of Axel's arm. Though the taller male flinched it wasn't nearly as bad as the first time Roxas has touched him.

"Come on. You're not just gonna sit dirty and naked on my couch!" Grunting in effort to heft the lanky male the two managed a slow shuffle down the hall and to the bathroom, Roxas setting the other at the edge of the tub just as the water was reaching critical mass and shutting the facet.

"Is this the normal height of mortal bathing water?" Though Axel was vaguely familiar on every day rituals that were performed he had paid little to no attention to it before being forced into his state. He was somewhat distracted by the coldness seeping into his rear from the white tub and mint-colored tiles his back was pressed against, skin prickling in goosebumps.

"You know for someone who is getting a free bath, clothes and a place out of the cold you've got a lot to say about the job I'm doing." Roxas growled, pushing down the leaver in the tub to let the water drain. At the blank look sent his way in return the blond shook his head. "Never mind. Here - this should be good enough. Get in."

Axel frowned, slowly lifting his right leg to bring around and set down into the water. It was quite warm and though it could have been a touch warmer was wonderful on the skin and soon he swung the other leg around as well, sliding quickly with a loud splash! and lower thump! as his body settled in.

Sighing quietly as water sloshed over the edge of the bath Roxas turned, digging through his towel rack for a ocean blue washcloth to toss over his shoulder and into the tub. "Use that to wash up. The soap is on the edge of the tub there-" the blond pointed, back still to the red head. "-and you should be able to reach the towel. I should have clothes for you when you get out so just wear the towel after you're done. Oh, and the shampoo's on the window ledge."

With everything ticked off Roxas moved for the door, nearly out of the room when a soft word caught his ears.

"Wait."

Pausing the shorter of the pair hesitated, allowing himself a slight turning of his head. He could make out Axel's lanky form just so, wild red and slender, lightly tanned skin. "Yeah?"

The silence that followed lasted several heartbeats and Roxas almost thought he had misheard until Axel shifted, head turning in his direction but not looking at the other male. "I am appreciative of your help and hospitality. You really did not have to come to my aid when you did. I… understand that now."

Roxas blinked at the words, turning fully to the figure in his bathtub in his surprise. Considering how the male had been acting Roxas knew that the words of thanks must have been hard to say. Even so…

"Whatever," he mumbled, taking the heat to his cheeks being from the steamy room. "It's not like I could have just left you there. Call me if you need anything, alright?"

At the slight nod Roxas paused for just a moment longer before slipping out of the bathroom, closing it to a crack behind him. Then the blond pressed his back against the door frame, tilting his face upward and sucking in a deep, long breath.

"What… have I gotten myself into."

~.~.~.~

True to her word, Namine made it to Roxas's apartment in just over a half an hour. When he answered the door the girl's face was flushed, blond hair wind-swept and a bag in each hand. "Hey, Nam - come in, he's still in the bathroom."

Giving one of the bags to Roxas as he reached for it Namine stepped inside, shivering as her friend locked up behind her. "Dear Bob, it's freezing out!" The words were somewhat muffled between her yellow and red striped scarf and white down jacket zipped nearly to her nose and she set the second bag down, undoing the coat as the warmth in the apartment took effect. "Did you know that the temperature dropped another five degrees from this morning? It's insane!"

"Seriously? That's nuts." Roxas was looking into the bag he was handed as he spoke, reaching in to pull out one of the items on top. "How much do I owe you for these?" As he looked up Roxas saw the slight girl hanging up her coat and scarf, boots coming off next. She was in something much more functional than her favored light colored airy dresses; a pair of thick black leggings and a gray, wool skirt along with a deep blue and turquoise stripped turtleneck. "You know, you'd be warmer if you put pants on."

The girl made a face. "Ugh, pants. These are bad enough." Pulling off black wool gloves Namine shook her head. "And don't worry about it. Marluxia is always getting rid of his clothes when new fashions come into season and thankfully there were things in his closet he missed tossing out from last winter. He was more than happy to part with them."

"Oh, I hadn't even thought of him," Roxas murmured. He'd forgotten all about Namine's eccentric cousin. "Works out for us, though."

"Yes…" Looking up at the tone Roxas lowered the bag. Namine had that look that always followed the tone - the one that said she had to tell him something he probably wouldn't like but it was for his own good. "Roxas, have you thought about why the guy was outside like that?"

Roxas shrugged, moving to the couch to drop the bag before heading over to the kitchen to put some water on. "Sure I have. I figure he ran away from somewhere and got robbed. Or is a nut job that likes to go out in the freezing cold naked."

Namine sighed as she followed, placing her own bag on the ground by the couch before making her way to the island counter that separated the kitchen from the living room, folding her arms over the cream colored wood. "There's that," she said patiently and then hesitated, chewing at her lower lip a moment. "And then there's sexual assault."

Roxas froze, nearly dropping the water filled kettle. "Sexual assault… oh my God. That didn't even occur to me." Thinking back on how he had found Axel; dirty, nude, in obvious pain and having difficulty to walk…

Namine nodded before continuing. "I didn't think you had. Really, I didn't think of it until after I got over the fact you brought home some stranger off the street. Literally." She paused then, seeming to come to a realization. "Roxas, how long has he been in the tub?"

"SHIT!"

Dropping the kettle with a loud clatter Roxas bolted from the room, whipping around the corner to jet down the hall. The bathroom door was kicked open and the blond threw himself inside, expecting the worse. "AXEL-"

Roxas stopped, processing what he was seeing.

Axel was… just sitting in the tub. It didn't look as if he had moved at all in the time Roxas had left him alone as the bright strands were dry and upright. The only difference that he could see was that the lanky male was shivering, water having gone cold long before.

"Axel, what the - what are you doing?"

The red head had looked up upon Roxas's entrance but continued to sit and shiver, obviously cold. "Bathing. Is it wrong?"

Staring at Axel for a long moment Roxas took a deep breath. Then let it out all at once, seeming to deflate. "Here, let me help you," he sighed, looking over his shoulder as a sound by the door caught his attention. "It's alright, Nam. He seems to be having trouble getting this right."

"Um, oh, all right." The blonde girl took Roxas's word for it, avoiding looking inside. "I'll get his clothes together while you do that, then."

Roxas moved over to the tub as Namine closed the door mostly behind her, shorter male crouching by the nozzles. "I'll make this warm again - you can sit there still. Just tell me when it's good for you, kay?"

Rolling up the sleeve to his shirt Roxas reached in between extended feet ("Frick, this is cold! You should have called me!"), pulling the plug to let the water drain. He turned on the hot water after a while, mixing the two together with his already submerged limb. By the time it got almost too hot Axel murmured his approval and the blond quickly stopped the flow, glad to see that the red head wasn't shaking like a wind-blown leaf anymore.

Taking up the cloth that had long since sunk to the bottom of the tub Roxas made short work of lathering it up, nodding at Axel. "Arms up."

Though he seemed confused Axel complied and Roxas started to work, starting at the male's wrists. Namine thinks it was sexual assault… Getting lost in his thoughts Roxas continued to work, making his way down Axel's arm to his shoulders. He doesn't like to be touched, for the most part. But why does he talk like someone out of the 1900's?

Roxas pondered that as he worked on Axel's neck and chest. Clearing the cloth of soap he gave it another scrub with the bar before setting it down, motioning to the other. "Bow forward and move your hair so I can get your back."

Axel met the blond's eyes then, green orbs sharp and judging and contemplative all at once. Without breaking eye contact the red head reached back, brushing his hair aside before bending over slightly to give Roxas the room he needed.

Forcing his gaze away Roxas ignored the hot flush that rose to his cheeks, shifting to get at a better angle and see the offered skin.

And he gasped.

"Holy shit…" Most of Axel's back had been covered by his hair when Roxas first found him and since then he had been either beside or in front of the other male. At the moment, though, Roxas could see the full expanse of torn skin, twin wounds running down behind either shoulder bade from just under his shoulders down to just above the dip in the other's spine. Both were bleeding sluggishly and Roxas just gaped in horror for the longest moment before he could find his voice again.

"Axel - what happened to you?"

The red head shrugged his shoulders with made the wounds bleed more and Roxas hissed, cringing at the sight. "He took my wings."

Roxas pulled his gaze away from the horrid sight to look at Axel's face. The other male had his head turned towards the blond and Roxas swallowed, voice small. "Who?"

"He," Axel replied, voice as low as Roxas's but holding reverence. "He is the one who breathes life into all. He is the one who creates from nothing, who made the earth and the heavens and all you see before you. He is The Great One, The One And Only. And…" Axel seemed to fumble, eyes growing irresistibly heavy as his body started to sag. "And it is He who has cast me out…"

Yelping in surprise as Axel suddenly slumped Roxas quickly grabbed the male before he could sink under the water, shouting for Namine as loud as his voice would go.