Title: Underneath it all.

Rating: Teen

Summary: She had all the plans in the world, but plans always seem to get a place on the out burner when your little brother called you from the police station, for being arrested for fighting back against your mother abuse of boyfriend.

Pairing: Larxene/Demyx

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from this story.

She blindly found her way. Pale blue satin gloves covered a part of the only object that stood with her on the dark only thing she could hear was the racing of her heart. Her unsteady nerves were making it race as if she been running for miles and miles without a break. She blocked out everything else, all the whistling, the glass being tapped against each other, men talking trash to each other, nothing of that matter to her, once the light and music started.

She twisted and turn around that small pole, stripping everything off of her. Everything, her clothes, her modesty, but not her pride. That the only thing that kept her going, kept her body moving, twisting, and turning.

She was a nineteen years old stripper. She has been in this line of work since fresh out of high school, ever since her parents decided they no longer wanted to play family.

'Not like they were much of a family anyway.' is what she told everyone so no one would pity her. Her Mom moved in with another man, who hated children. The type who was a firm believer in the old ways of life. Children should be seen not heard.

Her Dad wanted to relive his teenage years and started dating younger women who could be her older sisters. 'It's just lust.' another saying that she tell any who asked.

Since Larxene a firm believer in 'it's my life, stay the hell out of it' and 'don't ask, don't tell.' Now Larxene always had dreams, she had been accused of being a dreamer all her life. Now, it's not the stereotype of marrying prince charming and the fake happily ever after. No, she wanted more than that, socking her feet in the Dead seas, skip down the Great Wall of China, chasing after a zebra, hugging a panda, surfing in all the ocean on this planet.

That was her dream, but when she got a phone call from Twilight Town police station that forces her to place all those plans on the back burner. And unpack all her suitcases. It's been over a year since her little brother called and begged her to let him move in. Maybe it was the fact of he was so cute begging, or the fact their Mother's boyfriend, was the one who had Roxas arrested for fighting back when he started beating him. Roxas was only fifteen then. He never gave anyone lips, always remembered his manners, unlike her who gave anyone hell for just looking at her the wrong way.

Her dear friend gave her a crown and tank top for her grad party that boldly said 'Princess Bitch.' Her bitchy attitude kept her going in this line of work and knowing the paycheck and tips kept food on the table, clothes on her brother's back, and a roof over their heads. So no matter how low she has to dance in the society moral compass, she was willing to do so, no matter how the other side looks, she's refusing to turn tricks.

"Another night of work is finally over." the girl beside her spoke as she reapplied the same red lipstick. "Going him to your cute blonde too?" Tifa giggles out picking on Larxene.

"Well not all of us can meet the love of our life in the ER." Larxene shot back.

Tifa rolled her eyes knowing she never going to live that one down, all because, she sort of backed into the guy's bike while taking her kid to the hospital for crashing his dirt bike. "Night Larxene, give Roxas a hug for me."

"Night girl. Don't worry I will." After she finished getting ready to go home she was gone.

"You know you really should have someone walk you out." Her boss was always the same.

"Luxord, you worried too much. If anyone messes with me, they will be the one who will take their life into their own hands." It's the truth; she took self-defense classes since she was eleven. At first, it was just to get her out of the house and away from the people who donated the egg and sperm. But she really got into it when she kicked the crap out of Marluxia for grabbing her well-shaped booty. She always made sure to add that saying when she retold that story.

Sometimes, when she has the time to actually think, she wonders what those guys are up to now. Yeah, Axel lives next door to them. Mostly because she threatens bodily harm if he didn't give her and her little brother a place to live above his tattoo shop and to make sure he didn't give Roxas one behind her back. Yeah, he broke that one and she broke his nose for it.

Some would say that she overreacted but he gave Roxas three. One tramp stamp of an outline heart with three red roses under it and a cute little heartless white mushroom on his left hip and on his right hip was Axel choice of his style of weapons, a Chakrams.

Axel just laughed it off as she scolding him, bashed him, and then yelled at him in all the languages she knows. She could only smile at that bittersweet memory as she pulled into her parking spot, gathering up her bag before locking up her car for the night.

Semi kicking open her stubborn front door, she stumbles inside. "Roxas I told you a thousand times: the skateboard belongs in your room." She kicked off her shoes and notices a pair of black sneakers with red shoestring beside her brother's shoes. She knew Axel was here; also the lingering smell of burnt ramen also gave him away.

Their small living room was dark; except for the flickering of the TV. Two bodies were passed out on the couch and floor with the controller's still in their hands. "Axel, he has school today." He hated going and tried repeatedly to get outgoing, either by trying one of Sora get sick fast drinks or worst. She was glad that those days are over since Roxas force Axel to change her mind about homeschooling.

She knew deep down inside her heart that Axel's words were true. "If you don't take him out, we'll be burying him."

She sighed to herself as she covered Roxas up, removing the controller from his hands, trying not to wake him up as she did so. She got a small moment of peace as she watched him sleep like an angel, knowing no harm will come to him anymore.
She grumbled to herself as she cleaned up the mess over her coffee table, empty glasses, Mountain Dew bottle, and pizza boxes. She made sure to kick Axel for this since his daily diet consisted of pizza, ramen, and take-out. Part of her was jealous of him staying as skinny as that on his 'healthy eating habit' as he called it. The other side of her wants to kill him for letting her brother eat unhealthy food at weird hours of the day.

She knew she could kick him, stomp on him, have a whole marching band come through her apartment and yet Axel would just sleep through it. But she won't let this tiny issue ruin her favorite time of day. Watching the sun rise up and enjoy the silent morning. Sitting in the kitchen sipping her tea, she dreamt of tomorrow, her only day off of that week. December the fifth never sounded so good until now.

"Oh my god, Larxie actually smiled and she not even bashing someone." her dear friend since preschool finally woke up. "Call the Mayor, this needs to be a holiday." she smacked him for that as he went to call up another one of their old friends.

The boy genius Zexion, who actually became the mayor of this town. "He already made August the 13th a holiday for Roxas, Sea salt Ice cream day for his birthday."

"You really hit hard for a chick, you know that? You beast." Axel kept rubbing his arm to relieve some of the pain.

"And sometimes, my dear Axel you act like a pansy," she smirked at him as he started to swing his hips more as he walked over to his breakfast in the box on the counter.

"Who's a pansy?" Roxas yawned out, welcoming his sister home with a hug.

"I must bid you farewell my loves, as I must go to work." Larxene rolled her green eyes up at his really bad acting skills. Roxas just shook his head at Axel. "You're really weird sometimes."

Once Axel was on his way to set up his shop, Larxene simply asked Roxas if he wanted breakfast or more sleep. When he walked like a zombie back to her room she got her answer.

Moments like this she almost doesn't feel like his big sister as she held him. "Bad night again?" she asked as her fingers comb through his blonde hair. She feels more like his Mom. At times when he doesn't think right, he slips up and calls her that especially when he doesn't feel good.

"That guy kept calling you, He left a lot of scary messages last night." she rested her head on his trying to make him believe everything fine.

"Is that why Axel was over?"

Roxas nodded into her. "He said if that guy ever calls here…"

Axel has always been like an older brother to Roxas ever since Larxene could remember. And right now she was really glad they stayed close. "So who is Xemnas anyways?" Roxas finally asked that question she always thought she couldn't answer.

"He was a bouncer at the club, who started to get too interested in me for Luxord's liking so he fired him. After that, he just seemed to stalk me. But don't worry Roxas, everything's fine, he doesn't live in this town anymore so we're just fine. No worries."

She knew Luxord had a lot of connections to highly recommended people to take care of this tiny issue. One word from her or Axel and this mess is over. But she wouldn't dare tell Roxas this. Since he's a firm believer in no living creature should die without a purpose. It's a funny belief to her, mostly because he would kill anyone for a chicken nugget from McDonald's.

By the time noon came around, the clock tower began to sing the daily tune, forcing them out of bed to make lunch for themselves and for Axel, who was slaving away downstairs.

"He's not going to eat that," Roxas warned her as she adds more veggies to her stir-fry.

"Yes, he will. I found an excuse he can't say no too." She let her sinister smirk form in the inside as she added the finish touches. "There it's done. So, where are we eating? Up here or down with him?" Roxas was already gone with a meal the moment she finished talking.

Axel's demented way of life was now starting to rub off on her innocent little brother, who now enjoyed watching people getting pricked over and over again by a needle in Axel's hand.

"Yay, foods here! I'll be there in second guys. Just put it in the back, Roxas will show you." She didn't really pay attention to the guy who was currently undergoing Axel's house of pain treatment until he whistles at her.

"Hey, it's hot legs!" That surfer tone with his laid-back style… she should have known of all people. "Xigbar..." she wasn't all that amused to see him lying there, his golden perverted eyes checking her out.

"What, no 'hi' or 'hello' babe? Haven't I been a good boy?" Axel had to laugh a little since this argument took them back to their homecoming dance. Where, once again, Larxene threatened bodily harm to one of her friend's if they didn't take her there.

"I wouldn't kiss you then and I'm sure as hell not going to start now." She kept on walking following where Roxas went.

"Your sisters still a wildcat that no man can tame. I pity the poor fool whoever falls for that monster." It was Xigbar's parting words as he finished paying Axel.

"I pity anyone she takes an interest in, Later Xiggy. Alright, what did you cook for me today?" And like her dear brother told her Axel turned his nose up at it. "Eww, too many veggies."

"Told you so." Roxas giggle out looking at his smiling sister.

"Now Axel, you will eat some of it, after all, Roxas made it just for you. He's been worried about your unhealthy lifestyle." Axel took a glance over to the kid, and then looked at his friend as he cracked up.

"Nice try, but Roxas cooks like I do. If it's not burnt, it's not his."

"Geez, thanks," Roxas grumble out taking another bite as Larxene slowly release a sigh well saying. "Well I tried, you can't blame for that." Axel did agree with that as he picked out half the veggie off his plate before digging in.

After lunch, Roxas hit the books as Larxene worked on the growing laundry pile Axel so kindly made for her. It was his only request since he won't let her pay rent as long as Roxas lived with her. 'He needs your money more than I do' is what he always tell her when she tries to offer him some.

Axel should know about the lifestyle Roxas is living since most of Axel's life his Mom was a stripper until she died of an overdose when he was only sixteen.

"Alright, guys. Laundry is halfway done and I'm going to go catch some more sleep. Please wake me around five or so." A quick kiss on her brother's forehead and she was gone. But sadly any more sleep would come and go too fast for her liking. And yet work seemed to stay with her way too long. She kept reminding herself that this was for her brother. To make sure he never has to live with that woman again. She makes sure to keep her lifestyle in order for him so that no one can take him away from her.

By five she was up feeding Roxas, then she took her time getting ready, watched a movie with Roxas, or played a video game or two with him before she had to go to work.

"Night, my goober." Another quick kiss on his forehead followed by a long hug. She always hated leaving him at night, especially when she sees the hurt hidden within those blues eyes of his. "Night, Please before careful."

"Yeah listen to your little brother, Larxie." Axel had to pick as he walks in to claim his helper until closing.

Some old routine drove to work as she changed, applied make-up, danced for the scum (who paid really good tips) and back home again.

"Night guys, cya tomorrow." The man did she love saying that. With so much to do she really needed this off. She waved to Luxord as she got into her car and took off down the road.

Humming and singing to the radio for once they were playing some good music. Some new emo rock band from here. She didn't remember the names of bands or anything like that. Back during her senior year, everyone was in a band, but she doesn't remember half of their band's names. For two reasons, one: They sucked, two: They were too pop for her taste.

About a block away from home and parked under a street light was some poor person who was trying to change a flat tire. And who was doing a really bad job at it?

She debated with herself for a bit about stopping before she pulled in behind the person. As she got out she prepared herself to deal with some pampered tramp who just had her hair and nails done and was wearing her best new outfit daddy just got her.

"Goddess, give me strength so I don't kill the poor bitch too fast." was her thought before she asked. "Need any help?" She was still wearing her three inches heels sandals, rocking a mini with a tank top.

"Umm yeah..."