TSCOT Ch.7 - You Won't Be An Orphan For Long

Chapter 7 – You Won't Be An Orphan For Long

Everyone drove back to the Warbucks mansion after they were finished at the park and resumed their conversation in the library. Axel sat in one of the armchairs with Roxas curled up in his lap and a protective hold around his waist. Zexion sat on the couch with Demyx, Xion and Sora and the president sat in his wheelchair by the fire. They’d all taken it in turns to explain what had happened that day and Xemnas listened to every detail intently, leaning back in his chair and lacing his fingers together. It had taken about an hour in total, but there was a part that confused Roxas still. “Axel, how did you know they weren’t my parents?” Everyone looked at the redhead, and he shifted uncomfortably.
“Well I… the letter the FBI sent was about your real parents…” The blonde’s face lit up and he hugged the redhead tight.
“You found them?! Axel, I… God, I can’t thank you enough! Where-”
“Roxas.” All eyes turned to the president instead, including that of the naive blonde. “Yes, we were able to find your parents but…” He sighed. “It was through that note, you see. They tracked down the handwriting to a Cloud and Aerith Strife.”
“So… Where are they, then? Do they know I’m with Mr Warbucks?”
“Rox…” Axel caught his attention again, and it broke the redhead’s heart to know he was about to crush the blonde emotionally, for the second time that day. “They died… about six years ago… seems they both got ill and never recovered. I’m really sorry…” Roxas was quiet for a long time, and let go of his hold on Axel, just staring into nothing.
“S-so… I really am an orphan then…” Roxas got off Axel’s lap and sighed. “ ’Scuse me.” With that, he slowly walked out the room and everyone listened as another door opened and closed. The six people left in the room looked at each other hopelessly and then Axel pulled himself out of his seat.
“I’ll go, why don’t you four start dinner? We’ll catch up later…” They all nodded and left, Axel following behind but diverting to where he knew the blonde would be.

The irony that he was knocking on his own office door wasn’t lost on him, but as Axel slowly pushed the door open, all humour was gone from his face. The blonde was sat at the desk, in Axel’s chair no less, his head resting on folded arms and staring into the NYC snow globe with tears running silently down his cheeks. Axel walked over, crouching down next to the chair and resting a hand on the boy’s head, causing the blonde to turn and look at him. “Rox? You alright…?” The blonde nodded, then sat up slowly and dried away his tears with his sleeve.
“Yes, I guess so… See, I always knew my parents loved me, and that they’d come back for me… if they were alive…” Axel stood them both up and held him gently, running one hand through his hair and rubbing his back with the other. “I guess I have to look at the bright side: at least I’m not a Fox.” They both laughed for a little while, but when it died down Axel could sense something else was wrong.
“Roxas..? What is it? Is something else on your mind…?”
“What’s gonna happen to me now? Just… Tell me that… Nothing else matters to me anymore.”
“You’ll live here, with me, just like you were before. I was so scared of losing you Rox… I dunno what I would’ve done if they’d succeeded today. I… I love you Roxas.” The blonde looked up quickly.
“I love you too… but the age gap-” He said, looking up.
“No one needs to know.” Axel said with a shake of his head. “So, stay with me?” Roxas nodded and the two smiled at each other before joining the others at the table.

The food was gorgeous and the others found it hilarious how excited Sora, Demyx and Xion were at the concept of taking as much food as they wanted. The six of them talked about everything and nothing, just enjoying each other’s company. After dinner, they moved into the foyer where the large, almost glistening tree was and started unwrapping all the presents. Xemnas thought this would be as good a time as any to add more good news, so he addressed the three kids while Roxas and Axel were busy putting Vivi's new collar on. “I thank you children. Without your determination… well…”
“I’d be dead.” Roxas said, almost too nonchalantly as he finally wrapped the collar around Vivi’s neck.
“Yes, thank you Roxas. Therefore, I have decided to place each of you in fine, upstanding families. I'll see to it myself.” The three stared at each other for a moment, then they were off the floor in seconds and hugged him tight. The president just smiled and patted their backs with a deep chuckle. Once they’d pulled away, he frowned. “We also need to re-house all the others at your orphanage… That’s going to be difficult.” Then he clapped his hands. “Oh well; no pain, no gain.”
Axel pulled Roxas away while the others were distracted with talking about what family they'd like to the other side of the tree for some privacy. He took a small box out of his back pocket that Roxas recognised instantly. The blonde grinned and turned to let the redhead put on the new pendant. It rested against his chest with the other, a perfect reminder of the important people in his life. Turning back around, he hugged Axel close and kissed his cheek.
“Merry Christmas, Mr Warbucks.”
“You’re exactly what I wanted.” He whispered back. “You know what, Rox?”
“What?” The blonde asked, looking up at his now legal guardian.
“I think I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
“And I think I’m the luckiest kid.”