A Tilted Axys

Again, I do not own any song lyrics that I use in this story.

Chapter 8

“You really do love him, don’t you?” Kadaj asked as they walked through the market.
Axys looked at him from the corner of her eye, then looked back to the fruit stand just as quickly. “I do.” She said, passionately.
“Good,” Kadaj said, “because he loves you, and if you hurt him, I would have to hurt you, and I don’t want to do that.” He finished, a noble look on his childish features.
Axys tried not to smile. “Death couldn’t keep me from him, Kadaj.”
Kadaj smiled, and patted her shoulder.
“Good. I think I’ll go back to the hotel and check on Loz and Yazoo. Call if you need anything, okay?” Kadaj said.
“Okay. I’ll see you later.” Kadaj nodded and walked away as Axys pulled out her cigarettes and lit one, walking to an out-door coffee shop just a few yards away.
She sat down and gave her order to the waiter, settling in with her cigarette and losing herself in thought. What was she to tell Vincent? How would she convince him that the triplets meant no harm, and wished only to redeem themselves? And what about ShinRa? How would they convince Him to let them help?
“What the hell do you mean, you don’t serve liquor?!”
The all-to-familiar voice jolted Axys from her worries. She very carefully peeked around behind her, only to see the last person in the world she need run into.
Reno. Reno and Rude. ‘Shit. Shit, shit, shit.’ She thought, turning back around.
“We’re a coffee shop. Sir. We don’t sell alcoholic beverages.” The waiter said, calmly. Reno huffed his way to the table directly behind Axys and sat waiting while Rude ordered coffee. When Rude joined him, they began talking again.
“So why d’you think Valentine wanted us to come here? Think he found her body?” Reno asked Rude. The big man merely shrugged his shoulders.
“I mean, it’s been almost two months. There’s no way that Axys survived. She was a tough girl. Great Turk, but . . . Tseng and Elena are still recovering. And they were only with them for a few days-“ Rude shifted uncomfortably. Reno caught it. “Oh, sorry man, I know how you felt about her. But think of it this way, Elena is alive and she’ll be with you.”
They didn’t recognize her . . . her taller frame, silver hair . . . The waiter gave her coffee to her, and she hastily paid him, standing and almost running away from the shop. When she thought she was a safe distance away, she made a sharp left and went to Vincent’s house.

“How is he?” Kadaj whispered, peeking into the room to find Loz sitting at the table cleaning the Dual Hound and Yazoo asleep soundly in the bed.
“He’ll live. We should have shared the pain, though.” Loz answered.
As dumb as people think Loz is, he’s not. Just quiet, and a little naïve. Curious, too.
“I know. It wasn’t even his idea to do any of it. I don’t know how I didn’t see that he was in love with her.” Kadaj said sitting across from Loz and pulling out his sword, reaching for an extra rag and the oil that Loz had sitting on the table.
“What would you have done if you had known?” Loz asked, still not looking up from his chore.
“Killed her, probably. I guess it’s a good thing that I didn’t know.”
“He wouldn’t have let you kill her. I only saw him hit her once after the night she tried to get away, and after he slapped her, he went to the garden and attacked the statue of Brother. It was the first night you had her.”
Kadaj paused, momentarily forgetting about cleaning Souba. “He did that? I thought I heard gunfire . . . ” He added as an afterthought.
“Yes. He emptied three clips into that statue.”
“Wow.”
Loz chuckled. “Yes, ‘Wow’.”
Their brother was a dangerous man, indeed.

“Why are Reno and Rude here?” Axys asked, confused and terrified.
“I called them to talk to them about Jenova. I wanted to know why they thought it alright not to tell us that the body they have is a clone. We are Turks too, and we had a right to know.” Vincent paused. “How did you know that they were here? They didn’t see you, did they?” He actually sounded concerned.
“I saw them at the market, and don’t worry, they didn’t recognize me. I’m surprised that you did.”
Vincent relaxed back into his chair in the lounge.
“So you didn’t tell them about me?” Axys asked, relieved.
Vincent smiled. “No. After everything that happened to you, and all you’ve forgiven, I think it best to allow you to decide when they know.” He paused again. “I’m sorry, about Yazoo. I didn’t realize, and I was so . . . angry when I heard what they’d done to you. But after thinking about it, and talking with Yuffie, I understand what you meant when you said that I didn’t know what ‘She’ had done. You saved us, I think.”
Axys tried to say something, but Vincent tensed up and held his hand out.
“If you don’t want Reno and Rude to see you, you’d better go now. They’re here.” Axys jumped up. “Out the back. There’s a passage between this house and Cid’s-whom be the way you should see, he deserves to know that you are okay. He searched for weeks after you disappeared-take that passage back to the market, and don’t leave your hotel room til I call you, okay?”
She nodded. “Thank you.” She said, exiting the house as quietly as she could.

When Axys returned with all her groceries, the sight she found warmed her tired heart. Yazoo slept in the bed, Loz was asleep at the table-the Dual Hound still in pieces-and Kadaj slept in the sofa-chair next to the bed. She quietly put the food away and made her way to the bathroom to shower. She sang softly, a sad song that her mother had taught her long ago.
“Where once was light
Now darkness falls
Where once was love
Love is no more
Don’t say Goodbye
Don’t say I didn’t try
These tears we cry
Are fooling rain
For all the lies you told us
The hurt, the blame
And we will weep to be so alone
We are lost, we can never go home

So in the end I’ll be
What I will be
No loyal friend
Was ever there for me
Now we say Goodbye
We say you didn’t try
These tears you cry
Have come too late
Take back the lies
The hurt, the blame
And you will weep when you face the end alone
You are lost, you can never go home
You are lost, you can never go home.”
When she was finished and left the bathroom, all three men were awake.
“Hello-what’s wrong?” She asked, seeing their solemn expressions.
“Never sing that song again, Axys. Please.” Yazoo said. His voice sounded strained and she realized what she had done.
“Oh, I’m sorry Yazoo, I . . . my mother taught it to me when I was little. I sing it when I’m feeling lost. I saw Reno and Rude at the market, after Kadaj left.”
“Turks? Here?” Kadaj said, disgust evident in his voice.
“Hey!” Axys scolded, “You seem to be conveniently forgetting the fact that Vincent and I are Turks!” She leaned down to give Yazoo a soft peck and check his bandages.
“We’re not forgetting, my little assassin, just . . . hoping for a change.” Yazoo said, teasingly.
Axys pushed at a tender spot a little harder than necessary and he gasped and pulled away, then laughed at Axys’ innocent expression. Kadaj and Loz laughed as well.
“So why are they here?” Loz asked, metal clicking as he reassembled the Dual Hound.
“Vincent called them. Now, before you jump to conclusions,” she said when each man got an infuriated look in his eyes, “He wanted to know why they kept it from us that the Jenova they have is a fraud. He thinks that, as Turks, we had a right to know, and I agree with him. I just don’t think it’s the right time to let them know that I’m okay. Oh,” she added, “I almost forgot. Vincent advised that we stay in the room til he calls us and lets us know that Reno and Rude have left.” She finished poking at Yazoo and stood again. “Are you hungry?” She asked them.
“A bit.” Yazoo admitted. Kadaj and Loz nodded their agreement.
“Okay. I’ll make dinner.” Axys said. She made her way around the table to the kitchen, taking the sliced chocobo breast from the fridge and washing it. The men watched as she sliced it into small strips with expert ease. She seasoned the strips, then fried them up, adding peppers, onions, chives, and carrots. She pulled out some Gyashi Green tortillas and warmed them, then ripped them to shreds and placed them on plates, adding generous portions of the chocobo fry to the plates.
“I bought some wine, would you like some? Kadaj? Loz?” She asked.
“What about me?” Yazoo asked, already sensing what she would say.
“You can’t have any, you’re injured.” She said. She poured two glasses full for Kadaj and Loz, and gave them their plates and their drinks. She poured Yazoo some water, adding a bit of a potion to the glass and handed it to him.
“Drink this first.” She ordered. He did as he was told, grimacing at the aftertaste of the potion. Axys handed him his plate and then poured him another glass of water.
“Can I at least sit at the table?” Yazoo asked.
“No.” Axys said and turned back to the kitchen to fix herself a plate. She poured her wine and then sat down at the table with Loz and Kadaj.
The four ate in silence, and when they were finished-to Axys’ surprise-Loz and Kadaj offered to do the dishes. This gave Axys time to sit with Yazoo.
When she was close enough, he reached out and pulled her into the bed with him. She snuggled against him gently, laying her head on his uninjured shoulder and resting her hand on his chest. He leaned down and kissed the bridge of her nose, nudging her with his own nose to tilt her chin up. She did so and he claimed her lips for a tired, chocobo flavored kiss.
“Mm.” He said after he pulled away. “You picked an excellent wine.”
She smiled and stifled a yawn.
“Go to sleep, Axys,” Yazoo said, holding her more tightly against him. “We’ll wake you if Vincent calls.”
“M’kay.” She mumbled, already half asleep.
“I think I’m gonna take a shower.” Kadaj said, after finishing the dishes and seeing Axys wrapped in Yazoo’s arms, fast asleep. He grabbed Loz as he made his way to the bathroom. “You too.”
Sometimes, Kadaj was happy that Yazoo, Loz, and himself were not really related.


(A.N. - It's a possibility that there may be some sex-age in the next chapter. I'm not sure. No wait-yes I am. There will be smut. Good smut. Please review!)