Take Me Home

17. Crutches

He smiled, "It's cozy." He replied softly, a reassuring look in his eyes as he waited for instructions.

"Well, you can go sit down over there in the main room if you want. I'll get you some crutches and some...new clothes. You can also bathe later in the tub if you want to. You stink." She said honestly and then she laughed as he narrowed his eyes in mock disbelief.

Still laughing, she turned and walked up the stairs toward her fathers room. The moment she opened the door, she felt the cold, still air meet her skin and she stopped smiling. Her fathers picture was still on the bed. She stared at it for a moment and then tore her gaze away and went to his dresser, pulling out some clothing and then closing the drawers. A plain, blue button up was the first thing she had grabbed and she had a pair of pants and underwear. Remembering that the clothes had been a little big, she decided she would have to get him some of his own sized clothing at some point. Unless Roger would be nice enough to share. But Freya highly doubted he would.

She left her fathers room, closing the wooden door behind her and walking back downstairs, turning left toward the dining room and kitchen. There was a closet under the stairs and Freya opened it, looking for the crutches. She saw them, but they were in the very back of the closet. Sighing, she stepped into it and reached her arm in, grabbing them and pulling them out. She walked out of the closet, closing the door and walking back into the main room, where she saw Axel relaxing on the sofa.

He grinned up at her as she leaned the crutches against the wall next to the sofa and held out the clothes. He nodded and took them, leaning forward and setting them down. Then, he began pulling off his shirt. Freya blushed and was about to turn away, why would he decide to undress in front of her? But then she saw a flash of red on his chest and she paused, turning back. He was unbuttoning the shirt but then noticed her stare and he looked up at her, raising a brow.

Then, he looked down at what he was staring at and he shrugged. Freya's eyes widened. He had a thin, red scar on his chest, under his collarbone. It looked old, at least a few years ago, but it looked like it had been deep. Freya raised her eyes to see him looking in hers, patience in his gaze. He smiled shyly, looking down at his scar and clearing his throat.

"It was a...a fight." He admitted, his cheeks turning a shade of red as he explained. Then, he smirked and added, "The other guy is worse."

Freya shook her head, blue eyes wide. "W-what happened?" She asked, disbelief on her face. What fight would cause a scar like that? Was Axel the type of guy who roamed the streets and looked for someone to fight with?

He chuckled at her expression and replied, "Argument. Insul...Insult..." He paused, thinking. "Insulted my father. I ran at him. We fought. He had a knife." He then motioned his index finger slicing his chest. "Had to go to doctor for while."

Freya stared at him. "I thought you said the other guy was worse? And why would he pull a knife?"

Axel smirked even more. "My brothers got him. And, I was beating him." He smiled as she shook her head, staring at him like he was crazy.

If someone insulted her father, she would have just ignored them. What the person who had insulted Axel's must have said something really bad. Freya sighed and then couldn't help but smile in return as he grinned and shrugged.

Then, he continued changing and slid the shirt onto himself. Freya turned around and walked out of the main room, her bare feet stepping onto the the cold, wooden tiles as she headed to the kitchen. She opened the pantry. It was around 12 now, so she was hungry for lunch and she knew for a fact Axel was. He was always hungry. She saw a few strawberries her grandpa must have bought sitting in the back so she grabbed them, standing there for a few more moments just in case Axel wasn't done changing. Her blue orbs landed on some crackers so she grabbed those too, they were simple cookie crackers that were flavored vanilla. She loved them.

Walking back into the living room, she was relieved to see that Axel had folded his old clothes into a neat pile and was waiting for her. Freya sat down on the sofa next to him, handing him a strawberry and a few cookie crackers. He smiled and took them, biting into the strawberry. Freya took a bite of her cracker, setting the other snacks down on the side table next to the sofa.

"Siblings?" He asked through his mouthful of strawberry, making his voice muffled.

Freya shook her head, smiling a little. "Nope."

He swallowed. "That's lonely." He paused. "Roger?" He asked, his eyes narrowing in question.

"Roger is an acquaintance." She said quickly. Axel blinked, not understanding as he wiped some cracker crumbs off his freckled face.

"No. He is a friend." She tried again, smiling softly as he got the idea and he nodded.

He nodded, smiling to himself and turning his gaze from the floor back up to her eyes. She was lost for words as she studied his eyes, taking in the depth of the emerald colored design. He looked away and she got the feeling that he wasn't too sure what to say either. So she looked away too, brushing the same strand of hair that had escaped from her braid behind her ear again.

"Is he going to come back? Don't like him." Axel stated, his lips pursed as he stared straight ahead.

Freya smiled and nodded. "Yes, sorry. But I agree with you there." They both laughed softly.

But maybe over time they could convince Roger they were doing the right thing.