that ghost
by xxavee
disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.
author's notes: Since I haven't posted a fanfic in over two years... possibly closer to three, I figured I'd do this in an attempt to get back in the swing of things. Very simple, very short. Hope you like. :)
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Axel. Axel axel axel axel.
Sora could barely think about anything or anyone else. He saw Axel everytime he shut his eyes, every time he saw a flash of red hair (which made it particularly difficult to spend time with Kairi without getting distracted), every time he saw a fire or even just the flickering flame of a candle.
He couldn't explain it. He'd only ever met Axel three, maybe four times before Axel just... disintegrated into the air around him, but these feelings... these were feelings of longing, and guilt... lust, betrayal, and affection all rolled up into one complicated mess simmering quietly in the back of Sora's mind. He wanted to find Axel and hold him and never let him go, but he knew good and well that Axel was dead. Gone forever. Still, the feelings persisted and Sora had no choice but to let them run their course.
Then he had a dream. Sora was standing at the edge of a precipice, the wind was blowing his dirty blonde hair in strange directions and his black robe was fluttering madly. He heard swift footsteps behind him.
"Roxas," Axel's voice said warmly, closer than Sora had expected it to be. He felt two hands rest on his hips and pull him backwards against a broad, warm chest. "My name's not Roxas," Sora snapped, indignantly, but he couldn't find the will to pull away from Axel's embrace.
"Don't start this again," Axel pleaded, nuzzling his cheek against Sora's neck. "You're Roxas. You've always been Roxas. You'll always be Roxas."
"But I'm not...," Sora argued weakly, pulling away from Axel's arms so he could turn and face the taller man. "My name is Sora," he said, pointedly. Axel's face contorted in a confused and annoyed expression. "It's Roxas," he persisted, grabbing at the smaller boy's robe and pulling him close. He buried his face in Sora's neck and mumbled, "Your name is Roxas." He felt Axel's hands pulling at his back, bringing him closer. Tentatively, Sora returned the embrace, bringing his arms to rest on Axel's lower back. He felt Axel smile into his neck.
"Axel...," Sora began. Axel lifted his head, hope making his eyes glimmer.
Sora kissed him. Quick and tight-lipped, he didn't even close his eyes. But Axel grinned wider than Sora could have ever imagined, and he reached up to brush a stray strand of hair out of Sora's face. "Roxas...," he whispered, still slightly smiling. Tenderly, he kissed Sora on the cheek. Sora closed his eyes, relishing the brush of those lips on his skin.
When he opened his eyes, his face was buried deep in his pillow. His cheek was tingling as though it had just been kissed.