He saw her one day, just like that. She caught his eye when he was passing through one day, and though he wasn't allowed to interact with outsiders, he stopped for a second to take her in.
After that day Axel's missions to Twilight Town were always his favourite. It became a necessity for him to see her at least once before RTCing. Even if he wasn't alone, he'd find a way to sneak away, if only to just catch a glimpse of her. She made the empty hole in his chest feel, almost as if that were possible.
Xion and Roxas must have noticed something different, but they didn't say anything. He just seemed so distant, yet somehow nicer. He smiled more.
If someone would have asked, he would have sworn he just wanted to be nice and buy his friends a treat, but no one asked, and no one really even knew when he went to the candy shop to see what was on sale.
She greeted him with a warm, smile, ushering him into the shop, kindly asking what he wanted, or if he needed help finding something.
Axel just let the lady show him around. He watched her intently, she seemed so enthusiastic, and to a total stranger. If he'd had a heart it would be fluttering. If he'd had a heart it would be telling him that this was oh-so-right, yet oh-so-wrong. He vaguely wondered how old she was, but he dismissed the thought.
Truth was, he didn't care. What did age have to do with who a person is anyway?
The candy shop owner made small talk as they looked, and Axel said enough only to keep the conversation going, paying more attention to the way her lips curved than what was actually coming out of them.
It became ritual for him to come back once a week, each time buying more.
She looked forward to his visits. He'd always stay and talk after he'd bought the candy. Eventually he told her everything… about the Organization, how he'd lost his heart, his friends Xion and Roxas. Everything. If the Organization found out, they'd have his head. But he didn't care. And she loved him for it. That this man would trust her with all this information, at the risk of his life, it amazed her.
But one day he stopped coming. Every day, even after she'd closed shop she'd look out the window at the town, waiting for him to come back.
From the top of the clock tower, Axel could see the candy shop clearly. But he was a dead man. He couldn't burden her with his problems any more.
It had been years since the mysterious red-haired man had stopped showing up. But sometimes she still thought of him. She'd never forgot him, and the way he'd smile, the way he'd cared. No one else had ever cared for her. After all, who was she? Just the little old candy-shop lady. All she had now was her dear cat, Mr. Muffins. He wasn't much, but he took care of her.
She still got enough business from the local youth. They always came around for sweets. So when a customer walked in, she thought nothing of it, until he came the counter. She looked up and smiled at the redhead boy there.
When she saw his face she stifled a gasp. His face was so… familiar.
"What… what's your name, kid?" She asked hesitantly, "I haven't seen you around here, I don't think."
"'Name's Lea. Got it memorized?"
I love you, Axel, really.
And everyone.
And Roxas.
And Cloud.
And everyone's going to be so confused but wtfever.
3
-Leon