NOTE: This is probably going to be the first part of a small series concerning these two; and just for the record I have nothing against the Axel/Roxas deal, but I figure there are HUNDREDS of those and not many of these. I also hate pet names like 'baby' and 'sweetie', but Axel can pull off calling Xion 'love', I think.

Little Dark Angel

Axel enjoyed watching Xion. When he, Roxas, Namine, and Xion would go out, Axel couldn't help but let his eyes follow her slight form.

Ever since Roxas had found Namine, his other half, his friendship with Axel had been placed on the back burner. Although Axel didn't begrudge Roxas this happiness, he did miss their time together with Xion. And if Xion was unhappy with Roxas' preference of Namine, she hid it well.

Even now she was watching Roxas and Namine, who were in their own little world, with that fragile smile on her pale lips.

Axel had seen the girl, Kairi, upon whose looks Xion's had been based, and he had to admit that Xion was more beautiful. Kairi was pretty, but Axel was not fond of her dark red hair and indigo eyes and white skin that did not blister or freckle under the island sun. She was…unnatural.

Xion was small and slender, with Kairi's porcelain smooth skin and fine facial features, but her short hair was blue-black and her eyes were dark, dark blue, like the very depths of a cold ocean. She was trapped forever in the body of a fourteen-year-old girl.

Currently, she and Axel were standing on top of the clock tower in Twilight Town, their usual haunt for the past two years.

"You ever miss it?" Xion jumped and nearly fell off the top of the clock tower. Good thing Axel was quick; his skinny arm shot out around her waist and he hoisted her up into the air, pressing her thin back safely against his chest.

"Miss what?" Xion had a soft, whispery voice. If Axel didn't listen closely enough, he could miss whatever she was saying.

"Just the three of us. Together."

Xion looked down at where Roxas and Namine were deep in conversation in the square below, oblivious to anything else. Xion's expression was impossible to read.

"I do…sometimes. But," She turned to face Axel and he was drowning in her dark blue eyes. "Aren't you happy for Roxas? He's found the one he loves. Who are we to deny him that?" But her eyes showed that she was lonely and sad.

Axel put her back down on the ledge, secretly unhappy to do so. With Roxas being gone, Axel had put in more time with lonely Xion. And he found he liked her company more and more with every passing minute. He was starting to fall in love with her and it was effortless.

"Do want to do something fun?" He asked suddenly.

"Like what?" Xion asked in interest.

"Let's find a world with a carnival." Axel suggested. He focused all of his energy and thoughts on a world that would make Xion smile and a black portal bubbled up in front of them. "Coming?" He pulled his most irresistible smile, hoping that it spread to his envy green eyes.

Xion looked hesitant for a moment, but a vestige of a smile graced her lips and she grabbed Axel's hand. His huge palm absolutely dwarfed her tiny hand.

Without meaning to, he pulled her through the portal, a smile of pure happiness on his face. He was practically dragging her along; his thin legs were so long that it took two of her strides to match one of his.

Axel felt his clothes changing, a magical side effect to some worlds that helped strangers blend in. He stepped out of the darkness in tight dark wash jeans and a green long sleeved shirt that matched his eyes precisely. Not only that, but his mane of normally spiked, flaming red hair had somehow been tamed into a ponytail. Xion's black, standard-issue, Organization cloak had been replaced by a black and green plaid skirt and a lacy black camisole.

His focusing had paid off, because the two of them stood in the center of a bustling carnival. Wild neon lights lit the darkening sky and screams of delight filled the hot and heavy air with excitement. Xion squeezed Axel's hand and he was rewarded with the look of absolute delight on her face.

The lights reflected in her eyes made them flash all sorts of blue, just like the ocean: first dark as the depths, then teal as a reef and finally that pale, pale blue where you weren't sure where the ocean ended and the sky began. Coupled with the amazed, half-smile on her lips, Axel could hardly tear his eyes away from her face. She rarely smiled these days; he had forgotten how much he missed her smile.

"You just gonna stand there?" He asked finally, a smile on his face. "Come on!"

Xion actually gave a quiet laugh as Axel pulled her into the throng of people.

The two of them ran through the carnival, the night blending into a whirl of Technicolor lights, jolting rides, and a blur of people. It seemed to Axel that the two of them were moving so much slower than everything else, like they were in their own little world. Or maybe it was just like that for him.

He hardly even noticed as the moon and stars were covered with angry, dark storm clouds and the crowds began to disperse. All he could see was Xion.

Currently, she was sitting dangerously close to Axel in the seat of a rickety ferris wheel looking out into the distance with a fathomless expression in her gigantic eyes. Axel knew a gil for her thoughts was not going to be a high enough price; she was an enigma who didn't often share her most private ideas.

It was worth a try. "What are you thinking about?"

He pulled a daring move and slung one of his long arms around her thin shoulders. Even though it was a warm night in this world, Xion was petite and tended to get cold quickly. Being a fire mage, Axel was always nice and warm, and Xion did, to Axel's satisfaction, snuggle into his embrace.

"I just…miss the old days, is all." She whispered. "It's tough to face change when I won't change at all." She studied her small hands sadly.

She jumped as Axel wrapped his hands around hers. His face was so closed to hers that he could see every fleck of blue and violet and black in that glorious spectrum of her eyes.

"Hey," he whispered soft and serious. When he inhaled he could smell her: clean linen and roses and the salty sweet smell of the ocean breeze. "Hey, I'll always be here. I'll be here for you."

Her eyes got wider than what he thought was physically possible and they were roiling with sadness and confusion and loneliness, but there was also the smallest pinprick of hope when she met his serious and strong green eyes.

"We're at the top." He said finally, as they stopped at the very peak of the circle and the both of them looked out into the darkness together, her hands clasped firmly in his. The horizon never ended, as it was just as dark as the sky and it seemed as though they were just floating in space, alone in the darkness. It was both chilling and…serene.

Then it was as if the heavens were trying to jerk Axel and Xion out of their sadness, because rain began to pour down from sky in cold sheets.

Xion gave a tiny shriek and curled in on herself as Axel laughed and threw himself on top of her to shield her from the cold water.

When their seat reached the bottom, Axel did not wait for permission, but simply scooped Xion into his arms and ran through the torrential downpour. Hoping everyone would be too focused on escaping to someplace dry, Axel willed very hard for a warm, dry place where he and Xion could be alone.

A moment later, he ran out onto the beaches of Destiny Islands with Xion still clasped safely in his arms. Both of them were soaked and gasping, but at least it was warm and dry on the dark beach.

Axel set Xion on the beach and she buckled slightly as the sand moved under her weight. Axel righted her and smiled.

"You okay?"

"I-I'm cold." She gasped. Even on an island beach, Xion was so slight that the chill of her wet clothes affected her. She shook violently and her ivory skin was taking on a blue tinge.

Axel removed his shirt entirely, baring his thin chest and stomach, before he thrust his hands into the water that pooled in a small lagoon. Fire magic was very powerful and thrilling to use. It raced from the very depths of Axel's heart, through his blood, and then out of his hands, bursting forth from him like life itself. It was exhilarating.

He watched the flames on his palms dancing impertinently beneath the surface of the dark water as it bubbled with searing heat. Axel felt none of the scathing heat; it was just as though there was a warm heart beating in his palms.

And he realized that he and Xion were like the fire and the water. He was the fire, hot and passionate and wild. She was the cool water, dark and mysterious and calm. He wanted to be like the fire: warming her from the inside out. Suddenly the heat didn't come so much from his heart…

"A-almost r-ready?" Xion chattered, rubbing her arms vigorously.

Axel stepped back hastily, happy for the darkness. He was positive that he was blushing and when he blushed, it was like his face turned tomato-red.

"Should be warm. Give me your clothes and I'll dry them over a fire." She looked up at him in silent question. "Cold wet clothes wont get you warm. Don't worry. I won't look." He hoped that he wasn't lying.

But he dutifully turned his back and began to collect dry driftwood, chanting to himself over and over, not to turn around. When he returned, all of Xion's clothes were folded in a neat pile on the sand and he could see her tiny head adrift in the warm lagoon water.

Axel lit the wood easily and lay back in the sand with a sigh.

It was useless. Xion liked Roxas more than she had ever liked Axel and Roxas' new infatuation was hurting Xion, like a barb in her heart. It was in too deep, and Axel couldn't pull it out.

He almost fell asleep in the warm sand when Xion cried out from across the beach. Axel flipped to his feet and ran across the sand, almost slipping as he ran down the boardwalk.

The heartless was big, but not too powerful, in the shape of a jellyfish with one of its shadowy tentacles curled around Xion's ankle and another around her wrists. Normally she would have been able to take the thing down, no problem, but in the dark it must have sneaked up on her. Axel grimaced; he hated the water. But if it was for Xion…

Before he could regret the decision, Axel threw himself into the warm water, cringing as he hit.

He landed perfectly on the two tentacles holding her, and they went slack instantly. Once his feet touch the ocean floor, Axel willed with all his heart for his chakrams and they snapped dutifully into place at his fingertips. Effortlessly he tossed them and they sundered the jellyfish heartless into two pieces. He watched the crystalline heart rise into the dark sky until it looked like another star.

"You okay, Xion?" He asked, as water poured down from his hair. Once it dried it was going to be completely unmanageable. He was using every ounce of restraint to keep from looking at her.

He jumped as he felt a tiny hand on his bare back. Slowly…he turned to face Xion.

She was not crying, but the expression in her eyes was the most heartbreaking he had ever seen. "Thank you for saving me."

Axel gave up. He was fire incarnate and fire was impulsive and brash and passionate and consuming. He didn't pause to think about the consequences as he ducked down and kissed Xion full on her small, perfect mouth.

Axel didn't know if her mouth was open in a gasp or a scream or if she was reciprocating, but he didn't much care. He was going to take advantage of the current situation, and he let his hot tongue worm into her tiny, cool mouth. At that moment, Axel was the most in touch with himself and he had to admit that the kiss he was doling out was a damn good one.

He broke away gasping and forced himself to look at the dark water. He could see his reflection and he looked conflicted.

"Did…did I ruin everything?" He asked finally, gently squeezing Xion's thin, porcelain shoulders. He felt as though he might break her, he loved her so much.

Xion surprised him by resting her forehead on his thin abs. "No…Oh Axel, I was so lonely." She clenched her little fists on his chest. "So lonely. I might have faded but…" She looked up at him and her blue eyes were filled with emotion. "You were always there for me."

Standing on her tiptoes Xion was barely able to plant a sweet kiss on Axel's half-open lips.

She blushed; it was beautiful and pink and perfect on her tiny white cheeks as opposed to Axel's flaming blush. And for Axel, it was as powerful as the most potent aphrodisiac.

Going on reflex, he slung one arm under her naked, round bottom and hoisted her completely out of the lagoon water so she was cradled in his arms. She was light as a feather. That was his last comprehensive thought before her arms were around his neck and he was kissing her with the fire in his body.

Axel's hands ran up and down her slender arms and over her shoulder blades and down her hourglass waist until he was clenching the lily petal-soft skin of her butt. Her hands were wound securely into his wet hair and she was doing her best to kiss him back.

"Axel!" She gasped, pushing her head back. "Axel…I'm heavy! Put me down…"

"Are you kidding?" Axel asked, kissing her between every other word. "One (kiss) you don't weigh anything (kiss) at all. I could carry you (kiss) for hours. Two (kiss) I have no intention (kiss) of letting you (kiss) out of my arms (kiss). Ever."

Xion gasped and tugged on Axel's hair when he began to suck the skin of her neck. He shifted her in his arms so she was straddling his waist, and the effect was quite wonderful. Since she was pressed up against him, he could feel every curve and every hair on her body rubbing on his bare skin.

It was a good thing that he was capable of controlling his fire magic, because Axel could have very well burst into flame at that moment.

Using his superb ability to multitask, Axel continued to kiss up and down Xion's neckline while moving them through the water, closer to shore. He got close enough so that he was waist deep when kneeling on the sandy bottom and then began to get a bit more serious.

If Xion had been cold at any point after the heartless attack, she was no longer having such problems. Axel was blazing warm, like a fire in the wintertime; every place his slender hands stroked and his hot lips touched felt like the sun had just kissed it. It felt like magic on Xion's cool skin.

Her breasts could hardly be called breasts at all they were so tiny, but Axel kissed each of her cold nipples (which had been turning purple with cold) before pressing his face into her chest.

Xion threw her head back and screamed silently; the feeling was incredible.

She distinctly felt his warm, wet tongue poke the tip of her right nipple before it enfolded the top half of her breast entirely. The rest went into the rest of his comfortably warm mouth…and then he sucked.

Xion actually screamed. It was more of a quick cry, but Axel paused nonetheless, waiting for her to recover before he sucked again.

Xion couldn't compare the feeling to anything else in the world. It wasn't unpleasant, but it felt strange. And knowing that it was Axel's long tongue wrapped securely around her flesh made it feel so good in the oddest way. She couldn't help but yelp every time his mouth pulled her in deeper. It was as if he was trying to devour her whole. And she didn't care.

He played with her chest until her legs, which had been thrashing pointlessly, began to spasm and her cries died down into sweet little whimpers.

Now Axel had to use one hand to support her head, which had gone limp out of ecstasy. Her white chest had flushed a beautiful, healthy pink and she was warm to the touch.

Gently, he shifted again so Xion was cradled in his arms like a child. He already knew that he would not take her tonight-that was for another time and place-but he could at least finish her pleasure. He would be the only one suffering but it would be worth the wait for her. Control…control…

His arms were so long and strong he could hold her comfortably in one arm while the other could explore.

First her cupped her delicate ribcage, marveling at how breakable she seemed in his grasp. Her bones were so thin and fragile underneath skin as durable as lily petals. Then he trailed down the lovely concave of her waist, hooking his finger in her tiny belly button and stroking the soft valley of her hipbones. He stopped right above her naked pelvis so he could admire it properly.

Like every other part of Xion, it was petite, so petite that he doubted when the time came later in their relationship if he could even fit a finger in, much less… The skin was also perfect, snowy white, as it had never been seen by anyone aside from Xion. Not even the rays of the sun had seen this secret part of her before Axel. He felt an innate sense of pride in this fact. A thin layer of curly, blue-black hair, the same color as the hair on her head, covered the flawless snowy skin.

"Axel…" Xion gasped and Axel was having second thoughts as to whether or not he could control his urges tonight. "Are you putting it in now?"

"Not tonight, love." He said kissing her warm forehead. "That will be another day… Rest easy, love." She sighed in relief.

He touched the very top of the curly hairs and Xion gave the tiniest shiver. Feeling emboldened, Axel traced all around with a feather-light touch, moving in circles around the edges and making patterns toward the center. Xion's breath became heavier and heavier with each passing moment but not once did she beg him to stop, even for a moment.

Axel lost himself in recklessness and began to knead softly with his index and middle finger. Xion wailed helplessly, gripping Axel's wrist for support. When he felt she was ready, he slipped his fingers down further than she had expected, into the fold of warm pink flesh that no one had ever seen or touched.

Xion was a little bit scared, a little bit confused, a great deal passionate, and a good bit crazy as Axel stroked and massaged places that even she hadn't discovered thoroughly. It was as if all the blood in her body was rushing to her waist and it felt…amazing.

It seemed as though every muscle in her body was moving, trying to get her closer to his hand. Her hips bucked, her legs kicked, her arms were wound firmly around whatever part of Axel was closest…

Then white and gold streaked her vision and she didn't know if it was a trick of the ecstasy or if stars were colliding at the feeling she was currently experiencing. She was screaming Axel's name for some unknown reason and everything climaxed into the single most beautiful thing she had ever felt.

Axel was quite breathless himself, but managed to regain his wits and catch Xion's limp body before she hit the ocean water below. Her eyes were closed, but she was breathing hard, like she'd been running hard. Axel was displeased to note that he had not maintained perfect control of himself, as the water he was standing in was near boiling.

Alternating between cursing at himself and whispering gently to Xion, Axel carried her to the beach and lay in the wet sand, just so the tide touched his feet. He laid the exhausted Xion on top of him and began to stroke her hair.

"Did that feel good, love?" He knew it felt good to hold her like this.

"Yeah…" She whispered, her dark blue eyes fluttering in fatigue. "Axel…I…really like you. I really…really love you…"

Axel wound his arms around her soft, thin body and kissed the top her head. "Me too, love." He wished that the night would never end.