Set in an alternative universe of Kingdom Hearts. Don't like? Don't read.

PARALLEL story to Magnetic Hearts, which features narration by Vanitas, and is a VanQua.

Incandescent: Emitting light as a result of being heated. 'Nuff said.

Disclaimer: I don't own KH, but god, Axel makes me want to.

Incandescent Hearts

you're the spark that starts my fire

when I get you alone, you'll know

001. not really your size

You know, I consider myself to be a fairly agreeable person. I mean, I'm charismatic, funny, I've got a killer smile, and I'd like to think I'm pretty charming too. At least, the ladies seem to think so. I tend to get along with just about anyone you throw at me.

But him?

There's not a universe out there in which I could get along with him. Him, and his stupid blue hair she loves to run her fingers through. Him, and his scar she thinks is so damn hot. Him, and his goddamn eyes that I find creepy, but apparently makes him seem "mysterious".

She was supposed to hate him as much as I do. She was supposed to see that he's an asshole, that he's dangerous, that he's a complete lunatic and that he could hurt her. But of course she didn't.

So I'm stuck here, watching her fall deeper and deeper into his trap, while he cuts me from her life bit by bit, and she says nothing. And waiting, until he breaks her heart, and she comes back so I can pick up the pieces, lend her my shoulder, be the best friend.

I'm tired of being the best friend. The rock. The go-to guy. The "oh you guys are joined at the hip; you may as well be together". Fuck, at this point I think even friends-with-benefits would suit me, because at least I'd be pretending not to be stuck with my goddamn feelings, but I'd still have her.

That sounds awful. Forget I mentioned that part.

You'd probably like to know what happened, right? How such a charming guy, who's in love got the hots for his best friend, gets stuck on the outside, when there's so much chemistry? So much potential? I'm sure you're not wording it like that, either, because you don't know the details. Problem is, if I lay them all out on the table for you right now, you still won't get it. So, I may as well backtrack, to show you how this all started, the point at which I made the mistake of attaching myself to this girl. Hell of a girl, keep in mind.

We're backtracking ten years, to just after I'd turned eight. Got that memorized?

I'd love to tell you it was a bright, sunny day at the beach, and we were destined to meet, and it was the most romantic thing in the world, but there are a few problems with that. For starters I was eight, so that last bit's completely out of the question. And secondly—a day at the beach is not ever bright, sunny and filled with fuzzy feelings for me. Or a day anywhere else near vast amounts of water.

Call me Aquaphobic if you'd like. I'm okay with that, mainly because I get to make jokes all the time about being allergic to a friend of mine.

Anyway, I was accompanying my best friend (no, not the one that I'm pining after, the other one. The one, who, in kindergarten, when I lit my shirt on fire playing with Mrs. Scarlet's aroma therapy candles, actually had the balls to dump a bucket of water on me to put it out. He had no idea at the time I hated water, but that was okay, because I thought he had, and had chosen me nearly strangling him to death over me burning to death. Ahem. I'm getting sidetracked. It was a bonding experience, and here we are) Demyx down to the beach that day, for reasons I still haven't figured out. He likes to tell me it's because I love him (no, not that way), but I'd like to think it's because if I wasn't there to look out for him, he'd probably do something stupid and drown. No, really, he's that kind of special.

But it wasn't him that needed saving that day.

Well, not that I'm saying she needed saving or anything. Really. She can handle herself. Tell her otherwise and see where that gets you.

Let me tell you how it happened. I was walking along the beachfront, staying a safe distance from the water and trying to keep an eye on the human buoy (seriously, he frolics around in the waves enough, it's no wonder our friends start to make assumptions...), and completely minding my own business when I heard her.

"Are you out of your mind? Watch where you're going!" I really shouldn't have looked. I'd be much saner today if I hadn't. But there was just something about the way she said it, like whoever she was talking to should've been parting the seas for her or something, that I felt I had to.

And so I laid eyes upon the most complicated creature I have ever met in my whole eighteen years of life. With her blonde hair that flips upward in those adorable strange bangs. And her blue eyes that crackle with the electricity of a coming storm—which I didn't know yet, because all I could see of her was her back, how she was shaking her fist at some guy three times her size. Really. I was surprised that if he'd bumped into her the way she was saying, he hadn't broken her. It actually took my brain a moment to process the image before I sprung into action.

I don't know why I did it. The guy needed only to sneeze and I'd be buried under the sand. He was huge. As broad-shouldered as I was lanky. As muscular as I was scrawny (in my defence, I was eight. I'll have you know I'm much better now). As angry as I was terrified. But I still sauntered up as casually as possible, plastering the biggest smile on my face. Maybe it was because she seemed familiar to me. Maybe it was because he did. I had no idea.

"Problem here?"

"Nothing I need you for," she spat, not taking her glare from the taller boy. I recognized him from school, although he was a few years older than us, especially since he'd repeated a grade once or twice. Lexaeus, I believe his name was. Although, he mostly went by the nickname Rock, which I was starting to see was accurate… Her attitude brought me to focus on why I had stepped in. "Scram."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"I think it's a very good one. Then I can get back to beating him up for bumping me." I laughed. I couldn't help myself. I just couldn't picture it in my head, the tiny blonde beating on the giant boy. "What's so funny?" she hissed, bearing her fierce glare upon me, instead. That's about the time I remember noticing what her eyes were like. Eyes that I'd later learn to read like a book, as she displayed all her emotions there, for those who knew how to look.

"Well, he's not really your size. Are you, Lex?" I glanced up to see him chuckle, shaking his head. I was glad he was amused, because she was so clearly not. She stepped forward, looking ready to shake her fist at me, nearly trembling.

"Are you saying you think I'm weak?"

"No, not at all," I raised my hands in defence, taking a step back. Unfortunately, the smile on my face—directed at the fact that Lexaeus was quietly slipping away unnoticed—gave her the wrong idea, and her fists clenched. It wouldn't be long before she started taking aim. She needed a distraction, fast, or else the anger practically sparking around her blue eyes would come out at me. And that's when it hit me. "Just worried about you overdoing it, Sparky. I mean, is he really worth the time?"

She blinked, and her grip loosened as she faltered. And that's when the grin started being directed at her. Axel – 1, Mystery Girl – 0.

"What did you call me?"

"Sparky. It's a nickname. You like?"

"No, I don't!"

"Too bad, I think its fitting. With your hair standing on end and all, like static."

"That's…that's just rude!"

"But you're not threatening to hurt me, so I must have something going for me."

"Don't call me that," she grumbled, looking down as she deflected, and inside, I cheered a little.

"What do I call you, then?" I asked, leaning forward so she could see my smile. I was harmless, I swear. I was eight for crying out loud.

"Larxene," she muttered, and a tallied another point for me. Maybe accompanying Demyx to the beach wasn't such a bad idea. Mind you, don't tell him that. He'll probably take it as me getting over my Aquaphobia and try to drown me or something.

"The name's Axel. Got it memorized?" I stuck my hand out to her, and she looked up, catching my wink and staring at it for a moment, then up at me.

And then she burst out laughing.

"What the hell was that?" she was holding her stomach, as peals of laughter poured from her throat. If I hadn't been so confused, I might've noticed it might be a sound I could—and would—get used to (and like, but don't even think of mentioning that. To anyone. Especially her. Because you might get hit just for telling her something so stupid). She attempted to do what I think was an impression of me, but was hard to tell, with all the laughing. "Got it memorized? I mean…seriously!"

"You might need to remember it, for when I see you again next, Sparky."

"Like that's going to happen," she scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "And stop calling me that." But my smile only grew.

"Don't you live on Eauclair Lane? You're always hanging out with that blue-haired girl at the park by the end of the street." I scanned the crowd around us, frowning. "I'm surprised she's not here, actually."

"She is," she pointed over my shoulder, and I turned to see her friend amongst the waves, smiling and laughing. Unlike my awkward best friend, she seemed pretty graceful in the water.

"And you picked harassing kids three times your size over that because?"

"I don't see you out there, either, Hotshot." Now it was my turn to frown, and she pointed at my swim trunks, with their ever so endearing flame designs. I shrugged.

"I don't like water. Hate it, actually." Looking back now, I was never sure it was a good idea to tell her that. I mean, not only had I just met her, but I was a little unsure about her sanity, the way she jumped from different moods so fast. Come to think of it, ten years hasn't made a different. Nevermind.

"Then why are you here?"

"Why are you?"

She shrugged. "She's my best friend."

I half-heartedly pointed to buoy-boy, and watched the giggle build up in her chest before bursting free. It was contagious, and soon we were both laughing, nearly to tears. As it began to fade, she kept her eyes focused on the water, not looking at me, and said; "I don't like it either. Makes me a little uncomfortable."

When she noticed my laughter hadn't faded completely, she looked over, glaring. "I didn't laugh when you told me! You're such a—" I could already see the fist forming, so I put my hands up, halting her rant.

"I'm not laughing at you, exactly. You just seem to zigzag from one emotion to the other, don't you? Anger, curiosity, sincerity. A whole bundle of fun, aren't you, Sparky?"

"I told you to stop—"

"Calling you that, yeah. Except I think it's catchy. So I'm not sure if I will."

"Planning on getting a chance to use it, are you?"

"Of course. We're friends now. Think you can handle that?" When she looked over, I could almost see the excitement in her eyes. She liked challenges. Interesting.

"Of course I can," her head rose, and I smirked, ruffling her hair, because it barely brought her to my chin. The glare was back. "You're annoying, you know that?"

"It's growing on you, isn't it?" When she practically growled her protest, I swung an arm onto her shoulders, looking out at our best friends, each enjoying the water (mine much more embarrassingly than hers, mind you). "I feel this is the start of a be-u-ti-ful friendship, Sparky."

"Seriously! Stop. Calling. Me—"

"Hey, Dem, come meet our new friend Sparky!" I yelled, actually heading towards the water. Because I was actually craving the innerving touch of water more than the wrath I'd practically felt building inside her.

If only I'd known then what I know now, I might've never decided to step between Sparky and giant brick of a boy.

They practically write themselves. No lie. I start with a few lines of dialogue and Axel and Larxene take off like a rocket. He's such an annoying little brat, but she loves him. Eventually. I hope.

I in no way meant to portray Lexaeus as stupid, with the comment about him repeating a few grades. Everyone knows you're brilliant, Mr. strong-and-silent. Can't say the same for Axel, though, who seems to think infuriating Larxene is a good time. I mean really, even without her powers she could probably find a very creative way to make you fry.

If you're reading the parallel to this story, Magnetic Hearts, you'll know who Larxene's friend in the water was. In my head-canon, their friendship actually makes sense, don't ask me why. More on that later. As well as where Marluxia is in all this, because yes, he will be close to Larxene. Cousin, in fact. Who thoroughly approves of Axel and consistently reminds the absolutely oblivious Larxene that that is where she should focus her attention. But does she ever listen? Noooo, of course not. Stubborn girl.

I probably made Axel a little bit more articulate and functional than an eight year old, and Larxene as well, but bah, I don't mind. It flows for me and that's what counts. It's quite the contrast to the MH start, despite their obvious similarities, which were all on purpose.

So, on that note, look forward to more Axel and Larxene in the next piece,

002. eye of the storm

Also, as mentioned in Magnetic Hearts, I'd like to take some suggestions for last names for the cast. I've been thinking perhaps either basing them on their keyblades and main weapon names, or on more latin words (like Aqua, Terra, Ven and Van's names). Thoughts?