The Perils of Having Two Hearts
Author's note: Thanks for reading! Also, I own nothing.
Axel loved him, Lea realizes.
It is not hard to tell, of course—when he feels Axel's heart beat inside him, that is what he feels most of all. He feels the slow growth of warmth towards the different, zombie-like Nobody. He feels the unexpected happiness at seeing Roxas upon returning from CO. He feels the subtle joy that runs through him whenever he sat with Roxas on top of that clock tower. He feels the anger at Saix's order to kill one of them—Roxas or Xion—because he knows doing either will break Roxas—and will break him forever. He feels the utter sorrow when Roxas leaves, and the hurt confusion when he comes to realize that his best friend no longer remembers him. And, finally, he feels the hope as Axel fades away, the stupid, silly hope that maybe he does have a next life, he and Roxas both.
And now Lea stands with Sora with in his arms, saving him from Xehanort, and he doesn't know what he feels.
He doesn't know this guy. He's never met him. And he certainly doesn't love him.
Axel didn't know him either, really. Battles at CO, a few short conversations. A final moment. Far from a friendship.
And yet…
And yet, Axel knows a part of him, and so Lea does, too. He can feel the part of him that is Axel cry out at the part Sora that is Roxas, filling him with joy, with sorrow, with fear, deep and powerful through his veins.
And so he risks it all and saves him, without question, and he would do it again and again, because there is a part of Sora's heart that holds a part of Lea's in it, even if they've never met.
These hearts, he thinks, shaking his head, are such messy business.