disclaimor: I own nothing, blah-di-blah
pairing/s: akuroku
warning/s: nothin' much
sidenote of doom: listen to samson by regina spektor. now.
There's Still Time
Axel had always left things to the last moment, like when Xemnas had told him to clean the kitchen by Saturday. Axel lazed about for the week, until Saturday came along and then did it. Although, the next time Demyx opened a cupboard, a spray of food boxes, cans, tins, forks and spoons came toppling out of it and onto him.
And there was that other time, when he had to clear Hollow Bastion of heartless, but he just couldn't be bothered. So he watched TV until it came to the last hour of his time limit and when he went, he just killed a couple of dozen and then left.
Axel thought he'd always be alright just doing this. Waiting until the last minute to do things, he thought he was safe. He could always patch things up at the end, easy.
So when Roxas said: "Axel, I'm... leaving the Organisation", Axel was surprised – obviously – but he knew that he would be able to stop Roxas. But right then, all he said was: "Don't go."
Roxas didn't listen.
But "there's still time."
- - -
three months
"What are you doing, Rox?"
Roxas looked at him with wide, sad eyes. "I'm getting rid of my stuff... I won't need it soon," he whispered, his voice was raspy, like he'd been crying. But Roxas didn't cry; no one cried there.
"...Why?"
"Because I'm leaving." Roxas straightened up, his back cracking. Axel winced. "You knew that."
Axel stared for a moment, his own eyes wide and sad. "Oh yeah, I guess I did."
Roxas smiled, small and wistful. "I'm almost done now though. Do you wanna go do something later?"
Axel gulped, his words stuck in his throat. "Yeah, sure."
Because "there's still time."
two months
Roxas looked ill: half of his food still left on his plate and skin clammy and pale.
"You alright?" asked Axel. Roxas gave him a smile (though it reminded Axel of someone about to head off to war).
"Yeah... just..."
"Just," Axel paused. "Just... what?"
"Just nervous."
Axel didn't ask why.
He knew why and "there's still time."
one month
"Roxas," said Axel.
Roxas turned round. Somehow he'd found a new approach and his eyes had grown a new layer of steel ice-blue and his lips never curved or dipped. "Yes, Eight?"
Axel stared at him and for the first time, he thought he knew what it would be like to almost cry. 'Eight'...
"Nevermind."
Maybe "there's still time."
minutes, maybe seconds
Axel saw it all in slow motion. He'd waited until the last minute and he was watching Roxas walk away. Probably forever. He hadn't thought of anything to say, to do. He just watched.
Then Roxas cocked his head to the side and whispered, "no one would miss me."
"I would."
Roxas didn't hear.
He wished "there's still time."
- - -
Axel had always left things to the last moment, like when Xemnas had told him to clean the kitchen by Saturday. Axel lazed about for the week, until Saturday came along and then did it. Although, the next time Demyx opened a cupboard, a spray of food boxes, cans, tins, forks and spoons came toppling out of it and onto him.
And there was that other time, when he had to clear Hollow Bastion of heartless, but he just couldn't be bothered. So he watched TV until it came to the last hour of his time limit and when he went, he just killed a couple of dozen and then left.
Axel thought he'd always be alright just doing this. Waiting until the last minute to do things, he thought he was safe. He could always patch things up at the end, easy.
But he couldn't.
x x x
