Fandom: Kingdom Hearts 2
Rating: PG
Spoilers: A lot. Best not to read if you've not finished the game and don't want to be spoiled.
Disclaimers: Not mine, never happened.
Archiving: Want. Ask. Receive.
Feedback: Will write for feedback. Or kittens. (Moar kittens pls?)
Pairing: Axel/Roxas

A/N: Preceded by, but not exactly a sequel to The Boy Indoors. As in, it's not necessary to read The Boy Indoors to understand or enjoy this, but it may well help. :D (Assuming you enjoy it of course. Hopefully!) Short, yah? But the next bit should be longer.


"Do not go gentle into that good night." Says Axel and Roxas doesn't understand. Roxas doesn't understand much of anything any more, really. There's not much of Roxas left. The days pass slowly in Sora's head and every day Sora re-assimilates more of Roxas, 'til there's not much left of Roxas at all. This wasn't what Roxas wanted or expected. But there's not much of Roxas left after all. Certainly not enough left to struggle.

But Axel says, from nowhere "Do not go gentle into that good night." And so, somehow, Roxas struggles.


"If you can't take the kid from the fight, take the fight from the kid."

- Panic! At The Disco; Camisado (Relax, Relapse)

Life's gone back to normal now. Whatever that is. Sora's not sure any more. It's hard to adjust and Sora's not settling back like he should have, like he expected he would. It's hard to stay in one place for long. He stares longingly out windows, thinking of all the worlds out there, just waiting to be discovered. It's so hard to get used to the feel of a pen against the calluses from his keyblade. So difficult to answer to a teacher, when he's fought unimaginable darkness. So impossible to sit still, to not jump at shadows.

So hard that maybe it's too hard and Sora thinks of Donald and Goofy somewhere out there, still doing and fixing, while Sora isn't. Disposing of the last vestiges of the heartless. And then Sora gets jealous, which he hates. So Sora fidgets and doesn't sleep much any more and tries to ignore the voices in his ear, while doctors diagnose ADHD and recommend therapists for PTSD and no one gets it. But Riku. And Riku's happy again, finally, in his quiet way. So Sora fidgets and tries to ignore the voices and doesn't. Think. At all.


Riku worries. As the eldest it's kinda in the job description. He doesn't brood much any more; he's somewhat outgrown it. He's seen what lies outside the Island, their Island, and he's decided he doesn't like it much. Corruption festers in all the dark corners, cloying and noxious and infectious. Riku's seen enough of that to last a lifetime.

But Sora won't settle; can't. He's straining at the leash to go. The hero bug has bitten him and he's torn, between his inherent loyalty to his friends and his compulsive need to go, to be anywhere but here.

Sora's sitting on the furthest point of the Island, legs draped over the edge of the cliff when Riku finds him. The drop's not far; they used to dive off this cliff as children, both of them bombing into the water. Riku sees the setting sun in his eyes as he leans forwards, straining for the sky. Riku sits on the tree they used to share, bowing for them, and kicks his legs, heels thumping. Sora doesn't turn, doesn't stir. Just strains for the sky and the setting sun, making his shadow dance.


Axel feels kinda bad, y'know? But as Nobodies aren't supposed to feel he's pretty okay with ignoring it. Which, Axel realizes, as he's never been that dull, doesn't really work. Since he still misses Roxas. Still wants him back. Nobodies shouldn't want, right? Shouldn't miss or need. Because that's feeling. As were any and all of the emotions Axel and his comrades exhibited. So Axel just ignores it again and gets on it.

Axel, however, should also be dead and he's pretty sure he doesn't know where he stands on that. Because the others haven't reappeared yet and they don't seem to be about. Maybe nobodies can't die, but they can be killed, Axel theorises. But he's not sure. So he forgets it and moves on. He has work to do.