This idea was generously given to me by Riku-Rocks and I truly hope I did it justice.

Eyes Like Yours

Riku

He was not entirely sure why he had taken to spending so much of his time wandering the rooftops. Even during those times he was certain there was no one else on the streets of The World that Never Was; he could be found, more often than not, walking among the vents and condensers that made up the tops of the dark buildings that lined the main thoroughfare. Perhaps it had something to do with the utter solitude he could find.

"I found you again."

Riku sighed. Except for him… Somehow, this one always found him and what was really beginning to trouble him was that Riku began waiting for the Nobody to appear. "Nothing new there."

"I guess not." The other snickered and moved to lean against the high ledge. "You know, I keep half-expecting to find you standing on one for these ledges, ready to jump."

"I'm not suicidal, Axel."

"I know. You're too busy being emo to be that."

Riku snorted. "I'm not emo."

Axel waited a minute before turning and sitting down, his back against the low barrier. "Naw, I suppose you're not."

Riku looked down at the street below. "Have you seen him today?"

"If I had, I wouldn't be here." The redhead laughed. "Then again, maybe I would."

The sixteen year old had no idea what the Nobody meant by that. Then again, Axel had the habit of confusing him. He was starting to think he was a bit schizophrenic.

"Have you?" Axel suddenly asked in a serious tone.

"I would have told you if I had."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?" Riku hopped off his perch, turning to lean against it instead.

"Why would you tell me if you found Roxas? If I found out where he was, you know I would try to take him. Why risk it?"

"Because I know he's your best friend." Riku flicked some of his silver-hair back. "I know what it's like to worry; to not know where your friend is or what's happening to him."

Axel pursed his thin lips. He leaned his head against the wall. "You know we can't both have what we want."

"I don't quite agree with that." Riku crossed his arms. "Roxas is part of Sora. Maybe he'll no longer exist as a separate entity but he won't die. I don't even think he'll completely disappear. Something tells me that Sora wouldn't allow that."

"It still wouldn't be Roxas."

"No." Riku slowly agreed. "But Sora won't be Sora without him. They are necessary to each other. One cannot exist without the other."

Axel blew out a breath. "So why is Sora more important than Roxas? Why can't Roxas be the one to stay?"

"I'm sorry for that."

He knew Axel was staring at him. He doubted the Nobody understood what he was trying to say. He truly did feel bad about Roxas' impending fate. If there was a way to save Roxas, he was more than willing to try it. However, he knew there was no such thing.

"It isn't fair that Roxas can't truly be his own person. ...And it isn't fair that Sora became fragmented. And it isn't fair that we have to be the ones to make these decisions and take these actions." The blindfolded teen angled his head up. "But I truly believe that ultimately, all of us will be where we need to be."

He still did not understand where his conviction came from, but he felt it in the deepest recesses of his heart. Somewhere, somehow, all of this would be over and everyone could simply be free and. with a little luck, happy.

"You really believe all that?" Axel asked quietly.

Riku shrugged. "Does it really matter to you if I do?"

There a full minute of silence before Riku heard the rustle of Axel's coat as he stood. He felt the Nobody step closer to him and he tensed a bit. He waited before reacting, sensing no aggression from Axel. However, there was something different about the guy…

"Why do you wear the blindfold?"

Riku frowned. "Why do you want to know?"

Axel chuckled a bit. There was a nervous quality to it. "Just curious…"

"I just do."

"That's a lame answer, Riku." The amusement faded. "Take it off."

"No."

"Why not?" Axel had a smirk in his voice. "I just want to see your eyes."

Why in the worlds would Axel want to see his eyes? He doubted the Nobody would find anything of remote interest about them, and it did not seem likely he would be able to read anything within them.

"Please, let me see them?"

"Why?"

"Don't know."

Having no idea why, Riku found himself reaching up and taking hold of the black strip of cloth. He shut his eyes and pulled the cloth away. Then he cautiously fluttered them open. While it was dark out, it was still brighter than the absolute black to which he had grown accustom.

Once he felt his eyes had properly adjusted, he faced Axel. He was struck by how intense those emerald eyes were and it was not just the color. The redhead was actively searching for something within Riku's gaze.

The silvered teen forced himself not to look away; he was uncomfortable with the Nobody's scrutiny. It felt like Axel was trying to see into his very soul. The only thing that kept his eyes on the other was his curiosity. Would Axel be able to recognize any of the emotion he saw?

Abruptly, Axel stopped searching and his breath hitched. He stepped back a single step, still looking into Riku's eyes. Something within Axel's own gaze changed and Riku knew that not only did the Nobody see the emotions; he understood the depth of them.

He replaced the blindfold, quickly re-acclimating to the pitch black. He had felt oddly naked without it. He waited a moment and after deciding that Axel was not going to say anything further, he left the roof.

He felt the redhead's green eyes on him even after he was out of sight.