Author's Note: Once again, this fic was cowritten with scatterxthexashes. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing this. Note, this will be a series, not a oneshot.

Disclaimer: We do not own any part of the Kingdom Hearts series. Not the characters, worlds, anything! (sadly...)

"So, how did you come to be a part of the Organization?" Axel looked over at Roxas, sucking on the remaining ice cream on the stick before it dripped onto his cloak.

"Xemnas had found me. He didn't really give me much of a choice in the matter. Just kind of forced me to go back with him," Roxas shrugged. Most of his ice cream was left untouched. He wasn't very hungry.

"Heh, that certainly sounds like Xemnas... As bossy and overbearing as always," he chuckled, flipping back his long red locks.

Roxas nodded at nothing in particular. "I was also curious." He paused until Axel was looking at him again, instead of down at the buildings of the town. "About why I wield the keyblade."

Axel's interest was immediately caught, though he didn't show it. "Keyblade, huh?" Axel looked at Roxas, chewing on the stick now.

Roxas nodded again, at Axel this time. "Yeah."

The two watched in a pleasant silence as the sun slowly set, unable to think of any other topics to discuss. Axel was determined to get to know Roxas better though; if there was anyone in the Organization who he'd thought would make a worthwhile companion, it was this kid. There was just something about him.

"So, Axel." Roxas finally took another bite of his ice cream. He still wasn't really all that hungry, but Axel had got it for him; he didn't want to be rude by barely touching it.

"Hm?" Axel was staring off into space again, thinking. We barely talk but he's already better for conversation than Demyx, he thought.

"How long have you been with the Organization?" Roxas's eyebrows went up to show his curiosity.

"You know..." Axel stood up, pacing the tight pathway of the tower. "I don't even remember anymore."

"Wow," Roxas commented, staring up at the elder. "A while then, I'm guessing."

Axel chuckled quietly. "Yeah. A long while."

The sun had nearly descended, leaving the two with only a small source of light. The wind was picking up and it was nearing the time to get back to the castle. Axel always hated when the time came to go back, but it inevitably had approached.

Roxas chose to continue on with their discussion, even with knowing that they probably should have already left. "So, why have you stayed so long?"

Axel took a moment before shrugging. "...I guess I really have nowhere else to go."

"So I guess we have something in common, then," Roxas smiled, looking up at Axel.

"Heh, yeah." Axel smiled back, though his expression soon turned neutral as he beckoned a portal. "Shall we go?" Axel gestured to allow Roxas to go in before him.

"Yeah." He stood up, walking slowly to the portal back to The Castle That Never Was. He looked back at Axel. "Do we have to go back?"

"Sadly." Axel responded flatly, following in Roxas's wake.

-

The pair found themselves at the entrance of the castle; they were both glad to see that none of the other members were currently there. Axel wished to spend as little time as possible with anyone in the Organization, except for Roxas of course, and Roxas was purely frightened of all the others from their looks alone to even try to get to know any of them.

"This castle has the stupidest name ever," Axel remarked, mostly to himself, as they walked side by side through the hallways. "Xemnas must have been feeling real original, huh?"

"The Castle That Never Was in the World That Never Was. Seems the Gods were feeling original, too." Roxas chuckled, sharing in on the joke. "Though you know, it's fitting."

"Hm?" Axel looked down at Roxas. He didn't understand what he meant.

"We never were really meant to exist. Us -- Nobodies, I mean. When you think about it, we could be called Those That Never Were. You know?" Roxas eyes were set to the floor as they were walking. He had been in a thinking mood lately, though it wasn't as if he had much else to do these days. He was just glad to have someone to share his thoughts with for once. He knew he could trust Axel. There was just something about him, some common bond that they both shared.

"Yeah, yeah... I get what you mean. Still, he could have chosen a better name. Let's sign up Xemnas for a creative writing course. Maybe he'll have a new outlet instead of tormenting the rest of us." He laughed, not exactly realizing that Roxas was entirely serious. Axel had decided long ago that life was too short to be serious; that you should live every moment as if you'll die the next.

It wasn't long before they were in the corridor with every members' sleeping quarters. The hallway was long, with every number up to XIII painted above each door. Roxas didn't mention how he noticed that Axel didn't stop at his own room, and instead continued ambling beside him until he reached his own.

They stood somewhat awkwardly outside the door, neither of them making a move whatsoever to leave or to go inside.

Roxas felt obligated to bring Axel into his room. "Did you want to come inside?" he asked with a clear sense of hope in his voice. "You're welcome to."

Axel shrugged, "Sure, why not."

"Cool." Roxas smiled, walking in his room, with Axel following close behind. "So, this is the place." Roxas spread his arms out, just to exaggerate how big the tiny room was.

"It's boring." Axel grinned at Roxas to let him know he was teasing. He sat down on the bed, looking around. "You need some posters or something, man."

"Nah, it would make it seem too permanent." Roxas shook his head, sitting on his bed beside Axel.

"But isn't that the point?" Axel was confused, his eyebrows furrowed.

Roxas gazed down upon the cover of his bed, frowning. "I feel like, if my room stays this way, then maybe I won't feel like I have to stay here for as long. If that makes sense."

Axel understood perfectly; he used to feel that way as well. Before, all he wanted was to make his stay with the Organization last the least amount of time as possible. But now, he'd come to realize that this was where he belonged. The walls of his room were now painted crimson, and he had more to look at than just the bad paint job someone had done before it.

"Well..." Axel spoke, pushing away his thoughts. "I still say you should do something to it. All this white is painful to look at."

"Haha, like your hair?" Roxas laughed at his own joke, even though it was rather lame.

"Hey!" Axel jolted up from his seat, glaring at Roxas. "What's wrong with my hair?" He pouted playfully.

"Nothing, nothing." Roxas waved his hands in front of him, showing it was merely a joke. He smiled sincerely. "I like it."

"Apologize." Axel crossed his arms. "No one insults the hair."

"You can't be serious?" Roxas laughed, looking up at a still-pouting Axel.

"One of the few times you'll ever see, I'm serious. You don't mess with the hair. Got it memorized?" He pointed to his head for emphasis. "Now what do you have to say?"

Roxas rolled his eyes. He almost laughed at how stupid this conversation would have sounded if anyone else were to be listening in. "...I'm sorry, Axel's hair. I didn't mean it."

While Roxas held back the laugh threatening to escape, Axel grinned and ran a hand through his hair. "It forgives you."

Roxas snickered, smiling at Axel. "You're really strange, you know."

Axel smiled back, taking that comment as a compliment. Maybe Roxas considered it one as well. "You're pretty odd yourself. Probably why I like you so much."

Roxas opened his mouth to reply, but apparently it would have to wait on the account of an overexcited Demyx charging into the room. "Hey guys! What's up?!" He was practically bouncing up and down as he talked.

He looked around the room, noticing how Roxas and Axel were just a bit too close to each other. "Ooh, did I interrupt something?" Demyx smiled a grin that on anyone else would appear creepy. On him, it just looked goofy, like all the other smiles in his collection.

"No! Out, Demyx. Out!" Axel pointed towards the door, fully aware that he was talking to Demyx as if he was a dog. "Don't make me spray you with a water bottle."

Demyx yelped at the mention, scurrying out of the room. He poked his head through the doorway, "I still think there's something going on here!" Axel just pointed towards the door again, glaring, before Demyx closed it.

Roxas's eyebrows seemed to be permanently raised up on his forehead, showing his surprise. "Why did he just walk into my room? And how did he even know you were in here? And why--"

Axel cut him off. "Trust me; I won't know any of the answers to your questions when they involve Demyx. I don't think even he knows what's wrong with him."

Roxas shook his head, grinning. "You're so mean to him."

"I am not! I'm just protecting you." Roxas raised an eyebrow at this. "I mean -- he just wants your cookies!"

Roxas laughed, finding this other side of Axel nice to see.

"My cookies, Axel? I don't even have cookies." Roxas seemed to have a permanent smile on his face. Maybe being here won't be too bad, Roxas thought. As long as Axel is around, things should be... interesting.

"Well, that's what you think!" Axel splayed his arms about.

Roxas watched him curiously. "...Axel?"

"Yeah?" He suddenly calmed down, looking at Roxas.

"I know I said this already, but, I stand by my previous statement: you're really weird." Roxas laughed, pushing his hair back.

Axel just laughed in return, plopping on the bed next to Roxas, and laid his head in Roxas's lap. "I'm bored. Entertain me."

Roxas laughed nervously, looking down at Axel. He hoped his blush wasn't too evident. "I think you're entertaining enough for the both of us."

"Yeah, maybe," Axel grinned. "But for now I'm giving you the job of amusing me."

Roxas laughed again. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

Axel smirked. "I can think of a few things you could do."

Roxas's eyebrows nearly jumped off his forehead they raised so high. He felt like his face was nearly matching Axel's hair. "Uh, well I, uh... heh..."

Axel eyed Roxas inquisitively. He seemed to enjoy making Roxas uncomfortable. "What, aren't you curious?" Axel sat up, looking Roxas in the eye and grinning.

"C-curious?" Roxas stammered, attempting to avoid Axel's looks but failing miserably. The truth was though, that he was curious, but he wasn't ready to admit that to Axel.

He barely noticed how close Axel was to him, now. Probably since he was willing his face to return to its natural, pale color -- rather than what he knew was a deep red -- instead of focusing on the lack of space between them.

"Roxas." Axel gazed into Roxas's eyes, cupping his chin in his hand, pulling his face closer to his own. "Come on, you know you want to," he rasped, his voice husky.

Roxas was bewildered; a million and one thoughts were racing through his head, and he couldn't make sense of any of them. He didn't know what to do. He liked Axel, but... this was just too fast. He barely knew him. He didn't want to hurt him though. Luckily the familiar sound he heard was to fix that awkward situation, or so he hoped.