"Axel…"

"Hey Roxas. Its late, I was beginning to think you wouldn't come!" Axel had, of course, heard the sort of sad, loneliness in Roxas's voice, but he quickly chose to ignore it.

"Where's Xion?" the boy sat in his usual seat next to Axel.

"Ah, you just missed her."

"Is she coming back?"

"Nah, she has overdue mission reports."

"Oh…"

Axel looked at Roxas who was staring blankly at his own boots. The Redhead made a quizzical face and rolled his eyes, "alright, I'll bite. What wrong?"

Roxas was quiet for a long time. Several times he would open his mouth to say something, change his mind, and clamp his mouth, saying nothing.

Eight sighed. He was about to re-ask his question when Roxas interrupted him.

"I don't know… nothing I guess…" he said in a small voice.

Now Axel was worried. Really worried. Usually Roxas would spill his every thought and 'feeling' to Axel.

"Roxas, what's wrong? Are you hurt? Did something happen during your mission? What's up?"

Roxas could tell Axel was worried, really he could, but he just didn't know how to word what he needed to say. "No… and yes. Sort of," he paused. "I'm okay. Nothing happened. I'm fine. I was just… thinking."

Axel was a little eager, but he didn't want to press the boy, so he decided just to listen.

"I was thinking… about you, Axel…: Roxas made sure not to look at his best friend's expression. "I don't know why, but I keep thinking about you. I tried to stop, really, but…" he looked down and his eyes filled. The tears came soon after, but they were quiet ones. Quiet as though he was completely unaware that he was crying at all. Roxas wiped his cheeks, looked at his wet, gloved fingers, and cried harder, hiding his face in his hands, as if knowing he was crying was even more upsetting.

Axel watched the boy, slightly fascinated and amazed. He watched small streams push through Roxas's gloved fingers. He watched his small shoulders tremble up and down. A small smile pulled on Axel's face.

"You definitely are the expressive Nobody. Are you sure you don't have heart?" eight laughed inwardly, the boy sure knows how to fake emotions. Heck, if I had a heart I'd start crying for him myself!

"Hey Roxas."

"The boy didn't even move.

"This is what 'love' is. Or rather –the closest Nobodies like us can get to 'love'."

"What do you mean?" Roxas asked quietly, his voice vaguely confined by his gloved hands.

"You see Roxas, that's something I can't tell you. You don't learn love, you feel it."

Roxas was quiet for a moment. "You're stupid. You don't even know, you just won't admit it."

"I'm stupid? You're the one who's crying for no reason!"

"Shut up."

"Now, now, no need to break out the swears." Axel moved Roxas's hands from his face and wiped his cheeks, "now c'mon, Roxy. Let's see a smile."

Thirteen unintentionally did the opposite. The blond cried again and lowered his head.

Axel rolled his eyes again, put a hand on Roxas's cheek, and lifted his head. He smiled, emerald eyes shining. Axel tiled his head and brought his face close to the blonde's.

"I can't love you… but…"

Axel pressed his lips tenderly on Roxas's for a moment. Then, his hands on Thirteen's shoulders, Axel pulled away, looking down.

"I want to."

The Pyro felt to small hands on his face. Roxas slouched and tilted his head to look up at the low-headed man.

"Well the…" Roxas smiled. "We'll just have to pretend. Wont we?"

And with that, Roxas licked his lips, followed immediately by smashing them with Axel's. To the older man's surprise, Roxas was immensely skilled at kissing. He kissed so gently and lovingly; and so skillfully and passionately.

Again, Axel broke away looking away from Roxas in shame, "we could get in trouble. If we get caught, they'll turn us to Dusks for sure."

"I don't care," the boy said seductively.

Axel laughed gently. Before Roxas could pull the Pyro into another lip-lock, Axel pressed his index and middle fingers to the blonde's mouth, "you make me feel like I have a heart."