Heart of a Nobody

Disclaimer: I don't own KH2 or any of its characters. I can't even be sure that I own this idea, actually. So…I take credit for nothing! If I did own KH, it wouldn't be nearly as interesting and Kairi wouldn't exist.

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He was a Nobody.

Nobodies didn't have hearts.

Their chests were empty, cold, and hollow. They couldn't feel; couldn't regret, and couldn't love.

It's said that a Nobody is completely lifeless; a mere shell of their original selves. With no heart in their breast, they are supposedly unfeeling and misguided, unable to tell right from wrong. But Axel was sure they were more than unfeeling puppets. He knew they could feel. If they couldn't, then what could explain the dull ache he felt in his chest?

Surely it hadn't always been there…

He was a Nobody.

Nobodies didn't have hearts.
But Axel was sure that Roxas did. Roxas was special, and not only because of the Keyblade. There was something about him that drew Axel to his side. And there was something that kept him there, even when he did idiotic things.

There was something about Roxas that Axel liked. Something that told him he could be trusted. So, trust Roxas Axel did. He followed Roxas like a faithful companion, offering loyalty and compassion. When he was pushed away, Axel followed from the shadows, eventually making himself known after Roxas had calmed down. He was honest to himself, and to Roxas, when he said that he wouldn't leave him.

Axel promised Roxas that he would always be there, even if he never did hear him…

He was a Nobody.

Nobodies didn't have hearts.
Then why did Roxas? Why was he so special? Why was it that Axel could feel as he did whenever in Roxas' presence? Why did he know of trust, and of liking? How could he give loyalty, and compassion? Why weren't his promises unfulfilled and empty?

If Nobodies didn't have hearts, why did Roxas…?

He was a Nobody.

Nobodies didn't have hearts.
Axel realized this now. The ache in his chest happened when he met Roxas. He just never noticed it before. The ache…it was of emptiness. His chest was hollow and cold. It held no heart.

Not anymore…

He was a Nobody.

Nobodies didn't have hearts.
They couldn't possibly feel without them. So, Nobodies couldn't feel. But Roxas was special. He did have a heart, though it wasn't in his chest.

Roxas held it in his hand and Roxas controlled it without thinking…

He was a Nobody.

Nobodies didn't have hearts.
Axel could only feel when he was with Roxas. Nobodies couldn't feel without a heart. But Axel did have a heart. Roxas held it in his hand and Roxas controlled it without thinking…

He was a Nobody.

Nobodies didn't have hearts...

But Axel simply gave his away.