The Other Dimension
Summary: "Say you love me." Roxas and Axel, two Nobodies, grapple with the concept of love. Drabble. AkuRoku.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
It was a Sunday afternoon. One of those days where you have no where important to be and nothing urgent to do.
"Say you love me." The quiet peace was suddenly broken by a blonde and blue-eyed boy who was sitting at the table and plucking grapes from their stems by the teeth.
"Wha?" A vibrant red-haired youth, who sat across from blonde boy, looked up from the newspaper he held wide open with both hands.
"Say it." Roxas urged, he eyes set on Axel with a determined stare that held expectation.
"I love you." The redhead said with as much emotion as a rock, and then turned his focus back to the newspaper. The expression on Roxas's face grew sour.
"Not like that. Say it like you mean it."
"And what the hell is that supposed to be mean?" Axel snapped, irritated at the younger boy's incomprehensible request.
Roxas looked down at his grapes, greatly put off. "I don't know." He admitted. Seeing the dismay in Roxas's face, Axel instantly regretted his flair in temper and sighed patiently.
"Why did you want to hear me say it?" Axel asked gently, watching Roxas pinch a grape between his teeth. The grape disappeared behind his lips as his mouth moved to devour it.
"Well," Roxas began, chewing thoughtfully. "I was watering Xemnas's tulips yesterday, like he instructed me to when—."
"Tulips?" Axel interrupted, setting the newspaper down and folding his arms across his broad chest.
"Yea. He's got poppies too." Roxas added helpfully. "He grows them in a little alley in Traverse Town, but don't tell him I told you. He's paranoid that you're gona burn 'em one day just to spite him." Axel snorted. If he was going to burn something, it wouldn't be a few worthless flowers. "Anyway, this guy and girl suddenly walk into the alley, and luckily there were some crates around for me to hide behind. They start like…petting each other and whispering things in each other's ears. Next thing I know, the guy says, 'I love you' and the girl looks like the she's the happiest thing to ever walk her world."
The room was quiet for several moments, as the two became lost in their own thoughts, reflecting on the story.
"Come here, Roxas." Roxas cocked his head in confusion, as Axel beckoned for Roxas to come over. He pulled the blonde onto his lap and wrapped his long arms around the younger boy. Roxas sighed contently, nuzzling his face into Axel's chest.
"Is it because we don't have hearts?" Roxas whispered, clutching the fabric of Axel's shirt. "Is that why we don't understand what love is?"
"I'll admit. I don't know the meaning of those words…I don't know what the feeling of 'love' is supposed to be." Axel paused, and tightened his hold on the blonde, tilting his face downward to bury his nose in Roxas's soft hair. "What I do know is the feeling of this. You in my arms, close to me. I long for it. I desire it. I miss it. When you're not here, I feel like…setting things on fire. Like Demyx, for instance." Axel noted wryly. "But when you are here, it feels like all the fire and rage within me is subdued. It makes me feel like…like I can live on without a heart."
Roxas raised his head and stared up at Axel with incredulous eyes. "You know…sometimes I feel that way, too. Sometimes it feels a heart is not what I need to make me whole… Is that what love is?" Roxas asked, his voice cracking.
Axel simply shrugged. "I duno."
"Me neither."
The two burst into a fit of laughter.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
A/N: I had this little drabble sitting in my documents for a few years and I figured I'd finish it up finally tonight. Please leave me with your thoughts, and feel free to check out my two other AkuRoku fics. : )
