A/N: 'Evening, everyone! Last chapter was just for set-up, so this chapter will be a bit longer. Incidentally, this chapter starts the Isa/Axel shippy stuff, so if that's not your bag, just a warning.

Enjoy!

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"Lea!"

Axel turned to see a blue haired man barreling onto the landing. "Haven't heard that one in awhile."

Isa's heart skipped a beat. Hadn't heard...? It had to be a coincidence. Had to. Lea was dead, he knew that. Why was he torturing himself like this? He was only going to be disappointed, and it would be like losing Lea all over again. He knew that, and yet this man...his voice, and the way he moved, the way he spoke...Isa had to know. He stepped between Sora and the black-clad man, frowning deeply.

"...Show me your face," he demanded, only keeping his voice level thanks to years of self-discipline. But it was a close thing.

The Nobody turned to get a better look at their new guest. Blue hair, a wicked looking claymore, an X-shaped scar, and those piercing blue eyes.

No, it couldn't be. He was just imagining things. He dismissed the thoughts as soon as they tried to flood in, casually waving a hand at the newcomer.

"Oh, is this your buddy? Well I'm kind of busy right now, we can play later." The words rolled out smoothly.

The dismissive response was too much for Isa.

"TAKE OFF THE GODDAMN HOOD! LEA!"

'Please. Please, let it be him.' More than anything, Isa just wanted to see Lea's smile one more time. Even if he didn't remember him.

So Axel had heard correctly. But this man shouting back at him, no. It couldn't be true.

The hooded figure looked back at Sora, who seemed just as confused as he was. So he just shrugged. Play it cool. He wasn't sure who this man was, but he didn't appreciate him interrupting his conversation. Not when it was between Axel and getting his friend back. But something just didn't feel right.

"Well if you're so intent on it," he slipped his hood back, bright red spikes, violet tattoos, and a confident grin. His bright green eyes locked with this new man's stern glare.

Axel, the Flurry of Dancing Flames.

"I don't think we've been introduced-" the redhead began.

A loud crash cut the Nobody off mid-sentence. The claymore had slipped from Isa's fingers, clattering against the ground.

No.

No.

Oh, god, it was Lea. It was Lea. Isa couldn't breathe. His chest felt so tight, and he thought his eyes might fall from his skull. Those eyes. That grin. Suddenly Isa was 16 again, and instead of rubble he was surrounded by fountains and flower beds, and he had never needed a weapon because Radiant Garden was safe, and Lea was there and smiling and everything was right with the world.

Then the moment passed, and Isa realized he was moving forward, his hands stretching out towards the redhead, his claymore left forgotten on the cobbled stones. He ignored Axel's protests, cupping his face in both hands. He drew in a shuddering breath. It wasn't an illusion, or an apparition. Lea was really here. He was warm, and solid, and here. Isa's face twisted, and he pressed his forehead to Axel's as he fought to control himself. He would not cry. He would not.

"See...? I told you I could never forget you..." he hissed in a strangled voice, trying to smile and failing, so that his face contorted into a rictus grin. "...Believe me, I tried all the time."

Nearby, Sora ground his teeth, tensed and ready to attack Axel at a moment's notice. Oh dammit, why was Isa acting like this? He had just told him that Nobodies were dangerous, especially the Organization, for crying out loud!

... Wait. He said Lea.

Isa had said that Lea was attacked by Heartless. If Lea had been strong enough, then a Nobody would have been created. And if his heart was strong enough, maybe that Nobody would have been humanoid...

"Isa," Sora said, calmly as he could. "back off. That isn't Lea. Maybe he was, once, a long time ago, but not anymore. He's a Nobody, he's extremely dangerous, and you're too close."

"...Isa?"

This wasn't part of the plan. Axel felt cold hands on his face, blue eyes that told a thousand stories. Memories came flooding in but-

"The kid's right. The name's Axel now, comes with being a Nobody," he said as he removed Isa's hands from his face, placing Isa's hands back to his own heart, "Get that memorized."

How long had it been, Axel wondered? This was all too sudden. Axel was here to get Roxas back, to salvage what friendship he had left. But a Nobody shouldn't be able to feel this way. A Nobody shouldn't be able to feel at all. Still there was a pang where Axel's heart should be.

"Sorry to do this to yah. Maybe you'll understand," he snapped his fingers, hopping back to gain some distance as the Nobodies were summoned. "I just don't have the heart," he muttered, "Have fun kid, don't go dying on me now!"

With that, the cloaked man took the opportunity to run for it. Shit shit shit, so much for having this under control.

Oh no. Isa did NOT think so. He was not letting Lea get away that easily. Isa grasped for his claymore, and had a brief moment of panic when he realized he'd dropped it. He lunged for the sword, tucking into a roll and coming up swinging. A single swing cleared the way forward, and he dashed after the Nobody as fast as his legs would carry him. Sora could handle the rest; he needed to catch Lea. He had too much to say to him, too much he needed to ask, to let him get away now.

Lea!" he yelled at his retreating back. "Wait!"

For a brief flash of a second, something deep in Sora's heart ached to see the Nobody running away.

Then he had summoned the Keyblade and was slashing at Nobodies, only to have Isa create an opening that lasted just long enough for him to slip past the Nobodies and after Axel. "Isa!"

Dammit! Well this confrontation had gotten bad, and fast. "Isa! Don't go after him!"

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Axel darted through the hallway, his mind racing faster than his footsteps would carry him.

This wasn't supposed to happen, not like this. He remembered that face, Isa's face. But he didn't remember tears, save for his final moments. The last day he ever felt anything, and it was swamped with nothing but regret. Lea wasn't himself anymore, just a walking shell of his former self. But seeing this man's face, well.

It was something he tried his best to forget.

He wasn't meant to feel this, he wasn't even supposed to exist. Axel let out a groan of frustration as he reached the end of the hallway, turning around to hear footsteps that weren't his own. Isa slowed to a stop as the hallway dead-ended, blocking the way out.

"Just back off, Isa. You're better off forgetting this even happened," Axel turned to smile faintly. He'd rather Isa remembered Lea, not Axel. Not this monster he'd turned into.

Axel opened a portal, but paused. He looked up for a moment, turning again to meet Isa's eyes.

"Glad to see you're alive and well though. Be careful," Axel pointed between his own eyes, "I- Lea was supposed to be the reckless one, -better not have rubbed off on you."

But Isa lunged forward, snagging at Axel's wrist and holding onto it as tight as he could. Back off? No way. He wasn't about to stand by and watch while Lea faded away from him again. His face was inches from the Nobody's, and his eyes bored into the redhead's.

"You are not running away from me that easily. I've got too much to say to you, and I've waited too long to say it."

The redhead's breathing became shallow, inches from a seething Isa. Axel looked to the portal in vain. He'd never hear the end of it if he made a scene, but he wasn't getting out of this one without a few scratches. Isa was always so bossy, some things never change. A small chuckle escaped from the Nobody.

"Well then let's hear it," Flames spiraled around his hands, summoning his trademark weapons.

Isa was startled enough by the flames to release his grip on Lea's wrist and step back. That was definitely new. And those weapons had appeared out of thin air. Was that a Nobody thing? That actually seemed pretty convenient; Isa tossed away that thought as soon as it crossed his mind. Still, a part of him managed to be amused that Lea's weapons were basically giant, spiked frisbees. How like him.

The amusement fell away when Axel raised his chakrams.

"Come on, I wanna catch up too. I've gotta warn you though, it might sting a little."

Isa scowled.

"I don't want to fight you, Lea." He stepped towards the Nobody again, totally fearless. So, this is what Lea wanted to do? Well, he had never beaten Isa before. Maybe Lea had learned a few tricks, but Isa was sure he could subdue him without hurting him. Still, he didn't want to have to do even that much.

"I just want to talk." He scowled, clamping down tight on his emotions.

"Then TALK," Axel flinged a chakram past Isa's head, flames whirled into the wall behind him, only to reappear in his hand. The chakram passed close enough to Isa's head to ruffle his hair, but the blue-haired man didn't even flinch.

"C'mon, you're not gonna fight back? Yer making this too easy," The Nobody glared at the man across from him, "You shoulda listened to the Keyblade, I'm bad news. A Nobody, that means no heart."

Isa stepped forward towards Axel.

"I don't care about that one bit, Lea. So you don't have a heart now; I'll get it back for you." And he meant it.

His scowl shifted into a frown. There was so much he wanted to know. The question that had haunted him the most these last ten years refused to go unasked. He stopped a few feet from the Nobody.

"Did you know that I loved you? When you died?"

Love?

Axel immediately dropped his weapons.

What was he trying to do? No, he couldn't have any ulterior motives. This was Isa, stoic and sarcastic.

The boy who laughed when Lea made a fool of himself.
Turned his nose when Lea dug holes for himself.
Lectured him when Lea just needed a shoulder to cry on.
But was always there with a kind word, when nobody's eyes were on them.

Well, this was the man standing before him now. Promising him a heart, proclaiming love?

He wasn't sure what to say. What was he supposed to say? Of course he loved him, back when he could. He spent every moment thinking about that...that asshole. Axel's eyes darted around, trying to focus on something that wasn't Isa. No luck.

"You idiot," he mumbled, trying not to make eye contact. He was only a few feet from Isa, but it was way too far. "I loved you too," his words were barely audible. As soon as it escaped his lips he felt himself shaking, his hands gripping his head in pain. "But just look at me," he barely spat out, "I've been working on this whole heart business for 10 years, what makes you think you can fix it huh? What's your genius plan?"

Isa shook his head in response to his question, frowning.

"I don't know. I'll need time to think about it. But I'll think of something."

From the sound of Lea's voice, Isa couldn't believe he didn't have feelings. He knew what his friend's voice sounded like, when he was scared and confused. That tone, and the way Lea kept his eyes averted, broke something in Isa. He moved forward to wrap his arms around the Nobody. Idly he noted that Lea had grown taller than him, and that he was far too thin, as if he hadn't had a good meal since Isa had last seen him. None of that was important, though. He reached a hand up to the back of Lea's head.

"I missed you so much..."

Before Axel could even register Isa's words he was suddenly so close. When did Axel's arms get wrapped around this man, his fingers tangled in blue hair? His head rested on Isa's as he buried into the cloaked man's shoulders.

"Yeah, I missed you too," he responded without thinking. Did he really, though? Axel wasn't sure. This was all too confusing for the Nobody, but somewhere inside he felt something.

"But I figure... if there is something in there- inside us- then we'd feel it, wouldn't we?"

Roxas. Shit. Axel had made a promise, he couldn't just abandon his friend but- Well, he supposed things were meant to keep getting complicated from the second Roxas left the Organization. Axel pulled away from the embrace, keeping his arms gripped on Isa's shoulders. He couldn't avoid the pain written all over his face. Two lost friends, and here they were. But he couldn't have them because he didn't have a goddamn heart.

Isa frowned, watching at Axel's face. It looked like he wanted to say something, and Isa waited. But-

There was a cry from behind him and a blast of cold air went whistling past his head, and suddenly Lea was reeling back, clutching his shoulder. Isa whipped around to see what had dared attack Lea, moving to stand protectively in front of the man. He neither thought about, nor cared, that his back was completely exposed to the Nobody.

Sora? No, there must be some misunderstanding. How could Sora-

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Sora ran through the hallways as fast as he could, breathless from the fight with the lesser Nobodies. They had gotten a few hits in, but nothing life threatening or that he couldn't brush off until later. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad if Isa had been there, but there had been a lot of Nobodies and Isa had taken off after Axel. Right after Sora had told him about the dangers of the Organization, too!

Kingdom Hearts, did Isa have a death wish or something?

He rounded a corner fast, almost too fast, and was greeted with the sight of Axel holding Isa at arm's length. Just what did he walk in o- No, it didn't matter. Stopping so suddenly that Sora almost lost his balance, he raised the Keyblade and pointed it at Axel. He aimed as carefully as he could, so he wouldn't hit Isa.

"Blizzard!"

Ice blossomed from the tip of the Keyblade and shot across the room, Isa's hair ruffling in the slip-stream as it passed by him and hit Axel in the shoulder. Sora partially lowered the Keyblade to a better position to attack, either with more magic or with physical force, and forced himself not to gasp for breath.

"Isa, how many times do I have to tell you that he's dangerous before it gets through that thick head of yours?" Sora shouted as best he could, "He's less than nothing, just a Nobody! Now get away from him!"

Less than nothing? How dare he.

Isa felt the pressure building behind his eyes. Uh-oh. This was a problem. He couldn't Berserk at Sora; as angry as Isa was at him for that, Sora was a friend. Besides that, he was a child. Isa's right hand clenched around the grip of his claymore, his left pressing to his forehead. He clenched his teeth as he tried to press back the rage.

"Sora." he ground out, "if you attempt to harm Lea, I will hurt you. I don't want to do that, but I will not be in control of my actions if you do not stand down."

Sora almost faltered. Almost. Then he adjusted his grip on the Keyblade. He really didn't want to fight Isa; he wasn't sure he could win in a fight against him, not after having just fought a bunch of Nobodies. But if that's what it came down to...

"I can't make you any promises, Isa." he said, "If I have to fight this guy, I will. I'm not gonna just stand by because you want me to." Sora gave a rueful smile. "And I really don't want to fight you."

Axel recovered quickly, to find Isa staring down the Keyblade. He knew Roxas was stubborn, and Sora seemed just as hardheaded. Kinda dense too, but that was a whole other story.

This was not good, why hadn't Axel just stepped through the portal when he had the chance? May as well take the opportunity to stoke the fire.

"Hey, is that any way to treat your best friend, Roxas?" Axel sneered, brushing off the ice. Oh, wait.

Sora started, surprised. Did he just... did he just call him Roxas? Who in the worlds was Roxas? "You're delusional!" Sora shouted, shaking off his surprise. "Whoever that Roxas guy is, he isn't me! And you sure aren't any friend of mine!

"Or anyone's, I bet. Nobodies like you don't have emotions, and how can you be anyone's friend if you can't feel anything?" It was half a taunt, half a demand.

But either way, the comment almost sent Isa over the edge. He clamped his eyes shut to block out the red seeping into his vision, pressing his hand to his eyes.

"DO NOT DARE SPEAK TO HIM LIKE THAT." he snarled out, causing Sora to actually freeze up. No, he needed to stop yelling. It wouldn't help anything. He sucked in a deep breath and held it for a moment.

This was a real problem. Cid and the littles knew enough to get out of the way once he started to lose it, but neither Sora nor Lea knew about his berserk state. It had simply never come up around Sora, and Lea...well, losing Lea was what had given rise to the rage in his heart that occasionally bubbled over and exploded.

"No, Sora. You do not understand." he bit out. Keep talking. If he was talking, he was still in control. "If you do not stand down right now, I am going to go berserk. I will not know you, nor will I be conscious of my actions, nor will I..." he paused to suck in another calming breath. "...remember them later. I may very well kill you both. For all our sakes, stand down!"

Okay, they was something very serious going on here that Sora didn't fully understand. He couldn't just let Axel run around causing trouble, but maybe it would be for the best if he just backed off now and let Isa calm down.

Because, quite frankly, he was starting to get more then a little scary.

Sora glanced from Axel to Isa, hesitated, then slowly lowered his Keyblade. He didn't relax or dismiss it, but he let the end touch the floor. "... Fine." That had better satisfy Isa, because there was no way that he was leaving himself unarmed and in the same room as a member of the Organization.

Axel watched the two go back and forth, but there was something... strange. Something bitter and unstable in Isa's words. This wasn't the boy he used to know.

But then again, Axel couldn't say a damn thing about changing.

Even if Isa had gotten through to Sora, the Nobody wasn't about to take any chances. The man was now at odds with himself, surrounded by his objective and his lost memories. What could he do, though? Try to pry out Roxas again? But before he could settle on a single thought he found himself with his hand on Isa's shoulder, leaning over to make sure his friend had settled down. Isa flinched at his touch, but then seemed to relax.

"Alright, well that was uncalled for. If I had a heart I'd be crushed, Sora. You don't really mean that," he drawled, laying on the sarcasm. It'd be absurd to admit he was more than a little nervous about the situation. "Now that the two of you have calmed down," he nudged Isa, "I think we have some unfinished business, don't we? That is if yer trigger happy friend over here is ready to cool it. Well, not literally," Axel scowled as he rubbed his shoulder, still brushing off some ice.

Isa let out a shuddering breath, removing his hand from his eyes. "...yes, we do, Lea."

There he was, Isa seemed like himself again. Axel wasn't sure what just happened, but he was certain he'd get the explanation later. ...Okay maybe this wasn't as bad as he thought, well, that's what he'd convince himself for now. When he thought about it, Isa being friends with the Keyblade worked to his advantage. Sticking around could prove useful, as long as he was careful of his tracks.

And then a smile slipped on his face. This all seemed unreal. I mean here he was, 10 years later, but Axel wasn't entirely sure what to say to Isa. But Roxas was right before him and he had a million words. Okay, most of them weren't exactly nice things. Whatever. Curiosity led to Axel's next move-

"Alright buddy, you ready to let the grown ups talk? I'm sure Isa can handle himself, y'know, if I decide I don't feel like playing nice," Axel gestured at Sora, who was still gripping his keyblade. The Nobody found a grin plastered on his face again, he was in control of this situation now.

Sora glared at Axel and tightened his grip on the keyblade. It was taking all of his willpower to not lunge at Axel right then and there, but he had to keep it cool. For Isa's sanity, apparently. But Axel was making it very very difficult to not run over there and whap him a few times with the keyblade.

He was right, though. Of course Isa could handle himself if things turned ugly. But Sora trusted Axel about as far as he could throw him, and the last thing he wanted to do was let the Nobody out of his sight.

"I'm not your friend, so quit acting like I am." Sora spat venomously. "I don't know who this Roxas you think I am is, but looks like he left. Can't say I blame the guy! He probably got tired of putting up with you and bailed."

Ah, dammit all. Isa could handle Axel if something happened. But right then Sora had to leave and cool down, or he'd probably attack Axel with a keyblade to the face. Dammit, how could a Nobody be so annoying? Fuming, Sora turned around and headed from the dead-end back out the way he came. Maybe by the time he found his way out of this maze he'd have calmed down.

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Wow did Sora's words sting. Never mind how that was even possible. Axel winced, but those words would never bite as hard as Roxas'.

Isa, though, just sighed in exasperation at Sora. That kid. He shook his head, just relieved that that had not ended poorly.

"Nevermind him, Lea. He's got a bit of a mean streak." Stubborn, too. Isa doubted Sora would leave them alone for long; knowing that boy, he'd end up coming back with Isa's whole family in tow or something.

Isa was curious about this Roxas, but he thought that could wait. This was so surreal. Isa felt a bit like he was dreaming; the emotions weren't hitting him right then. He leaned his claymore against the wall, then sat down against it, patting the floor beside him.

"Sit and talk with me. Tell me about your life."

Axel decided to flop down next to Isa, an arm folded over his knee as he outstretched his other leg, finally leaning on his free arm. For such a skinny guy he sure did take up a lot of room. Isa glanced over at the Nobody, a smirk playing across his face. Lea still sat the same way, all sprawled out willy-nilly.

Axel's hand fell just next to Isa's. It wasn't intentional, but the Nobody avoided eye contact anyway.

"Hah. If you call this a life. I've got nothing to tell you but a horror story, Isa," He leaned his head against the wall, rolling his eyes to catch a glimpse of blue, "No heart, not much to share. What about you, I bet there's tons of stuff yer dying to tell me."

Isa's smirk fell as he thought about Lea's words. A horror story...well, even so, he wanted to hear it. He didn't know that Lea would want to tell him, though. And Isa did have so much he wanted to share with him, but...now that he could, he felt...strangely tongue-tied.

What had their lives become? He couldn't believe how things had changed, because of an attack that had, honestly, lasted less than a minute. Isa took a deep breath, and decided to just go.

"...not much better for me, I'm afraid. Without you, I-...well."

He had to pause, considering.

"...Things weren't right, without you. I very nearly destroyed myself. If it weren't for Cid, I'm certain I wouldn't be here now to speak with you."

Axel immediately locked eyes with Isa. Nearly destroyed himself? That sounded so strange coming from this man. In all of Axel's memories as Lea, Isa was so... so cool. So collected. The thought of losing that knucklehead Lea... ruining him? The Nobody had to remind himself that this was also the man who just confessed his love. Which would have taken Axel aback if he knew how to respond to that. Running it over in his mind, he tried to imagine how Lea would have felt to hear that.

It reminded him of sea salt ice cream. And lazy days in the summer heat. Stargazing at night. Sharing silly dreams.

"...inside people's memories I can live forever"

Sitting at the clock tower, he remembered feeling at peace with those lost days. Axel was alright with the fact that he'd never have a heart again. Days like those where he didn't regret losing pain, hate, misery. But he didn't feel dead right now.

In fact he felt so alive, but was he just deceiving himself? The Nobody was wracking his mind for an answer. He just wanted to be near Roxas again, there was a promise attached to it... he could feel it there even with no clear memory. But Isa was right here. What was happening to him...?

"I wish I could say I felt the same. Y'know, that's what makes this so complicated," Axel idly scratched his head, "I can't bring myself to care, but the truth is I almost feel like I do. Silly isn't it?

"Heh, but to think you found some room in your heart for me," he nudged Isa with a smile, "I can hardly believe it. Hell, even if I had a heart I'm not sure how I'd react. But y'know..." He turned his face away from Isa, letting out a sigh as his thoughts escaped his mind.

"I'm pretty sure Lea wouldn't be able to live with the things I've done, Isa. How can I be so sure you could...?"

Isa's hand snapped out to clench around Lea's. His hair hid his face now, and his voice was low, almost a whisper.

"I nearly beat a classmate to death with my bare hands, a month after I lost you. And I was happy about it, because he insulted you, so he deserved it."

Lea's words had somehow opened the floodgates, and everything came pouring out without a pause. He squeezed Lea's hand tight.

"...and it wasn't the last time. I got in fights almost every day. I am still not sure if I hoped someone would kill me, but I always won, and I do not remember a moment of any of them. I have had these fits, these...bursts of rage, ever since.

"I failed out of school. I couldn't focus, couldn't think about anything but how I let you die. I felt...numb, and cold. Cid took pity on me and put me to work, but...then the darkness came, and...and we lost everything but each other. If it hadn't been for Cid, and the littles..."

His voice cut off, and he was silent for a long moment. After a deep breath, he continued.

"...I cannot lose you again, Lea. I cannot."

Axel let Isa wrap his hand around his, but this man's words were too much. "I wish I could care"... but he did. No, that was stupid. But he felt something. Well it was just a trick.

An illusion he started feeling during those days on the clock tower.

"Man, this heart thing is going to be the death of me," Axel gritted his teeth at his own dark humor. The Nobody reached a hand over, nudging Isa's chin so his face was visible again. "I'm right here," Axel squinted into his eyes, but no, it was useless. He picked himself off the ground, briefly dusting off his long black coat. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bring himself to fake it. Not when this man was so- ...genuine.

"Isa, get a grip. I mean, you're the one who's supposed to keep me in line." He laughed a bit at that. Was Isa really prepared for this moment? He was an open book, and Axel remained unphased. Something started to consume him, and it was time to spill it out. Jealousy? As close as the Nobody could care to feel anyway.

"At any rate, you seem to be forgetting the whole 'Nobody' thing. So let me spell it out for you." An empty rage took over Axel, his eyes ablaze with some new flavor of agony. "I'm not Lea. And I can sit here and pretend to be him, or I can tell it like it is. I can't believe you'd just lose control, Isa. What's wrong with you?" Axel spat, pointing an accusing finger at Isa. "I don't have a heart, I don't even exist. Get THAT memorized. And all I'm hearing is a story, when I want to feel it-"

He staggered a bit, eyes darting across the room. "And I just fucking let Roxas go, when I promised him- What's come over me? Do you see how I live now? Is this what you really want? I mean poor you, but oh," his voice dropped, lighting the final match, "What I would give to suffer like you do, Isa. Why don't you give that one a thought."

The Nobody was reeling. Seething. Fuming.

"You thought THAT was hell? No, THIS is hell."

"So," he lowered himself to Isa's level, locking eyes with the bluehaired man, "Don't go and promise me a heart when you don't even know what it's worth."

Isa had no words. He could not come up with a single thing to say. It was like his brain had ground to an absolute halt. So he just stared into the Nobody's eyes, too stunned to do anything else.

Lea's eyes.

Axel's-

He couldn't close the distance between them.

"That's what I thought," Axel growled, "I told you so. Maybe you were better off forgetting me."

He didn't mean that. Deep inside he knew he didn't mean that. Just because he didn't have a heart didn't mean he should break Isa's.

And it stung a little, even though it shouldn't.

"Well, aren't you going to say anything? You seemed so eager to chat it up before," Axel questioned. The selfishness inside him wanted some condolence, even though it'd do no good.

"I could never forget you..." was all Isa could say, his voice barely a whisper.

His heart was breaking all over again. The semblance of peace he'd found, working with his cobbled-together little family, trying to put the pieces of their world back together, crumbled.

Axel stayed hunched before Isa, watching him break right before his eyes. He wondered for a moment, if Lea ever felt that way. But it felt like Lea was reaching his arm out, somewhere inside, still hoping Isa would save him. The Nobody stared into the other's eyes, until he felt something warm run down his face.

Isa's arms were reaching out before he knew it, wrapping around the redhead's neck, and then his face was wet and pressed into that red hair, and all he could smell was Lea. The Nobody didn't resist, instead clamping himself closer, suddenly entangled in blue hair and a warm embrace.

"You jerk," he whispered, sinking into the man's arms. "What am I going to do?" It'd be nice to hear some reassurance. The Nobody wasn't sure what his brilliant scheme would be, Isa was always the one with the plans.

Roxas.

He walked away, or maybe Axel pushed him away. But Isa was always there, even when Lea was gone.

"Stay here." Isa whispered back. "...we'll figure out something. It'll be okay..."

He rubbed his face in Axel's hair. He was embarrassing himself, crying like a child. But somehow he couldn't care about that. It was all too much.

"Let me help you."

Axel wasn't going to ask how or why. But maybe it'd work out. Who was he kidding? He couldn't run away from the Organization, there was no way he could take those guys on if they came after him.

He wanted to believe Isa though, for now anyway. This gave him a moment away from his mission, and well, it was better than sea salt ice cream.

Oh man, speaking of ice cream, "Urrrrrk, Isa. I'm starving." Axel slumped over in Isa's hold, laughing at himself for ruining the moment.