Author's Note: I'm kind of sad that "Legend" hasn't gotten very many reviews yet, but I'm hoping they will come in time. Please, please review! I'd like to know what you like and don't like about the story, and any changes that might make it better. R&R PLEASE! Also I have updated all the previous chapters so they aren't just big blocks of text, and I'll try to remember that as I keep writing. If I forget just let me know and I will fix it as soon as I can.

The first thing Axel realized when he woke up that morning was that he couldn't move. Something was pinning him down and he started to panic until he looked down his body.

Sometime during the night Roxas had scooted over and cuddled up against him.

The boy was using Axels' chest as a pillow, had one of his arms clutching tightly around his waist, and one of his legs was partly wrapped around his.

Axel grinned and wrapped his own arm around the boys back pulling him in tighter.

"If this gets any more lovey-dovey I'm going to hurl."

Axel glared at Xigbar who was just putting down some branches near where Xaldin was trying to start a fire. Demyx dropped off his load noisily and smiled at Axel, who grinned back.

Unfortunately (For Axel) the sound woke Roxas.

He blinked sleepily at Axel and then realization spread across his face and he shoved away apologizing profusely.

Axel laughed as he got up and ruffled the boy's hair with a casual, "Don't worry about it."

Axel stretched leisurely, he felt a little tingly and flushed all over, and he could have sworn his heart was singing in joy. He frowned suddenly.

That's not my heart I actually hear singing, and it's getting louder.

He looked around at the others but they didn't seem to hear it. Xigbar was sitting on one side of the clearing staring upward, Roxas was brushing dirt off his clothes, and Demyx was helping Xaldin.

Axel kept looking around trying to find the singer whose voice was still getting louder.

Then Xaldin yelled as he and Demyx jumped back from the fire they had been trying to start. It had exploded upward into a pillar of flame, and then it moved. Curling around toward Axel and he realized he was looking at a dragon made of flame.

And just like at the lake with the kraken, Xigbar cursed, Demyx screamed and fainted, and Xaldin grabbed a branch to hit it with.

Axel turned to find Roxas and the boy was watching him calmly.

Do you wish a contract with me?

Axel blinked and stared at the dragon who was staring right back.

"I … uh… what?"

Axel stammered and the dragon growled.

The song of your heart has called to me, do you wish to form a contract?

Axel looked around at the others finding Roxas' eyes last. Those eyes were filled with triumph and admiration as they met his own, and Roxas gave him the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.

Turning back with a confidant smirk Axel answered with a sharp nod. The dragon held out a clawed hand and Axel stretched out his own. He was slightly surprised that the dragon's fire didn't burn him, but it only felt comfortably warm as one of the dragon's claws pierced his palm.

Bound by blood this contract is sealed and I, P'rexen of the eternal flames, shall give you my power and bend to your will.

Then Axel became wreathed in flame and felt a slight burning sensation on his left upper arm, near his shoulder. The flames died quickly and he inspected his arm and the stylized black flame tattoo that had appeared there.

"What the hell just happened?"

Xigbar yelled as he began kicking Demyx' foot to wake him, and glaring at Axel. Axels' only answer was a soft oomph as Roxas tackled him with both arms wrapped around his waist.

"You summoned a dragon Axel! You were so amazing!"

Axel grinned and started hugging the boy back feeling all warm and tingly again. Really warm, really really warm.

Roxas leaped away with a little yelp of pain and held up his arms, which had been burned to an unhealthy red when Axel had suddenly burst into flames. Demyx had woken up just in time to see this and had started screaming about water until Xigbar had clamped a hand over mouth and yelled at him to chill out. Xaldin was kicking dirt at Axel and yelling at him to roll on the ground and help put out the flames. Roxas was cringing and inspecting his arms, and Axel was wondering why it didn't hurt him to be on fire.

A deep chuckle in his mind and a warning to try and keep his emotions under control, made Axel realize that he was making the flames himself. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment and the flames went out.

So is it going to be this crazy all the time now?

He thought at the dragon, knowing instinctively that that was the voice he heard.

Only until you learn to control your new powers.

The voice answered back and Axel grunted in response before going to Roxas to see how bad the damage was. To his surprise and delight the burns on the boy's arms were gone, but he still needed to apologize which he did repeatedly and begged for forgiveness.

Roxas just laughed and quickly assured him that everything was fine.

"I had trouble with my powers at first too."

"Wait, powers? The crazy red-head has powers now?"

Xigbar snapped and Demyx squealed in delight.

"Does this mean we're all getting powers? What will mine be? Will it be cool?"

Axel and Roxas laughed, while Xigbar grumbled and Xaldin glared at the blackened spot on the ground where he had been trying to build the fire.

It took a little while for everyone to calm down and Axel explained about hearing the singing just before the dragon appeared and what the dragon had said, since no one else had been able to hear it.

"The dragons can only be heard by the one who calls them." Roxas explained.

"So how did Saix get V'pyr then? I thought you said you summoned him?"

Xaldin asked and ignored the glares that Axel and Demyx both sent his way when Roxas' eyes turned sad and he turned his head away.

"In a way I did. I used my powers to make his heart sing to V'pyr and he was summoned."

"Can you do that for anyone?"

Roxas looked at Xigbar and nodded. Xigbar and Demyx both looked excited and even Xaldin looked interested until Roxas continued.

"But anyone with a dragon will have to fight Saix. If you don't fight him he will try to kill you or force you to join him."

He gave Axel sympathetic eyes but Axel wasn't paying attention anymore.

Do I want to fight Saix? I sure don't want to join him and I defiantly don't want to die. What do you think?

…..

Fine be that way.

They decided to keep walking and get as far from the castle as they could before dark. About midday they found a stream full of fish and Xaldin suggested they stop and have something to eat.

Axel protested because he hated fish and Xigbar told him to just go hungry then, so he retreated to a nearby rock to pout.

Xaldin and Xigbar waded into the stream to catch some fish and Demyx raced to help. Roxas sat on a rock next to the stream and soaked his feet. After a moment or two he took off his tunic and splashed some water on his face. Axel could only stare at the scars that criss-crossed over his back and he stopped pouting to go sit by Roxas. When he was closer, he could see that similar scars decorated the front of Roxas' torso as well.

"How did you get those scars?"

Roxas wouldn't look at him and Axel felt bad for asking.

"Sorry I was just asking you don't have to answer."

Axel looked away to watch the fish catching operation and he almost didn't hear Roxas' soft voice when he replied.

"Saix gave them to me."

Axel stared at him and could feel rage pouring through him as Roxas continued.

"When he first had me brought to the castle he beat me with the dull side of a sword. Then when he tried to take the stone from me and couldn't, he stabbed me over and over until he was sure I was dead."

Tears glittered in Roxas' eyes and Axel just couldn't help himself and pulled the boy into a hug. Roxas immediately relaxed and leaned into the hug.

"The power in the crystal kept me alive and healed the wounds quickly. When Saix realized that he couldn't kill me he demanded I summon V'pyr. Then he stabbed one spot over and over until it left a scar when it healed."

Axel was furious and held Roxas tighter. He could also feel his body starting to heat up and he focused on keeping that heat away from Roxas, so he wouldn't burn him again. Oblivious to Axels' problem Roxas snuggled in closer and kept talking with his face buried in Axels' chest. Axel could feel his tears starting to soak into his tunic.

"After he had made the contract, he had some the guards use their spears to stab me repeatedly until I fainted. Then he had me thrown in the dungeon. After that whenever he felt like it, he would have the guards bring me upstairs so he could have me beaten again. He thought of it as a game, trying to see how much damage I could take before I died."

Roxas stopped talking to lean away from Axel and looked up into his eyes. Axel felt a sudden burning need to rip Saix to shreds, as he watched the tears flow down Roxas' cheeks.

"I thought I was doomed to that pain and torture forever, until you came along and saved me."

And Axel stared in shock as Roxas leaned in close, and his soft (though slightly wet) lips brushed against his own. Shocked yelling snapped the two apart and they turned to stare at the other three as they scrambled out of the steaming stream, cursing loudly.

Wait… the steaming stream?

Axel blinked as Xigbar started yelling at him and Roxas made them all turn to stare at him as he laughed. Reaching a hand into the stream, which had stopped steaming almost immediately after Axel noticed it, he pulled out a dead fish.

"Looks like Axel took care of getting our food and cooking it all in one go."

Axel and Demyx laughed with him, while Xigbar grumbled and Xaldin began collecting more fish with a small smile on his face.

Author's Note 2: While I do own a copy of most of the games, I sadly do not own the copyright for KH, or any plushies. I so want an Axel plushie, so I can snuggle it to sleep every night. My mom thinks I'm crazy for being in love with an animated character, and she just doesn't get that Axel is friggin gorgeous! Can I get an amen?