4 : Pretty+

It was late, and most of the members of the Organization had gone to bed, but Roxas had said he wasn't tired. Axel, although tired himself, didn't want to leave the younger Nobody alone, aware that thinking on his own was a dangerous pastime for the boy; it didn't take long for his thoughts to turn to his purpose and subsequently to a solo search for answers.

So Axel followed the black-cloaked figure, through glaring white halls and up stairs, until he stepped outside onto a ledge and sat down. The redheaded man sat beside him, smiling, trying to keep his spirits up. They struck up a conversation quickly, talking about everything from how the leather of their coats chafed to the explosion heard from Vexen's laboratory earlier that day.

Axel recounted the tale, complete with impersonations of the scientist's botched attempt at hiding the remnants of the experiment from the Superior. He laughed at the memory, loud and reckless, though dulled by tiredness. Roxas laughed too—for the first time that night—his eyes bright and mouth stretched in a smile.

Suddenly, Axel stopped laughing. A moment later, Roxas stopped laughing as well, feeling a gloved hand under his chin; a thumb tracing his lower lip. "Um," Roxas started, but was cut off by the older Nobody.

"You're very pretty," Axel said, smiling softly at him.

Roxas' mind shut down. "Excuse me?"

"You're very pretty," Axel repeated, "when you smile." He smiled wider for emphasis, still holding Roxas' chin.

"Th-thank you," he stuttered after a moment, smiling weakly, acutely aware of their proximity.

"You're welcome," the redhead replied, releasing Roxas' face. He sighed then, leaning forward. Roxas stared, mind overrun by thoughts of "he's going to kiss me," and the strange thing was that it wasn't entirely unwelcome. He closed his eyes, waiting for the impact of lips on his, but instead felt a weight settle on his shoulder.

He opened his eyes to see that Axel had fallen asleep on him. He scoffed.

"Idiot," he murmured affectionately, threading his fingers through red hair, "I think you're pretty too."

I cheated. Fifty words over. But...! I cut out as much as I could, and it just wasn't long enough to really be a oneshot, so a 350-word drabble it is.

I put too many weird restrictions on myself.

I am shocking myself with the fluff lately. +pets Roxas' lil head+

Roxas: Hiss!

Axel, put a leash on that thing! >.>

Also, I so need to work on my openings. I'm satisfied with my endings, but the openings... +cringecringecringe+