Roxas perches on a windowsill as the clouds roil overhead. Curls of shavings fall to the darkness below as his knife sculpts away at a small block of wood. Even Nobodies can have too much spare time, and carving gives him something to do with his hands when there's nothing else to do. There's a strange, easy something in watching things come to life under his hands as he works. It's fitting. Soothing.
Something from nothing.
It's been two weeks since Axel's return. The others are still mostly closeted with each other, though Xemnas sent Demyx out once. Even though Roxas was the best at collecting hearts, he wasn't given any assignments. Not even one to get him out of the way.
His blade catches on a small notch in the wood, turning it into a larger one. He snarls at the thing, almost throwing it out the window.
A dark portal swirls and coalesces in front of him. When it fades, Axel lounges firmly on empty air, legs folded. "Feeling left out?"
"Go away, Eight."
"Ow, not even worth a name." His red hair obeys gravity and falls forward as he rests his elbows on his knees, even though nothing else about him has the same respect for physics. His expression is almost invisible; he can't even be bothered to fake it. "Well, pack it up. We're going to the Pridelands."
Roxas returns his attention to the piece in his hand. "You can."
"It's an order from the Superior, Roxas." Something close to annoyance rises in Axel's eyes. Close, but not quite.
Roxas keeps chipping away at the wood, searching for the shape he saw in it when he picked it up. "I don't see why I should care about that. No one tells me anything, so why should I take orders?"
"No one tells you You're pissed about that?"
"Yeah. I am."
Thunder rolled overhead as that statement sinks in. Axel's eyes grow large and round with disbelief, which is practically an emotion all its own. When he finally replies, it's hushed, strangled with something Roxas can't name. "Really? I mean, you really...?"
"Yeah."
"That's..." Axel lowers himself until they're on eye-level, and Roxas either has to turn his head entirely or look at him. "Wow. Just wow."
When Roxas looks at him, he's surprised by the unabashed longing written over Axel's face. It's a visceral thing, a need rather than a feeling, but for the first time he wonders if maybe Axel can be more than nothing too. "It's not easy."
"Good things aren't." Eight hesitates, visibly searching for words. "I'm sorry we're not telling you everything. If I could, I would. But I'm on thin ice since I came back. The Superior would kill me. You know how it is."
"I know." Roxas' fist curls around the little lump of wood he'd been working on. Axel is a friend, of sorts. As close of a friend as a Nobody can be. He doesn't want him to be hurt, but he still wants to know what they're not telling him.
Even if he refuses the order to go to the Pridelands, Axel will probably suffer for it too. Xemnas doesn't show mercy. He doesn't even know what it is, probably. Even Roxas knows that Xemnas was displeased over losing the witch, whoever she was.
Hurting his only friend won't get him answers. Roxas pockets his work and holds out a hand for Axel to take. "I'll go with you. But no funny business like in Wonderland."
Axel's grin is almost honest as his hand closes around Roxas' wrist. He tugs him out into the air, unfolding his legs as he does. "You know me. Always serious."
