Author's Note: I am well aware that this has been written before, and will probably be written again. It is also depressing and short... yeah. I don't know, that's just what came out when I read the word 'burning.' Stream of consciousness or something... that's what you get. Hope you like it. ^-^
Word Count: 327
Was it because the fire around him was actually touching his skin, or because there were tears in his eyes for the first time that he could remember? Axel didn't know. What he was aware of was the burning, but he would not cry out or show any kind of weakness. He had let Roxas beat him, and so he would display as calm a death as he was able, suffering in near silence.
His chest rose and fell heavily as his hands fell to the floor, and he turned to look up at the face he feared he would never see again. Staring into blue eyes, Axel silently implored Roxas to come closer; to demonstrate something that proved he still cared like he used to. The blond didn't move.
Where had he gone wrong? What had he done to make the man he loved look at him this way? He could feel himself fading, and Roxas just stood there, watching.
With everything he could muster, with a breath he thought might just be his last, he spoke. "Let's meet again, in the next lifeā¦"
"Yeah, I'll be waiting," Roxas answered him, looking at him levelly as though he didn't really believe what Axel was saying.
Maybe the blond didn't believe that Axel was fading, was that it?
"Silly," he laughed, resisting the gasp that was trying to force its way down his throat. "Just because you have a next life."
With that, Axel felt his body burning to ashes, could feel himself fading, burning. That was when Roxas ran forward. Maybe he heard the cry of pain that hadn't quite managed to reach the red-head's ears, or maybe he finally noticed the way green eyes were beginning to fade. Whatever the reason, he reached Axel's side quickly, but too late. He held out a hand, reaching out to touch or comfort or apologize, but smoke was all that was left there for his skin to meet.
