XI: The Smile
Apparently Axel conducts rounds in hell, where he walks around checking on demons, asking how many souls they've collected, or what they've been up to on earth. He says it's something about keeping tabs on his dark army, and hearing the news of mayhem usually does him some good. I couldn't believe it when he told me this, standing slowly from his throne before making his way to me. It's apparently time for one of those rounds now, because it's been a while since his last one or so he says. I'm sure he knows just how much I'm not looking forward to walking through hell, out in the open for all the demons and even getting so close to them. I've been locked up, pretty safe in his room and my only time alone in hell wasn't too pleasant either. I'm shaking something awful, and with every step, I feel like a baby learning to walk, my legs not listening to my commands.
I've only managed to keep up with Axel because he's gait is slow and tired. His eyes are still black and I wonder when he's going to correct that issue. It doesn't seem to be a concern, especially since he's going to be performing a round right now. He starts right away, walking towards the first opening closest to us and sticking his head in. "Anyone home?" He calls in and right away a low hiss is heard before a naga slithers out, his hair a bright, pink and the reptile part of his body a vibrant green, like that of a garden snake. When he stands (at least I think that's what he's doing) he's almost the same height as Axel, if not exactly.
"Yes, my lord?" The man's voice is a lot deeper than I had anticipated and I awkwardly try to hide myself behind Axel, like a shy little child. I read about nagas, long ago in some high school course, which is why I know that's what a half snake, half man is called. Still, it's completely different to read about something, thinking there is no way in hell it would ever exist and then being in front of said creature. I'm so scared, I don't know how I'm not crying. It's probably because Axel is letting me use him as a shield, his robe held tight between both my quivering hands. I'm surprised he hasn't pushed me away yet, making me stand far from him, on my own and in total agony.
"Oh you know Marluxia, just the usual checking in," Axel says tiredly, leaning his back on the wall, forcing me to stand at his side. I'm trying to control my shivering but I can almost feel my knees knocking together as I watch the snake man slither further out, his body curling into a sort of rest for himself and he leans on his tail. I grab a hold of Axel's robe again and cover myself with it. He throws an arm around my shoulders, tugging me closer to him. I don't push his arm off because then, he'll probably send me away and for some reason, I feel safe glued to Axel's side...at least while we're roaming out in hell. When we're alone, it's a completely different story how I feel around him.
"Everything's coming along, of course it helps that those humans are all so disgusting," Both Axel and Marluxia share a good laugh at that, before the pink haired monster finally acknowledges me. His eyes are a deep blue, and I notice this because he's at our side in seconds, leaning down and flicking at the air around me with his tongue. He makes a 'tch' sound, before pulling away and staring at Axel with disgust. "You smell like a church...it's vile." He backs up a little, his eyes still focused on me, his tongue still in the air. What is it with these demons and their tongues? It's weird. "Why haven't you used your little pet to ease your pain your Evilness?" The naga wiggles his eyebrows and it's the strangest thing I've ever seen.
Axel chuckles, waving his hand in the air like his physical state isn't phasing him at all. I'm sure Marluxia and I know differently though. He's starting to sway, his head coming close to hitting the wall. I don't understand why he goes into heaven if it leaves him like this, and he hasn't told me or even shown the intent to tell me."I, unlike you, dearest Marluxia actually have to put in some work to make sure things run smoothly. I don't have time to indulge in my pleasures," The smirk on Axel's face just makes him look terrifying in his sickly state but I'm the only one scared.
The naga makes a sort of low hissing sound, slithering forward and staring directly at Axel, like I'm not even there. The gaze isn't directed at me, but it's hypnotizing. I can't look away as he comes closer and closer, until directly in front of Axel. I get the feeling this is going to get strange, really quickly. Especially when Marluxia leans an arm over Axel's head and their faces almost touch, leaving me squished between the two.
"There is always time," Marluxia doesn't have to say much and Axel slides his arm off my shoulders, looking towards me with the same smirk. The snake man looks down at me with a tender smile, his face could be very deceiving if it's all you'd see. He's so handsome and kind looking, apart from the snake eyes and even those aren't that scary. That's all until you look down and spot the fucking huge ass snake body growing from his torso. That right there is enough to scare the crap out of anyone.
"Wait out here for me darling," Axel blows me a kiss before following Marluxia into the naga's cave. I stare and whether it's in disgust or anger I can't really tell. A part of me feels insulted, because isn't healing Axel from his heavenly visits something I could do? Unless he doesn't want me for something like that, even though he acts like it...and if he doesn't want me for that, what is he going to do with me? I pull away from the wall, not really wanting to think about that stuff anymore, because I've done enough of that already. If Axel wants to 'relieve' himself with that weird snake thing, all the power to him. At least I won't have to do it and taste his nasty splooge.
I've always had the habit of wandering when left alone, and I realize I've started getting too far when I feel a faint pulsing in my stomach. I stop, the sound of something growling from behind me sends a shock of fear through my body. I don't want to look back, but I slowly begin to turn my head and peek over my shoulder.
Quickly I snap my head forward, the sight of the demon dog bearing its teeth burns in my minds eye and I struggle to hear what it's doing behind me. The dog suddenly howls, and I open my mouth to let out a startled yelp before taking off running. This isn't good, because again, if I get too far from Axel, it feels like someone is gutting me alive. I have tears streaming down my face, trying to escape the dog, and now I can hear it panting behind me, snarling and snapping its jaw. It's large feet thudding steadily on the ground, while I struggle to throw one leg in front of the other. The pain is making my head spin, and my legs are going to give out any second. The speed I'm going at is also making it really hard not to just topple over. I can't stop sobbing while I'm running, and this will probably the only time I'll ever be grateful that I don't breathe anymore.
This must be what a weak animal feels like, running through the Savannah, the hungry lioness sprinting after it, slowly catching up, until running right along side it. For me, it isn't a lioness I should be worried about. It's the damn hell hound on my hells. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to run from it, and I look around frantically for a place to hide or get away.
Just as I'm about to turn into the crack in the wall, the dog disappears from behind me in a puff of black smoke. I watch, gripping at the hot walls desperately and before I can feel relief, I hear them. Demons crawling along the walls, hiding in the shadows, which is probably what scared the dog away. They all know I'm Axel's but they can't help it, my pain and crying isn't making the situation any better. I know any minute now, one of them will disobey their Dark Lord and attack me.
The pain in my stomach eases slightly, and I squint into the distance, spotting Axel all the way back from where I came. I push myself forward, urging my feet to move and it becomes easier with every step. Another thing rushing me to Axel's side, is the sounds of the demons. They're getting louder, closer and more feral sounding with each passing second. I can almost feel their eyes on me as I quicken my pace, until I'm running towards Axel.
It's horribly painful to run across the rough grounds of hell, sharp pebbles and large rocks are everywhere...not to mention it's like walking on hot coals, as I'm sure I've mentioned before. None of this matters though, because it's all minor shit compared to what some of these demons will do to me if I don't get to Axel. I'm sprinting now, arms pumping, my entire focus on getting to the redhead's side as fast as possible and I still haven't reached him. How damn far did I run?
I hear a thud, and I know it's over, the following pounding of feet assures me of that. I scream just before the demon tackles me to the ground, and we roll along, coming to a stop only after crashing against a wall. I can feel the demon's teeth tearing into the flesh on my arm as soon as it grabs a hold of me, and I know I should fight back but I can't stop screaming. This is a type of monster I've never seen before, most of the demons I've seen sort of resembled something like a human but this one...the best way to describe it would be like one of those evil creatures in that movie Gremlin. Instead of having that little tuft of white hair and green skin, it's bald and completely black. I have to work up the courage to hit it on the head, and when I do, I only hurt myself and make it dig its teeth deeper into me. I don't know what to do and I feel so useless as it eats my fucking arm. Every time I hit it, it only rips faster and harder. I'm screaming for help, but I don't know why...no one is coming.
That black substance that I puked out, is gushing like crazily from my arm, and the creature is just drinking it up. I'm trying to shake it off but that works just as well as hitting it on the head. With a wild scream, I heave my arm up into the air, the monster still latched on and when it comes back down, I kick it hard with both feet. Its teeth rip out and it flies back giving me enough time to scurry up and start running again. I don't want to look down at my arm, because I'm scared. It doesn't feel right, and it hurts so badly I'm surprised I haven't fainted yet.
Suddenly, Axel appears in front of me and I smack hard into his chest, my mauled arm hitting him with a wet slap. I hide my face against him, shivering harshly, muffling my sobs. I know I shouldn't be crying, because it only works to attract demons but I can't stop. When I hear the monster getting back up, I press into Axel harder. I don't hear it running towards us though, instead the feet quickly disappear in the opposite direction. Axel has his arms wrapped around me, petting my back soothingly and I pull away, my face feeling sticky with the black fluid.
I see my arm now, even if I don't want to and I scream loud. I'd be surprised by the sheer volume and pitch if I wasn't so fucking disgusted with the sight of half my fucking forearm chewed right off! I can't stop screaming, each one louder than the last and I don't think I'll stop until Axel slaps me before I can scream again. The hard hit snaps my head away from the horrific sight and I stare blankly at the ground, letting it sink in. My fucking hand is gone. My right hand is gone, my strong hand, the hand I use for everything. I feel Axel grip higher up on my arms, making a sound, as the black blood no doubt seeps into his clothes.
"Stop shouting, it will grow back," When Axel says those words, I almost don't believe him...actually, I don't believe him at all. I turn my head slowly, staring at him with a doubtful look and he smiles, like he expected it to be there. "Do you think I'd be this calm about you losing your right hand if I was lying?" Why would he be worried about my right hand anyway? I don't have time to interrupt and ask because he keeps talking, dragging a sharp nail down the side of my face, along my jaw. It's not a painful touch and if my head tilts in his direction, I can't tell you. I just stay quiet and he continues, in a softer tone, cupping my cheek."You're dead and doomed to suffer for eternity and for that, you need all your body. No matter what happens to you down here, you'll always come back." He ruffles my hair, knocking the bunny ears off and I catch them before they fall to the ground. I've somehow managed to keep them a brilliant white, but I don't really know why I've taken such care of them. It could be to make sure demons see it and pause before attacking. At least it gives me a little more of a chance, right? Or maybe not. I still got attacked and partially eaten by a little demon, so the ears are useless and degrading and now they're covered in my blood. Axel plucks them gently from my arm and I watch as they disintegrate in his hand, turning to ash in a few seconds.
"Your hand will come back, but it will be one of the worst things you've ever endured in your existence," The smile on his face would make it seem like lighthearted news, and I hug my still bleeding stub to my chest. It hurts crazily, a deep pulsing coming from its middle and a horrible burning everywhere else. The redhead grabs my arm, and turns it over in his hands, watching the black liquid drip off his fingers. I don't look down at it, I just can't.
Axel bends down, tearing a long strip from the end of his robe, and I watch as the material slowly grows back. I'm transfixed in watching his clothes fix itself, so I don't really notice him cauterizing the wound or even with what he does it, until I feel the burning pain and it registers in my head. I whimper, automatically trying to tug my arm away but he holds tight. "Let me make it easier for you," He says and I wonder what I'm going to have to do in order to pay him back, before I feel grateful. I take up biting my lip to stop myself from crying, this whole process hurts a lot already, how much worse can it get?
When he lifts it to his face and licks away the black fluid, I'm too scared to pull it away. Then, the longer he licks at my arm, the less I feel the pain so I just watch him as he drinks up the blood. I wonder why I didn't bleed before, when there had been enough times where I'd gotten cut. Like when he almost bit my lips off, or when that demon girl stabbed me...or even when he whipped me after escaping the party. "How come I bleed all of a sudden?" I ask quietly and he seems to realize he's drinking from my arm, pulling it away from his mouth. His black tongue quickly licks away any last drops from his face before he wraps the fabric around the wound and ties it tight.
"You've fully adapted to hell and are no longer a new soul," This information seems to bring a smile to his face, one he can't fight off, even as he turns away and begins walking, going towards wherever he was going before I was attacked. I hurry to catch up because I don't want to lose any more parts of me. I grab onto his sleeve with my left hand when I get close enough, the grip weaker than I'd like it to be and he looks down at me. I worry he's going to shake me off, so I try and grab on even tighter.
"Don't leave me behind, please," I swallow any little shred of self respect I may have and stare up at Axel with the most helpless face, hoping that maybe it'll help. I keep having to remind myself that he's soulless, and that he's the devil but that stupid hope is always there. It's probably the fact that he resembles a person, so I automatically assume he can't be all bad...but maybe he is. Maybe he is all bad and evil. I know I should believe that, but for some odd reason, I can't. Especially when he looks down at me with a gentle, closed mouth smile for once and pecks my forehead.
I try and hide the shock and utter confusion on my face, but he knows. He ruffles my hair again before sighing deeply, dropping his arms to his side. It takes me a while, but I realize his eyes are still pitch black, meaning he didn't relieve himself and is still in pain. Again, I feel bad for him and I tell myself not to but I do. "I think we both need some rest, let's go back to my room." Axel waves his hand weakly, before turning.
I'm surprised when he doesn't laugh and run away, like it was all a trick and instead conjures up a black portal. He turns to look at me, motioning for me to step through. I feel a little touch of something, a good emotion and I know it's good because it's such a change from what I've been feeling for so long. He's not going on his round because I was attacked (he had been okay with going before), and he didn't do whatever you do with a naga, though I don't know if that's because of me. It still makes me feel like maybe my theories are right, and if they are, maybe I'll be okay for a while. I mean, at least that way I know I won't be shoved into the Soul Wall.
It's when Axel looks down at me, and his eyes go round with awe and wonder, that I realize I've actually let a smile grace my features.
A/N: The word splooge...it makes me laugh.
Wait...what's this? A SMILE! FROM ROXAS!
-faints-
Also, I promise there's quite the reason behind Axel's visits to heaven, just as there is a reason to why he's all in Sora's business.
Y'all just have to wait for it to slowly emerge!
But for now, enjoy some DevilAxel and DeadRoxas bonding timez.
Oh yeah, and before I forget (as I tend to forget everything)
BeehiveOneThreeZer0 bribed me to write this, because she is a cruel mistress.
-sashays into the shadows-