A/N: Sorry for the long wait! My computer broke down and had to be sent for repairs. (Damn you, unfaithful computer)

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Disclaimer: I claim nothing! I have no Kingdom Hearts merchandise. The only thing I have is my stories and my over-imaginative brain.

Chapt 11: Hurt and Comfort/Opening up my Heart


Roxas hadn't spoken since the Key girls, Kairi and Namine died.

His legs dangled over the edge of the building as he sat motionless under the watch of Axel. The redhead was convinced that Roxas might be suicidal in a way. All he ever did now was to stare moodily at the place below him and kick his feet against the outer walls of the castle from where he was sitting.

Axel had been impressed by the way Roxas swiftly made his way through the many levels of the castle without making a wrong turn once. The boy sure knew his way around.

But it had shocked him when he followed the silent boy up to the rooftops. That was when he became convinced that Roxas was suicidal.

Riku had approached him earlier that they. Apparently, Sora had the similar behavior as his brother. However, Sora was the more emotional one. He had cried for his friends when they passed on and continued until the next day.

On the other hand, Roxas didn't even shed a tear. He had a permanently blank look on with his eyes hidden beneath his bangs. It worried Axel to see him like that. If Roxas looked like that on the outside how was he on the inside? He wasn't opening up to anyone and his brother, Sora, couldn't help, he had problems of his own.

Footsteps sounded from the stairway. Axel looked up; Roxas didn't respond.

A familiar blond Elemental stepped out onto the flat surface of the rooftops with a dark silvered hair male behind him. Both of them were carrying two sea salt ice-cream bars each.

Demyx offered one to Axel, who took it, then went over to the other blond and attempted a smile. It ended in a frown, as it yielded no reaction from the younger blond.

Head hung in defeat the blond walked back over to Axel, who was mouthing an "I told you so" to him. He had told Demyx about Roxas's reaction, or lack of reaction.

Demyx began to whisper furiously at him, trying to keep his voice down so as not to let Roxas hear their conversation.

Meanwhile, Zexion walked over to Roxas's other side and pulled the boy's hand up. The Organization member folded his limp fingers over the ice cream stick and propped it on his lap, careful not to let the already melting ice cream smear onto his clothes.

Face unreadable, Zexion pulled Demyx away from his conversation with Axel, and, with a nod to the redhead, walked back down the stairs, his free hand twining with Demyx's.

Axel didn't miss that action as they left. He let out a soft sigh. They went well together.

His ice cream reminded Axel that it was still there by dripping over his hand. Licking his hand clean, he went over to Roxas's side and crouched down.

Roxas's ice cream was dripping into his lap but still he sat unmoving at the edge of the castle. Bluish liquid stained his hands and his pants. Axel sighed and reached over to take the rapidly melting ice cream bar from Roxas's hands.

The boy didn't let go.

A drop of colorless liquid slid down his face to join the small puddle on his lap. Another drop followed after the first. And another. And another.

Roxas was crying. It took him two days to finally let it out. His face scrunched up in an attempt to stop his tears but they streaming down his face.

Axel closed his eyes and tried to remember what Demyx had said to him before.

"Now, you see. This is bad. Bad bad bad bad." Demyx stood in front of him, waving his half-eaten ice cream bar.

"How so? At least he isn't crying." Axel tried to avoid the flying specks of ice cream.

Demyx smacked his forehead with his palm.

"No, that's the bad thing I was talking about. He isn't opening up. The kid's keeping his feelings bottled up in him. It's unhealthy."

"Elaborate."

"Okay, let's say, what if you fill a bottle with water, a bit at a time. At first, there's no harm there. Then after a while, the bottle reaches its limit, but the water continues to fill it up. What would happen?"

"It'll overflow."

"Exactly. That's what's happening to Roxas now."

"Then what can I do."

"Make him open up, get him to let out his feelings, maybe crying might help; that's what his brother's doing to recover. When you let out your tears, you feel much better. Trust me. Most importantly, comfort him."

"How?"

"You could—"

At this moment, Demyx was dragged away by Zexion, who had grabbed his hood and started pulling. With a nod to Axel, he took Demyx's hand and walked away.

Axel opened his eyes, realizing that Demyx hadn't told him what to do in this circumstance. He glanced sideways at Roxas, who was still crying silently.

He did the first thing that came into his mind.

Abandoning his ice cream bar on the floor, he pulled Roxas away from the ledge and hugged him, his hands sliding around the blond's waist and pulling him closer.

The watery blue mess that used to be Roxas's ice cream fell from his hands and landed on the other abandoned ice cream, mashing the two together.

A fresh spurt of tears soaked the older male's shoulder as Roxas buried his face into the soft material of his black Organization cloak, shaking with the effort of crying.

How long had it had been since he last cried? How long had it been since he'd been hugged by someone who wasn't Sora?

He didn't know. He didn't care.

Roxas wrapped his hands around Axel's shoulders, returning the hug. It felt… nice. It gave him a warm feeling. His tears fell in thinner flows now.

They looked at each other, with Axel tilting his head down and Roxas turning his face up. Their faces were only a few inches apart. If one of them just moved closer…

The thought struck the both of them at the same time as Axel bent his head down more and Roxas tiptoed slightly.

Their lips met.

Roxas wrapped his arms around Axel's neck as a hand went to the back of his head to support him. Encouraged by the blond's reaction, Axel slanted his mouth across Roxas's and pressed his lips firmer against his.

Their hold on each other tightened. Licking the seam of Roxas's mouth lightly, he gently pried the younger male's lips open and slid his tongue in.

Blue eyes snapped open as something probed the inside of his mouth. Green eyes looked back comfortingly and pleading. He didn't want to stop. Both of them were enjoying this.

Hesitatingly, Roxas shut his eyes again and returned back the kiss. The hand at his waist left its place to slid up his back, under the cloth of his shirt.

Roxas pushed Axel away, swaying unsteadily on his feet before hands supported him. He crashed to the floor with Axel under him.

"Sorry." Roxas scrambled off the lanky redhead and sat beside him, trying his best not to look at him. There was a very prominent blush spreading across his face, he was sure of that.

Axel sat up, eyes fixed on Roxas. Silence floated between the both of them as none of them said anything or moved.

Suddenly, the redhead spoke, his voice sounding awkward in the silence. "So… Are you feeling better?"

"Umm… Yeah." Roxas replied, still looking away.

Great, now he can't bear to look at me… Axel thought, resigned.

"Thank you."

Axel stared at the blond. Did he just say 'thank you'?

Roxas turned his head slowly to meet his eyes. He didn't look sad or blank anymore. Neither did he look like his old self, haughty and spunky.

For the first time since they met, Roxas was genuinely smiling.

And it was because he finally opened up his heart to someone, namely Axel.


A/N: The next chapter's important. (I think)