Ever since their inconvenient encounter, Axel noticed Roxas had developed a habit of biting his bottom lip whenever there was silence between them. His face portrayed an expression that seemed to read that he had something important to say, but could never say it for one reason or another. It almost seemed the poor boy would explode if he did not express his words.
One particular lazy day when Sol's chariot hung at the peak of the sky, Roxas sat at the window wistfully.
"It's such a pretty day," he observed. "Would you like to go outside with me?"
"Of course," Axel agreed.
Roxas stood, leading Axel out to the garden.
Under the same grove of trees where Roxas had spoken to Xion months ago, the two sat and enjoyed the warmth of the spring-summer season.
Roxas lay back, gazing up at the sky. "Do you ever wonder what it's like outside this city?" Realizing his slight insensitivity to Axel's status, he sat up and stammered, "I-I-I mean..."
"It's quite alright, I understand what you're trying to say," Axel responded sincerely, "and I've only really dreamed about returning to Gaul."
Roxas lay back down, folding his arms behind his head. "What was life in Gaul like?"
"You wish to know about my life?" Axel asked, surprised at this request.
"Yes, if you don't mind sharing it." Roxas affirmed.
"I was never a free man like you," Axel began, "I probably never will be, but I was born into slavery and orphaned at a young age. At around ten years old, I was passed from the hand of my master into the hands of the military to serve as a soldier. I met Isa in the army, and-well, I guess you know about him already. Isa was born a slave as well, so we had that in common and became friends pretty quickly."
"What were you like as a kid?"
"The army never had much time for childishness, I found exceptions. Back then, I was notorious for playing tricks, and Isa was always very rational and often kept me out of trouble. I...I thought myself fearless. That's why Isa was so upset when we reunited months ago, because I never gave up playing tricks and evading the rules for anyone, and when he needed me to do that most I failed him..." Axel hung his head.
Roxas's hand trembled as he placed it on Axel's hand. Axel raised an eyebrow at this strange gesture, and met eyes with him. Roxas's cheeks flooded with redness, and he began to draw his hand away. Axel flipped his hand over and held Roxas's hand still. Roxas rested his hand in Axel's palm, closing his fingers over it.
"Wh-what was life as a gladiator like?" Roxas stuttered slightly.
"In a single word, repetitive," Axel chuckled a bit, "not nearly as exciting as it must seem to the audience. Behind closed doors, we went through the same routine of training every day until the games. I was probably of higher status as a gladiator than I am now, but still that isn't an improvement."
"Will you teach me how to fight the way you did when you dueled Vanitas?" Roxas's eyes shone with eagerness.
"I would be happy to," Axel agreed. He glanced around, finding two long sticks in the grove to use as swords. He handed one to Roxas. "Hold it like this. It won't be perfect since you won't be able to feel the balance of the blade, but it'll have to do for now."
Axel stood, pulling Roxas to his feet. "Extend your arm and bend your knees slightly. Bending your knees gives you more versatility than if you were to keep your knees straight. Extend your other arm behind you for balance."
Roxas followed his instructions, and Axel mirrored his stance.
"I'll teach you the most basic movements," Axel decided. "Whenever my blade comes near you, you must find a way to block it."
"I'll try..." Roxas replied in reluctance.
Axel swung gently, and Roxas nudged the stick aside. He swung again with more force, and Roxas blocked again.
Roxas lunged, but Axel parried the stick away. "You seem to be a natural," Axel smirked slightly.
"I've observed the gladiator fights for years," Roxas admitted. He slashed again, scraping the stick across Axel's bare chest.
"Impressive," Axel noted.
"Will you show me something else?" Roxas requested.
"What do you want to see?" Axel dropped the stick.
"I want to know how you made that fire appear during the chariot races when my father purchased you."
"Oh...we'll need to gather some materials first. I don't know where we can find them here..." Axel looked around.
Roxas shifted his weight on his feet, contemplating something. "We...we could go into the forest that way..." He pointed behind them.
"Is that allowed?" Axel asked.
"N-no...but I think it's time you went back to being yourself." Roxas decided.
"The old me...you mean the one who used to get in trouble all the time?" Axel knit his brows. As desirable as it sounded, he knew great punishment would come if they were caught.
"Don't worry about being punished, I'll take the blame for you," Roxas insisted. "Please..."
"I...I suppose I must..." Axel agreed reluctantly.
Roxas's eyes shone for a moment, and the two delved deeper into the grove.
"Like this...?" Roxas held up a sticky reed between his fingers.
"Looks pretty good, but we should probably go stand in the pond so we don't set anything on fire," Axel chuckled. He waded into the shallow waters, turning his back on the green. Roxas hoisted up his toga and waded in to his knees. Axel realized how short Roxas was, as the water only came up to Axel's mid-calves.
"So do I do this-" Roxas brought the reed to his lips, but Axel frantically stopped him.
"Be careful, you don't want to blow too hard; the harder you blow, the larger the flame. Now watch." Axel brought the reed to his lips, tasting the sour familiarity of the ingredients. He let out a gentle puff of air, and a flame the size of his hand danced out of the tip.
Roxas gaped in awe, and brought the reed to his lips. He blew into it, a puff of flame rising from the end.
"Not bad," Axel praised.
"Where did you learn how to do this?" Roxas grinned.
"I actually learned it from your armies," Axel admitted, "when I saw it, I knew I had to find a way to replicate it."
"That's amazing, having fire at your fingertips like that..." Roxas murmured. He held the reed in his palm, admiring it.
There was silence between them, until Axel dragged his fingers through the water and flicked some at Roxas. Roxas yelped in surprise, whipping his palm through the water and flinging it at Axel. Small bursts of laughter bubbled up from Axel's throat as he dropped the reed and used both hands to send a small wave at Roxas.
Roxas grinned, pushing water back at him. Axel stepped back to avoid it, but his foot slipped in the mud and he landed in the pond. Roxas laughed, holding out his hand for Axel to take, but Axel smirked deviously and tugged on his arm, pulling him into the depths.
"Why do you think the sky turns red when Sol disappears?" Axel wondered aloud.
The two sat at the edge of the lake, waiting for Sol's chariot to dip under the horizon and vanish for the day.
"I don't know, but it's so pretty to watch, isn't it?" Roxas replied.
"Yeah..."
Silence lingered between them until Roxas asked, "Do you ever think you'll go back to Gaul? Would you want to?"
Axel thought for a moment. "After all that's happened to me, I don't think returning to Gaul is really what I desire. Rather I'd like to see what else is in the world, much like you do, but I don't think I'll ever be able to."
"My father used to say, 'Alis grave nil', meaning 'Nothing is heavy with wings'. You and I, we just haven't grown wings yet, but when we do we'll fly out of here and go wherever we want to." Roxas mused.
"I don't think I will ever be allowed to grow wings," Axel said solemnly.
"I will give you your wings someday, when I've grown mine." Roxas touched Axel's collar, rubbing his thumb over the template.
"But you have duties here, don't you want them?" Axel reminded him.
"Not if it means you and I will never be free, especially you." Roxas decided.
"Why do you put me above everything? Why do you give me so many freedoms?" Axel wondered.
"You decided to put me above everything; and I don't consider you a slave at all, I consider you a friend. I consider you as even more than a friend," Roxas explained. His cheeks suddenly flushed the color of the dusk sky.
"What do you consider me?" Axel pressed.
"I...um..." Roxas bit his lip, holding back the irrepressible thought that harbored in his mind.
"What is it?" Axel nudged him lightly with his elbow.
"I...it's getting late, we really should head back..." Roxas rose to his feet, but Axel grabbed his hand. He froze, staring at him.
"Roxas, I know you have something to tell me." Axel said firmly.
Roxas sat on his knees in front of Axel, staring at his hands.
"Can...can I kiss you?" He mumbled.
Axel's cheeks turned the color of his hair, and his face felt like someone had blown fire into it. He found himself stammering, "Wh-why would you want to do that?"
"Because...I want to give you a kiss that isn't drunk, I want to give you a sincere one." Roxas looked up from his hands.
"I don't think I'm very good at kissing," Axel shook his head.
"Then I'll teach you, since you taught me so much today." Roxas leaned in, tilting his head and closing his eyes.
Axel let his eyelids shut and he tilted his head in the opposite direction. Their lips collided softly, and Axel felt Roxas move closer and sit between his legs. Roxas's fingers brushed against Axel's, lacing themselves between his.
Now that the taste of alcohol did not linger on Roxas's lips, Axel could taste his sweetness. This savium was nothing like their clumsy drunken kiss, but Axel felt himself melting away again. The world around them seemed to slip away, leaving them as the only things left to exist.
Slowly, Roxas drew away, opening his eyes and meeting Axel's gaze. Lost in the sensation, neither of them could find their words.
Even without having to speak, Axel at once knew how Roxas considered him.
Translations:
- Acta non verba - Deeds not words