Chapter 37: Icing on the Cake

It felt just like 'home.' Iron buildings lined with slick, glass windows rose around him like manmade mountains. Billboards buzzed, shining bright with bold images, colors, and labels. White letters spelling Coke stood out against a bright red background. Two yellow, slitted eyes glared at Axel, accompanied by the title Cats. He felt and heard a constant tapping against his shoulders and hood. Ripples formed along the surfaces of puddles that had gathered along the asphalt below. Why, a red car zipped by, splashing a man with a huge rooster tail, and Axel chuckled at the sight. He had to give this city some credit: it was a million times livelier than The World That Never Was. After all, these people had hearts.

He wasn't sure what brought him here. Well, no, that was a lie. The day after he returned to the castle, Xemnas had practically shoved him out the door. He didn't even get the chance to catch Saïx. Not that he wanted to. The fact was, he was acting awfully strange. Too strange, and when faced with uncomfortable circumstances, Axel did what any smart person would do and bailed. Searched for distractions. And, well, a city packed with millions of people provided heaps of activities. People watching. Sightseeing. Empty pleasures for an empty being. What more could he really ask for?

He shook his head and grinned, traipsing to the very edge of the roof. He was about to dive down when he heard voices muttering.

"Hey, Brooklyn, isn't that—"

"Quiet, Lex. You want him to hear us?"

Axel snickered. "Too late for that." He whirled around, eyes drifting left and right. Nothing stood out, so unless those little spies used Vanish spells, they must've taken off.

…Or maybe not.

Winged shadows passed over the rooftop, and the air whipped. In the blink of an eye, he caught two figures dive bombing him with knife-like talons aimed at his face. Hissing, he jerked to the side, throwing up one of his chakrams. He heard a sharp cling and watched sparks fly. The smaller of the two monsters hit the ground, and his eyes shone white like headlights. The larger, red monster shredded the hem Axel's sleeve, and he spun around, hurling the chakram at his chest. The weapon struck dead-on, launching the gargoyle halfway across the rooftop.

Flames swirled around his other hand, and his fingers wrapped around the metal bars at the chakram's center. He bent forward, arms hanging loose at his sides, and grinned at the two beasts.

"Sure you want to do this? If you turn back now, we can pretend this whole thing never happened."

The red gargoyle, Brooklyn, crouched on all fours, swishing his tail and spreading his wings. His big, goofy beak pulled back to reveal some pointy little teeth, and he growled, rising up to his full height and thrusting a clawed finger towards Axel's chest.

"You're the one who should leave! We already know you're with the Organization, so if you think you can start dumping Heartless here…"

"Heartless? That's what this is about?" Axel laughed, loud and hard. "Look, kiddo, neither of you look like Keybearers, so even if I did bring Heartless, it wouldn't do any—yikes!" The smaller gargoyle lunged at his side, and he sank into darkness, flickering back into view on the other side of the roof. Eying the two little cretins, he shook his head and waved one of his hands. "Still want to do this the hard way?"

Both the bald, olive-colored gargoyle and Brooklyn snarled, beat their wings, and leaped into the air—way above Axel's head, and given his height, that was saying something. The two swooped down at him, and he sighed, crossing his chakrams over his face.

"Well, I hope you can take the heat."

Flames slithered along the chakrams' spiky edges, and he grinned, hurling the discs at his attackers. The chakrams swerved in opposite directions, leaving orange streaks in the air, and both gargoyles yelped, jerking left and right. They dived at Axel's head, and he flickered out of sight, reappearing back where he started. He landed just in time to watch the gargoyles' claws shred the metal below. It made a sharp screeching sound that felt like daggers piercing Axel's back. If those kids could tear through a building, then what'd that mean for him?

He'd find out soon enough, it seemed, because as soon as their claws scraped the roof, both gargoyles glared over their shoulders, spread their wings again, and bounced up like springs. Brooklyn swerved to the left and the olive one to the right, while Axel stood perfectly still, crossing his chakrams again. He waited until the kids got within three feet of him before smirking and swiping his arms apart. The air heated up and three flaming pillars sprung up around him. The ground beneath him crackled as magma coursed over the roof, and a ring of flames shot out at lightning speed, slamming into the charging gargoyles.

They roared and shrieked and hit the deck, rolling to douse the flames creeping up their skin, hair, and loin cloths. Problem was, the floor continued to crackle, coated in glowing orange veins. As they rolled, the flames only intensified. To top it all off, Axel whirled his chakrams, stepped back, and slammed his weapons into the ground. The gargoyles hopped from foot to foot, blotting off the flames on their shoulders. They must've been too busy to notice the three flaming columns cruising towards them. One slammed into Brooklyn's bare chest. Another nailed the olive gargoyle in the side, and the third passed between them, grazing them with tiny embers.

For a second, it almost looked like he had the upper hand until the little brats whipped their tails at his legs, sending Axel tumbling backwards. The gargoyles dived right after him, seizing his arms in a vice grip. Their claws pierced his skin, and he gritted his teeth, sucking in short bursts of air and fighting the urge to scream. What were a few pin pricks in the long run? All he really had to do was teleport, blast these winged rats with a little fire, and continue on his merry way.

"Now who's the one who can't take the heat?" said Brooklyn, but Axel only chuckled.

The olive-colored gargoyle hissed and tightened his grip. "Give us one reason why we shouldn't drop you right now."

"Go ahead." Axel cracked a crooked grin. His body shook a little when the gargoyles took an abrupt turn to the right. They kept drifting in circles and, come to think of it, they hadn't gained any height at all. You'd think that if they really wanted to flatten him, they'd fly up to a higher altitude.

So was it a bluff? The olive gargoyle and Brooklyn's eyebrows both rose, and they looked to each other with the stupidest looking faces. Then, instead of releasing his hold, Brooklyn's claws dug deeper into Axel's arm, and he bit his lip, taking quick, staggered breaths. He had to keep it cool. No point in showing weakness.

"Forget dropping him. I say we take him back to the clock tower." A clock tower, eh? Normally Axel wouldn't object; he'd even stashed some sea salt ice cream in his pocket. Problem was, he doubted these gargoyles were in it for the view. By the sound of it, they had a full-fledged interrogation planned out, and that just wasn't his style. Thankfully, he still had one little trick up his sleeve. Really, it was a wonder these kids hadn't caught on yet.

So, with a snort, Axel snapped his fingers. Darkness swirled around him, and his feet slammed into the metallic roof with a low, reverberating THUD. His legs wobbled, and he threw out his arms for balance, but once he steadied himself, he plucked a potion out of his pocket, tipped his head back, and slurped down the gooey, green liquid. As his skin pulled over his deep, puncture wounds, he hissed. Luckily, the pain came and went in an instant, and once he finished, he tossed the empty jar aside and scanned the air for those winged pests. All he saw was a vast expanse of buildings stretched out like giant stepping stones.

But just like before, he heard the air whip. Shadows descended over him, and he spun on his heel, launching two flaming chakrams at the gargoyles as their talons hit the ground. Eyes bulging, the gargoyles wrapped their wings around their torsos, and when the chakrams drew near, their wings snapped wide open, knocking the weapons back.

He caught his discs on their way back and yawned. "Had enough yet? Don't know about you kids, but I could keep going all night."

With the snap of his fingers, the edges of the roof lit up with rising flames, swaying from side to side in a demonic dance. The ground blackened all over again. Orange veins crawled out from the corners, reaching out like hands at the gargoyles' clawed feet. Brooklyn and his buddy gasped, hopping up just as the magma brushed up against their toes.

"Ugh, forget this!" said Brooklyn. "We're sitting ducks without Goliath."

Nodding, the olive gargoyle coasted towards the wall of flames. Gulping, he passed right over the edge, and the fire licked his legs. He screeched, but continued to ride the breeze, shooting Axel one final, glowing-eyed look. Brooklyn zipped after him, swiveling sideways on his way over the flames. In no time flat, the two gargoyles became tiny specks in the distance. With his attackers gone, Axel clapped his hands, and the flames fizzled away. The magma crawled backwards, disappearing beneath his boots, and he breathed an enormous sigh.

Well, at least with those gargoyles gone, he could get back to soaking in the sights. Shaking his head, he pressed his hands against his back and leaned backwards until he heard a light pop. With that out of the way, he knelt down and peered down at the streets once again, and just in time, too, because down at the edge of an alleyway, he spotted a tiny speck of blond hair poking out of a baggy, black coat.

"Heh. Guess it really is a small world…"

x.x.x

Over the past few months, Roxas had seen all kinds of worlds, but never one so… noisy. As he trudged down the sidewalks, he overheard honks and beeps and skids. Sirens wailed. Voices laughed, screamed, grumbled, and whispered. The air carried a thick, smoky stench, and Roxas slapped his hand over his mouth and nose, coughing and wheezing as a red car revved by. And then another. And a blue car. Then a black van—at least, that's what it looked like. Problem was, the cars zoomed by so fast that they all became blurs, leaving trails of exhaust in their wake.

When he turned the corner, a trail of water splashed his face, hair, and the front of his coat. Scowling, he shook his head frantically. His hair, once flattened by the water, spiked back up, and he reached for his hood, concealing his face. Looking up, he got lost in the shimmering billboards, decorated with a rainbow of logos and imagery. Canon, Coke, one sign that looked like a giant M… It was a lot to soak in, and part of him wanted to stay put and really absorb his surroundings. It was a new, uncharted world, and one buzzing with energy and life.

But that was the problem: it was too busy, and if Sora was here, how was he gonna find him in the middle of all the crowds, traffic, and lights? As realization washed over him, Roxas ripped his eyes off of the billboards and took a sharp turn to the left, only to bump into something. Or maybe someone. Stepping back, he tipped his head up only to find himself staring at a tall, skinny man dressed in patched up jeans, a leather jacket, and a spiked collar. His hair was styled into a spiky green mohawk, and he looked to Roxas with a cheeky grin. Two more men stood at his sides, also dressed in leather and jeans, and both with slicked back hair.

"Ain't it a bit past your bedtime, kid?"

Roxas said nothing and tried to step around the men, but the guy with the mohawk grabbed his shoulder and pinned him in place.

"Hey, hey. What's the hurry? You tryin' to go back to your mommy?"

"Let go." His words came out flat, and he swatted the guy's hand away, trying to squeeze his way between him. But just like before, the creep grabbed him, and this time he yanked back Roxas' hood.

One of the other thugs cackled like a hyena. "Aw, isn't that cute? The kid's tryin' to act all tough." Roxas' brow furrowed, and he rolled his hands into fists.

"I don't have time for this."

"Oh?" The mohawk guy's eyes widened for a second, and then he crouched down, grabbing Roxas by the chin. "Well, tough luck, kiddo. You're on our turf now, and I think it's time you showed a little respect." He reached into his pocket, whipping out a switchblade. Maybe that'd be enough to scare a normal kid, but when Roxas saw the weapon, he just shook his head, stepped back, and flicked both of his wrists.

Purple smoke flared around his fingertips, stretching and growing until two black wings took its place. With his Soul Eaters in hand, Roxas arched his back, bent his knees, and glared at the three thugs. At first, they just stared. Then the two guys with greasy hair whipped out knives of their own, and the men charged, swiping at Roxas' face, neck, and sleeves. Rolling his eyes, he jumped up and flipped over the thugs, landing behind them and sweeping one of his arms in an arc. A single black pillar rammed into the thugs, knocking them face-first into the sidewalk.

They caught themselves with their hands and whipped back around, their faces wrinkling up like wads of paper. They looked to one another, then charged with their blades outstretched. Sighing, Roxas swished one of his swords, and a series of baas filled the air. The thugs' movements slowed. Their legs wobbled. Their eyelids grew heavy, and they collapsed in a heap, snoring and mumbling. Sure, it wasn't the most exciting way to finish a fight, but he had more important things to worry about than brawls with random jerks. With his attackers out cold, he waved his hands and sent his swords away in a flicker of smoke.

He only made it past two more buildings before somebody else grabbed hold of him, clamping down on his back. Bristling, Roxas looked over his shoulder, anticipating another thug. Instead, he came face to face with a tall, skinny man dressed in a tattered black coat. His spiky red hair and bright green eyes were unmistakable, just like his cat-like grin.

"Sheesh, I leave you alone for five minutes, and you're already knee deep in trouble. What am I, your babysitter?"

Roxas tilted his head. "But I haven't seen you in months."

Axel shrugged and waved one of his hands. "Details. Point is, if you're gonna be roaming the city streets, you gotta stay sharp. You so much as look at somebody the wrong way out here, and you'll be right back where you started." He gestured at the sleeping thugs, and Roxas shook his head.

"I can take care of myself." He tried to step away, but Axel slid out in front of him and turned into a human roadblock.

"So you're just gonna give me the cold shoulder? Sora, I never knew you were so cold."

"It's Roxas now." He groaned, looking down at the sidewalk. "Besides, I've got stuff to do."

"And do you really want to do it alone?"

Roxas froze, biting the corner of his mouth. Truth be told, he missed having company. With the Replica and Naminé off to who-knows-where, he'd wound up traveling the worlds all by himself. Sure, he'd met people along the way, but those meetings were mostly limited to short exchanges whenever he asked about Sora or his friends. And it was okay. Without a heart, he couldn't really feel sad or lonely, but if he had to choose between flying solo or traveling with a friend, he'd go for the latter without a second thought.

Problem was, Axel wasn't really a friend. He was part of the Organization. And true, Roxas wasn't fully against them, but he wasn't with them, either. So where did that put him?

He tapped his chin, looking up at Axel. "How do I know I can trust you?"

Slumping, Axel rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, lemme put it this way. Right now, my biggest priority's keeping your friends outta trouble. So even if you don't trust me, we've got similar interests. Got it memorized?"

"Uh… sure." He scratched his head. "But wait. How come you wanna help Riku and Naminé?"

"Boss' orders. Don't know if you've heard, but Marluxia and Larxene are—"

"Xemnas said they're looking for Riku." And just thinking about them brought a faint scowl to Roxas' face. "But he also said that Riku's supposed to kill 'em."

"Bingo." Axel smirked, waving one of his fingers. "And as far as we know, he's already succeeded, but here's the thing: Marluxia's crafty, and Xemnas won't let me go back until we're sure they're pushing up daisies. So here I am, stuck wandering the worlds on a wild goose chase."

"You and me both." Roxas' expression softened, and he pressed his palm against a nearby lamppost. His shoulders sank, and his gaze dropped down to his feet, but once again, he felt a hand squeeze his shoulder.

"So that's what this is about." Axel's grin shrank away, replaced with a blank expression. His brow creased, and he looked Roxas in the eye. "So who're you searching for? Your friends?"

"Well, I wouldn't mind seeing 'em again, but…" He hesitated. "I'm looking for Sora. The real Sora."

"You mean his Heartless."

Roxas nodded and looked to the sky. "Xemnas said to follow the trail of hearts released by the Keyblade, and I saw a whole bunch coming from this world…"

"Hmm…" Axel turned around, shooting a glance over his shoulder. "Hold that thought. Looks like your little friends are starting to wake up."

Blinking, Roxas turned to the side only to find the three thugs shifting and moaning. Their eyes snapped open, and they fumbled around for their knives. Their faces snapped into fiery glares, and all three hopped back on their feet. Eyes narrowed, Roxas raised his hands and prepared to summon his weapons when Axel slipped in front of him and cracked a toothy grin.

"Hold on, Roxas. I got an idea." He flung his arms out perpendicular to his body, and thorny black tendrils swirled around his wrists. The air crackled and hissed. Orange flames burst around his hands, swirling like mini tornadoes. The thugs all yelped in unison, and their eyes bulged. Their weapons clattered to the sidewalk, while the flames gained spiky protrusions. The fire shrank away, revealing silver, metallic spikes, and the thugs whipped around, screamed, and bolted down the street. They didn't even stop to grab their weapons.

Roxas' lips twitched into a tiny smile, and a soft, short laugh escaped him. He reached down and scooped up all three of the knives, peering around the corner, where he spotted a huge, rusty dumpster. Looking left and right, he made sure nobody was looking before standing up on his tip toes and nudging the lid open. A horrible stench of rotting food along with a flock of flies greeted him, and so he pinched the bridge of his nose and flung the weapons inside.

When he rounded the corner again, he found Axel standing twirling one of his chakrams around his finger.

"So how'd I do?"

"Not bad. I'm just surprised those jerks got so scared over a little fire."

"Just a little? Come on, give me some credit!" When Roxas only shrugged, Axel deflated like a balloon, arms dangling at his sides. Then, just as fast as he wilted, he popped back up and twirled his chakram again. "Besides, most people around here aren't used to magic."

"But there were Heartless, right?"

"Sure, and that's all the more reason to panic." He waved his hands, and his chakrams vanished into smoke. "Anyway, if you're looking for Sora—"

Three shadows brushed over them, and Axel's mouth snapped shut. Two more followed, and he doubled back, bumping into the wall of a brick building. He grabbed Roxas' wrist and yanked him close, fixing his eyes on the sky. Squinting, Roxas followed his gaze, spotting five winged figures diving onto the building's flat roof. They crouched over the edge, digging their claws into the concrete ledge.

It was tough to make out the details from a distance, but one of them was small and bald, with big, pointy ears and olive skin, another looked taller and more muscular, with red skin, messy white hair, and a big beak. Roxas saw a huge, buff monster with purple skin and black hair, and a big, round one who was light blue and had spikes on his head. He tried to make out more details, but a sharp tug on his arm pulled his focus off the monsters and back to Axel.

"Hey, what are those—"

"Bad news, that's what." He waved his other hand, and a corridor swelled out in front of them. Before Roxas even got the chance to break away, Axel dragged him into the portal, and soon the city lights faded, while the darkness enclosed all around them.

The hard surface of the sidewalk softened, and soon Roxas felt his boots sinking into a bed of moist grass. The darkness shrank away, revealing an endless expanse of green. Far into the distance, a wall of puffy trees formed a boundary between the grass and the buildings piercing the starlit sky. Once massive and foreboding, the skyscrapers looked like toy figures from afar and the trees resembled sticks of broccoli poking out of the earth. The sirens, the honks, the shouts, and the skids had all but vanished, replaced with the sound of chirping crickets and bellowing frogs.

Turning around, Roxas found Axel sprawled out in the grass with his arms tucked beneath his head. Raising an eyebrow, he knelt next to him. "Hey, what was that about?"

Axel puffed out some air and shut his eyes. "It's called saving your skin. Trust me, those gargoyles could snap you in two if they wanted."

"But why would they want to?"

Axel sat up, draping an arm over his knee. "It's the coat. Turns out they're not fans of the Organization, and I'd bet you it's Zexion's fault."

Zexion… Roxas grimaced. "So what'd he do?"

"Oh, you know. Spreading Heartless, trying to shove people into the darkness… It was all on Xemnas' orders, but that sorta thing can do a number on your reputation."

"I guess that makes sense." He sighed, shifting his focus to the stars. "Anyway, d'you know where Sora is?"

"Well, I know where he was. It's actually kinda funny."

"How come?"

"Well, turns out he and his Keybearing buddy were here a couple days ago. Same with Kairi."

"…But they're not anymore?"

"Nope, and I'm afraid hunting after hearts isn't gonna work anymore, either. Not when the Replica's trying to get all the Keybearers to pick up new weapons."

"What?!" Roxas leaned back, and his eyes popped wide open. "But why? Doesn't he know that Kingdom Hearts—"

Axel groaned and shook his head. "I'm not sure Xemnas is really looking out for us."

"But he said—"

Axel held up his hand. "I know, but experience has taught me not to trust everything I hear. Not saying he's a liar, but I'd be careful if I were you." He sighed. "Truth is, I can see why the kid's trying to stall."

"…I guess I can, too." After all, Xemnas had already used them once. He'd made Naminé rewrite their memories, pitted the Replica against his original, and did it all without any remorse. Without his heart, Roxas couldn't really resent Xemnas the way that the Replica did, but at least his lack of feelings gave him the clarity to look at things rationally. Considering Xemnas' past actions, there was definitely a chance he had something else in store. But at the same time, what if Axel wasn't telling the whole truth? Roxas didn't want to trust Xemnas, but the Replica had to know that stopping Kingdom Hearts risked preventing all those other Nobodies from becoming whole again… at least in theory.

The only way to know for sure was to wait and see. And now that his friends planned to stall, who knew how long that'd take? And was it worth the risk?

Roxas' eyes squeezed shut, and he massaged his temple. What has he supposed to think about this? Before he got too lost in his thoughts, Axel smacked him on the back.

"Hey, cheer up."

"But Sora's still missing, and I don't even know where my friends are."

Heaving another sigh, Axel once again rubbed his neck. "Hoo boy." He paused, folding his arms and shutting his eyes. "Look, uh…" He cracked his eyes open and rummaged through one of his pockets. After a few seconds of digging, he whipped out a stick of blue ice cream wrapped in clear plastic. "Hey, I bet you've never had one of these before."

Roxas gave him a deadpan look. "Yes I have. Riku and I ate it all the time."

The ice cream dropped into Axel's lap, and he stared dumbfounded at Roxas for about two seconds. Then, with the snap of his wrist, he scooped the ice cream back up and stood up straight. "Well, the ice cream's only half the experience. You can't just eat icing without the cake."

"Cake?" His head tipped to the right he reached for the side of his neck. "I don't get it."

"Yep. Just as I thought. You don't have a clue." Axel snickered, throwing his arm out in front of him and calling up another swirling corridor. "Just follow my lead, kid. I'll show you the ropes."

Well, he didn't have anything better to do, so as soon as Axel strutted into the corridor, Roxas squeezed in after him, and the two wandered through the chilling darkness. About a minute passed without a word until the darkness parted, its icy tendrils replaced with the warmth of the sun. In place of grass, Roxas stepped out onto a brick tiled plaza just in time to hear the chimes of ringing bells and the whistle of a passing train. Spinning around, he caught sight of steps leading up to a set of glass doors. Above the doors, a colorful sign marked the entrance to Central Station, decorated by bright red bell with wings. Come to think of it, Roxas had seen this place before, when he and his friends were still part of the Organization.

Trudging closer to the steps, he tipped his head all the way back, and his eyes ran up the looming, tan tower, past the colorful clock face decorated with rings, and all the way up to the ledge.

"So, what do you think?" said Axel, marching up to his side.

"Looks like it'd be a great view, but…" Roxas stood up on his tip toes and brought one of his hands over his brow. Squinting, he focused on the ledge, where he spotted a lone figure in black seated up top with a stick of ice cream in hand. "Hey, who's that girl?"

"Wait, there's a girl up there?" Axel followed Roxas' gaze, narrowed his eyes, and then jumped back, gawking at the sight. "Oh, for the love of—"

"Is something wrong?"

He groaned, slapping his hand over his face and flicking his wrist. "Forget it. Let's go find some other spot."

"But why? I bet if we talk to her, she'll let us—"

Axel grabbed his shoulder, turning him the other way. "Trust me, it's a bad idea. I said it before, but girls are complicated, and for all we know, we'd be pressing the wrong buttons."

"Okay…" Roxas pushed away and crossed his arms. "Well, if we can't eat here, what're we supposed to do?"

"Hey, didn't you and your friends have your own hangout? We could always start there."

"I guess so." But was it really okay to bring Axel there? Big Ben was always a spot where he, Naminé, and the Replica could all get away from the Organization… still, a one-time visit couldn't hurt, so with a snap of his fingers, Roxas pulled up a corridor of his own and stepped inside.

His boots clanked against the tiled floor below, and he soaked in the cool, moist air. The orange and red sky shifted back to a black canvas dotted with white stars, and Roxas led Axel to the far end of the room, placing his hand against one of the stone pillars. Reaching for his chin, Axel peered down below, looking from side to side. His gaze then slid up to the sky, and he whistled, seating himself down on the edge.

"I gotta hand it to you, kid. The view's not half bad." He reached into his pocket again and held up that stick of ice cream. Oddly enough, it hadn't even started to melt.

Nodding, Roxas took the treat and pulled it out of the wrapper. He took a small bite, then fixed his eyes on the stars. "You know, this is all kinda familiar. Riku picked this place because he saw somebody else eating at Twilight Town's tower, and now…"

"Well, they do say history repeats itself." Axel whipped out another bar, taking a huge bite. After chewing and swallowing, he continued. "Hope the kid doesn't mind me stepping on his turf."

"But you're looking out for him, right?"

"Eh, you know how touchy he gets. Not that I can blame him."

"Yeah…" Axel had that effect on people. Or, well, he'd had that effect on Roxas before. Sure, they'd gone on a couple missions together in the past, but something about his snarky exterior always rubbed him the wrong way. Like he was always talking down to him. Always hiding answers under a smirking façade, but at the same time, he was the one who jumped in to stop his fight with Sora, and he was the one who led Naminé to the castle to put an end to the conflict. Glancing down at Axel, Roxas rubbed his chin. Come to think of it, he'd acted a lot nicer today. So what changed? Had all that time traveling changed his outlook, or was it just another act?

"Hey, Axel... What're you gonna do now?"

He shrugged, taking another bite. "Probably start searching again."

"Oh. Well, maybe we could help each other out."

"Hm?" He raised an eyebrow. "But I thought you could take care of yourself."

Roxas huffed. "Hey, I never said that I couldn't. It's just… you're looking for Marluxia, and I'm looking for Sora. Wouldn't it be easier if we worked together?"

"Sure." He flapped his hand, looking up at him with a faint grin. "But are you sure you can trust me?"

"I don't know, but if you're willing to help my friends, then I can give you a chance."

Axel laughed to himself, biting off another piece of ice cream. "Then I guess I can put up with a bit more babysitting."

"Hey, you're not my—"

Axel rolled his eyes. "C'mon, you should finish that ice cream before it melts. We can worry about the details later."

Drips of ice cream slid down Roxas' glove, proving Axel's point. He gave the Nobody one last look before his eyes drifted back to the stars, and he started to nibble his treat once more. All in all, the day took a turn for the unexpected thanks to his encounter with Axel. After months spent traveling alone, the idea of joining forces felt strange, almost unnerving. But at the end of the day, was it really that bad? Even if it meant working with a weirdo like Axel, at least it'd up their chances of finding Sora, Marluxia, and maybe even his friends.

And with odds like those, why complain?

TO BE CONTINUED

END NOTE: Once upon a time, I thought about putting this in Side Stories, but decided this was way too important to keep out of the main plot. Roxas and Axel's friendship in canon is a huge part of their characters, and while it's certainly not as strong here, I enjoyed exploring the interactions of these iterations of the duo. Where canon Roxas looked up to Axel for a time, XIII is more distant, which makes for a different dynamic.

With this chapter, we turn the page to the third and final arc, starting next update. While I would love to finish this fic a year after its release for symbolic reasons, attempting this would require me to rush, and I think you guys deserve better. With that said, I'm moving full steam ahead and plan to dedicate large chunks of my time to writing to ensure consistent updates. A September release for Act 3 is certainly possible, but I'll be working hard to ensure that the next batch of chapters are up to snuff rather than fussing over deadlines.

As always, I want to thank you all for your continued support! We just passed the 100 review benchmark, and I couldn't be happier. :D But whether you comment or not, it thrills me to see people reading my stories, however crazy they may be.