Deep inside his safe house, Cloud talks with two men newly appointed as his advisers. Neither have the strength of Lexaeus, the cunning of Saix, or the skill of Roxas. They are sycophants, pure and simple, but he needed them now. He has little else.

Their news is grim. The execution of the pirate crew had failed, and now they have fled the city with more than half of the Guild leaders and members. There's a rebellion rising against Cloud and his guild, only the Serpents and Spiders remain. The men stationed at the mansion had suffered horrible casualties, the catapults setting fire to the place and sending the men frantically fleeing. His own son is now gone, and some one-eyed woman is spreading rumors that he is the martyr of the rebellion, perhaps even conspiring with the King himself. Worst of all is his ultimate defeat on the property of his own estate.

"The Lions, the Wolves, and the Sharks are all supposedly with your son." one of the sycophants says. "At least know they're traveling together toward finding that new faction, The Faceless."

Cloud shakes his head.

"Get out." He says. The men quickly obey. In silence, Cloud broods. His mystique, his prestige, his years and years of respect, have all vanished in a single night. Every aspect of his prepped plan has collapsed. Every single guild in the city has taken massive casualties. Whatever bloody trust he had earned, he has now lost. The remaining guilds will start poaching his territory. The Bastion is already coming down hard, swarming the streets with their troops. Priests roam the alleys as well, putting an end to his enterprises. And his own son saved his life. A gesture he should be grateful for, but only growls and whacks off all the materials on his desk. His leg still hurts from where his son had shot him.

Cloud draws a sword and slashes his palm. He raises a clenched fist to the ceiling and bares his teeth.

"This isn't over." He swears. "Not now. Not ever. Not until every lord and lady are lying in their graves. And those fucking sea men are hanging by ropes in my tree."

He kisses his fist, tasting the blood on his lips. He has no son. No heir. Death will be his legacy.

As Roxas snuggles down into his bed roll next to Axel, he tugs his jacket tight, zipping it up all the way to the collar. Zexion had managed to heal his arrow wound, saying it was particularly easy since it looked worse than it did; missing Roxas' kidneys and not even rupturing his spine. His burn wounds are nearly gone and are expected to be fully healed within the matter of three days.

Snuggling down and propping on his elbow, Roxas takes his hand and tentatively strokes the knuckle of his fingers across Axel's temple, down to his cheek. His looks so peaceful and younger when in slumber.

His eyes flutter open and his green eyes shimmer like stars in the moonlight. The canopy of leaves above their head wafts slightly, tearing them off the branches.

"Hi." Axel smiles.

"Hi." Roxas replies.

Without word, Axel extends out his arm and Roxas scoots closer and rests his head down. Closer now to Axel, the chill of the coming autumn night seems to have vanished. Using his hand, Axel tickles the back of Roxas' head and leans in placing a kiss on Roxas' temple as he giggles. Roxas tilts his head up and manages to catch Axel's lips.

When they break apart, Axel licks his bottom lip. "You know I'm still waiting for it."

"For what?"

"For you to say it again." He smiles.

Roxas rolls his eyes. "Really?"

"Yes. Things like this are important to me."

Axel tickles more and Roxas twitches and scoots closer to Axel's chest in an attempt to escape his tickling fingers. As Roxas snuggles into Axel's chest, he feels his arms wrap around his torso. Axel kisses Roxas' forehead and drifts his lips to Roxas' ear.

"I love you, Roxas."

Roxas angles his head up and kisses Axel's soft lips once more. The pressure temporarily erases all the pain and loss that Roxas has, and manages to crack through the hollow silence within him enough for Roxas to feel and return the deserved affection

Roxas closes his eyes and feels Axel's breath against his cheek. "I love you too, Axel."

~End of Book One~