Axel woke the next morning to find Roxas still laying beside him. He was tempted to wake him, but after everything Roxas had been through the previous evening, he decided he probably needed the rest. Axel snuck out of bed and brushed his teeth before returning to the sweet sight of Roxas laying with his head just peeking out of the covers, looking serene and beautiful in the glow of sunrise through the window.

He retreated downstairs to find the house a total wreck. Plastic cups and paper plates appeared to cover every flat surface, everything smelling vaguely of body odor and alcohol. The tile was sticky against his bare feet as he arrived in the kitchen to make himself and Roxas breakfast.

He was amazed to find Leon already awake and staring into the open fridge with a dazed expression. He didn't even register Axel's presence until Axel spoke.

"Morning, Leon. You look like shit."

Leon half-grinned, half-grimaced as he turned to face him. "Yeah, well you didn't stay until the end of the party. I slept for all of a few hours, and now I have a hangover from hell. I'm trying to find something to eat that won't make me want to throw up."

"So you enjoyed Demyx's party then?" Axel joked.

Leon laughed, albeit weakly. "It was fun while it lasted, I guess."

"I saw you guys making out on the floor."

"When Demyx wants to make out, he wants to make out. I don't complain," Leon shrugged, though his face colored a little. Axel smiled to himself as he took over Leon's job of examining the contents of their fridge.

"What if I just make you some toast? I'm gonna attempt some eggs and bacon for Roxas."

"Come again?"

Axel looked at him, not quite able to read his expression.

"Roxas?" Leon asked.

"Shit, I can't believe I didn't start with that. Yeah...Roxas is in my room right now. He slept here last night."

"How the hell did that happen?"

"I honestly don't know. He showed up in my room in the middle of the night and told me he broke up with Pence."

"So are the two of you, uh, together then?" Leon asked.

"Uh, well, no. We didn't talk much last night..." Axel scratched the back of his neck. Waking up next to Roxas had been such a pleasant experience, he didn't want to ruin it by reading too much into the situation.

"So...what's going to happen then?" Leon asked.

"I don't know yet. I don't want to get my hopes up. If we're friends, we're friends. If it's more... I'm just glad he's here."

"Okay," Leon said skeptically, "but you'd better keep me posted."

"I will. Thanks for being there for me last night by the way."

"I was going to apologize for not being there for you. I shouldn't have left you alone."

"It all worked out. Namine talked me off the ledge."

"I guess she'd do a better job than I could anyway."

"Yeah, but you've gotten me through a lot too. Without all of you, I don't think I would've made it through... It got pretty dark last night."

"Yeah, I know. I never want to see you like that again."

"I hope you won't."

Axel forced himself not to think about Roxas's intentions as he finished up his breakfast and made his way upstairs. The bacon was a little burnt and the eggs overcooked, but Axel had definitely done worse. Besides, he took comfort in the fact that Roxas never complained about free food.

He opened the door softly with the plate in hand, surprised to find Roxas was sitting up in bed, his hair sticking up in all the wrong places. He looked so sexy and adorable at the same time. Axel couldn't resist the smile on his face as he presented Roxas with his meal.

"I'll admit, it's probably not gonna be the best breakfast you ever had, but I tried," Axel offered, handing him the plate as he sat down on the edge of the bed, angling his body towards Roxas.

"Looks pretty good to me," Roxas smiled as he picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite. "Bacon's good."

"Glad to hear it. Uh, how are you feeling?"

"Um, good. Thanks for letting me stay," Roxas replied, staring at his motionless fork.

"Of course," Axel replied, scratching the back of his neck.

Things were awkward again. The tension and words unspoken felt heavy around them, but Axel was too nervous to break through, afraid to say the wrong thing and make Roxas upset. He couldn't take that risk again, even as everything compelled him to pour out his feelings one last time and hope for the best.

Roxas shook his head. "It's cool. I can't believe you made me breakfast after what I did last night."

Axel's instinct was to protest, but he decided it was best to tell the truth, if they were really going to move forward.

"Yeah, last night was...It was really tough for me."

"I know. I made you cry," Roxas observed weakly.

"I guess it just seemed like you and I were hitting it off so well the past few days," Axel admitted. "It felt like it used to, back when we were in the Organization. I realized how much I missed you. Not like I ever forgot, but…" he trailed off.

"I felt the same way. I realized how much I missed you too."

Axel tried not to let that mean something more than it did. Roxas might still go back to Pence for all he knew.

Roxas continued, "You really are a different person. I don't know why it took me so long to realize how much you've changed. Everyone kept saying it."

"Everyone?" Axel asked.

"Sora, Demyx, Namine, Tifa, even Leon and Riku. They kept dropping hints about you."

Axel smiled at that. "What did they say?"

"They said that I should give you another chance. Demyx gave me a long, drunken lecture after I told him I, um, kissed you ...And, uh, then I saw you with Gladio..."

"I'm so sorry about that, Roxas. I didn't mean to-"

"I don't blame you," Roxas interrupted. "If I would've just told you how I really felt before…"

Axel couldn't bring himself to ask how Roxas "really felt," even as the question screamed to be asked. He waited, hoping Roxas would elaborate, but he didn't.

"You know what else Demyx told me?" Roxas continued. "He told me all the things you did to protect me when we were in the Organization. I mean, I knew you were looking out for me, but I didn't know how much you risked just to keep me safe."

"Yeah, well, I still could've done a better job. I have a lot of regrets about how things were when you left."

"Maybe I should never have left...You were the only person in the Organization besides Demyx that actually cared about me."

Axel could feel his heart racing. Everything Roxas was saying, and the way he was saying it just seemed so intimate and meaningful. It didn't help that Axel had a close-up of Roxas's gorgeous blue eyes and knew he could reach out and touch him if he wanted, but was that what Roxas wanted?

"I can't help thinking," Roxas said, "that you might be better off with someone like Gladio…"

"I wish you'd stop bringing him up. It was a mistake, Roxas."

"But he's hot , and he's an intergalactic pop star, and he's totally into you, and I'm like the farthest thing from Gladio there is," Roxas said, gesturing to his petite frame. "I mean, you're famous , Axel. You're a rock star! When you leave tomorrow, people everywhere are going to be fawning over you, and I'm just… I can't compete with that!"

"Roxas, first of all, you don't have to compete with anyone and two, The Nobodies are not that famous-"

"You have two fan clubs in Twilight Town alone. Did you know that? Pence is in one of them!"

"No, but it's beside the point! The four of us, and even the members of Insomnia, we're just regular people. Prompto is Demyx's Somebody! I mean, think about that!"

"To you they're normal people, but to me…I mean, you saw how I was when I met Noctis. I'm just so lame compared to you," Roxas groaned.

"I like how lame you are, for the record. I'm lame too, and if you want proof, Riku, Leon, and Demyx all think I'm super fucking lame, and they're my best friends. You've heard my jokes before, right?"

Roxas laughed, and Axel was so pleased to see him let loose a little, to get a glimpse of that charming smile he adored so much.

It wasn't long before the smile disappeared. "What now, Roxas?"

"I know I shouldn't care, but I'm still jealous of everyone you've been with, and I feel out of place with all of you sometimes, like I don't belong here or anywhere, really."

"I used to feel that way too. I think it's just a side effect of being in the Organization too long, constantly competing to save your own life over someone else's. It's how we were groomed to be from the day we came into existence."

Roxas was thoughtful for some time. "Yeah, I guess you're right…Never thought about it that way…"

"I think it was even worse for you though, because you had a heart."

"Maybe you're right," Roxas said, putting down his plate. "I have a question for you."

"Okay," was all Axel could manage, the tension rising as he waited.

"Even though I messed up last night, even though you could seriously be with anyone...would you still...I mean do you still…"

While Roxas struggled, Axel felt a warmth spreading in his chest. His suspicions were correct. He knew somehow, instinctually, that now was the time.

"I'm still in love with you, if that's what you're asking, and I also have something to show you."

Axel retrieved the "winner" popsicle stick from his pocket and placed it in Roxas's palm.

"Do you remember this?" Axel asked.

"Yeah, of course. We used to get these when we ate sea salt ice cream."

"This one's special."

Roxas's eyes widened in surprise as he realized. "It's not…"

"It is. That's the same one you put on my nightstand the day you left the Organization, and I've carried it with me every day since. I know I made mistakes. I know. But I never stopped thinking about you, and I can sure as hell promise you I've never loved anyone else."

Roxas stared at the popsicle stick, turning it over slowly in both hands.

"Just tell me what you want, Roxas, and it's yours," Axel urged, watching the tears form in Roxas's eyes and hoping they meant what he thought they meant.

Roxas didn't say a word, just closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around Axel's neck. Axel was always stunned by how much these small points of physical contact by Roxas affected him. He'd had sex with more people than he could count, but there was something different about Roxas's touch, something so magically comforting and gentle.

"You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?" Roxas whispered into Axel's neck, the breathy tickle intoxicatingly pleasant, making Axel's thoughts stray from comfort and love to something much more primal.

"Yes," Axel whispered. "Come with me."

"On the tour?" Roxas asked.

"Yes. Travel the worlds with me, just like we always wanted."

Roxas was silent for a few moments, and Axel could barely stand the suspense.

"It's not that I don't want to, Axel. It's just...I just came here because I needed to see you. I didn't even pack a bag."

Axel had about a million rebuttals to Roxas's statement, but reminded himself for the millionth time that he was determined to be less overbearing and let Roxas make his own choices. It was hard though, when Roxas was being this dumb.

"It's okay, Roxas. It's not a big deal," Axel sighed, struggling and failing to hide his disappointment.

Would it be crazy to cancel the tour just to spend more time with Roxas and make sure he didn't change his mind? Axel definitely cared more about Roxas than his band, but he also cared about his friends, and he couldn't do that to them. He'd just have to hope Roxas felt the same way when he got back.

"I'll still keep in touch while you're gone," Roxas offered. "How long will it be?"

"Honestly, I don't even know all the details. It happened so fast. At least a few months, and then who knows what will happen after that? I'd like to think I can come back to visit at least every now and then, but I'm not sure how dark portals work in other galaxies...I promise I'll do whatever I can to see you. Will you be in Twilight Town?"

"Yeah, I think I will...I like it there."

"Maybe I'll move there too, when the tour is over," Axel offered, hoping he wasn't coming on too strong.

"You really would?" Roxas asked, the stars in his eyes reassuring.

"Yeah. I have so many good memories there. I'd love to go back to the clock tower at sunset again, eat some sea salt ice cream with you, talk about stuff besides getting turned into a dusk. You know, normal people shit."

Roxas laughed. "Yeah, that would be nice. Maybe I could take you...on a date," Roxas offered, his sudden shyness infinitely endearing.

"Yeah, you can take me on a date, Roxas. Thought you'd never ask."

Axel just stared into Roxas's eyes for a moment, so warmed by his earnest and sweet proposal. After all they'd been through, a normal date with Roxas sounded pretty damn great.

There was a moment where Axel thought about kissing him. Their faces were so close, it would take hardly any effort, but for some reason he couldn't explain, he hesitated.

"I can't believe I didn't know you play the bass guitar," Roxas observed.

"I can't believe you know what a bass guitar is," Axel teased.

"Shut up. I know things now! But I think there's a lot I don't know about you still."

"Probably true. So what do you wanna know?"

There was something about the way Roxas was looking at him. It reminded him of their reunion on the clock tower, like Roxas was waiting to be kissed, like Roxas wanted Axel to make the first move again, and Axel felt a small, rebellious part of him that wanted Roxas to make the first move this time. Axel waited.

"There is one thing I'd like to know," Roxas spoke softly, his eyes drifting to Axel's lips.

"Yes?"

"What you've been doing with all these other guys while we were apart," Roxas asked. His tone was curious, not accusatory, and Roxas gently placed himself into Axel's lap, his legs squeezing Axel's thighs before he leaned in and placed a kiss on Axel's lips.

He'd forgotten the way Roxas could undo him with the simplest touch, the way he was so seductive in his innocence, the way he teased Axel with his helpless and vulnerable eyes until Axel lost patience and had to touch him despite his better judgment. Only now there was no reason to resist Roxas anymore. There was not a single secret left between them. It was like Namine said. They were meant for each other.

Their kiss felt just like the first time. There was a familiar electricity that had always flowed between them, and Axel experienced it tenfold in the way Roxas pulled his body closer. Axel's breath hitched when he felt Roxas's hand stray to the space between his shirt and the top of his boxers before Roxas removed his shirt entirely.

He was surprised and delighted by Roxas's confidence, pleased to find Axel might not always be making the first move.

Axel placed a series of open-mouthed kisses on Roxas's neck, breathing in his beautiful scent, treasuring Roxas's response to every touch before looking into his eyes. Stunning, sweet, blue eyes with dark black lashes.

"You're so beautiful, Roxas. If you only knew how many hours I've spent fantasizing about you…"

He removed Roxas's shirt and kissed his bare chest, enjoying the sweet way Roxas sighed as his nails dug into Axel's shoulders.

Axel claimed his lips again, knowing he could never get enough of this closeness, hardly believing it was happening when just last night he'd thought it was all over.

The way Roxas was grinding into his lap now was bold and addictive, and Axel could only pull him closer, wanting as much as he could get of Roxas, experiencing every movement and kiss as though his body existed only where Roxas touched him. He could feel Roxas's erection pressing into his, and when Axel stroked Roxas through his clothes, the soft moan he let out in Axel's ear threatened to put him over the edge.

"The list of fantasies I have that involve you is about a mile long, so I'm not even sure where to begin…" Axel whispered.

"You could start by taking the rest of your clothes off," Roxas suggested. His delivery was uncharacteristically assertive, and it took Axel by pleasant surprise.

"What about you?" Axel teased, loving the fact that Roxas was telling him what to do. This was something he'd failed to fantasize about enough, imagining he would always be the dominant one.

"I'll think about it once your clothes are off." Roxas grinned as he removed himself from Axel's lap and stood in front of him, biting his lip, his gaze lingering on Axel's erection beneath his pajama shorts.

Axel took off his pants as Roxas ogled him without a word. Perhaps he should've been offended by the way Roxas appeared to be objectifying him, but he was mostly just amused and very, very turned on. When he removed his underwear, Roxas's face went pale, and Axel was almost tempted to laugh at his complete lack of composure.

"Everything good, Roxas?" Axel asked.

"Huh? Yeah," Roxas mumbled, finally looking into Axel's eyes and blushing.

"You know we don't have to do anything right now," Axel reminded him.

"But you're leaving tomorrow."

"I'm not in a rush, Roxas. Not with you."

"Let's do it now," Roxas insisted as he crashed into Axel. His skin was smooth and soft. Axel trailed more kisses down his bare neck and shoulders, touching every inch of him he could reach. He unzipped Roxas's pants and slid them off, then went back to kissing his lips, rubbing against him through the thin layer of his underwear, savoring their perfectly matched desire as Roxas's hips grinded in time with his.

Yet when he looked into Roxas's eyes he could tell something was off.

"You're sure, Roxas?"

"I think I'm just nervous."

"It's okay, Roxas. It'll be just like old times. I'll teach you everything I know. Got it memorized?"

The sweet smile on Roxas's face was reassuring, and Axel dropped to his knees to begin his first lesson.

Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who's followed along with this story so far! It makes me smile seeing your reviews (and new subs and favorites too!). I appreciate it so much. The next chapter will be the last one, and I hope you enjoy the conclusion of this story :)