Heartmaker

by Besket

Author's Notes: The basic outline of this story came from an IMRP (Instant Message Role Play) that I had with one of my greatest friends, Dekiru. But the details of this story came to me in the middle of the night (midnight, to be exact) and I couldn't sleep until I typed them down.

To Dekiru: If you're even reading this, I'm very sorry, but your character. . . couldn't be in it. . . (apologizes) Because, well. . . Aeris never went anywhere near the World that Never was. . . But, I haven't deleted you completely, as you will be able to tell.

Warning: Contents may contain spoilers. Also contains very obvious mentions of male/male relationships, commonly known online as slash, shounen-ai, and in more. . . intense. . . situations, yaoi. I must also mention that I am a homophobic-phobic, so if this sort of relationship bothers you, then (ew) please go away right now. Thank you.

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts II and all of its characters belong to either Square Enix or to Disney, but in this case, mostly Square. I am not making money off this work, I am merely borrowing the fandom for a short while. The characters will not be changed (dramatically) in any way, shape, or form. And I don't remember how the rest of the official stuff goes, just don't sue me and we'll all be one happy family.

Prologue

The well-known neon tower hung over the wrecks and ruins of what looked like a destroyed city, which had never actually been intact. The screen at the top of the skyscraper flickered, the image never exactly becoming clear. Different neon signs, advertising shops that had never been built, flickered as the rain poured down on them, struggling to keep alight in a city that was seeped in darkness.

From the ground, dark bodies rose, and then melted away again as a dark-blue weapon cut through them like knife on butter. More of them arose, this time from a different direction, but dissolved in the light of a bright weapon, that shone the darkness away.

Mindlessly surfacing for flesh to claw, hearts to steal, more of them came, the Heartless. And, again and again, they were slashed to bits. Perhaps some spark jolted through the mindless beings, as they worked to encircle this danger, to attack it from all sides- only to be burned completely away, before they could even get close, in a ring of fire.

"Dammit, Axel!"

The dark blade and the bright blade were lowered, as the person holding them yelled behind his shoulder, and through his hood. The other, standing with his back to the first, flinched.

"Sorry, Roxas, I wasn't implying that you couldn't handle it, I- "

"I told you, I'm the one training right now, okay? I only let you come because you really wanted to. If I want your help, I'll ask for it!" The hooded person's grip on his weapons tightened in frustration.

"I was only trying to. . ." the other began, but realized that whatever he said wouldn't change Roxas's mind. He hung his head. "I understand."

"Good." Roxas glared at the ground, from which more Heartless came. He readied his weapons, his Keyblades, (the source of many questions and mysteries that arose as to whom he had once been) for more fighting. But this time, there were. . .

Far, far too many.

"Leave us alone!" he yelled at the Heartless that were rematerializing, but they obviously didn't listen and continued to come.

He struggled against them at first, but it quickly became more tiring than he had really wanted them to be. "There's too many of them!" He yelled over his shoulder.

There was no response.

He turned around. Where had his companion gone? "Axel! What the hell!" The remnants of a black portal were closing, and a note fluttered out. Even in the almost non-existent light, Roxas was still able to read the fiery words:

I got called again for my job at Marluxia's place.

I'm really, really sorry, but I don't think you really need me anyway.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

--Axel

Blue eyes widened in shock and anger, (false. . . false. . . false. . .!) and hands crumpled around the note as darkness swallowed him.

Axel left as soon as he could, almost angry (false. . . false. . . false. . .!) that he hadn't even been needed. That Marluxia! He liked to abuse his power, didn't he?

When he came back to the scene he had left not even ten minutes ago, an unexpected sight met his eyes.

Roxas lay, facedown, at the mouth of the skyscraper, his note in one hand, and his other grasping an invisible object, as if whatever he had been holding had recently dissolved. (Where?)

Alarmed, (false. . . false. . . false. . .!) Axel raced to the limp form. "Roxas? What happened!"

Roxas's eyes opened. "Where. . . did you think. . . you were going?"

Green eyes lowered in shame. "I was called away. . . trying to save this (the sky, the other, the same) boy from Marluxia's clutches, but I have to think of a way to do it without making Marluxia suspect me!" His mouth simply poured, having no more room in his mind other than, is Roxas okay!

"Feeling a little. . . regret?" Roxas sneered from the ground.

That remark stung, and Axel lowered his head in shame. "If I could, I would. . ."

Slowly getting up, Roxas brushed himself off and shot one of his infamous glares at Axel. "There were more Heartless than I could handle. When I really DID need you, you were GONE." When the two words were stressed so painfully as Roxas had done, Axel flinched. "The only reason why I'm talking to you right now is because the mindless creatures realized that there was no heart for them to steal!"

Axel sighed. Well, that was wonderful. Now Roxas would be cold to him for the next four hours or so. "Come on, Roxy, I had no choice. I promise I'll never do that again."

Roxas stopped. "Promise?" He raised an eyebrow.

A nod. "Of course. If you're ever hopelessly outnumbered again, I'll save you."

A pause of consideration. "Fine." And the dual-wielder walked away, back to the castle.

As Axel sat at the mouth of the skyscraper, rain dripping all over his flaming red hair, he glanced longingly at the retreating back of his (true or not?) best friend.

How cold he was treated.

How devoid of emotion his friend was.

He raised a gloved hand to the center of his chest, where his heart would have been. A warmth, which had recently developed, enveloped his hand. The warmth that roared like a flame whenever the sweet blonde was near. . .

But how would Axel ever get what he wanted?

Well, there's the classic. Cook for him.

No, food wouldn't work, as Axel already cooked breakfast for Roxas every single morning. It had no effect on the blonde at all.

Then shield him from the rain.

It is true that Roxas's favorite training ground constantly rained, but that was what the hoods in their uniform were for. That wouldn't work, either.

Protect him.

But, as obvious from the display earlier, Roxas did not appreciate his protection very much, and only accepted it when it was absolutely needed. Which, with Roxas's great skill, was not very common.

Then. . . there is only one way.

Axel closed his eyes, thinking it over. What was the one way that would ensure him Roxas's kindness and affection?

The things you do for him. . .

Do them for someone else.

Axel's eyes shot open.

Tailnotes: The prologue is finished. Whoooooo. From now on, the story will be told in Demyx's point of view. . . I think a lot of you can pretty much understand what will happen here. If not, well. . . I guess you'll see, huh?

Also, if you have questions, feel free to ask them. I like knowing what's confusing and what's not expressed well or whatever. And if there's something that's incorrect or doesn't make sense, please feel free to tell me, I don't mind getting corrected. Thank you. :D