Hey everyone! At long last, I've finally gotten around to doing an AxelYuffie fic!
This is kinda AU, in that Roxas and Sora, as well as Namine and Kairi, can exist independently of each-other, and that Axel is still alive. The rest is pretty much the same as it would be anyway post KH2.
Hope you enjoy this, I'm not sure if it's that well done, but this is mainly for fun, you know? Oh God, now I sound like Rai...
(I do not own any characters from KH, FF, or Disney.)
"Hey you!" Axel flinched as he heard someone shout. He slowly opened his eyes to see none other than the great ninja Yuffie standing before him, her hands on her hips. "Sleeping again, huh Axel?" She asked with a grin.
"Yeah, till I was so rudely interrupted." Axel replied with a yawn. He sat up from the large rock he'd been laying on and stretched his arms. "What's up?"
"The party's gonna start any minute." Yuffie grabbed Axel's hand and pulled him up. "You don't wanna miss it, do you?"
"Ah, I guess not." Axel followed Yuffie as she led him through Radiant Garden towards Aerith's house, where everyone had assembled to celebrate Kairi's birthday. "Still, I was having a good dream. Couldn't you have waited two more minutes?"
"Forget it Axel. I wasn't gonna wait around for your lazy butt. I wanna make sure I get some cake!"
Axel chuckled. "Better take it easy on the chocolate there kiddo, or you'll lose that girlish figure of yours."
"Haha, you're a riot Axel. Just consider yourself lucky that I don't use my ninjitsu on you for that little comment."
"Whatever you say Leonardo."
Yuffie simply stuck out her tongue at him for his joke. He obviously watched too many cartoons.
Axel just laughed. It never ceased to amaze him just how easily he and the teenage ninja got along. No one could really explain it, and when he asked her opinion on it she simply shrugged and said, "Maybe cause you remind me of an old friend."
He had learned later that this old friend was a guy named Reno, and that he was one of the unfortunate ones that hadn't survived Radiant Garden's fall to the Heartless. He had also heard from Leon, Tifa and Aerith that he did, indeed bear an uncanny resemblance to Reno. In fact, if it hadn't been for the fact that Axel knew he was the Nobody of Ansem's youngest apprentice named Lea, he would have wondered if he was actually Reno's Nobody.
That may have explained what Yuffie liked about Axel, but… why did Axel like her?
Axel still couldn't figure it out. She didn't seem like the type he'd be friends with, like Roxas, so what was she to him?
Before he could ponder further, Yuffie suddenly stopped pulling him along and turned to him with a smile.
"Here we are!" She said in a sing-song voice. "I get first dibs on cake!"
"Why should you get first dibs?" Axel asked, returning to his normal, playful self. "After all, I'm the birthday girl's Nobody's boyfriend's best friend! Or am I the birthday girl's boyfriend's Nobody's best friend?"
Yuffie blinked. "…When I figure out what you just said, I'll come up with a crushing reply. But for now… Cake, cake, cake, caaaake!"
Yuffie ran inside and saw the large chocolate cake, with the words "Happy 16th Birthday Kairi!" written in frosting on it.
"Jackpot!" The ninja girl squealed, as she closed in to have a taste of the frosting.
But just before her finger could scoop up any of the delicious frosting, a hand grabbed her wrist. She looked up with a feeble smile to see Leon shaking his head.
"Yuffie, I know you have an unnatural obsession with cake…" He said with as much patience as he could muster. "…But no one gets any until its time. Understand…?"
Yuffie stuck out her bottom lip and looked at Leon with her puppy dog eyes. "But… but Squall…"
"It's Leon. And no cake till its time."
Axel walked up with an amused look on his face. "Trouble in paradise?" He joked.
"Here, keep an eye on her, will you?" Leon handed Yuffie off to Axel. "I've gotta go help Aerith get dinner ready."
"Sure thing Boss." Axel said with a salute.
Leon walked away and Yuffie glared up at Axel. "What was that for?" She asked.
"What was what for?"
"That 'trouble in paradise' joke?"
"What, I thought you liked Leon."
"Yeah, I do… but… he doesn't know." Yuffie began to blush and turned away.
Axel sighed and placed his hand on her shoulder. "C'mon, Yuff. I thought you were gonna tell him."
"I was. I am… but I just don't know how yet. I mean, what if he doesn't like me back? He is older than me…"
"So what? An old geezer like Leon might just love the chance to date an eighteen year old ninja girl."
Yuffie turned and gave Axel a stern look. "Leon is only a couple years older than me. And correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you the same age? So I wouldn't be calling him an old geezer if I were you."
Axel held up his hands and smiled nervously. "Okay, okay, so he's not old. But still Yuffie, you're never gonna know till you try, right?" Yuffie's anger faded, but it was again replaced by an unsure look. "C'mon Yuffie, it'll be okay. I mean, for cryin' out loud, you've been moping to me about him for weeks! Go mope to him some, will ya?" Axel smiled gently.
Yuffie finally smiled back. "Okay Axel. You're right. I've just gotta tell him, that's all. And if he doesn't feel the same, then that's just how it is."
Axel nodded and guided Yuffie away. "Now, let's make sure you're not tempted to steal some cake early."
"Awwww!"
---
The party had been wonderful so far. Kairi opened all of her presents, everyone shared a tasty dinner cooked by Aerith, and soon the time for cake had finally arrived.
Sixteen candles were arranged on the cake. Kairi sat before it, with Sora on her left, and after everyone sang "Happy Birthday" for her, she made a wish and blew out the candles.
Needless to say, as soon as the cake was sliced and passed out, Yuffie grabbed her slice and dug in like a possessed woman. The only person who ate more than her was probably Donald, and that was only because Cid had dared him to do it. The magician duck ended up sick, but the ninja girl only craved more.
But sadly the cake was gone, and the party was soon coming to an end.
Roxas and Naminé were the first to leave, and bid everyone goodbye before they took a Gummi ship back to Twilight Town. Tifa was next, as she said goodbye and walked home to her apartment.
As for Kairi, she was worn out from all the excitement, so Sora and Riku carried her to the Gummi ship, and went home to Destiny Islands. After giving Donald and Goofy a ride back to Disney Castle that is.
Leon stayed to help Aerith clean up a bit before going home, so Yuffie decided to hang around as well.
That only left Axel.
He left Aerith's house, saying he was calling it a night, but didn't even know where to go.
Axel really had no home to speak of. Sora Kairi and Riku had homes in Destiny Islands, Roxas and Naminé lived in Twilight Town, Goofy and Donald lived at Disney Castle… but where was his home?
Axel had never given it much thought before; he had always just… hung out. Either here in Radiant Garden, or in Twilight Town. But for some reason, he didn't want to leave. He remembered his talk with Yuffie and decided perhaps it was because he was concerned for her. After all, she was about to pour her heart out to her long-time crush, Leon.
Leon… Axel thought to himself. Not really the type I'd choose to have a crush on if I was her…
Axel knew Leon wasn't the lovey-dovey type. In fact, the only time he'd ever even heard of Leon having those kinds of feelings at all was when he heard stories about some girl named Rinoa, another unfortunate victim of the Heartless.
Axel knew he had encouraged Yuffie to reveal her feelings for Leon, but… damn it, he didn't want her getting hurt! Maybe he was just being over protective, but he had a real bad feeling Leon just wasn't the guy for her.
Sure, everyone else said that they were made for each-other. Sora often joked about what a cute couple they were ever since he first met them.
But Axel had to wonder… is something that seems meant to be really something that should be?
And so, Axel ended up hanging out at the corner, near Aerith's house. Yuffie was sure to pass by here, so Axel figured he'd just stop her and see how it went.
Soon enough, he heard her coming and stepped out in front of her. He was surprised to suddenly find himself kicked to the ground and a shuriken held to his throat.
"Whoa, easy there! It's me!" He shouted, holding up his hands in defense.
Yuffie finally saw his face clearly in the dark and gave a surprised gasp. "Axel? What the hell are you doing sneaking up on me like that? I thought you were some weirdo out to kidnap me!"
"Trust me; if there are any weirdoes around, they have more to fear from you then the other way around." Yuffie and Axel both laughed as she helped him up.
"What were you doing though?" She asked.
"I was just in the neighborhood, and I thought I may as well see how it went with Leon."
"Oh… well…"
"You did tell him? …Didn't you?"
Yuffie shook her head sadly. "Just couldn't bring myself to do it… I got too nervous."
Axel sighed. He was glad she hadn't gotten hurt over the whole deal… but he wasn't thrilled that she would now suffer longer with trying to tell Leon. Why couldn't that guy just open his eyes and see for himself already?
"C'mon," He said gently, taking her hand in his. "I'll walk you home."
Yuffie would have protested, saying she was a big girl and could take care of herself, but she was grateful to Axel for just being there. So she followed along silently until they came to her house.
"Here we are." Said Axel. "Well, good night Yuffie."
Axel began to walk away but stopped when he heard Yuffie. "Hey, Axel…?" He turned to face her, and was surprised to see her blush slightly. "Um… I know you haven't had a real home ever since you left the Organization… and I don't want you sleeping in the streets so… Would you like to stay at my house for the night?"
Axel blinked at her, confused. Did she just ask him to stay the night? At her house? With her? He recovered quickly and gave her a smirk. "You really think that'd be proper Yuffie?"
"Oh shut up you perv!" Yuffie shot back with a grin. "I'm offering you a place to stay, now do you want it or not?"
Axel chuckled and nodded. "Okay, why not. After sleeping on rocks, it may be fun to crash on a couch for once."
Yuffie smiled again and unlocked her door.
The two walked in and Axel took a look around. It was a nice place, well decorated with a combination of Japanese style and girly.
"Nice place." He said simply.
"Thanks," Yuffie replied, as she took off her shoes and motion Axel to do the same. "I like it myself. Feels pretty cool to have your own place and decorate it yourself."
Axel nodded as he took off his coat and folded it up. Yuffie was surprised, as she'd never seen him without his coat before, but smiled in spite of herself when she saw him in his black pants and white t-shirt. The sleeves of which were slightly torn. His arms were muscular, but not nearly as bulky as Leon's. Kinda like Riku's arms, only they seemed longer.
Yuffie realized she was staring and turned away with a blush.
"Um, the bathroom's that way if you need it," She said quickly. "And if you get thirsty or something, the kitchen's right past that door."
"Alright, thanks." He replied, as he set his coat on the couch to be his pillow. He was glad he didn't need it as a blanket against the night winds for once.
Yuffie gave him one last look before turning to the staircase. "Okay then, um, I'll just go to bed then. Goodnight Axel."
"Night Yuffie." Axel called back, as he lay down on the couch. "Oh, and Yuffie?" Yuffie had almost made it to the top of the stairs, but turned to face Axel again. "…Thanks."
Yuffie smiled and nodded. "And thank you Axel… for being such a good friend." She continued to her bedroom to get a good night's sleep.
Hope you all enjoyed this. I made that reference to Reno from FF7 because i'd never played the game myself, but have seen pictures of him and heard about him. I've read a few AxelYuffie fics that say Axel is Reno's Nobody, and while I think that's an awsome idea and love the stories, I just can't in all honesty beleive that myself. I mean, didn't they say that everyone in Organization XIII except for Roxas were Ansem's apprentices? And besides, they would have mentioned it if Axel was Reno's Nobody. And the whole name thing doesn't work either. It should be something with the letters A, E, and L. That's what I think anyway.
Once again, no offense to the people who write about Axel as Reno's Nobody! I love the idea, and the stories it appears in, I just don't have it in my story. Only the fact that Axel would remind people of Reno.
Okay, that was long-winded. I hope you enjoyed the story! Please review!