Chapter Eight:

An Unnatural Warmth

She still couldn't see. Raxet struggled to keep her breathing even, wishing she could just slip away or step back this side of unconsciousness. Hovering here between the two was uncomfortable.

"Axel!"

"Demyx…finish writing that song?"

"Y-yeah, actually. Just did….er…." There was a light twang as Demyx set his sitar down, and she heard him clumsily scramble to his feet. "Wh…what happened?"

"Don't ask. Do me a favor, though? Go tell Xemnas she's back?"

"He'll kill me if I tell him she's—"

"Then don't. Get out of here, man. I'm takin' her up to her room." There was the brief feeling of disorientation—Axel had opened another darkness door. A moment later, she slipped a little as he attempted to hold her with one arm and throw back the comforter on her bed. The pillows were a welcome softness. She sank into them willingly, her breath leaving her with an involuntary sigh.

Axel sighed as well.

"Stupid whore," She almost couldn't hear him. His voice was so low. "Stupid, selfish, prideful, pigheaded whore." She could feel her temper rising, and she wished she had the strength to raise her hand. After spending an hour pounding Axel into the sands of Agrabah, she wanted nothing more than to slap him something silly.

There was a scraping. What was he doing? She felt the bed shift. Oh. He must have dragged up a chair, and was leaning on the bed. He wasn't going to leave? He'd delivered her safely home—damn him for doing something so chivalrous, she'd have to consider thanking him—he could go crash in his own place now. In fact, she wished he would.

"You little idiot." He seemed to be…no he wasn't. He wasn't enjoying himself. Why was he scolding her? He didn't seem to think she could hear, but he was talking to her as if he actually cared. And then she felt something. Something frightening, something foreign. A warmth against the skin of her cheek, and a dampness.

Had he just kissed her? And…were those tears?

"Axel!" Another voice. Damn. She didn't want to hear from him right now.

"Shut up, Xemnas," Axel muttered. "Keep your voice down, at least."

"How dare you—you sneak off to God-knows-where and then come back with her like this? You bastard—you know how valuable she is to us."

"Your little plan. I know."

"Shut up and get the hell out of here." Xemnas hissed. "And don't go near her again. Or I'll turn you into a Dusk."

Axel was quiet for a moment. Raxet pried an eyelid open painfully. Agony such as she had never seen was scrawled across the handsome visage, and there were indeed tears leaking out from his emerald eyes.

"Xemnas?" she closed her eyes again. It took so much effort to talk, she was afraid she felt herself slipping away again.

"Raxet!" She felt him grasp at her hand. "Don't talk, darling. Don't waste your strength. Axel! I thought I told you to leave?"

"No…" She whispered, only staging pain and weakness. "No, no…no…."

"No? No what?" Xemnas leaned in, struggling to hear. Axel turned away, scooting back from the bed.

She opened her eyes again, allowing the crystalline orbs to meet his. "You leave, Xemnas." Her voice was quiet, but cold. It was steady, though it was weak, and anger italicized every syllable. "If you don't…." She sucked in air, her chest rising and falling with the painful action, "If you don't get out of my room, I'll freeze your balls off. I don't care if it takes the last of my energy—I'll do it and don't you think I won't." She pulled her hands out of his, putting them against his shoulders and pushing weakly, trying to get him and his horrid breath away from her.

"You heard the lady, Xemnas." Axel told their boss quietly. "You should probably leave, too." Raxet missed the look that passed between them; she had fallen back, closing her eyes again. She heard the darkness open, heard Xemnas's loud clicking step as he left and closed it behind him.

"Axel?" She whispered.

"I know. I'm leaving. I want to keep my balls."

"Don't…" She whispered, reaching out to clutch at his hand. She felt the heat from his skin course all the way up to her elbow. It was such a sensation as to be uncomfortable, but it was also soothing. She wished she had the strength to open her eyes again. She could only imagine the look on the bastard's face.

He stood there for a minute, allowing her to clutch at his hand. After a while, he moved to sit back down, grasping her hand as well.

"Go to sleep, Raz." He told her. "You're delirious."

"Am not. Asshole." But the word sleep had set something off in her brain. Darkness, cool and comforting, settled over her consciousness.