Axel's POV
"Axel, do you remember anything before the Organization?"
I took a bite of my ice cream. "I do... but nothing worth going into."
"What do you mean?" Roxas turned to me as he licked his own sea salt popsicle.
"I mean, what I do remember, it's done me no good. So I don't really think about it too much."
"I see. I wish I could remember some things about my own past."
"You say that, but you don't realize just how quickly things can change over time."
"Did you lose somebody, Axel?"
I froze, meeting his curious gaze.
"That obvious, huh?" I said, scratching the back of my head.
"Nah - I just know you." Roxas smiled at me. I couldn't help but return it.
"Let's just say I had a friend, like you, who I spent a lot of my free time with. I thought we would be friends forever. But I soon realized the harsh reality that... nothing lasts forever."
I couldn't help but think of Isa. I refused to call him Saix, because Saix wasn't the best friend I grew to know and cherish in my teen days.
"Axel - I know you probably don't wanna go into what happened. But... I want you to know that I'll always be your friend."
He placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled happily with a full tooth grin on his face. I grinned, and couldn't help but notice the warmth of his skin radiating on my shoulder.
"Don't take this the wrong way, Roxas... but, don't go making promises you can't keep."
Roxas frowned, and seemed to be deep in thought for a moment. But his hand remained resting on my left shoulder. He turned back to me, smiling again like nothing had happened to take it away just a moment ago.
"I would never. I take promises very seriously."
"Oh yeah?" I raised an eyebrow at him. I was truly intrigued.
"I sure do."
"Soo, how do these promises work?" I asked. Roxas moved his hand from me, and held it out, extending his pinky finger. I stared at his hand curiously.
"Put your pinky out too. And then we link them."
I did as I was told, and Roxas smiled as our pinky fingers hugged each other.
"Roxas and Axel. Friends forever."
I felt that heavy pounding in my chest again as our skin touched through our leather gloves. Roxas turned back to gaze at the sunset, and I thought for a moment before saying,
"Roxas... I know you don't remember anything before the Organization. But, I hope you'll remember these days fondly."
"Of course I will. How could I not? You're pretty unforgettable."
"Unforgettable, huh?" I said softly.
I felt my body become hot.. and the pounding in my chest continued as words of the past played in my head.
I want everybody I meet to remember me. Inside people's memories, I can live forever.
It was the first time in a while I had fondly remembered a memory, before the Organization, that is. Even if it was just a younger me telling the world that I didn't want to be forgotten.
"Axel - when are you gonna go see about that prize?"
"I figured I'll go see about it tomorrow."
"Can I come too?"
"Of course. Whatever it is, I'll split it with you, 50/50."
"Really?"
I nodded. "Course. That's what friends do."
Roxas smiled. "Then I'll buy the ice cream tomorrow."
"Oh yeah?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Unless your prize is a years' supply of sea salt ice cream. Then you won't be needing it."
"Says you. In my book, you can never have enough ice cream."
"Axel! Are you addicted to sea salt ice cream?"
"You haven't figured this out by now? Why do you think I introduced it to you?"
"Oh yeah... the icing on the cake." Roxas murmured with a light hearted chuckle.
"That's right. And don't you forget it."
"Don't worry. I've got it... memorized." The blond put his pointer finger to his temple, and raised an eyebrow at me. I couldn't help but giggle.
"What? Come on, it's not that funny!"
I finally lifted my head up from my fit of laughter, smiling from ear to ear.
"It was cute, Roxas, really. An honest effort. But leave the one liners to me."
Roxas pouted. I placed my hand on his shoulder, gripping it softly.
"Don't worry. We'll work on it."
Roxas began to laugh, eyes gazing into mine. "Axel - you're something else, you know that?"
I smirked. "Don't I know it?"
As Roxas looked away, smiling, I stared him, thinking to myself.
You sure are something else, too, Roxas...