Roxas' POV

The rain was heavy and cold. I was completely soaked. I could feel my leather jacket sticking to me as I turned around.

What am I doing?

I trailed my lips with my gloved hand.

Axel...

The taste of his lips still lingered on my own. I blinked, remembering Axel's explanation of a kiss.

When you find someone who you are able to be vulnerable with and completely yourself with, you may feel… close to them. And when you're close like that, you'll want to show them you care about them. Caring for a person can look many different ways, but… one common way you show it is… well, by kissing.

This whole time, he...

I frowned, feeling my eyebrows furrow. How didn't I see it?

I pulled my hood up, though it didn't do much good as I was pretty much drenched already. I began to run back as quickly as my legs could muster, and did not stop until I was back in the building. I removed my hood, and headed straight to my room to change out of my wet clothes. I changed into a checkered hoodie, jeans, and sneakers as quickly as I could, then made my way to Axel's room. I knocked, but got no answer. I tried again. Nothing.

"Axel?" I called out, turning the knob and stepping inside slowly as the door opened. Axel was fast asleep on top of his covers, dressed in a grey long sleeved shirt, black sweatpants, and barefoot. I sat on the edge of his bed, gazing at him as I spoke.

"Axel... I know I don't deserve your forgiveness... not even a little bit... but I need you to know how sorry I am... "

I blinked back tears. My hands shook in my lap as I lowered my head in shame.

"I was so cold to you... how could I turn away from you like that after you... kissed me..."

I bit my lip, letting a few hot tears roll down my cheeks and off my chin.

"I may want to leave more than anything but... having you by my side is more important. Soo... I'll just stay until you change your mind. I don't care how long it takes..."

I wiped some tears away, and sniffled, looking over at Axel. He was sitting up now, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Roxas... did I hear you correctly? Or was I dreaming?"

"Well, that depends - what did you hear?" I scratched the back of my head.

"That you're sorry... that you were cold to turn away from me... and that you want me by your side when you leave this place."

"You heard me right."

The red head smiled at me.

"Soo... does your smile mean you forgive me?"

"Well, that depends... my forgiveness doesn't come cheap."

"If I gotta buy you sea salt ice cream 'till the end of summer, I'll do it."

Axel laughed, shoving my shoulder gently.

"I was joking, you know! Don't take everything I say so serious."

I could feel myself blushing as heat radiated in my face.

"Course I forgive you..." He said, scooting closer to me, and pulling me into a hug. He felt warm and his strong arms around me held me tightly, but not in a way that hurt me.

"I thought I may never see you again, you know..." His voice was soft, but I heard every word.

"For a second... I thought I so too. But I knew, I had to come back..."

"I'm glad you did. Seriously don't know what I'd do without you."

As he continued to embrace me, my hands massaged Axel's back while his ran through my hair.

"Axel?"

"Hm?"

"How come you never... told me?"

"Told you what?"

He pulled away from me, staring at me as he processed my question. I leaned a bit closer, gazing into his emerald orbs.

"About... this..."

I leaned in, pressing my lips to his and closing my eyes. Axel responded quickly, wrapping his arms around my neck, pulling me closer into his arms. I moved my hands from his shoulders to his hair, beginning to stroke the spiky red strands gently between my fingers. Axel pulled away, and the two of us stared at each other, breathing a bit harder than before.

"Roxas... that was..." Axel seemed at a loss for words. I grinned.

"Better than sea salt ice cream."

I finished his statement for him. He didn't seem to disagree as he smiled from ear to ear, his cheeks just as red as his hair.

"How come you never told me before?" I asked again.

"I... I guess I didn't know how to." He answered, grabbing my hands and intertwining our fingers.

"I'm sorry you felt that way."

Axel shook his head.

"I'm not... as long as the truth comes out somehow, that's all that matters." He yawned toward the end of his sentence.

"Sleepy?"

He looked over at his clock. "Well, it is 4 in the morning. Some of us sleep during this time."

I chuckled. "Sorry I woke you."

His eyes softened as he gazed at me.

"Don't be sorry. You're the best thing I could ever wake up to. Even if it is the middle of the night."

Axel said with a wink. I could feel the burning emitting and traveling up from my neck to my cheeks as my pale skin turned scarlet. I placed a hand on my chest, feeling a drumming against my palm.

"What is that?" I said out loud, not meaning to. The red head raised an intrigued brow.

"What is what?"

"This..." I took one of his hands and placed it on my chest. Axel smiled.

"That is a heartbeat, my dear Roxas..."

My eyes widened. "Soo, you mean to tell me that... we, nobodies, have... hearts?"

"Life is full of surprises."

"Hold on - Axel, you knew... this whole time? How could you not tell me?"

He shrugged. "I guess I wanted you to figure it out for yourself. And well... the only reason I found out I even had one is... well, because of you."

"Really?"

He nodded, cupping my face. "I'll have you know... you have quite the effect on me."

I leaned in to capture his lips in a kiss once more. Axel kissed back, and I inhaled the smell of his after shave, clean and refreshing, as he pressed into me with his toned, slender body. The two of stayed like that, kissing and wrapped in each other's embrace for what seemed like only seconds. But as we pulled apart, and looked at the clock, we realized it had been almost a half hour.

"5 in the morning... we should try to get a little sleep." Axel suggested. I nodded.

He hugged me one more time. "I'll see you in the morning."

"What if I wanted to stay here?"

He raised a curious eyebrow.

"What are you talking about, Roxas?"

"I wanna sleep next to you..." I scratched the back of my head nervously.

"Trying to put the moves on me, I see." His tone was playful. I punched his arm lightly, laughing.

"Axel... in all seriousness, I just don't wanna leave your side right now."

He smiled warmly at me.

"Truthfully, neither do I. So... I guess can't really argue with you."

I got up so I could sit on the opposite side of the bed next to him. Axel laid down, and so did I, his arms cradling me while the sound of rain filled the empty room aside from our breathing.

"Goodnight, Roxas." He murmured softly.

"Night, Axel." I yawned, closing my eyes and letting sleep run its course.

In the morning, my eyes fluttered open, as sunshine from the window entered the room. I looked over at Axel, who was sleeping peacefully beside me, with his arm still around me. I smiled, sitting up and scooting myself to the side of the bed. As I did this, I soon felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist.

"Leaving me already?"

I chuckled both at Axel's words as well as how sleepy he sounded.

I turned slightly to meet his gaze.

"Not forever. But I do have a mission today."

Axel pouted. "Do you really have to go?"

I nodded. "I do."

Axel smiled. "Alright. But just one more kiss."

I laughed before pulling him in to close the gap between us one last time.