Roxas

I do not own Kingdom Hearts. It is the property of Square Enix and the Walt Disney Studios. This is a creative work that I do not profit off of in any way.

Hello, my dearest readers. Please enjoy this vignette, devoted to our very own Roxas!

Roxas. Now there was a long story if ever there was one. And really, the story of Roxas was as much the story of Axel.

First and foremost, Roxas was his best friend. Some might think it was weird that he was best friends with a clueless teenager who had been an amnesiac zombie for about the first week of his life. And was still largely clueless, though not very zombie-like. But Axel didn't really care what anybody else thought. Roxas was his best friend and that was that.

It hadn't always been easy. Roxas did not like not knowing things. Or more specifically, he didn't like things being kept from him. It was one thing to not know how electric trams worked or why the sun set red (both of which Axel had been able to explain, and turned out Roxas didn't particularly care). It was another not to have any memories of your human life or to not know why everyone was so invested in your ability to wield a Keyblade. And when it came to keeping secrets in regards to your best friend's health, and by extent, whether they'd even be able to exist…things got icky. Due in no small part to Axel's own secret-keeping, Roxas had been forced to return to Sora.

But that was the past. Now, Axel was going to do good by Roxas. Help the kid get the life he had always dreamed of. And part of that life was having regular contact with Sora.

To be more specific, Sora and Kairi and Naminé had come for a visit and Xion was in the process of being "kidnapped" since Kairi had realized that Xion had never had her nails done.

"Girls' day out!" Kairi insisted, grabbing Xion's arm. "Come on, Xion! It's gonna be so much fun!"

"But why can't Roxas come with us?"

"Because it's a day for sisters! " Naminé said, grabbing Xion's other arm. "And you're my little sister too, because Kairi's the big sister and she says so!"

"But why does Sora get to come with us?"

"Because I'm the big sister and I say so," Kairi said. "Because we need someone big and strong and handsome to carry our bags, and Sora would get lost otherwise!"

"Would not!" Sora protested. "Hey…is that a new stop sign?"

Roxas gave a bark of laughter as they watched Kairi and Naminé tug Xion along. As Xion waved sheepishly good-bye, Sora shrugged and followed them, holding Kairi's other hand.

"So, looks like it's just us today, Roxas," Axel said. "Just like the old days, eh?"

"Yep," Roxas said. "I can't even remember the last time it was just the two of us."

Funny thing was, this was the first time it had just been the two of them In a while, at least the last couple of months. They were usually training. And when they weren't training, they were working. The days off they had were usually spent between the three of them.

"So…now what?"

"I was hoping you'd have something in mind," Roxas said. "But while you think of it, how 'bout ice cream?"

Ah, some things never changed.

xxxx

"So you've had a few…jobs," Roxas said. "For Aqua and Terra right?"

Axel nodded. They weren't that different from "missions," in a technical sense, but Roxas and Xion both preferred thinking of them as "jobs." It was a way to distance themselves from the Organization. Terra for his part was happy to oblige.

"I've been here and there," Axel said. "Some of the old worlds we used to look at, some new ones."

"Right," Roxas said. "And you're learning to use your Keyblade more?"

"It's still gonna take me a while to get the hang of it, Mister Dual-wielder."

"Yeah, yeah—"

"Roxas!"

Axel and Roxas turned. A heavy-set man with thick brown hair was jogging towards them.

"Mister Yanushi," Roxas said politely. "Is everything alright?"

"Better than alright! Things are grand! My boy, the gardens have never looked better," Yanushi said as he shook Roxas's hand. "I'm not sure what you've done, but it's as if they're growing by magic!"

"Er," Axel said. "Mind filling me in?"

"Why, you must be Axel!" Yanushi said, grabbing Axel's hand, wringing it. "You're his guardian yes? Your boy helped my crew clean out three vacant lots back at the beginning of the growing season. After that, he set up the soil and fertilizer and helped plant the vegetables for the community gardens! He waters the plants every two days, and they've been sprouting up like nothing I've ever seen. He's done a tremendous job. You should be proud."

Roxas's ears turned red and stammered a thank you and Yanushi walked off chortling. Well…that was weird. Axel wasn't surprised that Roxas was doing odd jobs around town, but still, to make a scene like that, it must be pretty impressive.

They had walked a few blocks more when a young woman came running up to them, a wide smile spreading across her face.

"There you are, Roxas!"

"Oh, hi Jessie," Roxas said, his face reddening even further. "How are things as the shop?"

"Wonderful since you helped with the inventory!"

"Inventory?" Axel asked. "Beg pardon?"

"Oh, right—say, you're Roxas's big brother right?"

"Something like that," Axel said. "Kind of a long story."

"Whatever, point is, Roxas saved my neck. That jerk Seifer knocked his stupid Grandstander ball into our accessory shop and everything spilled everywhere—pendants, bangles, bracelets, earrings, you name it."

"And what did Roxas do?"

"Punched Seifer in the nose, and then he and his friends helped me set everything back up. It would have taken me hours to do it by myself. I really owe you one, Roxas."

"It was the right thing to do," Roxas said. "Nobody should be owed for doing the right thing."

"Whatever you say, Mister Do-Right," Jessie said, ruffling Roxas's hair. Hey! Only Axel got to do that! And Roxas was blushing as red as a fire truck. "See ya around!"

They were rounding the corner to the ice cream shop when they were stopped again, this time by Scrooge McDuck. A resident of Disney Castle who owned businesses in Radiant Garden and Twilight Town. Axel wasn't sure how that was allowed, but he wasn't the one who enforced World Order.

"Hello there, me laddies!" McDuck said. He waddled over to them and pounded the ground with his cane. "Roxas, good on ya, m'boy!"

"Er…" Roxas said. "You're welcome, Mister McDuck."

"Roxas help you out with something?" Axel asked. "I've been out of the loop."

"Oh yes, he helped set up posters for me bistro!" McDuck said. "And I'm not sure what he did, but business is booming like it never has before."

"I'm sure Little Chef deserves most of the credit," Roxas said modestly. "Really, Mister McDuck, it was nothing."

"It was much more than that, boy-o," McDuck said. "Don't ya dare sell yourself short. On anything, ya hear? Why this reminds me of the time me own nephew Donald got himself into quite a sticky situation…"

Oh man, duck tales…this would go on for a while. Axel nodded to Roxas as Scrooge went on about some long ago adventure and walked up to the ice cream parlor. The smiling old grandma who owned the ice cream shop smiled at him. Roxas and Xion called her 'Granny.' That wasn't her name, but she had never minded. Which was good, because Axel wasn't sure he could remember her real name.

"Here you are Axel, your favorite, sea-salt ice cream," Granny said. "No Xion today?"

"She got kidnapped by her…sisters to get her nails done," Axel said. "Just me and Roxas today."

"Oh," Granny said. "Roxas is such a nice boy. You've done really well by him, Axel."

Axel paused and glanced back at Roxas. He was the boy who had defied the Organization and fought in the Keyblade War, saving countless worlds. He was the boy who helped build a community garden and didn't take credit for it, the boy who helped clean a mess he hadn't made, and tried to downplay his contributions when he didn't think he deserved the credit. And the boy who listens to Scrooge McDuck's old, boring stories.

Axel felt a strange feeling in his chest. It wasn't quite joy. And it wasn't contentment either. Could it be pride? He liked the idea of that.

What can I say? I'm a sucker for where Roxas is beloved by the people of Twilight Town.

Thank you for reading my dear, dear readers. Leave a comment if you're so inclined! I appreciate each and every one of you!