Axel hissed annoyed…. Saix was really starting to get under his skin!
His eyes constantly in Axels back, his comments which were few and far in between, but when he did say something, he was only mocking Axel, Roxas and Xion. And of course… he kept dropping hints, about Xion.
Axel cursed himself, Saix knew him to well, knew that Axel couldn't help himself but follow up on all of these hints.
And now as he snook into Vexens old lab, left after his own had been burned into ash… The information Axel needed was just laid out there for him to find.
The reason being very obvious… Saix wanted him to follow these tracks, Saix wanted him to find this.
At that moment Axel just wanted to turn around and walk away without looking, just to spite Saix and his stupid face!
What was his deal anyway?! How was it any of Saix's business how Axel spend his precious spare time?! What-ever little he had.
It wasn't any of his business! End of story!
Axel groaned… Cursing Saix abilities to create these sort of scenarios, where he could set up people like pieces on a checkers board and have them play the game exactly the way he wanted to.
Axel really didn't really appreciate having been demoted to a pawn, then he touched the folder with all the research… Dammit, he didn't even have a choice.
Just like Saix to set up a situation like this and by that Axel bit together as he picked up the folder and opened it up, flipping through the pages.
His eyes widened…. Replica? Like the one Vexen had made in Rikus likeness, except this one… It wasn't created to replicate any specific person, it was created to replicate… Roxas's powers.
Xion… She… She was Roxas's spare in case Roxas couldn't do his job, for what-ever reason.
She wasn't just replicating his powers though… She was stealing them. Without even knowing it.
Axel looked up, then he thought back… Xion, when they had first met. She was more of a blank slate than even Roxas.
Then slowly… She had absorbed the things around her, and developed a personality. Absorbed Roxa's abilities and…. Axel glanced up, most likely anything around her. The two of them, spend quite a lot of time together after all…
Desperately did Axel keep flipping through the pages, yet the more he saw… the more hopeless he felt.
Xion….. She was taking everything Roxas was, withot even meaning to. If this kept up, Roxas would… He would not be able to survive.
But if the process was reversed, Xion would be the one to disappear.
And neither of them had any clue about this!
What was Axel supposed to do with this?! Tell them?! Oh yeah, great conversation!
Hey Roxas, just wanted to let you know. You and Xion can't actually exsist alongside each other for much longer, one of you will have to go! For-ever.
Axel hissed as he slammed the folder together, wishing he had never let Saix's lure him into this trap! This knowledge… It was horrible! And that was what Saix had counted on.
That son of a bitch! And Axel thrust away the folder! NO! Saix would not have it his way! Not this time.
That bastard always thought he could get what-ever he wanted! What-ever he pointed at, Axel would deliver. Well not this time. Buzz off!
How… How was it possible! Saix did not understand it!
Axel knew the truth now, Saix had made sure that Axel knew the truth! And yet, the stubborn red head just kept going on with the same thing!
Kept meeting those two, kept eating the ice-cream and the longer it went on, the more rebellious Axel was becoming.
Telling Saix off, questioning his own orders… It would only be a matter of time before Axel would outright disobey his orders.
And for what? A mindless nobody and a puppet?! If you betrayed the order you would die, plain and simple. Axel though, didn't look like he cared as his insubordination grew.
Every attempt Saix made to make him see reason only seemed to create a deeper wedge between them.
How could he be such an idiot! Then again, Axel had always been an idiot! Even when he had been Lea, he had been a hot head who would act without thinking.
Hadn't he learned anything at all?! Well, it didn't seem like it.
Did you forget? Who your real friends are? Did you forget, why we are here?
Saix only needed to take a glance at the red head, laughing as if nothing was wrong while chatting with the puppet and Saix hissed. If they were not in this together, then what the hell was the purpose of any of this?! LEA!
Fine then, Axel, Let's play your little game! You of all people should know that people who plays with fire gets burned.
Axel didn't even have to look to feel the burning look of Saix… It happened, all the time now. What the heck was his problem?!
"Have I done something wrong?" Xion asked. "Saix seems mad."
"Saix is just an idiot." Axel stated. "And no, you didn't do anything wrong!"
Xion bit her lip.
"I wont let him lay a hand on you." Axel stated. "Xion, if he comes after you. Come to me, please!" he asked. "Don't even wait, don't ask if it'll be a bother it wont be! He will not hurt you, I wont let him!"
Xion looked at Axel, with such innocent and such vulnerable eyes. "Are… Are you sure?" she asked. "I don't want you to get into trouble all because of me."
"I don't care about that." Axel informed placing his hands on Xions shoulders. "You… You are not just my friend. You're my best friend." he said. "You and Roxas. Please remember that."
And Xion smiled as a single tear rolled down her face. "Axel." she breathed. "Thank you!" and she embraced him tightly making Axel stiffen.
Then though, he relaxed and he padded her shoulder. "No worries." he said. "I wont let my friends face stuff like this alone." Though even as he spoke the words, he had to fight not to bite his own tounge…. If Xion lived, Roxas would vanish… How could he possible choice, it was not fair! Not fair at all!
"Don't blame me." Saix spoke in a cold voice. "I didn't create this situation, I merely informed you of the truth." he stated.
Axel had to hold back not to hurl flames at the bllue haired man standing in front of him, looking completely untouched by the situation.
"Isn't that what friends do?" Saix asked. "Tell the truth?"
"You've been a HORRIBLE friend!" Axel huffed. "In fact, you've hardly acted like a friend at all!"
Saix merely looked at him. "Why?" he asked. "I only offered you the truth."
"If you can't figure that out yourself, what is the use in me telling you?" Axel asked. "What is so hard to understand about this?!" he asked. "Just leave Roxas and Xion alone!"
Saixs eyes on Leas face though remained cold and emotioneless. "Why?" he asked. "Why do you care so much for them? Neither is real. You met Roxas's original self, Sora. That is who he is supposed to be. Xion is just a puppet. What-ever you think you have with them, it is merely an illusion. Not real… not real at all."
Axel hissed as he squinted his isa. "Isa." he spoke using Saix's old name. "Just… Don't talk to me. I don't want to talk to you anymore. You are being a pain."
Saix's only frowned slightly making a crease appear between his brow.
"You know what's funny?" Axel asked. "you calling Xion a puppet, if anyone is acting like a puppet right now. It's you." he stated. "Just… Stay away from us." he asked as he turned around. "We don't need your meddling." he mumbled as he walked away, and disapeared down the hallway.
Leaving Isa in his quarters… Looking after Axel with his dangerous looking glowing yellow eyes.