Axel lay in bed the next night listening to the rain drumming on his window. He looked out the window, only to see a huge flash of lightning. He lay still for a moment before the thunder hit the castle. Axel thought of Roxas, as he had been doing for hours now and worried how well he was going to deal with the thunder. The longer he thought about it, the more worried Axel became. The storm was growing worse outside, the wind howling and the thunder crashing. Axel finally decided that he couldn't hold off any longer- he had to go see Roxas. He portaled to the front of Roxas' door and stood before it for a moment before knocking. When no noise came from within the room he became increasingly worried and opened the door to the room. At first he saw no one. A bed, a table, and a door leading to the bathroom. Then he noticed the lump under the covers at the foot of the bed. It was shaking. He quickly walked over to the bed and sat down on it's edge. The lump didn't appear to take notice. Axel gently placed a hand on the shivering lump and ran his hand in soothing circles over what was to be assumed was Roxas' back. Roxas finally responded to Axel and stuck his head out from the covers, looking at the ground. All Axel could see was the back of Roxas' head, but he could feel the misery radiating off the boy.
"Roxas…?" Axel asked tentatively. Roxas sniffled and moved a little closer to Axel as the thunder boomed.
"Roxas?" Axel asked again. He reached for the boys face and gently turned it up to him. What he saw saddened him. There were lines of tears running down Roxas' perfect face. Axel caught a teardrop on his thumb and wiped it away. "Roxas look at me." Roxas' eyes turned from the floor to Axel's face. "You are more than just a body, Roxas, you're my best friend, and so much more, and I'm sorry, so sorry for treating you so badly." It was Axel's turn to look away. "Will you forgive me?" Roxas reached out to touch Axel's cheek and nodded slowly. Yes, Axel was forgiven.
Axel leaned in towards Roxas' face and gently kissed him. He then moved to Roxas' cheeks and licked the trails of tears leading up to his eyes, before kissing each eye. Roxas snuggled into Axel before the thunder sounded again, Which made Roxas close his eyes and move into Axel more. Axel then reached under Roxas and scooped him into his arms. Axel portaled down to his floor, floor eight, and carried him into his room to his bed where he laid Roxas. He then proceeded to climb into bed next to Roxas and cuddle with him. As Roxas fell asleep in Axel's embrace Roxas heard whispered in his ear.
"I will always protect you."