Disclaimer: How many times do I need to say this? D: I don't own.
Warning: swearing as always. mild sexual innuendos.
A huge thank you to Nekotsubasa for being patient with my erratic updates.
Dream 3 – Believe and You Can
It was dark, night time most likely. He couldn't see the sky past the thick canopy of the trees in the forest, but he knew that he had ventured in Neverland for a rather long time and that if he didn't find his way out soon, he'd be lost and stuck in this place full of water and land, water and land, nothing else. Roxas could cut down the trees, but that would take a long time and he'd be weary after, in no condition to fight should an enemy present themselves. Besides, what were the chances of the trees (multiple, mind you) falling on him
"Of all the time, to wish for Axel now," he muttered grumpily, freeing his foot from the thick, long grass. He swore when he almost toppled over a large tree root but caught himself in time. All motion immediately stopped when his sharp ears caught the sound of two voices talking. Moving gradually and cautiously towards the sound, Roxas peered around a wide tree.
"I mustn't harm Peter? Madam, Captain Hook gives his word not to lay a finger… or a hook… on Peter Pan."
The blond looked closer and saw a tall man in a red coat, red hat and whose left hand had been replaced by a hook. He gasped inaudibly and shifted nearer to the scene unfolding in front of him. There was a stout man besides the hooked-man writing on a pad of paper, most likely the man's assistant. And on a stump of a tree was a—what was that? It almost looked like… a fairy? Indeed she was small, decked in a green dress with two wings coming out of her back but… a fairy? Fairies really did exist? Oh wait until he told Demyx. He could hear the squealing already.
His thoughts were interrupted when the tall man grabbed the fairy and deposited her into an unlit lantern.
"Thank you, me dear, you have been most helpful."
The words were out of his mouth – an unconscious reflex? – before he could stop them. "Stop! Let her go!"
The two men jerked at the sound of his voice and as they turned, Roxas flung his two blades at them hard, effectively knocking them out. He rushed towards the lantern and picking it up tenderly with one of his hands, he summoned his two blades under his right arm and started to run. Those two would most definitely wake up soon and when they did, Roxas did not want to be there. He saw a small cave in the side of the mountain and picked up his speed, practically diving in when he heard rustling a few feet away. Glancing down, the blond saw that all his running had jostled the fairy around and she was now in a rather uncomfortable position.
Wincing, he opened the lantern. "Sorry about that."
The small fairy flew out of the lantern as soon as there was space for her to get out. She whizzed around Roxas's head jubilantly and before he could ask her where she lived (if she lived anywhere specific for that matter), he heard his name being called.
"Roxas! Oh Roxas! Roxie darling! Axel's here for you! … Aw come on Roxas! We can't elope if it's just me here! Rooooooxaaaaas!"
The blond had half a mind to leave the cave and cuss out the redhead, but then he realized that he was being scrutinized by a highly amused fairy and he flushed.
"Roxas? Lovely number XIII? My little beam of lovely light? Where are youuuu?"
"Axel, can you shut up?" Face red, Roxas reached out and tugged on Axel's shirt, effectively stopping the taller man in his tracks. He crouched down slightly, peering into the cavern. He raised an eyebrow when he saw the twinkling being flying around his friend's head.
"Well! If it isn't our little Missing Beauty. Whatcha doing in there Rox? If you wanted to play, you could have just told me and we could have found a nice, dark isolated place and," Axel's grin flashed wickedly, "played."
The blond had no idea his face could get redder than it already was but it happened and he felt the heat that accompanied it. "Shut up," he muttered. He stepped out of the cave and brushed off the dirt on the back of his coat, heedless to the way his friend's eyes followed the motion. "I found something."
"Hmm?"
The fairy flew and perched on Roxas's outstretched hand. "Thi- I mean, her." Roxas winced at the small girl's withering glare. "Sorry. Umm, yeah. I kind of rescued her from these… guys. Think we can go find where she lives Ax?"
"Aww," the redhead cooed. "You have no idea what you stir up in me when you act all cute and heroic Roxas. Hey!" The man's eyes lit up as he swung an arm over his friend's shoulders. "Why don't you be my hero hmm Rox?"
The blond ignored his companion's suggestive wink in favour of watching the fairy fly in awe. She flew a couple of feet away from them, returned, flew away, and repeated that for a couple of seconds. "Hey Axel. You think she's trying to get us to follow her?"
Axel pouted at being disregarded by the smaller boy and opted to nuzzle Roxas's shoulder like a dog would when it wanted attention. "I don't know. Why don't you ask her since you're getting along so well?"
"Because she doesn't talk Axel."
"Which makes me undoubtedly better than her right?"
"Axel."
The redhead pouted as he straightened up. "Okay okay, yeesh. Let's follow her then."
And so that was what the pair did. Through thick bushes and under long branches, over high roots and around suspicious-looking plants. They continued this pattern until their feet threatened to wear out on them.
"Roooxas. We've been walking for hours now. I'm tired. I'm bored. Can't we take a rest?"
The blond pursed his lips and shook his head. "I don't know. It's up to her I guess."
"Then ask her!"
Muttering under his breath about lazy, good-for-nothing redheads, Roxas sped up his pace towards the small, flying being in front of them. "Umm, uh, excuse me?" He almost walked right into her if it wasn't for his reflexes that left him on guard with any motion. He looked into her eyes and gulped, unsure of how to treat the situation. "Um, my friend and I, we're getting somewhat tired and our feet are rather sore from walking in this forestry underground. Do you think that we can uh, rest for a moment?"
The fairy kept her eyes on him and a spark of impatience was set off in her eyes. She flew around Roxas and Axel in, what the blond thought, an annoyed fashion.
"She doesn't seem to be happy Rox."
"Shut up Axel," he hissed back, eyes on the girl. After a few more minutes of irritated fluttering, the fairy landed on Roxas's shoulder and gestured to her wings.
Axel leaned forward, looking closely at their guide. "Hm, looks like she … wants us to fly…?"
"Axel, that's ridiculous!"
"You're telling me!" Affronted, the redhead stepped back from his friend. "Jeez, I was just trying to tell you what I thought she was trying to say but fine, you can decide for yourself right?"
Roxas resisted the urge to roll his eyes at him. "I wasn't trying to… imply that I didn't - appreciate your input, I was just saying that we can't fly."
The lithe man stared back, irritation present in his green eyes as well. "And you don't think I already know that."
Roxas struggled with his words, arms out in impatient gestures. "I'm just saying that - fuck Axel, why are you making this so difficult?"
"ME? Please. If anyone's difficult, it's the short blond next to me. Yeah, his name's Roxas, you might know him."
The small fairy gawked at the pair as they started arguing with each other, their voices increasing in volume with each point they made, faces unconsciously getting closer and closer to each other. She tilted her head in thought, weren't they friendly just a few minutes ago? How could they get aggravated with each other so easily? Humans.
"Fuck you Axel! Just because you're supposed to be my superior doesn't mean anything you jackass! You're still stupid!"
"This coming from the blond who got lost in Atlantica because he couldn't listen to a simple word of advice from Demyx of all people? If it wasn't for-"
"SCREW YOU."
Oh yes. She was definitely tired of this.
Her pixie face grew red and she flew right in between the two men to slap them both on the forehead. Satisfied with their reactions (hands to foreheads and astonished expressions looked so silly on humans), she proceeded to fly above their heads and sprinkled some of her dust on them. That would help them in flying. She was certain of it. After all, if that weird-looking dog could fly, why couldn't they? Granted, the whiny duck couldn't do it but… they were humans right? They should be able to do it.
Proud of her work, the pixie flew back and placed her hands on her hips, a delighted smile on her face. That is until -
"It's going to take so long to get this glitter off us."
Roxas, upon seeing the infuriated countenance of their guide, groaned. "Shut up Axel. It's not-"
"Yeah, I know; its pixie dust, not golden glitter. I get it, I get it. I'm sorry for trying to put some humour along with that stick up your ass."
Flustered with his last comment, Roxas stepped back from his friend. "Screw you. Now shut up and fly."
The redhead threw back his head and laughed. The shorter boy sulked at his side, shooting him a deathly glare that clearly displayed his irritation at him. The blond waited for Axel's laughter to subside and when it did, a few minutes later, silence soon enveloped them.
"So uh… how do I do this? Fly, I mean."
Azure eyes blinked in confusion. Roxas hadn't thoroughly thought about that either. "Um, jump up and… just fly…?"
Axel directed his gaze at the slightly younger boy. "Are you serious? Or is this your big idea of a joke? Just jump and fly, pfft. Why don't you show me then, o human master of flying?"
Eyes rolled again in exasperation. "Axel, you're such a pain in the ass."
It was too late to take back those words as the blond immediately realized what he had just said – and what the other's reply could possibly be.
"Only for you, darling; you know I wouldn't even dream of-" Roxas abruptly cut him off, slapping a bare hand over the taller man's mouth. This did not help the situation as Axel proceeded to just lick the offending skin and smirked tauntingly. "Why Roxie, if you wanted to get close to me, to touch me, all you had to do was ask you know. I don't mind quite that much."
Heat traveled across his cheeks as Roxas whirled around towards the pixie now watching them with faint amusement, face as red as a ripe tomato. God, what he wouldn't give to just fly and escape from this embarrassment and rather deserted island. Where were all the other people anyway? Were there any others besides the two men from before – pirates? But before he could contemplate more on his thoughts, his body was swept a floating sensation in his stomach and the air rushing past him.
"Roxas!"
He barely registered his name said in awe. All he could focus on was this lifting feeling, taking him higher and higher. His mind reeling from the sensation, Roxas felt the breeze whip around him. He let out a breathless laugh at his success at flight. Flying in a circle with the fairy, Roxas let out another laugh, thoroughly delighted. It took him several minutes of flying and exploring the island from a bird's point of view to finally realize that something –or rather, someone– was missing from the skies. Speeding down and landing shakily, the blond found his friend sitting on a stump near their original location.
"Axel?"
Green met blue.
"Ah, and here I thought you forgot about poor, little ol' me."
The blond blinked, confused. "Axel? Why don't you fly with us?"
The tall man shrugged, standing up and brushing off the dirt on him. "Probably 'cause I can't fly. But I guess you haven't thought of that part," His face angled upwards, watching the pixie whiz through the skies with a slightly wistful expression. "You were really great up there."
Roxas was stunned to speechlessness. Gone was the quirky redhead he knew so well, only to be replaced by a solemn man whom the blond didn't even knew existed.
"Ax?"
Said man proceeded to ignore his questioning tone and continued to ramble on. "So I kind of figured that we've scouted this place pretty thoroughly and I kind of want to lie in bed for a bit so I'm gonna go ahead and find the RTC location alright?"
"And what about me?"
Green eyes caught sight of the furrowed eyebrows of the shorter blond and Axel's expression softened. "I thought you might want some more time flying. You enjoyed it didn't you?"
"I'd enjoy it more if you were with me."
The words were out of his mouth before Roxas could stop them. He bit his lower lip as his statement registered in his mind. Looking down at his shoes embarrassedly, Roxas linked his hands behind his back and waited for an answer.
No witty reply came. Anxiety clogged up his throat and clamped down on his tongue. The blond rocked back and forth on his feet.
"Seriously?"
Roxas nodded, suddenly timid at laying himself out in front of his friend. "Yeah," his voice small, "I- join us Axel. It'll be more fun."
A big sigh was heard and Roxas lifted his head to gaze at his friend's handsome face. Axel's eyes were furrowed minutely and his lower lip was being chewed on thoughtfully. "I don't know Rox. I don't think I can fly like you."
"You can!" Before he could help it, the blond's lower lip jutted out in a small pout. "All you need to do is believe in yourself. It's not that hard. C'mon Ax," he pleaded after seeing his friend mulling over the idea.
Another sigh was released from the lithe redhead but this time accompanied by a slight curvature to his lips. Axel slowly shook his head, "Sometimes, you are unbelievable Rox."
"But that's the thing! Every now and then, you just have to believe in things that don't seem quite possible. And then when things do work out right, it feels like magic."
The taller man bit his lip and peered into his friend's blue, cajoling eyes. Bad idea. Axel found himself gradually submitting to the blond's request, unable to keep his green eyes off of him. Soon enough, his trademark grin made its way on his face. "Well if you say so Roxie. But don't act as if this isn't just a clever ploy to get me to join you in the skies and keep me all to yourself."
Roxas, as flushed as he was, couldn't help the pleased smile that appeared and he tugged on his friend's hand excitedly. "Whatever makes you happy Axel.
And that's that. Constructive criticism would be highly appreciated and I'll try, try, and try to update more routinely. Key word: try.
As always, read and review (: