Thank you RaiMarshel and Bittersweeties for your very kind reviews. I appreciate them greatly.
"I'm not going anywhere am I?" She quirked an eyebrow already knowing the answer. Axel smirked, pulling her toward the bed.
"No, I think not." And with a final tug she sat on the bed. Sighing regretfully, she combed her hair with her fingers. Axel pushed himself up, and crinkled his brow. "Why did you pass out?"
"I don't know." She murmured. "My heart started spazzing out. I wasn't sure if I was going to die." Her eyes traveled sideways to look at his.
"I was scared that you wouldn't live, well I would have been scared... if I had a heart." Axel chided, a sudden resentment surfacing in his tone, propping himself up on an elbow.
Her eyes widened slightly. "How can you not have a heart?" Her voice quivered. Axel blinked. "Is that what you meant earlier when I heard you and that other girl called me a human?" Her heart throbbed painfully, and her palms clammy.
Axel's eyes tightened and he sat silent for a moment. "Yes, for the most part. I'm not human. Actually anyone you meet here isn't human. We're nobodies." He speculatively watched the woman, seeing if her reaction would be interesting.
She hesitantly opened her mouth, "Nobodies?" Axel smugly watched her reaction.
"Yeah, nobodies. Those without hearts. We're what's left after a body loses its heart; the shell. Because we lack hearts we also cannot feel emotions." He smirked, watching the woman's expression grow distant. "What is it like having a heart?" His smirk faded into a genuine look of curiosity.
She exhaled, looking thoughtful for a moment, "I just... How can you look so human if you don't have a heart?" She looked perplexed. Axel shrugged.
"Answer my question first, then I'll answer yours." He replied levelly. The woman bit her lip, her brows furrowing. "What's it like having a heart?" He reiterated.
The woman paused, closing her eyes. "I don't know. I've never really thought about it. Being as I am, it's just always been something there so I don't think about it." She shrugged, braiding her hair down her shoulder.
"It's terrible." Axel mumbled, looking at the floor. "Not knowing if my existence is meant to be. It's a cruel joke. Everyday is hell, not being able to feel. Why do I bother living?" He queried spitefully. The woman's eyes softened, she refrained from the urge to hold the man before her, a practice she had grown accustomed to during her work.
"Why do you bother living?" She spoke softly. Axel looked up into her deep gaze, puzzled. "If it's so unbearable, why do you continue, unless you're afraid of what would happen to you after this life." She couldn't help but feel sorry for this person, who wasn't human.
"What would you do if you were a nobody?" Axel retorted.
The woman sighed ruefully, "I'm not sure. I've never considered it, and to give a proper answer I would have to think about it."
Axel exhaled. "If you could choose between being able to feel, and not feel what would you choose?" The woman's eyes twinkled.
"I would want to feel. If I didn't, then I wouldn't care about anything, and then I think I would just waste away." She shivered her eyes drifting downward. Looking up at Axel she gazed intently into his eyes.
Axel stared back, confused and amused. "So, you don't feel emotions." It was not a question so much as a reaffirmation. Axel nodded. Her eyes tightened, and a fleeting expression of sorrow passed through her eyes.
"Then why do you act like you do?" She turned to face him completely, sitting cross-legged. Axel scratched the back of his head.
"I don't know, I guess we do it to try to be as human as possible. It's not from a lack of wanting." He murmured. Her eyes crinkled in confusion.
"Wanting is an emotion." She stated. Axel looked taken aback. "Why would you even bother to want to feel if you can't feel? It's not possible. If you cannot feel you cannot care. If you cannot care why even bother. Your statement is a total contradiction to what you said earlier." She breathed with a perplexed expression. Axel gaped.
"So are you telling me I can feel?" He replied cynically.
"Well, if you can want, then yes. That is exactly what I'm saying." She leaned forward with a smug grin. He narrowed his eyes.
"You think you're smart don't you."
"Oh, I know I am."
Axel opened his mouth to reply only to be cut short as a rap at the door stole both of their attentions.
"Hey Axel, you in here?" A young male voice said on the other side of the door. Axel jumped up in alarm his head swinging to the door and then to the woman. Grabbing the covers he pushed her down and threw the covers over her. An indignant scream escaped her before she was silenced.
"Be quiet!" He demanded harshly. She complied by not struggling. The door opened and a boy in his teens entered. He had dirty blonde hair, wearing similar attire as Axel and the woman.
"Did I hear voices?" The boy looked about the room. Axel laughed sitting on the bed.
"No Roxas. You're just imagining things. So, what brings you to my abode?" He smirked leaning against the woman's concealed body. She went rigid.
"Not much, just seeing if you heard about the mission." He shrugged scratching the back of his head. Axel nodded his head. "Okay, if the Superior finds out that you're just sitting here he'll probably put you on kitchen duty again for a month. He hates it when you disregard his orders."
Axel chuckled, "That's okay. I guess you've gotta get back to your search then." Axel stood up, ushering Roxas out his door. Before Roxas could get a word in, Axel had shut his door and locked it. The woman sat up, pulling the blanket off her head.
Axel, with his back to the door, closed his eyes and sighed. The woman observed him with interest. "Panicked there for a second?" She smirked. Axel opened his eyes to narrow slits.
"You wish." He replied smartly.
A beautiful smile appeared on her face. "I do." Axel breathed out, gazing at her.
"Why would Vexen want to do experiments on you?" He asked with a pained expression. The woman shrugged, acting indifferent, but keeping an observant eye on this "emotionless" being. Her stomach growled, and color came to her cheeks as she looked down at her lap.
"Well that's embarrassing." She said humiliated. Axel shook his head smiling.
"I'll be right back with some food." Axel held up his hand and a gate of utter black with dark wisps licking the edges appeared. The woman's clutched her chest, sharp needles pricking the area in her chest where her heart resided, her eyes growing wide. "Don't worry your pretty little head," He threw her way, and walked through. The portal disappeared.
Exhaling, she closed her eyes. I don't know what it is about those dark portals, but I cannot stand them. She thought to herself. A few seconds later, the needle sensation returned with the feeling of a presence entering the room. As if on cue another dark portal appeared. The young woman gripped the blankets, still perplexed by her body's strong dislike for these dark abysses.
Expecting Axel, her mouth opened into an "o" shape when a young boy of his teens and dirty blonde hair, Roxas, entered the room. She couldn't help but feel a wave of panic rise within her unable to look away from this teen. Roxas was scratching his head and not looking at where the woman sat.
"Y'know Axel. I think you're hiding something." His gaze shifted towards the bed. "I wish-" He stopped. The woman closed her mouth and timidly smiled.
I know, I keep stopping at the moments that you want the story to continue, but I can't help it. So sorry (bows).