After the events that had transpired the previous evening, Roxas couldn't find it within himself to focus. The burning image of those emerald orbs staring back at him from the depths of the flame taunted him relentlessly. That was Axel, of this he had little doubt though he had never seen the man before. He slowly closed his eyes, trying to conjure up the feelings that had overwhelmed him, the heat that rippled through him and brought the strange sensations that made his body shake and tremble with foreign desire. To no avail he tried over and over again, whispering soft the name that haunted his daydreams. There was nothing he could do to bring them back and Roxas briefly entertained the thought perhaps he was going insane after all.
"Hey Roxas! Why the long face?" Olette bounced into the usual spot, poking at the blonde's mouth with an ice cream. Roxas accepted the frozen treat, slowly dragging his tongue along his lips to taste the salty sweet confection. It was warm, he realized and it made him shudder. His tongue was brushing another's mouth, someone possessing amazing skills teasing him back. Roxas shuddered, yanked back into reality as he tasted the bitter chill of the ice cream. Olette's huge owl eyes stared at him in confusion, giggling as some sort of realization dawned on her.
"Ohhh, Roxas you're such a bad boy!" Roxas flushed a deep shade of red.
"W-What are you talking about?"
"Why else would you be making that face? You looked like you were really enjoying yourself." she teased, poking the other's nose. "Who were ya thinking about?"
"No one!" Roxas pushed her hand away and nibbled at the ice cream, refusing to look up and face the other.
"Okay, whatever you say Roxas." Olette plopped down next to him, the two friends dining on the summertime delicacy. Roxas frowned, licking off the sticky residue as it melted all over his hand.
"So where are the others?" Olette shrugged.
"Hayner's practicing for the tournament and Pence is still sleeping, the lazy bum."
Roxas chuckled. "Sounds about right. I should be practicing too."
"Roxas?" Olette looked over at him, reaching out to touch his knee. Roxas's face burned a deeper shade of red, swallowing a dry lump in his throat.
"Y-Yeah?"
"What's going on with you?" Roxas blinked, certainly not what he had expected.
"What are you talking about?" Olette stood up and stared down at him.
"You've been so quiet lately and you just stare out into space all the time. Did something happen? What's wrong?" Roxas's gaze dropped to the floor. He expected his friend's concern to eventually catch up with him. He'd tried to mask his confusion from the others but they were around each other so much it was pretty simple to detect a problem. His mind scrambled for a logical way to explain everything that had been going on lately. The feelings of loneliness and distance, the irrational fear, the dreams of some exotic and wild man he'd never met before.
"It's nothing." Roxas finally replied, settling for confronting his problems on his own. He knew there was nothing his friends could do to help him. This was something he had to solve on his own.
"Roxas.." Olette reluctantly nodded. If Roxas wouldn't talk then it was useless to pester him. He would talk to them when he was ready to.
"It's just something I have to do on my own." Olette bit her lip, wrapping her arms around Roxas in a tight hugg.
"Okay.. but you better come to us if you get in over your head. That's what friends are for." she stood up and ruffled his hair. "Good luck at the tournament. I think I'm gonna go shopping. See you later, Roxas!" With a wave she disappeared, leaving Roxas alone once more. The blond heaved a heavy sigh and left the usual spot to disappear into the warm glow of the sun. Slowly he strolled along, his mind once again drifting off into a daydream of that mysterious heat and the beautiful emerald eyes.
A soft thump behind him caught his attention and he whirled around, greeted by the sight of a book of matches laying on the ground. Kneeling down he picked it up, slowly striking one and watching the flame dance on the end of the stick. Staring into the heart of the flame he could once again see those eyes, more vibrant than before. He noticed within the depths of the emerald thin dark rings and it only made him all the more curious. What sort of eyes would have rings in them? He hissed as the match traveled down the stick and burned his fingers, the boy quickly striking another.
"Axel! Axel please..." He begged the little fire. "When can I see you? I don't understand. Why do you keep coming to me? Who are you?" The figure within the flame moved like a projection and Roxas could see all of him finally, though any detail was shrouded beneath the folds of a heavy black coat. He looked back over his shoulder at Roxas then up and the other followed his lead, gazing upon the dying light of the sun giving way to the velvet glow of moonshine.
Roxas hissed again as the flame died and but striking another rendered nothing within the flickering light. Axel had given him his next message and he would have to settle with it for now. He shook out the fire and pocketed what remained of the matchbook, heading for home. The flames had spoken once more and the message left him battling with himself, unsure of whether to be excited or utterly terrified.
Tonight, Roxas.