It took a second or two for Axel to react; when he did, he sailed over to the next roof in playful pursuit of Larxene. The task of tagging her would not be easy; Larxene was, after all, the swiftest member in the Organization. Yet Axel took this as a challenge, but more so just a game. Smiling, he picked up speed as Larxene swerved to her right and leaped over to a hotel roof three feet or so below her. Cat-like, Axel jumped and landed a few feet behind Larxene, continuing their chase game. Larxene sped onward, but stopped abruptly and changed course to run to her left, Axel reacting just in time to avoid skidding off the roof.
Larxene turned in a graceful semi-circle and hopped from one roof top to the next, Axel chasing her all the way, deeper into the beautiful night that was supposedly home to numerous dark beings and creatures. Had there been any creatures around, they would not have disturbed the two anyway, unless provoked, of course. All the same, the Savage Nymph giggled triumphantly as she saw Axel still out of range of her.
She found that she was leading him to the clock tower, the somewhat-cracked bell nearly hidden by broken boards. Sliding to a halt suddenly, Larxene looked up, panting, at the tower. The immense structure had a pillar at the top, but it was who was perched on it that caught Larxene's attention. However, her line of sight was cut off from the pillar when Axel swerved around and in front of her, hugging her fiercely and swinging Larxene upward.
"Caught you," Axel murmured simply as he nuzzled below her chin, holding her in his arms still.
Despite herself, Larxene gulped nervously; she felt a warm buzzing in her stomach when she felt his arms around her slender frame. Trying to shake of the feeling, Larxene wriggled out of Axel's gentle grasp, once again looking up at the tower, the figure still perched on the pillar.
"What are so interested in?" Axel inquired curiously as he, too, peered up. His eyes widened as both he and Larxene realized that the figure was a person, more so due to the fact that the person was staring back at them. "Who's that?" Axel asked in a hushed tone.
"I don't know," Larxene murmured in response. Taking a quiet step back, the Nymph said, "I think we should get going." It was not like her to be like this, she knew, but she also had a feeling that there could only be trouble in sticking around.
At that moment, however, the mysterious figure rose and descended the pillar by leaping down, landing softly. As Larxene warily studied them, the person turned out to be a petite female, black hair with an obvious tinge of purple. She seemed cordial enough as she greeted only Axel with a small but somehow sneaky smile. "Remember me?" she asked, her thick voice touched with honey as she addressed Axel.
Axel noticed Larxene turn her head sharply to him, questions in her eyes. Studying the newcomer's face thoroughly, examining her oval face and dark green eyes, his heart leapt with recognition. "Meytha!" he exclaimed like a happy child.
"You know her?" Larxene asked, a faint note of distrust creeping into her voice at the person.
"Yeah," Axel responded. "She helped me out of a fix with some Heartless I pissed off once, back when I was...looking for Roxas...Sora at the time..." Turning to Meytha, he quipped, "How are things with you?"
Meytha shrugged, her long hair falling off her shoulders to cascade downward. "So-so," she replied humbly, smiling at Axel. "There are other people here, you know, so I'm not lonely or anything."
"That's great!" Axel breathed, stepping forward to get a better look at her.
Larxene found her fists clenching to her sides. A heat began bubbling inside her, scratching at her from the inside; Larxene's eyes narrowed to slits at this girl.
"How did you...die...?" Axel questioned softly.
"Heartless," Meytha answered quietly. "I attacked them because I saw them take a woman and her child..."
Axel placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder in a friendly gesture, but Larxene took the manner otherwise... Her stomach felt knotted by now, and she was feeling quite uncomfortable and vexed at all this. Her heart skipped a beat or two when Meytha moved forward and hugged Axel lightly, letting him go the next moment. The Savage Nymph's insides seemed to burst when Axel leaned forward and pecked Meytha on her forehead playfully, making the female giggle in response. Larxene, however, didn't know who to strangle: Axel or Meytha. Gritting her teeth, she flexed her fingers angrily, turning abruptly and walking toward a newly opened portal.
Axel, as well as Meytha, heard the noise. "Larxene?" Axel asked tentatively. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Larxene growled tightly. "I just remembered something I have to do." Her eyes felt suddenly hot; quickly turning her head, she sped into the portal, unaware of Axel's hurt emotions, too preoccupied with her own.
A/N: Meytha, just to let you all know, is someone I literally came up with on the spot, so as to help this story along in the way I want it to kinda go. You probably saw the part I had her play in this chapter. She was only here as a character to make Larxene jealous, since I highly doubt a guy will be able to do the job sufficiently enough. Also, so sorry for the short chapter! I'll try to make the next one longer!
