Hey everybody...I hope I didn't take too long to update. I got caught up in some things though like exams, and brush burning, and endless chores...plus a nasty sunburn. Well anyways it's done and I hope you guys like. I tried my best and yeah...that's all that counts right? Well I'll shut up so you can read it...erm but remember to read and review! Hope there aren't too many mistakes, I just feel better when I say it beforehand.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts and/or any of the characters, they belong to Square Enix and Disney!
Well I'm going to say it anyways even if you guys have got the point already...thoughts are in italics!
ENJOY!
.::Picture To Burn::.
Chapter 3: Flames...
"Hey! Get back here with my toast you little shit!" a voice bellowed from behind the swinging door that led into the organization's dump of a kitchen.
Axel had no time to react as that same door smacked him full force in the nose. His gloved hands flew to the source of the pain and pulsing which he felt throbbing steadily beneath his fingers. He just barely saw a black cloaked figure bolt past him with an incriminating piece of toast hanging out of his mouth. The battered fire dancer reached out easily and snatched the scruff of the man's cloak angrily, ready to bash the face of whoever had so kindly smashed him in the nose. His burning fury that had heated up the hallway seconds before, was knocked down a considerable amount of pegs as his lucid, viridian gaze spotted the spiky blond hair that protruded in hazardous directions. He shoved Number XIII away roughly with the remaining force of his anger and resumed his previous attention to his pounding nose.
"Whoa, Axel what happened to your nose?" the golden haired boy asked, obliviously munching on his recently pilfered toast.
"You, you're what happened loser…I mean come on Roxas, do you really have to steal Xaldin's toast EVERY day? It's honestly a miracle that he hasn't gutted you yet…" the hot-blooded man said in a notably amused voice, his lingering anger taking a nose dive and leaving faster than it had come.
"Well it's not like he needs it…have you seen him lately? He's a frigging beefcake dude!" the Key of Destiny said before gulping down the remaining piece of browned bread.
Axel watched as the boy's face lit up with, what he knew, was most definitely some ingenious scheme to further piss off a certain 'beefcake'. Roxas began to blurt out the inner workings of his often one-track mind but Axel stopped him before the temptation proved to be too much and he found himself sucked into another dead end conspiracy.
"Sorry man, I'll have to take a rain check on this one. Demyx couldn't handle the field…go figure…and now I'm stuck with his duties." the torrid man explained with an apologetic look.
"Aww…that sucks," Roxas said with clear disappointment, "but if Xaldin kills me cause you're not there to back me up, you had better come to my funeral…and cry," the boy said with a good-natured grin.
"You got it man" Axel said over his shoulder as he turned to leave, but stopped when he heard the boy's voice once more.
"Hey you never told me about your new duties…what are they? Something gross I bet. Aww dude, don't tell me you have to clean Larxene's bathroom! That would be like grade 'A' horror film material…would you videotape it? Heh…could be useful" the blonde said with disgusted look that was followed by an evil grin.
Axel grimaced at the painful and unwanted mental image that would surely scar him for life, before giving Roxas the actual details of his new duties.
"Hmm…that doesn't sound that bad, but what about all that stuff Larxene's been saying? You know the warts, yellow teeth, the evil eye thing, spells and junk," the boy asked curiously.
"Just a big load of bull. Nothing really out of the ordinary though…that seems to be the only thing that comes out of her mouth" the fire tamer said with a snort.
"Heh, that was nice…good thing she didn't hear it though. She'd rip a nice fat strip off of you. Well maybe she wouldn't, she seems to like you." Roxas said pensively with an amused smile.
Axel couldn't keep a scowl from forming on his lips,
"That's like torture in itself man…" he muttered, thoroughly disturbed.
Their conversation was cut short as the door to the kitchen was blown right off it's hinges with a scream of earsplitting anguish. When the wood splinters cleared they revealed the massive and visibly fuming Xaldin, in all his beefy glory.
"You!" the Whirlwind Lancer seethed with a unfaltering death glare in Roxas' direction, "I'll get my toast back , even if I have to retrieve it from your stomach…personally!"
Roxas let out a high-pitched squeak before bolting down the hallway in search of safety. The burly tempest that was Xaldin raced after him, roaring a series of bloody murder after the spiky haired thief.
Guess I better plan that funeral in advance…
Axel chuckled to himself at Roxas' expense as he made the routine journey to Naminé's room. He felt the morning's episode slowly drift further from the grasp of his mind only to be replaced with others. It had been a couple of days since his first day as the witch's bodyguard but he couldn't seem to shake a inevitable sense of disappointment. He was getting desperate for any form of contact, physical or not; a touch, a smile, even a glance. So far the only thing that went on behind her white walls was drawing on her part and staring, smoking and sleeping on his. He tried to act as if it didn't bother him and he succeeded; but he couldn't lie to himself, deep down it really troubled him.
She could at least make an effort…does she expect me to do all the work? That's some wishful thinking on her part…
He didn't like how much of his thoughts had taken on such a bitter face, but he was standing on the wrong side of a locked door. There wasn't much he could do…
He had never hesitated at opening her door after that first day when his worries were banished, but today he did. He knew nothing horrible lay in wait on the other side but there was something there he didn't want to face.
What the hell is wrong with me!
He opened and closed the white door with a little more force than he had intended; leaving a black blemish around the doorknob that was the only remnant of his burst of anger. He only ignored it and headed to the familiar couch against the wall, he had sort of developed a bond with it. He didn't glance at her even once on his way to the couch's dependable arms, his hope had involuntarily began to dwindle and he just didn't care enough to prevent it. He had given up on everything that had, at one time, offered him unconditional solace. Slumped against the cushions, he felt his eyes begin to droop lazily and he didn't dismiss the invitation of a quick and satisfying nap.
Not like I'll miss some mid-life crisis or life changing miracle in this place…I was being generous calling it a solace earlier…
He was awakened by the sounds of someone struggling. Groggily, he wiped the remains of slumber from his eyes before trying to locate the source of the sounds. He spotted Naminé standing in front of her picture plastered wall; reaching with a laughable amount of effort, to pin her recently finished drawing in the only open space. Which just happened to be out of her range. He watched her silently, battling a unseen war in the confines of his mind on whether or not he should go to her aid. He couldn't decide if something had clouded or cleared his vision when he chose to lend a hand. Running a hand through his mass of fiery hair, he pushed himself with notable reluctance from the gentle caress of the couch cushions. Walking with a confident jump in his step, he made his way to the straining girl but silently swore as he almost tripped over a small, seemingly hidden chair.
Real smooth Axel…
He closed the remaining distance, albeit less confidently, and proceeded to gingerly pry the colorful picture and small pins from her delicate hands.
"Here let me help…" he offered as he slowly reached for the open space and pinned the picture with visible ease.
He took a step back and stood beside her, admiring the drawing and his flawless placement of the colour glazed picture. It was really amazing how she could transform, almost effortlessly, an ordinary, empty scrap of paper into something special, something ironically…real. He felt at ease looking at the serene and tranquil landscape depicted on the small piece of paper. The sun shined brightly at it's highest peak, waves sparkled gently as they swallowed the edges of golden sands, palm trees bent slightly from a breeze he swore he could almost feel…that's how real.
Hmmm…I wonder if she's ever actually been there, I mean that's a lot of detail were talking about. It's not really likely though, were not exactly the type of organization that gives away specialty vacations to prisoners. Hell, I have yet to have a freaking day off…
A gentle voice jolted him from his preoccupied attention and he looked down at the source, locking vivid green eyes with innocent blue ones that gazed shyly up at him.
"Thank you, Number VIII"
The formal title she had addressed him with almost didn't register in his mind but he shook it off and answered the sound of her words that had ignited, to some extent, the hope that had been inevitably dying.
"No problem, and the name's Axel. I don't want to hear any of that Number VIII crap…got it memorized?" he said with his usual grin.
That same grin fell from his face when he saw the slightly confused look she was currently giving him. His cheeks flushed with an uncharacteristic embarrassment, he scratched his head awkwardly and berated himself inwardly,
You know I really have to stop saying such stupid things in front of her…
He lowered his gaze quickly and mumbled a clarifying,
"Just don't forget it"
He was fast enough to catch the amused smile that made a rare but priceless appearance on her lips. A thoughtful and slightly hesitant look replaced her previous smile as she voiced a question that took him completely off guard.
"I hope you don't mind me asking, but…why are you being nice to me?"
He could feel uncertainty bubbling austerely in the pit of his stomach.
Why AM I being nice to her…Why don't I just ignore her like everyone else does?
"Well I dunno don't you think you deserve to at least be respected, tolerated?" he countered, still unsure of why he didn't want to be like everyone else when it came to the way they treated her.
He watched as something that he couldn't place passed behind her eyes.
"That's a funny thing to say, don't you think? I mean, prisoners aren't exactly entitled to respect and nobodies…even less," she paused and stared at her sandals before continuing, "I guess I'd like to think that I deserve more but, it would just be stupid of me to expect anything to come of it…I've just learned to accept it I suppose," she trailed off slowly with a small shrug of indifference.
Axel had tended to always look the other way when the organization showed the side he had come to despise, even if, on occasion, he had shifted to that very side. Seeing the ignorance and hate first hand; when it struck him right between the eyes, really rubbed him the wrong way. He knew it was hypocritical but it was something that had become to hard too swallow. It was so…stupid. She was exactly like them…no she was better, she wasn't a total power whore. She was just as lost, just as incomplete and they have to take their selfish problems out on her. Drop all their shit on her shoulders and expect her not to cripple under the weight.
This poor excuse for an organization must seem like a real piece of work…I don't give a fuck if it's blasphemous; those assholes don't deserve to ever find their hearts, Demyx and Roxas maybe…they aren't complete dickheads.
The hot-headed fire tamer could feel the flicker of rage lick dangerously at the wick of his infamous temper, but he smothered it out quickly. He still had some things to settle and his temper was not welcome…at the moment.
"You know despite what they do, I'd like to think I'm not just some sheep that's going to follow the herd right off a cliff…they can treat you the way they want to but I'm going to act as if I have a heart. Just because we don't have them it's no excuse to treat people the way they do…you know what I mean?" he said reasonably. "Besides, you're a prisoner…I don't think it's necessary to treat you like shit, you're already at our mercy and it's honestly pointless to put an effort into making your life even more of a hellhole. It would just be a waste of my time" he said remotely.
A glimmer of realization sparked deep in her azure eyes that he certainly didn't miss. She took a tentative step forward which made him take one back, unsure of what to make of such a close proximity between them. She leaned towards him with her hands clasped behind her back, and offered him a smile.
"So, you're saying that you WANT to be nice to me?" she asked curiously.
He felt flustered and caught off guard, which he had to admit she was really good at doing, but managed to stammer,
"W-well I don't know if I'd put it like that…"
"You might as well have…but do you promise?" she asked, suddenly serious.
"Promise what?" he asked: it was his turn to be confused.
"That you won't treat me like everyone else…you'll treat me like a person" she explained hopefully.
"I don't make promises with prisoners," he said harshly.
Unfazed by his rejection, she twisted her suggestion into a more agreeable commitment.
"What about with a friend?" she asked , undaunted by the hard look she was receiving.
His eyes widened in shock when he fully understood what was being offered; did she really want to be his friend…it seemed that way, he just hoped it wasn't all a ploy. That it could actually grow to mean something special. He mulled it over with a visible amount of concentration, as his brows knitted together.
To be honest I'm not too opposed to this idea…something could always get shoved into the mix, shake things up, what the heck…I'm in.
A sly smile bloomed on his lips as he accepted her proposal,
"Friends eh? That's different…guess we have ourselves a promise."
"Pinky swear?" she ventured with more than a little doubt swirling through her head.
She wasn't disappointed. He let out a loud laugh before saying,
"Nah, it's not really my style…anyways don't let the losers get you down, you have me if it's any consolation."
With that said, he left the white room with a swirl of his black cloak. He felt the hope that had been unavoidably dying, steadily grow and his bitterness melt away with the warmth that she had provided.
Naminé watched the receding form of her new companion as he exited her room, she returned slowly to her waiting sketchbook with a sad smile formed by a bittersweet thought that lingered in her mind. She felt a rising hope but with it a cryptic regret; it would hurt so much if she ended up broken and blistered by the flames of betrayal, she just hoped it wouldn't turn out that way.
"Don't let me down…"
Well...what do you think y'all? I hope I did okay...I can't help but care what you guys think. Roxas and Xaldin made their appearances...I'm planning on at least getting them all in my fic...well I hope I can, Lexaeus may be difficult. But I'll try! Anyways I guess there isn't much else to say but Read and Review! I'll give you a taste of what's to come cause I might take a bit longer due to some exams this week...they are really killer, anyways there will be jealousy, misery, betrayal, and maybe a little passion for kick. God I hope it doesn't sound like a soap opera...well it won't be anywhere as cheesy...heehee
Well until next time!
Love Always :3
Schmelly Inc. mwahz!