Hey y'all! Chapter four is done! I know I said in the last update that there would be misery and betrayal with the passion and jealousy but unfortunately their will only be passion and jealousy...I hope it will suffice. Also this is my first time writing a passionate scene...it's not a sex scene, I'll be honest I don't have the guts. Well I hope I did okay...the jealousy will probably be a bit lack luster just cause I don't think I portray that emotion very well. Well I hope you enjoy it anyways! Enjoy, and remember to read and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts and/or any of the characters, they belong to Square Enix and Disney.

I hope the dual thought in the this chapter doesn't get confusing but Axel's thoughts are in italics and Larxene's are in bold italics...

ENJOY!

.::Picture To Burn::.

Chapter 4: Blaze...

Axel paused in the doorway of the organization's sitting room; he scanned the room with a quick once-over and easily spotted the usual inhabitants, minus a few others though. Zexion being emo; huddled alone in the corner poring over a thick tome, Marluxia squished into a, built for one, armchair with Larxene sitting on his lap, proceeding to suck his face off, and lastly, Luxord and Roxas locked in a game of cards that spiky haired boy was unknowingly about to lose. The kid wasn't exactly a rocket scientist…I mean, taking on the Gambler of Fate in a, most likely, fixed game of chance. Not exactly a fair fight we're talking about here. The blue eyed boy felt the emanating heat that always radiated off a certain fiery male and turned his gaze in the direction of the doorway.

"Yo Axel! Get your butt in here, you're missing history in the making here. You've gotta see this, I'm totally creaming Luxord…pffft Gambler of Fate my ass. I'd say you're out of a job buddy…now that I think of it Larxene needs someone to clean out her bathroom. Hey, it may not be pleasant but someone's gotta do it!" the dual keyblader yelled loudly from his seat, accompanied by a triumphant grin.

The Savage Nymph broke the furious assault on Marluxia's lips to shoot Roxas a ghastly glare that would have sent your average Joe running with their head between their legs, kissing their soon to be castrated butt goodbye. She returned to the Graceful Assassin's awaiting mouth after seething a frightfully saccharine smothered threat.

"Next time you open that gaping whole that you call your mouth, I'll cut your tongue right out…is that clear sweetheart?"

Empty or not; the threat succeeded it accomplishing it's goal of smacking the grin, situated on the boy's face, right off with an intimidating amount of force. Axel took in the scene with a quiet snicker of amusement before making his way to the table currently hosting the pathetic card game…well pathetic on Roxas' part. The fire dancer could clearly see that the boy was, in fact, not 'creaming' Luxord, but losing miserably.

Typical Roxas…I can only imagine that he accepted the challenge whether or not he knew the rules. And he wonders why he sucks at everything.

Axel watched the inevitable outcome of the game unfold as Luxord smugly flipped the remaining card, with expert flair, that ended the game with Luxord in high favor. The superior gambler leaned back with crossed arms in unspoken victory that completely escaped Roxas…that is until Luxord voiced a simple but explanatory,

"I win."

The hot-blooded man watched as the boy's eyes widened in disbelief and his mouth opened and closed speechlessly. Axel had grown to know these signs quite well; they were the opening act of one of Roxas' numerous five minute rants. Cussing out whatever's close at hand…everyone had gotten accustomed to the outbursts and in most cases, patiently waited them out. Except when Xaldin was in the vicinity…in those circumstances, the Whirlwind Lancer had taken it upon himself to 'deal' with the kid. Fortunately for Roxas, today he was not in the area.

"W-what! No way! That's freaking impossible, I had you eating out of the palm of my hand…you… (exaggerated gasp)…you CHEATED! I can't believe you assho…"

At that point Axel had decided to tune out the remainder of the rant; sure it had been amusing the first few times but now it was just annoying and the fire tamer was about this close to strangling the loser. He slumped heavily into one of the unoccupied chairs that surrounded the 'on-going' card game. Glancing at Luxord, who was at the moment, shuffling a deck of cards in true Las Vegas fashion. Axel spotted the unmistakable glint of a challenge in the platinum haired gambler's aqua eyes.

"Hows about a quick game mate?" the gambler said loudly over the seemingly endless complaints that spilled from the blue eyed boy's mouth.

"Hmm…not that losing all my munny isn't tempting but I think I'll pass on this one," the fire dancer said with a smirk, "Anyways, I just came here to talk to Roxas, so losing to you wasn't exactly on my agenda…if he would just shut up!"

Man, where's Xaldin when you need him…whoa, never thought I ever say that...

After the last remaining minutes drained by, Roxas finally eased out of his livid paroxysm and got up from his chair, nose in the air.

"That'll be the last time I EVER play cards with you…and you can bet on that," the keyblader said with the remaining bitchiness that was still within his grasp.

The spiky haired boy strutted over to a neglected couch and parked himself roughly onto the cushions. The Gambler of Fate laughed quietly before voicing his doubt about Roxas' earlier declaration,

"That's what he said the last time he lost, he'll be back in less than a week…and I will bet on that,"

Axel couldn't resist laughing with Luxord at Roxas' expense before tossing one hundred munny to the gambler.

"I'll have a piece of that bet…just find someone who's stupid enough to bet against that. Hmm…I'd put my money on Xaldin.

The Gambler of Fate caught the munny with ease and sent a nod of reassurance in the fiery man's direction. Axel headed over to the grumpy looking boy situated, with arms crossed, on the comfy sofa. He took a seat besides Roxas and gave him a good natured slap on the shoulder.

"Come on dude, don't let it ruin your whole day. You had it coming…taking on Luxord at his own game, just get over it, it's not exactly a big shocker that you lost. Besides I need some advice on something…"

Roxas' mood changed instantly, as a look of interest replaced the previous pissed off one. Piqued by curiosity, Roxas urged the man on with an inquisitive gleam in his blue eyes.

"Well…spit it out man! Don't leave me hanging like that, this is probably the first time you've ever asked me for advice on…anything." the boy implored eagerly.

Axel bit his lip nervously; he wasn't so sure that asking Roxas for advice was the best idea.

Especially on this subject. But he admitted to himself that he didn't exactly have much of a selection out of the individuals in this organization. Roxas was the one of the only and few people he could trust with just about anything. The metallic taste of blood hit his tongue as he had exerted a considerable amount of force into biting his lip.

Come on Axel, it's just Roxas…it's not like you have to mention her name. Just get an explanation for all these weird…feelings? No that's not right…umm ideas? Yeah I'll go with that.

Axel looked into the eyes of, probably, his only friend in the whole godforsaken organization and saw the trust deep inside the layers of blue. A tension that had been lying beneath his muscles, dissipated without notice and so he began to unburden his shoulders.

"Okay…I'm still not completely sure why I'm even asking you this; I mean I can't imagine that you have any knowledge about women. But, you're all that I have as a resource," the fiery man started with notable hesitation and doubt.

"Hey! I know about women…" the spiky haired boy exclaimed in protest.

"Oh yeah? Well let's hear about this 'experience' that you have in the female department…" Axel challenged with a doubtful smirk and slight eyebrow raise.

"O-oh, umm well you see…erm, her name was…J-jessie, yeah Jessie!" Roxas offered unconvincingly with shifty eyes that further degraded his credibility.

"Jessie eh? You know Roxas if you're going to lie at least make it convincing…put some pride in it dude!" he paused, entertaining the idea of giving the newbie some tips. He decided against it bearing in mind that it really wasn't the time.

"Well regardless, I still need some advice. Okay so here's the thing, there's this girl I know and I mean just looking at her gives me shivers," the fire tamer paused to smack his grinning friend on the back of the head, "Not those kind of shivers asshole…as I was saying before you decided to interrupt…she just puts me on edge. So many thing run thorough my brain you know and I just don't know what to do with them all," Axel ran a hand through his hair distractedly before continuing, "It doesn't exactly help that I'd be totally dead if anyone found out…you see she's, in a way, out of bounds but it's not like I'm not allowed to see her…it's my job to be with her…"

Oh crap…

Axel could only watch helplessly as the train of realization crashed right into his friend; eyes sent wide with disbelief.

What Axel didn't see however, was Larxene push herself roughly off of a confused Marluxia. The women's eyes narrowed suspiciously in the direction of the conversing friends and she covertly crept her way behind a chair to get in on the discussion.

"You are so fucked! I mean Naminé dude, how did that idea ever pop into your head and register as even remotely clever? Honestly, did you lose all of your common sense…how could the pros possibly outweigh the cons. I mean come on Axel!" Roxas hissed as quietly as he could manage.

"I know, I know…" Axel moaned in recognition of his situation, "But can you really blame me? I mean if you saw her you'd understand…" he stopped his daydreaming before he got in too deep and saw the worried stare of his friend, "Don't worry man I haven't doe anything…but am I guilty if I want to? Axel said innocently, inwardly wondering if his friend's consent would be permission enough.

Unknown to the two friends, the Savage Nymph was gouging the back of an acquitted armchair with one of her recently sharpened knives. Luckily nobody occupied the besieged chair.

If that little wench thinks she can just waltz in and step all over my territory, she's got another thing coming and I do house calls.

The angry and possibly psychotic woman focused her ears as the voices of the two men signaled their renewed conversation.

"Axel…why do you have to do this to me? I mean I obviously won't say anything to anyone if you decide to 'further' your friendship with her but it's your ass on the line man…just promise me you'll actually consider the consequences this time." the boy said seriously, mouth set in a thin line.

The fire dancer closed his eyes in concentration in an attempt to weigh up some of the repercussions. He didn't quite mull over the right things however as images of Naminé drifted through his mind relentlessly. He snapped his eyes open and accepted that the concentrate approach wasn't an efficient option. It didn't bother him too much though…

There's just something about her…it's kind of intense that she can have such a strong hold over me. Heh, now domination is something I don't have a problem with. Wait, what was I supposed to be considering again…oh well couldn't be that important...

Roxas could tell that Axel had made up his mind as a genuine grin lit up the fire tamer's features. The dual keyblader let out a worried sigh but there was no way in hell that he was going to try and change the inferno's mind…it was made up and that's how it would stay.

"Okay, Okay. Go do what you have to do, use that hellfire magnetism we all know you for. Just be careful…messing with the organization is bound to lead to trouble."

Axel shot his friend an appreciative smile and gave him props with their secret handshake, used only in special moments of brotherhood.

"The organization hasn't had to deal with me…well that's not entirely true but whatever; I'm more than they can handle anyway. And Roxas, thanks man. Despite your non-existent knowledge on women, I really can trust you and that means a lot." the Flurry of Dancing Flames said with a lingering grin.

"Yeah, well what's knowledge compared to loyalty anyways," Roxas admitted with a grin to match his friend's.

The hot-blooded man got up from his seat on the couch and gave the boy a quick nod before exiting the room with a renewed drive of purpose.

Larxene watched the scene play out before her angrily glistening eyes. She wasted no time and ripped her knife harshly from its embedded home in the back of the armchair. She inspected it with a tenderness she that only pertained to her knives; satisfied with its condition she headed towards the door with a speed entirely fury driven. Pushing Marluxia away roughly as he attempted to retrieve a quick kiss before she departed. She followed the lingering heat that revealed the path that the blazing inferno had just taken. She spotted the tip of his black cloak and a glimpse of his flaming red hair as the man disappeared into the witch's little white door. The Savage Nymph slunk noiselessly into the shadows close to the door and she waited patiently for her chance to have a one-on-one talk with the little witch.

Looks like I'll have to shake things up…that little whore won't get away with messing with one of my boys. They may want each other now but I'll be sure to change that…

Her eyes glinted darkly with anger, an envious sparkle that was the only visible light in the depth of those shadows.

She felt him before she even saw him enter her room. That radiating heat that emitted off his skin alerted her of his presence. She wouldn't tell anyone but she had grown to crave the warmth that it offered her often cold body. The heat had scared her at first…it had been more intense before but she had felt the change, it had been slow but it had definitely become…dare she say tender. It was funny, she had never felt safer when she was in his presence yet she was the prisoner of a cruel organization that he was a part of. It definitely struck her as odd but there was a safety she wouldn't deny in the form of the fiery man that had grown to be her friend. However, she felt something else…something that hid shyly behind every glance, smile…touch. Was it just coincidental? Her imagination? She wasn't sure what to make of it or what to think at all for that matter. She wanted things to work themselves out…but what if they didn't work out the right way because she didn't help it along. If something was truly there, she just hoped it would show itself…she lacked the strength to do it herself. She only hoped he had seen the same things, had so many strange and new things rushing through his head. This couldn't possibly be a lone struggle…it just couldn't.

She looked up from her drawing and laid her pretty azure eyes on his familiar face; she gave him a smile which rewarded her with an even more familiar smirk. She was at a loss of what to do next, so she just nervously returned her gaze to her awaiting picture. She knew it was pointless, she'd never be able to focus, she fingered the pencil crayon in between her slender fingers and tried to look contemplative as she stared blankly at the paper in front of her. A dull ache began to sound off in her tensed muscles and she suppressed a moan of discomfort, which steadily increased in her tight muscles. He hadn't sat down on his couch, he just kept pacing around the room, looking at pictures with a feigned interest, walking behind her…she felt the warmth intensify and the drawstring from his hood brush her bare shoulder as he leaned in. She barely resisted the lure of his gloved hand, painfully struggling the desire to lean into his touch as he brushed her cheek. He pushed aside the strands of hair that covered her ear; his breath tickled her skin as he softly murmured into her ear,

"What are you drawing Nami?"

It sent her off edge almost immediately. She didn't know if he was toying with her or honestly asking…but the closeness confused her even more. So she stiffened instead and narrowed her eyes in suspicion, she was unsure of what to do and so she decided to treat it as she would have with anyone else. The fact that it was Axel made it different but she didn't acknowledge that at the moment. She got up roughly from her chair, picture in hand and attempted to put some distance between them, for good measure. A part of her screamed to stay and another for her to go, it didn't matter much though because his hand caught her arm and appeased one part of her. She halted the moment his hand made contact with her arm, frozen by a simple touch. The warmth that flowed through his veins began to seep into her body intoxicatingly. The tension that had held her muscles released easily and her eyelids fluttered with all the pressure that escaped her body. He gingerly moved her body with a small tug that coaxed her to face his own. Time eluded them, taken down a few notches moving incredibly slow.

He could see every little movement she made; the slight parting of her lips, her pure angelic gaze moving entrancingly upwards, beautiful eyelashes turned up tenderly. She searched his intense yet, soft viridian eyes. Maybe she found something that compelled her to give in…give in to the part of herself that had wanted this to happen. She carefully moved closer to his warm body, the heat emanating through his cloak…pulling her in irresistibly. She reached her hand up timidly; pausing long enough for him to stop her, which he didn't do. He leaned into her delicate touch as she gently traced his cheek with her slender fingers, allowing her to follow along the edges of one of the tattoos under his eye before she trailed tenderly along his strong jaw line; slipping just under the defined line to his apparent weak spot as he emitted a low moan. Her hand moved finally to his chest where it tentatively rested. His hand that still lay wrapped around her bare arm slid down its length slowly, taking in indulgently every soft and subtle contour. He let his fingers linger reluctantly, intertwined mutually with her own, the picture that had previously occupied it, long forgotten on the floor.

And I thought I'd get slapped…heh, she's the one figuring out my soft spot. Kind of thought it'd be the other way around but I've still got time for that…

His eyes wandered hungrily to her lips, he could almost imagine the way they would feel on his…soft and inviting. Axel was never much of a dreamer, so he would have died before leaving it at that, he wouldn't leave the taste of her lips to his mere imagination. He unintentionally licked his lips, drunk with a lust to finally kiss her after having to suffer without her for too long. She caught the gesture and possibly the intention behind it, a shy smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and a rosy pink tint prettily embellished her cheeks. The effect of her smile was contagious as a not-so-shy smirk played with his features. They became lost in that moment of mutual desire, time slowed to a lethargic pace as their bodies ceased to have any space in between. Their lips met in fervent passion, igniting a fire inside them both that had been dying slowly, once just ashes but now a roaring inferno. Her arms encircled his neck; gently kneading the nape of his neck, his hands traveled slowly along her spine, resting with one in between her shoulder blades, and the other running ardently through her lustrous tresses. He kept the intensifying heat that swirled through his veins in check for her sake; keeping it below searing but above sweltering, feeding the fire that fuelled their passion. Their lips parted when their lungs screamed in protest from the lack of oxygen and they waited for their heavy breathing to subjugate to a normal rhythm. He lowered his mouth to her neck and grazed her collar bone with his lips, smothering her sultry skin with feverish kisses. She uttered a small whimper which he had hoped he would be rewarded with; he left a lingering kiss on her jaw before raising his head where they then leaned their foreheads together in a sign of dependence and trust. He breathed in her sweet, intoxicating scent that drifted sensually from the silky strands that framed her beautiful face.

It almost hurt for him to pull away from the warmth their bodies created with their intimacy. He slowly untangled her arms from around his torso; he saw the small pout on her lips and couldn't leave it unappeased. He maintained the distance, knowing all to well that renewing their contact would only lead to him getting lost in their rejoicing fervency. Gently, he kissed her forehead before surrendering an enduring kiss on the corner of her mouth.

God, if my shift wasn't over…that must've been the freaking shortest shift ever. Honestly, what a load of shit.

He deeply drank in her smell, hoping it would linger with him and subtly remind him of her even though she wouldn't be near. Reluctantly, he pulled away and voiced his reason for having to leave even though she probably knew why.

"I have to go…people would hunt me down if I stayed any longer and not that I don't want to stay…" he said with a small squeeze on her hand, "but getting my ass whipped isn't exactly appealing." he finished with a grin.

"That's fair enough," she agreed with a smile before adding, "Your shift just seemed rather short today though…"

"You know what they say, 'time flies when you're having fun' eh?" he said with a wink and trademark smirk that made her cheeks rouge prettily.

He headed for the door feeling satisfied, grin lingering on his face. But hearing her voice made him falter just as he reached for the doorknob.

"Just one more thing…would you say that this was your twist on a pinky swear?" she asked with a coy smile.

A thoughtful expression crossed his features and he had to admit that it definitely made sense now that he thought about it. It was like a promise that he cared…an extra layer of reassurance for them both to rely on and trust. A way to show that he always wanted to be with her and be there for her no matter what. A real smile that he only brought out for people who deserved it graced his lips.

"I'd definitely say that…it's also more my style. Actual pinky swears are pretty lame, this just seems more…special," he said with a sincerity she could hear deep within his words.

With that said, Axel left her room smile on his face and hope swelled to a size that pushed against his ribcage. Unfortunately, the fiery male didn't sense the fuming mass of jealousy that made up the woman concealed in the hall shadows. Larxene took in the smile on the male's face, it was a foreign smile. One that wasn't built on sadistic pleasure but happiness; of course it was imagined on his part…they were Nobodies, but the fact that it was there, spoke louder than words.

Looks like that's my cue…nobody walks away scotch-free after crossing me. Looks like I have a relationship to end. I'll be the end of that little witch, nobody steals my guy...

The black hooded woman peeked cautiously in each direction before moving towards Naminé's door and slipping silently inside.

Well that's chapter four...I hope you enjoyed it! The misery and betrayal will come in chapter five a la Larxene. Well leave your comments, read and review. I really appreciate getting feedback no matter how little. Lol, I'd really like to know what you guys thought of my first passionate scene...I hope it wasn't so-so... and it wasn't random...lol that would suck.

Until next time,

Love Always,

- Schmelly Inc.