CHAPTER TEN

Roxas wanted Axel to hold his hand, to help dispel the butterflies and roaches infecting his gut as they moved quickly through the utterly silent town of Twilight. It was almost scary being out at this time of night, running through the rain. It was such an alien experience. But laden as they were with sharp metal, neither of them had a hand free to clasp. He'd have to just trust that Axel wasn't leading him into anything he'd regret. He had to – to trust Axel.

They slid through the town like shadows, hurrying from one black pool to the next, shoes sending up a shatter of drops from each gathered puddle. Roxas kept darting his gaze to the redhead, his hood back in place, obscuring his face entirely, the long, full-length zipper of the black coat glinting slightly with each step, jingling softly. Their panting breaths filled the air, noisy in what felt like more and more like an open-aired tomb the closer Roxas got to this resemblance of liberation approaching.

Axel glanced back, gestured with one chakram. "Roxie, come on, keep up," he said with quiet urgency. A sense of time expiring had infected them both, now that they were finally on the way to achieving what each saw as their heart's desire, held out of reach before this moment.

They reached the hole in the wall of the tram common, slowed slightly to a brisk walk as they entered the woods on the other side. The rain lessened here, filtered by the trees, the sound of dripping loud and incessant. Axel twirled his weapons nervously, clanking them together in front of his body, picking his way quickly through the underbrush. Roxas anxiously kept close, unfamiliar with the surroundings at this hour. It was like a whole new forest, a bleaker, foreboding one.

Before long, the mansion came into view, a quavering light glowing softly behind the curtain of the white room. Naminé had candles going. Roxas could picture them, lined up along the marble dining table, the golden-haired girl working on her latest image by the dim flickering.

Axel drew to a halt at the edge of the vegetation, gazing up at the mansion, breathing deep and slow through his nose to try and ease the pulsing at his jaw. He wasn't used to racing around like this, and the fear of capture was almost painful in its intensity. He, too, saw the illumination, knew that Naminé was waiting there, possibly already aware of his presence in the system. He wondered how far she'd go to stop him, if she was bothered. He supposed the question was whether or not she wanted to be attached to Roxas. She'd had an interest in Axel's chosen one since she'd found out the name. Seemed she knew the kid from school, they'd been sort-of friends. He didn't know what was motivating her to be here, but he was damn prepared to use the chakrams in order to defend what was his. And Roxie was his.

"What now?" Roxas asked breathlessly, arms sore from hefting around the keyblades. He glanced over at his hooded companion. "Do we just go in and hope she doesn't hear?"

Axel rolled his shoulders unhappily. "I guess," he said, voice slightly muffled from within the covering. "There isn't really much else we can do. You ready, Roxie? We might have to kick petite, delicate ass in there to get what we want."

The blond snorted. "I doubt she'd take it that far. I mean, she's a girl."

Axel gave a snort of his own. "Yeah, and she was picked by Larxene. There's gotta be something to that decision; Larx isn't the most sentimental of feminine creatures."

"Naminé wouldn't try to stop us," Roxas insisted. "I ran out of here yesterday accusing her of being a – a con-artist." Axel hummed in understanding, unimpressed. "If she catches us, she'll be so happy I don't hate her anymore that she'll let us go."

That is, as long as this wasn't just part of her and Axel's master plan. Roxas couldn't really cling to that belief, but he still found it difficult to shake off all doubts. He wanted so badly for everything to work out. He still didn't know what Axel had been talking about with the whole simulation thing, or what the mansion had to do with any of this, but… well, he had to start somewhere. He had to give something, if he was ever going to gain. After having hit rock bottom once already, he figured he could handle it a second time if Axel ended up betraying him. And he had the keyblades – he could hurt one or both of them if they tried anything.

Nervousness washed over him. Suddenly, he wasn't so sure of Naminé's benignity, and Axel being hidden away in that heavy coat wasn't helping matters. Everything was skewed.

"Roxas." He looked over, sucking his bottom lip in worry, wary of the redhead again. Patiently, Axel said, "You can trust me. I haven't brought you here to hurt you. I love you."

"So you keep saying," Roxas responded hoarsely, gaze averted. He hefted the keyblades a little, reassuring himself with their weight. "Just remember, if you try anything at all, I'll be sure to take a limb with me."

He felt the smile from the other. "Deal. I'm right-handed, so it's all yours."

"I'll be sure to go for your left," Roxas said flatly. "After all, it's hard to tell with you."

Axel stiffened slightly, nodded, set out without another word, rustling the wet bushes ringing the edge of the property. Roxas hesitated, followed, jogging to catch up with the redhead's long strides. The metal bars of the gate were slick and wet, cold like ice as Roxas' knuckles brushed them, one keyblade scraping the rust as he slipped through the gap. Axel whipped around, glaring at the noise, Roxas mouthing an apology, eyes darting up to the high, broad window.

They moved up to the front of the house, coming in at an angle in case Naminé was peeping through the curtains, taking advantage of every ink-black lake of shadow along the way. They drew up alongside the door, Axel checking to make sure Roxas was where he was meant to be, before reaching out and testing the door handle. Unlocked. He pushed it open, cringing at the groan of the hinges, and the pair entered out of the rain.

Roxas took several steps into the high-ceilinged foyer, wishing he could rub some warmth into his arms, the t-shirt and sweater flimsy against the chill. He turned, lips blue, teeth chattering slightly, as Axel eased the door shut again. He moved to join Roxas, pulling back his hood, freeing the bright red spikes. It was a relief, to see his features again, even in the darkness. Axel smiled at him, a regretful gleam to his green eyes. "Keep quiet, okay?" They both glanced up to the closed door of the white room, a slight glow spilling through the cracks.

"Axel, I'm sorry," Roxas whispered. Axel paused, looked at him questioningly, with a hint of fear. "I – I trust you."

Axel relaxed, reached out and touched a chakram to Roxas' shoulder. "Always knew you were too cute for words," came the soft reply. "Follow me."

They crossed the foyer, keeping their steps light. They trotted up the stairs with minimal noise, casting cautious looks always at Naminé's door, expecting her to come out and investigate at any second. Axel paused, hooked an arm behind Roxas' back, pressed him forward so they were hurrying along side by side. They went the opposite direction to the white room, treading the thin, aged, maroon carpet until they reached a new room, Axel opening it without hesitation, ushering Roxas in ahead of him.

It was an old library, almost untouched by the years aside from the fine layer of filth coating every surface. Several bookshelves lined the walls, the books undisturbed, virtually cemented together after all this time. A large window revealed the dark outside world, a view of black trees swaying in the wind. It was colder in this room than in the foyer, a breath of ice creeping around the edges, crawling through Roxas' damp clothing, making him shake all the more harder. A large desk and chair dominated the room, drawing the eye.

Roxas turned to Axel, asking, "What now? It's just a room."

"Hm, not just a room." Axel frowned in concentration, moving to the desk. He set his chakrams down carefully, gloved fingers running across the wooden surface, which was, in direct contrast to the rest of the room, grime-free. "Beneath us is the computer lab. We use it to get to and from Hollow Bastion. I used the train earlier this afternoon… illicit, but necessary…"

"The – train?"

"The train," Naminé confirmed. The two males spun, Axel instantly snatching up his weapons, Roxas hitching up the keyblades. "It's how I arrived on Sunday evening… although I was sent here." She pursed her lips in disapproval. "You two aren't supposed to be here." Her gaze found Axel. "I can't let you do this, you've been taken off of Roxas' case."

"I'm the one that picked him," Axel argued.

Naminé waved off his disagreement. "It doesn't matter, you know that. DiZ has taken custody of him."

Roxas decided this was as fine a time as any to break in. "I want to go with Axel," he said, meeting Naminé's pale blue eyes solemnly. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier, Nam, I just got freaked out and upset. But… this is what I want."

"It's not about what you want, Roxas," she said gently. "But I'm glad you've forgiven me. I really haven't done anything wrong at all."

"What do you mean, not about what he wants?" Axel snapped. "This whole fucking thing is about what he wants! He wants to leave, he wants to attach to me, so what's the big fucking deal?"

"It's against the rules, Axel. You're here unofficially. I can't even begin to say what kinds of trouble you'll be in, for that alone!" She frowned at him. "Don't drag Roxas into your mess. You're being selfish."

"You know," Axel drawled, fixing her with a hard look, "for a chick who ran away from home, you sure are a stickler for the goodie-two-shoes image." He lowered his face, watching her from under his brow, expression darkening. "Thing is, Nami, how exactly are you going to stop us?" He swung his shoulders loosely, hooking up one chakram, spinning it, while the other hung from his other hand readily. "Because the last time I checked, pouting in a ladylike fashion wasn't a match for steel."

She looked calmly to Roxas. "Are you approving of this, Roxas? He's threatening me with physical harm."

"I know that," Roxas replied evenly. "Do I look stupid? Fact is, I'm on his side. This whole thing is idiotic. It because of your stupid rules that Axel's in trouble at all."

"Because he doesn't obey them, yes," Naminé retorted. "But Roxas, what he's doing now isn't right. It's going to get you both into trouble." She swung on Axel, glaring. "They're not going to let you just go on as if you've done nothing wrong. You'll get punished, Axel. What do you think that's going to mean for Roxas?"

"Roxas is a big boy," Axel growled. "He can take care of himself."

"Yeah," the blond agreed, holding up his keyblades. "Naminé, I've gotta say, this isn't looking good for you. You're not going to persuade either of us otherwise. I want to leave Twilight Town. I don't really get how, or what you guys are even talking about, but if I'm sticking to facts, all I can say is that this is what I want to do, and it's what I'm going to do." He gave her an imploring look, added softly, "Come on, Nam, you know what it's like. Let me get away just like you did. Let me run from this place."

"What about your family? Your friends?" the girl demanded. "You're just abandoning them, Roxas!"

Axel snorted. "You're one to talk."

"I made a mistake!" she admitted angrily. "I regret running off like I did. I wish I'd taken the time to at least tell them I love them. Roxas, please, don't screw this up. If you'd just hold on, just for a couple more days…"

"I want to go with Axel," the blond insisted stubbornly.

"Is Axel more important to you than the people who raised you?" Naminé snapped.

Axel's eyes widened, as did Roxas'. For a long moment, there was silence in the room, Naminé keeping her pleading eyes locked on Roxas.

"Right now… Yes." His voice was soft, but clear. "I've gotta get out of here. I won't stop loving them, but – "

"And what happens when they wake up and find your bed empty?" she demanded. "What then?"

Roxas' mouth opened and shut. He glanced to Axel for help, for guidance, fearfully. Naminé had a point. He didn't want them to just… not know what happened. They'd get scared… they'd come looking for him… He wasn't even sure where he was going. He hadn't even left a crummy note. What would happen to them? Would they think he'd been kidnapped?

No. After his recent behaviour, they'd probably just assume he'd run away… Which, he supposed, was exactly what he was doing. He was running away from home, with the boy he'd met two weeks ago, who claimed to love him. Wasn't this just a pretty little romance novel situation.

So, was he selfish enough to leave without ever letting them know the truth?

Could he, if he wasn't, really go home and curl back up in bed, as though none of this had occurred?

Axel had said he'd get to come back and say good-bye – wasn't that enough?

"Naminé…"

She flattened a little, disappointed. "You'll regret this. You really will, Roxas. It's not like you're going to a magical world where you'll always be happy. I understand wanting to leave, you know I do – but it's not going to be any more of a fairytale out there than it was in here."

Roxas' eyes narrowed. "You think this place is a computer program, too?"

"It is, Roxas, all the more reason for us to leave and live real lives," she said. She clasped her hands, bringing them up to her chest. "But that doesn't mean the people in it aren't real – it doesn't mean they won't feel real pain that you're gone. When I lived here… you and your friends always looked so happy together. I always wished…" She let her hands slip back down to her sides, a sad expression in her clear eyes. "I always dreamed of being happy like you, instead of depressed and trapped. And here you are, anyway, feeling just like I always did, but – I…" She touched a hand to her head, muttered, "I'm arguing myself onto your side here." She closed her eyes briefly, Axel glancing over at him, Roxas meeting his gaze, uncertain, giving a little shrug.

"The point is, this is going to hurt a lot of people," Naminé said at last, having regathered her thoughts. "Is that what you want, Roxas?"

"Hey, come on now, that's just not fair," Axel snapped, stepping in front of Roxas. "Manipulate him a little more, why don't you?"

"It's not manipulation if it's true," she shot back. "All you care about is being attached to him, and helping him forget his life here as fast as possible to be with you. Think about Roxas, Axel! If you really loved him, you'd be letting him do this in his own time, rather than forcing his hand!"

"It's because I love him that I'm doing it at all," Axel responded sharply. "It's not like I think I'm going to get away with it, but if me and Roxie are attached, that's all that matters to me."

"How can I convince you otherwise?" Naminé urgently asked Roxas. The blond shook his head, unhappily.

"Naminé – I'm… sorry, but…"

"Roxas, please don't do this."

"This is what Roxas wants," Axel said, frowning. "Why can't you just let him go? He's told you clearly that he wants to leave. If you've been paying attention at all the last couple days, you'll know how badly he wants this. It's not like I'm forcing him to come with me. We both want to be attached."

Naminé's lips tightened. "I'm not very happy with you right now, Axel. It's because of you that Roxas ran out of here crying because he thought we were trying to hurt him by taking advantage of his desperation."

"He knows better now," replied the redhead curtly. "We've already talked about it. He trusts me."

Her eyes narrowed, mouth pursing. "Don't you realise that you are taking advantage of him?"She glanced at them each in turn. "This is going to tear your parents apart," she accused Roxas. He averted his gaze.

"I'm sorry about that, but I'm leaving eventually anyway. I – don't think I can hold on anymore. And even if I could…" He met her hard look with one of his own, determination forming at last. "I want to go with Axel."

Ignoring the broad smile cracking the redhead's face, Naminé stomped into the room, pushed past them, Axel jerking his chakrams out of range, but her aim was the desk. She planted herself on it, sitting firmly on the clean wood, a stubborn set to her face, fingers gripping the edge tightly. Regarding them defiantly, she said, "I'm not going to let you do this. It's completely against the rules, and totally unfair to Roxas' family and friends. I might not be able to stop your steel with my ladylike pout, but I don't think you'll hurt me to get your own way. So there! I'm – not – moving!"

Roxas and Axel exchanged glances, the blond bewildered, the redhead smug. "Nami, honey," he drawled. "I don't need steel to move your ass off that desk."

She glared, clamping her legs together, nails digging into the wood, making Axel laugh. He went to the bookcase, both sets of blue eyes tracing his every move, and set the chakrams carefully down. He straightened, stretching his fingers and cracking his knuckles, a smirk in place as he sauntered over to where the blonde girl hunkered lower, glowering out from behind the curtain of the hair falling across her face.

"Axel, don't you touch me," she warned. "I swear to God, I will tell Kairi that you manhandled me."

He snorted, green eyes rolling. "Like I care."

"Fine! I'll tell Larxene then! You leave me no choice!"

The redhead hesitated for a moment, hands pausing as they reached for the female, Roxas watching on with a clueless expression. Naminé saw the pause, relaxed slightly, smirking happily.

Axel shrugged. "I'll jump off that bridge when I get to it," he remarked flippantly, then grabbed the small girl around the waist and hauled. Letting out an angry squeal, she clutched the desk as long as she could, but after a short struggle, was hefted off and clamped within the redhead's arms. Axel crushed her against his chest, bridal-style, pinning her arms to her sides, her knees together so she couldn't kick.

Roxas yelped, backing away as Axel swung around, grinning wildly. "Watch out, Roxie, she bites. Kinda like you! Say, does that mean you fight like a girl?"

Roxas frowned. "How about we go a round and you find out?" He shook his head at the rich laugh that greeted the comment, gestured with a keyblade to the wriggling girl. "What exactly are you planning on doing?"

"Oh, she'll be fine. I'll truss her up in a corner someplace. She's a slippery little eel," he cooed down into the infuriated face, red spots burning at the cheeks, "so I'm sure she'll free herself eventually."

"Axel, put me down! Now!"

Axel broke into song, crooning 'Here Comes the Bride' as he swept from the room with the girl held close. Her angry screeches rang throughout the enormous foyer. Roxas followed them to the staircase, holding on the banister and watching in bemusement as Axel kicked open the door to the white room further along the landing.

"Roxas! I can't believe you're letting him do this!"

Roxas trailed over to the open door, nervous as the cries became muffled. Axel had stripped off his wet coat, now only in long sleeves and his black jeans. He glanced back, flashed a bright smile at the blond. Naminé's wrists were firmly bound with the strap of her messenger bag, the arms of the coat winding around to add to it. The hood had been firmly jammed into her mouth, her expression screwed up as she fought to force the soggy material from between her teeth.

"Pity I can't do it as a straitjacket," the redhead muttered, earning a burning glare and a growl from the girl. He gave the tangle a final tug, testing it, then stood back to admire his handiwork. Naminé was wrapped in black, from her knees to her chin. It was a good thing Axel was so tall; it meant extra length to get the knots right. Hands on hips, looking far less like the mysterious figure he'd seemed to be on the clock tower and more like the idiot senior Roxas had his first male-crush on, he twisted happily and asked, "What do you think?"

Roxas blinked, nodded a couple times, opened his mouth and agreed, "…Trussed."

Naminé made some anxious grunts, blue eyes fixed appealingly on Roxas. Axel stepped up beside him, clapping a hand against his shoulder, grinning down at the helpless girl. "Well, me and Roxie need to get going, but hey – it's been memorable." He flashed her a thumbs-up, and steered Roxas from the room, hooking his arm around the blond's neck. Roxas smiled without meaning to, leaning into the other teen.

Naminé might have been tied up, people might have been claiming his town wasn't real, he might have been about to leave home forever – but he felt right again, and comfortable, and… somewhere inside, lay that certain part of him that almost remembered the smell of Axel's skin. Just like on that evening at Sunset station – was it only Saturday? – he felt a spark of familiarity wash over him, almost sending a shiver through his muscles. It was nostalgic, leaning against Axel, and Roxas couldn't help but wonder if some part of the redhead's crazy explanation was true. Had they known each other before? Somehow…?

Had Axel – really chosen him?

He angled his head back slightly to look up at the other man, a wondering expression on his face. Axel felt the gaze, glanced down, smiled. "Everything okay down there, Roxie?"

"I'm not that short," the blond grumbled. Axel chuckled, shaking his red spikes back and forth.

"No – you're just short enough."

"For what?"

"For what?" Axel paused as they entered the library, eyebrows raised. He released Roxas, turned to face him, hands on his shoulders, studying him contentedly for a moment. "Well, this, for starters." He bent and kissed the blond, a careful, sweet offering, tongue touching the other's lips without seeking entrance.

Roxas breathed in sharply, and, when Axel pulled away a few seconds later, managed to point out, "But you have to bend. That means I'm not the right height."

Axel squeezed his eyes shut, a crazy grin in place as he tipped his head back. "Oh, God – so innocent. No, I won't say it, I won't." He straightened, threw him a wink, eyes sparkling. "I'll spare you, for now, but damn it, Roxas, you just hand them to me on a platter, don't you?"

"Hand you what on a platter?" the blond demanded. "Why do I get the feeling I'm giving you dirty thoughts?"

"Hell, Roxie." Axel quirked a brow his direction, a sly half-smile in place. "You do that by existing." He shifted over to the desk. "Now, let's get the fuck out of here. I just gave away my coat to a girl like the perfect gentleman I am, and now I'm freezing my ass off. Besides…" He turned to Roxas, a gentle expression on his face. "I feel like taking you home."

He ran a hand over the wooden surface, finger tracing two interlocked circles carved expertly into the wood. Roxas came to stand alongside him, frowning. "What're you – "

"Ssh." Axel lifted a finger to his lips, not glancing up at the blond, continuing to draw circles on the desk. At last, after maybe two minutes, he branched out, creating a circle of his own, invisible but obvious, in almost perfect dimensions, joining flawlessly with the others. There was a low click, then a rumbling, a vibration absorbing the floor, sending Roxas back with a startled curse. He pressed himself hard against the bookcase, eyes shooting wide as the entirety of the floor beyond the desk simply grinded back. Axel came to lean beside him, watching with anticipation, waiting for the process to complete itself. At last, the library floor was gone – in its place, a sharp drop to tiles, a set of stairs leading down into a hidden room. "Holy crap," Roxas croaked, eyebrows knitted together. "I didn't know it could do that."

"You should've explored more when you had the chance," the redhead said smugly, poking the tip of Roxas' nose before leaning across the blond and hooking up his chakrams from their undisturbed position. "Come on, it's safe." He descended casually into the pit, Roxas edging forward uneasily to peep down. "Roxas, you're not jumping – take the stairs." Axel was already at the bottom, gazing up with a reassuring smile. "It's fine, really."

Swallowing hard, Roxas eased down onto the first step, then the second, taking them carefully, the keyblades held high so they wouldn't trip him. At last, he reached Axel, who appeared amused by the other's caution. "We're almost done. We'll be in Hollow Bastion before you know it."

Roxas froze, panicking suddenly. "You're serious, aren't you? Twilight Town – isn't real. And – out there is the real world?" His eyes darted around. "I've spent my life living in a computer." He met the green eyes desperately. "What do I do, Axel? I – I don't know how to live outside of Twilight Town! What if everything's different? What happens if I want to come back?"

Axel was at his side in a second, soothing him, the heavy weight of his chakram on Roxas' back as he tried to rub circles against the cloth of his sweater. "It's okay to be scared, Roxie," he said. "It's okay. Nobody's going to hurt you out there. You'll be completely safe, I promise. The real world is just the same as Twilight Town, just bigger – you'll see. You'll love Hollow Bastion, and it'll love you, I know it." He wrapped his arms around the trembling blond, hugged him tightly. "It's going to be okay. I'll protect you every step of the way." He pressed his lips to Roxas' ear, kissed it briefly then whispered, "Please, Roxie, we have to keep going. If they figure out I'm here, we'll both be shut out until they can bring us separately. Just keep going, and soon you'll be able to rest. I'll give you the bed, all to yourself. No groping on the first night, I promise."

Roxas gave a laugh that sounded almost like a sob, tucked his head into Axel's neck for a second, taking strength from his warmth, then nodded and straightened. Axel let him reluctantly go, looking as if he'd much prefer to stay right where they were if only Roxas would return his face to his throat like that.

There were two steel doors in the hidden basement room. Axel led Roxas to the closer one, pressing a button on the wall to make it slide open and admit them. Roxas stepped through, gripping the keyblades hard, finding himself in an elaborate one-person computer lab. A large, comfortable chair was set up in front of multiple screens of varying sizes, designed to allow maximum visibility to the viewer.

"I bet it has great graphics," Roxas said weakly, attempting humour. Axel grinned appreciatively, going over to activate the machine. The only other feature in the room was a dangerous-looking spike descending from the ceiling, pointing down to a square pad in a recess in the wall. For a couple of minutes, Axel sat himself in the chair, and the sound of tapping filled the air as he typed rapidly, eyes following the jumble of electronic language suddenly tumbling down every screen.

"What… is all this?" Roxas asked uncertainly, coming to stand behind him.

"I'm getting us home," Axel replied shortly, concentrating. The glow from the monitors filled the room, casting eerie shadows, reigniting Roxas' fears as his eyes darted about.

"How do you know all this stuff?"

"I'm a junior technician," Axel reported, not sparing the blond a glance. "I help maintain your Twilight Town. I've…" His fingers stilled for a moment. "I've been watching you for a long time, Roxas." He got typing again.

Roxas absorbed this with wide eyes, worrying at his bottom lip, not sure what to think or how to feel, the gnawing in his stomach making him nauseous. He settled on disquiet, falling silent and allowing the other teen to continue his work unhindered.

At last, he gave the keys a final stroke, and pushed back, swinging the chair around, snatching up his weapons as he got to his feet. "Okay, it's ready for us," he said. "Are you ready for this?"

"No isn't really an option, is it?"

Axel paused, a flash of pain briefly distorting his features. "Look, Roxie, if this isn't what you want, you don't have to go through with it."

"No, don't – " Roxas bowed his head, gave a high, anxious laugh. "Don't give me a choice, okay? Because I don't know right now what I'd say. Let's just – let's just go… please?"

Axel nodded firmly, not willing to waste time arguing, not wanting to give the blond any extra time to decide he didn't want this after all. He ushered Roxas over to stand beneath the deadly spike-looking thing, the blue eyes glancing up nervously. "What's going to happen?"

"We're going to be drawn out of the system and reconstructed in Hollow Bastion." Axel shot him a look, warned, "It's going to feel weird, but you'll be fine, I swear it. Just go with whatever happens. Any second now, you'll be free, Roxie."

"Oh, shit," he whimpered, closing his eyes and burying himself into Axel's chest as the redhead joined him under the spike. Axel's arms wrapped around him.

"Conducting in three… two… one…" Axel bent down, whispered, "I love you."

They shattered into a million pieces and were swept away, out of Twilight Town, a swirl of multi-coloured pixels.

.o.O.o.

Solid ground. Air. Coldness.

Roxas fell to his knees, legs buckling instantly beneath him, and collapsed onto his stomach. The keyblades jabbed into him hard, wrists bent at awkward angles, the blond gasping and sweating, eyes wide but unseeing. His mouth hung open as he sucked in each panting breath, nerve endings on fire like the buzzing of a thousand angry bees swarming under his flesh.

He felt like he'd just been ripped apart at a cellular level and stuck back together by a five-year-old with a tub of paste and assorted coloured ribbons. He heaved, fortunately dryly, gag reflex going nuts at the back of his throat as his brain screamed that the world was upside-down and inside-out all at the same time.

Then Axel was there, murmuring quietly, the words not yet making sense but the intent behind them relaxing Roxas the slightest amount, enough to be pulled up off the floor. His numb fingers released the keyblades, letting them clang loudly to the ground, making Axel wince. The redhead slid an arm through Roxas', hooking around his back to hold him up. "Hold onto me, Roxie. Hold onto me." A hand took his hand, lifted it to the fabric of Axel's black shirt, encouraged the fingers to hook in and cling. "Don't let me go, Roxie. It's okay. We're here now. Just don't let go."

The redhead struggled to hold both Roxas and his chakrams, failed miserably and threw the weapons to the ground to lie with Roxas'. His grip becoming more secure on the blond, he led the staggering teen out of what looked like a second computer lab, this one larger, more airy, a bank of controls spanning one wall in a complicated arrangement.

"I'm taking you to my room, okay?" Axel continued to speak to the disorientated blond, despite the dazed lack of response. "I made the bed and everything, just for you, Roxie. I'll wait until you fall asleep, then I'll come get your giant keys, okay? They'll be there when you wake up in the morning." His arms tightened around Roxas in a spontaneous, joyful embrace. "You made it, Roxas! You did so well. Everything's fine now – you're out of Twilight Town, you're in Hollow Bastion right now. You were so brave."

Roxas was aware of his feet moving, but couldn't have tried to take note of the twists and turns they took as Axel murmured endlessly in his ear, the blond all but hanging in his grip.

"Almost there, Roxie. Everything's going to be perfect from now on, you'll see. You're living for the first time, and you're going to love it."

"Axel, stop right there!"

Axel froze, eyes wide. "Naminé, you bitch," he breathed. Roxas groggily lifted his head, forcing his eyes to focus.

"That's not Naminé," he frowned. A man stood before them, dressed in a curious sort of robe, maroon like the carpet of the mansion… how weird is that? Weirder still, the freak had shining yellow eyes, the only part of his head not completely obscured by the thin bandages wrapped around and around.

"Burns victim?" Roxas muttered out loud.

"DiZ." Axel sounded petrified. "Uh, look, sir – I just – I was just…"

"Naminé informed me what 'you were just'," the man said, his voice a deep, upper-crust growl as he glared at the redhead. "I am very disappointed, Axel. You won't be allowed to see this boy for some time. Your haste has cost you."

"No!" Axel clutched the blond close. "You can't take him from me! I just got him here!"

"You should have thought of that before taking matters into your own hands." The golden eyes settled on Roxas, moving slowly up and down. "He looks atrocious, Axel. We weren't ready for him yet; there is no one awake to calm him."

"I can do it," Axel snapped. "I know how – no one else needs to touch him!"

The man shook his head slowly. "You've been foolish," he said disapprovingly. "And now, perhaps you'll realise. Your selfishness has cost both you and the boy."

"Please – sir, don't do this…"

The man turned, arms tucking behind his back, posture rigidly straight. "You may take the boy to your room. I will send someone for him in the morning. You, in the meantime, will come straight to my study once he is settled in." He paused, without turning, and added coldly, "Don't disobey me again, Axel. I thought I had made myself quite clear when sending Naminé that your involvement was no longer required. If you make me come looking for you, your punishment will be even more severe than it already is."

Axel struggled, one last time: "But… sir…"

"Time is wasting. Your friend needs his sleep. Don't harm him any further than you already have by keeping him out here in the halls."

Axel's head dropped as the man swept away. Roxas' face lolled sideways, resting in the curve between Axel's neck and shoulder. "Axel? What's going on?"

Axel sniffed, kissed his temple. "It's okay, Roxie," he said miserably. "Everything's going to be fine."

He took the blond down several corridors, before pushing through a closed door, into a dim room. A bed, a wardrobe, and a pile of clothing on the floor were the only decoration the cramped space had to offer. Roxas was eased down onto a cool, inviting bed, soft and comfortable, every inch covered with the smell of Axel. He burrowed in without help, eyes slipping shut, a pleased, exhausted smile touching his lips.

Axel stayed for several minutes, watching Roxas drift off to sleep, a hand resting on the warm rise of his hip under the blanket. Despite the trouble he was in, Axel couldn't help smiling down at the slumbering blond, love and affection swelling in his chest. He bent down and gently kissed the high sweep of Roxas' exposed cheekbone, relishing the scent and taste of his skin.

"I won't let them keep me from you…" He rose, moved to the door, his eyes remaining firmly on the blond. "I love you," he whispered, hoping the words would find their way into Roxas' dreams.

He closed the door, and continued on to meet DiZ.