A/N: I started writing this chapter on the train on my way home from a friend's place, and I'm actually quite content with it. I hope it's interesting enough to endure reading at least.
***

"I'm trying to tell you something here!"

"Like always, I know I have a nice boner and NO it won't stand for you and h…iiii Naminé! Didn't see you there.." The obligated awkward silence fell through the room as always when Axel, freshly showered and dripping wet, spoke and he really started to feel bad about himself. He wasn't in his right element, this town was too small for him and he had nothing real to do than to attend that stupid high school. The only thing fun enough to comprehend and not try to fuck up was hanging out with Roxas. Roxie. Rox. Roxas, The combination of letters were so easy and perfectly matched.

"FOR GOD'S SAKE CAN YOU FOCUS FOR A MINUTE YOU LITTLE 'TARD?!" Larxene's upset voice sent a shiver down his lean spine, kept towards his thighs and made his eyes snap right into focus again, actually seeing the two girls in front of him. "I know you're busy being a jackass and a perv and a dumbass and a creep and DEFINITLY a drag-queen with that hair on your head and-"

"What she's trying to say is that you got to go back to normal mode. You must stop with this… vacation-thing. Don't you long for work?" Naminé, sounding more and more like Diz for every visit she spent in the castle often translated Larxene's attempts at being helpful like that.

"I haven't been working for over a year. I don't really remember what I did on my missions anyway… it's all kind of a blur", he started to think about how everything not only seemed out of place but also were only he didn't know how things were supposed to be. Maybe he should go back to work and just leave Twilight Town be.

"The organization wants to meet with you for an interview. To see if you're still… qualified for the job. That's the simplest way I can put it. And we have to leave like, now." Larxene said, rubbing her temples trying to keep her temper.

"Sure thing. Just let me get dress so there won't be any incidents this time", the redhead looked over at the innocent girl on the sofa who instantly started to blush. They hurried out of the room and left him to his privacy. Maybe this was good for him, to be out in real life again.

Dressed and dry, Axel and Larxene left the house after ten minutes leaving Naminé home for making some drawings or whatever she wanted to do as Larxene had put it in the doorframe before leaving. They were heading towards the old mansion in which the dark portals were set up to make it easier to attend Castle Oblivion. It had stopped snowing, though the little marks on the pavement were still present making Axel a bit unsettled. He never cared much for cold weather and especially not for snow and rain. It always made his body stiff and feverish in its tries to keep its normal temperatures intact.

"You look gay in that scarf", Larxene muttered wanting to get the others attention long enough to start a conversation. She lifted a blonde eyebrow and turned her gaze enough to face Axel making a stupid face but tried her best not to laugh since it wasn't part of her oh-so-important gimmick.

"Well. I am gay. Aren't you?" He looked at her with such a surprised face that Larxene thought it was genuine but as soon as she started to compose an answer not entirely bitchy, Axel started to chuckle making her loose her temper once again.

***

"You are on time", Diz's voice rang through the halls sounding surprised but quite satisfied with the fact. This wasn't something known to be Axel's nor Larxene's trademarks, time seemed to be more fluid in their worlds than in others'.

Larxene gave a hard pat on his shoulders, meant as a way of saying good luck, and disappeared out of the white room again leaving Axel to rub the spot he'd been patted on. He looked around in the room he'd entered so many times before and started to feel more and more like home. There were thirteen chairs built in to the wall, each one equally white but in different heights and in the middle of the floor a throne meant for and used only by Diz when the meetings took place.

"You wanted to see me".

"Why yes. How is your… vacation?" Diz's amber-lit eye faced Axels gaze without so much as a flicker to show off any sign of weakness and Axel started to wonder why people did such an unfitting pause before mentioning the word vacation.

***

The next morning Roxas decided to go for a walk and try to clear his head. He had spent the night either trying to get Axel out of his mind and when he finally did, a restless sleep with unnerving dreams had filled his mind. When he woke up a sudden fear of being left and alone struck him but that wasn't unusual for an orphan he figured, so he decided to try and get his thoughts elsewhere by going out for a while. The sun had just made its appearance an hour ago so he was alone in the cool morning, the curious sunrays warming his scarf-less neck.

"90% ready. We're almost done with you, we just need to insert the last veil of serum ####", the words got twisted every time a name got mentioned and the hooded figures were all gathered around what looked like an operation table. "You won't feel a thing…" the voice continued but it followed with a deafening scream sounding like someone was staring death right in the eyes.

The flashback from the dream ended abruptly, leaving Roxas gasping for air. He kept a mantra for himself trying to focus on walking despite the many hours he lacked for the black rings around his eyes to disappear and for him to feel less like a zombie.

The short blond was heading towards the clock tower and was trying to breathe as quiet as possible, enjoying the still surroundings and not wanting to be the thing the broke the magic. The sky looked like it was on fire, a few dark clouds threatening the ground with more snow looking like the smoke coming out of a chimney.

When he arrived at the station one of the train whistles was activated two times in a row announcing that a train was leaving in twenty minutes to some destination Roxas didn't know about. As far as he knew, the trains only went back and forth between the beach, the Sunset-area and Twilight Town and those trains didn't start going until 8.06 AM. Curious, but not curious enough to check the train-boards he proceeded walking.

"You're up early.."

"You have to go up early, no matter how fucking hard you find it!"
"HE CAN GO FUCK HIMSELF SOMEWHERE FOR ALL I CARE I CAN'T GO BACK TO THE CASTLE!"
"YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. You have to pretend not to know."
"You think I can pull it off?" There was fire appearing in gloved hands and the sudden appearance of two spiked wheels framing the other in with the sound of metal making its way through wood. "HUH?! DO YOU?"

Roxas snapped right back into reality grabbing his confused face with his hands, clawing his features trying to stay put.

"How come you're here?" Axel's voice sounded bitter and nodded in Roxas direction when he turned around to face him. He was wearing a long black coat and a stuffed duffle bag hung over his right shoulder dangling a little from his side to his back with the help of his hand holding it. He cocked his head when he didn't get any further response and started walking past the blond.

"We're going after number thirteen Axel. We know where he is and we are planning to take action as soon as possible."
"Really? Who is he?"

Axel's eyes narrowed as he remembered last night, taking the first few steps of the stairs leading up to the station. The second alarm from the train-whistle rang, announcing that it would leave in five minutes. Just as the redhead wondered if he should say something more Roxas spoke up.

"I missed you last night", he said taking a few steps towards him. "I thought you would come to kiss and make up so I left the window open". He felt defeated when he didn't get the reaction he wanted, or any reaction at all for that matter, but since all he could see was Axel's back he missed the little tug in the corners of his mouth, easily confused for a twitch.

"Anyways… I will miss you. Wherever you're going", he said in a last attempt afraid of running out of words.

"No you won't", Axel replied dryly as he turned to take a last look at Roxas, giving him a sad smile that made the blond want to run over to him and wipe it away. He wanted to make whatever was bad go away.

"Maybe you've heard of him Larxene. He lives in Twilight Town, his name is Roxas".