Daughter of The Revolution: So sorry for the late update, but hey, at least I updated, yay! Anyways this story is about to close and I'll finally be able to call it "finished" Sheesh, I need to start finishing my stories and so that is what I'm doing, well enjoy fans!

Roxas scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed but alas . . . the marks would not come off. The blond let out a sigh of disappointment and only cursed inwardly before a splash to his left caught him by surprise. He jumped, attempting to cover the markings that the Merman had left on him when he noticed Demyx next to him.

"Hurry it up, Roxas," the other said, already drying his hair off with a cloth while he finished lacing his shirt together. "The Captain's ready to go and he won't be very happy if you lag behind."

"I'm coming," Roxas informed, waving Demyx off before he made sure no one else was around. With another sigh he got up and took a hold of his clothing and quickly redressed himself. He felt refreshed and it was nice to feel such a way in a place with such hot days.

"Oh, Roxas, there you are."

Roxas turned around just as he laced his shirt together and saw Xion holding onto his cloak for him. She smiled and watched her step as she came down towards the small creek where the men had just refreshed themselves.

"Here's your cloak. It's time to head out again," she informed, watching on with a content smile to see her close friend up and about and acting as if he had never been sick before in his life. "It truly is good to see you well again."

"Thanks," Roxas smiled back at her after he finished putting on his cloak. "Thank the Captain. He let us find a creek to refresh ourselves in. We all needed it."

"He wants us all fresh for the day ahead," Xion responded, rocking back on her heels slightly. "I heard from Luxord that we're going to be walking through the night with only a few short breaks."

"No rest tonight, huh?" Roxas nodded in acknowledgement before he smiled at his best friend. "That's fine with me. I'll be able to keep up. I suppose we are that close to the Fountain. I wonder what it will be like, Xion."

Xion's deep blue eyes looked up to see Roxas' own gaze up into the skies that signaled a clear day ahead of them. She shrugged her shoulders and clasped her gloved hands together.

"I don't know, but I can tell the Captain is ready to finally reach it. The main problem is: how are we going to get the Merman to cry?"

Roxas looked back towards Xion with a quick jerk of his body. He had completely forgotten about that issue. The only reason they had Axel was to get a tear out of him. What were they going to do if or when they got it? Suddenly, Roxas' gut wrenched and the sight of Axel's skeleton lain out on the ground with no water for miles struck him deep.

Before, Roxas could have cared less if the Mermaid they had captured died or not. He knew the creatures were evil and wanted nothing more than to drag them down to their watery graves, but he had gotten to know Axel very well these past few days and now Roxas was concerned for his wellbeing.

"Xion," Roxas' voice was just above a whisper. "What . . . do you think they'll do to Axel when they get his tear?"

"Oh, well, I haven't thought about that too much," Xion answered honestly with a slight furrow of her brow. "I'm not sure."

"Will they kill him?" Roxas asked, looking at Xion with worried eyes.

"I can't say," Xion said with a nervous shake of her head. "You should ask the Captain if you are that worried for him."

"Do you not care at all to what happens to him, Xion?" Roxas asked, his tone almost rung a desperate pitch and Xion could hear it as clear as the day was around them.

"I would rather they set him loose, Roxas!" Xion bit back, looking quite angry at her companion. "Don't you dare even think I care nothing for Axel. I'm not without heart."

Roxas blinked in surprise at Xion's defense of herself before he watched her bow her head and fold her arms. She had been hurt at the accusation and now Roxas felt as if he were the one in the wrong.

"Xion, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to think like that, but I just need to know," Roxas said before looking uphill at the rest of his crewmates packing up camp and getting ready to head out.

"I am not informed on many a thing, so don't assume I am," Xion spoke before she inhaled a deep breath and pulled out a smile. "Well, come Roxas. Let's head out."

"Right," Roxas nodded before he marched back uphill towards their crew and then helped finish packing up their camp.

"Everyone ready?" Xemnas called out and was answered with a loud "Aye!" and so smiled. "Well, it looks like everyone is refreshed so you should all thank your Captain for bestowing orders to let everyone bathe before we head out again."

A series of "Thank ye kindly" and "Thank-you" and "Gracious Captain"s were thrown into the air before Xemnas deemed the praise enough and turned to head out.

"Can you believe we are this close to the Fountain of Youth? !" Demyx exclaimed and he hop-skipped around Roxas and Zexion who had been walking side by side. "Just imagine being young for the rest of your life!"

"Yes and then getting shot and this trip was a waste of time," Zexion replied back blankly.

"Why do you always do this, Zexion?" Demyx asked with a slump of his shoulders. "Do you like ruining our dreams?"

"It's never been my dream to remain this age, this size, for the rest of my life," Zexion muttered. "I would like to reach full adulthood someday."

"And then grow old and die? I don't think so," Demyx said, shaking his head. "I think I'm fairly fit right now and would enjoy staying this way for eternity."

"We don't even know if the Fountain can do that," Zexion said. "In fact, we don't know too much about what it really does."

"What it really does is grant you eternal youth, hence the name of the Fountain," Demyx said with a 'Duh' expression on his features.

"There have been various attempts at eternal youth throughout the centuries," Zexion pointed out. "It didn't take the first explorer who found the Fountain of Youth to know that we needed to know where it is located or why we need two chalices and a Mermaid's tear. No. That took trial and error and many died over the tests. This is why not many have been granted eternal youth."

"But Captain seems to know what he's doing," Demyx spoke up again. "If he didn't, we wouldn't have lost most of our crew just to get the map and the two chalices. Hell, I was surprised no one was lost when we captured the Merman."

"I almost was," Roxas spoke up softly.

"But you're a fighter!" Demyx exclaimed in praise as he punched the younger's shoulder. "Which is why the Captain will definitely let you have eternal youth too."

"We all deserve it for putting up with the Captain through these perilous flights," Zexion muttered, making sure the Boatswain or first mate didn't hear him.

"Zexion's right, Demyx," Roxas spoke. "You all were faithful to the end and should be rewarded as such. But the Captain hasn't technically confirmed such a claim as of yet."

"No, he hasn't I suppose," Demyx muttered, thinking about it. "But I'm sure he doesn't want to remain eternal alone. We're practically family!"

"I agree with that," Roxas said with a smile before it slowly faded while he turned his eyes towards Xion who walked a few paces ahead of him, next to Larxene. The raven-haired girl turned her eyes back towards the front where the Captain and first mate and Boatswain were—along with the Merman who looked like he was having a hard time walking.

Roxas hated how they were treating Axel and especially hated how Saïx treated the redhead. He could see him purposely loosening his grip on the rope tied to the cuffs on the Merman's hands to only quickly tug him forward in an attempt to make him stumble and trip to the ground. It had happened more than once and finally the Captain had to inform the blue-haired mate that time was of the essence and that tripping the Merman only lagged such precious time.

Still, even after those small defenses for the Merman, Roxas couldn't tell what the Captain thought of Axel. He didn't know if he wanted him dead after he obtained eternal youth or if he would simply free him to return to his sisters at the bay. It was hard to read the Captain, always had been ever since Roxas had joined the crew so many years ago.

"Look at that," Demyx whispered to Roxas as he pointed toward the head of their company where Saïx was with the Merman. "You see Saïx trying to make him stumble? He doesn't like the Merman because he's taller. He wants him lower."

Roxas rose his brow and then turned to look at Axel and compare him to the Boatswain. Demyx was right; the Merman was indeed taller than Saïx. Not by much but there was a definite difference and Roxas could tell the Boatswain was upset with the way the Merman always held himself high—higher than him.

"Who would have thought Saïx would be upset over simple height differences," Demyx whispered with a chuckle.

"If he's so concerned about being taller then why doesn't he just let Axel have water to where his legs return to his tail?" Roxas muttered. "Oh, I remember. It's because they don't want to carry him. Fine, let Saïx grumble over stupid height issues."

"Wow, you're really defensive for that Merman, Roxas," Demyx noted. "I didn't know you were into redheads."

"What? !" Roxas gasped, his face heating up to the near color of said Merman's hair color.

Demyx almost doubled back from his laughter, but Zexion was quick to hush and still him.

"Quiet yourself, Demyx!" Zexion hissed in his whisper. "You know how the first mate hates it when you lollygag around."

"Sorry," Demyx muttered out his apology with a bow of his head before he nearly broke out in a series of giggles. "But did you see Roxas' face? !"

Roxas was busy at the moment rubbing his enflamed cheeks before trying to get Demyx's comment out of his head. It was sort of true. Roxas had never shown any interest in attributes on a person before he had met Axel. Now, the color of red had caused his body to react in such a way that Roxas knew the color was to his liking now when it hadn't been before. But only that color Axel could pull off, anyone else shamed the vibrant hue.

Roxas looked back towards Axel who had his head turned to him, his green eyes looking right at him when he smirked at him. Roxas' cheeks heated up again before he glanced away, a few seconds afterwards Roxas looked back towards the Merman only to find him staring warily at the Captain who then turned his eyes back towards Roxas.

Why is he staring at me like that? Roxas wondered while halting his steps for but a short moment before Xaldin pushed him forward. Why is he staring at Axel like that?

Roxas knew that their dear old Captain was up to something. That man was smarter than any gave him credit for. Why else do you think he was able to evade the Navy for so long?

That uneasy feeling deep in his gut arose again inside Roxas and Roxas bit his lip nervously. Now he dreaded reaching the Fountain of Youth when before he had been more than ecstatic and it was all because of their Captain Xehanort. He didn't have to heart to speak his mind to the others, but Xion, she could read him like a book—though he doubted she knew of his distrust for their Captain whom she still idolized, along with the others.

So Roxas simply marched on. It was all he could do.

"Halt!" Xemnas called out. "It is time for our first break of the night. There will be three breaks in all so don't settle yourselves for too long."

The first mate had said that 2 times already and so this was their last break. After this they would be heading to the Fountain straight forward. A little after sunrise is when they would reach it and Roxas couldn't believe they were already that close. The end of their journey was that near.

Now, suddenly, Roxas was unnerved. He turned towards the Boatswain who still had a hold on the Merman and his dread pushed his spirit down into the earth. What was going to happen to Axel? What was to become of the creature he had come to bear affections for? What was his Captain planning?

Well, Roxas supposed nothing could happen right as of now. Axel hadn't shown any motion into even beginning to shed tears. He heard the Merman were exceptionally hard to get to produce tears so he wondered what the Captain had planned. Now, Roxas was afraid—afraid of what they'd do to Axel.

"Saïx."

Roxas' head turned at the sound of their Captain's voice and turned just in time to see their Boatswain come up to their Captain while handing the "leash" over to Xemnas whom kept a tight hold on Axel. Roxas then watched as the two lowered their voices and Xehanort pointed to the pond that the nearby waterfall fell into. It was a deep pond full of cool water where they had taken their empty barrels and refilled. It wasn't until Roxas caught more words when he understood what his Captain was talking to Saïx about.

"Let him stretch his fins and scales before we reach the Fountain. He won't get to afterwards," Xehanort informed the blue-haired Boatswain as he patted him on the shoulder before walking off and stealing a glance at the glaring Merman before making his way off to his resting place.

Roxas watched closely as Saïx considered it before letting out an annoyed sigh and coming up to Xemnas and explaining to him the orders by which he was given. The first mate seemed annoyed as well but he obeyed. Calling over Lexaeus and Xaldin he ordered the two to do something. Roxas didn't know what it was and so watched on with hidden concern.

"What are they doing?" Xion sat herself down next to Roxas and watched on, with the rest of the other mates.

"I don't know," Roxas spoke. "The Captain said something to them, and now . . ."

Everyone watched on in wonder as Xaldin grabbed a few iron bolts and walked over to the pond where the small waterfall fell into and examined the rocks. After he found the most sturdy one he called Lexaeus over with his large hammer and pointed to where he wanted to place the bolt. The larger of the two nodded as Xaldin placed the bolt into the rock part of the way and then Lexaeus finished by hitting the bolt harder into the rock and then they moved aside as Saïx and Xemnas pulled Axel along, throwing him to the side of the pond before taking off one of his cuffs and pulling the chain tight through the iron bolt now sealed tight into the boulder.

After this, Roxas jumped up as Xemnas himself kicked Axel into the pond. His lithe body made a loud splash that shook Roxas' core. With a gasp, Roxas darted towards them, worry written all over his features.

"What are you doing? !" Roxas asked, looking down into the pond to try and see if the Merman was alright, but all he could see was white foam because the water slushed against itself.

"Calm yourself, Roxas," Xemnas groaned out with an annoyed sigh. "Mermen don't drown."

With that he left with a chuckle while the others left Roxas to try all he could to look into the pond to see any clue of Axel's form.

"Roxas, relax," Xion said, coming up to Roxas and rubbing his back. "Please, you should stay away from the edge less he might try drowning you again."

"Axel would never!" Roxas spat, surprising his friend as her eyes widened.

"What has gotten into you, Roxas?" Xion asked, standing up straight and shaking her fists. "Why do you make fun of my worrying? !"

"Because it's false!" Roxas bit back. "Axel himself told me that he'd never hurt me."

"Sirens always tell you what you want to hear," Xion muttered before shaking her head. "Maybe you're a lost cause, Roxas." With a frustrated sigh, the girl left.

Roxas felt horrible for nearly biting his friend's head off, but his worry for Axel was greater. So he turned and strained himself to see Axel's form in the water, but the white foam wouldn't disappear.

"Roxas, get away from there," Xemnas ordered.

Roxas curled his hands into fists but he had no choice but to listen.

"Aye, aye, sir," Roxas muttered before standing up and leaving slowly.

"Get some rest. This is our last stop and longest. Everyone should be able to get a couple of hours of sleep before sunrise so you do the same," Xemnas spoke as Roxas walked passed him.

"I understand, sir," Roxas replied with a nod.

The blond moved himself back to where he had sat himself, next to Xion, but the girl was still upset with him and so she turned her back to him as she laid herself down. Roxas didn't feel like apologizing just now and so he laid himself down as well, back towards his best friend and eyes solely on the pond. The waters were still, but he still saw no sign of Axel and soon his eyes grew weary of watching when, before he knew it, he was drifting off into dream.

Roxas . . .

Roxas . . .

Look at me . . .

Roxas . . .

Wake!

Roxas' eyes shot open and he looked around himself. Everyone was still slumbering, well except Xigbar who had watch—wait, yep, he was sleeping as well. Roxas let out a sigh as he leaned up on his elbows and watched their designated "watcher" nodding his head up and down, light snores coming out of his mouth. He then turned towards Xion still slumbering next to him. The girl was curled up into a ball and shivering. Looking at her sympathetically, Roxas took off his cloak and pulled it over her, watching in an instant her shivering cease. A light smile graced Roxas' lips seeing his friend at peace before he, himself, shivered.

The night had a slight chill but that wasn't what caused his body to tremble. Roxas turned his body in the direction of the pond where it seemed no one was kept guard over. Well, he assumed there wasn't need to be, the chain had been nailed into the boulder pretty hard and not even a Merman would be able to break that.

With Axel coming to mind, Roxas stood up slowly and quietly and tiptoed his way towards the pond just close enough to see the chain still attached to the rock, slightly moving. That meant Axel was well. With a relieved smile Roxas nodded his head and decided to turn back to his resting spot but a sloshing sound he caught inside his ears and he stopped and turned to see said Merman arise from the waters like one would a misty fog, and Roxas' couldn't help it as he watched in awe as the water easily parted for the creature and as he arose to the air above, the water sliding down his lithe body so easily that one would think he was a statue made of marble.

"Axel," the name exhaled from his mouth like a lost breath and sure enough it was, especially as he beheld the beautiful siren before him who placed his scaly arms on the boulders placed round the pond and let his chin rest against his forearms, emerald eyes gazing deeply into Roxas' hues.

The night was strange. As Roxas beheld the Merman, he noticed how the pond looked as if it glew and the water glistening down Axel's frame seemed to shine like stars in the bright sky, but his eyes shined the most out of anything in the night and it was like those fiery greens were the only colors known to existence at this moment.

There was a smile on the Merman's lips and Roxas watched in a trance as five webbed fingers curled upward, bidding him come and now Roxas' body had a mind of its own as he slowly put his right foot in front of his left and made his way toward that pond and now, Roxas found himself kneeling down on flat stone to look into the reflecting waters. Just as Roxas looked at his own reflection one minute, the next he was looking into the beautiful facial features of Axel—the Merman he had grown affection for.

Axel was smiling at him sweetly, before his green eyes seemed to darken and soon, arms wrapped around Roxas' neck and Roxas felt his body become immersed in cold water.

"R-Roxas!" Xigbar gasped, snapping out of his light nap before he darted over towards the pond to look down into it. "Damn it!"

The gunner quickly took out one of his guns as he loosened his cloak, preparing to jump into the pond after the blond whom he had seen over it just mere seconds before he fully woke up. Placing his gun in his mouth, Xigbar just about jumped in if someone hadn't taken hold of his arm.

"Let go! That Merman has—!" Xigbar turned around with an angry scowl before he jumped to attention at the sight of his Captain.

"Roxas," Captain Xehanort finished with a nod and a slowly glance towards the pond below, the depths hidden in the night, but he knew why the Merman had taken his crewmate and he by all means didn't want to stop him now. "At ease, Xigbar. Roxas is just doing his duty and in so will ensure us eternal youth."

Xigbar eyed his Captain warily; his body still itched to jump in right after Roxas, but his Captain kept him there with those amber eyes. So now he waited, for what? He didn't know. He just prayed the Merman hadn't finally killed Roxas.

The feeling of being pulled under water was enough to wake him out of his trance and in an instant Roxas pulled away from Axel and quickly began swimming up to the surface—or at least tried to. A firm grip latched onto his wrist and right before he poked his head out of the water, Axel pulled him back further under.

Relax, relax.

There were those soothing words in Roxas' mind again. He didn't have too much time to think on them though while his body remained underwater and drowning, but as a hand touched his cheek and then another, Roxas was forced to open his eyes to peer into shining pond waters to see Axel staring at him with a smile, shaking his head ever so slightly, as if Roxas had done something silly. Then, Axel moved closer and pressed his lips against Roxas', exhaling pure oxygen into his mouth.

Roxas inhaled deeply but with his nostrils as well and so he quickly turned from Axel and coughed out all the air he had just inhaled. Axel was shaking his head again as he brought Roxas closer again and pressed his lips to his.

Only breathe with your mouth, try it.

That voice, it was Axel's. Roxas was sure of it.

Roxas closed his eyes, nodding and doing just as he was told and soon enough Roxas felt as if he had just come up to land and could breathe again. Opening his eyes, Roxas stared at Axel in wonder before the Merman closed his own eyes and continued to exhale.

Roxas kept his eyes wide open and slowly wandered down Axel's frame. He looked under the redhead's jaw and saw the gills taking in water to convert into oxygen for him and it amazed Roxas to no end. Hesitantly he reached out to touch the gills and upon the touch Axel opened his eyes and stared deeply at Roxas. Taking Roxas' hand into his own, Axel guided Roxas' hand (particularly his fingers) towards the underside of his gills and he guided Roxas' middle and index finger to caress them and Roxas did as shown watching in awe as the Merman closed his eyes again, tilting his head to the side to let Roxas have more access to the merpart.

Roxas felt his body heat, despite the cold temperatures of the deep pond's waters. Even though scales adorned Axel's fine body, Roxas could imagine a reddening of Axel's cheek and neck if he were to have skin as he caressed and rubbed his gills.

Inhaling a deep breath from Axel's mouth, Roxas pulled away from the Merman and then laid his head against the redhead's neck and then Roxas felt it, the jolt and jerk of the Merman's body as he latched his mouth onto a gill and suckled it, running his tongue under the scale and inside towards the darker scales underneath.

Strong long arms wrapped around his body and held him close, one webbed hand pushing his head closer and deeper into the area of Axel's neck. It was a hard push and Roxas could feel the scales scratching his cheeks and lips, but he didn't care at the moment and for some strange reason, he liked it as Axel pulled him against him harder. It, in a way, made Roxas feel as if Axel saw him as a kindred creature, something not so far apart like a human and a Merman.

It wasn't until after Axel tasted blood in the water he inhaled that he pulled back. He held tightly onto golden locks as he looked at the young boy in his arms whose lips had been cut by sharp gill and cheeks and neck scratched by scale.

That's right, you're human.

Roxas shook his head and wrapped his arms around the Merman who had kept them suspended just above the bottom of the pond with slow sways of his long and strong tail.

Please, I don't want to be so different, Roxas pleaded, hugging the Merman close as his legs wrapped around the scarlet tail that swayed lazily in the waters around them to remain in same spot.

You're asking I treat you as a Merperson? Axel questioned with a firm press of his palms into Roxas' lower back.

Roxas didn't really know what he was asking and as he looked into Axel's eyes that seemed to brighten as they remained there in the pond's waters, Roxas didn't know what would happen if he said "yea" or "nay". Honestly he was a little unnerved at the moment. The waters were not natural to him as the lands were, but still . . . he felt akin to Axel who was bound by the seas and so, maybe . . .

Roxas slowly nodded his head up and down. It was barely seen, but Axel had caught it and so he brought him close once more and this time turned his body so that Roxas' back was towards the pond's ground and with a firm flip of his tail they were propelling towards the floor, but they never made it.

Ah, dammit—I forgot about this thing, Axel shook his head as he brought up his wrist to reveal the chained cuff. Roxas looked at and then at the chain already stretched to its max. Axel had no more room to swim towards the floor of the pond.

Touching the cuff and chain, Roxas felt Axel grab his hand and bring it to his lips where he suckled on his knuckles.

I'm sorry, but we can't reach the bottom. This will be different; for the both of us. Axel looked at Roxas apologetically before he hooked his hands under Roxas' arms and pushed him back

Roxas' held in breath escaped as his back touched the rocky side of the pond, still a few feet under the surface but Axel was quick to replace that lost breath with fresh oxygen from his own lungs and Roxas did breathe in much. While doing so Roxas pressed his lips firmly against Axel and even sunk his teeth into that devious tongue of the Merman's.

Stay close to me, Roxas inwardly begged as he felt tears slip from his eyes only to mix into the water around him.

Don't cry and you stay close to me, Axel whispered back to him, tickling Roxas' inner ears as the boy shivered outwardly.

Roxas smiled and blinked away his tears once more as he looked at the beautiful creature before him. He reached out to him and rubbed against the violet tattoos underneath each emerald eye.

No, you are the one that should never cry, you hear me?

Then stay close and I won't, remember that, Axel whispered mentally back before he returned to Roxas and exhaled air into the blond's lungs.

Roxas weakly shook his head and smiled as the Merman gave him a deep breath and then pulled away, patting his lips with the tips of his webbed fingers as he smiled down at him and then he descended once more and kissed his neck and then collarbone before he opened his vest to touch and caress the best he could in his scaled form.

I'm sorry my scales are not as soft as human skin, Axel apologized as he felt Roxas jump at the way the rough scales scratched down his bare skin.

No, Roxas opened his eyes and took Axel's hand in his own before he pressed it down his abdomen, only going lower. I want this—I want this part of you.

Whatever he said seemed to have had the Merman all smiles. Axel grinned a sharp toothy grin before he leaned in again and let Roxas breath while he enjoyed the blond's kiss. His hands were quick to reach into his breeches and rub him. Roxas let out a moan into the pond's water in response to the rough touch and soon Axel gave him more breath and let him make those noises into his mouth as his breathing grew more needy.

Once the blond was just as hard as scale, Axel rubbed it once more so that it may be used to feel of his texture of scale before he pulled the pants off of the boy. Now, his hand fell on his own body up towards his mouth where he made a thick substance and let it stick to his fingers. The human's eyes were barely open but he was watching on with interest. Axel smiled and kissed Roxas, giving him breath as he let his hand fall down to rub Roxas again before exploring the private area between the blond's legs.

There we go, Axel sighed in content as he penetrated the boy's entrance with fingers quickly following one right after another. Similar in place to a Mermaid's, but slightly different. Don't worry, I'm flexible.

Roxas' face heated at the intrusion, but the substance Axel had lathered his hand with had helped with the pain, especially against the rough feel of scales against his insides. It almost felt as if his insides had hardened slightly. Still, he held tightly to Axel, particularly onto his red hair that swayed to and fro in the water and it mesmerized him so, especially with the way it felt falling and slipping between his fingers as he clung to the thinner scales.

Letting out a groan, Roxas was pressed more tightly against the side of the pond's rocky walls. Axel was now leaning his weight on him and he was heavy, even under water Roxas couldn't help but gasp. His gasps were quickly replaced by much needed air from Axel's lips which Roxas gladly greeted every time they descended upon his own.

Now, as Axel leaned chest to chest against Roxas, the boy felt the creature's arm reach down between them and Roxas hardened at the thought of those fingers touching him again, but they didn't, instead they slipped passed his manhood and instead rested on the scales of Axel's own red tail. Roxas pushed his hips out hard into Axel's tail so he could get a better look at what the Merman was doing and when he saw the redheaded Merman pull up a few scales Roxas furrowed his brows before something akin to a muscle began to poke out.

Roxas let out a wince when he watched Axel pull those scale fully up to where it looked almost painful and unnatural. In fact, it probably was because Mermen and Mermaids didn't mate like this.

Mate like this?

Roxas' hands flew to his red face as he put more thought into the subject now at hand. Was this even possible? Humans and Mercreatures—mating? Ridiculous, right?

A-Axel, please, I-I don't know, I—

A kiss was what met Roxas' lips. Long and slow before Axel rolled his tail into Roxas' hips. Roxas' eyelids fluttered closed and they tightened around his eyes even more as he was penetrated in a way Roxas has never been before. Clinging closely to the Merman, Roxas couldn't help but cry out into Axel's mouth while the rough muscle slipped inside him and it continued to lengthen it seemed to where Roxas almost felt he'd choke on it in his throat.

But even amongst the pain, Roxas had never felt as close to the Merman as he was now.

It had surprised the redhead greatly when he felt the human begin to kiss him as his mouth covered his. Roxas released his lips and began to suck on scaled lips while Axel continued to press into him. Axel felt Roxas every now and then bite his lips in sign he was enduring the pain of his length. The soft, yet tight muscles clenching around it were of little resistance and he slipped in quickly, but the boy was so small that Axel feared he wouldn't be able to take his entire length and he didn't want to hurt the human.

So Axel stopped. He wasn't completely inside, but a good portion of him was and he felt Roxas exhale into the water, loosening his grip he had on him as he clung to him for support. Axel breathed into Roxas again and he felt the boy greedily take in as much air as he could to calm his pained body.

You're very brave, Roxas, Axel whispered as he caressed Roxas' face before planting a soft kiss on the blond's forehead and then he rolled his fin slightly for a lighter thrust and what it caused aroused the Merman. Roxas choked out bubbles into the pond, his eyes closed tightly, throwing his head back as his skin flushed.

Axel loved the sight of those bubbles escaping those pink lips. Before, that sign meant the death of a human and Axel wasn't too sure what he thought about that, but now, watching Roxas lose his breath through means of white bubbles in the water, Axel couldn't help himself.

He pressed his lips against Roxas and let him breath as he wrapped his long tail around the boy more securely and this time he flapped his tail harder against the water. Axel could hear Roxas' moans, inward and outward, as he did this and this only encouraged him to thrust harder into him since he seemed to be enjoying himself so much.

Axel was careful in how hard he pressed into the human though, he would wait until Roxas couldn't take it anymore, until the boy would protest, but so far . . . Roxas said nothing. In fact, his legs only tightened around his tail, pulling him closer. There was nothing in Roxas' body or vocals to signal he wanted Axel to ease himself.

So Axel pressed in harder and more.

Roxas gasped out more bubbles as Axel pressed into him again with a particularly hard thrust. This time, Roxas pressed his face into Axel's chest and trembled. Axel's strong arms held him tighter as he thrust in and out of him with long but powerful presses. Azel halted himself in pressing more of himself into the human and so continued in rhythm.

It had been a while since Roxas had taken air and when he continued to show no interest in it, Axel forced the boy's head up and he pressed against his lips roughly to where he tasted blood and he was sure Roxas did as well, but the boy ignored the metallic taste and inhaled deeply. His smaller hands stayed on his shoulders, digger into scale and pulling. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was an odd feeling for a human to pull at his scales with such strength for someone so small.

Roxas looked up into the Merman's eyes and moaned, letting a few bubbles escape his lips, just as they had the redhead was upon him, breathing into him and being so close. There it was; another powerful thrust from the Merman and it amazed Roxas how Axel kept an even yet firm sway of his tail to aim perfectly into him. It felt good, too good, and this siren of the deep had him and Roxas would always let him have him.

The length inside him was rough, but it was not without pleasure. In fact, Roxas had never felt any kind of pleasure like this in his life and he doubt he ever would if it was not given to him by Axel. It hardly felt as scaled as the outside of Axel's body, only a little rough in texture.

The only thing that made Roxas shiver was the feel of its length. Roxas knew that the Merman was not in him fully and when Axel went to press into him more Roxas couldn't hold in his surprised gasp. It hadn't hurt as much as he thought it would, it just startled him. Roxas wasn't a Mermaid and he didn't think Axel would try and press the rest of himself in, but, maybe . . .

Roxas' hands reluctantly left Axel's narrow shoulders to press against the Merman's abdomen that had tensed from a previous thrust, using those muscles to pull his long tail underneath upwards to make Roxas moan. Roxas held in the moan this time with all his might and instead reached down to the member inside him and then to the part of it that wasn't. With his hand he roughly measured what he could and discovered that Mermen and human men were quite different in length wise and so Roxas froze. He's been with a few women and knew he wasn't at all happy unless he was entirely engulfed in their wet warmth. So what must Axel feel like?

Roxas looked up towards Axel who looked down at him before pressing his lips to his to give Roxas a good breath before releasing his lips and nipping at his neck. Roxas hummed in pleasure before he closed his eyes and bit the inside of his lip. Taking a good hold on the member in his hands Roxas pulled and pushed what he could with what self-control he had inside him.

To Roxas' surprise, he felt Axel's hands let go of his form and instead they were pressed flat against the rock wall Roxas was leaning against and Axel's full weight was upon Roxas. Guided by Roxas' hand, Axel was pressing the rest of himself into Roxas since the human encouraged it. Roxas felt the way he did when Axel had first penetrated him—as if it took an eternity before Axel had a good amount of himself inside the blonde—but still Roxas was surprised with the little amount of pain.

Roxas opened his eyes and looked up at Axel. The Merman's eyes were closed and he looked as if he had fallen into sheer pleasure. Then, slowly, those emeralds opened and looked back at him and this time, there was no air, just tongue, scale, and fang. Roxas' hair was pulled, his vest hung low on his arms and his chest was clawed near enough to draw blood and when Axel unwrapped his tail from around his legs, Roxas felt the Merman shift only slightly before rolling his tail and flapping his fin sharp and hard, kicking up sand at the bottom of the floor and the effect make Roxas throw his head back and scream.

Merpeople had the most powerful tails in the sea, some have been known to capsize small vessels easily, and this was all heard of the Mermaids doing, but of the Mermans? Roxas choked out bubbles multiple times as he felt that tail roll powerfully and slam into his own hips, cutting his skin in such pleasurable ways.

Then, right when Roxas surely felt he'd drown, Axel's lips were on his own and Roxas clung to him tightly, wrapping his arms around his neck and into scaled hair, gasping in chokes of much needed air. Roxas loved it like this; just when he thought he couldn't hold on anymore, Axel was always right there to give him just what he needed to continue and now . . .

Roxas may have just fallen in love.

He's never felt the feeling of love before, but what he had for this creature, for this siren of the deep was something so strong and powerful that Roxas cursed the day he was born a human and wished with all his might that whatever god was out there would grant him his earnest plea and transform him into a kind like Axel so that he wouldn't have to continue hanging onto him and breathe from his lips. That way he'd be able to stay by his side with little assistance.

But that was just it, Axel didn't seem to care that Roxas was human and he a Merman, two nearly opposite beings. Still the Merman caressed his body and took him the way he would his own kind, just as Roxas had wished.

Axel, Roxas inwardly whispered out as he looked into those hypnotic green eyes and just as they seemed to glow a little more the colors let Roxas know that the Merman was listening. Let's escape . . .together.

Axel's smile wasn't sadistic, it wasn't proud, and it most certainly wasn't seductive, but it was full of relief and a great deal of happiness. The Merman gave the blond a nod before brushing the boy's cheek with the palm of his wedded hand and leaned forward to kiss him and give him a breath of air before holding him close and thrusting into the human one last time, and then, it was over.

Roxas pulled back from the Merman letting his scream escape into those small and large bubbles, his eyes wide open towards the water's surface above. He felt something enter him and he was too tired to concern himself with those matters at the moment, but just as his body slowly climbed down from orgasmic highs he felt Axel pull out of him. The Merman had taken hold of his hips and held him steady as he pulled out and away.

When Roxas finally looked back down he smiled at the sight before him. Axel was smiling at him, with the softest and most calm eyes he had ever seen. Roxas couldn't help himself as he leaned forward and kissed him soft yet long. Roxas had never felt so light and peaceful in his life and he knew that this—between him and Axel—was right. It had to be.

Roxas glanced up at the surface again and when he looked back at Axel, the Merman was frowning. He seemed so reluctant to return him to the surface; to land.

I need to return, Roxas pressed, even though he, like Axel, was reluctant to return. I don't know how long I've been in here. The stop isn't long. They might look for me.

Of course, Axel replied with a smile and shake of his head. Alright, let's return you.

The Merman then hooked his hands under Roxas' arms and pulled him close to his chest as he rolled his tail and flapped his fin to press himself and the human up to break water. When Roxas gasped for breath he was slightly disappointed at how warm the air was and how intoxicated with other impurities it was, but he couldn't help it—earth had come a long way for the air to become like this.

With a groan, Roxas made his way to the side of the pond and grabbed a hold tightly onto a boulder. Axel was behind him, helping him lift himself up onto ground.

"Thank-you," Roxas whispered with a pained smile. Axel only smiled in kind as he watched Roxas fix himself on land, wincing whenever he moved too quickly.

"I hurt you," Axel spoke, taking in Roxas' scratched/clawed/bruised form.

"Don't be sorry," Roxas replied back and then looked around. He parted his lips before he darted to his right and limped over to the hammer he has seen Lexaeus use to smash the chain into the rock.

"Roxas, what are you doing? !" Axel asked, looking around with great caution to make sure no one was awake and beholding this sight.

Roxas then took a good hold of the hammer and dragged it over, forcing his body to move despite the horrid pain he was in and the hard time he was having walking properly.

"I'm, ah, getting you out, like I promised," Roxas hissed quietly before finding where the chain had been hammered and then raising the hammer to let gravity do its work and hopefully break the chain.

TINK

Nothing. Roxas inhaled a sharp breath and picked up the hammer once more to try again.

TINK

Still nothing. So, this time, Roxas actually used his own strength as he brought the hammer down the third time.

TaTINK

"Roxas, stop, you'll wake the others!" Axel warned, swimming up to the edge of the pond and placing his hands on Roxas' boots.

"I have to do this, Axel," Roxas replied back, shaking his head. "If you stay they'll kill you! I know this!"

"Of course we will, but after we get a hold of his tear."

Roxas' eyes widened as he turned just in time to see his Boatswain jump him, knocking the hammer out of his hands and into the pond where he heard Axel hissing and crying out to him as Saïx dragged him away from his reach.

"ROXAS!" Axel cried out, lunging out of the water to try and grab a hold of the boy, but his chain was caught up in the grasp of Marluxia who tugged on it tightly, bringing the Merman falling back—right into his hook.

"AXEL! NO!" Roxas cried out, struggling in Saïx's grasp, watching in horror as blood sprayed over Axel's scales, dripping down torso and then abdomen where it pooled around his tail. And the blood falling passed his gasping lips left Roxas in tears. "Stop! Please!"

"What's going on? !"

Roxas turned to see Xion and Demyx who seemed to have just woken up. Their eyes were wide at both the sight of the Merman and of Roxas.

"Roxas, what happened to you?" Xion asked with a gasp as her wide eyes scanned Roxas' appearance.

The cries and the shouts seemed to begin to hush while a few crewmembers stepped aside to let their Captain into the circle where he looked at the Merman who was grasping the hook sticking out of his torso and then towards Roxas who was still struggling to reach his lover. That same smile was on the old man's lips and Roxas froze when those amber eyes fell upon him.

"It's time men," Captain Xehanort addressed and then turned towards the Merman once more. "The tear of a Mercreature is ready to be harvested."

Roxas began to tremble the more he realized how sinister his Captain is, how he had been this entire time. Stretching out his arm, Xehanort pointed in the direction of the Fountain of Youth—that place they were so close to right now.

"Take him to the Fountain."

With those five words Roxas cried out as Xaldin broke the chain attached to the boulder and Marluxia and Lexaeus pulled Axel's body up, Marluxia dragging him by the hook and Lexaeus by his long tail that barely moved due to wound Axel had received.

"No, NO!" Roxas cried out, ripping himself out of Saïx's grasp and running towards Axel and grabbing a hold of his hand, but all Roxas got was a small squeeze of assurance that Axel was still conscious before he was pulled away and turned to see Xemnas who frowned at him.

"It's about time you prove your worth, Roxas," the first mate spat. "Let's go."

In Xemnas' iron grip, Roxas was dragged along as the rest of their crew followed their Captain on the last leg of their journey. The part Roxas knew would only end in tragedy.