I don't own anything associated with Kingdom Hearts. It belongs to Square Enix/Disney.
Setting: Just after KH: Days
Puppet
He remembered when the heartless came; when, they, as thick and unstoppable as the tide, descended upon his sleepy hometown. Oh, Axel remembered the screams, the panic, the groping in the dark as day became night. The end of the world, it had been shouted, and how right they were.
And yet even though there were no shadows clawing at his chest, no one turning into a monster right before his eyes, he found his current situation – the one where he was just sitting here on his bed – to be worse. At least with the damn heartless there was the illusion of victory, the idea that if you fought a little harder, ran a little further, you could escape. Sure, it all turned out to be a fantasy, but at least it had given Lea hope until the very moment Isa's heart had been torn out.
But this? There was no hope here, no what-ifs he could entertain. No matter what he did, one of his friends was going to die. Or be absorbed into the other. He had no idea how this worked.
He had tried so hard, fought so long to keep their trio together, but he'd forgotten just how fruitless it was to stand in the Superior's way. Seriously, shouldn't he have learnt that lesson from Castle Oblivion? Man, that part of his life seemed so distant now, like a dream. How he yearned to go back to those days, where all he cared about was advancing his and Saïx's plan and didn't give a thought for anyone else.
He put a hand on his chest and frowned. What was up with him? Had his mind suddenly forgotten that he didn't have a heart? Because the thing twisting and burning in his chest certainly felt real . . .
No, he was a nobody. And the definition of a nobody was doesn't have a freaking heart!
But then why do I feel like this . . . why do I actually care?
He did care, he realized, throat growing thick. This wasn't just about losing a potential asset to his plans, or being deprived of an ally. He actually cared. He cared about them.
They were . . . his friends?
He was a nobody. That shouldn't be possible. Yet he couldn't deny how all this waiting made him want to puke, or how thinking of their fates made his blood simmer until he was convinced it had turned to lava. He cared. About them. He was feeling.
"I can't believe this," he murmured. His hand curled close over his chest. Maybe, it wasn't too late . . . maybe. . .
Yes. He was going to save them, and to hell what the Organization thought! There were plenty of worlds in this universe. He, Xion and Roxas could find themselves a cottage somewhere and live happily ever after . . .
But no sooner than he had made his decision did he hear footsteps outside his door. Great, probably Saïx coming to gloat. He did nothing at first, just listened, but when the footsteps were outside his door, he sighed and flung it open.
"Okay, what do you want . . .Xion?"
He thought it was Xion, but she, (he?) looked like that Sora kid. Exactly like him, as if he had finally woke up. But that couldn't be right because Roxas and Xion were still here and . . .
No . . .
"Xion," he choked out, "where's Roxas?"
Xion stared at him blankly.
"He has passed," Saïx said, walking up behind her. His face was blank, but Axel bet he was secretly smirking in his head.
"Passed?" he croaked. "You mean she . . ."
"Xion has proven herself to be the stronger one," Saïx said. "She will fulfill Thirteen's duties, henceforth."
"N-no, this can't be!"
"You knew this would happen," Saïx said coldly. "There is no use in denying it. Come, Fourteen."
As Saïx walked away, Xion obediently fell into step behind him. Axel, still struggling to digest Roxas' demise, felt half of his non-existent heart tearing away and trailing after Xion.
"Xion, wait!"
She didn't even pause.
He caught up to them quickly, clamping down on Xion's shoulder, felt her try to continue following Saïx. For his part, the blue-haired man glanced over his shoulder, manner bored.
"What's wrong with her?" Axel said in a low voice.
Now, only now did Saïx's eyes display a flicker of malice. "After her escapades, the Superior decided to have her reprogrammed. She shall not cause us grief anymore."
"Reprogrammed?" he repeated.
Saïx inclined his head. "You need not worry over her anymore, Axel. She does not know you, nor does she care to."
He couldn't say anything, couldn't do anything as Xion wriggled out of his grasp. She and Saïx walked down the long hall, growing farther and farther with each passing second.
His wits returned. "Xion? Xion, stop!"
His feet clapped against the ground, too slow to carry him to them before they stepped into a portal.
"Xion, stop! It's me . . ."
The portal vanished.
" . . . It's Axel."