My fingertips brush against the bark of the branches around me. Odd that I should find comfort here. I look out at Axel's house, putting off that inevitable fact that I'd have to go in.
I think of earlier today in Demyx's kitchen, Axel's face. He looked so heartbroken, crushed. I was so hard on him and I had no right to be. I've been in the Organization. I know what they're like, ruthless. I've done my share of awful things against my will.
He took me in. He offered to help me… And I was so cruel to him. I run my hand through my hair, knowing I have to apologize.
"Hey, Blondie…" a sad voice breaks through my thoughts. I yell out in surprise, jumping up onto a higher branch. In the moonlight, I see him trying to hide a small, sad smile.
"I'm sorry." He says. I can't decide which it is he's apologizing for. I swiftly maneuver my way down the tree and softly drop to the ground in front of Axel. I straighten up to look at him.
"Why did you come?" he asks me. I stare at him a moment before looking down.
"I needed to apologize. I—"
"Roxas." Axel shakes his head incredulously. "If anyone should be apologizing…"
"No, I said terrible things to you, when all you did was confide in me like I asked." I look up at him. "If anyone were to understand what the Organization put you through, it should have been me." I look away again.
"Roxas, you shouldn't be apologizing to me." His finger reaches under my chin and lightly pushes my face up to look at him. Our eyes meet for a long moment before I turn my head and absentmindedly put my hand to his chest to stop him.
"But I—" I stop as my fingers graze the soft fabric of Axel's shirt. I'm thrust into a memory of being pressed against the floor by Axel.
His teeth graze my lower lip. They gently begin to pull on it. I still refuse to let him in. finally, he bites down and a surprised yelp escapes me. He seizes the opportunity and the foreign tongue is in my mouth. My hands tighten around the soft fabric of Axel's shirt…
I quickly pull my hand away at the memory, almost violently. Axel no doubt mistakes it for more of my anger. I look up, meeting his eyes and see that my fears are correct. I watch his countenance crumble.
"Roxas, I don't know how else to apologize. If I could take it back, I would. If I could trade places with them, I would!" He pleads with me. The words tumble out of his mouth, but I watch as if it's happening in slow motion. A tear slowly rolls down his cheek.
As if detached, I watch as my finger reaches up to halt the tear's motion, my hand lingers on Axel's cheek. Axel's apology slowly trails off. Another hand lightly covers mine, a confused look on Axel's face. I look up to meet his vibrant green eyes. I've never seen so many emotions in such turmoil. I involuntarily lean toward him, lost in the emerald abyss of his eyes. Axel's lips rush down as if to reach mine, but stop short. I hear his breath catch. He slowly closes his eyes a drops his head slightly. Slowly, my fingers find their way into Axel's fiery locks, gently pulling his face back up to mine. I lightly press my lips to his. After a moment, Axel pulls away, completely staggered. I smile at him as I reconnect our lips, my fingers losing themselves in Axel's hair. I feel Axel's large hands on my hips; his thumb plays with the waistband of my pants, causing me to gasp into our lipped embrace. His other hand runs up my torso and over my shoulder, pushing my open cloak down my arm. I shrug out of the other arm and it falls to the ground, pooling around my feet. Axel presses his body up against mine, pushing my back against the tree.
Suddenly, Axel pulls away from the kiss. I clutch at the empty air before me, confused. I look up to see Axel running his hand through his hair, his back to me. At first I think it's out of frustration, but as he turns I notice that he's grinning, laughing even. I look at him questioningly. He looks at me, leans down to land a quick kiss on my lips, and grabs my wrist, pulling me along as he runs toward the house, laughing all the way.
"Axel! What's going on?"
"Demyx!' He yells as he runs through the back door and into the kitchen. "Demyx!" Demyx runs into the room, looking terrified.
"What! What's on fire?" He asks, frantic. Axel giggles. I look at him. Axel just giggled. Demyx looks at him, startled, and then his eyes land on me. They light up. "Roxas!" He exclaims. "When did you get back?"
"Jus—"
"Nevermind that now! Demyx! Demyx. What did Marluxia love more than anything?"
"Being an ass?" Demyx answers.
"Besides that!" Axel says. Demyx thinks a moment.
"Himself?"
"Exactly! And how does he show the fact that he loves himself?" Axel leads. Demyx thinks back.
"He buys himself things. Ridiculously expensive and unnecessary things. Like that time he bought an entire new arsenal of scythes. And that time he said he was gunna hire someone to build a mansion for him at the edge of town."
Axel looks at him meaningfully. Demyx gasps.
"LIKE THAT TIME HE SAID HE WAS GUNNA HIRE SOMEONE TO BUILD A MANSION FOR HIM AT THE EDGE OF TOWN. Axel! I heard something about a mansion being built about a year or so ago. Remember? I didn't even think…"
Axel was nodding. And smiling. I realized I was smiling, genuinely smiling. I laughed. And then we were all laughing. I buried my face it Axel's chest. We were going to find Sora.
I'm just going to COMPLETELY pretend this didn't take me 8 months to update. I promise it won't be so long ever again. By the way, I'm still alive.