Standard disclaimer applied.
/A gas station on the outskirts of Hollow Bastion, Sunday 11:18 pm/
Axel had come a long way from Radiant Garden to Hollow Bastion - a neighboring town two days of travel by car - in his beloved deep red motorcycle and despite having traveled to over speed all the way he failed to achieve his mission of reaching in a day his destination. For this reason, now he was pumping gas, buying water and something that will prevent his stomach continue with its symphony of noise.
"Let's see, if I continue down this road and then took the exit about a mile and then continued on that route maybe I arrive before midnight." Axel thought, revising the route again in the GPS in his phone, his face was completely serious and lacking his characteristic grin. "It would be faster if I use one of the corridors but the risk of Saix or worse Xemnas detecting me is very high." The redheaded man tch-ed in annoyance and kept his black phone in his jeans pocket climbing again in his vehicle and returning to the asphalted road.
/Hollow Bastion apartment complex, 11:40 pm/
A woman with short blonde hair was half sitting half lying on her sofa while she was watching some program about animals and how they hunted other animals. As she was slowly drifting into a sweet slumber her phone started to ring driving away her hopes to get a bit of rest after a long day at work.
Relentless, she got up and answered the annoying device.
"What?"
"Miss Bennett? Have you seen Mourise? I've been looking for him but he's anywhere!"
"No, I don't have an idea where your cat is and for the last time don't call me. Is that clear?" The woman replied and the ended the called. She rubbed her temples before returning to her position on her couch trying to invoke the sleep she needed until she heard a loud knock on her door.
Someone – a very stupid someone - was banging at her front door merciless worsening her already aching head. The irritated blonde woman yanked open the beaten door with and yelled angrily at her late night visitor.
"Listen you shitty old woman, I already told you that your stupid cat isn't here so go find it elsewhere or I'm going to-"
"You're going to… what?" A familiar male's voice resounded in her ears making her eyes widen a second in recognition before returning to the normality.
"Oh it's you." Larxene's voice changed from irritation to boredom after seeing the man in front of her.
"Is that all you have to tell me after this entire time without seeing each other? You're so mean like always babe!" Axel said smirking flirty leaning closer to her face.
"I thought you were dead or something and stop calling me 'babe' you moron."
"So, are you going to let me in or you preferred to talk outside?"
"Tch" the woman left the door open and walked to her small kitchen leaning on the table with her arms crossed loosely in her chest. Axel walked in and closed the door behind him heading to the kitchen. When he spotted Larxene he noticed that her night attire – which consisted in a black tank top and a pair of yellow short shorts – exposed a lot of her skin.
"What do you want Axel?"
"Perhaps I can't pay a visit from time to time without a reason?"
"Is the first time you visit since we left the organization and knowing you is because you want something so spit it out."
Axel exhale bowing his head before answering. "I need information on the organization?"
"And why you think that I have information?"
"Oh come on Larx, you and I know you keep in touch with many in the organization especially Zexion so tell me... what do you know?"
"You won't go away until I speak, right?" Larxene said smirking devilish and he nodded with the same smirk as her.
The woman went to one of her cabinets and pulled out a bottle of liquor and two glasses from a shelf, she put them on the table and poured a good amount of alcoholic liquid in both glasses before sitting on a chair at the table.
"There's nothing better than drinking to make more pleasant a conversation about despicable things, don't you agree?"
Axel sat across from her, took one of the glasses and gave a swig at the contents of this. The liquid burned his throat by coming into contact with it. "It's been a long time since the last time I drank." He said leaving the empty glass in front of him.
"That's what you get for hanging around with people who are still rated K" Larxene said laughing as he served more alcohol in his glass and taking a swig from hers.
"The boy isn't so bad."
"Whatever. Well what do you want to know? "
"Whatever you want to tell me about the members or Xemnas, anything can be helpful."
It took a few minutes where the only sound was the clicking of the glasses being placed on the table or being filled until the woman spoke.
"Things have been tense in the organization. Vexen, Laxaeus, Lurxord and Marluxia are dead. According to information that Zexion gave me, their deaths were from natural causes. "
"Natural?"
"At least natural to us. They were out of time and ceased to exist although the bookworm has his doubts about Marluxia, he told me that the flowery idiot had been behaving suspicious the past few months and possibly Xemnas disposed of him. "
"You mean... Xemnas killed him?"
"If he did, it wasn't directly. What we think is that perhaps he shortened Marluxia's remaining time. "
"Is that possible? He really can do that? "
"Axel consider it, he is the one who approached us offering whatever we want if we sign a contract. It's him who makes the contract, who says he can't change it whenever he wants? "
"..."
Seeing that the redhead said nothing she went on. "Moreover Demyx and Zexion are still paying off their debt, there are rumors that Xaldin and Xigbar are still in the organization by choice while the ever faithful lapdog Xemnas remains with him at all times."
"That's not surprising; Saix has always been behind Xemnas. That's all?"
"Yeah, now answer me something. What are you pretendingto do now Axel?"
"Free Roxas. At any cost." He said dryly.
"That's it? What a boring reason!"
"Perhaps you thought I would try to destroy the organization or overthrow Xemnas and stay with all the power? Don't make me laugh. I'm crazy but I'm not suicidal, love!... although, there's something I would like to find out. "
"And that is…?"
"Have you ever wondered... why Xemnas is so interested in helping people like us? I don't believe it's for doing his good deed for the day."
"Believe me I have no intention in understand his twisted mind, I have enough with mine."
"Now that you mention your mind… why did you stay in Hollow Bastion? I thought you hated this place."
"I hate it but it's the only place where I thought people wouldn't seek me also that man isn't here anymore so I haven't to worry about anything." The girl stood up preparing to leave the kitchen but as she passed the redhead he stopped her grabbing her forearm.
"Let go, jerk." She muttered annoyed. On the other hand he ignored her and encircled her waist with his arms supporting his chin on the thin shoulder of the blonde.
"You're right, that man is no longer here, after all we disappeared him." She felt Axel´s warm breath brushed her neck and send chills to her back, arms and legs.
"Ohh I believed that it was me who eliminated him?"
"Shared fault babe. You wished it and I did it."
"Idiot. I'm going to bed. "
"... Can I sleep here tonight?"
"Of course. I hope you enjoy the couch, flames." Larxene said with a mischievous grin before going to her room and shut the door locked.
"That woman..." The redhead murmured smiling to himself. It's been so long since the last time he saw her that in some way he had missed his bad attitude and sarcasm.
With no more to say he left the kitchen and lay on white sofa that was in the living room. It didn't take long for Axel to fall asleep. After all he had been driving for a long time and that sofa was quite comfortable.
/Radiant Garden High School, Tuesday 3:10 pm/
"How lucky that the coach gave me the day off, isn't it?" Sora said happily with his hands behind his head.
The spiky haired boy was walking the long hallway to the school's front door with his three female friends. Today his soccer coach told the team that he was going to be absent for a couple of days and they could use this time to relax.
"As if you really did something during your training sessions, Sor." Kairi retorted mockingly.
"Of course I do something, for something I'm the captain of the team." Sora replied full of pride.
"I believed you were the captain because nobody else wanted the job." Namine said with an innocuous smile and tilting her head to the side.
"Hey!"
"We're joking Sor, everyone knows that you're the captain because Riku didn't do the try out." Xion jeered nudging lightly at Sora.
"Yeah! Wait, NO!" the brunet quickly corrected himself but was too late, the three girls were now laughing their hearts out.
"Sometimes you're so goofy." Kairi said catching her breath and giving the boy a quick kiss on the cheek. This made Sora smile cheesy and Namine to crack a sad lopsided smile.
"Look there is Roxas." The raven haired teen pointed out walking slowly to the distracted boy's side.
Said blond boy was keeping his text books in his locker absent mindedly. All the day he had been feeling gloomy and couldn't concentrate at all in his classes, thank God the day was finally over and he could return to his home and try -at least- to relax a bit. The boy was deep in thought that he didn't notice the little girl approaching to him.
"Hey!" the girl said cheerful with her small hand resting on his shoulder.
The moment Roxas heard her voice; he jumped startled by her sudden appearance.
"What the- Xion!" he said dumbstruck with his cobalt eyes wide open.
"What's up Roxas? Are you okay?" the black haired girl asked him with concern. She just wanted to surprise him not give him a heart attack.
"When my heart starts beating again I'll tell you." he said playfully before shutting his locker.
"Ohh come on, don't tell me you didn't notice me?"
"Well if I had, be sure I hadn't jumped. Anyway, what do you want?" he asked nonchalant.
"Nothing, we just wanted to say hi!"
"We?" He said raising an eyebrow
"Yeah we!" Kairi said approaching with Namine and Sora beside her.
"…"
"Are you alright? You look pale." Xion asked looking at his blue eyes. He had dark circles and looked really tired.
"It's nothing." Roxas responded shifting his gaze.
"You sure?" The redhead said not too convinced.
"Yeah, I just didn't sleep enough."
"Why?" this time was Sora who asked.
"I was kind of anxious last night." He responded a little uncomfortable and Namine noticed this. He hated when people asked him too much questions.
"Is something bothe-?" Xion began but suddenly Namine cut her off.
"Why the coach gave you the day off Sora?" the blonde girl said a little too loudly.
Sora – and the other three teens - saw her as if she had a third eye growing in the forehead. "He said that he had a get together with his family or something."
"Ohh I see…" Namine mumbled looking at the floor.
Everyone went silent after the blonde's outburst. She knew that probably Roxas didn't sleep well because his friend suddenly disappeared and hadn't called him or her since then but he couldn't explain it to Xion, Kairi and Sora this. That's why she interrupted Xion with such a random question.
"Maybe he's only going to fool around, don't you think?" Namine tried to continue with the conversation but she really didn't know what to say at the moment so she decided to just continue saying random things until something useful came out.
"Whatever his reason is I really thank that he let us rest! That guy is a slaver!" The brunet exclaimed overexcited throwing his hands to the ceiling to emphasize his point.
"Ohh you're just a lazy bum!" Kairi said. Her twilight colored eyes glowed with mirth.
"I'm not" He pouted.
"Am too!" Xion and Namine replied in unison in a casual manner. Seconds later everyone – including Roxas - was laughing again.
Suddenly, chills ran through the blonde girl's body making her tremble faintly and ceased her laugh.
"This feeling... it's the same I felt before!" Namine thought looking alarmed at the blond boy beside her.
Roxas looked at Namine aware of the situation they had. He could feel the heartless near the school grounds and they were getting nearer.
"Ahm guys... I just remembered that I promised to work with Namine in our project so we gotta go." The blond boy said in a hurry.
"What project? Nam didn't mention anything about a project." Xion said, her cerulean eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"Ohh yeah I totally for-forgot about it!" Namine chuckled nervously fidgeting in her place. "We have a chemistry project and we haven't even started with it so..."
"Yeah what she said! So, shall we go?" Roxas tried to sound casual but ended sounding stressed.
"Yes yes! Bye guys, talk to you later guys!" Namine said goodbye in a hurry before running in the opposite direction followed by Roxas.
"...su-sure." The black haired girl stuttered.
Sora and Kairi looked at each other puzzled by the sudden departure of the blonds.
"What was... that?" the redheaded girl said looking at her boyfriend.
"Beats me." Sora answered shrugging.
"There's something strange in those two." Xion said looking at the empty hallway through which her friends ran away seconds before.
"What do you think Kai?" the brunet boy asked.
"I don't know..." Kairi sighed. "Let's go! I'm starving and I have like a mountain of homework waiting for me." she added stretching her arms and walking to the school front door.
Namine and Roxas ran hastily in the direction of the track field behind the school's gymnasium.
"Roxas...why are they appearing here?" The girl asked between breaths.
"I told you, they could appear everywhere specially in busy places."
"But... from all the places they could pick, why here?" She muttered.
Within minutes the teens were standing near the bleachers and watched as fifteen black masses of smoke appeared from nowhere. Every time that Namine's icy blue eyes saw those pitch black monsters she was more aware that this was the reality, her reality.
"What's the plan?" she said with a blase voice, her sober gaze glued at the track field infested with heartless.
Roxas looked at her confounded with her words. "When did she got used to this?" He thought.
"Well? What is the plan?"
"Isn't it obvious? Eliminate these pathetic things!" He said with a cheeky grin invoking his keyblades.
Namine scoffed at his statement before he handed her the white keyblade – Oathkeeper - and instructed her to just back him up.
"Are you serious?" Namine exclaimed rather angry.
"Look shorty, you have zero experience with keyblades so don't argue." Roxas replied making a run to the center of the field. The girl just watched him.
Noticing the boy's presence the creatures began to surround him eliminating any escape route. Roxas sketched a vicious grin before launching to attack. With clean and skillful slices, one by one the heartless disappeared. The few that remained distanced themselves from the nobody. Suddenly one of the heartless leaped and hit the boy so hard that sent him rolling back several feet.
After seeing this Namine clenched her jaw apprehensive. "Why I'm obeying him? He's not my boss!" She thought approaching to the battlefield clutching the keyblade in her fragile hands.
Roxas was disoriented after the blow he had received aside from feeling bewildered. "How wasn't I aware of that attack!" He thought clutching his aching head. When he noticed a group of heartless were approaching to him rapidly and before he could stop them someone else did.
Several accurate blows on the backs of the monsters were enough for Namine to destroy them leaving a small blackish cloud in front of her and when it dissipated the boy - who was sitting - could see her form in front of him.
"I told you to stay there!" The blond boy growled standing up and picking up his keyblade, Oblivion.
"It's easiest if I actually back up you here!" She retorted before she slashed another heartless.
"Whatever... just take care with those who are on the right, I'll deal with those on the left and don't get in my way."
Without discussing with Roxas, the blonde threw himself to the race as well as his teammate. Both teens stabbed, slashed and passed through the creatures that were rapidly decreasing in number until there was none.
Namine was panting but she didn't feel as exhausted as the first time she fought, it was - probably - the results of her training with Axel and Roxas.
In the other hand, Roxas was lost in his thoughts. "Why didn't I noticed the heartless' attack or Namine's presence?", "What the hell is wrong with me today?", "why did... why did Axel suddenly went away?" Those were the questions rambling his mind.
When the girl recovered her breath she noticed her partner's stiff posture and his sour expression. His blue eyes were dull and glazed.
"Roxas? Are you okay?" the petit blonde approached him. Her blue eyes filled with concern.
"Yeah, just... distracted. Its nothing." The boy vanished their weapons before starting to walk outside the school grounds with his hands shoved in his pockets.
Namine had noticed him acting odd all day, it was as if his body was present but his mind had taken a vacation on the moon or something. Not that she cared but it seemed... strange. So before she could think twice what she was going to say the words left her mouth.
"Hey Roxas let's go out!" the girl blurted suddenly, her words took him by surprise rooting him in his place but without answering.
"What the hell I'm saying?" She reprimanded herself for saying such a foolish thing. "Well Namine you already opened your mouth so get over with it!"
"I-I mean... let's go for ice cream." Quickly she explained, the last thing she wanted to have was a misunderstanding.
Roxas turned to see her. His expression of confusion and perplexity added to the angle at which sunlight illuminated her face made him look cute. "Why do you want-?"
"Come with me, will you?" She said taking his arm and pulling him down the street without looking at his face once.
At first the boy tried to put resistance or stop her but eventually he ended up following her. Namine's little hand clutching the sleeve of his hoddie.
"What the hell is up with her?" Roxas thought looking puzzled at the girl.
They went through several streets in total silence until the blonde located the familiar blue and lilac tent a few feet away.
Namine thanked God for having finally arrived and with no time to waste she dragged Roxas into ice parlor and headed to the bar where a woman in her late twenties with long auburn hair was attending a group of middle school girls who were giggling every three seconds. The woman saw the familiar blonde haired girl and greeted her cheerfully.
"Little Namine! Time without seeing you, how have you been?"
"Hi Ariel, I'm fine and you?" The blonde answered with a chuckle at the auburn girl's outburst.
"I'm not complaining. Tell me who your companion is?" Ariel said with a playful smirk.
"Oh he is-" Namine started but she didn't know how she could label their relationship.
The blond boy saw the troubled expression she had and answered instead of her with a courteous smile. "I'm Roxas, nice to meet you!"
"Likewise and what can I serve you guys?" Ariel replied with a smile.
"Two sea-salt ice cream popsicles!" Namine exclaimed brightly.
The redhead gave a soft laugh giving her the icy treats. "Here you have, it's twenty money."
Roxas began to search in his jeans pocket some money, but before he realize Namine handed a twenty bill and said goodbye to the chirpy girl.
"Nice to meet you Roxas, and hope to see you soon Nami!" She nodded before grabbing Roxas' hand and led him to the benches outside the ice cream parlor.
Roxas looked at her from the corner of the eye and said. "You didn't have to pay."
"Yes I had, after all it was me who invited you." She replied nonchalantly opening the door and walking to her favorite spot.
Again the silence surrounded the two teenagers as they ate their ice cream until Namine ended it.
"I hope you like the flavor; it's usually the one I ask."
"It's okay; I used to eat this almost every day when I lived in Twilight Town."
"ohh" she bit her ice cream before adding. "Thanks... for coming."
"Well I didn't have much choice. Practically you dragged me all the way up here." The boy replied taking a large bite from his popsicle.
"Hey you could say something, you know!" Namine pointed throwing her stick to the trash.
"True, but perhaps I didn't want to."
"And why's that? You're always complaining, what was the reason that today was different?"
"I may not want to argue with you and let you to bring me here to not put out.
"So basically you didn't want to argue with me?"
"Looks like it." Roxas threw his stick to the trashcan.
"You're strange!"
"So are you."
"It could be. You know... if we take out your sarcasm and mood swings you're not that bad after all." Namine said grinning at him.
"You know... if we remove your-no forget it you're still just as annoying." he answered with a mischievous smile.
"Hey I'm not annoying!" Namine pushed him playfully making them laugh.
"Indeed you are but... may be and I said may be you're not as annoying as I first thought." he finally said standing up and stretching his arms.
She was totally dumbfounded. Did the blond demon actually say what she heard? Does her brain get frozen by the ice cream? Was she hallucinating? Probably.
"We-well thank you, I think." she said scratching her cheek clumsily.
"It's getting late. Let's go." the boy said. His normally cocky and distant voice sounded somewhat different, more warm and relaxed. She nodded standing up and taking her backpack.
"Do you want me accompany you to your house?"
"Eh? No, actually my house is pretty near from here."
"Okay, see you at school."
"Yeah, see you."
The boy walked like one meter before he stop and turn around to see the girl several meters away.
"Namine!" he called her and she turned to see him. "Thanks... for the ice cream." he said. She nodded with a soft smile on her pale features before continuing walking to her home. Roxas did the same.
"Maybe, she's not that bad either." He mumbled
He had been feeling preoccupied and anxious with Axel's sudden disappearance that he didn't notice he was demonstrating it, but today in the ice cream parlor he could relax a little - just a little - with her company even if he was forced to go.
I think this is the longest chapter that I've written in this story and I'm not too convinced with it O.o!
Finally I put some Roxas/Namine fluff (yeah me!), I really, really, want to know what do you guys think about it mainly because is the very first time that I write these kind of situations. Do their realtionship is developing okay? Is it too slow? Is it too fast? please tell me.
Anyway I want to thank those who have reviewed and added this fic to their alert or favorite list. I truly appreciate it!
Until next time!