Before the break of dawn, Axel grudgingly woke to slip back into his cell before Lexaeus came to unlock them again.

Roxas closed the door behind him, smiling sympathetically as the light was shut out.

Axel plopped onto his cot and curled up, feigning sleep. It wouldn't be long before Lexaeus came to wake them. He barely closed his eyes before the pounding on the door came, and the rusty locks gave way.

"Come on, wake up; there's no time to lose." Lexaeus demanded.

Hayner blinked the sleep from his eyes, rising from his cot. Axel slowly rose, rubbing his eyes. He indulged in the refreshed feeling inside him after spending the night with Roxas.

Axel stretched, his back cracking. He craned his neck to see the first few rays of morning light spreading across the courtyard. At last he knew Roxas was on the other side of the light.

The cellmates followed the stream of weary gladiators down to the mess hall for their morning meal. Axel glanced over at the stream of newer gladiators, all of which were bound in shackles. He wondered if Roxas had had to submit himself to that in order to blend in with the others.

They sat down on the rotting wooden benches while slaves even lower than they dealt them each a tiny chunk of bread and dried fruit. Axel scanned the room, searching for Roxas's golden spikes to single him out among the others. He finally came across them, though he was not allowed to walk over to him and speak, nor sit down next to him.

Roxas turned his head, meeting eyes with Axel. Roxas smiled at him, Axel felt blush spreading to his cheeks. He enjoyed the feeling of sharing a secret with one person in a room filled with many.

Since Roxas's rank now closely matched Axel's, the two were allowed to have the same schedule throughout the day. After their morning meal, the two followed the others whom matched their ranks to the courtyard to train until the midday meal.

Axel now found himself free to converse with Roxas, but only if he remained casual. He joined Roxas at the sword-training station, where the boy practiced wielding his dual blades. Axel drew a sword and shifted into fighting stance.

"I saw the group of trainee gladiators this morning before we sat down to eat," Axel began, "tell me, what did you have to do to blend in among us?"

"I did whatever I had to," Roxas replied solemnly, "I don't really like to think about it. Every day I feel a bit guilty for leaving everything I had behind. That isn't to say leaving it behind wasn't worth it."

He managed to smile at Axel, but Axel also had guilt settled inside him.

"It's alright to have cared about things other than me," Axel mentioned, "I just didn't have much to care for other than you."

Roxas's grip tightened on his swords. "In honesty, I feel very guilty for throwing everything away. At the time, it just seemed right, but as my world fell apart, I realized I couldn't go back."

"But you still can go back," Axel offered.

"And tell them what? That I ran away because I fell in love with someone I wasn't supposed to fall for?" Roxas's voice was rising now, and his eyes sparkled with tears.

"Roxas, hush..." Axel warned.

"My father, my brother, my sister, my betrothed, they're all gone now because I chose what I wanted!" Tears slowly slid down Roxas's cheeks. "Don't make me regret the choice I made!"

Axel knit his brows. "I can't make you regret your choices, only you can. I understand how you feel like unsure of the choice you made, I'm not hurt by it at all. The only way you could hurt me is if you had stopped caring about them completely; if you didn't care about anyone but me, then you wouldn't be upset right now."

Roxas's lip quivered, and he dropped the swords on the ground. He reduced himself to a child, letting the tears pour down his face. He clung to Axel, and Axel glanced over to see if anyone had noticed; no one seemed to, and if they did they were too nervous to show it. On the far end of the courtyard, even Lexaeus didn't seem to know.

Axel let his sword fall as well, and his arms gripped Roxas. "It's alright," he murmured as Roxas sobbed into his chest.

"I'm the worst person to have existed," Roxas wailed, "I didn't even think twice about what I did..."

Axel shushed him softly, rubbing his back. He could feel Roxas's muscles that had developed during the months of training he'd gone through. At the very least, Roxas had had enough willpower to continue his plan to reunite with Axel.

Gradually, Roxas's crying ceased and Axel found his opportunity to ask him a favor. Axel let go slowly, placing his hands on Roxas's shoulders and looking him in the eye.

"Roxas, please return to them someday and explain yourself." Axel whispered.

"I-I can't, what would I even say...?" Roxas protested.

"You will tell them the truth of why you ran away." Axel replied.

"But they already know about our affair, what more is there to speak of?" Roxas asked.

"Did you explain what lay between us after I was taken away?" Axel wondered.

"My father did ask me to explain myself, and I simply agreed to having an affair with you. He knows it's normal for masters and slaves to have affairs, even when their masters are wedded. I didn't really say I was in love with you, though, I had hoped confessing to an affair would translate to that." Roxas explained.

"Regardless of if he understood your intentions, you need to return and apologize for being so rash in your decision." Axel said.

"What if they won't let me be with you? That's my greatest fear..." Roxas's eyes brimmed with tears again.

"If you really want to run away from your problems, do it correctly." Axel decided.

"What do you mean...?"

"You will sit down and legally pass on everything to Ventus, even if your father has already done that by default. You will explain to your father your choice, and that since you have been an adult for nearly four years, you can make this choice. You will visit Lord Xaldin and also apologize to him for not carrying on his legacy. You will visit Xion's grave and tell her everything as well, regardless if you believe she's truly listening." Axel stated.

Roxas nodded, sniffing.

"We both need to face the truth." Axel added.

"What truths must you face?" Roxas pointed out.

Axel thought for a moment. "I suppose I should explain myself to Saïx, if he is still alive."

"I believe he is, I don't see why he wouldn't be." Roxas agreed. He managed to give Axel a weak smile. "Now I know I haven't regretted my choice, even if it hurts to know I've hurt the people I cared about."

Roxas wrapped his arms around Axel once more, and Axel allowed his hug.

When they broke apart, Roxas said, "Now, I'll have to count how much money I have to convince Lexaeus and Luxord to give you to me again."

Translations
- Amor et melle et felle est fecundissimus - Love is rich with both honey and venom