A/N: *Sigh* My creativity seems to be going limited…I find it quite sad actually. Hmm…anyway, I'd like to thank the 110 people…oh wait, no 111, that have reviewed this story. You guys rock, so this is for you guys! I don't really have a whole lot to say right now, except for go read and leave a review!

I walked into my room and flipped on the lights, slowly walking over to my bed. My entire body felt achy, making it painful to do as much as move an inch or so. It was a surprise that I could even walk. I carefully sat myself on the bed, wincing as did, but only to have the pain replaced with a sigh of relief from the cushioning of the bed to my tired tush. Slowly, I began to peel off the easiest pair of clothing one at a time, only managing to get my gloves off. Although it was extremely painful, I bent down to take my shoes off, only to have someone grab my hands before they could reach my shoes. Surprised by the new set of hands, I looked up and saw Axel standing above me, setting my hands back on the bed while he got down on his knees.

"Axel, what're you-"

"You can barely move as it is, and seeing as how we're friends and all, I might as well help you out." He explained, pulling off the shoe on my left foot and switching to the right foot. "I go away for two months and what do I come back to? You all black and blue…"

"When did you get back?" I asked, feeling a bit guilty at having him have to do this.

"Earlier. I guess about 5 hours ago. Well, yesterday I guess….it's already 2 in the morning." It was already two? How long have I even been gone?

"Oh…"

He sat the other shoe on the floor and looked up at me, putting his hands on my shoulders, causing me to wince when he they made contact with the bruises on them. I had hoped he didn't notice, but apparently, he did, because he began to frown. "What's wrong with your shoulders?"

O0o0o0o0

"Nothing…It's nothing. I'm just a little sore from today's mission, that's all." Hope lied, looking anywhere but Axel's face.

Axel's frown deepened, "Hope…"

"Look, I'm fine, alright!" She snapped, the annoyed look on her face disappearing quickly upon realizing who she had just yelled at. "I'm sorry, Axel….I didn't mean to-"

"It's ok, Hope. Just…let me see…"

Hope sighed, lifting her hand up to the shoulder part of her shirt and grabbing a hold of it, lifting it down to reveal a large bruise that was darker in contrast than her skin. The size of the blue mark made Axel wince. He reached his hand forward as if to touch, but Hope quickly moved away from him. "No, don't touch it…It hurts when you touch it…."

"Let me see the other shoulder." Axel said, watching as Hope lifted down the other sleeve to reveal another bruise, this one much smaller than the other one. "Does this one hurt, too?"

Hope shook her head. "No, not really. It still kinda stings though, but not as much as the rest of them do."

"There's more? Hope, what happened?" Axel asked, lifting up the back of her shirt to gape at the rest of the bruises she had obtained.

"…They sent me on an assassination mission. They wanted me to get rid of the impostor…."

"Alone?"

Hope shook her head. "No, they made Xion go with me. Axel, she got beat pretty bad…that's why I told her to come home and let me take care of the rest. I chased after the impostor for at least 4 hours straight. I went through seven different worlds, until I caught up with him Agrabah. I was so tired, that I couldn't even fight right…"

"Why didn't you come home after he ran off?" Axel asked, doing his best to hold in the frustration he was beginning to get.

"Because, I had to!" Hope exclaimed, looking up at him with a frown on her face.

"Why did you even agree to go on this mission?" Axel yelled, slamming his fist against the wall, causing Hope to jump a bit in surprise.

"I…It was to make up for Castle Oblivion. So much for that…."

Axel glanced back over at her, confused by her words. "What do you mean?"

"I messed up, Axel….I really messed up this mission. I let Xion get hurt, and I let the impostor escape," Hope hugged her knees to her chest, burying her face in her arms. "I just don't have it in me to kill someone…"

Axel stared at her for a moment before walking out and getting an icepack, sitting back down next to Hope and pulling the back of her shirt up again setting the icepack on her bruised back, earning a small gasp of pain from her. "Sorry…It'll make the pain go away." Hope didn't reply, only laid her head on his shoulder, causing him to stiffen for a moment. Inside his chest, where his heart would be if he had one, it grew warm and fuzzy, feeling foreign and strange. Of course, seeing as he was Axel, the guy without a heart, he ignored it. "Hope, do-"

Soft and relaxed breathing cut him off, causing him to look down and smile at Hope as she slept soundly. Carefully, Axel lifted her up and pulled the sheets down, gently setting her down and covering her up, her hand still gripping onto his. He made the move to leave, but the grip she had on his hand tightened, causing him to turn back around and look at her. "I haven't seen you in two months and you make the move to leave me to nap? No, that's not happening. I'm making room for you." She mumbled, rolling over a bit and making room for Axel. He chuckled quietly, shredding off his coat and boots, leaving him in his black denim jeans and plain white shirt, crawling in the bed and covering up. As soon as he was down, Hope latched herself onto him, hoping his body heat would warm her up.

"Axel…when Kingdom Hearts is finished, can you make me a promise?"

"Ok, what?"

"Promise me, that once you get your heart, that we can finally go back home. Promise?"

He smiled. "I promise, Hope…I promise."

Hope smiled to herself, allowing herself to drift off to sleep after a long day of running and fighting.

A/N: A bit too short for my taste, but I find it a bit sweet! Next one will be longer, promise! LATER TATERS!