A/N: I changed my username. My use of the word Israel is personal, and in no way connected to the nation, but I can't abide being .project107 in light of recent events. I am a pro-Palestine, pro-Jewish writer, and you may consider my presence to be a safe space for all.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

A scream of frustration had Axel scrambling to his feet, as, up on the second floor, Leon was facing off against a woman with slicked-back blonde hair – the one who had straight-up electrocuted Axel off the landing. Clearly, she was some kind of lightning god, but she was utterly nullified by the fact that Leon was, too. It was something to see: every flash, every strike, and Leon barely even flinched, taking the hits like she was flailing at him with her fists instead of trying to kill him with raw electricity. He let her batter at him, her fury growing with every moment longer that he survived, then, when she screamed again, enraged beyond reason, Leon struck.

She narrowly avoided the blow, resorting to hand-to-hand combat instead as Roxas tugged at Axel's shirt, urging him, "Come on! We have to get back to Tifa!" Distractedly, he nodded, grabbing his chakram off the floor and hurrying along with Roxas and Kairi, away from Leon's fight and towards Tifa and Vincent's.

The young man with the book – floating book, sure, okay, why not – was dragging strange, tormented, mindlessly aggressive creatures into existence, birthing them unnaturally from the surrounding darkness, and Axel was beginning to see why taking on a Nobody was not a one-man job. He hated the word, hated to call them that, but they were trying to kill them. Axel… had never had someone genuinely want him dead before. Never had someone try it. And Kairi had basically just performed divine CPR after the screaming chick effectively killed him for a second there. Axel was shaking all over, trembling so hard it was hard to keep his chakram in hand, because holy shit. This was serious. This was real. This wasn't just off-handed 'god shit'. He'd – he'd experienced a taste of it, briefly, when Demyx and the others had attacked them at Ansem's tower, and the bolt of ice had almost hit Roxas, but… it hadn't actually hit him. It had almost been like receiving a warning shot, rather than a concerted effort to actually murder another person.

But here, in their domain? They weren't fucking around. No one was fucking around. They never had been, and Axel could feel his fingers going numb as he gasped for breath. He thought Ansem had made Leon and Co. trigger-happy, and that's why they had no compunction in killing Nobodies; and yeah, Ansem was definitely a lying piece of shit, but – but this was literally kill or be killed. And Axel was only just now getting that, and he was terrified, because Roxas was here, too. Every single person here had stepped into the castle knowing what to expect – every one of them but Axel, and he was starting to freak the fuck out.

He flinched, almost whirled around and lashed out with his weapons when Kairi touched his shoulder. She could see him struggling, and wanted to offer comfort, but his eyes had gone wide and wild, and at the extremely obvious twitch he made as if to retaliate, she snatched her hand back. They didn't have the luxury of talking out their feelings, however, as, in the next moment, one of the summoned creatures contorted abhorrently and thrust an abnormally long, bladed arm through their midst.

Axel dodged sharply, lifting his chakram on sheer instinct as the arm twisted past him and towards the unarmed Kairi. He managed to deflect the creature, barely, Kairi releasing a startled cry as the blade missed her by the narrowest of margins, but the impact caused his inexperienced hands to drop the chakram, he had dropped his fucking chakram, and they rattled away from him as he stood helplessly before the empty-faced enemy, which was already stabbing with its other arm. Roxas, up alongside Tifa fighting another of them, couldn't even see him. Axel had fallen too far behind while he'd had his existential crisis, and everyone else was too busy actually fighting for their lives to notice.

Until, with three deliberate shots, Vincent did.

Axel inhaled deeply, for perhaps the first time in thirty seconds, as the creature staggered back, a bullet in each arm and one inside whatever passed for its face. "Your flames," Vincent murmured, alighting beside him only for a second, "use them." Then he was off again, ascending the stairs via the bannister, lining up each shot and firing with both extreme care and razor-like precision.

His flames. Right. He'd got so rattled he'd practically forgotten about the fact that he was a god, too. Sort of.

Axel sucked in a second breath, his hands forming claws like he was still holding his chakram, and willed a set of spinning flames into existence at his fingertips. As the creature reared up again, hardy bastards that even Vincent couldn't execute with ease, and came for Axel and Kairi, this time Axel's weapon was a better fit. With a pulse of power, using all the desperation and fear he was feeling as fuel, he turned the flames a searing, whirling blue and sliced the monster's fucking arms right off its godforsaken body. As they dropped and blackened and evaporated back into the nothing from which they had been born, Axel roared, eyes flaring, shoving his home-brewed flaming chakram right through its head. It was torn apart like it had been sent through a set of saws, the chunks burning brightly, like sparks, before the creature crumbled back into darkness.

Victory.

Axel liked it. The old bones liked it. Every particle in him hummed, burned, as he drew the blue, spinning wheels close and, pushing the breath from his body, willed them even hotter.

"You'd kill me?Kill me? Me?" he demanded, of the castle at large, his voice deeper than it should have been and he didn't fucking care. The temerity. The absolute fucking gall. "I burn like the stars, you motherfuckers. I burn."

His new chakram turned white, the heat he radiated becoming uncontainable, his allies dropping back fast as he took his first steps up the staircase. Axel was gone. Lea was home. And everyone was fucked.

The walls blackened as he passed, each step deliberate, slow, the guy with the floating book summoning a cluster of the distorted creatures that Axel cut through like they were… cling-wrap. And he was a kid with a lighter. He watched them burn, curl, vanish with fascination, and as the young man attempted to summon more, he continued climbing. "You remember yourself, don't you?" Axel croaked. He cut through more of the creations. "Who are you?" His gaze flickered to the book. "I don't recognise that weapon."

"It's because it's mine," the man replied stiffly, not having expected to be drawn into conversation, studying him with a morbid interest of his own. "I made it work for me. I'm Zexion in this cycle."

"Nooo, no, no. NO!" Axel bellowed it, heat flaring outward in a billowing wave, his voice ringing against the high, white walls. "Who are you?Who are you?" He moved closer, bringing his wheels in towards himself, reducing them back to chakram-size, the heat becoming even more intense.

"I know who you are," Zexion replied, eyes narrowed, not moving, sweating and bright red, slowly burning, uncertain at the situation unfolding but seemingly aware that if he tried to run he wasn't going to get far. "You're Axel."

"What's that?" he demanded, voice dripping with contempt, stepping nearer, watching the man visibly wilting. "I don't know that name."

"Well, I do," came a voice from the hallway he had passed without a glance, and with a crash of water, he was doused, shrieking as the steam burned his body. "Yeah, how the fuck do you like it?" Demyx asked, stepping out with blue eyes. "Not fun, huh?"

Axel found himself on his knees, wailing in agony, his skin blistering, until Demyx summoned a great orb of water and trapped him within it. But oh, god, who needed oxygen? The water stopped the burning, but beyond that… it was so soothing. All the noise and commotion and fear and pain was blocked out. And – something about it felt like the smell of Demyx. There was something so unique to Demyx about the feel of the goddamn water that Axel started to weep, almost involuntarily, his tears meeting the surrounding orb, adding to it. He opened his eyes and looked through the warped world at his best friend, and, for just now, Demyx was looking back.

And then – there was a small surge of energy from Demyx, and Axel felt his burned flesh healing. There was an itch as his skin shifted, righted itself, closed up. Then, mercifully, the water dropped to the floor, leaving him gasping, shuddering in its wake. "Demyx," Zexion asked, with disbelief, "did you just heal the enemy?"

Staring at his drenched, pathetic form, Demyx shook his head. "Nope. That's Axel."

Lifting his head, Axel met his gaze with a different pain, his heart aching, at the sight of Demyx frowning at him. "Dem…?" His voice was – his own again. His body, his thoughts. All Axel. And – Demyx?

Just as they were trying to have a moment, Tifa swung a roundhouse kick into the back of Zexion's head and sent him one-way to the floor. "Hey!" she declared, brightly. "This is just like how it went at Ansem's tower!"

Before Demyx could react in time, she punched him across the face, sending him staggering sideways. "Tifa, wait!" Axel cried, but Tifa wasn't waiting for anyone. She took hold of Demyx's head and slammed it into the wall, leaving a red streak behind.

Over Demyx's crumpled form, cracking her knuckles, she sent him a long, hard look. "Better this than the alternative, no?" she proposed.

The alternative… with a chill, he simply nodded. He had been pretty close to rolling out 'the alternative' himself for a long minute there.

"Axel, what the fuck?" Roxas was beside him, hauling his drenched ass off the floor, the entire upper floor now raining down onto the foyer. But he didn't sound angry, he sounded – fearful. He gripped Axel's cold cheeks, forced him to make eye contact. "Why? Why do you keep doing this?"

Axel didn't have a reply. He felt – feeble. Weak. And ashamed.

From across the landing, Leon called out, cautiously, "Everything all right over there now?"

Now.

"Yeah, we're all wrapped up," Tifa called back, several deep cuts from the summoned monsters across her face and body, which she was already sprinkling a cure over to stop the bleeding. "How are things on your side?"

"Easy. Just the girl," Leon said dismissively. "This can't be where Xehanort is based, or the defences would be higher."

"So, what? This is just to keep Naminé prisoner? All this?" Tifa gestured at their grandiose surroundings.

"Maybe it's for the Nobodies," Leon suggested, his group coming over to join them, no worse for wear thanks entirely to their leader and some luck. "Gotta hole 'em up somewhere." He himself ignored Axel entirely, but the others in his group were darting him alarmed glances.

"And there have been a lot of them," Tifa sighed, looking down at Demyx and Zexion. "We've been lucky so far, but we need to keep moving quickly if we're going to get to Naminé before people starting regaining consciousness. I've been holding back."

Leon grunted, "Same." He looked away. "Doesn't feel right anymore."

"But they're not," Roxas reminded them tersely, supporting the tentatively-standing Axel with a shoulder, "so how about we wrap it up and keep the ethics debates for when we're home?"

"That was a lot of words for 'shut up and go'," Yuffie piped up.

With a withering look, Roxas shrugged Axel's weight more even across his shoulders, and started walking. Axel felt bad, but he kind of couldn't… stand properly right now. It was better than passing out, though, right? Maybe.

…Fuck.

He was being a burden, no matter how you sliced it. He forced his feet to move as they returned to scouting the castle as a single collective, the only reason they had survived so far being the fact that they were all together and the Nobodies had absolutely been caught unawares. And possibly a little bit because Axel had gone off the deep end again, but still.

They followed the castle's stairways up at every opportunity, the place echoing, strangely empty. "Where exactly is our goal?" Roxas grated out, struggling with Axel.

Stopping to help him, Riku took Axel's other arm, his feet now skittering across the floor as his body grew heavier. The backlash was coming. He had done it again. He had done it a-fucking-gain. "I figure the tower we saw from the outside," Riku told Roxas across his sagging head. "What better place to keep a prisoner in a castle?"

Roxas nodded, satisfied enough with the logic to not bitch about it. And with no further resistance from within the castle – seriously, where the fuck was everyone? – they made it all the way to the corridor leading to the tower. At the end, however, before the doorway, stood a man in black, with close-cropped blond hair and a positively dapper beard situation. He did nothing; simply stood there, one hand folded rather elegantly behind his back. With the other, he in fact… gestured to them, to come closer. "Come, come," he called out, in a lazy voice. "I'm not going to fight you. This is what you want, isn't it? The doorway to Naminé?"

Tensing beneath Axel, Riku muttered, "So she is here. Oh, thank god."

"Yeah, but…" Roxas nodded dubiously towards the beckoning stranger. "Who's this guy? I've never seen him before."

"A recent hire, I'm afraid," the man called out, apparently able to hear their discussion in the emptiness of the corridor. "I take it you, er, incapacitated my associates out there?"

"…We only incapacitated them," Tifa called out, after a beat. "They'll be all right."

"Oh?" The man's eyebrows picked up at that. "A change in management, was it?" He then laughed at his own joke, before shaking his head, wheezing, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Too soon." He then stopped short, realising what he'd said. "Wait, are you telling me that killing us… was Ansem's idea?"

"Well, let's just say he didn't dissuade us," Roxas sarcastically bit off, "so if you're gonna move, hurry up and move."

"Well, I can't very well move," the man replied jauntily, "if you don't come any closer, now, can I? Shall I just – move aside for the fresh air? Turn and face the wall?"

"Yeah, do that," Leon called out, sternly. "Face the wall, and show me both your hands."

"Both? Both of my…?" The man considered this, then gave a sort of… blasé shrug and showed them the hand from behind his back. "See? Empty." He showed them both the palms and backs of his hands. "Unless you want to search my sleeves. Or possibly strip-search me." He grinned at Leon, appreciatively. "Because you. Are. Delicious."

"The wall," Leon snarled, gunblade rising.

"Oh, yes, darling. As you command, darling. Do be gentle though, won't you?" His arms aloft, his gaze suggestive, he turned to face the wall. The group hesitated, then, led by Leon, started walking. "The name's Luxord, by the by," he continued, as they cautiously approached. "And I am so glad to make your acquaintance, Mister…?" Leon didn't respond. "Mm. Strong and silent," Luxord muttered happily. "Ooh, it makes me tingle."

"This guy doesn't stop talking," Riku whispered. "Something's up."

"We know," Aerith resignedly answered. "But what other choice do we have?"

Good point. If Naminé really was just behind that door… what else mattered? Of course, that was a concern for the regular godlike beings, who didn't fuck up at every given opportunity.

"Keep it together," Roxas quietly said, seeing the shift in his mood as they continued to approach Luxord. "Save it."

"…Yeah," Axel mumbled.

Sure enough, once they had advanced a sufficient distance into the corridor for Luxord's liking, he called out, "All right, now nobody move!" He clapped his hands, then, as everyone froze and he realised he was the only one who'd moved, he laughed again. "That was unintentional, that was a good one." He shook a finger at them. "Now, hasn't anyone told you about not entering people's homes uninvited, hmm?"

"What's your gimmick?" Leon flatly asked, but Vincent, at the rear, had already figured it out.

"All around us," he said quietly, the group lifting their heads, Axel dragging his gaze upward, from blinding white to blinding white with - ? He squinted. "Are those… playing cards?"

"Fifty-two of them. A whole deck, darling boy." Luxord turned his hands slightly, and the cards, previously all-but invisible on their edges, turned like soldiers, perfectly uniform, with a synchronised flutter. "And each one of them deadly sharp, I'm afraid," Luxord regretfully informed them. "So this is where it ends for Ansem's pets. All very tragic, I'm sure."

From behind him, slowly, the tall twin doors that led to the tower eased open, and a long-handled, hot-pink scythe emerged. The group stared, Luxord mistaking their gaping for fear, or perhaps awe at his abilities, because he gave a small, self-satisfied little titter.

"Come now, darlings, at least go out with a smile?" The scythe dropped, and stabbed through his chest from behind. Looking down at it, he hesitated, then said, "Shit."

The cards fell in a soft shower as he fell over, the scythe going with him. From beyond the cracked-open doorway stepped a girl, with blonde hair, wearing white to match the castle. She gave them a small smile, then timidly lifted a hand to wave. "Hi. I'm… Naminé." As they continued to stare, she frowned slightly, her brow creasing quickly with worry. "Oh, no, have I done something wrong? I – I felt you all coming, so I thought I should do what I could…"

"Well, we had… sort of decided recently against the killing," Riku offered weakly. She blinked at them, then glanced over her shoulder into the room behind her with trepidation.

"Then, maybe… don't come in," she offered, with a wince. She quickly closed the door, as Luxord gurgled on the ground.

"I can save him." Kairi pushed to the front of the pack with determination. "But I'll need some help." She paused halfway to the fallen man, looking back at them expectantly. "Or do you want him to die unnecessarily?"

"I mean," Leon started, Luxord letting out a strangled noise of objection. In response to Kairi's firm glare, however, he sighed, and asked, "What do you need me to do?"

With the help of Leon, Tifa, and Yuffie, Kairi had them draw the scythe… back out of Luxord… the resultant screams under which she sang her melody, healing as they went, pressing her hand into his only slightly bloodied robe, through the hole in the fabric so she could touch the wound directly, until the scythe was out, by which time he was mostly healed. His voice grew softer, the cries dying away as he gulped and gasped, and felt that unique sensation which came from having an ancient god knit you back together. Blinking in confusion, he made eye contact with Kairi, who smiled softly, and continued to sing until his injuries were minor. At that point, she eased off, tired but satisfied.

Watching with wide eyes, Naminé was the first to speak: "You're… amazing." She was shaking slightly. "You saved him. I've only… I've only ever…" She again looked uneasily back at the doors.

"It's okay," Kairi told her, gently, like she was addressing a frightened animal. "Hey, it's okay." Standing up from Luxord, who shuffled achingly, but gratefully, to lean against the wall, she went to where Naminé stood looking lost. She took hold of Naminé's hands and pressed them warmly between her own. "I promise you, Naminé. It's okay." She said it with such feeling, such compassion, like she was – forgiving Naminé. Forgiving her for having killed whoever was behind that door. Forgiving her for having almost killed Luxord. Forgiving her for having led so many to Xehanort's slaughter. Naminé's eyes filled slowly, Kairi folding her in a comforting embrace, stroking her hair with deep, sad affection. "It's okay," she whispered. She glanced at Roxas. "I'd say this is mission complete, wouldn't you?" she softly asked.

Gasping slightly, Roxas, remembering himself, nodded and, with Riku's assistance, half-carried, half-walked Axel over to Kairi and Naminé. One by one, those gathered placed their hands upon some part of him, Kairi reaching for his hand with one of Naminé's, leaving it in his care. Roxas gave a reassuring squeeze, then announced, "Okay, we're about to shift."

Leon glowered at Luxord. "Remember why you got lucky today."

With a tired, ill-shaped grin, Luxord pointed a set of finger guns at him. "Because Lady Luck loves me."

Leon started to rumble, like a storm was building inside him. "You goddamn son-of-a-!"

Roxas re-zipped the world before he could lose his cool and disconnect. They left Luxord behind in that bright place, in that dark space, damaged but alive, and were returned abruptly to the mansion in Twilight Town, also… damaged, but alive.

With incredulity, they met one another's gazes. There were cuts, and there were some minor burns, and bruises, but otherwise everyone was okay. Because of Kairi. Because if Kairi hadn't been there, Axel would have died. If Axel had died, he wouldn't have lost control and helped to defeat Zexion. Demyx would have fought against them, instead of helping him. Luxord would be dead. Maybe others would have died.

Maybe Roxas would have.

But no one had.

Because of Kairi.

Bitterly, Axel mustered what little strength, what little dignity he had, and unhooked himself from Roxas and Riku. "I'm going to bed," he muttered, staggering away towards the door.

"Axel?" Kairi called after him, with concern.

He acted like he didn't hear her, and shuffled off into the dim, lamp-lit hallways. When he heard a set of steps hurrying after him, his jaw clenched.

"Axel, wait!" Roxas called. Instead of slowing, he hunched his shoulders, until Roxas caught up, breathlessly asking, "What the hell? What's going on with you?"

"Nothing," Axel said sullenly, stubbornly, because he couldn't tell Roxas. He couldn't actually admit that he felt like an inferior piece of shit, because Kairi was out there as ancient as they came and she wasn't going nuts and trying to kill people. No, that was Axel. Axel was the one with the literal fucking god complex, acting as bad as the crazy fucking Nobodies. Axel was the one whose 'old bones' were some twisted, thirsty god, beside Kairi's gentle, healing love. Was that what fire and passion looked like? Had he been some kind of war god all along? How had he ever been that person? And why did he keep returning to him?

"Axel. Axel!" Roxas's sharp voice got him to stop, along with his grip tight on Axel's upper arm. "Don't go silent on me. Please."

Axel thought about it, then pulled free and continued on his way without responding, leaving Roxas standing there. Leaving him behind.

Because that… was what Axel deserved.