And they told me we'd never survive

[fireintwilight]

Who: Axel, Roxas
When: Forward-dated to Sunday evening, before sirens
Where: A conveniently tall building
Summary: Axel's been let go from Xehanort's stronghold, and Roxas is the first person he seeks out
Warnings: None

Comments

[pullsheavendown]

[He should get back soon, he knows. Even if he's feeling much more clearheaded now, he'd not back to full strength, and even if he were fine, he really doesn't want to be out after siren. The monsters don't frighten him and he doesn't think Vanitas will come after him any time soon, but still.

But then there's the sound of a corridor opening and a familiar voice. He whips around to face it, eyes wide.]

Axel!

[And then he's scrambling to his feet without even thinking about it, dashing forward to get to his best friend and throw his arms around his waist. He's never hugged Axel like this, but seeing him alive and unbroken is such a relief that he can't not.]

[fireintwilight]

[He halfway expects it, Roxas throwing himself at his midsection, but even braced for it he can't quite prevent himself from staggering back a step or two. It doesn't speak well for his condition, but it's nothing he can help, and hopefully Roxas won't notice.]

Hey there. [It's spoken casually, once his balance is recovered. He's held Xion like this before, but not Roxas; even so, it feels natural enough, one of his arms coming up around his shoulders, and his chin leaning on the top of his head.]

[pullsheavendown]

[All Roxas can focus on is that he's here. He doesn't care about much else.]

Are you-did I-did they-

[He grimaces in frustration. Days now with thoughts drifting through his mind like a foggy landscape, and now so many are tumbling around that he can't figure out how to arrange them. He takes a breath and tries again, not letting go.]

Are you okay?

[fireintwilight]

Sure.

[He isn't hurt. Doesn't think he is, anyway. But something is different: it's the weight in his chest, the lightness now. The hollowness. The tiny substantial memory that he felt near Roxas--not just near him, there were others--has gone, he thinks, and the emptiness goes so much deeper than he's remembered for--oh, a long time.]

Are you?

[pullsheavendown]

[Roxas closes his eyes for a moment, trying to decide on the right answer. It's not as simple as 'yes' or 'no.']

I wasn't at first. When I woke up in a field somewhere, I was like I was...before. When I was first born. You remember?

[Of course he does.]

It's better now, but I'm still...it's hard to think sometimes. Like I'm not completely here.

[fireintwilight]

[He nods.]

You're different.

[Then he smiles and ruffles Roxas's hair in his fingers.] Don't worry about it. You'll be fine. Listen, I brought ice cream.

[pullsheavendown]

You brought-?

[He can't help but laugh. All that's happened, each of them going missing for a week while Xehanort could have done anything to them...and he brought ice cream.]

Okay. Sure. That sounds good.

[He lets go and steps back so they can both take a seat on the edge of the building. The sunset doesn't look much different than it did five minutes ago, but to him, it seems brighter.]

I didn't understand when I first came back, but they said that you went after me. You got me out of there, didn't you?

[fireintwilight]

[He joins Roxas on the edge of the roof, the sun sinking slowly as he hands over one of the two ice cream bars he brought, still wrapped in plastic. He's not even hungry, but ice cream demands to be shared.]

Oh, sure. He wasn't any kind of fight at all. [Not that there was any actual fighting involved. Roxas probably realizes that already, but he doesn't need to talk about it.]

[pullsheavendown]

[Roxas takes the ice cream bar, but doesn't bite into it yet. Finishing it would make this go too fast-he can already barely believe Axel is really here. He'd wonder if this is a dream, except his dreams are rarely this peaceful.]

I'm sorry.

[He speaks softly, knowing instinctively that Axel will not blame him, but saying it because it simply needs to be said.]

I was stupid. I didn't look out for myself well enough. If I hadn't gotten so careless, you wouldn't have had to do that.