dancing flames

Why was he still here? Was this a world that had yet to be unlocked, or was he in some sort of prison of the mind? Hundreds of fantastical theories flitted past, but none stuck. None could explain the why and how he so desperately wanted.  The sudden downpour hardly deters him; he doesn’t even bother to properly hood himself. He hears a voice chiding him, telling him he’s going to catch a cold, but quiets the memory. Roxas retreats into a mental silence and walks on, black sneakers becoming soaked by puddles on the pavement. He pays them no mind, and doesn’t realize that he’s begun to shiver until someone breaks his concentration.

Huh? Was his mind playing tricks on him now? Memories flood back of times on the tower, of catching glimpses through Sora of when this person had…he’d… His head begins to throb painfully; he grips it with both hands and bites back a groan. Knees buckle but he manages to stay standing upright until the sensation passes. A deep breath; the boy stiffens, attempting to act as if he hadn’t just been on the verge of collapse. He should be happy. He should be frightened. But neither of those feelings came to him. "Axel…?" it had to be some kind of ghost. He steps back, throwing his hood over his head. Then there’s a beckoning gesture as Roxas begins to lead him to shelter. It was just a small book store, but it would do. Roxas keeps his gaze pinned to the floor as he wrings his sleeves out.

And then Roxas began to beckon him, and Axel found himself nodding and following his friend's lead to the bookstore, where he folded his arms and leaned against the wall.

"What am I doing here? I'd like to ask you the same question." He shrugged; he wasn't sure why he was here himself. Axel may be no angel, but most of the people who've arrived at the city don't seem to be bad people. Maybe the bear just really wanted some players in his game. How tedious.

Still, he was reunited with Roxas again! That's what really mattered, right? To have his best friend back? He could already feel the small smile cracking on his lips at the thought--he can patch things up. Be the best of friends again.

Although this was almost too good to be true. What happened to Sora? How is Roxas standing here, when he's supposed to be completed again? C'mon, he couldn't be too far behind on things!