#saxel

The redhead laughed as the bouncer let Isa through and he waved his own ID and managed to wiggle in through the mass of younger people into the club, searching for the blue head of hair.  The club was extremely crowded after Radiant Garden residents had recovered from the strange events that Xehanort had caused, in fact, it surprised Lea that more people weren’t getting drunk and going crazy due to sheer relief that they were alive and well again. 

 Lea noted that Isa and himself had aged due to the events, but not anyone else from their neighborhood. Which had made it very strange for family and friends. Luckily Isa was the only one whose opinion he had been concerned about. 

He scanned the crowd and noted Isa by the bar ordering two beers and shifting his eyes about him suspiciously, still on edge even in this environment. Lea used his height to move through the crowd, spotting obstacles such as drunken patrons passed out on the floor and maneuvering around them. He reached Isa and helped him by removing a bottle from his grip and taking a sip. It tasted like lemonade with a bad bite.

“You ordered the weak stuff?” 

Isa glared at him, “I don’t want to vomit everywhere. It’s not like either of us have drank before.” 

“True.” Lea took another sip, watching as Isa took a larger sip and grimaced, which made him laugh, “Cute.”

“What?” 

Lea shrugged, “You just are a complete nerd.” 

Isa glared at him, frowning as the redhead started to laugh at him and grabbed his hand, dragging him towards the stage where the live band was playing. The music reminded them both of Demyx, who had created his own band and left to play a few ‘gigs,’ or that’s what he claimed; Isa was still worried about how the blond would cope in the real world. 

Lea took another sip of the beer and set it aside, not intending on drinking from it again once he had set it down, he did not want to be drugged in a club. Isa did the same, making that grimace again that caused Lea to grin. 

The taller male put his hand around Isa’s waist playfully and was surprised to see Isa’s cheeks turn red under the glare of the colored lights, “Taller is supposed to lead right?” 

“I don’t think usually this situation happens Lea-”

“-you mean two men? Loosen up Isa, it’s just some fun.” He stroked the other’s hip just to push Isa’s buttons and saw him shift and squirm but did not break the hold. Lea guided Isa’s hand to his shoulder and around his neck, giving him a wink, “Hope I don’t step on your feet too much.”

“I hope so too. Because I’ll punch you in the dick.”

“Ouch Isa, that’s just cruel.” 

“This coming from the man who lights people on fire?”

“Point.”  He started moving to the rhythm and using his motion to guide Isa across the floor, happy that they were playing a slow song and not something that neither of them would know how to dance to...

“Lea?”

“Yes?”

“You’re dancing like we’re at a wedding, and everyone else is shaking their ass.”

The redhead looked around then shrugged, “I don’t want to shake my ass.” 

Isa snorted, “Too bad.” 

“Why? Something you wanted to see?~” He winked at him, as the other who had looked up turned away.

“No I wanted you to fall over and make a fool of yourself.”

“You’re lying~”

“I’m not.” 

Lea decided to punish him for not coming clean with his intentions, moving his hand from Isa’s hip to the other’s posterior. Isa immediately jumped in the hold, glaring and blushing, “Lea!”

“Yes?” 

“What are you doing?”

“Making a fool of myself~” 

“I’m two seconds away from punching you.” 

Lea laughed again and leaned down before the other’s eyebrows could furrow even further, placing a kiss on his lips and watching the stunned expression cover his face. He decided to push it even further, his hand moving and cupping the other’s ass as he kissed his nose, “Nothing to say?” Lea noticed others watching them, and felt Isa bury his face in his neck, “Shy now? That’s a a side of Isa I have yet to see.”

“Shut up Lea.”

Tonight the foxes hunt the hounds, It's all over now before it has begun, We've already won.

Lea chuckled as they left the club, feeling a little buzzed and giddy from his bold actions with Isa. The other was following behind him- apparently he no longer trusted Lea around his ass- and was grumbling the whole time as they left about never being able to show his face around others again. 

The redhead gestured at the older part of town, “Feel like doing some old shenanigans again?”

Isa leveled a look at him, “No Lea. I do not want to break and enter into buildings. Unless you have completely forgotten where that got us last time.” 

“Buzzkill~”

“I am not a buzzkill. I am a reality-check.”

“Same thing.”

Lea waved his hands in a gesture of defeat, “Alright Isa, what do you want to do?” 

The other blinked at him, this usually did not happen. Lea made the plans, Isa scolded him and followed him anyhow, and they regretted it later. Isa making the plans? This was new.

Isa looked confused and they thought about it. He then turned to Lea and looked at him, his gaze was certain, “I want to get a hotel room.”

Lea blinked once, twice, “......Isa you’re skipping like five steps. I think you should at least buy me dinner.”

Isa turned completely red, “Goddammit Lea! I meant to sleep!” He stomped towards the center of the city and Lea scrambled after him, laughing hysterically. 

“Shut UP Lea!” Isa wasn’t looking back and charging angrily forward as they rounded block after block and Isa found a hotel that looked hospitable and pushed into the revolving door, hitting the door and unable to get out due to the force of his entry. Lea could not stop laughing as Isa tried to make the door stop, knowing he was going to get sick and unable to move to stop the door or help him, watching his friend hold on for dear life to the handle as the door slowly stopped, and he sank to the ground. Isa turned pale and Lea managed to get over his laughter and help his friend, as staff from the hotel were attempting to stop the door completely so that Isa could be assisted. Lea moved in front of them and helped Isa up, hearing Isa groan and seeing him turn more pale, “You gonna be sick Isa?” 

Isa nodded and Lea hefted him to the nearest trashcan as Isa emptied his stomach and Lea held his hair out of the way, feeling bad for making Isa so angry that he ended up making himself sick. When Isa had stopped he lugged him over to the bathroom to wash out his mouth and face, helping him hold onto the sink as he patted his back, “Isa only you could get sick not from the beer but the door to the hotel.” 

“Fuck you Lea.” Isa took a few deep breaths and stood up, “Let’s just get a room so I can sleep.” Lea understood that Isa was uncomfortable living with his parents after all that had happened, but a hotel? Maybe Isa was just trying to have an opportunity to spend time together.

“Okay. How much money you got? We slummin’ it?” He grinned. 

Isa pulled out his wallet and raised a credit card, “My mom slipped me this when I got home.”

“Ooooooo~ Hotel expensive suite montage?” 

“Of course. This may be the only time for us to try it.” 

“Let’s steal the small soaps and towels.”

“...........Lea let’s not.” Isa gave him an angry look that stated that he had enough for the day.

“Fine fine.” 

Isa left the bathroom and Lea trailed after, as Isa went to pay for the suite and found the only one left was the honeymoon. Isa looked at Lea, who held up two thumbs-up, and earned another glare.

“There’s nothing with two beds?”

“Sorry Sir, you and your partner can always buy separate rooms.”

“Partner?” Isa flushed, and Lea leaned on the counter, pushing Isa’s card forward.

“Honeymoon is fine, we’ll deal.” Isa still seemed annoyed as the man swiped his card and handed him a key then a keycard. Lea grabbed them as the man gave them directions to go to the top floor to the room on the left, number #15. 

As Lea entered the elevator and Isa stepped in next to him, Lea wiggled the key on its keychain in front of Isa’s face, “Hey Isa.”

“What?” Isa pressed the number for the top floor.

“15 is 8 plus 7.” 

“Congratulations you can do basic math Lea, I’m impressed.” He ignored the other’s smile that was mirrored in the metal plate of the elevator’s control box. He ignored Lea starting to hum “Can you feel the love tonight” and he ignored Lea making motions with his hands while Isa was staring straight ahead.

“Buzzkill.”

“Idiot.”

“..........Blueballs.”

“Firecrotch.”

“Nice.”

“I know.”

The elevator opened and Lea ran ahead to find the room, motioning to the not-very-far-from-the-elevator-and-unnecessary-to-run-to entrance to their suite. Isa watched as he popped in a key and then swiped the keycard, hearing a click as the door unlocked and he held it open for Isa, “After you Dear.” 

“One more thing Lea. One more.” Isa shook his head and passed him into the room, stopping as he looked around and noted the waterbed and Jacuzzi, as well as the abundance of roses and candles. 

Lea lifted his fingers.

“Do not.”

“Do not what?” Lea snapped his fingers as the candles lit up immediately with flames. 

“................Why am I still here?” 

“Because you want to get it memorized.”

“Are you ever going to stop that stupid catchphrase?” Isa walked over to the king-sized bed and tossed a pillow at Lea, who caught it easily despite it being aimed for his face.

“Only after it’s true.”

“What’s true Lea?” Isa flopped on the bed and kicked off his shoes. 

“That you have it memorized~”

Isa groaned into a pillow and played along, “How?” 

Lea dropped the key and keycard on the nearby table and kicked off his shoes as well, getting a running start and jumping on the bed, as it sent Isa flying up and landing on Lea, the bed shaking and quivering with the water inside it. Lea grinned at their position as Isa tried to get off, “Obviously I’ll have to drill it into you~”

Isa smacked Lea on the hip and turned red again, moving to lay on his side with his back to Lea, forgetting their earlier experiences that involved Isa’s ass and Lea quickly seized the opportunity and moved to cup his ass again, warming his hands to make the experience even more memorable, Isa squirmed and Lea bit on his earlobe, murmuring, “You didn’t commit this to memory did you?” 

“I f-fucking hate you.” 

“No you don’t~” Lea spooned against him and moved his leg to tuck around Isa’s hip, nuzzling his ear and neck as he heard the other shudder, “Time to sleep, right?”

Isa was quiet for a second before he muttered quietly, “You are the worst tease.” 

“I know~”

We are wild, we are like young volcanoes We are wild, Americana, exotica Do you wanna feel a little beautiful baby? Yeah!

Isa woke up and hurried to the bathroom, happy that Lea was snoring - he was notoriously a heavy sleeper. The blue-haired male took a cold shower, groaning weakly as he saw his problem disappear and he was able to turn the water to warm and take a pleasant shower, enjoying using the hotel shampoo and conditioner and surprised they included a disposable comb as well. He was broken from his grooming when a knock on the bathroom door echoed and he heard Lea on the other side, “Isa? Why did you lock the door I have to take a piss!” 

Isa frowned at the door, pulling the shower curtain aside to shout back, “Piss in the kitchen sink for all I care! I’m taking a shower!” 

There was a pause and Isa assumed that Lea had left to use one of the restrooms in the lobby and he pulled the curtain back and resumed scrubbing and washing out his hair. There was a clicking sound that Isa did not hear over the water and the door unlocked as Lea tossed the lock-picking kit under the bed for later- he didn’t need Isa to know all his secrets. 

Lea saw Isa’s silhouette and concentrated on the toilet, completing what he intended and washing his hands under a gentle stream in the sink that was not too loud. Lea grinned and turned to the shower when he was done, pulling the curtain back enough to see the other had his back to him. 

Perfect.

Lea raised his hand and made a practice strike once, then swung and slapped the other hard on the ass. Isa let out a pained and surprised scream, jumping up and nearly slipping as he gripped a set of handles on the side of the shower, whirling around to see a blur of red running out of the room laughing hysterically. 

“LEA! GET BACK HERE!” Isa snatched a towel off the wall and wrapped it around his waist, nearly slipping again as he ran out of the bathroom after Lea. 

He saw Lea searching around for a hiding place, the pyro finding none in a honeymoon suite and whipping around to face the frothing Isa, “Isa, baby, apple of my eye! Why the long face?” 

Isa slowly approached him, his fists clenched, “You know why.”

“Ass still tender?” 

Isa lunged. Lea grunted as the other shoved him against the wall and moved to punch him in the gut, and Lea took a low road and tugged the towel loose, holding it in front of him with a whistle, “Isa!, what a mighty sight to see~” The redhead mimicked a Southern drawl, wiggling his eyebrows as he looked down and laughed as Isa dodged back to cover his groin with his hands.

“You fucking perv!” 

“Am not.” Lea pointed down at Isa’s hands, “Nice.”

“Nice what?” Isa’s voice had raised to a shriek, his cheeks completely red as he took a step back, “Get me some pants!”

“Why would I do that?” Lea took two steps forward, his hand moving to push Isa’s away as Isa slapped Lea as hard as he could on the hand to prevent such a move. 

“Stop that.”

“Stop what? We’re both men.” He started to rub the wounded hand, warming it up and pouting as he cast a Cura on the now darkening bruise. 

“Doesn’t mean I want you to see me naked all the time Lea.”

“Could have fooled me.”

“What the fuck does that mean?!” Isa snapped, grabbing a sheet from the bed and wrapping it around himself. 

“You seemed pretty excited to be around me this morning.” 

Isa paled, stammering, “You were snoring!”

“I faked it~” The redhead smirked at him, “So you really liked spooning hm? Am I warm?” He took another step forward, leaning down to meet those familiar blue-green eyes and seeing the other breathing hard, “Did you like me pressing against you?” He placed a warm hand on Isa’s wet chest, feeling him shiver under the touch. He pressed a kiss to the other’s forehead, moving his hand playfully down his chest and to the hands cupped around Isa’s groin. 

His hand grasped both of Isa’s, slowly moving the fingers apart and away, “I never knew you were shy.” Isa tried to move back and yank his hands away but Lea held his hands steady, his eyes focused on his older friend. 

“I’m not shy.”

“So you take what you want then?” 

Isa swallowed hard, looking back into the green eyes for an answer. Was he teasing him again? Did he want him to make a move or...? The blue-haired male took a shaky breath, “I do.”

Lea leaned in closer, his hands letting go of Isa’s and placing them on pale hips instead as he breathed over the other’s earlobe and whispered into his ear, “Then take it.” 

Isa heard blood pumping in his ears as he shook, his hands twitching before he reached up and grabbed the other’s red hair, yanking his head down to meet Isa’s face, his tongue licking hungrily at the other’s lips, “I’ll take everything.”

“Everything?” Lea moved to suck on Isa’s lower lip, finding his eyes searching the other’s. Both had the same question. Who would make the other moan and scream tonight? Lea smiled and moved his hands from the other’s hips, sliding them inward as his thumb brushed the growing erection, “That’s a promise Isa?”

“Have I ever broken my promises?” He pushed his hips unintentionally against the warm male’s hand, panting. Lea smiled, Isa never did break a promise. That was half the problem. He moved his hand to cup the other’s length, fingers trailing over taut skin and muscle.  Isa was panting now and he claimed Lea’s lips completely, his lips nibbling before shoving his tongue into the hot mouth, his tongue rolling over and pushing Lea’s tongue to the floor of his mouth, claiming the mouth for his own and earning a weak moan in return. Lea used his weight to press the other backwards, pushing him one step at a time against the wall and using a knee between Isa’s legs to prevent them from closing.  With his legs effectively propped open Lea began to stroke Isa’s length in earnest, the fire-wielder chuckling as he heard Isa whimper and moan, his hips bucking weakly into the warm hand that was moving faster. 

“You’re not keeping your promise Isa. I think you’ll cum before you can act on it.” His spare hand moved to squeeze at the other’s tense orbs, making Isa whimper and pant louder. 

“Fuck.” Isa shook and pushed at Lea’s chest, his fingers grasping weakly at the shirt he had slept in from yesterday. 

“Fuck? Already? No more foreplay?” 

“This is unfair-” Isa moaned, feeling the heat in his lower belly and the feeling of being driven to the edge. It was unfair Lea was dressed, had such warm fingers and breath, such a teasing tone and evil intentions. His hands grasped Lea’s wrists to stop them from teasing him so mercilessly. 

His body ached but he refused to have Lea drive the pace of this frisky engagement, “I said. I’d take everything. And I plan on doing that. Stop touching my cock.”

“Stop? But you seem to be enjoying it. You’re leaking.” He motioned down to the clear fluid dribbling from his tip and lubricating the tip of his length. 

Isa felt like his face was on fire and he was determined to make Lea as exposed as himself. He ripped Lea’s shirt in two, not caring at what a waste it was, exposing the other’s chest as he greedily began biting and sucking at a hardening nipple, “Mine.” 

Lea let out a sharp exhale, “Y-yours Isa.” Isa shoved Lea back forcefully, his hands tugging open the taller male’s skinny jeans and unbuttoning them quickly without saying a word as Lea was struggling to keep his balance with Isa yanking his pants and boxers down and forcing him to step out of them in order to avoid Isa shredding them as well in his lusty haze. 

Once Lea had kicked the fabric aside he was surprised as Isa pulled his hips towards his own, rubbing their lengths together with a loud growl from the back of his throat. They kissed again, this time with Lea pushing his tongue back against Isa’s, thrashing them within Lea’s mouth as they broke for air. 

“Fuck is right,” Lea remarked with a chuckle, moving his hand back and wrapping it around both lengths and pumping them as Isa bucked his hips instinctively against Lea’s, whimpering and moaning as he leaned to bite Lea’s neck and claimed it as his own. 

Their combined weight had them wobbling as they tried to push and shove the other to the bed, Lea groaned and wrapped his spare hand around Isa’s waist and lifting him off the ground for a moment, feeling his neck turning purple from Isa’s attention, “Settle Pup.”

“Don’t call me Pup, Lea.” Isa grabbed Lea’s wrist and managed to pull it away from their lengths, smacking Lea instead hard on the ass, “Get on the bed, bitch.”

Lea yelped at the smack, flushing, “Ooo~ Someone’s bossy.”

Isa gave Lea a shove and the redhead made his way to the bed, making a show of his ass, bending over on hands and knees and wiggling his ass high in the air, “Thinking about claiming me?”

“I said everything didn’t I?” Isa took his time approaching the bed as he found lubricant in one of the drawers, no surprise in the honeymoon suite, and went to work applying it to his fingers as he stood over the bed, “You seem anxious.”

“Anxious?” Lea chewed on his lower lip and groaned, “Hurry up Isa I’ll be 90 by the time you fuck me.”

“Shut up.” Isa bent over and pressed a finger against the over’s ass, smirking, “Spread your legs.”

“Make me.”

“I don’t have any dollar bills to give you.”

“Are you calling me a stripper?” Lea looked over his shoulder with a pout as he started to pop his legs open, “Do you want me to spread my ass as well?”

“No I don’t want a complete whore.”

“Fuck you.”

“Getting to it,” Isa moved his hand to spread the other’s cheeks with two fingers and started to swirl his finger around the other’s entrance with his lubricated hand. 

“Mmmm. You’re the tease.” Lea huffed and rested on his elbows, crossing his arms and resting his head on his hands, “Better hurry up, my dick is not happy.” 

“Who cares what that pinprick has to say?” Before Lea could complain again he eased his finger inside, hearing a low hiss from the redhead and watching him writhe against his hands. 

“Isa!”

“Yes?” He started to move the finger in and out, reaching around the other’s hips to tease his length with light finger-brushing and strokes.

“I hate you.”

“Alright.” He started aggressively pumping his finger, flicking Lea’s tip hard and earning a strangled groan from the younger male. He withdrew his finger and eased two in, smirking when he heard the confused noise from Lea as he tried to understand what was going on behind him.

“Oh my, you are tight. Sad your mouth isn’t this tight-lipped.” Isa grabbed the lubricant bottle and squirted some onto his fingers that were stopped halfway, as they eased in further, “Lea Lea Lea. This is just sad.” 

“S-shut up!” Lea was breathing heavy, Isa could hear him. Isa started to stroke the other’s length hard, digging his thumb into Lea’s pink tip and heard Lea whimper. Isa decorated Lea’s ass with a new red handmark, enjoying the loud slapping sound and the additional whimper from his ginger. 

“Ouch, poor thing. Now your ass matches your hair.” Isa started to push his fingers in deeper when the muscle relaxed, working them slowly and watching Lea’s hips start to move back onto his fingers, “Greedy.”

“Not greedy. Fucking needy. Fill me.” 

“Now whose bossy?” Isa smirked as he pulled the fingers out, testing Lea’s entrance, “Not big enough.” He pushed in three fingers, moving to stroke himself, rubbing his length between the other’s cheek with a smirk, “I think this is called hotdogging. Did you know?”

“Fuck Isa just fuck me. Goddamn.” The redhead pushed his hips back, rocking against him as much as he could, complaining all the while as Isa started to pump his fingers again, and Lea regained his previous mewling state. Isa pulled out his fingers and moved to get on his knees on the bed, bending over the other to nibble at his ears as he rubbed lubricant on his length, groaning in anticipation. 

Isa moved his length down, dragging it between the cheeks as he pressed against his entrance, his hand cupping his length and easing it into the entrance so that his tip was sheathed, “Fucck. Mmm. Lea it’s like fucking a volcano.” He chuckled, enjoying the low gasping, and watching Lea grip the sheets with clenched fists. Isa leaned down and started biting on Lea’s ear, grinding his teeth as he slapped the other’s ass and eased himself in deeper. 

“Mmm. Fucking rubber-band.” He could not believe the retention of that muscle and how incredibly tight it was. He almost felt guilty pushing into it, almost.  Lea moaned as Isa gripped his hips, digging his nails into it as he pushed his length inside the other inch by inch. The panting had increased as Lea rocked his hips backwards to increase Isa’s depth, only earning him punishment as Isa pulled out halfway and pushed Lea on his side, hooking one of the other’s legs on his shoulder and thrusting as hard as he could inside the taller male. Lea let out a stream of curses and moans, howling louder than expected as his voice started to raise in pitch. The faster he moved, the more Lea kept screaming. Isa yanked his leg higher, his own hips squeezing in the space between Lea’s thighs as he hammered his hips in deep and fast, not allowing the other to do anything but scream as he felt the tight heat curl in his stomach. 

“ISA I’M GOING TO CUM!” This was followed by chants of Lea whimpering that he was going to explode and then his body shook, a loud yell of his release as Lea’s body milked him of his seed, and he felt his body jerking as he pumped Lea full of his release, groaning loudly and chewing on his lip. 

They both were panting as Isa let Lea’s leg slip from his shoulder and let Lea flop on the bed, panting in a puddle of his own mess, with a stream of release dribbling out of the other’s stretched and gaping hole. Isa smirked as he leaned back on his knees, chuckling, “Creampie is my favorite dessert.” 

 “Sh...shut the fuck up Isa.” Lea groaned and pulled the pillow to put it under his hips and rest his ass on it, glaring at the blue-eyed monster sitting in front of him. 

“Why? You loved it.”

Lea sighed, laying flat on his back and groaning, “You took everything.”

“Your virginity-”

“Don’t be dramatic.”

Isa did the ever-popular flip of his hair, “-you have it memorized now?” 

Lea laughed. 

Come on

Make it easy, say I never mattered Run it up the flagpole We will teach you how to make boys next door Out of assholes Haha

“Are you kidding?” Lea put a hand to his lower back, wincing as he saw Isa smirking as he received the bill for the room, and an added noise complaint at the bottom.

“Not my fault. Try exercising once and a while and you won’t be so sore.” 

Lea glared and Isa sauntered out of the building, proud as a peacock and his chest puffed out, smirking to all the world as Lea limped after him with a series of pointed stares.

“So now where genius?”

The older man seemed pleased that he got right to business, Saix was a foreigner in this land and was treated as such, there was no small talk or discussions. He was only good for business. The elder gestured to a hut on the far end of the village, “It’s been luring young men and women there to spend time with it. Please be rid of it and bring me the pelt when you’re done. The fires it keeps setting are wrecking our crops.”

“Is that usual for kitsune here? I have heard they tempt men away...But a male? And destroying crops?” 

The old man seemed bothered by the questions, “We don’t question why demons act the way that they do. Just do what you’re paid.” He took out a portion of Saix’s fee and handed it to him, to make him leave and begin his hunt. 

Saix turned from the man and attached the bag of gold to his belt, moving to the outer rim of the village and making a wide circle towards the hut where the kitsune was said to stay. He remained downwind in order to avoid spooking the demon. It was always wise to sneak up on a fox instead of backing it into a corner. 

His hand tensed as he gripped his blade and he lifted it slowly as he approached the hut, taking a moment’s pause before slamming the blade into the door and splitting it in half. He heard the yelp as the charged in, the demon had a group of teenagers with him and they appeared to be playing a game. Saix did not take another moment to question the scene and slammed his weapon into the table, sending game pieces everywhere as the humans ran from him. He turned his gaze on the kitsune, who was taller than normal with a twitching fox tail. His startling red hair clashed with the ugly navy blue kimono he was wearing, most likely stolen. The kitsune raised his hands defensively as he took a few steps backwards, “H-hey. Let’s talk about this.”

Saix raised his weapon again as the other locked eyes with him, vibrant green meeting blazing gold, “Talk about what? You bringing humans in here to what, mate with them? You destroying crops? We have nothing to talk about!”  The hunter charged forward and found his blade locked with a set of round spiked weapons that the kitsune had summoned in a fingersnap of flames. 

The hunter was mildly surprised, he had heard kitsune were known for tricks. This must be one of them. He pressed his weight forward and heard the fox grunt as he struggled to hold Saix back. 

“I accidentally lit the crops on fire, settle down!” 

“Accidentally?” The hunter snorted with laughter and shoved him back. The kitsune’s eyes scanned the room for n escape as Saix extended the points on his blade. 

“Yeah! What the hell was I supposed to do? Get pelted with rocks and arrows and do nothing? It happens when I get angry okay?” The other’s fluffy tail twitched side to side as Saix grimaced. He lowered the weapon and ran a hand through his tangled hair. He really needed a bath and proper grooming.

The kitsune appeared reassured when he lowered his weapon, his need to flee diminished. Saix knew he could probably kill him easily with the other’s guard down. But that wasn’t his way. He hunted, not murdered. 

“I have already been paid for your pelt. I do not take money for lost kills.”

 He frowned as the kitsune snapped his fingers, “I have an idea. But you’ll have to go along with it. You got paid for a pelt. Doesn’t have to be mine~”

The older man sighed and followed the kitsune out of the hut as the fox gestured for the hunter to stay close behind him as they moved into the forest. The demon led him to a collection of ferns and rocks and moved a rock aside to pull out a dried fox pelt, among other dead ‘treasures’ in his makeshift den.  

“That looks nothing like you.”

“How would you know?” The fox smirked flirtatiously, “You haven’t seen me transformed.” 

“This fur is lighter.” Saix narrowed his eyes, feeling insulted by the other playing such a trick on him. Who would fall for this dumb idea?

“Oh.” He laughed. A smirk still playing on his features, “I never thought you noticed~”

“Are you finished?”

“With what?” The kitsune placed a hand on his hip and touched a finger to his head, “I was just glad you had me memorized after just meeting.” The fox tilted his head to one side, seeing the hunter was less than amused. 

“How are you going to make that become you? A kitsune pelt is triple the size.” 

The kitsune snapped his fingers and placed a small leaf on the pelt’s shape as Saix watched it turn a bright red with dead green eyes, then the pelt began to grow to the proper side, caked in blood like it had been freshly harvested. The hunter raised a brow, “How long does that last?”

“How long do you want it to last cutie?” 

Saix gave the demon a look that said he was pushing his luck, but the kitsune didn’t seem to follow, “Enough that I can turn it in and gain my wage then leave.” 

“Two hours then.” The fox handed him the pelt and shrugged, “It’s Axel by the way, commit it to memory.”

“.......The fox pelt is Axel?” Saix played dumb, wanting to see if he could aggravate the demon and test its patience.

“No. Me.”

“Oh.”

Saix took the pelt and bundled it up with a string of leather that he had attached to his belt, ignoring the huffing kitsune who was most likely waiting for him to share his name as well. But he didn’t have time for messing around with vermin. The hunter started his way back to the village, hefting the pelt over his shoulder as he walked and hearing a pattering of feet on the grass behind him.

“So am I free to go? Hello? Do you have a name?” 

Saix grunted in reply, trying to dismiss the fox and stopping when he felt a breath of air on his shoulder, the other was smelling him?

He turned to face the kitsune, “Do not do that.”

“Or what? You’ll skin me too, hm? Gonna give me a name or?” 

“You’re threatening to smell me to death?” 

The red-haired demon smirked, his fangs peeking out in his smile, “Maybe.”

Saix shook his head. This ruse would not work with the kitsune walking into town beside him, “Saix.”

“..Sai-ix? .....Sounds foreign. You look foreign. How mysterious~” He stopped beside him and waved Saix on towards the village, “After you Saix~ I’ll go hide out for two hours.” 

Saix chucked darkly, grabbing the kitsune’s arm, “I’m not giving you two hours to hide and then come back. You’re dead. You stay dead. Make your home elsewhere or I won’t hesitate to come back and skin you.” He gave the other a glare, and the kitsune flashed his smile again. That was wearing him down.

“Fine. But if I want to see you again-”

“You won’t.”

“Unless I’m naughty right? That makes me want to do bad things.” The twitching tail started again and Saix’s nostrils flared. 

“Fine.”

“Fine what? Fine you’ll skin me here and now?”

“No. We’ll meet elsewhere in several moons”

“Elsewhere? Where-”

“I’ll find you.”

Do you believe in stormy weather, stormy weather Seaside tsunamis give and take, what's the matter?

A vast forest decorated with flowers and natural hot springs. Had the kitsune picked a place to appeal to him or a prime breeding location? Surely the kitsune was not thinking in that way.

The hunter looked up at the sky and sniffed the air, noting that it would be a full moon soon. 

He had tracked the kitsune to this location by his own skills and the obviously-hidden burn marks on several trees. The kitsune was very bold, he’d give him that. He did have a name, but he refused to refer to him as such. He had yet to earn it. 

The scent of kitsune burned his nostrils as he moved into a small valley between two larger trees, one with a large burn mark on the side. 

Subtle.

He climbed down the sharp decline of the valley and found himself surrounded by old hollowed-out trees, mushrooms, beautiful foliage, and a small stream nearby. A perfect hunting location for a predator. Or demon. 

He rested by the stream and washed his face, not comfortable with bathing without knowing where Axel was.

And there it was. 

He was calling it by name.

He sighed. 

He set the claymore down and began to sharpen it again. He couldn’t expect every demon to be pleased to see a hunter here. He dropped his stone and used his blade to block a knife thrown at him and rose to his feet, frowning. 

He hated being proven right.

Two juvenile kitsune pushed through the underbrush, transformed and with fire dancing around them. One was a rare shade of black, appearing smaller, probably female but he couldn’t tell by its posture.  The other was a darker yellow and obviously male. Saix was outnumbered but he had the advantage of experience. These two did not look like they had been in a battle before. He sunk back on his heels to prepare a strike, letting out a low noise of warning to the two young demons. He would not hesitate to kill them if needed. 

A sharp demon yell echoed in the distance and the two foxes’ ears flicked backwards as they took a step back. He hesitated and lowered his weapon, he didn’t enjoy killing things before their first mating and especially ones that appeared to be attacking out of fear. 

“Now you’re backing off?” He felt the hairs on the back of his neck raised and bristled. 

He was more primal now, and he had a hard time turning off his need to fight the vulpine creatures before him. He felt his lips curl back and twitch as he took a step into the water to shock his system back into a human train of thought. 

This wasn’t his territory and he didn’t need to defend it. A growl escaped him and the two kitsune appeared even more unsure, both sets of ears twitching as low rumbles of growls tried to escape them. But they weren’t leaving, and they weren’t approaching. 

He heard something approaching as a larger kitsune appeared,with bright green eyes and red fur. Saix rolled his eyes, “Axel.”

The older kitsune let out a sound that Saix assumed was a laugh as he was consumed in a burst of flames and stood before him in a human shape. The other’s clothing had changed from the loose navy blue kimono of before to a shapely white kimono with black hakama pants. He noted the gold flame designs marking the clothing and snorted, “You changed location and outfit, what for?”

Axel shrugged and smiled at him, “Thought I’d make a change.”

“Who are the kits?” 

“Oh!” He made a motion to the other two kitsune who transformed as well into a pair of teenagers, the raven-haired female moving closer to Axel as the blond male made a show of flashing teeth at Saix. Axel shrugged, “These are my friends, Roxas and Xion. Found ‘em scavenging around for scraps. Someone’s gotta teach them how to hunt properly.” The younger male scoffed at Axel’s words as Saix set the claymore at his side.

“You keep collecting strays. Like in the village.”

The kitsune grinned, “It’s a habit.” He looked back at Saix, as if asking the question if he was now one of Axel’s strays as well. 

“Don’t even think about it.”

 I loved you in the sunshine You chase the moon with a spear I pray that you will be all mine You foam at the mouth and disappear

Saix had returned to the valley over the next few days between his hunts as the full moon continued to peek through the clouds at him. Ominous. 

He found the three kitsune gathered around a small kill, nothing impressive. They were devouring the ashed remains of the burnt corpse, something that creatures of fire seemed to enjoy. Saix cleared his throat to announce his presence as three bloodied muzzles turned his way. 

Only Axel wagged his tail when he appeared.

 Do you believe in stormy weather, stormy weather Seaside tsunamis give and take, what's the matter?

Saix lounged on the rocks next to the hot spring. The red kitsune was dipping his toes in the water as he looked over, “Is there any reason you always stay for hours or a day? And never bathe or eat around us?”

“It bothers you?” 

“A bit.” He kicked the water as his tail swished to one side, “More than a bit. Roxas thinks you’re off.”

“Off?” He felt anger rise up suddenly and almost cloud his vision. Who was that kit to judge him?

“You smell strange.” 

“Stop smelling me then.” Saix huffed and closed his eyes. He usually could hide his bloodline through pelts and sweat...blood of his kills. But he had been spending too much time with the irritating kitsune. It was going to be a full moon soon...

“You know monsters that hunt monsters are like humans that don’t eat meat. It’s just stupid. Denying your instincts like that-”

“Enough!” He was resting on his elbows now and snarling, his vision red. Saix spit out the words spitefully, “I do not need a lesson from you.” 

Axel shrugged and pushed his feet into the water, the tip of his tail dipping in as well, “You either stay with us or go Saix, you can’t have both. I mean it’s kind of ...strange talking to someone that’s always drenched in demon blood.” 

Saix remained silent as he laid back down, “Then I’ll leave.” 

The kitsune let out a low sound, whether it was sadness or a confirmation, he didn’t know.

We broke our pact And away we go to another place

Saix leaned on the counter of the small inn, sipping at a jar of sake that he had received as payment for ridding the inn of an irritating bakeneko. A few other hunters were talking next to him, mentioning about the rising demand for demon pelts for wealthy nobles. It was now a hot commodity. There was even a rumor that the smell of the pelts drove demons away. 

Saix took another sip of his drink, toying with a leg of meat on the plate before him. It wasn’t raw enough. 

“-I heard there’s a big red kitsune down in the valley there. Nice pelt on that one.” 

Saix’s ears perked. 

“Aren’t there two others spotted?” 

“Yeah but they’re too young. Their pelts aren’t thick enough. The vixen’s might be worth something, black is pretty rare.” 

“How small is she?”

“She’d go down with a well-placed arrow. Too young to form weapons or do real defense yet. A few of the others are making the plans. You have to kill the big one first. He’ll be trouble. Then pick off the kids. Or else you’ll have a hell of a time getting to him if you have to deal with a fox being protective. They get crazy and light everything on fire. Seen it myself. Female lit a whole village on fire to protect her kits. Laid in the ashes and then left.” A few collective murmurs resounded and Saix got up. He wasn’t drunk, his kind didn’t get drunk. He was just numb. 

He looked at the group of hunters, “How many know about the valley?”

The man was older, experienced, and also covered in scars, he grinned with several teeth missing, “As many as I could find. Big kitsune. Pretty powerful I heard. You want in?” 

“I’ll think about it. Need some rest first.”

The man coughed and laughed, “After that hellcat you took out no wonder!”  Saix set down the sake on the table with the hunters.

“Take it, I think I’m done for the night.” They all seemed pleased and clapped him on the back before he left and headed for his room in the inn. His instincts were shot as he tugged between leaving and staying.

He was a monster that hunted monsters. What else could he do in life?

Home, where we call home Why do we disfigure all the things that are so beautiful inside?

The full moon broke through the clouds and he felt that instinctual tug again. He was outside, his feet, his new feet..gripped the ground and shredded the surface beneath him.

He could smell things for miles. His nostrils flared as he took in the familiar ash smell and burnt embers. The smell of fresh water and hot salty springs. He felt branches break against his body, stones scattering as he ran. His voice rose above the trees and echoed off the valley walls. 

He smelled the group of hunters climbing down the valley and dodged a few arrows sent in his direction. They couldn’t see him in this darkness. He could see them however. 

He yelled again, “Axel?!” 

His voice bounced back at him and then he heard a sharp vulpine yell back, “Saix? Is that you?” Saix skidded to a stop as he heard feet coming towards him. The kitsune stopped in front of him, Axel’s furred ears coming up to his chin. He eyed other and he let out a soft laugh.

“You’re short.” His voice was rough, coming out in a bark. The other’s tail started wagging again as he pushed his face under Saix’s chin, falling to the ground and rolling on his back.

“So?” Saix was momentarily distracted as he leaned down to smell the other male, his tail raised high as he inspected him. The fox lay still, before his tail started wagging madly and he licked at Saix’s face, “You back for good?”

Back. 

His human senses shot back into him along with his memories, “Not exactly. We need to go.”

“Go?” The tail stopped. A whine emitted from the fox. 

“There’s hunters coming. On the valley walls. Get the others.” 

Axel sprang to his feet, his tail puffed up, “Why didn’t you say so Saix?!”

Saix felt his teeth become bared, “You distracted me!” The kitsune laughed again before he bolted into the forest with Saix at his heels. He kept getting distracted and focused on the impending danger instead of the musky smell drifting off the other male. Roxas and Xion peeked out of the large den that Saix assumed Axel had dug into the ground for them, their ears flicked back at Saix’s presence, his shadow covering them both and leading them to shake and snarl in fear of the new predator. 

“Guys! It’s just Saix. But we have to leave there’s-” 

Saix shoved Axel to the side as an arrow flew and hit him in the shoulder instead. Saix yelped in pain and the action made the kits dart out of the den as Axel grabbed the arrow in his teeth and cracked it off, leaving the rest embedded. 

“We can get it out later, run!” 

Saix barked sharply, “No stop!” All three skidded, staring at him. “They expect you to run away. Run towards them and veer to the side. It’s the only way. They’re going to come behind with dogs and arrows, and swords from the front. We have to overwhelm them.” 

Roxas scoffed again, his tail low, “How do you know? How do we know you don’t want to just sell us out and keep the profit?”

Xion’s tail was low, her gaze not as aggressive as Roxas but meeting Saix’s all the same, “Why did you come back for us?”  

Saix saw Axel was staring back at him now and he huffed, growling, “I cam back for my own reasons.”

“That’s not an answer Saix,” Axel shifted his weight. 

“I’ll tell you later.” Saix avoided the green eyes, and he seemed to have gotten through to Axel that he was unable to convey why he had returned and that maybe they could explore that at a later time together. 

The older kitsune seemed amused again, “Fine.”

Roxas piped up, not satisfied with that answer, “But Axel-”  

“-Let’s go Roxas. We’ll follow Saix’s plan. I just hope it works.” 

Don't you think we're extraordinary? Believing and seeing Realizing the imaginary Don't you? Don't you?

Yes, I think we're extraordinary Being and living

Yes, I think we ought to marry

Saix closed his eyes as he felt a tongue licking at the wound on his shoulder, cleaning it. It still hurt and he was resting in the moonlight as the kitsune took the opportunity to make it a bonding experience. 

The other two were sent away by Axel to gather supplies for a new den, but neither had complained. They were grateful for the way that Saix had shoved them aside when hunters ambushed them and how he had ripped and tore his way through them to break a hole in their ranks to get through. The others had not come out unscathed but suffered with nonfatal wounds. Roxas had a large slash on his back that had been burned to stop the bleeding and Xion had shoved herbs on it to prevent it becoming infected in his transformed state. It wasn’t wise to change back to a human form if they were wounded. Xion herself had an arrow that went through her front left leg, and had been partly carried by Saix as Axel gripped her by the scruff of the neck and tossed her over Saix’s back. Axel had been slashed across his nose and hind legs, but no one’s wounds compared to Saix. Saix had three new arrow wounds in his back and a large slash on his thigh. If Axel had not broken the arrows off and burned the wound on his thigh...he might have bled to death. Even under the power of the moon.

As he lay on his stomach the other started to painfully pull out the remaining arrow pieces with his teeth. It was slow and agonizing but when they were finally burned shut and packed with herbs he felt a strange numbness of a drugged state. 

“What...herbs are those?” The tongue returned to his older shoulder wound and he hated the satisfied noise that escaped him.

The other plopped his head down on Saix’s paws and wagged his tail again, “Something to numb the pain. You feel better yet?”

“....Yes.” Saix’s ears laid back as he rested his chin on the other’s neck, his nostrils flared as he took in his scent. 

“Are you smelling me? Stop doing that.” Axel’s voice mimicked Saix’s from before and he chuckled, licking the other’s furred ear. 

“Mmm you keep doing that and I might want you to stay around.”

“You wanted me to stay before.” Saix felt sleep tugging in his mind. He yawned and licked the other’s ear again, hearing the tail wag and a low sound escape the fox. 

“Why did you come back then, since they’re gone?” The green eyes stared up at him from their place against his paws. 

Saix’s ears perked, and he looked back at him as his ears flicked back, unsure of himself, “I think I wanted to be a monster among monsters.” 

Axel cackled, “Welcome monster.” He rolled over on his back as Saix leaned down to lick the wound on Axel’s nose. 

“And I might have stayed for some company.” 

“Sounds like fun.” He tapped his nose to Saix’s, “Once we get you all fixed up I should teach you why we’re prized for our charm.”

The older male nuzzled into the other’s fur, “I hope you surpass that reputation.”

“What reputation? Our charm?”

Saix closed his eyes again, “No. Having flings.” 

Axel laughed. 

“There’s only one thing that may save Isa now that he is one of Xehanort’s vessels.”

He remembered the conversation.

“Besides just killing Xehanort?” 

He remembered the old keyblade master’s chuckle, “An easier way. We could use one more on our side.”

One more away from Xehanort.

But he also remembered how exhausted Riku had been after saving Sora. He had shared his experience. Sora had been under Xehanort’s influence for mere hours.

Isa had been for years.

Isa. 

Why didn’t you ask for help?

I would have saved you.

Lea told himself that as he thumbed the plastic container in his pants and pulled it out with his spare hand. He let the keyblade disappear as he took the square shape out into his hands and smiled, letting it soak up the light. 

He covered the package with one hand and let the shapes glow a light green in the borrowed darkness. He almost laughed. 

“You’re gonna kill me Isa. Because I’m going to die trying to save you.” He tipped the package back into his pocket, taking a deep breath. 

Where are you Isa?

What a stupid question. He knew the answer. Isa was in-between. There was only one place for that. 

I want to save you. 

It would take a battle, a distraction, him pulling Isa away and holding him down, pinning him and detaining him enough to dive into his heart. How long would that take?

What would he find there? 

How broken would Isa be after years of being tormented? 

What would his heart look like?

He imagined a circle rent in four pieces by a gigantic ‘X’, broken into his early life, his life during their friendship, the Organization, and now...

Which piece would be brightest? Biggest? Most valued? 

Lea wanted to think that his friendship with Isa would be the most important piece in Isa’s life, that nothing else would matter. How egotistical he was.  If that was true than what had he done leaving Isa with nothing? 

He was looking across the dismal ground at his friend, feeling the familiar sense of confusion and disgust when he looked into those blank eyes again. Eyes that did not recognize him at all despite years together, sweat poured, tears, heartbreak.

Was Isa even in there?

 He didn’t hear the others charge as he watched the claymore appear and swing in his direction, the clash of his chakrams smashing against it, trying to hold the other’s weight leaning on him, trying to resist the urge to summon flames and knock him back. Blue energy surrounded them as Isa started to scream. He didn’t know if Isa could feel pain and he didn’t want to hurt him as he ignited one chakram and felt the other dodge back and swipe his claymore again. 

He knew Isa and had watched him go berserk. He knew that one swipe would leave him open. As the Claymore crashed down and knocked him back he threw a chakram and hit him square in the chest. He didn’t see the blood jut from his chest as the air escaped his lungs and he coughed weakly, struggling to his feet as hobbled over to Isa’s body which was trying to pry off the chakram without a sense of pain or hesitation. He summoned his keyblade, feeling the new weight in his hands as he lifted his hand and sunk the blade into the other’s chest as the chakram fell free. 

“Isa I’m going to find you. Somewhere in there-” he almost laughed as he fell to his knees next to him with a pant of exhaustion. His mind starting to cloud as he saw Isa had already lost consciousness as he was soon to join him. 

He felt like he was falling and when he opened his eyes he was surrounded by shattered stained glass. It was as if he were in an abandoned cathedral. Was this Isa’s heart? 

Lea looked around and picked up mixed shards. Were these memories? He wanted to laugh. All this time wanting to be remembered and Isa was struggling to have a consistent mindset. He pulled some shards together as he knelt down and smiled, finding pieces that formed ice cream... 

So he was wrong. The years with him had shattered. 

“Isa?” He tried to look around but everything else was black. He tried to step over the bunches of shattered glass and felt some crushing under his shoes. He felt sick. Was he destroying Isa by being here? 

Something told him in the back of his head that maybe he should have trained more before attempting this. He wasn’t a keyblade master yet, far from it. He had barely gotten in training before everything had started and after Sora was taken then returned to them training was intensified, almost brutally so. The voice in the back of his head reminded him to take things slow, was that you Isa? Was his conscience just his best friend talking to him? Saying things he should already know? 

He wanted to laugh again, Isa was still there coaching him. 

If only Isa was there to help him through this. 

The red-haired man stepped carefully through the piles of glass accumulated throughout the large circle, noting a familiar marine-colored patch on the glass next to blue hair. Was that Isa? His Isa?

He rushed over to the illuminated patch of stained glass, a smile tugging on his lips. So Xehanort had not ruined all of Isa. He was still there. He was still his- 

A low growl pierced the silence as Lea felt his heart sink. 

The growl grew in pitch and ferocity. 

He lurched forward as the ground shook, the glass splitting from the force of a blow behind him. 

He turned, already knowing what he would face.

Those orange eyes, stretched scar, angry mouth and inhuman snarl. 

Saix. That wasn’t Isa. That was Saix.

He felt the keyblade return to his hands, not his chakrams, those wouldn’t solve anything. The scar from Lunatic almost cutting him in two from trying to free Kairi was no longer on his body, but he remembered. Saix could return from being almost beaten and still attempt to kill him. He needed to end this quick. If possible. 

Lea narrowed his eyes and moved his feet into a ready position, both of his hands on the keyblade as Saix charged with Lunatic raised. Lea let out a shaky breath, “Isa! I know you’re in there somewhere! And I’ll beat the hell out of you to get you back! Got it memorized you moon nerd?!” Isa hated being called that.

The roar that erupted from Saix’s throat made him smirk, so he was completely berserk. Saix would not think clearly, at least that much was clear from Roxas beating him. The berserk state made him unstable, unpredictable, but also stupid. Lea ran forward and threw himself to the side in a fake-out as Lunatic crashed into the ground and became embedded. Lea rounded and lunged at him, striking him on the back with the keyblade as the other screamed in pain and anger, throwing his weight into the claymore until it was freed and he swiped it in Lea’s direction, grazing his side where Saix had wounded before. So Saix was still nostalgic.

He saw blood hit the ground and knew the other had cut him, but he didn’t feel it. He was absorbed watching Saix charge wildly at him and throwing him to the ground with another strike, the blue energy shaking and shattering more glass. He felt nauseated, Isa was killing his own memories. 

Another inhuman scream and he watched the other’s eyes become consumed in orange as he charged again and caught Lea off-guard, Lunatic locked against his keyblade as he struggled to get the other away from him and kicked him sharp in the knee, hearing a crack and being too fueled by adrenaline to feel guilt. 

“Isa! Take it back! Take your body back!” He was screaming desperately over the pained cries of Saix as the other’s leg gave way and he crashed on top of him, Lea managing to shove his keyblade enough to knock it and Lunatic away from them and sliding towards a pile of glass. 

Saix punched him in the gut and Lea had to grab the other’s arm as it gripped his throat, his free hand punching at Lea with all his strength as Lea rolled his body from side to side to get loose. 

He coughed as the hand tightened around his throat and he saw black in his vision, knowing he could summon the keyblade and end Saix to save himself. He couldn’t do that...

Did he deserve this for telling Isa to break into that castle?

For getting them both killed?

“I-Isa.” He coughed weakly. “I’m s-sorry.” 

The hand loosened on his throat, he felt the fingernails in his skin and he was bleeding, but the hand loosened again, shaking, the other had stopped hitting him and he stopped rolling around. Lea felt dizzy and confused. He blinked his vision back in place and took a deep breath. The other was straddling his hips, Saix’s hands were shaking as his lips appeared to be twitching- moving between a snarl and a frown. 

“Isa?” He reached up and touched the other’s face, Saix pushed his hand away but Lea replaced it, cupping the other’s face in both of his hands. 

“Isa. It’s me.” He coughed, smiling weakly, “You said you’d have trouble forgetting me right?” He looked back into the orange sad eyes, sad? They were no longer blank. They looked guilty. Like it was killing Isa inside doing this, being here, being trapped. 

He ran his thumb over Saix’s cheek, he saw the scar start to recede, as Isa appeared to be struggling to break through, “Isa I’m sorry for leaving you there with them. I should have took you with me when I went to find Roxas.” 

“I’m so sorry.” He blinked, his eyes feeling hot and burning, was he crying? Isa would think that was so pathetic-

“You’re such a girl.”

“Huh?” Lea blinked stupidly, feeling the tears roll down his cheeks as Saix pushed away his hands and the scar faded, orange replaced by a beautiful calypso blue. 

“Crying. I mean who cries like that?”

Lea hiccuped, he was between a laugh and a sob and it came out as a hiccup. 

“Charming as always Lea.” Isa moved to place his hands on Lea’s chest in order to have somewhere to set them. 

Lea coughed again and smiled weakly, “You know me Isa, I’m just a bucket of charm. Or a garage-sale junk find of the century.” 

A tired smile creased across Isa’s lips, “You’re something else. That’s for sure.” A few moments passed between them and they felt the ground shake, the cracks in the glass starting to reform and repair from Saix’s earlier damage. 

“It’s fixing Isa. Hey...you’re fixing.” Lea was watching the shattered pieces start to form new shapes as he realized the extra weight was still on him. He looked back and met Isa’s eyes, “Hey Isa, .........you planning on taking me out on a date before cowgirl or?” He motioned with his head to Isa still straddling him, apparently comfortable sitting on top of him. 

He grinned when Isa started to flush, rolling his eyes. He lifted himself off of Lea awkwardly due to his injured leg and Lea rose to meet him and help him as his vision clouded with a bright light and he found himself shifting on a soft surface. He blinked and opened his eyes, finding himself in one of the spare rooms in Ansem’s Study, a glass of water on the table next to the bed he was on and a pile of seashells sitting next to it. He blinked and rolled over, wincing as he felt sore all over his body despite not having actual wounds. He rolled straight into another person, who was just as groggily awaking as him, the blue eyes blinking and looking back at him as a weak smile appeared on his lips, “Hey Lea, you making the moves now?” 

Lea looked down at his leg that had wrapped around the other as he had rolled over, and his hand on the other’s chest, “I...guess so?”

Isa chuckled lightly, a sound he hadn’t heard in ages. Lea flushed a little, shifting his weight as something in his pocket poked his side. He moved to one side and pulled the package from his pocket, as Isa laughed again, pulling the package from his hands.

“This for me?” 

Lea rubbed the back of his head as he sat up on his elbows, “Aha...Totally yeah. A get-well present.”

“You shouldn’t have. Spared no expense.” Isa waved the package of glow-in-the-dark stars at Lea teasingly. 

“Well being a keyblader isn’t the most well-paid profession and I don’t get an allowance anymore.” He grinned and poked at Isa between his eyes where the scar had been, “Good to see your face again.” 

“You missed it?” Isa himself looked confused at how that came out, his voice was a bit more sultry than he remembered when talking to Lea. 

The ginger started to blush, “Now I think you’re hitting on me Isa.” 

The other shrugged and pulled up the blanket that had been covering them. Isa assumed they had not been separated due to the circumstances and had not been placed under the covers because Lea was a living heating-pad. 

“Are you hiding?” Isa pulled the blanket over his head and resumed spooning his side, mumbling something. “Isa? Hello Earth to Isa, maybe this might be one of ‘those moments’ when you want to say something to me?” 

“Are you asking me to ask you out?”

“Are you asking me if I should ask you to ask me out?”

“Stop it Lea.” Isa tugged the blanket back down and sighed, his cheeks red and eyes anywhere but meeting the bright green of his friend’s. 

“So?”

“So what Lea?”

“Nothing?”

Isa seemed to turn an even deeper red as he sighed, “Do you want me to ask you out?”

Lea grinned, “Maybe.”

Isa narrowed his eyes, “Maybe? I’m out on a limb here and your big reply is ‘maybe?’” Isa mocked the tone that Lea had used. 

“Okay. Yes.” Lea did a show of wiggling his eyebrows.

“Try taking something serious for once in your life.” 

“Oh this is serious. I’m just making you feel less embarrassed.”

“I’m not-”

“You look like my hair.”

“S-shut up Lea. Damn it do you want to go out with me or not? Stop fucking around.”  Lea leaned forward and pecked him on the lips, moving back to cup Isa’s face again with his hands.

“Yes.” 

“Better be yes.” Isa leaned his head and let it rest in the other’s hands, appearing more content than he had seen him in their entire friendship. Then he looked Lea in the eyes.

~~~~~