A Recognition of Shadows

[Reno]

A look flickered across Roxas' face when the other promised his death. Uncertainty? Fear? Sorrow? It was hard to place, before it was gone behind a mask of stoic determination. If this was how Axel wanted it to be... then so be it!

An arm wrapped around Ventus' shoulders, Soran pulling him close. "Axel isn't going to kill him Ven."
"Tch, I wouldn't be too sure about that. Axel's a Firebender through and through. Like he'd break the code for some punk like him." Reno said, lounging back on a tree as if it no longer concerned him.
nonetheless, even Reno flinched at the gaze the Avatar shot him, the younger saying with such certainty it was as if no argument even existed. "He won't kill him."

He wasn't sure why he was, but he was surprised Axel was a very accomplished fighter. He was lucky he had such trained ears, or the battle would of ended with that Chakram snapping his spine. Next thing he knew he had to run out of the way as, like a dragon, Axel breathed fire. It was a talent few firebenders had, most dying from the attempt as flame scorched their insides.

His heart pounded in his ears, adrenalin rushing so fast there was no time for fear or any emotion at all; or so he thought. His fingers tightened around the hilts of his swords, ready to rush right back out into the hall... and then he hesitated.

"Your poison wasn't so bad." Almost teasing, almost friendly, Axel smiled their eyes meeting over the rim of the dinner bowl.
"Well you're welcome then!" He remembered yelling... as he turned his face away to hide his blush.

Roxas shut his eyes and shook his head of the memory and hurried into the doorway and then froze as he met a wicked stare, flames dancing shadows across the other's ruthless face. His heart skipped a beat, the only thing there was time for as his brain registered the danger but his body was unable to follow the command to move.

The watchers flinched as yet another window was blasted out by vicious flames, but Ventus cried in horror as this time, someone flew out with it. Soran had to tighten his grip around the other so he didn't go rushing into the warpath.

Roxas coughed as he laid on the grass, his vision blurring from pain. Glass from the shattered window had cut through his legs and back, and his front was scorched, his skin, especially those of his hands in which in the last second he had risen the swords to protect his face, were pink and were sure to blister later. He wasn't as burned as he could have been but he knew why. Firebenders had the ability to make their flame explode - Usually aimed at the feet to toss the opponent up in the air, it was a way to shove someone away quickly and still deal damage. He'd been on the tail end of many attacks like that.

His ears perked, hearing the sound of glass crunching and knew Axel had climbed out of his house and was coming after him. His fingers valiantly tightened around his swords, the pain making him a little woozy, but still he got to his feet. He stared the other down as he got in his stance... and with a battle cry, came charging right for him.


"It's worth a shot." Terra said, remembering the portraits he had seen outside of the war room. "And I know just where to go too." Luring the dragon-hawk onto his shoulder with some of his last pieces of meat, the two left the secret room and headed down the hall Terra tearing up the last of the jerky and feeding it in moderation to the hawk. Soon, they entered a hall lined with the Royal Family line, the pictures so grand they were nearly ceiling-to-floor in length, but this was of no interest of them as Terra lead them down a much smaller hall that lead to the war room.

Down this way, there were much smaller pictures, the squares of cleaner spots of wall apparent from where pictures must have been taken down and replaced over time. Terra walked down the hall slowly, making sure the hawk's golden eyes were catching sight of each portrait and the people in them.

[Rikugurl]

Red hair whipped in the winds as he climbed from his own bedroom window and jumped down, his black boots shattering a large piece of glass below. As if it were nothing, the tall figure walked towards the one that was still on the ground. His eyes did not seem to realize the damage he had done. No, he saw the damage and it filled his body with adrenaline. This... this was truly his first battle and he would not lose it. What his eyes did not see what the boy behind the burns and cuts. The boy who kept him warm and saved his life all within a week. His mind did not think that but of something more sinister. He had not rescued Roxas from the burning forest to save his life. He rescued him because if the blonde was going to die, it wasn't going to be that easy for him.

It wasn't true though but he had no one else but himself to tell him that.

From above, the group could hear a roar and some eyes glanced up to see Shesha flying overhead. Even she could not snap Axel from his gaze on the blonde.
He held onto the handles of the chakrams tightly as he watched Roxas stand, seeing his body flinch and tremble from the pain.

He quickly got into his own stance as he heard Roxas cry out and come rushing towards him. Again, his strong arms swung out, throwing both chakrams at the boy but they were countered by each blade, being flung astray. As he did so, Axel's hand came out in front of him and another rose up high before switching them. When the other came down, two large balls of fire streamed out and wrapped around Roxas from both sides before hitting each other and pulling back in to get the blonde from behind.


Riku watched curiously as the hawk looked at the pictures as they walked by them. At times, it would stray its gaze and Terra had to bring it back to attention. As they came back around the other side, Riku was already trying to think of another way they could find clues for this wasn't working.

Or so he thought.

He suddenly tensed when he heard Terra yelp in pain and he could easy see why. The hawk had buried its talons into him as it glared at one picture. Riku took a look at it as well and saw an older looking man with a long white mustache. Under the picture, his name was written.

Master Xehanort.

[Reno]

As he ran, his vision mercifully cleared and he saw the silver gleams with perfect precision. Oathkeeper and Oblivion sliced in the air, and they two Chakrams were knocked aside, whizzing through the air before one crashed through yet another window and crashed into something inside the house. The second made a dull thunk as it impaled itself into a tree.

"My poor hooouse." Reno whined. No one was paying attention to him though.
Blue eyes narrowed, feeling his friend shake and cry in his arms from panic and fear. Even Sora had to grit his teeth as the flames surrounded Roxas. Come on Axel...

Roxas didn't hesitate as he charged forward even still and, even though he knew the flames had surrounded him, he also knew he could not stop because they were chasing him. He outran the racing flames and ducked his head as he hit the ground and rolled right through the flames his back taken the brunt of it. How much longer was he going to last?

He landed in a crouch and sprung forward even still, desperately slicing out for Axel. The red-head was able to dodge the first sword, but the other managed to nick him right across his stomach.

[Rikugurl]

"SSSSSSSS!!" A hiss came from the redhead as his clothes ripped and blood instantly took its place across his abs. He usually wore his breast plate but he was no expecting this at all. He reached out and grabbed the blade that had cut him before his hand burst into flames and sent the scorching heat up through the metal. It wasn't long before Roxas was forced to drop it, leaving him with just one blade to fight with. As the other sword swiped down again, Axel blasted himself away by using fire at his feet and the on watching group was forced to head into the forest for cover as the two spread out.

"NNNNNNNGH!!!" Ventus cried helplessly as he struggled against Aqua and Soran who held him back with all their strength. He had to stop this! They shouldn't be doing this! They were friends!

No place was safe from fire as the battle ragged on. The chakram from the tree was dislodged at one point and was sent flying again, this time in flames but again it was thrown off course after the third attempt. When it had whizzed by Roxas the second time, it had nicked his shoulder badly. Roxas wasn't the only one taking a beating though as Axel was stabbed in the thigh at one point, making his actions become slower and he gained a painful limp. It also got him to stop using fire attacks with his feet but he didn't seem to lose any of his power. Still, the two had some fancy foot work and trained battle methods. Soran, Ventus nor Aqua knew that Axel was such a skilled fighter but they supposed Axel was a Sun Warrior. They just never realized how deep the 'warrior' part went.

Even if it was a frightening fight, Soran was trying to make some good from it as he watched Axel closely when he bended, trying to figure out the movements and what they did. It was at that time too that they learned why Axel's attacks had become overly powerful since the last time they saw him use it. Apparently, it was the time of the year Axel bottled all his inner heat to store it for the Fire Days Festival... because every year, he would put on a fire show. This revealed why Axel was so adamant about getting here on time... and why he was reluctant to teach Soran firebending.

It seemed like it was no matter now because all of Axel's fire was getting 'used' up in this fight.

The redhead panted as he watched the bruised, burned and beaten warrior give his last cry, seeing him rush towards him again across the field. Sweat drenched the red, now black sideburns and his panting ceased as he took a deep breath. His arms moved out and swirled over his head before ducking down to one side, putting his hands over his mouth and suddenly came up, a ring of fire shooting from around him before a circular explosion burst from his body as he blew fire from his mouth again. All of the fire came together at a singe point and exploded out towards the blonde. No matter how Roxas tried to dodge it, he couldn't escape the whipping lashes the fire turned into as it parted, striking him down merciless.

"AAAAAAAAAH!!" Ventus screamed as the flames went out and all he could see was a steaming blonde on the ground, scorched and gasping for air. His eyes widened in horror as he saw Axel quickly running up to him, near hopefully that he was going to aid but when he saw the fist pointing down at his brother's face...

"The favored finishing move is generally a direct fire blast to the face~" Axel's wicked grin filling his mind.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"


The same wicked grin came over the firebender's lips as his wild green eyes looked down into the blue below him. This was it. He... he had won! He had won his first...
The sweet taste of victory was suddenly overcome by something bitter. Not a bitter taste... but a bitter smell. A smell he knew all too well. A bitter smell of.... coffea.
His clenching fist trembled, ready to shot a blast of fire into Roxas's face to finish the battle but... his eyes widened slowly as the madness started to drown as all he could smell was coffea.

Green orbs stared into the spiraling blue that seemed spiral for eternity. Eyes that he had lost himself in once before.

Emeralds expanded some before the redhead looked back over his shoulder, getting a clear shot all the way to the back of the line where Roxas was looking beyond Terra's shoulder. Their eyes met, some red hair flowing in Axel's face as the chilly wind blew through it.

There was a quick intake of air, a sudden shot of pain going through him from his abdomen wound but that wasn't the only pain he felt. His fist relaxed and fell to his side as his legs shook from exhaustion. "Roxas..." He panted softly and then he collapsed onto his knees. "What... what have I done?" He asked in dismay before slowly leaning over the boy's body. Tears suddenly darkened his facial tattoos as he buried his face into the boy's shoulder, holding him close.

[Reno]

If he had time to think about it, Roxas would of been proud of his stamina. Even after being thrown through a window, he was still standing and fighting. He never had to push his body so hard before, most of his matches never been so dangerous or ruthless. Axel was quite a fighter, and his attacks were daunting to face with only two swords to slice into the flames.

He'd fought firebenders before though, and he each time he got in close enough he struck out, the white of the sword being stained with red as he struck for the other's four limbs, trying to stop his bending. Oblivion was lost long ago and he knew better then to try and fetch it. He hissed as the Chakram cut his shoulder, weakening the power of his left arm, so he made sure all his swings had the power of the right in it.

He got his thigh, and Axel stumbled back, faltering for just a moment and Roxas raised his sword, about to stab for his chest next-
"You'll have to give them to us both then." Shivering and cold, Roxas shoved away the blankets of his makeshift bed and stumbled over to Axel's, crawling under them and wrapping his arms around the thin body.
He changed his swing, cutting his arm instead and had to jump back and duck as a fireball raced over his head. He took a breath, and charged forward again.

But it couldn't last much longer. He felt his body weakening, could feel the strain that made his muscles tremble and his body shake. He knew he had already lost long ago, but still he fought. Because he couldn't kill. He especially couldn't kill Axel.

Too bad... he wasn't sure the feeling was mutual.

Throwing himself forward with whatever was left in him to fight, he saw the cold gleam in those green eyes... and knew it was over. He tried to run as the powerful attack of flame came for him, but his cry echoing in the field left everyone aware he failed. The pain lashed his body viciously, struck him back-first into the dirt and scorched grass. His vision swum, and the heat made it hard to breathe... just like that day in the forest. Mindlessly, he watched the trials of smoke curling up around him, unaware it was from his body, and his eyes shifted slightly as he caught sight of the red.

It was unmistakable, and somewhere, his mind cried a name he hadn't the strength to utter. Axel! And helplessly he watched the flames grow above him, his heart trembling weakly as he succumbed to his fate. The agony was becoming so incredible... he almost wished for it.

Yet fate... fate was a funny thing. He had forgotten all about them. The coffea beans. He had collected many of them; somewhere deep in his heart, hoping to impress the red-head. Hoping for his acceptance and care. Hoping... he would like him. But since Aqua had been brought to their group and those exotic green eyes seemed only for her, his heart had shattered, seeing the bond they had and felt helplessly unable to ever match one so strong. So, forgotten, the coffea beans sat in his coat pocket. And from the heat of Axel's attacks, they shimmered and burned... and the bitter scent filled the air.

It was that... that saved his life. His silly, stupid trick...

The flames seemed to go away and the red came closer. Dazed, Roxas had no idea what was happening and dimly he heard his name. A sharp, but near soundless gasp of pain echoed from the blonde as he was lifted some, held by the other. It would of been enjoyable... would of maybe even made his heart do a flip of joy... but the adrenalin was gone and all he felt in it's place was pain. He shut his eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks some as he whimpered. "A...Axel...?"
The last thing he heard as he slipped away into unconsciousness was a promise; like the white blade, though limply, he still held. He was going to be okay.

[Rikugurl]

The sound of hammering and nails being driven into wood could be heard throughout the dark night sky as the wooden home was slowly being repaired. Glass could not be salvaged at this time so cloth was put over the frames instead and door were placed back to where they should of been. Blue eyes slowly looked behind him as he paused his hammering, seeing a sight he never thought he would see. Laying in a bed, the owner was near naked as bandages were wrapped around his wound, blood easily staining them. His shoulder, his thigh and his abdomen, all bare from clothes yet carefully wrapped in cloth to keep away infection.

And in his arms was a boy that mocked himself if he were to allow his hair to grow out, near reddened and blacked all over from the degrees of burns he suffered through the fight. He was breathing, though labored as water slowly healed his body thanks to the water bender and the Avatar who had carried to source to the house. The young air master and redheaded elder brother of the firebender worked on the repairs after Reno, Axel's brother, send his own Dragon Hawk to tell Terra and Soran back at the palace their whereabouts.

Ventus had never seen the look on Axel's face before as he carefully helped Aqua with her healing, moving Roxas and keeping him warm when he started to shiver.
He noted that he would have to thank the redhead at some point for sparing Roxas's life... though he was sure it was not needed as it was Axel's own decision. Still, he had never known how close his brother was to him until now, even if they had only rejoined no more than a week ago. It showed the truth of how deep family ran.

He pulled his gaze from the three, slowly glancing down at the two swords his brother held on him for probably most of his life, slowly reaching down and running his fingers over the handles. How would things be if they were never split? He shook the thought away as a shadow fell over him and he glanced up, smiling as he saw Soran had come to check on him. Well... he knew that he would of never made such a wonderful friend... and that he was still able to be with his brother in the end. "How is he?" He asked softly, Soran probably knowing better as he was the one to place the water close to Aqua.

[Reno]

"He's going to be fine." Sora reassured with a soft smile, glancing over his shoulder towards Roxas and Axel as well. Unlike Ven, Sora had seen that look on Axel's face before during the forest fire after he had saved his life; the red-head probably not even aware he had been making it. But it was that... that made him certain Axel wasn't going to kill Roxas.

Even if it was a close call.

And now, they seemed almost... ironic. Not too long ago, it had been Roxas who willingly lay so near to the firebender to keep him warm. Now, every tremble of cold the blonde made had Axel bringing him close. Not to mention both their... lack of dress. "Aqua will take good care of him, don't worry."

It was a good thing Roxas hadn't been awake. While Soran had been fetching the water, Aqua had had Axel turn the blonde on his side, and with care she began to pull out the little pieces of glass embedding in his back. the only time the slumbering warrior made a response was when she pulled out the deepest piece, this one long and thin but nearly an inch in the skin. As she tugged it out the blonde flinched and whimpered in pain and even she was shocked when Axel barked at her to be more careful. But even as she about to snap back at the red-head that it was HIS fault anyways, her words died in her throat, seeing the soft, caring look the red-head was aiming down at the blonde, long fingers running through swirls of blonde.

So instead of smacking him in the face like she intended to, she pretended she didn't notice and went back to work.

When the water finally came though, she started to work on the burns, starting with the warriors hands which indeed were already blistering.

Meanwhile... a dragon-hawk was swooping in a circle before landed on Terra's other shoulder, while Axel's still perched on his other side. The brunette jumped in shock, for a moment confused, but Riku was the one to figure out they had a message.

As they took it and read it though...
"WELL WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?!"
... They realized their was no way for them to get to where the others were since they took Ila after all!

[Rikugurl]

Ventus frowned and shook his head, not understanding the redhead much. The moment he figured him out, he would change drastically. Perhaps it was why Elder Monk said never to judge one as a rock but like water. Always moving, always changing yet flowing in one direction of their own path.
If he had know about a mental case, he would think the man was bipolar which he truly could have been.

He placed the hammer down and sat on the floor, yawning from the long day of travel and fear. Soran sat down besides him, knowing that he wouldn't have to fetch water again. As they sat and watched the healer work, Ventus slowly leaned his head on Soran's shoulder, his eyes closing. "I.... yaaaaaaaaaaawn..... can't wait until the....festival..." He spoke softly, slowly drifting off to sleep.


"Calm down." The silverette grinned as he pulled away and ran his hand over the hawk's head. "Maybe this will give us a chance to rest without much drama. Besides, this is a new land neither of us have been to. How about... we find something to do." He suddenly pulled his hair back into a twine, looking like many of the young men around the area. "We're both of drinking age, aren't we?"

[Reno]

"Me either," Came the soft, unheard response, Soran drawing an arm across his slumbering friend's shoulders and smiling. It was sure to be something grand indeed!!


A coarse, fine brown eyebrow rose, Terra giving Riku a very surprised glance, before a slow smirk spread on his lips. "Well, I never would have pegged YOU for the sort." But, deviousness was definitely on the brunette's mind now. He sometimes forgot, even miles away, that he was truly free from his parents' and uncle's watchful gazes.

Now was the time to have some fun.

The dragon-hawk gave a cry as the answer was written on the parchment and sent home, the bird's golden gaze glancing down only once to see the two laughing as they headed into the market towards the nearest bar. Humans! And they called him unintelligent?


Time passed and finally Aqua gave a sigh, pulling away from pale but now healed abs, letting what was left of the water fall back into the bucket as she stood, somewhat shaky on her feet. The man she had healed was hardly aware of it, red lashes laying delicately over his cheeks, though wiry arms still possessively held onto the blonde against him. She pulled a blanket over the two of them and left the room, finding the nearest available space in the living space to lay down and sleep.

Curled up on the grass together without any realization they still had a job left to finish, Sora and Ven rested, the night air cool but not freezing on their skin. And somewhere on the other side of the house, a hammer had also stopped, the work not even half finished.

And somewhere in town, drunken chuckles passed the lips of two young teenagers as they clinked their glasses, finding it quite hilarious when the rice wine spilled some on the table before pulling their heads back and chugging what was left.
"Alright! Haha... alright my turn! I've got a good one." Terra chuckled mirthfully, his grin suddenly wicked. "Axel... or Isa?" He burst into laughter so hard his stomach hurt at Riku's cry of horror.

[Rikugurl]

Though his body was aching and weary from the fight, it was a hard battle to keep himself from twitching as the dreaded nightmares splayed in his head. Red eyebrows pinched as his fingers twitched against the soft skin of the boy's back and green eyes opened for a moment, looking to see that he was in his room, his door shut and the room empty except for himself and the boy in his arms. His face looked pained before his eyes closed, his face slowly pressing against the blonde swirls below him.

Axel... was so against killing another.
It was why he had saved Roxas the first time because... he had already killed two people and the guilt had never left his heart. It was why he wanted to be alone, still unable to move on and still saw the blood on his hands.
And now... he came so close to kill the third person...


"WHAAAAAAAAAT!!?" A red faced silverette cried as his eyes nearly budged from his head. "N-no.... y-you, sir.... are fuunny!" The guardian chuckled, obviously drunk for it was easy to tell with his slurred speech. "Actually, if you REALLY wanna know..." He started, placing his cup back down on the table, leaning it over some as his hair fell over his face. "If... if anything, it would be.... mmmmmm.... Sora."
The brunette gave him a look and Riku could only grin, his teeth almost as white as his hair. "W-what? Can't I like someone too, MR.....I like Ven boy!?" He laughed suddenly when Terra's face changed, slowly swirling in his chair before wrapping an arm around Terra's shoulders, the two stumbling away from the bar.

[Reno]

Against him, the young blonde surprisingly didn't stir. Surprising because, under any other circumstances, he was quite a light sleeper. But today, he was in such a deep sleep a herd of buffalo-pigs stampeding couldn't of stirred him. The only thing he could do, as the blanket slipped down his shoulders from the other's movements, was shiver and lean closer against the red-head's comforting warmth.


"If that's the best insult you got then... then......" Terra never finished his sentence as they stumbled out of the bar, laughing some. "You better watch out with the kiddo, though! He's all sunshine and sugar!"
The other called back drunkenly that Ven was pretty happy-go-lucky himself.
"Yeah but... but... he's a damn good kisser..."


He awoke to the sounds of clattering and sizzling. The sounds of home. He groaned softly, turning his head away from the light of the sun, hoping mom was making his favorite breakfast because he felt truly awful. For once he wouldn't mind being over-pampered, as long as it came with a big plate of hot, fresh waffles. He smiled sleepily, cuddling up in his pillow as he waited for her to bring him it in his bed, not minding the way his pillow shifted.

Wait... that wasn't right.

Blue slivers appeared under the cracks of eyelids, seeing not the fluffy whiteness of his pillow, but the pale peach expanse of a nicely toned chest, the barest hint of red hair, ridges of a fine, bony collarbone and one perky pink nipple in his sight.

And again, he was naked.
"Ugh... not again......" The blonde complained, shutting his eyes. how many more times was he going to wake up naked against Axel?!

Axel........ Axel!!!
"Oh shit..." He groaned again, remembering the fight. What had he been thinking?

[Rikugurl]

Finally, Axel had fallen into a deep sleep as the morning sun came through the forest trees and everyone knew what that meant. It would take the whole festival to wake him. He did not hear Roxas's moans and complains of their nakedness nor the sound of him cursing from a fade memory. He just laid on his back comfortably, his chest raising and falling as he breathed. His arm was still wrapped around the blonde, holding him securely as if someone was deemed to take him away.

It was the first time Roxas would see the firebender's room and even though it was near ruined from the fight, he could see that the redhead hardly had anything in his possession. There was only one tapestry on the wall of a dragon and some people, a ripped and ruined rug on the floor and strangely enough, some broken toys.
Of course, Roxas probably wasn't paying too much attention to any of that because there was only one shelf in the room and on it... was a cup that had once held coffea. The same cup Roxas had given the firebender when they were traveling to the Northern Water Tribe.

Thin fingers suddenly twitched against Roxas's back and Axel's eyebrows pinched again, a frown running over his once peaceful looking face.

[Reno]

The blonde sighed, about to pull away from the other, but found it to be near impossible. Not only because he was aching all over and he doubted his muscles would be able to hold him up for long, but also Axel's arm tightened around him and brought him back, surprisingly strong even in sleep. Roxas just sighed again - well what did it matter? - and looked around.

His lips turned down in a frown. He understood that Axel worked for the royal family; did missions that were often difficult and long. He expected the red-head to be rich; his room full of trinkets and other useless things rich people spent there money on.

But, even accounting for the things that may have burned up when he was attacked, still left the room feeling... depressingly empty. Did Axel's need to share in his food... also spread to money to? Just how cruel was Reno? His eyes narrowed furiously, remembering he had that two-timing bastard right under his blades just yesterday. He could of lent forward... sliced right into his neck! That would of taught him a lesson!

He never would of been able to. Though he ate meat, he had still grown up learning the Air Nomads teachings and life's sacredness was one he took to heart.

He laid his head back down on Axel's chest, frowning at the feeling of absence all around him - but when he spotted the cup, his lips twitched and a sort of happy feeling filled him. He had kept that? It looked like... he had had what he wanted all along.

He shut his eyes, possibly considering falling back to sleep even though the sound of breakfast being made was a tempting one, but then Axel shifted against him, making him look up at the other. "Axel...?" He called softly, worried about the look on his face. "Axel." He tried again, but the other did not respond. He was still asleep...?

[Rikugurl]

"Axel...."

"Axel......"

"Axel, wake up~ Your breakfast is on the table and we are all waiting for you to come and eat. Hurry, be a part of the family~"

A haunting voice wrapped around his voice. It was the voice of a woman, her voice kind and caring and---
"HAHA!! That's what it WOULD of sounded like if you didn't kill her. At least I am still able to hear her and you never got the chance. All you heard was dad cry until you killed him too. Now get the fuck up and let's go. I'm fucking starving."

It was his brother, taking it all away and reminding him... of what... he had done...


"AH!" Emerald eyes snapped open and the redhead gasped some before swallowing, his eyes looking away in concern before they slowly rolled to look at the blonde who was a bit shaken from the sudden away. "Roxas..." He spoke softly, a small smile running over his lips, though it was guilty. His eyes broke their gaze into the blue as he carefully looked over Roxas's bare chest, seeing the magnificent job Aqua had done healing him. "I... I truly am sorry with... what I did yesterday." He started, looking back at the blonde. "I'm just glad...."

His teeth suddenly clenched as his eyes lidded in a painful expression... and suddenly they watered. "I didn't mean to hurt you like that!"

[Reno]

"Hey Ax- ah!" The blonde cried in surprise when the other did, jumping back some as the other awoke so suddenly. The red-head seemed somewhat out of it, but Roxas called for him again anyways and slowly, those green eyes looked towards him, and after a moment, seemed to finally see him.

See... a LOT of him apparently. Roxas blushed some, about the draw the blankets around him more snuggly as he realized the red-head was checking him out, but his next words made him pause and frown.
"I didn't mean to hurt you like that!"
There was a pause of quiet in the air, the blonde looking down at the bed, before he slowly faced the other speaking before his mind was able to process the exact emotion Axel had been displaying in his voice and on his face. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. It was my fault and- hey are you crying.... over me?" It wasn't a teasing question, or even a condescending one. It was one of shock, as if... Roxas didn't think he was worthy of such an emotion.