☼ 001 - [video]
[The feed clicks on and we can see an image of a man's face. His bright eyes are wide with something like curiosity, and he's kind of grinning as he turns the device in his hands with a low whistle.]
Man, this is way fancier than any equipment I ever got at work. It's the swankiest walkie-talkie I've ever seen! [He gives an amused laugh, then ( Read more... )
Man, this is way fancier than any equipment I ever got at work. It's the swankiest walkie-talkie I've ever seen! [He gives an amused laugh, then ( Read more... )
Axel?
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[And then that world had ended when she'd learnt about what she was.]
We're best friends. Inseparable. That's what we said. I'll never forget that.
But you don't remember that, do you?
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['I think you can be inseparable even if you're apart.'
[His own voice again. Yes, he remembered that conversation. He'd been talking to Roxas...
['What's it like having a best friend, Axel?
Couldn't tell ya. I don't have one.'
[Something in him regretted having said it, even as he was saying it. But how could he be honest? How could he have told Roxas that the idea of having a best friend again had scared him senseless? He couldn't even be sure he still felt fear, but he remembered fear, and he remembered how much it had hurt when he had lost Isa, when Saïx had... not been Isa. He had honestly believed that so long as he kept everyone at arm's length then it wouldn't hurt when he inevitably lost them.
['Are you worried about her, Axel?
Of course I am.'
[... Wait, what? Worried about who?
['Doesn't seem like you.
What do you mean?
You hate complications.'[Roxas. He ( ... )
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[He's kind of dizzy now, woozy, lightheaded, that strange half-weightless sensation that washes over your head after a fever breaks. Once was strange, but twice? He's starting to think that maybe there's more to this girl, this... Xion... than just having simply forgot. Axel doesn't just forget.
[Realizing the feed has cut, he carefully picks up his NV again and reopens the channel, giving Xion something of an apologetic look, one hand still on the crown of his head, like he can quash the strange ache physically.]
S... sorry. I don't... [...know what the hell just happened.] I remember that. I remember... talking to Roxas, and I said 'the three of us', but... [He shakes his head, just looking perplexed.] You're not there. I don't hear your voice, or see your face.
[It just doesn't make any sense.]
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Stop, stop! It's not your fault Axel, it's not! Don't- please stop. You're hurting, I don't want you to hurt because of me; you can't remember because I'm not there to remember anymore. I'm gone.
Don't hurt yourself because of me, please Axel.
[I don't want to hurt you again.]
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Don't tell me we're best friends and then turn around and ask me not to remember. Don't-- [Nngh. Ow. Head. He squints one eye and shakes his head again.] Don't tell me you're not there when you're right there.
[A pause, and he presses the heel of his hand against the crown of his head again, hard this time, before gritting his teeth and giving her a pained grin, his eyes bright with challenge.]
Don't tell me you know me... and then expect me to just be okay with forgetting. Got it memorized?
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She just looks at him fearfully, brows furrowed, and then he says those three words and she can't help it, it's so typically Axel she laughs in relief.]
Yes. It's memorised.
...but Axel, I don't know how I can help you remember. When I came here... I had just ceased to exist anywhere. There was nothing left for anyone to remember. Back in our world I'm not even a memory anymore. So I guess... what I mean is... if you can't remember, it isn't your fault.
I'm sorry.
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[He shakes his head, waving his hand dismissively.]
Hey, whoa, knock it off. Don't apologize for stuff that ain't your fault--one of life's little rules. Clearly you are still a memory somewhere, or else I wouldn't have this migraine and a sneaking suspicion I might be schizophrenic 'cuz I'm hearing all kinds of crazy crap in my head right now.
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[She cuts herself off before the final sorry escapes. OK, so if he's remembering some of it, maybe she can help him.]
Do you remember when you saved me? When I couldn't collect hearts anymore because I couldn't use my Keyblade, it was you who thought up the plan for me and Roxas to work together so that nobody ever found out.
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Wait, hold up. Keyblade? You can--? [Gears turning. She can wield a Keyblade? Whose Nobody is she, then?]
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[And because maybe, just maybe, actions might help; she puts her NV down so it can film her as she holds out her hand and then woosh, there's her Keyblade in her hand, and it should be very familiar.]
Me and Roxas, we can both use it.
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[It's Roxas' Keyblade! It's identical! And while he knows Roxas is capable of wielding other Keyblades as well, that's the one he summoned first, the one he first learned to wield. How can that be? Aren't all of their weapons supposed to be unique?
[There's a beat of silence, and he frowns.]
So... I did what, exactly? [A shake of his head and makes a swirling gesture with one hand.] What'd... what'd I say?
[It seems to be the recalling of conversations that triggers the strange hazy memories.]
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I couldn't summon it. We were afraid that if anyone found out, if Saïx- [is there a trace of bitterness in her tone here? Perhaps] or Xemnas knew that I was useless that they'd get rid of me. So you said that Roxas and I should word together, take on twice as many Heartless as a team so we could fill our quota. You protected me from Saïx, you were always looking out for me.
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'Put two half-pints together and you get a whole.']
I... [A helpless chuckle.] I guess that sounds like something I'd do--give Roxas more work.
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