driftfleet | walking in a winter wonderland. (MINGLE)

[Heh, complicated, he says. What about Axel's existence isn't complicated? A wry grin crawls over his face then, and he gives a soft laugh.]

So I betrayed them once already, and then betrayed them again? [Another laugh and he shakes his head.] Yeah, that sounds like something I'd do. For that matter, what makes you think I'm not gonna betray you? [If he's such a low-down dirty traitor, who's to say he's even being sincere, helping the good guys? Axel's not really sure he's got the capacity for sincerity anymore. (Did you need a heart for that?)

[He frowns a little when Riku mentions Roxas, though, and squares his shoulders.]

Roxas? Yeah, I know him. Little spacey, kinda green, but sure, we're friends. [He narrows his eyes.] What's he got to do with anything?

"Roxas made me feel like I had a heart". That's what Sora said some of your last words as Axel were.

[ crossing his arms, he looks at axel straight on, undeterred and earnest. ]

That's why I think you're not gonna betray us. You've got just as much to win if we stick together--you have people you care about saving. And that's a lot easier with friends watching your back.

[That catches him off-guard. Some of his last words? What did that mean? What had he had to do to get his heart back? Suddenly he's not sure he wants to know. A little uneasy, Axel swallows, then rakes a hand back into his hair.]

People I care about, huh? [He hesitates, then presses one hand over his heart. Well. The physical one. He can of course still feel it beating in his veins. He wouldn't be alive without that, right? Is it empty, though, without the metaphysical half to go with it? What does it even beat for, without any feelings to drive it? Sometimes Axel wonders if he's not just like that heart: missing the more important half, only existing to keep existing, and for what? The hope for something better one day? Is that even being alive? Is that really existing? Nobodies aren't supposed to exist, so what's he pushing for, anyway?

[If Riku's telling the truth, though, something better is out there, if he plays his cards right. Maybe that's worth existing for.

[He holds Riku's gaze for a long moment, then looks down, weighing his options. Xemnas isn't here to tell him what to do. Saïx isn't here to push him around. He doesn't have to play the dutiful soldier here, he can just... be himself, right? He's been that soldier for so long, though, does he even remember how to be himself? He guesses he'll find out. Might as well start off on the right foot.

[Sticking one hand out, he levels a mild look at Riku.]

I've got no beef with you. For what it's worth, I was rooting for you guys. I'll believe you, for now--I'd rather not be your opponent, if we're being honest.

[ riku looks cautious. he reaches his hand out, but recoils it slightly at first. he's still not sure how to trust people that aren't sora or kairi, but it's worked so far with kaneis. kaneis knew him, though. axel... doesn't. what he knows of riku must be limited at best. he's not sure about sharing himself with someone so volatile, but... he also wants to protect him. he has potential--there's hope there, even if axel doesn't realize it himself.

so he does grasp his hand. ]

Don't be. That's the only advice I can give you--I don't care if you fight me, but if you fight Sora...

[His eyebrows inch up when Riku recoils, and he has to wonder what's going through his head. Axel is a far more agreeable person than Riku is probably giving him credit for, really; he prefers the path of lease resistance, and being on the bad side of two Keyblade wielders is definitely not his style. He's not sure what had to come together to wind up allying with them, but he never really wanted to be their enemy. He's read enough books to know that when you fight the Good Guys, you almost always lose, and he really hates losing.

[When Riku finally takes his hand, he shakes it firmly, then snorts a laugh.]

Oh, please. I'd rather nap than fight anybody. Don't worry, I'm not interested in being on the wrong end of any Keyblades, okay? I've seen what they can do, and I don't need you guys handing me my butt. [Hey, Riku took down Lexaeus. Sora took down Marluxia. Those guys definitely had Axel beat in the brawns department, and while brains can definitely win fights, he'd much rather use his talents otherwise. Fighting is too much effort.] I'm not gonna pick any fights with you or your buddy, got it memorized?

[ riku hesitates for a moment, before sighing. ]

For the record, you get one of your own. --a Keyblade.

[He stares at him for a long moment, his brow furrowed like this just doesn't compute.]

Me. With a Keyblade. [Then he kind of wheezes a laugh, shaking his head.] Okay, now I know you've gotta be full'a beans. Like anybody'd give me a Keyblade. I'm not hero material, okay? What the hell am I gonna do with a Keyblade?

I don't know! You just... summoned one in front of everyone, and we were all pretty surprised. Even Yen Sid, and he said he'd been trying to help you.

[He rubs the crown of his head like he hit it on something, a weird sort of pain throbbing behind his eyes. This is all just too much to try and take in. His heart, switching sides, getting a Keyblade, it all just seems so far-fetched. But why would Riku lie to him? They'd never even met before now, at least as far as he knows--really, the idea that Riku is from a future he's not aware of yet makes about as much sense as anything else.

[Axel hefts a sigh and shakes his head.]

Boy, they'll give a Keyblade to anybody, huh. [He thought you had to be some kind of hero for that. Even when Riku had turned against Sora, was working with Maleficent, he was still trying to champion Kairi. He'd still been cut from that hero cloth. Axel isn't anything like that.] Yen Sid. The old wizard? [He whistles.] Man, I really make a play for the big leagues in the future. When did I get so ambitious?

[That's mostly rhetoric, Riku.]

Edited 2014-12-29 01:25 (UTC)

I dunno. I've got the feeling you always had a lot of good in you, you just ran with the wrong crowd.

[ huffs, shoves his hands into his pockets. ]

That's enough for one day. If I told you the rest now, your head would explode.

[Axel makes something of an indignant noise at that. He's not sure what exactly is offensive (he knows there's more good in him than he gives himself credit for, and he knows the Organization is bad news), but suddenly he's really ruffled. Maybe it's just because Riku's the one saying it. What the hell does Riku even know about him? Nothing, that's what, so maybe he should mind his own beeswax.

[He hefts a sigh.]

There's more? [He waves one hand, the other still on the crown of his head.] Save it, then; I've already got a headache. [And then he looks up at him, a little frown on his face.] Look, I appre... appreciate you bein' straight with me. [He'd almost forgotten how to even say the word appreciate. He hasn't really had much call to.] Ugh, I think I need a nap, after all that.

[ wait, what? appreciate?

riku's eyebrows shoot up, before he clears his throat and takes a quick little step back. ]

Well... sleep. Just tell me when you wanna hear the rest--it's a long story. From Castle Oblivion... it's been almost two years.

T--two years? [He looks a little dizzy at that, putting a hand on his head and closing his eyes a moment. Yeah, okay, he definitely needs a nap.] I've got a lot of catching up to do, apparently. [He makes a face.] Can't you like mess up the space-time continuum by telling me my future, though? [Isn't that what always happens in movies?]

[ riku makes a face. yeah, he has a point, but... ]

What if me telling you is the domino to you getting your heart back?

[He opens his mouth to say something, stops, closes it, tries again, then huffs.]

But... if that's the case it means we would have had to come here in the timeline you're from, too, and... that... affects my past now, but... [He shakes his head, then rubs his crown furiously.] Augh, time travel gives me a headache.

[He's quiet for a moment, then figures Riku has a point. If it means getting his heart back, he's willing to listen, even if this whole thing seems kind of insane to him. He looks at him, then sighs and folds his arms.]

Fine, I guess you better tell me. Missing even one domino can mess up the whole chain, after all.

Even if telling you all this isn't, at least you'll know. That's the important part.

[ an exhale. ]

But for now, you'd better catch up on rest.

[He regards Riku a moment, his brow creased and a frown sitting heavy on his lips. He's terribly curious, but at the same time he isn't sure he wants to know. Won't that mess things up when he goes to actually do these things, if he already knows how they turn out? Ugh, his head really hurts now. He pinches the bridge of his nose, nodding.]

Yeah, I'm... gonna go take a nap. Today's definitely been way too much new information all at once. [He wags a finger at him then.] Try and stay out of trouble, okay? No more getting jumped by the natives in dark alleys. I need you to stick around long enough to fill me in.

walking in a winter wonderland. (MINGLE)

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