Genre: Musical! Drama
Ships?: Hinted Axel/Xion, Bobby/Hala, and Axel/Larxene
→Familyships?: Roxas&Xion
→Friendships?: Axel&Roxas&Xion, Axel&Bobby
Characters: Xion, Axel, Roxas, Larxene, Bobby (OC)
→Mentions: Various extras, a genderbent Zexion, Hala (OC), Repoman!Lexaeus or Vexen, Xemnas
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: If you haven't watched Repo, then yes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Repo! The Genetic Opera, or any related characters. This was written out of enjoyment of the series, and no profit is being made.
Music: Zydrate Anatomy from Repo! The Genetic Opera
Notes:
Mo(u)rning
"Axel! Wake up!"
Grunting, the redhead turns away from the voice, drawing his blankets closer. There's an annoyed sigh, something about 'lazy jerk', and then something latches onto his arm. With a yell, he's tugged out of his bed and crashes onto the floor. Shoving his blanket off of his head, Axel glares up at Roxas. "So, is it your new hobby to drag people out of nice dreams, sunshine?"
Roxas just ignores the jab. "Come on, hurry up and get dressed!" He hopes from foot to foot a few times. "We're going to miss her!"
"Miss who?" he asks, getting up onto his feet while snagging a discarded pair of pants from the floor. "Jeez, I don't think I've seen you this excited in a while." Axel barely has time to pull on his coat when Roxas is pulling on him, yanking him right out the doorway. It's easy to underestimate the blond's strength given how short and teenage skinny he is, but Axel knows better. Preferring not to have his arm dislocated, he follows his best friend, even as a question bears asking: "Why don't we just use a portal? After all, you're talking about Xion, right?"
A nod answers that question. "She'll hear it opening, 'tho."
That just demands another question, but then Roxas suddenly pulls to a stop, steps going quiet. When he peers around a corner, Axel mimics him in curiosity. Sure enough, there's their little miss, their third musketeer, trotting down the hallway. What's really interesting is the large bag she holds in both hands. Even from this distance, the care she takes in carrying it is blatantly obvious. It's unfortunate they' can't see her face; Axel can't help but get fascinated now. Next to him, Roxas' face is warped into a look of worry so strong it almost seems sincere. When Xion turns a corner, Roxas silently follows, and Axel is towed along.
From the way Roxas is acting, Axel suspects this isn't the first time Xion's gone off or that he's followed her. More and more questions are popping up inside his mind, but it seems inappropriate to speak right now. He can only follow along and frown when they arrive at their destination:
Proof of Existence.
Without a prompt, Axel slips behind the nearest object with Roxas, used to slinking about. Unaware of their presence, Xion just trots to one of the nearest portals, its light dim and red. Carefully, she puts down her bag before sitting down herself. With her legs tucked under her, she sits up straight - a student before a teacher. "Good morning, Vexen!" she greets the Proof, smiling softly. "I went over the book from your labs again last night." From the bag, a thick book is extracted. Xion holds it in her hands like a prize. "I'm finally getting the hang of the periodic table, I think. I had no idea people and stuff could be made form so many things!" She falls silent and tilts her head to the side. "Okay, I'll aim for their properties next. Would that make you proud of me?" Whatever she hears in her head makes her laugh, the expression bright and happy and desperate on her face.
That's when Axel has to pull back for a moment, closing his eyes and trying to shove the image of Vexen's burning body out of his head. There's nothing to regret. It was either get rid of Vexen to Marluxia's order or be outed as a spy. It was hardly personal, even with Vexen's rather unlikeable attitude. So how is it that he could get a sweet kid like Xion to like him?
He doesn't regret anything. He shouldn't regret anything. He didn't regret anything until he met Roxas, Xion, looked past her as the girl edging in on something strange and unique and just added her this bizarre special something he's found.
By the time he gets himself to look again, Xion has moved onto the next Proof. There's none of the stiffness from before as she sits cross-legged in front of Lexaeus' 'grave'. Eyes closed, she smiles serenely, all while puzzles of all kinds (taken from the bag no doubt) lie in tribute to the Silent Hero. Despite the calm, Axel can see Roxas tense. His gaze keeps flickering to one last marker. Something sinks into Axel's stomach. After minutes of silence, she finally stands up. "Thanks, Lexaeus" and her voice cracks oh-so faintly. After she rubs at her eyes with the back of her sleeve, she slowly walks to the sixth Proof of Existence.
To their alarm, she sways a little in place, hands shaking at her sides. Every few minutes, she looks up as if to speak, mouth opening than closing. At last, she just covers her face. If he still had a heart, Axel is sure a part of it would break now at the sight: Xion's thin frame shaking from the effort of keeping her sobs quiet, all alone and surrounded by graves to people who can't fill them, people she had loved, still loves. They all stand there for who knows how long, the mourner and her two guardians. Eventually, she has to leave, tears still staining her face as she picks up the bag of books and puzzles.
It's just the two of them now.
Stepping out from his hiding spot, Roxas stares at the space Xion stood in moments before. "I don't want anyone to interrupt her when she's like this," he explains softly. "I don't know how to help when she gets like this, and I don't think she'd want it anyway. She should be allowed to have this moment, right?" Frowning, Roxas looks up to Axel, his best friend and teacher, for confirmation.
Taking a deep breath, Axel drags one of his trademark smirks to his lips. "Right, Roxas. Now, come here. I have something in mind."
A few hours later, and Axel is unceremoniously carting Xion over one shoulder through a portal. Her laughter shrieks in his ears while tiny fists pound against his back, her legs kicking. Roxas lags behind, eyes wide as they step into tropical wet heat and thriving green. Axel doesn't bother with the tour; he's been in Deep Jungle before. Instead, he concentrates on the body of water just a meter or two away from them that has a unique blue-green to its depths. With a grunt and a heave, the redhead tosses the girl right in. Simultaneous yells come before the splash - one from Roxas and the other from Xion, of course. Her soaking wet and wide eyed scowl when she bobs back up throws him into laughter.
Too busy cackling like a mad man, he doesn't notice the little sneak behind him until his arms are wild windmills as he tries desperately to keep his balance. It's no use, however; with another splash, he's submerged. This time, it's Roxas laughing at the two of them, Xion with her pouty glare and Axel with half his sullen face submerged while his wild red hair sticks to his head. While Roxas howls and snickers, his two best friends trade secretive glances with each other. Than, in silent agreement, they lunge forward and latch onto Roxas' ankles.
One final splash.
The hours pass in blurs of laughter and games, heavy coats shed easily as they glide and jump through the cool reflected hues of the jungle. Eventually, worn out, the two keyblade wielders and their teasing flicker of a flame friend drag themselves onto the sun-blessed rocks. Roxas is out like a light, on his side and glowing in the warm light. Xion is on the verge of following, even as Axel gathers her up in his lanky arms, the pair lying together. "Axel?" she murmurs, voice sluggish from happy exhaustion.
Axel just holds her all the tighter.
"Remember that we'll always watch out for you, Xion."
