Hollow (Kingdom Hearts AU)

Chapter four

Axel had to cover his mouth with one of his hands when he saw the girl lying down on the floor of his room.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked, out of breath.

"I've told you that I have no option." She shrugged and looked around. "What's this place?"

"You can't be here." Axel grabbed her by the arm and opened a new corridor.

"Why?" She looked at him confused.

"You don't want to die, right?" He crossed the corridor.

He walked with the purpose of telling her no word about the Organization XIII. And at some point of the way, he decided to leave her in some place where she would be safe. That was the reason why his steps guided them to Twilight Town. Precisely, they reached the mansion.

The Organization XIII's castle would never be an option. Apparently, she was a human with no talent, who would not consider the opportunity of being a nobody. And in that case, he was sure that Xemnas wouldn't accept her at all. No one would do it: she didn't have any value. And they had Xion, so they don't need one more useless puppet.

"I don't have potions now, so..." He commented, before stealing a ribbon that she was wearing.

She was startled and looked at him confused, when her dark blonde hair hid her ears and fell just passing her collarbone.

"I think that will be enough." He bandaged her arm with the ribbon.

"Thank you." She smiled at him.

"It's nothing." He sat in one of the armchairs In front of her, feeling exhausted. "You can live here if you want. I don't care."

"Well... Now I don't have any place to go back." She sighed. "My world disappeared, right?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "The heartless consumed it."

"I haven't seen them before." She explained, when the memories of that horrible night came to her mind. "People were screaming and running away, and I didn't understand why until I saw them."

"That's what heartless do. They come to a world and they destroy it." He said, staring at her and imagining the scene.

"And is there a way to stop them?"

"No." He lied, through his teeth.

"So that's all? I can't believe it." She complained and got up.

"This is your life now." He followed her actions with his eyes.

She remained silent for a second and then, she approached him and looked right straight into his eyes.

"You're lying." She accused.

"What? I'm not lying." He firmly denied it.

"You are. I can see it in your eyes." She pointed them out with her finger. "By the way, you have pretty eyes."

"W-what?" He asked, feeling how his muscles tensed.

"Pretty eyes." She repeated. "But, hey, why do you have those tears tattooed here?"

"I..." He looked away and got up.

"Okay. I get it. You don't have to tell me." She smiled at him. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." He said with a surprising soft voice. "It's... I don't wanna talk about it."

"It's fine. But... Why are you lying to me?" She insisted. "If there is something that can stop heartless, tell me. I want to help too, but I have to know the truth first."

"There's something. Well, someone." He gave up. He didn't understand why but he couldn't keep lying to her. "There's only one person who can exterminate them."

"That person is you?" She asked.

"What? No." He laughed. "I'm his opposite."

"I still believe you're not a bad guy." She smirked.

"Trust me, I am." He admitted with a proud smile.

"You didn't attack me and you don't care if I live here. You're not a bad guy." She argued.

"You don't know me." He got closer, trying to intimidate her.

"Let me know you then." She looked at his eyes fearlessly.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're too reckless?" He couldn't help but smile and look at her eyes. Their color reminded him of the sky but mixed with the last rays of the sunset.

He didn't know why but every time he looked directly at her, he felt as if was going to fall on his knees, or if someone took away all of his strength.

"All the time." She smirked proudly, when she realized how close they were. She almost could feel his breath against her lips.

"You should be careful, you might get burned." He looked at her bottom lip, wondering why he felt the need to bite it.

"I'm not afraid of fire. Or anything." She whispered.

"I bet that's why you are hurt. Did you try to beat the heartless with your own hands?" He asked but he could guess the answer.

"Yes, and it worked." She nodded with a big smile on her face.

"Did it work? That's impressive." He admitted. "Reckless... And you have pretty eyes too. I like it".

"You... Like it?" She repeated and avoided eye contact. Her heart was pounding so fast and loud that it almost could be heard by him.

"Yes. But, as I said, you will get burned if you keep coming closer to me." He grabbed her chin to make her look at him. "You don't know the things I did and the things I will do".

"Maybe I'd like them." She shivered.

"I don't think so. I only touched you once and you're shivering." He mocked her.

"I'm not afraid of you. I'm shivering because..." She licked her lips and tried to look away again.

"Because...?" He whispered softly against her mouth.

"Because..."

She raised her face and sought his mouth. Axel was about to close his eyes and kiss her when they heard laughter coming from what seemed to be a group of boys on the other side of the wall.

"I thought we were alone." She opened her eyes and blushed, when she realized what they were about to do.

"I thought it too." He smirked when he saw that the red of her face was more intense than his hair.

"Who are they?" She asked, after she cleared her throat.

"Just a group of children that live in the town." He explained. "They come here sometimes."

"Do I have to hide from them? She asked.

"No. Maybe you can be friends." He guessed, getting farther from her slowly. "They can help you more than me."

"Oh... Eh... Okay." She said, confused.

"I have to go now."

"Will you come back?" She asked.

She didn't understand his change of mind.

"I don't know. Anyway, these guys will help you." He advised her. "Tell them about what happened to your world, but don't mention me. You and I've never met, got it memorized?"

"Why?"

"I've told you before: I'm not a good guy." He opened a dark corridor. "Got it memorized?"

And he disappeared in the darkness, leaving her alone. Although not scared, but a little disappointed and still confused.