kh_drabble | 151 [Speaking Mute] (Reply)

Challenge: [151] Surreal
Title: Speaking Mute
Word Count: 524
Warning: Spoilers for near ending of KHII

Stop it.

Stop moving. Stop running. Stop fighting. Stop—

Axel!

Axel, it's me! Don't you recognize me? Don't you—

Don't you see I'm trying? I want to open my mouth and yell at you, because you're being an idiot, you shouldn't be here, you shouldn't be doing this, but my mouth won't obey me. It's his now, and it's yelling and scowling and his tongue is running over his teeth, just to remind himself that he's angry and he won't quit no matter what.

He means to kill you, Axel, even if kill is the wrong word for people like us. He's already taken down Demyx—Demyx! Who couldn't hurt anyone if he even tried! Who never wanted anything but to play his music, dance with his water clones and a few pretty girls, and maybe get his heart back, if that would be okay. He killed Demyx and left behind nothing but shadows and ashes, and there was nothing I could do to stop him.

I tried. Don't you see I tried? But the Keyblade won't listen to what I say and my hands won't obey me, and I was left standing here, panting with the exertion of killing the annoying boy with his silly sitar and the tunes that would always get stuck in my head. And I feel sick to my stomach, but he doesn't recognize that. Or if he does, he thinks it's from seeing so many heartless and nobodies. He thinks it's from hearing that something's happened to his Kairi. He thinks it's from loss of blood, from exertion, from dizziness—anything but the truth.

Run away, Axel. You've found me, like you promised. Now accept defeat and run before someone catches you.

.............

I warned you.

I told you something awful would happen. I told you to run away and never come back.

Or at least I tried.

Not that it would have mattered—you always did have such a thick skull.

We fought together like we used to, and suddenly my body—his and my body—reacted like I told it to, its every motion magnified by my will because he and I were after the same thing, and we were both desperate. He wanted to live. I'd already accepted defeat. I'd accepted it when I walked away. I'd accepted it when I gave up my body and will to this boy who is half savior and half murderer. And I thought it might be all right because I knew there would still be someone to miss me.

But you just couldn't stay away, could you?

You're fading now.

I never thought I'd see you fade. Not you. You were too bright for that.

Don't go. Hold on. Stay a while longer. I'm not sure what to do, except to tell him to let me stay by your side. I'm not sure he understands entirely, but he complies. He feels my sorrow, and I can feel the verge of unexplained tears on the edge of his eyelids.

Sorrow. I feel sad—more than sad: anguish. Despair. Grief.

I've got a heart now, Axel. And guess what?

It hurts.