kh_drabble | (no subject)

Theme: [185] Heatwave
Title: Burning Up (Literally)
Word Count: 557
Notes: I had fun writing this. I could actually see it happening.

When Roxas woke up in the World That Never Was, it was hot. Extremely hot.

At first he had thought that Axel was playing some sort of prank on him, like lighting a fire under his bed. But when he looked around his room for the red-headed Nobody, he wasn’t there.

Putting on his black coat, he left the room to find out what was going on with the castle’s temperature. He decided to head over to Axel- he would most likely know why it was such a high temperature around here.

He was walking through an empty hallway on his way to Axel’s room when he heard voices nearby. Roxas wandered over to the corner of the next intersection and peeked around it in curiosity.

He noticed some of the fellow members of the Organization talking fervently; he recognized Vexen, Demyx, Saïx, and Luxord among the group. They didn’t seem to detect that the Key of Destiny was there.

“How high was his temperature?” Roxas recognized the notable British accent of the Gambler of Fate.

“I don’t know! The thermometer melted! All I know is that it’s getting too out of control.” Vexen swung his arms widely in exasperation, and Roxas couldn’t keep himself from quirking an eyebrow at that. Thermometer? Is someone sick?

“He should be in bed. Demyx, why did you let him out?” Saïx glared at the Nocturne, who shrank back under his gaze.

“He…he said he needed a drink…” Demyx looked to the ground as if embarrassed.

Roxas turned away from the corner, vaguely trying to think in the searing temperature about what might have happened. Why…why does it feel like the heat’s getting stronger? Why…why do I feel so dizzy? The air around him seemed to shift in the scorching temperature, and Roxas struggled to prevent himself from fainting.

“Roxas.”

Turning around, he looked upon the Flurry of Dancing Flames himself. Roxas had never seen Axel like this before. His face was flushed with a shade of red almost as vibrant as his hair, and he seemed to be heavily breathing, his hand placed on the wall for support. The Nobody’s constant grin was replaced by a strained grimace, as if he was feeling so much pain that he would cry out any moment.

“Hey…kiddo…how’s…everything?” Axel said between breaths as if it was hard to talk, and Roxas realized that the burning heat was coming from Axel himself.

“Axel…are you sick?”

The red head closed his eyes. “Yeah…it’s…just…a…small…fever…I’ll…get…over…it…no…problem…”

“But Axel, you do realize…” Roxas staggered back. “Axel…you’re melting the wall!” Sure enough, the piece of wall underneath Axel’s hand started running like liquid wax. The red-head barely noticed, still trying to catch his breath.

“Axel.” Roxas quickly turned around, noticing the Chilly Academic behind him. Vexen snapped his fingers, and a sheet of ice crawled up and immobilized Axel’s hands and feet. A few Dusks seemed to come out of nowhere, surrounding the Flurry, and they started to cart him off towards the clinic amid his weak protests.

“Silly Nobody…he should learn that being sick isn’t a joke, it endangers everything around him! His element will get out of control! He’ll probably be better in no time, though.” Vexen added, seeing Roxas’ worried look.

“Sir?”

“Yes, Number Thirteen?” Vexen replied, pausing in his walk to the clinic.

“Please never get sick.”