Twilight Kisses

Happy super belated birthday to my dear friend, RairakkuFenikkusu aka Lilac Phoenix. Enjoy.

x-x-x-x-x-x


Twilight Kisses

The ground was slippery beneath the thick weight of rubber beneath his boots. Despite the sturdy footwear, walking was still somewhat difficult. The damp cement glazed over with wet mold decreased the grip his feet had on the ground.

The air was moist, old and at the same time, somewhat refreshing. It was an odd odor drifting beneath the city, one that the man couldn’t categorize as good or bad. The hiss and rumble of the water trickling down the walls and ground filled his ears, drowning out the occasional screech and scratch from the Dusks that coiled through the dark corners from the vents.

His shoulder burned. The injury was almost gone now. Thankfully he’d escaped before Roxas’ keyblade could do any more damage. It was all a mistake from the very beginning. He shouldn’t have allowed himself to get close to that boy, but Axel was at least wise enough to know that it was too late to cry over spilt milk.

Roxas didn’t remember. And Axel couldn’t make him remember. And now that he failed to exterminate the keyblade wielder, he was sure the Organization would come to make sure no one else remembered him either.

Frankly, he didn’t fear being wiped from existence anymore. Maybe he even preferred it. He was beginning to grow wary of not knowing what he was and what this- this feeling was. Tired of not being dead, but not really living. Tired of being human, and being something else. He didn’t want to be between the lines anymore- lying helplessly in the twilight.

The thought brought a smirk over his young face. Lying restlessly in the twilight - what a proper place to think such a thing - beneath Twilight Town.

Just as the man was about to continue his way out of the tunnels, a particular set of footsteps caught his attention. Axel flung his hands to his sides, ready to summon his Chakrams should he be endangered. His adrenaline spiked, drops of perspiration beading across his hairline as his emerald eyes darted around the room for his suspect. It only took a few moments before she appeared from the darkness, and his arms eased down to his sides.

The Celestial Taurus…

“So, I disobey the Organization and they send you to punish me? Sounds more like a reward.”

Not charmed by his humor, the ebony haired woman folded her arms.

“No. Saix is on your tail. Lucky for you, he doesn’t know you the way I do, so it will take him a while to actually find you.”

The redhead hummed, eager to toy with the woman’s nerves further. Rubbing his chin, he asked, “You’re right. He doesn’t know me like you do. But what do you know about me?”

Her mouth puckered to speak before she was overtaken by silence. It wasn’t hard to see that his comment had stunned her. Not wanting to end the conversation yet, Axel pursued.

“So, Xifta, now you’ve found me. Here to claim the spoils first before good old moon howler does? Hoping Xemnas gives you a number this time?”

“I’m not here on Xemnas’ orders, Axel.”

There was a moment of silence stretched between the two members. Xifta heard the audible crack in his knuckles. She wondered if he was preparing himself for a fight. The muscles in her legs tightened in response just in case.

Axel focused on her large, hazel eyes burning into him. Flickering with shades of russet and gray, he wondered if the color of her eyes had anything to do with what she was thinking. The firm line her lips clamped into only served to sway his desire to loosen them.

“Hmm. You never were one to follow Xemnas from the beginning. It’s a wonder why he favored keeping you in the Organization, even without assigning you a number. Then again, he kept Demyx, too. He had a num-”

“Why did you leave, Axel?”

Xifta was quick and straight to the point. That was something he was always fond of.

When she first awakened, she was somewhat unsure of herself, and her existence. As time wore on, however, and she warmed up to a few of the members; himself being the key person of course, because he’d never let a gorgeous woman like her become unaware of his presence.

eart or not, she showed a fiery side to her. That fiery side flared in her eyes and cut the air when she fought.

She wasn’t like the other members. Besides her slender body and long, dark hair, Axel was drawn to that difference. She was more like him. There was some other agenda she had in mind, but he wasn’t even sure if she was conscious of it herself yet.

“So much for knowing me more than Saix, huh? I’d say you don't have me very memorized at all,” Axel quipped, tapping his temple in that nonchalant way whenever he shot his sarcasm at her. The man caught the curl in her lip that she tried professionally to restrain.

“Roxas.”

“Well then, if you know, why the hell are you asking me? Or are you asking the wrong question?”

Another moment of silence threatened to settle between them before Axel began to finally lose his patience. Releasing his defensive position, he could sense her body panic as he walked her into a cold and clammy wall. Casually slipping a hand beside her head, Axel asked again in a different tone of voice.

Smooth. And slightly malicious.

“Why are you here, Xifta?”

“Axel. Don’t test me. You know my hits hurt.”

Xifta could almost hear his smirk crinkle beside her face. She wiggled her fingers at her sides in an attempt to return feeling to them. She secretly curled her toes in her boots, hoping to prevent the trembling that betrayed her words. The woman inwardly hoped Axel could not hear her struggle to swallow.

“Xifta. What is it that you’re here for? If you’re not on their side, and you’re not on mine, what are you doing?”

There was a distinct huff that Xifta failed to hide properly. Her breath suddenly spraying over the side of his neck made Axel twitch. His fingers were beginning to ache. Any longer, and he’d have to touch her, whether she allowed it or not.

“I- I don’t know.”

Number eight lingered for a moment before he eased off the wall and took a step back.

“I see. Well, I was kind of in the process of being a fugitive, so if you don’t mind, I need to return to my little trip here.”

He turned his back and she called for him.

“So, you’re just going to leave, just like that? Betray the Organization-”

“I was never one of them-”

“Forget about Kingdom Hearts-”

“I don’t care about that-”

“And leave me behind?”

She had said it. Somehow the words had managed to blurt out from her. Avoiding his face, Xifta decided there was no more holding back now and so she continued.

“You were the first one I met with any real life in you. You, Demyx and Roxas- aren’t we all friends?”

Axel glared at her, his hands sinking into his pocket as he watched her cheeks glow bright red. His fingers brushed against the swelling member in his pants and he restrained it to listen to her. The martial artist was so sexy when she was angry. It made him want to catch her lips with his teeth.

“A-aren’t you and I frie-”

“Friends? Xifta. You don’t even know what side you’re on. You haven’t even accepted what you are and you’re trying to explain what this is between us? You make no sense.”

“I don’t really know what I am- or rather, I don’t accept it. It’s bullshit and at this point, I don’t really care. What I do know, is that I can’t let you leave- even if I have to drag you back myself.”

The woman punctuated her point when she raised her fists. Axel contently obliged when he raised his own, not bothering to summon his weapons. Grinning deviously, he nodded, “I’ll do this fair and square. Only ‘cause it’s you, gorgeous.”

“I told you not to call me that!”

She threw the first punch and he caught it in his fist with a groan. “Mmm. You don’t like when I call you names, baby?”

“Stop it!”

Another fist unsuccessfully landed and it slipped through the loop of his arm.

“I only say the truth, beautiful.”

“Axel!”

Her knee shoved upward in an attempt to hit his groin, but he swiftly hooked his arm beneath her leg before she was slammed against the wall with a distinct smack. Wincing at the throbbing in her shoulder blades, Xifta hissed at the distance closed between them. Still holding her leg to his thigh, Axel leaned in to her ear.

“Stop beating around the bush, Xifta. Tell me what you really want.”

Any sign of circulation was instantly cut off from her fingers the moment she felt the soft flesh of his bottom lip graze against the shell of her ear down to her ear lobe. She didn’t know how he came up with this new tone of voice, or if he’d always had it, but just then, in the deepest, huskiest whisper that she had ever heard, one that was coated with nothing but animal and testosterone, he feathered his breath over the stem of her neck.

“Tell me you want me, Xifta, because I swear on Kingdom Hearts, that if you stay here a second longer-” Axel took a second to clear his throat, whether to re-arrange his words or to back off entirely, she wasn’t sure. After taking a short breath, he threatened, “Xifta. Leave or I won’t hold back. I can’t.”

The woman could see the strain in his chest as he struggled to confine his desires. His command made her mouth water. Something about what he said and the way he said it turned her on.

She really loved hearing him talk.

There was always something about Axel’s voice that stained her mind during those late hours when the Organization members were either asleep or gone from the premises for unknown reasons. Perhaps, that was what attracted her to him in the first place when she gave most of the members the cold shoulder. While the Organization members were predominantly male, many of them with plenty bass in their voice, only Axel had this smooth slick in his talk - a cross between charm, sarcasm and just chaste temptation. He always knew how to level his words as if he were trying to lure you, lick you slowly with his syllables.

At times it unnerved her, and she found herself trying to vent her unresolved aches by provoking fights with him. The heat of his fiery weapons helped her to feel the slightest bit closer to satisfaction, with the hits of his forearms against her fists. And when their fights ended in friendly bickering, Xifta would return to her room with his taunts ringing in her ears, sounding dangerously close to pillow talk. It just made it more difficult for her to shake off the urge of having his hands smeared with heat against her bare skin.

Now with this newly discovered bass in his voice, it went past pillow talk to something he might have sounded like if he was inside her, cloaked within her wet folds. A genuine throb contracted in the pit of her stomach and with her curiosity lingering to what was beyond all those zippers and layers of leather, Xifta could hardly deny her body what it was yearning.

Whether Xemnas’ revelation about Nobodies and hearts were correct or not, her body was still intact and it was desperately seeking his. Before she released herself, however, she didn’t want him to stop talking- not just yet.

Unclenching her pained hands, she pleaded, “Say it, again.”

“What, gorgeous? Tell me anything and I’ll do it,” the redhead grounded his hips against her, the heat of his thighs a complete contrast to the damp, frigid wall she was rammed against. The motion caught her by surprise and so she latched fingers onto his shoulders in fear of falling.

“You want me, Axel?”

His forehead now grazing over hers, the man had finally met her gaze. Between the stray strands of claret that fell over his eyes – they were coated with want, lust and many other emotions she was sure heartless beings were incapable of.

Maybe they couldn’t be friends. Maybe they couldn’t be lovers. Heck, after this, they’d never even be members of the same Organization, but this moment? Xifta couldn’t deprive herself of at least this one moment. She had to have him.

Axel bit his lip and the Celestial Taurus watched intently, liking the way his saliva moistened them for her. Catching her look of hunger with the swift gesture of his lips, Axel mischievously leaned closer. Hovering his open mouth over hers, The Flurry of Dancing Flames wondered how much it would take to break her will.

Xifta was a stubborn woman, and it would take a lot more than his provocative words to get her completely relaxed and willing. She was close to breaking. He knew it. He knew it because he’d recognized this very state of hers, from the hollow look beginning to spin in her eyes, from the way her back was arching into his embrace, and how she breathlessly begged for him to speak again, all he needed was a sliver of persuasion convincing enough that not even she could lie to herself anymore.

This wasn’t one of those sparring matches she’d purposely entice because she needed some sort of physical contact from him without actually giving into him. No. Those squabbles of theirs - had peeled slowly at her, little by little, bringing her true, raw desires to light in spite of her pride. And now that he threatened to leave without seeing to those desires of hers, Xifta sought to bring those desires to his door, because she could no longer hide them.

Easing the hand of his that rested on the wall, he slithered over her standing leg to her inner thigh until he carefully groped the meat between her legs. Before she could react, he settled there, a finger emphasizing itself in between the cleft that was clear, even through the thick material.

The woman responded with a purr. The action was enough to make her stance wobble and her whimper relax. Axel rotated his shoulder to clear some of the want beginning to itch at him before he responded.

“Oh, you have no fuckin’ idea. I’ve been wanting you since the moment I first laid eyes on you. Now, let me have you, Xifta.”

Xifta could not answer. She was too busy taking delight in the feel of his strong fingers pressing hard against the leather of her crotch. Every push his digits gave against her, she felt herself dampen, pleasure beginning to flicker inside her. Humming, she reached for his face, and Axel pulled away, giving another squeeze between her legs.

The man looked winded already, and it was beginning to kill her.

“You still haven’t told me what you want, Xifta. I’m not some idiot that’s going to force something you don’t want. I want you to tell me.”

Xifta cursed. His lips being so distant made her feel as if she was going to burst. It was getting too hot between them despite the cool atmosphere. If she didn’t get out of these clothes soon enough, she was sure she’d pass out, human or not. Motioning to the zipper of his coat, the woman yanked it down before fervently peeling her gloves off with her teeth. Dropping them shamelessly, she passed a palm over the warmth of his chest. She was irritated to find that he’d been wearing a black shirt beneath.

Annoyed to the point that she could no longer take it, Xifta clutched the material of his collar and yanked him to her. She showed little care for the rip she heard when she pulled and forced her lips on his. Sucking his lips until he opened his mouth for her, she only needed to swipe her tongue over his once before she parted from him and confessed in a needy whisper.

“I want you, Axel. Oh my Go- I want you. Take this off.”

The mild whine in her voice hardened his loins. The fire wielder reacted fiercely, trapping the hoarse sound threatening to escape his throat before he shrugged off his black coat. Slapping his gloves to his feet, he met her lips again in a clash of teeth and wet velvet running over their sweet, moist mouths. He grinded against her once more, securing the hung leg of hers around his waist as he fastened his hands over the tight flesh of her buttocks.

Groaning between their lips, Axel ordered, “Your turn.”

Xifta protested. “Your shirt.”

“Your jacket goes first.”

When Xifta was hesitant to comply, the redhead had no choice but to take over. Muttering a curse beneath his breath, Xifta heard the zipper buzz between his heavy fingers. He rolled his hips against her again, successfully distracting her from even thinking of stopping him and she yelled out to his delight.

The feel of his hardened length beginning to distinguish itself through his pants and against her crotch stopped any train of thought she tried to piece together. At this point, thought of any kind was irrelevant unless it had to do with what she’d do next to get him to scream out for her. She wasn’t going to do it right now, but it was in her plans, and she’d see to it very soon. For now, she allowed him to play this game where he dominated.

Axel dove back in towards her neck, raking his teeth down the stems that led to her collarbone. Despite the passionate moment between them, the man was tenderly taking his time wiping his swollen lips over her. Xifta held him closer, taking joy in the feel of him against her.

While Axel was not exactly the most fit or the most well built member in the Organization, his body felt right in her arms - strong enough to hold onto without feeling overwhelmed. The whiff of his masculinity surrounding her made her fingers urgently claw at his back in fear of him parting from her. The sensation of his warmth in her arms made her eyes burn for some odd reason, but she ignored the feeling.

It’s probably the air in here, she thought.

Her head fell back in a daze when she felt his fingers string through her long, black hair, pulling its strands from the pins she’d tied it up in. The silver pins fell to the floor with a ping and Axel pressed another kiss to her cheekbone, dusting his thumb over her lips in the process.

“I love it when your hair is loose.”

Smiling, Xifta led his chin to hers where they kissed again. The feeling of his steamed breath, licking over the ridges in her mouth, made her feel as if her lungs were about to stop contracting. If it weren’t for the strange pleasurable feeling that was slowly ticking along her thighs, she would have pushed him away in need of fresh air.

But who needed air?

It was only a moment before he backed away, and her puffed chest deflated. The redhead passed his eyes over her intently, licking his lips like an animal wondering which way to devour his prey. Even though Xifta’s body should have been no stranger to him right now, she couldn’t help fight the urge to shy away. Axel smirked at the sight of her reddened cheeks.

“Blinded by my handsome smile?”

Xifta scoffed, “Hardly.”

When an anticipated pout began to pull at his lips, Xifta coyly reached for his face to grant another brush of her lips upon his bottom lip. The gesture earned a pleased hum from the man until the flare in his eyes revealed new intentions. As he inched back to reach for her loose zipper, he hesitated for a second to cock a brow at her.

“Are you- not wearing anything under this?” Axel asked, partially surprised, but very much aroused by the idea.

Who knew that all this time he had crossed fists with her, times when his elbow feathered along her chest to pass a popsicle over to Roxas, or when she huddled her arms around herself for warmth, that underneath it all, was pure, unprotected, smooth skin. The idea of her pert breasts scratching against the interior of leather, beaded with sweat as she moved too much excited him. Unintentionally, he groaned at the image flickering in his head. Xifta requested his attention again when her fingernail lightly tapped the rough bottom of his chin.

“It’s too uncomfortable wearing all of this. Xemnas is lucky I even wore the robe instead of a shirt alone.”

“Why the robe and not the shirt?”

“Hmm. I have a thing for leather.”

Axel chuckled, catching her off guard again when he groped the edges of her coat and snapped it open. Her full, ripe breasts fell out in front of his hungry eyes. Xifta’s breath hitched with the sudden cold air hitting her, causing her nipples to erect before he warmed them with a gentle stroke of his palm as he allowed his other hand to ease around her waist.

They were perfect.

As much as another female member, Larxene in particular, would rudely comment on Xifta’s chest being a burden because of its nonsensical size, by the look of her toned legs and the muscle in Xifta’s arms, Axel never had any doubt that what the Savage Nymph said was utter bullshit. There was no sign of a stretch mark, no drooping, or even a misplaced vein anywhere in sight around the radius of each perfectly rounded, pale breast that hung elegantly over her tight and taut abs. And over each unmarred inch of skin, her breasts were deliciously seasoned with her taupe nipples, a touch of pink at their tips.

“You cold, beautiful?”

Xifta shuddered at the sensation of his callused hand on this newly exposed portion of skin. Her jaw beginning to chatter, she nodded, “Yeah. It’s freezing in here.”

“But I figured you’d be comfortable in here. Water is your element.”

“I’m not Demyx. I only use water for some of my limit breaks. Other than that, I’m all muscle and blood.”

“Hmm,” the redhead nodded, before he flapped open a bare hand for Xifta to see steam begin to radiate from his fingertips. Eyes beginning to widen, she regarded his revealed molten hand with a look of caution.

She wanted to be turned on, not cooked. She nervously hoped he knew what he was-

“I guess, I’m the perfect man for you, then.”

He ended that sentence, along with her doubts, when the very hand she was mesmerized by, mildly scalded its searing heat over her breast where it shot a luscious tremor up her spine down to her center. She squeezed her legs in reaction, and she released a huff of relief when she felt his mouth comfort her other bare, and cold breast. As Axel continued to generously massage and pass his hot breath over her chest, the moist residue from his lips served to pull her shoulders inward from the air that now felt chilled compared to before. Drawing her fingers into his scalp, through his fiery strands, she felt him groan into her skin, the sound resonating through her and causing her hands to shake as they settled in his head.

“Axel?”

He answered with a soft grunt and she trembled again.

“I- I need you to get this off.”

When she felt the slightest hint of friction between them, she used her strength to push him away before she swiveled them around, his back against the grueling wall instead. Axel winced with a curse, and Xifta contained her laughter with the goal of removing his shirt in hopes that his hot skin would keep her warmer than just his hands.

“Mmm. Xifta,” he half complained, half smiled as her cold fingertips curled beneath the hem of his dark shirt where it met his pants.

Axel’s stomach hiccupped at the icy contact of her fingers against him, but he didn’t attempt to rebel against her. By the amused glint in his lust glazed eyes as he observed her, the Celestial Taurus guessed he was enjoying every second of this, even with the uncomfortable temperature.

She waited a few seconds for her fingers to warm, before she spread her palms underneath his hem, just to feel the firm crests of his heated abdomen. Unconsciously, Xifta’s lips smacked just as his had not long ago in approval. Axel rested a hand over the small of her back, giving her room and permission, to explore his body all she wanted. He leaned his head back, looking down at her with half-closed lazy eyes as she pursued.

She pressed a thumb to his belly button, before lowering her nails into the hem of his pants. The bulge of his erection became obvious, just with the mild brush of her fingers pushing on the bottom of his navel. Xifta bit back a pleased grin, before she clumped the material of his shirt into her hands and yanked upward. It was one smooth movement, with number eight’s cooperation, his top was up and tossed to the ground beside his jacket.

The man was quickly replaced against the wall before he could even think about reversing their positions. The martial artist was clear with what she wanted, and Axel would hardly dream of not spoiling her- at least, for now.

Trying to ignore the cold, mossy brick against his shoulder blades, his attention was diverted when once again; he felt her soft fingers knead over the tense muscle in his chest. With some force, since the fire wielder was a few inches taller than the woman, she coaxed his neck to her mouth where she welcomed his untouched, sensitive earlobe along her tongue. Axel felt the itch beginning to build in his abdomen as she sucked fervently along his neck, spotting a sporadic kiss along his stubbed jaw.

His rolled eyes focused on the Nobodies still dancing in their corners, regarding the two with mild curiosity before they crawled elsewhere. He clenched his fingers to regain feeling as he allowed her to gorge at his neck, spreading her hands along his torso until she’d flicked a nerve in him.

Running her hand up the nape of his neck without him expecting it caused the male Nobody to jolt. With an attentive grunt, Axel was about to take control again before he heard the buzz of a zipper and the feeling of pure, ecstasy envelope his entire erection.

The motion had stunned him, and Xifta gave him an accomplished smirk. Biting her lip and feigning innocence, she held fast to his waist as her other hand gently jerked his hard penis outside his pants. The Flurry of Dancing Flames felt smooth and solid in her palm, the head of his cock swollen with every stroke her fingers passed upon it.

“Xifta-”

She captured that sentence, wherever it was going, with her lips, leaving him unable to finish. Now delving her mouth with his, she enjoyed the subtle grunt that vibrated against her lips every time her other hand drew the skin of his penis back. The tighter she held him, the more passionate his hands groped at her ass, slowly drawing in between her legs to entertain the moistening cleft still protected by leather. She felt a bubble of precum begin to stick to her fingers as she thrust into him, and it wasn’t long before Axel tore himself from her addictive lips to speak.

“All right. You’ve had your fun.”

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

“Zexion.”

“Yes, Superior.”

“This is Xifta. I have yet to assign her a number, but would you please show her around the facilities and brief her on the way things are run? I’ve already given her somewhat of an introduction.”

Zexion passed the woman a nonchalant look of boredom.

“Tedious,” he remarked and the woman’s sharp ears caught it.

“I can show myself around-”

“I would prefer someone lead you,” Xemnas punctuated harshly as he met fierce eyes with his unmotivated pupil.

Zexion hated to resist Xemnas, not because he was trying to please the man, but sometimes he’d rather not bother with tasks better left to more idle members. Idle members like-

“Demyx just returned from an unsuccessful mission. Wouldn’t handing this task to him be more appropriate? It will give me some time to return to that project of yours.”

Whatever this project was that Zexion mentioned to Xemnas, Xifta never found out. Frustrated that she had to be tugged along like a child, broken memories or not, she had enough brain to know she wasn’t in need of a babysitter.

Not back then, not now and not ever.

But for some odd reason, the moment she set foot into this white washed place since she was picked up by that golden-eyed, canine member, the leader was wary of her. A hunch told her it wasn’t just because she was the newbie.

Xemnas rubbed his chin. “Very well.”

As if on cue, a young flaxen-haired man appeared around the corner, eager to make a u-turn the instant he matched gazes with his intimidating boss.

“Demyx-”

“Y-yes, Superior?”

“I have another task for you.”

“B-but my last one-”

“I don’t have time for your excuses. Come here.”

His voice threatened to set a boom down the halls. Demyx knew better than to question further and quickly obeyed. Standing in front of Xifta with flushed cheeks, she already decided that she liked this member. He was somewhat child like. She reminded him of someone…back home.

“Demyx. This is Xifta, the Celestial Taurus. I trust that you can handle showing her around the facili-”

“I would love to show her around, boss.”

Another member appeared behind them, wearing a smug grin and holding his chest a little too high for Xifta’s tastes. An arrogant one, she surmised.

“No.”

“Oh, come on, Xemnas. Give me a break. I’m pretty new here, too, right? Us newbies have to stick together-”

“No, Axel.”

“What’s your name, gorgeous?”

The redhead was probably around her age, possibly younger, but not far off. The marks under his eyes seemed like they made even his truthful words doubtful. It was probably hard to decipher when the man was serious or not- and that’s if he ever was serious. His hair was like fire, and it was probably too bright in the sun. By the tilt in his head as he grinned at her, he reminded her of someone, too.

It was no use. Faces and names. They were floating around in her mind, not attached the way they should be.

As if sensing her inner turmoil, Axel tapped her chin.

“Hey. Don’t think about it. It only makes your head hurt.”

Taken back by his bold gesture, Xifta snapped around to walk off alone. This place didn’t seem so complicated. She’d figure it out herself. That was probably what made Xemnas nervous from the get go. She wasn’t helpless and she refused to act like it.

Needless to say, when the woman looked back a few minutes later, Axel was close behind. Guess he won the war with the Superior, or rather, she’d chosen for them.

Stopping, she asked, “So, what do I do instead of trying to remember?”

Lending her a playful grin, Axel nudged her shoulder with a knuckle.

“Start all over again. If it’s important, it’ll come back to you.”

She was almost convinced that there was some sincerity in the man, and maybe she’d judged his character too hastily, but then he threw himself back into his own grave.

“Oh. I never introduced myself. Name’s Axel. Got it memorized?”

Arching a brow at his screwball humor, that was all it took to send her walking in front of him again.

“What? What I say?”

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Xifta’s hands were practically swatted away before Axel roughly took hold of her pants and tore the zipper open with a crude rip. She reacted with a second long gasp before he sunk one hand directly inside, his fingers going straight to their target as they opened and slithered through her wet folds of skin.

“Axel!”

She yelled more from alarm than pleasure at that moment, because he’d almost swiped her clean off her feet in his rush. Clamping her hands to his shoulders and not being able to gather her senses, Axel stabilized her with a hand coming around to her ass cheek, giving it a hard squeeze before he jerked his fingers back and forth inside her black laced panties.

He felt it. While he slowed his motions, he kept his fingers hard against her, feeling his fingers become slippery by the minute as he just strummed through her clit and teased her opening.

He wouldn’t go in her yet. Number eight vowed to make her beg. Drawing circles inside her pants, Xifta felt her thoughts come and go, flashes of delirium taking her between her logic and her bliss. She could barely string a sensible sentence together- even in her mind!

Inhaling that sweet spice that lingered in her hair, Axel whispered. “Feels good, gorgeous?”

Xifta could only grant him a drunken nod as she held on, letting him do as he willed. Every squeeze he gave her ass timed with every strum his fingers slipped between her intimate folds of flesh brought the searing heat in her stomach to a wild fire. Her body pulsed, her fingers numbed, and every time she felt like she was on the brink, his fingers would draw back and she would pull away from her climax. It was beginning to grow maddening at this point, so the woman felt she should let him know.

“Axel- I need to- I mean, I need-”

“Tell me what you need,” the man grinned, becoming inflated with his control over her as she struggled to speak a full sentence.

It felt so good, and while she didn’t want him to stop, it wasn’t enough. He was toying with her- deliberately.

“Axel.” She managed to say deeply, some anger in her voice, but it only served to turn him on even more, furthering his ego.

Deciding that she’d had enough, and that if he didn’t want to be manhandled by her in another few seconds, Axel pulled out his fingers from her pants. As she huffed in relief, he sucked the musky dew from his fingers before dropping to his knees and hooking his arms under both of her legs.

“No- I’m gonna fall-”

Xifta’s worry was abandoned when she landed against the wall with an arched back again, now savoring the feeling of his hot, closed mouth over her entire mound. Pulling her pants down enough to tuck his jaw underneath and between her legs, he lapped inside her; around her sensitive edges where she squeaked with surrender each time he took a lick. Feeling her weight sink onto his shoulders, it was difficult for the Celestial Taurus to keep her knees steady, even with her hands against the bricks. Feeling her hips follow the rhythm of his tongue nipping at her clit, it wasn’t long before the girl awkwardly rolled against his face, somehow keeping balance the entire time.

She was getting there. It was close. The more he took her into his mouth, grunted into her, hummed and pulled at her thighs, the more her pelvis burned. She felt as if her moisture was dripping down her legs, and she wondered if it trickled down Axel’s jaw. Holding on for her dear life, she yelled for him.

“God. Axel.”

Her voice simmered to a whisper and he continued, more determined by her voice.

Just as the bliss began to build inside her, and the fire had begun to pop, Xifta gave a wordless yell to the man gorging at her. Barely being able to make out her expression with her chin up to the air, Axel noted how beautiful it was when a woman made those silent motions of bliss.

It was different from when a woman screamed out - screeched even. It was a level of pleasure that was so good, the voice could not keep up or express its magnitude, perhaps in fear that a scream would lose out to the physical feeling.

When the body cannot make sense of words or sound to express pleasure, than to Axel, it meant that it was too indescribable. Maybe the Flurry of Dancing Flames put too much thought into it, but as the female Organization member muted, only an occasional squeak to make him aware that she was still enjoying this, the man had to fight back a smile. When he saw her lips move, her face crunch with her oncoming climax, it only brought him satisfaction.

There was a moment’s hesitation in the man before he pumped his fingers inside her with one smooth motion, drinking in the ripe and plump nub of her sex within the loop of his tongue. She froze. Her muscles contracted, the heat in her body popped and set off like a series of fire crackers before her shaking had come to a still. Time has ceased and the cold air began to set into the beads of sweat along her bare navel.

Chattering her lips, she pondered the words she’d just spoken, but Axel failed to hear.

Somewhere between the calls for God and words like good and oh my, she managed a, please don’t leave me. Now hearing those voiceless words in her ears, Xifta held back something uncomfortable in her- maybe even painful.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

“Are they at it again?”

The two members sat beside one another, their legs hanging off the stone ledge as they busied themselves with a handful of sweets. Hardly fazed by something that was already a routine occurrence, Demyx and Roxas watched the scene play out in front of them.

“What’s wrong, Axel? Does that knick on your cheek hurt?”

By the catty grin growing on Axel’s face, it was apparent that he enjoyed Xifta’s teasing. Snapping his Chakrams to his sides with a ring in the air, he was preparing to attack again. She was already positioned in front of him, rigid and in defense.

“You? Hurt me? I’d be careful. I might like that.”

Rolling her eyes, they met in a clash of sparks. The pair would most likely duke it out until they were stopped, or Xifta was about to kill him.

With a cookie in his mouth, the musician challenged the keyblade wielder.

“I put my money on Axel.”

Grabbing a pastry of his own, Roxas disagreed. “Axel? Have you looked at Xifta?”

Taking a moment to contemplate Roxas’ point, Demyx changed his mind.

“You’re right. Axel doesn’t stand a chance. He has a one track mind.”

x-x-x-x-x-x

“Hey. Xifta.”

“Hmm?”

The woman caught her breath, trying to still her quivering lips from the temperature now that things had slowed down. The redhead swiped a thumb along her jaw.

“You okay, babe?”

“Yeah,” she laughed, in an adoring way, Axel thought.

“Let’s get more comfortable, shall we?”

Without giving Xifta the chance to respond, Axel scooped up whatever garments lay on the floor, tightened her robe across her chest before lifting her over his shoulder.

“Wh- what are you-”

“This is what princes do in fairy tales, ain’t it?”

“Sure, they carry them, but not like cavemen! Put me down.”

“Aww, come on. We’re just getting to the fun part. And you can stare at my sweet ass as I carry you. What’s better than that?”

In retaliation, she purposely pinched a chunk of that “sweet ass” he gloated over, making the man give a hop before he laughed and sped up.

“Hold on.”

Xifta yelped in fear of falling, grabbing onto the loose loops of his pants as she watched his heels kick beneath her. Thankfully, the stroll wasn’t a long one and it was a relief when she felt the outside air warm her goose pimpled skin.

Axel rolled her onto the grass with some strain before he crawled over her. His leather coat served to cushion the woman from the dirt beneath her. Drawing an idle finger up and down the line of her chest, the redhead caught his breath.

“Better?”

She nodded, grateful that the temperature had improved, but her lust for him was far from satisfied. Noting his heavy breathing, Xifta quipped, “What’s the matter? All that running from the Organization turn you to an old man?”

“Old man? I’ll show you an old man.”

Number eight successfully won the argument when he settled between her legs, her pants still hanging awkwardly off her waist as gave her hips a firm thrust against his own.

“This. This needs to come off.”

He made haste in slipping the tight pants off the woman’s long, shapely legs. When he ran his fingers from her ankles to the sides of her waist, Xifta gave a squeal of happiness.

“It tickles.”

“How about this?”

The fire wielder was smart in shifting moods as he slowly pushed two fingers back inside her. Holding his digits deeply without moving, Xifta squirmed beneath him. Regaining her senses, she looked to her partner.

Axel was arrogant, but sexy nonetheless, with the shine reflecting off his brow under the moonlight and the suggestive grin stretched across his moist lips. She decided she’d let his sarcasm slide for this occasion.

He lowered himself to her ear before slipping one last joke.

“Can’t let you dry up. We haven’t reached the grand finale.”

“You know, Axel. You’re a funny guy.”

“Am I?”

“Yeah, you are, but I’d watch it if I were you.”

“Hmm. Why is that?”

He pushed his fingers into her in an attempt to weaken her resolve, but this time, the martial artist was prepared to retaliate. She squeezed the head of his cock in return. When she felt his breath skip, she pulled the man’s mouth to hers.

The best way to stop his words was to cut them off with her lips.

They stood this way for some time. She jerked the foreskin of his penis with the rhythm of his fingers sewing into her. Breathing into each other mouths and ears, it was difficult for Xifta to decipher their surroundings. Judging from their exit and the grass beneath her, she guessed they were almost on the outskirts of Twilight Town, where the hills begun to rise before the land went destitute. She assumed that if she were standing, she could view the town from this height.

The mood was beginning to slow down, and Xifta decided that wouldn’t be a good thing. And so, releasing her lips from his, she gave his shoulders a push. Axel gave her a questionable raise of his brows as she led him to lean up on his knees. Kneading her hands over his chest until he relaxed, the dark headed woman gradually lowered herself, spotting kisses along her trail.

If the fire wielder was nervous, he didn’t show it. Xifta didn’t look up as she made her way lower, now licking along the border before his navel sunk into his groin. She waited to feel his stomach draw back, or his breath release, but nothing happened. Annoyed, and maybe a bit insecure, she chanced a look up to find that his face was concentrating on the night sky above them. With a devious smile about her, she twisted the skin of his erection in her hand, feathering her breath over its swelling head.

“Wow, Axel. Had no idea you liked stars so much.”

This time she caught it. The fire wielder’s fingers twitched right before he laughed. “Oh, yeah. I’m just your regular star gaz- oh-”

Her tongue passed over the tip of his penis, ever so slightly, and she knew she caught him off guard. Now this was the way to do it.

“Really, now?”

Clearing his throat deeply, the man refused to give in. “Yup. Always have been.”

Xifta paused to arch a brow at him, Axel purposely watched her from the corner of his eye so that he wouldn’t laugh. He knew what she was trying to do.

And hell, she was doing a great job so far, but he was not a screamer. He didn’t think any man was. He never knew why. Maybe it was some kind of male pride. He knew that Xifta wanted to hear him enjoy it, but for some reason, he couldn’t let himself - not that he didn’t want to, it just didn’t happen.

And just like he always thought, Xifta was indeed, a smart woman. She sensed this and she never backed down from a challenge. So when Axel saw that erotic shade of gray in her eyes flare with new intention, he knew it was all over. He wasn’t having his way tonight.

Taking a firm hold of the man’s hips, and rolling down the dark material of his slacks to his knees, Xifta ran her breath around his penis. Every time he thought she was going to go for it, she backed away and continued marking her presence elsewhere. Looking up at him with daring eyes, she planted a kiss here and there.

The man felt his fingers stretch. He really wanted to grab her- to encourage her, but with Xifta, some things were better leaving her the leader, since she never did follow well to begin with.

The Celestial Taurus was not a follower.

When his hands were aching with the strain of holding himself back, Xifta finally ended the torture for him. She took him in her mouth, without doubt and maybe even too fast for him. Without realizing it, Axel released a husky sigh, digging his own nails into the skin of his thigh as she just savored him in her hot mouth, only her tongue initiating any movement.

“You think you’re clever, don’t you?”

The strength in that statement ended weak after Xifta reacted more fiercely. This was it. Axel had surrendered.

The woman reached for his aching hands, to place one on her shoulder and one on her head. She knew it would help repair some of that pride of his, and release all that anxiety in his body due to restricting himself. She didn’t want him to feel like he had to hold back. If she let it all out, Xifta wanted Axel to do the same.

Axel led her, in and out, deeply with every stroke. She was so precise. This woman was in no way sloppy or crude. Just like her fighting style, Xifta was smooth, full of rhythm and with every plunge he took into her mouth, the redhead rolled his eyes upward, sighing her name softly without caring how much of a man he sounded. Apparently, she approved, for each time he reacted to her, she returned the favor.

“Like that, Xifta-”

She hummed, bracing his hips for something else he didn't see coming. Crawling her fingers up his legs, she managed to get a hold of his scrotum, giving them a firm squeeze before Axel was about to lose his mind.

“All right, baby, that’s enough.”

She didn’t stop.

“Xifta-”

Did he really want her to stop? By the way he was telling her, he didn’t sound too convincing. A flicker set off inside him, and number eight felt that pleasurable burn begin to simmer inside. He had to stop. Right now.

But she was still there, and his hands not motioning to stop her.

“Mmm. You’re really pulling something on me-”

If he kept talking, maybe he could hold it off.

Her movements became more fervent, her palm on his balls tight and then his breath almost got caught in his throat. He had to stop it or it was all over-

“Come here,” Axel demanded, his voice unwavering as he finally distracted the female Nobody’s attention to him.

When she lifted her chin, Axel pulled her from him and led her to his lips. The redhead could feel her smile against him when he pulled the woman’s lips into his own, giving them a bold suck as he thrust his fingers into her again. Xifta gasped, bracing herself with his shoulders as he gently bit into her neck, leading them back against the coat that was sprawled out for them.

Removing his pants in a hurry as he tended to his fingers still strumming inside her, the fire wielder didn’t want to waste any more time. If he could, he wouldn’t have minded being pampered in sex and in warmth with Xifta all night, but he was a fugitive. They’d come looking for the both of them soon enough. And this place wasn’t exactly hidden.

While Xemnas kept Xifta in the Organization this long, most likely making use of that femme fatale quality of hers since Larxene was no longer around to charm people for information (though she wasn’t much of a charmer), their leader never trusted Xifta enough to assign her a number. Like Namine, Xifta had remained without a firm position, taking missions in hopes of finally settling into the group until she figured out this new life of hers. It never happened though.

Xifta had too many morals- too many questions. Xemnas was not fond of curious ones, and that’s how Roxas ended up leaving. Curiosity.

So, Xifta was disposable to them, and Saix would not hesitate. The moon howler and the martial artist were never on good terms, with Xifta frequently giving the elf eared man glares of warning every time Saix said anything remotely sexist or offensive. In terms of safety, Axel had to think of both of their lives, and while he couldn’t stay with the Celestial Taurus forever, he’d at least keep her safe while she was in his arms.

The Flurry of Dancing Flames was no coward when it came to protecting a woman he cared about, supposing “caring” would be the correct term since they lacked hearts.

This act of theirs was a tad dangerous - naked and fucking out in the open. But the adrenaline rush from it all turned him on. He wanted to savor her more, taste her more, feel himself shift inside of her, wet and dripping down his balls. They didn’t have much time left, but Axel vowed to himself that he’d make her scream for him before time ran out.

Xifta finally threw off her jacket that had been shielding her from the elements, and now with both of their bodies in the nude and raw with passion, Axel stopped to pinch her chin, and line his gaze with hers. Her lips were red, pouted and her eyes half closed with that dream like state he decided was adorable on her. Xifta might have been thinking something of the same sort for she smiled, wiping a thumb along his jaw as she looked into his emerald eyes. Kneading her fingers upward, from the nape of his neck and into his scalp, it was enough to pull the last straw for Axel.

Whispering in her ear, he confessed, “I want to put my dick inside you.”

Sliding his fingers out from her, he grabbed the meat of her waist as he sat back, angling her right over his hard, and straight erection. Teasing her clit with the plump head of his cock, he warned, “Hold on to me.”

Xifta was too far into this blissful euphoria with him to object. It only took a few thrusts, and with one firm pull of her hips into his, Axel felt himself submerged with the wet heat that tightly massaged his entire length. There was a pause as he bit into his lip, relishing the feeling of entering her for the first time.

The woman dug her nails into his back. If it was painful, Axel muttered no complaint. Her long legs trembled as she tried to adjust to the new feeling, already tempting her to yell without starting to move yet. Feeling the Flurry of Dancing Flames fill her, stir inside her, deep where no one had ever reached, was a sensation Xifta could not put to words. In fear that she would forget to breath, she lowered her eyes to see Axel’s expression.

His teeth pulling in his lip so roughly made her own lips a tad envious.

“Shit.”

“Axel,” she called after giving his enticing mouth a nibble.

“Yeah, baby?”

“Don’t stop.”

He hummed in compliance. Beginning to roll their hips in unison, Xifta pulled at his hair as she felt his strong hands lead her in and out. Every plunge he took into her, she resisted the urge to roll her eyes up.

She wanted to watch - watch as he watched – watch themselves connect slowly, occasionally glancing up to meet each other’s eyes.

When she felt his fingers clench her ass, pushing her close as her breasts flattened against his chest, the martial artist sucked in a sharp breath. She heard Axel grunt with approval, curling his head until his teeth caught the stems of her neck. His tongue beginning to swirl beneath her ear as he continued to push her to him, Xifta released a moan.

“More,” she demanded, and the redhead pushed harder, never breaking from inside her.

As she raked her hands up and down the crests of his spine in response to the former Organization member gorging at her neck, combined with his movement inside her, Axel asked, “You want it deeper, love?”

Laughing inebriated, she smiled, “Love? That’s a new one.”

“Hmm. Don’t like it?”

“Never said that.”

The man smiled. Xifta told herself at that exact moment to memorize that smile. It was different from the others. It wasn’t arrogant nor was it mocking in any way. His bright eyes, half closed, his lips red from her kisses and his head hanging back in that manner - he looked beautiful. Feeling a new wave of lust overcome her, she leaned forward to return the favor.

“Maybe I should call you something.”

“Oh, yeah?”

Axel could barely string the words together as she vigorously swiveled her mouth across his neck as he had done for her. “A-and what would you call me, love?”

Xifta didn’t answer right away. Instead, she allowed his question to hang while her tongue made it’s way to his earlobe. Pulling on the shell of his ear with her lips, she teased, “Hmm. How ‘bout sexy?”

Grinning, the redhead nodded, “I can deal with sexy- oww.”

The Celestial Taurus flicked the side of his head. She leaned back, keeping hold of his shoulders as she took care with him stirring inside her. Noting the pained expression Xifta made as she adjusted, the redhead had a mischievous idea.

He knew that look – and it was not pain, but he was growing tired of the woman holding in her pleasure.

“I wanna try something.”

Axel took a steady hold of her waist, leading her hands down his arms after he’d dashed a kiss over her knuckle. Keeping his eyes on her face for her reaction, the man cautiously began to make his way backward to lie down. Xifta attempted to follow, but his fingers on her thighs ceased her action.

“Wai-”

“Shh. Just take it-”

“But-”

Xifta reached forward, the feeling of him penetrating her so extremely was too much and she felt that if she had nothing to grab onto soon-

“Axel!”

Axel’s shoulder blades finally made contact with the ground. Giving her no time to react, he tightened the muscles in his thighs as she sat on him, pushing down on her waist simultaneously. He received just what he was waiting for.

Xifta cried out, desperately trying to clutch onto his shoulders, but the man was keeping her at bay, thrusting into her with such authority and not giving her any leeway. Not knowing what to do with the waves of pleasure hitting her so quickly, she seized his forearms.

The woman’s head rolled back, releasing broken moans as Axel simply maneuvered himself inside her, not taking a moment to push her body away from his.

“Axel-”

She continued to yell for him, but he ignored her, taking pleasure in the looks of bliss distorting her face. Her cheeks were flush, even under the moonlight, and her eyes moist enough to produce tears.

“I want you to enjoy my dick inside you, Xifta. Take it.”

The man’s grip on her relaxed, and his companion huffed in relief. When the dark haired woman managed to regain her senses and her breath, she smirked at the flame wielder below her.

“So, you thought that was fun, didn’t you?”

Lending her his signature grin, he winked, “Think you can get revenge?”

Slapping his chest playfully, she nodded, “Oh, I will.”

She punctuated her point when she pulled out from him, allowing his penis to slide out halfway before sinking back in. When he sighed, she smiled widely, “How about that?”

“Nope.”

Xifta arched a brow. “Is that so? Then how about-”

This time she repeated the same motion, but faster, harder, and their skin smacked in response. Axel winced, giving Xifta the effect she was looking for. Taking the hint, she kept going, each time deliberately allowing herself to slam against him. Axel squeezed the supple flesh of her thighs, following the rhythm of her body against his.

“Mmm. Xifta.”

He yanked her against him, causing the both of them to groan in unison. She was riding him again, following his lead as she thrust inward, her chin lifting the deeper he shifted. When Axel looked at the unnumbered member over him, he held back a smile with his teeth.

Who would have thought that the woman who acted like she couldn’t stand him would be calling out his name the way she was at this very moment? The way she gave him a shove for teasing Demyx, glared at him for spoiling Roxas, the way she bickered at him for slipping in a suggestive joke that the other two members were too young or naïve to hear - it was all her way of resisting him.

She sparred with him, escaped with a few nicks and cuts at times, pissed him off, when she questioned the things that he kept to himself, and finally, she had stuck with him, even when he was gone. Xifta appeared here in Twilight Town, searching only for him, in need of revealing what she really felt, if “felt” could be used in this instance.

The woman was a Goddess. Her long, black, and fine hair rippled over her fully round breasts that bounced every time she pulled into him; her taut stomach that shone with perspiration under the night sky; those pouted lips begging for his and her hazel eyes, that flared with burning desire as they fed on his image.

Axel swore that if things were different, perhaps, if they were born in another lifetime in bodies that had hearts- no - even if they didn’t have hearts, he’d stay with her, stay until their existence faded. Unfortunately, he couldn’t give her that now and he understood this. Somehow, he knew that Xifta understood as well, and that’s why they were both stealing this private moment, selfishly capturing this piece of time, so that they could keep it with them, even when they parted ways.

Feeling an uncomfortable tug inside his chest, Axel refocused on Xifta, emptying his mind of all his worries.

“Axel- I’m getting there-”

“All right, gorgeous, just hold out a little- bit-”

Her fingers tightening over his broad shoulders, Xifta felt a burn travel starting from the pit of her stomach. Igniting and growing stronger, it spread with each roll of her hips, closer to the core of her ecstasy. Within seconds, she felt her muscles contract, rumble inside her before they set off a chain of explosions. Screaming with each release, Xifta lashed back, holding onto Axel before she heard him grunt. Before her orgasm could completely finish, she felt his cock vibrate inside her, the redhead setting his nails into her ass as he bucked his hips one final time, catapulting up and catching her in a teeth grinding kiss before his own climax ended.

“God- Axel…”

The man pinched her chin and brought them back into a slow, lazy kiss. Sinking into his arms, Xifta panted, closing her eyes as she relaxed her head beneath his. Stroking her hair from sticking to her back, Axel pressed his lips to her hair.

“There’s not much time left,” he reminded sorrowfully. He hated to say it, especially since it was probably not what she wanted to hear after this great sex of theirs, but it was reality, and it was catching up with them. With a sigh, Xifta nodded. Wrapping her arms around him in an embrace, she replied.

“I understand…”

There was a pause before she threw something else in.

“Se-xy.”

Not being able to resist his smile this time, Axel did so freely.

“Love.”

x-x-x-x-x-x

When the wind on Xifta’s bare flesh was covered in the rough, material of her leather coat, the woman thought it felt somewhat like the moment. Minutes ago, she felt so free- so unrestricted, and now once again, reality set in like a really bad sickness, already she was beginning to feel the discomfort of it.

Like the man he was, however, Axel wouldn’t have the woman walking away from this experience with a bitter taste in her mouth. Grabbing her waist into one last, soft and considerate kiss, the redhead held onto her, even when he parted from her.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

Shrugging, he answered, “I have no idea. You know me. I act randomly.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

She smiled, and he wiped a thumb over those lips. He wanted to remember that smile. It could be the last time he’d ever see it.

“I’m going to bring him back, Xifta.”

The Celestial Taurus nodded. “All right. Be careful.”

“You’re not going back to them, are you?”

“No. I’m tired of waiting to fit into someplace where I’m never going to.”

Axel paused for a moment, clamping her leather fingers in his before speaking. Seriously, he asked, “Do you feel it?”

She looked up, giving him a quizzical look and not understanding what he meant.

“Feel what, Axel?”

The man leaned in again, offering a whisper into her ear.

“In Twilight Town. Just go. You’ll know if you find it.”

“What? Find what? I don’t understand?”

By then, Axel was already opening the Between and Betwixt, one foot stepping into the darkness.

“Axel- wait-”

“Roxas told me about it once. When Sora was near. I don’t know what it feels like myself, but I have a hunch that you’ll be luckier than me.”

“Will I ever see you again? Axel?”

Before he was completely absorbed into the portal, he turned to blow her a kiss.

“You bet, love. Either here or the next life. Thanks, Xifta, for showing me a good time and for looking out for me.”

Clutching something odd in her chest, the martial artist sighed.

“You’re welcome…”

x-x-x-x-x

“I give up,” the brunette woman huffed out loud, finding herself once again, in a place where the person she was looking for, wasn’t. She was sure that she’d looked in every single nook and cranny of this town, and every time she thought she was close, she found that she’d just missed the man.

Tired of searching and in need of a breath, Tifa began to walk toward the edge of town. It was sometimes full of Heartless or Nobodies, but they were nothing she couldn’t handle. Besides, she preferred high places, and they were usually on the ground.

No matter what, the woman vowed to find the man and bring him home. It wasn’t about love, and it wasn’t about concern anymore. It was about what was important in her life. She’d almost forgotten once. The day Meteor came crashing onto the planet, Tifa saw her life flash before her very eyes. As her fingers reached out to her friends in her moment of desperation, there was a split second of hesitation- an instant of doubt.

It was regret.

What would it have been like had she avoided the people she grew close to? What would it have been like if she had stayed to herself back in Nibelheim? Could she have prevented all the pain and suffering that she was enduring at that moment when the world was about to end? Would she have had more joy in her life had the people she met been different?

All these things crossed her mind, before she was knocked back into her senses and reached for a set of familiar fingers. Eternity had passed, or so it felt, and they were all alive. While things were dark for a while, when everything finally came to light, she vowed to never forget the people that made her who she was.

However, even with this vow, since that instant of regret, she’d felt like she’d lost something important that day.

Tifa had been trying to fulfill it since, but found that nothing could satiate it. She cherished, loved, and stopped taking for granted, but no matter what, something was missing. Sometimes she pondered if it was a piece of her own innocence, for doubting what should have been the most important thing right before death. Tifa had always felt somewhat guilty, for perhaps, wishing she hadn’t met the people she was supposed to love.

It happened to everyone though, right? You live, you love, and you hurt, and you wonder if there was a way you could have avoided it. In the end, Tifa realized that it was no use thinking that way, and so she lived, throwing herself head and heart first, without trying to change the past anymore.

Feeling a rumble in her stomach distract her from her thoughts, the martial artist made a mental note to pick up some late night dinner somewhere after she rested. Upon arriving at the Bailey though, she found someone else already sitting there, looking up at the sky.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”

The black haired woman didn’t turn to her. Instead, she answered.

“It’s all right. Just looking at the stars. It’s kind of refreshing, you know?”

Looking up at the sky, Tifa agreed.

“Yeah. I like to look at the sky, too- when I feel worried. It makes me feel like everything’s going to be okay.”

When the woman didn’t answer, Tifa tried for a change of topic.

“Hey, so, what are you doing around here?”

Turning enough so that her hazel eyes were visible, she answered, “I like high places-

And besides, I’m waiting for someone.”

Tifa laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head with the coincidence.

“That’s funny. I’m looking for someone-”

When her laugh had calmed and her eyes opened, the woman before her was gone. Blinking, Tifa was about to call out for the stranger when she felt a drop of liquid trail down her cheek.

“…too.”

Startled, she brought her fingers to her face, and realized what it was.

Tears?

An odd, indescribable feeling overwhelming her, the woman embraced her arms. Speaking to herself, or where ever that other stranger went, she reassured the both of them.

“Don’t worry. We’ll find him…”

x-x-x-x-x-x

5 months later…

x-x-x-x-x-x

“Yuffie, I told you to come down here.”

“Oh, come on, Teef. I don’t want you to have to wait, so just come on up. Not like you’re a stranger to the WRO.”

Tifa looked up at the rather tall building again, shaking her head in the process.

“No, Yuffie. Come down here or I’m leaving without you.”

“Aww, no! Come on- we- we have cookies up here!”

A knowing grin growing on her face, the woman propped a hand to her waist. Sure, while Tifa was no stranger, she never had to enter the building alone. She was always invited in a group, and led by someone.

How would she ever find the energetic ninja in the midst of the busy halls across numerous floors?

Not wanting to waste the effort, Tifa sighed.

“Cookies, Yuffie. Are you serious?”

“What? Gets me running…”

When Tifa didn’t answer, the girl was quick to persuade her again.

“Okay. Cookies and free coffee?”

“No…”

“Umm, plenty of guys?”

“No.”

“Really, hot, hard working guys in armor? Ones that know how to smile a little more often than a certain-”

“Yuffie!”

“Tifa.”

“What?”

“You know I love you and I’d do anything for you, right?”

“Oh- don’t try it.”

The brunette laughed out loud, almost hearing Yuffie’s pout on the other end.

“All right. If I don’t find you in five minutes- five minutes, Yuffie, I’m leaving and heading out to lunch by myself.”

“Okay! Okay! Third floor! Last room to the right!”

Tifa closed her cell phone with a clap. Arching a brow at the WRO headquarters once more, the martial artist made a mental note as she tapped her wristwatch.

“Five minutes…”

Once Tifa made it past the revolving doors, past some goggling eyes and to a floor map, she knew her quest would be in vain.

“How do they expect people to read this thing? I feel like I’m jumping into some old ruins or something.”

As if she sensed that her friend was about to give up, Tifa’s cell phone rang again, and it was Yuffie.

“Are you coming?”

“Nope. Gave up once I saw the floor map.”

“No- don’t go! Hey, ask for directions from someone.”

“Mmm, I don’t know. I’d rather not.”

“Just ask.”

“I think I’ll just go back-”

Before she could finish that last sentence, a solid presence pushed against her shoulder, almost causing the woman to drop her phone.

“Oh, I’m so sorry- I was walking and not paying attention-”

Tifa stopped short when her eyes met the vibrant gaze from the man before her. Lending her a jester-like grin, the spike haired employee answered.

“No problem. Feel free to fall over me anytime, beautiful.”

Tifa was about to respond when Yuffie’s high-pitched chirp yelled in her ear.

“Ask him for directions! Ask him!”

“No- Yuffie. I’ll just go outside-”

“Ah, by the shriek I can hear from here, that sounds like one of my cute, hyper bosses.”

Without asking permission, the man took the phone from Tifa.

“Yo, boss. Need me to give this gorgeous visitor a tour?”

“What? Alex? No. Not you. Give the phone back to Tifa-”

“Ah, so Tifa is her name. Nice to meet you, Tifa. I am Alex. At your humble service.”

When the employee leaned forward in a mock bowing gesture, Tifa could already tell that he was an arrogant one. Judging from Yuffie’s rambling on the phone, she wasn’t very pleased with the idea that she had run into him.

“Tifa, no! Don’t do it. I’m coming down right-”

Before Yuffie could finish, Alex closed the phone and handed it back to Tifa.

“So, Tifa, can I amuse you with a tour?”

The woman pinched her chin as she observed the man. Judging from the armor he was wearing, he was a member of the Restoration Organization. She’d never seen him around before, but perhaps a breath of fresh air wasn’t such a bad thing.

“Hmm. Will I regret it later?”

“What? A tour with a handsome man such as myself? Never.”

“Right…”

“And I’ll give you a free map to take home as a souvenir?”

“Hmm…”

“And cookies?”

Tifa laughed.

“We can make Yuffie chase you around instead of you chasing her?”

Crossing her arms, the bar owner decided that sounded the most reasonable. Yuffie was surely yanking Tifa’s chain, making her run around the building because the girl was too lazy to come to her. Maybe revenge would be sufficient this time around.

“Hmm. That sounds like it could be fun. I’ll take that.”

“All, right. Can I call you love?”

“Don’t push it.”

“How about I lend you an arm?”

Tifa shook her head, noting how attractive and lively he was when he spoke. Well, Yuffie did say the guys here had a knack for smiling. Taking secretive joy in getting back at Yuffie for her laziness, the woman graciously accepted Alex’s arm as he led them to an elevator.

“Well, I’ll tell you one thing, Alex.”

“Hmm?”

“You have better persuasion skills than Yuffie does. Kind of makes me wonder if you have ever taken advantage of those skills.”

Just then, the grin that appeared on Alex’s face was different from the ones she’d seen before. It was devious, wide, and mysterious - making the tattoos beneath his eyes all the more prominent.

“Now, that, gorgeous - is a secret I will not spill…”

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Credit for the original creation/development of Xifta, goes to RairakkuFenikkusu/LilacPhoenix and this oneshot as well as parts of Xifta’s past credit to myself. Same with Alex. Of course, Axel and Tifa are original characters created by Square Enix and belonging to them.

This was self-beta-ed, so please forgive me if there are any typos. I did my very best.

x-x-x-x-x-x

Seemingly, this site does not keep my original format, therefore all of my italics have been un-italicized...

Credit for the original creation/development of Xifta, goes to RairakkuFenikkusu/LilacPhoenix and this oneshot as well as parts of Xifta’s past credit to myself. Same with Alex. Of course, Axel and Tifa are original characters created by Square Enix and belonging to them.

This was self-beta-ed, so please forgive me if there are any typos. I did my very best.

Note to Tifa Fanboy: I made the corrections you mentioned, although they were one or two things I felt were just a matter of preference rather than an actual mistake, such as the accent marks over Saix and Namine's names. And one mistake you mentioned that I actually found more of a misunderstanding, "They stood that way for some time," was not to be taken literally like they were actually standing on their feet etc. And as for the issue on pubic hair, I understand your disappointment, but that's another matter of preference, and this was meant for a friend of mine, not to please all readers. Thank you for your honest review though. Those are hard to come by.