[ he’s cut off by that expression melting, along with the rest of the blond’s body as he takes only a stumbling step before toppling like a house of cards. There’s something oddly panicked in the way Axel immediately moves to catch him, as though if he falls, he’ll shatter on the ground like glass.
Like glass. He could’ve never imagined seeing Roxas as quite so delicate. Yet, as he lifts his smaller cohort into his arms in a sort of backwards-piggyback style with arms and head limply resting on tense shoulders, he feels the part. He’s too light; too cold, too, and Axel’s own inherent warmth reflexively attempts to remediate, like a subconscious thermostat.
He’s not even aware of the jackhammering of his own heart in his ears until he (barely) hears that single word, and the redhead exhales a breath unknowingly held so tightly that he seems to lose inches of height in doing so. ]
Tired, huh? [ Axel comments sarcastically with a half-chuckle. ] Couldn’t’ve guessed... [ he appends with a sort of grunt, shifting the added weight of his companion to free up a hand to open a way back to the place they call home.
...Where they’re confronted by none other than Saïx, who seems (now) too-interested in the state of their previously-missing member. There’s a hint of vitriol in the redhead’s response then, as he continues to his own room with his cargo despite the protests of the other. ]
So sorry, but visiting hours are over now. Try again tomorrow. [ precedes a door closing.
No matter how unnaturally-light Roxas feels, it’s still a relief (and a bit of a challenge) to lay him down on the bed properly -- so much so that Axel helps himself to the spot next to him, sprawling and stretching for a moment. His own pillow hasn’t felt so good beneath his head in ages... but when he looks over, he’s greeted by a slack, dirt-smeared and bloodstained face that knots his insides and all-but-forces him to look away.
This isn’t a Roxas he recognizes... but it’s who he’d brought back. ]
Never thought I’d find you like this. [ He sounds almost hoarse. There’s a mysterious lump in his throat so large he nearly chokes for trying to swallow around it. Nevertheless, Axel forces his best paper-thin, humorless, dry chuckle. And then, there’s only silence -- deafening, sharp, and cutting in his ears. Painful. ] ...They really got you this time, didn’t they?
[ He’s talking to the ceiling; the walls; himself -- anyone and anything, if it means keeping that at bay; if it means he doesn’t have to face the sight next to him. Even thinking out loud helps.
Maybe busying himself would be even better, he thinks as he lazily pushes himself up onto an elbow. It’s worth a shot, in any case. ] Guess I should clean you up, huh?
[ But how? He’d run a warm bath or shower, but... at this rate, he’d probably have to get in with just to hold the little blond up, even with the water to rouse him. ]
sudden craving for intimate bathing? this gave me one.
...why does that make matters worse? ]
H-hey, Rox--...
[ he’s cut off by that expression melting, along with the rest of the blond’s body as he takes only a stumbling step before toppling like a house of cards. There’s something oddly panicked in the way Axel immediately moves to catch him, as though if he falls, he’ll shatter on the ground like glass.
Like glass. He could’ve never imagined seeing Roxas as quite so delicate. Yet, as he lifts his smaller cohort into his arms in a sort of backwards-piggyback style with arms and head limply resting on tense shoulders, he feels the part. He’s too light; too cold, too, and Axel’s own inherent warmth reflexively attempts to remediate, like a subconscious thermostat.
He’s not even aware of the jackhammering of his own heart in his ears until he (barely) hears that single word, and the redhead exhales a breath unknowingly held so tightly that he seems to lose inches of height in doing so. ]
Tired, huh? [ Axel comments sarcastically with a half-chuckle. ] Couldn’t’ve guessed... [ he appends with a sort of grunt, shifting the added weight of his companion to free up a hand to open a way back to the place they call home.
...Where they’re confronted by none other than Saïx, who seems (now) too-interested in the state of their previously-missing member. There’s a hint of vitriol in the redhead’s response then, as he continues to his own room with his cargo despite the protests of the other. ]
So sorry, but visiting hours are over now. Try again tomorrow. [ precedes a door closing.
No matter how unnaturally-light Roxas feels, it’s still a relief (and a bit of a challenge) to lay him down on the bed properly -- so much so that Axel helps himself to the spot next to him, sprawling and stretching for a moment. His own pillow hasn’t felt so good beneath his head in ages... but when he looks over, he’s greeted by a slack, dirt-smeared and bloodstained face that knots his insides and all-but-forces him to look away.
This isn’t a Roxas he recognizes... but it’s who he’d brought back. ]
Never thought I’d find you like this. [ He sounds almost hoarse. There’s a mysterious lump in his throat so large he nearly chokes for trying to swallow around it. Nevertheless, Axel forces his best paper-thin, humorless, dry chuckle. And then, there’s only silence -- deafening, sharp, and cutting in his ears. Painful. ] ...They really got you this time, didn’t they?
[ He’s talking to the ceiling; the walls; himself -- anyone and anything, if it means keeping that at bay; if it means he doesn’t have to face the sight next to him. Even thinking out loud helps.
Maybe busying himself would be even better, he thinks as he lazily pushes himself up onto an elbow. It’s worth a shot, in any case. ] Guess I should clean you up, huh?
[ But how? He’d run a warm bath or shower, but... at this rate, he’d probably have to get in with just to hold the little blond up, even with the water to rouse him. ]