Just Passing Through [Axel]

[Axel]

I Can Push Buttons of My Own, You Know

So. It was the Schemer, after all. The Roxas mask vanished abruptly, leaving Zexion in its wake. He looked the same as Axel remembered. That hair of his still half-obscured his face, the appeal of which was something Axel had never understood. He liked being able to see and not having to keep spitting hair out of his mouth. But to each his own, he supposed.

While Zexion stood there grinning, he could barely restrain the urge to burn that grin off the Schemer's face. But when Zexion suggested that Roxas would not seek him out even if he really were separated from Sora, the Flame turned livid. He gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on Eternal Flames, ready to lash out at any moment. But there was another part of him that always feared there was some truth to those words. Hell, if he were in Roxas's position, he wouldn't trust himself, either. Real friends didn't lie and betray, did they? Then again, real friends probably had the luxury--or burden, depending on one's view--of hearts.

Axel shook his head in mild disgust. He was letting Zexion get under his skin, and that just wouldn't do. The Schemer was taking his turn at pacing now, though his posture was considerably less antagonistic than Axel's had been and still was. He took some small comfort in the feel of his weapons in hand. If the time came, he knew how to blow off steam in a very satisfactory manner. But for now, he would content himself with any information he could squeeze out of Zexion.

"So, are you the only one they have left?" He straightened back to his full height, coming out of his attack-ready crouch, and lazily rotated one of his chakrams back and forth. "I mean...you're the one Xemmy sends after me?" He chuckled a bit, liking the way that rolled off the tongue. He'd have to start referring to the Organization's leader more often that way. After having his brief moment of amusement--real or imagined, it didn't matter anymore--he focused his attention back on Zexion. "What are you gonna do? Beat me to death with that book of yours?"

[Fate]

A Nuisance to Him, but Useful to Me

Was this all that he had to offer? Zexion wondered this as he looked at Axel, watching him seethe. It was plainly obvious that the Schemer had gotten under his skin with his words, or at least partially. Even if Axel didn't want to admit it, Zexion managed to say something that provoked doubt, uneasiness. The blue-haired Nobody stood still, waiting to see what Axel was going to do with this now. His weapons were still out, showing that the option of attack was still open. The Nobody's temper could go off at any second if Zexion chose not to be careful.

"I thought you knew that that wasn't the way I did things," he said, the grin slipping away and being replaced with a somewhat serious look. "Xemnas is not attempting to seek you out. You serve no purpose to him; you're only but a nuisance to him now." It was clear that Xemnas wanted nothing more to do with the traitors of the Organization, particularly Axel. He had been the one that had did the most damage; he was no longer needed.

He decided to fulfill Axel's intent on asking these sorts of questions; he wanted information on the group that he left and was going to be no further part of. "The rest of the Organization has been resurrected. The other traitors have not returned to the World that Never Was, but it is obvious that they have come back as well." He put an arm across his chest while his other hand went to his chin, thinking for a moment. Axel wasn't the only one who needed information and the Flame was the perfect one to provide what Zexion needed to know.

"It seems I lost our bet," he said, speaking completely in jest, "I should have known that I was going to lose. However..." His tone became curious. "I have to wonder why you chose to be a traitor as well." It was pure curiosity, Zexion not intending to scold Axel. He was not about to reprimand him for betraying the Organization; that was not his job and he saw no point in doing so. He wanted to know the reasons for why Axel did what he did. One of the more obvious reasons had been Roxas; that much Zexion was sure of. However, there was something happening before that, something that occurred before Axel got too close to Roxas when he and the rest had been placed in Castle Oblivion. The Schemer wanted to know exactly what that was; he needed his suspicions confirmed.

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[Axel]

Stories and Self-Examination

To be honest, Axel wasn't really looking for a fight. He may have been provoked enough to start one, but it would be a pointless venture. Zexion had made it clear that he wasn't about to start a fight, and Axel had a pretty good idea that he was telling the truth. And even more interesting was the fact that he was not being actively sought out to be punished for his obvious treachery. That was good news, at least. The part about him being more of a nuisance than anything else was a bit of an insult, but it only gave him a little motivation to see just how much of a nuisance he could be to the oh-so-mighty Xemnas. But if he wasn't being pursued by the Organization, the question became: Why was Zexion here? That question would have to wait until later.

It also seemed that all of the Organization members were back for whatever reason, though the group was still fractured. He hazarded a guess that when Zexion spoke of other traitors not returning to the World That Never Was, he meant Marluxia and Larxene. Axel suppressed a small grimace. Dealing with them had been...an exercise in patience and self-control. Hopefully, he could avoid getting stuck in a castle with them again.

When Zexion mentioned their bet, Axel smirked, but it quickly turned into a more thoughtful look when the question about his own betrayal surfaced. He sensed only curiosity in the Schemer's voice, which made him think Zexion was only asking this for his own knowledge. "You wanna know about me and my traitorous ways, huh? That's a lengthy story, if you want me to start with Castle Oblivion, that is."

Seeing that this was going to turn into story-time rather than a fight, Axel vanished Eternal Flames, and then proceeded to rub the back of his head. "You've figured out, probably, that my purpose at C.O. was to get close to Marluxia and Larxene and eventually eliminate them both. Getting to kill Vexen to prove my loyalty to them was just a bonus. That guy needs to lighten up. Well, I guess he did eventually." He laughed a little. "Sora actually did most of my work for me, taking out Larxene and Marluxia. Lucky me."

This next part was going to get touchy. "As for you..." He trailed off, his eyes shifting to the side in serious thought. Zexion had been probably the most tolerable member in that castle. But orders had been orders. Saïx. That's really what it had been all about. Just a play for power in which Number VII had used him as a tool. He had done his job, the dirty work, and for what? His so-called "friend" had turned around and shown his true colors by being a complete jerk to Roxas and... And? No, it had just been Roxas.

Now, here was an opportunity to expose Saïx. Surely, Zexion wouldn't be asking these questions if he already knew about the plot to overthrow the Organization. In the past, Axel would have kept this a secret, seeing as their others had been friends. But no longer. This was just another example of Axel changing with the circumstances. Besides, Saïx deserved whatever ire he incurred for his actions. And Axel was tired of taking all of the blame for Number VII's schemes.

He returned his gaze to Zexion. "When I told you you found out way too much, I meant it. It was Saïx who wanted me to make sure you didn't come out of C.O. alive. He got this idea in his head that if I basically killed off all of you one-by-one, he could eventually take over the Organization. I agreed to be in on it, because, well...I had been his friend." He was beginning to see a pattern in himself. Unlike the rest of the members, he wanted to have friends or, at least, have the approval of others. Too bad that made him do some stupid things at times. He waved his hand dismissively. "Personally, though, I could care less about power, especially power associated with higher rank or whatever. Just seems like a waste of time to me."

[Fate]

And the Story Continues to Unfold
Decent Men In An Indecent Time

Axel's weapons disappeared, letting Zexion relax a bit. It was a well-known fact inside the Organization that the Schemer chose to avoid as much combat as possible, not wishing to 'dirty his hands' as it were. This was no different; even though Axel had, quite literally, gotten away with murder, he was not about to begin what would be an unnecessary battle. The Schemer did not let his guard fall completely though, knowing that even the slightest drop could be a mistake. It had been a mistake to let his guard down around Axel in Castle Oblivion; a miscalculation that he could not let happen again.

It seemed that Axel was actually going to speak, something that slightly surprised Zexion. He did not pin the Flame as one who would give away the details of what he knew, particularly to one such as Zexion. The two had minds that worked in similar ways, making them both wary to trust. The Schemer stood still as Axel decided to speak, his arms crossed across his chest as he waited to hear the reasoning behind the infamous betrayal, cold and critical blue eyes watching the other. He supposed it was a good thing no one else entered this district, for they would find it odd to see two suspicious cloaked figures conversing with one another like this.

As he suspected, Axel's plan in Castle Oblivion was to get close to Marluxia and Larxene, earning their trust, before disposing of them. It was known that the two were traitorous and needed to be stopped; Axel was perfect for the job as the double agent. Vexen... In Zexion's eyes, he had been a scapegoat. He tried to get close to Marluxia and Larxene, but Number Eleven used his fear of the Superior against him and it got him into trouble. Vexen then attempted to jeopardize their plans with the fake Twilight Town, though that was quickly ended by Axel. Zexion could not say that he was surprised to see that happen; Axel had to earn Marluxia's trust and killing Vexen provided an easy way to do so.

Axel's gaze seemed to shift as soon as he finished discussing the other traitors of the Organization. Zexion raised an eyebrow in curiosity, wondering why he was doing so. He could not feel contempt for Axel or anything of the sort; perhaps only remnants of bitter resentment. There was a reason behind Number Eight's actions and Zexion expected a decent one. He had his suspicions which he had already revealed to Vexen. Saïx was one that he had been suspicious of for a while now, especially after his little chat with him. Him and Axel had some sort of connection, one that Zexion was about to learn about if he was fortunate.

And there it was. There was the knowledge that he needed.

Saïx, being the clever Nobody that he was, partially exploited his 'friendship' with Axel and ordered him to get rid of anyone that stood in his way to gain power and trust from the Superior. Killing Vexen off was a bonus for Axel in that regard and Lexaeus being killed by Riku certainly helped matters as well. Though, of course Saïx had to make everything perfect for his attempted coup. He needed one last member to be killed, one who knew about the plot to overthrow the Organization and had the complete trust of Superior.

It fit together perfectly.

"I see..." he said at first, going into his thoughtful pose for a moment as he let all of the information sink in. This information confirmed his suspicions concerning Saïx and Axel completely; Axel had merely been a tool for Saïx to gain trust and power. Though, there was still one question in all of this. Saïx had shown nothing else but loyalty toward the Superior during his time in the Organization. Was that a façade as well? Yes, it must have been. Though, Number Seven did not seem like the type to be merely satisfied with power like Xemnas was. No, he wanted something else in all of this.

"Indeed it is,” Zexion replied, his thoughts put neatly together now, ”Rank truly does not mean much of anything when you think about it. It doesn’t matter in the end, as Vexen undoubtedly should have learned.” He grinned to this. It was a fact that Vexen had not seen while inside the Organization, one that Zexion proved to be a constant reminder about. Vexen saw authority in rank; being number four meant he had a high rank and it was important to him. However, his rank proved useless in the end when it was him doing most of the work while Zexion gave him orders; it certainly proved useless against the likes of Marluxia and Larxene as well. No, Zexion was not one to see any true power in rank or see the point in pursuing power. Xemnas seemingly did, though again he could not be sure without substantial proof.

Could he pry Axel for a little more information? He was sure that they could come up with a fair exchange. Perhaps Zexion could let him know of his suspicions as well. While the Schemer was determined to remain loyal to the Organization as firmly as possible, he could feel it starting to fall to shambles. He felt his loyalty had been blind in the past, that he had not seen what was truly going on. He may have been somewhat close to Xemnas and Xigbar had even warned him about the separate track that the Superior was seemingly on, but he had been determined to serve the Superior with complete loyalty. Nonetheless, a fine line was starting to be drawn in the sand between loyalty to the Superior, and loyalty to the Organization.

”I cannot say that I am surprised by your actions nor Number Seven’s,” he continued, staying in his pensive position, ”Though what I am failing to understand is why Number Seven sought the need to overthrow the Organization. His loyalty had been unquestionable up until Castle Oblivion. Why did he change?” His curiosity still sounded innocent at this point, though he knew he was walking into treacherous waters at this point. If he were to continue, he would be questioning the Superior and his motives, something one did not do inside of the Organization.

”Tell me... what was the motivation behind this plot? It makes me… uneasy to think of such things, but I am beginning to suspect that Number Seven’s reasoning behind such a plot were not just for power or rank, but for something else… perhaps concerning the Superior?” He knew he could not completely trust everything that came out of Axel’s mouth, though it was a good place to start as any. Aside from Lexaeus, the Flame had been the only member that Zexion could actually tolerate inside of Castle Oblivion… at least until he killed him; his tolerance dropped after that.

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[Axel]

Are You Listening Closely?

It was nice that Zexion agreed with him about the frivolity of power. If everyone else in the Organization held the same opinion, Axel would have probably chosen to rejoin. As things stood, too many of the other members were constantly plotting away to tear each other down and ascend the ladder of rank. Axel did his own plotting, of course, but not to grab for power. And, had he been the only one making the plans, his would not have involved murder. Well, he might still have murdered Vexen. He had gotten some amusement out of that.

Ah, motivations for the behavior of Saïx. Zexion was right in thinking that power hadn't been the only motivator behind the plot. And this second reason was what had convinced Axel to go along with everything Number VII told him to do. Up until a point, of course. The Flame had to put his foot down eventually. After all, he was no doormat, that was for sure.

He tapped his temple with his index finger again as if to say to Zexion "Keep this memorized" without actually saying it. He was quite enjoying spilling all of this information about Saïx, and he wanted to make sure that the Schemer was not going to forget any of what he was about to tell him. "Very good, Zexion. So glad I'm talking to one of the more intelligent Organization members. No wonder I was ordered to take you out."

He walked over to the fountain to look in its watery depth. For the first time since his resurrection, he saw himself, distorted by ripples perhaps but still a good enough reflection nonetheless. He, like Zexion, looked just the same as before. Death had not treated him too badly, it seemed. Still running his eyes over the fountain, he spoke again. "Saïx didn't just want power, no. He wanted a heart. And Xemmy's original plan for Kingdom Hearts fit in perfectly with that goal. But then Saïx found out that he really wanted Kingdom Hearts for the power it contains. And...he began to suspect that Xemmy wasn't gonna share all that power, and that was gonna ruin his chances of getting his heart back."

Folding his arms across his chest, he turned his head to look at Zexion. "So, he came to me, his other's best friend, and told me everything. And well...you know the rest."

[Fate]

I'm Listening Carefully

Zexion watched as Axel tapped his head, understanding the motion that the Flame often did. It went with his phrase concerning memorization; clearly, Axel did not want him forgetting the information that he was about to tell him. He also had to be careful not to skew it, not form a bias on it before anything was said. Vexen had warned him of this during their little chat, not to let his suspicions get the best of him. He heeded the warning, remaining extra cautious when it came to things such as this; nevertheless, what Axel was going to tell him would surely aid his suspicions.

He smirked as Axel reminded himself who he was talking to; indeed, that was why he was taken out, wasn't it? He stood a few feet from the fire user as the other approached the fountain. The Schemer's arms remained crossed as Axel gave his share of information. That fine line between loyalty for the Superior and the Organization seemed drawn for Saïx when he found out about Xemnas' quest for power. Zexion of course felt the need to have to find more proof of Xemnas going after the power of Kingdom Hearts, but Axel's story checked out with him; it made logical sense, never mind appealing to his suspicions. Saïx was loyal to the goals of the Organization; he, like the Nobody he truly was, wanted his heart back and was willing to do whatever it took to obtain it.

While this information did aid Zexion's thought process, there were still holes that needed to be filled. Axel could not fill them unfortunately; he was not present when the Superior was the last one standing. The Keyblade Masters would need to fill in that gap for the Schemer, though one question would still remain at the end: would the Superior's goal, now that he was newly resurrected, be the same or was he truly loyal to the idea of the Organization getting their hearts back? It would require careful observation on Zexion's part, though he figured he would not have too much of an issue with that; being one of the Superior's right hand Nobodies provided an excellent bonus.

"So his loyalty was truly unquestionable," he concluded after Axel gave his information, "Though, not to the Superior." This information was somewhat powerful, a fact that Zexion was fully aware of. He could not share this information until all of his suspicions were either confirmed or proven wrong. He truly hoped that he was proven wrong and that the Superior was truly loyal to the Organization's goal of gaining their hearts back. However, that did not add up with Axel's report or other facts that Zexion was currently aware of. More information needed to be found.

"This only leads to further questions," Zexion added, "For if the Superior was truly not seeking Kingdom Hearts for the right reasons before, it makes me curious if he is following the same pattern now. He seems loyal to the original goals of the Organization, but I cannot help but continue to be suspicious. If he is seeking the power of Kingdom Hearts, then the Organization will surely fall again."

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[Axel]

If My Opinion Matters At All...

Axel allowed the Schemer to work through all the information out loud. From the way he spoke, it sounded as though Zexion already had some suspicions of his own, which wasn't all that surprising. They were very alike in some ways, minds constantly sifting everyone's words through mental sieves, trying to detect any ulterior motives or ways information could be used. The difference was that Axel was more likely to resort to force, subtle or not, while Zexion relied on the potency of his illusions to manipulate. If the Schemer ever decided that the Superior really wasn't deserving of his trust, perhaps they would work well together, despite that small issue of Zexion's death. Until that happened, though, their interactions would be strictly limited to information exchange. That was about all Axel would trust him with until an official defection was announced.

"Yeah, Saïx was a lot less obvious about his loyalty to himself than I've ever been." He smirked, then chuckled. "Could learn a thing or two about that." Truth be told, he could be very subtle when he wanted to be. Zexion probably knew that better than most.

His good humor faded, replaced with a serious expression, and he shrugged. His personal opinion might or might not mean too much to the Schemer, but that didn't mean Axel couldn't give it. "Look, I may be biased, but I don't think Xemmy can be trusted, even if he may be saying that he still wants Kingdom Hearts to get his heart back. The guy just rubs me the wrong way. And I don't think he deserves the benefit of loyalty." Sure, they were treacherous words but only for someone still claiming attachment to the Organization. Axel, naturally, was not. "And you can bet a fortune that the Organization won't last too long if he's just using the heart excuse to veil his real intentions all over again."

[Fate]

Fickle Fidelity

This grim look at the Organization was not one that was pleasing to Zexion, not at all. He had always said that he would be loyal to the Organization and its goals, essentially being loyal to the Superior. However, with these suspicions lining up against the Superior, showing a difference between being loyal to the Organization and being loyal to Xemnas, his fidelity was going to be in question. Should he continue to serve a Nobody that was not truly seeking the Organization's goal of gaining their hearts back, or not? He was not sure those questions could be answered at this point. He would need to continue to play the part of the loyal subject until he was absolutely sure that he would receive no benefit from doing so.

Zexion's eyes went to Axel again, studying him. Here stood a traitor of the Organization, his reasons now explained to the Schemer in detail. He first betrayed to follow Saïx's plan, though he could not say that he completely agreed with the Diviner's methods; his subtlety made it all the more intriguing, however. Axel had then betrayed on a count of Roxas, the Nobody who was supposedly his friend. Zexion was not about to pretend to understand that one, finding the first reason much more interesting. Axel had almost all of Castle Oblivion in the palm of his hand at one point, showing signs of a master manipulator. The two could potentially work well together, though the Schemer still needed time to sort through everything and gain more information; working with fire could also be hazardous to one's health.

"Then time will be the true test, won't it?" he asked, a slight grin on his face. "If the Superior truly is seeking the power of Kingdom Hearts after all, the Organization will surely fall soon. From what I can see, it is already unstable." It did not seem so organized when Zexion looked upon it. They now lacked a keyblade master and three members were traitors. Saïx could also be considered one as well, though Zexion would be curious to see how the Superior responded to that. It would certainly be interesting to see... it might just earn him something if he gave that information to Superior. Planting seeds of doubt was a fun game.

"He deserves the benefit of the doubt for now," Zexion added, "After all, I am one of his most loyal subjects." His grin disappeared, a serious face emerging instead. "What do you plan to do now I wonder? You should be warned; not many of the other members are as merciful as I am." Naturally, the word merciful was subjective in this case and both of them knew that very well.

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[Axel]

Confession
Xenosphere

The Organization being unstable was a candidate for understatement of the century. No group whose members consistently stabbed each other in the back--figuratively or literally--could be considered stable. Granted, Axel had been a large part of the literal backstabbing that had taken place, but even if he was no longer around, he doubted it would take long for someone else to fill those shoes. Not that any of the others could hope to be as good at backstabbing as he had been.

He had figured on Zexion giving Xemnas the benefit of the doubt. The Schemer was much too thoughtful to blindly throw away his position in the Organization based on the opinions of a traitor. Had their positions been reversed, Axel would be doing the same. But there was simply no way Axel could ever show anything but distrust of the Superior's actions. Promises made by someone in power were typically useless, just a lot of hot air to stir the underlings into doing his bidding.

Feeling Zexion's eyes on him, Axel turned his head just as he was asked about his immediate plans. Was Zexion actually giving him a warning? The behavior struck him as strange, but he made sure to mentally file that away for later thought. None of the Organization members were truly capable of showing mercy, anyway, but some in particular would be very interested in attempting to deliver him into the hands of death again. Aside from the obvious Marluxia and Larxene, who were traitors themselves, and Vexen, there was also Xaldin to consider. The Flame could remember well Xaldin's zeal for the Organization's integrity. Saïx could also be a potential threat if he found out where Zexion had gotten all of this information. The others...did not strike him as being as eager to dish out revenge. Or at least, he didn't think they would actively seek him out. That still made for quite the list of enemies.

"Are you worried about me, Zexion?" He grinned at his own joke. "Think I can't handle myself against some upset past victims?" Holding out his hand, he began counting on his fingers, as though silently tallying up the amount of people who probably were not too pleased with him.

Becoming serious again, he thought for a long moment. The question of what to do now was an annoying fly that kept buzzing in his ear. It was something that, no matter how much he thought about it, he could not decide. Turning his head back toward the fountain, he closed his eyes. "Well, to be honest, I really don't have a clue what I'll do now. But I suppose being alive again and bored is better than being dead."

[Fate]

Repentance

"I believe you can," he replied, the grin appearing again, "I am simply ensuring that I do not lose the gamble this time. I do not bet on you being the next to die." It was in jest, of course, though there were serious undertones to it. Axel had to tread carefully and watch his back everywhere he went, something Zexion only knew to the slightest extent. Aside from that, Axel had potential. Despite his ways of betrayal, he could be extremely useful if given the opportunity. Perhaps he could provide one while he was at it.

"I believe I have something you can do," Zexion told him, his arms going to his sides. "A mission of sorts... if you are willing to accept." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a blank mission card and a pen, writing down a couple of quick things. This mission was one he originally planned to do on his own time, which in reality would look quite suspicious if anyone decided to pay attention to his actions. Vexen surely was at this point after he had shared his suspicions, making Zexion need to tread carefully as well.

He handed the card to Axel, deciding to then elaborate on it slightly. "The information that I need you to obtain is crucial to the Organization." For the good of the Organization at the very least; the information was vital to Zexion, who was determined to keep the integrity of the Organization, making them remember their goal instead of simply blindly following Xemnas. "Think of this as a favor, a way to earn forgiveness." His last comment was slightly sarcastic; both of them knew that it was impossible for a Nobody to truly hold a grudge. Zexion was not the type to anyhow, even if he could.

"There will of course be payment if you choose to accept it," he added as Axel looked it over, "I know what you want and I know that you cannot achieve it alone. However, I would be willing to help you get if you complete this task for me." Zexion, taking a breath, created a quick illusion of a smiling Roxas, one that faded quickly; Axel would understand his point from that.

The mission itself was not dangerous, or at least it would not be as dangerous for Axel as it would be for Zexion. The Flame had something that Zexion did not, which was trust from the Keyblade Masters. Typically, the Schemer could not care less about having their trust, but the information he needed required it.

Your Objective: Obtain details of the battle between Xemnas and the Keyblade Masters. Important facts to obtain are what Kingdom Hearts was used for, if at all. Any other information that you can acquire will be useful as well.

[Axel]

Agreement

Zexion mentioned bets again, and Axel couldn't help but quirk his lips into a half-smile. He opened his eyes, pointing at himself with an index finger. "Glad to know you've got some confidence in me. Wouldn't want to shake that." It wasn't confidence with friendship overtones, of course. This was merely strategic calculation on Zexion's part. Someone already proven useful as a tool was too valuable an asset to wish death upon. But at least, Axel thought, this was one less Organization member he had to worry about breathing down his neck.

When the Schemer announced that he might have something for him to do, Axel perked up a little. The word "mission" turned him off for a moment. He had wanted to avoid getting involved with the Organization again, especially if Xemnas was the one running the show. He watched Zexion produce a card and begin writing on with a pen. Upon finishing, he handed the card over, and Axel took it, green eyes already perusing the brief text.

Keyblade masters, huh? Interesting.

Zexion was saying something about this information he was going to get being important to the Organization. But the nature of this information didn't seem like it would be beneficial to Xemnas, since it involved Xemnas. And then it dawned on him. Zexion wanted this information for himself, as a confirmation or denial of Xemnas's intentions involving Kingdom Hearts. Suddenly, he found he did not mind accepting this mission. He wasn't particularly interested in the forgiveness Zexion mentioned, but if this would help alleviate some of the general animosity toward him, well, that was just a nice side-effect.

The possibility of payment reached his ears and made him raise his eyes from the card to Zexion. He had not even thought about asking for payment. What could Zexion give him, anyway? The one thing he wanted most? For a brief moment, it was not the Schemer looking at him anymore, and his eyes widened. The blue eyes and that smile were there barely long enough for Axel to register their appearance before they melted away, but he knew what Zexion meant.

Trailing his eyes away to the side, he retreated into his own mind to think. He had tried once before to separate Roxas from Sora and had failed. At the time of his death, he had thought that was for the best. Obviously, he had spent too much time around Sora. The kid's cheesy speeches about light and hearts—oh, and Kairi, always Kairi—had gotten to him. But Zexion was right. The one thing he wanted most was his best friend back, and if Sora had to be sacrificed in some way, then so be it. Surely, between the two of them, they could push the kid into becoming a Heartless again.

Axel looked at the card once more, then up at Zexion. Holding the card to the side of his face, he played the flimsy material between his fingers. No need to look at it anymore. He had it memorized now. “You know, I like the way you think.” A smile that didn't quite reach his eyes spread across his face. Small tongues of fire were beginning to lick hungrily at the mission card. “I think we have ourselves a deal, Zexion.” The card was consumed in a small blaze that lasted for only a few seconds. When it dissipated, all that remained in Axel's hand was a tiny pile of ashes which he let drift to the ground.

[Fate]

Just Something of Interest

Zexion waited, attempting to gage Axel's reaction for the time being. He could go either way with taking this mission or not. If he chose to accept it, it would certainly make things easier for the Schemer. He also intended to keep to his word and he would help Axel persuade Sora into sacrificing himself and becoming a Heartless once more. He almost had the confidence that he could do it single-handedly if he had to, knowing that Sora had not met him yet. He knew Sora's history and he knew what drove him, what pained him, and what would bring him down. Of course, doing it alone would be foolish and Axel was a skilled manipulator as well. The two of them together could be quite the deadly force.

The other possibility was that Axel would reject the mission and leave it to Zexion, not wanting to do his dirty work for him. It would certainly make the Schemer's life a bit harder and he would have to be extra careful to ensure that he did not get caught associating with the Keyblade Masters. Though, it would be doable to a certain extent. However, Axel would not get he wanted in the end. He would be left to wander the worlds searching for a purpose. He could not return to the Organization, nor would he want to. He did not have Roxas, leaving him with truly no one. The mission had to look at least somewhat appealing.

He watched as Axel brought the card up to the side of his face, holding it in between his fingers as he looked at Zexion. The Schemer couldn't help but grin as well as the card was burned. A deal had been struck, this conversation taking an unexpected turn from Zexion's original intentions. When he had sensed Axel entering this world, he intended to fool him and mess with him. He got more than what he aimed for; he managed to mess with Axel, obtain important information and strike a deal with him. This was a good day.

He let his grin disappear as he became serious once more. "We can arrange a meeting once your task has been completed. From that point on, we will continue into where I will uphold my end. I intend to keep my word; whether or not the information confirms or denies my suspicions is irrelevant." Even though Zexion was known for being a liar, he knew better than to double-cross someone like Axel. That would be dangerous for his health.

"I will send a Dusk to check on your progress soon," he added, "I trust that you will succeed in bringing me something of interest. I shall bid you farewell." A Corridor of Darkness formed around him, the Schemer giving Axel a firm look before disappearing into it. Things were about to get extremely interesting.

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[Axel]

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Axel was already more pleased with this arrangement than the one he'd had with Saïx. No grubbing for power was involved, just the search for information. And he wouldn't be required to kill anyone, unless, of course, someone got in his way. Turning Sora into a Heartless didn't really count as murder. He would still live on, in a way, in Roxas, and that's the way the Flame would rather have it. The enormity of the task itself should not be underestimated, he knew. Sora wasn't who he was because he was weak, after all.

So, the plan was set, at least for the first half of the bargain. The question floating around in Axel's head now was which Keyblade master he should seek out. Sora was the obvious first choice, but Axel was a bit leery of having to sift through all the corny dialogue just to get the information he needed. Wasn't there that mouse king, too? Axel hadn't any dealings with him in the past, and he wasn't sure how helpful talking to him would be. But there was also Riku. That was probably the best of his choices. If Riku would talk to him, that is.

Zexion let him know that they would meet again once this mission was finished. He also made sure to clarify that he would uphold his end of the bargain. A wise decision on his part. Naturally, a piece of Axel suspected he was lying, but overall, he knew the Schemer was telling the truth. Betraying a betrayer such as Axel was never an intelligent idea, and Zexion was very intelligent.

He should expect a Dusk at some point, according to the Schemer. Good thing he had mentioned that. Otherwise, Axel was liable to cut down any random Nobodies that approached him. Without any further ado, Zexion was telling him goodbye and walking through a newly-summoned Corridor of Darkness. Oh, he could guarantee something of interest, just as soon as he could track down Riku. He met Zexion's gaze with a serious one of his own, then stood there for a few minutes after the corridor vanished.

"Heh...such a bad habit of mine, getting involved. Can't seem to help it." Extending a hand, he formed his own Corridor of Darkness. The sooner he found Riku, the sooner he could give Zexion his information. And the sooner that happened, the sooner he could work on getting Roxas back. With one last glance around the Third District, he stepped into the corridor, smiling in self-satisfaction.

The Flurry of Dancing Flames was back in business.