Change of Heart
Lea draped an arm over Ven's shoulders and ruffled his hair. "Is Terra coming?" He glanced around, surveying the area for their other friend.
And froze. It couldn't be.
"Lea?" Ventus called after him, but Lea had already pulled away and was wading through the crowd. He thought he'd seen someone he recognized, someone he thought he'd never see again. Their back was to him now, and maybe it was wasn't them but…the peculiar blue hair was the perfect shade, if longer than he'd remembered. If it was him…Lea still had height on him, long strides closing the distance between them.
"Isa?" He spoke the syllables tentatively, still unsure if that was indeed the person he was pursuing.
Lea reached him and tugged on his sleeve. The man paused, shooting a glance over his shoulder, then turned completely. Crossed his arms and regarded Lea impassively. "Can I help you?"
Lea stopped in front of him, trying to breathe. It was Isa. He was older—they both were—but it was the same smooth face, the same eyebrows, the same cool expression. Lea stared at the x-shaped scar bisecting his face, mouth agape. "What-what happened to you? I thought you were dead."
"I think you have me confused with someone else."
Lea's eyes widened. "No, I know it's you!"
The man flicked his eyes over Lea's tall frame, mouth pressed in a thin line. Finally he said, "It's been a long time. Lea."
Lea sighed and nodded. Threw his arms around the man in a tight hug. "I thought you were dead," he breathed again.
The man didn't return the embrace, instead standing stiff, arms at his sides. "Isa is dead," he intoned.
Lea drew back, studying the man he would swear was Isa. "But you're—"
"Saix."
Lea blinked, pulling back more as he processed this. "If you're Saix, then…"
"Lea, geez, why'd you go running off?"
Lea turned to Ventus, then flicked his gaze back to Isa—Saix- teeth worrying at his lips.
"Excuse me," Saix murmured, beginning to turn away.
"Saix, wait." Lea weighed his options. He would only have this one chance, he realized; he felt the way the decision sunk into his eyes, darkening them. "Ven, I'll catch up with you later." He leaned into Saix, whispering in his ear. "When I last met Saix, I was called Axel."
Saix's eyes narrowed, green irises running more towards amber. "I thought Axel had a…change of heart," he replied, voice somehow soft and hard at the same time. He looked pointedly at where Ven waivered, uncertain about leaving his friend.
Lea glanced back at the blond. "Get out of here, Ven." The command was sharp, and he ignored the wounded look it caused. He tracked Ven's retreat before letting himself settle back into the role he used to play, before Isa's disappearance. He reached down into himself to find it; it was easier than he expected, to become Axel again, the anger and the fire still only just below the surface. "I never had the heart to change."
Saix's mouth twitched, something close to a smile coming across his lips. He nodded once. "Show me." He tilted his head, an indication for Axel to follow as he set out, dress shoes tapping smartly on concrete.
Axel knew the game. It was dangerous, to be this person, to follow Saix. But then, that had never bothered him before, and it didn't bother him now. Maybe it bothered Lea, but he'd already made the choice to pursue Isa. Hadn't backed away from Saix.
If they died this time, he surmised, at least they would go out with a bang.