The rest of the world melted around them, and even though Roxas was afraid of loving a boy, being in Axel’s arms felt more right than anything.

“Please, Axel…” Axel knew what Roxas was about to say, and tightened his embrace around him. “Please don’t get on that plane.” Roxas’s voice was breaking between sobs, and Axel could feel warm tears soak through the fabric of his shirt. ‘I never want to see those blue eyes cry ever again.’ Axel pulled away, still keeping his hands on Roxas’s shoulders.

“Do you really love me? Or was that just my imagination?” Axel smiled warmly, watching the blush creep on Roxas’s cheeks.

“I-” Roxas couldn’t even get the first word of his sentence out without clinging back onto Axel again. “I love you! I really do!” His words were muted as he pressed his face against Axel’s chest.

“Roxas…” Axel could feel Roxas tremble in his arms. “You’re beautiful…”

“Axe-”

“You’re caring and sweet, even if you used to hate me. The way you look at me, the way you talk to me…just makes me melt. But…”

Roxas was trying his best to breathe normally, but could not suppress the sobs from escaping.

“…But I have to get on that plane. If I don’t…my whole future is at risk. I could never be able to stay here. I…I have to leave. Now.”

He pulled away from Roxas, leaning in closer to him until their faces were inches apart. Axel lowered his voice to barely above a whisper. “Roxas…I want you to know…that I care about you more than anyone or anything, but this isn’t something I have control over. If I could, I would stay with you until the moment I die, but … I need you to know, that I might never see you again.”

Roxas took Axel’s face in his hands slowly, wanting to touch him for the last time. He stroked his cheek, feeling how smooth his skin was, and how he wanted more of it. Though Roxas never said a word, his throat too choked up with tears.

Axel closed the space between them, closing his lips around Roxas’s softly. He could taste the saltiness of his tears as he pulled away hesitantly.

“I love you Roxas…got it memorized?”

With those last words, Axel released Roxas, and turned to get on the plane.

Roxas watched his tall figure disappear as he gracefully stepped down the hallway. He felt his throat close up, and he could feel his heart drop to his stomach. His legs went numb, and felt as though the air had been sucked out of his lungs. Roxas fell to his knees, as if he had just been shot in the chest. Every nerve in his body signaled panic, but he remained motionless. Everything around him, the busy crowds of people, the luggage, staring down at his own hands shaking made him realize what had just happened.

Axel was gone.