[Axel sighs, nodding a bit and rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.]
Yeah. It seems kinda obvious now, how much of a dumb idea it was, trying to keep him there like that. But you know what they say about hindsight being 20-20. I can't really say that it seemed like a good idea at the time, cause it didn't, but... I just didn't have any better ones.
If I'm being honest, at that point, it was still a lot more about me than him. I wanted him to be safe and with me, regardless of what he wanted, which just ended up being what drove him away in the end.
...If I'd been smarter, I'd have probly gone with him. Or done... something. I dunno. Just anything other than stand there and watch him walk away, knowing what it would mean.
[Not that Axel was really sure even now if that would have changed anything. But he couldn't help but wonder, couldn't help but replay the scenario and those that followed it in his mind. Had it already been too late at that point? Could he have changed anything, if he'd just figured things out a little sooner? Would Roxas still be around, if his actions had been different?
He'd probably never know.]
But yeah, I found him. Turns out he'd been captured by a guy named DiZ, who'd taken charge of Namine, along with Sora and his friends, who were still asleep. DiZ had stuck Roxas in a simulation of Twilight Town, and Namine had altered his memories so he'd think the town was real, and that he'd always lived there.
So when I found Roxas the first time, he didn't remember me at all. I knew DiZ was onto me, so there really wasn't time to try and explain. I planned to knock Roxas out, take him back with me, then explain once we had time. But knocking Roxas out is... easier said than done, and I was trying not to hurt him too much.
We fought for a bit, then DiZ himself showed up, trying to tell Roxas that I was lying, to keep him in the simulation. I think the two of us at once was too much, and Roxas kinda freaked out. The simulation glitched, and I was kicked out.
The next time I made it back in, Roxas seemed to remember me. He knew my name, and the fact that we were best friends. But no dice. He must've gotten a little bit of information from somewhere- my guess is Namine, though I could be wrong- but he didn't really remember anything. Not yet, anyway.
DiZ froze the simulation, and me along with it, just as I was about to try the direct approach again, and by the time I could move again, Roxas was gone. At that point, I knew that the Roxas I knew was long gone. And that I couldn't afford to pull my punches any more.
By the time I caught up with Roxas again, it was almost too late. See, because Roxas was Sora's Nobody, some of Sora's memories got stuck in him. That's why DiZ and Namine needed him; without Roxas, Sora would never be able to wake up. But for that to happen, it meant that he had to merge with Sora and become part of him again. He wouldn't exist as Roxas any more.
I caught up with him just outside the chamber where Sora was sleeping in the simulated Twilight Town. I knew it was my last shot. I knew that if he walked through that door, I'd never see him again. And I couldn't let that happen.
By that point he really remembered me and everything else... but he was also ready to become part of Sora again, even if I don't think he really wanted to. And I couldn't let him do that. So I fought him with everything I had. It wasn't enough, though. Somehow, he had two keyblades, and was stronger than I'd ever seen him. He handed me my ass thoroughly enough that I didn't have the energy to stay in the simulation any more.
...That's the last I saw of him. We... sort of said goodbye before I faded out of the simulation, and weirdly enough we parted on better terms then than when he'd left the Organization. But still, I never saw him again after that.
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Yeah. It seems kinda obvious now, how much of a dumb idea it was, trying to keep him there like that. But you know what they say about hindsight being 20-20. I can't really say that it seemed like a good idea at the time, cause it didn't, but... I just didn't have any better ones.
If I'm being honest, at that point, it was still a lot more about me than him. I wanted him to be safe and with me, regardless of what he wanted, which just ended up being what drove him away in the end.
...If I'd been smarter, I'd have probly gone with him. Or done... something. I dunno. Just anything other than stand there and watch him walk away, knowing what it would mean.
[Not that Axel was really sure even now if that would have changed anything. But he couldn't help but wonder, couldn't help but replay the scenario and those that followed it in his mind. Had it already been too late at that point? Could he have changed anything, if he'd just figured things out a little sooner? Would Roxas still be around, if his actions had been different?
He'd probably never know.]
But yeah, I found him. Turns out he'd been captured by a guy named DiZ, who'd taken charge of Namine, along with Sora and his friends, who were still asleep. DiZ had stuck Roxas in a simulation of Twilight Town, and Namine had altered his memories so he'd think the town was real, and that he'd always lived there.
So when I found Roxas the first time, he didn't remember me at all. I knew DiZ was onto me, so there really wasn't time to try and explain. I planned to knock Roxas out, take him back with me, then explain once we had time. But knocking Roxas out is... easier said than done, and I was trying not to hurt him too much.
We fought for a bit, then DiZ himself showed up, trying to tell Roxas that I was lying, to keep him in the simulation. I think the two of us at once was too much, and Roxas kinda freaked out. The simulation glitched, and I was kicked out.
The next time I made it back in, Roxas seemed to remember me. He knew my name, and the fact that we were best friends. But no dice. He must've gotten a little bit of information from somewhere- my guess is Namine, though I could be wrong- but he didn't really remember anything. Not yet, anyway.
DiZ froze the simulation, and me along with it, just as I was about to try the direct approach again, and by the time I could move again, Roxas was gone. At that point, I knew that the Roxas I knew was long gone. And that I couldn't afford to pull my punches any more.
By the time I caught up with Roxas again, it was almost too late. See, because Roxas was Sora's Nobody, some of Sora's memories got stuck in him. That's why DiZ and Namine needed him; without Roxas, Sora would never be able to wake up. But for that to happen, it meant that he had to merge with Sora and become part of him again. He wouldn't exist as Roxas any more.
I caught up with him just outside the chamber where Sora was sleeping in the simulated Twilight Town. I knew it was my last shot. I knew that if he walked through that door, I'd never see him again. And I couldn't let that happen.
By that point he really remembered me and everything else... but he was also ready to become part of Sora again, even if I don't think he really wanted to. And I couldn't let him do that. So I fought him with everything I had. It wasn't enough, though. Somehow, he had two keyblades, and was stronger than I'd ever seen him. He handed me my ass thoroughly enough that I didn't have the energy to stay in the simulation any more.
...That's the last I saw of him. We... sort of said goodbye before I faded out of the simulation, and weirdly enough we parted on better terms then than when he'd left the Organization. But still, I never saw him again after that.
Though not for lack of trying...