The soft, ambient glow of Namine’s room was the first thing you noticed as you slowly regained consciousness. The delicate light cast gentle shadows across the white walls, filled with sketches and drawings that told tales of worlds far and wide. The last thing you remembered was a fierce battle, a blur of heartless creatures, before darkness swallowed you whole.

As your eyes adjusted to the light, you felt a familiar presence even before you saw him. Axel. His aura was unmistakable—warm and intense, like a blazing fire on a cold night. You turned your head slightly, your vision still hazy, and saw him standing at the doorway, his fiery red hair and emerald green eyes filled with a mixture of relief and worry.

"You're awake," he said, his voice a soft blend of disbelief and gratitude. He moved to your side with quick, almost urgent steps, kneeling down to be at eye level with you. You wanted to ask how long you slept, but it seems like he can read your mind as usual. It had always been like this.

"Too long," he replied, his voice cracking slightly. "We thought... I thought we lost you." He reached out, hesitating for a moment before gently taking your hand in his. The warmth of his touch spread through you, grounding you in the reality that you were safe now.

You squeezed his hand lightly, trying to convey all the emotions swirling within you—gratitude, relief, and something deeper, something that had been growing between you two through countless battles and stolen moments.

Axel let out a shaky breath, his usual confident demeanour replaced by a vulnerability that he rarely showed. "I was so scared," he admitted, his thumb gently stroking the back of your hand. "Seeing you like that, I realised just how much you mean to me."

Your heart swelled at his words, and you reached up with your free hand to touch his cheek. He leaned into your touch, closing his eyes for a moment, as if savouring the sensation.