Chapter Text
When Lea finally passed away, it had nothing but love for the life he had led.
He had been blessed with a beautiful partner, one who had loved him through thick and thin. Through fights, through laughter, through moments of poverty and highs of richness. Together they had cultivated a loving family, not one of their own making. They took in those who had lost to the darkness, children born without family or purpose. Together they had brought these children out of darkness, letting them explore light and love in their home. Lea understanding the most troubled of them, his other half passing on wisdom greater than Lea ever had. They even lived long enough to see their family expand further, with one great grandchild taking the final place in Lea’s heart before it gave it all away.
He had enjoyed a beautiful life, filled with great health and all the warmth light could bless onto one of its chosen heroes. He was truly one of the lucky ones, to die with no regrets.
And with that, his story drew to a close, his final chapter complete.
He closed his eyes and slipped away into the warm bath of sleep. Forever.
“Finally. My hand was getting tired”
Lea peeled open his eyes, finding himself sitting in a white room. With no windows, no doors. Just a large white bookcase filled with colourful books. Some bound in leather, others in colourful card paper, sealed in wax or tied with twine. The chair he sat in was extremely uncomfortable, yet, felt as though it had been made for him. Like being forced to sit in the position of a statue. He stretched, then took a slow, unsteady stand.
His eyes took a moment to adjust, blinking away his blurred vision. He wasn’t in pain, which he was surprised about… his knee had been killing him for years… oh lord he hoped he didn’t die from knee pain. How embarrassing.
He took full advantage of his renewed use of his knee. He walked over to the bookcase, running his finger along the spines of various books. If he squinted, he could just about make out the names of some of the titles.
‘Terra’
‘Aqua’
‘Isa’
‘Roxas’
Oh.
Lea cast his eyes down the length of the bookcase, taking in the names of those who had shared in his story. He supposed these books must have been their stories… finished. Neatly shelved into their slots, each personalised to the person the story belonged to. Lea briefly wondered who on earth was meant to read them… he didn’t think that was why he was here though.
A tut came from behind him, causing Lea to turn around.
The man that sat before him finished off his final sentence, his pen flicking off the page. He glanced at Lea from the corner of his eyes, the venomous green and bored look sending chills down Lea’s spine. This really was the guy that wrote his life down?
It took him all of two minutes for the startling realisation that this was Axel to wash over him.
“You?” Lea said dumbly, taking in the towering appearance of the man. Did he really used to look like this? Act like this? Crazy how quickly war and family will change you.
Axel didn’t respond to his stupid question, instead, picking up a clean, blank book with his free hand. He flicked it open to the first page, taking the pen off the table. He paused before putting it to the paper. His intense stare catching Lea’s eyes and rooting him to the spot.
“I’m about to write down your dying wish.” Axel muttered, the dark edge to his voice catching Lea off guard. “Are you sure that is what you want?”
“I’m shocked you even ask”
“I’m just thinking logically. It’s not like I’m not desperate too. But you have to consider your next life. You might not even find him, not until your dying breath. You might only have him for a moment.”
“I know”
“You don’t even know this affect-“
“I’ve made my choice.” Lea stated plainly.
He hadn’t lived a life time thinking about his mistakes, what he should have done, what he should have said… to not say anything at all. To not use this third chance to finally meet him again.
Lea watched as Axel let out a irritated sigh, then got to work on tainting the first chapter of Lea’s new life.
The book’s edges turned a dark grey, its pages quivering and curling in on themselves, as though it was protesting. Axel ignored this and continued to write. With each stroke of the pen, Lea felt weaker and weaker, before slumping against the book case. No longer able to stand. His book of ‘Lea’ falling out of his grasp, landing on the floor, its new cover crumbling into dust.
With his consciousness fading away, Lea could only watch as Axel shut the new book, placing it onto his lap. He picked up the crumbling book, blowing onto the remaining pieces, letting them fall onto Lea’s body. Letting the tiny pieces of Lea latch onto the book, onto Lea’s fading form… onto the next life.
Axel walked over to the bookshelf, then slotting the book neatly into place.
With that, Lea closed his eyes, and vanished into nothing.