Seeking Solitude[Axel/Open]

[Flare]

Oh, how she loathed nightmares. They robbed her of her precious sleep and she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep for fear that the monsters would get her. It was a childish fear, she knew that, but that's what Ash was for. He never cared what time you needed his comfort, he'd always get up and help.

Flare rubbed her eyes, trying to get rid of the evidence of her fear. She stood shakily from the tree she'd decided to sleep in and climbed down, nearly falling every once in a while. She dropped down when she was a yard and a half down the trunk, landing in a crouch. 'Like a ninja.' The thought drew a small smile from her, but that was about it.

It was early morning. The sun hovered just over the horizon, so it was probably only about 8 AM. Any early risers would be up, but Flare hoped none of them were around. She wouldn't be up to entertaining anyone for at least an hour. Instead of heading towards the mess hall for breakfast, she snatched her MP3 player from her bag, plus a portable speaker, and went towards the beach. She needed to music.

Just like she thought, no one was there. Flare breathed a sigh of relief and chose one of her favorite songs: E for Extinction, by Thousand Foot Krutch. Then she started dancing, moving with far more grace than usually.

[Axel]

Axel woke up this morning in a slight daze. He hadn’t done any of lessons on his keyboard to keep himself limber, but he had cabin mates so that really wouldn’t be viable to wake them up right? So picking up his keyboard and the small amount of batteries he had brought along with him he left the cabins.

Axel wandered the woods of the island wondering where a good place to play was. He really didn’t know this island too well in fact was it even on a map? Well wherever he was he was going to keep his music going! As he wandered he felt music pop in his head and he started humming along with it.

After humming for a bit he realized something. This song wasn’t in his head it was real. He looked around hoping to find the source of the music and he found himself ending up at the beach. He loved the beach it was peaceful with the waves crashing on the shore and just playing in the water in general. Axel eventually found the source of the music and saw one of the Gopher girls dancing. Smiling Axel set up his keyboard as quietly as he could and decided to play along with the song blasting from her speakers.

[Flare]

Flare was so deep into her dancing she didn't even register the musical accompaniment. For three minutes, she danced unaware of the eyes watching her every movement. Every note resonated in her blood, and every key change made her feet shuffle from toe to heel. When she finished, she was feeling much better. Until she opened her eyes and shrieked in surprise.

Axel stood there with his keyboard. She hadn't even heard him come up, though her music and dancing had kept her pretty occupied. The sand would have muffled his footsteps too. A new song started up, softer than E for Extinction. She mentally cataloged it as Be Somebody. "A-Axel? Where the hell did you come from? How long were you standing there?" Surprise made her voice harsher than usual.

[Axel]

As Axel played along with the music he couldn’t help and get into it himself. The sounds of every beat just resonated in his mind as he played each of the chords. He eventually closed his eyes and began to bob his head side to side with the music. It was just a blissful moment. He eventually stopped playing as the music stopped and died down and he was brought back to his senses and surroundings.

When Flare shrieked at his presence, Axel felt bad for a second. Was it really that bad of him to join along? Did she want to be left alone? That must be it he was intruding on her alone time. He shouldn't have played along with her music. He should have just found his own place and played something for fun. When Flare asked him where did he come from and how long he had been there Axel replied, “The cabins and bout a minute or two?” He shrugged and started putting away his keyboard. “I’m sorry I didn't mean to disturb you I just thought it would be fun to play along.”

[Flare]

Okay, good, he hadn't seen much. Just the ending. Then he didn't see her dance, and he wouldn't judge her. Now she just had to convince him that this never happened and he shouldn't tell the others. Now, how was she going to do that? Flare watched him start to pack up, and guilt tingled in her belly. She was overreacting. Just because she didn't like performing in front of others didn't mean she had to take it out on him.

The blond sighed heavily and ran her hand through her hair. "No, it's fine. You just startled me. I wasn't expecting anyone to be out here so early. I... I had a bad dream, earlier. Dancing helps me calm down." She winced as she confessed it. She didn't have bad dreams often, but the ones she usually did have scared the hell out of her.