Right now, Axel was the only one he had. Now that the Organization, and all of his siblings... like... like Xion, had disappeared from his life. Sitting next to the warm, red pelt, Roxas felt at home. It didn't matter where they were, whether that be in an abandoned wood cabin, an icy cave, or in a sewer. Home was everywhere and in one place at the same time. As long as they were together.
Before he reunited with his friend after defecting from the Organization, Roxas wandered. He was frequently mobbed by heartless and by scared, stupid and superstitious villagers. For three years he has lived like this and he was growing weak. The world became grey. Sometimes, he started to buy into the notion maybe, maybe he shouldn't exist after all, that he didn't deserve to be alive, even after having fought so hard and believed so unrelentingly in the idea that he ever meant anything of value. What use was it to fight, when fighting never got you anywhere? He was already dead. And the wilderness was his hell.
And then he had found Axel again, who was no longer able to chase, capture or kill his former best friend. Roxas found him inches from death bearing a massive wound on either sides his chest cavity, as if some great blade had run him through. Roxas had discovered that Axel had defected from the Organization shortly after the tense battle they fought in the mansion's basement three years ago. Axel had been struggling to survive, wandering the wilderness just like Roxas had, until the Organization finally caught up to the wolf and almost managed to destroy him.
Presently, the two were travelling through the midst of countryside and chose a rather sheltered spot to spend the night. Axel's serpentine tongue flicked across Roxas' face as he kissed him goodnight. A strange, and slightly gross gesture, but it was a sign of affection and love. It was something friends and family did, and Roxas supposed he could get used to it. The soft glow of the setting sun silhouetted the mighty tree stumps surrounding them. The world seemed so much more beautiful when you had someone to share it with. And now, Roxas realized, he did feel like he deserved to exist. After all, there was finally someone around who clearly wanted him here. But it wasn't even about self-worth anymore. He wasn't just acknowledged. He was needed. If there was any reason to stay alive, Roxas thought, it was for friendship. It was for Axel.
