The Mute Demon : Part 2

The silver head smiled with his teary eyes. He choked back some tears and wiped them off harshly.

The dim light within the empty building ricocheted in Axel's dull red eye as he stared down at Leo. Unlike the young soldier before him, there was no single expression on his face.

"I-" Leo gripped Axel's shoulders and fell to his knees. He lowered his head as he trembled slightly. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry for ditching you back then." Leo still looked down, not daring to stare straight into Axel's watching eyes.

"I don't-" He took a deep breath and continued, "I don't have the gut to help you. I'm afraid that I won't be a soldier anymore if I did."

"I can't let my parents down." He added, letting some silver locks fall down to his red eyes as he lowered his head even more.

"And I realize I was wrong when you-" Leo snapped his head up to Axel's emotionless eye, facing him close with two guilty eyes.