Once upon a time, Saïx assigned Axel the task of keeping an eye on Roxas during his early zombie-like days. Which led to him ending up responsible for a couple of teenage Keyblade wielders who were technically toddlers when it came to actual life experience. But despite supposedly not having a heart of his own, Roxas and Xion ended up as his best friends. And Axel would have done anything to protect them. And when he lost them, he tried everything to get them back. No matter the cost.
Then he got a second chance. And as Lea, he wasn't going to break his promise. He would bring all his friends back.
Instinctively Family
by Bookworm Gal begins during Kingdom Hearts III, starting right during the endgame and it diverges initially due to two small changes: Aqua is forced to rest for a day before she goes to rescue Ventus and Vexen has Demyx sneak out two Replicas instead of one.
Instinctively Family includes:
open/close all folders
In General
- Action Girl: Kairi, Xion, Aqua... Basically any girl Keyblade wielder qualifies.
- Affectionate Nickname: While Lea curiously doesn't seem to call his kids this out loud very often, scenes from his perspective often refer to Roxas and Xion as the "half-pints" or even "his half-pints."
- The Atoner: Several characters' actions are guided by guilt and a desire to make amends over the course of the story.
- Master Ansem, Vexen, and Saïx all help to sneak out the Replicas to the guardians due to their various past actions. Saïx in particular (as Isa, once he's recompleted) gets a thorough character arc about this in Parental Instinct, where he gives a very thorough apology to Roxas and Xion. As he's then gradually accepted into the trio's life (and home), he remains mindful of old wounds, especially towards Xion (when Roxas suggests that Isa stay over on a night that Isa might not be able to walk himself home, Isa offers to sleep on the couch rather than in the fourth bedroom, to give Xion a little more space). He's accepted closer still after he saves Roxas from drowning; thank goodness, too, because he's the one who saves Lea in the Nightmare chapter.
- Lea tries to be the best friend possible for Roxas, Xion, and Isa to make up for all his mistakes as Axel.
- Big Brother Instinct:
- Lea. To the point where the first fic in the series has it as a title. Roxas and Xion are the main recipients of it, but he demonstrates it towards Kairi as well. He also has moments towards Naminé, Ventus, and several of the various Keyblade wielders.
- Isa is a year older than Lea and they spent enough time together growing up that they had this dynamic.
- Burn Scars, Burning Powers: Lea ended up with a burn scar on his chest from his sacrifice in Kingdom Hearts II.
- Covered in Scars:
- Over the course of the series, Lea picks up several scars. The burn scar from his sacrifice in Kingdom Hearts II, Larxene's knives in the first fic, and the large scar on his side based off a version of the events from the manga.
- Even also ends up with extensive burns scars from his demise and from having the Recusant's Sigil carved into him after his attempted escape from the Real Organization XIII.
- Damsel out of Distress: Lea took the time to teach Kairi some self-defense to avoid being kidnapped as easily. This prevents Xemnas from grabbing her like he did in canon and almost gets Lea in trouble when he accidentally startles her in the second fic.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Several characters on the guardian's side wield darkness to varying degrees.
- Lea, Roxas, and Xion continue to use dark corridors.
- Riku uses it in fights and Terra is attempting to accept his own darkness to do the same.
- Vanitas ended up in Sora's heart and helps him fight Master Xehanort.
- Easily Forgiven: Averted in several cases.
- Roxas struggles with forgiving Master Ansem for his actions as DiZ, though he's settled for an uneasy truce after he helps save Lea.
- Roxas also has complicated feelings toward Riku about what happened with Xion.
- Both Roxas and Xion take a lot of time to work through their past with Saïx in order to give Isa a chance. He has to put in the effort to show that he's changed.
- Family of Choice: Lea, Roxas, Xion, and eventually Isa settle into this. Though Lea does have to explain to Roxas and Xion what a family even is.
- Friendly Rivalry: Roxas and Riku's dynamic; they're able to bury the hatchet, but others show some concern about the extreme they'll take their sparring to...
- It's All My Fault: Lea blames himself for a lot of the sequence of events that lost him his friends in the previous games.
- Like Brother and Sister: Lea and Kairi develop this dynamic. It is even Lampshaded by Raya in Protective Instinct.
- Named by the Adaptation: In the second fic, Riku's Replica picks out a name for himself: Kiru.
- Older Than They Look: Aqua, Terra, and Ventus.
- Parental Neglect: Apparently Lea's obsession about being remembered was at least partially due to his parents behaving like they forgot he existed the majority. He ended up spending a lot of time around Isa's family instead.
- Parental Substitute:
- Due to his age in relation to their (apparent) ages, Lea is both the big brother figure and the parental figure for Roxas and Xion.
- In the second fic, Aqua and Terra seem to be attempting to do the same for Naminé and Kiru, along with their canon role as this for Ventus.
- While Master Ansem was technically Ienzo's guardian when he was a child, it is clear that the other apprentices were also involved in his upbringing prior to becoming Nobodies. Specifically, Vexen/Even specifically shows concern for Ienzo at different points.
- Parents as People: Lea/Axel is closest thing Roxas and Xion have to a parent. But he's well aware he's made mistakes. And he has his own issues to deal with while taking care of the two.
- Playing with Fire: Lea. He's also taken the time to teach Kairi.
- "X" Marks the Hero: Isa has the scar across his face and he's working against the Real Organization XIII from the start of the series.
- Younger Than They Look: Roxas, Xion, Naminé, and Kiru.
Big Brother Instinct
- Afterlife Antechamber: The Final World, which both Sora and Lea briefly visit during their close brushes with death.
- Anatomy of the Soul: When bringing Aqua up to speed on all that she missed (Heartless, Nobodies, the multiple Xehanorts), Lea gives a quick breakdown about the Body, Soul, and Heart and how the loss of the heart or the body doesn't necessarily mean death. He also brings up the fact that for the events of the last part of Kingdom Hearts and the entirety of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Sora was technically a human-shaped Heartless like Ansem SOD because Roxas (his Nobody) was running around separately.
- Anger Born of Worry: Ienzo chews Even out for disappearing to play The Mole within the Real Organization XIII because there was no guarantee that he would survive.
- Battle in the Center of the Mind: During his own version of Dive into the Heart, Lea ends up fighting Axel near the end. Though Axel ended up being less of an enemy and more Lea's subconscious trying to knock some sense into him.
- Butterfly of Doom:
- Riku and King Mickey accompany Aqua to Castle Oblivion/the Land of Departure instead of Sora, Donald, and Goofy.
- Roxas and Xion return sooner than in canon.
- Lea almost gets killed prior to the Keyblade War.
- Sora and Kairi share the paopu fruit with Riku instead of just each other. Lea also shares one with Roxas and Xion.
- Because of the loss of one of their Thirteen Darkness with the loss of an extra Replica body, Vexen is forced to fight in the Keyblade Graveyard.
- Xemnas tries to kidnap Kairi sooner than canon and fails.
- Sora is forced to rescue to more people during the initial encounter with Terranort than in canon, so Ventus, Roxas, and Xion have to share their strength to help hold his heart together long in the aftermath.
- The Riku Replica survives.
- Damn You, Muscle Memory!: In-Universe. Lea keeps trying to block attacks with his arm because he's used to having two chakrams rather than one Keyblade.
- The Dog Bites Back: Vanitas ends up in Sora's heart and helps him fight Master Xehanort.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: Lea, when Roxas and Xion find out about parents, tries to say he’s nothing like a parent. But winds up realizing that what he did for them is basically what a parent would do.
- Faking the Dead: Like in canon, Xigbar does this to avoid fading during the Keyblade War.
- In Spite of a Nail: Since Master Xehanort's intended plan is still the same, several of the fights in the Keyblade War remain the same or similar.
- Sora still disappears at the end, even if the way it happened was different.
- Last Ditch Move: Donald's Zettaflare attack.
- Redemption Rejection: The Vanitas from the past essentially ignores Sora's speech about how just because he's darkness doesn't mean he can't choose what kind of darkness he wants to be. Ventus even points out it doesn't matter because the rules of time travel means he won't remember the conversation when he returns to his own time, so he can't change. The current Vanitas inside Sora, on the other hand...
- Spared by the Adaptation: The Riku Replica.
- Talking Is a Free Action: Averted. Unlike in canon where all the fighting stops in order for each opponent to give their departing speech, the other opponents are either kept busy by other guardians or, in Luxord's case, blocked by a wall of cards.
- Tears of Joy:
- When Lea wakes up after his Near-Death Experience to find Roxas and Xion, all three end up in tears and hugging.
- As in canon, the reunion between Aqua, Terra, and Ventus also involves tears and embracing each other.
- Well-Trained, but Inexperienced: While Kairi is talented with wielding a Keyblade, being extremely fast in combat and having a natural affinity for magic, as Lea notes in their fight with Saïx, she lacks actual experience in the field.
- You Shall Not Pass!: Lea ends up doing this to stop Larxene and Marluxia from reaching the Replicas that are intended for Roxas and Naminé.
Parental Instinct
- All Therapists Are Muggles: Discussed. Finding someone who would believe them and who would have enough context to understand their particular problems would be impossible because of the World Order.
- Brick Joke: In chapter 3, it is briefly mentioned that Lea intends to cover the future bedroom for Isa in glow-in-the-dark stars. This is not brought up again until chapter 23, when Isa finally gets to see said bedroom and immediately asks why it is covered in glow-in-the-dark stars.
- Beach Episode: One chapter has Lea, Roxas, Xion, Hayner, Pence, and Olette head to Destiny Islands to spend the day at the beach.
- Cool Old Lady: Gina, the lady who rented them an apartment.
- Cooldown Hug: The heartbreaking chapter where Lea has his worst nightmare, and the subsequent chapter of the fallout. While Isa acquires burns from snapping Lea out of trying to burn himself to death, it doesn't stop him from crushing Lea in a bear hug, holding him while Lea rides out a panic attack. Crossed with Group Hug when Roxas and Xion join in.
- CPR: Clean, Pretty, Reliable: Isa managed to revive Roxas after he almost drowned.
- Cry into Chest: Lea does this to Isa in the aftermath of the nightmare that ends with him trying to burn himself.
- Fake Static: While the two are talking on their Gummiphones, Lea tries to get Isa to give Roxas and Xion The Talk, Isa pretends there's something wrong with the Gummiphone's signal and ends the call.
- Forgot I Couldn't Swim: In Roxas's case, he assumed that he could because Sora could swim.
- The Grovel: Isa's apology to Roxas and Xion for everything that he did as Saïx.
- Heartfelt Apology: See The Grovel. Isa admits that his treatment of Roxas and Xion was "reprehensible" and that there can never be any excuse or way to dismiss it. He takes full responsibility, outright dismissing possible excuses he could use, and acknowledges how it's even worse that he behaved that way towards the children that Roxas and Xion are. It's even implied that he's apologizing to Lea as well.
- Internal Reveal: Chapter 22 involves all of the secrets (his nightmares, his scars, how he is fighting Heartless for munny) that Lea has been keeping finally coming out to his friends.
- It's Okay to Cry: Played With. Lea comforts his kids in many ways, without ever telling them not to cry. However, he's quite the hypocrite, doing his best to muffle his own sobs in the night.
- Mistakes Are Not the End of the World: A subtle theme of this fanfic, subordinate but complementary to the theme of how trying to be extremely selfless will damage you. Lea is making up for past selfish actions, but swings too far in the other direction (being selfless to the point of refusing to acknowledge his own needs) and it results in fitful nights, a festering separation anxiety, and a vivid nightmare so merciless that Lea wants to die. But rather than lose it all again (even if it's out of selflessness rather than selfishness), Lea gets a second chance at being open about when he's not okay and needs help.
- No Periods, Period: Averted. Due to Xion having a new Replica body that no longer depends on the perspective of those around her, she's undergoing puberty now.
- Past Experience Nightmare: Used to show how Lea and Isa originally lost their hearts.
- Plagued by Nightmares: Due to all their past trauma, several of the characters end up with nightmares. Lea's ends up as the worst of them because of his denial.
- Science Fair: Chapter 28 (aptly titled "Science Fair") features Xion participating in one. She ends up placing second, which makes Even rant at the judges for underestimating Xion's intellect.
- You Are Better Than You Think: Isa gives a pretty good one to Lea.Isa: "While no one would argue that you aren't capable in combat, you have far more to offer than just that. If nothing else, you have always been better than me when it comes to dealing with people. You knew how to help Roxas and Xion to grow and learn about the world. Teaching them to be real people and not just tools for the Organization. You managed to forge a friendship with Kairi despite multiple attempts to kidnap her in the past. You navigated all the obstacles involved with setting up a household, getting the children started with school, helping them navigate challenges ranging from bullying to puberty, and offering emotional support for everyone with a Keyblade. You have always been more than a pair of chakrams, Lea."
Protective Instinct
- Bad Liar: Sisu.Sisu: "And I am absolutely a human and not a dragon."
- Brilliant, but Lazy: According to Hanekoma, Joshua can do detailed work with his power. He just doesn't like doing finicky things because it bores him.
- Crossover: Moreso than the previous fics.
- Fighter, Mage, Thief: Pence, Olette, and Hayner have this dynamic in their choice of weapons during the Dive into the Heart. Pence chooses a claymore, Olette picks a magical staff, and Hayner chooses a Struggle Bat.
- Friendly Enemy: Despite saying that she would destroy Riku if necessary, Maleficent admits to a certain fondness for the boy.
- The Gadfly: Joshua knocks Vanitas unconscious with his power by flicking his forehead. Twice.
- Hair Flip: Joshua still has this habit from his games.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Since he needs to pay an entry fee in order to play the Reapers' Game, Sora loses his memories of his friends.
- Little Girls Kick Shins: When Lea helps Kairi pick fruit, he teases her about her height. Kairi tries to kick his shins, which being Kairi, Lea wisely decides to move out of the way.
- Magical Eye: The Gazing Eye. The Master of Masters put one of his own eyes into his Keyblade in order to see into future. Everything that the eye witnesses through eons, he can see as well.
- A Minor Kidroduction: The story begins with the Masters of Masters telling the story of Kingdom Hearts to the Foretellers as children.
- The Omniscient: Like in his canon, Hanekoma refers to Joshua as this.
- Screw Destiny: Ava seems to have made it her new mission to disrupt whatever Luxu and the Master of Masters have planned in order to try for a better future.
- Snark-to-Snark Combat: In the beginning of Chapter 12, Sora sarcastically asks Vanitas if he's Not a Morning Person. Vanitas fires back that Sora isn't one either.
- You Can't Fight Fate: The future can't be changed once it is witnessed. That is why the Master of Masters does not look ahead to his final victory. Only everything leading up to it. Otherwise, he risks locking in the wrong outcome.
