fifteen.

[dawn_is_coming]

[Sora's looking for something---someone?---having made a hasty exit from Riku's room, where he woke up very adult and very naked. Awkward, yes, but at least he fits in Riku's pants, and can wear those until he gets back to his room]

Roxas? If you can hear me... [sighs, scrubbing his hands through his hair. He frowns at the Sphere]Everyone else

Comments

[twilightfell]

[Guess who's going to thwart all your plans, Riku. BACKDATED TO BEFORE ITTY!NAMI'S ENTRY, ALSO, THIS BIT, just to have that out there.

Anyway! Roxas does have his Sphere. It clicks on, but all it shows is darkness, and there's only silence. Take a guess where he's gone, Sora. He won't be saying anything.]

[dawn_is_coming]

[this is one of the times where having a bond with your Nobody is a good thing. Sora doesn't seem to react, but his lips purse into a tight line and he changes direction, going towards level eleven]

[twilightfell]

[Smart kid. He can probably guess exactly which cell Roxas is in, too. It's not the same as it was, of course - that cold dark place with its inescapable bars is gone. But Roxas has shut off the lights and sealed himself in darkness anyway. He sighs very quietly, tiredly - Sora MIGHT be able to hear it.

Then he shuts the Sphere off and just. Waits.]

[dawn_is_coming]

[he did hear the sigh---or at least felt it, in a way. He breaks into a run for the cells, ignoring the fact that he's barefoot and Riku's pants are a little bit too snug and too long on him.

When he reaches the brig, his summons up Ultima. The keyblade gives off a milky light, highlighting the curve of Roxas's cheek and his bunched up form]

Found you.

[room filter;]

[twilightfell]

[And so he has. Roxas flinches a little at the initial light, shielding his eyes with a hand as he glances up.

His face is wet.]

You would. Shut the door behind you, at least.

[he presses himself back against the wall a little more, like he could vanish into it if he tried. He was curled up before, arms over his knees, but know he sits straight, looking off to the side as he sighs. Figures that in a cell that actually has a bed, Roxas sits on the floor.]

[room filter;]

[dawn_is_coming]

[Sora pushes the door closed, padding over to Roxas. He kneels down next to him, putting his arms around him without a second thought. He holds on tightly

When he'd turned adult again, one of the first things that'd hit him had been his conversation with little!Roxas. How lost he'd been. The need to comfort him had been stabbing and immediate]

[room filter;]

[twilightfell]

[He lets another sigh shudder out, low and slow, and immediately turns his face into Sora's neck. For a minute he just stays like that, rigid, until he reaches hands up to press cold palms against Sora's chest, colder fingers curling around and against his ribs, and begins to slump]

Dammit, Sora.

[room filter;]

[dawn_is_coming]

I said I wouldn't leave you. [it's even colder in the cell than when they were being held prisoners---colder and darker, Ultima just barley creating enough light for them to see each other by. Roxas is too cold to be human, his face damp. Sora won't let go under any circumstance]

[room filter;]

[twilightfell]

I know.

[He's not. He's not leaving, is he? Roxas gives up the ghost and cinches his arms around Sora, tight, pulling his Somebody on top of him in a tangled mess of awkward limbs, but Roxas doesn't care. He's not crying anymore - hasn't been, for a while - but his breathing's still a little shaky.]

I thought I'd come .. to terms with all that. Made my peace with .. myself. Who am I, what am I .. I wanted to forget those questions. I thought I had my answers. But that ... goddamnit, I didn't want to go through all of that again.

[he coughs, and his voice strengthens a little bit]

Zexion so kindly reminded me I couldn't exist .. I thought that meant I had to die to set things right. [his chuckle is thin and bitter] I wanted to kill that bastard. He's a kid right now. It'd be so easy, just portal to where he is and split him apart, but I .. I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it.

[room filter;]

[dawn_is_coming]

[it takes a little negotiation of legs and limbs to get them into a more comfortable position, but Sora manages to get them situated. He tucks one arm around Roxas's back, gathering up his Nobody to his chest. They might be twins as far as height and weight goes, but Roxas seems small to him all of a sudden]

You're a part of me---a part of my heart. You do so exist. You're you, and I wouldn't want you to be anything else. [his eyes darken at the mention of what Zexion had said; if possible, his grip on him tightens] We'll talk to him later. You and me both. We'll set things right when he can fight back again.

Don't listen to what he said.

[room filter;]

[twilightfell]

I know I exist. I know.

[like he's convincing himself.]

And then it hurts. The anger, the pain, the -- the sadness ... I guess I never realized they were there until this. Everything was so blank when I was small. I really didn't know a goddamn thing. But I .. I ..

What does it mean? Am I just used to pretending, or am I really feeling these things? How could I? I don't get it.

... [much quieter, all without any malice -- he just sounds tired] He doesn't deserve a second chance, Sora. He's betrayed my trust twice. I gave him one last chance. I told him not to mess with the kids. He messed with me. Under a filter. He won't stop until he turns us all against each other. It should be now. While he can't run or trick anyone again.

[room filter;]

[dawn_is_coming]

I don't know. I don't know how you can feel without a heart, but you do. I can tell. Maybe you can feel now 'cause...[he takes his Nobody's hand, angling it to press against the left side of his chest. His heartbeat is strong and regular] You weren't near my heart before. But now, we're together. Maybe that's why...?

[he's killed before. It does weigh on his conscious, but not as much as it used to.

He's been fighting this war for too long already.

Sora shakes his head, closing his eyes]

We'll do what we've gotta do, but not until he knows why we're doing it. I want him to know.

[room filter;]

[twilightfell]

[he hesitates a second, breath catching. if he admits to this - really admits to this possibility - it changes everything he's ever thought about himself. ever. the words come out whisper-quiet on a breath] M-Maybe. I don't know...

[pauses, then just .. shuts his eyes] What does it matter what he knows? He either dies innocent and without any idea or he dies the same twisted bastard he's always been and going to be. Either way he ends up dead, and only one of them means a lot of trouble for us. .. of course, nothing I say will convince you, will it? [there's maybe a ghost, just a trace, of tired humor in his voice]

[room filter;]

[dawn_is_coming]

[smiles. It's weak]

We're kinda sharing it, then.

[then he shakes his head, rubbing a hand over Roxas's back]

I do get it. I understand why it'd be easiest this way, but...I don't think I could do it. You couldn't, either, right?