[Action] Day 34
[With a sigh Roxas found himself once more staring up into the afternoon sky, just staring as he watched for what seemed the hundredth time as the brighter oranges slowly bled into a deep violet at the edge of the horizon. The past week or so had just felt like a step back from any of the progress he'd been making as far settling in since arriving
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But as she considered it, whoever it was stood and then... seemed to be ignoring her anyway. A mix of relief and uncertainty caught her... and she started taking steps further along her way, figuring they wanted to be left alone, whoever they were. Not long had she decided this though did she catch sight of a shadow of someone on the ground, causing her to look up.
Just in time to see Roxas land on the ground in front of her. Well, that was unexpectedly convenient. At least maybe that thought would have hit her if she wasn't so caught up in the fact that there he was, looking as bad as he had been the second time she had ran into him in the city. Only this time, she actually been intent on tracking him down. Arguing with herself that this time, this time she wouldn't be selfish. This time, she would be there for him. But all the same knowing that this time, she had still... really messed up. Made him worry. She didn't need to ask if she had. His state and the sea shells were enough of a testament to things.
So, she found herself looking to him apologetically. There was no 'How've you been?' It was written all over his face how he had. Instead...]
I left a message, but I guess you never got it. [And with a twisted sense of role reversal. And she couldn't directly look at him when she voiced it although the tone was nothing accusing.] ...I've been looking all over for you.
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Though for what it was worth, their current situation jarred another almost-forgotten feeling; as if a faint part of him was finding something about this moment almost laughably ironic. It was just a feeling though.
So after just a moment of quiet after she finished, he finally composed his thoughts enough to speak to her.]
Sorry about that, I haven't been really social the past few days.
[His voice was a little more subdued than usual, her either inability or refusal to even look at him not being a detail lost. Honestly, that wasn't all he felt sorry about for now either. But at least it was the thing he was immediately ready to apologize for... the rest of it was just really confusing and modestly conflicting to him.]
Shouldn't you be resting though? The way everyone talked, it sounded like all of that was really rough for everyone.
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Regardless, she stood there waiting. Tugging at the sleeves of her jacket maybe just a little bit. Readjusting them or perhaps just realigning her nerves. At his apology, she just nodded although she didn't miss how he sounded almost resigned. ...And that made her fabricated heart clench tight. And then even tighter at his next comment. Trying to shake it off, she reached up and started brushing a hand through her bangs only to pause part way. Finally looking to him through the gaps between her fingers.]
I've rested enough, don't you think? I mean... [Her mouth twitched slightly, but she held her masked expression otherwise.] If I slept anymore, I wouldn't be able to help the city, right?
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Yeah, you make a good point.
[Roxas goes silent again, not sure or what to say. Especially if she'd talked to Aqua and found that he'd more or less vanished on her, he could only imagine that she was worried about him again. Then part of him wanted to know why she'd be out looking for him; a part rather hastily countered with the notion that they were still friends. He really wasn't avoiding her specifically... he was just having one of those times when he wanted to be left alone.]
Well, if you've been looking for me... I'm right here. Did you want to talk about something?
[Admittedly, his generally awkward feeling at the moment may have made that statement come off sounding a little more off-put than he'd meant for it to. But it was really the only response that came to mind while he tried to shuffle the dozen or so questions he had for her aside.]
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Habits that triggered the slight wince to his words. Whether he hadn't meant to come off like that or not, well... It didn't exactly help with the state she had been in prior. And coupled with other vexing feelings on top of it. Xion slowly let her hand slip, bowing her head as she tucked a hand back in her pocket, rolling the shell around between her fingers.]
I was just worried. [Wasn't that enough of a reason to track him down? She shuffled her feet, debating on what else to say. But just what could she say to defuse things? And that was when her hand in her pocket froze... Then, with fragility, clutched the shell... With one fluid movement, she had it displayed in her open palm, looking up at him through her bangs.] Were you the one who left these in my room?
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Her worrying was expected; aside from dropping in to add a shell to the bag he'd left for her, he'd made it his business to remain relatively out of the way. But what he hadn't expected was for her to have brought one with her -they were admittedly a little on the delicate side. And he had his particular reasons for leaving such a gift for her -reasons that at this point, he knew he'd be explaining soon.
So for starters, Roxas gives an affirmative nod in reply to his friend's question, a faint smile curling his lips slightly.]
Yeah... I thought you'd appreciate them.
You did last time I gave you some anyway.
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But then... He was quiet, with his latter statement, but she was almost certain... Had he just...? She couldn't hide the way her eyes suddenly sharpened in surprise. He...] ...I did. Really appreciate them- Roxas, how did you...? [Were the memories? Were they coming back to them as they had with Riku? And if they were, just... how?]
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It's a little strange. I'm not sure how easily you'll believe it, but remember when Axel and I came to help you? How I was surprised to see you had a Keyblade too?
[He pauses a little bit, cracking that neck joint with a slight tilt of his head as his hand drifted back to his side. At this point, he was no longer content to let his line of sight wander. Whether she would look at him or not, he would make sure his gaze was at least trying to meet hers, if not just to impress the importance of what he had to say next.]
I've been having these dreams since then.
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Still, she minded his first set of questions with a nod... and then another. Remembering just how awkward that had been afterward. After feeling so close to them just in that moment, so in sync again and ready to take on anything. But that wasn't the entire point of him bringing it up, was it. So then, what was he getting at...? Her curiosity kept her from asking it upfront though- mainly the way he cracked his neck breaking her away from her thoughts and then she was focused on him, even if she hadn't intended to. Finding her eyes focused on his.
...
Dreams. The surprise of this revelation quickly dappled her eyes. Surprised followed by the pose of a question. Almost a little on the urgent side. Trying not to get her hopes up.]
Dreams about what?
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Like watching a grainy old film playing in his mind or in his non-existent heart. Sometimes it was the same moment; a few seconds that managed to engulf hours of sleep and sometimes he'd see entire days play back in detail. But it wasn't just images and sound, but his thoughts and feelings at that moment, always from his point of view.
And it was never the same as he specifically recalled. In some cases, entire weeks worth of time and thoughts didn't match what he had and yet somehow, some feeling inside said that they made more sense than what he could consciously recall.
When he finally brings himself to answer, his tone is completely calm -though it's easy to tell that he's forcing himself to stay that way.]
About you. I'm there too. So's Axel. And we're all in the Organization.
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Xion watched him measurably as he seemed to struggle over something. Just in his tone along, she knew... She knew more than ever that what he was trying to process... It was rough. ...More than rough considering what he had to say. And what he said also made her eyes sharpen, focus on him with a look somewhere between surprise, slight distress, and awe. But then she was shaking it off. Trying to find the right words. Because leaving him as he was... His calm so fragile. Her brows furrowed just slightly. If those were anything like the ones she had had constantly about Sora...
But she had to be sure.]
...Would you tell me about them?
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Yet despite the importance of getting all of it out, he was still mentally scrambling to figure out what order to describe those events or if he even had them in the right order. He'd need just a little more time before he was ready, so he figured that there was one matter they could tend to first.]
Of course, but if you don't mind, could we go inside first?
[He gestures toward the townhouse he'd been sitting on the roof of.]
It's a little messy, but I've cleaned it up enough so it's livable. [A small laugh.] I guess it's even a little cozy.
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But then he had had that year in that other city. She had to remember. So, quite possibly... She finally nodded, taking to his offer with the meekest hint of a smile. Her features noting that her thoughts were pretty much not really considering his residence anymore... They probably would later once everything was cleared up, but right then, there were other matters to tend to. That laugh though. It was admittedly a little disarming, making her voice softer as she spoke.]
I guess it would be better than standing out here. [Where people would be more likely to catch wind of their conversation.]
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[Honestly, privacy wasn't exactly the foremost thing on his mind and neither was the weather. It was just more that combination of needing just a little longer to organize his thoughts and just wanting some place quieter to talk. Granted, it was fairly quiet in the neighborhood itself, but just because it was open and she had that tendency to be rather soft-spoken with some things, he wanted to make sure that he didn't miss anything. From his stand point, he had the hunch that this conversation would be part of what defines not only him and her, but likely it affected Axel as well.
Not that he'd know that bridge had already been crossed.
So he turns about, a hand subconsciously seeking Xion's for just a moment before walking back toward his home for the last week. It was a walk masked largely in an awkward silence well until he opened the door and let her inside. Structurally, the place was in fantastic shape with minimal damage to the drywall. Just the place was devoid of furnishings and the entry foyer seemed mostly covered in a fine layer of dust.
Roxas gestures his friend into the sitting room where there's a pile of sheets, blankets and a few pillows. Contrary to the entryway, this room is significantly less dusty and there's another doorway in this room that the kitchen can be seen through.]
It's not well-furnished, but make yourself comfortable and we can talk.
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His reach for her wasn't missed though. And she found herself letting her hand drift into his grasp. A reassurance perhaps for him. That she was still there. Maybe a quiet apology, too. Such a hypocrite she had made herself out to be. And then they were shuffling into the home he had made for himself. And as the dust swirled from just the door opening alone, well. She couldn't entirely ignore the state of it then. If the way she scrunched her nose and squinted her eyes momentarily was any indication.
Still, the room he led her to was at least in better condition. If only a little lonely, she had to admit to herself. The idea of him living by himself... It just rubbed her the wrong way. But regardless, she nodded and carefully found herself knelt on the floor until she was sitting on her folded legs. Waiting on him to sit as well before prompting carefully.]
So... Your dreams. What exactly were they about?
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So after she made herself comfortable, Roxas settles in cross-legged directly across Xion, a mere couple feet separating the two as he takes a breath before starting.]
Well, at first I thought I was just having weird dreams... I mean, back at the clinic, I was only getting maybe two hours of sleep a day. So I didn't think much of them back then.
[A pause.]
But once I settled in here, when I slept, the dreams persisted. And I got that weird feeling that I'd seen it all before. In one of them, I was really angry at Saix. I was trying to see you and he called you broken and defective.
[His eyes narrowed as he glanced toward the floor at the recollection, the venom in his words being nearly impossible to miss. Roxas seems to brood on this a moment before sighing and looking at Xion again with a weak smile.]
It's where I got the idea to leave you sea shells.
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