It wasn't until late into the night that Sora felt the first stirrings of Roxas within him. Logically, he knew that Roxas was there. He had even seen him during his Nightmare and known that there had been more to the feelings that Roxas had given him that time. Yet, Sora had not felt anything within him except for a stronger sense of peace since their merging.
Now, deep in sleep, he saw snapshots, photos of Roxas and his friends. Black cloak-clad, smiling faces ate in the light of twilight. These three friends laughed, cried, comforted, fought. Many things tried to separate them, and finally they were. With the memories came tears, real tears which lay dried upon Sora's face the next morning. The emotions were real. Unlike Roxas, Sora knew what emotions felt like, and these were real. Perhaps duller and less often because of the situation he'd been in, but Roxas had felt. Sadly, Sora realized that this didn't mean that Nobodies had hearts. Roxas may be the only special case.
When Sora awoke he was glad to finally understand Roxas. All he'd known for some time were the snippets of stories his friends had told him. Roxas had been part of the Organization. Roxas had been friends with Axel. Roxas had lived a normal life in the fake Twilight Town. Now Sora knew so much more. Roxas had also had a friend named Xion, a friend that he'd cared for greatly but had been lost to him and nearly everyone for the purpose of waking Sora himself. Sora knew that he had done nothing wrong, if anyone should be blamed for this messed up situation it should be Xehanort, yet he couldn't help feeling that he should have done more. For everyone. Roxas had always questioned the workings of the Organization, never exactly sitting well there. Sora was glad to know that his Nobody, while naive and susceptible at first, did have a defiant side. He also now knew that Roxas' biggest desire was to live a normal life like he'd had in Twilight Town. Even Sora couldn't give him that, being a warrior of Light and all.
Sora was fast approaching a meteor head-on, more closing in from both directions.
Steer left! a voice cautioned within his head. Without thought, Sora jerked the controls zooming through a narrow opening. The voice continued to whisper strategies when Sora's own maneuvers wavered.
When he'd finally passed through the gate, Sora let himself sink in the pilot seat with a loud groan. That was not something he wanted to go through every day. A laughed echoed in his head making Sora focus, blinking. He'd been so absorbed in flying that he hadn't thought on the strange voice in his head.
"Is that you, Roxas?" he asked aloud.
There was pause before, yes.
Sora tested speaking telepathically by projecting a strong thought. Why have you never spoken before now?
What do you mean? The last thing I remember was speaking with you in your Nightmare. Speaking this way was surreal. Roxas' voice didn't sound like noises heard from the outside, but it was more poignant than internal thoughts.
What about before that?
Merging with you.
Roxas, I'm not sure how to tell you this, but that was over a year ago.
What?
Perhaps you were sleeping?
Why would I wake up now?
Because I wanted you to, Sora thought without hesitance.
He felt Roxas pause. Finally, quietly, he asked, How is Axel?
Axel isn't…around anymore. I mean, he's Lea now! Sora waved his hands around frantically. He's fine. He's kind of like you are now. Roxas didn't miss the tenderness in Sora's voice.
I'm…glad.
Sora was at ease that Roxas was taking all of this so well, but he could still feel a sadness burrowed deep within his heart.
Did you love him? Sora couldn't help from asking.
Roxas jolted in surprise. It doesn't matter.
Maybe, but Roxas, remember that you do matter.
Sora obviously couldn't see Roxas, but he guessed that the strange feeling he had meant that he would have been blushing. You sure are kind, Sora. This was the first time his Nobody had said his name, and it made him incredibly happy.
Well, Roxas, seeing as I don't have anything to do besides train, I'll let you decide where we go next.
Me? Why?
Because I can train anywhere, and you deserve some special treatment, Sora thought grinning.
I'd…like to see my friends again. In Twilight Town.
"Sounds great!" Touching the Gummi ship controls, the brunet set them on course.