And so the sequel begins :D
I know some of you guys have been waiting a long time for this and I'm pretty psyched up about writing it myself. (:
Chapter one is the return so enjoy!
Tily: Hey! Don't forget about me!
Kit: Oh, you're back.
Tily: Hell yeah, here for commentry and everything.
Kit: Joy. Hope you like the chapter!
Disclaimer: IT'S BACK WITH A CAPS LOCK VENGEANCE! So is my determination to steal Axel so I blackmailed Luxord with Rum and Xaldin, we'll have to see how that works out.
This was… a lot of things for Roxas. It was exciting and terrifying, but at the same time so much more than that. He could only really call it emotional, and settled with it being more nerve wrecking considering how much his hands were shaking. He was getting closer every second. Closer to getting home and being back where he belonged after the longest nine months of his life.
The whole thing had come as a massive shock to his system. Actually everything had rattled him since this all started. This time eighteen months ago he was in the same place he was now but with a much different outlook on everything that was happening. Back then he didn't want to be here, he wanted to be 'home', little did he know that the place he once called home would become a prison nine months later, but now… now he was home or at least getting close to it.
He hadn't really expected to be here though, he had hoped he'd return one day, but not straight after his eighteenth birthday. His grandfather had sent him the plane ticket, dated and timed and nothing could stop him, not his guardians, they couldn't do anything anymore. He was free to make his own choices, and this was definitely a choice he was going to make.
The taxi pulled up in front of the house and Roxas quickly got out, paying the fair and taking the bags out of the trunk before the driver pulled away and Roxas was left standing on the porch. His smile was wide but often wavered, some things here were going to be complicated, and though he was happy to be back, he was apprehensive. But for now there was one thing he was dying to see, and that was Cloud's face when he saw his little brother again. Ansem had told the younger blond not to say anything to his brother, and keep it all as a surprise, so he did. This would be priceless.
Roxas opened the door quietly, peering his head round to find the hall empty and looking exactly as it always had, the only thing he heard was the sound of the TV drifting in from the living room and the music playing told him it could only be Cloud who was here.
With a wide, cunning grin Roxas opened the door, placing his bags gently on the floor and closing the door softly before tiptoeing towards the open living room. He looked in, thankfully everything was just the same here too and the single chair in front of the door would hide him well enough for the blond to sneak behind the couch and surprise his unsuspecting brother, but what he saw made him smile. Cloud wasn't alone, sat beside him, also staring intently at the TV screen was Zack and Roxas was happy to see the two together even after he left.
With silent movements Roxas crouched, scooted behind the chair and darted stealthily to the edge of the sofa where a hand appeared in front of him a little further up and Roxas raised an eyebrow as it moved to a 'thumbs up' and the younger blond looked up at Zack, the male looking out the corner of his eye at Roxas with a small grin on his face. The younger blond smiled back and Zack casually stretched his arm up before laying it on the back of the sofa again letting Roxas continue in his prowling.
Once behind Cloud the younger blond stood and quickly wrapped his brother into a headlock, "miss me?" Roxas laughed and as Cloud realised just who the voice belonged to he stopped struggling, twisting round to looked wide eyed at his grinning younger sibling and he pounced, off the sofa, and onto his taller-than-he-used-to-be but still younger brother.
"Roxas!" The older boy cheered, hugging him as they both lay as a pile on the floor. "You're here, I'm so glad you're back kiddo."
"As much as I hate to say it, I've missed you," Roxas admitted with a smile, hugging his brother.
"Now I feel left out," Zack joined in with a frown, helping both blonde's off the floor.
"It's good to see you too Zack, I'm glad Cloud's had someone to keep him sane while I've been gone."
"All part of the package," the raven winked "nice to have you back blondie."
"Where's granddad anyway?" Roxas asked as he scanned the room, he thought the man might be around to greet him. "I need to thank him for sending me the plane ticket."
"He's working away his retirement but he should be home soon, I can't believe neither of you told me you were coming home today," Cloud pouted and Roxas could only laugh, he really had missed his stupid brother.
"It was supposed to be a surprise," Roxas explained.
"So only you and Gramps know? I guess you're going to have to tell everyone else, oh I know!" Cloud cheered, "why don't we have a welcome back party for you? Everyone can come!" Roxas could tell his brother was excited about the idea but it just made his stomach churn nervously.
"I'll pass, I'm tired and I just want to tell everyone myself, you know, surprise them too at school and stuff," the younger male said and Cloud frowned.
"I guess that's fair enough, can you get back to school?"
Roxas nodded, "granddad sorted it all out for me, I need to see Xemnas tomorrow morning before school starts but everything should be fine for me to finish my school year there."
"What about getting there?" Cloud questioned and his brother shrugged, he'd forgotten he didn't have a car here like back in England.
"I can drive but I'll have to save up for a car, I can walk there until I get one," Roxas answered.
Cloud rolled his eyes and scoffed, Roxas was as selfless as ever, "I'll give you a ride knucklehead," the older Strife ruffled his brothers hair before he could do anything about it, seems Roxas' reactions were a bit lax after being gone for so long.
"Thanks Cloud," Roxas smiled. "I better take my things upstairs before granddad turns up and trips on them or something."
"Need any help shortie?" Zack questioned innocently like the comment want insulting, after all Roxas had grown a few inches in the past nine months.
"I can handle it," Roxas answered as he picked up his things and walked up to his old bedroom.
Nothing had changed in here and the blond let out a long sigh once his bags were down and the door was closed, his muscles relaxing and he finally let the melancholy set in, looking round the room just brought back so much he never wanted to forget but made himself do just to get through the hell he'd been in. Roxas unpacked his things thinking about his friends and what would happen when he returned to school, imagining what Demyx would be like and if the blond would forgive him for leaving without saying goodbye. Once everything was in its place Roxas nodded in approval, turning back to his suitcase again and unzipping the inside pocket, taking out a long book and carrying it over to his desk to put next to his laptop and he couldn't help but flick it open, it had been closed for so long.
The blond smiled at the pictures, his heart giving a yearning lurch as he flicked the pages sadly, his eyes scanning the photographs of his friends and finally Roxas' hand hovered longingly over a picture of a smiling blond and an equally happy redhead. "Axel," Roxas breathed out. What would the redhead say when he saw him again? Would things be the same?
"Hey Rox," a knock came from the other side of the door and the younger blond shut the photo album, putting it back on the desk as Cloud opened the door. "Gramps is back if you want to see him."
Both boys made their way back downstairs to find Zack and Ansem chatting and Roxas smiled at his grandfather, the man hadn't change one bit. "It's good to have you home Roxas," Ansem greeted as he hugged his youngest grandson,
"Thank you for sending me the ticket Granddad it means a lot," the younger blond thanked him.
"Well we all wanted you home it was the least I could do to bring you back."
"Since Rox doesn't want a big party how about we celebrate, just the four of us?" Cloud suggested and the others nodded their agreement.
"So how was your time back in England?" Zack asked as the group ate and Roxas chewed slowly to steel himself to the inevitable questions.
"It was good," Roxas lied. It was all far, far from good. "Elena and Rufus weren't overly happy about me leaving but they let me go without too much of a fight." That was true, then again, the way he had acted since he'd arrived the guilt was strong enough for them to let him leave and be happy again.
"Well that's expected of Elena, she craves those maternal instincts," Ansem laughed.
"I think I'm going to get some sleep, it's an early start tomorrow," Roxas admitted as he stood from the table.
"Oh Roxas, I have something for you, as a homecoming gift," Ansem perked up, standing too from the table and telling the blond to follow him. Roxas looked at his grandfather questioningly, surely the ticket was enough, it was to Roxas. "I can't make this much more of a surprise than it already is so I'll just get on with it," the man smiled, "I know you can drive now," Roxas' eyes shot to the size of dinner plate. He didn't!
"Granddad no, you really didn't have-"
"I don't care, you're my grandson and I want you to have your independence," Ansem interrupted the blond and passed him a set of keys. "You know where it is." Roxas made his way into the garage, flicking on the lights and gasping at the black Mini Cooper.
"Wow," Roxas awed, he'd only ever driven his uncles car back home and it was nothing compared to this. "Thank you so much," the younger blond grinned happily.
"I'm glad you like it, now off to bed with you, like you said it's an early start tomorrow." Roxas nodded, walking back into the hall with the others.
"Hey Rox, aren't you going to see Axel?" Cloud questioned and it made the younger blond wince.
"Actually I'm going to start school first, get everything on track then I'll see him," Roxas answered without looking at his brother. "Good night everyone," Roxas finally said before making his way up to his bedroom where he leaned against the door once he was inside.
Axel. He was the one person Roxas wanted to see most, and the one person he was most scared of seeing again. All the blond could think was 'what if?'
These thoughts ran through Roxas' mind as he finally settled into his old bed and fell into a restless sleep, tomorrow would be interesting.
A/N: Well there's chapter 1, big surprise that chapter 2's going to be meeting the others at school :P
Tily: Yay! This gets me excited for more chapters, I can't wait
Kit: Yeah, you won't give me a break about it either -_-;
Tily: You know what to do guys, click that review button down there to get the rest written quicker, ok?
Kit: Thanks for reading. :)