WASSUP! Chii here with Smile A Little, Will Ya's long awaited Chapter 7. Stupid metaphoric super glue, leaving me stuck in a terrifying abyss of non-updated stories and acute unpunctuality. *le sigh* Insert woeful apology here.

I've been working on bettering the timeline as well as finally introducing me beloved romance :) I don't really know how I pulled this off, bahaha. But yes, this chapter contains shounen-ai; yes, Kingdom Hearts belongs not to me. I also don't own le beautiful song Sora sings to Roxy. Once again, thanks loads to everyone currently involved with SALWY. I'm going to do my best not to disappoint!

Expect uber confuzzled Sora, weird parent scenes, excessive Nobody Show references and ridiculous costumes. Lots of fast paced narration, point of view changing and weirdness: I just facepalm at this whole chapter hahaha~

And if you're bothered enough to go with le story flow, a link to Sora's song. xD

https / / www. youtube . c o m (/) watch ? v = VkCLBj7nKPY (take out spaces and parentheses)

It really is a bootiful song hardihar. Uncle Kracker you rock!

:) Chii wishes Smile A Little, Will Ya Chapter Seven will be a fluffy heaven. (It seriously amuses me how these get worse and worse HA HA)


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Smile A Little, Will Ya?

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Ven?"

Ten-year old Roxas whispered, wading through the darkness of the room he shared with his brother. Thick curtains blocked every trace of sunset light coming from their windows, enabling Twilight locals like them to sleep at night. Occasionally a few clouds would darken the whole town, but not today. Judging from the glow-in-the-dark analogue clock on Ven's side of the room, it was around three twenty-six am.

"Ven? Are you awake?" The younger blonde tried again. He could hear Ventus shuffling on his bed, soundly asleep. He tiptoed closer. Feeling for his twin's mattress with outstretched hands, Roxas sat down, listening to Ventus' quiet breathing.

His brother was alright.

He felt for a hand, or anything really, desperate to feel any sort of warmth emitting from the boy. Ventus was always so, so warm. Roxas, on the other hand, was always cold. Ven was the brighter twin, the happier one, but Roxas was grouchy and unapproachable. Sometimes he was jealous of Ven for being so darn exuberant. They bickered often, with Ventus usually starting it, annoying Roxas to oblivion.

He loved him, though. He was the only one he had. Their mother worked frequently and came home late at night just to provide for her two growing sons. Sometimes she was there, sometimes she wasn't. It was usually Ven and their nanny, Ven and their aunt, Ven and the babysitter next door. He didn't have many friends either. Childish and annoying as he may have been, his brother took good care of him, and he took good care of the older boy in return.

Said older boy stirred slowly, blinking awake his droopy cerulean eyes. "Nngh. R-Roxas... What're you... doing h-here?" He sat up and took back the hand Roxas was holding, joining him at the edge of the bed. "You okay, brother?"

Roxas shrugged, mumbling. "W-Woke up. Too cold in my bed. N-N-Nightmare was awful."

"Oh."

Ventus retreated closer to the wall his bed was edged upon. "Come join me then. 'S warm under the blankets." He said sleepily, moving the comforter upwards to occupy the both of them. A few shuffles later and they were lying face to face; staring at each other in the darkness with identical blue eyes.

"You feeling better now? Do you maybe want to tell me about it?" Ven inquired with a soft, comforting tone. Roxas shook his head, choosing to stay silent instead.

Ven smiled. He wrapped an arm around his brother, pulling him close until Roxas could feel the older boy's steady heartbeat. "You sure you don't wanna tell me? You can get it off your chest."

The younger twin just buried his mop of blonde hair in Ventus' chest. "You're okay now. I've got your back. Everything's gonna be alright, Rox."

"Venny..."

Roxas never called him that unless he was really upset, which in this case, he was. It felt... so real. They were travelling, just the two of them. They went mountain climbing. There was a cliff nearby and Ven fell plunging, plummeting, slipping away... He couldn't save him.

Ven fell and he couldn't save his own twin.

"'M right here. Go get some rest."

Ven was alive and he was here. Ven was alive and he was here. It was just a dream. It wasn't real. His brother would never leave him. They were a team. They'd always be together, even if Ven was a million miles away and out arm's reach. Ven was alive and he was here. Ven was alive and he was here.

"I love you, Venny. You know that, right?" The younger blonde muttered through Ven's cotton longsleeve. "N-never say that enough. I still love you even if you're such a jerk sometimes."

"I know... I love you too. You're my only brother. I always will."

His older brother just held him, a hand carding through his hair and another carefully draped around his back. His twin was humming something. He normally hated Ven's irritating singing voice but this song was dear to the both of them. Roxas took in every hushed tone, singing the lyrics in his mind. It was easier to fall asleep then, hearing the fainted melody and the beating of Ventus' heart. He was safe. He was loved.

He had Ven.

"...Don't know how I lived without you... cause everytime that I get around you... I see the best of me... inside your eyes..."


~Chapter Seven: You Make Me Smile~

"KILL ME NOW."

That was the phrase going through Sora's head whilst he sat for two hours straight in a lone desk at Destiny College's assembly hall. Yesterday's examination was on Geography. The day before, he had to sit the theory examination for Food Technology. At the very moment, he was agonizing over a page full of questions on apoptosis and glycolysis and He. Just. Couldn't. Take. It. Anymore.

'Umm, something about two pyruvate something six glucose or whatever. GAH!'

He even studied this with Kairi yes, he definitely did; slept another good nine hours and ate a hearty breakfast but the moment he went through the hall doors it was like WHOOSH! Bye bye BYEology content. There must be a secret evil knowledge-stealing fairy somewhere out there, solely existing to suck the minds of restless students dry of everything they've studied.

Devious. Really devious.

At least this afternoon he'd get to hang out with Roxas to study for tomorrow's three pm English exam. Then there's the talent quest-cum-school festival of sorts next week! He hadn't practiced so much in the days leading up to his exams, but with the silverette's help, at least Sora had been able to master the main chords of his song.

'Some cells are programmed to die; such is the process of apoptosis,' Sora began scribbling, checking the huge projector screen displaying the current time in front of him momentarily. Thirty minutes. Maybe he'd have some doodle time at the end if he sped this up enough.

'Give an example. Oh, I dunno, maybe like my brain cells dying from thinking too hard about this question! Pfft.'

The sixteen year old just wanted this over and done with.

~o~

By the time he got to Roxas', Sora was pretty much brain-dead. "No more polymerase chain reactions… PLEASE!" he declared to no one in particular, making himself at home as he slumped lazily on Roxas' comfy couch. He brought Whiskers with him so she could hang out with her sister Blue, and as if on cue, the little grey-furred kitty peeked at the two from the corridor before pouncing away at Sora's legs.

"Meow mew mreoowww!"

"That bad, huh?" Roxas asked, pouring himself and his friend two separate mugs of hot chocolate. "I made this. Maybe that'll cheer you up." He brought the tray over and placed it down on the marble tea table before sitting opposite of Sora. "At least tomorrow is our last one. I had a time constraint coding a website today. It's quite a task, to be honest."

"Did you finish?" Sora sipped on his drink, already cheering him up.

"Yeah. Just. We had references so, it wasn't hard to memorize what to use."

With Blue and Whiskers pawing at the carpet and scratching away on the tiles of the kitchenette, the two eleventh graders got into their planned exam study. Sora was having trouble with explaining how the theme of conflict occurred in The Impossible Life when the blonde noticed his inner turmoil.

"Pick three or four quotes from the text yeah I think that works and then elaborate on it."

"Hmmmm... how does, "Alanna's self-conflict, as shown through the quote, 'I felt useless and unworthy, was I even good enough' depicts her desire to become a better person"sound?"

Roxas was silent, the gears of his brain turning. "Y-Yeah… maybe if you split the quote in half, that would be better. Not to mention replace "better person" to "improve herself mentally and physically". These little words make a difference sadly. Fussy graders…"

Why oh why…

Sora threw his hands above his head. He sucked at this analyzation stuff. Call him talented or whatever but when it came to schoolwork, he was utterly screwed. Sure, he did amazingly compared to most, but if he was ever to be ranked academically he would probably be barely scraping excellent grades or above average. He was glad his friends were around to assist him though. Especially Roxas the guy was exceptionally smart and mildly criticisive.

"Honestly, you just want to write whatever you want in these things but nooo, it has to be expository style," The brunette was crying inside. Roxas, noticing his distress, walked over and sat next to him, messing up his already stress-tousled sienna hair. The cerulean-eyed teen was like that lately. It reassured Sora that Roxas wanted to be close to him too.

"Tell you what, how about we turn on the television and take a break. I'll hand my notes over to you to see if you can get any ideas from that while I make us a 4pm dinner or sorts." He stood up, casting a glance at the two kittens before stretching his arms out. "How are the twins and Riku doing? You should probably call them if you want."

"Yeah. Thanks Roxas." He grinned tenfold. The underlying "you're the best" was left unsaid; the guy probably knew that anyway.

Man. Sora was so lucky to be one of the people Roxas trusted. Back then he used to be so ice cold, and now the latter was warming up to himself and his friends. People were like that, the brunette knew. They just needed to be given a chance. They just needed someone to tell them someone was there for them. That negativity wouldn't exist without positivity. But it's weird, because even though Sora was the one trying so hard, Roxas was the one changing him for the better. He just can't seem to imagine a life without his new best friend anymore.

He knew Roxas had a part of his heart.

Two complaining calls later, the azure-eyed boy turned on the television, shaking his torso to the channel's ending theme song. Roxas' notes were unlike his as expected neat bullet points with cute little drawings and self-berating captions here and there. Roxas, remember this. The thesaurus is your friend, Rox-rox. 'Twas kind of cute reading about what the blonde calls himself in his head, Sora told himself. Those chibis were way too perfect to be a mediocre talent.

"Oh... my... GOSH... ROXAS COME COME COME!" The brunette cried suddenly, pointing at the offending tv after hearing that one distinct tune. "It's the NOBODY SHOW, l can't believe THEY AIR IT ON THIS CHANNEL I HAVE TO WATCH IT ONLINE how is this possible?!"

"Huh? Seriously? Hang on, I'm almost done, I just have to feed the cats—" Sora heard some frantic shuffling in the background and got up to assist his friend. He'd have to admit, hearing Roxas' normally lackadaisical voice tone injected with emotion was a good thing. Things were changing and the change was good, even exhilarating if someone asked him. Roxas will be smiling soon. He just felt it coming.

"Xemnas is making his appearance, oh and there's Saïx! This is definitely the first episode waaah~!"

English study put aside, the two blue-eyed sixteen year olds had a blast of a break that afternoon with their favourite program and bowlfuls of creamy shell macaroni soup.

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How time flies by.

The last weekend before the holidays was a bit hectic for the students of Destiny College. Those involved in the student council were undeniably busy as always – transitioning from an examination work ethic to managing events around the school ready for Wednesday was not an ordinary task. Two weeks of practice and Sora wasn't sure he was ready to perform in a few days' time, but the day after his god-forsaken English exam, he'd had to audition to confirm his talent quest application. Needless to say, he got in.

"Smile! S-Smiileee. Erhem… Smi-i-i-le— ugh." The boy erupted into coughing fit. Sora wasn't exactly an experienced singer, but he did have an ear for musical pitch. And right now, it was not feigning well for him to have a crackly voicebox. He'd been practicing all day to get the right melody, as well as to perfectly coordinate his singing with his guitar playing. Thank goodness his father Leon had enough patience to grab him a thousand glasses of water from the kitchen.

"Don't know h-hooo-owokay enough is enough. Ow indeed!" He grinned, shaking his chocolate mop of hair frantically in front of his reflection. Kairi who was sitting on his bed doing last minute hand sewing just rolled her eyes.

Calm down. You sound like a dying whale from over here." The girl picked away at a random ivory thread. "And let me remind you that I'm only a few metres away from you and if you strain yourself with the singing you won't be able to perform come Wednesday."

Her sister was at Riku's doing the same last minute sewing she guessed and trying to proportionate the silverette's size and build into their cosplay project. The wig was going to be harder to attach to him, however. Kairi quietly laughed at her and Naminé's very brilliant idea...

The brunette sighed. "Sorry. I just want it to be perfect..." He swung around his chair and away from his closet mirror, facing his best friend with a guilty smile. Whiskers finally emerged from under the bed then, her paws returning back to her ears every so often just in case Sora decided to sing loudly again.

"Meow."

"You know it doesn't matter to Roxas whether you missed a note or not. He doesn't even know you're serenading him in front of the whole school." Kairi informed him. At the sight of the ginger kitten she set aside her project for a while to pick the pet up and into her lap. "Which reminds me... he is pretty much your size, right? Naminé and I are running out of time so we made an exact replica of the clothes you're wearing."

"Umm, Roxas is definitely taller than me... not sure about his body size though..."

The girls hadn't much long to plan for their Destiny College end-of-exam-week festival costumes, so they'd tossed some ideas in the air and aimed to make them immediately after their exams. Instead of Sora's original Peter Pan theme ensembles however, the blonde girl suggested a more practical costume idea that would include Riku, herself and her sister to dress up in the same theme and Roxas and Sora as another. Plus, they weren't too hard to make. It didn't take long to gather fabric for sewing and other accessories such as wigs, and now, three days from their festival and talent quest, Kairi was pretty much just adding some details to them. She was sure Roxas still didn't know about the dressing up part of the special day (Sora'll enlighten him soon enough) and Riku... heh, Riku was in for a surprise.

Moving Whiskers onto Sora's pillow to play with Mr Bunnykins and Froggie, the girl dusted her finished product free of loose thread and barely-seen lint. "That's okay. We made some room in the jacket just in case. I'll clean whatever I messed up later. What do you think about this?" She held up Sora's jacket.

Azure eyes scanned over the attire. "Wow, it's absolutely perfect! You and Nam are the best, Kai!" Sora rose to his feet to feel the nylon-polyester fabric for himself. He browsed small hands through the pockets and hood strings, noting Kairi's amazingly precise machine stitching with amazement.

"Great! Try it on so I know it fits. Here're the pants as well. Are you using Riku's guitar for the performance?"

"Mewwww mreow!"

"Nah. He didn't want me tampering with the thing." Sora checked himself in the mirror. Absolutely perfect, the way this outfit hugged his body. His friends were geniuses. "I pre-ordered a custom-made one instead. Mom's picking it up for me today right after work so I can return Ri's to him tomorrow. She thinks it's nice I've picked up another new talent."

"Hah, "another". The ever-so-talented Sora... Don't forget to hang up your clothes so it doesn't get too many creases. You can bring Roxas' costume to him as well."

A calling voice from downstairs and the smell of baked quiche roused the two to take a hearty lunch break, Whiskers included. Three days left and Sora would get the chance to show off what he'd been working on the last two weeks. Three days left and Roxas' world would be different from the way it was right now, if only in the form of the smile Sora wished for day and night. Three days left.

How time flies by indeed.

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"Oh I hate you three, so, so much, why in the world am I still friends with you, how is it that I'm forced to wear such a scandalous, objectionable, derogatory excuse of an attire while Sora gets to look less of a fool than I do? I'd rather wear a damning trashbag."

Of course Riku would hate it. But the fact that he did hate it gave the girls a bigger thrill in forcing him to wear it.

The third of July would be an unforgettable end-of-week exam festival day for Destiny College, partly because the one and only school's angel, Sora Leonhart, would be smashing the stage with his must-see performance. Of course when word got out that Sora got in the talent quest (surprise, surprise there), suddenly everyone was more excited for the event than usual. Good thing the weather that day was impeccably sunny, but nothing can beat the winter breeze and the clinging frost on dying grass. DC loved its talent quest performances very much so, and out of the many daring to ridiculous entries they received every year, twenty individuals and groups got the privilege to flaunt their amazing skills to their school mates and teachers.

Another reason to remember this day in DC history was merely what Riku Aurelien was wearing. And my, was it ignominious indeed.

"Hah! Nice outfit Riku! Finally in touch with your inner feminine, huh?" Vanitas hollered from a distance. The guy himself was dressed as a vampire, something contrary to what the silverette internally believed that was WAY better than this offending thing he was unwillingly shoved into. He may as well have been gassed and locked in a room for all it was worth. How did he get into this again?

"Shut your mouth, pug face! Eat a shoe!" He yelled back, stomping furiously in his… stupid black doll shoes. Trust him to be best friends with the most insane and secretly evil individuals ever.

"Don't pay him any attention, Ri. You look amazing." Naminé casually twirled one of her curled pigtails with a finger. Kairi, dressed in a similar ensemble as her sister and Riku with differing colours, adjusted the ribbon in her half-tied straight hair as she nodded.

"Amazing? AMAZING? How can a man like me look AMAZING in this? IT'S ALL LIES! I'm freezing my butt off in this green short-sleeved dress and knee-high white socks during the coldest month of winter as Buttercup! A FREAKING POWERFUFF GIRL!" He pulled at a cowlick on his black-haired wig for effect. "WHY, CRUEL WORLD!"

"Oh come on, Ri, it's not so bad! The weather's nicer than the rest of July usually is!" Sora said, smiling.

"NOT SO BAD?! OH YOU TRY WEARING WHAT I'M WEARING RIGHT NOW! In front of the whole school nonetheless! Still not so bad to you, aye Leonhart?"

"Well if you really didn't want to, you didn't have to." The red-haired girl told him. Sapphire orbs caught Naminé's briefly and they knew their eldest best friend inwardly didn't want their hard work to go to waste. Besides, it was hilarious. Riku basked in the glow of hilarity.

"I still hate you three." The guy said in a final, dismissive tone. They were heading towards the direction of the large bouncy castle when Riku huffed and picked up the pace. "For the record," the silverette turned around and yelled, "this is not happening again, ya hear me?! Demons, I tell you…"

Sora giggled with Bubbles-Naminé and Blossom-Kairi. "Buttercup, she is the toughest fighter, Powerpuffs saved the day~"

"OH SHADDUP!"

With their grouchy friend gone to cool off some steam, the twins and Sora began their trek to find Roxas amidst the crowds of superheroes, anime characters and for the really last minute ideas, people with cardboard signs or in gigantic boxes with coloured doodles. Most of the day was being held at the school field: the place packed with stalls of all sorts on the lower grounds and the portable talent quest stage in the center view of their circular arena on the upper grounds. Just like May the first, the creative departments of Destiny College ran most of the activities and attractions. Spotting Miss Aqua defrosting a lone daisy on the ground, the three waved at her before finally catching a glimpse of their blonde target not far from the plush toy stall.

"Roxyyyyyyy!" As if Sora couldn't be any more excited, azure eyes glimmered at the sight of his beloved best friend. He couldn't really run with the large instrument he was carrying with him, but he tried anyway. Roxas met him halfway the journey, the immaculate wig he was wearing covering the left side of his face.

"Hey Sor. Or should I say, Demyx?" Roxas commented, flicking two fingers at Sora's gelled blonde wig. "You look awesome."

"Hehe, you too! You actually, ACTUALLY look like Zexion and it's not even funny. Kai and Nam did an awesome job huh?"

"Yeah." The older boy spared a glance at the girls squealing none-too-quietly behind Sora. He sent them a thankful salute to which Kairi responded with a mouthed, "You're welcome".

Nam and Kai's plans to get the two a couple-themed cosplay, unbeknownst to them of course, was so totally worth it. The happy-go-lucky boy appeared extremely flattering in an ivory black hoodie, dark denim pants and heavy leather boots. Roxas was just as handsome in the same outfit; the emo-like blue fringe giving him an endearing and mysterious charm. Now if only Sora would notice that and vice versa.

"Finally gelling the hair, I see. I can't believe you also went as far as to grab yourself a sitar." The Twilight Town boy eyed the instrument the brunette was manhandling behind him.

"Teehee. It's actually a guitar that looks like a sitar. Learning the sitar is waaaaaay harder." Sora explained. "Lucky you though, only having to carry a book around like the nerd you are, Ze-xi-on~ It's so awesome because not only do I have Demyx's sitar, but as a talent quest performer for today I actually get to utilize it. So much win."

"Hn. I look forward to seeing you use it. I won't need to run home for my earmuffs, do I?" he teased, pinching the shorter teen's nose affectionately. The brunette just laughed. "At least not in the way Zexion would when Demyx starts playing…"

"HEY! I practiced forever! I promise, I'm not bad at all! That sea-salt ice cream bet is still on, muhaha!"

Kairi had to hold on to Naminé for support. Death by feels. She couldn't take watching them openly yet unknowingly flirt with each other without interfering. It was all… too… much. Instead, the blonde girl dragged her over to a stall displaying a variety of accessories, leaving the two boys to their antics. How they handled things from now on was all on them.

"You think they'll finally notice they like each other? I mean, if our research was reliable enough, that Nobody Show Sora adores so much definitely portrays Zexion and Demyx as a couple."

The sapphire-eyed blonde took out a blue long-sleeve from her handbag. The chilly air seemed to agree with her as it blew past, doing little damage to their styled hair. Winter romances are just the sweetest.

Kairi sighed longingly. "It'd be a miracle if they do…"

~o~

Some minutes later, the girls located Riku hanging within the outskirts of the school canteen. He was joking around with Zack, who, much to his relief, was dressed as Snow White because his girlfriend forced him to. The black-haired teen didn't mind so much though. His aforementioned girlfriend was dressed as a prince herself so the whole gender-bender costume theme wasn't exactly limited to the aquamarine-eyed silverette.

Roxas and Sora on the other hand, flitted from one place to the other from several food shacks to game stalls, winning and buying a few things here and there. While the brunette buried his face into a plate of several types of guacamole, the blonde had his focus on distant targets, aiming tennis balls or rings or bean bags to win free novels and for the azure-eyed boy, another few plushies for his collection. Inevitably, Roxas had to deal with girls barraging their way towards them for photographs of cute Demyx-Sora. They had the gall to ask him to take them even with his barely-concealed ice blue glare! It was a shame the Strife teen couldn't really refuse because he didn't want Sora to be upset. Besides, the sooner Roxas took them, the sooner they'd leave them alone. Ungrateful swine.

When it was about time for the talent quest performances to start, the duo put away their purchases and winnings in their lockers and reunited with Riku as well as the girls before Sora could disappear towards the arena for placing arrangements. The day was still young with the sun peaking high just behind a swirl of fleecy clouds. Shivering slightly as they sat down, the monitoring teachers coaxed the youngest year groups to file along the first few bleacher rows, followed by the senior eleventh and twelfth-grade students along the back. Sound checks made the occasional screeching through the speakers as they drowned out the noisy chitter-chatter between friends.

"Oh, this is going to be so exciting! I've been in the RadiAX group's every dance practice." Some girl in front of Roxas beamed, her friends giggling along with her. The blonde himself was settled between Naminé and Kairi, Riku picking through a popcorn packet beside the red-haired girl. Soon enough several pairs of eyes focused on The Head of Music testing the microphone onstage.

"Hello, can everyone hear me? Good! Welcome to this year's annual Destiny College talent quest. I, Miss Ariel, will be your host for today!"

The teacher blabbered on for a few more minutes before the first performer, a speed-painting artist, began his five minute limited show of talent. Though an impassive face he wore, Roxas was actually impressed. The act reminded the blonde of their yearly talent quests in Twilight High just as extravagant in planning, he daresayed. Of course, his first few years of high school talent quests were the most interesting. Every year, Ventus just had to one-up everybody with a new showcase. When he left, talent quests never had the same light shed upon them ever again. He'd even stopped attending.

The cerulean-eyed teen still wondered what Sora was going to sing. Riku had helped him with the guitar playing, and according to the brunette, the sapphire-eyed girls had been there for his pitch work and melody modifications. The surprise his friend had been hiding would remain a secret no more in a matter of performances. Whatever it was, Roxas knew it was going to be good.

This was Sora they were talking about, for heaven's sake.

A shadow act, clever "magical" illusions, two dance groups and a medley song later, the audience held their breaths and unleashed their waiting applauses for a certain now-blonde, chocolate-haired boy as he walked up the steps of the portable stage. Roxas could see Sora shaking visibly from the two arena projector screens. It actually concerned him because the guy was used to public appearances. When dark blue orbs began searching the bleachers, the Strife teen held out a reassuring thumbs up, rendering his fangirls' encouraging yells of, "You can do it, Sora!", "Go Sora!" or "Yipeeyahyayy!" useless.

"Umm, hi."

Kairi leaned on Riku's shoulder to avoid bursting out. Sora was such a nervous wreck and as his best friend she could tell with just those two words. The silverette patted her on the back.

"Err, umm, so, my name is Sora for those who don't know me… how is everyone doing today?"

He practiced really hard. He could do this. It was going to be perfect and nothing else mattered.

Lights flared out and blinked into focus on the happy-go-lucky boy, his confidence gradually restored. "Yay! Alrighty then, let's get this act started before my five minutes run out, ha ha!" Besides the one he was using, a microphone set up by the technology members of the student council was already adjusted towards where his sitar was going to be. He sat down on the stage chair longing azure catching suspenseful cerulean eyes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, students and teachers of Destiny College," he took a revitalizing deep breath, "I dedicate this song to my newest best friend Roxas Strife, who, for the past five months, has given me a chance to improve myself. Thank you so much for your light."

Silence. And then murmurs.

Two seconds after Sora's announcement, stage lights found Roxas in the crowd his half-covered austere expression and confused eyes staring back at him from the projector screens. They widened all the more when that particular acoustic melody resonated through the school speakers.

Oh god.

Of all things.

He can't believe

No.

H-H-How did what

Roxas was forced to release a breath he didn't know he was holding while he clutched his chest impulsively.

After the introduction interlude, Sora's sweet voice echoed through the arena. Fingers aware of which chords to play, he sang.

"You're better than the best…

I'm lucky just to linger in your light.

Cooler than the flip-side of my pillow, that's right…"

"Completely unaware, nothing can compare,

To where you send me; it lets me know that it's okay.

Yeah, it's okay.

And the moments when my good times start to fade…"

Roxas hasn't listened to this song… in years… All the memories it held for him…

They were too

"You make me smile like the sun,

fall outta bed, sing like a bird, dizzy in my head

spin like a record, crazy on a Sunday night…"

"You make me dance like a fool, forget how to breathe…"

"Shine like gold, buzz like a bee…

just the thought of you can drive me wild…"

"Oh, you make me smile."

So bygone yet surprising in the blonde's memory etched upon his subconscious, like a repetitive film on an infinite roll. Ventus.

This song was theirs.

Eyes open, breath quickening, pulse racing the audience didn't matter. Aww's in the background couldn't compare to the drumroll of his heart and oh my gosh, Sora

The wind whispered in his ear and he shivered.

.

.

Sora was doing alright. Eyes closed, fingers strumming, dimples rising as the lyrics fell from his lips like a soaring hummingbird: feeling the emotion of every note, of every word, and even without seeing Roxas' face he hoped he was smiling like his love for this song. And even if Roxas wasn't the brunette would still keep trying. Still stay by his side and still mean everything his heart wanted the now blue-haired blonde to know at this very moment.

The Leonhart teen's trio on friends kept close watch on the serenaded and when the first few tears finally fell, Naminé knew. Roxas had forgotten he was a spectacle on the screen. Contrarily silent, Sora's fans were captivated by the gentle melody and the azure-eyed boy's next verse.

"Even when you're gone,

somehow you come along just like a flower,

poking through the sidewalk crack."

"…And just like that… you steal away the rain. And just like that."

"You make me smile like the sun,

fall outta bed, sing like a bird, dizzy in my head...

spin like a record, crazy on a Sunday night..."

"Ventus, shut up. I am trying to finish this project."

"You make me dance like a fool,

forget how to breathe, shine like gold;

buzz like a bee… just the thought of you can drive me wild…"

"Damn it, you. Be quiet!"

"Oh come on, Roxas. It's my favourite song. Ohhhhh, you make me smileeeee..."

"Favourite song yourself. Doesn't mean you have to annoy me with it by singing it all the freaking time."

"Aww, why do you have to be so mean to me? Mother says you should be nicer because I'm the only brother you have. Plus I'm older so that trumps you double time."

"Hmph. Just please keep it down. Your shrilling excuse of a singing voice is emotionally traumatizing."

"OHHHHH YOU MAKE MEEEEE SMILEEEEEE~! Sing it with me, Roxy! YOUUUU MAKEEE MEEEE SMILEEEEEE!"

"Ven! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

"Nuh-uh. Having too much fun."

"Grrr! You are sooo busted!"

"Nyahahaha! Can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread Ven~! Over here nope, over there nope, under the bed, whoops, you missed me! Maahaa~!"

"VENTUS STRIFE! COME BACK HERE, YOU IMBECILE! ARGH!"

When the bridge came, Sora had his eyes on Roxas and only on Roxas. He'd stood to express all what could not be expressed through song itself; body language strong and comforting. "...Don't know how I lived without you, cause every time that I get around you... I see the best of me inside your eyes..."

"You make me smile…"

Roxas, don't cry.

"You make me dance like a fool,

forget how to breathe… shine like gold,

buzz like a bee, just the thought of you can drive me wild…"

Don't cry.

"You make me smile like the sun,

fall outta bed, sing like a bird, dizzy in my head –

spin like a record, crazy on a Sunday night…"

"You make me dance like a fool,

forget how to breathe… shine like gold,

buzz like a bee, just the thought of you can drive me wild…"

.

.

"Oh, you make me smile..."

.

.

Lips quirking upwards. Slow. Subtle.

"Oh, you make me smile…"

.

.

The Twilight High teen's tears long wiped, gone like they weren't even there.

"Oh… you make me smile."

The big finish: A grin from ear-to-ear; viewed by all through dual screens. Bowing to the applauses he earned by default, but only one mattered to him the most. Affectionate cries of students from every year group. That was amazing, Sora. Aww! How adorable! Roxas is so lucky, oh my gosh…

Just like Kairi knew he would, he'd perfected his act, and it was better than what the Leonhart teen had expected. With Sora's five minutes up, he ambled off of the stage with his sitar in tow, butterflies back in his stomach as he anticipated how Roxas would react. DC's talent quests weren't about who was the best in school, so the azure-eyed teen needn't worry about any competitive aspects.

Phew. Singing was hella tiring.

~o~

He knew waiting was always a bother, but that one hour sitting elsewhere in the arena enjoying the last few acts of the show away from his best friends was too agonizing for the brunette, so to speak. He was impressed with the one-person orchestra though how someone could jump from one instrument to the other and manage to play a perfect piece was beyond him. Closing announcements from Miss Ariel explained that joyrides would be closing an hour before bell time so they had to hurry if they wanted to make the most of the day.

The walk out was just as nerve-wracking as the performance itself.

If the guy was expecting to immediately find his way to his best friends after the talent quest, well, he was sorely mistaken. Flocks of his fellow schoolmates crowded the upper grounds of the school field. Some were there to see him; some merely wandering around to congratulate the other performers. He'd noticed, however, that the girls who adored him and normally… err… greeted him with hugs didn't so much approach him closer than a metre's distance. Thanking him for the entertainment with beaming smiles or a few handshakes, they withdrew elsewhere within a matter of minutes.

Odd.

"Sora!"

That was Naminé, straightening out her side fringes. Buttercup-Riku gave him a wave through the still-present crowd and Kairi; a proud grin.

Zexion-Roxas didn't stand too far behind them, face characteristically buried in his novel to avoid social interaction.

"Kairi! Naminé! Riku!" The Leonhart teen jogged towards them excitedly, almost forgetting he was carrying a heavy instrument. The now black-haired aquamarine-eyed teen muffled his blond spiky hairdo, patting him proudly on the shoulder. "You did well, bro."

"He definitely pulled that one off! Sor, that was just adorable. When you stood up for the bridge and played like no one was watching, there was so much emotion and aww" Kairi just hugged him to herself. The sunshine-haired girl and Riku joined in as well as they laughed and swayed to the beat of the music playing across their college.

Sora was all smiles. "Thanks guys. I couldn't have done it without you helping me. I love you so much…"

"We love you too, Sora."

"You really are one-of-a-kind, you know?"

Riku agreed. "Yeah, ditto, you big baby."

The laughs only die down when the sixteen year-old remembered he still needed to confirm what Roxas thought of his act. From the stage he'd seen the Strife teen's fists clenched directly over his chest, but he couldn't be sure. Pulling out of the group hug, Sora raised his head, eyeing the friend he so dearly thought of: watching him, cerulean eyes full of endearment.

"Sora."

Heads turned to the direction of the voice. Conversations became whispers and murmurs, silence cutting through crowds like gunfire.

Sora grinned.

Dark blue eyes on paler blue, his heart beating fast while he nibbled on his bottom lip. No more of this pointless staring. He needed a solid answer. Did Roxas like it? Did Roxas hate it? Could he finally see his hardwork pay off? His sitar in Riku's care, the boy ran.

Who knew five metres could be so far away…

Roxas waited for him. With outstretched arms he caught the boy in succession, swinging the younger around before fully burying himself in Sora's chocolate warmth.

His Sora.

His.

The brunette meant so much to him and he couldn't even explain it… How did things turn out this way? This was the annoying individual he couldn't stand to be next to five months ago. The same boy who'd been trying so hard for the sake of his woeful demeanour without even asking for anything in return. Sweet, adorable Sora who reminded him too much of Ventus to be a wild coincidence, who had an idea of his antisocial flaws and foul attitude but still chose to stick around.

Sora.

He was an angel. He didn't deserve this light with his heart of bleakness, but yet he was here in his arms. Subtle tears prickled his eyes once more and the Twilight Town teen held him close, adamant not to let him go.

God, of all things…

What did he do to deserve him...

"Roxas…" The azure-eyed boy hugged him back. Book forgotten on the ground, Roxas laced a hand through Sora's blonde and brown spikes; the other draped over the small of his back. No matter that people were staring at them to the cerulean-eyed boy, they were the only ones standing there; the gusting breeze sighing contentedly as their witness.

"Did I… D-Did I win the bet, Roxas? Do I have to fork up my cash to buy you a semester's supply of sea-salt ice cream?"

Funny how that was the first thing his friend worried about. Sora was the one who sang that song and yet he was the one making him smile. "Yes, yes… you won, you weirdo. God, Sora. You were…"

Amazing? Fantastic? Magnificent?

There were no words to explain how much he appreciated the Leonhart teen's efforts to show he cared. Songs were meaningful words from the heart stringed into a carefully composed melody, but that song in particular…

Instead of forcing him to break down from grief it just made Roxas undeniably happy. That even though Ventus was gone, he had Sora with him and he had to move on. It told him that he wasn't alone.

That he was safe. And he was loved.

'Cause he had Sora.

Lips brushing against the shorter's ear, Roxas held him closer. "Sor… why...

.

.

Why didn't you tell me you'd change my life, the moment you walked in it?"

.

.

.

The azure-eyed teen's heart was palpitating. He felt so warm and happy here, in Roxas' arms, his normally cool skin now a tender temperature. It was all so weird. He didn't know why he suddenly couldn't breathe, and when he remembered to, they were none-too-quiet gasps of air as he sank further into Roxas' honey embrace. What was happening to him and why was he feeling so lightheaded...

He giggled softly as blue eyes fluttered to a close. "I don't think you would've believed me, if I told you... B-But am I really...? Changing your life, that is..."

"Yeah... I wouldn't have, huh." And of course you are...

When Roxas pulled away, it was only to see Sora's face his lively smile... his deep blue ecstatic eyes. Someone in the distance had cleared their throat and the crowds dispersed, leaving only the twins just metres away talking about shoes and Riku rolling his eyes without a care in the world.

"Sora... thank you. Thank you so much."

Azure orbs blinked rapidly and Roxas was looking at him and... wow. He really did have beautiful cerulean eyes. As if the brunette didn't notice this before because he knew but he didn't, heh, Sora didn't look at everyone's eyes so closely. And just when he couldn't be even more surprised, there it was. What the free-spirited boy'd been wishing for all this time. It was small, but it was there.

Roxas was smiling.

SMILING.

It was a tiny smile; one a person would make if they'd seen something that amused them. Holy crap, of all things, he couldn't believe this was it.

"Rox, you're"

But Sora didn't see it coming when Roxas leaned in, their foreheads touching and their heartbeats pounding simultaneously.

What.

What what what what what.

What was happening...?

The Leonhart teen was flushed and he knew it. Oh my gosh, he didn't even know, he could feel one of Roxas' hands gently stroking his face a thumb caressing his cheek, his sudden gasping oh-so-difficult to hide now. He'd never felt this way around the blonde before, so why now...? Roxy was too close and it was making him nervous, god, what was happening, please someone tell him, he didn't understand

It wasn't until he remembered something something Riku had said that he finally... oh dear him, what when where why how did this happen...? He just wanted to run and understand, but Roxas

Roxas was smiling and it was because of him. This was what he had prayed for all this time. Little though it was, it was a start and it was a smile. Sora couldn't be anymore thankful he'd never given up.

He could feel the other's cheek against his, with his arms enclosed around him protectively and their noses rubbing. The closet softie in the blonde was showing. And hell it would be a lie if Sora even so much thought he didn't like this side of him. The Strife teen was so warm... and he was so, so glad he could start crying.

"When you finally realize your feelings you'll be angry at yourself for being so clueless..."

"He's finally realized he liked Roxas..."

"I knew it..."

"Sora?"

Reality in the form of Roxas' voice eventually caught up to the confuzzled and discombobulated blonde-haired brunette.

"Sora, Riku, Nam and Kai are waiting for us. Do you wanna go on the bumper cars before they close?" He suggested.

When did the Twilight High teen pull away and how long had they been holding hands for? What time was it and where were they again? Today was the third of July.

"U-Uhh huuh whaa? Err, ha ha, umm, y-yeah! Whatever you said... ha ha..."

Broken mess his brain was. This was worse than the brunette's Biology exam.

"Okay, come on then." Another tiny smile oh my godddd "I'll be the one treating you this time, yeah?"

"Y-Yeah... o-okay…"

Leading the front were his three Powerpuff best friends, mumbling secrets amongst themselves as the older boy pulled him along towards their destination.

Dear knowledge-stealing fairy somewhere out there. For the love of all things good and sane...

"Kill me now."

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o

Days later and Sora couldn't believe the second semester holidays were finally here. Compared to their previous fortnight break however, he had absolutely no homework, courtesy of having just finished the midterm exams. Of course, his teachers still managed to emphasize the importance of studying and revisiting their notes for the next term, and he quoted, "As senior students of Destiny College you have to be responsible enough to read ahead, ready for the third semester and eventually for the end-of-year examinations." Yeah… no thank you for now.

With nothing too important to do and suddenly no phases to complete, his laptop and ice cream were his friends. He'd re-watch the next few episodes of the Nobody Show from what's airing on television but… gah. It reminded him too much of the festival.

And of Roxas…

…he remembered… Roxas brushing… gentle hands through his hair… and their foreheads touchinghoney warmth; lips just millimetres away from his and he wondered, what ifhe'd moved… what if he'd stood on tiptoes and…

GAH!

The azure-eyed teen took a pillow he wasn't using and buried his humiliated and blushing face in its fluffiness. Please someone stop these feelings and memories… he wasn't supposed to think about this, he wasn't supposed to wonder and fantasize, HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO DEVELOP A CRUSH ON THE BOY HE WAS TRYING TO HELP!

GAH!

GAH GAH GAH GAH GAH!

GAAAAAAAAAAH!

And of course Riku, Namine and Kairi as well as the rest of his family and homeroom class had already speculated his supposedly hidden feelings for the sunshine-haired boy and even constantly, constantly constantly constantly! pointed it out.

He wasn't supposed to believe them because it wasn't true!

But now it was.

.

.

.

Well, he was dead.

"Whiskers, what do I do now?" Sora asked the napping kitten burrowed in Sora's plush toys. He couldn't even see her from where he was sitting one could never have enough plushies. The cookies and cream bucket he'd been devouring was long melted on his bedside table and the laptop on his stomach was continuously prompting him to charge it already.

"Meow."

"You think I should just sit here, and do nothing about it. Meow once for yes, twice for no."

His pet poked a curious head from the pile, sneezing. "Meow meww."

"Then you want me to do something about it?"

"Mrreow."

Tch. Even his cat knew he liked Roxas.

Sigh. It was late. He'd done nothing this Sunday but eat and sleep all day, thanks to episode binging and video games. Thankfully though, tomorrow he'd get to hang out with Riku and the twins, maybe even the cerulean-eyed teen if he was available. Putting aside the laptop and switching off the lights, Sora returned to bed, patting his surroundings for the ginger's whereabouts. The brunette was already settled inside his triple-layered burrow when his phone on the bedside table signalled an incoming text message.

Roxas (04xxxxxxxx)

Sent 11:47pm, 07/07

Subject: ❤ heyyy

"Hey.

I'm bringing Blue with me to play with Whiskers tomorrow, just to let you know. I'll meet you at your house. Will they be all right with your mother? Can't wait to see you.

❤ (ノ¬_¬)ノ(^▽^)

Goodnight, Sor."

.

.

.

THUD.

Oh fancy that, he actually fell out of bed. Because of a text. Har di har har har.

He may or may not have just eep'ed reading that, but only Whiskers heard it anyway. Geez, was this what it was like to like someone? Suddenly everything changes and you can't eat or sleep or stop thinking about them and wow, what would Roxas think of him now? Would he question why Sora was so jumpy all of a sudden, or start hating him because he couldn't say "I love you" without running away? Oh my gosh, he'd said "I love you" to the Strife teen. Why did he say that? Well he did love Roxas, but now

Oh for goodness sake. Up. Bed. Sleep. Forget it. Nope. Nope. Nope. No more. Thoughts over.

Please.

Why was crushing on someone so tortuous…?

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o

How do you know you like someone Google Search Destiny Village

What's it like to have a crush Google Search Destiny Village

Crush definition Google Search Destiny Village

Why is my heart beating so fast when I think about a person I may (or may not) like Google Search Destiny Village

Is it weird that I think I like my best friend? — Google Search Destiny Village

Can I still hug him or hold his hand even though we're just friends Google Search Destiny Village

What does a first ki

"It's started hasn't it."

Curse Naminé for almost giving Sora a heart attack as he juggled his phone like a circus clown, eventually getting a grip on it before breathing a sigh of relief.

Sora laughed. Nervously. "What's started?"

"Oh you know… the anger… and confusion…" Kairi hinted, leering at him knowingly from the opposite side of the lunch table. There wasn't much to do during Destiny Village winters, but there was a new movie the silver-haired teen wanted them all to see so the five students planned themselves a simple Movie Monday. The blonde boy was off somewhere buying himself and Sora some food and Riku had just arrived with a tray of chicken and chips.

"N-No. Nothing's started, I'm perfectly fine, y-you know." As if he'd inflate their egos even further by telling them about his emotional struggles.

"Of course you are. Don't worry, we got your back, right Kai?"

"Sure."

"Heh, I don't."

The sapphire-eyed blonde rolled her eyes at their eldest friend as she moved aside. "Not gonna be a body pillow this time around. Last time was bad enough. You wouldn't let me shower when one of your favourite plush toys got lost. No. Not this time. I am a free man."

"You big fat meanie. Calling yourself a best friend… Oh, and speaking of best friends," The red-haired girl wiggled her eyebrows, "Roxas is coming."

"Whaaa whaa he is? Oh crap, hide me."

"Oh no you don't, you're gonna punch denial in the face, you hear me? Come on, up up." Naminé motioned with a hand.

Attempting to dive under the table was futile; the Strife teen was already scooching over with two bowls of beef noodles.

"Did I miss something?" asked Roxas as he served the table and put the tray away. Riku kept quiet with a mouthful of hot fries. The girls however… they weren't Sora's best friends just because.

"Oh nooothing… we were just talking about baby Sor's problems here~"

"Naminé!"

"…and how he kinda needs help with something and stuff."

"Kairi!"

"Yeah, pretty much nothing special." They drawled on, munching on a chicken piece each. No doubt this cued Roxas to look at Sora with a worried expression. "What kind of problem is it?"

"N-Nothing! It's nothing! I'm fine, Roxas, honest! Just cold…"

He stuffed a forkful of beef and vegetable in his mouth, swallowed, then smiled as innocently as he could. "See? 'M alright! Tadaa! This is such a nice beef noodles of bowl, h-huh? Oh crap, that came out wrong…"

The former just stared at him harder. "Are you sure you're okay? You're getting flushed." Abandoning his lunch, he tried to check for Sora's temperature, which, sadly, by his nearing proximity, made the boy turn scarlet all the more.

"N-N-No, I'm not sick, it's just hot in here and, y-yeah, I probably should shed a few layers"

"I thought you said you were cold."

"Well that was before" Oh why was he even trying to talk himself out of this one, Roxas wasn't stupid, but in all honesty he wasn't sick and what was he supposed to say, hey Rox? You're too close, it's making me blush so much that I'm gonna die? He'd been thinking about his beloved best friend night and day and this morning he fell out of bed AGAIN. Sheesh, Whiskers was even clawing at the blankets trying to help him out of the tangled mess that was his sheets and the gears in his brain. Ridiculous.

Utterly ridiculous.

Roxas ignored the boy's excuses and went straight for one of Sora's hands. "It's winter. If you're sick, we ought to bring you home. It feels awful to have a cold in the holidays, you know."

"I'm fine. I promise. It's just the soup, or this air conditioning, but I'm alright, okay? Promise."

The duo had a staredown Roxas' gaze stern and Sora's pleading, but in the end the older boy decided to drop it. "All right. But the moment you throw up I'm piggybacking you home. No excuses."

"Yeah, yeah." Stupid weirdness making him act so weird and lame and weird and worrying the life out of his crush and ugh, whyyyy. But damn if his heart didn't want to jump out of his chest because Roxas was being so nice to him. Ugh, it was all too much. The sixteen year old slurped up the last of his lunch and chugged down a bottle of soda. Bahhumbug.

"Kai, Nami, I think our parents had arranged to go somewhere tonight, haven't they?" Riku inquired out of the blue. "We still on for that?"

"Yeah. We might just come straight to yours after this so we can help with the food. What are you doing, Sora?"

"Hmm? Oh, umm, my parents were adamant about inviting Roxas to dinner. Rox always picks me up now so they kinda want to get to know him. Plus, Blue's with Whiskers so, if it gets too late he might even sleep over."

"Oh, won't that be fun." Naminé giggled none-too-innocently. "You guys could share the spare bedroom there's more space in there than in Sor's room."

Roxas nodded as he put his eating utensils away. "Hn. I'll be fine anywhere. I brought a sleeping bag just in case."

With lunch over and their movie screening finished, they readied themselves to walk home from the shopping side of town. Sora held Roxas' hand and for a while, it was all alright. Unfortunately from now on, the Leonhart teen couldn't deny there was something different as a result of his new realized feelings.

He'd done this before. He'd done this many times. The hugging, the holding hands thing… but now, for the first time ever, Sora finally knew what it felt like to be really close to someone. To be happy in someone's company. He had his friends, yes, but it was just different.

This was exhilarating different. Scary different. He'd never felt like this different. What if Roxas didn't feel the same way because, hah! As if he would. But they were best friends and that was what was confusing. How did he suddenly cross the friendship barrier and end up in the feelings zone, a zone he'd never been in before? What was the difference between friendship affection and crush affection? Sora wanted to know, but at the same time, he didn't.

Ugh. Definitely too much brain power for him right now. As the boy he somehow developed a crush on within a matter of days squeezed his hand while they traversed home, Sora figured he should shift his focus on keeping the rare smile on Roxas' face. He'll keep on making him happy, because in return, everything Roxas did made him just as glad. And… even if… if Roxas had to go without… without him knowing what Sora was thinking then… well… that smile was enough for the brunette.

"Sor, what're you thinking?"

"Hmm?"

"You're not usually this quiet. Not gonna tell me about your first few movie trips?"

The younger boy laughed. "Why not. You have to tell me some of yours too, then."

"…and if I don't?" Roxas challenged him with a nudge on the shoulder.

"Well then, maybe I'll just stay silent, haha."

"You drive a hard bargain, Leonhart." It was then that he'd witnessed another one of Roxas' blink-and-you-miss-it tiny grins.

Yeah. That smile… was enough…

~o~

Parents were always embarrassing. Sometimes they weren't, but most of the time, they were. Of course, Sora's just had to be Tifa and Squall Leonhart, the world's coolest, albeit obnoxious, parents ever. The two boys, upon arriving at the brunette's home, went straight for the living room to view the four o'clock Nobody Show episode.

Tifa was at home, experimenting with something somewhere and Leon was at work and due at seven pm. The cats were sleeping on one of the couches wrapped up against each other like two peas in a pod. After trying not to wake them from Sora's excessive laughing, they went upstairs to tour the spare bedroom and the azure-eyed teen's cluttered place.

A few hours later, Sora woke up to the sound of his bedroom door creaking. Night had fallen and it was colder than ever, even under the triple-layered duvet he didn't remember getting into. His laptop was on the bed… Roxas and he were talking… for some reason, he must have fallen asleep. Warm light peered into his room as his father peeked inside.

"Hey sport, you up yet? Your mother's making egg congee tonight. Cold weather and all, yeah."

"Ngh. Whaa where's Roxas, did he" He checked beside him but there wasn't a blue-eyed blonde in sight. "What time is it?"

Leon walked towards his bed, mussing up his inherited chocolate hair. "About half-past seven. Roxas is downstairs helping Mom. Wanna come down?"

He was getting a little hungry, now that he thought about it. Sora could smell the garnish of onions and garlic cooking up from down there. With one glance at his father he held his arms up, wishing to be carried like he was young again.

Leon chuckled. "Sora, aren't you way too old for that kind of thing? Normally boys your age would brag about freedom and strength." He rose a curious eyebrow at him.

"I've never been normal, Dad." The happy-go-lucky teen countered, waving his arms out into the air. "I want up. Help me. Help meeeeeeee up Daaad... Daaaaaaaaad!"

"Oh har di har. You're way too heavy for me to carry you anymore, son. You've grown too big."

"Are you calling me fat?"

"Whaat? No! Just, strong and healthy like I always wished you to be."

"Lies." The younger boy poked his tongue out, burying himself back in cotton and polyester. "You're just weak, Dad. No fair."

"Your father is not weak!" The latter protested, his resolve to prove this strengthened. He tried to lift his son up into the air, only to drop him back down onto the bed after two seconds. "Wait, let me try again... Ugggh!"

"You lose, Dad! Sora, thirty-two, Dad, twenty-four. This month's Dad and Son challenge trophy is mine for the taking!" Sora jumped out of bed, doing a little victory dance for himself. Leon rolled his eyes. That cunning trait was certainly not from him.

He took a deep breath, faking extreme exhaustion. "So heavy... Why didn't you tell me you'd grow up so fast..." He trekked through Sora's half-messy closet, looking for some clothes to substitute his son's wrinkled outfit.

Sora grinned back fondly, hugging his father from behind. "Because I'm still your little boy. Man, you're the best dad ever, Dad."

"Ha ha, and you're the heaviest son ever. Now come on. Let's say hi to your friend. Put this on and your mother and I will set up the table. I made dessert this time: tiramisu! First come, first serve, yeah? I'll race you!"

The sound of having dessert perked Sora up. "Okay, coming right down! That cake's mine! Lucky number thirty-three, here I come!"

He scrambled out of his outfit and into the snug winter jacket one of his late grandmothers knitted, thundering down the stairs with sheer eagerness. It somehow deflated when azure orbs met cerulean ones, their owner sitting at the couch, watching tv with Whiskers and Blue.

Sora almost forgot this was his friend-turned-crush he had invited to his home.

They blinked at each other for a while, hesitant to communicate. Roxas stood up from the armchair he occupied and approached the brunette with a hug.

"Meow, mreow!"

"Mew."

The two cats were suddenly running around the place, sliding along armrests and headbutting the lounge bookshelves. Sora knew they'd be fine if they just left them alone. Their pets were really playful and clever.

"Hey. Sorry I left you upstairs… I wanted to check on the kittens when I thought your mom needed some help. Did you sleep well, are you still feeling weird?"

YES. God, he was melting like stupid putty. If this had to happen every time they saw each other, Sora wondered how in actuality he was going to survive.

"Yeah, I'm okay, thanks." Sora flashed him a smile back. With the television playing in the background, at least Roxas couldn't hear how loud his heart was beating at the moment.

Just then, Tifa entered the living room, calling the boys over for dinner. "Oh, Sora! You've come down!" She sashayed over, engulfing her son in a motherly hug.

"M-Mom... c-can't b-b-breathe!"

"Oh my baby boy, growing up so fast!" Sora's mother dragged him over to the side, an earful away from their special guest. "Sora dear, I'm so happy for you; I mean I've seen him plenty of times now but wow, Roxas is such a cutie up close!" She beamed, pinching his cheeks with affection. "He's going to be a perfect son-in-law one day, I just know it!"

"Mom!"

"No really! He's very charming. Gentlemanly too, helping me out with the chopping. You think so too, right? Oh, Naminé and Kairi were right about him. Roxas is a darling."

"No! Whaaa son-in-law...? Mom, please we're just friends" The flustered younger teen cried, wriggling out of her grasp. He didn't need this right now, he didn't need this right now, WHY DID THE WORLD HATE HIM SO?!

"Oh he is? Well, that makes it all the more better! You know, your father and I were once the best of friends, and back when I thought we'd never get together too, we suddenly did!" Tifa clapped her hands giddily. "Well then, food's getting cold. Come along dear." She glimpsed over at the Strife teen who remained where he was, a little befuddled. "You too, love. It's so nice to have more people around for a good meal."

"Meow, meow!"

"Meww!"

~o~

The hospitality of the Leonharts were as Roxas expected thoughtful, voluntary and warm. Just like Sora. At least he knew all that kindness was hereditary; he told himself whilst grabbing a second round of egg congee. The Leonhart dining room was narrow yet cozy, perfect for their family of three. Roxas was always used to living in a larger space, courtesy of his own family home. Staying over at a quaint place like Sora's however felt just as safe and comfortable as his own.

"So, Roxas." Leon began, changing the subject of work business to something the teens could participate in. "You wouldn't happen to know Cloud Strife, would you? Excellent painter he was. Had the brute strength to take on a buffalo herd and the talent to capture a scenery like a camera would. Tragic passing, if you asked me. Lost the battle to cancer and all."

The blonde paused briefly, soaking up the information before taking a deep breath. "Cloud Strife was my father, sir. Never knew him. He passed away before we erhem, before Iwas born. I wish I got to know him better though."

"Oh, you poor thing." Tifa said, whispering a silent prayer. Previously playing with his food, Sora sent him a deeply sympathetic look. The blue-eyed and green-eyed cats were sharing one plate on the floor and he wondered if he could maybe give them his share. The brunette's gaze returned to his hardly-touched dinner as he slowly processed what was being said at the table.

"He was a great man. Knew him from highschool, so when Sora said he'd made friends with a Roxas Strife I immediately thought there'd be a relation to Cloud. Heh! You even have his hair and eyes." Sora's father downed himself a glass of water. "I'm sorry if I upset you for bringing it up."

The cerulean-eyed teen shook his head. "It's alright sir. Mother never talks about Father. It's refreshing to hear good things about him. I would have been proud of him were he still here."

"So it's just your mother and yourself, Roxas? She must be very proud of you, having someone who's both responsible and hardworking. Sora says you've a small house to yourself and a part-time job. Not to mention so much homework, oh dear me. Trust me, Sora complains about it all the time!"

The addressed teen agreed, consuming his bowl of dinner. "I don't go out much, so I have plenty of time to myself. Sora's much better off though, since he's very helpful to others."

"Mhm yes. He does plan to assist many people in the future. Don't you Sora?" The brunette's mother commented. With everyone finished or halfway there (the younger boy and his father were still scrambling for dessert), she excused herself and started to clean the dishes.

Leon fistpumped for snagging himself the bigger tiramisu serving and chowing it down in record time. "Dad, twenty-five, Sora, thirty-two. I'm catching up, sport! Seven points ain't nothing when you're up against Squall Leonhart!" The chocolate-haired man stood up and took the cats for some quality time.

"No fair Dad! You finished dinner first!"

"Ah ah ah. First come, first served, remember? You finished last, so you got hardly any. Rules are rules." Leon singsonged. Tifa giggled at her husband and son's daily antics.

"Oooh! Just you wait in the next challenge! I'm crushing you!" Sora turned in his dinner bowl before ushering his guest to the living room. The Strife teen followed suit, wondering to himself if this was what a complete family was supposed to be like.

His friend offered him to sit at the armchair while Sora himself plopped down lazily on their bouncy couch. The television was turned on and the Destiny College student busied himself with flicking through the many different channels. He was a little edgy and being the perceptive guy the older boy was, it was obvious.

Roxas wondered why. It was like, after the talent quest, he'd call and text Sora more often because he wanted to but compared to the usual lengthy conversations they had over the phone, the boy wouldn't reply for some time and cut things short. Maybe it was something he did. Or maybe the chocolate-haired boy was just busy. The blonde was trying to get closer to his friend to show him that gosh, he was the most precious thing in his life and he was grateful for everything and even if he could just be physically near Sora, maybe that could compensate a little for everything the latter has done for him. He'd revived a part of Roxas' ability to love something that had died with his brother, or so he believed.

Well, he should probably back off a little, then. He could be making the younger boy uncomfortable. Geez, as if Sora would feel buddy-buddy with him coming on too strong like that; the boy was too nice and he probably most definitely didn't feel the same way back. After all… he was just another friend. Sora was doing what he was doing just to help him and they may have been best friends but there was no way Roxas was near good enough for him.

Five months ago he'd hated everyone in this earth. He'd only loved the brother he lost and a mother he missed everyday. Now that he'd opened his heart again, he knew a part of it was for Sora.

Dear him, dear him.

Heh.

Well, time to break the ice.

The sunshine-haired teen dug through his jacket pockets for something, was it there, he was pretty sure he still had itoh yes it was, rubbing his fingers together before standing up and positioning himself on the spot beside his friend. Sora looked back at him, uncertainty barely-concealed on his face. Roxas took this opportunity to cup one of his cheeks in a gentle hand, caressing the brunette's skin with a soft thumb. Sora's breath hitched. Confusion and anticipation dawned on him; his body frozen on the spot.

"Roxas... what are you"

"Shh… don't say a word…"

The latter trailed his other hand towards the chocolate-haired boy's face, nervously shaking with reluctance. When their foreheads touched oh-so-intimately, he could see his friend darkening to a nice shade of scarlet. With both thumbs, Roxas traced over the gap between Sora's nose and his pink lips, doing the same to the gap between the blue-eyed brunette's eyebrows.

"There. A perfect masterpiece."

To say the Leonhart teen was shocked was an understatement. First, Roxas was on the armchair, and then he was next to him all of a sudden, and then they were so close with their foreheads touching and Roxas' hand stroking his cheek and crap he felt warm and fuzzy again and ugh, Sora, self, breathing in means filling your lungs with air and breathing out means releasing the air from your nostrils and GAHHH, if he moved any closer he could be ki no, why would he even think of that, Roxas woudn't appreciate that at all, his mind was going haywire and he was definitely blushing and why was his heart rate picking up the pace? Riku, Kairi, Naminé, save his soul while he was still alive!

Wait.

What was a perfect masterpiece?

Roxas finally turned away, his demeanour calm as he changed the television channel to a documentary on animals.

.

.

Three…

.

Two…

.

One…

.

.

"Roxas?"

The older teen faced him, only to avert his eyes from him immediately. This time though, Sora could see one of the blonde's dimples rising. Okay, what was going on, why was he being ignored, why was Roxas near smiling at him, so many questions that needed answering and there was no one around to do so.

"Is there something on my face?" He questioned, tilting his mop of brown hair to one side. Did he look funny or something? Maybe some tiramisu icing on his cheek? He knew his hair was messed up from sleeping, but it didn't look that silly to make Roxas smile at him, right?

The blonde focused his attention on the documentary. "Maybe..." He singsonged, the curves of his lips really rising. "You look kind of cute like that, you know. It should be your new look."

"Whaaaaaa?" Puzzled, Sora rose to his feet and scavenged for a mirror. He checked himself in the closest bathroom, noting the darkening shade of his eyebrows-turned-unibrow and the charcoal mustache he currently sported. So all that was... Roxas drew... to think he would... Oh, he had a blonde to bust.

"You drew a mustache on me? Why would you do that?!" Sora moped, crossing his arms childishly once he returned. Roxas had the gall to stare back at him, a teehee ready to escape his lips.

"I'm sorry, I thought it would make you smile... You always do nice things for me so I thought it would... well it obviously failed. I had a piece of charcoal in my pockets so..." His friend explained guiltily. Standing up, he pulled out a handkerchief before cleaning up Sora's face. "You really did look cute, though. Just add a monocle and you'd be Sir Sora Fancypants." The dull anteater program was long forgotten.

"Oh. Umm, uhh, I... I... I didn't h-hate it..." The brunette muttered, returning to his flustered state. GAH. Go away weird feelings! This was never going to leave him, wasn't it?

"...I just didn't think you'd be the type to joke around, since you're usually, err, apathetic to everything." He threw Roxas a nervous grin. "I did look silly, huh? Hehehe."

"Now that's the Sora I know." said Roxas, touching their foreheads together. "Smile a little, will ya?"

The azure-eyed boy nodded, snaking his arms around the other's neck. Oh dear, was he allowed to do that? Should he pull away? Too late, he was already hugging the boy; honey warmth consuming him once more. Sora could drown in this heart-stopping and mind-boggling feeling forever.

An unexpected clap resounded from the dining room entrance. "And cut! Oh! This home video's going to be a hit! Ten years in the future, you two will be watching this with my future grandchildren. Oh Leon, our boy's growing up!" She wiped at an imaginary tear as Sora's father shut the video camera.

"Mreow mreow meow meow!" Whiskers and Blue agreed from behind their feet.

"MOOOOOOOM! DAAAAAAAD!"

"Dad, thirteen, Mom eleven. Darn, Tifa. You're catching up. And here I thought I wasn't going to win against you this month, hon."

"Y-You! You two are betting about my love life! That's not cool, Mom! I told you I"

"am very much in love with Roxas Strife. Yes Sor, I heard you the first time." Tifa grinned, leaning against her husband from "too much feels". Inviting Leon to join her little victory dance, Sora facepalmed from extreme embarrassment. Thankfully, Roxas thought it was endearing.

"Can't say I know how it feels. I only have a mother." The Strife teen whistled, checking he hadn't left anything downstairs as he readied himself to hit the hay. "They're very much just like you, Sora. Now I'm aware your unique personality's legitimately from your parents. It's amazing."

"Oh ha ha. I love them anyway... They're the only family I have, yeah?" The younger boy said back. Tifa and Leon were still at the living room, their pets joining in as they danced to pop songs playing from one of the music channels.

"I'm kind of tired. Which of the rooms are we sleeping in tonight?" Roxas stretched his arms up in the air, almost straining a muscle.

"I dunno. Where do you want to sleep? The spare bedroom's bigger."

"Hmm." Roxas gave it a thought. "I wouldn't mind sleeping in your room. It looks cozier. I'll just make space on the floor and that'll be a bed." Plus, I'd be near you, so…

"No way. You're taking the bed. Carpet or not, the floor's kinda cold."

"Then we can just share. I'm not letting you sleep on the floor, Sir Sora Fancypants. I'm heading up then…" The Strife teen poked Sora on the nose, something that the boy had been doing a lot lately. Ughhh, be still, racing heart…

Azure eyes trailed on his friend's disappearing form before he let out a long heartwarming sigh. Oh darn it, what the hell! Screw berating himself further, he was going straight to bed. It's been a long and tiring day. After kissing his parents goodnight and ushering the cats to bed as well, he followed the Twilight Town teen into his bedroom.

What was the world coming to. Had he known he'd be acting this way last week, he wouldn't have believed it. Fate had a funny way of messing with people, huh? But that was life, and this was his.

Sora wouldn't change it for a thing.


My feels. ~ヾ(^∇^)

Just like Sora's, they are a damn rollercoaster after writing this thing! xD *eep'ing all the way to Neverland* Wow. Just... wow.

I don't even know.

Chii's current action: Cannot even-ing. Everything happened too fast and I just–

Cannot even-ing.

On the info side, I've got rough plans for Smile A Little Will Ya 8 and hopefully I can make it work after this one. Geez. No words.

Just–

Yep. Still cannot even-ing.

Now while I continue cannot even-ing I'll leave ya to it. I'm sorry... (/O^)\