Chapter Seven: Family
The days had begun to blur past for Roxas. He sat within the room silently answering direct questions that were given to him. If he felt like it. Sometimes he would sit there, just listening and watching everything that was happening around him. No one could really say what was happening in his mind, and frankly Roxas probably couldn't either.
As the days continued to pass Roxas listened to those whispers, all talking about the strange boy. The boy that was brought in almost dead. The missing brother of Cloud. Rumours spread about the him from being misunderstood and badly treated all the way to that he was just plain crazy. It appeared to Roxas that people were quick to judge him. And people wondered why he wouldn't speak to others. Taking a deep breath Roxas glanced at the newspaper Aerith had left him to read.
'Mystery boy identified' was printed across the front of the newspaper. No doubt it was about him. Sighing, Roxas reached across to grab and read the newspaper when the door opened. Without looking up from the newspaper, Roxas listened for the movements of the newcomer. The person showed no interest in gaining his attention and simply sat on a chair in the corner of the room.
Once Roxas was sure that the intruder would not bother him, he began to read the article. The beginning of the article talked about how he was found in the streets dying when Zack had found him. Laying in the ruins of Hollow Bastion. It was only a miracle that he was found as the light had reflected off some metal on Roxas' clothes. If it weren't for that he wouldn't have been seen, and surely dead. After he had been found, Roxas was operated on for hours, with some minor complications. After that Roxas had found he was in a medically induced coma for a week after the operation.
Reading further the article began to talk about the actual emergence of his identity. First with his name. He found that he went missing after and attack on Twilight Town which was a couple of days' drive from where he was currently. But what shocked him and stopped his reading was the time period he was missing for. Just short on six years. Six unaccountable years Roxas was missing for. Frozen in shock, the figure finally cleared its throat.
Startled Roxas swung his head up from the newspaper to finally view the intruder. And it was no other than Vexen. He could feel his gaze harden upon viewing him in the room.
"I see you found that article as interesting as the rest of us."
"I thought it was made abundantly clear that you are not my doctor."
"The hospital board would have to disagree."
Roxas raised his eyebrow in response. "I was under the impression that the patient has the right to determine who their doctor would be."
Leaning forward in his chair, Vexen smirked as his hair fell forward to partially cover his face. "That would be so. Aerith is still your doctor, make no mistake. However, I am also one of the doctor's assigned to your… peculiar case."
"There is nothing peculiar about- "
"Of course there is. A boy that went missing for five, almost six years suddenly shows up with no memory to even explain where he was." Cocking his head to the side Vexen paused. "Who knows, what secrets lie inside that head of yours."
"I am sure that you are not required for this 'case' as you put it. Aerith is more than helpful in my treatment."
"That would be true for your physical injuries, however the injuries to your brain I would have to disagree. Although she appears to be a talented doctor she does not have the experience to treat you for your mental issues."
Roxas raised an eyebrow in response. "And you would."
"Precisely. If you want to be able to ever properly remember or better yet function within society, I do suggest that you allow me to treat you."
"If that is to be the case," Roxas breathed, leaning forward in his bed. Roxas stared right into the eyes of the doctor across from him, silently answering his challenge. "I will not be made a spectacle of, I am not your science experiment. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly," Vexen smirked.
Roxas further scrutinized the doctor with his gaze. Just searching for something, anything that would give way to the mask that Vexen seemed to be holding. But the mask appeared to be holding, at least, if there was a mask there in the first place.
The tense silence between Vexen and Roxas broke as the door opened, revealing Aeirth followed closely by Cloud. The new pair glanced between the two as they settled back into their places, as if the previous conversation had not occurred.
"What are you doing in here?" Cloud glared at Vexen.
"That was one of the other things I wanted to talk to you about," Aerith sighed as she pushed the heel of her hand into her forehead. "The board feels it would be appropriate to keep Doctor Baxter on Roxas' case due to his experience."
"What experience? You're the better Doctor here. And you have a better damn bedside manner than this asshole."
"Cloud, I don't have experience when it comes to healing the mind. Physical care and rehabilitation, yes. Doctor Baxter here specialises in cases like this. As much as I hate to admit it, I think it would be beneficial for Roxas if he treated him."
Cloud let out a huff of irritation about the whole situation while crossing his arms. "Fine, but the minute he does something that Roxas or we feel is detrimental to his health, he is off. Gone."
"Absolutely."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Cloud shook his head to clear the recent events. "This is not what I came here for," he sighed under his breath. Looking up at Roxas he took a breath to clear his thoughts. "So Roxas, I have some people I want you to meet. I have to say that they are looking forward to see you too."
Roxas cocked his head to the side. "Who?"
Before Cloud could reply, Vexen cut in. "I think it would be best to see if Roxas will remember as opposed to constantly giving him the answers."
Muttering under his breath walked out of the room for a few moments, returning minutes later with a woman with blonde hair and wrinkles lightly decorating her face and a teenager with brown hair and the same blue eyes as the woman.
The newcomers walked slowly into the room the boy opting to stand next to Cloud against the wall opposite his bed, and the woman took the chair closest to Roxas. The boy next to Cloud appeared to be scrutinizing Roxas, like he was trying to determine if this he was real.
Hearing a quiet sniffle Roxas looked quickly to the woman in the chair besides him. She was stared at Roxas with tears welling in her sky blue eyes, but she held a small smile to her face. "I can't believe it's really you. You're really here. I didn't believe it at first but," she chocked.
Roxas didn't really know how to respond to the crying woman besides him. He quickly glanced at everyone around the room to see if they could help him, but they all seemed content to just watch what was going on instead.
"Who are they Roxas?" Vexen questioned from the corner of the room.
Feeling a little agitated, Roxas tried to study the newcomers a little closer wishing for the answer to just jump into his head. He started again with the boy next to Cloud. He had the similar spikey hair just in the shade of brown, with sky blue eyes. Looking away from the boy, he shifted his gaze back to the sniffling woman. She had blonde hair with some strands of grey beginning to appear, and although her hair was pulled back some side swept hair formed small spikes to frame her face.
"I don't know," Roxas whispered, but the woman next to him heard. She gasped softly into her hand as some tears escaped from her eyes. "But I can't help but feel that I know them."
"Then think harder," Vexen coldly said.
"I don't know okay," Roxas hissed through his teeth.
"I was under the impression that you had remembered enough from your past to recognise some people from your past."
"Have you ever tried to remember something you just don't know?"
"Why yes, just this morning I forgot where I placed my pen. However, I remembered where I left it and found it. Now, think harder."
"Forgot where your pen was?! That's the best thing you can come up with?!" Roxas began to shout.
"Would you like the restraints again?" Vexen smirked a little at the idea.
"Restraints? Whatever for?" The woman besides Roxas spoke.
"It's a little hard-" Cloud began to speak, but was once again cut off.
"Roxas likes to take his frustrations out physically rather than talking them out. We had a bit of a problem last time and he injured Cloud and good old Zack about a week ago."
Shocked the woman turned around to look at Cloud wanting answers. "What is the Doctor talking about Cloud?"
"He's exaggerating, Zack and I are fine. Doctor Baxter here just likes to blow things out of proportion," Cloud said sending a glare at Vexen.
"No, Doctor Baxter isn't lying Mum," Roxas said as he took a breath interrupting the rising conflict between Vexen and Cloud again.
"What did you just call her Roxas?" Aerith finally spoke. Everyone almost forgot about her presence because of how quiet she was during the entire meeting.
There was a sharp intake of breath next to Roxas as he quickly looked at her again. Looking all over her face, something just finally clicked. The memory he had over a week ago of his mother and younger brother resurfaced again. He could finally match the similarities between the two in his mind to the older versions within his room.
"Mum… Sora."
All of a sudden Roxas was wrapped in a set of thin arms. Roxas sat there for a minute as his mother hugged, laughed, and cried with joy that her middle child had remembered herself and his younger brother. Slowly Roxas reached up and hugged her lightly back as she made no signs of moving away anytime soon, so Roxas took the chance to look at Sora. He was a lot older compared to when he last saw him.
"Wow, you guys look different."
"Six years can do that to people," was the mumbled response from Sora.
Pulling back Mrs. Strife let out a laugh. "Are you trying to say that I look old young man?"
"No!" Sora stuttered with flaming cheeks. Everyone let out a small chuckle in response.
The room was filled with small talk between the Strife family catching up on the recent events, and what the family had been up to since the Roxas' disappearance. Roxas learnt that his mother and brother lived in a small town called Traverse Town which was a couple of days car ride from Radiant Garden. Mrs. Strife spoke fondly about the town telling Roxas how they moved there after the attack on Twilight Town, and how they had made a life for themselves there among others during the war.
"Speaking of which," Mrs. Strife turned to Aerith. "When can we bring Roxas home with us?"
"Well his injuries are still healing, but he is healing at a rapid rate. If he continues I see no problem with discharging him at the end of this week."
"I would still like to see Roxas for a weekly appointment to see how his memory recall is progressing, at the same time I will be able to check on the boy's injuries as they heal," Vexen cut in.
"Unfortunately doctor, our home is in Traverse Town." Mrs Strife began.
"Fortunately, I have a practice in Twilight Town, that I visit weekly. I believe that it is only a couple hours ride from Traverse Town. And as one of his current physicians I do recommend that he still receives treatment for his current… mental predicament. I do know as well that there is no psychiatrist or neurologist in Traverse Town that could adequately treat the boy."
"Oh my, yes that would be extremely helpful," Mrs. Strife replied looking at Roxas. "But the choice is yours. Would you like to come home with me and Sora?"
"I don't really have anywhere else to go…" Roxas looked down as he clasped his hands together on the bed.
"Nonsense! You will always have somewhere to stay with me, you are my son."
"And you are my brother Roxas," Cloud spoke. "You can stay here with me in Radiant Garden if you would like."
"And you would also be most welcome with us too Roxas," Aerith smiled.
Roxas glanced at all the faces around the room, his family's both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. But he felt a warmth in his chest at being welcomed by them all.
"I think I'll go with you Mum. If that's alright," Roxas said looking down again.
Roxas saw and felt his hands being pulled apart as a pair of hands clasped his own. Looking up, his mother had tears welling in her eyes. "Of course it is," she whispered. "I look forward to giving you a home again."