Warnings:MxM/yaoi/shonen-ai, crying, blushing, possible angst
Disclaimer: I'm still trying to convince Squeenix to let me have Kingdom Hearts, but so far persuasion isn't working. Maybe I shall try ill-tempered sea bass next.
Author's Note:Omg I was so surprised to see the flood of reviews I got for the last chapter I couldn't help but immediately start writing this one. You all are wonderful, I love you! XD
Note to my beta: Sorry Izzy, but I wasn't sure how soon i would receive the beta'd version and I'm not going to be able to access the interwebs soon. Until January 1 I won't be online, so I am very sorry. But when I do receive the beta's version (be it thru DocX or email) I SHALL IMMEDIAELY UPDATE THIS CHAPPIE!!!!
Everyone who reviewed thank you. I am actually going to go back thru and reply to you personally. IDK when my interwebs is going down. BUT I SHALL WORK ON THIS! Promise!
THIS IS UN-BETA'D
SORRY FOR INCONVIENCE
Chapter Seven: Let's Move In
Just as Roxas predicted, Dr. Valentine cleared Sora for release within the week. Sora was a bunch of jittery nerves, both anxious to get outside and terrified of how much the world had changed. The only real eventful happening occurred the day before:
"Sora?" Roxas questioned as he stepped into the hospital room. The blond boy left to find something more edible than the hospital food they were given freely. Sora sat on the gurney, his lithe form rocking itself back and forth with boredom as he watched some cartoon. The brunette hummed a bit, letting Roxas know he had Sora's attention. "I have an idea on where you can stay, at least, until you're ready to be on your own."
Sora's azure gaze met Roxas's and shock filled the formers. "Where? I won't be alone, will I?"
A soft gentle smile spread across Roxas's face, the blond moving closer to his chocolate haired crush. "No, you won't be alone." Sora gave a smile and took one of Roxas's hands in his own, pulling him to sit on the gurney with Sora. The two were used to the closeness, Sora convincing Roxas to sleep beside him on the gurney every night. The nurses even offered the two another gurney so Roxas could sleep comfortably on his own, but they refused with a blush. "Well Sora, I have an extra room in my apartment and you can stay there."
Sora's eyes widened a fraction of an inch, gripping Roxas's hand tighter. "Really? Are you serious?" Roxas's smile was enough of an answer. Sora gave out a laugh, eyes crinkling at the edges and pulled Roxas into a hug. Roxas was sprawled slightly across Sora's lap, the position slightly more than awkward, but the blond could really care less. The two sat there for what felt like hours, just hugging each other with huge smiles across their faces.
Roxas slowly closed his, breathing in the scent that was unmistakably Sora. A small whiff of cinnamon, the smell easily becoming his favorite. He couldn't wait until Sora got out, the smell of the hospital would wash away and all that would be left is Sora. He tightened his grip slightly, feeling Sora do the same before the brunette turned his head in and rested his face against Roxas's neck. The movements always made Roxas blush and chuckle slightly, the small puffs of air from Sora tickling the skin. It was the small moments like these that made Roxas love Sora, and fall in love with him all over again.
Sora pulled away, his naturally tan skin flushed with a blush. "Thank you so much Roxas!" Roxas then noticed the faint tears in his eyes. "You have no idea how much it means to me!" Roxas reached up with a hand, wiping the tear that fell slowly down Sora's cheek. His gaze resting on the faint liquid on his finger, Roxas brought it to his mouth and licked it. Immediately the two turned tomato colored.
Roxas hopped off the side of the gurney and speed walked to the door. "I-I'm going to go get some clothes for you to wear for the trip home, okay?" Sora wordlessly nodded his head, eyes wide. Roxas took the opportunity to dart out of the hospital and return later that evening with some clothes and brought the awkwardness with him. The two managed to fall asleep like normal, Sora insisting Roxas sleep on the gurney with a blush.
Sora and Roxas stood at the desk, awaiting the papers to sign for his release. The brunette was rocking back and forth on his heels, dressed in Roxas's old Levi jeans and a button up flannel shirt. Occasionally Roxas would catch Sora staring at him, and the brunette would sharply turn his glance away.
"Hello Roxas, Sora." The two spiky haired boys turned to the long haired brunette nurse, Aerith. "I managed to get all the papers together." With a smile she moved behind the desk. "I only need a couple signatures and Sora is allowed to leave." The brunette in question did a brief dance. "I just need you to sign here and here Sora."
He quickly gripped the blue inkball pen and signed his name on the small spaces allotted for such. Grinning happily, Sora grabbed Roxas's hand and ran toward the exit. "Thanks and bye!" Roxas barely managed to throw in a wave before the two were out the door and running toward the park nearby.
Aerith gave a small giggle, sharing it with the receptionist. "They are just adorable."
"They are." The receptionist stretched slightly, sharing a grin with another nurse nearby. "Wanna contribute to the bet? Trying to figure out how long it'll be before the two are a couple?"
Aerith cocked a hip to a side, adjusting her nametag. "And how do you suppose to find that out?"
"We're gonna figure that out later. You in or out?" The redheaded nurse didn't get another chance to question Aerith as the woman answered the ringing telephone.
"Destiny Islands Hospital, Aerith speaking."
A deep voice came over the line, Aerith immediately identifying it as male. "Good day, I was wondering if I could check up on the status of a patient."
Aerith turned her gaze to a computer screen, sitting in the chair before it. "What is the name of the patient?"
"Sora." Aerith's eyes widened. "Sora Hikariko." It had to be the platinum haired boy, that one that used to visit just as often as Roxas at one point.
Aerith took a moment to calm her racing heartbeat. Who didn't remember that day he said he wouldn't visit Sora again, that he had given up on him? Many nurses cried that day, not only from the depressed words falling from his lips, but also because he hurt Roxas as well. "I'm sorry sir, but Mr. Hikariko is no longer in the hospital."
There was a pause. "What happened? Did he die?" Panic saturated the voice; at least he still cared somewhat.
"No sir. Mr. Hikariko woke from his coma six days ago. He was just released this morning." The receptionist glanced over, catching Aerith's pale skin and fast paced breathing.
"Do…Do you know where he went?"
Aerith took a shaky breath. It was like she could feel all the emotions running through him. "I'm sorry sir, but I am unable to release that information." She heard a faint curse and the line went dead. Lowering the phone to its cradle, Aerith slumped in her seat.
"Aer, are you okay?"
"Just fine. I'll be okay." She managed to stand and moved on shaky legs, quickly filing away Sora Hikariko's paperwork. No need to leave it hanging around, especially if Riku Miyano decided he was going to try and get the information in person. Plus, it wasn't like Aerith Gainsborough knew the exact address of Roxas's apartment, but she knew the general area.
.: .: .: .: .: .: .: .: .: .: .: .: .: .:.
Roxas's apartment was clean. Much cleaner than when the blond last saw it. When the blond retrieved the clothes, it was Demyx handing them through the door with his key, claiming he and Zexion would be done by the time the two spiky haired boys arrived home. And the ditsy blond was right.
The carpet was a crème, more of a crème color than before. The couch, a sidewalk find in the middle of the night, was slip-covered and was a darker crème. The television was still sitting on a crate, but the screen was no longer dusty and even the television itself looked slightly newer. The living room was still empty, only the couch and television occupying it. Sora made his way to the kitchen, where the table was a yard sale find and chair and stools of different shapes and sizes surrounded it. The kitchen floor was cleaner, and the refrigerator actually looked like it housed something edible. As Sora made his way down the narrow hallway, Roxas took a peek inside. There was actually food in the fridge. Concept! He heard a happy cry come from down the hallway, and made his way toward Sora's room.
Sora's room was just after the bathroom, which looked like nothing was growing in there anymore, and Sora was inside spinning. Well, he was sitting in a rotating desk chair, spinning around in circles laughing. His walls were the crème color that was the theme of the apartment complex. However on the walls were pictures of sunsets, all brilliantly hued with reds, oranges, yellows and the occasional purple. Some were even black and white. Sora's 'desk' was actually an old high school desk from the sixties, with the chair detached. The bed was a twin, covered with deep blues and egg white down pillows.
"Like your room?"
Sora slowly spun to a halt, his grin even bigger than before. "I love it! The room is great!" He stood, swaying slightly back and forth as he made his way to Roxas and clung to him. "Thank you so much Roxas. I'll repay you somehow."
Roxas smiled. "Don't worry about repaying me. Just focus on getting back on your feet, okay?"
Sora laughed, pulling out of the embrace slightly, but remained close enough that Roxas and Sora still had their arms wrapped around one another. "It actually feels like home."
"Welcome home."
