Older Brother - II
Destiny Islands - Mainland
Day 10
Lea
They had spent two days and three nights in Traverse Town before Xion was well enough to travel. Her condition had worsened slightly on the second day, which had given Lea and Roxas no small amount of worry, but fate was kind and she had awoken the next morning fully recovered. The three of them had departed Traverse Town in high spirits, optimistic about the task that had been set before them. Roxas and Xion in particular seemed to take special comfort in each other's company, and while Lea was easily able to find it in his heart to be happy for them, the extent to which they clung to each other was quickly becoming an annoyance.
So it was that when the three of them had stopped amid a grassy field at dusk to set up camp on the fourth day of their journey, Lea quietly pulled Roxas aside and had a heart-to-heart about his and Xion's behavior. Initially confused, then annoyed, and finally angry, Roxas asked him what business it was of his. That was when Lea realized for the first time that the dynamic of their relationship had changed. No longer were the three of them friends on equal footing; now, Roxas and Xion were nigh on inseparable and he, Lea, had become an outsider.
That realization made him feel indescribably lonely.
It made him slightly angry as well.
"Now listen, Roxas," he said as his friend glared up at him. "I'm not trying to get in the way of anything you and Xion feel for each other, but don't think you're being a little… don't you think you're moving too quickly? You're acting… different as well."
When Roxas' mouth tightened into a hard line, Lea knew that he had said the wrong thing.
"Moving too… and what's that supposed to mean?" snapped Roxas. "It's not like… It's not like I have a lot of experience with this kind of thing, you know. Neither does Xion… and neither do you," he added coldly.
Isa… Keep me from punching this kid in the face.
"See, that's exactly what I mean," explained Lea in an even voice. "You're not acting like yourself. You're…" he paused and looked up at the sky as though he hoped to see the words which he sought written there. "You're… more sour and moody. Granted, you're always moody and you've always had a temper, but how often have you spoken to me like this? How often have you been this angry - seriously, legitimately angry - over something like this? … It's not like you."
Something stirred in Roxas' eyes. He held Lea's gaze defiantly for a few more moments, then exhaled loudly and looked down at his feet.
"… Sorry," he muttered. "It's just…" He trailed off into silence.
Knowing Roxas as he did, Lea thought that he had a fairly accurate idea of what was fueling his ire. He was less sure of what to do about it. The only thing he could think of to do was to convince Roxas to put words to whatever was bothering him; aside from the relief he would feel by sharing his worries, Lea hoped that such a discussion would serve to remind Roxas that their friendship remained unchanged.
"It's just…?" prompted Lea.
Roxas stood silently for a moment, then mumbled so quietly that Lea could scarce make out the words, "… promise you won't tell Xion?"
"… I can't promise that," replied Lea after briefly considering the matter, "but I'll listen to whatever it is that's bothering you. Though you have some nerve asking me that after the way you've-"
"I get, alright?" interjected Roxas irritably. "I said I was sorry."
Brat…
"Anyway," he continued, "It's that, um… well, I mean, I'm not really sure that I… I mean, I do, but…. I don't think it's the same, and…"
"Roxas. Rox- Roxas, stop. Stop," said Lea wearily, holding up a hand to stop his babbling while massaging his temples with the other. "I know exactly where you're going with this, so just… relax. You're... man oh man. You're confused and worried because you suspect that what you feel for Xion and what Xion feels for you aren't necessarily the same thing. Am I right?"
Roxas blinked in surprise and then turned a brilliant shade of magenta.
"That's… how did you- that's exactly right, but-… wow Axel, how did you know that?" he blurted out, his embarrassment momentarily forgotten.
Because I've already gone through puberty.
He couldn't say that, however, so he replied with an enigmatic smile and ruffled Roxas' hair.
"Well… when you think about it, it's kind of obvious that that's how it would be. You only have a few days' worth of memories of Xion, so while you have a definite opinion of her character, as well as feelings that I have no doubt are legitimate, you don't have the kind of intimate knowledge that she has of you. A few days, Roxas. Think on that. Do you understand why I'm saying that you're moving too quickly? But... truth be known, I think that she liked you before…" He gestured vaguely. "… before everything happened. I got the impression that you had some measure of feelings for her as well, though you either didn't realize it at the time or didn't know what to do with them."
Roxas had listened to all of this with rapt attention, and was now rubbing the back of his neck in thought.
"So…" he began, "you think that I'm…"
"I think that you're attracted to Xion," said Lea bluntly. "And I'm positive that she's attracted to you as well, but I think her attachment to you goes much deeper than that. And that's perfectly fine. She knows that she can't expect that level of reciprocation right now, so she's content with simply having you at her side."
He waved his hand self-consciously.
"But it's not my place to be telling you these things. I've only said as much as I have because it was clearly eating at you… and because you're too afraid to ask Xion yourself," he added with a smirk.
Roxas smiled uncertainly.
"… Look," he muttered after a moment, "I'm sorry that I've been so… does it feel like we're leaving you out? Because… I've kinda felt that way too. And it bothers me. Xion's said that we need to include you-"
"I have no interest in being included in whatever it is you and Xion do together," said Lea in a deadpan tone that made Roxas grin. "But… thank you. And it really wasn't…well, I probably shouldn't have said anything to you about the way you two have been acting, but…"
"But it bothered you," said Roxas quietly.
"… Yeah," admitted Lea. "I've felt kind of… "
Roxas stared at him for a moment, then sighed and made a show of shrugging helplessly as he turned to head back toward their tents.
"Well, I'll talk to Xion and see what all we can include you in. The best stuff is off-limits, but…"
Lea shook his head, grinning.
"I'm sure."
Roxas paused and looked back at Lea over his shoulder.
"… Thanks," they said in unison.
Rvs: 2.0
