Sorry guys, but I'm not going to elaborate on their apartment life; that'll take too much time, and I don't want L&F to be too long. I'll release a series of one-shots depicting that, but other than that, nothing. Just assume that Naminé and Roxas just get along.
BTW: Exactly what's important about Chapter 13 may not be what you expect, just saying. ^^
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING MENTIONED IN THIS STORY.
I only own the story itself. Enjoy!
Xxx XXX xxX
The next day.
"Mr. Leonhart, you can come in now—"
He was by the bed before the doctor could finish her words. The brown-haired Dr. Aerith Gainsborough gave him an amused look before walking out the door.
Sora tenderly stroked his bedridden wife's cheek, brushing a loose strand of scarlet hair behind her ear. He pressed a kiss to the woman's nose.
"Miss me?" Kairi said softly, looking up at her husband with her blue-violet eyes twinkling. Unfortunately, she was still too weak to even sit up.
"You have no idea," Sora whispered, forcing back more tears. She had woken up only an hour before, and this was the first time he'd had to interact with her while she was conscious. "I thought you were going to die."
Kairi smiled mischievously. "What happened to the carefree Sora I fell for, huh?"
"He died when he saw your body lying in that alleyway," he said, clenching his teeth. "If Naminé hadn't found you when she did…"
"Then we both owe her one," Kairi murmured, working her shoulder.
"I can't forgive myself for what I said about her," Sora muttered, leaning back. "Roxas and I got into a fight about it—I said she'd be nothing but trouble."
"Did you say sorry?"
"Yes, mother," Sora replied sarcastically. Both laughed, but Kairi's was a little forced for a certain reason.
She sighed. "Sora, speaking of mothers…"
His back stiffened. There was only one reason she'd say that.
"I'm pregnant, but the baby might not have survived…"
And once again uncharacteristic fury blazed in his eyes. He made to storm out the door, but Kairi caught his sleeve and pulled him back down (although it was more his choice to sit rather than the hospitalized redhead being strong enough to force him to).
"We need to ask the doctors," Kairi said, looking into her husband's eyes. "Can…can you call Dr. Gainsborough?"
Slowly the rage died down in Sora's eyes. The studio master sighed and nodded, getting up and exiting the room.
She had actually fallen for his easygoing, laidback ways (they'd driven her insane at first, actually), but another thing had drawn Kairi to her spiky-haired husband. Sure, he was friendly, kind, caring, and everything a sane girl could ask for, but it was just something else that outmatched all of his good qualities.
Once he'd set his sights on doing something, he wouldn't give up until he got it. That unbending tenacity was what broke her mask of playing hard to get, was what had allowed him to form the studio in the first place, and was what allowed him to graduate university with equal grades to her.
She smiled and stared at the tiled ceiling, patiently waiting for Sora to return with Dr. Gainsborough.
"I wonder how the artists are doing…" Kairi murmured.
Xxx XXX xxX
"Hi, Roxas!"
"Um, h-hi, N-N-Naminé…" Roxas tried to dive for the safety of the modeling office, but a hand held him fast.
"Not so fast, Roxy."
Larxene had watched Roxas and Naminé beat around the bush about their very obvious crushes on each other, and Bug-Hair thought that Xion's plan was working out quite well.
Now, though…
"Let go of me!"
"Not until you say hello to Naminé."
"I already did!"
"Without stuttering. And you will give her a hug, because she looks pretty down this morning."
Axel clomped down the stairs to the third floor.
"I can fix that," Pyro said, holding up a mug of freshly brewed coffee. "But Roxy still has to give Yuki that hug."
Roxas glared at the pyrotechnics master. "Some help you are."
"Just trying to help you get past your own cowardice." Axel shook his head, amazed at Roxas's hostility. "So ungrateful, man…"
Naminé looked from Larxene to Axel to Roxas (who looked away when she moved her ice-blue gaze to him). She raised an eyebrow and made to ask for that hug, to spite Roxas more than anything else, but a familiar voice cut her off.
"Kids, I'm home!"
"Boss!" The four rushed down to the first floor, with Zexion, Xion, Demyx, Cloud, and Tifa hot on their heels.
Sora was grinning widely and it was genuine happiness—something none of the CGI artists had seen on his face while Kairi was in the hospital.
"What's up, Sora?" Cloud asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're looking unusually happy today."
"Kairi woke up!"
Silence.
Naminé was the first to react; she shrieked in joy and hugged the first person she could reach—who, of course, turned out to be Roxas, whose face turned cherry red before his eyes rolled up in his head and he went limp, much to Naminé's chagrin.
Cloud and Tifa embraced, chuckling at the two, as Zexion and Demyx knocked fists. Axel pressed his lips to Larxene's cheek; she slapped him before kissing him back, herself. Xion pumped a fist.
"So when'll she be released?" Axel inquired.
"The doctors say she'll be released in two weeks, but that she should rest at home for another three days before returning to work," Sora said, still grinning hugely.
"Con…congrats, bro," Roxas muttered drowsily, before he fainted again. Naminé cried out in horror and immediately began trying to shake him awake.
All the studio boss could do was to stare in confusion at his unconscious brother and the beautiful blonde frantically doing everything she could do wake said brother in her arms.
"Okay…" Sora said slowly. Then he turned to Cloud and Tifa. "It's your guys' engagement first year anniversary, right?"
Both nodded.
"Well, I was planning on taking everybody to dinner at a restaurant," Sora explained. "You guys deserve a reward and the studio can afford it."
"You sure about that?" Axel grinned. "Demyx and Larxene eat like hungry lions."
Bug-hair smacked her boyfriend over the head while Water Boy shrugged sheepishly.
"I'm pretty sure," Sora remarked dryly. "We're going to Mickey's, by the way."
Cheers shook the first floor of the studio.
"Wait, I don't have to pay, right?" Naminé asked nervously, hugging Roxas to her.
"What do you mean?" Sora replied, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.
"Long story," Tifa interjected, setting a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "And no, Naminé, you don't pay. It's all on the boss."
Roxas woke up to find his face pressed into the tender, warm skin of Naminé's neck and promptly passed out a heartbeat later.
"…right," Sora said, smirking at his brother's weakness. "Anyways, go home, change, and we'll meet in front of Mickey's at…seven sharp, okay?"
Xxx XXX xxX
"I feel a bit…overdressed."
"Naminé, honey, you're dressing to impress. The rest of us aren't."
"Tifa, he's going to have the same reaction as last time. That's a given."
Cloud, Tifa, and Naminé were at the former two's apartment. The latter had brought over a selection of outfits from her and Roxas's apartment, as per Tifa's instructions.
"Everyone's going to be wearing jeans and a T-shirt."
"Except you."
"Why can I not simply wear something more casual than…this?"
The 'this' Naminé referred to in a doubtful tone was a white, above-the-thigh, figure-hugging dress with floral patterns along the hem. She supposed she should be thankful that it had straps, but Mother would've had a fit if she saw her little girl in the clothing of 'a common whore'.
Cloud, clad in dark jeans and a gunmetal grey sweatshirt that read 1ST CLASS, rubbed his forehead. "I don't see what's wrong with that dress, Naminé."
"Personally, I think it looks gorgeous on you," Tifa smiled, elbowing her fiancé. She was dressed in light blue jeans and a light green jacket.
"It's too short," Naminé complained, turning around in front of the mirror. At its longest, the skirt extended to her mid-thigh.
"I don't care," Cloud replied, grabbing both women's arms and pulling them out of the bedroom. "We're going to be late, you two."
Mickey's was a prosperous-looking establishment. A neon sign mounted above the front door proclaimed the name of the restaurant along with its mascot: a mouse with ridiculously large and round ears.
Axel and Larxene had driven together, as had Sora and Roxas. Xion, Zexion, and Demyx had all carpooled in the latter's SUV. And yes, everybody was wearing casual jeans and jackets.
Naminé took a deep breath as Cloud and Tifa exited the car.
"This is it," the blonde murmured, before opening the door and sliding out—
"Whoa!"
—and promptly tripping and nearly falling on the pavement before she caught herself with the handle. Her cheeks dusted red with embarrassment at her clumsiness even as Roxas rushed forward to assist (much to everyone else's amusement).
"Naminé, are you all—" Roxas nearly choked on his own words as he caught sight of the artist. She closed her eyes again in an attempt to compose herself as gentle laughter drifted through the air.
"You look nice, Roxas," the blonde said, opening her ice-blues.
"You too, Naminé," the CGI artist replied, forcing his pulse to slow the fuck down and his currently cherry-red face to assume a charming smile. He'd acted like an idiot around Naminé these past few days and he intended to change that. "In fact, you look absolutely stunning."
"Th-thank you…"
He offered her his arm and she took it, and arm in arm the two walked towards the door of the restaurant. Roxas glared at Tifa as they passed her.
"You planned this, didn't you?"
The voluptuous brunette snickered. "It took you this long to figure that out?"
"Bite me, Tifa."
"Sorry, but I'm already engaged, Roxy-Woxy."
The interior of the restaurant was well-lit, quite stuffy with the combined body heat of the numerous patrons, and had a homey feel. There was a tiny, cheery woman standing on a stool in the reception booth.
"Hello, Minnie," Sora grinned, waving.
"Hello, Sora," the woman squeaked, grinning back. "Where's Kairi?"
The studio boss sighed and scratched his head. "She fell down the stairs, so she's at the hospital."
"Oh, that's dreadful," Minnie sighed, shaking her head. "I do hope she recovers soon. Oh, and who's this lovely young lass on your brother's arm?"
Naminé curtsied and smiled charmingly (she hoped). "I'm Naminé Lockhart," she said, using the false surname she was instructed to use by its owner. "Tifa's younger sister. It's nice to meet you, Ms. Minnie."
The tiny woman raised an eyebrow. "It's nice to meet you too, Miss Naminé," Minnie replied. "But it's really no use lying to me. Tell me, what's your real last name?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that," Naminé admitted.
Minnie smiled warmly. "That's perfectly alright, Miss Naminé," the woman said. She checked a piece of paper. "So, Sora, one of the big tables?"
"For ten, yes," Sora replied, nodding. "Thanks, Minnie."
"You're welcome," she replied and gestured at a tall, leggy Viera to come over. "Fran, please escort the artists to their regular table."
"Yes, Ms. Minnie," the Viera waitress responded in a smoky, Eastern-European accented voice. She turned to the artists. "Please follow me."
Fran led them to a massive round table with twelve seats set around it. The waitress moved the two extra to another table before motioning the studio staff to sit, bowing, and leaving.
"Whoa," Demyx murmured as he stared after the woman's behind. "Damn, that is one hot girl…"
"Gawrsh, Demyx, if Fran heard you say that, she'd be beyond embarrassed," a tall, lanky man chuckled as he approached the table. He pulled out a small notebook. "What will your drinks be today?"
"Red wine for everybody, Goofy," Sora replied, to nods all around. "Water for Roxas."
"Hey!" the younger Leonhart protested. "Why don't I get to drink?"
"Because you're my designated driver," Sora said, rolling his eyes. "Duh."
"Bastard."
Roxas pouted rather cutely, Naminé noticed, and she had to giggle at the other blond's annoyance. Then she realized that 'everybody' included her, as well.
"Mr. Sora, I don't drink," the blonde said, but Goofy had already left.
"Too late," Xion sighed dramatically.
Several minutes later…
"So it turns out that Cloud wears green boxers," Tifa slurred, blinking rapidly. The brunette had already downed three shots, and she was well and truly drunk. "With freaking dinosaurs on them. I mean, who the fuck wears dinosaur boxers anymore?"
"Tifa, shut up," Cloud groaned, burying his head in his arms. In comparison, her fiancé hadn't even finished off his first glass. "God, she always says the most embarrassing things about me when she gets drunk…"
"But you love that about me!"
"I hate that about you, Tifa."
"So, in order," Zexion said, swaying slightly. "We've found out that Cloud collects fucking Voltron action figures, has had a crush on fucking Asuka Langley Soryu for damn near five years ever since he discovered NG fucking Evangelion, and now, he wears fucking dinosaur-encrusted green boxers."
"That's pretty much it," Xion snarled, barely avoiding slamming the delicate wineglass down on the table like a tankard of beer. "And that's a whole lot of fucking, Zexion. Makes me wonder about you…"
"Am I the only person here who can hold his alcohol?" Sora asked, raising an eyebrow. The studio boss had had six glasses so far and his vision wasn't even blurry, which was just unreal. "I mean, you guys are hammered."
"No shit we're drunk, boss," Demyx rasped. Then he turned around and wolf-whistled. "Hey Fraaa~an! Just wanted to say you're hotter than a fucking sauna!"
Inside the waiters' lounge, Fran coughed and choked as water spurted all over her respiratory system and out of her nose.
"What did that boy just say about me?" she gasped, shakily wiping herself off. She was blushing bright red all the way up to the tips of her long ears, which were twitching in half-outrage and half- embarrassment.
"Just ignore him," Goofy advised. "But believe him too. You are hot."
Outside at the artists' table, a widely grinning Larxene turned to Naminé.
"So, Yuki," Bug-hair growled. "Gonna drink that wine of yours?"
Naminé had been staring into the depths of her drink for the past ten minutes, wanting to try it but hesitant of the consequences. Tifa and Demyx came to mind.
"Don't hog it all, Larxene," a not quite drunk (yet) Axel muttered, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend's waist and pulling her against him. "Let the poor girl try some, will you?"
"I wouldn't do it if I were you, Naminé," Roxas warned. "You'll get what's known as a hangover in the morning, and trust me when I tell you it's not pleasant."
"I know what a hangover is, Roxas," Naminé mumbled, swirling the burgundy liquid in her glass. "I've had one before, and it was a lot worse than just 'not pleasant'."
"Ooh, innocent little Naminé's gotten drunk before?" Xion snickered, leaning forward. "Who'd you have sex with after?"
"Xion, cut it out," Roxas frowned, poking the brunette girl's forehead—
—just as Naminé dumped the contents of her wineglass down her throat.
Silence.
Everybody at the table was wide-eyed and slack-jawed.
"Not as bad as last time," Naminé said, shrugging. "Another glass, please?"
"Whoo!" Larxene cheered hazily, pumping her fist. "You go, girl!"
"As long as you don't start strip-dancing on the table, then okay," Sora murmured, reaching over to refill Naminé's glass.
"Seriously, I don't think Roxas would let her," Cloud said dryly, holding out his own glass for a refill. "I mean, the guy's—"
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
The dry, snarky voice made everybody turn to its source. Naminé's eyes widened and her mouth fell open as she recognized the silver-haired, green-eyed boy.
That's impossible…how did he…
"R-Riku…?"
"Naminé, who is this guy?" Roxas asked, looking from the blonde to the other boy.
The silver-haired boy smirked in derision. "My name is Riku Jenova," he declared. "I am the son of Sephiroth Jenova."
"So what…?" Sora said. He noticed that Xion was staring murderously at this Riku boy.
"I'm Naminé's fiancé."
Xxx XXX xxX
I would've said that this is quite a shocker, but right now all I can think of is how hard it's going to be to write Roxas's reaction to that revelation and how soft my sheets are looking right now.
Well, g'night, guys. Review, please!