AN: Some swearing this chapter and Aeros generally having a bad time. Please R&R!
Wish we could turn back time to the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we're stressed out
(Oh) Wish we could turn back time (Oh) to the good old days (Oh)
When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we're stressed out
-twenty one pilots, Stressed Out
xxxxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxx
A couple of weeks passed. Sora and Aeros reacclimated to the other as Aeros finally returned home now that it wasn't unbearably devoid of his son's presence.
Things seemed to be going well as a new "normal" settled between the two when one day Sora simply… didn't come home.
Aeros waited a few hours, believing he was simply still out with Riku and/or Kairi, when it started to grow dark.
Dinner passed and still no Sora.
Aeros stood and began pacing the house before calling his friends.
Ruki picked up the line, "Hello?"
The brunette inhaled, "Is Sora there?"
She paused for a moment, "Not since he went off with Riku and Kairi to the Play Island, no."
"Alright thanks, I'll check in with the Mayor."
Ruki exhaled, "All right. Riku isn't home either so keep me updated, alright?"
"Sure." He hung up. He stared at the phone for a long moment before dialing again.
Kairi picked up, "Hello?"
"Have you seen Riku and Sora? Are they on their way home?"
The teen paused for a moment on the phone, as if holding her breath before she responded, "Uh… Well…." She became nervous, "We were hanging out on the Play Island when we got an urgent letter from King Mickey. It seemed really important, so… they left."
Aeros wanted to throw his phone in anger, but tried to keep himself in check as he bit out, "Where did they go."
Kairi gasped, "Did they not talk to any of you? I- uh, I think they went to Master Yen Sid's?"
"Ok, got it. Thank you." He slammed the phone, unable to feel bad for more than likely scaring the poor girl. He turned around and stared at the storage closet for several minutes, trying to get a grip on his anger as he stomped over to the door, throwing it open and hearing it slam on the wall. He winced as he caught it while it bounced back.
The Crystal Ball that had been gifted to Ava sat there, dormant.
He growled low in his throat as he slapped his hand on it, pushing Mana into it with a blue glow.
Eventually a familiar old voice rang out, "Ah, if it isn't Young Aeros. It has been many, many years since we last spoke. Have you and your family been well?"
He clenched his teeth, "No. I have not been well. Where is my son."
The old Wizard paused for a long moment, "Your son..? Is he not with his mo-"
Aeros could hold back his building hysteria, "AVA DISAPPEARED. YEARS ago! It's just been me and my son, SORA!"
The other side of the Crystal Ball sat silent for almost too long before he replied, "...Sora, the very one, along with Riku, who arrived here earlier this evening?"
He almost laughed, but it came out as a shrill breath, "I guess? He's barely been home for a month, and now he and Riku have disappeared without a WORD."
He could almost feel Master Yen Sid's patience run out as he seemed silently occupied on the other side. "Mickey. Did you not ensure that they had informed their loved ones before setting out?" The old Wizard was downright exasperated.
He could faintly hear Mickey's pathetic excuse of a response before the Master continued, "I must apologize for our lack of correspondence. I did not realize they had begun their Mark of Mastery Exam without informing anyone at home that they would be leaving from Destiny Islands. A great deal of information has come into our possession which has caused us to ignore traditional propriety and begin this Exam post-haste for the sake of the Worlds. I have no excuses for such terrible irresponsibility on our part."
Aeros closed his eyes and took a deep cleansing breath to calm himself and stated flatly, "But the two of them are there."
"In a manner of speaking."
"What does that even-" He cut himself off before rolling his neck to try and relieve the tension and bite his tongue, "We leave them in your care. Do ensure they let us know when they're off-World, no matter the urgency. Or at least have them call after they've been sent off. I don't care. The three of us have dealt with our kids missing for too long."
Master Yen Sid breathed audibly, "Understood. I do, again, apologize. I must go so that I can continue to observe their exam."
"Fine. Goodbye." He took his hand off the Ball and the glow of his Mana dissipated.
If he ever found himself in King Mickey's presence, he was going to literally kick him in the ass and-
Aeros took a breath, closed the closet door, and returned to his phone to update Ruki on her son's whereabouts.
He flinched at the sound of plaster being destroyed on the other end of the call as Vale wailed about the repair costs.
A few days later Riku and Kairi showed up at the Library. Aeros looked the two over, glancing around them as Kairi became increasingly nervous while Riku frowned, "Uh… hi Aeros."
The brunette glared at the tall teen from his circulation desk, "Hello, Riku. What new disaster has befallen us this time to bring you here?"
Riku immediately flushed, having gotten a rather stern reprimand from Master Yen Sid after everything with the exam was completed, "I uh… I'm gonna be taking Kairi to Master Yen Sid. Not really sure why, but he said it was important…?" He was slightly flinching away from him near the end.
A strange smile settled on Aeros's face as his gaze pierced into Riku, "And where's Sora?"
Riku grimaced as he shrunk into his shoulders a little, "Training?"
He continued in the strange line of calm rage, "You're not sure..?" Aeros slowly stood from his seat.
Riku took a step back, grabbing Kairi's hand, "Well, if anyone needs us, just call Master Yen Sid with that Crystal Ball, I guess? Bye!" He bolted, Kairi shouting as she was dragged behind him.
Sleeping Lion appeared in his hand as the door slammed shut behind them.
He growled loudly, absently thankful no one was around as he yelled in frustration.
Could no one keep track of his son for any reasonable length of time!?
He breathed heavily for a few minutes, trying to pull himself back together as he dropped into his chair, resting his Keyblade over his lap as he stared at it tiredly, whispering to himself, "What the fuck."
Aeros was done.
It was nearly a month later while he was sitting in the living room, finished with the Library for the day that Sora came home.
Sort of.
He walked in the front door, hand behind his head as he chuckled, an abashed look on his face.
His hair was a little different and his clothes had changed. Aeros looked him over tiredly as he absently noticed Donald and Goofy behind him waiting at the door, "Hey dad…"
He acknowledged him, "Sora."
His smile turned into a grimace before he deflated, "Sorry about leaving and not saying anything."
Aeros nodded, "Just tell me next time, alright?"
Sora looked at him, brightness reigniting in his eyes as he grinned toothily, going over to him for a hug, "Thanks, dad."
He sighed as he hugged his son back awkwardly, "So you're on a new adventure?"
Sora took a step back as he explained, "There's some really bad people out there… The New Organization Xlll, who are trying to start a new War." Aeros's eyes narrowed as Sora quickly plowed on, "And well. I gotta figure out this Power I lost, the Power of Waking to help some people who've been gone for a really, really long time. And I gotta find a way to bring back Roxas so he can be hisownpersonand-"
Aeros lifted a hand, capable of following his son's line of thinking but being stuck on the word War. "What kind of War are you talking about."
The three adventurers grimaced as Sora floundered, "It's.. uh… I mean…" He cringed, "A.. Second Keyblade War…?"
Aeros's eyes turned cold and flat, "Keyblade War. A Second one."
Sora took a step back, having never experienced his father's cold anger up close, "Y-yeah..?"
He abruptly stood and grabbed him by his collar, Donald and Goofy shouting as they quickly ran over to try and intervene. He brought his face close to his son speaking lowly, "And no one else can do what it is you need to do?" It was more like a statement than a question.
Sora felt the reassuring hands of Donald and Goofy as they tried to calm the situation, steeling his breath as he looked into his father's eyes.
They were filled with incredible grief.
He's afraid.
Sora's eyes softened with determination, "Yeah. I'm the only one who can help them… and when we do, we'll have to take down the man who started everything that's ruined everyone's lives since I was born."
Aeros breathed for several moments before slowly releasing his grip on his son's front. He took a step back as Donald and Goofy flanked Sora's from behind. "I see." Tears of frustration welled in his eyes as the impending feeling of uselessness began to grip him.
I came here… to make a connection. It's the only thing I can do, after all he's done for us.
The boy who had come from the past and held his infant son.
This is what he was preparing for.
"Awe, dad…" Sora's face fell as he cautiously went to try and comfort him.
Aeros took another step away as he wiped his eyes, Sora dropping his hand helplessly with a forlorn look on his face.
The older man took in a sharp breath, raised his head, and looked down at his son for what might possibly be the last time, "I want you safe."
Sora nodded, "I know."
"Donald and Goofy will be with you."
The two at his side stepped up, nodding vigorously as they responded, "Yup! You can count on us!"
He kept his gaze on his son and wetly continued, "I love you."
Sora's eyes widened as they became glossy, a smile slowly spread on his face, "I love you too… Dad."
Aeros stepped forward and grabbed Sora in a crushing hug, burying his face into his hair, "Promise me you'll come back."
Sora held onto his father, giving him a reassuring squeeze, "I promise."
He released a breath thick with emotion before stepping back, his hands on Sora's shoulders, "I'm proud of you, Sora."
Sora smiled up at him wetly as he tried to respond before nodding. "Yeah."
He took in his son's appearance for a long while before giving his son's shoulders one last squeeze before stepping back. "You're just like your Mother."
Sora's eyes widened in surprise, "Huh?"
He took a deep breath and summoned Sleeping Lion, shocking the three as he shifted his right hand so that the blade could lay in his other hand as he looked down at it fondly, "She could also Wield a Keyblade… When she showed up, she was covered in the remains of a Great and Terrible Battle. She… was someone who experienced the First Keyblade War."
He looked at Sora as his hand gripped the shaft, "I'll be praying… for your Victory, and safe Return."
Sora stood stunned as he looked between his father and the Keyblade. The letter his mother had written him suddenly made a little more sense. There were still some confusing parts, but he had memorized each line of it so that he would never forget her kind and loving Words for him.
Sora nodded confidently, "Thanks."
Sora ran to and paused at the door as Donald and Goofy went out before him, "I'll see you again soon." He went to step away as his father called out one last thing.
"May Your Heart be Your Guiding Key."
Sora smiled as he looked down to the ground as he acknowledged Aeros's words and ran out the door, hearing it click behind him.