*yawns in her cup of hot chocolate* Good morning everyone! Last day before weekend, and for some, last day before a well deserved break! I'm not bringing you the happiest fic this morning, but I'm sure you can handle it. While I am writing this author note with my right hand my kitty is trying to eat my left one so I guess I'm awake now
Sora tossed and turned in his bed. It wasn't unusual for him to be nervous before a fight, and it was a good thing, but never had he been that nervous. While his fights had usually heavy consequences on the fate of the world, he had always fought them with only a couple of friends. The scale of this one was so much bigger that it scared him. Not that he had ever been fine with the idea of risking Donald and Goofy's lives, or Riku's, or anyone else; this time everyone was fighting. People who had lost so much already. People who feared they'd lose even more.
It was selfish of him to wish for Kairi to stay back, he understood that now. He wanted her more than anyone to be safe, but he was also relieved to have her by his side. Until the end, a nasty voice whispered in his mind. He shook his head. This fight wasn't his last. And he'd make sure it wouldn't be her last either.
He was painfully aware of Aqua and Ventus sleeping in the room next door. Everyone of them had their own room, but Aqua had been holding Ven's hand until the moment they got back and she never let go. The walls were rather thin, and Sora had heard them chat happily for a while, as if all was fine, then he heard Aqua crying herself to sleep once Ventus had once more fallen into a peaceful slumber. They were missing Terra a lot more than they'd admit, but Sora could see it in their eyes, in their body language. If Aqua's hand had been glued to Ven's, her other one was still reaching out to a hand that wasn't there.
Axel was probably still awake. Last time Sora saw him, the young man was drinking his fifth cup of coffee, refusing to go to sleep. "I have ta hurt my oldest friend, and I might never see the other ones again. There's no way I'll ever find sleep." Sora couldn't begin to imagine what he was going through. Kairi had told them all that Lea would rather be called Axel again, and Sora knew that it was because this was the name Roxas called him by. Deep inside Sora's heart, Roxas knew, too, and he was in pain. If only they knew exactly how to bring Roxas back! And that girl, too, that Sora saw more than once in his dreams… Whoever she was, she was important to them too. She missed them too. He shed her tears a couple of times. He felt her longing. He understood her pain.
He wondered if Kairi and Riku were asleep. He had witnessed Kairi's nervousness first hand - she had been so clumsy all evening that she broke two plates and almost fell down the stairs, but she had confided to Sora she was actually a bit excited, because for once, she'd feel actually useful, and she strongly believed they would win. Riku had remained more neutral, saying that they needed rest to be at the top of their capacities on the battlefield, and Sora admired him greatly for being so mature.
And what to think of their opponents? Master Yen Sid had told them that defeating them would recomplete them. It happened once before, when Sora beat the former Organization XIII - tomorrow would be no different. But what if it was? What if for some reason, Sora wasn't saving them, but eliminating them? All these Nobodies he met on his journey, Xigbar, Larxene, Vanitas, Marluxia… What if they had been given a second chance already, and there would be no third one? Would Sora even know? He wanted them to start anew with a new heart, he didn't want them gone. He wanted Saïx to become Axel's best friend again. He wanted everyone to be happy. But what would happen of Xemnas, who was so different of his somebody? What would happen of Vanitas, who was Ventus's half? Would they disappear forever? Wasn't this the same as killing them?
He tossed, and he turned even more. He had no answer to these questions. And he didn't think he would ever find sleep tonight. With a sigh, he left his room, willing to join Axel in the kitchen.
He was barely surprised to find out every single one of his friends already around the table. Aqua and her puffy red eyes. Ven and his ghosted look. Kairi shaking in her seat. Riku sighing in his cup. Even Donald, Goofy and the King were there, giving him a look full of sympathy. Axel put a hand on his shoulder, with a grin that looked fake.
"Welcome to the nosleepover! Guess I'll make another cup of hot chocolate, then! It's going to be a looooong night!"
And so the guardian of light sat among his friends, embracing the warmth of friendship on the dawn of their final peaceful day.
It's ok Sora, nothing bad is going to happen, right? RIGHT? hahaha nothing bad, nothing bad.
Tomorrow we're going to something a bit sweeter (bittersweet?) with "I still need you"!