Chapter 14: BONUS III: 2.0
Repliku dyed his hair in the sink.
When he first held the bottle of blond dye in his hands, Naminé looked between it and the strand of hair twirled around her finger. She shifted on her feet and said, "Won't it feel like you're copying me, then?"
"Not if it's you," he replied, because he couldn't imagine an universe where he was loathe to share with Naminé. He took her free hand in his, words thick as honey and twice as sweet, "I want to match with you."
Of course, the third person present couldn't help but drawl, "Aren't you just the sweetest?" Thereby reminding them they were still standing inside the store.
Now they both keep him company in the bathroom as the mixture sets in. Naminé takes of her safety gloves - she had been the one to mix everything - and Vanilla taps at his phone as the timer he set ticks on.
He laughs about something Vanilla said. Later on, he won't remember what it is, but he will recall catching sight of himself in the mirror. A snapshot of his own face contorted into a grin with all his teeth flashing. The thought rises, That's not Repliku anymore.
They both leave him in the bathroom to rinse out his hair. He watches the dye run in the shower, leaving streaks in its wake.
He sees himself in the mirror again. New hair, new clothes, not just that, a new demeanor almost, nothing other than cosmetics yet something inside has taken a new shape. Still, he finds Riku in the color of his eyes or the shape of his nose. It's familial resemblence, nothing less expected of brothers.
He wonders, who's staring back at him?
Repliku steps out of the bathroom, wearing the scuffed clothing they all got him, hair dyed soft blond.
Naminé cheers, "You look great, Repliku!"
He crosses his arms and huffs, the very picture of confidence clad in a mess of red and black with a dye job that doesn't quite reach his roots. But every imperfection only raises his spirits. "From today on, I'm no longer just Repliku. I am the new and improved… Neo!"
"You look great, Neo!" Naminé says again.
"Thanks."
"You look like an idiot!" Vanitas yells in. A large yellow splotch stains his back, when he tried to hold the bottle and failed.
"Says the guy in the ribbon."
"Shut it, Neo!"
Neo laughs.
AN: that's right guys new name time! the folks on ao3 picked neo by a landslide so neo it is. uwu