I am sorry this is so late. Life hit hard. I lost a friend. I got a bad cold. I got my mom sick. But things are...lightly on track? Not quite but enough for me to finally update.
It was a slow night for his work place. Barely anyone was walking in but that wasn't really bothering him. It gave him time to chat with co-workers, drink or play on his switch and let them mess around with Andusk. She let them throw food at her, burn it then play with it more depending on how big a piece it was. It was cute and a big hit with them all. Even his boss occasionally threw some meat at her with a smirk. Each time throwing it higher and making it bigger. It never ceased to amaze Sora how such a small dragon could keep guzzling down food bigger than her at times. A ding had them all return to their welcoming smiles. Sora turned to see who walked in but the smile faded when he spotted the group.
Game Day
Riku, Aqua, Terra, Kairi and Lea were here. None surprised as they took seats around him at the bar. Sora held a long sigh in and just stood with a smile to make room for their group to sit together. Ignoring Riku's glare at his action, even as he went around the counter.
"You can't take a break to sit with some old friends now either?" Riku accused him.
Sora looks at him, "I already took my break Riku. Sorry I can't take another until I am off." He informs the man, a blank stare his way. "Until then, I can't sit among patrons. It's rude."
"Hey Sora," Kairi smiles.
She got a smile back.
"You gonna...y'know, sing?" She points to the mic.
"If you request a song then you have to pay a small fee," Veronica tells her. "I do recommend him often. He is one of our better talents."
"Tch, I would love to see that. He couldn't sing nor play before. Bet he sucks and you are just saying that." Riku says. "Sora is tone deaf."
"Just for that," Kairi looks at Veronica and sets a ten dollar bill down. "Give us the number one song people request him to sing please."
His coworkers look at him and grin, "they asked for it." was all their expressions say. Sora shrugs with a smug expression. Kairi did pay a great tip and since he got paid, well he had to perform now. His number one hit though was a love song recently released called Twilight Time. A slow song that had a single hit note moment. He didn't know why many people wanted him to sing this but he got paid. Their shocked expressions were enough but he was grinning as he kept singing the short song. Kairi enjoyed the show with Lea eventually pulling her into a slow dance. Riku, Terra and Aqua all shocked at the sudden high note to low note skill he acquired through lessons. When he finished and took an offered drink, all he could do was raise a glass to Riku with the same smug grin.
"Think he is tone deaf now?" Veronica asks, putting their drinks before them. "Like I said, best singer here."
She high fives him when he passes her to go into the back. Proud of him for showing off. It wouldn't be long before they close up. They could handle it from this point on if he wanted to go home. The conversation with her patrons focusing on her coworker brought her mind to focus on them.
"Well...shows how much he really has changed," Riku took a sip of his drink. "Nothing is the same with him it seems."
"He did come back after four...five years? I am sure it would change anyone," Aqua shrugs, sipping her drink. "Clearly, he got educated if he can now sing...like that."
Lea nods, "that was some talent. Makes sense he is requested the most." He laughs. "And I would totally request love songs if I came here more often."
Kairi nods, "he could sing our wedding song." She leans towards Lea. "Make it more romantic."
"As if that is possible," Lea jokes.
"I still don't know why he won't talk to any of us," Riku spoke up. "He talks with Xion, Ventus...Roxas but me? No, I get nothing. No answers!"
"Well if you didn't always scream at him and actually let him speak his piece," mutters Kairi, taking a sip afterwards.
"I am sorry Kairi but he isn't talking to you either," Huffs the silver haired master. "So where do you stand?"
The redhead laughs, "actually, I have been texting him. Lea plans to go with me next time I visit his apartment to talk with him to get answers as well. Like a normal person would and not...scream question after question at him." Her tone went from friendly and sarcastic to anger. "And I am sorry Riku if he can't answer How he is back but he doesn't know. The more you ask the more he is only going to ignore you!"
"Kairi, lower your voice. You have a point and we will talk with him when we know he is okay. I am worried about what I heard from his coworkers here. What did they mean by the "mental health" part? He has to be suffering from PTSD? Maybe even have a mental illness we never knew about that cropped up AFTER everything we all went through? We just don't know."
Kairi stood up and paid for her drink, "ask Sora when he is ready then and don't scream at him. Lea, I got invited to play some...game with Sora, Roxas, Xion and Ventus."
"I know but…" Lea looks at the time. "Isn't it early?"
"It is but I am already irritated at where this conversation is going," She kissed Lea. "Take care of Lara."
"Alright." Lea waves and sees her walk out. "Riku, I understand that you are suffering and have been since his disappearance. I can even sympathize because Kairi and you lost your best friend."
Riku looks towards the redhead.
"But even I have to admit you are taking this way too far," continues Lea as he gestures towards the back of the bar. "Sora is back. He is in the back of this bar. Yes, he has changed but so has everyone. We went through war...no one is going to come out the same."
"He still could have tracked us down!"
"Really? How could he think about that when in his mind, he was confused as to HOW or Why he was back here?" Inquires Lea, taking a sip of his drink. "I am willing to bet that in his mind, he didn't want to bring up old memories. He faded away...he was taken from his home after abusing the power of waking. Now he is just back and with no answers except for what he has gone through during the time he was away."
Lea stood up and sighs, "if I were in his place...I would have done the same thing. Get established, get things going...then see if I can manage the mindset to track down those I fought alongside." He looks at his empty glass. "...but I know I wouldn't be able to do that. If I was gone for so long and alone all that time. It would eat at me until I was nothing but a shell of who I once was."
"We don't know if that is what happened to Sora," Riku pushes back as he stands up next. "How can we when he wont tell us?"
"That action alone is enough to tell me it has happened," The ex nobody points at Riku. "You are just not seeing it! His lack of answers...his change in attitude...Kairi took notice of many subtle things in his apartment. Things many people suffering behind the scenes do after days of research and texts from him."
"And these texts show what? That he doesn't have the courage to answer what I need answered?"
"No. She believes he is possibly suffering from depression. He mentioned an order of medication he had to pick up that helped him manage through the days since being back. When she looked it up, mental illness medications popped up. So to narrow this search down, she took hints from Roxas and Xion about what they had been doing with Sora. Almost every hint pointed to Depression." Lea grumbles something under his breath before he continues. "And you have to act like he is being petty and keeping secrets too."
Riku went to speak but Lea held a hand up to silence him.
"I am gonna get home and relieve Xion so she can hang out with Sora. Nice talk. Maybe it will clear your head and let you LISTEN to him for once," Lea left next.
Riku took a seat and with a glance, stared at Aqua and Terra. The two were talking now.
"I guess we can talk to him when he feels ready or...ask," Terra scratched the back of his head. "How do we even...start though?"
With a shrug, Aqua showed she didn't have an answer. The news that only five of them knew what was going on with one of their own bothered her. Ventus used to trust her with so much and told her everything. Yeah, she messed up in the past, but he kept something related to Sora from her and Terra. The action alone revealed how much trust Ven had towards them about the brunet. Heaving a sigh, she took a sip of her drink and looked into the clear liquid. Staring it down as if that would reveal the answer she was seeking. Ven trusted Roxas. He trusted Xion. He trusted Kairi. Yet...she got left in the dark about what had been going on.
"Aqua, if we want to help then we know what to do."
"Do we? Ventus kept this from us. He kept Sora's depression from us. Had he just told us, we could have made a game plan." She looks at Terra now. "How do we handle this now Terra? When so few know and never thought to tell us?"
Terra gave her a gentle, yet stern stare as he said: "Because it is clear they knew it would get back to Riku and aren't going to allow Sora that burden until he says he is ready."
"And when will that be?"
"I don't know but we need to step forward first. We need to make contact first and let him know that he can also talk with us. That he will have our support when he needs it. Once we do that, we wait for him to contact us. Plain and simple." Terra orders another drink. "It's all we can do and will do. This will get our foot in the door and let Sora know we are there."
Aqua looks back at her drink, "guess...you are right."
"It's the only way. Riku, you need to be mature and realize you are not the only one hurting. Sora is too. Start TALKING to him, not YELLING at him." Terra gave Riku the same stern but gentle stare he had given Aqua a moment ago. "If you don't...I can't guarantee this strained friendship will last."
Riku muttered a curse and gulped down the rest of his drink right then.
A knock on his door had Sora stare towards it. He knew they had planned to come over but now he wished they weren't here. In the back of his head, his demons said they were here out of pity and not wishing to see him. Somewhere in the back of him, the brunet was inclined to agree. They enjoyed hanging out with him because of how he played his game. It wasn't to see him or check on him. It was just to play the game as he did. In the corners of his mind were times they were in the game enjoying themselves and having fun yet when they weren't, he didn't seem to feel as if the fun was genuine. It felt acted, like a part they would play to appease him. The thoughts only made his demons say that canceling would bother them and make them worry but if he didn't then it would only bring them misery. Misery he already brought onto them by just being here. Saying he should go back to Shibuya and that life because at least then, he wouldn't be burdening them.
A louder knock and his name has mind back to the moment. They were calling out for him to answer and asking if he was okay or home. Even asking for Andusk herself to answer the door if she was there. The dragon looks at him then. She could sense his troubles and took it as a sign. Flying to the door, unlocking it and flying back to him. Letting the four inside to see him nibbling dinner.
"Hey," Xion was the first to walk over. "You okay?"
He was silent then forced a smile, "As good as I can be with...my thoughts." He let a chuckle out. "Gotta...love my demons." His smile fades as he picks at his food some more.
A hand on his stops his actions and Xion started to talk with him but he could only listen and not look at her.
"Your demons are lying. Whatever they are saying...it isn't true. We came here to see you, to hang out with you," She spoke, making him look at her. "The game is a perk. We are here to see you."
"Even if...I don't want to play at times?"
She nods as her answer.
"...you...you aren't lying are you? To make me feel better?"
"No, I am being honest. I enjoy playing a game with you because I am hanging out with you," She says. "That's why I come here. You are here. That's why we are all here."
"Xion said it best. The game is a perk. The real fun is with you," Roxas spoke up.
Ven nods, "You are fun to be around. No matter what we do."
"We ate dinner before this so we can get straight into the last time," Roxas tells him. "Or we could hang out and stay here. You pick and we'll follow."
Kairi nods, "We are happy just to have you here."
"I guess…we should head into the game then," He says then finished the last of his meal. "I'll clean this up first and brush my teeth."
The four nod and let him do what needs to be done. Ventus, Xion and Roxas talking about the game with Kairi involved. She listened to them all gush about what they could do in the game. Their abilities transfer into the game itself mixing with the ones given. While they gushed, she listened with a smile. It sounded like this version of playing the game was fun but also sounded like they roleplayed it? It would be weird but she was down to figure out just what made this version of her friend happy. The dragon sat atop the switch as Roxas called it. Being patient for something. Sora returns at last, content as he heads to the machine.
"Alright everyone, as normal. Don't let go." Sora motions for her to grab his hand.
She does, quiet but unsure of what exactly is going on. Only to see exactly what they had been gushing over when she felt a magical pull. In the blink of an eye, she was IN the game the four had been playing. Sora, dressed as what could be seen as the main character told her then. Letting her watch Ventus roll up and just happily be a ball of rock. Roxas just proudly cleaned real feathers with Xion relaxing by the water. When she got a look at herself, she saw that she too had looked like Xion but red scales. The brunet then told her that she was an Ocean Zora. A race in his game that could breath under the water as long as they wished. Roxas was a Rito, a bird race that evolved from the Zora. Ventus was a Goron, a race of rock eaters and thanks to this game; actually liked eating rocks. Not in real life but in the game he would eat them whenever he had the chance.
"...has he tried to eat rocks...outside the game yet?" Kairi leans close to Sora.
"Not...not that I am aware of? I'm sorry but...keeping up with others isn't my best skill anymore. Work though, I got that down. Plus my morning routine." The brunet adds. "Andusk helps manage it. Xion makes sure I can vent to her via text. Ventus will stalk me if I have a bad moment or a few too many bad days. Roxas will call me randomly to talk or text randomly."
"Can...Can I help too? I want to make sure you are able to be happy no matter what." Asks Kairi, smiling at him. "We are friends. It's what we do. No matter what happens, we support one another."
"What she said!" Roxas's voice spoke from above. "Also, so glad to be back here. I missed this!"
Water hits him and they see Xion giggle from the water.
"So, what do you do here then?" Kairi asks, looking at Sora directly.
"I mostly try to learn magic from Andusk when I can. Otherwise, we just sorta...run around Hyrule battling monsters. Gathering food, weapons. That sorta thing." Shrugs the brunet, letting Andusk fly around. "We also go to places that I have already been to battle bigger monsters."
"That Lynel kicked our asses," Ventus groans. "Can we go attack it again? We got an extra hand." He gestures to Kairi.
"I mean...she did just join. Attacking a Lynel at the start is rushing it. Let's just get her adjusted first then attack the big, bad Lynel. Deal?" Xion the Zora spoke up, flipping water onto him. "Patience is key."
"Fine. I just want to kick his ass! He stole my chance to try that moist rock."
"What is with you and that rock. There are plenty around Hyrule that can be moist."
"A shock arrow landed on it. I want to see if the taste changed."
Sora stares at the blond goron then opens his mouth, "you got weirder."
Ven just grins at him, proud of the statement.
"...alright, let's...lets go get him some rocks and train with Kairi today." Sora sighs.
"YES!" cheers Ventus, rolling around again. "WHOOO!"
Kairi looks at Sora, "what did you do?"
"I have no idea."