(The Heart is the) Light to my Darkness

Alternate Timeline of KHII

1000~ words

"Sora… you're lucky. Looks like my summer vacation is… over."

Roxas wondered if this process would hurt. Wondered if living in Sora's heart would be warm with light or like living in the dark. The latter option made him shiver.

The pod before him was unfurled like a blooming flower. It made this moment feel like the start of spring and not the end of summer. The boy from his dreams, Sora, floated within. His tan face was locked in a seemingly-endless sleep; one that Roxas was meant to wake him from.

He stood there in that room of uncanny white, waiting and waiting and waiting… but nothing happened. He climbed up the ramp to the pod to inspect Sora's face: older than the boy in his dreams, of course. The two of them looked so different, despite their similar height and stature. Roxas wondered if the blue of their eyes would match, as the color he saw in his dreams always seemed hazier than what it could be. Not that he would be there to witness it.

Something in him ached and it all felt like a cruel joke. What was there to ache, anyway? According to these people–these cruel strangers and former friends alike–there was nothing in his chest. He was nothingness given form: a Nobody. A shell belonging to the boy in front of him: his Somebody.

It wasn't worth lingering on now. If anything, disappearing might be a mercy to him and this deep ache hollowing him out. So Roxas stood before the sleeping Sora, took a few steadying breaths… and waited.

Still, nothing happened. He reached forward with both hands, intending to gently shake the boy awake—as soon as his hands gripped Sora's shoulders, he felt it.

It was like a wave swelling and crashing over him. Sora's memories came at him in a flood. It was not painful, just completely overwhelming. It didn't hurt his body, it hurt his heart.

Sora's heart.

What surprised him most of all, then… was when Roxas saw his own memories. They weren't especially clear, but glimpses of his life in the Organization flooded past him, caught in the current. But most of his own memories had been returned to him already, so what—

Suddenly, a voice entered his mind.

"Stop being so damn innocent."

"Fight it!"

"Roxas, you have to be strong for the both of us."

"Roxas, I'm sorry…"

It was Sora's voice… but how?

The swell that was once pushing him into Sora was now pulling him away like a riptide. Another high-pitch ringing, like the one he heard in the computer room, shot through his head.

He gasped, but planted his feet firmly and dare not release Sora for fear they might both somehow disappear. Tears welled in his eyes, terrified by the thought of, This is the end for me.

Roxas's eyes snapped open to meet the carbon copy of his. No—his were the carbon copies of Sora's. Those beautiful and endless pools of blue were looking at him, recognition rippling in their depths, freezing him to that spot.

Sora's voice, hoarse from sleep, escaped his lips barely at a whisper. If Roxas hadn't been so close, he would have missed Sora saying, "Roxas."

Then, the brunet's eyes rolled back and he slumped into Roxas, his head dipping into the Nobody's shoulder. The seeming G-forces pulling Roxas every which way were suddenly gone, leaving him feeling like a mass of jelly. He dropped to his knees, keeping care not to drop the snoozing Somebody to the floor.

They sat like that for a long moment. Roxas wracked his brain while Sora slept all-too-peacefully against his shoulder. He was certain they would have fused by now but… what went wrong? How did Sora recognize him?

A snort, a sigh, and a yawn later, Sora was pulling back. He watched the brunet rub the sleep from his eyes, like a child waking from a short nap. He was still not fully aware of Roxas's presence near him. Politely, the blond lowered his hands from Sora's shoulders, no longer concerned that the other boy couldn't hold himself upright.

Sora's bleary gaze turned to him, and Roxas almost had to double take. The striking blue from earlier… maybe it was the light, or from grogginess, but they seemed… duller. He had to fight the urge to peer in close to examine them.

He waited for Sora to recognize him again. Roxas pictured one of those winning smiles creeping onto his Somebody's face when Sora realized who was sitting across from him. He wanted to hear the other boy shout his name, happy to see him still standing—

"Um," Sora cocked his head, a tired brow raising, "Hi?"

Roxas was dumbstruck. His lips parted, but he had no words. And above it all… he realized with utter confusion that hadn't fused with Sora. Wasn't he meant to… disappear? To vanish in a puff of smoke, or even a wisp of dust? To maybe even fade into the background like bad reception on a TV? Anything?

"Where am I?" Sora yawned, and Roxas' attention refocused, "How long was I asleep?"

"You don't… know who I am?"

Sora crossed his arms, frowning a bit as he looked Roxas up and down. "I feel like I know you from somewhere. Have… have we met before?"

Roxas shrugged, a friendly smile creeping onto his face. "I don't think so but… maybe… we could be friends?"

At this, the brunet matched his smile and nodded. Sora's friendliness was so real and open that it sent relief washing over Roxas. It was comforting even with the uncertainty of the moment and the fear of what was to come. The anxiety, the unknown… maybe none of it mattered if Roxas had Sora's smile to look forward to. He was glad to be fully corporeal for it.

Then, the other boy extended a hand, "I'm Sora."

Roxas took his Somebody's hand and shook it, "I'm Roxas."

In his head, he added, It's nice to finally meet you.

Exeunt.

A/N: This is a draft of a suggestion I received via tumblr and dA. It's the continuation of my fanfic Have I Gotten Your Attention Now? combined with Where the Heart is by AlphaOmegaPsi. Where the Heart is is my all-time favorite SoRoku fic.

If you personally know (or are) AlphaOmegaPsi, I would love to adopt this work if it's officially orphaned! Please reach out to me ASAP on social media (mewsomniac . carrd .co/#contact - remove spaces) with either proof that you know them or proof that you are them, and let me know whether I'm allowed to adopt this beloved fanfic. If not, I will continue working on the tribute this draft comes from.

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check out my Carrd for all the info!

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