Well, here's the third chapter! I'll have to work hard from now on to keep up with updates, since this is most of what I actually have written out. But I'll do my best!
This part's a little nicer, and I feel better about it. I'm updating this early because SOME PEOPLE (certain friends who shall not be named) are utterly impatient.
No major warnings, a bit of... fluff? But I don't think that's the right word...
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters... Dammit.
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That night, for the first time, Roxas enters Sora's dreams. Usually he watches from the sides, not willing to be a part of it, but bored because what the hell else is there to do?
As usual, it does not take long before Sora's dream -- a lovely sunset, a beach, with his friends -- morphs into a horrific nightmare, the sky darkening and ripping open as Sora's friends disappear, and Sora cries out, trying to huddle into a ball and disappear. Because for all Sora is, for all that he does, fighting Heartless and sacrificing himself and generally being a hero, he is still scared. So very, terribly scared.
Roxas has seen this beast before, the Darkside -- it often plagues Sora -- so he sets across the beach, headed for it. It is so easy to summon Oathkeeper and Oblivion, so easyto slice through the monster; all Roxas has to do is believe, firmly, that the creature is weak, and it bends to his will, disappearing with a shriek.
Roxas disappears his keyblades and turns to Sora, still in a ball, unwilling to fight. He's always, always fighting, and he's tired -- Roxas knows.
The blonde doesn't touch him, but whisks them away from the terrible place, to a warm summer day on the far side of the island, near the Cove.
Sensing the shift immediately, Sora uncurls himself, sitting up and blinking -- and his eyes widen. His mouth falls open and he squeaks. "Roxas?" he whispers in disbelief.
Roxas doesn't answer, just shifts uncomfortably.
And then Sora does something surprising, alarming, and unpredictable: he starts to cry.
Roxas doesn't know what to do. Part of him is still... revoltedby Sora, still bubbling with hate, and wants to beat the teen's head in with -- well, anything. But now, a large part of him is feeling quite the opposite, a part of him infested with memories of Demyx, and Axel-- oh God, Axel. And suddenly, he realizes. It all just comes flooding back to him. After three weeks of hate and uncomfortable non-existence, Roxas realizes. His friends are all dead. Axel is gone. Demyx is gone. Zexion is gone. Luxord, Marluxia, Xigbar, -- they're all gone. And to his horror, Roxas starts to cry, as well. He sinks down in the sand, still a few feet away from his Somebody, and mourns.
Sora blinks away his own tears when he sees Roxas fall, and he watches him for a moment. "Roxas?" he manages, voice barely a whisper. He's frightened now, maybe even more so than a moment ago.
"They're gone," Roxas sobs. "Everyone is gone!" He's not talking to Sora, not really. Or at least, that's what he's trying to convince himself.
Sora's face softens, though Roxas does not see, and the brunette understands. Slowly, he moves across the sand on his hands and knees, being as quiet as possible, and after a moment's pause, wraps his arms lovingly around the one person who hates him more than anything.
Roxas freezes, feeling his blood go ice cold. But he finds that despite it... to his horror, he can't move. And so he cries more, in frustration.
"Shh," Sora whispers, moving one of his hands to gently card through Roxas's hair. "It's okay, it's okay.... No more crying... No more tears..." But his voice is still wavering, though it is getting stronger, while Roxas's is losing his.
There are so many things that Roxas would like to call Sora at that moment. After all, it is HIS fault that his friends are gone (so he has taken something, after all) but he can't. He's so... tired, and Sora is so warm... He is horrified when he buries his face in Sora's neck.
Sora seems surprised too. He had expected Roxas to... he didn't know what. Killhim, maybe? But never... never this. Never come closer. And new tears well up -- but these are tears of relief, and he pulls Roxas tighter to him, and tries to keep the tears out of his voice. He sounds groggy and his throat feels clogged when he speaks, but he tries to be as soothing as he can, dropping his voice down so that it sounds a little smoother. "It's going to be okay... You're not alone, Roxas. You're not. I'm here... Even if you hate me... I'm here. I won't leave you, baby... So please, stop crying... Stop crying... No more tears... It's gonna be alright..." He whispers in a sing-song voice, the words coming out more like an odd lullaby than anything.
If Roxas were not so comforted, he would be offended and mortified by Sora's use of the word "baby."
As if sensing this, Sora uses it again, thought it is light, and teasing. "I'm here for you, baby... I'm here."
I'm here.The words pierce Roxas's heart, and he sobs quietly, so completely embarrassed by his behavior.
Sora doesn't seem to mind though, as he gently pets the blonde's soft hair, rubbing his back gently and whispering comforting words to the broken Nobody. "I love you, Roxas."
"I hate you," Roxas sobs, twisting his hands in Sora's shirt.
Sora is not deterred. "I love you," he repeats.
"I hate you."
"I love you."
"I... hate you."
"I love you," Sora whispers firmly, pulling back just enough to kiss Roxas on the forehead before pulling him close again so he doesn't have to see the boy's face. He fears the hatred, and he can't take it.
"I... h-hate you..." Roxas's resolve is fading, and that upsets him.
Sora seems to see this, and does not repeat the phrase, for fear that Roxas may break. He can't stop himself, however, from thinking it. "I love you, Roxas."
Roxas growls at him, fingernails digging in like claws.
Sora winces, but bites back an apology. He has nothing to apologize for. He loves Roxas, and that's that.
Roxas lets go, after a minute, and reversing it, Sora sags against him. He's so... done with all this. He's glad Roxas is there, as the boy yelps at the feeling. "I'm... so tired, Roxas," he murmurs into his ear, his words slurred with sleep. But what the hell? He is asleep! "Take care of thing for me for a little while, 'kay?" And he feels his mind slip into a comfortable, warming darkness.
Roxas is not so lucky, as he is left invariably alone, and just a little more miserable than before. Where has Sora gone? Did he wake up? What did he mean "take care of things"? What. The. Hell. "Sora?" he calls weakly, voice hoarse.
"I'm here,"a voice whispers in his ear, and Roxas can suddenly feelSora, there, in his heart.
"What the hell?"
"Just... Just resting for a little while I think. Please, wake me up if anything goes wrong, or you wanna run away. I'll protect you, Roxas, I promised."
"Right..." Roxas unconsciously presses his hands over his heart.
"Now, wake up."
And for the first time in what feels like forever, he shoots up in bed, letting out a gasp.
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Ha! Yes, that's right! That's the end of the chapter! Now you'll have to wait to see what happens next! Oh GOD!!!
Okay, I'm done with that. Hope you enjoyed this. I'm working on the next one as we speak! I'll do my best!