Prompt # 43: Dying

Characters/Pairings: Roxas/Sora

Summary: Roxas comforts Sora after his mom's death.

The laughter sounded far away, like it was nothing more than a vague memory. Roxas looked in the direction of the playground, where his boyfriend's young students were playing as they waited to be picked up. The principal of the school had called him, saying that he needed to take Sora home for an extended leave. They were all concerned for him. Going to work after the death of his mother was taxing on both himself and his coworkers, who were all concerned for his wellbeing. Sora might have been a dedicated teacher but even should know to take care of himself in the face of tragedy. Roxas had thought that Sora was staying home when he left for work that morning.

Said brunet walked out of the school with a canvas bag slung over his shoulder, his feet dragging on the ground. Roxas got up from where he was leaning against his car and opened the passenger door. "Sora, let's go home." He murmured, running a hand through his lover's hair. The other man only nodded, his blue eyes fixed on the cracked asphalt under his feet. Gently pushing Sora inside, Roxas walked around the car to get into the driver's seat and turned the keys. The car came to life with a quiet roar and soon they were on their way, the elementary school disappearing behind them.

Through the window, Sora watched the world pass by and Roxas found himself wondering what the other was thinking. Sora's face was turned away from him but he had a feeling that the other was wearing an expression that had become familiar in the past few days. One of loss and confusion, sorrow and pain. He could hear the unasked questions. 'Where do I go from here? What do I do with my life? Are things ever going to be the same?' Roxas had no answers for those questions, only Sora could come up with them. But he would be there to support him through this rough time.

"Roxas?" Sora asked suddenly. Roxas glanced at him and nodded, showing that he was listening and waiting for the other to continue. "Can we...order take out...tonight?" Sora caught his gaze hopefully. On impulse, Roxas took one hand from the steering wheel grabbed Sora's hand, their fingers intertwined.

"That's fine. We'll order from her favorite Chinese takeout place. Was that what you wanted?" Sora nodded, squeezing Roxas' hand tightly before releasing it. Roxas returned his attention to the wheel, turning onto their street. "We'll watch 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' as well. She really loved that movie, said it reminded her of Riku." Sora shot him a grateful, watery smile as they pulled into the driveway.

"Yeah, Riku was such a diva when he was younger." He said. Roxas linked their arms as they walked towards the house, pulling out his keys to unlock the door.

"Was? He still is a diva, my dear." That prompted a startled laugh from the other man and Roxas smiled, pressing a kiss to Sora's temple. "I'll order our takeout. You grab the movie, okay? I'll be in the living room in a moment." Sora nodded and disappeared behind the kitchen wall. Roxas stared after him for a moment before he picked up the phone to place an order for their food. When he finished, he heade for the living room. Sora was sitting on the floor in front of the TV, his back to Roxas.

"Sora?" He asked, kneeling down next to him. He received a sob in response. Roxas pulled his lover into an embrace and Sora's tears soaked through his shirt, his fingers clutching the blond's shirt like a lifeline.

"Please, please, tell me I'm dreaming. She's still alive and she's going to call at any moment, asking why we didn't invite her over for Chinese...just lie to me..." Roxas stroked Sora's hair as he sobbed.

"I'm sorry. I can never lie to you. But I can help you through this. If you just…" Roxas faltered, unsure. He didn't know what to say. He had never known his parents, he didn't know what it was like to lose them.

"Roxas…" Sora whispered, looking pained as he seemed to realize this. Roxas silenced him by brushing his thumb over the brunet's lips.

"It's alright. I can't cry over what I've never had. But you...your mother was the one that took care of you your whole life, even after she said that she would relinquish you to me." He smild fondly at the memory and Sora sniffled, attempting a smile as well but failing. Roxas kissed the grimace away and held the brunet tightly. "Even if she's not here physically, she's in your heart and your memories. No one can ever take that away from you."

Sora eventually fell asleep in Roxas' lap, the tears all cried out. Roxas moved his boyfriend to the couch and covered him with a blanket, one that they had picked up from Sora's mom's house. As he went to pick up the movie that Sora had left lying on the floor, he found a piece of paper sticking out of it. Curiously, he opened the case and looked at it. It was a note, written in Sora's mother's handwriting. He smiled and went to put it on the refridgerator, next to a picture of the three of them.

'I love you baby boy, and Roxas does too. He'll take care of you when I'm gone, honey, and you better be watching this movie with him! Don't worry about me. I'm in your heart and that's where I'm going to stay. Love, Mom.'