thefarshore | (no subject)

[That reaction throws Roxas off. He's hesitant to wrap his arms around Sora, but he does so eventually.]

Sora?

[What is going on with you right now?]

[He knows Roxas probably doesn't want to hear it, that Roxas has his own things to worry about but Sora doesn't know how else to process that Riku's gone. He's desperately upset about the others too but it's Riku that really hurts. He misses Riku and Kairi, Donald and Goofy, so much right now he can barely stand it. He's just so grateful that Roxas is here.

He slowly moves to hug Roxas weakly, still hiding his face.]

They might come back someday, right. You said that.

[Sora would be right. He doesn't want to hear something like that. It leaves him with a bitter taste in his mouth. Yes, he knows Riku is Sora's best friend, but this Riku didn't even remember him. No, Roxas has to chide himself. Even though the situations are vastly different, they both lost their best friends within days of each other.]

They might. Just have hope.

[It sounds hollow. He doesn't want Axel to come back. He doesn't think he can learn to like another one. He doesn't want his old friends coming back as the same but different. No, he's sick of it. Please, it has to stop. It would break his heart.]

[Sora isn't used to losing people like this. It's all very hard for him to accept still. It's something so new for him to process that even if Roxas' words are hollow he still likes hearing it. They might come back, he might be able to see them again someday. He doesn't even care if they might be different. Just being with them again would make him happy.

Tears well up in his eyes for the countless time in the last few days but he breaks away from Roxas and rubs them away. He's so tired of crying too.]

I'll hold onto that. [He says quietly. He'll keep his thoughts about Riku to himself too. He has Roxas and that's all he needs right now. He pulls the hoodie on finally.]

[Even if it'll be frustrating to Sora, Roxas is going to want to take care of him as much as the other will let him. He's not worried about himself. He's done this way too many times to let himself be crushed by this loss. It's not that he doesn't miss his friends, but Roxas is just going to move on as fast as he can. It's going to happen again. Over and over.

Roxas' face is unreadable as he watches Sora.]

Can I carry you now? You don't have shoes on. [Before Sora can say anything in protest-] I'm not going home. I can take you back, or you can come with me.

[Sora looks down at his feet and wiggles his toes. Yeah. He did that. He threw fit and he knows it. He wonders briefly how cracked his phone is gonna be when he finds it.]

Fine, but I'm not going back. I'm going wherever you're going.

[Don't even try to leave him behind somewhere right now he will fight it until the sun comes up.]

[Why did Roxas even bother asking that question if he knew Sora would answer this way? He can't help but crack a small smile as he moves to kneel down with his back to Sora.]

Come on. We're getting you some shoes first.

[And then go someplace warm for a while. He doesn't want to find out if a god can get sick or not.]

[This is starting to be a theme of Roxas helping or carrying him around. He fusses for a moment longer before he carefully gets on Roxas' back, wrapping his arms around his neck gently.]

Just get some socks I'll walk around in socks.

[That makes no sense, but it's not like they're going mountain climbing or anything. Sora thinks he'll be fine with just some socks.]

No, we're getting you shoes. You'll slip and fall with socks.

[Stop being a little kid. Roxas stands and shifts Sora around so they were both more comfortable. He has to remember where he passed a store that sold clothing last as he treks up the stairs.]

Are you hungry? We can go find a place to eat after. If not, there's cafes everywhere here. You can get tea or something.

[Food actually sounds amazing right now. Mega amazing. He sighs softly, already feeling a little better.]

You're too good to me, you know that. [He mutters. He just wants to be around Roxas and would be content with sitting anywhere with him, but Roxas is thoughtful.] Can we get some hot soup?

[He still thinks it's waste to buy a brand new pair of shoes for him when it's his fault he threw himself out here. But he's too emotionally drained to fight it.]

[That's because Roxas is used to taking care of the other Sora, he's just doting on this one more than the other.

He keeps himself focused on finding a store, stopping in front of one before he answers.] Yeah. I know a place that has some... I'm gonna have to take you in here with me.

[He doesn't want to add more discomfort with ill fitting shoes. He enters the store with Sora on his back and heads for the right department. Thankfully there was a chair he could deposit the other into.]

Do you want just plain shoes or colors?

[It's a good thing humans don't notice them very much. Must be strange to see two people coming in like this, someone with no shoes on being piggy backed around. Still, Sora blushes because it feels kind of strange to be in public like this.]

He glances around when Roxas asks and then says without skipping a beat he points,] Those red converse runners over there.

[If he's gonna get a brand new pair of shoes might as well be ones he likes, right? He thought about getting yellow ones, but he likes red better.] You should get a new pair too!

[Looking over, Roxas notices the shoes right away. They're perfectly Sora. He walks over and grabs them, handing them to Sora as he blinks.]

Huh? I should? [He looks down at his own shoes... it might help to get new ones. He's had these since he's found them back in Koriko. But they're comfortable...] .... yeah, I think I should.

[Easiest thing to do is just to get a pair of black sneakers. At least he picks ones that have red and white markings on them with red shoelaces. Some color is better than none.]

I'll get these.

[He grabs a package of socks from a shelf nearby because he still wants his new socks. Taking the shoes he puts both on and smiles.

He muses that this is the first moment of normalcy that they've had in like a week. It's kind of nice. He looks up at Roxas and nods.]

What, you don't want to get the matching yellow ones?

[He's joking, the ones Roxas picked are great.]

[It's still with hesitation that Roxas even puts on the new shoes. He's reluctant to admit that getting rid of anything from that place hurts, but this isn't Koriko, and changes need to be made. The padding is stiffer than he remembers new shoes being. It was comforting in its own way.

Just one more reminder to his over a year there going into the trash.

He snorts softly, shaking his head.]

Yellow's your thing, not mine.

[Sora watches Roxas hesitate.] Something on your mind?

[Roxas seems sad in that brief moment of hesitation. What's sad about shoes? It's probably something deeper.]

[Roxas bites the inside of his cheek before replying.]

This is one of the last things I've got from that place. Now I'm getting rid of those shoes, and I don't know how to feel about it. I'm sad but happy? I don't get it.

[Emotions are still too weird sometimes. How can you be happy and sad?]

[Sora smiles gently.] No reason to forget about Koriko or how you felt about it just because you give up something like that, right?

[He thinks it's nice to be sentimental. Roxas shouldn't forget about how Koriko made him feel, no matter what. Sora's never been particularity attached to items and he adapts to change fairly easily, but he gets it.]

Every single memory is special.

[Just like the ones he had with everyone who's vanished from here.]

[Unlike Sora, Roxas has become attached to a lot of things in his short life. Tangible items confirmed to him that the memories are his, they didn't belong to anyone else.]

... I got these shoes because the uniform only came with geta. They were one of the first things I bought. [He picks them up and tosses them in the nearest bin.] I bought them to make work easier. I don't need to have something that reminds me of that anymore.

[There's a sense of relief that hits him hard. He puts a hand on his chest and takes a deep breath.] I won't miss them.

[Sora gives Roxas a nod, trying to understand. He agrees, painful memories shouldn't have constant reminders.]

Sometimes it's better to move on from old memories. It's all part of growing up, I think.

[He stands up, testing out his new shoes. He's not nearly as wobbly as a few days ago, but it still takes a little effort.]

Doesn't mean you forget the good stuff though. Just makes room for better things to be added!

[But what about the ones you can't move on from? Roxas keeps that to himself as he nods.

Can they stop talking about memories please?]

Right. So you ready to go? You can wait outside for me while I pay.

[At least Sora doesn't need to be carried now, which takes a literal load off of Roxas' back.]

[Sora notices the slight dodge. He wonders if there's more to talk about but pressing Roxas never goes well. He just likes talking about everything, and would go for days if not dodged...

He shrugs and nods but before leaving gives Roxas a cheeky grin.] Wow Roxas, buying me new shoes and getting something to eat with me. It's like we're on our first date. Not what I imagined, but I'll take it.

[He laughs it off and heads out the door, waving his hand in the air as he goes.]

[Sorry, Sora, it's just not fun to talk about memories right now. Maybe when Roxas has had a week of sleep or something.

Sora may have just laughed this off, but not this guy. He just watches Sora walk off before putting his face in his hands. He's been on dates and they were a lot like this.]

Why'd you have to say that...?

[Sora might be waiting quite a while before Roxas finally comes out. Yeah, no, he can't look the brunette in the eye right now.] L-Let's go.

[Sora thought himself pretty funny. ~~well he sort of likes calling it a date but that's besides the point~~ After all the doom and gloom and hard times the last few days he thought it would be good to crack a stupid joke.

He leans against the outside of the store, looking up at the sky. Roxas is sure taking his time. Maybe his joke...made him mad?

It's only confirmed when Roxas comes out and avoids him.

Err... Whoops. Sure doesn't help Sora's confident in his crush that's for sure. He kind of wilts and follows.]

Sorry, did I make you mad? I was just kidding! Haha, just a joke. [He laughs nervously.]

I'm not mad, I just... This... [Roxas can waves his hand before crossing his arms. He has no idea how to explain he's not mad but that this wasn't something he wants to joke about?

He sighs, still not looking at Sora.]

It can't be a date because... well.... [Can't think how to proceed.] Dates don't start out like this! Otherwise, this would be a really weird date... but those are okay, I guess. They happen. Just not that often. It's got the elements of one, but is it? I don't even know anymore. At least it wouldn't be like the date with Killer. That one was weird... would this be more like with Leona? No, we went to a movie...

[Now he's thinking too hard about this if Sora can't tell by the rambling to himself and serious expression. See what you started?]

Edited 2016-10-07 02:35 (UTC)