Chapter Text
The chatter of excited people floated up from the town, carried by a breeze just slight enough not to chase off the sun’s warmth. The clock above clicked a steady tempo. Roxas imagined he could fall asleep here. In fact, he probably would since his friends decided to ditch their usual hang-out for the movie.
Tonight was the last night of the Fall Film Festival, and though Roxas had no interest in the final film, Hayner, Pence, and Olette were dying to see it. Roxas had held his ground but the trio of Twilight Towners had begged and pleaded until Xion, Namine, and Lea gave in. Roxas had pretended to begrudge them for it but in reality it wasn’t a big deal. He hadn’t minded the idea of some alone time then, and now that he was faced with it he was content. He had a lot to think about. Some peace and quiet would do him good.
The clock struck seven and Roxas smiled to himself. At least he wasn’t going to have to sit through that boring movie.
When Hayner had shown him the description on the flyer Roxas had made a dramatic show of gagging and shoving it back at him.
“A romance? I’m not watching that!”
“Aw come on, Roxas, it’s supposed to be really good!”
“No, no way. That shit’s boring.”
“No it isn’t!” Olette had chimed in after taking the flyer from Hayner and pasting it up on a brick wall, “It’s wonderful. Two people coming together despite their differences, falling in love, becoming partners for the rest of their lives…”
Roxas pretended to gag again. “Who wants to fall in love with a stranger? Ick.”
“The point is that they’re not strangers after a while, dummy.” Olette smacked him over the head with the roll of flyers yet to be put up.
It wasn’t that Roxas hated romance, or was grossed out by it, or whatever. It was just that romance movies were never real to him. Roxas didn’t fall in love with hot sailors or cute pool boys, the beautiful lady who lived next door or the funny girl in his class. Roxas hadn’t even been to school.
More than that, though, romance movies always made him sad. They made falling in love, asking people out, and having feelings reciprocated seem so much easier than any of it really was.
In reality, Roxas had been in love with his best friend for nearly three years and didn’t have a damn thing to show for it—other than an aching heart.
Part of him wanted to blame Sora. Roxas’ heart came from his, after all, and Sora had been in love with Riku since they were kids. It took them until their return from Shibuya to get their act together. Roxas didn’t want to wait any more years than he already had, but what could he do when the person of his affections was in love with someone else?
“Jeeze, I barely got away from them! Watching me like hungry hyenas, I swear.”
Roxas started, then put on a sympathetic face for his friend. Lea sat next to him on the ledge with one knee bent to his chest, panting like he’d ran up the stairs instead of walked. Not having dark portals to travel around with anymore was one of Lea’s biggest complaints.
Normally Roxas would sorrowfully bid his alone time goodbye, except being with Lea gave him the same level of comfort. Besides, he preferred Lea over loneliness any day.
“Weren’t you gonna watch the movie?” Roxas asked the obvious.
Lea placed a hand on Roxas’ shoulder and gave him a little shake. Usually he smiled while he did that, but not today.
“Nah, couldn’t leave you here alone. Especially since I’m leaving in a few days.”
Roxas’ heart sank. He’d been trying not to think about that. Lea was leaving to visit Isa in Radiant Garden for the next month. Well, not just Isa. Ienzo, Even, Dilan, Aeleus, Myed, and some people called the “Restoration Committee”, too. But Roxas was focused on the Isa part.
“All packed up?”
“Eh, kinda. Got most of my clothes, not that there’s much…and the little stuff, toothbrush and things, I’ll pack last minute. I’d bring a book but Isa just added ten to his collection. I’m sure I’ll like at least one.”
Roxas remembered the first day he caught Lea reading, on a quiet day while they were training at Merlin’s two months after Xehanort’s defeat. He couldn’t recall a single time he’d ever seen Axel pick up a book but there was Lea, pages deep in some story about dragons.
Saïx had taught Roxas and Xion how to read a little during their time at the Organization, but only so they could understand mission reports. Because Roxas was so intrigued, Lea had spent the better part of the following year teaching Xion, Namine, and Roxas to read properly. Now, Roxas had read at least one-hundred books.
Lea’s hand slipped from Roxas’ shoulder to fold over his own bent knee. The pair looked out over the town below, the sound of the movie beginning replacing the numerous voices.
“It’s gonna be weird, not being here for so long.” Lea murmured.
“Yeah. It’s gonna be weird without you.” Roxas sighed, but not wanting to linger on how sad that made him he tried to change the subject, “But at least you’ll be with Isa, right? I bet you’re excited to see him.”
Lea’s frown remained. “I am, it’s just…we still fight sometimes. And he keeps pestering me to move to Radiant Garden to make our search easier. It’s hard to share research across worlds, but I think I make enough of an effort.”
Roxas recalled the multitude of midnights he’d left his room in the Old Mansion to find Lea making himself another cup of coffee, in the middle of transferring data or writing up reports to send to Isa. Sometimes he would stay up with Lea, keep him company while they watched strings of numbers and letters fly across the computer screen.
He never quite understood why Lea insisted on staying in Twilight Town. Now was as good a time as any to ask.
“Why do you stay?”
Lea looked at him, eyebrow raised in disbelief. “Really, Rox? Can’t think of a single reason I’d rather be here?”
Roxas made to jab him in the ribs with an elbow, which Lea flimsily tried to deflect.
“Can’t be for my ugly mug, so my next best guess is Xion.” Roxas teased.
Finally Lea laughed. Short and sweet, but it was better than whatever was making him so melancholy today.
“Nah, I’m actually here for the shitty romance movies. No other world has ‘em quite like this.”
Roxas pretended to gag once again. Lea rolled his eyes with a smile, then put his arm over Roxas’ shoulders and pulled him close. Roxas shuffled over so he could lean against his best friend. Lea was always unnaturally warm, and whenever they hugged Roxas had severe internal battles to force himself to let go. Lea’s warmth was easily blamed for extended cuddle sessions in the mansion’s library. Not Roxas’ feelings. Nope.
“I’m gonna miss you.” Roxas murmured.
Lea was quiet for a long moment.
His fingers found the chain of Roxas’ necklace, playing with it as he said,
“I had an idea. You’re welcome to say no, of course, but I think you might like it.”
Roxas hoped to the stars Lea couldn’t feel his pulse.
“Well I gotta hear it first.” He sassed.
Lea poked Roxas’ side with his unoccupied hand.
“Come with me.”
To Radiant Garden? With Lea? Stay with Isa for a month? Roxas craned his head back to see if Lea was serious. He was. Damnit.
“Okay.”
Lea’s responding smile warmed Roxas’ heart. Ugh. The least he could do was get over this stupid crush so he’d stop feeling so…gooey. Or, he could tell Lea and feel gooey in better places…ha! In his dreams.
“Awesome! I promise it’ll be fun.” Lea cheered.
“It’d better.”
Roxas looked back out over the town. He was having a hard time imagining how “fun” sitting around watching Isa and Lea compile their research could be. But, at least he wouldn’t have to endure teasing from his friends that he was moping without Lea around. And he’d get to explore Lea’s homeworld. He’d spent two whole days in Radiant Garden so far, the first being the day Ienzo downloaded him into this replica, the second being the six-month check-up Lea had dragged him to. It would be nice to have real time to see everything Lea had told stories about.
Hopefully Isa wouldn’t be too upset about having a second freeloader in his house. Especially one he wasn’t on the best of terms with.
“Does Isa know?” Roxas asked, because if Isa didn’t, Roxas was going to make Lea text him right now.
“Is it weird if I say yes?” Was Lea’s cheeky answer.
“Maybe…”
So Lea had assumed Roxas would say yes? Daring. Roxas took pride in his unpredictability.
“Would it be weirder if I said it was his idea?”
No. Way.
“Definitely. Was it really his idea?”
“Yeah.”
No way!
Roxas couldn’t imagine Isa suggesting that. Why would he willingly invite Roxas? Isa lived in Radiant Garden instead of here with Lea because the guilt he felt whenever he was around Roxas and-or Xion was too much for him. Sure, he was changing into a nice man and Roxas actually found him fun to be around when he was in a good mood. And the talk he, Xion, and Isa had had after Xehanort’s defeat had helped Roxas understand just how much Isa cared about Lea, about the two of them, and how willing he was to right his wrongs. But Isa was still so awkward around the two. Not to mention he and Lea were a thing which made Roxas all the more awkward around him.
What could’ve motivated Isa? Was he trying to boost their opinion of him?
“Is Xion coming?”
“Oh, no. I asked, but she wants to stay here with Namine and Dusk.”
“Can’t argue with that, I guess.”
“Nope.”
They fell silent, listening to the quiet music of the movie and watching the sun slip behind the horizon. Roxas let his eyes droop, feeling drowsy again. Lea was so comfy…
“You’re really sure you want to go?” Lea murmured, sounding far less secure than moments ago.
“Yeah, of course. If I get bored of you and Isa I can always go bug Ienzo and the others. Myed’s really good at this game called ‘spoons’.” Roxas said reassuringly.
Lea laughed, “I remember that! It’s been too long since I’ve played. Maybe we’ll have a game night.”
Now that sounded fun.