Chapter Text
The skies were dusty. The houses were condensed, cramped, and squeezed into a small area to try and suck the money out of every living being trying to live near the city. Sora let out a sigh, unable to appreciate the newly torn forest around their new land. The word choice of 'land' made him laugh a bit, but it wasn't like he could call it home anyways. He leaned against the window, focused on his head hitting the glass at every bump. Sora avoided the depths of his mind. He didn't like the seriousness that came with the flood of thoughts that thought they had the right to swirl around in his mind zone. It always hurt when he even brushed the surface, so he sat atop his wall and perched himself in the nothingness the outer world provided them.
“Sora,” Leon began, pausing for a moment testing the waters. Sora hummed noncommittedly, not really paying attention. He let out a sigh before hesitantly continuing, “I know this is,” he paused, carefully evaluating his next words. “Difficult. But please, work with me here. I need you to talk to me. It’s uncomfortable, yes, but I can’t get anywhere with this if you don’t talk.”
Leon was never the best with words, it wasn’t hard to figure that out. They always came out clunky and dry. Leon tried to take the role of a parent for Sora, but it never quite worked out like that. It was rough and unnatural whenever he attempted to console Sora, and it only drew him further from his brother. Sora really couldn’t blame him, his elder brother was trying his best, but he couldn’t help but feel irritated by his meaningless attempts at reconciliation. It wasn't like he was a good at being a brother regardless.
“I know,” Sora mumbled softly, trying to snuff out any conversation.
“You know Cloud,” Leon said shifting in his seat, uncomfortably, “He’s more than willing to let us move in. You know mom always liked him, he's practically family.”
Sora hummed curtly in response. If he let himself think about it- Shit, wait no. Stop. He was notbreaking down in his brother's truck. He’d already gotten past that. He’s grown and improved. They weren't here anymore, and he'd accepted that. He was okay with that. If he could only get out of his head and into his body again he could-
“Sora…” Leon said cutting off his thoughts, still trying to coax out a proper conversation. Sora felt himself curl in, feelings getting caught in his throat. Inevitably, he would have to talk to Leon. It was unavoidable considering their unfortunate situation. He talked to his councilor about Leon a lot, about his uncharismatic nature and the distance between them among many other things. They always told him to make an effort, to be honest and communicate his feelings and build a new connection. Try to move on from the past, give him that second chance, but the knife in his chest wouldn’t allow that. Leon glanced over at him again, causing Sora’s stomach to drop.
“I… I know you’re trying Leon,” Sora said. This communication thing was hard, not to mention how it got him thinking. Being on the road was hard enough, but Leon confronting his feelings while on the road? Even worse. “It’s just, driving me crazy. I feel like I can’t breathe sometimes, almost like, something’s suffocating me. Ever since we got on the road my mind has fogged up, an... an...” Sora stuttered, grabbing at his spiky hair, as he spiraled. The knife drove itself further. His heart pounded in his ears, the wall cracked further as emotions flowed into his mind. His eyes brimmed with tears, but he held them back, looking out the window to avoid Leon’s eyes. “And I can’t shake these… things that I feel. It's real, but it's not.” Sora gasped between words.
Leon was quiet for what felt like hours. Sora stayed silent, unable to continue and waited for a response.
“None of this is your fault. Things just,” he paused inhaling sharply, “Happen. The past can’t be changed, and I took this upon myself and I don’t regret it. I- no, we just need to learn when to ask for help, and this is my step in the right direction. I hope you know it’s going to help both of us. Think of it less as relocation, and more of a second chance.”
Second chance. Sora dragged his hands over his face. “It’s just… so…” he trailed off.
“Fucked up?” Leon finished, eliciting a snort from Sora.
“That’s a good way of putting it.”
Silence fell between the two of them, calling it comfortable was an overstatement as Sora’s unease was still potent, but he he didn't give himself a moment to wallow in it, pulling himself from the spiral with the self control he'd developed over the months. The knife was still lodged deep in his chest, regardless of the safety line he built. As strong-willed as he was, he wasn’t sure how much more holding back he could handle. After a long silence, the car rolled to a stop.
“We’re here.”
The knife abruptly dislodged itself, and Sora immediately jumped out of the truck and pressed his bare feet into the grass.
“Leon!” Cloud shouts from his front porch. His bright blonde spikes reflecting the sun’s rays. Leon steps around the run-down truck and opens his arms for the shorter man. Cloud throws himself into Leon’s arms, resulting in a long embrace. Feeling somewhat awkward, Sora looks away and opens the hatch to the bed of the truck. As he shifts through his stuff, he sneaks a glance back over to adults who are now deep in conversation. Cloud looked his way making eye contact and gave him a kind smile laced something... Pity. Sora bit his lip quickly looked away.