Archive of Our Own

***

Roxas was in a less than happy mood when he joined Hayner in the shallows, letting the waves lap at his feet while Hayner chased a fish or two through the surf. Roxas wasn’t the most cheery guy but his face was sour, even for him. Which, didn’t make much sense because the last person Hayner had seen him with was Sora and those two tended to get on well. Roxas still had a grudge against Riku and sometimes Ven left him exhausted, Terra and Aqua he could take or leave, but for Roxas to be at odds with Sora? 

“What’s up?” he asked, flicking water at Roxas.

Roxas scowled but Hayner just laughed. Eventually the tension dropped from his shoulders and Roxas mumbled, “Sora wants me to go training with them.”

“And you said yes,” Hayner surmised. 

Roxas nodded and right, that was the problem. Roxas had weaselled and wormed his way out of every keyblade sparring session they’d had. Be it shifts at the bistro, homework, the seasonal flu, or just plain sleeping through it, Roxas had always slipped through Sora’s fingers. Hayner had asked him about it one night, when they’d been atop the clocktower and it was closer to dawn than dusk. Roxas hadn’t said anything for the longest time before leaning back and admitting,

“Maybe I don’t want to be a Keyblade Master. I’ve been a Nobody, a weapon. I’ve had fake memories programmed into me. I’ve given myself back to Sora and then been taken apart again. Maybe...Maybe I just want to be a normal kid for awhile.”

Hayner had gripped his hand tightly. “That why you enrolled with us? Why you work at the bistro?”

“Maybe. But I want to spend time with you all as well.”

Snapping back to the present, Hayner waded out of the water, peering up to catch Roxas’ eyes from where he was scouring the ground. “You ever thought about telling Sora why?”

Roxas flushed, quickly looking away. “No.”

“He wouldn’t mind,” Hayner said.

Roxas just shook his head. “No, but I...I think he’d be disappointed. Or, I’d feel like I was letting him down. I can do this. I’m just...making excuses.”

Hayner rolled his eyes at his stubbornness. “Fine. But you’re not going alone.” Roxas frowned, Hayner waving him off. “I’ll go with you. Not because you’re making me, but because I want to. And if you get to a point where you’ve had enough, tell me and I’ll make up an excuse okay? I have a big family. I’ve got a lot of experience with coming up with excuses.”

Roxas’ head dropped onto his shoulder, hand curling into the hem of his jacket. “Thanks Hayner.”

***

If anyone had been surprised at Hayner making a guest appearance at their usual keybladers sparring session, they hadn’t said anything. That probably had something to do with the way that Xion roughly elbowed anyone who’d opened their mouth when Roxas and Hayner had stepped out of the dark portal. Hayner had cheerfully waved, relieving himself of Roxas’ Organization cloak. Apparently it warded off Heartless and Hayner needed it more than Roxas did. That was probably true, given the hoards of Nobodies he’d seen Roxas summon sometimes. Still, it was good to be able to shrug the tight material off.

“Geez Roxas, put some meat on your bones.”

Riku snorted while Sora gaped. Roxas merely hit him over the head. “I’m not trained in strength. And besides, I’d take brains over brawn anyday.”

Hayner raised an eyebrow. “Thought Nobodies ate hearts, not brains.”

That got him another whack over the head but Roxas was smiling so he took the victory for what it was. Hayner settled in on a bench, Ven coming and joining him and explaining how their usual routine worked. It was a good balance of strength, magic, and strategy, as well as special techniques that some people had. There was also plain, honest sparring. That looked to be where Roxas thrived; no orders, no conversation, just a plain and simple objective:

Win.

He was good too, Hayner realised. Sure, he’d seen Sora and a few of the others fight but Roxas was near the top, definitely. He wielded both keyblades fluidly and was fast on his feet. He was also as sturdy as a brick wall, taking several hits and barely even stumbling. Maybe that had something to do with the Nobody physiology he still had. Hell, Terra even unleashed what looked to be an actual earthquake and Hayner thought Roxas was done when his foot got trapped but seconds later he was free and coming down with a hard hitting flash of light. He had one more match before it was his turn for a break, dropping down next to Hayner, breath coming in short pants.

“They work you hard,” Hayner said sympathetically, passing over his water bottle.

Roxas took it with a grunt of thanks. “They’re strong.”

They sat in silence a few more rounds before it was Roxas’ turn to go again. His mouth opened, like he was going to protest, and then it snapped shut just as quickly. Hayner frowned, reaching out but Roxas slipped through his grasp. Hayner didn’t like it though. Roxas fought just as well but there was something...off this time, though he couldn’t put his finger on what. 

“Alright!” Aqua called, perhaps half an hour later. “That’s everyone done for today. You all know where you need improvement. Sora, keep your focus sharp, Ven too. And Roxas, make sure you keep your stamina up.”

Roxas scowled. Hayner slipped an arm around his shoulders before Lea could rib him, something he looked ready to do. “Hey, that mean we can go? ‘Cause I don’t know about you, but I’m starving!”

Roxas didn’t reply, just opened a portal. Hayner heard Sora call a hasty goodbye and he almost scolded Roxas on it until he saw how drawn Roxas looked, how pale and shaky. Hayner swore, grabbing Roxas’ coat and barely stuffing it on before following him into the portal. He’d make it up to Sora later. He didn’t even get to talk to Roxas before they were back in Twilight Town, Roxas dumping them in the middle of the sandlot. The reason became obvious when he immediately sank onto a bench, head between his knees.

Hayner crouched down in front of him, hands clasping his. “Hey buddy, what’s really wrong?”

“Hurts,” Roxas eventually said.

“It hurts?” Hayner repeated in confusion. “What does? You got hit?”

Roxas snorted. “I got hit a lot,” he reminded, just as quickly shaking the thought away and rubbing at his ankle only to hiss. “Shit.”

“Okay, that’s not good,” Hayner surmised, guiding Roxas back. “Let me look, alright?”

Roxas seemed set to argue before eventually nodding. Hayner offered his best grin in return, carefully easing Roxas’ shoe off. It took him less than a second to see the problem and was this how Roxas had escaped Terra’s earthquake? By snapping his ankle? “Roxas, this is broken! Why the hell were you fighting on it?”

“I couldn’t tell anyone!” Roxas snapped back. “Injuries are weaknesses. Your opponent won’t stop because you’re hurt; they’ll only take advantage of it.”

Hayner eyed him up for a long time, more pieces sliding into place. “Xemnas tell you that?”

The way Roxas went scarlett was answer enough.

“You think Sora wouldn’t have stopped if he knew you were hurt? Kairi? Lea? Any of your other friends?”

Roxas squirmed uncomfortably. “No, Sora would have. And my friends too.”

More searching of his eyes and, ah. “You just weren’t sure about Terra and Aqua, maybe even Ven. Right?”

“They probably would have,” Roxas mumbled and hey, at least he knew that much. And as such, Hayner felt there wasn’t much need to point it out then. Instead, he threw one of Roxas’ arms over his shoulders and gripped his waist with the other. “Okay, well, since I don’t have any potions and you don’t have magic, looks like we’re stopping by the clinic on the way home.”

Roxas blanched but Hayner just coerced him forward. “Come on, before midnight.” Because yes, it was getting dark now and both the clinic and Hayner’s house were on the edge of town. “You don’t wanna go, should’ve spoken up.”

Roxas huffed but seemed to accept his fate, hobbling along beside him and awkwardly texting with his spare hand. “I’ll tell Lea I’m spending the night at yours.”

Hayner nodded. They took a couple of breaks along the way before stopping by the clinic. Hayner recognised one of the nurses immediately, a close friend of his mother’s. Lyra waved at him before casting an eye over Roxas and sighing. “What happened this time?”

“Came off his board wrong,” Hayner lied, passing Roxas over. “We think he’s broken his ankle.”

Lyra tutted but took them through to the back. A couple of tests confirmed their suspicions, the doctor setting Roxas’ foot and strapping it before handing him two potions. “One now and one in the morning and you should be all good to go. But stay off it as much as you can for a day or so.”

“That means no skateboarding,” Lyra explained with a wink.

Hayner laughed while Roxas groaned. He accepted the potion though, sculling it, nose screwing up at the taste. He was already sending Hayner pleading looks and staring at the door miserably. Hayner rolled his eyes but helped him up nonetheless. He waved goodbye to Lyra and they started the final trek home. There wasn’t that far to go which, obviously, was why they were ambushed by heartless less than three streets from home. Roxas was already pushing Hayner behind him, both Keyblades in hand.

“Roxas, you can’t fight like this,” Hayner hissed, Roxas’ eyes flashing an unnatural blue. 

“Someone has to.”

“Fine.” Hayner’s voice was just as short, snatching one Keyblade from Roxas’ grip. It was the black one and okay, a lot heavier than a struggle bat. Still, “Then I’ll do it.”

Roxas tried to stop him but Hayner was already bringing the keyblade down through the first heartless. It disintegrated under him, Roxas gaping before dragging him back. “Together,” he compromised and Hayner could do that, covering Roxas’ weakened side while Roxas covered his back. 

“Heh, piece of cake,” Hayner crowed as the last heartless vanished.

“You shouldn’t be able to do that.”

Hayner frowned, bottom lip jutting out. “Hey, I struggle. Any reason I can’t wield a sword?”

“But it’s not a sword,” Roxas insisted. “My Keyblade, any Keyblade, they’re connected to the heart. In anyone else’s hands, that Keyblade should vanish.”

“Doesn’t seem to be vanishing now,” Hayner said, passing Oblivion from hand to hand.

“Then you’re a Keyblade wielder like me.”

“What?!”

“I mean, it’s the only explanation that makes sense.”

“That’s stupid,” Hayner scoffed, dropping the Keyblade and watching it rematerialise in Roxas’ hand. “If I did, I’d have my own one, not yours. It’s probably just, our hearts being connected or something. Like, what’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours. Which, by the way, is totally cool in its own way.”

Roxas looked deep in thought and Hayner sighed, knowing he wouldn’t get him out of that funk any time soon. He nudged him in the direction of home, kicking open the front door and calling out a greeting. His mother’s head poked out of the kitchen and, from the way her eyes went straight to Roxas’ leg, Lyra had already called her.

“Get him into bed Hayner, and shower first! I’ll bring up some toast in a little while. You like cinnamon toast Roxas?”

That roused Roxas, those blue eyes blinking several times. “I-...I’ve never…”

His mother nodded. “Then you can try it. Up you boys go. And Hayner, check on the twins for me, will you?”

“I will!” he yelled back, indeed poking his head in their room and finding them asleep. He dropped Roxas off at the bathroom before grabbing some changes of clothes. “Let’s go.”

Roxas raised an eyebrow. “You want me to get in the shower with you?”

Hayner’s expression turned scandalised. “Well excuse me for making sure you don’t fall and drown or something equally dumb. Yes, we’re showering together. In!”

There really wasn’t room for both of them in Hayner’s small shower, elbows and knees constantly bumping as they reached for shampoos and body washes but Roxas stopped complaining once he nodded off and was only saved from stumbling into the glass by Hayner’s hand on his elbow. He gave a weary nod of thanks, letting Hayner rinse the last of the shampoo out of his hair before turning the water off. Sweats were passed to Roxas while Hayner opted for a singlet and boxers because he, you know, like a normal person, didn’t freeze the second his skin was exposed to air. Roxas just poked his tongue out at him. By the time they made it to Hayner’s room, his mother was already there, passing a plate to Hayner and burying Roxas’ head under a towel.

“You boys never dry your hair. You will catch a cold one day.”

Hayner snickered as Roxas bore the indignity with what little grace he could. “Sorry,” he mumbled. He had to endure several more minutes before Breah was done, swapping to Hayner instead, who had no qualms at trying to bat her away. 

“Roxas, eat your toast before it goes cold. Hayner, stay still!”

Hayner wormed his way free while Roxas muttered a “yes ma’am”. Hayner pulled a face, accusing finger being pointed Roxas’ way. “He’s only this polite so you’ll think he’s a good influence.”

Breah stared them both down. “Oh I know, Hayner. I raised you after all.”

Roxas guffawed, while Hayner pouted. 

“Keep that ankle elevated if you can Roxas, and lights out soon, okay boys? It’s late.”

They did so, passing the plate of toast between them until it was all gone. Hayner plugged his phone in and tossed Roxas the spare cable, watching him do the same before he rolled over, blankets tucked up under his chin. Hayner bit back a smile. Big powerful Nobody afraid of getting even the tiniest bit cold. He then burrowed down himself, foregoing the blanket and just tossing a leg on top of them instead. A flick of a button had the lights going out and while Roxas fell asleep right away, Hayner stayed awake a little longer. He outstretched his arm, calling down into his heart and waiting for a solid smack against his palm.

Nothing.

Heh, looked like leeching Roxas’ keyblade was all he could do. And leech it he would.

***

Roxas would admit, he would very much have liked to skip out on school the next day. But Hayner’s sister woke them bright and early, forcing lunches into their hands and telling them they had better hurry if they wanted to catch the morning tram. They kind of had to, what with Roxas’ uniform and textbooks being back at his own home. Hayner barely had time to run a comb through his hair before they’d skidded onto the tram, sliding through the doors just as they shut. 

If anything though, his ankle felt perfectly fine. It still gave the odd, traitorous shake that showed it wasn’t completely healed but it would be soon enough. 

School passed in what felt like an instant, Namine and Xion excusing themselves to go look for new art supplies. Roxas took that as permission to spend his day with the Twilight gang, slipping his hand into Hayner’s just passed the school gate. He got a smile in return and they stopped by the markets before heading to the usual spot, summer ice creams swapped out for spiced buns and fruit pastries. 

“Oh but man, you should have seen it!” Hayner was crowing as Roxas read over his history question for the fifth time, wondering if it would make any more sense this time than the four times before. “I could totally wield it. Even Roxas was shocked at how awesome I was.”

That made Roxas look up in surprise, Pence laughing at his bewildered expression. “From Roxas’ face, I don’t think that’s true.”

Hayner fisted his hands on his hips. “It totally was. Roxas, tell ‘em!”

“Tell them what?” he asked, using his pencil to mark his place in his textbook.

“That I can use the Keyblade!”

“Oh. Yeah, he can.”

“What?” Pence demanded. “No way! That’s so cool!”

“Yeah, surprised me too,” Roxas admitted. “I didn’t think anyone could use mine except me. Maybe Sora. And Ven.”

“Can I try?” Roxas blinked as Olette approached him, smile warm. “It sounds so fun.”

“You know what,” Roxas said, getting to his feet. “That’s a great idea. Then I can see if it’s just Hayner or all of you. Or if Hayner can even do it again.”

Hayner’s mouth dropped open while the others giggled. Roxas summoned both Keyblades, passing Oblivion to Pence and Oathkeeper to Olette. He barely got two steps away before they were back in his hands, Olette shrugging while Pence groaned dejectedly. Roxas then turned to Hayner, offering one out. Hayner took it with ease and they all waited with baited breath, counting the seconds until it become clear it wasn’t going to disappear anytime soon. 

“Boyfriend privileges,” Olette grumbled, though she was grinning again.

“Well, disproves my theory anyway,” Roxas said, dropping back down onto the couch.

“Which was?” Pence asked. 

“That Hayner could use it only because I was in danger. A necessity, I guess.” His brow then furrowed, “Speaking of…”

Roxas trailed off before they could ask more, Pence going to before he caught sight of the glow in Roxas’ eyes and the black replacing the white. They weren’t surprised when Roxas next opening his mouth revealed sharp teeth and static followed it. They were used to Roxas occasionally using his Nobody powers, to the point that they barely even batted an eye when four samurais materialised in the room. Roxas appeared to be scolding them, barely letting them talk before cutting over the top sharply and it served to remind them that right, he was their general or something. Roxas eventually dismissed them with a hand, body warping into something more human-like again.

“Problem?” Hayner asked, noting Roxas’ clenched fists.

“It’s just…” Roxas abruptly shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. They have their orders. They’ll follow them.”

“If they ever give you grief, just let us know,” Olette offered.

Pence nudged her in the side. “Hey, what are we gonna do? I doubt we could even scratch them.”

“I appreciate it anyway,” Roxas assured, pressing a kiss to Hayner’s hair before dropping onto the arm of the couch next to Olette. “But for now, can you help me with this question?”

She beamed. “Of course silly.”

***

“Hey,” Hayner said, the next time they were all in the sandlot together. “Think you could teach me to fight using your Keyblades?”

Roxas frowned, lowering his struggle bat. “Huh?”

Hayner egged him forward. “You know, as a just in case. Plus, it’d be cool.”

“Why don’t I teach you with one first?”

“No way. Gimme the full experience from the get go. I can already use one.” Hayner demonstrated with his struggle bat. “So two’s the next step, right?”

“Then we’ll start with two bats,” Roxas finally said.

Hayner growled, tackling him to the ground but just light enough to show he was joking. “Come on, I can do it! Plus the weight is way different, I wanna get used to that too.”

“He has a point,” Pence remarked, barely looking up from his phone, swearing when he missed the next jump on his game.

“So does Roxas,” Olette said, taking the phone and having her own turn. “Build the muscle memory first.”

Roxas looked set to agree so Hayner pulled out the big guns, pinning Roxas down and bringing a hand up to cup his cheek. “Please Rox’?”

Pence fake-gagged but Roxas went bright red, throwing him off and scrambling to his feet. “Alright, alright. I’ll teach you.”

“Sap,” Hayner muttered triumphantly, grin oh so wide when Roxas handed over both Keyblades.

“Okay,” Roxas said, picking up Hayner’s discarded bat and moving to stand beside him. “First thing to remember: your attention always has to be in two places. Your right and your left move independently. Just...follow my lead.”

That turned out to be much easier said than done and by the time they packed up for the day - they had to shower before heading into work - Hayner wondered if Roxas had given in just because he was a sadistic bitch. Hayner didn’t put it past him. Not at all. 

***

A few weeks later found them all gathered on the Destiny Islands one Saturday afternoon. Sora and his friends had been at the island all day, Wakka, Tidus, and Selphie eventually leaving them just in time for Roxas and his friends to finish up school and join them. Roxas had lasted a minute before crashing, Pence letting his shoulder be used as a pillow as he fiddled with his games console. Olette split off to find Kairi and the other girls, Hayner umm-ing and uhh-ing before hefting himself onto the bridge and settling in to watch the sunset. Sora and Riku were not so inconspicuously whispering away atop the cabin while Aqua refereed a match between Ven and Terra. 

Hayner’s silence was eventually broken by Sora jumping down and then coming to crouch next to him. “Hey, Roxas okay? It’s early for him to be out.”

Hayner waved him off with a hand. “He didn’t sleep well last night. Something about stomach cramps. We’re pretty sure he’s allergic to nuts.”

Sora winced. “And he still went to school?”

“What can I say? He’s a stubborn guy.”

“Wonder who he got that off,” Riku mused, elbowing Sora in the side none too gently. It did little other than get him a pout though. 

“Don’t lump Roxas in with me,” Sora griped, brow pinched. “He’s not half me and half Ven. He’s his own person. Just because we’re similar in some ways...that’s just a coincidence.”

Riku looked set to roll his eyes but Hayner reached out before he could, hand curling around Sora’s wrist. He went to protest but something in Hayner’s eyes must have stopped him, Sora’s expression taking on a concerned edge. “Hayner?”

“Just...thanks Sora. That’s something Roxas needs to hear more and I’m glad I’m not alone in thinking it.” He then shook his head. “I mean, I’m not. But sometimes it feels that way.”

Sora settled in beside him, lips pursed. “Is something wrong Hayner? I’ve never heard you so serious.”

Hayner hated to admit it but, “Sora, when it comes to Roxas, I’m always serious. He needs more help than he lets on.”

Sora mulled that over, even if he let himself get distracted by Riku’s knee against his back and ugh, when were those two going to do something about that? If Hayner had to watch anymore of their awkward not quite flirting, he was going to lock them in a closet until they made out, cliches be damned.

Still, this wasn’t about them, it was about Roxas. Which was he took advantage of Roxas being asleep and said, “Don’t ask Roxas to anymore sparring sessions.”

Riku quirked an eyebrow, Sora spluttering. “What? Why?”

“Besides the fact that he hates it?” Hayner demanded, folding his arms tightly. “You know he always says no. All you asking him is doing is making him feel like he’s letting you down-”

“Wait, I didn’t-”

“And Roxas...he doesn’t want to fight. Not right now. He wants to be a kid.”

“That’s not possible,” Riku cut in. “He has a Keyblade. He has to fight.”

“Does he?” Hayner snapped, getting to his feet and glaring at the older teenager. “Because there seem to be a lot of Keyblade wielders here. And unlike you and Sora, Roxas didn’t get a childhood. He doesn’t know who he is outside of whatever mission he’s sent on! He just wants some time to figure out who he even is first.”

Riku’s mouth was already open but Sora stepped between them, a hand on Riku’s chest even if his eyes were locked on Hayner’s, as sad as they were. “He said that?”

Hayner shrugged. “In not so many words.”

Sora’s shoulders dropped. “Sorry. I didn’t...I didn’t realise he felt that way. But you’re right, he did keep saying no. I should have listened. Sorry”

Hayner nodded, only to let out a rather indignant ‘oomph’ as Lea rested an elbow atop his head. “Oh come on, tell Roxas to toughen up. It’s just a bit of sparring.”

Hayner pushed his arm off angrily. “You, of all people, should understand.” At Lea’s imperious look, Hayner had to restrain himself from kicking him. “Remember Xemnas’ idea of sparring?”

Hayner didn’t know what it was, only knew that Roxas did his best not to talk about it, but from the way Lea went white, it was as bad as he’d imagined. After all, “friendly sparring” didn’t result in nightmares. And it certainly didn’t result in broken bones and scars. It was Lea’s turn to wince, scratching at his neck sheepishly.

“Roxas thinks our training’s like that, isn’t it? Or, maybe, same rules apply?”

Hayner studied his nail beds boredly. “I dunno. But, I mean, he broke his ankle last time rather than admit defeat so, you tell me.”

Lea swore while Sora’s eyes widened, even Riku stilling. “He would have kept fighting on it too.”

A nod. “He wasn’t in the best shape when we got back to Twilight Town.” Hayner ran a hand through his hair. “I did talk to him about it though. So, it probably won’t happen again. But it wasn’t the best start either.”

“And Aqua scolded him on being out of shape,” Riku said, wincing.

Hayner offered a grim smile. “Yeah, she did. But look, Roxas is Roxas and as stubborn as a wall. None of us would have been able to change his mind anyway.”

Sora huffed there, eyeing up Roxas where he was still dozing at Pence’s side. “Thanks Hayner,” he murmured. “I know Roxas is opening up to me but...Well, you just know him better. I won’t invite him anymore but if he ever wants to come, he’s invited to, okay?”

Hayner clapped him on the shoulder. “Sure, I’ll tell him. And Sora? Thanks.”

A shake of the head. “Nothing to thank me for.”

***

Sora was used to fighting all manner of monsters and creatures. He’d taken on Heartless, Nobodies, Unversed, hell even random things like genies and sentient computers. But still, none of them unnerved him as much as the Samurai Nobodies. Not because of their attack pattern or the way they looked, but because of how they acted. Every interaction Sora had had with a samurai went the same way. 

First they would stare directly at him. Then static would spout at him. A drawn out pause. And then attack with alarming ferocity.

The main reason Sora was even thinking about it right now was because he was staring at pair down in the tunnels that ran beneath Twilight Town. There’d been some problems with heartless and with Roxas and Xion at school and Isa and Lea over in Radient Garden, they’d asked Sora to check it out. He’d defeated the heartless with ease. The samurai though, they were more disconcerting him than anything else. Sora gripped his Keyblade tightly as the silence reigned, so, so ready to attack when suddenly matching white noise and high-pitched whines came from behind him. Sora whirled around, finding Roxas to be behind him, eyes shining unnaturally in the dark and just in time to see his teeth lose their sharpened edges.

“You okay?”

Sora nodded, hands still gripped tight on his Keyblade until he noticed both samurai had vanished. “Hey! Where’d they go?”

Roxas chuckled. “I sent them away.”

“And they listened to you?” Sora demanded incredulously.

That got him a raised eyebrow. “Yes? I mean, they’re my Nobodies. You knew that right?” he added when Sora paused. “You know that each member of the Organization has their own, personal Nobodies, right?”

He shook his head dumbly, Roxas groaning. He said nothing more, spinning on his heel and no doubt beginning the trek back to school. Sora hurried after his other half, Keyblade dispelling without thought. 

“Hey, so you, uh, command samurai? They do what you ask?”

“They do and they don’t,” Roxas said. “They have basic orders and I build on or bend those how I want. They were whispering about The Imposter again so I thought it’d be quicker for me to deal with it.”

“What’s The Imposter?” Sora asked.

Roxas eyed him up. “Pretty sure it’s you.”

Sora spluttered, his Nobody laughing. “M-me?!”

“Nobodies aren’t like humans,” Roxas explained. “We use our senses more than our sight. And you and me? We feel pretty alike. So they get us confused and think you’re me. Or pretending to be me.”

“I would never!”

“I know,” Roxas said, nudging him up an alleyway he’d barely seen. “But it still makes them suspicious. So they call for me. And if I don’t answer, they attack.”

“They call you?” Sora repeated. “Is that...that sound they make?”

A nod. “I’m trying to retrain them though. But, sorry if they attack you in the meantime.”

“Don’t be sorry - I can handle them!” Sora assured brightly, only to pause when something odd flickered across Roxas’ face. He took two quick steps forward, grabbing Roxas’ arm and leaning in when he tried to look away. “Unless, you don’t want me to destroy them?”

Roxas very much did not flinch, trying to back away and failing.

“Hey, no!” Sora said firmly. “Roxas, I don’t know a lot about Nobodies and how you guys feel. If these samurai are yours and me destroying them hurts you, tell me.”

“It doesn’t hurt me Sora.”

“But you don’t like it either, do you?”

Roxas looked particularly cornered.

“Alright,” Sora said, stepping back and interlacing his fingers behind his head. “I’ll try and leave them from now on. You just help me if they try to attack me, okay?”

A tinge of pink crossed Roxas’ cheeks. “Okay. Thank you Sora.”

Sora beamed at him, Roxas hastily coughing and looking away. He then scoffed a shoe on the ground and,

“I...I have to get back to school. But we’re setting up for our festival and you could, I don’t know, look around. If you wanted?”

Sora went to grimace at the idea of going to a school on a weekend but then, Roxas had come with him when he hadn’t wanted to so fair was fair. Instead, he pasted a grin on his face and gestured for Roxas to lead the way. Roxas did so, them getting most of the way before a thought hit Sora.

“Hey Roxas? You said the samurai call your name. What’s your name, in Nobody language I guess?”

Roxas blinked before fangs elongated and a sound more akin to a hiss and a whine and tearing metal came out of his mouth. He then laughed and Sora pouted. Fine. He knew when he was beat. 

***

Sora knew that Twilight High was stricter than what he and his friends had in the islands. For one, school ran for six days a week and extra curricular clubs were required. Their uniforms were more formal too and as much as Sora bemoaned his own homework, he knew the residents of Twilight Town got a lot more. That being said, this school festival they were putting on seemed pretty amazing. Every class was banding together to make some sort of special event or performance or stall. He’d never seen anything like it, following Roxas as he weaved his way through the throng and found his own class. He’d passed Sora his school jacket in an attempt to make him blend in but it didn’t look like there were many teachers around anyway. 

“Hey Sora!” Hayner called upon spotting him.

Xion and Namine lit up behind him, waving him over as Pence turned to their classmates and began telling some story about Sora being Roxas’ cousin. They all gave him friendly waves and were quick to turn back to their projects. 

“Sora, what brings you here?” Namine asked, patting the ground next to her.

Sora took it, watching as she sewed together...something. “Just some heartless,” he replied, smiling easily. “Roxas came to lend me a hand and then offered to show me what you guys were doing.”

“I would have helped,” Xion said with a frown, turning to Roxas.

He grumbled something back in overlapped whispers, Xion’s face clearing. Hayner, however, shocked Sora by turning to him with raised eyebrows. “Those samurai really don’t like you, do they?”

“No one said anything about samurai,” Olette corrected, bopping him over the head and moving to assist Pence with paints.

“No, but I did,” Roxas said, eyes locked on Hayner firmly. “You...you understood that?”

“What, your weird static-y thing?” Hayner shrugged. “Sometimes. Bits of.”

Roxas actually sat down, Sora laughing at his disbelieving face. Hayner looked to him then back to Roxas, rolling his eyes when he saw the face himself. “Dude, you speak it a lot. Hard not to pick up even some of it.”

“You understand me,” Roxas breathed.

Hayner actually kicked him. “Stop that. And don’t ask me to speak it!”

With that, he stomped off. Roxas watched him with a stunned expression, only letting up when Sora nudged him gently and gestured to the bits and bobs surrounding them. “So, wanna tell me what you guys are doing?”

Roxas shook his head to clear it before nodding. “We’re making a haunted maze.”

Sora’s eyes widened. “A haunted maze! That’s awesome!”

“I thought so too,” Roxas admitted, tugging on a shoelace. “I’m not the best at ideas though.”

Sora thought on that before perking up. “Hey, think you can sneak away for another hour or so?” Roxas’ head cocked to the side. “Because I have someone you definitely need to meet.”

There was a pause before Roxas’ hesitantly nodded, finding Hayner and filling him in before following Sora to the Gummi Ship. Needless to say, Roxas had been fully taken aback by the sight of Halloween Town, let alone Jack Skellington. And, when Sora told Jack what Roxas and his friends were up to, the skeleton man had lit up too, delighted to be of use. Roxas came back a bit later than expected but with many, many ideas - and souvenirs - in hand. 

***

“So,” Hayner said, grunting as he was pushed back but able to parry and strike at the same time. “You and Sora get things sorted?”

Roxas frowned, knocking a blow aside and reminding Hayner to watch his footwork. “Sora and I never had any problems.”

Hayner shrugged. “I know, but you seem better with each other lately.”

Roxas only turned confused, dodging a blow and effectively knocking Hayner to the ground. He swapped his attention to Pence and Olette, both of whom held their hands up in the universal I-don’t-know gesture. “If anything,” Olette offered, “I’ve just noticed you haven’t been speaking to the samurai as much recently.”

Roxas blew a lock of hair out of his eyes, helping Hayner up. “Well, yeah. Sora’s not destroying them anymore so I don’t have to keep retraining them. I’m not being sent back to square one all the time.”

“You must have talked to Sora about that then,” Pence pointed out. “Plus he doesn’t nag you to Keyblade practice anymore.”

Roxas realised that was true. “Guess he finally got the memo.”

Behind his back, Hayner smacked a palm into his forehead but let the matter go. Instead, he let both Keyblades drop and subsequently disappear before slinging an arm over Roxas’ shoulders. “Hey, we’ve got an hour or so until work. Wanna hit up the station?”

Roxas nodded while Pence and Olette exchanged looks before shaking their heads. “You guys go ahead,” Olette said with a wave of the hand. “We’ll catch you at work.”

Pence gave them a thumbs up of his own, then took his leave with Olette. Roxas looked at them in confusion, Hayner too, but eventually shrugged it off, letting himself get tugged along by his boyfriend. They made it as far as their secret entrance to the tower, ice creams swapped for coffee in the winter chill, before Hayner backed him into one of the brick walls of the stairwell. 

“How about,” he murmured, breath ghosting over his ear, “We only make it this far?”

Roxas frowned, confused, until Hayner’s lips pressed soundly against his own and yeah, okay, staying here was absolutely fine.

***

A few months later, Sora was very surprised to find a dark portal opening during the middle of their keyblade sparring session. Lea and Xion were already here and Roxas hadn’t been since his one dismal attempt but no, it really was Roxas who stepped out of the portal, Hayner at his side. Roxas did, however, have his school bag slung over his shoulder and a textbook tucked under his arm. That didn’t exactly indicate he was keen to participate. 

Sora broke away from his spar with Ven, throwing a “sorry!” over his shoulder when he heard the other boy consequently stumble and fall. He skidded to a stop in front of Roxas, grin wide. “Hey! What brings you here?”

Roxas chewed his bottom lip before meeting his gaze, brow furrowed. “Can Hayner have a turn?”

Sora blinked twice, glancing between the two. “I mean, he doesn’t have a Keyblade...but we can work something out!”

“Oh, I have one,” Hayner said smugly, everyone whirling around there. “Actually, I have two.”

Sora was pretty sure his mouth was hanging open, Roxas just chuckling before materialising his Keyblades and passing them over. Hayner took them with ease, slinging one over his shoulder and aiming the other directly at Sora. “So, what do you say?”

Sora’s eyes flashed in challenge. “I say, bring it on.”

***