First Flare

[eternalfrolicbond]

[A lanky redheaded man in a long black coat waves at the screen, apparently already comfortable with how it works. A komory bat is fluttering around above his head.]

Didn’t think I’d see this place again. Hey, everyone, my name is Lea. [He grins.] Don’t forget it, now.

I don’t know how I ended up here again, but does anyone know what’s going on? The moogle said you guys had been trying to work out what was up but that it didn’t seem like anyone had figured out how to get home. Since this isn’t the exam, I don’t think anyone’s going to try to wake me up any time soon.

Comments

[eternalfrolicbond]

[There are things Lea doesn't want to talk about over the network, and things he can't do over the network, so he figures he has to ask.]

Where are you? Can I come over?

[seasaltkeys]

[Roxas freezes again. Is he ready for this? Talking over the communicator is one thing, in person is another and he's kind of scared. He seems like the same guy, but what if Lea really is different, and...]

I'm, uh, I'm in Twilight Town.

I guess I could meet you...

[He's made a home for himself in the usual spot, but he's not quite ready to let people in there, and he's not sure about the clocktower just yet.]

At the train station, or the sandlot.

[eternalfrolicbond]

Let's meet up at the train station. I'll find my way there somehow.

[He's not even sure how to get to Twilight Town from here but it doesn't matter because he will figure it out so he can get to Roxas.]

[seasaltkeys]

There's a portal in the second district, which comes out at the Train station...

[There's a few minutes of dithering before he finally heads out. What is he going to say, or do, or what's going to happen, and what does he even call him? He's so used to Axel, but he's Lea now...

Bouncer nudges him with his nose, and that gets Roxas moving again. He shouldn't stay too long in one spot in case nightmares show up. Though, that might help with all the stress.

He gets lucky though, and makes it to the station without incident. He's still not sure what he's going to say though.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea tries to straighten his clothes, not that there's really anything to straighten right now. Stars is fluttering along above his head; she seems to be pretty interested in the new place. So far she's been helpful with the nightmares they ran into too; he could get used to the help.

He stops short when he sees Roxas. It's different in person than it was over the communicator, and now he's not sure what to do. He can feel the grin spreading across his face; he probably looks like a huge dork.]

Uh. Hi.

[seasaltkeys]

Hi.

[Roxas looks from Lea to the ground, sort of scuffing his foot as well. He sighs. What's with the grin?]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Okay, so this isn't that confusing.

Lea walks right up to Roxas and hugs him.]

[seasaltkeys]

[Roxas locks up in surprise. This was an unexpected reaction on Lea's part and Roxas just freezes.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea pulls back after a moment to look at Roxas from arm's length.]

I guess we did meet up again in the next life, huh?

[seasaltkeys]

Not much of a next life.

[He's still having trouble with eye contact. As far as he's concerned, this is just a stall for what happens next, unless he gets lucky.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea nudges Roxas' shoulder. He's not letting a bit of gloom ruin this right now.]

Don't be like that. I went on this whole quest to become a big hero so that I can find a way to get you back.

[seasaltkeys]

[There's a small part of Roxas that didn't want to believe that he ultimately ended up with Sora, that he got away somehow, but with the way's Lea's talking, he figured that's what happened.]

But why? I mean, what about Sora?

[The fact that Axel, Lea he has to keep correcting himself, would do that, that means a lot, but he's having a hard time understanding just how important he is. He's convinced himself he's not, that it's Sora who's important.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea shrugs, as if he hasn't thought about this basically constantly since the moment he woke up and had a chance to think about things.]

What about you? Sora's my friend too, don't get me wrong. He's a good guy. But he's not you. Look, I've had some time to think about it, and since I woke up I had some more time to think about it.

Namine was always going on about how the heart is made of chains of memory and memories make us who we are and stuff. Most Nobodies clung to our memories of our past lives because, yanno, we thought it'd make us more human. But you didn't start out with memories. Everything that was you, that made up the you who you are, is the memories we made over that year. Sora's where you came from, but he's not where you are or where you belong, and he's gotta see that too.

...whew, I made a speech, huh? Again.

[seasaltkeys]

[That is totally dust in his eye, what are you talking about?]

Tell that to Ansem.

[And now he feels bad, because he doubted Lea, and he was worried that Lea wouldn't be the same after everything, and well, it looked like he was wrong.]

He's the one who doesn't seem to get it.

[eternalfrolicbond]

Believe me, if I catch up to the guy, he'll be in for it.

[It's one of those subjects that Lea has to let go with Riku, because he understands why Riku did it and has to admit to himself that he'd do the same to save his best friend. Ansem, on the other hand, was just being horrible for the sake of being horrible. And maybe revenge; Lea hadn't really cared what the man wanted, just that he was taking Roxas away.]

[seasaltkeys]

You'll have to get through me first.

[Roxas has a few things he wants to say to him, at least. As well as a few punches to throw.]

Look, Axel, I really gotta apologize now.

[eternalfrolicbond]

Okay...but you know it's cool. You didn't remember and that wasn't your fault.

[Lea doesn't bother correcting the name; Roxas is there and...Roxas is there and that's what's important.]

[seasaltkeys]

No, it's not that.

It's just. I was scared. Of you coming here, because I thought that you'd be different somehow. And you know, wouldn't want to hang out and stuff.

[eternalfrolicbond]

[He starts to say something offhand, but then he remembers that discussion with Saix. Sometimes people do change, and you can't be friends any longer.]

I forgive you. [He spreads his hands.] I get what you were thinking. But really, I'm awesome; I don't need to change.

[seasaltkeys]

You better not. I've had enough of that already.

[But he looks relieved.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea smiles at him, then sighs.]

I guess I probably owe you some answers about things, huh? I never told you much about where I came from.

[seasaltkeys]

It's not like I was asking a whole lot. That's the past, right?

[eternalfrolicbond]

Yeah but...I just wanna say, anything you ask me about, I'll tell you, okay? No more lying.

[seasaltkeys]

Wait. Just what were you lying about?

[eternalfrolicbond]

Well...not telling you about what was going on with the Organization. And what I knew about you.