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]

[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.

[seasaltkeys]

How much, did you know? Why did you tell me anything?

[eternalfrolicbond]

I knew you were Sora's Nobody. I didn't know about the Organization's plans...not until later on. And definitely not their real plans.

[seasaltkeys]

Was there a reason why, you couldn't say anything?

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea sighs.]

I figured you'd leave if you knew they were using you. I knew that if you did, they'd go after you; they didn't just let people go. I didn't want you to get hurt. But you did anyway.

[seasaltkeys]

Well, I had to find answers somewhere.

Looks like it would have happened either way.

[eternalfrolicbond]

As your friend, I should've told you.

[seasaltkeys]

Not much we can do about it now though.

[eternalfrolicbond]

No. Not now.

[He hopes that Roxas won't walk away. Not again. Please don't let him walk away again, not when Lea's starting to get things right.]

That's why I'm trying to be better.

[seasaltkeys]

[He's not going to walk away, instead choosing to stand there awkwardly. He nods, and that's about all he can manage now. What else is he supposed to say?]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea fishes in his pocket; he'd wanted to do this when he found both his friends, but maybe it'll get them past the awkward moment. He pulls out a popsicle stick with "winner" on it and offers it to Roxas.]

I got this for you. I, uh, wanted to give them to you both at the same time, but I guess...I just want you to have it.

[seasaltkeys]

[He looks at the stick. There's a lot of memories tied to it.]

A winner stick? Why?

How much ice cream did you have to eat to get it?

[eternalfrolicbond]

Because it was us. What we did together for fun.

[He hadn't eaten it all. He was pretty sure he the kids and teens were his friends forever, though.]

I had to buy a lot, but it was worth it.