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

3/3

[seasaltkeys]

[Oh. Wait. He'd Lea hadn't he? The name catches in his throat as he tries to figure what to call him and comes out something like a strangled sigh. He's not ready for this. Doesn't know what to think or say and it's turning into an emotional pile up in his head.

In his panic, he turns the screen off.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

Roxas? Roxas?! Hey, where'd you go?

[seasaltkeys]

[It takes him a long time to turn the screen back on. He's still not sure about what's going on, and he's scared that this is all just a big joke where he's the punchline again.

But it finally turns on. Roxas is still looking for the right things to say.]

I'm here.

[eternalfrolicbond]

Uh.

[Lea's brain sort of shorts out at that. He thought when he saw Roxas again he'd have all sorts of things to say, like "look at my keyblade, isn't it awesome?" and "Do you remember the person who we were friends with, because I know there was someone, but I've forgotten them" and...a lot of other things. But now there's Roxas and he's here and Lea doesn't know what to do with that at all.]

[seasaltkeys]

[It looks like he doesn't know what to say either. What do you say in a situation like this. Roxas is mostly looking at the floor, trying to sort out his thoughts i'msorrywhoareyoudoyouremembersomeonenamexion but they're all running together and he doesn't know where to start.

Sparkle the Me Me Bunny has decided that she's had enough of it, and bounces onto Roxas's head. He drops the communicator in surprise and starts trying to wave his rabbit off.]

Sparkle! What are you doing get off!

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Okay, that's the Roxas he remembers, before he kind of ruined everything.]

Problems with the pets?

[Lea yelps and has to duck as his bat swoops at his head, chittering in annoyance.]

[seasaltkeys]

She has a lot of energy.

[Roxas mutters as he finally grabs an ear and pulls her into his lap. She eventually calms down as he rubs the top of her head.]

At least Bouncer's not as bad.

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea manages to grab Stars and scritches her comfortably. He looks away from the communicator; it'll be easier to say this if he's not looking at his friend.]

Hey, Roxas...I'm sorry.

[seasaltkeys]

[He's quiet for a long time. He'd always blamed himself for what happened, for forgetting, for not listening, for not trusting. It's weird to hear the apology from Lea.]

'm sorry to.

[eternalfrolicbond]

I thought I was protecting you. But I wasn't. I should have told you.

[seasaltkeys]

It would have saved a lot of trouble if you did.

[He doesn't mean for it to have the edge it does.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea winces anyway; he knows he's the one who messed up.]

Yeah. I know. ...what do you have to be sorry for?

[seasaltkeys]

I, uh,

[Hold on, he went from annoyed to melancholy very quickly and his brain's trying to catch up.]

I forgot. About you, and everything. And then I didn't really listen. We were supposed to be best friends...and I wasn't a very good one.

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Oh, is that all. Not that Lea wasn't really mad at the time, because he was furious back then, but that seems so long ago now.]

Not your fault someone stole your memories. I promised, remember? That I'd always bring you back. It was my job to fix things.

[seasaltkeys]

[Funny how it wasn't that long ago for Roxas. It takes him a moment to remember that. He wonders how Lea's going to fix this.]

Yeah, I guess you did.

[He looks like he's going to say more, but decides not to.]

[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.]