prismatica | un; k3yblad3

[ The door opens to reveal an obviously relieved Roxas. ]

So what's the rush?

[Sora is bouncing in place with excitement when Roxas opens the door.]

What do you mean, 'what's the rush?' I wanted to see you!

[He reaches out to put a hand on Roxas's arm, almost like testing he's real.]

We didn't get a chance to really talk back home.

[ Unlike when Ventus got all touchy-feely with him during their first encounters, Roxas is mostly relaxed around Sora's exuberance. It's familiar, he's felt traces of it rushing through him for some time now and simply accepts them as part of Sora's overall warmth. Plus, that open joy is undeniable evidence that Sora is really back. He'd never expected it to feel so strange (bereft) to be separated from his Other again. Being with Sora had just been a constant for so long now. ]

Yeah, things were kind of busy. But everyone's been doing a good job of filling me in while you were sleeping.

[ He glances at the hand on his arm. ]

We're both here now though.

We are!

[Then, after a moment, he bounces on the spot, still wound up with a giddy excitement.] Can I hug you?

[ The request is unexpected, especially the permission aspect of it, and the surprise shows on Roxas' face. That same look he carries whenever Sora surprises him with his unhindered conviction and way of seeing him. The look softens a moment later and he offers that small accepting smile. ]

I guess I could use some more practice.

[Sora excitedly wraps his arms around Roxas and holds him close. He marvels at how amazing it feels to have Roxas here instead of trapped inside of his heart.

When he pulls away he's still close, smiling at Roxas happily.]

You feel warm. It's nice.

[ Roxas is also a bit overwhelmed by the emotions that race through him at the embrace. Partially because hugging is still a work in progress for him and partially because feeling this physically connected to his Other and being able to experience it as his own person is absolutely wild. He can feel their connection thrum as powerfully as always but that intangible mirror that's long kept them both on their respective sides during their brief face-to-face encounters is finally gone. He's honestly not sure what to make of all the emotions he's going through right now, as he slowly hugs Sora back, still feeling his way through action as if not entirely sure how it should work.

He manages a stuttered laugh when Sora pulls back. ]

That's a weird thing to say to someone.

Right... [He looks a little embarrassed and rubs the back of his head.]

But, I mean not just because you're here, but here. [He touches his own chest, right above his heart.]

It's warm.

[Which is to say that he feels that same strange energy when he touches Roxas but is not fully able to explain it.]

It's nice. Exactly what I thought having you out here with me would feel like.

[ Roxas instinctively mimics that action, the novelty of the feeling wholly different for him than it probably is for Sora. ]

Yeah...

It looks like we still can't get away from each other that easily.

[ It's said in a more playful tone. But he blinks at Sora's next comment. ]

You thought about it before?

[ He pauses, recalling those times it almost felt like Sora was calling to him. Like so many of his memories associated with Sora, the recollection is faint enough that he can only just barely grasp its details. But he had felt it back then, Sora's reassurances, his promises that Roxas wasn't alone. I'm with you. ]

Are you kidding me?? All the time. Once I knew who you were, all I wanted was to find a way to save you.

[He takes Roxas's hand and squeezes it lightly. It's another way of proving that they are both here. They found each other. It seems like he just does not want to stop touching Roxas. At least the flow of Chroma is an easy excuse to keep doing it.]

Do you remember meeting me in the dream?

[ Save him? Is that why it felt like Sora kept calling to him? And the thing he said when Roxas had come back again. That he'd been waiting. He'd been looking all this time? He doesn't even know what to say when Sora takes his hands again. Is it just the Chroma exchange making them feel even warmer than before? ]

Sora...

[ Sora's always gone out of his way to save everyone he can. Roxas just never expected one of those people to be him.

But he'd hoped, didn't he? The dream, that time when something had kept trying to drag Sora into a deeper darkness. He can almost remember that, remember reaching out to Sora, to remind him how important he was. To share the last of himself, his most precious memories. The first time he really believed in Sora, not just because they were the same. But because Sora was Sora. ]

I remember... pieces... Sometimes I'm not sure which of them are actually real. But I think I remember finding you.

I remember you telling me we weren't the same. That I deserved to be me.

[ And it had meant everything to Roxas. ]

Exactly. I meant what I said. And I did everything I could to figure out a way for you to come back.

Then you did and it was awesome but because of everything that was happening at the time, I didn't get the chance to really hang out with you.

Now we can! That's pretty great, isn't it?

So, I'm gonna stay here tonight. If you'll have me.

[ He kind of wants to tell Sora to slow down because it's so much, but hearing Sora speak so candidly and freely about how hard he worked to bring him back leaves him feeling almost lightheaded. It's not a bad feeling at all, having someone care about him so much. Well, aside from Axel and Xion, of course. But Sora's done all this without barely even knowing him or anything about him. Other than knowing that Roxas was hurting.

Sora's right. It does feel pretty awesome. Getting the chance to hear all this. Getting to actually spend time together, maybe even getting to really know each other this time. ]

That sounds really great actually.

I get to fill you in on what you missed for once. I even have pictures to go with it.

Great! [Sora seems pretty proud that Roxas accepted his request for a sleep over. That gives them a lot of time to catch up.]

So let's take a look at those pictures and you can tell me everything.

[He moves to go sit down so they can get comfortable and talk.]

[ Roxas goes to collect some of the pictures he's strung up along his room's wall using a string of soft blue colored lights he discovered in town the other day. He's still not sure if he wants to use it as a permanent display but it keeps the photographs safe for now. He selects a few from the beach trip (Axel and his ridiculous pizza stack, Xion holding up a phallic-shaped shell, Aqua showcasing her cupcakes, Riku's sandcastle, even a candid shot of Naminé quietly watching the waves), one of the pictures he took of Kairi in front of the Greatmoon Groves flowers during his first week, several of young Geistnacht celebrants in their festive costumes, a shot of Hunk's enormous feast, and one or two from Ayla's celebration in Lunatia Square.

It's a decent handful of photographs he returns with and offers to Sora. ]

You missed the beach trip.

I heard! [He looks so disappointed about this.] Riku said you guys got rained out?

[Once Roxas is sitting next to him, Sora gets really close and leans gently against him. He's used to being very affectionate here, always finding ways to generate more Chroma, but if Roxas seems uncomfortable with it he'll scoot away.]

[ Roxas is ready to shrug off the comment until he sees Sora's pitiful expression. It makes him wonder if that's how he looked every time his beach plans went awry with the Twilight Town crew. Even though he knows that his obsession with the beach was about more than just his connection to Sora. ]

Eventually. We got a few hours though. Kairi showed me some swimming techniques. I'll have to show you when it gets warmer again.

[ He starts slightly when Sora leans against him, mostly out of surprise. Or maybe because of the co-mingling feelings it brings. Flashes of his times with Axel and Xion on the clock tower for sure. But also something unique. A sense of calming wholeness that only being this close to his Other can bring. Just like that time he allowed himself to return to him, only so much stronger now that the feeling can last beyond a single moment that seemed to stretch out to forever.

After the initial rush, he feels himself relaxing against, adjusting to the new twist on the old feeling. He even manages a light breath of laughter. ]

Is this something else you've thought about?

[The thought of Kairi teaching Roxas makes Sora's heart feel impossibly warm. Someone he loves so dearly walking Roxas through something new just feels so good and right. He really wishes he had been there to see it, even though there's some part of his mind that points out that it's not as if he's really there back home either.

He doesn't want to dwell on that though, so instead, he just relaxes against Roxas and enjoys how perfect being able to touch him is.]

Which part? The swimming part or the leaning against you part?

I'll let you guess.

I've thought about doing a lot more with you than just leaning.

[He admits after a moment, blush creeping into his face as he speaks.]

[ That actually leaves Roxas in mute shock. He's no longer ignorant to how this place works, to how most people get their Chroma fix via various exchanges of intimacy. He's done his research since his initial talks with Kairi and Xion. He just never figured those things would come up in regards to himself. At least not for a while. (Aside from the occasional urges that Sanguis brought. Things like wondering how it would feel to nip at Axel's ear or his neck.)

But he definitely didn't expect it to come from Sora. Or for it to be something Sora had actually considered before.

His own surprised flush makes its way across his skin. He can't even manage his usual twenty questions response. Instead, a single words stumbles from his lips. ]

W-What?

[Sora chuckles softly at how that flush makes Roxas seem so cute. He also manages to look properly embarrassed.]

Well, to be fair, I never really thought a lot about any of that stuff before I ended up on this world, but since coming here. Yeah, part of the reason I wanted you to be here too was because I was hoping you'd be okay with that stuff.

But, I mean, if you're not that's totally cool too! I just want to be your friend, Roxas, whatever way that makes you the most comfortable.

[ Roxas toys with one of his monochromatic rings. Is he okay with that stuff? He has no idea. He's only just really gotten the hang of hugs and mostly due to situations that required comfort and reassurance. Less so the out-of-nowhere affectionate kind that Sora and Ventus (and even Xion now) seem to manage so freely. How had Xion slipped into all this so easily? The most he's managed so far is a little cuddling with Axel amid the pull of Sanguis. And that was still half-sparring.

All he knows is that being this close to Sora feels like nothing else he's ever felt before. It's already so intense that it's hard to imagine what would happen if that feeling was taken to another level. Hard to imagine but also... intriguing in its own way.

He keeps his gaze on his ring. ]

... I've never done any of it. Cuddling, kissing, sex or any of the other things people like to do here. I know they're just more powerful forms of connection, but it all seems... strange.

[ He slowly brings his eyes up to Sora again. They hold that fierce burning curiosity that has always driven him to wonder, to question, to challenge. His need for answers has matured greatly from the days when the questions were about laughter or friendship, but it's no less demanding. ]

But with you... it might be different.

[ Because what could be more natural than being with his Other. Is this how Vanitas and Ventus felt around each other? ]

[When Roxas looks at him with that expression, Sora finds it hard to breathe for a moment. He's taken in by how intense and beautiful Roxas was. It was probably a little vain to think of his Other as beautiful, but Sora was even more certain now that Roxas wasn't just a copy of him or of Ven. He was his own person, and that person could be appreciated without all of the baggage of his connections to others.]

I don't want to do anything you aren't 100% sure about. [He says after he's able to recover from his attraction to Roxas.

He offers his Other a reassuring smile.]

I am here for you to learn about that stuff, if you need it. I've learned a lot while I've been here and while I know I still have a lot to learn, it would mean a lot to me if you trusted me with sharing what I know with you.

But, it would mean just as much if all we ever did was play games or watch a movie or, I don't know, ate ice cream together or whatever else you want to do.

Your desires matter, Roxas. Whatever you need, I'm here for you.

[ Roxas feels a little self-conscious from Sora's reaction, which he's only ever really felt when he realized he was missing some vital piece of information in a conversation. But this isn't like that. It's more he's surprised as to the effect he seems to have on his Other. Then again, Sora is having a powerful effect on him so maybe that's just another thing they share.

He moves his hand away from his ring. ]

I don't mind learning. More than anything, I just want to learn more about you. I have since the first time I heard your name.

[ That probably sounded way cheesy, even to someone like Sora. But he can't pretend it's not true. Even when it was little more than a breath from Xemnas on that dark beach, he'd still felt that intrinsic pull to that name. ]

And not through borrowed memories this time.

So if sharing things means getting to know you better, I want to see what you have to share.

[ He gives Sora a slight grin. ]

The ice cream thing though, that's definitely going to happen.

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