thenearshore | [OPEN] Say it ain't so!

Entry tags:

[OPEN] Say it ain't so!

Who: Sora & Roxas, Sora & OPEN
What: Sora wakes up a few days later after Axel is killed and finds out the bad news. Open prompt for visitors or door crashers.
When: April 30 late afternoon and May 1
Where: Lakshmi’s Temple
Warnings: Probably talk of body injuries

[ Closed to Roxas ]

[Sora hasn’t woken up in two days.

After escaping Axel with Riku Replica and leaving the fight to Leo and Saix, Sora barely managed to stay alive and make it to Forrest’s temple. Thankfully, Sora did manage to get there with his last ounce of strength with a final teleport.

He lays in a bed in Forrest’s temple. Sleeping and healing slowly thanks to the healing pools. But it’s not only blight Sora suffered so he lays banaged from the bloody wounds he received from the battle as well.]

[ May 1; OPEN ]

[The day after waking up, Sora still can’t walk very much without feeling fatigued. He’s tired and weak and still healing very slowly.

But the bright side is, Sora is awake now and he’ll welcome anyone who wants to come visit him. People probably want answers and Sora might just have them. He currently lays in bed, propped up with pillows and looks really bored.

He’s decided to stay at Forrest’s temple just for a few extra days until he can walk on his own again. There’s bandages up his left arm and on his torso as well. Sora got pretty banged up and it wasn’t just blight.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sora lets Roxas talk and does his best to listen but as Roxas continues he starts fidgeting and tears start pricking his eyes.

Axel is dead. Roxas is the reason why.

Despite the explanation Sora can only think about how Roxas must feel through all of this. Before saying anything Sora does his best to climb out of bed, pushing the blankets back and swinging his legs off the edge. He's wobbly but he pushes himself and pulls Roxas into a tight hug.]

It's not your fault this happened. You didn't know that was going to happen.

[The guilt is eating at him, and Roxas just hopes he can't sting his shinki like they can him. He doesn't want to be responsible for more deaths. Now he has two to his name. Two too many. Roxas is ready to just get up and leave, stay away from everyone he's hurt for a while, or forever. It was extreme, but when hasn't he done something extreme? He isn't good with this guilt thing.

His mind blanks out when he feels that sudden hug. When had Sora gotten out of bed?] Sora...

[Right. Of course Sora would never blame him. Roxas sighs before standing, hugging Sora back and lifting the other off of the ground enough to put him back on the bed. This isn't doing his arms any good. Sora's more important right now.]

I know. Katniss said the same thing. She's the reason I'm even here right now. She doesn't even know Axel, but she didn't blame me... I don't get why you're not blaming me. Axel is dead because of me. [Does he have to voice the word "again"?]

[Sora doesn't care about his wounds or any of that right now, he doesn't want to let go of Roxas. Even when he's placed back on the bed.

He doesn't know who Katniss is but he's glad Roxas had a friend to talk to when he was asleep.]

I know what you're thinking... You wanna run away, don't you? That's just going to make things worse you know.

[Sora feels tears start to prick his eyes.]

Axel wanted to know and he kept pushing you, how were you supposed to know that would happen? Running away is just gonna make you keep thinking about it and keep blaming yourself for what happened. This was all a big accident.

[When it's clear that Sora wasn't going to let go, Roxas awkwardly tries to sit down without the other letting go. This isn't going well so the best decision is to just kind of flop down on the bed and let Sora just lay on him. There. Now Sora doesn't have to get up and Roxas has no way of just leaving.]

I know I can't run. There'd be nowhere to go.... and I don't trust anyone else to take care of you. [He forces his eyes closed, pinching the bridge of his nose.] Accident or not, I still got people hurt. Like you... are your legs gonna be okay?

[Good, because Sora’s not letting go anytime soon. He shifts carefully to get more comfortable and let Roxas shift to if he needs to but he’s pretty much curled around Roxas now. And he plans to stay that way.

After all, all this must be so painful for Roxas. If it were him he’d be breaking down right now. Roxas seems to be holding it all in and Sora wonders if that’s healthy to be doing...]

People will heal, it’ll be okay. [He stretches out his legs. They hurt but he shakes his head.] I’ll be out of here in a few days, tops. Forrest’s temple is the best for this stuff. I'm sure everyone else will be okay too.

[At least there's no chance of Roxas dozing off. Despite the lack of good sleep, he's more awake than he has been in days. Trauma does that to some people.

He hasn't held that much in, Sora. Roxas' just tired of crying right now. Nothing comes of doing nothing but that.]

Good... I'd heal them, but I don't know how much that'll help. I don't know a lot about blight wounds. [He just hopes his fingers aren't shaking as he pats Sora on the head. It's nothing bad, just lingering numbness.] Maybe later I can get you some painkillers, or you can ask Forrest for some.

[Sora knows he's too exhausted to try any magic he can feel the exhaustion to his bones. He'll have to just rest a few days the old fashion way. Painkillers, water and maybe a few more soaks in Forrest's healing pools soon and he'd feel a lot better.]

I don't know much about it either. I'm sure Forrest has some painkillers I can have. [He pauses, quiet for a second.] Are you sure you're okay? Did you talk a lot with Katniss?

[Sora hasn't let it sink in that Axel is really gone just yet. He's too worried about Roxas.]

[At least Sora will have several people helping him get better. Roxas will have to leave on occasion to check things, but he'll be here when he can be.]

Just don't take too many. They'll make you sick otherwise. [He shifts a bit so he can look up at the ceiling easier.] I don't know. We talked for a long while. We just met the other day, but it's like she came at the perfect time. I can talk to her like I talked with Aqua. Is that weird?

[He doubts Forrest would let him leave without being able to do a cartwheel without wincing, so Sora is indeed in good hands with his god family. But as long as Roxas doesn't stay away for too long Sora won't complain. Much.]

I don't think it's weird. Sometimes friends pop up when you least expect them but you need them the most. I'm really happy that you had someone to talk to as soon as this all happened. I wanna do something nice for her.

[It's probably because Sora considers them family that Roxas doesn't feel like he has to be there 24/7. Family still trumps friends in his mind so staying in the first place was hard for him, but Sora is too important for discomfort to get in his way.]

I think you'd like her. I know she loves food and she knows how to use a bow. Maybe something along those lines?

[But more importantly. Roxas glances at Sora.] What about you? How are you?

[Sora tilts his head to look back up at Roxas from his spot against his shoulder.

There's a very real feeling of grief and loss in his heart right now at losing Axel as a shinki and a friend.

He shuts his eyes.] I'm sad. I'm going to miss him.

[He says it gently, squeezing Roxas a little. There's no blame in his tone. Just sad endearment.]

[His breath hitching, Roxas covers his eyes with his hand. He told himself he was done crying. Now it's a struggle to get his breathing back to normal.]

Me too.

[The tears start again before those words even leave his mouth. This really wasn't fair. Had there really been no way to save Axel? Why didn't Roxas just stay and fight? Blind fear ruined everything. Roxas could have tried something, anything, other than running away.]

I should have just gone home the moment he started talking. He'd still be here. You wouldn't be hurt. [And neither would anyone else.]

[Sora opens his eyes again when Roxas says those things and can't help but let out a sob. It hurts so much to not only feel the loss of a friend but also seeing Roxas hurt so much. The tears just start coming and he shuts his eyes and hugs Roxas closer.]

It's not your fault, Roxas... [He repeats,] Don't think about what ifs, he wouldn't blame you at all for any of this.

[And he truly believes that too. If Axel wouldn't want Roxas to feel like this.]

[Roxas moves his hand enough to look down at Sora. This is why he'd been trying to hide the pain. Now Sora was in even more pain now than before, and now there's another thing Roxas doesn't know how to fix.]

I know he wouldn't... he'd tease me about it, make it sound like he would... that idiot. I would have had to hit him again. [He lets out a bitter laugh.] Then he'd say that if he was in my shoes he'd have run even faster than I did.

[Axel always had a strange way of trying to cheer people up.]

[Sora is just going through the emotions of it all, and crying seems like the best outlet for him right now. He is always bad at keeping stuff like this in, his emotions on his sleeve clear as day.

He lets out a half sob half laugh, nodding.] He'd make jokes about it at every chance he could just to be a nag too.

[It's oddly therapeutic talking about Axel like this though. It makes him feel a little better.]

[One thing different from crying on Katniss? It's different with someone you care dearly for. It's not just pain being let out, but relief is there. This was all still so confusing sometimes.]

Not just that. He'd act it out. But he'd know when not to bring it up. He was always good about that.

[Despite being an awful adult, Roxas appreciated everything Axel did for him. The teasing, jokes, trying to be playful to lighten the mood. All of it was precious to him in his less painful memories. Being here was something Roxas took for granted as he tried to do the same for his friend. Axel would be missed and Roxas has learned an awful lesson.]

He'd laugh at us right now. Tell us we'd need to get up and do something other than cry. Be happy he was alive in the first place.

[He drops his forehead to Roxas' shoulder. Sora continues to cry, a little harder now, but it's a tension releasing cry. Like everything he's feeling is coming out full force to finally settle into something easier to deal with.]

And he'd tell us to stop making a big deal of it all. And then when finally everything would blow over he'd make sure not to do that to us again.

[Axel was a surprisingly good listener like that.]

[Roxas wraps his arms around Sora and just lets him cry. In his mind Sora needs the comfort a lot more than he did. So he'll give it.]

He'd be the first one to speak up if anyone else tried it. And he... [He stops and shakes his head.] He wouldn't blame me or anyone else. And even if he blamed someone, he wouldn't do it around me. He'd know I'd go after the person.

[Worst part? Roxas knows. Or he thinks he knows. Yes, he was going to make that person pay.]

[Sora's crying finally slows down to shaking sobs. Roxas' hug is helping immensely and listening to him talking about Axel and the vibration of his voice is calming his nerves down.]

...Everything will be alright. [He says after a moment of soft sobbing. His head hurts from the crying but it's a nice numbing hurt.] We'll heal up, and you won't have to worry about me. I'm not going anywhere.

[Sora has no idea how this all started. But it is what it is, and better to grieve and try to heal.]

[When Sora calms down enough, Roxas just lets his arms relax and just leave them draped over Sora in a lazy sort of hug. There's discomfort in it, his fingers feeling more numb now, but he'll just deal with it. He really doesn't want to let go right now.]

Huh? You're making it sound like you're either not leaving my side or this place. So which is it?

[Roxas would definitely wait till he himself was more healed. No need to get more hurt at the moment.]

[Sora meant the first part but he feels a bit embarrassed for saying it. Waking up to see Roxas in the room with him had been so relieving for him. He'd thought he'd return the sentiment. He buries his face against Roxas, the sobbing nearly stopped.]

Both? I mean... Were you here with me the whole time I was asleep?

Other than the talk with Katniss? Yeah, I didn't leave. Why would I? You need someone to take care of you right now, and... I don't know these people here that well.

[Not that he doesn't trust them, but he doesn't trust them with unconscious Sora. Roxas made that very clear when Add visited the previous day.]

Besides, if I wasn't, you would have done something really dumb to get to me instead of calling. [Because you're that predictable.] Either that or just forget I existed for a while because you would be worried about the people here at the temple more.

[Sora frowns deeply. Is he really that predictable?! …But, when he thinks about it- Roxas is right he would have bolted from bed the moment he woke up had he not seen Roxas...... Can you blame him? He’d be worried out of his mind. Being injured would be the farthest thing from his mind.]

I’m pretty sure it’s impossible for me to forget you exist, you big dummy. [Sora mutters back, sighing. He sniffles a bit.] I’m worried about everyone else yeah, but I think about you first. I was blighted too you know, which means you were just as bad.

[He’s too emotionally drained to care right now what Roxas thinks about that. He’s happy Roxas watched over him. He’s happy Roxas is okay. He’s thankful for that.]

[Roxas was in your heart how long? He knows how much you love your friends and some of the stupid things that should have gotten you killed things you've done. As for the blight thing?]

I know. [He reaches up and starts playing with Sora's hair. Maybe that'll calm the other down further.] I didn't get that hurt. I used my divine power while I ran and kind of crashed because of the blight. I think I got off easy compared to everyone else...

[Which is an awful thought.] But that just means I can take care of you easier. Right?

[It’s times like this that Sora wishes he could muster it up inside himself to say things like ”I really like like you, Roxas.” In the short time they’ve gotten closer than ever it’s Roxas that’s always been there. Even in times like this that Sora would think Roxas is the one who needs head scratches and soothing words, it’s Roxas that’s taking care of him. He wishes he could do more somehow.

He lets out an exhausted breath and let’s himself enjoy the head scratch. Right now is not the time to think about how he feels. Right now is a time to feel loss and to cope with it. Losing a friend is painful. Being there to support each other is enough for now.

He tells himself he won’t forget to tell Roxas how he feels later. Don’t worry, Pippa. He will. He hasn’t forgotten what she said.]

I can take care of you too! [Sora says wiggling around,] What did you bang up when you crashed?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject