cyclists | audience

[ ah. he hadn't meant to make him cry, and he kind of falters for a second before bringing an arm around Sol and loosely holding him there, rubbing his back. He doesn't say anything for a long time. Can he pretend, still? Should he, when he's like this?

He doesn't really want to, is the thing. Seeing that stick again... He'd carried it for so long. ]

... We'll figure it out, Roxas.

[The nice thing is that Sol isn't Xion which means he's not actually crying beyond a few tears but he's also...not....moving? He should maybe be better at his job but the universe can shut up for five minutes.]

...I've been trying for weeks. [And that's what makes this worse somehow.] Lune and I have been trying and nothing's helping even when it's supposed to. So how...?

[ LIKE A FEW TEARS ISN'T TERRIBLE? HE'S NOT WEARING HIS COAT HE CAN FEEL THAT, ROXAS. it's fine he'll just. keep holding him. ]

C'mon. You say that like we haven't been in seemingly hopeless situations before. [ all of them died, for one thing. ] You really gonna give up now?

[LISTEN.

He really liked Nana this is actually very upsetting.]

Obviously not. [Sort of muffled into Axel's shirt, but he slowly sits up after that.] But it's not that simple, and you know that.

[Especially because, haha.] ...the universe didn't want us to be recognizable. Who we used to be doesn't matter for who we are now. [Axel can probably imagine his unhappy look.] All of my magic's gone. Everything.

[He can't be his own one-man lightshow anymore mom :(]

Yeah, I kinda figured when you didn't pull out your Keyblades [ two. ] the first time you were threatened.

[ roxas hasn't ever been one to hold in his temper, he knows that firsthand. he lets him go if he wants to, just looking studiously up at the ceiling ]

Is it permanent? Or is it only as long as we're doing this thing?

[Yeah he doesn't go that far, surprise surprise.]

Probably just while we're here. We were given other stuff and new names and that was it. But I can still open portals.

[Which doesn't make a ton of sense to him but okay. ] I can't tell if it's because of the core or because the universe said so.

[ that's fine, they can cuddle. hugs are good for the soul. ]

I dunno. The corridors are pretty weird. Could be both. [ he looks at his hand as if in thought. he'd been told off against using them enough now that he had a heart. ] If it's just while we're here, it's not that big of a deal. This isn't the kinda darkness you can just beat back with a Keyblade, right? You'll get it back.

[ he understand missing it, though. he hasn't had a keyblade for long, and it still feels... bad, not being able to just-- have it. ]

[Later he will deny this probably but for now cuddling is fine. It's been about four weeks for him. Also corridors is the word I wanted but I ty was mobile and not reading. ]

If it's not then I don't know how I'm actually supposed to help. [And that's part of his frustration.] But until then I've been improvising. [Ask him how. ]

If it was, it would've just sent for all the Keyblade wielders hanging around these days. I dunno if you noticed, but the number's pretty high up these days.

[ but. uh. ]

Improvising how, exactly?

I hadn't noticed. [Deadpanned. But he sits up a little and holds out both of his hands, summoning two short swords instead of his Keyblades.]

They're not the same, but they're holding up okay.

[ axel fucking jumps a little, and just pushes Roxas's shoulder lightly ]

Hey, a little warning next time? Those are actually sharp. [ but he looks at them ] They're tiny, but deadly. Hey, you finally match your weapon.

[ they are normal sword sized, but. keyblade big. ]

Shut up. [But he sounds a little more lighthearted as he elbows Axel instead. He's at least keeping the blade away from Axel for the moment so he doesn't accidentally hurt him.] They're a little harder to control and I can't pull off most of my combos, so fighting with them has been a pain.

[Is he mad he can't throw his weapons and beat the shit out of people? Yeah.]

Doesn't change the fact that everybody else has an element to work with and I don't.

What, are you jealous? Most of 'em don't have any idea what they're doing with it, you know.

[ he has had to explain magic way too much to think otherwise. he also knows it's not a jealousy thing, but the banter is easier. ]

So I've heard. [Slightly amused, but.] It kind of makes things a lot harder when fighting with people. I just wish they'd left me with something I could use to make it more even.

[But let's brush past that.] You've been helping Naminé practice?

[ he looks away at that, pensive. he decides to not question roxas picking fights with people because it's fine roxas can kick his ass he shouldn't worry*.

*he is worried anyway. ]

Yeah. I think she just needed a little push, that's all.

[ he's not going to say why, though. the events of castle oblivion can remain a secret forever. ]

[He should be given there's definitely a disadvantage but he's a big kid now? He can take care of himself? But there's a nod.]

You're usually pretty good at that. And I'm helping her where I can, too, but it's not the same. [...] But we've been hanging out. We're going to go to the beach and I'm going to introduce her to Ushi later.

[ that's all very cute, especially since he's ignoring the part about being good at anything because don't fucking compliment him on anything related to namine he may die, but. ]

Ushi?

Tsuru's cow. [Very matter of fact.]

[ ....... ]

Tsuru's what?

Cow. [He didn't stutter.] When Tsuru was here, we met at the farm and he made a cow friend and he named the cow Ushi. I've been looking after him for the last week.

[Ushi is also Roxas's therapy cow.]

[

i see ]

Do you even know how to take care of a cow?

[............]

He seems to be doing just fine. He's eating and everything.

[ ... ]

You know cows are girls, right?

[ he looks like he's holding in laughter. ]

[........

The silence says no.]

...Tsuru didn't say anything about that!

[ it's too late he's laughing now, at least trying to muffle it behind his hand a little, because it feels inappropriate, but.

yeah

roxas don't know what cows are ]

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