[ He's sitting out by the lake with his phone in hand late Wednesday night, staring down at it with a frown. Why aren't all the contact numbers listed on this thing? Aqua... she refuses to talk to him at all. Yusuke was like that too the week before.
But Sora's... Sora's doesn't even exist on it. Things went badly last Sunday. With Iori. He knows some of the others might be too afraid to reach out to Sky but he wants to anyway. Wants to talk to him. Especially after seeing the info dropped by Lucas earlier today. ]
How is anyone supposed to talk to you if you hide away?
[ He'll just... motion to a patch of grass next to him for Sky to sit. There's a shake of his head. ]
If I'm mad at anyone, it's me. But you said it, didn't you? We're brothers.
[ In all honesty, he can't be mad at Sky. He can't even blame him. ]
I've been through a lot in four years, people I lost and couldn't get back. People I couldn't save. People I hurt. We're not too different, you and me.
I was afraid. That if the real Sora could fall to darkness, then what chance did I have as a replica?
[ Sora leans back on his hands, no guard up at all. ]
There were so many times. So many when I wanted to. Especially when... When I lost Roxas and Axel. The two of them had been with me the whole time. They were always there with me and then they were just... gone. Forever.
[He's tensing, then taking a breath, suddenly, as he moves to stand up.]
... I think it'd be best if you kept your distance, from now on. [He looks at him with an empty expression.] I can't promise you won't become the next Iori.
Hm, so if that's true that means doubly so for you. Because I'm just a part of you. Sora is who I've struggled to be for the last four years. I know that light is still in you too. And I'm not giving up on finding it.
[ He looks over at Sky but doesn't try to stop him. ]
You should know I can't do that at all. We Soras are stubborn. Especially when it comes to our family. [ Grinning right back at that empty look. ] You know that's fine too - I'd rather it be me than anyone else. Including you.
[ Blue eyes turn back to the lake. ] Come back tomorrow. I'd like to talk more, maybe we can spar.
Nimrod. Quit saying things like that. "I've struggled to be Sora."
You're whoever the hell you want to be. And if you're Sora, you're not struggling to be Sora, you are Sora, whatever fucking way you came into the world be damned.
[ You are Sora. Those words hit him the hardest. All this time he's known that the real Sora would accept him without hesitation. Even different versions of their friends have done so easily.
But this....
.... this is the first time he's ever come face-to-face with Sora, actually heard those words. It has him stilling and lifting a hand to press hard against his forehead. He doesn't move for a good minute.
And then he's laughing softly, but the laugh is interrupted by hiccups and he wipes at the tears falling from his face. ]
I've waited... such a long time to hear that from you.
[A minute can pass in the blink of an eye, but when nothing is happening, or when too much is happening all at once, a minute can stretch forever.
He looks back to Sora. Furrows his brow. After about ten seconds have passed, he speaks:]
Sora?
[Looking at him makes him itchy. Sky isn't... a very patient person.]
Oi, idiot...
[The fuck did he say. The fuck does he do? He's half-tempted to outright throw his ass in the lake, when...
. . .
He stands there for awhile. Growls. Then kicks him again.]
Don't make me take it back!
[He's grabbing Sora by the hair to jerk his face to look at him.]
You missed the whole damn point of what I said, nimrod. Do I have to fucking spell it out for you?
This is your call. I'm not fucking here to validate who you are as a person. It's not remotely my place, or anyone else's for that matter, to do that except you.
[And then he seems to realize something and gives a small, sharp intake of hair as he hurriedly lets go of Sora's and draws back.]
[ Nothing really happens when the kick comes, nor does he do anything but wince at the hair grabbing. Sora's face is a happy expression despite the tears.
Another laugh. ]
Just... hearing you say that. I may have doubted who I was, if I was really Sora with all that I've been through. Through the years that's what I told everyone else when they found out they were copies of the original. What I thought you would say. Sora was who I choose to be. You... you are Sora.
[ A hand motions to Sky's direction. ]
To hear you say it, it means that through all your darkness the light still hasn't gone out of you completely. Because that is such a Sora thing to say to anyone...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
chiming
Week Three
Date: 2019-09-12 01:24 am (UTC)From:Wednesday
Date: 2019-09-12 01:29 am (UTC)From:But Sora's... Sora's doesn't even exist on it. Things went badly last Sunday. With Iori. He knows some of the others might be too afraid to reach out to Sky but he wants to anyway. Wants to talk to him. Especially after seeing the info dropped by Lucas earlier today. ]
How is anyone supposed to talk to you if you hide away?
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 01:33 am (UTC)From:[Hi, Sora, guess who is suddenly behind you.]
I'm surprised you want anything to do with me after the stunt I pulled.
[Smirk.]
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 01:40 am (UTC)From:[ He'll just... motion to a patch of grass next to him for Sky to sit. There's a shake of his head. ]
If I'm mad at anyone, it's me. But you said it, didn't you? We're brothers.
[ In all honesty, he can't be mad at Sky. He can't even blame him. ]
I've been through a lot in four years, people I lost and couldn't get back. People I couldn't save. People I hurt. We're not too different, you and me.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 01:46 am (UTC)From:[But after a moment... he does sit down next to him.]
Yeah. Except you didn't give up.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 01:53 am (UTC)From:[ Sora leans back on his hands, no guard up at all. ]
There were so many times. So many when I wanted to. Especially when... When I lost Roxas and Axel. The two of them had been with me the whole time. They were always there with me and then they were just... gone. Forever.
But Neku was there. He wouldn't let me give up.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 01:55 am (UTC)From:[He's tensing, then taking a breath, suddenly, as he moves to stand up.]
... I think it'd be best if you kept your distance, from now on. [He looks at him with an empty expression.] I can't promise you won't become the next Iori.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 02:03 am (UTC)From:[ He looks over at Sky but doesn't try to stop him. ]
You should know I can't do that at all. We Soras are stubborn. Especially when it comes to our family. [ Grinning right back at that empty look. ] You know that's fine too - I'd rather it be me than anyone else. Including you.
[ Blue eyes turn back to the lake. ] Come back tomorrow. I'd like to talk more, maybe we can spar.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 02:16 am (UTC)From:And then?
He kicks Sora. Not into the lake, or anything, but enough to hurt.]
Stop that, idiot.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 02:26 am (UTC)From:A shake of the head. ]
Not a chance, brother.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 02:34 am (UTC)From:Nimrod. Quit saying things like that. "I've struggled to be Sora."
You're whoever the hell you want to be. And if you're Sora, you're not struggling to be Sora, you are Sora, whatever fucking way you came into the world be damned.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 03:01 am (UTC)From:But this....
.... this is the first time he's ever come face-to-face with Sora, actually heard those words. It has him stilling and lifting a hand to press hard against his forehead. He doesn't move for a good minute.
And then he's laughing softly, but the laugh is interrupted by hiccups and he wipes at the tears falling from his face. ]
I've waited... such a long time to hear that from you.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 06:06 pm (UTC)From:[A minute can pass in the blink of an eye, but when nothing is happening, or when too much is happening all at once, a minute can stretch forever.
He looks back to Sora. Furrows his brow. After about ten seconds have passed, he speaks:]
Sora?
[Looking at him makes him itchy. Sky isn't... a very patient person.]
Oi, idiot...
[The fuck did he say. The fuck does he do? He's half-tempted to outright throw his ass in the lake, when...
. . .
He stands there for awhile. Growls. Then kicks him again.]
Don't make me take it back!
[He's grabbing Sora by the hair to jerk his face to look at him.]
You missed the whole damn point of what I said, nimrod. Do I have to fucking spell it out for you?
This is your call. I'm not fucking here to validate who you are as a person. It's not remotely my place, or anyone else's for that matter, to do that except you.
[And then he seems to realize something and gives a small, sharp intake of hair as he hurriedly lets go of Sora's and draws back.]
Got that?
no subject
Date: 2019-09-13 07:28 pm (UTC)From:Another laugh. ]
Just... hearing you say that. I may have doubted who I was, if I was really Sora with all that I've been through. Through the years that's what I told everyone else when they found out they were copies of the original. What I thought you would say. Sora was who I choose to be. You... you are Sora.
[ A hand motions to Sky's direction. ]
To hear you say it, it means that through all your darkness the light still hasn't gone out of you completely. Because that is such a Sora thing to say to anyone...
no subject
Date: 2019-09-14 09:46 pm (UTC)From:And then he scoffs, looking away.]
... of course it hasn't, idiot. We wouldn't be talking right now if I was...
[He's... extremely tense, brow drawn together.]
There's been a battle inside me for a long time. You saw what happened to the girl...
[There's a bit of a shudder through his body.]
And as for the rest of them, well... I guess they see me for what I really am, right?
[A half-hearted smirk.]
A monster.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-14 09:58 pm (UTC)From:Without flinching, animosity or blame. So different from the first time. ]
I know us. I know what it takes to drag us into the darkness this far. I'm sorry.
[ For all the people Sky has lost, the ones he couldn't save, the ones he failed. ]
You aren't a monster. We all do things we're forced to. Terrible things.
[ He laughs bitterly. ]
You and I - we aren't much different at this point.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-15 02:13 am (UTC)From:No... you're wrong.
[He clutches at his chest. Suddenly, he grips the fabric hard, jawline tightening.]
... it doesn't matter.
[He's walking away now.]
no subject
Date: 2019-09-15 05:25 pm (UTC)From:Just quietly: ]
It does matter.