The Key of Destiny

Another two weeks, another platform stop. Lea watched people file off without any real interest. The last mission had left most of the train at least mildly depressed, and he was no exception. Upon stepping out onto the platform himself to greet the newcomers, he couldn't quite manage 'cheerful' at first, but he was at least able to look interested, and prepared himself to answer questions.

He did his usual visual sweep of the platform, not really expecting much, but then, he saw it. Pushing past the last of the departing headed for the gates was a boy with a familiar head of blonde hair, dressed in a blue train uniform. Was the multiverse trying to make up for the last mission? Had their wishing paid off somehow? Was it just dumb luck? Lea didn't know, and frankly he didn't care.

What he did know was that his friend was back. At last. "Roxas!", he called out, hurrying to meet his friend halfway, his face breaking into a grin. This day was finally looking up.

Edited Date: 2022-04-28 04:42 am (UTC)

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Xion hadn't passed out after the mission, which was a net positive. She had gone out on the platform as usual. She hated the platform, it was crowded and noisy and people kept talking to her. Or trying to. But she had to come. She had to. Because Roxas could show up. Or someone that she had to protect everyone else from could. She had to come out, even though she'd rather be in her room sitting on her bunk, waiting for Axel to come back for the night.

Except this time she heard Axel's voice calling out. She spun to face him then followed his line of sight. Roxas? ROXAS WAS HERE?!"

Xion ran through the crowd, for once not caring if she was noticed - and really a small figure in the full Organization uniform, hood up, with a thin blue band around her waist like a cross between a belt and a cloth hula hoop drew attention - trying to get to Roxas.

It had to be Roxas, right? It was really him? He was really back? Finally? Really? She skidded to a stop, just shy of crashing into him, eyes huge under her hood. "Roxas!" she gasped, panting from more than just the run. She was almost vibrating. She didn't know that she was excited and hopeful and thrilled and... happy. She knew she was afraid that it wasn't real. But for once, fear wasn't in control. Wasn't at the forefront of all for her.

"Roxas..."

He was really here, right? Really? She wanted to look for Axel to have him confirm that this was real and not like the fake Xemnases in Diatu, but she couldn't take her eyes off of Roxas, afraid he'd vanish if she did.

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The name reaches Roxas amid his angry crowd-searching, causing him to pause and look around for the speaker, immediately recognizing his best friend's voice. Knowing that Axel is also here does wonders for his attitude, even if it doesn't really explain why they're both here. It also helps that Axel is tall enough that locating him within the throng isn't too difficult, making it easy for Roxas to push toward the lanky figure. As always the sight is enough to bring a pleased smile to Roxas' face.

"Axel!" he calls out loudly.

Xion's size makes hear appearance less instantly apparent while his eyes are on his taller friend. Though her excited shout does the trick on its own. Not that he could have missed the way she nearly barrels into him like a freshly fired spell blast.

He's about to tease her about cutting back on the Haste when he notices just how overjoyed she seems to see him. They must have all gotten separated by whatever brought them here. How long were they looking for him?

Well, they're together now so that's what matters. He turns his bright smile toward her. "For some reason, I feel like I'm late..."

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Lea couldn't stop grinning, hearing Roxas' voice call his name. The real Roxas, not an illusion or a trick. Maybe he wasn't the same one they knew from Diatu, or back home, or even the one who'd been on the train previously, but he was still Roxas. That was all that mattered.

"You could say that yeah," he said. "It's... been awhile for us. But better late than never, you know? I'm sure you've got a ton of questions, but right now it's just great to see you again."

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"You're back!" she said, almost talking over Axel. Well, given how quiet her voice general is, more like talking under Axel. But still.

But when Axel said that it had been a while, she stilled for a moment. "I left the notebook in our room!" she said, upset at herself. She wanted to hand it to Roxas and she didn't have it. How could she have messed up something as basic as putting it in her pocket? Now she didn't have it for him when he arrived. Would be be upset? She didn't have the number memorized, but it was in the book. She'd been numbering every entry for how many days it had been...

It hadn't quite hit her yet that Roxas had so casually used the word "feel" though it might, when her brain catches up to her anxiety.

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Roxas gives a sheepish grin. "Actually, I mostly just want to know where we are. But since we're all here, I guess it doesn't really matter." Just being with his friends is enough to make anywhere feel like home.

Xion's outburst, however, has him blinking. Back? But they've never been here before. He'd remember something like that. And hadn't they all gotten all their memories back?

"Notebook?" he attempts, trying to piece together what Xion could be referring to. And come to think of it, why's she in her hood again? Did it have to do with this place?

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"You're on the platform for the Voidtrecker Express," Lea said, indicating the train behind him. "It's a train with great intentions but often lousy timing. And some really questionable recruitment methods, but this is one time I'm not complaining about them."

"Xion's been keeping a memory book for you." Which explained what notebook she was referring to. "It should help you get caught up on things a bit. And the rest we'll fill in as we go. It's a crazy long story, but we ought to be used to those by now."

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Xion's whole face fell when Roxas spoke. "You... don't remember?" she whispered, suddenly afraid, worried, upset. Not afraid of Roxas, per se. He was Roxas. She could never be afraid of him. But of what it meant that he didn't remember.

"You... don't remember being on the train before?" she asked, a little desperately. "That mission on the beach where we all fell asleep together watching the sky?" And then she woke up in her cabin and he was just... gone. She was shaking now.

She looked up to Axel, a mute plea for him to tell her she was wrong. That this wasn't yet another Roxas. That this was their Roxas.

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"Voidtrecker Express?" That doesn't sound familiar at all. "A new world?"

Axel's explanation of the notebook only serves to confuse Roxas more. "A memory book? How long were you guys looking for me?" Axel had said a "a while" but Roxas hadn't thought he meant long enough to need to keep track of time!

He turns to Xion again, feeling like he's somehow ended up in some bizarre dream. "I've been here before?" So why doesn't he remember anything about this place? The way Xion is acting... it's like he should know. But... there's nothing there.

His hand goes to his head, as his face scrunches up a bit. "I don't remember..." And wow, does he hate the sound of those three words. They taste bitter and all too familiar on his tongue.

Wasn't he supposed to be done with all that? Wasn't that what everyone had fought for? What Sora had risked everything for?

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Lea's smile faded somewhat. "Yeah, that's... another long story," he said. He'd hoped to save that particular conversation til they were at least all on board, but... well, nothing for it, he supposed. "See, the Voidtrecker can reach people and pull them here from just about any time, and any world. Even different versions of the same world. You're definitely Roxas, and We're definitely your best friends, but... well, the reason you don't remember being here, is probably because you're not the same Roxas that was here before. Just like we're not the same Lea and Xion from your version of our world."

"It's... all really complicated, and I'm not sure even I understand all of it. But far as I'm concerned, you're you and Xion is Xion. We're still best friends, no matter where we're all from."

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Xion was so torn now. Because he was Roxas. And she had wanted Roxas to show up for so long. So desperately. But what if their Roxas showed up now too? Would he be upset if they were spending time with this Roxas? Would he think they replaced him or forgot about him?

But she didn't want this Roxas to be upset or hurt either.

She... didn't know what to do. Her shoulders hunched in as she tried to think about it.

And which Roxas... was their Roxas? The one who was with them in Diatu but didn't remember her talking about Diatu? The Roxas who was here before and didn't remember Diatu and didn't remember her talking about it? This Roxas who clearly hadn't heard about any of this?

Or... was this Roxas the real one because... this her was the wrong her? Because she had been right that this her couldn't be sustained? That she did have to go back and forget everything in order to fix things? That she had to die again. That everyone she knew now that she hadn't know before... had to be forgotten....

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That... should probably make way less sense than it does. But given that Roxas had to listen to a rushed explanation of the Xehanort saga, including all of its out-of-time weirdness, it's not completely foreign to him. He's just not sure what it means about who he is now...

At least he hasn't forgotten again. That's something, right?

"Yeah... we're still best friends..." he responds in a bit of a daze.

Because even if he doesn't entirely understand what's going on, it's clear that his friends need him. Being out-of-time shouldn't change that anymore than the "friendship" he made with the Twilight Trio in the datascape. Their hearts still speak to each other. In any form.

Though it does raise questions about the Axel and Xion that he last saw... Are they wondering where he went? Are they worried as the ones here had been when they lost their Roxas? How are they all supposed to get back to each other?

He decides to chance voicing his concerns, unsure whether Axel actually has an answer. "... Where are the people who aren't here?" He glances as Xion and her hunched shoulders, feeling suddenly guilty he can't be the person she had rushed out to meet.

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Dangit, why couldn't things with them just be simple for once? "Anyone from our worlds who wasn't brought here by the train is still wherever we left them," he said. "Which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the circumstances. The people who leave the train... we're not sure. Most likely they go back home. But they might be stuck somewhere in between. We're... working on it. But for now there's no way to know for sure."

"Same for the Voidtrecker's original crew. They disappeared mysteriously at some point before the train started bringing people here, and it really wants to get them back. Like, as much as I wanted to get you and Xion back."

"But that's a whole other long story, and it can wait. Right now, all that matters is that we're here together." He bent down and pulled them both into a hug. Something in his chest that he hadn't even realized was tied in a knot unwound, and he let out a shaky sigh, smiling faintly. He had his best friends with him again. He could deal whatever else came after.

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She leaned against him, trembling softly with uncertainty. Doubt. And fear that this Roxas would just.. vanish.

"Together," she whispered, her quiet voice full of the conflicting emotions she would share that she didn't have. Joy he was here, fear she was betraying other versions of him. Uncertainty. Terror he would vanish again. A desperation to keep him here. Fear for what this all means. Self recriminations, of course... but those were par for the Xion course.

Her hand moved, grabbing Roxas' sleeve. She couldn't say why she did it. She didn't know, didn't understand it. But maybe somehow if she held on... maybe he wouldn't vanish?

She grabbed Axel's shirt with her other hand.

As if somehow... somehow that would be enough to keep them with her...

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Roxas has a lot of feelings about Axel's answer. Guilt about leaving his friends back home and worry for the Roxas that seems to just be... missing. Like Sora. Also deep confusion about a train that seems to have feelings...

But all of that scatters in his brain when Axel pulls them close. He's still getting used to the hugging experience, still getting used to the way he's supposed to melt into the embrace instead of just lean into Axel in a boneless mess of muscle and shifting cloth. He's awkward and uncoordinated (one of the few times he is), as he grips a clump of Axel's shirt in one hand and reaches for Xion with the other. He can only hope it can provide some comfort for the person she misses. And he's sure that his feelings will somehow reach the people he left behind.

"Yeah, we are..."

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Despite the awkwardness, Lea's smile strengthened a bit. Being awkward at hugging just meant that they had a legitimate excuse to practice it down the line. And there'd be plenty of chances to now.

He could have contentedly stayed that way for awhile, but this was still a platform, and their time there was limited. After a few long moment, he straightened up, though he kept a hand on each of their shoulders. "We should probably get on the train," he said. "This is gonna be a long discussion, and being able to sit down for it would make things a bit easier. Besides, this way, Xion can get the notebook, and well it's not even close to sunset- if there even was a sun in the Void- but all three of us finally back together again? I think that calls for a little celebration, don't you?" And it would be easy to guess what that celebration would entail.

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Axel's mention of a celebration cut through all the emotions she was sure she didn't have, for just a moment. Her head shot up. "Ice cream?" she asked, smiling brightly for a moment before the rest crashed down on her.

She looked around, as if she expected to find another Roxas standing on the outside, watching them, thinking he wasn't wanted...

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