.:Private Conversations for Roxas & Akira:.

[13thpromise]

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week 1, post-trial

[13thpromise]

[ A lot's happened, in which Roxas for a change had a lot to think on. The outcome was absolutely disastrous but in the end...

They were still here, still alive, weren't they?

His hand raps gently against Akira's door. ]

Akira, can we talk?

[purrtagonist]

[it's pretty late when Akira turns to his room, and by the time Roxas comes to find him, he's warmed up a bit from his hour-long walk outside to clear his head. he isn't prompt in answering the door, but he does get to it eventually, pushing it open for Roxas almost immediately]

Hm?

[head canted to the side, he asks]

Sure. What's up?

[13thpromise]

...A few things, but I wanted to make sure you were doing okay after that, first.

[ Akira looked like he tried so hard, and even though he wasn't the only one hurt, as well as who's efforts were to stop it all were foiled, he wondered how much it hit him. ]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . pretty hard, actually. sure, he had called Jorogumo out at the end of the trial with confidence and fury fueling his actions. but it had been the actions of a desperate man. someone who knew they were running out of options]

[but he isn't about to tell Roxas that. or anyone, actually]

Me? [a huff, light and airy and slightly amused, but he may also be trying to purposefully keep things light] I'm okay. What about you?

[13thpromise]

[ Roxas doesn't know Akira well, that's true. He can't even claim to be someone who is exceptionally gifted at reading others. But if there is one thing about him...it's that he tends to have a good amount of skepticism and he's certainly not naive, either.

So, when Akira tells him after all what's happened, knowing that they couldn't stop Syazel from being killed and now an innocent man who had been rather helpful is about to be killed as well, that he's "okay", it makes him just stare in silence at him for awhile.

The silence isn't a few seconds, it's a good moment or so and it's entirely intentional. ]

I'm okay if you're okay. But the truth is, none of us are, so maybe we should try to talk about what we're going to do about it.

week 2, post-trial

[13thpromise]

[ A lot has happened, and it hasn't even been two days yet - the execution was bad enough on anyone doing it...but the ultimate fact of failure added onto that was a mood damper.

Worries assuaged his mind, but also curiosity, to see how things were with Akira now. ]

Akira, are you there? Can we talk?

[purrtagonist]

[it's so, so hard not to think of Flat's death as pointless now that they haven't managed to kill the Barghest. Akira is struggling not to focus on that failure. they were so damn close, they had the Barghest right where they wanted him, and then--]

Roxas? Sure. . . what's up?

[Roxas is here just in time for a distraction]

[13thpromise]

A...lot with what happened, but I don't think I even know where to start.

[ ...let's pretend he totally brought some ice cream with him, because he totally did which I forgot to mention, and he thinks that in sad times or good times it's nice to share some good treats. ]

...So, first, do you want to share one of these with me?

[ Roxas will take out two sea salt ice creams he was totally holding behind his back, and hold one out to him. ]

[purrtagonist]

[blinks at the ice cream for a moment, before he huffs a laugh, ducks his head, and reaches out to take one]

. . . of course. Thanks, Roxas.

[13thpromise]

No problem. It should liven you up in no time because it's a little salty, but sweet.

[ He hands it over to him, small smile evident on his face. He begins to start at his treat. ]

I used to share it with friends all the time back home. There's no nice horizon here, but...that doesn't matter.

week 3, friday

[13thpromise]

[ Roxas is glad that he didn't even so much as see the bodies, but that doesn't make it actually all that comforting to hear what'd happened. And he wasn't happy either, because even though he didn't know two of those that well...he liked talking to at least one of them.

It really was such a punch in the face. But, he knows that someone will be probably dealing with this not so well.

The blond headed over to Akira's room and gave the door a knocking. ]

Akira, are you around?

[purrtagonist]

[to say Akira Kurusu isn't dealing with this well is. . . an understatement. he isn't the type to lose his cool. he isn't the type to lose hope, even when back into a corner. but losing three friends and their detective all in one week is a bit too much for everyone someone as composed as Akira to handle]

[he holes himself up in his room. . . all the way up until Roxas knocks, that is. it takes him a minute or so to answer, but when he does?]

[he just looks tired as he rests his shoulder against the doorframe]

. . . what is it?

[13thpromise]

[ Roxas doubt he can be much of any comfort right now, but at the same time, they don't have much time to prepare for tomorrow's inevitable shitshow. So, he's got to at least try, and maybe...there could be something they can come up with it out of all of this before tomorrow even happens.

Though let's be real, that's probably not going to happen. Things are still likely to be a mess. ]

...If you need a shoulder, I want to let you know I'm here for that.

[ ... ]

But if you wanted to talk about tomorrow, I could be there for that instead.

[purrtagonist]

[there's a wry laugh, barked out breathlessly, as Akira steps away from the door frame to allow Roxas into his room]

I don't know what to say about tomorrow.

[what is there to say? Iwai is dead. Shirou is dead. Inaba is dead. they lost their inquisitor and their seeker]

[what the fuck are they supposed to do now?]

[13thpromise]

[ Roxas comes in, and he looks over at Akira, when the words sink in... he supposed that it was only natural. They'd lost three people, and then out of two of them, they were ... a substantial loss - if he were being honest with himself, he's feeling kind of emotionally disjointed, but this week...after everything's reveal?

It's caused him to become determined.

He'll close the door behind him. ]

I didn't know them too well. But you knew Iwai too, right? I'm really sorry...that you lost people close to you.

[ He's pausing, because he's never tried to say any of these things before in his life and quite frankly he's probably going to suck unbelievably at this. Part of it is the simple fact that it was, realistically, quite a big loss. ]

We're going to need to try our best tomorrow. No matter what happens...for their sakes, ours - everyone's.

week 3, saturday post-trial

[purrtagonist]

[like hell he's letting Roxas leave without saying something to him after that]

Roxas!

[13thpromise]

[ That's certainly happening, and he'll turn to face him as Akira is apparently following him to his room. ]

...Yeah?

[purrtagonist]

I--

[he slows to a trot when he gets close enough, hesitating before he talks again]






Thank you.

[13thpromise]

[ He swallowed thickly at hearing that, and then turn to face him, he's trying to say something, but the words only got caught in his throat. The blond's eyes then start to tear up. ]

I ... I was scared of losing you both. But the idea of losing you scared me so badly I couldn't have made any other choice. I don't regret it, not at all.

[ Roxas doesn't know why he's crying now, but the tears are finally falling down his cheeks. Maybe everything's finally getting to him that he can do nothing to hold back the small sobs that escape him. ]

I don't think i-it's anything worth being thanked over...

[ He's rubbing at his face now and sniffling. ]

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

[wordlessly, Akira closes the space between them, and pulls Roxas in for a tight, encompassing hug]

Thank you.

[he reiterates, voice firm]

It's absolutely something to be thanked for.

week 5, post-investigation

[13thpromise]

[ Roxas wasn't feeling all that great either, and that was putting it lightly as summing it up exactly would be such a process that it'd be literally an impossibility. That being said, the blond finds himself heading towards Akira's without even doing too much of his own processing.

He isn't naive to think he can lighten spirits like this, but at the very least? Leaving the first friend to suffer alone and in silence?

Not an option.

So, here he is, with some drinks and treats with him. Just some basic snacks (yes his favorite ice cream is in there) and warm chocolate to maybe have in silence. With one free hand he is giving the other's door a knocking. ]

...Akira?

[purrtagonist]

[the snacks will be appreciated, even though Akira won't really be able to make himself eat many of them. images of the chapel still flash fresh in his mind, after all. but for Roxas's sake. . . he may at least try]

[the door creaks open to reveal Akira, still pale and wan, still completely and utterly blank. he isn't wearing his glasses]

. . . oh, hey. Roxas.

[as far as keeping himself together is concerned, this is about all Akira can manage]

[13thpromise]

[ Akira quite frankly looks like shit.

Roxas doesn't blame him for it, though. Who could? He'd just lost his most beloved person to him in this terrible place. ]

Hey...can we just hang out for a little bit?

[ He's not sure what they'll even talk about, but it's a start, right? He's offering himself to keep company with him, alongside those snacks. ]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . a small huff, and something cuts through Akira's otherwise exhausted expression. the tiny flicker of a smile?]

Sure.

Come on in.

[he pushes the door open, allowing Roxas entry into his room]

[13thpromise]

[ That sure is a smile, one that Roxas isn't quite expecting, but hey if he could make there be a bit of happiness about this, he'll take it.

If there's a table here, he'll set some snacks on there along the warm (as opposed to hot) chocolate drink. ]

...there. And uh, one more thing before we sit down?

[ Roxas will step closer with arms stretched out, to kind of just...give him a quick hug, though his motions are kind of a little slow because he's not sure if Akira is comfortable with it or not. Also because he hasn't initiated many hugs in this place--but he considers Akira a close enough friend to at least try giving him one too. ]