betwixtbetween | gone shopping [that AU]

Who: Roxas and Aerith
What: A quick pit stop for supplies and first aid winds up leading Roxas to help Aerith out on fetching said supplies. Possible suspicion of his origins ensues!
Where: Hollow Bastion – Merlin's house and around town.
When: Sometime after visiting Beast's Castle, sometime before visiting the next world.

[starting some two years ago, Aerith had been named the official healer for the Keyblade Wielder and his friends– whenever there happened to be an injury on the battlefield too grievous for a curative spell, she would be the one to take over.]

[though, to be honest, she wasn't exactly expecting for Sora to show up again with another wielder she'd never met tagging along. regardless, upon their arrival Sora and the others dispersed to various areas and patrols, leaving the... oddly familiar boy by himself in the middle of Merlin's house.]

[which is why she'd chosen to invite him to come along with her to the market. it's not every day she gets to meet a new friend of Sora's, not after they'd all returned home.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Will do.

[It takes a while, longer than Roxas expected. Apparently residents of Hollow Bastion aren't in the habit of buying long-sleeved jackets during warm weather; he has to go to several shops before he finds a shopkeeper who doesn't just look at him like he's crazy.

Eventually, though, he does find and purchase a suitable coat, which he promptly stuffs in a bag, since it is pretty warm in this world. After looking around for a few minutes, he spots Aerith, who appears to have been more successful on her shopping trip.]

Hey. All set?

[with a smile in the affirmative, Aerith lifts a rather large basket filled to the brim with an assortment of potions, tonics, and what-have-yous. there's food in there, too, because she knows Sora's usual travel diet, and she figures Roxas might want something other than a sandwich once in a while.]

Did you find what you were looking for?

Uh huh. Took a while, bit I'll be all right if we end up in the snow again.

Should we head back now?

We should. Sora's probably waiting for us by now.

Right.

[He falls into step beside her, and they had off.]

So he visits you guys a lot?

Normally only when he's in need of something. Supplies, healing... advice.

Otherwise, he always seems to show up right when we need him.

Yeah. He's good at that.

[He half-smiles.]

Is that how you guys met?

Pretty much. I was coming to help with the battle here, but he had everything taken care of before I even arrived. A real hero.

[The lies come easier, now.]

[that gets a smile out of her.]

You know him well.

[heck, she'll still be smiling when they get back, and right through seeing Roxas and Sora standing right next to each other.]

I'm still learning.

[Of course Aerith why would you stop smiling when seeing something so totally normal.]

[and she'll keep smiling all the way through a light lunch and casual conversation, and right through Leon offering a scheduled lecture on safe traveling – to which Sora responds with the usual 'I know, I know, we'll be careful' – to the smile on her face as she packs an assortment of foods in that basket she had earlier, quietly placing it in Roxas' hands as they're getting ready to leave.]

[because she'd spent the most time out of the rest of them talking with Roxas. and now that she had, and now that she'd seen Roxas and Sora interacting, something finally clicked.]

[still, her smile is not unkind, it never is.]

Roxas. Mind if we talk real quick before you leave?

Edited 2012-07-08 05:07 (UTC)

Huh?

[He didn't see it coming, and still doesn't as Aerith draws him quietly aside. Mostly he's thinking of what they've stocked up on while they're here, and where they'll go next. He isn't at all worried about what Aerith might say, because she's been so kind and understanding already.]

Sure. What's up?

[she'll lead the way to the side, then, and wait until the others – more importantly, Sora – are well out of earshot.]

I just have a quick question... are you planning on telling him?

[Roxas goes very, very still, because he doesn't know what she means—rather, he doesn't know what she could mean that isn't what he desperately doesn't want her to mean.]

Tell him what?

Your connection with Sora. He doesn't seem to have a clue.

[Please observe, Aerith, as Roxas' eyes go wide as saucers and his voice drops to practically a whisper.]

I—connection? What do you—I mean, I don't...

Edited 2012-07-08 13:39 (UTC)

[get all of your fumbling over your words out, Roxas, Aerith will wait.]

Edited 2012-07-09 02:15 (UTC)

There's—there's nothing to tell.

[He starts to recover himself, but he's still flailing badly.]

We're both Keyblade wielders—we're supposed to have that in common, I don't know what you mean.

Well, I'll admit that I've only met one other Keybearer, so I might be confused by the similarities...

I just had no idea they all had the same eyes, too.

[That makes him catch his breath.]

Our eyes?

[It's not like he's ever stood in a mirror next to Sora, of course. But he'd known their faces were the same; he just hadn't thought any particular feature would stand out that much.]

Right. You even look the same, and stand the same when fighting.

But I guess that all could be a bunch of coincidences.

[There's another silence, longer this time before he manages to choke out more words.]

Please don't tell him.

[Aerith takes a step closer, lowering herself slightly so they are at eye level, and placing a comforting hand on Roxas' shoulder. he looks terrified. she doesn't want him to be terrified, not around her.]

I promise you I won't breathe a word, Roxas. [another slight smile.]

But you should tell him yourself at some point, don't you think?

[He relaxes ever so slightly at the gentle touch, only to tense up again at her suggestion.]

No. [He shakes his head vehemently.] I can't. He'd hate me.

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