Until We Bleed

Your Birthday Gift, a Choice

"Boo," Sora giggles, leaning over Roxas as he's lying on the couch.

Roxas rolls his eyes, "Go away, I'm grounded."

Sora chuckles lightly, "Well, I'm ungrounding you."

Roxas sits up and turns to him as he raises an eyebrow, "Do you have that authority?"

"Today I do," Sora grins, "It's your birthday, and we're going to the fair. It's already been Riku approved, so you can't say no."

"Pretty sure I can." Roxas sighs, "You know I don't celebrate my birthday."

"Too bad," Sora pouts, "Your birthday's been taken by me and we're going to the fair."

Roxas rolls his eyes, "Fine, if that's what you want."

Sora moves and sits beside him, "So.. About---"

Roxas cuts him off, "We're not talking about this again."

"But," Sora frowns, "I want to get you a gift."

"Isn't taking me to the fair gift enough?" Roxas sighs, "What part of I don't celebrate my birthday do you not understand, Sora?"

Sora shrugs, "Sure.. I'll relent for now."

Roxas looks at him, and he's surprised to see sadness in Sora's eyes. He frowns, but says nothing about it. It's not his place to question Sora's emotions. They're all still working around what Roxas did, and even though it's been a month, things still get kind of tense. Roxas looks away and clasps his hands together in his lap, "So.. What time are we going?"

"Six," Sora states, "Riku'll be home soon, so I'm going to make dinner."

Without another word, Sora heads to the kitchen and Roxas stares up at the ceiling. He's not sure why Sora's so hung up on getting Roxas a gift for his birthday, this is just how it's always been. Roxas never celebrates, his birthday's not a happy thing for him, it hasn't been since he was a small child. His childhood was far from happy, and his birthday only serves to remind him of it, of the hardships and everything he's lost because of it. He never lets himself dwell on the past, so he can't start now. 

Besides, a birthday's just another day of your life, why make such a big deal over it? A notification from his phone startles him from his thoughts, and he pulls the device from his pocket. He just stares at the screen, and the message that's appeared. Happy birthday, baby, from Axel. This gives Roxas a swell of emotion, he hasn't heard from Axel since in almost two months. Roxas locks his phone and puts it back in his pocket, staring off into space.

...

Sora is so excited about everything from the moment they stepped onto the fairground. Riku entertains him, and that seems to be the norm. Roxas just stands by them awkwardly, honestly overwhelmed by everything. The bright lights, the loud music and people, there were just so many people. Spending all of his time with very few people, Roxas sometimes forgets just how many people actually exist. Strangely, Roxas prefers isolation to this. Still , Roxas doesn't want to ruin Sora's mood, since he's sure this is all somehow for him in Sora's eyes.

So he follows them around, watching Riku win games for Sora, watching Sora try to show off by doing the same. Roxas even plays some of the games, too, smiling for Sora. He really is having fun, doing the games and being on the rides with them, but it's his birthday, and that means he has to be miserable. It's like an unspoken rule to him, something that's just always existed, though he can't really remember why.

"Oh, Riku, let's go on the Ferris wheel!" Sora says, jumping excitedly.

Riku chuckles, "Sure."

He turns to Roxas, "Do you want to come?"