A Second Chance

Reunions

I PROMISE I DIDN'T FORGET ABOUT THIS SERIES!

Lockdown has put everything in to such a tailspin... I really lost a lot of creativity while basically watching the world fall apart. But I can't leave a story unfinished so here I am :3 I've put together a tentative plot for the rest of the series so here's hoping that I don't get another writer's block. Thank you guys so much for never giving up on me and I hope you are all doing great during these uncertain times <3

[♥]

It felt so surreal, sitting next to your oldest friend. He was like a fresh breath of air, while at the same time like a stranger after so much time apart. Lea had definitely changed throughout the years. There was still that same playful air to him, but he was now more serious and enveloped by a sadness that you'd never seen in him before.

"So," Lea speaks up, breaking the silence as he glances over at you. "Tell me what's happened to you. Doesn't look like you've aged fifteen years."

"Noticed that, did you?" you tease with a half-smile as you meet his emerald-green gaze. "I, uh... was stuck in the dark realm for a long time. We – my friends and I, other Keybearers, tried to fight Xehanort, and lost."

Lea watches you as you speak, feeling his stomach twist with discomfort as an expression of sorrow grows on your face, detailing your decade in the dark world and explaining how your friends were still lost. You were always such a happy kid, easily keeping he and Isa grounded while they'd dream of bigger and better things than just living in Radiant Garden. But your eyes were now clouded with a distant emptiness, and as you recalled your past your voice lost its confidence. You hadn't had it easy either.

"But then I came back, with some help," you continue, turning your focus to your hands as your fingers clasp and unclasp together nervously, your savior's face momentarily floating into your vision. "Roxas... He brought me back."

"R-Roxas?" Lea stammers out, his eyes widening as he scoots forward to force himself into your vision as you continue to stare at your hands. "You met Roxas?"

Your gaze darts hesitantly to his, allowing a faint grin to grow as you nod once.

"You picked a good best friend," you reply, both of you sharing a smile before Lea releases a chuckle.

"You met Roxas... What a small fuckin' world," he laughs, running a hand through his messy hair before he leans back on his palms.

"I'm sorry he's gone," you practically whisper, guilt filling you at the fact that you weren't able to save him from his fate, but a foot reaching out to kick yours has you looking back at Lea, who – to your surprise – is still smiling.

"That your new favorite word or something? Stop apologizing," he chastises you. "Roxas knew his fate. I hate it, and I miss him, but it's not my fault, or your fault. Life just sucks."

You laugh at the blunt honesty, giving a nod of agreement as you wrap your arms around your legs and hug them into your chest.

"Understatement," you tell him.

"There. Much better when you smile," he beams, studying you for a moment before he brings a fist up to his mouth and clears his throat. "So, what? Just been trainin' since coming back here?"

"More or less," you agree with a little shrug, taking a second to study the man you can't believe is sitting next to you. "Trying to find Aqua too, but... it's not easy. What about you?"

"Long or short version?" he asks.

"Long, obviously."

"Obviously," he agrees with a roll of his eyes and a laugh. "Me and Isa thought it'd be a great idea to explore the castle, find out of those rumors of experiments were true. Big fuckin' mistake, 'cause they're true and those little freaks turned us into Nobodies. The years after that is a blur, honestly... I remember little things, small memories here and there, but my time as a Nobody feels like a dream. Or a nightmare. Maybe both."