Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return V2

Roxas clasped and unclasped his hands, the silence making him feel umcomfortable. So, he decided to fill it. "I just wanted to say sorry for what I did the other day," he said, still staring at his hands. "I was really out of line, and I overreacted." Even if I am still a little angry, he thought.

 

Namine glanced up at Roxas before she looked back down at the ground, unable to keep her gaze on him. Although the whole argument the other day bothered her, there was one thing in particular that was nagging her mind. But she was afraid to ask that question, because if the answer was bad, then that meant her whole life was ruined.

 

"Um..." Roxas ran one of his hands over the back of his spikes, the boy glancing up to see Sora first. He figured he'd start there. "Sorry that I flipped out on you, man. I should've remembered that you just got back and all, and weren't having a very good day from the start. Lashing out on you was wrong of me, even if I am still learning how to deal with...myself." His fingers traveled through his hair again at the statement, the boy even uncomfortable with who he was himself. "Anyway, I'm sorry for what I said to you. You shouldn't have had to deal with that from me."

 

Sora nodded, showing that he heard Roxas' apology. Roxas was right about all that; Sora had an awful day before that, and following that argument. He was under a lot of stress, and it showed in his current position. He wished Roxas hadn't created that extra tension between them, but the brunet was glad that Roxas was at least trying to make things better now.

Namine remembered that during the fight between Roxas and Sora, Sora had asked if Roxas was glad that he rescued Namine. And Roxas had given him a sarcastic-sounding response before moving on and trying to get Namine to "confess" her feelings for Sora. Ever since that point, Namine wondered what his response meant. Was he...unhappy, that Sora rescued her from the Organization?

 

Roxas then let his eyes find Namine on the other couch. "Namine, I..." He stopped, lowering his gaze and shaking his head. He had so much to say to her, so much he wanted to apologize for. But he didn't think he could put it all into words. "I was an idiot," he finally admitted. "A full-out, immature, angry idiot. Nobody should treat you the way I have been lately, and I want to make things better." He looked up at her then, his gaze staying on her even if she wasn't staring back. "And this time I'll really try, because...because I don't want to lose you."

 

Namine glanced up at Roxas before she looked back down, letting her hair get in her face a little bit. Unfortunately, she couldn't go against anything that Roxas had said against himself. He was very out of character compared to who he was before he left on that mission, and this new person was somebody that she was still getting used to. Some days, she wasn't sure if she was strong enough to deal with the changes she saw in him, but she knew that love was worth fighting for. Roxas seemed to feel that way too, considering what he just told her. But she had heard that before; was this time really different?

 

"But if there ever comes a time when you don't want to do...this anymore," Roxas said, referring to the situation they were in now, "I'll understand." He kept his blue eyes on her, blinking once before he tilted his head to the side ever so slightly. "I want you to know, though, that I really am sorry." He was unbelievably sorry. Roxas loved Namine dearly, he just didn't show it well. His temper got in the way of a lot of things, he knew that, but he also realized that he had to learn to control it and look past it. He couldn't let it ruin his life.

 

Namine nodded, lifting a hand and tucking back a strand of hair. She made a promise to Roxas and to herself that she wouldn't give up on them. And even if Roxas had given her a few chances to forget about that promise, Namine knew that she couldn't have lived with herself if she did that. Roxas was more than a crush; she really did believe that he was the one she would spend her life with. But she knew to get to that point, she had to be patient and stick with him even if he lost his way. Or his temper.

 

Roxas nodded once and looked back down at his clasped hands. But it was then that he remembered one thing he forgot. "Oh, and Sora," he said, looking up at his friend on the couch. "Sorry for that jab at Kairi the other day. If I could take back what I said, I would." He scratched his head. "That wasn't fair, to you or to her. Sorry, man."

Kairi walked toward Sora's house, her body tense with nerves and fear. She was on her way to give Sora her final decision, whether she wanted to stay under his protection in New York or go back to her home world and be defended there by Leon and his gang. She'd needed the few days to think about it, as well as a few other things.

 

Sora looked up at Roxas, meeting his gaze with a hard stare of his own. "Don't make that mistake again," he said in a low tone of voice. "Believe me, you were lucky I couldn't get up and punch you for it." He was being absolutely serious; Sora didn't know where he stood with Kairi, but he knew that he wanted to protect her from any hurt that could come her way, whether it was physical danger or jabs like the one Roxas did the other day.

 

Roxas didn't speak. Instead, he simply nodded. He knew to take Sora seriously on this one. He wasn't surprised at his friend's threat; if anything, Roxas deserved it. It was crossing the line, especially when Kairi wasn't even a problem. Roxas knew that he would be just as upset as Sora if he said something of the sort about Namine, so he took Sora's words to heart.

Kairi noticed that it had started to snow on her way over, the girl just down the street from Sora's house. She glanced up at the flakes that fell, the girl glad she was wearing her gray and silver beanie, that way her hair wouldn't get too wet. Then again, it wasn't snowing even close to that bad; it was only a small drift. Regardless, she continued toward Sora's house, tucking her arms in front of her chest.

 

Sora looked away from Roxas after a minute, looking forward. "Alright, then," he said with a nod. He and Roxas had an understanding; Roxas needed to control his temper, and most importantly, not attack Kairi in any way. As long as the blond understood that, then Sora didn't' see them having problems in the future.

"Roxas?" Namine said softly, lifting her gaze and finally looking at her boyfriend who was sitting alone in the chair. This was the first time that she had spoken since he got there, but she didn't just want to say his name. She needed to ask him about the remark he had made during the argument. Whether she got a bad answer or not, Namine needed to know the truth.

 

Roxas turned his attention to the girl who called his name, his eyes flicking from Sora to Namine. Now that things between him and Sora were settled, he could focus on Namine directly.

Kairi had not only thought over things the last few days, but she had also grieved the loss of someone she loved. He had deceived her, but her feelings had been true to her heart. He was gone, and she had to accept that. And he was evil, something she had already accepted over the course of the last few days. She was going to move on, knowing full well that she had to live her life the way she wanted to. That way, the person that had tried to force her into a life she didn't want could be left behind completely. If Kairi moved on, he would stay back, and no longer haunt her.

 

"Um..." Namine nervously tucked a stand of hair behind her ear, her gaze falling to the ground. Just say it, she told herself. Say it before you chicken out. "The other day...when Sora asked if you were happy I was saved by him in Castle Oblivion...You said you were 'ecstatic." What...did you mean, by that?" Her hesitation came through in her question, and how she spoke throughout asking it. But she needed an answer to it before she could move forward.

 

Roxas's eyes fell to the ground and he sighed softly. That, he had forgotten about. Thinking back to it, he could see why Namine was asking him about it. "I was really frustrated when I said it," he told her, looking back up at her. "I didn't mean anything by it."

With that mindset, Kairi knew that she was ready to take the next big step: making a choice. She either went to Hollow Bastion, or Radiant Garden as she remembered it, and started her life over, or she stayed here, with Sora and Roxas and Namine. The girl halted her footsteps on the sidewalk, turning to face the house she was now standing in front of. It was time.

 

Namine nodded a little, her bangs in her eyes as she looked down at the ground. Whether Roxas had said it in frustration or not, it had really left her hurting and confused. She couldn't understand why Roxas would even let a thing like that slip out, especially when she was in the room to hear it.

 

"Sorry, Nam," Roxas told her softly, meaning it deeply. "I shouldn't have said it that way. I couldn't be happier that he saved you." He then turned his head to Sora. "Which I should've thanked him for," he said, nodding to his friend.

Kairi took in a breath and exhaled, taking a few more steps further on the sidewalk before turning onto the pathway that led up to Sora's house. She fumbled with her fingertips as she looked at the door she was getting closer to, though her fingertips were numb from the chilly weather. Kairi started up the steps and walked to the door, stopping. This was it.

 

Namine nodded again, hearing Roxas' apology. She heard the sincerity in it as well, which was a relief. He had only acted in anger; he didn't mean to make it sound like he didn't want me rescued, she thought to herself, looking at Roxas but not making eye contact.

Sora shrugged lightly, not making a big deal out of it. He was glad he saved Namine too; she turned into a loyal and true friend to him. Nothing more, though. Hopefully Roxas could see that Sora had feelings for Kairi, and not for Namine.

 

Roxas turned his eyes back to Namine at Sora's motion, meeting her gaze. He offered her a faint, reassuring smile, the boy not wanting her to be upset anymore. Despite his intentions, he knew it was going to take more than an apology to make it up to his friends.

Kairi took in another breath and then lifted a hand, pressing one numb fingertip to the button, hearing the doorbell ring. Sora told her she had as much time as she needed, and a few days was all that she could have asked for.

 

Namine gave Roxas a weak smile, though she wasn't happy. It was too soon to be happy after the heated argument the three of them had experienced the other day. Surely Roxas realized that things couldn't be alright again that quickly.

Sora looked towards the living room doorway when he heard the doorbell, a little surprised. He hadn't been expecting anybody to come over. Regardless, he grabbed his crutches so he could get the door and see who was there.