#linkwvtch

@linkwvtch​

     It’s been a few since I started properly existing and I gotta say, nice as it is, there’s a lot of inconveniences in having your own body that I’ve gotten used to not having to worry about.  Besides the basics of not dying, when I was just a nebulous concept within Sora’s heart, I didn’t have to restrain myself from punching Riku in the face every time I saw him.  But, we’re all here on the Destiny Islands to celebrate, even Saix for some reason, so for the sake of the celebration, I can be the bigger man and let bygones be bygones.

     And if Axel’s frisbee collides with a certain grey haired jerk’s face, well accidents like that just happen sometimes.  No hard feelings.

     While everyone seems content to pretend old grudges never existed, I’ve got some other history that needs clearing up.  Yes, thankfully, I’ve got my best friends back and we have many ice cream filled days ahead of us.  But while Xion and Axel are fine now, there’s someone else who needs to be reminded she’s cared for.

     “Hey, Namine!”

     I call out to the blonde sitting on the edge of the dock by her lonesome.  Riku was the one who picked her up from Radiant Garden, almost like he was daring me to settle things right here and-

     ...Gotta stay calm.  No sense in getting worked up in front of her.

     Taking a seat beside her, I give her my best smile before pulling out two carefully packaged ice cream bars, handing one to her.  “Had to use Blizzard the whole way over to keep these things frozen.  If I wasn’t smuggling them, I bet Xion and Axel would have eaten them by now.”

     Unwrapping the familiar dessert, I take the first satisfyingly salty-sweet bite.  Maybe it’s being right on the water like this, but this one tastes especially satisfying for some reason.  Or, more likely, it might have something to do with who I’m sharing this with.  Even so, I still have things to say she deserves to hear.

     “...I missed you.  I missed you a lot.  Sora told me what you said and I-”  Great, I brought up the elephant in the room already.  It’s hit Kairi the hardest, naturally, but the two of us were connected to him too.  For as much as I wanted to be my own person, it still feels like I lost a part of myself.  Staring at the girl beside me, the fear of losing her too spurs me to action.

♕ -  ”Huh? For me, Namine?” Color him interested. Gifts always came as a off-guard yet ultimately present surprise. The fact she’s thinking about him is enough to prompt a kind smile as he takes the parchment into his hand. Knowing her dedication to his craft only made him all the more curious to what could’ve been made. Flipping the image around, he turns in order to properly inspect the piece--

Only to use every bit of his willpower to not go and accidentally stab his fingers through it.

A full, overly conscious and outright shocked shiver blew through Sora’s entire being as he nearly went bug eyed at what was presented. There the two was of them-- Sora and Kairi sitting on a paopu tree, apparently making statement to the world by ‘smashing’ their faces together. With the precision of a whip snap and enough to give his neck whiplash on top of that, his neck tilted to and fro repeatedly, trading stares between the drawing itself and the daring artist that aimed to extend her horizons. Outright, nonsensical babble spilled from his lips as the weight of it all piled in. ..What did she know? Just how much did she know!? THIS WAS THE GIRL WHO PARADED IN HIS MEMORIES ONCE UPON A TIME RIGHT?

...........

"N.. Nananana... Namine..” Sora softly spoke, fighting through the tirade of wanting to scream, hide underneath a couch or just roar how the inspiration for this piece came to be in her face. No, this needed the gentle approach, this here was a girl new to the ways of life and likely just going off whatever compelled her hand in the drawing arts! So why!? Why did the idea of him and Kairi smooching it up manage to win 1st place?! That’s only supposed to be winning first place in terms of thought leads in his mind!?

“Sooo... I uhhhh, errrrrm..” He slides a bit closer, face erupted into a shade of crimson as he held the picture up before her eyes.

“What in the world sparked you up to draw this here!? I.. Me wanting this isn’t supposed to be the issue! I mean.. I.. wait- are you tryin’ to get something out of me!?”

The way her eyes stared into his own with a strangely devious glint; he gleamed from the neutral expression that she desired for him to be just as embarrassed as Sora. He would not play that game. He was much too old to feel shame like that. They were not children on the playground, bashfully tip-toeing around their feelings of amour. His relation to Aqua in particular was one of camaraderie; of trust and respect of each other’s strengths and ideals.  

Yes, she was truly beautiful. The way face lit up whenever she became excited never failed to enrapture his attention. He too would follow her example and be just as excited. They would laugh and fall into an easy tempo that simply work for each other. His love for her alwa–

WAIT. LOVE?!

Did he just talk himself into believing that he might have feelings for Aqua?! No. No, no, no. It wasn’t like that.

     Two hearts, inextricably linked together.  A chain of memories that binds us together.  I’d call it destiny if I didn’t malign the very concept.  No, this is something more than that.  A promise isn’t something preordained by the cosmos.  A promise is a choice.

     She chose to put herself in danger to give me the answers I was after.  She endangered her own goal so I could have a choice in mine.  In a lifetime of being steered and controlled, she broke my bonds and set me free.  How could I choose anything but to bind myself to her?

    I take her hand in mine, more solid and real than anything I’ve ever felt.  She’s warm and alive and so radiant she’s almost hard to look at.  Like any beautiful sunset, I wouldn’t dare look away.  I want to appreciate every moment I have by her side.