Lea wonders what Xemnas would think or say if he knew Lea’s scarcely even able to forgive himself for the things he’s done. That though he may tell Xemnas to let go and forgive himself, he knows full well it’s easier said than done. He thinks back on those early days after recompletion, where everything felt so overwhelming, so vast and incomprehensible, the weight of the keyblade in his hand a shackle more than a gift, despite his desire to be able to wield it. How hard he’d thrown himself into training in order to stop thinking, caring about nothing but his promise, the will to atone and even then —– even after everything’s said and done, Roxas and Xion and Isa back at his side, the trust of the other keyblade wielders firmly in his grasp and new friendships to have borne from that entire journey, he still feels like he hasn’t done enough. Like the past still clings to him like unwanted baggage he’ll never be rid of.
They’re both burdened, aren’t they? If only there was a way to convey this to Xemnas without sounding like the biggest hypocrite on earth, never practicing what he’s ultimately preaching. And where would he even start? The things he’s done, had to do, in the organization and away from it are still topics that feel too heavy on his tongue and too tangled in his brain and heart to start making sense of it. Besides, way things are going now, Xemnas would likely just find a way to blame himself for that, even though Lea’s aware all of Axel’s choices and betrayals had been his own. Because he’d been selfish. A coward.
So in the end he simply stays silent, holding Xemnas’ hand and leaving the choice to move closer or keep distance up to his friend, green eyes watching attentively. Xemnas still looks miserable, too small for the size of him. At least the shivering has stopped and his skin doesn’t look three shades of too gaunt any longer.
The request takes him by surprise, heart skipping a beat as raw affection swells in his lungs and gets caught in his throat. It doesn’t abate even when Xemnas seemingly changes his mind and turns away, and there’s no need to think at all this time when he closes that distance between them one final time. Nudging Xemnas’ knees up to angle with his own, Lea slings one arm over Xemnas’ side, grabbing hold of his hand again before pressing it against Xemnas’ chest. Heat engulfs them almost instantly, their shared body head amplified beneath the sheets. It’ll get uncomfortable later, and Lea is probably setting him up for a very awkward wake up call getting this close to a naked Xemnas, senses overtaken by his scent, the feel of soft, warm skin, the sound of their tandem breathing as he nuzzles gently into Xemnas’ neck. “ This okay? “ He murmurs like he hadn’t even heard Xemnas’ denial. “ Or y’ can turn around. “
As if to make the decision for them, there’s the soft patter of paws on the floor, a sudden dip in the bed as Higgs joins them on the bed, wasting no time to curl himself into a soft ball against Xemnas’ stomach, his weight against Lea’s arm. The soothing sound of purring fills the air around them, paws kneading into the sheets and Lea’s never been more grateful for the cat, for always being there, reaching a part of Xemnas Lea’s not been able to get to yet. “ Well. Looks like you ain’t goin’ anywhere just yet. “ A beat, “ It’s not a weakness, y’ know? I like being held too when I feel bad. You’re not weak for needin’ company, “ even if he doesn’t think he deserves it. “ Get some rest, okay? “
Sleep becomes the distant whisper that fades into the dark, only a concept so far removed from him that he doubts it’ll be any time soon in which they would become reacquainted. He lays there on the side, staring at the opposite wall where the shadows are still and only the light continues to shift, the silver blue square of moonlight cast from the window that’s cast across the plaster that crosses slowly across the white plane. From its position and the intensity he judges that night could very well cross into morning in a few handful of hours. Guilt again squeezes and twists as a knife deep in his gut, scraping away at his already raw insides. How long had he been here, taking up so much of Lea’s time when it could be better spent finding rest? What had he disrupted through his actions should Lea had plans for tomorrow? How many times had Lea admonished him for his thoughtless and reckless actions?
He moves to sit up and grows still at the sudden presence sliding so near, Lea’s body slotting neatly against him as though they were pieces meant to be together. Fingers dig into the sheets as an arm curls around his middle, that painful grip keeping him from jerking an elbow into the body beside him. Reflex and instinct, both having served him well in combat turning a simple moment shared with a friend into more than it should be. He forces an exhale, eyes squeezed shut as he breathes in Lea’s scent, familiar, comforting. Just as before in the bathroom though he hadn’t expected this when he’d been so certain Lea would turn away or at the very least simply let him go.
Then they are joined again by an unexpected presence though the moment Higgs curls against his belly, warm and welcomed as always, he finally smiles. The soft purrs as comforting as being held, more tangible than the phantom memories that continue to haunt him and taunt him with that was never his though he still mourns that loss. It nearly fills the considerable void that has yawned open in him since his return, when he is meant to be complete yet both his heart and his memory torture him with fragments of a past that he’d so studiously ignored when he’d been nothing.
He no longer has – never has had those moments, but he does have Higgs and he has Lea as a friend, who has refused to let go when Xemnas has never given him a reason to continue with this unbreakable grip. He searches through the dark and the purrs grow, Higgs stretching even closer for Xemnas’ touch, lifting his chin to be scratched at that one perfect spot. He huffs with tired amusement and with that comes the sudden crash of exhaustion. He blinks against it, tries hard not to look at Lea pressed against him, still working so hard to be the steady foundation upon the uneven and breakable ground that he walks.
“I’d dreamt of them again.” If he continues to speak to the dark alone then it’s easiest to give voice to everything that had been clawing at him from within. “And in my misery, in my weakness I’d tried to flee into the rain, but those chains are heavy, they slow my steps and pull me back when I’m alone with nothing but my thoughts. It was why I came to you. I needed to be near someone who was more than a memory.”