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[KH] Lights in Shadow: Teddy Bear

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Lights in Shadow: Teddy Bear (rough draft)
A Kingdom Hearts fanfic by Raberba girl

For Roxas/Xion Day, 20 June 2012
...EXCEPT that this ended up as way more AkuSai and AkuSaiRoku than RokuShi.  I don't know why I even bother. -.-

Summary:  Roxas has to figure out how to sew a teddy bear. AU; light romance for RokuShi Day.

o.o.o

Roxas was thirteen now and too old to need to be picked up from school, which was kind of a disappointment.  Walking home with Saïx was all well and good, but Axel missed his little brother's company...well, about as much as he had expected, even after all this time.  Just because he had expected it didn't mean he had to like it, though.

Home at last, he knocked on his brother's bedroom door as usual and peeked inside, finding Roxas sprawled facedown on the bed in a depressed sort of way.

"What's up, Rox-my-socks?" Axel asked, keeping his voice light in order to hide his concern.  He came inside and stood gazing down at the back of that spiky-locked head.

"Shisgowaymumbleyaz.  Annogahyeeah."

"Huh?"

Roxas lifted his head and announced, "Xion's going away for Christmas, and don't call me that," before dropping his face back into the coverlet.

"Oh."  He sat down on the edge of the bed, still thoughtful.  "Huh."  Roxas had only recently begun to realize that his feelings for his long-time best friend had grown a bit past the platonic stage.  In fact, he was supposed to have made his confession today.  "Did you...get to tell her?"

Roxas sighed and rolled over onto his back.  "Yeah.  She was all happy.  Then at lunch I was like, 'Hey, Christmas is coming up, we should make plans,' and then she was like, 'Oh no!  I'm so sorry Roxas,' and she's going halfway across the country for the entire winter break."

Axel patted him sympathetically.  "Well, that stinks."

"Yeah."

"...."

"...."

"...Want some ice cream?"

"Yeah."

In the kitchen, Axel pulled a couple of ice cream pops out of the freezer and handed one to his brother, who took it morosely.  "What would you have wanted to do if you could?"

"I dunno...hang out, go on a date, buy her a present...."  He sighed deeply.  "That's so lame.  I won't even be able to give her a present on Christmas, I'll have to either give it to her super-early or really late.  It won't mean the same."

"I think you're taking it too hard.  Just make the most of the time you do have together, okay?  There'll be plenty of time to make it up to her.  Her birthday's in January, right?"

Roxas glumly took a bite of ice cream.

"You want me to help you shop for her?"

A pause, and then Roxas finally smiled a little.  "Yeah, that would be good.  Thanks, Axel."

"Sure thing, kid.  Stick around after school tomorrow and I'll pick you up, okay?"

"Okay."

The next day, Roxas was in low spirits until Xion finally told him that he was making her sad with his depressed face, so he started smiling a lot to cheer her up.  It was nice, getting to hold her hand in the hallways and kiss...well, her cheek anyway.  He wasn't sure he wanted to try anything more so soon, with people around to see if he messed up.  For now, it was enough just to see the happy sparkle in her eyes whenever she looked at him, in a different and sweeter way than she'd ever looked at him before.

"So, do you want to go somewhere?" she asked after school.

"Oh...well, um, I promised Axel I'd go somewhere with him today, so...."

Her face fell.

"I'll call you when I get home, though," he said hurriedly.  "O...Okay?"

She smiled again and hugged him.  "Okay."

Axel eventually showed up with his best friend Saïx, who looked grim as usual except for....

"Why do you have a teddy bear?" Roxas wanted to know.

"Because Axel will neither carry it nor let me throw it away," Saïx grumbled.

"You can't chuck a girl's present where she can see you do it!" Axel exclaimed indignantly, though there was a teasing sparkle in his eyes as well.

"We're no longer at school.  There's a trash can."  Saïx took a purposeful step towards it, but Roxas curiously plucked the bear out of his arm before he could get far.

"It's cute," Roxas remarked clinically.  "She made it blue just like your hair, and it's even got your scars.  Why'd some girl give you a bear that looks like you, Saïx?"

"It's a fad," Saïx said in exasperation.  "People at our school have started making them for whoever they have a crush on.  The giver's feelings will supposedly be reciprocated if the bear is named after her - or him, - but of course it's all superstitious nonsense and I'd sooner name that thing after a teacher than the girl who actually gave it to me."

"Sultana-sensei is kind of hot," Axel mused, earning an annoyed glare from his friend.

Roxas thoughtfully hugged the Saïx-bear.  "Axel," he said, "I don't wanna go shopping anymore.  I want to make a bear for Xion."

"Huh?  But you can't sew."

"Can you teach me?"

Axel burst into laughter.  "Roxas, I can't sew, either."  Then a glint came into his eye that made Saïx say firmly, "NO," but Axel ignored him and added, "I know someone who can, though."

"No, you don't," Saïx snapped.

"You know someone who can teach me how to sew?" Roxas asked eagerly.

"Yup!"

"He does not."

"Oh, come on, Sai, I was sitting right next to you when you fixed Isa's dress."

"Repairing a torn hem and constructing a stuffed animal are two entirely different things," Saïx grumbled in a low voice.

Roxas gaped at him.  "Wait, you can sew, Saïx?"

"I can MAKE REPAIRS.  It's not a hobby."

"But you still know more than us," Axel wheedled.  "C'monnnnn, Sai.  Pleeeeaaaase, please please please?  Please?"

"Where'd you learn how to sew?" Roxas burst out in great amusement, though he shut up pretty quickly at the muttered reply.

"From my mother before she died.  Since she was bedridden those last few months, sewing and reading where the only ways I could spend time with her."

"Ummm...oh."

Axel slung his arms around them both.  "I'll pay for the supplies, okay?  And I'll buy you ice cream to make up for your manhood-shriveling loss of dignity, how does that sound?"

Saïx glared again.  "...It's too cold for ice cream."

"So you won't eat it if I buy it for you?"

"I didn't say that."

The three of them ended up at the brothers' dining room table an hour or two later, tracing bear pieces onto fuzzy cloth and cutting them out.  Roxas was rather proud of their progress until it came time to do the actual sewing.  "Um...Saïx, the thread won't stay on the needle."

Saïx looked over, and his eyes widened a little.  "You should have inserted the thread through the eye of the needle.  Of course it's going to keep slipping off if you just tie it onto the end."

"Needles have eyes?" Roxas said in confusion.

"That little hole at the top," Axel said, a little proud of the fact that he wasn't completely clueless.

"Huh?  What hole?"

Saïx sighed and scooted closer.  "Hold the needle up to the light.  Do you see that very small hole at the top?"

"Uhhhh...."

"This is ridiculous....  You're holding it upside-down.  Flip it over."

Man, sewing was complicated.  Roxas finally figured out what they were talking about.

"Finally.  Now you need to insert the thread into the needle's eye."

Roxas stared at him like he was crazy.  "I can't stick this into that, it's way too small!"

"Lick the end of it first," Saïx suggested.

Now both brothers were staring at him.

"Will you stop looking at me like that?  It sharpens the end and makes it easier to thread."  He sucked briefly on the end of the thread in his own hand, concentrated for a second or two, and suddenly he was tugging a long length of thread out from the other side of the needle, clearly somehow having managed to get the thread through the needle's tiny eye.

"How did you do that!" Roxas and Axel yelled in unison.

"We should have bought a threader, too," Saïx grumbled, "I didn't even think of that.  Look...."  He explained some more, but the brothers were hopeless at it and he finally threaded both their needles for them himself.

"Man, sewing's hard," Roxas complained as he twirled the successfully-threaded needle.

"You haven't even started sewing yet, and don't do that, you'll tangle the thread and it won't go cleanly through the fabric."

It was soon after that when they decided to stop for the evening, since they wouldn't be able to finish the project in one sitting.  Saïx stayed for dinner and then left; Roxas surveyed their progress so far.  "You think she'll like it, Axel?"

"Yeah, girls always like handmade stuff, she'll love it."

"I dunno, I think the pieces for the arms and legs and stuff are different sizes from each other...."

"She'll love it."

Roxas was in much better spirits the next morning, with the knowledge that he had a Christmas gift for Xion in the works (which he had found difficult to keep quiet about while on the phone with her after dinner).  Xion seemed to appreciate his smiles, and they lingered together as much as they could between classes, talking about everything except the Christmas they were not going to be able to spend together.

"So, um, are you busy again today, or...?" she asked hesitantly as they were walking out to the front gates after dismissal.

"Uhhhhhh--  Um, yeah, I'm busy, but...um...I can walk you home, okay?"

He looked at her anxiously, and she finally gave him a small (though slightly sad) smile.  "Okay."

Roxas practically ran home afterwards, so eager was he to get to back to work, and forgot that Axel and Saïx's dismissal time was later than his.  "Argh!  I need help!"

They arrived soon enough, though Saïx spent most of his time doing the homework he'd fallen behind on and only giving assistance when they bugged him about it.

"Saïx, please!" Roxas said in exasperation.  "This is taking WAY longer than I thought it would, and there's not a lot of time left!"

"Apologies for putting my grades before the recreational construction of toys," Saïx said coldly, but eventually was pestered into laying his textbooks aside and bestowing more active instruction.

All too soon, the last day of school before the holidays came, and Roxas had not quite completed his project, though the other two had been able to finish theirs the night before.  ("Axel, why are you making one, anyway?  You don't have a girlfriend at the moment."  "It's my Christmas present to you, Sai!  Duh."  "Axel, if you give that thing to me, I will burn it.")  Frantic, Roxas shoved the incomplete bear and sewing supplies into his school bag and met Xion more apprehensively than usual.

She took his hand as they walked across the courtyard.  "You okay?"

"Yeah, I just...I'm gonna miss you, Xion."

"Ohhh...."  She stopped and put her arms around him.  He held her close and wished they could stay like that for a lot longer than they actually did, but the bell rang and they had to get to class.

'What am I gonna do?' he thought all through homeroom.  Xion's parents were going to pick her up from school and go straight to the airport.  He was out of time, unless he could somehow finish it here at school....

Although the teachers were letting them slack off since it was the last day before vacation, Xion was still in most of his classes, so he couldn't do anything about it then, or at lunch.  During his last period, though, the teacher just handed out a holiday-themed crossword puzzle and let everyone do whatever they wanted the rest of the time.  Maybe he could....

"Oooh, Roxas, that is so cute!"

"Ha ha, don't tell me you're making one of those stupid bears, loser."

"Is it for Xion?  I bet it's for Xion, right?"

"Of course it's for Xion, moron; they're going out now."

"Hee, he's cute...kinda lopsided, though...."

"Hey, I wanna make one, too!  Can I borrow some of that, Roxas?"

Trying to get work done while being pestered by his classmates was a huge pain, but Roxas persevered.  Finally they all shut up and left him alone, but now the teacher was coming over and saying his name in concern.  "Roxas?"

"Ssshhh, I'm almost done!" he cried frantically.

"Roxas, the bell rang."

"What?"  He finally looked up at the teacher, who gave him an odd smile.

"School's out, Roxas.  Go home, have fun, it's your vacation."

Roxas stared at her.  "No."

"Pardon?"

"I...I'm not--"  He stared at the bear in his hands.  "Xion!"  Leaping up, he shoved everything into his bag and ran.

She wasn't in their usual meeting spot, wasn't in the courtyard; he rushed to her last class in desperation and found out that she'd been picked up a little early, shortly before dismissal.  She was already gone.  "NO!"

He hurried back down the hall, digging out his cell phone to call Axel.  No answer; his brother was still in class.  "Aaarrrggghhhh!"

By the time Roxas got to the high school, the students had been released.  He waded amongst the sea of uniforms that differed from his own, avoiding delighted girls who kept reaching out to pinch his cheeks or fluff his hair, searching desperately for any sign of his brother's distinctive red spikes (or Saïx's blue; he wasn't going to be picky at this point).  "Axel!"  Roxas rushed up to them breathlessly.

"Rox!" Axel exclaimed in surprise.  "What's up?  You don't look so good."

"Xion," Roxas gasped out, suddenly near tears.  "I didn't finish and I missed her and now she's gone and I can't give it to her."

Axel made an incoherent noise and gripped hard at Saïx's shoulder.

"Yes, I'll drive you," Saïx sighed in resignation.  "Come on."

Roxas managed to tie the last knot in the thread while in the car on the way to the airport.  His bear looked like a horrible lump, but whatever; at least it was still vaguely bear-shaped and he had made it with his own two hands so Xion would like it, right?  "It's so ugly."  Girls liked pretty things, too.  "She'll hate it.  I should throw it away.  I can't see her.  I'm a loser."

"Roxas, cut it out," Axel snapped, seeming a little agitated himself.  "Saïx, drive faster."

"I'm not going to break speed limits even for you.  Or your brother, or his girlfriend, or his bear."

"Then let me drive!"

"You don't even have your license yet, get away from me!"

Roxas and Axel spilled out of the car as soon as Saïx pulled up into the unloading lane, sprinting for the doors together.  "Please, please, please don't let her have left yet," Roxas panted, gripping Roxas the Bear tight in one hand.

There she was.  Standing with her parents and a bunch of luggage.  "Xion!" he shouted.

Her head snapped over her shoulder.  "Roxas!" she cried, her eyes wide; then she was running to meet him.

He grabbed her and held her tight, for longer than he meant to.  When he finally pulled back, he saw that there were tears in her eyes, but she was smiling hugely.  His own face kind of felt the same.  "I'm...glad you came," she managed to say.  "I didn't get to see you at school, I thought...."

"I almost didn't finish," he said, and pushed the bear at her.  "Oops.  Um, I didn't wrap it, I forgot....  Um, his name's Roxas.  He's for you."

She stared at the lump of stuffed fabric.

"Oh yeah, um, see, Saïx says if you give the one you love a bear named after you, they'll love you back, or something like that...."

She slowly reached up to grasp Roxas (the Bear) in both hands.

"He's your Christmas present.  He's kind of lame, though.  I can't sew."

"He's beautiful," she whispered, then flung her arms around him and burst into tears.  "Thank you, Roxas, I--  I can't--  I love you so much."

"I love you, too," he whispered.  "I'll miss you."

In one of the seats nearby, a little girl with blonde hair and a blue dress was sitting all alone in a forlorn sort of way.  She watched them wistfully, as if she had no one to share such warmth with.

Farther away, also watching, Axel grinned and Saïx folded his arms in quiet satisfaction.  "I'm glad we made it."

"Such a strange thing, love," Saïx murmured.  "That has to be the ugliest teddy bear I've ever seen, yet she looks delighted."

"I dunno, I think mine kind of gives it a run for its munny."

Saïx glanced at him, then suddenly backed away when Axel brandished his own creation at him.  "Merry Christmas, Sai!  His name's Axel, and he's all for you."

"You were right," Saïx snapped, "yours does beat his for the ugliest bear I've ever seen.  Get that repellant thing away from me."

"Awwww, but I worked so hard to make him!"

"I warned you what would happen if you gave it to me."

"I don't see any lighters around, do you~?" Axel sang, tossing the bear.

"Does the one you undoubtedly have in your pocket count?" Saïx grumbled as he caught the toy.  He didn't even bother to consider the option - trying to get that lighter from Axel by force would cause far more trouble than it would be worth.  Instead, he surveyed the airport and caught sight of the lonely little girl still watching Roxas and Xion's warm embrace.  Saïx strode over and thrust Axel the Bear at her.  "Here."

The girl jerked a little and stared up at him in astonishment.  "I beg your pardon?"  Her voice was rather cultured and proper for someone who looked so young.

"His name is Axel.  You can have him."

Slowly, she reached up to grasp the toy and stared at it for a moment before suddenly wrapping Axel in her arms.  "Ohhh...he is lovely.  Thank you ever so much," she said, her eyes shining.

Saïx went back over to the real Axel (who was laughing) and gave him a smug look.  "Looks like you'll have to go shopping after all."

"Man, all that work for some random kid I've never seen in my life before.  What'd you do with Saïx, anyway?"

"What?"

"Saïx the Bear," Axel clarified.

"Oh...."

Several hours earlier:

"Sultana-sensei?"

Jasmine looked over from the sheet music she was stacking and smiled.  "You need something, Saïx?"  The dismissal bell had rung, and her other students were piling noisily out of the room.

"I had to make it as a demonstration, but it is no longer needed for that purpose.  There is no one for me to give it to.  If you don't want it, feel free to throw it away, and its name is NOT Saïx."  He placed a slightly lopsided but still cute handmade teddy bear on top of the piano.

Jasmine gasped in highly amused delight.  "Ohhhh, you made this for me, sweetie?"

"I did not.  I hope your holidays are enjoyable; I'll see you next semester."  Saïx turned and marched out of the room without waiting for an answer.

She laughed again and picked up the bear to admire and cuddle.  "Thanks, kiddo," she said fondly, stroking absently along one rounded ear.  "Ooooh, look at those cute little gold eyes, just like Rajah's...."

o.o.o

Author's Notes:  HA HA, lamest excuse for a RokuShi fic ever. *headdesk*  Diehard freaking fangirl for my OTP....  Lol for Shadowless Princess couples, too. *smile/sweatdrop*

Anyway, I think this is my first fic - except for the full-length version of Fire & Moonlight's "Fell From The Sky" theme, which isn't posted yet - where I've managed to write Roxas & Xion in a romantic context instead of as siblings.  I do prefer them as siblings, it's just that I wanted to try SOMETHING romancey with them, since RokuShi is my favorite ship for both Roxas and Xion.  RokuNami just doesn't do it for me, even though Roxas keeps latching onto her rather than Olette which I'd prefer.  And Riku/Xion is fine, especially in AUs, but RokuShi makes more sense....  Ah, whatever; mission accomplished.  Now I can go back to writing them as siblings. XD

Btw, the idea of giving a teddy bear named after yourself to the person you have a crush on is from a manga series which I no longer wish to associate myself with....  If you're already familiar with it, you'll recognize it; if not, just know that I did not come up with the concept.

I also want to thank Mirae-no-sekai for getting me back on track with SaiJaz - I think I was letting it get too out of hand (in currently unpublished stuff), but seeing the lovely way she wrote it in Nighttime Sortie was kind of a model that helped me get it right again. :)
My canon-based Kingdom Hearts fanfiction index
My alternate universe Kingdom Hearts fanfiction index

Ftr, this story is also posted here, but there's no reason to read that Deviation now, since I've re-posted the chapters individually.
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