Introduction;
Nero: Nero and Roxas were returning from their honeymoon on the Destiny Islands, the blond having created a portal as their way back. They'd manage to have a peaceful trip; this time ended up a lot better for him considering he managed to get away without a sunburn this time. Roxas made sure of that.
Nero sighed they both stepped through the portal. It was good to be home. He walked over to the couch, dropping his bag beside it. It was then he spotted a white package sitting on the coffee table...what was that? It looked like one of those gifts from earlier...
"Hey, Roxas, we got another one of those weird packages." He said, picking it up and studying it. It had an envelope on it that had both their names on it...
Roxas: Sunblock was a wonderful thing and luckily, Roxas had been able to locate some for Nero in Destiny Islands, which made their honeymoon experience a lot more enjoyable. Of course, Nero couldn't get out of this without some teasing from his new husband, but hey, he knew what he was getting into when he married him, right?
The trip had been a lot of fun, especially in comparsion to their last trip to the islands, and Roxas had enjoyed every moment of it. However, it was also good to be home. Not that it mattered much where they were, all he really wanted to do with cuddle up with Nero on the couch anyway.
Funny how one person can change your perspective so much without even trying.
He'd thrown his own bag next to Nero's when he heard Nero call his name, looking over at him.
"What, really?" He asked, walking over to him. He wrapped his around around him from behind, resting his head on his shoulder. He saw the envelope. "What is it?" This was weird. Where did these things come from? Not knowing that bugged him.
Nero: "I don't know, but apparently there's a letter attached that's to the both of us." Nero replied. Random wedding present? For some reason Nero had the feeling that wasn't what this was. "Maybe we should open it and see what it says..."
With that Nero opened the envelope. Inside there was a letter written in neat script on plain white paper:
Nero and Roxas,
Inside this box is a portal that will open when the box is opened. This portal is your way home. Be careful when you open this box as you will only have 5 minutes to use the portal before it closes.
However, do not wait too long to use this box. You have 30 minutes from reading this letter to gather any belongings together. If you wait too long, the box will be empty when you open it.
Good luck and congratulations.Nero's eyes widened as he looked over at Roxas. He almost couldn't believe it.
"We're going home..."
Roxas: Roxas continued to hold Nero from behind, looking over his shoulder as Nero opened the letter, reading it.
His mind raced. Home? Traverse Town had really become the only home that Roxas ever knew, especially after Nero's arrival. Since then, everything had changed. Some of the changes weren't so sweet but having Nero at his side throughout everything made it all worthwhile. Nero was worth everything.
When Nero looked over at him and spoke, he knew. Months ago, Roxas had promised Nero that if Nero ever found a way out of this crazy place, he'd go with him. No matter where they ended up, they had to be together. Roxas couldn't picture his life now without Nero.
Home had been this little house in the third district of Traverse Town. Home was about to change.
His eyes were widened, staring idly at Nero as he tried to process this. His mind raced, the heart he swore he had raced. Was this real?
He held Nero tighter. "It's...scary." He admitted. "What if this goes wrong? But..." He took a deep breath. "If this is really the opportunity we're looking for....we can't let it go to waste."
Nero: Nero nodded slowly. "It's addressed to both of us...and all it says is that it's our way home. This has to mean we're going to the same place right?"
He paused looking around the house. This was their house...they'd made it what it was. They'd gone though so much here. And now they'd have to leave it behind.
But that was okay. They'd make a new life back in Fortuna. That's where they were going, right? As long as they were together, they would be home.
He looked back at Roxas. "If we're going to do this, we should start to gather up everything important that we want to take with us." Thankfully 90% of their stuff was already packed up due to their trip. Basically there was left over clothing and a few sentimental items. That shouldn't take too long to gather. Good thing. Their time on this was limited. "And...I don't think we'll have time to say goodbye to everyone. Maybe we'll just leave both keys here with a note."
Roxas: "We might never get this opportunity again. That has to be what it means. And if not...we're doing this together." They'd been through so much together, nothing could tear them apart. They'd make it through this too, even if for some reason it didn't turn out to be what they wanted or thought.
He was going to miss this house. They'd worked so hard on it to make it home. But there would always be the memories, right? And...they could make new memories. As long as he had Nero, everything was going to be okay.
It kind of saddened him that he couldn't say goodbye to anyone, but he knew that Nero was right. There wasn't any time. And if they lost this chance, there may never be a chance in the future, a chance for a brighter future together. A happy ending.
He pulled from Nero and took his hand, holding it tight. He started to lead him to the bedroom.
"Come on." He said. "Let's get our stuff. We don't have much time."
They were going to do this. Roxas wasn't interested in changing his mind, or even giving himself enough time to try to let his mind be changed. They were going to do this. And they had to hurry. Fortuna was waiting.
Nero: Nero nodded as he gave Roxas's hand a small squeeze as he followed him into the bedroom. "Right." They had to get busy and get all their things together.
When they entered the bedroom, he paused though, looking at it. More memories flooded back. He gave a small smile before getting into the closet and pulling out the last of their clothing from it. They'd be together. They'd make new memories. Good ones. Even so, Nero had to admit he'd miss this place.
"Thankfully we don't have a lot of clothes." He joked, pulling out the few hoodies left in the closet, along with a couple jackets and Roxas's checkered scarf that Nero got him for his birthday. "Most of our stuff is already packed from our trip."
Roxas: Roxas gathered the rest of his clothes into his arms, trying not to let his mind race too much about this because it was all so surreal. Regardless, his mind was made up. He wanted a future with Nero. Nero's rightful home was Fortuna, so that's where Roxas would go too. Period.
He went into his nightstand and pulled out Silver Destiny, placing it on top of the clothes in his arms. Couldn't forget that. He'd need it to kill some demons, right? Along with his keyblades, of course. Lucky he didn't need to pack those. Hooray for the magic of the keyblades.
He'd never see Twilight Town again either, he realized. He looked over at Nero, shifting the weight he had in his arms.
"Hey, Nero? Does Fortuna have a clock tower?"
Nero: "It does." Nero replied. "Actually there are a lot of towers. A lot of them belonging to the order. If you want we can pick one out and claim it as our own." He chuckled playfully. Honestly, he could see them doing just that.
Nero his laptop and some of the clothes back into the living room, putting them into one of their bags. Roxas had the rest of the clothing and items in the bedroom. He then walked back into the room, making sure they hadn't missed anything.
It was then that Nero spotted their handcuffs on the night stand, he grinned and picked them up. "Can't forget these."
Roxas: Roxas smiled as Nero answered him. Lots of towers. That would be pretty cool, get a nice view of the town on several levels. And the idea of claiming one was amusing. Roxas could make Fortuna his home just yet.
He was gathering the rest of his things as Nero picked up the handcuffs on the nightstand. He looked over and smirked right back at him. "Of course not. I'd be disappointed."
He made his way into the living room, putting his gun and clothes into his bag. There, that was better.
Next, he made his way into the kitchen. On the fridge he had a recipie for sea-salt ice cream he'd obtained some time back. He assumed Fortuna didn't have sea-salt ice cream since Nero had never tried it until Roxas introduced it to him. Well, Fortuna was about to get a delicious treat. He took the recipie, folded it up carefully, and placed it in his pocket.
That was almost everything. Almost.
He started back into the living room. "Did you get all of your stuff?"
Nero: Nero walked over to their shelves that Roxas had helped him put up, now gathering what was on them, wrapping the more fragile items up in some clothing and putting them in the back. Shells, other items from their first trip to the Destiny Islands, along with several photos of them on top of the Twilight Town clocktower in frames that they'd managed to pull from Roxas's cellphone.
"Yeah. Just about ready," Nero replied softly as he placed these items in another one of their bags. "I think all we have left is to leave our keys and write a note in case anyone comes looking for us." How many other people got boxes like they did? Nero wasn't sure.
Roxas: Roxas took a small notepad that was sitting on the coffee table with a pen. He sat on the couch and quickly scribbled a little note.
To anyone who's coming looking for us,
Sorry for the sudden departure, but there wasn't much time. We've been lucky enough to be granted what we feel is the greatest gift since finding each other; a chance to go home, to Nero's home world and my future home of Fortuna. While we'll both miss Traverse Town, we're hoping for new beginnings, a chance for a life together in a place that's right for us both.
And who knows, maybe you'll be lucky enough for the same opportunity.
So long and we'll never forget,
Roxas and Nero Roxas capped the pen placed it on the coffee table with the note. He stood up, staring down at his words, almost in disbelief that they'd come out of his own hand. He pulled out his house keys and tossed them on the table, landing just next to the note.
He looked up at Nero. Maybe starting a new journey wasn't so hard. "I think that'll do it."
Nero: Nero nodded as he placed his own set of keys on the table with Roxas's. He then paused, thinking. "Wait! We forgot our skateboards." He ran over to the hooks by the door, grabbing both their skateboards, walking back over and handing one to Roxas. "Now, I think we're ready.
Nero then picked up the white box on the coffee table, looking over at the blond, as if asking him if he was ready to do this. If he was ready to leave this world behind for one where it would be just them.
Roxas: Roxas was a little fearful. What if this was a trap? But every time that thought entered his mind, he was reminded of the simple fact that had carried him this far: he had Nero. Nothing else mattered. As long as he had Nero, everything else would be okay, whatever happened.
Their lives were about to change forever. It was amazing, Roxas had gone from being a Nobody, being told he didn't have the right to feel or to be, to making a life for himself with a future that most "whole" people only dreamt about. But Roxas knew he was whole. It didn't matter what anyone else said. Nero convinced him of this.
He gave a small smile to Nero as he took his skateboard from him, carrying it under his arm. He watched closely as Nero picked up the white box. Nero's expression seemed to be the same as his, reflecting the same feelings, that hint of fear but still with the courage and desire to seize this once in a lifetime opportunity and accept all the consequences if it turned out to actually be some kind of trap. It was worth it to try. Nero was worth it.
He nodded slowly. "Go ahead, open it. We're in this together," he reminded him.
Nero: Nero nodded. "Yeah, we are. Forever."
With that, Nero opened the box, setting it on the ground before them. A portal sprang from the box, looking almost like one of Roxas's but still very, very different. It was pure white until scenes came to play across it. Pictures of various parts of Fortuna. Home. He'd never thought he'd miss it this much, but seeing it..
He was ready for this...but only with the knowledge that Roxas would be going with him.
Skateboard and bags full of all their belongings in one hand, Nero reached for Roxas's with the other, giving his hand a small squeeze once the blonds hand was within his. He looked over at him. Maybe this was the entire reason for his being here. He was meant to find Roxas. This was what they were supposed to be doing. Maybe...maybe they got this present as a sign that they had done what they were supposed to here.
His mind shifted to Axel for a moment. Nero almost felt- Nah. No. Axel had made his choice. There wasn't time to find him anyway. They were leaving. Maybe...they'd see him in another life.
Giving one last look around what was left of the house they'd made together, Nero's gaze settled upon his husband. "You ready, beautiful?"
Roxas: Roxas watched as the portal sprang out of the box. This was so unlike the portals he could create to nagivate worlds he'd already been in. He watched as scenes played across the portal. Was that Fortuna? Because if so, it looked pretty amazing.
Roxas shifted the weight of his skateboard and bags in his arms, returning Nero's small squeeze with his other hand, looking back at him. Who would have known that a post made online on a whim asking for a roommate to help make ends meet would turn into this? Nero changed Roxas's life forever, he'd given his life purpose and meaning, a reason to be. Roxas didn't have that before Nero, but he was so grateful for it now. Whatever he'd done to deserve this, he had no idea, but thank gods it had come to pass.
Things never ended up the way Roxas expected them to in the past, but right now...that was okay. He lost Axel, and that stung, but Axel had numerous opportunities to make things right, only to have them cycle around again. He couldn't give Axel any final words before leaving, but quite honestly, Roxas didn't believe it would have made any difference. It never did in the past.
He nodded, squeezing his hand again. "I'm ready." His eyes looked around the room, the walls they painted together, the shelves they put up together, the furniture he'd torn apart when he thought Nero was lost, everything. This was it. They were really leaving. He looked back at Nero again. "Let's go."
Nero: Nero took a deep breath. So this was the end. Or was it a beginning? Beginning sounded better.
Nero looked over at Roxas. "I want you to know...No matter what happens, I love you."
He closed his eyes, wanting this to be his last memory of this place. The place they'd work so hard on. The place where they'd gone to in order to nurse each other back to health when they'd been injured by their enemies. The place where they'd spent so many nights curled up on the couch with each other. He'd miss it all, but now it was time to make new memories.
All they needed was each other for that.
"Alright. On three, we go through together." He said softly, still grasping Roxas's hand in his. "One...two...three!"
Roxas: This was it. They were going to do this.
"I love you too. Don't forget that." He responded calmly.
He took a deep, deep breath, shutting his eyes, gripping Nero's hand tightly. Whatever this was, it was about to happen. There was no stopping it now, their minds were made up, their path in life becoming so clear now.
No matter what, everything would be okay because he had Nero. He didn't know how he knew that, but he did.
They'd go together. He took another deep breath, eyes shut tight. Those three seconds that Nero counted seemed to go by so fast, it was the quickest three seconds Roxas had ever experienced in his life.
"...three!" Roxas jumped into the portal right that instant, holding Nero's hand tightly, gripping on it as though his life depended on it. Come to think of it, it kind of did.
He felt a warm wind hit him suddenly but it was quickly gone before he felt his feet stop on the ground, ground he knew wasn't the carpet of the house. His eyes were still shut, his mind raced, his veins pulsed.
"...Nero?" He called, despite the fact that he could feel his hand.
Nero: As they both jumped into the portal, Nero held Roxas's hand just as tightly as he felt a rush of warm air hit them both as their feet hit pavement instead of carpet. Nero opened his eyes. They were standing outside of the church in Fortuna. They'd done it.
They were home.
A smile crossed Nero's lips as he looked over, hearing Roxas call his name.
"Roxas, open your eyes." He said softly.
Roxas: Hearing Nero say that felt like such a relief, Nero had no idea. They were okay, they'd really done it.
He opened his eyes slowly and they quickly widened in awe at the sight before him, the chruch in Fortuna. This sight alone was amazing, he'd never seen any kind of architecture like this before.
It was very impressive. And he'd only just gotten here and was only seeing the church. If the church looked this amazing, he couldn't wait to see the rest of the town.
He brought his gaze to Nero, bright blue eyes lit up, a big smile on his face. "Nero...." He started. It was hard to find words, it was so overwhelming. "This is really Fortuna?"
Nero: "The one and only." Nero said giving Roxas a grin. "Welcome home."
Roxas: Roxas dropped his stuff, the bag fell to the ground, the skateboard dropped, landing upside down. Roxas would get to that in a minute. Right now he was overcome with an amazing feeling of being...home. He turned to Nero, wrapping his arms tightly around him, still smiling wide.
They'd really made it. They were home.
Nero: Nero set his stuff down as Roxas wrapped his arms around him. They'd get their stuff in a minute. He returned Roxas's wide smile with one of his own before leaning down and kissing him.
Really, it didn't matter where they were as long as they were together.
To him, anywhere Roxas is...is home.
