[COMPLETE] Because I...

[jaythebrat.livejournal.com]

Who: Jay (jaythebrat) and Sora (manyforms)
Where On the way to the dining room.
When: Directly before the Christmas Dinner
Rating: PG I guess. Even though Jay's not such a grouch now.
Summary: Sora insists on escorting Jay to dinner, and the two exchange gifts.
the Story:

It was nice to finally be out of the elf outfit. Back to more comfortable clothes that were less... jingly. Although he did have a few changes to the usual outfit-- the crown-pattern ribbon Sora had given him was tied in his hair.
But there was still one thing left. The Christmas Dinner. It would be a shame to not attend. So Jay was on his way, with Sora 'escorting' him. The keyblade master had jumped at the chance, and so who was Jay to deny him?

It also gave the informant a chance to talk to the boy in... relative privacy. He did still have to give his gift. And he'd rather it be away from most prying eyes. Right now they seemed to be the only people in this particular hall. It was as good a time as any.

"Sora," Jay began, suddenly stopping in his tracks.

Comments

[manyforms.livejournal.com]

Sora was at his cleanest for the dinner. His mother always told him to shower thoroughly (he smelled extra nice) and to wear clean clothing (Goofy did the laundry) for holiday dinners. He hoped to mirror a prince with how well he was presenting himself.

Jay's abrupt halt came as a surprise. "Jay?" He stopped and turned to face him, head tilted in confusion. Worry, an uncommon emotion for the boy, flashed across his features. "Are you okay? Did you just hurt your ankle?" Sora shortened the already small length between them and put a hand on his arm. "Let me see."

[jaythebrat.livejournal.com]

Jay found himself smiling at Sora's concern. Really, jumping to conclusions.

"No, I'm fine," he insisted. "Absolutely fine. I just..." the boy paused, glancing again to check for people, "I just figured I should give you your Christmas present." A faint tinge of pink appeared on the smaller boy's cheeks.

[manyforms.livejournal.com]

"Oh." His hand dropped to his side when he stopped worrying. Sora grinned at the mention of a present for him. Christmas was the best!

"What is it?" he prodded. Suddenly energized, his fingers curled and uncurled in anticipation. His thoughts were everywhere; he took one look at the ribbon in Jay's hair and silently admired how cute he was. "Huh? Huh?"

[jaythebrat.livejournal.com]

While Sora silently admired Jay's cuteness, Jay admired Sora's. The younger boy's enthusiasm was just... cute.

"Ah," Jay returned to the task at hand. He quickly slipped his hand into his pocket, and pulled out a small trinket. Upon closer inspection is was a small, gold bell. There was a faint jingling as Jay offered the bell to Sora.

"This is... something... rather important to me. But, I'd like you to have it."

[manyforms.livejournal.com]

Instinctively his hand went out to take it, but Sora stopped himself before he could take the bell. "Jay, are you sure?" asked the hesitating brunet. "You just said it was really important to you. I don't want you to feel bad about giving it to me."

Again his hand went out, but this time it was to cover the hand that offered the bell to him. Sora pushed it toward Jay. "You don't have to give it to me if it means that much to you." He smiled. "You don't have to give me anything. I'm already happy."

[jaythebrat.livejournal.com]

"No, no," Jay shook his head.

"I want you to have it... because it's important to me," the informant seemed to be struggling with his words, a rare sight. "Because I know you'll keep it safe. And you won't ever... ," the words grew softer.

"Please accept it," he stubbornly offered the bell again.

[manyforms.livejournal.com]

"... Okay." Sora took the bell; held it gently in his hand and turned it over and over. It was old but in good condition, he noticed, and wondered what it's purpose was. "Hey Jay," he inquired softly, "Why is this so important to you? You don't have to tell me if it's too personal."

[jaythebrat.livejournal.com]

Jay paused for a second, eyes focused on the bell. Then he glanced up to Sora.

"It belonged to my parents-- or, rather, I assume it did," he corrected himself quickly. "When I was a baby I was found with that bell." There was a look in his eye that hinted how 'personal' this was, and yet he kept speaking.

"It was my only clue, and hope, of ever having... a family. People to love me. It was taken from me, and I thought I'd never find it again... but... when I was home again..." Jay trailed off, not even wanting to think about seeing that man again. He quickly picked up again, however, so Sora wouldn't interrupt and tell him he didn't have to go on. He felt like he had to go on.

"I recovered it," he said simply. "With... help," he admitted quietly. There he finally paused, making sure he maintained his composure.

[manyforms.livejournal.com]

Jiminy could not be depended on to record this information so Sora paid very close attention to every word Jay said. He noted how the topic was one Jay didn't speak often about by how he slowed down, then plowed through his words in the blink of an eye.

"This is really important to you..." Sora repeated, almost guilty for taking the bell. "It means a lot to you. It carries all of your hopes and dreams." His fingers closed around the bell and brought it to his chest, right over his heart. "I'll keep it close to me forever, Jay." His smile was soft and warm. "Thank you."

"But--" Paused, Sora held out his empty hand for the other boy to take. "If you get tired of looking for your family, you always have a place in mine. Donald, Goofy, Roxas, Riku, Kairi and everybody else would welcome you."

[jaythebrat.livejournal.com]

The smile on Sora's face was quickly shared by the smaller boy. Not a smile of condescension, or even simply joy, but profound happiness.

"... I know. Thank you," Jay murmured as he took the offered hand. He paused for a second, getting up the courage to say what he had intended to from the start.

"Sora..." he started, forcing himself to look the other boy in the eye. "I... I love you."

[manyforms.livejournal.com]

"Ha--" Sora was never the one flustered in the relationship. Everything he said frazzled Jay. When those three words registered in his mind, the Keyblade bearer finally blushed. It was light and faint, but there all the same.

The blush left as quickly as it had come, and Sora laughed before closing his arms around Jay in a tight hug. "I love you too, Jay." While embracing the other boy, he felt something strange about the bell in his hand but said nothing about it. "I love you too."

[jaythebrat.livejournal.com]

Jay didn't say anything, he just slipped his arms around the other boy and enjoyed the feeling. Finally he did, however, whisper into Sora's ear,

"So... if you want to tell anyone. Or if you want to say I'm cute in public... I don't mind, all right?" It felt like a risk. Like a huge step he had taken. But Jay was sure it was the right step.

[manyforms.livejournal.com]

"I'm pretty sure you'll mind," he replied, all too aware of how Jay really worked. "But I'll remember that, and remind you every day of how cute you are." Sora laughed again, softer this time, and pulled back far enough to be able to reach for something that he had been holding for a while.

"I don't know if there is a book in the library about it, but Destiny Islands has a lot of myths," explained Sora during his search. "There's a story that if two people share a star-shaped fruit then their destinies intertwine. It's well-known and really important to natives." He held the paopu fruit in his hand once he finished.

"I didn't think I was going to find one, but here it is!" Admitting his doubt had him rubbing the back of his head. "So, will you share one with me?"

[jaythebrat.livejournal.com]

There was an inherent skepticism in Jay that, even after he finally verbalized his love, refused to die. How could a fruit intertwine people's destinies? It sounded silly. But, if the story was important to Sora...

"Well," the smaller boy smiled, looking a bit more secure and like his normal self, "I suppose I could."

[manyforms.livejournal.com]

Jay's acceptance made him ecstatic. Sora took his hand again after putting the bell away for safety and tugged on him to get him moving. "We can do it after dinner. Fruit is a dessert thing." He could hardly wait to introduce his boyfriend to everyone he knew.

Sora's rushing ceased and he calmed again, simply smiling at Jay. He couldn't keep from repeating himself. "I love you."

[jaythebrat.livejournal.com]

Jay found himself stuck with the smile as well. Even if he'd wanted to, he doubted he could get rid of it. It was going to be an... interesting dinner after this. But, still...

"I love you, too."