Accidental Infatuation

Accidental Infatuation
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Chapter Seven

I Don't Own these characters, or make money from them, I just like to use them in my stories.

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My night was a dreamless one, whatever it was that Dr. Vexen gave me really worked. And I really got a good night's sleep. The first one since I found out that I would be coming to this place without Roxas. Had the thought of being without Roxas really affect my sleep pattern that much? Maybe we are way too dependent on one another.

A squeeze of my hand brings me completely out of my drug induced sleep, my mind must being playing tricks on me. Because I can swear that the presence next to me feels a heck of a lot like my twin. Who, in reality is a three hour drive away. Those drugs must have been a lot better than I had originally thought.

“Sora? You awake?” A whispered voice breaks my mental anguishing, and my eyes fly open at the familiar voice. One that I know as well as my own if not better. And with the excitement of hearing his voice, I forget to allow my eyes the time to adjust.

“Roxas?” I wince at the bright light filling the room, squinting to block out most of it. Frantically, my eyes search around the room, trying to find the projection of my twin in an odd spot. But to my surprise, there is still pressure holding onto my hand and the image of my brother starts solid as it sits next to me, holding my hand with his good one.

A cold face cloth is placed against my forehead and I feel somewhat confused as to why the image isn’t disappearing. “I’m right here, Sor. Don’t worry. I’m not going to disappear.” And like normal, it seems as though Roxas is reading my thoughts. But that brings another thought into my head.

“What are you doing here? You aren’t supposed to be here until tomorrow. Or have I slept that long?” I question, squeezing his hand tighter, looking over and seeing that hulking brute Lexaeus standing next to my bed as well.

“After you fell asleep last night, Dr. Vexen called Mom to let her know what all was going on with you last night.” He pauses and gives a slight nod of dismissal to the nurse, who only nods in response before leaving us alone in the white room. And as soon as the door clicks shut, I watch Roxy stand up and let go of my hand, leaving a slight feeling of coldness. Being careful of his arm in the sling, my blond twin pushes my motionless legs closer to the edge of the small mattress. Thank heavens; I really need him with me right now. And after hearing a double ‘clunk’ which must be his shoes hitting the ground, the bed depresses under the added weight of my brother. I lift the blanket up high, and Roxas scoots himself into the tiny bed with me, being mindful of the tubes that attach to both my oxygen mask and the IV that I failed to notice up until now.

“So why didn’t you want to tell me about why you’re here with Lexaeus in the room?” I ask, glad to feel that familiar warmth pressed against my side. The fact that his arm is still in the sling makes it a little awkward, but we manage anyway.

“No reason. I’m just a little creeped out by him. He’s like a giant Blitzer on steroids, and lots of them.” I chuckle at the analogy, reminded of my identical thoughts. “Anyway, you doctor called Mom just after I got off the phone with you, and I guess he was surprised that just talking to me was enough to get you out of a panic attack. And then he told Mom that you took two panic attacks yesterday, and apparently the second one caused your heart to stop for a few seconds.” I feel his body shake against mine as he relives the memories of my ordeal yesterday, something that I can barely remember myself. As gently as I can, I wrap my arms around Roxy’s waist, nuzzling my face into his neck in an attempt to try and hide the tears that have started to weld up in the corners of my eyes. And it isn’t until I feel a small drop of water on my forehead that I realize that my twin is crying again.

“I’m sorry, Roxy.” I mumble into the side of his neck, an ache settling deep in the pit of my stomach from the thought of causing my twin such pain and worry. I feel him reach his good arm up and wipe at his eyes.

“Anyway, by the time that Mom got off the phone, I was packed and ready to leave. So at the very least, I’m going to spend a few days here with you to make sure that you have no more panic attacks. And Mom said that she will talk to the doctors about it.” He tells me as his fingers go to my face to remove the traces of my own tears, my arms still attached firmly to his waist.

“I still don’t know why I took that first panic attack though. I was just going down the hall with Demyx, and suddenly it happened. There weren’t even any girls around. It was like one moment I was fine, then the next I wasn’t.” My voice is whispered and even with the soft tone, I know that he has heard me.

I look up just in time to suppress a giggle from the sight of my twin’s face going red with blush, but the laughter dies instantaneously as all of the colour drains from his face as quickly as it came.

“Sora…”his whispered tone trails off, and I start to worry.

“What’s wrong, Roxy?” I feel his shoulders begin to shake once more and it is all that I can do to squeeze them in an attempt to calm him down.

“I think that I might have caused it, Sora. I am so sorry.” He refuses to meet my gaze, but I can’t help but feel slightly confused at what he is telling me. And in a move that is familiar to both of us, our positions change so that Roxas is now resting against my chest. And this is something that I recognize that means that he wants comforting for some reason.

“What do you mean? I’ve been here and you’ve been at home. How could you have caused my panic attack?”

“Well, Mom and I went to the store yesterday morning, and Seifer was there.” He pauses and I can feel his body shaking with fear, and all I can do is hold him tighter as he cries his tears out.

“Did he do anything to you? Are you alright?” I question quickly, all of a sudden freaking out, hoping that my brother is okay.

I feel him nod against my chest, before he continues. “I just started to hyperventilate a little bit. Mom calmed me down by taking me into the girl’s bathroom so that he couldn’t follow unless he wanted to be arrested. But I don’t think that he actually saw me. But back to you. Because I’ve never really had a reaction like that to anything before, maybe you felt my fear and it hit you worse than your gynophobia, because this fear is still so fresh. Oh, the person who called me last night, Riku I think, I told him about you being gynophobic so that they wouldn’t put a female nurse on you.” He is rambling, but I make no attempt to stop him. Roxy needs to get all of this off his chest or it will bug him until he does. “But everything was fine with me tonight, so I wonder what caused that one? I mean, I had a slight asthma attack when you must have been having that one, but nothing more severe than normal.”

I swallow hard; I had been hoping that he would not ask me about that. I ball a fist around the blanket, instantly looking down at the fisted hand balled around the familiar feeling of Aerith’s quilt instead of that scratchy old, puce coloured blanket from before. that makes me feel a lot better, knowing that I have my quilt back around me, it’s almost like my big sister is right there with me. Roxas must have gone searching through my bags to find it when he got here. Because as he and I both know, neither of us can sleep very well unless our sister’s quilts are covering us.

“I had a dream about that night. And it was exactly how it happened. I felt like I was there all over again, and it was happening once more.” I whisper, finally meeting my twin’s eyes with my own, both sets of sapphire eyes rimmed with red from crying so much.

“You know I love you, right Sora?” It’s not unusual to hear Roxas say the words that I had the compulsion to say myself.

“And you know that I love you too, Roxy.” I whisper in return as we squeeze each other gently, before my brother attempts to stifle a yawn. I can’t help but laugh a little. “Tired?”

I just get a nod as he nuzzles his head down on my shoulder. “We drove all night to get here, and then I stayed awake until you woke up. Of course I’m sleepy.” He grumbles, a playful tone still in his voice however.

“Where’s Mom?” I finally ask, knowing that Roxas couldn’t have driven himself here.

“Sleeping in some apartment type hotel bed thingy.” The mumbles are barely coherent as he catches another yawn, and I quickly follow suit. Another hour or so of sleep doesn’t seem like such a bad of an idea. At least resting my eyes sounds good…Just for a little while…
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“Sora honey? Are you awake?” A familiar voice is heard through the fading darkness, and the noise is enough to cause the warmth at my side to shift a little.

“Mom, what time is it?” my twin’s voice comes from the figure beside me, and it suddenly comes flooding back to me. The dream, the attack, and Roxas being here when I woke up. But that was only an hour ago, right?

“Late afternoon, Roxas sweetie. You’ve been asleep for about five hours. You both obviously needed the rest, so Dr. Vexen and I thought it best to leave you as you were.” My Mom’s voice is hiding a slight tiredness itself, and I can’t help but feel responsible.

“Mom, I’m sorry.” I whisper, as I feel her run her hand through my sleep messed hair. Eck. I am ready for a real bath now. I feel really icky.

“No, Sora. None of this is your fault. Don’t worry yourself about it.” Her voice is calming, and with only my Mom and my twin here in the room with me, I almost feel as if I am home. Man, I have only been here a couple of days and I am ready to head home already.

“I missed you, Mom.” It’s all I can so to stop the tears that I know are forming in the corners of my eyes from falling down my checks.

“I missed you too, honey.” She smiles, before leaning over and giving me a tight hug, being careful of my twin, who is stretching as he sits on the edge of bed. A quick kiss is placed on my forehead before she pulls back. “Anyhow. I came here for a reason. We have a meeting with your doctor, Sora. That’s why I came to wake you two up. Roxas, can you help your brother get cleaned up? I’m going to find that large nurse, but I’ll knock before I come back in.” I get a warm smile from my mother, and without waiting for Roxy to respond to her request, she is leaving the room, her long blond braid trailing after her.

“Well, you heard the woman. Let’s get you changed.” Roxas grins, turning to stare at me with an evil smirk. And just like that, we fall back into the routine that we had gotten into over the past couple of months during our stay at the hospital. By the time Mom returns with Lexaeus, I was completely changed and even had some semblance of a sponge bath. Not enough to satisfy me, but enough to get me through. My twin and I remain silence while the hulking man is in the room, sharing a small smile as soon as he leaves.

“Do I even want to know?” Mom questions, seeing the smiles.

“Not really.” We reply in unison, earning a shake of Mom’s head directed at us. And without another word, she walks up behind me and places her hands on the handles of my wheelchair. And all I can think of is how Riku had done the same thing a couple of days ago. My face begins to feel warm, and can feel my twin look over at me. I meet his gaze and he gives me a look that tells me that I will be talking about it later. But the smile that is still playing on his lips lets me know that he already has an idea what it is about. Great.

The silence looms over us and surprisingly enough, I don’t see any of my new friends in the corridor, as my Mom pushes me down the hall in the same direction that I think Demyx had been taking me in yesterday before everything. But I guess that makes sense seeing as we had been on our way to a session with Dr. Vexen and that is who I am on my way to see right now. I once again zone out a little, like when we had gone on the original tour of this place, and vaguely I think of how I need to stop doing that because eventually I will have to be able to know my way around this place on my own.

We finally stop in front of a large wooden door, a plaque hangs on the front reads Dr. Vexen Kanki, followed by a bunch of letters that I don’t understand, and I can’t help but feel just a little bit intimidated by this meeting suddenly. Is it possible that they are going to kick me out because I am such high maintenance? I’m sure that they haven’t had someone like me here before. Maybe I’m just unfixable. But my old doctor told me that that shouldn’t be an issue. Or maybe Riku isn’t able to look at me after he kissed me last night and he’s using his influence with Sephiroth to get me kicked out. My hyperventilating stops abruptly at the thought, at the same time, Roxy places a hand over my own.

Riku…

After Axel interrupted us last night, Riku seemed flustered, annoyed and embarrassed all in one, and after only a few minutes of sitting with me on the bed, he bolted out of there like a bat out of Hades. But then he was there last night after I took the second attack, wasn’t he? And he even said to sleep well before I fell asleep. So is he ignoring the fact that it happened? Or is he alright with it now? Man, I am so confused right now.

I feel Roxas squeeze my hand tightly, and I wonder what he must be feeling while I go through all this turmoil. I feel ashamed that he has to deal with drama as much as I do, but at the same time, I feel completely relieved in knowing that he is right there with me.

I take a deep breath, and I watch my mother push open the office door, revealing an office that reminds me an awful lot of a principal’s office. And behind the large wooden desk, the doctor that is always around after my panic attacks is sitting there, writing something on something.

“Come on in, and take a seat please.” The kind doctor says, and gestures to the two large wingback chairs that are across from his desk and between the two chairs there is enough room for my wheelchair to be pushed in. Mom does so, and Roxy takes a seat next to me, still holding my hand, most likely feeling my nervousness. Mom sits in the other chair, and a silence falls over the room.

Doctor Vexen leans back in his chair and removes the black framed reading glasses he was wearing and places them folded in the pocket of his white lab coat. He looks over at my mother, then at Roxy and I. “How are you feeling this afternoon, Sora?” he asks.

“Better.” I reply, somewhat meekly, I don’t know what it is, but for some reason, being around Dr. Vexen intimidates me a little.

“You gave us all quite a scare there last night. But I am glad to see that you are feeling better.” He nods before turning to my Mom. “Thank you for coming up today, Ms. Strife. I know that you were coming up tomorrow, but after last night, we thought it best not to wait.”

“Oh, no. It’s no problem at all. I’d do anything for any one of my children.” As Mom says, she turns to look at both Roxy and I, a fond smile on her face, and I can’t help but feel a bit relieved.

The doctor just nods before pulling a file off of his desk and opening it up. “I must say that I’ve never seen a case like this. This is the first time that I have witnessed spoken word being enough to pull someone from a panic attack, let alone a panic attack that caused cardiac arrest.”

“Well, sir. As you can see, we’re twins. And believe it or not, all those things that you hear about twins sharing emotions and sensations and stuff like that, for us, it is completely true. We always can tell what the other is feeling and such.” Roxas explains, not looking at the doctor as he speaks, but at me, and for the first time in a while, I feel my face form into a natural smile.

“We share everything. And we’re usually the only one who can calm the other one down. Like, Roxy is the only one who is able to talking me out of hyperventilating, and I am the only one who can get him breathing properly again after he has an asthma attack.” I continue for my twin, our hands still clasped together tightly.

Dr. Vexen’s eyes go wide as hears this new information. “Really? Is this true?” As if he doesn’t believe the words of two sixteen year olds, he turns to Mom for confirmation.

“All of it. It’s like their souls are tied together or something. It’s been like that since they were in the womb. I’m very grateful that someone thought to call Roxas last night. In all honesty, it probably saved both of their lives.” Seeing the tears forming in Mom’s eyes, I reach my free hand over and place a hand on top of my mothers, trying to give her some comfort.

Nodding in acceptance, the doctor’s gaze returned to his folder for a moment and I can’t help but wonder what is written in there. “Sora, last night, Riku mentioned that you have severe gynophobia. Is this also true?”

I feel my face begin to burn warmly at the statement. I thought that I would have been able to hide it here, but I guess that it is always going to haunt me.

“Yes.” I answer shortly, and receive a tight squeeze of the hand from Roxy.

“What symptoms do you usually have? And exactly how severe is this gynophobia? I’ve already taken the liberty of taking all the female nurses off of your rounds, as well as I have changed all your therapists to be all male. But we would still like to know what symptoms you experience coming too close to females.” He finally closes the file, only to stare directly at me.

Once again, I feel my face grow hot with embarrassment from the statement. “Well, I hyperventilate and freeze up if they get too close or touch me when I’m around other guys. But if I’m left alone with them, I usually end up fainting once they get too close to me. But if Roxas is right there, I can usually handle them okay and get through the attacks okay.”

“How so?” And once again, Dr. Vexen’s interest seems to be peaked.

“By just being there with him, sir.” Roxy’s answer is curt, but it is the complete truth.

“But as long as there as one other male around, you are usually fine? As long as females don’t get too close or touch you?” Great, more questions.

“Basically.” I nod, wanting to get off of this topic. It’s not exactly something that I am comfortable discussing.

We receive a slight ‘hmm’ from the blond doctor before he starts to write something down. Wonderful.

“Boys, do you mind leaving your mother and me alone for just a few moments while we discuss some various treatments for you, Sora? You don’t need to go far, maybe just down to the common room down the hall to the right. We’ll come and get you as soon as we’re done. Is that alright?” It’s strange having our opinions asked of us by the doctor of all people, but at the same time, it is an opening for the two of us to get out of this stuffy, overcrowded office.

“Alright.” We reply together, before Roxas stands up and awkwardly begins to push my wheelchair with his good arm. I help as much as I can, but I still feel fairly weak from last night. We don’t speak as we slowly make our way to the room that Dr. Vexen had mentioned earlier. It feels so, so…right for me and Roxy to be together again. I know that it has only been less than two full days, but considering that we never even did sleepovers without one another when we were younger, it is understandable, at least it is to me. It was always a give that if one of us were there, the other one was close by as well. We even made sure that we had the same schedules in school. Eventually we will have to learn to exist without one another, but hey, we’re only sixteen. Here is no rush yet, is there?

We get to the common room, and there actually isn’t anyone in it, and it kind of relieves me. As much as I like my new friends, and they all want to meet my twin, call me jealous, but I want some time to spend with my brother alone. He wheels me to beside the armchair before he sits in the chair.

“What do you think they are going to suggest?” I ask, looking over at my blond twin.

“Who knows? Hopefully it is nothing too extreme.” He sighs, rearranging his sling on his arm a little better. I nod in agreement, worried about what is going to happen in a couple of days when Roxas goes home for another week. “Oh, and the gang all says hi. They are all going to see about coming up and visiting you sometime soon. And Aerith and Leon are going to come up next weekend. I gave Aer your number, so expect a call from her soon. Cloud and Tifa are going to be up this way someday soon, and they will drop by then, and they have your number too.”

I offer a smile at the update on our friends and family, but it doesn’t really help my mood. “What’s going to happen to me when you leave in a couple of days? You were only gone for two days and I had two panic attacks! How am I going to make it through another eight months, or however long it takes me to get out of this place? I don’t know if I can do it.” I put my head in my hands, trying not to let my depression show, but I know that Roxy knows about it anyway. And instantly, I feel Roxy wrap his good arm around me in a tight one armed hug.

“Boys?” A voice comes from the doorway and we both turn to the doorway and see our mother standing there.

“Mom?” we both ask, seeing the tears on Mom’s face. She gives us a small smile before sitting down next to us on the couch. “Is everything alright?”

“I’ll be fine. But Dr. Vexen and I have decided on the best way to help you, Sora honey.” She answers, a small smile starting to play at the corners of her mouth, but we both can tell that it is forced.

“What is it?” Roxas asks, and from the look on her face, I can tell that Mom isn’t all that happy about their decision.
“Well, Roxas sweetie, we were told that you would need some therapy on your arm and shoulder. And in all honesty, this place has some of the best results.” A stray tear slides down Mom’s face, and my ears prick up at what she is saying.

“So you mean…” I trail off, hoping that I don’t sound too excited.

“…I get to stay here with Sora?” he finishes for me, his voice carrying the same tone as mine.

“Yes. Dr. Vexen and I both think that is the best thing for both of you. He and I both believe that if we separated you for that long, neither one of you would recover properly, and you would both be at risk of developing depression. So we think that this is our best option.”

Despite seeing that my Mom is upset, I can’t help but feel relieved.

Roxas is going to stay here with me!

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And enter Roxas! I hope everyone is happy that he is in now, I know that I am! I have just one question: how should Roxas and Axel react when they meet? Will it be a love/love, hate/hate, love/hate or hate/love? Decision, decisions? I love writing the interaction between Sora and Roxas, and I admit that I use a lot of my own experiences with my twin, but that makes it that much more fun for me. And for the people who asked, no I have not revealed Axel’s reason for being in rehab, maybe Roxas will be the one to “drag” it out of him. Hehehe.

And as always, thanks to the best twin in the world for beta-ing this for me again.

As for the next chapter, I can’t promise how soon it will be out, as I am having a minor eye surgery on Friday and will be unable to use the computer for at least a week afterwards unless my twin will take dictation…which she hates, lol. Maybe I’ll pull the “but I can’t see” card. So I hope that this chapter will hold everyone over until then.

Once again, I hope everyone is still enjoying this, and thanks again for all of you who let me know, and please continue your wonderful comments, I love reading them! Until next time!