KH - Fast Food Madness! V2

Roxas pressed his lips together, forming a line across his mouth. He looked into Namine's eyes for a moment longer before blinking and lowering his gaze a little as thoughts of Brian came to his mind. "You didn't see it, did you?" he asked softly, referring to the fight outside his house.

 

Namine arched a brow slightly in confusion, her eyes staying on Roxas. "See what?" she asked gently, needing a little more clarification as to what he was referring to.

 

Roxas lifted his gaze to Namine's eyes as he spoke. "What happened outside with Brian," he elaborated softly. "You weren't watching, were you?" He hoped for his answer to be a no; he didn't want Namine to have seen him so angry again.

 

Namine shook her head slightly in response before giving a verbal answer. "No," she stated softly. "No, I didn't see it."

 

Roxas closed his eyes and nodded, feeling relieved at Namine's words. He was thankful for that answer, not wanting Namine to have seen him fight yet another person within the last week in a half.

 

Namine could tell Roxas was relieved at that answer, and she was too. She had no idea what the fight was like outside, not even hearing anything other than the pouring rain and thunder. Seeing it would have been a mistake, and she realized that both at the time and now. Staying away had been a smart idea, she was sure of that much.

 

Roxas opened his eyes to look at the girl right beside him again. He kept his eyes on her for a brief moment before turning his head to look at the fire still burning in front of the two of them. "I think that what happened with Jeff and Brian was a sort of...chain reaction," he started, speaking slowly as he tried to find the right words. He had decided to get back on topic so they could finish talking about this, considering it was very uncomfortable.

 

When Roxas looked away, Namine did as well, turning her attention toward the fire. She nodded softly in agreement to Roxas' assessment, the statement sounding accurate.

 

"Brian wanted revenge because of what I did to his brother," Roxas explained after a few seconds of silence. "And unfortunately Brian tried to take his frustration out on you first..." His voice had lowered a little at his last sentence, feeling touchy about that subject. He bit his lip and kept his eyes on the flames before speaking again. "I'm really sorry about that, Namine. That one really was my fault."

 

Namine kept her eyes on the fire, feeling a pang of sadness with that touchy subject. What Roxas said...that it was really his fault this time, Namine didn't see it that way. Not at all. "I don't think that," Namine said softly, blinking one time before continuing. "You only hurt Jeff because he had threatened me, and I take responsibility for making him angry. In the end...it all comes back to me," she stopped there, unable to think of anything else to add at that moment.

 

"You shouldn't blame yourself," Roxas said, shaking his head. "The only reason that Jeff got angry was because you didn't give in to what he wanted. You stood up for yourself, and I'm proud of you for doing that...even if Jeff didn't approve of it." Roxas blinked twice, the heat from the fire reaching his eyes and causing them to water a little.

 

Namine waited for a moment, silence filling the room for a few seconds before she spoke. "If I shouldn't blame myself, then you shouldn't blame yourself either," Namine pointed out, keeping her eyes focused on the fire in front of her. "You were only standing up for me, after all. It seems as if the blame should be more on me, since I'm the one who started this whole conflict." There; it was out in the open now.

 

Roxas turned his head to Namine, his eyes finding the side of her face. "What?" he asked softly, watching the flickering of the firelight cover her pale skin. How did she cause it?

 

"I don't care if I was just defending myself; I still made Jeff angry and that's what started this whole thing." She kept her eyes on the fire, staring at it even after she had finished speaking.

 

Roxas' eyebrows furrowed slightly at Namine's words. How could she think that? She was just doing what was right, and Roxas had done the same. Jeff had overreacted to rejection, acting out immaturely and violently. Roxas blinked at his own realization, finally understanding now.

 

Namine kept her eyes on the fire, even though she felt Roxas' gaze on her. She couldn't bring herself to look over though, not with that last statement still hanging in the air.

 

Roxas thought about what Namine had said a moment ago, and he found himself agreeing with her. "You're right..." he started softly, his eyebrows still furrowed over his eyes as his gaze fell on his lap.

 

Namine turned her head at the statement, finally bringing her eyes to Roxas even though he had looked away. He was...agreeing?

 

Roxas stared intently down at one of his legs, finally understanding. "You're right, Namine," he said again. He moved one of his hands to his knee, realization hitting him. "I shouldn't blame myself...and you shouldn't blame yourself either. Neither of us caused any of this." He turned his head to look at her. "Jeff did."

 

Namine's eyes locked with Roxas', those two last words impacting her the most. Jeff did start it all...didn't he? Namine had been minding her own buisiness at the park, but then he had to come up and try to make a move on her. Of course she defended herself...and Roxas. Self defense may have heated things up, but ultimately, it was Jeff who started it...wasn't it?