Disclaimer: I own nothing 'cept for the idea.

Silver Crayons

Ah, the sweet scent of freshly cut grass in the afternoon! What a great scent! It smelled like…like…something. Okay, so he couldn't describe it, but hey that was normal. He was terrible at explaining himself after all.

Sora flopped on the grass lazily, dropping his backpack, and taking in a deep breath. Here he could escape the pressure of 'images' and assumptions. He was Sora, just Sora. He exhaled. Most of the time, people looked on the surface too much.

A lot of people thought he was dumb. They thought he never studied. That he only cared for sports. That he was in love with Kairi. He was not for the record. It had been a child hood crush. He'd gotten over it a long time ago. And finally, that he couldn't draw.

That there, that was the biggest lie since…since Roxas being emo! (He was not contrary to popular belief.) Sora could draw and he loved it too. There was so much more to him than what they saw. The only person who had paid enough attention to him to notice was Riku; the subject of most of his drawings for the past five years.

He had become friends with Riku a few years ago when their bikes had crashed into each other. At first they hated the other; but they quickly became best friends. Back then, Sora also used to make assume things about others. He once told Riku that. "Assume; it makes an ass out of you and me." Riku had said. Since then Sora had stopped.

But even so, a lot of people still made assumptions about the silver haired boy too. There was a rumor that he was super experienced since he always surrounded by beautiful girls. They thought he couldn't stand Sora, when he could; quite easily in fact. And that Riku had an infinite amount of self confidence.

But Sora could see how insecure he really was.

And how lonely he felt.

He was a loner who gave off an air of cool confidence, always going his own way and never caving in to pressure. Either he didn't care or he didn't need people. Although Sora thought that maybe, just maybe he did.

Riku was like a lone wolf: strong; beautiful; but usually alone.

"Ah ha!" Sora exclaimed loudly. He was inspired. A lone wolf theme…coolio! He grabbed his notebook and opened it to a blank page. The minute his pencil touched the paper, it was as if the picture had already come together. For a few minutes his pencil didn't leave the paper.

"There, done!" He smiled examining his latest work. He had drawn Riku standing, his back to the world and the outline of a wolf around him. It reflected how he acted at towards others. And at the same time, how lonely he always seemed.

"What's done?" Riku asked plopping down next to him. Sora jumped. He hadn't expected that. And worse, Riku wasn't supposed to know about that he did drawings of him!

"N-nothing." Sora replied desperately trying to hide his notebook. He had to have the world's worst luck! 'Oh, gosh just let it all end!' He thought frantically.

"It doesn't seem that way." Riku smirked as he snatched the notebook out of Sora's hands. Sora flinched. He was going to get it now. Riku would hate him, an' hit him, and-

He watched as Riku's eyes widened and his hands flipping quickly through the pages. Sora was now entering a state of shock. He wasn't going to be hit?

"You…draw me?" Riku asked quietly, a faint blush on his cheeks. Sora felt his own cheeks heat up. Well that wasn't what he expected.

"Y-yeah. I wanted to go for a 'lone wolf' theme today." Sora managed. Riku nodded regaining a bit of his usual air of confidence.

"I like it. But why aren't any of the pictures of me colored?" Riku questioned with a raised eyebrow knowing Sora liked to color his drawings. He handed the notebook back to Sora.

"I couldn't find a silver crayon!" Sora laughed happily. And soon, he found that Riku was laughing with him too.

"You know you could probably find silver paint."

"Eh. I'm no good with painting. It's so messy." Sora explained with a pout. He still remembered last time. He shuddered at the thought.

"I see." Riku said. Momentary silence ensued.

"…So how long have you been drawing me?"

"Since middle school." Sora replied embarrassed. They were second years in high school now. That was long, long time. Riku smiled at him.

"Well, now I can dial 'MS' for mystery solved."

"Eh?" Sora squeaked out.

"I've always been curious about the drawings you wouldn't show me." Riku admitted. "Now I know why."

"…You don't mind?" Sora asked averting his eyes. He was sure Riku would've hated him.

"Not at all. I'm flattered to be liked by such a cute guy I've liked for a long time anyway." Riku explained.

Sora flushed deeply. Only Riku could make him feel that way. This feeling he couldn't describe either. He pulled out a scrap of paper and began drawing. Riku blinked but waited, knowing this was the only way Sora could fully express himself.

Sora was done in less than ten minutes and quickly passed it over to Riku. "That's how you make me feel."

Riku's breath caught as he studied the drawing. It was a picture of him and Sora, standing there facing each other. Their left hands were outstretched and between them was a softly glowing heart.

"Is this how you really feel?" Riku asked looking straight into Sora's eyes. Sora couldn't look away.

"Yeah, you always make me feel like that. You hold a place in my heart; but it's more than just friendship," Sora said. "I like you a lot Riku."

"Then I'm sure you won't mind when I do this since I like you too," Riku said pulling Sora to him and gently kissing his soft lips. Sora felt like he was melting, the feeling in his chest overflowing. The feeling of warmth was perfect.

A sanctuary.

He didn't have to be anyone he wasn't. And Riku could find a place in him too. When they pulled apart Sora smiled shyly. What he had received wasn't the kiss of someone experienced, but one that felt the same nervousness he did. He was thankful for that.

"Was it any good?" Riku asked playing with his long bangs. Sora smiled.

"Yeah. It felt nice." An honest, open reply.

"Really?" Sora nodded as his smile grew. Riku was so cute when he was shy; absolutely adorable! But he was trying to hide behind his bangs. That was no good.

"I'm happy that I can see this side of you Riku. Don't hide it." Sora said taking Riku's hands in his. "Just be who you are. And don't worry about it either; I like you just the way you are."

Riku stared at Sora in surprise then hugged him tightly. In Sora he found parts of himself he didn't know. And the self hate he had for himself dissolved with every smile he received from the brunette.

"I'm glad." Riku said honestly no longer trying to hide what he felt. He was a great big sap, y'know? And Sora accepted that. Heck, he actually liked it. Even though Riku really couldn't understand why, he decided to accept it.

Sora reached up and kissed him. Surprisingly, Sora was the better kisser. Neither minded though, what mattered was that they were with each other.

No regrets.

"Practice makes perfect." Sora said with a soft laugh as he seated himself on Riku's lap.

"Yep." Riku answered pulling Sora into another soft kiss. They had all the time in the world and had no need to rush. Best feeling in the world.

Sora broke the kiss and then gently pressed his forehead to Riku's.

"I love you so much." Riku smiled.

"Love you too."

"What should we tell everyone else though?" Sora asked suddenly feeling uneasy. Riku sighed and tapped Sora on the nose.

"I don't know. And I really don't care. Because Sora," Riku said making Sora look at him. "Even if the world ended right now, I'd be okay because I have you here in my arms."

Sora gaped. "But Riku that would be terrible!"

"Idiot! You're missing the point! As long as I have you, I'll be fine. You're like my sky. With you, I can reach new heights; you make me want to believe in people again; something I haven't wanted to do in a long time! Sora…you, you just mean a lot to me, okay!?" Riku blurted out.

"Yeah…I think I get it. Hold on a moment." Sora said grabbing his notebook again. Riku waited patiently. Patience was a virtue. Besides he had gotten used to this a long time ago.

"Um…like this?" Sora asked shyly holding up his picture. There was an eagle; soaring high in against a blue sky looking as if it could go higher and higher.

"Yep. Exactly like that." Riku answered nodding.

"You make me feel this way too. I've learned a lot about myself since I met you." Sora said putting his notebook down. "Although I think I get what you trying to say. It's like that one song—Escape to the stars*, right?"

"Just like that," Riku said smiling gently. "Do other people's opinions really matter to you though?"

Sora answered almost instantly, surprising himself. "Not at all."

"Good. We shouldn't try to worry about what others think." Riku said shrugging.

"You said it. Although is it really just that simple?"

"No. It's never that simple. When you're making a decision that will change people's view of you, you have to give people only to options: Accept or reject. There's bound to be a lot of people, who reject, but also some who accept it; you should never let it affect you too much."

Sora nodded. "So that's how you do it." He mumbled to himself, and then looked at Riku. "You're so cool Riku."

"Where did that come from?" Riku asked a light blush on his cheeks. People told him that all the time, but when Sora said it, it really mattered.

"I don't know myself," Sora admitted. "But you seriously are cool." Riku's cheeks were on fire now.

"Dammit Sora…" He said pulling the other down and tickling him.

"Meep! Ha ha-stop it Riku. Eek! P-please stop…" Sora laughed trying to catch his breath. He was relieved when Riku stopped. But then…well then that's when Riku kissed him.

It only lasted about ten seconds. Sora needed to breath.

"Are you trying to suffocate me?"

"No. That was punishment. I don't feel embarrassed now." Riku said unrepentantly. Sora would've laughed except his ribs hurt. A lot.

"That was mean." Sora pouted.

"Get used to it." Riku replied simply. But he was smiling. Sora wasn't sure he trusted that smile.

"Hey, do you want to go with me to the arts and crafts store today?" Sora asked finally breathing regularly again.

"…What for?" Riku had answered a question with a question. Typical.

"I'm going to hunt for a silver crayon." Sora answered simply pointing to his notebook. "I have a feeling that today we could find one."

"…Fine."

A/N:

*Escape to the stars-an awesome song from a group called Cinema Bizarre.

Thanks for reading. I hope you like it. And please review; it helps me get inspired to write more.