Storm Passing

by KC

Summary: Sora catches Riku's preferred method of blowing off steam.

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts belongs to Disney and Square Enix, not me.

Glass shattering, exploding and striking the ground. Metal screaming around shards as they spray like water, crashing in waves against the wall. Sora recognizes the swirl of air over a blade, knows the voice behind the swings, recognizes the spells destroying the glass out of keyblade reach, but he still walks quietly around the wooden shack, careful not to make a sound on the beach.

As if anything could be heard over the crashing glass and roaring thunder, the dark sky lit only by lightning flashing overhead. There's no rain, but the wind pushes the trees sideways, stripping some of the leaves off into the air.

He hesitates to turn the corner, and a few shards fly past his face and sink deep into the sand. A moment later they fade from sight, magically dissolving to be replaced by whole jars hovering inches off the ground. So that's where Phil's lost spell went. A jar almost slides away to the waterline, only to be blasted in a burst of flames that lane near Sora's feet. The beach glows red in flames, then turns dark again.

He doesn't have to wait long -- the smashing slows down. Long seconds pass between slashed jars, the breathing turning heavier, deepening from exertion. Then the keyblade misses, blows by the last jar and lands in sand. Sora takes a breath, then comes out from around the corner.

Clad in his dark gear with the heartless emblem emblazoned on his front, Riku falls on one knee and rests against his Soul Eater, its tip pressing into the ground as he catches his breath. His shoulders heave and his hair hides his face, so he doesn't see Sora coming closer until his shoes come into view and the sand crunches loudly underfoot.

Startled, Riku draws in a sharp breath and looks up, his hand tightening on his blade, relaxing when he recognizes Sora. Reads the worry in his eyes. Remembers the bits and pieces of jars surrounding him, now fading away, and the last small jar he filched from Phil's coliseum. Remembers the anger and frustration behind all of his swings and spells and shouts. Remembers what he's wearing.

His head lowers. Neither speaks. The storm dies down so that the clouds hang heavily in the air, no longer swirling wildly. Ocean waves wash against the shore, the only sound beside the wind through the trees. Sora waits, but the sight of his long hair in the breeze draws his hand to it, his fingertips brushing the edges. Riku turns away to avoid his touch.

"I'm sorry," Riku whispers.

The keyblade master of darkness has the friendship of the king and queen, the love of the keyblade master of light, but that isn't enough in many people's eyes. Riku's pride is hard but brittle, his confidence sometimes easy to rattle. He knows. Riku will never say it out loud, but Sora knows that no matter how much Riku hides it, the looks and the whispers behind his back get to him.

And Riku still faces them until they lower their disdainful eyes, turns and meets their whispers head on, refuses to bow to royalty and matches them word for sarcastic word. His knee doesn't bend, his head doesn't bow. His frustration stays hidden. His anger stays quiet. Only on this beach, a little refuge from the world, can he give in to emotions and wild, violent storms that would send anyone else running in fear.

Kneeling in front of him, Sora puts his fingertips under Riku's chin and tilts his face up, waiting for his lover to meet his look. When he does, Sora silently shakes his head, smiling.

Riku closes his eyes and tilts his face into Sora's hand, relaxing in his palm. The Soul Eater disappears and the dark gear fades, leaving Riku in his normal clothes, calm again.

Thunder rumbles again, muted and quiet, and a light mist begins to fall.

end