While We're Young
Summary: After a science experiment goes wrong, spilling all over Sora, Riku now has to watch over his de-aging best friend while Kairi struggles to find a cure for the potion before Sora hits zero. Warnings- SoRi Child!Sora, Yaoi…post KH2
Disclaimer- I own nothing but the plot, and honestly, I doubt this is even that original, somebody probably did this before me…. oh well, read it anyway
Sora POV
I entered the science lab, feeling annoyed. Kairi said that she and Riku would finish their stupid project thing by four o'clock! It was already half past and I was getting bored waiting for his two best friends to come out. Walking into the room sullenly, I spotted them working over some beaker on the furthest desk away. Kairi was giggling at something Riku had said and Riku, as always, had a confident smirk on his face as he lifted his hand to flick away a strand of his silver hair that was in front of his face, blocking his vision a little. I smiled, thinking about something funny. Kairi had reddish bronze coloured hair, Riku had silvery hair, and now I have a nice gold blonde colour hair. It had been brown when I was younger of course but it had lightened dramatically in the last few years. Gold, silver and bronze. Weird. Looking over at Kairi and Riku, I rolled my eyes at my friends antics, noticing that they hadn't yet realised I was in the room. With a large grin, I tiptoed over to them, where they were still hunched over at the table.
"Boo!" I yelled into their ears loudly, making them both jump high in the air, Riku giving a small sound of surprise. Tee hee, I thought with a smirk. It isn't often that I could surprise Riku, never actually. The guy is like, unbeatable. Kairi jumped too. Unfortunately, she just happened to be holding onto the beaker holding whatever concoction the two of them had been making. It flung in the air, as if in slow motion, right over her shoulder.
Once again, I just happened to be standing right behind her as well. The purple liquid landed on my head, in my spiky hair, dripping down onto my clothes. Almost immediately, a greenish light encased me, making me look like I was glowing. I felt like I was burning, very hot all over. I couldn't move a muscle as the stuff continued to soak into me, until it had fully coated me in a thin layer of the potion. I saw Kairi staring at me wide eyed, looking scared and Riku too even looking slightly worried. The liquid was absorbing itself into my skin now, until it was all gone. My vision went black for a moment, and I felt pain all over. Nothing too terrible but I opened my mouth to cry out as it continued. I clawed at my skin, trying to make the burning pain stop when all of a sudden, it did.
Opening my eyes, vision better as well, I stared over to Kairi who had her mouth open and Riku who looked mildly shocked. I moved to go over to them, but something seemed really off. I stumbled as I walked, Riku catching me quickly. All of a sudden I realised how much taller than me he seemed. And I don't mean just the normal 2 inches; I don't even reach his chin…huh? Kairi too, she's taller than me. What the hell is going on?
"It actually works…" Those were the first words I heard and they came from Kairi. I turned to her, already suspicious.
"What did you two do?" My voice is shaking slightly.
"It's a de-aging potion." She said in a hushed voice, so low I had to strain to hear her, but when I do, I really begin to wish I didn't hear anything. "And it really works…you shrunk like two years." Riku winced. I guess that probably wasn't the best way to say it, but then again, they are both pretty tactless. I got out a reply after only a second of shock.
Riku POV
"What?" Sora squeaked, before covering his hand with his mouth, shocked at the highness of his voice. I couldn't help but laugh, it wasn't possible to keep a mask of calm up now. Kairi looked apologetic but also couldn't hold back her smile at Sora's expense. I looked down at him, realising for the first time just how much shorter my best friend was to me now. Sora'd always been short but now, in his pre-puberty state, but now the guy didn't even come close to my shoulder.
Sora scowled murderously, probably thinking of how many ways he could kill his two best friends. He glared up at me through his blue eyes.
"You know," He said through gritted teeth. "I'm really regretting saving you both from the Heartless right now." We slowly stopped laughing when we saw him cross his arms. Kairi hiccupped.
"S…sorry Sora." She gasped out. "You just look so…different." I'd stopped laughing now, although now I wore an amused smirk instead, which I know annoyed the hell out of Sora.
Reluctantly Sora walked over to the mirror, giving off a feel that he was dreading it every step of the way. He opened his eyes grimacing at he image of himself in the mirror. It was obvious that this was his body from before the whole Kingdom Hearts thing. Holding the heavy Keyblade all-day and running around from world to world really had improved his body and muscle.
I remembered life before Kingdom Hearts and the Heartless. Everything had always been much more relaxed, much less to do. Plus Sora hadn't lost all his baby fat yet, the way he had by the time he was sixteen. He blushed unexpectedly, wrapping his arms around his body, looking oddly self-conscious of his body. I frowned again.
"I want you to change me back." Sora told us, narrowing his eyes, cringing at the squeakiness of his voice. We both sobered and Kairi said nervously,
"I don't exactly know how…" She admitted. "We never meant to test it on someone until we were sure…. It wasn't even done when you interrupted us…" Sora's eyes widened,
"You…you mean I'm stuck like this?"
"Well actually," I drawled, still smirking, hiding my worry. "It isn't going to stop. I guess your just gonna keep shrinking…" Kairi and Sora's eyes both widened.
"But, what happens if I reach zero?" he yelped. Kairi shrugged helplessly.
"Y…you won't." She stuttered, wringing her hands. "I mean, I'll work out a counter potion. I promise."
"But…I don't want to de-age." Well, thanks for pointing that out, Captain Obvious, I think rolling my eyes. I mean, duh.
"What will we do until you can work out a counter potion?" I ask. She shrugs. "Well, I don't know, but I've really go to go now." She fidgets. "I promised my Dad I'd be home by five and it's 5 now. I really need to get home now." I stare at her.
"But what are me and Sora supposed to do?" She rolls her eyes right back at me.
"I don't know. You guys are smart, work something out. I'll come in here again tomorrow and start working out a cure, okay?" And with that, she gives both me and Sora quick kisses on the cheek before racing out of the classroom, shutting the door closed behind her with a soft click. Sora stares at me, like I'm supposed to know what to do.
"Well I guess we should go too?" I suggest lazily and he readily agrees with me. I grab my bag and the two of us start the long walk home.
"This sucks," Sora said mulishly, and was he sulking? I stared at him, watching his bottom lip begin to stick out. His arms were already crossed in front of his chest. My eyes widened slightly as my heart began to beat slightly faster. Shakily, I gave a laugh and punched him in the shoulder not that hard, to cover it up.
"Get over yourself, Sora. This is gonna be fun." He frowned as I hit him, his other hand automatically reaching up to it to rub it.
"Careful." He muttered. "I'm not as strong as usual, you know. That kind of hurts." He was grimacing as he spoke. I knew Sora and I am alike in this way; we never did like admitting weakness, and never to each other. I grinned slightly.
"I'll try my best to remember, Sora." He nodded distractedly. "Are…are you angry at us about this?" I was kind of worried he would be but he shook his head, giving the silly grin that I loved to see, but didn't seem to see that much anymore.
"Nah, course not Riku. Wasn't your fault. Or Kairi's." I relaxed. "I guess I'm just a bit tense, is all." Curiosity over came me. "I don't really like the idea of this much."
"What's it like?" Sora glanced at me slowly.
"What, being fourteen again? Different, that's for sure. First, I'm shorter, so my view on the world seems weird, it's taking me a lot of concentration to just not fall over."
"Is it only physical, the changes I mean?" That sounds really suss now that I think about it. Note to self, never word it like that again. I tuned in to Sora as he answered my badly worded question.
"No, not exactly, but again, it's weird. I still have my memories of everything I've done since I was fourteen, so the whole Kingdom Hearts thing I still remember, but more vaguely. I know that I can't do what I did now, because although I know I've done t, that me hasn't? I don't think that makes much sense. Also, my mind seems to think differently now too… I feel more carefree, happier; I'm not worrying about Heartless or what Malificent might be up to like I usually do, even though I know that the threat is still unchanged. Does that make any sense?"
"It does really." I said thinking about his answer carefully, mulling it over slowly in my mind before I answer him back. "This time, two years ago, we never did worry about much. We would have still been building our rafts. So, not just your body was changed, you also have your fourteen year old mindset. Huh, who would have thought it? You found a way to get even more immature." I couldn't resist that jib. He stuck out his tongue at me and I sniggered, point proven. Grinning, he flicked his wrist, calling his Keyblade to him. I unconsciously took a step back.
"Do I need to remind you that I'm the Keyblade master?" He seems cockier than usual. I roll my eyes, summoning my own Keyblade of Darkness.
"Bring it on." I say, and we go for it. We've reached the beach by now anyway so there was no one else around. Has he forgotten what he just told me? That he's not very strong at the moment. Ah, silly silly Sora. Well too bad for him, I guess. And then I really get into it. He's on the attack, throwing combos like there is no tomorrow, although they are poorly done, very sloppy compared to his usual style. A lot like he used to be, fighting with those wooden swords we used to use…oh right! The ageing thing, of course he'd fight how he did then. I've really got to start remembering that.
Stepping forward, I block his attacks, trying to anticipate his next move, the way I usually do, before he went and changed his fighting technique again. I sigh, using my brute strength to turn his attacks on him, forcing him to retreat to the edge of the water, all the while being forced onto the defensive. He blocked with difficulty. I smirked as I decided to go for one of the oldest tricks in the book, something that Sora seems to fall for every single time. Personally, I'm just glad the fake Ansem and the Organization never knew him as well as I do. It would have sucked if they beat him the final battle by doing something as stupid as this. I pointed over his shoulder,
"Hey look, a distraction!" (AN: That really does work.) Wildly, he turned to look and moving forward quickly, before Sora had a chance to look back around, I pushed him as hard as I could into the ocean. He stumbled, already unsteady from his quick turn. In a split second he fell beneath the waves, drenching himself. I fell to the ground, laughing helplessly as I saw him jump up, head above the sea, dripping wet and spluttering in indignation.
"What the hell, Riku!" he yelled loudly, "That's cheating!" I was still on the sand by the shoreline, laughing at him. Pouting again, he kicked his foot, sending water splashing over to me. I scrambled up in an instant, away from the shoreline. Sora tackled me back down to the ground, pinning me down with his knees on the inside of my elbows, sitting on my chest. I gave an oof of surprise as my back it the cooling sand, the sun was almost set, and it kept no heat. I rolled my eyes, hadn't he realised he couldn't win against me? Grinning I rolled him over, so I was on top of him, letting him struggle helplessly.
"So," I asked him with a smirk. "Once again, who's the Keyblade master around here?" His lips remained tightly shut. I pushed down on him a little bit, probably almost crushing his ribs. He grunted and I laughed.
"What was that, runt?" I teased.
"You are, dammit!" He yelled gasping. "Now get the hell off me, already!" I loosed my grip on his forearms and he shoved me off. I was smirking, feeling pleased with myself. I reached out my hand to pull him up. He was freezing, his hand ice cold. H shivered slightly as I studied him.
"Okay Sora, you're coming to my house." He flicked his head around to look at me, questioningly. He looked kind of confused as we headed up the stairs and off the sand.
"What? But we never-"
"You're freezing, Sora!" I snapped sternly. "My house is closer than yours, therefore we should go there." His mouth dropped open in surprise. I guess I should have expected him to be surprised. I was kind of surprised when I said it myself. I've never really gone voluntarily to my house that often. My parents and me don't get along very well, I guess you could say, and believe me, that's an understatement. Dad and me just never got along, us being in a room together just inevitably lead to a yelling match and my mother, well, she just doesn't really care about what I do. Both of my parents were pretty young when they had me. Personally I think that's why they got married in the first place although I've never really been able to draw the courage up to ask either of them if it's true or not.
They aren't here a lot anyway, always working or away on business trips, not even together. Sora is the only one that I really ever talked to about this sort of stuff before, but right now I just really don't want to. Sora however doesn't seem to get that so I distract him as he protests.
"But-"
"Sora, I am not letting you get hyperthermia while I baby-sit you." He forgot whatever we were arguing about, hands on hips, pouting indignantly.
"You aren't babysitting me!" He howled and I sniggered.
"Technically I am, as you're almost 4 years younger than me at the moment." I point this out with pleasure. He scowled, crossing his arms and walking ahead of me, leaving me having to jog to catch up. He threw me a dirty look.
"I'm not a baby," he snapped. I smirked but decided it would probably be best if he weren't angry with me for as long as it takes for this thing to wear off or Kairi to find a solution to this de-aging thing.
"Of course you're not. Now move it. We need to get home before the sun fully sets. It's cold out here." He rolls his eyes at me, so I grab his skinny wrist and pull him along the road at a fast jog.
"I can walk myself, you know." He whined but I didn't pay any attention to him, continuing to pull him along until we reached my house. I live in the nicer side of Destiny Islands. My house is way bigger that Sora's, and that isn't bragging. It's just a fact, besides, I'd much rather live at Sora's. At least his house actually looks lived in. See, Sora's family isn't perfect either. He only has a mother at home. His father walked out on them when we were only little kids. It really hurt him deeply, I think, but at least he has his mother who loves him. She's always been more my mother too that my real mom.
"Come on Sora, while we're still young please." We entered my house by the front door, which thankfully was unlocked.
"Hey Riku?" Sora spoke up quietly. I looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "What will your parents say about this? They'll be sure to notice that I only look fourteen." I heaved a sigh, unable to avoid the question now.
"They're out of town." I admit to Sora. "Again." He frowns as well, moving closer to me as a gesture of support but I turn away.
"I don't need your pity, Sora." I say sharply. He steps back like he was slapped in the face but doesn't say a word. I feel like I should apologize but I can't find the right words and stay quiet too. The silence is stifling, tension fills the air, making the room seem smaller and more uncomfortable. It isn't really awkward though. Sora and me never really have awkward silences. We've just known each other for so long.
Hesitantly I turn to look at him, staring into his big blue eyes that seem way to big for his face, but for some reason seem to suit him. They seem so innocent still, after everything. I know Sora tried with everything he had to keep hold of that innocence. He isn't as naive as he used to be though. I guess it wasn't possible, even for him to keep that, through our journeys although it still pops up in him sometimes. I envy him of that sometimes. I lost my innocence the moment I stepped into the darkness that night, so long ago. I remember the night more vividly then anything else, the night the Darkness overcame Destiny Islands.
I was out on the bridge, and the Heartless were all around me. Sora was there, with his stupid wooden sword out and wide eyes. I told him I wasn't afraid. That I might never be able to come back again, never see the island again, or my parents but I had no doubt. I was not scared. The worst part was that I wasn't. Afraid that is. I remember I thought I was so brave, doing what I was doing but I realise now that I wasn't. Sora was the one who stood next to me. His voice was trembling was he noticed the darkness swirling around my ankles, threatening to overcome me. I held out my hand to him, not helping him at all. He didn't even hesitate then, I could hardly believe it. Sora was so scared, but without even a thought, reached out for me, trusting me that I wouldn't lead him wrong. He was the brave one. Being brave isn't about doing scary things and not being afraid, it's being scared, but doing those things anyway. Sora had that courage and a faith in me that I could hardly believe.
I was jerked out of my reflections by Sora, who was still wearing his dripping clothes. His body was shaking and his teeth chattered as he wrapped his arms around himself in attempt to keep warm while waiting for me to come out of my thoughts. Kicking myself mentally for forgetting about him for a moment there, I quickly take him up to my room, all the while grumbling to at him for not just shaking me out of it or something. Sora just shrugged.
"It looked important." He replied. "Who am I to break a chain of thought that could be important?" He flopped down on my bed to pull off his shoes while I knelt down in front of my dresser, digging through my draws for some warm clothes he could borrow for the rest of the night. I chucked the first things I could see at him, which he catches, looking puzzled.
"Put them on." I said briskly. "I really don't need you getting sick." He nodded his head slowly before reaching to pull off his wet shirt. It stuck to his skin as he pried it off, giving me a great view of his stomach and chest, which he realised a second later.
"Riku." He moaned. "Get out so I can change." I smirked but turned so he wouldn't notice the slight blush I had on face, at the mental image of him changing.
"Are you sure you want me to leave?" I teased gently. "I'm sure you don't have anything I haven't seen before." He blushed crimson before pushing me out the door forcefully. I laughed.
"Shut up Riku! Now get out." I sighed.
"I know when I'm not wanted." As I heard my bedroom door slam shut, I walked out of sight, down the hallway, only looking back to give him a small wink, making him blush again right to the tips of his ears. Sniggering, I slammed the door closed, going back out to the lounge room to wait for Sora. He came back presently looking uncomfortable in my clothes. He was wearing a long sleeved black shirt and some brown cargo pants that are to short for me. They were slightly big on him, the trousers especially but I personally thought they looked good. He tugged at the neckline uncomfortably as I studied him. When he spoke though, he wore his normal grin.
"I guess I'll have to go home tomorrow and find some of my old clothes. I'm sure my mom kept them from when we left the first time. His voice was quiet as he talked. I noticed his hands fiddled with the waistband of the jeans as he talked. I nodded, smirking.
"Oh the horror. Back to those old red clothes." He laughed, putting his hands behind his head in his very-Sora pose.
"Aw, shut up Riku. I happen to have liked them." I shrugged with a smirk dropping the subject.
"Wanna play X-box?" I ask him just like I did millions of times, although that was of course years ago when we used to have sleepovers like this, before we got too old and our fathers didn't really think it was right or proper anymore. It's funny that the day that we do it again is the day that one of us actually does get younger.
In answer to my question, Sora nods eagerly, racing for the TV so he can get the better controller. I follow him laughing, shoving him out of the way. Sighing, he settles for the other one and we turn on one of my games, one of his favourites, a two-player battle game. I work out the settings quickly and then we go for it, virtually this time. I'm winning this easily; he's nearly out of health points already and we only just started.
I sneak a glance at Sora out of the corner of my eye. He never grew out of his habit of moving the controller around wildly as he played, no matter how many times I told him it wouldn't help. The corners of my mouth turned up as I saw the tip of his tongue sticking out as he glared at the screen in intense concentration. I grin and am about to deliver the final, finishing blow to Sora's character on the screen, all ready to turn to Sora with a grin, when he actually used guard and defended himself, giving a powerful combo to my guy, finishing me off.
Sora smirked. I blinked, but not just because he unexpectedly beat me. He just gave me my smirk. Mine. No one ever smiles like that except for me. Sora knows this! I get my awesome, cool smirk and he gets his goofy grin that makes him look so cute- I pause. Did I really just think that Sora is cute? Hastily I push the thought to the back to my mind, my face however already tinted pink. Thankfully if he noticed, Sora didn't say anything. Hopefully he just saw it and assumed I was embarrassed that I lost to him.
"Rematch!" I say through gritted teeth, although I'm not really mad. Sora readily agrees and we start over, playing well into the night. It isn't until I notice Sora yawning blearily that I glance over to the clock and am startled. 2am. Whoa. Grimacing I stand up, stretching awkwardly after sitting for about 6 hours. How is it even possible to lose track of time for so long? Sora stands up too, and we go up to my room quietly were Sora sleepily strips down to his boxers. My eyes widen slightly and I look away. It's then that I realise for the first time something quite important.
"Where are we both gonna sleep?" I ask, frowning. Sora looks at me, shrugging. I only have my bed in this room and no extra mattresses for him to sleep on or anything.
"Can't we just sleep in your bed?" Sora said impatiently. "That's what we used to do." I open my mouth to protest.
"Yeah, but that was when we were little. We can't do that now."
"Why not? It isn't like anything is gonna happen." He said innocently with a sweet smile. I fight the urge to groan and roll my eyes. Forget Master of the Keyblade. Sora is the Master of Innocence, I swear. It drives me crazy sometimes.
"Because we- I mean-" I struggle to find the words. Sighing I give up. "Fine, get in Sora." He grins and crawls into my bed, under the black covers, me next to him. "And make sure you don't hog all the blankets like you used to." I grumble at him next to me.
"I am not a blanket hog Riku." I get the feeling he's pouting.
"Sure you aren't." I mutter, I'm too tired to argue the point now. Sora buries his head into the pillow on his side of the bed.
"Screw you Riku." And so it begins.
A/N: Well, there's chapter one, I hoped you liked it, I did. This is going to be a pretty long fiction; probably 12 or so chapters so if you like it, put it on story alert.
If you do I'll give you papou fruit flavoured cookies and everything! Or if you review! Tell me what you think, even if you hated it.