There are two major paths by which relationships start: sometimes, you meet someone with the intention of dating. From day one, it's clear that, if all goes well, a relationship will form. The other is building on a previous relationship — close friends to something more. That, decidedly, was the harder of the two, perhaps by the sheer lack of defined rules: when do you make the first move? When do you know for sure your love has grown?

All Riku knew was that he was in love with Sora.

He'd had an inkling for a while. When they'd met, he thought he wanted to be Sora. He'd been jealous of Sora. He'd done anything to show off to Sora. When he ended up in the darkness, he'd do anything to get back to Sora. When Sora had welcomed him in open arms, even after he'd been taken by darkness, he knew for sure.

Sora realized he felt the same around when the carried out their Mark of Mastery exam. He'd looked up to Riku his whole life, and after learning how the other felt about him, there was nothing he could do to resist.

The truth came out not long after that day. There was a very brief period to regroup before they had to set off with new assignments. The two sat outside on the steps by the Mysterious Tower, staring up at the stars, comfortable but in silence.

"D'you ever think about… love?" Riku asked out of the blue.

"Yeah," Sora answered without missing a beat. "It sure is all around."

"Yeah." Riku blushed, slowly but surely, "Remember when we were kids, we always thought that, like, if we never found anyone else, we'd probably just date each other…?"

"Yeah," Sora laughed, still looking up.

"... How are we going to know when we've looked long enough?" Riku finally said.

This caught Sora's attention; now he looked over at Riku, stars in his eyes. He flashed back to mundane, middle school sleepovers – lying in bed, hearts on their sleeves. 'I could be so happy with you.'

"... because I don't think I'm going to want anyone more than… more than I want you…" Riku finally decided. "I dunno, it was just a thought… if you…"

"I…" Sora's cheeks were heating now too. "No, I do, I feel it… Riku, are you serious?"

The blonde opened his arms earnestly. "... of course."

"I… you want to be boyfriends?"

"If you'll have me," Riku said.

"Yes!" Sora exclaimed too loud. "I want that–" he darted forward, tackling Riku's open stance in a hug. Suddenly, he released him, sitting up. "Wait… is this allowed? 'Cause we're both boys, and I've never seen this at any world I've been too–"

"Of course it is," Riku comforted softly. "If you make me happy and I make you happy, why should anything keep us apart?"

"You're right!" Sora decided. "Wow."

However, their physical time together was short. It was only a few days before Sora's depreciated strength became painfully obvious. They'd spent so much time apart, it sucked to be split up again.

"Hey," it was the night before their departure, Sora and Riku sitting on the edge of Riku's bed. "Don't worry about me. You need to be focused in the realm of darkness."

Riku was currently focused on Sora's hands, trying to memorize every detail of Sora's body to keep him occupied on long dark nights. "I want to be distracted by you." There was no denying Sora had long since been his favourite person – it was only the physical things they were getting used to. "You make me so comfortable and at ease."

"It won't be long until we see each other again," Sora assured him. "We'll still meet up for debriefs with Master Yen Sid."

"And in the meantime, my imagination will have to do," Riku's hand travelled up Sora's arm to cup his face. "I'll miss you."

This made Sora sad. "Yeah," his eyes darted away, trying to play it off. "You too."

It was so intimate for a second, his hand on Sora's face. There was a beat, and they both started to move in, but Sora redirected at the last second. He ducked his head to the side instead, bringing them together in a hug, his lips coming to rest on Riku's neck. "Be safe, okay?"

"I always am," Riku spoke into Sora's hair.

They lingered for a moment then pulled back. Sora got to his feet before Riku could make another move and faked a yawn. "Well, I… better get to sleep. Goodnight Riku."

Riku smiled, not willing to push things. "Goodnight, Sora. I'll try my best to see you off in the morning."

Sora hurried to his room, regretting he hadn't kissed Riku, embarrassed that they were wasting precious time together, wishing he was able to own up to his feelings. He was jittery about the next day and it took him a long time to get to sleep. When he finally did, he seemed to not be asleep for long before he awoke in a dream in a city he knew — Traverse Town, by the light of morning.

The town looked strange and different from the change of light, but Sora didn't question it. He was sitting at the little café in the main square, admiring the fountain. All of a sudden, Riku was walking down the steps, towards him. His heart warmed. The blond came closer, sitting beside him. "Hey Riku," Sora greeted.

"Hey Sora," the blond took his hand on the table.

"I wish I'd kissed you tonight," The words easily slipped out of Sora.

"Me too," Riku somewhat sadly agreed. Classic Sora, always dreaming what he wanted to hear. "But you've still got the chance."

"Do you think you'll let me tomorrow morning?" Sora asked. "I don't know if we'll get the chance to be alone…"

"What do you mean, do I think, of course I'd let you in the morning," Riku smiled. "I hope you do. I want you to."

When Sora's alarm woke him, the dream stayed fresh in his mind even though it has ended hours earlier. Riku always was the early riser, but Sora still had hope that he could still catch him. He jumped out of bed, still in his pyjamas, hustling barefoot down the hall, down the stairs towards Riku's room. As he got down there, his new boyfriend was just closing the door, already dressed in his amazing new clothes. "Riku, wait—" Sora cried, still running. He grabbed Riku's shoulders and spun a little, slowing himself and pulling Riku closer, then grabbed his face. He pausing for a breath, looking at Riku's face for confirmation, then leaned in and smooched him for the first time.

Riku was still a little stunned, but when Sora's lips finally met his, his heart heated and he snapped back in. His hands found Sora's arms and they turned a little, moving back in for a few more kisses until they were content and came to rest their foreheads together.

"I couldn't leave without doing that first," Sora breathlessly said, heart racing in his chest.

"I'm so happy you did," Riku was fully content. At those words, a strange energy set in on them. "Wait… have we had this conversation before?"

Sora couldn't shake that deja vu either. "I… I think I dreamed about you last night."

"No way…" Riku trailed off. "You too? I dreamed about you!"

"In Traverse Town?" Sora asked.

"Yes–!" Riku's voice was rising. "You were in my dream."

"You were in my dream!" Sora accused.

"It-it must have something to do with our exam!" Riku was putting the pieces together. "Since I dove into your dream then, maybe we're linked?"

"Maybe we won't have to be apart anymore–"

"Riku?" Mickey's voice echoed up the stairs. "Uh, who ya talking to?"

Sora and Riku both blushed, Sora ducked back into his room. "You should go! Be safe. I – maybe see you tonight?"

Riku was shocked. "Yeah… I hope so!" He glanced to make sure the King wasn't coming up the stairs, then grabbed Sora's face for another kiss. "But just in case."