Title: And That's What It's All About (part 1)
Spoilers: ... It's set post-KHII. So probably, yeah. XD
Rating: G
Pairing(s): Kairi/Sora and Kairi/Riku, if you really squint. (No. I typed those TOTALLY CORRECTLY.)
Summary/Notes: I blame Sus and Bulba for the mental image of Riku singing nursery rhymes. Also, Riku is ttly a dork. A squishy squishy dork. :D
Why do I start loving characters when I write them? Funny story: I actually got a nosebleed in the middle of writing this. It was in the middle of class too, and I just went, "ackpbbth WHY? I was just thinking about how much I wanted lunch! D:"
It was funny.
--
Riku was at a loss. The situation had never come up- Sora never had enough manipulation in his soul before. He'd changed over the course of his journey and Riku wasn't sure he liked this new development.
It had all started about half an hour previously when Sora had sat down beside him and inquired as to what Riku was thinking.
Watching the ocean with the others had once been Riku's favorite pastime. He still enjoyed it, the same way he enjoyed doing anything with his friends, but now it also gave him this nagging reminder of what had happened the last time they had left their islands. The other two had forgiven him completely, but that usually only made Riku feel guiltier. He hid it because it would only worry Sora and Kairi. But today his thoughts ran along a particularly melancholy line. He explained as much to Sora, who gave him the look he had been dreading- a mixture of concern and exasperation.
"Riku," Sora said, shaking his head, "You know Kairi and I are gonna back you up no matter what. We're your friends and we trust you."
"But I wish you wouldn't! Not quite so much. Not when I don't know if I can trust myself..."
"Riku..."
"Sora."
Riku wasn't sure how it had happened but he was now faced with a sulking Sora sitting with his back to him, hugging his own knees.
"Come on," Riku pleaded, "Sora, look at me."
Silence. Riku had no idea what to do- Sora never sulked, and he had come to depend on Sora's constant optimism. He felt lost at this sudden turn of events, so when he heard a voice call out he was relieved.
"Sora! Riku!"
Kairi. Kairi would know the right thing to do, the right thing to say. He felt a surge of gratitude and affection at her arrival. Kairi took one puzzled glance at the scene and looked at Riku, inquiry in her eyes. Riku gestured helplessly at the huddled figure.
"He's sulking!"
"I can see that, Riku. Why?"
"I don't know. He-"
"Yes, you do," came a muffled voice from Sora.
Kairi went over to him and Riku could make out indistinct whispers coming from the pair. Kairi stood back up and put her hands on her hips.
"Riku." she said accusingly.
Riku was suddenly more lost than ever. The helpless confusion filled his brain again as he was faced with yet another concerned and annoyed look. Kairi glanced meaningfully at Riku, then at Sora, then at Riku again. She gestured at Sora emphatically and then stood looking at Riku. Riku turned to the huddled lump that was Sora.
"Sora," he said desperately, "I take back what I said. I'm feeling much better!"
Sora peeked one eye over his shoulder.
"Prove it."
Riku blinked, slightly surprised.
"Prove it?" he echoed, "How am I gonna do that?"
He half-turned to Kairi, who raised her eyebrows and jerked her head in Sora's direction. Obviously he would get no help from that quarter.
"How do you want me to prove it?" he asked again.
The figure appeared to contemplate this for a moment. Was it just Riku's imagination or was that pause a little longer than natural? The eye appeared over Sora's shoulder again.
"You could do the dance," Sora suggested innocently.
Riku sighed. "I'm not gonna do the dance."
Sora turned back around and buried his face in his knees again.
"You always used to do the dance with me," he complained.
"Sora! We were five!"
Sora merely sniffed.
Riku groaned internally and quickly glanced around to make sure that no one was looking. He walked over to stand next to Sora and sighed.
"... Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes..." he started in a not-quite-musical drone.
Sora gave him a mournful look over his arms and Kairi tilted her head to one side. Riku continued, slightly louder.
"Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and to-oes..."
Sora suddenly grinned, jumped up, and took up the next line.
"A-and eyes and ears," he sang, poking the aforementioned features on Riku's face, "and mo-outh a-and nose!"
The two of them finished the song together, dancing and grinning at each other.
"Head and shoulders, knees and toes! Knees and toes!"
Riku straightened up and let his arms drop back to his sides while Sora wiped the back of his hand across his forehead exaggeratedly.
"Gee, thanks, Riku," he laughed, "I needed that."
Kairi laughed. She walked up to Riku, leaned forward, and looked up at him, clasping her hands behind her back.
"Now no more brooding, okay?" she asked.
Riku couldn't help but smile.
"Your best Aerith impression, right?" he answered, "Well, in that case, I'll have to do my best."
"And your best is no brooding, right?" Sora smiled, resting his hands on the back of his head.
"All right, all right!" Riku laughed again, "No brooding! I promise!"
"We'll hold you to that, you know," Kairi teased.
Riku looked at both his friends and once again was filled with gratitude.
"I wouldn't want it any other way."