Another Sassy Aloo set.

Midnight

Riku literally stumbled into the room, aqua eyes bloodshot but a pleased tired look to his face. He went straight for the coffee put, not even trying to hide his yawn. "Is this fresh?"

"Uh, maybe fifteen minutes?" Sora guessed. "Leon made it before he left."

"Good enough." He poured himself a cup then came over to sit across from his best friend. He watched Sora diligently focus on the manual before him, eyebrows knitted together in concentration.

The younger teen occasionally picked at a chocolate muffin. The fact that the boy hadn't devoured it yet stated how seriously he was taking his task. There was very little that distracted the boy from food.

"What are you reading?" Riku looked over his coffee.

"It's an old training manual for SeeDs. I found it in Ansem's study." The brunette flipped a page. "Leon said he used it back in Garden and it was really good."

Riku nodded.

"So you finish it?"

"Huh?" Silver hair flashed in the light as Riku snapped himself awake. An almost dreamy smile came to his face. "Oh, yeah. It's drying on the back porch."

"I want to see." Sora closed the book. "You spent all night on it."

"And the three before wracking my brain for an idea." Riku laughed warily. "Cloud finally noticed last night. He bound and determined to make me sleep. Totally wore me out."

Sora rolled his eyes. "You could say no."

"To sex?" Riku was appalled by the very notion. "You don't say no to sex unless you're sick, injured, or really can't stand the other person. Although I hear fucking someone you hate can be really intense."

Sora squirmed a bit. His best friend was such a sex fiend. "Okay, okay."

The older boy laughed at Sora's discomfort. Someday he'd get it. "There any other muffins?"

"Yeah, blueberry and chocolate chip. I think." Sora stood, picking up what remained of his. "Which do you want?"

"Blueberry." He groaned as he got to his feet. "Thank Shiva I have an easy day. I am so taking a nap at some point."

The younger smirked. "Thank Shiva? You've been hanging around Cid too much."

"Says the guy who's adopted 'whatever' as his catch phrase. Spend a lot of time with Leon, much?"

"Whatever." Sora tossed him a muffin which he caught in one hand. "Lets go see Cloud's birthday present."

Riku followed Sora out the back, blinking at the early morning sun. "Too bright."

"Did you use any light out here?" Sora glanced around but didn't see any candles or lamps.

"The moon. It was full last night." Riku stepped over to a turned around easel. "I wanted the right setting."

He flipped the canvas around. "I think it turned out fairly well."

Sora simply stared. He'd never been big on art per say. He loved looking at Riku's drawings but this blew all of that away. And it was Riku's first attempt at a painting.

"Wow." Sora breathed out. He was by no means a critic but this was the most beautiful thing he'd seen.

Rich, dark shades of blue took the entirety of the piece with tiny specks of white and gold scattered across. They really seemed to sparkle. A few wisps of cloud cover panned across it but there was no moon. It was a night of pure starlight.

"Do you like it?" Riku asked, a hesitant tone to his voice.

"It's beautiful." Sora glanced at him. "I'm totally jealous."

Riku seemed relieved. "Cloud and I used to talk for hours every night. I'd stand outside if I could so we'd be under the same sky."

Sora smirked.

"I know; it's sappy."

"Yep." The brunette bit his lip. "But it's really sweet too."

"You think he'll like it?" A touch of concern laced the words.

"He'll love it." Sora nodded with conviction. "Have you named it?"

"Midnight."