Disclaimer: Festively not mine.
A/N: Written as a Secret Santa gift for Punjab_banks on KH Drabble.
Waiting for God
© Scribbler, December 2010.
Riku sometimes watched Naminé. Not for any particular reason, but he wasn't merely staring into space, either. The blindfold made it seem like he really was sightless, but he could still perceive the world around him. He recognised her light step, her particular scent, and could turn his head in her direction like he was using his eyes instead of his other senses. Mostly she ignored or endured it – he was never sure which – but on occasion she would turn to him and he would feel compelled to explain himself. She didn't even have to say anything. Excuses came tumbling from his lips like buckets of water into a sandcastle moat, and sank into the silence just as fast.
"You don't have to justify yourself to me," she said once, quiet and diffident, as if not actually intending him to hear.
"I know I don't." His tone, by comparison, was defensive. How could she do that? How could she make him feel like he was doing wrong when he wasn't? Not anymore. Everything about their partnership with DiZ was to bring Sora back, and Sora was the epitome of Good.
"I make you uncomfortable." She always seemed apologetic about something. Riku wondered if that was her personality or a by-product of living in Castle Oblivion with those Organisation XIII freaks. She had something of an abused spouse about her; nervousness and timidity layered over a core of steel. She had the resolve of a warrior and the manner of a sinner who wasn't sure the priest wouldn't kick her out of the confessional.
"Don't be stupid."
She gave a little chuckle. It died in her throat. "He was never so rude," she said, even softer.
Before his senses became so acute, Riku might have missed the whisper. He certainly wouldn't have heard the longing in it.
Naminé both saw him and didn't when she looked at him – just like he had looked at her blonde hair and seen auburn framing similar blue eyes before he hid his own eyes away. Neither he nor she was entirely comfortable around each other. Both secretly pined for someone they had lost. At least Riku could see Kairi again someday. Maybe. If things turned out right. And if he could face going home. Naminé, on the other hand, would never see his clone again. He used to think he was glad the creepy guy was gone. Listening to her whispers and the quality of her silence when she looked at him, however, he wondered whether that was still true.
"Do you think he'll wake up soon?" he asked, hastily changing the subject.
"Sora?"
No, the other boy sleeping in the crystal pod. Riku restrained himself and gave a civil answer: "Uh-huh."
"I'm not sure." Her hand touched the side with a faint ringing, like dropping a wedding ring on a glass table. For some reason that comparison made something twist instead Riku. He shook it off.
"Things will be okay when he wakes up." He would get to leave this place. Finally, he could think about going home, where all the safe and familiar things were, if they would still have him back.
"Yes," Naminé agreed. "Things are always better with Sora around.
The twisting moved up to his chest. Riku gritted his teeth, face still impassive. They continued watching and not watching together, side by side and close as barley grains on the same stalk, but somehow forever apart.
Fin.
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