Author's Note: Well then! Here we are again everyone! It's been a super long time since I tried posting anything (if you don't count the story I just posted yesterday, which was written like 239239239 bajillion years ago, heh...), but I can literally feel the suck :( I'm so out of practice writing anything, but regardless, I've had this story floating around my mind for some time, and I finally got up the motivation to write it. I'm not sure how many chapter's it's going to be, but I'm hoping I can get pretty rapid updates. I'm trying to finish it quickly before I get disheartened and leave it to rot. :( Speaking of which...for anyone reading this and asking about any of my other...many...incomplete...stories...I haven't forgotten about them, nor do I want to abandon them. I suppose I just feel like my writing quality has degraded and I want to make sure I gave a certain amount of respect to each story, by ensuring a constant level of polish. That being said, TL;DR: I hope this can be a reboot to my life, and mark the end of my very long absence. As I get two chapters completed, I'll complete the one I had previously finished. Meaning I'll always have at least 2 chapters to post in case I lose focus or run out of ideas.
I would really super appreciate reviews, ( and views D; ), because I have no idea if you guys would even want to read my stuff anymore! Plus, it's always really endearing seeing someone take the time to send me a thoughtful review no matter if it's good or bad, criticizing or praising. Please, please, please!
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or the characters contained within. I try to leave a little suspense in my plots, but for sake of simplicity I'll state this story contains elements of shounen-ai/yaoi/boy's love/whatever you want to call it. Basically, 'gay' stuff. If you're not okay with it, this is your warning to take a hike!
Enjoy!
"Come on, Sora. You're seventeen. SE-VEN-TEEN. You're not really a kid anymore."
"But Riku, there's just so many things wrong with that plan..." Sora grumbled, his head slightly crooked as he debated the situation.
Riku sighed, wisps of his silver hair gracefully flowing as he turned to face his friend, "Don't be such a wuss. It's not like you have to drink while you're there. The IDs are just to get us in."
The two boys were currently engaged in a battle of...many things. Tucked neatly into Riku's corner was the aspect of possibly cute girls and feeling good in...various ways. On Sora's side, however, the brunette dared to retort that the club was 21+ and they'd be caught and/or found out as soon as they stepped in the door.
"Wuss? Wow, you're really going easy on me today," Sora smirked at the boy, sticking out his tongue.
Riku peered back over an indiscernible expression, his hands making for the boy's cheeks.
"Wait, Riku, don'-" Sora attempted to jump back as Riku grabbed for his cheeks, his fingers firmly pinching them while his friend carried on.
"I'm not letting go until you say you're going."
"Bah-triku, it's agehnst the laow!" Sora attempted to argue further, despite the hold his friend had on him. He stood for a moment, Riku's grip seeming to get tighter every moment. As his cheeks began to grow sore from the clamps attached to them, he panicked and hesitantly managed to yell out, "Oghkay, leghhgo!"
A positive answer for his cause, Riku smiled and said he would graciously let Sora have his cheeks back.
"Ow, Riku...you didn't have to hurt me just because I said you were going easy on me for once..." Sora sulked, his cheeks red and puffy from the deathgrip Riku had just been holding on him.
"I'm sure you'll be fine. Anyways, my friend Axel should be able to have the IDs for us by the end of the week. Friday night, we strike."
"That rhymed, but it didn't make it any less lame," Sora gave a sidelong glance to his friend, the older boy simply shrugging in return, "Ugh, this is gonna suck."
"Something's going to suck alright," Riku replied, his face a perverted smirk aimed towards Sora.
When Riku decided Sora hadn't given him a proper response, he nudged the boy's shoulders as he whispered, "Get it?"
Sora blushed from the idea as his friend violated his personal space, "Yes, I understood what you were getting at Riku, you perv. Now can we get going?"
"Fine, good enough for me, I guess," his goofy expression dropping to his normal one.
The two boys stepped out of the highschool commons, making their way down towards the open entrance at the end of the path.
"You need a ride?" Riku glanced over to Sora as he broke his stride.
"Nah, I'll be okay," Sora replied, glancing down the road, "I feel like walking."
"Alright, suit yourself, man," Riku nodded as he stepped towards his car, "I know I'll see you tomorrow, but don't forget," he said, his voice beginning to trail off, "Friday night..."
An awkward silence followed, Riku's stare throwing daggers at Sora with every step he took, waiting for a response.
"...we strike," Sora sighed, an exasperated expression on his face as he looked over to Riku.
"Good boy. Have a cookie when you get home," Riku laughed, closing the door as he stepped into his car.
Sora kicked the ground as Riku's engine revved, his mind flooding with thoughts.
"I don't want to go to some stupid club, I'm not even looking for a stupid girlfriend..."
The week passed by uneventfully, Riku casually nudging and grinning at Sora every moment he could, reminding them of their 'date night' on Friday. Sora chagrined, his expression flat as he bore the pain of losing a battle of wits with Riku. The boy's antics were a continual reminder that Sora wanted to kick himself for giving in to viol-
"Ready?" Riku's sudden question snapped Sora out of his reverie, his feet somehow taking him down his sidewalk towards Riku's car.
"Uhm, yeah. I guess so," Sora replied, trying to figure out when exactly his week had passed by so quickly. "Things we like take forever to come, things we hate are here in an instant..." he muttered under his breath.
"I only heard the 'come' part of that, but not in my car, okay?" Riku gave a serious expression to his friend.
"You jackass, Riku," Sora shook his head, laughing, "That's gross."
"I'm serious, it won't come out, and the sm-"
"Riku! Nobody's doing...that...in your car," Sora glanced at his friend who was peering into the door of the car, "...except maybe you, pervert," he narrowed his eyes as his friend looked him up and down.
"I'm taking your word for it..." Riku hesitantly placed his trust into Sora, his door opening and closing as he set himself into the driver's seat, "You ready for Sunset?"
"Why do clubs always have such cheesy names?"
"Probably because by the time you get out, you're too drunk to care where you were?" Riku offered, Sora shaking his head at the thought.
"Either way," Sora replied, his seatbelt clicking into place, "I guess as much as I'll ever be."
"Good," Riku responded, putting the car into drive.
The area around the club was somewhat of a car-filled minefield, Riku frequently driving either which way to avoid a car haphazardly parked on the side of the road.
"Wow, at least they're not as busy as they usually are on a Friday night," Riku nodded, his car swerving in and out of the parked traffic.
"You mean this is their NOT busy," Sora replied in disbelief.
"Yeah, Axel said these roads basically get closed off on days they're super busy."
"Jeez..." Sora muttered, his breath hitching as he thought of the possibility of having to deal with so many people at once.
"Alright, we should be okay here," Riku suddenly stated, his car turning down one of the less busy side-roads.
"They really have this whole block locked down..." Sora mumbled, his body zombie-like as he sluggishly took off his seatbelt and stepped out of the car.
The two boys made their way across the road onto the sidewalk, their trip short-lived as the club's bright neon-orange sign came into view after a few steps.
"Alright, I'm gonna give you your ID here so they don't see us," Riku held out his arm in front of the boy, Sora's legs suddenly stopping as if he'd just hit a red light.
The silver-haired boy fumbled around in his pocket for a few moments before he retrieved his wallet.
"Oh...are you seri-I can't believe..." Riku groaned his eyes wide in panic as he looked over to Sora, "I forgot the IDs."
"Oh my god..that sucks..." Sora feigned sadness, "Oh well, too bad so sad, we really must be going, I believe your car is thatawa-"
Riku grabbed the boy's collar as he turned to storm off, dragging him backwards despite his legs' attempts.
"Just kidding, they're right here," Riku grinned, pulling out two almost plastic cards.
"Damn, I was really hoping you had forgotten them," Sora sighed, grabbing the card with his picture on it.
"Let's go," Riku commanded, his hand giving Sora a...friendly nudge towards the club.
"Alright, alright, pushy..." Sora quickened his pace as Riku had his own, the club not more than a few feet away.
"And we don't even have to wait in line! Lucky us," Riku smiled at Sora, who had less than an enthralled face to look back with.
"IDs," the black-haired man standing at the door asked, looking down at RIku and Sora.
"Sure," Riku responded, handing the man his card.
"O-Okay," Sora answered, his mind suddenly over-analyzing his statement, 'Oh god, I stuttered, he's totally going to think I'm too young because I am and I shouldn't be doing this.'
The man carefully looked at both the cards, giving both Riku and Sora an amused look as his eyebrows rose. A ridiculing confirmation came from the man as he 'approved' the two boys to enter.
"Mmhmmm," his look spelling disbelief in big, bold capital letters. He shook his head at the two boys and shrugged waving them in, "Alright, you can go in. Try not to cause a ruckus," the statement had seemed to be aimed at Riku, but Sora felt the pressure regardless.
"Yes, sir," Riku saluted the man with the card he had just been given back, stepping into the metal doorframe with Sora right behind him.
"Here we go!" Riku elbowed Sora playfully, stepping into the club with his friend.
Sunset's setting was anything but. In place of romantic lighting and breezy ideas, strobe lights and darkness greeted the two boys as they assessed their surroundings. Sora frowned, the dimly-lit arena of people less than his perfect idea of fun.
"See anyone cute yet, Sora?" the slightly older boy glanced around, his eyes searching for any suitable prey in the sea of people.
"Not really..." Sora shrugged, the faces all blurring together in a flash of strobe lighting and writhing bodily movements.
The two continued their path, Riku's movements bringing him closer and closer to the dance floor while Sora managed to slip away towards the bar in thanks to Riku's 'shopping'. He sighed heavily taking a seat, his head slumping down as the bartender walked over.
"Anything I can get you?" a girl in a green crop-top and black short-shorts cheerily asked.
"I guess...a rum and coke, sans the rum?" Sora grinned sheepishly not knowing what to say, "I...uhm...I'm the designated driver," he attempted to add, the woman merely shrugging.
"That's one coke for the DD," she seemed to smirk and laugh a bit under her breath as she stepped away, bringing the boy back his soda.
"Thanks..." Sora trailed off, his eyes averting the woman as he payed and began drinking his drink.
The sight before him was overwhelming. The flashing lights and ever-moving bodies gave way to even more obnoxious music and unpleasantries. Sora glanced around at the few females he could make out in the poor lighting, shaking his head from person to person.
"I don't know why I let Riku bully me into coming," Sora frowned, puffing his cheeks out as he continue his drink.
His chain of thought was suddenly broken when an arm came swinging around his shoulder, gripping his neck tightly as it pulled him.
"Isn't this place great, Sora?" Riku suddenly appeared, his face much too close to Sora's for any sort of comfort, "I was over there talking to a girl and her friend that're both pretty hot. Wanna join me?"
The brunette looked at his friend who was smirking back, the faint smell of alcohol drifting towards him making him scrunch his nose.
"I swear, I've only had like a half a drink...and then two more," Riku burst out laughing, gripping Sora's neck tighter, "come on man, it'll be more fun if you're talking to someone cute. Well, cuter than me at least," he winked at the brunette and let go, his arm wobbling towards his side as he stepped back from the boy, "I won't make you, but you won't regret it~" Riku said in a sing-song voice, the pitch trailing off as he stepped back into the crowds movements.
"Geeze, we're here less than like, 20 minutes and Riku's already talking to someone," Sora groaned, rubbing his neck lightly from Riku's violent tendencies, "Then again, that's probably not a bad thing. But still..." he stopped rubbing his neck, a girl a short way from him catching his eye.
The girl had unknowingly glanced towards the boy as he inspected her, their eyes meeting for a moment before she seemed to nervously jump, her eyes darting away almost instantly. Sora glanced at the red hair slightly covering the girl's features as she fidgeted in place, her face striking a memory deep within Sora.
"She looks so familiar..." Sora whispered out loud, trying to recall where he knew the girl from.
"Hey, DD," the bartender reached an arm across the bar to Sora, a nametag that had suddenly appeared spelling out "Yuffie" , that assumed she had put on only because he saw somebody that looked like her boss talking to her, "she's cute. Go talk to her," Yuffie nudged the boy, pushing him slightly out of his seat as he stood up.
"Uhm, okay," he nervously responded, nodding as his body unwillingly made its way over to the girl.
The girl noticed Sora making his way over and looked around, possibly for an escape route. Alas, he suddenly stood in front of her, scrambling to think of a normal greeting.
"Uh, hey there," he waved slightly, his voice cracking a tiny bit as he tried to stand up straight.
"Uhm, hi..." the girl responded equally nervously, her thumbs fraying the ends of her dress as she toyed with it.
The two glanced at one another, not knowing where to continue the conversation. Just as the red-haired girl turned to seemingly leave, Sora managed to ask, "You seem really familiar to me, do we know each other at all?" he scratched his head as he gave a weak smile to the girl, unsure of exactly what to say.
The girl's eyes suddenly went wide, her head rapidly turning back to the boy standing next to her. She was quiet for a moment and then stammered, offering an explanation, "U-uhm, well...I...I just transferred in to the school here and I think we might have had an elective together before I switched them?" she was seemingly confused herself.
Sora bit his lip, "Actually..." he replied, thinking, "that sounds about right," he pounded his fist into his hand like a gavel, "No wonder you look familiar then."
The girl heaved a sigh, something clearing her worry, "Sorry, I just thought you might have..." she trailed off, shaking her head and restating, "I was just worried you might have told someone I was underage," she weakly smiled.
"That'd probably get us both in trouble anyways," Sora attempted a laugh, the girl's smile slightly widening, "So, uh...what dazzling reason do you find yourself blinded by Sunset?" Sora smirked slightly, internally laughing at his own bad pun.
"That was such a bad pun," she laughed cutely, Sora's cheeks brightening a tiny bit, "I actually came here with my friend. She's two years older than us though, so you probably wouldn't recognize her," she offered.
"Sounds kind of like my situation. I came here because my friend Riku forced me into it. You might know him, he's only a year ahead of us."
"Does he have silver hair?" the girl suddenly asked.
"Yeah! You know him?" Sora responded, surprised.
"No, but...somebody bold like that would definitely match the description of the guy I saw talking to my friend over there," she answered, her hand raising as she pointed to the spectacle.
Sora followed her hand as it pointed to his friend, who was extremely close to a girl's face at the moment, "Oh jeeze..." Sora shook his head, "Sorry about that..."
"It's okay. I kind of got ditched too. She said she'd seen another friend of hers and she'd be right back to hang out with me. That was like, an hour ago," she frowned, her cheeks slightly pushed out as she pouted unknowingly.
"Oh jeeze," Sora suddenly turned to the girl, "that must seriously suck," he shook his head in condolence for the girl, "What are they good for?" he laughed a little.
"Tell me about it," she replied, her own smile appearing once again.
"I don't wanna be weird or anything, but your smile is beautiful," Sora complimented the girl, embarrassed as his eyes darted around.
The girl suddenly became flustered, her face red as she attempted to respond, "Uhm, that's...I mean...I..." she seemed to realize something, "oh my gosh. I didn't even give you my name. I'm..ergh, I'm Kairi," she attempted to hold out her hand to shake Sora's, her face still stinging from the flattery.
"I'm Sora," he gave the girl a goofy smile, grabbing her hand and shaking it, "So if I can intrude a little, why did you switch out of that class. It was home-ec if I'm right, right?" Sora's hand made its way up to his chin as he scratched it, looking around in the air for answers. His cooking ability was questionable at best, but the prospect of free food was too good for him to pass up.
"I...I guess I'm just not good at cooking?" she answered, seemingly unsure once again.
"Me either," Sora replied hopelessly unaware, "I just wanted the free food," he gave another small smile.
"That sounds like you, Sora," she laughed a little bit with the boy.
"I don't wanna be too forward or ask something weird or anything, but would you want to...hang out or something one day?" the sudden confession embarrassing him, his face turning red as he suddenly looked into the girl's eyes.
"Ah!" the girl gasped, clearly not expecting the proposal, "I...I don't date."
Sora felt his stomach churn a bit as the girl responded to him, his mind flipping at the rejection, "Parents real strict?" he hopelessly offered, his discomfort turning to sickness.
"No, it's not them...I just...don't date," the girl replied.
Sora hung his head low, the sudden rejection and humiliation bringing his self-esteem lower than it had ever been.
"But!" the girl tapped the boy on the shoulder, "I mean, we could...hang out as, like, friends," she tried to smile broadly for the brunette, but she could only muster a tiny amount of assurance.
"That'd be nice," Sora's stomach settled a little, his heart still a little wounded at the utter rejection, 'That sucks...she's really cute and I was really hoping we could go on a date...'
The two exchanged phone numbers just as their friends stumbled their ways over.
"Hey there," Riku gestured to Sora, "who's the cutie?" he continued, eyeing up the red-head.
"Men are pigs..." the girl standing next to him with brown hair elbowed him, "Though your friend isn't bad..." she winked at Sora.
Sora and Kairi gave each other a glance and held their respective friend's hand through the club's doors. They shared the same thought as they parted ways: their friends were both morons.
My heart began its beating the moment I first saw you.