A/N: So I'm feeling pretty giddy about this story. I did some major pen to paper planning about it, and have pretty much planned the entire thing during my history lesson. Probably the most productive thing I've done in history all year tbh. Anyway, massive props and love love love to outwitted, Yume the devil, Chronos for their reviews :) your comments made me feel all good and inspired to carry on with the story when I read them. So bearing that in mind, shall we get on with the next chapter?
Anyway, here's all the disclaimer lark saying yeah, I don't own kingdom hearts or it's characters since they are all property of Square-Enix and Disney, but if I did, Riku and Sora would spend the majority of the game making out.
Riku talked too much. Sora noticed that the boy was particularly chatty the longer the car journey dragged on, and despite all his best attempts to appear stoic and silent, Riku didn't quite seem to get the message that talking wasn't the way to go with the boy. Apparently when it came to a conversation with Riku, resistance was futile. This just became something else Sora held against the boy, not that that silenced Riku either. Sora wasn't going down without a fight, he used every ounce of will in his body to keep silent, and too look out of the window in a bid to stop himself from staring at Riku in a way he knew he wouldn't be able to help otherwise. Riku continued to speak, and Sora couldn't help but feel an irked twitch of his eye and a contradictory pleasant upturn at the corner of his mouth as the boy babbled on, speaking both excitedly and wistfully at the same time.
"This place is so pleasant and warm. I mean, even now when it's raining it still feels really hot. Does that happen often? I've never been to a place where that happens, and it certainly doesn't happen in Russia. Have you ever been to Russia? It's a great place, I'm sure you'd like it. Not that I'm assuming anything about your personality, or forcing Russia on you, I'm just...recommending it so to say. Does that bother you? I have this habit of just talking sometimes---" And that was how the conversation continued for the first half of the journey to Sora's house. Riku would talk, then ask a question, and before Sora could even contemplate answering, he was back again with more talking. Sora figured the questions he asked weren't actually meant to be answered, they weren't designed for that purpose at all. And it was worse, because he knew he was doing it. He knew how much he was talking and how undeniably annoying it was, but that still didn't stop him. It was ignorance at it's best. Sora couldn't help but resent that about his personality. Overtly chatty people did not stand high in his regards, after all, he could only just stand to be around Roxas, but even then the majority of the time they spent together was with Sora physically restraining himself from ripping the other boys hair out in annoyance.
But the only pulling of hair you want to do with Riku is the sexual kind. Clearly.
Sora mentally slapped himself. He did in no way, want to sexually tug at Riku's apparently tuggable hair. Even though it did tease him, hanging there with his bangs lightly in his face, slightly shielding those eyes that seemed to Sora to be looking straight into his soul. As cliché as that sounded, it was true. Sora could feel his fingers twitch slightly in agreement, as if they were saying 'Go on...touch him.' tempting him to do so. With thin tight lips, Sora looked away, staring at the scenery outside as Riku drove at a casual safe speed. It seemed strange to Sora; there was nothing particularly exciting about Riku, there was no real or apparent fire to his personality, he didn't appear to be a thrill seeking individual, and while his hair was such an extraordinary shade of silver and his eyes were a dazzling green, Sora could safely admit, he'd seen better. So why, he questioned, did he find the boy so interesting? Interesting enough that he would get in a car with him at least. It was an enigma that Sora found he had gotten so wrapped up in, that he failed to notice Riku asking him a question that he was actually meant to answer this time. It wasn't until he felt Riku nudge him with his elbow that he showed any recognition.
"What?" Sora frowned, not meaning to bark at Riku, but not feeling sorry for doing so either. He didn't like to be elbowed, who did? But he was sure this didn't excuse his harsh tone, and just when he'd expected Riku's face to fall in hurt, the silver haired boy laughed under his breath, shaking his head ever so lightly it was as if the movement hadn't happened.
"I don't know the way to your house."
"Oh." Sora was silent for a moment after his short utterance, and looking out of the window he tried to pinpoint exactly how far they had come. Looking around he saw familiar sights, and while they were still at least twenty minutes from his own home, he had to admit that they had come a long way. Sora had barely noticed the time pass or exactly how far they had come until now, and since it wasn't the engaging conversation that had preoccupied his mind, he put his lack of knowing down to pure lack of caring. After all, it didn't matter how long it took to get home, just as long as he got there. Though sooner rather than later would have been appreciated in this case. The idea of being stuck in the car with Riku and his inane rambling much longer was beginning to pose a threat to his sanity.
"You can just drop me off here if you want. My house is still another twenty minutes away, it seems a bit pointless to have you drive me all that way when you'll only have to double back on yourself to get back to town." Sora hated and loved living so far away from school. Most times it was a good thing, it not only worked to increase the distance we was allowed to travel without his tag setting off alarms for those watching him, but it meant that he could safely look out of his window and not see the embodiment of hell that was his high school. Those were obvious perks. But with the good comes the bad, and the fact that it took exceptionally long journeys to get to and from school, was most definitely a con.
"Surely though, if it takes twenty minutes in a car from here, it will take you longer on foot?" Riku cocked an eyebrow, and looked ugly doing it. Smug actions like that didn't suit his face which looked so angelic and pristine. Sora wanted to tell him, but politely refrained for the time being. Sora noted the way Riku said what he had, as if he were trying to make some really elaborate and obvious point that he thought Sora should know and that he took great pride in bringing to his attention. What he failed to take into account, was that Sora didn't really care.
"Probably." Sora shrugged, unphased. What exactly was he trying to get at? Was he trying to say that Sora wouldn't possibly be able to walk that long? Raining, it was. But invalid, he was not. He was entirely capable of walking home, whether it took twenty minutes, thirty minutes, or even an hour. He would do it just to get home.
Perhaps you should explain your 'I don't care how long' theory too him? Though this would actually require talking to him, thus actually requiring you to act like a sociable human being. Perhaps maybe it is best if you walk Sora, clearly polite conversation is too much for you. Sora wanted to scream at his mental self, but Riku once again caught his attention before he could become too absorbed in himself.
"Then, theoretically, it would be wiser for me to drop you off actually at your house right? After all it's raining, you're cold, and will probably catch your death if you go outside again. Do you catch colds often Sora? I don't want to be the one responsible for your getting, I don't know, hypothermia or something---" Oh god, there is was again. The Riku way of conversation. He wanted to stop Riku, to tell him that yes it might have been raining but actually, Sora wasn't that cold, in fact he felt quite warm and comfortable, though he figured this was probably thanks to the heating of Riku's otherwise failing car. He also wanted to say that no, he didn't catch colds often, in fact it was rare for Sora to ever get sick with anything, so Riku probably could let Sora walk home and be able to sleep easy knowing that he wasn't suffering from a case of hypothermia. Despite wanting to say all this, he didn't, and frowning Sora couldn't believe he'd got himself into this situation. Sighing irately he crossed his arms, interrupting Riku, most probably for the good of all mankind as well as himself.
"Look, whatever. If you are going to drop me off at my place, which I can tell from the look on your face you intend to do, you missed the turning about five minutes back that way." Sora pointed behind him, pinning Riku with a fiercely irritated stare. There was no mistaking the satisfaction on Riku's face. Sora paused in his anger, cocking an eyebrow as Riku coolly did a U-turn, still smiling that smug satisfied sort of smile. Sora wanted to slap it right off, but politely, refrained. "What's so funny?"
"You don't like me much do you?" The abrupt and from nowhere question caused Sora to pause a little, noting that this was the first question that Riku had asked without following it up with more inane babble. In doing so, he put Sora into a position that, ideally, he didn't want to be in. What was he meant to say to that? The truth of course would be best, it would work in keeping Riku off Sora's back, and Sora himself could emerge himself back into his normal lifestyle of ignoring just about everyone until college rolled around. Yet, the truth would also mean Riku wouldn't talk to him anymore, he'd probably realize just how much he was wasting his time trying to befriend Sora, meaning he'd start spending his time elsewhere. Not with Sora. The brunette didn't know why, but this bothered him. Not because he liked Riku, but the idea of his absence was a little unsettling.
"I don't see how thats relevant to anything we're talking about." Sora cocked an eyebrow, mentally cheering at his skillful avoidance of the question. If he couldn't tell him the truth, then Sora could easily just distract the boy by pussy footing around actually answering it.
"Talking? We aren't talking at all. The whole car ride you've been glaring at the window. I'd say that makes it completely relevant." Goddamn him for being so annoyingly right, it made Sora hate him all the more. Frowning intensely Sora tried to avoid Riku's amused glances, and rolling his eyes opted for the unapproachable arms crossed over chest stance. If Riku wanted to have this discussion, then Sora wouldn't be held responsible for any pride damaged during it's making.
"I just don't have much to say. It doesn't mean I don't like you." Sora paused, only realizing that saying that made it sound as if Sora did like him. Oh god, Riku was playing an unintentional mind game with him, and Sora's brain felt a little frazzled already. Frowning, he quickly carried on, trying to deter Riku from what he had just said. Luckily the boy didn't show much recognition to what Sora had said, something Sora was thankful for. "I neither like, nor dislike you. I just, don't know you." Riku cocked his eyebrow again, and Sora noted that he still looked hideous doing so. There were some things certain people should never do. With some, they should never wear yellow. With Riku, it was cocking his eyebrow, smiling lopsidedly, looking in Sora's general direction. The list went on.
"Well, you seem like you don't want to know me." Rikusounded less amused as he said that, and for a moment, there was a pause. Sora looked to his left, signaling with his hand for Riku to turn, who followed the silent instruction with a neat turn, pulling into a road that appeared to go on forever in a long line of large houses. Sora motioned once again silently to carry straight on, and let the silence in the car continue. Relief swept over him that maybe he had escaped the awkward and in his mind, totally unnecessary conversation. Alas, Riku was apparently not one to let these things just drop. "So? Am, I right?"
Why, are you one of those people that needs to be right all the time in order to feel somewhat good about yourself? Then yes, you are right. I don't want to know you, I don't want to be friends with you, and I most certainly do not want to be having this conversation with you....However, the idea that you might never talk to me again does actually make me feel a little sick, so if we could swiftly move on from this conversation and go back to our comfortable silence, I'd be eternally grateful.
"I don't see the point in making new friends. Everyone is going to be going off to college at the end of the year, and any new friends I make now aren't going to be true friends that last forever. So whats the point?" Sora shrugged, not saying what he wanted to say, but speaking the truth none the less. He knew who he would be keeping in touch with when he went to college, and any new friends he might make now were never going to be a major part of his life. The way he saw it, was that he was too far into his high school life to forge strong trusting bonds with people, it was partly the reason why he spent most of his time with Roxas. As much as the boy grated on his nerves, he could calmly admit that he trusted the boy. He looked across at Riku, noting that his reaction was one of..shock? Outrage? Incredulousness? The silverette shook his head, once again following the motion of Sora's to turn another corner. Sora was about to begin wondering what the boy was thinking, but didn't have to wait long as Riku's voice, now soft and slightly taken aback filled the car.
"What's the point? The point of friends are so you don't feel alone. I understand you might not be with these people for the rest of your life but, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be a part of it at all." Sora frowned, clearly offended. Who did this guy think he was? Sora had signed up for a ride home, not a lecture on how he should be living his life. "No one likes to be alone Sora."
"Have you ever thought that maybe this is why people don't want to get to know you? I mean, you've had like, what a thirty minute conversation with me and now thats apparently you now know me well enough to tell me how to live my life? There is such a thing as being over friendly." Sora's voice showed the offense he felt. He didn't know where Riku was getting off telling Sora how to live his life, but he needed to urgently book a ticket back to the real world. You couldn't just do shit like that, because as far as Sora was aware, people didn't react well to being told what to do.
"I was only offering my advice Sora, I didn't mean to offend you..." The look on Riku's face showed that he was genuinely apologetic. His brow furrowed, and Sora could tell from his darting eyes that he wanted to fix them completely on Sora. Had he not had to keep his eye on the road, Sora knew he would have done just that. But it was too late, the damage had already been done, and no amount of apologizing could ebb out the insult Sora felt pricking at him.
"Well, I don't need your advice. In fact, the only thing I need from you is to stop the car." Sora huffed a little, grabbing his bag in preparation to jump out and walk the rest of the distance to his house. The atmosphere in the car had become too much, and judging by the way Riku sighed and reluctantly pulled the car to a halt at the sidewalk, Sora knew he must have realized this too. Sora had known that the second he had chosen to accept the lift home from Riku he would regret it, and as usual he had been right. He found himself even more irked by Riku than he had been earlier, and it was obvious amongst the both of them that the car ride had done more damage than it had good. As soon as the car was completely stationary, Sora flung the door open, grabbing his backpack and bundling himself out of the car faster and less elegantly than he had planned. Catching his foot on the seat belt as he escaped, Sora stumbled slightly regaining his composure quickly but still managing to look as if he were practicing river dance. Riku frowned, peering out from the window at Sora as if he actually cared.
"Are you---" Sora didn't listen, instead he only slammed the car door, throwing his bag violently over his shoulder and stalking away in a sulk that radiated maturity. Grabbing the edges of his coat he pulled it tighter across his body to shield himself from the rain, which truthfully seemed to have increased upon his leaving of the car. It was as if it were mad at him for leaving Riku, and wanted to show him just how mad it truly was. Sora grumbled, and reluctantly threw a look over his shoulder to see Riku's car still sitting there. He couldn't see them, but he knew full well that big emerald eyes were watching him stalk away in the rear view mirror. Life had never felt so Big Brother.
No one likes to be alone Sora.
Sora scoffed, but wanted to scream at how right Riku had been. "Stupid Riku..."
Riku watched Sora carefully in the rear view mirror as he stalked away. He wasn't entirely sure what to make of the boy, though there were things he couldn't deny about the brunette that attracted him. First, was his fresh and honest take on the world. Riku had always been surrounded by people who saw the world as puppies and rainbows, and instead of shunning it, Riku sort of welcomed Sora's pessimism, it made him feel grounded like knew where he stood with Sora, even if he wasn't standing where he wanted to be with the small brown haired boy. The second thing he felt pulled him towards the boy, was the way in which he said what he meant. It was a quality that Riku wished more people possessed, himself included. He knew he would never be able to have that sense of honesty about him, he would just be too scared of hurting someones feelings. Sora however didn't seem so worried. Glancing up at the rear view mirror again, Riku found he was looking dead on with Sora who had turned ever so slightly to look back at the car he had so hurriedly left. Part of Riku wanted the boy to be looking at him, but he knew full well the only reason he'd turned to look was to see if Riku was pulling away like he so obviously wanted. Defeated, Riku tore his eyes away from the rear view mirror and put the car back into drive. His second Fiat, which had seen better days, made a horrible clunking sound as he did so, sufficing to signal to Sora that Riku was about to pull away and leave him alone. Riku stole a glance to the mirror, seeing that this relieved the boy, who had now wrapped his arms tight around his small body to shield himself from the cold rain that pelted down on his unrelenting. Riku's heart went out to him, and he had to resist the sudden urge to envelope him in his arms and carry him back to the warmth of his car. Instead, he began to pull away, knowing that this would please Sora, even though it killed him to do so. He had no idea why, but he found himself wanting only to make the boy feel good, feel happy, and like him in return for doing so. Riku blushed intensely at that thought, and muttering before he did so, began to pull away down the street, watching every now and then as he saw Sora becoming smaller in the rear view mirror.
"Get a grip Riku..."
"So how was it in the car with Riku?" Sora sighed in exhaustion, holding the phone up to his ear lazily he threw himself down on the bed, landing flat on his back and bouncing slightly on his springy mattress with the impact. Roxas's voice sounded small on the end of the phone, and despite the lack of a 'Hello Sora' or a 'How you doing Sora?! It's Roxas', Sora knew it was him. There was no mistaking the sound of that overly hyper tone of voice and the smugness that came with it. It had the Roxas lilt to it, something no one could mimic. Sora cocked an eyebrow, squirming a little as he felt the familiar itch at his ankle. He tried to persevere for a moment, until eventually he had to give in and reach over for a nearby ruler, slotting it between his skin and the tag and itching away.
"Excuse me? How did you know I drove home with Ivana?" Sora frowned, smelling a rat. Roxas made a slight groaning sound on the end of the phone.
"Oh god, you're referring to him by last name only? That never means good things with you." Roxas sighed at the end of his sentence, and as Sora flopped back down to lay on his back discarding his ruler, he frowned.
"You haven't answered my question. How did you know I drove home with him?" There was a short pause, and Sora could only imagine the story Roxas was trying to concoct in order to wrangle his way out of this one. Sora began swatting at the dreamcatcher he had dangling about his bed. It wasn't there because Sora suffered from nightmares and needed them gone, it was just more there because Sora liked the security it provided. He felt like he couldn't have nightmares with it there, like they didn't have the chance to infiltrate his mind. He swatted at it again, allowing Roxas a moment longer to collect his story together, before he abruptly cleared his throat, gaining the boys attention. Roxas bumbled a little, tripping over his words as he attempted to get them out and have them sound genuine at the same time.
"I felt bad about leaving you on the sidewalk. You've never noticed how much of a great friend I am, so I can see why you'd think this is impossible, but I did feel really guilty. So I came back to come get you again, figuring you probably wouldn't have got far, and when I pull up, what do I see?" He paused for dramatic effect, in true Roxas style. "You, Mr strife, getting into Riku Ivanas car!" He exclaimed it as if it were something so major that it were almost news worthy, and rolling his eyes Sora pushed himself up, sitting with a slight slouch as he stared at the ceiling, lolling his head back. He was sure that Roxas probably hadn't doubled back to pick him up again, and he was slowly opening up to the idea that perhaps Roxas had planned the whole thing. But as usual with Roxas you would probably never know the whole story or the whole truth, and Sora had realized some time ago that it was pointless. Trying to figure out the truth with Roxas, was like trying to complete a rubix cube drunk. Nothing ever matched up, but you always came away thinking you'd cracked it, only to be disappointed next time you looked at it.
"Did you not think of stopping me and saving me from what I can only describe as being the car ride embodiment of hell?" Roxas chuckled a girly pathetic chuckle on the other end of the phone, causing Sora to frown. Did he not understand how bad it had been? Sora didn't know how more blatantly obvious he could make it, though he was sure Roxas wouldn't care anyway. The boy liked to play games, and apparently Sora had become his newest pawn.
"Lighten up. I just didn't want to ruin your game." Sora lifted an eyebrow at Roxas's words, before frowning intently.
"What game? I don't have game."
"Apparently so. If you did you wouldn't be talking to me on the phone right now. You'd be with Riku, doing all kinds of nasty and unspeakable things. Isn't that what you want?"
Yes. YES. YES!
"No, I don't want that in any way, shape or form."
LIES!
Sora mentally attacked himself, blushing like a madman at the thought of doing things like what Roxas had no doubt imagined with Riku. There would probably be biting involved, and the phrase 'sucks like a vacuum cleaner' came to mind. He noted Roxas chuckle once more on the end of the phone, knowing what Sora was thinking during the short silence between them. That boy certainly did have a one track mind, and apparently it was rubbing off on Sora. The brunette shook his head, bringing himself back to the more PG-13 real world. Downstairs, he could hear a faint knocking at the door, no doubt this being the routine police check up to make sure he was home and up to only good things. Sora rolled his eyes, swinging his legs over the side of his bed and placing his feet on the cold wooden floor, still holding the phone to his ear, listening as Roxas broke the silence he had allowed to happen, no doubt just to make Sora conjure up a visual aid to go with his lewd suggestion.
"You might not want it, but you need it. Would it kill you to lighten up a bit? You're brooding routine is starting to get a bit...tired." Sora padded downstairs, carefully stepping over his rucksack which he had hastily discarded at the bottom of the stairs when he had rushed into the house, earlier being so eager to escape Riku he had barely had time to think about where he threw things. He just wanted to stop feeling so under inspection from those big green eyes that he could still see so clearly now, despite the animosity he felt for the Russian.
"Sex doesn't make a man. It makes an addict. Besides, no one said you have to put up with my brooding if you didn't want to. You know where the door is in this friendship, feel free to use it anytime Roxas." The comment had meant to hurt, but as usual the super and spice boy on the other end of the phone didn't feel at all offended, and instead just tutted through his teeth at Sora's attempt to be a horrible person.
"I know the reason for all this tension. Why else do you think I offered Riku up on a platter for you?"
"So you admit you had something to do with all that happened today?" There was a slight pause after Sora's comment, and smirking a little he could hear the boy on the other end mutter 'Fuck.' Before Sora could speak again, he was met with the sound of static, or what he could more specifically pin point as a candy wrapper being crushed in Roxas's hand at the mouth piece of the phone. From behind the rustling, Sora made out Roxas's voice, shouting to be heard over his fake static.
"Sora?! I'm so sorry I'm...er...going through a tunnel. I can't hear you, you're breaking up. I'll call you later. Bye Sor---" With that, Roxas ended the call, and Sora was met with the flat dialing tone. He rolled his eyes at his friends lack of common sense. How could he think that would fool him? Cutting off the dialing tone and ending the call at his end, Sora placed the phone gently on a nearby table. The gentle wrapping came from the door again, and sighing, Sora picked up his spirits enough to answer it. As he did so, Sora looked up into the one constant face in his life, that smiled down at him in return. It was rare for someone to have such a healthy relationship with their probation officer, but for Sora, his had filled the role of the brother that had left him and landed him in this mess in the first place.
"What took you so long Cloud, I thought for a second there that you weren't coming." Sora smirked, and it worked on his face. When he did it, he couldn't help but think back to when Riku had, and how much it had not suited him. He felt a little satisfaction that it worked for him, just one more thing he could hold against the smug Russian boy who, quite clearly, stood in low regards with him right now. Shrugging his shoulders a little, Sora's probation officer slid his way inside the house, letting Sora close the door behind him. Cloud was tall, one thing a person noticed when they first met him, and bore on top of his head some of the most dazzling blonde hair a person would ever see. His face was an exceptionally kind looking one, and a person couldn't help but smile upon seeing it. Even Sora. The blonde chuckled a deep chuckle, standing in the doorway as he rifled through his rucksack. He seemed young to be a probation officer, but Sora had figured out upon first meeting him that this was an intentional factor in their relationship. After all, Sora himself was a young offender, and he figured the powers that be would probably find him being more receptive to someone nearer his own age than some balding fifty year old ex marine. So far, they had been right.
"Oh you know me, I just can't stay away from you Sora." He plucked a notepad and a pen from his less than organized rucksack and it's contents, smiling a goofy but cool grin as he did so. Sora felt his stomach do a slight jump at that, but before he could reach the heavens, Cloud brought him crashing back down, winking a little. "No seriously, I can't stay away from you Sora. It's my job after all." He chuckled a little, ruffling the younger boys hair. Sora's heart fell.
"Oh." He muttered, following cloud as he made himself at home as usual. Normally the house always seemed so quiet, with the absence of his brother and his father out at work till late most nights, Sora had become used to the quiet that came with his house. However, having Cloud in the house and flopping himself down on the couch, Sora noticed the silence begin to ebb away. It was a welcomed relief after all the awkward silences and harsh pauses the day had been filled with. In fact, he would be relieved when he could finally put this day behind him. Cloud smiled, opening his notebook which essentially contained Sora's entire life story no doubt. One day he would read it, but only when he felt sane enough to do so.
"So, tell me how the day's been." Sora was sure Cloud had no idea just what a can of worms he was opening, but before he could stop himself, Sora was opening his mouth, letting out an exasperated sigh ready to recall and relive the day all over again. It had after all, been quite a day.
"Well..."
And all the words that followed, centered around one boy who had become the newest bane of Sora's ever so complicated life.
Riku Ivana.
