After an uneasy night, Riku woke up to see that Sora was wide awake.
"You ok?" Riku asked Sora, who looked like he hadn't slept a wink. In his optimism, Sora nodded, though no smile stole his face.
"I want to go." He whispered, his arm still hurting.
"Alright, lets go." Riku stood up and helped up his friend. "Oh no." Riku said when he saw Sora's arm. "Sora, it's snapped completely! Why didn't you tell me!" Riku couldn't believe that Sora had endured the pain he did for all those hours in the dark rain.
"What choice did I have?" Sora shrugged with a fake smile and Riku shook his head.
"Lets get you home." Riku took Sora's good hand and held it as the two walked side by side for hours.
"So, how do we get back to Radiant Garden?" Riku asked, wishing there was a simpler way.
"We need to find someone with magic, or warping abilities."
"Great, so, we're stuck here."
"What?" Sora didn't want to believe it.
"Who are we going to find in a jungle with magic or warping powers? We've been here for hours and haven't seen more than birds." Riku sighed and Sora frowned.
"I wish my magic could transport us, but I cant; I'm not strong enough." Sora felt so depressed as he realized just how helpless he was.
"Hey, cut it out. You're plenty strong."
"No I'm not; you said it yourself." Sora said, dragging his feet.
Riku stopped walking and Sora did too. "I lied. I only said that because," Riku looked away, embarrassed.
"Because?"
"Because I didn't know what else to say, ok?" Riku shrugged and Sora frowned, but accepted the blatant lie.
"Kay." Sora said and the two continued their journey in a direction they couldn't make out to a destination they didn't know.
After hours of pointless wandering, the sun began to set.
"I don't want to spend the night here again. It's creepy." Sora admitted and Riku shivered at the idea.
"No kidding. This entire place is creepy, and even more so at night." Riku sighed, wishing that he could help Sora get back to Leon's so he could get the medical attention he needed.
"Wait, what's that?" Sora pointed with his good arm to some red flickering light.
"Fire! Hey, over here!" Riku waved his arms wildly and Sora whistled loudly as the fire grew, coming nearer.
"They're coming!" Sora cheered excitedly.
"Oh great, it's Axel." Riku smirked as the Nobody held his palm out with fire floating over it.
"No need to thank me so generously." Axel rolled his eyes. "Alright you two, through the warp. Leon's worried." Axel opened a warp and they all rushed through it as the rain started once again.
"How did you find us?" Riku asked, shivering from the damp clothes that soaked his skin.
"Leon sent us four nobodies to find you; he said that it shouldn't be taking two warriors such as yourselves this long to deliver a letter. So we all split up and I found you, the end." Axel said as Riku helped Sora up the stairs and into their room. "He ok?" Axel asked at the way Sora was shivering and quivering.
"He needs help; his arm is completely broken." Riku said and Axel nodded.
"I'll go get Leon. He's at the Bailey, but I'll be back soon." Axel warped away and Riku helped Sora out of his wet shirt.
"Try to stay still." Riku said, afraid to remove his shirt over his bad arm since it was moving as a part of Sora's trembling body.
"Kay." Sora gritted his teeth and Riku began to unbuckle the brunettes pants.
"Relax; you need to get out of these before you get sick." Riku explained when he felt Sora twitch as his actions. Sora nodded and Riku stripped him off his pants, and then, his boxers. Standing naked and exposed, Sora covered himself with his good hand while Riku picked out some dry clean boxers and pants to change his friend into. Without compromising Sora's comfort, Riku changed him while keeping him shirtless, since Leon would want to treat his arm without the nuisance of sleeves.
"Aren't you cold too?" Sora asked, still shivering.
"Yeah." Riku nodded, taking off his clothes and changing quickly, just in time as Leon and Axel returned via warp.
"Wait out there." Leon ordered and Axel and Riku obeyed, going downstairs to wait for nearly two hours as they could only hear Sora's yelling at Leon's yelling back.
"You think they're ok?" Riku asked, restless as he sat nervously on the couch. Axel on the other hand, looked as comfortable as could be.
"Yeah, I'm sure they're fine." Axel sipped some of his soda.
"Axe, earlier, you called Sora my lover boy. What…what were you referring to?" Riku was shaking as he asked, but he wanted to know.
Axel broke into a wide smile. "Why?"
"Just tell me." Riku said, not one for guessing games.
"Look, he likes you. How could you not see it? Talk about blank with a capital B! But if you want to know how much he likes you, ask him, not me." Axel stood up and walked into his kitchen to grab some food. Ten minutes later, Leon returned downstairs.
"Alright, he's finally asleep." Leon shook his head.
"Is he ok?"
"Poor little guy. How long ago did he break it?" Leon asked, not necessarily answering the question directed at him.
"Yesterday night. Nearly twenty four hours ago." Riku admitted, sad at the facts.
"It wasn't easy, but it'll heal so long as he doesn't push himself. Riku, I'm leaving you to care for him." Leon ordered, knowing by now that the silver haired boy wouldn't mind at all.
"Of course." Riku said. "Is he ok?"
"He'll be fine. Right now, he just needs to sleep through the pain."
"Was he, was he in pain?" Riku knew he was asking a stupid question, but that didn't stop him.
Leon put his face in his hands, clearly tired. Then, he nodded. "A lot of pain."
Riku frowned, feeling guilty that his bragging comment is what pissed Sora off to fall down that booby trap; if he would have been honest, if he told Sora how he really felt, he would have fallen instead, and Sora wouldn't have broken his arm. But he was scared. He didn't want to think of Sora that way, but he couldn't help it. How else was his stomach supposed to feel when Sora flashes that bright smile with his big round eyes all squinted? How else is his heart supposed to feel when Sora holds his hand, or his arm, and keeps it like it's all he has left?
"Where are you going?" Leon asked as Riku headed for the stairs.
"I'm tired." Riku answered, still waling.
"Riku, I know you're worried, but he needs to sleep. If you wake him up, he's only going to feel the pain, and I know you don't want that for him." Leon stood up and Riku nodded.
"How?" Riku asked, surprised at himself, so he laughed.
"Huh?" Leon was confused at how the silverrette went from sad to laughing so quickly.
"How did you get him to fall asleep?" Riku asked, laughing not in amusement, but in recognition. He knew he was only asking, because deep down inside, he was jealous.
"I held him." Leon admitted, reading Riku's mind.
"And he fell asleep instantly?" Riku didn't want to hear a 'yes'. He wanted to be the only one whose arms could cradle the keyblade wielder to sleep.
"No. He cried himself to sleep, but it wasn't easy." Leon cleared his throat and Riku nodded.
"I won't wake him up; promise." Riku went up the stairs and into his room, completely shocked to hear Sora sniffling as he lay in bed. "Hey, you're supposed to be asleep." Riku said, sliding in by Sora.
"I was, but it hurts." Sora exhaled loudly, trying to cover up the sound of his tears.
"It's ok. I have you now." Riku held Sora and Sora hated how desperate he was for the boys touch. He melted easily into Riku's arms, slowly able to relax back into sleep. An hour later, as Riku watched Sora sleep, Leon peeked through the door.
Riku turned his head, then smiled.
"He looks so peaceful." Leon whispered and Riku nodded.
"He's in good hands." Riku said as he rubbed them over the boys back, careful not to disturb the arm that was bandaged.
"He literally is." Leon smiled, then left.
Before he knew it, Riku fell into a deep sleep, waking up the next morning as Sora kicked him accidentally.
"Ow!"
"Sorry!" Sora yawned and Riku smiled.
"How you feeling?" He massaged Sora's back with his hand.
"Better." Sora said, snuggling his head into the pillow.
"Stay here, I'm going to get you some food." Riku got up and left, feeling cold the second he stood up until he returned back to Sora's side. "Here." Riku offered the toast to Sora, who munched gratefully.
"Thank you and all, but it's kind of burnt."
"Yea well, Axel was in charge of breakfast again." Riku rolled his eyes and Sora giggled. "What?" Riku asked, loving the giggle, no doubt, but confused as to why he did.
"Nothing." Sora blushed and Riku felt bad.
"Tell me, please?" Riku asked and Sora blushed even deeper a red.
"Well, I think it's…I think you..you're cute when you're angry." Sora admitted and Riku sat with wide eyes.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Although, you're angry a lot, so," Sora started, but shrugged when he stuffed his cheeks with more burnt toast.
"You are ridiculous." Riku laughed as he shook his head.
"Where are you going?" Sora asked, sad to see Riku heading for the door.
"I have to help Roxas."
"With what?" Sora whined, tilting his head to the side.
"He wants to learn a technique I developed with my blade. Anyway, you need sleep."
"I slept all night long," Sora put one foot on the ground but Riku lifted his leg and put it back in bed.
"Stay." Riku said and Sora pouted.
"Riku!" Sora growled and Riku broke into a smile. "What?" Sora found the smile on Riku's face far too suspicious.
"You're cute when you're angry." Riku leaned in close, his eyes right in front of Sora's. The brunette boy blushed, gulping loudly as he looked away.
"Just go help Roxas, you big dummy." Sora pretended to stay angry and Riku laughed at the horrible acting.
"Alright. Stay in bed, or else I'll have Cloud sit outside and guard the door." Riku messed with Sora's spikes and left, only to return a couple hours later.
"Finally!" Sora jumped up and down on the bed as he sat there.
"What?" Riku asked, tired from training with Sora's Nobody.
"I'm SO bored!" Sora rolled his eyes and Riku smiled.
"Well you have to stay in bed."
"But I don't want to."
"Sora, you need to let your arm heal." Riku said and Sora gave him a death glare.
"I'm sick of staying in bed."
"Well Axel is going to warp to ask Merlin to cast a spell and heal it for you."
"Oh good! I tried healing it myself, but for some reason, it wont work."
"Yeah, I think you broke it pretty badly. Anyway, Axel should be back soon if he left when he said he would. Then, once Merlin is done, you can get out of bed."
"Ok. Riku?" Sora asked when the taller man when he headed back for the door.
"What is it Sora?" Riku asked and Sora thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"Nevermind." Sora went back into the blankets to lie down.
"Sora?" Riku asked, walking to the bed and sitting on the edge.
"I was going to ask you if you could keep me company. I was so lonely without you and Kairi for so long; I don't want to be alone anymore." Sora looked away, trying not to feel as sad as he used to.
Riku smiled. "I was going to bring you some lunch and get some cards or something."
"Oh….thanks." Sora smiled sheepishly.
"No problem. I'll be right back, ok?" Riku once again messed with the boys hair, even as he complained about it, then left. "Alright, so since Axel's at Disney Castle, the food isn't burnt to a crisp." Riku extended Sora a sandwich and helped him eat.
"Thanks, Riku." Sora smiled and Riku nodded his welcome.
"Want to play cards till Merlin gets here?"
"Sure."
Within the next twenty minutes, Merlin appeared, healing Sora's arm, good as new.
"Free!" Sora yelled, moving his arm without pain or limits.
"Now now there, it may be healed, but go easy on it for the next day or two." Merlin instructed before Axel warped him back to his home world.
"You heard him Sora, rest up." Leon ordered and Sora grunted.
"That's all I've been doing." Sora complained to Kairi, Riku, Leon, Cloud, and Roxas.
"Sora, we cant have you hurting it again." Kairi said and Riku nodded.
"Just relax." Roxas shrugged.
"I'll look after him." Riku folded his arms.
"Good. Come on everyone, we have work to do." Leon said and everyone left the room, except the two boys that lived there.
"You tired?" Sora asked as Riku went into the bed beside him.
"Yeah." Riku sighed.
"Here," Sora sat up and helped Riku sit up against the headboard in the middle of the bed. Then, he spread Riku's legs carefully, and allowed himself to sit in the space he just created. Riku sat speechless, finding everything that this brunette boy did to be beyond adorable. Riku put his arms lazily around Sora, who looked up into Riku's eyes. "Better?" Sora asked, in the same tone that the silverrette always did.
"Better." Riku smiled and lowered his body slightly down into the bed, much more comfortable at the thought of having Sora lie in his arms.
"Do you want to nap?" Sora asked, smiling when he felt Riku nod his chin into the brown spikes.
"Aren't you bored though?" Riku asked, his eyes already closed.
"Not when I'm with you." Sora whispered and Riku smiled.
"Night Sora." Riku put his head on the pillow, keeping Sora in his arms as he twisted on his side.
"Night Riku." Sora turned to face his crush, wrapping his arms around him.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading chapter three! I'm in the middle of final exams so I really don't have much else to say, sorry! I'm working on a couple more akurokus and of course they will have soriku's and possibly even some Zemyx, so please stay tuned for that. I'm still in the early stages for those, but remember that No More Broken Promises is going to get an extension, so please read it if you haven't.
To 18plusforme: Aww, yes I love giving Riku a soft side, and Sora is the ultimate adorable uke, just saying lol. Thanks for loving it and for giving me your feedback. It means a lot ^_^
To shadowridge: Aww, YAY! Thanks! I'm really glad that you liked it. Haha, thanks, I am honored to be considered one of your favorites. I did take your poll, although choosing just one is like torture! Lmao. Welcome to fanfic! I'm still pretty new. I've had an account for about half a year, a lil more, but I just started posting about 4 or 5 months ago. Which may seem like a lot, but it doesn't really feel that way. A lot of authors here have been posting for years! Ah! I have a ways to go lol. But thanks again, I cant wait to hear more from you. Feel free to check out some of my other works too =)
Thank you everyone for reading! Check my page for fanfic updates on what is to be posted next and such!
Heart, Sarabellum