Heavenly
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"Mom!" Sora shouted as he wandered through the house, a book in hand. The young brunet boy scrambled up the stairs to his Mother's bedroom. "Mom!" he called again, excitement coursing through his youthful veins. Sora was so damn excited.
"Yes, Sora?" his mother asked as she sat on her bed, sorting through an opened file. The kind, brunette woman set down the file and looked warmly to her son. "What is it?" "Can we go ice skating in Rockefeller Center?" Sora requested with a bright grin. "I asked Riku but he said he was busy and that he hated to ice skate. I asked Leon but he was busy with his friends. Can you take me, mom?" Sora's eyes twinkled.
"I would but I have a case to work on." She frowned and ruffled her son's hair. "But I promise I'll take you sometime soon, okay? Just not today." She kissed his forehead and hugged him. "How about I make it up to you and order pizza tonight?" Sora grinned and nodded feverishly. Everything was so much simpler when he was younger. Pizza and dreams. So simple.
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Sora staggered into his apartment, having not breathed once since he left the bar. Just the mere sight of Leon and Riku, his brother and ex best friend, kissing,had forced him to scamper away. Now Sora resided in the entrance to his apartment. The brunet, earth-bound angel, kicked the door shut behind him. His thoughts were jumbled about, juxtaposed in his head. There was no clear sequential order in his mind. Just an unorganized cluster of events. All Sora remembered were a few simple facts. One being that his brother had betrayed him and now was dating Riku, of all people. Two, Leon nor Riku recognized him—and why should they? It had been eight years. They all had matured and grown… Finally, three. Axel and Riku were friends. Sworn enemies were now the best of friends. Sora's mind hurt unbearably. The brunet ambled unsteadily down the hallway that lead to his quaint bedroom. However, before the angel could reach his destination, icy blue eyes locked onto broken shards of glass scattered about the floor. Right. He had knocked the vase over the other night. From what? From anger and a tinge of jealousy. Sora quivered as he stared at the glass that oddly shimmered in the eerie moonlight leaking in through the window to his right—one of the only windows in his apartment.
The feral need to prove that he was a human grew in Sora once again. Treacherously, Sora lowered himself down onto his knees, beside the glass shards. A shaky hand extended outwards. Carefully, Sora plucked a single piece of broken glass up and off the floor. The sides were jagged and it did not appear to fit with any other of the pieces. For some reason, Sora likened this single broken shard to his life. This shard, however, was his friendship with Axel. It just…didn't belong anymore with what it had belonged to in the start. Just like this piece of glass that had once been a beautiful vase. Now it didn't fit in with the other broken pieces.
Sora quivered and dropped the piece, listening to the small clink it made as it hit another. Without a specific reason, Sora snatched another piece of glass. This one was small. Very small. There was an expansive crack right down the center along with jagged edges. Sora knew exactly what this piece was. It was the broken and other unrecognizable relationship that he held with Riku. It was shattered—entirely broken. However, no matter how destroyed the piece was, it still mirrored what had been. And if Sora squinted long enough, he saw what could have been.
Tears swelled up in the brunet's eyes as he clutched the piece tighter in between his fingers. As he trembled Sora dragged the jagged piece of glass down the palm of his hand. He held his breath. Within seconds small drips of blood began to pool from the spot, dripping like any other human's would. Sora exhaled with utter relief. The moment of relaxation, thinking that he was human, was short lived. Before Sora had time to think a good thought, the blood turned a dark black.
It was the sign of death. But how could that be if he was already dead to begin with?...
xxxxxxxxxxx Sora had no other choice—it was either deal with the backstabbing, heartless Riku or fail completely and face the incinerator. Although he would want to choose the incinerator over Riku, he knew that was pointless. Cloud would be disappointed in him. And…well, he couldn't do that. Besides, he still had to find his parents in heaven…that was if he ever returned. So, all in all, Sora had no choice. He had to stalk Riku.
Sora stood wearily in front of Starbucks. His days were becoming trite and downright boring. And repetitive, that as well. Sora shook his head to the right and then the left. The brunet angel shivered and tossed away all his nerves and entered the coffee shop, his head held up high. Of course, it was until his memories from the night prior exploded in his mind. It didn't stop there, of course. Memories even earlier than that plagued the brunet's mind.
"Hey, Riku?" Sora held his head as he entered the shop, closing the door gently behind him. Riku was making some sort of drink for the one customer that lingered near the cash register. Sora didn't recongize the person—not like it mattered, anyhow.
"Yeah, Sora?" Riku handed the blonde girl her drink. The girl happily giggled and left the store, waving off to her friendly drink-maker. The silveret turned his attention to the right. At once, the male's expression softened.
"You'd…never hate me, right?" Sora timidly made his way over to the counter, lacing his fingers absently in front of his body. Silence engulfed the pair. Nervously, Sora's eyes flickered upwards and met ashamed aquamarine. Shame? Riku had never been one to feel that emotion before. The brunet arched an eyebrow impulsively and leaned against the counter, staring idly at the older male with fascination. Axel had told Sora Riku had changed, but how was that possible? Could a person really change that drastically in eight years time?
"…No, I'd never hate you, Sora."
Riku cleared his throat and leaned against the counter as well. "So…" he began and then promptly cleared his throat for a second time. "Listen, I'm sorry about last night, Roxas. Leon's…usually never like that. I'm not sure what came over him, and well it's rare that we…" Riku looked off, coughing, feeling a bit out of place.
"Promise, Riku?"
Sora laughed uneasily and shook his head. "Eh, it's all right," Sora answered calmly. "I'm glad for you," Sora explained and offered a fake smile. He just hoped that Riku wouldn't notice how forced it was. Riku had never been good at detecting emotions, anyhow…
"Alright, good," Riku decided as he nodded firmly. Sora sighed. He bought it. "So, what are you doing today?"
"Nothing, as usual," Sora answered with a melancholic look spreading onto his face. "I have a boring life. I've told you this," Sora said with a small laugh sounding at the end. The brunet lifted his hand into the air and dragged it through his hair. Nervous habits. Stupid nervous habits. Sora was just thankful that Riku didn't remember which habits he had when he was young.
"Roxas…what happened to your hand?" Riku asked, his grin fading almost instantly. Eyebrows knitted together seconds afterwards. "It looks like a cut or something," Riku continued, reaching outwards with his own hand. The silveret paid no heed as Sora winced away. All Riku did was snatch Sora's hand and raise it to his eye-level. "What'd you do?"
"Cut it last night making a late night snack," Sora explained in a grumble. "I was cutting fruit for the cheesecake and the knife slipped. I'm just glad that it didn't cut too deep."
Riku sighed and dropped Sora's hand, despite the awkward look the brunet gave him. "Be careful," Riku said with a gentle look. "It wouldn't be smart to end up in a hospital this close to the Christmas."
"It's…what. Twenty days away or so?" Sora asked with a dismal shrug of his shoulders.
"Twenty-one, but that's beside the point," Riku said with a chuckle as he removed his apron. "Ending up in a hospital regardless is a really stupid idea."
Sora rolled his eyes. "Well yeah. I don't really think there's a person alive that enjoys going to the hospital as a patient," Sora reasoned with a fierce nod. The pain hurts, Riku. You have no idea how horrible it feels to die. It's like someone is ripping out your already beaten heart. Every inch of your body and soul…every single inch, is in excoriating pain.
"I wouldn't say that," Riku replied as he rounded the counter, closing the small latch door behind him. The silveret stretched his arms above his head, plucking the hat off his head and tossing it back over the counter. Wordlessly, Riku sauntered over to Sora and planted his hands squarely onto Sora's scrawny shoulders. "I used to know this old lady, a few years ago actually, who was obsessed with going to the hospital. She wanted to have something wrong with her. It's…weird, really."
Sora nodded and then stared apprehensively at Riku's hands out of the corner of his eyes. "I suppose it is," he agreed, his eyes glued to those hands.
"Well, I have an hour break," Riku drawled as his hands slipped from Sora's thin shoulders. Sora's eyes automatically followed them as they fell idly by the tall male's sides. Gods. Riku really has changed… Sora was still struggling to accept the fact that when Riku touched him he wasn't going to beat him.
"Oh?" Sora finally lifted his gaze and met Riku's sparkling one. How mischievous.
"And, I was thinking," Riku began as a smirk appeared on his dazzling lips. "Would you be interested in spending the day with me?"
Sora was caught off guard. The brunet stared at Riku for a long moment, a puzzled look crossing onto his face. Did Riku just invite me somewhere? Sora thought wearily as he blinked rapidly over at the tall silveret. "You'd want to spend the day with me?" Blink. "Really?"
"Why not?" Riku shrugged and tapped Sora's nose with an impish look. "Unless you don't want to spend a day with me?"
"No! It's not that!" Sora babbled and turned a shade of pink. It's not that I don't want to spend time with you, Riku. It's just that I'm not used to you being kind. And the image of you and Leon kissing still isn't going away. How can I possibly act civil around you when you're with my brother? How can I even stand to be near you when you both don't remember me?!
"Then what is it?" Riku wondered as he dexterously leaned backwards, hands gripping the counter. And he looked even more irresistible like that.
"I just wasn't expecting it!" Sora reasoned and began to swallow thickly repeatedly. "Thanks for the invite! I'm sorry if I was being rude." A gulp. "What will we be doing on this hour break?" Sora asked carefully.
"Eh, wandering around the grand city, what else?" Riku glanced over his shoulder. "Hey, Kai. I'm taking my break. I'll be back in an hour. If things get too hectic call my cell phone, okay?" Riku called and watched as a redhaired girl nodded from behind the counter.
"And what are you doing?" she asked, eying Sora and Riku's close proximity. "You and Leon break up?" Her eyebrow arched curiously.
"No," Riku lamented and hooked an arm flirtatiously around the silveret's shoulders. "But Roxas here is my friend. And he doesn't get out much, so I'm taking him out. I'd tell you but I don't want to spoil it." Riku grinned deviously and began toying with Sora's brown hair. "Do you mind surprises, Roxas? I don't want to upset you."
Sora flushed an awkward shade of color. "I don't mind surprises," Sora said slowly. "But won't I figure it out if—"
"You'll be blindfolded," Riku explained as he fished into his pocket for a bandana. "It'll…suffice," Riku murmured as he lifted it into the air and held it out to Sora. "Put it on. Or shall I?" He was grinning like the seductive man he was. Daredevil? He didn't seem like one. More so just a smooth-talking flirt. Sora couldn't help but caught up in his ex best friend's words. Why did Riku suddenly have a way with words?
"Blindfolded?!" Sora screeched, recoiling from Riku. "Are you nuts? There's no way you're getting me to walk around New York City blindfolded. I'm going to get run over! There's no way I'm doing it, Riku!" Sora stated firmly and sternly shook his head. The brunet promptly crossed his arms to his chest and looked away. "There's no amount of words you can say to make me do something that stupid." I'm done doing stupid, risky things, Riku. And you oughta be as well. You really should've consider how dangerous this stunt is.
"I'll hold your hand and guide you," Riku reassured Sora and absentmindedly tugged on both ends of the black bandana. "Come on, Roxas. It'll be fun. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."
"Hold. My. Hand?" Sora drawled, narrowing his eyes dogmatically at Riku. "You're insane!"
Kairi giggled from behind the counter. "He's right, Riku. That's a really stupid idea. Especially in a city like this." The redhead began skimming over a small sheet of paper that listed the ingredients to each drink. It appeared like she was attempting to memorize the list but was failing miserably. Oh well.
"It'll be fun," Riku reiterated as he lifted the bandana into the air and brought it up and over Sora's eyes, tying it in the back rapidly with ease. Riku ignored Sora's squirming. When he finished, he pulled away and smirked deviously at Sora, not really caring that Sora couldn't see. "See? It's not so bad."
"I refuse to do this!" Sora began flailing about, his arms reaching up to yank the blindfold down. "I've only known you for a few days! You could be a crazed rapist for all I know!" Sora shouted in frustration as he began digging at the bandana, attempting to remove the foul thing before he decided to bring it home and burn it.
"Oh yes, Roxas, I'm a rapist," Riku repeated and snatched Sora's thrashing hands. The silveret clasped his hands coolly around Sora's and brought both hands down to rest at Sora's sides, his own remaining on them all the while. "Relax. You can trust me."
Sora winced, both mentally and physically. And how far did that get me last time, Riku? "I don't want to be run over…"
"You won't be," Riku said in reassurance and brushed his thumb once against the back of Sora's hand. Riku removed his hands and folded them across his chest.
"I hate this," Sora said irritably. He was engulfed in a world of darkness. No light. Just fear and Riku's voice. What a reassuring combination. Note the sarcasm. Sora squirmed as he stood there. He hadn't moved yet and he already felt dizzy. "If you let go of my hand once, I'll kick you off the Empire State Building," Sora promised.
"I don't doubt it," Riku chuckled.
Sora felt Riku's hand clasp over his own once more. Sora gulped down a blush and allowed his body to relax. "Well, we're wasting time. Let's just leave already," suggested Sora as he limply began peering around. Darkness all around. At least the bandana smelt good. It smells just like Riku…The old Riku…I mean…and yet not.
"I agree," Riku concurred and squeezed Sora's hand tightly and began leading the brunet out of Starbucks. "See ya soon, Kairi!" he called over his shoulder as he dragged Sora out into the cold, December, New York City weather.
Sora shivered immediately. The brunet's shoulders pulled up by instinct as he tightened his grip on his lifeline. Sora would have removed his blindfold right there but he would need both hands to undo that knot, and currently one of his hands was being held captive. Sora grunted aloud as he felt his body being lead down a street. Or perhaps it was up. All Sora knew was that it was to the right. All right. So they should be on the corner of Fifth Avenue maybe? Or Madison? Sora rubbed his forehead. Street names were meshing with one another and all Sora could do was walk blindly after Riku.
"So, Roxas," Riku began as they continued at a steady pace, the wind rushing past them. It was always so damn cold in New York during this time. "Care to explain why your life is so boring? I'm sure it's not by choice."
"I don't like people," Sora proclaimed in a rancorous manner.
"Well, I would have never guessed," Riku sniggered. "But seriously. What made you such a reclusive person, then?" Riku oddly gave a reassuring squeeze to Sora's hand.
Sora sternly kept his feelings and thought to himself. "Does it really matter?"
Riku snorted as he stopped. Riku gave no signal for Sora to stop walking for the brunet stumbled into Riku's back. "Sorry," Riku said with no remorse. A chuckle was then heard from the silveret as he heard unpleasant grumbles emit from the brunet behind him who was probably rubbing his forehead.
"Can you at least tell me when you're going to stop next time?" Sora demanded grumpily. This whole ordeal with Riku was becoming tiresome and Sora would rather be at home with his beautiful, broken glass. At least then he would have something that shared a common trait.
"Sorry," Riku said once again. Moments later Riku tugged on Sora's hand and they were, once again, walking down a crowded street.
Sora sighed loudly. "Riku, I just want to go back to Starbucks and have a drink and then go home. I'm tired," Sora complained as he began dragging his feet along, wincing every time his shoes hit a metal grate that lined every single street of New York City. Drainage, mostly.
"Nope," Riku answered bluntly.
Sora could feel that Riku was smirking. Compassionless ass.
"I'm surprised that your boyfriend hasn't dumped you," Sora muttered. If this had been any other day he would have attempted to be kinder to Riku. Right now Sora didn't have the heart to. Not now knowing that Riku and Leon were truly together and purposely made out in front of him. Sora shuddered at the thought. Black Blood. My time is limited, Riku. What the hell am I supposed to do to help you, Riku?
"Well, that's nice," Riku remarked, snorting in amusement. "Someone's grumpy today. What crawled up your ass?"
"I'd say you but that'd be impolite and politically incorrect," Sora reasoned. Although he was being sarcastic and cruel—something that Sora never was—Sora couldn't keep from shaking from nerves. His after-life was in Riku's hands. Riku could basically kill him here and now by accidentally letting go and allowing Sora to wander into the street. Then a speeding taxi would whizz by and he would meet his demise a second time. Sora mentally screamed at the idea.
"Wow Roxas, you're awfully blunt," Riku said and dragged Sora along.
The chattering of people he could not see frightened Sora. "Really, Riku…I don't like this," Sora whispered nervously as he felt himself being lead down stairs after what felt like a ten minute walk. Stairs? Were they entering the subway?! Sora tightened his hold on Riku's hand and struggled to cautiously step down the stairs, jostling through the apparent crowd of people. Where were they? Sora didn't have the slightest guess. There was no way to know.
Sora stopped at the landing alongside Riku. Okay. Flat ground. It didn't smell like the subway. And they weren't in the Cathedral either. Sora breathed in heavily, inhaling the beautiful scent of fresh air. Well, as fresh as New York City could be. Riku had lead him here. Riku didn't let him go.
Riku took both of his hands this time. The warmth from Riku's hands generated through his body. Although he was in darkness he could feel Riku's smirk. He could see those sharp aquamarine eyes staring deeply at him. Sora's breath hitched when one of Riku's hands strayed from his own. Fingers brushed against his slightly frost-bitten cheek. A shiver slipped down Sora's spine.
"W-what?" Sora demanded, his eyebrows knitting angrily but it was obvious from his stutter that he wasn't as dogmatic as before.
There was a brief pause. Sora heard Riku talking to someone. The words couldn't be made out. Was that Axel? Sora squinted, despite the blindfold that blocked his vision. Perhaps he could see if he did that long enough? Sora breathed in deeply and then stopped altogether when he felt those nimble fingers on his cheeks again. Either it was his imagination playing tricks on him but it almost felt like the silveret was caressing his cheek. No. That'd be impossible.
Within seconds Riku's hands began undoing the knot to his blindfold. The blindfold fell and Sora was within inches from the grinning silveret. For some reason Sora didn't really bother to take in his new surroundings, or notice that Axel was behind Riku. No. All he saw were those stunning aquamarine eyes and that crafty smile, and for a moment Sora imagined everything was okay again.
"Well, Roxas?" It was all okay until Riku called him that again and it nearly brought tears to his eyes.
"Well what?" Sora choked on his words, attempting to block away the tears.
Riku cocked a brow. "Hey, you crying?" Riku questioned softly as he pocketed the blindfold and offered an offhanded smile at the brunet angel.
"No," Sora mumbled and looked away quickly. When he did, blue eyes were greeted with the very sight he had been beholding the day prior. Eyes swelled up once again. The ice skating rink. How many times had Sora wanted to be here? How many times had he begged his parents to take him here? Sora swallowed thickly, in stun, and then turned back to Riku. "Why?"
"Uh…because it's Christmas and it's fun?" Riku answered lamely and shrugged. "Axel works here and got us to the front of the line." Riku gestured to his right to where a rack of ice skaters rested. "Pick out your size and let's get going."
Sora beamed brightly and scrambled over to the skates. The brunet hurried to the right size of skates and placed them onto his eager feet. Could feet even be eager? Or was it Sora himself that was so eager? Sora stood up and instantly fell back down. He had been half expecting Riku to catch him but when that never happened Sora was slammed back into reality.
"Graceful," Riku remarked.
Sora rolled his eyes and glared up at Riku from his placement on the ground. "Wanna help me up?"
"Nah," Riku responded, leaning against the wall. "I'm enjoying the view."
Sora blinked a few times before grunting. "Like I said, class A flirt," the brunet murmured and pushed his body upwards into an unsteady standing position. "Your boyfriend would be upset if he knew you were flirting with random guys you meet."
Riku smirked and placed his hand on Sora's shoulder. "Roxas, you haven't even seen me flirt."
Sora shivered. "So, when you flirt you…what? Kiss? Grope?" Sora bit back an embarrassed squeak as he stood there awkwardly. It hurt to talk to Riku like this. It really did. Sora wanted to remain kindhearted, but how could he?
"Stop chattering, would ya?" Axel demanded, breaking Riku and Sora's conversation. Sliced it in half like a pineapple in the air. Not like anyone would want to do that anyhow.
Riku nodded to the redhead and entered the ice-rink itself, dexterously gliding about. Sora stumbled over to the edge of the ice. Before he could enter, Axel grabbed his arm and murmured directly into his ear, "Do you see the way he looks at you, Sora? He's attracted to you."
Sora shuddered. "That's great, Axel…but it doesn't matter. He's with Leon. He doesn't know it's me," the brunet mumbled harshly, his heart breaking a thousand times over.
Axel kept his voice low. "Really?... I knew it was you, Sora. Why shouldn't he?"
Sora shook his head. "He would have said something," Sora retorted stubbornly.
"Oh?" Axel let go of Sora's lithe arm and watched in amusement as Riku glided by them, as poised as ever. How charming. "I wouldn't bet my money on that, Sora. If anyone were to recognize you I would say it'd be Riku or Leon."
"You were my best friend. They just had to put up with me," Sora whispered brokenly. "They just think I'm someone named Roxas. It doesn't matter to me anymore, Axel. It really doesn't. "
"I think it does, Sora," Axel answered with a rejoinder."Of course I'm mad that my brother doesn't know it's me!" Sora chided. "But as for Riku? I could care less. He never really paid attention to me so I'm not surprised he doesn't know it's me. It's been eight years. …Why are we even arguing about this?" Sora groaned and looked to Axel pathetically.
"We're arguing about this because," Axel lowered his voice to a gentle whisper now, "Riku told me last night, after you stormed out, that Leon and him were considering breaking up and going back to being just friends. And do you want to know what else he said, Sora?"
"Do I have any other choice?" Sora mumbled dishearteningly.
Axel mockingly laughed. "He said," he began sternly, quite serious, "that he can't keep you off his mind."
"He's known me for four days," Sora deadpanned with irritation. "How can he even like me after four days? He knows nothing, Axel. How can he—"
"That's what I said," Axel said slowly. "Four days sure rivals a lifetime, doesn't it?"
Sora blinked and then felt his body being shoved onto the ice before he had time to further argue. Sora squealed in shock and began flailing his arms about in the air, trying to keep his body balanced. As if by a stroke of luck, Riku soared by on his white skates. The silveret audibly chortled and hooked his arms under Sora's arms.
"Need any help?" Riku wondered in a slightly husky tone.
Sora rolled his eyes and allowed his body to slump back against Riku's for support so that he wouldn't fall and break his neck. "Not really. I'm doing fine." Lie. "Can you get your hands off me?" Maybe I should try being polite again… "Please?"
Riku refused this request, though. "Don't like me touching you or something?" the silveret asked as he kept Sora securely against his chest, inhaling the brunet's scent. "Roxas, you are quite something."
Stop calling me that. Stop saying that name. It's making me sick. "I just don't think it's fair to your boyfriend to be holding me like this!" Sora complained and then pouted, not about to give up another verbal confrontation. He was annoyed. There was no second guessing it.
"Leon…sort of wants to break up," Riku murmured to Sora, a small trace of remorse in his voice.
"…And I'm what? The rebound?" Sora guessed as he stared apathetically at the ice below them. So cold.
Riku chuckled amusedly. "You think so highly of yourself," he said. "But what makes you think I'm even interested in you? I barely know anything about you, Roxas. Unless, of course, by some odd chance, you like me?" Riku arched a brow and kept his arms around Sora's body. "Then…if that were the case—"
"You're setting up dates even before he breaks up with you?! Do you have no respect or something?! No feelings?" Sora demanded as he tried to wiggle free, his feet slipping. But Riku kept him standing. Riku amazingly kept his balance.
"Forget it," Riku informed Sora. "You wouldn't understand our relationship."
"I think I would," Sora argued. You're my best friend and he's my brother. I think I'll be able to understand it. Morons.
Riku rolled his eyes. "Well, let's just take your advice and not talk about it until it happens," the silveret concluded as he let go of Sora. Riku watched as Sora began slipping once again. Desperately, the brunet reached out and clung to Riku's chest, this time facing Riku.
"How…How can you be this okay with a potential breakup? Shouldn't you…be home trying to win him back?" Blue eyes sparkled up at Riku with dull confusion. Don't throw Leon away, Riku. Don't do that. Don't ruin your life. He's the best thing to happen to you. He'll keep you grounded. Please don't toss him away, Riku. Axel told me you've changed. If you breakup with Leon and automatically go for someone else, I don't see any change at all.
"We've been talking about it for awhile," Riku answered, shifting his arms so that he could keep Sora's balance once more. "We're best friends. We've…been dating on and off for awhile. It's no big deal, really. We'll remain friends regardless."
Sora sighed. "What about love?"
"What about it?" Riku echoed.
Sora shook his head. "What about love? Do you love him?"
Riku looked contemplative. "As a friend. Maybe even as a brother. But I don't think I love him as a soul mate. That sort of love. "
Sora frowned. "Then why are you wasting your time? Wasting his time? Love is supposed to be sacred and and supposed to grow and if you know you're not in love then you shouldn't prolong it and," Sora stammered and then was silenced when he felt lips press against his forehead. Sora froze. His voice tightened and his arms went limp. He was suddenly glad that Riku was holding him up.
"Breathe, Roxas," Riku cooed and removed his lips from Sora's forehead. "If you feel this strongly about the matter, then why don't you talk to both of us about it? Like say…my place later tonight?" Riku smirked down at Sora. "I'll even make dinner."
What? Did he just kiss my forehead? "But you!"
Riku shook his head, eyes shimmering in the sun. "Have dinner with us, Roxas. I'm inviting you."
Sora sighed, utterly defeated. "Fine," Sora decided and uncomfortably looked away. "But I don't want Leon feeling threatened or something by having another guy in the house with his boyfriend. Especially a guy that his boyfriend just kissed," Sora snapped and looked angrily up at Riku, though a small blush remained on Sora's cheeks. He kissed me. Why. Why?...
"I'll explain it to him. I'm sure he won't mind at all," Riku reassured Sora and smiled brightly at the brunet. "Let's take one more loop around the rink and then head back. My hour's almost up," Riku informed Sora and gently took his wrists. Sora cautiously moved, allowing Riku to assist him in attempting to skate.
"I'll help you," Riku said soothingly.
But aren't I the one that's supposed to be helping you?
xxxxxxxxxxx
"Dinner."
Sora stared in the mirror, his body still shivering from hours before. Blue eyes stared back at him. His reflection. He had changed so much. Sora sighed miserably and placed his hands squarely down onto the sink. "I'm having dinner with them. Can this possibly get any worse?"
I have twenty one more days. Twenty come tomorrow. How am I supposed to help Riku? How?! Why can't you stupid Heaven people help me?! Aren't you supposed to be my guiding light?! What do I have to do! Sora closed his eyes, his heart thumping insanely against his ribcage. Axel remembers me. Axel does and Riku and Leon don't. Axel tells me Riku likes me. Riku and Leon are about to break up. Why. I don't…I can't handle this. I want to go home. But…I don't have a home anymore. Home would be heaven and I don't really call that home.
A tear slipped from Sora's eyes as he tightened his grip on the sink. I'm a nobody. I'm a twenty-one year old nobody who…who won't succeed in saving the life of Riku. I'm hopeless. Sora began to choke on air. I bleed black blood. The omen of death. I'm losing it. I'm losing it, Sora told himself as he struggled to control his breathing.
Dinner. I have to eat dinner with them. If this goes over smoothly, I won't ever complain again.
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The fourteen year old Riku stood in front of Sora, eying him for a long while. There was a moment of silence. "Sora," Riku said as he stepped closer to the trembling brunet. "I heard what happened yesterday." The silveret approached Sora.
Sora winced and offered a weary smile at his older friend. "It was…nothing. I deserved it."
"Why?" Riku arched a brow. "Last time I checked being gay wasn't a crime that was payable by punches," Riku muttered scornfully and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Besides, I'm the only one allowed to lay a hand on you." His words were whispers. Deep, dark whispers that clouded Sora's mind and scared him. But Sora would never say that out loud.
Sora lowered his gaze. "You're going to beat them up, too?"
Riku nodded. "They hurt you. I won't let that go unpaid," Riku retorted darkly and eyed his brunet friend for awhile. "Besides, I've already given you enough shit about being gay," he remarked lamely. "Need I remind you of that one night that I came over with the beer?"Sora shivered and shook his head. "No…I'm sorry."
"Good," Riku said and patted Sora's head. "Now, be a good little boy and keep your sexual pretences to yourself. I won't be here to protect you forever." A wicked grin appeared on Riku's lips before he, at random, kissed Sora's cheek.
Sora froze and then watched in utter confusion as his best friend stalked off, looking just as beautiful as ever. Riku was a beautiful disaster and Sora was the willing victim. Every time.
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