WHAT'S THIS, ANOTHER UPDATE AT A SEMI-REGULAR PACE? HUH. WOW. GO ME.
But seriously, wow, I'm impressed with myself. Heh.
So yeah, I'd just to throw out a quick appreciation note to those of you who favourited and/or followed this story! And those of you who even just read it, and clicked on it! Seriously, thank you. I mean, the only reason I post things is for people to read, and the fact that (well, at least some of you cx) enjoy my writing means the world to me! So, yeah, thank you. :3
Also, I need to stop updating at obscene hours of the night, because its 1:30 in the morning and I'm exhausted and I bet there's some grammar mistakes in this. Hopefully there aren't, but if there are, well, I'll get around to fixing it. Eventually...
AAAANYWHOS,
Enjoy this chapter! c:
The bell rang, signaling the start of first period.
It was only Wednesday – about halfway through Riku's second week of high school, and he was hurrying his way through the school to get to his locker – Ansem had warned him that if he was late one more time that there would be consequences.
Riku wasn't too concerned about the consequences in question, however, as much as he was concerned about being singled out in front of the entire class.
Attention was just about the last thing Riku was looking for at this point.
After grabbing his math textbook, Riku slammed the door shut only to come face to face with a pair of aqua eyes – eyes that were only a few shades darker than his own.
"Skip class with me." Zexion said, looking both intently and mischievously at the object of his desire.
Riku, caught entirely off guard, gaped. While he had only known Zexion for a few days, he had spent enough time with him since the past weekend to know this wasn't typical. Skipping class was something entirely out of character for the bookworm of a boy, and Riku didn't entirely know how to respond, other than to simply ask:
"Are you feeling okay?" Riku asked, studying the other teenager.
Zexion laughed, "What? There must be something wrong with me to want to skip class? I can't just simply want to, like any other student in this school?"
"Well… You…You're you. You're entirely too bookish and it just… I don't know. It just doesn't seem like something you'd be suggesting. If anything, this situation should be reversed." Riku argued, smirking at Zexion.
Zexion simply rolled his eyes and grabbed Riku's hand, pulling him in the opposite direction of the math classroom – much to Riku's weak protests.
Really – what did Riku care if he wasn't in class today? Most day's, Riku lived by the 'better late than never', but today, he was going with the 'better never than late' philosophy.
...
Sora had just slid into English class, barely avoiding Aerith's glare as she did, in fact, notice his lateness.
No sooner than had the brunet pulled out his English book and opened it, he looked up to Roxas, who was staring out the window in obvious disbelief.
"What's up, Roxas?" Sora muttered, trying to keep his voice low so that Aerith didn't notice the two boys talking during her teaching.
Roxas continued looking out the window a moment longer, before shaking his head and turning to his best friend.
"Um… Nothing, just… Is that Zexion and Riku running across the field as Principal Xigbar is yelling at them?"
Sora peered around his blonde counterpart, trying to see what Roxas was talking about.
It was, in fact, the exact same sight that Roxas had just described.
The two silver-haired teens were all but booking it across the field and into the nearby neighbourhood, as Xigbar had chased them halfway across the said field only to give up and resort to yelling at the teenagers in question.
Sora didn't want to let this small fact that Zexion and Riku were skipping class together – not to mention skipping as well as leaving school property, together – get to him too much. But it did.
Sora's friend group – that consisted of Roxas, Axel, Zexion, Demyx, and Xion, as the main group, anyways – had all taken notice of how much time Zexion and Riku had spent together ever since the movie night last weekend.
It seemed the two were becoming fast friends, if one could call it a friendship, that is.
It was very evident that Zexion was looking for a whole lot more than friendship from Riku, and it was evident that Riku… well, no one could manage to read Riku enough to know his intentions.
No one but Sora, who knew exactly how the situation would play out. Zexion would finally work up the courage to make a move on Riku – who has been very obviously giving all of Zexion's flirtatious gestures a positive response – but then Riku would suddenly be caught entirely off guard. Things would get awkward between them, as Riku would – no doubt – unintentionally lead the other silver haired boy on, only to tell him in the moment that comes down to it that he didn't feel that way about him. And then, Zexion would move onto a new boy to occupy his loneliness.
At least, that's how Sora was desperately hoping it would play out.
Lunch hour had come around, much to Sora's surprise, as his mind had been entirely too occupied on thoughts of what Riku was up to with Zexion had plagued him for the entirety of his morning classes.
"Sora…? Earth to Sora…? Man, what's up with him?" Demyx asked Roxas as the group was seated all together outside underneath the border of trees that lined the football field.
Roxas shrugged.
Axel came running up to the group just then – he hadn't been with them when they initially went outdoors – with a very mischievous smile playing about his face.
"GUYS! Zex just texted me. And he has the answer to where our new sexy and mysterious silver haired friend is."
Roxas rolled his eyes at his boyfriends description of Riku – sure, the guy in question was extremely good looking – there was no disputing that, but Axel said it in an almost taunting way.
And Roxas knew exactly why – Axel had seemed to figure out something about Sora and Riku; just what that was, Roxas didn't know – but Axel clearly had learned that any mention of Riku at all was enough to make Sora uncomfortable.
And Axel was always one to poke fun at his friend's weaknesses.
"So where is our little Riku then?" Demyx asked, intrigued.
Both Axel and Demyx had math with Riku, and both were not only surprised at his absence – Riku missed the first two years of high school, how the hell could he afford to miss an advanced functions class? Especially with Ansem to answer to for his unexplained absence.
"Both of our silver haired friends decided to skip class today. They went down to the water, apparently." With the way Axel was telling the information, it was evident that he hadn't even gotten to the best part yet.
Roxas snuck a glance at Sora, who had taken to lying face down in the grass, using his backpack as some sort of makeshift pillow. He didn't look comfortable in the slightest – socially, and physically speaking.
Axel's vague description of their MIA friends whereabouts had piqued the interest of most of the group – aside from Sora, of course – as everyone wanted to know where the tale was going, given they were very aware of Zexion's small fixation on Riku.
"I guess our little Zexion has worked up some amount of courage, and finally got Riku to talk about just what his sexual orientation is. Personally, I could've told you all that Riku was gay just by looking at him – I mean, what straight guy takes such fabulous care of his hair? Anyways, apparently Riku's had only one relationship before – and it was with a guy from Twilight Town, which is where Riku apparently disappeared to for those two years he left Destiny Islands."
Roxas had kept watching Sora the entire time, and noticed the slight pout of anger on Sora's face as Axel talked about his ex-best friend, and knew more about him than Sora did.
Sora didn't have any idea where Riku had gone to for those two years, and he sure as hell didn't know that Riku was so openly gay at this point in his life.
The group of friends had launched into some sort of gossipy conversation – naturally entirely centered around musings of whether Riku and Zexion would become an actual thing or not.
Just as Sora had started to collect his stuff in an effort to leave, the brunet had stood and turned to start walking away only to stop dead in his tracks.
Roxas, having been keeping a careful watch on his best friend, looked up to see what had stunned the brunet.
There, walking towards the group of friends from the far side of the field, was the infamous pair of silver-haired teens. It appeared that both of them were drenched in water, dripping from head to toe with the water freshly glittering in their hair causing it to shine even more than usual. But it wasn't the shining hair, or the loud laughter that had caught Sora's attention so much so that he had to abruptly stop everything.
It was the sight of Riku carrying Zexion on his back – the way Riku used to carry him.
Zexion's arms were loosely wrapped around Riku's neck, and his legs had enveloped the skinny boy's waist as Riku laughed and did a little spin – a weak attempt on his part to dislodge his passenger.
"If that isn't the start of a very flirty, very gay relationship than I'm fucking straight." Axel stated in a mixture of shock and amusement, and then proceeding to let out a wolf whistle as the two approaching boys got within earshot.
This caused Zexion to flush a very unflattering shade of crimson, but Riku only laughed as he casually dropped Zexion onto the grass only to take a seat next to him.
"What's up guys?" Riku asked, seemingly oblivious to their questioning stares but even more oblivious to Sora's stunned silence – the brunet still glued to the spot where he had first witnessed the sight of the other boys.
"Oh, not much… and you?" Demyx pointedly asked.
"Zex and I decided to go swimming instead of staring at textbooks this morning."
Zexion objected, "Actually – Riku decided to go swimming. After all but throwing me into the water and running away laughing his ass off."
Riku merely smirked in response.
"So I guess one could say you guys had a little fun getting wet together." Axel snidely remarked, earning an elbow to the stomach from Roxas and laughs from the rest of the group – apart from Zexion and Riku, that is.
Riku simply rolled his eyes at the sexual remark; Zexion seemed to be annoyed and gave Axel a look that clearly said, 'shut the fuck up.'
Sora had started walking away at this point, feeling too eerily nostalgic as people used to make those types of comments about him and Riku – not Zexion and Riku.
As Sora was slowly making his way inside, he could hear his friend's voices carry across as Axel and Zexion got into a little argument.
"Don't give me that look Zexion. Literally everyone knows you want into Riku's pants – hell, I'm sure even Riku's figured it by now."
Zexion visibly paled, only to instantly turn a very bright shade of red as his face heated up. But he didn't deny Axel's comment.
However, Riku's expressions went from entirely and utterly confused, to realization, followed by a bit of embarrassment right before guilty.
Riku averted his gaze, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone, and instead became very interested in the grass. He could feel all of the expectant eyes on him.
After a very tense, awkward silence, Zexion suddenly stood up and muttered something about forgotten homework and all but ran inside, right past Sora.
Sora only had to look at Zexion's face for a very brief moment to figure out what had probably just occurred.
Zexion's expression was almost identical to the one that Sora had worn for weeks after Riku's disappearance, and clear rejection of his feelings.
Well… I wasn't wrong about things after all, was I? Sora, somewhat guiltily thought to himself, as he stared after his clearly distressed friend before making his way to his own locker.
...
"What the hell, Riku? What was that?" Axel asked, pulling Riku back from the group as they all headed inside at the end of lunch to talk to him alone.
"I think a better question, is what the fucking hell was whatever you just pulled? That wasn't cool Axel. You shouldn't have done that to Zexion, in front of everyone. Especially in front of me, apparently." Riku muttered, frustrated with the redhead's antics but also equally frustrated with himself.
"I'm not the one who blatantly rejected someone without any fucking explanation."
"Fine, fair enough. But what did you expect? You're the one who very blatantly singled out Zexion for your own amusement. You're supposed to be his friend, but instead you've gone and embarrassed him in front of the entire group as well as me, who he apparently has a crush on. But that wasn't your information to tell."
Axel huffed in indignation, but knew that Riku was right. But that didn't change the fact that it was Riku's lack of response that made Zexion run away.
"Look, you're right. I'm too much sometimes, and I know that - however, I just… You will talk to Zexion about it though, right? Please tell me you won't just ignore his existence from now on."
Riku was silent.
Axel gaped.
"Ignoring him won't fix anything."
"I know, okay! I just… I don't have any idea how to handle this. I'm bad with feelings and… relationships, and stuff…" Riku awkwardly trailed off.
Axel considered Riku's comment for a moment, before making up his mind to ask the question that had been burning inside the back of his skull ever since Sora and Riku had that staredown on his doorstep last weekend.
"Riku… Look, almost everyone's at least somewhat pieced it together by now. Clearly, something happened between you and Sora. But… what exactly did happen?" Axel asked, looking hopefully at the silver-haired teen.
Riku looked at Axel, meeting his gaze for a moment, considering the question.
"Not the time, Axel." Riku stated, and then proceeded to briskly walk away from the redhead.
The rest of the school day, Riku was left to mentally beat himself up for screwing up yet another friendship because of his lack of ability to communicate any sort of emotions when he actually needed to.
...
Riku walked into his home, slamming the front door behind him and letting out a sigh he didn't realize he had been holding.
He dragged himself upstairs, and slowly peeled off the clothes he had been wearing that day and changed into nothing but a pair of sweatpants and threw his still slightly damp clothes into the dryer.
The silver-haired boy let out another sigh as he went back to his bedroom and flopped face down onto his bed.
After laying there for a few moments, still mentally hating on himself, Riku sat up and searched for his phone.
Finally finding it amidst his bedsheets, he unlocked the screen and went to his and Zexion's conversation.
Riku tried to type a couple of messages, before giving up in a frustration and considering throwing his phone against the wall.
After calming down a little, he simply decided to just call Zexion.
Sure, he had no idea what to say, but… it might be the better option than simply texting the guy.
Making up his mind, Riku pressed the call button and anxiously sat, chewing on his lower lip as he waited for the other boy to pick up.
Just as Riku had pretty much decided that he would get no answer, a very soft, "Hello?" came through the receiver.
Riku swallowed hard – he could tell Zexion was still upset.
"Hey… it's… it's me. Riku."
Riku was met with silence, and he knew that this was Zexion waiting on an explanation that Riku didn't quite have just yet.
"Look… I… I'm sorry. I really am. I didn't mean to upset you, or hurt you, or anything of the sort – just, I… I don't know. I honestly don't know. I'm absolute shit when it comes to handling feelings and relationships and so, naturally, I always end up fucking things up even if that wasn't necessarily my intention… I didn't mean to hurt you, Zexion, I just… I don't have a lot of experience dealing with situations like this, and so, I kinda panicked to be honest and didn't have any idea how to respond… So.. I just… sorta… Didn't respond. At all. And I'm sorry." Riku rambled out, finding that by the end of his explanation, he was breathless.
Zexion was silent for a few more moments, probably considering Riku's words.
"Can… Can we talk in person? It'd probably be easier." Zexion's tired voice spoke softly into Riku's phone.
Taking this as some sign of improvement, Riku agreed, and hung up the phone.
Moments later, there was a knock on his bedroom door, startling Riku who then quickly remembered that Zexion did just live a few doors down, and that his mother must have let the other teen into his home.
Riku opened the door to a very melancholic Zexion. After taking a step back from the door to allow Zexion into his room, Riku realized that he was still shirtless – causing a faint colouring to decorate his pale face as Zexion awkwardly sat down on the edge of Riku's bed.
Riku cautiously sat next to the other silver-haired teen, leaning his back against the wall and watching Zexion carefully. It was clear that the boy was deep in thought, trying to work out the words he wanted to say, when finally deep aqua eyes looked up into bright aquamarine ones.
"Do you like me?"
Riku faltered for a moment, unsure of how to answer the seemingly simple question.
"Um… I… it's really not that simple, Zex…" Riku spoke softly, his expression being of one that was visibly torn.
"Yes, it is. Do you like me, Riku? As in like me, and would consider dating me? Or am I just wasting my time?" Zexion was trying to keep his voice even.
Riku was silent, honestly trying to picture himself with Zexion. The trouble was, was that Riku couldn't get a certain blue-eyed brunet out of his mind. The look Sora had given him as he was carrying Zexion earlier today… Riku didn't think Sora's eyes could have ever looked so cold and… distant. And all Riku wanted was to fix that. He wanted Sora back in his life. But clearly, Zexion was an issue to the brunet…
"I… I'm more than happy to be friends with you, Zexion… I just… I don't know if I can, in good conscience, be anything more to you. I kinda have… unresolved feelings for someone else, I guess you could say…"
Zexion studied Riku, trying to determine if Riku was simply trying to let him down easy or if the boy was telling the truth.
"Are you in love with this other person?"
"Wha- no, I don't… know…" Riku answered, clearly unsure of his answer, and obviously caught off guard.
Zexion took this as his 'moment' and smoothly closed the distance between him and his crush.
Zexion's lips sweetly pressed against Riku's – causing Riku to widen his eyes in surprise before slowly closing them and giving into the feel of Zexion's lips on his.
For a few moments, the two boys knew nothing but each other as their lips worked together in an unknown dance; both knowing how wrong it seemed, given the circumstances.
Zexion reveled in the feel of Riku's lips – he discovered that the mysterious silver-haired boy tasted like the ocean, in a slightly salty but sweet way. After Riku elicited a moan from the lips of Zexion, Riku slowly pulled back, trying to catch his breath.
What the fuck, Riku?, he wondered as he stared into Zexion's eyes, trying to convey a silent apology for what he had just done.
Zexion, confused of as to why Riku stopped, searched the aquamarine eyes.
After a little while, it seemed the two had reached an understanding.
Zexion's eyes saddened as he found the regret laced throughout Riku's eyes, and sighed.
"Well… I hope you're able to work out your feelings, Riku. I really do. Because until then, you're going to be awfully lonely." Zexion stated sadly – not in a mean way, but in an almost sympathetic way – he knew how empty loneliness was, and would never wish it on anyone else. But he knew that it was what was waiting for Riku, if the boy couldn't sort out his feelings.
Riku swallowed, nodding. "Thank you…"
Zexion went to stand up, but seemed to think twice about it and turned back to Riku.
"Just let me have this moment, okay?"
And with those words, Zexion forcefully kissed Riku – causing the boy to be entirely at the mercy of his lips.
Riku parted his lips a little, allowing Zexion's tongue entrance and the two boys proceeded to get lost in the moment together.
Both knew it wouldn't go any further than the here and now – and that was what made it work for them.
They parted to catch their breaths, and Zexion brought his lips to Riku's neck, inhaling the intoxicating scent of Riku as he buried his face into the crook of the boys neck and began to kiss his neck.
Riku's breath caught at the sensation, but he still managed to ask the question that was lingering in the back of his mind:
"Are… are we still going to be friends?"
Zexion laughed, only proceeding to begin nibbling on Riku's neck.
"We'll just have to see about that. Right now, all I want is this. Please. No more talking." Zexion spoke softly into Riku's ear, and it was with that the two continued on in a blissful and mindless kiss – one that seemed to last for hours, or minutes – the two boys didn't know. And at the moment, they didn't care.
But Riku would care by the time tomorrow came around, filled with the regrets that he knew would come from allowing Zexion such free roam of his mouth.
WOO HOO CHAPTER 6 DONE.
Also, just a little note - THIS IS AS FAR AS THE WHOLE PLOT ASPECT OF RIKU AND ZEXION GOES. I personally don't really like the pair, but for plot reasons I made it a thing. Originally they weren't ever going to kiss - I wasn't going to let it get that far, but naturally, being me and liking my dramatic plot installments, here we are. BUT being too much of a SoRiku fangirl at heart, I can only ever write Riku with Sora in the end. So expect more development to the SoRiku plot! YAY. BE HAPPY OKAY.
Thanks for reading, and leave me a review let me knowing what you thought?
-HazelEyes8D