Author's Note(s): This is the ninth part of a TEN part prompt challenge I am presently participating in; my particular claim is "RikuRoku," and a few details have been adjusted to make the coupling.. Possible? This collection of fanfictions, thus, may contain spoilers to the end of Kingdom Hearts II. Just be prepared for that.
And lots of Roxas-emo. :) Please review
This particular story's prompt: Stubble
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, the Kingdom Hearts characters and the related universe do not, in any manner, belong to me, but instead to the respective creator's of Squeenix, and Disney. Kudos to them.
"Look, Riku! I think I'm getting a hair!"
The intended audience supplied the brunet a glance, humoring him as he peered at his chin though failing to catch sight of the peach fuzz the other so enthusiastically admired. Turning away with his focus no longer required, Riku would only sigh as he stared into the distance, dropping his head back to rest against the wall as Sora busied himself with his glee.
And yet as Sora had nearly prompt himself to continue, he paused at the sight of his disheartened best friend, aching to soothe his pain he knew he couldn't possibly understand.
It had been a week since Roxas had disappeared, they none the wiser to his leave. If anything, Sora would have expected a note of some sort to be left behind, in the very least indicating any potential misery.. And yet they had turned his room upside down, or respectfully, cleaned what chaos there may have existed with the sincere hopes of finding something, anything that could give them some insight..
And yet these efforts had been in vain, their search futile.
It had been within the same period that Sora made a remarkable recovery.
".. Is he saying anything?" Riku asked, shifting his focus to the brunet, his eyes cold from his sorrow. And while Sora longed desperately to find Roxas deep within himself, experience had shown the blond to remain oblivious to his calls.. Nonetheless, he would reflect, stretching for the false hope that perhaps this time the youth really would call back to him, to give them a sign he at least existed.. Somewhere.
Eyes hooded in his concentration, Sora searched deep within himself, a hand ghosting against his chest before he gripped the front of his shirt. And while he inspected the deepest cavities of his mind, he heard nothing save the voice of himself thinking.
".. Not yet," Sora replied somberly before managing a slight smile. ".. But don't worry, I'm sure he will-"
Riku sighed in personal defeat as he'd only turn away, masking his torn expression as he felt his heart drop into his stomach; perhaps Roxas had been afraid of their intended commitment.. And had ran away, losing himself deep within Sora's consciousness. And yet the taller male couldn't accept his love was a coward, unable to detect where he may have folly, and why... Why Roxas had left...
Observing his company in his distress, Sora could only fidget, unable to convey the comfort that he longed to provide. And yet he without the answers his best friend sought, he didn't find his assistance would be of much help. Above all else, he'd simply have to remain observant, waiting for the tall-tale sign that his Other had locked himself deep within him.
Resuming the activity of admiring his bare chin, attempting to convince himself that there was indeed something there, he peered curiously into a mirror that reflected features all too haunting. It was almost as though he expected Roxas to regard him with similar nature, features bland of a smile Sora too often portrayed, but his Other easily composed of a warming friendliness. Not that he could necessarily recall an instant of playful banter exchanged between them..
"Hey Riku.. Do you think if I shave, it'll grow in darker?" the brunet queried, rubbing his chin as he tucked his bottom lip, patting the naked flesh. He remembered Wakka saying something similar, though the red-head certainly without his proclaimed goatee he so often bragged about. In fact, Sora couldn't rightly recall a time the other ever had facial hair, nonetheless the experience to boast..
"Give it a rest, Sora." Perplexed by his friend's tone, Sora turned in time to see Riku standing, the youth bee-lining for a straight retreat as his hands disappeared into the depths of his pockets. "One hair doesn't mean anything. Not like you have it anyway..."
Aware of his biting remark, Riku didn't spare Sora a glance, far too wounded by his pride as he simply left the former Keyblade Master to brood. What was it his place to watch the other flaunt happily over his nonexistent facial hair? He didn't care, couldn't care, wouldn't care... Not while his heart hurt like it did.
Little was he surprised when he found his footfalls crossing along the jetty, he pausing at its end to peer into the ocean's hold. And while his expression rippled in the waves, focus empty in his regard, he could nearly imagine Roxas leaning forward beside him, blue eyes swimming with the wildlife below.
The remaining member simply gar-hawed at the misfortune of his friends, moments later dragged into the water to join them.
As though he didn't know.
As though he hadn't existed.
But perhaps to some extent, the entire affair had been abuse to his perspective, certainly Riku easily without someone who resembled someone so closely to Sora. And where he thought it would hurt less to consider such foolery, he felt his heart wrench with his discontent, distressed to find he seeking such a simple excuse as to why he had been abandoned.
Yet maybe it would have been easier to believe that Roxas had meant
"Riku?.. What are you doing out here?" For an instant, the male failed to move, gradually providing a glance over his shoulder to observe Selphie. Quietly, she waited, head canted in her given concern as her features were painted with worry. Needless, he could imagine what senseless babble was presently running through her head, he presently occupying her day-time space with his indecision.
His love for Roxas.
".. Does it matter?" he retorted, however preparing to stand as he planted a hand against the platform. She, noticing, quickly waved him off, hands raised to banish the idea of him leaving as she displaced a step of their enclosed space.
"No. I just curious, that's all I'll see you later, Riku." And then left to the means of his own devices, to the privacy of his thoughts, his longing, his mourning, he could do little else but watch her leave, jubilant in her retreat to join the nearby company of Wakka and Tidus - who, to his amusement, were watching him with a vague intensity. Did they find him stupid or absent minded? Perhaps both?
Entertained that perhaps Sora was rubbing off on him, far from wanting to shoulder such habits, he allowed his attention to wander, Riku finding himself only admiring his reflection once more.
To some extent, he realized he felt bitter, sour at the thought Roxas had high-tailed it at the first sign of commitment. And yet another portion of him resented such ideas, aware that if Sora had been able to dedicate his life to simply finding his best friends.. Then the blond was certain to be of equal nature. They were part of each other...
... And yet Roxas had managed to show him many things Sora was not.
The blond has fast become an individual Riku found himself longing to be with, his yearning mounting to a terrible degree when he found himself without. And yet it was never a comfort to realize he was a short walk from his home, sharing residents with his Other, likely poor in the company of someone so energetic, so raw, so terribly naive they couldn't see their hand before their face. And perhaps it was to that extreme that allowed the taller male to find him so attractive, so allured to his socially inept person, frowning where Sora might smile, brooding where Sora might laugh... They were polar opposites...
.. And yet Riku doubt he would ever find someone he could care so deeply for and mean so much to him that would combat his relationship with his best friend.
And now he was without, robbed of this presence that had completed him.
Sighing in his heartache, Riku decided to simply remain upon the jetty, listening for the groan of the wood as footfalls would cross its planks, drawing a familiar presence to him, a welcomed scent, a warming touch... Someone who would settle at his side in a silent manner, staring into the oblivion as he so often exercised, occasionally humoring him with a few glances though otherwise quiet in company.
And as the day would beat upon him, eventually blossoming into the tender embrace of dusk, Riku would only wait, dreaming that perhaps Roxas would return to him and they could be together again.
