Innovation
The brunette clung mercilessly onto his friend's forearm. Blue eyes remained fastened shut, still suffering from the after effects of the plane ride. Brunette locks that were usually stuck upwards into a gravity-defying style were slicked downward - straight - due to the rain and the wind. And honestly, Sora looked quite feminine. With his hair that way. Anyways, regardless of his hair crisis, Sora attempted to remain calm. To keep his breathing regular. It was hard, though. So many things, which were now unmentionable, had happened. When he thought about them, he tried not to blush. Tried anyways.
Riku peered curiously at Sora, "I called the limo ten minutes ago and told him to be waiting for us," Riku informed Sora. He wouldn't lie, having Sora clinging desperately to him was nice. And it somewhat discouraged him from trying to set the boy up with anyone else. He bit his lip, frowning briefly, and shook the thought away.
Sora tugged on Riku's sleeve, "I'm so tired, though. And my hair's pathetic and flat!"
"Stop complaining." Riku mumbled. He pulled the brunette towards the exit of the airport (which was still outside) and towards the street to wait for the limo. Once there, Riku took a seat on the bench, setting his suitcase carefully under it. He pried Sora off of him seconds afterwards.
"What ever." Sora mumbled. "Hey, Riku?" Sora asked out of nowhere, interrupting the first moment of silence they had shared all day. Azul eyes surveyed Riku's tranquil state. The artist took a seat beside the silver-haired male.
"Yeah?" Riku asked, sighing. The limo was late. Just great. Riku grumbled something under his breath as he turned to look at Sora. It had started to rain harder, and Sora was already drenched.
"That guy over there was staring at you, er, us." Sora pointed out. He rose his right hand into the air and pointed to their right; towards the spinning doors (the ones he had been stuck in half an hour ago). "He doesn't look that friendly." Sora added on apprehensively.
Riku followed Sora's gaze and paled, "Marluxia…" He whispered, a chill slithering down his back and spine. His fingers clenched into a knuckle as he looked nervously back at Sora.
"M-marluxia?" Sora stammered, "Why would he be here?" Sora slurred out his words as he subconsciously slid closer towards Riku.
"No idea… Kind of odd though. Really odd." Riku stated and Sora agreed with a timorous nod. Silence rang through the pair as the rain plundered their heads. Sora shivered.
"We've been waiting for the limo for nearly ten minutes, it's pouring, and my ex-boss - your ex - is giving us daggers," Sora managed as his teeth chattered together, "you think we can go now?"
"Go? On what?" Riku retorted with a mock snort of amusement.
Sora grinned, despite his cold and awkward state. He snagged Riku by his hand as his other sought out his suitcase. Riku stared at Sora quizzically. He regripped his suitcase and allowed Sora to hoist him off the damp bench. The silver-haired male watched as Sora began to drag them away from the bench and closer to the road. The young artist lead both of their bodies down onto the sidewalk. Riku arched his eyebrows as Sora began waving his suitcase in the air and shouting something. Something akin to … Taxi?
Oh hell no. "Sora," Riku warned, trying to deter Sora. It didn't work. Grunting something under his breath, Riku tightened his grasp on Sora's hand. Riku Karada was not going to ride in a taxi. A /taxi/ for god's sake. He had never had the misfortune of riding in one and didn't want to start.
"Taxi." Sora repeated, a grin playing on his features as one slowed down next to them. Sora smirked at his friend as he ushered the author to the trunk of the taxi. Once there Riku opened the trunk and plopped his things in. Sora quickly did the same. His hand lingered in Riku's for a long while before he quickly withdrew his hand and got into the car on the right. Riku rolled his eyes and entered the left.
Once inside, Sora shook his head (in a pathetic attempt to dry his hair). Riku watched him as he slid off his jacket. "God, I'm cold now." Riku made known as he placed his jacket onto the floor of the taxi. Sora laughed softly before he turned to glance at the driver.
"Can we go to…" Sora began but was cut off by Riku telling the brown-haired man the location. The driver nodded and watched the pair in the mirror.
"I can't believe you got me into one of these things," Riku complained. He ran a hand through his wet hair. Green eyes trailed over to the brunette. "You're laughing at me, aren't you?"
"Maybe." Sora giggled. He was caught off-guard when Riku slung his arm around his friend, pulling him into a head-lock. Sora pouted up at Riku with his benevolent blue yes. "Lemme go, 'Iku."
"No." Riku replied in a low voice causing shivers to shoot through Sora's body. Like needles. Needles stabbing him everywhere making him feel intoxicated.
"You two are quite the couple. Perfect for one another." The driver stated, a smirk playing onto his lips. He took a turn to bring the famous pair closer to their destination.
Both went silent. "we're not…" Sora mumbled, feeling Riku's grasp loosen from around him. Both sat back up, refusing to make eye-contact.
"You're not?" The driver answered and cleared his throat, "I'm sorry." He averted his gaze back to the road, but not before speaking up once more, "Although that's not what the papers say."
Sora paled. P-paper says?
Riku furrowed his eyebrows, "What paper?" He asked. His answer came when the driver passed back today's paper.
"Page 2, Section B."
Riku flipped to the stated page. His fingers fumbled with the flimsy pages until he got to the section. Eyes scanned the page along with a curious (and quite nervous) Sora Kayaki. Riku began to read aloud.
"Spotted at the ever-popular hotel and resort at the arts convention, among many others, was bachelor and author Riku Karada. Apparently the heat-breaker was spotted with a new 'partner', who was later identified as Sora Kayaki. The two.." Riku couldn't force himself to read anymore. This was about Vegas. This was about what Sora did when he was drunk. How Riku agreed to dance, publicly, with Sora when he was /drunk/. Riku felt his stomach churn.
"What does the rest say?" Sora asked nervously. Riku closed it and shook his head as if to say no.
"Nothing," Riku murmured, wanting to smack himself. Sora eyed him before trying to grab the paper.
"Let me see! It's about me too! I deserve to see!" Sora snapped and pulled the paper out of Riku's grasp. The author flinched and stared out the window. His best friend was going to hate him. Oh god. He wasn't prepared for this. No, not at all. Sora's eyes skimmed over the paper until it limply fell onto the seat beside him. He sat there in shock, with a mixture of confusion and nerves. Had he…. Did he really? He blinked a few thousand times before peering over at Riku numbly.
"Sora… listen, I…" Riku cleared his throat, trying to state his reasons clearly.
"I'm sorry." Sora hung his head, shaking his head to the side, "I… didn't realize what I was doing. I wasn't thinking right. I didn't mean for you to get a bad name in the paper…"
Riku was taken off guard. He thought Sora would be mad at him. Okay, this was odd, "Wait. You're not mad at me?" He arched an eyebrow slowly.
"You didn't do anything wrong?" Sora stated questioningly, uncertain what Riku meant by that.
"You asked to dance with me and I said yes," He mumbled, now focusing his eyes on the taxi ground, "Which I don't regret," He lowered his voice to a whisper, "Because you were a fucking great dancer," He cleared his throat to continue, "But I shouldn't have when you were intoxicated."
"I'm never getting drunk again," Sora whined, holding his head in despair. "Never, ever."
"Okay, darling." Riku mumbled, rolling his eyes. "You say that now." He was just glad Sora wasn't mad with the paper. It was like Sora was more worried about their images then what conspired. They had danced suggestively and it didn't phase Sora. Maybe he didn't realize the severity of it. Perhaps…
Xxx
"Why is it raining so hard?"
Sora stared out Riku's large window. Sure, the artist liked the rain (to some degree) but to ruin a perfectly fine day. Sora sighed, eyes glued to the outside world. He vehemently tried to rack his brain for details about his drunken night. Sadly, none came, The only thing he could vividly remember was being in Riku's arms, body against his. After that, it was all a blurr. To be honest, Sora was a bit worried about the paper accusation. What would people do if they thought they were dating? This was /not/ how Sora wanted to be introduced to the world. Then, there was Marluxia. Perhaps he had shot them daggers after that reading that But still, why was he there at the same time? It was way too ironic. Sora groaned mentally. How did he end up in this mess?
"Sora?"
Sora glanced over his shoulder at Riku who was drinking a glass of wine without a care In the world (which was obviously a fallacy; but not to Sora). The author sauntered over and stood beside his friend.
"Yeah?" Sora asked, exhaustion already showing. "What's up?"
"I'm going to go see Demyx for a bit. Do you want to come? Or?..." Riku asked He was answered with a gentle shake of Sora's head. "All right, I'll be back later then."
"Have fun." Sora whispered before removing Xemnas' card from his jacket. Well, Riku was off so why not go see the arist about the job? Sora reread the address before heading into his room (which was really Riku's guest room).
Going to see Xemnas was his best option at this point.
Xxx
"You see this Riku/This/ is not good! This is… horrible! How could you let them catch you with someone as unknown to the public as Sora?! You probably just ruined his name for heaven's sake! If you haven't already, you're going to ruin the poor boy's career!"
Riku was starting to think that Demyx was more concerned with the paper than he and Sora were combined. That was until Demyx pushed a magazine towards his brother. Riku cautiously looked down at it. Immediately, his blood ran cold. The color soon after drained from his typically handsome face, leaving him looking like a pale ghost.
"What were you and him doing anyways?" Demyx demanded but continued before allowing the speechless Riku a word in edge-wise. "You know the media loves your love-life more than you do! How could you let this happen?!"
Riku tuned out his brother's rant and stared down at the picture. They were dancing… yes, but Sora's eyes were lidded from pleasure and his arms were tightly woven around Riku's neck. And Riku's hands. The fiends were slithering inches up Sora's shirt, for the world to see. "What if Sora sees this…" Was the only thing Riku responded with. Dear heavens, they were practically humping. How could he…
"…Sora doesn't know about this?..." A long pause, "You got him drunk?! Oh my god, Riku!" Demyx buried his face in his hands due to the shame. "I thought you wanted to stay friends with him!"
"We are." Riku replied defensively. "it's just.." He eyed the picture, "That night Sora admitted to me that he's attracted to me…and I told him never to bring it up ever again. I want him to be happy, I really do, and he deserves happiness a lot more than most people. And I just don't belong in that equation." Riku glared darkly at Demyx, visibly offended.
Demyx sighed, recapturing his composure. He glimpsed back down at the picture, "Well… he does look pretty happy in this picture, though." Demyx mumbled, "I don't get why you and him just don't get together. What you and him are doing is like playing with fire. One of these days you're not going to be able to resist and you're going to do something to him." Demyx shrugged and took a sip from his neglected soda. He eyed his brother with concern and pity. Poor famous Riku. "Unless…"
Riku cocked his head to the side, "Unless what?" He didn't like the sound of that.
"Unless you're afraid that you're going to fall head-over-heels in love with Sora." Demyx grinned, "Are you /afraid/ of falling in love with him and thus refusing to date him?" It clicked.
"That's…" Riku stared downward, "That's not true. You know that. I couldn't… possibly."
"Look, Riku." Demyx prodded the picture, "Even though I'm pissed over it, look at the picture. Do you see how happy you both look?"
"That's-!"
"And its' not because you're dancing like that with him. You're /smiling/, not smirking lustfully." Demyx stated nonchalantly.
"Point?" Riku mumbled, feeling defeated.
"You like him a lot more than just a simple attraction," Demyx snickered, "You and him are stupid not-!" Demyx began.
"Sora doesn't want to be with me. I'm not what he needs. He needs a guy who is kind and spontaneous and passionate." Riku sighed, closing the magazine. "It wouldn't work. Sometimes you just know these things. And I don't want to date him…" Right? He didn't want to date someone as unwilling and innocent and pure as Sora, right? Of course not!
"Okay, Riku." Demyx rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, it's your life." And with that Demyx changed the subject. He was tired of playing cupid and yelling at Riku for taking advantage of Sora. Beautiful Sora Kayaki with the most gorgeous eyes Riku had ever seen. Yeah. Riku didn't want nothing more from Sora than friendship. Then why did he yearn to kiss and hold him? They were complete opposites…
But didn't opposites attract?
Xxx
"You're galley is beautiful."
Sora stood in marvel at the walls lined with artwork. Xemnas grinned as he leaned against the counter wielding a smug expression and posture. The artist smiled this time as Sora made his way back over. Ambition and strive flickered in Soars eyes. He was young. And innocent. Perfectly innocent in everyone's eyes (except Sora's… which was the odd part).
Sora offered a timid smile before pausing in front of Xemnas, "I wish I was as half as good as you."
"That's why I'm here. To help." He beamed at Sora as he paced around the studio, "You're what I call an apprentice."
Sora laughed softly, "A humble apprentice."
"Yes." Xemnas agreed and noticed something different about Sora. But what? "How is Karada?"
"Good." Sora shrugged weakly, "He's distant at times." Sora glanced away.
"Does it bother you?" Xemnas asked. He was awfully interested in Sora's relationship with Riku. It was a bit unnerving. "That he acts like that, I mean."
"A bit. But I can handle. And I don't blame him. I'm sort of a burden." Sora murmured and then shrugged but looked back to Xemnas in the end.
"You aren't a burden." Xemnas corrected with a grin.
"But I am!" Sora argued, "All I ever do is cause inconvenience. To you and to Riku. Both of you have helped me so freely. I feel like I'm taking advantage. Or cheating. Like having both of you take me in is giving me a name." Sora mumbled, speaking his mind for the first time in awhile. He took a seat next to the counter, refusing to make eye-contact.
Xemnas rolled his eyes, smirked, then laced his hands together on top of the counter, "Sometimes you need help. And you're not a burden." Xemnas repeated with determination. "Your art, from what I've seen, is marvelous." He reassured. "You deserve to be famous."
"I guess." Sora had his doubts. It would take so much for people to appreciate and respect his art. Sora sighed at the thought. But drawing for Riku was step in the right direction.
"You've got the spark." Xemnas noted with a nonchalant look.
"Thanks" Sora laughed. His eyes lingered on a magazine opened to a page. There it showed something that made his heat plunge and shortly after stop. "W-what?" Sora stammered.
"You haven't seen it?" Xemnas inquired curiously. He handed Sora the magazine.
"No." Sora replied rapidly. He stared at the picture. That picture, there was his evidence. Not just a story but a damn picture. And he was…"What' Sora whispered, feeling sick. "Why does the media obsess over him so much?" Sora slurred.
"He's one of the most eligible bachelors in New York City. He has success and bewitching looks. Plus, his book is /famous/. He's not only famous but a local celebrity." Xemnas explained
"Oh." Sora sighed and looked back at the picture. He blushed darkly, clearing his throat before muttering, "Now wonder people think we're dating." Sora shook his head, face a dark red.
"You look happy with him." Xemnas said.
"I am." Sora agreed, "I honestly am/"
"And you like him?" Xemnas wondered and received a sheepish grin and nod. "And you both think it's better not to date? Or does he not know where you stand?"
"He doesn't like me that way," Sora shook his head, snapping his eyes shut, "He doesn't believe in love, you know? So starting anything with him would be pointless."
"Are you bothered by that?" Xemnas wondered.
He passed behind the counter once more. The man progressed towards the paintings. One there, he motioned for the young brunette to come over. Sora cautiously made his way over. Blue eyes scanned the lovely landscape briefly. "Not particularly," Sora laughed distantly, "I've learn to deal with disappointments and take them in stride."
"You're such a strong boy." Xemnas noted, cocking his head as he stared at the paining alongside to Sora, "You'll do just fine in the art business with a head like that on your shoulders."
"I hope…" Sora mumbled, being lost in the colors and his own thoughts. Everyone thought he was going to succeed, but was he really going to? He was just starting … and things were barely going anywhere? How long did success take? Sora was starting to worry.
Xxx
With a hundred-dollar check stuffed into the depths of his jacket pockets, Sora made his way back to Riku's home. At the door he paused when he watched the it open. Riku stood at it, smirking widely at him. Sora's lips fell down into a frown as he lowered his curled fist. There goes knocking. He stared at Riku, offering a welcoming smile. True, it was good to see his friend. It was just that /smirk/. That smirk never spelled anything good.
"Let's go." Riku declared, closing the door and marching off down the hallway. He shot Sora a glance halfway to the elevator as if to shout 'coming'. Silently, of course.
"But I just got back…" Sora complained and shook his head in utter dismay. He mumbled a slew of incoherent words under his breath (probably that of idiot and jerk) and followed Riku, head hung low. "I wanted to relax for a bit…"He was starting to sound like a two year old who complained over anything, but right now he didn't care. He was just too exhausted for Riku to be dragging around town.
"Don't look so grim, Sora. I haven't even told you where we're going." Riku noted, taking off towards the elevators once Sora was beside him. The brunette passed him an inquisitive look. Riku regarded this with a somewhat nonchalant chortle. "We're going to your old place to pick up some more of your belongings before the renter wrecks them on you."
"W-wha?" Sora stammered, stopping dead in his tracks, "What if the renter is there?" Sora slurred, shaking his head as if to dismiss the idea, "Zexion said…"
"Zexion is an ass." Riku snapped and then shrugged as if he had done nothing wrong, "Besides, don't you want some more of your clothes? Some of your movies? Pictures?" Riku suggested with a quirky smile.
"Fine." Sora mumbled and shook his head in disbelief, "But still.. What if he's there? Or she."
"Then we'll just explain, calmly, who we are." Riku smirked and tossed his hair over his shoulder in a conceited act as he pressed the down button on the elevator, "Besides, I'm Riku Karada. Who doesn't know me?" A sneer followed that ego-centric statement.
"Your ego is the size of Texas." Sora grumbled. He shouted an ow seconds later when Riku nudged him forcefully in the shoulder.
"You're such a kid at times." Riku informed Sora as he entered the elevator, "An immature, middle-class kid."
"Here we go again." Sora rolled his eyes, entering.
"Yes, here we go." Riku agreed, rolling his eyes as well. He shot his brunette friend a glance, pushing all thoughts Demyx had conquered up aside. Right now wasn't a time for such nonsense. Right now was for a time of bonding and getting to know one another and to learn to trust … and to teach Sora it was all right if he let someone in and actually touch him.
Now that last one would take tenacity.
Xxx
"You see that emergency escape over there, Sora? I want you to go on that, and climb across until you get to your room, and then fiddle with the do-" Riku began sneakily as they approached Sora's room. The silver-haired male pointed to the window at the beginning of the wall, a devious look on his face. He threw federal laws over his shoulder as if they were garbage.
Sora paled and retrieved a pair of keys from his pocket, making sure not to disturb the check, "I have keys…" Sora suggested, flashing them before Sora's eyes.
Riku frowned. "Why didn't you tell me this before I thought of that intricate and clever plan?" Riku sighed dramatically and smacked his own forehead. "Whatever… just open the door, Sora."
"Someone's grumpy…" Sora mumbled under his breath as he shoved the key into his lock. With a dexterous flick of his wrist he opened the door, revealing his apartment.
It looked identical to how he had left it. Everything the same, and untouched. Well… except .. For the kitchen? A pot of tea was on and… what the hell?
"I think someone's here…" Sora whispered, leaning up on his tiptoes to whisper into Riku's ear.
Riku nodded and closed the door behind them with a gentle and almost inaudible thud. The author and artist carefully progressed into the interior of the apartment. Sora led Riku slowly towards his vacant bedroom. The brunette closed the door behind them and motioned for Riku to grab a few of his things from his drawers.
"Right-o." Riku smirked and opened the drawers, peering down at some of the clothes Sora left. He arched an eyebrow and picked up a rather low v-cut shirt. He hoisted it into the air before clearing his throat to gather Sora's attention.
Sora paled at once.
"What's this?" The smirk on Riku's face grew as his fingers prodded the soft material.
"I never wore it!" Sora stammered quickly, waving his hands in the air, "I swear! Roxas bought it for me and-" Sora tried to explain but was cut off when he received a face full of shirt. The brunette groaned and glared at the shirt.
"Wear it."
Somehow Riku had made his way back over to Sora, and now was seductively whispering into his ear. Or maybe threateningly… either way, it had the same effect. Sora felt his cheeks darken as he nervously laughed and shook his head, "Nope." He state weakly, throwing the shirt across the room and into the drawer with perfect aim.
"Nice shot," Riku whispered soothingly down into Sora's ear before leaving the brunette be and marching back over.
"….Weirdo." Sora stated apprehensively before turning his attention to gathering his things.
Riku rolled his eyes and continued gathering things. Once the pair were halfway done they began piling the objects into a spare suitcase Sora had under the bed. They were about done, to be honest, until Sora suddenly tensed and nearly dug his nails into Riku's shoulder.
"Ow! What the f-!" Riku began in a demanding hiss but his mouth was soon after covered with Sora's hand. He blinked and eyed Sora.
"Shut up!" Sora demanded in a lower whisper, pulling the two down into a crouching position beside the bed. Riku arched his eyebrow further when he felt himself being pulled down. Was Sora being extremely frisky today? Sora cautiously removed his hand from Riku's mouth, glimpsing up and over the bed.
"If you wanted me to fuck you, you could have just-" Riku began in a nonchalant tone before he heard the bathroom door open. He at once shut up and realized Sora had no intentions of making out or having sex with him. What an… expected disappointment.
"Hello?"
Sora stiffened and slammed his body against the bed frame in total defeat. Tears prickled in the corner's of his eyes. Riku looked at him, completely confused. He peered over the bed and onto the form of a petite red-head wearing a tan dress. Her hair was half straightened and half curly. Apparently they had caught her in the midst of fixing up for something.
"Know her?" Riku asked in a whisper. Sora didn't respond, just tried to keep it together. Riku sighed and figured revealing himself now would be better than the girl coming around the bed and spotting them crouching down. He nudged Sora as he arose from his spot. He met the girls' aquamarine eyes and frowned at the scream that sounded.
"Riku…" Sora sighed, not wanting to stand up and just sat there by his friend's feet.
"RIKU KARADA!"
A shrill and delighted squeal came from the red-head as she rushed forth, draping her arms around his neck. "Oh my god! Riku Karada is in my hous- Wait, why the hell are you in my house?" The red-head demanded, eying the man In her grasp. Her gaze fell from Riku and then down to the floor where Sora sat limply. "Sora?…"
"H-hi…. Kairi…." Sora whispered, not looking at her when he spoke.
Riku understood at once, "Oh you know, just helping my lovely Sora here collect his things." Riku explained and then paused when he felt Kairi's hold tighten around him, "Can you let me go?"
"You and Sora are friends?…" She stated slowly, loosening her grip. She coughed and stood straight up in front of the author with a blush staining her cheeks. She watched as her ex arose from his position on the floor.
"Oh yes." Riku nodded. "Right, Sora?" Riku sang, draping his arm protectively around Sora's neck.
"Right…" Sora sighed, eyes not shining like they typically did.
"Friends as in … friends or…" Kairi eyed them for a long while.
"What a blunt question." Riku laughed and shook his head, thinking about the question. Either he could help Sora make his ex way jealous and agree to the statement, or he could deny it and have her all clingy and …. Was there really any pro's to the truths? Nope. "Yes. Sora here and I are dating."
Sora's eyes widened as he narrowed his eyes over at Riku. If looks could kill, they definitely would be doing such right at this moment.
"O-oh…" Kairi looked skeptical. How did her shy ex go from her to a guy, a famous celebrity and her favorite author?! She blinked and smacked her lips together, "…Sora, are you all right?" It was the only question that came to mind.
"Huh?" Sora looked over at Kairi before facing a smile, "I'm fine." He reassured her before sending Riku a no visible pout.
Riku must have got the message because he pulled Sora tighter to him, his hand resting snuggly on Sora's waist. Sora flinched, resisting the urge to shrug it off. Damn it, Riku… "He's fine." Riku confirmed, playing the hem of Sora's shirt convincingly.
"That's good…" Kairi stated and then blinked again before uttering an, "Oh!"
She charged for her drawer. Once there she passed the author a copy of Caller Number Nine with glee. "I know this isn't really a good time," A nervous giggle, "But could you sign it?" She smiled, handing him the book before collecting a pen from the dresser.
"Sure?" Riku replied and grabbed the book. He let go of Sora so he could properly do the signing. Sora sighed and sat down at the edge of the bed. Why was Kairi and Riku getting along so well? He was envious and jealous and… everything else. And knowing Riku he was going to put the moves on his ex… just because he was that desperate and jerky. Jerky… Jerkish… Whichever it was, Sora didn't really care.
"Thank you!" Kairi chimed and hugged the book tightly, "But next time can you guys um … knock?"
"I thought Zexion was renting this place out…" Sora stumbled, finally deciding to actually join the conversation. Kairi glanced over at the brunette and nodded.
"He is. I'm leaving tomorrow night when the renter comes. I'm moving in with my friend Selphie until I can get my own place." She informed Sora and then laughed, "So I take it you are living with Riku, then?"
"That he is." Riku stated before Sora could answer his own question.
"Yeah…" Sora added on with a nod.
"Cute." She spoke cautiously before glancing down at her watch, "Not to be rude, but I have to finish getting ready. You guys can take your time getting Sora's things." She smiled and waved off to Riku before scampering into the bathroom. Riku couldn't help but notice the remorse and disappointment in her eyes. Either it was because her lovely author was in fact dating her ex and interested in boys, or because Sora had moved on. Riku wasn't in the mood to guess and think for her.
"You okay?" Riku asked once Kairi shut the bathroom door.
"I'll be fine…" Sora whispered, hanging his head down, "Thanks for not being a pervert for once…" Sora said sincerely.
"You're welcome, sweetheart." Riku smirked and then gave the suitcase a kick with his foot. A gentle kick, at that. "Let's finish and I'll make dinner at my place."
"Make dinner? You cook?" Sora asked, eyes sparkling up and over at his friend.
"Well duh."
Xxx
"I'm surprised at how well you cook."
Sora stated honestly as he laid beside Riku, staring up at the ceiling. Riku's room was a lot larger than his own. Twice the size. The bed was more comfortable and it was just more relaxing. Sora spared a glance over at his silver-haired friend, gratitude flickering in his blue eyes, "And thank you." Sora added on, a smile materializing onto his small lips.
Riku nodded and crossed his arms over his head, "You're welcome." He chuckled to himself, "There's many things about me you don't know."
"Oh?" Sora countered, peering over his shoulder at the other, "Such as?" He curiously tilted his head. To be frank, Sora was quite curious. He wanted to learn even more about his friend. Everyday was an adventure, no matter how lame it sounded. Every day he learned something knew about Riku. And each day Riku turned out to be kinder and more real and not just… the cruel and sadistic and foul man everyone claimed he was. They were all wrong, Sora decided. All of them. They were wrong.
"Well…" Riku sighed and bit his bottom lip, "You did tell me about your past…." He stated more so to himself. "Fine. I'll tell you a story then."
"Okay." Sora grinned like a child as he propped his head onto Riku's chest as a pillow without thinking. It was something he used to do with his friends when they slept over. They'd use each other as pillows … and it just stuck as a habit. Sora didn't realize that what he did may cause Riku discomfort until minutes afterwards. He flushed from embarrassment, "Do you want me to-" Sora began but felt a hand rest on his head, fingers barely running through his hair. But he could feel them.
"No." Riku breathed, fingers fumbling, shaking, as they guided themselves through his friend's hair.
There was a silence before Riku began speaking again, "When I was twelve, my brother's friend, Reno, befriended me out of nowhere. At the time he was fourteen. I was in seventh grade and the other was a freshman in high school. I should have known not to trust the bastard, but I was young and I wanted to be cool and that shit. Well any way, one day Reno came over." Riku's voice suddenly turned sour and painful, "Demyx had left to go get something from Zexion's place… well, Reno and I started playing video games. That was until Reno suddenly just snapped and started feeling me up… I was scared at first, because no one had ever…. Done anything like that. But I trusted him and it felt good, you know?… So I just… and then I realized I liked it and wanted it. So… I sort of became the class slut."
"You had…sex at twelve?" Sora stammered, words slurring.
"No." Riku shook his head, "Not sex. Just… other things." His tone was so dark and sour that Sora was afraid to answer him. "I didn't actually lose my virginity until my sixteenth birthday. My boyfriend thought it'd be a nice … gift. Even though we had just started dating a week before…"
"Riku?…" Sora whispered uncertainly.
"Yeah?"
"Did you ever think that what you were doing was kind of wrong and… not healthy?" Sora whispered.
"Yeah, I did. But … so many people encouraged me to date people, and I soon started to tune out the ones that snickered my name in disgust. And my parents had always been that way so I thought it was natural. And I didn't see any problems with what I was doing. I actually hadn't seen an error in my ways until…" Riku sighed and looked weakly down at the brunette laying on him so peacefully.
"Until?" Sora questioned.
"Until I met you." Riku shrugged, "I know, you don't believe that. I know that people say shit like that all the time. It sounds good when someone says it, but then you think they're just saying it to be nice and that they don't really mean it. But god damn, Sora. I do mean it. Before I met you I didn't care that my relationships were abusive and … short and just lustful. I honestly didn't give a fuck. It wasn't until I saw how you reacted towards Kairi and me that I realized I was being a bit .. Inhuman." Riku mumbled, a bit ashamed in himself. "I may not fully understand what I'm doing wrong, but at least I know I'm doing something wrong. And that's a start."
"Riku…" Sora breathed out his friend's name, nuzzling his cheek against Riku's chest. He was lulled by Riku's gentle hands massaging his scalp, "I'm proud of you…"
"You are?" Riku arched an eyebrow.
"Yes…" Sora whispered, eyes shutting halfway, "Admitting that you're wrong is the first step." Sora murmured.
"Then what's the next step?" Riku asked curiously.
"Being willing to accept help from loved ones." Sora stated matter-oh-factly as his hands gripped gently at Riku's chest. Riku stared quizzically at Sora, nodding slowly to his words. He sort of understood that. "And I can help you. I can help you have a healthy relationship with someone…"
"Thanks." Riku said softly, index finger slipping from Sora's hair downward. It then traced down Sora's jaw, onto the pale columns of the brunette's neck. The parts that were available to him at that moment, anyways. Sora didn't recoil or flinch, just sat there with a relaxed smile plastered onto his lips. "Hey, Sora?"
"Yeah?…" Sora asked sleepily.
"…." Riku said nothing at first, "Never mind."
"Okay…" Sora whispered back.
"I'll help you to your room. I'll wake you up before the signing." Riku told Sora, easing the boy off his frame. He paused when he noticed that Sora stubbornly clung to his chest, nuzzling his cheek once more to Riku's abs. Riku blinked and sighed, hands retreating from Sora's body. "Sora, come on."
"Fine…" Sora mumbled, lazily getting up into a sitting position. He yawned and extended his hand across the room to the now standing Riku. "Carry me?"
"You're not a child." Riku retorted.
"Well.. You call me a kid, so…" Sora laughed softly, his mind floating about.
"I'm not carrying you…" Riku whispered, I couldn't possibly do something that sweet for you without giving you the wrong idea or making it awkward between us…. Riku shook his head again. He took Sora's hand and helped the other to his feet. Sora gave him this disappointed look as Riku lead him out of the bedroom and down the hallway towards Sora's room.
He helped the boy into bed and pulled the blankets up around Sora. Sora smiled softly as he quickly drifted into sleep. Riku held Sora's jacket in his hands, watching the other sleep in a complete peace. Riku rolled his eyes and walked across the room to set the jacket onto the chair. That was until a piece of paper fell from the pocket and landed on the floor. Riku furrowed his brows and bent over to pick up the article.
His eyes scanned over it in the darkness and he was speechless. Xemnas?… What could he possibly want from Sora?… Why would he give him a hundred dollars?… Riku stared at the check and then back to Sora. He wouldn't pry into Sora's business. He wasn't going to invade his privacy. Riku grumbled something as he set the check on the chair beside the jacket. He left the room, a feeling swelling in his chest. He claimed it to be heart-burn from the food he had made.
But really, it was jealously and longing… and he was just too dense to realize that.