Riku had been studying the curvature in each individual plank that made up the far-side of the wall. Every board was shaped similarly, and yet their makeup, coloring and length were all slightly different. He didn't think too deeply about it, instead relishing the distraction.

That all ended when the body in his arms jolted upward.

Riku swore he saw lights as he felt a very thick skull move to meet his chin.

Time seemed to slow, but he was incredibly lucid, all things considered. He felt Sora leave his arms and heard a frantic, flurried apology as he considered himself lucky for not biting his tongue. Just another bruise to add to the pile.

His vision cleared, and Sora was sitting up and over him. He didn't mean to, but he must have been glaring, as Sora's reaction became even more apologetic. Riku reset his features and moved to sit up.

Sora helped him, for which he was thankful. He'd been more than a little light-headed. Hunched forward, he waited for his condition to improve. Satisfied, he gently pushed Sora's hand away, moving his gaze towards him.

"I'm sorry, Riku!" Sora cried. Riku merely shook his head and waved his hand in dismissal. Noting their shirts a little ways away, spread against the floor, Riku moved to grab them. Sora just looked on, the hurt plain on his face.

Riku handed a red t-shirt to the other boy, and began pulling his own sweater over his shoulders. He winced, muscles sore, finally moving to fold his pants down back over his ankles. He could finally look at Sora without feeling quite so flustered.

Sora began to follow his lead, after deeming the garment dry enough. His gaze bore into Riku, who only just took notice.

The boy buried in knitting tilted his head, hoping this action would cause the other to open up. Sora's frown deepened. "Riku," he hesitated.

Riku didn't move, hoping this would signal that Sora could take his time. He didn't know what else he could do.

"Riku, um," Sora stalled. "I, I was wondering something."

Riku nodded.

"I, uh, you," he tripped over his words.

"Does being around me and Kairi make you sad?"

Riku's eyes slowly widened.

"It's just that, I realized that your face always looks so different when she's around," Sora supplied. "Oh, I dreamt about this," he hastily added.

Riku's mouth slowly opened as one eyebrow raised.

"You can nod or shake your head, if that helps."

That isn't the issue here, Riku wanted to reply curtly. He didn't know how to respond, even if he could speak. He supposed he would say, "Aren't I smiling?" but, how was he supposed to convey that?

This wasn't a situation where a yes no answer would work, unless Riku was frank about his feelings. He gulped. This is the worst.

He decided instead to point at his throat.

Sora didn't look satisfied. "It's a yes or no question."

Riku's hand lowered, taken aback by his intensity. He had stated the last line, rather than framing it as a question, so Riku remained trapped in that judgement.

Instead, he just looked away, doing his best to steel his features.

Sora had his answer, but he couldn't do anything with it. Instead, the confirmation of his fears sat in his stomach like a lump. Checking the light through the space's cracked window, he moved to stand up. Riku's eyes followed him.

"We need to start heading back," Sora stated neutrally.

Riku wasn't sure if that tone was born of disappointment or safety. Either way, he agreed, and placed a hand on the floor to help support his ascension.

Sora had been stretching to test the capability of his condition. "How do you feel? Can you walk unassisted?"

Riku wasn't entirely sure, but he could stand. Hazarding a basic vertical stretch felt like it would snap his ligaments, but the sensation was bearable. He nodded, careful not to overstep their boundaries of friendship.

Sora stood before the opening. "I'll go first, just in case you fall."

Riku put his arm on Sora's shoulder, signalling him to stop. "Hm? What is it?" Sora asked, turning his head to face him.

Riku removed his arm, pausing for long seconds. He pointed at Sora, following up the action with a hand tracing down his own arm, focusing on the upper biceps. His own expression was just as confused as Sora's, so he finished the pantomime by thrusting his hands in an upturned, quizzical position.

Sora thought deeply. "You want me to touch your arm?"

Riku shook his head, venturing a poke in the same spot on Sora's side he pressed earlier. "Ow!" It then clicked in Sora's head. "Oh! How are my injuries?"

Riku nodded enthusiastically, glad to be understood.

"I think we should be more or less in the same condition now," Sora smiled.

Riku couldn't ask why Sora was still protecting him, if that was the case. He had to let it fall, looking at the ground.

"Something more you want to say?" Sora guessed. "Don't worry, once we get back into town, we'll get your voice back," he beamed.

Riku nodded once, and followed Sora down the ladder.

The two looked around. Riku stared at their tracks, still imprinted in the dried mud. They had been coming from the left, and he was sure that they had climbed up the same side they fell from. He pointed in the opposite direction, and then shifted his hand flat and thrusting it forward, coaxing Sora to follow his lead.

"That way's back to town?" Sora asked, walking closer to a nodding Riku. "Did you pick up the scent or something?"

Riku tried to ignore him, instead doubting his line of thinking. He had been carried here by Sora, barely conscious. Town being that way supposed that Sora hadn't walked in a different direction last night. Given the poor weather and lack of light, he doubted the other boy would know, either. He looked up at the sun, now nearly setting. That's it. Town is in that direction.

"Boop," Sora said playfully, planting his index finger on the tip of Riku's nose.

Riku had been so lost in thought that he hadn't taken notice of this offence until it was too late. He could only stare at the finger in disbelief.

Neither moved. Sora finally pouted, feeling completely unappreciated for his comical cleverness. "Because you're like a big dog."

Riku grimaced, unable to follow his line of 'logic'.

Sora went on. "You're all bark and no bite," he continued, chuckling. "Except I guess not at the moment, huh?"

Chomp.

Now it was Sora's turn for his eyes to widen, his precious finger now in the maw of the beast. "Ow! Riku! I was joking! JO-KING!"

Riku closed his eyes, pretending not to hear, instead alternating in how much force his jaw exerted. He was careful not to actually hurt him, but was rough enough to teach him a lesson.

"I'm sorry, Riku! SO-RRY! Please, let go?" Sora cried.

Riku opened his mouth, and it took Sora an awkwardly long time to realize that he could easily free his finger. The brown-haired boy sighed. "I was just trying to lighten the mood."

Riku closed his mouth, a familiar smirk playing across his features. He gently ruffled his friend's hair. He was about to start walking ahead, aware of how much time they had already wasted, but thought better of it. They could have carried on like always, with Riku leading the way as Sora struggled to keep up. He could have kept that reassuring, safe distance. Instead, he moved to link their arms, and began coolly walking in the direction of the setting sun.

"Riku-" Sora was cut off by the shortness of breath caused by the taller boy's brisk pace. He was painfully aware of their sudden closeness, but didn't dare question it for fear of Riku feeling like touching was wrong. They had been physically close for the past 24 hours, but that was out of necessity. What was this for, he wondered, as he tried to ignore the confusing happiness stirring inside of him.

Riku did his best to act natural even while he could feel Sora's pulse against his own. Even if this action wasn't necessary for survival, he selfishly wanted his sentiment to be understood.

Touch was his new form of communication, and so far, Sora had been receptive to it. If he disliked it or wanted to deny him, all he had to do was break their link.

He couldn't stifle his smile when the smaller boy only tightened his arm around his, and he hoped that Sora had understood him.

I just want to walk beside you.