I must EXPLODE THE SALES! The pop-up told me so.

I'm hot. Stupid weather. Stupid air conditioner. I had the strong urge to use lyrics from 'Simple and Clean', but resisted because it's so terribly cliché by now.

Hello, I've waited here for you, Everlong.

Breathe out, so I can breathe you in,

Hold you in, and now, I know you've always been

Out of your head, out of my head I sing.

It's not so bad. You're only the best I ever had.

+++

Riku found Sora sitting at the edge of one of the longer docks on the island, the dock behind his home. His body was still, and no sound escaped him. The blazing sun reflected off the dark leather of his pants and brought out the highlights in his hair. Despite his wretched state, he looked strong, even beautiful. A sad, perfect beauty. The older boy approached as quietly as possible, but the sound of his feet on the wood was inevitable.

"Go away, Kairi." His voice did not sound strained, or hurt, or even upset. His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he said that everyday. It was so strange to see him unfeeling like that. Riku was reminded oddly of himself and gave an involuntary shudder.

"Sora..." He said, barely audible. The figure turned to face him, and Riku's heart sank.

Sora's eyes were red, his face stained with tears. He looked as if he had been crying for days, not minutes. Riku sank to his knees next to the boy, wanting to hold him and tell him everything would be all right. Sora grabbed him tight around the waist and cried openly into his shoulder, the sobs racking his body. Riku stroked his hair and kissed the top of his head.

"I'm so sorry. I know how much they meant to you. I'm sorry." Riku only wanted to comfort his fallen angel. The perfection of his mind was rippling and fading. Something worse than just his parents' deaths was destroying him. Riku could swear he heard his heart breaking.

"I... It's... I never.... I never got to say goodbye. I never... All this time... I thought they would be... Here. I thought everyone would. I've been so naïve. So stupid. Riku... Nothing lasts forever, does it?" It was a rhetorical question. He sobbed out the words, but the last few held a cold finality. He seemed dead-set in this truth. If only...

"Some things can. Sora... They're looking after you, you know that. They'll always be with you. You'll never be alone. I'll always be here. I love you, nothing can change that." He hugged the boy closer, but Sora pushed away.

"Yes it can. People change, feelings change. How do I know you'll always be there?"

"Because I say I will. Trust me, Sora. Trust me like I trust you."

Sora looked deep into his eyes. There was no doubt there. He only saw love, determination, and strength. His tears now flowed silently down his cheeks. "I...." He buried his face in Riku's chest. "I trust you. I love you, Riku."

As he lay cradled in Riku's strong arms, Sora realized this was all he really needed. Just to be with him. Nothing more. They didn't need to speak, or kiss, or anything else, just to be together. To stay like this forever.

They sat like that for what felt like an eternity. Sora finally stopped crying, though his eyes were still a bit red. Riku kissed them, stroking Sora's unruly hair. Sora sighed and wrapped his arms around his love's shoulders, sinking into him. "I thought..." He began, hoping to find some coherence in his thoughts. "I just thought that... They'd still love me, no matter what happened. When we come out, I thought that even if everyone else hated us, they'd still be there. They'd accept us. That's why I loved them so much, because they loved me unconditionally. But now I realize that even if no one else will be there, I'll still have you. All I need is you. I never want you to hurt again. I never want to be apart. Please stay with me, until I die."

'If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.'

"I will. God help me, I will." Riku kissed the younger, fragile boy lightly, cupping his face in his hands. Sora naturally deepened the kiss, leaning into the other's warmth, hoping they would never be separated. He gently pushed Riku onto his back, subconsciously drawing up that need to dominate, that possessive nature he had about things that were 'his'.

Slowly, he moved his hands under his lover's shirt, exploring the smooth flesh beneath the restricting fabric. He straddled him, sitting up to remove his own shirt, then leaning back down again to kiss Riku's lips passionately, his tongue sliding past the willing lips to explore the damp warmth inside. His hands once again found their way underneath the other's clothing and began to slide it off.

"Sora..." Riku breathed hotly into the other's ear. Sora froze. He knew where this was leading. He ceased his actions and began to get off when he felt a hand grab his wrist. "Don't stop."

+++

+deep breath+ AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! That wasn't supposed to be where the lemon started! RAGH! I /told/ you they think they're alive or something. Grr. +kicks Riku in his shin+

Riku: OW! What was that for?

Me: You're supposed to /stop/ him, not egg him on!

Riku: Oops.

Me: Oh well. Boy, they're getting... Brave. Outside, and in broad daylight? Damn. Anyway, I'm not going to risk getting this taken off ff.net, so the lemon (I pronounce it lay-mon for effect) will not be posted here. If you want it, e-mail me (pitiful@earthling.net) and I'll send it as an attachment. DO NOT FEAR THE ATTACHMENT! I usually delete e-mails with attachments immediately for fear of viruses, but you guys know me, right? I'd never send you anything harmful. Lalala...

I would die for you

I would die for you

I've been dyin' just to feel you by my side

To know that you're mine

I would cry for you

I would cry for you

I will wash away your pain with all my tears

And drown your fears

I would burn for you

Feel pain for you

I will twist the knife and bleed my achin' heart

And tear it apart

I believe in you

I would die for you.

-Number One Crush