Another lovely chapter by Arashi. Thank you so much, dear! And sorry to everyone for such a long hiatus. I kinda… lost track of everyone. If you want to write a chapter, e-mail me again. I'll keep it straight this time, I swear! ^^;;
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"Where're you staying, then? You can't already have your own place?" This time, it was Tidus who spoke, out of genuine concern for his friend.
"That's what Sora and I wanted to ask you about." Riku began, pausing to let the silence say the rest, but Tidus only looked confused, and was probably about to recommend a nearby apartment they could rent, so Riku sighed and decided to be blunt. "We were hoping we could stay with you guys, just until we can find something more permanent."
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Shine, bright morning light
Now in the air the spring is coming
Sweet, blowing wind
Singing down the hills and valleys
Keep your eyes one me
Now we are on the edge of hell
Dear my love, sweet morning light
Wait for me, you've gone much farther,
Too far
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This time it was Tidus who didn't seem quite so excited. He should have been, he told himself. After all, these were his pals. Wasn't it every kid's dream to live with their friends when they grew up? It was one of those things that were supposed to be fun. It should have made him happy, but he was confused. Maybe it was sudden, or maybe it was that he and Wakka had just moved into this two-bedroom apartment. That made him wonder how exactly sleeping arrangements would work. He thought about it for a moment, and decided, being the sensitive boy Tidus is, that he really didn't need to ask himself. An imagination could go mean very easily for him.
Not that there was anything wrong with Riku and Sora being together. He was just fine with that.
He just wanted to know how four people crammed themselves into this already small apartment. He and Wakka had already decided that the place royally sucked if not for the affordable price. After all, there was heat and air conditioning, and it was easy to get to work, but like he had reviewed before, it was cramped. He and Wakka had already gone through passing fazes of hating each other forever, and they'd been here maybe two months.
He looked back to Wakka and Riku. They were talking about it. Tidus really didn't know what to do. He'd have rather have talked to Sora. He didn't feel as imposed upon nor as threatened with the other boy. Riku was still the distant, taller male, and they'd never been all that close. Well, not the same way as him and Wakka, but these were still his friends, and friends were invaluable. Still, he'd rather talk to Sora. Tidus was on equal ground with him.
But Sora was asleep right now. He didn't get to choose.
"Whudda you think, Tidus?" Wakka asked, making Tidus jump out of his reverie.
Tidus fidgeted, feeling that shudder of all eyes on him. He hated that feeling. Okay, he liked it when he wanted the attention, but otherwise he'd avoid it at any cost. "…Well, I mean, uh…" Would Riku stop staring at me? his mind snapped. One on one with a person, Tidus could see that happening. But this…
"…Oh…Hi, Wakka…" Sora walked into the room sleepily. He still looked tired, especially as he rubbed his eyes and crashed into another chair. That awoke him fully, the boy frantic in replacing the furniture and apologizing. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean…"
"It's okay, man. I deserve worse than a chair getting knocked over after earlier." Wakka smiled, and Sora visibly relaxed. "Today, I didn't take what you said very well. I'm sorry for that. After all, you're my friend. Actually, I'm happy for you guys and I hope you'll accept an apology."
Sora smiled back, and it looked like he might sparkle. "I'm glad you're not upset."
Riku muttered something about how anyone being upset would ever matter and how it didn't matter to him.
"Wanna sit?" Wakka moved over on the couch, and invariably Tidus along with him, so Sora could be seated nearest Riku. This wasn't at all a bad idea, Tidus thought. In fact, he wanted those eyes not on him. He was still getting re-acclimated to his friends after all this time and he had never gotten to know Riku as well as he probably should have. It was a mistake on his part, but there wasn't much he could do at this very moment.
"Thanks." Sora plopped onto the couch gratefully, and they could all tell he still needed sleep.
"You feeling okay?" Riku was of course asking this to Sora.
Tidus might have listened to this if not for Wakka cornering him on the topic at hand. Sometimes he could strangle Wakka…If not for the fact that he was bigger, and possibly stronger. Tidus was faster, but Wakka could wear him out eventually. They had gotten into a brawl once or twice, and from these times Tidus had gained much wisdom. And one thing he did not want to do was punch or kick Wakka. Or strangle him either.
"Well, it okay with you if they stay?" Wakka asked the dreadful question Tidus did not yet know how to answer. And again hurting Wakka was tempting in spite of its dangers.
Again all eyes were on him, and Tidus was again reduced to sputtering and babbling. "I uh…You see…I…" He felt as if this were more of a painful surgery, one in which an answer he did not yet know was extracted from him. "I didn't hear what you had to say, Wakka." Pressure off for a moment, and by now Sora probably had been filled in and knew his future was being decided by the two Blitzers. Not that it would change anything even if Tidus could ever have the heart to say no to a friend. Those two would stay together no matter what. But Tidus wasn't going to undergo the evil all eyes on me treatment until he had Wakka's opinion. After all, he was the older and more reasonable one.
"I don't think it would be a problem. Not like it'd change too much around here. And just you and me we drive each other insane. So I think it's fine." Wakka replied in a simple, no less evenhanded manner. "But you and me pay rent, so it's your choice too."
And then hurting Wakka was even more tempting. If he was a fainter, Tidus might have managed. Yes, already, he thought it was fine. He couldn't throw his friends out and Wakka knew it. Damn Wakka. He knew Tidus had a problem talking to people he didn't know well, or worse yet the ones he didn't know at all. He wasn't doing Tidus any favors. Everyone was watching him, again. Damn it, he'd show Wakka. Tidus was now fuelled by anger at a roommate, one of the most powerful emotions ever, and found the ability to speak even with all those eyes watching him. "Sounds fine to me."
