Riku was lying on his bed listening to music when the first loud crash of thunder interrupted his favorite song. The teen sat up quickly, eyes wide. He turned the music off and set his Walkman aside. There was another resounding crash of thunder. The sky opened up and it started to pour. Not caring about the fact that he was grounded (for being late for supper) Riku opened his window and climbed out. He made sure his parents' attention was riveted to the TV screen before running across the backyard. The teen ran across the wet grass and hopped the fence into Sora's side yard. He crept along the side of the house. Sora's mom was standing on the front porch smoking a cigarette and talking to Kairi.
"I'm sorry Kairi but you can't see Sora. He's grounded."
"But..."
"Now go home. Your parents will worry if you're out here too long."
Kairi sighed and opened her already soaking umbrella before heading back to her house across the street. Riku rolled his eyes and shook his head.
[Poor innocent Kairi...]
Riku ran around back and used the lattice to climb up onto the awning over the back porch. Sora's window was right there. The silver-haired teen lightly tapped on the glass.
"Sora?"
The younger teen's room appeared to be empty but Riku knew better. He slid Sora's window open. Riku pulled his shoes off and tossed them onto the floor. He didn't want to get Sora's bed all wet. It sat right under his window.
"Sora?"
The teen's room was dark and his door was locked. Riku sighed sadly and walked to Sora's closet. He opened the door to find the boy sitting in the corner of his closet.
"Sora..."
Bad thunderstorms always sent Sora running into his closet.
"Mommy!"
"Sora! Go back to bed!!"
"Mommy!!"
SMACK!
"It's ok..." Riku extended his hand. "I'm here..."
The brunette reached for Riku's hand. He was trembling. The older boy hated seeing his friend like this. Sora was so embarrassed about this little...problem but he couldn't remember exactly what had happened and he was too afraid to ask his mother. A few fat tears rolled down Sora's cheeks as Riku pulled him close. He wiped the brunette's tears away and hugged him tightly.
"I won't let anyone or anything hurt you, Sora. Ever. I promise."
Sora just clung to Riku's muscular arm, tears rolling down his cheeks. The platinum-haired youth was always a little peeved at Sora's mother when this happened. She never thought anything of the fact that her son practically ran to his room every time a severe thunderstorm rolled around? But then again... April had her own problems to deal with. Riku smoothed Sora's hair away from his face. The teen was a near carbon copy of his mother. He had her startling azure eyes. Everyone who met April or Sora for the first time thought they were wearing contacts. They almost had the same hair color as well but Sora's was darker and he didn't have his mother's red and gold highlights.
The brunette let out a little hiccuping sob bringing Riku out of his thoughts.
"Sora."
He tried to move into another position but Sora refused to let go of him. Riku sighed. The only thing he could do was try to get Sora talking.
"How's your face?"
...There was a moment of awkward silence then Sora chuckled softly. "Not bad. It got my mom to go easy on me. I'm only grounded for tomorrow."
"Lucky bum. I'm grounded for two days."
The grip Sora had on his friend's arm loosened a little. As if to spite Riku another loud clap of thunder shook the house. The brunette's arms went around Riku's waist tightly.
"Back to your room!!"
"What happened, Sora?" Riku asked. He always asked.
Sora just shook his head and pressed his face against Riku's chest. "Can't remember. Not sure if I want to..."
"You need to, Sora. It's the only way you can get better. How old were you?"
The teen whimpered. "Seven...I think."
"What happened, Sora?"
"I don't know...! I was thirsty and went downstairs to the kitchen to get a drink and...that's all I remember. It's just voices and sounds after that. No pictures."
Both boys jumped when Sora's doorknob rattled. Sora's mom sighed.
"I know you're mad at me honey but I warned you. If you were late for dinner one more time you were grounded. I'm sorry that you tripped and fell on your face but that isn't a good reason for being late."
Riku had to bite his tongue to stop himself from laughing. Although his eyes were still a little wet Sora glared at his friend.
"I-i understand, mom." Sora replied.
"Now get to bed. I have chores for you to do tomorrow."
The teen sighed. "Yes mom."
Once Sora's mother had walked off Riku grinned.
"You should thank me. You got off easy."
"If you call polishing my mom's silverware all day easy."
"Poor baby." The older teen mock-pouted.
Sora was about to say something snappy when a thunderclap interrupted. The teen's breath immediately caught in his throat. Riku frowned sadly.
"You should listen to your mom and go to bed. You look tired..."
The brunette nodded slightly. He stripped to his boxers and climbed into bed.
"Riku?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you sit with me?"
The older boy smiled. "Of course."
Sora's bed was pretty narrow but he managed to make room for Riku to sit and make himself comfortable.
"Riku?"
"Yes Sora?"
"...Thanks for being there for me."
"You're welcome."
Riku sat with Sora until the teen fell asleep. He sat there until the storm calmed and the clouds parted for the starry sky.
-----------------------
When Sora opened his eyes the next sunny morning Riku was gone. The only proof his friend had actually been there was on his desk. Riku always left him a note. The teen got out of bed and dressed. He walked over to his desk and read his note:
"Riku...you're such a jerk." Sora said warmly, putting the note in a drawer in his desk.
The brunette walked downstairs. His mother was already up. She was sitting on the front porch in her fuzzy yellow robe having her morning smoke. She had the front door open.
"Morning mom." Sora said.
April looked over her shoulder and smiled. "Good morning, Sora. How's your lip?"
"Not bad. Still tender. Want some breakfast?"
"Sure, what are you making?"
The teen thought for a moment. "Pancakes?"
"Sounds good."
Sora smiled and walked into the kitchen. He quickly whipped up some pancake batter from scratch. He stirred in some blueberries into the batter and started to make breakfast. He got two plates, glasses, and two sets of utensils. He made the pancakes then stacked both his and his mother's plates.
"Butter and syrup!?" He asked.
"Just butter!!" April replied.
Sora put butter on his mother's pancakes and left his plain. He filled two glasses with grape juice and headed for the front door. He bumped his hip against the screen door and it swung open easily. April smudged her cigarette out on the sidewalk before tossing it into her coffee can of butts.
"Thanks Sora." She accepted her plate and glass from her son.
"No problem."
He sat beside his mother on the front stoop and they ate side by side. Last night's rain had left the morning crisp and a bit chilly. A warm breeze was blowing though so it wasn't that cold. Birds were singing high in the trees, blue and gold butterflies fluttered about. April smiled sadly.
"It's a beautiful morning." She said quietly.
"Yeah." Sora agreed.
"Sora...?"
"Yes mom?"
"I want you to plant me some flowers..."
The boy blinked. "Mom?"
April bit her lip. "It's such a nice day and my silverware will disintegrate if you polish it one more time..." She laughed softly. "You can make flower beds wherever you like. I just...I would like some flowers..."
Sora smiled and nodded. "Ok."
April smiled and drank the rest of her juice before starting on her last pancake.
"Hey Sora!" Riku grinned, walking up the sidewalk. "Hello Ms. Everhart."
"Hi Riku." April smiled.
Sora nodded and motioned for Riku to join them. The silver-haired youth walked up and sat beside Sora.
"What's for breakfast?"
The younger teen rolled his eyes and offered his fork to Riku. The teen ate the bit of pancake that was offered to him, grinning.
"Good...so I guess that means April made breakfast."
Sora's mom laughed.
"Very funny Riku." Sora said, rolling his eyes.
April finished her breakfast. She kissed the top of Sora's head before standing up.
"I'm going to get dressed and then I need to get some things from the market." She eyed Riku. "And Sora is grounded, young man so don't you drag him off anywhere."
Riku smirked. "I can't. I'm grounded."
April laughed and shook her head. "Next time my klutzy angel trips catch him, huh?"
"Will do."
"Mo-oooom!" Sora whined.
Sora's mom laughed and went inside.
"Angel." Riku mocked, making kissy faces at Sora.
"Want me to bite your lips off?" Sora asked.
"Please do."
The brunette rolled his eyes and shoved another bite of pancake in Riku's mouth. The older teen grinned, chewing on his piece of pancake. April reemerged from the house ten minutes later.
"I bought some seeds and bulbs. They're in the shed." She said.
She went around the side of the house and got her bicycle.
"If any of your friends come by you can have a short talk with them, but no running off." She eyed Riku again. "And they can't help you out either."
Riku held his hands up in mock defense.
"Like I said I'm grounded too. I have to mow the lawn, weed, and clean the garage."
"That never stopped you before Riku." April teased, hopping onto her bike. "I'll be back in forty minutes."
Sora nodded. "Ok. Bye mom."
Sora's mother smiled and pedaled off.
"Angel." Riku snickered.
"Shut up, Riku." Sora grinned, giving his friend a playful shove.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ugh. Watched Jesse play Kingdom Hearts for over an hour. Now my head hurts xp. R&R Please ^^.
