Author's Note: Yayy we broke the 5 review per chapter curse! Hands out mini Sora plushies and grape juice. You guys are so kind! Really, these reviews were some of the NICEST. I have a luvly beta now, much thanks to her! Love to TrinityLimit!
Rampaging Sorrow: The manga I was referring to was Yami no Matsuei. There's an arc in there where the main characters have to investigate a murder at a Catholic school. Originally, I was going to have Riku's little boyfriend commit suicide but ah. Well. Good try though! I'll have to check that one out! Thank you for such a sweet review!
So read! Review! Be merry! It only goes downhill from here. I was in a pissy mood when I started this, and Riku and Sora will suuuuffer. Fluff will happen though. XP
On the last note. I'm going to try to go back to church to get some ideas for this thing.
This chapter: Riku gets mauled by a soccer ball, detective Sora, and Axel's being a tease.
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Diabolical Rapture Chapter 4: Saving Your Stability
There was something about Riku. The way he walked, the way his eyes oozed with charm, even the way he'd constantly flick back strands of hair in annoyance. There was a certain air about him that made him... Riku.
His mannerisms, surprisingly enough, never diminished or grew sullen with time. In fact, little by little, the spark in his eyes grew bigger, the stride of his steps more confident. This shocked me, for if I were in his position, the spark would be dying a slow and painful death.
Riku's so strong.
He was doing it now- walking around his room with that uppity flair, acting like nothing between us had changed. He then started to brush the sides of his pants in annoyance when they wrinkled in response to his crouching position as he inspected the floor underneath his desk. That was another strange habit he had. A wrinkle killer.
I didn't envy him; I admired him. How was that mentally or physically possible? I wondered this as I peaked through the covers, watching him carry about, sitting with legs crossed at the ankles on his bed.
A pause. And he was looking at me again in that way. It was when the sparkle of his eyes increased to their maximum, making me feel incredibly self-conscious and nervous. Especially now knowing that he was gay... and all.
Bleh, all my body could do was fall backwards onto the bed gracefully and I shut my eyes- eyes which no longer held a flicker of pure innocence. But that didn't stop him. No, he just walked over and tapped on my eyelids in slight annoyance.
"Won't you open your eyes? Pleeeease?"
"Nhnmhnnn...," I murmured back in response, curling myself into the sheets again.
Shortly after Riku had confessed to me last night, the two of us had fallen asleep, me entangled within his arms, a sniffling heap. A kiss still lingered on my left hand, petal soft to the touch. But, I couldn't mind, or at least, that's what I told myself as I traced circles over my knuckle bones. After all, it had calmed me down somewhat. Our situation was awkward.. but I tried to brush the thought aside, knowing I couldn't abandon him. I had to stick with him, continue to befriend him- for the sake of his mental sanity. I was in the position to restore and protect whatever was left of it.
Riku had stopped mulling over his room, as I had noticed the Chinese cartons were currently gone. Now sensing that he had the ability to easily influence me, Riku smiled evilly. Yes, evilly- as always. Those eyes of his were searching out what I truly wanted and needed to comply with his wishes. A smile curled at the corners of his mouth; he knew what I desired. It only took a matter of seconds before the nail was successfully hit on the head.
"I made you breakfast."
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After too many pancakes to count and then some, Riku drove us back to school. Almost as soon as the two of us stepped into the building, Riku was mauled by a small group of boys that looked on par with his age.
"Hey!" Riku was trying to untangle himself from the other boys, still brushing the wrinkles from his shirt. "What's-"
"It's that time of the year again," one replied, slapping him playfully on the back. Riku's eyes immediately shifted from annoyed to intrigued. Apologetically waving to me as I continued to stare at him questioningly, he headed off with them, leaving myself alone to ascend to 705. It didn't bother me terribly, but I felt a little irked at being forsaken after last night. I didn't want to be the person who he could bitch to or cry on whenever he felt broken, and leave me the second he felt better. I didn't want to play that role.
"Oh well," I sighed into the empty hallway, clambering up the first flight of stairs.
It was later that night that Riku informed me of what "had started."
Soccer season.
Normally, I wouldn't care, but this time, a sports activity had an impact on my life. Riku had joined the team- well, that was putting it lightly. More like, he waltzed onto the team. Apparently, from what I'd heard around the school, Riku was an incredibly athletic guy and the best on the team. Well, that wasn't surprising. He deemed himself best at almost everything else possible- French, chugging soda, tackling me at unsuspecting times...
Practices were Monday through Thursday, 7:00 P.M.-11:00 P.M. By the time he came back to our room each night, chances were I was asleep. As much as my heart urged me to try to stay awake a little longer to see him, my body always won in a fit of slumber.
This pattern went on for the entire first week. Until Friday that is.
Tidus and I had left the dining hall rather late. As soon as the both of us had issued goodnights to one another, I spun around only to be welcomed into Riku's gentle grasp.
"Riku! STOP DOING STUFF LIKE THAT!"
He laughed at my outburst, not taking me very seriously I supposed. I was apparently destined to be teased from his ritual sneak attacks for quite a while. "You're so easily flustered," he gasped between laughs, removing one hand from my waist and using it to ruffle the spiky locks of my hair instead.
"You're so mean..." I could only whine under his grip. Not only was Riku mentally stronger than I, he easily won in the physical department as well.
At my childish insult, Riku only continued to chuckle. After a moment, he released me- the intent gaze returning to his eyes and replacing the lackluster silly one. "I haven't seen you all week, so I figured I'd surprise you. Plus, I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask me something?"
"Mhm," he ushered, reaching out to poke my nose.
"Hey!"
"Wanna come to my soccer game tomorrow morning?" He coolly asked, one hand leaning over my head and pressing against the wall behind me.
"Uhh.. you're already having games?" I glanced up, shrinking at my miniature stature.
"Short season," he shot back.
I thought a moment, blue eyes deep in discussion under thick black lashes. "Of course I'll go!" I replied. Well, it wasn't exactly a hard decision.
"Good." Riku smirked for a moment, triumphant in alluring me into his every wants. That smirk, and the message it sent me, was absolutely terrifying. I didn't want to be his puppet, yet...
"Race you back to the dorm! Loser makes winner cookies!"
"The hell?" I watched, mouth slightly agape as his figure dissipated into the shadows of the darkened hallway. Well I was just not going to make him cookies.. no way.
This time, I would develop a strategy to defeat him, mind wandering back to my pitiful losses at Dead or Alive. I raced with thought, turning to my immediate left and climbing into a golden painted elevator. Riku was no doubt climbing the stairs- from first to seventh. I was choosing the easier transportation by elevator, only praying to God that the ropes and levies attached to this thing could climb at a faster rate than Riku's legs.
Within a minute, a red flash bellowed from the buttons, a number seven lit in glee. I quickly pushed my body through the prying doors and ran at top speed towards...
700.. 701... 702... 703... 704...
Room 705.
A smile replaced my determined mask, as I prepared myself to mock his defeat. Hands on hips, I watched as Riku rushed towards me, this time illuminating from the shadows instead of blending.
"You lose, Riku."
An irritated look swept across his pale face, while mine continued to glow in vigor. Finally, a real win against Mr. Invincible!
"Chocolate Chip."
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"Hey...," someone was coaxing my shoulder, trying to wake me up. I could only turn over in defense and mummer a few slightly coherent words in annoyance. How dare they! I needed sleep!
I batted my eyes sleepily as I felt my body being lifted from the bed.
"Heyyyyy let go of me," I cooed in half-slumber. I just didn't wake up this early.
In response to my demand, I was then being placed upon the floor in a heaping mass of entangled arms and legs. Eyes still mostly closed, I searched in blind drowsiness for my warm, comforting blanket. My fingertips combed through air, not meeting the fuzzy blanket, but someone else's hands instead.
"Wake up, Sora." A voice close to my face responded, a little perturbed. Eyes shot open, seeing completely for the first time Riku's figure. I winced, the light blinding my eyes a little painfully.
Nodding, I picked my body off from the ground, remembering that I was supposed to attend his soccer game this morning. I stood, still in a sleepy haze, as Riku darted about the room, opening squeaky wardrobe doors and throwing clothes at my head. Next, came the loud clunk of my sneakers as he whirled them across the room- luckily, not at my face this time.
Peeling a shirt and pair of shorts from my spiky locks, (which could work as an excellent clothing hangar!) I pulled each article of clothing on under a watchful Riku. A second later, I uttered, "Let's go!"
"Sora?"
"Hmmmm..?" My eyes pried themselves open once more. I was met with a face turned halfway into a frown, half in lidded amusement.
"Your pants are on backwards."
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After adjusting my pants, Riku had taken me past the dining hall and shoved a package of strawberry poptarts and a coke in my hand as we whipped through the masses of people.
"Normally, I wouldn't want anyone eating that for breakfast, but you're so dead this morning," He casually poked me in the rib, as I munched on one of my poptarts.
I walked on after him, as we exited a door on the side of the room. "Aren't you going to eat anything?"
"I ate before you woke up."
"Oh," I shrugged, finishing the rest of the poptart and breathing in the dismal scent of morning. Trees were lined in light blue highlight, a faint mist of clouds hanging over their peaks. I hated morning. I hated everything about it, I thought, crinkling the shiny silver packaged paper within my hand and shoving it into my pocket. Riku broke into a sprint, the deep red of the Saint Helena's uniform a blur against the light sky.
I followed Riku only as far as I was allowed. I caught up to him, breathing in the moist air in ragged gasps from the short jog. Taking my wrist, he guided me toward the set of bleachers that our school occupied. For Saint Helena's being a school for a bunch of teenaged boys, I was surprised at the large crowd our school created at 9:00 in the morning. I sat down carefully between several boys, making sure not to spill my soda, and waved to the departing Riku. He casually smiled back, turning quickly on his heels and racing out into the field. I continued to watch him as other crimson-clad boys high-fived him in response to his presence, others jokingly punching him in the side.
"Aww... noooo," I muttered, seeing my soda dribble down the side of the plastic red cup. I quickly averted my attention from Riku to the soda, trying to fix this problem as my tongue darted out to lick up the excess from the side. When I looked up, my hard work of keeping all the soda in the cup was completely gone.
No less than two inches from my face sat a rather disgruntled Axel, brown liquid dripping off the tips of his spiky red hair. I squeaked, my brain putting two and two together- my soda now gone, and slithering down Axel's angry face.
"I-I-I did-!" I couldn't formulate a very coherent sentence at this point.
He grabbed a hold of my shirt, twisting the ends and using it to wipe his face off. Thrusting the limp, soggy end of my t-shirt back towards me with a cold, "slap!" against my skin, Axel stiffened in posture.
"Hello there... Sora!" He smiled crookedly.
"Umm.. hi, Axel," I replied back meekly, not wanting to even broach the topic of why I was no longer interested in my soda. "What are you doing here?"
He shrugged in response, shaking his red locks a little, coke flying from their tips, giving many boys around us a sprinkled shower, much to their annoyance. "Roxas is on the soccer team. I came to watch him." His pink tongue paused from speech, instead licking the soda from the sides of his mouth in pleasure. "Not to harass you, despite what you may think. I just saw you sitting here.. all by yourself," he continued to make strange, oogling faces at me, "without Riku, and thought I'd give you company!"
He was being... rather mellow. Not at all mean- a little condescending, but there was a definite improvement. Strange. But I didn't mind either, for I much preferred this Axel to the previous one.
"Oh. I see," I issued.
He turned to face me again, glittering green eyes seeking out any source of intimidation within my own. "You're here for Riku then, right?"
I nodded slightly, watching as both Roxas and Riku ran along the open field, grabbing, clawing, and shoving any person in their way as the game began to start. Boys from the opposing team, Saint Peter's, dressed in all black uniforms, ran opposite them.
No other words were passed between us for a short period of time. I engrossed myself with watching the game. It was an incredibly brutal match, players on both sides using massive physical strength to damage opposing forces through broken limbs and bloody noses. Many times had players been replaced, shrieking in pain and blood pouring from open wounds, bleeding through white socks. Riku had been playing the entire time, however, cleverly dodging many attacks from the other team, and remained fully intact. However, that didn't stop him from using his own powerful strength. Twice had he been the guilty party that caused a pair of players from Saint Peter's to fall stumbling, bleeding and stuttering to the ground.
It was a little shocking, a little frightening- to know he was capable of causing such damage to a person. But never had he been anything but gentle with me. Snarky yes, but that was only through personality. And snarky didn't qualify as brutally abusive either.
I could see now that Riku was releasing his anger from his past on these people- channeling his pain into his athletic skill. As his muscles pumped through an invigorating run, his heart unclenched in relief- if only a little.
I smiled, priding myself in knowing this reckless boy- his deepest darkest secret, his habits, his hobbies. From the opposite side of the field, I could see crowds of people with their faces transfixed upon his, probably wondering just who this silver-haired boy was, the cause of his strife.
I continued to admire his ability to weave through the other boys, dodging a player here, there, a kick ever so often of the ball. I didn't find myself very interested in the game, however close and intense it had been. The score was tied at 0-0 still, but I found myself only able to focus on Riku. Well, besides, he was the only player I knew personally on either team besides Roxas. And Roxas, for that matter, I had absolutely zero interest in. Axel though...
However, as soon as Roxas was replaced with a different Saint Helena's player, Axel turned his attention back towards me.
"Riku told you, hmmmm?" He asked, raising one red eyebrow in question.
I nodded again, not wanting to speak in fear of my voice cracking. I wasn't looking at him, but at Riku. A time-out had been called for Roxas' replacement. And Riku was looking back, spotting Axel at my side. His face had turned from a serious, determined one to one oozing in livid anger. Those eyes, icy blue in the morning light, glazed over in anger, fists clenched at the side.
I would be the first to admit, Riku looked horrific like that.
Axel leaned over, much to my, and Riku's appall. As his lips, poised for verbal damage, closed in on my ear, I tried to call out to Riku for help, however my voice seemed lost in a whirlwind of confusion and fright. A whistle sounded, bodies scurrying in motion once again on the field- well, minus Riku. He was still frozen in place.
"You know he gets whatever he wants..." Axel's words felt like death against my ear, little wisps of his breath swirling around my face. I continued to gaze longingly at Riku, silently pleading him to rescue me again- to just quit the game, to race up the bleachers, and kick Axel in the face. Truthfully, he looked a little silly being the only player standing on the right hand side of the field, most of the action occurring on the left now. As he continued to stare at the two of us, several heads from the audience snapped around in unison, trying to see what their star player found so utterly enrapturing. After another moment or two, waves of people started to turn around in their seats. Not too long after, almost the entire set of bleachers had their attention focused on Axel breathing down my throat.
He, however, didn't seem to mind at all.
"Are you just going to let him do -" He continued, a new sense of thrill at the aghast audience he now intrigued.
Riku.. I wanted to tell him to stop staring, to just run and avert everyone's attention to him once again. This was so uncomfortable! But he didn't break from his hypnotic glare. Not even as I watched in horror, a black clad boy rushing through the throngs of players, straight towards Riku. And not a second later...
WHAM! Crack.
I had watched the entire scene unfold as the soccer ball had been forcefully kicked no less than two feet away from Riku's face, only to land in his face a split second later. The violent clash of rubber against bone and skin made an ear-clenching splitting noise, echoing throughout the entire stadium. No whistle was sounded, no time out called. Riku immediately crumpled into a mass of limp appendages, shaking slightly, probably from shock. He continued to lay sprawled across the ground- just like the many other players before him, his hands covering his face- probably, in pain. From where I was sitting, I could see specks of red dotted around him in circles, patches contrasting sharply against his silver hair and pale skin.
My mouth shot open, ready to scream. My legs sprang upwards, initiating themselves to run. But I couldn't. I could only stare in horror as boys continued running, a few swaying past the crumpled heap on the ground, flinging dirt and patches of grass in his face from their cleats. His pale fingers still lay interlocked on his face, even as red liquid spilled between their cracks, and down towards his wrists and neck.
Someone from behind me jabbed at my back, "Hey, kid, sit down. You're in my view!"
I quickly swung around to face him, incredibly peeved that he- or anyone else for that matter, didn't seem to notice a bloody PERSON lying on the ground in evident pain. A thousand insults flew through my head as my eyebrows knit themselves into an angry glare. None came forth. Instead, I simply sat back down.
What could I have done otherwise?
Axel, I noticed, glowed with absolute mirth at the sight. "That... had to hurt!" He said in good humor, slapping his knee nearest me. "His nose is going to be broken for weeks! And his face in general's going to be a bloody pulp! Priceless!"
I screwed my face up at that. Riku was more than a pretty face- he was nice, he was kind, and a friend. "Axel, please stop that!" I begged, widening my eyes in plead and mercy. "He's hurt badly," I choked through an audible sob, a sob desperately fighting to be released from my throat.
Axel sighed, all joy levitating from his face. "You think that's bad? He's suffered worse." Worse? What had Riku not told me exactly? Or perhaps, he was no stranger to rough sports accidents. I brushed the thought aside.
Axel paused to scratch at a coke stain on his collared shirt, a growing smile at the corners of his mouth despite the brown blotch, "Okay, but because you asked so nicely!" I sighed in relief, both at our consensus, and the fact that a referee appeared to be carrying Riku off of the field.
The sight wouldn't have bothered me so much, had a visible lining of red not remained in Riku's outline.
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Riku had disappeared for the remainder of the day. He hadn't returned to our dorm in hours, and night was already cradling the sky. I had assumed one of two things- he was either residing in the Nurse's wing, or he had been sent home for the weekend. Deciding to investigate the first option, whether out of boredom or concern, I quickly checked the time. Eleven.
So I would be sneaking out. And truth be told, it was a little thrilling.
But before finding Riku's whereabouts, I wanted to further investigate. I never had a moment where I had an opportunity to poke through his things. There was the time when he was gone due to soccer practice, but I always had homework during those days.
Carefully sauntering towards his closet, I picked up his black messenger back from the floor- still in the exact place it had been this morning.
I snickered at its presence. I liked to tease him about having a "man bag." I undid the side clasp, opening it up and spilling its contents on the floor. Nothing too unusual- just a wallet, a cell phone, some pens, a mirror, and a black eyeliner pencil. Uttering a "what the fuck," under my breath at the sight of the last item, I quickly replaced all the objects back into the black bag- except for the cell phone. It was such a pretty phone, silver- like his hair. Flipping the top open, I was soon greeted with a "Hello, Riku! Welcome back! You have three new messages!" Being quite handy with phones, I easily maneuvered the menu to locate the messages. All from Kairi. I laughed a little at this. If only she knew.
Unsatisfied with that, I instead began to pry through his dresser drawers. Nothing was out of the ordinary- besides the fact that every single article of clothing was folded AND color coordinated.
Nothing until... the last drawer was empty of clothes. Empty of clothes, but held a single green bound book. A sketchbook, I realized as I picked it up, immediately flipping through it, hoping for pictures, notes..
No sooner had I wished this did I stumble onto a single photo, a little battered and ripped at the corners. In the photo stood Riku, his arms tightly wrapped around another boy, a boy with straight black hair cut cutely to his shoulders and violet eyes. Both of them were smiling, utterly happy to have one another. This must have been him...
I felt a pang of envy as I flipped the photograph on its opposite side. Clearly, in Riku's neat handwriting were the words "Norito and I at Yuffie's Valentine's Party. Spring."
I ran my fingers over the words, hoping somehow they'd spring to life and tell me anything- just something I desired to know. Anything about this person who I was desperate to help.
But the book held even more interesting things. I was quick to replace the photo in the exact spot I had found it in, nestled between two sticky pages of the sketchbook. After several more pages, I came across some notes scattered amongst a drawing of a set of hands- hands folded in prayer position.
"Broke my heart."
Nearing the end of the book, I didn't find much else until I reached the very last few pages.
"Fixed my heart."
Fixed his heart?
But I hadn't noticed the little pictures casually drawn to the side of the words. Pictures of myself- sleeping. The spiky hair, bright blue eyes... it was unmistakably me. Feeling a little uncomfortable, I closed the book back up and deposited it back to its drawer. Pausing, I realized Riku was actually a very talented... sketcher. He had a lot of talent actually, talent that he should be sharing with others to see and appreciate- not hidden away, locked within his wardrobe confinements.
But then... why had Riku drawn me? I guess since I was his only friend. But thoughts of his sexuality kept pestering me in the back of my head, thoughts that screamed for me not to visit him.
Was I perhaps... leading him on? But the thought didn't stay too long, because a new feeling swept over me. I felt guilty. Going through his personal things like that. I had found something he obviously didn't want me seeing. Deciding not to bring the subject up, nor joke with him about Kairi's desperate phone calls, I picked up a key from my bedside table and set off on my mission.
Operation. Find. Riku.
I headed out the door quietly, being sure to close it without the slightest of sounds. Tiptoeing down the hallway, I turned my head at the scurrying noises within the walls.
Within the walls?
"Hmmm.." I pressed my ear close to the wall, the faint scratching growing more audible. It was probably my imagination.. or nerves. Shrugging off the strange noises, I continued to sneak through corridors and silently glide down staircases- the elevator would have been far too noisy. Now.. the nurse's room was on the second floor, I soon found out- seeing a large map framed and glossy on one of the hallways I had been searching.
Descending down two more flights of steps, I rushed to the center of a dingy hallway- much like the seventh floor. I headed to my left, trying to picture the map within my head once more for a clear idea of where to go. As I continued walking, I passed by painting after painting, hanging on decaying walls. Each was a sinister-looking portrait of a nun or priest, not a smile in existence.
Dust particles littered the floor. Spots of white moonlight scattered amongst the filth from holes within chunks of walls. Perhaps that was why the wing smelled of rotting wood- perhaps when it rained, the floor became eroded and molded.
Finally spotting a black door with a big red cross on it, I assumed I'd found the Nurses' room. Surely she wouldn't be inside at this hour? Tiptoeing closely towards the door, I pressed my ear to the surface similar to the manner that I had earlier at the scurrying noises, hoping for utter silence.
My prayer had apparently been answered. Not a single voice or echo of noise protruded through the black door.
Carefully pushing against its surface, I walked into the room's confinements in a swift, single motion. Luckily, this room appeared to be somewhat illuminated, and much nicer than the outside hallway. That had been a relief. A room that cared for the sick and hurt, after all, shouldn't be a place where germs and insects could easily crawl about.
Actually, the "room" in which I was in, appeared to be more like a mini wing itself. Red doors all lined the opposite side of my presence. Walking up towards one, I noticed each had a little card attached to the handle, a patient's name written in black, curly lettering.
Several doors down, I found Riku's door. I sighed, holding the card that read his name within my hand for a moment. Running my fingers up and down, I traced his name with a delicate fingernail. Dropping the card and watching it dangle restlessly in the invisible air, I reached out, and pushed the door open quickly.
The room was black.
Shifting around in an abyss of darkness, I stumbled upon a bed frame.. pole.. thing. "Riku?"
No answer.
"Riku, are you in here?"
Nothing.
"It's Sora. I was worried about you! Where are you?" Fear entered my voice this time.
Feeling around for something, anything, my hands hit another object. A lamp! I smiled in triumph, twisting its switch and allowing light to prevail in victory through the dark.
What I saw next, I wasn't prepared for.
Riku was lying, a lump of battered limbs, on top of a black sheet within his bed. I found myself rushing over towards him in urgency, clutching the ebony sheets, knuckles white from terror. Though, he didn't look at all like Riku. I only knew it was him from the messy strands of silver hair lining his face, and the name card from his door. "Riku?" I whispered, reaching out a single shaky hand towards a white wrist. He was so pale- even paler than normal, the contrasting black sheets only adding to his glow. It was all too surreal, too scary.
He immediately turned away from me, covering his head with the black comforter.
"Go away," he muttered, through crushed words and a heap of covers.
A little shocked at his answer, I pulled at the spread. "Riku, what's gotten into you? I came to see you because I was worried about you... I wanted to talk to you."
I could barely hear a tiny sigh escape from his mouth. "I don't want you to see me."
"Oh, Riku..."
I continued tugging at the sheets, little by little pulling it from his weak grasp. "Come on, I don't care what it looks like," I gently pleaded, coaxing the last few inches of the soft linens away from his damaged face.
"You may not, but I do!" He snatched back, but all too late. I had completely ripped the covers from his entire body.
"Oh Riku..." I repeated, only more sullen and heartbroken. His once beautiful face now covered in bruises, stitches, and bandages looked back at my own in total horror. No longer did that special spark exist.
I couldn't stop myself from doing so as I reached out a trembling hand to gently brush his bangs across the opposite side of his cheek, careful not to touch any scar on his bruised skin. A single tear slipped from his eye as I did this, sliding over discolored skin and trickling off the side of a scathed chin.
"I had.. I had no idea it was this bad..."
"Well, the little bastard kicked it when he was standing right in front of my face." I smiled as he said this, being able to detect the slight arrogance and Riku-ness of his answer.
He turned to his side to completely face me now. "I look like shit."
That was blatant.
"Well what'd you expect?" I continued to twirl my fingers through his hair, surprised that he didn't bat them away from annoyance. "You were mauled by a psychopathic soccer player!"
He laughed a little, though not much, his muscles sore and still in severe pain from earlier. "Why do you always laugh at everything I say?" I questioned, cocking my head slightly to the side.
"Because nothing you say is ever serious," he spat back, this time batting my hands away from his silvery locks.
We sat in silence a moment, his gaze fixed on me as I stared listlessly at the wall in front of the bed. I felt weird looking at his face like that, and I'm sure he didn't want to be studied under the circumstances either. Riku was who he was, for the most part to others, for his looks. He didn't have that at the moment.
"You'll get in trouble if they catch you in here, Sora," eyes shifted in their sockets. "I didn't know you would sneak out."
"Well I already told you! I was worried about you! I didn't know if you'd DIED or something!"
"Sora-"
"I mean, or, they could have had to put you in the hospital!"
"You're not-"
"I thought you would have at least had a broken nose!"
"Serious?"
"Huh?" I looked at him questioningly.
God Riku, you look so pathetic...
"Really, Sora, it's not that bad." I couldn't tell anymore, whether or not he was angry or glad I had visited him. I searched his eyes, hoping for some sort of clue, anything, to tell me...
Why do you act like this?
I blinked, a tear forming within their ducts. "Sora? What's wrong?"
"I... You... you scared me..."
He reached out to brush the lingering tear from my cheek. "What'd Axel say to you?" He asked, completely avoiding my statement.
"He wasn't really mean to me," I replied, somehow sensing that wasn't exactly the best thing to say.
Snorting, "What, he's being nice to you while insulting me?"
Ow, my rib now feeling an imaginary effect of knives against bone.
"No.. he didn't say anything about you really," I lied. "He only asked me if you'd told me."
"And you said?" His hand left my cheek. I noticed there were lingering crimson stains left in small linear lines on his hands. Was blood that particularly hard to wash off?
"I just nodded."
"Yeah... well it's good you didn't lie to him." Riku shifted in an air of thoughtlessness, snuggling deeper into the depths of his pillows. He was so different like this, so vulnerable. But, completely unwilling to accept this vulnerability.
Riku kept morphing into this person, this different person. From the intimidating, scary, popular boy- to this... broken soul. Pink flushing my cheeks, I knew I couldn't let that happen. I knew I had to be the only person truly concerned for his mental stability. His friends could care less... his parents weren't even here. This world was so hollow.
"You should probably go," his voice echoed deep within the covers.
"Nahhh," I bent closer, forcing my oh-so-contagious smile down his throat. You. Will. Give. In. To. My. Powers. Evil. Riku.
A smile?
A slight one. But that was comfort enough.
Before I could let my blue eyes linger on his half smile, I felt Riku's arms glide to my back, capturing me into a tight embrace. "Thanks," he uttered.
"Ummm... well it's the least I could do. For, you know," I said, wrenching from his hold. "Axel."
"Yeah."
I used this seemingly uneventful opportunity to try out my own version of "Sora charm." It's a slightly less effective version of "Riku charm." Okay.. really.. less effective.
"Heeeeeeey, Riku," I cooed, batting eyelashes.
"You rang?" I mentally tallied two points for Team Sora as I noticed a small, but present, smile.
"This doesn't mean you get out of making me cookies."
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Author's Note: Mauled is one of my top 10 favorite words by the way- in case you were wondering. And I'm surprised that this is the first chapter.. it made its appearance in- TWICE! YEAH! And I hate soccer personally. Played it for 7 years, and managed to get kicked in the face plenty of times. Hell, I got kicked in the face when I wasn't even playing. And so I felt.. Riku needs to share my paaaain. But even through my hatred of soccer, you know he'd look mucho sexy in a little soccer uniform
Mmm and reviews are welcome! Perhaps if they're as super nice as usual, I'll make Riku kiss Sora next chapter. :0 You heeeard. Maybe.