Riku woke up to the sound of banging on his front door. Well, not really banging, more like very lightly knocking, but Riku had a hellova hangover-impersonation jumping around his skull. Easing himself off of his bedroom floor (a/n: each bit of information sounds like he passed out drunk XD) and slowly staggering down the steps, his goal to halt the cursed noise. Halfway down the staircase, he trips and falls down the rest of them. Lying at the foot of the staircase he almost decided to fall asleep again, until of course that noise happens again.
/That...NOISE.../ he growled in his mind. Behind that growling, though, he did wonder where his mother was and why she wasn't catering to him with simple things like the DOOR.
Without the willpower to stand back up, he crawled on his stomach the rest of the way, heaving himself upward just once to reach the handle. He pushed the door open with his head and collapsed onto the floor, not really caring who it was, just knowing the secret answer of the universe to stop knocking noises was open a door.
He did quickly regret acting almost dead when a very worried voice from above called out, "Riku-san?"
And by voice from above, I did not mean God. "...oh..." he mumbled, "...hey, Ansem..."
"What's wrong?" he kneeled down next to the other in the doorway, "You look just awful!"
"Gee, thanks."
"You know that's not what I meant. I mean, you look ill! Where are your parents that should be catering to you instead of making you answer the door!"
He almost laughed at the irony, "That's what I was thinking!"
"Here, let me help you!" Ansem attempted to pick up Riku and maybe even carry him to a couch or bed, but he couldn't do anymore than drag the limp body around. About ready to start running around panicking and maybe even go as far as to call an ambulance (a/n: he's reeeaaally ooc...), Riku managed to pull himself up to sit against a wall and said, "No, really, I'm fine. It's probably nothing...I'm just usually NOT a morning person...this is more or less average...uh, kinda..."
The younger fell to his side. "No! You're lying! I can tell!"
"Actually, I mean it-"
"Oh, you're so brave to act like it's okay, but if you're hurting-"
Riku silenced him with a kiss, "You worry too much."
Ansem just stared at him for a few minutes, but when he was about to reply, a sweet voice called out, "Riku! What are you doing?" The boys looked up to see Riku's mother standing in the doorway to the basement, wearing a big black cloak with hood (a/n: can anyone say emiko? ). "You're making so much noise you're distracting me from my evil spel- I mean, uh, growing...something...um, who is this?" she stumbled over an explanation, quickly opting to change in subject. Before Riku could get out any tired words, Ansem stood and bowed to her politely, a small flush on his cheeks that did not go unnoticed by the woman.
"Uh, I'm Ansem..." he glanced at Riku wondering if he should say more. Receiving an uneasy gaze back, he just stood there silently. The maniac caught this silent exchange as well.
"Oh come on now!" she beamed, "Since when would I care if you had a boyfriend? I thought you should know me better than that, Riku!"
The two stared at her blank and speechless. "Weeell, I'm going to go finish my spells and potions and such before I leave...did I tell you I met the nicest woman down the road? Uh, Niwa something or other, I think her name was. Oh well, bye-bye!" She started towards the stairs going down, then spun around and said, "Uh...you didn't hear that part about spells and potions, got that? Have fun! Just keep it down, 'kay?" With that, she disappeared into the darkness, the door behind her closing with a clang that sounded suspiciously like a dungeon gate.
"W-what...did she mean by that...?"Ansem stuttered.
"Nothing! ...let's get outta here," Riku snapped, face red. Realizing he was still wearing yesterday's clothes (and remembering he actually did just pass out on the floor last night XD), he mumbled a "wait here" and went upstairs to change. After rummaging around for nearly ten minutes (ansem waiting so patiently, aww), he came out wearing a black shirt-thing, black pants, black boots, white gloves, and a red hooded cloak that almost went down to his feet, with a symbol on that back that looked kinda like a snake wrapped around a cross. Not to mention his hair was braided. (a/n: hagaren! w00t!)
The other boy blinked in surprise.
"No?" Riku went back into his room, and pulled out something else, quicker than before. This time he emerged wearing very baggy bright orange pants (a/n: hehe, they're mine!), and a grey shirt with orange words (a/n: my friend's shirt that I think matches my pants very well ).
The other boy sweatdropped.
"What? What's wrong with it?" He tried looking himself over but sighed. "Fine." Going back into his room once more, he threw on some tight black jeans and a black muscle shirt. When he came down this time, amber eyes fixed on him widened.
"What's wrong with it now?" He asked, trying to look himself over again (a/n: he really needs a mirror ;). Ansem immediately started shaking his head no. If he had been able to produce words he'd've probably shouted something like 'NOOO DONT CHANGE!'. Alas, he could only gape. Oh wait, he did say something...
"It's uh...cold outside..." he told the older while fiddling with his own white knitted sweater, his face beat red as he tried not to stare at him. And failing horribly.
"Oh..." Riku thought for a minute, then went back to his room. Uh, again.
Before the other boy even saw him at the top of the stairs he was already shouting, "I am going to wear that red cloak!"
He was answered with a vigorous nod.
aeaeae
Once outside and walking against the breeze, Riku realized it was quite cold. He almost needed more than that flimsy little coat. "The weather here sure is weird. One day it's hot as all hell, the next it's snowing." He involuntarily shivered, and Ansem gave him a worried look. Hesitantly, he put an arm around the other in an attempt to warm him.
Riku could tell how awkward the boy felt, and to ease his discomfort and uncertainty, laid his head on the other's shoulder. "I never thought it would be this nice. To be completely honest, you kinda freaked me out when I first met you, Ansem-kun."
Ansem's mouth tweaked in a small smile, but anyone could notice he didn't know whether that was a compliment or an insult. Riku was oblivious, though. They just continued walking down the snowy path in each other's arms. (a/n: aww...okay, time to stop this)
"Heads up!" was the only warning before Riku and Ansem were bombarded with snowballs.
"Uh, sorry! I didn't see you over there," said Tidus, running over to them, and helping them both up. Ansem was forgiving and thankful for the help, but Riku took the hand with no comment. He was still kinda peeved at Tidus, for really no reason. He was a nice kid and really didn't do anything wrong, but in Riku's eyes he was the enemy; the sole reason he could not have Sora! Sure Ansem was his boyfriend now, and he was a good one at that, but it was as if Sora had him under a spell...which he could not- nor did he seem to want to- break free of. Speak of the devil, here comes the spell-caster now.
"Hi Sora," Ansem greets, eyes momentarily flicking to Riku nervously. Riku catches it, and give a small secret reassuring smile. "Yeah, hey."
Said brunette returns the greetings with a grin, "Me and Tidus-kun were just having a snowball fight. Wanna join us?"
"Um, sure?"
"Great!" his grin gets wider, if possible. "It'll be more fun with teams! We'll go us against you two. We made some fort-things across the street, c'mon!"
The two nodded and followed the happy couple back to the snow forts. After a while of playing back and forth, just being normal kids, started to make Riku loosen up and not worry so much about the things plaguing his mind recently.
"Heh! Hey, Riku!"
The pale-haired boy had very little warning before he was hit square in the face with a monster-sized snowball. He was hit so hard in fact he fell backwards on impact.
"Tidus-kun, that wasn't very nice! You threw that too hard!" Sora scolded.
Tidus just shrugged it off, "C'mon, Sora-kun, it's just a game," he bent over to make another snowball.
"It's only a game until someone gets hurt."
"Sor-ry I 'threw it too hard'. But he's fine! Can't we just go back to the game?"
Sora stared at him for a minute. "...I don't think you are sorry. You meant to do that, didn't you!"
"What?"
"You've been very moody lately! I could see you doing that! Taking out your frustrations on someone else. You're going to end up hurting people like this!"
"Sora, what are you talking about? You're too paranoid! I'm not-"
"I think maybe we should leave," Riku whispered to Ansem. He nodded in agreement.
The two older boys started walking away down the opposing sidewalk, the younger's arguement fading away as distance was put between them. They walked around town for a while, a few hours at least, watching other children play in the snow and just marveling at how beautiful everything was in general, covered in pure white snow. The sun was just starting to dip behind the horizon when Ansem felt Riku shiver.
"We've been out too long," Ansem said, "it's too cold for you."
Riku shook his head, "N-no, I'm fine."
Frown, "No, you're not. You're freezing. Come on, my house is close to here, you can go there and warm up."
Riku nodded without any more protest.
aeaeae
As the night drew on it only got colder outside. There was no way Riku could make it home in this weather, so he decided to stay the night. Soon after their arrival the power went out so he wasn't able to tell his mother where he was, but he had a feeling she wouldn't be too worried anyway. Ansem got a fire going, and the two snuggled up under a blanket close to the fireplace.
"So, where are your parents anyway?" the older broke the silence after a while.
Ansem softly replied, "My father's out of town. He does alot a business away from home, he's almost never here..." he sighed, "And my mother died a while ago, I don't remember her very well."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Riku felt awkward talking about this, "My dad's not around either. I don't know where he is...mom doesn't like to talk about it..."
"That's too bad. I feel like I'm the one that should be apologizing."
"No, don't," he leaned against the amber-eyed boy, "You're great to talk to, ya know?
A sly smile, "I'm great at other things too."
"Ansem...?"
"Shh..." he put a finger to Riku's lips, "I just thought of a really good way to keep warm..." Ansem removed his finger and replaced it with his own lips.
"You're still too cold," he told him after they broke apart, "Let's fix that, shall we...?" he whispered seductively, planting butterfly kisses down his lover's neck.
"A-Ansem..."
(Eheheh...bet you were expecting more, no? Sorry, I don't do that. ;p)
aeaeae
The next morning Riku awoke to the sun shining brightly in his eyes. He got up from his place amongst the mess of blankets and strewn clothes, and staggered over to the window, mildly surprised his naked body wasn't freezing. It was actually slightly humid in the house.
The view outside confirmed that the sun had dried up all of the snow. "Yup, weird. Guess I'll get used to it though."
"Talking to yourself?" a sleepy voice laughed, "Good morning."
Riku smiled back, "'Morning."
"Should I make breakfast?" Ansem asked, tossing aside the blankets and slipping on a pair of shorts.
"Nah. Actually, I should get home. Mom's probably worried about me," he replied, even though he knew it wasn't true. Ansem nodded in agreement and they both got dressed.
Just before Riku turned to leave, Ansem caught his lips. "I love you, Riku," he said, and amber eyes burned into aquamarine ones, searching for something, hoping for something.
A small smile slowly spread across Riku's face, "...I love you too."
And as he trotted down the sidewalk towards home, waving and exchanging blown kisses with Ansem until he was no longer in sight, Riku thought it was a really good morning and knew it in his heart to be true. He was so happy, and nothing could ruin it.
Upon arriving at home he started to remove his shoes, however just as he closed the door, there was a knock. He opened the door again to reveal a very unhappy Sora, choking back sobs as he stood at the doorstep.
Riku was surprised to say the least, "Sora? Are you okay?"
"I...I broke up with Tidus."